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OP was looking for vegetarian or vegan options.... so not sure why people listed fish, crab, clams, and ham as suggestions! There's a lot of plant based proteins: Beans (including green beans, snap peas too), Nuts, Lentils, Brown Rice, Whole Wheat Pasta, Quinoa, Seitan, Soy. And don't forget darker green veggies: 1 cup of broccoli or spinach contains 5-6 grams of Protein (same amount as 1 egg). Also try chick peas and whole grains. Some vegetarian sources are cheese, milk, anything dairy really. For protein powders, I like anything in the Vega line (vegan) and pre-made shakes, I like the Komplete (vegan) and the Cocotein fruit punch (vegetarian). I hope this helps!

I am tight in the morning and mainly vegetarian so I have a protein shake every morning (premier protein from Costco 30gms for 160 cals). I was told your minimum need is half of your ideal weight so mine is 140 pounds so I need at least 70 grams a day. Most food you are eating should be protein though so what real food are you eating?

I have a tentative date for September 24th. I'm also a vegetarian. I have been including and incorporating protein powder into my diet to increase my protein levels as well as to ready myself for pre and post procedure. The problem is is that I get stomach aches and nausea from the protein powders. Is there any suggestions as to what I can try what brands so forth to help me get my protein?

@@Hipigrl welcome to sleeveland sorry about all your physical issues/surgeries with your back, foot etc they should improve gradually as you loose more weight initial 50 lb pre-op weight loss is/was great another 24 lbs post op!! you are doing great!!! continue to read the board and you will get more and more good suggestions (Vitamins etc) at the end of the only listen to your NUT!!! (me too of course) i take the bariatric vitamins these are "horse" pills, but i manage no problem some others take chewable vitamins (flinstones)?? ask your NUT for help, suggestion on what vitamins to buy ask for help with Protein choices too "vegetarian not a vegan" don't know the difference Peanut Butter eggs (can you eat?) glad you eat/like yogurt i love Fage 0% plain greek yogurt 100 calories (5 3/4 oz) i add in one sweet and low 8 blueberries (yes i count them ) mix everything together, yum yum this gives my 18 gr of protein many others eat light and fit dannon yogurt cottage cheese ever popular Protein Bars many buy the Quest bars they are very good 20 gr of protein but they can be addicting (to me, they are so yummy) calories about 180-200 cheese is great for protein is fish ok for you?? tuna fish, baked haddock?? there are probably others here that are vegatarians i always used milk with my Protein shake pre-made (with milk) a shake has 20 gr of protein my GNC has 25 gr protein but.......you can mix the powdered shake with Water i've heard you can also add some powdered protein into various foods (i don't remember what "they" said - cuz i never did that) but it sounds like a good idea helping to get more protein in if you are allowed to drink coffee - some people put in you are to a great start keep it up for the rest of your healthier, happier, longer life having your beautiful baby is a great motivator to get/stay healthy good luck kathy

I have been "heavy" my entire life, but I started getting morbidly obese about 15 yeas ago after a back injury. I had two back surgeries, first one 8/2007, second one in 11/2009. I also broke my left ankle (for the 5th time) in 10/2010. After a major foot surgery in 3/2011, I decided to go for the sleeve. About a month out from surgery, I got pregnant and abandoned my WLS plans for the time being. I had the baby (best thing ever!!) and got back on track for surgery in October of 2013. I then caught the NORO virus from my kid and spend two days sitting on the toilet and vomiting into the waste basket. That freaked me out so much that I backed off from the surgery. My back and foot pain was getting worse (one of the five screws in my foot/ankle had broken and wow, the pain has been intense!) and all the doctors were telling me it would never get better until I lost about 100 lbs. at least. At the time, I was about 330. The doctor for my foot told me that he would have to take out all the pins, put in thicker ones, and reinforce the area with steal plates. This did not sound like it was going to help get me out of pain. So, back to the bariatric surgeon. I started with this again in February of 2015. My doc put me on a diet pill to help with appetite suppression, and I lost almost 50 lbs. from March 2015 - June 2015. It took a while to get all of the insurance requirements met, but it was finally approved, and my surgery was on July1. This is my 4th week post-op, and while it has not been easy, I would not go back. I had the sleeve because I did not want to have as many issues with malnutrition as I have heard can happen with bypass. I know that I will eventually get to eat real food again, just not nearly as much, and I am so happy with the weight loss. The biggest issue I am having is getting my Protein. I am a vegetarian and the idea of drinking milk repulses me. I am not a vegan, will eat cheese and yogurt, it is just milk that grosses me out. Soy milk was not something I wanted to try, but I find the light vanilla and light chocolate is palatable. I am still experimenting with different protein supplements, but I feel confident I will eventually find one that I can get down. I have found a few suggestion on this forum that give me hope. :-)

