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I take: One-a-Day Gummies (2 per serving) sours. Citracel petites for calcium and some D An extra D capsule (because I'm allergic to the sun) - I also have sublinguals if I'm feeling too tight to take a capsule Biotin sublingual B12 sublingual CoQ10 sublingual Omega 3 and 6 Iron every 3-4 days I'll start taking my Magnesium and zinc when I feel comfortable with the pill size. Acidophilus (the good stuff in yogurt) because pill form is used better by the body than from yogurt (and I don't eat yogurt) One of my specialist Drs (unrelated to WLS) suggested I stop extra C (causes kidney stones) and E (increases the probability to have a stroke) and as a vegetarian it would be unlikely I'd ever run low on either of those.

Oh, can I add one? I bought "Hungry Girl's 300 calorie Recipes", which has some great, small-portioned foods, including a bunch of recipes that need a mug and a microwave. She seems to lean towards the vegetarian side of cooking, but the few I've tried have been good. And, there's always Egg-face's blog. She's got a ton of WLS friendly stuff on there, including tons of shake recipes for Protein drinks.

I'm not a vegetarian (currently) but spent a number of years as one. Then I got to my remote location here and couldn't find meat so I went back to a vegetarian diet for a while. As it is, I might eat meat once or twice a week. I'm no vegetarian, but I certainly eat a lot of vegetarian meals! I was never able to shake dairy until I got hit by lactose intolerance post op. Doesn't that just figure? I still love cheese but usually only have what I can make myself (simple farmer's cheeses, mozzarella, ricotta, etc.) so my intake is drastically reduced. I try to avoid Pasta, but I make syrniki as a dairy meal - basically it's a cheese pancake made from sweetened farmer's cheese and raisins. I also eat Beans with melted mozzarella on them, and I mix cheese into salads for that tiny Protein (and flavor) boost. I eat a lot of soy products but living in Central Asia means my access to those convenience foods is very limited. For the most part, if I can't make it myself I can't eat it. I make my own soy milk and drink some every day. I make the soy milk into yogurt, too, which I can then use for eating but also for sauces like tzatziki. I make lentil Soup and even lentil salads. I find myself eating tofu pretty frequently (prepared any number of ways), but I also make seitan and occasionally use TVP to make things like chili, sloppy joes or burgers. I use beans in almost everything and I make a big batch of hummus for Snacks and sandwiches. I even make uncheeses - there are a few of them I find tasty enough to eat even now that I eat cheese and meat when I want. I make curries, I make dal, I even try to make simple Soups and boost the protein in them by adding unflavored protein power (Integrated supplements brand works best, IMO). If you ask me, one of the best foods you can eat post VSG is seitan, assuming you like the taste. I make a big batch of "meatballs" from seitan and eating two of them will fill me up and give me 18 grams of protein. I was able to order a bunch of Fantastic Foods vegetarian meals for when I want to eat something in a hurry and they're tasty, even if they're not as healthy as something I could make myself. In any case, you probably have dozens more options than I do! I'm sure that if you get bored you can find some new recipes or ideas online. Hopefully someone else will chime in here with other ideas, too. When I think of it I get envious of the huge variety of prepared vegetarian meals available stateside. Everything I do here is certainly healthier because it's made from scratch but it's also very time consuming. ~Cheri

Here's something I threw together that was approved for my weeks 4-6 after surgery that was pretty delish. I'm calling it "Bariatric Lasagna". 1/2 cup soft cooked macaroni 1/2 cup ricotta cheese 1/2 cup cottage cheese 1/4 no sugar added spaghetti sauce Mix all ingredients. top with some mozzarella and parmesan cheese. Microwave until warm and cheese is melted. Makes about 4 half cup servings. I guess if you aren't vegetarian you could add some hamburger if you are allowed it.

