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I am fat for a few reasons. Mygrandmother and mother were/are overweight, and I was as a child. I maintained being only 50 lbs overweight in highschool by smoking cigarettes. I am big enough now for surgery because I quit smoking (yay! Nov 25th,2006) and I also choose to become a vegetarian for a year and a half but I was too lazy to learn to cook so that diet came with a lot of cheesy carbs and sugar and the pounds came on quickly when eating a diet of mainly fast food low in protein. (It was my choices, not necesarilly being vegetarian). I've had sometimes where I wonder where I'd be if I hadn't quit smoking, but I am so glad I did. It is so digusting and I've watched so many family members DIE from it, so if that was the first step to getting healthy maybe everything happens for a reason..and it lead me to band land. It feels good to admit it all, and write it down. It's the first time I've actually said it out loud, I needed to take a little personal responsibility. Thank you.

Has anyone read "Eat right for your blood type"? He points out that blood types developed as people spread over the earth. One reason he says that Asians can eat a lot of rice is because they have primarily and 'A' blood type, which does well on carbs and vegetarian based meals. Type 'O' (which is the main one) does much better on a low carb-high Protein diet. I'm not a stickler for either of the low g.i. verses the low carb arguments. I don't necessarily buy into the blood type diet, but I think over all, each has a lot of truth to it and somewhere in the middle is possibly the key.

I'm sorry, but I have to agree with folks who've said it's a sub place, and you really can't expect them to lower the price because you can't eat the roll. Also, as a few have said, there are alternate choices there. I can't imagine someone on Adkin's going into McDonald's and wanting a hamburger for less because they can't eat the bun. When I was a teen, I worked at McDonald's and occasionally we had vegetarian customers who wanted a Big Mac w/o the meat. They never expected a reduced price either. What is inexcusable is the server's comments to you. ""He snaps back at me "we are not Lap Band friendly". My DH insisted on walking out. As we were leaving, the server said to his friend "that's disgusting"". I would report that to the manager and the district manager.

It's always awkward when you want something out of the normal. I am vegetarian and only like certain vegetables, I have always ordered something different that what is officially stated on the menu! I normally just stick to places that I can order off the kid’s menus. No one as yet has refused me I also have a card with a picture on it of the gastric band I think people are squeamish and just wanna stop looking at the picture :bolt: If there is no kiddies menu I either throw it away or ask for it wrapped. I am quite loose with my band at the moment and can't get my next fill till the 3rd so not much left over’s at the moment lol Still not gaining and that’s all good XX

LOL - in our neck of the woods; cow, duck, deer. Caribou? DH wouldn't even know one if he was sitting on it - LMAO!!!!:crying:...I'm afraid we'd become vegetarians....See that carrot, potato, peanut - you dig up, me cook. (beating my chest and pointing towards the field).

I have tried about 20 different kinds, pre mixed, powdered, power shots, etc, and have about 15 more to try. I have probably spent 60-70 dollars on samples. I've only gotten things that come in single serve or sample packs, so that limits the selection a little. I am not normally a big Health food fan, I go to a farmers market, and use a specialty butcher, but that's fresh food as opposed to health food. Anyway, Spiru-tein that I found at a health food store where I buy my fruit is really good! I figured I'd pay 1.50 each for a couple single serve packs, and they'd be mediocre at best, but the Chai latte, cappuchino and black cherry chocolate were all really good. I went back and got big containers of each of those, as well as a few different flavors in the sample size. I was amazed that a health food store would have that many Protein drinks and such. FYI- they are vegetarian and Kosher, if anyone is looking for that. My husband makes fun of me because I have a little grid setup for my taste reviews. But it is so subjective, what one person will like and what other people will like is not always the same. Just look at any of the threads on here about the Protein Drinks, people saying smething is great, then someone else says it tastes like "fruit flavored feet" which is an actual quote. Anyway, I recomend trying for your self, what others like won't neccisarily work for you. Some of the recomendations I got were HORRIBLE to me, but plenty of others like it.

