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I go out as much as I want. I eat out out at restaurants a couple times a week at least. It's all about choices and what you order. High Protein apps or Entrees. Share something with a friend. Take what you can't eat home. Avoid carbs.... Get the veggie of the day instead of fries, skip the bread. My social life has never been more active and it is wonderful!!!! Driving home from 'socializing' as we speak. Had steamed shrimp appetizer as an entree and some of the hubby's veggies. Lol I will have shrimp omelet for Breakfast from my leftovers tomorrow. WLS is about living not giving up your social life. You will need time to heal but after 4-6 weeks get back out there and enjoy the new you. Of course follow your surgeon's advice on alcohol consumption.

When did you first have an alcoholic drink after post-op?

There are several issues with alcohol and WLS that will apply to varying degrees to different people. Healing time for the stomach is the first, which may not apply to those with the band which doesn't cut directly on the stomach, but will vary from a few weeks to several months or a year or more depending upon individual surgeons' perspectives. Transfer addiction, which BigUtahMan discussed, wherein an addiction to foods, to the degree one is afflicted, is transferred to another medium - alcohol, drugs, gambling, shopping, etc. This can affect anyone who is severely limiting their ability to indulge in an addictive behavior (i.e. any WLS patient irrespective procedure.) From this perspective, some will take a "never again" stand on it. The other alcohol biggie is liver condition; going into any WLS our livers aren't in the best of condition due to our obesity (witness the "liver shrinking" pre-op diets that many surgeons impose on their patients} and is further taxed by its role in metabolizing the fat that we are rapidly losing. The last thing that the liver needs is to be further stressed by metabolizing a known liver toxin - alcohol (that's not a moral judgement, just a physiological fact.) On this basis, some surgeons will suggest no alcohol during your weight loss phase. With my surgeon, this is part of the contract that we sign with him - that we will not drink as long as we are losing; it comes from his alter-ego as a biliopancreatic (liver/pancreas) transplant surgeon who doesn't want to see any of his bariatric patients coming back onto his transplant table.

alcohol works well too

Alcohol is an absolute no-no, according to my program. I'd play it safe, and check with your surgeon. Happy birthday!

I'm not really sure why some doctors do 1 week vs 2 weeks but it seems to vary. Today has been a bit better so far. Broth with unflavored protein powder for breakfast and a coffee flavored shake for lunch. They told me to limit caffeine and very minimum sugar (if any). Now that it is the weekend I'm trying to decide if wine counts as a liquid since I can't have any alcohol for 6 months after[emoji3] Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

One of the things I truly admire about my father is how little he cares for anyone else's opinions. Unfortunately, when it comes to all things weight related, I'm more like my mom...who can be sensitive. I could use to emulate this characteristic in my father on this front...but how to do that, I'm still trying to figure out. I agree that this would be a good topic for therapy! I'm actually actively searching for a therapist now. I've worked with two great therapists who helped me work through some things in the past. One is retiring and the other cannot fit me in her schedule right now. And so I've met with two therapists so far. Both were not good. In fact, both were really bad. The first was a psychologist recommended by the psychologist in my bariatric group (he sees people privately, but does not participate in my insurance). The woman was awful...she may be a brilliant author on the field of food addiction (why I think he recommended her), but she should not have contact with living, breathing subjects. She was condescending, patronizing and judgmental. She made no attempt to get to know me, but instead started telling me how people who have weight loss surgery frequently become alcoholics, gamblers, shopaholics or divorced...I wrote to the guy who recommended her, just so he knew not to send people to her. Honestly, if I didn't have strong self esteem this woman would have done me some serious harm. The second therapist I met seemed better at first, although I was not comfortable with her at home office. I had to walk down a steep driveway, past her knocked over garbage cans, into her backyard, to enter into a basement office. When I left my first appointment with her, I was trying to overlook her rather slovenly ways, trying not to judge and be open minded and so I went back for a second time. On this visit, as I entered the backyard, she popped out of the office and said to me, "I'm sorry. I screwed up. Can you just give me a few minutes." So I sat in her backyard, looking at garbage strewn in her yard, thinking, "what am I doing here?" I was considering leaving, when 15 minutes later she finished with her other client. So I went in. about 1/2 an hour into my session, someone else is coming into the backyard. She commented, "They're early." So out she pops and asks them to wait. When she comes back into the office, there is only a screen door between us and the couple outside. She expected me to continue and I said, "They're right there." So she got up and closed the sliding glass door. I tried to soldier on, but then I could see her looking over my shoulder...the woman outside was pacing behind me! As I left, I heard the woman say to her, "We had a 4:45." as the therapist responded, "I had you down at 5:00." Now, come on...she was off 15 minutes on my appointment...she had messed up theirs too! It was all so unprofessional and uncomfortable. The thing that bothered me most, however, was that she wouldn't have made any attempt to protect my privacy if I hadn't said something. I thought as I left, "This woman is a mess. I'm not this big a mess. I don't need what she has to offer." Thank god, I've had good therapists in the past, or I think I'd be done with therapy after these two! But I'm still looking and I have an appointment to see someone else tonight. Fingers crossed that third time's a charm!

