Vitamins + Broke = What to do??

My hubby just started a job where he took a huge, huge pay cut. We are still adjusting to the paycut, so money is super tight.

I want to get some protein powder and some vitamins, but I know I won't be able to afford the super expensive liquid vitamins and such.

My initial plan is to buy a huge container of unflavored protein powder to mix and use as I can. That way I won't get tired of a flavor when I can't afford it. As for vitamins, can I do like a Flintstones type of vitamin and just cru**** up? I have a pill crusher that reduces any pill to fine dust. Would that work? Also I know I will probably need iron and my brother gave me a bottle of iron pills that I can crush.

Any other advice? Coupons? Free give aways? I'm going to a protein tasting party at my surgeon's office tomorrow, hoping for some free handouts.

I was trying to share my concerns with my Dad and he cursed at me and told me maybe I shouldn't even be having the surgery if I can't afford the best of what my body needs. He's had the surgery 3 years ago... why would he treat me like this?? Sorry for the mini rant.

Thanks ladies!!!

Walmart carries an inexpensive protein powder that is decent.  I WAY overbought with the protein powder and almost never use it now.

If you read the lables, most of your vitamins can also come from Walmart.  I often get 2 for 1 deals at CVS.  Flinstones are not a good choice....at all  You need a decent multi with trace minerals.  Centrum sliver (or the generic equivalent) is a good choice.  You also need calcium (not carbonate) , a sublingual B, iron, D and C.  Someone will chime in with a better and more comprehensive list.   Crushing them is fine.

Your dad was harsh...but you do want to make sure you can afford what you need to stay healthy or wait a bit until your cir****tances improve...you can get VERY ill if you do not keep up with your supplements and sometimes the consequences of that are not reversible.

Here is a chart someone put together with the recommendations for various WLS:
http://thebypassedlife.com/asmbs-vitamin-recommendations/

I can't answer about your dad. Sounds like a personal problem to me (his, not yours).

Anyway, there are plenty of ways to get cheap vitamins and you don't have to crush them if they are chewable.

1) Write to all the different bariatric vitamin companies and ask for free samples.
2) Bariatric Advantage has a program where you can qualify for cheap/free vitamins if your income is low enough. The others may have something like this too
3) It might be cheaper to get prescription vitamins if the co-pays are cheaper than over the counter vitamins
4) Costco makes a good generic multi and there are store brands modeled on Centrum which is an excellent vitamins

For the protein powders, I wouldn't invest in anything in large quantities right now. Your tastes may change after surgery and stuff you like now may taste too sweet/salty/bland/flavorful afterwards. Also, unflavored protein powder *has* a taste. I found some of them okay and some of them gross.

What I do for variety is buy my favorite vanilla and then add things to it including SF flavorings.

Pre-op, I sent away for a ton of samples. Some companies will send you samples for free, some will charge shipping only and some charge a nominal amount. But it's better to try everything post-op until you find one you like then buy that one in tubs. Otherwise you could end up with hundreds of dollars worth of protein powder you can't stand the taste of.

Don't do Flintstones.  Generic centrums are just as cheap but much better for you.

Call Bariatric Advantage.  They have a program that gives free vites to some people that can't afford them.

Call Celebrate and ask for samples.  They will send you a ton of samples, for free, enough to get you through a few days.

Get generic calcium citrate and if you can't swallow them (they'll be big) dissolve them in crystal light and drink.  Or buy Upcal D, which is a powdered calcium that is not too costly.

Ask people at your support group if they have any vitamins or protein powder they won't be using.  I've given away several things to people after I've bought it, then decided I didn't like it anymore.

Do you have health insurance?  If so, you can probably do B12 shots instead of sublinguals very cheaply.

But.... you might wanna listen to dad.  If you really can't afford the vitamins you'll need, you may want to hold off on surgery.

