Vitamins.... this is what I do.
Many of you asked... about my vitamin routine... Here it is!
These I take as outlined in my program:
Calcium Citrate - 1500 MG per day (has to has to has to be CITRATE!)
I have 2 different kinds on hand...
1. Liquid Calcium Citrate (yummy stuff) by lifetime or bluebonnet. I used this early out because of its ease in taking... I liked it so much I keep buying it...2 tbsp a day to get in 1500 mcg. This is easy to take when I am at home. I can mix it into stuff (smoothie, my water....) or just down a tbsp of it.
2. Bariatric Advantage Sugar Free Calcium Citrate 500 mg calcium chewy bites... 3 a day to get in my 1500 mg. These are spendy, but oh so convenient! I toss them into my backpack for school and chew one (like a treat!) in-between classes during the afternoon.
Multi-vitamins. I take Centrum Chewables. 2 per day vs. 1 per day as the bottle says... My nutritionist said chewables are better even long term for us because they are absorbed better. Why? The chewing we do helps break it all down and makes it easier to absorb.These come with or without iron, depending upon specific needs. Currently I take without iron, but that could change depending upon my up and coming blood work.
D3 - I take Nature Made, 1000 IU daily. I recently discovered these come in chewables too! Grape! And they are goooood too! :) I take 1 a day.
B12 - I use Nature Made sublingual (under tongue) and take 10,000 mcg per week. I take it on Sunday's and Wednesdays. To remember I wrote right on my pill keeper "B12" on these days.
The following are vitamins I take because I was taking them preop and with NUTs approval, have continued.
B1 - Nature Made, 100 mg 2 or 3 x per week. I head of people who ended up very sick and it turned out to be a B1 deficiency... So I added this in as a safety net
C - I take C because I have for years... 500 mg per day. Chewable, Sunkist brand.
Fish Oil - Currently I have Nature Made brand... but I am not picky on this one. 1000 mg per day. I started taking this way back when I had cholesterol issues... seems to be a good idea to keep taking it. So I do.
Biotin - Narol Brand. I take two a day, so 20,000 mcg per day. Sometimes I use different brands that have different amounts... but I always take at least 10,000 mcg per day as a minimum.
Ok.... so now WHEN do I take them?
In the AM I take EVERYTHING except my calcium and one of my Centrum Chewables and one of the biotin.
Beginning about 2 or 3 hours, sometimes more, I start taking my calcium. I put the chews in my pocket so the are nice and chewable... and I pop one in my mouth as I go thru the afternoon and early evening. Somewhere in here I take the 2nd biotin... To help me remember, I put the pills (and extra chews just in case) in a baggie in my lunch bag.
If I am at home for the day, then I usually take the liquid calcium cause its yummy and because it saves my spendy chews for when I am out and about as they are easier to take on the go. I have a basket on my kitchen counter and my stuff is there, easy to see and use (The liquid calcium has to be in frig).
On my bedside table I have a little container of Centrum Chewables... I take one every night as I get into bed.
Done deal!
When I was first post op... I set my timer on my phone... I had a little notebook and every AM i made little check boxes for everything from grams of protein to vitamins and oz of fluids... even if I had a BM! LOL!
At 5 months post op I don't do that anymore... Now I am able to stay on top of it without issue. I have a sign hung on my frig that says "VITAMINS FOR LIFE" as a reminder :)
I buy most my vitamins at amazon... easy peasy! I also use Walgreen's sometimes. I watch for their 2 for 1 type coupons :) I also found the liquid calcium at Fred Meyers (Krogers). I take Metamucil almost daily and eat a no carb (almost!) flax "muffin" I make... this helps keeps things moving! :)
Again, this is just what I do... I am not saying I have the corner on the market of vitamin truth! I do know they are important and I make them a priority... I may find new ways and kinds that work over time... I am flexible and open to input... I also know I'll never ever use Flintstones as my daily, I don't care how many programs say its ok. I have thought of moving to prenatals as I know many folks do.... which makes sense, but for now I am sticking with my Centrums :)
These I take as outlined in my program:
Calcium Citrate - 1500 MG per day (has to has to has to be CITRATE!)
