zeskyizblack

I had surgery on 12/2. I started my preop diet on 11/15. The entirety of the last 6 weeks has been nothing but just protein powder. Premixed protein drinks. Clear protein. I am to the point where I can actually no longer stomach any amount of protein drink. They have started making me nauseated. And a lot of it is that I have to take my time with them and I can't just down them quickly like I used to. So far I have tried: -All of the fairlifes. These used to be my absolute fav. So far, the regular nutrition plan 30g protein chocolate ones are the best, but hard for me to find, especially in bulk. The strawberry/strawberry banana ones and vanilla ones are way too sweet. -A lot of premier protein flavors are gross to me. They were gross before surgery and are extra gross now. Same with MuscleMilk brand. -I have unflavored Isopure that I put into a lot of things, and this is fine as long as someone else makes whatever I am drinking and doesn't tell me that they put protein powder in it. It's like I can immediately tell, which tells me this is mostly mental. -Dutch chocolate isopure powder. Okay, but still protein powder-ish. -Isopure clear drinks. So far these have been my favorites, but it's a lot of liquid for me to take in, 3x a day, especially when I'd just prefer plain ice water. -H2Protein: sometimes these are too sweet, sometimes they are okay. I just ordered some of the protein shots in hopes that maybe the 3oz size will make it easier to get my protein goals, which have been severely suffering these last two weeks. Any advice?

I bought one of the OWYN to see if maybe plant protein might taste better to me right now, as well as one other shake that I can't remember the brand of. Just singles, to see if they taste okay. My girlfriend enjoyed the pumpkin spice flavored premier protein, but I could smell it across the room and it just smelled so sickenly sweet.

I drink the regular 2% fairlife milk and use it in just about everything I make, like pudding, etc. I've been drinking it for a while though, I developed some lactose intolerance after having my child in 2020 and found that it settled better on my stomach. I am now back to tasting the difference between it and regular milk thanks to taste changes, but it's nothing super terrible. I agree that the 42g are the best bang for the buck. It was easier to down them when I could chug them, but now they are just very whey-like and gross to me. The regular fairlife nutrition plan shakes are easier. Sam's club has them back in stock now so I picked up a case. Per the nutritionist on my surgery group's facebook page, the BariatricPal protein shots are about 7g whey protein vs 23g collagen protein, and that we don't absorb collagen well. I will instead use them to supplement my protein intake instead of just using them as primarily protein.

Hair is primarily protein, so protein intake does affect hair and hair loss as well. I know I will lose some hair. I used to have super thick, long hair, but PCOS thinned a LOT of it out for me. Fortunately, it is still pretty thick, but I am still trying to limit what I will lose as much as I can. Muscle wasting is a concern for me. I do have a decent amount of muscle, I work as a bedside nurse and, before I had some lower body issues, lifted pretty regularly. Didn't touch the scale or take any inches off, but at least I was flexible and stronger. Today marks the end of my lift restrictions, so I am hoping I can go back to doing some weight training soon!

I have this craving for salty, so it's not terrible. I do drink my broths and whatnot, I can eat scrambled eggs, so I'm not entirely liquid. I've been referring to this stage in my diet as the baby led weaning stage, because I'm able to eat soft foods but most of my intake is still liquid. The only thing I have found that my body didn't like was pasta.. I deconstructed my dad's Christmas lasagna, ate a very small piece of pasta, and regretted it. Next day, I was fine with pasta. It was weird.

I do like milk! I just feel like it isn't helping me with the 70g protein/day thing, especially if I struggle to meet fluid intake.

So I’m technically on soft foods now, per their little sheet they gave me. I tolerated purées fine so I was cleared to move to soft foods. I’ve also been…rarely picking at the softer ends of regular foods. Primarily pickles. Not sure why I have been intensely craving pickles, but it’s more intense than when I was pregnant. I have a fear of losing all of my hair and what muscle mass I do have so I’ve been hyper focused on my protein intake, which is absolutely pitiful right now. I did go shopping on the site earlier and ordered some of the protein shots, and then some hot cocoa mix, as well as liquid protein packets. I have always been a “grazer” so it’s hard for me to sit down and focus on a meal, but if I have something healthy to pick at or drink, I’ll drink it. I figure 100ml is easier to down than an entire shake, and I can do that a lot easier three times a day than I can with regular shakes.