Search the Community

Cfincham: Here's a great post that has been posted elsewhere, about how to know when you need a fill.... HowtoTellWhenYouArePerfectlyAdjusted: You are losing 1-2 pounds per week. If you are not losing 1-2 pounds per week: A. You may need an eating adjustment 1. Are you eating 60 grams of Protein a day? 2. Are you eating 25 grams of Fiber? 3. Are you avoiding all liquid calories? a. Soup can be sign of soft calorie syndrome b. Alcohol contains a lot of calories 7 calories per gram.(It's also a stomach irritant). c. fruit juice is just sugar Water 4. Are you making healthy food choices from a wide variety of foods? a. Are you avoiding soft foods b. You can't just eat what's easy c. cheese is glorified fat 5. Are you drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day between meals? 6. Are you eating too much junk? a. chips, chocolate, nuts, ice cream, Cookies and other highly processed junk foods are too calorically dense to be regular parts of a healthy diet. But don't avoid them completely to the point where you feel deprived. b. Stay out of fast food places 7. Are you getting in two servings of Calcium daily? 8. Do you always eat the protein first? 9. Then the vegetables or fruits a. Five servings a day b. Potatoes are NOT a vegetable 10. Is your portion size appropriate? a. meat or fish (3 ounces the size of a deck of cards) b. Vegetables (½ cup the size of your fist) c. Starch (If you eat the protein and the vegetables first you don't need much - Avoid: rice, potatoes, pasta) 11. You might try avoiding artificial sweeteners a. Some people think that artificial sweeteners stimulate the appetite b. They are HUNDREDS of times sweeter than sugar c. They teach you to like things too sweet d. There is no evidence that people who use them are any thinner than people who don’t 12. Avoid most diet foods a. Real food usually tastes better b. Real food is more satisfying than low calorie substitutes c. When you are only eating a tiny bit the caloric savings is not that great (Use a teaspoon of real butter instead of a tablespoon of diet margarine. d. The body has no way to break down artificial fats). a. They may go into permanent storage b. Some people think liposuction is the only way to remove hydrolyzed fats from the body B. You may need a behavior adjustment 1. Are you eating only when you are hungry? a. If you're not sure drink 8 ounces of water and wait 2. Are you eating three meals a day? a. With maybe 1 or 2 small Snacks 3. Are you sitting down to eat? 4. Are you eating consciously? a. No distractions, turn off the TV, put the book or newspaper away, pay attention to your food and your companions 5. Are you eating slowly? a. Put the fork down between bites b. Take 20 to 30 minutes to finish a meal c. Taking longer might cause the pouch to begin emptying 6. Are you taking small bites? a. Tiny spoon, chopsticks, cocktail fork 7. Are you chewing well? 8. Are you drinking with your meals or too soon after your meals? a. Practice water loading between meals b. You won't be thirsty if you are well hydrated before the meal 9. Are you stopping at the first sign of fullness? a. Sometimes it's a whisper: not hungry, had enough b. Hard stop versus soft stop 10. Do not eat between meals. Stop grazing. 11. Do not eat when you are not hungry C. You may need an activity adjustment 1. Are you getting in 30 minutes of physical activity at least 3 times a week? a. Over and above what you would do in the usual course of your day b. Could you make it 4 or 5 times a week? c. Could you make it 45 or 60 minutes? 2. Are you taking advantage of opportunities to increase your physical activity? a. Taking the stairs instead of the elevators or escalators b. Walking on the escalators instead of riding c. Parking your car further away from the entrance d. Getting out of the car instead of using the drive through e. Getting off the bus one stop before your destination f. Washing you car by hand instead of the car wash g. Playing with your kids D. You may need an attitude adjustment 1. Are you committed to your weight loss journey? 2. Are you totally honest with yourself about how much you are eating and exercising? a. Log your food and activity on ww.fitday.com for 3 days 3. Are you using food inappropriately to deal with emotional issues? a. Have you identified what the emotions are that drive your eating? b. Can you think of more appropriate ways to deal with those emotions? c. Are you willing to seek help from a qualified counselor? 4. Are you attending and participating in support group meetings? 5. Have you drummed up some support from your family and friends? 6. Have you dealt with saboteurs realistically? 7. Do you have realistic expectations about the weight loss journey? 8. Are you still obsessing about food, weight, dieting, eating? a. Obsessive compulsive thoughts (Obsess about something else) b. Perfectionism (All or none, black and white thinking) c. Patience with the pace of healthy weight loss 9. Are you acknowledging your successes with non-food rewards? 10. Have you learned how to take a compliment? 11. Are you giving up diet mentality? a. Stop weighing yourself several times a day or every day b. Stop dieting c. Stop depriving yourself d. Stop defining food as good and bad e. Stop rewarding and punishing yourself with food 12. How do you feel about all the changes taking place? E. You may need a band adjustment 1. You feel like you are making healthy food choices in appropriate portion sizes but getting hungry between meals? 2. You can still eat white bread, fibrous vegetables and large portions. 3. You are having to struggle to lose 4. You are gaining weight in spite of eating right, exercising and having a good mind set. F. You may need your band loosened 1. There are times when you can’t get fluids down 2. You are vomiting too much a. How much is too much? 3. Do you have frequent reflux or heartburn at night? a. Do not lie flat or bend over soon after eating b. Do not eat late at night or just before bedtime c. Rinse your pouch with a glass or water an hour before bedtime d. Certain foods or drinks are more likely to cause reflux: (1) Rich, spicy, fatty and fried foods (2) Chocolate (3) Caffeine (4) Alcohol (5) Some fruits and vegetables (6) Oranges, lemons, tomatoes, peppers (7) Peppermint (8) Baking soda toothpaste (9) Carbonated drinks e. Eat slowly and do not eat big meals f. If you smoke, quit smoking g. Reduce stress h. Exercise promotes digestion i. Raise the head of your bed j. Wear loose fitting clothing around your waist k. Stress increases reflux l. Take estrogen containing medications in the morning m. Avoid aspirin, Aleve and ibuprofen at bedtime (Tylenol is OK) n. Take an antacid (Pepcid complete) before retiring o. Try other over-the-counter heartburn medications p. See your health care provider

