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A lot of people ask for Protein drink advice, and since I've had a really hard time find a Protein Drink that I could tolerate, I've tried a LOT of them. Most of the time, the suggestions we get are "try drink X, I love it" but it can be hard to tell if you will like the same thin because everyone has different tastes. So, I thought I'd write up my assessments here in case it helps someone else. To help you gauge your tastes to mine,:I do not like sweet drinks like sweet tea, nor do I care for artificial sweeteners (including stevia) or sugar alcohols; I don't mind the mild texture that is a given with protein powders. So if I say a drink is "extremely sweet," and you love southern sweet tea, you might like it whereas I gagged on it. Also, My tummy seems to be somewhat intolerant of sucralose and/or acesulfame-K, which are in the vast majority of flavored Protein Drinks. Unless otherwise stated, all the items listed have at least 15 G protein and no more than 6 g carbs per serving. "RTD" means ready-to-drink, I.e. drinks in bottles or cartons. Everything else is a powder. All powders are either whey-based or vegan/plant Proteins. All whey items state that they are lactose free. I haven't been able to bring myself to try the new " beef proteins" (basically gelatinized bones & hooves of cows) ! All powders were mixed with 1 cup unsweetened almond milk and ice cubes in a shaker jar/ball. Texture of drinks made from powders would probably be even smoother better using a blender or bullet. ********************* Ready-to-Drinks: Premier Protein, RTU, vanilla, from Walmart. Extremely sweet, with a strong artificial sweet taste from sucralose (Splenda) and aculfesame-K (ace-k). Strong artificial vanilla flavor. Very smooth texture. Medium body (I.e. Thickness, as in a milkshake vs juice). Gave me a stomach ache & made me burp and feel a bit bloated for a while after drinking (probably the sweeteners) ATKINS ADVANTAGE, RTU, coffee flavor, from Harris Teeter grocery. Extremely sweet, although the coffee flavor cuts it a bit during the first few sips. Sweetened w sucralose & ace-k. Very smooth texture. Medium-thin body. Gave me a headache & stomach ache. GNC TOTAL LEAN 25 shake, RTU, strawberries & cream, from GNC. Very sweet, with a artificial sweet taste from sucralose (Splenda) and aculfesame-K (ace-k). Light strawberry flavor. Very smooth texture. Medium-thick body. Very filling but it does make me burp and feel a bit bloated for a while after drinking. NOTE - the powdered version of Total Lean 25 is MUCH higher in carbs. OH YEAH! NUTRITIONAL SHAKE, RTU, strawberries & cream, from Harris Teeter grocery. Very sweet, with a artificial sweet taste from sucralose (Splenda) and aculfesame-K (ace-k). Bright, full-bodied strawberry flavor. Very smooth texture. Thick body. Very filling but it does make me burp and feel a bit bloated for a while after drinking. This brand has recently started being carried in Harris Teeter grocery stores. Haven't seen it anywhere else. MUSCLE MILK, RTD, chocolate, from Walmart & Harris Teeter grocery. Very sweet, with a more natural sweet taste. Sweetened with fructose & sucralose. Very smooth texture. Thick body. Very filling but it does make me burp and feel a bit bloated for a while after drinking. Powders: unjury, chocolate, from BariatricAdvantage.com Very sweet, artificial sweetened flavor. Sweetened w sucralose $ ace-k. Very smooth texture, especially for a powder. Thin body. I found this not to be filling at all. 100% whey isolates. Like all whey proteins on this list, claims to be lactose free. NOW SPORTS PEA PROTEIN, unflavored, from GNC (vegan). Unsweetened. Tastes a little like dirt. Might be good in Soups, or blended with fruit post-op, but would taste odd with sweeter drinks. Standard powdered protein texture (sort of chalky but not gritty) . Medium body. 100% pea protein from yellow split peas. PERFORMANCE AMP WHEYBOLIC EXTREME ORIGINAL, unflavored, from GNC. Unsweetened. Mild whey flavor, would be fine with anything. Standard powdered protein texture (sort of chalky but not gritty) . Medium body. Whey isolates and whey hydrosylates. Like all whey proteins on this list, claims to be lactose free. MUSCLE MILK NATURALS, chocolate, from GNC. *my favorite!* Perfect, mildly sweet, with no artificial sweetener flavor. Moderately chocolatey flavor. Sweeteners are fructose, stevia, & monk fruit. Least sweet of all items reviewed. Standard powdered protein texture (sort of chalky but not gritty) . Medium-thick body. Very filling. NOTE - this has 10 g carbs & 26 G protein per serving. It's more than the 6 carbs per serving my nut wants but less than the 11 g she said was the absolute max. To reduce carbs/protein ratio and keep the flavor, I sometimes mix it with protein-enriched almond milk and Water. Unlike Muscle Milk RTD, this does not make me bloated or gassy, so I think it's the sucralose in the RTU that bothers me, not the Muscle Milk itself). Mixture of milk-derived proteins, including whey isolates. Like all whey proteins on this list, claims to be lactose free. JAY ROBB WHEY PROTEIN, chocolate, from GNC. *my 2nd favorite!* Sweet, without artificial sweetener flavor. Lovely milk-chocolate flavor. Sweetener is stevia but this lacks the strong bitter aftertaste that many stevia-sweetened products have. Only 1 carb per serving. Smooth texture, especially for a powder. Nearly as smooth as Unjury (but more filling). Medium-thin body. 100% whey isolates. Like all whey proteins on this list, claims to be lactose free. VEGA ONE, chocolate, from GNC (vegan). Extremely-sweet, artificial sweetened flavor. Slight gritty/grainy texture. Thin body. GARDEN OF LIFE ORGANIC PLANT PROTEIN, chocolate, from health food store (vegan). Extremely sweet, artificial sweetened flavor. Slight gritty/grainy texture. Thin body. GARDEN OF LIFE RAW PROTEIN, chocolate, from GNC (vegan). VERY sweet w slightly bitter aftertaste (sweetener is stevia). Slight gritty/grainy texture. Thin body. RAW FIT, coffee flavor, from health food store (vegan). Sweet but missy taste, w slightly bitter aftertaste (sweetener is stevia). Extremely gritty texture. Tastes like you are eating ground up leaves & sticks. Thin body.

