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If you eat fish, you could go to any restaurant that serves fresh fish--just get it cooked any way other than fried. You could also have soup--just make sure you chew it really well and nothing with a lot of fibrous veggies right now. I also liked veggie chili and hummus at the local Middle Eastern joint when I was on soft foods (could do baba ganouj too). Didn't even miss the pita bread. I'm a vegetarian so don't eat fish--which is why Middle Eastern and refried Mexican Beans worked best for me. Not the easiest to eat out at this stage but it can be done and it's not bad if you focus on the company and the experience more than the actual food. Hope you have fun!

I've using MFP for several years before WLS. I eat anywhere from 700 - 850 calories a day and try to keep my carbs around 50. I'm vegetarian so my carbs tend to be higher than most people. I shoot for 70gm protein or more a day. I don't worry about the fat/sodium/sugar. I just aim to keep them low. I drink 64 ounces of fluids a day, at least 40 of which are plain water.

Yea, I've been a vegetarian most of my life! I also like the veggie soy crumbles, add a little taco seasoning or mix it in with marinara, eat with spaghetti squash. Yum!

I'm a vegetarian..I eat a lot of yogurt, cheese, nuts, veggie burgers and tofu. I like the fake sausage patties from Morningstar for Breakfast.

@@Lthomas were you a vegetarian before your surgery? I tried the Morningstar patties and I didn't really like them, but I love the "chicken" nuggets and patties. I've also discovered Amy's spinach pizza. Yummy!! I bought some tofu to try soon just not sure how to cook it.

I had bought some vegetarian meatballs and had them at 4 weeks post-op. They had 13 grams of protien per serving. I could only eat a half serving. They went down fine. My program said to go easy on red meats that some people have a hard time digesting it. Hope I was helpful. Tara

Anyone have any advice other than a boiled egg? I can't stand the shakes and aspartame in them as well as anything else they want to sweeten with out adding calories.

Score! I bought a tube of dill paste from the fridge section near the vegetables. I squeezed some into greek yogurt, added 1 ounce of soy milk, and it made an incredible side to go with my dinner! Will work for fish, tuna, hard boiled eggs, etc. Makes a great helper for chewing. Today I ate Shwarma (chicken thighs) 3 oz @ 16g Greek Yogurt with Dill 1 oz @ 3g Vegetarian Moussaka. -- Although I am in the purees stage, I can no longer eat that texture. I will gag and starve. So I sad for an hour and chewed responsibly, and I got this meal in. Hurray.

I've been doing the world soup tour: cream of chicken and broccoli, miso soup with tofu, Mexican meatball soup with vegetables, heart healthy vegetarian chili with beans, wonton soup base with scallions and ginger—each one blended into oblivion via my Vitamix. What's also good is that these freeze well, so I just have a taste of each and store the rest. I feel like I have variety and am not bored.

