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She told me to start 30 days out. So for the most part i went like this: Monday - Friday i made homemade choc protein powder smoothie with skim milk and cold brew coffe and crushed ice. Somedays i would have liquid diet for lunch but not always if i was hungry. I would have a sensible dinner with some kind of grilled meat and a green veggie Sat - Sun i ate whatever the f*** i wanted, and drank alcohol. I lost 12 pounds doing that. Day before surgery I had a bowl of Pasta, my kryptonite. Doctor said my liver looked fine and surgery went great. And since surgery iv lost over 50 pounds because i just cant eat very much. 6 months out i can eat pretty much anything i want, i just dont eat much of it. But i still try to eat sensible monday through friday and the scale keeps dropping 2-3 pounds a week.

@FluffyChix you are my kinda gal lol!!! We all need an infusion of humor or vodka, no!!! damn where is the emoji for chit can't have alcohol

Prolly hysterectomy,,that's when I gained mine and when I stopped smoking cigs 8 years ago,and alcohol will put weight on ya also hun,congrats on your surgery and your overcomes,I'm new I've not had my surgery yet,waiting on losing 17 pounds to come off before insurance will cover it,I hope you can get to where you want but you look great to me.

I was asked during my psyc eval about whether I reached all milestones growing up, do I feel like a failure, am I depressed, what is my alcohol consumption like, have I done any illicit drugs... what is my relationship with my family, do I understand the risk of surgery, do I understand what would be required after wls. After that interview, I took the MMPI Diagnostic test... that was ~570 questions... it was a very long appt. Sent from my SM-N920V using BariatricPal mobile app

Actually, kind & supportive are not synonymous. While you started this thread, there is a very real possibility that hundreds of people may read it. If being truthful and honest by stating what you did was not only a bad idea but possibly life threatening is not supportive to you, then aberry was being supportive to the other people whom have not commented and/or are not aware that it is most decidedly a bad idea. It always comes up in threads where recent post op members do something fooling that they play the "this place is supposed to be a judgement free zone and is all about support. This place may be supportive for many, but the intent of this website is to connect people with surgeons and then ecommerce for the bariatricpal online store for food and vitamins, and information sharing. That is it. Information and discussion first and foremost. Now back to your post on pizza. It was bad. Life threatening bad. Is crappy pizza really worth risking your life over? Would you have truly felt better if no one cared enough to tell you the truth? Since I have been here, there have been many that have broke the rules very early. I don't know why, but it is almost always pizza. Or tacos. Sometimes alcohol. Back before the great purge of vets and posts, there was even someone that died from eating solid foods within the first week. I think it was pizza, but I cannot remember for sure. Going through the posts, I don't really know all these people. I am not taking sides, but I did want to comment so that anyone that reads and doesn't comment can see a dispassionate post on the topic.

Agreed. A bottle of wine is a problem. Think about therapy plus join an exercise group. Maybe there make a couple healthy friends. The guilt and abuse added to life changes is a lot of stress It is hard to lose weight when stressed. Try meditation - progressive muscle relaxation - restorative yoga if counseling is not an option. Recently if I have a second alcoholic drink I black out. Way too freaky for me at 3 years out. I added a 1 drink twice a month rule and cautious black outswill enter this too

Just some more information: I'm having the gastric sleeve done, and I live in Switzerland, near Italy. Food funerals: definitely. Mine is tequila. Good thing is, alcohol is off the plan for a good 6 months and then I'll just carry on not touching it. Is there a FB page for sleevers in January?

Same thing happened to my sister. She went out of control after her lap band with her new sexy figure. She was married with 2 kids and now she's divorced with a 26 year old boyfriend. She went out every night and just changed as a person in general and she drinks all the time. I tried talking sense into her to get a hold of herself but she's stubborn and knows everything. So yes I believe there is a connection there between alcoholism and the surgery Sent from my SM-G935V using BariatricPal mobile app

actually, it turns out they have. this is the point of my post and is what the latest research is showing. that by rewiring our digestive tract, they are also rewiring our brains. lots of fascinating reading out there. i'd start by googling "alcohol gastric bypass".

