Summer Tour '06: Vitamins

Hi everyone, I hope your weeks are off to good starts. It's going to be a hot one here in Texas! Hopefully by now you're back on track with your water and have learned how much you need to drink every day: http://nutrition.about.com/library/blwatercalculator.htm. This is even more crucial in hot weather! For the next few days, let's be sure we're on track with vitamins. We all know the importance of supplementation after surgery. Remember to take those vitamins every day! Doctors all have different opinions of what multi-vitamin is best. Mine recommends Optisource, developed specifically for the post-WLS patient. http://www.novartisnutrition.com/us/productDetail?id=354 Since we no longer have access to intrinsic factor in our "old" stomachs, we can't absorb vitamin B12 like the rest of the world. Adding a form of B12 that we can absorb (sublingual or shots) is absolutely vital, because too little of this vitamin can cause irreversible nerve damage down the line. Also remember that we absorb Calcium Citrate better than Calcium Carbonate (but carobonate is better than nothing - it's found in Viactiv if your doc recommends those). And never take the calcium with your multi-vitamin, since calcium and iron compete for absorption! If your doc has recommended iron or other vitamins/minerals, make sure you're on board with all of those as well. Please respond to this post and share any ideas/tips you have for water consumption and/or vitamins. Let's support each other! Water - check Vitamins - check We're on our way to a successful, healthy, fun summer! Take care, Kathryn

Hi Kathryn You're righ****er and vitamins are so important every single day. I take the vitamin shoppe brand multi mega-vites which are high potency and are chelated...all of my level have been good so far, i also get b-12 shots monthly and take omega 3 vites too. As for water, i drink close to a gallon a day, get in all my protein and exercise daily too. I'm hoping to reach goal by August, i know i can do it. Hugs Linda