Search the Community

@@Overcomer_Rev1211 I'm 2 weeks out tomorrow, and I'm struggling with everything you are. Everytime I stand up, I get so dizzy my vision dims for a second. It scares me. I also feel HORRIBLY weak. I started out being able to get all my fluids in, all my protein, and I was walking every day. That lasted a week...this entire second week, I haven't walked once, I've gone the last 4 days with MAYBE 24g protein per day (and that's pushing it, and I'm only getting half my water down. NOTHING appeals to me. I think I'm just burned out on the full liquids and I'm waiting for an order of Genepro protein I got off Amazon...it's supposed to be fantastic and I can add it to ANYTHING I eat. I'm looking very much forward to my first post op appt tomorrow and getting the go ahead to begin the puréed phase. I am praying I start to feel better soon, and I'll pray for you too. It's definitely no fun. Much harder than I imagined. And I didn't come into this thinking it'd be simple, but crap!

Had my surgery on 12/10. About to go into my second week of pureed foods. I’ve been really good about following the post-op instructions. Does the hunger ever go away? A big reason I went ahead with the surgery was that I was told that with gastric sleeve, you don’t feel so hungry. Honestly, I was relying on that. For the past few weeks I crave everything I see on tv, my husband eats, etc. And I feel hungry enough that I could eat that entire burger and fries, or two slices of pizza (my usual pizza intake before surgery), or whatever. It’s not just bad foods. Good healthy food also makes me salivate. Obviously I don’t, because it’s not allowed. But I was hoping that I wouldn’t be so hungry, which makes the cravings worse. Also, when I eat my pureed food, I can get in between 3-4 oz. And I eat tiny spoonfuls and very slowly (30-40 mins). When I stop, it’s not because my stomach feels full/satisfied. It’s because I feel pain in my stomach. Does that make sense? And an hour later I think I feel hungry again but by this point I’m trying to get fluids with Genepro in. I just basically feel hungry all day. Even though I eat 4 times a day and I’m getting my fluids in.

THANKS EVERYONE! I gave it a shot! Had hubby get me some GENEPRO Medical Grade flavorless whey protein from GNC. It includes enzymes to help break down the protein I guess. Apparently from what GNU rep said many do and they are listed on label since whey is difficult to break down for everyone( who knew!!) Tried it last night a couple times and tolerated it very well. I'd recommend this brand. I was even able to sprinkle on JELLO and wasn't any taste (to me anyway) Hving it in c.f. iced tea now. 1 tBsp is 30g of protein. I think this will go a LONG WAY in helping me get my protein in daily!

I am with you Bluesea71, GENEPRO is tasteless. I put it in my pre-workout drink and it dissolved well, mixed well and tastelessly with my eggs. It is worth trying. I have been trying to get my protein up closer to 200g per day, and at 30g a serving this could supplement the 100g I am getting from regular food sources.

Thanks for the hint. I'm going to remember that when it's time to get started. I tried the Premier strawberry and didn't like it, although lots of people do seem to like Premier. I've ordered unflavored unjury and GENEPRO so I hope they are truly unflavored! I've also got a sample pack of the nectar Protein drinks.

I cannot tolerate the sweet and I have never liked sweet drinks. Even the Greek Yogurt has tons of sugar in it. What I found is: GENEPRO http://www.musclegen.net/ .... this is oderless and tasteless and does not clump. You can add it to hot or cold....or just sprinkle over your food. This stuff is great. One tablespoon equals a scoop of whey and has 30 grams of Protein. It is approved by John Hopkins and has 96% absorbtion. You can also order it from Amazon. I fix a Crystal Light and a scoop. I understand you can contact the website and they will send you a sample?

Hi everyone. Coming up on day 7 post op. Down 13 pounds. Very little pain and overall feeling good except for one thing- I AM SO HUNGRY! Everyone says we should not be hungry but I know what I'm feeling is physical hunger. All day I think and dream about food. Not even super fatty food. Just a bite of chicken breast or a cucumber would make me happy. I'm dreaming about the purée stage at this point. I've been getting my liquids and Protein in but that only totals to about 200-300 calories a day. I've been adding GENEPRO to almost everything I consume to get my protein in. shakes started making me sick and I'm even allowed yogurt and SF pudding. Taking a PPI twice a day. What should I do??? I don't feel like this is normal. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm one week and on liquids only. I have a shake for breakfast and lunch and broth with Genepro for dinner. I can have almond milk (I mix with shakes) and strained cream soup. 543 calories (includes my 2 B-complex supplements) and 85 grams of protein.

