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OH YEAH. My surgery is scheduled for 5 December. I can completely relate. When I started this process it was like..ok! Let's start eating! Gonna have surgery soon anyway! I was like a deranged squirrel getting ready to hibernate--except my acorns were junk food! Pizza Hut! Krispy Kreme! Dairy Queen! I could go on. But you know, it hasn't made me really happy though. Sure, it tastes good at the moment, but the way it's made me feel afterwards has only confirmed how dysfunctional my relationship with food has been. I feel like CRAP. And It's not helping me prepare for the life to come. I'm self-paying, and I have to tell myself that if I'm going to get a decent return on this investment I'm making in myself...I need to knock it off. I've cut out alcohol this week (a BIG one for me). Next week it's soda. But yeah, I can completely relate to what you are saying. I'm motivating myself by reminding myself this is a 9800 investment that I don't need to waste.

There is a lot of vulnerability and insecurity around here. That's fine, this is a weight loss forum with a lot of strangers telling other strangers how they must cut out most of their stomach in order to keep their eating habits from killing them. Given how being fat is stigmatized in a way many other addictions/behaviors aren't (there is a heck of a lot of support/compassion for people addicted to other things, especially in the medical community), bristling at bluntness isn't an unusual reaction. It's not that I think we need to be a hug box, echo chamber, or hippy drum circle in which everyone vomits sunshine and rainbows and walks on eggshells for fear of offending the too-easily-offended. But I do think the emotional rawness and fragility is something important to keep in mind. ...Although, if I read one more "I'M SIX DAYS POST OP AND JUST ATE A PLATE OF Pasta, DRANK ALCOHOL AND SMOKED WEED, IS THAT OKAY," I'm gonna punch myself in the throat.

