Proti Wafers Review

If you have been following me since Ye Olden Days Of WLS  (I had roux en y gastric bypass in 2004, and I've blogged and been on social media since 2005), you will know this is my second go 'round with this product.  (Or here is to hoping it is the same product I adored back in days of old.)

Proti Wafers.  I think I called them "Sugar Wafers, Only Better" in my very first review which I can no longer find.  

Sent to me from netrition, I have a box of Proti Wafers in my choice - vanilla.

Netrition's site reads:

Proti Nutrition Proti Wafer Squares are great tasting, high protein squares that will satisfy your hunger. Proti Squares offer a rich taste at 200-210 calories a serving.

The stats -

Ingredients: Protein blend (milk protein isolate, hydrolyzed gelatin, whey protein isolate, pea protein isolate), wheat flour, fractionated palm and palm kernel oil, sugar, fructose, milk ingredients (skim milk powder, while milk powder, butter fat), cocoa butter, unsweetened chocolate, soy lecithin, soy flour, sunflower oil, water, natural and artificial flavors, salt, sodium bicarbonate, sucralose (non-nutritive sweetener), corn flour.

In each box, you receive five packs of two wafer-bars.  Each packet contains two wafers.  

The best way to describe these bars:  old-fashioned sugar wafers.  I can't think of anything else when biting into them.  Except these have a chocolate base, and a chocolate drizzle, dressed much fancier than the stacks of sugar-cookies I ate as a kid.  

The biggest difference?  These pack 15 grams of protein per 200 calorie serving.  That's pretty super for a snack food.  Early in my weight loss surgery life, I will admit to being psychotically wary of the carbohydrate, fat and sugar content of this product, but now, I find it is a great balance.   

• Product - Proti Nutrition Proti Wafers, Vanilla
• Price - $14.95 (for ten wafers)
• From - netrition
• Pros - OMG SUGAR WAFER COOKIES WITH PROTEIN POWERS.  Portable protein for the purse (or other) sneaky snacks for the movies.  Tastes like it should not be a protein product
• Cons - Tastes like it should not be a protein product.  Your kids will open them before you get a chance to review them for your blog and ruin the box they came in.  Just saying.  Your kids will eat them.  If you want to save them for your bariatric diet, HIDE THEM from your family because they ain't cheap. 
• Rating - Pouchworthy

   

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Twelve hundred

I've been food journaling.

Here is the damage.  

That's about 1500 - 1700 calories a day, with nearly everything in my apathy diet included.

I am remaining in the 170 - 173 pound spot.  Obviously, this calorie range keeps me squarely in this weight range.  (I have been here for a year and a half?)

I go from 170 to 175.  I get excited to see 1-6-9, and then, poof, right back into 170's.  I have always shared (in my BBGC support group) that I believe in 10 - 12 calories per pound maintains my size.

Which also means, if I am EVER going to shake off this excess, I must drop back the calories OR ramp up my daily activity by at least 500 - 700 calories per day.  

HUGE APATHETIC SIGH FILLED WITH TOAST.  "BUT I DON'T WANNNNNNAAAAAA EAT LESS."  I have become way too comfortable with over-eating.  I can eat me some 1700 calories with ease.  I can polish off a bowl of Anycarbs! like nobodies business.  Hand me Anycarbs! (...except cereal and milk, gag) and I'll overeat it for you!  

What made me realize this?  One of my daughters decided to start looking at portions.  She pulled out the measuring cups.  And DOG KNOWS I AM A PROFESSIONAL MEASURER OF ALL THINGS NUTRITIVE and I can tell you how many calories are in all the things -- but -- do I bother measuring my own foods? 

Nah.  scoop scoop scoop 

When I looked at her wee bowl of pasta and realized (for the millionth time) that 1/2 cup of pasta is only > this < much?  And I have been serving myself with > this < much stomach + THIS MUCH + just because it's there?  Thud.

