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Slightly off topic, but not really.. is everyone aware of what KFC does to the chickens they raise for those delicious buckets of golden goodness? It's horrifying and I doubt I'll ever eat there again. No telling what the fast food industries are doing to cows in order to pump out the millions of burgers we as a nation eat every day. *sighs* Sad, very sad. And I'm not a vegetarian or an animal rights activist. Those poor horses. If you want to get really shocked. They are hiring women in China to get pregnant so they can take the unborn child and use it for stem-cell research. Now there's something to cry about.

A lack of B-12 is common especially amongst woman and vegetarians without bands. Mood swings, memory lose, tiredness are some of my common symptoms that I need a "boost" of B.

I had surgery one week ago and would like to hear from others about their first week. Would you like to share? From you older banders it would also be nice to get a preview of what the next few weeks will be like. My First Week__________________ I was pretty tired on surgery day, but able to resume a half day at the office the day after surgery, and to resume a full work day on day 5. The pain was minimal. Once, I took a dose of the tylenol w/codein, and other times took half doses of children's tylenol. I had no nausea. That terrible, bloated feeling lasted only 2-3 hours after I woke up from surgery. The only sign of having done something wrong was on day 7 when I ate a scrambled egg. I have had no hunger this week, probably only eating 200-500 calories a day, and have lost 16 pounds. However, today (day 8) I ate 2X-3X what I've eaten on any other day (1/3 Protein drink for Breakfast, cup of Soup for lunch, and 2/3 cup of soup for dinner) so maybe hunger is returning. I was worried that after banding I would forever lose the enjoyment of food. But I'm finding that enjoyment of food is probably a relative thing. Vegetarian broth was delicious, and when I ate that egg (cold, left over by my daughter) it tasted like foi gras (I love foi gras). I understand that if I am restricted now it is only because of swelling and won't last, but I really like this feeling.

Hey all, May I get your collective brains together to help me come up with a pre and post op vegetarian food list together? :-) I figure those of you who have been through this, can maybe help me get this together? I do eat free range dairy and eggs. Suggestions for: Clear liquids Liquids Mushies And I think that covers it? AM I leaving a phase out? THANK YOU

Whey protien really messes my stomach up. I have IBS and for some reason, (probably milk sensitive) I'm in pain all day if I drink one of these. I'm also a vegetarian, so getting enough protien will be a challenge. I get it now via soy, legumes, etc.

Hi Leener , There are bandsters who are vegetarians and do quite well. I dont think long term you have to stick to a low carb diet, but for folks with PCOS, it is generally advised that they do stick to one because typically they are insulin resistant as well. I am assuming that because you are obese that you have made the wrong food choices in the past or have a satiety disorder like the rest of us here? Which means making some changes are a good thing because even being a veggie means that you will have the band to help you with portion control. It will be harder for you to get your Protein, but protein can be found in low fat dairy, Beans, tofu, low fat cheese etc... You will not starve and the most important thing is that you wont be very hungry since the band is a restrictive device that will help you with your portion control. Now regarding complications, yes there are some. I have had a great experience with my band and no problems. I PB very very rarely (less than 10 times in 2.7 years) All ya need to do is chew chew chew. You might have to stay away from some of the fibrous veggies, since they can be stringy and cause you problems. No one knows which foods they will not be able to tolerate. It is trial and error. Regarding the Water, I can still drink water at a pretty rapid rate. I have been tight occasionally where I sound like a drain pipe when I drink too fast, but you should still be able to drink your water without a problem. Thicker drinks do go through more slowly and you will have to be careful to pace yourself. I still love food just as much as before. I now eat foods that I would have never considered before banding. I love veggies now and I especially love fish and wouldnt have touched a piece of tilapia pre banding. Now I eat fish several times a week, love making turkey/ veggie chili with zucchini and 5 different kinds of organic beans etc... You may have to supplement your diet with some Protein shakes or bars since you will need to keep your protein intake high if you want to lose weight. But at the end of the day, it boils down to calories in and calories expended. My advice is to be aware of the pitfalls, problems or complications of lapbanding, but dont become obsessed with the negative. Nothing is perfect and nothing is foolproof. It is a tool and you will get what you put into it. Dont worry dahlinggg...... Babs in TX 334/180 -150 ish

