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I had trouble with whey, so I'm using vegetarian protein powder. The protein drinks I was told we could use any on the list of many. I've settled on Ensure Max chocolate on ice. The dietician said they were fine. You can get them anywhere, just make sure you're getting the Max. https://ensure.com/nutrition-products/ensure-max-protein-shake?gclsrc=aw.ds&&gclid=Cj0KCQjw6IfoBRCiARIsAF6q06sWeqF38nSfacVf6ZDNpsbQZyfXiuKMN5XhV1ekdFEED73WJqGgQrMaAvfeEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

As a vegetarian with severe food allergies I do the same things I did pre-op. Check the menu online before going, order sides and ask them to bring them out with the main dishes for everyone else. Unless it's a steak house or seafood restaurant I can usually manage something. As a single person a doggy bag means I don't have to cook for a few days so I'm happy to take advantage of that.

Hi all, This group is pretty buried within the forums, so I can see how I missed it until now (and I can also see why it's pretty inactive). I would have really liked to read a story like mine from someone else while I was researching the sleeve surgery. So, here's my story and I hope it helps someone. I would love to hear from anyone and try to pump some life into this forum! I'm a newbie, just 12 days post-op, so I am still learning everyday and ask the veterans dumb questions all the time. But I still think my experience just coming to terms with knowing the sleeve was for me might help another low BMIer in a similar situation. I'm 31 years old, 5'6" and started at 180lbs (29 BMI). I had a lot of backlash from friends and family when I made my mind up to go forward with this, but ultimately everyone ended up being supportive after they realized there was no talking me out of it and the surgery was done. For low BMIers wondering if the sleeve is too drastic for them, I'll tell you it's a personal choice and a lifelong commitment. That being said, I was a major yo-yo dieter. I binged on food for weeks, gain 35 pounds, then went vegan cold turkey (cold tofu? Lol). Lost 30lbs. Then went on a binge, gained 40lbs, then did Atkins (extreme difference from vegan), lost 35lbs. I've been repeating this cycle of bingeing then dieting (insert any fad diet here: HCG diet, Orange Theory obsession, phentermine, personal trainer 3x, vegetarian, back to Atkins, Nutrisystem, Weight Watchers...) since I was 12 years old. Anyway, the highs got higher and I never made it back to my pre-binge numbers. I got exhausted from dieting. Frustrated with myself and my lack of impulse control. I looked into WLS. My mom is the same as I am, just add another 100lbs. I went with her to a weight loss seminar and learned about the sleeve. I was ready to sign up then and there; finally, I found something that could be a real tool to help me maintain a healthy weight for life - you can't binge if you can only eat a half a cup of food at a time! Unfortunately, the US healthcare system wanted me to be a 35 BMI to get the surgery. And, if I wanted to waste a couple years of my life, I guarantee I would've made it there, and I would have brought along my new friends diabetes, high BP, and joint pain. Instead, I researched getting the sleeve in Mexico where I could pay a fraction of the cost of surgery in the US, and they were willing to do the surgery within 2 weeks of my filling out paperwork and a deposit for just about anyone BMI 28 or higher. I went w/ Dr. Ortiz at OCC. I was THRILLED with the entire experience. When I arrived in Mexico I began having doubts, but the staff and the other patients put me at ease. There were several very low BMI patients with my same issues. An interesting fact the surgeon told me is that once you gain 30 pounds the likelihood of you losing the weight and keeping it off without surgery is 10%. I already knew I didn't fall into that 10%. So I did it on 7/22/16. After my pre-op diet (which was absolutely the hardest part of this entire process!), I weighed 173 pounds on date of surgery. I'm 12 days out and weigh 163lbs now. I really think that being low BMI and healthy were 2 major reasons I had such an easy surgery. Aside from a little nausea caused by the anesthesia (I never threw up, just felt icky for about an hour) and getting the gas out, I had no complications. My incisions are all tiny. I have no pain in my abdomen. I'm a stomach sleeper and can sleep on my stomach. I was only on pain meds a couple days past surgery (and I just took what I was told, not sure I even had any pain ever). Getting 64oz of liquid in the first 2 days didn't happen for me, but as soon as I could introduce the Protein Shakes, this process became totally workable. I'm currently drinking 3 Premier Protein drinks p/day and get 90g of Protein per day. I drink 48oz of regular Water and 16oz of Vitamin water. I enjoy tomato Soup with almond milk and yogurt drinks (the yogurt adds another 12g of protein, bringing my count up to 102g) as my Snacks. I mix my Vitamins with the soup and the yogurt, because I'm not supposed to take them as pills yet. The biggest issues for me are mental. At this point, I haven't had solid food yet, so I just miss eating. I get to start my pureed phase on 8/5, so I'll let you know how it goes. I'm very excited for cottage cheese, poached eggs and the ricotta bake! My dr's goal for me is 150lbs, because that puts me in the healthy BMI range, but my goal is 130lbs. Here's my before shot, I'm going to update it on the 22nd of each month: Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I lost 5.5 pounds on the test recently. It was all water, but happy for it. As soon as I brought back some carbs, part of it came back, but not all of it! I also gained renewed faith in eating protiens. I am a vegetarian, so I have been using whey based protein powders... I reallly don't like the veggie ones much, mostly the texture. I used many kinds of fake meat, Explore Asia brand high protein pastas, nuts, eggs and egg whites, I use Dixie Diner brand Beef, turkey, chicken NOT! products, morning star frozen meatless meats, tofu (you can use in a shake as well) Trader Joes meatless products (just look at the protien to make sure it is up there) I have been following the 5:2 on and off for over a year, and am now doing a version of the 5 day test on my "fast" days. So far so good. I have found the no flavor soy protein powder OK to cook with, like in oatmeal, baked in muffins and such... check out the world according to eggface for good high protein recipes.

