Have you got Recomendations for Runners and Women ?

I have been wanting to write this post for a while now because I want to get some honest opinions of what you guys all use as far as supplements and multivitamins. I keep wanting to ask my PT each time that I go but suddenly when I am there amongst the weights, and stretching, and riding bike, it somehow slips my mind.

My go to vitamins have always been the Vita-Fusion Gummy Vitamins. I have tried the Women's One a day multivitamins but they were too large (they were not gummy) and I had a hard time swallowing them. I found that about an hour later they often made me sick. So now I only do the Gummy ones. It sounds childish I know.  I've done that Vita-Fusion multi-vitamins, and the Vitamins for women. I've notice the Women's ones have a bit more "rubbery" of a texture but in the end they both work and I don't mind them. In fact, I know the dosage is only 2 but there are times I will take 3 or 4. Yea, they are that good!


I am now taking the Centrum Gummies that I got in my Smiley 360 box. I have to say that these rival the Vita-Fusion Gummies. The flavors taste like the real fruit gummies that are in the fruit snacks and are not rubbery at all. The flavors are Cherry, Berry, and Orange. These Centrum Gummies are great for energy, and to boost immunity and metabolism (contains vitamins D, E and B12) yet I feel maybe I should be taking something else in addition to this multivitamin.  To be honest, they taste so good that I feel like they are almost a treat!

Recently I decided I should start taking some additional Calcium. I checked out the Vita-Fusion calcium blocks and they are like candy. They even look as thought they are sugar coated. Yea, I ate these like candy too until one day I thought about how sickening sweet they were and then I just stopped. I take one every couple of days now.  I am thinking about trying the chocolate ones. Anyone ever had those?

I am now on the hunt for something for arthritis. I do not have full blown arthritis (yet) but my doctor (who prescribed the MRI) said it looked like I had a bit of it in my knee.  Even though I feel like my healing is progressing, I still have pain right on my knees when sitting, standing, and squatting. perhaps I can take something to make this pain go away, or at the least prevent it from getting worse in the future.

Another thing I want to start doing is adding more protein. I have been making protein shakes after my workouts. I always knew that it was important to replenish after a workout or run, but I never really did it with protein. I thought as long as I drank enough water I was good.  I have used a couple different brands (samples that I got)  and I enjoy the ones that are chocolate.  Can you recommend a brand that you like that I can easily purchase at a store?

As a runner, or just as a women, what supplements should we be taking?  Do you have anything you'd like to recommend to me?     Thanks -M

This post was NOT sponsored by any of the above vitamin brands.

23 comments:

  1. I think it is one of those things that is very much a personal decision and it is down to the individual to listen to their body and what they need.

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  2. Parents in my clinic ask me all the time about vitamin recommendations; I tell them I can't make recommendations because theoretically, a balanced diet should provide everything a person needs. I tell them it's really a personal decision. I do recommend Calcium supplements to teenage girls who don't drink any milk. And I tell parents to stay away from gummies because they stick to the teeth and cause decay. And yes, I take vitamins: a B complex, Vitamin D, Fish Oil, and a probiotic.

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  3. I really like what Wendy said above! I have read that its best to get all your nutrients from foods, but if you know you aren't getting something important than you should find a good quality supplement. I sometimes take calcium and omega-3s when I know that I'm not getting enough in my food, but I don't take a multi-vitamin.

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  4. I take women's One a Day and take half each day. I use a pill cutter to cut each vitamin in half, then half again. I don't understand why they make those vitamins the size of horse pills. I'm also on D3 by doctor's orders and I take omega-3.

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  5. I take a gummy multi-vitamin too. I don't care if it sounds childish, I just can't make myself swallow the big pills. I also take the viactiv calcium with the vitamin D. Those are 2 things that I know I don't get enough of. The taste is ok. They're chocolate chews and they're not the best thing ever but not too bad.

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  6. I'm the worst with this; I usually just take a women's one-a-day, but I always forget to take it consistently! Sorry I can't help with recommendations! :(

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  7. I take CVS brand one-a-day multivitamins (I tried the One-A-Day brand and they made me so nauseous shortly after taking them that I actually thought I might be pregnant until I realized the connection! I've read online about others who experienced the same thing with the name brand.), CVS brand calcium + Vitamin D, and Fish Oil pills.

