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Two weeks should be ok but I would suggest 3 if possible. I was exhausted for 3 weeks. I was allowed to try any food I would like, focusing on nutrition and protein of course, at 5 weeks post op. I am taking it slow and adding new healthy foods when I can. I have yet to vomit in this entire process. I have had very uncomfortable stomach pains from eating too fast, too much or too dense of food. Not fun! My surgeon recommended waiting 6 weeks post op before having any alcohol. This seems to be much less than others have stated. Lots of people on this forum will attack you for having any alcohol before one year post op. I am planning to wait as long as possible but also see no reason not to enjoy a little wine with friends here and there. Any other question feel free to ask! Highest weight (HW) 290 (2 years ago) Pre pre op diet 261.5 Surgery weight (SW) 253.7 1/17 Current weight (CW) 237.2

@Dylpowers 1. Two weeks is realistic. I took six weeks off after my VSG, but I have short-term disability that paid at 100% and six weeks was the amount of time they would let me take without further medical documentation. I'd recommend that you take as much time as your personal, professional, and financial situations will allow. Physically, you'll be better at two weeks, but your protein and water consumption is a full time job early on. Also, fatigue will be a big issue. (It was for me for a solid eight weeks.) 2. Once you get through the food stages (on my plan, about 2 months), you can more or less eat what you want within reason. You'll have to experiment with foods to see what you can and can't tolerate. One word of advice -- don't focus on what you can eat; focus on what you should eat. Changing your relationship with food is the key to long-term success, not the surgery itself. Most people that never get to goal and/or immediately start re-gaining is because they never changed their relationship with food. 3. I have never vomited once. That being said, I have (even in the early days) only eaten specified amounts. I never aspire to be "full." Most vomiting (unless you have some special medical issue) comes from eating too much or eating too fast. 4. I abstained from alcohol for 9 months (the entirety of my six month pre-op diet program and the first three months post-op). I have never had an issue with it. (Keep in mind, though, that I am very, very particular about what I eat, so I account for the calories when I do imbibe.) Good luck! I hope this helps.

Hello I am new to this forum i have my gastric sleeve surgery on March 6th and honestly I am freaking out a little I am 5 11 and at my highest was 385 since deciding to do surgery I have lost over 35 pounds and hope to take more weight off prior to surgery with the pre op liquid. Long term goal is 220 i went to pre op education course yesterday so I am clear on everything to do for the next week and the weeks following My questions revolve around several items is two weeks post surgery realistic to go back to work . I work in finance so desk job i understand the need to strictly follow the post surgery liquid diets etc but when you get to 6 months are you pretty much able to eat most foods ( recognizing that focusing on protein and fewer carbs will be key for the weight loss ) How common is vomiting post surgery 6 months and I assume it is just over eating is the main cause and how sensitive is your stomach ( ie I have 6 ozs of meat instead of 4 am I throwing up) the thought of vomiting a lot obviously is not pleasant . I know Alcohol is discouraged but safe to assume that for special occasions one or two drinks will be fine ( once again 6 plus months out post survey ) i am excited to do this a get to a healthier life just probably now just processing how much change there will be to my life thanks so much for any feedback

Hi everyone hope you’re well, I’ve been on the pre-op diet for three weeks and I was very nervous because I had a scheduled trip to Las Vegas. Before the trip I had been meal prepping, measuring my food, weighing my food, etc. so naturally I was very nervous for what I was going to have to go through Las Vegas because all my friends were going and I knew I could not eat as I normally would or drink any alcohol whatsoever. It was very difficult because all the options are fast food and restaurants so I made sure to order the most protein dishes but I found myself eating more larger portions than I should have. I did a lot of walking and I took the stairs when possible. I was there for five whole days no desserts sticking with three meals a day and no snacking while watching all my other friends eat anything they wanted. I was so nervous to get up this morning and weighed myself since today is my first day home because I have my psychologist appointment on Monday. I wanted to show progress but I was so scared that this trip may have set me back. I am so excited to announce that I am actually down four more pounds while on my trip in Vegas putting my total weight loss in the past three weeks on pre op diet to 21 pounds. Thank you God!

Got to love you. Some of us have been exercising for years. Funny how some people think working out is a new concept. Uuuugh " Have you gone to the gym?"Nothing worse than a reformed alcoholic or a reformed obese person. No need for preaching to a point of throwing it in your face. Keep up your positivity!

