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Hello.. I am a month out.. I just wondered when I could have a glass of wine or a cup of coffee. I can't fine my diet package right now because we have company staying with us and my house is upside down..lol By they way, and I mean this kindly, I don't require responses telling me how alcohol is empty calories and not a good choice..etc.. I know the drill.. just wondered when I could have a glass of wine or a coffee with the company Thanks!!

Am I missing something? I read the facts and it says 6g sugar. Are you adding in the sugar alcohols?

The mini bar has 15g of Protein so not so mini there ???? Got it, sugar alcohols don't count the same on my plan so thought I'd clarify for others whose plan might be like mine! Thanks for sharing! Ordered some this morning.

You will also struggle with fiberous foods (which are ALL healthy foods) and it will be much easier to eat junk like chocolate, ice cream and alcohol. You need to find your work arounds on bad days to be able to eat your lean proteins and fibers and not give into junk or not eat on bad days.

This is a good thread with a lot of good advice. I hit 4 months recently and felt the tick-tock of that honeymoon clock. @@CowgirlJane is right, I have to stay focused on this first year. Great advice. But I clearly did not get surgery on my brain because my brain is still very messed up. It still wants carbs and junk. @@VSGAnn2014 said something about consistency and I'm hoping with time and consistency that my brain will start to change. But I do stumble (sometimes into a piece of chocolate) and I get up, brush myself off and keep at it. I am stumbling a little less than before so that's positive. To the OP, you came back from vacation and posted on here for advice. That clearly shows you are ready to get back on track so good for you for brushing yourself off and getting back at it. I have a vacation planned in September (right around my 1 year mark) and am going to an all-inclusive resort (unlimited food and alcohol) so the advice provided in this post is very helpful for me. I don't love alcohol unless it's sugary so I need to plan on not drinking. I need to stick with my meals and not graze.

Hey all!!!! I have a predicament. You see, my birthday was yesterday... I drank alcohol on Saturday, but was still within my caloric intake. Well last night, I ate according to planning on drinks for my birthday, but unfortunately, I over drank with the alcohol..... Ultimately my body is more supseptible to alcohol since being banded. I've only PBed a few times, but last night I actually threw up..... Now I'm nervous about band slippage.... I'm so mad at myself... And I am not a huge drinker to begin with. Good thing is everything feels fine. No pain, reflux or anything, am I being a worry wart? I tell ya, I will not partake in any more alcoholic beverages in large quantities ever again.... Funny thing is, I had only 1 drink and 1 shot... Guess I'm a lightweight lol. How will you know if there is band slippage? 5/28/12 pre-op diet started (217lbs) 6/14/12 Surgery 1.8cc added to 10cc band (205lbs). 7/17/12 1st fill (194lbs). 7/24/12 (191lbs)

I have only lost around 40 lbs but it drastically changed how I process alcohol which I figured out the really hard way the other night. I used to have very high tolerance for a lot of hard alcohol and every once in a blue moon I would drink quite a bit. I hadn't drank in many months and decided to try it. I only really remember the first few shots but after that things got pretty ugly. I was really sick to my stomach the next day but I was able to not throw up. I'm glad to hear it won't be the end of my band if I do throw up. But yea alcohol is out.

I don't understand the name calling. What is wrong with someone posting about responsibility...that's how I understood @tauruslady post. How easy is it to say, "Oh well, live a little!" This type of rationalization is what got most of us in trouble in the first place. Does "Living" have to equal food & alcohol? I Respect everyone's opinions but highly appreciate people who hold one another accountable for their actions. This is a public board...you cannot filter which responses you'd rather have and censure the rest.

