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

Vegetarian vs. Atkins diet



Recommended Posts

Hi, I'm preop. One surgeon I saw insisted that I follow a high Protein, low carb, low fat diet after the op. Nothing "squishy", which wouldn't fill me up (low fat yogurt, low fat cottage cheese, protein drinks), no Beans (the staple of a veg diet). These foods are one of the main ways for a veg (not vegan) to get protein!

It doesn't seem that an Atkins-like diet is realistic for a veg. I do eat a little fish but don't want to eat it three times a day.

What do you think? Didn't a nutritionist work with you to find the best diet for you, not mandate a particular eating plan? I think the surgeon is completely unrealistic.

Edited by imaginegirl

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I think you should just set up a weekly vegetarian low carb diet plan, Get away from the gimick diets and plans, You are in this for the long journey -

There are great threads on this site for vegetarian meal plans - I personally eat meat so can not help you but look at those threads

Good luck

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Atkins/Keto/high Protein diet for the rest of your life after bariatric surgery is old school nutrition nonsense. FYI most doctors only need to take 1 semester of nutrition classes and that was back when they were in in undergrad or med school. A lot has changed since then. As long as you eat a well-planned, plant-based diet (this applies to non-bariatric patients as well) you will thrive. I'd say success after bariatric surgery is more about using the time where you have restriction to learn better habits and ditch your addiction to empty calorie dense carbs like white breads, Pasta, white sugar, etc. than anything else. You will eventually be able to eat normal portions of food so breaking bad habits is key. If you continue to eat a SAD diet and the crap that made you fat in the first place, even if just less of it, you will eventually experience regain.

Immediately after surgery (first 1-4 weeks), you will be drinking/ eating very low cal in the ballpark of 500-800 calories. You will be weak some days because of lack of calories, not lack of protein. It takes years to become protein deficient! Then you'll probably be around 800-1000 until 8-12 weeks., 1000 - 1200 for a good while after that. I hovered around 1000 - 1200 for my first year post surgery.

Look up Dr. Garth Davis, he is a bariatric surgeon who advocated a whole foods plant-based diet. I also like Dr. Matthew Weiner - he has a number of videos on Youtube, both have Facebook pages and groups to help you.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, AJ Tylo said:

I think you should just set up a weekly vegetarian low carb diet plan, Get away from the gimick diets and plans, You are in this for the long journey -

There are great threads on this site for vegetarian meal plans - I personally eat meat so can not help you but look at those threads

Good luck

The maintenance plan looks very doable. Whew!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, ezbeinggreen said:

Atkins/Keto/high Protein diet for the rest of your life after bariatric surgery is old school nutrition nonsense. FYI most doctors only need to take 1 semester of nutrition classes and that was back when they were in in undergrad or med school. A lot has changed since then. As long as you eat a well-planned, plant-based diet (this applies to non-bariatric patients as well) you will thrive. I'd say success after bariatric surgery is more about using the time where you have restriction to learn better habits and ditch your addiction to empty calorie dense carbs like white breads, Pasta, white sugar, etc. than anything else. You will eventually be able to eat normal portions of food so breaking bad habits is key. If you continue to eat a SAD diet and the crap that made you fat in the first place, even if just less of it, you will eventually experience regain.

Immediately after surgery (first 1-4 weeks), you will be drinking/ eating very low cal in the ballpark of 500-800 calories. You will be weak some days because of lack of calories, not lack of Protein. It takes years to become protein deficient! Then you'll probably be around 800-1000 until 8-12 weeks., 1000 - 1200 for a good while after that. I hovered around 1000 - 1200 for my first year post surgery.

Look up Dr. Garth Davis, he is a bariatric surgeon who advocated a whole foods plant-based diet. I also like Dr. Matthew Weiner - he has a number of videos on Youtube, both have Facebook pages and groups to help you.

