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Most CLIF bars aren't that suitable for us as they are targeted to a different audience. My nephew, who is an RD in training, uses them sometimes before workouts as their nutritional profile of protein, carbohydrates and fat fits that use, but isn't ideal for keeping calories low as we need. The Quest bars are pretty good as they are low in sugar, and what carbohydrates they have are mostly fiber, which we tend to need post-op. Pure Protein bars are similar in numbers, though with less fiber and more dependence upon sugar alcohols, which some people have problems with (and others don't). Generally, I don't use the bars much except when convenience is needed (I keep a couple in the car and in my gym bag if I need something when I'm out and about) as there are better choices of real food when at home. But as a convenience food, they aren't all that bad, and early out we often have to compromise on ideals to get in what we need.

Hi there- Whatever happened? Are you ok? My gallbladder pain was on right side to the middle of my stomach area and it began after l ate greasy food or drank alcohol. It was a relief to get it removed! Hope you’re ok! megan

My surgeon has a LOT of surgeries under his belt, and people travel to see him from a long way. I'm only 1 1/2 hours away, but.... his protocol is ONE WEEK liquid diet. Well, 6 DAYS of full liquid and one day (day before surgery) as clear liquid. Everyone I know who's had this surgery (on another group, and one person my husband works with) has given me dark and dire warnings about that. I'm scared because of it, and the surgeon and dietitian are unconcerned and say my Dr has always done pre-op diet one week out. Prior to my seeing my doctor the first time about WLS, I was diagnosed with NASH (Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis), basically fatty liver with inflammation. I was also diagnosed with Autoimmune Hepatitis (not contagious... my body just thinks my liver is a foreign invader). I'm in remission for the AIH, and i've lost a little weight too... but I'm still spooked and wondering if anyone else has only had to do a one week pre-op diet....

Ever hear if you dont have anything nice to say, then dont speak. Do you give an alcoholic another drink? You you give a drug user more drugs? No! for us we dont have a choice but to eat food. I have never had a food addiction. I am an emotional eater and I am in counseling AND see a psych dr. Just because people have head hunger doesnt mean they have an addiction to food. Everyone has different triggers. And the line about needing therapy or whatever, maybe you should take a class on tact and respect. We are here to help each other up and not kick them when they are down. SW:350 (11/2015) BSW:260 (10/17/17) CW:250 (officially down by 100 lbs. since the start of my journey!) GW:175

My psych needed to sign off on me, she sent something to my surgeon that said I don’t have an eating disorder, and the worst thing I am addicted to is carbs. She didn’t make final decision on me having surgery but if I did have (past or present) an eating disorder or an addiction to drugs/alcohol she would not recommend me for surgery. Have a great day! Amanda [emoji16] HW 248 CW 241 Surgery Date: pending 11/21/2017. Goal weight 150’ish [emoji23]

Start at a lower dose than you normally would. Like alcohol you will absorb more if you are bypass. I made that mistake and got super sick and fainted. Mortifying!!!

Hi Camilla! Doing great so far, it definitely gets easier. I am on day eight and it feels pretty normal now. Going to a party later, that will be hard cuz there's going to be candy and alcohol everywhere. Wish me luck! Oh and I'm down 7 pounds.

Hopefully it’s all better now! If not try cleaning with saline instead of alcohol. Alcohol can dry it out and irritated even more.

The other aspect that isn’t spoken about is the fact that many of us are addicted to food. There is a significant body of research that looks at how repressed emotions drive physical disease and addictions. 90% of families are judged to have dysfunctional patterns. Just think of how girls and women are taught to not show anger and to never set boundaries and say no. As for men and boys ‘Big boys don’t cry’. When emotions are pushed to the bottom something else takes their place - alcohol, cigarettes, computer games, smartphones, food - the list carries on and on. Most of us have multiple addictions that we go to when we don’t want to feel those emotions. ‘Comfort’ eating - I feel bad so rather than sitting with myself and feel whatever uncomfortable emotion that wants to talk to me - I eat something instead and now my focus is on the food. For me I notice that my stop button goes away - I stop listening to my stomach saying ‘enough’. What I eat changes as well - I stray into sweeter territory and maybe even bread. This is the biggest learning for me. I can do the healthy eating ( I have a lot of training in nutrition) - but if the mental and emotional work isn’t being done, I sabotage myself. My biggest fear: going through all of this and STILL effing it up...

