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Thanks everyone for replying with helpful suggestions and commiserations. one thing i think i should address is that quite a few of the people that replied seemed to be worried about me. Worried that I am sabotaging myself. On the one hand, maybe I gave the impression that I am sitting around gorging myself, but I am not. It took a couple of days for me and my roommate to finish off one pizza. And it was thin crust and vegetarian. So it was not the worst food in the world. And the sugar cookie dough was delicious, so I won't appologize for it. Everyone has to make their own decisions on how they will lose weight. Some people make the choice to stick to a diet completely and consider SF pudding a splurge. That is awesome for them, and they will probably lose weight quicker than me. Some people work out like crazy, and that is awesome too, and they will probably lose weight quicker than me, too. I have a different approach. I am not trying to go on a diet. I am trying to eat healthy, but like a normal person healthy. If I want to eat chocolate or pizza or ice cream, I will. Just like a normal person. The difference is that with the band, I can eat 1 or maybe 2 slices of pizza instead of 4. I can be perfectly satisfied with a 1/2 cup of ice cream instead of a whole bowl. I don't just eat bad foods, but I'm not going to banish them. This does not make me a bad bandster, and you don't have to worry about me. Notice that I HAVE lost 24 lbs in 6 weeks, so it seems to be working.

Not abnormal at all. Lots of vegan and vegetarian folks feel this way. Also shrimp and lobsters look too much like giant cockroaches to me. They are all scavengers.

i chose Other ~ please explain. After I'm banded in October, I'm planning on returning to a vegetarian diet. I only have to do Optifast for 2 weeks before surgery, so I don't have to think about things before then. I'm waiting til after, so I know the amount I eat will be controlled and all I need to think about is what I eat. I also prefer low carb, but couldn't have 2 choices.

1) Small size cutlery (9 piece set) 2) Bamix Wand Mixer 3) Fit and Fresh chiller shaker with storage base. 4) Fit and Fresh Fruit and Veg bowl 5) Fit and Fresh 'Lunch on the Go" 6) Fit and Fresh Healthy Snaker 7) Set of 6 Feeding Bowls with lids 8) Set 4 7oz tulip glasses 9) Walden Farms Asian Dressing Marinade Calorie Free Sugar Free, Carb free. 10) 85% Less Fat Powdered Peanut Butter 11) Walden Farms Ranch dressing calorie free, sugar free, carb free. 12) 2 x Sugar Free - Fat Free Instant Jello-O, vanilla and Bklack Cherry. 13) Hartley's Sugar Free Jelly 14) Dixie Carb Counters INstand Mashers (4 net carbs). 15) Linwoods Milled Organic Flaxseed, sunflower and pumpkin seeds 16) 4 piece cup measures 17) Crystal Light Sunrise natural Classic Orange 18) Measuring spoons 19) 2 packs of 02GO flavourbursts 20) Blueberries and Cream - Flax & Snax Natural Hot Cereal (High Protein, high Fiber). 21) High Protein Instant custard Mix x 2 22) Jelly rich in protein. 23) Reflex Whey Refresh protein isolate drink x 4 24) Natural Flavour - Whey Protein Isolate Powder 25) Edamame Beans - lightly salted and baked soybeans (snake). 26) DaVinci Gourmet Coconut syrup (Sugar Free). 27) DaVinci Gourmet Banana (Sugar Free). 28) DaVinci Gourmet Sugar Free Amaretto Flavour Syrup 29) Thermos 500ml Water bottle with chiller 30) Extra Virgin Olive Oil Fry spray, 1 cal. 31) ProShot 25g Protein/0sugar and 0 fat. x3 32) Salter Nutritional Scale (weighs food protions and calculates nutritional values. 33) Low Carb diet Crispy Cool Ranch Cheese. 34) Fit and Lock set of food containers 35) Femfresh cleansing wipes 36) Night gown 37) House slippers 38) 4x Pairs PJ's 39) 80 Tea bags (decaffe) 40) Coffee (decaffe) 41) Beaker with lit. 42) Organic Agave Nectar 43) Johnson's Baby soothing naturals - intense moisture cream. 44) Johnson's baby soap. 45) 2 x 2oz containers. 46) 1 hand towel 47) 1 large food shelf container (for protein powder storage). 48) 2 x sugar free jelly 49) Small baking dish 50) 1 box of Splenda 51) 1 soup bowl and chinese spoon. 52) Vanity Case 53) Vanilla dessert Protein 54) Flaxseed Oil 55) 4 x bottles Egg Whites. (storeable at room temp. for upto 5 months). 56) Syntrax Apple Ectasy Protein. 56) Syntrax Carbbean Cooler 57) Bioclens Hand Sanitiser & Moisturiser 58) Vitamin E - Mint Lip chap stick. 59) Really nice Red travel case. 60) A nice Sundae Glass for jelly desserts/puddings (99p) 61) Breath mint Spray. 62) Hungry Girl 63) 100-Calorie Snack Cookbook by Sally Sampson. 64) Vegetarian Gelatine 65) Beef Gelatine 66) Salter Digital Bathroom Scales. ______________ 67) Molton Brown:- Toko Yuzu -Shower Gel and lotion. Cucumber Conditioning shampoo 68) Travel case for hospital. __________________

