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I know 2 people that had WLS personally, well 3 I guess (old co-worker). Their failures taught me the things to avoid. Eating regular food early = feeding tube Not learning nutrition or how to eat healthy = regain Not cooking =Regain Viewing it as a diet = regain Not logging food = regain So there is a lot of learn from the failures of others. The only thing I see all the time on weightloss forums, is people aren't honest why they failed. They blame the surgery for not working, they blame their metabolism (which they never ever had tested). They never ever blame their actions or lack of action. They can never provide a detail of what they are eating. I also feel like this rash of people having surgery are going to skew the statistics, make WLS seem less effective and make it harder for other people to get surgery through insurance in the future. Anyway, I am still holding out hope that a lot of people are just trolls from the popularity of the app and not real WLS patients. Right on! This is why I personally have gotten invested in these particular posts. Because there are so many people that this surgery has saved/helped. It is so frustrating to me that people fight so hard to get this surgery and get denied and then others choose to squander their shot or more importantly put themselves in danger and then blame WLS. The idea that you would remove 85% of your stomach or reroute your insides only to do something that could prove to be dangerous to the success of this surgery. These are the people that actually put the success of WLS and the reputations of their surgeons at risk. They ruin it for others.....I had a friend who had an open RNY that was riddled with complications to the point she actually had to have it reversed. At the time, I had not idea of what was required so when hers failed and she became very very ill, it scared me and kept me from even considering this surgery for more than 17 years. Now that I know all the darn rules, I look back at what she did and I know exactly why her surgery failed. She honestly did it to herself. She was my roommate so I know what crap she put in her body immediately following bypass. I know she did not even drink a single Protein shake, nor did she take Vitamins. She drank alcohol within the first 2 weeks and pretty much ate what the rest of the family ate which was a high carb diet of macaroni and cheese, Pasta dishes, bread, etc. I watched her get sick every single time she ate. When she had her surgery reversed she was 5'3" and weighed 89lbs. I know this because I took care of her 5 children while she was in the hospital for over a month on a feeding tube. The surgery did not do this to her, she did it. Every bit of it. That kept me scared to death to even try. This of course was the extreme and I am also guessing they did not know as much about Bariatric surgery 20 years ago. But at the end of the day, it was what I saw and believed and was terrified and did nothing all that time. For me, being 310 lbs caused severe damage to my spine and joints that cannot be undone. This is why I am passionate about people who potentially cause damage to the success of the surgery or the reputations of the surgeons, doctors and nurses who perform it. Incidentally, my friend Peggy gained all of that weight back and then some following her reversal. Also, I am guessing this is exactly why there is such a long drawn out process to even be approved for this surgery. They want to make sure you are ready and willing to do what it is going to take to make it happen. Sorry for the length of this post, if it helps one person understand why I and many others are frustrated by the lack of accountability or worse yet, other people thinking it's no big deal "people make mistakes", then it's worth it because so many new folks on here are still learning.

This post was perfect on so many levels. With me, I'm bound to react more with the people who don't 'get it' as opposed to the people who just do. If someone who 'gets it' says "OMG I had the worst night! I drank a whole bottle of wine!" I have a tendency to be a bit more lenient, because I know they will get their shiat together again. The ones that don't 'get it' can't seem to get their shiat together, make the same mistakes over an over again, and get defensive and aggressive when called out on their foolishness. They only respond to coddling and enabling. By the way, I'm the fool who drank a whole bottle of wine in one evening. I'm also almost 2 years out and below goal. But I'm also not going to get defensive when someone tells me it was stupid. I know it was, and I paid dearly for it But you owned this alcohol consumption indiscretion, you didn't "whine" about it.

As someone who has had years of therapy for my issues, I can say this also applies to people who are getting mentally healthy. I sometimes want to intervene and give advise or support, but I know that respecting people's boundaries is important. I'm just at the beginning of my weight loss, and I hope that I can be empathetic, but when you're healing, mentally or physically, we often want to intercede or judge others for not doing what we are doing. With alcohol and drug addiction people have to be ready to kick the habit, and they still struggle. I think that trying to remember that people are where they are at because they are not ready for change, and may never be ready to change, is an important thing to remember. I hope that I will remember that as I become more successful in my journey.