a few issues to unpack here - 1 - to answer your question, i think the hysterectomy is the primary culprit for your recent weight gain. because it's known to do that, AND because you've been drinking this whole time up til now without gaining. 2 - gaining 13 (or more) pounds is the least of your concerns. probably the biggest thing in the field of bariatric science right now is the risk of alcohol (and drug) addiction. before i got my surgery, my surgeon stressed to me (rather disturbingly) that alcohol addiction is the ONLY thing that keeps him up at night. it is a huge concern for him. it's so big, that i think it might eventually threaten the viability of the surgery. if the statistics and research keep bearing out what it has been, it's possible that they "outlaw" the surgery. why? well we all know that alcohol "hits" you harder, and longer. anything that has more dramatic effect is more easily to be abused. however, there's a mystery element going on. a recent study found it's NOT just about our new anatomy. i.e. it's not just that alcohol isn't cushioned by the stomach anymore and dumped right into the intestine. they did a study where they took two groups of rats - one with normal anatomy, and another that had a gastric bypass - and they administered alcohol into these rats intravenously. so they bypassed the entire digestive tract and made the rats equally "drunk" through IV-administered alcohol. they shockingly found that the rats with the gastric bypass ended up significantly more addicted. what does that mean? basically they don't know for sure yet, but there is something about the surgery that increases the susceptibility to addiction and substance abuse. something about the surgery changes the brain to make this the case. which is also the reason that those with gastric bypass get addicted to things like cocaine and heroin. those don't go thru the digestive tract either. this is different from "transfer addiction". that is not what's going on. so what to do? i'm in the same boat because while i wasn't an alcoholic before surgery, i was getting there. and unfortunately now that i find myself nearing my goal weight, i have started drinking again after a good 5 months off. and yes, i notice it's much stronger and more effective. so i'm worried as well. aside from finding a very sweet person on this website who has partnered up with me to support each other in our addictions (mine being alcohol, hers being a particular food), there's another strategy i'm going to try... it's called naltrexone. it's a prescription drug that has been found to have profound effects in curbing alcohol abuse. take it once a day and it basically neutralizes the "reward" signal in your brain when exposed to drugs and alcohol. so eventually you can look at a glass of wine and have zero interest in drinking it. more and more physicians are wising up to this powerful tool and prescribing it to their patients (as opposed to just telling them to join AA). i've decided i'm going to make an appt with my doctor and ask for it. i did not go thru this surgery to go from one hell to another. i want to nip it in the bud. here's an article on how naltrexone can help: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/04/the-irrationality-of-alcoholics-anonymous/386255/

The original poster of this thread has slipped into cross addiction, a.k.a. addiction transference. Cross addiction is a widespread occurrence in the bariatric surgery community. Now that they cannot overeat, many weight loss surgery patients pick up another addiction (e.g. alcoholism, thrill seeking, shopping, smoking, gambling, risky sex, gaming). Basically, bariatric surgeons alter our stomachs, not our brains. Thus, people who misused food still have addicted brains and personalities after bariatric surgery. Only professional help can sufficiently address one's addictive tendencies. Wine certainly results in weight regain, especially with the quantities described, due to empty non-nutritive calories. In combination with a sedentary life, it's a perfect recipe for regain.

Look up the terms 'cross addiction' or 'addiction transference.' Cross addiction is a very common phenomenon in the bariatric surgery population. Instead of overeating, many weight loss surgery patients simply adopt another addiction (e.g. alcohol abuse, shopping, smoking, gambling, risky sex, video gaming). Essentially, bariatric surgeons operate on our stomachs and not our brains. Therefore, overeaters who abused food still have addicted brains after weight loss surgery. Nothing, other than professional help, will properly address a person's addictive tendencies. Yes, the wine leads to weight gain, especially in the quantities you drink. It is full of empty calories. Combined with the sedentary lifestyle, it's a perfect recipe for weight regain.

Hello Wv chef Im so sorry to hear about all your troubles & I agree with Crèekimp13! Alcohol is NEVER the way to cover over any problems! It just leads you to more as you have already experienced! I have a Niece who had a gastric bypass right after she graduated high school. She had been over weight most of her young life so wrhen she was old enough my Sister helped her to get the surgery. By the way shes now 25 or 26. Back then my sister, her Mom, didnt know about the gastric sleeve! Anyway my Niece loss all her weight & felt pretty & sexy for the first time in her life! She started to go partie, bars & started drinking, getting drunk which lead her to getting raped & anòther time she became pregnant & well...the fetus is no longer here![emoji17] To make a long story short.. she's still drinking despite all the help & encouragement from family & the TV show called Intervention. She is now living many miles away from her family, has a 4 yr old daughter, living with the babies father who is a drug addict & who beats her! So NO... alcohol is not good! And yes it will make you gain weight! WV let me ask you this...have you ever though about turning your life towards God? That is the Best direction you can go at this point in your life! Why not seek a way to have a personal Bible Study to show you how you can change you life & bring you much,much Joy! I promise you will never regret it or ever be alone no matter where you live! Sent from my SM-T530NU using BariatricPal mobile app

