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I have eaten lacto/ovo vegetarian through out my whole sleeve experience. I am moving a little bit towards Vegan meal by meal.My advice is get enough protein while you are losing. Eating dairy and eggs help a LOT in getting to this goal. I became milk intolerant the first three months after my surgery so went without at that time. You can use whey if you are milk intolerant. If you do not get enough protein while losing, the loss will come from muscle hair and organs... don't want that! I eat/ate soy, gluten, beans, cheese/yog/cottage cheese...whey, nuts and seeds...I missed veggies,(no room) but started making veg soup and getting them in that way. Could not eat raw for quite a few months. I fully support vegetarian and vegan lifestyle, but you need to eat protein for the first year or so.

Yes. This is true. I have a deeply troubled stepdaughter that has used her vegetarianism (and for a while, veganism) as a socially acceptable excuse for her anorexia. By claiming a restrictive diet she avoided eating and when she shed weight she blamed it on her diet. I'm not saying this is what the OP is doing. But always consider every angle. My stepdaughter was convinced that her behaviors were based in a disgust of meat and the animal industries in our country...but those arguments lacked a little something when she was wearing leather shoes and a fur-trimmed jacket as she spoke them. She's still vegetarian now but it took her several months with a therapist to accept that she started this particular food journey because of her disorder. ~Cheri

As I've gotten farther out from surgery I've also considered a return to at least a vegetarian lifestyle. I spent the years from 15-21 & 26-28 as a vegetarian and really only resumed such a meat-heavy diet due to my choice to have the sleeve. It was the easier option, and I live overseas where there aren't mega-marts with a plethora of vegan/vegetarian food options/substitutes. This entire pregnancy meat has completely disgusted me to the point where I can hardly stand to be in the room when it's cooking...and I'm the family cook! The first thing you need to do is get yourself a few books. The biggest mistake vegetarians/vegans make is not educating themselves about a properly balanced diet. It's very easy to be an unhealthy vegetarian or vegan if you're not careful! It's not as simple as avoiding meat. And in America, it's so easy to be a vegan that relies heavily on processed "fake" foods that are intended to sub in for foods you've given up - when these are no healthier (and in some cases less healthy) than the alternative. The more of your food you make yourself, the healthier you'll be and that applies to any style of eating. So get to your local library or bookstore and get some reading materials before you jump into this. It's more of a challenge than just skipping the cheeseburger. Everything from medicine to your Protein shake needs to be considered. One of the biggest and easiest books to read is The Veganomicon. I refer to it pretty frequently. I enjoy quinoa (an easily digestible seed that is a complete protein), lentils are almost as good as meat and I prefer seitan over tofu or tempeh any day. Limit your soy intake and don't trade in a life of meat for a life of soy. Moderation in all things! Go slowly. This is not a lifestyle you can adapt overnight. Transition slowly or you'll burn out and don't expect to live perfectly right away. It's hard to stick to a strict diet and you'll see very quickly how other people aren't as accepting or understanding of the challenges it presents not only to you but to them. Good luck. It's possible to do this but I recommend a slow transition to vegetarian and the on to vegan over the course of several months to a year. ~Cheri

I was always a "super sniffer" and it never really bothered me. If anything, I feel like having a stronger taste of sense and smell made me a better cook. That said, yes, I'm definitely more sensitive to all smells post op and it's about a thousand times worse being pregnant on top of that! And meat is especially hard for me. I've had to sort of re-learn normal with this one, but will admit that even the faintest "off" scent makes me pitch the entire package. I'm always careful to wash meat to be sure I'm smelling the meat itself and not the old blood or packaging. And I've become a bit of a fanatic about cleaning my refrigerators because they can get stale and hold smells in quite easily. I super clean mine about once a week, when I do my shopping. There have been times I could tell without even opening the package that something was off and have been proven right when my doubting mother-in-law or husband open the package to check for themselves. Consider it a super power? I spent many years as a vegetarian but did eat meat prior to surgery. Now that I'm expecting meat makes me completely ill, so I'm pretty sure I'll only be an occasional meat eater in the future. I don't care for the smell of it either raw or cooking. Sometimes I can eat it if someone else prepares it but prefer to avoid it now. There are plenty of ways to get Protein without it, so long as I'm careful about my diet, so I don't worry too much. Good luck and I hope you find a solution that keeps you both happy. ~Cheri