Right, of course! How could I forget the famous Vegas motto? And you know what else is funny? SusanP is exactly right. When I was drinking glasses of white wine a few months ago, I was NOT losing weight. Then, I switched to cranberry and vodka (HEY it counts as a FRUIT ). OK, in fact it's actually more Vodka with (some) Cranberry. I lost more though I drank a bit more. (I can usually only tolerate 1 glass of wine, but can handle 2 Cranberry Vodkas. Go figure! ) But I drank those all over Vegas. My Breakfast drink ( this is really awful but they bring you alcohol even at breakfast in Vegas ) was either a Mimosa (champ+ OJ - again for fruit ) or a strawberry dacquiri (another excellent source of fruit - errr, every bit counts, right? :nervous ) I even had the strawberry dacquiris with whipped cream. (Cuz I wasn't getting my normal dairy requirement.) Still lost almost 2-3# a day, more than twice what I would ever lose in my best week at home. I definitely don't drink that much under normal circumstances, but it's nice to know that I can Celebrate a special occasion and still lose. Oh, and by the way - the following week I went to central Ohio on my next vacation. It was a convention, and we spent so much time walking around a stunningly large university campus, around a cavernous convention center and even did marches and walking rallies. There was no alcohol the whole trip. (We were so excited when we were flying home and I saw the airport bar, LOL ) I ate less than normal, walked a WHOLE bunch more than I even did in Vegas. Lost? 1-2 measly pounds. So the bottom line? For my body: Staying busy +having a nice drink or two (*hiccup*) meant more loss than eating right and walking like a fiend. (And no, I didn't build muscle, apparently :phanvan ). Life is funny! The Band is funny, and sometimes we just gotta laugh at it all.

It's not a secret that I take an antidepressant. It took me a long time to be open about that, as my family are "just snap out of it" kind of people. My brain just doesn't handle serotonin well on its own. Without an antidepressant, everything and nothing makes me cry and I can't feel joy. With it, I feel and act, like a normal person (HEY! no comments from the peanut gallery!). Last week at work was a week from hell. Patient almost dying in the parking lot, another patient having a psychotic break and calling constantly with delusions of grandeur and racing thoughts (and I got to take his calls), several interactions with the police regarding that same patient, dismissing two patients (one for combining alcohol with her meds on top of a positive drug test for pcp, another for increasing her meds on her own several times)... you name it, we went through it. I take my medications (antidepressant and vitamins) after I get to work; it's part of my morning routine at the office. With all the chaos, I forgot to take them on Thursday. Then I forgot to take them on Friday. Then I went out of town on Saturday and forgot to take them. Saturday I went to an adult, Disney-themed party. I went as Milady de Winter, the spy from The Three Musketeers that plots to kill the king of France (if you've seen Disney's version with Tim Curry, Kiefer Sutherland, Charlie Sheen, etc., it was the part played by Rebecca DeMornay). Years ago when I was doing Renaissance stuff, I made a beautiful Italian Renaissance green and gold gown, underdress, etc. So I wore that, and everything I was wearing I had made myself, with the exception of my shoes. Roughly half of the women at the party were wearing as little as possible. There was a costume contest, and I came in second, behind a girl dressed as Belle, in a very short dress with major cleavage. Think "adult Halloween costume" versus historically-accurate gown that you might see in a Renaissance painting. It left me in tears, and it shouldn't have. It was clearly a cleavage contest, as a number of people expressed in surprise to me afterwards. I have no cleavage anymore. I used to fill out the bust of this dress and then some. I was able to tighten up the bodice a bit, but still no cleavage. I couldn't believe how stupid I felt for being in tears over something like this. Something that doesn't matter. I'm usually very careful not to enter contests that are not based on skill, because I want to be judged on ability, not popularity. Just as we were leaving the party to go back to the hotel, I got a massive headache. Great. No sexy time for me. So we're laying in bed, my head is killing me, and tears are streaming down my face, and I can't even tell him why. Thankfully, he's a patient guy and he just held me. The next morning, I realized what had happened. I had no antidepressant on board, and it takes about two to three days for any changes to be noticeable, positive or negative. I still had a headache, but it was just kind of around the edges, not as bad as it had been. I was able to articulate to him what the problem was, and I got some gentle sexy time (which, if you know anything about me, is not my preferred "speed" ). So I made stupid choices and got a stupid outcome. This was not my first rodeo, and I know better. I know I have to take care of myself. Uggghhhh.

