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i stopped drinking in the first day of my 2 week pre-op diet. And no, i didn't have to take a blood-alcohol test at any time. Had my first drink (2-3 sips of red wine) at around 3 weeks post op. Had my 2nd (partial) drink around 2-3 months post which gave me one of the worst dumping experiences i have had to date (it was a sugary soju-sake cocktail). I had maybe 4-5 (partial) drinks during weight loss phase: vodka sodas or very dry red wine. Now im just a normal regular drinker for the most part (but i still try to stay away from overly sugary drinks). Im 4 years post op.

I loved the Thai flavors of Kettle & Fire, though they are costly. Not as costly as a dinner out though! LOL I also love the fuzzy navel version of Syntrax Nectars. You can get samples of them pretty easily. I like these more than pre-made waters because there are no sugar alcohols in them. MyProtein makes clear whey isolate powders in Mike and Ike flavors, I like the watermelon the best, the cherry was weird. I had to drink the Premier Protein ready made shakes for my pre-op diet according to my doctor so I tried all sorts of those, I like Pumpkin Spice, Cinnamon Roll, Vanilla, and Cafe Latte the most. But they are not my favorite protein. My favorite one is R Kane Nutritionals Pro-Cal powders. They taste like melted milkshakes when you make them with milk. I have no clue what sorcery they used to manage that, but they do. BariatricPal also makes these little protein shots in fruit flavors that are sweet sour and pretty tasty when you need something fast. The tartness makes them easier for me to drink. I will caution one thing, don't buy a ton of things, get samples when you can. Because post surgery your tastes may change dramatically. Mine did, I can't taste sweet spices anymore and I can taste the whey in ANYTHING. I ordered a ton from Unjury and I can't stand any of it... I'm so annoyed. But my biggest issue is that whey sits heavy in my stomach and I couldn't get any protein drinks down for at least two weeks. I'm just starting to ease them back into rotation, but it is still hard to get a whole one down. So have a variety of samples for post op, but be careful what you buy full sized unless you have someone else that will consume what you don't.

Hi, @FifiLux! Thanks for sharing with us! I was going to say something about July 4th being an easy date to remember, but then I saw your location is Europe, so you don't have the Independence Day association we Americans do. 🙂 Kudos on taking the initiative to give up alcohol before surgery! I know that can be such a big change because it's not just to your diet but to how you spend your down time or hang out with friends. But you got this! You'll be thankful you made that change now when there are so many other changes to make after surgery. Knee surgery is a huge why to keep at the forefront on this journey. Losing weight can unlock so many other health improvements. I'm surprised you have no pre-op guidelines from your provider. As some others have mentioned here, a big reason for a liquid diet is to shrink your liver to make it easier for the surgeon to access your stomach. I just heard a story from one of the co-hosts of the Our Sleeved Life podcast who said her surgeon took her liver out temporarily and that caused her more pain during recovery than her friend whose surgeon worked around her liver. So you might want to ask your surgeon if s/he will take your liver out and if it's possible to prevent that

Just my 2 cents- a lot of people that are obese it's because of addiction. (I understand that some obese people have medical conditions that can make you overweight) I have an addiction to food and I am an emotional eater. Having any weight loss surgery can help control the eating and the amounts, but the struggle in your head is a different story. I think that some people have this struggle more than others. Anytime there is a big stress in my life - I have to worry about my food intake. People can fail from wls because of addiction - it's just like someone who struggles with alcohol or pills. •• I'm not saying that it's not possible to overcome it, I'm just saying that the "head hunger" and the actual emotional eating can affect others differently.

I am 40, and I was sleeved June 3, 2015. I'm only 5'3" and started out at 366 pounds. After a few stalls, today I reached 60 pounds off total. I feel so much better. My insomnia and migraines I have had most my life are gone. I wanted to be healthier for my kids and myself. I have found the strength to leave my cheating alcoholic husband, and I'm ready to live my next 40 years to the fullest!

