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I haven't been on here in a few days but I wanted to give a little update. I had my 1 week post op on Tuesday & I lost 15 lbs since the day of surgery & I'm feeling GREAT!! I got to add some new foods to my diet thank goodness. Mashed potatoes, cream of wheat, scrambled egg, vegetarian refried beans, & yogurt. I must say it's a nice change to have something different lol. I got my first hunger feeling last night so I ate a sugar free popsicle. Just kind of worried me a little since it's the first time I felt that since surgery. Hope everyone is doing well & good luck to those with upcoming surgeries )

I don’t consider myself one or the other. I don’t care for labels, but I do tend to say whether the dish is a vegan or vegetarian one, as my dear friend @Apple1 mentioned. But it’s ultimately up to the person to figure out a recipe if I decide not to mention it. Also keep in mind this thread is specifically labeled Vegan/Vegetarian.

I've looked at the reviews for a lot of the popular Whole Food Plant Based books, and many of them fall short in different ways. However..... I am absolutely in LOVE with a magazine I just bought: "Forks over Knives" "63 tasty, healthy recipes." It says that it is on display until 3/6/2020. I think I bought it in a grocery store or maybe even WalMart. The color photos are great, the recipes are really good, the ingredients are not too exotic, and it has a great variety. I am making a new dish every day from this magazine. (The actual Forks over Knives Cookbook you can buy on Amazon had some negative reviews that seemed pretty valid.) But this magazine is great. I will definitely buy the next issue as well. I am gluten free and dairy free, as well, and I find that a lot of vegetarian cookbooks/recipes just don't work for me. Plus, there is the bariatric angle. This magazine is chock full of very adaptable recipes. I can substitute GF ingredients quite easily, and for low carb, you just need to avoid the pasta recipes. (I don't worry about the pasta or grains anymore, as I am in maintenance and have a hard enough time keeping my weight on right now. )There are no macros listed, as WFPB relies on the overall, healthy nutritional value of the food, rather than calculating macros. I do, however, calculate the calories and protein in each recipe I make, just to give me the confidence that I am on track bari wise. Anyway, pick up an issue. Price was $9.99 and worth every penny. You could probably also get it online. The sub title is "Winter's Best Soups" and has a picture of a bowl of soup on the cover.

Im vegetarian because of my belief in Karma...... its all down to self discipline..... Its not as hard as you think..... other than learning what foods you cant eat....

such good ideas! except for the greek yogurt... I don't know why but that stuff is totally gross to me.... but it's kind of reassuring that it's difficult to eat red meat because as an ex-vegetarian the only meat I will eat is turkey and chicken and I won't be missing anything. Do you have anyone else in your house? if so, have they been open to eliminating all the junk food? I worry that my husband won't be able to change as drastically as I am and will either resent not having junk food or bring it in the house anyway.

So, as I sit here 5 months out, complication-free, and so happy I had this surgery, I have been thinking about meat. I love meat- any and all kinds. My pouch, not so much. Tried them over and over in all different manners and they just don't agree. chicken is about all it will tolerate. Any beef is absolutely out of the question and while I'm sad about not enjoying it any longer, especially a good rare juicy steak, oh well. I have my life back! That far outweighs any issues of sadness over it. The thing is- I would be completely fine not having meat again. I'm not talking becoming a vegetarian/vegan or anything like that. I still love meat-based broths and Soups, start my spaghetti gravy with neck bones etc. So, other than the occasional bites of chicken as my Protein, I rely upon eggs, milk, cheese, lots of yoghurt, and Beans as my protein sources. Anyone else had similar experiences? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I didn't consider bypass, though my surgeon would have preferred it for me because I my endoscopy showed some small ulcers and reflux. I was adamant I wanted the sleeve. I was worried about the malabsorption - really worried. I already have a harder time getting everything I need from my diet because I am vegetarian (well, post-surgery I don't because all the supplements I take, but I used to). And I have the PCOS thinning hair - I know that hair loss can be a problem with bypass and malabsorption, and I was terrified to lose more hair. (I am getting a little more hair left in the comb now - but I believe the 3-6 month hair loss common with WLS is due to the anaesthetic, and is not permanent. At least that's what I'm hoping.)