I had surgery in August 2011 and have lost over 60 pounds to date and have never had a fill. I know this is really weird. I had a hiatal hernia repaired which I heard was very bad I was even shown a photo but it just looked like some kind of egg bash in a skillet - whatever. So, I live with what feels like a too tight lapband. This is horrible at times when I try and eat foods too dense/solid to go down no matter the chewing, and I have to run into a bathroom and purge quickly. I try to keep these episodes down to a minimum and stay in my safe little world of oatmeal, yogurt, more yogurt (did I mention greek, frozen, any kind of yogurt?) my favorite grilled eggplant and zucchini with fireroasted tomatoes (notice all mush again). I eat chicken salad now and again but for the most part have become almost all vegetarian other than fish. I often wonder if I can do this forever. Like now, when I came home to a dinner left for me on a plate - a fried pork chop with mashed potatoes. And I think yeah I can do this and I chewed and chewed and till ended up barfing it up. Eating out sucks too unless its appetizers and dessert. I find I can eat dessert and still lose weight. I lost weight over Christmas even though I ate the apple rhubarb cobbler in 3 times in very small amounts. My problem is the paranoia that begins when I take a bite and I have to do the 5 minute wait and see thing. Sucks after 6 months. I am not a big water drinker either although I do make an effort at times. Constipation is a major problem for me - sometimes it hurts so bad I cry when I do go - other times I just freak that I can go 5 days with no bowl movement drink milk of magnesia and nothing happens the next day until I have more. I have been on line int he drugstore clutching MOM, prunes, etc. That sucks too. I work out about 3 times a week - I like the way I look - but I hate the way I feel inside. The other side of the coin from my side is I see people in the surgeon's office getting fill after fill and losing little weight and complaining about that which I think is the norm for most - I feel like perhaps my surgeon did not take into account the enormity of the repair to the hernia and then banded me and did not realize what living with this much constriction was going to be like. So, what do you all think? I'd love to hear. Most people hear all this crap and shrug - they are also overweight and don't really care to hear somebody who is losing weight whining. I have a 21 year old daughter who weighs about 250 pounds and I would never tell her to get banded and her father thinks its great and wishes she would and I'm like no no don't tell her that uyy shes too young to have to either go through the anguish I do or worse yet have it and she doesn't lose. Overall I cannot say I have a better quality of life - I am healthier than ever and look good but the eating experience is definitely a bummer. and considering I was never much of a drinker that how I get through social meals now I can always sit and nurse a drink maybe two - ever more than that though. If your ever in NYC check out the Red Hot Coffee Cocktail at Southern Hospitality OMG so good tastes like a red hot candy and the glazed banana pudding with the warm nilla wafers on the bottom this is in a very small potion for humans and its wonderful you can really enjoy it without the guilt because its in MODERATION!!! I ordered a second one because I had to relive the ecstasy the first one provided :-)

Hi all, Part of the reason for this is actually a little TMI but a lot of people seem to ask about constipation and a couple of alternative therapies I engage in seem to help with this. But also I'd love to hear what weird and wonderful things people have tried and/or are incorporating into their new lives! First homeopathy: I studied homeopathy in psychology at a Uni where the lecturer proceeded to eat a whole box of sleeping pills in front of us. However they were homeopathic. He said it was similar to eating a small mars bar! Now I consider homeopathy and it's principles to be quackery but I'd like to hear from others... Naturopathy: very different from above treats the body in a holistic way including spiritual. I have studied this in anthropology and sociology and I believe it should be studied by all western doctors! In the realm of naturopathy I have tried reflexology. I LOVE reflexology! I have a one hour massage every week and have had symptoms of easier bms, stress relief, insight, reduced pain in sciatica, decrease in headaches, and weight loss feels easier. I also have some mantras that use the mind to heal the body. I have tried enemas and colonic irritations which definitely seem to help my digestion and general feeling of well-being. Although I think some professionals will try and get you to attend more often than is healthy do they make more money. I am interested in trying a coffee enema. Green tea and white tea seem to help me wind down at night, even black tea soothes my nerves. This is debatable but may include the antioxidant properties and placebo effect. I've tried kinoki foot Patches and organic food. I've been vegetarian. That's it for now- what do you think and any more to add!?

This coming Tuesday I will be four weeks out from RNY surgery. I have been using the Orgain protein shakes which are vegetable protein. I mix those with almond milk and add fruit to them every morning. I also use the Orgain high protein shakes, which are organic whey protein. I have made lentil soup and a vegetarian chili, in the chili I used an organic meat substitute that did not contain soy or wheat. I have felt very good and have not had any issues in the bathroom.

I had a bad time with meats when I was on purees and when I was first on solids. They just weren't agreeing with me at all and making me throw up! I basically gave up and became vegetarian. I have wanted to do it for ages and the veggie burgers go down so much better and can boost my Protein. Although intentionally slip up and have some beef Jerky and really well stewed curried goat last week. Went down a lot better than I thought it would. I also tried a few bites of spicy rice and a tiny bit of hard dough bread too, but that's the first time I've gone near the super carbs really. I'm basically terrified of having a bad time on them so don't really have rice, Pasta, potatoes or bread in my diet yet. It's really hard to know what's going to work. I understand how you're feeling. One day something will be going down great and the next day it'll turn your stomach. Best of luck with the meat journey

trying something new this year VegCooking > Celebrate a Vegetarian Holiday!