I have been on this since since the summer of 2013 and I am almost at 3 years post-op. I will admit that I read the posts that go wildly south when someone gets their feelings hurt, I giggle behind my computer, and for the most part I try not to engage, although there has been a time or two where I have felt the need to defend myself or someone else and I'm sure I upset people. I don't really care. I am who I am and this is the internet- if you don't like what I have to say, get over yourself and don't read it. I don't remember the last time a post actually offended me...usually I think the drama is kind of funny and some days I just skip over all the fighting posts to get to the end so I can reply to the original comment with something I hope is a little helpful. Past that, I try to respond to the "I ate chocolate cake at 2 weeks post-op" with "it's not going to kill you, medically you're fine, but that isn't going to help you lose weight" as opposed to "OMG you broke the rules, you're going to die and go to bariatric surgery hell". I didn't follow all the rules. I use straws. Straws will not freaking hurt you and the people who debate it because their surgeon told them not to use straws and they have no understanding of how the body actually works make me roll my eyes. lf you want to do drugs, unless you are ingesting them shortly before or after surgery, no, smoking pot and shooting smack have nothing to do with your stomach- you might die for totally different reasons, but it's not the sleeve that's going to kill you. Posts where people place their own judgement on the use of drugs and alcohol instead of medically assessing the situation with a knowledge of physiology exhaust me. Don't judge someone because they sin differently than you- give them an honest answer to their question and if you really don't know the answer from a medical perspective free from bias, don't make crap up- that is not helpful. If you want to eat junk, go for it- it's your success, not mine, but in the majority of "I ate this bad thing" posts on here are not actually going to physically hurt you when you are a few weeks post-op. You won't lose weight and you'll feel like garbage, but 95% of the time (again, within a reasonable time after surgery), medically these people are not hurting themselves any more than a regular person who eats stuff they shouldn't. If they want bacon and cake at 6 weeks post-op, have fun...who am I to tell them how to live their life? I don't personally have a problem with the site, although I suppose it is probably because not much offends me. In the three years I have been on here, there have been two comments from veterans that I specifically remember made me feel the need to reply in my defense, and both times what could have been escalated into an actual internet fight, never did because two adults were engaged in a debate and they then moved on. I happen to really like both of these people and I think they bring a lot of value to the discussion- just because they don't always agree with me doesn't mean that they are wrong, that they should be censored, or that their opinion is not valuable. If people want to be trolls and say mean things, then ignore them, the way you do in real life, but if someone doesn't agree with you, it's not a personal attack, it's just their right to have a different opinion. Lively debate is fun when adults act like adults and participate appropriately, however when people start calling each other names and crying about their feelings being hurt, I feel like I'm in pre-school and someone stole their legos. Be a big girl or boy and go take your damn legos back. Don't be a victim, but don't be a jerk. I have zero interest in a world or a discussion area where everyone gets along...that degree of groupthink adds no value, I just think the problem exists when people get bent out of shape and respond emotionally instead of rationally. If you don't like what someone says, let them know or move on...why cry about it? I like BariatricPal, I like most of the people that I regularly engage with, and I don't much care if people don't like me. I am an anonymous person behind a computer...if you don't agree with me, cool, let's debate, but if it gets to a point where you are sincerely upset and can no longer engage in conversation like a mature adult....there is this magical "x" on your browser. Use it.

