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9 days down, 3 days to go on the liquid diet. So much temptation! I went and found some miso soup broth at Whole Foods....i walked by the hot prepared foods and almost dived in head first. I do not know if I mentioned it before but I am a vegetarian and all the vegetable based broths are so high in sodium. I'm surprised that i have not succumbed to the deliciousness of mashed potatoes yet. Just the broth, 0% greek yogurt, and let me tell you....Jello Temptations (the 60 calorie ones) are next to godliness. I have not weighed myself yet but am very curious where i stand. I have been getting some cold feet though. Thinking i can do this without surgery, that the 5 pounds of month is insignificant, all sorts of things. I had some good friends put me in check though. Its the fear of the surgery that is making me behave so well. I would be right back in the loop of poor eating, overeating, ect ect. I am over excited to get this over with on Thursday but I will probably have to be pried out of my car! Congratulations to everyone who has been banded this month, Good luck to everyone who is getting banded, and boy.....do i want some mashed potatoes

Edamame is immature soybeans and is an excellent source of protein, although it does have carbs also. Tofu is a form of soybeans and is used in vegetarian diets as meat substitute. I never really thought about how to use them in recipes because I just love them straight from the pod. There are several recipes on Allrecipes.com so search there and enjoy!!! Kathe

if fruit and/or yogurt are available i would go for that. I am a lacto ovo vegetarian (no meat or seafood at all) - i eat dairy but i have always hated eggs (eggs mixed into something is ok - but plain eggs or an omelette no way). I will be having the same trouble as you (i just haven't been to a restaurant for breakfast since starting my pre-op diet). Some restaurants have oatmeal - i may try that. Otherwise, you are in a pickle. Maybe a protein shake before you leave for the restaurant and then get coffee and fruit at the restaurant? Or, unsweet cereals (i.e., special K, Kix, bran flakes) are decent. That's really all i can think of.... (unless it's a buffet and you can get lunch foods - salad etc.) Remember, restaurants are about conversation and good company not the food.

These are awesome! I am a vegetarian and am always strapped to get all of my protein in. I wish I knew about these during me pregnancies! Thanks for the post.

See to me, that smacks of it being an unsustainable lifestyle - if you "blow everything" because a certain type of food is not available. I get that that's just my view and opinion on it though and that the South Beach diet is generally respected by the experts. Truly, how can you blow a lifestyle in just one weekend ? Such studies of this only reinforce to me that you must do what you personally believe suits you best. Because just like there's a zillion studies supporting a low carb way of eating, so obviously there is just as many pointing out the possible dangers. I think anyone who truly things that their way of eating is absolutely and utterly RIGHT is a bit nuts, anyone rational will admit that its a balance and leaning one way or another might make a difference to your health but that its completely a matter of swings and roundabouts - just like vegetarians are healthier than meat eaters in some respects but less healthy in others - they may get too little Iron, they may eat too much high fat cheese and too many eggs, or if they're vegan they might not be managing to combine plant Proteins properly etc etc. If you're healthy and happy on a low carb diet and your diabetes is controlled, then I wouldnt pay any attention to this study at all.

I'm a vegetarian and eat more than enough fruits and vegetables to get enough fiber. My bowels agree ; ) Though my Dr. did suggest fiber powder at the beginning right after surgery for the first couple of weeks but not for life - you should be getting enough from the food you eat. If you have gas pain take a gas x pill or beano before meals that you know could cause it. It happens sometimes. Getting too much fiber may actually make you more gassy.

