Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Recommended Posts

Hi,

I was also taking the chewable Viactiv Multi-Vitamin. I just had my followup with the surgeon and nutritionist and she was concerned that I was taking Viactiv. She said it is lacking Iron and some B Vitamins which are very important for LAP-BAND® patients. She told me to switch to the Centrum Chewable or Bariatric Advantage as soon as possible.

I know everyone's doctor has different recommendations, but I thought I should post what I was told.

after trying several brands, I like Trader Joe's High Potency chewables the best. Actually, my favorite tasting one is TJ's gummy vitamins, but the mineral/vit count is much lower. I like the taste and the price, and it contains 50% of the daily Iron requirement, which my nut said was important.

For Calcium, in the morning I take 1 caltrate, and in late afternoon & evening I use the calcium chews. My favorite tasting chew is GNC. It has a lower Vit D content, but I get the extra in my multi Vit & caltrate.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

What I use is not manufactured for sale in the US. Bayer Australia manufactures "Berocca Performance" for sale in Australia and Canada. You can buy them from Canadian pharmacies. They are tablets that effervesce just like an Alka Seltzer tablet but you don't drink them when they fizz. They come in three flavors, but be warned that the flavor isn't enough to hide the vitamin-y taste. The solution is simple...buy Crystal Light packets in the same flavor. I use the original citrus (orangey) flavor and add Crystal Light Natural Citrus Splash. Stir in a little Benefiber and you've got a great start to your day. I drink mine in the car while I drive to work. It is not a complete Multi-Vitamin but has all the B Vitamins, C, D, E, magnesium, zinc, biotin, and a few others. There's no Iron, but I eat enough red meat that I really don't worry about iron.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I take LiquiMax from costco. I took it before being banded. My whole family takes it. I need a suggestion for Omega 3. Fish is not my favorite. Always took a supplemant but can not take it now.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I was doing the Bariatric Advantage but found them grainy and chalky. I am doing Celebrate bariatric ones now. One of the girls in my support group was "auditioning" all the different ones before surg.and suggested them. The Calcium come in hot cocoa and I thought that would be SO gross but on her advice tried them and I love them.. I just ordered their Iron ones since they are guaranteed not to stain your teeth (some of the chewable iron can) so can't attest to them but they are reasonably priced. Frankly the calcium is going to get aweful pricey since I have to do 1.5 servings per day to get in all that they want me to take in (2k mg. per day). The multivit.itself from them that I got is blackberry flavored... not the best but growing on me...again though...lots of more cost eff. ones as noted on some of the other posts. I just got all gung ho before surg.and ordered a TON of these so need to get thru them. I do love the hot cocoa calcium plus though!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I've found Trader Joe's chewables (multivitamin) not bad.

My nutrionist wants me to take Wellesse liquid Calcium (Wellesse) haven't tried it yet -- so far can't find it in an actual store. I think I'm going to have to order it online.

I am missing my daily fish oil and think I need to make the jump to the fish oil gummies.< /p>

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I take LiquiMax from costco. I took it before being banded. My whole family takes it. I need a suggestion for Omega 3. Fish is not my favorite. Always took a supplemant but can not take it now.

Raw black walnuts are high in Omega-3 and Omega-6. But I dont know if you can have them.

The fat portion of whole walnut kernels is from 4 - 10% 'alpha linolenic acid' an omega-3 fatty acid, and about 50 - 60% 'linoleic acid', an omega 6 fatty acid. This ratio of 1 omega-3 essential polyunsaturated fatty acid to about 5 times the amount as omega-6 essential polyunsaturated fatty acid is considered just about ideal for the human body.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 1 reply
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

    • 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
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×