My green smoothies include vanilla whey protein powder. I recommend getting one that is made from isolates and does not include sugar or sweeteners (see Swanson's product for example). I think that would be a big improvement over the slimfast where, at least the one I saw on line, the first ingredient listed is sugar. If you want to add chocolate, get a good quality unsweetened cocoa powder and use some of that for flavor. You will not develop huge muscles from protein powder. You will add protein to your diet which is essential for building muscle, hair, nails, bones, blood, hormones and more. One of the nutritional challenges is, as we age, we need fewer calories, but we need the same amount of protein....something like this will help.

I usually include a tsp of coconut oil as fats help you feel full longer and coconut oil is a healthy fat because of its MCT.

I make mine by soaking chia seeds in water (some folks use coconut water instead) for about 10 min. Then I add a tsp of flax seeds.

I add 1/2 banana for creaminess. Then I add about 3 chunks each of frozen mango, pineapple, cherry and a small amount of mixed berries.

Then and most impactful from nutritional point of view, I add a few handfuls of organic kale. A handful of ice to keep it cold and then I blend it.

I try to eat vegetables at least 3 times a day because they provide so much nutrition and fiber, fill you up without a huge calorie load.

Annie, when you soak the chia seeds and then put them in the blender do they lose that tapioca texture they have? I don't soak mine and then suffer through drinking them. If I soaked them first, would they break down in the blender?

Thank you lisad82 and Annie for your info.

here is a breakdown for the 3 products:

SLIMFAST NUTRIBAR KAIZEN WHEY

calories 127 133 150
Protein 5.2 grams 5 grams 35 grams
Fat 1.6 gr. 3 gr. 1 gr.
Carbs 23 gr 22 gr 3 gr
sugar 20 gr 17gr 0gr
fibre 0gr 2 0
sodium 142 mg 160 mg 60 mg
potas. 223 mg 400 mg 270 mg
aspart 0 35g stevia

I went ahead and bought the Kaizen and I will give it a try.

My concern now is the above chart is for the powder only, once I add my other ingred. that I mentioned in first post, I will now have 76 grams of protein in this drink. Will that be too much..

The whey protein stacks up well, esp in the sugar department. I'd leave out the egg whites as you get plenty of complete protein from the whey and you won't risk disease issues with egg white if it is unpasteurized. The almond milk is not a lot of protein (about 4 almonds in a cup) and it's not a complete protein, so I wouldn't worry about it.

Chia seeds will soak up 10x their weight in water, so I soak them first in water in the blender for about 10 min or more to let them absorb the water. If I don't, I get constipated. It does soften them a bit. I have a vitamix and it pulverizes everything I put in there and end up with a very smooth and creamy tasting smoothie.

Annie,

thank you again. That info helps me a lot. I made a mistake up above saying I would now get 76 grams protein for breakfast. I was way off and now realize I would get 45.5 gr. per breakfast drink. But I think I will take your advice and leave off the egg whites for awhile at least which will bring me to 38.5 per drink. Then on some mornings I will try to add some raw kale or spinach like you do.

i have lost about 75 lbs. but would like to lose another 25 . in order to continue I needed a boost and to try something different so this is encouraging. Thank you again

Wow, congrats, Lyban 75 pounds! That's great.

Congrats on the weight loss! That is quite an accomplishment!

That is fantastic, Lyban!!. I also lost quite a bit of weight a couple of years ago. I did it while consuming 140g of protein a day and lifting heavy weights. I supplemented my protein with whey isolate at breakfast and after training. I don't look like a body builder, if that's your concern :)

errant,

thank you for that information. I am 71 years old and have not done much exercise up to now. Just regular things with the added energy I now have. I have feet problems so am not too good on walking. I do not know what to do now to continue on this healthy path and continue to lose some but also stay fit.

Lyban, congrats on your accomplishment! That is great. For exercise, do you have somewhere you can swim? We have some nice Senior Citizen Centers in our area - a newer one is very near to my dad, and they have an indoor pool. Many Srs do this as it is easier on our bodies/joints, etc. Just a thought!

thank you for that idea. I live in a very cold climate and I hate the thought of going swimming in the winter but maybe I will look into it.

I was reading the December issue of Health magazine this a.m. It had a list of superfood add-ins that made me think of this thread. I'll share a few things here but recommend you look for a copy of the magazine at your library so you can see the whole article.

