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Everyone draws a line someplace. Perhaps you wont eat dog, but cows are ok, perhaps you will only eat meat that comes from animals you have killed. Just like any other system, we each find our own boundaries...perhaps dictated by a clan or culture, or perhaps from personal conviction. Who cares what it is called really, names are just a way to generally show where you are coming from or your affiliation. Its made up.I have even heard of vegetarian palios! Some Vegans are militant. I can see their point. ONce you see the position we put animals in for our eating pleasure... its not as hard to go to this position.

Vegetarian here. Being sleeved April 2nd. Thank you for starting this!

I've been a strict vegetarian for most of my adult life (more than 20 years). I am eating more dairy and eggs post-VSG than I did before, which I'm not exactly happy about, but it will do for now. As I get farther along in my journey, I may try to eliminate them or at least reduce my consumption. For me, vegetarianism is a lifestyle and deeply rooted in my belief system--akin to others' religious beliefs. It is founded on kindness for all living things and a respect for all life (not just human life). I do not eat cheeses that contain rennet. I do not wear or buy leather, wool, or silk. I do not eat things with meat stock, and I definitely don't eat Jello. I don't buy Protein drinks that contain Gelatin. So although I am "just" a vegetarian and not a vegan--I consider this belief to be a huge part of my way of life and deeply rooted in my belief system. It comes from a love for animals--all animals--that I have had since I was a small girl and met my mom's friends who became vegetarians after watching pigs they had raised get slaughtered. I don't think that vegetarianism has lost its meaning--to me it is more meaningful than ever.

http://www.vegsoc.org/page.aspx?pid=508# What is a vegetarian? Vegetarians today come from all walks of life, and all sections of society. They don't generally want to cause a nuisance when they eat out, they just want what most people want: good food and a choice. Sadly this isn't always available. Identifying a vegetarian This is our definition of a vegetarian: A vegetarian is someone who lives on a diet of grains, pulses, nuts, seeds, vegetables and fruits with, or without, the use of dairy products and eggs. Or A vegetarian does not eat meat, poultry, game, fish, shellfish or crustacea, or by-products of slaughter. There are different degrees of vegetarianism which may be what causes confusion with caterers. The four most common forms of vegetarianism are: Lacto-ovo-vegetarian. Eats both dairy products and eggs. This is the most common type of vegetarian diet. Lacto-vegetarian. Eats dairy products but not eggs. Ovo-vegetarian. Eats eggs but not dairy products. Vegan. Does not eat dairy products, eggs, or any other animal product Eggs: Many lacto-ovo vegetarians will only eat free-range eggs. This is because of welfare objections to the intensive farming of hens. Through its Vegetarian Society Approved trade mark, the Vegetarian Society only endorses products containing free-range eggs.

OTR: "Duck" in this thread was referring to a tofu skin dish that does not contain any meat. So yeah, it's vegetarian in this context. I've seen you post before about vegetarian/vegan (when I first searched the board for posts about vegetarianism and VSG), but don't agree with your assessment of what constitutes a vegetarian. I think you are confusing vegan and vegetarian. A lacto ovo vegetarian is a type of vegetarian, and a vegan is a type of vegetarian who does not consume any animal products. A vegetarian does not equal a vegan--but you can be a vegetarian without being a vegan. All vegans are vegetarians but not all vegetarians are vegans. Obviously there are many types of vegetarians that fall under that broader term. So yeah, milk and eggs are vegetarian (lacto ovo vegetarian to be exact)--they aren't vegan....

Careful OTR...brains aren't vegetarian.

Thank you Tes! I am not a vegetarian--but your "substitute" recipes sound gooood. Not sleeved yet- but starting a week of pre-op dieting tomorrow.

