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HI Kitty, I was sleeved about two weeks before you, and have lost 42 pounds from surgery, and 10 before that. I also have more to lose, so it looks like you are doing really well to me! I cant wait to get below 200 and on down to 180. You look fantastic in your pic. I still have some appetite... I get to starving about every 2-3 hours, eat a few bites and am fine. I eat around 800 cals a day, but eat more carbs than some here, 50-80.... I am a vegetarian, and everything has carbs except the protein drinks! Best of luck to you in getting where you want.

I have yet to find a Protein shake that sits well with me. They're all so cloyingly sweet that they make me gag or they make my stomach feels off. I ordered an unjury sample kit, so I'll try their unflavored and "chicken" Soup flavored varieties when they get here, but otherwise how can I get my protein in? Just to make matters harder on myself, I've been a vegetarian for three years. I started incorporating fish back into my diet a few weeks before my surgery, but I just cannot bring myself to eat any other meat. I'm getting worried. I didn't think the Protein shakes would be so hard to take since I didn't have a problem with diet and protein shakes prior to my surgery. Help!

Hey! I'm getting sick of my usual and looking for some new meal idea and snacks. I'm dealing a lot with craving carbohydrates and salt. I'd like to only eat whole foods and complex carbohydrates if I decide to eat them but stick mostly to protein and veggies. I'm a vegetarian but feel free to share with my your meaty meals because I can always modify them and make them veg with tofu and other plant based proteins. I usually eat eggs or a protein shake for breakfast, salads, cheese, crackers and soy products like tofu or Tempeh for dinners and lunch. I ate a lot of chips and barely drank any water this week because of my environment (which I'm about to leave thank god) but in general dont feel that great after eating things like that. I tried having oatmeal for breakfast the other day and found it really gross. I don't like sweet things or fruit but I feel like eating a half serving of fruit will help manage my carbohydrate cravings. And when I say carbs I mean like breads and chips. So i'm curious if you want to just drop your typical meal plan in the replies. I'd love to steal some ideas! I'm eating about 1200-1300 calories a day at the moment and aim for 60 grams of protein. A pretty good day for me looks like a protein shake, a snack, and a meal. Hbu? Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

Arnica, great for bruises also, calendula,very smooth and soothing. Odd, But as I go farther and farther into my weight loss journey I am becoming more holistic and leaning more toward vegetarian if not total vegan, meat doesn't sit well on a gastritis stomach as it used to. I've been going to fish, small amounts of Turkey or chicken. If I can keep Hector my baby ulcer asleep,life is more beautiful[emoji106][emoji14] Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

HI All, just checking in. Glad another person has returned. Now the rest will hopefully be stopping by. Juli, how are things going? Have you taken all of your preop tests? In my anniversary date soon approaching, March 27, I'm noticing I'm about to sabortage myself. I told myself that I'll eat this or that and then that'll be it. And when I do, it's always the junk food. Also, bending on emotional junk food eating. I caught onto it today. As I'm finishing off a bar of candy. But, as always I know it's just another phase I'm going through. Now I just have to learn to find a way to not let it control me. I did notice one time that if I eat enough Protein, I don't have that much of a craving. I haven't been eating the daily amount of protein lately. Just eating mostly vegetable, Beans and legumes, with some carbs. So, back to the drawing board. I was boarding on doing the vegetarian way for a while. So, back to the drawing board. Hope to read positive things from you.

It is not as simple as calories in vs calories expended. Our bodies react very differently to different calorie sources especially if you have a metabolic issue (PCOS, metabolic syndrome, syndrome X, insulin resistance, thyroid issues, Cushings Syndrome, etc.) There are plenty of documented cases of women with PCOS being vegetarian, on a diet, exercising and still gaining weight. I do believe most people who are obese have diagnosed or undiagnosed metabolic issues. I have PCOS and know for a fact that if I eat normal portions I gain weight no matter what. I have been eating on a salad plate for years and still was weighing 265 lbs when all of this started. In order to loose weight, I have to eat portions that fit on a dessert plate about what my 3 year old would eat. I cannot eat that portion without being ravenous. I got the lap-band to help curb hunger. I do get tired of doctors and others saying that there is no way a person cannot be loosing weight or even gaining on a limited diet. It happens all the time. If you are not loosing weight on a limited diet, perhaps you should see an endocrinologist and get a workup done to see if there are metabolic issues or other medical issues. Of course, see your PCP or pharmacist to find out if any medications you may be on is causing weight gain or slow metabolism.

