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Ditto all of this! It is certainly part of the journey to be unsure at some point as to which surgery is right for you. And, I ultimately came to the same conclusion as the above poster. One thing that made a difference in my decision, too, was that I learned that dumping (sugar aversion) only stays with you for the first year or two w/bypass. So, eventually, even w/bypass, you will have to deal w/your sugar issues. The reason why some bypass patients gain back is because they are counting on the bypass to prevent them from eating sugar. And, it really does for awhile, and very well. But, eventually, you will have that looming that you will need to control it on your own after you no longer have the dumping. Also, w/the bypass, my surgeon says you should really NEVER drink ANY alcohol again. I know there are many bypass patients who still drink, but they are taking some significant chances w/their liver. The stomach is the first line of defense against toxins in the body. And, the body does recognize alcohol as a toxin and the stomach does significant work to metabolize that before it actually ever goes to your liver. When you drink alcohol after bypass, it is like injecting alcohol straight into your system. The stomach has no chance to detoxify it at all. For me, this is scary cause I really do like my wine. I am cutting it out for the first 6 months or longer just because it is empty calories, but when I imagine a 'normal' life after reaching goal, part of that means that I can have a glass or two of wine occasionally as long as I am exercising enough and eating healthy enough to maintain a healthy weight. But, bypass is a lot better if you have Type 2 diabetes. The bypass will cure that immediately. Personally, I think the sleeve may be the very best choice of all, but my insurance doesn't cover it right now.

Just look at the label and see if it is okay to YOU. Everyone has a different set of rules they follow. Just be careful with the sugar alcohols like mentioned!

Hi all, just checking in! 23 days out, 6lbs off. Third day of eating soft food, mostly fish so far, at about 1/4 cup per meal. Still having at least one protein shake a day too. Slightly harder to get the fluids in now because I'm so full after eating the proper food that I can't drink anything for an hour or more, so I've started pre-loading with fluids before meals. Have started getting on the cross trainer in the last 3 days - starting at 5 minutes and increasing by a minute a day. Still have some pain in my left side that with certain movements can be really sharp, and still wakens me at night sometimes. I have two holiday meals out next week, one with friends one with family, it'll be interesting to see how those go! No alcohol so far but I might try something this weekend because I really don't want my first glass of wine to result in disaster at a dinner in a restaurant. And that's my report! How are all of you getting along? Any plans for the weekend? I'm going to a nice festive concert tomorrow - really looking forward to that. Every day is feeling more normal.

@@Beni I'm not sure where they get that number from. My doc/nut also told me to get 60-80 a day. With my issues from the protein shakes and my nausea from most meat, it is difficult for me to get that much. I try to have a Greek yogurt in the morning, some nuts for a snack sometimes, cooked veggies, deviled eggs, cheese....and I think I am ok. I don't think my body is like omg give me meat! Today I was going to try a shake again, just because I had a little bit if alcohol last night and I was feeling guilty lol, but I am just not feeling it yet. Idk, I had some ham and mashed potatoes for dinner yesterday and my tummy liked that, so maybe some more tonight, we'll see

