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Both my kids are high functioning ASD - I know what you mean! We mostly avoid artificial/processed food, but the pre-op diet was tough. I'd already picked up a few Sucralose products during the insurance mandated diet, but went full chemical sugar free for the last few weeks of super low carb. Man, it was *nasty*. But I've seen the pictures from my surgery and my liver looked FABULOUS, so I'm pretending it helped my liver shrink and am moving on. Like elisa5150, I did use sugar free stuff the first month or so - especially the sugar free popsicles - but also Gelatin, Protein powder, and some protein hot chocolate. Now, I use flavored stevia drops for kefir or yogurt (yay live cultures!) and a little xylitol (a sugar alcohol) in my tea. Some of Protein shakes (Orgain) have stevia and erythritol (another sugar alcohol) or monkfruit and inulin (Jamie Eason Lean Body for Her). Personally, I do really well with xylitol and okay with erythritol (though their "naturalness" is highly debatable). And while current research increasingly makes it look like sucralose and other traditional artificial sweeteners are really messing with gut health, there doesn't seem to be any evidence that stevia, monkfruit, xylitol, or erythritol have much effect one way or the other. There are natural(-ish) protein powders out there - as long as you can keep the carbs and protein where they're supposed to be. (My NUT recommended youbars - they make custom Protein Bars with options for natural sweeteners.) We love grass fed butter and cheese, though I'm sticking with olive oil and coconut oil for now. I do have a tub of natural coconut oil based vegan butter spread I use every once in a while, but I wouldn't give up grass fed dairy for margarine if I had a choice. Mostly, though, my new stomach prefers savory moderate to low fat food, so I try to work with that as much as I can. When I was still eating dairy, I discovered I could mix herbs (Penzey's Fox Point seasoning) into low fat Greek yogurt and use it as a dip. Still got my protein, but didn't have to sweeten it. Which is probably for the best. I don't think living on artificially sweet or fatty things is necessarily better than living on real sweet or fatty things. So, good fats when we eat them - grass fed beef; pastured eggs; olive & coconut oil - and all in reasonable amount. If a dish is too fatty, I can't eat enough to meet my protein goal. Sort of a self limiting problem, so I don't see the need to drag margarine into it. As for sweets... research just keeps making it look like artificial sweeteners wreck your gut and make you crave more sweets. Which kind of makes sense since some "bad" gut bacteria has been tied to increased sugar consumption/desire for sugar. And sweets have gotten me into a lot of trouble in general, so I feel like this is the time to develop better habits. Thank heavens I did full on high fat/low carb Keto before surgery - I rarely had sweet things anyway and it still kicked my butt! But it really did kick the sugar cravings and I am so glad I didn't have to deal with that post surgery! It's made it way easier to explore healthy options that don't involve so many chemicals. Now to try and get back on my gut health protocol and try and get my kids onboard. Wow - sorry this is so meandering - it's the middle of the night and we have a small herd of cousins over for the first Christmas break sleepover. Brain. Fried. Let me know if you need product ideas - I feel like I've researched them all . Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

I would experiment at home before you go out in public, and keep the TUMS handy. Remeber alcohol can affect you in some really different ways now, especially after losing weight and maybe going off meds. If you are going off meds, you need to consult your pharmacist rather than your NUT. For me, for example - I am not considered diabetic anymore, but I had an atypical diabetes anyways, and I still can dip soooo very low, and alcohol aggrivates that, but I can never tell how much.

I never knew about the dependency thing but I guess it makes sense. I'm 3 months post op and I've drank twice. Just one drink each. But I feel the urge or need to all the time and it's so hard for me to say no even when I go out with the intentions of not drinkin. My doc told me no alcohol for a year tho :/.

Kate, Drinking should be cut back for the major reason alcohol is high in calories. Its tough when you see how much food you have to give up to compensate for the alcohol. My Dr's don't want us to drink because of this but they leave it up to each patient. I cannot drink beer anymore as I have trouble with the carbination. Same with soda pops. I do have an occassional Rum and diet coke as long as I can use caffine free diet coke. If it is poured out of a bottle I stir the carbination out of it and then add the rum. If I'm at a bar the fountain drinks they use for mixing are less carbinated so that works fine. Hope that helps you.