Vrinda I found a Protein drink at GNC that has 60 grams of protein per shake. I am not a vegetarian but I am a very picky eater and I found that shake gives me the minimum of protein called for by most in a day. I have even added a scoop of Peanut Butter for extra flavor and protein. I know that humus is also high in protein - maybe try that with some celery. Carbs are a hard thing to cut out. I know I love my carbs, but I find I am fuller faster and longer when I cut them out.

Man, if I had a dollar for every critic who said this to me on these boards. It's a past time of a certain type of dieter....to send me hate mail and try to shame me for being outspoken. "You're still overweight! You shouldn't be telling people what to do! How dare you not feel ashamed at that weight!" Shakin my head over here. If I wanted to be 140, I could be. Have been. Looked god-awful and felt like I was starving all the time. If I wanted to be 160, I could be. Have been. I wasn't particularly hungry, got a reasonable number of calories, but thought I looked older. I like a little more round to my angles. I like less sag, fewer wrinkles. Not real interested in cosmetic surgery. Picked the best option for me. I like eating 1600 calories a day. I like having space in my diet for a couple pieces of fruit because I think phytonutrients are beneficial and important. I like how i feel eating a high fiber diet. I like room to be a vegetarian some days. I like flexability. It's how I can face this as a lifelong change. It's how I can make peace with food forever....cause I know this plan is WORKABLE in pretty much all situations. I can eat on my plan during a holiday, a funeral, a birthday party....during a power outage, while recovering from an injury, during extreme emotional stress, on the road, and while dealing with my inlaws. LOL. I typically weigh 165-170 pounds. I LOVE this weight. It is NOT "the best I could do because I couldn't get to a "healthy weight" ", it is an intentionally chosen set point. It's a choice. This is, I am 100% certain...the MOST healthy weight I can choose for myself. That whole...Arnold Schwarzenegger's BMI was technically Obese when he won Mr. Universe figures in. BMI is flawed. It doesn't differentiate between light muscle frames and heavy muscle frames, bigger bones, smaller bones. Different ethnicities. Different body styles. My feet, depending on the manufacturer are size 10 or 11. My shoulders are more broad than most men's my height. My butt, thighs and calves are overdeveloped because I rode huntseat and jumped horses for decades, even when I was quite heavy. My husband says they have a kinda superhero quality now. LOLOLOLOL So here's the thing....If you feel inclined to send me a snarky note about how I shouldn't say anything....because I'm not American Media model skinny, you might have a problem. As it happens, I have a good friend who models. He's 5' 10", weighs 157 pounds soaking wet, and they STILL wanted him to use coke for a week and fast...to look more sickly skinny for his last national ad campaign. Our impression of body image in the media is grossly distorted and unhealthy. And a lot of folks here....get a grossly distorted and unhealthy obsession with their eating habits, their BMI, the number on the scale, and how it defines them. Please, please, please remember....health. Physical health, strength, endurance, good labs, fewer medications. Emotional health...loving yourself, enjoying your life, feeling challenged and happy. Mental health...finding balance you can live with for a lifetime. Love your strong healthy body. Love your good food choices that provide good nutrition to nurture that body. Love the flexability to make it work though the tough spots. Avoid the fixations, the extremes, the inflexable rules, the disordered eating (and disordered not-eating) You can trust yourself to get to where you need to be....without punishment. Love yourself. Love yourself. Love yourself.

I actually never gave surgery a second thought once I did my research on the VSG. And I convulsed that it simply returns my stomach to the size/shape it was when I was a kid (before my mother started loading me up on Fritos and Ho-Ho's). BTW, I probably would not have done r-n-y because of all the plumbing reroute that goes with it. And the band does not work (which may be the case with the propel your therapist was talking about). The second thing I did was take both the pre-pre opt and pre-opt diet very seriously. My understanding is that this is the only sound way to avoid post-opt complications. I lost 30 pounds in 2 months before surgery. I exercised my core every day and went to a top rated hospital near Boston rather than the one nearest my house. My surgery went incredibly well. Other than dealing with my post opt eating restrictions, I already feel better than I've felt in a very long time. My ultimate rationale came down to this: 1. How much do I need to lose to become healthy again (in my case, this was probably 70 pounds). 2. What are the chances that I'll lose this much and keep it off on my own. My answer was 0%. 3. If I take that leap of faith and assume I could lose 70 pounds on my own, how long would it take and how much of my life would I have to change. This third question turned out to be the key. No matter how I looked at it, it would take much more time and sacrifice to lose 70 pounds through conventional methods than with the VSG. In my case, probably a year plus vs. about 6 months. And of course with the sleeve, my odds of keeping it off go through the roof. Finally, going vegetarian or vegan will do nothing to help you lose weight. Consider the following are on most vegan diets: French Fries chips and guacamole Sugar and all the evil things that come along with it Bread, P&J Onion Rings Home Fries I know how unhealthy a vegan diet can be. I watched my daughter put her husband on it and all he ate all day was the stuff in this list. After a year, she switched to pescatarian and he's much healthier. Take the time to truly evaluate the alternatives in terms of time/sacrifice and do not allow staying or returning to a heavy unhealthy weight to be an option. I think it will become a no-brainier.

Choose any one scale, if its at home put it in exactly the same space every time. If I move mine to the other side of my bathroom I gain 7lbs. Is the dietician the one your surgeon uses ? and is this the surgeons advice to you ? 150 grams of protein is not a lot pre surgery. Eating protein will make you feel fuller while keeping calories low. I imagine you need to keep the Carbs low. Can you add what you protein count is usually like, it will help us help you Are you vegetarian or vegan? There are so many protein options out there now. Find some protein yogurts that you can eat or add extra protein to your milk and yogurt. Dhal is great for protein, add extra yogurt and seeds to top it.

I also wanna be a vegetarian or vegan lol

Anyone have recommendations for vegetarian Bariatric cookbooks? Thanks in advance!

Did you post in the vegan/vegetarian area?

Hi guys, I was wondering your experiences regarding hair loss. My surgery is in 2 weeks, and one of the BIGGEST things I'm worried about is having hair loss with already thin hair. -- How severe was your hair loss on a scale from 1-10 (10 the worst, and 1 not much at all). -- At what month also did you see a decrease/stoppage of hair loss, and re-growth? I mean did you guys notice your hair feeling back to normal? For those of you who didn't have much hair fall, can you please relate to me what you guys did? May be hard to believe but I am a vegetarian, and I'm just worried if my hair fall will be even more extreme after the surgery because of this? Thank you all!

I prepack homemade beans (I use toddler-sized plastic containers), fresh cilantro to top the beans or sometimes homemade salsa, Greek yogurt, 100-calorie packs of almonds (I'm 4 months out), babybel lite cheese or Laughing Cow soft cheese, cheese sticks, apples or berries, veggie strips (usually red pepper or cucumbers), salads, yogurt with protein powder added, protein bars for emergencies (only eat half), vegetarian chili... I'm a vegetarian btw.

Help...I am 5 months post op and am also having problems with the right food choices. I am a vegetarian (no beef, pork, chicken, etc.). I do occasionally eat fish. With that in mind, I need some healthy food choices. I eat alot of salads, but need a change of pace. I find that I am starting to make unhealthy choices, ie. macaroni & cheese, macaroni salad, etc. I absolutely cannot eat eggs, grits, oatmeal or bread (makes me PB). Pasta goes down fine...but I am not losing as fast as I would like. Approx. 1lb per week. Anyone else a vegetarian?? If so, what do you eat? I also am not much of a cook...I'm a grab n go kinda gal :help:

hello, many of my doubts cleared. I am a vegetarian....i think thats why my band failed...couldn't get enough protein. what about the sleeve?

