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Hello. This is my first post. I've had the lap band surgery – one week ago today actually – with Dr. Tang.  The surgery went well and I feel pretty good. 

I'm having a bit of trouble with food quantities.  I am diabetic (type 2) so I need to eat fairly regularly. I eat about 1/3 cup to 1/2 cup per meal. Since I've been on a full liquid diet for the first week, and am now moving to the blenderized diet, I've had trouble getting enough protein in my diet.  I feel very tired and lack energy. I've lost 12 lbs in the last 8 days (I'm sure there's a lot of water loss in those pounds).

I have trouble with protein powders (they make me gag – and I don't want to throw up). 

Any recommendations for food that has high protein for the blenderized diet?

thanks!  Kristina

Thanks Ron.  Yes I've already had to reduce one of my diabetes medications and I'm testing my blood sugars several times a day.  I did get an endocrinologist a week before the surgery and have an appt to see him (Dr. Dahl) at week 4 after the surgery.

I've tried the protein powder in yoghurt, water and milk and for some reason it makes me nauseated – I'm going to try it in the blenderized foods (now that I get to start with them) – maybe that will mask the taste (I've tried unflavored and vanilla).

You're right – I'm probably trying to rush things a bit – I felt pretty good after surgery so I didn't take much time to rest but now I'm feeling pretty tired by mid day – I thought it was due to a lack of protein in my food but maybe it's also still recovery from the surgery.

I'm committed to sticking with it! Thanks again. Kristina

Hi Kristina
I has band surgery in December with DR Amson and ran into a few of the sMe problems. One of the things that helped me with protein was tuna, that actually wasn't to bad. Good luck with everything and as Ron said stick with it, it does get better and in a bit u will feel so much better. I'm already doing thing that there is no way that I could have done even 3 months ago.

Liz

Congratulations Kristina.

There are sooooo many different brands of whey isolate protein powders, with many, many different flavours.  You should work hard on finding one – or more – that you like.  Try going to a body building shop, like Popeye`s (in Victoria, Nanaimo) and tell them you are looking for a whey isolate powder.  They can give you taste tests in the shop of any of them.  I find any of the fruit flavoured ones are really good cold; some obviously better than others.  I really like cran-razz and fuzzy navel (peach and orange) but there are many many more flavours.  Also lots of other really good ones like coffee, cookies and cream, blueberry cream, etc.  Even if you buy one, open it and try it several times, Popeye`s will take it back if you don`t like it and give you a credit on another one.  Well worth going there……much more variety than say WalMart or Costco……where you would never be able to take back an opened product of this type just because you didn`t like the flavor.  Also try unflavoured soy protein powder in yoghurt; it`s good.  I keep several different flavours in the house – I have a bit of banana left right now, cafe italian, berry blast and fuzzy navel around for variety.  Sometime, weird as it sounds, I even mix a bit of Crystal light in the fuzzy navel for a different flavour.  Protein powders are a great way to ensure you are getting enough protein…. they can be a good staple; keep looking until you find some you like.   The coffee protein powder I mix with cold coffee, milk, cinammon and stevia.  Dump in a few ice cubes and shake hard.  Good and cheap iced coffee.  And pick up a shaker bottle with a wire whisk ball in it; available at London Drugs and Popeye`s and I`m sure other places – about $9.00.  Saves having to pull out the blender!  Take a look at some good quality protein bars to keep on hand as well.  And try scallops or shrimp for protein as well.  Look up some of the bariatric eating sites for ideas – ie http://www.theworldaccordingtoeggface.com; http://www.bariatriceating.com, http://www.highproteinfoods.com etc for more ideas.

Your best bet is to try looking for a shop that supplies to body builders; they offer a larger choice, with many different types – some with dried egg in the powder that keep you fuller longer.  Others that are for building muscle, others for losing weight, some for gaining weight.  Go there; talk to them.  Popeye`s also has an on line store.  Check it out as well….bonus for you………

Popeye's Supplements – Coquitlam
Phone: 604 472-1064
Address: 102 – 2733 Barnett Hwy
Email:
Website: http://www.popeyescanada.com

As I said, don`t thing many places will give you free taste tests and satisfaction guaranteed, or return product, even open.  Worth going there.

Congratulations!!! How exciting for you!!

I live near Coquitlam as well and I always went to the popeyes that Jan posted above. They are really great with giving samples to try. My favorite is the tropical mango! Once you get to where you can have fruit, I add frozen mangos to it and lots of ice to make it nice and thick which is like a shake almost. There is one I order on amazon called orange cream. It is by Matrix. That is my fav! Someone gave me a recipe for a copycat of an orange julius that I like using it. I have not been able to find that protein powder in Canada.

I was very similar to you though and could not stand protein powder. Then I learnt very quickly how to doc it all up. I sometimes use sugar free syrups (vanilla, caramel) da vinci and sometimes toroni (probably spelling them wrong, tee hee)!!! But once you are able to move past some foods and have these things you can experiment more with protein powder. Someone gave me a recipe file with 165 smoothie recipes and I will sometimes use recipes in there but instead of say orange juice I will use a crystal light early sunrise in place of real orange juice since I do not drink juice at all. Also a hint is if you use any protein powder with milk, replace it with unsweetened almond milk as this will cut the calories down. This is only my preference but when using protein powder you really do not need the extra protein from milk since we only absorb so much protein at a time anyway. It is a preference thing I know.

I am trying to get away from crystal light due to the artifical sweetner and use raw natural such as stevia. But sometimes I have no choice, lol.

Looking forward in watching your journey. How exciitng for you!!!

I think you are doing excellent Jan! You have such a great attitude!!!

I sometimes will add some greek yogurt into my protein drinks. It sure makes it creamy. The only greek yogurt I like is the one called Liberte. I find it at save on and apparently costco has it but the last few times at Superstore I have not found it.

I love the idea of the muffin in a cup. I love experimenting. I love to cook too. I rarely ever eat out because of the sodium and the processed ingriedents they use in what you might think is healthy enough. Just my personal preference though. LOL.

Hi Carrie:  I haven't tried really cold (with ice) blender shakes yet – I tried a sugar free popsicle and it kind of hurt my stomach (felt achy). So I've tried to stay away from really hot and really cold for now.  But I know I'm going to have to get over my dislike for protein powders. 

Has anyone tried Rice Protein (my sister recommended it but I haven't tried it)?

Hi Jan:  I've tried the protein powder with milk, with yoghurt, and with water.  I prefer the water mix but still can't stand the taste of the powder.  I will be going to Popeye's tomorrow after work – I'm really looking forward to it.

I do like yoghurt but overall the one that I have (Olympic non-fat (0%) plain organic) seems to have high sugar count – I thought a 0 fat plain yoghurt would also be low in sugar. 

Jan, I don't like cooking for my family at all – I want to eat when I cook.  So they're on their own for now (my kids are grown university students – they can make their own meals).

Kristina

You won`t be hungry and probably won`t eat more than a teaspoon for a meal.  Make sure you get in as much liquid as possible.  It doesn`t really matter that you aren`t eating much food…your body is feeding off your "on board" stock (your fat…).  As you get farther along, you will eat some more but won't have the desire to eat much.  Read some of the old back posts as there is LOTS of information there from veterans. No sense in recreating the wheel when there is so much history on the site!