The Irish say Everyone has a wee bit of Irish in them on St. Patrick’s Day. So being a wee bit Irish today I set off to find out about everything Irish. Even the Obama’s are Irish today. Michelle and her leprechauns dyed the White House fountains green today. Pittsburgh's own Dan Rooney (owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers) was named Ambassador to Ireland today. It’s all about this guy… If you don’t wear green you’ll get pinched by everyone but your boss (sexual harassment and all that). I sent both of my boys off to school without reminding them…no green….BWhaahaahaahaaha (evil laugh). Hey, teenage boys getting pinched by the girls…I think I did them a favor. If you tell people you're Irish they have to kiss you...keep breathmints on hand. Of course, they eat potatoes and corned beef, but they also eat some of this today…I don’t even want to know…haggis… They drink a LOT of this today. This pic is of Guiness beer, but it looks the same as Irish coffee with clotted cream on top…to the Irish, it really doesn’t matter as long as it has alcohol in it…and after awhile the pub bartenders can serve either and no one knows the difference…it’s all good… After a few drinks they run around looking for their Pot-O-Gold… …or if the line at the Port-O-Pot-O-Gold is too long they use this one… Then they dance the Irish jig…and apparently if done fast enough you'll eventually levitate through the air… Then they fall down into the grass and look for these… And if they're really lucky, they'll catch one of these guys...probably passed out right next to them... A toast to you on St. Patty's Day.... For each petal on the shamrock This brings a wish your way. Good health, good luck, and happiness For each and every day. Slainté! (health)

Sugar alcohol is the devil.....and the number one reason in America for mid-day underwear changes.

Every plan is different. My surgeon allows me to have alcohol. I can't drink red wine anymore (which I used to love) because it burns going down. I can drink something with rum or vodka but tequila makes me sick (which I also used to like). If you are going to drink alcohol be sure it's in your caloric budget for the day and that you are prepared to feel the effect of alcohol much sooner. I seldom drink now because I can drunk so easily and because I usually don't feel like I want to drink my calories for the day. I know many people will write and say never to drink, but again, every surgeon's plan is different.

Friends, I've done some things very right for me like exercising, joining this forum, & quitting alcohol. But I've also done some things very wrong for me like drinking too much, eating too much occasionally, & not seeking support when I needed it. I hope this thread is helpful to you.

I keep seeing folks talking about drinking soda on the chat board, & it worries me. I don't want to see anyone damage their pouch, so I thought I would bump this thread up to the top again. Please see the first post to get an explanation as to why alcohol & carbonated drinks can be harmful to you.

All of the above posters are right! Nixi, I'm thrilled that you "got" it! This is a lifestyle change, not a diet. We're going to eat and drink things that aren't "diet friendly" on occasion, because this is REAL LIFE. The key is to not do that constantly. Normal people indulge in sweets sometimes; they drink alcohol in moderation. We ARE normal people...we're just bigger and working our ways down to a normal size. Enjoy a little treat here and there...and 1/4 of an apple fritter is a little treat. Just remember that you had that treat and try to eat less treats for a few days. You're doing great!!

I just happened upon this somewhat testy thread a month late. I have not had a soda since surgery, but do drink coffee every day usually in the form of a latte with a scoop of Protein added. I was told it was not recommended early on because as the previous poster said it increases appetite in some (not so with me either), it can cause us to retain Fluid and also we may not drink all the Water we should. I don't think it is thought to cause damage to the band in any way. It has not had any ill effects on my weightloss and I have been drinking it from the beginning. I did not know we should not drink beer or maybe I did and forgot. I am not a drinker of alcohol normally anyway, but did have a few bottles while on vacation a couple weeks ago. I assume it is due to the similar to soda type carbonation issue? If it could cause band issues I will probably not indulge in the future! I must say that I eat most anything I want and never gain weight anymore. I was just thinking about it today..how wonderful it is and how I once envied people who seemed to be able to eat anything and never gain weight. I now realize in most cases it was because overall they did not eat a lot and they ate smaller portions. I do naturally eat healthy, but do not hesitate to have a dessert, slice of pizza, candy, or anything else one might consider off limits, on occasion.

