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yes, it's from a vegetarian site, but that's hardly the point. The point was that lots of awesome plant based proteins exist that might provide a little variety and culinary splendor to an otherwise repetitive animal based palate. Meh, to each their own. Personally, I'm attracted to the longevity and health benefits associated with Mediterranean diet and other low animal protein, low animal fat diets. Not for everyone for sure...but plant based protein sources make a nice culinary change even for meat eaters. I'm pretty omnivorous. I like a little lean meat in my diet, too. Want to put your chia seeds and flax on a nice steak? Add some nuts and pumpkin seeds to your chicken salad? You have my blessing. LOL:)

A lot of veggie protein(morning star and boca) have wheat gluten in them, so you have to be careful, especially if you have an intolerance. like me! I eat a mostly vegetarian diet. Have you heard of complete proteins? I just learned about them in culinary school. Like beans and rice, hummus and pitas. Those pairings are considered complete proteins, providing your body with all of your essential aminos. Greek yogurt is high in protein and also provides you with good bacteria for healthy digestion. Check out complementary proteins. I'm not a vegetarian, but out of necessity I have eliminated most meats from my diet. You can have a healthy lifestyle eating meat( red meat in moderation), but i would suggest free range, grass fed organic meats. I drink raw milk. Just milked from the cow. It's not pastuerized or homogenized. It's illegal in most states, so you must own dairy cows in order to get it. If it's possible, consider a herdshare. We lose so may nutrients from store bought milk, which is why they're added back in. It's not for everyone. It's an aquired taste, but I grew up on farm fresh milk. Anyway before I go all activist on you, I just wanted to say that you can get your protein from other sources in food.

I'm not advocating nor am I doctor. I do eat a meat free diet. Some goat cheese. I am trying a new life style of eating. Which does consist of raw veges and fresh fruit. Plenty of Water. Absolutly no processed foods in my house. Which I believe caused me to stall constantly and have a sluggish feeling. I was exercising like a mad woman to no avail with the scale moving. I decided since nothing was working for me I needed to try another approach. I researched the hell out of the benefits of vegan and or vegetarian lifestyles. I decided I could try and possibly acheive a better, healthier me. And I did. I have been meat free for two months. And I am so glad I did this. I did this for me. Not my friends or family. For me. What works for one may not work for others. Everyone will find what does and will do excellent with it. I wish everyone nothing but the best! Deb

I do Protein shakes as well, take my vits (received a great lab report yesterday), and drink my Water. I also went from a vegetarian to a vegan. Due to a handicap, I am unable to exercise much but I do what I can. In need of a strong support system which I why I am on this site :-). My keys to success - I haven't totally abandoned protein shakes (I usually drink at least 2 a day to get my protein in), trying to limit my carbs, and exercise (even if it's a 30 minute walk around the block). My active support systems - message boards (such as this one), a therapist, and I have at least 3 "real life" friends who have also had bariatric surgery. The last one is to NOT GIVE UP...Right now I'm fighting the battle to get below 200 pounds. I see you're also a little over a year post op. How has your experience been so far?

I'm seriously considering the VSG, but I notice pretty much everyone talks meat, meat, meat as post-recovery foods. Are there any vegetarians on this board? What do you guys eat?

I am 1 week post op. Feel good. Almost no pain. Almost fine. Tons of energy. and happily living on Vitamin Water zero, homemade chicken stock and Jello. Not interested in food. No cravings. But I am worried about nutrition. I am vegetarian and didn't eat meat before and my Protein intake has always been low. Suggestions? Paralyzed /Canadian/Mexican Sleeve

My boyfriend and I go out to eat WAY too much (5 times a week, at least). I find that I rarely have problems with eating out. Sometimes whatever I eat takes a few minutes to settle down - I find that it's more likely to happen if I don't painstakingly chew everything. I just avoid fried food, bread, and creamy sauces. I do particularly well at Japanese and Vietnamese restaurants - I'll order sashimi and take leftovers home (if you cover it in a plastic wrap, it should be ok for one day in the fridge), or miso or some Vietnamese Soup and then pick out the pieces of chicken or beef from the soup. Any sort of stew-type of dish works well, too. I had some lamb curry at an Indian restaurant yesterday and it was nice and soft. Pasta is pretty easy on the stomach, too. I've had a few bites of lasagna (both vegetarian and with meat) before, and it was easy to eat; ravioli with ricotta and tomato sauce are another thing I've tried that worked well. There are definitely lots of options that should go down easy, just be prepared to either share an order or take a LOT of leftovers home. P.S. Oh, and re: feeling guilty....like I mentioned above, I avoid bread, fried foods, and creamy sauces, and of course no dessert or drinks, so there's not much to feel guilty about. No one gets fat from 2 bites of pasta.

