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I am new to this also. I have been tossing around the idea for a few years, while continuing with one failed diet after another. I decided this year is the year. I have just been approved by my insurance company and have my pulmonary and cardio clearance left to go. I believe I will be having surgery either right before Thanksgiving or right after. I am scared too! I feel like this has all happened so fast and I don't know what to expect. I know my eating habits will drastically change, but what about my day to day life? Will the surgery affect my digestion? How about alcohol consumption? How long does it take to get back to solid food? Will my skin "sag?" I really just need someone to give me a step by step description of the process! lol

Thanks. I plugged in "alcohol" and got nothing. Searching thru the maze of forums and posts is not practical for me at the moment. Thanks again for the link.

I've found myself drinking more and more in the last year or so, sabotaging my weight loss. It has always been nice to have a beer now and again. The carbonation has never been a problem for me. But I have found that alcohol might be taking the place of food in my life. Has anyone else found this to be the case? One bad habit takes the place of another? How do you give up something that never seemed a problem before? I know this is the reason I am not losing weight. There's about 4000 calories a week (at least) in beer! Anyone else out there looking to get out of this trap? :shades_smile:

Well, I am only 1.5 years out... but I concur with just about everything you said! Sleeve was definitely quick... but I think I was in the OR just a little bit longer... but not by much. And I concur... they should offer this as an option to lower BMI people more often. Benefits far outweigh the risks in my opinions. About telling people... yes yes yes! Before surgery especially! Before surgery I waited until mid-way through my pre-op appointments before even telling hubby, knowing he wouldn't like it. Good choice because it meant he had less time to talk me out of it. And by the time he knew my mind was made up. Told daughter a few days before because she lived with me and would know I didn't come home for a night and didn't go to work for several weeks lol. Beyond that... I had a COUPLE people at work who knew. After? I told my boys several weeks afterwards... just before one was coming home for a visit from college. I never did tell anyone else in my family. But when I returned to work I slowly started telling other people until my entire office knew. I like the way I did it. Still have no intention of EVER telling the rest of my family lol. Honeymoon phase... I believe this is true - though I am not as far out as you since I just had my 18 month appointment 2 weeks ago. I just recently started gaining weight in the last couple of months and am currently trying to nip it in the bud. I like my weight the way it had been for nearly a year, so I plan to try harder to maintain. Unsure about counting calories. Right now I am going back to it to make sure I get back on track... but I think once I remind myself what portion sizes look like at the right calories... then I will probably go back to measuring a bit better. I do avoid drinks with sugars at all costs. Alcohol... that is the only that I don't have much experience with. I haven't had more than a couple sips on rare occasions. Just don't feel I want or need it... but not going out of my way to avoid it on purpose.

I haven't been here in five years, but I thought I should share what I've learned on this journey... 1. My sleeve was a very minor surgery. Less than 30 minutes passed between being knocked out and the recovery room. Quite frankly, I think this option should be more widely available for marginally obese people. Unlike the other bariatric surgeries - which change your plumbing, this is simply the removal of the stretchy part of the stomach. 2. Think long and hard about who you tell. I told a handful of family members and I think that was a mistake. I suggest you either tell everyone, or just the absolute minimum (spouse or care giver). Within the first year I was sure everyone knew and I felt I was being dishonest. 3. The honeymoon is real. For 18 months it's virtually impossible to gain weight, but after that, you most certainly can. My smaller stomach can hold 8-10 ounces of food and get refilled after about an hour. If you fill it with sugar or fat and keep refilling it, you can certainly get back all your weight. I initially lost about 90 pounds and that was too much. People kept asking me if I had cancer. I've since put 25 pounds back on and while I wish it was 15, it's fine. My weight is what it was when I was an athlete in college. I have used my reduced weight and energy to excercise and I think that has helped. I generally do 100,000 steps a week. Again, eating/drinking the wrong stuff and not exercising would surely lead to more weight gain. 4. I no longer count calories, but I do have a few tricks to keep things in check. I have designed a menu with a lot of 200-500 calorie meals and I have 3-4 of these every day. I burn enough EXTRA calories a day exercising to offset the calories I drink (I only drink 100 calorie cocktails - nothing sugary). 5. There's a lot of good and bad information on alcohol on this site. I waited 6 weeks (the European guideline) and the eased in with weak cocktails and wine. I don't think it hits me harder, but since I'm likely to have less food in my stomach, the effect is to be hit harder. I can see no reason to wait 6 months or a year other than minimizing caloric intake. The Sleeve is a timeout from your bad lifestyle, but it's not a permanent timeout. At some point you'll create a new lifestyle that will include birthday cakes, pizza, French fries and booze. You need to manage around all of these risky consumables. You should think about it ll as you enter your journey, never stop reevaluating, and constantly adjust. I hope this helps someone...

