I am going to go into the city centre tomorrow if I have time and need some advice on what to get (if i can find it).

I would like to get some protein powder for shakes and cooking etc. Any advice on what type? Should I get flavoured or plain and add my own flavouring?

Also I will try and get some Erythritol although I am unsure I will be able to find it.

I have also seen mentioned before wheat protein isolate, but I am not sure what it is and the difference between that as wheat gluten as I already have some wheat gluten which I haven't used yet.

Any advice is welcome.

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DANDR

Starting weight: 196 lbs
Current weight: 149 lbs
Goal weight: 130 lbs

Gost, there are so many, many different protein powders. I happen to like a protein powder made from milk and egg protein. I'm not too keen on soy protein powders, but there are lot's of brands I have not tried. Of the flavored ones I've tried, I like Designer Whey protein vanilla flavor.

Wheat protein isolate is lower in carbs than what gluetin, and some forms of it seems to make a slightly less tough pastry. However, there are several types of wheat protein isolate and they have different baking characteristics. That makes it a bit difficult for us low carb bakers, believe me! We have trouble with LC recipes because the differences are significant, and it's not a mainstream consumer product with lots of support.

Lyle and Tate, a UK manufacturer, I think makes several different wheat protein isolates known as Arise. From the little I've been able to workout, the Arise 8000, which is non-sticky, is not as good for LC baking (IMO) as the Arise 6000, which is quite sticky. There are some old threads about it. If you want, I'll look them up for you. You may have an easier time finding it in the UK than we do in the USA. Most of us order it online, as it isn't an item you see in stores.

The only supplier I know of for Erytritol is called Low Carb Success. Again, it's hard to find in stores, so most of us have to order it online.

__________________
~~~Teelbee
Back to GOAL!!!
start weight: 176/goal range: 137-134/now: 138
Reached goal in Aug. 2003 - 4rd year of maintenance.

Thanks Teeelbee, it's so hard getting used to these new, unfamiliar ingredients.

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DANDR

Starting weight: 196 lbs
Current weight: 149 lbs
Goal weight: 130 lbs

Well, I bought some Soya based protein powder and some whey based one. They soya one is vanilla flavoured and although it is 1.3 carbs per scoop and only 118 cals I am concerned as I just noticed it says "not for weight loss" oooeer.

On a side note, I went to my local Holland and Barrats and they are really rubbish in there. They had very little of what I wanted and the staff were actually quite awful.

Erythrito is a no go which is a shame, will see if I can find it on my next online order. No pecan flour but did buy pecan nuts and will try and grind them.

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DANDR

Starting weight: 196 lbs
Current weight: 149 lbs
Goal weight: 130 lbs

Al,
FWIW...
The SPI (soy protein isolate) or protein powder I use is called Genisoy soy protein powder and it has 0 carbs and 100 calories per scoop which a scoop is about 1/8 of a cup or 2 Tablespoons. So yours is close on the calories...did you subtract the fiber to arrive at the 1.3 carbs by the way?

I have also used a SPI before with the brand name of Fearn; I always buy the *natural* or unflavored as they have fewer-none carbs and less calories.

I think the one you bought will do fine since for the most part, a large amount is not used in any recipe at a given time...maybe 1/4 to 1/2 cup at the most.
Also another *baking* staple I cannot do without is Vital Wheat Gluten.
So usually to substitute wheat/white flour to make a low carb cake, muffins or whatever, I will sub almond flour for 2/3 of the flour called for and SPI and VWG in equal parts for the rest. Low carb cooking is very different, and I wished someone would have told me to steer clear of soy flour when I first started LC baking!

Anyway good luck and happy baking!

just my $.02

Shelley

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Shelley
~~~~

Visit Kassie's Korner



Life deserves a treat now and again, but life also deserves being healthy[with required disipline] to make it worth living!

Thanks Shelley, I have Vital Wheat Gluten although not used it yet.

I do like my protein shakes, I had one this morning and used 2 scoops (container states one scoop is 22g). I have one of those scoops that come with ground coffee and it has written on it 7g so I used 6 of them to make a double shake. I used water instead of juice/milk as stated and got the following from Fitday after creating a new custom food:

cals 164
fat 2
carbs 3
protein 33

It was pretty good with some ice cubes and a splash of Vanilla Davinci.

That was the whey one which is vanilla flvoured, tomorrow I will try the soy based one!

P.S. I forgot to say, in the UK the total carbs is the total carbs as apparently the fibre has already been substracted, or so I have been informed.

__________________
DANDR

Starting weight: 196 lbs
Current weight: 149 lbs
Goal weight: 130 lbs

I get my protein powders from True Protein, they supply a lot of body builders so they have many different kinds of protein. you can custom order and specify quantity. you can order the flavoring on the side so you dont stuck with single flavor, and of course they have unflavored form of all protein. only one I didnt find is milk and egg protein, but i plan on ask them about this.

some other site: Protein Factory and All The Whey
also Primaforce has great grape and watermelon flavor WPI (called substance), taste like Kool Aid (I'm thinking of what I can make out of that)

I am not sure if Honeyville Grain ships internationally. If they do, and shipping is not exhoribtant, they have a good selection of low carb baking products. They have both the Arise 8000 and Arise 5000 Wheat Protein Isolate. I like the 8000 for making crackers. I have also used their plain soy protein isolate for a cereal mix. I see that they have also started selling erythritol at the best price I have seen. Their web site is www.store.honeyvillegrain.com.