That's a relief. I plan to talk to the nutritionist before I make a decision just so we're on the same page.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

It may be worth seeing a registered dietician who specializes in vegetarian/vegan diets, independent of/outside your surgeon's practice. The nutritionist at your surgeon's office is going to be biased and only advise you based on the surgeon's program.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

FYI I was an on-and-off vegan prior to surgery but went back to eating meat and dairy because my surgeon was also on the high-protein bandwagon. But after research I realized I could be healthy vegetarian with VSG, and I ditched the high Protein myth shortly afterwards. You have to make a healthy plan for ANY way of eating, omnivore or otherwise. I find I meet/exceed all my nutritional requirements without even trying most days, more than I ever did as a meat eater. Apps that track Vitamins and minerals as well as fat/carbs/protein like Cronometer really help! I am now 5 years out and my portion sizes are about the same as a normal person (ie. non-WLS patient of a healthy weight/healthy mindset around food). This is normal - you WILL be able to eat more over time, that is why you need to take advantage of the first 6-12 months to break bad habits. I definitely attributed eating mostly plant-based to being able to maintain my weight. I never reached my goal, but that's because I let high fat foods and carbs like Pasta and bread and rice back in too soon, as well as cheats like pizza. Granted I still eat far less of these things... all things... (I can eat 2 slices of pizza max) but less pizza is still pizza!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, ezbeinggreen said:

It may be worth seeing a registered dietician who specializes in vegetarian/vegan diets, independent of/outside your surgeon's practice. The nutritionist at your surgeon's office is going to be biased and only advise you based on the surgeon's program.

Good idea. And if I meet with the nutritionist at this surgeon's office and she/he insists on an Atkins-like diet, then I know they won't be doing my surgery.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, ezbeinggreen said:

FYI I was an on-and-off vegan prior to surgery but went back to eating meat and dairy because my surgeon was also on the high-protein bandwagon. But after research I realized I could be healthy vegetarian with VSG, and I ditched the high Protein myth shortly afterwards. You have to make a healthy plan for ANY way of eating, omnivore or otherwise. I find I meet/exceed all my nutritional requirements without even trying most days, more than I ever did as a meat eater. Apps that track Vitamins and minerals as well as fat/carbs/protein like Cronometer really help! I am now 5 years out and my portion sizes are about the same as a normal person (ie. non-WLS patient of a healthy weight/healthy mindset around food). This is normal - you WILL be able to eat more over time, that is why you need to take advantage of the first 6-12 months to break bad habits. I definitely attributed eating mostly plant-based to being able to maintain my weight. I never reached my goal, but that's because I let high fat foods and carbs like Pasta and bread and rice back in too soon, as well as cheats like pizza. Granted I still eat far less of these things... all things... (I can eat 2 slices of pizza max) but less pizza is still pizza!

I feel more hopeful now!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Forget the Nutrioshist in the Docs office, I have had one since one week before surgery. Now 8 month out i only see her once a month to review a blood test. That person is the key! However if you are not lazy like me, There are so many good videos and plans around the internet / with a few good Apps you can do it yourself if funds are not there.

I also agree with the above posts! I stopped the insane Protein and just balanced out a healthy normal food plan at about 7 months. BUT THAT IS JUST ME PEOPLE I AM NOT A DOCTOR OR NUTIONSIONIST.

One thing i read here months ago . There is no one thread here that is the bible for all of us, The journey has to be mapped out for the patient, use all the information and put a plan that works for you and is successful

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

14 hours ago, ezbeinggreen said:

Apps that track Vitamins and minerals as well as fat/carbs/protein like Cronometer really help!

Cronometer really is the best out there when it comes to tracking both macros and micros. The free version already offers plenty and the subscriber version is a one time payment only.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Agree 100% with @AJ Tylo . There is no one-size-fits-all formula, you just have to go with what works for you.

