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So I've been making my way through the various plant-based docs on Netflix (favorite is Forks Over Knives, least favorite is What the Health although it wasn't terrible) and I came across one called Fat, Sick, & Nearly Dead. The filmmaker is Joe Cross, who I saw in another documentary as a plant-based person, so I looked him up and found the film. To give a short summary he decides to undertake a 60-day juice fast (with medical supervision) so basically eating exclusively fruits and vegetables in juice form - I can't recall if he said whether he added any of the pulp/fiber back in or if it was exclusively juice. Then after his fast he gives the impression that he went on a plant-based diet. He lost about 90 lbs in less than a year, doing a "reboot" juice fast every so often, and started traveling to promote this way of living. Now I'm personally not into juicing especially if the fiber is left out. So I didn't decide to do juicing or follow his journey or anything. However, I thought it was a decent documentary and promoted fruit & veggies so I was like, "Cool," and moved on with my life. Then Netflix recommended the sequel film, Fat, Sick, & Nearly Dead 2. So I started watching it. Well... he stated that at the end of his juice fast he had lost 90 pounds to be about 220. He's 6'2 so that's a BMI of 28. Not bad for coming from being 310 lbs. However then he said he has gone up to 240 and fluctuates between 240 and 250. That's a BMI of 30.8 to 32.1 so basically he is obese now. He said 40% of his calories come from fruit and vegetables which I thought was kinda low, but maybe he eats a lot of grains or whatever.... and then he hit me with the big one that he eats animal protein for dinner every night! To my mind this is kind of crazy to call yourself plant-based and then eat meat not just occasionally but every night for supper. I feel like he is kind of riding the trend of plant-based/veganism while sort of hiding the fact that he's still eating meat. I mean I definitely left the first documentary with the impression he was fully plant-based/vegan. And it really got me wondering if this is why his weight is still so high and he has to constantly be going on these "reboot" juice fasts to lose weight again. I wonder what would happen if he just cut out the meat and ate plant-based all the time, if his weight would go back down and he wouldn't have to reboot. I know he travels a lot which can do crazy things to your body, sleep, water retention, etc. But Dr. Greger also travels all over the place doing talks, etc. And Dr. Greger admits his diet when traveling isn't always ideal - he said sometimes when traveling he only hits 25% of the daily dozen recommendation - but he does eat only plant-based and stays healthy despite a crazy travel schedule. So what do you think? Have you seen this movie or the sequel? Do you think if you eat meat every night you are still plant-based? (This doesn't count vegetarianism because this forum is also for vegetarians, not just vegans, so I am referring only to meat here.) Would you rather eat meat and have to juice fast, or just cut the meat and eat mostly plant-based all the time for the same results?

Congratulations on making a fantastic choice for your body, the animals and the planet! :wub: I work at being vegan all the time, but slip up and have dairy pretty often, too. I was wondering if I could do vegetarian or vegan post-surgery, and I'm glad to hear it's possible! Did you ever use Protein powder? If so, what kind? I know Vega is vegan, and if you get the natural flavour, it's not very sweet. I'm hoping it will work for me when I need it!

