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i've been a vegetarian for about 14 years and have been banded a little over 12 months. i do 1-2 protein shakes a day as my snacks, eat a lot of low fat cottage cheese, fat free greek yogurt, eggs, edamame, tofu, and veggie burgers without buns. i have, since surgery, started to eat fish, primarily tuna and salmon, which i have approximately 1-2 times per week. if i didn't drink protein shakes, i wouldn't make my 80 g protein a day. i've learned to really enjoy them, though.

Ive been a veg for 10 years. I did a few years vegan, and then slowly started eating seafood, dairy and eventaully chicken on occasion ( I live in a country that is very red meat loving). Mostly I eat a lot of Soups, stews, tofu based meals, chili, salads, etc. There are tons of recipes if you look up vegetarian low carb meals (how i try to eat). Just google it and try a few things out.

I am almost three months out and I have been eating vegetarian chili regularly for almost two months.

I look at the major hospitals in my area. I knew my insurance would be accepted at most if not all of them. I wanted a Center for Excellence. I then wanted to know if the doctors could accommodate my needs. I am vegetarian with multiple food & medication allergies. Having had a few negative experiences with nutritionist over my vegetarianism, I needed to know if the program would respect that. I looked at one program and honestly wasn't crazy about the doctor. His pre-op diet was 2 weeks on slim fast and he wasn't very open to using other alternative Protein shakes. He was also pushing me towards the bypass and I was more interested in the sleeve. I had a friend who had bypass at UPenn. She raved about her doctor and experience. I attended the seminar. After hearing them speak and asking questions, they seemed a better fit. I actually forgot to tell my PCP who I adore btw, until a copy of my approval letter was sent. She called to follow up (one of the reasons why I like her). I explained I was in the process of pre-op testing. She was thrilled for me and said to let her know if there was anything she needed to do. I am beyond happy with my choice. My surgical experience was event free. I like the team approach that the center utilizes. I like that I have a nutritionist that I can ask questions and have a back and forth conversation with. I like that they provide a handbook with the entire process from pre to post op life with samples and recommendations. That handbook became my bible of sorts during those early months. I am completely satisfied and don't think I would have changed a single thing.

Hello everyone! I want to be completely honest and say it's now quite yet two months, March 13th 2015 will be the two month anniversary! For those who are thinking or about to get the surgery, I'll answer questions. For those who have had the surgery, I hope my post inspires you to work smarter not harder! After all, eating right and exercising is a lot easier than waiting for the weight to drop! Let me start off by saying, there will be days that it absolutely sucks. You'll wake up in the morning and not feel hungry. You'll end up going the whole day without eating or drinking without a constant reminder. This isn't healthy! So make sure you add post-its, or something. I had my surgery January 13, 2015 at a little past 9 in the morning. First person to be on the table! When I came to, I jolted. The nurses had been talking to me and I fell asleep on them, so my body jump started. Now, at this point, I recommend you relax. When I was wiggling around, trying to find the nurses who were in surgery with me, I got extreme heartburn. It was my body's way of saying, "Stop! I hurt!" I ended up being put under from pain medication~ Not exactly under, I could hear and respond. My eyes just didn't want to open the first day. That was until the bathroom break came a long! It took over 45 minutes just to tinkle and since I moved (standing up, sitting down, etc) it caused motion sickness. So dry heaving isn't fun! Trust me. When they began to introduce liquids to me while in the hospital, I only could manage a tablespoon of popsicle juice three times a day. The rest of my fluids came from the IV - so naturally my body couldn't take anything else. At this point, it'll suck more! You'll be asked to walk around, or at least my night nurse asked me. We'd walk around the nurses station! Instead of letting me suffer in silence, she looked around my room and saw that I liked comics. She kept me entertained by asking me about the new Avengers movie that was coming out, what I was doing this summer, etc. So, a good conversation with someone other than family is nice! Your nurses are there for you and it doesn't hurt to strike up a conversation. Liquids were easy at first, I got in one shake a day (my mother upped my Protein in the shakes to about 30g) with 4 glasses of tall Water. It wasn't until the soft foods came into play (which has been just recently) that I started having eating issues. I've read that some women develop eating disorders after surgery, which I've been talking to my doctor about. I cannot stand the sight, smell, or taste of anything cooked or that has touched something with oil. Fast food is automatically out of the question, its hard! I took a bite of McDonalds bacon from my little sister's plate. Ended up throwing up from a nibble. So my doctor suggested going to less fattening alternatives. So I eat mostly fruits, about: A Fuji apple, 2 strawberries, about 10 rasberries&Blueberries&Blackberries, a plum, and a small cube (from the cube cheese bag) of cheese a day. Then you add about a 16 oz glass of water, 4 oz of apple juice, and about 2 oz of unsweetened tea. It's hard to eat or drink without feeling sick to my stomach. This might seem negative, but it helps put into light of what I use to eat and drink in a day. I'm eating healthier, although not as much as my doctor would like (he ended up giving me more Vitamins and weekly checkups with a vegetarian/vegan food counselor), however I'm proud of my process. I've dropped so much weight that my clothes are baggy. Clothes that were tight in areas~ I might be more tired due to my diet, but when I'm at the gym, I feel alive. I'm not sluggish, I feel great. This surgery isn't for everyone. It sucks on most days, but for the years to come its worth it. Now some advice for my younger ladies (I'm turning 21 soon) or women who are still having their period. This is going to suck the most. You'll bleed longer, or more, etc. It'll change your cycle completely. Just remember to take your vitamins and possibly some advil for your new found cramps.