I think its funny all the controversy over one Cape Cod. For all the time spend updating and reading this post, I bet if we had all spent that time on the treadmill instead we could've all had a Cape Cod and burnt up the calories in it too. LOL Ultimately, though, we all have to fashion a 'lifestyle' utilizing the band as best we can as individuals. My dietician has a lot of advice, but ultimately I have to decide what I am willing to do permanently for my lifestyle. In some cases, that means I embrace something more than it is even recommended. I've been able to get in more Protein, more Water, and more exercise than what has been recommended. I have eliminated carbonation, caffeine and artificial sweeteners as recommended even though I didn't think I could at first. I have cut way back on alcohol, but for me, this is something I want to keep in my lifestyle in moderation. I think everybody has something they refuse to give up entirely or refuse to embrace (like exercise or drinking water). I think on the long list of behaviors that could slow your weightloss, drinking one Cape Cod in a month is pretty minor.

One person told me that by getting wls showed how weak I was... And that I was never going to be happy or that I was going to become an alcoholic or drug addict because I was already addicted to food ... Anyways and all this coming out of the only two ppl I trusted enough to tell them about my plans ... Now looking Back I think it was all jalousie because they are also fat! Now we don't talk!

You're kidding, right? No, alcohol is not okay to drink 15 days out. Call your surgeon. He'll tell you.

Drinking alcohol 15 days post op is VERY dangerous. Alcohol is an irritant to the stomach,'so it might be painful. Your body may process a small quantity of alcohol, as if it was a very LARGE quantity after VSG. Please don't take the risk.

My doctor advises to wait 1 year or until you've reached your goal weight. Alcohol hinders your weight loss. Honestly, I'm almost 2years out and I enjoy my wine but I'm 25 pounds away from my goal and I know it's because of the wine. I waited 13 months before I had my first sip. Let your pouch heal then go with what your doctor recommends.

Have you tried the Luna protein bars? From what i can see looking at the ingredients list they dont contain any alcohols. 190 calories, 19g carbs, 3g fiber, 12g protein. I usually dont eat these instead of my meal replacement shakes but i am allowed another shake during the day as a "snack". But after drinking two shakes i would prob cry if i had another one. I switch these out instead. The peanut butter is pretty good and i have a cookie dough box i am waiting to try.

Hi All, I am scheduled to have my operation in January and it has been a long journey! I have chosen to keep my surgery private from my family and "friends", with only my mum, aunt and best friend knowing. I feel my generation is really critical and judgemental, not to mention the way people change once you've changed for the better so, I feel this would certainly work best. I want advice on EVERYTHING! How have younger people coped post and pre-op? (Teens/Twenties - but we're all young so what the hell) Alcohol intake post-op? (We all deserve some fun!) Loose Skin (if you have or have not experienced any)? What you did to prevent this or what you recommend to avoid loose skin? How soon did you exercise? - I know it's recommended to do 30 mins. Walking post-op in the beginning, but how soon did you start resistance training? As I know this is best to stop excessive skin as well as Protein. What did you take to the hospital? I'm on the low cal pre-op diet for 2 weeks and start on the 30th - What did you do? Post-Op: what is recommended? food wise, mainly the first 2 weeks Please share your thoughts and experiences!

I gave up unhealthy food & beverage favorites months before surgery. It was hard to give up sugar, processed food, bread, soda, and alcohol but I wanted to make a lasting change and to not go through "detox" and have to deal with cravings right after surgery. This approach worked well for me and I'd recommend others consider doing the same to prepare for your new lifestyle ahead of time.

I lost weight really fast at first, I had a BMI of 35, but overall, although Im within my healthy weight range now, its taken me a good 18 months to lose 80lb. After the initial 9 weeks or so, in which I lost about 30lb (which is a lot when you're only 80lb overweight), my weight loss has been slowish compared to others. But then again, I havent had to lose 100lb before every few lb makes a difference iykwim. Like even when Iw as still 90kg, even 3kg made a visible difference on me, whereas you wouldnt even notice it on someone much bigger. So there's a trade off to the slower loss. I felt I was blessed becuase I was still light enough and fit enough to plunge straight into running after my surgery and was able to exercise intensely from quite early on. Also, I was banded right before Christmas 05, I had a champagne or two over the Christmas period. I'd avoid it for a week or two after surgery but after that, in moderation, alcohol is fine for a special occasion.

