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I am with Cheri! Shoes, specifically boots for me. Now I have normal sized calves, I cant stop buying the damn things. And the saddest thing is since I broke my ankle at the beginning of the year I have barely been able to wear them (as most a heels and that dont go so well at the moment). I also like to cook, keep feeding everyone...I live alone so there is always way too much food. My workmates mainly benefit from this over cooking. One could argue that I moved to alcohol, as I mostly want to drink rather than eat when things get bad, but am a lush at 3 drinks...so not really happening there either. Never been able to get into the coffee thing at all...

This was me, about 8 years ago? Surgery was 5 years ago. Diabetic, one heart attack. (for starters) You can see why. This is me, a few days ago (Christmas Eve) with my new Grandkids (twins) I will be 64 in 2 weeks. 100+ Lbs down, feel 1/2 my age.....little or no health issues. This is my favorite time of year...the parties started a few weeks ago. At least 3-4 that were work related, plus one my Wife gave for her employees and their families. Plus it seemed as though every hospital/clinic I went to for the past 2 weeks has had some sort of in-house luncheons, etc. Then there came Christmas eve, which is a big tradition for my family, then Christmas morning at my Daughters for a large brunch... Back to our house for our Christmas dinner that evening. Today we are off to my Brother-in-laws out of state for a full day... After this, comes New Years with dinners and full days of watching College football... I'm not so concerned about gaining weight, been here before since surgery and I know my Band and how to listen to it.....what I am concerned about is all the unhealthy things I would not normally eat, not to mention the huge spike in alcohol consumption. I do not believe in New Years resolutions, but come Jan. 2, I am going on a 14 day PaleoCleanse to rid my body of all these toxins.... Christmas comes but once a year....and with my new life that surgery has given me, I am enjoying it more now than ever....(I probably would not be here without it)

I think you guys really have it here. ADDICTION. However, a lot of medical folks don't see it that way because there are not physical withdrawal symptoms associated with the removal of certain addicting foods like there are with removing a substance like heroin. That seems quite silly to me. Yes, I actually heard this from a medical professional. Everyone old enough to sleep by themselves would know that anything could be addicting. What about cigarettes? Isn’t it true that the actual physical addiction to the chemicals is over rather quickly, but the emotional addiction can last forever? Same with alcohol, yes? So how can that line of thinking be valid? Granted, I have also heard other professionals validate eating as an addiction. But why is that important? It is certainly not because I need someone to tell me I am addicted to something to make me feel better. I know I am already. I don’t need to be told. But validation is necessary at the society and mass media level because this is why people think you can “just do it.” They see a fat person and they do not see a sad addiction to a substance we can never completely avoid. They do not realize that not being addicted isn’t as simple of emptying our cabinets of alcohol (or pick your poison) and not going to a bar. Not that I think that would be easy, but as a comparison, consider that not over-eating and eating bad foods is an addition you consciously fight three meals a day-MINIMUM, while actually partaking in the actual substance that is killing you because you must eat in order to stay alive. Oh, how we quickly judge. I have always said, I do not judge others who are addicted to drugs, alcohol, cigarettes etc. I have been fortunate enough not to have those addictions. However, I certainly have my own, food. So I try not to judge and I try not nagging my BF to quit smoking. We talk about getting help instead. That is the discussion folks should be having around the issue of obesity, not will power or how gross people look because of fat. Right, as if drug addictions are attractive. Okay, I am off my soapbox now. But that is one that always hits me hard. I dated a guy long term once who was never addicted to anything and we were really from different planets because of that. That is when all of this came to the surface for me. <O:p Luckily, my BF now does understand, and even took out a loan against his house to help me get the surgery in September. I thought he would think I was nuts at first, but he actually did a lot of the convincing by stressing the long-term effects of the weight. He often pointed out how it has affected his mother’s life and doesn’t want that for me. He doesn’t think I can do it alone, and couldn’t believe I felt ashamed for admitting I was not able to. Why can’t the rest of the world just think like my guy? Wow…I need to call him and tell him he is great. J Thanks for listening to my rant.

Keep logging food and exercise and keep an eye on your weight. I had kind of the same experience, (I'm about 1.5 yrs out too) but I had stopped logging and let larger Snacks and too frequent alcohol creep in. Put on like 5 pounds outside my goal range then had to go back to the habits that work to take it off again, (which I have), but only just. Now working on creating a little wiggle room. If you're not gaining, maybe you need the calories. If you really want to stop it, change up your snacks to whole foods only for a week or 2. Sometimes I just need to break a habit and going "clean" can help.