I am officially 2 months out today. I was having problems with the Protein shakes making me nauseus. I'm supposed to have 2 a day with one protein based meal. I also had HORRIBLE problems with constipation as I've had IBS for several years. I started eating more Fiber and making my meals vegetarian (however, I do eat fish from time to time) and I'm feeling much better. I can only get 1/4 c eggbeaters with some string cheese 1/2 mushroom down for an omelet with maybe a strawberry or 2 for breakfast. lunch is usually 1/2 c Beans with a couple bites of cantaloupe. dinner is some time of veggie protein with a couple bites of deep green steamed veggie. My calories are around 500-700 a day. Try to keep the carbs down as low as possible without interfering with fiber or energy level. I missed coffee too, but can't handle the caffeine anymore. I can NOW drink decaf. Usually after dinner as my special treat. I can now also handle decaf tea. My favorite is Lipton's Orange Garden. Funny, how are special treats are now decaf and fruit !!!! lol VSG 4/7/2010 Highest Weight: 365 Surgery Weight: 349 Todays Weight: 304

I'm buddhist. Maitraya Buddha (or Shakyamuni Buddha) is the Buddha image most of us associate with the round belly dude. I love this quote from Buddhist wisdom on all 'good' Buddhists being vegetarian (stemming from one of the precepts of not killing and another about having respect for all sentient beings: Buddha cares more about what is in your heart than what is in your stomach. That's pretty to hear considering that I have a BBQ chicken leg digesting quietly away in my gullet. I still have my Buddha belly (harrumph!) and I'm desperate to get rid of it!

I'm a vegetarian and would be absolutely LOST without beans! I eat them for almost every meal at this point, and I've been losing just fine without restriction, including 4 pounds in the past 5 days (my first 5 days on mushies). Beans are so good for you, and I talked at length with my dietitian about them. She is absolutely fine with beans as a source of Protein for me. Yes, they have more carbs in them than meat, but as long as I keep track of where I am with my carbs each day, it is fine. Soon, I'll be off mushies and can add in soy, tofu, and "veggie" meats in addition to beans and cheese, but beans are working just fine for me at this point. I think by so severely limiting your options, your doctor could cause you to "cheat" more than if you were allowed a bit of variety. If I could only eat chicken day in and day out, you can bet I'd be considering some ice cream and chips out of boredom!

