Search the Community

I only met with Dr. Baggs for a few minutes. He was really, really busy today...........they had us going in one after the other all afternoon!! I think he was doing the majority of surgeries at our pre op today!! Also the office staff was having problems today..............I said they are having issues today and he said I was nicer than him he thought it was more than issues................... I told him my brain was spinning still from Liz's instructions and I could not think of any questions...........he had me sign the form told me what would happen and that was it......said he would put a CD in during surgery if I had something I like............I don't really care.......... Met with Robin the vegetarian thing is fine. If I get to hunger in stage three I will try some chicken than........if not I am fine. Whew...........she said with my diet lap band is best. She also has been vegetarian for 10 years and we looked up lost of labels so it was really a great meeting.........I have a new list of things to try out and I get to add some old favorites back. Still no nuts.............ah that I miss........I can make some great things with walnuts and cashews!! Got the anti nasuea meds and didn't get out of there until 4:30 since the pharmacy was crazy..............but I am done until Friday!! Oh Nicole Dr. Baggs told me about the your situation with radiology and the lunch break!!! I told him I knew who is was and he laughed............told him I heard the story. He said hope you are the first surgery of the day so it won't happen again............. Anyway I was up at 4am so I gotta get some sleep.........

Sunshine1 you are doing awesome!!!! I'm soooooo jealous! We were banded on the same day and I have a lot more weight to lose than you. Very proud of what I have lost....just wish I was doing as good as you! I agree with restriction without losing a part of normal every day eating with out PB'ing. Met a lady at the Dr.s office the other day who is (and wants) restriction so tight she can't eat meat. Not me, just want tight enough to live life like most normal people! Plus, we're farmers who raise our own beef....husband would probably divorce me (kidding!) if I became a vegetarian! Anyway, you're doing great...keep up the good work!

Peeps, I am back from a long discussion about healthy eating. I did not know it was just for our nutrition class so there were only six of us there and Dr. Davis with his wife. His wife made the pizza. It was delish. She grilled zuchinni, yellow squash, eggplant, onion, and bell peppers. Then she chopped them up very small and piled the veggies on a whole wheat crust slathered in roasted garlic hummus. She topped it with goat cheese. I didn't eat the crust, but she had put it on the grill too. Dr. D is a vegetarian now. He said if all you eat is veggies, fruits, and nuts.......and of course exercise you will be a lot healthier. Oh, he showed us a film on how they produce the animals we consume. Kinda gross....a lot of them are diseased and they still approve them for consumption. He also said a lot of the free range chickens are not free range. I understand where he is coming from.....it will take me a while to give up my steak twice a month. Really, after seeing Jakob's steer, JZ, and knowing where it is going after thursday......kinda tough. Dr Davis said I should do Water aerobics and 10,000 steps a day. What? Just because he is training for an Iron Man doesn't mean I have to. Sorry, I forgot to get pics of him with the pizza.

Totally almost forgot: I got roped into eating lasagna (vegetarian, it was made for me as a surprise), but only had the filling of ricotta and vegetables. Didn't touch a noodle. Flexibility=1/Peer pressure=0

Tina - have you started any new medications lately or changed your dosage? I would like to stop my anti-depressant and see if it makes a difference but I think I need it to stay sane. Same with my 1 mg of estradial a day- but I don't want hot flashes. Guess I will just keep on trying to stay on track with my eating and up the exercise. I am making at least one vegetarian food for Saturday as two of my kids are vegetarians now - no fish either. Cooking for two meat eaters and two vegetarians is not very easy - there aren't very many different choices with the Boca and Morningstar brands at the stores I shop at.

