So my surgery date is 2/7 so I am getting ready to stock up on the protein shakes and vitamens. Does anyone have any suggestions? What brands/flavors are better and prices....price is very important!! I have looked at a few different websites trying to find the best deal. My NUT recommended Bariatric Advantage, but didn't know if it really makes a difference or not.

Check out this sub-forum for Protein ratings, places to buy samples. #1 piece of advice do not purchase large tubs of anything because post-op, your tastes might change, or you might develop lactose intolerance and you won't be able to drink whey Protein drinks since it's a milk product.

http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/forum/78-protein-drinkspowders/

As for Vitamins, I use and love the Celebrate chewable Multi with Iron, and Calcium Citrate Plus 500 chewable. I have used GNC solotron chewables with bioavailable iron as well and love them too. My labs have always been stellar with both of these vitamins.

If you contact Bariatric Advantage, and Celebrate Vitamins, they will both send you sample packs of their products. Celebrate even has a protein with a multi Vitamin that you can mix up to drink. I've never used it, but a lot of people like it.

Some people take Centrum complete, or other One A Day without issue. I just prefer chewables and refuse to take children's vitamins. I might be lazy, and like yummy vitamins, but I'm not taking vitamins formulated for kiddos. That's just my opinion, but I figure I went through a life-altering, anatomy changing surgery to find greater health, I want to put the best in my body.

I deinitely love Bariatric Advantage chcolate chews calcium citrate. If you put it on auto ship, it's only 9.99. It's not enough calcium to meet the daily requirements so I use a liquid calcium that I get at costco for the rest of my calcium. Or I order then from vitacost.com 9.99 for 60 chewables which are 500 mg each.

As far as Protein powders, get some samples before you buy a bunch of anything. You can get the list of where to get samples from the food forum on this board. There is a thread "places to order samples"