Edit: Thinking about this challenge some more, it should be opened to everyone. I originally thought about it being tackled only after weight loss because it would not seem good to have such a transformation challenge interfere with weight loss. However, now I think anyone should be able to do it even to help with weight loss, as long as you are able to physically and mentally rise to the challenge. I will let you define what this criteria means to you, but I would think it excludes those that are less then 2 months post op. I would probably not attempt it until 5 months post op, but that is just my opinion. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Transformation is something that may interest some veterans who are done with the weight loss phase of VSG. Losing weight is the beginning of the transformation process to become a beacon of health and radiant energy for yourself and those around you. I am really a big fan of both transformation programs that the Phillip brothers have spearheaded. In 1999, bill Phillip created the much revered Body-for-life program that is 12 weeks of intense transformation. Some have trouble extending their success of the 12 week program to the rest of their life, possibly because they jumped in too fast or did not have the mental and physical strength to continue after 12 weeks. That is where his brother Shawn Phillips came along more recently and created the Strength-for-life program. This program focuses more on developing habits of strength in all areas of physical and mental health. The results gained from exiting the 12 week strength-for-life will be foundational for the rest of your life. The strength-for-life program includes a base camp phase that is 12 days long. It is important to do this base camp phase before starting the 12 week program in order to set your body up for success. During this time, you focus on rebooting your body. Essentially, 1. Eat lean, clean and green 2. Drink Water in abundance (no alcohol, sugary drinks, energy drinks, etc, just water) 3. sleep at least 7-8 hours of restful sleep a night 4. Have an attitude of gratitude 5. Recharge with the base camp training plan As VSG post op, we know how to eat and how to drink water. Try and keep the Protein as lean as possible. Drink as much water as you can, but do not drink the energy or sports drinks ( too much sugar). sleeping restfully will lower the cortisol levels and help the body detox. The base camp training plan is essentially Training 3 days a week with body weight movements. Do 3 sets of 3 different exercises, pausing for 30 seconds between each set. Monday: 15-20 reps of push-ups. 3 sets. Wednesday: 15-20 air squats or lunges. 3 sets. Friday: 12-15 ab crunches. 3 sets. If you slip on any of the 5 principles listed above, start over. It is important to get thought the 12 days successfully before moving onto the 12 week transformation. You may see some weight loss and or lean muscle gain during this short reboot. However, the real change will occur over the next 12 weeks. Here is where I would like to propose a transformation challenge. The challenge will be 12 weeks long and success is defined by achieving a set of clearly defined goals. Make sure the goals are as personal as possible and link them to your feelings. Create 2 physical goals and one inner strength goal. For me, I am : 37 years old 5'11" 188 lbs pre transformation (as of yesterday) Married with no children, a dog, 3 cats and currently provide a place for my brother. Physical goals: I will lose 15 pounds of fat, gain 5 pounds of lean muscle and lose 2 inches around my waist by September 1st. I have high energy and soaring confidence. Mental/emotional goal: I will have positive energy to share with my wife and brother. We enjoy 1 family activity a week that is not centered around the tv. I will read 2 leadership books and hire a business coach to strengthen my career by September 1st. Be sure to measure along the way: Weight Body fat percentage Resting heart rate Blood pressure Cholesterol Other Take weekly photos : front, back and from each profile. Shoot the photos in the same position and location, wearing the same clothes. At the end of the 12 weeks, you will literally be able to see the transformation from week to week. During the transformation, consider the following eating guidelines: 1. Shoot for macronutrient balance, eating lean protein first. 2. Eat 5-6 x a day, keeping each meal small. 3. Avoid sugar and alcohol 4. Eat your Omega 3s. These really help with inflammation. 5. Get more Vitamin d either as a supplement or being in the sun 6. Eat organically During the transformation, consider the following strength training guidelines: 1. Monday - Upper body push (chest, shoulders, triceps and biceps) 2. Tuesday- HIIT and abs 3. Wednesday- lower body / legs ( quads, hamstrings and calves) 4. Thursday - upper body pull (back, rear delts, triceps, biceps) 5. Friday - HIIT and abs 6.saturday - circuit (strength, stamina, stretch) 7. Day off - recover and rejuvenate Train strong and not long. 1. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday should last 33 minutes to 44 minutes 2. Tuesday and Thursday HIIT would be 20 minutes 3. Saturday circuit should be 20 minutes followed by 8-12 minutes of stretching The strength workouts should be no longer then 4 sets: Set 1: 12 reps Set 2: 10 reps Set 3: 8 reps Set 4: 8+ reps For example, I will be using a pair of dumbbells at home to complete the strength training Try and be very focused during the strength training. It is the focus that is going to help the most with achieving the transformation. Be progressive and increase the weight from week to week. Make every rep count. Make them super high quality. HIIT training is far more effective then long cardio training at steady state. 1. Start with 3 minute warm up 2. First interval is 60 seconds at high intensity 3. Second interval is 60 seconds at lower intensity (catch your breath) 4. Repeat 2) and 3) for 18 minutes. No more. 5. Cool down for 2 minutes For example, I will be using cross fit training with a PT to complete the HIIT workouts. On the 7th day, it is a rest day both nutritionally and physically. If you want to eat more calories or have that treat, this is the day to do it before diving into the next week. Each week should be programmatically the same, but should also increase in intensity. It is important to keep a diary of your training during this 12 week challenge. This will help you with keeping on the program and motivation. After the 12 week transformation challenge, you will be in a position of strength to set new goals and achieve them. Good luck everyone!

Yeah I can appreciate that it's an important part of your life, but for this first year i'm not going to be drinking at all. Yeah that's great that you include your wine into your diet, but me personally I feel that it wouldn't be worth it. I love wine. Like, really love wine, but I am going to sacrifice it for now to get the best weight loss possible this year. Alcohol will be on my "No" list until July 25th, 2013. I can have just as much fun without alcohol, went out with my girlfriends last night and had a blast as I was there DD. I guess it just depends on what's more important to you.

I love this thread! It's so fun getting to know everyone. I read all the "stats" and can't believe how much in common we all have. I can relate to just about all of the "deciding factors." So since we are all having our surgery in January, when are you starting your pre-op diet? I admit I am a bit of a party girl and purposely chose my surgery date for January 15th because my Dr told me I needed to do a 2 week pre-op diet- NO ALCOHOL. And since I want to enjoy the holidays, I set my date for January 15th. That said... what pre-op diet instructions has your Dr given all of you? Here's the diet I will be following: Protein shake for Breakfast and lunch. Lean Cuisine style meal for dinner. sugar free Jello or sugar free popsicles for a snack. Unlimited raw veggies. No dressing. During these 2 weeks (of hell) I also want to start my exercising. My Dr requires I lose 5% body weight prior to surgery. Plus it will get me off my @ss and start to eat right. I want to start following the "Couch to 5K" program. Anyone heard of it? Wanna do it with me?? We can motivate each other!!! I'll start January 1st! What better way to start out the New Year?!!?!?!