I am a vegetarian and was probably eating about half as much Protein pre-op as I am now. I have a few bits of advice that helped me get down my protein during the first week or two (it gets easier): 1) Find a premade Protein shake that you really like. A lot of people recommend Premiere (available at costco and elsewhere) or Muscle Milk Light. Look for one that has around 150-180 calories with 20 g of protein or so and not super-high in carbs (maybe 10 g or fewer). If it seems too thick for you, put it in a shaker and add a little almond milk or skim milk--maybe just an ounce or two. Shake it gently (since you don't want a ton of extra air right now)--and put it in a pretty glass. Now is the time to break out those wine glasses you never use. :-) I have never thought of myself as a chocolate lover, but I seem to like the chocolate shakes the best bc they seem to hide the protein flavor the most. You can also go to GNC or Vitamin Shoppe and try individual ready-made shakes (or the dry shake packets that you add liquid to and blenderize--I use a Vitamix but there's also the Magic Bullet and an imitation Magic Bullet at WalMart that a lot of people like). 2) Get a good unflavored protein like unjury, which you can order online. Use about a scoop in a Soup. I found some Soups I really like called Imagine. They are organic and the carbs are decent (60 calories and 10 carbs in cream of brocc--and it's REAL food--not like the Campbell's stuff). Make a little slurry with some almond or skim milk with the unflavored protein and add to hot soup. It will cool it off a little but this way the Protein powder won't clump like it would if you put it in before heating. You can barely taste the protein powder. 3) Make a little slurry of almond or skim milk with the flavored protein powder of your choice. Add to Fage greek yogurt (thinned out if you are still on purees). My favorite combo is chocolate with some PB2 and one splenda (PB2 is a powdered Peanut Butter with the fat removed). 4) Make hot chocolate! This got me thru my first week. We bought diet Swiss Miss hot cocoa. I would make the hot cocoa with almond or soy milk (you can use skim if aren't lactose intolerant) and then make a slurry of chocolate, unflavored or vanilla protein powder--just 1/8 or 1/4 cup of additional milk for the slurry--and then add to the warm hot cocoa. My husband would make it for me by mixing everything at once and heating for 1 min 40 sec in our microwave (all vary in power--ours is pretty strong). Just be careful using that method b/c if you heat most protein powder too long it will be come a solidified spongy mess. But he figured out a good amount and it would be just warm enough. The warm drink was easier for me to get down than cold ones at first--opens up your esophagus from what I've heard. 5) For clear Protein drinks, I would try drinking them when they are more room temp and less ice cold. These aren't my thing but I was on full liquids right away. If I were on clear, I would try them. I have some in my fridge that I really need to drink...the other things are just so tasty, though. Good luck!!!!!!

When I go to Whole Foods I always pick up a salad bar box with edamame, quinoa, tofu, and various other tasty treats. I usually have it for several meals. I'm not a vegetarian, but the selection is always so fresh and delicious. I crave different things than pre vsg when I preferred chips and chocolate. Now I would much rather have cheese, green things, whole grains, fresh veggies and low fat dressings.

I'm down 91 so far. I had a lot of trouble with eating so when my stomach finally allowed me to eat i was eating non stop and actually put on 10 pounds but it was alright cause i lost it in a week and a half when it settled down. I needed it though as i had very little energy before but I'm doing a lot better now. I eat a lot of fish and shrimp too. I really like the turkey chili with no beans. i have made turkey taco's, meatloaf and chili using vegetarian beans and ground turkey. I made all these as my wife had the surgery the week after me and we split it and save the leftovers to eat over a couple of days. It really helps when you have someone to go through it with you. She's down 56 so far. I will say that my biggest challenge i faced i have found some nice posts on another topic about soda fixes. Crush makes a single drink mix to put in a bottle of water that tastes like soda without the carbonation. They have Squirt, Grape, Orange, and i just found Strawberry. Some one also suggested using the syrups from the soda stream makers in regular water. they have diet and even some use Splenda instead of sugar in the non diet syrups. But none use high fructose corn syrup.

I have to say too that I was afraid by not telling many people that I wouldn't have a big enough support system. But I have found that the PAs at my surgeons' office and my RD (especially my RD!) have been amazing. My RD is a vegetarian like me so she really understands. I doubt she has ever struggled with her weight but I think that she truly understands my journey. She goes out of her way to email me little ideas and recipes here and there and she is so supportive.

My nut recommends their vegetarian meatballs so they are on my list to try. I also buy their hi potency chewable vitamins and sublingual b6/b12 folic acid from there. Love TJs!

