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The same thing happens with any lifestyle change, I think. I was married at twenty to a man who was thirty, first marriage for me, second one for him. My husband resented me for having a child (that we both agreed to have) and no longer participating in the weekend party animal life. Eventually he quit too, and things were better for about twelve years, although we didn't have anything in common, really, except our child and the fact that we shared a house. Then we let his (alcoholic) brother live with us. BIG mistake. It started slowly, him drinking only on holidays. Then it progressed into monthly visits. His brother lived with us for three years despite me asking my husband to ask him to leave, which he insisted he couldn't do, even though any time my family lived with us they had to abide by the agreed-upon time limit. It finally became weekly bar hops. My husband was not a nice person when he drank, but in a way he was happy because he replaced me, or what he wanted me to be for him. My wake-up came from a simple anonymous question online: "Where do you see yourself in five years?" When I gave that some serious thought I realized there was no way anything would change unless I left, and unless I wanted to die without having lived a better life I had better do something. So I did. After eighteen years of marriage I took my daughter and left. That was in April of 2004. My daughter is now grown, and I am still married, but we have been separated for ten years. One day we will divorce, but really, it's not even an issue. He still lives in Florida, and I live in Ohio. In some ways I am still on the same path, attempting to right things that should have never been, and finding and embracing the things that should have been. @@scstxrn - You are one lucky woman! Is that not what everyone wants? Sometimes I think the best we can do is find someone we can tolerate that can also tolerate us, but your story is proof that more can exist.

Why we should not drink alcohol, and or eat sugars. Last night I had a cocktail. This particular drink itself was very high in sugar and I knew I should not have been drinking it. To add to this I cheated a little and enjoyed 3 starburst candies, which I washed down with my super sugary alcoholic libation causing is to dump directly into my small intestine. Shortly there after I had some pretty strong heart palpitations which subsided after a few minutes. I attributed this to dehydration, so in incorporated some water into my drinking while still working on my cocktail. fast forward about 1.5 hours later I stood up from my bed quickly and got tunnel vision horribly almost going down as my legs kept buckling under me. Looked like a really bad new age dance move i suppose. I made it back to bed thinking dehydration still. Fast forward 30 more minutes. I arose to use the restroom, steadied myself in case i got light headed again. All seemed good. I made my way into the restroom, and woke up a moment later on the bathroom floor repeatedly bouncing my face off the bathroom tiles. It seems, unbeknownst to me that I caused myself to go hypoglycemic with all that sugar moving too rapidly into my small intestine. My body produced an abundance of insulin to deal with the sugars this caused the earlier erratic heart beat, and later all that insulin dropped my blood sugar too low causing me to faint for the first time in my life. Here I sit now with a likely broken nose, a nice knot on my forehead, and bruises on my hip knee and elbow. None of this compares to the damage it did to my wife to hear me crash to the ground and come running in to find me flopping around on the floor like i was seizing. In conclusion, all of this was perfectly avoidable. I did it to myself and have the marks to remind me of it. I will not be drinking any more alcohol at all, and evidently I wont be able to enjoy the occasional cheat treat. I am not writing this to scare anyone. From what I've read, only a small percentage of people ever suffer dumping syndrome, and of those only 25% experience the late dumping syndrome. I guess I fall into that small percentage. Also I wanted to point out that not all dumping syndrome involve cramps, diarrhea and the such. Especially for those of us that were diabetic pre-op. You can have this type of dumping syndrome and like myself not have the tell tell signs most people associate dumping syndrome with.

I actually have been using portion control since I started the purée stage. I am eating a balanced diet. I do avoid bread, pasta, soda, sugary drinks, alcohol, rice, and processed foods. I also do use a little sugar and honey, as I don't use any artificial sweeteners. I have been losing steadily which is fine for me. Pre- sleeve I was 250, post- op I am 225. I was sleeved on April 22, 2013. Very happy so far.

