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I LOVEd chinese food before my sleeve- After my sleeve it does not settle well AT ALL.. I have since become a vegetarian and have fallen in love with general tso's tofu and that is delicious. But everytime I ate chinese food- no matter what it was it never settled(s) right in my new tummy- so I avoid it like the plage- Thanfully I can still eat sushi but rather than 3 or 4 rolls I can now only eat 3 peices... go figure.. lol Luvin it!

I take a multi-Vitamin (adult Centrum chewables) plus and additional Iron supplement. (plus some other vites too) Hopefully everyone is getting regular bloodwork, so someone taking a gummy vitamin would learn if their ferritin was too low. Maybe they have a diet high in iron? I'm a vegetarian and borderline anemic, my diet tends to be low in iron anyway - which is why I always supplement (and have since before the sleeve surgery).

I've always guessed that I have some food sensitivities - but, being the snack-fiend that I was, I largely ignored them and ate whatever the heck I wanted anyways. In the years before surgery, I struggled with frequent, painful edema in my hands and feet (sometimes to the point that I could barely open doorknobs, containers, etc), itchy skin after eating, weight gain, general fluid retention.... A couple of timeperiods, I became frustrated and cut out entire food groups in an attempt to find some relief: wheat, corn, dairy...these were popular. I had really hoped that post-op, I wouldn't have to deal with these issues. After all - I was going to be eating a fraction of the amount of food that I ate before, I would have no reactions to worry about! WRONG. I have already documented numerous places my new and total intolerance of anything vaguely dairy related. Even butter and hard cheese are consumed in small quantities at my own peril. But what is really starting to annoy me is the exacerbation of reactions to miniscule amounts of corn and wheat. The scale says I've now lost 43lbs since surgery, which is great! But there have been days where that painful, warm edema has returned to my hands and feet, making sleeping an uncomfortable and fruitless proposition. Finally realized I was drinking a ton of Crystal Light...which uses maltodextrin, which comes from....corn. Drat. Cut out the Crystal Light, switched to tea. Better. I'm finding that eating food out is a challenge. I had some mashed potatoes (and a smidge of gravy) from Boston Market, and puffed up like a Macy's parade balloon. Logged on to their website to peruse ingredients: Milk solids, wheat starch, corn starch.....wtf. Got desperate for variety at one point, and had a Morningstar Farms Chik'n Patty, which at various semi-vegetarian times in my life I loved. I was able to eat all but 2 bites of the patty and felt very satisfied! ....until about 30 minutes later, when my hands started to puff up and my skin began to itch. Ingredients? Wheat gluten is pretty high on the list. Dammit. I have no idea why my body has become MORE sensitive rather than less so since surgery. But all I can say is that I am annoyed and frustrated beyond comprehension. I feel like I'll have to become one of those neurotic people that read every package label and have no fun with life. Small favors, body....that's all I'm asking of you.

Why would you deprive yourself of something you enjoy and in correct size/portion is perfectly fine to eat?? As a vegetarian, I would be lost without potatoe- Obviously I eat them in a minimal way but I certainly don't deprive myself. I lived off of potatoe soup during my mushy phase and mashed potatoes too. Now I prefer a baked potatoe with greek yogurt and thats it. GO for it!!

Hi Everyone, I am brand new to this site. I decided to join in hopes of getting some information and support. Here's my story: I got banded in January 2008 in San Diego by Dr. Sunil Bhoyrul. I paid out of pocket since my insurance wouldn't cover it. I have been over weight my entire life and I thought the lap-band would be the answer to my prayers. (I was over 200 pounds). I literally had problems with my band from day 1! I had to drive from Temecula to San Diego just hours after my operation because I could not keep Water down. I was vomiting after every sip which caused intense pain since I had just had my surgery! My Dr. took everything out of my band that evening. (I didn't even know that they started you with Fluid inside your band). Initially, I lost weight, but not without struggles. I would suffer from this constant pain in my left shoulder. It hurt every single day! I would throw up my food almost daily. I went from being such a huge lover of breads and meat to now being a vegetarian and I rarely have bread. The lowest weight I ever hit was 162, which lasted for maybe a month and then I've never seen that number since. I'm currently dead stuck in the 180's. About two years ago, I got sick with a common cold. I took alka seltzer and began to vomit, and vomit, and vomit. When I tried to drink water it felt as if I was swallowing glass! The pain was unbearable. Then I would vomit again and it would look like blood. I had to visit the ER twice in one weekend. The first time, they basically just sent me away. The second time, they performed an upper GI and it showed major restriction on my stomach. Imagine the band around your stomach and then your stomach flopped over the band. The doctor that was helping me that day had never performed a fill before but she knew I was in so much pain that she did it anyways with my help. I had to explain to her exactly what to do. I was in such a state of unbearable pain that I could care less that she had never done it before. Since then, I have never had fluid put back into my band! I thought that I would just go on living with my unfilled band and it would be as if I didn't have one at all. That wasn't true either. Now, every time I get sick and I vomit, it irritates my band so much that I start dealing with painful acid reflux, I cant eat, and I fight to keep liquids down. Which is where I am right now. Friday night, 4 days ago, I got sick and threw up. Ever since I have been in bed. This is and has taken so much from my life. I hurt so much from the constant absence from my husband and kids I must go through every time I get a common cold or stomach bug. I think it is safe to say that my band was a failure. I only lost 15-20 pounds and I have had endless complications. I am now on the hunt to find a surgeon who will take my band out. However, I would like to to hear from the people who have similar stories and had their bands taken out. What was the recovery process like post op? Can you eat without vomiting? Do you have any kind of pain anymore? Thank you for reading my story...I can't wait to hear back from you -Lyse8432