What does it mean to be “full from within?” "This concept refers to the idea that we no longer have this psychological “black hole,” that needs to be fed through external things such as; food, drugs, alcohol, spending, relationships, gambling." ~ Dr. Colleen, The Psychology of Finally Being Full From Within To be truly full from within means that our “tank” is mentally full. In other words, our self, although beaten up, bruised, and broken sometimes as a result of our journey down each of our unique life’s path - is repaired and felt as whole again. Like a patchwork quilt that only gets stronger as a result of its many tears and reparations. How does one achieve this, you ask? Borrowing from Aaron Beck’s cognitive triangle - we have three components of the mind that work to repair the self: THOUGHTS, FEELINGS, BEHAVIORS. These are the different components that must be running on all four cylinders to ensure that we aren’t at risk of developing or perpetuating an unhealthy relationship with any of the topics mentioned above, for the purposes of this article, specifically - food. Thoughts To Repair The Self Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy is a 25 cent term to describe the process of looking at the old tapes we run in our minds day in and day out for years upon years, and stopping them in their tracks, and replacing them with new ones. A hallmark approach in Byron Katie’s book “Loving What Is,” is to continuously challenge one’s thoughts by asking “is that really true?” 13 If we deem that we can’t say with absolute certainty that a thought is true, then we can replace it with a more constructive thought. For instance, if we find ourselves with a running narrative that goes something like “you are just never going to be someone that stands out, it’s ok you have other good traits,” then what is the behavior and feelings that it produces? Perhaps the person goes on feeling invisible like many people who are overweight feel. Maybe the person gives up on trying to stand out in the way they look and participate in life. Feelings To Repair The Self For my clients suffering from depression, I will often assign them a task of doing one social event, one bout of exercise (if they have never been inclined to exercise), and one learning activity (lecture, take a CE, attend a webinar, go to a pottery class, painting class, attend a speaking event). Many of them balk at the idea. Some of them have been doing things their way for years and there is an undercurrent of fear related to breaking their routine. It is almost as if the depression has a voice that says “don’t do it, you will only feel worse.” We must realize that when we have depression, our mind is sick. It is no longer serving us, and the messages are coming from crossed wires. In order to uncross those wires, we must physically and literally put one foot in front of the other and re-engage in those activities that we know from the research lead to a sense of happiness or at least contentment. Behaviors To Repair The Self One of the biggest misconceptions about our mind is the idea that we must feel a certain way to engage in certain behaviors. In other words, we must first feel happy if we are going to go to a social event and relate to others in a positive way. However, the cognitive triangle mentioned above is tri-directional14, meaning our behaviors can influence our feelings and/or thoughts, and vice versa. This is powerful information. This means that we don’t have to wait for happiness or joy to come around to engage in behaviors we know lead to more happiness. In fact, one of my first interventions with my patients who suffer from depression is the “just do it” approach, meaning they are given the task of doing three behaviors they don’t necessarily feel like doing in the six days in between their next therapy session. To explain depression via a very simple analogy- it is like the flu for the mind. What do you typically do when you have the flu? You cancel your appointments, stay in bed, drink lots of water, and get lots of rest. The reasoning is that if we minimize the number of life events for a brief bit of time, we will heal more quickly, and we do. BUT, this is not the case with depression. The same intuition we use to combat the flu is the antithesis of what we must do to combat depression, yet somehow our instincts tell us to do the opposite. When we feel depressed, our inclination is to isolate, do less, and wait for the clouds to part. The problem with this is that this type of behavior is what feeds the depression. Suggested Behaviors Benevolence - reaching out to others and getting out of our own head, focusing on how to make someone else’s life or day better through connecting or giving. Play- engaging in something that requires enough effort that we can’t run old unhelpful tapes (I’m not good enough, other people must be more disciplined than me, things will never change, etc), but provides us with enough fun that we leave the activity feeling light, like surfing, artistry, building, writing, playing an instrument, etc. When we are kids, we spend about 95% of our day playing and even trying to find play in our responsibilities (have you ever watched a kid brush their teeth or get dressed? it is never a straightforward buttoned up process). Yet, as adults - we flip that on its head and spend 95% of our time being a human doing vs. a human being. Learning- engaging in novelty is something our brain requires to feel happy and fed. It could be as simple as learning a new card game, all the way to enrolling in an MBA course. When we allow our minds to do what they are best at - our minds give back to us. Connection- We are social creatures by nature. There is a physiological rewiring process that occurs as result of being in near proximity to other humans. It is how we survived so long ago, and our minds still provide the payoff. We are not meant to live in isolation, yet so many of us drift in this direction when they are depressed. Even introverts require some social connection. While extroverts tend to thrive and recharge their batteries on social connection, it is true that introverts recharge in their solitude. However, there is a difference between being alone vs. lonely. As introverted as you may think you are, none of us are immune to going from alone to lonely if we don’t make time for some social connection. Exercise- There are about 99 reasons to exercise and happiness is one. I’m not going to waste space and wax poetic about the many benefits of exercise because I’m sure you’re well aware. But in addition to producing endorphins that have been proven to make us feel better, as far as weight loss goes- it also makes us less likely to put junk in our bodies. Ever do an intense sweat session and then make a beeline to the nearest McDonald’s? I didn’t think so.

