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sooo yesterday afternoon i ventured out of the house to go catch up with some family,,, i was a little nervous as i hadnt really hung out with any one other then my house mates since the surgury and they are used to my little after drinking and eating dances and faces lol well it actually went really well,, of course there were lots of questions and humour and support as my family are great that way, but there was a little akwardness when it came to stuff like offering me tea and coffee and what not,, but i guess thats to be expected cuz most people dont really know much about banding or how it works or what we can eat and stuff , but once we got past that it was all pretty normal and awesome,, it was a great feeling a lifted alot of fear from me about feeling out of place because of my eating restrictions, but it as quite easy to adjust,,, they decided on fish and chips for dinner so i just got one peace of crumbed fish and ate it slowly like we bandits have to and in the time it took me to eat my peace of fish they were all finishing their meals,, so it as alot less akward and such a relief i dont think they really even noticed how little i ate,, or maybe my family are just that awesome they just took it on board either way SUCCESS ,,, i even actually had half a glass of rum and coke,, naughty naughty i know but it was a bit of a reward for me,, but as i havnt been eating anything sugarly or fatty latly the sugar in that half a glass sent me a little hyper LOL,,,, which my family ( who all quit enjoy there alcohol) thought was quit funny,, i also noticed last night that my attitude and confidence has changed a little bit already ,, usually im shy and timid around my family , but last night i didnt have the usual feeling of not fitting in,, ive only lost 5 kg but the knowledge in the back of my head that i am making these changes and that i am GOING to do this ,, just that knowledge alone and the confidence and energy i get from having my band is boosting me so much and my family are noticing already,, so hopefully that lasts through out my journey,, i know it probably will waver here and there but again a perk of my family know and my close friends know is they can spur me on so yea great start to my second bandit week,,, tata for now

My name is Morgan and I am 22 years old. I have been overweight all my life. I grew up where we would go to burger king about 4 nights a week and on the way to school we would get McDonalds for Breakfast. Once I hit 200 pounds at a very young age I kept telling myself I wouldn't gain anymore weight. Then I would get to 225 and tell myself I would never get to 250. Then I hit 250 and said I would never hit 300 pounds. The huge BUT (not pun intended lol) is I never did anything about the whole losing weight thing. I kept eating the way I did. I was so self conscious and had zero self esteem. I ended up turning to drugs, alcohol, sex, and self harm. I have come a very long way in this journey already. I met the most amazing, caring, honest, trustworthy man and I quite the drugs and alcohol and self harm. We got engaged and set our wedding date and then found out we were expecting We kept our wedding date though because I knew if we pushed it off until after our son was born, then who knows how long it would be before we could actually plan the wedding and get married. We got married May 14th, 2011 while I was 8 months pregnant and it was incredible. I loved being pregnant while I got married. The feeling is indescribable because yes it was a commitment day for myself and my now husband but also to our unborn child. The pregnancy was a rough one and I was on bed rest from 14 weeks until about 30 weeks. Normally during pregnancy you gain weight but I ended up losing 40 pounds which was ok because I went into the pregnancy at 370. After my son was born on June 10th, 2011 I weighed about 330. Over the last year I have gained all that weight back and am now up to 374 I am sick of being overweight! I have tried diet plan after diet plan and I get so frustrated when I know I am doing good on the diet and exercising but I would only lose a little bit of weight. I want to raise my son with him knowing how to eat healthy. I want to be healthy for my son and husband and obviously myself so I can live longer and be able to enjoy doing activities with them instead of losing my breath after walking up a small flight of stairs. My aunt had gastric bypass done in 200 and has lost over 100 pounds and has kept it off. After seeing my aunts success, my mother decided to get the surgery done in 2003. She has lost over 150 pounds and has maintained a healthy weight since then. I have been wanting to get this surgery done for a long time now there were just things holding me back. 1. I didnt have the insurance or out of pocket money to get it done. 2. I was mentally not ready to get it done. Now I know it is the right time and I am ready to jump in and make the commitment. I am ready to change my life for the better by starting fresh. Eating healthy. Exercising. Taking up softball and hip hop dance. I am determined!!! I finally have insurance that is going to cover my surgery and I could honestly not be happier! I have my first pre-op appointment September 5th to meet with the surgery center, psychologist and dietitian. I cannot explain how motivated I am and 110% ready! I will be starting weight watchers on September 1st so I can get in to the routine of things before surgery. I have an amazing support system that will help me through my life long journey. I also have been diagnosed with PCOS so it has been very hard to conceive. Our son was a miracle baby, due to having PCOS and not having a period or ovulating for more than a year. Having this surgery will hopefully improve my PCOS and eventually after my surgery and weight loss we will be able to try for baby number two. I also know that this surgery will improve my depression, self esteem, self confidence and make me enjoy and respect life life more. I am on here to look for advice, support, input, similar stories and make friends. I am looking forward to starting my new and healthy life Here is a recent family picture when we went to Yellowstone at my highest weight of 374. The second picture is of my mother at my sons 1st birthday in June. She used to weigh the same as me and got the gastric bypass done and is now in her target weight range, healthy and happier than ever. It is very inspiring!