Congrats on your band! As fas as my experience I have never had the band get in the way of anything. I've done yoga, pilates and various other forms of exercise/activites and have never felt it or found it got in the way of something. You really can't overeat unless it's food that goes down easy like ice cream or chocolate but again that is my experience. I think everyones is a little different. My biggest problem is remembering to chew my food completely and taking smaller bites. I still have problems with what foods I can and can't eat. I think if I could live as a vegan or vegetarian food would be a little easier to eat. However I do like meat but have a problem eating certain cuts depending on how they are cooked. There will be a learning curve but you'll get used to it and figure out what is best for you. Best of luck!

..you need to try and relax through it all, although i understand how nervous it makes you feel. AS long as you stick to the rules, small mouthfuls, chew, chew, chew, and wait between mouthfuls, you will be o.k. Im certainly not stressing about what i can eat. i have whatever i want, within reason of course. I dont have fatty foods though, but everything else, apart from bread, im eating. I cant eat much of anything so the weight is coming off. You need to be able to do the same, so try and adopt a little of every healthy food, and do the right thing. the band wont bite you. lol. its a wonderful tool. I know now when ive had enough. Even if its just two mouthfuls, my neck gets the ''shoulder pain'' and i know to stop. it seems as if now its going to be that way with me. Im trying out smoked cod at the moment. i cooked some last night. i could only eat a very small amount. the same this morning, i had two mouthfuls and had to leave it. Im going back to have another couple of mouthfuls shortly. AS im a week today post 1st fill, im not sure if my restriction with meats is related to the fill or not. it doesnt matter. im getting plenty of nourishment, im losing weight and im not hungry. What happens, happens, as far as im concerned. if it means i cant eat meat or fish i go vegetarian. YOu need to just let these days and weeks be stress free, and eat as you have learned. Good luck. i know its a biggie for you, but its not too big, neither is it too hard.

You should be fine with fruit! Some tougher fruits, you'll need to wait until you are fully healed. I couldn't eat a raw apple with getting a stomachache until I was about 5 or 6 months out. But there is no reason you can't eat fruit with the sleeve as far as dumping goes -- that's just for RNYers. You will need to eat a high protein diet, which can make it tough to "fit" fruit into your daily diet. But as long as you are hitting your protein numbers and you have room for it, enjoy your fresh fruit! Going vegan might be tough due to the protein requirements. I am a vegetarian - and I was long before the sleeve surgery. I have no problem getting my protein in because I can use cheese, whey-based protein shakes, and lots of yummy vegetarian products (like morningstar patties - yum!). A vegan could do it too, but would just have more limited options. I'd recommend starting with being a vegetarian, and then once you are fully healed from surgery you can try to get all the egg and milk products out of your diet. I wouldn't go straight to vegan right away. You'd really be limiting your options for protein when you are healing. That's JMHO, though...

Welcome to VST! You've come to the right place for VSG questions. There are a ton of threads on here about what to eat at the various stages, including some threads for vegetarian sleevers if that is applicable for you. Use the search function in the upper right side of the page to look up what you specifically need to know. Hopefully, your doctor has given you at least basic guidelines to use for eating. With those, you should be able to put together a diet you can safely use. This surgery, like any other WLS, is only a tool. The weight will fly off to begin with, but it's up to you how well you use this tool you've been given! Good luck!