Honestly it's hit home over this past year as to what it must be like being a recovering alcoholic. I've heard that many people don't look at ever beating it completely. It's a constant battle where you have good days/weeks/months/years and others are a struggle. I effing loved to smoke and I never thought I'd be able to quit smoking. Was a really tough first year but got through it. Going on something like 7 years now since I quit and there are times where I'd love to have a smoke. I don't dwell on it for long an it passes, but every now and then those urges come up. Food is going to be a tougher battle for me.

Hi, I was on Effexor prior to surgery and quit right before my VGS surgery and stayed off for a week after. When I went back to them I went back to my regular dose and threw it up almost immediately. It made me so sick! Even after I cut my dose down to a quarter of what it was, I was still nauseated and sick after taking it. I wound up giving it up. Its been hard, not having them, alcohol or food to help my mood, but I am doind ok. Some days are better than others. Im trying Kava powder and exersize. I hope that you will have a better tolerance for the meds, but if you don't, I wish you the best. Sent from my SM-N950U using BariatricPal mobile app

According to my discharge directions "avoid alcohol (it's empty calories, and irritates the new stomach)". There are two phases to weight loss surgery - the weight loss phase and the maintenance phase. The weight loss phase is short - perhaps 2 years for sleeve patients. It is important to maximize your weight loss during the weight loss phase, so I recommend not drinking an occasional glass of wine during the first 2 years.

I agree with that and I’ve been saying it for years that the overweight are pretty much the only group of people it’s still seen as acceptable to hate. Alcoholics, smokers, drug users, mentally ill and even more recently, bullies, are all accepted and given a free pass in some way but the minute being overweight is mentioned, suddenly you’re the worst person alive and it doesn’t matter what reasons you have for it, it isn’t viable. My brother is pretty thin but eats loads of unhealthy food and no one ever says anything to him about it. But put us side by side with a slice of pizza each and people would give me the disgusted looks. I’ve seen it many times before. That’s why I don’t buy into the “we’re only concerened about your health” line people come out with. It’s just an excuse most of the time.

The decision whether to get weight loss surgery is one of the most important ones you will ever make. If it is right for you, bariatric surgery can give you a new lease on life as you lose weight and feel great. If you are not ready, weight loss surgery can be a painful experience that does not solve your weight problems. If you are on the fence about it, take your time coming to a decision. Even if you are theoretically eligible for it, you might have a funny feeling about it still. Here are five signs that might be saying that you are not yet ready for WLS. 1. You want to know how soon you can have … Whatever “…” may be, if you are counting down the days until you can have it after your surgery, you might be missing the point. This is a lifetime commitment. It is not a 30-day period of abstinence from alcohol or from pizza. If your mindset is that this is a short-term race to goal weight, bariatric surgery might land you where other diets have: at goal weight and then back to starting weight, plus a few pounds. 2. You’re looking for any excuse to be found ineligible. You may technically qualify for weight loss surgery based on your BMI and any obesity-related health conditions you may have, but are you ready? You might not be if you are grasping at straws to come with reasons you that you “should not” have surgery. For example, you practically ask a doctor to disqualify you because your great-grandfather (who was a smoker) died of a heart attack at age 92 and therefore you worry your heart is not strong enough to withstand surgery. (Note: it is absolutely the right thing to do to explore all of your health history to be sure that the surgery is a relatively safe option for you. Just distinguish between real and imaginary reasons). 3. You are seeking fourth, fifth, and sixth-second opinions. Let’s say your primary care doctor recommends that you have the surgery, and you found a surgeon who gave you the go-ahead. It’s one thing to ask another expert for a second opinion, just to be sure that you are making the right choice. It is quite another to ask several more experts for their opinions, hoping that one of them will advise against surgery. If that is the case, it might be a sign that you are not ready to commit to weight loss surgery and the lifestyle changes that are part of that commitment. 4. You are not sure how it would be different than dieting. Bariatric surgery is worlds away from dieting. If you are thinking of bariatric surgery as a new diet that you will follow until you reach goal weight, you probably will not be prepared to sustain your new eating habits for life, and the weight will come back, just like it may have after countless diets. If you cannot explain to yourself why this is different than previous diet attempts, you might end up with the same results. 5. Your SO is doing more research than you. It seems like every day, your significant other or your mom or your sister is telling you factoids about surgery that they discovered while researching online or talking to people. In the meantime, you have not seemed to be able to find the time to look things up. The fact may be that you are just not that engaged, which may be a sign that, deep down, you are not ready to take the plunge.