I agree with much of what you've posted. I, however, was not disappointed by my band at first because my experience (the typical being hungry/feeling like I was dieting/feeling as though I didn't have a band) was something I had been well-prepared for. I expected it, and expected it to be time-limited. Obesity occurs for many different reasons, and food addiction is only one of them. I do come from a family of alcoholics and addicts, however. Those who have successfully achieved sobriety accept the prevalence of their drug(s) of choice in society, and accept personal responsibility for their sobriety. It is difficult---but they do it. I understand your stance about advertising, but the fact of the matter is that food addicts, like other addicts, must take responsibility for their choices. Cigarette advertising was banned because the risks of smoking became incontrovertible, and there are absolutely NO benefits. Food is required for life; banning its advertisement simply will not occur. Yes, obesity is an enormous public health issue. The key isn't removing food advertisements from television. The key is education---teaching children, from a very young age, how to properly nourish their bodies. Teaching them that advertising, in general, is not geared toward their best interests, but simply to sell things they don't need. Re-educating ourselves and taking back our power, in the form of personal responsibility, is crucial for those of us who've lost our way. For those of us who've already fallen prey to obesity, personal responsibility is key. Would I like to see HFCS removed from foods? Absolutely. Since that's not happening, I don't purchase foods that contain them. I don't purchase foods that contain transfats. I cook from scratch. When I eat out, I order very carefully. Personal choice and personal responsibility are priceless. Yes, food addiction is a problem for many. And commercials really do stimulate appetite---there are evil geniuses who know exactly what buttons to push. But they don't put the car keys into anyone's hand, or drive them through the drive-through. Food addiction differs in one very crucial way from other addictions: the physical component of the addiction is just completely different. The body does not require the crap in order to function, as occurs with alcoholism or drug addiction. A carton of yogurt is as apt to produce physical satisfaction as a Big Mac. So the responsibility lies with the individual to make the right choices. Regarding malnutrition related to the band, this too is largely a matter of personal choice and responsibility. A properly adjusted band permits adequate nutrition, if the person who is banded makes appropriate food choices and, as good measure, takes a Multivitamin. We don't experience the malabsorption characteristic of other surgeries---in the absence of band complication, we have the ability to make choices that properly nourish our bodies.

I had my surgery on October 10th of this year and have struggled with exactly the same thing. I'm so glad you posted about this. I did not realize what a huge role food and alcohol played in my life until they were no longer an option for me. I'm only down a total of 26 pounds from my heaviest weight, and only 16 since surgery, and I'm having trouble remembering EVERY SINGLE NEW THING that must be incorporated into my life: all the vitamins, getting down 64 ounces of water every day, trying to exercise 5x a week, waiting 30 minutes between eating and drinking, counting and getting in 50-60 grams of protein every day but never having a serving size bigger than 1/3 of a cup, strictly limiting carbs... ALL of it! I get emotional so easily and my poor family, god love them, has no idea what I'm going through or how to help. I do appreciate their patience with me as I navigate this new lifestyle. I've started a food journal where I also log how I'm feeling that day, and put the bariatric support group dates on my calendar. Now if I can just add making myself stop mourning the death of my relationship with food and wine I'll be good to go! I do have a therapist I check in with every two weeks, and that is my saving grace right now. I'd recommend finding one who can give you the support you need and keep posting here. Thanks again for bringing up a tough subject. Take care.

How long after surgery before I can have a drink

any kind of oil, or vaseline... haven't tried alcohol

At your local pharmacy (CVS etc) there is a spray that is used to remove bandage residue. It's medically stable (so safe around wounds) and won't sting or dry out your skin like rubbing alcohol will. I can't remember the name but we used it constantly on our baby when he had a feeding tube. It never damaged his tender skin. I always have some around...it's great on price tags Peanut Butter works as well but I wouldn't use it near a wound.

I believe rubbing alcohol works.