Well i was prompted to share my story, so here goes.. I'm 26, Mexican-Iranian... That's important because that means that I was raised on rice and corn tortillas. I'm female btw. Both of my parents work two or three jobs, so I was also raised on costco and walmart a frozen meals, like lasagna and chicken and rice... My sister has a disability which mean the I spend the better part of my early childhood in the waiting room of various doctors... Speech therapy, occupational therapy, at the ER, an the mental health therapist... But that not to being said to make you feel sorry, rather so you know that I again was subject to cafeteria food, Jello from the nurses and McDonalds. In high school one of my cousins said I was fat, and a kid in school said I had too much facial hair on my arms and cheeks... Thus the body image phase hit. And so did the diet programs... Slim fast, Jenny Craig, weight watchers, curves, just To name a few. In college I got a personal trainer and a dietician an got put on phentermine, then my knee cap popped sideways and I had to get knee surgery, that was 2009. Then I severely sprained my ankle and was on a boot for 6 weeks... So what brought me down this path for the Sleeve.... I need surgery on my other knee, same thing that happened on my right knee, reconstruction. Due to my weight says the doctor. I've got plantar faciitis on both heels of my feet, that doc said to "to try to loose 50lbs".. Like that was easy before. Ha. I've got pinched nerves on my lumbar and on my neck... That doc said to loose weight, that'd help. And lastly I'm pre-diabetic. My pcp said I'd for sure be on diabetic meds within the next 6 months if no change is made to my weight. No let me also say that since I moved away from home in 2006, after high school, I became semi-vegetarian...eating fish or chicken twice a week, pasta-rice-or-bread three times a week.... Also in high school I learned to cook for the family, and since dad is vegetarian, I learned all sorts of recipes to make. So it's not like I was eating out all the time or eating junk food all the time. So surgery was on 12/4/2014. Thanks to my crap Obamacare insurance I was dropped in June and either way this surgery is not covered. My dad had a good year financially and with the self-pay discounts at the hospital, my dad was able to get a loan for the procedure. Did I mention Ive been living at home with the parentals for the past two years, and I've been in grad school the last two years. My knees feel 1000x better. I've lost 25lbs so far, and even my heals don't get the stabbing shooting pain that they used to after walking for more than three hours. Only negative so far is that I haven't been able to take my anti-depressant/anxiety meds Effixor because when I take it I feel dizzy, light headed, nauseous, weak and that lasts for hours. That's me. Not sure why I had to share.

I do not crave it... I eat it like medicine, and try to make it taste good and enjoy it. Without it you lose muscle mass, and do not heal well. virtually everyone says "Protein first". I think this is probably true. I eat more protein now then before surgery when I was eating 2500 calories a day. I am a vegetarian, and do not eat anything with a face.

whoa. i just noticed something amazing. no carbs, no sugar, no salt, no caffeine = no mood swings!!! seriously, i was prone to "food rage" before but i could never place what was causing. I tired gluten free, vegetarian, etc but nothing worked. but now i think i have the key! I am very even right now, not mad, not sad, just content and fine. this is crazy! T minus day and a half until real foo! 15lbs down - 13 days post op

Hey everyone! Thanks, Neal for the the new thread. I'm in Atlanta for the next two weeks and man is it HOT! It was 45 degrees when I left Wyoming yesterday and when I got off the plane last night at midnight it was 80 degrees here. Oooooh, tooooo hot! It is storming right now, so maybe it will be cooler this evening. Eating is going to be a challenge this next two weeks because my DD is vegetarian. She eats lots of protein, just not the way I'm used to eating. Maybe my loss will continue with this type of food. Today I've had a thingy of no fat yogurt for breakfast and some spinach ravioli for lunch. Both good, both filling, just not what I usually have. But that can be a good thing. If I could lose another 5 lbs. this month, that would be great! Just breaking the 190 mark - where I've been hanging this last week - would be great. Of course while I'm here, I'm sure I will swim alot, walk alot and go up and down my DD's stairs A LOT! So that will help, too. Well, I'm sure the babies are on the verge of waking up and my DD will have to get up from her nap, too. The babies are just sooooo sweet! And very good too. Not much crying out of those two. Let's see if I can post a picture of them. Hudson and Sawyer - 2 weeks old. Hudson - two weeks old Sawyer - 2 weeks old

