Tips Club

Let's start something new!

I learn so much from all of you - I think this can be another way...  Let's give tips (and discussion) based on things we do to make the most of our WLS "tools".  I'll try and come up with a list of topics, please feel free to PM me any suggestions for future topics.  :)

How do you remember all your vitamins?

TIP:  Ritual and reminder.

I do my morning and evening ritual (same time of day everyday - before bed and before I leave for work with my first sip of milk).  Then I add in two additional doses during the day by setting a reminder (appt) on my work outlook calendar.  My computer "rings" me at 10am and 3pm.  I take my pills and then re-set my reminder for the next day.  I've been doing this for a long time and rarely miss a dose!  This method especially helped me with getting in my second dose of calcium, which I really had trouble with because I was never leaving enough space between taking it and my iron (they counter each other). 

:)

TIP: Be consistant

I wake up and take my morning pills before I even sit down at my computer. After dinner I take my evening pills and as I am walking to bedroom for bed at night I take my Multivitamin. That's how I remember to take all my pills everyday.

Great idea, Lauren!

Tip:  Stay organized.

I sort everything into a 7-day "pill sorter" once a week.  Each morning, I transfer that day's vitamins, etc. into a small one that I carry with me (it's a daily pill sorter, has "AM" and "PM").  I take the AM first thing in the day, then start working on the "PM" -- take those throughout the afternoon, finishing in the evening.  The last thing I take before heading to bed is my iron, which sits with the 7-day planner.  :)

GREAT post Lauren! Thanks

My tip- Plan your menu

Every Saturday I sit down and plan the menu for the week. (Not eating everything yet, but adding food slowly) I make sure that my family gets a balanced breakfast, lunch, dinner and once during the week I will make a homemade dessert as a treat. I then go to the grocery store and ONLY buy whats on my list. Keeps my family healthy, and me within my grocery budget.

Lauren- I am going to start to use my outlook calendar as well. I am forgetting vitamins more often that I want to admit. Morning and before bed pills are not my problem, its those 2 during the middle of the day.

I have several methods for the different days of the week!

For a regular day when I am at work:
I being the day with a protein shake and start the vitamins.  I have my outlook calander set at work for my mid AM and mid afternoon rounds and then take more in the evening.

For the weekends and days that I am off:
I start and end the same but I went to CVS and paid $9.99 for a timer pill holder.  It beeps to remind me for the daily rounds.

I also set the reminder on the calander on my phone.

I have a sorter that has four time slots and is removable for each day of the week.  I fill this weekly!

I have got to get a timer pill holder for the weekends too.  Those two daytime doses are more challenging to remember on the weekends for me.  That would definately help!  :)

Tip :   Do it first thing before you forget........

For my morning vits, I take them as soon as I get showered BEFORE I do anything else - that way I can't forget. I use the ISOTONIX mixture of vitamins and OPC-3 antioxidant so it is like a nice berry fruity drink - that also serves as my breakfast so I do not need to eat breakfast until about 10 am as I am full - thus cutting out a snack....

Then I take some more vits before dinner.........

My iron I take at night before I go to sleep so it has at least 6 hours not to mix with any other vits or calcium I may take.

My calcium I take throughout the day but when I am finished my stash of chewables I am changing to the ISOTONIX malate calcium drink as my nutritionist has said that would be ideal for us. It is a mix of carbonate and citrate but because of its isotonix delivery it is easily digested for people like us.

Great topic Lauren!

Jackie