If there's a Sprouts near you they have an unflavored whey isolate Protein powder that dissolves very well into both hot and cold liquids, and is odorless and tasteless. The drawback is that it doesn't have as much protein as other powders do, with just 9 grams. It only has 40 calories, zero fat, and zero carbs. The perk of it is that you can buy it by the weight and try it out before deciding to make a larger purchase. I started off with a bag that just cost $2.85. I've also liked GENEPRO. I'm a bit dubious about the claims, but I will say that I only had positive experiences with the product. It mixed into everything smoothly, and was undetectable. I don't know if it was a matter of causation or correlation but my hair loss really slowed down and I felt more energetic while using it. I just added it to my morning coffee (which my doctor approves of; I know some surgeons are against caffeine) rather than using it as a meal substitute, though. With both of the unflavored powders you can add them to something like Crystal Light. Gatorade Light is relatively low in calories and carbs and Protein Powder could be mixed into it, though I would only have that as a post-workout drink or something rather than a staple drink. I really liked the fruit flavored Isopure drinks before surgery, but was repulsed by them afterwards. Anything overly sweet wasn't palatable to me until about 5 months post surgery. They did remind me of Gatorade. I didn't care for Isopure or Unjury's unflavored protein powders, but many do like them. Syntrax has a lot of fruit-flavored protein powders. Vitamin Shoppe often has them available in sample packs, so you can try them out before committing to one of the big, pantry-space hogging containers. http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/b/syntrax/N-9bk#

I've read the same stuff. They're not claiming that it's the same chemical structure. They're trying to explain in layman's terms how they're changing the chemical structure. They're describing stripping out everything but the protein chain and then binding the protein chain to less stuff but still stabilizing the protein chain and in the process making it more bioavailable. In trying to make it understandable to non scientists they've actually made their description not scientifically accurate. My scientist dad used to get driven crazy by this, he called it "simplification to the point of error". I've read some other documents by the company, and it appears to me they're claiming that their process of refining the Proteins reduces allergens and makes more of the protein bioavailable and that's what they're basing the claim on. I've also read the outcomes from the clinical trial. While I think there are some basic flaws in the study design, my conclusion based on the raw data from the study (available at clinical trials dot gov) is that Genepro is as good as any other Protein powder. I have found it to be easier to mix in more foods at more temperatures than other brands, so I'll stick with it. For me, it's like the question of which is better, a .380 or a 9mm? The answer is the one you'll actually carry. My 9mm is a much better weapon, but it's not concealable. My .380 is, so it's the one I'm more likely to actually have at hand. If another protein powder is better, but I won't use it because it's gritty or changes the texture too much, or won't dissolve well in hot liquids, is it really better? Exactly. I agree. That's why I use it too... Until I hear otherwise, I'm not changing. My blood work is perfect this past year so that's another reason. Also, I'm pretty sure they don't want to give out too much of their process details, not just to break it down in laymen's terms but also so other companies won't copy it. Maybe it's just simply denatured protein with the addition of Prohydrolase hehe. So even if they break the peptide bonds, and do change the structure, it still contains all the amino acids which our bodies still benefits nutritionally from (both through absorption and digestion). P.S. That's so cool your dad is a scientist. My dad was a surgeon before he passed away, and I tried that route but ended up as a scientist instead. I kept passing out watching his surgeries .

