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Giveaways for the Walk From Obesity + Swag Bags!

I have several giveaways currently running to raise funds for the Massachusetts Walk From Obesity. 

To enter to win any of the following, make a donation of any size to the Walk or join the team and raise funds with us, and ALSO leave a comment on the prizes you'd like - all necessary links are in the following:

• From About Time - Nom! Protein!
• From CLICK Espresso Protein - My biggest giveaway ever, here.
• From The Enchanted Seed - Wicked awesome pretties, here.
• From Building Blocks - Super delish protein, here.
• From Teresa - Handmade jewelry set, here.
• More prizes on the way!

For local peeps that join Team MM and the Bariatric Bad Girls, you will receive a bag'o'swag from MM and vendors alike.  The more interest generated, the more I can add to the bags, so, MOVE YOUR BUTTS.  :)

Swag bags to include love from -

• About Time Protein
• Bariatric Advantage
• Building Blocks Vitamins
• Celebrate Vitamins
• CLICK Espresso Protein
• Gotein 
• Revival Soy
• Coming soon!

Vendors -

• If you'd like to DONATE A PRIZE that you can ship direct to the winner, email me ASAP at [email protected]. 
• If you have a product or equivalent for my swag bags, also email me now at [email protected]. 

Thank you!

Unflavored UNJURY Whey Protein Isolate

There are a few products that are staples in the bariatric world that I have never ventured out and tried. UNJURY Unflavored Whey Protein Powder is one of them.  (I did try their Chicken Soup flavor, because it was something different and salty, and I am a sodium lover, hello Ramen Noodle Broth.) 

UNJURY was around back when I was a bariatric baby, in fact, there weren't many options back then for protein, I bought what I could find at GNC and that was that.

Today, I tried Unflavored UNJURY Protein.  It's an affordable source of whey protein isolate.  It is, $16.95 for 17 servings.

Unflavored protein for a bariatric post op is like the HOLY GRAIL. 

All of us obsess about it, "OMG WHAT IF I AM NOT GETTING ENOUGH PROTEIN?  CAN I PUT PROTEIN IN MY FOOD?  WILL I TASTE IT? OMG!"  We all do it.  But, finding a protein that does not smell or taste like protein, might be harder than getting the protein minimums down to begin with.

I should note first, some details from UNJURY:

Ingredients: Whey protein isolate and soy lecithin

Contains: Milk and soy.  ***Note: Soy ingredient is Soy Lecithin, not Soy Protein.

For all UNJURY flavors, do not use in liquids hotter than 130º F. Proteins, when heated, change texture. For example, you have seen an egg white go from a clear gel, to firm white, when cooked. For UNJURY, in a hot liquid, the proteins tend to clump. A food thermometer is a good way to get the temperature nicely warm…just right.

*Note: We don’t recommend mixing Unflavored UNJURY in plain water.

I ripped open a single serving packet and sniffed.  It smells like protein.  A very strong whey protein smell, and almost slightly sour vanilla.  (I got the same reaction to the Chicken Soup variety -- which I immediately wondered "Why does this smell like vanilla?")

For review purposes, I like to mix the product as-is.  I added the packet of protein to a glass, and added cold water.  I broke the rule. To be honest, the PACKET does not say, do not mix with just water.  But, I have to taste the product - NOT what I am adding to TO. 

The UNJURY protein powder may be one of the fluffiest appearing powders I've seen.  It's awfully purdy.  I mixed it with a whisk, and it took quite a long time to dissolve into the cold water.  It looked a bit horrid at a point:

And, I thought I would abort mission and throw it away.

A bit more mixing, and the powder finally dissolved.  The resulting drink was a mostly smooth, sort of clear-ish, whey-looking yellowy liquid.  (Nursing moms?  Yeah, like that.)

One sip, Beth.  One sip for a honest reaction, and then I would add it to a "preferred beverage" to give it a fair chance.

