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I make my own too. I get the fantastic food brand...vegetarian chili (I am not a vegetarian, but used to be)...and I follow the directions...but I soften bell peppers, onions, zucchini, and squash in a frying pan with some evol. I then put everything in my crock put and let it sit for a couple of hours...delicious.

I am really looking forward to my fill because although I did get just below the magic 14stone, my weight is starting to creep up because I am hungry and eating more. After the banding I was really not interested in food that much and always had more interesting things to do...now I am cruising down to the kitchen, poking about in the fridge, trying to eat healthy but I AM HUNGRY!!!!! So I think the stomach must be pretty well healed. My fluoroscopic fill is on Monday and I will be well and truly ready for it. However, I have always regarded this as a long term thing and was not surprised that the weight loss slowed, stopped and is probably in reverse! It was such a great thing to really not be bothered about food. It will be great to get back to that state, hopefully straightaway post-fill. We are going out to eat (!) that evening as I am having my fill in the same town as my daughter who is at Uni. My husband is coming too, so we are all going to a Chinese restaurant where the vegetarians will be happy, the meateaters will be happy, and the dimsum eaters will be happy too. I am planning just to have some soup!

Agreed!! They just aren't fans of my turkey obsession everyday. They definitely eat way more fruits and veggies than I do. My youngest is a vegetarian, my oldest will only eat meat 90% of the time and my hubby is a salad before the meat and sides are served type of guy...lol.