So after a long complicated journey......to be found somewhere in my past posts, I have concerns that I might have some scarring/stenosis or hiatal hernia. I have major fullness after one bite, bloating pain and that darn nausea! I take Protonix, Probiotics and Anzamet for nausea. Also Luvox, gabapentin and Klonapin. Plus, I never recovered from the fatigue. I had a jejujostomy for about 14 months or so....due to malnutrition. I am a home health nurse - while I finish up grad school, so I can set my own schedule since I cannot work full time due to my symptoms. I am afraid I am malnourished again (or still). I went off grains and lost 8lbs which is good cuz I was doing sliding food, so I gained a bit, but not anything terrible. I eat only egg whites with cheese in the am, and that is so I can take my morning meds, otherwise I get sick on an empty stomach. I really don't eat much else..maybe 2 bites of dinner (vegetarian for 30 years). I have the right Protein powder, a new one for GI health and I cannot even get those down. I should be well below my goal weight - I know I do not take in enough calories. I think my body is in starvation mode and is holding on to whatever it gets. Anyway, my big fear is going back to my doctor. My PCP vs my surgeon? Not my GI doctor b/c he will refer me back to someone else. So I guess I better email my surgeon.....here we go again. I just want to feel good. not tired. FYI - I see a therapist 2x/month - so that is helping the emotional part. Any feedback? Thanks.

Hi there, In October 2006 I went to see my GP for a minor problem and he told me about the gastric banding operation and how it worked. He scheduled an appointment with the surgeon and I was booked a month later for the surgery. I weighed 187kg. I looked up everything I could on the internet and was fully informed by the time I entered the hospital for the operation. I had to undergo a series of tests to see if I was suitable to undergo the operation. Heart tests, blood tests and even a psychological assessment. Everything was fine and I was given the go-ahead. I would have to pay for the operation myself as my medicare considered this "vanity surgery". I had to take out a loan but I reckoned it would be worth it in the end. On the 6th November I had my operation. Everything went fine, no complications. They didn't fill my band at that stage. That would happen 6 weeks later. My 5 small incisions healed quickly and painlessly. Apart from some minor post operative pain which lasted a few days, the procedure was a success. I found no difference in my eating habits after the operation and looked forward to my first bandfill, scheduled for the week before Christmas. My weight loss began almost immediately after my first bandfill. The port, just under my skin on the left hand side of my upper torso, just below my left breast was easily accessible and my surgeon just did the fill in his rooms. He didn't charge me once for visits or bandfills for a year as he considered me to be his "experiment". I was put in touch with a support group called "the Bandits": People who had had the operation and who met once a month to commiserate with each other!! Some had lost up to 100kg. They are a wonderful group and I don't know what I would have done without their support. After my first fill, I found the restriction had halved my intake. At that stage, there was no food that I couldn't eat, I could just eat less of it. My weight went down very slowly - about 3-4kg per month. This wasn't quick enough for me and so I went back for another fill in February. That was better. Suddenly things changed. There were certain foods that I just could not get down. meat was one of them. I couldn’t eat any meat, chicken or fish. OK, so I was destined to become a vegetarian. Not a problem. I didn't like meat that much anyway. (Gross part coming - skip this if you are sensitive) I also found that if I ate something that didn't agree with me I would produce a lot of "slime". A mucous like substance that would make me be sick. It was not like a proper vomit, but rather just a regurgitation. It didn't hurt, but wasn't nice to deal with. These episodes lasted anything from 5 -15 minutes. It helped me decide what was easy to eat and what wasn't. (Gross part over). I had no problems with dairy products (cheese, cheese and more cheese), carbohydrates (biscuits were wonderful), bread was OK, and vegetables. Some fruits worked and some didn't. Ate a lot of pulses (Beans, lentils etc). By the end of February I had lost 22kg. Then I was diagnosed with a benign brain tumour and had to undergo brain surgery. After a few months recovery from the surgery I didn't go back for my fill. I regained about 10kg. I must at this stage say that the band never gave me any pain or discomfort. The port was inconspicuous and didn't even feel it. The whole procedure was painless and the fact that it was reversible gave me confidence that if anything got stuck or did cause pain, I could go to the surgeon and he would just unfill me until it sorted it self out. I haven't had to resort to this yet, but the knowledge that the option is there made me feel better. In March 2008 I thought I had better go back and get filled again and made a conscious decision to make this band work for me. A fill took me back to the level I was before my brain op and I began losing about 3-4kg a month again. Not quite satisfied with that I went for another fill in May and at last I got my "sweet spot". I went on a liquid diet for about 2 weeks before I began to eat soft solids and gradually moved onto harder solids. Once again no meat. I have had the slime episode a couple of times but know now how to deal with it. I also get wind that appears to be trapped in my stomach below my band. A few tummy pats usually dislodges it with a burp. The secret is not to eat and drink anything until you have dislodged the wind, or it traps the food in your pouch and the wind cannot escape. This can be painful. This time around I did get bad heartburn (which I hadn't had before). The other girls in my support group recommended a small pill that helps control the stomach acid and that has worked well. You learn what you can eat and can't eat and it is not the same for everyone. I have had my band in for nearly 2 years now and have never had any ill effects. I have a surgeon who is supportive and offers his assistance whenever he can, sometimes free of charge. I have a wonderful support group, some of whom have become good friends. I have lost over 50 kg. That "magic number" of 150 kg on the scale has finally been broken and I weigh less now than I did 10 years ago. I feel so much better, so much more active and my self esteem has risen tremendously. I am still losing and all I can say is that anyone who is considering this method of weight loss and for whom nothing else has worked. GO FOR IT!!! It's worth it. Bianca (Sherbrooke)

