Needed the best source of vitamins and minerals and help with daily diet plan.

Hello all need help with a great source of vitamins and minerals, or a weight gain plan to maybe gain at least 10 to 15 pounds. I had weight loss surgery in 2012. Which my weight has been going up and down for not not having the proper exercise and nutrients in my daily balance. And I am also a smoker, which decreases my appetite and I find myself losing more weight, Now I look like a skeleton. I went from 296 down to 145. Looks as If I’m pushing my way to the malnutrition side. I recently had a baby, which my weight scale change at that time. I had my son in November 2014 which allow me to gain some weight I was 140 at that time from my previous weight loss surgery this allowed me to gain up to 176 as of being pregnant. But I started back as a smoker and weight has dropped an again I am 140. I know smoking is a bad habit and I am trying to stop. I try to drink insure or muscle milk thinking this could help. I would at least like to get to 150 or 160. Any solutions will be gladly appreciated, Thanks in advance

I see you live in Tampa, but had your surgery in GA.  Am I correct?  Do you go back regularly to see your surgeon?  Have you discussed this issue with your doctor or surgeon?  Do they believe you are malnourished?  You want to make sure you are actually needing to gain weight.  I don't know your height so I am not sure what your BMI is or your fat percentage.

Other than that, there are some medications that can be taken to help you gain weight.  You also need to make sure you do not sacrifice your diet to try and gain weight.  Definitely you need to quit smoking.  That is something that your PCP should be able to help you with in terms of medication and support.  I think there are some smoking cessation groups here in tampa.  If you are looking for a surgeons office who works with patients of other doctors in the area, check out my surgeon.  He's in St. Pete but he's pretty awesome.

Hi Amy, yes, I was living in Georgia at the time I had my surgery done. Then I moved here to Tampa about 7 months later. I was referred to a Bariatric doctor at TGH by my Family doctor. I started seeing him and he went over everything with me and said everything looked good. My weight was stable at that time, But I was really concerned because what my family doctor said, Which she said I looked malnutrition. He reassured me I was ok, but if I wanted to drink insures it’s fine just not that many. Because he didn’t want me to start gaining back all the weight. Then I ended up getting pregnant so I couldn’t see my family doctor or the Bariatric doctor anymore, which lead me to go see my Ob-Gyn doctor. Which I had a great pregnancy my son was 8pounds and 19 inches long. Actually, I went over my due date with him. So after I had him I was afraid I wouldn’t keep the weight off, I would start gaining extra pounds. So I started back this smoking habit, which I know is bad for me and unhealthy. But I knew that kept the weight down for me in the beginning. So now here I am 140 and very skinny I don’t like this look at all! My Bariatric surgeon in Ga said he thinks I would get down to at least 160 after surgery, but I could push myself to 150. I looked great at this size. I am 5’6 weighing 140 I don’t like it all all.

140 is not an unhealthy weight for someone of your height.  But it all comes down to preference.  Are you sure your doctor didn't say you were malnourished in that your bloodwork came back showing deficiencies?  and not just how you looked?  

You definitely need to stop the smoking, and you need to be taking your vitamins daily.  You can increase your weight by just increasing your diet a few hundred calories a day.  you just want to be careful that you do not do it too much.  140 to 160, according to the chart i was given, is the top end for healthy for a 5'6 woman with a medium to large frame.

Hi Amy, Yes my blood work was fine. This was something she mention a year ago. I'm trying to quit smoking, And eat healthier. i need to take my vitamins and calcium on a daily, Starting to have joint problems and problems with my teeth.

Eat more calories.

I'm dead serious.

Track what you're eating now, and add a hundred calories a day, maybe a couple hundred, until you start gaining again. That could be a handful of nuts, some extra cheese, something healthy but with more calories.

Thanks Julie! I will diffidently start trying this i need to gain weight, looks like a skeleton my face is shrinking and more lose skin. ugh

Stop smoking and you'll gain 20-30lbs, have fresher breath and clothes and will add maybe 20 years to your life.

My 50 year old sister has terminal lung cancer from smoking ...

Hi Kim, I am defiantly trying to Quit. And sorry to hear about your lost.

A Weight you feel comfortable seeing yourself at and health vs malnourished are different issues. You can only really tell if you are malnourished by having a complete blood workup. When was the last time you had your bloodwork from the Bariatric Surgeon?...to see vitamin levels, protein levels etc. Are you taking your vitamins? Are you eting Protein? You should still be eating a protein forward diet, I am not familiar with Ensure or how much protein it has in it but why not change to Premier Protein. It has 30g and is just as easy. I would be less worried about aiming for weight gain, as you are a healthy BMI, but focus on getting healthy including stopping smoking. You will feel better, look better and your weight will probably get into line naturally. As for vitamins here is an all in one multi - easy and chewable. I only stopped taking it because I was struggling with constipation and am postmenopausal so didn't need as much iron.
Bariatric Complete Vitamin

and here's a calcium:  Creamy bites Calcium  or this one: Bariatric Advantage

Also take a sublingual B-12. I buy mine at Trader Joes but they have them all over... These are a good place to start and then add  what you need after you see your bloodwork.