Beer actually seems to sit more comfortably for me than soda does. But I still prefer not to drink it because I get all burpy -- which is not hot at a college party! I would try some wine at home and take it slow. I used to be able to throw back 6 beers, 4 shots and then some to get drunk. Now it is 1 shot of alcohol and I am stumbling drunk, this lasts for 10 minutes or so and then I am completely sober. So now I sip mixed drinks -- sugar free of course! This is just like sweets -- some people choose to completely stop drinking and others don't. It is a personal preference and I would do what I wanted to. Everyone has a different answer.

I didn't wait a year before drinking alcohol as advised. I think I only hung in there around 3 months. I don't drink a lot though, just a glass of wine occasionally. Sent from my SM-G900P using BariatricPal mobile app

I think the hard part about stopping soda is the fact that besides water (usually only at the gym) and wyler's (bascially tha same as crystal light, but I like the taste better)raspberry flavor, it is the only thing I drink. I don't like ice tea, or stuff and I don't drink alcohol, yeah, so it will only leave 2 things I drink and basically only one, since I only drink plain water at the gym.

Im sorry to hear that hope all gets better. Thats exactly why I dont understand people when they say my doctor said not to drink soda but can I. He said to not drink alcohol can I? He said not to do this or that can I? If he said not to do it then dont test your band. Its for a reason people. No one realizes also when you over eat you are forcing the band into the wall of the stomach which equals erosion. If he tells you drink decaf then do it. I dont miss coffee, alcohol, or soda. You have to learn its not about what you want but what is best for you. We all need to take a lesson from this and do what the doctor says to do and not ask everyone if its okay to do this or that when your doctor told you not tooooooooooooooo

I tried it and the peach something and boy oh boy they taste just like the real thing alcohol and all!

VEGAS is alcohol and bad food decision central. I'm going with my girlfriends and will be six months out. I'll have a cocktail or two, but won't go insane.

My doc said no alcohol until 48hr after surgery! I'm 6 wk post op. Had the odd glass of vino with no prob whatsoever x

Hi everyone I'm Lala, this is my first post. I'm hoping to get some support from people who have already had the gastric sleeve. I'm really scared about having this surgery done. At first I was excited I was pumped and ready to go but know that my surgery is less then a month a way i'm terrified ( April 2, 2014 to be exact ) I'm worried that I wont be able to stop eating starch ( Pasta bread things like that ) those are the foods that I love. I'm also afraid that my alcohol intake is not healthy ( as of recently I have quit drinking, but its difficult ) I don't know if I should push my surgery date back or what? I will not cancel it because I have givin them 8,000 ( im a self pay) and they aint keeping my money but I could reschedule it nfor a later date ( like 5 years later lol ) I'm open to any advice that anyone has for me. Thanks Lala

Don't bother with the Arial "de-alcoholized" Chardonnay. It sucks!