You can eat some Pasta and bread... just don't over do it unless you'll feel it just sitting there. I eat pasta, rice, rice noodles, breads (not too doughy) regularly, however in moderation (maybe 4-5 pieces of pasta). The softer the pasta, the easier, just remember that it is not a source of Protein and it is not good for your hips and thighs. As for the vegetables - I'm the opposite. I had so much trouble with chicken, turkey, steak, etc that I have become vegetarian after the band. I can eat almost all veg and fruits, except spinach used in a salad. I can eat cooked spinach, but raw spinach gets stuck. Try smaller bits, reallychewing, and taking longer to eat a meal. A salad that used to take me 20 minutes to eat now takes me about 2 hours.

I had surgery on January 9th and I am about 3.5 weeks out. I wasn't a huge meat eater before the surgery but I can't seem to keep any meat in me now. I've tried tuna, talapia, chicken and turkey. when I eat any of this I don't get anywhere near the 1 oz before i am so uncomfortable. It feels like it's sitting right in my throat and then it comes back up. I'm not talkin about just once, I've tried a few times. Cottage cheese, string cheese (I can tolerate 2 of these at a time!) yogurt, and some beans are fine. I can even tolerate cashews but meat doesn't seem like it's ever going to work. Anyone else have this problem? Should I even bother or should I just go vegetarian?

Hi, I'm a vegetarian. I embraced the diet in December on '08. I hadn't seen my mom in 4 years. I knew she'd switched to vegetarian then vegan lifestyle. She has Lupus. When I saw her over this past Christmas, she looked great and was off of most of her meds. So, I thought there had to be something to this diet. I couldn't go vegan, though, lol. My surgeon didn't freak at me being vegetarian. But the nutritionist did, big time! After all, we need meat for Protein, don't we? I just had to ignore her. Right now I'm eating my Breakfast. It's oatmeal with ground flax seeds (for the omega's 3 & 6), goji berries (they have the texture of raisins but contain B vit's and many trace minterals that we need). I put in a bit of cinnamon some splenda and more milk than it calls for, I want it runny. After it's done cooking, I put in 2 tablespoons of vanilla Protein Powder. Viola, I have 30 grams of protein in my breakfast, alone. I should note that me and large amounts of dairy don't get along, so I use soy milk. You don't have to. Look for Greek yogurt. Most walmarts now sell it. One serving has 80 calories, zero fat and around 8 grams, or more, of protein. It's super thick so it's super filling. It can be a bit tart so I mix in a little honey. I work full-time and am a full-time college student. So, I basically cook one or two big meals a week. Last week I made chipolte, black bean and sweet potato Chili and served it over brown rice. My non-veg hubby loves stuff like that. But, I also keep frozen meals for that quick dinner. Healthy choice and lean cuisine now make vegetarian options. They don't say vegetarian, you have to read the ingredients. Lean cuisine makes an awesome butternut squash ravioli that has lots of veggies that go w/it, as well. They make some pretty good pizzas, too. Like cheese and mushroom. Iwas really surprised. Sorry for the long post. It's just that many people thing being a veg is sooooo boring. It's really not. Oh, there's a a line of Soups and frozen dinners by Amy's. Her frozen dinners can be high in fat, but are good for a treat every now and then. Her soups are good but are high in sodium. She's coming out w/a low sodium line. But I haven't seen in walmart, yet. Aslo, V-8 makes some really good vegetarian soups. I find them thick and good. Don't be afraid to ask any questions. Also a bit of advice my mom gave me, don't get stuck in the salad rut. There is so much more out there than salads. I've got some veg cookbooks. If you want their names, let me know and I'll get them for you. I'll say that my surgeon has been amazed at how fast my incisions healed. He said it has to by my diet because he hasn't seen anyone heal as fast as I did and I have little scaring. Happy heating!

