Vitamin questions

What's everyone's take on taking vitamins from Dollar General? They are pretty cheap so I want to hear from y'all on this. I'm not on the dark side yet but I want to start stacking up on the most important vitamins we're suppose to be taking. I see a lot of ppl buying their vitamins from Costco's I don't have one here where I live just Sam's Club. Also, what are the best protein drinks to buy? Where do you buy them from? Looking forward to hearing from you guys!!

I haven't seen what they have but I would imagine that you can get your basics there: vitamin C, B-complex, multivitamins, zinc. You'll want to check out Vitalady, Biotech-Pharma or Amazon for dry vitamin A (palmitate), dry vitamin D3, dry vitamin E and dry vitamin K1. She also carries the best calcium citrate, carbonyl iron, magnesium citrate. Vitalady carries a pre-packaged monthly vitamin package if you want to take the guessing out. She also carries Syntrax Nectar whey protein isolate protein powder, as does VitaminShoppe and Amazon. I see you're out in the western part of the state. I have a DS friend in Harrisonburg. I'm just west of DC. Who will your surgeon be?

--gina 

I was thinking Dr. Smith in Georgia but now I'm looking at Dr. Sudan in NC. I want to have my surgery done where my mom goes so we can be on the same level and go to our appts. the same time. I have a list of all the vitamins so I'm trying to shop around for the best buys to start a good stock pile. I'm just very overwhelmed with all there is. LOL! I have a GNC here where I live are they any good with their vitamins? Should I start taking any of the vitamins before surgery?

GNC should carry the vitamin types you need but their doses are going to be lower and pills per container small, so more expensive in the long run. GNC should have the dry vitamins A (palmitate), D3, E, K1; if they don't say dry or "allergy" they are likely not what you're looking for.

Are you adverse to ordering online? That's the cheapest way to get the special dry vitamins. As a DSr, the squishy oil filled capsules are useless and that's what A, D, E and K usually come in for normal folks.

As a pre-op, I would start taking a multivitamin, calcium citrate and vitamin D3.  Read the labels on the vitamin very carefully, they can be extremely misleading.

Here is a link to some pre-op ideas: http://www.gblcreations.com/Resources/Gina/VitaladysPre-op_ideas_11-2009.doc

I've heardngood things about both surgeons you're looking into. They are good cutters not so good with good nutritional advice, but then most surgeons nor dietitians are schooled in DS over-the-counter vitamin needs, we've learned on our own using our labs a s guides.

--g 

GNC near me did not carry the correct vitamins for us and they are not affordable at all. I'd go with what majormom suggested for vitamins she has always been a huge help for me as well. I buy my calcium citrate from Meijer because they very often have big bottles on sale. I also get the biotech dry vitamins and vitalady tender iron.

As for protein powder I get body fortress which is sold at walmart, meijer, and on Amazon. I stick with the Vanilla Creme flavor because it is the only one that has only one carb in it. The others have about 6 carbs per scoop and I'd rather use my carbs on something else.

link to the powder on Amazon

You may be able to get some there, but you'll need more than they carry.  You may find things like a general multi, similar to Centrum, Calcium Citrate, B and Zinc at Dollar General.  Also check your grocer for BOGO sales and stock up.  From online, you can find dry versions of A, D, K and E in megadoses that we need.  Vitalady.com is a great resource, and also Amazon.ocm.

The nutritionist I visited with suggested Bariatrics Advantage Chewables - High ADEK, does anyone see a problem with this and the recommended calcium and iron? 

I don't think the dosages for A,D, and K in these chewables are high enough. You can wait and see from labs but the D and K amounts are really low and the vitamin A is just OK but probably not enough. At 10 months I am taking 20k vitamin A, 100K vitamin D, and 600mcg vitamin K. Vitamin E is hardly ever an issue for people. I started at 10k vit A and went to 20; 6k vit amin D, then 50k, and now 100K; Vitamin K I went from 100mcg to 400 and now to 600. Everyone is different so see what other people say.

The only other thing is that taking a combined ADEK makes it harder to adjust individual vitamins in response to your labs.

I really like Optimum Nutrition 100% whey. The syntrax nectar is good but I found it too sweet for every day usage.