I too have experienced the same treatment. My BMI is 37 and I'm 5 7 surgery date 3/18. For some strange reason I feel obligated to tell my close friends and most have been astonished. Like I said I was going to the moon to visit an alien! I guess shock and disbelief. Most said I was not big enough. I may have lost a new friend who is a vegetarian workout addict although that would not make her a friend. Luckily I had one Dr. Friend whose first response was "good for you" and my boss who likened my struggle with food to her nicotine habit. Although I've had a few positive responses most say I'm not big enough or if I'd just eat better and workout. I've resorted to telling them that I have no willpower and I will use this as a tool. I'm not sure how healthy that statement is or the fact that I have to persuade them to try on my shoes. I've decided not to tell most others until after the surgery because then I would so hope not to hear that same statement. Bottom line we are doing this for ourselves to live a longer happier life and for me to lead by example to my young children. I'm so glad I'm not alone on this journey and you all are my tribe you validate my decisions viewpoints! Rock on!

Pureed: sweet potato with yog or Peanut Butter greek yog with banana and protein powder ( I like Chike Banana) cream of wheat made with fake chicken broth split pea soup with a dab on greek yog Iced muscle milk with coffee (I used decaf) The seitan Jerky is great but wait till solids (I think the one I get is Primal) eggface protein ice cream recipes cauliflower soup made with milk and cheese. I missed veggies early on and would make pots of soup and puree till I could eat them chunky. bean soup with veg bacon salt .....I have done it all vegetarian(lacto ovo) for the last two years with success.

I thought I'd note my experience with Tricare Standard (West) and removal of the Lap Band. I've had it since 2007 and lost a fair bit of weight (75#). The past month though I went mostly vegetarian(fish one night a week and meat on one other) and dropped another 15#. Then my port flipped on me. The doc said it was most likely due to weight loss. Had some lower GI pain and blood in the stool same day as it shifted which freaked me out initially. Anyway, I'm pretty dialed in now on portion sizes and just wanted it out. The surgeon had a xray taken for my visit. Tricare did approve the removal in two business days and had it out the day after approval. I had read on various forums before that they won't take it out but with complications it seems to not be a problem. They don't last forever. Good news is it was intact and "hadn't come apart" although I did have some scarring. He said he's taking more of them out now than he's putting in.

When I was pre-op, my fav low-cal snack was 6 ounces of 0% Fage or Chobani with dill dip mix stirred in. Soo good. I've been eating some of this on my pureed vegetarian chili and it's really good. I make up a container and leave in the fridge and use 1/8 to 1/4 cup at a time. Can't wait till I can eat veggies again! Dean, great point about grazing vs planned mini-meals. I think there's a BIG difference. Thank you for your advice! It seems to be working well for you.

I don't have any comorbidities with my weight (amazingly no HBP, dyslipidemia or diabetes--probably bc I've been a vegetarian for so long), so I don't think it's that. Plus it's blanket advice he gives to everyone. I'm meeting with my RD on Thurs and am going to talk to her about it. She had already said before that I might still need some Protein powder or drinks as a vegetarian. PA doesn't agree but I trust the RD over the PA when it comes to nutritional advice. Everyone should stick to his/her specialty area IMO when it comes to a multidisciplinary medical practice.

I can eat about 1/3 of a cup of dense protein (like vegetarian chili or veggie meatballs with cheese and sauce), which is only about 150 calories/meal. If I could get in more per meal, I think maybe the no Snacks restriction wouldn't be bad. And as a vegetarian, there aren't many protein sources that I eat that don't at least have a few carbs. So protein shakes as a snack are a good way to keep the protein up and carbs down. I also like Fage yogurt thinned out with some Protein powder and PB2 stirred in right before bed--I feel like it helps me lose weight if I eat before bed for some reason (protein boost during the time that I am going longest without food). I am meeting with the RD on Thursday so I will definitely ask her about this. Sometimes she and the PA have different advice--and I love my RD bc she is a vegetarian too!

