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I'm a vegetarian, so I will be eating lots of carbs. I do eat eggs and dairy, so that will help... but beans, tofu, even dairy has carbs. oh well. I will see how it shakes out when I am eating after the sleeve. I will be putting proteins first, and the protein drinks will help too. I did lose weight on Southbeach, as a vegetarian, without a lot of carb fueled hunger.

Well I really do love Edamame. So delicious and healthy for you. Here is an edamame burger recipe that is a staple in my diet (I make these almost once a week). Violinist With A Band: Edamame Burger Recipe If there is a supermarket near you that has raw edamame on their salad bar (like Whole Foods), you can skip the step where you cook the edamame. This recipe also uses the whole grain millet which is an awesome, very underused food (its actually a seed). I also make falafel and hummus a lot (chickpeas). I bake the falafel instead of deep frying. If you like the fried taste of falafel you could pan fry them using a nonstick pan and some cooking spray. I'm a sucker for Peanut Butter too. Its fine if you just watch how much of it you're eating and make sure you budget your calories for it. Sometimes I do a bean dip with black Beans and fat free refried beans with tofu which is so yummy. I do a similar vegetarian chili with kidney and pinto beans (and tofu). And I have a recipe for a great red lentil Soup (lentils are beans!) with barley (which is a great source of fiber).

Sandy, good luck on your run!! Wow, you should really be proud of yourself. Can't tell you have braces by your pictures. I bet you can't wait to get those off. Don't forget to drink Water during your run and take care of yourself. Apples, I bet it is hard to get good help. The work you do (DH & DS too) is physically very hard and not everyone wants to work that hard. My mom did a lot of physical labor to earn money because she had little education. I didn't not want to follow that path and I suspect it's hard to find people that do. Poor mouth, the chili might be a little too spicy for it...but should be soft enough. Julie, so you are just now starting to use a dough hook? I guess I never make those big batches so I can usually use the dough hook. Sorry you are not feeling well. Janet, glad your sister agreed about water under the bridge....no point in holding on to resentments now. So is your trip before T-day or after? Lori, sounds like you are going to have a fun time in Memphis. My sister and I are going to go to Paducah, KY on our way to OH...it's not very far from Memphis. Depending on time, we might stop there so I can get another state in. I have been very busy with retirement. I do little things everyday and don't get huge things accomplished, but do get many small things done. We have FNSC tonight and I'm making empanadas. They are savory meat or veggie filled pie dough pockets. We ate them frequently in Argentina, so I wanted to try my hand at them. We also had wonderful tomatoes, but I doubt I'll find any of those here. I'm going to go to Whole Foods and see what I can find. The vegetarian version will be made with portabello mushrooms and boiled eggs. My "job" is getting easier. Actually, I don't have anything to do right now because my friend needs to supply some information before I can finish up the packages. He won't be back until maybe Sunday. So no work for me right now which suits me just fine. I connected with my stamping ladies and am getting inspired to do cards again. I'm going with them to Phoenix tomorrow to a stamping convention. DH lent me some money so I can buy stuff. He's a good DH. We are going to Elton John tomorrow night. It was a last minute decision and we got nose bleed seats, but I've never seen him in concert so I'm looking forward to it. I got most of the house cleaned, just need to do the kitchen floor this afternoon. I haven't tackled my bedroom/office/stamping room. It needs it badly, but is so filled with stuff, that it's going to take a week to clean it. If I'm going to go to all that trouble, I think I want to paint also. So this may wait until after Thanksgiving or I'll do a quick cleaning and paint after Christmas. I have to go walk this morning and pick up doggie dodo and finish the laundry so I better get started. I'll try and be better and check in periodically during the day. It's much easier to keep up that way. Later Eva

Tonight was my last supper... had my favorite Mexican meal.. vegetarian chimichinga, cheese dip and chips & salsa. Mmm mmm. Starting my liquid diet tomorrow and surgery on Nov 16th. I can't believe this is actually happening!

