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That's good to hear. I am a vegetarian and was just concerned about protein but I think I will do great I was just wondering if anyone had any great suggestions. They put me on the Atkins diet for 2 weeks preop and it was really hard for me being a vegetarian but I learned How to really watch carbs which will definitely help in the future

I don't eat Red meat, and that was due to the band so I accepted and went with it since the benefits are obvious...I don't care for dairy products either...but I still eat chicken and fish.... So I'm not sure what that nakes me, other than healthier..... I'm sure, the more I learn and the more I adapt, I will become more vegetarian eventually.....

I am just curious if there are any fellow vegetarians that have had lap band surgery or in the process of having it?

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

I might try them, thanks. I love the Premier Protein from Costco but you get sick of everything after a while! I am banded 2.5 years and I am tight in the morning and a vegetarian so I have one every morning but I need some variety!!! Good luck with the whole thing...its the best thing I ever did...it was a struggle at first but now its pretty easy!

My journey started July 2012 to get banded. I'm 5 10 and started at 293.. I was banded August 28 with a surgery weight of 273. I'm currently six days post op and down to 262 my goal is 160 by July of 2013.. I prepared myself by getting in the gym in may 2012 and going completely vegetarian.. I'm soooo exited for this new life I have given myself .. Banded August 28 2012<br />Starting weight 293<br />Day of surgery weight 273<br />Current weight 262<br />Goal weight 160 5ft 10

How are all you "60 and Olders" doing? There hasn't been much activity here lately - just wondering how ya'll are? I am getting closer to my date (2/28) and am getting very excited. Even tho I read a lot of negative stories about people with bands who aren't having great sucess - I still believe I can make this work to my advantage. I believe I mentioned before that this is not the surgery I initially wanted - I wanted a gastric sleeve, based mainly on my Dr's recommendation due to some other issues I have, and truthfully if my insurance covered it that is what I would be doing. But I can only get the lapband covered with the insurance I have and I am not in a position to self-pay, so this is it for me. I plan to keep a positive attitude and work my band for all it's worth. Someone here mentioned having the date of their banding tattooed on their hand - I am considering the same (altho not on my hand!) because that date is going to be the beginning of a profound change in my life. I am also going to turn 60 exactly one month after my surgery and I like it that I am starting a whole new decade of my life with a whole new outlook and approach and a tool to help me achieve my goals. The most important goal I have going forward, aside from losing weight, is that I have been working my way to becoming vegan (have been a vegetarian for awhile now) and when I have my surgery, from that day forth that is the way I intend to live. I found a very good site that I visit daily for inpiration - it's www.bandedliving.com The two women who run the site have had great sucess with their bands and they are truly an inspiration to me. I believe that is what we need to do as we start/continue our journey with our bands - stay positive and inspired. Don't get me wrong - educating yourself about all aspects of the band is important - I have spent 7 months researching this and looking at it from all angles, the positive and the negative - but now that I know the negative I prefer to move on and surround myself with positive and inspirational people and stories to keep me going. I personally know a couple of people I work with who have had the band and not had much sucess with it - but I also see them raiding the candy jar in one of our co-worker's office, eating large amounts and eating & drinking things they shouldn't. So it's no wonder they are not having sucess. It's so important to remember that this is not a magic pill to cure our obesity but rather a tool to help us - but we must put forth the work and effort to make this work. Yes, there are some banders out there who want to go from the band to a bypass - but there are also by-passers who are now getting "banded over bypass" because their bypasses failed them! As I said, I wanted a sleeve and would go that route if I had the choice, but on the other hand, altho the band may make us have to work harder to lose than sleevers or bypassers, on another level you actually learn to control and discipline yourself in ways you don't have to do with the other surgeries. I can't help but think that's a GOOD thing! And we don't have those crazy side effects to deal with like hair loss and dumping syndrome. All I know is I am going ahead with my band surgery and I plan to give this my very best effort. If I happen to end up one of those people who don't get results despite my best efforts, I'll face that when/if it happens but atleast I'll know I gave it my best effort. Hope everyone of you out there are doing well - have a wonderful coming week!

