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Years ago I gave up pizza because I continue to fight the wheat and on some things I am very good but I still struggle. If I could only have one food the rest of my life it would be pizza. But that isn't going to happen. I have reigned myself that maybe once every 3 month's or so I have 1 slice. But I have so much guilt eating what I know is not good that now I don't want it. I instead look for the healthy option.maybe a quesidilla with a little pepperoni and mozzarella cheese. I need to eat without guilt because the guilt after the instant gratification kills me. That was my change. I read so much about real food vs process food that now things I used to love I find disgusting. I still struggle with sugar and I am working on that like an alcoholic...one day at a time. Sugar is my cocaine. Addictions are hard but focusing on what that addiction really is like gross food really helps. I used to really admire Oprah but now I see her as a sell out. You can't eat chips or bread and expect that to be good food. I am hoping my surgery will be my turning point because as soon as I lose the first 20lbs...I will feel powerful against bad food. Sorry for the long post. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using BariatricPal mobile app

yes we can take most over the counter meds as long as we watch for aspirin content. however watch the items like nyquill as many contain alcohol and with our tiny tummys we can get drunk very quickly watch driving until you see how it effects you. I stay home and sleep which is what my body needs to heal anyway. hope you feel better soon

I know a few people who have had the RNY and only one has complications and the others don't. The difference I have noticed between them is the one who has complications doesn't follow dr orders. No vitamin, drinking alcohol etc.. if I were you I would go get a second opinion. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Going through this right now unfortunately. Was approved to take Liquid Mucinex and Tylenol Cold. Took the Mucinex and believe the alcohol content was to much. Didn't feel drunk but my stomach felt "funny" so haven't taken it since but may try one more time to get the mucus up and out. The Tylenol seems to be ok. It does suck not being able to just take meds to quickly heal. Oh and surprisingly I was ok with Airborne too but my NUT says everyone isn't so lucky (FYI). Hope you two above feel better!!! Me too:) Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hi All! I had my gastric sleeve surgery on May 29, 2015 and did pretty well for the first three months. I lost 40 lbs in that three months but I got lazy with my working out and I started consuming alcohol again and of course I wasn't sticking to the low carb, high protein diet. Needless to say, I stopped loosing and over time gained back some of those 40 lbs. Now I am in desperate need to loose the weight once and for all, but I am lacking motivation. I have heard about people having "Ah-ha" moments that lead him/her to finally committing and losing the weight. I haven't had mine and I wonder if I ever will. To tell you how unmotivated I actually am, I joined Weight Watchers online in June and haven't lost a single pound. What is wrong with me?! I can tell you one major problem... I consume beer way too much and too often. My food habits aren't great but they aren't horrible either. I joined WW because I absolutely cannot handle a low carb, high protein diet long. I get so grossed out by the meat and eggs and end up starving myself, so I went with something where I can consume carbs, fruit and pretty much anything in moderation. Well... if only I had the motivation to follow it. Are there any of you out there that are in my boat that we can maybe be buddies and do this together?

For SOME it's painful, not everyone. I've had an alcohol drink where there was Sprite in it (unknowingly to me until I was halfway through it), and beer/champagne, which are both carbonated. As well as a flavored, sparkling Water. I was very timid to try them, though. I only did that 3 weeks ago and I'm 8 months post-op. I had zero pain. I took it slow to test it first, because I didn't want to chug them and regret it later. The biggest thing is that sodas (even diet) have high sugar, empty carbs, and high fructose corn syrup (typically). They can be a self-sabotage during the weightloss period. I know some who are at maintenance that allow themselves one every so often, but even then it's few and far between. Just be careful! And if you drink anything with carbonation, take it slow and test it out first.

Darima, I'm glad you are going to look into some therapy sessions. That's really great, I think she would be quite proud of you. I can't imagine your loss. I just know that it's important to talk to someone. Alcohol might help with your immediate feelings but what it also does is hurts your body and is just pushing away the pain, putting it on layaway. Please know you can just message me and I'll be here to talk. I check this site a few times every day. I'm giving you a big hug filled with compassion and love.