I have a pot of Penne Pollo cooking---Penne pasta with chicken ----a sauce with chicken & veggies. It makes a HUGE pot, inexpensively. I began making it probably 25 years ago, every Halloween, and everyone who come by would have a bowl, no one had to worry about dinner. Well, in the intervening years, the numbers have dwindled, and one would think with a vegetarian DD it would have been a memory only----but NO! The ones still around, still expect it! Becky and Gary hang out here on Halloween, their boys and their families make this home base, several people come by with kids, that come in for cookies, or a bathroom break. And Kinsey now thinks it is her special Halloween meal!! LOL She should be here in about 30 minutes. She trick or treats the places Manda takes her. They have done a couple of carnivals, and did Safe Treats down town---but she sold her candy last year. Local dentists do a Treats for Troops thing, they buy it for a buck a pound, and send it to the troops overseas. She is not a huge candy eater, it has always been readily available, so she doesn't see it as a treat....doesn't gorge herself. Our son, on the other hand seriously keeps the candy away from the boys, and when Connor gets it, he shovels it in---it is cute, but I try not to laugh and encourage it! I talked to him a little while ago, he was going to eat chicken, and then go Trick or Treat, he was very excited! We went and did some Christmans shopping this morning. We have 2 weeks to get it done to take to Texas for the Louisiana kids. Bought Garrick a little Step2 motorcycle!!! He loved the little 4 wheeler thing, just a push with your feet one, same as this is. We still have to figure Connor out. Got Lenny a new buckle, it is such a chore....the figuring out! Sizes for DIL are impossible for me to figure, so no clothes......she is not a jewelry wearer. Although I am thinking maybe one of the Mom necklaces, with the boy charms on it. She wears a cross on occasion. Well, better get things going----kids will be knocking soon! Need to put batteries in the witch and the skeleton outside, they are motion activated. Wondering how Izzy will do with all the craziness. Took her into Beck & Garys and they had their 2 dogs---a rotty cross, and a Rhodesian Ridgeback, and they are dog sitting for their sons boxer----and the dogs accosted her, scared the crap out of her (not literally thankfully!) she jumped on the couch with me! She never gets on furniture, she was shaking. Rick took her back to the van---poor thing was scared! Would have scared me too! Kids here----see ya!! have a SAFE and FUN night all!!!

http://www.chikenutrition.com/specials.html free chike samples here... http://www.chikenutrition.com/buy-1.59.html ingredients here suitable for lacto vegetarians... NO boiled cow hide.

I am too tight in the morning for solids and I am a vegetarian so protein is a concern. I drink a Premier Protein (from Costco) every morning. It is 30g of protein and only 160 cals. Tastes great. I don't like the taste of MM but maybe I'll try the lite version and see, Thanks.

I don't eat poultry, red meat or pork so we have a lot of seafood and tofu. I like to make vegetarian chili loaded with tofu (I usually can eat a cup). Yesterday I made Sole stuffed with cheesy broccoli-quinoa. The sole fillets were between 2.5-2.75 ounces, and I stuffed each with about .5 cup of the quinoa mixture (if you haven't ever eaten quinoa, try it. its a great, healthy alternative to rice and its packed with Protein and nutrients. Heres a good article Quinoa: A Healthful Alternative to Rice - Ingredient swap - Revolution Health ). I was able to eat about 8/10 of the filet and quinoa (it was probably a little over 3/4s of a cup that I ate if you wanted to measure it that way). When I'm not in the mood for seafood, I love to make homemade edamame burgers. I just posted the recipe on my blog if you want to try to make them. Each burger is 1/3 of a cup and I'm generally able to eat one burger and then I'm done. I love that the band has given me the opportunity to look at what I cook with, and experiment with alternative ingredients. I love to cook, and its a hobby of mine to try and reduce calories, substitute healthier ingredients (like quinoa instead of rice...or skim cheese instead of full fat cheese) and I've even been experimenting with baking! I made a pumpkin pie cupcake with under 100 calories per cupcake and it tastes like the real thing. Have fun!