Staples take 4-6 weeks to heal. Until then you should be on a restricted diet of puree foods. If you eat solid foods within this timeframe, you risk "pushing" a staple out of place, which will eventually cause leakage Also, no fruit or acid products, bc it deteriorate the stsples before it heals. Same with alcohol.

Yes they will test you. Wait until you are post op and have had the surgery. I I use a vape pen at night but also you will have to watch getting the munchies because your brain does not realize your stomach will be much, much smaller. By the way I live in Napa Valley and am a Kaiser patient they do not play around with THC, Nicotine or any other substances that will be deemed addictive. In fact I picked up my pain meds day before my surgery in 2016. I had to withdraw from Suboxone a week prior due to chronic pain. So my back pain flared so I took a couple swigs of liquid Norco meant for post op. I was so scared at check in when they tested me that it would show but it was okay. They are looking for Nicotine, alcohol, THC and street drugs. Good luck!

I just had my revision surgery on September 1st. GERD is Acid Reflux, and I got it pretty badly after the sleeve. It was my only complication, but in the end it was worth it to me to get the bypass. I had a very easy recovery and am very happy with my choice. Once I was far enough out from my sleeve surgery I was able to drink wine, low-calorie mixers with hard alcohol, and occasionally beer. I think you have to figure out what works for you, and stay diligent not to let it contribute to regain or become a habit. Even though we can live pretty normal food and drink lives, we have to be more diligent than others not to slip into old habits (for some of us, habits we have had our whole lives). It can feel like an uphill battle, but I can't tell you how good it feels to not feel panicked about your weight every day. Whatever you decide, good luck!

What do we do when we fall from grace? The research on relapse (with any addiction; food, drugs, alcohol) is that recidivism is the rule not the exception. So why do we get so down on ourselves when we fall short of our goals? Why is it so hard to get back on the horse with the same vigor we had when we started? And how do we give ourselves a renewed sense of hope and motivation for change once we've fallen? “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” - Socrates Everyone does well out of the gates. We all impress ourselves when we start, what we believe to be, a new lifestyle change. However, "out of the gates," can mean different things for different people; for some it is two months, for others (usually depending on how strong the addiction or habit is) it can be two minutes. But what do we do when we fall from grace? The research on relapse (with any addiction; food, drugs, alcohol) is that recidivism is the rule not the exception. So why do we get so down on ourselves when we fall short of our goals? Why is it so hard to get back on the horse with the same vigor we had when we started? And how do we give ourselves a renewed sense of hope and motivation for change once we've fallen? One magical ingredient in the secret sauce (and one of many concepts I talk about in my book and my wls courses) that is lifestyle change is the novelty effect. The new plan to quit something or change a bad habit is something unlike we have ever done before, so we hope that we can achieve something we have never done before. The problem is that the moment we slip, that novelty loses its magic - and each time we start over, it loses its power to give us hope. So the solution is to cultivate more novelty. Our ability to continually grow and change is largely limited by our creativity. The more creative we become, the easier it is to take a different approach to change. To open a window when life seems to shut the door. In other words- what I am telling you, is that the only secret to long term weight loss maintenance is the knowledge that there isn't only one secret. There is no ONE diet that will forever change someone. Eventually people get tired of eating bacon and eggs every meal on Atkins, or grapefruit, or cabbage soup- but the thread they all share is their novelty. This is why all of them can work initially. Even as powerful as weight loss surgery is- people still find that they start to plateau or even gain the weight back if they aren't simultaneously addressing the behavioral and psychological factors that got