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Awesome fluffyjewel. And Thanks NewSetOfCurves. I made the dicision to stay away from the sweets and instead of grabbing something sweet grab a pickle or a slice of turkey. The choice is mine and I need to make better ones definitely and choose better for myself so that my new clothes keep fitting me. I refuse to get bigger but make myself smaller. How are you with alcoholic beverages? I have a drink on Friday and 1 is always enough but that is really hard to say no to.

Woot!!! This morning I met my goal!!! I'm now 75 pounds down total!!! I can't believe I lost weight over the holiday...I ate and drank everything I wanted (a tiny bit of the bad stuff mind you, but even a cookie or two a day and plenty of alcohol). I love my band! Just 6 more pounds and I'll be 'NORMAL'!!! Thanks for the Challenge!

Ah, I miss the 4 am Denny's runs after those "19-year-old male with profuse vomiting, alcohol ingestion" 911 calls! These days, when I'm away at school all day, I pack hardboiled eggs, small yogurt containers, Protein shakes, and a couple of wheels of Babybel cheese - Gouda is my favorite, it's quite soft. I don't know if you are doing a low-carb thing, but I also like fruit. Right now, I've got plums and persimmons in the fridge.

A year ago I would have agreed with this whole heartedly. I hate when people lie about liking foods they don't like...and when they lie about not missing/wanting the foods they were so attached to...they got fat on them. I have always been someone who prefers ugly truths to pretty lies. I love food. Food and I have a deeply intimate attachment. THAT SAID... I've gotta disagree with summerset on this point. I think there are a wide ranges of experiences and I'm absolutely shocked to have had a different experience than what I anticipated. There are a lot of foods I used to use for comfort...that I have turned to for comfort again (yep, I'll admit I have...in carefully measured quantities...I still wanted the stress relief and comfort of eating them on occasion) Something in my physiology has changed. They don't work anymore. And it makes me kinda freaked out. Sometimes I feel like something akin to an alcoholic in a warehouse full of beer. No matter how many bottles I pop open and take a swig....it's not beer anymore.....it all tastes like iced tea...and I don't WANT iced tea. I can take a bite of chicken pot pie, or donut, or BigMac, or chocolate turtle pie....stuff I used to freakin LOVE....and it fails to bring that little release of serotonin like it always has. It fails to caress my insides like love. it doesn't make me feel better. It just goes down empty and makes me feel both stupid (for doing it) and sad (because the sensation is missing...the relief is missing) The up side...is that it's not hard to stop. Who wants more than a bite or two of abject disappointment? I'm running fewer experiments. If a bite of donut doesn't work, a bite a cake isn't likely to, so why bother? I'm not saying I didn't LOVE eating this stuff before...I'm not saying I feel accomplished to have "conquered it"...cause that's not it...I don't feel like that. I'm saying that it kinda scares me and upsets me that it doesn't do much for me anymore. The magic is gone. Something CHANGED. My guts or parts of my brain involved with eating....feel alien. I think there's more than meets the eye...to what happens to people with these procedures. And I think individual experiences vary widely. I never expected to feel like this.

I was told I had to wait a year before having alcohol. Im 3 weeks out, and I don't think my stomach could tolerate it. Having trouble with the Vitamins, so Im thinking I should wait till I can at least get those down. I love my wine, and have quite a few bottles, but Im waiting for the right time. Im concentrating on getting thin and healthy, Ill have my wine later.

So I had a weekend of being BAD in New Orleans. ???? I have lost 51 pounds since pre-op and ahead of goal. Last Wed. I flew into NO with hubs and OMG. I didn't eat as bad as I would pre-surgery by no means. BUT I didn't make the best choices either. Bloody Mary's, butter laden crab claws, and a 1/2 a beignet. I know, I'm going to hell right?? Lol No, would just love to hear from some of the vets that might have had the same lapse and was able to get right back on goal. Oh and for the pre-ops that want to know about eating post-op. Yes, for some you'll be able to eat what you want without getting sick. But no where near as much and alcohol doesn't have any different effect on me than before. I skipped the sugary mixes and drank straight liquor.

Hello, I too was banded by him on Feb 13th & no complications either. He is such a sweet caring doctor. Iv'e lost 14 lbs which isn't as good as I could have so on tues when I got another fill he asked me to keep a food journal & stop drinking alcohol so frequently & wants to see me again in two weeks, also he suggested calling the Beverly Hills office to make appt for the support group. I told him I have issues in my personal life so i think he wants me to deal with things that may be interferring with my weight loss. I recommend him to anyone looking for a great lap band surgeon he actually cares about his patients unlike some places that just want your money.

