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Well I thought I made it clear that I am not a drinker. Honestly my empty calories would come from milk. So maybe that advice is better for the big drinkers. I probably haven't had alcohol in 4-5 months.

Just an FYI.. I love Margaritas but they have a huge amount of calories... like 200-400. The skinny girl margarita's taste horrible in my opinion... But the Jose Cuervo 90 calorie ones are pretty decent over crushed ice with some Water. That said... being a few weeks into your journey is the concern here for me. Not a cocktail. To be successful you need to stay focused on the goal and stick with a good eating plan. Alcohol isnt part of a good eating plan in this stage of your journey no matter how you try to justify it.... 6 months from now I am all about indulging one in a while...but for now it would be my advice to drink water from a pretty glass and feel better about yourself for displaying the willpower that you are going to need every single day to be successfull. I am not a Dr or RN... so I dont know what medical reasons there would be not to drink.... I am just giving you my first hand opinion about choices. And I should know. I spent ALL of the holiday season last year on liquids. I started my pre op liquid the day before T-giving and had my first mushy food on New Years Day. I attended 4 holiday parties, a company dinner and cooked for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I found will power I didnt know I had. I hope you can too.

I would be careful. If you are on a liquid or mushy diet the alcohol is likely to affect you a lot quicker than it normally would. You may end up feeling awful and you don't want that. If you do drink the alcohol remember not to eat and drink at the same time .

This is fun. I'm only afraid of heights when driving up a mountain. I can hardly stand it. My biggest fear is flying. I can't do it. I used to fly all of the time. Now it's a full blown phobia. I have been on planes and had to get off, and someone once tried to drag me on. Drugs and alcohol did not work, and I also tried hypnosis. Airplanes in the sky make my throat close up too. I know, I'm weird.

This is SUCH a bad idea. With all the "superbugs" out there, I wouldn't want to risk giving myself an infection by trying to save myself some bucks on a fill. I've heard of way too many people who have had to have their ports removed and replaced or even lost their bands due to an infection, usually resulting from a fill. I don't know about you, but I don't keep any antiseptic besides rubbing alcohol at home, and I don't trust that to be sterile enough. Just my .02 cents.

Well you got hungover because you hardly ate anything and probably was dehydrated too, not having much in your system will make the alcohol affect you even more than normal, so never never drink on an empty stomach or a nearly empty one As for feeling like you did i totally understand why u felt like it, even with the weight i have lost i still feel big and awkward, this is not how i used to be when i was younger but i feel it 10 times more now.. I can put on clothes even now and i hate myself, not because i am fat because im not really anymore but because i dont see what other see, i still see the person who looked huge felt huge and felt like i dont belong, so you dont hear compliments u dont see what others see and it puts u on edge, it can make u paranoid. Getting ready in a hurry doesnt help, or round someones place instead of your own home all im sure added up to u feeling what i would term as stressed. You werent in the frame of mind to enjoy yourself and you didnt ..what u need to do to avoid feeling that way again is to plan things better, take some food to work to eat before u leave so u arent reliant on fast food, make sure u try on what u want to wear the night before u go out, plan acessories to give u a feeling like the whole package. Think of how some famous people who are heavy look and deal with the 'glamour' side of life.. Just plan things a little better and im sure u wont have an evening like it again

I waited about one month and I have my weekend drinks. I used to be a beer drinker but I haven't had a beer or soda in 6 months. I do enjoy wine but I gave up wine and coffee for lent and now I only drink bloody mary's or vodka and cranberry. You just need to be careful because it doesn't take much to feel the effects of alcohol. I really diluted wine and filled up my glass with mostly water and ice. Thats helps because I am a fast drinker and it helps to dilute it. Good luck! Remember one day at a time and we all have slip ups but you just get revived and back on the routine the next day. I will never eat and drink the way that I used to so sometimes you need to rebel. We are all human!

I would ask your surgeon what his policy is because they all have their own programs. My surgeon said no alcohol for a year, which I stuck to.