This thread made me go back and find my Easy Way Out post from a few months back. It reminds me that anyone who would say that has no freakin' idea. A message from someone who had gastric sleeve surgery, lost 120 pounds, and is now living below goal weight..... Is this the "easy way out"? Well, yes and no. Yes, it's easi–er because the smaller stomach helps me control my appetite and the amount of food I can take in. Initially (but not forever), calories are greatly restricted because of the lesser volume consumed, but good choices still have to be made every single time I put something in my mouth. and... No, it's not easy, because since making this decision I have: Taken nutritional counseling classes Attended bariatric support group meetings Been evaluated by a psychologist Been evaluated by a cardiologist Been evaluated by a pulmonologist Had an upper GI evaluation Had a complete physical by my primary care physician Gone through a two-week pre-operative liquid diet Gone through and recovered from a major surgery that removed 80% of my stomach Gone through a two-week post operative liquid diet Gone through a two-week soft food diet Eaten zero starches (bread, Pasta, rice, potatoes, pizza, etc.) Eaten zero sugary Desserts (cake, pie, pudding, ice cream, candy, etc.) Eaten very few fruits Had zero fruit juices Had zero sodas Had zero alcoholic beverages Completely avoided the Snacks and treats people bring to work every day to share Eaten 80–100 grams of Protein every single day Not had anything to drink for 30-45 minutes before eating Not had anything to drink with meals Not had anything to drink for 30-45 minutes after eating But still managed to drink 64–120 ounces of fluids every single day Taken a handful of Vitamins and supplements every single day Planned what I will eat every single time I leave the house for more than an hour so as not to get caught without something appropriate to eat and drink Made sure that acceptable food and drink will be available every day at work Always eaten protein first Always eaten non-starchy vegetables second (and there's never room for anything else) Exercised 5-6 times a week Logged everything I ate or drank for several months, and again whenever my weight loss slowed And through it all, I've watched my friends and family eat and drink whatever they want at restaurants, birthdays, dinner parties, sporting events, New Year's, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, 4th of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and so on.... Now, does that sound like "the easy way"? Not by a long shot! (Just compare the Yes and No sections above.) But weight loss surgery is a tool that makes the likelihood of long-term success much better than it would be without it. And now that I'm in maintenance, I have to eat, drink, exercise, and live in such a way as to not regain the weight I've lost – for the rest of my life! My "Honeymoon Period" is over now. I get hungrier than before, so I have to stay extra vigilant not to eat too much. And if a few pounds creep in, I have to muscle them back down before they find friends. The easy way? Yeah, right!

Remember of the 4g of carbs 2g are sugar alcohol. So you can deduct that from net carbs but the sugar alcohol can also mess with your gut. I eat about 3-4 as a snack maybe 2-3 times a week, especially since its summer and hot.

Amy, I am so sorry you are having to go through this. There are no words, I can come up with to make it instantly better, or believe me I would. I have been divorced...it was devastating, it hurt for the actual loss of the marriage, but also the loss of the dream of what I had thought marriage would be. My divorce was a first for our family... My Grandma used to tell me that in order to make anything change you had to change something. She told me this as I complained of issues around my own divorce. But slowly I began to understand. So I started changing small things. Things as simple at the time, as changing where I ate fast food. We always did BK together, so I wouldn't go there, I went elsewhere. We always bought groceries at a certain place, or had the car serviced at a certain place, I changed that. Our Christmas tree had always had the same color coordinated decorations...I did it MY way...in my places. It was a conscious decision, to CHANGE things, no matter how small. I slept on PINK sheets, he hated pink! I searched for ways to make my life happy. I took some non credit community courses at the college, I made an effort to visit friends and family. Not go to dinner, or anything other than to just spend time visiting with them. I kept busy. It was hard at first finding things to do, but they are out there. One of the first things I got involved in was with a group who were working to save and restore an older park in our town. I met a lot of people, and count many of them as friends to this day. A good friend who had been divorced herself told me "the best revenge you can get is to have a good, happy life, without him." She was so right. I no longer feel a need for revenge, or to "show" him, but can't help but be pleased with myself when I compare the lives we now have. He went for many years with the new, young, thin wife, bigger house, kids....but now, he is divorced yet again,living with a fellow alcoholic, and has nothing to call his own....he lives in her small trailer, drives her car, is just somewhat pathetic. I know all of this because the fellow alcholic he lives with was one of my best friends for years until her drinking was just too much for me. I look back and feel lucky that I was given a chance to have a better life, and I took that chance. I hope you do too. Give yourself time to grieve, but keep in mind, that someone who would do this to you, is not someone you really want to spend the rest of your life with. You deserve better, and you will find it. Work your band, and work your life to suit YOU....you will survive and be a better person than you could have ever been with him dragging you down. Good Luck, and don't forget when you need to cry, whine, moan or just plain bi#$h about life, we are here, and will offer any support we can! Kat

What you are describing about your feelings is normal and the result of the numerous emotional and physical adjustments that your body has to make post op. People generally don't embrace the concept of change readily, but if you want to be successful with weight loss, you really do need to modify your relationship with food and make a commitment to a healthier lifestyle. There are just too many weight related medical issues which over time present and then begin to slowly erode your health. Your mood will improve over time as you make these adjustments. Realize that some people actually will experience a kind of "mourning" process similar to grieving as they revise their relationship with food. I looked at having my band placed as an opportunity to regain some of my health; what you have to give up for successful weight loss is returned to you many times over with the health benefits you receive. Wine, and all alcohol beverages are empty calories, so you need to be careful and limit your consumption. I was advised to wait an entire year post op to have any alcoholic beverages...I did wait for 6 months, but have only had Jello shots once. My next glass of wine will be for my birthday next year...beyond the 1 year waiting time. Best wishes...

