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Hello, I do not eat any meat, only fish and shellfish, I do eat eggs that are organic and free range only, I have drank soy milk for the past 15 years - I am planning on eating carefully as well in regards to Protein, but I will work around it. Refried Beans (vegetarian for me) are a great idea. I also use a Protein powder that is unflavored and flavored to mix in for my Soups, yogurts, and such - Gold Standard is the name. Good luck :eek:

Rice does have protein--eaten with Beans you get all the amino acids of a so-called "complete protein". It also has a fair amount of carbohydrate, but carbs are essential nutrition as well. A serving of rice and beans is a pretty good source of Protein. To the OP, it's not hard at all to get protein within your current diet. Especially if you eat seafood, it's easy to just increase the seafood you eat each week. But also eggs (if you can tolerate them, some can't), tofu (I eat a lot of vegetarian patties, esp. the Quorn products and other "chicken" like patties that have high protein for relatively few calories), legumes, and some dairy products. I don't eat regular yogurt but Greek yogurt (fage) has a lot of protein in it because it's strained and condensed (and even the fat free is great). And if you eat chicken too, you shouldn't have any trouble with getting enough protein. I consider myself a "fishatarian"--I've been a vegetarian for about 20 years, and started eating fish again about 4 years ago. I have had no trouble getting enough protein in every day. Good luck!

Hey all. I just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Jessica Kolman. I live in Raleigh, North Carolina and I'm 24 years old. I'm 5'3'' and 235lbs. I've struggled with weight loss for a short time, but I feel like I can't do anything. I've done gym memberships and went to the gym at least 6 days a week. I didn't lose much weight at all. I lost maybe 10 pounds and never went below that. I'm a vegetarian and so my eating habbits are very selective but I tried to make them healthy. I even tried the Alli pill but that didn't do much even when I stuck to the plan. I feel helpless and I don't know what else to do. I honestly think that this may be the key. I know that with the Realize Band Surgery that there are going to be risks and downsides, but I'm willing to take the chance. I know that I'm going to not only change my eating style dramatically but work out a lot more as well. I went on the REALIZeBand.com website and I do qualify for the surgery. I plan on attending the seminar in September with my husband. I just hope that my health insurance can cover most if not all of it. I have Blue Cross Blue Shield. I'll keep you posted on what I do.

What is a pescatarian? According to the internet, a pescatarian (or pescetarian) is a person who eats seafood but not other types of meat. Pescatarians are similar to vegetarians, but the difference is that pescatarians eat fish and shellfish in addition to an otherwise vegetarian diet.

And that is why I am a vegetarian, you would be so surprised of all the junk, some I'm sure we aren't even aware of, that are fed to animals.:rolleyes2:

Well let's just say I'm crying in bed. Having my apartment smell like food and watching my mom and get fiancé eat is so tough. Im a vegetarian and those chicken tacos looked so amazinggg sigh /: but I understand that the first couple of weeks will be the toughest. I can't wait to get to my goal but for now I'm just trying to mentally take this all in. Having no one understand what I'm going through is the hardest part right now, other then wanting to eat my whole kitchen. Sigh.

Ta. We're hoping for a vegetarian/vegan spot where people could come and get info on healthy options. Its not that meat is bad or wrong or anything, but I would love to see promoted healthy veggies and fruit so that people can get as much healthy nutrition as possible. Lets face it: in America we get fries and fries and fries thrown at us. chips. Its time to pass on benefits of all types of options that aren't just that. Nuts and avocados are healthy fats and we need those. Nuts are high in Protein. I know my sister is working with her health coach on her problems and she talks about the salmon 3 times a week. She's more than tired of that and I want to see her with other options and different tastes so she doesn't get bored with it. I want the same for people here. There are those who have problems with different types of meat or the like and its more fun to have various options rather than a Protein Drink all the time.