Thanks Mac. That helps. I am one that can definitely go without alcohol. However, like you, I think it is a guilty pleasure. I'm hopeful I can occasionally still enjoy the red wine. Sounds like red wine isn't agreeing with you though. I'm going to be as compliant as possible because I want to be successful. Maybe I'll just hide the corkscrew!!!!!!!! Lol!!!

I still haven't seen any evidence or proof that I have stalked or harassed anyone. I have said Put up, or Shut Up and all you and the other two can come up with is Explain Yourself! So I ask again. Explain myself for WHAT? For posting on the board? My challenge STILL stands. Find and quote any post or PM that I have written in which I have attacked people with such hatred and cruelty as you have. Find it. Quote it. Post it. THEN ask me to explain why I said what I said. Just because Lisa, Dody, and 3Loves SAY its so, that doesn't make it so. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- And here's a reminder for you Dody... Formal & FINAL WARNING! After recent events exhibited by some LBT members the Moderators (with Alex, owner) permission have decided to post this Formal and FINAL WARNING that personal attacks, inappropriate behavior, name calling, excessive cursing, disregard for the Rules & Guidelines, and like postings whether in a Private Message or in a Thread WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. With the next incident the member WILL BE BANNED without warning or notification. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Is it really necessary to start trying to degrade my marriage simply because you can't come up with one legitimate thing against me? Have you grown weary of calling me a degenerate, an alcoholic, and a drug addict? Now you must stoop so low as to make these kinds of hateful statements? Go on Dody. Show us all why you hate me so much. Pull up things your genius daughter copied and pasted with such brilliance and SHOW US what I ever did to you to make you respond with such venom and cruelty. We are ALL waiting. PUT UP OR SHUT UP

I think (?) it's true that I haven't mourned the loss of food. Perhaps it's because because I was sleeved later in life (at 68) I'd eaten about everything there is to eat--some great food. I also understood that being sleeved didn't mean I could never eat good food again. Four months post-op, I am certainly less focused on food than I was pre-op. I'm sure that's due to having so much less ghrelin in my body than pre-op. However, I'm still interested in food to supply nutrients for my body, to supply energy, and (to a lesser extent, for now) food's taste and aesthetics. It's pretty easy to avoid or reject food most of the time that doesn't have high nutritional value (sweets, alcohol, high-carbs). I'm sure this will all continue to evolve and change. But the current phase is a comfy place to hang out.

Just to throw in my two cents.........I'm 4 months post op and recently did a test on myself, I was stalling for two weeks and was starting to get frustrated. I went out with the girlfriends one night, had a couple vodka diets and low and behold, I dropped 3lbs. lol I was so focused on staying away from alcohol, that wasteful space in my stomach, but I just relaxed, had a couple drinks and now the scale is moving again. does it mean I'm going to have an after work margarita everyday or go kill a plate of Pasta? eff no (I wish lol)! but WLS works differently for everyone. If you're sticking to your diet and start getting frustrated like I was, just relax! indulge in something you've been keeping from yourself, and then LAUGH because you didn't die from having one relaxing meal. as I'm typing this I'm throwing granola on the food scale to have with my Breakfast, this new life is stressful sometimes, but as long as you keep the big picture in mind, you'll do great!! xoxo Katie

Hey everyone! I'm exactly two months post op and down 56lbs I haven't had any trouble with eating or drinking and have been slowly going at my own pace, but I can essentially eat anything with no side effects Anyway, considering my bounce back, I feel like I can easily manage a couple drinks and I'm absolutely dying to go out and relax. I thought it would take 6 months, but I honestly can't see how 4 months from now anything would be different. I'm healed and cleared for all foods, so if I feel ready isn't that enough of a reason to try? So, when did everyone have their first drink after their op? No negative comments please (: Sent from my LG-H850 using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi - my surgery was mid August and I have had alcohol ( mainly white wine) on a few occasions without any side effects. I was told that 1 drink post op would be equivalent to 4 pre-op but I can't say I have noticed any difference. I'm certainly not squiffy after one glass! I would say "a little of what you fancy etc, but then that's probably why I needed wls in the first place!