I was a major food addict and I'm sure I still am. I think of it like being a recovering alcoholic, I stay away from triggers because I know I'm just one bite from falling off the wagon if I don't. It can be managed but the key is realizing the problem is in your head, not your stomach, so the band can't and won't fix it.

I have never had the pbing issue with alcohol....I wonder if it is because alcohol dehydrates you? The more fluids I personally have especially milk helps me digest food beter with the band.

Many people have to fill out a rather lengthy questionnaire. I did not have to fill one out, I just spoke with the therapist at the bariatric center for about an hour. They want to establish that you have rational expectations for the surgery and that you understand what the surgery will and will not impact your life. Some of the indicators they're looking for: What are the main reasons you're doing this surgery? Are you doing this surgery for yourself or someone else (like a spouse)? Do you understand that the surgery is just a tool and that you will have to change your lifestyle for long-term success? Do you have a support system? What do you plan to do for exercise? What will you do with your free time in which you used to eat? Do you have a history of drug or alcohol abuse? Have you ever been diagnosed as anorexic or bulemic? History of physical or sexual abuse? What are your eating triggers and how do you plan to deal with them? These were some of the discussion points and they were all excellent points. Don't try to guess "right" or "wrong" answers, just be honest. The therapist is there to help you succeed, not hinder your success.

I knew that surgery was going to be very hard, requiring discipline and a new way of eating. Wanting to give myself every chance for success, I tried to give up every addiction I could PRIOR to surgery, so that the battle would be less complex afterward. Prior to surgery I gave up sugar (my joints never felt better!), caffeine, soda, alcohol, artificial sweeteners, artificial colors and flavors, processed foods, and snacking. I also started 16/8 Intermittent Fasting. I had already given up wheat/gluten several years ago, I was never a smoker. The sugar, caffeine and snacking were especially hard, but I am SOOOOO thankful I am not dealing with those now that I am only 2 weeks post op. I would suggest this to anyone in their preop period. Get rid of the junk NOW! You don't need to deal with cravings after surgery - food deprivation is enough! It will give you the confidence to comply with the post-op restrictions, and will set you up for a much healthier life style for life.

You'd be a fool to do that for a gazillion reasons. The biggest is risk of infection. Sterile technique does NOT mean alcohol and a sterile needle. You are risking losing your band for doing your own fills. See the link I posted and read ALL of it. Not just the last few posts.

Hello everyone... Newbie here...I came home from a business trip to find my APPROVAL letter in the mail! So excited...hopefully will get a surgery date tomorrow. Ok, my stats...I'm 49 years old and 5'2". On January 1st I weighed myself. 273.5 yikes! That same day I gave up all carbs, alcohol, sweets, caffeine and fast food. I've been eating healthy ever since. I have lost 41 lbs on my own. Went through the 6 month supervised weight loss plan, psych evaluation, nutritionist appointments etc...had my 6 month weigh in on June 19th. Weighed 232 so yay me! Got my approval letter in the mail today, and am hoping to get a surgery date tomorrow. The 6 months FLEW by. I stayed busy, stayed focused and did my research. So excited to be moving forward on my journey... Any advise from any of you on here's regarding how best to prepare for my surgery and my recovery? I live alone, but my daughter lives close enough to be of help. Help?

