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I dont know who you are but God does. He knows your struggle and pain and he loves you and wants a better life for you. You owe it to youself and your family and friends to be healthier you. It is hard, I know everyone that blogs on this thing knows. DONT GIVE UP. Just committ to one day at a time. get up in the morning and say "today, there will be no ice cream" and make a healthier choice, one day at a time. just like an alcoholic, all of us reach for food for our comfort, for pleasure, it has been like losing a true friend. I chose to make a change now before it is too late. obesity kills more people every year and its getting worse and worse. you dont have to be 125 pounds just tell yourself "one day at a time" Good luck and God bless.

Wow, thanks for all your replies, they're very helpful. One of the questions I forgot to ask was regarding alcohol. Can you still drink alcohol after surgery? (Obviously not straight away lol). It's not a deal breaker but as mentioned in my original post I do enjoy drinks with friends every so often. @WInston223322 you look amazing, like 2 different people! 😊

Good Luck, it sounds like you are on the right track and that track is called loving yourself. The better you treat your body, the more love and respect you have for it. You will be able to drink again after five weeks, but you will be suprised at what a light weight you will be, even though lap band does not change the absorption of alcohol. I found that because I eat such a small amount of food, that I get drunk very easily, so be careful and good luck. Lap band was by far the easiest surgery I have ever had (hx c-section and gall bladder removal). It is the best thing I have ever done, I have had 0 complications so far. I had a lower BMI going into surgery(34) so my weight loss has been very slow. I just started to feel my band working about 2 months ago after my 5th fill, so far I lost 25lbs before surgery and 25 after.

My restriction varies a bit from day to day. I think mine is tighter when I'm dehydrated. Usually I keep up w/my water really well, but the few times I haven't, I have definitely noticed being tighter. Also, alcohol dehydrates you and can make you feel tighter the next day.

Thinoneday, In my sight you are not a hypocrite and no one should advised you to go anywhere for your opinion, we may not agree but your views are always welcome. For the moment, from a sexual point of view, we all have preferences toward who I like and/or dislike. Physical attraction is an individual choice. In general, for those who are unhealthy and face long term illnesses and early death due to their body mass (as most of us were). That's another subject to ponder. Do ex cons see present day convicts in a different way, how about a recovered drug addict or a cured alcoholic, do they view existing addicts and drunks in a different light than others. Once you been there, only you know what is like to be on the other side. Lash Lash

I haven't had the band a long time but I too asked those questions before I agreed to the band, and so can probably help you...at least until a long-timer comes by! When you are in the "losing weight" phase, you want to watch what you eat and make healthier choices consistently. Things like alcohol and pizza don't give you enough nutritional bang for your buck. You want to optimize that Protein to calorie ratio and lose in a healthy manner....dropping fat and not muscle. So it's important at the start. However once you get to a healthy weight, and even while you are losing if it is only occasionally, you may eat a wider variety of foods. Yes, have 1/3 of a burger and a few fries. Have some pizza. Have a cocktail or two. It is life and you will live it. You will be able to eat most things (no chewing gum, no carbonated beverages, and as my doc's office says, many people never eat stringy red meat) you ever did. Even white bread, if you still want it, can be eaten if you mix it up with other textures so that it doesn't ball up. For now, white bread would be a poor choice anyway because you need protein protein, not refined flour etc. I hope this eases your fear a little. The band is a TOOL...not a punishment, not a life sentence. You will find the amount of restriction that works for you and a way of eating that suits you best. You still have choices.

I'm just ensuring I only eat at meal times and obviously very small amounts. Plenty of fluids In between and strictly no alcohol !! To be honest I'm never hungry and get full very quickly so my sleeve works very well for me Sent from my iPhone using VST

I think to get net carbs you take the carb content and subtract the total protein and sugar alcohol's. That could be labeled as Maltitol or some other form of sugar alcohol.