#1 No more Trulicity weekly injections! #2 Feeling better as my abdomen goes down in size! #3 Possibly coming off cholesterol med. (Work on becoming vegetarian or pescatarian). #4 Overall better health. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using BariatricPal mobile app

Silken tofu goes down very easily, and it's so soft it can just be blended up and added to drinks, Soups, etc. Or you can have little lumps of it for texture. And then there's firm tofu and tempeh as well for when you want to chew more. I was vegetarian for 12 years but started eating meat again when I was pregnant and very anaemic. I still eat it, although I don't really like much meat, and I've been thinking about going back to vegetarian again. I wouldn't go vegan, but that's just because I've got hens so I have a never-ending supply of eggs! I'd give up dairy before I gave up eggs! Plus they're very easy Protein sources, and I can eat them guilt-free because I know there has been no animal abuse or exploitation involved in getting the eggs

Hi Everyone, I am in the same boat -- This is the second time I am going through a program and anyone I tell that I am considering lap band surgery tell me I'm crazy and that they've heard a lot about how it doesn't work and people gain ALL their weight back. I've been heavy all my life and need to do something soon. I am 60 years old and have a beautiful grandson I want to be around for. Right now I am in the surgery program again. I have lost 28 lbs on my own (between the first time I signed up in 2010 and when I returned in October 2012. I have met with the psychologist, attended a group support session, met with the nutritionist and have an appointment with the surgeon tomorrow -- BUT -- I am still undecided if this is the right thing for me because of all the "nay-sayers" (including my family physician who is pushing me to follow a full vegetarian diet). I am worried that if I don't have my family's and personal doctor's support that I will fail and that's really what's making me so unsure. I really think I can follow the diet after surgery (I'm already doing some of the techniques like chewing well, slowing up, and not drinking during meals). In fact, I've lost 4 lbs since I started that. So confused................but I do appreciate all the positive things I've heard on this website! Thanks for sharing and your honesty!!!!

I'm not a vegetarian, but I don't really have any big craving for meat on a regular basis. I like turkey burgers and chicken sandwiches, but past that it's just not something I really think about eating. Although it isn't high Protein, you can replace Pasta with zucchini noodles if you use the Vegetti (it's like $10 on Amazon). I like that swap. You can also add tofu into tomato sauce and that adds protein on top of the veggie noodles. I like cauliflower pizza too, where you can get a reasonable amount of protein from the cheese and egg that are included in the crust recipe and you can always use a non-meat protein as a topping. I've recently started drinking a lot of milk (which is mostly because I make skinny macchiatos at home) and the Fair Life milk has a ton of protein, no fat in the skim version, and also a lot of Calcium. There are ways to be a vegetarian and still get enough protein, you just have to be creative.