I thought this was going to be something along the lines of Lady Chatterly's Lover when I saw the title. As has been mentioned, go back to lean Protein for a while. Also, you mentioned you were "getting your liquids". Just because you get to the goal set for you doesn't mean you have to stop, or even that it is enough. So a little more drinking might help you some - Water and other non alcoholic things of course!

I'm going to take the blame for not getting anywhere with my band. I shouldn't say I haven't gotten ANYWHERE...I've lost around 15 pounds or so since being banded on August 29th. I'm stuck, though. My doc has a list of things that band patients do wrong and I'm going to review that again. I already suspect a couple that are impacting my failure here: grazing, not NEARLY enough exercise, wrong carbs (unfortunately I can eat anything right now), and drinking alcohol (I love dirty martinis). I have an important occasion coming up on Nov. 10th and I'm so disappointed that I won't be looking better than I do. I weight on Sundays and I'm up 1-1/2 pounds. Rats. Bless you all. Hope your Sunday is sunny and wonderful,

I've found the question of alcohol consumption and vsg posed before on here, but most of the responses were lectures on empty calories or "I don't even like alcohol since the sleeve"- good for you! But I'm not interested in hearing from non-drinkers or about the empty calories. I have dinner with my European family every week, and wine is a huge part of it. Can your stomach tolerate alcohol on the sleeve? Is it painful? When in your journey (how many weeks) were you ok to have alcohol? I have no intention of abusing alcohol, but I would like to have a glass of red wine with my dinner once or twice a week, and occasionally have a vodka martini when I'm out. I do not enjoy sweets or soda, alcohol is my only empty calorie thing I want to enjoy. I don't mean to sound hostile about people that proudly have not had a drop of alcohol since VSG, I think it's great to abstain from something that can become easily unhealthy. However, I want to have some answers about alcohol and VSG!