LAPAROSCOPIC GASTRIC SLEEVE DIET Introduction The following information provides guidelines for you to follow before and after Gastric Sleeve Surgery and for the rest of your life. Gastric Sleeve Surgery is a weight loss tool. After surgery, you will be required to make lifelong changes in your eating habits and to exercise on a regular basis in order to achieve and maintain your weight loss goals. Gastric Sleeve Surgery reduces the size of the stomach which restricts the volume of food that you can consume at one time. This means that you will feel full after eating a small amount. The surgery also induces hormonal changes which help prevent you from feeling excessively hungry. You should avoid drinking liquids with meals. This is to prevent overfilling of the stomach. Frequent snacking or grazing must also be avoided as this contributes to excess calorie intake and can slow weight loss or cause you to gain weight. Exercise is an important component of weight loss success. Exercise is recommended before and after surgery in order to maximize the amount of weight that you lose and keep off. If you have not been an active exerciser, always consult with your physician for clearance and recommendations before beginning any exercise program. It is important to follow the lifetime Gastric Sleeve diet rules, supplement guidelines, and exercise recommendations in order to achieve and maintain optimum weight loss success. In order to begin preparing for surgery, start implementing the pre-surgery diet goals listed on the next page. 4 Pre-Surgery Diet Practice Tips 1. Choose low-fat foods, and avoid fried foods. 2. Stop using sugar. Use sugar substitutes such as Sweet & low, Equal, or Splenda. 3. Decrease intake of Desserts and candy. 4. Stop drinking sugar-sweetened beverages such as regular soda and sweetened Kool-Aid. 5. Start weaning off of caffeine and carbonated beverages. 6. Start cutting back on fast food and eating out. Begin making healthy meal choices when eating out and at home. 7. Eat 3 meals a day. Do not skip Breakfast. 8. Start decreasing portion sizes. 9. Eat more fruits and vegetables. 10. Practice drinking Water and other fluids between meals, not with meals. 11. Drink 64 ounces water a day. 12. Practice sipping liquids. 13. Avoid alcohol. 14. Begin some form of exercise. 15. Review the following information on the gastric sleeve diet. 16. Practice chewing foods thoroughly, 20 - 40 times or to paste consistency. 17. Purchase your Protein drinks or supplements. 18. Purchase your Vitamin and mineral supplements. 19. Begin planning a schedule for mealtime, fluids and vitamin and mineral supplements. 5 Post Gastric Sleeve Surgery Diet Important Diet Guidelines: 1. Eat 3 meals per day. Avoid snacking and grazing. 2. Eat small amounts. Initial portion size should be no more than 1 - 2 ounces - approximately 2 - 4 Tablespoons - of food per meal for the first month. At first you may not be able to tolerate this amount. Over time, you will slowly tolerate more volume at each meal. Long term, the stomach will eventually hold about 4 - 8 ounces (1/2 - 1 cup) of food per meal. 3. Eat protein foods first. 4. Do not try to eat food and drink liquid together. • Consume liquid 30 to 60 minutes before and/or 30 to 60 minutes after eating meals but not during meals. 5. You are required to take a multi-vitamin with minerals for the rest of your life. 6. Eat slowly! • Each meal should last 30minutes or longer. • Avoid gulping foods and drinks. • All foods must be well-chewed to a paste consistency. • Using a small fork or spoon (i.e. baby utensils) can help control portion sizes. • Have one place to eat (such as at the table) and avoid reading or watching TV while you eat. This helps you to enjoy your food, concentrate on eating slower and to realize when your stomach is full. 7. Drink plenty of calorie-free, non-carbonated, caffeine- free fluids between meals . • Drink slowly-sip fluids, never gulp. • Calorie-containing beverages should be limited to skim milk and Protein Drinks. • Limit juice to no more than 4oz. per day. • Consume zero-calorie beverages throughout the day. 6 Diet Progression After Surgery The diet after gastric sleeve surgery progresses through several stages. Your surgeon will let you know when it is okay to progress to the next stage. Day 1 - 2 after surgery: Clear liquid diet The clear liquid diet means fluids or foods that are liquid at body temperature and can almost be seen through. You will be on a clear liquid diet while you’re in the hospital. Examples of Clear Liquid Diet (No Added Sugar/ Sugar Free): • Clear (diluted) fruit juices without added sugar: apple, grape or white grape or diet cranberry • sugar-free Crystal Light drink mix or popsicles, Sugar-free Kool-Aid • Herbal tea, caffeine-free tea • flat soda • Sugar-free Popsicles • Sugar-free Gelatin • Clear broth • Water ???? It is best to dilute juices by 50% with water. ???? Avoid citrus juices (orange/grapefruit) and tomato juice for the first three weeks. ???? coffee and de-caffeinated coffee contain acids which are irritating to the stomach lining and should be avoided for the first few weeks for healing. Day 3 through Week 2: Full Liquid Diet The next stage is the full liquid diet which consists of sugar-free, low-fat milk products and the Clear Liquids listed above. You will need to supplement with protein (drinks or powder) after surgery. Remember to sip liquids, do not gulp. Examples of Full Liquid Diet (No Added Sugar/Sugar-Free, Low Fat): • Skim Milk or Lactaid milk • Soy Milk (non-fat) • Low fat, thin, strained cream Soup (smooth, no pieces of food) • Sugar-free instant breakfast • Protein drinks – Start daily when you get home from the hospital. (See section on protein and protein drinks) • Plain or “light” (no sugar added) yogurt with no fruit pieces • Sugar-free pudding or custard • Thinned cream of wheat or rice Cereal 7 Week 3 through Week 8: pureed Diet You may now begin a pureed diet. This includes all items listed for clear and full liquids, and the items listed for the pureed (blenderized) diet. • Eat PROTEIN foods first • Make sure foods are well blended. • Start slowly. If you do not tolerate pureed foods go back to the liquid diet and try again in a few days. • Remember to drink liquids between meals, not with meals. • Continue protein drinks or protein supplements every day. Examples for the Pureed Diet (Sugar-Free/No Sugar Added, Low Fat): eggs cheese Pureed or blenderized scrambled eggs or egg substitute or cheese omelet; melted low-fat cheese, low-fat or non-fat cream cheese, ricotta cheese, very smooth/mashed soft cheese such as mozzarella, string cheese, low-fat or non-fat smooth or small curd cottage cheese meat, Fish, Poultry, Baby food meat or pureed meat or poultry moistened with broth or low-fat gravy Blenderized shrimp, scallops or fish Pureed tuna or salmon (canned in water) or pureed egg salad with low-fat or non-fat mayonnaise Potted meats thinned with broth; smooth deviled ham Starches Unsweetened instant oatmeal (strained), cream of wheat or rice cereal, mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes, smooth polenta, hummus, refried beans; low-fat or baked crackers or chips Vegetables Baby food vegetables or pureed cooked vegetables (no corn or peas) Mashed winter squash, tomato juice or sauce, pureed salsa, marinara Soup Strained, low-fat cream soup made with skim milk; fat-free broth Blenderized lentil or split pea soup or chili Fruit Baby food fruits (bananas, pears, applesauce, peaches, mango, etc) Unsweetened applesauce (smooth) Unsweetened canned fruit – blenderized Unsweetened fruit juice (diluted, no sugar added) Remember: IF YOU CAN CHEW IT, DON’T DO IT! 8 Tips to Get Started Everything that you eat on the pureed diet should be sugar-free or no sugar added, low fat and blended to the consistency of baby food or smooth applesauce. • You will need a blender or food processor or you can purchase baby food. • Start with 1 ounce (2 Tablespoon) portions - no more than 4 Tablespoons at the most. Listen to your body and stop eating as soon as you feel full. • Eat protein foods first. Then if you are not too full, try vegetables or fruits. • Continue protein supplements (80 g protein per day from supplement). Helpful Hints for Blenderizing • Cut foods into small pieces before putting into the blender or food processor. • Remove seeds, skins and fat. • Add liquid for ease of blending. Add enough liquid to cover the blades. Options include skim milk, broth, strained low-fat cream soup, low-fat gravy, low-fat or non-fat sour cream or fat-free half & half. • Blend the item to a smooth, applesauce consistency. • Make sure there are no particles, seeds or lumps remaining. If so put through a sieve or strainer. • If you have leftover blenderized foods, try freezing in single serving portions in ice cube trays and put the frozen cubes into plastic freezer bags. Meats – Very lean and dry meats puree better by adding a small amount of fat (margarine, oil, light mayonnaise, gravy, etc.) Fish also tends to be dry. Improve the texture by adding small amount of lemon juice, light mayonnaise or strained low-fat tartar sauce. Starches – Try pureed peas, canned Beans, sweet potatoes. Starches puree better when hot. Rice and potatoes tend to puree into a gummy paste and are not recommended. Substitute cream of rice cereal prepared with a flavorful broth and seasoned with margarine. Pasta or noodles are not recommended as they are not well-tolerated. Vegetables – Cook vegetables until soft. If using canned vegetables, drain first. Add melted margarine and puree. Add a small amount of liquid until it reaches the smooth applesauce consistency. Fruit – If using canned fruit, drain first. Add a few drops of lemon juice to help prevent them from discoloring. Begin to take advantage of your favorite leftovers before surgery. Process these foods, and freeze them in an ice cube tray. (Each cube is approximately 1/2 to 1 ounce). When frozen, pop out into Zip-lock bag; label and date, and freeze cubes until needed. 