Search the Community

Some traditional Mexican carne Asada in a corn tortilla and salsa !! Or vegetarian pizza from mountain mikes - maybe after six months I will but just eat in moderation !

It's been kind of quiet here. Hope everyone's been doing fine and everything is okay at home and in your life. Still at a reasonable restriction but anxious for Wednesday to get here. I get my next fill which I hope puts me at that "sweet spot". WooWee. And Wednesday, is Ash Wednesday. What are you giving up for Lent, if you observe Lent. I'm giving up meat and eating fish/seafood 3-4 times a week, the other days vegetarian eating. Should lose more weight in addition to my being more restricted. Well, that's to be seen. Hope to read good news...

Awwww PennyLane we have all been "Scared to death" at this point your at now. Hang in there I PROMISE it gets better and is so worth it! I too am very into the environment and things that are "green" I have washed my car in the rain for about as long as I can remember because it saves on Water and is a great rinse job!! lol I work hard at recycling and do it with great passion, it has become a way of life, a hobby, a way to focus my time and energy away from food. Now that my kids are almost grown I am feeling the pre-empty nest syndrome and keeping busy in a positive way has helped me so much! My daughter is a vegetarian and I have always cooked geared towards her needs but have found since getting my band I have really gotten into and enjoy organic and meatless cooking. I have always had to struggle to find ways to get my daughter to eat enough Protein in her diet, now it's a breeze lol. At first friends and family considered me "odd" in some of the things I have cooked up but I have to tell ya (laughing) I get more request for my tofu chocolate pie then I EVER had for any other pie I have made! PLEASE share any ideas you have of things you do! It's always great to learn something new. I will be posting some of my "weird" food recipes in the food section soon.

Hello John, Did I read right? Your surgery has been delayed by 2 weeks? I'm on the home run, surgery on Tuesday,11th July. As I'm diabetic I'm the 1st patient on the day,I resent the 7am show up, but then its better this way isn't it? I won't be stressing the whole day waiting for my time I've been given. Good luck with the diet they've given you as you have another 2 week wait. Incidentally,what are you consuming on your diet ? I suffer from diabetes and hypertension's,thats why I want gastric bypass surgery, i have 6 brothers,4 of them have had heart attacks, my father died from a heart attack thats why I want the op. Its a shame I'm vegetarian, easier way to get protein if you're a meat eater. Im feeling better then I was last Saturday when I started the preop diet. Last night wasn't good as I got a hypo. My diabetic meds will definitely have to change after the op. Yes I'm set for Tuesday,ive bought my M&S cotton dressing gown ;-)''.

OK then I did understand. I don't believe I'll "never do that again", but I've worked hard for a long time on my relationship with food and I hope that will help me when the time comes. I have spent a long time changing my diet long before surgery. I don't eat things like processed or fast food. I eat mostly vegetarian. I prefer healthy food. I'm not saying I never want junk, but I just don't keep it in the house. I know I will have treats now and then in the future, but they won't be a major part of my diet. I didn't get as fat as I was by not eating a bunch of crap, but I did work on that for years before surgery so I hope that will help me. This is a lifestyle change and it's important to me to change my life and live healthy. I'm just going to keep working on all my habits, working on my mental health, and use this tool to the best of my ability. Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

I am wondering if there are other vegetarians/vegans who are getting or have gotten sleeved? I was sleeved 04/18/2016 and found the process a little more difficult because I am a vegetarian. I am also a nurse and thought that it would be a good research project. I would love some input and anything that I use would be kept anonymous. The direction that I am heading with this is to provide a guide for pre and post op vegetarian eating with the gastric sleeve. Feel free to answer me on this board and I will give you contact information. Maybe this can benefit someone you know who is getting the sleeve and is having trouble knowing what they can and cannot eat. Micah

Hi Micah, There is a vegetarian/vegan group somewhere on this site. I was almost vegan (ate cheese but no other dairy) when I had the sleeve on 4 april 2016. For the first 6 weeks I drank milk to reach required Protein levels, plus lots of parmesan cheese. I am first week on solids now and have dropped the milk but still eating dairy for protein, eg yoghurt, cottage cheese, cheddar and eggs. I hope in time I can move back to an almost dairy free state and then finally a vegan lifestyle. I have had to make compromise in order to give my body the best chance at healing. No complications or sickness at all but I only get 40g protein when I should have 60g protein a day. Introducing tofu, lentils, Beans etc into my diet now.

Yes, follow Garth Davis, the bariatric surgeon. I do, he is heavily onto the vegetarian/vegan thing. I am quite close to vegetarianism. Influence of a lot of vegetarians I work with (some do eat chicken, they are from different Indian states, so I don't think it has to do with that).

I've been a lacto-ovo vegetarian since I was 16 (a long time ago, lol), and am trying to get approval for sleeve surgery. I'm so glad I found this forum!

Unfortunately many veggie Proteins tend to be high in carbs, too. Here is some info on vegetarian Protein sources I got from the Savvy Vegetarian online: Nuts -- Almonds, brazil nuts, cashews hazelnuts, pine nuts, walnuts Seeds -- Sesame, pumpkin, sunflower, flaxseeds Pulses -- Peas, Beans, lentils, peanuts Grains and Cereals ? Amaranth, barley, corn, rye, oats, millet, quinoa, rice, spelt, wheat (in bread, flour, Pasta and seitan or wheat gluten) Soy Products -- Tofu, tempeh, textured vegetable protein, soymilk Dairy Products -- Milk, cheese, yogurt, kefir from cows, sheep, goats, buffalos, etc. Organic Free Range eggs - the chickens run free and forage, and are also given organic feed Foods like TVP, tofu, seitan are concentrated sources of protein. TVP is almost all soy protein, and seitan is basically almost all wheat protein (gluten). There are many cookbooks available with hundreds of recipes for cooking and eating all of these foods Legumes supply large quantities of protein (12 - 15 grams/cup). There are hundreds of varieties of beans and lentils in the world, and thousands of ways to prepare them, in combination with grains, nuts, seeds, and dairy Nuts and seeds also supply significant quantities of protein (like almonds or pumpkin seeds), and are an excellent source of good and healthy mono-unsaturated fats. Walnuts and flaxseeds and oil are good sources of vital Omega 3's, so often missing even in vegetarian diets Grains like quinoa, amaranth, oats, wheat, and spelt are also very good sources of protein, which is enhanced and completed through combining with other foods Soaking and sprouting legumes, nuts, and seeds will increase protein and Vitamins - sprouting gives the best results when it has just barely begun Dairy products -- Milk, cheese, yogurt, kefir from cows, sheep, goats, buffalos, yaks, etc, depending on where you live Vegetables like broccoli and potatoes supply significant amounts of protein. Even a banana supplies a gram of protein

Thanks for all the input, guys! I already buy pretty much all organic food (although I'm a vegetarian so I don't have to worry much about the meat cost!) My big problem in life is eating good food but WAY too much of it. That's why I think the sleeve might just be the answer to my prayers :thumbup1:

hi guys, I am not banded but I am definitely considering it and have a few consultations with various doctors scheduled this month, but I wanted to ask what kind of eating habits did you have before being banded and whether or not you have been successful at losing the weight. If you have been successful at weightloss, are you where you hoped? Has anyone ever wished they had gotten at Reux-en-Y instead for the dumping syndrome? I personally have pretty screwy eating habits. In order to lose weight I have to be on a vegetarian/vegan diet (which i am off of now because of weakness). It is the ONLY time I have ever had success (a -60 lb success at that). The temptation that follows me is unbearable unless i completely restrict it out of my life. (and its still bad unless I have exercising like crazy - which I no longer can do because of degenerative joint disease/rheumatism) i wanted to know, can you guys resist getting 3 meximelts at taco bell instead of 2? are you still hungry or Truely full after restriction with just ONE taco? are you full, or FULL - like "this will do me for the rest of the night full"? what about golden coral? can you really fit down everything you would have desired? When did you stop desiring as much food as before? Is it a real desire? thanks

I have three questions .... how much water can I drink at one time and will water stretch my pouch if I have two much too fast ... some one on the site posted that their doc told them no nuts ... does this include peanuts ... third .. how does a vegetarian like me manage to get proteins inside me without using shakes. I am sorry i missed out this information earlier ... I am 9 weeks post op and on solid diet stage ... I have lost 30 pounds till date and I still havent got a fill done ..... thanks

Before I start, I would just like to say hello to everyone in this forum. Hi, I am Sarabjeet Matharu (Neena) and I am new the forums here. I had a lapband surgery 6 months ago. I am not having any luck losing weight within the due time since the surgery has taken place. I lost only 12 lbs approximately. Is there anyone here who is vegetarian? Can anyone of you vagetarians give me a meal plan so I can find out what I am doing incorrect. I am fairly disappointed about my surgery. :wink2: Please, can anyone help me? I will be greatly appreciated. :smile2:

Intentional or not, like I said, I was claifying the meaning of a vegetarian. Vegetarianism is a lifestyle that people choose for various personal reasons, and when you change your entire lifestyle for a particular reason, you tend to stand by what you believe in. Let me give you an example. If I were to donate money one time (say $20), to a charity of my choosing, yet never did any volunteer work, would I be entitled to call myself a professional philanthropist? No. And I'm sure that the true philanthropists might be offended that someone would call themselves such, given all that they do for other people.

Hey BariatricPal Members! Happy Memorial Day from BariatricPal! The day is officially the chance to remember those who died serving in the country’s armed forces, but it also serves as a long weekend, and the first unofficial day of summer. Most of us experience Memorial Day as some combination of all three of those purposes. It is also a chance to get your weight loss on track or keep the momentum going. Start here! • Your Memorial Day Barbecue – A Weight Loss Blast • Build a Better Burger • Your Summer Start: The Time Is Right! Use the newsletter for ideas and motivation, and have a wonderful day with friends or family. Keep up the healthy fight, and feel free to visit BariatricPal to talk on the forums anytime, and visit The BariatricPal Store for the best deals on great-tasting bariatric products. Thanks for your support, and see you around! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder, BariatricPal Your Memorial Day Barbecue – A Weight Loss Blast Memorial Day is a welcome holiday for so many of us, and a chance to hang out with friends outdoors for the first time in a while. Make sure to not to let enjoying your friends’ company get in the way of your weight loss goals, though. Your Memorial Day picnic or grill can be healthy and fun. The Barbecue Cheat Sheet You get to choose what the start to the outdoor grilling season means for your health. It can be an absolute disaster if you go traditional and do not pay attention. On the other hand, the grill and a picnic offer all kinds of opportunities for healthy, filling choices. You can have fun, eat well, and lose weight on this day! Skip the Bad… Keep an eye out for the worst of the worst, and replace them with lower-calorie, lower-carb, or higher-protein choices that fit into your WLS diet. These culprits can make you regret the day’s indulgences. • Potato salad with 300 calories per cup. • Baked beans with a day’s worth of sodium and sugar in a cup. • Fried chicken, with half a day’s worth of fat in a piece. • Flag cake, frosted brownies, and red, white, and blue pies. …And Go for the Good Eating right at the picnic can be both easy and delicious. You do not have to work hard to create gourmet dishes, or be stuck with tasteless choices that leave you feeling hungry. Here are some quick ideas for sides and desserts to pass around, dieting or not. • Pasta salad with Protein Pasta and Low-Carb Italian Dressing. • Broccoli salad with Greek yogurt, walnuts, red onions, sweetener, and pepper. • Vegetarian Sloppy Joe as a topping for burgers. • Soft-baked Protein Brownies or Chocolate Chip Protein Cookies. • Key Lime Tarts. Burn It Off Now and Later Bring a volleyball, beach ball, or soccer ball to pass around. Grab a friend or a relative and go for a walk. Or, hop into a 5k run/walk. If you are not quite in shape to do one now, check the calendar and sign up for one on July 4 or Labor Day. There are sure to be plenty of choices in your city or in a nearby city, and committing yourself now will help motivate you to train. Bonus points for choosing to walk for charity! Build a Better Burger That beef burger or frank in a bun seems so natural when you are grilling, but you are not doing yourself any favors. Fatty beef gives you unneeded calories and artery-clogging fat, while a hot dog is typically a source of cancer-causing nitrates. That bun adds refined starches, and toppings such as bacon, chili, and mayo can come together to create a package that has more calories than you should get in a day…not to mention a source of a stomachache or worse for WLS patients. You can easily build a better burger with more nutrients and fewer carbs and calories as the old go-tos. They can be so tasty and easy to prepare that everyone else at the picnic wants the healthy version, too! Where’s the Beef? The beef is not in your new healthy burger, but who cares? Choose another star of the show! What about… • Turkey burger, either plain or seasoned with Italian seasonings, soy or teriyaki sauce, or Low-Calorie Italian Dressing. • Soy crumbles with Low-Carb Pasta Sauce in Asian, Garlic and Herb, or Tex Mex flavors. • Portabello mushrooms. • Frozen, ready-to-cook, salmon, black bean, or soy burgers. Top It Off You can pile on the character without piling on the guilt. Try these substitutions. • Sweet and Sour Slaw for regular coleslaw. • Fat-free cheese for full-fat. A slice can have as little as 25 calories, and melt so nicely! • Avocado or guacamole for mayo. • Protein Potato Chips for fried chips (some of us just love a little crunch in the burger…). Lettuce, tomatoes, and any other vegetable is always a “go,” and grilled mushrooms and onions are satisfying choices. Keep toppings and spreads light, and luckily classics like mustard and low-sugar ketchup work well. Wrap the Package A regular bun spread with butter or mayo can add 300 calories and the potential for dumping syndrome, without much benefit in terms of protein or other nutrients. Why bother? Instead, go for a minimum of extra calories with a naked burger or a burger wrapped in a leaf of lettuce, and plan to use a knife and fork to eat it. If you are in maintenance mode or are allowed to eat healthy grains, have a low-calorie, high-fiber whole grain bun – or half of one for an open burger. Grilled eggplant is another option if you have a knife and fork handy. Your Summer Start: The Time Is Right! Any new season is a chance for a fresh start. Memorial Day is no different. Summer is unofficially here, so take advantage! What are your goals for this season? Where do you want to be on Labor Day? Take Stock of Your Situation Sit down and be honest with yourself. Where are you now, and where do you want to be? What do you need to do to get there? It could be that… • You are doing great with your WLS diet and you just need to keep up the good as you lose weight. • Your weight loss has stalled, and you need to get back to weighing food and tracking it to get back on the weight loss path. • You are ready to get started on your WLS journey, and you need to schedule your surgery. • You are not sure how to lose weight for good, and need to find out more about WLS to decide whether it is the right choice for you. Reach Out for Help No matter where you are and where you are going, you can find help. The BariatricPal forums are filled with helpful members who can give you support and advice at any stage of your journey. You can phone a surgeon and schedule a consultation to learn more, or ask your doctor for recommendations on whom to ask. Your journey is in your hands! This summer can be the best of your life, and you have the power to make it happen. Give yourself a good start on Memorial Day, and let the momentum carry you through. Stop by the BariatricPal forums whenever you need a lift, and see how well you can do this summer!

Not trying to be inflammatory, but my surgeon refuses to do bariatric surgery on vegetarians or vegans because he does not believe it is possible to get enough protein in without excessive carb calories. I have no idea if that's true or not.

Scrambled eggs, soups, soft cooked veggies, most restaurants will have a vegetarian dish. Pot roast with gravy if you chew well.

So, weird thing. Before surgery, I loved meat. Now, if any meat sounds good, I give it a try and then the next time I think about it, it repulses me. Since surgery 6 weeks ago, I've tried bits of burger, chicken, even hot dog(I know it's bad) , and now all of them sound completely disgusting to me. am I weird? I can eat turkey burger no problem, but anything else....yuck. Maybe my body just wants me to convert to vegetarian? I don't even know. lol

This is definitely a question for the nutritionist. Is there one at your surgeon's office, or one that he/she uses? How about this--every morning, I drink a Protein shake and have a yogurt. Between the two, it's 23g protein and 0g carbs. It's yummy, lasts me till lunch, and is a great way to start the day. That's lots of protein, and very little carbs (only what's in the yogurt). NO MEAT!!! There are lots of other ways to get your protein in. There's this other stuff that some of my hippie vegetarian friends use called Texturized Vegetable Protein. You can add it to ANYTHING (either by cooking it in or sprinkling it on top) and it doesn't taste. But, there's protein, and again, NO MEAT! Like I said, you have to GET CREATIVE!!!!!

I was eating Dr Pragers potato-crusted fish sticks which are gluten free. I found them to be really easy to have on those days where I needed something to cook without thinking about it too much. They are pretty healthy and easy. Now, I tend to eat more vegan than vegetarian with an occasional piece of fish but plan on eliminating fish altogether.

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.

Agree with the suggestions above with the addition of maybe some vegetarian chili? I know I had chili with meat and beans several times now (we were allowed it in puree and now in soft foods). Vegetarian lentil soup (I ate this blended down in the liquid stage). LOVED the refried beans in these stages too.

I'm pescatarian, but my diet is mostly vegan. I hate soft cheeses like ricotta, and generally, things like soft cheeses, mayo, etc. I see a lot of this type of thing suggested for the pureed/soft stages. I'm wondering what are good vegetarian/vegan options during this time?

Thank you so much. ❤️ Thank you!! That is what I have been doing... Enjoying and eating what I can. I am functionally a vegetarian and luckily live in a large metro area so getting vegetarian meals is easy when I don't want to cook at home. I've resigned myself to having to drive further out for that, but it helps me feel "normal". Thankfully my family and friends are soooo supportive. I think this would be a lot worse if I didn't have them rooting. I will do that. I'll start looking for a therapist with disordered eating experience. I'm very worried about going in the opposite direction after WLS. I think maybe a GI will help as my PCP did ask if I wanted a referral after my stool test was basically inconclusive but I declined at the time because thanks to WLS, I found a tumor (benign! And that surgery was a success) and was getting prepped for surgery so I didn't want to do two health things at once. I'll get to looking and see if I can get someone before the end of the year. Thank you! That was my concern as well and why I posted. When I search, it's people only a few weeks out which I was already told it's normal. I've posted in other groups and keep getting told wait a year. Or I get snarky comments about being too fresh and just wait a few years until I can eat a whole pizza again. Well ... now I'm here, a year and two weeks later with no appetite and can only eat a quarter of a normal sized sandwich so I'm not sure how'd I'd be eating pizza! I also don't want to wait years and hope these issues resolve considering I did get some folks 3+ years out who still have pretty decent food restriction and intolerances as well (though never severe as mine). I really appreciate you all for responding. It was a good thing to wake up to.