Raw Vegan diet?

Hi there!

Was just wondering if anyone out there has had the gastric bypass surgery and who is has succeeded on a raw vegan diet plan (info: http://www.veganrawdiet.com/)? I am pre-op and have talked to the NUT about this particular diet (I am currently vegetarian) and she said it's doable as long as everything (seeds, veggies, etc.) are pulverized to the right consistency. Hope someone out there can give me some encouragement on this and have experience with this way of eating.

Thanks!
Gina

I don't think the consistency would be the issue. I would think it would be difficult to get the amount of protein at least early on (first year or so) with a vegan/raw diet. Quantity wise... it would be hard to get the Dr's minimums (generally around 70 g. of protein per day) without animal products (whey, milk, cheese). There's only so much soy, seeds and nuts you can consume... the new pouch doesn't really like nuts & seeds early on either.

I wish I could give you better news as it's a noble lifestyle.

~Michelle

Someone with an unmodified gut has their hands full attempting to get all of their nutrients they need from a vegan diet.  Add "raw" to that, and it becomes even more difficult.

Whatever the dubious benefits of such a diet might be for someone with an intact gut, you need to understand up front that RNY surgery radically and permanently limits your food intake and impairs nutrient absorption. 

Your NUT is not doing you any favors by encouraging you on this foolish goal by underestimating the extreme difficulty and the likelihood of malnutrition that you would face after RNY surgery on such a diet.  What about essential post-op supplements, such as vitamins, calcium, and iron, not to mention B12?

/Steve

Yes my NUT did talk about the extra vitamins and nutrients that are needed for someone who gets the RNY. However, I was wanting to eat more raw food as those foods are more whole and the nutrients aren't cooked out of the foods. As long as the food isn't heated above 115 degrees all the enzymes are still in the foods. Although, perhaps I can try taking an enzyme supplement in a powder form mixed with cooked food. Thanks for your response. =)

Digestion of raw "hard consistency" foods may be a big issue. I know my surgeon said not to eat whole carrots for several months, but cooked carrots were OK'd at 3-4 weeks. Your digestive tract is altered with surgery.  I try to stick to "something half way normal" as possible, as it may be difficult enought to get in enough protein or other foods as a post op. Limited appetite initially, long term limited food capacity also limits your ability to get proteins from foods. If you do "try" this vegan type diet, then I'd be watching my labs with a LOT of interest to check on how vitamins and other nutrients are absorbed by your body. DAVE

While I find it easy to follow a vegetarian lifestyle, I don't believe you would get adequate nutrition following a vegan lifestyle.  I could easily become a vegan now as I can eat more and tolerate more.  It would still be a challenge, though.

My suggestion to you would be to continue following a vegetarian diet and then, later on, if you still wish to delve into veganism, your insides would be further along and better able to adapt.  The key to all of this is adequate nutrition and your health.

Hi Gina,
I'm thinking you wouldn't need surgery at all if you could adopt this life style.  If someone is truly eating only raw, vegan foods they can't possibly take in enough calories to keep a lot of extra weight on.  Have you tried this diet for a consistent time period before?  Maybe I'm confused as to what someone on this type of plan can eat.  Now you have me curious. 

You make a good point, I have thought of that "if I can follow this lifestyle why do I need the surgery." And yes, I followed this way of eating for about 2-3 months and lost weight, but couldn't stick with it. That is actually what made me stay vegetarian. The breads and pastas called my name and now I'm pretty much an unhealthy vegetarian, unfortunately.

Yeah that's pretty much the story of my life.  I had great success on lots of eating plans and the like for about six weeks.  That is when I would typically hit my first stall or slow down and then I would jump right off that bandwagon!  That is why I chose the DS.  It had the most amount of malabsorption so it offered me the greatest chance of keeping my weight off even if my behavior never became completely modified.  Good luck in whatever you chose.  It is a very frustrating battle.