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In between 30 and 50 grams. Honestly though, I don't count. Maybe that's a mistake, but I'm eating a vegan diet with some vegetarian meals; everything is predominately whole-foods. I feel amazing! I can't wait to go to my 6mo post op appointment and check in with him. Dr. Garth has truly changed by life.

I'm pre-op but I think we believe people pay more attention to what we are eating (or not eating) than they are. I would not put more on your plate - that would seem more noticeable and you could end up eating more than you should. If anyone questions what you are eating tell them you are eating healthy. And - so many people have allergies, intolerance, preferences (vegetarian, gluten-free, no "white" foods), etc. that it's unusual to find anyone eating what would be considered "normal".

Thank you for your post Christinamo7. Been doing a little digging since my post. Looks like the FDA recommends 50 mg per day as the general rule. However, my nutritionist says to aim for 80 grams a day, which is consistent with what I read. Have an appointment with my nutritionist Monday. Wondering what the numbers are and if a Protein intake between 50 - 80 grams half the time is really a problem. Have to wonder if we are told to aim high in hopes that we hit the lower mark or do we need more protein than non VSG people. Any vegetarians out there who can shed a little light?

I was sleeved on 6/14 and I have tried vegetarian hamburgers and meatballs because they are high in protein. Also premier protein has a new Carmel flavor and I like it in my decaffeinated coffee as a creamer and sweetner. I also drink skim milk, eat lean deli meat chipped, cottage cheese and Greek yogurt.

Out of curiosity are the soups you are eating carb heavy? Carbs are a concern of mine because I'm a vegetarian HW 341 SW 298 DOSW 286 CW 271 DOS 08/09/16 If I were you I'd switch soups. Granted every program is different I admit I'm kind of surprised that you have been cleared for all foods already. I'm looking forward to eating soft food by the end of this week, whoo hoo! HW 341 SW 298 DOSW 286 CW 271 DOS 08/09/16

I'm lacto ova vegetarian too, 24 years now and I am going to continue being one and maybe a part time vegan. I have been hoarding recipes for carb alternatives like chips, bread, pizza etc while also acknowledging that this is a lifestyle change and I will not be able to return to my same habits. HW 341 SW 298 DOSW 286 CW 271 DOS 08/09/16

I have no idea... Just the Campbell's cream of tomato and cream of mushroom made with skim milk. I've only had 1 serving a day though. Out of curiosity are the soups you are eating carb heavy? Carbs are a concern of mine because I'm a vegetarian HW 341 SW 298 DOSW 286 CW 271 DOS 08/09/16

Please search for & join "WLS Vegetarians" on Facebook! There are lots of us vegetarians (and vegans) out there!

Out of curiosity are the soups you are eating carb heavy? Carbs are a concern of mine because I'm a vegetarian HW 341 SW 298 DOSW 286 CW 271 DOS 08/09/16