Fat-Shaming sucks. Addiction-Shaming sucks. Bald-Shaming sucks. Shaming-Shaming sucks. There’s no way around that. It’s just plain true. There is too much shaming going on all around us. My question is: As good as it is to call the world out on their shaming behaviors, would we maybe be better off working on ourselves and, if we are health care professionals, working with our patients, to focus on the ways they shame themselves? AND OTHERS? At least simultaneously to trying to put an end to “Other-Shaming.” The purpose of this post is twofold: · To have each reader assess themselves in regard to their own shaming-ness, and · To suggest we help individuals stop shaming themselves while we simultaneously encourage the masses to stop. There are Tweets and Posts galore inviting us, inciting us, and urging us to help stop the Fat-Shaming done by society! I agree these are worthwhile efforts and must be done. What I don’t see very often on Social Media are statements encouraging people to get help to stop shaming, bullying, and beating up on themselves. We want an end to shaming, an end to bullying and an end to domestic violence. Check it out! All of that occurs within many an individual’s head! Here are some recent posts from social media, along with my posted responses: “Stand up to #weightbias! Sign the #petition to end fat-shaming and weight bias today.” My response: “Yes, please! Also work to stop #SelfShaming and #SelfBias. Sign up for therapy in your community!” “Why We Need to Ban the F Word: Fat-Shaming” My response: “If you believe people deserve to be treated well (and I do), please start by treating yourself well in your thoughts, words and actions.” “Once a person has obesity, it’s too late." One more way to #dismiss people with #obesity.” My response: “I hate that people dismiss those with obesity. I hate even more how those with obesity often dismiss themselves in so many ways.” “I believe that the morbidly #obese population is stigmatized, abused, neglected and mistreated by most facets of society.” My response: “I hate it, but those suffering from morbid #obesity also abuse, neglect, and mistreat themselves through negative self-talk, self abuse.” “Don't blame the person, rather treat the disease.” My response: “Don't blame patient for factors related to obesity they can't influence. Hold them accountable for those they can.” Please be clear about the message I am sending. I do hate the very real fact that society shames people who suffer from obesity. I hate that many people, including doctors and other health care providers, solely blame individuals for being obese. It’s horrible that a person is dismissed because they carry extra weight. No doubt. I know from both my personal and professional work, as well as from life experience, that I can influence my own behavior a lot more quickly than I can influence the masses. Typically, a person has an emotional connection to an issue if they are working to right some wrong related to that issue. Not all, but many people fighting to end societal Fat-Shaming, have “some skin in the game,” as they say. I am one of those people. Much of my work is done in a bariatric center where we aim to help those suffering from obesity, both physically and emotionally. Many health care providers, people who are personally struggling with their weight, along with family members and friends, all work together to try to end fat-shaming. Keep on keeping on with those efforts because they are worthwhile! In the meantime, are you, regardless of your size, weight, color, or religion, looking within yourself in an attempt to “clean your own side of the street?” Do you have biases about other groups of people being stigmatized? And more importantly, are you aware of, and working on, the ways you stigmatize, dismiss and shame yourself? Calling a person who suffers from obesity an ugly name, overlooking them for a job, dismissing their opinion or making a critical comment to or about them is wrong. It is equally despicable that people say things like, “I wouldn’t date a bald man,” or “He wouldn’t be right for the job. He’s bald.” My husband is bald and he struggles emotionally because of it. Have you (to include anyone suffering from obesity, alcoholism, drug addiction or any other ridiculed member of society) made ugly comments about bald people? It is disturbing that subjectively unattractive people are considered less intelligent, are helped less frequently by the public if they have a flat tire, and are hired secondarily to “beautiful” people. Have you (to include anyone suffering from obesity, alcoholism, drug addiction or any other ridiculed member of society) made ugly comments about unattractive people? How dismissive it must be to be a person who is part of an ethnic minority to have people call you a hateful name, to overlook you for a job you are very qualified for, or assume negative things about you. Have you (to include anyone suffering from obesity, alcoholism, drug addiction or any other ridiculed member of society) made disparaging comments to or about minorities? Religions are always good fodder for shaming, dismissing and bashing. Have you partaken? “You don’t look like one of them,” said my doctor to me when I shared that I am a recovering alcoholic and addict. One of them. A patient in a therapy group of people suffering from obesity said, “I cannot, for the life of me, understand why an alcoholic doesn’t just stay away from the bar.” To which I responded, “What is it like for you when someone asks why you can’t just push away from the table?” Wrong is wrong and it is wrong when any of us engage in dismissive or shaming conversation or behavior. Check yourself. Youre human and that means you have your own prejudices. You’ve likely engaged in your own dismissive comments about groups other than the one(s) you’re most closely aligned with. Relax, I’m not shaming you! I’m asking you to look at your own side of the street. Does it need sweeping? We all need to keep a broom nearby because we are all guilty of judging others at times. In my work, it is a priority to help people stop shaming themselves. Negative self-talk is a powerful way in which we shame ourselves. Yes, you do it, too! “I’m such an idiot!” “How could I have done such a stupid thing?” “What is wrong with me?” “I don’t know why I even bother. I never follow through anyway.” The list of examples illustrating negative self-talk, or stinkin’ thinkin’ is endless. Every single negative statement you make about yourself is dismissing the value of the person you are. Ironically, the shaming statements people make about themselves are representative of their own internal shame. The negative self-talk says, “There’s something wrong with me.” “I don’t feel ok about myself.” Isn’t it odd that we run around making a fuss about stopping the masses from shaming people when we spend some much time shaming ourselves? I’m thinking we would all be better off if we “swept our own side of the street” first. When we treat ourselves more tolerantly and we are accepting of others who we tend to dismiss, then it’ll make more sense to focus on what the masses are doing wrong.

