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Hi, I'm vegetarian also (although I have started to eat fish now and again) but as far as the band is concerned you can get plenty of protein in with nuts, seeds, pulses and grains. For a while I found eating basmati rice difficult so I switched to cous cous, after a couple of months I tried rice again and I can eat it fine now. When you are making your Soups (broth) I suggest you put a handful of lentils in with your veggies. Protein drinks are terrific when you are on the liquid stage. A bowl of porridge (oats) with some animal milk on is as protein rich as a piece of quality meat. For the mushie stage I found houmus (blend a tin of chick peas, 2tbl sp sesame seed paste, clove of garlic and juice of 1/2 a lemon add olive oil as you blend) a terrfic protein rich easy to eat food. Good luck on your journey.:glare:

I get mine from www.mercola.com The whey is made from GMO free, antibiotic free, hormone free, free range grass fed beef. no artificial anything. If you are lactose intolerant, he also carries a vegetarian pea protein, but I have not tried it. I get the chocolate, but I think this time I am going to order the three pack that has strawberry, vanilla and chocolate. I've been told that Unjury has a good unflavored protein powder, but I haven't tried that one yet.

I'm vegetarian so I'm sure that plays a part. Lots of plant based foods full of Fiber. I am regular as clockwork and have been pretty much since day 5 post op. I go anywhere from 1 - 3 times a day, most days twice. I always have to go when I wake up and sometimes again after dinner. I find that on really active days, depending on what I've eaten I may go mid-day as well. Like the other posters have mentioned add some natural fiber in there. Apple or prune juice are good options. Probiotics or yogurt are also good. If you eat yogurt or hot cereals a tsp of wheat germ, flax powder or psylium powder may help.

I am active duty wanting desperately to get lap band. I have done a lot of research and each doctor is different with the bmi requirements. I am just under 34% bmi. I went to my PCM on Wednesday, he said he would put in my referral but today said he needed to talk to me. Don't know about what, but hoping its not to pop my bubble. I have high cholesterol and triglycerides. I got my blood work back today and found out that my cholesterol went up 20 points since Jan. I became a vegetarian 3 months ago. I have been dieting for the past 7 years with no luck, every time I get 10lbs off then I gain 15 more. I haven't been able to run for 2 and a half years. I NEED to lose about 75lbs to get back in shape. I might be facing a MEB and I only have 8 yrs till retirement. If anyone has any advice on getting TriCare to pay it would be very much appreciated.:rolleyes2:

Oh, also, my surgeon knows I'm a vegetarian and sees no problem with it. He agrees though that it's best not to go fully vegan until I'm done losing.

As I look around these forums being started some of the most common complaints are "people won't support my decision by bringing healthy foods." Um, not their job to cook healthy for you because you made a life changing decision. Just because they bring the foods they have always brought doesn't mean they are trying to destroy what you are doing, it is just all they know. You can't blame them, be mad at them, or accuse them of being destructive to your diet. You personally HAVE to find a way to deal with this. Everywhere we go there is food. Parties, funerals, celebrations, ANYTHING, there will be unhealthy foods at all of these. It's just like this, if I have a party, I provide the food I want. In one party I could have a vegetarian show up, a gluten free person and one who is allergic to dairy. I can't prepare for all of these different kinds of people. If I have something they can eat, great. If I don't, they should have brought their own, or have eaten before they came. It is no different with our new lifestyle. This isn't to say that it doesn't suck to watch people eat fried foods, fatty foods, or chocolate cake in front of us, but just because they are doing that doesn't mean they aren't supporting us. They are living their life they way they want. We can't change others, only ourselves. Have a fantabulous, skinny day! Today is better than yesterday and together we will feel better!

It’s been six years since I have my surgery. Lost over 100+lbs. However in the past few years, it’s slowly regaining - approx 70lbs up atm. Most because I went vegan for two years and regained a ton because I ate quinoa mostly (carb galore) ughhh...mad at myself for that. I’m a lacto-ovo vegetarian now and looking for some help. Can anyone suggest any tips on how I can jump start my weight loss again? I’m thinking about doing the 5 day pouch test to start.