OK, let's talk about concepts like "self righteousness," "compliance," "success," "failure," "consistency" and "perfection." It's easier to feel self righteous when we narrow our eyes and start to engage in "black-and-white thinking," i.e., we start to consider that something is all bad or all good, all correct or all incorrect, 0% or 100%, or that the presence of a single attribute or a single act equates to the presence of scores of other attributes or acts. At nearly two years post-op, the way I see life after WLS is that compliance isn't about being perfect. But there are enormous differences in the ways one can diverge from "100% compliance" and the possible ramifications of those divergences depending on HOW the patient diverged from their protocols and on WHEN (how long post-op) and FOR HOW LONG one engaged in those divergences. I'm probably right in assuming that no one here has been "perfect" -- in the sense that immediately post-op we all have to work hard for several days or even several weeks to take in our required amounts of Water and Protein. I think our surgeons understand that. So "doing the best you can" means exactly that. However, it's abundantly clear to me that some people try a helluva lot harder than others to be compliant with their surgeons' eating / drinking / exercise protocols -- not only in the early days but six months out, two years out, etc. When you're five days post-op, eating bacon is in my opinion more dangerous than drinking only 50 ounces of water instead of the surgeon's recommended 64 ounces. And eating bacon five days post-op isn't even close to the worst behavior I've heard. A friend told me about a patient who ate a Tijuana food truck Breakfast burrito the morning after surgery. I have read here of patients who went back to drinking alcohol the same week they had surgery and patients who didn't stop smoking either before or after surgery. Then there are the patients who argue that ice cream qualifies as pureed and soft foods. Timing and degrees matter. Some patients have a very hard time understanding and acting on the distinction between "cheating on a weight-loss diet" and "being highly compliant with surgeon's post-op recovery instructions." Others don't. I truly don't understand why some can't see this difference. But I know a lot of people never fully get it. I've spent many, many hours on this board trying to clarify this distinction for pre-op and newly post-op posters. Most of the time I'm patient. And long-winded. But sometimes I get frustrated not only with those who immediately post-op do things that put their lives and health in danger, but also with those who provide "supportive" comments along the lines of, "It's OK, nobody's perfect." Very often these commenters haven't had surgery, any pre-op instructions or even attended an introductory lecture by a bariatric surgeon. Sometimes they have. No WLS patient ever suffered from raising their compliance standards from "when it's not too hard" to "just do it!" Will any of us be 100% compliant? I doubt it. But I'd rather shoot for 100% compliance and hit 95% than aim for 80% and hit 60%. In fact, 95% even makes me feel a little ... wait for it ... self righteous.

I went on a cruise for 2 weeks preop. I didn't have to follow a strict preop diet apart from the day before. I drank until 2 days before. I was absolutely fine. There is no evidence to suggest alcohol affects anaesthetic or recovery (apart from 24 hours preop). You'll be fine. Don't worry. I am a preop nurse and we ask patients not to drink for 24 hours preop only. Good luck. Sent from my SM-G935F using the BariatricPal App

It speaks well of your prospects that, despite no requirement, you chose to lose weight. Your mind is in a good place: You're serious. It goes without saying, which shan't stop me, that cutting out alcohol and the rest is smart. What raises a question is your saying that you're logging everything, but no word about what you are logging apart from the shakes. Sad to say, it is easy for counterproductive edibles to be going down your gullet. Consider an appt with the practice's RD to review a week or two of food logs. S/he can make suggestions for improvement. It's impressive that you chose to work on this. It probably makes you an exception. Although my bariatric practice had a loosey-goosey requirement (my insurance plan had none), my own surgeon told me that she didn't care whether I lost weight before surgery. A fool, I thought, "Oh, good, I'll start after." Three weeks, prior, however, it occurred to me that, if I were serious, I'd start immediately. I dropped 11 lbs which the surgeon noted aloud in the OR. This is not to say that, like you, I'm impressive, but that it told me I was ready for the long haul. You'll be fine.

@@jenn1 thank you for the thoughtful thread you posted in regards to enabling or confrontation. I am a newbie recently sleeved 28 April 2016 and as I went through the process to have the surgery I also worked on the things that were going to make me successful. I took the time to make some lifestyle changes and change my relationship with food. I came to this website and have stayed because of being able to read the journey of others who have successfully taken a journey I am on and are in a place where I want to be. I respect all whether newbies or vets who stick to plan and are no nonsense when it comes to this life changing decision. That is motivating! I am surprised at some of the posts that I have seen lately and it is unfortunate. I can't imagine having surgery then turning around to eat bacon, pizza and chug soda or alcohol immediately after. I can't understand why some think this is ok and why they want support for this type of action. I understand the stance of some of the vets, but it is a lot of recently sleeved or wls candidates that are just as frustrated with some of the dialogue on "why can't I eat what I want?" In the short time since I had surgery this place is my go to source and I hope people reconsider their involvement. In my short time since surgery I have followed my doctors advice, my NUTs advice, and yes I have listened to the vets. In my opinion I am rockin' my sleeve! . There are some really good people here that are providing great support and advice may not be what someone wants to hear but it may be what someone needs to hear. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

I am also a newbie. I am also older and don't tolerate much foolishness. I've read the posts from newbies that start a few days pre-op to a few weeks post op about whether they can eat bacon, or had a slice of pizza or say I am going on vacation and can I drink alcohol. I read those posts, shake my head and think, "Why the hell did you have surgery, especially when you are making bad decision so soon after surgery?!!!" I followed the rules post op because I had major surgery and wanted to change my life for the better. Many think of this as a quick fix and it is obvious from their posts. Others haven't addressed their food addiction or food behaviors prior to surgery. Have I been perfect since my surgery, No, but I have been able to stay on the right path based on the guidance given by vets to other members. I appreciate ALL the vets input, responses and tips. I would hate for the vets to leave because your successes, experiences and suggestions have made my journey successful so far. Like others, even though I might not post often, I do read the forum EVERYDAY. I think a FAQ for newbies is a good idea and when somebody asks some of these "stupid" questions, the vet can just post a link to a section of the FAQ that explains what to eat and what not to eat post op and keep on going. Kindle, I would love for you to reconsider your decision to leave. Your postings, along with the other vets, are appreciated by many of us newbies. .

This is like any other voluntary association. Sometimes I have time to pay attention, other times I don't. It is a little odd for me to think of myself as some sort of veteran. I like to help sincere seekers. (and I dig @@dubs food porn). I remember where I was when I started. This site was a little daunting when I first found it. It takes a little while to figure it out. You don't realize at first to look at surgery date and number of posts when you are judging how much credence to give an answer . You don't even know how to create preferences so you don't get flooded with email notices. Heck you don't even know the right terms to search. "Geez what's a stall?" You know until November 2014, I wouldn't have known to search for that, all I knew was I wasn't pooping and not losing weight and I was kind of scared. I appreciated the online "hand on my shoulders" and people telling me "this is normal stuff, you got this." So yes, it gets a little old. No one should ever feel obligated to be here. But I remember where I was. I try to help out when I have time, and I do appreciate those who voluntarily and unselfishly give their time to help others. It was huge to me when I REALLY needed it. Now for the vets, I want to suggest a thought to you...have you thought about what YOU get when you help some one new to this? It reinforces what you are trying to do. We have had some people pop back after being gone for a while, and lamenting they have lost their way and gained some weight again. Now I don't think that being here guarantees success, but I think it is like my sisters work in drug and alcohol recovery. She is an alcoholic. She helps others in recovery through AA. Not only because she can, but it reminds her every day just how important her sobriety is and what a gift it is. So while there are problems with the internet chat board world that no one will ever be able to fix, please reflect, what you get, when you give.

Well, you do sound rude. I truly doubt that you have been absolutely perfect. I was asking a question, which is what this forum is for. Not for people like you to place judgement. I don't have a bad relationship with food. That is not what got me here and you know nothing about me so with all due respect take your holier than now opinion elsewhere. I probably shouldn't respond to this since I'm 6 days post op from my conversion to bypass because of uncontrollable acid and on pain meds but I can't help myself. Posts like this crack me the hell up. It is evident to me that the OP was hell bent on drinking the Coke Zero, so I don't understand the need to post seeking advice. Moreover, it was clear she was going to react badly when she received a response that she believed didn't give the blessing she sought or was "holier than thou" (by the way I'm 2+ years post surgery round 1 and 6 days post surgery round 2 and I followed my instructions TO THE LETTER both times) . Posts like this is why the vets are leaving this site in droves. If you don't want the advice, don't ask the question. And if you ask the question accept the advice with the grace in which it was given. Like Kindle said in another post: I'm out. Good luck to all you new soda, alcohol drinking, pizza and bacon eating new post OP's who believe they know better what is right for "their body" than vets who are super successful or, amazingly the medical professionals in whose hands they placed their life's. Good luck And I don't think my message would be any different if it wasn't clouded by lortab. Bring on the bitching Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

For me personally, two months out would have been fine to have a drink. But do check with your surgeon and evaluate your body. Have you tolerated most foods well? How do you feel? I healed very quickly and knew I could tolerate it. Some advice though: -Hard liquor made me throw up instantly. I only tried it once since surgery, and I threw up immediately. I haven't attempted it since. - I cant have beer since it is carbonated and I am only allowed carbonated drinks after 12 months to avoid discomfort, so I cant drink that. - The only thing I drink is wine. I really enjoy pink moscato and it is light enough to drink without stomach issues. After one glass I can feel it, and after two I am REALLY feeling it. Pre surgery I could've drank a whole bottle and barely felt it. Be careful, and keep in mind that all alcoholic beverages are high in sugar and calories. But also, have a good time and happy 21st!!