style="margin:0;padding:0;background-color:#d8dde8;color:#5a5a5a;font:normal 13px helvetica, arial, sans-serif;position:relative;"> Hey BariatricPal Members! How are you doing on those New Year’s resolutions? It’s easy enough for them to get lost in the shuffle as everyone gets back to regular life after the holiday season. There’s one place that’ll help you keep your head in the game, though. That’s BariatricPal. This newsletter can help you get back on track or more motivated to stay on track. Here’s what to expect. Member Polls: Share Your Views! Member Spotlight: Meet BLERDgirl! Fueling Up for the Day: Getting a High-Protein Breakfast Weight Loss and Knee Pain: Another Reason to Get Bariatric Surgery? After you get through the newsletter, come on over to BariatricPal and talk about your goals, progress, setbacks, and recipes. The community could be just what you need to meet your goals in 2015! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder, BariatricPal Member Polls: Share Your Views! The Member Polls Forum is a hot place at BariatricPal! It’s a place where you can give your opinions on almost anything, and find out what other BariatricPal members think about the same things. When you weigh in on a topic, don’t forget you can explain your answer in the conversation after you mark it in the list of options. Here are a couple of the current hot topics. Check them out on the forums! How Do You Feel About Eating Out after Weight Loss Surgery? Restaurant meals…they may be a great social opportunity and include some delicious food, but they can be a nightmare after weight loss surgery. Portions are too big, the food isn’t always on your diet, and the people with you don’t always understand your restrictions. How do you deal with restaurants after weight loss surgery? See how other BariatricPal members deal with them, too. Maybe you’ll get a few good ideas about eating out after weight loss surgery. How Did You Find and Choose Your Bariatric Surgeon? You can learn a lot of practical information from hanging out on the Polls forum. For example, if you’re thinking about weight loss surgery and still need to choose a surgeon, check out the poll asking members how they found and chose their surgeon. We won’t spill the Beans here, but there are a lot of good ways to choose a weight loss surgeon! Insure Nutrition We are always thrilled to welcome a new newsletter sponsor into the BariatricPal family, and this month, Insure Nutrition is giving us the pleasure of doing just that. Our latest sponsor, Insure Nutrition, is an online company that specializes in getting health insurance coverage for nutritional supplements. Its Post-Bariatric Surgery Nutrition products includes Premier Protein shakes in chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry flavors and OptiSource High Protein drinks in caramel and strawberry flavors. Checking if you are eligible is easy. Insure Nutrition encourages you to use its online form to find out if you qualify. Our sponsors help make BariatricPal newsletters and other services possible. We encourage you show your thanks by considering them first for your bariatric needs. Exciting News – We're welcoming unjury and Opurity to BariatricPal! BariatricPal is proud and excited to announce two new sponsors for our newsletters. The new sponsors are Unjury, a supplier of wonderful tasting, highest quality protein supplements, and Opurity (from the makers of UNJURY), highest purity Vitamin supplements for bariatric surgery patients. Their support lets us keep BariatricPal newsletters coming to you each month. Unjury was founded by a master’s degree dietitian who has been helping patients since 1974. It is committed your health. You know the importance of getting enough protein after weight loss surgery, but you also know that meeting your protein goals can be challenging. Unjury makes your task not just easier but actually enjoyable. Product flavors include Chocolate Splendor, Chocolate Classic, Vanilla, Strawberry Sorbet, chicken Soup Flavor, and Unflavored. These ready-to-use protein powders come in single-serve and multi-serve containers, and contain high-quality whey protein to keep you full and nourished. Launched in 2007, Opurity is dedicated to using the purest ingredients in its supplements. Opurity Bariatric Multivitamins have two unique big advantages: First, each multivitamin requires only one tablet per day*. Second, Opurity is so dedicated to quality that it is unique in using no ingredients from China. Choose from chewable orange-berry multivitamins for gastric bypass and gastric sleeve patients or for lap-band patients.Opurity also sells chewable calcium, vitamin D and folic acid/vitamin B-12 chewables. All supplements come with a 100% satisfaction guaranteed. They return policy is: “Yes you can return it.” Support from Unjury and Opurity helps us continue to bring you the services you enjoy on BariatricPal, so please support these two brands! When looking for your bariatric surgery supplements, first visit Unjury.com and Opurity.com. Purchasing from these companies helps support BariatricPal. Thanks to Unjury and Opurity for your generous sponsorship, and thanks to BariatricPal members who support our partnership! *You still need calcium and sublingual B-12. Member Spotlight: Meet BLERDgirl! This month, we are delighted to feature BLERDgirl from Philadelphia! Like many other weight loss surgery patients, BLERDgirl had always been overweight, growing from a pudgy toddler to a chubby teen to an overweight adult. She was always popular and active, though, and it wasn’t until she became morbidly obese that her weight interfered with her quality of life. She could no longer breathe easily while skiing at altitude, couldn’t fit in airplane sits, and didn’t enjoy traveling abroad where “things are designed for smaller people.” BLERDgirl still didn’t have obesity-related comorbidities, although she does have her share of health concerns, started with a long list of allergies to foods and medications. She battled uterine cancer 10 years ago, and had to get a hysterectomy that left her with a spastic bladder. She tore her meniscus skiing in 2008. A bout with facial shingles left her with facial nerve damage called