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I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT YOU WOULD CONDONE DRINKING ALCOHOL, ESPECIALLY SHOTS, AND PARTYING!!! Why did you get this surgery in the first place? I know I got it so I could never ever ever drink again or party or have fun of any kind and I am sticking to it with no problems!!!! I am hateful and mean just like I'm supposed to be when I'm STARVING and you should be too!!! LOL!!!!!!!! Just kidding!!! I couldn't resist!!!!

I think compulsive eating is EXACTLY like alcoholism. My step father (who is an alcoholic) tells me, "why don't you just quit eating". I say to him, why don't you quit drinking?! When I finally admitted that I can't control myself, I began to understand him a little better, and now I no longer judge him as much. He criticized me for wanting to go through with surgery, and I told him that at least I could admit I have a problem and need help. There are so many other parallels. I will eat very little for days at a time, and then I will go on an eating binge for days- he does the same thing, except with alcohol. The longest he has been sober is 2 months. I can stay on a diet for a few months and then, I too, fall off the proverbial wagon. He can't have just one drink. I can't have just one bite. They are both addictions, but in two different forms.

It really sounds like all of you know what you are doing wrong. You just have to have the strength to not sabotage your weight loss by eating the wrong things. Carbs for me and for you are a poison. Our bodies greedily store them away in our fat cells and our liver. We cannot eat like other skinny people do. I know some people who eat carbs all the time and don't gain an ounce, but that's not us. Whether we want to admit it or not, we are addicts. Some people can drink alcohol without it affecting their lives. Others can't. The sooner we admit that we cannot indulge in our "drug" without adverse effects, the better off we will be. We will always have to be careful with our drug of choice and monitor our intake of it. Like an alcoholic, it will always be a day to day battle, for the rest of our lives. The bottom line is will you control your life, or will carbs?

I drink pretty socially now. Didn't through my losing stage. It's wasted calories, and I wasn't going to deal with drinking over eating food to take a hit on the calories. If I wanted to drink, I wasn't willing to do the crystal light and vodka b.s. either, give me the fully fueled stuff or stick it. I was over 6 months out, but was released for alcohol around 3.5 months out. First time I drank, 1 glass of wine hit me hard and fast. Face numb, lips tingling, slurred speech it was a fabulous, however very short-lived drunken moment. I was sobered up within about 20-30 minutes. Had 2 more glasses of wine over a 3 hour period and was nicely buzzed. My tolerance is just the same as it was pre-op. I drink mixed drinks with soda, wine, shots, the only thing I don't drink is beer because I'm not a fan of the flavor. In my group of friends, I am that "afternoon cocktail" girl. A bellini here, a mojito there, a strawberry margarita here and there. It's what I do. I tie one on once or twice a month, and it's never negatively effected my loss. I do bloat up if I drink salty margaritas and mojitos, but a couple glasses of Water in the morning resolves the issue. Good news is that no matter how much I drink, or how drunk I get, I never hangovers anymore. I do drink with my meals especially if it's a glass of wine, and it's a way to cheat the sleeve. Alcohol relaxes the stomach muscle, and it allows for more food intake. I actually just sip the wine or rum/coke through a meal, and it doesn't hurt, or anything along those lines. All it does is soften the food, making it leave the stomach faster. So, it is 100% possible to sip through a meal. I do regularly now. There is a big difference between sipping through a meal, and taking big drinks through a meal. Also, I've never had to follow the "stop drinking XX minutes before eating" with the sleeve. We don't have a pouch, liquids go in, they go out. With pouches, Fluid hangs out and kind of has to leak out the stoma. We have a pyloric valve and liquids do not stay in the stomach thus NOT taking room that is valuable for food. I do try to follow the "not drinking for 30 minutes after eating" rule, but being below goal, in maintenance for almost a year, you kind of find things that work your body specifically. Personally, I sometimes just need a little liquid to wet my whistle during a meal especially Thai or Spicy Mexican food. So, those little sips aren't going to make me gain 140lbs back. I can't eat more than maybe 1-2 more ounces of food than if I don't sip during my meal. Plus, it hasn't changed my sleeve capacity, just like drinking soda for the last year hasn't changed my sleeve capacity regardless of what any surgeon says. Not one surgeon has been able to produce any studies showing any scientific evidence that soda will cause sleeve or even pouch stretching.

