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i am 1 day shy of 6 weeks post op. i feel like a pig compared to what i hear a lot of other sleevers eating! fyi, ive been a vegetarian for 25 years. i havent had any issues with any foods since surgery nor any pain eating. let me give an example of what i ate today.... breakfast was a premier protein shake, lunch was an amys bean cheese rice burrito with half an avacado. dinner was a cup and a half of high protein spagetti with marinara and a piece of wheat garlic toast. for snacks i had a handful of pistachios and 2 string cheeses and 4 pretzels. i drink water all day long just not for at least 30 minutes after i eat. this is just 25% of what i wouldve eaten before surgery but i still feel like a pig! please dont be mean or overly critical, i would just like to knowif anyone else can relate? tia!

I was banded May 10th and am currently in "bandster hell". My surgeon told me to stay away from carbs. That is hard! Everything has carbs. I am not a big meat eater. I was actually going to go vegetarian. Anyway, my issue with the doc saying no carbs is that I could have gone on the Atkins diet instead of getting the band. I thought the band allowed me to eat "most" of the foods that I enjoy but in VERY limited quantities. Am I mistaken? I went grovery shopping last night and nearly everything that I picked up had carbs. I know that overeating caused my obesity but is it really the carbs? I would appreciate ANY advice! Thank you!

Not all carbs are bad, I was told to stay away from white carbs and watch the net carbs in stuff. They are the bad ones. Check with your Doctor because the net carbs might have been what he meant because veg's are good for you and on most of our list from the Doctors as long as you don't over do it. There are alot of vegetarian bandsters and it seems to work for them. Good luck and you'll make it through bandster hell even if it doesn't seem like it sometimes. It does get better as a matter of fact it gets way better.

I am 24 days out and I am eating all kinds of stuff I didn't think I would be able to eat this quickly. I eat very small amounts, but I have been eating things like stuffed vegetarian grape leaves, deli turkey meat (Boar's Head Reduced Sodium is the best) rolled up with a thin piece of swiss, low fat string cheese, and even went to a vegan restaurant and had a piece of flatbread pizza with cashew cheese, roasted red peppers, and seitan sausage (it was the best thing I have eaten since surgery, and caused 0 pain!). Two weeks out I was eating lots of cottage cheese, mashed sweet potato, Amy's Organic lentil and vegetable soups (not pureed), but also some well-chewed nuts. I probably could have started deli meat then too but I was nervous. As far as slowing your weight loss, mine did slow down around the two week mark for about 4 days, but now it is picking up again. Like the poster above said, I think it is just your body adjusting. I eat about 300-500 calories a day now and I feel awesome. Best of luck and remember to eat slow and chew well whenever trying anything new! I got cocky recently with all my success and had my first piece of food get stuck from not chewing well enough. That sucked!

there are some good ones on the "Vegetarians Unite" thread

you are right, it is NOT the easy way out. I think all the PRE stuff is to make sure our mental approach has changed and is ready for new beginnings. I am curious what was on your supply list? It's funny because I am hear researching types of Protein for vegetarian Snacks etc.

'Face meat'? 🤢 After reading that term, this 48 year long vegetarian would close them all down lol. Absolutely gross.

you are right, it is NOT the easy way out. I think all the PRE stuff is to make sure our mental approach has changed and is ready for new beginnings. I am curious what was on your supply list? It's funny because I am hear researching types of Protein for vegetarian Snacks etc. Supply list I hear is a must Jello Medical protein Vitamins Gas x strips Jello cups I need to find a drink I like. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App k out Trimino protein Water, loaded with protein and no carbs or sugar. Tastes pretty good too! Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Not true. I'm a vegetarian. Easily 75% of what I eat contains fiber. I have been eating them since day 1. When I was all liquid I would make a bean Soup. I also added a bit of spinach to my Protein drinks and Soups. As for vegetables try what you like. Just allow time to see if you body reacts negatively before adding anything else new. I have been enjoying small green salads since 6 weeks out. As for grains, I don't eat white rice, but I have had brown rice and quinoa with no issues. I have never had constipation or diarrhea. I had my first BM 3 days after coming home from the hospital and I've been regular ever since.

You may also consider eating fish instead of chicken and alternate sources of Protein like Beans, tofu, etc. Vegetarian options of meat often go down easier than actual meat.

