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I tend to believe the perceived effect people are experiencing from the alcohol has more to do with decreased tolerance than anything else. The less you drink the less it takes to achieve the same intoxication level - especially having stopped cold turkey for a period of time. Brad

You have youth on your side. The weight will come off. Beer may give you some trouble depending on how tight your restriction gets. A drink every once in awhile won't hurt you but it is high calorie and may slow the weightloss for you. If you only have one drink on special occasions and stay away from being a heavy drinker, your life will turn out better in the long run. You are so young and have so much life ahead of you. I think you have a bright future and it is great you are getting rid of the excess weight so young. Drinking heavy messes with your liver over the years anyway. You can find other ways to have fun and keep the alcohol consumption down. Good luck on your life journey !

I've always been conceided even when I was fat so I didn't think it was "that bad" but now I can truly see the difference and it disgusts me. I also get disgusted at the amount of food and type of food that people eat. I promised that although I was going to have this surgery, I would remain a fat girl inside for ever but I honestly get grossed out by the amounts of food that certain people eat. I feel like a hypocrite but can't help my feelings ... does anyone feel this way too? OMG YOU SOUND LIKE ME!!! I'm getting my sleeve next week, and I tell people now that I'm just your average VAIN FAT GIRL! My best friend ( who weighs 135 pounds) is constantly getting onto me because of my comments towards "women of size" who just don't seem to have MIRRORS IN THEIR HOMES! I'm really not trying to be a snotty B***H, I just think that if you are going to cram all that food into your body, at least cover it up. I cover everything! And Probably will for a very long time, EVEN after I loose all this weight! You look AWESOME, and yes, you should probably limit the alcohol use a bit, but you have still done a great job and have a lot to celebrate!!!

So... I attended my first party yesterday - an 80th birthday party! Lots of nibbles, birthday cake, party food flowing all afternoon... surprisingly, I was so strict with myself!! I had about 1.5 glasses of Bollinger (first alcohol since October) a piece of parmesan and 2 slices of meat - one chicken and one ham. I had to sneak the birthday cake into my bag and then throw it away when I got home... I ate when I got home - 75g prawns, 30g of avocado, 40g cucumber, 1 scallion, 2 cherry tomatoes, cup of watercress a bit of garlic, chilli and some ACV... and this morning I've lost .9lbs!! Unbelievable! I was convinced that the champagne would have done some serious damage. I'm arranging to see a nutritionist again - a different one this time who I hope thinks outside the box on trying to figure out what I can do to make the journey less rigid... I was also thinking of going back to my diet when I lost weight on Atkins... I was down to 5g/10g of carbs and that was successful for me... but eating at that rate isn't really practical long term... but keeping to 20g carbs which is what I'm on at the moment means I can add bits of veg onto my plate and keep that cup of hot chocolate in the evening... although I'm noticing that I don't want it every night at the moment which is fantastic!! My head witch doesn't think I have BED anymore although I'm not convinced. She went through the BED test with me and for the moment it does look like I'm not in that place right now... she said the stats for BED after surgery were that 50% of BED folk pre-surgery didn't have it after surgery. Please god that I'm one of the 50%! I'm feeling super charged this morning! I have one more hurdle to face tomorrow as it's another birthday event - this time lunch at a local lovely restaurant... I will have half a glass of wine and hopefully something simple from the menu like grilled chicken and salad... fingers crossed I make it!

