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I am curious if all alcohol consumption is forbidden after you've had surgery. If after 6 months post op are you allowed to have a couple sips? I know a whole cocktail is not possible. But a couple sips?

I regularly have wine at dinner. Just a glass but I don't consider alcohol taboo. But Restless Mokey is right - they are empty calories, so I try not to have too much.

I had another fill on Thursday and did liquids all day Thursday and most of Friday. Friday night I had a a half an avocado and broth based Soup with noodles (soft food) but I also had 2 glasses of wine (BAD I KNOW!!!) In the middle of sex I got super dizzy and had to stop. I couldn't really sit up properly or stand. My partner got me some Water, and then I had 2 crackers. I thought it was just the alcohol and lack of nutrients. I woke up this morning still dizzy, with a sort of vertigo. I had a Protein drink and a bowl of hearty soup for Breakfast and still feel off. I am okay sitting or standing still but when I move I just feel weird. Any ideas why? I have "eaten" now so it shouldn't be my blood sugar or anything... I had my BP checked on Thursday and it was fine. Please help!!

I found this in an article called "8 Reasons Why You're Not Losing Weight" on sparkpeople. I remembered this question and thought I'd post it here. #1 You're eating back all the calories you burn. When you work out, you're burning extra calories. That's why exercise is so important in the weight-loss equation. But a lot of people overestimate how much they burn—and even use the "I exercised today" excuse to later overeat, overdrink (think alcohol) or overindulge. How many times have you faced a food temptation and thought, "Well, I worked out today, so it's OK this time." Or even, "I'll have this now, but work out extra hard tomorrow to burn it off." If that sounds all-too-familiar, this is one major reason why you're not losing weight. For the exercise to help you lose, you can't re-eat all those extra calories you burned. And in most cases, we overestimate how many calories we actually burned and underestimate how many calories we're actually eating, which means using that 3-mile walk (240 calories burned) to justify that restaurant meal (1,000+ calories, anyone?) leaves you in a worse position than if you may realize: at a calorie surplus. The Takeaway: Exercise can help you lose when you're really using it to burn extra calories, not as a reason to eat more.

Hi. I'm 1yr post op. I wanted to hear other post op's Alcohol effects. Wine burns my tummy and liquor gives me dumping and burns. Beer seems the only subtle drink but bloats me. If I do catch a buzz it's only literally for 15-20 mins.

I havent had any Lidocaine with my 2 fills. My dr just cleans the area w/ alcohol and boom, its in. The second one, I was waiting for the needle and she said it was already inserted. Gotta love these good doctors :D

I'm 4 years banded and only very few people know. When I had it done I told the nozzy people at work that I had a hernia and that was it. People would ask me if I had the band and I would tell them that our insurance did not cover. They agreed. ( maybe because they also tried) LOL!! Even my sisters and brother don't even know. This is a tool to help me lose weight so they don't need to be up in my business. But it is hard going out to work related events. I was known as being able to pound the booze without a problem. Now I take it easy as the band has also affected how much alcohol I can handle. Stick with one story and you should be good.