I had WLS in December, 2014 - 4 months ago. My pre-surgical starting weight was 259 lbs. This excess weight came from eating too much (volume), rather than the wrong foods or junk foods. I'm not vegetarian however I have always incorporated a lot of raw food habits into my diet. To those who are not familiar with "eating raw" - I'm not talking about crudités or peeling a banana and eating it. I'm taking about "raw" lifestyle foods like breads, crackers, wraps and veggie burgers that have been created using nuts, seeds, flax, hemp and vegetables, often in a dehydrator. Before my surgery, I incorporated a lot of raw cuisine into my diet and used my dehydrator constantly to make delicious foods like raw falafel, flax crackers, pureed veggie wraps, kale chips, mushroom burger patties, etc. Since my December surgery, I have stayed away from raw and been stringent about adhering to a low carb, high protein diet. (Yes, this included meats). Lots of salads, raw fruits and veggies, but no "raw cuisine" per se. In the 4 months since my surgery I have dropped 45 pounds and feel terrific. Or I should say, I HAD dropped 45 pounds, until 2 weeks ago when I started eating raw cuisine again. These past 2 weeks eating mostly raw, I am sad to say that I gained almost ten pounds back. Ah, the irony. Eat well! Gain weight! I had missed my beloved VitaMix and my Excalibur dehydrator terribly, having not used them since two weeks prior to my WLS. I decided a couple of weeks ago to get back to incorporating delicious raw cuisine back into my diet. Foods I created over the past two weeks from my old favourites included nut cheeses (cashew...mmmm mmmmm!), walnut-spinach pesto, nut burgers, raw "onion rings", sesame seed/hemp seed dressings and more. As I was blending, spreading and dehydrating, I became worried about the sheer amount of fat, calories and carbs that made up the ingredients going into these dishes. Those nuts, seeds and avocados really pack a punch. The ingredients in my raw food dishes were wholesome and nutritionally dense, BUT they contained a ton of unwanted complex carbs and sugars (Mejool dates, for example). So I feasted (in small amounts as only my lap-band allows) on raw falafel, vegan hummus with garlic aioli with marinated vegetables in a flax/carrot wrap, marinated portabello mushroom caps stuffed with cashew/garlic nut cheese and walnut-spinach pesto, raw zucchini pasta with sweet marinara sauce... it was a great 2 weeks. Unfortunately it also triggered some pretty major weight gain. What I've learned: Even with smaller lap-band sized portions, and although most raw food dishes are densely nutritious, they pack a significant caloric punch - too much so to be aligned with my weight loss goals. So I am back to salads and lean meats and steamed veggies, no wheat, no white, no sugar. And, unfortunately, no raw cuisine. (Or at least very, very little). Has anyone out there managed a raw food diet (60% +) and managed to keep the surgical weight off? Would love to hear from you!

WEll, I had my first fill today and it wasn't too traumatic. I was laying down and the PA was finding my port as I "stuck my stomach out". These were my instructions and I realized that I don't think I'd EVER tried to do that! It was an odd feeling...then a little pinch and I was being filled. I have a 9 cc band and I was scheduled for 4 cc's today. As it was going in I felt a LOT of pressure in my chest so the PA removed what she had put in and realized that I actually already HAD 4 cc's in my band (I guess from something called "flushing" during surgery...I'll need to investigate that a bit more)...So I only got 1 cc today and feel a tiny bit more restriction. All in all, I'm a bit worried that I had 4 cc's already and I'm as hungry as I am and can eat "as much" as I am. I've been back and forth to NYC every week for a month for work so have been eating most meals out. I can finish a tuna sandwich and bag of carrots with no trouble and was easily able to eat 2 slices of pizza (a small splurge, and they were small slices). This is FAR less than I would have eaten 2 months ago. I love good pizza and NYC has some great pizza...I used to be able to scarf down 4 slices or so in no time...I nursed my 2 slices with mushroom and spinach and really totally enjoyed every single bite. I definitely appreciate that the band has allowed me to still eat small portions of my favorite foods: sushi, salads, toast with an over easy egg, and now a slice of pizza....It's really forcing me to savor and appreciate my food and not just blindly fill my belly. I'm a vegetarian (well pescatarian, I eat fish) so I had been feeling a tiny bit limited as I need to make sure I get my protein (and I hate tofu)..and the pizza has calmed my cravings. I'm very happy with my progress and I'm hoping that now that I have my first fill I can still enjoy a slice (only one) every now and then!!!!! I should have titled this blog "Pizza" as it really has lifted my spirits as odd as that sounds. I have a new found respect for the food I eat....and I only try to eat "the best"...I went to John's pizza in NYC and I tell you...I think it's one of the BEST!! That's another interesting thing...I will never eat another slice of Domino's again (sorry for those who like it)...I can honestly say that as long as I have my band there will never be another wasted calorie on something I don't love (unless I'm stranded somewhere and my choices are death or Domino's)!!:biggrin:

Hi, my doc recommended prescriptfit, which you can find at: PrescriptFit, Medical Nutrition Therapy and Weight Loss Plan Figure 2 tubs/week. I'm a vegetarian so I didn't try the Soup. But, the shakes are very filling. I know with slimfast and such, I was hungry w/in a 1/2 hour after drinking them. The prescript fit shakes kept me full for 3 to 4 hours. I lost 10 pounds the first two weeks on the shake. And that included one meal out with friends to olive garden. Good luck

Either you will have to purchase separate vitamins or get super expensive vegan one... I use: Members Mark Adult multi vitamins gummies (Sam's club-$10/320 gummies) Or SpringValley Organic Multi vitamins (Walmart-$10/30 tablets) Veglife Vegan iron 25mg (Whole foods,$15/100 pills) Topcare Calcium Citrate petites (regional stores, search online) All of my choices are gelatin free,vegetarian friendly, kosher or Halal suitable Hope that helps!