Because it seems completely clear to me, I often make the mistake of thinking it must seem obvious to others. So here it is: If you are over-weight and don't have a band, losing weight without eating well/exercising is damned near impossible If you have a band and don't eat well, don't exercise or have no restriction, you're pretty much as above If you have a band, don't eat well, don't exercise and have some restriction, you may still lose, but probably not much, and eventually you'll probably start regaining If you have a band, eat well, don't exercise and have no restriction, you might still lose, but slowly If you have a band, eat well, don't exercise, and have restriction, you will lose steadily but may not lose ALL your excess weight. If you have a band, eat well, exercise and have restriction, you now have the trifecta and have given yourself the best chance of success with weight loss. I am a realist. If I don't exercise, I don't expect to lose fast. If I drink alcohol, then I expect that I will have to burn that off. If I don't have restriction, I expect to GAIN. The responsibility of how well I do is in my hands. No one else, and certainly not the band's alone. People say the band is a tool, and this is what it means.

Way too high Sugar alcohol amount is 27 grams ; Carbs 32 grams(full day= less than 68 grams). You do sound very busy but try to find a better brand. Sorry if this sounds real bossy. We never read all the ingredients before, we have to now! How about a hard boiled egg, piece of chicken(3- 4oz.), greek yogurt with fresh fruit. Think protein, keep carbs low. Eat complex carbs.

“Daddy, why do you have such a big belly?” innocently asked by my precocious five year old Son Connor, that was the spark that lit the fuse to my deciding to change my life. Sometimes we need not be shouted at to be shaken from a slumber. Sometimes a whisper is louder than a shout. A few months back, I was walking through life in a perpetual haze. I believed I was a happy individual, I am surrounded by a loving Wife, amazing children, and a diverse and loving group of friends & family. I was however overlooking the fact that I was physically careening down a slope at breakneck speed. I have always been a large, “big-boned”, individual. For most of my adult life I was able to deflect my rapidly increasing waist line by using self-deprecating humor and sarcasm as a protective shield. I was the definition of the happy go lucky fat man. I was the go to BBQ guy, the first to crack a beer with you, the first to grab that extra slice of pizza; I began to believe it was what was expected of me. At least I told myself that as a pathetic excuse to allow myself to continue to indulge in excess. Over the years, many people have expressed disbelief when I revealed my weight when asked. I often hear things like, you carry it so well, there is no way you weigh that much…as if I would choose to add extra pounds for some reason. I incorporated this as a defense mechanism, and lied repeatedly to myself that my weight wasn’t that bad. On the inside, I was fighting every day to try and do the “right thing”, and try to somewhat live a healthy lifestyle. I knew what to eat, how to eat, when to eat…but choosing to follow what I knew would work was not something I could do for an extended period of time. I am not ashamed to say that I was weak in spirit, I had no will power, and realistically I still don’t. But, I knew I was treading into uncharted territory, weight wise. I was easily winded, my knees creaked, my back hurt, and that doesn’t cover my fear of what might possibly be going on that I couldn’t physically feel. I tried to play in a flag football tournament and failed miserably, I dreaded carrying my own Daughter to bed; even kneeling by the tub to bath the kids was a nightmare. So, when my Son asked me that simple question, and I had no intelligent answer, only excuses, I decided enough was enough. I am not above asking for help, I am honest with myself, and I knew that the changes I wanted to make, I could not make alone. I decided to explore Bariatric surgery as a tool to help me save my life. After considering the several options available, I decided that Lap Band surgery would be the best fit for me. Once I made that decision, and embraced it, my mind turned to the endless possibilities that would stand before me. The truth is I am not changing to look good on the beach, or to wear a certain pant size. Yes, truth be told, these will be wonderful benefits of changing my lifestyle, but there are three reasons for my wake up call. My Wife & my kids, there it is, the definitive reason. The reason that I breathe, the reason that I wake up every morning, the reason why I will do whatever is needed to give them the best of me that I possibly can. Now, I expected to meet some resistance to my decision, and I have not been disappointed in that regard. Some people see weight loss surgery as cheating, or as an easy way out, that you don’t have the will power needed to do it on your own. To that I say, then using the gym is cheating, buying $100.00 running shoes is cheating, eating low fat food is cheating, they are all tools to help you get to where you want to go. For someone with food issues, mental, as well as physical, weight loss surgery is nothing but a tool to help you get off to a good start on a new life. It is not a magic trick; you do not have surgery and wake up 70lbs less than the day before. You have to eat right, exercise, make good decisions, just like anyone else trying to live right. Telling someone that weight loss surgery is cheating, is the same as telling an alcoholic that AA is cheating, they are simply tools designed to help you meet a need. I am not trying to fool anyone, especially myself; I do not have the will power to walk this alone. I am not ashamed to say that I need every tool in the box to help me be who I want to be. To be honest with you, I have never been overly concerned with the opinions of others, if I know in my heart that something is right for me, then all else be damned. I know in my heart, that I will be adding years to my life, and I don’t care how I get it done, or how anyone feels about my choice. At the end of the day, I want to look my Wife and kids in the eye, and have them know that Daddy is doing everything in his power to be there for them. I dream of doing the simple things that many overlook, or take for granted, running a 5K, playing sports with my kids, carrying my sleeping Daughter up a flight of stairs without wincing in pain. I have many inspiring people in my circle, friends, family, especially my Wife, who has shown me that change is possible and given me the blueprint to work off of. I look forward to the day, in the not too distant future, when I can update you all about the new me. For now, I leave you with the latest steps I have taken on the path to living right. Yesterday I began a 2/3 week diet before I have surgery. My Surgeon has submitted the paperwork to my insurance provider and we wait patiently for them to sign off. After that, we will hopefully green light surgery for some point over the next few weeks. I know many of you are privy to my journey; I just wanted to share with as many people as possible, and hopefully inspire others to take the proverbial bull by the horns.

