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With the ensure, watch the fat and carbs. It sneaks up on you. If you have a Whole Foods store near you, they have No chicken chicken broth. Granted I have never tasted it, I am not a vegetarian, but people had in their baskets. I agree with the smoothies, they go down, even with the Protein in them, over several hours, and you stay full.

I am not banded yet, but am doing some research while jumping through insurance hoops. I am a vegetarian and just wondering what it has been like for banded vegetarians. Is Protein an issue? What about eating the veggie meats and tofu? Has it been a good experience? Any input helps.... Thanks,

i'd like to hear if they're on clear or not... i have been very creative with my diets, and i am a vegetarian, so will not eat meat broths. i have been making a lot of stocks and soups from scratch (veggie broth is easy to make, as are a lot of soups). I've also been doing lots of smoothies and drinking ensure, and having popsicles and juices and soymilk...

Here a response to your suggestions. If you cannot keep healthy solids down, you need to seek an unfill. Chips should not go down and easier than, say, beans. Perhaps you need to try different behaviors when eating good foods. If you tell yourself you cannot get something healthy down, then you're probably not going to get something healthy down.What you don't know is that I would love to eat chicken and veggies. Every time I go to eat them I feel blocked. As far as eating the chips it isn't my food of choice. I have been fighting for 6 years to get this surgery and could have had either one but I selected the lapband because I thought it was safer. I can't handle meat at all and since Nov I have lost 1 pound. You're eating sweets & chips, and have only lost 1 lb since November. That sounds about right to me. Being banded will do nothing for weightloss if you aren't also making good decisions. Have you tried soups? I have tried soups and if they have any type of meat in them then I get sick. Softer healthy foods such as cottage cheese or eggs? Once again I would love to have egg whites with some veggies and some turkey bacon but after a few bites the pressure is bad and I end up throwing it up.Have you tried very crunchy meats, e.g. very crunchy bacon or cooked/drained pepperoni? The only meat I have found that I can tolerate is ground pork and then it takes me about 4 hours to get down a few ounces.I have tried eating really slow. Another problem is that I am always hungry. I'm confused - you're too tight to eat, but you're always hungry? Most of the time the discomfort from eating when tight, or being cligged up, is enough (in most people) to wipe away any signs of hunger. Are you truly hungry, or are you head/pity hungry? Are you an emotional eater?Once I try to eat and get sick most of the time what every was in my stomach is thrown up and yes I am hungry. Your right while I am in discomfort I don;'t want to eat but I also can not be in that situation for very long.My start weight was high and I was on the border line for the lapband procedure. Did I select the wrong procedure. I am so unhappy. To date I have lost 46 pounds. 46 lbs in roughly 6 months is not bad. It's between 7 & 8 lbs per month. How much were you expecting to lose? I was expecting to lose about 2 pounds a week. That is what I was told in my informational meetings.I tried to go to a liquid diet but the hunger is really bad. If you need to resort to a liquid diet, then you need an unfill. The reason I was thinking a liquid diet was because I was told that maybe I am at a plateau and it would jump start my weight loss.My doctor is from UCSF in San Francisco and he is really not a very nice man. Any suggestions would really help. Well, a doctor being NICE, and a doctor being ABLE TO HELP have nothing to do with each other. Go try a slight unfillI am not looking for Dr. Welby but I am looking for a doctor that I feel comfortable talking too. He is rude and never goes over anything unless I am persistent and then he gets nasty. He has way too many patients and when I went in for an unfill he told me "I thought you wanted to lose weight, deal with it. I also told him that I had a hard time getting meat down, his response was, "become a vegetarian". And no I can't see another because of my insurance group once they assign a doctor you must stay with them. To tell you how nasty this doctor is on my surgery day in the pre op room, he came in and asked if I had lost more weight. When I said a little he said, "well don't be surprised if I don't do your surgery and just open and shut you up" My daughter ask me who this was since he didn't even bother to introduce himself to her and she was shocked when I said my doctor.

Boca, Morning Star, and Gardenburgers don't claim to be vegan, do they? Don't they just claim to be vegetarian? Morning Star buffalo wings are pretty good with honey to cut the heat. They are a bit too spicy for me.