1. Yes. Omeprazole was actually prescribed to me for 4 months after surgery to help protect my new sleeve. At first you just open the capsules and swallow the contents....later you can swallow the whole capsule. 2. Sleeve is associated with higher instances of GERD. 3. Carbonated beverages are generally frowned upon for life. 4. Alcohol is discouraged before 6 months post op and is generally cautioned against.....because it has empty calories, because it is metabolized differently after surgery, and because there is a risk of cross over addiction with WLS.

I know you can and will take PPIs, in the long run the are gastroprotective Most surgeons surgeons discourage carbonated beverages. A they encourage weight,gain, many of us got fat from overindulgence in Coke, Pepsi and their evil soda cousins. B. Do you enjoy pain? That stuff will bloat up your sore little stomach. If it doesn't cause you to vomit you'll have to belch or blow it out the other end. Alcohol doubtful you'll be allowed to indulge very soon. I've heard 6 months, a year down the road. You have been a workaholic , you do not want to exchange one addiction for another. You'll become drunk on less. And a final note, although I am pre surgery I have gastritis, booze hurts and burns the lining in your stomach and it hurts like the walls of Hades. Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

I would stay away from chewable vitamins as they tend to have sugar alcohols in them (look for ingredients ending in -itol; e.g. xylitol). I tried some post-op and they caused diarrhea and smelly gas, and they hurt my stomach.

Hi everyone hope you’re well, I’ve been on the pre-op diet for three weeks and I was very nervous because I had a scheduled trip to Las Vegas. Before the trip I had been meal prepping, measuring my food, weighing my food, etc. so naturally I was very nervous for what I was going to have to go through Las Vegas because all my friends were going and I knew I could not eat as I normally would or drink any alcohol whatsoever. It was very difficult because all the options are fast food and restaurants so I made sure to order the most protein dishes but I found myself eating more larger portions than I should have. I did a lot of walking and I took the stairs when possible. I was there for five whole days no desserts sticking with three meals a day and no snacking while watching all my other friends eat anything they wanted. I was so nervous to get up this morning and weighed myself since today is my first day home because I have my psychologist appointment on Monday. I wanted to show progress but I was so scared that this trip may have set me back. I am so excited to announce that I am actually down four more pounds while on my trip in Vegas putting my total weight loss in the past three weeks on pre op diet to 21 pounds. Thank you God!