Hello guys, I just wanted to ask if any of you experience bloating after eating meals? I’m almost 3months post gastric bypass. I’m vegetarian if that makes a difference, I don’t eat very fast and I also chew my foods finely. I always wait 30mins before and after eating to drink any liquids. It’s not intense bloat like I’m filling myself up because I don’t eat to a point where I am bursting, I just stop when I know I feel sufficiently full. Just thought would ask, thanks

Ok so I have bought all the powders highly recommended on this forum including Syntrax fuzzy peach nectar, optimum nutrition gold standard whey (Cookies and cream) and another one by optimum nutrition called hydro-whey which is good also, and it's not that they don't taste good, its just that I cant drink even 8 oz before I start to feel gross, sick, bloated and gassy. So, I remembered I went to a really good naturalist a while back when I was having issues and she ran the "ELISA" testing on me which tests not for acute allergic reactions (called IgE antibodies), but delayed intolerances/sensitivities (IgG antibodies) which can range from anything to gas, bloating, cramps, to muscle/joint aches to neuro issues like mood swings/irritability. So, I looked at the results which I had not reviewed in quite awhile, and it says I have severe antibodies (>5x the normal amount) to milk products and moderate antibodies (>3x the normal level) to eggs, yolk and white. Now my mom argues with me that I could always tolerate milk and eggs fine before surgery, but I always tell her it's not that I tolerated them, but I really didn't care if I spent a half hour on the toilet if it meant that delicious pint of ice cream (I know, true confessions), and I also made the point that I think I took A LOT more of the offending substance to affect me so that I did care (because my stomach was much larger), and I usually didn't get to that quantity. And my third argument to her, and I have no clue if this has any credibility, but I did tell her that maybe I didn't notice it that much b/c I was eating so much other crap, bread, Pasta, oats, fruit, veggies etc. etc. and when I first got the results back for "milk" sensitivity I just thought "oh I can take a Lactaid and I will be fine", but then just learned yesterday that milk intolerance is NOT the same as lactose intolerance. Lactose is only an intolerance to one part of the milk-the sugar, which is called the lactose. but milk is made up of whey (which is the watery stuff, and makes up 20% of the Proteins found in milk, and casein, which are the lumpy white globs seen in sour milk. Therefore "milk intolerance" is very different that "lactose intolerance." and unfortunately there is no way to avoid symptoms like with lactose intolerance, you just have to avoid milk products. sorry if you already knew all that, but I found it interesting b/c alot of people who get tested and have a "milk" allergy or intolerance just think they are lactose intolerant, which is what I did. so then there are the eggs, which I don't have as high of a sensitivity level to, but I would like to avoid. which leaves soy. Now I do have a history of breast cancer in my family, and I know soy messes with your thyroid and also mimics estrogen (and my doc thinks I may be estrogen dominant already), but I also know that for the next couple weeks, I have to get my Protein in somehow, and this seems to be the only way, because the only proteins I know of are milk protein concentrate/isolate, egg white, whey isolate/concentrate, (which is made from milk), and soy isolate/concentrate. My antibody level to "soybean" came back completely negative. I also I don't think by taking soy protein for a few weeks until I can eat solids is going to give me breast cancer. I think it is long term use that many professionals advise against. So, I really don't know why I gave all that info, (maybe it will help someone else, and I had also been asking for whey powder recommendations and I wanted to explain why I am all of a sudden now asking for soy). But because the only powders I didn't mind the taste of were recommended by users on this forum, and I know NOTHING about the world of soy protein isolates/powders, maybe there are some soy lovers, vegetarians/vegans who can give me some good tasting ones? thanks and merry christmas/happy holidays and for those of you that are a day or two out, today is day 4 for me and I am just today starting to feel "normal" again, less bloating, etc.

Optimum Nutrition also makes a good soy protein. I'm vegetarian and tried to find an organic humane whey protein but the one I found messed with my tummy. Spirutein is also yummy with several flavors but the carb count was higher than my doc allows. I hope you find something that works for you. Best wishes!