:tongue_smilie:Hi there folks, it's Lynn from Darlington, UK. I had a Vertical Banded Gastroplasty in 2004. In my first year I dropped from 26 stone(364 lbs), to 17 1/2 stone(245 lbs). In that year I was still only on liquids and mush. In the following 4 years I managed to get back onto 'normal' food, but my weight has crept up. I now weigh 22 stone 5 lbs(315 lbs) again. It is still fluctuating, up more than down. I can still only eat approximately one small cupped hand of food. Most solids, like meat, are rejected by my stomach, so I am mostly vegetarian these days. I find it hard to reconcile the fact that I do not eat much in quantity to my old diet, but am still putting weight on. I have had no follow up from my surgeon for years, it only lasted the first year. I had no counselling before or after and i only saw the dietitian half a dozen times in the first year. That was almost pointless as they did not have any idea about post op diets for VBG patients. Has anyone else experienced this post op weight gain?

Ground meat is pretty safe for me too. My surgery was over one year ago and I still can't do chicken or turkey unless it's ground. Beef is 50/50 for me - it takes a long time to chew it adequately so I eat it only rarely. Flaked white fish is safe but tuna can still bother me. Chili is a 'safe' meal staple. It can be made vegetarian simply by not adding meat. It can be more interesting by adding a variety of Beans and/or vegetables. My favorite recipe is: SPICY CHICKEN CHILI 1lb ground chicken or turkey (you can also use meat of your choice) Salt, pepper, other seasonings or herbs to taste (whatever you like) 1 packet chili seasoning 1 can tomato paste 1 can diced tomatoes 1 can black beans, undrained 1 can corn 1 cup salsa; mild, spicy, or hot Cook ground meat till almost done (add salt, pepper, etc while cooking), mix in chili seasoning, mix in tomato paste, add all other ingredients and mix well. Cover and simmer on low for 15 minutes. Eat as is or top w/shredded cheese. Variations - omit meat and add a variety of colorful beans or legumes; add fresh chopped peppers, onions, other vegetables; get creative and come up w/your own variations. :-)

Ok thanks . Am not fizzy drinks person though . I've started juicing fruits and vegetables to increase my 5 a day . I'm a vegetarian so my main obstacle will be avoiding carbs like bread , pasta , rice , potatoes is basically what I've been use to and is not really going to be ideal post op ????

Boy, that would make it tough for me, too! Do you do OK with chicken and fish? That would be my suggestion...or get some of the Protein powders that seem to be all over. I bought some that was recommended on here called unjury that is unflavored and can be mixed with Soups or almost anything to up the protein content. I use Atkins Protein shakes for Breakfast every morning. I'm semi-vegetarian so don't eat red meat, but I do use things like Morningstar Farms "fake meats" that are available in the breakfast items section at Wal-Mart and most grocery stores. They're pretty good protein sources. Good luck! Emily

Leftover homemade chicken kababs with coriander chutney: http://sleevers.wordpress.com/2013/09/08/spicy-chicken-kebabs-paleo-wls-friendly-high-protein/ and a bite or two of Peas & Paneer leftover from last night too: http://sleevers.wordpress.com/2013/09/09/impromptu-peas-paneer-vegetarian/

