protein costs too damn much ugh

I'm pretty sure that Vitamin Shoppe will let you return open items.  I know GNC does.  It wouldn't hurt to ask.

You can return open items to the Vitamin Shoppe - my local stores know me now and they take my comments seriously, as they know that I have had RNY and will be a life-long customer!

Although they sometimes cost more than buying it online, at least to me, the extra few bucks is like insurance if I don't like it.  If you buy online and don't like it, you are SOL.

I used to like Jay Robb, but what happens to me is that I *love* a protein, finish a tub, and then I can't finish the second tub; it always ends up smelling nasty.

As far as cost, I know some won't agree, but I found you get what you pay for.  I find the pricier ones don't have the nasty fillers that the cheaper proteins have.

I find the Jay Robb to be very reasonable in cost.  I am not by any means rolling in the $$ and watch every cent I spend, but I cut elsewhere in order to buy protein I like and will use rather than save a couple of bucks for a tub of protein that tastes like ass or makes me sick.

Also, I have been digging organic cottage cheese whizzed in the mini processor flavored with anything you can think of - 15 g of protein for a 1/2 cup.  You could use a half scoop of protein and add it to things like that to make it last.

I hate the texture of cottage cheese, but whizzed up it gets silky, like cream cheese.  My latest fave is a 1/2 cup of cottage cheese with a half scoop of vanilla protein, some SF vanilla syrup, a little SF/FF vanilla pudding and a truvia. After I whiz it up, I sprinkle it with a shake or two of chai seasoning.  Delish!

I rarely do protein "shakes" at 5 years post op, but often add a generic unflavored whey isolate protein I found to foods.  I add it to oatmeal, SF pudding, veg. refried beans, chili, etc.  BTW, to the other poster that asked about smell and after taste about a specific brand of protein.  This question is likely to get a host of varied answers. Each post op has likes and dislikes about taste, odor, texture, etc. of foo and drink.  Try asking about a specific brand of protein powder at a local support group. You'll likely find some that love it, and some that hate it.  Post op life has expenses, which also include a costlier food menu.  Don't skimp on high protein foods either, due to their cost.  Supplements cost too, and calcium citrate and dry D3 are more expensive than other versions of these supplements.  DAVE

I am awaiting surgery, but I have been reading alot and checking out different types of isolate protein that I will need to start purchasing, have you tried these:

http://www.bulkfoods.com/search_results.asp?txtsearchParamCa t=ALL&txtsearchParamType=ALL&txtsearchParamMan=ALL&txtsearch ParamVen=ALL&txtFromSearch=fromSearch&txtsearchParamTxt=4166

https://www.unjury.com/reg/chocolate_flavored_protein.shtml

I haven't tried either yet, but I have read that the unjury chocolate splendor is good tasting without that terrible smell or after taste. It isn't too bad of price and has tons of reviews.

The bulk ordering is a little expensive.

I use Body Fortress and it does the same thing to me. I have to mix it with water and I have to use 12 ounces of water rather than 8 ounces. It's the only way to save my stomach from the bloat.