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I just made vegetarian chili. I use the fantastic food mix...but I first take chopped up onions, peppers, squash, and zucchini...throw em in a frying pan with some e.v.o.l. to brown and soften. then I put it in my crock pot for a couple of hours. Sometimes I will add some greek yogurt to it for a creamier taste. I have found myself adding greek yogurt to pretty much everything.

Do you make chili in your neck of the woods? If you do a search for vegetarian chili, or meatless chili you will get some good suggestions. I wish you luck, oh excuse me, I must go reheat my filet mignon leftover from yesterday, LOL!!!! Mimi

I am not sure what he means by only eat animal Protein? you are going to need vegetables and other nutrients from food besides animal protein. I would imagine he is saying those who eat animal protein are most successful because unlike Protein shakes, it takes longer to digest and sits longer in your stoma, so you will feel full longer. But unlike vegetarian protein options (tofu, quinoa) animal products have fewer carbs. So i would suggest eating what you like, but definitely try to minimize your carbs. I have had the best luck losing weight when I around 100 g of carbs a day. really no matter the calorie intake for me (I can range from 1,200 to 2,500 in a day and still lose weight if i'm watching my carbs). Also, animal products will have more diverse Proteins, so you will have more of what your body is craving as nutrients satisfied. if you would rather get proteins from peanuts or vegetarian sources, just look at the carbs and account for them in the rest of your food choices, and make sure you are looking up how to get all the essential amino acids in your diet so you don't have hunger from not getting the right nutrients.

Today was a non-fast day (following a fast day) but oddly, I wasn't hungry until about 4 p.m. I just ate a small ramekin of vegetarian chili. Wondering if today will be my second fast day for the week (Mosley, the author of the 5:2 plan says it does not matter if your 2 fast days are 2 days in a row or spaced apart--he does usually do his on Monday and Thursday though). I think it's important not to go crazy with empty calories like wine/alcohol and carbs on the non-fast days. Excited to see where this goes!! :)

I think low carb is interesting, as well. I have tried to go very low carb (from 60 g a day to 20-40 g a day), but since I eat a lot of vegetarian Protein and dairy, I just couldn't get that low. I don't eat bread or Pasta or rice, etc. but Beans, nuts and dairy have carbs (also lots of fiber). That's just me, though. Still, 60g a day of carbs is not bad. I think there is a lot of really interesting new research on relatively high fat diets, too, like half your calories from fats, while keeping carbs low. Again, been trying to go that route, but even though I don't watch my fats at all, I rarely eat more than 35 g of fat a day. Higher fats increase satiety and healthy fats are not bad for your heart or cholesterol, and can even improve it. At this point, I would say I am relatively Low Carb. Low Carb is a very sustainable way to eat, pretty easy to do, and one I plan to keep up with after my weight loss phase. I spent a lot of years addicted to carbs (bread especially) and I just don't want to go back to that.

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

OK, I'm too lazy to deal with powders but I am vegetarian so protein is critical. I start every day with a Premier Protein drink from Cosco...choc or vanilla. 30 grams of protein and 160 cals!

It's been so long since i've made a post. Im almost 6 years post op, and about a year ago i decided to get into powerlifting. i've gotten some gains, muscles AND fat. now im trying to lose the fat, and keep the muscle. i also dont eat a ton of meat. in fact, i prefer not to. i know one person who started bodybuilding after wls, however they eat meat. They also told me that they take in a lot of calories. is there anyone else here who powerlifts and understand my dilemma? i feel like i have to go back to the very basics and watch every single thing that i eat. that is so annoying and time consuming.

I'm not vegetarian or vegan but I'm not a fan of meat/chicken/fish etc. I've been making soups with lots of beans and protein powder that you can stir in. You can also get sugar free waters with added protein to boost it. Only problem would be dairy intake. Good luck! Sent from my LG-H850 using BariatricPal mobile app