I just re-read my last message to see where I left off and it brought it all back and I'm giggling again. I want to be clear that I mean NO disrespect to anyone that was part of my adventure...I'm definately NOT an elitest who thinks that Americans have it all right...but it is my point of reference you know? I would do this all again in a heartbeat! Let me again assure anyone thinking of going to Dr. Kelly and or this facility. The methods and the practical equipment (i.e., my mospital bed...) were all pristinely clean. Housekeeping came through twice a day and my every need was attended to. They may not have the 'polish' of an American hospital, but they also were much more personable than most medical facilities I've ever had to deal with...and that's not saying I've had bad service or treatment stateside, it's just different. OK...here we go: I was having the most incredible deep sleep when I was suddenly annoyed by someone gently slapping my cheek, "Susanna, Susanna! Wake up..." I immediately was aware of pain in my upper left quadrant. "OWWWWWW" I said, a little irritated by the interrupting to my sleep. Things are a little fuzzy to recall...sort of still sleeping I seem to remember being wheeled through the double doors and seeing my dad. I believe I said something like, "Hey, that's my dad everybody." Yes...there is a reason I no longer drink. I am an absolute fool when intoxicated. Somehow I got onto my mospital bed...I don't recall this at all but by Saturday, I had little bruises that undoubtedly came from fingers in my biceps. I'm guessing I didn't scooch my fat butt over but was hefted. I'd rather not think about this too much. hahahaha OK...I was all snuggly warm covered in heated blankets and compression stockings! OH I forgot to tell you about those. I've never had to wear them before. It was quite funny to have poor Dilynn struggle to get them on me. She is a kick. By the time she got the sausage sleeved (excuse the punn...) we were both laughing hard. Also, she was the one who told me I had to take my undies off just before my ride to the O.R. In my defense, I was very worried about my period. I am a VERY heavy flower on day 2. It was truly freaking me out. I can't even imagine having to ask for help with tampax every hour. OK, sorry. TMI to the max (yes, I'm an 80's gal). So I threw a little tantrum and Dilynn went toe-to-toe with me. She was tough. When it was clear I wasn't going to win, I poked my tongue out at her. Universal language wins again!!! She responded in kind and we both ended up laughing like idiots. I removed my panties. OK...now I'm never going to talk about that again. Something was put in my I.V. but for the next 20 minutes (truthfully, I have no idea how long it was...could have been 10 for all I know) I was pretty sure I was either giving birth to an alien through my chest or I was having a heart attack. I must have missed the post on the forum that described the incredible pressure. Reaching deep, my lamaze breathing came in handy and I was moaning for a while. It was indeed more painful in an "extreme discomfort" sort of way...not like OMG I just cut off my finger...but like the worst rolling, wave-like contractions you've ever had, but in your chest! I am one of the unfortunate ones who had it travel to my shoulder. That's not a first for me, I had experienced the same thing after a C-section...so that part, while very painful, did not take me by surprise. I slept on and off for the rest of the day and through the night. I did manage to get up about 4pm that afternoon and start walking the halls. It helped considerably with the "gas" pressure and gave me minor relief in my shoulder. I think I walked 3 times that evening. I woke up at 3 a.m. and was able to get out of bed fairly easily. By now I had burped a couple of times and the big event the nurses were interested in was whether or not I "pass gas". I had a party of 1 in my private bathroom as I did indeed 'pass gass' that sounded a lot like what the 'final trump' may sound like when Jesus returns! heeeheee I'm sure I woke my Canadian neighbors. God did indeed have my back as my period had come to almost a no-flow...whether it was due to trama or what, I'm taking it as a personal favor from the Lord. Friday morning arrived and I was instructed to shower and given a fresh tent-gown. Dilynn changed my dressings, poked out her tongue at me and went about her business. Throughout the day, I had a visit from Trish and Dr. Kelly. Trish arranged for one of the hospital workers to take my dad down the road for some Arroz Con Pollo...and I spent the day walking, watching TV...chatting with some of the lovely patients from the Oasis Hospital. Oasis is primarily a Cancer treatment facility and they lease the one wing to florence Systems. They share the cafeteria which is more like a small buffet of fresh food...all organic and I believe primarily vegetarian. My dad gives it 2 thumbs up. Every 6 hours (I think it was 6 hours) I was given something for pain in my I.V. I protested weakly once saying I had no pain, and I asked what the other syringe held. It was for 'gas'. I explained I didn't have much and didn't need anything for pain. I only said that the first time...because the stuff for gas, made all the latent gas in my system all move at once. HOLY COW, I think I suggested that they come in and give the pain meds about 10 minutes earlier....I came to dread that visit. But each visit resulted in less intense bouts and it wasn't like they were listening to me. I want to say that took place for 24 hours post-op. I'm not sure. I was anxious to leave because I wasn't truly resting. You know how it is when you are not in your own bed and there is a lot of activity going on. Strange noises all night from the races out front, the bass pumping from the club across the street. It seemed to drag on and on...but I think that had a lot to do with coming in the night before surgery. 