Lauren, if you eat everything but the flesh of an animal you can call yourself a vegetarian. It is a lot harder than you might think. Especially if you decided to go vegan. There is dairy and eggs hidden in a shit ton of foods. I would definitely recommend reading up on it and talking to your nutritionist to make sure you are getting adequate amounts of nutriants.

A Vegetarian does not eat anything with a face. Which is why they can still drink milk, eat cheese, eggs... Mostly because these things didn't kill the animal... unless you count chicken embryos as living, therefor now dead... Hmmm...

Are you serious? I've NEVER heard this before... and GRANTED, I am NEW to this lifestyle, but I do not believe you are correct, it is more like what BG said in her post. Someone asked what to eat... There are TONS of foods you can eat! Basically it is about replacing the fat (flesh) with FLAVOR. There are hundreds of vegetarian and vegan recipe books out there. I'm looking at a few on AMazon and might just buy one or two. I'm not a big fruit and veg eater, but I am definatly trying new things now. Like they say in the book "You cannot keep eating the same shit and expect to get skinny." How true is that?

A vegetarian does not eat any meat or meat products but still will consume eggs, dairy, honey, etc. A vegan does not eat anything from an animal source. No eggs, dairy, honey, etc.

Vegan food has to be blessed by a Veganite whereas anyone can eat vegetarian food. Fruit can be consumed by either one but must have all the sugar removed first.

I cooked all weekend, but the only vegetarian thing was a pot of split pea soup. I had mussels, chicken bratwerst and braised short ribs...The problem with going to Whole Foods is it makes me want to cook. Then I eat and it's a terrible cycle. I'm hungry like I don't know what and I can't seem to make it go away...I believe it's head hunger and I'm doing dumb shit like eating things I know I shouldn't (bread and sausage) then PBing. Who'd had thought 10 months later the head games would still continue? I'm thinking I need to go back to basics, write how hungry and full I feel when I eat and track it, but to become aware again. Well, Happy Monday everyone.

Anyone here read the book [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Skinny-Bitch-Kim-Barnouin/dp/0762424931/ref=pd_sim_b_img_1]'Skinny Bitch'[/ame] or the follow-up [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Skinny-Bitch-Kitch-Kick-Ass-Recipes/dp/0762431067]'Skinny Bitch in the Kitch'[/ame]? These books have totally changed how I veiw food, and I am now vegetarian... working on Vegan status. And I'm buying organic foods when available. I'm also putting forth an effort to read ALL food labels... It's amazing to me how many of the 'veggie' foods (like Boca and MorningStar and GardenBurger) are NOT Vegan! Most of their products use milk, egg, and cheese! There are good totally meatless 'veggie burger' items out there... it's all about reading ingrediants and "trusting no one" as they say in the books. Anyone have anymore good Vegan books or cookbooks you'd like to recommend?

I agree with you totally Mrs. Smartie Pants. If I want a cookie (or several - but not the whole package anymore :welldoneclap:) or a piece of pizza I will have it. My reaction was to the people who keep writing that they feel deceived by their WLC/ doctor as they had the impression that they should be able to eat everything they want and that it is/was up to the lap band to stop them or restrain them. I want people to be informed before they get the band that it is totally up to them what happens after banding. The band is a great tool, but it doesn't change our personalities or solve our issues for us. The band also doesn't erase the "math" of what it takes to actually lose weight -which is simply that we MUST eat less calories than we expend. Just having the band will not cause weight loss (I wish). To me that means being accountable by documenting everything I eat, so I can ensure that I am not eating "mindlessly" and by trying to chose "quality" foods about 80% of the time. Even when I chose to eat "junk", I am trying (not always succeeding) to go for quality junk (i.e. really good dark chocolate or homemade baking versus the packaged stuff from the supermarket that is full of fat, sugar and preservatives). I am also enjoying experimenting with newer foods (vegetarian, edamame beans) for the first time in a very long time, and am discovering that good for me foods can actually taste good). Now I just need to convince myself that I like fish :wink:. My committment and promise when I started this latest journey was to do all the work necessay to help myself and to value myself. I am very proud of what I have achieved so far and for the first time in my life I know that I can be successful long term. We all face our individual journey and no-one is right or has the magic answer (or the one size fits all that I am determined to fit into at some point). I just ask that people try to be as realistic as possible and as prepared as possible, before going to the pain and the expense of the lap band surgery.