Hi All! I hope your journey is going smoothly. I have been reading on VST for a while now. I was starting to feel concerned about the pre op diet, but I am starting to wonder if I actually have anything to worry about? This week I started my pre op appointments. Welcome group, NUT and psychologist. I have to say I am a bit surprized about all of these appointments. Psychologist- This was a weird conversation and we did NOT talk too much about weight loss. We talked about almost all major aspects of my life: marriage, parenting, my family history, doctoral program and goals I have. The psychologist told me about his life a little. When I left I had a list of goals that the psychologist made for me, which were to say the least, were weird and really not related to what we talked about. Did you have this experience? Nut- I LOVE my NUT, she is the best. She is a vegetarian as well, which is nice. I need to loose 20lbs prior to surgery, but I have three months to do so. So, we talked about small changes, like pre measuring 1oz servings of cheese (I LOVE CHEESE) and eating about 1500-1800 calories. We also talked about not making changes until I feel its time for me. Everything really seems very centered on what I feel is right for me. The NUT gave me samples of Protein Shakes, and said if I wanted I could replace one meal a day, but that was up to me. Why are so many having these intense pre op diets? Am I missing something? Maybe I have a more intense version coming up? So far I am very pleased with the clinic and the entire team. Next week I see the PT, NP and have the metabolic test. I would love to hear what your experience with your pre op appointments has been like!! Thanks for reading and sharing! Wishing You Wellness, Sannah

I am just beyond annoyed at my family at my friends hell, I am annoyed at Strangers! YOU CANT get weight loss surgery! YOU CANT cut your hair!! YOU CANT have a baby!!! YOU CANT be a vegetarian!! YOU CANT get gas at night... no really.. I guess when I was fat I was not going to get raped and killed and thrown in a ditch but now it is open game?? lol EAT MEAT! GAIN WEIGHT! YOU LOOK GAUNT! YOU SHOULDN'T LOSS ANYMORE! YOU CAN'T MOVE UP NORTH YOU NEED MORE SUN! I HOPE YOU DON'T PLAN ON BEING A TREE HUGGER. SHUTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT UPPPPPPPPPPPPP! You guys are stressing me out, I just want to shove red vines in my face... and they are delicious so the joke is on you. Just let me live in the forest away from humans with my tofu pho and my kids and my cat and maybe my husband, I dunno he annoys me too lol I am eating super healthy and clean I am not starving I am full and I am happy, does this look like not enough food for me?? And you baby haters, who said I can't have one and if I do they will die or be sick or I will die, she is healthy and happy and so am I! I may even do it again, then what will you have to say? Leave me alone, I have tired of the comments. Opinions are like assholes, we all have one but I do not need to hear or see yours... Kat, OUT! p.s I love you all, you are amazing I need more red vines lol

Ok so I am doing very well and entering week 2. During weeks 2, 3, and 4, I am supposed to to puree all of my foods. So is that basically just throwing the food in a blender and griding up as much as possible? Kind of like "pre-chewing" your food? LOL I decided to go vegetarian so it should be pretty easy to puree all my foods. It will mostly be legumes and the such.

Hi, :wave:I'm in Seaton Delaval, just outside Newcastle Upon Tyne in the North of England (although I am originally from Portsmouth in Hampshire). I'm scheduled to have a lap band fitted on 17th December by Mr Woodcock at North Tyneside General Hospital (paid for by the NHS - only 6 weeks and 6 days to go). Mr Woodcock told me that I had to lose weight before he would fit the band so I have lost 75 lbs since May this year (2007) through a sensible balanced diet and lots of exercise. I am really worried about how to eat after the surgery. I have been on a diet for so long that I don't know how to eat normal diet foods any more. I am a vegetarian too. Do you just eat very small amounts of normal food? What is normal food? If I eat tiny portions of the kinds of food I have been eating whilst losing the 75 lbs I will only be eating about 600 calories (maybe less) per day. Is that OK? I am full of trepidation. This is a really big step and I wouldn't be taking it if it were not the very last resort. I really believe that I need this provedure. It's not that I can't lose weight (I've just lost 75 lbs) but I just cannot eep the weight off - which is why I have been offered a lap band rather than a bypass. Any information or advice you could offer would be gratefully accepted.

What stage ae you are? I was on full liquids the first 2 weeks and I had small amounts of non fibrous fruits and veg. I simply liquefied them in my nutra bullet. This is also why those vitamins and supplements ate important. What items are you allowed? Are you meeting all your protein and fluids goals yet? These things may also be playing a part in the light headedness you are feeling. As a vegetarian I understand missing the crunch of fresh fruit and veg however at 3 weeks out your should be able to get the nutrients from these foods in liquid form.