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Not really. I just don't care. Maybe it's from years of being the lone vegetarian in the crowd so often, I simply don't care.

I'll get real with you too ... and believe me, I'm being realistic, not mean. PCOS makes it much harder to lose weight, but not impossible. I lost 70 lbs at one point through diet and exercise. It can be done. I went through early menopause so my symptoms are pretty much nonexistent now, but women with PCOS can lose weight. It's harder and slower than the average person, but I did it and I didn't have superpowers. Don't use PCOS as your catch-all excuse. Lots of women with PCOS have the surgery. I've been a vegetarian for 30+ years and I have to tell you, as far as weight loss and real nutrition, your diet is crap. Bagel with butter? Skipping a meal? Chickpeas (btw, I love them) have 45 carbs in a cup and close to 300 calories. 1/4 cup of feta is loaded with sodium. A cup of quinoa has 39 carbs. Where's the Protein? You think you are eating a lot healthier than you are. You're not in "great health". You're 5' 4" and almost 300 lbs. You are a morbidly obese woman who is used to walking. Not having a heart attack at this very moment doesn't mean you are in "great health". What you are is someone whose body hasn't started showing the signs of breaking down yet. The key phrase is started showing. It's breaking down. You can walk? Great. We're SUPPOSED to be able to walk without effort. You're not getting the Gold Star of Health because you can still walk and you don't have obesity hypoventilation syndrome ... yet. I weighed 268 and was 52 when I decided to look into surgery, and I could actually sprint, touch my toes, run up the subway stairs, walk for miles, you name it. I also had a family history of people dying in their 40's and 50's, and if they made it to 60, it wasn't for long. I really didn't want to die. That was the tipping point for me. I was in my genetic "dead zone". I was 53 when I had the surgery, and I'm 54 now. I'm confident I'll live to see 74. Have you seen any 5' 4" 300 lb women in their 70's and 80's walking around? No. Do you know why that is? It's because there are aren't any. They are all dead. If you aren't ready for surgery or just plain don't want it, there is nothing wrong with that. It's not for everyone. If you want making it up the stairs to your house to be your personal best, go for it (and I'm not being sarcastic). Sometimes people are happy with the way things are and don't adapt well to change. I had this sort-of uncle who lived in his mother's basement his entire adult life. He had a pool table, a full bar, a dart board, state of the art (for the 1960's) stereo, color tv (a big deal back then), fridge, some type of velour sofa and a bed. The only time he would leave was to buy beer and Slim Jims. He was truly happy. His whole life was spent in that basement. He loved being down there until the day he died. I personally am so grateful for my surgery. Every day I wake up and think about what I was this time last year. I ate clean before, but now proper nutrition is a priority. So is exercise and making the best possible choices for me at all times. What I put in my mouth, what I do with my time, what I will accept from myself. My personal standards for myself and my goals are a thousand times higher and it really shows. Is there something you are afraid of? There are some downsides (like sagging skin), but it's small potatoes compared to all the health and personal benefits. I don't pray to not die in my sleep every night before I go to bed any more. I'm not jonesing for bagels any more. I get excited about working out. When stuff happens, I have to deal with it instead of eat. The happy switch has been turned on for me. I wish I had done this years ago.

Honestly, it just sounds like you are not ready. My head was where yours is. I have always considered myself to be a beautiful full figured healthy woman. I was an all American athlete even though I was heavier than the other athletes. I took the attitude of, "yeah, I may be big, but I'm still better than you, prettier than you, and healthier than you" from those years and applied it for the pas 20 years. What a complete crock of ****. I believed my own lies. And in the process, lost years off my life, that I may never get back, because of my narcissism and truly unhealthy lifestyle. And guess what, I was once a vegetarian and actually believed that just because I didn't consume meat products, I was still healthier than other people....meanwhile I outweighed others by 100+ pounds. looking back on things, I often ask myself, "how could I have been so stupid?" Why and when did I brainwash myself into thinking that being 100+ lbs overweight was healthy or sexy." I woke up after learning all the cancers and diseases obese people develop and through surviving thyroid cancer. You have yet to face your own "Come to Jesus" moment. And that is okay as all of us are on our own journeys. I just hope your moment is sooner rather than later.