Started 309 Sw 273 October 2015 Current 225 Gw 175 Bypass Hello all...... this is my first post ever. I started this journey with so much fuel and raring to go. Somewhere down the line in the beginning life changed for me as for many of you (life events) and I lost my way. What are some things that you have done to get back on track? I have lost my MOJO, motivation, you name it! I feel as though I will never get these last 50 to 65 off. I know that I have failed, but somehow I feel like it's too late. I will say that I know where a lot of my empty calories come from (alcohol) so I know that is the FIRST thing to go- which I never should have started again, hence my recent life changes. Please only constructive criticism..... I have beat myself up enough. Thank you in advance! Sent from my SM-N920T using the BariatricPal App

When I first began my journey toward having a LapBand, I was told an odd fact: a fair percentage of bandsters often end up with other issues such as alcoholism. I thought that rather odd, and considered myself very well-adjusted. I couldn't imagine developing such a horrible problem back then. I can now. What's more, I now understand why. I'm a stress eater. When I get under stress, I run to the refrigerator, not a bottle. That is, I did until I was banded. While I can still swallow those naughty treats, I don't keep many around anymore. Even ice cream, which slides past my band like it wasn't even there isn't available as much anymore, long as I avoid temptation while in the grocery store. But where does that leave me when under stress? I don't smoke. I can't eat sweets and junk because I don't keep them around the house. Booze? Yes, it's here. I keep a small stock for cooking. Now I can see how some bandsters, deprived of their usual comforts when under stress, turn to booze. Oh, yeah. I have to admit, thanks to recent events here at home, I've had a few glasses of wine and actually considered going for the (yuk!) bourbon. I hate bourbon. But I was desperate for any tranquilizing feel-good effects. Okay, so clearly that's why my doctor has a shrink on staff. She may spot potential issues like OCD, or stress management issues long before they become irrepairable. I can see that now. Scary. Very scary. The trick has been to find new methods of calming down. Walking has worked. Working, like cleaning house, helped. Doing my crafts rather obsessively has helped. Finding a job that got me out of the house has helped. It's the little things.

When I first began my journey toward having a LapBand, I was told an odd fact: a fair percentage of bandsters often end up with other issues such as alcoholism. I thought that rather odd, and considered myself very well-adjusted. I couldn't imagine developing such a horrible problem back then. I can now. What's more, I now understand why. I'm a stress eater. When I get under stress, I run to the refrigerator, not a bottle. That is, I did until I was banded. While I can still swallow those naughty treats, I don't keep many around anymore. Even ice cream, which slides past my band like it wasn't even there isn't available as much anymore, long as I avoid temptation while in the grocery store. But where does that leave me when under stress? I don't smoke. I can't eat sweets and junk because I don't keep them around the house. Booze? Yes, it's here. I keep a small stock for cooking. Now I can see how some bandsters, deprived of their usual comforts when under stress, turn to booze. Oh, yeah. I have to admit, thanks to recent events here at home, I've had a few glasses of wine and actually considered going for the (yuk!) bourbon. I hate bourbon. But I was desperate for any tranquilizing feel-good effects. Okay, so clearly that's why my doctor has a shrink on staff. She may spot potential issues like OCD, or stress management issues long before they become irrepairable. I can see that now. Scary. Very scary. The trick has been to find new methods of calming down. Walking has worked. Working, like cleaning house, helped. Doing my crafts rather obsessively has helped. Finding a job that got me out of the house has helped. It's the little things.

It's no biggie, other than the calories. Beer could be problematic, since it can stretch your pouch... But non-carbonated alcohol is no problem as far as the band goes. Just limit yourself so as not to put too many calories.

At a starting weight of 216lb your weight loss is going to be lower and slower than someone whose starting weight was much higher. What is your height? Are you exercising? What exercise are you doing? How many calories are you consuming a day now? How much protein do you eat daily? Carbs? Do you drink alcohol? Do you do a lot of incidental activity? Getting plenty of fluids? All this (and others) factor into your weight loss patterns, we are all different and lose weight differently. If you are able answer these though, I am sure you will get some very helpful suggestions regarding weight loss. Has your dietician or surgeon made any suggestions for you?