Atrial Fib Can be tricky. And it is not always the same with all people. For instance I see one person said that they sit down until the episode passes. My episodes never pass. I always have to be cardio verted. I too had an ablation and had no problem for three years. I am not typically a big drinker but over indulged one time and went out of rythym. I am sure well almost sure it was from the alcohol. Ablations are statistically 70 percent effective (with a touch up). The ablations are not extremely painful but terribly draining. I was just banded on thursday and I would tell you not to schedule banding just 10 days afterward. Too much TOOOO soon. This banding is not a piece of cake either. The pain is not too bad but the gas is terrible. Oh for a simple bowel movement! The little things in life are suddenly important! amwell

so i started to have some syomtoms of another UTI last firday just that i was peeing more my thought we just incress my fuild. Then i started to have a funny feeling by sunday afternoon i supepect maybe i have a UTI sunday night i became missable. I called the dr frist thing in the morning and they said you have a uroliglist apointment on wed do you think i could wait at frist i said okay but when i started to vomit and i was not keeping water down i knew i was in trubbble i called the dr back and said no i not sure i can wait and they said the frist they could get me in was a 3:20 pm with the nurse parcton for my PCP. I am still on antibotics for my last UTI and she relly had no idea what to do, She tryed to get hold of my uroligsts to figger out what to do, she mentoned the hospital and i said no i relly rather not she wanted to send me home and wait till the next day to see my uroligist i was dizzy and i knew i was deharated and she agreed I explaned to her how banded pepole should not get behind on fuilds and i was so nausas and was now at dry heavs as there was nothing left to come up as i had stoped drinking and was thowing up what i did drink. She agreed to give me IV fuilds two litters latter i was not better and still in the worst pain every this made my lap band seem like a peice of cake it hurt so bad. Finely around 7 she said I am sorry i can not send you home with a clear mind you relly should be in the hospital they can give you fuilds iv nusness meds and pain meds i am calling an amblenes, at the hospital they started askiing about my band, They do alot of gastic bi passes not gastic banding at this hosptial. That why i went with the one i knew did the band and did it well. They said with all the vomiting they were woried about a slip and this is why they hate the band and when it comes to this and they started asking about my sugeron and whated to talk to him they said would you be willing to let us do a revison if something is wrong with the band, They even paged the resdent on call for there barartic program to talk to me about a revison, Well the good news is the band is in pace they did a ct san and saw i had kidney stones and worst a major kideny infection and the dr said you know were admitting you right at this point i was under morphine and did not care about much expect that the morphine was making me feel so much better it was the only way we got though the ct scan other wise i would have never made it, They admitted me and gave me ton of fuilds to help me pass the stone and also get rid of my kindey infection that was the start of this whole thing. They asked me to eat i keeped explaning i am banded and i have lactose intalonince and need mushy food to them this ment ice cream cut cup pan cakes cut up muffins ground pasta each meal got worst. I said i can not eat this stuff I have a band in pluse i was so nausus that it did not matter, Finely they called in the barticitic nutrionist and looked at what they were giving me and said she can't eat any of that she has a band pluse offering a banded person ice cream and cake is like giveing an alcoholic a drink she said what she needs is protiine she probely very tired form lack of it and asked me how i felt i said whiped out draned and just blah. she got everything startened out and she went down to the kichen he self and explaned she needs less food more times a day we need to offer her a snacks with protine in it we also need to make sure she has two protine shakes a day to try and make up some of the lost protine that i had not had in the last 3 days and she also need to have access to water at all time and crystal light so she can meet her fuild recments all the sudden things changed. And best of al my dr said good new we know what you have do you want to go home he frist gave me scips for pill and i said do you know if these can be crushed then he said i don't know i explaned my dr has made a big deal that everything has to be crushed or lquid. He said why would you do this to your self? did you think about how your life would change? he said i never understood why pepole do not deit and exsizes I said you want to know exsizes i at the gym before my sugery 6 days a week one hour each time sometimes two I said i worked with a nurtionist on a deit and the most i lost was 4 1/2 lbs over 6 mounths only to get my peridod every mouth and gain 5. I said i did think about how my life would change how i would never eat a pizza again how i never have a handbuger on a bun how i would not be able to eat or drink toghter how my tast buds would change i said i thought alot about and I hate that question I lost 27 lbs in 4 weeks were before the sugery i stuggled to lose 4 1/2 and if that means crushing pills and takeing lquid form then so be it he gave me some persctions and i was on my way problem is no one had these percptions I got one that can be order tommorow and they were able to be change to something else. Then i find out that Cypro lquid form dose not come genric and it 55 dollors for what would be a 3 dollor perction I am not paying 55 dollors for this I going to make some phone calls to my urolgisest and see if it dose come genric mean while i am sitting with an untreated kindeny infection till i get this mess straitgen out