Good post Mary. I think we all have a little of that feeling. Just curious what really WILL happen if we eat or drink something. I think your scenario is the perfect one though, just proving that you really don't need the soda in your life anyway. And when you really feel like a nice sip.. you can have it, be fine, and then dump the rest. Man, I SO want to get to this feeling in my life with so many foods. If I can have a few bites of birthday cake and dump the rest of the plate, that to me will be the success of my life. I'm always the one at the kids parties trying to get the biggest corner piece and then figuring out how I can sneak another one. Is it really possible that that will change???? Ahhh!!! As for the alcohol, I was thinking I'd be off alcohol for the most part until the holidays maybe? I wonder if the acidity is the reason they say not to start with red wine?

http://abcnews.go.co...25#.T-PSD_UVrhJ The difference between the band and the bypass is that the band can cause increased intoxication, but that is due to eating highly decreased calories. The bypass issue is that they actually have the plumbing differences that cause the increased metabolic absorption of alcohol, so they can drink til they are drunk and wait a short amount of time and the metabolism will have negated the effects, letting them consume more alcohol. Dr. Mitchell Roslin, a bariatric surgeon at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, said the link between gastric bypass surgery and increased alcohol use has been attributed before to the shifting addiction theory and that this is false. The shifting addiction theory is that if a person has an impulsive drive to eat and the ability to eat large amounts of food is taken away, then he will shift his addiction to another addictive substance, like drugs or alcohol. "A gastric bypass patient has a small pouch [for a stomach] so alcohol goes straight into the intestine and is absorbed rapidly," said Roslin. "When it is absorbed rapidly, there is a high peak and rapid fall." The higher absorption rate makes alcohol more addictive, he added. Laparoscopic gastric banding, where an adjustable band in placed around a patient's stomach and limits how much food the stomach can hold, did not have an associated risk with increases in alcohol problems. King said this is to be expected as gastric banding does not change the anatomy and thus the metabolism of alcohol like gastric bypass does.

It was for alcohol abuse

I read this article on another post a few days ago and it is only something related to band or bypass. The cause is that alcohol is metabolised differently after those surgeries, so people can drink and drink and the effect wears off quickly, so they drink more. It's not necessarily a replacement of a food addiction, just a thing with how it runs through the body.

Shanna I am with you. I found that when I stayed strictly ON PLAN with NS it worked great. By the way, isn't the food delicious? I also realized if I faltered just ONCE I was lost. If you get an urge to just slip a little? Stop and think would an alcoholic be able to do that? Would a drug addict be able to slip just a little? Sometimes that keeps me from going over the deep end. Can't wait to get home and get back to basics. SIGH!! I am with you Shanna.