My Wife and I cruise at least once a year. Just got back from a 9 night RCL cruise this June. My new habits now, are the same when on a ship. Simple fact is I'm not all that hungry. I approached dinner the same as I would going to a restaurant at home. Emphasize the Protein, skip the large appetizers (they will fill you up before you get at the entree) ans maybe a low fat dessert. I NEVER went to the buffet at all on the cruise. No reason to, except for Breakfast were I ordered a omelet, and could only eat 1/2 at best. No other sides. When things like Cookies etc were made available, I would grab one, nibble, then throw it away. You have a good opportunity to exercise. All ships have a fitness center which I did every morning. Also use the stairs instead of the elevators. There were many days I went without lunch. Especially when off the ship at a beach, etc. Alcohol was not a problem, has not been with me since being banded. Although I am not a heavy drinker, it's hard to avoid any on a ship. Had at least 2 -3 drinks a day. A lite beer or 2 by the pool or at the beach.

I can definitely relate. I've put on 40 lbs in the past few years, and I've always felt embarrassed about going out in public or seeing people who knew me when I was "smaller" (relative to the size I am now). I feel like a huge ungraceful elephant compared to the others who are much smaller. I go to the gym now, and I can feel the eyes on me for being the biggest person there. I am afraid that I'm sweaty and smelly at the gym (and think people don't want to be next to the fat girl huffing and puffing on the exercise machine), and that's so embarrassing. I didn't even want to go to my 5 year high school reunion last month (because of the college weight gain), but I went anyway and had a blast. Granted, there was alcohol involved that took away any self-consciousness and awkwardness, but I'm really glad I went! Now that I'm getting the band, I hope I will regain some confidence about going in public and being myself (sans alcohol) without being judged. BTW, 20 lbs lost is a great achievement. That definitely would be a noticeable physical change on you I hope you regain your confidence, because you deserve it!

I drink very rarely, always have. I have not changed my habits with alcohol because of the band. Every few months I have cocktails with girlfriends or the occasional glass of wine with hubby. No difference for me. Congrats on the new job. Have your drink to celebrate!! Enjoy your life.

I've tried plenty of alcohol, lol. It's no problem.

I have seen many different recommendations from surgeons on here, so above all, check with your surgeon. I have seen some posts that say none for 6 months and some say none for a year. I waited almost a year, except for communion My tolerance was very low for awhile, but I have never been a big drinker. Stay away from carbonation and drink a glass of water with every alcoholic drink you have. My favorite is a bloody mary. Good luck to you on your journey!

I drink wine regularly, no differences . I'm sure you will be fine just go slow because you won't have much food in your stomach to absorb any alcohol. I usually have a glass or two at the most and I'm at home so I haven't had to drive..! Cheers !!

Hi there I was wondering if anyone has had to deal with having a band and finding out you have Barretts Esophogits. I have had continual trouble from time of banding. Everyday throwing up 1 to 5 times a day, depending on how many times I tried to eat or drink anything. Even Water on bad days made me throw up.I have had all saline removed from band for a long time. I had a scope and dr found out I have this problem in my esophogis. I have had band for almost 2 years now and am really close to making decision to have it removed as my quality of life is so bad. I am either throwing up or in pain most times I try to eat or drink anything.Has anyone been diagnosed with Barretts. Can you cope. Any suggestions. Also has anyone experienced following a couple of alcohol drinks you can eat easier and more variety than days when you have no alcohol. Wierd I know and not that I drink often but I have noticed this on occasions you have alcohol that I am able to eat finally. Would really like to hear from fellow bandsters and would appreciate input.....thanks deb

Hi Mamakatken, I'm glad to hear your weight loss is progressing again. I had my first fill on May 5. It was a little tough at first because I did not realize I'd be back on liquids and mushies for a week. I had business travel scheduled for the next day and was on the road all week. The only time I have problems eating a particular thing is when I'm not paying attention and don't take the time to thoroughly chew whatever I'm eating. I finally had a PB/sliming experience 2 days after my first fill when I ate a roasted chicken leg too fast. It really scared me and it hurt! I don't think I'll let that happen agian....My weight loss has been slow but I knew that would probably be the case. I'm not getting any excercise and I'm drinking alcohol in moderation. I've got to start getting in some walking. I think I may go in for a second fill next week - I'm still eating more than a cup and a half too often. I'm going to Italy on June 1 and I'd like to be settled with my next fill before then. Thanks for sharing your progress on this board - it really helps discussing this with people on the same surgery/fill schedule. Cheers!