I know that I will not be able to be off for 6 weeks. I can be off 2 weeks at most. I'm a fast healer. When I had a breast reduction, I was out shopping in 3 days. I'll take things easy. Yeah, I assume even a little bit of alcohol will make someone with a small stomach tipsy. I'm not big on alcohol. It's never really appealed to me like is has to my friends. I guess I'm in the wrong generation sometimes, lol! Thanks so much for your response!

@@KM16 I cut out sugar, soda, alcohol, and was fairly decent at low carbing (I had portion control issues) and I still wasn't losing weight. I did this for 3 years before surgery. That told me that surgery was my only option since I had cut out all the things people said to stop doing and I still wasn't losing. I think if you aren't a miserable fat person, you don't really change a lot. The people that hated themselves and were really miserable fat with low self esteem and low self worth. They change a lot and not always for the best. Many seem to over correct and swing the other way too hard. I'm basically the same and at one year out my life is not really that different. I enjoy food. I enjoy eating out. I eat proper portion sizes. I enjoy the quality and presentation of food, not just having massive amounts of it. I was always a picky eater and now I am even pickier. When you eat small amounts it better be delicious. If you have a good handle on yourself pre-op, you will have an easier time post-op.

1. Sedentary work approx. 6 weeks. Although I didn't take time off because I work from home. 3. You can drink Protein Drinks but watch the sugar content. I made my own or went to Tropical Smoothie. 4. I wouldn't take the chance with Alcohol, I'd assume a small amount would make you tipsy. 8. Not really. I'm 7 weeks post op and only have incision itching from the largest incision. 9. You could get pregnant right after surgery. Fairly common I heard. 10. Yes, yes, and yes. Stay hydrated. 11. The food will sit on your chest. May cause you to vomit. Sit up.

My 2 week post-op appt went well today! I've lost 18.5 lbs, all of my incisions are healing well and I got my diflucan! Best of all, my doc released me to eat whatever I want...he said he trusts me to do the best thing for myself and that my stomach, at 2 weeks, is healed enough to handle anything as long as I chew it veryveryvery well. No caffeine, no NSAIDs and of course no alcohol, but otherwise I'm free to eat as long as I'm shooting for 90g protein and limiting sugars/simple carbs, just as I've been doing. Tonight I had a little bit, maybe 2 oz?, of grilled salmon. It was heavenly. Now I need to start seriously tracking what I'm eating, so I need a good food tracking app. I'm using My Fitness Pal, but I don't love it. I have another app called Baritastic, but it doesn't track fiber so my dietitian doesn't like it because she wants me to track fiber later on. Do any of you use something else, or have any suggestions about things you've heard of? Sounds like we all had good appointments today, yay June sleeve buddies!

I agree with pammieanne and wolfgirl78. Think we all had to do some real soul searching before we made our life changing decisions. I'm not a soda/pop drinker so it's not an issue with me. I did give up drinking alcohol 2 months pre-op and that has been difficult but very manageable. I'm in this for health. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I almost think it might be easier. You can prepare your kitchen they way you want. throw out junk food, only stock what you will eat. Get rid of all alcohol in your home. you will need help getting to/from surgery and maybe a day or two post. My hospital has a monthly meeting for post op patients and there are these forums full of supporters.