Age: 19 Sleeved 10/17/2017 SW:296 CW:226 Down 70 pounds. I’m feeling so discouraged because I’m very strict with my diet and exercise and I seem to be gaining some weight which I can only assume is gaining muscle. But my doctor is looking at me like I’m not trying when I’m following everything to the t. I feel so crappy cause he told me that me being down 70 pounds in 5 months was “nothing”. -My workouts consist of cardio for 45 minutes to an hour then weights twice a week -My diet is 80g of protein a day, 800 Calories, mostly vegetarian diet (when I rarely eat meat it’s fish), no bread, water and sugar free drinks. My doctor isn’t helping me cause I’m already following everything they tell me and I’m just depressed and feel hopeless. Maybe someone here can help me. Anything I can do to improve and maybe push my weight loss faster again?

I work out 6 days a week 2 to 3 hours Day I've been doing it since may. I also went vegetarian in may and so I eat healthy now I do have fish still but no other meats.. I committed to all id thus before surgery so that I would be healthy and successful in my weight loss journey keep up the good work 3lbs is better than no pounds Onderland is to be in the 100s

@lgrey- I am vegetarian and I have a zillion food allergies & multiple med allergies. Since my allergic reactions vary from severe hive to anaphylaxis, my nutritionist and I sat down and we discussed alternatives. In the end I went with whey isolates. Isolates are better than concentrates because it's a more potent form of Protein. I drink almond milk and yes it is a lower protein source. Thankfully I can eat Greek yogurt made from milk. Of the non dairy milks I believe hemp milk has the highest amount of protein. It's not very high, but when you are working around allergies and intolerances every little bit helps. Since you have an intolerance I would do whey isolate combined with an non dairy milk to lesson the impact on your system. I also supported my protein needs with Beans and almond butter. A tbsp of almond butter in my Protein shake in the morning, blended smooth. Black beans are lower in carbs so I use a lot of them. In my all liquid stage I pureed them and made them into Soups. I also added chopped spinach which is a plant based protein source and also has lots of Iron. I also used Prosource No Carb Liquid Protein during the 2 week all liquid phase. I was given this in the hospital. It's protein sources are Collagen Hydrolysate and Whey Protein Isolate so it's not strictly a vegetarian product but it helped get me through those 2 weeks. Orgain organics has a high Protein Drink that has a good amount of protein in it. I used the regular protein drink because the high protein has stevia in it which I am allergic to. (FYI -The regular uses sucralose which I can tolerate.) Here is a list of protein sources. Like I said, it took being really creative. I literally spent a week going to going to Whole Foods, drug stores and Vitamins stores reading labels and buying samples. I am 4 mths in and 55lbs down. I still manage to eat a mostly clean vegetarian diet with no artificial sugars or food dyes. I use Myfitnesspal to monitor my carb intake, drink my Water and workout 4 -5 days a week. I average about 800 calories a day.