I think there is a line were what you need to do, and what you can do may clash. Not as easy as saying "just get your head in the game" or "Just eat less" or "Just exercise more". Of course these things count... but it looks to me like there may be some other factors at play here. Brain chemestry? Biome health? When I decided to get the WLS I knew that I would have to do something different than I did before surgery. The lifetyle change. I also knew that I couldnt go so far out of my current lifestyle that I would be falling off the wagon at every turn. I decided I would focus on portion control, not super low carbs.... I am a vegetarian, and very low carb is pretty hard to maintain with limited low carb proteins. I could however eat less carbs. I reworked many recipes to better meet my health needs. I would try and eat everything I wanted too... but keep an eye on the numbers at all times... write it down, weight and measure, get enough protein, drink my water, maintain consistancy with my exercise.... Every day is a work in progress. When stress and tragidy come into the picture... its just that much harder. The drug componant of food becomes a player too. I have seen others around me here going cold turkey with carbs... I can do that too, but know I can't and don't want to live that way, I have tried to make lifestyle changes that will last in the long run. This means for me that I am closer to the edge of gaining... if I graze a little too much, if I dont bother writing down what I eat for a few days, if I eat for the drug effects (sugar!) or just step out of my routein too much (eating out... vacation, house guests, parties) it all shows on the scale. I have dedicated two days a week to lower carb and calorie consumption for the last year, and I think this helps keep me from gaining more than I already have. I find it harder and harder to really get back into the downward loss mode these days. I just finished the 5 day pouch test a few weeks ago.. I lost 6 1/5 pounds which felt great, of course you know that kind of quick weight loss is a water dump from low carbs, so very easy to gain back. It value was to remember how lower carbs and higher protein can work for retriction which is a value if you have lost track of that quality of the sleeve. (or pouch). I really don't want to become a yo-yo dieter again... and am looking for a way, in the long run to keep this weight off. At 4 1/2 years, I am till in the "successfull" range, but still looking backwards to the time I was at goal and working to try and get back there if possible, in a sane and sustainable way.

Hello every one I'm 5 months post op, I've lost 35 pounds, the last few months no weight loss and I always feel hungry. I'm a vegetarian so I know it's harder to get the Protein. I'm always switching from shakes to cheese or greek & yogurt. You know what I mean. I talked to my good friend who went through a gastric and she advised me that there are times like this where you just don't lose weight. I can not eat a lot when I do eat but every few hours I eat a snack or food. Sometimes I feel like I eat too much. I'm still learning how to eat right and how much. I'm not giving up just always looking for new ways to eat and what I can eat. Oh forgot to mention I had to have my gall bladder removed about 6 weeks ago. Anyways my friend said it took her a year and a half to lose all her weight so I figure we're all on the right track it just takes time and EXERCISE!!!! Which I do 2 to 3 times a week. I did this to lose 50 pounds it doesn't matter how much you are over weight because you know it and you feel it. That's why I went to Tijuana to have my sleeve because I couldn't have it done in the US. SO I have 15 more pounds to go.

I lived in Japan for a year. People in Japan have the second longest longevity in the world, right after Monaco (Mediterranean). Both the Japanese diet and Mediterranean diet are high in complex carbs and much lower in protein than the American diet. They eat carbs and veggies...and live to be an average of 85 and 89, respectively. I follow a semi-vegetarian lowfat diet because I feel better, my cholesterol is perfect on it, and I want to be healthy and active like a old Japanese lady:) Japan has one of the lowest cancer rates among developed nations, too. And one of the lowest rates of cardiovascular disease.

b: half of a small banana nut homemade muffin L: cup of chili from chili's d: small piece of vegetarian lasagna, brownie (eek):laugh: s: 2 crackers with cheese :thumbup: no excercize.. such a busy day.. I am going to double it today!

I am so happy to hear you are having this kind of success at over 4 years out! I also exercise 4+ days a week, and log all my food. So far I have refused to eat less than 1200 cals a day, and I am a vegetarian=more carbs. I use fitbit to watch my output as well (for only the last month so far...love it!) according to my input=output I input 500 cals a day less than I output.I do eat my exercise cals back to stay at the -500 cals a day. No weight loss so far, but I am staying the same. I refuse to eat less. This might have to change, but Im taking it slow. Everyone is different! There are others on here that watch everything and stay the same out a couple of years.

I'm late to the party. ..I went vegetarian 2 years ago. I lost 30 lbs without trying. But I didn't make any healthy changes with it so the weight came back. You can definitely be an unhealthy veggie. Off to check out Dr weiner materials.

Vegan Keto=meal prep being an extreme sport. After having surgery I became one of the pickiest eats. I mean food going bad because I was still trying to eat all the food I use to like and it was making me sick. So I stopped eating pork beef turkey and chicken. Didn’t really phase me. I was eating fish from time to time but most times I wasn’t. Again food going bad. Because on Monday fish sounded like a good idea but by Tuesday night I didn’t even want to look at it. So naturally I was just like fine just go vegetarian. But most vegetarian dishes that are easy to make are full of carbs. I started looking in to keto fast forward I’m here. What do I eat? Avocados made in a million ways Chia puddings A plethora of vegetables. Jack fruit Flaxseeds Nuts Berries Sunwarrior protein powder I make everything.

