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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!

My surgery is outpatient and is on the 14th. I'm to be there at 9 AM and they expect me to be heading home around 2 PM. I've been on a liquid protein diet for the past week (Muscle Milk, Isopure Zero Carb, Broth, Sugar Free Jello, etc.) and it's been fine. I supplemented with one protein bar when I was out, hungry, and had no access to anything else and I didn't want to overeat later. I started the year at 253.4 and am currently at 246.2 and have been monitoring my body fat percentage, skeletal muscle percentage, visceral fat percentage, weight, BMI, and more using a new scale. It's helping me to stay on track and it's neat to see a graph actually go down on a regular basis rather than fluctuating. I ordered 13 cases (156 bottles) of IsoPure Zero Carb (tastes like Crystal Light and is pure protein, no lactose, no carbs - 40 g and 160 calories, 1 a day will help me get 2/3 of the way to my protein goal) from VitaminShoppe online, they have the best deal and free shipping (but be careful ordering as that item causes multiple temporary authorizations on credit cards). I ordered a year worth of multivitamins from Harmon Discount ($102 for a year's worth of appropriate gummi multi vitamins), vitamin D (sublingual) and CoQ10 (sublingual) from AmericanRx, and B12 (sublingual) and mini Calcium with D from VitaminShoppe. I tried the recommended bariatric vitamins but found that they are just normal size vitamins that you have to empty the contents of. Totally pointless to spend more for the same thing. I also signed up for automatic 6 week Sugar Free Jello delivery from Amazon, removed all junk from my house, stocked my freezer with Diet-to-Go vegetarian meals for when I can eat (they are small portions - 1,200 calorie plan), and I imagine I'm missing several things. Either way, I'm very well stocked, prepared, and ready for Friday morning. It's taken me since 2004 to actually get to this point, and six months total from start to finish. At this point I have 121.2 lbs to permanently lose.

I'll have to look for some of these. Broth is kinda boring for a vegetarian. Thanks for the tips.

Knorr and Herb Ox have a very yummy veggie broth. I am not a vegetarian but so far it is actually my favorite broth that I've tried so far

@@Stevehud - I understand all that you are saying, but I assure you everything I did is per my doctor's protocal. I did not have a pre-op diet as part of my program. I also know the difference between a weight loss supplement and a meal replacement. As I mentioned those shakes were but a small part of my Protein intake. My surgeon is the chief of the bariatric program at my hospital, which is a world reknown hospital. It is one of the reason why I choose him. I am a vegetarian with multiple food and medicine allergies. The popular protein drinks would never work for me because they almost all uniformly contained allergy triggers. I made it through surgery with absolutely no problems, no gas, no pain, no nausea, nothing. I walked in recovery and have been losing steadily. Why would I question my doctor's advice? @leila0812 - Talk to you doctor or nutritionist. My program gives it patients a handbook detailing the program from the pre-op to post-op process. The nutrition class also goes into greater detail. I was given sample menus, list of Vitamins and supplements to try, the whole nine. It's very detailed and comprehensive. One thing I will say, is every surgeon is a bit different in their protocols. It's nice to get opinions and thoughts here, but also touch base with your surgical team.

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

Sorry i forgot to add obviously by the title im a vegetarian actually pescatarian i eat fish..if that helps..and i love almond dark chocolate soy milk..i just need some reinforcment and food info..maybe there are some friendly veggie heads:)

My daughter is also a vegetarian so we modify a lot of our meals and use a meat replacement. I know they are generally higher in carbs. I would love to know any vegetarian recipes you have that are band friendly! I'm only 4 days post op so it will be awhile before I can try any of them.

Hopefully I got all the important points in my topic title Does anyone have any suggestions on how to lose those last twenty lbs on a semi vegan diet. Actually after surgery, I started working with a wellness coach and figured out I have a whey allergy, so I don't eat any dairy anymore, no eggs, no cheese, etc. Also don't eat beef or pork and only eat chicken very rarely. I do eat a lot of fish though, so I can't be considered fully vegan. Not worried really with labels, just having a hard time losing those last 20 lbs. Especially when a vegetarian diet can be centered around so many carb like foods. I've also had a problem with low Iron levels and us sleevers, I've been told, can't really take an iron supplement because its too hard on our small stomachs. So does anyone have any suggestions for me?? I'd love to hear from some veggie sleevers and know what worked for them. I am also joining a local vegan/vegetarian meetup in my area to get some good ideas too. Thanks and hope everyone is well!