I had a two week pre-op diet of only liquids. It was the hardest thing ever!!! I had to get in 3-4 Protein shakes a day and 64oz of Water. I was allowed to eat sugar free Jello, pudding and crystal lights and Soup. I lost 12 or 14lbs. I did cheat also but it was on grilled chicken and broccoli! @ Badkness beer is not in your future. You can just forget about alcohol altogether for at least the next 6 months if not longer. The point of the pre-op diet is to not only jump start rapid weight loss but to also shrink your liver so it its easier to handle during surgery. If it's too big they will just sew you right up and be done without doing anything to your stomach and this will be all for not. After surgery the carbonation of beer will make you sick. Besides you will only be drinking 4oz at a time anyway. Start cutting down now!!

Mrs Bahuna - Good answer 'for health reasons'. I will use that next time someone tells me I did not need to get banded. Hopefully, that will shut them up. Nawlinz - I'll try it toasted next time. Would be nice not to be scared of eating bread! Amazed I have lost nearly 2 kilos in a week - and I thought I had not felt any restriction. Can you guys tell me what you do about alcohol - when you go out - do you drink wine? How does it affect you being banded?

I'm going on my first vacation since my vgs surgery and it's an all inclusive resort. Are there any low calorie cocktails that I can drink? This will also be my first time drinking alcohol since my surgery 6 months ago-a little nervous and excited... Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

Well, you can definitely add me to the None of Your Business Camp. Besides the medical staff, the only person that knows is my husband. I've read the other posts where people tried to keep it semi-secret and you have only confirmed my fears. Someone always "swears" someone else to secrecy and then it's common knowledge. I struggled with the decision as far as telling my two sons (18 & 23) but decided it might be information they may tell their girlfriends, friends by "accident," and then I'm in the same situation where people that I don't want knowing my business end up knowing. Unfortunately, WLS is judged by society and not in a positive light. I, myself, feel that I have taken a very, very extreme measure in the fight of obesity. I can't help but sometimes wish I had the "power" to lose weight with proper diet and exercise and not with the aid of a tool. I am an alcoholic in recovery and have been sober almost 2 years so this may just be part of my problem, too. Admitting my food addiction may be even harder than admitting my addiction to alcohol. I am new to this lapband process so perhaps in time, I will be able to share this news in the future. But for now -- mums the word. I also don't know how successful I am going to be so telling others about this extreme measure and then failing would be devastating. PS: I do sometimes remind my husband that he is the ONLY person who knows and that if it ever gets out, I'll know where to go "Soprano Style."

Hi Gina. I have IBS as well. I was hospitalized as a toddler for a week - diagnosis: nervous stomach. Which of course became Spastic Colon, then IBS. Now, at 54 I got so fed up with how I was feeling that i decided I wasn't going to feel like it another day. I started doing research. I discovered while doing research that sorbitol and other sugar alcohols are in so many things (xylitol, mannitol, etc.). Even in my toothpaste. And more importantly, I was taking Cipralex Meltz which contain sorbitol - I can honestly say I felt poisoned. So - lactose intolerant, IBS and a pretty bad intolerance for sugar alcohols (something I figured out 5-6 years ago but didn't know I was ingesting every single day). When I went to my doctor and explained all these thing she said - "I know what's wrong with you!" - She told me about the Low FODMAP diet - a Doctor in Australia (with celiac) discovered the correlation between certain foods and intolerances, and sugar alcohols and their effect on people with gastro-intestinal problems. The biggest factor for me has been removing sorbitol completely. I'm super vigilant about this. My brain-fog just disappeared, my gut/bowel was so much better after that. I'm fairly good at not eating the many fruits and vegetables, fructose, fructans, etc that are all part of this. I just could not understand why when I ate I avoided dairy but my almost instant diarrhea happened all the same. It was awful. I'm not completely out of the woods, but I feel control for the first time in my life! I downloaded the app, bought the book and haven't looked back. My IBS is one of my major concerns when it comes to getting the gastric sleeve operation. I'm very concerned about foods going through my system too quickly and making my life miserable due to the food bypassing the absorption in the small intestine and through to the large too quickly resulting in chronic diarrhea. I see my doctor August 11 and it'll be a question I'll be asking for sure. She may not know the answers but she may be able to send me to see somebody that does. I really think that you should try this diet, especially as you have IBS. Perhaps you already know about the Low FODMAP diet? If so, sorry I've wasted your time with this very long message! lol The protein shakes you're drinking - check the ingredients. Become familiar with all the sugar alcohols so you can recognize them when you read ingredient lists. Most people with IBS also have lactose intolerance. Do you have it? Protein shakes are an issue for me - it's also a concern if I get the sleeve surgery as the protein shakes are a necessity from what I know. I can't have things like sugar-free popsicles (probably have sorbitol), shakes if they have dairy or sugar alcohols/sorbitol, etc. Dieting usually means low-fat, low-sugar foods. I won't be able to ever have those items, so will need to always have whole foods only - no processed. I will need to have a protein shake chosen beforehand that doesn't bother me. If it bothers me before surgery it'll be a nightmare after. Please look at this diet - there are so many doctors that don't know about it. Find a dietician who knows about it and get some help from him/her. Check your toothpaste, your foods/drinks, gum, mints, sugar-free pop (btw I can't have aspartame either). Good luck - would be so nice if this is a big help for you :-) I was put on the low fodmap diet six years ago. I was not lactose intolerant before my sleeve but I am now. Thanks for the thought and the time you took to message me.

