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2 packages lean ground turkey (3 grams fat or so) 2 cans vegetarian refried Beans (0 fat grams) 1 block of spinach 1 taco seasoning mix package 1/2 of 8oz can of tomato sauce seasonings as you like microwave the spinach for 3 minutes or so. brown the ground turkey. break it up really well into taco meat mush. don't drain. add everything to the ground turkey and stir well. let simmer for about 20 - 30 minutes. this makes lots of servings, and it is pure Protein and veggies. so, so tasty. let us know if you try it!! ETA: Mpvo8961, we were thinking the same.

Thank you. I'm not vegetarian or vegan, I just get sick from whey proteins specifically. I can have milk/yogurt/etc totally fine... but when it's a whey shake... super nauseous. I use soy protein shakes. I've found a few things off the bariatricpal site that I've ordered, like the lentil curry and the sloppy joe mix. I did order the oatmeal, which I believe is whey, but sometime it's hit or miss so I'm going to give it a shot!

My mom is like that too. I just stand there and look at her until she remembers. She is always worried i haven't eaten or something and is always pushing food on me. Happens any time im on any diet or "way of life" change. I'll say im becoming vegetarian and come home to smothered pork chops or a whole ham or some delicious meat that i love. I dont know that it's completely to derail me but it certainly is conveniently timed ???? Sent from my SM-G925T using the BariatricPal App

Hi all: One of our fellow Bandsters, called me yesterday excited about an awesome and informative show on "The View" yesterday. There was some excellent information and the featured guest was Joy Bauer, who wrote several cookbooks and nutrition books, the latest being "Cooking with Joy". Read below what the show was about! She said it was EXCELLENT and wished she had taped it!!! Maybe we can catch the re-run. ******************************************* The View Tue., Aug. 16: "Weight Loss" special Tuesday, August 16th (Originally aired 6/20/05) Today's show was all about getting in shape! Since recent studies have expressed that eating dairy may actually help you lose weight, we recruited nutritionist Joy Bauer to explain exactly what that entails as well as to disclose other foods that also vow to assist in shedding those extra pounds. Below you will find a brief description of the topics discussed on this morning's program. For more nutritional advice, pick up a copy of Joy's latest book Cooking with Joy. This publication is now available through the ABC TV Store. Fiber Insoluble fiber takes a longer time to chew and provides volume to food without adding a lot of calories. All-Bran Cereal Low-Carb Bread Wheat Bran Soluble fiber helps to stabilize blood sugar levels, which ward off hunger and cravings. Strawberries Apples Pears Steel-cut oats oatmeal Chickpeas Black Beans JUICY FOODS Fruits and vegetables with a high Water content "built in" helps to fill you up resulting in eating less collectively throughout the day. Drinking straight water separately does not have the same effect since it leaves the stomach more rapidly. Watermelon Lettuce Tomatoes Cucumbers Mushrooms Grapefruit Cantaloupe LEAN Proteins Lean proteins can slightly rev up your metabolism after ingestion. To calculate your daily personal requirements, multiply .50 x your body weight in pounds to find out how many grams your intake should be. chicken breast Canned light tuna Shrimp cocktail Turkey breast Tofu Turkey burgers DAIRY There is some evidence that ample dairy can help promote weight loss. Stick with low-fat or non-fat sources and reap the other benefits from Calcium as well, bone health, colon protection, alleviate menstrual cramps and help manage blood pressure. Non-fat yogurt Part skim string cheese Skim milk Low-fat or fat-free cottage cheese Low-fat or fat-free cheese SPICY FOODS Capsaicin has been shown to increase fat oxidation. However, studies have yet to prove that hot spice can promote weight loss. On the other hand, studies have reported that people are often satisfied with less food when the meal is spicy hot. Plus, you automatically eat slower and drink more water. Chili peppers, jalapenos Habaneros Hot salsa Spicy vegetarian chili Stir-fry veggies with chili peppers DIET SODA A study from The University of Texas has shown that people who drink diet soda are more likely to become obese because they are over compensating and give themselves permission to eat high caloric foods. Bottom line is you must be accountable for the calories you intake and drink water! Next, Jorge Cruise, weight loss expert and author of The 3-Hour Diet, showed us how the things we do in our daily routines, such as brushing your teeth and going to the mall, can actually burn calories and help us lose weight. Below you will find a brief description of the topics discussed on this morning's program. For details on how to set your metabolism in motion and for a free weight-loss profile ($40 value), please visit 3hourdiet.net. Furthermore, The 3-Hour Diet is now available through the ABC TV Store. The Ultimate Calorie Countdown Brushing Your Teeth 2x a day = 46 calories = 322 calories per week Getting Dressed 10 minutes of extreme activity = 100 calories maximum a day = 700 calories per week Pushing a Stroller Working with the stroller (i.e., opening, closing, picking up the baby) 3x a week for an hour = 1,800 calories per week Sitting and Eating If you eat 400 calories of food per meal you will burn 100 calories from chewing and digesting, 3 meals (at 400 calories each) and two Snacks (at 200 calories each) per day = 2,800 calories per week HOUSEHOLD CHORES Vacuuming 3x a week for 10 minutes sessions = 300 calories per week Doing Laundry Vigorous activity once a week = 600 calories per week Cleaning House Deep cleaning for an hour once a week = 600 calories per week Grocery Shopping Vigorous activity for an hour once a week = 600 calories per week THINGS YOU DO FOR FUN Playing with your Kids 3x a week for 30 minutes intervals = 1,400 calories per week Sex 2x a week for 10 minutes = 200 calories per week Shopping at the Mall Actively moving around the mall once a week = 400 calories per week THINGS YOU DO FOR EXERCISE Swimming Biking Jumping Rope Running Pilates or Yoga Weight Training Each individual activity 3x a week at 30 minute intervals = 900 calories per week Then we met two women, who each lost more than 130 pounds through weight loss surgery, who felt that while the physical results were what they expected the emotional results put a whole new weight on their shoulders.