Hey guys, just want to stop by and give you guys an update, and boy oh boy was I tempted to just let this one go by. Well as you all know I had revision surgery September 30 and was unfilled down to 3cc's at surgery. Now to me 3cc's might as well have been a complete unfill. So here I am 6 weeks later and UP 6 POUNDS!!!!!! Yes, you heard me right and I didnt studder, 6 fricken pounds. Am I surprised? Not really. I'll admit that I got LAZY I enjoyed sleeping in until 6am instead of getting up at 4:30am to go to the gym. My eating post op was going pretty good until my husband (how dare he) took me on an all inclusive 7 day trip to Cabo for my 40th birthday and I Lost my fricken mind. I swear when I got on the plane the scale said 185 (and I know it did because I weighed myself on the scale at the airport where you weigh your luggage). And at the airport on the way home it said 197...I PROMISS IT DID. There was alot of drinking and late night eating on that trip. And honestly I know I didnt gain 12 pounds in 7 days but I knew that I hadnt been eating right and drinking alot of alcohol plus not getting in my water (unless you take in water by sitting in the pool swim up bar?) So 5 days home and the scals was down to 190, 10 days home and there it remained 190 sometimes 191. THANK GOODNESS today was my follow up from surgery appointment where she gave me a fill and I was never so happy in all my life. Theses last 6 weeks have really reafirmed my decision to get the band. with out it I truely have very little will and I really need the restriction that it gives me. I still am a fat girl at heart and in my mind. I still have work to do. C25K here I come and 180 by Christmas!!!!

Anyone else noticing that as they address the food issues, and can no longer use food to compensate, that alcohol has gained in attractiveness? Seriously I used to drink once every six months. Now I find I am looking for booze a couple times a week. Any one relate?:faint:

I've only been banded about 2 1/2 weeks, but before banding used to drink a couple of drinks every day. I LOVE beer. Oh well, the carbonation is now an issue......But, I thought giving up alcohol would be difficult for me. Funny, I haven't even missed it for one minute these past few weeks. There is always beer in the fridge, a bottle of wine in the bar, and spiced rum or vodka on the counter. I haven't touched it. I sure hope this lasts.

I got banded about 2 months ago and I just tried alcohol this past weekend. I asked my doctor if I could try beer and he said go for it so I did. I drank about 3 beers and a jager redbull and I was feeling pretty good. Before the surgery it would take about 6 beers before I would feel anything. I guess its good now that it's cheaper at the bar.

I am also a fellow college student and enjoy drinking as well :thumbup: I've been banded since March 2009 (have lost 52 pounds woot woot!) And I have had noo trouble with alcohol. It might get you buzzed faster but that's about it. Beer is a bit harder to drink but honestly I haven't had much trouble with it either and I enjoy beer pong quite a bit. Probably the biggest draw back is the empty calories, but just excercise and watch what you eat and you will be fine. Also you can opt for low cal drinks like vodka, if you can't take it straight have it with a zero calorie rockstar, that way you won't feel as guilty I drink about every weekend and haven't really had problems, listen to your body, don't overdrink, and have fun! You will be losing weight make the best of it!

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.

I don't think anyone considers prostitution an addiction, at least from the prostitutes side of it---possibly from the customers side on occasion. The subject at hand leads to other subjects some times. And sad to say prostitution and addiction, often times go hand in hand. Which could maybe be controlled some with legalization, and required UA's like they do at my DH's work. Random urinalysis, and if you test positive, you lose your job. When you have to go back to the streets with no protection---maybe it would be incentive to avoid the drugs. Yes it is a long shot, but they have nothing encouraging them now..... Nothing HAS to be an addiction. And some are easier to break than others, and easier for some people. My brother has smoked for years. He smokes a few cigarettes a day----many times his pack goes stale before he finishes it. He will not make a trip to the store just to buy cigarettes, they don't matter much to him. I on the other hand, smoked like a freight train when I smoked, and worried where the next pack was coming from when I was opening one! It was hard to quit for me.....he could likely do it without issue. BUT he is an alcoholic! He has been sober for 8 years but he cannot drink a drop----he would be back to a bottle of vodka a day. I on the other hand can and do go months without even wanting any kind of drink, then can have one or 2 and stop----something he could never seem to do. We share the same parents, and were raised in the same manner---yet our issues with addiction differ vastly. Your experience, nor mine, bears any effect whatsoever on another persons addiction, or how hard it will be for them to kick that addiction. Just because it was easy for us, or difficult for us, it may be a total different story for them.

