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I am lactose intolerant as well. I do use Muscle Milk whey Protein powder and I mix it half and half soymilk/water. Works out ok for me. But, for those that don't want any of that, have you tried: For vegetarians, vegans and anyone looking for a non-animal derived protein, try Swanson 100% Pure Pea Protein: pure, easily digestible, great-tasting, vegan-friendly protein source made with yellow peas (Pisum sativum). It features an amino acid profile very close to ideal for human nutrition, as recommended by health organizations worldwide. Plus, unlike many protein supplements, Pea Protein is easy on the stomach and almost completely digestible, making it the perfect choice for sensitive individuals, children and the elderly. Hope this is helpful. Happy Holidays! ~Fran

I became somewhat lactose intolerant after surgery as well- for me I was nauseated, vomited and had terrible cramping.. totaly wasnt worth it- I made the switch to almond or hazelnut milk as I dont care for the soy and since becoming a vegetarian as well beign post op I only eat cheese and or yogurt once a week. But becoming lactose intolerant seems to be a common thing with this procedure- My surgeon forwarned me ahead of time as well of the possiblity- I was never a milk drinker per say but I loved me some cheese.

I had surgery 1/31 and am terrified to start mushies, but I have a meeting this Tuesday at a mexican restaraunt that I have to go to. As a vegetarian I have a hard time with 99% of mexican restaraunts. Do you think its ok do do mushies a few days early? Also how did you guys tolerate beans(I am hoping their black Beans or refied beans are vegetarian friendly)? I am terrified of moving to this new stage. So far so good with my WL, 22# in about 2 weeks I am already halfway to goal as I only wanted to lose 50#. Thanks!

I purchased the Weight Loss Surgery Cookbook for Dummies and so far I'm enjoying reading it. There are recipes for the smooth phase, soft phase, breakfasts, lunches & brunches, appetizers, poultry, beef, lamb, pork, fish, seafood and vegetarian entrees Entrees, as well as side dishes, Soups & stews, Snacks, smoothies and Desserts. I have not made any of the dishes mainly because I want to read the book first and then try the recipes that sound the best. Good luck finding what you want.

I am six months out and I can't hardly stomach meat and eggs....did anyone else "convert" after wls?

Am a life-long vegetarian sleeved on 11/5/2015 & down 52 lbs to date. Please search for & join the Facebook group "WLS Vegetarians" -- a support group for like-minded WLS'ers looking to follow a cruelty-free, plant-based diet!

Aaaaaarrrrrrrrrrgggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!! I just stumbled on this and read all at once. I am sorry, but I jsut have to get this out of my system. It makes me sad that people are worried about what other people will think of how little they are eating. This is the kind of behavior that gets us fat in the first place. Trying to "please" everyone or "fit in" or not look "wierd". Who gives a damn what other people think? They probably want to see you eat more so they don't feel bad for overeating. Don't worry about what YOU think THEY think. Maybe it's because I was a vegetarian in Montana for many years (THAT is a fish out of Water - believe me), but I don't pay the slightest attention to people's reaction to what I eat. I am proud of my weight loss and am not jeopordizing it for anyone. If someone rides you about it they are either insecure, ignorant, jealous, or all three. Be a shining example for the people you are with. Eat sensibly and live a wonderful life!!!!!

I have little one too. We eat alot of chicken now. I didn't really freeze much. But I've got cheese sticks, yogurt, shaved black forest ham, Whisps, and vegetarian vegtable soup on hand all of the time.

No, unfortunately I don't get all my Protein in. This is because I try to avoid the high-protein vegetarian foods because they are usually high-fat/high-calorie (like cheese, nuts, peanutbutter, etc). I do supplement meats with veggie meats though. The best veggie burger I've ever had is the Morningstar Grillers Prime. I should probably substitute with shakes, but I just can't stomach the taste.

