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But of course it's nothing at all to do with alcohol per se.

Somebody needs to do their sociology PhD thesis on this thread "The Transatlantic Divide: Examining Cultural Differences Through Attitudes to Alcohol Consumption After Bariatric Surgery" Fascinating.

For what it's worth, all my friends are big drinkers. Social events are always boozy. I was a bit unsure how my first social gathering post-surgery would go being the only sober person and... I still had a great night! I sat on fizzy water with fresh lime all night, felt like I was having a "fancy drink" because bubbles, and I honestly didn't miss the alcohol. Friends got drunk around me, and I laughed along with them. So the dry route isn't a terrible one.

I was told to wait a year - and I waited three (years). I got pretty buzzed on just one drink - no way I could have handled two mixed drinks. Plus transfer addiction is a problem for some WLS patients - some end up with alcoholism if they're not careful. I was never a big drinker even before WLS. I'd often just order a coke or something when I was at a bar with friends. No one cared. And if they had - well, too bad. I was perfectly happy with my coke (or whatever non-alcoholic thing I happened to be drinking).

I like this attitude a lot. And you're right, btw. Nice to finally see an empathetic reply from the no side. At the same time, OP is European and we have a different culture when it comes to alcohol (yet fewer people in alcohol treatment per capita, go figure). It's part of social life many places, and it's easy to understand why OP is facing a challenge. If you allow yourself that empathy, that is. The same empathy extended to so many of you in life situations that require us to think about what it's like to be you.

Why not just have soda or virgin drinks? You don't have to stay home and be left out. As long as you're there with your friends, does it matter what you're drinking? If they're you're friends, they'll understand why you aren't drinking alcohol and they'll just be glad you're there with them.

Sure. Have a sip. Wait. Assess. Consider. Have another sip. Repeat. Also the OP is from Swansea not rural Pennsylvania and alcohol is formulated differently there.

After all I had to do to GET the surgery and all that I have to do to make sure that it works for a lifetime, you couldn't pay me to have a drink. I am following my surgeon's instructions to the letter and that means no alcohol. Besides, I'd rather chew the very few calories that I consume.

It'll depend if you ask for the US view or the global view. US view = no. I was cleared for alcohol 28 days post-op. I have had a drink or a glass of wine weekly since. It hits a lot harder, but I have a significant bypass, not a sleeve, so it goes further down - faster - and I adjusted my amounts down accordingly. I'm in the 95th percentile for weight lost, was told to stop losing 10 lbs ago by my program, and have maintained a steady weight for four months now. Still drinking weekly. You need to have an honest talk with yourself about this. And by honest, I don't mean 'I can stick to one at this one thing' and then it goes off the rails. Really think about if you feel like you can manage it. If no, don't. If yes, well, have fun.

Remember that alcohol is going to be very different from before surgery. 1 beer will hit you like if you took several shots. This is a good video to watch

Hi I'm going to a big wedding and really want to have a drink there. I am 3 and half weeks post op. Also my social gathering amount all my friends I've had for over 20 years all gather for drinks on weekends and I'm being to feel left out of my social group. Would I harm myself by having just 2 gin and orange every Saturday at this stage? In 2 days it will be 4 weeks post op.

What's optifast and what's the alcohol part? I don't really drink

Yeah, the RNY bypasses a few inches and the OAGB/MGB bypasses several feet. I don't know what's "full" about RNY that isn't "full" about OAGB/MGB but it surely isn't the bypass part. Maybe the "full" refers to the pouch that fills fast and gets ... full? Or the full absorption of carbs in the part of the intestine they somehow mangle to attach to that pouch that we're spared from? Or the full-on dumping? Or the full coffers of American surgeons who refuse to learn OAGB/MGB because RNY pays well? I don't know. All I know is a) do Optifast b) caffeine omg c) alcohol = pray to JeBuS and omg and areu4realomgomg d) Optifast e) Being fat definitely isn't a complex chronic condition, it's just about willpower. Or something. Anywho. ...