You can eat them but you need to be careful. I would consider both of these to be slider foods i.e foods that go down easily which the band does not limit you from eating. Whilst nuts are good for you they are still high in fat and calories so should only be consumed in small quantities. Alcohol can be consumed but again it is full of empty calories. You may find that it affects you quicker as well as you won't have as much food in your stomach to help slow down its affects.My practice encourages a glass of wine over other types of alcohol as wine does supposedly have some health benefits.

Thats a tough one. I guess talk yourself into the real reason your going. Not for the food but for the wedding itself. Im going to a surprise 30th tonight and cant (or shouldnt)drink but im going for the birthday girl not the alcohol you know? You'll be ok

I have watched people drink alcohol and sodas, eat fried food, go to McD's, you name it. So I do agree that many patients are going to stray. There are others though who do have problems and I think could use better education. Round and round we see the complaints: after care is just not there. That is because the $$$$ aren't there. I can see a lot of the education I got was boring. With all due respect, there are a number of ways to fix that. I know mine would never ask me: they didn't want EBM when I gave it to them. Considering their actions, I'd still say that I need to see more work on behalf of the surgeons' due to the $$$$ issue.

@Katie Hasen welcome to the group newbie it is hard to understand how a person is speaking/tone of voice thru a computer monitor. i KNOW that @Sosewsue61 was talking to you in a normal way/tone - she was giving good info - that's all - no ill will intent was said/or meant. With a few exceptions - all OP on this board are obese or morbidly obese - if they/we weren't considered obese - we wouldn't have needed/had WLS. most everyone on the board had/will have WLS for their health. diabetes, BP - orthopedic reasons. due to my weight i had each knee replaced because of my "small" LOL excess weight. As OP lose weight, they usually do look better - that's the icing on the cake from WLS. health comes first doctors are choosing to perform fewer and fewer lap bands. too many problems "might" happen in a short time - or one year + later. i think the lap band will become extinct in the near future. i believe the balloon is very new - not that many stats on outcome/long term success. you can't/shouldn't weigh too much for this WLS . this is a fact too. OP will drink a little alcohol when their doc approves. could be 3, 6, months, one year. all docs/NUTS will give different advice. so yes, you'll be allowed to drink. PO many peeps have different reactions to alcohol. it takes very little alcohol to make you feel tipsy!! i don't think there are any limitations with physical activities. walking, jogging, running jogging, football etc. getting dizzy, this would probably occur to anyone who overdoes activity. you will be told to drink at least 64oz water/liquids - and then eat protein (chicken, fish) etc. veggies are very important to eat. (some diets are diff. - advocating no carbs or.....) not sure what LOL ask your questions - read the boards - you'll see posts referring to something you wanted to also know. you also should explore the SEARCH button in top right hand corner. knowledge is power !! most everyone here is very nice, thoughtful with their responses et al - you might see a bad apple on the board - just go to another orchard good luck with your decision on WLS. we ARE here to help kathy

You risk opinions by asking on a forum, you asked for opinions. I am not shaming you, I don't believe stating you are obese is inaccurate, I put myself in this category. Shaming would be saying 'fatty fatty two by four', ha ha ha. Permanent success is needed and not more failure. The balloon is not very successful in your bmi range, the band is largely being abandoned by physicians - also facts. If you are confident in your physician's estimation of your choice and success then you don't need opinions on here. If you are looking for just validation then you are insecure in your choice, we are not research scientists, we are opinionated wls patients and everyone is an individual with individual results and individual lifestyles as you may. Some drink alcohol, many do not - amounts vary. But you will not get it sugar coated.

Happy Birthday! I just want to say that I had a tiny sip of a fall punch about 4 weeks post-op-well, about 20 minutes later I was sick as a dog! It wasn't worth it at all! Meanwhile, I asked my doctor last week at my 2 month post op visit about alcohol and she said they recommend waiting 3 months and then to avoid beer and wine. She said have Crystal Lite with a dash of vodka would be ok. Also, she warned that sleevers are cheap dates-be careful, the buzz sneaks up on you! Good luck!

