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To the weight loss surgery patient slider foods are the bane of good intentions and ignorance often causing dumping syndrome, weight loss plateaus, and eventually weight gain. Slider foods, to weight loss surgery patients, are soft simple processed carbohydrates of little or no nutritional value that slide right through the surgical stomach pouch without providing nutrition or satiation. The most innocent of slider foods are saltine crackers, often eaten with warm tea or other beverages, to soothe the stomach in illness or while recovering from surgery. Understanding Slider Foods The most commonly consumed slider foods include pretzels, crackers (saltines, graham, Ritz, etc.) filled cracker snacks such as Ritz Bits, popcorn, cheese snacks (Cheetos) or cheese crackers, tortilla chips with salsa, potato chips, sugar-free cookies, cakes, and candy. You will notice these slider foods are often salty and cause a dry mouth so they must be ingested with liquid to be palatable. This is how they become slider foods. They are also, most often, void of nutritional value. For weight loss surgery patients the process of digestion is different than those who have not undergone gastric surgery. When slider foods are consumed they go into the stomach pouch and exit directly into the jejunum where the simple carbohydrate slurry is quickly absorbed and stored by the body. There is little thermic effect in the digestion of simple carbohydrates like there is in the digestion of protein so little metabolic energy is expended. In most cases patients in the phase of weight loss who eat slider foods will experience a weight loss plateau and possibly the setback of weight gain. And sadly, they will begin to believe their surgical stomach pouch is not functioning properly because they never feel fullness or restriction like they experience when eating protein. The very nature of the surgical gastric pouch is to cause feelings of tightness or restriction when one has eaten enough food. However, when soft simple carbohydrates are eaten this tightness or restriction does not result and one can continue to eat, unmeasured, copious amounts of non-nutritional food without ever feeling uncomfortable. Many patients turn to slider foods for this very reason. They do not like the discomfort that results when the pouch is full from eating a measured portion of lean animal or dairy protein without liquids. Yet it is this very restriction that is the desired result of the surgery. The discomfort is intended to signal the cessation of eating. Remembering the “Protein First” rule is crucial to weight management with bariatric surgery. Gastric bypass, gastric banding (lap-band) and gastric sleeve patients are instructed to follow a high protein diet to facilitate healing and promote weight loss. Bariatric centers advise what is commonly known among weight loss surgery patients as the “Four Rules” the most important of which is “Protein First.” That means of all nutrients (protein, veggies, complex carbohydrates, then fat and alcohol) the patient is required to eat protein first. Protein is not always the most comfortable food choice for weight loss surgery patients who feel restriction after eating a very small amount of food. However, for the surgical tool to work correctly a diet rich in protein and low in simple carbohydrate slider foods must be observed. The high protein diet must be followed even after healthy body weight has been achieved in order to maintain a healthy weight and avoid weight regain.

I find that opinions like that are baseless yet popular..ignorant I guess you would say. I think a person only suffers from constant purging, and not being able to eat normally if you don't follow the specific set of directions you are given for the rest of your life. Im just about 6 months post op and I drink alcohol (wine), eat steak, treat myself to some dark chocolate or halotop, and sometimes eat taco bell in a pinch and I'm down 86lbs and still going. It is all about getting out of your own way to listen to your body. If you are full after 4 bites then stop eating and save the rest for later because there will be a later. The biggest thing I had to get used to was fixing my portions. Even sometimes now when I am at a restaurant or eating at a party I immediately fix a plate the way I would a year ago and have to take a second to realise well this is just too much and then i make it right. I won't lie, I had my band converted to bypass because my band and i were complete failures so I KNOW what its like to fail with wls and now I know what its like to succeed.

My surgery was in 2003 and revised in 2008. It is NOT a funeral for food!!! You do have to be smart. At first, there will be things your body doesn't want you to eat. But over time, I have found NOTHING that I can't eat. Just don't eat so much. If you go out, share or plan on taking a bunch home to enjoy later. I don't imbibe, so I can't answer to the alcohol; but it gets into your system much faster so people get drunk quicker. And those are all empty calories, so again, SMALL amounts. Hope this helps. And bypass is still the gold standard from my understanding. Sleeve preserves more stomach and stomach acids so the digestion is a bit different. Sleeve people: is this what you understand to be true?