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

Hi Alysha I am also getting banded by DR Joya Jun 12 and post on his board also....My son saw a film in Social Studies 2 mos ago and he became an instant vegetarian..I am trying to get him to eat fish....So since meat is a problem...I decided I may go the same route I would be happy to any person already banded to share some favorite recipies that are band friendly....Linda

@@Vsg_lma @@AvalonNeeCee @@jas84047 @@rainnie1976 @@nads64 @@Heatherrc1 @@Cubancountrygirl @@thinner-me @@bnm4 @@faithful @@rainnie1976 @@nevadapinkprincess @@LauriTX75 @@wheezysmom @@lorilove @@ExcitedButNervous @@Jessicacherry3 @Nurse52 @@jjbowersock @@mgilleo @@lorilove @@Vsg_lma @@mataz78 @@evett @@laceygorrell @@Tricebhasstyle @@AYRW71 @Mention @@nataliearias @@Remix @@Bullydog Mom @@MaryPh @@marypups @@oceanlover I tried to tag everyone but I only made it to page 16 before I got bored. Anyway, some of us are hitting one year today, and some later in the month like myself. How is everyone doing? At goal? Still working towards goal? Are you exercising? Have you switched to any diets like vegetarian, vegan, Keto, Or Paleo? How happy are you with your sleeve? How has your life changed?

A Little About Me: Well for starters, I am the youngest of three girls. My sisters are tall, thin, beautiful, and married with children. I am none of these things. I am the smart one or the funny one! That’s a laugh. My Dad tells me “If you could just lose some weight you would be so pretty.” Ya, that helps. My Mom says, “If you lost a little weight you would be so happy” Okay news flash, I like myself! Growing up no one ever picked on me or told me that I fat. In fact I really never knew that I was. The only thing my sisters ever said was that it was “baby fat” and it would go away. Looking back now ya “baby fat” usually is gone by the time you are in high school. Mine was not. I don’t really ever remember being skinny. I have always loved my body and its curves, but I was never thin. And I don’t ever remember NOT being on a diet. Ladies and Gentlemen, I am 26 years old and have been on a diet my whole life! WOW that’s scary!!!! For the last few years I have been a vegetarian and more recently a vegan, because who has ever seen a fat vegan, well again look right here because I am one. I am finally to the point that I have too loose weight; it’s my life we are talking about here. I get winded after walking a few flights of stairs, that’s truly sad. I am now saying something out loud that my mind has been screaming for years, “I am fat, I Am Fat, FAT FAT FAT!!!” Now that I have recognized the problem I can do something about it!!! My breaking point came when a friend of mine wanted to go to Vegas, and do that in door sky diving simulator, and I really wanted to do it but I didn’t meet the weight requirements, so I told her that I was afraid. I didn’t want to tell her that I was to fat to do it. Now this summer we are going to Mexico and my friends (who are all size 2) want to do that canopy thing, where you are harnessed on a pulley thingy and soar above the trees, well again I am too fat but, I have 5 months to do something about it and now it’s on! Lap Band is the tool that I have chosen to help me fight my obesity (Wow! Now that’s a scary word). I have taken the first step, I when to a seminar Saturday February 16, 2008. My first appointment is this Tuesday and I can’t wait. This will be the last year that I am Fat and unhealthy. I want to find the skinny girl inside. More To Come!!!

Good idea. A few years ago I found a chicken wandering the streets of NYC near my office (odd, right? Thinking it was an escapee from the butcher). Not wanting it to get mowed down, I put it in my car and brought it home, then drove it to an animal sanctuary upstate. It was easily 3x the size of the other chickens. While I may not be using this as an opportunity to cleanse my body of DC, I am thinking of going vegetarian. My spouse is a vegetarian and we plan on bringing our kids up vegetarian.