And -- one sip.  It tastes like UNFLAVORED WHEY PROTEIN.  Big shocker!  It smells like whey protein, and it tastes like whey protein.  The texture is okay, it's super-thin and there are very few chunks (curds?) floating about.  But, it tastes, because it has to.  It's the nature of the product.

Alone, it's not good.  Not at all.  They warned me.  I did not listen.

I bastardized UNJURY -  my apologies - but can coffee fix everything?

After adding stuff TO the mixed Unflavored UNJURY, it's mouth-tolerable.  The taste isn't bad, the coffee covers of the flavor of UN.  As with other whey products it leaves a sticky mouth feel.  I am not a fan of this, and I immediately want to drink or eat more after I take in a sticky-whey product.

However, the odor is horrific.  I cannot get past the cup, even with coffee added.  Perhaps heated it would be better?  I don't know, but I am not loving this at all.

That said, it is a good quality product.

As a supplemental source of protein, it's great.  20 grams of high quality whey protein isolate with a PDCAAS score of 100?  Damn near perfect.

Form your own opinions - as always - try it for yourself. 

• Product - UNJURY Unflavored Whey Protein Powder - Container
• Via - UNJURY
• Price - $16.95 for 17 servings
• Pros - 100% PDCAAS Score, 20 grams whey protein isolate, decent texture, quite affordable
• Cons - Somewhat lumpy, highly fragrant, effed up my preferred beverage
• Rating - Pending, I am reading reviews elsewhere... I may try my other packet in a full-doctored up shake to confirm.
• PS.  It took twenty minutes for the manufacturer to reply this post. 
• 

Wahhmbulance.

www.nataliedee.com

Last night Mr. MM was whining about some gas pain, when he ate a protein bar on top of the existing bubble problem in his intestinal tract. 

A little advice, if you take nothing else from me ever again:  Do not eat a protein bar when you already have a GAS bubble floating down your pipes.

I told him, do not eat the bar.  It will only make it worse, you know better.

I noticed he disappeared shortly after eating the bar, leaving his computer on.  I found him in bed, laying in the fetal position with his eyes half-shut. 

"It hurts so bad. I am dying."

I laughed.  I couldn't help it, as I've been in the same "position" countless times before, thinking I am going to drop dead of a intestinal blockage or something, to realize that I REALLY NEED TO FART.

*Disclaimer - If you are a early post op with intense pain in your gut that has no explanation, go to the doctor.  Do not wait.  Thank you.  Also?  Post RNY gas pain happens, A LOT.  We do not digest fiber, sugar alcohol and carbs the same way EVER AGAIN.  YOU WILL FART LIKE CRAZY when you eat those things.

He moved from fetal position, to laying down, to all fours, to rocking, to one leg up, to two legs, to standing, to walking, jogging, pacing, and went downstairs.  He searched the medicine cabinet for GAS-X and we were out of it.

He came back up stairs, doing lunges by the bed. 

"O M G, OMG OMG OMG."

All the while I am watching, knowing he has to fart, because the man ate a protein bar filled with excess fiber on top of a huge gas bubble.

I got on his back and pushed, did baby massage thing, "Aiiiiiiiiiiiyeeeeeeeeeeeeeouuuuuuccccch!"

There was no relief.  This went on for a couple hours.  He was burping, so it was almost like a stuckage AND a gas bubble issue at the same time. 

At the peak -- he thought maybe his intestines were herniating and had to go to the hospital.  For a moment, I considered it.  I thought about driving the couple exits up to the ER with him, and all four kids, and then I told him to fart. 

"There's no way, unless you are dying." 

Boys are dramatic.  Girls?  Can handle this shit.  Literally.  We bend, contort, and usually without bringing much of the outside world IN to it.  ;)

And then miracles!  While in a special position - POOT. 

"I feel a little bit better." 

And, this, for hours.  He's gone to work now, still miserable, and I am still laughing because I told him so.

Hold your applause until the end.