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

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

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

I have a lower BMI and am waiting for a surgery date. I was cleared for this surgery this past fall and was at 200 (5'6) and now I'm at 230, so that just goes to show you that obesity, like alcholism, is a progressive disease. If I could do it by following a diet, I would not be in this desperate place. Because let's be honest...being 200 -230 and contemplating getting surgery to place a silicone band around your stomach and a port in your abs, you have to have hit the wall and have no where else to turn.:paranoid I have been thin twice in my life and each time was short lived. To get there and stay there I had to starve myself and take herbal or prescription appetite suppresants. Eventually hunger always won and I eventually lost the battle and regained my weight. One of those times I did the Atkins. I actually was on it for 2 years. For me personally, it was a disaster, it ruined my digestive system. I developed diveriticulitis from all the meat eaten (not to mention how guilty I felt eating all that animal meat!) and I have since gone vegetarian. Not able to sustain long term low carb eating, as soon as I began eating some carbs, my body seemed to go haywire and I ballooned faster than I have ever seen my body do before. MY body can't seem to tolerate being 200-230. My knees hurt, I ache, I'm dizzy, I feel sick, I have GERD, heart palpitations, out of breath, sleep apnea. All the symptoms of those who are much higher. So, I'm guessing every body is different in what it can handle. I wish the lower BMI people all the best and I think we should have our own thread or something. :-)

Chewy oatmeal Fruit Bars Recipe #154036 Delicious & chewy granola-like bars with Protein 1 1/2 cups whole-wheat flour 1/2 cup soy flour 2 cups quick-cooking rolled oats 1 1/3 cups brown sugar, packed 1/2 teaspoon salt (optional) 2 tablespoons flax seeds (optional) 1/2 cup oil or butter 1/2 cup applesauce 1 cup apricot preserves or your favorite preserves 1/4 cup nuts (optional) or coconut (optional) Super Skins Recipe #153210 6 baking potatoes, baked 2 tablespoons oil 1 (15 ounce) jar Cheez Whiz, cheese dip heated 1/4 cup bacon bits 1/2 cup sour cream 1/4 cup sliced green onions Cremini Mushrooms Recipe #149546 From Vegetarian Times, November/December 2005. 2 teaspoons olive oil 24 medium cremini mushrooms, stems removed and chopped 7 ounces soy sausage 1/2 cup breadcrumbs 1/2 cup pesto sauce Creamy Onion Canapes Recipe #146874 This is a fantastic hors d’oeuvre! This recipe is from Paula Deen, and she loves mayonnaise. The canapes also taste wonderful topped with a little extra of the cream cheese mixture in place of the mayonnaise. Everyone loved these -- I hope you do! 2 large onions, cut into rings 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 loaf white bread 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese 1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce seasoning salt, to taste black pepper, to taste red pepper flakes, to taste paprika, to taste mayonnaise, to taste

Hey Leener, Thanks for the soapbox approval. Since you are a vegetarian, be sure to read that article I put in the food forum. There is important info in there about getting the Protein you need as a vegetarian. And, the more I read about people losing their bands to infections and erosions the more nervous I get. I invested my meger inheritance in this lovely little band, if I were sitting here with no band and my thoughts of what I 'should have done with that money' I think I'd lose my mind. Here's to a wiser and healthier us!

Erin, I am so sorry to hear that, I've read your posts. What is it that they did for you to prevent? Your so right Emily. I totally agree with you. My gastro doctor didn't know anything about aloe vera juice as well. One thing I am doing is taking vit c and also milk thistle for the liver. If lymph system is the software of the immune system, the liver is the CPU, and milk thistle is really good for the liver. Garlic is a really good immune system builder, and I take garlic oil for my chronic fatigue, but it's also a blood thinner, so if your going into surgery, its not a good idea. I'll resume afterwards though. Susan, you can get on your soapbox in my thread anytime, because I totally agree and am a huge advocate of combining traditional (allopathic) with holistic health regimes ,nutrition and supplents to keep you healthy. Not all doctors (and I would venture most) are up on this stuff. I will also kick up my protien, as you suggested. I'm a vegetarian, so I might not be getting as much as I should.