For me, I have eliminated: carbonation, alcohol, anything fried, sugary things like cake, most starches most of the time, pasta, and anything sugary like fruit juice.

I can totally understand where you are coming from. I am a self-confessed and proven food addict. I am absolutely powerless over food, particularly things with sugar in them. I will honestly tell you that just as an alcoholic drinks to self-medicate, I used to eat to numb my emotions and fill some void. I have really found a lot of help in Overeaters Anonymous. You can go to their website (www.oa.com) and find a meeting (either a face to face meeting in your area or a call in phone meeting you can do from home). My philosophy is take what you need and leave the rest from the meetings. I am doing pretty well right now but I know it is a process that will take time. Good luck with everything! :-) Katie

Dear Wiley, For once, I agree with someone who is at a plateau and thinks they dont need a fill! Well, that being said here's my advice for what its worth. I totally know what you mean about the snack foods, they go down pretty easy and they are not good. I have mentally told my self that I can have anything because any restrictions or dieting is just no good for me and it leads me to the snacks. So I instead have foods I MUST eat and those are the proteins. For me that is mainly beans, tofu, and fish but you get the idea. I MUST eat those at the beginning of every meal (or whenever I want to eat regardless of mealtime or even hunger) and then usually after that I cant eat very many snacks or whatever else. I just mentally cant have no-no foods - it just makes me want them more! So now I have MUST-HAVE foods and they keep me out of trouble for the most part. Also (for what its worth) I have a glass of wine after dinner and it really curbs the snacking...I think I would be a skinny alcoholic! But for a lot of people, any alcohol lowers their ability to say no, to snacks or whatever else! Good luck...you posted a very interesting situation and I will be interested to see what others say... PS: There are two ways to turn on your metabolism in the morning: eat (not an option for me either) or exercise. Even a 20 minute walk will do it.

I'm from Argentina and I'm at a week after my gastric bypass. It seems to my some of my experiences are a bit different mainly in the pre op / post op diet. I started dieting pre op with the nutritionist in my surgery team almost 7 weeks before surgery. The first 3 weeks were a solid diet of high protein low carb diet with no sugar or alcohol whatsoever. The 4th week it was alternating days of solid diets and liquid diet and the last three week just liquid diet. The liquid diet consisted of Breakfast: 1 cup of coffee and milk (fat free) with the protein mixed in Mid morning: 1 cup of sugar free yogurt Lunch: 1 cup of soup (low calories) + fruit shake (half a banana +milk) with protein added Mid afternoon: the juice of 2 oranges Afternoon : same as breakfast Dinner: same as lunch All of this plus at least 2lts of water I lost 26 pounds before surgery. I'm starting my 2nd week post op and during the first week it was just water, te, clear broth and sugar free jello (of course with the vitamins). The goal was to get at least 2 lts of liquid consuming 1 cup in an hour. Yesterday I was given the diet for the second week and it's kinda similar to the pre op liquid diet (with a but more powder protein added) with out the yogurt, orange juice and fruit shake (always adding the vitamins) I have lost 15 pounds since surgery day and really feel soooo full all day that I don't even crave anything else. I'll keep you posted on how thing progress!! Sent from my LG-H815 using BariatricPal mobile app

So true Chris R. Alcoholics and drug addicts can avoid people who use those substances, but everyone EATS! Not to mention there is a fast food restaurant on every corner. Multiple food commercials on every channel, every hour. Such a difficult challenge. I am glad there is now scientific proof that certain foods are just as addictive as heroin!

Ive suffered from anxiety and depression which is crazy because i havent felt this good in years!!!! I signed myself up for mental health and they said it is very common after weightloss surgery as well as divorce/breakups and alcoholism. advice/ heard of/ going thru ANYBODY?

I used the Whey protein bullets, they are 42g of protein in 3oz. I shot 1/2 a day, 2x a day.. like alcohol shots, I shot 1.5oz--chased it with water. I didn't like shakes either.. The only other way I did extra protein was freezing expresso in ice cubes, then blending 2x expresso cubes with a little skim milk, splenda, and vanilla protein powder. Tasted like a vamped frozen frappucino.