3 nights in a mospital bed with a 5" thick mattress is not conduscive to beauty sleep. I'm going to skip ahead to my release. Trish came bearing gifts of various flavored Gatorade and Jello. She is very lovely and very happy to see to your every need. Between the two of them, I couldn't have asked for more. They even arranged for a recliner to be brought to my room on the Friday so I could sit comfortably! Finally, Dr. Kelly arrived to do the dasterdly deed of pulling the drain. This had become the source of my only discomfort. It felt like constant pressure and restricted me from taking a full breath. On his command, I took a deep breath and he pulled it all in one smooth move. It didn't really 'hurt' but it was definately an uncomfortable moment. Think of it as pulling the bandaid off quick. Anyway, instant relief!! The pain in my shoulder and the discomfort in my left upper quadrant all left immediately. WOOHOO We talked for a while. The plan was that Dr. Kelly would not be able to accompany me over to Angeles Hospital for my big "Swallow Test" because he was speaking at Congress. (I believe it was more of a conference on Bariatric Surgery and he was one of the main attractions). He had arranged for his son, Sammy to pick us up, go with us for the Swallow Test and then deliver us to the Lucerna Hotel. As promised, Sammy arrived and he had my "prescriptions" in hand. I was given a packet of Facelit, which is penicilen. I was given something for nausea and something for pain. I have yet to open either the nausea or pain meds. After a harrowingly bumpy ride to town, we arrived at Angles Hospital. What a spectacle of wealth and technology. This place was palacial. White marble floors and walls in the lobby...just beautiful. It could have been the decadent lobby of a very nice hotel!! Now, here is where it got sort of weird for me. Sammy didn't speak a lot of English. I was taken to a desk where he spoke with a woman...I got the distinct impression that she was not thrilled to see me. I cannot put my finger on it, but the entire staff was very judgmental and condescending. I'm sure it would have been different if Dr. Kelly was with me, but perhaps not. After the fact, my dad and I both had a mutual assessment. It was a if they were paid to look the other way while I was ushered in for an un-official visit to use their advanced imaging equipment. I really don't care what they think...but it's part of the story. I was asked to write my name and birthdate on a little piece of paper that she had literally torn from some lined notebook. We were seated in an offshoot waiting room with some other people and Sammy disappeared behind one of the doors. He returned in minutes and tersely commanded us to, "Come!" We quickly followed down another hallway, past large impressive rooms that contained state of the art equipment. I recognized an MRI among other assorted devices. Finally we arrived at what seemed like the end of the maze, an attendent met us and took me into the very spacious room where there was this HUGE X-ray tablet suspended from the ceiling. When I say huge, I mean it was probably 10 feet tall and 7' feet wide with a ledge on the bottom (suspended about 8" above the floor). He gestured until I understood that I was to stand on the ledge with my back against the tablet. My feet didn't exactly fit and my 'butt' clearance is slightly more than was provided, so it was a little bit of a joke to see me balancing up there, I'm sure. Sammy brought in a clear plastic cup holding about 4-6 ounces of some clear liquid. He put it in the cup holder (i'm not sure what other features the tablet had...but it did have a cup holder!). Both of them disappeared behind a large window and an anterior room...I vaguely heard the command to "drink!" Well, being a good little rule follower, I took a sip. I heard the sound of the xray...and then I heard "drink!" So, I took another sip. I was following the "sip, sip, sip" rule. VERY important for us sleevers!!! Well...unbeknownst to me, I was totally frustrating the tech who was taking it out on Sammy. Sammy, who doesn't have a large English vocabulary was at a loss as how to communicate to me. My dad was with them and seemed to gather that there was some sort of problem. He and Sammy played charades and my dad realized that I couldn't really hear them and I didn't know what they wanted. He took the bull by the horns and yelled, "they want you to drink half of it in a big gulp". I argued, asking if they knew I just had been sleeved and that this stuff tasted like CRAPOLA? Clearly I was distressed because I actually thought they might understand that word, crapola. So. we started again and I swallowed half of what was left...."click/buzz" "click/buzz" went the xray machine. "Again!" I shuddered and downed the rest. I had to breath through the next minutes as I don't think anything as disgusting as that liquid had EVER past my lips before. It was like drinking liquid hairspray or something. Even now, just thinking about it I am shuddering.