Im 7 mths post opt and alcohol has never been an issue for me. im a social drinker. i have a drink @ least once a week. the only problem i have is that my alcohol absorption rate sucks now. I feel tipsy after a glass of wine. thats the only problem i have ever had with alcohol and my sleeve. so I say have your wine :smile1:

True. However, maybe this is why alcohol becomes so attractive. I can't remember talking about addiction transfer either, however, as a reflux conversion patient I didn't have to attend any pre-op program and back in time nobody seemed to be too concerned about addiction transfer.

hi i had my band fitted five years ago and was very happy with it for the first 3 years 10 months but i found out that soothing was wrong and the tube had come out of the port making the band usless. i was heart broken as i had done so well lost 4st 3lb taking me down to about 9st 10. i am now a year later still without my band. i got no help off the nhs and i thought i could control the weight myself. however since then i have put on nearly two stone but i am now considering having port replacement surgery and it will cost 2000 pounds on top of the 6000 the operation cost in the first place. i still don't know what to do as there is no garentee that it wont happen again and it is only covered for 28 days. its not as easy as people think it is just a tool to help you but if you like chocolate or alcohol these things will still make you fat. drink is my biggest problem its full off sugar. however on a plus side once you do see the weight come off and the comments you get are far more rewarding than food. let me know how you get on. regards tracy

And I forgot to say...read anything you think will help! The Favorite Grocery Products thread is amazing and Food Before and After will give you great ideas on what to eat and how much people are eating. I have started shopping at Trader Joe's and Aldi looking for the best products I can get (for the cheapest price). I have a board on Pinterest for Low Carb Meals and Gastric Sleeve ideas. Most people on here are so kind and want to help! But the search functions is your friend! Stalls, Headaches, Coffee, Alcohol...whatever you want to know...I have typed in my surgeon's name so many times!

I am a firm believer in therapy for our food issues, but the psychologist who did my pre-op evaluation was and is a NUTJOB. She told me that I WOULD be an alcoholic after surgery, but still gave me a pass for the surgery. F her and the horse she rode in on. I'm not a drunk, not even close. I have other addictions and I'm trying really hard to make one of them exercise. (VST qualifies as an addiction, right?) Your psyche person should have kept her unqualified medical opinion to herself. You and your surgeon are the only people who can decide or dictate what procedure you should have. I'd def tell the surgeon's staff that the psyche person is offering up her unsolicited opinions on medical procedures. That may sway who they use for future patients. You need to do what is best for you.