The Band has changed my life.......I am one of those people who never count calories, nor do I ever measure/weigh food portions.....(I did i the first 6 months) I reached my weight loss goal in 12 months.... What I do do, is live a new life...with eating totally under control...... I have many friends who are normal weight, enjoy eating/drinking things in life, and you NEVER hear them complain about dieting, counting calories, etc etc.... What you do notice is that they NEVER make total pigs of themselves, as a matter of fact they do not eat all that much at all!!! You will also observe they have very active lifestyles, filled with things like cross country cycling, hiking, running, kayaking...etc, etc.... My skinny fit friends are all also very health conscious, many vegetarians, never eat junk, into organic foods, no sugars, no artificial crap..... THIS IS THE LIFESTYLE I NOW LIVE....Dieting is a dirty word!!! The only difference between me and those who are normal weight, healthy and fit and non banded, is that in the background I have the band still in charge (not a tool) and dictating my eating behaviors. And no one needs to know this.....otherwise I am one of them.... Yes, I had to complete the lap band journey first, had to get my band properly adjusted enduring many stuck/slime episodes to get there, had to learn new eating lessons, had to learn to give up certain foods, had to learn to "Listen" to my band and stop eating when it is time to stop eating....also I had to get my band properly adjusted to where I am not only in the Green, Bug after being there for over a year I have found my "Groove", my "New Lifestyle" As long as the band is there, with no complications, I HAVE NO FEAR of ever gaining weight EVER AGAIN....... I read posts from people who say they have failed and gained all their weight back....I scratch my head and wonder if they were ever there in the first place, and were just on another diet with the band being nothing more than playing a small part in their process......(a tool) Of Course, medical problems are a different issue...... I am happy to say, along with my new life, I have no current medical conditions or concerns....Once upon a time I had diabetes with daily insulin injections, high blood pressure, cholesterol, lipids, you name it....all that went away as my life and weight changed.... I also suffered from Coronary Artery Disease, had one heart Attack resulting in Heart Surgery....but now I have no side affects, running 5 miles a day with no shortness of breath.....like my cardiologist said after my last nuclear stress test, I am as healthy as someone 30 years younger.... So, I am happy to say that I have completely and successfully traveled through the Lap band Journey, coming out on the other side a new person with a new lifestyle. BTW, with my new way of living, I have NOT gained one single pound, nor have I gotten stuck/slimed in about a year now....... I'm not loosing weight anymore either, as was explained to me my body will stop loosing when it feel it wants to, when there is nothing left to loose - Low Body Fat %.....and mine is very low..... So you see....there is a life after Lap band....Once you learn all your lessons, loose all the weight, learn to let the band do what it was designed to do, you can come out the other side a different person....but it is up to you to make the hard decisions, and not back down as I see so many people do..... I read all the posts here from other people talking about Dieting, counting calories, measuring food....are you allowed to do this or that????......I keep my mouth shut, knowing I was there in the first 6 months also.......... 80%, if not more, of the members on this forum are either just starting out, or still getting through their weight loss......so you see it is hard to take part in many discussions.....but I do belong to other groups, on in particular, that are smaller made up of people in a more advanced stage...that keeps me sane....