@@Alex Brecher Thank you for the link. I read through it once, and will do some more reading on it. This quote below was my introduction to GENEPRO science when I started looking into it after my nutritionist recommended it to me. It was written by a person claiming to be Brian Parks, the owner of Genepro. "What makes Genepro so unique is that we are able to reduce the Protein molecule to half the size of normal protein through a process called Electrophoresis. This is a reverse electrical polarity method of extracting pure protein. In essence we take protein molecules that, for reference, are the size of a baseball. We push these baseball sized protein molecules through a Polyacrylamide gel (the gel stays below 87 degrees F) and introduce electricity through the gel. This process removes hydrogen ions, allergens and any fillers or binders so we are able to then bind the protein with a strand of six amino acids called a Hexapeptide which stabilizes the molecular structure. This hexapeptide increases shelf life of the protein as well as balancing the bitter taste that is present with the protein after electrophoresis and actually gives the protein a slightly sweet undertone. The protein is pushed through a filtration system and into a centrifuge which results in a pure protein molecule that is now the size of a golf ball (for reference). You may not be able to fit 30 baseballs into a shoe box but you can fit 30 golf balls. Thus giving us the ability to get 30grams of protein in a 1TBS serving size." The older term for this is "snake oil". I am not a scientist, but I do know that we do not possess the technoloy to compress molecules to "half their size" and keep them chemically the same. We can certainly remove parts of molecules to make them smaller, but then it ain't the same molecule anymore. Electrophoresis does indeed have the ability to separate molecules by size. It has no efficacy for changing the sizes of molecules. There are several possible conclusions that can be drawn from this. One, this poster is not who he claims to be. Two, this poster does not understand the process he is trying to describe. Three, this poster is misrepresenting the facts. The content is consistent with what I read in other places though, so I am inclined to take it as their official policy. Now we have the "as good as" double asterisk after the claim. Maybe it is and maybe it isn't. When someone starts out with a shovel as large as the one used above, I am already skeptical. You posted a clinical study. That is a start, but the sample size and the run time are very likely statistically insignificant. The number of variables here are incredible, with no real system for controls, at least according to what I read. Twenty people over six weeks isn't much of a sample, particularly when you consider how that sample was gathered and apparently monitored. I googled Medfitrx, which is apparently the organization which conducted the study. They appear to be local to the Genepro people (not a huge issue) and appear to be, in their words, "Your one stop shop for diets, supplements, workouts and more that are designed by your genetics for you. # science." That is about as big a red flag as can be possible as far as I can tell. There are very official looking numbers, .gov, and other impressive terms sprinkled about the study pages, but it all looks just a teeny bit suspect to me. Then again, I am old enough to remember clinical studies sponsored by the tobacco companies that proved smoking cigarettes was not bad for you. @@Sai My nutritionist recommended Genepro to me immediately following my surgery. She said it was great stuff. She liked it, the doctors liked it. So I went out and bought it. After all, they know. This is their profession. They went to school for this stuff, right? I bought a can, brought it home, and started using it. Then I got to comparing scoop sizes with my other stuff. Then I started reading things like what I posted above. Then I had my next appointment with my nutritionist. So I asked her what her experience with Genepro was, exactly. "We've been recommending it for a while. People really like it." "Have you done any research, or is there any research concerning their claims?" "Uh, I know the doctors really like it." "How much reading and research do you think they may have done?" She actually snorted in laughter and said, "Probably not much!" Please keep in mind I was not trying to trap her, or back her into some sort of corner. I was honestly seeking information. I asked her open, non leading questions to start and these were the answers. So I got a little more detailed. "Can you tell me how they can fit 30 grams into a 15 gram (ml) volume which has a weight of 4 grams? "No." Do you think the doctors can tell me?" "I doubt it." "Is there any research out there independent of their own claims and publications?" "I am not sure." This is the response from my nutritionist at my program. I have no idea how other nutritionists might respond because I have not interacted with them. However, when I take this experience into account with everything above, it all appears to be supported on a very shaky foundation. There is plenty of anecdotal information from happy customers, but consensus does not equal fact. If people want to buy and consume this stuff, they have every right to do so. I am going to remain very skeptical until I see some solid, independent information that has been demonstrably gathered and sifted for reliability.

At this point I use GENEPRO to goose up my Protein levels if my daily protein is low. I love it because other Proteins give me horrific digestive ... issues.

I've read the same stuff. They're not claiming that it's the same chemical structure. They're trying to explain in layman's terms how they're changing the chemical structure. They're describing stripping out everything but the protein chain and then binding the protein chain to less stuff but still stabilizing the protein chain and in the process making it more bioavailable. In trying to make it understandable to non scientists they've actually made their description not scientifically accurate. My scientist dad used to get driven crazy by this, he called it "simplification to the point of error". I've read some other documents by the company, and it appears to me they're claiming that their process of refining the Proteins reduces allergens and makes more of the protein bioavailable and that's what they're basing the claim on. I've also read the outcomes from the clinical trial. While I think there are some basic flaws in the study design, my conclusion based on the raw data from the study (available at clinical trials dot gov) is that Genepro is as good as any other protein powder. I have found it to be easier to mix in more foods at more temperatures than other brands, so I'll stick with it. For me, it's like the question of which is better, a .380 or a 9mm? The answer is the one you'll actually carry. My 9mm is a much better weapon, but it's not concealable. My .380 is, so it's the one I'm more likely to actually have at hand. If another protein powder is better, but I won't use it because it's gritty or changes the texture too much, or won't dissolve well in hot liquids, is it really better? You've been paying attention to all my posts, haven't you? If given a choice between 9mm and .380, I always go with .45 ACP. Seriously, I appreciate the way you have laid it out. To continue the analogy, if this is the way they are going about it, they are really shooting themselves in the foot. I am not a scientist, but I am fairly well educated, and I know enough about chemistry and physics that when someone says they are shrinking molecules... I am working real hard at getting my protein from natural food. I realize there will be some Protein shakes and bars in my life, but I am reducing them as much as possible, just because of some of the, uhhh, side effects (especially the bars). I don't gain or lose anything in the Genepro discussion, and that makes it easy to keep an open mind. Thank you.