9 Meal Guidelines for the Pureed Diet (See Sample Pureed Meals listed in the Appendix) Once you begin to eat pureed foods (which are considered solids) you will want to start differentiating between liquids and solids – meals should include pureed foods, and so liquids (including protein drinks) should be taken separately from your meals. • You should eat 3 meals a day with protein drinks between meals. • Protein drinks containing at least 20 grams of protein per serving should be consumed as needed to meet 80 g/day goal. • Start with a portion size of 1 to 2 tablespoons of pureed food for the first month. At first you may not be able to tolerate this amount. Eat your protein source first, and then if you have room a small amount of fruit, vegetables or other foods may be consumed. Hints for Measuring Foods: Liquids or soft/pureed foods are best measured in measuring cups or spoons; they can be measured in ounces, Tablespoons or mls. 1 cup 8 Fluid ounces 240 ml 16 tablespoons 3/4 cup 6 fluid ounces 180 ml 12 tablespoons 1/2 cup 4 fluid ounces 120 ml 8 tablespoons 1/4 cup 2 fluid ounces 60 ml 4 tablespoons 1/8 cup 1 fluid ounce 30 ml 2 tablespoons 1 Tablespoon = 3 teaspoons 1/2 Tablespoon = 1-1/2 teaspoons Week 9-12 After Surgery: Soft solid food Diet If you have been tolerating pureed foods, you may now begin a soft diet. This includes all items listed for clear and full liquids and pureed diets plus items listed for the soft diet. Try 1 to 2 new foods a day. This will help you to learn what foods you tolerate. • Remember your stomach pouch empties more slowly with more solid or dense foods than with liquids, so you will be able to tolerate a smaller quantity of food than you could with liquids . • Go slowly. If you do not tolerate the trial of soft foods, resume pureed foods and try again in a week. • Eat protein foods first • Avoid foods high in sugar and fat. • Space meals 4-5 hours apart • Continue your protein drinks between meals • Drink other fluids constantly between meals 10 Examples of Soft Diet (No Added Sugar/Sugar-Free, Low Fat): • Baked fish (no bones) • Imitation crab meat, baby shrimp • Bananas • Canned peaches or pears in water or juice • Well-cooked vegetables without seeds or skin (no corn or peas) • Scrambled, poached or hard boiled eggs • Tuna or egg salad (no onions, celery, pimientos, etc.) • Finely shaved deli meat • Baked, grilled or rotisserie chicken o Moist foods will be better tolerated. Moisten meats with broth, low fat mayonnaise, or low-fat gravy or sauce. o Fish and seafood Proteins are softer and easier to break down than poultry or red meat proteins. o Reheating foods tends to make them dry out and hard to tolerate. Common Problem Foods (Avoid for 3 months after surgery) • Red meat such as steak, roast beef, pork. Red meat is high in muscle Fiber, which is difficult to separate even with a great deal of chewing. Avoid hamburger for one month after surgery. • Un-toasted bread; rolls, biscuits. (Toasted bread may be better-tolerated.) • Pasta • Rice • Membrane of citrus fruits • Dried fruits, nuts, popcorn, coconut • Salads, fresh fruits (except banana) and fresh uncooked vegetables, potato skins. Month 4 After Surgery: Regular Diet • Problem foods as listed above can now be tried. • Rice, pasta and doughy bread may not be tolerated for 6 months or more. • Try fresh fruits without the skin first. If tolerated, the skin can be tried the next time. Salads are generally well-tolerated if chewed well. • Go slowly. Try a small amount to see how you feel. • Avoid high sugar and high fat foods to avoid a high calorie intake. 11 Foods to Avoid : Hard/crunchy foods may always be poorly tolerated. Nuts and seeds are difficult to break down. Fried foods/greasy foods are hard to digest and are very high in calories. • Corn chips, potato chips, tortilla chips, hard taco shells • Nuts and seeds • Fried foods and greasy foods Points to Remember: • Solid foods will fill your stomach pouch more than liquids so you will be eating smaller quantities of foods versus liquids. • If you don’t tolerate a food the first time, wait a week and try again. • You may find that you tolerate a certain food one day and not the next. It is normal for this to happen. • If you don’t tolerate certain foods or notice nausea, vomiting or diarrhea during or after eating, ask yourself the following questions: o Did I chew to a paste consistency? o Did I eat too fast? o Did I eat too much volume? o Did I drink fluid with my real meal or too close to my meal? o Did I eat something high in sugar or fat? o Was the food moist or was it too dry? Steps for adding solid foods: • Try only 1 small bite of the new food and chew well. Wait awhile and if there are no problems, take another bite. • If at any time you feel too full, nauseated or vomit, stop eating and rest. Take only clear liquids at the next meal and add blended foods and liquids at the following meal. Try one solid food again the next day. 12 PROTEIN Protein is the most important nutrient to concentrate on when resuming your diet. Because the volume of your meals will be limited, you should aim for a minimum of 80 grams of protein per day – this needs to come from your protein supplement . Why is protein important? • Wound healing • Sparing loss of muscle • Minimizing hair loss • Preventing protein malnutrition Remember to eat protein foods first at each meal, followed by vegetables and fruit. These are some good sources of protein: Protein Sources Serving size Protein (g) Skim or 1% milk 1 cup 8 Evaporated skim milk (canned) 1 cup 19 Soy milk beverage 1 cup (8 ounces) 7 Non fat dry milk powder 1/3 cup powder 8 Nonfat, sugar free yogurt 1 cup (8 ounces) 8 Nonfat or low fat cottage cheese ½ cup (4 ounces) 14 Nonfat or low fat cheese slices String cheese *1 ounce/ 1 slice 6 LEAN meats – skinless chicken or turkey breast, fish, beef, ham, Deli meats *1 ounce 7 Egg or Egg substitute 1 egg or ¼ cup subst. 7 Peanut Butter (creamy) 1 Tablespoon 5 Tofu ¼ cup 5 Legumes; dried beans peas or lentils Chili, bean soup ½ cup cooked ½ cup 7-9 6-7 Soy/vegetable patty (like Gardenburger) 1 patty 8 - 10 Hummus ½ cup 6 Measuring Hints: *1 ounce of meat is equal to about 3 – 4 Tablespoons of chopped or ground meat. 1 ounce of grated or cottage cheese, tuna or egg salad is ~ 1/4 th cup (4 Tablespoons). A 3-ounce portion size of chicken or meat is about the size of a deck of cards. 13 High Protein Ideas Chicken or Turkey Pureed – Use baby food or make your own. Try mixing it into strained low-fat cream soup. Breast – baked or grilled Thin-sliced/shaved deli slices Ground – meatballs, meatloaf Canned – works great for chicken salad Strained out of canned soup – tends to be very moist Fish (avoid bones) Baked, broiled, poached, or grilled fish Shrimp Imitation or regular crab meat Fresh or canned salmon in water Canned tuna in water Sushi Beef or Veal (Extra Lean) Ground – meatballs, meatloaf Pork Shaved deli ham Eggs or Egg substitute Scrambled eggs or omelet Homemade eggnog made with skim milk, sugar-substitute Diet custard Egg salad Quiche or frittata Deviled eggs Low-fat Dairy Products Milk (skim or 1%) Yogurt (plain or no-sugar added) Low-fat cheeses including cottage cheese, string cheese, ricotta, or any other cheeses which are reduced-fat or non-fat. Legumes Peanut Butter – smooth Dried beans or lentils – or Soups, stews or chili made from these Hummus Vegetarian or fat-free refried beans Tofu 14 Protein Supplements ???? Because of the limited volume capacity of the stomach, it will be nearly impossible to meet your protein needs from food sources for up to a year after surgery. ???? You will need to consume a protein drinks to get a total of 80 g protein per day – This would be 2 protein drinks