I ate Underwood spreads (chicken, ham), Vienna sausages, and vegetarian refried beans with a little cheese or topped with low-fat sour cream. I also relied on canned tuna and chicken. I agree with a previous poster that I also continued my meal replacement/protein shakes for first several weeks for at least one meal a day.

I had it the day oprah gave it away for free, my whole office went, I wasn't impressed with it either.... But I'm just worrying about the egg first not the chicken lol!!!! My goal is to go back to vegetarianism... I was a vegan when I was a teenager and I was in the best shape then, but then when I was pregnant with my son that went out the window when all I craved was meatballs... and eventually I turned into one!!!

I am trying to not get hungrier. My weight has stalled the last few days I am stuck at 244, so I need to kick some ass the next few days and workout. I do not want to gain anything. I have been eating carbs and veggie protein like soy. I am eating about 4oz 3-4 times a day. I think this is good. My Dr. did not give the best nutritional guide other than getting protein. I am vegetarian so it's different for me. I wish I could afford a nutrionalist. Any advice on eating on the mushies would be awesome :thumbup: Breakfast today was 1 pack oatmeal and half a nanner. Lunch will likely be 4oz veg chicken Dinner 1 large veggie sausage 30 grams of protein :yikes: I know it sounds vain but I have a show on 9/25 and really want to be 230.