trigeminal neuralgia. Most recently, she developed vertigo, which leaves her feeling dizzy. Throughout this period, BLERDgirl gained and lost 35 to 50 pounds multiple times. BLERDgirl had a friend who was doing well with gastric bypass surgery, and she investigated and eventually settled on gastric sleeve. The surgery wasn’t easy because of her allergies. She was also a high-risk case because of her weight of 400 pounds at a height of 5’3”. BLERDgirl was also concerned about her diet, since she is a vegetarian – no meat, chicken, or fish – and almost vegan – no yogurt, cheese, or eggs. Still, she got the surgery in September of 2014, and has since lost 48 pounds. BLERDgirl suspected that losing some weight would help with some of her conditions, and it looks like she was right. Since getting the surgery, she has gone for over 3 months without an allergic reaction – compare that to less than a week without a reaction before surgery – and has enjoyed a more dependable bladder and more energy. Other great moments include waking up pain-free after surgery, and losing weight quickly so far. BLERDgirl says she has a good support group that meets in person, but she also wanted to be able to chat with other bariatric patients. She has found friends on BariatricPal, and enjoys sharing ideas and encouragement with them. To members struggling with their weight, BLERDgirl suggests following your plan. She also says to make sure you do your research before choosing a surgeon and surgery, and to read up on good nutrition. Finally, exercise. Whether it’s sitting or standing, everyone can do some exercise. Thanks, BLERDgirl, for being in our member spotlight! Congratulations on your progress. We are excited to continue your journey with you! Let us know if you would like to be in the Member Spotlight section of the newsletter or there is a member you would like to see featured. Post in the Member Spotlight Forum or send a private message (PM) to Alex Brecher. It doesn’t matter if you’re at goal weight or pre-surgery – you have a unique story, and we want to hear it! Weight Loss and Knee Pain: Another Reason to Get Bariatric Surgery? Knee pain can be part of a vicious cycle when you are obese. Your knees hurt, so you don’t feel like exercising. Instead of exercising, you eat. Or you feel bad, so you eat. You gain weight, and your knees can’t take the extra strain. So they hurt. And you stop exercising. The cycle continues. Risks of Knee Replacement Surgery It gets worse, too. When you are carrying around so much extra weight, treating knee pain is much more difficult. For example, knee replacement surgery is a riskier operation that may not work as well as in normal-weight individuals. Obese patients have a higher risk of infections, blood clots, and cardiac events during surgery. And, the replacement knee can wear out faster. Bariatric Surgery to Reduce Knee Pain? If this sounds familiar, you may be wondering whether there’s hope. There is. It turns out that bariatric surgery doesn’t just lower your risk for diabetes, heart disease, and similar obesity-related conditions. Losing weight after weight loss surgery also helps reduce knee pain. In a review article published in the December 2014 edition of the journal “Obesity Reviews,” researchers looked at 3,837 patients and found knee pain and stiffness decreased, while knee function tended to increase. The reasons are simple. First, you’re putting too much stress on your knees when you force them to carry around extra pounds. Second, obesity can make you turn and twist differently than a normal weigh person, and this puts unusual strain on the knee. Something Else to Consider While Weighing Your Options If you’ve been suffering from knee pain for years, you may be thinking about knee surgery. At the same time, if you’ve been trying to lose weight for years, bariatric surgery may be in your future. It’s worth asking your doctor if you should try bariatric surgery before putting your knee under the knife. You just might save yourself the trouble of surgery for your knee, or at least make that knee surgery more effective if you lose weight first. Fueling Up for the Day: Getting a High-Protein Breakfast You learned in Weight Loss Surgery 101 that protein is the most important nutrient. It helps you stay full, keeps your muscles, hair, skin, and nails healthy, and supports your immune system. Protein should be the first nutrient you choose at each meal. Is it? As the year gets underway and you get back into your regular routine, take a look at your breakfasts, Are you making sure to include one to two high-protein foods in each one? Or are you using lack of time as an excuse to skip breakfast or grab a sugary or starchy pastry that’ll wreak havoc on your blood sugar and hunger levels? Busy or Not, Include One to Two Servings of Protein You don’t need a lot of time to have a healthy, high-protein breakfast. There are plenty of quick breakfasts to try. After choosing your protein, add in a fruit or vegetable, or a serving of starch. If you use any fat, make sure it’s a healthy one, such as Peanut Butter or olive oil, and not saturated. Here are a few breakfast ideas. Oatmeal pancakes made with cottage cheese, served with Greek yogurt. Egg whites and cheese on a whole-grain English muffin half. Oatmeal made with Protein Powder, served with apples and cinnamon. omelet with spinach, tomatoes, and low-fat feta cheese. Scrambled eggs served with turkey bacon and melon. Hot oat bran Cereal served with low-fat turkey sausage. Turn Disaster into Triumph Things always come up. No matter how hard you plan, it’s possible that you may find yourself leaving home without breakfast. As you pull up into the drive-through or coffee shop parking lot, don’t beat yourself up. Instead, focus on the healthy foods you could have. An egg white and ham sandwich – skip the bread. Reduced fat yogurt and fresh fruit salad or an apple or orange. Half of a whole-wheat bagel and peanut butter. Cereal and skim milk. Your healthy breakfast gets your day started on the right foot, so don’t miss out! That’s all we’ve got for this newsletter. Keep up the good work on those New Year’s resolutions, and keep sharing your journey with us over at BariatricPal.