I have seen many people asking about how to choose the right Protein supplements so I thought this might be helpful. My son is studying for his Personal Trainer Certification through a program accredited by NESTA (National Endurance & Sports Trainers Association). The other day we were talking about Proteins and he showed me a three page section of his study course which I thought was worth sharing with all of you. I will try to include the most important points while keeping this post as brief as possible. Protein Dietary proteins are strong compounds that build and repair body tissues from muscles to hair and fingernails. In addition to maintaining the body's structure, proteins speed up chemical reactions in the body, serve as chemical messengers, fight infection, and transport oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues. The body uses protein only if carbohydrates and fat intake is insufficient. When utilized as an energy source, protein is diverted from the many vital functions it performs for our bodies. Therefore it is crucial that we intake enough carbohydrates and fat so protein is not pulled as a primary energy source. Proteins are made of smaller units called amino acids. Think of protein as the building block of muscle, and amino acids as the building blocks of protein. When we eat food high in proteins, the digestive tract breaks this dietary protein into amino acids. These amino acids are broken down to different size chains, or groups, to be absorbed in our small intestines. These chains of amino acids are called peptides. The human body can absorb only very small di and tripeptides (chains consisting of two or three amino acids). Larger peptides must be enzymatically broken down (hydrolyzed) before any absorption can occur. Most breakdown and absorption occurs in the proximal section (duodenum) of the small intestine. The human body has approximately one foot of duodenum. Once past the proximal bowel. there is essentially no further protein absorption. Undigested protein passes into the colon where it is a known health hazard. Beef, poultry, fish, dairy products, eggs, soy, grains as well as some protein supplements have no di and tripeptides. These proteins have average peptide sizes ranging from 60,000 to 100,000 Daltons which require significant breakdown time and limit average absorption to 30% at its best. People who do not eat animal products can meet their protein needs with plant proteins found in vegetables, grains, and Beans. However, plant proteins lack one or more of the essential amino acids. Therefore a keen sense of combining plant proteins to provide all of the essential amino acids is important. A good example is rice and beans. Each of these foods lacks one or more essential amino acids, but the amino acids missing in rice are found in the beans, and vice versa. Although considered complete proteins, the human body does not possess the necessary enzymes to break down vegetable proteins and most of it ends up in the colon where bacteria gain access to it. Research has shown that most of the gas once thought to come from the Fiber found in vegetarian sources of protein such as beans, is now known to be caused by the undigested vegetable protein instead. Animal proteins, found in such foods as eggs, milk, meat, fish, and poultry, are considered complete proteins because they contain all of the essential amino acids our bodies need. The following list will describe the different types of protein supplements available on the market today. Concentrate This type of protein has 20% to 80% purity, with the remaining consisting of fat and lactose. Could be 20% protein, and 80% fat and lactose; usually the case when not specified in a product. If the concentrate consists of mostly protein, it usually states so in the label. This is one of the cheapest and lowest quality proteins available in the market today. Calcium Caesinate This type of protein is even cheaper and lower in quality than “concentrate”. Isolate This type of protein has a purity of 90% and up—can only have 10% or less consisting of fat and lactose. Except for Soy Isolates – You should avoid Soy Isolates at all cost. (Here is an excellent article about Isolates: whey Protein Hydrolizates Remember that to “hydrolyze” something means to break it down to smaller particles; the key here is how “extreme” the hydrolyzation is. It could be 1/10th of 1% and can still be called “hydrolyzed” by law. If the protein is really high quality, the label will state 100% Whey Protein Hydrolizates. The best protein on the market today is made by Bio Nutritional Research Group (BNRG) and it is called Proto Whey. This is the only protein on the market that is 100% absorbable. Keep in mind that by law, all ingredients must be listed from greatest amount present in the product or supplement to the smallest amount present. If soy isolates, calcium caesinate, or a whey concentrate are one of the first ingredients in your supplements, you can be certain you are throwing away your money and being taken advantage of. Because of the types of protein contained in most if not all protein supplements (with the exception of Proto Whey or any other protein that is micro peptide protein complex from extreme hydrolyzed whey protein fraction), a maximum of 30% of its content can be absorbed by the duodenum or proximal bowel (where all protein is absorbed by the human body). The remainder goes on to the large intestine where it rots and creates gas and GI discomfort. If you are getting gas and discomfort from your protein supplement, you can be certain that it is a low quality protein that your body cannot break down and therefore cannot absorb. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- I am seeing a wound care specialist for an injury I recently got. We had a big dicussion on protein because of it's importance in wound healing and infection prevention. The doctor told me that most people can calculate the right amount of protein for them by multiplying .35 times the amount of weight you wish to sustain. Of course, I you are at 350 pounds and your goal weight is 125, you would want to gradually reduce your intake rather than a sudden drop. Example: I want to weigh 130 pound. 130 x .35 = 45.5 As in all things here, be sure to follow your doctor's recommendations for you. I know that right after surgery the typical protein amount is 60 grams. This is to help us recover from surgery, and because we are eating a very low fat/low carb diet - which means our bodies are going to be looking for more protein for energy.