I was a vegetarian prior to WLS and became a meateterian (lol) after but currently transitioning back to plant based with the support of my team

FB has vegan and vegetarian bariatric support group and it is closed if you like your privacy. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using the BariatricPal App

My doctor allows regular foods after 4 weeks. I have been on several cruises before and it really is possible to make your cruise WLS friendly. If you eat in the dining room (as opposed to the buffet) you can request exactly what you wish to eat and will have many more WLS type options. For Breakfast there is always eggs cooked however you would like, and you can ask for skim milk. Tell your waiter that you don't want bread and he will remember and not continually offer it to you. Main meal menus almost always offer a beef, a chicken, a seafood and a vegetarian offering. If none of those seem right, you can ask for something else. Worse they can do is say NO. Portions in the dining room are generally small, you can always order just an appetizer and that would most likely fill you up. If you enjoy seafood that is usually your best choice. There are usually several Soups available. Stay away from fresh vegetables and fruits at this point as they could be harmful to your sleeve this early out. Some ships have deli's-you could order a sandwich with shaved meats and just eat the meat and cheese. Cottage cheese is usually available at every meal and so are things like mashed potatoes, applesauce and other "soft" foods that will be good for your tummy. If you feel you absolutely MUST have a dessert they usually have several that are sugarfree. I think the hardest thing will be when you realize just how little you can eat (that old-My eyes are bigger than my stomach-syndrome). You will find this early out that you will most likely feel completely full after only 2 or 3 bites-so choose those bites carefully to get the most benefit and enjoyment from the foods you do eat.

My program didn't have me go on a pre op diet. But my personal goal was to lose 10 lbs before I had the surgery and I did it! i too was 100 lbs overweight. The key to me losing beforehand was tracking. I got the myfitness pal app and tracked religiously. This helped me get in the habit for my post op life. I also got a fitbit to track my steps and tried to walk alot as well as added zumba. I am so glad that I did this beforehand because it has helped me immensely in my post op life. I hope that helps a little bit. I viewed my pre op weeks as starting to rewire my thinking and change my habits. Just focus on finding sources that are high in Protein that you enjoy. I would definitely research vegetarian wls recipes if you dont like meat. Im only 6 weeks out, and this really is a journey with ups and downs. But it's worth it so far for me. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Vegan is a long term goal for me , I was vegan for 1.5 years about 8 years ago and it was unsustainable for me so I turned vegetarian and was that way for the last decade prior to surgery. This time when I get to vegan I want it to be alittle more forgiving and flexible and sustainable so I'm not rushing , plus surgically speaking I want to make sure I don't hurt my progress first

NJ, I'm in an earlier stage but I know I'll be where you are now down the line because I always read that plateaus (and slowed weight loss) are an inevitable, normal, and healthy part of the process. Wow, you've lost 93 pounds and are feeling great!? That's AWESOME!!!!! Maybe take some time to care for yourself, focus on and enjoy what you've accomplished. I'm taking an online workshop called "The Hunger Within" that focuses on the psychological aspects of eating and food choices. Maybe you would benefit from that course or something similar; I can't package it into a quick takeaway but it helped me notice that I often take either a strict or rebellious route with life's chicken vs. chocolate decisions, and that it would help me to develop and listen to a kinder and more rational voice that says something like "chicken and sometimes the little piece of chocolate." (I'm a vegetarian, so it's not chicken for me, but you get the idea...😊) If you are able to check in with your nutritionist, they'd probably have advice and be able to reassure you that you are on track! You are totally in control and you've got this!