No need to do that. I mean, you can but you don't have to. The science is sound. Purified Protein is nothing new, and because they add a mixture of enzymes to increase the bio-availablity, it is equivalent to 30g and a great product. Sorry for the nerd talk, but I've been a biochemist and purifying & analyzing Proteins for a very long time. Their competitors have been going on youtube and bodybuilding forums to try to slander them. Apparently people believe them but doctors know, NUTS know, which is why they often suggest GENEPRO. I've been using it from the beginning as my main protein supplement and my protein labs are perfect every time.

My dad who doesn't know anything about gastric bypass puts in his two cents from time to time. I'm pre op but telling my husband that I need to try some Isopure or GenePro powder. Dad was saying that protein powder can affect the kidneys. Is there a problem with using them? Like I said I'm pre op but practicing getting in my 64 ounces of water in and my kidneys seem to work, I pee all the time. Don't want to mess them up with protein. I drink protein shakes now and don't have a problem with them. I'd like to get some flavorless protein to put in my water. After surgery I want to hit the gym and build muscle, that means more protein than just 60-80 g per day.

I never found any I thought tasted good. I buy GenePro on Amazon. Mix in water, add a water flavoring and it's 30 grams of protein and tastes good. Sent from my XT1585 using BariatricPal mobile app

Thanks. I will try the egg white Protein. I think I have a sample of some somewhere. I found one way that I can bearably use my unflavored protein (Genepro). I mix it with Koolaid (sweetened artificially). I wouldn't have that every day, but it is bearable when I need the protein. Since chicken makes me nauseous I grabbed up as many Shady Brook Farms turkey thighs as I could and froze them. I cook 2 large thighs at a time in the slow cooker overnight and the meat is like pulled pork. Then I make turkey salad and eat it alone or with half a piece of whole wheat toast or with whole wheat saltines. Fat free refried Beans with a little bit of lowfat cheese is delicious. I just picked up these items which each have at least 10g protein (the sausage, egg white, and cheddar one has 16g) Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm over whey Protein shakes myself. I've started using plain soy Protein Powder with soy milk and 2 tbs of PB2. On Amazon, I buy Bulk supplements Pure Soy Isolate Protein Powder. I also learned about GENEPRO unflavored protein supplement on this site. I ordered it but haven't gotten it yet. You can add it to anything and it isn't supposed to alter flavor or texture too much. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Congrats on your surgery and I'm sorry you're having a hard time with the Protein. Here are some things that work for me: I have found that GENEPRO "medical grade powder" unflavored Protein Powder is a lifesaver. I know you tried unflavored already but they are not all the same. I swear I don't work for the company -- I just found this product so helpful and versatile. It mixes into any food or drink and is, to me, completely undetectable both in terms of flavor and texture. A spoonful has 30 grams of protein and 56 calories. Sorry - I'm pretty good at remembering protein and calories but I always have to look up sugar/carbs. I have added Genepro to chicken broth, cold drinks, and (I'm a few weeks out from surgery now) anything from cottage cheese to sugar free chocolate pudding. The jar directs you to online instructions on how to get the best results (mixing with a fork instead of spoon, etc). I am sensitive to grit and to added flavors and I have found this stuff to be a miracle. I ordered it from Amazon. I like the Isopure mentioned above (it's kind of like a juice with a light almost kombucha flavor, totally clear, no grit or protein vibe). A friend of mine has a third of a bottle over ice every morning just to get an easy protein boost at the very start of the day. And I totally agree with previous posters about the Syntrax nectar. I bet if you diluted their roadside lemonade with some crystal light or a stevia-based enhanced Water or, heck, just water and a squeeze of lemon juice if that's allowed, you wouldn't be able to tell you are drinking a Protein Drink. Each Syntrax Nectar packet has 23 grams protein and 100 calories. One last thing -- people have mentioned milk and fortified milk, which I totally agree with. I don't like the flavor of plain milk so I bought (again, Amazon) a bunch of sugar free syrups meant for flavoring coffee and cocktails. I started with a variety pack of Torani brand syrups at first and now I'm starting to try cheaper brands. I found that putting some milk together with powdered milk and ice in the blender and adding these syrups made a tasty creamy/whipped drink almost like a milkshake or frappuccino with zero protein taste. I most commonly add hazelnut, chocolate, or vanilla syrup (or a combo of chocolate and hazelnut and I pretend it is Nutella!). I agree with previous posters -- you will need to find a solution, and the good news is there IS a solution for you. You can even do it without premade protein shakes. Try variety packs, single servings of various shakes or puddings and also try pre-mixed individual bottles even if you've already tried the powdered version of the same brand. Texture is a big part of the equation for many people, and the premixed have very distinct textures from the powders. GOOD LUCK and congratulations. You are not alone in any part of this struggle, especially finding ways to get your protein that you can tolerate. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Im just curious if anyone has added GENEPRO with a regular liquid Protein shake. I keep reading everyone's struggle to get protein and was thinking about "fortifying" a shake with powder to increase protein per serving. Thoughts?? Sent from my SM-J700P using the BariatricPal App