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  8. Ever since I had some sort of toxic reaction & they think it was to vitamin B - I am so freaked out by vitamins - especially the ones that have WAYYYYY over 100% RDA
    Vitamins usually mess with my stomach anyways. I'm just a freak of nature that can't take anything.

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  9. I take One A Day Women's Pro Edge after a meal. Yes, I have choked on them so I have to be extra careful. I tried cutting them in half but getting the rough side down is difficult too. I'm of the opinion they may not help but hopefully they can't hurt (agree with Wendy above about eating right). I also take Vitamin D and GNC Tri Flex for my joints.

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  10. Supplements are such a personal thing that I really think what is good for me, might not be good for you. I do take extra Vitamin D and Calcium, and sometimes Glucosamine for my joints. My diet is healthy enough that my blood work comes back good so I don't worry about taking a multivitamin.

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  11. Don't worry about the gummies being childish. I take a Flintstone vitamin because a) it's what I have on hand for my kid and b) they don't upset my stomach. :) I agree with the comment above - there are definitely going to be different things that are right for different people. I do a Flintstone, flaxseed oil (because I hate fish oil) and vitamin D but something it may be worth talking to a nutritionist or your doctor for recommendations for other things.

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  12. I agree that PROTEIN is very important for women. Also, strength training. And while lifting weights is not a supplement, I have to mention that women could benefit so much from strength training 2x per week. Oh, and it does wonders for your running!

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  13. This is so interesting. I'm currently taking a vitamin d supplement but that's because my levels were low (gonna write about this soon).

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  14. I suggest doing a regular check up w your doc and take a look at your bloodwork to see if you are deficient in anything. I've been taking a multi vitamin and a caclium + Vitamin D for years. Being a veg I might not get everything I need from my food.

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  15. I agree that it really varies by person. I get all my vitamins from my diet BUT I eat over 15 servings of fruit & veggies a day, which I know is much more than most people. The only supplements I take are B12, which vegans are required to take since that's the only vitamin not available in plants, and Lysine, which I have to take to keep my lips fom cracking because I eat so many acidic tomatoes every day.

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  16. I have no idea what I should be really be taking but I take a gummy multi-vitamin everyday like you and because I am a vegetarian I also take an Iron supplement. It seems to be working for me!

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  17. Years ago when I was running lots of marathons it was depleting my body of it's nutrients faster than I could fill it back up. When my hair started noticibly thinning I went and visited a couple of Doctors.
    Two of them both put me on Pre-Natal Vitamins, I know weird since I am not pregnant. But They both said the over the counter ones are the best for women all around because they have what we need. Some of the other multi vitamins out there don't have the higher dosages some women need because they have to market them just incase men take them too.
    So I was put on Pre-Natals and I have been taking them for years now (along with Biotin) and its made a huge difference. Although at times I do take an extra Calcium, Iron.
    I think everyone is different, but look at the ingredient/levels and find ones that work for you and just do a double check with your primary care doc for a 2nd opinion and then stick with what you find you like!

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  18. I'm the same as you in that I only take gummy vitamins. The traditional vitamins are so hard to swallow and taste awful. I always "forgot" to take them. The only way I can stay consistent with vitamins is to fool myself into eating the gummy vitamin candy!

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  19. I take a pre-natal vitamin (I'm not pregnant) but it seems to work better for me than normal women's vitamins. I also have a scoop of protein powder (mixed with water or almond milk) after I lift weights. Recently I started taking BCAAs (branched chain amino acids) and have noticed a difference in my workouts.

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  20. I take a women's vitamin called vitamin code, it is gluten free and vegetarian. I can take them on an empty stomach or with a meal and they don't make me nauseous - super point! Supplements are supposed to make you feel good not like poo!

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  21. I take a Vitamin D supplement and use Isagenix protein shakes which have a ton of vitamins and minerals. I have never felt better since starting it!

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  22. My list includes: Vita Fusion (similar to the ones above), Vitamin D, and a probiotic. Have you ever tried glucoasmine for your joints? I took it for a while but stopped (no real reason...I just forgot to get another bottle).

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  23. I take a multi vitamin a few times a week when I think of it. I feel like when you look at the label and many of the ingredients are over 100% of the RDA it probably indicates that you don't need to take it every single day. I do try to remember to take fish oil. I have the liquid kind you keep refrigerated instead of the pills. My mom took the chocolate calcium blocks and they did a number on her stomach. She's got IBS so she has to be careful about every single thing. She went back to the chewable tablets.

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