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The unjury samples can be found at the Unjury.com website. They cost about $20 for 2 samples of each flavor, or you can buy them individually for $1.99. I tried the chicken soup flavor (vegetarian, surprisingly) and the chocolate so far. I really like them.

O.M.G. day 2 of my 7 day protein Pre Op then 3 day clear. I have MAJOR headaches due to this drastic change in diet! I'm SOOOO tired even after my Adderall meds. The diet I don't mind so much (yet) as I'm vegetarian & love salads. I went to Aldi & they're version of Crystal Light is Fit & Active brand, to be diluted in 2qt of water. Super cheap ... great value! Make a pitcher & your ready to go. Also their Fit & Active dressings are low fat, carbs, cals & so good! I rotate dressings for variety! It's super affordable & I am happy I saved a bunch of $$ going there.

I can eat all meats. I have a problem with dry chicken or leftover salmon. The drier the meat, the easier I get stuck. The wife and I eat a lot of brown rice and Beans which gives her the Protein she wants. We also add seafood to our diet quite often. I guess I was thinking along the lines of atkins, vegetarians and carbs. Seems like the perfect storm? tmf

So just to clear things up, 'm not a vegan. Vegans don't eat any animal products - I eat eggs and consume dairy. However, I was concerned about this exact thing, so before I even called a surgeon, I did a lot of reading around the internet, and it is absolutely possible to get that much protein as a vegetarian or even a vegan. In fact there are several successful vegan/vegetarian bandsters on these boards. My problem is getting the protein with only a few carbohydrates, because the best veg sources of protein also have carb (Beans and tofu, for example). My surgeon only requires his patients to get 50g of protein per day post-op. That is definitely doable for a vegetarian. I'm not worried about the post-op at all (or not any more than anyone else) but the pre-op diet is really stressing me out. You said you're a big meat eater. What kind of meat are you eating? I've always heard that you can't really eat meat that much after the band due to the requirement that your food become mush as you chew. My aunt has a band and she hasn't been able to eat red meat in years. I've also read that many people can no longer eat chicken after banding. What does that leave? Fish? lunchmeat?

I'm on day 5 of a 14 day Atkins pre-op diet. Because I'm a vegetarian my NUT is allowing me 50 carbs daily instead of the usual 20. I've lost two pounds. Two. I'm really considering just going on a 7 day liquid fast. I tried to call my NUT to talk to her about this but they close early on Fridays. So until then I'll stay on what I was told but I'm really worried. What happens if your liver doesn't shrink because you don't lose weight? Any ideas?

Tofu is a soy product . It has good protein in it so lots if vegetarians eat it.. And it can be made into lots of things! I've not tried a tofu smoothie it sounds interesting! I have had ice cream made of it though years ago yummy

I'm a vegetarian. I am in the Atkins pre-op, and I decided to add fish for just these two weeks, but I feel confident that I'll go back to pure veg after surgery. I really considered adding meat during pre-op, but I just couldn't. I was thrilled to find out that the unjury chicken Soup does not have any chicken in it!

That's good to hear. I am a vegetarian and was just concerned about protein but I think I will do great I was just wondering if anyone had any great suggestions. They put me on the Atkins diet for 2 weeks preop and it was really hard for me being a vegetarian but I learned How to really watch carbs which will definitely help in the future

I don't eat Red meat, and that was due to the band so I accepted and went with it since the benefits are obvious...I don't care for dairy products either...but I still eat chicken and fish.... So I'm not sure what that nakes me, other than healthier..... I'm sure, the more I learn and the more I adapt, I will become more vegetarian eventually.....

I am vegan, I was vegetarian for years, had just not given up cheese but gave that up after the first of the year. I was banded in June 2012.

I am just curious if there are any fellow vegetarians that have had lap band surgery or in the process of having it?

