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How much do Bariatric shakes and vitamins cost you per month?



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It depends.

The first 6 months my Vitamins were free, covered by insurance. I got tired of the chewable and I went back to the Vitamins I took before surgery. I take a few different kinds of vitamins but my multi is about $10 a month.

The first month, I spent about $140 on Protein shakes. I have some Protein I need to throw away because it has been open almost a year.

My Dr encourages getting your protein from real food ASAP, from week 3 on, I was eating real food and getting most of my protein from it.

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How much do the Protein shakes and Vitamins and all that run you a month?

It varies. I spent a lot around the time of surgery, so I have a lot that I have been using up. I looked for sales (costco and Sam's club put premier on sale occasionally and stock up). Since I am further out I don't use as many supplements (vitamins or protein) so I don't spend much at all on those. (I bought most of my Vitamins when they were on sale, too so won't need to buy any more for a while).

Currently, my biggest bariatric expense is for Snacks. I buy Quest bars and me. cheese O's by the case -- neither of which are cheap. I generally buy the Quest bars from drugstore.com and/or Amazon and mr cheese o's from Amazon.

I recommend that you try samples of everything before you spend any major money. Get sample packs of powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury, Syntrax nectar, and quest. Stop by a GNC or Vitamin Shoppe and see what samples they have. I like the GNC Lean shake 25 in orange cream. If you like GNC, it is probably worth it to buy a membership.

Also, carnation instant Breakfast essentials are relatively inexpensive. I used them a lot pre-op. I still have a few and add them to oatmeal, etc.

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How much do the Protein Shakes and Vitamins and all that run you a month?

A heck of a lot less than all the food I was stuffing down my face.

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If I just bought my barest of essentials-Bariatric multi, calcium chews, it would probably be around $70/month but I do supplement with Protein Drinks because I can't physically eat enough Protein to meet my body's needs so I usually spend another $40-100 on those each month because I need them and I want variety so I'll get more than one flavor/brand to switch it up.

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I don't even pay attention to it because you know what, they cost FAR LESS than the amount the of food I was eating before surgery....especially when I ate out (which was near constant).

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
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