them there in the first place. They too, must also continuously be creative about renewing one self throughout their lifetime. So the following is for all of you who are struggling today. Those that feel they have lost their way and perhaps feel disenchanted or disappointed. Below is a recovery "map" I created a long time ago for my clients, some struggling with substance abuse, others with food. It all works the same. Print it out, or copy and paste it in the notes section of your phone and take 20 minutes to fill it out with the things that are personally meaningful for you. This is not THE answer to long term recovery from addiction, but it is a fresh approach for many who feel stale at the moment: Baptism - Some ceremony to signal a renewed sense of hope and a fresh start. One client trying to recover from substance abuse, buried all of his wine and liquor bottles in his yard. Another client had a "garbage party" with her kiddos, and they loved smashing all the processed foods they had in their pantry and throwing them in the trash. Associations/triggers list all of the things that get you into trouble (being at a bbq, wanting to celebrate something, holidays, 7-10pm at night, date night, etc) Coping Skills (what gets you through the crave waves) These are the behaviors that you do INSTEAD of the addictive behavior. Extra credit if you are able to make a coping skill for each trigger listed above. Higher Desires/Vision of Self when you let go of your attachment to food and all the self loathing, mental, and physical heaviness it brings- what are you freeing your life up for? will you write a book? will you do more outdoor activities with your kids? do you want to resume an activity you once loved as a child? Is there a role model that inspires you that has done what you want to do? Cons Why are you doing this in the first place? These are the things that are hard to keep in mind when our reptilian mid brain (see last article) is at the wheel. What is personally meaningful? Does it age you? Does it make you feel out of control? Do you dread going on airplanes because you know you'll need an extender? does it prevent you from going to amusement parks with your kiddos? Spirituality (religion gets us into heaven, spirituality gets us out of hell) All addiction is what disconnects us from our deeper self and edges us further and further away from God (or whatever you like to call it) and our deeper spirituality. Spirituality is what allows us to move into the unknown, be comfortable with discomfort, and have faith that everything will be ok. It can include a gratitude practice, volunteering, play, aligning one self with nature, connecting with a spiritual e newsletter (mind body green, daily om, etc), generosity, etc. Daily Recovery Ritual (symbolic gesture to self every day that we are consciously devoting time to our recovery) What are the things you can do daily to symbolize to yourself that today is a new day? Keep it realistic or you won't do it. Vitamins, meditation, lemon water, supplements, self care, reaching out to a loved one, exercise, etc. Reward System What will you do for yourself if there is a certain period of time reached where you meet your goals? Will you get a massage at the end of every month? Will you plan a vacation after three months of solid goal hitting? Will you reward yourself with one day per week of going to the movies in the middle of the day and playing hooky if you're on the straight and narrow for five days? Strategy This is your "what." What are you doing daily to ensure that you are in alignment with your goals? Are you reading something fresh all the time? Do you make a timeline of your addiction and how it has affected your life? Do you go to local support meetings each week? Do you keep in touch with an online community? Do you make sure to give yourself small breaks while with the kids every day? Do you have a self care space set up in your house? Do you talk to a partner about how to change behaviors of theirs that might be hindering your efforts? can they get a mini fridge? Do you do acupuncture to balance your chi? Do you do yoga to manage your depression? Do you find a therapist? Recovery Resources (try to hit one each morning) what resources are in your pocket when you are feeling weak? bariatricpal.com? WLS journeys on Instagram? The Fix, Reddit, unique blogs documenting their weight loss journey, wls and vsg searches on Pinterest, etc. Good luck on your fresh start!