1. When you are dehydrated.. your urine smells BAD! I almost gagged the first time I went to the restroom and couldn't believe what I was smelling.. (yeah so I make sure to get those liquids in!) 2. You don't use the restroom as much.. I only go maybe twice a day. 3. Acid Reflux! I've noticed when I swallow something too quickly or if I eat that soup too fast! I get hiccups or I burp a lot. (Never had this issue before). 4. I am always cold! This drives me crazy! (I'm a little dramatic) BUT!.. I literally have to sleep with my pajamas, snuggie with the covers over my head to keep warm. (And yes I take all my vitamins). I am freezing as I am typing this now 5. Waiters/Waitresses will assume you think their is something wrong with the food when you ask for a TO-GO box. I went to BJ's the other night and ordered a soup and had just a few bites and I became full. I asked our waitress for a TO-GO box and she went into apologetic mode and asked if she could offer me another dish and so on and so on.. very nice of her.. but long story short and lesson learned.. stay away from restaurants as much as possible.. it can be quite annoying dealing with the pressure of not eating your meal. 6. Do not purchase a new wardrobe after you lose those first few pounds. You are losing weight every single day and if you buy jeans today, I promise.. they will be too baggy just a couple weeks later. 7. My advice is to not tell people you are getting/ or had the gastric sleeve surgery. I made the mistake by telling my friends and I get asked a lot of questions such as; "So are you happy now?" "Well.. when are you going to stop losing weight?", "Are you going to act different when you lose all the weight?" It's pretty annoying and people act weird for some reason when you lose weight. I swear people weren't sweatin' me at 330 pounds. 8. I still have cravings! I thought my cravings would go away.. but nope! Still there! The sleeve is really a tool to help you lose weight and it doesn't solve all your problems. I almost had a nervous breakdown because I was craving Taco Bell and I couldn't do nothing about it. But the Good News is.. once you put something in your tummy.. you are full after a few bites and the cravings goes away. But it's a struggle everyday. 9. It takes people awhile to get used to the new you! So in my case.. a lot of friends were still inviting me out to Wine Festivals, Clubs, Brunch and Pop Up Bars. Just recently, my friend invited me to go with her to a Star Wars themed restaurant and I couldn't go because I can't have alcoholic drinks and all they offered were fried comfort foods. My new phrase is "no, sorry I can't go.. I can't eat that stuff remember?" Then it's "ohhh yeahh.. I forgot.. so when will you be able to eat/drink again?". Listen. I have come too far to let ANYBODY sabotage my weight loss journey so I am quick to distance myself from ANYBODY who will sabotage my journey and my advice is to anyone reading this is to stay CONSISTENT. People will catch on and know you mean business. 10. Regret. I did experience some regret after having the sleeve because I would use food to cope with issues I dealt with. And when that was taken away, I had to deal with my issues head on. That was difficult and I wanted to reverse the surgery (which you can't) but now that I'm over that hurtle, I have no regrets at all. I have my good days and bad days. My food addiction was real. And I take it one day at a time like I am in a12 Step Program. I used to socially drink every weekend, I was a heavy marijuana smoker, I DJ on the weekends- so I would get free drinks while I'm at the club. And I stopped everything cold turkey. It's tough, but I can't deny the way I feel. I have more energy w/o caffeine, I get 8 hours of sleep, before I was only getting 4 hours, I am in a much better mood, my skin is glowing, my depression is gone, before I was taking anxiety medication and I have completely stopped that. I look and feel like a new person.. and I never want to back to my old habits. Good luck to everyone that is on this journey. You will go through physical and mental challenges but stick to it! You will never have to start over again, if you never give up. Keep at it!

lol... This was just asked a couple hours ago: https://www.bariatricpal.com/index.php?/topic/397790-Alcohol? Sent from my phone. Please forgive brevity and spelling.

Too early I think! I was allowed a little at 1mo., and he is more relaxed about alcohol than a lot of surgeons.

Hi there, so happy you are getting back to your life in a healthy way. Managing pain can be difficult and you are very courageous to have dealt with your issues around alcohol. I hope your back is healing well and it sounds like things are coming together now. And a beautiful little eight year old at home. She doesn't need those Snacks in the house, or the ice cream. She can have her treats outside of the house but right now you need a clean pantry, fridge and freezer so you're not tempted by sliders. chips and ice cream are sliders and she will understand. You can have fun taking her for something special while you have a coffee or tea. Getting back to basics will really help and you'll save money. Do you like chili? When I cook ground beef I heat up the skillet first then put the meat in so it gets nicely browned -- add spices, garlic, etc. then when it is browned I kind of chop it up with the spatula and I add stock -- chicken or beef stock, either one, it comes in a carton at the grocery store -- and I cook it down for a long time then add Beans, can of crushed tomato, etc., whatever you like. This method makes the beef not stringy -- it breaks down and gets soft from cooking in the stock and it's very band-friendly. Sometimes I use black beans and make more of a Mexican Beef (can use a spice packet from the store but watch out for sugar in ingredient list) -- family uses this for taco night while I just usually have a little bowl, maybe with cheese. Other times I use the same beef method to do a red sauce for Italian. Just do the beef up and add a few jars of sauce. Family has theirs on Pasta and I have mine on a little salad or broccoli, etc. So yummy. All of these freeze beautifully so it can be very economical. Sorry to go on so long -- haven't had my tea yet! Sending very best wishes. I also wanted to say that a walking program might really help -- starting small and adding in a little at a time. Nice to get out of the house and great PT for your back.