It's okay to like yourself and want to be better. I didn't have high blood pressure or diabetes. I always thought I was cute. I agree with @@Babbs this is a lifestyle change. Make sure you are ready to commit. Okay so I'm home now. Let me just say I don't eat low cal food ever. However, like @islandsneezer I am a vegetarian with multiple food and medicine allergies. Mine are: Foods: seafood, stevia, most artificial sweeteners, MSG, food dyes, especially red dye. Medicine: toviaz, percocit, gabapantin, iodine, and latex. I always had an active life style. Plenty of friends, traveled the world, and I love fashion. I have a bunch of minor, but chronic health issues. Now all of these issues individually or in a smaller sized body are completely manageable and tolerable. However the weight made them worse. To the point that I was unable to work. I was told that WLS might make them more manageable. Guess what? I've had 1 very minor episode of swollen lips since my surgery. I no longer get up all night peeing. Back to low cal, restricted diet. I don't do that. One of the things I had to when trying to manage my allergies was keep a food diary. I started eating "clean" Basically no processed foods. I cook most things from scratch. Other than the Protein shakes I still do that. So I never went on a diet. I just started being more mindful of what I ate. I gave up sodas and only drink Water and occasionally fruit juices. As I mentioned before the excess issue is an issue I'll deal with when/if it happens. A good friend of mine had bypass surgery. She lost 60% of her body weight and has no excess skin. All I know is I was 51 and I plan to live another 40/50 years so I wanted to be able to enjoy it.

it doesn't hurt to try vegetarian sources for awhile. Just giving you an idea ❤️

My program gave us a handbook at the first doctor's appointment. It became my bible for those first 6 weeks. I had to take into consideration when choosing a Protein drink as well as vitamins/supplements that I'm I'm vegetarian and I'm allergic to most artificial sweeteners and stevia. In my hand book was 2 page list of some of the more popular brands. unjury for example, was out. It has aspartame aka sweet n low. I would recommend trying a variety in all 2 forms: powder, liquid and premade. Once you find a few you like, buy no more than 2 weeks worth. Some people have reported their taste buds changed post-op. You don't want to get stuck with loads of something you can't tolerate. Then there were vitamins/supplements. My doctor recommends the full regimen of AM/PM Multi, Vit D3, Calcium Citrate+D and B12. The handbook had 3 full pages front & back on that! Here I also had to be on guard for ingredients that could trigger my seafood allergy & artificial dyes. Flintstones were a no go because I can't do artificial dyes/food colorings. I would also stock up on your liquids; herbal teas, milk or non dairy drink of choice and cream Soups or soups that can be pureed & thinned out if necessary, hummus and yogurt. Hope this helps. Congrats on your surgery date!

@@Stevehud - I understand all that you are saying, but I assure you everything I did is per my doctor's protocal. I did not have a pre-op diet as part of my program. I also know the difference between a weight loss supplement and a meal replacement. As I mentioned those shakes were but a small part of my Protein intake. My surgeon is the chief of the bariatric program at my hospital, which is a world reknown hospital. It is one of the reason why I choose him. I am a vegetarian with multiple food and medicine allergies. The popular protein drinks would never work for me because they almost all uniformly contained allergy triggers. I made it through surgery with absolutely no problems, no gas, no pain, no nausea, nothing. I walked in recovery and have been losing steadily. Why would I question my doctor's advice? @leila0812 - Talk to you doctor or nutritionist. My program gives it patients a handbook detailing the program from the pre-op to post-op process. The nutrition class also goes into greater detail. I was given sample menus, list of Vitamins and supplements to try, the whole nine. It's very detailed and comprehensive. One thing I will say, is every surgeon is a bit different in their protocols. It's nice to get opinions and thoughts here, but also touch base with your surgical team.