For me, I learned a lot of faulty beliefs about food as a child. My Dad, who had schizophrenia, was never very loving (actually extremely abusive) but on occasion, when he felt especially happy, he'd share his joy, and love with us buy buying junk food. I remember him carrying me on my shoulders at around 4 years old down to the corner store and bought me those little chocolates wrapped in foil in the shape if a football! That's a special memory for my because I've had very few experiences of feeling loved by him. (Food = love) I was the oldest of 9 children. I had a lot of responsibility and stress growing up seeing as my dad was unreliable mentally and our mom was a raging alcoholic with a mood and anxiety disorder. I felt very comforted with food. I liken it to a drug. I could eat so much pizza that it would get me high. I would feel relaxed and happy afterwards. (Food=escape) I was never called fat in kindergarten, but that changed in 1st grade. It was so humiliating. I was ostracized from my classmates and I hardly ever had friends through out school. Thats when I knew I was fat. My mom said I wasn't and that it was baby fat and I'd grow out of it. I didn't. I got bigger and bigger. I went through a little phase where I tried not eating. I wasn't very good at that. (Food=companion) So this little fat girl grew up to be a fat teen with very low self esteem. The first boyfriends I had at that time were real scumbags and of course that's all I thought I deserved, subconsciously anyways. They were into the drug scene and I made some pretty poor choices back then, experimented with drugs, sex, and alcohol. During this time I lost weight. I remember fitting into a size 16 and I felt like I was getting skinny. Food wasn't an issue for me at that time. Male attention was my drug of choice. It sure felt good to feel wanted and be given compliments and to have that void in me, that deep dark hole of just desiring to belong and feel significant temporarily filled by the strange men. By the grace if God, I was able to pull my self out of that. But at 15 and having had many many horrible experiences, I developed depression. And there was my good ol' frenemy FOOD. (Food=antidepressant) I got my first job at Taco Bell. I was 16. I ate whatever I wanted. I was up to 230lbs and 5'3". There were times I tried to diet and exercise, just never worked out. I met my husband there. He liked me because I was big. He was into that. I never felt pressured to lose weight and he treated me to anything I wanted. (Food= love) He didn't do it to hurt me, he saw feeding me as making me happy which it would do. For years though, I'd cry to him. "I'm so fat, my knees hurt, my back hurts, I can't climb stairs, I broke your moms chair, I hate my self, that's why I can't get pregnant, I'm too fat, I can't lose weight, I need help, promise to help me?, don't let me eat too much.... And on and on. He'd try. He would really try to help. The addiction was too powerful. I decided I need to do something about it. I started researching fertility treatments and they assured me if I were to lose weight I'd greatly increase my chance to get pregnant. I researched the lap band back then, before anyone really heard of the sleeve. I decided that that's what I wanted. I had to lose 30lbs to get the surgery and I put my butt to work! I wanted a baby! I was infertile for 5 years and once I lost those 30lbs I got pregnant. I was around 250-260lbs then. I said well to heck with getting the lap band now! At the end of my pregnancy with my son I was a whopping 310 lbs. (Food= I can eat more when I have an excuse...I'm feeding two!) Some of the weight came off and I was pregnant with my daughter at 276lbs. I was 300lbs at the end of that pregnancy. I was the fat mom. The lazy mom. I was the fat wife that just found out after (at that time) the whole 9 years I had been with my husband he had been cheating on me with another woman!!! I was not going to be fat anymore!!! I pursued wls and had my sleeve on 2/13/13. I am down 116lbs. Currently weighing in at 185lbs at 6 months post op. I have had the most bumping road I could have imagined for my self. I have had several breaking-up and getting-back-together episodes. I had an extremely slutty stage too where I was reverting back to what filled my void as a teen since food wasn't an option anymore. I cheated on my husband with random men. I was a mess. As for right now, I'm doing good. I'm happy with my husband and have not been promiscuous. Doing pretty good eating wise and working on becoming a better me. I'm learning to love myself in a way that heals my void so that I wont rely on an external substitute. I am learning to be really nice to me. Now if I can only quit smoking! Lol, but really I need to.

@@Amelie2016 nope I do not, at least not on purpose. I don't drink more than a couple of glasses of wine during the year, but that's because I'm not a fan of alcohol, not because I'm trying to avoid reflux. I also don't eat a lot of citrus fruits because of the carbs. Chocolate and other candies are out. So to some extent my diet is naturally controlled against reflux. On the other hand . . . Garlic, onions, peppers, extremely hot sauces and spicy foods, tomatoes, nuts, cheese, avocados and peppermint are all regular parts of my diet. And let's talk about coffee. I drink black coffee the way a lot of post-op people drink water. My body seems to love it. My doc says the most important thing in preventing reflux is to not eat too much. That's very important post-sleeve anyway -- you need to stop seeking the "full" sensation in your stomach and eat just enough to be satisfied, not like your stomach is "full." Good luck!

One thing my surgeon said - post surgery that wine/alcohol passes through us in a way that is different to others. One glass could make you over the drive limit, or even quite drunk, so take care! xxx for your anniversary!

I was not allowed any alcohol for a year (and to be honest, I haven't had since before I had surgery - so probably three years). I think coffee is different - there's a wide range of opinion on that among surgeons, so my guess has always been that coffee is probably OK, but some surgeons are overly cautious. There seems to be more of a consensus on alcohol - most agree you should avoid it that first year.