My psych needed to sign off on me, she sent something to my surgeon that said I don’t have an eating disorder, and the worst thing I am addicted to is carbs. She didn’t make final decision on me having surgery but if I did have (past or present) an eating disorder or an addiction to drugs/alcohol she would not recommend me for surgery. Have a great day! Amanda [emoji16] HW 248 CW 241 Surgery Date: pending 11/21/2017. Goal weight 150’ish [emoji23]

HI RoZiroZee, I too was a compulsive binger, in fact a proper food addict. Like an alcoholic hides drink, so i would hide food. Sometimes i would forget and come across some cake or other goodies in the most strange places! You have to work hard at getting your head straight or the band won't work. It is only an aid and you still have to follow a healthy eating plan. Fizzy soda, whether sugary, or sugarless, are a no-go, because they are dangerous for anyone with a band. I was 276lbs(english pounds) Last August 2nd and I'm now 174 lbs. Believe me, my eating was really out of control. I ate if I was miserable, through depression, if I was happy I ate, most of all i enjoyed planning binges. Now my biggest battle is trying not to pick at the food that I cook for the family. I cant eat it because I'm on a liquid only week since my 2nd fill. Good Luck, but don't forget, the hader you work at it, the luckier you will be! Anne

What has helped me a little to transistion my mind is to and ease the grieving process, because yes, our obesity is just a symptom of something bigger. I made a list of what I could still do, and of things that I enjoyed doing (minus eating/outside of eating)....you're right about the clothes, I've been just going to higher ended GoodWill's, I wish we had a clothing exchange that we could contribute to as we slim down. Made a list of people I could count on, although just really two, that I could count on at any time of day or nite, that I could reach out to talk with, becuase you're right, food was our number 1 friend and I also did a lot of Happy Hours..... I'm a huge emotional eater and food alcoholic, I would eat until I was stuffed and sick just t o numb what I was feeling. I succomb honestly and willingly, so I made a list of people ( very small list lol) that I trusted would be there that I could pick up the phone and chat with to just listen to ME, to just give me a hug, hold my hand, etc. not necessarily give me advice, yet just to listen to me and I was honest with them about this process and why and how I got this obese. I also began a diary/blog. Not an online one, yet one where I would make it a point to get my fingers busy and write down what it was that I was feeling, how my day went, how my food intake is going, etc. Potential planning I would have to do for banquets and graduation parties, etc. I find if I keep my hands/fingers busy, my mind wont shift to food. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. I enjoy drinking teas, so I invested in a Tea club, Teavana and they send out a different tea of the month, started doing special things for myself. Instead of reaching out to food, I'm going to start attending to myself for a little while, my five sense. Made myself a behavior calendar where I "awarded" myself a sticker for each day when I did a little bit of movement. For now, it's just a walk around the block. For every 10 stickers, I promised myself to do something special for myself, like a massage, manicure, movie, etc. I started to take care of me through other avenues than just turning to food. Started turning down Happy Hours. I can't be tempted with alcohol, not yet anyways, later yes, yet not now. I want to make my nutrient choices count, as what I choose to eat makes me feel better psychologically. Enrolled myself in Yoga. Ha ha, well it's a start to getting out and moving. Doesn't burn a lot of calories, yet it's going to help ME to teach ME how to relax. I also started to read books written by Geenen Roth, Women, Food, and God. It has NOthing really to do about God, or Religion, yet she speaks about overeating, or the aspects of emotional eating. She does a lot of conferences in California, and I would like to attend one day to hear her speak. It is a retraining process. And it's true, we are still the same person, just smaller yet it reminds me very clearly how cruel the real world can be. One of my best friends, ended up telling me, "I used to feel you were one of us (obese), now you are one of them (skinny people, I guess)." Yet I have to remember, that I'm doing this for my health, to keep up with my kids, that it is worth it in the end. Take care.

