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I am only a week post-op, but I had given up meat long before surgery. I had been seriously considering giving up milk products too. Are there any successful sleeved veggies out there? What is your food approach?

Hello fellow Sleevers. Gotta question. I have been noticing - here on VST and personally that when people talk about being vegetarian most (and in my family too) talk about NOT eating meats. But some say they eat fish/chicken/turkey/seafood. Most, that I talked to, do not consider these things meats. Can a vegetarian explain just what makes a vegetarian? And what considered meat (other than the obvious) not considered meat? I am eating veggie burgers (Morning Star Famrs products), chicken thighs, turkey (roasted, grilled, slice (lean)), as well as eggs and soy/egg based Protein shakes (those I can tolerate). This I have been doing since May (was sleeved on June 26, 2012). Thanks.

Hi there! There are quite a few terms that are used for a vegetable-based diet--some of these diets include limited animal products, some do not. Vegetarian: Someone whose diet is plant-food-centric. Most people who use this term mean that they don't eat meat but do consume dairy and/or eggs. NOT a very specific term and easily misunderstood. :-) Vegan: Someone whose diet includes NO animal products. No meat, fish, poultry, dairy, eggs, honey, Gelatin, Worchestershire sauce, nothing with animal products. Lactovegetarian: Plant-based diet that also includes dairy. Ovovegetarian: Plant-based diet that also includes eggs. Lacto-ovovegetarian: Plant-based diet that also includes dairy and eggs. Then there's a group under the umbrella term "flexitarian": This is a vegetable-centric diet with occasional inclusions of fish, poultry, meat, dairy, eggs as Protein sources, but limited amounts. The focus here is on eating for health and nutrition, using animal products as sparingly as possible and limiting consumption of high-fat, low-nutritional-value foods. Flexitarians take advantage of seasonal produce and local animal Proteins (locavores--trying to eat food grown/caught in the vicinity) for freshness and optimum nutrition. There are a bunch of sub-types here, pescetarian (eats fish occasionally), pollotarian (eats chicken occasionally), etc. etc. If someone on this board says they're a vegetarian without further amplification, I would assume they mean no red meat, no poultry, and no fish, but that's just an assumption. If you need/want to know exactly what they mean, you have to ask. :-) I personally am a flexitarian, mainly lactovegetarian with occasional seafood.

Vegetarianism is absentence from eating meat (any meat...no birds, no fish, no seafood, no beef, no pork all of these are meats). Lacto-Ovo Vegetarians supplement their diet with dairy products and eggs. Vegans do not eat meat or any animal products (dairy or egg derived). Many people call themselves flexitarians these days adding fish, animal products, or lean meats when they feel their bodies or lifestyle requires it. There are benefits to being selective about the meats that you eat but in the end if it was a living animal/fish at some point it is meat! Theres no getting around it.

Lipstix, I eat very little "regular" food, I figure that if I'm trying to lose weight, I need to follow a low fat, lower side carbs and more protein. I am a vegetarian so this is been a challenge. However, I will eat more regular food when I have achieved my weight loss, Just a lot less to maintain. The treadmill will help a lot. Hang in there, the next fill may be the perfect one to help with more restriction. Also, everyone loses at there own pace, my dr. said you can't compare other peoples losses to your own. You are doing a great job, don't lose heart!! Let me know how you are doing from time to time, and I will do the same. Keep up the fight!!

What @@jennmonterrozo said ... canned soups don't have tons of Protein. I added unjury chicken-flavored Protein powder to my soups early on. And when you're ready for pureed or chopped meats, grind up chicken meat and add those to chicken-based soups. Vegetarians add non-animal protein powders to their soups. When you're ready for them, the various chili recipes out there are wonderful -- both beef- and chicken-based chilis. And adding Beans to soups ups the protein grams, too.

Think of what you are hungry for, then toss it in the blender with some fluid that would thin it. I wanted Mexican, so I tossed some FF refried Vegetarian beans, salsa, Greek Strained Yogurt (I use it instead of sour cream b/c it has good protein) and some cheese queso in the blender, it satisfied the Mexican craving. on the Fourth of July I tossed a small can of baked beans and a hot dog and some BBQ sauce and a little catsup with it to thin it and pureed that. I pureed some cucumbers and dressing, I pureed some crab and mayo and Greek yogurt and onion. I pureed chicken and grapes and Greek yogurt and mayo and a little apple for a chicken salad. I pureed eggs and mayo and onion and a little pickle when I wanted egg salad. Get creative!!!!!

Check with your dietician/nutritionalist & surgeon for calorie & macro guidelines. You will still be on their plans while you are losing. There are a lot of different plans out there & one person’s plan may not be what your medical team recommends. For example, mine want very prescriptive. I wasn’t given calorie or macros goals just protein & fluid goals & portion size recommendations. I was also given lists of foods I could eat or had to avoid. It was low carb, low fat, low sugar but no specific numbers. I saw my dietician every week for the first months who reviewed my diet each time & together we worked out what else I might need or could try. Your dietician may also make specific suggestions according to your needs: activity levels, allergies, eating preferences (vegan, vegetarian, etc.). & so on. Even your age & gender could influence your plan. Do you cook? It’s much easier to control the ingredients, how the food is prepped & cooked & therefore the calories & macros if you make it yourself. A lot of prepared food even so called diet food is calorie heavy for our needs & ‘low fat’ foods can be higher in sugar & vice versa. For example a single lean cuisine meal would exceeded the calories I was eating in a whole day the first couple of months, plus include ingredients on my avoid list. PS - congrats on your surgery.

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yes theres more.. lol NOW.......... credit for ALWAYS STOPPING eating at first band signals and avoiding PB, slime and all that. ALWAYS! High on control...(hate and ego..feeling real good though) (need new verbs) I refused to let my band control me... I would one up it by stopping eating before it made me.. NOW thats credit and control and power to the max. I simply just stop the second it feels weird.. I know I can eat more, lots more even...but I dont. I STOP before the band has to do anything. I mean, I wont chew slow and carefull and deal with some little feelings to get down more food... NO WAY, thats my band controlling me. NOT WORTH IT. I still like food and want to eat and have to stop before I wanna and wish I could feel saticefied and full more often, plus I really want more juice and to GULP it...(the one thing I cling to and want to still do) But I stop... I can stop at my first signs, no matter how little I get to eat and avoid all pb and such.... Um, thats like so cool and all I have to do is stop at that first sign and I am sure that will protect it from happening... ever.. and my goal is NEVER.. (well for now) I know I need the band, I know I need to know it will stop me if I tried to go too far.. restriction is my salvation... The band a necessary tool for sure. But right now, I am in control of my food. Ok.. kinda.. I still have problems, I need to control.. But this is the most I have ever had or ever thought Id come close to.. so I get all giddy and dramatic.. EXAMPLE: I cant imagine I would ever want to eat a Protein, veggie and carb meal as regular and eat healthy vs. junk. But I know I will.. I even see being a vegetarian and NO milk as possible in my life. P.S. I was ready for this, I knew I was. I argued I was to skeptics. I felt I was not mentally messed up just cuz I was 400 pounds still... I felt I was basically healthy a number of years ago.. BUT the beleife is we are fat for a reason and when you fix the mental. you will be able to fix the obesity.... This being able to happen to me like it did.. PROOVES i was right... This disease does deep....some arent even close and think they are, some are close and feel so far..... its hard... everyone is different.. But somehow I KNEW.... ITS NOT whats eating me, DR. PHIL! lol The reason I knew this was cuz I heard it all... did it all.. nothing was ever new to me... and I had thought of every angel to every option.. Nothing, not even Dr. Phil had anything to tell me I didnt already know or explore or try and such... I wasnt skepticle.. THERE was nothing new. IN YOUR FACE (assholes who analyze me as a way to critisize and condem and dissmiss my surgery options and my mental state!) (about weight) (I do have mental issues on other stuff.. lol) ha ha ha ha I have more to report in about a week, changes..challanges I dont wanna say right now, things are happening faster than I can type and post. THANK YOU FOR LISTNING!