1. How long should I expect to be off from work after surgery? I know that it is up to the doctor, but I just want an estimated idea. I work a very low physical job. So, there will be barely, if any, physical duties. Plan on a couple of weeks. Might be more, might be less, but about 2 weeks is a good starting point to plan for. 2. Will I have to avoid carbonated drinks for the rest of my life? I'm not a huge soda drinker, but I do drink it from time-to-time. I know that I'll have to avoid anything carbonated 6 months post-OP. But does that mean for the rest of my life, as well? It's ok if I have to. I'm just curious. Some surgeons do recommend avoiding carbonated drinks for the rest of your life. Some don't. It may also depend on what your new, tiny stomach can tolerate. I can't have anything carbonated without discomfort, so I avoid it. IMO it's important that you be willing to stick to whatever your surgeon/dietitian recommends. Being committed to being compliant is a big part of the battle to be successful post-op. 3. Are Protein drinks, like Muscle Milk, the type of Protein Drinks that I'll be able to drink, or will they have to be made? You should be able to drink either pre-made or ones you make yourself, as long as they meet your dietitian's nutritional rules. For example, I could not drink regular Muscle Milk because it is too high calorie and high carb for my plan -- but I could drink Muscle Milk Light, if I wanted to (I don't, to me it tastes like industrial waste water). 4. Will I have to stop drinking alcohol completely? I rarely drink, but when I get around my childhood friends, they love to drink, and sometimes I'll drink a little. Again, this is up to your individual surgeon/dietitian. I think it is rare that any of them require you give alcohol up for life though. 5. Has anyone with PCOS had any improvement with their symptoms? If so, please explain. N/A 6. What would you say is an emotional eater? 1. Find a cognitive behavioral therapist who specializes in bariatric surgery patients (your surgeon should be able to refer you to someone good; and 2. Start developing activities and hobbies you like to do in place of eating. 7. Will I still be able to take Adderall after the surgery? Adderall helps my OCD. My OCD causes me to lose concentration on important things, so Adderall helps keep me focused. Probably, but discuss with your surgeon and possibly a pharmacist. You may need to adjust dosages, but most people continue taking their meds without any problems. 8. Is there any long-term pain after the surgery? No. 9. Will I be able to have kids? I'm only 24 years old (25 in about 2 weeks) and I have no kids. I want kids in my future. You will be more likely to get pregnant and to have healthy babies and children when you are no longer morbidly obese. It takes far fewer calories than most people think to nourish a healthy fetus, or a growing baby if you are breastfeeding. So if you plan your food intake carefully you don't have to worry that you will have an underweight baby or anything like that. There is probably not much you could do more beneficial to your future of having children than get yourself to a healthy weight. 10. Will I really have to drink 6-8 cups of Water a day? I barely drink 3 cups a day because a lot of water makes me feel sick. No. You will have to drink 8 cups of some sort of liquid in your liquid phase after surgery, but you gradually shift that over so you are getting more fluids from food. You will have to drink more than 3 cups a day though. I hardly ever drink water and I am perfectly healthy! 11. Is it true that laying down after eating should be avoided? If you have acid reflux, yes. Gastric sleeve can cause or exacerbate acid reflux so this is a rule that a lot of people find it helpful to follow.

@@cwhitt456 - Yeah it's normal. Good for you to look before you leap. It is a life changing decision. The fact that convinced me was behavior change alone results in long term weight loss with about 5% suceed through behavior modification vs. nearly 80% (going by memory) who succeed with WLS. You might want to check with the Cleveland Clinic who did some of the best long term studies on Sleeve surgery. I am surprised how few guys do this vs women, but the numbers are what they are. I am very glad I found out about WLS. In 2014 I thought I had a stroke. It turned out to be something stress related, but it was the first light on my dashboard that I needed to lose weight. I diligently did weight watchers, but with my travel, it was hard to stay on track. I found out about WLS on a pod cast, and started researching (Cleveland Clinic study convinced me). I had mine done in Mexico (just didn't want to mess with insurance, and it was affordable enough). It's worked wonderfully. Only thing I regret is not knowing about it when I was your age. It is a tool. Don't think it's "FM" (freakin magic). It requires work and diligence, but it is an amazing tool. Absolutely changed my life. That said, some things to consider: * Do I have a couple of weeks to recover? Might not need it, but with my scheduled I figured out there were only two days in 2014 I could have the surgery. * Significant other? When a partner loses weight, it can change a relationship. Sometimes women like the chunky guy because he is less likely to stray because fat guys have fewer partners. They get nervous when that changes. * Emotional issues with food? We got fat for some reason. Get your mind right before. * Can I get in the best shape possible before the surgery? It will speed up your recovery and you will thank me for suggesting it. * Can you go without smoking, coffee, alcohol for several months? You want the stomach to heal. Good luck, feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions.