Tiff, I am so sorry, I know that you have experienced loads of difficulties. I looked up some info on your condition and found it interesting that one of the causes are the meds used post surgery. Low blood pressure is commonly caused by drugs such as: Alcohol Anti-anxiety medications Certain antidepressants Diuretics Heart medicines, including those used to treat high blood pressure and coronary heart disease Medications used for surgery Painkillers Is it possible that there is a bleed somewhere in your body from your surgery? Would it be possible to visit w/your surgeon? I'm so sorry that you have to change the food things too, I'm sure that will be scary emotionally after you've had so much success. You are in our thoughts and prayers, take care of yourself and let John take care of you. Anna

The thing with alcohol is that it can hide huge amounts of calories and unless you know exactly how many calories sit on your mojito, chances are that you're consuming more than you think, plus it sucks to workout the next day. I'm not saying not to go out and have fun but be aware that you're gonna have to workout or eat extra clean the rest of the week in order to compensate and still lose weight.

Hi there! I was banded 11/5, too -- just had my first fill a couple of days ago and will go back next week for another (no fluid in band at surgery). I had no hunger for quite a while but then started getting hungry and hungrier sooner -- still seems to be a few hours and I need food again rather than the 4-5 hours my doctor is looking for. I know I'm not having enough protein so today I began having a shake each morning. I have had one stuck episode when I just ate too fast and probably too much (steamed veg -- was craving beets). I have been exercising a lot. My weight loss was good but plateaued recently -- gained a few back just before fill. Had alcohol around Thanksgiving and a trip we took -- doctor good with that but I think it stalled weight loss or just a coincidence. May be time for my body to regroup -- 20 down, rest, now for 20 more! I am down one jean size and just so happy to be less obsessed with food.

I know they asked me a dozen times if I am a drinker before my surgery so I'm wondering if that means we can't drink now? I like to have a glass of wine maybe two or three times a year when I am out with friends.... Will this harm anything? Make me sick? I usually sip on the one glass for a couple of hours.... What about mixed drinks? Any Harm on Special occasions?

Interesting points from all. Thank you... I am and have always been a lightweight when it comes to alcohol... Thats the only thing about me thats ever been "lightweight" Haha... I will be sure to drink plenty of water when I do have that glass of wine....

The main concern is that they don't want to band alcoholics. However, I know an alcoholic who is banded. She has lost 100 lbs and is doing fine. I drink wine a couple times a week and am still losing at least 1 lb a week. I am sure you will be fine if you drink the way you say you want to.

I was researching vitamin patches and what I thought was true. Vitamin patches can not be absorbed by the skin. This is what I found. When we heard about ‘multivitamin patches’ that were being marketed to bariatric patients, we were skeptical because we remember the ‘spray vitamins’ similarly targeting us a few years back that turned out to be bogus – the FDA and Attorney General of several states thought so too. We consulted with experts regarding ‘patch multivitamins’, all of whom emphatically said that none of the claims made by the patch company were true. Not a single word. They even underscored that what these companies are proposing is biochemically impossible, as the skin is a very good seal against water soluble organics, which is why you can’t get drunk on alcohol through your skin. It’s also a good barrier against ion transfer, or else a few hours in the ocean would dehydrate and kill you. Think of all the things you come in contact with during your day – if these materials passed through the skin, it could in many instances mean death. Most vitamins and minerals fall into these two categories and anybody claiming nutrient absorption through a known protective barrier had better produce studies to back it up – burden of proof is upon the patch companies, as their claims go against widely accepted and well known medical facts. One pharmacological expert went further to say that the people responsible for the bariatric vitamin patches ‘are either willfully fraudulent or just plain stupid, but either way are a second away from an FDA Warning Letter or FTC action’. Use your judgement and please be careful of this kind of stuff. You cannot fit the entire world of nutrition in a single pill. It does not make sense that you could tape a packet of pulverized vitamins to your arm and have all that material magically move through your skin and into your body. You cannot absorb the amount of minerals needed after bariatric surgery through a ‘sticker’. People who have had bariatric surgery are often looking for something easy and defend this product because they want to believe. People cite nicotine, birth control and other medications used as prescribed treatments via patch dose – the difference is that the highly specialized transdermal medication patches available via prescription, are for tiny amount of drugs, not several teaspoons of organic minerals. There is no comparison. If you’d like to be compliant, there is no easy way out, you must swallow capsules or chew tablets. There is no magic pill and certainly no magic spray or sticker.