@missy- yea you're right! Wtf would he rather me eat processed lunch meat than a veg burger?? Eff that- I've been eating them with great satiety! I totally needed that .25 fill- what a world of difference!!! He kept saying about how I'm limited being vegetarian almost as if I would say "o screw my ethical beliefs, give me a side of beef just for you"??! @Jean- Don't kick a doggie!!!! I'll give you the address of that a hole and you can kick him!!! This idiot has a blog and everything-

Sorry, I could easily be a vegetarian so I sometimes forget to add meat. I make sure I get my miminum daily Protein in my Protein shakes, so the rest is bonus for me. Here’s a similar tasting recipe to the Cauliflower Picatta that includes protein: 1 lg chicken breast, diced 5 mushrooms, diced 3 mini bell peppers, diced 5 artichoke hearts, diced 1 large handful of fresh spinach 1 heaping TBS capers 1 heaping TBS Dijon mustard 1 lemon 1/3 cup chicken stock 1 tsp cornstarch ½ cup Italian cheese mix (optional) Saute the chicken, mushrooms and peppers until slightly browned (I just use an Olive Oil mister to oil the pan). Add the artichoke hearts, spinach and capers on top and cover with a lid to steam for a few minutes. Completely zest the lemon, then juice the lemon (don’t juice first, it makes it impossible to zest afterwards). Add zest and juice to a small mixing bowl, add cornstarch and chicken stock, mix well. Pour mixture over chicken and veggies, stir around to mix the ingredients thoroughly. Let simmer until sauce thickens. Top with the Italian cheese. Enjoy! Note: you can add pepper, garlic, or onion if you want, but don’t add salt. You get enough saltiness from the capers and Dijon.

Wow...I can't say enough about the person I was before as opposed to who I am now. I am a full vegetarian, work out every day, size 6, love life/love being active/ so thankful that this surgery was available when I needed it...2000 :-)

Wow, if medical students had to take a course in Bedside Manner (which they don't), he must have flunked out. And he gets one million extra demerits for the "I don't think this will help" remark. Very little in what he told you is consistent with my understanding of appropriate food choices with the band. And that business about the skins of Beans remaining in the band just doesn't make sense anatomically. No part of any food can make it into your band. The only thing that goes into your band is saline solution. If he meant that it stays in your stoma, that's still a dumb statement. No food should ever stay in your stoma for longer than a few minutes. If it does, something's wrong. If meant that complex carbs like beans offer better satiety because of the Fiber content (which is true for everyone, not just bandsters, and that's because of what happens to them in the intestines, not the stomach), then I don't understand why he thinks that veggie burgers (which contain - hello? - fibrous veggies and (depending on the product) healthy soy protein) are a poor choice. Did anyone in that practice explain all these arbitrary food rules to you before your surgery? Did they tell you that you being a vegetarian was a problem for them? Does he employ a bariatric dietitian? If so, you need to consult with that person, and if you get the same line of crap, it's time to look for another bariatric practice to do your aftercare. Jeez Louise, that p*sses me off. I feel like kicking a dog now, except at the moment they're all being as good as gold.

I'm sorry, but time to fire him and hire a new doctor. He sounds like an ignorant @sshole. "not big enough food particles" and "chewing too much"? Really? I mean, c'mon, that's the most asinine thing I've heard today. Seriously, the vegetarian lifetyle is very healthy and there is nothing wrong with veggie burgers. In fact, they're a heck of a lot healthier than beef burgers. You need a surgeon with an ounce of common sense. Yours sounds like a first class idiot.

O yea I even told him "ok im confused, if you are supposed to chew your food to the consistency of applesauce, doesn't EVERY food become the same..ie veg burger or cheese or whatever" He says it;s different, yet never suggested anything other than beans that i could eat- I tried to explain that the veg burgers i get are not just vegetables smashed together, but are soy protein...couldn't even finish cause he interrupted with "yea,I've had them before" what a d-bag He should have asked me what other vegetarian "meats" are out there....

So i went to get a fill today, cause I'm hungry every two hours no matter what rules i follow. I get there and the surgeon (who I've only met once to give a two second unfill and send me on my way in nov.) asked what I was doing (meal wise) on a daily basis and interrupted and started talking about how i shouldn't be drinking caloric liquids- NO ****!!! Then went on to tell me I'm chewing too much, and my veggie burgers aren't a good choice for protein cause they are "just pieces mushed together" therefore breaking down and moving through my band faster.!!! Not only did he comment on how I'm "really restricted" on my food choices for being vegetarian, he says cheese isn't big enough particles (his words) to stay in the band but beans are a good choice because the skins remain in my band and help stay full longer---Ok?!!?? So i have a stomach full of bean skins instead of a mixed cheese wrap with tomato and onion?!?!!?!?! He gave me .25cc and of course said "I don't think this is going to help"...O really a-hole??!?! I feel awesome with the hunger now- despite leaving the office in tears feeling so beat down and like a big loser!