“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” - Socrates Everyone does well out of the gates. We all impress ourselves when we start, what we believe to be, a new lifestyle change. However, "out of the gates," can mean different things for different people; for some it is two months, for others (usually depending on how strong the addiction or habit is) it can be two minutes. But what do we do when we fall from grace? The research on relapse (with any addiction; food, drugs, alcohol) is that recidivism is the rule not the exception. So why do we get so down on ourselves when we fall short of our goals? Why is it so hard to get back on the horse with the same vigor we had when we started? And how do we give ourselves a renewed sense of hope and motivation for change once we've fallen? One magical ingredient in the secret sauce (and one of many concepts I talk about in my book and my wls courses) that is lifestyle change is the novelty effect. The new plan to quit something or change a bad habit is something unlike we have ever done before, so we hope that we can achieve something we have never done before. The problem is that the moment we slip, that novelty loses its magic - and each time we start over, it loses its power to give us hope. So the solution is to cultivate more novelty. Our ability to continually grow and change is largely limited by our creativity. The more creative we become, the easier it is to take a different approach to change. To open a window when life seems to shut the door. In other words- what I am telling you, is that the only secret to long term weight loss maintenance is the knowledge that there isn't only one secret. There is no ONE diet that will forever change someone. Eventually people get tired of eating bacon and eggs every meal on Atkins, or grapefruit, or cabbage soup- but the thread they all share is their novelty. This is why all of them can work initially. Even as powerful as weight loss surgery is- people still find that they start to plateau or even gain the weight back if they aren't simultaneously addressing the behavioral and psychological factors that got them there in the first place. They too, must also continuously be creative about renewing one self throughout their lifetime. So the following is for all of you who are struggling today. Those that feel they have lost their way and perhaps feel disenchanted or disappointed. Below is a recovery "map" I created a long time ago for my clients, some struggling with substance abuse, others with food. It all works the same. Print it out, or copy and paste it in the notes section of your phone and take 20 minutes to fill it out with the things that are personally meaningful for you. This is not THE answer to long term recovery from addiction, but it is a fresh approach for many who feel stale at the moment: Baptism - Some ceremony to signal a renewed sense of hope and a fresh start. One client trying to recover from substance abuse, buried all of his wine and liquor bottles in his yard. Another client had a "garbage party" with her kiddos, and they loved smashing all the processed foods they had in their pantry and throwing them in the trash. Associations/triggers list all of the things that get you into trouble (being at a bbq, wanting to celebrate something, holidays, 7-10pm at night, date night, etc) Coping Skills (what gets you through the crave waves) These are the behaviors that you do INSTEAD of the addictive behavior. Extra credit if you are able to make a coping skill for each trigger listed above. Higher Desires/Vision of Self when you let go of your attachment to food and all the self loathing, mental, and physical heaviness it brings- what are you freeing your life up for? will you write a book? will you do more outdoor activities with your kids? do you want to resume an activity you once loved as a child? Is there a role model that inspires you that has done what you want to do? Cons Why are you doing this in the first place? These are the things that are hard to keep in mind when our reptilian mid brain (see last article) is at the wheel. What is personally meaningful? Does it age you? Does it make you feel out of control? Do you dread going on airplanes because you know you'll need an extender? does it prevent you from going to amusement parks with your kiddos? Spirituality (religion gets us into heaven, spirituality gets us out of hell) All addiction is what disconnects us from our deeper self and edges us further and further away from God (or whatever you like to call it) and our deeper spirituality. Spirituality is what allows us to move into the unknown, be comfortable with discomfort, and have faith that everything will be ok. It can include a gratitude practice, volunteering, play, aligning one self with nature, connecting with a spiritual e newsletter (mind body green, daily om, etc), generosity, etc. Daily Recovery Ritual (symbolic gesture to self every day that we are consciously devoting time to our recovery) What are the things you can do daily to symbolize to yourself that today is a new day? Keep it realistic or you won't do it. Vitamins, meditation, lemon water, supplements, self care, reaching out to a loved one, exercise, etc. Reward System What will you do for yourself if there is a certain period of time reached where you meet your goals? Will you get a massage at the end of every month? Will you plan a vacation after three months of solid goal hitting? Will you reward yourself with one day per week of going to the movies in the middle of the day and playing hooky if you're on the straight and narrow for five days? Strategy This is your "what." What are you doing daily to ensure that you are in alignment with your goals? Are you reading something fresh all the time? Do you make a timeline of your addiction and how it has affected your life? Do you go to local support meetings each week? Do you keep in touch with an online community? Do you make sure to give yourself small breaks while with the kids every day? Do you have a self care space set up in your house? Do you talk to a partner about how to change behaviors of theirs that might be hindering your efforts? can they get a mini fridge? Do you do acupuncture to balance your chi? Do you do yoga to manage your depression? Do you find a therapist? Recovery Resources (try to hit one each morning) what resources are in your pocket when you are feeling weak? bariatricpal.com? WLS journeys on Instagram? The Fix, Reddit, unique blogs documenting their weight loss journey, wls and vsg searches on Pinterest, etc. Good luck on your fresh start!

