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Omg I am so jealous lol. I was a vegetarian for a few years, I actually the surgery made me start eating chicken and fish again because of the protein level. having a nice fresh crunchy salad was a daily staple. And I really do miss it. Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

Breakfast Date ❤️ Eggs grits turkey sausage biscuits and hash browns (Didn't feel like eating so additional carby vegetarian options went to BF, I just had tea then the grits with an apple slice, savings the rest for lunch)

Japanese lunch date 😍 My bento was teriyaki salmon, salad, vegetable roll & vegetable harumaki (I only ate the rice on the roll), BF had vegetarian fried rice and 1/2 of my salmon, 1/2 of my harumaki & 1/4 of my roll. We shared Green Tea cheese cake 😎

I am a vegetarian and I love this one it’s amazing. It’s just like drinking iced coffee

Thanks for all your input everyone, I will take it all into consideration going forward. I will also look into finding a nutritionist that understands vegetarianism and bariatric surgery to make things a bit easier. Thank you!

@FluffyChix & @AJ Tylo are right & I especially agree with the suggestion to find a team (or at least a nutritionalist) who understands what a vegetarian lifestyle entails. Carbs in foods like bread, pasta, rice, cereals have low fibre, high GI and are digested quickly. That means you’re hungry again sooner & your blood sugar levels will swing. Post WLS, carbs fill up your small tummy before you can consume the vital nutrients like protein you need. In saying that, I ate plain oatmeal for breakfast, as an alternative to eggs, once I was into my 4th month post surgery (2/3 of my original weight loss goal lost) - 1 serve was = to 3 or 4 meals. Oatmeal has a lower GI than other carbs, is a whole grain, contains protein & soluble fibre. Steel cut are best as are less processed. Now in maintenance I eat multigrain crackers with hummus & avocado as a snack option. There are plenty of low carb/ no carb options available you can enjoy once down the weight loss path. I love zucchini noodles & last night I had cauliflower & kale rice. You can eat them on your pre surgery keto (no carb) diet. Use this time pre surgery to reassess your eating habits and try new things. Look into keto diet plans for vegetarians to get you started. It’s the start of a new life.

49 yearsss?! wow thats a long time. Good for you! I know some people just enjoy it more. I usually make everything from scratch anyways but I feel like being a vegetarian helps keep the cals down. Something to potentially look into again...

It hasn’t been hard at all. I’m vegetarian - have been for 49 years, so the switch is not that hard and I do add a bit of dairy here and there. It actually forces me to be a better vegetarian because I’m cooking from scratch and a lot of the recipes I use are well balanced. I was finding I was getting really bored of the food that I had in my freezer, so I was reaching for quick easy things like carry snacks because I just didn’t fancy what was on offer.

I don't think its bored but maybe I could use a change. Ironically last night I was watching YouTube videos about the vegan diet. A couple years ago I was a vegetarian but it only lasted a year before I caved. How long have you been vegan? Has it been tough after wls?

The bottom line is that this is a life long journey with a very short window of "quick" weight loss. And you only have one golden shot at it. Because revisions are not usually as "easy-ish" as the first time. So you do you, Boo. But I think for you to be so categoricaly mis-aligned with your doc/RD that it's going to make your journey difficult and the sad thing is you will likely give up going to your check-ups etc. Which could spell disaster for you long term and regain in your future. So like, why have it at all? Or why have it with them. There are docs/centers who espouse a WFPD for all their surgical patients. Look one of them up and make the transition now. I will also tell you that I DO have a bias. I am pro-low carb and pro-lower healthy fat for the quickest losses and maintenance is done by adding healthy fats rather than adding protein or more fast acting carbs. I would have never gotten to my goal nor been maintaining had I been eating the grains and lots of fruit. I wouldn't. I have too many metabolic strikes against me. And not that it can't be done, but I think the life of a vegan or vegetarian WLS patient is very hard. The ones I know of in real life have either not gotten to goal ever or they have suffered big time regain. But I do know of a couple of women here who are very successful following a WFPD. But, they are also endurance athletes and as such, they're as much outliers as I am... I encourage you to look at other bariatric teams who are more closely aligned with your belief system. Studies show that long term success is directly linked to after care by a team of bari pros.