It sounds like you're doing fine. But I worry about your Protein and Fluid intake. Heads-up – my doc said getting your protein level up quickly and maintaining it throughout is the best chance of preventing hair loss. He also said that hydration is a key to skin elasticity. Armed with that info, I try to get in 80-100 grams of protein and 100+ oz. of liquid every day. Anything else is gravy. Besides those two stipulations, my doc's only other rules are to take multi-vitamins and Calcium-citrate-plus-D every day, and keep carbs as low as possible. For me that means no starches or sugars (including alcohol). Here's my plan. Maybe it will help you get some ideas. Good luck! Rog Below is a "typical" day's menu: As for carbs, mostly I get them from my shakes, Greek yogurt, and the very limited veggies I'm able to fit in after my protein. Other doctors and nutritionists give you carb targets, but my doctor just says to limit them as much as possible. If you're not logging your food yet, I'd suggest using http://www.myfitnesspal.com/. It helps you keep track of your protein and fluids, but also can help you figure out if anything is going off track and affecting your weight loss. Okay, here's an example of my day: I keep a 2-quart jug and a 24-oz Tervis tumbler (with a handle) both at home and at work. I count my morning Protein Shake as a meal, not a fluid. (30 grams of protein) 30-60 minutes later, I have a cup of coffee. (Count it as a fluid if you like.) After that, I drink a 24-oz. tumbler of decaf, sugar-free iced tea, like Crystal Light throughout the morning. (Lots of frequent sips) Then I walk for 40+ minutes. Then it's lunchtime - tuna salad or chicken salad, or leftover protein from dinner. (16-22 grams of protein) and maybe a bite of veggies if there's room. About 45 minutes after lunch, I'll fill another 24-oz tumbler of iced tea and sip that throughout the afternoon, finishing by 30 minutes before my afternoon snack. At around 4:00 or 4:30, my afternoon snack is usually a Greek yogurt (12 grams of protein) or some leftovers. (This is also a good time to get in some veggies or a V-8 if you're getting enough protein at other times.) Maybe a cup of hot tea in the later afternoon. (Count it as a fluid you like.) Then dinner – again, getting 20-25 grams of protein from lean steak, fish, chicken, or pork, and maybe a bite or two of veggies. Finally, another 24-oz cup of iced tea or Water 30-45 minutes after dinner that I sip throughout the evening. If I'm hungry later, sugar-free Jello or sugar-free popsicles are good. And if I'm short on protein or still hungry, another yogurt or protein shake. (I'm not worried about the calories because this menu only provides 700-900 per day.) So that's 70+ grams of protein and 72+ ounces of fluid. If you have a regular enough schedule, you can follow it every day. If not, maybe a modified version will work. The big trick is in pre-planning your meals and your fluids, especially if you're going to be away from home or work. In those cases, I always make sure there will be something I can eat, or I bring along a Protein shake or some kind of meat to carry me through. Beef or turkey Jerky is my on-the-fly meal. A 3 oz bag is over 30 grams of protein and about 200 calories. The sodium can be high, so watch for that. I've also gotten pretty good at restaurant eating. I avoid the bread and salad, order chicken, steak, lamb, fish, or pork, trade in the starch for a second veggie, skip the dessert.... and end up taking half of the meat, and almost all of the veggies home. I know we need to learn to eat "normally", but I'm not there yet – especially when it comes to carbs. When I get to goal weight, I'll work on finding my new low-carb "normal". In the meantime, this eating plan is working really well.

I was told wine was fine. Maybe because you hadn't had a drink in awhile, it was your body's reaction to the alcohol.

Hello to my fellow Adult Children of Alcoholics.... First I just want to say that it's really difficult to speak or write about how my parents' alcohol dependency is impacting my life. I've started to write this thread so many times and quit because the denial and defeatism is such a strong part of me. So strong, in fact, that it took me 10 minutes sitting here just to type "my parents' alcohol dependency"! I wanted to start a discussion on how our eating habits were (and still are) influenced by the drug/alcohol dependent in our lives. For me, food was the singular comfort in a life where I only saw my parents sober for a precious couple of hours a day--after they got home from work. For the past year I've had to live with them again. My dad was in recovery after almost dying in detox a couple of years ago but he has recently starting drinking again (I started finding the hidden vodka and wine stowed away in closets and the garage). My mom has never stopped. It's so difficult to watch them wasting away. Anyhow, my lapband journey has been slow, and I've been mentally avoiding how living in this house has made the journey harder. God willing, I will be able to move out in the next month or so. You know what the worst thought is? They love me more than anything. They paid for this surgery and supported me. But all the money and love in the world won't make them sober. Sorry I don't have a clear question for the thread. I just wanted to send this out unto the internet void and listen for others.

No nutrition in alcohol, in dark wine there might be, but there is stress relief. Avoid anything bubbly. Journal it. That said, live A LITTLE!

I lost 100 lbs in 5 months and then another 10 lbs in the last 2 months. I have had more than a few dizzy spells from low BP. Hydration seems to help. Alcohol makes it worse. I am hoping for some improvement as time goes by. Sent from my iPad using VST

i'm having a glass of wine right now! there's no medical reason why you can't drink alcohol. All it does is slows down the weight loss process. I know myself - I am extremely social and like to drink. I've accepted that and I accept that my weight loss will be slower than other who don't drink. But the food was keeping me the same or making me bigger. the band has stopped the food going in. I've been working out 3 times a week, and drinking almost every day, and i'm losing. I had my first vodka the day after my surgery. No, I'm not an alcoholic!!! but if you're gonna have to live on Soup for a while, why not be happy about it!!! oh, and you get tipsy way faster! some worry about alcohol because some people use food as a crutch or an outlet to numb other emotional issues.... and with the food gone, there is a risk that one may turn to food and rely on that to deal with their emotions. That's a psychological risk, and only you can answer whether you believe you have an addictive personality and need SOMETHING to cope with what you don't want to deal with face to face..... if that's even an issue... maybe it isn't. anyways, enjoy your new band and your new lifestyle!