Welcome to the site Many of us have experienced a weight gain. Its great that you have reached out and working on getting it back down. Pouch reset is going back to liquids and progressing back out to real food stage. (It does not shrink your pouch) It may help you feel your restriction a bit. Its one way to help get back to healthy behaviors. Another option is to start at real food stage if you feel reset is too restrictive. Some choose to change diet plans Keto, paleo, vegetarian,IF, whole 30 etc. Only my opinion. Whatever diet you choose, The key is logging your food in an app and staying with in your weight loss calories/macros. Basics: Food plan, exercise, hydrate You know what to do but it may be difficult to get your head back in the game. A few threads on the site that may help. https://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/425354-the-importance-of-doing-the-head-work/?tab=comments#comment-4776743 https://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/428113-🍁-oct-2019-challenge-🍁/?tab=comments#comment-4815439

Congrats on having a surgery date. The conference should allow for special dietary requirements - I mean they would if you were vegetarian or vegan or have allergies, etc. Let them know you’re on a medically restricted diet of high protein, low fat, no sugar, no rice, bread, pasta. That still leaves a lot of food choices. Eggs or rolled oats at breakfast, meat & vegetables/salad or soup for lunch & dinner. I was at an event where they provided sandwiches for everyone - I just ate the fillings & left the bread. You just eat what you’re able to eat. You may find your tummy is a bit fussy at first & you or your tummy may not enjoy certain foods so take some cheese, yoghurt, protein shakes, packet soups, etc. (things you can prep in your room without cooking) to supplement the food provided at the conference. At least when you’re with your sister, you can buy the food you like & can eat - sure she wouldn’t mind you cooking for yourself some or all of the time.

My cook books are all vegetarian except for my ancient copy of The Joy of Cooking. I did just find a Vegan blog run by someone who had bypass that made me really excited. I know I need to stay vegetarian at least until I hit maintenance, but I would like to go vegan one day. The cook book I like is called Vegan Soul Kitchen by Bryan Terry

This is me too. I'm a year post surgery and not anywhere near my goal. I feel like it hasn't worked because my appetite has barely changed. I fill up fast ish on meals but I get hungry again really quickly so I basically eat half my meal but then have to come back an hour later and finish it. I'm doing the same thing with crisps and sweets. I'm vegetarian so find it really hard to get that much protein every day. I'm really depressed about it honestly and absolutely disgusted at myself for allowing it to happen. After the surgery for a couple of months I felt great because I was full so easily but now I feel like my appetite is the same as before the op. Maybe protein shakes might help?

Thank you for this!! I am not vegetarian but am trying to slowly get there. However the nutritionist who works with my surgeon is totally against so I'm basically left with just the internet as a resource...which is probably better anyways. resources like this are great to see!! HW 285.8 SW 272.8 CW 252 GW 140 Sleeved 11/23

I am 7 months out, I think a Boca burger is a great choice. I believe they have around 120 calories and with cheese maybe a extra 80 calories. Also they are high in Protein and Fiber. With spinach maybe the whole thing was 220 good healthy calories. Chicken- 3 oz is about 90 calories and it takes me longer to eat chicken than a boca burger because boca burgers have some carbs so it goes down easier. Sometimes we need a change from pure protein. I love vegetarian sausage, I have that and a egg almost ever morning since I was 2 months out.

The mexican food are attracting more and more people to it. This is because that the mexican food are characterised by its intense taste as well as by its unique flavouring too. There are many mexican restaurants in west la . the people living in west la as well as the tourists who come here as per their vacation looks forward to eat mexican dishes which has a top spot in the food chart. The mexican food restaurant west la is of good quality. From this, we can understand the popularity of the mexican dishes in west la. A wide varity of dishes are showcased in the mexican cuisine of those restaurants that are located in every nook and corner of the city. The mexican manicotti is one of the sought after dish in the mexican restaurnats in west la. A lot of people order for this yummy dish.mexican manicotti is a typical non ? vegetarian dish which is mainly prepared from chicken. There a few ingredeints that are used up in preparaing this tasty dish. First of all we require manicotti shells for preparing this dish. Cooken chicken low fat cottage chicken as well as greeen chillies which are sliced are the other chief ingredients of this yummy mexican dish ? mexican manicotti. There are other ingredients too. A cup pf cilantro, clove garlic minced are used up. Red bell pepper which are chopped up are used in this dish. Salsa as well as chopped or sliced ripe olives are yet other ingredients that are used up in this mexican dish. Tomato sauce are also used up to give an extra taste to this dish. You also have to add monterey jack cheese to make it very rich as well as yummy in taste. The following are the list of ingredients that are used up in preparaing this dish.

@@elladvyne - I'm a vegetarian so I don't know about beef. I can say however that I am eating everything I ate before surgery now just in smaller portions. I've tolerated every food I've tried with no problems.