Buffalogyrl, I have found and saved many vegetarian recipes as this isn't my first attempt at going veg. I did it a few years back for the health benefit. I guess I didn't really care much about my health because I gave it up at the drop of a hat. This time around its for a completely different reason. As I said, I can't really get meat down, but this wasn't the main reason I decided to rule out meat. I have a huge passion for animals so going vegetarian has been very easy. Just the thought of what these poor animals go through makes me sick to my stomach. But yeah, back to the subject of recipes...I seem to have trouble finding band friendly recipes.

Working towards it, but as you may imagine it takes lots of time and planning especially to become a lowish carb whole food vegan So I'm a flexible vegetarian

I may have to find a vegetarian gelatin and try that.

I Only know that at the INT hospital you get your video of the surgery and if you have someone traveling with you they have great meals at their cafeteria. Don't know the age difference on the hospitals but florance has only vegetarian meals at their cafeteria and they have slightly bigger beds for your companion but they say their about the same as far as comfyness. Good question looking forward to seeing others answers.

I am a vegetarian 5 days post op. This first week has been very hard. There is no protein in vegetable broth, so I add a little none flavored protein to it before warming it up. But now I can't stand to even look at veggie broth. I'm not getting almost any calories right now. There has to be something I can eat while in the liquid stage. Once I am in the mushy stage, I will be doing a thousand times better. There is so much more I can eat in the mushy stage. Until then, it's horrible. I'm sorry. Research it better if you can. There has to be more that we can drink the first week.

Hey all!! Hope everyone is doing great!!! I had surgery last Friday 4/20 in Miami fl, with Dr. Sosa. My overall experience was good and besides the first two days I feel ok. Quick rewind: my prep op diet was only 2 days which scared me so I did 4 days total. I didn't keep count of what I lost before the surgery but my original weight was 260 and today 4/28 am down to 242!!! I've been on a liquid diet ever since, yesterday I was able to introduce milk (soy) and thicker Soups watered down with Water and strained. It's been very hard for me to maintain this diet because I work in a hotel/restaurant and am a vegetarian. I see food 12hours a day and top of that No Jello, no chix broth, just water, watered down juices, and today my favorite, a Soy Protein shake. My doc basically has me on the same diet as his Lap-Band patients. Clear liquids for 1week, liquids,4oz soups for week 2 and week 3 & 4 I hear it's Beans, Protein shakes, and purée veggies. sleeping is difficult Bc I seep on my side or my stomach. During the night I get sharp pains and I can barley sleep 3 hours straight. I haven't taken any pain medication, my insulin was discontinued but am still on Metformim 2x a day. He also gave me Anti-acid meds for 30days. I am seeing a Bariatric nutrionist and once my stitches and drain "hole" is closed I will start the gym. My goal is 140pounds so I have to work hard and loose as much as I can now while I have restriction. I wanted to thank everyone for their updates and words of encouragement. I feel this site really prepared for the upcoming weeks. Good luck to everyone and keep on posting.

what kinds of things are you eating? ARe you drinking water? I am going to be 4 weeks post op this Thursday and I have lost total 26 lbs. 7 of that was pre op though. Today I had greek yogurt and a half of a banana for bfast cottage cheese and a little bit of Trader Joes brand Vegetarian Chili for lunch Dinner was about a 1/4 baked potato with butter and cheddar cheese I had a yogurt for a snack right now.

Can I get any kind or vegetarian refried beans only?