This is what my plan says. I take this to mean pretty much forever, or for a long time, anyways. And that's fine, most carbs are trigger foods for me, so I should stay away from them. THESE FOODS ARE ALL HARD TO TOLERATE AND DO NOT SUPPORT YOUR LONG TERM WEIGHT LOSS GOALS Bread, pastries, muffins, bagels, rice, flour tortilla, pasta, and flour-based products. They foods form a dough ball, which can swell up and plug the stomach outlet resulting in pain or vomiting. Greasy and deep-fried foods are often hard to digest and poorly tolerated. Sugar and sweets can cause dumping syndrome and inadequate weight loss. Carbonation (soda, flavored waters, and alcohol), sugar sweetened drinks, and juice.

Some will some won't it depends entirely on your insurance and surgeon. My surgeon is known for putting people "back on the bench" for 6 months if they gain or test positive for tobacco or alcohol day of surgery. They understand that we have a difficult time losing weight, they love to see te scale trending down no matter if it's .2lbs or 50lbs, or they at least want to see us maintaining (staying the same). They consider us not ready if we gain. That's my particular program though, all are different. I'm guessing if they say it, they mean it.

You look fantabulous. .. Im 1 year out and only lost 55 pounds. I went from a tight size 18/20 & wear size 6 jeans now that are a little to big, i even have a size 4 white denim skirt. My only problem is my tummy, i look about 5 months pregnant. I can exercise much due to 2 back surgeries. I can't eat much, but i have been vacationing & drink8ng like a fish daily. As of this week alcohol is out during the week. Im thinking about a tummy tuck. Keep up the great work.

Congratulations!!! I'm 9 weeks post op too! I've lost 47 pounds. It is AMAZING! I had my 2 month post op at my surgeon's last week and they were happy with my progress. I was a little discouraged because I stalled out for about a week, but my nutritionist reminded me of all the NSVs...I've stopped having to use my cpap, my feet don't ache anymore, I'm down from a size 18 to a size 12. I still want to lose about another 40 lbs, and the weight loss is moving much slower now. I really have to be more diligent. We had a Halloween party to go to yesterday, and it is HARD to navigate the food (and drink) table at a party! My husband and I were the only sober people there, lol. But it was still fun! I'm learning you don't need food and alcohol to have a good time. Sent from my SM-N976V using BariatricPal mobile app

I thought I had a strong online support group through a daily thread on the weight watchers website. We checked in every day for about ten years. We even took vacations together. Then all of a sudden it's fallen apart. And since I am the only one of the group who had wls, I am the odd person out. So I'm looking to connect with some folks, or even one FOLK, for support and maybe some fun. I don't care if we have a lot in common. I'm 59, had my surgery in June, after a lifetime of dieting. I've been married for 35 years. I have three grown sons, all of whom still live at home. I call them Moe, Larry, and Curley. I am the director of a drug/alcohol treatment program in eastern PA. I've been doing counseling of one kind or another for over 30 years. I am a Buddhist. I currently have one crazy Akita named Finn.

I know you didn't mean it to offend anyone I was joking. As far as relapsing its a fact of life my mom is a life long alcoholic so are most of her siblings. She's fallen off the wagon more times than most. Its a daily struggle no shame in it. Dust yourself off and get back on.

Sound like you heading in the right direction to me. rememeber Alcohol is just empty calories!