Vegan is no animals or animal products (milk, eggs, etc) I draw the line at honey because I think bees are assholes. Many vegans will not wear fur, leather, use anything with beeswax, yada, yada, yada. Vegetarians will still eat dairy and eggs but do not eat anything that used to have a face. I started out with the no meat thing because of reading the book Skinny Bitch. I had also stopped eating refined sugar since I was having huge problems with sugar addiction and I just figured what the hell. After a few weeks with the no meat thing I decided to remove the dairy from my diet because cheese is really fattening and I was eating a lot of it. It has been more of an experiement than anything else and it seems to be going well. The scales are moving in the right direction and I am eating pretty much anything I want whenever I want. I wish I could say I am doig it for a more valiant reason, like the suffering of animals, but no it is purely for health reasons. I feel better than I have in a long time. I am not tired in the morning, I have not needed any coffee, I am not exhausted all day long. I feel pretty effing great.

you definitely need to be eating more protein. Try packing things like nuts and peanut butter crackers. String Cheese, yogurt. Eat more fruit and try to lay off the pizza. After a fill, pizza may not be an option anymore. Good luck travelling must be hard especially since you are vegetarian. Your not vegan are you?

Hi, Just wondering how many of you frequently travel for work or personal and how you deal with sticking to the diet/protein when traveling? I travel for work quite a bit and I'm ok to focus on eating right and protein when I travel within the U.S. However, International travel is really hard for me. First of all, I don't do protein shakes, bc it is not easy to find milk. I am on the go a lot. and I hate water with my protein shake. Second, I am a really picky eater and eat vegetarian, so I end up eating a lot of salad and pizza (gasp) (bc pizza is internationally the same pretty much anywhere). I am in Europe this week and this is my diet every day: breakfast: water Lunch: salad Dinner: pizza I am soo good at home. Travelin always gets me. Also, will I not have this problem when I get a fill?!!:help:

Hi everyone thanks for the repsonses. I am lacto-ovo vegetarian so I eat eggs and drink milk, but stay away from any kind of meat. Thanks for the recommendation on the book, Margie. I will buy it this weekend! I think that I will have to just make protein bars a staple for when I travel. Wheetsin, you are right, European pizza is way better for you than American pizza. The pizza I was eating was whole grain, very very thin crust and not greasy like American pizza. I was in Finland and if I was not veg, I would try the kebab (I see the signs everywhere!).

I think technically I am allowed to have oatmeal and mashed potatoes, however, they say that you are supposed to have 50 grams of protein a day so my nutritionist said you need to eat the meat/protein stuff first and then eat the rest of the stuff and then it should be eaten in moderation. I am not really craving carbs. I just want to find protein stuff that doesnt gross me out, as I was kind of a vegetarian preop (not a strict veg, but I would eat mostly non meat stuff and eat steak once every 6 mos).

I told everyone at the hospital I used to work at that I had lapband surgery. WTH was I thinking. I had more food monitors and aggravation that one day when they made their daily visit to the lounge to see what I was eating for their approval I told them in a not so nice way that I am effing sick of all of you monitoring my lunch. I have done fine without any of you picking out my food for me and stop asking me how much weight I have lost you can see it can't you. So they all were offended but I told them you shouldn't even feel bad for me telling you. I am just sick of it. How many times do I need you to tell me I am making good choices. People will sometimes make you say things that you really wouldn't have said because they need to mind their own business. When I moved to another city no one knew about my surgery. They just think that I eat weird things. But it's better then explaining every day of my working life why I eat what I do. It doesn't matter why a person chooses to be vegetarian. Religious reasons or not, No one should ever have to feel the need to defend their healthy lifestyle choices. It's kind of like the OP mentioned all of the "junk" food that coworkers were eating. No one ever asks why you're eating chips, pop, pizza, etc. I remember when I first started my 6 month supervised weight loss plan that was required by my insurance before they would approve my surgery. I was taking my lunch to work every day and I was eating lots of vegetables and salads and such. Every day for weeks on end people would ask "Why are you eating THAT?" Ummm, because I like it. And because it's better for me than my usual crappy hospital cafeteria choices. And I want to live a long, healthy life and my old choices just weren't cutting it. Geez. The same can be said of our choice to have WLS. It's a choice that we made and we shouldn't have to defend it to the world. Yet, how often do we end up doing that? I'm fortunate in that most of my family was very supportive but I know a lot of people aren't supportive of WLS at all. My own brother asked me if I was sure it was a good choice and was very concerned about me having it done. His was a genuine concern out of love for his sister(we're very close) but he couldn't understand why I needed surgery. He was terrified of something going wrong in surgery. He asked me if I couldn't "just diet" to lose the weight. He's one who can diet and easily and quickly drop a bunch of weight. I'm not so lucky. Once I explained to him the health problems I was developing as a direct result of my weight and lifestyle(I'm a nurse and tend to take care of everyone else without sharing my own problems with them. I'm very private like that)..anyway, he has been supportive but I think he just needed to be certain I was making the best choice for me. I have noticed though that people always feel the need to offer their opinions on the matter. And my opinion is this: my body, my choice, it doesn't effect anyone else. It's none of their business. Period. Same goes for those who choose a vegetarian diet/lifestyle. It's their choice and none of anyone else's business.