You just need to quit eating sweets. That includes all "fake" sugar too. It only takes a week or two and then you're home free! Sugar is like a drug, the more you consume, the more you want it. It's highly addicting. I kicked that habit quite a while ago, along with caffeine and alcohol. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Per my own surgeon's guidelines it is as long as it's cut very small, and is very moist, but review your own personal instructions from your own clinic as they can vary. I'm lucky that my mom has NAILED how to keep a bird from being super dry, but if your turkey is dry I recommend mixing gravy into it or maybe mixing into your mashed potatoes. As far as things to avoid, I'd stay away from whole cranberry sauce, anything with nuts in it, anything with undercooked fibrous vegetables (which could include things like green bean casserole or stuffing depending on the "chef"), overly dry meats, salads, raw veggies, raw fruits, and alcohol.

Just for insurance... Okay, back to the topic at hand. My next guess is alcohol poisoning. Have you been drinking?

This is what works for me and were all different so I'm by no means telling you to do this just sharing my journey. I really don't think i do anything special and there's some areas such as exercise that I still need to get into a better routine of but here is what a typical day looks like for me: 80 oz of fluid- Water, tea, crystal light 60-80g of Protein Approx. 1200 cal. per day Each meal consists of 3-4oz of lean protein, 1/2 c veggies, and 1 starch serving I ALWAYS eat my meals in the following order, protein first, then veggies, and lastly the starch (if I have room) I never drink anything while eating or for one hour after. NO CARBINATION NO ALCOHOL I NEVER DRINK MY CALORIES Below is where I may be different in some areas than others: Limitation of Carbs- Not Elimination but Limitation:-) I told myself when I had this surgery that bread was a no no (the doughy kind), so, the only bread I've had has been whole wheat toast for a sandwich. I've had Pasta twice and while I did fine with it, I chose not to eat it because it really didn't fill me up and I decided I would rather spend my calories on food that keeps me fuller longer with better nutrition (with less calories and all the other stuff). Same with rice. So basically I limit the type of carbs I allow in my diet. They either come from Veggies, or when I cook sometimes I will roll my chicken breast in bread crumbs or if I have a sweet tooth craving I buy the skinny cow chocolates or ice creams which of course are heavier on the carbs (15g or so), or I will have a 1/2 of a flour tortilla for a wrap or 2 corn taco shells, but typically I limit my actual Starch servings to once a day. I've also never been a real big fruit person, so I rarely eat it. My surgeon told me about the sugar and carbs found in fruit and while they encouraged eating them in moderation they did warn me not to overdue it so if I have a fruit with a meal or as a snack I will not have a starch etc. There are some things I knew I wanted to eliminate all together because there's no nutritional value and it's a trigger for me so I made a mental list of all of those foods and I'm not going to try it not because I think the band will have issues with it but that my head will have issues with it. For instance pizza, I haven't had a slice of pizza in over a year and I don't miss it a bit, If/when I do get an urge for it I know theres a healtier version; I have a recipie that uses cauliflouer crust when that urge arises I will op to make the healthier version. Don't get me wrong I don't deprive myself, I made this a lifestyle change so I made it to include the things I CAN AND CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT. Like if I want a cookie, once in a while I will eat a cookie, I just take it off of my calorie intake for the day, you just can't make this an every day occurance so if you know this food is a trigger for you to binge then learn to live without it or make a healthier version. If I want chips I get the individual bags of Special K Sour Cream and Onion. 1 package has 110 cal and I get by with just 1/2 now:-) so for 55 cal, 1 g sugar and 11 carbs I feel like I've had a cheat:-) There's a tradeoff for everything and for me it's all about balance. If I can find a healthy alternative for something I love and it's good then I'm all for it, if there's not then eat the real thing in moderation (as long as it's not harmful to your band), count it off your daily calories and move on:-) Some examples of food are: Breakfast Dannon light greek yogurt with 3tlb hy vee trail mix- 212 cal 16g protein 2 eggs with 1 piece of farmland low sodium bacon crumbled with some onions and mushrooms sprinkled with 2% shredded cheese and salsa. Approx 250 cal 16g protein. lunch 4oz deli turkey 100 cal 18g protein 2slices slim cut kraft cheese colby jack slices. 70 cal. 6 protein 1 tlb okios greek yogurt dip 13 cal, 1p 2 Romaine lettuce leafs 8 cal Total approx 226 cal 25 g p Detour low sugar protein caramel nut bar. 340 cal, 5 net carbs 2g sugar and 30 p (Only eat maybe once a week in a pinch) dinner Parmasean crusted tilapia (can send you recipie if interested) with green giant just for1 cauiflouer with cheese sauce. Approx 300 cal 35 p Smothered chicken with cheese oniins & mushrooms with salad with homeafe ranch dressing. Apprix 369 cal 30 p I have a couple of Snacks throyghout the day, some options: Okios yogurt dip with veggies or 1-2 oz of colby jack or pepperjack cheese with 5 townhouse reduced fat crakers 70 cal 180 cal - 280 cal 7- 14 g p ( if I eat this 2 oz I will do one if the lower cal snacks later) SF fudge ice cream bar 35 cal 60 cal sf pudding Skinny cow choc. 3pcs 130 cal Skinnk cow drumstick 160 cal I always make sure that I have quick and easy things laying in the fridge for those days when I don't feel like cooking or am in a hurry so for me that means deli turkey meat, and kraft sliced cheese (love the slim slices 35c each) so I weigh out the meat throw it in a baggie and eat it on the go. I love it;) As far as motivation goes these are the things thst keep me going: I have a strong faith in God, my family, I have a great support system, I love being able to do things I haven't done in years, LOVE walking into a store and seeing something i love and not worrying about if it comes in my size. Oh yeah and all those peple who thought i was crazy, doubted me or waited for me to fail, being able to prove them wrong:) Any time someone thinks I can't do something or discourages me you better watch out because I fight like hell to prove them wrong!!! So I guessI should thank them;) I hope this helps and if anyone has any recommendations please share I'm always open to better options. Thanks!