I am having bypass 06/04/2021 and have a wedding in July, August, and September and would love a glass of wine at them. But I’m super nervous. How soon did you drink?

I tried the alcohol and vinegar mix and WOW, I feel waaaaaaaaay better! Thanks so much for telling me about the alcohol!

Alcohol is fine hon, fizzy wine, larger and champers etc may cause you to feel like you are going to pop (and should be avoided!) but a vodka and orange type drink will be fine! In the Uk they dont tend to fill as tight as they do in the US, I can still chug a drink down if I want to, I have never needed to sip my drinks, and I have still lost the weight. Just be aware that there are SHED LOADS of calories in booze, and as it is a liquid it will just slip down, you can google for the calorie content of drinks -some sites have really good lists- and then just factor it in. Hope this helps and if you need any other info just ask! Nina x

By Jonny Bowden, PhD, CNS When you're trying to lose weight, the question isn't whether or not you'll hit a plateau, it's when. Plateaus are like bad weather on a long hike: it's inevitable that you'll run into it, but knowing that in advance won't make it one bit less frustrating or annoying when it happens. Cheer up! Since plateaus are as common as rain, we have a pretty good idea what to do about them. At least one of the following techniques should help you break through a plateau and start losing again. 1. Be a Calorie Detective When clients tell me they've stopped losing weight, the first thing I ask is this: how many calories a day are you eating? Calories have a way of creeping up while we're not paying attention. Be brutally honest with yourself: how much are you eating? Using a food diary for a while is a great way to monitor this. And yes, sodas and alcoholic beverages count! A good calorie goal for dieters is your target weight times 10. 2. Change It Up When you're not making gains in an exercise program you change your routine. Same holds true with your eating plan. Low-carbers could go higher carb for a few days, high-carbers might switch to a plan like Atkins or South Beach. Varying calorie intake may have a positive effect: If you're averaging 1,500 calories daily, try dropping to 1,200, going up to 2,000 and then dropping back to 1,500. You get the idea. Your body's gotten comfortable, so it's time to shake things up. 3. Try a Temporary Ban Food sensitivities can cause weight gain and bloat, and the frustrating thing is that most of us don't always know which foods are the culprits. So play the odds. Highest on the list of "usual suspects" are grains (wheat in particular), dairy and sugar. Temporarily ban all three and see what happens. 4. Take Your Workout Up a Notch Forget the "fat burning zone." High intensity intervals -- 30 to 60 seconds -- are the wave of the future. If you're accustomed to level three on your cardio machine, ramp it up to level 6 for a minute then slow down, catch your breath and repeat. Ever see a sprinter with love handles? Training like a sprinter will lower your body fat faster than any technique I know of, plus it'll boost your metabolism and lower your weight. 5. Strength Training If you're not strength training, start now. And if you are, ramp it up a notch. Muscle is your greatest ally in breaking a plateau. Unfortunately many women train with weights too light to produce the metabolic boost they need. Don't be afraid of heavier weights. They should be heavy enough that you can only do between 8 and 12 reps. 6. Up Your Protein Studies show that higher protein diets make it easier to lose fat. Protein boosts the metabolism (in one study as much as 100 percent for 24 hours), and increases satiety, making it more likely that you won't overeat. A higher protein diet could be just what you need to break that plateau. 7. Try a Detox Unsupervised fasting is a really bad idea, but the idea of giving your system a rest makes sense. Try a "smart fast" of nothing but fruits and vegetables for a couple of days. The added fiber is always helpful, and the massive amount of nutrients and phytochemicals is like "spring cleaning" for your metabolism. 8. Take Inventory Other things besides diet and exercise could be stalling your weight loss, such as stress, lack of sleep or medication. Take a look at what else is going on in your life that might need attention. Sometimes when you clean up the problems in one area of your life, problems in other areas just naturally take care of themselves.