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

Awesome Vinesqueen! :-) I use mine 2 times a day now. And Serena, that is a good suggestion. I'm a vegetarian, so that couldn't hurt to try..

So I take it that soy tuna is the fake version of tuna for vegetarians? I've heard of Tuno before, but was told that it is pretty gross.

Hiya, they say you should have a fill about 4-6 weeks after your surgery, generally you can begin to eat more, and i definitely think my swelling subsided after the 2 weeks too. I had my surgery on 5th December, and Dr Focquet gave me a list of local surgeons in Britain, so naturally I contacted the Glasgow one as I live in Scotland. I have been chasing him up but have had no word yet!! I think there were other ones in Sheffield and Manchester too, as well as London. Dr Focquet told me you could begin to take vitamins after about the 2 weeks post op when your swelling should subside, I have been taking Omega 3, Vitamin C and a Multi-Vit. They say the protein is the best to eat, but you being a vegetarian could get this from protein drinks, you get them in the Health Food shops. Does this help at all?

do you need a fill after about 4-5 weeks then?? i think i am definately going to go for it. Do they tell you to take Vitamins. I already have a really poor diet. However looking on the website it says about meat and fish, but i have been a vegetarian (who doesnt like vegetables) for 11 years. When you need a fill does that mean you can eat more??. Have you been waiting a long time??. Do they provide you with people near who can do the fills?? I will ask all these questions at the consultation, however I think if you ask someone who has been through it you will get more of an honest answer

I'm not a vegetarian, but I'm not heavy on the beef protein either. I do a lot of soy chips, beans and some peanut butter. My main protein source is probably tuna, I can eat some tuna.

As a long-time vegetarian, I'd like to point out that by combining non-animal Proteins, you can make complete proteins. Combinations like rice and Beans or grains and beans can be just as complete as meat. It does take a little more planning, if that's something you are concerned about. I've always been told that just eating a good variety of Protein from different sources is all you need to do. Also, lentils have a higher quality protein than steak, if you like them. Lots of choices... Emily

Thank you leenerbups for the links and the suggestions. I need to start digging through my old vegetarian recipies again and get making them! I still receive my vegetarian magazine and have gotten some awesome recipies from there. I am going to be making a Flaxseed bread here shortly from the last one that I got. Thanks again, and I'll try my hardest to go back to my former vegetarian ways. Maybe it'll even help in my weightloss.

I have a great recipe for a vegetarian "meat loaf", if anyone is interested. I have shared it with non-vegetarian friends, and they all love it. Gave it to one of my volunteers at work whose husband has heart problems, and he even liked it. It's one of our family favorites. Emily

Hi Kelly girl! I eat eggs and dairy, but I get the organic and free range kind. There are really good "meaty" recipes from Robin Robertson. I think she puts out THE BEST cookbooks out there. Her recipes really helped us transition from heavy meat eaters to vegetarians. http://www.robinrobertson.com/ It's also important that your eating a balanced diet. Vegetarians have to be more careful that we are getting everything we need. Too often people just stop eating meat, then get cravings or not feel well because they are not eating a balanced diet and getting all the nutrients they need. In order to be a successful vegetarian, you must know how to feed your body correctly. Great info on how to be a vegetarian you can find here: http://www.goveg.com If you need resove, just go to http://www.goveg.com/factoryFarming.asp or http://www.animalactivist.com/vegetarian.asp and look at all the videos and read the articles. Good luck, Eileen

I tried eating a vegetarian diet during the summer, and did alright with it for about a month and a half. I noticed that I had a really hard time meeting my Protein requirements, and thus had a hard time keeping myself feeling full. Beans, ricotta, nuts, and the other protein sources I was utilizing just didn't seem to keep me satisfied. I did notice how much better I felt though, as I felt healthier, more energetic, and a whole lot lighter. Any tips for alternate protein sources? I have been wishing that a vegetarian bandster would step forward on here so that I could get some tips and give it another go round. I really want to try it again! Maybe I should start slow and be a Pescetarian first, then move on to Ovo Lacto Vegetarianism? Any ideas would be great. Thanks for stepping forward. I really needed someone to talk to about this, as it's been bugging me for a while now.