Raw Food? - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

lvl0rg4n · 10-24-2009, 07:20 PM

Before I decided on doing WLS, I tried a number of different lifestyle changes to help lose weight. My favorite by far was switching to a completely raw food vegan diet. I felt SO GREAT the entire time I was doing it (then my mom started going through alcohol recovery which was stressful and I called my friend Papa Johns again). I was wondering if anyone has done raw foods after getting RNY.

loki8481 · 10-24-2009, 07:50 PM

which foods are you talking about?

I think I started eating sashimi around the 3 month mark.

hollycerniglia · 10-24-2009, 08:03 PM

I've ate some raw vegetable, but that is it. They didn't give me any problems.

poet_kelly · 10-24-2009, 08:06 PM

I think by raw food, she means something like this: Raw Food Diet - What is the Raw Food Diet.

I am not sure how well it would work after RNY. You might find it difficult to get enough protein. In the link I posted, I read that calcium deficiencies and B12 defiencies may also occur, but then that is true of a vegan diet, too, even if it's not raw foods. On the other hand, we already take calcium supplements and B12, so perhaps those things wouldn't be a concern. Getting enough protein would be my main worry. But I've never done a raw food diet myself, and I don't know how much protein one could reasonably expect to get from that kind of diet. Do you know how much protein you were getting when you did it before?

Kelly

Corrine · 10-24-2009, 08:21 PM

I've always prefered my vegetables raw and had no problem continuing that after WLS.

I wasn't allowed raw veg and fruit for 6 weeks but after that I got back into slowly and now - I don't even think about it.

I don't eat meat although I do eat fish and dairy products.

Although I eat a lot of beans, legumes, nuts and the like, it's not easy to get in enough protein without the use of protein supplements - especially early out because our pouches just don't have the capacity for volume. It would have been very difficult without cheese, yogurt and milk too (I don't eat eggs).

Vegans have to be particularly diligent with vitamins post-op - particularly B12, iron, zinc, calcium, omega-3, vitamin D. I don't know of any company that makes vegan vitamins and minerals that meet our requirements of 200% of the RDA.

I guess it just depends on how seriously you want to go the vegan route or whether it's something you can slowly slip into once you've had surgery, recovered and are able to eat a varied diet.

There's lots to consider and I seriously recommend you talk with your surgeon and a nutritionalist (experienced in gastric bypass requirements AND veganism) before you have surgery.

judijo · 10-25-2009, 09:07 AM

I assume you have had RNY.

Darling you are way too early to begin delving into other eating regimens. When you are close to a goal weight, then you may discuss with a dietitian what is required for a vegan diet post-op.

When the surgeon or nut gives you clearance to do so, you can use soy protein as your protein supplement, but now, so soon post-op, your body really needs the whey protein sources. From there, barring any malabsorption complications, you can start weaning off animal proteins.

Also, fruit is a BIG source of raw food eating, and until about 3 months post op, I dumped on anything greater than 5 strawberries. By 3 months or so (it was earlier for me) you can begin raw veggies again.

My two cents...your mileage may vary.

poet_kelly · 10-25-2009, 09:18 AM

Actually, soy isolate is as good a protein source as whey isolate. Some people who are not vegans become lactose intolerant after RNY and can't tolerate whey protein. Soy isolate is just fine as a protein source.

Kelly

lvl0rg4n · 10-25-2009, 12:41 PM

Hey folks,

Kelly is correct, I mean a raw food diet (nothing cooked over 114 or 118 degrees).

I'm still pre-op, so I'm just thinking about the future.

I don't plan on doing anything until I get down to where I ned to be.

I was more curious to see if anyone currently was eating raw.

I imagine it'd be difficult even being just a regular vegan with the RNY. Protein is definitely an issue. Not to mention the vitamins are not vegan. Well it's definitely something I'd like to research further - I have a while to research as I get down.

Thanks for your replies.

poet_kelly · 10-25-2009, 01:08 PM

I imagine you could find vegan vitamins. I mean, such things exist. You would probably have to take a couple of them to get enough stuff, but then we need two of most multis anyway. You might have an issue with B12. I think you can get B12 that is plant-based, but it's not absorbed as effectively as the other kind. Though you could try it and keep a close eye on your labs and see how you did.

My thought is that you could do it if it was important to you. It would just take some effort and some careful planning. I would find a dietician who is knowledgable about both WLS and a raw vegan diet, which might be a bit of a challenge to find, to offer some guidance.

Kelly