Part 2 Thursday is kinda blurry. I woke up early to some nurse racket. More poking and prodding was needed. At one point a nurse came in and said my surgery time was changed but I never knew what the first one was. M says around 11 they took me away, they told M to "wait here" like I would be back soon. I took the elevator in a wheel chair and the male nurse was zooming me around the hospital it felt like I was on roller skates. We ended up some bottom floor, the nurse would walk by other nurses and they would have short conversations in Spanish and then smile really big at me. I felt like Alice in Wonderland. They then helped me into a bed and sent me to a room labeled Preparatory Room. While there, I encountered about 6 nurses doing various things to me. One did my IV another put stockings on me it felt pretty unreal. I think they gave me more sedative because it all just felt super odd. I then heard Laurie through the curtain (another bandster) I was so relieved to hear English and a person I knew. I asked her what was going on and she said that she was after her mom Jenny. The nurse later told me I was last. I was kinda sad about this and waiting felt like years. Some of the male nurses seemed to be flirting with me. I am not really sure because I was high. They were just asking me things like where I lived what my job was, the ones that spoke broken English really wanted to know me they all were super smiley. The anesthesiologist scared me a bit. I kept telling her I had asthma and she said "No problem" and I was like I have bad ASMA. "Honey don't worry I love my job, if something happens we try something else this is my job, RELAX" I was a little scared she kept rubbing my shoulder. I am not sure when but somehow I dozed off and woke up to a generator revving up. All the power went off and on, it was pretty trippy but is didn't concern me. I was more obsessed with getting it over with. So finally they came and got me. I was wheeled down a long haul to the room with two giant operating lights. It's weird because this is the 3rd time I have made it this far, most people pass out before the it the operating room, but it's really cool to see. Anyway they put you on the table it's tiny feeling and it seemed like I didn't fit well on it. They then take the arms and swing them out and tie you down in a cross position. Next the nurse said "here is you oxygen, think nice thoughts" I remember thinking of the Dali Lama it was the first thing I could think of that was a sign of peace, I then went to my Yoga meditation of floating on a raft at sea. I woke up in another room. I kept on pumping my legs up to my chest and down. I felt like I couldn't talk which was very weird. I wasn't sure if I was done and no one was their but a nurse at a station. She looked at me in that way a mother looks at her child to stop fidgeting. She eventually came over and took my blood pressure. I went in and out for who knows how long. I was worried about M, I wanted to see him right that second. Eventually I was wheeled back to my room. On the way I passed Maria who was already up and walking with her IV pole (another bandster) she is like "wow, aren't you chipper" I kept saying "I was last". She said her boyfriend was worried about me. I was confused when she said this. I thought did I almost die or something, nah" M was in the room I was so happy to see him. He got me a purple teddy bear that I became fixated to. He had been waiting for me for like 6 hours. Can you imaging being him not knowing anything for that long? He is so amazing. So while blitzed out of my mind I found a tube tied to my leg. I really wanted to get up and pee. But I had a catheter in me. I should have never told the nurse I was nauseas because she would not let me out of the bed for a couple hours. Eventually she removed it. I have thing with catheters they really gross me out. She said I could not stand up until I sat up for 10 minutes. I tried really hard but it was too difficult and then my mom called. It was so great to tell her I was OK. The rest is pretty blurry. I think a doctor came and saw me. I was a pain med junky every time they came in I whined for more. At night another nurse came on and woke me up periodically to poke at me. I remember Tijuana being so loud that night. It reminded me of Vegas except you hear cars drag racing and ambulances and sirens and shouting. Their were federal police guarding the hospital with AK's so I felt pretty safe. OK more later.. Part 3 :tongue_smilie: Friday’s tale. Woke up early and was ordered to take a shower. I was still kind of out of it but felt the need to clean myself as best I could. After the shower the nurse said we had some test to take. We went and took some pink gunk and they did an x ray like deal to check the band. I guess it was good because then we were allowed to eat some food. Green jello and apple juice. Yum. JK. Soon after we were told we were checking out at noon, Mouse had not really eaten yet so I got dressed and we went across the street to TGIF Fridays. It was almost like the Americanized one. But it felt definitely Mexico. He had pancakes and I was all drugged up so I don't remember too much. Just the check was in pesos (but they take American currency) and difficult. We then we had to wait over an hour for Miguel are personal taxi guy. He took all of us bandsters to the hotel Plaza del teca hotel in central Tijuana. M and I were exhausted all the other bandsters went shopping. Around 4 o clock they delivered Jello and Apple juice to the room. As gross and non vegetarian the Jello was, I ate it. We then tried to sleep the beds were as hard as table tops. I am not sure if this is a Mexican thing, I am actually kind of curious. I could not sleep in any position and poor M was woken by my moaning. :/ We took a walk around the hotel which is known as a safe zone from the gun violence. Some tourist were by the pool and we chatted I told them I had surgery and they were all congratulating me. It was really nice especially from two men. I got uncomfortable when some wannabe looking gangster kids started hanging around. So we went back to the room and ordered room service. Jello for me and noodles for the prince. This was the first time I had to watch someone eat something that I WANTED. It's a very strange thing. Because usually I would of had the angel hair pasta. But nope I had to suffer with Jello. The next day Miguel picked us up at 9am to take us to the border. I was hoping we could make it by 10 o' clock and save 10 dollars in parking fees. The border crossing was crazy. Security has really changed and I am sure for the better but it took almost an hour and they x-rayed and checked are passports. We finally got in the car and on the road around 11. We were so ready to be home, my Mexican vacation was not much of a vacation! The drive was hard. I doped myself up the best I could and let Mouse drive. We got home around 5 and with the puppies I felt so much better apparently all my animals were very worried about me. They still have not left my side. That's about it! So day seven. I am extra sore and a little bruised last night was hard again. I had band practice and I over did it for sure. But I have lost 7 pounds in 7 days! That's so exciting. If anyone wants to lose weight go on a clear liquid diet for 3 days and then full liquid for 4 days. Apparently it's magic. I won't be eating the band diet for almost 2 more weeks. I guess that's when I will really see what is possible with it. I have to stay on liquids and then mushy foods until the band is healed. I think my first full food day is Sept 24 and I really want a small piece of pizza. LOL I know I'm bad.