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

    • BeanitoDiego

      Tomorrow will be 7 weeks since surgery. Yesterday i found that I was able to finally drink more than a sip at a time. I am SO grateful! I have always loved drinking water and it has been my primary beverage for most of my life; losing the ability to drink a lot of it was my first post-surgical regret. Being able to drink more than a tiny sip at a time makes me feel so much more normal.
      I'm eating around 500-700 calories a day, and have hit my second stall. I have begun to only weigh myself once a week. I've made to the gym twice since surgery, but I've been walking my pup and walking at work up to 3 miles a day on average.
      I've also been using resistance bands and stretching. I'm not quite ready for twisty yoga stuff yet. Or jogging. I did do a 10+ mile bicycle ride last weekend with a friend to a coffee shop where I had a cold decaf coffee with half and half. That was another activity that made me feel kinda normal.
      I'm still drinking one protein drink a day, trying to hit my goal of at least 60 grams a day. Today I got 72 in thanks to a cold G Zero with 10 grams.
      My abdomen is still a bit sore in general. The way I understand it, the inside is not fully healed until 3 months after surgery. That means sometime around November 1st. This is when I will go on the forever way of eating according to my provider's plan. I look forward to that day.
      Oh! And I should mention that I learned about a chain restaurant that is in about 30 or so states. It is called Clean Eatz, and they have a menu that is friendly to we bariatric patients. My support group last night talked about getting pizza and flatbreads from there. I checked it out and it looks like it's both eat-in and takeaway. This is the first place I'm going when I feel ready to eat out again
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BlSm12

      Does anyone know, how long it takes for Medicare to approve surgery?
      · 1 reply
      1. aravenclawrebel

        I think it depends entirely on what guidelines you're being referred under. I had that kind of insurance through the state as a low-income person for 10 years and even though I was over 400 lb for 10 years they denied me. All based on the fact that I did not have diabetes. I switched insurances once I was offered a different kind of coverage from work and was approved within two months

    • NickelChip

      I got a little bag of samples when I saw the nutritionist last week. Turns out I much prefer the Celebrate 45 Tropical Twist vitamins to the Bariatric Fusion orange flavor, so I've placed an order for those and the sweet treat assortment of calcium soft chews, which were almost dangerously tasty. The Unjury chicken soup was better than the other brand I tried, but not enough to buy it. And their vanilla shake was vile. I just can't do artificial sweeteners, and probably not vanilla unless I add something to it to mask the flavor. The aftertaste was so strong and I had a vague impression of drinking baby formula. So far the only ones I've really liked have been the orange and peach flavored Syntrax Nectar Naturals, so I'm going to get two vegan fruit flavored options in case I have trouble with whey after.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Longview Lady

      PS: Also, the 'My Surgery' section of my profile - how do you edit/update that section??  I want to put my height, weight, etc. there but can't find edit button.   
      Can someone help me with that?  
      Thanks in advance.  
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Longview Lady

      I'm new here and unsure how to reply/respond to people. Guess I'll figure it out, or maybe you can help me a lil. lol.  A lil direction would be nice.
      I'm still wrapping my head around having this surgery to lose weight. I have completed all requirements, in 2022, and now it's a waiting game.  I missed a call in Aug. to have the surgery. 1st call I have missed in years and it had to be THAT one!   I was so upset at myself and then fell back back that weekend to my ol' comfort food; ice cream.  I fall from time to time but then get backup on my Johnny Wayne Saddle and do better. 
      I have been waiting so long I forgot what the specific surgery is called. 🤔.  It's the one where my stomach will look like a banana.  I just want this done so I can be on my way to a healthier and more active person, and hopefully feel physically and mentally better and better sleep too. We'll see. 
      Wishing everyone a safe and successful surgery. 
      Shawna 😁
       
      · 4 replies
      1. New To This23

        Has anyone messaged you and helped?

        If you go to the top of the page and click on your user name there will be a drop down that will allow you to do things from there. The interface on this site is a little wonky and could use some improvement, basically, you'll kinda have to click around until you find what you want to edit/update.

        I tried adding stuff to my albums and it uploaded the same things twice and I can not delete the duplicated picture. If you add a ticker and later you want to update it, like you lost more weight or you're closer to a certain goal, you have to go through the whole ticker choosing process again. The site can be a little frustrating.

      2. NCL04321

        you dont have to go through the whole ticker thing again. Just click on your name then surgery then click on progress. There you can change your height and weight. The weight will carry over to the ticker

      3. New To This23

        Thank You @NCL04321

      4. NCL04321

        yay! i see you added the info! Easy right?

  • 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

    ×