i had a great surgery. i had to stay overnight at the hospital per doctors orders. i had very little pain and none of the gas pain or shoulder pain that some people talk about. the only real hang up that i had was that i was tired, so naps were definetly helpful. i work full time and go to school full time...i ended up taking about 3 weeks off from work...i could have gone back sooner, but was fortunate enough to be able to take the time off. i ended up having to drop down to half time in school. for me all of the changes in my body and then going back to work and starting school all at once was a little too much for me. i had never dropped a class in my life so it was a big struggle for me to drop them...mentally i just could not handle it. as for going out to eat and drinking...i can stll do that. there's just certain things i know i can eat without having any sort of problem so i just stick with that...for me it's salad. at first it was kinda hard, you don't want to order salad when everyone else is having steak and lasagna. but i know when i order salad that i will be able to sit at the table and enjoy the conversation and the company of your friends. i always order Water with my meal to feel a little bit normal. i've drank alcohol only a few time but have had no problems with it...however, i'm not a big drinker so i can't say that i really drink that much. so when you go out just make sure that you stick with things that you know you can eat and that have some sort of nutritional value and then you can still enjoy the experience.

I found this information and I thought it was good to post for "New Post-OP Sleevers" and/or if some "Veteran Sleevers" out there would like to review or restart their Post-OP phase because maybe the hit a stall: Dietary Guidelines After Bariatric Surgery General Guidelines Eat balanced meals with smaill portions.Keep a daily record of your food portions and of your calorie and protein intake.Eat slowly and chew small bites of food thoroughly.Avoid rice, bread, raw vegetables and fresh fruits, as well as meats that are not easily chewed, such as pork and steak. Ground meats are usually better tolerated.Do not use straws, drink carbonated beverages or chew ice. They can introduce air into your pouch and cause discomfort.Avoid sugar, sugar-containing foods and beverages, concentrated sweets and fruit juices.For the first two months following surgery, your calorie intake should be between 300 and 600 calories a day, with a focus on thin and thicker liquids.Daily caloric intake should not exceed 1,000 calories. Fluids Drink extra water and low-calorie or calorie-free fluids between meals to avoid dehydration. All liquids should be caffeine-free. Sip about 1 cup of fluid between each small meal, six to eight times a day. We recommend drinking at least 2 liters (64 ounces or 8 cups) of fluids a day. You will gradually be able to meet this target. We strongly warn against drinking any alcoholic beverages. After surgery, alcohol is absorbed into your system much more quickly than before, making its sedative and mood-altering effects more difficult to predict and control. Protein Preserve muscle tissue by eating foods rich in protein. High-protein foods include eggs, meats, fish, seafood, tuna, poultry, soy milk, tofu, cottage cheese, yogurt and other milk products. Your goal should be a minimum of 65 to 75 grams of protein a day. Don't worry if you can't reach this goal in the first few months after surgery. Supplements You must take the following supplements on a daily basis to prevent nutrient deficiencies. Please remember that all pills must be crushed or cut into six to eight small pieces. You are not able to absorb whole pills as well as before surgery, and it can be difficult for the pills to pass through your new anatomy. Multivitamins Take a high-potency daily chewable multivitamin and mineral supplement that contains a minimum of 18 mg of iron, 400 mcg of folic acid, selenium, copper and zinc. Brands that contain this formula include Trader Joe’s and Centrum Adult chewable multivitamins. Take two tablets daily for at least three months after your surgery, and then one tablet daily for life. Calcium Supplement Take 1,200 to 2,000 mg of calcium daily to prevent calcium deficiency and bone disease. To enhance absorption, take