Tuesday, July 21, 2009 Look for the Smilemarkers A sliver of moon was showing in the sky the other day while I was playing outside with my grandson, David (4yrs). As usual he wanted to know why. I told him the moon wanted to play with him. Later he was drinking chocolate milk on the front porch and said, "The moon is drinking chocolate milk. He has a chocolate milk mustache." I love it when a four year old can use his imagination and make a joke. I love it when a four year old accidentally amuses me. David was riding in the van with his dad when he announced, "I want my crocs (sandals)." His dad stopped the car and asked him what he was wearing on his feet. David replied in all seriousness, "Dad, I'm wearing my toes." Children and laughter go hand in hand. I love being a grandmother and not having to do much of anything when I babysit but enjoy the kids. My two year old granddaughter loves to play hide and seek in her house. She always hides in her closet and she always tells me she's going to hide in her closet. When I try to go home she frequently tells me I'm hungry and I need to eat in order to keep me there. LOL. She already knows my weakness. There's a lot of evidence that laughter is good medicine. The Reader's Digest knew that before there were studies proving it. I use a lot of silly humor when I teach. To teach the ang sound I have a picture-card of a vampire with fangs showing. I'll put on my best Transylvanian accent, make my hands into claws, and say," I vant to bite your neck; I vish to suck your blood." The kids all shriek and laugh and are more likely to remember that ang makes the sound you hear in fang. I have a game that involves tossing a soft ball back and forth between me and a group of kids while saying math facts. I love to watch for the kid who stops paying attention and I'll look at another child while throwing the ball at the daydreamer who frequently gets hit by the ball which cracks everyone up and serves notice to pay attention. Today I was on Lapbandtalk, which has become my on-line support group and one of the women told a hysterically funny dream she'd had about another member of the group. Can't repeat it here because it involved partial nudity and showing off a well-shaped body part. Jokes were still flying hours later when I checked back in. Some of the best and funniest speakers I ever heard were recovering alcoholics telling their stories at open AA meetings. Some of the things they did and the situations they got themselves into were, in retrospect, hysterically funny. Without the humor, they'd have been too painful to tell. The funniest stories I tell on myself involve my ADHD and some of the things I've done as a result. Humor makes pain palatable. I'm not talking about sarcasm or angry ranting expletive deleted humor. Frankly, I don't consider that humor because it tends to be at other's expense. I'm talking about self-deprecating humor. Humor that gently pokes fun at the human condition but doesn't denigrate others. One of the funniest stories my deceased mother-in-law told involved driving off to work with her teeth on top of the car. One of the funniest stories my son tells is what happened when he tied our 6 month old 75 lb. Chesapeake Bay Retriever to a lightweight charcoal grill in my parent's driveway. Thank God for the passing motorist who chased down the dog and stopped him before the grill chasing the dog down the street caused the dog to drop dead of a heart attack. These stories and jokes we tell each other can only happen in community. We weren't created to live in isolation. And I firmly believe that God laughs with us. We're created in his image and he loves us with all our foibles so he must have quite a sense of humor. Humor is his gift to us, a gracelet that allows us to be refreshed, renewed, re-created and ready for the next thing life throws at us. So, even though food addiction is a serious disease, I try not to take myself too seriously. Life is a journey. Look for the smilemarkers along the way.

Sorry, Alex. I feel your pain. I did eat three desserts at a party this week, but the next day I regretted it because I had been doing so well. Thanksgiving will be hard, of course. But in general, I feel about sweets the same way I've heard alcoholics feel about drinks: One taste and I know I am going to just want more and more. There will never be enough. I will never really feel satisfied. And then I'll have to go through the hard work of going cold turkey again. It hardly seems worth it. Which is not to say it isn't hard to resist. nancy