Good morning, BP! Over the last few weeks, my stomach has been rejecting meat in most forms...I can eat a little bit of fish, and maybe a bite of chicken, but nothing else. I'm consuming a lot of dairy and doing fine getting my Protein in, but I know some of you are vegetarians or vegans and may have some ideas for protein that I haven't thought of. What's out there beyond cheese and Beans? My dietitian suggested textured vegetable protein, but the smell kills me...I can't put it in my mouth. I should probably try it in tomato sauce? Anyway, any suggestions would be appreciated. I've lost 71 lbs and hope to reach my goal by the end of January, so I'm in the home stretch. My bmi is now just overweight instead of obese, and I really think I'm going to make it to goal...I just need a little push and some new Proteins might be just the thing

Definitely make sure you talk to your nutritionist! And I hope you like Beans and hummus, because you need Protein to heal and get through this! I am not a vegan, but I do eat a lot of vegetarian foods. I have added Protein powder to the top of veggie burgers and then covered them in salsa so I don't notice the powdery texture. After a few months, we should be able to tolerate nuts too, which will help us both with protein. Good luck!!

It is going to be really hard for me to keep my carbs so low...Im a vegetarian, and everything I eat has carbs in them. I can keep my calories down though... I expect a stall....

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

I am pre-sleeve, so feel free to ignore me. I am a type I diabetic, so I have been dealing with nutrtiion my whole life. Have you tried cutting grains out all together? (no wraps or chips for a while, keep your carbs limited to fruit/dairy.) Also try lean meats, fish, and low-fat cheeses. Also, if you can tolerate them, a lot of vegetarian options are low-fat and good sources of protein. And as always, track your intake, weigh and measure your food, and keep fighting the good fight! Best of luck!!!

I am almost 4 months post op and started off with good intentions to stick rigidly to the plan ... not that my surgeon or nut actually gave me a full eating plan, just one for the first 5 weeks and then "guidelines" to help with a healthy lifestyle moving forward. What I have found since surgery however, is that surgically reduced stomachs don't read nutritional plans. So you may have a plan that states x amount of Protein per meal and x amount of vegies etc, but that doesn't mean your stomach is going to agree with it. Since my surgery I have found protein is the hardest thing for my stomach to cope with. I try and make sure I have some at each meal, but I doubt if I manage the number of grams that some plans recommend. ( I should perhaps mention I was a vegetarian pre op so that might make a difference to protein tolerance). Having said that I have had my first lot of blood tests and everything came back normal. My surgeon says my weight loss is on target - whatever that means since he never gave me any solid goals to meet. I eat healthy, yes once or twice tried something I shouldn't and instantly regretted it and am moving on with an eating plan I find I can cope with on a daily basis. I stick to mainly fresh fruit and vegetables, chicken and fish and a small amount of dairy (limited by lactose intolerance). I don't stress about numbers - not calories nor nutrient grams. I am learning to listen more to my body and finding I feel much healthier for it as well as the weight coming off easily. This suits me and my body ... yours might be different and require different things.

Hi all. I'm close to the 1 year mark for surgery. I'm at my goal weight and I'm working on my stretch goal (which has to do with fitness but will result in a few more lbs gone). Since surgery I've eliminated some foods (no fries since June of last year!) and I typically hit my protein and carb goals. I've had great success but I find myself craving fruits and veggies and I don't have room for them. Two of my children are vegetarians and I've been giving serious thought of eliminating red meat, chicken from my diet. Much of my protein intake now is not animal-based so it would not be a huge stretch. I would love to hear from anyone who is at gw and has a plant-based diet. I'm looking at ways to figure out the transition as well as how to limit carbs...and cook for a blended family (omnivores and vegetarians!). I do cook now for the family but definitely could expand my menu.

Besides scrambled I had poached, soft boiled, hard boiled, over easy, sunny side up, deviled, essentially any way I could cook an egg I could have it. In addition, I could have mild steamed or poached fish; canned or packet tuna, salmon and chicken plain or as salad with lowfat mayo; vegetarian soy products; cooked cereal thinned with skim milk; nonfat refried beans; nonfat yogurt without added sugar; low salt V-8 juice; unsweetened apple sauce; mashed ripe banana; skim or lowfat cottage or ricotta cheese; mashed squash, white potato, sweet potato. These were all considered a good consistency so none of it had to be pureed.