Does anyone else's surgeon say 3 meals, no snacking? I have been paying attention to people who are successful in the long-term who post here, and most seem to have 4 to 5 mini-meals per day. I'm sure my surgeon doesn't want us to get in the habit of grazing, but at the same time, most of my "meals" are only about 150 calories, and I feel that I need to eat more than 450 calories a day or I feel a bit light-headed and can't concentrate on work (my stomach isn't growling but my body seems to need a bit more fuel). I feel best at 600-700 calories, 60-70 grams/protein, at least 64 oz of Fluid (more when possible), and a 30-minute walk per day (which I will increase when I am farther out post-op). I am 3 weeks post-op and on purees. If I were only eating 450 calories a day, I'm not convinced that I would be losing faster, but maybe. I lost 16 lbs in a 6-MONTH 1200-calorie/day pre-op diet (I am hypothyroid and have always been a slow loser with low caloric needs). Since surgery, I gained and lost 18 lbs in fluid and now have lost another 12 pounds. That may be slower than some, but I tell myself if I lose a few more pounds by 4 weeks out, I will have lost as much as I lost in 6 months pre-op! A six-time faster weight loss following a food plan that makes me feel good isn't too shabby! :-) The PA also told me that they do not want us to use Protein shakes anymore, for Snacks or for meals. I really feel that I need at least one per day, especially bc I am a vegetarian so some of my protein sources contain carbs, and I want to keep my carbs to about 50 g when possible. I'm so torn bc I'm so rules-oriented and want to follow my surgeon's recommendations, but at the same time this needs to be livable and I need to be able to concentrate on work and I want to get in all of my protein--etc. Any advice? Thanks!

Oh, yes...carrots too. Cooked are fine, raw are sticky. I am a vegetarian, so I don't have to worry about meat, and so far all the beans and legumes go down just fine.

DeeDee, thanks so much for posting this! I have been a vegetarian most of my adult life and love seeing what other vegetarians eat, especially those farther out than me (I am almost 3 weeks out). When were you sleeved? Your weight loss is great! do you exercise a lot? Also, do you know about how many calories you are getting in a day? thanks!!

I have read on the boards of some people doing a mini restart for their sleeve...doing 1 day of Water, 2 days of Protein shakes & then on to other foods. I think lets your sleeve rest & reset a little bit. I also have a hard time getting in my protein, but that is because I am a vegetarian. I too have a greak yogurt every day. Instead of regular Peanut Butter I use PB2. It is a powdered peanut butter that has 85% less fat & calories than peanut butter but a full 5 grams of protein. I also use the PB2 in a shake that I make with almond milk, chocolate Protein powder, frozen banana & PB2. It is so delicious with lots of protein that doesn't taste like a Protein Shake. Another good tip I got from my NUT is eating lightly salted edamame (roasted soy beans). You only need 70 eat 1/4 of a cup for a full 14 grams of protein. Low fat string cheese too. So my average menu looks something like this for protein: Breakfast: 1 cup almond milk 2g 1 scoop protein powder 15g 2 tbsp. PB2 5g Lunch: Non-Fat Plain Greek Yogurt 16g 2tbsp. PB2 5g Snack: 1/4 cup edamame 14g Dinner: Veggies - no protein Snack: 2 Polly-O sting cheese 2% 16g That menu is a total of 73 grams of protein with absolutely no meat, very little carbs or sodium. My NUT is looking for 60-70 g of protein per day. Everything I have eaten, she has approved. Even when the day comes to 73 she said it's okay, but not to push it too much higher. I don't eat the exact same thing every day. Sometimes, for example, I substitute carrots & roasted red pepper hummus for the string cheese. That gives me 61 g per day. I know that this a long reply, but I am hoping that maybe even 1 of these things might help. I think that they are all fairly easy on the stomach & also for digestion. Meat is much harder to break down. You are doing awesome with your loss so far! Congratulations.

Vegetarian or not.. Lapband or not.. Protein is super important Quinoa, barley Beans, lentils, legumes Tofu Peanuts, almonds, cashews, Tempeh Here's a good article http://vegetarian.about.com/od/healthnutrition/tp/protein.htm

oh i am so depressed....got the band on 15th march 2011....i was 204 lbs then.i went down to 176, now my wt is again increasing.I am 186 today!!! I live in India am a vegetarian. It is so difficult to follow a high Protein diet here. Why do we need protein to loose wt? I am feeling quite low today. I dont exercise much due to arthritis. but nor do I eat much.I must be having 1000 cals daily.

Unjury is very good. I personally like the Atkins shakes. Pricy but easy to take to work. I only had to do liquids for a week and for 24 hours after each fill. Try the Unjury sampler. The chicken broth (vegetarian btw) is very good and a nice change from the sweet shakes.