Hi guys! January 18th with Dr, Ali in Sacramento at UCDavis Med Center. Once I decided to try and get approval, it only took me 6 weeks to go from my first meeting to getting my date. The staff has been awesome. I am 57 and been dieting most of my life. I started having health problems... high BP, High cholesterol and triglicerides... and A-fib. as well as arthritis. All just this year. Also my best friend found out he had brain cancer, and I just decided to get off my a*s and try something different to improve my health. I eat pretty clean, and have gotten my exercise up to 4 days a week over the past 2 years, but have stayed the same weight. I think the sleeve is just the thing I need to get my weight going in the right direction...DOWN. I feel like I'm going to miss the GIANT salads I used to eat... but am a good cook and know I will make a delicious life for myself...even if the portions are smaller. Also... I am a vegetarian, and this will perhaps make it harder to find proteins while eating out... Im glad I love beans and Tofu!

It's a vegan/vegetarian meat substitute. http://www.vrg.org/recipes/vjseitan.htm http://en.wikipedia....uten_%28food%29 There are tons of recipes out there, and it's one of those foods like tofu that just absorb the flavors of whatever you cook it in. I've posted a whole slew of recipes in the food forum that you can possibly use the search feature at the top to find those.

Wow everyone, such great info and stories etc. I have one thing to share with everyone that I really liked it felt very inspirational to me. I think I'm ok from my throwing up deal, on my first week of solids, feeling hungry of course LOL So where to start cnewstine - you are cracking my up, you must have hella insurance or hella cash, I can't imagine not telling the husband just cause what a huge cash decision it was for my family. really nice story about him showing up / supporting you. I love it. thanks for sharing. lisamac 32---- here are some much loved recipe resources theworldaccordingtoeggface great recipes and resources from an experienced WLS person Also I totally love the instinct diet by susan roberts- this is a new book this year that is loaded with 1200 cal meal plans, great recipes, and it covers meals if you want something fast, want soemthing homecooked, vegetarian or meat. Plus it has great emergency food, etc. and just all great food information cover to cover. It is not specific to bariatric, and maybe some altering will be necessary once restriction makes some food more difficult to eat. but I don't think it will take much altering. I also use sparkpeople.com to enter a recipe, and get back a full breakdown of nutriens/ calories by serving size. Then I enter this into my fitday.com food journal. Vhayes- wowie, 8 mil- and you are in ohio- please tell me your doctor and if the fill was flouro- I am in ohio by my surgeon is in Mexico so I'm looking for a good fill place- most places only put like 5 in at first at most. wow I'd love to imagine 8- I hear sometimes it takes a week to feel it- let me know if you feel restriction at all or the same. Miss Joany- I think I feel it or mayb ejust scar tissue, it is a little tender but doesn't stick out. I do hear some - especially post op, have issues with it sticking out and sometimes have to get the port relocated, sometimes the rub on bones etc. Rambunctious, wow, working out alot and 1000-1200 cals, that's intense. I've read somewhere that if you eat something solid with protein- not a shake- but like a hard boiled egg, or some tofu, or chicken, - after work out that it can help. or better yet work out right before a meal. Well all great to read all the stuff, I'm down 26 with post op. Lisa

I'm glad you asked this question. I'm having the same problem. I had my 4th fill almost a month ago. I have been hungry but can only eat a tablespoon of baked Beans or soft foods at a time. I get that 'feeling' too. After that 'feeling' passes I'm still very hungry and eat another tablespoon or two. I think this way of eating isn't right. I should be able to eat a cup of food at my 1/2 hour sitting and be satisfied for a few hours, correct? What I'm doing is grazing, isn't it? Not good eating habits. Like you... soup easily goes down and satisfies me for a bit. This is what my normal day looks like: Isopure Protein shake in morning made with a couple tablespoons of plain low fat yogurt, ice, powdered milk, Water and a little flaxseed oil. mid morning: 8 ounces of homemade thin soup. Usually chicken broth with very well cooked chopped broccoli, onions, carrots, celery and brown rice.... with some low fat Velveeta melted into it for creaminess. lunch: a one ounce Louis Kemp single crab stick with finely minced celery and low fat mayo. Sometimes I can make tuna fish salad. later after lunch: 4 ounces of non fat, vegetarian baked beans dinner: two one ounce mashed meatballs with a little tomato gravy. Sometimes I can get some salmon or cod down... but just a little. dinner sometimes varies: I sometimes have mashed cauliflower or mashed potatoes. And then during the day I also have a scoop of unflavored Isopure zero carb Protein powder mixed into one cup of sugar free drink mix (like 4C iced tea... or Crystal Light). I don't like it much... but I want to make sure I get enough protein. Now and then I can get a low fat baked Triscuit down with some Laughing Cow Light cheese. Oh what a joy to give my teeth something to do! My teeth are lonely. I can't get chicken down... pork or ham comes back up. I'm not sure if my band is too tight or not. I see my doc this morning. I'll try to return to this thread to see if any 'veterans' can help with their own advice. I'm struggling here. Best of luck to you. It's not easy.. but we'll do this. :wink2:

Hello everyone! Just wondering if there are any other lacto-vegetarians out there? And what kind of foods are you eating post-op?

I mix soy protein powder (I don't do whey unless it's organic because I'm vegetarian) with unsweetened almond milk. The unsweetened vanilla almond milk is fabulous! I think it is the key to good tasting protein shakes.

Vegetarian huh. I tried in the past before the band. It was not to bad but now I have trouble eating fruit and stuff with my band. That is why I think some Fluid needs to come out only because some of you guys can eat stuff I can't. And I am only speaking of the healthy stuff.

Girls, I know.......I have been battling getting back on track. I did start eating fruit instead of junk. That has helped my sweet tooth. Oh, I went to support last night. Dr. Davis' wife made a healthy pizza. She grilled two kinds of squash, peppers, onion, and eggplant. Then she chopped it up and put in on a whole wheat pizza crust slathered with roasted garlic hummus. she topped it with goat cheese. It was delicious. I will definitely make one. He wants us to go vegetarian. I am not there yet. I still like a steak twice a month, not to mention chicken. I am working on it. He said if all I ate was veggies , fruits, and nuts I wouldn't gain weight. I am not training for Iron Man triathlon like he is...... get real.

Peeps, I am back from a long discussion about healthy eating. I did not know it was just for our nutrition class so there were only six of us there and Dr. Davis with his wife. His wife made the pizza. It was delish. She grilled zuchinni, yellow squash, eggplant, onion, and bell peppers. Then she chopped them up very small and piled the veggies on a whole wheat crust slathered in roasted garlic hummus. She topped it with goat cheese. I didn't eat the crust, but she had put it on the grill too. Dr. D is a vegetarian now. He said if all you eat is veggies, fruits, and nuts.......and of course exercise you will be a lot healthier. Oh, he showed us a film on how they produce the animals we consume. Kinda gross....a lot of them are diseased and they still approve them for consumption. He also said a lot of the free range chickens are not free range. I understand where he is coming from.....it will take me a while to give up my steak twice a month. Really, after seeing Jakob's steer, JZ, and knowing where it is going after thursday......kinda tough. Dr Davis said I should do Water aerobics and 10,000 steps a day. What? Just because he is training for an Iron Man doesn't mean I have to. Sorry, I forgot to get pics of him with the pizza.

Is there any particular reason why you're avoiding meat? Are you a vegetarian/vegan?

Pre surgery I tested low on D and B12...( I use sun screen, and I'm a vegetarian... ) I eat a large variety of fruits, veg and grains, so sometimes food is not enough. I was a little deprressed, and the D really snapped me out of it.

