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I'm working on the vegetarian thing and I'm almost there. Fish once in a while but veggies otherwise. I still need a drastic increase in variety though. I am a naturally lazy person when it comes to cooking.

What supplements are y'all taking besides the calcium and vitamins? I've added biotin for hair loss, Vitamin E and K for better calcium absorption, flaxseed oil for Omega-3 fatty acids (I'm a vegetarian so won't take fish oil...) and a probiotic. I had to get one of those freakin pill organizers that my mother-in-law used and laughed at...Gawd I'm gettin old...

Hi, I am in the pre-op stages, waiting for my surgery date. I know I need a good protien drink!!!! My head is spinning trying to pick the best tasting one for me. I am a vegetarian and lactose intolerant:frown:.. I have notice that alot of these drinks require some form of milk!!!! Oh what is a girl to do!!! Need to lose pre-op weight Kim

Leener.. you mentioned Soy Protein. For what it's worth, I've learned that this stuff can cause a lot of gas problems. Soy is a vegetable, and the body doesn't break down and absorb vegetable Proteins as well as it does animal protein (whey is animal protein). So what happens is the undigest protein goes on to the large intestine where it rots and creates gas and GI discomfort. From my post about protein: "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." http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=14199 You might try switching to a whey protein. And, as I mentioned before, there are clear Whey Protein drinks. Nature's Best, Zero - Ready to Drink. And I completely agree with GeezerSue about not drinking Metimucil. Have you tried Milk of Magnesia? I was so stopped up I hadn't gone in days. I took the MoM a couple of nights in a row and it finally worked without a lot of gas, cramping or diahrrea. I hope you feel better soon. Hang in there.. it does pass. I promise :confused:

Spaghetti squash is pretty good, just a different texture. Also you could try the tofu Shiritaki noodles (they are where the vegetarian meat products are). They are 40 cals for the whole bag! Again, a different texture but not bad! As for me, I'm eating pasta right now....no probs there!

I went with pink, red, white beans earlier on simply because they were softer. I (my sleeve) still prefers them now. I'm 7.5 months post op I was around 250 at consultation, 238 surgery day, currently 170 Hidden sugars are everywhere so carefully read food labels (f-ing yogurt) I could only stomach the protein shakes in coffee (premier caramel) or tea (premier peaches and cream ) THE BEST HACK EVER I use myfitnesspal which accounts for all macros if you load it properly. Takes the guess work out of everything for me and I can generate a report for my NUT I'm still trying to find the ideal brand of vitamins too after I spilled an entire new jar of gummies while cleaning. I'm trying Walmart's organic vegetarian multi vitamins next.

I'm nearly a year post-op and I have found my tastes getting pickier and picker each month. I have NEVER been a picky eater...heck, I have eaten things some people might turn their nose up to. But now it seems if something doesn't taste great then I don't eat it. Unfortunately I've developed somewhat of an aversion to certain meats, mostly ground turkey, some fish and some chicken depending on how it is prepared. It's especially bad if I cook the meal myself because I smell the raw meat and it completely takes my appetite away. The only meats that don't completely gross me out to cook with are pork and beef. In fact I made a huge pot of my ground turkey chili for dinner tonight and I had to take it outside because the smell was making my stomach turn. Not eating ground turkey anymore... Now don't get me wrong. Although I have many friends who are vegetarian I am not looking to become one. I still love most meat, especially if I don't cook it myself. Yesterday I had some raw tuna wrapped in cucumber along with chicken and shrimp cooked on a hibachi grill. Yum! My diet could be considered mostly Paleo. But I've never really had this issue before and was curious if anyone else has?

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 do between 40 and 60 g of carbs a day. I think I lose better with fewer carbs, but I eat a lot of vegetarian Protein sources, Beans and seeds, dairy, etc. and so my carbs creep up even though I eat no bread, Pasta, rice, etc...I get plenty of Fiber and food based Vitamins, though, which for me is important. At the beginning of my program my nut told us no more than 60 g of carbs daily and no more than 20 g per meal. Lots of people do fewer carbs than that, some do more. It worked for me, but now I do try for a lower carb number and higher fat number. Still doing 70 g protein a day.

I have to say too that I was afraid by not telling many people that I wouldn't have a big enough support system. But I have found that the PAs at my surgeons' office and my RD (especially my RD!) have been amazing. My RD is a vegetarian like me so she really understands. I doubt she has ever struggled with her weight but I think that she truly understands my journey. She goes out of her way to email me little ideas and recipes here and there and she is so supportive.