If you are on the fence about it, take your time coming to a decision. Even if you are theoretically eligible for it, you might have a funny feeling about it still. Here are five signs that might be saying that you are not yet ready for WLS. 1. You want to know how soon you can have … Whatever “…” may be, if you are counting down the days until you can have it after your surgery, you might be missing the point. This is a lifetime commitment. It is not a 30-day period of abstinence from alcohol or from pizza. If your mindset is that this is a short-term race to goal weight, bariatric surgery might land you where other diets have: at goal weight and then back to starting weight, plus a few pounds. 2. You’re looking for any excuse to be found ineligible. You may technically qualify for weight loss surgery based on your BMI and any obesity-related health conditions you may have, but are you ready? You might not be if you are grasping at straws to come with reasons you that you “should not” have surgery. For example, you practically ask a doctor to disqualify you because your great-grandfather (who was a smoker) died of a heart attack at age 92 and therefore you worry your heart is not strong enough to withstand surgery. (Note: it is absolutely the right thing to do to explore all of your health history to be sure that the surgery is a relatively safe option for you. Just distinguish between real and imaginary reasons). 3. You are seeking fourth, fifth, and sixth-second opinions. Let’s say your primary care doctor recommends that you have the surgery, and you found a surgeon who gave you the go-ahead. It’s one thing to ask another expert for a second opinion, just to be sure that you are making the right choice. It is quite another to ask several more experts for their opinions, hoping that one of them will advise against surgery. If that is the case, it might be a sign that you are not ready to commit to weight loss surgery and the lifestyle changes that are part of that commitment. 4. You are not sure how it would be different than dieting. Bariatric surgery is worlds away from dieting. If you are thinking of bariatric surgery as a new diet that you will follow until you reach goal weight, you probably will not be prepared to sustain your new eating habits for life, and the weight will come back, just like it may have after countless diets. If you cannot explain to yourself why this is different than previous diet attempts, you might end up with the same results. 5. Your SO is doing more research than you. It seems like every day, your significant other or your mom or your sister is telling you factoids about surgery that they discovered while researching online or talking to people. In the meantime, you have not seemed to be able to find the time to look things up. The fact may be that you are just not that engaged, which may be a sign that, deep down, you are not ready to take the plunge.

I have yet to figure out why people are so rude sometimes. I have read many posts about alcohol on this forum and they all have rude comments so don’t feel too bad. Use the search bar to find the other posts and you will see others have commented about having alcohol very soon after surgery and being fine. My surgeon said something about 6 weeks but I have been tempted. I’m 4 1/2 weeks post op. I have read that it is easier to become a binge drinker after surgery and some do actually become alcoholics so just take it slow.

Please don't feel upset with all these different answers/responses. At the end of the day, everyone means well and wants you to succeed in permanent long term weight loss. I have not had my surgery yet and I would say to stay away from it as long as you can. My weightloss coordinator recommended to not have a drink atleast 1 year after as alcohol is not tolerated well in your stomache. The first 6 months are the months you will lose the most weight, why throw a rock in your own path? No joke, my good friend had gastric surgery and 2 years later he gained it all back because he loved to drink. Theres a ton of people struggling on here to keep the weight off even after surgery due to over eatting and drinking. We all need to learn from their mistakes. We have to remember that we are a complete different breed of people (due to different genes) and have to always work harder/exercise more than normal skinny people who never has to consider weight loss surgery because they can eat all they want, not exercise, and never gain weight (This is my sister). Girl, I feel you 100% but weight loss surgery is only a tool. You and I are the same and have to train our minds to eat/drink better, exercise more than the average person to maintain a healthy weight at all times so we can live life well and live longer...Heck, in two months after my surgery,m I might be on here asking the same question but Im gonna look to you to tell me to NOT do it. If we were good friends out and about, I would slap the alcohol drink out of your hand and give you cool water with cucumber/lemon wedge because I want you to do well. =) You got this under control! It's all a mind game.