The filling is a weight watchers recipe that I've used for years. I brown ground chicken in a nonstick pan with a chopped onion and a few cloves of garlic, seasoned with salt, pepper, cumin and chili powder. Once browned add a jar of your favorite salsa. It is about 80 calories for 1/4 cup and its so yummy. I had I/4 cup in a lettuce leaf with chopped tomatoes, avocados, 1 Tb reduced fat cheese and 1 Tb of plain nonfat Greek yogurt. I also had 1/4 cup of vegetarian refried beans with 1 Tb reduced fat cheese and 1 Tb of the yogurt. 199 calories, 20 grams of protein.

I was a vegetarian before I got the band. Now I crave meat. Very strange. Dietitian says I need to eat more protein. Could you all give me some examples of some good tasting high proteins? I am eating meat now. PS did not eat much protein before band.

I recently found this recipe for buffalo cauliflower and will be trying it once I get onto solids! http://www.thecurvycarrot.com/2012/08/18/buffalo-chicken-vegetarian-style/

I think we are responsible for eating a certain amount of good Protein daily but it will not hurt to add in other things to give variety. Bariwise hot cocoa for example is made with these ingredients: first Calcium caseinate then hydrolyzed Gelatin etc etc this is what WIKI says about calcium caseinate "Calcium caseinate is a protein produced from casein in skim milk. At neutral or acid pH, casein is relatively insoluble in Water, and is easily separated from other milk Proteins, sugars and minerals. After their removal, the casein is solubilized at a high pH with calcium hydroxide; the solution is then dried (usually spray dried). Calcium caseinate contains about 17% glutamic acid. Its main food uses are for powders requiring rapid dispersion into water, such as coffee creamers & instant cream soups. It is also used as a dietary supplement by bodybuilders and other athletes who ingest it before bed, with Breakfast, or as meal after working out as it breaks down at a slower rate than whey protein, thus supplying the body with a sustained amino acid release.[1] Mead Johnson introduced a product in the early 1920s named Casec to ease gastrointestinal disorders and infant digestive problems that was the cause of death in children.[2] Calcium caseinate is soluble and does not clot in the stomach. It is believed to neutralize capsaicin, the active (hot) ingredient of peppers, jalapeños, habaneros, and other chili peppers." Hydrolyzed gelatin. is made of collagen and not good source of your protein daily but as a second ingredient to a milk product it is not bad for you. I'm using these products in conjunction with whey and better proteins. However gelatin has been proven to strengthen hair, nails and even joints. So just be smart about it's use. Gelatin is made from animals and therefore some people who are vegetarian don't eat it and the WHO and FDA acknowledges that they are not sure if gelatin is a carrier for Bovine Spongiform encephalopathy ( also known as mad cow disease). So far in the USA we appear to not have a problem with BSE but it really is not known. I take the chance because you would have to have the genetic make up and be exposed to catch BSI which in humans is called Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease or CJD. I am very involved with the community of doctors and scientists who are the watch dog in the US for this devasting fatal illness. From diagnosis to death in only 2-4 months with no treatment. You can find out more about this at The CJD Foundation. I lost my brother in law who was 29 years old to this disease but it was a sporadic type that just happens in some people and we don't know why. His was not from animal products. Anyway I use gelatin products and feel safe with it but I know many Doctors and Scientists from abroad that wont eat beef in the USA because of our lenient laws that allow animal products and animals to get past the inspection point. This is probably more than anyone wanted to know but as a lobbyist for better safer food choices in the USA I have a responsibility to educate people and give them something to think about and then they can make their own educated decision. Thanks for putting up with my long explanations!

G2 Gatorade, homemade popsicles with 1/2 juice 1/2 water, vegetarian pho broth, herbal tea. That just so far, I'm also looking for ideas!