I too had a similar situation well into my first month after surgery not feeling full no throwing up . Things definitely changed when I started solid foods exspecially meat (chicken, beef). Liquids are easier on the body and only stay in the stomach for 15-20 mins where food sits and digests for a bit longer. You will get to know your body and what you can an can't eat, how much and what puts you over the edge. I'm three and a half months out and I am still learning what I can eat. My nutritionist said sometimes you cant tolerate meat till 6 months. So as of right now I am a practicing to be a vegetarian. Sent from my Pixel XL using BariatricPal mobile app

Im a vegetarian, and do eat some eggs and dairy, however I have become lactose intolerant, so the milk product are minimal right now. I like tofu, but its pretty bland out of the box, find good recipes with yummy sauces. I make seitan and this kind of product is high Protein and does fill up the sleeve nicely. It can be done! I don't want to contribute to the meat industry either. There are good ground "beef" products in the refer section in Supermarkets, Soyrizo, dry TVP (texturized vegetable protein) which soaks up great flavor when cooked, You can also get "chicken" powdered broth that can jazz up Soup and such with a chicken flavor. just found this link with some ideas... I have used most of these and they are really good. They are not meat, but close enough for me. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/460945/top_10_vegetarian_meat_substitutes.html?cat=5

My Dr wants me to try to primarily eat my calories too. I don't eat but about 3/4 to 1 cup of food 2 or 3 times a day and being vegetarian, it really is hard to get in the 50plus grams of protein my nutritionist recommends for me plus the Fiber that I need for my IBS without eating too many carbs (still on a diebetic med and occasionally have to take a post-prandial med (after meals). A lot of people are "tight" in the mornings and can't eat so that is an acceptable time (via my Dr) to drink your meal, but otherwise he doesn't recommend it because it can make one more hungry. I'm never hungry and have to remind myself to eat my second meal a lot of the time. I'm older (51) and disabled now (I have a neurodegenerative disorder) and am so happy with the lap-band besides the slip (caused by being ill and vomiting). I was 300 lbs and now I'm below 220lbs in less than 6 months. Very happy indeed. Hoping that I continue to stay that way:) PS : Even totally deflated and on liquids only for over a week, I'm not hungry...

Hi all, I am getting banded in August and am concerned about getting enough protein considering how little I will be able to eat. Could you give me some ideas of what to eat/drink and how many grams you get a day? Thanks!

If you’re keeping up with the news on weight loss, it’s becoming very clear that most efforts at long-term weight loss do not work. This suggests that most of the behavioral changes people attempt to make are unsustainable over the long term. We are also learning that this difficulty has much more to do with a number of biological factors and much less to do with willpower. Recent research on the resting metabolic rate and leptin levels (and other factors) of those who have lost large amounts of weight suggest that the human body fights efforts to keep weight off. It’s as if the body tries everything in its power to put the weight back on! The good news is that you can stop blaming yourself. It’s not you; it’s biology. While these facts are discouraging, it’s not necessarily a lost cause. Perhaps the big takeaway message for those trying to lose weight AND keep it off is this: Do not make changes in your behavior that you are not prepared to maintain for the rest of your life. Notice that I’m focusing on behavior, not losing weight. Consider that you do not actually try to lose weight. You try to change certain behaviors that you believe will eventually lead to weight loss. Weight loss is the desired outcome of a number of changes in behavior, some involving what you eat, some involving how you eat, and others involving your level of activity. It is critical to keep your focus on your behavior, not the scale. That same research also indicates that the body fights efforts to keep weight off for many years after the initial weight loss…maybe even for the rest of your life. You’re going to experience hunger. You are going to have cravings. Your body is going to keep fighting. Therefore, you are going to need to keep fighting. We also know that despite all of this new research, reducing your intake of calories and burning off more of them remain two of the pillars of weight loss success. Your strategy to lose weight and keep it off must incorporate those two factors. With all of this information in mind, you can see why it’s silly to try to discover “the best diet.” First of all, “diets” are short-term interventions that you certainly know by now will not work. Second, we illustrated that whatever behavior changes you make, you would need to keep them going for many, many years. It’s simply not possible for one set of behavior changes to work for everyone. It really comes down to figuring out what the best strategies are for you to reduce your calorie intake and to burn off more of them for many years to come. This is something you should give a great deal of thought. I know its January, but avoid jumping on the first idea that all of your buddies are considering. Now that you have read this article (and others), you probably have a lot more information that they have. Perhaps you can share this information with your friends who also want to lose weight and you can all put your collective heads together and come up with some strategies for one another. I have some suggestions. Consider that you do not have to get it 100% right on day one and you probably should start small and try to build a pattern of success. Try to hit singles, not home runs. For example: If you decide that cutting carbs is going to be one of your strategies, start by trying to cut your carbohydrate intake by 10% for the first few weeks and work your way up to 50% or whatever your long-term goal will be. If you start by going no-carb on day one, I can introduce you to 100’s of people that were back to carbohydrate-rich diets and total weight regain by week four. Similarly, if increasing exercise is one of your goals, consider focusing on the number of days per week that you exercise, not how many calories you burn on the treadmill. Build a pattern of success. Over the weeks, try to increase your time and make it a point to find types of exercise that you enjoy…not necessarily the ones that burn the most calories, but rather the ones you believe that you can stick with over the long-term. Also, consider making changes in your eating behavior rather than just in your diet. In other words, focus on how you eat not just what you eat. If, for example, you consume a great deal of calories by impulsively picking at food throughout the day, a good goal would be to eat only three meals and one snack per day and to avoid eating at other times. Here are some other suggestions: always go to the supermarket with a list and avoid purchasing anything not on the list; keep fruits and vegetables out on the counter for snacking; drink more water especially if you’re not certain if you are hungry or thirsty. You get the idea. If you think about it, you may know all of this already. If you are fortunate to know someone who has lost over 25 pounds and kept it off for many years, I would bet that this person has made some permanent, dramatic changes in his habits. He’s a vegetarian. She exercises five days a week, every week. He doesn’t eat dessert anymore. She doesn’t drink anything with sugar. In other words, she’s not on a diet and it’s not with a short-term goal weight in mind. Her approach to food, eating and activity is fundamentally and permanently changed. That’s the goal. In summary, think long-term. All signs point to the need for a consistent, sustained battle for long-term weight loss success. Take your time and discover some small but significant modifications you can make in your diet, eating behavior and activity level and try to build on them week by week. The ultimate goal is to make changes that can last year after year. Now that’s a winning New Year’s resolution.