Kelly

I've been doing a lot of this on a budget. I get my protein powder from walmart.com. A jug of Body Fortress is $13 or 3 for $35. I get generic multivits. I buy my calcium citrate with mag and D3 for about $20 for 480 capsules including shipping. They could be opened and poured into a drink if the capsule is too big. I get my B12 for $9 for 32 shots. The syringes were a little more expensive. I have to buy my iron, Vit A and D3 from vitalady because I can't find the doses I need anywhere else and that gets expensive. I just spent about $70 but that will last me a while. I got my magnesium oxide at Puritan Pride, buy one get one free. Anything else I need like B complex I get at Walmart or any other place when it's on sale. I haven't sat down and figured out the monthly cost but it's not too bad. The biggest expense is probably the protein since I drink 3 shakes a day. I am still ahead just due to giving up fast food.

you can get good vitimins generic at supermarket,  ex 325 mb iron sulfate, 100 tabs for $1.99
B12 1.75  CENTRUM 100 ON SALE 6.99,  B COMPLEX 2.25 , THESE are the vitamins my endocrinologist rx for me, I get a complete blood panel every 3 months. just did my second one, so we added the iron.  
 I only buy vanillia protien powder, and use sf syrup for flavor,  why commit a whole container and kitchen cabinet to one flavor.  now i have vanilla, coffee, chocolate,strawberry, and a couple of others.

I do the 3 tubs for $35 from Walmart and free shipping.
Mostly my vits come from CVS and I can usually find them buy one, get one free or half price. I do the CVS senior chewable, a B12 from there and they now have a Cal, mag, d3 that is the right calcuim.  Not chewables but I haven't had a problem with pills.

You will be able to get vitamins at a fairly inexpensive price, I have been getting Centrum Chewables at Walmart for about 7 dollars, vit C for 4 dollars (many times on sale) B-12 at Rite Aide GNC brand a bit more pricy at about 10 also my D3 is GNC brand from Rite Aide.. Calcium I am using Bariatric Advantage brand but only because I bought it cheaply from someone on FB. I dont take iron, I have no problems there and have not ever. Good Luck!

here is a list of samples for free or cheap:

About Time Protein Products - 2 servings Total cost 2.99 http://www.shopabouttime.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=TrialPack  

Unjury Starter Kit with Mixing bottle - 12 servings Cost 17.95+6.00 shipping http://www.unjury.com/store/protein/unjury-protein/unjury-starter-pack.html  

Click Coffee Protein Drinks - Email them first about a sample and they will email you a half price code for samples and the instructions on how to use it. You will then get 2 servings for about 3.00 Total. http://www.drinkclick.com/shop.html  

Bariatric Advantage Sample kit - Contact us, if you email them, they will send them for free http://www.bariatricadvantage.com

Chike Nutrition - You pay 6.99 shipping for 5 servings. http://www.chikenutrition.com/free-sample.html  

Celebrate Vitamins - Email form request and surgery type and they will send you a bunch for free. http://www.celebratevitamins.com/component/chronocontact/?chronoformname=sample  

Bell Plantation PB2 - Peanut butter powder for shakes and cooking AWESOME! 3.99 shipping included. http://store.bellplantation.com/PB2-Chocolate-PB2-Sampler-p/spb2-cpb2-1d.htm  

Building Blocks - Email them about samples, I think mine were free. http://www.bbvitamins.com/Contact.aspx  

Syntrax Nectar 13 ct sample pack direct from the company is now $13.00 no shipping. Just call them at 866-333-7403. There is an option on the phone tree for bariatric. http://www.si03.com/  

BJ Bariatrics - Nectar sample pack 12.92+5.00 shipping http://www.bjsbariatrics.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=bjb&Product_Code=synSamplePack&Category_Code=syn  

Kaffree Roma - For those needing to get off coffee for a while or forever. Caffeine free and taste awesome. There product locater helps a lot most Martins carry it in the organic section. http://www.morningstarfarms.com/product_detail.aspx?family=3698&id=302  

Designer Whey - Email them why you want samples and they send them. http://www.designerwhey.com/  

Set Point Health - Email them why you want samples and they will send you a list of what is available and send them. https://setpointhealth.com/ws_setpointhealth/main/main.asp#  

4Ever Fit - Email them that you would like to try the Fruit Blast Natural (truvia), the Fruit Blast the Isolate, and 4ever Whey Protein and why and they will send samples. http://4everfit.com/  

Champion Nutrition - Email them that you would like to try the Champion Pure Whey and why and they will send samples. http://www.championnutrition.com/

Permalean: [email protected] ask for samples they will send you 2 bars

Premier Nutrition: [email protected] they will send you 2 RTD shakes and 3 bars


Focus28: http://store.focus28diet.com/catalog/diet-foods "contact us" ask for samples (they are free)

Quest Protein Bars http://www.questproteinbar.com/sampleoffer

Wahooooo!!!  PAY DIRT!!    LOL  

You rock Jenna.