First, I'm a lap bander.... One of the most liberating things I ever did after this surgery was to stop counting calories, measuring portion sizes, etc. I also stopped using my apps like fitbit, MFP, etc...drove me crazy and I was not loosing as good as I hoped. I simply learned to eat good, healthy nutritious foods, and let the band do it's magic....I eat when I'm hungry, and when I do I eat well, and stop when I do not want to continue, again when the band says stop. I have friends who have never been fat a day in their life....yet they go out and enjoy things in life, go to parties, alcohol when they wish, etc, etc. I observed their habits when it comes to food and so forth. Also their activity levels, always involved in something such as cycling, running, swimming....always into something as a past time. My lifestyle is, and has been for a few years now the same as theirs, which I consider a normal lifestyle, that lead to a normal weight and good health.....I don't know if they have to work at it or not.... I know I can do it now because the band enables (forces) me to......before surgery, forget it...absolutely no self control around food, and not much in the activity department either.... This is a new lifestyle, a new day to day way of life....DIET is a four letter word, something I will NEVER have to do or worry about again.... Since I eat so little, less often, and there are foods I will never be able to eat again, I have become a real health nut when it comes to food....vegetarian, organic and natural when possible, and always Protein first and foremost.

Already a vegetarian been for 10 yrs and im still 300 pounds Sent from my LM-X220PM using BariatricPal mobile app

Talking with a group of gals in the lunchroom about vegetarian diets. I admit I was a vegetarian for 5 years but changed my life after that and now include meat Proteins in my diet. One gal said "well, we're you thinner when you were a vegetarian?" Now, see, I just thought we were talking about vegetarianism...not my history of a fat butt. It IS possible to be an overweight vegan and vegetarian and carnivore and omnivore. I should know. I've been them all.

Hello guys, I just wanted to ask if any of you experience bloating after eating meals? I’m almost 3months post gastric bypass. I’m vegetarian if that makes a difference, I don’t eat very fast and I also chew my foods finely. I always wait 30mins before and after eating to drink any liquids. It’s not intense bloat like I’m filling myself up because I don’t eat to a point where I am bursting, I just stop when I know I feel sufficiently full. Just thought would ask, thanks

sjm1965- i'm so hungry i'm gonna eat my cat! no,really just teasing, i'm a vegetarian! but seriously, this is really hard my diet seems to be really strict compared to others i've seen on here. joking about it seems to help. but think of how awesome it will be to be able to say we licked it! my sister has a saying,"nothing tastes as good as being thin!" we'll find out if it's true! good luck! lisa6

This has been really good for me to see. I am vegetarian and I have a tendency to fill up on carbs, but I can totally see how easy it is to do. I'm going to try to get more protein in my diet too - carbs spike your blood sugar and then you have a blood sugar drop, which is how you get that hungry feeling. You end up constantly chasing that high. I find it very easy to slip in to that cycle.

Greek yogurt pureed with sugar free jam or sugar free vanilla ice cream pureed with your favorite flavored Protein Powder, then I refreeze it for an hour. I use Matrix PB - tastes like yummy Peanut Butter ice cream. Refried Beans with grated cheese (melted). I have had Rosa's (if you have one near you, but don't know if they are vegetarian, I've read Taco's Bell's is.) I also have a recipe for refried beans I am going to try. I also have hummus on my list with unflavored protein powder. Haven't tried that yet.

Hi there, I'm hypothyroid, but only 1 1/2 weeks out, so too early to see how that will go. But I'm not overly worried about it - I'll just monitor my levels and tweak as needed. I agree with everyone else that it doesn't seem like a good idea for you to rush into this so quickly when you're still just starting to learn about what this will mean for you. I've thought about the sleeve since I first started having trouble with my band back in 2009, but I still needed about 6 months to prepare from the point that I was seriously ready to do it. As far as recovery time goes, everyone is different, but most seem ready to go back to work in 2-3 weeks. I'm planning to go back on Monday, after 2 weeks, and I think it will be okay. I'll probably still be a little tired, but will try to make my first week a little easier than usual. As far as Vitamins go, I'm taking chewable vitamins from Celebrate. It's really not a big deal. If you're taking vitamins regularly, that should help you manage your anemia, but I'm not a doc and not sure about this one... As far as heartburn, I think everyone is advised to take a PPI after surgery, but I think only 15-20% or so have serious heartburn issues and need to continue these meds longterm. About the food you eat. I know there are some vegetarian sleevers, so I imagine you can create a diet plan that works for you, perhaps including more Protein shakes and such. The unjury unflavored protein is easy to add to anything, like your morning coffee/tea, etc. Would be a good thing for you to discuss in more detail with a nutritionist. Lastly - you and your husband should look at the health risk/benefit profile together. It IS a major surgery, and there are risks, but the risks of morbid obesity are greater. But if you feel you haven't given diet/exercise a good enough shot, that would be a good idea to do as a next step. Good luck in your process! It is a lot to take in.

I'm not against veganism or vegetarianism, but I'm quite suprised that your doctor would recommend something so drastic right away. Though I'm glad she didn't automatically slap meds on the problem right away, too! I agree with ElfiPoo; some research on your part could be of benefit, possibly some changes in your diet, but if you don't want to be a vegan, you don't have to be--that is not the only option to lower your cholesterol.