I have planned out most of my favorite restaurants and this is one of them. Ours has great black bean Soup and it is vegetarian, so that's a great option. If you ask, you can order off the "sides" menu (like adding chicken to a salad) and ask for shrimp, chicken or steak to add into the soup or on the side. If you have a favorite, ask for the sauce on the side and just use a bit.

I'm low carb high fat vegetarian. I do just fine.

I'm confused - the topic was for vegetarian breakfast ideas but you mention eggs. So I'm not sure what restrictions you have with your vegetarianism. I've been doing a lot of different egg muffin tin recipes. Basically it's scrambled eggs but in a muffin tin that you can make ahead of time. Dice up onions and pepper and mix that with eggs. What do you eat for lunch or dinner? You could eat those items for breakfast too.

I'm also ovo-lacto vegetarian. Some of my frequent breakfasts are Greek yogurt, hemp hearts w/ nut butter, morningstar veg sausage patties, spinach and cheese stuffed baked tomato, portobello with goat cheese and kale or mozz and tomato, flax & millet Lavash toast with olives and cream cheese. Lately I've been making high protein muffins that are amazing (25 grams protein, less than 10 carbs, 423 calories) PM for recipe.

G2 Gatorade, homemade popsicles with 1/2 juice 1/2 water, vegetarian pho broth, herbal tea. That just so far, I'm also looking for ideas!

Burp...I hear you! I am 4 years post op and started to burp all the time. I burb when I'm hungry, stressed, or had food and or coffee too. It last for hours....I'm hoping yours will go away as you heal more. I did not have any burping for years. I think it's time to start journaling all the food I eat as I have noticed that certain food do not cause bloating! Especially super healthy stuff. Like my band won't cause me to burp after avacato citrus salad I started making. Your band may be a vegetarian which mine became . It just won't tolerate meat! Hope your burping subsides....best to you xox

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...

I agree with Betsy B! I'm a vegetarian so protein is way important for me to get daily.

hey leenerbups im a lactose intolerant vegetarian too -- what kind of food did you eat during your mushie stage? im worried about preop food conflicts

It is very hard to be 100% vegan or vegetarian during the first 6 months of the sleeve. I could not do it and get in enough Protein, however it is becoming easier the further out I am. I always include non-meat Proteins, but I did have to have at least one meat/fish or whey or dairy item every day to meet protein minimums. Vegan protein ideas: Amazing Meals protein powders - hemp protein and pea protein Nutiva Hemp Protein powder (unflavored) Lots of Beans lol. Edamame, black beans, lentils, split peas, northern white beans, garbanzos, Nuts (peanuts, almonds, pistachios), nut butters Soy products (tofu, seitan, tempeh, TVP, soy cheese). There is soy protein powder but I don't care for it. Other: green peas, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, quinoa, chia seeds I also purchased a number of Low Carb products from Netrition (flour, baking mix, flat bread, bagels) that have very high protein and low carbs. You might take a look and see if anything appeals to you.

Totally interested, I'm a vegetarian and my surgery is on the 24th!