Hi! I am a lacto-ovo vegetarian, and I was sleeved four days ago. My nutritionist had no concerns for me, so that was reassuring (although I've been veg for almost 20 years, so I knew there would be a lot of options). I am planning on Beans, lentils, tofu, tempeh, and veggie "meat" products, like veggie burgers. My nutritionist said I can start to try those things when I hit the soft-foods phase (when others can start soft meats, for instance). She did recommend using up to 2 Protein shakes from that stage forward, if I need them. There are a couple vegan Protein Shakes that my nutritionist has on our approved list. I'll track down the name for you. Good luck to you! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Which foods have protein? Protein is found in meat, fish and chicken. For vegetarians and those less keen on meat, there’s protein in cottage cheese, eggs, Greek yogurt, tofu, cheese sticks all the beans you might put in chili—except green beans. There’s also protein in meat alternatives like products from Morningstar Farms and Boca. You can usually find these products in the frozen food section. Protein amounts vary so check the labels. How much protein do I need? I tell my clients aim for 60-80 grams per day. Anyone with kidney issues might need to be much lower so it’s important to work with a dietitian specializing in bariatrics and kidney disease to get the protein prescription right for you. Can you get too much protein? If you’re drinking more than a two protein drinks per day along with multiple servings of protein, it’s easy to get up to 90 grams per day or more. There IS such a thing as too much protein and greater than 95-100 grams per day is starting to push healthy levels. p.s. Did you know the body simply cannot absorb more than 30 grams of protein per meal? If any of your protein drinks or bars are promising more than this per serving, don’t be fooled into thinking you are giving your body that full amount. Is protein really that important, anyway? Oh yes my friends, it is. Here’s why. Your body needs protein for its daily operations—cell building, transportation and repair work-- just to name a few. If you don’t feed it enough protein it will use the protein it has in storage (your muscles!!!) while stopping all fat burning activity. It does this because it senses that this is a crisis situation and perhaps a famine is ahead. Any body fat on hand has become more precious than a winning Powerball ticket and will be protected appropriately. It’s a common myth that after WLS you can eat whatever you want because you can’t ‘overeat.’ My advice? For optimal weight loss, that you can sustain, pull a Goldilocks and strive to get the amount that’s not too low and not too high but just right.

Bariatric Dietitian Elizabeth Anderson didn't exactly love school but she has an odd fondness for it now as September approaches and she's had a great deal of quality time with her teenager! Find out what she learned in all those nutrition science classes as she answers some common WLS questions in Protein 101. Which foods have protein? Protein is found in meat, fish and chicken. For vegetarians and those less keen on meat, there’s protein in cottage cheese, eggs, Greek yogurt, tofu, cheese sticks all the beans you might put in chili—except green beans. There’s also protein in meat alternatives like products from Morningstar Farms and Boca. You can usually find these products in the frozen food section. Protein amounts vary so check the labels. How much protein do I need? I tell my clients aim for 60-80 grams per day. Anyone with kidney issues might need to be much lower so it’s important to work with a dietitian specializing in bariatrics and kidney disease to get the protein prescription right for you. Can you get too much protein? If you’re drinking more than a two protein drinks per day along with multiple servings of protein, it’s easy to get up to 90 grams per day or more. There IS such a thing as too much protein and greater than 95-100 grams per day is starting to push healthy levels. p.s. Did you know the body simply cannot absorb more than 30 grams of protein per meal? If any of your protein drinks or bars are promising more than this per serving, don’t be fooled into thinking you are giving your body that full amount. Is protein really that important, anyway? Oh yes my friends, it is. Here’s why. Your body needs protein for its daily operations—cell building, transportation and repair work-- just to name a few. If you don’t feed it enough protein it will use the protein it has in storage (your muscles!!!) while stopping all fat burning activity. It does this because it senses that this is a crisis situation and perhaps a famine is ahead. Any body fat on hand has become more precious than a winning Powerball ticket and will be protected appropriately. It’s a common myth that after WLS you can eat whatever you want because you can’t ‘overeat.’ My advice? For optimal weight loss, that you can sustain, pull a Goldilocks and strive to get the amount that’s not too low and not too high but just right.

My program didn't have me go on a pre op diet. But my personal goal was to lose 10 lbs before I had the surgery and I did it! i too was 100 lbs overweight. The key to me losing beforehand was tracking. I got the myfitness pal app and tracked religiously. This helped me get in the habit for my post op life. I also got a fitbit to track my steps and tried to walk alot as well as added zumba. I am so glad that I did this beforehand because it has helped me immensely in my post op life. I hope that helps a little bit. I viewed my pre op weeks as starting to rewire my thinking and change my habits. Just focus on finding sources that are high in Protein that you enjoy. I would definitely research vegetarian wls recipes if you dont like meat. Im only 6 weeks out, and this really is a journey with ups and downs. But it's worth it so far for me. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Even if you are vegetarian your body still needs protein.