I do think there are many people who have problems down the road. When asking my surgical team about this they were very up front with me about the statistics which you can find on line for your particular surgery. Those that gain back most or all of their weight revert to old bad habits like drinking soda, alcohol and not eating properly. Remember this really is a tool. In terms of people dealing with nutrient issues, many stop taking their Vitamins and do not go in for their regular labs. Ulcers happen for many reasons, some of which come from taking medications you are not supposed to. I too have read many of those threads and usually that person will say, I didn't take my Calcium or I started taking ibuprofen for my arthritis. This type of surgery is a life choice. Once you make it, you are in it for the long haul. Some people think it is a quick fix to lose the weight and revert to old habits. You have to decide who you are going to be 10 years down the road. I know that I am never going back to that unhealthy place with multiple comorbitities an almost unable to walk. I for one will follow the plan that includes taking my vitamins, getting all my Protein, and going to regular doctors appointments. I hope this helps but more importantly you must follow up with your surgical team and better understand the statistics for your type of surgery. Know exactly what you are getting into because you are making a life choice. Good luck to you in whatever you decide.

Mine's October 16th in Boston. I'm halfway through my pre-op diet now. I'm not having as hard a time as I thought I would, but I can also eat. Only things I can't have are starches, caffeine (ok that one is hard), carbonated beverages (even harder than the caffeine), and alcohol.

Everyones right they are empty calories. When I got this band though I wasn't signing up for a diet. I was signing up for portion control :thumbup: Anything in moderation is fine even libation! I have a glass of wine each night and on the weekends maybe even more. I have lost 86lbs in 10 months so I am not sweating it. I do have awesome restriction... If I didn't enjoy my wine and chose to stop living my life then maybe I would already be at 100lbs lost... who knows. I am happy with it though. It's just a choice you have to make. On the medical side almost everything i have read says alcohol is fine... although there's addiction transfers that can happen. If you're addicted to food and cant have it you may begin to crave the alcohol... or so they say. I can drink carbonation is SMALL doses. It would take me a whole day to consume a soda I am sure. *Cheers*

I haven't had any carbonation in one year. I gave it up 4 months before I got the band so I could see how I would do. Honestly, I seriously, seriously do NOT miss the stuff. I had a tiny sip of Diet Coke once and the taste was sickening. I've completely lost my appetite for it. blech! As far as alcohol goes, though, I'm not a very big drinker. The occasional cocktail on date night (we're talking once a month) or the occasional cocktail on special occasions. I do kind of miss being able to drink the carbonated foofy drinks (like those bacardi things in a bottle), but not enough to really care. I now drink the occasional margarita on the rocks or a glass of wine, but the last couple of glasses of wine I had made me feel icky and nauseated within about 3 sips, so I don't even drink wine anymore.