Whether you’re hosting or you’re a guest, you can always make sure there’s at least something for you to eat. Just make a big enough batch to share with the table. You can never have too many salads, sides, and desserts at Thanksgiving, so consider one or more of the following. Acorn or butternut squash roasted with garlic, rosemary, and chicken broth for seasoning. Roasted Brussels sprouts or green beans with Dijon mustard. Spinach salad with cranberries, chestnut pieces, and cubes of cooked sweet potato. Cabbage and roasted beet salad. Fresh fruit salad. Baked apples with cinnamon and sprinkled with chopped walnuts or pecans. These dishes can save your diet and dignity, and they’re pretty simple! You don’t need to aim for fancy dishes and give yourself any extra headaches in the kitchen at Thanksgiving. Protein and Veggies…You Know the Drill You know how to eat right after WLS. Thanksgiving dinner is no different. Protein comes first, then come veggies. A serving of starch can fit in, and watch out for the condiments. That sounds easy enough, and it’s what you do every other day. Ready to put it in place on Thanksgiving? Your lean protein is probably skinless turkey breast, unless you’re vegetarian or having a non-traditional Thanksgiving. Whether you have tofu, crab, chicken, ham, or venison, you can make a small serving of lean protein the center of your meal. Take mustard and only a dollop of cranberry sauce, which is high-sugar. Veggies come next. Load up on green salads, sautéed broccoli or kale, and anything roasted, such as carrots, green beans, and onions. Watch out for creamy corn and green bean casseroles and buttery vegetables. Finally, garnish your meal with a little bit of starch. Sweet potatoes are healthiest, but you can also opt for a small serving of mashed potatoes, half a dinner roll, or even a spoonful of stuffing. Pick One Special Treat You don’t need to deprive yourself completely on Thanksgiving. If you don’t let yourself have any treats, you might eventually break down and eat way too much later. Better to enjoy a few bites of pumpkin pie now and feel good about it than to cave in to the entire pie later and feel sick and guilty. Give yourself permission to choose a special treat that you love and look forward to every year. Whether it’s your mom’s sausage and apple stuffing or your brother-in-law’s homemade biscuits, let yourself have a few bites of that special treat. Savor every bite. Think about its flavors and texture, and what it means to you, and how proud you are that you can enjoy it and be satisfied with that portion. Practice Eating Slowly Eating slowly is essential on the bariatric surgery diet. Thanksgiving is actually the ideal time to practice your skills. When else do you get the pleasure of good company sitting around the table for hours? Take advantage! Engage in the conversation, and focus on the people, not the food. If you stick to the rule of not talking with your mouth full, and you put your fork down and make eye contact when you’re listening to someone else talk, Thanksgiving dinner will fly by, and you may find you enjoyed it more than ever while eating less than ever. Good deal! Don’t Let Leftovers Weigh You Down The dinner’s over, everyone’s left the table, and the house is quiet again. It’s not yet time to let your guard down, though! The leftovers can be even more dangerous than Thanksgiving dinner itself. Pack them up and get rid of the ones that are trouble – like chocolate cream pie. There are plenty of healthy ways you can use leftover turkey. One is to simply freeze it in small portions and defrost them when you need them. You can also try any of these ideas. Turkey wraps with shredded turkey, mustard, and leftover roasted veggies wrapped in lettuce leaves. Turkey soup with a base of chicken broth, onions, carrots, and celery, plus any veggies you want. Turkey curry with cauliflower, eggplant, peas, and Indian spices. Turkey salad with cooked cubed turkey, halved cherry or grape tomatoes, nonfat plain Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, diced pickles, and black pepper. Green salad with turkey, avocado, and black beans. There are so many healthy ways to use turkey, you may not even be sick of it after you finish the entire turkey! With these hacks and a little discipline and creativity, you can get through Thanksgiving dinner and beyond feeling healthy and confident, not stuffed and weighed down. That confidence is worth a lot, and it can carry you through the holiday season as you keep working towards your goals.

Congratulations and best wishes for all the December surgeries. I had mine 12/2/15 and feel wonderful. My belly doesn't feel "normal" yet but I don't expect it to for a while. At this point, I'm just tired. Protein drinks......I've had some horrible experiences. I bought a bunch of samples and am working my way through them. Today I had strawberries and cream with soy milk. I always refrigerate for as long as possible because it does help with the taste. I took the shake with me while helping a group assemble holiday gifts. It was horrible. I had to hold back gags and ended up drinking it as quickly as possible. I try to drink one 28 gram protein shake/day. I'll have 15gram chicken broth and yogurt. I just started cottage cheese so that's adding to the daily goal. I know I need to get in more protein but I should be able to have pureed Soups tomorrow (post op visit). I make a mean lentil Soup that'll be delicious and protein packed ala pureed. It's interesting to read the differences in post surgery diet phases. I was on small amounts of Water the first day and then straight into Protein shakes the next. My food tray would come with one Protein Shake, Jello, broth and a big water. Nice choice! I'm supposed to stay on protein shakes and clear liquids (sf popcycles, sf jello etc.) until my post op follow up. I added cottage cheese a day ago (have to remember not to shovel it my mouth) and did fine with it. I have also started eating high protein oatmeal. It's very liquidy and there's really nothing to chew. Not the best oatmeal I've had but it's high in protein and doesn't make me gag. I also found a high protein bread for down the road. It's got 28 grams of protein / 2 slices. Good reviews too. I'm a vegetarian so I've been looking for tofu recipes. Tofu is in the same bracket as Protein Drinks with me. But, I'm going to give it a shot. I think if I get it really crispy and use a tasty dipping sauce, I'll be good. Pam

My husband eats vegetarian. We do often more times than not. He is from India. I also needed to get in protein and fish and chicken are great for It! But there r weeks we never eat any meat. And then weeks we will have fish or chicken.

I like to eat a whole food diet... but i am not vegetarian.. but i love to eat that way.... and adding meat. Some foods that are great and high in Protein are lentils, pulses, veggies (obviously), tofu, falafel, chickpeas, etc Chickpeas and lentils and tofu would be the best to add bulk and protein to meals.... If i am in a non meat mood... i just supplement the meat in my recipes using those. Lentil curries, chickpea stews, falafel as Snacks etc... But... going vegan... how do you plan to get your Calcium.. i hear broccoli is difficult for some

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