Has anyone read the lap Band Solution by paul O'brien? It actually encourages up to 7 drinks per week, stating; Our patients did intake alcohol despite our guidence and so we did a study to see if they loss less weight because they were "breaking the law". To our surprise, we found that , within a modest alcohol intake range, the more they had, the better the weight loss. Most were drinking wine with meals...Moderate alcohol intake has a number of established health benefits, such as a reduction in the risk of heart disease and strokes...Since our study, we have acknowledged a further benefit of a modest alcohol intake on health and have allowed up to seven standard drinks per week. .. Admittedly he only speaks of wine only, so I don't know about those chocolate martini's

There is a thread on this forum that has a detailed article about wls and alcohol problem it wasnt long ago maybe searching back you can get more info!

not a typical thing with RNY, although I know some people who can't handle certain artificial sweeteners (esp sugar alcohols - those with names ending in -itol). Although I also know VSG people who can't tolerate those - as well as people who've never had any WLS at all. I've had RNY, and I'm fine with any artificial sweetener. It could very well be that in your case it's related somehow, but that doesn't seem to be true of all of us...

I've been told my eventual goal will be 3 meals per day, 20-25g protein per meal, which is equal to 3-4 oz cooked meat (palm size/deck of cards). After protein, I should prioritize non-starchy vegetables, followed by fruit, followed by starchy veg and grains, which are limited to 1/2 c portion. My program avoids giving specific macros because everyone is different and also I think to get away from dieting mentality. I was told to space meals 4-6 hours apart and avoid snacking (this is for after the early stages when you need to eat more frequently). Basically, when your appetite starts to return, stick with the limits of 20-25g protein and 1/2 c starch/grain, and eat as much non-starchy veg and fruit as you like until you feel satisfied (instead of taking bigger meat and starch portions as we might be tempted to do). Oh, and choose low-fat or non-fat options when available and stay away from added sugar. They're okay with stevia and sucralose but frown on sugar alcohols.

Check with your doctor, of course. What I can tell you is I drink wine every night, i log it in myfitnesspal so the calories are counted. Alcohol does relax the band and makes you hungry, hence the reason some docs say no alcohol (my opinion). My doctor did not have any restrictions regarding it. Honestly I think I had a glass of wine the day after surgery and no I'm not an alcoholic. Anyway, that's my experience with it.

Coming up on 4 years, I drink alcohol as I did before the band...even Beer (but you have to know what you're doing and how to do it) I don't worry about calories, stopped counting them a few weeks after surgery but that's another story. Only side effect I need to be careful about is I have to have my Bloody Mary's on the mild side....I learned to give up ALL things hot and spicy due to reflux....also anything straight and harsh is not good....I stay with mixed drinks and beer. This has always been a hot topic on this forum......let's face it everyone here should be focused on loosing weight. And drinking may not fit into their plan.....but then everyone has a slightly different approach to WLS.... You need to do what works for you...too many people are worried about giving up things from their past...the very things that made them fat in the first place.

I carry the Crystal Lite individual serving packets in my purse. I order Grey Goose vodka and water. I make sure to order a tall. Since being banded I am VERY careful not to overdo. Alcohol affects me soooooooooo much more than b/4. I try to order a side glass of water when I order a drink and also skip that second and third round that everyone else is ordering. Like Alexandra said...alcohol can make you very hungry. I have come home from a date with DH and feel that I am starving. I find that eating cottage cheese b/4 my one drink helps with that feeling. Not sure why. Have fun....be safe!

I was told I could not have alcohol for the first year. Was anyone else told this? Can we have it in moderation? I'm really not a big drinker. I can go months without having a drink so I wasn't too upset about not having any alcohol for the first year. However, holidays are coming up in the next few months. Can I have a drink or two?

On this site, I have noticed that surgeons reccomendations vary widely. Personally, my surgeon said no alcohol for at least 1 month. I waited almost 2. Since then, I have had wine and harder alcohol (no mixers) and the occasional beer. Beer is tougher for me, because the carbonation. I go regularly (monthly) to my doctor/nutritionist and let them know what I'm eating/drinking. They say its fine as long as it doesn't bother me and they remind me to be mindfull of the calories. Bottom line - listen to your doctor !

Well.... Im going to come clean and say that I have had about a 8 nights since surgery where I have consumed alcohol... one of those being last night.... I dont feel the need to drink alcohol but I find myself in my twenty-something social group going out to the clubs and buying into that lifestyle sometimes..... I am still in my losing stage and I know that this is not a great choice on my part.... AND i must admit ... when i wake up in the morning i feel a little pain underneath my scar in between my boobs... This is definitely a sign telling me that my liver is not appreciating the abuse and I know I have to chill out because I still want to lose another 23lbs to get to goal... BUT most importantly... i want to be healthy .. after all that's why we chose this surgery in the first place.... I just wanted to be honest... but also admit that I havent made all the perfect decisions when it comes to post op lifestyle.