Mandy---I Love Market Day! Is there something that you can recommed that is bandster and vegetarian friendly??? Good Luck with your IEP meeting!!!!

i haven't posted in a while, i went in for a fill last week and was down almost 10 pounds. i am at 209 now, my highest was 353 and i was at 315.5 on surgery day april 22, 2009. my goal is to get to 160 then stabilize for 3 months then i am going to l.a. to have plastic surgery done by dr drew ordun. i have recently become a vegetarian and have never felt better!

Not sure what I'd do. Probably try to be rebanded. If that wasn't an option, then I'd definately turn back to full on vegetarianism, if not veganism. I agree that I refuse to have my innerds rearranged, so any of the other surgeries are out for me. I would probably look into the gastric pacemaker thing too.

I'm currently doing my pre-op diet. I am not supposed to have more than 60 grams of carbs a day. I am constantly over this because of all the veggies I eat. If I don't eat a bunch of veggies, I stay hungry. My NUT didn't really explain if carbs from veggies count. Do you think it will be OK to go over the 60 grams of carbs a day as long as it's from veggies? Broccoli and Brussels sprouts are the only thing saving me from hunger and since I'm vegetarian, I'm eating meatless "chicken" strips which has a small carb count as my protien. I'm at a loss. Sent from my XT1254 using the BariatricPal App

Hi, everyone! As a vegetarian sleever, currently in India, I currently find myself strapped for Protein options. I mainly do Protein shakes, Protein Bars, lentils, yogurt, Peanut Butter, and cheeses (including paneer, which is sort of like cottage cheese). On some days, I might have a maximum of one ounce of cheese. On other days, however, I catch myself eating maybe 3 ounces of paneer, 1 to 2 ounces of cheese, and 2 tbsp of peanut butter all on one day. This is partially my fault, because I see it happen on days where I don't drink my Protein shake, or on days where my fridge is not well stocked with protein options. Today was one of those days! In my head, this all sounds like way too much fat. So, the question is, how much cheese is too much? While the paneer may be a smidgen lower in fat than cheddar or peanut butter, it's still fatty, I assume.

hmmm. Difficult dilemma. Being a meat eater, it is hard for me to come up with ideas for Protein. Nuts, Beans and tofu maybe, however that seems it would get boring after a week or so. I wonder if a vegetarian site might be more help. I myself just recently realized that eggs were so high in fat. I didn't really know this, I guess I should have but I just found out that a single egg has 27 grams of fat. Eeek! Good luck, sorry I couldn't be more help. P.S. I guess there is also Protein shakes and supplements.

I totally panicked when I read the article after it came out. Half of what's in it, she dammed well made up herself! And I started running well before I hit 70kg. I actually really regret it. The funny thing is, she contacted my doctor asking to talk to me, and I was silly enough to say yes. But at least its better than another one I read a few weeks earlier, where they said they could only eat a couple of mouthfuls of food. I actually had an anxiety attack over the mistakes. I feel like I was misrepresented. Like I didn't work till I got down to 70kg. That and she mentioned lean meat. Exactly where in the vegetarian diet does meat fit in? I remember correcting that too. Ahh well. In a weeks time, everyone will have forgotten. I do have to ask, what did the doctor frown about?

I was banded on Wednesday the 7th. I am on day four now, and I feel like I am starving all the time. I have tried Protein drinks, popsicles, juice, gallons of Water (I have no restrictions when it comes to liquids), thinned out Soup, broth, decaf tea and full caf coffee. Milk and yogurt. The only thing I can get down without a hitch is the water, and apparently that is a good thing. But I make a small amount of soup (very thinned out) and sip the whole thing, and right away I am in the kitchen looking at everything that looks good. I think it might be in my head --- well, I am pretty sure some of its in my head, as I have been a vegetarian for years now and my son's ham slices look delicious! I keep thinking "another week of liquids!???" I want apples, and toast, and fajitas, and ............ How to calm the hungries?

Hello and thanks for your post. I have been a vegetarian before and even vegan for a short while - back then I found dairy too hard to give up but believe I can do it now - but back in my previous veggie days I never paid a lot of attention to how much protein I was taking in. So that will be a new angle for me with the band. I have many reasons for wanting to get back to a vegan diet, health being an important reason but also have concerns about the environment and the cruelty to the animals we raise in such horrible conditions so that we can eat them. I will take your advise and post on the post op boards - thanks for that suggestion :-) Hi there, I'm a fish-eating vegetarian or a pescatarian (I am not really a fan of that word). I've been so since October of 2008. I was banded last month. I, too, intend to go vegan at some point. I think it would be pretty easy to do it with the band. The majority of your protein would probably come from soy protein shakes. I found one organic whey protein but I think I might be lactose intolerant so I couldn't use that one. I ate a lot of vegetarian fat free refried beans, lentils and tuna on my mushy stage. For my liquid stage, I used mushroom stock and vegetable broth. If I were you, I might retain a solid protein - like fish - until you really have the hang of getting all your protein in without it. The band is pretty limiting at first and, for me, I had two years under my belt without meat so it wasn't too difficult to figure out how to use what I normally ate with the band. Best of luck to you! You might also want to post this on the post-op thread because I think you may get more responses. I've run across a few people here who are vegetarian.