Need advice from people who have traveled to foreign countries soon after surgery. I Will be almost 2 months postop by then (i leave the end of this month). I'm worried about getting my protein in, thinking about bringing a ton of protein bars? Thought about bringing a tub of unjury to mix with bottled water, just worried about being on the go constantly and not being able to get my nutrients in. Plus im a vegetarian so that limits me more in terms of eating out locally. While in Thailand I will be in Bangkok, then flying to Chiang Mai in the north, flying to a southern province then I will fly back to Bangkok.

Ocean, to answer your questions: I was sleeved April 17, 2014 I was sleeved by Dr Byars in Oxford, MS I work out at least 3 times a week (at least 5 miles cardio and tennis) My diet is about 80% liquid and 20% solid food- protein shakes, sugar free Gatorade, a lot of water... My food rule is "if it has feet, I don't eat" - all animal protein is hard for me, with fish being the only exception. I am an accidental vegetarian- with a fish exception.

I appreciate where you are coming from and I know your intentions are good. For the record I agree that eating red meat CAN increase chances of many health issues. Or if you want to be picky, things like choline, excess Iron and saturated fat. The WCRF (World Cancer Research Fund) recommends no more than 17.6 oz. of red meat per week to avoid these issues. BTW, note that all of these questionable substances are also found in many other foods including vegetarian sources. My point is simply that for me, the risk is worth it. EVERYTHING in excess has risks. Eat too much Tofu? Cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's, thyroid dysfunction. You seem to be extremely health focused and risk-averse, which is commendable. I indulge in a wide variety of risky activities, from eating medium-rare pork to racing cars to riding motorcycles to eating unidentifiable street food in third world countries to the occasional cigar, bourbon or recreational herbal inhalant, lol. I'm OK with that. I'm physically and psychologically in the best health of my life right now despite all of the above. All of these risks are completely dwarfed by the damage overeating was doing to me. I guess I'm saying that for me life is more about quality than quantity. Anyway, more power to you and I sincerely respect the disciplined way you approach the betterment of your health. You are doing a good thing by raising all of these alarms. People should at least look into these things and decide for themselves. I concede that you are doing it the "right" way and I encourage readers to strive to match the standard you have set. It's just not for me. :tongue:

Being only 10 days post op, I'm still on liquids. I am so tired of sweet stuff already. I'm more of a salty spicy person. Been doing some research, and found a few savory protein items. I've already ordered them, and let my kids be the testers. I ordered Tanka Bites, and Journey Bars. The Tanka bites made with buffalo come in several flavors. My oldest daughter loved the buffalo, with cranberry, orange and apple. It's kind of like beef jerky, but they use ground buffalo so it was softer than beef jerky. The journey bars come in five flavors, sea salt, rosemary, curry coconut, pizza marinara, and sesame ginger. My youngest daughter, who is vegetarian loves these, and has asked me to send boxes to her at college.