Has she been back to see her surgeon for follow-up appointments? They are very crucial to the progress. If you drink while eating, you can most certainly push food through the sleeve, and alcohol, well, that relaxes your stomach to the point where she can probably push things through due to the relaxation in the stomach caused by drinking. The only advise that I have, because I've not been in this situation, nor do I know anyone who has, is that she start with her surgeon and for her to behest with him. I do believe that she can start the post-op diet from the beginning again to reset her stomach and to allow for weight loss again. Best wishes to both of you. Amy

I strictly avoid processed sugars. I have a sweet tooth and that is one of the major causes that contributed to my weight gain over my lifetime. I limit myself to artificial sweeteners (such as Splenda and sugar alcohols), to natural low calorie sweeteners (such as Stevia) and to the natural sugars found in fruits and milk. I had diabetes. That went into remission when I left the hospital two days after surgery and I have not taken any diabetic medicine ever since and my blood sugar levels are good. I test my blood sugar levels periodically. I read the labels of all food that I consume. I look at the grams of sugar per serving. If it is above 5 grams, I look at the ingredients. The ingredients are listed in order by highest percentage, and if the first 5 ingredients contain processed sugar (in any of its many forms), then I avoid this food, like a plague.

I'm very worried about my daughter . She had the sleeve revision from lap. She has only lost 25 lbs since January after losing 100 lbs and regaining 40 with lap. She eats very little at meals. I'm afraid she is eating slider foods and drinking too much alcohol

I had bad diarrhea days 3 and 4 after surgery. I also blamed the protein shakes but my surgeon said sometimes it's happens when things are waking up and starting to work again. But, too much sugar free stuff can do it to you for sure. I can't stand artificial sweeteners so I have always avoided them but they contain something called sugar alcohol which upsets tummies sometimes. You newbies should all take it easy. I did nothing but short walks in the house for the first two weeks. You are recovering from major surgery and getting almost no calories in. Give yourselves time to heal. As far as water goes I never met those goals. I still don't truth be told. As others have said when you are early out the protein shakes count as fluid. Just do the best you can sipping water between shakes. If you are peeing a lot, and it's light in color, you're fine. Sent from my Nexus 6P using BariatricPal mobile app

Addiction transfer to alcohol is scary stuff. I rarely drank pre op (maybe once every few months). When I started drinking post op everything was fine for months, until I noticed that I was drinking a lot more often, then I started having trouble stopping once I start. Then I noticed I was looking forward to drinking the same way I used to look forward to food. Now I promise myself I won't drink, but can't resist the urge and have the old pattern of guilt and regret I used to have with fast food. This all happened pretty quickly. Now I'm going to counseling and considering AA, even though I'm not a "real" alcoholic yet. I was of course warned about this pre op, but didn't think it would happen to me since I've never had a problem with alcohol or drugs, and I guess I didn't consider myself a good addict either, but I can see now that I was. Alcohol is much much worse of an addiction, I certainly wish I hadn't started drinking post op.

This is it. Alcohol is mathematically poor. Calorie rich nothingness in the long run.

I don't see me giving it up forever, but I am not much of a drinker overall. I intend to stick to no drinking for 6-9 months after surgery. It does use up calories ineffectively and alcohol is dehydrating and is likely a factor in the early stages when it is difficult to consume enough liquids as it is.

No brainer. Although I was not an alcoholic, my job and social life meant a fair chance of social drinking. Then there were the long Australian east-coast summers of 5.5 to 7.5 months. So, I could end up with 3000-4500 extra calories per week ... like adding an eighth or ninth day per week to my calorie consumption. I probably won't be a teetotaller but I can see my drinking being cut to four to six drinks per fortnight average, probably less ... and I'll keep those for important events or occasions.

I was told that alcohol would be two or three times more potent than it was pre-op, and as I couldn't really handle more than one drink then, I'm sure I better just steer clear of it entirely--no big loss for me. I don't think there are any things we can't ever have, but judgment has to play a big part of this. I know I'm better off avoiding carbs such as bread, rice, potatoes, so I'm going to try to do that. Steak, on the other hand--steak is definitely in the plans down the road!

I think there is some merit to alcohol affecting you differently after surgery. I know it did me. Rightfully there is much concern for addiction transfer but also alcohol is pretty harsh on a tender tummy. That first 6 months could be particularly sensitive. Considering that, I am a wine maker. I make berry wine from wild Alaska berries and I could not imagine missing out on that. I made a dryer (less sugar) wine with a lower alcohol content and it is so yummy. I spoke with my surgeon about my winemaking hobby and he did not seem at all concerned. There is no doubt that I can't hold my alcohol like I used to. I feel the buzz very quickly. Oh and I'm nearly 8 months out.