Thanks for your response! Sorry about the spam. I think it's only spam if I'm trying to sell you something! But I get what you're saying. So here's an attempt to elevate this threads value above spam: It's been 13 months since I had the surgery. Lost 115 lbs since. Everyone asks "how did you do it?". At first I avoided the answer, but now I say, "I took extreme measures" if they press I tell them. With one curious friend I had to draw a diagram . I don't have any reflux issues, but I still have to take some pills to keep it at bay. For the last 3 months my weight is holding. I do want to lose another 30 lbs, but suddenly it's super difficult to lose weight. I know I have to exercise more to do that. I'm a vegetarian so it is a pain to manage Protein and carbs. I try to drink at least 1 New whey protein a day. Also I eat a lot of TVP (I soak it in tomato sauce). Thank god for tvp! Btw I do not advocate vegetarianism, it's a pain in the neck to try to avoid carbs and get enough protein. I guess that's it. Thanks again for the reply and in that pretty font. Of course I know you replied because it came via email!

That would be tough living in a dorm! If you have a fridge keep cottage cheese on hand. I am also allowed soft low fat cheese. I keep some farmers cheese and reduced fat string cheese on hand at home and in the fridge at work. Living in Wisconsin I have many cheeses to choose from. I am also allowed low fat or vegetarian refried Beans. If you have a microwave they would be easy to have. It is recommended to add a little broth if they are too dry. These are all excellent sources of Protein for you. Instant mashed potato's might be easier for you also, although not high in protein.

Hi! I'm a 99.9% vegetarian, but desire to be vegan. Check out my blog as I give info on what I've been eating. Hummus is my biggest go to food item. However, until I could eat mushies, which was 4 wks post-op, I did the protein shakes with added soy milk and Beneprotein. I also did lots of smooth soups and added Beneprotein. I do a lot of tofu also and love the fresh tofu (puddling like) that I get a the asian market. It usually comes with a little side of sweet ginger syrup. Heat up the fresh soft tofu and put a little ginger syrup on it. I personally love that sort of thing. I now eat mostly beans, legumes, leafy greens (mostly juiced), soy products for my protein. Protein first! I've been doing lots of juicing. My favorite juice is: kale, spinach, romaine lettuce, celery, cucumber, parsley, lots of fresh ginger, lemon, and pears or apples. Super nutrient rich juice. So yummy! You are doing great. Congrats.

I was wondering what my fellow veggies are eating post-op, are getting enough Protein and how your weight loss is going? I had my op on 26th April 2012 and so am a day shy of being 2 weeks post-op. I am due to go on a normal and varied diet as of around week 6. I eat diary, although too much disagrees with me - goes right through me, if you see what I mean?! I am intending to get my protein from Quorn products, TVP, lentils, pulses, Beans and eggs, cheese, greek yogurt etc. Any ideas or words of wisdom from those further out?

I still cook for my family, but I honestly cook LESS for myself now than every before! Don't worry about not cooking. A typical snack for me is string cheese - low cooking required. A meal might be scrambled egg whites... which, I cook in the microwave! LOL! Oh, I also love to "cook" morningstar vegetarian products. Lots of Protein, and super yummy... and also hardly considered "cooking". Don't worry, you find easy little meals to make for yourself.

5'9" 1200-1600 cals a day. I eat anything, not low carb, I do keep track of everything I eat though... just to stay conscious...I just got back from New Orleans where I ate french fries and beignets everyday (because I am a vegetarian, and they put meat in EVERYTHING) gained 3 pounds in 11 days. Lost it again in two after I got back. I wanted to get back to eating my regular way... I was tired of all the carbs without fresh veggies and protein. Now theres a switch!

Sunkist may sound like a good idea, but it is definitely NOT vegan nor vegetarian. It contains collagen and cassienate.

I am not vegan but mostly vegetarian. I do eat dairy & eggs & beans & lentils. I make sure to have a couple of protein shakes daily. That's worked for me. I also eat fish & other meats occasionally. Good luck!

This is not vegan, though, quite the opposite...I'd never do raw, either (well, non-vegan raw would be tough, anyway!). I generally find it impossible to go a single day without dairy or meat, so anything vegetarian, let alone vegan, was never on my list.