Don't be too hard on yourself julie.ann. Even the healthiest of eaters has their off days or their cheat days. Remember, this is forever. You can't expect yourself to be perfect forever. My parents are vegetarians who do everything no-fat or at least low-fat. (Yeah, I was the black sheep - the great big black sheep) They've learned to give themselves some leeway once in a while - no tofurkey at Thanksgiving for them. We need to learn to do the same without beating ourselves up about it. Just get back on that horse! Good luck!

True story, I have a rough idea if I meal prep, but nothing ever so fancy. I'm just planning for vegetarian vs flexible days ...

i am 10 weeks out. i have not lost interest in food i lost my huge probably football sized stomach. i am vegetarian..ate healthy but huge meals pre op. i am now eating same of food minus all carbs. i am looking forward to losing the weight and then maintaining my weight with a diet similar too sleeve of steel. had this surgery to have a more normal appetite like a typical person. i do understand this is a tool and Will require work. i don't want to eat the calories i take in long term....i don't think it's the healthiest....

I'm vegetarian. 15 years.

One can of vegetarian retried beans split between 5 1/2 cup bowls with a sprinkle of cheese on top. Just ready to be popped into the microwave for a minute or so for a meal.

Wrangler, you are moving along quickly. Sometimes I felt like they should just do a full body MRI and check out everything. I feel better though. I haven't ever been checked out this thoroughly and as I am getting older, issues can arise. I think the only thing not done is a mammography. Since my Primary care doc wants me to have one yearly, I will try to get it in before the surgery. Having just have a colonoscopy within the last 6 months, I will feel like I have been checked from head to toe...wait a minute, I HAVE been checked from head to toe...:biggrin1: Dini, you are going to have to give a report on the protein supplements. I did a great deal of internet research last night on the issue of maximum of 25 gm protein. I did find on vegetarian site that stated that. I read numerous research studies and the gist was you need to replace what you lose. Protein is like any other nutrient (carbs, fat) in that if you take in more than you use it will convert to fat. Protein absorption varies based on the type of protein it is (animal, plant) and even the type within each group. Several studies used supplements containing 50+ gm. per serving. Protein is broken down starting in the stomach with most absorption in the duodenum and upper small intestine. This is why protein deficiency is such a potential problem in gastric bypass patients. If you are not real active your protein needs are lower. The more physical activity, the more protein you need. Recommendations ranged from 0.3 gm/kg body weight(RDA), the average was 0.8 gm/kg, with athelete and exercise anywhere from 1-2 gm/kg. So the overall consensus was there is no set amount to take in or not take in at one time and you should work with your nutritionalist, based on your activity level, come up with a daily amount. It was stated it is better to space it out through the day as you use protein throughout the day. I sure hope this was not too much and too detailed information. I am really into research...

Ok...so I'm looking into this whole gastric band thing, and I'm completely terrified. I'm 5 ft 5, approx 14 stone. and 30 years of age. I've been overweight since I was 11. I once lost 4.5 stone and maintained for over a year, but gradually it came back. It looks like Dr Chris has some great feedback, so I think if I go ahead, he looks like a solid choice. I have been in touch with himself and Frederick, and I need to fill out the hospital form. I had previously enquired with another company who had Dr Chris mentioned on their website, but when they followed up on my enquiry they said they don't work with him. They also seemed very pushy so I backed right off. If someone could help me with some questions, I'd really, really appreciate it. As much as the pros seem amazing, the down sides are really making me nervous! I'm going to throw out some questions, and I would really appreciate any input from personal experience! 1. I've heard that meats, breads and pastas are very difficult to eat after banding...in which case, what on earth do people survive on? I can't eat fish, it makes me feel ill! Is it mainly vegetarian diets? 2. I'm most definitely, absolutely, positively an emotional eater and I guess a food addict. I quit alcohol a year ago (not good for me at all), and smoking earlier this year. Seeing as I clearly have an addictive personality, I'm very worried that removing the food addiction by force may end up in a brand spanking new addiction rising....anyone found other compulsive areas arising post-band? I know that's very personal, so you obviously don't need to answer on the boards! 3. Is PBing really as terrible as it sounds? How can you avoid it? Do you have time to get out of company before everything comes back up? 4. I had heard of an increase in complications after 5 years -anyone know if this is true? 5. The port - can you feel it? As in, if you touch the skin over where it is, can you feel the port? Or can you feel it moving around in there? Do the fills hurt? 6. Has anyone regretted getting the band fitted? If I go ahead, I'll be using money I was supposed to be saving for a housing deposit....I feel enormous guilt at the thought of that...and I'm scared to tell my family as I think they'll judge me as vain. Any advice at all on the above would be much valued. And feedback on Dr Chris and the team from personal experience would be great! R