Thanks guys. I ended up ordering a Rum Runner. It was huge and it really tasted mostly of rum. I have an 8 month old so I haven't had any alcohol in oh 18 months or so. Needless to say that one was enough. I was great until I stood up from the table then things started to move a little. LOL We had a great night though.

I have had my lapband since 2005. My starting weight was 230, my lowest weight was 174 (lasted about a month) and now I am at 265! My band is unfilled because I never felt full. I just felt pain when I ate (unless it was soft foods or liquids)...this was no way to live. I had a unfill and found out my port is tilted (most painful adjustment ever!!). I really want to lose weight and live a fuller life! I have been researching the sleeve and am hoping it will work for me! Any help with these questions is MUCH appreciated! -I read a lot of people saying sleeve doesnt work after having a lapband :/ is this true? I am SO scared of making a wrong choice -Is it possible to have a band and sleeve? -Why do more surgeons not offer the "net" around the stomach to help prevent stretching? -Weight loss aside; are you able to drink a small amount of alcohol (like a glass or two of wine)? -Do you feel like you get enough energy from what you eat? -Do you find yourself craving carbs or did the sleeve help kill that “I gotta have some bread and butter!!!”. Because even when I stuff myself with other foods, I still have that mental “but you didn’t have what you really wanted” feeling. -Since this is removing some of the stomach, do you feel like some surgeons are better than others? Like it’s an art? I am curious why some people fail and some succeed. Could it be the surgeons don’t remove enough stomach or do it wrong? I also ask this because I would consider going out of state (not out of country for a surgeon more experienced with lapband to sleeve. -Do you believe WLS is like breast implants, where you should prepare yourself that you may need to have “maintenance” done on it? Whether that be revision or additional surgery to correct complications? I explained to my boyfriend I always knew it was a possibility that I may need my band fixed or removed because I saw many patients with slips and port issues. -Can someone have the sleeve done 2x if they gain weight back? -My lapband surgeon is charging 22k for band removal to sleeve. Expensive! I already paid 19k out of pocket for my lapband, and it didn't work out. And I REALLY did try. This would be a 41k investment-- sigh. Many of my question stem from my fail with my lapband. Thank you for everyones replies... I have read this site over for days and finally wanted to post!

@Aprile3211 Great post, I completely agree. @xmaleengyx - I did have a catheter but they put it in after I was under anesthesia and removed it before I woke up. And ask your doctor about it if it makes you that nervous. Also, if you are really anxious about surgery, there's no shame in asking your doctor to prescribe something to help calm your nerves that you can take even up to the morning of surgery. Surgery and recovery is such a brief part of this that you forget about it very quickly. As for the alcohol and such, my psych said there is nothing we can't have (once we're healed) but there are things we shouldn't have. You will not explode if you have alcohol within a year of surgery. I am choosing not to drink alcohol because I don't really like it and it's not worth the calories but that's just my personal choice. You will not die if you drink diet soda after surgery. Doctor's generally say we should stay away from it but some people choose to have it again once they are healed. Same with caffeine. I think taking tiny bites is important early on but I think they get a little bigger than a eraser size as time goes on. It is important to chew well and I'm trying to break myself from a lifetime habit of not chewing my food up well. When I don't, I do get sick because the food gets stuck and it's a little painful. Some people never have a problem with this but I am a slow learner so I'm still working on it. I take one Multivitamin a day and my 3 month labs came back with everything completely in the normal range. It's something I really should have been doing before so I don't look at it as difficult. Hang in there and do a lot of reading on this site. It really helped calm my nerves about a lot of things.

Don't be nervous. They will ask what has brought you to this decision, why you think you'll be successful, any barriers you see to being able to make this work for you. They will also speak to transferred addictions to drugs/alcohol in place of food. They just want to make sure you're prepared for this major life change as insurance companies don't want to approve if it's not going to work. Good luck! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I believe the theory behind the straw is the extra air it introduces. Many programs don't prohibit it. As far as a drink, I waited until around 6 months myself. For me, the big thing is the many empty calories plus alcohol dehydrates. It also inhibits healing (as does smoking) so don't do it at least for several months. It's best to ask your Dr or Nutritionist.