Trader Joe's??

Hi Everyone..........I have been reading the posts for about 2 months, now. Alot of the information has been really helpful. So, thanks to all!! Now, I have a question to ask. A lot of people have been talking about Trader Joe's. What kind of store is it, and where is it?? Is it a vitaim store like GNC?? Also I need to start taking in lots of protein, since I've been putting it off. Any suggestions on what I should try first? Thanks...................Bonnie

Hi Bonnie Trader Joe's is a great health food store. They sell products such as: Fresh veggies Poultry Fruits Breads Vitamins (including protein powders) Natural juices and some prep foods I buy all my items from there weekly because everything is organic, low in fat/calories and it's not too expensive. It's like a little mini market but sells nothing but healthy stuff. Go and check it out.

Please take this with the sense of humor it's supposed to show! NOT EVERYTHING at Trader Joe's is healthy! The last bite I put in my mouth before going on clear liquids prior to surgery was a very hefty helping of their Tiramisu!

Oh yeah.....It's up on rt 202north and after you've crossed Naamans rd,turn into the 1st shopping plaza on your right(I dont know the name). As soon as you make that turn, look for Trader Joe's on your left hand side and turn in the plaza....They have a sign thats in red......As of now, I am pumping up on the iron, protein powders and vitamins.... and I bought the broth products too when I dont feel like eating lunch at work

Lysa Thanks for the info. I'm going to take a ride up there this weekend to check everything out. Bonnie

Hi Bonnie! Trader Joes is a grocery store that specializes in very fresh (and hard to find) produce as well as main staples such as cereals, breads, etc. They also carry protein drinks and a wide variety of other stuff. They are nothing like GNC. Also, please give the Vitamin Shoppe on 202 a try. They have a bigger selection of products for bastric bypass patients, you can earn savings coupons and their products seem to cost much less. Happy hunting! Cassandra

Cassandra Thanks, also, for the information. As I said, I will be going up this weekend to check things out. I'm interested in the natural juices. I get tired of water and was wondering if after surgery we can drink their juices? What about the natural sugar in them? Bonnie

Hi Bonnie!!! Trader Joes has a lot of products that have really helped me along the way. A couple that come to mind is Better Than Butter (low fat peanut butter) - and the sub-lingual B-12 with folic acid and B-6. This is one of the fasted dissolving B-12's I have tried and the price is really good. Anyway, if you want to peek at some of the products they offer they have a website - (www) traderjoes.com/ About the protein, pre-op all sources are good ... animal protein being a great start. As far as supplements go, my suggestion is to get some samples, before you spend a lot on any larger container. There is a huge difference as far as taste goes and taste is really subjective. Top that off with the fact that for some people their tastes really change post-op. So what you love today, you may hate after surgery and the other way around. I know for me personally, it was quite a while after my surgery before I really tolorate anything sweet. It was a real struggle. Now, I have to avoid sweets again. Long winding road at times! Anyway, samples can found at several places online, usually cost about 1.50 to 2.00 a piece, some with free shipping. If you need some addresses for the places that offer them just let me know and I will pull what I have for you. If I were going to be able to make it to the meeting I would gladly share a couple of my samples with you. But I am not going to be able to make it. Perhaps someone else out here can pay it forward and share a sample or two with our newbies who are searchin? Anyone? Best wishes! Tammy

Tammy, Thanks for all of your info. I was wondering why alot of people are taking several vitamin supplements? Is this somkething that you need to do after surgery? I'm feeling really dumb here. I thought we only needed to take a multi vitamin. I wish you success in your journey. I think it will always be some what of a struggle. But one, none the less, that we can achieve. I would like very much to have the addresses to send for some sample protein mixes. You have been very helpful Bonnie missk45567@aol

