Question about Time Out

I have been lurking, reading and gathering info for a couple of days now.  What an amazing group of people you all are!   I'm 5 years out of surgery and have re-gained about 40 pounds over the last year and a half.   I'm finally ready to make a serious correction to my behaviors and habits via the Time Out plan. My question is this:  Is any protein shake acceptable or must I only use Nectar?  I used  Whey Delicious after surgery and have ordered more in order to do the Time Out, but if I have to make a switch to Nectar, I will.  Also, can anyone tell me how long I should remain on a Time Out? Are there any specific - or loose - quidelines? Thanks so much! A

I don't know the answer to your questions.  But, I just wanted to offer some encouragement!  You CAN do this!! As for what protein, I have been using Iso-pure personally.  It works for me.  I think you have to do what works for you.  I hope someone more qualified will help you with your question!! Good Luck~

A I also want to give you words of encouragement!  I was in the same boat as you 6 months ago.  I am 6 years out and had regained 40 lbs.  I have lost all the regain and more  however, I did not do it on the Time Out Plan, so I can not offer you any words regarding it specifically.  So it is possible, you can be successful! Best of Luck Terri

Thanks so much for the encouragement, Becky! It helps tremendously. Terri- Thanks to you as well for the kind words...I'm also in WV! Whereabouts are you? And how did you drop the re-gain PLUS some, if I may ask? What a great success.... I'm feeling the mind/body synchronicity that always seems to accompany success, so I'm pretty torqued to get this show on the road.  A

A I live in the Parkersburg area, where are you?  For myself, I needed to go back to the basics.  Making sure to get 64 oz of water, not drinking with my meals, I cut out sugar which for someone who lived for chocolate it was tough at first.  The first couple days I had a major headache, but once I made it through the withdrawls, I don't even feel cravings or temptations anymore.  I look at sugars like I am an addict which means I can not mess with it, one little bite most likely will lead to another and so on.  I eat protien first, then veggies and then low glycemic carbs.  Tracking your intake is quite an eye opener, I log every last bite on fitday.com.  It sounds a little obssessive but it keeps me accountable.  To shrink my pouch I went back to eating 1/2 cup of food per meal.  Now I am satisfied with that amount.  Don't forget to exercise, that is still one thing I need to improve upon.  I hope this helps, let me know if you have any other questions. Terri

Hi Terri! I'm in the Eastern Panhandle - quite a haul from Parkersburg, I believe. Sounds like an amazing discipline you implemented to get back (and then some!) to your desired weight.  I am hoping to achieve the same success, eventually in the very same manner but I really need the emotional and physical jump-start the Time Out regimine seems to provide.   Thanks so much for the offer to help...you might be sorry! A

When my surgeon put me on Time Out, he specified Nectar or Essence (both made by Syntrax) because they are very low calorie (90 cals per serving) and very high protein (23g) and sugar free.  You can evaluate the protein you are using and see if it will work for you. My surgeon has new postops use Muscle Milk which is high in calories because they can drink such a small amount and he wants to be sure they get adequate nutrition the first month or two.  However, he doesn't like the higher calorie protein shakes later on because he thinks they can hamper weight loss. My suggestion to you is that you try what you have and see if it works for you. Patty

Thanks for the info, Patty.   I checked the Whey Delicious nutrition facts and they are slightly different than Nectar's:  100 calories/21 grams of protein  vs.  Nectar's 90/23.  To me, this is a neglible difference, since it took a very long time - not to mention expense - to find a protein drink I could tolerate.  Whey Delicious is sweetened with Stevia, which I think makes all the difference for me.   In any event, I'll take your sage advice and try what I have. If it doesn't work, I will NOT throw my hands in the air and pronounce it a failure! Thanks again, Patty! A

I agree that the difference is not enough to worry about.  We do have to be careful with protein - some of the drinks have over 300 calories per serving and I would gain so fast on that it would make my head spin. Patty