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Hello everyone i am 6 weeks post op gastric bypass and my girl surprised me for a vacation to the caribbean this saturday, any ideas on drinking n eating out this early thanx

I was in your exact shoes with my surgeon and his reasoning for making my goal weight 150lbs was because I am considered large frame. I have huge ankle, knee joints, seriously, my husband can not wrap his hand around my ankles, and I am extremely barrel-chested (wide ribcage). So, after much consideration, and really thinking of what I would look like at 150 vs. 125, I was content with 150lbs as my goal weight. I went below my goal weight and at my lowest, 119lb, I was too small. My bones were protruding, you could see the blue veins through the skin on my neck. I purposely gained weight to give me a maintenance weight average of 125-130lbs, and in that range I am perfectly content. Actually, I was perfectly content at 150lbs, I still had boobs, I still had some curviness to my figure. I was wearing a 7/9 and with the drop of 20-25lbs, I was wearing a size 2 jeans, and xtra small tops, so even though I didn't drop major pounds, I lost lots of inches, and sizes. I got there in a healthy manner. I didn't starve myself, or not eat certain foods. Once I hit the 150 mark, I did start adding in more calories and carbs per his instructions, and it took another 4 months to lose those 20-25lbs so I was doing my damnedest to not lose anymore weight. I also had zero issues maintaining between 125-130lbs. I personally didn't mind the bounce on the scale considering my choices in eating in moderation, and not restricting certain foods. It's just how I want to live my life post-VSG. So, I accept the bounce on the scale, if the scale bounces up to 131-132, I'm cutting the alcohol and white carbs for a few days, but I'm not really dieting, just being more mindful of what I'm eating and drinking.

Love Stevia and think it's a Godsend! Thanks to the sugar industry monopoly we won't see any Stevia-sweetened colas any time soon but anyone can buy it for cooking and sweetening. Unlike any of the artificial sweeteners (which I now think are far more dangerous than processed sugar even though I like the taste of Nutrasweet) I would give Stevia to a child.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> Here's the interesting part. I'm a classic sugar addict. The more I eat the more I want. (Sugar hits my brain the way alcohol hits an alcoholic’s brain.) One way I used to lose weight was to give up all sugar - processed and artificial. If I eat no sugar or sweeteners and am careful to balance fruit (fructose) and milk (lactose) with protein, fiber or fat, I eat less, get hungry, get full. You know like a normal person. I'm on a four-week pre-diet to show my doctors that I can change my eating habits and I've done a really good job of getting rid of the real and fake sugars. But this time I am using Stevia in green tea, cereal, etc. And I still have normal eating patterns. I haven’t craved sugar whereas diet coke in the morning meant an ice cream binge at night.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> This works for me and my body chemistry and I think there are dozens of reasons/addictions that cause people to gain weight. But if you are a huge sugar eater you might want to try Stevia as a substitution and see if it lowers the desire for other sweets. There is a lot of information online about Stevia as well as recipes, sugar substitution measurements and health pros. (Have yet to see a real con about Stevia.)<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> I was introduced to Stevia by my healthiest friend – the aerobics instructor who munches veggies all day and lives healthy, not just talks it – and I am very glad I found it. It’s a little expensive at $10+ a bottle, but the bottle will last forever. I also recommend the packets which can be stored in a purse or wallet easily.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> 100% natural – no calories – no bad effects – no calories – ok for diabetics as there is no spike in blood sugar – no calories – ground plant root – no calories – no chemicals and did I mention it has no calories?:biggrin2: Love this stuff and strongly encourage all to try it. Trader Joe’s, Henry’s, Whole Foods, any health food shop all carry it so it is easy to find (and I suspect you will see it in the supermarkets soon as people discover this “miracle” herb.) There are different flavors - sometimes it tastes like licorice (yuck!) so I go for the labels that indicate no aftertaste and a lighter flavor. Let me know if you have any questions.:thumbup:

Methamphetamine is great for weight loss. I'm not sure if you admit that you recently used that you will be approved through insurance. I remember having to sign that I was substance free, including alcohol, for a specific period of time but I don't remember how long. The psychologist also asked me 30 different ways about past alcohol/drug use. I happened to never try anything other than alcohol so I was safe. My only addiction was to greasy food. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I think I was about 10 weeks out before I had alcohol, it burned so I stopped. It was white wine. I am not a big drinker to begin with, only occasional like maybe every 4 to 6 weeks. The no mixer thing is hard. Just this past weekend I tried Jim Beam Honey infused (I usually drink Crown) and it was so smooth, no mixer required whatsoever! This coming from someone who can't get tequila past her nose and has never had a straight shot of anything before I had surgery. I say this because alcohol is not a big draw for me, I can take it or leave it. Keep in mind the potential for cross addiction. I just don't think I'm alcoholic material.

Apple Cider Beats Eggnog Six fluid ounces of eggnog without alcohol has 258 calories and 14 grams of fat (more than a Snickers bar), while the same amount of apple cider has only 90 calories and no fat. It's a no-brainer! If you can't forgo the eggnog, consider a reduced-fat version. Veggies and Hummus Top Chips and Dip Veggies and hummus are lower in fat and calories than your typical chip-and-dip (or cheese-and-cracker). Plus, they're full of fiber, which helps stave off hunger and keeps you satisfied. Shrimp Cocktail Is a Winner Whenever you have to choose between deep-fried anything and simple, cold fish, the latter is almost always healthier. Three ounces of shrimp have just 90 calories, but if they're fried, the same amount packs more than 200 calories. Turkey Breast Is Your Best Bet In addition to being an excellent source of protein, turkey offers the least amount of fat per serving, among all other meats, if you pass on the skin. Four ounces of turkey breast sans skin is just 152 calories and almost no fat compared to 236 calories and 12 grams of fat in a skin-on drumstick. Cranberries Make a Good Sauce Spoon cranberry sauce over turkey and stuffing instead of meat-based gravy. Cranberries are packed with vitamin C and also provide a fair amount of dietary fiber, so you can protect yourself from an impending cold and fill up at the same time. Baked Sweet Potatoes Are a Smart Side Baked sweet potatoes are lower in calories and fat than buttery mashed potatoes or candied yams. Plus, they're rich sources of antioxidants, such as Vitamin C and beta-carotene. And if you eat the skin, you'll reap some fiber benefits, too. Just slice them in half, brush lightly with butter and sprinkle with cinnamon and bake. Green Beans Minus the Casserole Enjoy green beans steamed with garlic, or for a lower-fat version of the traditional casserole (you know, the one full of butter, cream, cheese and fried onion strings), use fat-free cream of mushroom soup and go light on the butter. All the yum and none of the guilt. Champagne Is Choice At just 100 calories, a glass of Champagne will do much less damage than a hot toddy, which weighs in at 200 calories -- and that's before the whipped cream. Just keep in mind that after one or two glasses of Champagne, you may be more likely to say yes to that pecan pie. Pass Up the Pecan Pie for Pumpkin A slice of pecan pie has about 400 calories and pumpkin pie has about half that. You can cut the calories in your pumpkin pie even more by using an egg substitute, low-fat evaporated milk and a sugar alternative like Splenda.

Look. First of all, never, ever, ever EVER weigh at night. If you must weigh, weigh once a day, first thing in the AM. I can "pack on" as much as six pounds throughout the day - it's Water, sodium, little muscle tears from exercise, whatever. Second - the alcohol. There's a line here. For starters, it's not forbidden and it's not packing on pounds. It is, however, empty calories but so long as you log them and account for them in your diet it is not an issue - LATER ON. There is nothing wrong with a drink but you'll find yourself even more dehydrated and might find your mood isn't so great if this is where you're consuming a good number of your calories so far. What can be an issue is transfer addiction, so please be mindful. Socially drinking at one year out has somehow turned into daily drinking for me three years out. I was enjoying just one beer, cider or wine an evening but have recently called it quits entirely. Alcoholism is very, very common post WLS, so just be aware of your consumption. Finally: reassurance. You already know that 3,500 calories make a pound. And you already know you didn't accidentally consume an additional 21,000 calories in the course of a few days. Lynda told you and it's true - it is physically impossible to gain that much, that fast. Hormones play a role here, too. I gain four pounds every cycle. Stress makes me gain. Lack of sleep makes me gain. Too much sodium will make the scale bounce. If there were as many ways to lose as there are to gain, we'd all fly to goal in no time and hang there forever! I had two nine week stalls. Stalls are normal and happen. Put that scale away - HatheryOHW is absolutely right because it's making you a bit crazy. If it depresses you and brings you down it's a problem. So weigh once a day, first thing and put it out of your mind. Do not expect to lose every time you step on the scale. You are only a handful of weeks out from surgery. Your body is still recovering. Give it some time. This happened to me a lot, too. It still does!! I bounce up and down on the scale or hold steady for weeks at a time. Then, all at once a few pounds fall off. Then I get to start the whole process again! I had months where I only lost in the tenths of a pound. Relax. Get back on your PPI if you've not been taking it. Eating regular, small meals will help. Do not allow yourself to be dehydrated. At this point, your focus is still hydration, then Protein, then calorie count. And no, alcohol doesn't fit in there just yet, at least not regularly. It's more important to focus on building a solid foundation of good habits here before moving into the things we learn while transitioning to maintenance! ~Cheri

Well, I am sure it is frowned upon, but I had an alcoholic drink less than a week post op. No harm. I am not losing as fast as I could, but I still get to go out w/ my friends and enjoy life. I do an extra workout on Friday and a really long workout on Saturdays to try and make up for the extra calories I consume in alcohol on the weekends, but it is crazy how fast it adds up. I track it on Lose It and it is almost makes it not worth it when you realize how long you have to work out to have a couple drinks! (not to encourage beer, but my sister had lap-band 4 years ago and drinks beer several times a week and hasn't had a problem...but everyone is different)

Took a little vacation last week and first part of this week and was bad. Was out in nature camping and it ate camp food, hotdogs, Beans, cheeseburgers, ALCOHOL . Have not and will not get on the scale to see what injury/damage I've done. Had a wonderful time! I've got a fill scheduled for Monday so I'll find out. Last time at the Doc's I was 185. I hope I haven't gained too much but if I gained a pound or two I'll forgive myself and get back on track. I know that March was pretty much a wash with no weight loss and not sure why cuz I worked my butt off. Will post update Monday. Just wanted to say hi, I'm glad I'm back and need my pals here to help me get back on track.

I am so disappointed in myself. I have gone from 290 date of surgery, March 16 2015 down to 235 as of today. The scale has not moved in 3-4 weeks. I eat about 1,000 - 1,200 calories a day. I'm not consistent with Protein or Water. I am failing myself. My stressful job keeps me occupied about 9am - 7pm. I don't exercise much, but am active on the weekends. I drink alcohol on the weekends, maybe 4-5 drinks a night, vodka and sugar free cranberry juice. I had my appendix out in late June and was out of commission for a couple weeks. My doctor already thinks I'm a failure, he said I'm not doing as good as other women have he has sleeved. I dread seeing him, it's always a lecture, statistics shoved down my throat and I end up feeling like a failure for getting sleeved and still being obese. Anyway, I would like some suggestions. I am starting to log my intake into MyFitnessPal and be mindful of what I am consuming. I've set a limit if 1,000 calories. Any motivating tips or encouragement would be appreciated. Anybody with similar stories who turned their ship around out there? Any advice, feedback or even tough love will be invited. I really want to hit my goal of 160 lbs, but doctor doesn't think I will based on statistics of my current weight loss and what I'm "trending". Hugs!

Alcohol use is exactly why Carnie Wilson re-gained her weight after her bypass. She was supposedly up to 10 mimosas a day! You've taken a brave step by admitting it on here. I know you don't want to waste all your pain and hard work. We are here for you whenever you feel the temptation!

I was told that I would for sure become an alcoholic after surgery during my pre-op psyche visit. Here I am at 10.5 months out and, while I do drink alcohol sometimes, I'm not an alcoholic. I am working very hard to transfer my addiction to exercise instead!

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.

I'm seven months out. The only goal that I had from this surgery was to reduce the amount of medications that I was taking. I didn't give a rip and still don't, about the scale. I've have met the goal that I have set in that respect, and I am now working on getting my weight to a point that I have not been before. I am not the fastest loser, but I really don't care that much as a slow loser tends to be a permanent one. I still have about 35+ lbs to go and probably will make that goal within the year I set out to do. I have really worked on changing my lifestyle. I eat healthy and I eat properly. I cut out the things that got me to the fat ass stage. (Soda, alcohol, carbs etc.). I don't eat white foods (flour, rice, pasta, etc.). I workout daily and I run almost every day. I don't miss eating anything. I still go out, I still have fun, probably more fun than before as I can be more active. I am thinking about a career change (I am a chef) and getting out of the food business. The surgery has given me the opportunity to really understand my relationship with food and eating. I really have a better idea of what my triggers are and how they can impact my eating and in turn, my life. For me, the decision to have the surgery has been one that I feel was proper. I have worked hard, and probably could have loss the weight on my on without the surgery, but in general I am glad that I did it. I think for the long term, it is a better approach.

So I thought I'd run it all down. I might add some pictures tomorrow when I take them for my records. 10 days before Surgery two months ago I weighed 346 lbs. Everything made me out of breath. I wasn't exercising nor dieting. In fact had probably spent the last few months leading up to this going to as many restaurants/fast food places as I could, getting my favorites for one last time. Started the full liquid 10 days before surgery lost about 12lbs and on July 24th, 2017 I was SLEEVED. *insert "Law and Order" chung-chung sound here* It took a week after that to feel only a mild pain from the incisions, probably 2 weeks after for the pain to be gone entirely. I was on clear liquids for the whole first week after surgery. Walking helped, shuffling around the house in my slippers. I didn't have any gas pains and I'd say my best friend, or the best thing I bought after surgery (at the advice of some angel on the forum) was a stomach support stretchy velcro thingy. It kept me feeling like my guts weren't falling out...gave me stomach support when it was weak. Noticed the pounds coming off at a steady, very steady, 2lbs per day. That is, until the three week stall which is REAL y'all. Went through the entire month of August on Full Liquid diet. Consisted on two protein shakes and a bowl of soup and of course lots of water. Didn't really do a whole lot of exercising all that much, but that has changed since my last Surgeon's appointment when he said I could go to pureed for a week, then solid foods. I've been walking about 2 miles a day and increasing daily and it's making the pounds move. I have 6 - 8 months to maximize this loss and I am going to do it. I'm already addicted to walking everyday and loving it immensely. I don't get out of breath easily at all anymore and I'm pushing myself gently to the point that I actually feel like JOGGING!!! Cut to today. I am at 290. That is a loss of 56 lbs and I definitely can feel it. This is only two months in. Problems: After Surgery and a little recovery I had a hard time figuring out what to do with my life in my leisure time. Everything had always revolved around food and eating and or drinking with friends. Checking out new Restaurants, going to favorite restaurants, drinking at local watering hole - these all had to be requestioned and rethought. I had to figure out what to do to occupy my time better. i think i have since worked it out. I still go to my neighborhood watering hole, but I have that - water and I pay for some of my friends drinks that way I am contributing to the financial necessities of the establishment and not just taking up space. I have bought a pop up camper from 1970 and I am in love with it and spend at least one pretty day a week tinkering with it and getting ready for a big camping trip at the end of the month. Eating in general has slowly become a Non-Pleasure. I use solid food as medicine now. if I am hungry it takes soooooo verrrrrrrrryyyyy littttttlllllee before I just have to stop. it's just a necessity and definitely not a desire. My pleasure sensors or joy sensations when it comes to food have all but burned and fizzled out. Is that really a PROBLEM? I don't know. It CERTAINLY is confusing. I NEVER know what will work or not in my stomach right now. It's a virtual guessing game. Almost. I say almost because I know there are "guides" and recommendations, but the reality of having to look everything up before you attempt to have a meal is ridiculous. The mood swings, the toxins stored in your fat releasing itself into your system as the fat dissipates causing the mood swings and the bursts of hormones/testosterone are a roller coaster ride and not always a fun one. Sometimes they are not fun at all. The loss of the feeling of "completion" with eating. The loss of the "full and content" feeling has been weird to me...it's just, you're done and your stomach might feel queasy or your stomach might just feel fine, but you're just done and that's it. I don't know, again, if that's a real problem but it's just...different. The way my torso, specifically my stomach and man boobs are going to take the longest to lose fat certainly can make the rest of your body look weird in the mean time. Good Stuff: Inches and Pounds, Inches and Pounds! Dropping from a 3xl shirt to now just a 2xl shirt is a wonderful feeling. I have only bought one new pair of pants because I went out of town on an overnight trip and forgot my friggin' clothes so I had to buy some. The jeans I bought were 6 inches below what I had been buying. 6 inches is a lot in jeans. They start looking like regular jeans instead of flared bell bottoms because your goddamned waist is so huge that it continues down the pant leg. I've been tracking the inches lost and that will be measured for the second time post surgery tomorrow. Noticing the fast changes in my body mass. Other people noticing the changes. Looking down when I'm sitting and seeing my lap instead of my stomach? more energy better sleep already 56lbs off your frame makes Sex a wee bit easier and more fun. Skin looks great with so much water and non toxic food going through your system. Dry skin gone. Greasy skin and spots gone. Having a neck with tendons in it and clavicle bones look cool. Putting on a t-shirt and before you get it past your arms, you already know it's gonna fit perfectly. I know you know what I'm talking about. Everyday is a new and interesting day. I am certainly taking it one day at a time and each day I wake up excited about the possibility of walking and getting lesser and lesser. I'm really confused and still adjusting to what eating has become. I still enjoy an occasional dance with Mary Jane if I need to get out of my head, but was never a fan of alcohol that much anyway. I can't imagine what is beyond this....I haven't ever been "normal weight" since I was a child. I am willing to get there though. I guess overall I am happy that I chose to do this really , really weird thing to my body. And there you are....

Hi Everyone, I would like to know what are a few typical days of eating looks like after your are healed from your surgery. And I know alcohol should be limited after your goal. Can anyone tell be about their experiences with this too? Thank you for your help. Tami

Here are 11 ways to help break a plateau: 1. Keep a food Diary As you get comfortable with your diet, it's easy to stop paying attention and fall back into old habits. A nibble here, a slightly larger snack, an extra glass of wine… It's usually the little things that make all the difference. Starting a food diary will help you become more aware of what you're actually eating. Most people underestimate amounts by up to 20 percent. "I think journaling is a good idea," says Karen Sullivan, a health coach and AFPA Certified Personal Trainer. "It helps you stay honest with yourself […]. As long as you are in denial you will never reach your goals. Seeing it in black and white is the best way to break that plateau." To keep a food diary, start with a blank notebook and for a week, record everything you eat (down to a piece of gum or cup of coffee), when you ate it, how much, and how hungry you were before and after. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, a food diary must contain not only the food you ate, but also what were you doing and who you were with when you ate. "It will make you aware of any negative patterns," says Hudson. It's important to be truthful to yourself and not change your eating habits while keeping the diary. Also, remember to be specific --A baked potato is not the same as a baked potato with gravy and butter. 2. Break Up Your Meals If you're eating three times a day, eat five. If you're already eating five times, upgrade to six or seven. This doesn't necessarily mean you'll be eating more food; you'd just be breaking it into more meals. Eating frequently stabilizes your blood sugar, controls appetite, and keeps your energy up. Ideally, you shouldn't go more than three or four hours without eating something. Doing so slows down your metabolism and makes your body burn fat at a slower rate. Instead of going for a second serving, stick to one plate and then eat a small snack two hours later. Always eat before you're hungry. A feeling of hunger indicates your blood sugar is going down, which makes you prone to craving simple sugars. "Your body has no idea that there is plenty of food around, only what is coming in," says Susan Lee Ottevanger, a motivational speaker and the author of Running On Premium Fuel. "You need to reach a sense of well being for your body to feel free to burn up some storage." 3. Eat More A big mistake many people make is to cut down on calories so much that they starve their bodies. "When you eat too little, your metabolism goes down," says Ottevanger. "The body goes yikes, metabolism drops, frustration rises, moods drop, motivation dies. You start overeating and gain weight. Every time you go thru this cycle, the less success." If you're consuming less than 1,200 calories a day (1,500 for a man), your body may react by slowing down as a self-preservation measure. This means you'll be actually storing fat even if you're working out consistently. 4. Rely on a Friend If you're having a hard time finding the motivation to step up your program, find a like-minded buddy, either real or virtual. Join a support group, find an appropriate chat room, or sign up with a motivational website. A recent study by the Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences of The University of Vermont found that web-based support programs are as effective as traditional face-to-face meetings when it comes to helping people maintain weight loss. The study followed 250 overweight adults through an initial six-month weight loss program, and then set them up with either in-person or internet support. Surprisingly, both groups did remarkably well. "The internet can be a very effective weight-loss tool if used well," says Hudson. "Many people can't or don't want to attend face-to-face meetings. Having access to virtual support, while no substitute for one-on-one counseling, it's still a step-up from going at it alone." 5. Watch Your Carbs You don't have to go on a low carb diet (in fact, low-carb and exercise don’t mix well), but do watch out for the extra refined carbohydrates that tend to slip into everybody's diet –Be mindful not only of white flour and sugars, but also look for hidden carbs in foods such as ketchup, salad dressings, dairy products, and even Soups. Read labels –Many low-fat products, including fruit juices and energy bars, are high in sugars. Avoid carbs at dinnertime, and opt for a larger salad as a side dish. When you do eat carbs, stick to whole grains. Plateaus are sometimes due to Water retention. Restricting salt intake and reducing carbs can give you the jumpstart and the motivation to keep going. 6. Move More Be more active outside the gym. The FDA's Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005 recommends a minimum of 30 minutes of physical activity most days of the week to maintain health, and at least 60 minutes to help manage body weight. If you're going to the gym four times a week, that leaves you with three days where you still need to be active. Walking is the best exercise for those "off" days. It's gentle enough to allow your body to recuperate from the heavy workouts at the gym, but still raises your metabolism to carry on the weight loss. Get a pedometer and aim for at least 8,000 steps a day. You'd be surprised to learn most people barely make 4,000. Office workers sometimes stay under 3,000. "Activity is the key," says Sullivan. "You can walk at a brisk pace, ride a bike (but be sure you are working at this little bike ride), swimming, tennis, even golf (forget the cart) are all ways to keep your body moving and increase the energy you are burning." 7. shake Up Your Workout It takes your body only four weeks to get used to a workout. Once something becomes a routine for your metabolism, plateaus are likely. Are you doing the treadmill for an hour every day? Give it up and enroll in a kickboxing class instead. Doing the stationary bike? Switch to the Stairmaster. Or try playing with the intensity of the workout. Add one minute intervals at a high speed or incline (not both) followed by three or four minutes at a lower intensity. If you've been working alone, it may be a good idea to enlist the help of a workout buddy or even pay for a few sessions with a personal trainer. "Whenever you change a workout routine your body will respond by dropping fat/weight," says Sullivan. Many people do not work hard enough. "You need to understand it isn't only the kind of activity you are doing but the frequency, the duration of each exercise session, and the intensity during your session," says Sullivan. "A little walk in the park is not exercise necessary to drop weight. People come to me and say, 'I ride my bike every night with my 4-year-old and I am not seeing any changes in my body.' They need to keep the 4-year-old home while they ride hard for an hour and then come back for a cool down with their child." If you need help planning an exercise routine but can't afford a personal trainer, try Free Trainers, an online program that offers pre-designed workouts to fit any goal and level. Learn exercise routines, track your progress, calculate your caloric intake, and interact with other members following the same program. 8. Pump It Up A common mistake women make is skipping weights because of the fear they would look "bulky." True is, women lack the testosterone needed to develop large muscles. Done appropriately, weight training can break a plateau faster than any other method. According to Wikipedia, "The body's basal metabolic rate increases with increases in muscle mass, which promotes long-term fat loss and helps dieters avoid yo-yo dieting. Moreover, intense workouts elevate the metabolism for several hours following the workout, which also promotes fat loss." The increase in metabolism rate is immediate and it can be as significant as 10 percent. "It takes more energy to maintain healthy muscle than fat," says Sullivan. "This way you are burning calories while you sleep! Also, if all you are doing is doing cardio and dieting you will be flabby. Skinny flab is just as unattractive as fat flab." If you've never tried weights before, start slow and light, mixing machines and free weights. Weights should be done three times a week, alternating muscle groups. 9. Drink Plenty of Water Thirst is often mistaken for hunger. Every time you feel the urge to snack, drink a glass of water first and see if the urge goes away. Decaf teas, calorie-free drinks, and seltzer water count towards your eight glasses of water a day, but add an extra glass for each cup of coffee you drink, as caffeine dehydrates. A recent study by the Franz-Volhard Clinical Research Center in Germany showed a basal metabolic rate (the amount of calories your body burns at rest) increase of up to 30 percent after participants drank 16 ounces of cold water. Researchers estimate that drinking an additional 16 ounces of water over the required 60 ounces (eight glasses) a day can result in an annual weight loss of almost two pounds. 10. Cut Down Your Alcohol Intake The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005 stress the fact thatwhile alcoholic beverages supply excess calories, they do not supply any essential nutrients, making it difficult even for moderate drinkers to maintain a healthy weight. Alcohol is, in fact, very dense in calories. 7kcal/gram compared to only 4 for Proteins and carbs, and that's without taking into consideration that many alcoholic drinks (such as cocktails) are high in sugars and fat. Alcohol consumption slows down the fat burning capabilities of the body, as the body focuses on using the alcohol (a toxin) as fuel, rather than burning fat for energy. Alcohol also dehydrates, which, in turn, can make you hungry. 11. Keep Your Chin Up Finally, it's important to keep your eyes on the large picture. "Focus on health, not fat," says Ottevanger. "[Focus on] feeling good – looking good is just a side effect of feeling good. Forget the notion that some excess just got there by accident, that you are going to get it fixed, and go back to normal. You change your notions and thus your behavior today, for the rest of your longer, happier life. No six weeks of torture will get you anywhere you want to go."

Drink the protein shake before you go to the wedding and politely refuse the food if asked. You can drink other types of liquid while there (no alcohol of course). It is really important to stay on track before the surgery. You could run the risk of your surgery being postponed.

For me personally, sugar LOVES me and loves to attach itself to me when I consume too much of it. Sure, the carbonation may not upset your pouch, but the sugar/sugar alcohols in the "diet" soda will slow down your progress.

Not all, many just have artificial sweetener, which doesn't usually cause gas or other digestive issues. Sugar alcohol is usually listed on the nutrition label directly with an amount. For me 1 or 2g is ok, not great and more than that is a nightmare.... I'd rather have norovirus than 10g of sugar alcohol. in the ingredients it is also listed, anything with "itol" at the end is usually sugar alchol xylitol and sorbitol are the most common

hey everybody I'm 5 weeks out when is it safe to have alcohol

Everytime I've gone on holidays since being banded, I've lost weight despite eating out and enjoying food, and drinking alcohol most days. I think its becuase we're on the go and busy - so there goes the snacking and nibbling between meals. And with a band, well it doesnt make much difference whether you eat out or eat at home, you still cant eat much! Plus I always run daily even when I'm away and there's usually TONS of walking and swimming/body surfing etc, just a heap more incidental activity. So yeah, I always lose weight.

Deb and Donna, welcome to LBT! I'm the DH (darling husband) to MsJoy (the banded one). I know from reading in here that yes, you can have alcohol, but most of the doctors restrict its use during the healing period. I'm sure you don't need to be told what it feels like throwing a little alcohol on an open wound. Then after they have healed some of the members here have a glass of wine or two, some beer...whatever you can stand, I guess.

Look I don't want to sound harsh but you need to really think things thru, do you want to be married to that for the rest of your life? I am almost 2 yrs divorced next month from my high school sweetheart, I was married for 25 yrs and for the last 3 yrs of our marriage I litterally watched him become an alcoholic due to a high pressure job. Not making excuses for him but he is who he is and what he is and it ruined his life, he's nothing now. He eventually lost his career, me and still drinks like a fish and tries to work. I have no tolerance for alcohol, sorry. If this man can't put you first and treat you like a queen and treat you like he can't live without you or live another second without you then he doesn't deserve you! Yes, you chose this surgery to better yourself and your health and he should be there for you first and foremost. Will he be there when your first born is comes into this world? I hate to think that you will go thru this journey alone but you have us to lean on for support. Good luck Thurs. Big hugs.

I was told you should never have carbonated drinks bc it will stretch your stomach. As far as drinking alcohol my nutritionist said I could try wine at week 6 post op. At home of course to make sure your stomach agrees with it. I would say you probably won't be able to have beer again!