I had my surgery March 28th. I went yesterday to have my 6 months post-op lab draws, this will be the first lab results post-op. Guess what? The padded arm that swings down on the "lab chair" actually swung down and I had a good 3 inches between it and my body. You guys know what I'm talking about!! Me: To the left, you can see my stats and at the bottom you can see my ticker. I am pleased with my progress and having been overweight for so long if my weight loss stopped today I would still be happy. I haven't been this size in 20yrs!! In the beginning, I had most of the questions I see posted protein/water how in the hell can you get all that in? To be honest, I didn't! I tried my best and kept Water by my side constantly, I forced water and Protein so much I actually got sick a couple of times before I acquiesced that my best was going to have to be good enough! No carbs, no added sugar and every bite I took contained protein. The first week was rough, the second week a little better by month 2 I kind of had a handle on my routine and things fell into place. Hair: Month 3 my hair started coming out. Insert those frequently heard comments about "protein and water...". Yes, I know, but I could not, in the beginning, make myself physically ill to reach that goal. I have always had A LOT of hair, not thick strands just a lot. This part is shocking and you truly think you're going to be bald or better yet have bald spots all over the place. I tried not washing my hair as often (every 2-3 days if I was hanging at the house), Tried thinning hair shampoos, co-wash shampoo you name it, nothing worked. Just these past two weeks it has slowed considerably! Could be though I have considerably less hair, no bald spots but as the day goes on and your hair naturally loses it's "Oomph" you can see my scalp more readily. I work in healthcare so I have to keep my hair up (I've never looked good with short hair so I still have it long) and yoga headbands cover up the sparse areas up front nicely. Skin: My highest weight ever was 370 before I lost 93lbs on my own with the help of the DASH diet and exercise. The reason I investigated WLS was after 18months I started re-gaining and once I hit 40lbs up I tried some of the old tricks and none worked. Well, those years of being overweight have done a number on my skin. I exercise weight training 3x's a week and walk 2miles a day at a good clip 2 days a week. I don't exercise 7 days a week because I work 3/12hr night shifts a week. My neck has a wobble that can be hidden with the right head position for selfies and the like. I carry most of my weight in my stomach/middle section so the true flabbiness of that area is yet to be seen. My boobs flat pancakes, my arms have a little of the jiggle and my inner thighs have loose skin as well. Keep in mind I am 44 and never had the best skin genetics, to begin with. I can get a superficial scratch and it will turn into a tan scar that lasts for years... Tools: Things I have discovered through trial and error! I know after surgery a lot of people have very specific temperatures for their liquids. Mine is ice cold!! Seeing that I work night shift in a hospital and I am not stationary to one particular unit I needed something portable. I tried so many options! Then I found my Hydro Flask!!! Best money I've spent to stay hydrated on the go. Mine initially came with a plug type screw cap which did not make it very convenient then I discovered the sport cap with a pull-up spout. Keeps ice for 12hrs and me hydrated all night long. It is a permanent fixture wherever I go even if I'm out shopping. The food scale is something I used at the beginning and it is a must I purchased a cheapy through Amazon. I bought a Ninja Bullet and it works well, used it twice and never used it again. I'm not a smoothie girl and protein powders are not my friend. The only Protein powder I use on occasion is GENEPRO. The most expensive is my refrigerator, I had an oldie with limited storage space so I took the plunge and bought a fridge with a filtered water/crushed ice dispenser. It's been a win/win we use way less plastic water bottles and my husband even drinks more water than ever before. Food: I read food labels constantly, it's a must! I can't do the high Protein Bars, but I can enjoy a Kind bar for Breakfast when I hit the ground running in the mornings. I only choose the ones with protein and low carb usually the "nut and spice" line. I do have a few Snacks I enjoy like Somersaults sunflower/sesame seed bites have 6gms of protein per serving, My husband and I split a honey crisp apple with Peanut Butter and it's my fave at the moment. Just read those labels and I try my best not to consume anything that doesn't have protein in it or on it. I have on occasion, but I don't go crazy that's for sure! I've been perplexed at the range of dietary suggestions given to each of us from our Bariatric teams. If all of these places are "Bariatric Centers of Excellence" you would think there would be more uniformity in the foods allowed and how often we should be eating a day. My plan is a 3 meal a day no snack plan and I can't do that. I'm smart about it, but I do have snacks. And yes I do eat out on occasion. It's hardly ever fast food unless it's someplace I can get a bowl of Chili. I make smart protein filled choices, bring the rest home. Stalls: I started having little stalls in August. I weigh daily another "no-no" but it keeps me motivated. I went almost two weeks the first time before the scale budged. The odd thing is that while the scale didn't move I could physically tell by clothing and just a sense of self that I was still losing something from somewhere. Those two weeks I had more people comment about my weight loss than ever before. When the stall broke I lost 6lbs in 4 days and didn't change a thing. I still seem to lose slowly then stop for a week then lose 5+ lbs in less than a week. I think like others have said, your body has to catch up to what the hell is going on. Me today I am down 89lbs, in size 18 jeans (use to be 26/28 pre-op), 2x t-shirts (I like mine comfortably loose and use to be 4x/5x). I don't have any qualms about sitting in booths at a restaurant and will not have any issues flying to visit my parents in 2wks. I wanted to share some of my experiences and tips because I know I felt a failure at first and scared about what the future would hold. I have realistic expectations for myself and end result. I know I will probably reach my ultimate weight loss goal and loose some more or maybe even gain a little back. "They" always say food is a control issue for overweight people since they feel they can't control anything else. I say bullshit! I control everything in my life and food was the one thing I didn't have to think about, that's why I made it all the way to 370lbs. Be smart about your choices, find what works for you within those smart choices and soldier on.