Hey there! I’ve been lucky enough to like everything I ate (except for the bad stuff) before surgery. Great upside was I hate sweets after surgery. Cakes, pies, candy, just uuuugh too sweet. Fried foods I also have an aversion to. I like all of the protein shakes and a few new ones too. it’s funny about this ratio yogurt I just found it yesterday at Publix and I love it. It’s thick but not thick and layered with sugar alcohols like Oikos. I can’t stomach that. It’s not low in calories though so I’ll have to see how it fits into my plan.

SleeverSk That was beautiful i am impressed with you i felt a little bit like that when i had BOTH HIPS replaced i went through so much emotionally that i ( 10 yrs, in recovery for alcoholism) i sat in my recliner and ate morphine like they were candy because i didn't want to "FEEL" so i numbed my feelings for weeks and then i ran out of pain meds and all the feelings i numbed came flooding back and let me just say i was a mess the morphine was gone they were no longer delivering them to my house and i was " on the pity pot for at least 3 weeks and wanted to die because i still had no meds and no one wanted to help me aside from my wife who anyway i was able to get my shi*t together and take the meds like they were prescribed , my life got better and i got better and if you feel like you won't get better you're wrong I'm telling you, you will it's all part of the process be gentle with yourself you deserve to be happy and deserve to be loved even though you may not feel it now theyll come a day you will look back and say " all the kicking and screaming i got through it " youre stronger then you think , so keep your head up you are so worth it. Coop

I can't even begin to imagine what it must be like to have 14 years of restriction without any hormonal help from bariatric surgery. The American standard take here is pray to god, never drink alcohol, suffer on Optifast, and why not try keto? The global take is: - Get that band out, ASAP - Get a surgery that helps you - that would be any surgery that involves a bypass (RNY, MGB, DS) - Know that your deserve a life free from obesity Let me know if you need any insights. Feel free to DM, and feel free to ignore any takes involving Optifast.

They tell you that Carbs are Total Carbs and Net Carbs are Total Carbs minus sugar alcohols and fiber, but a number of doctors/surgeons I watch on YouTube say there's no such thing as "Net Carbs" - that your body doesn't know the difference and a carb is a carb is a carb so to speak.

I think net carbs are total carbs minus fiber and sugar alcohols. But you can't go three months with ZERO carbs. Your brain needs them to function. Just focus on lean protein, non-starchy veggies (like broccoli, zucchini, cucumbers, etc - not potatoes, corn, or butternut squash), and liquids. With whatever room you have left, add fruit, complex carbs (starchy veggies, whole grains, etc) and limit sugars/simple carbs (bread, cookies, chips, rice, etc). Don't aim for perfect. Just try to make good choices 80-90% of the time.

Starchy vegetables are generally those with higher carb content with lower fiber - potatoes, peas, corn, etc. Whereas something like broccoli has more fiber and fewer carbs per serving than a more starchy veggie. Generally, food labels and dietary information will always list TOTAL CARBS. Fiber is a carbohydrate, so it will always be counted there. NET CARBS is calculated as: total carbs - fiber - sugar alcohol = net carbs (thus in your example 15g of carbs, 25g of fiber would be impossible). As others have said, if you have specific questions about how to incorporate them into your daily life, what impact they may have to your personal health, etc., its best to reach out to your program or with with a bariatric RD.