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

My Dr told me to wait 4-6 months before taking any alcohol. He also said to be very very careful, you can get drunk very fast.. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Here is a statement that was passed on to me regarding the "easy way out" reference. So, it is my turn to pass this on. Enjoy. Why surgery is the "easy way out" for weight loss! Yep, you heard that right. I've decided that I agree with the myriad non-surgical, gym-loving, overwhelming weight loss successes that feel strongly (and vocally) that surgery is the easy way out. They really are correct. We all should be ashamed of ourselves for taking the shortcut approach and racking up an "un-earned win". Just think about it. To successfully lose weight without surgery, all you have to do is two things: eat less exercise often With surgery, you only have to do one thing: pay a surgeon to make you lose weight Well, perhaps that's a minor oversimplification. There are a few other steps, but they are tiny and insignificant. Not everyone has to do them either! But, just for the sake of objectivity I’ll list most of them that I can think of. (I might miss a couple, but since surgery is the easy way out who cares really.) Let’s see, there is: Convince yourself that you want to do this. This is much more complicated than it seems, so take your time. Don’t get sick before you make a decision. Convince your doctor that this is medically necessary. Convince him/her that you really do want this and you aren’t just someone unwilling to sweat a little. Convince them that you won’t die on the table. Convince them that you aren’t doing this so you can keep eating cake for Breakfast. And lunch. And dinner. Because that’s the only reason big people are big people. Spend anywhere between 3 months and a year working with your PCP to make a preliminary run at losing weight. This should include: A special diet Exercise Constant office visits to measure progress Significant expense to participate in the diet (Nutrisystem, Medifast, and Jenny Craig, I’m looking at you!) Lots of documentation Likely (if not anticipated) painful, humiliating failure (PS, this is a requirement!) Spend hours to days or more working with your insurance company website, phone reps, and via letter to determine if weight loss surgery is covered at all, assuming they will admit to it. Once you find out it is covered, find out what exactly is covered. Type of surgery, location, type of doctors required, pre-op programs necessary, pre-op medical requirements, pre-op diet requirements, and documentation. Make sure you understand it all clearly because… Meet with your PCP to go over all of the above. Explain to them what most of it means, because they don’t understand. Make sure your work so far will meet the needs of the insurance company. Convince him/her to do the work to get the approval. If not, return to step 1 and try again. (Note: make sure you do all of this quickly- most of these rules are subject to change on January 1, even if you have a 12 month diet requirement. You’ll need to find a way to violate the laws of space and time on your own.) Get a psych evaluation. People who want this surgery are invariably crazy, so we need to confirm that. Don’t use a doc you know. Go somewhere you’ve never been so that they can get that first-blush, cover of the book impression of your particular brand of crazy in the 45 minutes you get with them. Let them write their report confirming your “crazy flavor” to your docs and insurance. They will approve you anyway. Take an online class that confirms the crazy diagnosis. Take another online class that basically tells you if you have the surgery you will likely die horribly on the table, if you’re lucky. You might just become a vegetable and be a possibly fabulous looking skinny burden on everyone you know and love! Find a surgeon that can both perform the surgery (practically, legally, and allowable by the insurance) as well as doing so without causing Errors Infections Hernias Leaks Death Make sure that doc can take your insurance. Not just yoru insurance, but your exact insurance. This may require them to check at least a dozen contracts. Do the same for the hospital. Make sure that hospital you’ll have the surgery in isn’t a festering wound itself. The surgeon can only do so much if when you get to the floor you’re placed in the same bed last used by an Ebola patient with a cold and cleaned by “Blind Larry”. Fortunately there are many websites sponsored by government agencies to help you with this. They will all disagree with each other. Get insurance authorization to have the surgery. Fortunately this process starts the weight loss, as one arm and one leg weigh a surprising amount when removed and given to them. This should take no more than a day or two, tops. Have a discussion with your employer. Let them know that you’ll need a full week off from work in the near future. You know, when you aren’t busy and won’t be missed. Again, if you’re lucky you’ll have vacation and can use that. If not, think of how much extra weight you’ll lose when you can’t afford to eat for lack of a paycheck! OH, you may need more than a week. If you come out healthy. If not, it’ll be more. A lot more. Have a discussion with your family, if you haven’t yet. If you haven’t yet, shame on you for your discretion, personal space, and recognition of the gravity of this decision. Make sure that you convince them that you won’t die, runaway with David Beckham or Eva Longoria (or both if you’re flexible), or otherwise ruin the home. Get answers to all of the questions you have. Fortunately ObesityHelp is a great place for that. You will get no less than 10 answers to every question. Some may actually agree. ☺ Make sure that this is really what you want. This isn’t like buying a car or getting married. This is permanent and there is no going back. Still confident this is the right choice? Now you know your flavor of crazy from item 7. Go on a liquid diet. You may not have anything that you cannot “read a newspaper through”, is solid, has calories, has carbs, has Protein, has flavor, or is made of a natural substance. This will last anywhere from two days