I have 2 different kinds on hand...
1. Liquid Calcium Citrate (yummy stuff) by lifetime or bluebonnet. I used this early out because of its ease in taking... I liked it so much I keep buying it...2 tbsp a day to get in 1500 mcg. This is easy to take when I am at home. I can mix it into stuff (smoothie, my water....) or just down a tbsp of it.
2. Bariatric Advantage Sugar Free Calcium Citrate 500 mg calcium chewy bites... 3 a day to get in my 1500 mg. These are spendy, but oh so convenient! I toss them into my backpack for school and chew one (like a treat!) in-between classes during the afternoon.
Multi-vitamins. I take Centrum Chewables. 2 per day vs. 1 per day as the bottle says... My nutritionist said chewables are better even long term for us because they are absorbed better. Why? The chewing we do helps break it all down and makes it easier to absorb.These come with or without iron, depending upon specific needs. Currently I take without iron, but that could change depending upon my up and coming blood work.
D3 - I take Nature Made, 1000 IU daily. I recently discovered these come in chewables too! Grape! And they are goooood too! :) I take 1 a day.
B12 - I use Nature Made sublingual (under tongue) and take 10,000 mcg per week. I take it on Sunday's and Wednesdays. To remember I wrote right on my pill keeper "B12" on these days.
The following are vitamins I take because I was taking them preop and with NUTs approval, have continued.
B1 - Nature Made, 100 mg 2 or 3 x per week. I head of people who ended up very sick and it turned out to be a B1 deficiency... So I added this in as a safety net
C - I take C because I have for years... 500 mg per day. Chewable, Sunkist brand.
Fish Oil - Currently I have Nature Made brand... but I am not picky on this one. 1000 mg per day. I started taking this way back when I had cholesterol issues... seems to be a good idea to keep taking it. So I do.
Biotin - Narol Brand. I take two a day, so 20,000 mcg per day. Sometimes I use different brands that have different amounts... but I always take at least 10,000 mcg per day as a minimum.
Ok.... so now WHEN do I take them?
In the AM I take EVERYTHING except my calcium and one of my Centrum Chewables and one of the biotin.
Beginning about 2 or 3 hours, sometimes more, I start taking my calcium. I put the chews in my pocket so the are nice and chewable... and I pop one in my mouth as I go thru the afternoon and early evening. Somewhere in here I take the 2nd biotin... To help me remember, I put the pills (and extra chews just in case) in a baggie in my lunch bag.
If I am at home for the day, then I usually take the liquid calcium cause its yummy and because it saves my spendy chews for when I am out and about as they are easier to take on the go. I have a basket on my kitchen counter and my stuff is there, easy to see and use (The liquid calcium has to be in frig).
On my bedside table I have a little container of Centrum Chewables... I take one every night as I get into bed.
Done deal!
When I was first post op... I set my timer on my phone... I had a little notebook and every AM i made little check boxes for everything from grams of protein to vitamins and oz of fluids... even if I had a BM! LOL!
At 5 months post op I don't do that anymore... Now I am able to stay on top of it without issue. I have a sign hung on my frig that says "VITAMINS FOR LIFE" as a reminder :)
I buy most my vitamins at amazon... easy peasy! I also use Walgreen's sometimes. I watch for their 2 for 1 type coupons :) I also found the liquid calcium at Fred Meyers (Krogers). I take Metamucil almost daily and eat a no carb (almost!) flax "muffin" I make... this helps keeps things moving! :)
Again, this is just what I do... I am not saying I have the corner on the market of vitamin truth! I do know they are important and I make them a priority... I may find new ways and kinds that work over time... I am flexible and open to input... I also know I'll never ever use Flintstones as my daily, I don't care how many programs say its ok. I have thought of moving to prenatals as I know many folks do.... which makes sense, but for now I am sticking with my Centrums :)
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