Part 2 Thursday is kinda blurry. I woke up early to some nurse racket. More poking and prodding was needed. At one point a nurse came in and said my surgery time was changed but I never knew what the first one was. M says around 11 they took me away, they told M to "wait here" like I would be back soon. I took the elevator in a wheel chair and the male nurse was zooming me around the hospital it felt like I was on roller skates. We ended up some bottom floor, the nurse would walk by other nurses and they would have short conversations in Spanish and then smile really big at me. I felt like Alice in Wonderland. They then helped me into a bed and sent me to a room labeled Preparatory Room. While there, I encountered about 6 nurses doing various things to me. One did my IV another put stockings on me it felt pretty unreal. I think they gave me more sedative because it all just felt super odd. I then heard Laurie through the curtain (another bandster) I was so relieved to hear English and a person I knew. I asked her what was going on and she said that she was after her mom Jenny. The nurse later told me I was last. I was kinda sad about this and waiting felt like years. Some of the male nurses seemed to be flirting with me. I am not really sure because I was high. They were just asking me things like where I lived what my job was, the ones that spoke broken English really wanted to know me they all were super smiley. The anesthesiologist scared me a bit. I kept telling her I had asthma and she said "No problem" and I was like I have bad ASMA. "Honey don't worry I love my job, if something happens we try something else this is my job, RELAX" I was a little scared she kept rubbing my shoulder. I am not sure when but somehow I dozed off and woke up to a generator revving up. All the power went off and on, it was pretty trippy but is didn't concern me. I was more obsessed with getting it over with. So finally they came and got me. I was wheeled down a long haul to the room with two giant operating lights. It's weird because this is the 3rd time I have made it this far, most people pass out before the it the operating room, but it's really cool to see. Anyway they put you on the table it's tiny feeling and it seemed like I didn't fit well on it. They then take the arms and swing them out and tie you down in a cross position. Next the nurse said "here is you oxygen, think nice thoughts" I remember thinking of the Dali Lama it was the first thing I could think of that was a sign of peace, I then went to my Yoga meditation of floating on a raft at sea. I woke up in another room. I kept on pumping my legs up to my chest and down. I felt like I couldn't talk which was very weird. I wasn't sure if I was done and no one was their but a nurse at a station. She looked at me in that way a mother looks at her child to stop fidgeting. She eventually came over and took my blood pressure. I went in and out for who knows how long. I was worried about M, I wanted to see him right that second. Eventually I was wheeled back to my room. On the way I passed Maria who was already up and walking with her IV pole (another bandster) she is like "wow, aren't you chipper" I kept saying "I was last". She said her boyfriend was worried about me. I was confused when she said this. I thought did I almost die or something, nah" M was in the room I was so happy to see him. He got me a purple teddy bear that I became fixated to. He had been waiting for me for like 6 hours. Can you imaging being him not knowing anything for that long? He is so amazing. So while blitzed out of my mind I found a tube tied to my leg. I really wanted to get up and pee. But I had a catheter in me. I should have never told the nurse I was nauseas because she would not let me out of the bed for a couple hours. Eventually she removed it. I have thing with catheters they really gross me out. She said I could not stand up until I sat up for 10 minutes. I tried really hard but it was too difficult and then my mom called. It was so great to tell her I was OK. The rest is pretty blurry. I think a doctor came and saw me. I was a pain med junky every time they came in I whined for more. At night another nurse came on and woke me up periodically to poke at me. I remember Tijuana being so loud that night. It reminded me of Vegas except you hear cars drag racing and ambulances and sirens and shouting. Their were federal police guarding the hospital with AK's so I felt pretty safe. OK more later.. Part 3 :thumbup: Friday’s tale. Woke up early and was ordered to take a shower. I was still kind of out of it but felt the need to clean myself as best I could. After the shower the nurse said we had some test to take. We went and took some pink gunk and they did an x ray like deal to check the band. I guess it was good because then we were allowed to eat some food. Green jello and apple juice. Yum. JK. Soon after we were told we were checking out at noon, Mouse had not really eaten yet so I got dressed and we went across the street to TGIF Fridays. It was almost like the Americanized one. But it felt definitely Mexico. He had pancakes and I was all drugged up so I don't remember too much. Just the check was in pesos (but they take American currency) and difficult. We then we had to wait over an hour for Miguel are personal taxi guy. He took all of us bandsters to the hotel Plaza del teca hotel in central Tijuana. M and I were exhausted all the other bandsters went shopping. Around 4 o clock they delivered Jello and Apple juice to the room. As gross and non vegetarian the Jello was, I ate it. We then tried to sleep the beds were as hard as table tops. I am not sure if this is a Mexican thing, I am actually kind of curious. I could not sleep in any position and poor M was woken by my moaning. :/ We took a walk around the hotel which is known as a safe zone from the gun violence. Some tourist were by the pool and we chatted I told them I had surgery and they were all congratulating me. It was really nice especially from two men. I got uncomfortable when some wannabe looking gangster kids started hanging around. So we went back to the room and ordered room service. Jello for me and noodles for the prince. This was the first time I had to watch someone eat something that I WANTED. It's a very strange thing. Because usually I would of had the angel hair pasta. But nope I had to suffer with Jello. The next day Miguel picked us up at 9am to take us to the border. I was hoping we could make it by 10 o' clock and save 10 dollars in parking fees. The border crossing was crazy. Security has really changed and I am sure for the better but it took almost an hour and they x-rayed and checked are passports. We finally got in the car and on the road around 11. We were so ready to be home, my Mexican vacation was not much of a vacation! The drive was hard. I doped myself up the best I could and let Mouse drive. We got home around 5 and with the puppies I felt so much better apparently all my animals were very worried about me. They still have not left my side. That's about it! So day seven. I am extra sore and a little bruised last night was hard again. I had band practice and I over did it for sure. But I have lost 7 pounds in 7 days! That's so exciting. If anyone wants to lose weight go on a clear liquid diet for 3 days and then full liquid for 4 days. Apparently it's magic. I won't be eating the band diet for almost 2 more weeks. I guess that's when I will really see what is possible with it. I have to stay on liquids and then mushy foods until the band is healed. I think my first full food day is Sept 24 and I really want a small piece of pizza. LOL I know I'm bad.