^{I know some of you are going to give the standard reply before you even read this -- "Eff the haterz, Beff!"  But, this is obviously a problem that is not going to simply g'way.  Hear me out if you want to.  If this is going to make you twitchy, close it.  I know I have said these same words in a million different ways before, however it may be necessary to repeat them so long as I choose to maintain a somewhat public "persona" in this community.}

I am not a professional. I have never been a professional anything to anyone, anywhere, anyhow, for any reason. 

I have not been to college, I am currently enrolled in courses for a degree in Marketing.  I also have a serious interest in Psychology and Photography.  Where I am going with this?  I have no idea.  But for now, I am not anyones anything.  I may be enrolled in school for the next 2-8 years.

I work for no one.  I receive a pay check from no one.  I am an unemployed, at home mother.

This blog is my personal site.  I can write on it, whatever I choose, whenever I choose, however I choose, for whatever reason I choose.  I chose to write about post weight loss surgery issues because it's an issue very real for ME.  I am a post weight loss surgery patient, married to a post weight loss surgery patient, with several in the immediate family, and more to come.  There was no reason NOT to discuss and share weight loss surgery issues and opinions!

It has been suggested many times that I, as "Melting Mama," should not put forth words, advice, discussions, images, ideas, reviews, maintain a public persona, or what have you, because I, as "Melting Mama," am not portraying practically perfect proper post weight loss surgical existence.

Duh.

One of the most recent instances was regarding a photograph that was posted to Facebook of several of my Obesity Help buddies and I while alcohol was in the room.  (The photo is over in the sidebar here at OH.)

The message I received was clear.

How dare I? 

Don't I know I am a professional post-op, and that people are watching me?  Don't I know better?  What if the company whose product was featured SAW the photo?  Would they not be horrified that 6-8 post op weight loss surgery patients, most of whom are 6-8 years along, were mixing and considering the ingestion of TWO sips of vodka plus protein? 

(Note - the photos were done on purpose.  Obviously.  Anything more raucous than two sips of vodka in Beth's hotel room?  BY GOD!  And, heck yes! More please!  Have you not been to a conference before -- for weight loss, business or otherwise?  Don't act like you don't know what Can Happen.  Especially those who point fingers.  What MM did -- nothing.  Two sips of vodka a la product review, and in bed early, scared, because someone got SHOT outside my hotel.  )

It continues, spilling over elsewhere, how dare I make any inferences about anything to anyone, anywhere.

Basically -

"Watch out for that MM.  She might give you a cookie!  She might ask you to share a meal.  Watch out!  She might ask for your bacon! She OMG actually EATS PORK FAT.  Can you believe it?  She's big, fat, cupcake-face.  She eats carbs, drinks Diet Coke with a straw, doesn't wait ten minutes between bites, eats 6-8 times a day, weighs 167 lbs, doesn't like cardiovascular exercise and has seizures!  Why do you think she has seizures, huh?  It's 'cause she eats carbs, USES A STRAW, drinks coffee, and doesn't follow the rules of the POUCH!  Don't believe anything she says,' cause obviously she's not as perfect as we are.  And, look, she's rounding up other Dorito eaters for vindication!  GO GET HER.  Hmmmphh."

That's the basic feeling.  HOW DARE SHE!  She's an obnoxious little twit, that MM!  She's making... suggestive posts! 

We are not adult enough to make our own decisions!  MM should not post anything that might give us a jumping off point!  GET HER!

OMG!  A cupcake/. 

I can no longer control my own thoughts, feelings and actions, and I am going to lose all self-control over what MM posts or infers indirectly, and it's her FAULT.  I am going to redirect it to my own perceived perfection and "hate" her for no reason.

I believe you ARE adult enough to take care of your own shit.  I should not have to babysit your shit. Shit, being, YOUR OWN EMOTIONAL BAGGAGE, ISSUES AND WHATNOT. 

I ain't yo mama. 

I should not have to post in a way that ever patronizes you.  I should not have to speak to you from a pedestal, because, bitch, I am ON THE GROUND WITH YOU, EATING CUPCAKES AND DRINKING DIET COKE WITH A STRAW. 