I really thought I'd be doing this alone. I'm not one to prattle on about my problems and my thoughts. I give everything in my life adequate though, and I make decisions accordingly. I decided a month ago to have the banding surgery. My surgery date is ... well, in 2.5 hours. I've lost 20lbs pre-op (down from 356 to 336) in 3 weeks. I know I can do this. I'm certain of it. So why am I not sleeping? Why have I had nightmare after nightmare with the central theme of reluctantly having to kill the one thing I love the most (translation- FOOD!). I gave this a lot of thought, really. I considered a cost/benefit analysis and came up with this answer. But... last minute, I'm terrified. (Dr appt implied the following) Pasta is a bad idea... for the rest of my life?? White bread, big fluffy biscuts, and garlic toast are gone forever? Seriously, wheat pasta??? So much for Olive Garden... I know these are guidelines, and maitenance is different that losing, so I'll be able to re-introduce my lover (carbs) when I'm at my goal weight... but even then, only in small doses. And I've been heavy my whole life. I don't even know what I'd look like without excess baggage! I don't know what I'll do. I know I won't change how I dress - you can take the fat out of the girl but you can't take the girl out of the fat (frame of mind). I just don't know who I'd be if I'm not the fat girl at every event. It's scary. There's the whole "oh, just be yourself" school of thought; but I've been the fat girl. That's been my role. I've worked very hard at pretending it doesn't bother me, at telling people I'd be happy at any size as long as I'm healthy. I lie more to myself than others... so who? Who am I supposed to be? I have to take my pre-op shower and get on my 'loose fitting clothes' (that statement on my instruction sheet alone makes me wonder if this place 'gets' fat people... what do I wear that tight, besides my bras?) for surgery. Hopefully I'll be out by this afternoon and ready to post again, but I know it could be days. I tend to be a big baby when it comes to pain. I certainly don't feel like everyone else. I refused banding for so long. On my father's side of the family (the side I grew up a part of), something like this is considered giving up and letting your weakness win. Of course, these are the same people who believe alcoholism is a choice, not a disease. I got through surgery fine. I had a huge hiatal hernia that had to be repaired, and the band went in with 4cc of fluid. I have bruises and slices and PAIN. I knew there would be pain, but... seriously? The pain from the cuts aren't too bad, but the air they push into you in order to see better may kill me. I'm told it should be gone by tomorrow or the next day. *Post - Op* I haven't had time to fully process the fact that this is done. I went into this quickly, as I said before, and so to be at the finish/starting line is a little intimidating. My doctor told me today that if I lost 22lbs in 3 weeks of pre-op dieting, my weight loss over the next 6 months is going to be dramatic. I hope so... I just promise my husband(who works in Afghanistan) a long hike when he comes home on break in March! I'm about to head to bed... but I know ppl who think this is easy are NUTS. I've had nightmares for weeks... food is my ally... but I have to give it up. And not just a little... but some thing forever--like soda. I'm hoping for 4 days--or 1. Ugh. This pain is absolutely the worst. Worst than gallstones passing. UGH!!!!!!!!!!!! *Posted on forum yesterday*

Maria, the best advice is to simply hang in there and don't get discouraged. I had two types of insurance, and neither covered the Band. I had to pay myself. But it's damn worth the wait if your insurance will cover it in the end. I know that's not saying much, but be really thankful that insurance is taking care of the big part. Meanwhile, be double happy because the initial surgery is only part of the battle. The Band can be (often is) a very high maintenance tool that requires a lot of follow up visits. I had a list of complications, so in addition to the credit card I used for the initial surgery, I've racked up thousands in after care charges. What I'm saying is just take your time and jump through any hoops the insurance company tells you to, because in the end you'll have a paid-for band, and it will be great. Meanwhile, I think people give too much thought to the psyche exam. I personally don't know anyone that didn't pass it except for one alcoholic. As far as paying up front, it's just part of the process. Think of it as money well-invested. I had to change my way of thinking in the money department when shopping for the band. I didn't think twice of spending $15.00 at Taco Bell. I was spending $20 a day for lunch and dinner fast foods and restaurants. Loading up the shopping cart with useless expensive crap. That comes to more than $5,000 a year. And I'm left flat-broke after all my complications, but I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Sorry if I chose the wrong words - I mean it with all the love & support in my heart. Be patient, good things are coming your way.