Hello, chickabo. Please know that I come from a place of wanting to help provide you some information and share my experience. I'm not saying I'm right or wrong, this is just my experience over the past 8 weeks. And I know when I was pre surgery I wanted as much information as I could get to help me. Before I go into my story below, I found a doctor online, Dr. Garth Davis, (http://www.thedavisclinic.com), who is a Bariatric surgeon in Texas -he is a 'plant based' doctor. I found this guy after I had my surgery, but he seems to be a good resource and one that I wish I would have found pre-surgery. You may find his information helpful or at least contact his office to get information sent to you so that you have some to help you with your doctor. Here is my story, if you want to read further: I was a vegan for several years pre-surgery. So was my family (husband and two sons). We did it for the animal issue, not the health issue. Trust me when I say I have seen more than most people on animal cruelty and food and I battle mentally with it everyday. When I first started looking into the Lap-band, I didn't find anything on vegan and Lap-band. All I kept seeing was 'Protein, protein, protein' and more 'protein.' But I knew, as a vegan, that I could get enough protein to hit 60 grams or more a day per what my doctor was telling me I had to have. I had done it for years and didn't see the issue. (When I say protein here is what I mean: There are only a few "complete proteins" (a protein that contains all the 8 essential amino acids that your body is unable to make on its own) for vegans and they are soy milk, tofu, and tempeh (these are the only true "complete proteins" for vegans). All other Proteins that you get from plants are called "incomplete proteins" like grains, legumes, seeds, and nuts. Now as vegan, you can take two "incomplete proteins" and combine them to can get a "complete protein." Example: grains + legumes or legumes + seeds/nuts.) So the issue wasn't getting "protein" per say. The issue that I saw right away was getting the enough of the right "protein" (complete proteins) which lead me to where I would have the biggest issue being vegan-- the volume of food that I would need to eat to get a minimum of 60 grams of protein a day. You see, when I was vegan (pre band), I could eat a large tofu "egg" wrap with a cup of broccoli and vegan cheese inside for Breakfast. This would give me ~14 grams of protein for ~350 calories or so (including a low carb wrap). However, when I look at the numbers in more detail with my post-band rules, this just doesn't give me the right amount of protein for the calories (10/1 - for every 10 calories in the food it should have at least 1 gram of protein). So, even thought it would give me "complete protein" for the meal, it wasn't the 10/1 rule. But more importantly, that is a HUGE amount of food to be eating after Lap-Band surgery. There is no way I could eat that much in one sitting. I might be able to make two meals of it now. That means for two meals I would only be getting ~14 grams of protein. So, having said that, I could (and do on occasion) supplement with Protein drinks (Sun Warrior Original Flavor chocolate or vanilla is the absolute best tasting and it has a 80 calories / 4 carbs / 15 grams of protein - which is great), but I quickly learned after I moved to soft solid foods (after the liquid diet pre and post surgery) that I wanted to eat food - I was SICK of drinking my calories. So protein drinks can fill in the gaps for getting more protein, but I found that I wanted to eat my calories instead of drinking them. So this wouldn't be an option for me longterm. So, what's an animal loving vegan who really wants / needs a Lap-band to do? As I was doing research, I ran across an article that talked about a devout vegan (animal lover) who was vegan for years and all of a sudden started craving animal protein. Long article short, she took a bite of something that had animal protein in it and as she said, "guess what, the world didn't end!" That was my moment. I thought, I have spent years battling my weight and part of that was doing everything that was 'best' for everyone else and it was time that I took care of me. So that is when I made the switch to vegetarian. I had huge amount of guilt (that I still carry around) but I knew I needed to at least try it versus continue down my road of being obese and miserable. You see, WLS patients aren't choosing the easy way out, contrary to what you might think, read, see, or hear. We chose surgery where we are cut open and surgically altered - that is not easy. We chose to eat very minimal amounts of food when others around us are eating pounds of it - that is not easy. We chose to exercise at least 210 minutes a week - that is not easy. We chose to have to chew every little bite we take 20-30 times - that is not easy. We have to take Vitamins that are horrible every single day - that is not easy. So to me, making a few food changes to my diet didn't seem that hard compared to all the other "not easy" stuff I was agreeing to do. So, after my pre-op and post-op diet of all liquids (which I had for 3 weeks), when I made the move to soft proteins I incorporated some yogurt (which I still can't stand) and then I incorporated some string cheese and some egg whites (not eggs). I did this very slowly. I then progressed to eating salmon, tuna, and shrimp. I still use all my vegan condiments (vegan mayo, cream cheese, sour cream, etc.) but I chose to add in easier proteins to my day. I'm not going to tell you how great I feel or how I'm losing weight by the lbs daily, but I'm just going to tell you that it is working for me right now, today and that's all I have. Opening my mind and putting more focus on me is working for me, today. And everyday is another day to do it better. I have tried to get away from "I did bad today," to "I will try to do better tomorrow" and that has helped to. I hope some of this has helped you a little bit. It's okay if it didn't. I just want you to know that whatever you choose to do, do it for you. This is YOUR time and no one or no thing can take it away from you. Sending you all the best and well wishes. Keep us posted on here! Jen

