Hiker

I ate a couple meals in my 1 week pre op SlimFast diet. But I also was 250 and not really obese, just very over weight and getting worse. My doctor told me that the typical liquid diet period was 2 weeks but a week would be enough for me. The pre op liquid diet is just to reduce as much fat around your stomach as possible to allow for the surgeon to do his/her work I believe. And also to purge the stomach of solids?

Well, I have experience with both alcohol and grass. I drink daily and smoke daily, I have been banded for 3 years, I am at my goal weight for the most part. My band is filled and eating is slow, I actually should have some taken out so that I can eat more whole foods and stop eating so much processed junk food. Anyhow, drinking is something that I have no problem with, I am able to drink one after another all day, beer, mixed drinks, whatever. Now I do have to remind myself to eat because I often skip Breakfast and sometimes have a drink before eating anything for the day but I still drink about half my calories ~1600-2200+ a day in alcohol. (Probably not recommended for everyone.) Be careful of too much carbonation in the first months especially while you are healing and still careful after that too prevent stretching of the band. TIP: I sometimes open a beer and leave in the refrigerator for a couple hours before I drink it to knock some of the carbonation down. As far as reefer goes, it actually helps my belly settle after a large meal, or while eating sometimes I get a little backed up. A toke off the pipe VERY MUCH helps with instant digestion, especially if you cough a little. Hope that helps, peace brother.

I do not remember it being painful to drink, it was slow at first. But if you are curious about the effects on your band, use common sense, lots and lots of carbonation could cause your band to slip, stretch, or just in general cause problems with the band and your stomach. If you are going to be drinking mixed drinks you will be fine, even ones with soda. Once the ice melts a little and the alcohol diluting the soda, a drink becomes flat enough to drink easily. Obviously you don't eat as much anymore so be conscience of the effects of the alcohol, you won't need as much. And at the same time, too many drinks on a full stomach will lead to bloating and you will be very uncomfortable. Oh yea, I figured it would be worth mentioning, and this is probably not for everyone, but I get really gassy when I drink a lot of beer!! Heads up on that.

I had a beer within 1 week. It was not difficult to put down. I had always been a drinker and this was a huge concern for me but it is a non issue, I drink everyday. I was banded 3 years ago, drank since week 1 and I am at a good weight. Beer fills me up faster and I have had instances of bloating but rarely. I even have days where I drink 20+. Lite beer, like PBR (my favorite chugging beer) is more carbonated then most other styles and I find craft beer especially easy to drink. Also beer is way less carbonated then soda pop is. I find drinking beer settles food well if I get a little backed up while eating. That might help you. Other drinks I enjoy and that are obviously not carbonated: Margaritas, White Russians, Tequila Sunrises, Long Islands and though carbonated I do drink quite a few Bourbon & Cokes and 7&7's. I am sure your doctor would not recommend any of this, but it has worked for me.