Today is my 1st anniversary... I felt it important to share my thoughts on my weight loss journey to help others. In November 2009 I began a six month weight loss program required by my insurance for the lap band procedure. My highest weight was 324 pds. By the end of the six months I weighed 290 pds. However, I seemed to have some conflicts with the doctor and decided it was in my best interest to seek another doctor. Well, time got away from me and it wasn't until 2011 that I again began seeking another doctor. During the process I ran into several individuals who had the lap band surgery that weren't successful. I decided to look at other options and decided the vertical sleeve was for me. In June 2011 I went to my first seminar weighing in at 311 pds. I had to start the whole insurance process again which was frustrating especially the psychological part. Finally, I was approved and in December 2011 I became my pre op diet weighing 308 pds. On January 20, the day of my surgery I weighed in at 288 pds. Several people tried to talk me out of the surgery during this process but my mind was made up that I had to do this for me. The surgery was hard, I was hospitalized longer than the usual stay and returned 10 days later for another several days. It was hard adjusting and I was stubborn and didn't necessarily want to conform to this new way of life. However, as of today I weigh 195 pds, which is my doctor's goal. No longer am I considered obese just overweight. I would like to lose another 15 pds and hope to be successful this year in meeting that goal. My life is much better mentally and physically. I have a wonderful partner who has helped me through my journey and provided support when I was frustrated or felt like I was failing. My ways may not work for you but I would like to share with you what works for me. First, I started taking depression medicine which helps me mentally and I don't feel the need as much to eat when I am stressed. I weigh myself everyday and eat accordingly. It is much easier to lose 5 pds than 50 pds. I don't count calories or carbs. I am a vegetarian so I do have to watch my protein intake because I was losing large amounts of hair after the surgery. I do watch my fat intake, and will allow myself a treat occasionally. I can't eat any sweets that have larger than 12 grams of sugar or I get ill. I have noticed I can eat several cookies but only a few ounces of vegetables. So, I do try to wisely choice my food everyday but it is hard at times and I still slip up. I eat about five to six meals a day averaging about 1,000 calories. I battle with constipation everyday and it seems to be a losing battle. Your body functions differently after the surgery. It is important to take your vitamins. My sagging skin is upsetting but as it was told to me "fat kills extra skin doesn't," so I am learning to adjust to it. My advice to everyone is don't wait any longer, do this for yourself and improve your quality of life. The journey may be frustrating but every pound you lose is a celebration. Good luck to all of you on your journey.

Hey...hope mine starts tomorrow too....got a book eating well after weight loss surgery on amazon. Has recipes from vegetarian to pork. Many sound awesome. Book was only about 7 or 8 bucks.

I also struggle with the "lean". I was banded 6/14/12 and have only lost 25lbs and that was in the first month and a half, I have not lost anything since. I have had multiple fills and believe I am up to 5.5cc in a 10cc band. I eat less than half of what I used to be able to. I think it's because I eat mostly carbs that I am not losing??? I have been vegetarian for years but ate mostly carbs and was very bad at getting any protein in, I went vegan the first of the year, I had only not given up cheese and ate way to much of it so decided it was time (it's a stuggle tho as I miss my cheese!) I started back on protein shakes but they do not fill me up at all. So I struggle as I did pre- band but I'm not giving up, I will figure this out

Hey all I found a new food product I am in LOVE with and thought I'd share. I live in Upstate NY and one of our finer grocery stores (Wegmans) came out with new vegetarian versions of chicken nuggets, patties, sausage and beef crumbles, etc. I bought the nuggets and patties and my stomach (and taste buds) loved them! They're all really high in protein and low in fat/carbs and very light breading. The serving size is 7 nuggets but only ate 2. I haven't checked on other name-brand items of meat substitute products, but maybe they have something in a store near you? I'm not vegetarian, but it felt nice to eat a "familiar" food without all the bad nutritional values! I've been VERY blessed that I've been able to try new foods without bad reactions.

I'm a vegetarian who eats seafood- except lobster-that's personal preference. The seafood thing is new to me actually.