I have been hearing that for years from various sources.  Typically I brush it off, as you would say, "eff the haterz, Beff." 

As I noticed in the last few months, some of the biggest sources of anti-realism are slowly talking more realistically.  Someone who used to proudly whore out a liquid protein diet and taking bariatric supplements, is now all about "real food" and "eating your vitamins."  People change, situations will do that to you, like, no longer profiting from selling vitamins.  See?  Ah-ha!  "But I thought you stood behind those vitamins!?!  Wait?"

I will reiterate:  I am not a professional anything, and you are an adult.  It is your choice to take information from whatever avenues you see fit and that fit in your lifestyle.  My lifestyle never, ever called for the typical post weight loss surgery paraphernalia and propaganda.  I never went into "this" with the goal of selling weight loss surgery.

I am afraid some of my peers assume that is what I am supposed to be doing.  It's not.  I never once said so.  If I wanted to sell you weight loss surgery, I'd be pretty freaking awesome at it.  I have zero interest in doing so, as weight loss surgery is not glamorous, and is not something to be entered into lightly or because someone else has success. 

My before and after photos might be inspirational, and my story WILL be inspiring, but it should NOT influence anyone to "get surgery."   I see weight loss surgery as an extreme medical intervention, not a quick fix to a passing issue, and surely not for vanity. 

Weight loss surgery can fix your fat, but it fucks your brain.  Take it from someone who has been HERE, watching this community for seven to eight years, I shouldn't be selling ANY of you surgery, nor should any of us as self-proclaimed "professional post-ops."

No. way.

I will not change, in fact I plan only to do better.

• 

  Use coupon code - 'meltingmama'

Obesity Help Cincinnati 2010 Event Photos (Orsomethinglikeit.)

Celebrate ENS - Multivitamin, Calcium, & Protein Shake

Oh.  My.  The event?  It's on.  I might implode.  We signed off on the contract a few weeks ago, and I closed one eye, made a wish and hoped we could get this thing off the ground.  It all comes down to the mighty dollar, and getting everything paid for.  Otherwise, I wouldn't be as nervous.  This is something I have WANTED to do for a long time, but waiting until I had the funds to fund it myself?  No.

What do we need?  Right NOW we are actively seeking sponsorships from businesses related to providing to the bariatric community.  

Also, we are selling vendor spots for weight loss surgery friendly products and services.  

If you are targeted business, and would like to check out a sponsorship package or vendor spot, shoot me an email at [email protected].  

I am hoping to gather a group of helpful individuals who would consider volunteering for the event in some way -- there are jobs that will need doing.  Particularly those with pre-event experience.  We have an event planning company handing many of the details, but there are those things that I might/should delegate that I probably don't even know about yet. 

I've had ideas tossed at me -- but frankly -- I don't know yet -- it is early.  As things come up I'd like to have a crew of volunteers around.  If you know of things that we could be getting done -- please let me know.

Today, I am building a webpage for the event, so the first thing I actually need -- a logo!  ;)

PS.  I promise not to pimp anyone's face out for ticket sales unless you promise me you will actually come.  (Except for Sarahlicious, because we have a contract.)  

Starting WITH:  Margaret Furtado,Teresa White, Shari from OH, and Eggface (who states that unless she gets hit by a BUS, she will get here.)  

WISH ME LUCK.

BELIEVE Protein Drink Mocha Latte

I ran out of soy milk this morning.  I thought I might open a protein shake and use it as "cream."  (I do this often -- particularly with vanilla RTD shakes or others that I have tried and did not enjoy and do not want to waste.)

I realized I have six of these "Believe" Protein Drinks in the fridge for review.  I poured half into my coffee and the rest into a glass for review.

Believe Protein comes from Bariatric Eating -- and is described as -

"You have never tasted anything quite as delicious as Believe, our new ready-to-drink sensation. Smooth and delicious coffee lattes filled with healing protein & natural energy – packed in premium glass bottles, they’re a pleasure to sip. 