No, it's not going to matter one bit. The alcohol left your body after just a few hours so the only lingering effect is your concern. Don't sweat it one bit!

Thanks Burgy Telling my girlfriends is definitely on the agenda longterm. I know they'll be supportive, that's not the issue, it's that we are all in school together and them knowing at this stage may jeapordize my future career options... In addition, I'd rather get some weight loss underway to escape some potential critisism and perhaps show everyone that this was a good thing for me before they find out and cheapen what has been the best and hardest thing for me. As for the alcohol- We unfortunately booked a hotel downtown so we don't need a DD (which normally is an awesome thing, but boy do I wish we needed one now!). My doc does allow us to drink a small amt of alcohol at this point if desired, so I will just have to limit and start learning the word 'NO.' Your comments on the dress are encouraging! If I lose a little I may actually be excited to try it on. And thanks for mentioning this....you're right... this WLS is for life. I am in the healing process. The last thing I need to do is to damage my investment or hurt my body.

No change for me. In the last week, I've lost my good restriction (but that's okay because I'm getting another fill - my 5th - next Friday). I also couldn't exercise for 4 days because I hurt my foot and I also over-indulged with food and alcohol on the weekend past (it was the long Australia Day weekend). A combination of these saw me gain weight in the early part of the week, but with exercise again, I've lost almost all of it (bar a half lb or so) I definitely believe now that my weight loss so far can be attributed to a combination of exercise and good restriction, and the loss of one or more of those aspects seems to be detrimental to me. Gilta, it's frustrating I know when the scales are standing still. I hope you get some movement soon (and get in to see your MD earlier than April!)

I was about 8 weeks out before I tried a beer. Its considered a fairly big NO-NO considering the carbonation. I enjoyed it and had no real adverse effects (might have burped a bit more than usual? ) The biggest difficulty with alcohol is the calories. Any high calorie "drink" that slips on past the band is always best in moderation. There are other ways that alcohol hinders our greatest goal.....to be healthier and thinner...if you are interested check out this article. Just How Bad Is Alcohol for Weight Loss? Read more: Just How Bad Is Alcohol For Weight Loss? | LIVESTRONG.COM

I had a cocktail about 5 weeks out. There was a celebration and I went for it. Had no adverse reaction. Life goes on. Just don't turn to alcohol to replace your addiction with food... Be very careful switching one addiction for another. It happens.

I gradually quit coffee first then the nicotine then the alcohol (just a social drinker) just so that I was able to focus on recovery 100%. It was roughhhhh but so totally worth it. Each took about a week to 2 weeks to ease off of. The cravings eventually go away you just need to stick to it! Good luck! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hey all ive been Lurking around this site for about a month now. Thats when i finally convinced my mom that this is the right road for me to go down. I'm Currently in college and my goal is to graduate as a whole new person. I'm about 5,11 and today after avoiding scales for about a year LOL i found out that i weighed 376!!! i was totally shocked. I used to be on the defensive line for my football team so i hide it really well. well actually hid it really well when i moved to college junk food took over and all that nice muscle turned into flab ive been dieting since i was young and nothing really works or only for a little while so i did the research and a band looked like the right choice for me. I already started the process with the doctor visits and starting my medical plan and stuff so whish, me luck.. The reason i'm making this thread because alot of people are saying that what a guy goes through and girl goes through with the band is different and i couldn't find another thread that talked about. So i got some uestion for guys but girls can post too 1.Is it true that guys loes the weight quicker? 2.Is it also true that our Skin snaps back better? 3. Does it affect sex life? 4. What kind excercises and stuff are good? 5.will the band affect weight lifting....i mean like real power lifting....used to be able to bench 250....such a long time ago tears..tears lol 6.Does the excess skin ruin sex life? 7. anything else that you think would be helpfull to guys 8. Can you still drink beer and alcohol? 9. Is it worth it? 10. What is the hardest part? i know some of the wuestions are wierd but i know alot of guys think it so i'm just trying help out thx in advance

What's the story with carbonated drinks? I read somewhere that Gingerale is okay as a clear liquid. And I heard of a guy who enjoys his beer. My nutrional guidlines provided by my doctor don't mention carbonation. It says to avoid alcohol and beer for caloric reasons, but nothing about carbonation. However, other people say you can never have carbonation again. Please 'splain.