I agree with what everyone else is saying. You have plenty of life time to have those "legal" drinks of alcohol. Just wait 3 months and see how you feel. It is not worth it!

This is not true. People who don't understand wine often think that because wine is made from grapes, it must be full of sugar, like a grape right? The issue being is that the sugars in wine are cooked off during the fermenting process and turned to yeast. A typical glass of wine (4oz) has 3 to 5 carbs total in it when it's served to you in a bar. Wine will NOT Throw you out of ketosis. But as with ALL alcohol, what will happen is that while the booze is in your system, your liver will be processing the alcohol first, then when it's done it will go back to processing fat. The more booze that you drink the less time the liver has to work on fat. The only wines that are high in sugar are cheap cheap wines with added sugars (which increase the alcohol content). Flavored coolers etc are also high in sugar. Cheap sparkling wine often has added sugars as well, though not much. Drink good wine and don't drink a lot of it and you'll stay in ketosis. Drink lots of cheap wine and add those numbers to your daily totals...and you might find you're thrown out of ketosis, but good wine alone isn't going to do that any more than any other alcohol. BTW...due to labeling laws, flavored vodka's are not required to list a sugar content. The flavoring does have sugar in it so if you do feel vodka is your choice drink..make sure its not flavored.

Welcome, Katie! My program allows alcohol after all procedures, but discourages the consumption of liquid calories in general. So depending on how often you have those business dinners (I used to fly from IAD to SFO every single week), liquid calories may or may not be an issue for you. I don't have personal experience with lap band or gastric balloon, but the feedback I got from my program indicates that almost everyone who gets a lap-band gets it removed, sometimes with permanent damage left behind. Regarding the balloon, not many have had it, but everyone who has had it at my hospital has regained their weight rapidly as soon as it was removed. I haven't heard about any sports or activity-related restrictions as a result of any type of surgery, but you won't be able to gulp water after most surgery types. RNY gastric bypass is considered reversible. My surgeon has successfully reversed it, but has only had one patient (of several thousand) that needed reversal.

my nutritionist recommended no alcohol for a year (not going to happen) The reason she said this is that the 1st year you lose the most weight after sleeve. I don't plan on drinking much but will be going to Disney food and wine festival in October and I may have a sip or 2 of wine. Not much I want to lose this weight and keep it off. I reached my 1st 20 pound weight loss on thursday which was 2 weeks post op. Of course I lost 9 of those the week before surgery. But I am so excited Im going shopping today my scrub pants are tooooooooo big.

I was sleeved in June and waited until Christmas the same year. I had brandy in a vanilla Protein shake. It was like a Brandy Alexander---bariatric style! Now, when I want a social drink, I am back to my beloved dirty martinis with three olives. Olives have some nutritional value, right??? That's my theory and I'm sticking to it. If you really want the RIGHT answer for YOU----ask your surgeon. Sit down with him/her and have a serious conversation about when/if it will be OK for YOU to have alcohol. Remember, some of the answers you might get on an internet site are just "smoke and mirrors"----not real.--just posted for "shock value". Be forewarned, Friend. Want the right answer to any serious question? ASK YOUR TEAM.

The same thing happened to me (banded 4/1/09). My surgeon told me that it was an allergic reaction to the glue that they put under the steri strips. He said I also had an alergic reaction to the glue (alcohol based) on the topical dressings that they put on. Once those dressings came off the itching started to subside and it's gone now. Check with your surgeon but that's my guess.

I was banded Sept 2006, my tubing broke mid tube near my xyphoid process and had to be repaired nov 2009. Today i found out my repair is leaking, no restriction. I am BMI of 24-25. I am not trusting my self to live 30+ years without help. I am converting my band to sleeve sept 6 2012, almost 6 yrs to the date. I am paying out of pocket for the sleeve like I did for the band and the repair. The removal or repair would be 5-7K, for an additional 6k I will convert and never deal with this again- - i hope. My port has been uncomfortable from day one, i have done better than alot of band pts and Im NOT going back to fat ! I have changed my lifestyle, my spouse hasnt, I fight the fight every day! Unfortunately eating is a basic requirement for life, unlike smoking or alcohol- - you cant live without food. I will follow those who have converted and hope I have a positive outcome- - Im aware of the risks- - - none are small including the band.