I've been avoiding the kitchen when my husband makes dinner. Tonight my daughter was having a my down right before dinner so I got to see the amazing ham, cheese bread and Pasta. It smelled so good. I seriously thought about getting a meat grinder so I could have some ham. I miss meat. I don't like being a vegetarian at all. I seriously almost cried and went in my room. I just want to share a nice dinner with my family again. Yesterday I took my daughter to McDonalds. It smelled disgusting. The only thing I could have was milk and Water. So I got water. I watched her eat her Happy Meal and I didn't even want a bite. I'm thankful that she is so thin and has such good eating habits so I don't feel bad about her having a burger and fries here and there.

@@Dee951 - I haven't liked weight watcher's since they developed the point system. I have a team and at every follow up I see the nurse practitioner, nutritionist, and either my surgeon or one of his residents. My nutritionist wants to know I am meeting my Protein and Fluid goal. I use Myfitnesspal. Others have different sites and apps. AT this point I pretty much fill out my food log for the day first thing in the morning. This acts as a sort of guide for me. In the evening I go back over it and make adjustments for anything I did or didn't eat. I eat real food but also supplement with unflavored Protein Powder. I don't do fake sugars or processed foods of any kind. Keeping a food journal helps me keep track. I also am not no carb, but I prefer to stick to complex carbs and avoid "white carbs" such as breads, pastas white rice, etc... I'm vegetarian so some of my protein will be in the form of Beans which are also carbs. As you go along you figure out what works for you. I'm also the person who only gets weighed once a month or whenever I go to the doctor. Instead I take measurements every 3 months. (neck, boobs, waist, hips.) Even during those times when your weight loss slows down you'll see a difference there. Lastly, I recommend you start exercising as soon as your doctor clears you. I know from past history I don't lose as well unless I am watching what I eat AND exercising regularly.