OK, so I'll pick up on the eve of my surgery.... At 3 a.m., Maria came in to check my vitals and she was accosted by the warmth in my room. I was totally perspiring and could not sleep. The street out front of the Clinic is like a drag strip. Seriously. So on top of the heat, the noise, my period, AND the I.V. in my right hand...I won't lie, I was second guessing the wisdom of my decision! Maria was surprised to find me awake and even more surpised that it was 80+ degrees in my room. She did an about face and was back in 5 with a fan. Hallelujah!! I actually cried. Gracias Maria, Gracias! Si.... I must have fallen asleep to the soothing white noise and breeze very shortly after because the next thing I know, it's 7 a.m. and the shift change has happened. I have a new nurse, Dilynn (sp?). She spoke very little English too, but she was quite the firecracker. She's about 22 and working 2 jobs to pay for nursing school. Yes, nursing school. It did send up little red flags that she wasn't already a nurse...but she really was not doing much more throughout my stay but emptying my drain, adding things to my I.V., taking vitals and changing my dressings post-op. OK, let's be honest...this was something that I just wouldn't let my mind dwell on at the time. Never in America, right? Maybe I got it wrong and maybe she was a nurse going to med school to become a Dr. It's possible. So...surgery morning. Sorry, I seem to be easily distracted. Dilynn brings me a fresh "tent" to wear and a clean towel and orders me to take a shower. Most of this is done via an ongoing game of charades. HA! They eventually started to understand what it meant when I tapped my nose I take my shower and wait for further instruction. Dr. Kelly arrives and reviews my labs and tells me that all is good. I had had my labs done the week before going to Mexico because I am anemic. In one of my consultations with Dr. Kelly, he had said that if my hemoglobin was 10 or less, I would need to have an Iron infusion. I had met with my personal physician in the states on the Friday before Mexico, and my labs showed my hemoglobin was 10.5 After discussing it with my physician, he expressed his preference that I not get a fusion because of the high rate of allergic reactions and asked me to "request" that I just continue with my recommittment to oral treatment. In the 3 weeks leading up to surgery, knowing this concern, I had returned to adding iron to my regiment. By the time the labs came back on surgery morning, my hemoglobin had improved to 11.1 I was cleared by Dr. Kelly (thank God) and was now awaiting a meeting with the Cardiologist. Enter Cardiologist whose name escapes me. Let's just call him Gadget guy, OK? Gadget guy shows up and he is a man on a mission. He speaks excellent English, and if I am right, he clearly is very Americanized...possibly American trained. He's is very thorough in a review of my health history, has seen my Xrays and my labs, is able to take shorthand notations of my responses...ask rapid questions, handle 2 cell phones...AND seem to not lose track of where he was in his physical. I'm not sure I am "used" to the way the Dr.'s take calls in the middle of a conversation with you...but it