Hi all, (VGS) I wanted to get some outside opinions. Firstly, I will say I am following what my dietician has directed. They want me to do a 3 month supervised diet which is fine, but they want me to cut out almost all carbs. I understand that getting the high protein is important and I agree. But my main concern is their opinion on things like brown rice, oatmeal, bananas and telling me not to eat ANY of it (even in small amounts).I feel like after surgery I would definitely try re-introducing some of those foods in small amounts because I believe they are healthy. I can tell my bariatric center is one of the ones that struggles to understand vegetarianism in detail, as everyone there pushes the protein and meat being easier (but no one has actually told me to eat meat or anything). It just seems strange to me that 3 whole months before surgery they only want me eating protein sources and vegetables,low carb fruits and no grains or anything at all. I have seen other surgeons in various places suggest different restrictions on diets and not all of them ban all carbs. I am at 38bmi and I don’t need to lose much before the surgery so it isn’t like, a rapid weight loss diet or anything pre-surgery. They sort of act like any carbs aren’t good for you. I understand immediately after surgery protein is top priority so getting in any carbs would be pretty difficult. It’s more-so that before and after permanently they are kind of saying to ban grains and things like that. But I know there are people eating a vegan diet etc and we’re able to re-introduce small amounts of carbs just fine. I am completely willing to cut down on carbs a lot, but has anyone else run into this experience ? My goal is to figure out a diet that works for me as a lifestyle and provides me with nutrients- before and after surgery. Just looking for some input from people who have gone through the surgery and how they handled this/what they are and if they agreed to long term elimination of most carbs. Thanks for any help!

No after pic - all eaten. I fancied a plate of things to pick at. Salad with tahini and lemon juice, low carb tortilla, vegetarian cheese, 2 veggie sausage links. I was stuffed after this - it was too much really but it all tasted so good!

My surgiversary is tomorrow. Knowing me I'll forget to hop on lol. It's been a great year, but I'm definitely at a standstill. I am not sure what the next move is... I guess really really paying attention to my food and maybe now introducing some exercise. I'm leaning more towards being vegan from being vegetarian... I'm going to see how that goes dietwise. I feel that maybe going vegan will actually help me with my protein intake as it has to be more balanced in diet. Onwards and upwards! edit: It says my surgery date was 5th on the sidebar, but I'm pretty sure it was 4th. I need to double check now haha. edit again: nope - it WAS 5th Feb. ok, well I'm 2 days early.

Sounds like a good reason to become a vegetarian! Seriously, I became one eleven years ago after getting a lap band. I would like to think I did it for ethical reasons, but I really couldn't handle the meat, so I just quit eating it.

Thanks so much for the responses! Per my surgeon, the only restrictions I’ve had since week 4 are to stay under 40g of carbs per day, hit 70-90g of protein, and drink at least 64oz of water - no calorie guidance at all. I do eat protein first and I have stuck with lean meats (chicken mostly). I’ve also added some vegan/vegetarian options, just to give myself some variety. I log everything, including my fluid intake, on MyFitnessPal. I have only had cashews a few times because they are a trigger food for me but I’ve only reached for them at the end of the day when starving already. I definitely feel full after smaller portion sizes than before but I can easily eat 2 eggs at a time, for example, or a 1/2 cup of food. I’m going to try to add some screenshots from MFP, not sure how it’ll work so bear with me! The first is my average for the past 7 days. The next 3 are a typical day (yesterday), and the last 3 are a bad day (Monday) in which I was so hungry at the end of the day that I ended up having some Saltines for the first time since surgery. Besides the Saltines, does anything jump out at anyone? 😏

I'm not sure if I could do six tablets. I might try to see if I can find some liquid mutli vitamins. My stomach is really really sensitive. My Dr called back and I do have anemia and am Vitamin D deficient so I'm on some mega iron for a while. For some reason I always seem to be D deficient - even before my surgery. Not surprised about the anemia as I'm vegetarian. As for Miralax... I have the opposite problem! lol.

Thanks for the reply - I'm in North Central Ga - near Athens. Great area! I'm a total KETO failure, but I think that a lot of that has to do with me being a vegetarian for 28 years. It's hard to be veggie keto when every model of the program is telling you to eat bacon, and pork rinds for treats. I still can't help but be worried. I am going to call tomorrow and see if there is any news or the like regarding my case. I honestly thought six months would drag by slowly, but It's almost February already - March will be here soon! Fingers crossed for the approval news!

Hello. I had a friend suggest this site to me. I'm 6 weeks out tomorrow and i have overall lost 11 lbs. From surgery til now.. The entire 6 weeks.. 11 lbs. The dr told me I was in the 1% that hasnt lost 20 lbs in the first 2 weeks. I follow the diet. I walk everywhere. I mostly eat just meats.. And vegetarian friendly alternatives. Last week my friend suggested i start measuring myself. I have lost 2 inches around the biggest part of my belly. But im not sure what to do anymore. I'm trying to keep on top of everything it just seems the more i try the less I lose. Does anyone out there have some much needed advice for me?

What supplements are y'all taking besides the calcium and vitamins? I've added biotin for hair loss, Vitamin E and K for better calcium absorption, flaxseed oil for Omega-3 fatty acids (I'm a vegetarian so won't take fish oil...) and a probiotic. I had to get one of those freakin pill organizers that my mother-in-law used and laughed at...Gawd I'm gettin old...