So I've been skipping through the daisies for the past few weeks. I have been very fortunate outside of the typical things just about everyone experiences (periodic hunger, periodic blues, hair loss, stalls, gas, etc.). I didn't mind drinking the shakes when that is what I was supposed to do (even if I didn't like the taste). I haven't had any issues with food. I travel a lot and eat out all of the time and have posted a lot of nutritional information and some "go to" items that I prefer from various restaurants in different threads. I eat Vietnamese, Indian, seafood, Soups, vegetarian options, meats with no problems. But tonight I have had a totally new experience and I'm laughing at myself about it. I really thought that, at 14 weeks, I was in the clear for a lot of things because I have been doing so well. Instead of eating out YET AGAIN while working out of town, I decided to go to a Whole Foods grocery. For those of you who do not have one nearby: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/whole-foods-market All of their produce, cheeses, meats, and zillions of organic food items, crazy variety of yogurts, prepared foods and other products can really entice you. I was drawn to the amazing salad bar. I picked up a small container and proceded to fill it with tiny bits of red cabbage, edamame, couscous, feta cheese, chickpeas, cucumbers, tofu, beets, and sprinkled quinoa over the top for some extra Protein. I also picked up a small container of wild caught salmon salad that had celery, dill and very little (almost 0) mayonnaise. No, I didn't throw up, but I am totally cleaned out from stem to stern. It wasn't holiday candy, or restaurant food that did me in. It wasn't dairy or bread. It was healthy foods from a health food store. I'm guessing Fiber? I'm irregular anyway, so this was actually a blessing in disguise, kinda.... I'm thinking back on the whole ...."introduce new foods slowly" idea. Yup. There is a reason for that recommendation. Tomorrow's lunch - Greek yogurt.

Anyone have any good menu ideas for a vegetarian with lap band? I have no problem eating my green. Just struggling with the "lean" Thanks!

I have been dealing with this a bit too..and I've not had surgery yet. My husband (been together 29 years) started with the "when you get skinny you'll leave me" crap right from the get-go. I've yo-yo'd in weight for most of the 29 years we've been together, he only recently has gained extra weight (within the last 5-7 years). Sometimes I get frustrated with constantly having to reassure him that I'm not going anywhere. I'm hopeful that any success I have will inspire him to join me in getting healthier. When I look ahead to life after surgery, I see him right by my side, not some other man. I see us being more active together, maybe some fun competition once in a while, instead of him setting on the couch while I'm suggesting how nice a walk would be and wouldn't he like to accompany me? He has stuck it out for all my crazy diet changes (low carb, low calorie, south beach, vegetarian, vegan) in the past, I know he can weather this upcoming change. It is MY choice to do this though, he is completely against it, worries about my safety and outcome (sometimes expressed harshly) but even so I am always offering little bits of information at a time, because I want to include him...I still WANT his support, his encouragement, even though I'm prepared to do this without it. I want my successes to be his successes too! All in time I guess, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink!

In the beginning, I was having trouble with meat also....my Surgeon said that is not unusual... Since all my Dr.'s have been preaching to me about cutting back on Red Meat to once a week at least, and MANY of my friends have gone vegetarian....I figured it was as good as time as any since this is to be a all out life changing event... So I have been without red meat for 1 1/2 years now..... I'm not fanatical about it....I'm not picky if meat is in chili, etc,. you just won't see me ordering a steak, roast or pork chops.....fir instance. Plus I'm sure it will not go down anyway..... Again, one of the best decisions I've made...I can definitely tell the difference....

