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I really think exercise is key, and you will see great results if you are not doing it right now. I notice I drop weight more consistantly when I exercise than when I don't. I usually change up my diet somehow. I will do Atkins for a few weeks and drop 10 pounds, or I will count my calories and drop some weight. Most recently I have been on a vegetarian kick (almost vegan) and I have lost 16 pounds since the end of December. Mind you I have lost this eating anything I want that does not have meat in it. I actually feel a lot better than I have in a long time. I know it goes against the protien first concept but it is working out fine for me.

Don't feel bad monkeyol....My diet has been carb heavy for some time...It still is to some extent. I've done the low carb thing several times before, and can't be successful long term eating that way. I prefer a vegetarian-ish diet if you will. I only eat enough meat to get my protein in, focusing mostly on fish. I still eat veggies, ancient grains and fruit. Carbs aren't bad for you.....Bad carbs are bad for you, just as bad fats are bad for you. Most of the world lives almost exclusively on carbs for nutrition, and are not fat. They don't eat Frosted Flakes, potato chips, pasta, french fries, candy and other sugars though, Their food supply is minimally processed. If you would like to incorporate carbs into your diet, then opt for healthier, minimally processed carbs, and add them back slowly so that you can see how your body reacts to them. Don't feel that you have to eat that way forever, though. You definitely have choices, and must find which way works best for you for in long term. Good luck.

I'm Nervous for soft foods. Being vegetarian I don't have the option for soft meats and such that are dense protien. Beans it is I guess...my poor husband haha

Hello. I had a friend suggest this site to me. I'm 6 weeks out tomorrow and i have overall lost 11 lbs. From surgery til now.. The entire 6 weeks.. 11 lbs. The dr told me I was in the 1% that hasnt lost 20 lbs in the first 2 weeks. I follow the diet. I walk everywhere. I mostly eat just meats.. And vegetarian friendly alternatives. Last week my friend suggested i start measuring myself. I have lost 2 inches around the biggest part of my belly. But im not sure what to do anymore. I'm trying to keep on top of everything it just seems the more i try the less I lose. Does anyone out there have some much needed advice for me?

Jacqui~ I Know what your going through & I will be praying for you. As so many have said you have the will power, mental & physical strength to get you thru this. I was diagnosed with Follicular Non-Hodgkins lymphoma 5 yrs ago. After I had my Hysterectomy I found a lump in my groin & was diagnosed wth a small hernia. Dr's thought I started exercising to soon after surgery. I was quite healthy 145 lbs ate pretty much a vegetarian diet & was quite active. Had completed the LA marathon 2 yrs in a row when suddenly the rug was pulled from under my feet in an instant. I went in for Hernia repair surgery & was told upon waking it was not a hernia & they wld run a biopsy. To make an already long story short. My cancer is incurable, there is no treatment. Im a stage 3 & was told anywhere from 4 to 12 yrs life expectancy (12 being stage 1) I did the math & I had 1 huge panic attack that seemed like it lasted for months. Telling my family was the most difficult thing I have ever had to do. I am a patient at City of Hope & have a great team of Dr's. My cancer is a slow growing cancer & was told I would most likely live a full long life. I get tested every 3 mths bcuz it can change to an aggressive cancer at any time. My faith, my family & friends support got me through this & you will get through this also. Listen to your body. Keep hydrated. Rest & eat healthy & nutrtious foods. High alkalien food (Greens), Cancer thrives on sugar. You will be in my prayers.

Thanks all my sleevie friends! Thank you for everything! I am a vegetarian because I have been working for years to decrease the suffering I add to others life. Animals or people. Any sentient being. I am not always successful, but I'm working on it. Years ago I asked myself, "what can I do with the skills and talents I have, to benefit or at least not add suffering to others?" And my life has been moving slowly towards that. I just figure, its hard to love animals and eat them at the same time. (I do love how meat tastes, I was raised on it, but really, how good it tastes is not worth tossing my wish for their happiness) I don't judge others for where they are, I can only try to get in touch with my own 'destiny'. Perhaps a longer answer then you ever wanted to hear! Thats it in a nutshell. I love vegetables too, and one of my hobbies is making fake meat, which is getting pretty good and tasty if I do say so myself. Pass the BBQ sauce!

I was type2 for 20yrs before gastric bypass July 2017. Nearly 2 yrs later I’m still on metformin. I’m down to 66kg (145lbs) from 98kg (198lbs). Getting rid of the diabetes was the main factor in having a gastric bypass procedure. Feeling disheartened, I’m vegetarian and therefore have beans and lentils (carbs) for my protein uptake. Anyone in the same situation?

But they are complex carbs, they aren't going to sit and turn to glucose. I'm vegetarian, most of my Protein comes from beans, it hasn't adversely effected my weight loss in the least.True, but pure protein first. Just quoting the rationale of the NUT Beans are protein. Protein with carbs though. For example a c of kidney beans has 13g protein but 37g carbs. Though I suppose you could subtract the 11g fiber for 26g net carbs. Not arguing the fact that they are VERY nutritionally advantageous, just saying why a nutritionist might prefer grilled chicken for a non vegetarian client (22g protein and 1g carbs for 4 oz)

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

Following bariatric surgery, it can be difficult to get the required amount of protein following from foods alone, so many patients supplement their diets with liquid proteins shakes. While this may surprise you, people develop sensitivities or intolerance to traditional whey protein drinks and don’t even know it. I was one of them! It came to pass that I suffered extreme gas and bloating within 30-minutes of consuming a whey protein shake, even high-quality whey isolates. It took a while to this figure out because I’d consumed whey protein shakes for years without a problem. But I have observed that as time goes on, I develop more and more food sensitivities. As well, people have reported low-grade chronic head colds and stuffy nose or mucous-coated tongue after consuming whey protein shakes. These are possible symptoms of food sensitivities. Recently, I stumbled upon two really good protein powders that are not made from whey. They’re now staples in my bariatric pantry. Protein Powder That Repairs Joints, Too The first product is a collagen hydrolysate from Great Lakes — a powdered form of gelatin made from collagen with 11 grams of protein and 43 calories per tablespoon. I buy Great Lakes Unflavored Gelatin Collagen Joint Care on Amazon for about 50 cents per serving. Its also available to order from the Great Lakes gelatin website. Since I’ve been using this product as the protein base in my shakes, my knees no longer hurt when I run. I’m on my third container now and have noticed a major health improvement to my hair and nails, too. Read my full product review on MyBariatricLife.org. Protein and Amino Acids for Vegetarians and Vegans The other product is a vegan protein powder. It is low in carbohydrates and packed with amino acids. This is important because most plant-based proteins are void of certain essential amino acids that our bodies cannot produce. So what this means is that in order to get all the amino acids that are needed, plant proteins will have to be strategically combined. Read my full product review on MyBariatricLife.org. Garden of Life has done all the work for us with their Raw Fit Protein for Weight Loss. Each scoop packs 28 grams of protein and 12 carbs. I buy Garden of Life Raw Fit on Amazon for around $30 for 16 oz. It’s also available at my local health food store. Living life larger than ever, My Bariatric Life

Following bariatric surgery, it can be difficult to get the required amount of protein following from foods alone, so many patients supplement their diets with liquid proteins shakes. While this may surprise you, people develop sensitivities or intolerance to traditional whey protein drinks and don’t even know it. I was one of them! Following bariatric surgery, it can be difficult to get the required amount of protein following from foods alone, so many patients supplement their diets with liquid proteins shakes. While this may surprise you, people develop sensitivities or intolerance to traditional whey protein drinks and don’t even know it. I was one of them! It came to pass that I suffered extreme gas and bloating within 30-minutes of consuming a whey protein shake, even high-quality whey isolates. It took a while to this figure out because I’d consumed whey protein shakes for years without a problem. But I have observed that as time goes on, I develop more and more food sensitivities. As well, people have reported low-grade chronic head colds and stuffy nose or mucous-coated tongue after consuming whey protein shakes. These are possible symptoms of food sensitivities. Recently, I stumbled upon two really good protein powders that are not made from whey. They’re now staples in my bariatric pantry. Protein Powder That Repairs Joints, Too The first product is a collagen hydrolysate from Great Lakes — a powdered form of gelatin made from collagen with 11 grams of protein and 43 calories per tablespoon. I buy Great Lakes Unflavored Gelatin Collagen Joint Care on Amazon for about 50 cents per serving. Its also available to order from the Great Lakes gelatin website. Since I’ve been using this product as the protein base in my shakes, my knees no longer hurt when I run. I’m on my third container now and have noticed a major health improvement to my hair and nails, too. Read my full product review on MyBariatricLife.org. Protein and Amino Acids for Vegetarians and Vegans The other product is a vegan protein powder. It is low in carbohydrates and packed with amino acids. This is important because most plant-based proteins are void of certain essential amino acids that our bodies cannot produce. So what this means is that in order to get all the amino acids that are needed, plant proteins will have to be strategically combined. Read my full product review on MyBariatricLife.org. Garden of Life has done all the work for us with their Raw Fit Protein for Weight Loss. Each scoop packs 28 grams of protein and 12 carbs. I buy Garden of Life Raw Fit on Amazon for around $30 for 16 oz. It’s also available at my local health food store. Living life larger than ever, My Bariatric Life

I try to bundle but I guess I'm starting off early but I'm always cold! Always always. I'm a vegetarian so it's that much harder for me.

Roasted soy nuts or roasted edamame (yummy and satisfyingly crunchy). Roasted seeweed (they sell at trader joes, 60 cals for an entire pack and satisfies the chip/crunchy craving. Pb2, nuts, beef jerky (I'm a vegetarian and don't eat jerky but seems like a good snack).

My doctor prefers a vegetarian diet for his patients but he didn't push it until 6 months after surgery. But the nutritionist was always recommending that lifestyle so I'm guessing it can be done. I can't do it myself yet.

As a vegetarian your carbs are going to be higher. As long as they are coming from complex carbs like beans and veg., don't worry about it. It's the simple, processed, white carbs like Pasta, rice, flour etc... that you need to watch. It's one of the reasons why I'm not doing breads or crackers until I hit goal. If you want to follow me I'm on Myfitnesspal as Milaxx.

I ve changed animal protein to vegetal ones. I can't eat chicken anymore or pork or turkey. It hurts too much and I don't like the taste anymore. I eat instead cottage cheese, peanut butter, alpro yogurt, greek yogurt, tofu, black beans, lentils, eggs, milk. I feel is time to become a vegetarian.

Thanks so much for the great advice, everyone! I am seeing the dietitian and PA today so I will ask about the liquids. Our guidelines don't limit the rate at which you consume liquids, but I try to use common sense and listen to my body. I can drink Water a lot more quickly than a Protein drink, for example (and right now, I thin my Protein drinks with almond mild bc I think it's easier on my sleeve). I am a vegetarian so won't be eating meat--but hopefully I'll feel that type of restriction with vegetarian protein sources that others feel with meat. I think it will make a difference even when I get to regular purees. My thin puree of oatmeal and peaches was about the same consistency as a Protein shake. But it did seem to fill me up a little more, maybe because it's just something different. I probably thinned it a little more than I needed to (we have to go to applesauce consistency) but I just wanted to be cautious the first time out. I pureed it in the Vitamix so it was more like cream of wheat. Thanks again--hearing everyone else's experiences really helps!! This forum is a great support and source of helpful information. I appreciate everyone taking the time to share.

Vegetarian and non-milk drinker...? - LAP-BAND® Surgery and LAP-BAND® Discussion Forum Vegan Shakes - LAP-BAND® Surgery and LAP-BAND® Discussion Forum veg*n's-lapbandtalk Veganlapbandtalk Quinoa Salad Recipe - Calorie Count .sunfood.com/Catalog/Default.aspx?gclid=CIf95bq6nJ0CFSFRagodWzur_Q Pure Advantage Vegan Complete Vanilla -- 1.42 lbs - Vitacost hempseedreview.com/Hulled_Hemp_Seeds_Review.html WHFoods: The World's Healthiest Foods Seapoint Farms I also have sprouted pumpkin seeds around. 1/8 cup works for me. If portion control is a problem, measure out the servings in advance and put in zip lock bags. I keep my nuts and seeds in the freezer. I also regularly have fresh ground flax seeds. I've been eating seitan, and it goes down fine. I think I'll grind the next batch, though. I worry about chewing it into small enough bits. I have more links, let me know if you want them.

Hi Alex, I have been hosting the food and Nutrition section for Sleevers and have been thinking it might be good to reorganize the sections a bit. In particular, it's really hard to find recipes unless you already know they are there. I think we have a powerful resource with all of the recipes people have shared. I also wonder if we could consider combining the Sleeve and RNY ones since the needs are so similar. Too soon? Anyway here is a first draft of what might work. Food and Nutrition - contains posts and sub forums like currently Pre-op Diets and Questions Post-op Diets and Questions Protein, Vitamins, and supplements Recipe Sharing - contains only sub forums By Post-surgery Phase - contains only sub-forums liquids (stage 1) Purée (stage 2) Soft (stage 3) Regular foods (stage 4) Special Needs - posts and sub-forums Non-dairy Vegetarian, vegan, raw foods Gluten-free Other special needs I wonder if we could use tags or something to mark things as mains, sides, Breakfast, lunch, dinner, etc. maybe in the future there is some recipe database app we could integrate with. What do you think? I'd be happy to slowly tackle organizing the current catch-all recipe sharing area if so.

Thanks all.... Plannergirl. I did order some of the unjury but it hasn't arrived yet. I hope I like it. My son and I are almost full blown vegetarians (him more than me, I eat fish). I can't stand the smell of chicken so I may not be able to handle it. I had my gall bladder out in May and all the hospital had was either beef or chicken broth and I just couldn't get it down. Now if they could just make a protein drink that tastes like sushi....

I call where I am right now round 2-3 of this year. The room that I took the pictures in was a bedroom, then made into my walk-in closet and is back to a spare room. The walls were lined with double clothing racks and where the mirror is, used to be floor to ceiling 6foot wide shoe shelves. The mesh crates are the remnants of it. Today a college friend moved in while she is finishing her last semester. She brought with her less than I take for an long weekend. I think she will be very good for me, as she eats clean, is pretty much a vegetarian and a minimalist. I KNOW I don't need all the stuff I have, it's finally sinking in that I'm winning this body back, pound by pound. And it is okay to let things go. It really is a new me in the mirror, inside and out!

I am preop but have tried different Protein shakes in preparation - but I found animal based Proteins made me incredibly ill - I had to go to vegetarian or vegan Protein Shakes and powders - you may want to try those options - can't hurt anything Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

As someone who is on a fixed income, I can say what helps me most is food prep and food logging. On Sunday I boil a few eggs (a cheap and easy source of protein). This way I always have a go to breakfast so there's no excuse for skipping breakfast. I also make a pot of whatever grain I plain to use for the week. Typically quinoa or brown rice. Both can be used for sweet or savory meals. They can also be served as a side dish or made into a stir fry. I shop farmer's markets because they are plentiful in my area. I buy fresh fruit in season and freeze half. If strawberries are on sale for $1 a pint, but 2 freeze, one. Over the winter I can still have fruit. If canned Beans are on I buy that. If not I buy dry beans and make a pot at during Sunday food prep. It's another great source of Protein and can be added to stir fries, made into a Soup or served with sunny side up or poached eggs for a protein rich meal. I'm vegetarian but if you eat meat, again make your protein during food prep. Something like chicken breast prepared simply with salt and pepper. Through the week it can be pulled and served with BBQ sauce, made into chicken salad, and added to a stir fry. I also find cooking from scratch tend to be healthier and cheaper. I buy plain rolled oats. I add them to smoothies, make over night oats or serve them hot. It take a while to get started, but once you get into the mind set of making a freezer stash and doing Sunday night food prep, you can do prep in an hour or less. The best part is through the week each week should take no more than 15 - 20 mins to assemble and you save money because you have less waste since everything is accounted for.

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/

I Just had my surgery on July 6th and I feel all of you. This site is really neat as it gives you different perspectives and i am finding them all very helpful. I am in the same boat as I am tired of the broths and jello and tonight for the first time I felt hungry... I am just wondering did anyone have some good broths that they were eating?? I am tired of the vegetarian, chicken and beef...LOL...Any help would be greatly appreciated.:confused: