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i was told by my DR.s office that we couldn't have meat (unless it was fish) for five weeks after the surgery. that is what is the hardest on me, i do not like fish. so i am basically a vegetarian for right now and i'm going bonkers!!!! is it ok to eat meat if it is soft or chopped up then? that would solve alot of me troubles!

I agree with this. This is a time of change. Observe, learn, and work that sleeve. You also have to start to get some rules for the future in place for after the loss. You here them here all the time. Drink your Water, but not during or shortly after your meals. Protein first Start formulating lower carb dishes that you like. Try Vegetarian, or Organic eating now and then. More veggies! Find ways to move that you like! I took up belly dancing, Urban walking and bird watching photography (Nature walking and hiking). I'm getting my friends involved so they might want to go with me sometimes, but I will go by myself as well because its just so darned fun I can't wait to get out and look around!) I joined a gym.... My dance classes are held there, and in the rest of my time I can lift weights, or take yoga, or experiment with the other fitness things they offer. I took 6 weeks of Tango there once... all included in my gym fees. (It is a rock climbing gym... I no longer rock climb, but the gym is so beautiful, with 3 story rock walls inside!) Find the joy! Don't expect the sleeve to do everything for you... IT IS ONLY ONE OF THE TOOLS YOU WILL NEED IN YOUR TOOL BOX!!.

My surgery date is May 7th and already I'm a bit overwhelmed with the protein intake, I'm a vegetarian and worried I will get bored on the same diet every single day.

There are tons of ways!!!! Pea/bean Protein is the easiest There is a fantastic vegetable broth through this website Brown rice protein There are multiple vegan/vegetarian protein powders Soy Soy cheese Soy yogurt Nuts (milk replacements in the beginning) Nut butter (unsweetened) When you start researching, it will become clear that protein is everywhere Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm nearly two weeks out (June 27) and will be ready to go from full liquids to blenderized/pureed food. I was just curious as to what you put in the blender? I'm a vegetarian, so it will be difficult for me. It's hard for me to imagine having to blenderize cottage cheese, but it does say to. It also allows string cheese and low-fat cheese that has been grated, so I assume I would have to blenderize that. I don't know about the Happy Cow Cheese; it's allowed, but I'm not sure how. I was thinking of just lightly blenderizing refried Beans (low-fat) and adding some finely shredded cheese. Or just blenderizing soupls like vegetarian vegetable, cream of celery or even a baked potato. To me these foods seem so very similar to the soft stage at weeks 4 & 5. I really do not see the difference. What I really want to do is blenderize a piece of pizza and some potato chips!!! Can you tell I'm not over the hunger part yet??? Suggestions????

You won't lose on carbs at 1400 calories and low bmi. How many grams of protein are you getting a day? You should be getting it all from food, with the occasional shake if you are away from home or running behind. Yogurts, cottage cheese, but you won't feel restriction with these and will need to weigh/measure and stick to that instead of the 'full feeling'. Why can't you eat meat - fish, chicken, etc? My NUT says during this losing phase it is very hard to meet goals with vegetarian eating and that you can incorporate it closer to goal. If you are vegetarian - didn't your NUT give you guidelines? The body uses carbs first because it is easy fuel and won't burn fat if you keep feeding it carbs. How many grams of carbs are you consuming in a day? List your food intake for a day. You say you record your food are you using a free app like Baritastic or myfitnesspal? You should see all your macros - this surgery is about protein goals, then veg - you mentioned NONE.

Sorry about the delay in response.....West Indian and Native American. What do I eat? Well this surgery has made me somewhat of a vegetarian. Meat does not settle too well. I do have to watch my calorie intake as well as water. I do try to make smoothies. I have one protein shake (Premier Protein). I still only can eat small amounts at a time. I get acid reflux at times really badly. Sent from my LG-US996 using BariatricPal mobile app

Same here! I haven't had any type of bread in almost a month, and surprise surprise...I feel great, and I don't miss it all that much! I even walked by a bakery twice this week, and was totally okay...nothing in the window appealed to me! As far as post op, I am a little over 3 weeks out, and the number one thing my stomach still loves is Greek Yogurt. It is the ONLY thing I did not have an issue with at first. eggs were my fave pre-op, but now I can only have on a good day, and even then, I still can't eat all of 1 egg scrambled. Soft chicken also took some time, but I think that's because I have been vegetarian up until recently on top of it. pureed low sodium Soup with chicken and veggies went ok, but Greek Yogurt is a main staple. Try to find one thing your sleeve loves, and base some meals around that!!

