Conundrum Re: Protein hellllp!

At this stage, with the problems that you are having in getting things in (I am assuming, based upon the "protein first, protein first, protein first" mantra that we all hear from our docs) that it will be very difficult for you to overdo the calories. If you are tracking what you are consuming, I suspect that you are below the 6-800 calorie level that seems to be the lowest specified by the common post op plans, so a half banana at 50-60 calories isn't going to do you in.

Adding some other flavors to the protein shakes does help to mask teh artificial taste that they all have to one degree or another. I normally make my shakes (when I still do) with skim milk as I find the texture is improved and the protein boost from the milk is worth the 80 calories per cup. I prefer the chocolate shakes and will often add a little unsweetened cocoa to boost the flavor intensity while cutting the sweetness (and usually a few drops of peppermint extract to change the flavor balance some.) Perhaps adding some other flavors to the vanilla mix will help - vanilla extract to boost the vanilla flavor, or maybe lemon or other flavors for a change? I use the Unjury unflavored mix for non-chocolate uses and EAS powders for the chocolate as it has a fairly delicate flavor - both the chocolate and the "artificial" protein and sweetener aspect - that lends itself to mixing with other flavors. Perhaps their vanilla version is similar and my be worth trying to compare to the Unjury vanilla.

Don't be too afraid of stalling your weight loss, either. You are right at the point of the typical three week stall that most everyone goes through. It's just your body's way of adjusting to its new intake environment. Indeed, some people find that if their caloric intake is too low that they will stall until they boost it some - the body does adjust its metabolic rate to adapt to reduced intake in its attempt to maintain body weight, and sometimes it needs to be tricked into letting go. At this point, ignore carbs, fat, or anything else as protein is your priority - as your doc says, do whatever it takes.

Good luck, you will get thru this, and the weight will come off - it really has no choice about it at this point.

Thanks Elaine! I wrote that down and will definitely try it. I haven't tried that brand yet so it's worth a shot. :) 

I calculated it out and it's a whopping 330 calories, 6 fats, 39 (yes THIRTY NINE) carbs - yikes, and 33 proteins. I didn't drink it all, but thank goodness I am going to a spin class at noon. I think that's more calories if not around the same than I eat in one entire day of mushies!

29 of the carbs are just from the greek yogurt (14) and the banana (15). Those are estimates but still.

I'll definitely have to figure something out bc I just can't fathom getting two more of these in one day. My taste buds say yes but my head can't justify that many calories and esp carbs.

Frozen blueberries yes, and even frozen strawberries (any berry) is lower carb than a banana.. The other thing, have you tried some Nectar Medical Unflavored in stuff like Chai tea.. hot (not too hot or it clumps) or cold? Add some half & half to make it creamy, and it goes down easy.. even 1 scoop per cup has 10 g protein, so you can have multiple cups to get your protein in.. and get the fluid thing covered too.

I use the unflavored in a big 25oz shaker bottle with a lid, and 1 scoop in there is barely noticeable to me. I add it to Iced tea, coffee.. herbal teas.. anything really. I did not like Unjury unflavored, but Nectar is good IMO. Good luck. I also hated many of the samples I got, and I lived off them for the first month, I'd sometimes have to gag one down that I didn't like, but didn't want to throw it out (too cheap!~).. just treated it like medicine.

As I wrote Elaine back I got more responses! Thanks everyone!!!

Coolbeans- I eat maybe twice a day? Sometimes less. Morning are the worst still and sometimes just too dang hard to get anything in. Plus my restriction is SUPER in place, I can drink pretty easily now, even protein shakes when they aren't making me gag, but when I eat anything solid I take maybe 3 baby bites MAX and then burp it up for an hour, so I really am not "eating" more like barely tasting. Then for dinner I always have some kind of soup- lately albondigas because that soft beef seems to go down okay. I can't wait to be able to get the protein from more frequent solid means! Thanks for the suggestions, I will def try 4-6 once I can get a little more in more comfortably.

Elina- Yes I needed that smack! It was so delicious while it lasted, but I want good results so I think that I will take on the blueberries instead and try that banana flavored protein. I know from past diets that the super low carb has always worked best with me, so I should know better.

Califsleevin- Cocoa powder sounds like it might do the trick, I've been meaning to get some as well as some of the SF syrups, so this might be time now! Then I won't have to worry about all these carbs I added in!

Again- thanks everyone so much for the encouragement and great advice!

The best thing I have done with protein is mix it with coffee in the morning.  It tastes like a latte, I'm not adding any carbs or sugar to my day other than the protein powder, and I have moved up from 1 scoop to 1 1/2 scoops, starting my day with 37.5 g of protein before I leave the house.  The coffee also masks the protein taste.  I blend mine in a blender hot just to make sure the powder mixes thoroughly.  I started with decaf but now use regular coffee in the morning.  If I do another coffee in the afternoon it's always decaf.  If you like cold coffee, use cold coffee and add ice.  It ends up tasting like a frappucino, and you can always add the sf syrups if you choose.

I tried mixing sf pudding mix with greek yogurt, and I enjoyed about 2 bites before my stomach decided it was too soon for greek  yogurt.  I ended up giving the mix to my dad who is losing weight, too.  I had mixed the sf cheesecake pudding into the yogurt and it ended up tasting like cheesecake filling.  He loved it with some graham crackers crumbled on top.

I may try the greek yogurt with a different sf pudding to see if I can tolerate it now.

Amy

Thanks Jo! - I haven't tried the unflavored ones yet, but I do love Chai tea and other teas, so if they mix well in that then it would def work for me. I'll order some. I have the other samples from Syntax/ Nectars and am too cheap to throw em out too! So I'll be gagging those down in between :( Also I'll switch to berries rather than banana, pretty much anything to mask the taste.

Amy- I haven't tried the coffee thing yet although I keep reading that others really enjoy it so perhaps I should at least give it a try! I have decaf at home that I can make. Tomorrow I will give it a go and see. It sounds really icky to be honest, but if you and so many others like it then it's worth a try. :) Thank you!

I guess it depends on the type of protein you use. I have vanilla creme flavored protein by Pure Protein.  I don't know if I'd try it with a different flavor except chocolate or unflavored. 

Amy

when i need the extra protein for the day, i use a protein shot. i got them at walmart. it was ten bucks for a box of 6. they have 120 calories and 26 grams of protein. no carbs or sugars. i mix it in with a bottle of water because it is pretty sweet. this way i can sip it for an hour or so. they are fruit punch flavor. not bad, not great, but ok when mixed in water.

It sounds like you may need some recipes.  I was not a big fan of protein shakes at first, but after finding a ton of recipes and playing around with them, I find that the shakes aren't too bad! 

Check out the blog "The World According to Eggface."  She has a ton of recipes there.  USAFWife posted a gigantic list of recipes a day or two ago as well.  You'll have to figure out the nutritional facts for yourself.  I just took the ones I thought I'd like, calculated the content and then had a few to choose from when needed.  Basically, I plug in the shake with the content I need (if I have fewer carbs left for the day, I choose a lower carb shake).