Check out The Davis Clinic on Facebook. They are all vegetarians, and Dr. Garth Davis has written a book on the benefits of a vegetarian diet. I'm just not ready to give up fish. Lol.

<--- worked out religiously my entire life. Been on HCG diet, weight watchers, phentermine, nutrisystem, vegan, vegetarian, atkins, south beach, orange theory, bikrim yoga, countless personal trainers....Have impulse control/binge eating issues that made me a very unhealthy yo-yo dieter. The sleeve is going to add YEARS to my life. @@Pinkberry2 If it was sooooo easy to lose weight, dear track runner, what on earth are you doing on a bariatric forum? Pot kettle black much? #peopleinglasshousesshouldntthrowstones Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I do Protein shakes as well, take my vits (received a great lab report yesterday), and drink my Water. I also went from a vegetarian to a vegan. Due to a handicap, I am unable to exercise much but I do what I can. In need of a strong support system which I why I am on this site :-). My keys to success - I haven't totally abandoned protein shakes (I usually drink at least 2 a day to get my protein in), trying to limit my carbs, and exercise (even if it's a 30 minute walk around the block). My active support systems - message boards (such as this one), a therapist, and I have at least 3 "real life" friends who have also had bariatric surgery. The last one is to NOT GIVE UP...Right now I'm fighting the battle to get below 200 pounds. I see you're also a little over a year post op. How has your experience been so far?

I am pre surgery and found that Protein shakes make me extremely ill - they don't stay down no matter what I did. The dietician suggested switching to vegan/vegetarian Protein powder. She felt it might be an allergic reaction to the animal protein. It worked you could try it and see if it works for you

My skinny sister who exercises regularly has a higher cholesterol than me. She is a vegetarian (so not a red meat issue).

I'm 6 weeks post-op and as of the last 3 days have had daily nausea after having Breakfast (which is usually Greek yogurt or cottage cheese (vegetarian, no-eggs). I'm drinking Water as I've done last few weeks. I've had an extremely smooth recovery so far but now this has popped up out of nowhere. I contacted the practice nurse yesterday and she said it could be a thiamine (B1) deficiency (I take Multivitamins every day so that didn't sound right). She said to get bloodwork if it continues. Has anyone had this happen suddenly a few weeks out? I feel like I'm constantly trying not to throw up (and haven't since surgery).

Thanks for your post. There are many layers to vegetarianism. I've done it for many years and have never had a protein deficiency. As the previous person stated there is protein in Beans, vegetables, dairy etc... I will be what is considered a "lacto-tarian" which means that I consume all dairy only excluding meats. Protein shakes are also a great source to meet protein needs as well. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App Oh ok thanks for the added info. Now I have a better understanding.

Thanks for your post. There are many layers to vegetarianism. I've done it for many years and have never had a protein deficiency. As the previous person stated there is protein in Beans, vegetables, dairy etc... I will be what is considered a "lacto-tarian" which means that I consume all dairy only excluding meats. Protein shakes are also a great source to meet protein needs as well. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I have never gone vegetarian, so I don't know a lot about this way of eating. I also don't know how much Protein you are suppose to eat on your plan. However I know mine is 80 to 100. II am wondering how you would be getting that much protein eating vegetarian only. I would imagine you wouldn't have any energy and your hair would start to fall out. Could you please explain how a vegetarian diet with a VSG works.

I decided to go vegetarian (again). 3 years ago before I gained almost 100lbs I was a vegetarian. I felt light, healthy and energized back then. I always wanted to go back to it but couldn't find the willpower. Thanks to having the VSG I've been without meat since surgery & feel amazing! Everyone's journey is their own & I'm certainly not encouraging or saying my way is the best way at all. However I would like to have support and wanted to share with my bariatricpal family ! If anyone else is looking to do the same (after much research) or already may be a veg please connect so we can share recipes and such. I'll keep you all posted on my journey. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

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