I thought any liquids apart from alcohol or caffeinated ones - although obviously the less calories in your liquids the better. What about decaffeinated coffee? Does that count?. I'm slowly cutting back again from my 7 or 8 cup of coffee a day habit, replacing all but 2 or 3 with decaf instead.

There are lots of non-carbonated mixed drinks (I hear ya though, I was a vodka and soda girl myself). Sea breeze, bay breeze, screwdriver, etc. but then you have to deal with sugar from the fruit juices. Wine? Or how about a vodka martini? Or a dirty martini? if you like spicy/savory, the vodka with veggie juice reminds me of a martini drink a friend turned me onto pre-surgery. Ask the bartender if they have any Bloody Mary mix made up. If yes, ask for a dry vodka martini with a heavy splash of Bloody Mary mix. Pre-surgery it would take me at least 30-40 minutes to drink one, I am thinking today it would take me an hour to drink one (and nibble on the olives) and probably knock me on my butt. I had a glass of wine on NYE and was buzzed on 1/2 glass. If you don't want to drink alcohol but do not want to let onto co-workers/friends that you aren't drinking, just ask the bartender for a small glass of Water or cranberry juice, and put a lime and a stirrer in it. No one will be the wiser.

I am so glad to hear how well you're doing!!! I keep telling myself that once I can eat food, I won't be hungry so therefor I won't crave food! I have never been a big drinker (glass of wine with friends or a cocktail), so giving up alcohol is no sweat! I've also not been a big soda drinker. I have always been a Water or milk drinker. If I'm thinking of the same mini ravioli's.... Those things are tiny!!! You can only eat 3? -----------| <------ Aren't they only about that size each? That doesn't seem like enough to sustain the human body. I | | | | | | -------------- think I can eat more than that now! At one sitting I can eat about 3oz of soup. That's over about a 30 min time frame though!

Extremely overweight people who become thin very rapidly through surgery can sometimes feel very vulnerable and unprepared to deal with not only their own changing bodies but also the reactions of friends and family to the "new" body. Sometimes they are uncomfortable being the object of sexual desire for the first time in their adult lives. Especially with women, I have also seen that some feel as though they are ostracized by other women because those other women believe that their formerly fat friend has become an attractive threat to their own relationship. Others may feel self-conscious or unattractive because an extreme weight loss leaves them with skin folds or scars. They sometimes feel that surgery did them no good because their bodies still stand-out in public and in private as unusual. One client referred to it as the "Is That All There Is?" syndrome. She said she somehow believed that losing 150 pounds would leave her with a body that society would consider beautiful and what she got was abdominal flesh hanging over her thighs. I notice this is especially true when a person going into the surgical process is focused on getting thin or attractive rather than on getting healthy. There can also be problems in intimate relationships. One woman spoke of her husband's lack of interest in her sexually. In all other ways the relationship was healthy so they were able to talk about it. What she learned was that after the weight loss her husband felt unworthy of her because he was still overweight. He also lost his sexual confidence when his overweight wife, in his words, became "one of the girls in high school who wouldn't give me the time of day." Also, if a WLS patient has early-life traumas unaddressed or not completely addressed prior to surgery the loss of food as a way to placate stress and to reduce anxiety can be a new source of trauma. This leaves many facing a very difficult transition to a life not centered around food. All of these stressors and others are a breeding ground for cross-addictions. It is vital to consider before surgery and in the "thinning" months and years after surgery how you will deal with stress, sadness, fear, loneliness, anxiety, or whatever thoughts and feelings triggered emotional eating in the past. If there is no healthy outlet for these the body and mind will create whatever outlets they can, which most commonly include alcohol, drugs, sex or gambling. The problem of replacing food addiction with alcohol addiction is the one I have personal experience with and have seen the most in people I've encountered. In 2006, three years after LapBand surgery, I developed an addiction to alcohol. I had lost food as my companion, soother of stress, provider of sensual satisfaction and entertainment. I was not able to eat the comfort foods that placated my fears of life prior to WLS and I desperately craved an outlet for uncomfortable emotions and beliefs I took-on and began running from during my childhood in a violent home. So three years after WLS, and after loosing 110 pounds, my dinner every night became a 6-pack of Vodka coolers or more (Sour Apple or Grape) and ironically Healthy Choice low-fat ice cream. At my lowest I was 220 pounds and I felt very uncomfortable and vulnerable in a smaller body. I continued to wear large, baggy clothes because I was afraid to look feminine. Feminine to me then meant I was vulnerable and open to attack. This went on for a year, during which I regained all 110 pounds lost and felt like a failure. Worse, I felt like a public failure because everyone around me knew I'd had LapBand surgery. What I had to do was address the beliefs and fears I had about what it meant to be feminine. I had to come to terms with my past and embrace a future in which it is possible and within reach to be healthy, feminine and safe. To avoid cross-addictions, it is important that individuals considering surgery or those who have had surgery take this very personal, individual journey into the beliefs they hold onto from their pasts. These are the beliefs that caused them to turn to food in an unhealthy way for comfort. It is vitally important to plan what healthy outlets for emotional pain they can create. A therapist or Weight Loss Life Coach can help with this. Dealing with the thoughts and emotions that caused compulsive overeating in the past and forming healthy patterns for working with and releasing fear and anxiety in the future are essential to long-term weight loss and the avoidance of cross-addictions for WLS patients.