I understand that for 6 months following surgery that alcohol is banned. But why not after that? As long as its not often?? Confused in Dallas

I only threw up in the hospital when they gave me my meds as the first thing to swallow! Nothing really makes me sick except sugar alcohol (something that comes from artificial sweeteners) I wish sugar made me sick but sadly it does not and I must maintain self discipline. I'm 14 weeks out and have lost 44 lbs. 14 pound in the first week is awesome! Don't be surprised when it slows down and try to think of it as an average weight loss per week. That helps me. I'm averaging 2 lbs per week from my pre surgery weight which I feel great about. This way I don't have to explain how I did it because I've only told a handful of people. 2 lbs per week is what the diets out there say is a great and healthy weight loss so it doesn't seem abnormal. Mich W Hw 223, SW 217 CW 179.8 GW 135

This is the Liver Shrink Diet that my doc uses. I have to start it on 10/24/2017, for surgery on 11/07/2017. LIVER SHRINK DIET Follow this 2 weeks prior to surgery Remember: Non-Starchy Vegetables are UNLIMITED on this diet (Except potatoes, corn, beans, peas-see attached sheet) Breakfast Protein Shake or Protein Bar (You may use any shake or bar as long as it has 220 or less calories, 1 Og or less fat, and 15-30 g protein/serving) Mid Morning Snack 1 small piece of fruit (tennis ball or 1/2 cup) (if you have Diabetes add 4oz low-fat yogurt) Lunch Protein Shake or Protein Bar Mid Afternoon Snack 1 small piece of fruit (tennis ball or 1/2 cup) (if you have Diabetes add 4oz low-fat yogurt) Dinner • 3oz lean meat (the size of a deck of cards) • Steamed vegetables or salad with fat-free salad dressing (2 Tbsp) • 6 unsalted crackers or 2 slices low-calorie bread or 1 small baked potato (computer mouse) • Y2 c fruit or 1 small piece of fruit (tennis ball) Evening Snack • 1 small piece of fruit (tennis ball or 1/2 cup) (if you have Diabetes add 4oz low-fat yogurt) Beverages • You may only have CALORIE-FREE beverages • NO ALCOHOL! • Examples: Decaf. Tea, Crystal Light, Sugar-free Kool-Aid, Powerade Zero, Water CLEAR

That's what goes through my mind, that I've boarded a train to Crazy Town. I mean, am I really going to have more than half of my stomach removed? Voluntarily!? It seems insane! And when they tell me things like "you can't drink within 30 minutes of your meal time", and "no caffeine or alcohol ever again", I think, who can live like that? SO the big huge doubt creeps in...even if I can get through the horrible pain of surgery, and the horrible liquid diet (because those are just temporary), is this surgery going to RUIN MY LIFE? While it's true, I've struggled with my weight over the years, and now that my doctor says I have PCOS, I no longer believe I can lose the weight on my own. And it's also true that the weight affects my quality of life; I don't get out and do things I would do if I were normal weight. And I have some health problems that come from my weight, the worst of which is my knee. However, on the flip-side of the coin, I'm not suicidal! LOL. I mean, I don't miss the things I can't do all that much. I've adapted. I'm not a happy fat person, but I also don't want to be a miserable thin person for the rest of my life, or WORST (and here's another big doubt creeping in) a miserable ONLY LESS FAT person for the rest for the rest of my life! Part of me still thinks I won't be able to get down to a weight, even with the surgery, that I will be happy with. My primary care doctor says I have like no metabolism at all. And right now, I don't think I even eat all that much. So what if I get this Horrible Surgery, go through all this pain, limit myself for the rest of my life so that I can never have a margarita, or a Starbucks again! And after all that, I'm still the fattest girl in the room? Or I still can't fit into Designer clothes that only go up to size 12? Should I stop the train and jump off now? I have to do 6 months of classes and counselling prior to surgery for my insurance, and October will be month 2. Can anyone help me feel better about this?

Noooo! This is the General Forum There's just a lot of us women here. And I'm probably responding from a very female place. My apologies to you. I truly am not judging you. I really was curious to hear where you are in your head with processing this and what the picture of "life after WLS" looks like to you. "A pint and a steak" just sounds like a perfect guy meal. Which is why I said and meant what I said. The Guys' Forum seems much more relaxed and laid back about life after surgery--although it isn't very active right now, but there are some super guys there! I'm not much on "off limits" stuff, but some things will be off limits to me and some things will definitely be on a once-in-a-very-blue-moon rotation. I hope steak isn't on that list. Beer, wine and alcohol, and "bad" fats such as transfats will certainly top that list because of their effects on the post WLS livers. I wouldn't want to have a surgery that is supposed to help reduce my fatty liver, while then going and drinking and it makes me develop cirrhosis because of how hard this surgery/and quick weight loss is on the liver. Big irony, yes?