Hello everyone. I'm a band to sleeve revision scheduled for May 16th! Getting here has been a long and often miserable road. I am so excited to be beginning this new journey. I really messed up by not being prepared when I had my band put in and that is not going to happen again. So, I spent some time today compiling of list of things to get in the next month. It's suited to my tast so there is no pudding and only vanilla flavors (no chocolate or strawberry). Also, everything is pre-packaged (making it more expensive) because I have two kids who keep me extremely busy and a husband who works all the time. I quit drinking carbonated beverages and caffeine a couple of months ago and gave up alcohol (almost completely ) in January. I never though I would be able to do that (of course I am really fightin replacing with eating)! Anyway, just in case this may help someone here it is: For Day of Surgery Ear plugs Eye mask Chapstick Warm blanket Ear buds for TV Gas X (couple of different forms) Slippers or Socks Belly Binder Nightgown Belly bear or pillow Phone charger Milk of Magnesia For Weeks 1 and 2 May 16th – May 31st 21 Carnation Instant Breakfast Vanilla (Pre-made) 28 Fat free or low fat cream Soups (strained before eating)(see list at end) 28 No sugar added Greek Yogurts 3 Cartons chicken broth 3 Cartons beef broth 1 Carton skim milk 14 Jello snack cups 6 Cans crushed pineapples in Water or light syrup (for smoothies) 7 Bananas (for smoothies) 1 Carton OJ (for smoothies) 6 Mangos for smoothies For Weeks 3 and 4 June 1st – June 14th 1 Large box of quick Quaker Oats 14 Fat free cream soups (see list at end) 21 No sugar added Greek Yogurts 14 HMR or Healthy Choice etc. frozen dinners (to put in blender) 1 Spinach (to put in blender w/ frozen meals) 1 Broccoli to put in blender (to put in blender w/ frozen meals) 1 Box of instant mashed potatoes 14 Prepackaged snack cups of unsweetened apple sauce 4 Cans of chicken for chicken salad 1 Jar of Hellman’s low fat mayo Vitamins and supplements Mulit-Vitamin – Bariatric Advantage Convenient Daily Packs (30 day supply) Biotin – Nature’s Bounty 5,000 iu Protein – unjury unflavored, Unjury strawberry sorbet, and Unjury chicken Soup Vitamin D – highest dosage (I'm African -American (so my Vit D is always low) but with enough other stuff mixed in that my mom has osteporosis. Go Figure!) I also already have every heartburn medicine (both OTC and prescription) at home but if you do not probably good to have it on hand. Tylenol - liquid or chewables if I can find them. I get migraines so I am sure one will hit me. Cream soups may include from Campbell’s Brand – FF Cream of Celery, FF Cream of Chicken, FF Cream of Mushroom, FF Broccoli cheese, Healthy Request Cheddar Cheese Soup, Cream of Potato Soup (sparingly)