My brother is a highly intelligent man. This was proven decades ago, when IQ tests (performed while his teachers and parents tried to figure out why he was a miserable little bugger) showed a genius level IQ. I know that sentence sounds unsympathetic to my brother, but we were all miserable - our parents, his teachers, me, and my brother. The decades that have passed since then haven't given him any more common sense or made him any less miserable. A good example of that is his reaction when I first talked with him about my weight loss surgery. This highly intelligent and (by then) well-read man said, "Wow! So, you have the surgery, and then you eat anything you want and you still lose weight!" Well, no, I told him. Not really. In fact, nothing like that. During the 6 years of my weight loss surgery journey, I have (over and over and over again) witnessed bariatric patients who came out of the operating room after surgically successful procedures still wondering why they couldn't eat anything want and still lose weight. Their disappointing weight loss was and is a perpetual puzzle to them because somehow they had not grasped that behavioral change is required for weight loss success. It's easy to label those patients as stupid or ignorant or deluded, or to blame their bariatric team for failure to properly educate those patients about what would be required of them both pre- and post-op. All of those things could be a factor. In March 2012 I attended 2 sessions of a required pre-op nutrition and education class. My BMI then made me obese, but not morbidly so. I had gained weight after a complete unfill and was preparing to say goodbye to my beloved band due to medical problems aggravated by my band, planning to revise to vertical sleeve gastrectomy in the same procedure. The dietitian leading the class was a perky, pretty 20-something girl, adorably pregnant, who had clearly never struggled with her weight before. Her slightly condescending attitude was hard to take, but about halfway through the class I thought I could understand her attitude. She had just named a long list of foods we should not eat after surgery (including fried foods, candy, baked goodies, soda, alcohol, salty snacks, etc.) when I heard a woman nearby say bitterly, "I don't know. That seems like an awful lot to give up." Since I had known the before and after of WLS, I was strongly tempted to respond to her, but I held my tongue (wisely, for once). I don't know just why so many people think that WLS is magic, that you can eat anything you want and still lose weight; that you don't have to give up a single food or behavior or attitude in order to succeed. Maybe we can blame that kind of thinking on the media, or maybe we can blame it on the deeply-entrenched denial that tends to go along with obesity. But the fact is, you can't eat anything and still lose weight unless you're dying of cancer or AIDs or some other fatal disease, and probably don't want to eat a single bite of anything anyway. And I'd trade dying of cancer for WLS sacrifices and success any old day, wouldn't you?