I think being lacto-ovo vegetarian isn't a problem as long as you don't have any major allergies or restrictions on anything other than meat, but I think cutting out dairy (especially whey protein) could be more difficult. My plan is to go vegan again when I get to maintenance, but in the mean time, I don't feel bad about some dairy and eggs (especially since my overall calorie intake is so low anyway). My personal tip: pumpkin seed Protein powder; it's great mixed in or sprinkled on anything savory, and the brand I use is a complete protein. I don't know if it's available in the US, but amazon.com has this one: http://www.amazon.com/Omega-Nutrition-Pumpkin-Protein-21-Ounce/dp/B004L3VLFK People will try and tell you that you need to eat meat, but (assuming, like I said, that you don't have a soy allergy or something similarly restrictive) they're wrong. In fact, my surgeon even recommends meat eaters stay away from meat until two months post-op anyway (though he does have us on purees quite quickly). And now cue the anti-vegan comments...

I am finding myself getting closer to becoming a vegetarian. I rarely eat meat at this point. All of this is post banding. Before being banded I was a total carnivore but my meat of choice was red meat which I can no longer do. I never ever thought I would ever be writing this post. I never could eat fish and have not been a huge fan of pork or chicken. Chicken at this point is too mediocre for me. Often it is too dry and I have horror stories about being stuck. Even at this time I have no Fluid in my band because of a revision but meat just doesn't do it for me anymore. Is anyone else in the same boat? I do think that I get enough Protein but do admit it is more of a challenge because it tends to get a bit boring. Anyone else? I'd love to hear more.

Wow it sounds like you have a lot going on and are stuck in a rough patch. Your weight loss is AMAZING so it makes me sad that you are obsessing over food. But I get it. I too have been treated for anxiety and depression for years but don't think weight loss is going to magically make it go away (my doctor suggested same thing- kinda scary how they glaze right over the head stuff part huh?) and I'm trying very hard to keep my little brain busy. I'm a huge reader and wow, does that help!!! I'm reading an author by the name of Jen Lamcaster. She has several books starting with Bright Lights, Big Ass. I literally cry tears when reading it because she's got so many issues (weight being one of them) and her approach to life is so different than mine it kinda wakes me up, ya know? She has a huge ego and mouth to match and rises to the top of her career when she comes crashing down and learns a whole heap of humility. I don't know, the Jen Books just take my mind off my stuff even for a moment and I can get a better perspective of what's what. I've recommended her to bunches of women and they all say the same thing. Gosh girl... 139 down and still dealing with obsession- it just goes to show how hard we are on ourselves don't you think? I do and it makes me so sad and frustrated!! And I've noticed sometimes instead of just a kind word people want to turn everything INTO something huge. Ugh. So other than the Jen Books have you ever taken a yoga class? They are everywhere and sometimes you can find a teacher who is good enough to teach the basics (not all this crazy gym yoga) breathing, being mindful, stretching they can all be super empowering. For the past 10 years i go to an ashram in the Bahamas for a few days by myself and hit the reset button. It's great because there are people there from all over the world and no one judges, they are just there to take a step back from their crazy lives and prioritize. Plus it's stunning and relatively inexpensive! And there are only 2 meals a day and they are yummy vegetarian which i normally don't go for but there, it's amazing!!! I always come back a few pounds down and leave something that's been bothering me (maybe a bad habit) there on the beautiful beach on Paradise island. I trust the waves to take care of it. . Keep in touch and let me know how you are feeling, ok? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I have come to the conclusion that the work is never done. I have to "tow the line" most of the time.... but not ALL of the time. I want to eat to deal with stress, and go ahead and do that sometimes. I also have developed some activities that give me the "good feeling" I try to get from eating (and never really lasts more than a minute or two) I find that nature is my salve. I kayak, walk, bird watch, drive around in the country, work in the garden. This does more than almost anything to make me feel better when Im stressed or down. I also dance, which has helped me in many ways... body awareness, fitness, developing a community, confidence... I have worked these things into my week, every week, maybe 4-5 days a week... and I cherish them for all the pleasure and relief they give me. I cook. When I take the responsibility to cook my own food from scratch, some self grown, organic, Vegetarian.... I can take more control over the Protein content, the type of carbs and fats involved... and its an art as well. I share with others. I can my own jams, pickles and such. This eyes open involvement in the process helps me to really enjoy my food, and bring it to a level that reveres the taste and textures and where the food comes from, and all those complexities involved. I like to think about and experience food... but when I engage with food unconsciously, like I'm taking a drug or something.... and look for satisfaction... its not there. i try to be grateful.... its satisfying. Meeting and talking to people here can be satisfying. I learn so much here, I gain how to be myself better, How to relax and move forward to find answers, to sit with failure and see how it is a learning experience... to get back on track without self hate. I still have not really dealt with the "fat me". I look at photos of myself in wonder. I feel so sorry for her... its hard to take to heart that its me. I was so unhappy with my looks then... I really felt I was such a failure in that area. I was so successful in many ways except that one. I was brave then, and tried many things... I dieted, exercised, tried so many approaches to getting my body the way I wanted it to be, but none of them really worked. It felt like a curse. I am so grateful that I am still close to goal (surgery over 3 1/2 years ago), and seem to have a set of skills to stay there... although I know that could change.