Hey!! I'm planning on getting the band in the next 8 months or so.. I'm "somewhat" of a vegetarian. I only eat chicken that is boneless and skinless. Other then that I don't eat any other meat including any fish. I'm a very very picky eater. I plan on making sure I do get my Protein in post lap band surgery though.. good luck:rolleyes::biggrin:

For those who can access yahoo groups, I've come across for specifically for people who have had WLS and are or are considering being vegetarian/vegan. [/url] vegetarianbandster : Vegetarian Bandsters WLSVeggies : WLSVeggies veg-wls : Vegetarian Weight loss surgery If you can't access the groups, don't worry. I will join them and I will share here what information I find out. Michelle

I haven't been banded, yet. However I am a vegetarian and asked my doc about post-op issues. They just told me to stay away from string stuff like pineapple chunks, asparagus(sp), ect. I eat veggie burgers. My hubs is not a vegetarian and not too fond of veggie burgers. However, if I put a sunnyside egg on it, he loves it. The runny yolk might help it go down better. Just a thought. Good luck! Kristine

what's on ur menu? just wondering if a vegan or vegetarian menu is healthy with a lapband.

B12 can only be found in animal meat Proteins. Vegetarians, vegans, and anyone else not eating animal muscles will become deficient in B12. That's why you should take it. Sublinguals are the tastiest option. Calcium because you won't absorb it the same way and you may become deficient unless you're drinking enough milk. I personally never drink mill so a supplement is required. But make sure it's calcium citrate (different stomach receptors). Iron may also be required for women. B1 is often recommended for the first six months as you won't eat enough to get it naturally. Biotin will strengthen your hair and nails. Vitamin D is also highly recommended as few people get enough. You'll be taking a multi, B12 (unless you eat a lot of meat), calcium, and iron the rest of your life so find one's you like. AmericaRx.com and VitaminShoppe.com have great sublingual and chewable selections.