thanks for reply did you had any health problem being vegetarian? How is your energy? Mine is so low my doctor didnt gave me any diet to keep. His only strong advice was to eat only 3 meals per day... and yes I need to find my motivation to lose weight again! I hate extra kgs!

This is not vegan, though, quite the opposite...I'd never do raw, either (well, non-vegan raw would be tough, anyway!). I generally find it impossible to go a single day without dairy or meat, so anything vegetarian, let alone vegan, was never on my list.

What is it about a builder that they cannot manage to buy trousers that cover the crack in their a*se? Builders bum (definition: the top pf the buttocks showing when a pair of trousers is worn too low or when the wearer is bending over). Can't their wives buy a bigger pair of trousers? Have they all gained vast amount of weight since their trousers were purchased? Why can't they wear clothes which protect their dignity (and my sensibilities)??? Anyway, the sheds have been demolished and the game is on. The canine culprits (culprits for what? just everything) have enjoyed extra walkies and no doubt I am burning a few extra calories by taking them out for all those "comfort breaks". The back garden no longer has a lawn (oh well) a shed (errr) or a garden door so it is well and truly open to all comers. Never mind! Within 8 weeks we shall have a functional ground floor bedroom and bathroom for my boy - and life will be a lot easier. Does anyone else have junk food Thursday? We try to eat healthy, but on the grounds that if you are good most of the time you can be less sensible occasionally, we have junk food Thursday. On Thursday, when I am ebbing from the stresses and strains of maintaining my busy, noisy, psychotic (did I really say that, that can't be right) family through the week, but haven't quite reached the haven of the weekend, we relieve the tension by lessening the stress of preparing the evening meal. We have junk food. Well, lets be a bit more honest: they have junk food. I can't eat enough of anything to make it worth the extra calories and I don't like the salt resultant Fluid based weight gain inthe morning weigh in so I abstain. Arern't I a good girl? But basically anything froma packet counts. Favourites are noodles, chips (translation from Uk to US: french fries), supermarket pies, crispy pancakes, veggie burgers, veggie hotdogs (for the uninitiated: we are vegetarians - you'd never have guessed would you?) and occasionallly a take away (translation; take out) in the form of pizza, a curry or even a Chinese! I would strongly reccommend this practice. It results in kids who don't feel deprived but don't expect it all the time, which results in healthier bodies - and wife and Mum who is marginally less frazzled. Happy kids, happy Mum - husband eats everything - rather too much of everything but what are you gonna do? Somehow, knowing that Thursday is coming makes eating healthier through the rest of the week (including the weekends) less of a chore. Useful tip?

WOW - lots of catchin up to do! Sorry I've been MIA but it seems my work is never done! I have a friend who's getting married and I have been chosen as the matron of honor - not an easy task for this gal - she is OPD and wants a "police" themed wedding - WTF? Been planning and making invites for the engagement party blah blah blah! CONGRATULATIONS: Riley, size 12! Nicole, size 8/10, Heather 50 flippin 3lbs! Jes - surgery 9/16, Tamra 18lbs down! Tamra, change that ticker girl! See, it goes fast doesn't it? I eat steak - sirloin - it's protein girly! A few of these ladies are vegetarians! I do measure though! Chris - so sorry bout the PB incident. Guess you are no longer a "virgin" in that area LOL. Maria - don't trip - all their scales are different! Now you know you have a 4lb curve to work with - You know what that means - next time you have to go al fresco! Heather, you and your 20's are like me and my 16's LOL You will be back in that dress by the end of the month at your rate! You go hot mama! Nicole - I want you to move hahaha. Sucks about the pay rate they want to give but if all else fails he can take the job for now and keep looking - as you know, there isn't much out there right now! Reggie, nice compliments to the newbies but they really belong to you novices that guide us in the right direction and keep us on track! Got two pairs of jeans for you girl! LORI - WELCOME! STICK WITH THESE LADIES - THEY ROCK! Riley, I can't believe you said "butt hurt" my niece says that all the time - cracks me up! Jes - my class is on the 3rd too! lets carpool - I can pick you up if you want!