I finally broke my several week long plateau! I will eventually break down and splurge on the Wii Fit for the scale(it's supposed to have the most accurate scale on the market, and check your BMI and fitness age-- not to mention, it's fun!!), but according to my $7 Taylor non-digital scale, I've lost 5lbs since I last weighed myself two weeks ago. I know it doesn't seem like much, but it feels great to know that I'm doing this the right way! I've been fluctuating a lot and having some ups and downs since I last saw the doc. My last fill was in November '08, which put me up to 8cc's in the 10cc band. I'm starting to get used to it now, and food isn't getting "stuck" as much. It leads me to believe that I'm losing restriction in the band and need to get another fill. I have an appointment to see my surgeon next month for a check up. I get a little anxious every time I see my surgeon, and I don't feel like I've lost enough weight. I know it's just a mental thing and I need to get over it, and remember that I'm doing this for myself. I'm glad that I'm finally getting into a routine that works for me. I'm getting in plenty of exercise now-- I'm hitting the gym 3 times a week, getting in some outdoor activity, and going to yoga on the weekends. I feel like a different person. What I really want to do is look into joining a sports team, or find a running/biking buddy, or just joining SOMETHING where I do FUN activities with others, so I'll get out and do them more often. I'm thinking about joining a Nia class or signing up for the upcoming Houston Aids Walkathon. I'm practically living off of protein shakes and salads now. I really enjoy my trips to the local farmers market. It's all part of my plan to eat healthy, minimally processed, "clean" foods. I am eating whole foods, lots of vegetables, and cooking all of my meals from scratch to avoid preservatives and excess salt/sugar. Eventually, I'd like to stop supplementing with protein shakes, but for now, I feel like I need the added boost they give me. I went from barely eating anything because it was uncomfortable, to eating 5 small meals a day to help fuel my metabolism. I think that my plateau was due to the fact that I wasn't eating enough good calories. I've been reading a lot about the science behind weight loss, and now I'm feeling on track. Also, I've been reading a book by author Michael Pollan entitled "In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto" that has really changed my perspective on what I put into my body. Here's an excerpt from the book for a little insight into what it's really about: “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants. That, more or less, is the short answer to the supposedly incredibly complicated and confusing question of what we humans should eat in order to be maximally healthy. We are entering a postindustrial era of food; for the first time in a generation it is possible to leave behind the Western diet without having also to leave behind civilization. And the more eaters who vote with their forks for a different kind of food, the more commonplace and accessible such food will become. This is an eater’s manifesto, an invitation to join the movement that is renovating our food system in the name of health—health in the very broadest sense of that word.” Pretty good read, in my opinion. Some people call him a "stealth vegetarian". I don't necessarily agree, but then again, I've always loved eating my veggies so maybe I just don't see it. Just pick it up, and give it a read, decide for yourself... He also wrote another book called the Omnivore's Dilemma, which I haven't read yet, but is supposed to be very good.

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'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 vegetarian and never once had an issue with constipation. Maybe the red meat is the culprit.

Hello Fellow Bandsters! I just thought I would post a quick update. I had my two week follow up yesterday. Dr. Brown said I had lost 21 pounds. I was shocked! He was really happy. He said because there is no fill - no restriction most people don't lose much until they get that first fill. He told me not to be upset if I gain a few pounds before my fill (2.5 weeks from now) and I told him that wasn't an option! I'll try any way. I am definitely hungry now a few hours after I eat and can eat anything but am avoiding all the things I know I won't be able to eat in the future - bread, pasta, and rice. I'm a vegetarian and have been eating a lot of Indian (good thing I can cook it) so it is filled with protein and that is good. I am still having issues with loose stools (gross I know) but hopefully that will get better with time. I go back to the life of fighting crime on Monday and actually am excited to go back to work. I miss it! Pathetic I know! I hope everyone else (especially the July folks) are doing well. Peace and blessings, Elizabeth

I have Ben s vegetarian for years. I have even considered going vegan now that I have had my sleeve surgery. Remember that you can get Protein in other ways. Contact your nutritionist and get some ideas. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hello all! I was wondering if there are any vegetarian or vegan peeps out there who had the bypass? I have a few questions for you. Were you vegan/vegetarian before surgery or did you switch your diet after the surgery? I noticed any time I eat any type of animal protein it sits very heavy in my pouch and it causes some pain... Not to mention that it does not matter how much I cook it, it always taste raw to me and it's quite disgusting. I don't have any problems with plant based protein though. So, I guess my next question is.... Is it possible to meet the protein requirements on a plant based diet? What does a typical day look like for you, food wise? What are your plant based proteins of choice?