For me, carbs are an addiction. I know that I can't completely cut them out, but I have reduced them to 12-20 (12-15 most days) for the entirety of my six-month pre-op diet program. (My surgery is September 28.) I have an appointment with my nutritionist for an extra session on Tuesday to discuss the role of carbs as I transition to a new diet post-op. I have just had to accept that carbs are to me like alcohol is to an alcoholic. Unlike with an alcohol addiction, however, I can't remove carbs from my life completely, but I have to keep them as low as realistically possible if I am going to continue to take off all of my extra weight and keep it off long-term.

I’ve been alcohol free for a year now. I’m planning on meeting up with some friends after work tomorrow and I plan on having a drink. I’ve read other posts about drinking after surgery but don’t remember seeing where anyone said how fast or hard the alcohol will hit you. I don’t plan on driving at all but I also don’t want to look like a blathering idiot after half a glass of wine. Any info someone can pass on from their experiences I would greatly appreciate. [emoji16]

Just be careful of the sugar alcohols those can give you the runs as well. I by a carb smart ice cream bar it has two grams sugar and 6 grams sugar alcohols that is on the lower side that I have found and they satisfy the sweet tooth. Even though I can't even eat half lol. surgery date 08-01-12

I'm almost 4 weeks post Bypass and have not been experiencing any hunger issues, just the opposite actually. Months before surgery I gave up many things (e.g. alcohol, sweets, carbonated beverages, processed food...), which was difficult for the first few weeks but it helped curb cravings and start weight loss. This may be why post- surgery has been fairly easy thus far for me. Suggestions on "hunger" are to make sure you're getting enough fluids in each day and to take PPIs for a period of time after surgery (work with doc on exact dosage and timeframe). Good luck!

Thanks so much for responding folks! I really appreciate all of your thoughts. I think triplethreat nailed it with this comment. I'm not sure where to go from here, but perhaps I'll try to have a serious conversation this weekend. Unfortunately since I'm post op and she's recently out of rehab we can't use alcohol to make it easier!

@@Seagull - Yes. Lost a bunch pre-op (you quit drinking alcohol and work to shrink your liver, good things will happen). I actually gained 10 at the hospital thanks to all the IV Fluid they pumped in me. But after 10 days of healing, everything started "moving" inside again, the weight really came off fast.

Each doctor has their own opinion about this subject. Here is the information I was given... In addition to meeting with my nutritionist for an hour appointment, I had to attend a 2 hour class which discussed nutrition post surgery. We were told to avoid alcohol at all costs for the first year of losing weight. Not only does it lower your tolerance to alcohol but also puts your liver at increased risks for liver toxicity, cancer and other liver diseases. It can also contribute to hypoglycemia. ulcers and malnutrition. It was explained that your liver is not only working overtime burning fat from your body but if it has to process alcohol then it's giving it a double wammy for having to work that it's defenses are at higher risks for getting sick.

sooo today is my first saturday being out of bed / post op comma ,,, and my house mates have a few friends around having drinks in the shed and the all decided to get pizza : / and my favourite drink rummmmm EEEKKK so much temptation ,,, i knew that weekends would be hard as most of my friends head out clubbing and to partys on the weekends as do I ,, but not drinking alcohol is just al adjustment ill have to get used to ,, not just cuz the soft drink in the drinks will make me burp which is a little uncomfortable,, but also cuz there is soooo many calories in those drinks that its really NOT WORTH IT,, so yea just thought i would give you all a quick update,, get that off my chest as it is going to be one of those hurdles ill have to get through,, hope you all have a lovely weekend