Hi All. Banded 4/26/10, outpatient. Began pre-op diet at 237 (bmi 37), weighed in this morning at 209. Depending on how I calculate the start date/weight, I'm down about a pound per week. Insurance paid 100%. No particular "guy" issues, I don't think. The whole notion of the band being a "tool" is totally on target - but I think its impossible to understand before you have one. Its not a cure - you really do have to learn how to use it, and be willing to do so. There is definitely a learning curve, and you have to be pretty thoughtful about your eating (content, timing, etc.) That said, I still get stuck about once per week, and when it happens it just sucks. I've puked in some interesting places (my mother-in-law's backyard, on the interstate while driving, in the bathroom of a home I was considering for a purchase), and it can really put a damper on the day. I've been surprised at the kinds of foods that "work" and those that don't. For example, I can still eat a bagel (well, 1/2 a bagel), but bananas and some yogurts cause problems. I eat at least one salad per day (with Beans, walnuts, other veggies, a bit of olive oil, etc) which I find very satisfying and easy to eat (I'm a vegetarian). I try to have some Protein with every meal, but I don't really count protein grams. I usually have 4 small meals (a bit less than 1 cup, by volume) of 300-400 calories each. I don't drink for 60-90 minutes after a meal (and NEVER during a meal), and try and drink 12-16 oz 10 or 15 minutes before I eat. I eat every 3 1/2 - 4 1/2 hours, and can stretch that out a bit by drinking. Diet Snapple has become my new best friend. Mostly, problems arise when I am rushed or distracted and don't concentrate on chewing, or eat too quickly. i could probably have the band tightened a bit to quicken my weight loss (8 cc in a 14 cc band), but I am committed to the idea of wanting to eat "normal foods in normal amounts", which is basically where i am. Also, I don't want to increase the frequency of vomiting. Once every 7-10 days is plenty. All in all, I am VERY pleased with the band. For the first time in my life, I can eat a meal, feel satisfied, and not be hungry again five minutes later. I feel better physically, my numbers (bp, cholesterol) are all way down, and, while I am by no means at a normal weight - yet - I look a lot better. Nice to hear from the guys on the board. Good luck to those of you who are going for it. Unsolicited advice: (1) Make sure you have your surgery performed by a reputable, well-trained physician who does A LOT of bands - practice really does make perfect. (2) Go to a practice that provides good follow-up care and support (fills, nutrition advice, moral support). This is key. (3) Don't expect a miracle - it takes work, attention, and a willingness to endure some "unpleasantness" while you're learning how this thing works. Best, Zig

Hi there, I'm a fish-eating vegetarian or a pescatarian (I am not really a fan of that word). I've been so since October of 2008. I was banded last month. I, too, intend to go vegan at some point. I think it would be pretty easy to do it with the band. The majority of your protein would probably come from soy protein shakes. I found one organic whey protein but I think I might be lactose intolerant so I couldn't use that one. I ate a lot of vegetarian fat free refried beans, lentils and tuna on my mushy stage. For my liquid stage, I used mushroom stock and vegetable broth. If I were you, I might retain a solid protein - like fish - until you really have the hang of getting all your protein in without it. The band is pretty limiting at first and, for me, I had two years under my belt without meat so it wasn't too difficult to figure out how to use what I normally ate with the band. Best of luck to you! You might also want to post this on the post-op thread because I think you may get more responses. I've run across a few people here who are vegetarian.

As a vegetarian I'm not a fan of PETA, but I support my local SPCA. They do wonders in my community. Stormie was spayed & microchipped for free thanks to them. She gets her yearly vaccinations for just $15 thanks to them.

That would be lacto-vegetarian

I am a vegetarian. Even the best hi-Protein vegetarian foods have only 10-15% Proteins and 70% carbs (Beans, milk, legumes, cheese) and quite substantial fat too. Any suggestions for hi-protein vegetarian foods with low carbs and low fats. Thanks in advance for your kind suggestions.