seems to be cultural...because the nurses start speaking and asking questions also in the middle of a Dr. consultation. It's sory of weird. Here in the states, the Dr. walks in and everyone shuts-up to hear what he has to say as the "expert" in the room. lol Anyway, Gadget guy wires me 8 ways to Sunday, listens to my heart, runs his little gadget (I was half expecting to get electorcuted lol) and seemingly surprised, say's that except for the obvious morbid obesity, I am in remarkably good health. Gee, thanks Gadget guy--what a nice thing to say! heeeheeee He shakes my hand and wishes me well and as quickly as he came, he left. Meanwhile, my dad has vamoosed to the cafeteria to give me some privacy and to grab some "healthy food" as they call it while I am in my pre-op holding pattern. Dad returns to report that the food is EXCELLENT, albeit vegetarian. But he raved about the Avacado salad and can't wait to try to recreate it at home! Finally, a gurney with gowned up strangers arrives at my door. It is time. They ask me to get in my Mospital (Motel/Hospital) bed and they proceed to raise it to the gurney level. I'm then asked to "scooch" over, all by charade, onto the gurney. I couldn't help it...I started to giggle as some little voice say's yet again, "not in America!" hahahaha So, over I scooch...obviously trying to maintain some modesty and all the while trying to explain that I am having my period. Someone got the drift and one of the semi English speaking persons in the room (my God, it was a full house production) assured me that, "OK, we deliver babies too." In hindsight, I'm glad it didn't occur to me that there may have been a mistaken message and I wasn't going to have a baby!!! My new charges now wheel me down the corridor and through a set of double wooden doors. We stop at another gurney (yes, mid hallway..just outside a janitors closet I think) and I'm asked to "scooch" to the other bed. Stop me now, because the giggles just wouldn't be contained as the chorus in my head was no longer in a low voice but a full blown boom! "NOT IN AMERICA!" :lol: I was practically guwaffing...I'm sure they were all talking about the loco seniora.. Oh, but wait. Then I'm wheeled into the Operating Room and me and my styling ride pull up next to the stainless slab. One look and I knew what was expected. Yup, I scooched my big old naked fat but over onto the less than warm O.R. table. Everyone was gowned and masked and speaking English. It was a very vulnerable moment as they started undoing the velcro on my 'tent' gown. I teared up at this point and looked around at the HUGE picture windows overlooking the parking lot on my right and the back alley in front of me. I asked to no one in particular, "are you going to shut the blinds?" No one seemed to notice. I realized that the buidling was covered in reflective glass that nobody could see through, but it was the thing that seemed to slam the message home, "NOT IN AMERICA!!!!" The anesthesiologist looked down at me...he was upside down and I couldn't see his mouth, but I think he has a beard and I got a faint sceent of cigarette smoke. Then he spoke to me in a very soothing voice and kind eyes and I drifted off to sleep.