the calcium in two to three divided doses throughout the day - for example, a 500 to 600 mg supplement taken three times a day. Calcium citrate is the preferred form of calcium. Vitamin D Supplement Take a total of 800 to 1,000 International Units (IUs) of vitamin D each day. This total amount should be taken in divided doses of 400 to 500 IUs twice a day. Vitamin D should be taken with your calcium supplement. If you prefer, you can take a combination calcium-vitamin D supplement to avoid taking multiple pills, so long as it contains the proper dosages. Vitamin B12 Supplement Take 500 mcg of vitamin B daily. It can be taken as a tablet, or in sublingual forms placed under the tongue. Other Supplements Some patients need additional folic acid or iron supplements, particularly women who are still menstruating. Your dietitian will discuss this with you. Diet Progression After Bariatric Surgery Immediately following surgery, you will begin with a clear liquid diet. You may gradually start adding thicker liquids to your diet after you are discharged from the hospital. Two weeks following surgery, you may progress to blended and puréed foods. You may use high-protein (more than 20 grams protein), low-calorie (less than 200 calories) liquid supplement drinks or powders to meet your protein requirements during this period. It is important to know that following surgery, your stomach size is very small - less than 1/4 cup, or about the size of an egg. The opening that allows food to pass out of your stomach is also very narrow. For this reason, it is important to take only two to three sips or bites at a time of any new food and then wait 10 minutes before taking more. This will help you learn your limits and tolerance. Liquids will empty faster from your stomach than soft solids. If you overeat or eat too quickly, you may experience nausea or pain. You should avoid rich, creamy liquids such as gravies, sauces and ice creams. Diet for the First Two Weeks Post-Surgery You will begin adding thicker liquids that are high in protein and low in fat and sugar. (For examples, see the list below.) You may use high-protein, low-calorie liquid supplement drinks or powders to meet your protein requirements during this period. The goal is to consume small portions that will empty easily from your pouch. Begin with 1 tablespoon portion sizes and increase to 2 tablespoons as tolerated. Begin drinking 1/4 cup of liquid at a time and increase to a 1/2 cup as tolerated. Your daily caloric intake should not exceed 400 calories. It is also very important to stay well hydrated. Drink 1 to 1.5 liters of water or other non-caloric liquids per day. Recommended thicker liquids: Nonfat or 1% milk, if you can tolerate milk Lactose-free or soy-based low-calorie drinks Sugar-free pudding Sugar-free, nonfat yogurt Low-fat cottage cheese Blended broth-based soup or other low-fat soups Refined hot cereals that are low in fiber, such as cream of rice or cream of wheat. Make them with extra liquid to create a soup-like consistency. Do not eat oatmeal. Optional high-protein, low-calorie liquid supplement drinks (drinks containing less than 200 calories and more than 20 grams of protein in an 8- to 11-ounce serving). To increase your protein intake, add 2 tablespoons non-fat dry milk powder, egg substitute or powered egg, or other protein powder to each 1/2 cup of nonfat or low-fat milk. You can also add these to soups, hot cereal and other thick liquids. Remember to drink 1 cup of water or other non-caloric fluids between meals. Take a multivitamin supplement every day. Diet for Weeks Two to Four Post-Surgery Begin adding very small portions of puréed and soft foods as tolerated. Take very small bites and chew everything very well. Do not take more than two bites every 20 minutes when adding a new food. Recommended puréed and soft foods: Applesauce Yogurt Cottage cheese Well-cooked, puréed vegetables Hot cereals Mashed potatoes Noodles Scrambled egg whites or egg substitute Canned fruits Canned tuna fish Lean fish Tofu Lean ground meats or poultry Avoid all bread and meats that are not easily chewed. Recommended Meal Plan For Weeks Two to Eight Until Two Months Post-Surgery At this time, your caloric intake will probably be no more than 500 calories a day, divided into six to eight small