I don't eat ANY diet foods. The closest I come is eating 0% greek yogurt. I also don't eat any artificial sugars or food dyes. Today I actually had butter! Not a lot and it's not something I eat daily, but yes I eat real butter. You don't have to eat those things. You just to do a little research and learn enough about carbs/proteins/fats/etc... I am vegetarian. The only dairy I get is greek yogurt and cheese if I eat an egg. I drink almond milk and other plant based Proteins. Early on I used whey Protein for my Protein shakes. You have to work it out with your nutritionist. It was one of my main concerns when I looked into WLS. I am happy to have a nutritionist who worked with me.

I’m 20 days post-op and the only things I can tolerate are popsicles, chicken broth, cream of wheat, and vegetarian refried beans. I’ve tried other suggestions on my approved list but they cause a lot of pain when I eat and I feel miserable. Anybody have any suggestions or tips for me? Anything would be greatly appreciated!! SW: 266 CW: 241

I had to build Protein stores before surgery 80 grams a day. Im so glad I did otherwise I think I'd be more tired than I am now. I wasn't required to do liquids but I did for a week and that week got in more protein 100 grams a day. I also did a week of liquids after removal of my band in April. Followed by a hello to all the veggies I couldn't tolerate with the band. Mainly tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, garlic and more garlic, jalapeno peppers, broccoli. Im a vegetarian so missing my favorite veggies was a tough one. Im still on liquids- 3 weeks tomorrow due to complications and extra hospital stays. I made smelled a tomatoe today and cried. I miss my veggies so much.

Once you get away from eating sweets you will be amazed how those cravings go away. Being a vegetarian is going to be quite a challenge for you but you can do it! Do you eat fish? I know some vegetarians who eat tuna and stuff like that. If so there you go eat a lot of fish! If not there are nuts out there and beans and stuff. Good luck!!!

Hi Ashley, Congrates on the surgery date, I'll think of you on the 26th. I've played with being a Lacto-Ovo (more Ovo) Vegetarian for yrs, but never made the commitment to see it through. Post-band life is like pre-band life in that we are encouraged to eat a well balanced diet. I am having a harder time than ever getting enough protien, I'm using soy milk, eggs, and legumes mostly. Do you cook with tofu? I would think it would have a great consistincy for the soft stage and could easily be made mushy. I was also banded in Mx, what city does Dr. Joya practice in? I was banded in Monterrey and am enjoying returning for fills.

I'm vegetarian pretty much because my urologist said to be in order to stop kidney stones from forming, but it's not necessary, I'm just hoping that this will all fit together. My doc today said she thinks my insurance will deny me because I am so small and on the very light end of things... but we shall see.

I was always a big meat eater before surgery. At my weight, not only did I need a lot of Protein just to stay upright, but I needed specifically animal Proteins. I remember one year I tried to go vegetarian and after a month or so I was nearly falling over just trying to walk across the parking lot. I felt as if I had become anemic. After surgery, I of course attempted to follow the bariatric gospel diet I was given to the letter. After a while of eating meet at almost every meal and eating at first, and getting very little else inside my body I started to feel quite sick and I knew that the diet they gave me was not away for my body to be healthy. I became less and less interested in eating meat. And sometimes, the thought of it made me nauseous. As my stomach healed, instead of meat I started eating high-end cheese, nuts, whole milk yogurts and limited actual meat consumption probably take 2 to 3 times a week tops. The weight fell off quickly, and I felt much better. I started using high-end, tasteless collagen protein to compensate, and keep hunger at bay. I cannot stress enough, that there is no one-size-fits-all healthy way to eat when it comes to bodies. It really truly depends on where your ancestors came from, your personal bodies specific needs. Sometimes it is hard for us to trust ourselves because we are taught to outsource authority, and because we feel like we must not know how to eat if we got to the point where we need the surgery. But I don't think that that's really the truth. I think the truth is that only you can know what your body needs from day-to-day minute to minute to be healthy. Guidelines are fine, but the final authority needs to rest with your body and it's intelligence. I'm a big fan of intuitive eating, which is the regular practice of tuning into the messages of your physical body. If my body wants me to give it meet. If my body wants nuts or fruits or greens that's what I give it. But I choose the best version: organic, less processed, more Whole Foods. And it has worked so far. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