Hi All! Its been a while since I posted anything or been active. I found out in November that I was pregnant. I was 8 months out of surgery when I got pregnant. My fiance and I had just gotten engaged a few months before and were planning our wedding. So it was definitely a surprise! I was really nervous about proceeding with the pregnancy. I just knew I would be ready in just one more year (I've been saying that for the last 5 years!) BUT I was pregnant now, 33, in a great relationship, with a stable income, healthier then Ive been in a while and all out of excuses not to start my family. So my journey began... I am currently 23 weeks pregnant! This is my first pregnancy so I have nothing to compare it with but this has been my experience in case any of you find yourself in my situation. Its hard to find doctors who understand how VSG affects my pregnancy. They understand that I need to be monitored more but don't really get the nuances. One example; I was given this HUGE jug to collect my urine over 24 hours. When I returned it, I was told that they need AT LEAST 4X more urine than I had collected. They were convinced I didn't collect all my urine. I told them that was everything I had to give! They told me to drink more water. Now this community knows how hard that task is. I still can not eat and drink at the same time. I also cant just drink a gallon of water in one go. It feels like a herculean task. I have tried 3 times and have still not filled this jug! I've learned that drinking tea increases my urine output so I have hope for my next attempt. I was really sick throughout my first and second trimester. I already had bad acid reflux before and after surgery and was taking omeprazole to relieve it. Turns out you can't take anything stronger than Tums while pregnant. So on top of the normal nausea, I felt the need to throw up to relieve my indigestion and heartburn. I started really hating food when everyone else kept trying to feed me more! I've been feeling better now though. I was allowed to take pepcid and it actually helps. Now, I have the desire to eat more but still cant eat more than a few bites of anything in one sitting. My food also takes forever to digest so I have to be really picky about what I eat. Fruits are my best friend! I kept my surgery a secret. My fiance and sister are the only ones I told about my VSG. So no one really gets why Im having a hard time eating more. They also keep wanting to see my belly but Im not sure how to explain my incisions. It feels too late to say anything now... so its awkward and more isolating than it could have been. But my family can be SUPER judgy so I think they would just find a way to make me feel bad about it and I don't need the added stress. I get to do more sonograms than your average mom to be. Because of my VSG and previous hypertension, I'm monitored more and have more doctor visits. I really don't mind! I love getting to see whats going on in there! So far so good... mostly. I keep expecting the docs to say my baby isn't growing or Im malnourished but that doesn't seem to be the case. Everything is progressing normally and baby looks good. They did mention that one of babys kidneys is not eliminating waste as it should. The other kidney is fine but they want to keep an eye on it. Of course we are worried but its actually pretty common and generally resolves itself. If it doesn't, there is a small procedure to fix it after birth (if necessary) so we are trying not to sweat it. I got Covid. I'm a teacher and as soon as the mask mandate was removed, I got COVID. Never mind that Ive been vaccinated, boosted and was still wearing my mask! Im actually recovering now. (SIDE NOTE: We seem to be having a second surge at my school. I wonder if any other teachers (or parents) have noticed that?) I was EXTREMELY sick the first week. I was lightheaded, coughing, full of mucus, achy and just couldn't get out of bed. I also couldn't take any medicines because of the pregnancy. My mom kept sending me home remedies but when I looked them up, there was always a warning for pregnant people. I just had to ride it out. Baby seems ok but I'll know more at my appointment next week. As far as my VSG goals... I was 195-200 lbs when I found out I was pregnant (SW:267) and had been stalled there for almost 2 months. I was getting a bit discouraged because my whole weight loss process had been so slow and felt harder for me than it seemed like it was for some people here. I also had a friend who had her VSG after me and had lost almost twice as much weight as I had so I knew it wasn't in my head. I started drinking again and sneaking in more cheat snacks. When I found out I was pregnant, I cut out all alcohol and was really strict about making sure the little food I ate was good for baby. I dropped 20-25 more pounds. Im currently 175 lbs. I havent really gained any weight. Part of me is happy about that and still trying to get to my goal of 155 while pregnant. But I know I have to put on weight for baby. It's really a mind f**k. Doctors say the baby is growing normally so there isn't much to worry about... yet. Technically I'm still overweight and they don't recommend as much weight gain for overweight moms. Im entering my third trimester now and am supposed to put on 1-2 lbs a week. We'll see how that goes. Im still trending downwards... If you made it to the end, thanks for reading through this entire post. I hope it helps. I hope to update you with only good news in the weeks to come! Last note, I'm having a girl! So exciting!!! My VSG has definitely complicated things but I think we made the right decision and I am really excited about entering this next chapter of my life healthier than I have been in years!