I will be having my surgery just 2 weeks before Thanksgiving. I guess I will still be on pureed or soft foods then and likely not eating much at meals at all. We weren't planning on doing anything special - we usually don't do the whole big turkey dinner since none of us really even like it and I have one kid who is a vegetarian, one who is lactose intolerant and one who won't eat any carbs and another who is just picky as hell. Yeah, holidays are always fun! Usually I just make a variety of appetizers and we graze all day. But, I got a call that my son who lives far away that he is coming and bringing his girlfriend who we haven't met! So, now I don't know what to do? I don't know if she will be expecting a full traditional dinner or not. I don't even know if I will be up to cooking anything, much less a huge spread. I also haven't told my son about my surgery - he's always been critical about my weight and I expect some snarky comments from him that I just need to eat like him (he's always been naturally thin) or other ignorant remarks. But I guess that will be a bit hard to hide two weeks out, right? I don't want to make things awkward for his girlfriend. So - what would you do? Would you tell him ahead of time? Would you plan on cooking a big traditional meal and trying to fake your way through it? We have also been invited to friend's for dinner that day if we all want to go there instead - in a way that would be nice since I wouldn't have to do all the work. Eating out isn't an option since there aren't any restaurants in our area that will be open. And I also worry I won't even know at that point what I can keep down and I don't want to chance losing my dinner in front of everyone! Arrrggghhh!! Thanksgiving is really stressing me out!! Any advice would be highly welcomed!

@@Algae, I'm glad some one is speaking out about this. I am the chef for the family. We bring our lunches to work/school and I cook dinners ava breakfasts at home and it's a real treat for us to eat out. I've been on crazy diets before like not eating solids food for 60 days at a time but it's still hard and requires Iron will. I too have thought about ideas and recipes that I could serve for my family and myself without breaking up the program too much. But it sounds like you and me are similar in that it's enjoyable to figure out food quandaries!! We host a lot of parties and I have friends who are gluten free, vegetarian, vegan, paleo, lactose intolerant, no nightshades etc etc etc. Most ppl would scoff but I love a challenge!! Lol :-) I would say that when I've made a separate dish or dessert for myself that is in keeping with whatever the DOM (diet of the month!) is ppl usually really liked it when they taste it! I thinking some sort of bariatric no crust sweet potato souflee might work for dessert in the pureed stage during the holidays..sweet potatoes, Protein powder, sf egg nog syrup, egg, milk...baked and chilled...in a teeny tiny ramekin....yum.

Wow! Heartfelt congratulations, PotterGirl!!!! :-) Way to represent the vegetarians, too!

I've been a vegetarian for 20 years - I eat fish and dairy though. (my vegetarianism had to do with animal cruelty so it's only wild caught fish and free roam dairy.) After seeing the documentary Forks Over Knives (highly recommend it!) I was ready to go totally vegan. But my doc explained that while I could indeed get Protein from Beans, for instance, the amount of beans and the number of calories it would take to equal the same protein in fish was much much more. Therefore, she thought weight loss was goal number one and I could go vegan after I reached my goal. So, since I got my sleeve (July, 2014) I have had to make a big effort to get more protein. I drink 2 unjury shakes a day mixed with almond milk and sometimes add a Protein Bar. Of course, I eat a ton of fish for dinner and often tuna or salmon salad at lunch. Overall I am supposed to be getting 75-95 grams a day and so far I have had no problem at all. I also bought some Unjury Protein powder and add it to Soup or veggie smoothies to up my count. If I need a few more grams, I'll make my shake with skim milk instead. I was always given funny looks when I told someone I was a vegetarian. Not too many 300 pound vegetarians out there! LOL! But I am proof that we're all not pixie sized hippies, not by a long-shot! Looking forward to someone looking at me and thinking "of course" when they find out I'm vegan.

I am 7 weeks and finding that meat is really kind of repulsive to me now. But I am eating dairy and eggs. Peas, beans, and nuts taste so good. I hope to go vegetarian after I lose more weight, then hopefully vegan when close to goal .

I was vegan for four years but went vegetarian again three weeks ago. I haven't had meat in over 8 years at this point. I have yet to talk to my doctor at length about WLS though...my appointment to do so is also on the 30th!

I'm vegetarian and allergic to seafood. Don't like meat? Don't eat it. I do eat a lot of eggs and greek yogurt, but I've done quite well not eating any meat at all.