Someone shared this article from bariatriceating.com that I wanted to share here: Don’t eat bread! That latte has 35g sugar! No macaroni salad. NO tortillas. No rice. It won’t last without change There is no delicate way to say this. We have always set ourselves apart from other bariatric groups in that we don’t look the other way while post ops continue to eat the bad carbs. We try and bring them back to the bariatric reality. We coax you to knock off the Pasta, rice, tortillas or bread and often people get mad or try and justify it. For years we’ve watched people blow through this surgery and they all have the same story. Everyone thinks they are ‘Different’, that they can handle the bad carbs and the sugar (they don’t get sick!) and ‘because they have lost 100 pounds in 7 months they must be doing something right’. The first hundred pounds is the surgery Hate to keep making the same point, but your surgery did it, not you. Remember that you are not driving the car for the first year. Eating the same foods that grew you to 300 pounds, but in smaller amounts is not a good long term plan as eventually you will be able to eat larger portions. Ask yourself why eating the same bad carbs would be a good plan. No doctor has advised you to eat the same way post op as you did pre op. Post ops pick this up somewhere, latch on to it and defend it, often to the bitter end of a total regain. No one fights for broccoli carbs! It’s not that the bagel will kill you, it’s that these carbs make you hungry. They rapidly turn to glucose and burn… poof, gone, #Lookingformore. They don’t give you any nutrients. They don’t create a feeling of satiety or lasting fullness. The empty carbs work against what you are trying to achieve. If you were arguing for eating salad or green bean carbs, more power to you… but people are trying to hang on to foods without value. If this big argument was for VEGETABLES… well it wouldn’t be a debate as vegetables didn’t make us fat, it was those ‘other’ carbs. Did you ever meet an obese vegetarian and wonder ‘HUH?’… how’d they get obese if they are vegetarian? Same deal… its not the vegetables, its the other stuff… the carbs… the potatoes, bread, macaroni, rice, tortillas and sugar! Square peg… round hole Stop looking for slightly better substitutes for bad choices and find new healthier foods to love instead. We keep trying to force that square peg into that round hole. Stop EATING crackers and chips… don’t find ones that you can justify because they have fewer carbs. Enough with the terrible fishy shirataki tofu noodles. Learn to live without bread and pasta so it will not call your name. We aren’t changing the behavior or trend if we continue eating them, just slightly shifting it. Before long you’ve got your hand back in the Doritos bag & fork in the Mac and cheese. Look It’s Protein Cheesecake! Don’t add protein to muffins and convince yourself they’re good for you. Stop with the Starbucks Creme Brûlée Lattes because ‘they’re your one indulgence'; they have 500 calories and thin people don’t even drink them. Stay the heck out of Wendy’s. I read an article the other day touting all the ‘good choices’ in fast food restaurants. How about stay out of them. That’s the best choice of all! Why go to the place where you know there is danger. Before you know it, oops… there are fries in your bag! You know people gain back weight, right? In our first month of new Facebook Support group I have cried for new members who have gained back all their weight. I am not immune either after fourteen years, three bariatric books and knowing better. When life hit the fan, I comforted my bruises in the way I knew best and it has taken me ten months to lose fifty pounds of it. People are having revisions, a lovely sounding word for a second serious body damaging operation. What will change? Unless there is major change along with that new surgery, won’t it have the same result? Step away from the bagel! Own that there was and maybe still is something wrong with your food picker! Use surgery as an opportunity to change, not cheat. I used be bothered by the ‘word on the street’ that we were the carb or food police, but am now proud of it. If you want to promote the virtues of Everything in Moderation while eating half a Subway, there are plenty of groups that will help you do it. If you want to eat right and learn new behaviors to make the feeling of slipping on those skinny jeans last… we have a support group that’s a healthier fit. Bariatric Surgery IS the easy way out It’s a personal food cop that is always with us, that helps us push away from the table. We make it hard when we don’t live by the bariatric rules we’ve been given. There is nothing harder then gaining weight back after surgery. There is nothing better than losing it a second time. Control is empowering. If you need to pick up and start losing again… If you need to work off a regain… it’s not too late and your pouch works just fine if you choose the right foods. Clean those lethal carbs from your life and go back to Bariatric Eating – protein first and lots of fresh salad and vegetables. We’ve got the support for you to make that change!

Any ideas for vegetarian (true vegetarian, no fish) puree foods? I have a few saved from eggface's site--looking for some others. Thanks!

Check out netrition.com. They have a number of high protein, low carb foods to grab. I also find protein bars can be a big help getting in the protein. I use balance bars right now because they taste good and are vegetarian. There are many more to choose from as well. I have found veggie pepperoni and jerky.. of course there are lots of meat choices there too for on the go. Cheese sticks, cottage cheese or greek yogurt, cans of split pea or bean soup...hard boiled eggs....peanut butter and carrot slices... I like the Trader Joes almond/flax seed butter....