@@katy -Most restaurants have grilled chicken, beef or fish in my area. So, not eating bread, potatoes, Pasta or rice has not really been a problem for me. As you can imagine, I eat a lot of salads. On a side note, before I had the surgery, I was a vegetarian. Switching to a diet eating animal Protein was a big change for me. And, yes, I do take the leftovers home. Often times I have lunch for two days, which is a good money saver :-D.

Always a good idea to get feedback from others. I was put on keto for the 2.5 weeks before surgery but that was all I did. Some will likely swear by it but personally I wouldn’t go back to it. Good to kick start a diet but not long term. Your surgery is the best kickstart you’ll ever find. The high fat intake on keto is the real issue for me. I’ve never enjoyed high fat foods & now I don’t have a gall bladder to help process all that fat. You may find your cholesterol temporarily increases while you are losing (it’s released from your fat). I believe it’s one of the reasons most surgeons & dieticians recommend low fat while you’re losing so you’re not adding to the risk. Losing large amounts of weight & high cholesterol levels also put you had a higher risk of developing gall stones. It’s why many of us end up having issues & have our galls removed post weight loss surgery. I’ve read keto can also screw with your blood sugar levels so if you have issues with diabetes it may not be your best option. Usually best to stick to your surgeon’s plan & dietician’s recommendations while you are losing. Slowing adding in new foods as you go. You’ll lose doing that & you will go into ketosis as well - bad breath & a smelly body awaits you 😉. You may find you end up developing your own eating plan which works for you & which incorporates aspects of many eating styles once you’re close to or in maintenance: keto, vegan, vegetarian, Atkins, intermittent fasting, etc. Whatever way you go it has to be sustainable & complement how to want to live your life. Good luck whatever you choose to do.

Two suggestions are hummus and vegetarian refried beans for the mushy stage

.... ANYTHING but exercise. Idiot. Ok, so the head trainer at my gym was great yesterday. I enjoyed the workout (gosh I'm in bad shape) and decided that using a trainer a few times a month wouldn't be a bad idea. I did exercises I wouldn't have thought to do, and the encouragement helps. He made a good argument for starting strength training immediately even though I believe I have a long way to go on cardio first. So while we're setting up my contract, I get introduced to the VP over operations, and he asked what my motivation for being there was. I told him I had a bunch of health conditions that piled on last year, and ended up deciding to have the sleeve 6 weeks ago, and I don't want to blow it. I want to make the lifestyle changes needed to make this stick. Cue the standard crap from him: * His mother had the lap band and then bypass. She gained all the weight back from the lap band and is only being successful with the bypass because she's finally following his directions. * He's has "lots" of experience dealing with post-WLS patients. * If I'd come to him earlier, he could have prevented me from needing the surgery. After all, the people who get the surgery say they've "tried everything" but they really haven't. * All the surgery does is enforce portion control, and that can be done without surgery. * But since it's already done, we'll work with what we have. * My surgeon doesn't know what nutrition is needed. *HE* (the VP) will tell me what I should eat. (I will give him this - I am not eating enough Protein, I'll have to really ramp that up.) Sorry, dude. When you tell me that I can't count Beans or Peanut Butter as Proteins because they're not "complete" without discussing my knowledge of nutrition, you fail. I was raised vegetarian and know perfectly well how to combine foods to get a complete protein. Bite me. So I finally got rid of him, and got back to the head trainer who wanted to go through food lists (at the prompting of the VP). I had to explain to him (because I wasn't bothering with the VP) that I get *incredibly* ill in ketosis, so his "carbs are the enemy" lecture doesn't wash with me. I am willing to control my carbs so long as I'm above ketosis levels, and concentrate on complex carbs and healthy choices, but I will *not* do a ketogenic diet. Then I get a mini lecture on how tilapia is not a good choice (already knew that, but it's better than some other choices) and how swai fish is a GREAT choice. Looked that up when I got home, and it's a catfish from the far east. Sorry, dude. I don't eat bottom feeders or filter fish. I get that most people they deal with are not well educated on nutrition. I get that trainers know more than the average bear about the subject. However, both of these guys are competitive body builders. Their nutritional approach is not going to work for everyone, and they need to learn to be flexible about it. I'm just glad we didn't even discuss veggies, because they'd be horrified to find that I just don't eat them (though I'm working on expanding my palate). And telling me to "just eat them" doesn't work, since I basically have PTSD around veggies and can't physically make myself eat something or I'll throw it up. I wish they'd stick to the exercise piece.