Hello! I know I'm posting a lot of topics, but I am just so anxious about this procedure, and I want to make sure I am 100% prepared. I just have a few questions about what to expect and what to do. It's ok if you're unable to answer all of my questions. Any advice is very much appreciated. 1. How long should I expect to be off from work after surgery? I know that it is up to the doctor, but I just want an estimated idea. I work a very low physical job. So, there will be barely, if any, physical duties. 2. Will I have to avoid carbonated drinks for the rest of my life? I'm not a huge soda drinker, but I do drink it from time-to-time. I know that I'll have to avoid anything carbonated 6 months post-OP. But does that mean for the rest of my life, as well? It's ok if I have to. I'm just curious. 3. Are Protein drinks, like Muscle Milk, the type of Protein Drinks that I'll be able to drink, or will they have to be made? 4. Will I have to stop drinking alcohol completely? I rarely drink, but when I get around my childhood friends, they love to drink, and sometimes I'll drink a little. 5. Has anyone with PCOS had any improvement with their symptoms? If so, please explain. 6. What would you say is an emotional eater? I've noticed a few people get depressed after having the surgery because they aren't hungry enough to eat a lot of food like they used to be able to do. I don't necessarily know if I'm an emotional eater or not. I think I'm more of a 'boredom eater'. I'm mostly bored because I'm so overweight that I can't do the things I wish I could. My weight has caused me to become a hermit and very tired/lazy. But I hardly ever snack when I'm at home. I usually just eat big meals and then I'm done. When I do snack, I make it my meal. Strangely enough, when I'm depressed, I can't eat. My eating habits make people wonder why I am as big as I am, since I don't snack. I tell everyone it's my PCOS, which I'm sure is the truth. 7. Will I still be able to take Adderall after the surgery? Adderall helps my OCD. My OCD causes me to lose concentration on important things, so Adderall helps keep me focused. 8. Is there any long-term pain after the surgery? 9. Will I be able to have kids? I'm only 24 years old (25 in about 2 weeks) and I have no kids. I want kids in my future. 10. Will I really have to drink 6-8 cups of Water a day? I barely drink 3 cups a day because a lot of water makes me feel sick. 11. Is it true that laying down after eating should be avoided? So far, those are the only questions I can think of. I may have more later.

Without more information it is hard to tell. Have you talked to your NUT? Have you talked to your surgeon? What do they advise? Are you tracking your food? What is your protein target? How much protein are you eating? How much Fluid are you drinking? Are you getting at least 64 oz? Are you taking your Vitamins and supplements as directed? Are you avoiding added sugars (especially high fructose corn syrup), starches, and fried foods? Are you avoiding alcohol and carbonated drinks? Are you practicing mindful eating? Eating slowly, taking small bites, and chewing thoroughly? Are you exercising? How far are you from your goal weight? We need more information in order to help. Embrace the Stall http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall

So when I had my sleeve done 6/8, I recall asking the nutritionist if I'd be able to eat regular food for our family's annual 4th of July trip to Vegas. She assured me I would. So flash forward to last Wednesday, my 3 week surgiversary and the day before our trip. I'd heard about 3-week stalls and I was a little apprehensive, but I was 39 pounds down and feeling confident. This weekend I had only one Protein drink. I ate pretty much what I wanted to, including a frozen lemonade and a slice of key lime pie. I had oysters and fish and ribs and chicken and even a little potato puree and some grits with my redfish at Emeril's. I had a Philly cheesesteak slider, but I did not eat at Craftsteak, which didn't disappoint me anywhere near as much as I'd expected. I even had a pretzel dog in the airport when our flight was delayed. No other way to say it...I overate and I was waaay off my diet plan. A couple of times to the point of feeling uncomfortably full, and once to the point of throwing up. Also, since I know it's a topic here, I should mention alcohol. I tried two adult beverages, and neither of them sat well. Both were, in fact, unfinished. I'm not normally a drinker, but when it's 106 degrees outside and you're at the pool paying $15 for a frozen lemonade, virgin or not, you figure you want your money's worth. I definitely got more bang for the buck from the virgin drinks. After all that I came home and I'd gained 0.6 pounds. I'm about to go to the deli across the street from my office and get a scrambled egg with cheese. Time to get back on track and over my totally self-induced 3-week stall. Truth is, I'm looking forward to it, but I also know I've got to learn to eat healthy even in social and vacation settings or I'm not going to feel my best. That's going to be a struggle for me, because I've always linked so many happy memories to food. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I completely avoid artificial sweeteners (was addicted to Equal), use Stevia now. I completely avoid alcohol and chocolate. I avoid fruit juice, ice-cream and red meat, bread Basically avoid any foods/drinks that my body reacts to in an unpleasant way

I am just starting the process and am wondering if once all healed and on solid foods if you can have alcohol drinks. I am not a big drinker but occassionaly like some margaritas with girlfriends. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App