I drink a glass of wine now and then, or do a shot of hard alcohol in a sugar free or low cal mixer. I like a shot of whiskey in sugar free cider or vodka in low cal cranberry juice. There are "light" margarita mixers. I'm at goal so I do vodka Collins sometimes. If I could do carbonation I'd do gin and soda. Some people use crystal light mixers. If you can tolerate carbonation there are plenty of light beers or heck Jack (or rum) and Diet Coke. Just mix more of the mixer to alcohol than you used to!

Kaiser explained to us that it can cause ulcers in the stomach or your new pouch. That said, I am one year 4 months post op and drink coffee daily. Let me tell you the worst pain I felt before surgery was the fact I did not taper caffeine use. So after I get admitted for surgery a few hours go by then I have surgery the headache from no caffeine was worse than the surgery pain and the heavy painkillers did nothing for the headache. I was lucky that the nurse brought in regular tea w my tray. As hard as it was I sipped that tea and boom headache gone. That is my story. I am not sure how my pouch is holding up because I drink alcohol and coffee. I have lost nearly 150lbs feel great! This just proves if we do not overcome our addictions they stay and manifest in other ways than just eating too much. GO TO SUPPORT GROUPS!!! Our group disbanded and I have to drive 3 hrs to get to a support group in person. Attending really kept me on the straight and narrow. A reason why I am coming back to this site to not forget the journey, its not over. I still weigh everyday follow eating plan mostly but little by little the past sneaks back in like drinking from straws, drinking & eating wrong things. I was hardcore rule follower going into this accept for the giving up caffeine. Anyway that is a long response lol. Good luck! Feel free to ask anything my journey is an open book!

In all honesty it's more about having too much and being sick I'm afraid of. Just wanted to brainstorm some ways of being able to keep up with everyone in a safe way and not have to go home early. Fear of missing out I guess lol. Yeah I pretty much guessed my usual drink would be a no no! I have no idea why wine makes me feel more drunk than jd, it's strange but after 2 wines compared to two JDs I can definitely feel the difference and more in control. What drink would you consider the safest after surgery as in low calories and low alcohol percentage? Always seem to be one or the other. Sent from my F5121 using BariatricPal mobile app

https://www.rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/How-much-is-too-much/Whats-the-harm/What-Are-The-Risks.aspx Ok this is the site where that graphic came from. The website describes the problems of heavy drinking from a mental and physical health point of view. (Dependence, liver disease, etc.) The BBC describes limits as well.... and theirs are based on consumption levels that keep risk of alcohol-related death to 1%. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/amp/uk-35255384

ROFLMAO about the train, the shoes, or being nekkidy! LOL! So, don't spaz over the psych eval. It was sooooo easy peasy...mainly just a test with 400 questions. Then you sit and chat for about 30-45 minutes. He'll talk about why you want the surgery, how you think it will help. He's trying to see if you're a psychopath, have hidden personality disorders, if you are withit and right with the world...lol. If you have depression, eating disorders, alcohol or drug probs, that sort of thing, I think it would be trickier and worth a little anxiety. But otherwise, you'll do great! ((hugs)) and so excited for you!

I'm gonna be honest.... It's not the "I've had 6/7 cocktail nights..." that makes you sounds like an alcoholic. It's the PLANNING for them and feeling anxious that you might not be able to have more of them that does. We've all had those nights. But it being so important that you make sure you can keep having them that worries me. Also know that the amount of Alcohil in a jack and coke is way higher than in a glass of wine. Some people get sleepy or flushed or other weird thugs with wine but it's the tannins not the alcohol. Now that said, I will warn you the coke may be an issue. Carbonation is tolerated differently by many people after the surgery. I still get stomach aches from it four years out. Some people do fine though.

More than 3 would be pretty dangerous after the surgery and I guess I will have to get used to that, but yes I hold my hand up and will honestly say I can have upto 7 drinks (not wine, too strong!) and still get home without stumbling through the door and just feeling happy/buzzed. My drink is jd and Coke, it just affects me completely differently to wine, I try to avoid wine if I can. You make a good point though, I can always have none alcoholic drinks in between so I can keep up with everyone else and not end up getting rushed to hospital with alcohol poisoning lol. I hope this post doesn't make me sounds like an alcoholic [emoji28] it's very rare I have that much but nights out that last about 6/7 hours do pop up every now and then and I'd like to be prepared for it! Sent from my F5121 using BariatricPal mobile app

But more than three? You have a good time without it, can't you? If it's the buzz that makes you feel like you've let your hair down you will have that just on less. Drink the drinks more slowly. Or alternate alcohol and another non alcoholic drink if you just enjoy having something fun your hand and sipping. What part of what you said above is volume dependent?

I guess some people are less botherd by it than others! I just love my nights out with my partner, we've been to a few weddings this year also and have enjoyed having a few and dancing and coming home late feeling like we've really let our hair down. Alcohol isn't everything, but this past year I've had a different outlook on it, and instead of drinking when I'm unhappy, I'm drinking when I'm in a good mood and am actually liking how it makes me feel! [emoji28] Sent from my F5121 using BariatricPal mobile app

Ok, I found a good graphic to base a drinking recommendation on. This chart is for non-bariatric folk, and since we can't handle as much alcohol, we should cut the amounts down. Men: 2/day and 7/week Women: 1/day and 4/ week