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

Recommended Posts

Doesn’t matter what diet you follow, vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian, etc., if you eat more than your body needs to function you will put on weight. It’s a sad but simple truth.

It doesn’t matter where your calories come from a calorie is a calorie (of course some calories come with better nutrients). You could eat a 2000 calorie burger, fries & soda meal & nothing else for the whole day or eat 2000 calories of lean Protein & vegetables but if your body only needs 1500 calories to function the extra 500 calories will be converted & stored as fat & you will put on weight.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

If vegetarians cut out refined sugar, white flour, and breaded/fried things...it's a lot harder to overeat. I'm not 100% vegetarian, but I eat meat maybe twice a week. I've found that eliminating those three things from my diet...refined sugar, white flour, and fried stuff.....makes controlling my calories a LOT easier. But oh yeah....you can be a very chunky vegetarian if you have an unquenchable love for fresh bread, Desserts, unlimited nuts and dried fruit....easy ways to make calories skyrocket and your weight can easily get out of control. That said...fiber is your friend and vegetarians eat more Fiber, generally. Fiber slows the natural sugar down and increases the good gut bug diversity.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

4 minutes ago, Creekimp13 said:

If vegetarians cut out refined sugar, white flour, and breaded/fried things...it's a lot harder to overeat. I'm not 100% vegetarian, but I eat meat maybe twice a week. I've found that eliminating those three things from my diet...refined sugar, white flour, and fried stuff.....makes controlling my calories a LOT easier. But oh yeah....you can be a very chunky vegetarian if you have an unquenchable love for fresh bread, Desserts, unlimited nuts and dried fruit....easy ways to make calories skyrocket and your weight can easily get out of control. That said...fiber is your friend and vegetarians eat more Fiber, generally. Fiber slows the natural sugar down and increases the good gut bug diversity.

To be honest, I was WFPBNOSS (whole foods plant based no oil, sugar, salt) for over a year and I lost some, but not nearly enough. Combined it with 1500 calories a day and lost a bit more, but then it stopped. Even took Saxenda and worked out with a trainer. Everytime my body just adjusted to the calories I was taking in. I think over a certain weight, its very hard to get back to normal weight. Read The Obesity Code by Dr. Jason Fung. Intermittent fasting or surgery is the only way out for some. WFPB makes me feel great though and I will never stop eating this way.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I think Dr. Jason Fung is a quack, and so does my bariatric surgeon. Edit: Didn't mean this to sound so rude, but it's my heartfelt opinion. My doctor has met him, wasn't impressed.

Edited by Creekimp13

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

No problem. I guess I'm referring to insulin resistance effect on different diets mentioned in the book. I certainly don't agree that the Keto he pushes is sustainable or healthy.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I fasted for a lot of my life eating only one or two meals a day. All it did for me was slow my metabolism to the point I’d basically maintain on a 900 calorie diet regardless of my weight & how much activity I did.

WLS boosted my metabolism & I eat more now then I ever have in my memory without gaining.

There’s research coming out now that supports that Keto should only be followed for a short period of time & it can cause erratic insulin levels especially in diabetics. My dietician had me follow it only for the 2+ weeks before my surgery. Surprisingly, I did lose about 5kgs but that high fat killed me - awful.

But as with everything, what works for me may not work for you. You may have to try different eating plans or devise your own to find what’s right for you.

There’s only one thing you can count on: if you eat more than you need you’ll gain.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have been vegetarian (technically pescatarian as I eat canned tuna sometimes) for 12 years. Now post-op and seriously thinking of giving up on being a vegetarian. I don’t want to have to be reliant on Protein Shakes & processed Proteins, and I’m not a fan of Tofu 🤪

So, I’m going to start with chicken (Poultry) and see how it goes. (I actually became vegetarian as I had issues eating meat - it would get “stuck”…but it’s been so long, maybe my body has changed)

I love to travel - and if can eat basic proteins it will be much simpler.

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!
      · 1 reply
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

    • 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

    ×