PCOS Health Review Hi, Two articles today: new research on berberine, and importance of vigorous exercise. 1) More Good News about Berberine There's a never-ending flow favorable research about berberine extract. For example, just this week a paper was released that said: "Our study found that administration of berberine alone may improve the menstrual pattern and ovulation rate" in women with PCOS who were not ovulating. They also reported: "Berberine can also decrease sex hormone binding globulin, insulin resistance, total cholesterol, triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein ["bad"] cholesterol in normal weight polycystic ovary syndrome women." That's quite a mouthful but essentially they are saying that berberine extract can help you to reduce some of the factors that are contributing to your PCOS. This was a study of 98 Chinese women with PCOS who were not ovulating and who took berberine extract for 4 months. You can see below that their ovulation rates improved over time. Berberine and ovulation Other studies have shown that berberine extract can reduce obesity, improve insulin function, protect the liver and kidneys, and help to prevent diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease and possibly Alzheimer's. It also has an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect. Berberine has also been shown to relieve non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is a problem for up to one-half of PCOS women. It appears that when you take berberine, a lot of it ends up in the liver, where it helps to clear out fat and help the liver to normalize itself. Once again, it appears that a berberine extract supplement may be helpful to you. Get automatic 10% off at checkout + free shipping for recommended berberine extract and all other supplements if your order is over $85 (expires midnight Tuesday). 2) How Vigorously Did You Exercise Today? So what's best…walking, bicycling, weight training or "high-intensity interval training"? Well, it's all good! Anything you can do to keep moving will reduce insulin resistance in your muscles, help you control weight, and cause you to feel better about yourself. However, emerging research is showing that the intensity of your exercise is a crucial factor. The University of California at San Francisco recently studied 326 women with PCOS. They compared women who exercised vigorously, exercised moderately, or were sedentary. The women who exercised had better metabolic and hormone control over their bodies. But those who exercised vigorously had the best metabolic control of all, and their weight was less that the other groups. The researchers said: "every hour of vigorous exercise reduced a patient's odds of metabolic syndrome by 22%". That's a huge drop! (Note: metabolic syndrome and polycystic ovary syndrome have many overlapping characteristics). The next time you go to exercise, put some oomph into it. If walking is all you can do, step up the pace. If you go to the gym, review what you're doing and see if there is some way you can increase the vigor of your exercise without hurting yourself. And above all, have fun! There's no doubt that exercise is an essential and central component of PCOS control. Best of health! Bill Slater, Editor PCOS Health Review co-author of "The Natural Diet Solution for PCOS and Infertility" "Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment." -- Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama PCOS Health Review is a newsletter providing natural health information for women with PCOS or ovarian cysts. PCOS Nutritional Supplements Store: www.ovarian-cysts-pcos.com/store You can get in touch with us here: newsletter@ovarian-cysts-pcos.com Sources: Li L et al. A Single Arm Pilot Study of Effects of Berberine on the Menstrual Pattern, Ovulation Rate, Hormonal and Metabolic Profiles in Anovulatory Chinese Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. PLoS One. 2015 Dec 8;10(12):e0144072. Yan HM et al. Efficacy of Berberine in Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. PLoS One. 2015 Aug 7;10(8):e0134172. Greenwood EA et al. Vigorous exercise is associated with superior metabolic profiles in polycystic ovary syndrome independent of total exercise expenditure. Fertil Steril. 2015 Nov 6. pii: S0015-0282(15)02031-2. Unsubscribe from this newsletter or update your email 110 NW 51st St. Seattle, Washington 98107 United States

Good suggestion. I remember a thread in which vets complained about newbies being "so overly sensitive". Some vets seem to be quite sensitive and easily offended, too, as I have noticed during the last weeks. Sensitive? Nope. Gun shy? Tired of getting called names or accused of being bullies? Yes. Fed up with people coddling others in ways that could be seriously detrimental to their health and their weight loss? Absolutely. Of course, I am only speaking for me. And I'll add it's not only the Vets who are sick of the people crying "bully" or only wanting to be coddled - I'm pre-op and it's pissing me off. I'm not sensitive - I'm annoyed! It's more than just a weight loss/success concern that we have when someone goes so far off plan - it's a health concern - you can cause significant and life threatening complications! Would you coddle an alcoholic who had a drink 5 days post-op a liver transplant because they were "thirsty"???!!!! I am pre-op and have already cut back on my time on this forum. If the vets don't feel comfortable speaking up - why the hell would I even bother to stick around at all.

Question!? And I am sure this is repetitive but I can’t find a specific answer! So I am 8 weeks in post operation. And my friends invited me out for drinks I explained that I can’t drink and they said for me to just try a buzzball which is 19.9 grams in carbs, 22.1 grams in alcohol, 248 in calories and also it’s gluten free! And I think I could probably only do half of that anyway. So my question is can I have a little to drink ? And how would it affect me if I do? Besides getting intoxicated faster. Thanks in advance and hope everyone has an amazing new year!!!