My pre-op diet is high protein, low carb. I have a kidney disorder and didn't want to eat an over abundance of animal protein as it is hard on my kidneys. So, I try to get in as much soy protein as possible. Instead of whey protein powder, I got a soy protein powder that I mix with lite, low carb soy milk. There are many very good meat alternatives if you look for them. One of my favorites is Melissa's soy chorizo which I find with the fresh veggies at my local store. I know most people cringe at the thought of soy anything. Especially since most people think tofu. It's not that bad and you get used to it. When I found out about my kidneys I bought several vegetarian cookbooks. There are many creative ways to eat soy protein. I never would have thought that I would eat it, much less like it. We've always been huge meat eaters. Don't get me wrong, I still love my animal protein, I just try to eat less of it than I used to. So anyway, if you are worried about your kidneys you might want to try it. It's still protein, but is easier on the kidneys. That's my two cents. Good luck!

Ok, this is going to seem like a stupid question. In fact, I know it is. I hate meat. I was a vegetarian for 2 years and didn't even miss meat at all. Then I developed anemia so my dr told me to eat steak. So I ate meat, in limited amounts. When I never ate meat I never even thought about Protein. In fact, I begin to wonder if I was getting any at all. Now I am a bandster and I am told that protein is very essential for us. For someone who ate very little protein to begin with, what is the difference now that I have a band? Is protein needed to lose weight? Or just to be sure that my hair doesn't fall out? Please don't think I'm a dummy!! :cheeky I never took any nutrition classes in college so all I know is that bodybuilders need lots of protein. Thanks!!

I am a vegetarian, and that makes it a little harder to restrict carbs, but I defiantly lose weight better on a low glycemic index plan, like Southbeach... where the carbs are lower and I can avoid insulin spiking. Really, it reduces my cravings noticeably and this helps a lot to continue eating the right amount for the right reasons.

Hormones are stored in fat and as your body burns the fat these hormones are released into you're system causing hormone related issues like acne and being emotional. It happens mostly in the first few months when you experience rapid weight loss. It will last a few weeks and will ease up gradually before ending. I had acne for about 4-6 weeks starting about one month out but ending before three months out. Also, it is common for RNY patients to become lactose intolerant, either suddenly or gradually. It could be permanent or not. Do as your doctor says. It may be temporary. Good protein sources are eggs, seafood, Beans (refried, black, kidney, etc), Protein shakes (some can be made w/water and some with soy or almond milk). Try a protein that is not whey-based. I know there is one that is powdered egg whites, and others are available. If you have access to a nutritionist through your doctor you can ask them for suggestions. Or search this site - I've read of others who are vegetarian one/or lactose intolerant who would have some helpful suggestions for you. Good luck!