Happy Mothers Day from BariatricPal! #outlook a {padding:0;} body{width:100% !important; -webkit-text-size-adjust:100%; -ms-text-size-adjust:100%; margin:0; padding:0;} .ExternalClass {width:100%;} .ExternalClass, .ExternalClass p, .ExternalClass span, .ExternalClass font, .ExternalClass td, .ExternalClass div {line-height: 100%;} #backgroundTable {margin:0; padding:0; width:100% !important; line-height: 100% !important;} img {outline:none; text-decoration:none; -ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic;} a img {border:none;} .image_fix {display:block;} p {margin: 1em 0;} h1 { color: white !important; } h2, h3, h4, h5, h6 {color: #333333 !important;} h1 a:active, h2 a:active, h3 a:active, h4 a:active, h5 a:active, h6 a:active { color: red !important; } h1 a:visited, h2 a:visited, h3 a:visited, h4 a:visited, h5 a:visited, h6 a:visited { color: purple !important; } table td {border-collapse: collapse;} table { border-collapse:collapse; mso-table-lspace:0pt; mso-table-rspace:0pt; } a {color: #4a8aca;} /* Unhides cells that we set to hide in the HTML in case the client doesn't support style properly */ *[class~=hidePhone] { display : block !important; width : auto !important; max-height: inherit !important; overflow : visible !important; float : none !important; } *[class~=hidePhone][width="30"] { width: 30px !important; } *[class~=hidePhone][width="40"] { width: 40px !important; } td[class~=hidePhone] { display: table-cell !important; } @media only screen and (max-device-width: 480px) { a[href^="tel"], a[href^="sms"] { text-decoration: none; color: blue; pointer-events: none; cursor: default; } .mobile_link a[href^="tel"], .mobile_link a[href^="sms"] { text-decoration: default; color: orange !important; pointer-events: auto; cursor: default; } #userPhoto, .hidePhone, *[class~=hidePhone], td[class~=hidePhone] { display: none !important; } .responsive_table > tr > td, .responsive_table > tbody > tr > td, .responsive_table > tr, .responsive_table > tbody > tr { display: block; text-align: left; } html[dir="rtl"] .responsive_table > tr > td, html[dir="rtl"] .responsive_table > tbody > tr > td, html[dir="rtl"] .responsive_table > tr, html[dir="rtl"] .responsive_table > tbody > tr { text-align: right; } .responsive_row { margin-bottom: 10px; } .responsive_fullwidth { width: 100% !important; } } @media only screen and (min-device-width: 768px) and (max-device-width: 1024px) { a[href^="tel"], a[href^="sms"] { text-decoration: none; color: blue; pointer-events: none; cursor: default; } .mobile_link a[href^="tel"], .mobile_link a[href^="sms"] { text-decoration: default; color: orange !important; pointer-events: auto; cursor: default; } Store Forums Magazine Activity Hey BariatricPal Members! Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there! It's a day for children to thank Mom for all the sleepless nights, hugs, homework help, and encouragement over the years. It's also a day for Mom to say thanks in return for all the memories and joy! This Mother's Day, why not honor Mom and the family by being even more dedicated to your weight loss surgery and health goals? This newsletter may help. • Why Weight Loss Surgery, Why Now? • Weight Loss Surgery Mother's Day Brunch Menu • Your Mother's Day Gift List Get inspired and motivated by the newsletter, then get ready for a family-filled Mother's Day to show your love and make more memories. Come visit BariatricPal Forums whenever you are ready for more ideas and encouragement in your weight loss surgery journey. Happy Mother's Day! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder, BariatricPal Why Weight Loss Surgery, Why Now? There is a right time for every weight loss surgery patient. Something makes you decide to get the surgery, and something makes you decide that the time is NOW. Are you ready? Health: It's a Family Thing Mother's Day is about Mom, but it is also about family. Health is the same way. It is about you, but it is also about your family. If you have been putting off your weight loss surgery because you think it is selfish and takes focus away from your family, you might want to think again. A healthier you means a more energetic you, a more dependable you, and a you that will be around for your family for much longer. Have You Tried Everything Else to Lose Weight? There is no single diet that works for everyone, so it can take several tries. Maybe a different eating pattern will work for you, or some sessions with a nutritionist and a personal trainer can help you develop a lifestyle pattern that can help you lose weight and keep it off. On the other hand, if you have already tried everything else and are sure WLS is for you, ask yourself what you are waiting for. Is the Time Right for You? Of course you should not get WLS if you have doubts or are not ready. It makes perfect sense to explore