Hi everybody i was sleeved on 2/7/13 the day after surgery was terrible was not able to complete even 30ml clear liquid, but now i am on soft diet and i feels really good seeing that i have lost 13 Kgs. till date and also at times when people appreciate that i have lost weight. But life has become to hectic as before surgery working for nearly 18 hours a day thinking of taking a vaccation of 2 days and having nice sleep. Is there anybody from india because i am from Mumbai, India. So if anybody sleeved from India please come share ur experience. Also i am a strict Vegetarian if members here can share pure vegetarian recipe it will be great.

EAS carb control in rich(Dutch) chocolate Vegetarian friendly tastes like chocolate milk

Has the OP ever even came back? We have the random trolls that come here, post a buncha garbage and never show back up to respond to people or defend their points. When I first saw the title of this thread I thought it was actually about Mediterranean style eating, but instead it is about being vegetarian. Vegetarians don't offend me, I like Vegan food, and I understand the thought behind it. Growing up with a native american background I have a different attitude about eating animal flesh. I have no issues with OPs point of view. Just the post and dash and the no supporting numbers whatsoever. There are plenty of vegans and vegetarians who post here without sounding like they are talking down to the plebs.

I eat a lot of grains- steel cut oats, quinoa and tofu, I eat a lot of the morningstar burgers and meatless chicken- I also make green smoothies with spinach or kale and fruit- I eat a lot of beans, hummus, eggplant- I did a 21 day vegan challenge and kept with it- they issued a bunch of recipes and that helped a lot since it was all new to me- It was not and is not hard and I dont miss meat at all... I am always full and have to forcemyslef to eat most days but I feel 100% better overall... I eliminated dairy out of my diet but twice a month I eat string cheese or queso blanco and/or yogurt just for something different but I use almond milk or hazelnut milk daily. If we eat out and there are no vegetarian options I will eat fresh fish if I am not in the mood for a salad but that has been rare... and you have to be careful eating out- Texas Roadhouse has really good baked potatoes and sweet potatoes BUT they are cooked in bacon grease/fat- so not vegetarian and you wouldnt know unless you ask and ask and ask....

http://www.vegsoc.org/page.aspx?pid=508# What is a vegetarian? Vegetarians today come from all walks of life, and all sections of society. They don't generally want to cause a nuisance when they eat out, they just want what most people want: good food and a choice. Sadly this isn't always available. Identifying a vegetarian This is our definition of a vegetarian: A vegetarian is someone who lives on a diet of grains, pulses, nuts, seeds, vegetables and fruits with, or without, the use of dairy products and eggs. Or A vegetarian does not eat meat, poultry, game, fish, shellfish or crustacea, or by-products of slaughter. There are different degrees of vegetarianism which may be what causes confusion with caterers. The four most common forms of vegetarianism are: Lacto-ovo-vegetarian. Eats both dairy products and eggs. This is the most common type of vegetarian diet. Lacto-vegetarian. Eats dairy products but not eggs. Ovo-vegetarian. Eats eggs but not dairy products. Vegan. Does not eat dairy products, eggs, or any other animal product Eggs: Many lacto-ovo vegetarians will only eat free-range eggs. This is because of welfare objections to the intensive farming of hens. Through its Vegetarian Society Approved trade mark, the Vegetarian Society only endorses products containing free-range eggs.

OTR: "Duck" in this thread was referring to a tofu skin dish that does not contain any meat. So yeah, it's vegetarian in this context. I've seen you post before about vegetarian/vegan (when I first searched the board for posts about vegetarianism and VSG), but don't agree with your assessment of what constitutes a vegetarian. I think you are confusing vegan and vegetarian. A lacto ovo vegetarian is a type of vegetarian, and a vegan is a type of vegetarian who does not consume any animal products. A vegetarian does not equal a vegan--but you can be a vegetarian without being a vegan. All vegans are vegetarians but not all vegetarians are vegans. Obviously there are many types of vegetarians that fall under that broader term. So yeah, milk and eggs are vegetarian (lacto ovo vegetarian to be exact)--they aren't vegan....

have you ever tried boca burgers....another vegetarian brand found in most all supermarkets.....90 ,15 gp...delicious