So I had my first meeting yesterday and I thought I would write out what happened and what my timeline looks like for those looking at what to expect. This is my experience of course and will, I am sure, vary depending on your doctor and insurance. My Stats: Name: Cari Age: 32 BMI: 54 Doctor: Alan Schuricht , Pennsylvania Hospital, Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program Insurance: Amerihealth NJ PPO I went to the information session on Sat 6/18/2016 at Penn Presbyterian Hospital. The following Monday I called the bariatric center and asked for an appointment with Dr. Schuricht (my SIL had her surgery with him so I decided to use him) My first appointment was Tuesday 6/21/2016 The intake nurse: Took my Blood Pressure (147/77) Height 5'9" Weight 369.9 Last Menstrual cycle date asked about any current conditions, medication, pain etc (no conditions) I was then moved to the exam room where I met a nurse practitioner. She took: A detailed family medical history A detailed personal medical history Explained who my team was and what they would all do for me Then she gave me a print out of all the appointments I would have to make and explained what each were and what the requirements were for my insurance (however she wasn't 100% sure and the coordinator would later explain it to me more clearly) Then the Surgeon came in I met with Dr. Schuricht He asked: What surgery I wanted and why He agreed that he thought I was a good candidate for sleeve He then talked to me about how I should expect things to go and what the expectations were for my efforts. He told me he could only help me and I had to want it and said the key to success was follow through and follow ups. Then the nutritionist came in She took A detailed dietary history (what i'd done to loose weight and how successful I was) She asked me about my medical history again and dietary restrictions (i'm a vegetarian) She went over what I was expected to do over the 3 months of managed weight loss (I don't have to loose but I can't gain) She explained how I could start preparing my body for after surgery: Get into the habit of eating several small meals a day Get more Water We set some goals for our next visit 10 mins of walking a day 3 meals a day at least Smaller portions Then I met with the coordinator and she scheduled my visits and explained my insurance requirements including 3 nut visits (this one counted as the first then 2 more 30 days apart), a a Psych eval, 1 support group meeting. She also explained their requirements as a surgical center. My dates are as follows: July 22nd 7:45am Upper GI contrast scan 10:00 2nd nutritionist visit August 5th 10am Psych evaluation 1pm Cardiac Clearance August 19th 9:30am 3rd and final nutritionist visit 10:45am Respiratory and pulmonary clearance. Then somewhere in there I have to go to one support group meeting and a nutrition class 2 weeks before the surgery once I have that date. So there you have it a snap shot at a first visit and the reqs through amerihealth.

It may be the quality of the food you are eating. If you aren't doing Protein Shakes how are you getting your protein in? I would have a sit down with your nutritionist. My guess is the 2 ounces of food included protein shakes and the reason you are getting weak is because you are skipping that. You need a plan to make up for that lack of nourishment. Personally I found that early on I needed at least 3 meals and 1 snack. It was also helpful for me to brainstorm with my NUT on ways to work around my vegetarianism and food allergies.

Hey, Chickie, I saw on another post you have PCOS and have converted to vegetarianism. I too have PCOS, but my doctor has never given me any medication for it. What have you done through the years that has helped you? I know Atkins has been the only thing that's worked for me in the past. Are you happy with your band? I'm worried that with PCOS that even the band isn't going to help. Linda

Hey Fam, Officially surpassed fifty pounds lost year over year (386.2 to 335.0) on my own today. On Thursday (6/23) I was approved for VSG, and over the past month, have lost over 10 pounds in 25 days. I've cut out most dairy and am seriously limiting bread products. Am drinking Soylents 2x per day; cut back on fast food significantly, and once per day am eating a heavier meal. In addition to dairy, have largely tried to limit refined carbohydrates. Obviously, caloric intake has been cut back but not substantially, and the last three days I've had (1) huge burrito per day (two carnitas and guacamole Th-Fri, one vegetarian today)—and if you know what South San Diego burritos are like, they weigh at least 2 pounds on their own and can't be less than 800 calories. I drink loads of Water (80-100oz), and snack on fruit as the norm. Have any of you experience higher levels of weight loss with higher consumption? The biggest things I've cut have been (aside from the TORTILLAS THE LAST THREE DAYS haha) would essentially be gluten, and all dairy, with complete nutrition in the Soylents, and high fat/protein/fiber. Note: very active morbidly obese body—I run, do yoga daily, surf, swim, and dance daily. This probably is a loaded question since all bodies vary. If my clothes weren't loosening and the scale mirror weren't reflecting the loss both at home and in the clinic, I'd be arguing with this too. All love, let me know your thoughts. Have to update everything already (), but this is a mirror selfie, 335.0 from a few minutes ago. On my way to buy dark chocolate covered bananas from the market as a treat with the produce run! Talk soon. —K Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

What exactly do you plan to use them for? I personally have no issues with homeopathy. My favorite nutritionist was a homeopath as well. Perhaps I am in the minority because I had no issues recovering post op. My doctor already had me on a regimen of Vitamins and supplements and I honestly didn't feel a need for additional ones. If you want less "cluttered" so to speak Protein supplements you can get both whey isolates or soy isolates in powder form to use instead. I am a vegetarian and I use Isopure naked whey. I can add that to my morning tea or coffee, greek yogurt, or vegetable broth/soup. I'm not familiar with most of the supplements you have listed. (Arnica, Belle Perenis, Calendula, Gota Kola extract, and Staphisagria). What are they for? I get the rest of my vitamins from my multi-Vitamin. So far my bloodwork has been perfectly fine. I notice you are in PA. I'm in Philly. Where are you and where are you having your surgery done?