im using spirutein. I will tell you it has higher sugar and carbs than my nut recommended - however I keep my daily totals in check. The sugars are natural in lieu of substitutes that also make me sick. I've lost 40 lbs and no nausea so I'm continuing to do what's good for me. The issue you run into with vegetarian eating is the capacity of food you have to eat to get the equivalent protein from meat - this is why my daily shake is so important. I do Morningstar farm grillers and edamame a lot. I'm in love and feel great now. I'm not anti meat for any other reason except how it makes me feel. Maybe one day it'll change but for now I'm good this way ❤️

@ dc0520 It's a relief to know I'm not crazy lol. I have been soooo nauseous lately, and I've been noticing that it is after I eat meat. Even the leanest of meats and I'm just miserable for the next hour or so. The same thing with the whey protein shakes. I spent $100 on powders that my tummy can't take. I'm curious to know what the vegan shake is that you are using? I went to gnc the other day to just look around and come home and do my research, and the guy in there actually recommended a vegetarian protein powder as well. It was a mixed berry flavor, has all the vitamins in a multivitamin, as well as the omega 3....so I'm considering that. I find that my pouch responds well to fresh fruits, canned fruits in water, wheat crackers and hummus, a slice of toast (against my NUT rules, but I don't do it every day). It's a long learning process!

Just in case anyone is having similar issues.... I'm 8 weeks out and have had debilitating nausea and gas that stumped my doctors. I decided to go slightly against their NUT and have found relief. Early I found out I'm now lactose intolerant so I invested in whey isolates I could never get down. I made the correct assumption that I was indeed allergic to whey with an aversion to meat. I'm happy to report I'm nausea free and feeling great. I found a vegan shake that works and eat vegetarian while still getting everything required. I do enjoy fish when I can handle it as well. Meat isn't necessary and in my case was causing a lot of pain. We can succeed without it if you have similar problems like me. Starting to see that light ????

I would have to agree with Bufflehead. Achieving and maintaining consciousness around eating is very important in my opinion. When I set up a plan, prepare to implement the plan, and remain accountable.... I have less trouble losing or staying the same, and not gaining. At first I need to write down in Myfitnesspal what I am going to eat for the day. I make sure I have the supplies to fix those things. I stick with the plan, and if for some reason I don't, I log that in too. I weight in the morning, and also log in exercise...I try to balance my nutrients, keep the food as clean, organic and whole as possible, and I try to eat things I like. I do not want to walk away from a meal hungry. I eat more veggies if I don't get enough food. After doing this for a while I may be able to improvise more, but I try to write down what I eat every day, if not plan the whole thing up front. I personally like to include whole grains and complex carbs in my day.... I am also a vegetarian, so I have to watch the Protein and make sure I get enough (not that easy) You may have other ideas about how you want to eat... but the accountability thing is a strong tool.

Are there any issues related to being a vegetarian that you wish you'd know about before getting the sleeve (or any other WLS)? What were your favourite veg meals post-op?

In the morning I usually have either a single serving of instant oatmeal or I make a protein shake and for my lunch I'll eat something like a slice of cheese with a veggie burger and I'm not a vegetarian but those burgers are so good without bread of course????and maybe a very small salad sometimes I can't eat all the burger so I'll eat half. My meals vary from day to day and I eat 4 small meals a day and I feel good. Congrats on your new journey and if you have any questions feel fee to ask ????

Are you eating foods that tend to be sliders on those over eating days? Carbs like Pasta, potatoes and the like don't keep you full very long. Make sure you start your meal with a Protein. chicken, turkey, Beans or soy if you are a vegetarian. Are you getting all your Water in? I've said this before on here, the thirst mechanism is very weak in lots of people and we mistake it for hunger so we eat. So if you feel hungry, drink something first, then reassess in 30 minutes whether you are hungry.