I can only tell you from my own personal experience. The band has been working very well for me and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I wish I would have done it sooner. I am very happy with my weightloss results so far. The band does prevent me from overeating. I do not count calories, but I also do not live on candy bars, icecream, Cookies or alcohol. To tell you the truth, I put very little effort in. It has not been a hardship and does not control every minute of my life. The only negative for me has been thinning hair. I think I am more at risk for this than some others may be because my hair is naturally baby fine, thin and straight. At almost my 7 month mark, I think the thinning is slowing down. Good luck to you with the surgery, the weightloss, and a better future! :biggrin:

I experienced this for the first time at mass this week. I didn't take the wine because I was afraid the alcohol would burn. I took the wafer and chewed it to a paste before swallowing. I didn't have an issue. I am still in week 1 post-op.

I like Atkins bars. No sugar and high in protein. Very low in sugar alcohols. Right now I am eating 1 Atkins Chocolate Oatmeal Fiber bar every day. It has 10 grams of Fiber, 6 grams of protein. Most Atkins bars have 10-15 grams of protein, but right now I need the fiber.

The "Eight Golden Rules" for lap band patients By: Paul O'Brien, MD, We have formulated eight “Golden Rules” for getting the best result from the procedure. It is of vital importance that you follow these rules. The success of the procedure requires us to place the band correctly, but it equally requires that you follow these rules. I have been tempted to call them guidelines rather than rules. They are not absolute. A thunderbolt will not come from the heavens and strike you down if you break one of them. And, almost certainly, every patient has at one time or another broken each of the rules. However, they are more than guidelines. They do need to be followed to get the best results. If you do transgress one of them, I want you to feel guilty, admit to your sins and work out how you will avoid doing something so terrible ever again. But do remember that if the band is not correctly adjusted you will not be able to follow the rules. You must be in the green zone to follow them. So, before being consumed by self loathing at your weakness, do consider if correcting the adjustment is needed and come in to talk to us about it. We have already discussed these rules within the preceding chapters. Within these rules is a condensation of the advice in those chapters. We are repeating the key elements of the advice. We state the rules, briefly expand on what each rule intends and then restate them. If you are unsure about what they mean, reread the earlier chapters on eating, exercise and adjustment, and if still unclear, talk to us. THE EIGHT GOLDEN RULES for losing weight and keeping it off 1. Eat three or less small meals per day 2. Do not eat anything between meals 3. Eat slowly and stop when no longer hungry 4. Focus on nutritious foods 5. Avoid calorie-containing liquids 6. Exercise for at least 30 minutes every day 7. Be active throughout the day 8. Always keep in contact with us 1. Eat three or less small meals per day The Lap-Band works primarily by taking away your appetite. If it is adjusted correctly you should not feel hungry. You may eat up to three times a day. We don’t mind if you eat less than three times per day. Many people do not feel like Breakfast and some will miss a midday meal. If you don’t feel inclined to eat, don’t eat. If you find you are getting hungry between meals, tell us. We will probably consider adjusting the band a little tighter. There is not much room for food as there is a virtual stomach rather than a real space above the band. As you eat, the food seeks a space and you need to keep that space quite small. Therefore each meal should be about the amount of food you can get into half a glass. If you eat more than that you will not lose weight so easily and you will gradually stretch the stomach. This can lead to the need for a further surgery later on to reduce the enlarged stomach. The adjustability of the band is the key to allowing you to be happy with this small amount of food. If you find that you are tending to eat more than that, tell us and we will consider adding more Fluid to the band. Always use a small plate, put a small amount of food on the plate and always try to leave some. Remember the angels. They need their share. 2. Do not eat anything between meals No Snacks, no biscuits with your coffee, no fruit, nothing. All food must be restricted to meal times. One of the most frequent causes for failure is the taking of snacks between meals. If you are getting hungry between meals and are tempted to have a snack you must tell us. It is probably due to inadequate adjustment and you may need more fluid added to the band. Between meals you can only have zero calorie liquids – Water, mineral water, tea, coffee, low calorie sodas. 3. Eat slowly and stop when no longer hungry When you have eaten enough you will no longer be hungry and signals from your stomach to your brain tell you that you do not need any more. These signals take time to be generated. Give them that time. Each meal should be stretched out over 15 – 20 minutes. If you eat rapidly you will already have eaten too much before you realize that you have had enough. However, do not eat beyond 30 minutes. Throw away whatever you haven’t eaten at that time. That is the end of that meal and you must have nothing else until the next meal. Try to make each meal last for 15 - 20 minutes. Try to sense when you have had enough and stop before you feel at all uncomfortable. Use a small plate, put a small amount of food on the plate, and develop the habit of always leaving some of it uneaten. Once the meal is finished it is essential that you take no further food until the next meal time. This has to be avoided absolutely. The slow emptying of the stomach gives you a feeling of fullness which should make it easy for you to achieve this. You must ensure that this indeed does happen. 