Wow! I just watched this documentary called Food Inc. It's much of the same info as the book, Fast Food Nation. I had tried to read the book in the past but just couldn't get into it. I am so glad they made this documentary. I am pretty informed about factory farming, especially where it concerns animals. I was a vegetarian for 13 years and did my share of pamphleting, protesting, and lobbying for animals but I really didn't know the extent of the Nation's food problem until I watched this documentary. It has changed me and will change the way I shop for food. Now that I am able to eat less food, I can afford to switch my family to whole, natural, locally-produced foods and that is what I am going to do. My husband is happily on board (rare since we usually disagree on "green-hippie" issues like this). He watched the film with me and is appalled at the state of our country's food processing methods. Watch it as soon as you can! It will change the way you look at food and what you learn from it could be a good companion to your healthy new lifestyle. Meanwhile, I had another good day with the band. For breakfast, I renewed my childhood love affair with Cream of Wheat. Man, that is good stuff. I added a little varietal (blueberry) honey to it and it was incredible. Later, I made chili for dinner and just ate some of the sauce. I am still having trouble getting all my water and protein, though. My Grandma stressed me out again today and for a second, I felt the old twinge to eat my feelings away. Instead, I just sat there feeling what I felt and then I felt better. I also had a ton of energy and felt like my old self. Since my car accident, I have not been able to do all the things I used to. My house stays messy because I can't keep up with it and it that been a constant source of guilt and anxiety for me especially now that I stay at home and feel it is my job to stay on top of this house. Today, I was able to do a lot of chores and chase after my kiddo and critters for 12+ hours. I even finished cleaning 3 rooms! That hasn't happened in 2 years when, before the accident, I could clean my entire house in a couple of hours. I am really really really happy that I got the band.