other options. Maybe you can give yourself a deadline of a year and see how much progress you can make in that time before opting for WLS. Ask yourself, “If not now, then when??” It may be time to bite the bullet and call the surgeon if you know WLS is for you and you are simply waiting for it to happen. Weight Loss Mother's Day Plan What could be better than spending the day with your family, thanking Mom, and hugging your children? Losing weight while you do it can make it even better! Here are a few tips for losing weight this Mother's Day and using it as a springboard for getting motivated for more weight loss to come. Record Your Memories Take photos and videos of everything you do on this day. That will help you remember the good times, and it also can help you lose weight. • The camera does not lie. Take a look at yourself and use it for motivation to finally get weight loss surgery, to stay on your WLS diet so you can hit goal weight, or to keep the weight off for good. • Prove that you ate healthy. Use your camera as motivation to make few healthy dishes so you can be proud of your efforts when you look back at the photos. • Consider the scenery. Do you feel more proud when all of your photos show everyone sitting round the table, or when some of the photos show the family on a walk, at the park, or playing active games such as "Follow the Leader?" Embrace Brunch No way should you skip that family meal. Just make sure it is one you can be proud of. Here are a few brunch ideas so you can be sure to stay low-carb, low-calorie, and high-protein, while you still get full flavor and satisfaction. • Frittata made with cauliflower instead of potatoes to cut the carbs. Try goat cheese and kale, spinach and feta, or zucchini and mozzarella varieties. • High-protein Peach Cobbler Muffins or Blueberry Muffins. • Warm biscuits made with low-carb baking mix, spread with fat-free cream cheese and served with low-fat vegetarian sausage. • Grilled shrimp on a bed of arugula with Low-Calorie Honey Mustard Dressing. • Fruit platter with fat-free ricotta or cottage cheese. Remember to follow your other WLS rules, such as eating slowly and chewing thoroughly. Use the pleasure of the good company to help you savor each bite and pause in between. Make the Rest of the Day Great, Too Build on the good work you did at brunch by keeping it up the rest of the day. Divide up the leftovers and send any unhealthy dishes home with your guests so that you are not tempted to eat them. Invite your family for a stroll, a nature walk, or a game of tag so you all stay active. It would even be a good time to sit down and have a candid talk about your health goals and how you can all work together to achieve them. Healthy Living and Good Parenting: A Tough Act So often, we are taught to put others first. Mothers know this better than most other people; they are often assumed to have no personal needs, and are made to feel that taking care of themselves means they are not taking care of their families. Taking time for yourself to eat right, exercise, and get enough sleep is almost stigmatized! That is wrong. Gaining weight, developing arthritis and diabetes, and operating on low sleep do not do anyone any good. What does help is being on your “A” game, which means losing weight if you need to, staying fit, and sleeping enough. Still, even if you do not feel guilty about it, it is hard to squeeze in the time between cooking and cleaning, helping with homework, and chauffeuring the kids to activities. Here are a few tips. • Make it a priority. Write down your daily goals in your planner so you are committed to them. • Have your kids help you, not hinder you. Play outside with younger ones, and walk outside while older ones have sports practice • Use mealtimes as a challenge to come up with healthy, delicious food everyone will love and can eat. How proud will you feel when your kids see you eating only the good stuff, and how much prouder will you be when they choose it for themselves? • Keep handy snacks around, such as protein bars and protein chips, so nobody needs to dive for the sugar and fat. • Be just as disciplined about your bedtime as you are about theirs. Going to bed is way more important than watching an extra episode of that TV show. Instead, get your workout in while watching TV! This Mother's Day, take pride in yourself and your family. Be thankful for what you have, and protect it and make it better by living your healthiest life. Happy Mother's Day! Stop paying for nutritional supplements! Check your insurance eligibility now! If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, please click *|unsubscribe|* or to unsubscribe from ALL BariatricPal E-Mail Click Here.

Perfect Tunes for the holidays!!! Click the IMAGE below to view the tracks and more info. TOTTALLY IN LOVE WITH IT