Hello, sleevers! I am so happy I found this place and looking forward to sharing our journeys. I've been overweight for 30 years (since age 8), but never considered WLS. I've gone on every diet, tried every weight loss med, been a vegetarian, a raw foodist, and an exercise nut. I never lost more than 15 pounds. I am capable, however, of gaining 30 pounds in a month. I do not have PCOS, thyroid issues, or even insulin resistance - my body just doesn't want to let go of weight. Most recently, I spent four months in residential treatment for binge eating disorder, where I was treated like an anorexic. They took away all my exercise (had JUST gotten into a regular cardio/resistance routine), told me it was ok to eat Cookies, candy bars, and ice cream every day (so I did - all three - every day), and drilled into me that there was no reason to be afraid of food (I never had been, other than the fear of not having enough). I gained 20 pounds in treatment and was told I hadn't gained at all (we were not allowed to weigh ourselves or know our weekly weights). The experience was great for my head, as I learned many valuable tools for dealing with my emotions, analyzing my thoughts and behaviors, and communicating with others, but bad for my body. I've gained 15 more pounds since leaving treatment in November. I still overeat - I just don't feel guilty about it anymore. I've never felt like a fat person and I know I'm not meant to be this heavy. Now I'm starting to have knee and back pain on a daily basis and I have bruises all over my body from bumping into things (I'm that unaware of my recently increased size). I resisted the idea of surgery because it was unnatural, like many people who've never struggled with weight, I thought I just wasn't trying hard enough. Then I realized it was no different from having LASIK or dental work; I am grateful for every day I wake up and don't have to put on glasses or deal with contacts to see, and I'm glad I have straight teeth, not the crooked, overcrowded mess that would have resulted if I'd never had those teeth pulled. Now I see WLS for what it is - a viable shot at freedom. Thanks for reading.

I tend to go for a vegetarian frittata - and request a side of aioli or dressing just in case you need moisture - the soft pumpkin/potato/vege filling is great tasting and very edible, but you still must GO SLOW and CHEW WELL!!!! no matter how soft - soft can block as much as hard. or a goats cheese tart. Caesar salad is good too. The beauty of these types of foods - they are usually Entrees, so smaller portions, and if the selection is good - order two entrees (you dont have to eat them entirely), noone will be any the wiser and it is actually far more interesting as entrees are much more exotic than mains usually.

I am in the same boat. I was sleeved 1/25/16 and went in weighing 220 lbs. As of today I am only down to 195lbs. I am happy that I am down to my pre baby weight that I got down to with my lapband, but hearing the weight loss of others makes me feel like a total failure! I also am totally stuck on lapband habits. I pretty much became a vegetarian with my lapband because nothing would ever go down. Now I have to force myself to eat meat and remind myself that I am able too. I still reach for those little easy go to snacks that I always knew would "go down." It's definitely been a struggle. And to think I am hitting the 5 month mark and only down 25lbs.......

Also try beans. I'm vegetarian so my pureed phase will be hummus, black bean soup, refried beans...

I was a vegetarian for about 10 years (Which, ironically is when I gained all my weight.. mostly from Pasta and chocolate) during HS and College. I got "You don't LOOK like a vegetarian" all the time. I can laugh about it now.. but it was kind of annoying back then. :-) Anyhow, I"m a full fledged meat eater now... so sorry I can't help to much.. but I'm sure you can still eat a good veggie stir fry or veggie burger post-op.

I think people get so lost in the protein first rule that they forget that vegetables are a vital part of our diet. They have so many good nutritional qualities and aid in good brain function & memory. Yes, protein is essential for helping us feel fuller for longer, aiding in muscle and tissue repair etc, but I'm a true believer that our diets should be varied and include fruits, vegetables, and healthy, natural whole foods. (Just look at all the sleeved vegetarians getting their protein sources from veg etc). Your body may not like the fruit? But I can't imagine you would gain weight from non starchy vegetables. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App