If you want to cut out the fat completely, try Smart Ground in Jenna's recipe instead of the ground beef or ground turkey... it's in the tofu/soy section. It looks like ground beef, but it's vegetarian and fat free. It's great in chili because the seasonings are all that you taste instead of the tofu. I've never tried tofu in the crock pot, but I know it works great on the stove.

*~Otherwise known as "Hopeful One Day, Scared The Next"~* :hungry: Reading through erosion posts, pictures of infections, stories of slippage and removals, I sally forth to my meeting with the Psych doc and nutritionist, with what amounts to this month's rent money in hand to pay for this visit. I don't take this surgery lightly. I was actually able to have this done by a different surgeon back in the Fall. But I needed more time to make sure I was doing the right thing. Let's be honest, going under the knife to be able to lose weight is a huge step, and a serious one. I went to a support group meeting of this other surgeon and I was shocked at how quickly and without real research these people went and had this done. I was asking questions that we discuss here in the meeting none of them had a clue about. That shocked me. I guess for some the promise of being thin is enough. Not me. Yes, I am terrified of the actual surgery, going under anesthesia. (will I be that 1 in 1000 that won't wake up?) but my fears center more on what is going to happen after the surgery. Will I heal? Will I become infected? Will I get pneumonia? Will it be freaky because there is a freaking device wrapped around my stomach? Will I become dehydrated? And farther out: Will I pass out from PBing? Will I have terrible pain in my chest like some people? Will I erode? Will complications from erosion in my stomach kill me? Emotional: Will I enjoy life without my food? Will I ever be able to enjoy food again? What will life be like without being able to just drink and eat whenever and however like before? What will I do with my time without it being centered on eating and cooking? What will I do with my thoughts and emotions that can't be comforted with food anymore?? So, my first hour is with the nutritionist. I am completely overwhelmed and set on edge by this meeting. If the seriousness of this surgery didn't hit me before, then it did now. I am a vegetarian, so getting protein is going to be paramount. The fact that I will have to be on a low carb diet was not what I expected. As a vegetarian, I eat carbs in beans, whole grains, etc. From the food choices I have, it seemed to me that food enjoyment is really going to be out the window. Yogurt, cottage cheese, tofu, protein drinks. And water. That will be my diet. I was prepared for a change, but not this drastic. What unsettled me the most was the water bit. I can hold off drinking at meals, but I guzzle water. ALL DAY. I used to be very athletic and I drank and still drink over a gallon of water a day. And I chug it. When I don't get my gallon in, I feel dehydrated and can actually feel sick. SO this is a real concern for me. I just don't see how I can keep up the levels my body is used to all these years with a sip, sip ,sip sip all day. So coupled with all that I have written above, and the fact that now I am just waiting on a surgery date has me up at night. Am I doing the right thing? Will I be doing my body more harm than being fat if something goes wrong? Anxiety and fear is riding me out. But every once in a while during the day I'll see a woman who is slim and I think "I can be that now. I actually have a chance at achieving that" or see an ad for travel and think "I can vacation now and not be miserable that I am so fat" But most of all this is about getting healthy again. I can feel my body struggling and getting sick with this weight on, and I'm only going to get bigger because I am a food junkie and I have PCOS. To be continued.....

I hate meat... only ate small amount of meat before surgery but want to go vegetarian for sure now! Just worried about protein ...shakes are not working for me so eating what meat I can! I appreciate all info!

Please search for and join WLS Vegetarians on Facebook! There are more of us out there...

Well... I have to have my Gallbladder removed on Tuesday.. It's full of stones and is only functioning @ 30%. I have a constant pain on the right side under my rib cage. Sometimes when I eat I get sharp, stabbing pain.. So I'll finally give in. Did it hurt as much as the sleeve? Is it pretty much the same as the sleeve? Just going home earlier? Are there certain foods you can't eat anymore? If so, why? I've a vegetarian so I get A LOT of my Protein from cheese... will that be a problem? Any any other tidbits you would like to share... Thank You!!! -Kelli

I have tried Quorn yesterday made in a schnitzel tasted like chicken. It was delicious and has a lot of protein says it has more protein than meat. Its some sort of fungi like mushroom. Only had it once and still researching if its a good thing. So far Ive been reading good things about it. Im not a vegetarian the more protein than meat caught my eye.