Awesome! I have ZERO trouble avoiding meats. I was a vegetarian for a really long time, but I was the kind of vegetarian that would load up in starches (Mac n cheese, Pasta, etc.) instead of veggies. Even pre-op, I've only eaten chicken. I don't remember the last burger or steak I had...it could be never! I get so discouraged by my nutritionist's plan for significant amounts of meat first, THEN veggies. I'd so much rather fill up on Beans and vegetables. I actually have an autoimmune disease that responds very well with no gluten, so I've had to eliminate most of that, too. I'm really hoping that the post-op diet I'm on right now will reset me for a cleaner way of eating in the long run. I do loooooove good cheese, though! Sent from my iPad using BariatricPal

No, not a vegetarian just love the veggie burgers I found with cheese added it’s 15g of protein per serving. I also love turkey burgers. Used to love turkey sausage but can’t get it down now. Just have to stop drinking with my meals and right after.

I have one bad kidney (not as serious a situation as yours) and I had similar concerns. I had bad kidney pain in both my kidneys starting about 3-4 days post-surgery for about a week due to de-hydration. Mornings were the worst. I had to set an alarm to wake up during the night in order to drink Water every 1/2 hour or so. I'm happy to report that I'm now 3+ months out and have successfully stayed very hydrated since then, with no kidney pain. I think you'd have to be very careful right after surgery to stay as hydrated as possible, which is challenging at first. I am a vegetarian, so my Protein is plant-based -- which my research says is better than animal-based protein for folks with kidney issues. You can def be successful at WLS as a vegetarian -- I host a Facebook group for WLS & plant-based diet if you're interested (WLS Vegetarians). Def check with your doctors though!

I recently changed my diet to vegan (about 3 weeks ago). Has getting enough protein in your diet daily been a challenge?

How about this: take grapes and dip them in Greek Yogurt. Then dip them in crushed nuts like pecans. Allow that to try in the fridge. Healthy snack, you get Protein from the nuts and yogurt, and some fat/dairy. Look around for salad dressings on Walden Farms. I know they have a ton of different ones that are free of a bunch of things. I'm a proponent of using lemon juice and Water. Make your own green goddess dressing, its not popular like it was. What about bacon vinegrette? I am on a lot of vegetarian or vegan lists. You can pick up a lot of tips on the protein that is plant based (and not just beans) to help you get in nutrients, they're not highly caloric, and are a different taste, something you can join in with the whole family if you want to make them. So you make connections over food that is positive.

I'm not sure you're going to be able to get the kind of advice you need for your situation here. You're looking at bariatric quantities PLUS vegetarian diet PLUS powerlifting specific needs to build muscle and burn fat. I'd look to a nutritionist and perhaps a personal trainer to get specifics on what you need. All I do know however is PROTEIN PROTEIN PROTEIN. You need a lot of it and if you aren't supplementing your food with protein drinks - be it plant or whey based - you aren't going to get the results you want.

@NobodyYouKnow I've avoided posting for a while because I was thoroughly disappointed and upset with my appointment -- I left in tears. Half way through telling my dietary story the dietitian stopped me and, from my perspective, seemed to act like they'd heard the whole thing. Truth be told I had much more to say and felt like if they'd taken the time to really consider these things they'd then have gotten a much better picture of who I am and my particular struggles with food and how to progress from there. But they didn't do that. The dietitian proceeded to tell me exactly what I couldn't eat, followed by counter-productive information specifying that I could eat the foods they'd just told me not to eat. They then proceeded to show my the size of plate I'd be eating off of after the surgery like it was a big revelation (smaller plate size is the FIRST thing you read about on the google result that comes first for googling bariatric surgery for me). This was followed by the dietitian stating incorrect information about muscle/fat metabolism in regards to long term fasting, and present to me a leaflet with the information detailed information on what they want me to eat. However, the information presented to me was a 1000 kal diet big on the protein. If I was able to stick to this diet long term I would not be getting surgery?? I have no problems with the types of food they want me to eat but am concerned with my ability to hold up the quantities long term WITHOUT surgery. I also note that while reading the leaflet to me, they kept on pointing out vegetarian options even though I'd previously mentioned I eat meat. Not a big deal, but it felt like twisting the knife a little because I knew already the dietician wasn't listening to me. All in all, I don't have a /huge/ issue with what they have asked me to eat. But, I think if the result of an hour long consultation was going to be 'eat 1000kal of a 3:3:1 protien:carb:fat diet' irregardless of what I said, it could've been a 15 minute appointment instead. Instead I went in expecting to be listened to and considered instead of brushed over, ignored, and quite frankly, patronized (I already knew a lot about diet and what the post surgery diet would be like. None of the information was new to me.) I would appreciate it if people were sensitive in replying to me I am still quite hurt by the consultation. EDIT: to clarify though, I am doing exactly what they told me to do and have every intention of following it to the best of my abilities. I've come too far to get stopped in the road by a bad dietitian.