I was wondering what my fellow veggies are eating post-op, are getting enough Protein and how your weight loss is going? I had my op on 26th April 2012 and so am a day shy of being 2 weeks post-op. I am due to go on a normal and varied diet as of around week 6. I eat diary, although too much disagrees with me - goes right through me, if you see what I mean?! I am intending to get my protein from Quorn products, TVP, lentils, pulses, Beans and eggs, cheese, greek yogurt etc. Any ideas or words of wisdom from those further out?

I actually look healthier than my non banded peers. I am athletic, and strong with thick hair, clear skin and bright eyes. I put that down to my vegetarian diet and exercise. I look after myself better than the majority of the population.

So, about me. I'll be 39 in a few months. I'm 5'1 and 213lbs naked first thing in the morning, lol. BMI is right at 40. I have GERD (no hiatal hernia according to GI series done almost two decades ago) that I have to take nexium for or I'm in agony. My teeth are all messed up from the reflux (we assume that is what the issue is....no cavities until after I had my first kid and the reflux got bad, then 7 in one visit, since then multiple issues, etc). My feet hurt when I exercise. They cramp up worse than labor pains almost. I've had bouts of plantar fasciitis that flare up if I exercise too heavily, and I wear special shoes to keeep it at bay. My last labwork was about a year and 20lb or so ago, at the time I was blessedly still healthy on paper, ideal blood sugar and ideal cholesterol/trigs. (bad cholesterol was actually below normal, as were trigs). I eat healthy food, I just eat way too much of it. But I can't see how I can keep this up...if I keep gaining weight I'm GOING to end up diabetic, if nothing else. The scariest thing is that my father and his twin and his father all had heart attacks in their 40's. That terrifies me. He also has diabetes now, barely controlled even with meds. And his mom (who I look just like) had type 2 diabetes as well. And was also morbidly obese and often super obese. She was a a tough, strong willed lady. That she couldn't win the battle with food shows me just how hard it is. If it was just "will power" she'd have been thin. I've lost weight before, 70lbs once, but it always comes back, with more. Lately I lose 10 and gain 15 or 20. I started researching diets to see what has the best long term results and the answer is, none. None do. Nonehave good long term results. Then I looked at medication. But dear lord, most have horrid side effects and people only lose about 5% of their body weight! Which led me to the idea of surgery. I could put it off, I'm not that "sick" yet. But then I think, won't I heal better if I'm NOT sick? And if I wait until I have diabetes, won't that mean I end up with some permanent damage to my body? So maybe I should just do it. I have zero confidence anything else will work. I've been dieting since Jr high at least, and if something was going to work long term I think I would have found it by now. I've done Atkins, Paleo, WW, Vegetarian, Vegan, Jenny Craig, etc. I'm running out of diets. Anyway, I started out thinking lap band, because it isn't permanent and is the least extreme. But I'm reading conflicting things about it and GERD/acid reflux. And stuff about esophogeal issues. I've had esophogeal spasms in the past and they SUCK. That feeling of nothing going down, and basically foaming to get the slime out of my throat that won't pass. Lap band seems like it will cause that in a lot of people, and that sucks. Also, the results long term seem iffy.....at best. 25% don't lose the weight? Gastric sleeve seems like a good safe option, and reduces grehlin, so that sounds awesome. I see a lot of people with great results. But research tells me it isn't a good choice for people with GERD. That leaves bypass. I went into this thinking, well, I won't do bypass. That's too extreme. But, it's the best option for GERD from what I'm reading. In fact, doctors that treat GERD patients are telling their patients to have bypass instead of reflux surgery, because it's a better cure. So that seems like the best option. But...it scares the crud out of me. Honestly, I got weirded out the first time I had a filling....the idea of my body being modified freaks me out a bit. But, i got over the fillings, and I assume I'd get over this. Any thoughts? Also, there are a few places near me that do this. Two hospitals claim to be centers of excellence, but when I look them up they are not listed? And if they both really are, how do I choose between them? One seems to have a better program in place, I think, but that's judging from a website. Complicating things is my hsuband's fear of me doing this. His mother died from surgical complications a few years ago...after a back surgery her bowl ruptured. Now, she was in poor health anyway, a pill addict, had diverticulitis, etc that no one knew. But still. Also, she had bypass a long time ago, and she was an awful person who made awful decisions a lot of the time. Generally, we never do the same things she did, so this is a bit weird to him. But we can get past that, and he's supportive of me doing what I need to do. Just scared. Edited to ask: if you did Laproscopic Roux en Y, how many nights were you in the hospital? I've never been away from my 2 yr old before, overnight. Or my 5 yr old, but she'd be fine. I know my local hospital uses the Davinci robot which shortens hosptial stay, but I don't know what that means. I'm hoping for only one night, if at all possible.

