Good Morning. Why are vitamins so difficult?

We had one of those posts on the DS board where a surviving significant other came to warn everyone about "taking your vitamins or you die". This guy says he tried to get his girlfriend to take her vitamins and eat her protein but she wouldn't and she died. I don't know whether to believe him or not but the truth of the matter is if we don't take enough of the right kind of vitamins or consume enough protein we surely can die. Why do surgeons downplay this? Because they had MAYBE a 1 hour class on nutrition their first year of med school. They want to fix what gets broken not prevent bad things from happening. They're convinced that Americans eat too much and therefore will not have nutritional issues--ever. {sigh} 

LWs, take your vitamins and get your protein in....and 40 grams of protein a day isn't enough damnit! Aim for 100 grams. If you do that, most of us wouldn't have room for overly processed foods and sugary carbs. 

Who's on top of their vitamins and protein today?

--gina
 

  Well, I can say that I have been a "very good girl," when it comes to vitamin compliance. I realize the health risks and impact that a lack of vitamins and nutrients have on our bodies. I do believe that the only time that I have missed some of my vits, but not all, is because of an outside source of sickness.
 
 Once, was with a severe bout of constipation, where I thought if I put anything else in, I would explode and be more uncomfortable than I already was. I quickly got that in check and have not had that problem again. There are only 2 other time I've missed a dose of p.m. calcium & multi vit and 1 p.m. dose of iron & vit c. Those times were directly caused by a food item getting "stuck." With those bouts, I had severe vomiting even when taking sip of water, so there was no need to take vits and throw them up.

Now grant you, I am only a mere 2 months post-op, but I have been practicing a healthy vitamin regimen before that to help my chances of compliance. I think my fear of irreparable damage to my every day life and terrifying fear of losing teeth has/will help with my stead-fast vitamin routine!!

Protein hasn't been a problem.  I like the protein drinks (coffee, ice cream, hot tea & chocolate) and finding places to add them in hasn't been an issue.

I do my mulit's with my morning and evening meds and that gets them out of the way.  I moved calcuim there and that helps tremendosly with those.  I have recently added fish oil, MSM, glucosamine, and magnesium to the mix but most I do while I am already taking other stuff.  Someone mentioned the other day, taking calcuim everytime they start drinking again after eating and that was a wonderful thought.  Since then, I have been getting my mid day calcuim and stuff in without having to remember them otherwise.  My eat/drink schedule is pretty regular so that was a great way to remember to get those doses in.  Before I had enoght in the am/pm that if I missed a mid day, it wasn't going to kill me.  Being post menopasal and all, I don't have to worry about where to fit iron in so that is a blessing.

Question, for those of us who do benefiber.  Do we need to seperate the benefiber from our vitamins?  Will the fiber interfer with absorptsion?  I never have and it didn't seem to matter with the last labs but would like to know for sure.

I chose to take  vitamins every day for the rest of my life over morbid obesity.  This was a conscious decision.  Either way I was taking pills every day,  Now, my health has improved so much and I feel better. It was the right choice for me.

I still struggle to get enough protein.  I'm usually good for about 70 grams.  I keep trying to pu**** up.

Kay

Isnt it sad to think that most obese people are malnourished?
I know my vit d and I am sure if they tested other things, would have been low.

I did my research preop and understood that protein and vitamins were going to be a part of my everyday life for the rest of my life. Except for some hectic days at work, I am on track with my vites and protein.

take my vitamins religiously!  i take bariatric advantage but have been pondering on comparing the labels with other brands (cvs, wamart, rite aid) to see if i would get the same stuff at a bit lower price....any ideas?

still drink a protein shake (isopure, low carb) and when mixed with skim milk i get 62 grams of protein.  not interested in stopping that even though i'm 10 1/2 months post op.  don't know if i'll ever feel comfy in stopping the protein shake!

why am i such a fanatic about my protein/vitamins???  FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN!!!  terrified of what would happen without them!!!

next..........

J  - the only OTC vitamin I'll take is the Centrum Silver - that is comparable to the Bariatric vitamins - and I like the chewables.  They also have them in pill form if that works for you.\

Hi, Jody, 

I used to take Centrum Silver but I was told to switch to Centrum regular because it has iron.  Are you taking a separate iron pill?

Amy

I'm gonna play dummy---I am naughty-perhaps?!  I do take a multivit 2 times a day (faithfully!) and I take B12 injections every 2 weeks (faithfully!).  Other then that I take nothing----my labs have never been off and I have even gone through one pregnancy (with my pouch in tact for sure)..and even then no issues.  Calcium---I am completely freaked out that I will end up with Chronic kidney stones if I supplement with calcium.. I have had kidney stones probably 3 times in the last 10 years. OMG- it was worse then having my children, back surgery, RNY, okay- anything I have every gone through.  Twice I had to have them surgically removed-- stint into my kidney for days after.  My surgeons have never insisted that I absolutely had to add it, they acknowledge my history of kidney stones, and say what else do you take---I tell them.  So what else am I missing.  Sometimes I add biotin for my hair and nails----but darn that pill is nasty, nasty, nasty (but I don't want to be bald either!).  I was thinking about adding Cinnamon- anyone else take it or find it helpful? Open to ideas and thoughts...thanks!

I had done absolutely wonderful with my Vitamins until I had gotten admitted for my complications from gall bladder surgery. I kept asking them when I could start taking them again and they just kept saying when you go home... I hate that. Now, although I have been home 5 weeks. I am finding it a struggle. I do get them in at least 3 times a week and I have notifications on my computer and cell phone, I am steadily getting back into a routine.
All I take though is a B 12 1 x week, 2 calcium petites daily, 2 multivits daily, 2000 od D3 daily and 2 Vit c (they are yummy)
I have added now in 2 colace and 2 tablespoons of benefiber every morning

Oh and I have been doing amazing with my protein too, I have upped it to 2 protein coffees a day which gives my at least 50 to start with.. I am fairly proud of myself..