I'd wager a bet that the vegetarian meal will be a Pasta of some sort. Just going by past experiences. I could be wrong though! I'm flying in December and have been wondering about this too. I'll be bringing along Protein powder and whatever else I can eat at the time. But, for my meal I requested the diabetic meal.

As you might guess from my screen name I travel a lot. I would not suggest vegetarian. That is almost always Pasta and bread. I have had the most success ordering low carb or diabetic. I did that on business class on Singapore airlines and got some of the best bariatric meals you could imagine. US carriers will not be as friendly, and if you are not in business class it may be totally hopeless. I would suggest carrying good Protein bars (such as Quest), beef Jerky, and almonds. All of those pack easily and provide a nice shot of protein. This weekend I had a 9 hour trip back from London in coach with United. I was not able to eat anything they served. It was all bread, chips, and pasta. I lived off 2 Protein Bars and a handful of almonds. I just did a few stops in Europe (in coach) and found eating in the air and on the ground very difficult. Everything was a sandwich, and most of those sandwiches had a little piece of meat or cheese that was so thin it was virtually transparent. On the other hand, in flight and restaurant meals in Asia were a dream.

@kristenle. I am confused. I think my doctor is trying to convert me to a vegetarian. She told me to start with the Beans first and than the veggies. I'm like what about the meat. Lol. So I have been trying to have a lean meat only once a day. She said she doesn't want me to focus on scales and counting. Eat four times drink my 3-4 bottles of Water and take my Vitamins. I had a whole argument about what "I saw on the Internet". She said leave the Internet alone. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

The issue is that space in my tummy is valuable real estate now and it seems to be an all Protein neighborhood! I picked up some vegan Protein shakes today which ima try to sandwich my day with so I can at least fill one meal with veggies. I'm a vegetarian and the whey protein, cheese, yogurt, eggs and tofu diet is starting to make me sick! I'm only 2.5 months out.

I have read the book. Some interesting points brought up. I tried going vegetarian, but I like my meat based protein (poultry and seafood). I am only 3 weeks post op, so when my diet is freed up a bit, I will do plant based protein as well....believe it or not, I am craving edemame (sp?). I believe "everything in moderation." I enjoy poultry or seafood over beef, which can get you burned at the "steak", living here in the midwest! Extremes can get us all in trouble.

I go through stages where it is hard to get my meat down. Stress, dehydration and being overly tired can make me tighter as well as what has already been mentioned--being sick or having allergies that have increased phlegm in your system. I love my meat and have no desire to go vegetarian so I eat softer proteins during this time...fish, beans, eggbeaters etc or if necessary I supplement with protein shakes. Shredding my meat and adding sauces or gravies helps too but it does add extra calories.

Thanks for sharing. @Newme17shared this with me as well. I am thinking of going vegetarian. I want to eat super clean as I am considering doing power lifting.

I totally didn't care for the texture or taste. Having it get stuck, was awful, because I kept getting the taste of it - I'm doing lots of research for smooth mushy (vegetarian) recipes to get me through the next three weeks in hopes to fair better than these last two days. I'll be okay, it's just a new tool to learn how to live with. Physically, I barely had any pain, so mentally I forget that I've had my insides totally re-routed!

I haven't had beef or pork in over 20 years, but I am not a vegetarian. I eat very little chicken or turkey and eat tons of fish. That said, I eat like a vegetarian 90% of the time. Make tofu, seitan and Morningstar Farms/Boca products your friends. It is worth the investment to buy a bunch of varieties and figure out which ones you like. They sell them at all major grocery stores including Trader Joe's. It is tough to move away from a mostly carb-based diet, but the suggestions offered here are good ones. There are tons of great vegetarian recipes on allrecipes.com and vegetariantimes.com. Good luck! kagead