Please consider whether your alcohol use has become a problem. You wouldn’t be the first person to self-soothe with alcohol once food is off the table.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. I think it's very likely that you have emotional issues that you need to see someone about. The reason is because, at first, you were overeating. Now you have found another way to comfort yourself. Do you actually crave the alcohol now? Or are you doing it to feel something?

1) Work on addictions BEFORE surgery - get rid of the caffeine, alcohol, carbs, and sugar so you don't go through withdrawal while you are recovering. 2) Develop some mantras to get you through challenging times. "I AM NOT GOING BACK!" "I can't have this now, but I will have it again -later." "It's just not worth it." 3) Listen to your body to tell you if you need to go slower with your diet advancement. The surgeon can give you guidelines, but your body may not be ready yet for certain foods. Don't be afraid to take it real slow and easy. 4) Don't compare your progress to anyone else and think your journey has to be the same as theirs. 5) Start exercising right away - walking, walking , walking. Start building this into your new lifestyle from the start. Advance to other exercise forms as you heal. 6) ABOVE ALL - keep a positive mindset. This is hard, but it is the start of a whole new life for you. Use each challenge to reframe your thinking from a negative to a positive. The early weeks are hard, but they really will pass and you get to chose if it is a positive experience or a negative one. It sounds like you are going to do great!

From what I understand of these surgeries - the lapband is being dropped by most surgeons because it erodes and slips - it works for many people, but more and more are having them removed due to those issues. The balloon is usually for people not as obese as you are, as it is a short term fix for restriction, and I only know one person that had it and had issues so it didn't work well for her. Also if you are too worried about alcohol and a client's 'opinion' of you not drinking you need more reflection on what you really want/need. Your health preserved or a two minute observation on not consuming liquor. Really? You ARE morbidly obese. I am not trying to be unkind - I started at 41bmi, so that was me too. There are no quick, handy cute fixes.

I also find this an extremely judgmental statement. So occasional alcohol consumption = not preserving your health? What about balance and moderation? WLS doesn't mean our lives are filled with NEVER's and CAN'T's. My program is the same. I also am in sales and travel for business nearly every week. Drinking is a big part of the industry and my companies culture. I am also known for liking to drink and having a high tolerance. My first business trip was a week long, and I had about one drink a day. I had beer and Mai Tais (I was in Hawaii). I honestly had no desire to drink, I just did it to be social. After being gone a week, I weighed myself and gained 2 lbs. I was eating fairly healthily and very little, so I can only contribute it to the alcohol and sugar in the mixers. So because I'm not willing to sabotage my weight loss, I'm giving up drinking until I'm at goal (or go on vacation, lol). I'm explaining both my not drinking and my negligible eating on vague stomach problems, so tying them together helps deflect the questions I receive. Call me vain, but vanity is my main motivation. Vanity about how I look in a mirror. I'm single and the fact is a much narrower set of men are attracted to me than would be if I were thinner. But also vanity when I'm not able to hike up a hill or climb a pyramid with my friend. I hate the feeling when I'm completely winded and have to take breaks doing some activity that my fit friends have no problem doing. It's not the physical feeling, but this internal cringe and embarrassment of being fat, and knowing I'm being judged for it. I agree with this as well. Why is being reversible the most important factor for you? At first I considered reversible solutions because I thought, I'm not that big, I don't need/want my stomach removed. But then I started reading and found that the VSG was the right fit, and I do want a lifetime solution, not just a temporary one. You said you want to maintain on your own. Maintenance is the hardest part of weight loss. I think most of us at our weight has been successful at losing, but then we go back up again. I want/need the help to do both, lose and maintain. I'd suggest finding a surgeon to talk through your options with. You'll want a surgeon who is patient and good communicator, so you may have to try a few (my surgeon has no patience and is terribly brusque, for example) I looked at both as well. I eliminated the balloons because of poor reviews. On RealSelf it only has a 50% "I'd do it again" rating vs. 100% for the sleeve and 97% for Bypass. The reviews there and other places also spoke of extreme and constant nausea, so that was a deal breaker. For the Lapband has a 54% "I'd do it again" rating on RealSelf. I also read about all the negatives like erosion, slipping, lack of results. I also have a good friend who had the Lapband many years ago, and still has hers. She says she loves her lapband and has no problems. But I'm with her often and know she has a lot of digestive issues. She may deny it, but I can't help but think they are related to her band. I did go through a period of pretty extreme lightheartedness and general exhaustion weeks 2-3. I got a B12 shot and then I felt almost normal. Not sure if the shot helped, or a coincidence, but I know I'm going to get another shot in a month! At this point I probably couldn't do any kind of sustained physical activity. I'm told it's because of my low cals (300-400). But there are many on this board who are very active soon after surgery including running marathons. You'll just have to give yourself time to heal, then long term you should be able to do everything you could in the past, and even more being lighter and healthier.