to a month. Your surgeon will tell you how long. While on the clear liquid diet, please try not to cheat on the diet. More importantly, please try not to defecate on yourself. Here’s a mantra for you: “Never trust a fart!” Have the surgery. This will include: Large, but not quite large enough gowns with special butt exposing panels Freezing rooms Needle fears Vein scavenger hunts Panic attacks Several other fun moments no one will spoil for you to discover Recover from the surgery. This will include: Amazing drugs that will make you fear for the poor 110lb nurse that will help you walk at first. Please don’t fall during this time or you will crush her. You’ll fear this, but only briefly (great drugs remember). Just don’t fall. Walking. Yes, you’ve just had your entire insides rearranged and have more stitching in you than a rented tuxedo, but hey, let’s go for a walk. Every hour. Eating. This is really a game. You have a 3ish ounce container that replaces your stomach. It is swollen, but you don’t really know how much. If you over fill it, you will be in serious pain, and may hurt yourself severely. Here’s the fun part- you’ll be given a selection of hald a dozen Clear liquids to choose from. Some will make you retch. Some will taste like heaven. All are more than 3 oz. You- the person who’s complained that Mickey D’s quarter pounders have never once been a quarter pound – now get to determine what 3 oz looks like. Don’t forget two very important things. You are stoned on anesthesia. Your judgment aint what it should be. So is your stomach. It’s not going to help you by saying “I’m full” for about 2 weeks to a month. Going to a bathroom. The author of this article is a male, so with that perspective in mind, consider the male stereotype of urinating. Now imagine that sharpshooter in the hands of someone who cannot see straight, or single vision, is falling asleep on their feet, whose prostate is not yet awake from surgery but whose bladder most definitely is, and who is currently on their 4th IV bag of saline with lactated ringers running wide open. Don’t forget to measure your output! Go home! This is the easy part. Stuff your swollen and now anesthesia free self into a car and try to avoid potholes, cough, sneeze, or breathe too hard. Continue the clear liquid diet for a few more days Progress to Protein drinks. These are a joy. There are few if any samples, so make sure you get the 5lb bottle to be sure you love it. Progress to pureed or baby food Progress to cat food or tuna Progress to gourmet cat food or flavored tuna / canned chicken Progress to dog food or chunky Soups / heavily cooked soft and unflavored chicken Progress to human food. During this time you will need to learn a few things. These will include: How to eat. Remember you’ve been doing it wrong all your life so this should be easy. You may only have dense protein. You must take in no more than 3-4 oz. You must take an entire 30 minutes in which to do so. You may not drink before, during, or after the meal. You may not have anything spicy. You may not have anything with carbs. No alcohol for at least 6 months, or maybe forever. Nothing liquid. Carbonated anything is permanently off the menu for the rest of your life. Nothing with caffeine. Nothing with less than a 10:1 ratio of protein to carbs Keep calories as low as possible. Learn to keep something that meets all of your dietary needs handy. If you need to eat, not every place can meet your “special needs”. Make sure that you understand that you need to do this for the rest of your life. You can’t change this. Non Surgical people can indulge once and awhile. They can cheat. We rupture. Please remember to keep your intake to levels that would make Ethiopians send you food. This is generally 800 calories, less than 40 carbs, and more than 80 grams of protein per day. You must do all of this in 3 meals with no Snacks. Take your supplements: Calcium. Note that it isn’t the same calcium that you can get for a dime on any gas station shelf (Calcium Carbonate). This is a highly refined form of easily absorbable calcium (Calcium Citrate). It will come in three forms: A disgusting snot textured liquid found at Wal-Mart for $11 per week, a myriad of chewable pills that all taste like flavored drywall and cost about $20 per month, and delicious chewable candies that cost $40 per month. Multivitamin. You’ll be doing double doses. Get the adult gummy ones. Find the ones with no carbs. Fiber. Get the adult gummy ones. Find the ones with no carbs. Iron. Some people will take iron. Get chewables. B12. You can do pills under your tongue that taste like yesterday’s fish for $10/month, injections at the doc’s office every 3 weeks, or a nasal spray that costs $350/month. Do all of the above for the rest of your life. Don’t stop or you’ll die. Start to exercise! What, you thought that you didn’t have to exercise? Yep, here’s the trick. You are going to lose weight even if you don’t. Here’s the other trick. It’s easier to take that weight from your bones and muscles if you don’t exercise, so if you don’t work out, all that’s left will be fat! No really, you have to exercise. Yes, that means sweating. Make sure that while you’re going through this easy time in which every hormone you have is at full tilt, every part of your body looks and feels funny, nothing fits, and you generally are proud that you’re losing while also being weirded out by how different everything feels you also take into account everyone else. Remember, this is about them and how they perceive you. You can’t be the popular kid. The healthy person without diabetes, hypertension, edema, or apnea. The more confident employee. The more confident lover. The physically stronger person. The person who wants attention. The person with self-esteem. You need to apologize frequently for these failures and must work hard to gently help these people along to where they can think of you as a lesser person for altogether different reasons than they did before, to preserve their psyche. Stop making your weight loss about you. See? Even with these minor things, it’s obvious. Surgery is the easy way out. Don’t be a sucker. Be strong, and just eat less, and exercise more. It’s that simple!