Be aware!! I got jumped on like dirt on a shirt for singing the praises of GENEPRO> Got called an idiot because I said that it had 30grams of protein. I was told that there is no way that 1 tablespoon of it could have 30grams. Oh well, love it and every one of my bloodwork for the last 4 years has been great!! In fact, my B vitamins are slightly too high. LOL Just a warning if you get in trouble just roll with it like I did. LOL

I hated Isopure, tasted pretty nasty...every flavor. Very strong medicinal taste, to me. Get yourself some GENEPRO powder. It's almost totally flavorless and mixes nice. I have mixed it with Crystal Light, Hormel Chili, and even Taco Bell pintos & cheese. One tablespoon is 30g of Protein, so it's a great alternative to protein shakes. I'm with you, after four weeks straight of surviving on them, I was so sick of those shakes I couldn't stand it. The Genepro has been a great discovery. As for the taste buds, I'm fortunate that my surgery didn't create any changes in how I perceive the taste of things. I don't know if that'll be a permanent thing, or if it's hormone-based, or what. But some people do say that their tastes change after surgery, in which case you kind of just have to find new things that will work. In terms of Water, I'd try to see if purified or R/O water makes any difference. It might be the metals in the water or something else, that are bugging you.

I haven't used that but do use Premier Protein, Protein20 water & Genepro, unflavored. And what you like before surgery you might not like after just FYI. Sent from my SM-G930T using BariatricPal mobile app

I talked with my NUT today and she ordered a bag for herself on Amazon before I walked out the door! She said it would be better absorbed in the form that the protein is in. I love my Genepro!