Hi! I'm 16 months out right now, and still measure my food to 4 or 5 ounces. I can do 4 ounces of greek yogurt with an ounce of granola. On occasion, if I don't measure, I'll find I can eat up to 6 ounces, which gets scary. So, I try to keep portions to 4 or 5 ounces. 2 low fat string cheeses with a half cup of grapes (about 3 ounces) is perfectly satisfying, without me feeling full. If I'm eating something more liquidy, like lentils or curries, I will usually go up to 5 or 6 ounces. I'm vegetarian, so can't give you much input on the denser meats, which I've heard feel heavier in the stomach. Good luck!

Sorry this happened - at 3 or 4 weeks out a sausage roll might have been a bridge too far I haven't had a sausage roll cause I am pretty sure I'd have a similar reaction and I hate chucking up! I can't drink frozen coke etc cause they are too sweet now but I do have a bit of soda Water or soda and lime if I'm out somewhere. What I did have was a bite of a cheeseburger the other day. It tasted okay and then it hit my stomach and sat there like a brick for AGES. I won't be in a hurry to do that again What I am trying to learn to do is to have stuff in my bag to eat when I can't find anything appropriate (which happens quite a lot). Mostly it's nuts and le snack's - but again, at less than four weeks out I am not sure if it's okay to have this - so maybe check in with your surgeon/ dietician? Don't worry about making mistakes - I think it's unrealistic to think that the sleeve alone will change lifelong bad habits overnight. Try these things, remember the outcome and move on. I don't think beating ourselves up for "bad" choices is helpful otherwise I wouldn't have been so overweight as I would always be beating myself up for stuff I've eaten! The one thing I've had since surgery from my "old" life that I can still eat is a piece of thin crust pizza. I now like the vegetarian one's better than the old meat pizza's and I can only eat a small amount but when I'm out with mates, it's great being able to pinch the smallest slice of their pie! I am always eating off someone else's plate these days - I rarely buy my own meal. I'm saving a crap load of cash on my food bill (saving it to spend on my new clothes lol)... Good luck though! Let us know how you go! Cheers, Lila

low fat cottage cheese 4 oz is 12gms for 90 cals Slim Fast has a great shake for 2 net carbs and 180 cals 20 gms protein tuna pouch 2.6 oz has 18 gms protein for 80 cals I am a vegetarian but I found a fabulous meatless "hamburger" for 130 cals and 15 gms of protein greek yogurt is a great source but you have to watch carbs hope this helps

I like Dr. Posner (for the person that freaked out disrespectfully up there). I did not like him raising his voice at me. I had gained some weight back BECAUSE MY GRANDMOTHER WAS MURDERED, and** I had lost it all by the time I made it to the pre-op final weigh in. On January 12th, I will be 7 months out from surgery. I have (as of tonight) lost only 17 pounds. I went from Vegan to only Vegetarian- just to increase my Protein intake (which was a concern). To the person that commented that they exercise every day-- I had to have back surgery on September 11th, 2012. I might need more surgery (bone fusion/disc removal in my back.. and possibly knee surgery). I am in a tremendous amount of pain all day long and all night long. I *WISH* I could exercise daily! It is emotionally uplifting, besides being physically good for all of us. And to the person upset that I mentioned Dr. Posner by name- When I registered with this site, giving my surgeon's name was a prerequisite for having a membership here. That information was already publicly visible, regardless of my surgeon being named in this particular post. I do find Dr. Posner funny and endearing. We worked through that difficult time, and he hugged me on the way out of my last appointment. I came back on here after MONTHS of not checking up on anything related to this site (or anything else related to bariatric support). I thought that I could use support now, since I am only 17 pounds down since surgery- almost 7 months from surgery. Unfortunately, I found terrible judgment and nastiness. I guess this isn't a safe place after all.