I’ve had salmon sashimi twice so far and was surprised my pouch handled it better than cooked fish or tuna. Of course each experience is different. I had already give. Up pasta for years prior to RNY. I was using shiritaki, (better than rice makes a good shiritaki rice they also make a sushi rice) i had also started subbing cauliflower rice, occasionally veggie based pasta. I’d mix better than rice, shiritaki rice and a protein (usually something vegetarian) all pre-surgery. But things change and I am still learning to adapt. But for me personally certain foods are off limits. Unless there is a healthy, but just as tasty alternative. but one month out. It’s way too early to worry about a plate of pasta or sushi. Better question is, how has your relationship to food changed and how will you adapt going forward. Go through the appropriate phases and try new things slowly and one at a time. And put thoughts out of your head about what you might eat in the future. For now it’s hydration, protein and nutrition. but that’s life. And yes sometime down the road as you start getting closer to goal weight you treat yourself to little things as long as you meet your target protein, and don’t break the calorie bank. Of course you can do this early on just set standards and don’t break past them. of course everyone is different but we all started the bariatric surgery journey for a reason.

I'm vegetarian (have been for 49 years) - I did as JRT Mom says and at first had refried beans, eggs, cheese, etc. I also made the famous ricotta bake that's on this site somewhere. I eat Quorn for protein, beans, etc. Check out the thread, I think it's in General, called something like 'before and after'. There are tons of meals in there to take inspiration from.

I don't know a lot about vegetarian and vegan or the difference between the two, can you have eggs and cheese? Those are good sources of protein.

I am also a vegetarian, and once you get off the liquid diet it's not hard. I eat a lot of refried beans and lentils, tofu, ricotta and cottage cheese. Eggs, if you eat them, are a great protein source and I love them (never could eat them when I had my lap band!) I take the Amy's vegetarian frozen dinners, and after thawed I get four meals out of them. Once you can eat some rice, you can make a meal out of two or three pieces of vegetable roll "sushi". It may be a little harder to get enough protein in, but I use the Isopure zero carb protein water to help with that. While you are on your mushies stage google "Eggface's Ricotta Bake" It's delish! I still eat it even though I have no restrictions now.

Hello everyone! I have started the process of getting approved for surgery and I feel like I am not sure how I stay on a vegetarian diet after surgery. I am a horrible cook and I hate to cook also. I really like that I eliminated the inflammation in by body by going vegetarian and I really don’t want to go off but I’m nervous about after the surgery any suggestions because now I kinda just steam veggies or cook the morning star burgers eat. I have only been a vegetarian since September 2019. Still very new n learning. Help please I appreciate all you can offer. Thank you in advanced!

I am completely plant based now, but I could not have done this at only 4 weeks out. There is too much volume in a WFPB diet, and too many concentrated calories, with whole grains, nuts, and seeds. I still cannot even start to eat the vegetable volume that many WFPB people eat. I would suggest that you start by moving to plant based protein drinks and powders. Use plant based "milk" and yogurt, but don't try to get all the veggies in right now. You really do need to focus on healing, getting your protein, liquids, and advancing your food list. Move to well cooked legumes and very well cooked veggies when you are allowed. My doc did not allow any veggies at all until 8 weeks. Of course, you can make protein smoothies that are easy to get down - and when allowed, add greens and berries. I am using a pea based "milk,", oat milk yogurt, soy tofu and tempeh. I stopped soy milk and soy yogurt, as it looked like I was getting an allergic reaction in my esophagus. I really do think it was all the whey protein I was using, so I made the total switch off whey protein and dairy products about a month ago, after my last endoscopy. I have much less bloating and gas now, so I think I had also developed a lactose intolerance. But I was relying too much on soy, so switched to alternate plant based milk and yogurt. I have a very strong gluten intolerance as well - have been gluten free for about 5 years. No big deal there, but taking away all dairy and animal products has been a big change. I am doing fine and feel good, but it has been a bit hard for the family. They want to cook, but don't know how. Going out to eat is very limited. I was at a wedding a couple of weeks ago and there was NOTHING I could eat except some limp salad. The GF items had dairy, and the vegetarian dish had wheat! I made the mistake of not being prepared with my own protein drink and snack. I am convinced that WFPB is a very healthy way to eat and I believe it will be a long term change for me, but there are definitely challenges. There are so many great resources, however, especially some of the cooking ideas on YouTube. My two favorite videos are "The Game Changers" and "Forks over Knives." The evidence is pretty compelling. I found a magazine with a ton of really good recipes, but you are still way too early to use this stuff. Be patient. It will come. I did not add whole grains, nuts, or seeds until I was at goal weight, and then it was to help me maintain my weight while I was starting to exercise pretty hard. Keep in touch, I look forward to following your journey. PS: I have an appt next month with a medical doctor who has switched himself personally to WFBP, to rid himself of his own medical problems. He now helps patients with the same. After I get my 1 year labs done, I have an appt to see him. Hopefully he can help me navigate the WFPB world in a healthy way that takes into account my WLS and also my exercise goals. I want to do it right, and I hope he will be able to supervise my progress.