I still use Protein shakes. For several months now I've been using Garden of Life. Its a vegan raw organic high Protein powder with lots of amino acids. Here's a product review that I wrote about it, if you're interested. I think it is far superior to whey-based protein powders: http://www.healthcentral.com/obesity/c/276918/177450/protein-vegetarians-vegans (links to HealthCentral)

I like the turkey meatballs that are ready to eat. I just put some marinara sauce on them and pop them in the micro for 1.5 minutes and I have an easy dinner. I also use the grocery store deli to get easy, ready to eat foods. Our deli has grilled chicken breast and veggies, very easy! They also have some vegetarian selections that are doable. What about Lean Cuisine? I just don't eat the rice or Pasta when I have them. They are not to bad and very easy to pop in the micro and have a quick meal. You can keep them in the freezer and it gives you a quick easy option that is good for you. Keep working at it - it does take time to make these changes. It is a challenge that you have to face each day, there will be some bad choices along the way, but just make sure you look ahead to the positive outcome and make a better choice the next time! You can do this!

I'll keep ya posted. Thx for the recommendation. I spoke with her this morning and felt good about the choice. My sister is going with me and is a vegetarian and Nina was very assuring that that would not be te slightest problem that she would be as well cared for as I would be. I'm gonna start a video blog next week and document everything. Thx again

Perhaps a lower BMI would be an indicator of a smaller liver, I am not sure. I was lower than many on my BMI (a smidge under 40 on day of surgery), and also my surgeon required a very easy pre-op diet for me: low fat (<15g/day)/low calorie/vegetarian. I accidentally had a little too much fat a few days, by assuming a few things. I didn't get a full two week pre-op prep time, due to trying to get in before the end of the year. Mine was scheduled less than two weeks out. I just think it is a good idea to be up front with our surgeons so that there are no surprises on the table. I can only imagine going through all these emotions and all the prep to just be closed back up without completing the procedure. Good luck to you! Are you excited? One more day!

Hi friends I am ALan Smith. I am totally vegetarian from last 10 years before 1 month I have got severe injury my bone is fractured. I am getting treatment from orthopedic surgeon and doctor suggested me to eat eggs as I am vegetarian could not opt for eggs so please suggest me vegetarian Protein rich food so that I could fulfill protein need........... Smith ALan

Is anyone else a vegetarian? Ovo-lacto here. I am pre OP. How are you doing post op? I am thinking about introducing meat into My diet post op because I am worried. 

I’m l/o vegetarian, ~7 months out. Doing great, down +70 lbs from highest weight. I eat a variety of proteins— eggs, of string cheese, tofu, beans, “burgers”, seitan. It’s not a big deal, really. I don’t do great with whey protein all the time, but there are tons of vegan protein shake options.

Tracey, I am not a vegetarian but I have seen several posts from folks who are so I know they are out there! My response should put your message back into the "new content" list and hopefully you will get some responses. I am sure VSG can be done with a vegetarian diet!

Make sure you don't use a lot of salad dressing! From the people who I've interacted with that are vegan or vegetarian, most seem to feel they're better than those who eat meats. Kinda funny to me, since I myself, before my VSG (10/24) was a vegetarian for almost 3 and half years...

I had my 1 week check up today and the surgeon said I have to be on liquids for another week! How long did you have to be on liquids? It seems to me that most people are only on liquids for 1 week, then go to soft foods. I was so sad when she told me it would be another week! I am soooo sick of soup!!! Does anyone have any other creative and filling things they drank? Unfortunately I am also a vegetarian, so it does limit me a little more. I have been living on tomato, butternut squash, potato leak, S/F choc pudding, & veggie jello (yes, there is such a thing!)

I'm curious about this as well. I became vegetarian again after being banded, with the exception of some fish...so I guess I'm really a pescetarian. But I never really got into the green zone with my band, I just went for a fill, and am trying to get back on the wagon. I am curious if there are any veggie banders out there that can talk about what they eat.

Hi!!! I've been a vegetarian (ovo-lacto) for 17 years! The band has been pretty good to me. I no longer eat Pasta or rice but I eat everything else I ate pre-banding. I start each day with a Protein drink (unjury mixed with almond coconut milk and sometimes a little PB2). I have plain Greek yogurt with fresh blueberries and a couple of chocolate chips for a snack. lunch is usually vegetarian chicken salad or a boca spicy chicken patty with some salsa. Afternoon snack is some fresh fruit and a cheese stick. dinner varies but tonight I will have black Beans with 1 ounce cheddar cheese, salsa, and a couple tablespoons of Greek yogurt instead of sour cream. During the summer I have made my famous ratatouille and a few varieties of cabbage Soup. (I actually have to make another one tomorrow!). I have a farm share so I always use fresh fruits and veggies. Oh and when I need extra calories I will juice some fresh veggies with a couple of apples.