That is a pretty strong drink. Don’t know what your daily calorie intake is but 248 is a lot of calories to waste on a single glass of alcohol which provides no nutritional benefit which should be your focus. 248 calories would have been 3/4 of my daily intake then. The carbs would also be a significant percentage of your limit too I would guess. And alcohol dehydrates you & slows your metabolism. In saying that I had a gin & tonic at around 2 months at my cousin’s 40th. I nursed that drink for more than 4 hours. Didn’t really enjoy it either & I didn’t have another drink for months. I don’t drink much at all since my surgery. An odd glass of champagne or a G&T maybe once a month or less often. My friends don’t pressure me to drink even though they drink. I realised I don’t need to drink to socialise & enjoy being with my friends. My question is what sort of friends are they to try to force you to drink when medically you’re advised not to? Are they trying to sabotage your weight loss? Ultimately though it is your decision. If you want to have a drink maybe look for a lower calorie drink with fewer carbs & less alcohol.

HW 243 SW 228 12/3/13 CW 186 Total loss 57 pounds Lost 3 pounds last week even though I was on vacation at an all-inclusive resort! That is more than I usually lose per week at this stage. I ate what I wanted, but no rice, pasta or fried foods - I did have a tiny bit of bread 2 or 3 times. I completely skipped all the free alcohol, but I had 1-2 bites of desert with dinner. I took protein powder packets with me and the staff was willing to blend them for me with a little juice or milk. I had them add a little fruit and ice. I was also very careful to stay hydrated since it was about 85 degrees each day. One big change was the amount of exercise. My work is sedentary and it is a good day if my Fitbit records 3,500-4,000 steps. However, this resort is so large that they run a golf cart shuttle to help you get around. I walked everywhere instead, so I was over 10,000 steps every day and went as high as 13,000! I have not exercised hardly at all since my surgery and now I see why others weight loss is much faster than mine. I know what I need to do...

Actually, the rudeness comment was directed toward my comment and I'm ok with that. I'm just amazed when people are a couple weeks out from surgery, and they are asking when they can have chips, ice cream, alcohol, etc. To each his/her own.

I didn't wait a year before drinking alcohol as advised. I think I only hung in there around 3 months. I don't drink a lot though, just a glass of wine occasionally. Sent from my SM-G900P using BariatricPal mobile app

I can eat basically anything (in much smaller amounts at a time than before): sugar, fatty stuff, fried stuff, oily stuff, spicy stuff (including "authentic" Asian foods) and yep, alcohol. I do have "issues" though with lots of sugar at once (I'll dump unless I take it slow), pork (I get full fast on it), fluffy bread products (again, I get full fast on it). And broth-y soups (I can't drink the liquid and solid chunks at the same time - I'll get super full - so I'll have the liquid first, then the chunks). I don't eat rice nor pasta though (by choice). Am 5'2", 2+ years out, and can maintain at around 1800 cals a day. I have heaps of fun. LOL.

We've been told that if we drink alcohol, it's not an issue of if we have complications, but when. My NUT and case manager worry about gastritis and ulcers, along with transfer of addiction. That being said, not quite 6 months post op and I've enjoyed an occasional glass off wine or beer. No upset tummy yet.