Yep it's serious, I can be so easy to switch one addiction for another and alcohol is an easy one to switch to. It's readily available, easy to get down ie liquids go straight down, there is some research out there saying that WLS patients get to feel the effects of alcohol sooner / more intensely than non WLS peope bbcause of the changes made to our digestive system. This has been a really big issue for me and has caused me a significant amount of heartache, suffering, pain and depression. I never thought I would talk about it openly but hey, I this is a support group. I might start a new thread tomorrow and tell you guys about my true story and see how I feel getting it off my chest and to see what help I can get and understand if there are people out there who have been through or are going through similar things as me who I can help to learn from me and my mistakes. OK post tomorrow when I have more time on my hands. Sorry WV Chef, not wanting to detract from your story or questions. You seem to have experienced similar issue to me regarding the increased alcohol intake. You do loo amazing though and I hope you're proud of your achievements. You're obviously one strong lady! Please feel free to PVT me if you want to talk about ongoing booze issues post op or anything else :-) Thanks guys, John

This is why the doctors and NUTS say to never drink because it is very common and very easy to replace one addiction with another and apparently alcohol is the biggie and many become alcoholics. I'm not judging you or putting any labels on but I would suggest you find a way to stop drinking altogether. Obviously because it is bad if you can't control it and also because of those pesky calories!!! A whole bottle of anything is not good -- count the carbs and calories in that and add it to the food journal that you are still keeping (I know, you probably aren't but need to get back to) and see if all those fit in to your days' calories, carbs/proteins. Best of luck to you and keep us posted. We are pulling for you.

Tough Love: Alcohol slows lipid oxidation (the burning of fat) by about 75%. So yes, it's likely the alcohol causing your weight gain. And it's probably contributing to your nutritional deficiencies. You should be eating nutritious food, not alcohol. Particularly if you are deficient. DUI is selfish and dangerous. You are extremely lucky that you...or anyone else.... wasn't injured/killed by your poor choices. 3-4 mixed drinks, or a whole bottle of wine a night....is an addiction. I think you're trading one dangerous addiction (food) for an even more dangerous addiction (alcohol). Try to stop drinking for a month. If you can't? Seek help. I don't mean this to sound overly harsh, it sounds like you've been through a lot. But sometimes being kind means being honest....even if the truth hurts a little. Please take care and let us know how you're doing.

I started my weight loss journey in Sept 2008. Had absolutely NO complications or problems and lost over half my weight in 3-4 months. I weighed 247 on the day of my surgery and quickly plummeted to a sexy 125!! Felt amazing and looked it too! However, 5 years later I had picked up a brand new habit!! I started going out...like to bars...which I had never done in my life ( I was married w/ kids so this wasn't acceptable) anyway, Now, I was divorced and had alot of free time on the weekends. Had a wonderful job, gaining new friends, hobbies etc. However, I also started drinking. Would never have more than 3-4 Captain and Cokes but my god they were delicious to me!! I had never drank before nor did I drink much soda. I quickly found myself drinking on the weekends while out with friends. Long story short, 2 years later I got a DUI !!! The first and ONLY person in my family that drank much less, get arrested. This killed my spirits, and I felt I had let my family down so I swore off alcohol. Fast forward 2 years...no job, new relationship that required a move 3 hrs away from everything I had ever known, only to find he was an alcoholic who was also physically abusive when drunk (strangled me on numerous occasions)...I started drinking again (along with him and only at home) just to get my mind off the fact that I was so far away from my family and other miseries. I am now on my own, doing very well, great job, my own place but have now started drinking wine (a whole bottle of Pink Moscato) a few nights a week. This didn't really start until this past April when I had a full hysterectomy....Thankfully, I have never had a hangover, never get sick and am actually really productive around the house..(which isn't a bad thing) I guess my question is, I have gained about 13 lbs since this time last year ( my job is sitting for 12 hrs 4 days a week) when I am home ( I live alone) I am just sedentary and don't really have any energy to do much of anything ( severely anemic and get iron infusions every week ) so do you think it is the Wine that is causing the weight gain, the Full hysterectomy, the desk job or just a combination.??? I would really like to stop any further weight gain and any answers would be appreciated.

“Do you think it is the Wine that is causing the weight gain, the Full hysterectomy, the desk job or just a combination.??? I would really like to stop any further weight gain and any answers would be appreciated” Probably all the above. Alcohol is empty calories. But the hysterectomy could DEF be playing a big part. Your body went through a huge change hormonally. A lot of women put on weight after menopause (naturally or w/hysterectomy). As far as your desk job, I have the same problem. I found using a step tracker, like a FitBit was really helpful to keep track of my steps per day. It holds me accountable for sure. I have to spend a lot of time outside work hours to get my steps in.

