Plant based diet and sleeve....

[robin125 16]

I've gone back and forth between lacto-ovo vegetarian and vegan since 2011. I lost some weight but remained big (my set point and metabolism were a mess). I had RNY on March 7, 2016 and I'm down to 235 lbs from 410 lbs before my two-week pre-op diet. Since surgery, I've been lacto-ovo. I'm male, 6', and consume 1300 - 1800 calories and 70 - 100 grams of Protein daily depending on exercise for the day (I workout 6x weekly alternating strength with cardio). For the first month after surgery I was doing good to get 800 calories and 60 grams of Protein in a day. I find it to be easier to get protein with yogurt, cheese, skim milk and the occasional egg. I would like to move back toward veganism, though, but many meat analogues no longer agree with me. Meatless crumbles, TVP, meatless meatballs, and Tofurkey deli slices are fine, but commercial veggie burgers and other products give me trouble. I make yummy black bean burgers, lentil-barely loaves, and TVP & bean chili that I can digest fine. I don't care much for soy Protein shakes. I like Vega One, but it can get expensive. I buy the store brand whey protein at Natural Grocers for cheap, but I only drink the occasional shake these days. I do eat a salad almost every day and add cheese, sunflower seeds, and sometimes a diced poached egg. I didn't return to salads until about 10 weeks out and stick with leafy mixed greens or spinach. I think you'll likely need to use dairy for protein the first two months after surgery and experiment from there. We all have different experiences with which foods do or don't work. There was a guy in my WLS program who was vegan and used mostly soy shakes, tofu scrambles, and TVP, so it can be done if you can handle a lot of soy. Also, there is a "WLS Vegetarians" group on FB that includes many vegans who share ideas.

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[jillk101 23]

Could you wait til your in a maintenance phase to transition to plant based?

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[JupiterinVirgo 846]

I am a big fan of the plant-based diet approach. The bariatric gospel on the other hand, tends to condemn that but I think it is a very doable thing. In fact, there is a bariatric surgeon on YouTube who has a video called "eat your veggies first" where in he makes the argument that we have always eaten the Protein first, and if we can get in the habit of eating my vegetables for us we will be healthier and be more likely to keep the weight off.

I think in the very beginning, vegetarian diet could be very challenging because the restriction is so significant due to swelling. But I would say 6 to 9 months out, it's quite feasible.

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[theantichick 2,204]

Check out this bariatric surgeon's vids

https://www.youtube.com/user/DrMatthewWeiner/videos

He pushes a high veggie diet. Now, veggies usually aren't on the diet progression until several weeks after surgery, so be sure to follow your surgeon's diet progression plan until you're fully healed and released to a full diet, but I think this guy has some good advice for long-term weight maintenance.

[Newme17 3,444]

Check out this bariatric surgeon's vids

https://www.youtube.com/user/DrMatthewWeiner/videos

He pushes a high veggie diet. Now, veggies usually aren't on the diet progression until several weeks after surgery, so be sure to follow your surgeon's diet progression plan until you're fully healed and released to a full diet, but I think this guy has some good advice for long-term weight maintenance.

Fellow poster, Msujester, told me about Dr Weiner. I ordered his book A POUND OF CURE on Amazon. It makes total sense to me. I'm currently reading and taking notes, as to what I want to ask the surgeon when I go in. If my surgeon seems okay with it, I'm going to implement changes. If he isn't, I'll follow his orders and then implement once I'm in maintenance or can handle it.

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I am a big fan of the plant-based diet approach. The bariatric gospel on the other hand, tends to condemn that but I think it is a very doable thing. In fact, there is a bariatric surgeon on YouTube who has a video called "eat your veggies first" where in he makes the argument that we have always eaten the Protein first, and if we can get in the habit of eating my vegetables for us we will be healthier and be more likely to keep the weight off.

I think in the very beginning, vegetarian diet could be very challenging because the restriction is so significant due to swelling. But I would say 6 to 9 months out, it's quite feasible.

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Absolutely agree with you.

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[Newme17 3,444]

Could you wait til your in a maintenance phase to transition to plant based?

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I would wait as long as needed.

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[Andell 53]

I hope you post your progress...as much as I love meat I could see cycling on and off a plant based diet when I hit a stall.

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[GreenEyedGal 19]

I have crazy food allergies (allergic to cow's milk, whey, yeast, wheat, soy, and the kidney bean family) so my post op diet is going to be plant based Protein in addition to some lean meats. No cheese, cottage cheese, yoguts, etc. Plant based Protein powders that I use now and really like are Orgain and Vega One. I get them at costco or Amazon. Good luck on your journey.

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[Newme17 3,444]

I have crazy food allergies (allergic to cow's milk, whey, yeast, wheat, soy, and the kidney bean family) so my post op diet is going to be plant based Protein in addition to some lean meats. No cheese, cottage cheese, yoguts, etc. Plant based Protein powders that I use now and really like are Orgain and Vega One. I get them at costco or Amazon. Good luck on your journey.

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I use Vega One as well. Your food allergies are crazy. Wow! Thankfully there are options and a plant based one at that. You haven't had your surgery yet either? When is yours or about what month?

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[GreenEyedGal 19]

I have crazy food allergies (allergic to cow's milk, whey, yeast, wheat, soy, and the kidney bean family) so my post op diet is going to be plant based Protein in addition to some lean meats. No cheese, cottage cheese, yoguts, etc. Plant based Protein powders that I use now and really like are Orgain and Vega One. I get them at costco or Amazon. Good luck on your journey.

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I use Vega One as well. Your food allergies are crazy. Wow! Thankfully there are options and a plant based one at that. You haven't had your surgery yet either? When is yours or about what month?

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Feb 8th. When's yours?

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[Newme17 3,444]

I have crazy food allergies (allergic to cow's milk, whey, yeast, wheat, soy, and the kidney bean family) so my post op diet is going to be plant based Protein in addition to some lean meats. No cheese, cottage cheese, yoguts, etc. Plant based Protein powders that I use now and really like are Orgain and Vega One. I get them at costco or Amazon. Good luck on your journey.

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I use Vega One as well. Your food allergies are crazy. Wow! Thankfully there are options and a plant based one at that. You haven't had your surgery yet either? When is yours or about what month?

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Feb 8th. When's yours?

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I'm not set yet actually. Just getting started here. Probably going to be in Mar/April timeframe. Yours is soon!