4. Focus on nutritious foods Foods that are high in Protein (meats, especially fish, eggs, dairy, lentils Beans and nuts) and foods that are high in complex carbohydrates (vegetables, some cereals) are best. Simple sugars are worst. Be careful with foods that are high in fats as they are dense form of calories. Be careful with fruits as they contain quite a lot of sugar. The good foods can come from all the main food groups and include vegetables, meats, eggs, cereals and dairy. There is no need to focus unduly on the particular foods in fine detail. It is not rocket science. It is simply selecting foods that are good (protein and complex carbohydrates), being careful with those that are not so good (fats, alcohol) and avoiding those that are bad (simple sugars). And take a well balanced Vitamin and mineral replacement each day. 5. Avoid calorie-containing liquids Any calorie containing liquids will tend to flow past the restriction of the band and not give you any feeling of satiety. You are then more likely to take too much. You are only allowed to drink: water mineral water tea or coffee (with low fat milk if you wish but no sugar) low calorie soft drinks (but be careful with the gas) An exception to the “no liquid calorie” rule is a glass of wine with meals which we have shown is good for your health and good for your weight loss when taken in a modest amount. 6. Exercise for at least 30 minutes each day This is at least as important as all of the other rules. Not only must you take in less calories but you must use up more calories. Exercise will improve your general health as well. Initially, while you are severely obese this can be difficult, but, as your weight decreases, it becomes easier. As you become fitter and healthier, you get greater enjoyment from exercise. We understand that not everybody is sports minded and exercise may be something quite new for you. Start slowly and seek to build up activity progressively. Aim to put together 30 minutes or more of moderate intensity physical activity on most and preferably all days. Walking is ideal to start off with. As your fitness improves, progress to more vigorous walking and even jogging, cycling, aerobics, swimming, and light resistance training. As your weight comes down your exercise capacity will increase and your general activities during the day will increase. This is to be encouraged and the more active you are the better the result will be. Your exercise program should be aerobic. You should be puffing and, if you check your pulse, generally it should be up around 120 – 140 beats per minute. There are a wide range of activities that will allow you to achieve this. If you can manage it, a personal trainer or fitness consultant can be an excellent assistant. They can provide an individual program according to your specific preferences and lifestyle that is realistic and achievable. Regular exercise requires commitment. The more effort you put in, the greater benefits you will see and feel. 7. Be active throughout each day Think of movement and activity as opportunities and not as inconvenience. Try to be active every day in as many ways as you can. Make it a habit to walk or cycle instead of using the car. Become active in the garden and do things yourself instead of using machines. Avoid sitting down at all cost. You should see sitting down as an opportunity for activity lost. Try to spend as much time outdoors as possible. We tend to be more active when outdoors. Use a pedometer as a stimulus to you to show how your activity level is increasing. If you are using a pedometer, aim to get beyond 10,000 steps per day – this represents a very good level of routine daily activity. 8. Always keep in contact with us We want to follow you permanently. There will never be a time when we say that the job of controlling your obesity is done and we do not need to see you anymore. There will always be a need to check your progress, monitor your health, check for nutritional deficiencies, make sure that you understand the rules, bring you up to date with new developments and adjust the volume of fluid in the band. There is always going to be a very small loss of fluid from the band over time. For example, if you had 3 ml of fluid present and we checked the volume after a 6 month gap, there would probably be about 2.7ml present. This occurs because the balloon of the band is not totally impermeable. If 3 ml was the correct volume, you would be starting to get hungry and eat more with a volume of 2.7ml. It is important you understand that this can happen and come back to see us for replacement of that small loss. This is the main reason that we want a maximum of 6 months between appointments. With this said, always follow your own doctor's protocol! There is a reason they give then to you! Also, my PA said she didn't quite agree with the "no snack" thing but if I could do with out and still be in the guidelines then wonderful. I am 3 years post op, and am in the green zone. (FINALLY) My recommendations may be different from newly banded receipants! Good luck and happy losing!!!! ~Jen~