Hey May 26thers! Congrats on our one month surgiversary! Hope everyone is doing well. =) How's everyone doing? Lets hear some updates! I drank two margaritas last night. My surgeon OKed me for alcohol and my indulgence did put me over 900 calories for the day total, but it was worth it - had tons of fun and workeds some of the calories off while dancing! Nothing bad happened, not even any nausea. Though my tolerance level seemed about the same as pre-op, unfortunately.

I lost weight weight for the 1st year, then it stopped. Now (since January) I have started working out 5 days a week and the weight is coming off again. At first I was able to lose weight without exercise but eventually exercise was necessary for weight loss. I am averaging about 2 lbs a week right now. I can't wait to hit my goal weight!! :success1: When my weight loss was stalled I was eating the wrong foods. Better food choices make the lap-band work!! Wrong food: Ice cream, chips, cheese, alcohol, chocolate, tacos, candy. Right foods (your band can't be too tight): chicken, veggies, fruit, ground beef (lean), Water, yogurt Those were just some ideas for those that are having trouble losing.

I don't know why I can't figure out this tracker thing! Oh well, so I post without one. I have only told my daughter and a friend, both that have a band and of course, my husband. I feel the same way. ashamed of how many times I've lost and gained it all back. I don't want to hear "well if she'd just work out and stop eating she'd lose it". I can lose it, I just can't maintain it. Damn, Sure I wish I could but I need help and hopefully this is it. If you're an alcoholic you don't take that first drink. With a food addiction it's different. You have to eat. You have to take that first bite. You know, the people that don't understand why I can't "just do it" seem to be the ones with a cigerette in their mouth. You know, the ones that say they could quit if they want to?:ohmy:0

I started smoking a cigar and having a drink with it after 5 weeks. I don't drink a lot just enough to go with my cigar and I smoke a cigar about 3 or 4 times a week. I had my surgery September 6th, haven't had any problems or issues. I talked to my doctor about the drink and all they told me was I would feel the alcohol a lot earlier and get drunk very easily. Maybe I don't drink enough because I haven't gotten drunk, just a little tipsy. I have lost 60 lbs so far and am so glad I had the procedure.

It's acidic and can cause reflux. You are not healed, it takes months to heal all the way. Also alcohol is dehydrating. Mine said 6 months, and also be aware of transfer addiction. Some people turn to alcohol instead of food.

I have something sweet every Sunday. Ice cream, cup cake, homemade Cookies. I make sure it is the best quality and I enjoy every bite but I make sure that it is single serving so its not hanging around on Monday! And I have alcohol on Fridays too...

that was me in the dress. i thought that was going to be you across from me. you seemed so quiet. in the pre-op room, i was the one who pulled the curtain closed around me. it was so loud in there. i was really just trying to make my peace with everything. i thought i had already done that, but when i got in there, i was so nervous. i just wanted to meditate and concentrate on everything being ok. i was so tired of "coffee girl" be-bopping around talking loud. i understand her job, but i really contemplated body slamming her and stuffing a sock in her mouth. she was nice, just the wrong time for me to meet her. i am glad you are doing better. my gas was not so bad, my problem was soreness at the port site and soreness at one of the small incisions that was directly over one of my ribs. now i am itchy itchy itchy on my back and belly. plus i have that sticky iodine all over me. i have scrubbed with alcohol swabs, soap, i even tried fingernail polish remover on a small spot to see if it would remove it. nothing works. i am still uncomfortable in a bra, so my boobies stick to my belly where they touch. it is sooo gross. i am fortunate with work in that i can handle my eating schedule however i wish. my office is directly next door to a golden coral. i can go over there and pay by the pound. they have plenty of grilled meats i can choose from once i get past the mushies stage. they also have plenty of mushies that i can add in my diet so that my co-workers arent tipped off to my wls. they have lots of cooked veggies. and paying by the pound, i won't have to order a meal for 5 or 6 bucks that i know i will not be able to finish. a couple of weeks ago, i got a piece of grilled steak, a dab of pototoes and a spoon full of greens, and it only cost 1.36. my kids lunches cost more than that, and they don't even like eating it!! i am drinking the atkins advantage shakes. very tasty, but quite sweet. i wish they made a t-bone flavored one. second thought, t-bone in that consistency might be nasty. i go back to work monday, and i plan to keep plenty of Water handy. i will also make sure that i eat the right things. i have been logging my food in the green journal they gave us. i assumed that is what is was for. i was so thrilled when i got that book. i keep a journal, and i love stuff like that!! i asked my husband if he told them that i had a journal hobby. i am also going to bake an apple to take to work, with some cinnamon. i am going to make it look fattening, and fool everyone, including myself into believing it is completely unhealthy. well, i have company now. kathy, are you still having the gas pains? my neighbor is a nurse, she brought me some NuLev, which dissolves under mytongue, tastes like a mint, and really worked for me. i took them on tuesday and wednesday, one on thursday, and now i think my gas has resolved itself. i just thought i would share that with you in case you are still sufferring with the gas. Chat with ya soon!