**** UPDATE**** Whooooeeeeeee!!! I went to see my lap band doctor today 30 days since I first saw him! He weighed me and ......I have Lost 12 pounds!!!! ***Happy dances around room**** Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!! This is fabulous!! It means I am really getting the hang of the lap band & how to use it!!! He is the most amazing doctor!! I told him everything I was doing, how I was experimenting as to what food I could eat, how I stayed away from slider foods. How its ALL about the Chewing! How I eat Protein first then veggies then left over stuff. I am doing vegetarian (NOT a diet, it's a life style change) I like vegetarian food the most so that is what I am changing my lifestyle eating to There ya have it! 2nd time IS the charm! I have learned how to use the band!!! Yah!!! There are foods I've had to give up I looooove Chinese food...but it doesn't love the band...so I gave up on that..rice doesn't like the band either which means any sushi I want to eat can take like oh an hour to chew enough to get a piece down so for now I've given up that too ... let alone trying to chew the seaweed! That's my update for now! I only weigh myself 1x per month so it will be another 30 days before I know weight loss again. Meanwhile I shall continue with what I've been doing!

Thank you for sharing, and being so open and honest. I do find it rather odd, how you are either the "funny fat person" or the "outsider fat person." Why can't I just be Cassandra, the teacher, the vegetarian, the listener, the rocker, the one who is compassionate...? I HATE that for whatever reasons, my fat stands in my way. I have never actually had someone tell me, well you are fat so... it is almost unsaid, that is sometimes why I think that I am being unfair and I know that part of it is my own insecurities... Jodie, I totally understand what you mean though...about making friends with people and having a great time, and then they are like...well...I am going to go out now...I totally get that! What is interesting is that my very best friend is like a size zero and is Gwen Stefani look alike gorgeous and our physical differences have never gotten in the way...one of the reasons why i love her...and miss her so much now that she lives in AZ and I am in IL...:cry