Stomach erosion is something rare but can happen. It can happen for many different reasons. There are factors like alcohol, spicy food, bad eating habits ( not following doctors orders), nick during surgery, rapid fills, large fills etc that can cause stomach erosion. If your erosion is very small then your doc might unfill you, put you on meds for a few weeks and then check your stomach again. If the hole in your stomach healed a lot then a simple stitch can be placed to fix the problem thus not needing to remove the band. There is no perfect and exact way that all doctors remove the band. When I had my band removed my doc removed it laparoscopically the same way it was put in. He used the same incisions too. I know that if the erosion is bad and way into your stomach then the doctor can remove the band endoscopically ( going down your throat and cutting the band in half inside your stomach) and laparoscopically ( pulling the band out ). All docs are different though. If your getting your band removed you can ask him how it is done. This is just what I know my doc does

My doctor said he's not sure but I'm doing a hep A screening. I have not had any alcoholic beverages since I've been sick w the flu. :/ Looks like the AST is 106 and the ALT is 192.

Can anybody confirm whether you are allowed to consume any alcohol ever again if you have a gastric bypass please, as my friends are telling me you can't? Kindest Regards <br />Lucii24<br />Sent From Samsung Galaxy SIII Using RNYTalk

We all know exactly what weight gain is; the scale goes up in numbers, our clothes start to get tight, it takes more effort to get out of a chair, the seat belt is tighter and we just don’t feel as well. We all know what weight loss is; the scale shows us a lower number, our clothes hang funny and fall off of us, people start complimenting us about the way we look, we feel better, and we need less medicine. But weight maintenance is something that we all have failed to understand. We have gone up and down in our weight our entire lives, struggling to keep the weight off, gaining weight over and over again. Gaining it has always been easy, I just look at brownies and I would gain two pounds. I never understood my neighbor who was always a perfect size 8 and ate everything in sight. We all know people like that. What has always been missing, is weight maintenance – it was something that I had never achieved. It was elusive to me. I was a constant yo yo. I would lose the weight and thought I could maintain my weight loss but those old habits would sneak back in and sabotage me one more time. The frustration grew every time that I would go down and then back up again and many times with a bonus extra pounds. Each time getting more and more frustrated. When you buy a new car you shop around to get the best deal and then you pick the one that best suits you and your lifestyle. When you pick it up, it comes with a manual, a set instructions and guidelines. You need to put gas into the gas tank to make the car move and every 3, 0000 mile change the oil. Then every once in a while you need to take it in to the dealer who opens it up and looks inside. They make some adjustments and then they give you a bill. You pay the bill and then you are on your way. You need to wash and wax your car so it always looks good. Well, if you think about this is the same as having Bariatric Surgery. The new car is the same as your new pouch. You decide what kind of surgery that is best for you and your lifestyle. You shop around for the best surgeon. You are given a set of instructions from your surgeon, just like you received with your car. You need to feed yourself protein and water to keep you going. Every few months you need to see the surgeon, to check under your hood to take sure your blood levels are good to keep you going in the best condition. You doctor will give you some suggestions to keep you running well and keep you on the right road to weight loss. You exercise and continually add more fuel. But then one day you stop checking the oil and washing the car. A rattle appears out of nowhere and you get used to the new noise coming from the right front of the car. A door ding shows up and you do not even notice the second or third one. You forget to check under the hood. For the bariatric patient this is the time that they start to stray from their doctors program, they start to gain a little weight, we go back to some of our old habits without even thinking about it. This is where we all start to get into trouble. We think we do not need support group anymore, after all we have lost a lot of weight and we think that we are doing just fine. Then all of a sudden we have a wreck, we got on the scale and it is up by 20 or 25 pounds. It is time to call the Auto club tow truck. We need to get towed back to the right road. The Maintenance Road. We all have heard the new Weight Watchers ad campaign, that diets do not work, every one of us know that diets do not work. We have tried them all and look where we ended up; heavier and more frustrated. The only thing that will have lasting effects on us is when we are ready to make lifestyle changes. These changes will make us not only lose the weight but to keep it off for life. To lose weight and keep it off, the best approach is to focus on lifestyle changes and develop an eating plan that's enjoyable, yet healthy and low in calories. This approach will result in weight loss that you can live with - that is, that you can maintain over a long period of time. We need to attend support groups and get a constant stream of positive motivation to keep us on the Maintenance Road. It is easy to get lost and to end up in a dead end; your support group can direct you back at anytime. We are here to help you achieve the goals that are important to you. We each need to learn to make it a Lifestyle that you can live with and enjoy day in and day out to continue to maintain your weight loss. Successful Make it a Lifestyle weight-maintenance strategies Now that you have lost the weight, you can't stop your hard work. Weight maintenance requires daily exercise, healthy eating, a long-term commitment and constant attention. The following habits are essential for you to develop to achieve long term weight maintenance: Healthy snacks and meals - Focus on low-calorie, nutrient-dense foods, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Keep saturated fat low and limit sweets and alcohol. Remember that no one food offers all the nutrients you need. Choose a variety of foods throughout the day. Remember to eat two bites of dense protein to one bite of anything else. Exercise program - One of the most important things you can do for weight maintenance is to continue a aggressive exercise program. Studies suggest that it only takes 30 to 60 minutes of moderately intense physical activity daily to maintain weight loss. Moderately intense physical activities include swimming, fast walking, biking, and hiking. Know and avoid your food traps - Know which situations can trigger you’re out-of-control eating. The best way to identify these food traps and emotional eating is to keep a food journal. For as long as you find it helpful, write down what you eat, how much you eat, when you eat, how you're feeling and how hungry you are. This will help you understand and stay in control of your eating behaviors. Regularly monitor your weight - People who weigh themselves at least once a week are more successful in keeping off the pounds. Monitoring your weight can tell you whether your efforts are working and can help you become aware of small weight gains before they become larger. Be consistent - Sticking to your new lifestyle plan during the week, on the weekends, and amidst vacation and holidays increases your chances of long-term maintenance. Attend Support Group - Getting support is critical, whether through a friend, family member, trained professional or support group, can ultimately mean the difference between your success and failure.