270 grams and 17 grams of protien. cool i dont have to drive to whole foods. lol now for ingrediants i have to check but im sure it says beef or turkey organic beef, organic evaporated cane juice, Water, organic soy sauce (water, organic soybeans, salt, organic alcohol), organic apple cider vinegar, salt, organic paprika, natural smoke flavoring, organic black pepper, organic onion powder, organic garlic powder

NewHope) Nykee, girl, I'm glad that you're using Fitday. It really does help show you what you're doing. I know today was Easter and there was a lot of junk food around (candies). But this isn't your normal day's diet, is it? girl) No, its not my normal but it does happen.. Newhope) Eating that much sugar is very dangerous, especially if you have diabetic tendencies. girl) I have diabeties. My points are 8.2 (whatever that means) I realize it was alot of sugar, but I have had more than that.. Newhope) You need to eat hard Proteins (lean, moist meats) first, then vegetables, and finally carbs (if still room left.) girl) I eat mixed foods. I dont cook. This sounds very hard to implement ot me.. BUt i know your right, Newhope) Wait one hour to drink liquids after any meals. Then get as much Water in as you can. girl) this is the hardest part! this is really where I need to concentrate., Lamadam, I was on a low carb diet for the month before I got my lapband. I know how carbs work... and I know I am addicted to them (mostly in juice) I hate low carbing.. but I am gonna try to keep em under 100 carbs a day after i get myt fill. Jack) I am diabetic. Simply put, if I ate this list it would kill me. If I ate half of it, I would be driven into a chemical imbalance that would act like pouring kerosine on a fire to put it out. Those carbs and sugars simply have no place in a human body. girl) I have diabeties and nothing happens to me.. I am grumpy and emotional and OBESE is all I can tell anyway. I used to drink a gallon of juice a day and eat like 10 Cookies (not two)(like Oreo's) and whole candy car (not a few mini bites) and Nothing happened then either. Doesnt mean I should do it, I KNOW I shouldnt. I got my blood done for diabeties two weeks ago and the level was 8.2.. I dont know what that means.. cept my doctor said he would like it at 8.0 Jack) I was never a person who could eat one donut....If I had ONE that would put me in a frenzy where 6 or 10 were not enough... I slowly learned I could manage by NOT taking that first bite...just about like an alcoholic. Girl) I have never done that. I have never consumed a whole bag of chips, or pizza or a quart of icecream or anything even close to that. I eat too much. I awknowlege that. My meals are not real big though. Though they need to be WAY WAY SMALLER!! Donali) Just an observation - 1137 of those calories were from LIQUIDS!!! Almost your whole day's calorie allotment! Those liquid calories are sneaky!! girl) I know, its horrible. I been addicted to milk and juice for like 10 years. Over a gallon a day habit up until I was banded. This is so much less.. but still way more than reasonable. NOT drinking with food is gonna be my biggest challenge. Thanks everyone for your input and advice, its very welcome. Sorry if any of my process distrsses anyone. I do not claim to be a model lapband patient but I will be 100% honest. I didnt get this thing because I WAS ABLE to control my habits, I got it because I couldnt... The truth is, I am gonna have to be reallly tightly banded for this to work OR GET MY HEAD OUT OF MY ASS.. and that hasnt happened in all these years so I dont see it happening now... BUT YA NEVER KNOW> I AM TRYING.. IN MY honestly.. do not mistake it for My being apathetic and not trying. I am doing MY best.

Hi everyone--so far I am staying on track, now that I am finally back to exercising. The cough will not go away, I sure do wish it would, I am very ready to breath normally again!!! Yesterday, we went out and cut 3 trees for the Christmas party at DH's work. We walked out in the hills for miles it seemed!!! But it was great fun, the weather was cool and clear, and we saw HUGE jackrabbits, and several deer, and a coyote. We found the trees we wanted, and then the work began!!! DH was insistant I would learn how to chop these trees!!! Let me add, the area we went to get the trees is on BLM (Bureau of Land Management) and it was tagged. You could only cut tagged trees, because they were being thinned, and culled for burn protection. So if people didn't cut them for Christmas, they were going to be removed, and debranched in January/February. They remove all branches under 8" and leave the trunks in piles, for people to gather as fire wood. The branches are mulched back into the ground. So anyway we cut 3 trees, and it was WORK!!!! Then we had to carry them back to the truck. We had a wonderful time!! I had been worried about DH, we had been at odds, and I was worried he was dealing with some depression, but he was his old self yesterday---what a relief!!! We were gone all day, it literally took hours to get the trees carried back. We had stopped and got Subway (I know.....) to take out with us, and we had several jugs of water. He has a winter emergency kit in the truck, with canned goods, candles etc. I know I got my exercise in yesterday!! Today I will use my energy trying to remove the sap from my hands!!! Not really, but I bathed them in alcohol yesterday getting it off. Today he and the guys will get them in stands, and the party staff will take over. At first I was kinda irritated that he had to be the one to go out and get them. Seems like he always gets the extra things to do....but afterwards, I am VERY glad he did---it was a great day!!! Today I have been to Curves, and am heading out to buy 3 things...and then I am done. Well I have baking and junk to do, but that is it---Bring it on Christmas, I am ready!!! Hope everyone has a great day!!!! And if you stop in Heather (K@t) !!!!HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! Hope your day is special! Kat