Hi All, - Everyone's getting on board with the exercise. I did 10 minutes of level 10 on the bike, it was a struggle, but I think I got the same results of 20 min at a lower level. Going to try for 15min at level 10 next. Levels 6 and 7 are feeling like 3 and 4. I use those levels as my 5 minute cool down. Tammy, 11 pounds, you'll hit soon. Then it's on to maintaining your brand new weight. I won't be there any time soon. But look forward to seeing you get there. Then you can tell us what's it's like on that side of the fence. Did that scale come in yet? If so, how is it working for you? Didn't order mines yet, still trying to find it cheaper. metawnny- when I feel that I'm about to blow it, I take a yogurt drink filled with fruits and powdered "Protein mix" or have tunafish and crackers or deli slices. Anything to keep from eating a full meal. And I mean a full meal. Even though I measure them, they're still a full meal. I've come across the word P-bing, what does that mean? I have an idea but need to be sure. I haven't quite figured it out yet, but do anyone have trouble eating semi-solid foods in the mornings, ie scrambled eggs/omelets? The first bite and they were small and I felt it was well chewed felt tight going down. The second and third bites did the same. I felt so bad, I thought they would just sit where they were. My throat and chest began to burn and I felt like I couldn't breath. The one time I wished it would come back up. When they reached my stomach it felt worse. After about 15 minutes the sensation began to ease and the food went down. After my stomach calmed down, I was then able to finish it. I'm not sure if this will be a morning thing to be careful with. This has happened after my last fill I had last week. I understand why it happened with tunafish and crackers also egg sandwich, for Breakfast dry food, but "eggs"?. I hope this won't be problem now. I know some meats, like chicken breast is suggeted not to eat. I haven't had any since my fill, so not sure if that will be a problem too. Now that I'm thinking about it, I really haven't eaten meat since last week. Mostly fish, am I on the road to becoming a vegetarian? My daughter would like that very much? Well, everyone have a great weekend. Looking to read positive results from everyone.

Aaaaaarrrrrrrrrrgggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!! I just stumbled on this and read all at once. I am sorry, but I jsut have to get this out of my system. It makes me sad that people are worried about what other people will think of how little they are eating. This is the kind of behavior that gets us fat in the first place. Trying to "please" everyone or "fit in" or not look "wierd". Who gives a damn what other people think? They probably want to see you eat more so they don't feel bad for overeating. Don't worry about what YOU think THEY think. Maybe it's because I was a vegetarian in Montana for many years (THAT is a fish out of Water - believe me), but I don't pay the slightest attention to people's reaction to what I eat. I am proud of my weight loss and am not jeopordizing it for anyone. If someone rides you about it they are either insecure, ignorant, jealous, or all three. Be a shining example for the people you are with. Eat sensibly and live a wonderful life!!!!!

BG, You're doing fantastic with the weight loss! Rock on chica. Nothing like a vegetarian fart maker though, well vegans are worse! PS in November? That's wonderful. My insurance will cover the panni too, but I have to sit at a stable weight for 6 months before hand. For their purposes my goal weight is 145...I'll keep on losing after that I hope, but I'll go to the doctor's office with rocks in my pockets to make it look stable! Like you the rest will be on me. I have to get my legs and arms done. There's no question. I joke with Alison when ever gift giving time happens that I want plastic surgery

My measures aren't that far off. Funny most things like the granola I eat in my yogurt I always dip out of the bag with a 1/4 cup measurer. I looked at SparkPeople but I use the BodyBugg system for tracking. It does look like it provides more information than fitday.com. But I used the heck out of fitday, so I'm not knocking it! I typically eat 1200-1500 calories a day. There are days when I've worked out quite a bit or when I did long distance bike riding this past summer and fall that I HAD to eat more. If I didn't I'd wake up chewing on my pillow! (okay, that's an exaggeration, but you get my point.) Now that I'm running, yes running, 3 miles a day, 3 times a week I notice that same kind of hunger. I try to keep it healthy though. As for food combining I remember that being big in the vegetarian circles back in the early 80s. I haven't heard much about it since. I say do whatever works for you! Do you have reflux? Not to be redundant but I'm trying hard not to high fructose corn syrup. It's everywhere, but it's a cool process. I'm also moving toward eating more sustainably produced foods. But that's got a lot to do with the politics of how food is sold and transported...I'll save that for a later day. Any way, being mindful of lables ingredient lists is new and helpful for me. I've been reading nutrition lables forever, but not so much the ingredient lists. It helps me make better choices.

