Vegetarian

thebrick · 09-01-2007, 08:07 AM

:whoo:Hi Everyone,
Has anyone that is a vegetarian had the surgery? My surgery is a week away and the nutritionists at my doctors office is less than educated about it. I know more than she does.
Just curious what you ate during each phase that went down ok.
Thanks
Barb:clap2:

WASaBubbleButt · 09-03-2007, 06:16 AM

I am almost a vegetarian. I used to live a veggie lifestyle but gave it up to get fat. ;)

I am finding that I can't stand much meat at all. Chewing steak to a paste is gross and revolting and I just don't want it anymore. If I wanted baby food I'd buy baby food. (Gahhh)

As you know the one big issue you get from dead critter is protein. One protein = 23 amino acids. You can get the required amino acids from a variety of veggies vs. one piece of meat. As long as you eat a good variety you should be good to go. Most of the time the people that don't get full on fruits & veggies are simply used to getting full on meat. If you are already good to go on a veggie diet you shouldn't have a problem being banded.

Do you eat any fish at all? Or are you a strict, full time vegetarian? For some reason chewing fish bandster style isn't as revolting to me as chewing meat bandster style. I'm quite sure eventually I'll give up fish completely, it's coming soon. In the meantime, I do like Orange Roughy.

thebrick · 09-03-2007, 07:34 AM

Thanks for the reply. Quinoa, a grain, has all 23 amino acids and is the only complete grain protein source that I know of.

I do try to eat a little fish once in awhile. I may have to up that a few weeks after surgery to please my doctor. We shall see how it goes.

Thanks again
barb

WASaBubbleButt · 09-03-2007, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebrick

Thanks for the reply. Quinoa, a grain, has all 23 amino acids and is the only complete grain protein source that I know of.

I do try to eat a little fish once in awhile. I may have to up that a few weeks after surgery to please my doctor. We shall see how it goes.

Thanks again
barb

Here is a good link regarding protein. The one issue I disagree with in this link is that meat protein is superior to plant based protein. The only plant that has all required amino acids is soy, but if you take a combo of veggie sources the protein is just as good of quality as meat proteins.

Protein

JulieNYC · 09-04-2007, 02:13 PM

I'm vegetarian. My doc told me he'd only had 2 vegetarians prior to me and "one didn't lose very much weight." Whatever. You can totally do it.

I'd been completely veggie for 15 years when I got banded. At my doc's encouragement, I tried to eat fish for a while once I got banded. I ate it maybe 10 times. I'll still try a bite or two -- I even cooked some last week -- but I'm just a pure vegetarian at heart.

To answer your question, I eat a lot of (1) cottage cheese, (2) TVP (nutri system makes a fabulous veggie sloppy joe that you can order a la carte and works wonders for travel), (3) LF cheese (I eat at least 2 babybels a day), (4) soy chips, (5) greek yogurt. I have no probs getting in 50 g of protein a day, which is what I need for my height/target weight.

As for ameno acids, I have no idea! I'm probably seriously deficient.

thebrick · 09-05-2007, 09:13 AM

Hi Julie,
I appreciate your input. I have been veg for 9 years. I know I will do fine. I love TVP and everything you mentioned. TWo days and counting... LOL