Hello All Well just got off the phone with Kaiser again. Everytime they call I think they are gonna cancel. Just more questions and more forms to fill out. I wanted to know the time for the surgery but still have to wait until friday. I think I will be 6:45 am................for the first surgery of the day but who knows. I know one lady who will be there with me........she is gonna so be stressing that day!! She was stressing at pre op and has a laugh like a hyena!! LOL. Reggie: I went through the same thing as you with the weight not moving for days on end. I had to STOP not just limit the carbs. And overdue it on the Water. Even than it was slow I just can't seem to lose quickly like alot of people on here. I think for me it is not enough protien since I am vegetarian...........but after Africa I am losing 2-3 pounds a day. I know it has to stop again soon.......but next week sugery and restricted diet so maybe not ya know. I didn't like the African food so I didn't eat much..........lost my apetite I think but not a bad thing. Also it was killer hot over there and you sweat all day long.........that plus no cars and only walking everywhere for three weeks my motel was down this huge hill and I had to walk up and down it all day.......talk about forced exercise!! I kept thinking Dr. Baggs and Liz would so love that I am sweating............ Reggie I bet your scheduled 3-4 weeks out from your CM so May or early June maybe!! So excited for you. Christine so glad to her about your progress. Seems true the second day is the worst!! I heard by the four day things are so much better and that is only tomorrow!! Ok I am down to 4 days.............start the pre op stuff on Sunday. Hey all did they say anything about soap or what not to do before surgery?? Liz didn't go into any of that and no soap..............I thought that was part of pre op..................I know no lotions............but what about shampoo/conditioner..............gell.............oh dear no one asked her.........................

Carbs are NOT my friend. I tried to stay away from them. Nothing white for me, flour, sugar and flour. If I do eat carbs it is whole wheat...........but hmm I don't even do that much. I have not eaten pasta in 7 months. Bread off and on but I ate what I can "fat bread" the kinds that has lots of roughage in in so it is sorta thick and .........oh yes lets me honest dry!! My biggest problem was snacking/sugar and diet coke. Snacking is still hard. Diet Coke. Well it has been 7 months and I don't miss it anymore. Now Vitamine water 10 orange or peach flavor. I drink that stuff instead and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!! I am vegetarian so things are a bit more complicated for me since I don't eat animals!! LOL!! I am suppose to try meat this week!! But I could gag and slip my band!! LOL. NO really I am gonna try it so I can tell Robin I did. I made this Egg McMuffin thing tonight. So good. And mostly protien. 1 egg, Morning star farms veggies sausage, reduced fat cheese and Hearty grain ENglish muffin. It was so, so good. I wanted two but only had one!! Tomorrow morning I know what I am gonna have!! This is my new breakfast thing. I am hating eggs but need to eat them again after talking to RObin this way they don't taste so yuck. I could add some salse or pesto to for a condement!! Hmmm.........but it was good plain too!! Ok I gotta clean............:-)

I asked Dr. Baggs once about the pouch test and he said, "What is that?" LOL. I tried to explain it and his comment is "but why?" LOL. He said that is against the lap band rules but I was telling him it is to test the pouch is not streched.........he laughed!! So I don't know what the medical opinion of the pouch test is!! LOL. THey probably think it is a fad diet or something!! But I tell you it works.........I know AUDSMOM did it and went down fast too. I have never done it more than a day!! :-( Being vegetarian sorta makes it hard. Ok serious I have to get off here and take a break until I get caught up. I may not be on for a few days!! LOL.

