One of the first things I did in Paris was order beef Tartare’, and yes I did know it was raw beef. At that time, I thought I was a food connoisseur and had to taste everything. Somewhere between romantic streets of Paris’ and today, I evolved into a vegetarian. Now, some people will tell you it’s not possible to get your protein in after bariatric surgery and maintain a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle. That is simply not true, it is not always easy especially with traveling and things like that. However it can be done. At first I was a little leery of cutting out all meats, and really leery of cutting out all animal products. After speaking with Dr. Garth Davis from the Big Medicine show, reading his book and listening to his lectures on healthy eating, in addition to a- LOT of research on my own. I realize it is okay.
At this point I am not living a complete Vegan lifestyle, but I am living a Vegetarian lifestyle quite nicely. Very rarely and only if I feel my body needs it, I will eat fish or seafood. Maybe once a month or so, and when I do I am very mindful of my choice. I eat Quinoa almost everyday and many days I have lentils and small amount of brown rice. My pouch is yet to explode, however I am diligent about not overdoing the rice.
This is not a lifestyle that I push others to follow, I just want to share what works with me, in case anyone else wonders about a vegetarian lifestyle after bariatric surgery. Honestly, there is not that much information out there and I had to do a lot of research.
I get many recipes from Linda Farnsworth’s blog, she too is vegetarian and post bariatric surgery. The link to her blog can be found on my blog roll and if you don’t know where to find that, EMAIL me I will share.
At 7 years post op, I eat a lot of food compared to 5 years ago. If I knew I would be eating this much I would have been afraid, but because I make healthy choices this lifestyle is balancing out. I don’t deny myself things, If I am out with friends I will at times have three bites of REAL Gelato. Or maybe I will have a ginger snap cookie on occasion. The difference is before I was eating everything I could get my hands on as quickly as I could eat it. I did not become Super Morbidly Obese eating Gelato from a cute little cup with a tiny spoon at a beautiful Gelato stand, but rather from eating from the 5 pound bucket of super saver ice cream.
It was not about hunger, food or nourishment, not in a healthy way anyhow. That was all about feeding and medicating my emotions and feelings. I did not become obese eating Quinoa or vegetables. I got that way eating french fries, big mac’s and Pizza Hut Pizza PAN pizza to Go.
By the way, being Vegetarian is not an excuse to eat French fries or to make Mac-n-cheese a vegetable side. It takes being fully aware and conscious of my decisions to do this correctly.
I’m glad to see your honesty. It is really refreshing. And, I believe it will set some folks free of some myths that they have believed about their wls. I’d be interested to know what ways you eat quinoa. I tried it as rice in stir fry. It was ok, but I haven’t tried it any other way.
Thank you Mel.. I love Quinoa and I get many recipes from Linda Farnsworth. Her blog link is on my blog roll
Oh I feel like I have found the holy grail! I have been struggling with the Guilt- of how I eat post op– post loss- I am 10 months out— and I really am drawn to eating this way. I was so relieved to hear the friday panel video on YT from Dr. G.D.– and it set em free- I even vlogged about it. Please contact me with a “safe” place to get more RNY posties info for support of Dr. D’s philosophy– I wish I could read his lecture! For me it is more about not enjoying heavy solid protein anymore– I prefer a simpler way, and quinoa, lentels etc—way of life!
Most Appreciatively,
Sally aka cabernetqueen on yt-
T. Could I please have Linda Farnsworth blog address, for the veg recipes? Thanks.