This is a post from Newsho from a long time ago. Maybe her approach will help you? I've just copied it and pasted it below. Good luck. LENGTH ALERT! (This has very detailed tips and tricks, so this is not a short post. Just a "heads up") People asked me a lot how I went from Slow Loser to getting to goal. I did better my second year of banding and when the weight came off - it really came off. This is something that worked for me, and I recommended to other Bandsters. Granted, these are tips that's not in any LapBand brochure or doctor's manual, and YOUR MILEAGE MAY VARY - but if you already think of yourself as a Slow Loser like I was, then maybe you will be open to trying something to shake things up a bit. When I needed a weight-loss push, I didn't cut down on calories much (if I'd recently had a fill adjustment, that's different) but in general: I *added* Protein to every thing I ate. This helped me to lose steadily (although it sped up my weight loss, more importantly it kept it steady). And it worked! Some Bandsters in my same banding date were better at counting calories - I wasn't. Some were better at counting carbs, I wasn't, but I excelled at ADDING protein. And I did well and later, other fellow Bandsters were asking me for help and tips. How did I do it? I did not reduce calories or the amount I consumed (without a fill it wasn't much need to try that) and yet, I still lost. (I added a little bit of Beans, or a sprinkle of cheese (my favorite), or eggs - whatever I could. I didn't reduce what I ate, but I "upped my protein" - and it worked. With the band, if you eat more protein, you generally will find yourself eating less overall - it doesn't feel that way but you do. Every single time I added more protein to my regular Band-friendly meals, I lost more weight, even though I wasn't eating less calories sometimes. Sounds crazy - but in my particular case, if I didn't keep my protein levels up, my body held on to calories a lot more. Who needs their bodies "hoarding" calories? If adding a bit of food meant I would lose more, it was worth a try. It worked. And I paid attention to the TYPE of protein I ate. (Even before banding, I didn't eat beef or pork at all. And the band was developed in other countries where the pork and beef consumption is a lot lower than it is here in the 'States. I'm not a vegetarian, I just eat seafood and poultry only. My doc said this helped my weight loss a lot because the protein I ate was leaner, not fattier protein like pork/ham/bacon or beef/hamburger/fatty red meat. So I didn't have to regulate my portions as much as some Bandsters did. My can of tuna did more for me than a hamburger ever would have.) Also, I'm a single/childless Bandster who lives alone, so I eat out for almost every meal. If I could make it to goal - while eating out - ANYBODY can. How did I do it? Here were some tips. At Breakfast, with my morning egg(s), I added a bit of cheese on top. Or I would have cottage cheese added. For protein and hunger reasons, cottage cheese did better than yogurt for me - unless I just had a fill or was very very filled or adjusted. The most filled I am, the less I eat in the mornings. So especially if you are not at your sweet spot, try Proteins that "stick" with you more to keep hunger away. Yogurt alone was not good enough of a breakfast for me, with the band it just went through, and wasn't really filling. Now if I charged up my yogurt with lots of nuts, seeds, and wheat germ - then BAM! I'm not much of a cold Cereal eater (I prefer hot cereals) but if I had one I made sure it was a protein-packed one (I LOVE Grape Nuts cereal best. Go Lean is awesome, and several of the Oatmeals & Cream of Wheat cereals have good protein content. I also added a few nuts to those, too. If I had a yogurt smoothie drink as a snack, I had them had a half scoop of Protein powder (a full scoop can make it too thick sometimes) or some soy or nuts. Lunchtime was easy to get more protein in. I'd eat a scoop of tuna salad or chicken salad for lunch - and have them add some shredded cheese, some seeds and/or some nuts. I also love Soup. Usually a cup is a nice start to my lunch if I'm having a scoop of salad or tuna. If it's my whole lunch I get a bowl of soup and eat what I can from it. My band will tell me when to stop. Almost any kind of any soup is great with a sprinkle of cheese or nuts added. Beans, too! With my dinner I always like a cup of soup to begin. Gets me going, jump starts & 'primes' my band and it's a great protein opportunity. Then if I could, I concentrated on seafood. ANY type of fish worked great with my band - From catfish to salmon to snapper to Tilapia. Or even shrimp or my all time favorite, calamari. I enjoy oysters in season and clams all year. The weeks that I ate more seafood, I lost more weight - across the board. Usually grilled is a good choice to be honest I even ate it fried (sorry, weight loss experts) and I still did well. And with my seafood, if I could I added beans to almost everything. With my steamed veggies, I added nuts and a sprinkle of cheese sometimes. I know it's not very It really does work! See when I restrict my calories or even when I try to cut down on fat - I usually just end up cutting down on protein. And no matter how "well" or how much less I eat, if I cut my protein my body won't 'burn' up the fat. It holds on to it. I know that protein is the fuel that helps the LapBand machine work and not trying to diet or 'cut down' was a blessing to me. I've had other Bandsters try this, and yes they are skeptical at first but when they start seeing inches lost (muscle really does weigh more than fat, so your clothes tell you before the scale ever will) then they get on the bandwagon. So don't just 'cut down' - ADD some food on your plate. That's right. ADD MORE nuts, boiled/diced egg, beans, cheese, seeds and other yummy forms of protein. Your body and your LapBand will thank you for it. Also adding protein allowed me to eat fewer carbs and save them for what was really a nice treat - a nice martini or occasional glass of wine, with dinner. Yes, I'm a drinking Bandster. All the successful European Bandsters I knew drank a glass or two now and then and they were my role models. I can't drink a lot AT ALL - a little goes a long way, but it was nice to get to goal weight without ever missing a Friday Happy Hour. I got the band to enhance my life, not take away some of the things that make it enjoyable. I eat out at restaurants, I go have drinks with friends - and I feel and look great. BRAVO! Good Luck to you. (And since so many people asked me the same question in private posts - that's why I am posting it on the Slow Losers board too...) Keep up the good fight. I did it - and you can too.

thanks!!! ... I was self pay ... and my doctor said that since i had lost so much weight within the last year on my own (66 pounds in 11 months), that I didn't need to do a pre-op diet... but since I was mostly vegetarian, i needed to increase my Protein so that i would heal better...

Ugh that sounds terrible everyone I'm sorry that happened to you all. I guess it's bound to happen one of these days being so new. The weird part is I had no carbohydrates. There mightve been a little sugar in the sauce the veggies came with but no clue why besides that I got such bad nausea and rapid heartbeat. I had one vegetarian meatball today and a protein yogurt. So far so good but now I'm terrified to drink my protein shake because that's where it seemed to go downhill yesterday. Ughhh when will this fear go away? Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

Wow! Look at all th people who joined in! I am not on a preop diet. My doctor doesn't require one; although, I might do one for a couple of days on my own. I am from SC, but I live in Kuwait. I am really getting nervous and excited at the same time. One thing that is a bit worrying is that I am a vegetarian. I guess I will just drink veggie broth for the first few days? Can't wait to hear more from all of y'all. One of my biggest hopes is that this summer when I fly home, I can fit comfortably in the airplane seat and not crowd my children in!

