Protein powder is repellent

[pelagra]

I'm trying to up my protein, which goes against the grain. I naturally want to eat higher carbs, low fat and protein. But I realise that this is what got me to BMI 31, so I'm trying to change as I start Wegovy. I cook from scratch all the time, so I've been browsing food websites and cookery books.

I found several recipes with vanilla protein powder, and bought some from Lidl. It is absolutely foul. Grainy, artificial tasting and sweetened. A perfect way to ruin an innocent bowl of porridge and fruit. I can't imagine why anyone would want to consume it.

I've also tried natural hemp protein powder. The flavour is better, but there is still a nasty texture to anything I add it to, and of course it turns everything olive green.

Should I accept this isn't for me, or is there a better version I could try?

PhD nutrition chocolate protein powder is very nice mixed into a milky coffee! I tried another brand, supposed to be all natural and much more expensive, and it was sadly horrible.

Do you really?

It gives me bad tummy, I think it's lactose-heavy. But the vegan version also affects me badly. I don't know what's in those powders, but I avoid them. Lost nearly 2st, I'm stuffing myself with chicken and eggs instead of protein powders.

I found my people. This is exactly what I suspected since the vegan one also affected my digestion.

I don't like protein powders either, but have found the Myprotein clear whey ones are nice, not powdery I mix with ice cold water and then chuck an ice cube in, currently have vimto flavour is just like weak squash . I can't always stomach breakfast so figure it's better than nothing and at least I'm hydrating

I suspect most previous generations were not 22 stone nor dealing with the subsequent effects of rapid weight loss.

My muscle mass is embarrassingly low. Increased protein helps to maintain the muscles I have and will help me rebuild it now I'm 7 stone down - note I'm still a good 4 stone off where I need to be and am still obese.

If you want a UPF-feee diet, then that's nice for you. But if you aren't on weightloss injections then maybe you could take your incorrect judgements, preaching and lack of insight elsewhere?

The optimum nutrition chocolate peanut butter is so good, I just mix with water and it tastes like a milkshake. I’ve definitely found the cheaper protein powders more grainy and can’t get on with clear protein as it’s an odd thick sort of texture.

I am on mounjaro!! I've lostt 4 stones. I've just done it slowly and eating real food.

It’s the rapid weight loss that made me comment earlier about protein. So many people seem to be chasing such high suppression that they barely eat any actual food then load up on protein shakes/powders. You don’t have to lose weight quickly on WLI, that’s a choice people are making to eat far less than their body needs in order to lose the weight rapidly. It would be far healthier to lose slowly and get the majority of nutrients from food. Now, I’m not saying this applies to everyone using protein, and probably not anyone on the thread, but it is the reason I made my earlier comment. It’s all over groups and boards about WLI.

I second this. We have a scoop in overnight oats made with fat free yoghurt and frozen berries. It works. It tastes a bit like Swizzels raspberry & milk Squashies if you just have it as a shake. Most other MyProtein flavours are too sickly. The natural vanilla one is OK as well but dull.

What do you think protein powder is made from?

Glad it works for you too. I was hopeful about the vanilla one but really struggled to get it down.

I’ve only used the My Protein clear whey, but it’s just like squash- no texture to the water at all!

I hate protein shakes too, so just go with like egg whites and lean meat. 1 large egg is about 3.5-4G protein and 20 calories. So a 3 egg white omelette is 12g/60 calories, add in some spinach, mushrooms and cooked chicken (I get the 80g snack packs ready cooked from sainsburys -111cals 21g protein) and you have a filling tasty high protein meal for about 200cals and 33g protein. More protein than a shake and less calories.

I don't know if you talk about shop bought protein shakes? The powder ones I have seen have just over 100kcal.

I have ARFID. I can’t eat eggs or meat.

My very restricted diet means protein shakes are literally a lifesaver.

I agree. Give it ten years and protein will be replaced by something else.

That's a lot of responses, thank you all. I've had a look at some of the brands mentioned.

I'm not sure about using protein drinks. I don't like squash at all, and I'm not very fond of milkshakes. I was hoping for a boring neutral powder to add to recipes.

Basically, I dislike most protein foods anyway. I almost never eat red meat, and have chicken or fish once a week each. I prefer pulses, but you need such a volume of them, together with grains, to get high enough proteins. Eggs are OK in recipes, I love a crustless quiche, but I've tried hard boiling them as snacks and find I avoid them. I like yoghurt, and make my own. I'm not sure if the protein is lost when I strain the whey off, and now I can't use that in baking. I used to make a really nice wholemeal soda bread.

I suspect I need to find another protein source altogether. Brie anyone?

The days I have tried a protein drink I end up constipated….

I use Bulk unflavoured whey protein. You can't taste it and texture is fine in porridge

From what I have seen most made with milk are over 200 cals, 1 scoop of powder alone is over 100 cals, for some you need 2 plus milk, the clear whey ones are as low as 100cals as you make with water.

I can’t stomach the powders.

I now just get my protein from food. I try to eats 1 chicken breast or piece of salmon, 1 tin of tuna (with a tiny bit of mayo, some chopped onion and some sweetcorn) and 1 bowl of real Greek yoghurt a day.

Along with anything else I eat that takes me to roughly 100g of protein a day.

How on earth have we got to a situation where everyone thinks we need protein powder. Just eat a balanced diet and stop giving these snake oil salesmen your money.

Vegetarian as well and I don't find it hard at all:eggs, youghurt, cottage cheese, Ricotta, and ofcourse vegetable protein like lentils, chick peas, beans etc etc..

@TheBlueKoala how many grams of protein are you aiming for and hitting a day?