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Meat just isn't really agreeing with me and right now I'm eating mostly beans, cheese, Greek yogurt. Any vegetarians that can give me an idea of how they've been doing since surgery. I'm 2 months post-op.

Can you explain to us newbies what caused the vomiting and feeling? Im vegetarian and have a feeling eating salads and raw veggies is in my future....is the problem the raw? Is this a "at first" thing or are raw veggies something to cross off all together? Thank you! For me, pouch pain, vomiting, and foamies are all caused by the same things--swallowing food chunks that are too big, and eating too fast. Some sources say "chew for 22" meaning chew your bites of food 22 times before swallowing. Others say chew thirty times. For me, I have to start with a bite no larger than a teaspoon for solids like steak, and no more than a tablespoon size for soft foods like oatmeal. And I have to chew each bite until it's the consistency of pudding. Then I swallow it. Yes, steak "pudding"! As you might expect, this means I eat smaller amounts, and take a longer time doing it, than I used to before surgery. I believe that's how the gastric bypass surgery has helped me the most--the pouch pain, vomiting, and foamies have forced me to eat the way I was always supposed to. Small bites, chewed to "pudding" consistency. Oh, and always eating the Protein part of the meal first.

Can you explain to us newbies what caused the vomiting and feeling? Im vegetarian and have a feeling eating salads and raw veggies is in my future....is the problem the raw? Is this a "at first" thing or are raw veggies something to cross off all together? Thank you!

Hey BLERdGirl I am just 6 days in right now and im also a vegetarian. Right now its just been changing the chicken broth to vegetable broth and i'm good, and getting vegan gelatin and making some home made fruit flavored gelatin. But i'm a bit concerned about the future, your comment gave me some hope. Do you have any other tips for vegetarians starting this new lifestyle? Seems like its pretty straight forward, but I figured I'd ask. Thank you for any help provided! All the best - Joel.

I've been using GENEPRO for several months now and absolutely love it! The package does say 30 gr Protein per scoop which is equivalent to one tablespoon. I also have heard some folks say this may be a physical impossibility as well. Here's what I do because the powder is literally tasteless and mixes into anything hot or cold. I mix a little scoop into my coffee in the morning, then one more into each meal during the day. Now if I were getting the full 30 gr of protein technically I would be eating 120 gr of protein each day. But often I cannot finish a cup of coffee or a meal... and I do think about the claim that it may not really be a full 30 gr of protein... so in the end of the day I estimate I probably eat around 60-90 gr of protein which is exactly where my doctor wants me. This is in addition to any other protein sources I might get during a day which isn't a lot because I am a vegetarian. I just had my 6 month follow-up visit yesterday and all my lab-work came back awesome, I feel great, My dr and nut are on board with my eating plan... so I will keep going. Good luck everyone!

I just thought I would chime in here. Everyone goes into WLS for different reasons, and each person decides how they want to use the tool of having a band. When I committed to the surgery, I committed to a lifestyle change. I paid careful attention to everything my doctor told me about not eating carbs and sticking with vegetables and Protein. Before the surgery, I was a vegetarian, and I decided to change that because I was eating too many processed carbs, and my body was having a negative reaction to that. I am happy with the band. When I first was banded, I kept my calories around 800. Now I eat about 1,000 a day - three meals and few Snacks. I do not eat processed carbs, and I do not feel deprived. I am not saying this is an easy journey. I have had to work hard, but it is so worth it.

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

I lost 5.5 pounds on the test recently. It was all water, but happy for it. As soon as I brought back some carbs, part of it came back, but not all of it! I also gained renewed faith in eating protiens. I am a vegetarian, so I have been using whey based protein powders... I reallly don't like the veggie ones much, mostly the texture. I used many kinds of fake meat, Explore Asia brand high protein pastas, nuts, eggs and egg whites, I use Dixie Diner brand Beef, turkey, chicken NOT! products, morning star frozen meatless meats, tofu (you can use in a shake as well) Trader Joes meatless products (just look at the protien to make sure it is up there) I have been following the 5:2 on and off for over a year, and am now doing a version of the 5 day test on my "fast" days. So far so good. I have found the no flavor soy protein powder OK to cook with, like in oatmeal, baked in muffins and such... check out the world according to eggface for good high protein recipes.

