Search the Community

I think it’s personal choice. Both are big. Chewable doesn’t get stuck, but I’ve taken Tylenol and other capsules with no problem. My physician’s office (and the other practice I considered) specifically said not to take certain brands of bariatric vitamins because they don’t have the same nutritional value. Celebrate, Unjury (Opurity), and Bariatric Advantage are well known and they said their patients also had very good levels with ProCare. I have heard if you don’t opt for a bariatric vitamin, Flinstones (2 or three.. not sure) are an option. I don’t “love” the chewable, but it’s not bad. The calcium chews on the other hand are delicious, but I have to wait until 1 month post-op to restart. The sample packs include both the chewable and capsule so it’s a good way to try both and see if you have a preference. My biggest thing is whichever one I got, it had to be a one a day.

Bariatric Fusion complete chewable. I’m 4 weeks out

*raises hand* I'm identifying myself as one of these people described above as "obsessive to an extreme that leaves [you] scratching [your] head in big way" with "[my] disordered relationship with food in the name of perfection". Case in point: Last night I logged 8 cashews with my 1/2 cup yogurt, as well as the one sour kid gummy that the Kid offered me (aside: for those wondering with bated breath, all of that was 234 calories). I've been called "obsessive" alot. Or "crazy". And likely not in a very complimentary way, ha. (and not just food/bariatric life-wise...in basically EVERYTHING I do). While I will admit that I do tend strive for my idea of perfection in many things*, I can also accept that this is realistically unattainable. Shame spirals and self-loathing is not normally in my wheelhouse. Yeah, I'll get annoyed or frustrated or go into stream-of-consciousness swearing mode, but l deal. *On the flip side of this there are also many things that I have flat out given up on and completely embraced my utter incompetence in...if you have an hour or two I could attempt to list them all I just assume some people just don't get/accept me and/or my ways, and that's ok in the grand scheme of things. Some are mildly amused, some repulsed, still others want to save my soul, so to speak. And yep, there are those that stand shoulder to shoulder with me and say "Eff Yeah!" (obviously, I like these people the most, but I'm biased, lol) soooooo.....I suppose I just wanted to say to my fellow "extremists" that IMO, so long as logging your 4.5 almonds in MFP doesn't negatively affect you, your safety, your relationships, or your quality of life, there ain't nothing wrong with what you are doing. And even if it does, the hope is that you will learn to deal. P.S. Further to the poster who considered a Flintstones chew-able vitamin as dessert...last night I considered my solitary sour kid gummy as dessert! Mind you, I also considered my 1/2 cup of yogurt as "dinner", and my vodka caesar as "breakfast"...so maybe its just a matter of semantics.

I will be taking my One a Day Women's vitamin and then the Bariatric Fusion Brand Calcium Citrate along with my Vitamin D. The Women's days are gummies

What’s really messed up is my insurance has no record of anything being submitted for surgery. I called to ask about the denial and they didn’t know what I was taking about. I’ve emailed and voicemails the insurance lady at bariatric and can’t get a response.

Rachel Goodman is an awesome dietician who offers online classes and support - she’s not specifically for bariatric patients though. But she does talk about the biology of dieting /starvation mode.

Also, I think the "bariatric multi" is just another way to capitalize. My Flintstones multivitamin chewable that I get from Amazon, literally offers every vitamin/nutrient listed in a special bariatric vitamin. Perhaps not as much of it by the looks of the labels, but enough for me to reach the (or above the) necessary daily value.

Flintstones makes a Bariatric multi?

Someone on the bariatric Facebook page told me we should call the "angel wings". Such a softer, gentler term!

I am taking Bariatric Advantage chewables and not crazy about them

You may want to check out ProCare, Celebrate, Opurity, and Bariatric Advantage. Several of them offer free or low cost samples.

April 13 for me. Bariatric sleeve

I’m so sorry that this is happening to you. Have you considered a bariatric therapist that is also marriage and family counselor for the both of you. I’m sure there is such a person with the statistics being what they are.

I think absolutely everyone should consider seeing the bariatric therapist. For me...that relationship...has been as beneficial as the surgery in my weight loss effort.

It's ok to distance relationships if they are not supportive. You had a lap band years ago, right? Were people supportive then? Did you get your surgery date for the sleeve yet? The only person that has to be happy with your medical decision is you. Don't waste you time or energy trying to educate someone who is against bariatrics. I hope you don't feel ignored on this site. You have 26 posts. Give it time, post more and ask questions.

Absolutely. As a matter of fact, I always sign on to Bariatric Pal in the evening when I'm most tempted to snack. Usually between 9pm-11pm. It helps to distract and busy my mind.

I had two different cosmetic surgeons. One for breasts and one to remove skin cancer and both said to use Vaseline so I asked bariatric surgeon if that was okay yet at post op appt and he said it’s fine. It may have been okay to use as soon as steri strips fell off but I forgot to ask beforehand so I just waited since I’m not super concerned about scars on belly. Can’t wear bikini anyways cause of skin cancer.

if you want to go to Mexico, Dr Francisco Sauceda in Monterrey and Dr. Laura Carmina Cardenas in Tijuana are very well-known in bariatric circles. They've worked on A LOT of bariatric patients and specialize in massive weight loss patients. Dr. Joseph Capella in New Jersey has also operated on a lot of us (and specializes in massive weight loss patients, too), and his prices seem reasonable compared to a lot of other US surgeons (haven't seen anything recent on him, though) several people here have gone to Miami for plastic surgery because supposedly it's one of the cheapest areas in the country for that - I don't know any names, but a few people on here have gone there and can probably give you some recommendations. The prices they've gotten don't seem much more than the prices in Mexico oh - Dr. Joseph Michaels in Rockville, MD has also been used by a lot of bariatric patients I personally would look for someone who specializes in body contouring for massive weight loss patients or at least has done a BOATLOAD of them, because it supposedly is a complicated sub-specialty.