Yup, every surgeon is different on this one. Mine said that drinking a bit of Coke when something is stuck will help to unstick it (sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, from my experience). Like some of the others, whilst I'm allowed carbonated beverages, they hurt a bit, especially if I have good restriction. My favorite alcoholic beverage when we go out used to be vodka, lime juice and soda Water. The bubbles made it way less enjoyable, so now its vodka, lime juice and still water - much more refreshing and never have a hangover from it lol (not that I drink a whole lot anyway). I will admit to the very occasional half a can of pop though, when I just need a bit of sugar. It's best to talk to your doctor though and see what he or she recommends for you.

Hi everyone! I hope all is well! I wanted to ask a question about alcohol. I have tried looking for the answers I needed in other posts but havent been successful. I am one week post op and doing well, already on soft solids and so far (crosses her fingers) no complications. This weekend is my husbands birthday, and he will be celebrating with friends. I would really like to be able to sip some Water and maybe 1 glass of wine but I dont want to cause problems with my pouch. I dont plan to get drunk just to Celebrate. Can anyone tell me what the complications may be by doing this? will it do anything to my staples... will it make me sick? I dont want to do it without being prepared and Im not making a habit but would like to be more informed. thanks for all your help and guidance I appreciate it!

Ask your surgeon or his coordinator about your insurance company's requirements. I have BCBS (not the federal gov kind) and their requirements were BMI of 40 for patients without the listed comorbidities and 35 with co-morbidities (I fall into this category). If you are close to minimum BMI requirement, it is also important to know how the surgeon runs his program i.e. when he charts your weight for insurance purposes. I barely have a BMI of 35 and was concerned about meeting insurance criteria. The first surgeon told me that his program required that my BMI be 35 at a final weigh in just prior to the surgery (this following 2 week liquid diet). I actually paid about $300 for consultation with him and his staff dietitian and they weren't very upfront about what happens if I lost too much weight before the surgery. I had to voice my concerns before they told me that if I didn't meet the required BMI the day of surgery, I would be denied surgery, I told this surgeon that I didn't think that I would be able to maintain eligibility with his plan. I wound up choosing my current surgeon upon the recommendation of an RN friend who had a gastric sleeve placed at the minimum BCBS BMI of 40 (no comorbidities). This surgeon only requires that my BMI be 35 (diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease)up until the day I receive approval from insurance company (before liquid diet)

He doesn't do anything with me anymore...im not exaggerating either. We try to have date night but it ends up with him ordering so much food and alcohol that he makes his stomach hurt and we have to go home. He won't go to the theater with me, he barely even eats dinner with the family unless I ask him to. He spends all of his free time in his shop. It's the kids and me going places and doing stuff. He chooses to stay home in his shop alone. We don't even watch our tv shows together anymore. As much as I tell him that I miss him...it doesn't change. He seems sad, depressed, but won't tell me why. He gets excited when we talk about our vacation, but as soon as I mention that maybe we should prepare ourselves for the long walking trails at the state parks...he goes silent. So I leave it alone, change the subject, and get him talking about something else. But that only lasts so long before it's time for kids activities, appointments, gym time, etc. And he chooses to stay out of all of it. I feel like I have lost him. I miss his company.

I've been told no: aspirin, popcorn, carbonated drinks, chewy granola or protien bars, or fatty meats like sausage or brisket and raw, hard vegetables like brocolli, cauliflower and carrots. I can have brocolli but it has to be cooked to very soft. At that consistancy, what's the point in eating it? All the Vitamins are gone... I eat it steamed anyway without problem.. yet... I haven't had a fill yet. I can have coffee or tea, but only two cups a day. I've been told to avoid white potatoes, white bread and white rice, but it's not forbidden. I can have alcohol, but only wine is totally acceptable in small quantities. Liquor is okay, but the mixers are a problem. Beer of course is a no no.... and I LOVE an ice cold beer... I'm 6 weeks out and had my first salad last night. I chewed like crazy and did fine, but lately EVERYTHING, no matter what it is makes my tummy hurt in the evenings about an hour after I eat.