It's been no big deal for me, either. I rarely get a lunch break, so my normal work day consists of constant grazing.....mixed nuts, Quest bar, Protein smoothie, Jerky, string cheese, whatever I can eat in between appointments. My partner actually comments about how I'm always eating. As for going out and buffets, etc. I just eat what I can eat, no biggie. I often split an entree with someone who's also "watching their weight". Or I get whatever I want and end up with a lot of leftovers. Everyone knows I've had surgery so they are used to what I eat and no one really cares. I was at a memorial service yesterday where the served spaghetti and meatballs, vegetarian lasagna, bread, salad and various Desserts. I had 1 meatball (no pasta), some salad, and dissected the layers of 1/2 piece of lasagna to get mostly the veggies and cheese. A little later I split a cookie with someone and took a couple bites of someone else's cinnamon roll. Oh yeah, and drank 2 16 oz bottles of Water but passed on the beer and wine.

Thanks for sharing. My lunch group is pretty healthy and already aware of my eating changes however they don't know about my possible WLS. I just think 1/2 cup...that's like an apple or half a yogurt. I know they will get on me about not eating enough food. I don't want to share my decision with them and maybe I am naive to think I can just go unnoticed. I thought since they have seen me the last few months radically change my diet and exercise (usually go for walk with a few during lunch and started jogging) my weight loss wouldn't be that viewed as extreme. They are super supportive so I know they will get on me about "not eating" fearing it was an eating disorder. Going out to a restaurant is not an issue, I've managed to figure out what to order. I feel that even if I get a side salad I wouldn't even be able to eat half of that and how will that make the person sitting with me feel about eating their "normal" side entree. I worry about their feelings especially if they struggle with their weight. I know I should focus only on me at this time in my life but I can't help but think of making others feel awkward which in turn makes me feel awkward (still about me...lol) . Like eating steak in front of vegetarian. Will I be giving up having meals with friends? I know you can't have it both ways...eat "normally" like others once every 2 months (this how often I go to a social event/gathering like birthday, etc)

"Did you ever meet an obese vegetarian and wonder ‘HUH?’… how’d they get obese if they are vegetarian? Same deal… its not the vegetables, its the other stuff… the carbs… the potatoes, bread, macaroni, rice, tortillas and sugar!" Quote from ProjectMe. I don't know who originally wrote this but vegetarians eat carbs and potatoes and bread and Pasta and sugar. What they don't eat is meat. Listen to your dietitian. They know what they are talking about

I'm Nervous for soft foods. Being vegetarian I don't have the option for soft meats and such that are dense protien. Beans it is I guess...my poor husband haha

I am walking 5 miles a day (we have a inside cork inside of my job) that is 1 mile long and on my breaks I walk around it twice, I drink 80-100 ounces of water daily and 80-90 grams of protein a day. I was originally a vegetarian but I have added seafood into my diet. I eat eggs, and a piece of cheese for breakfast w a protein shake and dinner and lunch could be fish, shrimp ect w steamed veggies, quinoa ect. I can only have 2-3 bites so far. I try and eat every few hours? I take all of the required vitamins and papaya enzyme!

there are many vegan Protein shakes that use wither hemp protein or ben protein etc. these are lactose free and a godsend to people who have lactose issues. You can find many of them online or your local Vitamin shoope or Vitamin Shoppe online. Good luck! Try Sprouts. They carry many vegan and vegetarian Protein Shakes.

Ok so I'm on the soft food phase, no meats. However, I decided to attempt bite a baked chicken and had no problems. So now, I pinch a piece of baked or grilled chicken daily (2-3oz) and have yet to have any problems keeping it down or anything (hopefully that doesn't change). I've never been a "junkfooder" so I'm not fazed by Snacks or sugar but being a vegetarian for a month is killing me. I know I should stop but it taste so good. Should I be ashamed, worried, slapped, happy (that I haven't have issues)? I don't know. Any feedback is welcome. SW 275, CW 255, 5'10"

I think one of the other problems is the lack of support from the bariatric community in terms of medical help. For some reason, I can't figure out why they are so against vegan/vegetarians without a shred of medical evidence (that is not biased or paid for by meat companies) that shows veg people can't get protein from non meat sources.