This is one blog article I started to write before I went into hospital. I decided to postpone it until afterwards, because I didn't want my final cyber-words to be ones of negativity if things did go wrong. The surgery was a success and now I feel able to voice my thoughts on the subject that has been very much a part of my life since I can remember. Belly bashers! Growing up in a relatively privileged way, my early years of verbal abuse were pretty much limited to the playground, as most are. My nickname at school for a while was Ben the Bubble. Pretty lame and innocuous really, but when delivered with spite by all and sundry at an all boys school, it caused quite a large amount of distress. To be honest, my self-awareness was so low in those days, they could have called me "bathroom tile" and it would have hurt as much. It was simply the hateful delivery that always got me. Going home from school to be comforted was always the option I chose to get through...despite my size (upwards and outwards) I was quite a sensitive soul, so fighting for my pride was never an option. "Ben the Bubble?" questioned my mother. "Bubbles are lovely, bubbles come from champagne!". It wasn't until years later, when becoming a lover of all things alcoholic, that I really understood or appreciated that sentiment. As I reached sexual awareness that the comments and constant digs really started to kick in. I know, typical man! But, I imagine the same goes for woman-kind. Adolescence was the time that I really started to care what people thought of me physically and when my emotions where truly being developed; when they were at their most fragile. And, with the way of the world, this is when people's remarks started to get more vicious. Nice timing. As is the case with most people who feel the need to bully others across the world, the people who bothered me were never ones you would consider intelligent. In fact, it is fair to say that the people who abused the hardest were the most stupid. I guess it is a titanic lack of social unawareness and an even greater inferiority complex that urged them on. If they could make me more upset about myself than they were about themselves, that would mean (in the great scheme of things) they were happier. Unfortunately, what bullies lack in brain power, they have in numbers and venom. The easiest thing for me to cope with was the aforementioned intellectual prowess in the delivery of their scorn. I mean, it doesn't take Einstein to come up with "fat bastard" or "tubby c**t". In fact, I haven't ever heard a jibe directed at me that has ever made me deliver a mental score card of over two out of a hundred. There have been some pretty excellent jokes created on the subject in film and television but, in the necessity of a speedy jibe, the aggressors tend to opt for the more direct and easy to remember ones. Generally those under three syllables. I'm not entirely sure why overweight people are picked on so much. Perhaps we make bigger targets? Perhaps we are seen to be too lazy to chase after someone who upsets us? Certainly too greedy to put down our chicken wings to throw a punch. I guess it is the blot we cause on the wonderful society we live in. All fat people, by their very nature, are obviously so carefree about their bodies that they couldn't possibly wash and therefore smell horribly of sweat and even worse. Of course - this is utter nonsense. The vast majority of the body odour I have ever encountered has emanated from "normal" sized people, who are so worried about what other people smell like, that they forget themselves. It seems that, in the real world, us lardites are fully aware that extra skin needs more attention and we cater for such - sometimes I even admit over compensating with a few more spoonfuls of cologne than most humans can stand. If not the smell - then it has to be grotesque way we ruin the vistas of an otherwise beautiful world. Stand me at a bar full of svelte supermodels and muscle men and the whole scene is ruined for everyone. People get up from their chairs and leave their favourite drinking hole throwing up because the sea of beauty has been tarnished with the sludge of a sphincterless whale. Shame on me. Oh no - wait, it can't be that. I seem to remember most bars I have frequented have been littered with some of the most repugnant abusive assholes, throwing amazingly quite and witty jibes about my size at me - I still stand astounded and amazed at the ingenuity of "blubbery twat". Simply put - these narrow minded Neanderthal people have such a poor view of themselves that they pick on people who the believe pose no threat to them and will roll with the punches like all us chubby funsters (to quote Ricky Gervais - a surprisingly fattist fatty). I won't say it's not my fault that I'm morbidly obese (actually - today I stepped out into the simply obese category - but as it would currently take a small lollipop to tip me over, I will stay on the bigger side for the purposes of this rant). I also won't also pretend that my life would have been totally amazing without the name calling and aggressive comments that have been hurled at me - no, that would be all too much of a lie. However, what I will say is that at the point that I realised how bad this all was for me, I was already there. My way to normal was blocked by the ties of this most frustrating condition. So very blocked, that I found it an physical and mental impossibility to change my ways permanently. I did try and I tried very hard. But I failed...and got heavier. So there I was - fat and not very proud. My will power alone just wasn't up to the job. Even if it meant that I had to spend my days living with the barrage of arrows that were thrown my way to make other more figure-fortunate people comfortable with their own lives. So, I developed quite a hatred for these people. I'm a human being with the normal human feelings most people have - including vengeance. I wish them all the pain that the delivered to me and to be dished back at them a hundred-fold. Being as I am, that is my nature and it's where I stand. Not entirely honourable I know - but this set of gurglings I have decided to throw together is designed to be a therapeutic release for me and it would be pointless of me to pretend to be an other-worldly saint who forgave everyone - for they knew not what they did. I sit and write this as a small punch back at them because I know most of them knew damn well what they did. I do wish to "let it go" with time - and maybe I will as I push myself further away from the firing line. It's probably healthier that way! Most of the people who read this blog are people in my position having decided to undergo weight loss surgery or are making that decision now. Most of the people reading this are simply reliving exactly what they have been through their entire lives. Most of the people that read this will be some of the most unassuming pleasant people around, because of how they have had to grow up under a tirade of readily accepted banter, designed to tear them apart and amuse or satisfy others. Most of the people that read this will also be aware, that they are reading this without the danger of bumping into a anti-fatty browsing through the pages. I mean, would they have really made it past the word "negativity" in the first sentence? Come on - it's five syllables long! Here endeth my negativity...amen. Originally posted at:

The reason he is withholding fruit for the first month is because they are high in acidity. Bandsters are prone to GERD/reflux, especially immediately after surgery because the stomach is already acidic due to the lack of solids. it's a good idea to avoid the fruits for now. It's also important to remember that if you start to develop GERD like symptoms to avoid other foods/drinks that increase acidity (so remember our fruit conversation, but things like coffee and alcohol are also culprits). Once you are past the first month, experiment because some fruits can be hard to eat. Fibrous ones are the most difficult (ie oranges).

That's really horrible to hear, especially since you went to a center of excellence. Part of the "hoops" that most people need to go through is phyc counceling. When I had my appointment she was as honest with me as I was with her. She told me that I should get counceling throughout my weight loss. I chose not to. I was honest with her about my past and she told me that if I didn't deal with my issues, I could turn my food abuse and become abusive with other mediums, like alcohol, sex, gambling, smoking, as well as other food driven issues. I knew from the get go that the band was a tool. It was very plainly NOT the magic pill everyone is looking for. Even today at my fill... man is that another story, the Dr. was questioning me about eating, exercise ect. What kind of treatment are you starting Sat? Counceling?

start tracking your intake, increasing water intake, eliminating caffeine, sweets and alcohol, start meal prep research and invest in any needed tools, try a variety of protein shakes and powders, research recipes and phases....the more you do to prepare the easier the transition will be after surgery. I personally invested in glass meal prep containers, measuring cups, shaker bottle, personal blender, 1/4-1/2 c storage containers. I also had a variety of premade shakes available, protein broths and soups, hot chocolate and chai tea (from BP store), and a vanilla, chocolate and unflavored protein powder for adding to food to supplement protein. Also, get in the routine of being active everyday if you are not already. Hope this helps and good luck!

