Yep..another question on how to get protein in!

I will be 2 weeks out tomorrow. I started protein shakes about 6 weeks prior to surgery (breakfast and lunch) to help with preop weight loss and to get myself used to shakes. Was fine doing them during this time.

Oh my lord, now I know what people ,Dan about your tastes so aging after surgery! The shakes are so sweet and when I make them with milk, I physically feel full and heavy. I have tried so, so many types of shakes (Body Fortress (choc, van and straw), Matrix, Syntrex, Nectar. I have tried the fruit juice flavored ones...nope, not for me! I ordered the unflavored protein powder from Unjury online...dear lord, this was horrid!

The best that I have found for me are the RTD Mylopex and Muscle milk. I can get them down, but wish they had less sugar and carbs..plus they get pricey. Also, they only have 20-25 protein grams per shake. I am supposed to get 60 gms a day. I am able to get about 2-4 tbsp cream wheat in the morning and 6tbsp cream soup at night..neither provide much protein

So...long story short..any suggestions? I will try mixing powder into my pudding or yogurt, but 2-4 tbsp is hard.

I see my surgeon and NUT tomorrow and hope to be moved on to puréed foods..yeah! So looking forward to having a bit more variety. Do you all think that the added foods will help with my intake, or am I still going to be a slabs to the shakes..lol!

Also, doing well with my liquids...usually 56-64oz a day and walking 30mins 2x a day.

Thank you

Yes, it's challenging during the liquid phase.  How about the Unjury chicken broth?  I haven't tried it but I've seen it at my surgeon's office.  I know I craved savory flavors when I was post op from my Band surgery.  How are you using the Unjury unflavored?  I never tried it as a liquid. I always used it to add to soft foods which you can't do yet so don't throw it out.  Hopefully you will get to add some variety after your appointment.

It's not easy but it's so worth the sacrifice.  My surgeon requires 3 weeks of liquids only POST OP, but no Liquid diet pre-op.  They are all slightly different in their protocols.

Hang in there!

Lisa O.

I ordered a sample pack of the Unjury chicken soup, it was tolerable.

I have been mixing the unflavored powder in strong flavored crystal light: raspberry ice, fruit punch. It smells and to me has a creamy taste..yuck! I will hold onto it, hoping I can mix it in with things!

I am also craving savory foods..lol! I love the smell of pasta sauce cooking and have never been a fan before..lol! Can't wait to make the ricotta "lasagna" bake!

I was on a 2 week pre op diet, but not liquids. Is it 11am yet so I can "chew" something..lol!

Here are my tricks:

1.  First thing in the morning, put one scoop of unflavored protein powder in a dish on your kitchen counter.  Every time you get something to eat, try to put a little bit of the protein in it.  Just start with a little pinch in your yogurt, pudding, soup, sugar free hot chocolate, whatever.  Just a pinch, stir well and see if you think another pinch will still be edible.  Even using just a little pinch at a time, by the end of the day you'll have gotten an extra 20 grams of protein or so.  And if you are really just using a pinch at a time, it should not affect the taste or texture of your food at all.

2.  Eat Greek yogurt or cottage cheese.  For the yogurt, buy plain and mix in something for flavor.  If you mix in a spoonful of sugar free cheesecake flavor pudding mix, it will taste like real cheesecake (you can add a tiny pinch of protein powder, too, and you'll never even know it's in there).

3.  Make protein ice cream.  See theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com for a bunch of delicious-sounding recipes.  I've only known one person ever to say they didn't like it.  It saved my butt in the beginning.  I didn't find a protein shake I could stand for the first few months but I had protein ice cream every day.

4.  Go to Vitamin Shoppe or GNC and buy some ready to drink shakes.  Just buy single bottles so if you don't like them you aren't stuck with a whole case.  Try these, if you can find them: Oh Yeah! brand in chocolate, cookies n creme and/or banana (lots of people seem to like those flavors, though not everyone does, of course); Isopure smoothies, not the ones that look like Gatorade, but it says smoothies on the bottle; Cytosport, which to me seemed a lot like the Isopure only I actually thought the Isopure was better - but I know some people that hate Isopure but love Cytosport, so try them); Atkins ready to drink, especially the mocha one  if you like mocha stuff; any others that look like they might be good.

5.  If you haven't tried hot protein drinks, try them.  You can find tons of recipes at bariatricfoodie.com but basically, say if you wanna make protein hot chocolate, you mix the protein powder with a little room temp liquid until you get a paste, then pour in ho****er/milk and the hot chocolate powder and stir.  Make it warm enough to be hot chocolate, but not super hot - don't add boiling water.

6.  Try the Unjury chicken soup, if you haven't.  Get a sample on their website.

7.  If you like coffee drinks, I have found that a spoonful of Maxwell House International French vanilla cafe mix (sugar free, decaf) makes almost any vanilla shake taste better.  It covers up the protein smell, too

8.  If the protein smell bothers you, drink your shakes out of a cup with a lid. You don’t smell them nearly as much that way.

 

One cheat my NUT / RD gave me was to get some "Egg Beaters" liquid egg whites and mix them into drinks or yogurt, cotage cheese, etc. I've not tried them yet, but she says they are tasteless, not slimy, and an excellent protein boost. 3T containss 5g protein, 0 sugars, 1g carb, and 25 calories.

I did the protein shakes during my pre-op diet (7 days prior to surgery) and was fine with them.  After surgery (June 10, 2013) I did the protein shakes because I had to.  I am now 3 months out and just the thought of another shake makes me nauseous.  I get my protein in by eating Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, shredded cheese, or an egg.  I do add powdered non-fat milk to many things as it adds protein. 

Best of luck with your weight loss journey. 

You might try Isopure RTD from GNC.  It is more like a beverage rather than a shake.  It feels much lighter and less filling.  I checked with the NUT and she said it was fine - to aim for 5 ounces at least at a time to get 10 g. protein.  Comes in several flavors - grape, pina colada, fruit punch. 

2 things that helped me was ~

1. I got Light & Fit Greek yogurt (strawberry or raspberry) and put a scoop of Unjury unflavored protein in it (I seriously can't even taste it The yogurt is like 12g protein & the protein powder is 21g = 33g protein just for a snack :)

2. Total 2% Fage greek yogurt (the original one, no fruit flavoring), Now I HAAAAATE Greek yogurt, it is so bitter to me (but this one has like 20g protein). I put it Torani sugar-free vanilla syrup (you can buy so many different flavors of syrup from walmart) in and it really tastes like vanilla yogurt !! Again, put in a scoop of unflavored protein powder, now you have like 41 grams protein !!

Thank you everyone..and especially Kelly for your huge list of tips! I see the NUT tomorrow and hope to be advanced and that will include cottage cheese and maybe more than 2 bites of yogurt??

I will make sure to pick up Greek yogurt tomorrow. I will also look for more RTD options.

I LOVE the idea of starting with a scoop of powder and then taking from it all day.

Thanks again for all the support and tips in this journey!

I cant remember where I read this so I apologize I am not linking to your site. Please if anyone knows ad the link. 

I read that you can mix the unflavored protein powder with about an oz or 2 of water to make a paste then slowly once it is smooth mix it in with  hot broth of your choice. I have not tried it myself but with your desire for savory it may work well for you while getting in your protein.