Someone shared this article from bariatriceating.com that I wanted to share here: Don’t eat bread! That latte has 35g sugar! No macaroni salad. NO tortillas. No rice. It won’t last without change There is no delicate way to say this. We have always set ourselves apart from other bariatric groups in that we don’t look the other way while post ops continue to eat the bad carbs. We try and bring them back to the bariatric reality. We coax you to knock off the Pasta, rice, tortillas or bread and often people get mad or try and justify it. For years we’ve watched people blow through this surgery and they all have the same story. Everyone thinks they are ‘Different’, that they can handle the bad carbs and the sugar (they don’t get sick!) and ‘because they have lost 100 pounds in 7 months they must be doing something right’. The first hundred pounds is the surgery Hate to keep making the same point, but your surgery did it, not you. Remember that you are not driving the car for the first year. Eating the same foods that grew you to 300 pounds, but in smaller amounts is not a good long term plan as eventually you will be able to eat larger portions. Ask yourself why eating the same bad carbs would be a good plan. No doctor has advised you to eat the same way post op as you did pre op. Post ops pick this up somewhere, latch on to it and defend it, often to the bitter end of a total regain. No one fights for broccoli carbs! It’s not that the bagel will kill you, it’s that these carbs make you hungry. They rapidly turn to glucose and burn… poof, gone, #Lookingformore. They don’t give you any nutrients. They don’t create a feeling of satiety or lasting fullness. The empty carbs work against what you are trying to achieve. If you were arguing for eating salad or green bean carbs, more power to you… but people are trying to hang on to foods without value. If this big argument was for VEGETABLES… well it wouldn’t be a debate as vegetables didn’t make us fat, it was those ‘other’ carbs. Did you ever meet an obese vegetarian and wonder ‘HUH?’… how’d they get obese if they are vegetarian? Same deal… its not the vegetables, its the other stuff… the carbs… the potatoes, bread, macaroni, rice, tortillas and sugar! Square peg… round hole Stop looking for slightly better substitutes for bad choices and find new healthier foods to love instead. We keep trying to force that square peg into that round hole. Stop EATING crackers and chips… don’t find ones that you can justify because they have fewer carbs. Enough with the terrible fishy shirataki tofu noodles. Learn to live without bread and pasta so it will not call your name. We aren’t changing the behavior or trend if we continue eating them, just slightly shifting it. Before long you’ve got your hand back in the Doritos bag & fork in the Mac and cheese. Look It’s Protein Cheesecake! Don’t add protein to muffins and convince yourself they’re good for you. Stop with the Starbucks Creme Brûlée Lattes because ‘they’re your one indulgence'; they have 500 calories and thin people don’t even drink them. Stay the heck out of Wendy’s. I read an article the other day touting all the ‘good choices’ in fast food restaurants. How about stay out of them. That’s the best choice of all! Why go to the place where you know there is danger. Before you know it, oops… there are fries in your bag! You know people gain back weight, right? In our first month of new Facebook Support group I have cried for new members who have gained back all their weight. I am not immune either after fourteen years, three bariatric books and knowing better. When life hit the fan, I comforted my bruises in the way I knew best and it has taken me ten months to lose fifty pounds of it. People are having revisions, a lovely sounding word for a second serious body damaging operation. What will change? Unless there is major change along with that new surgery, won’t it have the same result? Step away from the bagel! Own that there was and maybe still is something wrong with your food picker! Use surgery as an opportunity to change, not cheat. I used be bothered by the ‘word on the street’ that we were the carb or food police, but am now proud of it. If you want to promote the virtues of Everything in Moderation while eating half a Subway, there are plenty of groups that will help you do it. If you want to eat right and learn new behaviors to make the feeling of slipping on those skinny jeans last… we have a support group that’s a healthier fit. Bariatric Surgery IS the easy way out It’s a personal food cop that is always with us, that helps us push away from the table. We make it hard when we don’t live by the bariatric rules we’ve been given. There is nothing harder then gaining weight back after surgery. There is nothing better than losing it a second time. Control is empowering. If you need to pick up and start losing again… If you need to work off a regain… it’s not too late and your pouch works just fine if you choose the right foods. Clean those lethal carbs from your life and go back to Bariatric Eating – protein first and lots of fresh salad and vegetables. We’ve got the support for you to make that change!

Its not just recommending it but I've seen all of them in this area be like NO. I'm like, how is it that people who eat vegan/vegetarian survive without meat? So how can you without any shred of evidence for (and lots of it against) claim that you have to eat meat? I can manage chicken at times and right now turkey. I'm still alive. Apparently some with healthcare degrees need to read. Dr. Garth Davis is the bomb. I have problems with meat, told to knock it off, so I did and found other ways to get Protein in. That includes other things making it hard on top of that. So the problem is in someones' head and it doggone sure isn't mine. I've seen more veg people and they're all doing fine.

Hi dears, I been a vegan since my surgery... i was a vegetarian for a long time, and after vsg i decided to start a new life, what help me: the most was finding a surgeon specialist in bariatric that recommends veganism to his patients, Dr. Garth Davis, i found some youtube audios and interviews that really help me a lot, and his fb page too. I also realize that if im trying to take my fat out, i cant have more fat in.. so im doing a low fat vegan menu, with great results legumes, fruits and veggies with no ad-don fats, oils or seeds for the moment till im closer to my goal. Ahh a great thing about my new vegan nutrition is that i havent get any gastric problems, no nausea, no pain, no vomit ... have a great day!!

