It's all about protein.

So I have been banded for 5 days now. The first few days I struggled with pain and discomfort. Then I struggled with getting all of my protein in. I have to have at least 60 grams of protein a day. And since I am on a purely liquid diet until the 2nd week (to give my stomach time to heal from all the activity down there) I have to get my protein in the form of liquid and powder supplements.

Before surgery my doctor's office sold me a box of liquid vials and a box of powder packets. The liquid vials were packed with protein--42grams in a single 3oz tube. The flavor was fruit punch and for some reason I actually expected it to taste like fruit punch. Like Capri Sun. Instead it tasted like the devil's juice. It was thick and sweet in the most artificial way. So if anyone is interested I have about a dozen that need a good home.

The powder mixes are another story. Beth Ann says they taste like Carnation Instant Breakfast. The sampler box gave me a variety of flavors, but the best was chocolate. While it doesn't quite taste like a Braum's milkshake, it's as close as I can get.

Yesterday I went to the Vitamin Shoppe to get more protein supplements. I am now out of the sample box, and I refuse to drink any more of the "punch." I read online at the Lap Band Forum (www.lapbandtalk.com) reviews of different supplements and settled on 2 new ones. One is a kiwi-strawberry flavor (you mix with water, kind of like Crystal Lite). The other is dutch chocolate that you mix with milk.

I also read a posting about ideas when you are still on a liquid diet but crave the taste of real food. I can't yet just mash up meats and things like I will next week. But I read that another lap bander pureed up refried beans and thinned it out with canned enchilada sauce. The result was a tasty Mexican tasting soup. I did make some last night after I finished getting my protein supplements in and I was quite pleased. I also tried some tomato soup which was good but did not settle well for some reason.

Beth Ann and Lindsay are about to get some Italian takeout for lunch. I am going to go make a milkshake.