Yes, I eat carbs. The body needs carbs. It all comes down to what carbs you choose. In December, I switched to a vegetarian diet. I was reading the post about diet for blood types. I'm A-, LOL. So, I guess being a veg is best for me. As far as carbs, it all comes down to choices. Use brown rice instead of white rice. Try sweet potatoes instead white potatoes. If you want bread crumbs to fry chicken or fish, toast a couple pieces of whole wheat bread and throw them in the food processor. Season the bread crumbs to your liking. Also, use soy flour instead of all-purpose flour. If you want a crunchy texture, put some pecans in the processor w/the bread. Yesterday, for lunch I had split-pea Soup and threw in some brown rice for texture. Remember, the band is not about depriving yourself for the rest of your life. We need to learn to eat the things we enjoy, in moderation. Also, learning to cook in different ways is a big part of it, too. Also, when you eat out, if you don't see something you like, look at the sides. When available, I substitute a sweet tater instead of fries. Or, sub steamed veggies instead of white fries or mashed taters. I went out a few weekends ago w/some friends to Outback steakhouse. I ordered a dinner salad w/vinaigrette, seasoned veggies and a baked sweet tater for dinner. I was full and did not feel deprived. I could of ordered a creamy Pasta and asked them to hold the shrimp. But, it's about the choices we make. Don't deprive yourself, just make different choices and substitutions.