The risk for ulcers is actually decreased with VSG unless you have a history of ulcers. Increased risks for ulcers is heavy alcohol consumption on a regular basis, and smoking. Those were the 2 things my surgeon brought up. I've read one story of a lady that developed ulcers post-vsg, but she was on steroids(for over 3 months) for another condition and unfortunately, she wasn't eating while taking her steroids as she was directed to do so. The treatment was carafate, pepcid on top of her PPI for reflux and increased digestive enzymes.

whymomwhy - When you say drink do you mean alcoholic? Did you find it affected you a lot more now that you're a bandster? my doctor recommends no alcohol the first year but says I can on special occasions. Going to a cocktail party in September and would like a few sips. Navigating parties is so hard now! I think social occasions were my biggest downfall in eating and not taking care of myself pre band... I'd go to potlucks and hit that buffet 2 or 3 times, try every single dessert and have a few cans of pop to wash it down. Anyway, thank you for the motivation!! I am going to support group on Weds and therapy on Thurs, and just trying to be more busy. Breakfast - 6oz mango yogurt dinner - 1 sm wheat tortilla, 1/2 turkey italian sausage, 1 tbsp mozzarella, 2 tbsp tomato sauce snack - 8oz milk Was feeling really sick today (Worst cramps i have ever had) and slept through lunch completely. Tomorrow back on track.

Well I've always enjoyed getting a good buzz and have been known to have a few too many from time to time. But alcohol just never has made me feel as good as ice cream used to. Weird, huh? I totally understand the dependancy transfer situation. I imagine I could figure out how to do that. Not that I'm on self-destruct, mind you. But I am a girl who likes to have fun. Many of my friends like me better with a few drinks in me because I'm generally so darned uptight all the time. I'm one of those chicks who grew up needing to have everybody like me and so I've been bad about trying TOO hard, if you know what I mean. That kind of behavior often makes others uncomfortable and kinda feel sorry for you. Gawd, youth is wasted on the young! Thanks for the feedback, Jane.

Yup, those two things, the travel and the wilde beests, are the reason I haven't wanted to make the trip. But I dunno if I had the chance to go I probably would. Your photos of the Sex in the City party were very cute. You're a better man than I for being able to manage those shoes until the wee hours. Which brings up a good question: wine? I have teetotled since surgery because of all the stories I've heard. Plus my dietician says that alcohol is hard on the tummy. Have you had any problems? I have a tendancy to get drunk on small quantities (being part red Indian, ya know) so I've been afraid that I would totally make a fool of myself by waking up with a lampshade on my head and burn marks on my knees.

I was told no alcohol for a year, and I am assuming that is because I am not supposed to have any drinks with my meals for a year; alcohol on an empty stomach may go to your head fast! .As others have mentioned, follow your surgeon and NUT's instructions. We chose to have this life changing surgery for a reason, no need to screw it up now.