Congrats on your weight loss! Coconut oil, organic and unrefined, (usually the refined one is put under extra heat which kills off the benefits) the best thing you can do for dry skin is make sure whatever moisturizer you are using doesn't contain alcohol as it is naturally drying, you want as few ingredients as possible when it comes to your face. The skin on our face is different then the skin on our arms and legs etc, it's much more delicate. At night have UR basic moisturizer and apply it heavily before going to sleep, make sure you massage your face as you apply gently, this helps with circulation. buying super expensive creams with all these claims aren't necessary, any benefits you have from them will usually cease to show once you discontinue use of the product. When you wake up in the morning, Always make sure you have a cream/moisturizer with atleast 15 SPF, anything more is a bonus but extra sunscreen can sometimes cause an oily appearance. Morning creams are more crucial because of the sunscreen. If you wear foundation with 15 SPF it should cover you if it is applied all over face and neck. You can also take Vitamin A, it helps with free radicals and aging! Best thing you can do for your face is making a habit of using sunscreen, staying hydrated, and getting good sleep everyday! Okay I'm done lol best of luck!

Hi, my name is Megan and I am 24 years old. I am in recovery from drugs and alcohol and have been clean for going on 6 years. Last year I decided it was time to work on the other problems I have, in a serious way, and I decided to get the lap-band surgery. I have been in a relationship with my wonderful boyfriend (David) for 4 years and he is very helpful and supportive. I had the surgery on 10/22/07 with no complications or problems. The only problem I did have was with the insurance company (surprise surprise) trying not to hold up their end of the bargain Luckily the company I work for is also wonderful and they have made sure that the insurance company doesn't screw me I have lost 26 pounds and I go to the gym 3-4 days a week for 1 hr +. I am very happy that I had the surgery and look forward to the weight coming off and staying off!

OMG How did I miss this thread till now? You can't ever drink from a straw again You can't have port again (I love Port and it's the first alcoholic drink I had post-op.) Everyone who follows a 800 calorie or less diet during the first 6 months trashes their metabolism for the rest of their life. You can't eat <fill in the blank>. You can't drink <fill in the blank>. You won't lose unless you exercise. Lynda

I am 40, and I was sleeved June 3, 2015. I'm only 5'3" and started out at 366 pounds. After a few stalls, today I reached 60 pounds off total. I feel so much better. My insomnia and migraines I have had most my life are gone. I wanted to be healthier for my kids and myself. I have found the strength to leave my cheating alcoholic husband, and I'm ready to live my next 40 years to the fullest!

Since you mentioned you've posted several times about already having a "stall", I will respond with a excerpt from an article written on Bariatriceating.com because it may be of interest to you: Your internal surgical wounds must heal – this is no time to go to the mall, out to dinner, visiting friends and on vacation. Sew what? In terms of food, you must stick to your surgeons program for post op food stages. You need time to allow the tiny pouch cut and sewn from the fabric of your giant floppy stomach to heal itself closed. We have all glued something only to have the seams pop open. The liquid & soft food stages are to avoid stressing pouch seams and give your stomach a break from the process of digestion. Is ice cream a puree? Sirloin steak is not a soft food. Ice cream is NOT a puree. You can’t eat popcorn, raw carrots or celery ten days after surgery. People ask if we think they could have a pork chop, we say ‘no’, they eat it anyhow, then tell us ‘they didn’t have a problem’. NO alcohol for a year… NON-negotiable… but people push back saying their surgeon said five weeks was okay. Folks… we know better and we are trying to help you. General Tso? NOT your friend The post op dietary stages are not a suggestion, they are a requirement for you own safety. You cannot eat Chinese food the week after surgery because you ‘chew it well’. A ‘craving’ for Orange chicken landed one support group member in the hospital! It’s a very bad idea to push. Being ‘released’ to ‘regular food’ does not mean what you think it does, but you already know that. How long until you can have pizza again? “Pizza is not a food for someone having obesity surgery.” (that’s a quote from Dr. N on My 600 lb Life) Every single week in our support group, these actions land new post ops in the hospital. Sip sip sip sip sip… If you had a back injury, you would not tile your kitchen floor the same week. Yet, people think nothing of making a trip to a theme park when they should be at home resting and taking in fluids. People ask us ‘Do you think I would be able to go on a cruise two weeks after my sleeve?’ (Nooooo!) As high as 30% of post ops are dehydrated enough to land back in the hospital with a Fluid IV. Not drinking enough Water after surgery can cause heart damage. Dehydration is the most common bariatric complication, yet it’s largely avoidable. Stay home and heal… drink hot water, cold water, broth, Diet Snapple, herbal tea, eat sf ice pops and Jello. (We have a free bariatric water app called HY, click for GetHyApp.com) Vitamins are critical It is impossible for you to have your stomach surgically removed or reconfigured and take in the nutrients needed to run your body. While your surgeons group has mentioned Flintstones, that is so you will possibly take something instead of being one of the 67% of post ops who take nothing. They are not optimal and won’t prevent long term problems like broken bones from simple falls and losing teeth, but may keep you from dying in the short term. The idea behind supplements is to prevent issues from grabbing you in twenty years when it’s too late to change the path. Take them! Protein from food? What a novel idea! Yes, yes, yes, we’d all like to get our protein from food and that’s what you want to hear. However, if you are unable to take in 70 grams of protein per day, you can either weaken and lose your hair or you can figure out another way until you are able to learn and eat the right foods. Protein drinks make up the difference between what you can eat and what you need. They are not simply a tasty beverage for your enjoyment for you to be all picky and ridiculous over. They are the antidote for your disease of morbid obesity. Morbid means death and obesity surgery only slows and reverses the disease IF you follow your plan. I personally like their no-nonsence approach to this life altering surgery we've all had. Also, yes to wait staff looking strangely at us but it won't last long. I found it harder for them when I wouldn't want to order anything to drink since we can't drink while eating. Now I tell them, "No thank you, I don't drink when eating". I've been asked "why?" many times. I then tell them how no one should because it doesn't allow your food to be properly digested when liquid is present. 95% of them tell me they're going to try it. I wish you nothing but success