I did it! Today, I reached my goal of 100 pounds off! I thought I’d share with you some of my journey. I started in August of 2010, when I went to see Dr. Landerholm at Puget Sound Bariatric Center. I weighed 240 pounds (at 5’ 5”), had terrible sleep apnea, and was in the beginning stages of high blood pressure and diabetes. My insurance company, Aetna, insisted that I have a three month trial, so I saw Dr.Landerholm and his associates at Pacific Nutrition and Wellness. I lost 10 pounds in the three months, enough to convince the insurance company. I chose Dr.Landerholm because his practice has a two year program of followup, and because he does the sleeve as an outpatient procedure for those who qualify (I figured that he must be pretty good if he was able to do that). He performed the operation on December 8, 2010. Other than diarrhea for the first three weeks, it wasn’t particularly painful. I didn’t like the various Protein powders, so I structured my eating so that I could get my 60 grams of protein a day through regular food. Because I’m a bit obsessive, for the first seven months, I weighed everything with a metric scale and kept track on Fitday, keeping my calories between 700 and 800, and drinking 64 ounces of Water a day. I read accounts of others for whom the weight melted off. That was not me. After the first twenty pounds (which, to be honest, DID melt off), each pound was slow in leaving. I got discouraged, but decided that I’d have to go to the gym to have any chance of getting to my goal. In the middle of all this, I went with my vegetarian daughter for three and a half weeks in England in June, a real challenge to get food that would work for both of us. All of my health issues are gone. My blood pressure is 110 over 65, and my heart rate is about 68. For those of you who worry about your hair falling out? It doesn’t always happen. My hair has always been baby fine, and I didn’t lose any that I could tell. I’ve been lucky in that I’ve had NO complications. Clothes? Charity shops, thrift stores, and friends. I’ve gone from a size 24 to a size 8 in pants, down a whole size in my shoes, and from XL in t-shirts to small. What can I eat? Anything I want, although my meals generally consist of either a bowl of cottage cheese, a meat lump of some sort, protein-plus Cereal (I love my cereal), a Greek yogurt smoothie, a banana with Peanut Butter, an egg… Snacks? Cheese, fresh fruit, sometimes veggies. Do I eat sweets? Not much (doesn’t seem worth the effort), but I have the occasional little piece of cake, or two bites of my husband’s dessert. What do I avoid? Bread, Pasta, rice, all of which seem to sit poorly on my stomach (sweet potatoes don’t seem to be a problem). Do I still weigh everything? No, because my doctor (and others) pointed out that weighing my food isn’t always an option (and doesn't seem like a great lifestyle). I still weigh a few things (my cereal, for example), because I know the size of a serving that works for me, and it’s still hard for me to judge by eye. Don’t worry about it much…. Do I feel better? Well, I can go up stairs without losing my breath, and getting out of chairs is much easier. Flying on airplanes is much more comfortable (are they making seats bigger now?), and finding clothes that fit is a snap. How often do I go the gym? Every day, but mostly because I find it easier to do it daily than to make sure I manage three days a week. My next challenge? Staying within two pounds (either way) of my current weight for the next six months. After that, I’ll decide if I want to lose another five or ten pounds or maybe put on five pounds. Since the 100 pound goal was purely arbitrary (and I haven’t been this weight before as an adult), I don’t know whether it’s the right weight for me, but it’s right in the middle of the “normal” range, so I figure it’s as good a place as any to stop for a while. Do I still think of myself as fat? Of course. I was born heavier than I am now (actually, I was in junior high school). Part of me knows that I can fit into that amazingly tiny pair of pants, the other part heads for the plus sizes. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat, forty years ago if possible.

I'm a big fan of eastern philosophies when it comes to food (consuming a predominantly regional, plant-based diet with an increased sense of awareness) particularly as described in Paul Pitchford's "Healing with Whole Foods" and T. Colin Campbell's "The China Study". I'm not convinced that a vegan, raw food, or macrobiotic lifestyle is entirely necessary, but I admire the teachings and the discipline. So my question is: has anyone ever attempted to lose their weight specifically combined with a whole food, perhaps eastern-based lifestyle? I mean, I know a minimally processed, nutrient dense diet is the *ideal* we strive for, but has anyone (either on these forums, an author, or on another website) ever lost all of their weight with this specific focus and documented some of the benefits? I'm looking for a good resource to help me out. I'm not a vegetarian, but I've never been a big fan of meat so I worry about getting enough Protein and I don't want to rely solely on Protein drinks. My hope is that by loading myself up with all these amazing powerhouse foods and antioxidants I will give my body every fighting change of bouncing back to optimal condition. I don't want to just lose weight, I want to be strong and vibrant and healthy from the inside out. Like we all do! Along these same lines, are there any supplements (Vitamin E, for example) that people take that are particularly good for maintaining skin composure/elasticity as we shrink? What about topical treatments, such as cocoa butter? I've spent a lot of time reading books on pre/post LAP-BAND® lifestyle and the do's and don'ts both in books and on this website. Now I wanna go a step or two deeper... :smile:

i am certainly not an expert but i am seeing successful results so i'll key you in on what i am doing. i find that i am tighter in the morning so every am, i have a Protein shake. i change it up- sometimes it is fruit based w/ a vanilla powder, sometimes chocolate w/ coffee added. i use unsweetened soy milk (same protein, less sugar). by doing this, i start out with 26-30 grams of protein before i even start my workday. appx 300 calories for a mid-morning snack, i'll have something worth about 100 calories... handful of nuts, a few apple slices w/ cheese cubes, a yogurt. 100 calories for lunch i either have a lean cuisine or i make something with chicken... chicken salad in lettuce cups, on low carb crackers, tortilla chips. i make my own dressings with different things- greek yogurt, mustards, vinegars, i mix it up. i use Beans a lot too. i just try different things to see what i like. appx 300 calories mid-afternoon snack, same as morning 100 calories dinner- i might have a lean cuisine if i didn't have one at lunch and i'm busy. otherwise, i have a protein (chicken, beef or vegetarian product) and something with it (depends on what i have- beans, veggies). again, i do a lot with sauces to change it up. appx 300 calories snack, same as morning/afternoon 100 calories this puts me at ~1200 calories. if i don't have a snack, i might splurge a little more on dinner. i am very strict with my protein... i always get at least 80g a day. i drink a TON of Water and sometimes for 110 calories, include a protein shot (26 grams!). if i go out, i do not stray from this. i am notorious for ordering the kid's grilled chicken wherever i go. i feel like i have good restriction but until i feel great restriction, i have to control everything i eat. i work out about 3 times a week and walk as much as i can. the key is to eat enough to sustain your metabolism. there were times when i eat too little thinking i was doing the right thing. plan your grocery list and stick to it for a week or two, it will pay off!

I use Ensure plus, fairly new on the market, I put ice cubes in it and sip it in the morning. I prefer Chocolate but they have cafe mocha which has a hit of caffeine. The Premium peach protein drink (clear) I mix with caffeine-free ice tea to make peach tea. One of each and I've met the protein goal. The tea I drink all day with just a shot of peach protein. I find it far too sweet. The powders I have to go with the vegetarian protein powders and they are expensive. The others just gas me up.

I am sleeved but need a bypass. I can eat pizza but get thin crust vegetarian with feta cheese.

I'm not doing anything differently since my surgery, I still know what my limitations are, what I can and Cannot eat, it's the quantity in which I eat, that has been my problem, because I have no restriction, so my "full trigger" comes a little late. I know there are no "special circumstances" when it comes to the band, but I don't eat fish, as I am severely allergic to most of them with the exception of certain shell fishes. The smell of tuna gives me hives. I'm also a vegetarian so I seek a lot of my protein sources from the Gluten/dairy free Protein shakes. I barely exercise, as half the time it is excruciatingly painful for me, I have severe hip arthritis and there are things I can and can not do physically. But thank you though, I appreciate it.

I still have a protein shake every day at almost five years out, but I'm an outlier. Because it was discovered early on that I malabsorb protein (and I could have even before surgery - but we'll never know because they didn't do a baseline on this), I need to average 100+ grams of protein a day or my prealbumin level tanks. Although I could get this through food if I try, I don't want to obsess all day trying to figure out how much protein this and that has, so I just drink a protein shake every morning as my morning snack. Then I'll be pretty much guaranteed I'll be OK by the end of the day. that said, a lot of people do drink a shake (or even more) for the first few months just to meet the protein requirement. But at some point, most people don't need them anymore because they're able to meet it through food. If you're eating animal products such as meat and dairy and eggs, it's usually not that hard once you're out a bit to meet the 60 gram requirement that many surgeons recommend. Vegetarians can meet it without too much trouble as well, although it's a little more of a struggle for them (although certainly not impossible by a long shot - I know several WLS patients who are vegetarian).

I'm 4 months post op and curious as to winning meal options for the fish eating vegetarians out there? Sent from my SM-G900F using the BariatricPal App

Vegetarian???

B12 only comes from animal protein, until you're eating meat again (4-8 oz per day) you'll need B12. You'll also need it for life if you're a vegetarian.