hi Helene, My name is Marie, I am due to get my band in 13 days. reading your post frightens me! I did not realise you could have the band and not lose weight. I was told I would still have to watch what I eat, and be very careful about alcohol, dessert, fat. is it possible you are eating something which you think is low calorie, but is not? Good luck. Marie.

My surgeon is/was excellent and I had every confidence in him. That's about where it ends. Most pronounced are the two NUTS in his office, just wack-a-doos, All of my time with them has been...interesting. My two nutrition classes were dominated by PATIENTS who wanted to discuss when they could drink alcohol again, and all sorts of other ridiculous crap that was just a waste of time. I will certainly see MY surgeon in the future when/if I have any questions or concerns, but after my 8 week check I am pretty much done with the rest.

I am probably an anomaly as I don't really feel like I've made any major changes besides 1) I eat more Protein 2) I make healthier food choices most of the time 3) I drink WAY less alcohol, and 4) I can't drink anything carbonated. Basically my sleeve changed how much I can eat and my brain changed what I want to eat. I don't track or measure my food. I drink with meals. I use straws. I eat dessert. I don't use MFP. I don't exercise. I take NSAIDS. I eat when I'm hungry and I eat what I want. I still do all the same things I've always done, the physical things are just easier (working, riding my horse, hiking with my dog, kayaking, skiing). I'm still a couch potato on rainy, dreary weekends. I still go out with friends on occasion, but I'm still a hermit at heart and would rather stay home in most cases. But I feel great, I look good. My knee and ankle pain is gone and my BP is normal. After a lifetime of failed diets, I do consider this the "easy way". I'm not saying this way will work for everyone, just pointing out one way it can work.

I would love to hear about your vacation adventures this year. I'm always looking for new places to explore. I'm home from a memorable 25th anniversary road trip with my husband. ( 8 days in a car and we did not kill each other ) Route 66, Las Vegas, Grand canyon and Tombstone. Indulged in alcohol and expensive restaurants. Still in love with my man! Enjoyed a pool party in Las Vegas. I was comfortable showing skin with the help of a few cocktails. Our anniversary dinner was at a french restaurant. I had escargots for the first time. Hiked areas of the grand canyon. A six pound gain in 8 days. I'm kind of shocked that was all I had gained. I was very naughty. My next trip, I hope will be a bit unusual and away from tourists.

LOSE HIM! RUN! DON'T LOOK BACK!!!!! The timing is perfect because you will have all of the banding stuff going on and will be too busy to mourn. Think about it later, ponder your self-esteem issues later. Figure it out later. Just get him gone or you won't be able to think clearly. This messed up relationship and it's everyday interactions muddy the waters. First let it go. When you feel a bit more past it, then think about it. And don't argue with an alcoholic. You are enabling him and allowing him to mooch. QUIT! Tell him to get out, be a man, figure it out on his own, go, leave, be done. Don't let him sulk, cry, get angry, blame you, or make it your problem. He will. You know it. Can you tell I have been through a bit of this?! hehe You life will be much improved, I promise!!!! Remember, you don't owe him anything! And you are not helping him by keeping him dependant on you. Silly selfish girl. Let him GO!!!!! Even if he doesn't want to (and why would he? hellloooo!) Let us know how it goes. ((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))) PM me anytime!

Try these things: Always have crystal lite, tea or Water in your hand. Drink 64 oz a day No or very little Pasta, rice, bread, potatoes At least 60 grams of lean Protein a day (some can be from a Protein shake with less than 5 grams carb and sugar per serving) Exercise--it curbs appetite Don't eat in front of the TV Pay attention to portions Don't buy junk food at all and no fast food Never go grocery shopping when you're hungry Eat 3 meals a day with protein Snacks in between (but don't graze all day) Get a good night's sleep Take a Multivitamin every day Avoid coffee and alcohol (stimulates appetite) See my blog (link below) for some pre-op tips. If you blow it one day, start fresh in the morning and move on. It's a new day.