Okay, I have 56 hours until my surgery. Not that I am counting the minutes or anything. :smile: So, I have this wonderful family. My folks live very close by, in the house I grew up in. My sister & her family live 3 blocks from them. I am married to an incredibly sweet man and have two sensational children! I know, it's sickening. :wink2: I also have a crazy, abusive, alcoholic Aunt, so it ain't all butterflies and rainbows! Anyhoodles, my daughter is my buddy. She just turned eighteen and I couldn't be more proud of her. However, the last few weeks I have noticed she hasn't said a word about my upcoming surgery. Hasn't asked any questions. I was begining to interpret her lack of interest as her not loving me. Even when I would bring up the subject of my surgery, she wouldn't comment. Finally, after school as I sat listening to her tell me all about her day, I decided to get to the bottom of the issue. I started off by asking her if she was worried about the actual surgery. To my surprise she broke down in tears and told me she was scared to death for me! Holy cow! This whole time the child has been so scared, she refused to acknowledge the subject! What I realized is that yes, I am begining a journey. However, I made the choice to take it. The rest of my family did not. They just kind of got dragged into it. I really need to remember that while I will most definitely need support during this process, so will each very special member of my family!!!

I'm a bit like both of you. I finished all my testing & visits etc. day before yesterday and have never had an operation or even been a patient in a hospital before. My surgery is also on the 14th, but I get to start my liver shrinking on the 1st. It's not Optifast but more of a modified South Beach--Slim Fast or Carnation Instant and some small Protein meal for dinner. I went out & bought the different foods that I'm allowed-my husband knows what a picky eater I am and we're both hoping I like all this stuff. I put the surgery off this past spring since I was so nervous (I'd get a real bad feeling in the pit of my stomach every time I thought about it) I don't get that feeling now and I know I'm ready. Being in a hospital is kinda freaking me out-but I'm going to do everything they tell me with the hopes that I can get out the night of the surgery--the nurse practitioner at the surgeons office said that's always a possiblity. I'm not an alcoholic but one day at a time is how I'm thinking of this

I live in NYC so with Jersey my neighbor west of the Hudson River, I see articles on Christie all the time in the NY papers. Just the other day, I saw a comment about his running for president and the poster said specifically that he/she would never vote for a fat person as this indicates an inability to control themselves. I agree with posters on this site who've said that those who abuse drugs and/or alcohol receive more support than those who abuse food. I know I have hated myself bitterly for being so fat and I am having issues even now when I look at all the loose skin I have and now the mammoth swelling in my hip area from recent hip replacement surgery. I can't believe how much that bothers me and it's nothing I did...it's just a fact of life when having such an invasive procedure. Sorry...got a little off track there but any time someone is judged based on their appearance, it brings up all these issues for me about who a person is rather than what a person looks like. Oh...and most folks I speak to are convinced that Christie had the surgery in preparation for a run for the top job in 2016...and not for any other reason. I think that too says a lot about how shallow we can be sometimes... OK, rant over. Thanks for reading.

Good info guys, thanks! Zingy, I did notice that I could eat more when I drank during my meals. So, I am definately sticking to no drinking during the meal. It does put a damper on having a glass of wine with dinner. But I guess we shouldn't be drinking alcohol anyway. I am trying to be really good this time and get all the rules down. Any veterans know of any good basic breakdown of lapband do's and don'ts literature that I can brush up on? Thanks!

Month 7 and I seem to be stuck at 164-165. It's been about 4 weeks now. I also seem to be eating more than I could before month 6. I also seem to be drinking more alcohol. Yeah. I know what I'm doing wrong. It's not so much a matter of being stuck as it a matter of I haven't followed the plan for a month. Time to get it back together. I have 25 pounds to reach my goal and I really want it badly.