I know that every surgeon has different requirements, but I'm curious of how many of you are on a liquid pre-op diet vs a low-carb pre-op diet vs a "wacky just eat better before surgery" diet. And, just for curiosity sake, what is your starting BMI? I'll go first. I'm on a low-carb diet, but I'm a vegetarian so it's a little tricky for me. I am going to be on a modified liquid/low carb diet (because how many eggs can I eat in a day?). Basically, I'm going to replace all of the fajita meat that I can't eat with high Protein shakes. Just so you know, my surgeon's nutritionist created my plan - I'm not improvising. My starting BMI is 40. Jen

Hello, I wanted to start a thread for vegetarians/pescatarians/vegans, so we can give each other meal ideas!

I was never a frosting girl but I'm a serious baker. Usually I can sample a small bit of whatever I make and give the rest away. But I made these banana rum cupcakes with a brown butter frosting last week and oh my word - that was the best frosting I have ever tasted. When I have a little left over at the end I normally just give each kid a little taste and then toss the rest...but I stuck this in a small bowl in the fridge for later. I've never understood the spoonful of frosting thing before this, but man...I could really just eat that frosting with a spoon. I wound up frosting some butter Cookies with it and giving it away. It was okay to have a taste here and there but consuming two cups of frosting over the course of a week or two isn't good for me. And my husband has always maintained that I'm un-American because I absolutely hate both Peanut Butter and ketchup. Luckily the peanut butter jar and the Nutella jar hold absolutely no temptation for me. But I do see what you guys are saying about the constant struggle. And I can see how maintenance can make it easy for us to forget that we still really love food. It's easy to get cocky and say we made it to goal and now we know how to eat better, etc. But if I'm not careful it is easy to dismiss a handful of candies or a not-so-healthy snack between meals simply because my choices are really good ones 90% of the time. I never really see an impact on the scale, but I wonder if that's a bad thing. I mean, it gets easier for me to dismiss my food behaviors if I'm not seeing an impact...but then, if I'm not seeing an impact is there an issue? I mean, am I simply worrying and punishing myself because I'm not a "perfect" eater? What's a particular challenge for me is this pregnancy. I am repulsed by meat and my lactose intolerance is worse than ever while I'm pregnant. I don't live in America: I live in the land of grilled lamb, bread and plov. There aren't solid vegetarian options here to sub in for the Protein I'm missing. I eat far more carbs than I've ever eaten since surgery. I don't mind that...but they really do feed the carb monster and they do make it harder to choose good foods. But there are only so many ways I can make Beans and lentils or prepare eggs before I'm going nuts because I'm so bored with my diet. I had my husband's coworker bring me some tuna from the states...ugh. I can't even eat it. This child is making me insane! It's like the first few months post op all over again. All food smells or tastes terrible and I can't eat what I really want! The only two foods I really want and cannot stop eating are chickpeas (which I can't seem to find locally, even though I know they have to be somewhere) and quinoa. I'm out of quinoa and chickpeas now. I actually ate garbanzo bean salad every day last week with both lunch and dinner. What a bizarre food to eat as a craving! And it's easy to say the reason I gained weight last month is the pregnancy. I can't be sure how much of it is my choices and how much of it is the baby. I know I'll lose weight afterward. I know that it will be the same as it was in the second year post op. I'll still have restriction, I'll just have to make the right choices. But somehow it feels like I'll be starting all over again, in more ways than one. After all, my twins are now five and like a crazy couple, we're having a newborn now of all times. Ugh. Anyway, I just got my flights back to the states because they don't let us deliver here. So my time in Central Asia has come to an end. I'll get about a year and a half in the states before we go overseas again. You better bet the first thing I'm doing is shopping at a Whole Foods once I get back! I'll be hitting that salad bar for some chickpea salad and every other vegetable I've missed for the last two years. ~Cheri

I had started to eat pretty much vegetarian, and tofu was my main go to for Protein. I told my dad, and he did some research into it. He told me that there are many articles about how soy can make you gain weight. Being as I'm so early out I'm 7 weeks, I don't want to push it. I did read that in Japan they use soy to make their pigs and livestock a bit heavier. If you google it, a lot pops up. I'm not discouraging soy at all, but as a personal preference, I just don't eat it.