Protein drink is KILLING me!!

AdoraK

Over a month ago I purchase the optimum gold cookies and cream protein drink for when I started P90X. I make it with skim milk and a banana. I have been using it after each time I work out for the past month but lately I am having a problem with it. After I drink it, it cramps up my stomach and makes me want to vomit. The cramping is really painful. I am going to stop doing the drink. Is there anyone else that has had this issue or knows why this is happening? It’s a bummer because I really love the drink.

audjrey

Never used it. However, I do have a couple questions for you. Do you drink it immediately AFTER your workout? And if yes, do you drink it relatively quickly?

bkhorton

are you lactose intolerant? i think most protein drinks are derived from dairy which maybe why you are cramping. try to find a protein mix not derived from dairy. i think arbonne has a pea protein mix so it doesn't give you gas. hope it helps

blueeyedtraveler

How much water are you drinking? Most of the protein shakes have a lot of fiber in them and if you aren't drinking enough water, you can get cramping. That's my only suggestion.

AdoraK

Never used it. However, I do have a couple questions for you. Do you drink it immediately AFTER your workout? And if yes, do you drink it relatively quickly?

I usually make it about 15-30 minutes after I work out. And no I do not drink it down fast. It took me an hour today to drink it.

Walt75

This is interesting considering I use ON vanilla ice cream all the time. Never had this problem

SaraTonin

Same question - how much water are you drinking? Any processed proteins can't be handled by the stomach when you're dehydrated.

iamhealingmyself

If you're mixing it with milk, try using yogurt instead. If it's a lactose issue, this should help since the lactose is consumed in the fermentation process (of course not as completely as if you made it at home as most are only incubated for 4 hours)

Check the sweeteners in it - you could have built up a store of them in your body which is why in the beginning you didn't notice it but now, you're adding fuel to an existing fire and it could be just enough to trigger symptoms.

Do you have problems with other dairy products? If not, it's probably not the lactose. Fiber could be an issue -again, consume sufficient water every day. Maybe wait 15-30 minutes after your work out and don't down it like a cold beer. Consider it a meal. Savor every mouthful and make it last at least 15 minutes. You could be rushing energy to your stomach when you're body is in emergency mode trying to recover from your workout.

juliapurpletoes

I had the same problem with my protein drink, although it was soy based. People told me soy is trickier to gest, BUT I can't dring whey based formulas either.........Maybe you can use a soy based formula?

Or maybe there are some reputible veggie based protein drinks out their......

Don't know if this is a no-no but.....lots of water sipped slowly while nibbling a protein bar????? (just brainstorming!)

good luck

thatnixonkid

perhaps youve built a food intolerance to the whey.

AdoraK

I usually drink at least 10 cups of water a day. I am not lactose intolerant either.
Thanks for all the responses.

MoonGurl1985

My question to you is are you lactose intolerant ? if so using the milk is not a good idea, switch to almond milk, soy, coconut, etc.....

wdwghettogirl

It could be the banana you're mixing with it. My sister and brother are both allergic to bananas and they get horrible stomach aches if they eat them. Do you always mix one in? Maybe try mixing in some berries or something instead and see if that helps?

djthom

There was a thread a while back with a few people saying they were having issues with bananas. You could try eliminating the banana and see what happens. If that's not it then try switching out the milk for almond or soy milk and seeing how that goes. Our bodies can be funny sometimes, they just randomly react to something that has never bothered us before. I suddenly developed an intolerance to avacardos, which I've always loved. Lately some nuts are bothering my stomach off and on. It's no fun developing an intolerence to something you love to eat, I miss my avacados.:sad: So maybe if you keep changing up 1 thing at a time you may find out what's bothering you. Good luck!

MoonGurl1985

Seen where you say you aren't lactose intolerant, I never was either until about 3 years ago or so. The symptoms you have are just one of being lactose intolerant.

sassylilmama

It could be the banana you put in it. A lot of people have stomach cramps from bananas. Its caused by the potassium.

spatticus

Try more water right after your workout!

Antigone

There is actually a P90X recovery drink that Beachbody sales that is SO GOOD. It was designed to have right after the workout and is just the right balance of carbs/protein that your body needs to aid recovery and prevent sore muscles. I can tell the difference when I work out and DO drink it and when when I DON'T.

http://www.beachbody.com/product/supplements/p90x_peak_performance/p90x_peak_recovery_formula.do

Steph_135

I usually drink at least 10 cups of water a day. I am not lactose intolerant either.
Thanks for all the responses.

Do you know that for sure? It could be a dairy sensitivity. I had that, and only a naturopathic doctor figured it out for me. Do you get the same reaction with other foods? Sensitivities can take years to notice, but sometimes certain foods will do it for ya.

vanfox23

I've been doing P90X since January and I never drink a protein/recovery drink. I make sure that I get the right ratios of carbs/fat/protein from the foods I eat. I've never had a problem with being overly sore or worn out. Maybe just eliminate the protein drink altogether? Up to you....but I had a similar problem with ground flax seed. Had awful stomach cramps. Had to quit using it for a while. Good luck to you!

thkelly

There is actually a P90X recovery drink that Beachbody sales that is SO GOOD. It was designed to have right after the workout and is just the right balance of carbs/protein that your body needs to aid recovery and prevent sore muscles. I can tell the difference when I work out and DO drink it and when when I DON'T.

http://www.beachbody.com/product/supplements/p90x_peak_performance/p90x_peak_recovery_formula.do

wow that stuff is expensive. stick to the protein shake. try mixing it with water instead of milk. it's an acquired taste though.

JDMPWR

This is interesting considering I use ON vanilla ice cream all the time. Never had this problem

Same

kjensen15

As some one else mentioned take a look at the sugar in it... If it has a lot of artificial sugars or sugar alcohol that could be the culprit... I use to use Muscle Milk light and I was having the same issues...

Zeromilediet

Could also be the casein (milk protein) in your milk or the protein powder itself. Many people have an intolerance to that and don't realize it.

nelliemagine

A couple suggestions: How much protein is in each shake by itself without adding milk? Our bodies can only handle digesting about 15-20 grams of protein at a time. Adding the protein from milk on top of this and the banana (a gassy food) will only complicate things. Secondly, it could be too much fiber. Your body may not be used to the increase and it's kicking back by cramping/gas/bloating. As others have said, drink lots of water and maybe try only using half of the protein powder at a time. Just my opinion speaking from my own protein/fiber digestion problems.

**Myoplex Lite Vanilla Cream is what I use now. It has 20 g of protein and only 3 g of fiber per packet. Its really good too

dlaplume2

try mixing it with soy milk and see if it happens. If it doesn't you can say it's the milk if it does it may be something in the mix your are not tolerating anymore.

BunnybeeJG

try using coconut milk? so delicious is good and they have an original that doesnt have any added things so...it might be the milk cuz that's what happens to one of my friends ewhen she has milk...

natskedat

I had the same problem. My doctor told me it's common with some protein drinks. Might need to switch to a different brand or find a more tolerable source of protein.

Good luck!

thkelly

A couple suggestions: How much protein is in each shake by itself without adding milk? Our bodies can only handle digesting about 15-20 grams of protein at a time.

do you have a source on this?
this is another one of the many nutrition myths out there.

meggonkgonk

Do you drink enough water while working out? When I do my long runs, I find if I don't adequately hydrate ANYTHING that goes in my stomach hurts a ton.

JDMPWR

Our bodies can only handle digesting about 15-20 grams of protein at a time.

Not true.