I'm only 21+ months post-VSG, so understand I'm coming at this with that kind of WLS resume. Anyway, here's my take on your quarterly binge-drinking escapades. I will bet you aren't going to drink NEARLY as much as you used to drink at these events. You'll likely be more alcohol-sensitive, and I'm betting that your natural self-protective instincts will kick in and keep you from over-doing it, especially since you're not a regular drinker. However, and this is the good part, I don't think that drinking less would / could / should harsh your party buzz at all. More good news is you'll be with friends who won't be trying to harm you. Or I hope they won't. I think the important thing to ask yourself is -- could I still have a good time if I have 3 drinks over X hours instead of 12 drinks? Imma bet you could.

I think you can still have alcohol if you want, but in moderation. I drink what I want, beer, wine, etc. But there are always alternatives to drinking. Not having some alcohol is not the end of the world. What is more important to you, healthy weight loss, or one night of drinking?

OK guys, I enjoy a glass of wine before dinner more days than not and I truly don't want to be a stick in the mud. But there are a couple of things to at least be aware of. Keep in mind that alcohol will likely hit you harder and much faster than it did pre-op. There are some nightmare DUI stories out there from bypass patients that had a single drink. One often quoted ratio is 3 to 1 - one drink post-op is like three pre-op. Would be a very good idea to give your keys to someone else before you take that first drink. My surgeon said absolutely no alcohol until six months post-op. Your pouch is doing a lot of healing from the surgery and alcohol can be an invitation to an ulcer. We pay doctors to be conservative and as others have said, there may be absolutely no problem. But the risk is there. Whatever you decide, have a wonderful trip!! My wife and I will be there in late Nov. and have tickets to opening night for Shania Twain on Dec. 1st. I just have to go to Vegas every now and then and visit my money! Lol!!

Maybe a little off topic but I am very aware that my drinking has increased since I've been banded...and I know why. I wasn't able to drink wine when I was heavy because it gave me awful heartburn. Now that my hernia has been repaired and I've lost 150+ pounds, I can drink white or red with no issues. I also know that folks can replace one addiction with another and while I don't have an alcohol problem, I am aware that it's a possibility so I make sure to keep my wine consumption to no more than two glasses while out to dinner and only an occasional glass at home.

SleeverSk That was beautiful i am impressed with you i felt a little bit like that when i had BOTH HIPS replaced i went through so much emotionally that i ( 10 yrs, in recovery for alcoholism) i sat in my recliner and ate morphine like they were candy because i didn't want to "FEEL" so i numbed my feelings for weeks and then i ran out of pain meds and all the feelings i numbed came flooding back and let me just say i was a mess the morphine was gone they were no longer delivering them to my house and i was " on the pity pot for at least 3 weeks and wanted to die because i still had no meds and no one wanted to help me aside from my wife who anyway i was able to get my shi*t together and take the meds like they were prescribed , my life got better and i got better and if you feel like you won't get better you're wrong I'm telling you, you will it's all part of the process be gentle with yourself you deserve to be happy and deserve to be loved even though you may not feel it now theyll come a day you will look back and say " all the kicking and screaming i got through it " youre stronger then you think , so keep your head up you are so worth it. Coop

although a stricture would cause vomiting - not diarrhea. At least that would be the case with RNY (I had two of them early out). I agree with what you said about fluids, though - and artificial sweeteners. Those give a lot of people G/I problems - esp sugar alcohols (those whose names end it "-itol" - like xylitol.

I consider myself a successful loser because I'm 4 pounds away from my goal; eat normally but less. But...and this is a big BUT...I don't think it's recommended to eat the way I do...I know it's not. I'll get blasted for telling you...but here it goes. Mt. Dew packed w/ ice 32oz Fruty Pebbles w/ skim milk about 1/4 total continue sipping the Mt Dew lunch is Applebee's, Subway...or whatever I want. Today I skipped lunch because I'm just not hungry. Throw out the 3/4s left of the Mt Dew I didn't drink Get another Mt Dew...packed w/ ice Afternoons I make dinner around 4 and eat 2 tsp of everything...rice, potatoes, pie...whatever. The band for me wasn't about giving up fast foods or delicious stuff...it was about giving up potatoe chips/ice cream/pasteries- - - it worked as I've lost any desire for them. And it's about decreasing the quantity I eat. I go to maintenance in about 2 weeks by getting an adjustment. Controlling my emotional (binge) eating may be a forever thing for me...but over time I am certain it will get easier. Once an alcoholic, always.... 'recovering alcoholic' once an overeater, always....'recovering overeater'