You rock babygrl, it is sooo hard to go grocery shopping and not by meat, dairy, eggs, etc.....I know. I did it today. I'm not going vegetarian, but I think I'm cutting out dairy, for now... And Stefanie, gotcha, no more nasty dairy talk. It is quite disgusting!

When I was going thru the approval process, one of the things that I did was join Weight Watchers. I found it to be very helpful in that I could still choose to eat what I wanted (including low carb), but I had to be accountable for it by counting the points (I chose the flex points option). Going to the meetings helped me to be accountable (you can go to more than 1 meeting a week if you want but can only weigh in officially once a week). I am also an evening eater, and I found the flex points gave me the ability to still snack at night - I found low point options like hot air popcorn and turkey pepperoni that satisfied my need to eat. I have seen several men at the meetings and they tend to have phenominal weight loss. What also worked for me was the replacement obsession of finding low point options (I had to fill the time I would use to eat with something healthier :confused:). I never knew it before, but I can actually enjoy vegetarian options!!! I was banded on September 25. I am not currently going to meetings, but I am trying to be accountable for what I eat by counting points and documenting everything I eat. I have lost weight by going the Atkins route in the past, but I found as soon as I introduced any carbs, I gained the weight right back. I like weight watchers because it gave me more realistic life time choices (I know I am not capable of giving up all carbs forever). Good luck with whatever you decide!

Yeah it's a new thing I am trying. I went off the sugar a week ago and figured I might as well get off the flesh too. I would love to go full out vegan at some point but not until I learn enough about vegetarian nutrition to make sure I am not going to be deficiant in anything. Plus giving up cheese will probably be difficult though a neccesary evil because it is soooo bad for me. Plus I have watched too many peta videos lately.

Vegetarian???

Holy vegetarian chili heaven. I have hit the spice motha load. I thnk I am either a. dead or b. dreaming. Served up with a side of Multigrain pita chips (Stacy's brand of course)...yummy.

Kellie - the reason you're supposed to have an empty stomach in surgery isn't so people don't have to clean up your vomit, it's so you don't aspirate. make33 - first off, banding is not necessarily forever, 'cause it can be removed, but i do realize what a commitment it is, i have been eating fine and haven't been going back to any "ways" (i do overeat, but for the most part, i eat very healthfully anyway, i've never liked fast food, and i cook mainly Beans and vegetables -- i'm not a vegan, i'm a vegetarian) -- i've been eating like a normal person, no large portions, but the trouble is that's not a liquid diet.

L.A., congratulations on your weight loss! I know going without those carbs is difficult, but you just have to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I think I'm going to start the pre-op diet early too, you have inspired me. I'm supposed to start it on 2/4 but I think I'll start it at the end of January. Must shrink that liver! Marcy, hurray for all of that protein but I can't help feeling sad about the moose. I used to be a vegetarian, I guess I still have that bit of bleedin' heart. Mona, I hope that you're doing better! I just had my phone consult with Dr. K about an hour ago. He was so great to talk to -- answered all of my questions, listened to my concerns -- more than other doctors that I have dealt with. It was probably obvious that I'm just about as informed as I can be about this thing, now I'm ready to DO it! I did ask him about Fill Centers USA since there is one an hour from my house. He said his patients had "spotty" experiences with them. And he will take care of complications such as if he punctured the tubing during a fill, whereas a fill center would not. The set-up and fill fees at the Fill Centers aren't really less expensive than flying back to see Dr. K, since he charges so little for fills. I am not sure yet if I'll fly back for every fill but I do think I will do it for at least the first fill. I would still like to find a local doc or a place I can go that I feel comfortable with if I do have a complication. For you other out-of-towners, what has been your experience? I see some people who have local fill docs.

Wow we really do all deserve each other! I've been moving towards the no meat thing for some time. I'm a mega bitch, too. And I have a BAD problem with starting and not finishing. LOL My thing with fruits and veggies is that I enjoy them most and also I have such a hard time with meat, anyhow. I will continue with fish, however. I have to have my salmon! I do still have milk, eggs, yogurt and the like. So not quite vegetarian, but definitely MUCH healthier.