OMG Tina, the dried ones don't taste ANYTHING like the real ones...I don't like the dried edamame either. You should really try them! As a vegetarian, it would give you a great, EASY, high protein and fiber option. I bet you'd like them.

CoCo - the pictures are wonderful. You looked so pretty and so happy! So glad Tahoe was fun. I never heard why your sweetie is going to WA for 3 months? Will you get to see each other at all during that time? Reggie - you are amazing. What a beautiful party for CoCo. You are a real sweetheart. What a hostess! Donna, Jess, Candra, Heather and April - you all look wonderful. I'm so glad you could go - I wish I could have too. Tam - hang in. You need to get off the carbs, like I need to cut my portion sizes down! Go back to protein and drink alot of water. Pam - I weigh and measure. I tend to eat the same things over and over, and I keep a food scale on my counter. I know that 2.5 oz of grilled chicken breast is 1/3 c. because I measured it once, so now it is easier for me to just cut off my chicken and throw it on the scale. Unfortunately I am having very little restriction so I can eat more than the 1/2 cup now. I also am not having trouble with much of anything - on Sat. we were doing a lot of errands and it got to be 4pm and we were at Costco so we got a turkey wrap - which of all their things seemed like the healthiest. I was able to eat more than 1/4 of it (and it was big) complete with the lettuce, tomatoe and whole wheat torilla - even though I'm not suppose to have raw veggies or untoasted bread. Even if I eat more than I should, I am trying to make it good food - trying to stay away from the junk (other than the 2 cupcakes last weekend and a few licks of the brownie and cupcake batter and frosting this weekend when I was baking for the concession stand.) Anyway - hope we are still on for Sat. 3/20 for the walk at the Wetlands. I suggest we meet there at 11 am and then we will be back at my house around 12:15 to 12:30 for lunch. Ok so a while back I think I heard that Jes, Candra, Heather, CoCo, Tamra, Riley and maybe Lee were coming. Anyone else? I'll post directions later in the week to the park. Ok so Tam, CoCo and I are on Stage IV and Riley is a vegetarian - any other food restrictions?

Tina yes, I am back to 100% vegetarian again now (ovo-lacto, although I can't tolerate milk - the lactose OR the whey - but I do love my cheese and eggs!) but I am considering pescatarianism because I find that fish works REALLY well with a lap-band - and it does not seem so much like carcass to me. I could NOT do this program vegan, that is for SURE. So for any vegetarians lurking out there who are considering weight-loss surgery, lap-band is the way to go for sure! You can do this. In the beginning I committed to eating meat for 1 year during my rapid weight loss - although I told Robin it was only gonna be meat in cans - canned tuna & chicken - and she was totally fine with that (I did not know she was vegetarian at the time!). So I started eating meat again in November 08 - talk about irregular, BOY did I have issues around re-introducing meat! - and ate it until I went and met with Robin for my 1st fill, she looks at my logs and I was getting 200% of the protein I needed. She said that the body stores extra protein as fat, same as it stores extra anything, and I could transition back to vegetarianism at any time! So I ended up eating meat for only 6-7 months. There is a bunch of vege stuff that I can't eat - I have a wheat sensitivity so I cannot tolerate seitan at ALL, and even the lightweight meat analogs have wheat in them so I have to limit the amount (veggie brugers, etc). And you necessarily get a LOT more carbs on a vegetarian diet than you do on a regular diet where you can restrict them more, so the weight loss IS slower . . but also healthier! Oh and I could not do it without tofu!! I love good-quality tofu, and the firm stuff works really well with the band, too. I now average about 80 grams of protein a day, more than I need. I do have a concern (which Robin shares) with the high amount of soy protein that I eat, since I am adopted I have no idea if I have a family hisotry of estrogen-related cancers (breast cancer, etc) and people who have that familyhisotry are advised to limit their soy. I have soy (milk, tofu, edamame) everysingle day, so that worries me a bit. BUT I remain convinced that a plant-based diet is much healthier for anyone, and heart disease is more of a threat for most folks than soy. That's my lecture for the day!