Eat Right Can’t get away from this one, can you? You know when you eat well, you have more energy, feel more confident, and are happier. That’s a recipe for being able to do some quality gift shopping or even volunteer work. You know what “eating right” means. Base your meals around lean protein like non-fat cottage cheese, tuna, beans, egg whites, or chicken breast, for example. Add a bunch of vegetables, and enjoy some fruit or healthy starches at most meals. Pretty simple, and so effective! Oh, and if you do indulge? Keep it to a small and delicious bite to savor. Use the Trash Can, Don’t Be One If you’ve ever eaten something just because it’s there, you’ve used your body as a trash can. That’s because you ate something you didn’t need instead of simply leaving it or throwing it out. This happens a lot around the holidays, when you might eat the leftovers or a plate of Christmas cookies because you feel guilty throwing them out. Guess what. When you throw trash into your body instead of a can, you’re not helping starving children in Africa. If you really want to help them, why not make a donation? Donate, say, a penny for every calorie you dump, or a quarter for every cookie you toss. Now that’s how putting yourself first can help out others in need! Exercise When you exercise, you’re happier, more energetic, and more focused. Sound selfish? Not really. You can be more productive at work, better able to entertain your friends and family, and readier to whip up that next batch of cookies when your children have a last-minute request for a contribution to a classroom holiday party. It can be tough to stick to your regular exercise schedule during the holidays. You can save time by getting your gear ready the night before and by planning your workout ahead of time so you make use of every moment. Since it can be tempting to sleep in instead of a morning workout or just hang out at home in the evening, make use of other people to stay accountable. Make plans to meet an exercise buddy, or commit to group fitness classes. And, if you’re feeling too stressed or tired to do a hard workout, try going to the gym for some easy stretching. You’ll still get the mental benefits and stay in the healthy habit of being a gym rat. De-Stress Have you ever wanted to tell someone to just “chill!” because they’re making you nervous? Don’t be that person! Keep yourself cool and collected so everyone wants to be around you and not avoid you. De-stress in whatever way works for you. You can go for a walk, get a massage or manicure, take a drive, or go shopping. It doesn’t matter…as long as you do it and it works. If it involves someone else, you’re doing double duty and helping someone else out as well! Have Fun Amidst all the hustle and bustle of taking care of yourself and others, don’t forget to have fun. Do whatever you want, whether it’s meeting a friend for (healthy) lunch, watching a full season of a TV show in a few days, or doing all the aisles at Walmart at 1:00 a.m. Whatever you’ve been dying to do all year, do it now. When you keep yourself happy, you’re better able to appreciate what other people need or want to be happy. Forgive Yourself Yes, things will go wrong. You’ll eat too much, or go a little overboard on the alcohol at a holiday party, or sleep in instead of working out. Or you’ll forget to pick up a gift for someone, or burn the cake you’re baking. It’s okay, and you’re best off if you can laugh it off and move on. Fret about it, and you’ll just be hurting other people who would rather see you happy than upset. The holiday season is supposed to be about giving, but that can drain you if you don’t take care of yourself. Just like you do during the rest of your weight loss surgery journey, you need to put yourself first during the holidays. That lets you give your best to everyone else, too.