I had a VSG in September. I was permitted to have raw vegetables at three months, along with carbs. I haven’t had any issues with veggies but it does seem like the few times I’ve had “conventional carbs” like a piece of bread or a little pasta it hasn’t agreed with me so I avoid them (I make “sandwiches” with low carb or cauliflower tortillas, or on lettuce, when I want something like that.) Alcohol they told me to wait at least six months, preferably a year…I’ve had alcohol twice, and while I havent gotten ill or anything it is a lot of empty calories and I can’t have club soda, tonic water, diet soda as mixers or something like beer or White Claw because of the bubbles. Be warned; the first time you drink after that long and after losing six months worth of weight, it’s going to hit you much harder. Be careful.

No bread, pasta rice & still don’t - they doesn’t sit well. Started cooked vegetables from soft foods so week 5. Raw salad vegetables from about the 2 month mark (I rolled cucumber wedges in smoked salmon & a smear of cream cheese.) I could have fruit from around month 2 too - strawberries & watermelons were my go to. I wasn’t told no alcohol just to reduce &/or avoid for a while. I had a gin & tonic at about two months. Took me hours to drink it & didn’t really enjoy it that much thanks to changing tastebuds. I probably had a couple of drinks over the 6 months until goal. I still don’t drink much or often. Maybe once a month or less & often just a glass & take a while to drink it. It doesn’t interest me like it did before surgery. If I drink now I go for quality over quantity. I was told the no bread, pasta etc. was because they are empty calories & they swell & fill your tummy restricting your ability to eat the protein & other nutrients you need. Raw vegetables & fruit skins can be too hard & dry & cause discomfort upon eating to begin. The no alcohol was empty calories & the whole addiction issue (can’t turn to food so turn to alcohol). I saw a video recently where the surgeon said alcoholism or issues with alcohol affect 10% of bariatric patients. 😱.

So my team green-lit everything at 1 month, including raw veggies, bread and alcohol. Had first raw veggies/salad around 2-3 months cuz until then, there was no room after getting my protein in. Went pretty uneventfully when i did. Bread I didn’t have (by choice) until well after weight loss phase and discovered harder, dryer bread went down much easier and in larger volumes than soft fluffy bread. Still the same now at 3.5 yes post. I do have bread on occasion these days. Regarding alcohol, i had like 2-3 sips of red wine at 3 weeks post. It burned a little and I swear i felt it travelling through my intestines. Next try was at around 2-3 months post with a soju/sake drink and i had one of my worst dumping experience ever. In all i must have had maybe 5 partial drinks in total during weight loss phase, and i got pretty tipsy/drunk each time (though I sobered up surprisingly quickly) Now though, I’m basically an alcoholic (at least according to the North American measure of it. Apparently women who consume >= 7 drinks per week are alcoholics. Soooo… *raises hand* 🤷🏻‍♀️ And yep, i smoke too (at least right now i am, i’ve been quitting and un-quitting for the last 2 years) MANDATORY DISCLAIMER: i am in no way advocating what i do for anyone else. You know your own limits and can choose as an autonomous adult whether you choose to stay within these limits or beyond them. …and…don’t judge me! Good Luck! ❤️

I am 4.5 months post sleeve and I eat salad all the time. Have done for several weeks without a problem. I have also drunk alcohol from about 6 weeks post op, again no issue with that other than that I need to count calories very carefully at the weekend when I imbibe. I live in Ireland and it's really hard to do anything social without having alcohol so I needed to incorporate that into my diet pretty early. I understand that lots of people won't want or need to. Horses for courses!

I'm 20 months out and I haven't had alcohol since my surgery. I didn't drink much before my surgery, either. I've always been a lightweight with alcohol (ironic, when I was 340 pounds), and I've read that alcohol has a stronger effect on bariatric patients, so I'm afraid to try even a single glass of wine now. I don't remember how long after my surgery I waited to eat salad, but I eat salad and raw veggies all the time now. A big plate of carrots, celery, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, and peppers is my main snack every day. I think salad is a slider food for me because I can eat a rather large salad, no problem (I love Skinny Girl and Walden Farms dressings because I can be generous without adding a lot of calories). I don't eat bread; I've heard that a lot of bariatric patients have problems digesting it. I've tried a bite or two without issue, but I don't feel like it's worth pushing my luck.