So 11 months post op and yes I drink.. Red wine tastes like crap and I used to love it, I only like white now.. But what is really strange... is the 'phases' I have gone thru... for a while I was CRAVING Bloody Mary's. It probably wasn't the alcohol but something in the tomato juice, although I made them with low sodium V8. The next phase was Red Grapefruit Juice and vodka... again I couldn't get enough Grapefruit! I was even buying the pre peeled Grapefruit in the produce section, it's chilled in jars.. and eating it. Now it it Cran-Raspberry juice and vodka...Ocean Spray makes a Light version, and raspberry flavoring in my Water daily.. So just wondering if my body is craving the acid or the Vitamin C in all these mixers and I am just making the situation bad b adding the alcohol?

I had my surgery sep 9, last weekend my friends wanted to go to New Orleans for the weekend, so we did. I had a Jell-O shot and a few sips of a friends daiquiri (I know, very unhealthy) I was pretty much hammered, but my stomach handled it well. They mainly tell u not to drink because your body will be looking for another addiction to grab onto. Also, alcohol can dehydrate your body so just be sure to drink lots of water. It was fun, but I doubt I'll be making it a habit.

They tell us not to drink for several reasons. One is because alcohol contains calories and we shouldn't drink our calories. Two, we are lightweights. Three, most of us were overeaters. If you haven't found a way to deal with why you ate your feelings then you are trading one addiction for another. I am almost 18 months out and still no alcohol. Sent from my SM-G935V using the BariatricPal App

My experience, and this is mines and no one else so, take this information at your own risk. First time I had a drink of alcohol was literally 10 days post surgery. It was new years eve and I had like two sips of super cheap champagne and I was very tipsy right away. I didn't have another drink of alcohol of any kind until a good year after that event. What I have noticed that with drinking is that it does depend on the drink that I am consuming and I can go from tipsy, to buzzed very quickly depending on the drink and strength of said drink. Shots (tequila, rum, and whiskey) are indeed one shot and done sort of drinks for me now. If I go beyond one of those, which I think the most I have had so far almost two years out of surgery was 3 shots in one evening within a 15 minute span of consuming all three shots, and I was very buzzed (lightly drunk). It took about an half and hour to an hours for that buzz to go away where I could feel "normal" again. What I have learned is that if I pace myself, usually only stick to one or two drinks max (on the hard stuff listed above), and sip them very slowly and moderately, that I can be alright. But again a mixed drink will now last me damn near an entire night vs pre surgery I could have K.O'ed quite a few of them before even feeling remotely buzzed let alone intoxicated. I personally don't like the get buzzed "high" quick feeling that drinking gives me especially if I am out at like a bar/public environment vs at home or at a trusted friends home. When I am out, I will stick to drinks like hard ciders or dare I say a Mike's Hard Lemonades sort of drink. Beer I really don't drink much of anymore and when I do its usually a stout and again only 1 now. Stouts tend to be heavier beers than your light lagers, and with more yeast and hops makes for a more fuller tummy experience. Wine, I just had recently for the first time in years, it was a dry red wine and it did have a bit of the buzzy feeling to it but it was like 4oz and it took me a good 30 minutes to consume it. Tequila, especially patron, 1 and done. I know if I go beyond that then I'll be in some troubles. Now I will be two years post op this Dec, and I can say that in the time post surgery I can still say that I have had less than 10 drinks in that time frame. I know how drinking for some of us can be a slippery slop to leading towards unwanted addictions and coping mechanisms. I get that, and I think its why I choose to wait so long to attempt to drink anything post surgery, especially after the NYE thing. But it is something that I have learned to enjoy, just on very special occasions and in the right situations.