Today I had coffee with a scoop of Protein powder for breakfast lunch was a Hilary's black bean & adzuki burger with a bit of shredded cheese topped with a sunny side up egg & salsa dinner was 1 cup of homemade cabbage & white bean Soup. I added half a scoop of unflavored Protein Powder to the broth. I'm 6mths in & a vegetarian. According to myfitnesspal my calories for today are 741, carbs 41 & protein 92. Sunday is my lazy day so I eat light.

Your welcome! Yeah, becoming a Vegan takes A LOT of changes, not only in what you eat, but products you use..leather in your shoes, clothes, etc., lotions and soaps, it would be too hard for me. I get the Vegetarian Times Magazine, its really good and has a lot of recipes that are easy to do with not-so-exotic food. I'm not a tofu eater, are you?? I don't like the soy milk all the time, if its flavored ill drink it on occasion. Rice cheese doesn't even sound attractive,lol yeah gross I looked up that quinoa on line, I'm gonna check it out in the health food store to see if they have it here before i order it on-line. When I can start eating a little more solid, I would like to have some Pasta. I know, the carbs, but I gave up bread, so I'm dying for some pasta,lol. I wanted to ask you why you were giving up the wheat products??

Hi, I was wondering if anyone with the band is a vegetarian or vegan? It is something that I have been considering for a long time now and have made the move towards becoming but have not been able to fully incorporate yet. If you are would you mind sharing some sample menus with me? I know I can find a lot on line but getting info from fellow bandsters is more encouraging to me. Thanks

I am not vegetarian or vegan but I think you should still be able to get enough Protein in with an alternative diet. It will be a lot easier to get the protein in if you are vegetarian but can consume some dairy products like milk and cheese (eggs are also an excellent source of protein as well). Perhaps you can test this out on paper first. Look at consuming between 1/2 to 1 cup of food 3-5 times a day. Look at how much protein you need to imbibe and try to come up with a diet plan which includes those items you want to eat with the minimum amount of protein suggested by your doctor, while still maintaining the calories within an appropriate range. This can help to give you some idea of how workable the vegetarian/vegan lifestyle can be once banded. One thing to keep in mind, although I feel silly mentioning it. Gas issues are compounded by being banded . . . if you combine that with a diet heavy in foods like legumes that can contribute to gas, the gaseous effects may be multiplied.

10 days Clear liquids (broth, tea, Water, etc) 10 days full liquids (above, plus Soups mostly) 10 days (I think) soft foods (above plus: mashed potatoes [bad idea], thicker soups, puree'd items and smoothies) After the last ten days I worked my way up to "normal" foods, though it took time to make it to some things. I am also a vegetarian, so you will have more options than I did (i.e. tuna during soft stage, etc). Go check out the Mexico Surgery forum. The first topic is Dr. Aceves info. It should contain a lot of the diet information he advises. Each doctor is different, but, after doing a lot of reading in the primary literature (stuff actual doctors write in peer reviewed journals), I would not recommend following a diet suggested by a doctor which has you eating any soft (or even full/normal foods) earlier than 14 days for soft and 20 for others. Basically, you start clear and work your way up from there. If you have trouble with a particular stage or type of food, go back a step for a day or two and start again with something after that with something else. For example, I tried scrambled eggs early in the soft food section. That didn't sit well. I did not throw up, but I definitely did not have a happy tummy. So, the rest of that day I just had fluids to give my system time to recover. Next day, I had some instant oatmeal and that went down fine. If I had tried the oatmeal later that day, it probably would not have settled well. I hope that helps. Keep em coming.

Some problem! I'm at 4 months, I can't eat no meat or chicken. Trying to look at a vegetarian eating plan