I’ll be hitting 5 months post op later this month. I haven’t been active at all until this week but my weight loss has been steady (minus November, -6lbs that whole month smh). Labs were normal at my 4 month check up and my surgeon is happy with my progress. My next appointment is at 9 months post op and I can’t imagine the changes that will happen between now and June. Also I’m down 72lbs since surgery so far. I don’t eat much, actually I’m transitioning to vegetarianism because eating meat is no longer enjoyable to me. I guess this means I have to cook more. I’m currently training for a quarter marathon and I believe that this will help me reach onederland in 12 weeks. I have a half marathon in September and October, my first full marathon is in December. Goals: “overweight” BMI at 6 months post Run more than I walk Complete “insanity” workout Consume balanced high protein vegetarian meals I’m ready to crush it this year

OH this makes me happy to hear Yeah, I make a bad vegetarian, I like meat WAY too much. Great job and congrats.

Hi everyone! I'm not vegetarian but LOVE Tofu. Now that I can eat solids - I'm wanting some. Does anyone have any good easy recipes? I make one that's really good. Cube the tofu. Fry in olive oil, then make up Frank's Red Hot sauce & butter to make a sauce, shake the tofu in it. Makes it like buffalo wings. Yummy! Would love to hear what you all do with tofu! Thanks!

some typical meals for me are.... - cinnamon start Protein Cereal by Archer Farms (Target) with skim milk - scrambled eggs (egg beaters) with cheese, onions, peppers, sometimes ham added - Morningstar Farms sausage patty (vegetarian) with egg beaters and cheese on top of it - tuna salad or chicken salad, about 2 ounces piled high on one Wheat Thins Flatbread Cracker - 1 cracker, same type as above, spread with cream cheese, and put 1/2 slice of American cheese on it and then 1-2 ounces of turkey breast (this is so yum!) - chili or Hormel White Chicken Chili (yuuummmm) with some shredded 2% milk cheese - pizza made on 1/2 a Flat-Out Fold-it - either with Marinara, turkey pepperoni and 2% Italian cheese blend.... or made with light alfredo, chicken breast, and the same cheese. I use a toaster oven to cook them. 22ish grams of protein depending which pizza. I think the alfredo comes out at 26 grams. - grilled shrimp skewers - grilled beef skewers - chicken breast tenders (not breaded or anything, just plain chicken but they are the tenders size instead of whole breast) made in the crock pot with some kind of campbells soup. Stays very moist. - Turkey meatballs - italian style - made in crock pot with mushroom soup - Turkey meatballs with a little marinara and parmesan cheese on top of them - light 2% string cheese and a slice of turkey breast - light string cheese and a handful of nuts - 3 tyson chicken nuggets with a tiny bit of light ranch dressing for dipping - a Friday's slider burger (freezer section) with top half of bun removed - shrimp cocktail!!! high protein and low everything else. About 6 shrimp, served chilled with a little cocktail sauce. - 1/2 a MINI sized cinnamon bagel with either cream cheese or Peanut Butter on it - 1/2 a banana, cut into slices, with peanut butter on each slice This is all I can think of right now. I frequently post about my foods on my blog: Health & Happiness

Tofu and tempeh are great sources of protein. Same for beans and lentils. Some green leafy vegetables can supply iron. I am not vegetarian but I do not eat a lot of meat for health reasons.

Hi all, I am new here From what I have read everyone seems very supportive and wonderful! I am 20 days post op from the DS Loop and I am a vegetarian. Anyone have any good recipes to share that is still "Soft foods" I am sick of soup haha Thanks in advance!

