Vitalady

I follow the schedule and saw a marked improvement, i get mulits and some vits from vitamin shoppe, protein i get from who ever is having a sale (BOGO!), the big guns i get from vitalady (proferrin, vit a, vit k, vit a) because a lot of places dont carry the higher doses or in dry form, amazon. com sometimes has vitamin d 50,000, walmart, costco are good also for the ones you can get in bulk,(multis, vit C, vit E)  the drugs and supplies i used before the surgery, (cholestrol, byetta, nexium, synthroid, needles, alchohol swabs, diabetic testing supplies, shots for pain, custom arch supports, doctor appointments) definately added up to more in terms of health, if you can get the iron if you need it (proferrin forte) in a script that helps cut cost alot so your insurance can cover it and you just pay the co pay, i like celebrate vitamins also (calcium) i shop around and when in doubt or in a pinch i just go to vitalady! hope this helps, happy shopping!

Forgive me for being lazy & copying someone's text, but I do the same . .

Personally, I get my Calcium CITRATE and Multi from a warehouse club (Walmart). I can get them dirt cheap there, and in bulk.  A, D, E, K and Iron I get from Vitalady. You won't find the doses we need of those in any local store, and you won't find the fat solubles in the DRY FORMULAS we need for maximum absorption!!!

The rest of my vites (zinc, B-12, folic acid, copper, etc.), I typically get locally.  I get the folic acid & copper from a local health food store b/c it's a little cheaper than from Michelle and Walmart's formulation is CRAP for folic acid & copper.   I also order multiple months per shipment to spend $300 to get free shipping from vitalady.

You will spend FAR less $$ on food in the first year than as a pre-op.  After that, it starts balancing out b/c even though you eat less volume, you're buying more expensive products since it's high-protein base.

Good point about losing wt & getting off prescriptions, though I can't claim that one.  I was on omeprazole before & still am.

I, like others, buy certain vites from Vitalady and others from the grocery, pharmacy, etc. I get my dry D and dry A from Vitalady because I can't seem to find these other places. I also get Zinc from her.

I get B-12 from Nature's Bounty (buyonegetonefree) and I get the multi vites from Unjury. Anyway, I spend less than 50 a month on supplements. I am almost 4 years out, am able to get lots of food and have settled into a good balanced routine. When you first start out, you just don't know how your body will react and what you will end up needing to supplement.

I can tell you I didn't save any money trading amount of food for quality of food and supplements. But everyone is different. I pretty much broke even or pay out a little more each month.

I am following her schedule and purchased a 3 month supply.  The cost is about $100.00/month.  I really like the convenience as I am extremely busy.  I like getting it all from one location and especially having it delivered to my door.
Lisa

Can you get vites from the pharmacy?!? Thatd be awsome! I have a $0 copay!

Yes, you can get some of your vites at Walmart or wherever. A Centrum-type multi, for example, and your calcium citrate, and possibly your zinc and B-complex and B-12.

I get my A, D, Tender Iron, copper and zinc from her, the latter two because her prices on Puritan's Pride brand are as good as any store I've been able to find.

I very rarely use protein supplements, but I keep a bag of powder on hand that I got from GNC in case the need arises.

I spend a little over $40/month on supplements. But I'll tell you this: If I had to spend $200/month on supplements in order to enjoy the quality of life I have now, I'd do it in a heartbeat. A couple handfuls of vitamins a day and a few individual pills chugged with meals or with other reminders are nothing compared to the 19 prescriptions meds I took every day--including four insulin injections and the attending finger sticks, living tethered to an oxygen tank, etc.--before my DS. 
 
I guess when you aren't that sick, you can have trouble appreciating the great liberty that the DS can bring. It's really hard to wrap your head around it. I will look forward to talking about this with you in person and hope I can be of some help as you make your decisions.