Oh my goodness, pureed foods from day 1? I can't imagine. Either way, in the many variations, I've never seen alcohol allowed so early. Sent from my SM-G935V using BariatricPal mobile app

What follows is a narrative of my personal experience with the vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) and my subsequent weight loss. It is specifically written for both preoperative and recent postoperative patients. This is my way of thanking Bariatric Pal for the wealth of valuable information I gleaned before undergoing the surgery. I need to underscore that my story is not intended to provide weight loss advice or suggest that the way I did it is the only or even best way to lose and maintain weight loss. I have broken and continue to break most of the postoperative rules I was given by my surgeon and, yet, I’ve been able to maintain a weight loss of 88 pounds over four years (my weight fluctuates within a five-pound range). There are too many self-proclaimed experts on this forum: I am not seeking feedback or a critique about the particular path my journey has taken. There are a few things I would do differently in retrospect. Perhaps others will benefit from my story. Back Story Obesity runs in my family. My parents were chronically 30 to 60 pounds overweight throughout my entire life. My father died at 62 from arteriosclerosis (years of cholesterol plaques broke free and clogged his valves: he suffocated to death). My mother died at age 61 from a massive stroke. Three of my four grandparents died in their late 50’s and early 60’s. I am 63-years-old and thank God every morning for giving me another day. I was a skinny kid but my mother forced me to finish a large glass of eggnog every day even though I would spend over an hour trying to get it down. Her plan worked: At age twelve, I weighed around 30lbs more than I should have. The year was 1967 and Weight Watchers had just opened a branch in my hometown. My mother joined and I decided to follow her program (there were no teen programs at that time. Back in those days, one weekly serving of liver and three daily doses of that foul-tasting Malba powered fat-free milk were mandatory). I lost the excess weight in a relatively short period of time because I was consuming far fewer calories than a growing boy needed and I was active with sports throughout high school. I kept the weight off until after I was married. Throughout my young and middle adulthood, I would continuously lose 30 pounds over a period of a few months and then slowly but surely regain the weight over a two-year period. However, the total amount of each weight gain increased with age and losing the weight became increasingly difficult. At 57 years of age, at a height of just under 5’7”, I weighed in at 244lbs reaching a BMI of 38.8. Bariatric Consultations My initial plan was to obtain a gastric balloon (I wasn’t quite ready to accept that I needed a permanent solution). I consulted with three bariatric surgeons who each told me that a gastric balloon was not the answer as, first, I had too much weight to lose and, second, each physician anticipated that I would regain the weight as soon as the balloon was removed (in six months’ time). Two surgeons recommended the vertical sleeve; one was in favor of the gastric bypass. I eventually decided on the VSG as I didn’t want to have to worry about nutrient absorption (although, as it turned out, I still have to take daily supplements as I just can’t hold enough food in my stomach to receive the minimum daily requirements of vitamins and minerals). My decision to undergo the surgery was not based on vanity. I would have continued to let my pants out if that had been an option as I loved to eat. The surgery was a medical necessity: I had developed obesity-related diabetes (type II) and was taking 1500mg of Glucophage daily and it was only marginally successful. I was functionally crippled: I could not walk more than 100 yards without feeling as if the soles of my feet were on fire. I would need to stop and sit down to give my feet a chance to recover. I was miserable. I could do nothing but lie in bed, watch TV, and eat. In addition, as my weight increased, my blood pressure continued to spike. I was taking five different antihypertensive medications daily and my pressure was still in the high-normal range (155/90). My wife lost her partner in that I was physically unable to do the things with her that we used to do together. She often referred to herself (with me only) as a widow. I hit rock bottom emotionally during the summer of 2012 while visiting Disney World because I needed to rent a scooter (I could not keep up with the others and would hold them up while I rested for a few minutes). I was deeply humiliated although my companions were thrilled that we were able to skip the long lines and enter the rides through the handicap entrance. I scheduled the surgery well in advance for the winter break of 2012 as soon as we returned home (I’m an academician and a university student counselor). My eventual choice in a surgeon was based on a recommendation from my stepson, an emergency room physician, who heavily researched various doctors for me. This particular surgeon was the first to ever perform bariatric surgery in our state and, most impressively, has a “leak rate” of zero percent (even to this day after five years). The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly The operation went smoothly although I awakened to four incisions instead of the expected three because the surgeon could not see his way around my fatty liver without that additional entry point. My mild to moderate pain was sufficiently managed with a pushed IV dose of morphine and tramadol followed by regular intervals of more tramadol. I was very comfortable during my two-night hospital stay. I was sent home with only liquid Panadol and it worked. What pain I had was negligible by the fourth day, when I was able to get out of bed without help. I attribute this outcome to my surgeon’s skill. What I did not anticipate, from having read these forums, was just how damn thirsty I would be before I was cleared for liquid intake. My mouth and throat were so dry that the Barium liquid they gave me to drink for the leak test was literally a welcomed respite from my thirst. I was one of the unfortunates to suffer chronic diarrhea for three-and-a-half-months. This condition is not uncommon after vertical sleeve gastrectomy. I went to work every morning wearing a diaper. I also did not anticipate how weak and dehydrated I would be. I was readmitted to the hospital after two days of dehydration and syncope, a condition that persisted for weeks. I lost my balance a couple of times while at work, which led to speculation among my colleagues that I had either contracted alcoholism or cancer (the latter guess was reinforced by my rapid weight loss). I chose not to broadcast my surgery to anyone other than a few close relatives. My healthcare issues are no one’s business but my own. I also don’t discuss my hypertension, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and reoccurring planters wart with relative strangers such as waitresses and coworkers. (There is a great deal of debate on this forum about the merits of telling the world about one’s bariatric surgery. I do not necessarily believe that one approach is better than another. I only know what was and is best for me). I lost weight too quickly because I didn’t prepare sufficiently for the postoperative 14-day liquid diet. I couldn’t stand the taste of the liquid protein drink I purchased and there is only so much clear broth one can tolerate without feeling as if you’re drowning. By the ninth day, I broke my first postoperative rule and had my wife make me a simple poached egg without seasoning. To this day, that single poached egg was the most delicious meal of my life. I was starving. I believe I lost 30 pounds within the first five to six weeks, followed less dramatically by another 40 over the course of the next six months. Unfortunately, a significant percentage of that weight loss was muscle. Consequently, by the time I reached my initial target goal, I was disheartened by the fact that I looked nothing like I did the