I had surgery on May 29, 2016. I has my first sip of alcohol on November 20, 2016. I only had a very small amount of wine (1/8 of a glass at a restaurant) and I was pretty tipsy. Everyone has different tolerances. Before I had surgery I was able to drink a lot (like one time I had 3 large rum and cokes, 4 shots of fireball, and 4 large Malibu bay breezes) without feeling much. I suggest trying alcohol at home first for sure!

I thank you all for your kind words. I haven't sought any therapy right now. My world has changed so much since she's been gone. I love that girl so much. She struggled all her life with obesity issues. The one time that she does something to change her life, she passes away. She was so beautiful inside and out. She was the life of the party. Alcohol I know isn't good but it helps (i think) when I'm really hurting. I will look up some grief therapy sessions and try to attend. This has really been hard for me. I wish that she was here sharing her weight loss success with me. Sent from my VS990 using the BariatricPal App

Hi I was sleeved on oct 17 my bachorelette party is in march I haven't had any alcohol yet any suggestions my surgeon said I could drink Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Thanks for the advice... I'm finding it hard to get in enough liquids... Everything has a terrible taste to me, pre surgery I loved the taste of Water and diet Snapple, and crystal light! Now they all taste like quinine or rubbing alcohol! The Dr. office says that's because I'm dehydrated!! Well how do I get hydrated??? ?

Great post. I agree with you. Addiction is addiction, whether you are talking about food, drugs, alcohol, or anything else. The difference with food addiction is that you can't completely stop eating like the plan of action for those with various other addictions; therefore, sticking to our plan and always being conscious of what we are putting into our bodies is even more important. I accepted a long time ago that this was a journey FOR LIFE. It isn't a diet; I can never eat like I did before (unless I want to weigh 400 pounds again), and I will always have to be aware of my consumption for the rest of my life.

Oh my, I just want to hug you. I'm so sorry! I can't imagine your loss and pain. I don't know if I have any suggestions for you except this: Please try to love yourself as much as your sister loved you, please don't turn to alcohol to soften the pain. It's so dangerous for us now. Are you in any form of therapy? I feel like this is a really big thing and maybe too big for me to come up with any helpful words or ideas. Dealing with loss and grief like this, even for people who aren't dealing with what we are, is already so hard. Of course you are struggling and feeling like you are going to drown in the pain. Of course you are turning to other things because our old standby of food for Comfort is gone. I have so much compassion for you, I wish I could help you. Do you have someone to talk to, you said your sister was your best friend, do you have another person in your life you can talk to? I want you to know you can message me, if you need an encouraging word or just want to chat.

