Viactiv

Several of you have mentioned Viactiv for Calcium.  I went to Walgreens to check it out.  I was reaching for the chocolate when I saw a Teen Viactiv.  It was chocolate brownie!  I liked the sound of that.  I compared the labels and the only thing different was the flavor.  I bought it.  I must be a teen girl at heart!  I love the chocolate brownie! Just thought I would share.

 I want to use viactiv, but my Doc told me to use calcium citrate. When I went to walgreens,  I asked the pharmacist which Viactivechew was a calcium citrate formula and he looked at all of them but couldn't find any... so I was bummed out.
Does anyone here know if Viactive even makes a calcium citrate? The pills are so big to swallow

Viactiv doesn't make it, but I buy them and take one in the morning then take a citrate in the evening. Taking the Viactive doesn't hurt and does give you some calcium and to me it's like a treat. I love them! Teresa

You are so right!  I just looked and it is Calcium carbonate.  I am supposed to take calcium citrate, too.  I guess I will pass my Teen Girl Viativ to my 74yo mother!  Maybe she will let me have one sometimes. My nutritionist told me to use the calcium citrate because it is easier to absorb.  I guess it is back to Bariactric Advantage (which aren't bad).  I liked their cinnamon chew. I did stock up on the right chewable vitamin and gas-x strips.  I also got the B-12 sublingual.  I will probably need it. 

I DON'T WANT TO BE A PARTY POOPER CUZ WHO DOESN'T LOVE CHOCOLATE BUT EATING ANY CALCIUM OTHER THAT CHELATED CALCIUM IS LIMITING YOUR ABSORBTION OF THAT VITAMIN. CHELATED CALCIUM IS 80% MORE EASILY ABSORBED INTO YOUR SYSTEM DOCS WON'T TELL YOU THIS. I USE TO SEE A HOMEOPATHIC DOC AND DID SOME RESEARCH AFTER. BUT THE PILLS ARE SOOOO BIG IF YOU CAN FIND THIS SMALLER LET ME KNOW.

I SOO wanted to take the Viactiv...but alas while Calcium Carbonate is ok...it is not as easily absorbable as the Calcium Citrate.  I get the Citrate with Vitamin D.  Maybe I'll just get the Viativ for the TOM when I want a little chocolate =)

I bought those too, and then realized it was the wrong kind of calicum for me.  I take 2 of the viactiv multivitamins though.  For calicum I take the citrical chews which I was only able to find online at CVS.com  Both the chocolate and lemon are really delicious.  They are my little treats for the day.  All the chews do have sugar carbs, but I never miss my vitamins & calicum because I love them so much, so that is a more important benefit.  I do take extra Vitamin D and A, but I'm good on everything else.

I cannot find the Citrical Chews you speak of on CVS.com.  Is this the correct spelling?  I too am coming across the same issue.  I am currently taking the Viactive Calcium and multivitamin. They are so delish but I after I take them all, I am consumung 20 carbs!  Plus it looks like the wrong kind of calcium...  I need find an alterntative that is just as yummy or I wont take the vitamins. 

Citracal makes calcium citrate chewables in Lemon, Chocolate and Caramel (and they're on sale right now at Long's for $5/30 piece box - Long's is a chain in the Bay Area). www.citracal.com

I'm not fond of them, and they have 35 calories and 5 grams of carbs. I like the taste of Costco and Viactiv calcium carbonate chews better. I've read that calcium carbonate is absorbed well as long as you eat it with a bit of food. And I've wondered if the calcium carbonate chews are absorbed better because doesn't the "chew" ingredients work as food to help your body absorb the calcium? Don't know the answer.

The Costco ones are sugar-free, 4 grams carbs and 20 calories. Trader Joe's also sells Fruit flavored calcium carbonate chews (with sugar) at 20 calories and 4 grams carbs.

Jessica

I actually asked Dr. Pleatman about the whole "citrate/carbonate" thing yesterday (because the nutritionist and post-op papers say citrate only too) and he said "IT DOESN'T MATTER, YOU HAVE A SLEEVE WHICH MEANS THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY RE-ROUTING, NO MALABSORPTION ISSUES, ALL I DID WAS MAKE YOUR STOMACH SMALLER, JUST TAKE ANY REGULAR MULTI-VITAMIN AND CALCIUM VITAMIN"...."I let him know that it was written on the post-op papers and that the nutritionist is the one that told me" He said it was misinformation that he would need to correct. ?????? Thoughts anyone? K~