There isn't as much protein in beans and cheese as you'd think (well compared to animal proteins). I am a vegetarian so I eat it pretty regularly. You also might want to watch the carbs as beans can be high in carbs (if your doctor has a carb limit). I use vegetarian, fat free beans with low fat cheese. I also add a Tbsp of salsa and a 100 calorie guac pack now that I am several months out. It makes a very filling lunch. I was dreaming of refried beans after my surgery. I couldn't wait and wanted it to be my first real food. I was all set and ready but then I had an apt with my doctor and it turns out that I had read my paperwork wrong and I wasnt going to be able to have beans for 3-4 more weeks (my doctor had pretty strict post op diet rules). I waited and was in heaven when I was finally able to eat them. I also do sides of refried beans and guac when we go out to dinner.

Yum!!!! I just made this vegetarian recipe. Kind of threw it together on my own getting the idea and ingredients from another recipe. So I sautéed an onion, mushrooms, sun dried tomatoes, and kale. Added salt and pepper and feta cheese. Didn’t even think about garlic...man, that would have been good. Anyway, I whisked some eggs and thinned it out with some almond milk. Sprayed the muffin cups and filled them with the veggies and added approximately 1/4 cup of the eggs in each cup, maybe a little less. The first batch I put the cheese on top (see pic). The second batch I mixed the cheese with the veggies for more we’ll rounded tasting bite. Baked for about 20 min on 350. My thrown together recipe made 24 of them. They’re cooling off and waiting to go in the freezer. I managed to try one (I say that cause I had already eaten) and did but without being super uncomfortable (I still haven’t learned!!!). It is sooooo good. Nice and easy meal prep for breakfasts, that’s for sure!

My surgeon believes in "starve 'em into submission". I'm on clears for 2 weeks. Then 2 weeks of full liquids/pureed/mushies (nothing with more texture than baby food), then week 5, I get to have soft Proteins and other very soft foods and transition to solid proteins. For rachaele1, here's what I'm allowed: liquid Diet 1-2 weeks post op clear broth or soup (no veggies, meat or poultry) Protein powders (soy , whey) sugar free Carnations Instant Breakfast Non-fat powdered milk Skim Milk or 1% SF popsicles SF Jello SF, Non-Carbonated drinks or Water less than 5 calories/serving drinkable yogurt - low fat, SF pureed Foods 3-4 weeks post op Slightly textured foods, consistancy of baby food. Eat pureed protein rich foods first then veggies, and fruits Pureed skinless chicken or fish Cooked Pureed veggies Low fat or fat free yogurt Low fat Cottage cheese Low Fat Ricotta Cheese Vegetarian Fat Free Refried Beans Low Fat Cream Soups Mashed potatoes w/ no milk or butter (not a good source of protein) Soft Foods - 5 weeks post op Very tender cooked foods, cut into tiny eraser sized pieces and chewed well eggs or egg subsitute Fish (tuna, shrimp, white fish, crab) Chicken (white meat, skinless) Turkey (white meat, skinless) Lean Beef (round or loin, ground beef >90%lean) Lean Pork (tenderloin) Low Fat Deli meats Beans Peanut Butter (use sparingly) I'm having a lot of chicken broth warmed up with a scoop of Any whey Protein powder (17g protein), and I have lots of ready to drink protein drinks, Labrada Lean Body chocolate Ice Cream, Whey Up berry, Isopure Green Tea, Isopure Lemon Black Tea, CytoSport Tangerine, CytoSport Watermelon, New Whey Protein Bullets Fruit Punch, and a few protein powders, IDS Multi Pro Whey Belguim Chocolate, and a few samples left over from my Protein Sampler pack from last June. Yeah, it's overkill, but I didn't want to get cranky because I was tired of drinking the same thing all the time, 2 weeks pre-op and 2 weeks post op, so LOTS of flavors. What I don't use in the first 2 weeks, I'll use just to supplement proteins, and my DH is planning to have a band done too, so he'll use them too. I discovered during my recuperation from last year that the unflavored protein powder (I use Any Whey) is awesome! I'd mix it into whatever soup I was having and get a nice protein boost. Just remember, your major goal for the next 4-6 weeks is to allow your stomach to heal around the band. If you don't stress it, you'll really reduce your chances of a slip later on. Ok, that's information overload! Always Hunzi

Bread, Brocolli, Pasta, rice and tortilla's...............Beans sometimes but if I eat them slowly......I need them for protiens since I am vegetarian. But yea sliders go down easy all the time so you have to have willpower and stay away from them. The band won't stop sliders............... I wasn't lifting anything for a couple of weeks not even my cats. To sore...........I would have help around if you have babies.

