I'm struggling with PROTEIN!

I'm 6 days out from RNY surgery and have not been able to eat the protein level I'm supposed to yet. Before surgery, I was eating it mixed in yogurt and loved it but it turns out the chunks of real fruit were integral to my liking it. I can't get through it all with nothing to chew!  My most successful day so far has been today. I mixed 2 scoops non-flavored and 1 scoop vanilla protein powder into 1 cup Greek yogurt and the pulverized a skinned peach, strained it and mixed it in. It tastes fine but it's 8pm and I'm about 2/3 of the way through it and I haven't eaten anything else. It's all I can do to get the water and this mixture down. I'm going bonkie with no variation or options!  I can't wait to get beyond phase 2. I need some texture variation!

Same for me. I'm 8 days out and haven't broken past 25 grams of protein yet for the same reason. I'm afraid what my doc will tell me at my f/u tomorrow. Looking forward to any suggestions!

If you can't handle the powders and shakes, try IsoPure Zero Carb drinks. I got mine at GNC and they're 40g protein, and liquids like fruit drinks. apple Melon and Grape were my 2 fav flavors. Plus this counted as liquids. They got me thru my liquid, puréed, and soft food phases.

Hi td,

I tried to get the IsoPure Carb drink at GNC today but they only had a powder version in my goofie town.  I'm going to try to order some because it does sound ideal to get the liquid and protein all in one.  I didn't get a chance to head to the grocery store for the flavored (fruitless) greek yogurt today but I'm going to be sure to get there tomorrow and pick some up as well.  Thanks for the great tips! It really helped to have all of you join in with the things that got you all through this initial phase.  I had a much better day today and will get a good night's rest and keep moving forward tomorrow.

 

I had the same problem and a lot of the time still do at almost 3 months out.  My surgeon's office told me that it is normal even now to not be able to get in all my protein.  Early on, I had help with protein drinks.  One I really like is Chike.  You can only get it online, and my favorite flavor is the banana.  They also have orange cream, which I didn't like quite as well.  The Chike has 24 grams of protein per shake.  Although they like you to get your protein in with food whenever you're able/allowed to, my surgeon's office said they have no problem with me filling in with protein drinks when needed.  My greek yogurt has 12 grams of protein and is my biggest means of protein consumption daily....usually 2 cartons of that every day.

Hi Denise,

I"m going to buy some Chike. I tried to go get the liquid IsoPure from GNC today but my local GNC only had powdered IsoPure so since I'm going online to buy one thing I might as well branch out and pick up other suggestions.  Thank God for Greek Yogurt and its high protein content!!! I'd be at zero grams P each day without it.  Thanks for the suggestion!  

Good luck.  You are very early. Most people have trouble at the beginning. It will get better! You'll get texture as your diet progresses along so hang in here - you don't want any texture that will harm your pouch where it is healing.  That is one of the reasons why we eat pureed or soft foods while healing.  

Have you tried the protein drinks?  If you put the protein powder into your water (or milk if that works for you) then you can get your fluids and protein at the same time!  It depends on your surgeon's plan, but mine had me doing at least 2 protein drinks each day.  That got me well over 40 grams each.  

On the yogurt, find some greek yogurt with the blended flavors.  For example, the Dannon Light and Fit Greek has several flavors that don't have actual fruit. Sorry, no help for the texture, but it really helps the flavor.  I enjoy the Key Lime, Coconut, Lemon, and Orange flavors.  

Good luck and hang in there!

Hi!  Thanks for your encouragement!  It really helped to have so many of you respond back with helpful hints about options that are out there.  I had a phone appt with my NUT this morining who said "I told you all this" when I expressed my surprise it turns out chewing is an important part of eating for me.  Really lady?  How does that help?  She told me 250 different things and obviously I underestimated this one.  I had a much better day today, relaxed more about it all.  Onward to another new and INTERESTING morinng!

My favorite protein is PREMIER PROTEIN. I bought if of of amazon. Comes in Vanilla,  chocolate and strawberry.  ISOPURE and I didn't Gerry along.  After taste is nasty to me.  Also have PURE PROTEIN. Bought at Wal-Mart. PREMIER PROTEIN has 30 grams in 11oz and PURE PROTEIN has 23grams in 12oz. PREMIER PROTEIN is what they have me in hospital.  I  see it advertised on this site. Taste more like a milk than protein.