There's also Greek yogurt and if you eat cheeses, cottage cheese as well as eggs all have lots of protein. Using protein powders and they have ones for vegetarians too. All kinds of beans out there to make soups, chili and food with, also hummus is a great goto snack

Since surgery, I have been less and less interested in eating meat. I'd like to say that vegetarianism appeals to me because I'm some kind of humanitarian, but really I just feel increasingly disgusted with the thought of dead animal flesh even though I've always been a huge meat eater. I find that occasionally my body requires actual meet but most of the time, I'm OK without it. I get much of my Protein from cheese, a little from yogurt, and the occasional egg. All of the dishes I know how to prepare feature meet as the main attraction. That's not true: Pasta is the other main attraction. I'm getting quite bored with my staple foods, I need some super simple superfast super easy one dish recipes that are high-protein, low-carb, and vegetarian. Can any of you magnificent vegetarian veterans help me out?

Wow, thank you. I can't wait to try this. I used to be a vegetarian, but recently I started incorporating fish into my diet because of the SO and the idea I wouldn't be able to get enough protein in my diet after surgery.

Thanks, I think I'm just going to stay on my mushy foods longer and avoid meat for now. Fortunately dairy agrees with me, and I actually like my premier protein shakes so I can be vegetarian as long I still get to eat cheese and yogurt ????

You can find decent vitamins at any health food store, or places which carry a decent selection of "natural" and/or organic products. Whole Foods, Trader Joes, Fred Meyer, etc. A friend of mine has a store in Belfair, WA called Dragoun's Leir which is part gift shop part supplement and natural lifestyle store. Nancy would probably be more than happy to ship things to you. She's been a nurse for a bazillion years and has a ton of knowledge about these things. You could probably contact her and she could give you an idea of what you need. NOW is a good brand. Try to stay away from Wal Mart, Safeway, Kroger, etc brands. They typically do not have the same quality of ingredients. Also, remember, that just because a pill says you get 100% of (example) Vitamin B, you will not actually absorb that much. You don't need to really, but just be aware that you will not. How much you absorb has to do with the quality of the product, as well as your digestive system and other stuff. As far as taking childrens vitamins...think about it. Why are Seniors supposed to take a "senior" formula and why are pregnant women supposed to take a "pregnancy" formula? It is because they have different needs. Just try to get an idea of what you need, then look at the ingredients, how much are there and where they come from (as a vegetarian, finding vegetarian formulas can be tricky for me). Some sources are not as good as others. Okay...about to nod off...night night all.

Thanks. I tried scrambled egg whites with finely chopped vegetarian sausage diced up in it, along with a small pinch of cheese.

This is where the debates start. I am two year out and I still do protein shakes, one for breakfast and one after I leave the gym. The problem with veggie only diets is you need to pay close attention to your protein intake, this is because most veggies are incomplete proteins. Now I know all the vegetarians out there are going to get on their soap box and tell me how wrong I am. Please try to keep in mind I am a medical lab professional so I know just a bit about the topic. Protein is something your body does not have the ability to store, and if you do not get enough your body will go catabolic and break down muscle tissue, not a place you want to go.

Ok, I have the same thing. The insulin resistance is a kicker though, but that can be reversed and the PCOS symptoms will become mild. As you already know, the longer your body goes without the bad foods, the better you'll be. So even if you go several months without junk food, your body will still know what to do even if you eat junk food every now and then. It will process out the sugar and junk food the right way instead of processing everything you eat and drink into sugar. So keep up the good work. I'm still on the 6 month pre-op visits. Within past 7 days, I finally cut out all sugary foods and drinks and all flour, low carbs and fat. Ive been a vegetarian for 2 months. I was finally able to lose 10 lbs. Now, I'm afraid if I keep losing this weight, I may not be eligible for surgery. My highest weight was 240. My doctor said not to get to 205 by January. Doing all of this is hard, but I keep reminding myself of the final result. Most of all, I keep encouraged by reading these posts..

I wish that I could help you, but I am only 2 1/2 weeks post-op myself. What peaked my interest is that you're a vegetarian. I gave up meat before surgery, and I was wondering what you eat post-op? It would be really helpful to me. Thanks!

I was sleeved on 9/24 and have been doing well post-op. I was 337 pre-op and was down 14 lbs to 323 on day of surgery. My 2 week post op visit I was down to 314. Here starts the problem. On my next visit about 2 1/2 weeks later I was 314 and on my appointment today, 2 1/2 months post op I am 314. I am working our 45 mins to 1 hour per day--I do 30-40 minutes of cardio and 15-20 mins of weights alternating upper and lower body. I am drinking 6-8 glasses of water per day and doing 70 grams of protein. I am a vegetarian so it is sometimes hard to get protein but I am doing it. I am so depressed and upset about this issue. I would appreciate any help-suggestions--magic spells-whatever. I just can't figure out what I am doing wrong. I am burning between 350-450 calories per workout--should I be replacing those burned calories and getting a net of 1000 or should I just do 1000 gross? Any and all help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

This is something you need to discuss with your nutritionist. My sister is vegetarian, and she had bypass about 15 years ago. She still has trouble getting in enough Protein, and her hair is still very thin and unhealthy looking (she is a hairdresser, so I figure if she can't make her own hair look good, it must be really bad). I believe that the reason juicing isn't a good idea is not the size of your stomach, but because it is very easy to drink too many calories.

I am not a vegetarian, but I do juice once or twice a week. However, I didn't juice during the majority of my weight loss phase. I am in maintenance now and just make sure when I juice I log my calories and so far I have been fine. I even do the occasionally fruit juice. I always save my pulp and add it to my homemade soups and if I do fruit I use the pulp and add it to homemade whole grain muffins (mostly my family eats those). I haven't had any problems. I think if I juiced everyday it would be too many carbs for me and I would rather eat my food. LOL Good luck.

You can do this. Don't be discouraged. As someone posted above, keeping close track of your actual protein and fluid intake is essential at this point. It does sound as though you are taking in more than you think. Also, you can get plenty of protein without the protein drinks. Try an egg in any form. That's seven grams of protein. Add a bit of cheese to it to up the count. Vegetarian (because some of the non vegetarian ones use lard) refried beans are an option. Add some cheese to that, too. The yogurt is great, eat it throughout the day. Make jello, adding some fruit flavored protein mix in with it. Good luck. Let us know how you do.

Okay....the set point is reduced with surgery, so yes, it's easier to lose weight in the beginning. This is why it's called the honeymoon phase. Easy peasy...but then you get on in time and you have to work it, just as any other person who manages their weight...but the catch is...you've developed great eating habits, better foods in your diet, and you are working out, whether it's just a simple walk a day or going to the gym and lifting, or whatever workout you want to do. Now, if you're eating 1200 calories a day to lose weight on your own...that's WAY TOO LOW. Please believe me, I did that, so do the numerous others who did it, and guess what...you have a rough patch and you start eating back the way you did, and WHAM! It gets piled back on and more! So, please please also believe me when I say, you can gain weight eating too low. I did this. Not because I was on some kind of diet, just because I didn't eat. When I did eat, the body was saying "hey, you didn't feed me enough food, so I'm going to hang on to every calorie you've just eaten, especially the fat and store it." My doc got on to me for this!!! So, education is key. Sometimes you have to figure out how the body actually works and figure out what you need to do. So, I entered in your stats in this calculator. I don't know your age (but I put in 30) and I don't know your activity level (so I put in light 1-3 times a week). Your body, at these stats, is supposed to be getting about 1697 calories a day to lose at a 15% deficit. When you lose, you revisit the calculator and get your new numbers. When you meet goal, revisit, and you'll have a general idea of how many calories you'll be eating to maintain. Now, I wish I had the discipline to have done this in the beginning without wls, but I needed to forced, per se, to learn better eating and change my lifestyle (I'm now plant based/vegan/vegetarian-like); I was also at a higher BMI and nearing getting complications due to my age/lifestyle then. I've always enjoyed working out, so that wasn't an issue for me. I'm at 40 lbs from my goal...and when I reach it, for my future stats, I'll be eating approximately 2400 calories a day. Sounds like a lot right? But my body will need it for the amount of energy it puts out. Check out the calculator and check out this website, if you plan to do it on your own. http://eatmore2weighless.com/weight-loss-calculator/

@@itstimealready - I was a fat vegetarian. I feel your pain. I am allergic to most artificial sweeteners and stevia. I seem to be able to tolerate sucrolose (splenda) in small doses. The unflavored Protein is my go to.