Heather glad your back.............really nice outside tonight. Wow 1/3 cup and it was painful? That is pretty tight. Do you know what 1/3 cup is ounce wise? I think that is more than they were saying was the "perfect" restriction of 1/4 cup. So if that was true than they would still technically still need to give you a fill. So you would be really, really tight at the perfect restriction. If it was painful to eat than I bet you were staying full longer than the 4-6 hours. Do you know what your cal intake per day was. I thought you said you were sometimes eating soft foods just to get something in for the day when nothing was staying down. So you were only eating 1/3 a cup three times a day and didn't lose......I bet you were only eating 500 calorories or so a day. I didn't realize that. For me I am not sure working the band is staying at 1/3 to 1/4 cup if your hungry all the time or sooner than the 4-6 hours recommended. THat might be working the pre op diet and the rules but I think it is alot about willpower which we can do without a band. The band is suppose to help with the hunger and amounts. If I need 3/4 to a cup to stay full for the 4-6 hours I eat it. I just try to eat a protien and salad or a vegetable and not junk food. When I ear more than a cup of anything it is salad with beans for protiens. I am vegetarian but still I am not gonna stay at 1/4 a cup three times a day if I am stil hungry I don't consider that working the band. To me that is inviting temptataion later when I am starving........I consider that a sign I probably need a fill so I get full and stay full longer. Why have a tool if your gonna do it on your own anyway? I got the band to help me do well, not so I would be in the same place with the willpower and struggle as before surgery. Everyone is different so working the band is different for everyone. It is hard to understand full and the sweet spot until you hit it.

Notes on Eating: After one year, the changes that are measured are less on pounds and more on lifestyle. The most difficult thing for me has been to relearn my life. Things in need of change: - Not drinking my dinner. Normally drank four large glasses of liquid along with my meal. - Less of the scale, more of the day to day successes in terms of change. - Life does not happen from the four walls of my bedroom. Less time on my bed and more time OUT in the world. - Chew and then swallow. - What really makes you happy? Since thinking it use to be food and actually was, food is no longer an option. ............................ The first notice of concern was the times of my meals. It was recommended that I develop a pattern of eating consistent with regular intervals of eating. Three meals a day with smaller supplementing “snacks” that are planned and at 100 calories or some determined caloric intake not more than what is consumed at a meal. v Snacks should not be more in caloric intake than a meal. There should be no confusion between food intake as identified as a “meal” and one that is a “snack” that is planned as part of my food program. Snacks are recommended at or around 100 calories and preferably in containers that are easily carried with me. Recommendations were; Yogurt, 100 calorie snacks packaged as such, pudding, mozzarella string cheese and other items lower in fat content. v Pick a day of the week devoted to preparation for my week of food plan so I don’t run out of food or don’t have something on hand in the event I have an emotional situation that is a trigger for a binge. v When I arrive home from work, the time when I am most tempted to eat something I shouldn’t, have foods prepared to intake or elect to do a non-food activity I find enjoyable. An example of this is a movie. Tell myself that I will not eat my snack until after I have watched my favorite movie. Get a favorite book and elect not to eat until after I have read so far into the book. The idea being to create a new pattern of habits. Creating new patterns is important so when I deviate from that pattern I will immediately recognize it. After reviewing my diet it was found I was taking in more fat than I realized. Items that had hidden fats in them were skin on chicken, nuts, even thin breading on seafood can hold additional fat. The objective now is to shave away fat as much as possible. When eating out, opt for an all vegetarian meal rather than always a meat meal. Suggestions are pasta with marinara, not cream sauces. Salads, not large ones, but smaller dark green vegetable salads and soups are good. Alternate meals: Example; 3-4 nights a week opt for a healthy option for dinner and save the higher caloric/fat meal for another day but plan for it. This could be the ‘special’ item you enjoy as well. Plan for ice cream, plan for wings but again, create the pattern. Create alternatives. I enjoy sweet tea, carry the small tubes of peach tea by Crystal Light and keep them in my purse. Order water at the restaurant so the temptation to drink sweet tea is lessoned. Summary: Develop a pattern of eating consistent with regular intervals of eating Snacks should not be more in caloric intake than a meal Selections should be simple. The less complicated the better Pick a day of the week devoted to preparation for my week Creating new patterns of habit so when you deviate from that pattern you will immediately recognize it 3-4 nights a week opt for a healthy option such as an all vegetable dinner Create alternatives – I enjoy sweet tea, I can bring Peach tea packets in my purse and add to my water at dinner. Be creative.

