Going Veggie

matthewshiner
on 6/3/09 10:57 am - Washington DC, DC
RNY on 07/09/08 with
So, I am coming up on my one year anniversary of the bypass.

Top weight 420, down to 255-257 (my weight bounces a lot).  I haven't been working out for the two months - work exploded.  Just passed all my blood work, getting my vitamins in.  Shooting to lose about about 30 - 40 pounds.

Here's the thing.  Since the surgery, I have never really been able to handle beef/poultry/pork - so I have just written in out of my diet.  I used to eat a lot of fish, but to be honest, I am sort of over that.  Mind you, I haven't had fish for just about ten days, but it seems like I am slipping into being a vegetarian.  I still do about 60-100 grams of protein via shake, and then a lot of tofu/soy/tempeah type of things.  I also have the added joy of not being able to handle gluten since the surgery - well, not large amounts of gluten - no bread, but I can handle things like soy sauce.

Has anyone gone vegetarian post surgery?  Success stories?  Are there reasons why I should not?  I am not saying I am ruling out fish, I just won't be making it a huge part of my diet.  I am not suffering from any sort of energy or diet issues right now - but just wondering what might be some road blocks to this choice.
lightswitch
on 6/4/09 2:25 am
Since surgery, I have not been able to tolerate any form of meat.  I do eat crabs on occassion.  I try, just cannot eat meat.  I chew and chew, cut and slice bake and gril and boil and broil and no thing stays down.  I have an ulcer and that might account for the inability to eat dense foods.  I usually live on cream of wheat and steamed veggies, peanut butter, and some tofu.  I am trying to get cleared for plastics, our insurance will pay for some, but I have to pay for most but my surgeon nor my pcp will not clear me for a year.  I have to maintain my weight without loss for one year.  How ******g sad.  Anyway, I think my success has been because of the not tolerating meat or dairy products. 


matthewshiner
on 6/4/09 4:25 am - Washington DC, DC
RNY on 07/09/08 with
I do think the no meat, no glutten has been a help thus far in the weight loss journey. 

Glad to know other people are also avoiding the meat.
(deactivated member)
on 6/4/09 5:22 am - TN
You will need to carefully monitor your B-12 and iron levels.
matthewshiner
on 6/4/09 5:28 am - Washington DC, DC
RNY on 07/09/08 with
Yeah, my doctor is on that - recent test just came back okay.
Kevin D.
on 6/4/09 7:46 pm - Livonia, MI
I was a vegetarian for about a year and had to ease myself back into eating meat.  I was having problems with iron and amino acids.  I will encourage you to eat fish once a week because you'll get all of the proper amino acids that you will have issues trying to get from supplements.  Also, vegetarianism can be very high carb and unless you drink protein shakes on a regular basis it is also very difficult to get 60-80g of protein a day. 

We live in the most brightly illuminated of dark ages. - Paul Heins

Facebook | MySpace

matthewshiner
on 6/4/09 8:46 pm - Washington DC, DC
RNY on 07/09/08 with
That's interesting about the amino acids.  My iron is good (I take supplements to get that) - I get 60 grams of protein just in shakes a day . . . I think fish will come back into my diet - to be honest, I just love Su****oo much to be away from it to long.  But, maybe finding the balance that I feel comfortable with.  Again, I think really, just as most people go through cycles post surgery enjoying one food too much . . . you just get sick of it for awhile, the thought of salomn drives me up a wall right now - I also just don't like, and have never liked shell fish (crab, shrimp, lobster), so eating out - which is a huge part of my lifestyle due to my job, has becomes difficult, since a lot places, shrimp is the default seafood choice.


Kevin D.
on 6/4/09 10:55 pm - Livonia, MI
Yeah it's kinda crazy how the amino acid thing works... you can get all 8 essential amino acids as a vegetarian but it's some of the non-essential ones the body has a hard time producing in the absence if animal based protein.  If you have a trader joes near you they have an awesome frozen fish selection.  And sushi is so good! :)
We live in the most brightly illuminated of dark ages. - Paul Heins

Facebook | MySpace

lightswitch
on 6/5/09 3:53 am
I didn't notice my weightloss being any more or less on account of eating or not eating meat.  I did notice, however, that I had less episodes of throwing up.  Meat always made me hurl. 


RichmondRandy
on 6/4/09 9:23 pm - Wytheville, VA
Good Morning,
Has been forever since i have been on the site..but was reading this morning, im 3 plus years since surgery...the farther out you get you will adjust to eating meats...i can now eat any meat..in small amounts..and enjoy it.
Randy
Most Active
Recent Topics
Hi I'm new on here
Zellawillfly · 2 replies · 472 views
No activity!
Corey150 · 0 replies · 1055 views
RNY Surgery date closing in
missymoomoo12 · 1 replies · 1417 views
×