Three steps to pick a better protein powder

check the ingredients: skip products with unwanted additives, such as artificial flavors and sweeteners or added sugars. Some brands also have a lot of caffeine per serving.

watch your portions: most women don't need more than 15-25 grams in a meal. if your powder has more than that per serving, use less.

go organic: if you prefer dairy whey, choose one that's grass fed and USDA-certified organic; they tend to have more omega-3 fatty acids

Pea Protein Powder: made from yellow split peas, this lactose- and gluten-free powder has become a popular plant-based alternative to whey - and it may help control hunger. A 2011 study in Nutrition Journal found that people felt fuller after consuming pea protein than an equal amount of some other sources, including whey protein and egg whites. Add it: the author typically puts 1/4 cup in pancake mix or energy bites. Too much can make a dish chalky or pasty. Stick with an unsweetened version for the best versatility and the "cleanest" ingredient list (it should have only pea protein isolate - that's it).

3 in 1 power smoothies (each uses three superfoods):Add a handful of ice and blend until smooth. (I don't drink smoothies so I haven't tried any of these, just passing them along.)

Mango Avocado Kicker

3/4 cup frozen mango, 1 cup unsweetened coconut milk, 1/4 ripe Haas avocado, 1 inch chunk fresh, peeled ginger root, 1/4 tsp turmeric

Sweet Pea Sesame

3/4 cup frozen cherries, 1 cup unsweetened almond milk, 1/4 cup pea protein, 1 Tbsp blackstrap molasses, 2 Thsp sesame seeds

Seedy Chocolate Banana Strawberry

1/2 cup frozen strawberries, 3/4 cup frozen banana slices, 1 cup unsweetened coconut milk, 2 Tbsp non-Dutched cocoa powder, 1 Tbsp hemp seeds, 1 Tbsp blackstrap molasses.

My daily smoothie: 1 cup of plain Kefir (probiotic), 1 banana, 3 cups spinach, 1 scoop of 25g protein whey isolate powder.

I like AboutTime (Amazon). It's sweetened with Stevia and has 100 calories with <1 carbs which means all the calories are coming from the protein, which is exactly what you want in a protein powder.

HHireno, thanks for that information. I will take a look for that magazine. Some good smoothies to try.

Magdalena, Your protein drink sounds good. another one for me to try. Thanks

congrats on the weight loss! if you are not into swimming laps, many pools offer classes like water aerobics and zumba which is is pretty gentle on the joints and feet... and fun! i would look into something like that-- a fun group might be easier to go to even in the cold of winter...

i would be cautious about adding too much whey protein... i know when one of my kids was into building muscle for an athletic team, i recommended he be cautious about how much he consumed too-- it's not worth the possible risk. i would do some reading on some reliable medical sites like the mayo clinic's, johns hopkins, the harvard health letter, etc and then make my decision...

moderation is key in many things!

While you're at the library looking for Health magazine, also look for the January issue of Prevention. They have 9 smoothie recipes that would expand your repertoire.

If you can't find it online or at your library, email me your address and I'll mail it to you. I promise I'm not a crazy Internet stalker. I give away my magazines after I read them so I'd be happy to send it to you.

Congratulations on your progress! You have some good advice here. I would just add in some pure cranberry juice diluted in water sometime during the day to help your body release stored fats. Get a good mixture of fruits and vegetables and plenty of sleep.

HHireno,

that is sweet of you to offer but I am in canada and I will find the magazines as soon as I go into city. But thanks anyways.

kittymoon, thanks for that suggestion. I will buy some tomorrow and use it daily.

i have now had two days of using my new whey protein powder instead of the slimfast or nutribar. Feeling good , and glad to be using something without all the grams of sugar in the other stuff.

I like to put 4 oz unsweetened cranberry juice in 28 oz of water and drink it through the day up to 8 glasses. ( I don't do that much ). This comes from Ann Gittleman's book the Fat Flush Plan. This is to clean your lymphatic system, your kidneys and help your body clear out extra fats.

If you want to make your own cranberry juice boil a 12 oz bag of cranberries in 4 cups of good drinking water until they pop and then strain the juice.

A little is very good but too much pure cranberry juice can irritate your bladder so keep it diluted.

If you are interested in reading about health and weight loss, you may enjoy the articles by Byron Richards at the website wellness resources. He wrote a very good book on Leptin and how it relates to weight loss. He also wrote about solving other health problems through diet. It's a good place to get high quality nutritional supplements also.