Bonnie, I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your FIL. I will hold you and your family close in prayer. Here are the links to the some companies that offer samples. I have personally dealt with each of them except for the last two posted and can vouch for their legitimacy. If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to ask. I will be more than glad to try to help. (www.)vitalady.com/products-samples.htm (www.)allthewhey.com/ (www.)unjury.com/ssl/purchasing.php (www.)valleynutrition.com/scripts/prodList.asp?idCategory=160 (http://store.) - bariatriceating.com/sazecais.html (www.)enjoyhealth.com/samples.htm (www.)txwls.com/Store.asp?m=texas%5Fwls&n=10&k=140790&s=+Protein+and+Sugarfree+Syrup+Samples About the vitamins ... that can be a bit of a sticky subject. What I do is not necessarily what someone else does and is more than what the doctors/PMRI recommend. You will need to take more than just a single multi, according to our our Doc/PMRI recommendations. The last I heard they were suggesting ... 2/3 Flinstones children's chew-able complete daily 3 Tums (calcium carbonate) 1 B-12 (not sure if they specify sub-lingual or not, but I take it sub-lingually because after surgery we no longer have the intrinsic factor in our stomachs which the B-12 needs in order to be absorbed. Another good option is the B-12 shots. And for some an iron tablet daily As for my personal decisions and why I supplement differently ... I think the world and everything of my surgeon and his team. And I will be the very first to tell you that they are the best around. But for me, I feel the vitamins that PMRI suggest we take are not enough and supplement differently and in addition to what is suggested. I could be way off base here ... who knows. But I was not comfortable with the suggested regime long term. It was great my first couple of months though. At any rate, my daily intake has changed from time to time since my surgery 15 months ago. But I think I have finally honed into something that works very well for me and meets or exceeds my surgeons, my PCP's and PMRI's recommendations. Just to let you know, I feel very strongly about this subject and worry about the long term ramifications of vitamin malabsorbtion/deficiency for myself, my friends and WLS patients in general. One of my biggest concerns was when I found out that our blood work can show positive for years before some deficiencies may show up. Thus not always allowing our blood-work to be the definitive of our actual condition. Calcium levels being one of those concerns. Our body is pretty efficient at leaching calcium out of our bones thus showing a good calcium blood level while at the same time causing bone loss. This was a very concerning thought/revelation to me - I had never thought of it that way before. It is because of this that I decided that I had to be my own best advocate when it came to matters of my health. Thus I started spending many, many hours pouring over anything and everything I could find on the subject. And trust me it has only been with much discussion with my docs, much studying the ABS guidelines, much time spent with my nose stuck in research in the Medical journals, and much discussion with long term post-ops that I have been able to come to peace with a regime/decision that I feel comfortable with. IT was not an easy road for me by any stretch of the imagination to "buck the system". I have struggled with my decisions, but I have finally come to put trust in my own research and am basing my life and future quality of life on it. I am not trying to convince anyone else of anything here, only sharing what I have personally chosen to do and what I believe because you inquired to me directly. I figure that not everyone wants to hear what I have to say, especially since what I believe is not protocol for PMRI, and even more importantly I do not hold a medical degree nor am I a nutritionist, so I pretty much just keep my personal opinions to myself these days. At any rate, you asked why some take additional vitamins and this is my answer to why I do. But this is only me, and we each have to find our own way and have to be comfortable with our own decisions about our own health. After all, in the end, we are the only ones who are going to have to be living with those decisions. A gastric bypass account of her problem with calcium deficiency (www.)vitalady.com/faqs.htm#why_calcium In depth information on vitamin supplementation post bypass. (www.)upmc.edu/obesitysurgery/presentations/Chapter19.pdf Basic vitamin questions (www.)vitalady.com/faqs.htm A yahoo group for vitamin questions and concerns (http://)health.groups.yahoo.com/group/OSSG-vitamins-minerals/ A yahoo group of Graduates (1 yr out and more). I believe the moderator is 10+ years out. If you are less than a year out, you are still allowed to lurk/read the posts if interested in some of the issues facing those further out. (http://)health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Graduate-OSSG/?yguid=169481558 As an end note Bonnie ... while all of this may sound a bit overwhelming at first and perhaps even a bit scary. Quite honestly, I have never been healthier. I am taking better care of myself now than I ever have in my life. Had I not come to that conclusion before surgery, I would have never opted for this path. Sure we may need to supplement a bit because of some malabsorbion, but that is a small, small price to pay for the difference in the quality of my life post-op. I am now able to do things that I couldn't even dream about just a few short months ago. For instance, I would have never ever thought that I would take up running and like it. Nor would I have played kickball with a whole group at the gym yesterday and SCORE!!! Truly, life is a whole new game now ... and I am loving every single minute of it. I have been blessed beyond belief because of Dr Irgau and his willingness to help me out by preforming this surgery for me. At any rate, keep asking questions ... we all started out where you are now and were full of questions and concerns. Remember, knowledge is power and will help you to come to your own decisions about what is best for you. Wishing you the very best in your quest and journey. Hugs! Tammy