I love your exuberance about your coming WLS. Wish I didn't have so long to wait for mine! But I just have a question cuz we're all SO very different! No judgement here, just curiosity. I'm using this time while I wait for surgery to research all the things. All. The. Things. Trying to figure out and get my head in the game so I don't act like the movie Groundhog Day and repeat the weight gain after surgery. I do not want to ever have to lose weight a second time. So from the things I used to eat that are now sitting strapped to my ass (and have been for about 47 years), to the knowledge that once a food junkie always a food junkie...I know I have to stay away from certain things. One of those things would be beer (other than a once in a blue moon thing, or maybe only a pull off someone's bottle of beer). Why would you work so hard, go through so much pain, money and endure so much upheaval, just to look forward to going back to eating and drinking the same stuff that got you to the dance in the first place? I've no problem with the idea of eating 4oz of a steak in the future. I don't believe that's what made you or I fluffy. But the beer? Um, yeah...not to mention that even after 6mos to a year, alcohol is really pretty hard on the liver. The surgery isn't magic. Things that made you fat before will still make you fat for future you once you start ingesting them again. You will be able to figure out how to eat around your restriction... In my unsolicited pre-surg opinion, it seems to me, that a really good activity would be to look at the things that contributed to your present health situation. Catalogue them. Write them in red on your mirror so you read them every day--and often. Then steer your new anatomy and path so very far around those previous things that you cut a very wide berth from them!? Don't you agree? I'm pretty sure you know that a 4oz of steak and big bowl of sauteed greens and garlic didn't make you husky. Right? Sorry to offend you and not trying to kill your joy. Just seriously curious about what's going on in your mind right now as you process what's about to happen to you?

I eat a 4oz steak all the time.. after the first 2 months and I was cleared. Might not finish it, but that's a different story. Beer is carbonated and has alcohol, so should be off menu for at least 6 months to a year. After that it's a question of whether you still like it, or whether it likes you. I eat sweets on special occasions, but mostly they don't taste as good. In general you'll be able to eat anything.. but whether you can tolerate it, like it, or should eat it.. those are different questions.

Hi, I have had the same issues and I notice that my diet makes a big difference. If I stick to a very low carb high protein diet I rarely have any problems with my band. Once I introduce to many carbs especially sugarary foods.or things like soda or alcohol my stomach flares and the reflux returns. It is impossible to be perfect so it does happen from time to time. I think these things may cause reflux with or without the band but it would take place lower in the stomach and may not be as problematic. Try monitoring your diet to see if it helps. Do some reading on foods that cause inflammation in the body and see if avoiding them helps over time. I also try to stick to liquids for a day or two after I had reflux or a bad episode with heaving to give my stomach a chance to calm down. I was banded in 2009 and have not had a change in fill since 2011. I am not willing to give up my band. I lost 120 lbs and have kept it off. I have two family members who both had bypass and both have gained their weight back. The surgery is just a tool if we don't change our attitude towards food no surgery works.

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 don't think they test for alcohol but If u drink right after surgery you'll be in emergency room! Lol Wait at least 6 months the longer the better as it slows down weight loss.

In the early days people would make comments and I would be well that's how I'm losing weight eating less of everything and giving up alcohol!! Now i eat almost as much as most peeps. The comments start to get tiresome but imagine if they knew u had surgery then to would be - will that make u crap yourself? Or do u wish u could eat this cake? It will pass people get over it and eventually u can eat more.

Hey everybody. Thanks again for all is the input! I had my surgery on Monday and I can tell you what I was glad that I took and what was provided for me. 1. My phone and charger. This was important because several people wanted to know how I was doing. Also because it was a good distraction for when I couldn't sleep. 2 My own nightie, soft robe, sweats, and undies. I wasn't able to change until the next morning, but that was okay because I was so out of it the day of due to the anesthesia that I didn't care what I was wearing. I wasn't discharged the next day until 5pm, so it was nice wearing my own comfy clothes. I did use the robe the night I was there. Of course you can only put one arm through and drape it over the other shoulder where you have the IV. 3 Chapstick. They provided some, but I liked my Burt's Bees vanilla flavor better. 4 Small brush Things they provided: No slip socks. They were nice and comfy. When in bed, I was always hooked up to the leg massagers (not sure what to call them). I liked them though. I didn't have to wear the long compression socks. Toothbrush and toothpaste Alcohol pads - very helpful to sniff when feeling nauseas (just ask for some, you don't need to bring your own) Lots of ice. It helped so much chewing on ice! I had a plastic breathing device to help with getting in deep breaths, but it really dried out my mouth so the ice really helped! Also, I took gas x chewable tablets, but they wouldn't let me take it in the hospital. That is all I can think of. I was blessed with amazing nurses and exceptional care when I was in the hospital. I hope that go all who undergo this.