I was just about out of my expensive Vitamins and was determined that I wasn't going to keep spending that much money for them, so I placed an order for TwinLab Bariatric Support Chewable Multi in berry flavor with Iron from iHerb on Friday (60 ct. - $9.99) and they arrived this morning! I like these because you only need 1 as opposed to 2-4 of other brands, which is a savings in itself. While I was on the site, I did a bit more surfing and found Certified Organic Spirulina, after doing a bit of research on the product it sounded like something that would be beneficial for me...and other bandsters! I bought the small bottle, which is certified organic and labeled as a Genuine Whole food. The retailer is a trusted Google site, so I was fairly sure I couldn't go wrong trying it. I also purchased a box of Black Currant tea (I love this stuff!) and my entire order including shipping was only $27.00. I thought I'd share this with you all. What is it? Spirulina is a natural “algae” (cyanbacteria) powder that is incredible high in Protein and nutrients. When harvested correctly from non-contaminated ponds and bodies of Water, it is one of the most potent nutrient sources available. It is largely made up of protein and essential amino acids, and I typically recommend it to clients who decide to remain vegetarian for its high natural iron content. It is often touted for its high B-12 content, though there is a lot of debate about if this particular form is a complete and absorbable form of B-12 and I don’t recommend it completely in place of animal products. The high concentration of protein and iron also makes it idea during pregnancy, after surgery or anytime the immune system needs a boost. Health Properties: Though it does taste like pond scum, Spirulina has some great health-boosting qualities: Spirulina is 65% protein and amino acids including the essential fatty acid gamma linolenic acid (GLA) which has gotten a lot of attention for its anti-inflammatory properties, especially when taken with other quality Omega-3 supplements like Fermented Cod Liver Oil. (I suspect that the benefits of GLA in Spirulina are even more than what the studies have found since these studies often use vegetable oils for their GLA source, and the other inflammatory compounds in vegetable oils can interfere with the anti-inflammatory ability.) It contains all essential amino acids. Spirulina contains Omega 3-,6 and 9s and is especially high in Omega-3s. Spirulina is extremely high in Chlorophyll, which helps remove toxins from the blood and boost the immune system. Spirulina has a very high concentration of bio-available iron and is excellent during pregnancy and for those with anemia and will not cause constipation. Spirulina is a great source of other nutrients including (according to Wikipedia): “Spirulina contains vitamins B-1(thiamine), B-2 (riboflavin), B-3(nicotinamide), B-6 (pyridoxine), B-9 (folic acid), Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin A and vitamin E. It is also a source of potassium, Calcium, chromium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, selenium, sodium and zinc. Spirulina contains many pigments which may be beneficial and bioavailable” This Spirulina (from Mountain Rose Herbs) was tested be an independent laboratory and found to have an ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) of over 24,000 which is 4x the ORAC score of blueberries. The ORAC score is generally used to measure antioxidant ability and concentration in different foods. Spirulina is also incredibly high in calcium with over 26 times the calcium in milk, making it excellent for children, the elderly and during pregnancy. Some research has suggested that Spirulina may be helpful in allergies and allergic reactions. Spirulina’s phosphorus content makes it helpful as part of a tooth remineralization regimen. Emerging evidence suggests that it binds with radioactive isotopes and may be useful for radioactivity exposure or radiation therapy. The protein in Spirulina is highly usable and has a net protein utilization rate of between 50-61% Spirulina can bind with heavy metals in the body and help remove them. Spirulina can increase fat burning during exercise.

I never did the protein shakes, they all made me gag and I could never find one I could tolerate. I just had to make sure that when I was eating, I always ate protein first, then everything else. Your problem is a little more unique being a vegetarian, and I don't know if you eat eggs or fish at all, but both are good sources of protein. I eat an egg every day, and I also like tuna quite a bit. I think 4 oz of tofu (I know that is a lot!) is 10 grams of protein. My son is vegetarian and I do know that there are several proteins you can get at natural food stores, but I can't remember the names of them right now, I will ask him.