Last night while watching My 600 LB Life -- I noted that Dr. Now puts all the patients on a 1200 calorie diet.  It works.  What I am doing, is not working.  It's maintaining my obesity.  What does this mean for me?  I am going to make a conscious effort to aim for 1200 calories.  I know that my aiming for that I may or may not - but it's not a huge deal.  If I can hit it some days, I'll make progress.  My goal is 150 pounds, so a loss of 20 pounds. To do that, I'll need to CUT THE CARBS back.  I may need to cut out a meal or snack or three.  Add shakes in?  Maybe.  I haven't "dieted" in so very long it's hard to even consider?  I see lots of my online friends having great success with super low carb plans, some even KETO, but, I need something that is very flexible - even - ready to go - with no planning.  I'm just ... chaotic.  But I'll follow anything and be likely to succeed if I can get with it, you know?

Are you following any plans right now?  Do you have excess weight to lose?  

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Sell your loose skin on Instagram

I know I promised to write a bariatric approved product review.  

But first, this that showed up in my suggested Google links.

Girl, what are you thinking?  Why are we flopping our fupa all over the Instagram and sharing/errr selling it to The Sun UK?  We know that shit is real.  (Did she really make a single account for, um, skin?)

For a moment I am tempted to pull out the skin I AM IN -- you know -- IN POST WEIGHT LOSS SOLIDARITY, after losing 170 pounds and having two babies and start a fupa social media campaign.  

But, uh, no.  It's very, very real.  We are quite aware.  You don't have to flop it on Insta to prove it to any-one.   

Loose skin needs a song by Beyonce.  Write it?

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So it's been a minute.

I signed on with a company to do a monthly product review of bariatric-approved products. My first product arrived this weekend, and in the spirit of full disclosure before I even start the review I have to tell you (...before I laugh, cry, or other?) that I hand-picked the first product because I know I like it. It's something I used to promote back in The Day of Blogging.  (I do not know when the day ended, but it's no longer that day.) 

The reason I am oversharing with you -- is because -- when I sniffed around the blog to find the first post about said product and it was written or even re-written MORE THAN EIGHT YEARS AGO.  Guys.  This means I could have written about this item nine or ten years ago and I am about to throw it back in your faces because I am:

• Old As Hell  (Did you figure out how long has been?  Because I just had a minor heart failure.)
• Still Around  (Sorry?)
• Crazy (...to still be around?  LOL)
• Hungry?
• Have Five Kids To Feed And Free Product Sounds Amazing Right About Now
• You Pick

What's worse?  I deleted the initial URL for whatever reason, so the copy and paste of my words is showing up online in scraped feeds on other sites. Or on sites I used to frequent.  

I just wanted to know how much this stuff cost back in ye olden days.  (Yes, this is how I think.  Post tomorrow.)

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Maranatha No Stir Almond Butter Coconut

One of the first "rules" (....bahahahaha, rules?) of gastric bypass I learned early on - was not to add concentrated sources of extra calories where they were totally unnecessary.  A food that qualifies the unnecessary category for me is -  peanut butter and nuts.

I don't like peanut butter, so I was not bothered by not enjoying a peanut butter and jelly sandwich after weight loss surgery.  

However, one of the other things you learn later on is YOU NEED EXTRA FAT SOMETIMES.  To, uh, make your body work, and to make your skin not fall off.  (This is just personal experience.  Your mileage may vary.  Your body should vary, yadda yadda yadda.)   Many of us find that we under-eat fat.

A few weeks ago, I saw in the peanut butter aisle while picking up the nasty creamy gallon jug of peanut butter for my kids, this:

Maranatha No-Stir Almond Butter with Coconut.

To be fair, I was drawn to it because it read CREAMY and COCONUT.  Perhaps I thought it was going to taste of sweet coconut?  (I AM A SWEET COCONUT FAN, and I think I might have picked this up thinking it'd be a decadent macaroon-y flavor.  Sweet macaroons are asking for sweet death.)  Instead, I bought the almond spread -- I made toast.  I opened the glass jar, and mixed, it's got a slight oil on top, but nothing like natural peanut butter and it's more creamy like coconut butter - and I smeared it onto my bread.  It's a very subtle taste, a teeny bit nutty, lesser sweet, and creamy.  Not at all thick like emulsified peanut or other creamy butters.  

• Made with whole coconut pulp.
• MaraNatha All Natural Coconut Almond Butter Creamy. No stir.

