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I also wanna be a vegetarian or vegan lol

Are you considering vegetarianism or full veganism? Being a true vegan is extremely hard, and with WLS you need some protein. I don't eat anything that was alive, but I do eat eggs and cheese, both good protein sources. You'll really have to read labels closely. Anything with gelatin in it isn't vegetarian since it's made of cow hooves. Even many of the vitamins you'll have to take after your surgery aren't vegetarian. Any type of gel cap medicine isn't vegetarian. And it's hard to find an omega-3 fatty acid supplement since those are usually made of fish oil. There are some good vegetable broths out there--when I make soup I use them instead of chicken broth. Anyway, good luck!

Thanks so much coops! Everything you are saying makes a lot of sense. . . Technically for my height and weight I still fall into the "overweight" category so medically speaking I probably need to loose a few more pounds, but that being said I don't have any weight related medical problems (anymore) so I guess health wise, no I don't need to lose more weight. I just want to. I do feel better and more energized. I am thankful for the surgery and the weight I have already lost, it's just frustrating when you thought/wanted to lose more and all of a sudden you stop losing. I am probably not drinking enough, in fact i know i'm not. I have improved, but have been unable to get in the full 64oz a day (even 32 is sometimes hard for me). This was something I had a difficult time with even before surgery. Thanks for all your encouraging words. New plan: - continue on vegetarian ways - increase Protein and fluids - keep exercising - try not to be discouraged Love you guys.

It considered vegetarian not vegan. Vegan can not have anything that came from anything living.

Cautionary and confirmatory. I stopped with the broccoli and cheddar soup because I didn't like it. Since the original post I was all clear liquid. Today, like just now, I tried Panera bread tomato soup. Tasty but was chunky so I wrapped it up until I can strain it at home. I'm due to start full liquids tomorrow, and like 3 spoons fill me up so I'm going with it. I'll be easily compliant on soft foods as I have tons of veggie recipes, my mother in law is vegetarian from India (cauliflower rice is the bomb.com) I've been feeling well today. I finished an entire short coffee..over about 3 hrs, but hey. An entire 8oz Water bottle in about an hr. And I got down half a bottle of premier, until my stomach started growling and I started craving a foodie flavor. PS: I didn't know soup came with a little loaf of bread! I licked all over it and chewed on a corner like a dog with a bone, then tossed it out the window. Had to be a sight for the lady riding next to me ???? Sent from my iPhone

Thanks for the responses. It's nice to have a network like this to rely on for real answers. I'm just afraid of a lot right now, and dying young is one of them... but mostly being denied for my insurance to pay and for my heart not to be able to hold up for surgery. Calorie reduction kind of sucks for me when it comes to losing, I think if I have an okay from the insurance, I'll get on the bandwagon or whatever to get the weight off... for good, but I don't want to yo-y anymore. I've lost a lot of hair, sleep, and respect for myself for not being able to stick to a lifestyle. I did the South Beach diet and did okay, now that I'm a vegetarian and have been for 4 months, it's getting hard to try to tell myself to eat meat again, but I realize I will have to to keep the lifestyle plan with the lap band. *sigh* What a long road, glad to know I don't walk alone....

Yes mrsroyale there’s a lot of us out here. In BariaticPal, I recommend you go to the forum, Gastric Bypass Surgery Support Groups, General Weight Loss Surgery Forums, Vegetarian or Vegan Eating. Good luck in your journey.