Since you already received the requisite comments about drinking above, I will just answer your specific question. I was sleeved, and was told no alcohol for the first month. Beyond that, was told to determine on my own what I can handle, but the general recommendation was to try to abstain. With that said, here is MY timeline: 3 weeks post op: 2-3 sips of red wine (felt weird, thought I could feel the warmth going down my intestines). Also I remember being affected by it. Not drunk or even tipsy...but something. 2-ish months post op: ~1 fl oz of soju-sake (got terribly sick within 15 or so minutes, spent the next few hours suffering : rapid heart rate/barf/diarrhea/lethargy/passed out...it was the sugar, dammit). 3-7 months post op: probably had 4-5 (partial) drinks of either red wine or vodka soda the entire time (got tipsy really fast, got sober equally fast). 8 months to present : drank more (mostly due to the fact that I was done with weight loss phase). Maybe 1-2 times a week at first (and sometimes none at all), then Covid came around, and since about may-june last year, I drink almost every day. I still get tipsy and sober pretty quickly....not as drastic as in the early months, but still. Generally, I can feel the effects by 1/2 the glass, and if I finish the whole thing, I will be completely normal again within 1-1.5 hours. So take this as validation, justification, or as a cautionary tale. You decide. P.S. note that the effects will be different for everyone...I am pretty small (5'2", 110 lbs), so this definitely influences how I am affected. @The Greater Fool's suggestion to try it out in a safe place first is a good one.

Agree with some of that, but we don't have to break laws to get food, it's readily available ( legal) and some of it is very inexpensive. Most alcoholics don;t have to break laws to get their fix either for the same reason. But yeah, they can break the law if they drink and drive. Drug addicts break the law b/c the drugs they use or the way they get them is illegal. No withdrawal symptoms? Lots of posts about people with migraines/headaches on the pre-op diet. And that same great full feeling food addicts get after a great dessert or a big meal, I think is like the high a druggie gets. I think we could also say they are obsessed or compulsed to do the drugs/cigarettes/alcohol. I see that as similiar, but fatties will never be hauled off to jail for eating while driving! LOL

Hi Suzanne, Im sure u will do well. I have big problem with chicken too. But it I cut them to pea size, I find it easier to go down. I tend to eat more cottage mince pie, lasagne and fish pie. It goes down easier. Try them. U r right, the last 1 stone is the hardest. But Im not worried too much cos Im not putting them on. I know I can go down the last stone if I cut down my desert and alcohol drink, but Im enjoying size 14/16 for a while and no hurry to go down to size 14 and I definately do not want to go down size 12 as my boobs will dissappear.

Honestly...I know my husband loves me to death but he has never had a weight problem so he doesn't know what any of this is like and I just wish he would have told me "no" on the times I've wanted to gorge myself on things that were no good for me. He didn't want me to be mad at him but what he didnt realize was that I would have gotten over being mad and I would have thanked him afterwards. I've tried to explain to him that I am no different than a drug addict or alcoholic. food was my drug of choice and I would equate me asking for Mickey D's or Burger to an alcoholic taking a trip to the liquor store but he just doesn't get it because he doesnt have that problem. And if your wife truly wants this I wouldn't worry about her being mad. One day she will thank you. :thumbup: Kudos for telling her no. If she doesn't realize it right this moment she will later realize that you did it because you love her and know what she is going through.

BUT, I looked it up and pretty much it can be all kinds of things.. What ever, all I know is that for two weeks, I am in pass out mode.. all times of the day and with seemingly no cause.. It wont matter how long or how hard I have slept..and I have NEVEr slept nor drempt (lol, is that a word) so much in my life. Its totally different than anything in my life I have EVER experienced. I have tried and tried to get on a schedule.. doesnt work I have checked my meds to make sure I am not suddenly without realizing it, taking too much. .... I am not. I have thought long and hard about it being depression.... WHo knows I have not checked my blood suger and I guess I will go to lab next week and check it.. but ITs NEVER my diabeties whenever I think it may be. I am eating like CRAP.. worse as I ever have, but still think I get enough nutriants and stuff not to have some weird sleeping disorder. Its ticking me off.. I cant live like this!!! I looked this up.. but what do you guys think? Anyone go through this? Hypersomnia leads to the urge to nap during the day, no matter what you're doing. Thats what I am doing Other symptoms may include anxiety, always increased irritation, well yeah when the house isnt quiet and my body is in pass out mode decreased energy,duh restlessness, yes, dont know what to do when I am up, but I dont do anything now cuz I feel like I am just gonna have to be asleep soon slow thinking and speech, loss of appetite,well I cant ever eat cuz I am always 'waking up' and I wake up swollen.. hallucinations the dreams I am having are pretty darn close and memory problems. hard to tell Hypersomnia may be caused by narcolepsy (or sleep apnea, another sleep disorder)Not that I know of, drug or alcohol abuse, No, not unless my pills are affecting me different all of a sudden (pain pills) But I dont feeeel anything when I take them (like high or euphoric or nothing a tumor, or injury to the head or central nervous system. well thats broad Multiple sclerosis,no depression, I dont know encephalitis, ??epilepsy no or obesity so there it is.. THATS IT!!!!lol can also be contributing factors. grrrr