Hey Riley I am in the same place right now............ I am still confused why some people are already at 5-6ccs at the first fill and 3-5.8 at surgery? Your only three and you have had two fills already? I am sorta confused about how they do this.......... Riley how much are you getting filled at each appointment and do you know how much your fill was at surgery? I have never really had great restriction but lately I have none..............my guess is I don't have much of a fill from surgery or I have lost alot of fat in the last five weeks.......... I am not getting stuck at all. Not eathing much because everything feels like it sticks to me right now........... I have heard that chicken can be a big issue for bandsters............maybe you will have to just go back to being a vegetarian again??

Hi All - sorry I have not posted for a while. I have been keeping up with your posts (y'all have been very busy!). Had a computer issue last week, but it's resolved now. I seem to be moving the scale a little faster now. Instead of 1 1/2 to 2 weeks to drop a pound or two, it's now 4-5 days. Last week I dropped 1 pound, then a day later another one! That's my best week in a long time. I am a slow loser, but a loser just the same, so I am not complaining (well whining a little, but you understand). I had lunch today with my work-friends from pre-retirement days. It was Kellie's birthday and she chose a vegetarian place. hmmm. This presented a Protein challenge. Not a fan of tofu. Oh well - it was just lunch. I had a delightful tomato bisque and a small salad topped with a scoop of egg salad. I couldn't eat it all, but I did eat all the egg salad. This was not difficult, did I say it was small? I tried to get a good amount of protein in for dinner but I wasn't very hungry. It's only one day - it seems so funny to worry about eating too little when I've spent much of my life worrying about eating too much (and eating too much anyway). I wonder if we will ever reach the point where we just eat healthy and don't worry about it. That is a worthwhile goal. I am going back to Korea! DD and her boys did not get to fly home this summer, so I'm going to them. Her hubby is in Washington for several weeks getting certified in his new job, she's still trying to get settled after the move to Seoul - 2 babies to care for. A girl just needs her mom sometimes, and this mom needs to play grandma with those little boys! I'm leaving July 30 and will come home on Sept 1. I am not looking forward to the flights to and from, but it will be much easier on me than it would have been on DD - 12 to 15 hours in a plane with a 27 mo old and a 3 mo old. They need to come home when dad can fly with them... They are hoping to make it home for Christmas. I know that season is harder for DD than any other. She misses being home for Christmas. I am VERY close to onderland. VERY close. and yes, Janet, I know you do not advise this, but I do weigh every day. I've found my weight fluctuates so much, I can't depend on one day a week. I have promised myself I will not allow a gain or status quo to upset me or drive me crazy. It's better than missing that one day that week when my weight is down. Did I say I am VERY close??? I will keep you posted. Listen for shouts of joy from Kansas City area!

Janet, where's Andrew? Why isn't he walking his dog? Those pitbull type of dogs have lots of energy and need to be able to run. At least you have a nice fenced yard for him. Does he dig up your plants? I had a 2 vicodin night last night. At least I slept...a lot and this morning, besides the hang over, I'm feeling quite a bit better. So much so, I went out in the more than 90 degree sunshine and planted a lantana that has been sitting in it's nursery pot in it's future hole for a month. I also did some more weed removal from my front rock pile. All in all a good morning. I really don't want to get too carried away today because I think my back issues yesterday may have been aggravated by the weed work at my sister's. For some reason, I seem to crave the heat and sunshine...I will wait until it's hot before I go out and do stuff in the yard....when I come inside it feels so good. I think all my muscles stretch better in the heat. I've heard about yoga done at more than 100 degrees to help with the stretching. I remember back when I had grass (a different house), I would wait until noon before I'd go outside and move the grass...it would be so hot, but I seem to like it in small doses. We are going to a friends today for a little BBQ (vegetarian style). These are some of the FNSC people and I haven't seen them in quite a while so I'm looking forward to it. Have a great Memorial day! Thanks to all that serve our country in what ever capacity it is and to those who have given their lives. Eva