Early on, meat did NOT sit well in my sleeve, even when it was moist and shredded. I grew up vegetarian so vegetable Protein (TVP) was something I was already used to. I ordered some meat substitute products I was familiar with off of Amazon and found that they actually sat VERY well on my sleeve (Loma Linda canned products). Now everything but steak sits pretty well, but some days my sleeve is being a little tetchy and I'll still break out a Loma Linda Big Frank instead because I know it will be well tolerated. Play around with different protein sources and find out what your sleeve likes.

CheckYes: Unlike Acadia, I've never had to take extra Vitamins - well, I should say, I've never known I was supposed to take anything other than a multi but I just had blood work done so I am going to check with my doctor on the B12, Iron, vit D and calcium. (Thanks for that info, Acadia). -- You're welcome. Not everyone needs extra vitamins, but vegetarians often do. It's good that you're getting tested. Ask for the actual number and the normal range so you can tell where you sit, not just if you're high or low. You could be 1 point from hitting under normal and they'll still say you're within range. Since B12 can only be had naturally from animal products it's necessary to supplement. Though you may be fortunate to get enough from a Multivitamin, most vegetarians will become deficient and will notice that they're tired more often, will have lines or ridges on their nails, and will lose the moon on their nails. And once you are deficient you *cannot* get what you need from food. There simply isn't enough B12 in food to compensate. That said, as a vegetarian you can still get some from fortified Breakfast cereals, which have around 6 micrograms. If you are lacto/ovo: yogurt has about 1.4 micrograms per 1 c, 1 cup of milk has 0.9 micrograms, an egg has 0.6 micrograms, and cheese has about 0.3 micrograms per 1 oz. The iron, same thing, it's primarily from meat and most vegetarians don't eat enough Beans or dark green leafy veggies to get enough iron. The vitmain D isn't necessary if you get outside - without sunblock - for at least 30 minutes a day. Though these days most people wear sunblock so they don't get enough Vit D. It's good to get tested and supplement unless you're in the mid level. It's good you're getting tested, most people don't bother with Vitamin / mineral testing. I love a little hot baked tofu with a small amount of peanut satay sauce. That's one of my favorite meals. -- I love this too, it's a great snack. I haven't had it since being banded though. and no more Gelatin (gummy vitamins, Jello and some jello mousse puddings). -- There are vegetarian/vegan sources of gelatin and there are many products that are created to be similar to things like Jell-O but still vegetarian. When in doubt call the manufacturer and ask what their source is for the gelatin. Birinak Everyone is different, based on the food they eat and their activity locations (outside vs inside). It's great that you don't need supplements. Unfortunately not everyone will be so fortunate. Vitamin B12 can be very easily obtained from eggs, milk, yogurt, cheese, and whey. -- If the vegetarian is lacto/ovo those are options, but a lot of vegetarians aren't. I'm severely lactose intolerant, so no milk or yogurt for me. Cheese is okay if it's a hard cheese (sharp cheddar) and less than 1 tbsp. Whey is okay for me if it has no lactose in it. Many people go vegetarian not only for environmental reasons (including animal welfare) but often because of food intolerance, so they will become deficient if they are not lacto/ovo or pesci. For me personally, if eggs are cooked into something (bread) I'll eat it but very rarely (2-3x a year) will I eat an actual egg dish (like quiche or souffle). Also - it's very important to know that once someone is deficient in B12, they cannot get enough from food and they do need supplementation either by pills or injections to get back on par. Vitamin D along with 15 minutes of sun exposure a day -- There's actually a pandemic right now for vitamin D deficiency. People are wearing too much sunscreen, which prevents the ability to create vitamin D from the sun. And because obese people are already at risk for deficiency, most of the US is deficient. And you're right, the only way to tell if you truly need Vitamin D (and other vitamins) is to get your blood tested every 6 months to a year.

i've been a vegetarian for 13 years, although i've tried to incorporate fish into my diet since being banded. i don't have any recipes that jump out at me, but i'm very simplistic with most of my eating...i put pam in a pan and 'stir fry' tofu with spices (adobo, pepper, garlic, etc) and fresh basil i grow in my aerogarden. i LOVE morningstar's vegetarian sausage patties (or links). i have a lot of low fat cottage cheese and normally one hard boiled egg a day for Protein. i actually try to keep my veggie burger/veggie sausage pattie/etc consumption pretty low - only a few times a week b/c the carbs will add up pretty quickly if you eat them frequently. and as much as i absolutely love most Beans, especially chick peas and black beans, i try to limit them to once a week or once every other week b/c they are very carby as well. if i think of any great recipes that i use, i'll email you them, jackiedi. since it's a friday morning, and i've already been at work for an hour, my brain isn't functioning at top speed

I don't believe she meant it was too late for the OP to become a vegetarian...I believe she was referring to the time of day - it was approx 2 am according to the post time.

My doc says 60-80 g a day. I know some people do more, I'd imagine that'd be fairly hard as a vegetarian without ODing on soy!

I love grits but I haven't tried them yet. When I was allowed to have them I didn't because it wasn't enough Protein. I'm vegetarian so I have to make my meals count.