The nutrition -

120 calories, 0 fat, 5 carbs, 3.5 grams of sugar.  Pretty damn good stats!

What's in it?  

 
Mocha: INGREDIENTS: Brewed Arabica coffee (coffee and water), EasyGest protein blend (milk protein concentrate and whole grain brown rice protein), carageenan, dipotassium phosphate, natural and artificial flavors, calcium hydroxide, caffeine, Ace-K, sucralose, niacin, pantothenic acid, cyanocobalamin, pyridoxine HCL. 

 
 I shook the bottle, violently, because the bottom was all chocolaty.  (The photo is post-shaking.)  I popped the top and the label started coming completely off, so I had to get the camera before I had a nude glass bottle.  

 
I poured half into my coffee - and the rest into a glass.  The sniff test?  Gah.  Same reaction I got last time to a very similar product with a different label.  (I have been told that it's not the same product -- and also that it is, so it's up to you to read the labels and make your choice.)  

Edited to add: After an hour or so... I think I have decided that it's not -- at least this product WAS changed.  My reaction to this taste was vile, whereas to the previous product, I didn't make a sour face.

 
This particular flavor the ready to drink protein coffee has a unique odor.  Though, it might be described as coffee milk - remember that syrup from when you were a kid?  Did you have that coffee syrup -- or was it a regional thing?  

The taste is also not unlike coffee milk.  The initial flavor is okay, super-sweet and milky, and then it's a bit sour and protein-y.  

Do you recall that short stint of SUGAR FREE MOCHA that Starbucks had?  It was a sugar free syrup that they used and discontinued very quickly.  It's THAT chocolate flavor that I am tasting, suspended inside protein.  The Believe is not even too far off of the bottled Starbucks Light Frappucinno drink, but with added protein texture and after taste.  If you're a fan of the 'bucks drink - this might please you, perhaps if you added a shot of espresso to it -- or a VIA packet?

The texture, it looks super smooth, aside from the chocolate lumps that were stuck to the bottom and top.  You can tell this is a protein product.  There is a bit of a powdery or grainy texture to it.  (I noted it with the other product too.)  You can feel it on your tongue.

On it's own, I cannot drink it.  It's sitting here, lonely in it's glass.

 
Added to my espresso - it was very unpleasant.  It soured my coffee.  However, when I added a shit load of sweetener, it was better, but I still do not like it.  At all.  

I only have one bottle, so I won't be attempting protein recipes with it - but if I had a CASE - I would take this - put it in the blender with ICE, a VIA PACKET, unsweetened cocoa powder, and a shot of sugar-free syrup in mint.

Now, to be fair in advance, because this is a privately labeled product that I have tried other flavors of, I think this is the WORST of the flavors, if it IS the same product, or at least damn near exact.  I honestly enjoyed other flavors, so I will review those as well and let you know.  

But this Mocha Latte, nothankyouverymuch.

This was about an hour later - I let it sit - the chocolate sunk again.

 Also - it may be important to note -- I hated other bottled coffee protein drinks - remember achievOne?

• Product - Believe Protein Drink in Mocha Latte
• Via - Bariatric Eating, now available at some local retail shops
• Price - $27.99-$34.99
• Pros - 120 calories, 0 fat, 3.5 grams of sugar, 5 carbs, good proteins, RTD, comes in other flavors, Italian Cappuccino, Soothing Chai Tea, or Vanilla Creme Brulee
• Cons -  Smell aversions. Protein mouth feel.  Ruined my coffee.
• Rating - Pouchworthy, (this flavor...depending on your personal TASTe)
• Related reviews -
• • ^{Bariatric Eating Inspire Protein Drink Candy Cane}
  • ^{Bariatric Eating Inspire Whey Protein Isolate Peanut Butter Cookie - melting mama}
• ^{Bariatric Advantage's ProJoe Review}
  
• ^{Click Espresso Protein}