I'm currently doing my pre-op diet. I am not supposed to have more than 60 grams of carbs a day. I am constantly over this because of all the veggies I eat. If I don't eat a bunch of veggies, I stay hungry. My NUT didn't really explain if carbs from veggies count. Do you think it will be OK to go over the 60 grams of carbs a day as long as it's from veggies? Broccoli and Brussels sprouts are the only thing saving me from hunger and since I'm vegetarian, I'm eating meatless "chicken" strips which has a small carb count as my protien. I'm at a loss. Sent from my XT1254 using the BariatricPal App

@@Indieflickers - I've always been super regular. Prior to surgery I would go 2 -3 hours after eating so I often went 3 times a day. I read all the constipation horror stories on these boards and I feel bad for folks. The only difference I can think of is I've been vegetarian for nearly 20 years so my diet is really high fiber.

Hi all, Well, a wee bit of history ... I'm 35, I've lost over 100 lbs twice before, and of course, gained it back. Always had a weight problem. I was anorexic in high school. Do NOT wanna go that route, again. I had a complete hyst due to endometriosis when I was 26. The slam in to menopause did not help my weight struggle. Around 30, I was diagnosed w/fibromyalgia. :bored: I went vegetarian 27 Dec 2008. Lost 2 whopping pounds, since! :eek: I'm not vegan ... I've thought about going vegan, but I live in a small town, outside of New Orleans. Going vegetarian is hard enough in this area! I work full-time and am a full-time student. I really don't have the time to cook as I should. I get one day off a week, if I'm lucky. I usually spend that day curled up in the fetal position, recovering. Or, cramming for tests. I am want to teach biology and the classes are grueling. I know if I loose the weight, my pain levels will go down. Right now, due to the pain, it is hard to stick to an exercise program. And there is a battle between my pmc doc and ob/gyn whether I should be on HRT, or not. Managing weight is easier when I am on HRT, but my PMC is worried about breast cancer risks. I've tried about every diet there is. My doc first brought up the lap band about a year ago. I balked at the idea, at first. So did my hubs. But, now that I am ready, my doc isn't so enthusiastic about it. I have tricare-prime. I found a surgeon in our area that accepts in it in my area and is certified to do the lap-band surgey. Now, I just have to get my doc to un-dig his heals. If tri-care approves the surgery, I have to schedule it around college breaks ... Sorry for the novela ... :thumbup: Kristine

omelets are a good suggestion, you can put any cheese or veggies you like in them. you can change up the chicken by splitting a breast and stuffing it with ham, cheese and spinach, make stir fry with light sauce and don't eat rice with it. I also like boca burgers. and if you want sausage on the side of an omelet, I happen to love the Morningstar brand meatless sausage (and I'm not a vegetarian, these just have wayyy less fat and 10g Protein per patty and taste really good). As far as free exercising: if weather permits, take a long walk! Take the family with, or the dog, or the ipod... whatever you like. Go to a local park with a trail if you have one, or just start by walking around your block. If you're not used to exercising, start by walking to the corner. Just increase your distance slightly every day. At home, you can do squats (as far down as you can go, it will get easier with practice). You can get weights for a couple bucks a piece at walmart, get some 3lbs and start doing curls and lifting above your arms. Do any of these you can: crunches, leg lifts (lie on your side with legs straight and lift the top one as high as you can, do 3 reps of 10 then switch sides), push ups (start against the wall if you need to, or a table or chair), and jumping jacks. With anything, start small and work your way up. You can also get excellent work out plans on youtube! Good luck!