thankgod for mens chat, came in here just to see what it was like, too much testosterone for me, what with elk, wild boar and deer meat, thank god i have chosen to become vegetarian, bring on the tofu sausage, and the not turkey, and not bacon. good luck with your journeys boys. Jo.

i had rice and eggs because i am a vegetarian and my doc includes these in mushy food for a vegetarian

so, i havent been exercising, aside from the walk to and from my office and here and there on campus. im a graduate student, and with classes having just started and my part-time job, i havent had time. today, however, i will be headed back to curves. hopefully it will help restart the weight loss. as far as what i eat...a lot of what i ate before, only less. having spent 15 years as a vegetarian, im accostomed to eating hummous, tofu, etc. i have been on a mashed potato kick...ive had them at least every other day. today, for provided lunch, there were sandwiches. so, i just picked the tomato, onion, cheese and turkey off of the bread. for me, i think its just going to be a change in quantity that should lead to weight loss. the quality of food ive always eaten isnt crap. i rarely ate fried foods...drank mostly diet sodas...and wasnt a candy addict. yet, no matter how i tried, i was always overweight. in the past, i even tried alli...without success, as it rids the body of calories from fats...which i never really had any excess of.

Hi there, In October 2006 I went to see my GP for a minor problem and he told me about the gastric banding operation and how it worked. He scheduled an appointment with the surgeon and I was booked a month later for the surgery. I weighed 187kg. I looked up everything I could on the internet and was fully informed by the time I entered the hospital for the operation. I had to undergo a series of tests to see if I was suitable to undergo the operation. Heart tests, blood tests and even a psychological assessment. Everything was fine and I was given the go-ahead. I would have to pay for the operation myself as my medicare considered this "vanity surgery". I had to take out a loan but I reckoned it would be worth it in the end. On the 6th November I had my operation. Everything went fine, no complications. They didn't fill my band at that stage. That would happen 6 weeks later. My 5 small incisions healed quickly and painlessly. Apart from some minor post operative pain which lasted a few days, the procedure was a success. I found no difference in my eating habits after the operation and looked forward to my first bandfill, scheduled for the week before Christmas. My weight loss began almost immediately after my first bandfill. The port, just under my skin on the left hand side of my upper torso, just below my left breast was easily accessible and my surgeon just did the fill in his rooms. He didn't charge me once for visits or bandfills for a year as he considered me to be his "experiment". I was put in touch with a support group called "the Bandits": People who had had the operation and who met once a month to commiserate with each other!! Some had lost up to 100kg. They are a wonderful group and I don't know what I would have done without their support. After my first fill, I found the restriction had halved my intake. At that stage, there was no food that I couldn't eat, I could just eat less of it. My weight went down very slowly - about 3-4kg per month. This wasn't quick enough for me and so I went back for another fill in February. That was better. Suddenly things changed. There were certain foods that I just could not get down. meat was one of them. I couldn’t eat any meat, chicken or fish. OK, so I was destined to become a vegetarian. Not a problem. I didn't like meat that much anyway. (Gross part coming - skip this if you are sensitive) I also found that if I ate something that didn't agree with me I would produce a lot of "slime". A mucous like substance that would make me be sick. It was not like a proper vomit, but rather just a regurgitation. It didn't hurt, but wasn't nice to deal with. These episodes lasted anything from 5 -15 minutes. It helped me decide what was easy to eat and what wasn't. (Gross part over). I had no problems with dairy products (cheese, cheese and more cheese), carbohydrates (biscuits were wonderful), bread was OK, and vegetables. Some fruits worked and some didn't. Ate a lot of pulses (Beans, lentils etc). By the end of February I had lost 22kg. Then I was diagnosed with a benign brain tumour and had to undergo brain surgery. After a few months recovery from the surgery I didn't go back for my fill. I regained about 10kg. I must at this stage say that the band never gave me any pain or discomfort. The port was inconspicuous and didn't even feel it. The whole procedure was painless and the fact that it was reversible gave me confidence that if anything got stuck or did cause pain, I could go to the surgeon and he would just unfill me until it sorted it self out. I haven't had to resort to this yet, but the knowledge that the option is there made me feel better. In March 2008 I thought I had better go back and get filled again and made a conscious decision to make this band work for me. A fill took me back to the level I was before my brain op and I began losing about 3-4kg a month again. Not quite satisfied with that I went for another fill in May and at last I got my "sweet spot". I went on a liquid diet for about 2 weeks before I began to eat soft solids and gradually moved onto harder solids. Once again no meat. I have had the slime episode a couple of times but know now how to deal with it. I also get wind that appears to be trapped in my stomach below my band. A few tummy pats usually dislodges it with a burp. The secret is not to eat and drink anything until you have dislodged the wind, or it traps the food in your pouch and the wind cannot escape. This can be painful. This time around I did get bad heartburn (which I hadn't had before). The other girls in my support group recommended a small pill that helps control the stomach acid and that has worked well. You learn what you can eat and can't eat and it is not the same for everyone. I have had my band in for nearly 2 years now and have never had any ill effects. I have a surgeon who is supportive and offers his assistance whenever he can, sometimes free of charge. I have a wonderful support group, some of whom have become good friends. I have lost over 50 kg. That "magic number" of 150 kg on the scale has finally been broken and I weigh less now than I did 10 years ago. I feel so much better, so much more active and my self esteem has risen tremendously. I am still losing and all I can say is that anyone who is considering this method of weight loss and for whom nothing else has worked. GO FOR IT!!! It's worth it. Bianca (Sherbrooke)