The first two items are the only ones I get from fast food. Though there are some other options that sound good, they aren't as healthy as that might first appear. Panera low fat chicken noodle Soup - 13.5 oz - 120 calories 1.5g fat, 1380mg sodium, 22g carbs, 3g Fiber, 8g Protein fruit and yogurt parfait from McDonald's - 130 calories 4g protein, 25g carbs, 2g fat fruit and maple oatmeal from McDonald's - 250 calories with changes below (It is actually 2 servings of oatmeal.) ask them to skip adding in the sugar and substitute hot Water for the cream add in the fruit 5g protein, 5g fiber, 49g carbs, 2.5g fat (That's a ton of carbs!) Wendy's apple pecan chicken salad - no pecans, no dressing - 350 calories As served - 570 calories Wendy's spicy chicken Caesar salad - no croutons, no dressing - 470 calories As served - 770 calories Wendy's small chili - 210 calories 6g fat, 40mg cholesterol, 880 mg sodium, 21g carbs, 6g fiber, 17g protein Panera low fat vegetarian black bean - 240 calories 2.5g fat, 1270mg sodium, 50g carbs, 9g fiber, 12g protein You can go to just about any fast food/restaurant web site and see their nutritional information.

I get a similar feeling - and like you, with food not drink. It's possible that it's happening as the type/consistency of food you eat changes. Or maybe it's that signal that your belly is reaching full. I'm about 11 weeks out and still introducing foods - and then removing them again if they don't sit right. Red meat hasn't really factored in my diet yet, mostly white meat and not every day. Vegetarian seems to sit best with me so whilst I try and keep an eye on my protein intake, some days I just eat what feels right. A full stomach is an uncomfortable (and sometimes painful) one for me so I'm learning to pick that moment to stop and not put that one more mouthful in, even if it's within the half cup limit! The type of food has an effect too. I'm feeling a bit adventurous today and thinking about cooking a chicken curry.....I used to eat chilli just about every single day and miss it! fresh fruit and plain yogurt goes down a treat.

If you are planning to go to SWLC (or anywhere I suppose) as an out of town patient, there are some things you might want to look at. First, when you initially ask for information, call or email or whatever, please keep in mind that although it's a medical procedure, the people you are talking to are still trying to sell you a product. So you will hear "we have LOTS of patients just like you," "don't worry about support we keep in touch by phone, by email, etc", "you will do just great!!!", "we have vegetarians who have great success with this!" etc etc. Honestly, it has to be a sales pitch because really how can they know how you will do without every having met you? So you fly in ($$), get a hotel ($$), and unless you can bring a second person with you ($$), you are hiring a stranger to stay in your hotel room for 24 hours ($$). You also need to factor in cabs to and from the airport, and to and from the clinic....(more $$). Meals, Protein drinks....($$). For me, my surgery was pretty uneventful. I arrived at the clinic ten minutes prior to my surgery, and waited in the waiting room for ages because the woman at the front desk forgot to check me in, or call up, or whatever she was supposed to do. So I was discovered, rushed upstairs, and was given the condensed version of the pre-surgery speech while the nurses struggled to get their computer program running. Then it was into surgery, wake up, drink some Water, walk to the door and out you go. Back to the hotel. I hung out at the hotel for a day then flew home (Alberta). There is no SWLC where I live, so the set up is that I see my local doctor for fills. But fills only, not advice or treatment...he is told by the SWLC team that I need a fill and how much, and I need to make an appointment at that time. When I had my first consult, it sounded like I was going to have all this other support somewhere, and it didn't occur to me to ask how I was supposed to do this without access to my surgeon or to any of the WLC team. I am pretty sure I was hearing what I wanted to hear too, I had researched the heck out of the procedure and I was very carefully avoiding those nagging questions in the back of my head. It seems the people here who are very successful have strong support systems in place. Visits to their doctor, contact with their surgical team, support groups, coffee meetings....weigh ins, fills, post op check ups, and so on. This didn't seem nearly as important as it is now proving to be. I have been in contact with my "nurses" about a half dozen times since my surgery. Each time the contact was initiated by me, each time by email. I get (at best) a quick paragraph back. When I first spoke to them about fills and hunger, I got a pdf on satiety that I had already been given, and a note to hang in there and talk to them in a couple of weeks. So I waited a couple of weeks, and contacted them again, and again mentioned that I am experiencing a lot of hunger. I gave them a detailed update including calorie intake, exercise, meals.....and mentioned that felt the lack of support was a problem. I had a specific question for them about protein sources for a vegetarian. I got another one liner back -- "hang in there, you are in bandster hell......next fill in two weeks we will contact your doctor". So fills are four weeks apart apparently, I would assume this is an across the board thing not geared individually to each patient. Which is a bit different than the sales pitch "tailored to individual needs" would have a person believe. Also as an out of towner, you need to know that fills cost you money each time you visit a doctor (only SWLC fills are part of the package). So if your surgeon decides to do a lot of small fills over time, this is going to add up. So when you go see your doctor locally for fills, it will cost you at the time and he (or she) will not be able to give you advice or answer your questions. Something else I glossed over in my head. All in all, I am not sorry that I had this procedure. I just wish I had paid more attention to the emotional consequences of being so far away from the Dr and clinic. I was pretty sure I could tough it out and that I wasn't the type to need my hand held -- it's a bit surprising to me that I am indeed that type So be aware, SWLC is a professional caring organization, but if you are travelling from another town or province they will just be that clinic somewhere else, they won't be "your" clinic, or "your" doctor. And if that is going to matter to you, make sure you think that part through very carefully.