My opinion is that lapband is the very best choice for most people. It is far safer and is removeable and adjustable. And Yes you can eat spicy foods, or at least I can, and you can drink alcohol, although it is very high in calories. If you are a bulk eater then imo the band is the way to go. Re routing of innards scares the bejeebees out of me.

Hey all, How are you all?? I have missed you! I have been away, but not really away just being unhealthy and not wanting to get online and admit it. I now realize that it was a mistake not to get on here and at least read the posts. On the positive front, I went to the gym today and walked an hour. That was 3 miles, not great speed, but not a snails pace either. I go for my 4th fill on Aug 9 and I hope that it will be the one that gives me some restriction. Can you believe there are 3cc's in my band that holds 4cc's and I have no restriction. Hello!!!! I can eat at least 3 to 4 cups of food at a sitting. That can't be right! I know I am not supposed to. I know what you guys are thinking too. Why would she do that?? (sobbing) I don't know, because I'm hungry. Today though, I vow that today is the start (again) of a better lifestyle healthier choices! starting my journal again! exercising like I should 5 days a week! Hey, I know it's nuts. If crazy is the worst thing I am ever called then I live a charmed life. Why is it, that we as overweight adults have to keep falling on and off the wagon. It is sortof like alcoholics. Only its food and you do need food to survive unlike booze. I hope when I go for my 4th fill I am in the twos. That would just be the greatest thing ever!!! And then, I will strive for the 280's and then the 270's and so on. Until maybe one day I am looking forward to the onederland. That is such a long way away. But a girl can dream can't she. Thanks for listening to the rantings of a fellow bandster.

Same thing with alcohol or nicotine while still in the healing phase. Addiction/dependency got the better of people. Luckily most of the time no serious consequences.

O.T.R. hey guy "confession" - good for the soul??? I think so i know you knew you had to stop the overeating and all - but if it was so easy to do that , none of us would be here i think a slip like you had is inevidable for all/most of us sleevers we're like those "recovered" alcoholics - that always must say "i am an alcoholic", regardless if their better - they will always for considered an alcoholic well..........I'm a food addict - don't know if i feel better admitting that - but what i said it the truth if you/us don't admit we have a problem - how can we "fix" it????? i know/think it helps to speak about what you/me/us "did" you feel more accountable - you might not feel better immediately about admitting your goof , but it does help me for me its like getting a weight off my shoulder fessing up - even if its only "me" giving myself a good talking to when i "put it out there" its like i am making it official to myself/or you guys i now have told the world - so i go ahead and get back on that wagon if i don't get back to my new normal ways, i'm always afraid that one of you guys will kick me in the a sssss if i fall again I won't mention any names - this is just between laura-ven and myself!!!!oooops course a good kick in the butttt is never a bad thing you just gotta look harder now to find my buttttt don't be too hard on yourself - you don't deserve to beat yourself up anymore we'll talk next month at the "whats best" meeting!!!! i'm bringing an extra lrge Water bottle with your name on it!!! take care you are back on the road of success with your best friend and mine - The Amazing Sleeve