A thin person can be a caffeine addict too and still have a headache from not taking it. Caffeine withdrawal does not cause true migraines, but headaches... yes. If I take your food of choice away from you such as chips or cake, are you going to start shaking violently? Vomiting violently? Hallucinating? DTs? Nawww, I don't agree we experience the same issues as an addict. Drug addicts break laws to get more money to buy more drugs. How many MO people have you read about that break into houses to steal twinkies? Obsession and compulsion, yes. Addiction... I don't agree. I never got a great high from eating a massive quantity of food. I felt like a complete failure and was miserable because I was too full. Yet as miserable as I was I was thinking about what I was going to eat next. But nothing euphoric that would mess with my driving and that's what drug addicts and alcoholics are looking for. A euphoria that is so severe it messes with coordination and ability to drive a car.

My last straw moment was knowing I just didn't care enough about myself to diet anymore. I was starting to forget what it felt like to be skinny, and it was getting less and less important as the years went by. Diets just made me gain more weight in the end. I was scared that when I stopped completely caring, I would continue to gain until I died of a heart attack. I was eating a diet of junk food and was sneaking it in any way I could - going to different stores every day, hiding it from my husband and child. For me it was an addiction (sorry, Wasa, I know you don't believe food can be an addiction, but for me it really, truly was.) I did get the shakes when I tried quitting, and did get other symptoms like feeling out of control, severe mood swings, panic attacks, that sort of thing. Instead of equating it to other addictions like drugs and alcohol, think instead of gambling or shopping addictions. Anyway, I just knew I couldn't do it anymore through traditional means, and needed something drastic. 30 pounds lighter, and I feel like a new person, I feel like I fit in more, and I'm excited to lose more and feel even better about myself. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel where before it was complete darkness.

The "no drinking" rule is mostly so that you don't wash the food through your band quickly and end up hungry again soon afterwards. Having a glass of wine with dinner on occasion shouldn't be a problem, but if you find yourself snacking when you get home because you are hungry again, you should probably rethink drinking with meals. Also, as you get good restriction, you may find that drinking anything while eating is actually difficult - I am finding this now. I tend to have a little sip of Water just after a meal to wash my mouth out, but drinking anything more than that can lead to PBing :drool: All things in moderation is the name of the game! One of the benefits that I have found is that my tolerances for alcohol have GREATLY reduced. One or two glasses of wine over the full course of the evening is the most I can manage now without getting really tipsy, whereas previously I could easily knock off the bottle on my own - yay for cheap highs! Be really really careful in a "drinking session with the girlfriends" though - the alcohol does hit you much faster and you can easily overdo it before you realise it. The LAST thing you need is to end up with your head in the toilet bowl throwing up; that is a HUGE no-no! I had a glass of wine on Xmas Day, which was 2 weeks after surgery.

Dietary fiber is your friend. I take a bigger dose of iron, too....cause I don't eat a lot of meat and have heavy periods still (cross your fingers that perimenopause turns into total menopause for me soon...cause this whole menstruation thing is getting old) I find that when i'm getting 25g of dietary fiber every day and including fermented foods in my diet (pickles, yogurt, kombucha, tempeh)...my daily poo habit is normal. Also...this is weird, but it works. Eat a few sugar free Haribo gummy bears before you go to bed. Not too many...maybe 3-5 bears. They have maltitol (lycasin)...a sweet tasting sugar-alcohol that has the infamous side effect of giving unsuspecting people looking for a low calorie treat....massive diarrhea....when they eat the whole package. Just a few bears....will get things moving and make you super regular when needed. (least that how it affects me)

I would add drinking sodas and alcohol and snacking with chips and candy

But of course it's nothing at all to do with alcohol per se.