Hello all, I am in the early stages of considering and researching the Lap Band. I have some questions on how the Lap Band would work to help me lose weight. First, let me fill you in on a little about me and my weight issues. I am a 45 year old male who is approx 150lbs overweight at the moment. Since my twenties I have been up and down in weight from my ideal weight to 150 pounds overweight. I have many times lost a significant amount of weight in the past. Over the last 15 years I have lost all my excess weight 4 times over a 10-12 month period, but then over 2-3 years I put it all back on, plus a few more! I lose it through diet and exercise, and I put it back on with lack of diet or exercise! I also enjoy having a couple glasses of wine almost every night or a hard drink or two with friends on the weekends while BBQ-ing or watching the game. All this is culprit in not being able to keep the weight off. I know how to lose the weight and I am successful as long as I have a goal and have the excitement of watching the weight come off. After the weight is lost and the excitement is over, I have a hard time sticking with the diet regiment to keep the weight off. In addition, I eat even when I am full because I enjoy the taste. When I am at a buffet, I have a hard time stopping because it is all delicious! Many weight lose clinics will try to determine the subconscious reason for eating. I have never found any such thing, I just enjoy the taste! So my questions: 1. How will the Lap Band help me lose weight? 2. What kind of diet needs to be kept after the Lap Band is installed? 3. If I/We/anyone can’t maintain a diet regiment before the Lap Band, how can we expect that it would be any different after the Lap Band? 4. Are there medications or supplements that need to be taken after the Lap Band is installed? 5. If insurance covers the procedure (I am investigating that with my insurance right now), and there is a problem with the device such as a leaky port, who covers the expense of fixing it? 6. Are there other manufacturing defect problems that can occur with the Lap Band, and if so who absorbs the cost of repair? 7. I am noticing the number one side effect of the Lap Band is nausea and vomiting. Is that a temporary problem or an ongoing problem? 8. Is there any restriction on drinking alcohol when you have a Lap Band? Any insight that anyone can give me would be greatly appreciated, Regards, Bob

Once you achieve restriction, which can take a period of months, you will be left with a pouch (with limited capacity) that slowly empties. This means that hunger is pretty much removed from the equation, making it far easier to sustain the lifestyle needed to lose weight and maintain loss. It depends on your doctor. Many recommend a higher-protein, lower-carb regimen. There is limited pouch space once you achieve restriction, so the most important thing, really, is to choose foods that benefit your body and meet its needs. Well, most of the time; there is room for indulgences and treats. See above; hunger is removed from the equation. If you are a compulsive eater, you will still have to learn new behaviors and coping techniques; the band will not miraculously remove the impulse to eat. But it does provide pretty good negative reinforcement for overeating. This is dependent on your specific policy. Mine does cover band-related complications. I have not heard of any large-scale manufacturing defects. In general, when there are medical device issues, patients (or their insurers) are generally responsible for repairs unless the company is found liable. Your doctor will inform you pretty fully of the potential risks associated with banding, and when you consent to surgery, you accept those risks. It is temporary (and related to anesthesia and surgery itself); most doctors give medication that prevents these from occurring. It depends on your doctor. Most do not recommend drinking alcohol for a period of time after surgery. Mine vetoes it for about a year; the idea is to promote the adoption of new health habits (while maximizing weight loss). Alcohol = liquid calories that are used, by the body, very efficiently (as in, converted to fat very easily). It is also a disinhibitor--making it more likely that you will make inappropriate food choices. That said, occasional drinking usually is not an issue (if you don't have medical issues that preclude it)--you just have to be aware that it can affect the rate of weight loss.

Hi, Bob! Here are my answers to your questions. Feel free to take a look at my blog if you want info. about how the surgery went, etc. (you'll want to go to the beginning). 1. How will the LAP-BAND® help me lose weight? It lets you be satisfied and full with smaller portions. It also stops you from overeating. 2. What kind of diet needs to be kept after the LAP-BAND® is installed? You should focus on eating Protein first. But, by and large, you can eat just about everything once you are banded. You just eat less of it. I stay away from breads that get gummy after you eat them, and sometimes it’s hard for me to eat hamburger without getting stuck, but in general, you can have a little bit of anything you like. The best part is that you will be satisfied sooner. So, if you are someone who tends to eat quality food -- but too much of those foods -- this is a really great solution. 3. If I/We/anyone can’t maintain a diet regiment before the LAP-BAND®, how can we expect that it would be any different after the LAP-BAND®? Well, it sure has been for me. I’ve dieted a million times before. Like you, I’d take off weight. . then put it all back on and more eventually. With the band, however, I have been able to follow the rules and succeed for two years in a row (and counting!). I’m in maintenance now, and it’s very easy for me. I just keep on doing what I’ve been doing all along. My problem was overeating good food, and now that I have this tool to stop me from doing that, it's surprisingly easy to keep my weight constant. (I do work out regularly now, too, which helps a lot!) Also, I am definitely a fan of nice wine as well. One of the things about the band that I really appreciate is that I’m still able to enjoy wine or cocktails. Of course, at 80 pounds down, I can’t drink as much as I used to! 4. Are there medications or supplements that need to be taken after the LAP-BAND® is installed? I take Flintstones Vitamins (chewables). That’s it. 5. If insurance covers the procedure (I am investigating that with my insurance right now), and there is a problem with the device such as a leaky port, who covers the expense of fixing it? I don’t really know the answer to this, since I was self-pay. I think most insurances would cover a problem, but you can call your provider and ask what their policy is. 6. Are there other manufacturing defect problems that can occur with the LAP-BAND®, and if so who absorbs the cost of repair? I have no information about this. 7. I am noticing the number one side effect of the LAP-BAND® is nausea and vomiting. Is that a temporary problem or an ongoing problem? It’s not a side effect. Actually, nausea doesn’t occur. What happens is that if people don’t chew well enough, or their band is super tight, they may get “stuck,” and the food will either work its way through. . or come back up. When this has happened to me, I have always had about 1-2 minutes where I look normal on the outside, but know that I'm stuck. So it’s not a problem to get to the restroom gracefully. The interesting thing about this “vomiting” (which people call a PB. .or a “productive burp”) is that the food only is coming up from the pouch above your band, so it doesn’t have stomach acid in it. In other words, it isn’t as gross as actually throwing up, and doesn’t (sorry if this is gross) taste like throwing up. 8. Is there any restriction on drinking alcohol when you have a LAP-BAND®? Not really. I have wine regularly and cocktails once in a while. You shouldn’t consume too many liquid calories whenever you’re trying to lose weight, so that’s the guideline most people follow. Also, you would never want to be hungover to the point of having to vomit, since that might be bad for your band. But, wine and cocktails in moderation are fine, according to my doctor. I wouldn’t have had the surgery if that wasn’t the case. I hope that helps! Honestly, I am a big proponent of this surgery. It's helped me so much, and I can't imagine ever getting too my goal without it. This has made the weight loss much easier than dieting alone (not that I haven't worked hard -- just that it didn't feel as frustrating and I wasn't hungry and feeling deprived all the time). Best wishes for your success! Catherine

I think it's great that you've recognized an emerging problem before it's able to derail the amazing progress you've made. I'm a nurse and one of the tools we use to assess for potential problems with alcohol is called the "CAGE" assessment. It's 4 quick yes/no questions and can be a great way to gauge whether or not someone might have a problem. C: Have you ever felt you needed to CUT down on your drinking? A: Have people ANNOYED you by criticizing your drinking? G: Have you ever felt GUILTY about drinking? E: Have you ever felt you needed a drink first thing in the morning ("EYE OPENER") to steady your nerves or to get rid of a hangover? Two or more "yes" responses mean the possibility of alcoholism should be investigated further by a medical professional. I hope this information helps. food is a way of self medicating for many of us and when that is taken away, it can be very easy to adopt other unhealthy coping mechanisms. Best of luck to you on your journey (and to anyone else who might be reading this and struggling with a similar issue). Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Welcome ... what surgery ? Svg? I had mine in 3/10/17. It feels great almost 7 months post Op. best of luck in your surgery, you still got time... from here to December try practicing sipping water, eating slow, chewing throughly your food, cut down sugars, and would say cut down alcohol intake, also 30 min rule: no water 30 min after/before each meal... that way your transition post-op will be smooth

Hi, I was sleeved June 8th 2016, have lost 140lbs, so far I can drink sliver rum and do okay whereas sparkling wine, wine have a harder time the sugar dumps into system to quickly. Anyway no one anywhere endorses drinking alcohol post surgery but just be smart and for me I waited until I hit major goals to partake. I am on a bocce team plus work in the wine industry so its hard to not be tempted. Now I weigh exactly 140lbs lost 1/2 of my body weight, now maintaining. Again, be smart they do not want us to hurt our new pouches and to get alcohol poisoning or have transfer of addictions. Good luck

Hi all...had surgery tuesday and got home thursday evening. Everything went well and the doctor even fixed a hiatal hernia that I didn't know I had. Surgery was about 2hrs long. I have 5 incisions and 1 is really sore because they worked it a lot. It feels like alcohol being poured on an open wound so, I'm taking my Percocet routinely. I had 1/4 cup pudding and 1/4 cup cream of wheats today and it's hard getting my water in. It's after 8pm and I still need another 20 ounces to drink. I'm thinking I'll go with protein shakes tomorrow so I can get some nutrition with my liquids.

Thank you all so much! I'm not looking to start drinking as soon as I have my surgery or anything at all like that. I just wanted to be sure that there would be options later if I so wanted to. This whole surgery is so scary and seems like a finality and there's certain things that I definitely want out of my life but I've never had a problem with over drinking so alcohol is not one of them. I'm glad to hear that if I want it I can have it still in small doses.

my surgery date is 5/6. We are having a birthday party for my daughter on the 17th. How long after surgery did people have their first alcoholic beverage. I'm thinking I might have a glass of wine. Thanks for the input

my dr said ok to an occasional drink. i dont like beer, wine, or hard alcohol except for strawberry margaritas.mmmmmmmmmmmmm....... any hoo, keep this story in mind, i only have 1 -2 margaritas a month (or less) but i found out the hard way that the type of tequila can make a huge difference, really good Jose Cuervo tequila=no problems, cheap tequila at a mexican resturant=major reaction !(i threw up every thing!) Before being banded i had no problems with the cheap kind. Good luck !

What sugar free Popsicles do you eat? The ones I found have Sugar Alcohol.

Thanks Dub! You gave me a giggle this morning. I waited until the kids were sleeping and talked to him about it. I told him right now I'm like a crack head trying to kick it, and he filled the house with crack. He feels like scum for it now, and sadly he kinda should. It's like he's drinking a huge beer in front of an alcoholic when he cooks and eats what he does. I know it's going to always be around, food in huge quantities is kinda like the American way. I'm hoping it will be a little easier when I'm A off the liquid diet and B sleeved. My surgery is on Tuesday. Feb 2nd his nookie days are numbered! Ha ha ha ha

Oh man I can relate! Every day I was at least a 7 or 8 on a 1-10 scale and really most days I was at a 9-10. I would cry daily. And took pain pills and drank to help dim the pain. It was an awful existence non-existence! I can tell you the difference at 5'4" and 56 years from 287lbs to 135lbs today is dramatically different!!! I still have neuropathy from cancer treatment/surgery, but my pain at the end of the day is a very manageable 3-4. I live life and can be active now! It's night and day difference in pain relief. And I only have had pain pills for an emergency surgery-and no alcohol for pain management either! It's a miracle! Can't wait for y'all to experience this!!!

I am 17 months out. I am going to tell you my thoughts but please don't take them for the norm. My diet/life style works for me and may not work for anyone else. I have been off of all carbonated beverages for 2 years now. I currently eat anything I want but stay away from bread and pasta (anything made with flour actually). Now when I say I stay away from it that doesn't mean I don't have a bite or a taste occasionally but for the most part I stay away. I do have a small bowl of ice cream every now and then. I also eat small chocolate candies periodically. I have an alcoholic drink (probably about 2 shots) almost every night with a nightly cigar. I normally don't eat vegetables or fruit (I rely on my multivitamin for those nutrients) but I have some occasionally if I want. My diet mostly consists of Protein and fats. I don't eat a lot of red meat because I find it hard to digest. I mostly eat chicken, turkey and fish. I made my goal weight December 1st, 2018 and have maintained it since then (between 165 and 170 lbs). I just had blood work for my Primary care provider and all results were within normal ranges. I no longer have diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol. My doctor is very happy with my results and is impressed at how disciplined I am with my diet and lifestyle.

Thankfully help in knowing those calorie counts is coming! Yay! Overview of FDA Labeling Requirements for Restaurants, Similar Retail food Establishments and Vending Machines Menu Labeling Requirements At-A-Glance Vending Machines Labeling Requirements At-A-Glance Menu Labeling Requirements At-A-Glance In a nutshell Americans eat and drink about one-third of their calories away from home. Making calorie information available on chain restaurant menus will help consumers make informed choices for themselves and their families. As required by statute, FDA’s final rule for nutrition labeling in chain restaurants and similar retail food establishments will provide consumers with clear and consistent nutrition information in a direct and accessible manner for the foods they eat and buy for their families. Posting calories on menus and menu boards and providing other nutrient information in writing in chain restaurants and similar retail food establishments will fill a critical information gap and help consumers make informed and healthful dietary choices. Covered establishments will list calorie information for standard menu items on menus and menu boards and a succinct statement about suggested daily caloric intake. Other nutrient information—total calories, calories from fat, total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrates, Fiber, sugars, and protein—will have to be made available in writing on request. In addition, covered establishments will also be required to post a statement on menus and menu boards about the availability of such additional written nutrition information. To be covered, an establishment must be a restaurant or similar retail food establishment, as defined in the final rule. In addition, such establishment must: (1) be part of a chain of 20 or more locations, (2) doing business under the same name, (3) offering for sale substantially the same menu items. Examples of restaurant-type foods that are covered when sold by a facility that is part of a chain with 20 or more locations include: Meals from sit-down restaurants Foods purchased at drive-through windows Take-out food, such as pizza Foods, such as made-to-order sandwiches, ordered from a menu or menu board at a grocery store or delicatessen Foods you serve yourself from a salad or hot food bar Muffins at a bakery or coffee shop Popcorn purchased at a movie theater or amusement park A scoop of ice cream, milk shake or sundae from an ice cream store Hot dogs or frozen drinks prepared on site in a convenience or warehouse store Certain alcoholic beverages Foods not covered include: Certain foods purchased in grocery stores or other similar retail food establishments that are typically intended for more than one person to eat and require additional preparation before consuming, such as pounds of deli meats, cheeses, or large-size deli salads.Effective date: Based on comments, the FDA has extended the effective date from six months to one year after the date of publication of the final rule. On July 10, 2015, FDA published a final rule to extend the compliance date to December 1, 2016. View a statement on Menu Labeling Compliance. back to top Vending Machines Labeling Requirements At-A-Glance In a nutshell Americans eat and drink about one-third of their calories away from home. The FDA’s final rule for vending machine calorie labeling, coupled with the requirements for menu labeling, aim to provide consumers with clear and consistent nutrition information in a direct and accessible manner for the foods they eat and buy for their families. Even though some foods sold from vending machines already bear calorie information, this labeling is not always visible before purchase. Calorie labeling of foods sold in vending machines will help make calorie information available to consumers in a direct, accessible, and consistent manner to enable them to make informed and healthful dietary choices. The FDA is allowing two years from the date of publication of the vending machine labeling final rule for covered vending machine operators to comply with the requirements. FDA received approximately 250 comments on the vending machine labeling proposed rule issued on April 6, 2011. FDA reviewed and considered each comment carefully before issuing the final rule. What’s required? Disclosing calorie information of foods sold in vending machines operated by a person owning or operating 20 or more machines, subject to certain exceptions. Calorie information may be placed on a sign (e.g., small placard, sticker, poster) near the article of food or selection button. Electronic or digital displays may also be used. Posting of calorie information for foods sold from bulk vending machines (e.g., gumball machines, mixed nut machines). Disclosing contact information of covered operators on the machines or otherwise with the required calorie declarations to enable FDA to contact operators for enforcement purposes.