Chewable bariatric advantage multivitamin and calcium citrate chews so far. I read others lists and worry I may have to add more though.

Every so often I feel torn on these forums about my role and what I should say. On the one hand, I'm a veteran now....and have had success with this whole undertaking that I feel pretty proud of. There are a lot of struggles and things that I can comment about with some hard earned observations and experiences. I can be all.....mentory...and have good mentor-ish things to say to newbies. Sometimes I feel a responsibility to *provide a good example* and only say things that are in harmony with the bariatric sages...and play the proper acolyte to the Bariatric Authority. But here's the part where I feel torn. I also want to tell the truth. I want to be the kind of poster I really enjoyed reading when I was first looking into this crazy ride. I want to be unvanished, raw and HONEST. Because I value that in people. I value that risk. I value those stories....because sometimes people really need those stories. Even if they're terrible advice and provide a terrible example! Sometimes just knowing someone else....occasionally has a horrible day and eats the entire pack of four Yasso bars....helps you to live your life and forgive yourself. I want to say: Yes, I drink diet soda. I know it's probably unwise and I also know there's hype about it that's untrue....AND....I know a lot of you drink it, too. And some of you drink real soda.....and will probably rot in hell for it. LOLOLOL Ya'll won't admit it....but I've seen ya. I've peeked in those windows and I know you do all sorts of awful stuff. You eat peanut M&Ms and drink soda and beer and buy the occasional McDonald's kid's meal and can of Pringles. At Christmas, you cheat. You eat stuff you shouldn't. You ate Halloween candy. Ok, it was just a couple of pieces...but it made you happy. We're not perfect. We screw up. We make questionable choices. Sometimes regularly. We STILL have unhealthy food moments. We're works in progress. Can we talk about it as adults...knowing it's a crap example...but also knowing that it's human? We still do weird assed extreme things in realtion to food. How many calories in two almonds and one dried cherry? I HAVE TO WRITE IT DOWN. How many grams of protien in one pint of donated blood? How many calories do I lose when I menstruate? I had a cold and blew my nose ten times and the internet says snot is made of protien...do I have to up my protien? I once heard a lady on one of these boards say....she had her Flinstone chewable multi vitamin....for dessert after her meal. And it was delicious. 😳 Is it wrong to admit I wanted to slap her? I'll admit it...I ate a S'more about two weeks after I had surgery. I remember it as the most exquisite thing I've ever eaten...and I nibbled that one little square of heaven all night in front of the fireplace with the Christmas lights on. Licked it, actually. Down to a stump. LOL. And Yes, ..a part of me is still screaming at myself.....You had a freaking S'more right after your surgery???? What the actual H*ll???!!! What were you thinking? (I lived...crap, I even lost weight to goal...but I commited this food crime. Guilty.) Sometimes I think we lose our humanity in this environment....because as some folks have noticed, there's a competative thing. Some weird ick factor of needing the best score...the tiniest dinner...the least daily calories. "I'm going to get down to my original weight of 9 pounds 3 ounces if it kills me. Could someone please eat the other half of my lentil? It's too much for me." And then I think....crap, maybe these folks really ARE as together as they seem and I'm just nutty and disordered and still fighting through this mess everyday three years out...isn't normal... But then I look at the number of folks who wash out...and think......nope. MOST of us are struggling and screw up. MOST of us continue to screw up and figure it out. Would be fun to do the research to put an actual number on it.... But I'd bet at least 90% of us...have secrets they would never disclose in a forum like this about one screw up or another. I think we need a Confession thread. Where correction is not allowed. Where worry and concern (and abject horror) are forbidden to be expressed. Where we can just let that other lost soul know....yep, I licked a S'more, too....you're not alone. All sins can be forgiven. Tomorrow is always a new day.

This creamy tortellini, spinach, and chicken soup is a very popular recipe for both the Instant Pot and Crock-Pot. Since I'm not eating pasta, I made it without the tortellini and added extra chicken and spinach to make up for the lack of tortellini. It's good, but not mind-blowing (to be fair, maybe it would be with the tortellini). My 5-ounce serving: This was also a perfect time to try out my new Souper Cubes. I've seen several people in the bariatric community recommend these. They are pricey (a set of two 4-ounce trays is $36.99), but I splurged because people say this brand is much better in quality than the cheaper ones. They do feel very sturdy and heavy-duty, and it's easy to pop the frozen cubes out of the trays. I can fit 5 of these cubes in a quart-sized Ziploc bag. I usually use these glass containers (which I love and highly recommend), but the cubes in a bag are a lot more compact, and I'm not limited by the number of containers I have. I will definitely get a lot of use out of these and probably buy some of the other sizes, too!

Flintstones makes a Bariatric Multi?

Sounds similar to Garth Davis, who my primary care provider mentioned. She’s not convinced that we need as much protein as most bariatric surgeons push. I’ve been trying to find a post op plan that is more whole-food plant-based. Do you have a copy of your post op plan still?

I had a sleeve, 4 months post op, I take daily Bariatric multi with iron B complex Vitamin d I don’t have any prescriptions, and I did great with my blood work checkup last month. I eat a pretty varied diet- I have fruit and vegetables as well as protein. So far so good.

Drugstore calcium and vitamin D; Bariatric Fusion multivitamin with iron (my program says you have to have a bariatric multivitamin but the others can be OTC). I would never do chewables - capsules only.