Here is a couple recipes that come in my binder I was given at the beginning of this process... chicken Tacos 1 tsp. canola oil 1/2 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast cut into cubes 1/2 tsp taco seasoning 2 tbsp. shredded reduced fat sharp cheddar cheese 1 tsp light sour cream 2 tsp mild taco sauce ~In medium saute pan, heat oil over medium high heat...add chicken and taco seasoning, mix and cook for 5 to 7 minutes or until chicken reaches 165. ~Place chicken and cheese into mini food chopper and puree for 20 seconds...using spatula, scrape down the sides of the bowl and puree for 20 seconds or until smooth. ~Garnish with sour cream and taco sauce. Serves 4, Serving Size: 1/4 cup, Calories: 110, Protein: 19g, Fat: 3.5 and Carbs: 1g Cheesy Refried Beans 1/4 cup can vegetarian refried beans 2 tbsp. shredded reduced fat sharp cheddar cheese 1 tbsp. mild taco sauce ~Put refried beans in a small microwavable bowl, sprinkle cheese on the refried beans, add taco sauce over top of cheese. Microwave uncovered for 45 seconds or until hot. Serves 1, Serving size: 1/4 cup, Calories: 70, Protein: 7, Fat: 1 and Carbs: 10 No Noodle Cheese Lasagna 3/4 cup fat free or 2% cottage cheese 1/4 cup marinara or spaghetti sauce 1/4 tsp. oregano 1/4 tsp. basil 2 egg whites ~Mix together well and bake at 350 for 30 minutes ~Serves, 2, Serving size, 1/2 cup ~Nutritional facts will vary based on ingredients used Enjoy

I am a vegetarian and have food allergies. Not all my friends are vegetarians. I almost always check menus before I go. it's just part of what I need to do in order not to get sick. I'm pretty good at it so I have a handful of restaurants I frequent that I know are safe, and I'm pretty good at talking to wait staff to make sure I get something safe to eat. For the most part it doesn't really complicate my life.

So many good suggestions in this thread. I'm going to start a plant based recipe thread in the vegetarian/vegan forum. I'll link back to it on this post once I set it up. Even if you aren't veg, it doesn't hurt to do a meatless day once a week.

@@ElyQuint - Are you Ovo-lacto Vegetarian or a pescatarian?

I have one slice of vegetarian pizza once a week.

I'm low carb high fat vegetarian. I do just fine.

Everything about me is a little left of center. I doubt anyone would blink an eye at me doing something like that. I'm the fat vegetarian. The gal with purple dredlocks The gal with multiple allergies. Seriously I had to ask someone in the grocery store to go get me a box of Pasta once because they were too close to the seafood department. I'm the fat chick who always thought I was cute. ALWAYS. I went through a bento making phase so I have all sorts of tiny containers. I say long live the quirks, they are what makes us special and unique! Oh and I just ordered these for the car and busy days running errands to avoid temptation. They come in smaller and larger sizes and are interchangeable.

I love beef any way, any how. I'd never make it as a vegetarian.

Natalie, this must be so frustrating. I am the "bad girl" as I have never followed a low carb diet after surgery. Only a "lower carb" diet, which is around 100-150 carbs a day. I try and keep them whole grain, lower/no sugar, and lots of organics and raw as possible. I am a vegetarian and getting in the protein is not alway that great. I get back on track and try to get more of those often... its an on going problem. I have a goal range of 170-173 which I maintiained for a while, and in the past couple of months have gained 5-7 pounds. My exercise has reduced and my eating has become more mindless and emotional... which is the reason for the gain. I think you really need to get in more protein... it screws up your body not to have the protein you need to replace muscle tissue and such... My hair still falls out because of not enough protein.... Use MFP every day, do get exercise in any form you can manage, and work to improve the quality of your intake. Sometimes a little thing can really throw off your weight loss and gain. Best of luck to you, we are here for you!

I'm vegetarian, but the only thing that worked for me was eating as clean as possible. I watch white carbs, but I use sugar, raw honey and occasionally maple syrup.

Try being vegetarian with food allergies. I spent half my time reading labels. It took forever to find a protein powder without something I was allergic to.