I stopped eating meat after my lap band surgery because meat would always get stuck and make me feel sick. Every morning I have a Fiber one english muffin with Peanut Butter. I find the peanut butter really "sticks to your ribs" and keeps me full all morning. For lunch I might have so Kashi Cereal mixed with a non-fat yogurt (there's Protein in both the Kashi cereal and the yogurt). And for dinner I will make a salad with some vinegar/low-cal dressing with some cottage cheese on top. Other vegetarian things that keep me full: A toasted pita with hummus Bananas, apples, pears and other high-fiber fruits Granola bars oatmeal Popcorn (I've never had a stuck issue with popcorn, although I know a lot of bandsters have) Whole grain Pasta with marinara sauce Steamed veggies Brown Rice I would say if you are a big bread person, definitely convert to whole grains. If the first ingredient on the label reads "whole" - like "whole wheat flour" - then its a whole grain. It makes a world of difference in keeping you fuller for longer.

I wanted to add a positive account of my 2 weeks post-op, to give pre-op folks some comfort. After minor episodes of mild incision pain and occasional bouts of nausea as my new stomach got used to digestion again over the last 2 weeks, my body is feeling almost completely normal again. I am in awe of its ability to heal itself. - My incisions are 4 very small cuts (belly-button, sternum, left and ride side of torso) which do not hurt at all anymore. I have some itching occasionally, but I understand that this signals healing. - I can drink Water in normal larger sips now (and even if I forget and take a larger gulp, there is no discomfort) - I have almost completely gone off the taste of Protein shakes (can only manage Core Power banana milkshakes even though, as one user pointed out, these are higher in carbs, so I don't drink more than 1 a day). I get most of my protein through my vegetarian puree diet (Beans, tofu, cottage cheese, (no eggs)) and through adding GENEPRO to my 3-daily cups of tea. - I feel fullness/restriction much better now that I'm on purees (compared to when I was on full liquids - I have to guess if I'd had enough Soup as that flows through rather quickly). A couple of times I've eaten my pureed dinner a bit too quickly and have felt nauseous for 15-20 minutes. That's something to remember with the VSG surgery - your body can feel so normal after a while that you 'forget' about the limitations of your new stomach. - I've lost 14 lbs since surgery and 20 lbs since my highest weight. But mentally, I want to focus on healing rather than weight loss at this stage. I know the weight loss will come - it can't not! I see and feel slight changes in my shape already. - I took 4 weeks off work (because luckily, I could) but could have easily gone back to my office job this week. - I walk 2 miles every evening and while I'm not allowed anything more strenuous for another 4 weeks, I did help pack and unpack furniture and other bits while our home was being decorated these last 2 weeks. I also flew to the Caribbean and back (for a convalescing vacation) without any issues. Take comfort from no-complication stories like mine - as miserable as you might feel a day or two after surgery, your body is designed to snap back quicker than you think.

I give myself a B12 shot once a month. Yes, I notice a difference with my energy and mood. I have a history of low B12 (lifelong vegetarian) and so I need to do the shots - they are easy to administer. I buy the B12 online and the syringes from Amazon. Easy peasy. Trouble is with pills is you tend to just pee them out.

I'm 7 weeks out as well. I do what I did pre-surgery. In the car I keep larabars, and either almond/cashews or pistachios. I always carry a bottle of Water. Processed food doesn't always sit well with me because I have multiple food allergies & I'm vegetarian. If I am pushed I will get a egg crossaint at Dunkin Donuts. I toss the bread and eat the egg. My other option is a veggie burger from Burger King no ketchup/mayo and again I toss the bun. At the support group one woman says she had a small mini cooler she keeps in her car. I think I may adopt this practice as well. This way I can carry more safe foods with me and not run the risk of being tempted by fast food .

Thanks for the feedback. most soup broths are made with chicken stock which makes them not vegetarian.

I’m a vegetarian in the preop phase of surgery. I had my consultation yesterday and was able to check off everything required prior to surgery (cardiologist, upper G.I., sleep study, etc.) except the nutritionist appointments and preop lab work. I wanted to ask if anyone was vegetarian or vegan postop and how well you’re doing with it. Also, please feel free to share any recipes or tips!