Let me preface this story with the fact that I know that my current relationship with alcohol is and will be different than it was before surgery. What i'm basically saying is, "INB4 outrage & judgement" Before surgery, I was an avid and enthusiastic party girl. I have an extremely stressful full-time, 24x7 boys'-club, mind-numbing soul-crushing (albeit high-paying) career, filled to the brim with heavy drinkers. More than once a week, I find myself out after work either enjoying cocktails with co-workers or going to vendor/customer dinners, where it's not uncommon to have drinks at the restaurant bar before, wine throughout dinner, scotch after, followed by drinks at the bar after to close the night. I don't consider myself an alcoholic - for the 2 weeks in preparation to surgery and for the 2 weeks after, I haven't had a drink, and it's not like I got the DT's or anything. I have however been very concerned and curious about what was going to happen when I did have my first cocktail. I was worried I would be drunk after one sip, or my new stomach would reject it and I would vomit uncontrollably at the table, or worse - I would never be able to have a drink again... All kinds of horrific scenarios went through my head. So I called my best and most trusted friend last night and told him that I was feeling back to normal (for the most part), and interested in testing the waters. We went to my local low-key boozer, sat at a booth. I responsibly ordered my low-calorie standby: Grey Goose & Soda (single tall), and sipped apprehensively while watching jealously as he took long pulls from his Heineken. (I was a beer drinker in my past life - I'm pretty sure it's responsible for 50 of the 100 lbs I'm trying to lose.) My first cocktail went down very slowly - it took about 45 minutes to get it all the way down. I definitely felt it about halfway in, but i felt well within normal operating limits. I could feel my body processing it a little differently, but no big deal. Even though the drink includes soda Water, there is very little carbonation in the drink, so I felt good about my order, and didn't get the burps or anything. Over the course of 3 hours, I had 3 cocktails and a glass of water. I got home feeling like a solid 4.5 out of 10. I finished my Protein drink and took a big bottle of evian to bed, and sipped on it while watching tv. I woke up this morning feeling fine, a little bit of a headache and pretty thirsty, but other than that, I felt great. Although, I have to say, I am feeling my first pangs of hunger since before the surgery, so that's new... I'm not sure if that's related to drinking last night or if my stomach is just healing up properly. I'm going to go and make myself some grits!

I have a few drinks a week, nothing wrong with that. But I very rarely have more than 1 - I'm pretty sure I've had 2 in a row before, but to be honest, I can't even remember the last time. I haven't had more than 2 drinks in one day since the surgery, but I've never been much of a drinker. Generally, the normal alcohol intake for women is limited to 2 drinks a day (4 for men). It sounds like you were venturing into alcoholism territory before surgery, so I think this would be prime time to seize the day and consider some counselling. As mentioned earlier, substitute addictions are quite common after WLS and without food to turn to, your tendency to consume too much alcohol may be more likely to spin out of control. I understand your work/social circle forces you to go to bars, but no one's forcing you to have alcohol - you can have a pop, non-alcoholic cocktail, or tea/coffee and still enjoy the social aspect of hanging out.

I am a recent lap-bander - Nov. 7th. I go to the doctor for my 1st post-op visit on Tues (18th). He allowed soft foods on Friday 14th. Very small amounts of food. So far things are going pretty good. I'm not very hungry, no nausea, the pain is better from gas and incisions, etc. But, I have been home the whole time - I haven't been around other people, except my husband since I came home. I am starting to get a little hungrier, but I didn't go through this whole thing to blow it. How do you handle being around people, food, all the t.v. ads, alcohol, the grocery store with holiday stuff piled to the rafters, etc. ? I know I cannot have very much food during the holidays which I am fine with, BUT. . . . I also don't want to struggle with the sense of deprivation I used to have on diets in the past, even when it is just psychological in nature. I also do not want to be "on exhibit" when with others who know about the lap-band. Any suggestions?? Thanks