88Shelly88

I am less than 60 days pre-op now and am getting down to the NITTY GRITTY! Yippee! So I need some advice from all you NUT experts!

I am not a fan of artificial sweeteners, fillers, garbage, whatever you want to call it. So I went to my local organic store and bought 3-4 sample sized Protein shakes. In talking with the owner she tells me that the weigh protein is better quality because it is not boiled to death in extreme temps. So I am pretty stoked that I found some all natural shakes! I did know better to not buy the big jug of them. I will have to get back to you on the brands but I know one of them is Garden of Life. Has anyone tired their shakes? Also I was told but my NUT that Whey Protein Isolate is better than Weigh Protein. Can someone explain this to me? What is better about it? The organic/natural shakes I bought are whey protein not Isolate.
The owner of the store also had a good suggestion to spice up the shakes if you need a chocolate fix. She sells the Ghirardelli cocoa powder which is fat free and better yet SUGAR FREE! So I am going to keep that in the back of my mind. Has anyone tried that?
She also suggested some natural sweeteners. I can not remember what the name of it was but it is a plant derivative of some sort.
We also discussed vitamins, etc. I feel like she will be able to help me on the NUT side of things as well. It is nice to have that. I also found a WAY BETTER than Flintstones vitamin in the gluten free section of the store.
Can you guys/gals answer my questions? Thanks! :O)

__________________
CENTURY CLUB




"For me, winning isn't something that happens suddenly on the field when the whistle blows and the crowds roar. Winning is something that builds physically and mentally every day that you train and every night that you dream.”
Emmitt Smith

izanmanyzanz

Shelly, MiladyB has lots of information on proteins and vitamins, as well as Corrine. They are both very informative people on both of those issues. Look up their posts and you will learn really alot. I know I did. Good Luck.

88Shelly88

How do I look up posts by a specific user? I have never been able to figure that out! :O(

__________________
CENTURY CLUB




"For me, winning isn't something that happens suddenly on the field when the whistle blows and the crowds roar. Winning is something that builds physically and mentally every day that you train and every night that you dream.”
Emmitt Smith

Godsblessedme

please whatever you do DO NOT take little kids vitamins! Theres a post on forum about the flinstones vs. bariatric vitamins and so forth VERY informative and it should change your mind. Heres a few websites that myself and several others buy vitamins from

bbvitamins.com
vitacost.com
celbratevitamins.com

__________________
Deborah
Highest weight 268
Surgery Date: 12/18/07 Lap RNY
Current Loss: However far this journey will take me Current Weight:175 (10/26/09) and finally a SIZE 12

88Shelly88

No way would I ever consider the flinstones, that is what the NUT told me to start out on the first few weeks post op. I found an adults chewable vitamin that is designed for diabetics and is gluten free. (I am not a diabetic) But these are supposed to be wonderful and awesome NUT wise.

__________________
CENTURY CLUB




"For me, winning isn't something that happens suddenly on the field when the whistle blows and the crowds roar. Winning is something that builds physically and mentally every day that you train and every night that you dream.”
Emmitt Smith

Godsblessedme

i just laugh when a nutritionist recomends those things hahaa good for you and congrats on your upcoming surgery

__________________
Deborah
Highest weight 268
Surgery Date: 12/18/07 Lap RNY
Current Loss: However far this journey will take me Current Weight:175 (10/26/09) and finally a SIZE 12

supplements.net

congrats on the op.

Whey Protein Isolate is better/different because it is processed to remove the fat, and lactose. if you have milk allergies or have digestive discomfort from milk based products then this is better for you. like you said before you order a new protein research it and purchase the smallest portion available. make sure you like it and then get some bulk. also personally I cant stand vanilla and strawberry, they start out tasting so good but after 2 days you can't handle the sight of the bottle. food for thought.

the natural sweetener is probably stevia.

88Shelly88

Gotcha thanks for sharing that. I did not realize that the ISOLATE was lower in fat, yet one more portion of a label that I will be reading. I beleive that stevia is one of the two natural sweetners she reccomended. Have you used that at all? What did you think about the cocoa powder for the chocolate taste?

__________________
CENTURY CLUB




"For me, winning isn't something that happens suddenly on the field when the whistle blows and the crowds roar. Winning is something that builds physically and mentally every day that you train and every night that you dream.”
Emmitt Smith

supplements.net

it sounds like you are buying raw unflavored protein? maybe I read more into that than was there. I usually just take what I get flavor wise. the stevia would be for something like sweetening your coffee. I have used it before and was happy with it. off topic but still in this realm with sugar free stuff you really have to be careful of whats used as sweetener. artificial sweeteners are 1 calorie per gram where sugar is 4 calories per gram. also food manufacturers can label products sugar free if it contains less than 5 grams sugar per serving. eating too much sugar free will cause extreme digestive discomfort. learned that the hard way!

MiladyB

Hi Shelly. You've gotten excellent information from "supplements". He is totally right about the whey isolate. It is important that you look for Isolate. It can be whey or soy but the important word is isolate. You may have bought whey protein concentrate.

The isolate is the most absorbable of proteins out there in regards to supplements. You will want to look at the ingredients. If a protein says whey protein isolate, whey protein concentrate, etc....then no go. You have no idea what the percentage is of the concentrate because the label doesn't tell you. You also want to avoid hydrolyzed or collagen type protein. Again, look at the ingredients label.

Besides the whey isolate being the most absorbable it also has what is known as a "complete" amino acid profile. There are 8 essential amino acids that our bodies need to run. You need to be taking a protein supplement that contains all 8 of those amino acids in the right quantity. If you are buying isolate you can be assured that it has all of the amino acids and they are in the correct quantity.

If you are taking supplements that don't have all of the amino acids your body needs your body will start breaking down muscle to get those amino acids, which includes your heart. Early postop when you are pretty much surviving on just those protein supplements you are running a risk if you are taking a supplement that isn't complete. Later on when you are getting in at least 500 calories from regular food that risk will decrease because the food that you will be eating will more than likely have those amino acids that your supplement may not have. Does that make any sense?

In regards to your vitamins? Basicly you will need to do some detective work. I have a thread that contains a chart telling you what you need to look for in your vitamin. There are certain amounts and certain forms that are the most absorbable. Many of the multi-vitamins out there, that weren't developed for bariatric patients just don't have vitamins that have the right amounts or the right form.

The better bariatric vitamins that are out there can be found at these sites:
www.celebratevitamins.com (I'm the most impressed by these)
www.bbvitamins.com
www.bariatricadvantage.com/catalog




Here are some past threads you may find helpful to read:
Is all protein created equal?
Flintstones vs. Bariatric Vitamins
Are you sure you're getting all the calcium you think you are?
Vitamins-How much? What kind?

Hope those help

__________________
~Beth~

Little Victories; Grand Rapids, MI
Bariatric Support Group

Diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, high cholesterol,
peripheral vein disease, joint pain and 210 lbs GONE!!


Century Club: July 3, 2006
ONE-derland: Dec. 22, 2006
Double Century: May 29, 2007
Goal: June 15, 2008

Lap RNY: 1/30/06-Dr Randal Baker
TT/BL: 09/21/07-Dr Ronald Ford
PS Revisions: 04/29/08-Dr Ronald Ford
Gallbladder: 05/14/08-Dr Randal Baker
Emergency surgery (Intussusception): 02/29/09-Dr James Foote