I am home sick today too Pam!! I have a killer sore throat and let it go all week. Crashed yesterday..........I got up for a couple hours to go to my daughters school program but was out by 7pm. Not to bad though cause I woke up to a yard full of snow and I am glad I didn't have to drive the roads. My daughter ran the California international marathon yesterday with a relay team and she is home with a sore throat today. I am so proud of her 7 miles ....but she can hardly move today. Donna my legs are so sore from all the up and down at Arco Arena!! LOL. I should have done it a few more times. Next year I am going to volunteer with you. All my lab results came back in the normal range for all the Vitamins, Iron and protien.Even B12 which is hard for vegetarians is NORMAL. I am so glad. I take two vitamins and calcuim a day and I do try to eat lots of protien. I am happy I guess that means I can still be vegetarian. Working hard on losing this week. As soon as my throat heals up I am going back to the gym. Gotta hit this early this time....... Jes and Candra hoping you get fills too!! I bet you guys will this time and I bet you get big ones cause the other doctors do big fills but less often!!

You have done so well. First, congratulations! Have you been keeping track of what goes in your mouth, journaling or something? This seems to help me, and at times I stop doing it and lose consciousness of what I'm really eating. Weight watchers is good for that. Others here are using weight watchers meetings or the online program and getting good results. I am resistant to "going on a diet" too... Perhaps if you look at it as a three month intensive workshop or something like that, to just tweak your habits... you might not fall back on a diet cycle. Good luck with that... Im only 2 1/2 weeks out, so not much experience with the sleeve yet, but loads with dieting! I am a vegetarian too, and hope I can pull off enough low carb eating to make this sleeve/tool work well.

Boy you guys are chatty today - maybe the hot weather is keeping us inside. Tamra - how are you able to get down bread and pasta? It's great you lost a few pounds quickly but it doesn't sound like you are getting enough protein - be careful with all the fad diets - I for one got my band so I could stop going on all the different diets. I am quite sure I would not get a revision unless I had a serious problem with my band like erosion - and the odds are on my side that won't happen. And if I had to have my band removed I would wait to see before I had anything done. I don't really think one surgery is better or worse than the other - they are different surgeries and it is a personal choice - whatever surgery you choose you need to follow the program. Weight loss with all three will slow down and eventually stall out - and although we can only eat small amounts at a time with all three surgeries - all three let us eat small amounts all day if we choose to and we can all gain back the weight - it is up to each of us to control our path. I just got back from Sam's Club and I bought some Brown Cow Greek Yogurt - 6 strawberry and 6 blueberry for $9.18 - each have 14 gr of protein. I am not a yogurt fan, but it will be good for my two vegetarian children.

Heh heh heh, I USED to be embarrased because I had to pack a big fat suitcase to go on a little trip like nthis - not because I had so many shoes to bring, but because my clothes were twice as big and I had to make sure that all my tops were long enough to cover up my belly! Now my stuff fits easily in a backpack :-) So I guess it's a trade-off, I have to bring weird vegetarian lap-band no PB food, but I also bring only a backpack of clothes! And hummus and sunflower seeds. Peace . . .