Thanks for the replies. I am a vegetarian - is that going to be a problem?

I absolutely agree that our food supply is whatever the opposite of "natural" is. I work with analytical chemists of all stripes, and some (very few, here in the States) do food analysis. In other parts of the world, there is constant routine testing going on...not so much here. A few recent examples that I have come across: - ractepamide is a beta blocker that routinely gets fed to pigs to produce leaner meat. The practice is completely legal here, but banned in the EU as well as in Russia and in China (!!!). The lab I worked with is just now starting to offer this test because the local pork producer is interested in exporting pork to China...when they were selling to US vendors, noone cared - antibiotics are routinely fed to farm animals at subtherapeutic levels because the animals will gain more weight (e.g. produce more $$ on the market). Again, that practice is banned in Canada and the EU but perfectly legal here. The main concern is that these animals help with the generation of antibiotic-resistant strains of salmonella, E. coli etc. - and lest you think vegetarians are much better off, the USDA is just now getting around to starting some (extremely low level) testing to verify pesticide residue levels in "organic" produce. Once a producer is certified "organic", the testing sort of just "went away", it's really an honor system at this point. Again, labs only sell testing services for produce destined for export, noone seems to care about the American consumer Having said all that, I am not aware of any evidence linking veterinary drug and pesticide residue to obesity and I would caution against "chemophobia"...not all chemicals are evil and it takes some research and/or education to sort the bad from the good. It would, however, be nice if Americans as a culture would care more about their food than its price and its convenience

Hello fellow slow loosers I need some input guys..... for the last 4 mos I have lost no more than 3lbs per month (the last 2 mos its only been 2). I just got on the scale for my midmonth weigh and I have gained a lb. Now... I'm trying not to panic.... in the past this might have sent me over the edge. I was 7lbs from goal.... now I'm 8. I have to say... I am not much of a meat eater.... was pretty close to vegetarian before surgery. I decided to get back on the meat after surgery because lean Protein and veggies seems to really take the weight off. If I eat another meal of meat and veggies I may PUKE!!!! I'm sooooo over it. he thought of it literally makes me gag a little. Consequently I have added whole grains into my diet. I eat alot of legumes and such. Actually.... just this week I started eating bread!!!! (I'm sure that explains the lb) What do you guys think about the idea of going on a DIET. I lost 50 lbs with weight watchers one time and I know the program well. It would allow me to eat more grains and yes.... even a little bread.... while keeping my calories under control. Its only 8 lbs..... I may be able to do it in 8-10 weeks. I would still drink the protein... just count it in my daily pts. before surgery I was a bit of a compulsive dieter... the diet binge cycle. I certainly don't want to go back to that... but mybe if its not too restrictive and I have realistic goals. I would love to have some input thanks stacey