last time I had weighed 170lbs. My pants size never changed as my weight decreased from 185lbs down to goal weight, owing to this apron of loose skin in my lower abdomen: I have had to wear 36-inch waist pants regardless of weight. That has been an enormous disappointment. The last time I weighed 170lbs (back in 1997), I wore a 33-inch waist. Over the course of the five years that followed, I gradually lost another 15lbs while not particularly trying to. I have a hunch that my surgeon removed more stomach than he let on, although a gastroenterologist told me that I had about 50 percent of a normal stomach after she performed an endoscopy to rule out stomach cancer. I developed a terrible case of acid reflex and must take antacids every day. During the summer of 2012, my wife and I went on a five-week culinary retreat, including a 10-day cruise. I returned home to discover that my weight had climbed to 180lbs from the 168lbs I had started my vacation with. It was a harsh wake-up call that I could not eat with total impunity. The fear of regaining my weight gripped the pit of my stomach like a heavy duty Craftsman’s vise. I made a decision and commitment to myself that exact moment to never allow myself to gain this kind of weight again. I made a concerted effort to reduce my daily intake of food until my weight fell back down to goal weight. My weight has remained fairly constant from the beginning of 2013 to present day, fluctuating from 155 to 160 pounds. When my weight hits 160, I make a decision to become acutely mindful of what I eat until I see 150-something on the scale. As for the apron, I will go in for liposuction this summer. I gave serious thought to an abdominoplasty but the surgeon talked me out of it, claiming that I would require a four to five week recovery period. In addition, he felt that the loose skin would eventually retract after the underlying fat was removed. In fact, my apron has slightly decreased in size over the past year, an effect of regular activity I think. The Aftermath I am convinced that my metabolism has increased as a result of having been able to maintain my lower body weight over several years. It seems to me that I can eat more now than I could one year after the surgery without gaining weight (my wife, on the other hand, thinks that this isn’t necessarily true, i.e., that I am not really eating more than I had). I am amazed by all the energy I have today: my wonderful and beautiful wife is no longer a widow of obesity and diabetes. Today, I seize every opportunity I can to accompany her to the malls and stores. Today I can walk for hours without pain or fatigue: my diabetes went into permanent remission after a weight loss of 30 to 35 pounds. My BMI varies from 24.6 (normal) to 25.4 (slightly overweight) depending on where I am in my five-pound weight range. My blood pressure is currently maintained in the low-normal range (i.e., 120/70) on just one-fourth the medication I used to take when I was fat. I am on the scale every single morning. I do not like surprises. I want to know immediately when my weight starts to creep upward so I can nip it in the bud. I know myself: I would not be able to rationalize that personal failure away. I am a big fan of the reality TV show “My 600lb Life” on TLC. According to bariatric surgeon Dr. Nowzaradan, less than five percent of his patients enjoy long-term success. Based on the scientific literature I have read, patients with a starting BMI of less than 40 have the highest long-term success rates. Those who were morbidly and super obese (BMIs of 40 to over 50) at the start of surgery have a tough nut to crack. In most cases, they will need to consult with a psychotherapist who specializes in the treatment of obesity to change their emotional relationship with food. Aside from eating solid food after just nine days, I started drinking carbonated beverages at six months after the surgery, e.g., diet cokes and vodka tonics. I am not aware of any change in my stomach’s capacity and I’ve been drinking carbonated beverages every day for almost five years. (Please note: In no way am I encouraging anyone to do the same. Follow your surgeon’s guidelines. I do not want to read any criticisms or dire admonishments from this forum’s formidable food police about how I am inadvertently sabotaging other people's weight loss program). I am simply sharing what has worked for me for the last five years. Many forum members claim that their taste for certain foods changed after the surgery (and, quite fortuitously and even miraculously, it’s always foods high in carbs and fat that members seem to lose their taste for). I cannot claim such good fortune. All foods taste the same to me as my surgeon refused to remove even one of my 10,000+ taste buds: What has changed, however, is my appetite for certain foods. Prior to the surgery, I used to put away four to five 16oz Angus ribeye steaks every week. Today, I don’t find red meat as appetizing as I used to because of its density. I prefer fish because I can digest it easily and without suffering from an agonizing attack of acid reflux. Chicken is also good. Sometimes I do feel frustrated that I can’t eat more than three to four ounces (including fluids) at a time. The good news is that my surgery paid for itself in about 18 months owing to dramatically reduced grocery bills (my insurance did not cover the surgery). I was thrilled when—by fasting all morning long from food and liquids—I was able to finish an entire half of a Second Avenue Deli pastrami sandwich while visiting New York City (and a few sips of their beef barley mushroom soup as well). I have not restricted or eliminated any foods from my life. As a behavioral therapist with over 37 years of clinical experience, I don’t believe in abstinence from food or alcohol as a lifelong strategy. Abstinence is not an effective alternative for moderation. My diet is predominantly the same now as it had been before the surgery. I still eat candy, cake, and pizza, for example… just a lot less than I used to. The only genuine difference in my diet, as stated before, is a decrease in the amount of red meat I consume because it’s harder for me to keep down than fish and chicken. My stomach is very sensitive to overeating: the difference between digesting my food in peace and having to run to the bathroom to cough up a silky combination of excess mucous and gastric acid is literally one bite or a single sip of beverage. Would I have the surgery again given what I know now? Absolutely and in a New York minute. The only regret I have is that I didn’t commit to the surgery sooner. What I learned from my experience I urge anyone planning on having a sleeve gastrectomy to invest the time and money to experiment with different brands and flavors of protein drinks before the surgery. You need to have a reliable source of protein and sufficient calories or you will lose muscle along with fat as I did. The only regret I have is that I lost the weight too quickly, leaving me with an annoying apron and lots of loose skin on my arms, stomach, and hips. There is an implied assumption on this forum that all bariatric surgeons and results are the same, i.e., if one patient supposedly sprung a leak by eating solid food on day 13 (instead of day 15) or allegedly gained back half the weight by allowing him or herself to eat M&M’s again, then everyone should expect the same results. This is simply not true. No two surgeons are the same and no two patients of the same surgeon will have identical results. One size does not fit all when it comes to bariatric surgery. I suggest to friends contemplating the surgery that they find the best surgeon they can regardless of cost even if it means traveling. You don’t shop for bargain basement prices when you’re about to have more than half your stomach removed. The risk is too great. My stepson, the emergency room physician, after looking into the first surgeon I had selected advised, “I wouldn’t let him operate on our dog.” The “less than one percent leak rate” is not an immutable or predetermined statistic: There are bariatric surgeons who boast a zero percent leak rate. Find one of those. I hope my story has been informative and helpful.