I am allowed alcohol, I think I had my first at about 4 months out. At my 6 month appt my doc asked what am I having for alcohol. Not if I'm having it, but what am I choosing. He just wanted to make sure it is a low calorie choice and obvi not excessive I drink prosecco, which is fizzy. My doc approved. The big thing is that you must avoid the super caloric, sugary drinks! Margaritas (unless skinny type), creamy type stuff, etc. That's where you can get into real trouble and your losses will be compromised. Eta I'll be 2 years out in September.

yes maam i can show you the science behind alcohol absorption rates and gastric sleeve patients if you like. its been posted on here often enough as well. yes you drink and work out hard etc and let me ask while you were in your honeymoon, were you eating cake and drinking beers as some have said and did you ignore you surgeons guidelines? Thats what started this whole thing, I can show you all the posts here where people tell others to disregard their surgeons words. That just stuns the hell out of me. especially since its usually from people who themselves are still obese. I really think there is a misery loves company vibe floating around where others are out to sabotage others weight loss in order to look better themselves if they fail. Youve done great, no one can deny it, its inspiring its great and truly I am extremely glad of that fact. Are you advocating cheating during the honeymoon period for others as well? I dont think you are. and those who are truly anger me. EDIZT* i said alcohol metabolism which of course does NOT change, but alcohol absorption and Blood alcohol content are much higher and much faster with LSG patients To wit* Interestingly, 4/10 patients reached the legal limit for driving in the United States at 20 min after the dose of alcohol administered at baseline, 3/10 at 3 months and 1/10 after 12 months. Patients were asked to fast for at least 6 h and were also placed on a hypocaloric liquid diet before surgery and early post-op that may have influenced their hydration and consequently their BAC measured by Breathalyzer. Compared with a normal anatomy where alcohol is absorbed 20 % in the stomach and 80 % in the jejunum, RYGB induces a rapid emptying of the gastric pouch, particularly liquids, and facilitates their absorption into the jejunum where most of the alcohol is absorbed [9]. Additionally, the source of ADH available for first-pass metabolism is less because of decreased gastric volume [21]. LSG produces less drastic gastric anatomical and physiological changes thereby leaving more ADH available for first-pass metabolism of alcohol and increasing the gastric emptying but at a slower pace than in RYGB [22]

Thank you, CCwriter! I had no idea regarding the connection between alcohol and Seratonin! That's an amazing piece of information, and I'm going to be sure to pass it along, as well. Luckily enough, I don't enjoy drinking when I'm feeling sulky. Somehow, things have just turned out that way. Yesterday was a good day. I ate well, got all my nutrition in, stayed in range, and even had a small walk. I felt better, just by writing down my feelings! Having people on here offer encouragement and support is a giant plus, and I feel so lucky to have found this community. Thank you. I've got a meeting today regarding my transfer, and I'm really hoping things pull through!

So Wasa.....I would like for you to tell me exactly what it is that Dr. Gonzalez is doing to cause all these erosions. From the information that I have read, it is due to the way we as patients follow the rules. Below is a list of potential things that could cause erosion. I would like everybody to read this because I am not seeing where the doctor is causing the erosions. WE are the ones that are responsible for following the directions. The doctor CANNOT follow us around to make sure we are doing the things that will keep erosion and slippage and other possible complications from happening. You have been slamming Dr. Gonzalez's complication rate.....but what you don't seem to get, is that if somebody has an erosion.....it is not necessarily due to anything that the doctor may have done. If you find somewhere that it says....erosions are completely the doctors fault. Please post.....I would love to see that, but until then....I think this erosion rate discussion is over. Quit trying to discredit the man. He is a good doctor and has a wonderful staff. For some reason, you cannot accept that and you have to just keep stirring the pot! EROSION Erosion can become a problem for a patient if the patient Doesn’t follow the simple guidelines set forth by the doctor. HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES You should not consume alcohol, if you consume any alcohol you may cause damage to the stomach at the neck of the band (an ulcer). If you eat spicy food or certain types of medication you may also cause harm to the stomach. If you DON’T protect your stomach while you have gastritis (like eating Tums or any other antacid), this can and usually does cause the acid in your stomach to erode to the band.