You guys, I love this stuff. I've only tried the Designer whey protein powder in french vanilla flavor so far. I've made a shake with it every day for a week now. One scoop is all I use as I'm trying to make it last until my new order comes in.

When I've made the shake with Hood's LC milk or half-and-half, I've thrown in some gourmet coffee crushed ice cubes or some SF Davinci syrup for a wonderful flavor variation. I've also made it with just water and crushed ice. It is so good that way also. Today I made it with LC milk and fresh strawberries.

I've used my shakes either before or after my 70 min. 3mph treadmill w/incline workouts. I don't know if there is an advantage to doing it one way over the other. These morning shakes have become my breakfast meal replacement. They've filled me up and made me feel wonderful I don't experience hunger until about 3 hours after. The hunger, when it comes, is intense though.

I still log every thing I ingest into FD and continue to make a concious effort to get my calories up to near my BMR level. It's wonderful to be able to bring up my protein w/o sending my fat and caloric percentages into the stratosphere,

Three times a week I'll eat a hot cereal with equal portions of oats, flaxseed meal, wheat germ and whey protein powder for lunch. I'll be making Dana's pancake recipe with the powder soon as well.

Anyway, this short story long is all about my still having to focus on getting my caloric intake up to BMR numbers. If I don't use FD, I tend to not eat enough. On a daily basis I've eaten more calorie wise this past week. I've been working out hard, and I've added the whey protein powder into my daily routine. I've lost two pounds. (Sorry Teuthis, I did not misspeak, I really did eat more and lose weight.)

More protein for less fat and calories has to have an impact in the OWL phase of Atkins. Just wanted to share with you all. If you have the powder, maybe you'll want to experiment with it yourself and see what results you get.

Great post Dawn --
I think this is really important. Protein is often the last thing we talk about, but it really should be prominent in our daily diet.

It is important to keep UP the protein in this WOE -- it fills you up, helps with energy and I believe our bodies use protein "better" than it uses fats, carbs and sugars. While the carbs, fats and sugars get used fast - the protein builds our muscles, provides long lasting energy (although it doesn't give you the immediate burst of energy we crave from sugar and carbs).

I haven't actually sat down and made a shake with my Vanilla Whey Protein Isolate yet. I might just try that, especially with all the weight lifting I have been doing.

This reminds me of something Else I have been meaning to say. I must remember to check and see what kinds of Whey Isolate I have purchased. I know both had just one Carb per scoop, But the quality of one compared to the other is like night and day.

The New Whey I purchased mixes much better, and doesn't seperate nearly as much when you cook it in the microwave (Flax meal Cereal) . It even contains Actual vanilla bean shavings, and tastes so much more creamier and sweet and vanilla like.

I'm at work now though, So I can't share to much. I think it's a ISOFLEX in a black coloured tub and a blue label. Oh well I guess I'll figure it later and let you know.

What kind are you guys using? Or perfer?

After reading so much about everyone eating flax hot cereal I purchased what I thought were the ingredients yesterday and made a batch and loved it. However after eating it I sat down and entered it in Fitday and discovered it came out as 11 net carbs. After looking closer at the whey protein powder I bought, it apparently is sweeteded with fructose No wonder I liked it so much! Now I have a pound of powder that I have no use for that cost me about $14.00! I think I will sneak it into the fruit smoothies I make my kids for breakfast sometimes before school. So, what exactly am I looking for? I saw something in the bulk flours and grains that said (I think) soy protein whey, natural vanilla flavor. Would that stuff do? I will double check if it's sweetened but I don't think it is. It was $5.99/lb so not too bad.

I went to a weight training supplement store. The tub I have was 5 pounds, and cost 85.00 canadian plus tax. Pretty expensive but will go a long way.

Anyway what you need is Vanilla Flavoured Whey Protein Isolate or Vanilla Flavoured Whey Protein Concentrate. Isolate is more expensive then the Concentrate, but not all that much better. If you looking for the tubs, try your local health food stores. Normally Whey Protein is used by muscle builders. The labels break everything down just like food labels except have more information like the amount of specific Amino Acids.

Interestingly enough, my Health food quack er i mean doctor . Suggested I take this Thiroid supplment to potentially boost my metabolism. Well I noticed that the key ingredient in that supplement was the amino acid L-Tyrosine one of the many amino acids found in my perticular brand of Whey Isolate. Not only is it in my brand, each scoop contains 3 times the amount of one of those supplements. If potassium is lacking, you can also add more to your diet with these, powders.

What I'm getting may seem expensive, but I worked it out and its only like a 1.50 per bowl of Flax meal cereal (including cost of all ingredients). Yes that is more expensive then Corn flakes, but about 1.472842 million times more healthy. Besides a single Egg McMuffin around here costs like 3 bucks or more.

Hope that helps, But I have to admit I'm no expert on Whey Powders.... See NL or Firelady for that.

Thanks for the info, Jonathan. I guess I'm off to the health food store to compare labels. If the correct ingredient makes a cereal that tastes half as good as the batch I made with the sweetened stuff I will be really happy. My parents are also doing this WOE and my mom keeps catching my dad making oatmeal in the morning because he really loves hot cereals. He means well but sometimes he just doesn't get it so I think this will be a great for him.

The Vanilla Whey Protein that I buy is made by Isopure.. it is great,, and is exactly like Jonathon describes... I've always used this brand, even before Atkins, when I was into heavy heavy weight training...

There are 0 carbs in it,,, and 50 g of protein per serving.. 2/scoops.. but typically I only use one because I do eat a ton of protein from other sources.. It also comes in a 5lb container,, and I pay about $25.00 (US) for it @ GNC.. Great stuff.

I also use this nearly every day for cereal, baking and shakes. I use the Champion brand (only because I bought a big container and am still using it) Tastes fine. Makes great pancakes especially when mixed with wheat gluten flour I prefer mixing with this than with the soy protein powder because it gives the baked good a lighter texture.

It is good stuff. I eat the hot cereal nearly every day.