There are grocery stores about anywhere there is town (well, except for a resort I went in Wisconsin on a business training week - the nearest grocery was like twenty miles away). Use your Google head to locate grocery stores along the path you are traveling. Last year (pre-op) I took a three day trip with my daughter. She is a vegetarian. If we stopped at McDonalds, we both got salads and I had chicken with mine. Yes, I had a few of her fries and did not feel bad about. We got Thai takeout, and she got her usual noodley something and I got a dish that was mostly veggies. We ate a small family restaurant and she got a Portobello mushroom salad, and I got a grilled Portobello sandwich. We took Snacks in a cooler: cheese, fruits, coconut Water, plain water, etc. We also packed dry snacks like Protein bars, Peanut Butter crackers, and nuts. Your best advantage will be to plan ahead, so that you can have some control. You might be able to eat similar to what she eats with modification to suit your post-op concerns. Also, if you can anticipate what places you might be stopping, plan your eating around what they offer, supplemented with the O K goodies you bring. And if you have a couple of fries, who cares. Relax and enjoy your trip!

hi ladies! how is everyone? ok here. battling some food demons. i haven't been bad, still keeping to the foods on my list, i am on the start of my 4th week out. BUT I am a little bit more hungry, so instead of eating 4 oz I am putting in about 8 oz. It is all healthy foods, vegetarian, but i feel so guilty, AND I have not lost anymore weight from the 15 pounds. I am so confused, when do I weigh myself? in the morning when I get up? without clothes? with pajamas? naked? Oh goodness, I am going crazy!!! Oh, and if anyone in NJ is interested, my dr's office is having their support group October 1, 7 p.m. in Plainsboro, NJ. email if you need directions.

Thank you. I am 5"5 Start weight 255lbs 35 years old/ female I am currently eating eggs, vegetarian protein sausages, soups; home made chicken soups with chicken and vegetables, diluted juices; Apple juices and pineapple . I can't swallow chicken, as it feels bad going down but I chew it and swallow the juices and spit the rest out. ( excuse the grim details) Happy for any suggestions. Thanks. Exercise, I am walking only at the moment.

So my RN says that Quinoa, Legumes and Beans are all carbs, but as a vegetarian, I know Quinoa is a complete Protein. I waited until I was finished with the pureed food before I introduced Quinoa or beans. I also eat a lot of veggie, fruit and Protein powder smoothies. Lastly, as an emergency, i love the Quest Protein Bars....20 grams of protein, low carb, gluten free and delicious. During the pureed phase, I made a lot of homemade Soups and just added protein powder, Remember to add protein powder when Soup is cold, then slowly re-heat to avoid the lumps. I also made Dahl (Mung Beans),,,lots of protein and blended as a soup, Hope this helps, but would love to hear your suggestions too!

PS--this is pretty similar to what I ate at your stage. I also did some mushies like refried beans with cheese and added unflavored protein powder to soups (cooled down a bit to avoid clumping), sugar-free hot chocolate, or Greek yogurt (more palatable to add half a scoop to that much Greek yogurt). You could try ricotta cheese too and I did vegetarian meatballs by Morningstar mushed up in the ricotta with a little marinara. At 3-4 weeks I could only eat 2 to 2.5 meatballs and now I can eat 4 or 5. Your stomach is still very swollen. I didn't feel like mine was normal (new normal) until about 4 months out.

I mocked up a vegetarian day and I see how one can do it, if anyone else is trying to find an answer.

I’m on my 4th month post surgery and I’m vegetarian now. I can’t digest much without getting really sick or throwing up. I can eat: string cheese, soy protein snacks I order online, cucumbers, lactose free cottage cheese with berries, pistachios (100cal) and basic protein shakes. that’s about it!! I order my expensive soy protein items online and they are just fine. Low Carb, calorie. Pasta, pretzels, snacks. I was able to eat ground turkey for a while but can’t anymore and cannot digest anything else. I’ve tried.. I won’t go near heavy carbs though as I’m in the 180’s now and my weight does stall often even with gym all the time...

I have eaten lacto/ovo vegetarian through out my whole sleeve experience. I am moving a little bit towards Vegan meal by meal.My advice is get enough protein while you are losing. Eating dairy and eggs help a LOT in getting to this goal. I became milk intolerant the first three months after my surgery so went without at that time. You can use whey if you are milk intolerant. If you do not get enough protein while losing, the loss will come from muscle hair and organs... don't want that! I eat/ate soy, gluten, beans, cheese/yog/cottage cheese...whey, nuts and seeds...I missed veggies,(no room) but started making veg soup and getting them in that way. Could not eat raw for quite a few months. I fully support vegetarian and vegan lifestyle, but you need to eat protein for the first year or so.