Hello everyone, I am on day 2 of my pre op diet and boy am I hungry! My last meal was a delicious vegetarian lasagne and ice cream. Sunday i started drinking and only consumed a Powerade Zero (gross), a Fruit 2o, and a cup of broth. Today so far another Powerade Zero (still gross), a cup of coffee (dark and no sugar), and a small greek yogurt. My date is 7/21 and my surgeon requires 10 days. I know i can do it but boy do i hate it. I do not want to cheat but im dreaming of anything but liquid!

thanks!!! ... I was self pay ... and my doctor said that since i had lost so much weight within the last year on my own (66 pounds in 11 months), that I didn't need to do a pre-op diet... but since I was mostly vegetarian, i needed to increase my Protein so that i would heal better...

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????

6+ months here, I never had buyers remorse, but lots of adjustments to get used to for sure. I love it now, and continue to learn new things about my sleeve life every day. I tell myself I am eating out for the company, and not so much the food, but as time goes on, the food is in the picture more. I can eat anything now (good and bad!), but started out as a vegetarian that became lactose intolerance for the first month... that is better now and I can eat any dairy without problems. If you search this site, you can find lists of the yuck factor from WLS. Skin, hair, puke, pain, wrinkles, food mourning, 3 week stall (look that one up if you haven't already! People starting out go CRAZY when that shows up) and worse. In fact there are few here who did not experience at least one or two of these things. I know for me, perhaps my posts focus on the "glow" of the results, because they are really more important to me than anything bad that has happened to me. A chance for a longer life, my knees and joints are not yelling at me as often, I can up my exercise with JOY! Hike and interact with nature and people better, look hotter in cloths! Junk some of my meds and compete better in the work force. I recognize myself in the mirror after 20 years of WTF is that?! I am grateful and want others to have the chance to feel the same way. First month was the least "fun" of the process so far, but really, the 20 years before that were really the worst part! Not everyone is ready for WLS of any kind... heck not everyone is ready for regular dieting at any one time. The sleeve just evens that out by controlling how much you eat at a sitting on any given day.Sometimes I resist that control, but mostly I enjoy it. A LOT.

Aloha Daelynn, www.myfitnesspal.com has a neat weight loss tracker. For a food tracker http://www.teambeachbody.com/signup?referringRepId=85197 has a various tools...meal planner. personalized meal plan, meal plan wizard, balanced slim down plan, low-carb express plan, power vegetarian plan, active lifestyle plan, and food substitution plan. It's pretty well rounded. ~Brenda

Yes, you absolutely should join them. If you are part of the meal planning, try to have a dish that you can eat. Then just serve yourself what you can have. Don't make a big deal out of it. You will be banded for life. The less issue you make of it, then less your family and friends will. You just have different eating habits. Like a vegetarian, or someone who is allergic to peanuts. When we go to friends' homes for dinner, I never say anything about my band. I just choose from what is available. If that means I have a meal of lettuce and potatoes, I have a meal of lettuce and potatoes. Since they are all supportive, I think they will want to include dishes you can eat. Even if you have to have a separate Protein, you can still have side dishes with them. They'd feel much worse if you were in another room or just sitting there without a plate (imho). Even if you just have a small plate with a serving of a tiny side dish, you are still taking part in the meal ritual. Just be very, very careful when eating with a group. It's very easy to get distracted and forget to take small bites and chew thoroughly. Being on soft foods, you probably won't get stuck, but it's never too early to start working on those good habits.

I'm not a vegetarian but I have had a type of allergy testing done called delayed reaction where you might have a reaction a couple of days later. In this instance regular allergy testing or food elimination diets don't identify them. I'm trying to tough out the pre-op and post-op liquid diet with protein shakes, etc but feel terrible. I am sensitive to milk and milk products including whey, wheat, peanuts, and eggs. The only other things I can think of to eat in liquid stage would be maybe some pureed beans or tofu shakes. Any suggestions?

I'm honestly not sure yet if I regret my surgery or not. I'm thrilled with my weight loss, but there are drawbacks. I'm a lactose intolerant, vegetarian turned pescatarian with IBS. I spent a really long time figuring out what to eat, how to eat, and when to eat in every conceivable situation. I'm not excited about having to start that process all over again. However, that's not even the most disappointing part of the surgery for me. What I'm having the hardest time with is the return of my acid reflux. I used to be able to control it through food, but now even though I'm on medication and even though I'm barely eating anything, I'm still dealing with it. This may not be a huge deal to some, but I'm a singer and it's RUINING my voice. It makes me so incredibly hoarse that my range is shot. I can't perform and it just makes me sad to try and learn new music. I guess I didn't realize how likely I would be to have GERD after the surgery so I didn't realize how I would be impacted. My GERD is very mild and hardly bothers me, yet it still prevents me from singing as well as I'm usually able to. It hurts.

