Need advice on affordable Viamins/protein shakes

Hello everyone.I  will be going to my doctor next week for my 4 month follow up.He has to fill out this form for me to submit into my insurance company once a month until December of this year.I have already had the Psych Evaluation and the next step would be setting up an appointment to see the Dietitian.My main concern has been the cost of the vitamins and the protein shakes that you will need for life.As I have read on this board a lot of people go to the Bariatric Advantage Website and order there Vitamins and Shakes.II know that they are especially designed for people who have had Gastric surgey but there has got to be something else out here that is less expensive.I am on a fixed income and cannot afford the prices off of this website.What I wanted to know was is there anyone that purchases their vitamins and protein shakes or powders from their local stores or vitamin stores without being out of a lot of money? I am commited to want to change my life but at the same time I do not and will not get a surgery that will cost a lot of money afterwards which is money that I do not have.This will only make a bad situation worse if I cannot afford to get the vitamins and protein shakes that my body will need after the surgery and for the rest of your life.Please do not flame me.LOL.I just want to know if there is anyone that has or is on less expensive viatmins and protein shakes besides Bariatric Advantage .I know what I can and cannot afford and this is one website that has very expensive products and you have to order them every couple of months.I am sure that I am not the only person in this situation.I welcome all replies.

Thank You

Latasha

The vitamins are VERY important!!  I use the vitamins and calcium from Bariatric Advantage.

I pay $80 for a 3 month supply for both of these.

Look at it this way if you save $27.00 per month towards this, you will be fine.

There are other choices, like chewable vitamins, and calcium pills, but these are the best for your health.

Also you do not NEED to purchase protein if you are able to get all your protein in by food.  This will be eggs, lean meat (chicken, pork, etc), dairy, yogurt, etc.

I but a protein powder called Lean Dessert (by BSN) and use it for days that I'm running late out the door.  It is $20 at your local Vitamin Shoppe for a "jug".  My main source of protein are the above foods.  Also if you have a Kroger close, they have a generic yogurt called Carb Masters that has 12g of protein per 6oz.

I hope that this helps.

Michael.

I know what you mean about the prices on bariatriceating.com.  I'm 9 months out and all my labs are fine.  I use the walmart brand multivitamin and calcium citrate.  My dr. has ok'd them.  As Michael said, if you can get your protein from food that would be best but it's hard to do that.  Even people that are 2 and 3 years out still use powders.  I get my protein powders from GNC or Vitamin Shoppe.  I usually get mine when they are on sale.  I know what it's like to be strapped financially but I made the choice to have this surgery for my health so I find a way to pay for the things I need.  (Nothing illegal or dirty, in case the Bobs read this!!!! LOL)  Anyway, good luck and I hope it all works out for you.

Melissa

Illegal - not a chance!   Dirty . . . hmmmmm . . . now that's a whole 'nother story!    BwaHahahahaha!!!

The WalMart vitamins and calcium are good and cheaper than name brands.  They also have some protein powders that are good and fairly inexpensive.  Sam's has a really good protein powder too.  Dollar General has name brand vitamins at a very good price too.

Once you are able to eat solid food, tuna in spring water is a great source of protein.  You get about 33 grams of protein per can.

I will be quite honest with you.  Gastric bypass is not a cheap way of life...  it takes money.  I wish I did not have to say that...  many people who cannot afford protein end up lacking, or resorting to the doc's suggestion of doing evaporated powdered milk in skim milk because its cheap.  Its not good for us as wls patients, and nutritionists have even said its because (a) it can be purchased at any local store and (b) its cheaper.  But, the key will be to find protein products that taste good and are better for you to maximize your weight loss results and also maximize your protein needs.  I believe the cheapest protein that I can suggest with a good conscience to anyone would be the Body Fortress at Walmart.  It's around 10-14.00 a container and is available in chocolate and vanilla.  If you haven't had the higher priced better quality, you really won't know the difference.  If you can afford it later, I would take a trip to the local Vitamin Shoppe to purchase something like Nectar Cappuccino by Syntrax or some of their other flavors.  Not everything has to be ordered online...  VS has some great products.

I get my B12 sublingual at Vitamin Shoppe for $14 for a 90 day supply.  I love them!  They are great tasting and are made by Solaray.  I do take Calcium by Bariatric Advantage and order it online but I have done Tropical Oasis Liquid Calcium Citrrate and If I remember, I did get this at Vitamin Shoppe as well... I think GNC sells it and its around 14.99.  Its liquid and is suggested/recommended by surgeons.  There is no flaming here because the economy is bad.  Just make sure to always get recommendations on the products to make sure they are safe for wls patients.  And, not by the clerks at VS or GNC as they dont really know.  One lady tried to sell me a liquid multivitamin and I did buy it, but showed it to the doc who said NO, don't use it.  I took it back before ever opening it.

For the first few months, and I might get flamed here myself, but Flinstones if you abslolutely have to...  but you need to find a good vitamin.  Susan J uses one over the counter, I am not sure what it is...  but her labwork has always come back great.  Let's wait to see what she uses.

Perhaps this has helped.  No shame in needing to cut costs!  Take care! 

Thank you for the replies.

Latasha

Hi,
I'm preop but I've been searching around for good prices on vitamins and protein too. I have found almost everything I need at Walmart. I use their Body Fortress protein powder for shakes. It comes in Vanilla and Chocolate and Strawberry. You can use the vanilla to make a variety of other flavors. Body Fortress costs about $13 for a 2 pound tub. I also found Centrum Chewable vitamins at Walmart. I think they were about $12 for 50. I will be taking two of these a day, so that would be a 25 day supply. I also found the sublingual B12 very cheap at Walmart. I can't remember exactly how much. I found Chewable Calcium Citrate by Twin Labs at Amazon for $8 for 60 wafers. I will probably need 4 to 6 of these a day. Someone today also told me I will be needing B complex and I know I've seen that at Walmart. You don't have to spend a lot on supplements. Just make sure the things you choose to use are okay with your surgeon and nutritionist.
Good luck.
Blessings,
Karen

Latasha,
I use all my vitamins from walmart.  Equate children't chewables, equate chewable calcium + D, sublingual B12,  I also get a protein powder from walmart, Body Fortress that is about $14 for a 2lb jug and I like it better than any of the more expensive ones I have tried, it comes in chocolate, vanilla, strawberry and tropical punch.

While BA vitamins have been formulated for folks who have had gastric surgeries, I say if you can't afford them (which I can't)  it is better to find an economical replacement than to not take them at all.

Name brands don't always mean better products.

darlene

I appreciate all of the replies.I am glad that I am not alone.


Latasha