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The saliva breaks down carbs in the mouth. This is the first step of digestion. Alcohol is one of the very few substances that is absorbed through the stomach wall. If not, then it would take hours to feel the effects of alcohol. The food mixes with enzymes and Hydrochloric acid in the stomach. This starts to break down the proteins. The food then moves to the small intestine where bile from the liver and enzymes from the pancreas break down foods into simple building blocks. At this point the molecules are transported through the intestinal wall. Carbs start digesting in the mouth. Proteins start to digest in the stomach and most fat breakdown does not occur until it reaches the small intestine where it can mix with bile. Alcohol is absorbed first and the carbs, proteins and lipids are absorbed in the small intestine. Fiber (cellulose) is not able to be broken down by our digestive system and thus is not absorbed into the intestinal wall. Our digestive sytem is remarkably intricate. It is really a wonder isn't it?

Just as everyone suggested...I would try OA. It is free and then everyone there would know exactly how you feel. When you feel like you want to binge, try going on the chat here or if you do start going to OA maybe you could call someone there. It is an addiction, just like alcohol or drugs, and that is why those people have "sponsers" to talk them out of going back to old habits when they are under pressure.

I have an addictive personality as well. I know if I had access to pain meds, I would use them everyday (lortabs, hydrocodine, etc.). Kind of like the bad tempting foods, my solution is to not have them where I can get them. I could get pain meds for my back, but I know what I'd do with them. I never was a fan of alcohol fortunately, even though alcoholism is rampant in both sides of my family. I do smoke though, almost 2 packs a day now since banding (1 pack a day before). I am going to try Chantix soon. It's too expensive to be a smoker and since you can't smoke in public anymore, it's no fun.

Let me just start by saying, I've been banded 11+ months. I don't keep or have any desire for my band to be really tight and my surgeon is leaving how tight up to me. I like that. I just wanted to share my story. I have a very addictive personality. A type AAA lets say. Everything I do, I do full steam ahead. Eating, drinking, you name it. I experienced the alcohol thing when I was younger and did it much to excess. Coming from a home with an alcoholic father, this scared me and I eventually with some help was able to leave this behind. Then the devil on my shoulder became smoking. That was a really hard one to kick, but eventually, I did that too, this time on my own, but with much failure and restarting. food being an acceptable addiction crept up on me then it stopped creeping and just started moving in. After years of yoyo dieting and trying every diet I could find and making up others on the way, with thousands of dollars spent on fads and diet pills I found I could not handle this on my own. I decided to get the band. When I first got my band, I admit I thought it would cure me my addiction. I didn't know it was a tool. I had been told it was, but I still didn't know it. I had not yet found this forum and a part of me wishes I had, but another part of me wouldn't change a thing. The preop weight came off great, I didn't totally hate the shakes though I missed the lunches out 3-4 times a week with my coworkers and found it difficult to avoid the Snacks that were constantly being delivered to the office by well meaning clients. The post op diet was more difficult for me as by then I hated the shakes and had very little imagination as to what else to try. My first eggs, 3 weeks post op was the best food I had ever eaten. I had hiatel hernial repair and plication with my band. I do love the plication and believe I avoided BANDSTER HELL because of it. The surgery itself was pretty hard on me and it may have been because of the extra procedures involved, but like we all do, I eventually bounced back. I had my surgery on Friday and went back to work on Monday. Tuesday I had to go to surgeons office and have all of my residual fill removed due to too much swelling. I had my first stuck feeling that day due to gulping fluids through a straw (I forgot no straws). Looking back, it was probably alot of gas in my stomach, much different feeling than the gas around the stomach. Anyway, 11 months out, I'm down 75 lbs and only a few to goal. My goal isn't set in stone, so may be adjusted depending on how I feel when I get there. I'm not going to have any reconstructive surgeries as my body has managed to bounce back ok. Not bikini-ok, but I'm 55 and never was a bikini personality anyway. I put a full length mirror in my bathroom 4 or 5 months back so I could make myself look at me. Something I haven't been able to do in a long time. I'm just starting to convince my mind that I'm not obese anymore. I eat what I want, I just don't want as much and I'm mindful of what I eat so I don't sabotage my weight loss. I don't feel like I'm dieting, just reprogramming myself to want healthier foods. I exercise 4 to 5 days a week and mix that up a lot. I feel I have developed alot of tools to go with the band and if I lost the band, I might could manage now. I hope I don't have to find out. I just want to give a shout out to all of you out there that are on this journey with me. I know we each may do it slightly differently, but we are all heading in the same direction and it helps. I love that most out there aren't trying to tell others how to do it, but how they do it, which is sometimes different.

After reading what you wrote, I have come to the conclusion that she really equates food with friendship and socializing. When I was thinner years back, my best friend used to bring Dunkin Donuts munchkins and other junk food over. My other two best friends did the same. I was the one in the group that told them to please stop bringing it over my house, as I didn't want to gain any more weight- at the time I had about 25-30 to lose from my second pregnancy. I was successful maintaining this weight, until I had my tonsils out and another pregnancy after my tonsilectomy (sp). Of course, being tired and sick most of the time, I ate, and ate, and ate.....and here I am. Oh, and I also had a friend who owns a pizza and sub shop- you can imagine the feasts she would bring over, or have at her home for all of us to enjoy. Of course, she brought salad, too, for me. To this day, my friends are all the same, much heavier than I am. I don't see them as much, as I live further away now. However, I did have a couple of other friends who told me they thought my weight gain was on their shoulders. I said no, it was mine- I really enjoyed their friendship, and at the cost of my health, continued to maintain it, and still do, but at a distance (I don't get to see them as much anymore, live about 2 hours away). I am the one who should have put my foot down harder and made it more clearer like I did one time- I had my friend bring her boxes of goodies out to the car- and had her take them home with her. She got the hint, and didn't bring anything over for a long time, until an incident in her life happened that caused her to want junk food all the time (her husband was sick, and eventually died from cancer). I didn't have the heart to berate her at that time. However, I told her I wasn't going to eat them, as I wanted to stay healthy and lose weight. Of course, I didn't succeed, but that's on my shoulders, not hers. What I am saying is, some people really do equate food with socializing. Most of us oldies were brought up that if you visited a family member or friend's house, you brought something to eat with you as a courtesy. Get togethers with family and friends always have food.....birthday parties, retirement parties, weddings, holidays, think about it, it's always about food, and in some cases, drinks (alcohol). So, many times, people like your co-worker don't always realize that they are doing this- it's ingrained in their minds to share their food and friendship. We all know how deadly that can be, but at the same time, these friends can also be a God send to us, too, in other ways. I wouldn't have traded them back then for anything, and I feel that way now. Maybe just saw less of them for my health's sake- we got together daily, sometimes from early in the morning til later in the evenings. We had a lot of great times, too, and when we weren't eating, we were laughing and having the times of our lives, while the kids all played, LOL I hope your co-worker can eventually see the harm she is causing. Again, it may not be intentional- this may be something she is just so used to doing, she isn't aware of it. Bringing food to your office might be her way of just wanting to say hi, but she uses food as an excuse to drop by. She sounds very lonely to me as well- so food is her vehicle to conversations. Maybe a little one to one chat about this may do her and you the world of good.

Seriously?! Pepsi is a NO NO for bandsters lol! And I think 18 is a good age to decide to oneself if they can drink alcohol or not. It's unrealistic to assume 18 year olds aren't drinking. We're all friends here, loosen up. Actually, There's a few situations where it is LEGAL for an 18 year old to drink, depending on the state they live in. So, just wanted to say that...pepsi is a really easy way to sabotage weight loss goals, since this is a lap band talk website...I wanted to point out that was a really bad suggestion. Anyway, back to the costume talk, sorry you kinda got crucified for admitting you go to parties and drink alcohol Hollie. Hollie, I've seen your pics before and I can only hope to be as succesful, congrats!

My surgeon gave me a list of things that I can and cannot eat throughout the whole six weeks. Full liquid Diet: Allowed: Water, decaf coffee & tea, non-carbondated, surgar free drinks (0 calories) ie - crystal light, fruit 2 0 sugar free fruit juice, low sodium v-8, diet v-8 splash & tomato juice skim milk, 1% milk, lowfat lactaid milk, low fat soymilk, smooth low-fat yogurt with no added sugar (made with nutrasweet, aspartame or splenda low sodium beef or chicken consomme and broth, tomato Soup, strained cream Soups sugar-free Jello, pudding, sugar-free popsicles, sugar-free hot cocoa, sugar substitues (equal, splenda, sweet & low) Protein powders, Protein Drinks, protein bullets, Isopure (less than 4-5 gms carb per serving. NOT allowed: regular coffee & tea, carbondated beverages, sweetened fruit beverages & drinks, alcohol, Fruit Drinks fruit drinks & punches, regular v-8 splash, and fruit juice 2% milk, chocolate milk, fruited yogurt bouillion cubes, soups with any pieces of food of any size - strained soups only regular sugar, brown sugar, honey, maple syrup, high fructose corn syrup, etc. no protein with sugar or sweeteners other than sugar substitues. Runny oatmeal and runny mashed potatos aren't a liquid, really. That shake was probably filled with a ton of sugar and whole milk. I guess the list above is a guideline though. I'm surprised your sugeron didn't give you a list.

I drink white wine but definitely be careful of how much and how fast you drink. When I had my first drink of alcohol 6 months after surgery I had a 1/4 glass of wine and was pretty tipsy.

When I do have an alcoholic beverage or two these days (which for me didn't start until 3 months post-op after a 9 month hiatus from drinking at all), I go with red wine or whiskey and water. I would always just go with the red wine, but it has some carbs, so I have to watch the amounts there. The issue for me is that in order to have the alcohol, I have to cut out food on those days. I use chicken and protein shakes to meet my protein goals, but I have to save calories for the booze. As fun as it is, I'd rather eat than have the drinks. That's why we only go out every once in a while...

I've always joked that I came out of the womb with an addictive personality. Born to two parents with substance abuse and alcohol abuse issues, childhood trauma and other things always seemed to point me down the path of poor life choices that resulted in addict type behavior. I used off and on from the time I was 9 until I was 21 and then again from 23 to 29. I've been clean and sober now for 10 years and had no idea how heavily I relied on my ability to gulp down fizzy drinks or snack when I fell overwhelmed or overstimulated until after surgery. To make things better, I have a depressive disorder and a complete repulsion to my medication. I've tried five or six different antidepressants and the only ones that work and actually help stabilize me emotionally I'll give me serious nausea even just thinking about taking them. I guess I'm here to see if anyone else has major addict energy and what exactly you poured yourself into post-op? I feel like my life is falling apart. I am down 75 lb since the middle of September. I feel like I look exactly the same. I'm so overwhelmed with work just logging in makes me nauseous. And today my daughter told me she misses me being a fat mom because I had more energy and wasn't so sad. FYI, I am currently on a wait list for a psychiatrist to see if I need to get on any kind of meds aside from what I'm already on and on a wait list for a counselor, but my provider says it could be up to 3 months more before I get in to see anyone. I kind of don't know what to do and I'm tired of sleeping my life away. Help.

I am 4 months post VSG and down 50 lbs but have had unreasonable sugar cravings in the past week that I have given in to - eating hard candy, drinking small amounts of alcohol, part of a bagel, and today I got a frozen yogurt with crushed up butterfinger in it and ate about 1/2 cup and got so sick - vomited multiple times. Why am I doing this to myself? It's almost like I am testing the limits to see what I can "get away with" which is ridiculous since I KNOW that this isn't good for me long term. I am so close to being under 200 lbs for the first time in over 10 yrs. am I intentionally sabotaging myself? WTF is wrong with me?

Thank you for pointing out the sugar alcohol thing. Sugar alcohols really tear my tummy up sometimes. I would've never even thought to check for them in a Protein Bar. I did purchase some of the quest bars prior to my surgery at the recommendation of a friend who swears by them. I had not tried any of them until yesterday. I tried the banana nut, which was ok. I ate it and I could eat it again but NOT something I'd want to eat every day. Today, I tried the chocolate brownie and WOW! What a treat! Now I'm looking forward to trying all of the other flavors!

I went to New Orleans just a few months out of surgery. I lived on shrimp there! Acme Oyster House was a big favorite with the group I was with. I wasn't partaking in copious amounts of alcohol that trip so I tried to find other things to do. So I signed up for a haunted history tour. It was fun and incorporated my new active lifestyle into my love of history and ghosts!

Im thinking about it too.indid see he had license taken away because of alcohol issue.but thats a long time ago and he did rehab etc. I just want to know if he is goid at mini sleeve procedure. ..seems like a newer procedure...lets us all know what happens good luck!!

What are they????

For some people, 48-64 oz isn't "enough"; you have to consume more. Are you drinking any caffeine or alcohol (each requires additional Water intake)? My best advice is to just "try to get more", which is sad and crappy advice here. We need some of those beer-bong helmets so we can stick two 2-liter bottles of water on our heads and constantly drink all day (aw crap, straw... Dang it)

I'm getting so scared they are going to deny me. I've been following my insurances guidelines but the past two-three months I have plateaued in my weightloss. I keep changing things to try and drop the weight but aside from liquid diet idk what else to do.. I don't drink soda or alcohol I try my hardest to avoid carbs, I eat at regular times, I'm trying to be a lot more active, .. I'm so scared they will deny me for the last of weight loss... and then I was denied because the doctor didn't send in the paperwork right.. but the insurance said just have them resubmit it.. I just want this change in my life to keep moving forward. Also I don't eat much because I eat off kid size plates but I'm stuck with my weight.

Waterlily, I know how you feel. I am just at 50 lbs in 10 months. Its been an average of 1 lb a week for me. I want it now too. I like the fact that I can still eat sweets and drink alcohol being banded. My doctor is thrilled at my weight loss to date as yours probably is. Just enjoy the journey. Its going to take at least another year. Good luck.

Here it is.... HowtoTellWhenYouArePerfectlyAdjusted: You are losing 1-2 pounds per week. If you are not losing 1-2 pounds per week: A. You may need an eating adjustment 1. Are you eating 60 grams of Protein a day? 2. Are you eating 25 grams of Fiber? 3. Are you avoiding all liquid calories? a. Soup can be sign of soft calorie syndrome b. Alcohol contains a lot of calories 7 calories per gram.(It's also a stomach irritant). c. fruit juice is just sugar Water 4. Are you making healthy food choices from a wide variety of foods? a. Are you avoiding soft foods b. You can't just eat what's easy c. cheese is glorified fat 5. Are you drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day between meals? 6. Are you eating too much junk? a. chips, chocolate, nuts, ice cream, Cookies and other highly processed junk foods are too calorically dense to be regular parts of a healthy diet. But don't avoid them completely to the point where you feel deprived. b. Stay out of fast food places 7. Are you getting in two servings of Calcium daily? 8. Do you always eat the protein first? 9. Then the vegetables or fruits a. Five servings a day b. Potatoes are NOT a vegetable 10. Is your portion size appropriate? a. meat or fish (3 ounces the size of a deck of cards) b. Vegetables (½ cup the size of your fist) c. Starch (If you eat the protein and the vegetables first you don't need much - Avoid: rice, potatoes, pasta) 11. You might try avoiding artificial sweeteners a. Some people think that artificial sweeteners stimulate the appetite b. They are HUNDREDS of times sweeter than sugar c. They teach you to like things too sweet d. There is no evidence that people who use them are any thinner than people who don’t 12. Avoid most diet foods a. Real food usually tastes better b. Real food is more satisfying than low calorie substitutes c. When you are only eating a tiny bit the caloric savings is not that great (Use a teaspoon of real butter instead of a tablespoon of diet margarine. d. The body has no way to break down artificial fats). a. They may go into permanent storage b. Some people think liposuction is the only way to remove hydrolyzed fats from the body B. You may need a behavior adjustment 1. Are you eating only when you are hungry? a. If you're not sure drink 8 ounces of water and wait 2. Are you eating three meals a day? a. With maybe 1 or 2 small Snacks 3. Are you sitting down to eat? 4. Are you eating consciously? a. No distractions, turn off the TV, put the book or newspaper away, pay attention to your food and your companions 5. Are you eating slowly? a. Put the fork down between bites b. Take 20 to 30 minutes to finish a meal c. Taking longer might cause the pouch to begin emptying 6. Are you taking small bites? a. Tiny spoon, chopsticks, cocktail fork 7. Are you chewing well? 8. Are you drinking with your meals or too soon after your meals? a. Practice water loading between meals b. You won't be thirsty if you are well hydrated before the meal 9. Are you stopping at the first sign of fullness? a. Sometimes it's a whisper: not hungry, had enough b. Hard stop versus soft stop 10. Do not eat between meals. Stop grazing. 11. Do not eat when you are not hungry C. You may need an activity adjustment 1. Are you getting in 30 minutes of physical activity at least 3 times a week? a. Over and above what you would do in the usual course of your day b. Could you make it 4 or 5 times a week? c. Could you make it 45 or 60 minutes? 2. Are you taking advantage of opportunities to increase your physical activity? a. Taking the stairs instead of the elevators or escalators b. Walking on the escalators instead of riding c. Parking your car further away from the entrance d. Getting out of the car instead of using the drive through e. Getting off the bus one stop before your destination f. Washing you car by hand instead of the car wash g. Playing with your kids D. You may need an attitude adjustment 1. Are you committed to your weight loss journey? 2. Are you totally honest with yourself about how much you are eating and exercising? a. Log your food and activity on ww.fitday.com for 3 days 3. Are you using food inappropriately to deal with emotional issues? a. Have you identified what the emotions are that drive your eating? b. Can you think of more appropriate ways to deal with those emotions? c. Are you willing to seek help from a qualified counselor? 4. Are you attending and participating in support group meetings? 5. Have you drummed up some support from your family and friends? 6. Have you dealt with saboteurs realistically? 7. Do you have realistic expectations about the weight loss journey? 8. Are you still obsessing about food, weight, dieting, eating? a. Obsessive compulsive thoughts (Obsess about something else) b. Perfectionism (All or none, black and white thinking) c. Patience with the pace of healthy weight loss 9. Are you acknowledging your successes with non-food rewards? 10. Have you learned how to take a compliment? 11. Are you giving up diet mentality? a. Stop weighing yourself several times a day or every day b. Stop dieting c. Stop depriving yourself d. Stop defining food as good and bad e. Stop rewarding and punishing yourself with food 12. How do you feel about all the changes taking place? E. You may need a band adjustment 1. You feel like you are making healthy food choices in appropriate portion sizes but getting hungry between meals? 2. You can still eat white bread, fibrous vegetables and large portions. 3. You are having to struggle to lose 4. You are gaining weight in spite of eating right, exercising and having a good mind set. F. You may need your band loosened 1. There are times when you can’t get fluids down 2. You are vomiting too much a. How much is too much? 3. Do you have frequent reflux or heartburn at night? a. Do not lie flat or bend over soon after eating b. Do not eat late at night or just before bedtime c. Rinse your pouch with a glass or water an hour before bedtime d. Certain foods or drinks are more likely to cause reflux: (1) Rich, spicy, fatty and fried foods (2) Chocolate (3) Caffeine (4) Alcohol (5) Some fruits and vegetables (6) Oranges, lemons, tomatoes, peppers (7) Peppermint (8) Baking soda toothpaste (9) Carbonated drinks e. Eat slowly and do not eat big meals f. If you smoke, quit smoking g. Reduce stress h. Exercise promotes digestion i. Raise the head of your bed j. Wear loose fitting clothing around your waist k. Stress increases reflux l. Take estrogen containing medications in the morning m. Avoid aspirin, Aleve and ibuprofen at bedtime (Tylenol is OK) n. Take an antacid (Pepcid complete) before retiring o. Try other over-the-counter heartburn medications p. See your health care provider

Lol How far out are u and when did u start trying alcohol

Shawn, please keep me updated on what you find out. I have not had any changes in fill since Mar 2006. I have the right restriction for here - Lilongwe is higher altitude and that affects me. I started having reflux in Sept. It increased alot since then. But last week when I was on vacation, it pretty much went away. I am thinking its stress. Unfortunately, for me to see a dr for this, I would have to fly to Europe or US. The strange thing is, when I do everything right (eat early, no alcohol, prop up, etc) and still get reflux, its at about 3:30-4 am. That is why I think its stress. Any words of wisdom will help. Thanks. Celeste

I think there are some people who need formal help to deal with their issues surrounding why, what, when, where and how they eat. I think there are some harsh realities for all of us to face up to about why we ate so much and let ourselves gain until we reached some state of fatness that required surgery. But I also think that by being honest with yourself and facing up to the reality you can face the issues and move on without professional help. By the way I think if you are prone to falling victim to another addiction seeing a shrink won't stop you it will just give you a neutral person to talk about your new addiction with. I think that if look at alcoholics, gamblers etc until they were ready to give it up and stop on their own they didn't stop. If you mentally aren't ready to give up all the comfort of food, mentally and start channelling that time and energy you spent eating into something out there are tons of other things that are safe you can obsess about. I can say after 5 years I am still not a gambler, huge drinker, smoker, druggie or basically anything else but a person.

I have no problem believing the statistics quoted on the show of 30% of WLS patients end up substituting the addiction to food to something else. I think as Carnie Wilson said, it takes an addictive personality. I believe if those same people managed to lose the weight courtesy of WW or Jenny Craig, they would have done so by swapping addictions. An alcoholic who manages through AA or jail time or whatever to quit drinking would probably have the same liklihood (30%) of falling into another addictive situation. And all would have an even higher incidence of repeating the addiction. But with alcoholism for instance there is no band equivalent to keep you from drinking, as our bands limit how we can eat. She (Carnie) stated she is still addicted, she just finds other things to fixate on...now hers may be trying to "fix" other people or telling the world about her problems! As for the other guests, a woman who is less concerned with how the problem is affecting her family than being referred to as an alcoholic or an addict...it seems to me that is just the tip of the iceberg with her problems!! They also went into detail with the alcohol issue of how it affects the body different now, getting drunk on less, in a quicker time, and sobering up quicker. If you have any sort of addictive personality, that would be a big, huge draw! My brother has an addictive personality. When he was young it was pot. He got hurt in an accident and was side lined long enough recovering to escape that addiction, instead it was then his prescription meds. Well with my folks, and the Dr. they handled that one. Then it turned to alcohol. He struggled with alcoholism for years. His accident left him with brain damage, and the Dr.'s told us with his new level of behaviour he likely would never quit. Through a mix up he ended up forced into sobriety years later. He has been sober for over 7 years now. And now he has 2 new addictions, ones he fully recognizes, and intends to keep. He sees what is happening to him. Now he smokes cigarettes, he never did til his mid 30's! And he drinks coffee...tons of it. He has no less than 20-25 clamp top jars of coffee beans in his kitchen. He grinds and brews his coffee...but he is always shopping for new types...it is so wierd!!! Now he has suffered ( dealt with, or whatever) with all these addictions through his 44 years, but the one thing he has never turned to??? Food!!! He is 6'3" and never has weighed more than 155 pounds!!! Then there is me....We would have made Oprah's head spin!!! I do wonder if most people recognize their own tendencies to addict to things. Maybe that should be part of the psychological work up prior to banding. I agree Oprah seemed really rude to the nurse. The comment was uncalled for, all of us knew we were fat, just as she did when she was, we don't need it pointed out to us especially on national TV! Maybe seeing that will keep us from doing those things if we remember it! Kat

A shot is probably not a great idea. Alcohol will affect us more quickly and more decisively than ever before. I'm 5 weeks post op. I probably still won't drink for a while. But if I had to have hard liquor I'd try something I could sip. Something to savor over a little while.

HI all! I just wanted to know what are the best choices for us to drink at social events? I wanted to know if Lite Beer, or vodka tonic is ok.