It is a long journey to gain the approval from your insurance company. I had to complete. Educational Seminar Dietician Group Meeting Support Group Meeting 2 Dietician Visits 1 Psychiatric Evaluation 6 phone courses from insurance with a trained nutritionist and exercise specialist (2 to 4 weeks apart) Pulmonary Clearance Cardiac Clearance Gastroenterology Clearance H. Pylori Breath Test (tested positive so had to do treatment for a month then retest) Monthly Weigh Ins PCP approval Proof of Diet, Exercise, Medication Mandatory Meeting to turn into insurance Insurance Approval It is not a short journey but well worth it. I feel all this hard work will make the hard work of losing weight post op not seem so stressful. Pre Op approval is the hardest part. Log your journey so you can look back and see everything you accomplished. Don't give up. Its very worth it!! I told very few people. I sort of lost a friend due to her not understanding the lifestyle changes and constantly into drinking and eating. I gave up smoking and alcohol cold turkey. Coffee is the hardest thing to give up but I still drink it and chew gum. I stopped drinking out of straws and lost 17 pounds from changing my lifestyle. 17 lbs in 10 months is not much which is why I need the surgery to help. Keeping it private helps block the negativity. I would have quit the journey if I listened to all the negativity. The truth is you do not know all the work that goes into it unless you have been through it. My husband goes to all of these meetings with me so he understands mostly. A lot of people say its the easy way out. There is nothing easy about this!!