I'm also a vegetarian. I've always made my own smoothies. I miss my veggies, I've been adding spinach into my purees since I hit the soft foods stage and I will occasionally add a bit of spinach to my smoothies if I'm using the powder and making my own from scratch. Since many green leafy veg also have Protein, I don't have an issue with it. I'm still losing so I don't see anything wrong with it.

I am new to posting... I have been lurking for awhile now I had my band done the day before Thanksgiving. I am leaving for a two week work trip to China on 01/05... I am not nervous about traveling. I am nervous on what I am going to eat. Per my surgeons instructions, I can not introduce vegetables until week 9 (I will only be in week 6/7 when I leave) and to complicate things more - I am a vegetarian. So basically I have been only living on eggs and cheese the past month. I know this is a tough question - but has anyone else faced anything like this? Not that it matters but I should probably say I am not a vegetarian for ethical or religious reasons, I used to get really sick from eating meat. My body did not process it well. If anyone has ever been to Shanghai - it is not easy to communicate if you don't speak Mandarin. The menus at restaurants basically have pictures with a brief description or word (if that) and you point. So saying I want two scrambled eggs.... not really an option. And it is a 14 hour flight for me so bringing a lot of food is also not an option. Any suggestions?? Anything would be appreciated!!! Thanks,

I'm supposed to have one "liquid Protein in Water - Proti-diet concentrated drink or similar" per day for two weeks following surgery (which is Monday) so I was online ordering them when I looked at the ingredients ,,,, and the very first ingredient is Hydrolyzed Gelatin. There is no way that is going into my mouth. Ever. I need another product. I've Googled it to death and can't find one. Help! There has to be one without this ingredient!

may i share my thoughts here in a non-judgemental way, please? i feel a few factors need remembering - it can be quite shocking to see the portion sizes which make for a meal for a well-restricted bandster. it is not a side-plate, it is hardly even a saucer... and while a mostly liquid life sounds grim, when i have my correct restriction, that is how i live - a small coffee goes down in stages, no glugging a full big mug anymore - nothing really till evening - maybe a nibble of a lil something - my band always opens up early evening so i am able to eat but must chew well etc - 'slider' foods can be a temptation but i love cheese so this is a big feature of my diet - am trying to be vegetarian so it helps to struggle with hard meats. beans on a small piece of toast or a can of sardines on toast is a typical meal for me. But it is such a personal thing, weight and being banded - that lifestyle works for me and i live in terror of having to lose my band and regaining - i do try to keep a grip on the fear but its just how i am - and i will admit that 5 yrs banded, i still cannot believe when i look in the mirror and see the slim me - dont jump on me - but i am stopped by strangers and told i am stunning on a regular basis - it bemuses me when i think back to the taunts and looks of repulsion at my heavier times - for me, the trade off of a very restricted life is how i look and feel now - my nails, skin n hair are in great condition - when i have an unfill (xmas and summer holiday) i enjoy a good pig out but physically my body doesnt deal well and i feel lethargic n not as healthy. I think the poster was very brave to share her situation - she wasnt promoting it as the way to live - just sharing -and i ll bet there are many readers who are silently acknowledging that what she worries about as 'starving herself' is their reality n how they live. These forums are invaluable - rightly a place to support and celebrate but of equal importance is the safe, anonymous place to expose yr demons - even typing it out can help - and if we are honest, didn't a good number of us need banding due to emotional inbalances regarding food? There are bound to be some who after banding and weightloss, just swap demons - i have. Please dont let this forum be regulated into an overly 'happy-clappy' zone - the darker, less comfortable posts are of equal and possible greater help. 5yrs banded, i know how to control my weight - i'm stil working on the other stuff good luck to you all, whatever stage yr at :thumbup:

Yeah, I actually work for the insurance company that covered my band, and I went through nutritional counseling on my own for 6 months prior to moving forward in the band process. With the coverage for the surgery itself, it was stipulated that I would pay out of pocket for an additional 24 sessions of phone nutritional counseling to make sure that I was on the right track. The counselor would go over my food tracking with me, we'd talk about introducing new foods, what worked, what didn't work, etc. It was really helpful in developing better eating skills and coping skills (I was an emotional eater, now I redirect it to walking the dogs, sewing, etc). It worked fantastically for me for about the first year, and it's only really been the last 6 months that I've had so many problems. I avoided tough meats (we were actually vegan for the first 9 months after the surgery, then slowly started adding in animal Proteins again), pastas, breads, etc with only the occasional slip up food wise. I was very tolerant, so she gave me a fill from 6 ccs to 6.5 ccs, and then I started having the issues with being stuck, PB-ing, etc. We removed the .5, and it just never went back to that sweet spot. I'd start PBing and straight up vomiting with such force that I'd end up with burst blood vessels in and around my eyes (sorry to be graphic), and never know what would trigger it. I'd go back to full liquids and mushies, and then per the nurse start trying to work those super moist animal proteins in again, tolerate them fine, and then suddenly a salad or a portion of meat that I'd tolerated before would set me off and I'd be sick again. We still review my foods, and can't find any sort of pattern. I'm as unfilled as I can be right now and had a vegetarian chili for dinner last night. I managed a quarter cup before feeling full, but when I woke up this morning I could still feel it sitting in my pouch, so I'm back to broth today. I totally hear you in saying that if that's what it takes, I'll do it... and I totally made that commitment to myself when I started this journey, expecting ups and downs, but that I'd finally settle into a routine and know what was right and wrong for me to eat. Not knowing any of that, being scared to eat, and still being at my surgery day starting weight 18 months later is finally just wearing on me to the point where I want to be done. It's a scary and very emotional place for me... I don't like it! Hopefully tomorrow's appointment will give me some answers though. Not knowing is the hardest part for me.

What about unjury Protrein shakes? I do not know much about Kosher or vegetarianism but the classic chocolate has the following ingredients. Ingredients: Whey Protein Isolate, Fructose, Cocoa powder (Alkali Processed), Natural and Artificial Flavors, Soy Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Sea Salt, Aspartame, Acesulfame Potassium, Potassium Chloride. Their website gives the ingredients to their protein powders. You can check them out and see if the ingredients are up to par for you. I hope you find what your looking for.

Hi Veg! I'm not a whole hearted vegetarian, but have been forced to take on some of the practices. I have a kidney disorder and it's better for me to limit my intake of animal Proteins. Now that I'm banded, I've found that chicken does not agree with me and I really don't want to eat nothing but red meat, so I'm getting myself back on track with a more "vegetarian" diet. I've bought probably 10 books over the last year. I've tried a bunch of products that I was not familiar with. Some were great, some not so great. My favorite find was Melissa's veggie chorizo. I find in the produce isle where you would find tofu. It's so delicious. I put it in everything from Soups to Beans to eggs. It also has a great texture. I'm also a fan of Gardenburger Portabella burgers and veggie crumbles (all in the frozen food section). My two favorite books are the "Clean Eating" books by Tosca Reno. She's not a vegetarian, but she makes some really great veggie recipes and she does a lot with tofu. Most of the books I bought have some really inventive ways to get in tofu. I love soybeans and eat them all the time. I also enjoy soy milk. My kids also like it. I sneak soy in where ever I can and my family doesn't even know. Bottom line, I will never be a hard core vegetarian, but I find I feel better limiting my animal Protein. If you want some of the titles I've already bought, just let me know. I also pick up some of the vegetarian magazines when I'm in the bookstore. They always have interesting articles and recipes. Good luck and share any interesting recipes and products you might find.

I think a nutritionist is good if it's a good one that is experienced in bariatric care. My nutritionist lead a very helpful class and has been a good sounding board. However prior to having WLS I saw 3 different nutritionist. Two were awful. One kept telling me to eat a little bit chicken. The only asked how long I had been a vegetarian and said she usually tries to talk people of out of it. The 3rd was lovely. She practiced a healthy blend of holistic and Western medicine and had no issues at all with plant based diets. Unfortunately she was also the most expensive and I had to stop seeing her.