I accepted a long time ago that Pasta, rice, and bread were off the table for me permanently. They are to me like booze is to an alcoholic. I just can't have them.

Good info guys, thanks! Zingy, I did notice that I could eat more when I drank during my meals. So, I am definately sticking to no drinking during the meal. It does put a damper on having a glass of wine with dinner. But I guess we shouldn't be drinking alcohol anyway. I am trying to be really good this time and get all the rules down. Any veterans know of any good basic breakdown of lapband do's and don'ts literature that I can brush up on? Thanks!

Will I be sick a lot after the operation? The LAP-BAND® System limits the amount of food you can eat at one time. If you feel nauseated on a regular basis, it could mean that you aren't chewing your food well enough or that you aren't following the post-surgical diet rules properly. However, it could also mean that there is a problem with the placement of the LAP-BAND® System, so contact your doctor if you continue to get sick. You must avoid vomiting as much as possible because it can cause your small stomach pouch to stretch. It can also lead to slippage of part of the stomach through the LAP-BAND® System, offsetting the effectiveness of your surgery. In some severe cases, damage due to vomiting can mean another operation. Will I feel hungry or deprived with the LAP-BAND® System? The LAP-BAND ® System makes you eat less and feel full in two ways: first, by reducing how much your stomach can hold at one time and second, by increasing the time it takes food to get through your digestive system. After a small meal, the amount of which varies from person to person, you should feel full and satisfied for some time. If you follow the nutrition guidelines when you choose your food and then chew it well, you shouldn't feel hungry or deprived. Remember, the LAP-BAND ® System is a powerful tool to help you change your eating habits. Can I eat anything in moderation? After your stomach has healed, you may eat most foods that don't cause you discomfort. However, since you can only eat a small amount at a time, it is important that you choose nutritious, vitamin-rich foods as outlined on this site and recommended by your surgeon and/or dietitian. Remember, if you eat foods that contain lots of sugar and fat or drink liquids full of empty calories (milkshakes, sodas), you will still be consuming more calories than you burn, and your weight loss with the LAP-BAND® Adjustable Gastric Banding System may be greatly reduced or even cancelled. Can I drink alcohol? Alcohol has a lot of calories and breaks down Vitamins. An occasional glass of wine or other alcoholic beverage, though, is not considered harmful to weight loss.1 Can I go out to eat? Order only a small portion, such as an appetizer. Try to eat as slowly as you can. It will help if you stop eating at the same time as your dinner companions. You might want to let your host or hostess know in advance that you cannot eat very much. Ask your surgeon for a LAP-BAND® Patient Card included in the Post-Op Patient Packet provided by Allergan. The patient card explains what the LAP-BAND® System is and states that you cannot eat very much (this card can also be helpful if you have an unrelated medical emergency). Am I allowed to have my LAP-BAND® System opened for a special occasion? While it might seem tempting and easy, your LAP-BAND® System should never be opened to eat a big meal at a special occasion. The LAP-BAND® System can be opened for medical reasons, though, such as pregnancy, when you will need to increase your nutritional intake. Does the LAP-BAND® System limit any physical activity? The LAP-BAND® System should not hamper any type of physical activity. You should be free to do aerobics, stretches, and any strenuous exercise you enjoy once you've completely recovered, and your surgeon gives you the 'ok'. Do I have to be careful with the access port just underneath my skin? The access port is placed under the skin in the abdominal wall, and once the incisions have healed, it should not cause discomfort or limit any physical exercise. The only sensation you may experience from the port occurs when you go in for adjustments. If you feel persistent discomfort in the port area, talk to your doctor.