During my appointment, he asked what my energy level was like, any medical issues I already had, what is my level of family support, how do I anticipate my life changing as a result of the surgery, what were my reasons for wanting the surgery, if I am addicted to any drugs or alcohol, any history or depression or suicidal thoughts, etc... basically evaluation if I am making this decision on my own or am I being forced/pressured into it - & wanted to see if I was capable of making decisions on my own. He took separate notes on my physical appearance, my attitude that day & towards the surgery, my orientation, if I could process thoughts clearly - basically a behavioral & mental evaluation I was a little nervous bc I'd never seen a therapist before, so I didn't know what to expect - but I walked out of there 10 minutes later wondering what I was worried about! If you've decided that you're ready for the surgery & have the right mindset about it & are realistic about what your new life is going to be like, you'll pass that evaluation with flying colors!

So very sorry for your loss. I know it will be hard but you need to give up the alcohol. It's empty calories that aren't doing your body or your mind any good. Please find a grief counselor so you can work through your feelings without sabotaging your weight loss.

Hello fellow sleevers! I'm 11 months post op. I've lost 105 lbs. I'm at a stall. I recently lost my best friend and sister. We were really close. It hurts really bad. I drink alcohol a lot to help mask my pain. I eat small portions but not healthy all the time. I havent lost any weight on about 2 months. I want to continue to loose but my grief over my sister weighs heavily on me. It hurts so bad and I don't want to gain weight. My sister was 3 weeks post op before she passed away. She had lost about 60 pounds. She was on her road to a better life and she died. I'm hurting so bad and I need help in order for me to continue on losing weight. I would like to at least honor her. Please help!!! Sent from my VS990 using the BariatricPal App

Our minds sure do play tricks! It is very frustrating to not be able to quiet my mind with either food or alcohol right now. I know that I need this change, though, so I guess I need to just take things one day at a time. I managed to distract myself from food several times today, I met my liquid/protein goals, and I also managed to stay under 600 calories, so I just need to keep working at this. Sent from my Nexus 5X using the BariatricPal App

I brought my phone, charger, tablet (with Kindle app) and chapstick (non-alcoholic, I took my daughter's Finding Dory chapstick!) Also my CPAP machine as recommended. Didn't really use anything. Never took out the tablet. Barely looked at my phone. Didn't hook up the CPAP (they woke me every two hours to walk so I figured it would be useless). Used the chapstick maybe once or twice. Really all I wanted to do was sleep sleep sleep and nothing else. Good luck!

I spent the six months before my surgery changing my relationship with food. I trained myself to look at food as fuel. I also worked really hard to create a lifestyle where food wasn't central to everything. I no longer Celebrate with food, comfort with food, or do anything else with food outside of getting the necessary fuel I need for the day. Cutting out carbs (20 per day) was central to that for me. I also cut out alcohol for 9 months, and even now (at 4+ months post-op), I only have some occasionally and in very small amounts. You are right. The mental game is the biggest part of this journey. I know that I have issues with food, and I also know that I will have to battle it every day for the rest of my life. Some people won't agree with the stance I have taken, and that's okay. I know that if I don't take this hard line, I'll be 400 pounds again before I know it, sleeve or not. Good luck!

Stay away from the rice! I would go for the shrimp personally. Shrimp are not too calorie dense and when chewed well reduce to mostly Water. So you can feel like you are eating more normally with everyone else. Whatever you do, don't drink alcohol. 6 weeks is still pretty close to surgery and you don't want to risk a bleed.