I use the Jay Robb unflavored, but I usually put it in something that is otherwise pretty strongly flavored. (smoothies and Soups, mostly) It mixes mostly okay. What really screws it up bad, though, is getting it too hot in Soup (like you try to reheat your soup in the microwave because you can't possibly eat it before it gets cold...) I like to try to get a variety of Proteins so I'm not getting the exact same thing all the time. I haven't found any Protein that I actually "like". They all are in the "tolerate" category. Pretty much, they all suck and I have to think of them like I think of medicine. Good luck! Egg white protein is definitely a viable option if you aren't tolerating whey very well. There are also a lot of vegan protein powders on the market. You want to look for one that is a mix of a variety of sources, just like a vegetarian would combine food to get a complete amino acid profile. The last thing I hear/read is that where people used to be told that they needed a complete combination in each meal, the reality is more like they should just get the combo within the same day. Also... there really isn't any need to fear soy for the phytoestrogens, but I wouldn't make it a large part of your supplementation. Never hurts to be cautious... I would steer clear of single source Pea Protein, though. It's good for you, but tastes like the starchiest, nastiest old pea on the vine and tends to be really gritty. Definitely NOT nummy! Good luck!

@@Smjnranrk Tell your nutritionist! If they don't work with your choice find a way. You should not have to compromise your principles. There are tons of vegetarians who've had Bariatric surgery. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I've heard great things about Dr. Garth @tellej12 He has a vegetarian Facebook page and electronic presence with lots of positive information. It is good to see another with the Davis Clinic! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm starting my 14-day pre-op liquid diet that consists of 2 cans of slim fast protein, low carb shake, sugar free carnation instant breakfast with 1 cup skim milk, cup cottage cheese, 1 cup dannon light and fit yogurt, 15 oz can vegetarian vegetable soup, quaker oatmeal weight control oatmeal, 3 servings of fruit (1/2 cup each serving), and 48-64 ounces of water or sugar free drinks, no caffeine, no carbonation. I have to have all this every day for 2 weeks. Is anyone doing the same diet or something like this? I know every surgeon and weight loss center is different. Any tips and advice? Thanks!!!

So even my own literature from my dr, the Nut and the bariatric dept contradicted each other. My surgeon is a but radical. He basically said go vegetarian (not happening). He told me drinking and eating should be completely separate and you should not drink for an hour and a half after eating. The paper work from the clinic 1 hour. The nut 30 minutes, the hospital 30 minutes. So I wait at least 30 minutes. If I waited an hour and a half, I would never get all my water in. I try to stick in the 30 - 45 minute range.

I don't eat poultry, red meat or pork so we have a lot of seafood and tofu. I like to make vegetarian chili loaded with tofu (I usually can eat a cup). Yesterday I made Sole stuffed with cheesy broccoli-quinoa. The sole fillets were between 2.5-2.75 ounces, and I stuffed each with about .5 cup of the quinoa mixture (if you haven't ever eaten quinoa, try it. its a great, healthy alternative to rice and its packed with Protein and nutrients. Heres a good article Quinoa: A Healthful Alternative to Rice - Ingredient swap - Revolution Health ). I was able to eat about 8/10 of the filet and quinoa (it was probably a little over 3/4s of a cup that I ate if you wanted to measure it that way). When I'm not in the mood for seafood, I love to make homemade edamame burgers. I just posted the recipe on my blog if you want to try to make them. Each burger is 1/3 of a cup and I'm generally able to eat one burger and then I'm done. I love that the band has given me the opportunity to look at what I cook with, and experiment with alternative ingredients. I love to cook, and its a hobby of mine to try and reduce calories, substitute healthier ingredients (like quinoa instead of rice...or skim cheese instead of full fat cheese) and I've even been experimenting with baking! I made a pumpkin pie cupcake with under 100 calories per cupcake and it tastes like the real thing. Have fun!

