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Since I am a semi-vegetarian I try to get some fiber from veggies. I like to use Gardenburger's line of products (soy meat substitutes) for protein and fiber. Even thought they're softer than most real meats, I find them very filling. I also bought some Benefiber (a tasteless fiber supplement). It really helps if you're feeling constipated from lack of fiber.

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).

I went grocery shopping yesterday even though I don't move to soft foods until tomorrow and I can't wait! Thanks for all the other suggestions. I am a vegetarian so getting the Protein is a bit harder for me, but that ricotta and marinara combination sounds delicious. Well off to have a Protein shake :bored: Barbie- Are you really going on a NKOTB Cruise? That is awesome!!

the nutritionist at my surgeon's office said he wanted me to have at least one protein shake a day for the first year after surgery. typically i have one or two...i'm a vegetarian (although i've started to eat fish), so they really help me get in the protein i need per day. they also help me up my calories a little. without them, i get about 500 a day; with them (2 of them) i get 800 instead. if you eat meat, though, you might not have near as much trouble hitting your protein goals.

I agree with Wasabb pretty much - I don't eliminate all white carbs as i do eat 1/2 cup rice with dinner which is fish & veggies and will have wheat toast or a sandwich every now and then - but yes 2 cups pasta seems like a lot - I had 2/3 c last nite - whopping 230 calories just for 2/3 of a cup.. but I had room in my 1000 calories for the day and I wanted some as it's been 5 month since i had some - and you know what it wasnt that good - i enjoyed my cauliflower more.. A calorie is a calorie - but your body reacts differently to carbs fat and protein ... If you ate 1000 calories of lettuce or 1000 butter - i bet you on the lettuce only you would lose weight and with the 1000 butter you would gain - try the experiment yourself - do as Wasabb suggest and I bet you will lose... all calories are not created equal... Sorry... Add Unflavor protein powder to your coffee - let it cool a bit first You state you are a vegetarian - do you each chick or fish - how about beans... Eggbeater is great for protein and low in calories.

Wow... thanks so much for this info. I am not vegetarian, but this sounds delicious! I am going to try the baked squash!

I just realized you said you are a vegetarian. I can relate to not liking many veggies, I was a vegetarian for many years as well. Thing is, you are using fillers now instead of quality food. Ever read about dog food? It's full of fillers and not much nutrition. So the idea is to buy a better quality dog food. We need to do the same. Skip the diced chicken suggestion on your salad and throw a few black beans in there. If you like pasta you will likely enjoy spaghetti squash. I love it and I hate everything. Instead of meat sauce, marinara sauce. Even Alfredo sauce if that is what it takes to get you used to better foods vs. white carbs. Do you eat any fish? Or is that out too? The veggies.. it's hard to get used to eating them but if you work with it and don't try to choke down what is gross, you should be able to find things that are good. It does take trial and error. Yellow squash raw... on top of salads. Try a variety of dressings such as Chinese Chicken Salad Dressing for a bit of flavor, it's still veggie. If you stick to better quality foods you can eat a much larger quantity of them. And quite frankly, you need to do that due to nutrition issues right now. I have known people that were obese and suffering from malnutrition. My sis was one of them. Malnutrition doesn't mean a lack of calories, it means a lack of nutrition. I think we eat in such a way for so many years that we don't really know how bad we feel anymore. I'm just throwing out thoughts here. I've been where you are, I fully understand. I'll do anything I can to help. Sometimes when making big changes to your diet you need to do it in steps. Gradual steps. Changing everything over night doesn't always work. So take it one step at a time. Also... what about a fill? Do you supposed a fill might be in order?

Auggies, Yes for the most part I am. I am eating some cheese and fish. But mostly plant based/ vegetarian food. I cant wait to get started w/ the eating part. I'm still on mushie for now ...one more week. Any suggestion please let me know. Or if you do just ask I have tons of recipes for vegetarian/vegan meals. Tammy

I don't follow the program at all. I'm vegetarian though and can tell you that beans/lentils are good sources of protein. I love my black beans.

Awesome Vinesqueen! :-) I use mine 2 times a day now. And Serena, that is a good suggestion. I'm a vegetarian, so that couldn't hurt to try..

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!

NJChick=====> I feel a vegetarian lifestyle is far better for me than consuming meat due to the fact it is loaded with chemicals and just how it puts a burden on the digestive system. I could go into finer detail but it would take awhile.

okay so I had no problem eating tons of them before, but I am eating almost no fruits and veggies. They are like the hardest thing for me to eat. well I am also just eating so much less. Well I mean I eat them in smoothies and cooked in stuff, but it seems impossible for me to eat a fresh fruit or veggie that hasn't been blended or cooked to death. I am a vegetarian for crying out loud. Other wise I am feelin good.

I cannot beleive that you are forbidden protien shakes- I have done extensive research on all the weight loss surgeries both here and abroad before I had my band and sleeve done and NONE of the physicians ever said that as a matter of fact the ONLY Thing that all physicians I have found agree on is the fact that protein drinks are your new BFF afer any weight loss surgery- I also think that each program can be curtailed personally by a legitimate nutritionist for everyone- I have a friend with the same doctor as me who is a vegetarian.. she doesnt eat fish- so the only way she can get protein is through drinks.... But regardless- I hope you get over the hurdle and one day will appreciate what you have done instead of despise it... good luck

I did a LOT of research. My criteria: Doctor had to be board certified and have a stellar reputation. (My doc is actually ON the board of bariatric surgeons here who creates protocol for certification) Make sure to ask your doctor how many procedures he/she does each week, and how many procedures they've done total. Some surgeons will provide success statistics for their patients. Hospital had to be a Center of Excellence. I wanted everyone involved in my care to have experience dealing with lots of bariatric patients. I wanted a ward dedicated to bariatric surgery....not just a couple of beds. Hospital had to be a major trauma center. I wanted a big enough hospital to attract and retain surgical talent and have good resources for unexpected cardiovascular events. I wanted a big enough bariatric center to have a dedicated 24/7 emergency line and an excellent staff for follow ups (which are crucial to safety and success) I was particularly interested in post surgical diets. While I was willing to do a keto based diet for a short period of time, I really hate how I feel on keto...and a lot obariatric doctors push it. My brain feels sluggish and my cholesterol goes up. None of these things are acceptable to me....so I needed a program that worked with low glycemic carb eaters who like a lot of plant based protein. (I'm not a vegetarian, but I am not a huge fan of getting the bulk of my protien from whey and meat) My program works with a lot of international clients with different dietary preferences, vegans, etc. My diet (Mayo Clinic Diet) was well received at my program. My program fit these criteria, and is associated with a well respected major research hospital. I've been really happy with my choice:)

I am pre-op, start per-op diet Friday! WEll, if insurance does what it should.. Anyways, I switched surgeons a while back because I already know I hate protein shakes. I found a surgeon whose pre-op diet consists of low fat vegetarian for two weeks, which I can add unflavored protein to my daily soup and mashed cauliflower and oatmeal. After surgery, the first 3 days is clear liquids then anything pureed, so long as I can not eat it with a fork. SO whatever I want to put in the blender I can have as long as I can't use a fork. Gonna be making lots of flavorful healthy homemade soups then blend the heck out of them.

You are correct that protein is in all food and there are many high protein vegan foods, but what I was trying to convey is that I do not track or prioritize protein. I could not tell you how many grams of protein I eat in a day. What I prioritize is eating whole plant foods that have not been processed or have added oils or sugars. And you are correct that our bodies need fat and I do not avoid fat but added oils like olive oil and canola oil are much like sugar. They are highly processed foods that have all of the other properties like fiber and nutrients stripped from them so I get my fat from foods like nuts, avocados, and nut butters. And you are correct that there is vegan junk food like Oreos and Swedish Fish but my diet is 90% of the time whole foods so i eat fruits, vegetables, beans, rice, potatoes, for all of my meals and with a few exceptions I will eat some vegan junk foods but even that is more whole food than not like air popped popcorn. And for me diets like Atkins or Keto do help people lose weight but I don't just care about weight loss I care about health and longevity and the evidence is pretty compelling that people that eat mostly plants live the longest, are the healthiest and are the thinnest when compared to people that eat other diets including vegetarian, paleo, keto and others. And yes vegans do need to supplement B12 which is something I do but I don't view that as a mark against veganism especially when you consider that many people that eat meat are also b12 deficient. But this is the way I have chosen to eat and so far my weight loss has been rapid and consistent and I have far exceeded the projected loss rate and I continue to lose. So it seems the human body is adaptable and there are many ways to eat but for me I have found what works best for me.

That’s so reassuring. They’re vegetarian thankfully. What about portions? I’m worried they’re think I don’t like the food

I have seen many people asking about how to choose the right Protein supplements so I thought this might be helpful. My son is studying for his Personal Trainer Certification through a program accredited by NESTA (National Endurance & Sports Trainers Association). The other day we were talking about Proteins and he showed me a three page section of his study course which I thought was worth sharing with all of you. I will try to include the most important points while keeping this post as brief as possible. Protein Dietary proteins are strong compounds that build and repair body tissues from muscles to hair and fingernails. In addition to maintaining the body's structure, proteins speed up chemical reactions in the body, serve as chemical messengers, fight infection, and transport oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues. The body uses protein only if carbohydrates and fat intake is insufficient. When utilized as an energy source, protein is diverted from the many vital functions it performs for our bodies. Therefore it is crucial that we intake enough carbohydrates and fat so protein is not pulled as a primary energy source. Proteins are made of smaller units called amino acids. Think of protein as the building block of muscle, and amino acids as the building blocks of protein. When we eat food high in proteins, the digestive tract breaks this dietary protein into amino acids. These amino acids are broken down to different size chains, or groups, to be absorbed in our small intestines. These chains of amino acids are called peptides. The human body can absorb only very small di and tripeptides (chains consisting of two or three amino acids). Larger peptides must be enzymatically broken down (hydrolyzed) before any absorption can occur. Most breakdown and absorption occurs in the proximal section (duodenum) of the small intestine. The human body has approximately one foot of duodenum. Once past the proximal bowel. there is essentially no further protein absorption. Undigested protein passes into the colon where it is a known health hazard. Beef, poultry, fish, dairy products, eggs, soy, grains as well as some protein supplements have no di and tripeptides. These proteins have average peptide sizes ranging from 60,000 to 100,000 Daltons which require significant breakdown time and limit average absorption to 30% at its best. People who do not eat animal products can meet their protein needs with plant proteins found in vegetables, grains, and Beans. However, plant proteins lack one or more of the essential amino acids. Therefore a keen sense of combining plant proteins to provide all of the essential amino acids is important. A good example is rice and beans. Each of these foods lacks one or more essential amino acids, but the amino acids missing in rice are found in the beans, and vice versa. Although considered complete proteins, the human body does not possess the necessary enzymes to break down vegetable proteins and most of it ends up in the colon where bacteria gain access to it. Research has shown that most of the gas once thought to come from the Fiber found in vegetarian sources of protein such as beans, is now known to be caused by the undigested vegetable protein instead. Animal proteins, found in such foods as eggs, milk, meat, fish, and poultry, are considered complete proteins because they contain all of the essential amino acids our bodies need. The following list will describe the different types of protein supplements available on the market today. Concentrate This type of protein has 20% to 80% purity, with the remaining consisting of fat and lactose. Could be 20% protein, and 80% fat and lactose; usually the case when not specified in a product. If the concentrate consists of mostly protein, it usually states so in the label. This is one of the cheapest and lowest quality proteins available in the market today. Calcium Caesinate This type of protein is even cheaper and lower in quality than “concentrate”. Isolate This type of protein has a purity of 90% and up—can only have 10% or less consisting of fat and lactose. Except for Soy Isolates – You should avoid Soy Isolates at all cost. (Here is an excellent article about Isolates: whey Protein Hydrolizates Remember that to “hydrolyze” something means to break it down to smaller particles; the key here is how “extreme” the hydrolyzation is. It could be 1/10th of 1% and can still be called “hydrolyzed” by law. If the protein is really high quality, the label will state 100% Whey Protein Hydrolizates. The best protein on the market today is made by Bio Nutritional Research Group (BNRG) and it is called Proto Whey. This is the only protein on the market that is 100% absorbable. Keep in mind that by law, all ingredients must be listed from greatest amount present in the product or supplement to the smallest amount present. If soy isolates, calcium caesinate, or a whey concentrate are one of the first ingredients in your supplements, you can be certain you are throwing away your money and being taken advantage of. Because of the types of protein contained in most if not all protein supplements (with the exception of Proto Whey or any other protein that is micro peptide protein complex from extreme hydrolyzed whey protein fraction), a maximum of 30% of its content can be absorbed by the duodenum or proximal bowel (where all protein is absorbed by the human body). The remainder goes on to the large intestine where it rots and creates gas and GI discomfort. If you are getting gas and discomfort from your protein supplement, you can be certain that it is a low quality protein that your body cannot break down and therefore cannot absorb. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- I am seeing a wound care specialist for an injury I recently got. We had a big dicussion on protein because of it's importance in wound healing and infection prevention. The doctor told me that most people can calculate the right amount of protein for them by multiplying .35 times the amount of weight you wish to sustain. Of course, I you are at 350 pounds and your goal weight is 125, you would want to gradually reduce your intake rather than a sudden drop. Example: I want to weigh 130 pound. 130 x .35 = 45.5 As in all things here, be sure to follow your doctor's recommendations for you. I know that right after surgery the typical protein amount is 60 grams. This is to help us recover from surgery, and because we are eating a very low fat/low carb diet - which means our bodies are going to be looking for more protein for energy.

I could have (and I think I did) written this word for word! The first week I was SOOOO HUNGRY! Not head hunger either, but stomach rumbling physical hunger! Turns out my stomach was producing WAY too much stomach acid. Once I got on protonix, it went away. I just started the soft food diet today, and let me tell you it was a real struggle to eat 2 tablespoons of vegetarian retried beans! And I’m not hungry anymore. Now I have to push myself to eat because I know I need to. Trust me, it’s working. I freaked out to, to the point where at my 5 day follow up I was asking the surgeon “what size bougie did you use???” 😂 Poor man was like 32 French. And I make stomachs smaller than most surgeons do. You’ll start feeling that not hungry bit when you get out of liquids I promise. Just keep trucking and it’ll all work out. Good luck!

Looks like there are many things to consider and reconsider from everything I read in here... was hoping it could be a quick one but looks like I'm gonna have to keep it till December (my next leave for Christmas) and just keep dieting until then. I've already been dieting for a week now btw since last Saturday until date. As for my regular lifestyle diet, I'm vegetarian and I don't smoke at all (quit in 2006) and I don't drink alcohol at all (also since 2006) and I don't have any medical issues so far neither diabetes nor cholesterol nor blood or heart pressure thankfully nothing as such... my initial Dr's visit is planned for sometime next week during my leave and will see what he will advise then on the preparations and the recovery part too. Oh and btw no my work doesn't involve any lifting I'm a "fat banker" lol I sit on my desk all day and boss around a team of 33 people lol. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I've been out twice for dinner since being sleeved and it's been OK. On Saturday night I went to an Indian restaurant and just ordered an entree serve of chicken (would've been 2 thighs) and managed to only eat one thigh with about a tablespoon of lemon rice. I went out again for dinner on Monday night and again ordered just an entree of lemon pepper calamari. I only managed maybe 3 calamari rings, 2 chips and 2 slices of cucumber from the salad. I haven't yet attempted ordering off the kids menu, but from what they offered, it was crappy fried food anyway. I'm going out again in a few weeks to an Italian restaurant which mainly deal with pizza...any suggestions appreciated as to what I can have. I was thinking thin crust vegetarian if they have it.

We have lots of sausages.. but yes, our Breakfast sausage is a fatty greasy thing of yummy goodness. We do have the breakfast sausage links that are much like normal sausage, but tastes like our breakfast sausage 'patties'... I've never been to a butcher, well.. I guess grocery stores 'fresh meats' are from their butcher, so that might count. Another sausage we have, which I think would probably be like yours, and my favorite.. Are the big meal sausages.. Bratwursts are my favorite, grilled on the grill.. mm..with saurkraut and mustard. I'm definitely not a vegetarian, I love meat! I'll have to check out those brands though, the chicken filets sound good, but is it fake meat?

It's just me and my fiance. I eat lots of meat, he's a vegetarian! So I have LOTS of leftovers. We went to macaroni grill and I had the whole wheat penne and chicken. I had to use TWO to-go containers to bring my food home. I've just decided that it IS OK to throw away food. I don't have to eat it. Sigh. It's hard though. But maybe it's helping me get the head issues resolved as well. Maybe I should get a bigger dog. My pekignese can't eat much either! :eek: Kristin

I cannot eat Chinese food from the "hole in the wall " places anymore because the MSG bothers me. I only trust the non-traditional places like Panda Express and I always get sauce on the side. I'm vegetarian anyway so I'm a little safer than most.