Has anyone read "Eat right for your blood type"? He points out that blood types developed as people spread over the earth. One reason he says that Asians can eat a lot of rice is because they have primarily and 'A' blood type, which does well on carbs and vegetarian based meals. Type 'O' (which is the main one) does much better on a low carb-high Protein diet. I'm not a stickler for either of the low g.i. verses the low carb arguments. I don't necessarily buy into the blood type diet, but I think over all, each has a lot of truth to it and somewhere in the middle is possibly the key.

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!

Like everyone else said there are a lot of protien shake option for vegetarians. Just keep in mind a good protien drink has 20gms or more of protien per serving, 7gms or less of carbs/sugar, 5gms or less of fat (all per serving). Have you tried mixing with almond milk? Haven't tried that mixture yet, tho almond milk alone isn't too bad. Also check out the special K drink mixes, some of those also have added protien.

I know you have been given a lot of advice here and they all sound logical, but if you havent had success maybe one more wont harm.. When I met my DH he was a total vegetarian. Not even lactle ovo, and He was loosing his hair and he thought that it was just early male pattern baldness. After living with a real meat eater he couldnt stand it anymore and slowly started eating chicken and then beef. There was no change in his hair untill he began to eat beef and then he started to have baby little shoots that were quite fine. They appeared where the front of his forehead hairline was and they continued to grow in completely. He was very happy! When we talked to his DR. he commented that the beef has certain aminoacids that cannot be acquired through even the carefullest combinations of ohter protiens. I think he called them essential fatty acids or something like that. Anyway he still has that hair 23 yrs later. Do you eat any beef? I just was wondering.

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

Hello everyone, I'm doing ok. Having problem eating meat or chicken, eggs and fish, I drink a protein shake a day, and eating nuts etc. I'm thinking to try vegetarian diet but I'm worry about getting all the protein we need. Also I'm loosing tons of hair, I do have a lot but my hair look dead. Also in doing ok on vitamin but I forget to take calcium. I lost 65lbs I'm at 149 now but I stalled for a month. I can't find energy to work out, Hoping I can get on a good routine when the kids start school!