I live in Southern California - Orange County! My surgery was also performed here. I'm glad your surgeon is directing you to the right sources. He's right that a lot of vegetarians and vegans become Protein powder/shake dependent.. but it's primarily because they don't have enough information, and think those are their only sources. "Vegetarian" rarely equals "healthy"! You, however, have found this site before your surgery, so you will be completely prepared! Yay for you! Educating yourself will take you half way towards your success. I drank 1 Protein shake a day for the first several months after surgery. I had to go to Bangalore after my first month post-op, and found it difficult to maintain my protein intake without the powders and Protein Bars (also 1 a day), By the time I came back to California, I was at 7 months post-op, and desperate for more food options that did not require me to rely on artificial products. So, once I came back, I started working out my daily meal plans to incorporate healthy, natural foods, with variety. I haven't touched the protein powders since! You will need powders while you are on liquids and purees - the shakes will be your best friend. You can forget them once you start back onto real foods - if you want to. As for tofu, I only eat it about once a week, but I'm always surprised by its versatility. It really is a wonderful protein source, if you learn how to use it. Rice and roti expand a bit in your tummy, which makes you get full faster - this obviously means you get less of the good stuff. I never actually restricted myself from either, but found that I didn't miss them much. I might have had a bite or two here and there, but only if something looked yummy, and I was craving it. Now, I am in a maintenance phase, and I still only have a few bites here and there. If there is something exciting like gobi parantha being made, I will make sure to enjoy a piece of it, and not feel guilty. We have to feel normal, and remind ourselves that there is no "bad" food. Only "better" food. I'm glad you find my outlook to be rational! I sure think it is. The logic in it is what has helped me stay on track, and stay motivated. Right now, I usually hit my protein requirements before my last meal of the day, so I can enjoy something with my parents - or I can cook something that I'm in the mood for, even if it's a bit low on the protein count. I just make sure to keep a track of my calorie intake. I didn't have any other weight - related issues, but hopefully I have prevented them from occurring in the future!

That is a good strategy about not watching the scale. I am considering doing the surgery in California. My Dr has 10+ years doing vertical sleeve and has done thousands. His experience is that his vegan/ vegetarian patients struggle with hunger and weight loss. He does not want people to rely on smoothies and shakes post-op and move to real food and get Protein from real food sources. He was the one who asked me to post here and seek experience of others and come up with a eating plan that I can enjoy and live with for rest of my life. He does work with a nutritionist and I will be seeing her in early Jan. I have found that if the nutritionist is not familier with vegetarian diet, they often do not have suggestions beyond tofu and protein shakes. I need at least some of my meals to be similar to what my family will eat. So rajma with greek yogurt and cauliflower subji is fine for me but I know I will not eat tofu and drink protein shakes every meal. I think you get that. I just want to eat smaller portions and feel full. So do you avoid rice and wheat completely - No rice or rotis? 85 lbs is just amazing and your approach and attitude to food seems so .so.. rational. Are you still losing or are you more in maintenance mode. Did you have any medical issues that got resolved with your weight loss?