A Surprising Supplement Rescource

Could you use another source for your protein-rich dietary supplements?  You might want to consider bariatric product suppliers.  They have become my surprising source for protein-rich supplements to aid in my quest to be leaner and more muscular.

Bariatric patients (who have had either gastric by-pass or lap-band surgery) have stomachs that have been surgically altered to hold very little food.  One of their primary concerns is getting enough protein.  They have to pack as much of it as possible into a very small stomach space.  Bariatric foods accomplish this.  So it follows that these protein-rich foods can also be very handy for weight lifters and people looking to raise their dietary protein levels.

Now don't get me wrong:  These supplements aren't cheap.  But most of us who buy protein bars and powders have come to accept the expense. 

There is a protein powder sold by our local bariatric doctor called Nectar.   It's made by the Syntrax company.  Per scoop Nectar is 100 calories, all of them from protein.   No carbs.  No fat.  Just protein.  And it comes in a dizzying array of flavors!  (I love the peach.)

Bariatric places also tend to stock protein bars that are less garbage and more good for you, because they are interested in keeping their patients as healthy as possible.  Generally these bars will have not only about equal amounts of carbs as protein, but also some fiber in them, which really helps with feeling full.  For bariatric patients these are meal replacements.  (Remember- their stomachs hold next to nothing!)  For the rest of us, they are between-meal snacks.  But they taste good (you aren't going to get an obese person who ate exactly what they liked getting that way to eat food that tastes like crap), and give a good balance of nutrients.

Don't be afraid to walk into your local bariatric doctor and ask if they sell powders and bars.  They won't mind having you for a client!  This is one avenue of revenue for them and they are happy to sell their products to the general public. 

Another thing I like about purchasing from our local bariatric doctor's office is that they have samples of the protein flavors.  So I can try out a single serving for $2, instead of spending $32 on an entire tub of powder I may not like the flavor of.

If you don't have a bariatric doctor nearby who sells supplements you can also order online.  Here is a site that I use:  http://www.dietdirect.com/wonderslim-crispy-protein-diet-bars.html.  Not only do I like the bars in the link (I've mentioned these a couple of times in my blogs), but they also sell the Nectar Protein powder.  And a lot of other stuff, too! They offer a surprising amount of vitamins and various tablet supplements, as well. Take a poke around to see!  (Although I would NOT recommend their entree mixes- Not only are they highly processed, but I don't think they taste all that great.)  If you order more than $49 you get free shipping, and check out the "discounts and coupons" tags on the left bar, under "Wonderslim", to see if you qualify for any discounts or special offers.

I know this isn't a practical resource for everyone, but thought it might be something some of my wonderful readers might like to know about.

My Daily Supplements

I think anyone who has considered taking supplements to help boost their potential with weight loss, in the weight room, or both will agree that there are so many choices out there it's confusing and overwhelming.  This one area I will admit I am not extremely knowledgeable about.  But I have managed to learn a little and pick out what I believe to be the best and most effective supplements for my needs.  What you need may different, but this might help someone to get an idea of how to go about selecting supplements.

I take three different "stacks" (combos of supplements), timed morning, afternoon, and before bed:

1. With breakfast (for maximum absorption) I take-
- A multi-vitamin. I don't take any one brand- I just try to find a well-rounded one.  Truth be told, right now I am taking children's gummy vitamins.  So shoot me.  My diet is good enough that I don't feel I have to get picky about this one.
- A calcium/magnesium/D supplement.  The one I take has about 30% daily recommended amount of calcium and 50% recommended daily amount of D per pill (not per dose- a dose is 2, and I only take one at a time).  I take the calcium because more often than not I don't get two servings of dairy in daily.  The magnesium is for max absorption of the calcium.  And the D is because I have a past history of depression that I have noted is a lot better when I am in the sun frequently.  I thought this might be related to vitamin D, and sure enough, when I started taking D my depression was a lot easier to manage.  If I didn't get magnesium or D with the calcium pills, I would take them as a separate supplement along with it.
- An Omega fatty acids pill.  The one I take has all 3 Omegas in it (3, 6, and 9).  There is enough scientific evidence behind this one that I believe it is worth the expense.  Plus, I swear my eyesight is better when I am taking it.  On days I eat fish I skip this supplement.

In the afternoon (with lunch, if I remember) I take:
- Another Omega Fatty Acid pill
- An Iron pill, because I have a low iron level.  I keep the iron pill far away from calcium intake, either in diet or supplement, because calcium inhibits Iron absorption.

Before bed I take:
- Another calcium/magnesium/D pill.  This is a great time to take it because cal/mag has been proven to help with sleep.
- A glucosamine pill, because I have arthritis in a knee and it's supposed to help with joints.

In addition to these, on days I work out I take an L-Glutamine pill with my breakfast stack.  I guess it's best to get L-glutamine in powder form immediately following working out, but since I have a bunch of them in pill form and I know pills take a while to break down and get into the system, I take them with breakfast, reasoning it will reach my muscles by the time I am done lifting. My reasoning is NOT based on science, though; just simply on what I think, so I could be dead wrong with this one. But I don't want to waste the pills, so until they are gone this is what I will be doing.  After that I don't think I will take Glutamine at all anymore.

And right after I am done working out I have 5g of BCAA (branched chain amino acid) powder in protein powder that I put in my gym bag and add water to after lifting so I can drink it while I am walking out of the gym.  Since starting this I swear I am not as sore after my workouts.  I think they are also supposed to help aid in weight loss, but I'm not quite sure how.  I use the Modern brand and the recommended dosage is 10g, but since I am a 150-lb woman I just take 5g (single scoop).  This helps to stretch the container.  A word of warning about flavoring with BCAA powder- make sure it has some!  I got the plain the first time and my goodness, it was bitter!  I had to add a packet of stevia to my protein powder/BCAA concoction to make it palatable enough to swallow.  The flavor seems to help mask quite a lot of the bitterness.

Okay- so there you have my stacks and my reasons for them.   I used to take more, but this is what I've brought it down to and I believe benefits me the most.