I live in Southern California - Orange County! My surgery was also performed here. I'm glad your surgeon is directing you to the right sources. He's right that a lot of vegetarians and vegans become Protein powder/shake dependent.. but it's primarily because they don't have enough information, and think those are their only sources. "Vegetarian" rarely equals "healthy"! You, however, have found this site before your surgery, so you will be completely prepared! Yay for you! Educating yourself will take you half way towards your success. I drank 1 Protein shake a day for the first several months after surgery. I had to go to Bangalore after my first month post-op, and found it difficult to maintain my protein intake without the powders and Protein Bars (also 1 a day), By the time I came back to California, I was at 7 months post-op, and desperate for more food options that did not require me to rely on artificial products. So, once I came back, I started working out my daily meal plans to incorporate healthy, natural foods, with variety. I haven't touched the protein powders since! You will need powders while you are on liquids and purees - the shakes will be your best friend. You can forget them once you start back onto real foods - if you want to. As for tofu, I only eat it about once a week, but I'm always surprised by its versatility. It really is a wonderful protein source, if you learn how to use it. Rice and roti expand a bit in your tummy, which makes you get full faster - this obviously means you get less of the good stuff. I never actually restricted myself from either, but found that I didn't miss them much. I might have had a bite or two here and there, but only if something looked yummy, and I was craving it. Now, I am in a maintenance phase, and I still only have a few bites here and there. If there is something exciting like gobi parantha being made, I will make sure to enjoy a piece of it, and not feel guilty. We have to feel normal, and remind ourselves that there is no "bad" food. Only "better" food. I'm glad you find my outlook to be rational! I sure think it is. The logic in it is what has helped me stay on track, and stay motivated. Right now, I usually hit my protein requirements before my last meal of the day, so I can enjoy something with my parents - or I can cook something that I'm in the mood for, even if it's a bit low on the protein count. I just make sure to keep a track of my calorie intake. I didn't have any other weight - related issues, but hopefully I have prevented them from occurring in the future!

I've always been interested in becoming a vegetarian so it's awesome to hear it is possible! I'm only about 5 weeks out so if I did make the transition I would wait until I was at least 6 months but its something I have been thinking a lot about. I would imagine being vegan is very difficult with wls but seems vegetarian is doable yay!

I forgot to respond to your earlier questions: My nutritionist did have some hesitations with me being vegetarian, but only because she had not had any vegetarian patients. I discussed Protein options with her, and did lots of research on my own, to find out what foods were best for me in regards to a calorie to protein ratio, fat content, and carbohydrate content. Some doctors put a carb limit, but I did not have one. Initially, I was at 800 to 1000 calories a day, and am currently at around 1200 calories a day. I eat every 2.5 to 3 hours, without fail. I don't always feel hunger, but I do feel drained, and eating keeps up my energy. 9:30 - 1 boiled egg (7 gm protein) 12:30 - 2 ounces of low-fat cheese with some grapes, or some healthy crackers, or broccoli (14 gm protein) 3:30 - a Protein Bar (12 - 15 gm protein) 6:30 - Greek yogurt with granola (17 gm protein) 9:30 - lentils with veggies (8 to 10 gm protein) 10:30 - glass of milk (10 gm protein) I started out at 207 pounds, and am currently at 118 pounds. Good luck!

Attended a luncheon award ceremony for a co-worker yesterday. Whole group of us got together to go. Most know I had lap band surgery and know about the problems I've had plus the corrective surgery. Since the problems have come back, I've been reluctant to say anything as even to my own ears it sounds stupid to have undergone another expensive surgery to end up right where I was before. To be safe I ordered the vegetarian option as that's generally safe and soft. Thought I'd be okay with a couple of small bites of salad. One grape tomato and a piece of curly endive the size of my thumb nail and I was off to the bathroom hoping to find it empty. Got the problem resolved and had a cup of coffee - sometimes the heat helps especially when I'm wearing a bra. Managed half of my veggie lasagna(blando) and dessert(nice, soft mousse) and got to appear normal. Keep trying to convince myself that I'm fine and that the surgery had to have fixed the problem. It must all be in my head and if I just don't think about it everything will normalize. Been up since 8am - working from home today. Finally decided to eat. Bowl of raisen bran with skim milk. Three bites and blocked. Man do I feel dumb.