I am just joking about my age............I guess I am middle aged at 39 but I feel old!! LOL. I am an old soul too. Dr. Baggs didn't discourage the band when I went in BUT some of the other surgeons did at the orientation and it was VERY CLEAR that RNY was preferred. I just couldn't do that and I am vegetarian so that made RNY a bit of a problem too. I do think Kaiser is phasing it out. I think that is the whole reason. Because I was given the choice and when I asked Dr. Baggs what he preferred he said it was my choice. I was also BMI 42 and he said the lower BMI's do better with the band. I don't know what your BMI is but you weigh close to what I did. Lap band expects a 50% weight lose so that would be about 200 in the end but lots of people have done more. I plan to do more than that......eventually. Cole will you be at Kaiser this weekend??

I got up late and started pies late, but they are all in the oven (one traditional pumpkin and one apple cranberry) and I have broccoli and salad left to do. I made two cream cheese spreads last night...one crab and one vegetarian...with cranberries and walnuts. I also made two homemade salad dressings...blue cheese and red wine vinaigrette. My sister is making the rest. Gathering at 2 and dinner at 3. It's another beautiful day in the desert. Hope everyone is having a very nice day with their family and friends. Eva

I'm so sorry to hear of these terrible health issues that are going on in some of your families right now. I will pray for all of you. So sad and scary. I am having the worst time with food right now. I know that pales in comparison to some of the other issues going on, but I need someone to kick me in the butt, and this is the place for that! Here is the deal, since I came back from vacation, I have been eating like I am on vacation still. I know I wrote about this the other day, but I just can't kick it! Yesterday I started the 5DPT. Well, I made it until about 10 pm and completely lost control! I ate some vegetarian stuffed grape leaves and some animal crackers. It was like I was ravenous!!! I know that it is the carb monster. I just know it. It also feels like I have absolutely zero restriction what-so-ever. So, I started over today. Soup, soup, soup! Oh, and some coffee. The 5DPT site says that I could have some creamed Soups too, so I did. I know that I'm prob at 1400 cal today. How did I do that with just soup you ask? I don't know, I did, and I'm disgusted. I'm just like the Charlie Sheen of the food addiction world! LOL. No, but really, I have an appt w the dr on Sat, but I'm changing it to Monday. Hopefully he will fill me. I don't know if he will, because last time he said that he wouldn't because of all of the issues that i had with the partial slip. I went to do my taxes tonight on turbo tax, and there were major issues on their site which i also encountered last night. I wasn't able to input my info properly and it is really frustrating to me. I tried to e-mail their technical support, but was unable to do so because it wasn't one of the "options"! I usually use turbo tax, but last year went to a tax guy because I bought the house and needed to credit the first time homebuyer tax credit to last years taxes and wasn't confident in my abilities to make that happen. So, anyhow, if they cannot fix their site in a few days, I will have to go back to him even though it is triple what turbo tax costs. Ok, well, sorry about the rant. Long day. Thats good because tomorrow I'm getting a massage!!! The receptionist at work and I switch services. I cut her hair, and her kids hair, and she gives me massages. It's a great trade!!! Then I have a support group meeting tomorrow evening. Those always help kick my rear end into gear. I just need to pull it together and get to the gym as well. I'm a lazy bones lately. The weather does that when its sh!tty out, and trust me, it has been. Finally the weather is starting to break, and hopefully it will help me to get with it! When its nice out, I will look forward to going on walks with Andrew and my friend that lives a few doors down. Sorry, I feel like I am complaining so much, I just need to snap out of it!!!! Night, Meredith