Alrighty. So am back from vacay. This was my first real "indulgent" vacation since going into maintenance. I've been on a couple road trips since deciding to stop weight loss, but those were weekend trips and not all-inclusive ones, nor was I surrounded with endless food and drink. So how did it go? Well, the lead up to the trip had a little fear-of-the-unknown going on. I worried that I would have nothing healthy-ish to eat and I'd strave, or, that I would eat everything I see like I did pre-wls. Turns out there was nothing to worry about. Was there a lack of healthy-ish choices? No. There were always choices everywhere I went that fit into my normal eating (salad, grilled chicken or some protein), whether it was on the resort or off it. So I didn't have to pack all those packages of beef jerky, chicharron and protein powder, lol. The kids ended up eating my jerky and chicharron and I gave the protein powders to a bartender. Did I eat everything I saw? Yes and No. I did sample many things that I normally would not eat (I'm talking to you sugary desserts, fruits and some bread-like products), but only bites, not full portions. My restriction took care of that. Also thanks to my restriction, I learned after the first day that I need to pick and choose what I want to sample, because I literally have no room to try everything (I had to hurl twice the first day due to eating too fast and too much). So I only tried the stuff I really wanted to, and if after sampling it, it was only OK tasting, I'd put it aside. Only really yummy stuff got a second or third bite. It's sobering to realize that a lot of stuff really only looks good, and just tastes meh. However. I drank alot of alcohol. I did limit myself to maybe 5-6 mixed drinks of the super sugary kind (I'm talking to you pina coladas and margaritas) for the entire trip, but I was basically a bottomless pit for skinny mojitos and tequila shots. Also, I formed an addiction to these mini chocolate chip cookies that they served in the coffee bar. They were like a version of a not-so-sweet, not-so-buttery shortbread-type cookie with chocolate chips in them. They were about the size of poker chip and I swear I must have eaten at lest 10 of them a day. Along with 4-5 Americanos a day.... I did log everything I ate (to be best of my ability...I had to eyeball everything), and according to the stats, I averaged about 3000 calories a day over the last 8 days. And roughly half those average daily calories came from my cookie and alcohol consumption, yikes. In all, despite the record-breaking calorie intake, I managed to weigh in exactly a mere 1 lb more than before I left. Which means I've at least found my upper calorie level, of sorts* *Though I did run way more than usual though, as well as generally burn more cals what with all the walking/water sports/dancing/heat-enduring, so need to take that into account... So what was the lesson learned? Well, that I'm not going to suddenly explode with massive weight gain if I indulge. But I WILL slowly gain weight back if the indulgence continues beyond a short period of time. 1lb a week over a year is 52 lbs. And that is not acceptable to me. So back to figuring out my sweet spot...

never smoked, and gave up alcohol prior to surgery.

I think the whole point of going through this, for me personally, is to cut out those things mentioned like alcohol, and fatty foods forever to be healthy....finally. ;0) I'm saying "never" to a lot of things.

Breyers SF ice cream made me poop myself, no lie. My nutritionists says it was likely due to sugar alcohols in it. So never again.

I'm 4.5 months out and am going to have my first drink tonight while watching the Eurovision Song Contest (most Americans don't have a clue what that is, but it's a big deal for us back home, LOL). I'm going to be in Ireland in 8 weeks (I go home for the summer every year) and my brother and I like to go out for a drink, so I'm looking to see what my reaction is to alcohol now and what my tolerance is. I have a friend who had the sleeve 2 years ago. She gets buzzed very quickly, and then sobers up equally quickly (like in 15 mins). It's pretty funny to watch. I'll report back tomorrow, LOL.