I'm not a vegetarian but I love veggie burgers and some other vegetarian imitation foods so I will definitely try these products when I'm on solids. Thanks for sharing.

Deez I agree. I'm a vegetarian and I've been justifying this for nearly 20 years. I mean, its my choice, I don't ask people not to eat meat, so WHY do people feel they need to lecture me about why I need meat? Lord knows, I'm not underweight!!! I do admit to be a bit embarrassed about the band, I sort of feel, its sort of a failure in my err ?? what self control - probably lots of things, but I'm sure you know what I mean. I just want to try and concentrate on succeeding this time

Okie Dokie... Thought I could get away with!!! What about Vegetarian French Onion??????? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

When was your surgery? I am 2 months post op. My eating is pretty much the same every day: Breakfast: Protein shake (Premier Protein - Chocolate; 160 cals, 30g protein, 1g carb) morning snack: a cheese stick OR some veggie straws (a lower carb solution to potato chips when I'm craving something salty) with hummus *snack depends on if I'm feeling a lil hungry or if I'm at work vs. at home - much easier to have the cheese stick at work! Lunch: greek yogurt. I like Fage - 0% with strawberry or the new Fruyo blended kind with pineapple. a piece of fruit - I've been hitting up the farmers market, so I have variety. Peaches, berries, cantaloupe, apple... *If I have an apple for lunch, it's usually with Peanut Butter, so that's all I'll have with the yogurt. and when the mood strikes, I have sandwiches - I use Flatout Flatbread, half a slice, which is only 45-50cals and 8-9 carbs. I usually have hummus on it with turkey, avocado, spinach.. whatever I have. It's small portions, though, obviously! Dinner: This is where I change up my routine. I make homemade Soups, or something with eggs (mini quiche, scrambles, etc), I also like vegetarian options (but I'm not a vegetarian), especially anything by the brand Gardein. Their burgers are AMAZINGLY good - taste like the real thing, with wayyy less fat/calories! and then I'll have another shake at some point in the afternoon/evening to keep my protein intake up. I think it's important to get your fresh fruits and veggies in - as soon as I was able to include that in my diet, I was much more "regular" with my bathroom business (if ya catch my drift). Hope that helps!