Hi Im sooo happy found this topic!! I got my surgery 1 month ago, and after been vegetarian for most of my life, wanted to do the leap of faith and compassion and been a vegan... So since my surgery i have only had a vegan diet.... fruits, veggies and grains, legumes etc.. for the first 2 weeks i dropped 15 pounds, then i stall for 10 days and i noticed it was because i introduce more nuts and grains and avocado So for the last 5 days i been eating only vegetables, legumes ( chickpeas, green peas, black Beans etc) and fruits and i started loosing again yay!! 3 pounds less!!! And it makes sense to me now!! im doing a big effort to dropped the fat i have inside so i can not put extra fat in!! Soo only legumes, fruits and veggies has done the trick for me!! I also recommend listening to dr. Garth Davis interviews, or fb, he has been one of my inspirations, because he is a surgeon specialist in bariatric and he recommend a vegan diet from the beginning to his patients and he has tons of great testimonies and when he speaks about it is so informative and facts oriented. For the most part being a vegan in this new stage of my life has been wonderful, no nausea, no reflux or digestion problems AT ALL. everything goes down easily and i can get to enjoy fruits, veggies and legumes . Im learning while i go... but so far so good!! I want to know if there is someone else wanted to share their food blog and progress with me? i log using cronometer cuz allow me to see the nutrients in my food. It will be interesting see what works for other vegan so we can have a little comparison. hugs and lots of good vibes!!

Hi Kamie and vegan friends!! I love finding more people veg oriented here, i had my vsg a month ago, at the same time, Im starting my compassionate vegan journey im have been a vegetarian for a lot of time but after watching the documentary Earthling, and reading and watching dr. Garth Davis wanted to start my new life with this little stomach and less food anxiety as a vegan , has been wonderful, practically no side-effects, no vomits, no nausea, no diarrhea, or dehydration etc... I think respecting other beings life is a beautiful way to cohabit this world, and politically speaking also the way to go.. But im writing in this forum in order to see if there is another vegan available to share their food dairy and progress with me? I´ve been logging my food in cronometer because provides me with specific nutrient information. if someone is interested in that please write me a personal message hugs!! and tons of great vibes for all!!

So even my own literature from my dr, the Nut and the bariatric dept contradicted each other. My surgeon is a but radical. He basically said go vegetarian (not happening). He told me drinking and eating should be completely separate and you should not drink for an hour and a half after eating. The paper work from the clinic 1 hour. The nut 30 minutes, the hospital 30 minutes. So I wait at least 30 minutes. If I waited an hour and a half, I would never get all my water in. I try to stick in the 30 - 45 minute range.

Gee, that long before being able to handle meat is a downer. On the other hand, there are so many other sources of healthy Protein. Four weeks out and just starting to get use to Lactaid brand cottage cheese. When it comes time to move to pureed foods, I'll probably be supplementing protein levels with flavorless Isopure low carb. Having worked with vegetarians of different types and vegans, protein intake can depend on calorie intake. That can be a struggle for someone on a calorie restricted diet. It would seem that a lacto-ovo vegetarian would have it easier since they can consume eggs and whey protein. Vegan dependence on tofu, soy products, and Beans can be a challenge, but it can be done and there are plenty of vegan products out there: http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/10-best-tasting-vegan-protein-powders.html The link is not an endorsement of any particular website.

I am starting to think I need to become a vegetarian! Thank you for your comments. I am booked in to see the consultant this evening but since I wrote this, I am less worried as I have been on liquids for a few days and it seems to have calmed down, so fingers crossed it is just a tightening as you said KateP. Thank you again, you really helped.

Hello everyone, I am glad you started this thread even though it seems like it has bee a little while since anyone posted. I have had my band for about 5 years and I have been a vegetarian for about 3.5. I actually had my band too tight for over 4 years and they told me this was actually hurting me because now I had to overcome the natural tendency to eat carbs bc they go down easier and being a vegetarian and lacking Protein. I recently got my third adjustment after taking almost all my Fluid out to get relief from heartburn. Now I feel like I am at a great place bc I am not getting overly hungry and fill up easily on Beans, Greek yogurt, and egg whites while still being able to eat great veggies (I could barely eat 3 pieces of broccoli before I figured my fill level out). I love being a vegetarian and I hope to go full vegan in the future, with my band, and losing weight like a rockstar! I would love to join a recipe group on FB if that is still an option. Nice to meet you!