Without more detail it is hard to give suggestions. Are you still following your program? What is your Protein target? Are you tracking your food? Are you getting in all of your protein every day? Are you getting at least 64 oz of Fluid a day? Are you avoiding starches and added sugars? Are you avoiding fried foods? Are you avoiding carbonation? Are you avoiding alcohol? Are you eating slowly and mindfully? Are you taking your Vitamins and supplements as directed? Are you exercising? How much? How often? Have you talked to your NUT about your goals and your progress? Are your goals realistic? Just saying you wanted to lose X amount but ONLY list Y amount doesn't tell me anything. Embrace the Stall! http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall

Ok I am jumping in on this From a differnt angle NO WLS will not fix a abuser of food and alcohol! Most likely will make it worse My Male Ass Story! There is no doubt i went thru some rough times with this, To put it bluntly was a complete Prick! Moody grumpy and all out miserable! Until i got my head on straight. This is a huge issue with both males and females, the extreme changes our bodies go thru make is different. So this tool will never fix those issues I am not married but very close physically and mentally to my x wife. She saw the changes and it got ugly again. I have a few other friends with privileges and they noticed it also. Even my Male friends said WTF! I am 52 and ended up in a Lake side bar brawl with a bunch of 21 year old. Temper was short and they did cross the line, But I would have never even let it bother me pre WLS. Lucky for me i crashed and got help getting my stuff together. I am fine now but it took some time, back to the old person i was. I did not get divorced from WLS i have been divorced a long time. I suggest you get his closest friend or brother to talk to him Man to Man. In other words Man up or you will loose a lot around you. Then get him a Head Doc that specializes in Divorce saving and behavior Changes. Anything can be fixed! Just may not be easy. But i fully understand Hard to Break a ALpha Male Complex

I was advised by my surgeon NOT to drink alcohol because it's just empty calories, and I'd rather spend them on food with nutritional value. I hardly drink anyway, but if you MUST have some wine, limit yourself to one good-size glass and just sip it for as long as you can make it last. Drink red, which doesn't lose its taste when it gets to room temperature. If your friends comment, just say that you don't like the way you feel when you drink too much or too fast. And that's probably the truth.