Any vegetarians out there? Prior to the sleeve I was moving toward a plant based diet and now my NUT says deli meat is ok and no beans! Does anyone have any recipes with tofu? Difficult to find while on mushies. Please advise.

I used to be a vegetarian for more than 8 years, but I could not meet my Protein reqmts with just veg food. So I take chicken or fish now, atleast 3 times a week. BUT, most of my daily food is still vegetarian. And Tofu is my staple dish. I like this recipe very much: Not sure if you would like the sweet and sour taste. But if you like chinese, I think you'll like this. PS: go light on the oil. I use only 1 tbsp to fry the tofu.

Oh the lady also has a great collection of vegetarian recipes with paneer (thick cottage cheese). You could try browsing her channel. I have tried many of her recipes and I LOVE them!!

Just wondering if there are any vegetarians here? Or if it's even possible to be vegetarian and get all of the needed protein and nutrients with lap band. I'm just kind of exploring the idea for various different reasons.

refried beans with cheese are a good bet, soups... that might be about it right now. I'm a vegetarian but I thin some people do flaky fish and chew well. will you have a little fridge and microwave in your hotel room? I might rely on that and eat yogurt etc. I didn't eat out for at least the first 2 months.

There are 190 instances of the word Vegetarian on the site, check through these search results, might have what you are looking for. https://www.bariatricpal.com/search/?q=vegetarian

Hi Everyone! Is there a thread for Vegetarians? I couldn't seem to find one.

Thanks everyone for the replys, I'm going to talk with the bariatric nurses this week. I eat around 1 to 1 1/2 cups a meal but I do have snacks in between. This last week I have been staying to protein shakes, unjury broth with noodles, and vegetarian refied beans with cheese (I'm vegetarian so I do have a hard time getting enough protein so I try to have the unjury everday) also evening snack has been the healthy choice frozen yogurt as all of that goes down well, so I'm probably eating to much of it, again I'm hungry I know I have to pay better attention to my bite size as I know I take bigger bites than the size of a fingernail and I tend to eat to fast and mindlessly as I do other things, it's been a lifelong habit that has been hard to break, I always do 5 other things as I eat. Sometimes it takes talking it out and hearing it from someone else to make me think of what I'm doing wrong, So glad this forum exists. Thanks everyone and Happy Thanksgiving.

I'm a vegetarian so meat won't be added at any time. Im thinking yogurts & cheese & beans soon. But I'm just a bit cautious of foods still, as I dont want to vomit or have my stomach hurt. And very concerned about gaining weight. So I'm going to start using myfitness pal to track things and stick to it. Right now no exercise, just walking as much as I can. My surgeon wasn't very detailed about things and I didn't see him post op. Hoping to get the details on Thursday.

After about 9 weeks, I am finally cooking again. Made egg salad for breakfast and this Thai Red Curry Stew for the rest of the day. It is a vegetarian recipe, but I loaded it with baked chicken breast and thighs. Very, very tasty. Really been craving some veggies! https://cookieandkate.com/2015/thai-red-curry-recipe/

Having Lap Band surgery, it soon became difficult to eat Red meat, and my Dr. concurred it would..... For years, my cardiologist and other Dr.'s have been trying to get to to cut back on my meat consumption for health reasons.... Seeing how Red Meat is not very band friendly, and it was something other people wanted me to do, I stopped eating it altogether....that has been over 3 years now. I would not say I am a vegetarian, I still eat chicken and fish...but since I am eating so little due to the surgery, I am very conscious of what I do eat and I am eating less and less chicken.... Some people become vegetarians - vegans for moral reasons, for me it is purely for health reasons and I have been able to tell the difference.... BTW, I also cannot eat things made from flour/dough such as breads, Pasta, etc...no rice either...