That's a lot of wine. The recommended amount of alcohol for women is 2 drinks or less per day (a 6 oz glass of wine would be an example of a drink). Lots of empty calories, too. A 6-oz glass is about 120 calories, so 3 glasses add up, plus there's zero nutritional value to those calories. I say, post-sleeve would be a great time to cut down on alcohol. You can't drink for a while after the surgery - this is surgeon-dependent, but I've seen guidelines that range from 1 month to 6 months of abstinence from alcohol - so it'd be a good time to kick the habit. You can have alcohol once you're all healed up. I've never been much of a drinker, so I can only speak to being able to have 1 drink without consequences. I usually have mixed drinks - I never liked wine much before, but now it makes me very nauseous after just 2-3 sips.

I'm 1.5 years out. I basically eat anything I want, within reason (roughly 80/20 healthy/unhealthy). If I start putting on weight, I just take it easy with desserts and alcohol and eat more fruit. I put on an odd 2-3 lbs in the last month due to a crazy work schedule with constant availability of goodies and I just made a crap ton of fruit salad - blackberries, oranges, apples, bananas, and a tiny bit of Greek yogurt with honey - and ate that for Snacks and within a week, the weight was all gone. I don't count calories, but I probably hang around 2000/day for my average. For Protein, I just focus on the protein part of my meal and have Protein shakes after working out. Today, I had Greek yogurt with fig jam for Breakfast, 3 pieces of rainbow sushi roll and Bolthouse Green Goodness juice before working out, a Protein shake post-workout, and now I'm having a mixed greens salad with some avocado, mozzarella, and grilled chicken. In 2-3 hours, I'll have the remaining 3 pieces of the rainbow roll. Then the only meal left would be dinner - no idea what I'm having, maybe Indian food?

My weight came on after living in a household that watches tv every night- I don't have that in my life prior to the weight gain. I had a solid job before I started gaining- so stress and therefore stress eating and alcohol consumption have contributed. Additionally, I quit being as active after an injury resulting in knee reconstruction, which took 2 months before I could even walk unassisted. After that- I got serious & dedicated- recumbent bike, etc. Started planning our wedding, had a pulmonary embolism in June this year- and it all went to hell from there. Not proud of this story- but it's honest.

To answer a few of your questions, no one answer fits everybody as @Arabesque say. Will your hair fall out ?? who knows, Has mine? OMG yes but I can feel the new hair sprouting. Will you wrinkle ?? who knows, Have I ? OMG yes but I was a very overweight soon to be 63 years old. Do I care ? nope because I wear pants and 3/4 sleeve tops that hide it all. My face is fine yet. I might have plastics in a few years if it bothers me then. I am saving just in case. I only told my friend of 57 years, my husband and my son. I don't want judgement or other peoples opinion, its irrelevant. I was a weekend drinker in my early years but I like to be fairly sober these days as it messes with my medication. I have had a few drinks since surgery, I am quite partial to a Bloody Mary. I can probably count the drinks I have had in 6 months on one hand. I get a buzz off one. Will I become alcoholic ? No thanks Keep doing your research, keep asking questions because in the end you are the only one who knows if its for you

I had my banding surgery on Sept 21 - 3 days ago. I feel pretty good. The pain/discomfort has subsided and I'm following the liquid intake recommendations pretty strictly. I'm hopeful I'll be able to go back to wotk in 4-5 days. My main challenge is going to be smoking. I gave up pre surgery but finally relented and have had 1 today. I have read that it can interfere/slow down healing, which makes sense. I just don't know if I can give up proper food, alcohol AND smoking without going totally insane this week. Anyhow, good luck to all considering it. So far it has been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster for me, but I am very relieved to have done it & now the banding is done the hardest part is over.