Protein doesn't have to be meat. Where do you think vegetarians get it from? Not calcium either. A variety of legumes, pulses and beans will give you a good protein intake. Also, we don't need to have as much protein in our diet as most people think. Shouldn't be more than the size of your own palm.

Hello everyone! I know all about the plateau's from hell. I went through a 3 month plateau not too long ago. Sure, I lost a couple of pounds here and there, then gained them and lost them again. Sooooo frustrating!! I am finally losing again!!! Hallelujah! I have been doing low carb. It's really hard, but it's just about the only way I lose. I've tried eating a balanced diet, even became a lacto ovo vegetarian for a while....none of it worked. I am going to try my best to stick with low carb until I get to goal and then add in healthy carbs to maintain. I have also upped my water intake and that seems to be helping too. Oh, and running my butt off, lol. Running has been a bigger issue for me than the food. I am determined to run that 5k in October. I am finally starting to feel healthy again. It's great! This is probably going to sound weird, but I'm kinda glad I had that long plateau. Why? I noticed that during my plateau, my loose skin got tighter. I don't know how, but it did. Maybe I was losing inches or maybe my body just needed to catch up with the weight loss. Don't get me wrong, I still have a lot of skin and I know I will need plastic surgery afterwards, but it's nice that is has tightened up some for now. Strange, right? Anyway, for all you who are on a plateau right now....don't give up!! It will eventually start coming off again. You may need to change up your diet and exercise to get it jumpstarted. Good luck everyone and have a wonderful week!!

thanks for the info. I only have a slight nagging pain on my left side. I am sticking to liquids but they go down no problem. Hopefully, i'm ok. I think I'm sticking to fish and vegetarian life style for a bit.

Thanks for the info 2GoodDogs. My exercise routine: MWF 30 minutes on a recumbent bike plus weight training. TTH 45 minutes on the bike only. Diet: MetRx MRP for breakfast (sometimes a serving of oatmeal, with honey) Snack: Sugarfree Jello or Sugarfree Jello Pudding, sometimes a serving of applesause or some type of fruit Lunch: Something vegetarian plus protein or if I'm in a hurry I'll have a Clif Builder's Bar (20g protein) Dinner: Sometimes soup but usually whatever my wife cooks for the kids: I just have a smaller portion. Before bed: 20g to 40g MetRx protein. Sometimes Beverly International protein or Universal. Vitamin: Bariatric Advantage wafers. Water: Throughout the day and especially after protein. I sometimes feel that 80 pounds in 3 months may be too much, but on the other hand I'm glad it's gone! :omg_smile:

I had emerged from a childhood of being obese as a slim size 6 teenager vowing never to be fat again. A decade later I was bigger then ever. There was no one specific event that made me decide that having the Lap Band placed was the right decision for me, rather it was all of the small indignities that were becoming common place in my life. There were many, but with each new indignity I became more hindered in my ability to live the type of life that I wanted to. At first not being able to cross my legs was just something that I would have to live with. Then I had to start looking for seats without arms, which made going to a movie an anxiety producing event. Eventually shaving my legs became a feat worthy of a contortionist. I was actually grateful that my then year old son was a late walker, as I could not fathom chasing after a toddler I couldn’t understand why I was so fat. I had been a vegetarian for almost 15 years I was insulted whenever a complete stranger or doctor implied that I must be scarfing down whoppers and fries. Of course I knew the answer, I just ate too often and too much.I ate when I wasn’t hungry, I ate when I was sad, I ate when I had a argument with my husband, I ate when my feelings had been hurt because I had been ostracized due to my weight. After delivering my son in May 2006 I weighed in at 375 pounds, six months later I was down to 330 and the scale wouldn’t go down from there. Both my mother and my husband asked why I couldn’t just lose weight on my own again. I could never express what I felt, inside “Why ? When I won’t be able to keep it off ?” At that time I went to an information session at my local hospital, I decided that night that I much preferred having the Lap Band placed instead of either RNY or the Duodenal Switch, the only three surgeries preformed there. I also learned that I would have to wait until I was at a least a year post par tum to have the surgery, the hospital’s policy. I would love to say that during the interim between the information session and my surgery eight months later I changed my eating habits and started a healthy new lifestyle, but in reality I ate like I was going to the chair. I went for all of the prerequisite exams and learned what I was truly doing to my health. I was at the cut off point for not needing a Cpap machine, my heart was enlarged, I had horrible GERD, and my joints ached constantly. Yet I couldn't stop eating. Still when I received a call on July 26, 2007 saying that there was a cancellation with my surgeon and I could have my surgery in a mere 5 days I balked. “Could I really do this?” Resoundingly the answer that came from within was “YES I CAN ” I told my skeptical spouse and mother my decision and turned into a shrew waiting for my surgery day. I weighed in at 342 pounds the day of my surgery. The band has been an amazing tool in my life giving me a sense of satiety that I never had before. I have had success with my band because I keep reminding myself of my inner voice that told me I could when the closest people to me were skeptical. I walk 90 minutes a day at least 5 days a week and follow the Bandster rules. Today I weigh 212 pounds and am 47 pounds away from my goal. I will get there, although it is getting more difficult to lose. The quality of my life is so much better and instead of learning to live with indignities I am finding non scale victories NSVs)everywhere... :thumbup:

Check out: AgingSkinNet Article - What Causes hair Loss? Stress and Hormones Physical stress. Significant hair loss can occur after a major surgery... Hormones fluctuate. A dramatic change in hormone levels can cause hair loss – especially in women. Hair loss is common during menopause ...usually temporary and hair re-growth occurs with time... Diet Weight loss. Even people losing weight in a physician-monitored program can experience some hair loss 3 to 6 months after losing more than 15 pounds. This hair loss is common, and hair growth does return to normal. Vitamin A excess. Getting too much Vitamin A through vitamin supplements or medications can lead to hair loss. Once the body no longer has an excess of vitamin A, normal hair growth resumes. Protein intake too low. When the body does not get enough protein, it conserves the protein it does get by shifting hair growth into the resting phase. Within 2 to 3 months, the person usually sees visible hair loss. This can be reversed and prevented by eating enough protein. meats, eggs, and fish are good sources. Vegetarians can increase their protein intake by adding nuts, seeds, and Beans to their diet. Iron intake too low. Consuming too little iron can lead to hair loss. Good vegetarian sources of iron are iron-fortified cereals, soybeans, pumpkin seeds, white beans, lentils, and spinach. Clams, oysters, and organ meats top the list of good animal sources of iron. Eating disorder. An eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia can lead to hair loss. Medication Prescription medications that can cause hair loss include: Blood thinners High-dose vitamin A Medicines that treat arthritis, depression, gout, heart problems, and high blood pressure Birth control pills. Some women taking or discontinuing birth control pills experience hair loss. This usually occurs in women with an inherited tendency toward hair thinning. Hair Care Practices Hair cosmetics. Frequent bleaching or permanents can cause the hair to break. Regular or improper use of dyes, gels, relaxers, and sprays also can cause hair breakage. Dermatologists recommend limiting use of these hair cosmetics to reduce hair breakage. Blow dryers, flat irons, and similar devices. Frequent use of a blow dryer tends to damage hair. The high heat from a blow dryer can boil the Water in the hair shaft leaving the hair brittle and prone to breakage. Allowing the hair to air dry and styling it only when dry will lessen this risk. Dermatologists also recommend limiting the use of flat irons, which straighten hair by using high heat, and other devices such as curling irons. Hairpins, clips, and rubber bands. When used to hold hair tightly, hairpins, clips, and rubber bands can break hair. When selecting hairpins, dermatologists recommend choosing one with a smooth, ball-tipped surface. Hair clips should have spongy rubber padding where they make contact with the hair. To minimize hair breakage, use loosely fitting clips and wear them in different areas of the scalp so that hair breakage is not localized in a specific area. Rather than using rubber bands for ponytails, try fabric scrunchies, which loosely hold the hair. Certain hairstyles. Years of wearing hair in a style that pulls on the hair such as a ponytail, cornrows, or braids can cause a type of hair loss known as traction alopecia. Too much or vigorous grooming. Too much shampooing, combing, or brushing (100 strokes or more a day) or doing any of these too vigorously can cause hair breakage. When hair breakage occurs, the hair appears shaggy or too thin. Dermatologists also caution against vigorously rubbing wet hair with a towel to dry it or combing wet hair. These also can cause hair breakage because wet hair is more elastic and more vulnerable to breakage than dry hair. Dermatologists Can Get to the Root of Hair Loss With so many causes, it can take a bit of detective work to uncover the reason for hair loss. Sometimes, more than one cause is responsible. And as we age, one cause may follow another. To diagnose the cause of hair loss, a dermatologist usually begins by obtaining a detailed medical history. The patient is asked about medications taken, allergies, family history, and diet. Women are asked about their menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause. The dermatologist also performs a detailed inspection of the hair and scalp and looks at the way the hair is distributed over the rest of the body. While examining the hair and scalp, the dermatologist will examine the pattern of hair loss and look for signs of illness, including any indication of a scalp infection. Sometimes a hair pull, blood test, or scalp biopsy is necessary to make the diagnosis. Once the cause (or causes) is known, treatment or preventive measures can begin. It is important to realize that when it comes to hair loss, there is no quick fix. But dermatologists do have the knowledge and resources to halt hair loss and generate new growth for many patients.

Hi, Yes I had great results from optifast. I first saw the Team on the 8th July and from that day I started optifast x 2 meals a day plus another low GI meal. Pus the gym 3 times a week and my job was very physical. I actually found optifast easy, no real thinking and filling. The weight was measured then and the day of the op 7/8 88 kgs was the weight I was weighed in at pre-op on different scales. I have yet to be weighed since but I invisage I remain stable. Stable because of having to think more about what I can eat and also because I had a nasty wound infection. I was in a poor nutritional state post op because of the lack of protein I had- lactose intolerant and the fluid choices given by dieticians were based on dairy products leaving me to vegetables soups, water, low cal juices. I am fortunate now I am adding natural soy protein in two textured meals to help my wound healing. I am now struggling to ensure adequate calories, low GI and protein choices in the right amount. I have yet to be given how many serves a day of grains/cereals, protein, fruit and veges etc I should be having. My diet for the last 5 years before optifast was very restrictive- near vegetarian and low GI so having this choice is new to me.

let me preface this with - I work nights so my breakfast is usually between 4:00 - 7:00 pm which explains the odd choices for breakfast. b: starkist light tuna lunch pack - love this! s: tsp peanut butter and a peach l: 1 c. vegetarian chili made with beans, corn and ground boca burger with shredded cheese on top (yum!) d: slimfast ultra protein vanilla shake with frozen blueberries and nonfat plain greek yogurt blended in s: 1/2 apple and 2 oz cheese

I have tried it, I was a vegetarian prior to my lap-band adventure...It's ok. I thought it was too sweet and I do have an allergy to tree nuts so it made my mouth numb, I prefer the Silk brand Soy Milk. If you're lactose intolerant, the lactaid milk is a good substitute also that has a decent amount of protein in it...