Thanks for starting this thread. I will first state I have one kidney, post cancer, and it has CKD (limited function) and I CAN'T eat high or even moderate meat/protein now. I have followed a modified vegetarian & low carb diet combined to both protect my wonky kidney, and help me lose. (on my own) Every pound lost is less burden on the system for BP and diabetes, and kidney health. I take essential amino acids which supports me getting the building blocks needed, without the load of meat protein. I lost 30 lbs on my own, but bounce up and down if I am not rigorous with fewer calories. The one issue I see with any bariatric is i NOW get a VOLUME of food- eating plant based I get 6-8 cups veggies a day, healthy fats, no processed foods/sugar/sodas.grains/carby food. I don't trust many of the 'heath sites" online, most never even spell check, let alone fact check! ---livestrong is ok, and one of the few places that lists 46 gr max "necessary" for women, 56 for men... Most sites waffle and say (wrongly) we NEED the 70-100 gr, and that is such overkill! We are the most overfed nation on the planet. As a veteran the VA hospital was pushing RNY at me (they offer nothing else), and I demanded the diet literature in advance, and sure enough it is MINIMUM 70-80+ gr protein a day...no discussion...so I will not be trusting them with my longevity. The dietitian also only allowed whey protein shakes, dismissed hemp seed (with complimentary amino to balance it out).. so it felt like a brick wall..but VA only teaches ONE way the USDA high carb 'plate' way. If I do have bariatric surgery of some kind in future I will be sure I can support my kidney first before I agree to massive protein intake. Winding up on dialysis just to be thin is not a good choice as I see it.

I was thinking the same thing last night. Once you have been introduced to the research and start learning the truth it is hard to read all the posts about the excessive amounts of protein people are eating. So many doc/nuts really push the high protein low carb diets. I am so grateful you posted this information and that I was open to looking into it for myself. I think to each his own though. If the diet you are eating is working for you and you are happy then that is all that matters. But if you are searching for a diet that will give you optimal health you need to look into the research because the science is clear. Why would our bodies be designed to process and use sugar for energy as its first choice if we weren't supposed to eat a diet heavy on carbs? Fat burning for energy is the alternate process. The light bulb went off for me when the science showed that vegans and vegetarians have the lowest percentage of type 2 diabetes.

I've only known one vegan and one vegetarian. (I don't get out much). Interesting story about the vegan. The first time I saw her (she owned a little health-supplement store.. homeopathics and the like).. anyway, I go into her shop, and she is something like 8 months pregnant. Rail thin, pale, sickly looking. She mentions she's Vegan. Second time I go in, she has her baby, is lactating, and she looks no better. She was planning on raising her daughter that way. I left the store, feeling sorry for the babe. Skip forward about 5 years (I didn't frequent the store). Her daughter is as cute as a button, dancing around the store, and the Mom looks MUCH better. She had put on 20-30lbs, had color back in her face.. she looked so much more healthy. I told her as much and she said, "I used to be Vegan, but it didn't agree with me". For all I know, she was a sugar-aholic, and didn't really eat well or take all the required supplements to sustain that way of eating.... in other words, the poster child for how NOT to eat a plant-only diet. But since our relationship was so superficial, I never could find out. Her store is closed now, so it will remain a mystery. The lacto-ovo vegetarian is quite healthy. My first college was an all-girls school. It was a very small college, but it had 2 dinner lines: vegetarian and meat-based. I always looked at both before making my selection.. and the vegetarian food always looked better!! Lol. I'll see what I can turn up about heme iron. Mercola isn't necessarily my favorite dude, but he has had some interesting things to say over the years...

Ok, so I did some quick research on heme vs non-heme iron, and it's true you don't need heme iron. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Iron-HealthProfessional/#h2 According to this website, a vegetarian menstruating female needs to consume 32mg of iron a day. That would take 4 cups (24oz) of canned white beans (the best source of iron in vegetable foods on the chart). I don't know about y'all, but that would take me about 6 meals of just white beans to accomplish! Lol! Compare that to a non-vegetarian menstruating female needs only 18mg a day, accomplished by eating 3.5oz of pan fried chicken liver plus 1/2 cup spinach a day. I really like this page: http://www.sheilakealey.com/sports-nutrition/iron/ BUT, who is eating 3.5oz chicken liver every day? Lol! Just take your iron pills, or eat your fortified cereal, and go about your merry way

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:

A Vegetarian does not eat anything with a face. Which is why they can still drink milk, eat cheese, eggs... Mostly because these things didn't kill the animal... unless you count chicken embryos as living, therefor now dead... Hmmm...