I could only get a couple of bites in, but I am on the mushy stage and it was easy to grind this up to the consistency I needed before cooking. My family loved them too and never asked if they had meat in them. I'm not a vegetarian but these were still so good. Cheddar-Stuffed Black Bean and Mushroom Burgers Ingredients 1 can black Beans (14 ounces), drained and rinsed 1 10-ounce package cremini (baby bella) mushrooms, sliced 1 slice whole-grain bread, toasted 1 small onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, chopped 1 T balsamic vinegar 1 1/2 t ground cumin 1/4 t salt 1 t black pepper 1 egg 4 oz sharp cheddar cheese, sliced Directions Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place mushrooms in a food processor and pulse several times until coarsely chopped. Tear the bread into pieces and add to the food processor, along with the beans, onion, garlic, vinegar, cumin, salt and pepper. Pulse until mixed but still chunky, then add egg and pulse a few more times. Divide the mixture into four. Take a quarter of the mixture and form a ball, placing the cheddar cheese inside and then flattening the ball into a burger shape. (TIP: Slice cheese in 1" cubes for easy insertion.) Repeat with the other three patties. Place patties on nonstick baking sheet. Set baking sheet on the middle rack of the oven and allow to bake for 20 minutes, until outside is crispy. Serve with baked potato wedges and a green salad. (calories not included.) Makes four patties. Nutritional Info Servings Per Recipe: 4 Amount Per Serving Calories: 244.5 Total Fat: 8.2 g Cholesterol: 66.2 mg Sodium: 439.9 mg Total Carbs: 24.9 g Dietary Fiber: 7.8 g Protein: 17.2 g

Spaghetti squash is pretty good, just a different texture. Also you could try the tofu Shiritaki noodles (they are where the vegetarian meat products are). They are 40 cals for the whole bag! Again, a different texture but not bad! As for me, I'm eating pasta right now....no probs there!

In the UK there isnt the emphasis on protein shakes that there is in the US after all will some people really buy and drink those shakes for the rest of their lives i get all my protein from normal natural sources such as fish and chicken etc greek yoghurt, frozen peas and milk .. if u plan your meals once u can start eating solids u can easy get your protein in without suppliments The vegetarians on this forum also get their protein in from sources like beans etc so i would look at alternative ways for protein ..

There are loads of threads in the forum with ideas for a vegetarian diet! Hopefully a search will give you some good tips. In the meantime, here is a list of my go to food items: All cheeses (low fat), PB2 Peanut Butter powder, Wasa and Kavli crackers, Greek and regular yogurt (low fat), eggs, milk, veggie patties, tofu, lentils, Beans, and fruits or veggies in between. Like MegInNOLA, I have several small meals, and eat my Protein first. Protein Bars and shakes do help a lot, as well. I don't cook much, so these foods are really fast and simple.

FYE, are you talking about going to Jazz Fest? It's a BLAST! If you're coming to town on Friday, definitely let me know--maybe we can just meet up and say hi. I'll be at work (teaching uptown New Orleans) on Friday afternoon and can easily get away for a quick cuppa. :-) At any rate, enjoy the Fest and the great music! Here's a link to the food offerings at Jazz Fest so you can try to plan some vegetarian protein--looks like there are a FEW offerings but it's definitely challenging for veggies! http://www.nojazzfest.com/food/food-list-2012.php

EXACTLY! My doctor said it's a slippery slope when you try a Protein bar and get the taste for "candy" bar or more sugar in general. Granted, most of us have more restraint than that -- but if you're prone to grazing or cheats, Protein Bars could be a gateway food. As for protein guidelines, my doctor gave me a 32-page "manifesto" that says aim for 60grams daily for the first two weeks, of course most people only get 30-40 in the first few days. Whey protein ISOLATE is ideal, though there are great soy alternatives if you're vegetarian or lactose intolerant. That's why I like Syntrax nectar and unjury, they have 20-24g per servings and like I said, if you get them in tubs you can do more than one scoop. Syntrax also has sample packs that are great for on-the-go in your purse or car. Just keep a Blender Bottle, find some Water and voila - protein drink! Once you hit mushies in week three, they encourage you to aim for 70-90g of protein. This is easier to hit once you get to solid foods in month two. Oh, and these numbers are for women. Men sometimes need 15-20% more protein simply for having higher metabolisms. Carbs should be below 40g and come from healthy vegetables and a minimum amount of fruits. Juices are not recommended for the first 3 months because of trying to kick the sugar-taste habit. Even with veggies, avoid high sugar ones like carrots, peas, beets and try for more greens (they have Fiber, to boot!) Also, watch your fats. My doc/nut want me to keep below 12g per day, but I do best when I stay under 20g (personally).

I believe so inave seen research that kids would rather have one arm then be fat, but I can't blame them. people r mean to fat people. I'm at my heaviest I have been in about 4 yrs and at 180lbs I'm treated differently. It doesn't matter how healthy I eat or how physically active I am I get the comments all the time like "I don't understand how a vegetarian keeps on weight" or I'm compared to other fat people, or. I had I guy tell me how big my calfs were the other day! People r mean to big girls! May 9 th can't come soon enough!