All protein is now gross

[zeskyizblack 0]

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?

[summerseeker 2,179]

4 hours ago, zeskyizblack said:

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?

This is where it can get tough. I hated the waste of products and money as everything was Blahh. TBH there are still a few things that I can't stomach. How much longer are you on liquids only?

Contact your team, If they are in office at this time of year. Tell them your struggles and see if they have alternative, if not improvise if you can't stomach the shakes a day longer. You need the nutrients.

Can you drink Full Skimmed milk ? This has a surprisingly a lot of protein. To add more protein add a spoon of yogurt, dried milk powder or I flavored it with PB2 powder and banana.

There is also consomme, boullion and bone broths. They don't have as many calories as Protein Shakes or milk but you need to get food in you.

Once you get a little further along it gets easier, I promise. Others who used shakes will give you other pointers but the Fairlife brand does seem to me one they advocate, so fingers crossed for you there.

[19Brian72 0]

Quest makes a salted caramel shake that's not too bad. I've went through the same stuggles with finding a shake that wasn't sickening sweet. Although I now 2 years post-op enjoy the Premier Cinnamon roll flavor.

[zeskyizblack 0]

40 minutes ago, summerseeker said:

This is where it can get tough. I hated the waste of products and money as everything was Blahh. TBH there are still a few things that I can't stomach. How much longer are you on liquids only?

Contact your team, If they are in office at this time of year. Tell them your struggles and see if they have alternative, if not improvise if you can't stomach the shakes a day longer. You need the nutrients.

Can you drink Full Skimmed milk ? This has a surprisingly a lot of Protein. To add more protein add a spoon of yogurt, dried milk powder or I flavored it with PB2 powder and banana.

There is also consomme, boullion and bone broths. They don't have as many calories as Protein Shakes or milk but you need to get food in you.

Once you get a little further along it gets easier, I promise. Others who used shakes will give you other pointers but the Fairlife brand does seem to me one they advocate, so fingers crossed for you there.

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.

[SpartanMaker 790]

What about Milk? Fairlife makes both full fat and reduced fat milk that has extra Protein in it. It's not as much as the Protein Drinks, but it's not that far off. eggs might be another option? I couldn't tolerate and still don't care for scrambled, but over-easy and boiled eggs have worked well for me for a long time.

On the Hair loss thing: I don't really think protein intake makes a ton of difference honestly. At least if you are getting the minimum recommended amount per your surgeon. My point is that there are more factors at work here than just protein intake. For most people post weight loss surgery, at least some hair loss is inevitable. Stress and hormone imbalances probably contribute at least as much hair loss post bariatric surgery as protein intake issues.

Keep in mind that any hair loss post-surgery is likely temporary, so you'll do yourself well by not stressing over something you may not have any control over.

IMO, the bigger reason to focus on protein intake is because it will help stave off muscle loss. This is a bit overly simplistic, but the more muscle you maintain during your loss, the better your weight loss will be because it will help keep your metabolism up.

[Arabesque 7,337]

I hear you about the shakes. I found them sweet too and also very grainy so texturally off putting. I used to dilute the shakes to try to reduce the sweetness and had only one a day. Shakes aren’t your only source of Protein if you’re still in the liquid stage. Bone broths, consommés, cream Soups can all be eaten/drunk during this stage. I found the bone broths salty so drank cream soups ( just strain them to make sure there are no stray fibres or random chunks).

I agree with @summerseeker’s suggestion to make your own shakes with milk, yoghurt, Protein Powder, skim milk powder and an unsweetened powdered flavour if you wish.

You will likely find this sensitivity to certain flavours, textures and even smells continues for a couple of months. Your tummy can be pretty fussy. I described mine as a petulant, temper throwing 2 year old child. You may find you tolerate something one day but not the next. It does pass so don’t think you’ll never be able to eat those foods ever again.

Multi Vitamins can make you nauseous too. Make sure you take them after you’ve eaten or with the last few sips of your shake, broth, etc. Also if you have to take multiple Vitamins spread out across the day when you take them. I’d take one multi in the am and the other in the pm to reduce the effects of the nausea. Also have you tried taking an anti nausea med to get you through this period.

Your liquid stage will soon be over and then you’ll be on purées and that can be another interesting experience in finding something you can tolerate eating. It does get better and easier.

[Waggy 0]

20 hours ago, zeskyizblack said:

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 found Nurri Protein Drinks at costco. Just like chocolate milk, 30 G protein. Good luck!

[zeskyizblack 0]

12 hours ago, SpartanMaker said:

What about Milk? Fairlife makes both full fat and reduced fat milk that has extra Protein in it. It's not as much as the Protein Drinks, but it's not that far off. eggs might be another option? I couldn't tolerate and still don't care for scrambled, but over-easy and boiled eggs have worked well for me for a long time.

On the Hair loss thing: I don't really think Protein intake makes a ton of difference honestly. At least if you are getting the minimum recommended amount per your surgeon. My point is that there are more factors at work here than just protein intake. For most people post weight loss surgery, at least some hair loss is inevitable. Stress and hormone imbalances probably contribute at least as much Hair loss post bariatric surgery as protein intake issues.

Keep in mind that any hair loss post-surgery is likely temporary, so you'll do yourself well by not stressing over something you may not have any control over.

IMO, the bigger reason to focus on protein intake is because it will help stave off muscle loss. This is a bit overly simplistic, but the more muscle you maintain during your loss, the better your weight loss will be because it will help keep your metabolism up.

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.

[zeskyizblack 0]

1 hour ago, Arabesque said:

I hear you about the shakes. I found them sweet too and also very grainy so texturally off putting. I used to dilute the shakes to try to reduce the sweetness and had only one a day. Shakes aren’t your only source of Protein if you’re still in the liquid stage. Bone broths, consommés, cream Soups can all be eaten/drunk during this stage. I found the bone broths salty so drank cream Soups ( just strain them to make sure there are no stray fibres or random chunks).

I agree with @summerseeker’s suggestion to make your own shakes with milk, yoghurt, Protein Powder, skim milk powder and an unsweetened powdered flavour if you wish.

You will likely find this sensitivity to certain flavours, textures and even smells continues for a couple of months. Your tummy can be pretty fussy. I described mine as a petulant, temper throwing 2 year old child. You may find you tolerate something one day but not the next. It does pass so don’t think you’ll never be able to eat those foods ever again.

Multi Vitamins can make you nauseous too. Make sure you take them after you’ve eaten or with the last few sips of your shake, broth, etc. Also if you have to take multiple Vitamins spread out across the day when you take them. I’d take one multi in the am and the other in the pm to reduce the effects of the nausea. Also have you tried taking an anti nausea med to get you through this period.

Your liquid stage will soon be over and then you’ll be on purées and that can be another interesting experience in finding something you can tolerate eating. It does get better and easier.

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.

[summerseeker 2,179]

23 hours ago, zeskyizblack said:

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.

I am sorry to say this but you will either loose hair or you won't. There is nothing you can do about it. Its a fact. Muscle is a different matter, protein does help there.

I had a super fierce restriction due to swelling. I had to eat tiny meals about 8 times a day. I split my 3 meals into little pots and as a grazer this may be a way forward for you. I struggled to make my 60 gram protein quota. I survived, and eventually so did my hair.

Look for protein yogurts in the supermarket. A 200 gram yogurt will have 24 grams of protein in it. They were a game changer for me.