Some people like to force theyre beliefs and procedures on eberybidy they can because nobody will listen to them in real life so they come on here and unleash. Try to find a good area and you'll be good. Just don't ever ever post about alcohol. God forbid u have drink 3 mos out . These people will burn u at the stake. Sent from my SM-G935T using BariatricPal mobile app

I have not had surgery yet, but my surgeon told me to wait at least one year after having the gastric sleeve before drinking any alcohol and “never” if I decide to have gastric bypass. (Literally said I could never have alcohol again after bypass) So my guess is that you should definitely not have any alcohol. I would hate for anything bad to happen to you.

Yeah I think the way you worded it that triggered a lot of your responses.... “Really want a drink” Alcohol is rough on a healing stomach. The empty calories are rough on weight loss. Typically people feel drunk quicker which is tough on food choices. Most plans recommend avoiding liquid calories in general. Most recommend avoiding alcohol for 3-6 months or even a year. Some recommend avoiding it forever. Check with your surgeon and your plan. Also, note—at 9 days post op you are still healing. Your cut nerves haven’t healed yet and you probably can’t feel what’s going on so you wouldn’t be able to feel any burning or other harsh effects on the healing cut edges. That takes about six weeks to three months. So it may feel like you’re handling it well but you just don’t know yet. So, that is why I respectfully deferred to your surgeons plan. You trusted your surgeon to cut you open, trust their plan. Some people drink earlier out than others. Some do well with it, some do not. Your question, though, “how soon can I have a drink” I turn back on you. You can find people on here to give ANY answer you like. Whose answer are you looking for? Most of us don’t have medical degrees.

I'm not really sure why you would go through EVERYTHING you went through, and are still recovering from surgery, and want a drink so bad? Maybe it was the way you worded it, either way, it seems to me this is the time to begin healthy habits. Just wait and ask your doctor. If we can't even eat pureed food yet, I can't imagine alcohol is on the list. Sent from my SM-G935V using BariatricPal mobile app

You are 9 days out of surgery and craving alcohol, you're not even on mashed foods yet but you want to drink that sounds exactly like an alcoholic to me, really wasn't judging, but it sounded like a cry for help. Sent from my N9560 using BariatricPal mobile app

An alcoholic because I want a drink? I'm sorry did I say I wanted to get hammered or have a several? I said A DRINK. Had I known that posting a question would require me to deal with a bunch of judgemental people I would've refrained from doing so. I thought this was somewhere I could go for support and for answers without being judged. Sorry I asked geez..

I'm pretty sure you know what the answer is going to be.... Not being judgey at all, but you're 9 days out and want to drink alcohol? It's going to be ages before that desire gets entertained by anyone. Professional or not. Alcoholic beverages are nothing but empty calories and I'm not sure if you've had the sleeve or bypass but drinking that stuff can make you sick or give you stomach ulcers. You're fresh out of the hospital. Don't do it. Avoid alcohol like it's the plague for the next year or so. If it's something you really must know, then heed the previous person's advice and ask your surgeon. But I vote... Don't do it. Hw-273 Sw-226 CW-135 GW-130 Size- 4 or 6, Small in sweats. Small in shirts. depends on how it's cut or made. Bra Size- 36C Surgery Date- April 26th, 2017 RNY "Only those who try will become" FFX

You sound like an alcoholic, maybe get some help for that before you irritate your new stomach and possibly have some serious problems, sometimes life threatening. Sent from my N9560 using BariatricPal mobile app