My first attempt at protein was a disaster at best. I can't say it was the powder's fault...but more the fact I've never made a protein drink I think. I added too much ice and blended it. It ended up as slightly flavored ice and a lot of it. It wasn't drinkable.
So today I decided to try a ready to drink option. This line has lots of great reviews. It comes in chocolate milkshake, strawberry, and cookies and cream. I think you can also buy it in vanilla online. But the singles I've found are only in the first three flavors. Today I tried the chocolate milkshake.
The first thing I noticed was the consistency. It is REALLY thick. It didn't smell bad - although it did smell a little off. I poured a shot glass full (figure this is about all I'll be able to drink down at a time after surgery anyways) and tried a sip. It wasn't horrible. It wasn't something I'd buy because I loved the taste either. But it was tolerable and thus will stay in the running as a possible option. It keeps for 48 hours after opening and has 32 grams of protein. So even though it was costly - I see one bottle of this being enough for a day as long as I add in some other options that have protein. Worst case would be two of them a day. And they are much cheaper if bought online in bulk.
My oldest son (who LOVES chocolate milk) wanted to try it. I told him to go ahead and try it. He actually liked it and took the rest of the bottle off to his room to finish. So, I guess that says something about the taste. :)
I've heard totally conflicting stories on the need for "non food" protein after surgery. Everyone says you need some protein drinks for immediately following surgery. But from there I hear different stories. I hear some people say they are able to get all their protein from food...and other people say to get used to it because you'll need at least one protein drink every day for the rest of your life. I guess this is something I will have to find out for myself. I think some will depend on what foods I can tolerate. I like meats, eggs, and cheese so as long as I can tolerate those foods I think I'll do ok. Greek yogurt is another good source but I'm not a big fan of yogurt (or cottage cheese). I have an issue with "non solid" foods. I've never been a huge fan of things like puddings/jello/etc. I want to chew my food. And it's wholly a texture thing...not taste. Shelly (from The World According to Eggface) uses protein powder to make things like protein drops (yogurt with some protein mixed and frozen in ice cube trays), popscicles, ice cream etc. So, hopefully, even if I can't all my protein in food maybe I won't have to live on drinks alone. :)
I am really hoping I can get to the point where I see food as fuel. Where I eat to live instead of living to eat. As much as I wish my Dad could have found a healthy medium of a "healthy LIFEstyle" - I still have to admire that he was able to see food purely as fuel. I do wish he'd been able to occasionally do things like eat outside of the house because my Mom loved to eat out - so it affected her happiness. And I wish he hadn't been so strict with what we could/couldn't eat as kids - because I think that is why I have such an obsession with sweets. But I still have to admire his dedication. In the end it didn't save him (damn cancer) but he was still running 10K races up into his mid to late 60's and still walking daily up into his late 80s. So it did give him quality of life for a long time even if it didn't save him from cancer. There have been many times in my life where I wished I had his will power. I am hoping this surgery will give me the tool to be able to be more in control.
One thing to consider is that your tastebuds change after surgery, so what you like now you may not like a month or so after surgery. Before surgery, I used Chike, which is geared toward bariatric patients, for my pre-op diet. I tried lots of samples of other protein powders too, but really liked the Chike.
ReplyDeleteAbout a month after surgery, my tastebuds started changing and things were more tangy, more sweet, more sour, etc. Everything was stronger. The Chike was too sweet for me. Then, someone in my surgeon's support group mentioned Intek Evolution Protein powder. It has 34 g of protein and only 1 g of sugar per serving. It has a special extended release formula for the protein so it stays in your system longer. I found their site online and emailed them to find a local retailer. I went to the local retailer and got a couple baggies with samples to try. I LOVED it. I switched to Intek Evolution Protein about a month or so after surgery and still love it now that I'm over a year out. It's now the only protein I'll drink.
The other thing to consider is to play with how you drink it. Many people mix protein powders with milk instead of water. Some people like it warm. Others like it cold. Some like it more like a smoothie. Some only like the ready-to-drink ones (which actually lose some of their protein nutrients since they're ready to drink). Some only like powders.
Personally, I shake my powder in a shaker cup with about 10-15 ounces of water. Then, I dump it in a 25-ounce water bottle and add more water to fill the water bottle. I LOVE mine that way because it takes longer to drink so I get more exposure to the protein and I get more fluid in at the same time. It's also not as sweet for me when it's diluted. I know lots of people think I'm nuts for drinking it the way I do, but it's what I found is the best for me. Don't be afraid to play with protein drinks and find what's best for you!!