Watermelon, cantaloupe, and strawberries, spinach salad, avocados, asparagus....this is what i crave now!!! I swear, for the first time in my life I could be a vegetarian.....talk about bad timing. I'm staring at the protein shakes right now trying to convince myself to go drink one....I'm only at about 45 for protein today. Bleh! HW 312, pre-op (lap-band) 294, pre-op (RNY) 255, surgery date 2/11/13, goal weight 154, current weight 221.6

Thanks L8bloomr - truth is I don't do the rants and raves bc its usually a useless battle. Everyone has their own opinion and I doubt what I have to say will change anyone elses. But abortion is something I feel strongly about. I also feel very strongly about Jesus, being a Christian is so misunderstood. I get so tired of everyone who has strong moral values as being thrown into the radiacal right wing group. Jesus wasn't like that at all. He was friend to sinners - and yes I'm a Christian but I'm a sinner too. Only by Gods grace am I forgiven. If we each look deep into our souls and find out what kind of forgiveness we are capable of - can you forgive the rapist? Can you forgive the molester (I've been there), can you forgive the husband or boyfriend who cheated on you? (been there) How about the drunk driver who killed your best friend or brother? How about that officer gossiper who told everyone you had lapband surgery? Petty when we think of it, but it hurt just the same. If we can forgive any of these people who have hurt us - just think how much more God can forgive us. Can we love the homosexual? I should hope so since most of us have them in our family! What is sin? Did God send down a list of things we can't do because its SIN? No, God sent down a list of things that will bring pain and destruction to our lives. When God says don't commit adultry is it bc he doesn't want us to have a 'good time' , no, its bc he knows it will bring pain, hurt, confussion, destruction to the relationship. When God says don't kill we interpret it however it suits us. Someone says we are hyprocrites bc we still kill animals to eat - well thats their interpretation and aparently haven't read any of the other scriptures that tell us to eat the meat. I dont' have a problem is a vegetarian, good for them, but I like meat (Lord knows I like all food or I wouldn't be on LBT) - do I have a problem with gluttony? you bet I do - yep I'm a sinner but I'm also a Christian who has accepted Jesus Christ as her savior (savior means He alone can save me from hell by forgiving me of my sins). Thats my story and I'm sticking to it. Goodnight and farewell.

I am a vegetarian, I eat protein with every meal, I eat around 4 meals and a snack or two most days. Right now Im at around 1300 a day, but will eat some exercise calories back as well...This is NOT the TDEE plan...I am not eating enough for that right now. I did really well eating 1800 a day, and actually was NOT hungry during that time,I ate what I eat now, just added a meal. I also worked to get in more protein, protein drinks, greek yogurt, seitan, TVP... around 90 gms of protein a day. I use MFP and according to that, I eat too much protein, not enough carbs and too much fiber. According to TDEE, I should have been eating around 150gms of protein. No Way could I do that. So I cant really say I was following the TDEE plan all the way... I did start lifting weights twice a week, eating more protein, getting more calories... I did not do a full reset... I did go up almost 500 cals a day and stayed there for weeks...then made a cut to lose 1 pound a week (which I did not do) then another cut to lose 1 1/2 pounds a week, which showed up on the scale a little bit and thats where I am now. I think I will try to go to full reset this summer, but I am so afraid I will gain the 8-10 pounds they say might happen, and I wont be able to get them off. This 18 pounds I gained (actually 20...but 2 are back off) has been a huge bit*h to get off, its been 4 months and I have lost 2 pounds. I look and feel pretty good, don't hate how I look, just don't want to slip up and gain another 20...that would be really sad.