I am also 9 days out and have had enough of protien shakes and water to last a lifetime!! I have decided that this is more about aversion therapy than surgery. I'm so sick of putting nasty-tasting things in my mouth, I would rather just not eat at all. However, last night I was hungry. Since I was given the okay to eat cream soups this week (not potatoe or corn) and since I'm a vegetarian, I decided to make a little something else. I make split pea soup. I ate about 3 oz. and it was the best thing I have ever eaten in my life. I'm ready to get to the soft diet and leave these nasty shakes behind!!!

All the best for your surgery, hope to see you back soon on the forum. I am due for surgery on 15 July but till now my doc has not advised any diet control, may be because in general he knows I do not smoke, drink alcohol and am purely vegetarian.

I eat clean, organic and vegetarian (and occasionally eat fish but am working on eliminating that and going vegan).. I can't believe your nutritionist won't help you without artificial sweeteners and additives! That's ridiculous! I would look for another nutritionist who can work within your parameters. Once you are on solid food it will be much easier to get your Protein in with Beans, lentils, tofu, quinoa, etc.

You may want to ask WHY your trainer wants you to do a cleanse. And a two week cleanse is not healthy. Not for someone who was / is overweight and is working out and healing. A 3 day cleanse - sure, common and acceptable to get sugars etc out of the body. Ask the why first and see if there are other solutions that will keep you functioning correctly. And I speak as a vegetarian who fasts (clear fluids only) between 1-5 days a month depending on circumstances.

Lol I just looked in my freezer - it's called Seitan - it's a meat substitute, but it is gluten so if you have issues with that it might be a problem. 100 grams of Seitan is 21 grams of protein! I am not a vegetarian, but I really do like this, because when you stir fry it or cook with it just like you would any meat it reeealllly picks up good flavor.

I never did the protein shakes, they all made me gag and I could never find one I could tolerate. I just had to make sure that when I was eating, I always ate protein first, then everything else. Your problem is a little more unique being a vegetarian, and I don't know if you eat eggs or fish at all, but both are good sources of protein. I eat an egg every day, and I also like tuna quite a bit. I think 4 oz of tofu (I know that is a lot!) is 10 grams of protein. My son is vegetarian and I do know that there are several proteins you can get at natural food stores, but I can't remember the names of them right now, I will ask him.

Are you a vegan? If not, you might try whizzing up your own "protein" shakes using milk, milk powder (for extra protein), eggs or egg powder, and whatever flavoring and level of sweetness you prefer. Throw in some tofu or Peanut Butter and whiz it up thoroughly. OR zap up some soup with milk powder and have something savory. I couldn't handle the Protein drinks, either (still can't), so I made do with "food" sources of protein, mostly dairy, until I got to the mushies stage. Cottage cheese and yogurt and peanut butter are staples in my diet now, too--I am not a vegetarian, but my sleeve seems to prefer seafood and dairy protein to meat and chicken (don't get me started on how sleevie really dislikes chicken and eggs now!). Best wishes to you!! Once you hit mushies, you're golden--Beans, tofu, nut butters, etc. If you can tolerate dairy, so much the easier. Meg

I have yet to find a Protein shake that sits well with me. They're all so cloyingly sweet that they make me gag or they make my stomach feels off. I ordered an unjury sample kit, so I'll try their unflavored and "chicken" Soup flavored varieties when they get here, but otherwise how can I get my protein in? Just to make matters harder on myself, I've been a vegetarian for three years. I started incorporating fish back into my diet a few weeks before my surgery, but I just cannot bring myself to eat any other meat. I'm getting worried. I didn't think the Protein shakes would be so hard to take since I didn't have a problem with diet and protein shakes prior to my surgery. Help!

Vrinda I found a Protein drink at GNC that has 60 grams of protein per shake. I am not a vegetarian but I am a very picky eater and I found that shake gives me the minimum of protein called for by most in a day. I have even added a scoop of Peanut Butter for extra flavor and protein. I know that humus is also high in protein - maybe try that with some celery. Carbs are a hard thing to cut out. I know I love my carbs, but I find I am fuller faster and longer when I cut them out.