I started my weight loss journey in Sept 2008. Had absolutely NO complications or problems and lost over half my weight in 3-4 months. I weighed 247 on the day of my surgery and quickly plummeted to a sexy 125!! Felt amazing and looked it too! However, 5 years later I had picked up a brand new habit!! I started going out...like to bars...which I had never done in my life ( I was married w/ kids so this wasn't acceptable) anyway, Now, I was divorced and had alot of free time on the weekends. Had a wonderful job, gaining new friends, hobbies etc. However, I also started drinking. Would never have more than 3-4 Captain and Cokes but my god they were delicious to me!! I had never drank before nor did I drink much soda. I quickly found myself drinking on the weekends while out with friends. Long story short, 2 years later I got a DUI !!! The first and ONLY person in my family that drank much less, get arrested. This killed my spirits, and I felt I had let my family down so I swore off alcohol. Fast forward 2 years...no job, new relationship that required a move 3 hrs away from everything I had ever known, only to find he was an alcoholic who was also physically abusive when drunk (strangled me on numerous occasions)...I started drinking again (along with him and only at home) just to get my mind off the fact that I was so far away from my family and other miseries. I am now on my own, doing very well, great job, my own place but have now started drinking wine (a whole bottle of Pink Moscato) a few nights a week. This didn't really start until this past April when I had a full hysterectomy....Thankfully, I have never had a hangover, never get sick and am actually really productive around the house..(which isn't a bad thing) I guess my question is, I have gained about 13 lbs since this time last year ( my job is sitting for 12 hrs 4 days a week) when I am home ( I live alone) I am just sedentary and don't really have any energy to do much of anything ( severely anemic and get Iron infusions every week ) so do you think it is the Wine that is causing the weight gain, the Full hysterectomy, the desk job or just a combination.??? I would really like to stop any further weight gain and any answers would be appreciated.

Anyone know a guesstimate for how long before surgery you should stop drinking alcohol? Guesstimating surgery in February but tis the season and I enjoy some booze during the holidays, just don't want to ruin my plans for surgery in the process lol

I think that a 34 bmi as a female should be fine for wls. Doubts are normal. Don't listen to them in this case. Your brain is super powerful, and wants you to stay overweight/obese. Many of these doubts end up in...I should be able to do it on my own. However, they begin in...My lifestyle will have to change. My eating habits will have to change. I will have to give up many of my favorite foods, and won't be able to drink alcohol. What will people say or think? What if I fail? What if I have complications from surgery? These are just a few that I felt myself, and have read in this very forum over and over again. Some are true. Some are not. Your lifestyle and eating habits will have to change, but is that a bad thing? Your relationship with food is going to jeopardize your health in the long-run. I never had health issues...Until I had them this year. I still enjoy most of my favorite foods, but in a healthy way. I also only have them every once in a while. I will be having my first alcoholic drink on New Years Eve. I don't care what people think, nor am I afraid of failing. This tool is helping me to do what I need to do to ensure my long-term success. I didn't have any complications from surgery, so that is good. The chances of having complications are very small. You can lower them even more by choosing a reputable surgery team with proven success, following your plan to a "T", staying hydrated, and walking as much as possible before and after surgery. You'll be fine. You've jumped through all of the hoops, because you obviously felt that you needed this. Do it for you!

I was scheduled last January for SIPS, surgeon got in there and had to pull out due to enlarged liver. I had to lose 30+# before he would consider trying it again. I checked in with a liver specialist and was diagnosed with non alcoholic fatty liver. I am hoping for a go Monday. This pre-op diet is rough this time around. Contrive and probiotics have been my friend... Thanks for all the well wishes.

Well, you have to do what you think is best, but think about it this way. If you had a good friend who was an alcoholic, and they decided to sober up, would you sit down with a six pack and drink it in front of them the first week they're trying to stay sober? If you're a good friend, then probably not. You're not asking him to quit eating forever, you're just asking him to not chow down right in front of you while you are literally starving in preparation for surgery. Anyway, sorry for throwing my 2 cents at you. I'm on my liquid diet right now too, so I know how hard it is. If my husband came home with a sack of cheeseburgers I think I'd have to kill him.

Eating out- In my job we take guests out to dinner quite a bit. In the departmental budget for next year, I saw the manager decreasing the dining out amount by 20% with "forgetmenot has turned into a cheap dinner date" as the explanation for that line item. Keep in mind most of the reduction probably reflects the dessert and alcohol that I don't order anymore. I still order an appetizer and/or entree, with more than half of it packed up for another meal. Groceries - I haven't seen a big drop because I am buying better quality foods. Grain fed beef, almond flour, protein powder and the like.

Ahh.. I didn't realise there are deeper issues. Sorry to hear. As your confidence and self esteem grows you will know if that's the life you want to live. No judgement I hope their isn't kids in this situation with an alcoholic. There is lots of support available if you need it. All the best. Sent from my Vivo 5R using BariatricPal mobile app