I was a vegetarian for 17 years. Now I eat poultry and fish and some red meat, but not pork. Even pre-band I just didn't eat it -- couldn't eat it. It's amazing how many people think this is a religious decision and want to make a "thing" out of it. Um, no, I just don't eat that. The great thing about the band is the listening to our bodies -- when I do this, I really do know the difference between a craving from that old mindset of overeating or the need/desire for something particular that my body must need. I'm learning to trust that. When I first got banded I was pretty sure I wouldn't be able to have dairy afterward, at least not cow dairy. I have had various issues with dairy over the years and I think of it as an excluded food. But it turns out I am okay with dairy, at least for now. Since it's been a major trigger food for me in the past, I know I need to be watchful, but I like it that I can be "friends" with cheese and not feel overriding compulsions for more, more, more.

Now that its been a month since I was banded, possible fill 1/22, I've also decided to go partial vegetarian. If I can't handle bacon, ham, or pork (and do not eat steak, seafood or fish), I had to find foods higher in Protein. I've found sliced veggie soy that is to be "turkey" or "bologna" deli slices. I can have one slice and a tablespoon of hummus spread on. I've recently been asked 100 questions about "what's that?", no pizza, chips, etc etc etc. I finally said its not in my diet. I was a little overwhelmed I was being hassled over food!!! I didn't hassle anyone asking why two slices of pizza, a plate of Doritos, 2 cups a soda!!!! Co-workers had that, I had hummus/veggie deli slice. When you mention partial vegetarian, I get, why? I like meat, what about fish, blah blah blah!!!! Very frustrating.

I haven't tried steak since banding, I did have problems with pork chops but I believe it was my own fault. I eat chicken, ground beef and fish regularly. If you want to become a vegetarian that's fine, but just so you know, lots of people with the band eat meat. Some even eat steak. I also manage bread and fruits and veges fine. I don't do apple skins, but I do apples.

Others may have heard something different, but my nutritionist said there is no way for vegans/vegetarians to do this. For you, I hope it is not true.

sure there is. i know it's wrong & "bad" of me to say, but i will say it anyway.. your nutritionist is severely uninformed. just because someone has a little piece of paper that says that they know all the stuff that was written in a little book for them to know, doesn't mean they know everything there is to know in that entire field.. like matt damon said in good will hunting, "See, the sad thing about a guy like you is in 50 years you're gonna start doing some thinking on your own and you're gonna come up with the fact that there are two certaintees in life. One, don't do that. And Two, you dropped a hundred and fifty grand on a f***n education you coulda got for a $1.50 in late charges at the public library."... xD vegans can easily get 60g or more of Protein a day.. as well as all the other Vitamins and minerals needed.. in fact, in the book "becoming vegan" that's exactly what they recommend you do & they show you how to get it using vegan sources of protein. studies have also shown that plant protein is absorbed by the body more easily than animal protein & that cultures that eat less protein and Calcium actually have thicker bone density, because their bodies don't have to deplete their own calcium stores to process & break down the protein and calcium from animal products... there's a variety of sources of protein.. and vegan sources of b12 & Omega 3 fatty acids & etc. everything required to be healthy & stay on a low carb, low glycemic index diet. "Vegans who eat a variety of plants, including soy products, are sure to get plenty of protein, but what about vegan raw foodists? There is more and more information being revealed that there is an adequate, if not abundant, supply of protein even in a diet this devoid of animal Proteins. It is further suggested through this research that the body prefers that the protein actually come in incomplete form (as individual amino acids) so that it can do it's job of combining them in the best possible way for it's various purposes. When the body receives complete or complex proteins it has to rip the amino acids apart and reassemble them accordingly. Amino acids from plant sources allow the body to skip that process and go right to the end game. Everything has protein in it, so the effect of eating a variety of foods is the accumulation of all the essential amino acids. Nuts and seeds have a lot of protein compared to fruits and vegetables but a lot of raw food diet advocates tout green leafy vegetables as a good source of protein. By using a variety of greens (in great abundance I might add, up to one pound per day!) the body receives all the essential amino acids that it needs while also getting many other minerals, plenty of chlorophyll and lots of Fiber." source: http://vegetarian.ab...and-Protein.htm what they don't mention there is that you can juice your leafy green vegetables & other fruit & vegetables & get the same amino acids in liquid form, so you don't have to eat pounds of fruit & vegetables. making it into a liquid also saves your body from having to break down the fiber & stuff & it can absorb it that much quicker & easier. think about it for a second.. one thing that we're all raised (or i would think we were anyway) is knowing something about shaolin monks and/or kung fu & how "cool" it is... shaolin monks are generally thought of as being fierce, strong, agile, and "bad ass"... but they eat an all plant based diet... they're lean, muscular & extremely tough... here's a video of a shaolin monk knocking out a US Navy Seal... he's shorter & lighter & has a shorter reach & was thus at a "disadvantage"... most people that think living a vegan/vegetarian lifestyle after the sleeve can't be done just haven't put in the time to research & they're used to what the TV tells them & what is taught in schools.. most people are on what they call a SAD.. "standard american diet"... most people are happy with being complacent and (i'm sorry to say) ignorant of what's going on around them & are fine with doing whatever a doctor or somebody tells them to, without asking any questions or doing any research on their own, just because said person has a little piece of paper that says that they know what a book told them.. i think we find too much comfort in that.. i understand about doctors, because they spend years researching the human body, but they do it from a chemical/synthetic perspective.. they haven't explored everything & a lot are blocked off to the idea of more natural methods.. which i think is funny, because it's how the human race has survived since the beginning & there wasn't diseases like cancer around until recently.. when we started thinking we were so smart & messing with food's DNA & spraying insecticide, pesticide & etc all over our food. HMM... ironic, isn't it?... there are people on this forum that are vegetarians/vegans, as well as other people that have had other types of surgeries, too. a lot of nutritionists also have vegan & vegetarian options in their repertoire. yours was probably just spouting things that they personally believe, not what is factual.. a lot of bodybuilders will also tell you that you can't build muscles or get "big" if you're a vegan & that it's impossible & etc... that is not the case.. here's just couple (of many) proofs of that: ^^ the guy above is named marcus patrick- you can look him up on youtube. he's a raw vegan & has been a vegan for 10+ years. vegans have protein powders, like sun warrior, vega, garden of life, etc.. for vitamins & minerals, there's stuff out there like green vibrance.. for b12, there's spirulina.. for Iron & stuff, there's kelps and seaweeds.. for omega 3's there's flax and other plant based ones.. like vega's saviseed, which has 17x more omega 3 per oz than wild sockeye salmon... for protein, there's also nut milks, like almond, cashew, and even hemp & soy milks. there's tofu, edemame, quorn (which is made from a fungus & is low carb/high protein), seitan, shirataki noodles (which are made out of some kinda yam), etc.. every living thing has some protein in it, too. leafy green vegetables, like kale, spinach, swiss chard, collard greens, beet tops, turnip greens, dandelion greens, etc all have high mineral, Vitamin & antioxidant properties, as well as protein... they all contain fiber as well, which helps keep you from being constipated. here's part of an episode of tyra, where she did an update for "diet wars"... and this is the result of the weight loss as mentored by Alissa Cohen (a famous raw food chef)..

I am having a bit of a hard time figuring out what to eat! I need to find a really good cookbook to help me out. This is what I had yesterday: 1/4 cup egg beaters 1 oz low fat cheese 3 oz sea bass, 1/4 c veggies 1/4 - 1/2 cup pudding that I made with milk (helps increase protein) 1/4 cup vegetarian baked Beans, 1/4 cup canned chicken with LF miracle whip 1/4 cup hummus with cukes I think this works out to be less than 1000 calories. I also did work out as well and based on my monitor, I burned about 500 calories, so I did pretty well! Gilta

How about some kind of broth? I know you said your vegetarian, but you do need some protein. Tomato soup could irritate your new stomach. You are really not that far out from surgery, I would suggest to just do the best you can and make sure what you eat is really nutritious. Get lots of fluid, protein, maybe unjury.

First off let me say "18lbs. in a week?! WOW!!" That's amazing! Now as far as the vegetarian food. I'm affraid I'm of no help since meat is what I was craving the most after surgery. Sorry, but best of luck. Keep up the good work!

Just curious if anyone has found themselves leaning towards meatless-eating after the band? I've been sitting here watching food Network...it's like watching people club seals or somethin'... BUT I LOVE MEAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHH! Sorry...tension-breaker...had to be done. But that's my question...has anyone give up meat entirely? Or is it just the pudding and Protein talking right now?