Hi Sandi, we share the same surgery date!! I can feel your frustration. I have not seen the scale move in about 6 days and I feel like kicking it to the curb! :scared2: But, let me make 2 suggestions that both of us need to get real commited to, real fast: Water and EXERCISE. Starting yesterday, I carry a large aluminum water bottle with me and I sip, sip, sip all day and refill it 3 x. The funny thing -- I must be dehydrated because I don't have to run for the ladies room like I did before surgery if I drank a lot of H20. Water will help metabolize fat. It is very important so I will say it again. Water helps metabolize fat. So please if you think you are drinking a lot of water, think again and drink more! This also helps with the between meal cravings. Even if you are sitting in your living room, start moving! There are some great DVDs like Leslie Sansone Walk Away the Pounds -- you literally stand in front of the TV and walk in place. She has 1, 2 and 3 mile videos. She makes it fun and you see results. I go to the gym, I just started going 3x a week on the treadmill for 30 mins. (until Dr. gives me clearance for weight training and elliptical). Yeah, I know, exercise suxs! But these first few months post surgery are our "golden months" when the weight loss will be accellerated and I want to make the most of them. As far as eating, I recommend greek yogurt. It has 13 grams of Protein in each container. I also eat fish - lots of it -- not the canned/prepacked variety but cooking up in microwave and eating flounder, salmon, cod etc. with some Mrs. Dash sprinkled on top. I stay away from red meat (even hamburger) and basically fill my pouch with protein (I don't eat much carb or fruit/veggies). Other good sources can be found in your "whole foods" type stores. There are vegetarian products (meat replacement) which offer gobs of protein and no fat. I eat a textured vegetable protein Breakfast sausage (no meat at all) which is like 80 cals and zero fat and 11grams of protein. I also recommend checking out the vegetarian protein sources at our local foodstore. Mine are in the refrigerated section near the produce aisle. They have things like cheese slices, zero fat, more protein and not made dairy but vegetarian stuff. Feel free to email me thru the site if you want a bandster partner! jenna

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.

High protein/moderate fat is fine. Low fat is NOT key to weight loss when you are doing low carb. Why can't you eat meat? Health reasons? Personal choice? You can do low carb without meat. Google vegetarian low carb diet. Lots of ideas out there!

I've been a vegetarian sine 1995 and am one week post op. You can get more than enough Protein as a vegetarian and these days it's very easy to be one. If you're interested join us on the Vegetarian / Vegan post I started in food and Nutrition.

That's called being a "Pescatarian"...Definition: Occasionally used to describe those who abstain from eating all meat and animal flesh with the exception of fish. Although the word is not commonly used and a pescatarian is not technically a vegetarian, more and more people are adopting this kind of diet, usually for health reasons or as a stepping stone to a fully vegetarian diet. Sorry I have a friend who does this and I had to do more research on it....

You have a right not to eat meat.What would he say if you couldn't for religious reasons? Some doctors don't take vegetarianism seriously and think we want to eat meat deep down and that it would be easy to do. I haven't eaten meat for 18 years and I will never eat it. My banding dietician does not recommend limiting carbs. There are a couple of at-goal bandsters here who didn't cut out carbs. There is another thread on here where I have posted a million (vegan) Protein ideas. Do a search for vegan/vegetarian and you'll find it. Otherwise I'll look it up later. I am a vegan BTW. I saw the dietician today and she was very happy with my choices. I don't want to say ignore you doctor but insist on the fact that you are a vegetarian. If he can't help you with food choices, he should refer you to someone who can.

Check out people like Rich Roll. There are others who eat vegetarian. Hindus & Indians do. All don't have a problem with protein. They have a bigger issue with B12 than anything else.

Thank you all....its tough....in Ireland therapy is not so common.....I did go to a psycho therapist here for 2 years....and basically I was told you are the master of your destiny.....so don't eat the bad things......I was never allowed sweets or crisps as a child...we did not have fast food or Drive Thru's ....so when my mother got sick in my teens we had to eat fast food as my father did not cook.....definitely crave carbs having PCOS.....love anything Italian.....don't eat meat as a vegetarian....missing bread.....pasta.....and pizza...would have eaten lots...I am a size 12 which is good....I think I have to have the will power now....and get back on track....thankfully I have this site as support

If you are planning to go to SWLC (or anywhere I suppose) as an out of town patient, there are some things you might want to look at. First, when you initially ask for information, call or email or whatever, please keep in mind that although it's a medical procedure, the people you are talking to are still trying to sell you a product. So you will hear "we have LOTS of patients just like you," "don't worry about support we keep in touch by phone, by email, etc", "you will do just great!!!", "we have vegetarians who have great success with this!" etc etc. Honestly, it has to be a sales pitch because really how can they know how you will do without every having met you? So you fly in ($$), get a hotel ($$), and unless you can bring a second person with you ($$), you are hiring a stranger to stay in your hotel room for 24 hours ($$). You also need to factor in cabs to and from the airport, and to and from the clinic....(more $$). Meals, Protein drinks....($$). For me, my surgery was pretty uneventful. I arrived at the clinic ten minutes prior to my surgery, and waited in the waiting room for ages because the woman at the front desk forgot to check me in, or call up, or whatever she was supposed to do. So I was discovered, rushed upstairs, and was given the condensed version of the pre-surgery speech while the nurses struggled to get their computer program running. Then it was into surgery, wake up, drink some Water, walk to the door and out you go. Back to the hotel. I hung out at the hotel for a day then flew home (Alberta). There is no SWLC where I live, so the set up is that I see my local doctor for fills. But fills only, not advice or treatment...he is told by the SWLC team that I need a fill and how much, and I need to make an appointment at that time. When I had my first consult, it sounded like I was going to have all this other support somewhere, and it didn't occur to me to ask how I was supposed to do this without access to my surgeon or to any of the WLC team. I am pretty sure I was hearing what I wanted to hear too, I had researched the heck out of the procedure and I was very carefully avoiding those nagging questions in the back of my head. It seems the people here who are very successful have strong support systems in place. Visits to their doctor, contact with their surgical team, support groups, coffee meetings....weigh ins, fills, post op check ups, and so on. This didn't seem nearly as important as it is now proving to be. I have been in contact with my "nurses" about a half dozen times since my surgery. Each time the contact was initiated by me, each time by email. I get (at best) a quick paragraph back. When I first spoke to them about fills and hunger, I got a pdf on satiety that I had already been given, and a note to hang in there and talk to them in a couple of weeks. So I waited a couple of weeks, and contacted them again, and again mentioned that I am experiencing a lot of hunger. I gave them a detailed update including calorie intake, exercise, meals.....and mentioned that felt the lack of support was a problem. I had a specific question for them about protein sources for a vegetarian. I got another one liner back -- "hang in there, you are in bandster hell......next fill in two weeks we will contact your doctor". So fills are four weeks apart apparently, I would assume this is an across the board thing not geared individually to each patient. Which is a bit different than the sales pitch "tailored to individual needs" would have a person believe. Also as an out of towner, you need to know that fills cost you money each time you visit a doctor (only SWLC fills are part of the package). So if your surgeon decides to do a lot of small fills over time, this is going to add up. So when you go see your doctor locally for fills, it will cost you at the time and he (or she) will not be able to give you advice or answer your questions. Something else I glossed over in my head. All in all, I am not sorry that I had this procedure. I just wish I had paid more attention to the emotional consequences of being so far away from the Dr and clinic. I was pretty sure I could tough it out and that I wasn't the type to need my hand held -- it's a bit surprising to me that I am indeed that type So be aware, SWLC is a professional caring organization, but if you are travelling from another town or province they will just be that clinic somewhere else, they won't be "your" clinic, or "your" doctor. And if that is going to matter to you, make sure you think that part through very carefully.

This surgery and it's requirements are a lot tougher for a vegitarian than they are for meat eaters like me. OP I'd highly suggest you post a question with the vegetarian word in the topic so that if there are any here they can share how this works for them. I'd be specific so that you cover what you eat and don't eat (ie do you do milk, eggs? etc) so that you can get better advice that is more specific to your issues. I know that in my research I read about challenges that people who don't eat meat deal with. Its not as easy by any sense of the imagination.

Thanks guys! Hi Cami ::waves:: The swift corporate office lost it's roof a few blocks from my house, which made me giggle since I'm a vegetarian..lol. But about a mile north is Windsor, :wink2: I tried to go volunteer but they never called me back! Thanks for the kind words, what part of A town are you in? I have family on Colfax and 225 and also New Aurora E470 and Quincy.