It's impossible to compare two individuals' acid reflux across the Internet. But I also had acid reflux pre-sleeve. I was prescribed Ranitadine (150 mg.) twice a day, but for some dumb reason (not typical of me at all) I thought I was only supposed to take it once a day. And as we all know (or I assume we do) too much acid in the stomach mimics hunger. So one winter not long ago, I swear I packed on an extra 20-25 pounds due solely to not taking my H2 blocker antacid meds as instructed. Anyway, post-sleeve my surgeon prescribed (for 3-4 months only!) a PPI (Protonix in my case). After that I went back to Ranitadine 150 mg. 2x/day. And now, my acid reflux is no worse than it was pre-sleeve. In the meantime, I've learned a lot about what increases reflux problems -- lots of alcohol, coffee, chocolate, eating late at night, lying down soon after eating, etc. And I avoid doing those things most of the time. Or at least piling them on all at one time. I hope your acid reflux would not be aggravated by a sleeve. Because the sleeve is an amazing tool for weight loss and healthier living. I'm 20.5 months post-op, have lost 100 pounds and maintaining at 135 pounds. (I keep repeating my WLS stats on comments to new posters' threads folks, because most people are on the mobile app and can't see our profiles -- apologies to the long-time posters.) As you probably know from your research, a gastric bypass is less likely to invite reflux problems. But bypasses have some other lifestyle requirements you may have to think hard about. Many people here have had bypass surgery and are happy with their choice. It just wasn't my choice. Best to you!

I'm not an alcoholic. I'm a drunk. Acoholics go to meetings. Saw that bumper sticker in Hollywood and it made me go "hummmmmm."

Yup. It's true. Your doctor didn't distribute literature or tell you? Here is a list of band rules. maybe that will help. In order to have the best possible result, the patient should obey the following rules: Eat three small meals per day. Eat only good solid food. Eat slowly, sense fullness and then stop. There must be no eating between meals. Take no liquids with the meals. All liquids must be zero calories. Stop eating when your stomach is full. If you reach a satiety sense with a quantity of food lower than prescribed, do not attempt to introduce more food. If the quantity of food prescribed does not cause satiety or if you feel hungry a short time after a meal (one hour), contact the medical team to evaluate a possible LAP-BAND System adjustment. Eat slowly with very protracted chewing. Do not eat sweets or soft foods with a high caloric content. Banding cannot control the introduction of such foods. Avoid foods and drugs with gastric side effects. Reduce coffee consumption. No alcohol. No carbonated drinks or cola. Do not drink and eat at the same time. Do not drink for at least two hours after eating

I have had the sad experience to know someone who became an alcoholic after having gastric by pass and it is very sad indeed as the drinking of "spirits" has a much faster absorption rate in someone who has this surgery and the affects of the liquor are felt much more profoundly enhancing the addiction. Sadly this person experienced many many issues as a result including, sepsis, kidney failure, sirosis of the liver and an untimely death at the age of 46. She was not someone you could speak to easily and would not seek or participate in counseling.

They say after RNY people can become alcoholics because of displacement. Meaning...now that a person can't eat anything they want or doesn't have food to sooth oneself they choose alcohol because they can drink liquids. Then of course because of the re-arranged anatomy RNY folks get drunk on very little and also sober up rather quickly. So they drink more. Pretty scary stuff. All the more to get our heads right before having the surgery so we know what to do with ourselves once we can't eat our way through emotions or boredom etc. Seems to be the big thing going around tv and the internet at the moment.

Is it really that important to you? There will be other Christmas's and birthdays, and thanksgivings, and and and. . . alcohol is like pizza, it's always around. Is it really going to kill you not have a drink 1 week after your most important life changing surgery? However, the choice is still yours to make. Good luck

I had the same problem. I trimmed the lifted areas that were no longer sticking. To quell the itch, I swabbed a little rubbing alcohol on the red areas. It felt cooling and removed the tape residue that was making me red and itchy.

