Would you go Vegan?

So I have this co-worker *****tired last year and decided he was going to go full vegetarian to live a healthier lifestyle recently.

Since I had my surgery, he has been messaging me on Face book asking how I'm doing and checking in on me.  He keeps mentioning how he has gone to the Vegan lifestyle and how much he loves it.  He says he would never push that lifestyle on anyone, but I am to let him know when I'm ready to make the change with him and become full blown vegetarian.  I politely turned him down the first few times but now it seems like each time I chat with him he keeps trying to convince me that it is the best thing since sliced bread (d'oh .. maybe I should have said since Protein Bars.)  

Finally, after realizing that I was not getting very far with this,  I told him that my main diet consists of protein and that is what my nutritionist and surgeon have both told me to do since having WLS.  I told him that if I was normal and had normal will power enough to eat only vegetables, that I wouldn't have needed the surgery to begin with.  I explained that with my new lifestyle I have a very regimented diet plan that my NUT and surgeon have given me and I can't just stray from that.  I explained that I need to get 80 or more grams of protein a day and I couldn't do that just eating vegetables.  I explained all the things that I know can happen if your protein deficient such as hair thinning or loss, weakness, dry skin, etc.  Right after I explained all that, he invited me to go out to dinner sometime with him and his wife at this Vegetarian restaurant.  SMH  .. I was like "well I really need to eat protein with each meal but I'll look at their menu and see what they have."

He said that he had a full head of hair and he doesn't get 80 grams of protein a day as if he were saying that it just simply isn't true that you need THAT much protein each day.  This made me wonder, how do Vegans get their protein requirements if they don't eat meat?   Are any of you Vegans with a sleeve?  Do we really need all that protein if the Vegans don't get it everyday?

I enjoy eating meat.  I tried eating salads all the time before when I was trying to diet and I just can't do it.  It gets so old after a few days.  Hopefully he won't keep harping on the Vegan thing anymore after I told him that I was following my plan that the doctor told me to after surgery.

I could never go vegan but that's just me. I love meat but I love cheese even more!

 they probably eat a lot of tofu.  I do like the tofu shirataki noodles as they are a no-carb alternative to pasta (still prefer pasta), but I've never had the tofu that comes in the blocks.

 I'm a carnivore myself with no interest in going either vegan or vegetarian   That said, you CAN successfully do either with VSG. Your protein sources are just different 

Beans are protein, quinoa has protein, etc etc. There are a lot of protein options as a vegan, HOWEVER, they have to eat more of that item to get the amount of protein we could get from 3 ounces of meat. Our stomachs simply are not big enough to consume the sheer quantity of vegan food necessary to be able to meet our goals. I have seen a few people pop up here and there saying they do a vegan or vegetarian diet with VSG, but these folks are very careful with their diets and are taking supplements such as soy protein shakes, much like we take whey protein on an omnivore diet. 

In a nutshell, yes it is possible to be vegan and have this surgery. Is it worth it? I don't think so. Not by a long shot. The thing about veganism, though, is that it's a belief system as well as a diet. Vegetarians (the majority of them anyway) are doing it for the health benefit. Vegans as a rule are doing it because they are against anything that could harm animals. I just do not agree with that standpoint. I'm not going to start a debate here, but basically I am of the opinion that your diet should be for health, not ideology. 

Your friend sounds way too preachy and in that "ideology" side of veganism. That's incredibly annoying and is no different than anyone trying to shove their religion or politics down your throat. You've been told what is best for you by your doctor. That's who you should listen to, not some yutz on a fad diet.

 I've always wanted to go vegetarian, but now after surgery I have the weirdest craving foe a slice of bacon - pork bacon that is.

MMmmmm Bacon! 

Previously, I deeply considered going Vegan because of the massive issues I have with the meat processing industry and how eat treat animals for eating.  Oddly, I have no issue with eating animals, but I do take issue with how we treat them before slaughter. 

However, at post-WLS, I would not and will not be vegan.  I'd have to rely pretty much solely on soy protein, which has certain issues, especially maybe for me being male and soy containing appreciable amounts of phytoestrogens.  Also, let's face it, you go to the typical American restaurant you can't fit much protien in our tiny stomach without a meat source.

Honestly, the average (though not all) Vegan that I've met typically look a bit 'sickly', and I always wonder if this is from reduced protein intake (it's certainly not due to lowered caloric intake).  

I have respect for those who are Vegan, but I've let that ship sail for myself.

I know what you mean by not liking the way regular meat is "grown" or "harvested," so I have started buying humanely raised, organic, grass fed beef and bison. It is much more expensive, but I've done my homework, and these animals are allowed to graze pasture instead of being confined to feed lots. By eating what they were designed to eat (grass), the meat has a better quality to it.  Another benefit to this, no pink slime. I couldn't go vegan, like my raw milk and my friend's fresh eggs (from very pampered chickens) to much.

I do the same as well.... and I do love my eggs!