There are SO many to choose from. For me, the Unjury is great and I do not experience an aftertaste. It is different for everyone. On previous tries with protein powders/mixes/drinks I notice I cannot have any with the sweeteners which are stripped down sugar alcohols: any of the ose's sucralose etc. Also maltodextrin, maltitol, mannitol etc cause me upset. Splena kills me. The unjury has aspartame in it. I was a diet coke "addict" for years so the aspartame doesnt bother me. If they have samples of the drinks youwant to try I would suggest getting them first. By volume they do cost more but you save so much not having bought the whole container just to not enjoy it.

I don't, but because the sugar alcohols in them cause me terrible bloating, gas, and diarrhea. I can't imagine that a small serving would impede weight loss; if you aren't bothered by the sugar alcohols and are losing well, I wouldn't worry at all. You can always pare them out of your intake if you run into trouble.

PB...I couldn't agree with you more....maybe he is a little scared, you know, when you lose all of this weight and want to move on with your life. Or, is he typically a pessimistic person? If he typically is this way, chalk it up to his typically negative personality and look him in the face and say "screw you, this is about me for a change". He can either take it or leave it. It seems, most of us women, that we get so wrapped up in our marriages and children that we lose sight of us, who we really are. We have let ourselves go and sucumb to the everyday stressors in our lives that afford us the ability to turn to food as our comforting agent. Our junk food is like someone elses crack, alcohol, heroine, meth, etc. etc. You do what you feel is right for you, not what is right for your husband or kids for a change. You will be surpirsed how much happier you will be knowing you did something for yourself, something that will not only make you feel better about yourself on the outside, but something that your body/health will appreciate you for for years to come. To know what you prefer instead of humbly saying amen to what society tells you you ought to prefer, is to have kept your soul alive~Robert Louis Stevenson

I'm down for some shots of Patron oh wait don't talk about Booz angry people will judge you can't drink alcohol and lose weight

While that's a very solid point...let's be honest here...being a human in this skin with all the insanity of the world, sometimes a little comfort is necessary. I think a meager half cup of potato Soup is a lot more positive than a lot of the alternatives........I read somewhere, probably on this board, that a lot of people who have bariatric surgery become alcoholics because they forgot to figure out how to comfort themselves without food...so they turn to alcohol. Truly an unhealthy path.

I am now 10 days into the full 3mg dose. The side effects, if any, have been minimal for me. I have had some general sour stomach, other than that, not much negative from it. My appetite has decreased substantially, but my late night cravings for a sweet snack have not left completely. With the medicine, I've also started the intermittent fasting, not eating anything until 10AM. Once I eat my lunch, I am ready to eat dinner at 6PM and typically the late night cookie or jello cup goes down. Overall I feel good having dropped 26 lbs in 6 weeks, but most of the loss came in the first 4 weeks with the new medicine and reduction in alcohol. I'm still having a glass of wine or two, but not the daily 2-4 drinks prior to the new year. Overall, I like the appetite suppressant....yet it's the lifestyle change that has me wanting more.