meals. Recommended portion sizes are 1/4 cup for solids and 1/2 cup for liquids. Sample Menu This sample menu includes different foods that are safe for you to eat. You may adjust the menu to fit your tastes and tolerance. Breakfast 1/4 cup hot cereal made with non-fat milk Mid-Morning 1/2 cup nonfat milk* Late Morning Two scrambled egg whites Lunch 1/2 cup low-fat chicken noodle soup Mid-Afternoon 1/4 cup low-fat cottage cheese Late Afternoon 1/4 cup sugar-free, nonfat yogurt Dinner 2 ounces lean ground meat 1/4 cup puréed or well-cooked vegetables Bedtime Snack 1/4 cup non-fat milk * Add 1 tablespoon non-fat dry milk powder to each 1/4 cup nonfat milk for additional protein. Remember to drink 1 cup of water or other non-caloric fluids between meals. It is important to take a multivitamin and mineral supplement every day, plus additional iron if required, and calcium and vitamin D supplements two to three times per day. Recommended Meal Plan for Two to Six Months Post-Surgery Consume 900 to 1,000 calories and at least 65 to 75 grams of protein a day. For balanced nutrient intake, your daily servings should include: 3 servings milk and dairy products (nonfat and low-fat) 3 servings meat or meat alternative (lean and low-fat) 3 servings starch (limit bread and rice) 1 serving fruit (avoid dried fruits and fruits with skin) 2 servings vegetable (well-cooked only) Recommended portion sizes are 1/4 cup for solids and 1/2 cup for liquids. Discontinue taking high-protein liquid supplement drinks or powders if possible. We recommend meeting your protein needs with food. Sample Menu This sample menu includes different foods that are safe for you to eat. You may adjust the menu to fit your tastes and tolerance. Breakfast 1 egg or 1/4 cup egg substitute 1/2 cup hot cereal Mid-Morning 1/2 cup nonfat milk Late Morning 1/2 cup chopped melon Lunch 1/2 cup low-fat chicken noodle soup Two Saltine crackers Mid-Afternoon 1/4 cup low-fat cottage cheese 1/4 cup canned fruit packed in water or juice Late Afternoon 1/2 cup sugar-free, nonfat yogurt Dinner 2 ounces lean meat or fish 1/4 cup mashed potatoes 1/4 cup pureed or well-cooked vegetables Bedtime Snack 1/2 cup nonfat milk The sample menu offers eight small meals per day. You may wish to eat more or less often, but be sure to eat at least six times each day. Remember to drink 1 cup of water or other non-caloric fluid between meals. It is important to take a multivitamin and mineral supplement daily, plus additional iron if required. In addition, you must take calcium and vitamin D supplements two to three times per day. Recommended Meal Plan for Six Months Post-Surgery and Beyond Continue consuming 900 to 1,000 calories per day Decrease to three meals and only one to two snacks per day Discontinue taking high-protein liquid supplement drinks Increase the variety of low-fat, low-sugar and low-calorie foods, as tolerated Avoid raw vegetables, fresh fruits with skins, dried fruits, breads, popcorn, nuts and red meats only if poorly tolerated Long-term Dietary Guidelines Over time, you will be able to increase the variety and consistency of foods in your diet. Some foods may continue to be poorly tolerated, including red meats, chicken, breads, and high-fiber fruits and vegetables. Focus on low-fat, low-sugar and low-calorie foods and continue to count your calories every day. Try to meet your serving goals for all food groups based on the 900 to 1,000 calories diet plan described above. To stay well hydrated, drink at least 2 liters of water or non-caloric fluids daily, unless this is contraindicated due to a medical condition.

Thank you all for responding. I know myself and turning to alcohol is not a potentional problem. I can live without certain foods but I like to have drinks once in awhile. So from what I understand aside from calories and not loosing weight, the sleeve is not affected from occasional social drinking.

Hello, I wanted to ask about the rules and experiences with people who are sleeved and drinking alcohol. I am planning to get sleeved. I am a social drinker and drink about 2-3 times a month and typically drink 4 glasses of wine or 3 to 4 cocktails. I understand alcohol is empty calories. Could drinking alcohol on occasion hurt the sleeve? How long until after you ate sleeved can you drink? Thanks!!!