Hi everyone I'm doing well since my banding on Sept 21. I'm on pureed food now - I was bored to tears with liquids only towards the end. I'm never eating Soup again in my life. I've noticed that I'm just not as hungry as I used to be. I used to think about food a lot, but I find that because what I can eat now is limited I think about other things. I have been cooking pureeing and freezing food for myself. I have never cooked ahead/planned ahead for meals in my life. I feel very grown-up and domesticated. :-) To be honest there have been some times when I have eaten food that isn't pureed. I had some sushi the other day and just chewed everything very slowly & well, with no problems. The main thing I am guilty of right now is forgetting to eat. But when I do eat, I find that I'm full/satisfied with a third of what I used to eat. It's just marvellous. I am having my first fill tomorrow. the weight loss seems to have plateaued off this week - I'm still sitting at 12 kgs weight loss. The main victory for me is that I have not had any alcohol since Sept 20. I used to drink excessively, which was the main reason for my obesity. I will never drink again - not having gone through this surgery. It would be insanity. It's so great to have moved forward without alcohol. I don't even miss it. I associate alcohol with bad health now.

I am a recovering food addict. I lllloooovvvveee the taste of food. The band is not a cure all for this addiction. I have had to accept the fact that I have it and have applied some of the 12 steps of AA to help me with it. (My grandfather, who was like a father to me was an alcoholic so I was familiar with AA). I don't go to dinner with my fellow food adicts and I haven't been to my favorite soul food restaurant since I've been banded. Finally I don't have food in my house that tempts me. (People, Places and Things they call this) I have, had some of the foods I love sense I've been banded, but only while I'm out and in moderation. The band has really helped me with eating in moderation. There are times I have to force myself to eat so I get my calories in because I'm very rarely hungry. My nut says it's because I'm good about getting my Protein and Water in. That's been the key for me. If I do nothing else I make sure I have 40 - 60 g of protein (I love Isopure Zero Carb drinks - 40 oz of liquid Protein or 3 EAS Carb Control Shakes), 5 bottles of water before noon and 1200 calories per day. I can't guarantee these things will work for you, but they have for me. Take a look at the 12 steps for AA, NA or GA and see if you can convert them to help you and remember to follow the rules. Spending time concentrating on this and other healthy things like walking, etc. has meant I really have to make time to eat. Hope this helps and good luck.

I have extensive experience with alcoholic/addicted family members. Attended AlAnon/Adult Children of Alcoholics for 12 years and still declare they pretty much saved my life and sanity. Ask away.

I drink red wine about 1-3 days a week (depending), without issue. I do however feel the alcohol much quicker, and on smaller amounts. Although, that doesn't necessarily stop me from drinking 2 glasses The biggest issue for me, is my lack of control around food when alcohol is involved. I can't eat what I did pre band, but I will eat too much of the wrong things.

I'm wondering if anyone went through or is going through this. My surgery date is July 17th, and so far just about everyone I'm close to is on board with me and being supportive, even the few who wish I'd given diets another attempt seem to be on board. Except for ONE person. This person is always pointing out to me anything that's wrong about weight loss. Always talking about someone they know who is miserable and regrets the surgery. Or mentions how a neighbor of mine died during gastric bypass (it was his own fault, the man ATE and drank ALCOHOL past 12am day of surgery). And today texts me about Steve Carelis who "supposedly" died of gastric bypass complications. Of course I'm well aware of my complications and I am still very much on board with my surgery. But it just makes me SO nervous because I really don't want to be that small percent that has horrible complications or death, I'm pretty sure none of us want that or wish that on any of us. But it freaks me out..And it maddens me that people think that by bringing up complications and situations (real or imaginary) that they will make us change our minds. Ugh! Like I need anymore nervousness added 3 days prior to surgery.

I waited about a year, until I got a good handle on my weight loss and new lifestyle, and got to know my band and how to "Listen" to it. Then once I understood and was comfortable with everything, I began to reintroduce many things, including alcohol.... I also drink beer. and other carbonated drinks...but i understand how to do it now. There were more important things to deal with than alcohol within the first year.

My Dr. told me not to have any alcohol till at least the 8 weeks are up. I am no longer allowed to have carbonation. He said red wine was my best option.