Sometimes our tummies decide to go vegetarian, at least for a while. That might be what has happened...

I lived in Japan for a year. People in Japan have the second longest longevity in the world, right after Monaco (Mediterranean). Both the Japanese diet and Mediterranean diet are high in complex carbs and much lower in protein than the American diet. They eat carbs and veggies...and live to be an average of 85 and 89, respectively. I follow a semi-vegetarian lowfat diet because I feel better, my cholesterol is perfect on it, and I want to be healthy and active like a old Japanese lady:) Japan has one of the lowest cancer rates among developed nations, too. And one of the lowest rates of cardiovascular disease.

I have one afterthought... The dietitian at the bariatric practice that sleeved me also included bread and crackers on the list of approved foods I was given. However, just because we're allowed to eat a certain food doesn't necessarily mean we should. I didn't touch bread until after reaching my goal weight. The sooner you eat animal-based proteins such as chicken and fish, the faster you'll start losing. Meats have an extremely high thermic effect, meaning your body must expend a tremendous amount of energy in the form of calories to burn them off during digestion. If you are a vegetarian, this is going to be a potential problem and you will need to be ultra diligent finding tolerable non-meat sources of protein (e.g. beans, flatbread, cottage cheese, eggs) to torch the metabolic fire.

I saw your other note about the book, all I can say is "good luck!", lol. You know that's something that was brought up by her on-call surgeon and I suppose that may have contributed to it or it's the circle thing where you have a hard time getting stuff down and eat the softer stuff, so I'm not totally positive if we can find out the exact reasoning behind it. I posted it on the forum you are on to see how common it was. She's a partial vegetarian but has started eating fish/seafood and that's pretty soft too. So she doesn't eat any red meat or poultry. I wonder if that has anything to do with it? She was never a big Protein drink person though and really needs to supplement more. Who knows, I do know that I could tell a long time ago that things were not just right, mother's instinct, but convincing doctors/PA to do something is a whole other ballgame sometimes. Same surgeon team but felt like was being blown off at times. Up to last week she was eating cooked veggies and baked fish or tuna from the pouch but has always had a hard time with her supplements and meds. Since I have the lap band it's sometimes hard to relate as it's almost night and day when it comes to a lot of our issues. I was concerned because the doctor's office would say she's doing well because she'd lost so much weight but I was like, "hey, she's really not thriving like she should be" you know and they weren't getting it. The last time I spoke to the surgeon at the hospital yesterday he even said that her weight loss was too fast for her, she's six feet tall and started at almost 360 lbs and is under 260 lbs and her surgery was 5/27. She can start soft foods again tomorrow and hopefully build up to solids again but I feel better knowing they're going to do another endoscopy just to be on the safe side to stretch the opening even though they are not fun as you are awake! Anyway thanks and I'm glad things are going well for you and I do think you're right about getting in the solids that may have kept you from having this problem. I have to go to your forum when I have issues with her and everyone is so nice and helpful. I wish you the best and good health take care, Nancy.:tt2:

Disagree. I got in all my protein and still lost gobs of hair. Happened with WWs, happened with Jenny, happened with the sleeve. The only time I didn't lost a ton of hair was when I did Atkins, no carb, high fat. And the only way one can keep high protein and low cals is with turkey, chicken or fish? Tell that to all the vegetarian sleevers out there who are successful.