Hi All. Banded 4/26/10, outpatient. Began pre-op diet at 237 (bmi 37), weighed in this morning at 209. Depending on how I calculate the start date/weight, I'm down about a pound per week. Insurance paid 100%. No particular "guy" issues, I don't think. The whole notion of the band being a "tool" is totally on target - but I think its impossible to understand before you have one. Its not a cure - you really do have to learn how to use it, and be willing to do so. There is definitely a learning curve, and you have to be pretty thoughtful about your eating (content, timing, etc.) That said, I still get stuck about once per week, and when it happens it just sucks. I've puked in some interesting places (my mother-in-law's backyard, on the interstate while driving, in the bathroom of a home I was considering for a purchase), and it can really put a damper on the day. I've been surprised at the kinds of foods that "work" and those that don't. For example, I can still eat a bagel (well, 1/2 a bagel), but bananas and some yogurts cause problems. I eat at least one salad per day (with Beans, walnuts, other veggies, a bit of olive oil, etc) which I find very satisfying and easy to eat (I'm a vegetarian). I try to have some Protein with every meal, but I don't really count protein grams. I usually have 4 small meals (a bit less than 1 cup, by volume) of 300-400 calories each. I don't drink for 60-90 minutes after a meal (and NEVER during a meal), and try and drink 12-16 oz 10 or 15 minutes before I eat. I eat every 3 1/2 - 4 1/2 hours, and can stretch that out a bit by drinking. Diet Snapple has become my new best friend. Mostly, problems arise when I am rushed or distracted and don't concentrate on chewing, or eat too quickly. i could probably have the band tightened a bit to quicken my weight loss (8 cc in a 14 cc band), but I am committed to the idea of wanting to eat "normal foods in normal amounts", which is basically where i am. Also, I don't want to increase the frequency of vomiting. Once every 7-10 days is plenty. All in all, I am VERY pleased with the band. For the first time in my life, I can eat a meal, feel satisfied, and not be hungry again five minutes later. I feel better physically, my numbers (bp, cholesterol) are all way down, and, while I am by no means at a normal weight - yet - I look a lot better. Nice to hear from the guys on the board. Good luck to those of you who are going for it. Unsolicited advice: (1) Make sure you have your surgery performed by a reputable, well-trained physician who does A LOT of bands - practice really does make perfect. (2) Go to a practice that provides good follow-up care and support (fills, nutrition advice, moral support). This is key. (3) Don't expect a miracle - it takes work, attention, and a willingness to endure some "unpleasantness" while you're learning how this thing works. Best, Zig

It has been one month, since I had the procedure and I feel pretty good. My first fill is tomorrow and am curious to see what it is like. I was told not to eat for 2 hours before the fill. I'm sure I'll learn this tomorrow, but am wondering how are you supposed to eat after getting a fill. I am doing good with not really craving any food. I have been doing some shopping at a new, Whole Foods Market not far from me and have really enjoyed foods from their "raw" bar (vegan, vegetarian, raw & living foods). There is this cucumber-yogurt dip that is so yummy and healthy. It is delicious. I also have enjoyed healthy items from their self-serve "to-go" bar. It was pretty funny that a couple of weeks ago, I was having dinner w/a co-worker (a working meeting) and she later commented how slow I ate. I just told her that I'm changing how I eat. It was an odd moment, because I wasn't really sure how to respond. I've done really good with my exercising. At least 30 minutes at the gym at work and then I usually ride 5 miles on the old stationary bike at home. On the weekend, when I can't go to the gym, I ride the bike. ...and I am down 21 pounds since my pre-op on 08/26. :ohmy: I think that yesterday when I weighed myself and saw myself at 194.6, I couldn't help it. I got a little giddy. :frown: I think it just kindof really hit me, that I am on my way to being healthy and happy with myself. When I make it below 190, I don't know what I'll do with myself. I hope everyone else is doing good. Take care.

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 am a vegetarian, so never did Atkins, except for about 3 days about 20 years ago. I have followed South Beach as a vegetarian, and found it was the only eating plan that really removed my "addiction" feelings towards food. This made it much easier to avoid eating too much. I think that how and how much we lose weight is more than just calories in calories expended... but that appears to still be the most believed theory in the scientific world...at this point...

OMG! Could you open your second franchise here?? The closest restaurant to me has one pound hamburgers as its staple item. There are no healthy places around here. There used to be a vegetarian cafe but it didn't fly. The healthiest thing around here are Wendy's salads and they are a long way from what I need to eat now. Maybe I can be your first franchisee!:wink0: