Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

vegetarians and vegans



Recommended Posts

I'm looking for suggestions and information from other vegetarians or vegans about their experience with lap band given the limited Protein intake with the lifestyle.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm not going to lie, I struggle with it. eggs are a great source of Protein, but I don't always feel like making them. I buy the Garden Veggie Patties by Morningstar from costco (they are bigger and have 18g protein). I try to drink one Muscle Milk Lite or Premier Protein daily, but that's not always the case. Cottage cheese and greek yogurt are great sources of protein, as well as Beans. I like making salads that are protein packed (spinach, eggs, beans, sunflower seeds, cubed fake meat if I have it). I snack on low-fat string cheese almost daily.

A lot of the processed fake meat products have a good deal of protein, but they are also pretty dry so I have to take tiny bites and chew like crazy. They are the #1 thing that makes me PB or in the beginning, get stuck.

I have, to date, lost 61 pounds. I'm a lacto-ovo vegetarian (though I don't drink milk, I do eat dairy products). Before surgery, I was definitely a "starchitarian" so the lap band lifestyle has most definitely helped me lose weight. My body loves the extra protein that I get, and the band limits the amount of starches I can eat.

I'll definitely be following this thread to see if more suggestions come through. I would love to hear them!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

You eat a lot like I do. I bought a nutribullet to be able to make a way to eat the vegetables and seeds edible for me. Since I was banded in 2009 I list my ability to eat healthy foods. Most of the foods I ate pre-surgery were impossible afterwards. I was so disappointed with my bad because of this. I was always able to lose weight before surgery but I was starving every step of the way which is why I'd gain it back. I got lap band to help with hunger.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I haven't lost my ability to eat healthy foods, I can still eat all the same fruits and veggies. I'm eating better now than before because I'm not eating a whole bag of Doritos (chips get stuck for me) or a whole loaf of garlic bread (breads also get stuck). I wonder if it's just some people's anatomy that makes it difficult to pass fibrous foods, because I've heard this on the threads before. That really sucks, and must be a huge disappointment.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I struggle with lots of veggies and salad, but I need more nutrition anyway. Lots of FF cheese and cottage cheese (both high in Protein, low in calories). I add Protein Powder to yogurt (lite). I do try to eat one serving of fish or chicken daily or tuna but can't always manage it. Muscle Milk lite is awesome but I'm trying not to rely on them, which I tend to do. I honestly eat more cheese and cottage cheese than anything else.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm always trying to get enough Protein so I get kind of serious about it by adding chia seeds or hemp seeds and flax to my kale and spinach shake in the am. I just don't want any malnutrition issues or for hair to fall out.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

For my Protein sources, I turn to Beans (kidney, garbanzo, refried), hummous, lentils, loads of fish, yogurt, milk or soy milk (although I think soy milk has fewer grams of protein vs. cow's milk). I'll have some Peanut Butter from time to time but it's a trigger food for me. I use toasted sliced almonds on my salads, and add some cubed cheese, too. I wasn't a vegetarian to begin with but gave up meat when I got banded.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I also wasn't vegetarian before banding. After meat being impossible to eat because I can't keep it down I developed a huge dislike for it. I love the vegetation lifestyle.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×