Hi Everyone! I'm scheduled to be banded May 16th and I'm going to be a bridesmaid in my brother's wedding on May 29th. Well, I just went to my cousin's wedding this past weekend, while on the pre-op diet, and I didn't have anything to drink. Everyone was up dancing and having a good time and drinking and I was wishing I could join the party. I kept thinking the whole time-- I am SO drinking at my brother's wedding. I know I'll only be 13 days post-op, but do you think it will be unsafe to have one or two glasses of wine or non-fizzy mixed drinks? I know I should really ask my doc, but I'm afraid he'll say no, LOL. Anyway, I would love to hear from people about how long you waited or what your surgeons said. It's not that I NEED alcohol to have a good time or anything, but I think I would enjoy myself a little more if I could have one or two. Thanks! Mary

HI KC, I am getting banded in about 34 hours from now 8-) I have been reading the blogs more this week. I wish I had found them earlier in the process. I feel like I have wasted my life being fat, and I don't have the energy to even think about trying weight watchers, or starting at the gym again, etc. My feeling right now is that the band will get me through the rough spots. .... I won't be hungry and decide to have a non-healthy, greasy, probably fried .... with gravy ... kind of meal and then end up giving up all together. At some point, I can have a taste of dessert, or something really yummy that would not be considered healthy, ........ but I will have only a little of it because I will be fuller sooner. ........ so the set back will not be as great, ....... and because it is not that big of a set-back, I will not get discouraged and give up, ...... it will be easy for me to get back to my standard (healthy) eating plan. Do I have the right perception of how this works? What is the thing that you would say is the most difficult for you? [i am not a big soda pop drinker, ... but I will miss my diet root beer] Is it hard to eat out because you only eat 1/3 of what they serve on one plate? What happens if we DO drink alcohol?

Here is what I just got done telling someone else...hope it helps you. The reason you are on the liquids is to shrink your liver. This is the hardest part of the procedure. In this stage everyone wants to cheat. Everyone feels as if they could eat a horse and everyone has a VERY hard time. The only advice that I can give to you is to tell you, don't cheat no matter how hard it may be because I have heard of doctors canceling the surgery because of that. What I can tell you is that you are almost there and things will get better for you. The first week after surgery you should be ok until the swelling goes down and then you will unfortunately be hungry again until your first fill. The benefits are awesome though. Just wait until the weight starts falling off of you. You will feel much better. You can now tell everyone that has ever said, "this is the easy way out." that they must be out of their minds because there is nothing easy about this process. Right now your body is going through starvation mode. You will feel tired, you will feel all kinds of things, but like I said it does get better. Hang in there. You can do it. I have faith in you, have faith in yourself. We will save you a seat on the losers bench. In the liquid phase you can pretty much have anything except alcohol. Drink your Protein shakes but you might want to get some unflavored Protein powder so that you can mix it in broth also. The more protein you have the more full you will be. unjury has an unflavored chicken Soup flavored protein that is very good. (UNJURY is Medical Quality whey Protein Isolate. Best Tasting Whey Protein Powder. Most Trusted Whey Protein Powder Supplement. Taste the difference!). Please feel free to add me as an email buddy and I will try my best to encourage you to keep going. The best of luck to you. Keep looking for the light at the end of the tunnel, your almost there.

It's really just a temporary situation. Once you lose your weight, and can tolerate the social aspects and behaviors with food and alcohol, an active social is an extremely realistic goal. I just didn't waste my "honeymoon" with alcohol and social life. I ate out with my friends, but I chose healthier options, and learned that I enjoyed the experience, friendship, fellowship far more than the food. Once I was at goal, I introduced alcohol back into my life. The first few times I drank, it did hit me hard and fast then I sobered up fast. Not a lot of fun, but a few months in, maintaining a good buzz was not difficult. I have a very active social life, and socially drink. Obviously, I haven't in pregnancy, but before pregnancy, I was a social drinker and would tie one on monthly with my girlfriends.