Chewy oatmeal Fruit Bars Recipe #154036 Delicious & chewy granola-like bars with Protein 1 1/2 cups whole-wheat flour 1/2 cup soy flour 2 cups quick-cooking rolled oats 1 1/3 cups brown sugar, packed 1/2 teaspoon salt (optional) 2 tablespoons flax seeds (optional) 1/2 cup oil or butter 1/2 cup applesauce 1 cup apricot preserves or your favorite preserves 1/4 cup nuts (optional) or coconut (optional) Super Skins Recipe #153210 6 baking potatoes, baked 2 tablespoons oil 1 (15 ounce) jar Cheez Whiz, cheese dip heated 1/4 cup bacon bits 1/2 cup sour cream 1/4 cup sliced green onions Cremini Mushrooms Recipe #149546 From Vegetarian Times, November/December 2005. 2 teaspoons olive oil 24 medium cremini mushrooms, stems removed and chopped 7 ounces soy sausage 1/2 cup breadcrumbs 1/2 cup pesto sauce Creamy Onion Canapes Recipe #146874 This is a fantastic hors d’oeuvre! This recipe is from Paula Deen, and she loves mayonnaise. The canapes also taste wonderful topped with a little extra of the cream cheese mixture in place of the mayonnaise. Everyone loved these -- I hope you do! 2 large onions, cut into rings 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 loaf white bread 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese 1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce seasoning salt, to taste black pepper, to taste red pepper flakes, to taste paprika, to taste mayonnaise, to taste

I'm definitely interested in this, too. I have gone vegetarian and vegan a few times in my life. Each time I did, I felt a ton better and the brain fog lifted. Unfortunately, my self-control is lacking. I'm hoping to use the sleeve as a tool to go back to vegetarianism, and eventually veganism.

I'm 9 mths out. I am also vegetarian so my meals are different from most people. I eat Beans, quinoa, seitan, FAGE 0% greek yogurt, and eggs for my Protein. I typically have protien shake that I make with greek yogurt, Protein powder and whatever I have on hand for breakfast. That can be fruit, almond butter, leftover coffee that I freeze into ice cubes, spinach or cacao powder to name just a few. I also eat small amounts for fresh veg, particularly dark green veg since they are the most protein rich. Favorites are broccoli, kale, and spinach. My dinners are are often light; low sodium vegetable broth, vegetable soup or a small salad with egg,a bit of shredded cheese and black beans. I don't eat foods with food dyes or artificial sweeteners since I am allergic to nearly all of them. That means my coffee is usually sweetened with raw honey or sugar. I limit the amount of white, processed carbs and rarely eat breads or crackers. Overall I am mostly eating what I ate pre-op but in much smaller portions. I keep my protein at 70 +. I typically eat Breakfast, lunch, snack & dinner. In between I try to focus on drinking plenty of Water.

I've been a vegan for the past two years. In terms of health and weight loss, it's actually been terrible for me so far.. I don't cook much, and it was always easier for me to find something nutritious and healthy when lean Proteins and dairy were options. Now, a lot of meals consist of french fries and assorted overprocessed crap. Total junk food vegan. No surprise, while most vegans lose weight, I've gained 40 lbs since avoiding meat and dairy. Whoops The thing is, it wasn't a nutritionally-based decision, but a moral one, and staying vegan is important to me. I do know I have to get better about cooking going forward (and stop living off 80 ounces of diet soda per day (not an exaggeration)). But I was wondering if anyone out there is vegan or vegetarian, and if there are particular challenges you faced when banded? I imagine getting enough Protein is just a little bit more of a concern than for non-vegan eaters? I also wonder whether the two diets mesh well together, since the typical healthy vegan diet (not mine) is pretty high volume, with lots of fruits, veggies Beans and rice. And I understand breads are a no-go? I'm really not sure, and just asking about others' experiences/thoughts. Thanks! (As an aside, the search function was really helpful to me a few days ago when I joined the forum, but it doesn't seem to be working for me now. Anyone else having problems with this? Or is there a troubleshooting step I might be missing?)