• Combines the delicious taste of roasted almonds with the unique flavor of coconut into a smooth nut butter to enjoy every day.
• Liven up your favorite sandwich, spread on toast, apples, pancakes or add to your favorite hot cereal for a unique meal, or simply enjoy straight from the jar!
• It's a delicious treat you can feel good about enjoying each and every day.
• Please recycle this container.
• Comments or questions?
• Call 1-800-749-0730 or visit www.maranathafoods.com.

Warnings:

Warning Text: Contains: almonds, coconuts. May contain traces of peanuts, soy and tree nuts.

Ingredients:

Ingredients: Dry Roasted Almonds, Creamed Coconut, Evaporated Cane Syrup, Palm Oil, Salt.

I loved it.  I ate the whole jar over breakfasts in the next couple of weeks, every single morning.  I must have really really liked it.  When I returned to the store yesterday, however, I noted that it costs double what the peanut butter cost, at least, and I couldn't justify buying it this week.  Maybe next time.  (You know, I had to get my bread, which costs way too much.  :x  ..... )

• Product - Maranatha No Stir Almond Butter Coconut
• Price - $7
• Bought from Wal - Mart, I know, I know, but I am an unemployed parent of five.
• Pros - Healthy oils, HELPS YOU POOPS, subtle taste, easy to eat, good source of calories if you need them.  I would put this in a protein shake for added calories in TWO SECONDS.
• Cons - Um, same.
• Rating - Pouchworthy, MMBBGC
• Check them out here - https://www.facebook.com/maranathanutbutters/

 

Our first injury. I think. Maybe. Probably not. Not mine anyway.

People like to make fun of first-time parents.  They run to the emergency room with their babies littlest concerns.  Sometimes that is true.  20 years ago we probably took a baby to the ER for a head bump once or twice for no real cause, and now?  Well, look at this poor nose.

 

A video posted by Beth Sheldon-Badore (@mmbbgc) on Jan 4, 2017 at 2:38pm PST

What happened?

Dad came home and realized he needed something outside in the car -- the mailbox -- somewhere. He opened the baby gate, failed to click it shut, and went out the side door, and did not shut that. Someone who now walks Very Fast, followed him while I was five feet away and I did not notice. The baby was in the presence of THREE ADULTS and none of us noticed that he took off after Daddy. He was gone maybe ten seconds, went through the baby gate, down a step and onto the walkway bricks. Boom on the hands and nose.

Someone who now walks Very Fast, followed him while I was five feet away in the kitchen and I did not notice. The baby was in the presence of THREE ADULTS and none of us noticed that he took off after Daddy. He was gone maybe ten seconds, went through the baby gate, down a step and onto the walkway bricks. Boom on the hands and nose.  He was fine, a red clown nose, and now a scabby scrape.  BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN AWFUL.  

Toddlers are dangerous people, guys.  I spend so. much. time. per. day. keeping this child from killing himself un-intentionally.  

A change in routine.

I changed up my toast ritual.

 

#daveskillerbread #maranatha #breakfast #bariatric #protein

A photo posted by Beth Sheldon-Badore (@mmbbgc) on Jan 3, 2017 at 7:26am PST

Explain to me -- subscription boxes -- bariatric samples?

A friend just pointed out weight loss surgery themed subscription box service, you know -- where you sign up to have a selection of samples (I am guessing these are sample sizes based on the photos given on the website that is at the moment very limited...) sent to you each month.  For your payment -- a flat-fee of $34.95 -- you are sent 8 - 12 sample-size products for the bariatric patient.  

I can see the niche of people who'd want this.  Hi.  

I was curious enough to throw my email on their mailing list, but I wonder are free samples worth $4 each?  Maybe, I suppose if they have been sourced for you and shipped to you?  How long of a commitment is this kind of service?  I'm not the kind of person that throws out $34.95 for a box of I Don't Know What's Coming in exchange for grocery money -- however -- I could be swayed.  

Don't think I am picking on this service just because it's "bariatric" I have no clue who's pimping it -- I say the same thing about the underpanties boxes -- the snack boxes -- all boxes -- I see them as profit machines for the person behind the curtain.  :)  I would simply like to know WHY it is worth the cost since some of it is free to the consumer already.  Show me.