Halloween Challenge weigh-in...I'm at 237.5. Still. Hopefully I'll be in the low 220s (my goal is 15 pounds down) by then. Come on, Onderland...I am dying to get there. Hitting 200 means I've lost 100 pounds and damn won't that be exciting! I'm waiting to get a book but I think I'm going to do a vegan detox like Dee. She's my role model! I was vegetarian for awhile and ate a lot of soy, so I don't think it would be too bad. I definitely need something to kickstart myself and I don't really want to do Atkins. Jaime, I PM'd you about hotels because I didn't want it to get lost in the shuffle. :tongue2: Oh, the girls...well, they haven't been perky in quite a long time, but they are saggier than ever. It's so sad. One of my treats to myself for when I reach 200 lbs. is to visit Intimacy, this supposedly amazing bra fitting lingerie store, get fitted properly and get some new bras! My dream would be of course after we have finished having children, I could get the works, plastic-surgery wise. Especially the boob lift. And the bat wings. Sigh. But I have no idea if that will ever be affordable....

I am also a vegetarian and I have yet to have my first fill. I have had almonds almost everyday to help with extra protein. According to my doc you can have nuts. Now... once you have your fills you might be careful with new foods like nuts to make sure that they go down ok. Also, I have my Designer whey protein a few times a week. (2 scoop because it is like over 30 grams of protein) I think the reason people don't suggest the protein shakes because it doesn't sit in your smaller stomach it is a fluid that goes through more quickly. I figure if that is only 200 calories a day for the 2 scoops and I get in that much protein I ensure that my body will work better. I am not sure as a heavy woman that I got enough protein because I was so drawn to carbs. Just my perspective! Good luck to you!

:tongue_smilie:Hi there folks, it's Lynn from Darlington, UK. I had a Vertical Banded Gastroplasty in 2004. In my first year I dropped from 26 stone(364 lbs), to 17 1/2 stone(245 lbs). In that year I was still only on liquids and mush. In the following 4 years I managed to get back onto 'normal' food, but my weight has crept up. I now weigh 22 stone 5 lbs(315 lbs) again. It is still fluctuating, up more than down. I can still only eat approximately one small cupped hand of food. Most solids, like meat, are rejected by my stomach, so I am mostly vegetarian these days. I find it hard to reconcile the fact that I do not eat much in quantity to my old diet, but am still putting weight on. I have had no follow up from my surgeon for years, it only lasted the first year. I had no counselling before or after and i only saw the dietitian half a dozen times in the first year. That was almost pointless as they did not have any idea about post op diets for VBG patients. Has anyone else experienced this post op weight gain?

I think if you're chugging the water, it would get backed up in your pouch and could stretch it eventually. If you are taking small swallows and waiting in between, it should just flow through to your larger stomach. I have only seen a few people on here that said their surgeons said no to nuts. I have seen other people eating them, eventually. I think these are the last to the list of solid foods to be added. On that note, I just looked at my level foods list my surgeon gave me and starting with soft foods, I can have chunky PB! That's level 2. Level 3 says I can add nuts, says mixed, cashews, pecans and peanuts. As far as protein, as a vegetarian, you know you can have beans, soy nuts, etc. If you mean on the liquids, you're just going to have find a shake or powder that agrees with you and use that. Once you can add stuff to your liquids you could blend tofu to add to your broth and such. Best bet though would be to call your surgeon's office or nutritionist and ask them for specifics regarding all of the above. I can only tell you my thoughts and what my surgeon has given me. I can't tell you what you can or can't do. Best wishes!!

Why can't you a vegetarian drink the shakes? They are whey and soy protein...that's ok for vegetarians isn't it? Have you had your band yet? how far along you are postop will affect how much water you can drink that's also pertinent to if you can have peanuts or not