Well, i have figured out that if i eat a large breakfast im not as hungry and i dont snack during the day time.:w00t: But i was kinda bad today....i am not going to be bad anymore tho! :fish:I am fully comitted to the band and that is how its going to have to be.:thumbdown: My mother on the other hand sent my grandma a text message saying that she was hungry and didnt have any money. So who gets to send my mother money...ME.:sleep: As much as she fucks up and doesnt take care of her responsibilities i still cant tell my mother i wont give her money for food when she says shes hungry and doesnt have any money to buy something to eat. :confused5:Intervention just doesnt work in my case, i dont have any family except for my mom(who is a alcoholic/drug user), grandmother and my aunt (who is a alcoholic). Today i was thinking i dont think i have even met my real mother bc the only mother i have ever known has always been on drugs and alcohol.:thumbup: So how do you tell family no when we are all that each other has. :angry_smile:ERRRR i wish they would both get better! Mandi Jo Today I ate: -3 scrambled eggs, 3 turkey bacon, 1 wheat tortilla and 1 f/f peach yogurt -apples and peanut butter -2 burritos from Taco Bell :thumbup: -Protein Drink

I went on a cruise preband but I had already changed my eating habits and was exercising daily. When I got back one of my friends said I was the only person he knew that lost weight on a cruise. My mother and I got up early and went lap swimming in the pool whenever possible. Later in the day it is to crowded. Also, we got a lot of exercise when we left the ship everyday. Also cruise ships are REALLY big. You can get a lot of execise just walking from your room to the restaurant or the shows. Many ships also have gyms. One thing I will say is to avoid the alcohol. I know easy for me to say; because I really don't drink. 1) They are really expensive and you don't really notice until you get the bill at the very end; 2) mixed drinks have lots of calories.

I do not and will not buy any foods or snacks that I like. I only have in my house the good foods and if I want to "binge" I can have 3 no sugar added Outshine pop cycles. I know what I like and I know that having it in the house gives is like pouring an alcoholic a drink. You just don't do it. Find an Overeaters Anonymous to help you deal with your food compulsion. You will find others with the same issues you have.

I'm a Wine / Martini person myself - I cut that out by 75% after getting the band. 3 things, 1- It slows my weightloss down / 2- I'm a lightweight now (I could throw them back previously) / 3- I workout too much and don't like feeling like a slug in the AM. Each wkend I usually have a martinin or 2 - and during the wk, a glass of wine here or there. My Dr did not say I "coulnd't" have alcohol, just use in moderation - and watch those "liquid calories" Alcohol (for me) helped put my excess weight on. I stopped being active & ate too much... Lulu~

That was a very interesting video, and it makes sense. Some dr. who are probably more strict with the water during meals is probably because they were so use to setting that guideline. New information isn't always taken well by some or are skeptic. I'll ask mine about some of this. My bf did ask when can I drink alcohol again, I wasn't sure actually so I said next month. lol. ( occasionally )