I made a gin and tonic for a guest at my house this afternoon and, not gonna lie, it was really hard to not make one for myself. I haven't had a drink since Sunday morning, January 22. It was the last day of my cruise and the deadline I set for myself to get serious about my pre-op diet. I also had done a few 2-6 day periods of sobriety/liquid diet in December/January to start practicing for the post-op period. All that to say I'm a pretty serious drinker, and this is hard for me, but I'm going to try to wait at least 12 weeks before I have a drink. I did it when I was pregnant with my daughter, I can do it again now. However, whenever you do decide to have your first post-op drink, do NOT start with a margarita. I imagine you will make yourself quite sick from all that sugar at once. Remember, we're not super prone to dumping syndrome like RNYers, but it can happen to us, too. I was doing low-carb around the holidays as part of my pre-op preparation and I had several vodka & Protein waters, which was totally drinkable. I'd start with that, since then you are just introducing one new thing, a neutral alcohol. Good luck with your choice! Sent from my Nexus 5X using the BariatricPal App

Addictions come in all sorts of forms. The most common forms of addiction people think of are drugs and alcohol. And those are both, obviously, bad. There's other addictions too though. There's addictions to soda pop, bread, pasta, cookies, cakes and other pastries, food in general. I think most people that have gotten to "OMG I have to do something about my weight or I'm going to die" have some form of food addiction. I've been realizing, albeit way too slowly, that I am addicted to sugar. I may even be addicted to food in general. I was at the grocery store with my mom today and at the checkout are the candies. Reese's, Twix, Butterfingers, York Peppermint Patty, M&Ms...the list goes on and on. I nearly cried because I wanted some (and I really didn't care which one either) chocolate yumminess (that usually isn't all that yummy after I eat it) so badly. I am so glad I am going to be going to a therapist starting on Thursday. I HAVE GOT to get this crap under control before my surgery. I should already be at least 20 pounds down by now and I think I'm the same weight I was last month. I'm awful about not logging any meal that isn't good for me. I'll log all the ones that are right on track though. I don't even understand why I want the stuff. It doesn't taste good most of the time and then I feel all kinds of guilty after I eat it. Other times I'm just so depressed that I couldn't give a rats patootie what I eat, so I don't eat what I'm supposed to. Like tonight mom bought pizza for dinner. I could have run over here to my house and gotten the leftover chicken and broccoli from the other night. No carbs hardly at all. I could have been a good girl, but no. I just didn't care. I was tired, hungry, and depressed and so I ended up eating two pieces of pizza, a cheesy bread stick with marinara sauce, and a chocolate chip cookie since I figured I'd already blown the whole meal anyway. Now I'm just tired and even more depressed. How do you fight an addiction to food? I'm scared that I'm going to go from one extreme to the other. Going from a see food diet to a no food diet. I guess that's something for the therapist to deal with, huh? I hate this. I'm going to bed. Night night.

Addictions come in all sorts of forms. The most common forms of addiction people think of are drugs and alcohol. And those are both, obviously, bad. There's other addictions too though. There's addictions to soda pop, bread, pasta, cookies, cakes and other pastries, food in general. I think most people that have gotten to "OMG I have to do something about my weight or I'm going to die" have some form of food addiction. I've been realizing, albeit way too slowly, that I am addicted to sugar. I may even be addicted to food in general. I was at the grocery store with my mom today and at the checkout are the candies. Reese's, Twix, Butterfingers, York Peppermint Patty, M&Ms...the list goes on and on. I nearly cried because I wanted some (and I really didn't care which one either) chocolate yumminess (that usually isn't all that yummy after I eat it) so badly. I am so glad I am going to be going to a therapist starting on Thursday. I HAVE GOT to get this crap under control before my surgery. I should already be at least 20 pounds down by now and I think I'm the same weight I was last month. I'm awful about not logging any meal that isn't good for me. I'll log all the ones that are right on track though. I don't even understand why I want the stuff. It doesn't taste good most of the time and then I feel all kinds of guilty after I eat it. Other times I'm just so depressed that I couldn't give a rats patootie what I eat, so I don't eat what I'm supposed to. Like tonight mom bought pizza for dinner. I could have run over here to my house and gotten the leftover chicken and broccoli from the other night. No carbs hardly at all. I could have been a good girl, but no. I just didn't care. I was tired, hungry, and depressed and so I ended up eating two pieces of pizza, a cheesy bread stick with marinara sauce, and a chocolate chip cookie since I figured I'd already blown the whole meal anyway. Now I'm just tired and even more depressed. How do you fight an addiction to food? I'm scared that I'm going to go from one extreme to the other. Going from a see food diet to a no food diet. I guess that's something for the therapist to deal with, huh? I hate this. I'm going to bed. Night night.