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Why no alcohol? I will be treating myself to one drink per week after my 6 week anniversary provided I am hitting all my milestones. ????

As a rule, ESPECIALLY in the honeymoon phase of WLS ( up to 18 months post surgery) you will still probably lose weight eating a few carbs. But as early out as you are, you should be eating protien and veggies, leaving little room for carbs (bread, crackers, etc). Protien is most important right now becuase you have such little real estate in your tummy, you gotta eat what counts. Those carbs from white stuff gives you no nutritional value right now. Another thing about a WLS person eating carbs is that it can be a slippery slope. Sure, you can't eat very much right now, but the sleeve relaxes after a while, and a few crackers turn into a box (these are also considered slider foods because more can be eaten) I don't know about you, but I could easily polish off a box of Cookies once I get going. That's why I choose to stay away. They also make me crave more carbs and sugar, and the next thing you know, you're stalled or gaining. No thanks! You will have plenty of time to introduce a few carbs the closer you get to goal and then maintenance. For now take advantage of this ever so important time when you're able to lose weight easily and minimize the carbs and get your protien and veggies first! After all, we all didn't get fat eating chicken and broccoli, did we? ___________________________________________________________________________________________ I agree with @@Babbs completely! During your honeymoon and weight loss phase, you will lose best if you limit carbs to those in dairy and green veggies. No starches, no refined sugar, and no alcohol. Once you get to goal weight, you can experiment with whole-grain carbs like brown rice, quinoa, barley, whole-wheat Pasta, and sweet potatoes to see what effect they have on your weight maintenance. That's where I am now -- taking baby steps to discover what works and what doesn't. This is for the rest of our lives, so there's no need to rush back to foods that used to be a problem for us. For example, as much as I love bread, I'm choosing to avoid it altogether. Good luck!

Exactly. I don't think a lot of times these forum veterans and other judgmental posters realise that their hostile approaches to questions deemed as 'stupid' may be putting off others members from seeking needed advice for very valid and pertinent questions. I find it slightly odd that some forum members are yet to figure out that not all things are created equally especially in terms of the realm of surgery/ medicine and medical programmes. Some folks are berating others for knowing about guidelines about alcohol post surgery but just to illustrate my point about all clinics not being made equal or to the same standards, my bariatric programme/clinicians haven't stated much about alcohol post op apart from a nurse saying that i should bear in mind that if I drink, I would now be intoxicated faster and from smaller amounts'. Nothing about damage to the pouch, empty calories or cross addiction. I think its more of the posts that say stuff like, "I know I'm not supposed to drink, but I'm doing it anyway at 2 weeks post op.. " and there are quite a few like that.. But I agree.. I agree with you too, those kinds of threads are understandably annoying and I don't think the OPs realise they are kicking a hornets' nest when posting them. But there has to be something said for people who continued to engage them despite being extremely irritated by these questions. In my subjective view, I feel some posters secretly relish having an opportunity to go at the Ops of these kinds of questions but that's just my opinion

I weaned myself off caffeine a couple months before surgery (took 2 months to do it.). I also stopped smoking cold turkey 3 months before surgery. Other than that I ate normal and drank alcohol right up until the day I started my preop. I figured why start torturing myself sooner than absolutely necessary?! Looking back now, the preop diet is barely a blip on my radar compared to postop life and maintenance. Really Just a small part of the process and a necessary "right of passage" that can often be empowering.

Thankfully help in knowing those calorie counts is coming! Yay! Overview of FDA Labeling Requirements for Restaurants, Similar Retail food Establishments and Vending Machines Menu Labeling Requirements At-A-Glance Vending Machines Labeling Requirements At-A-Glance Menu Labeling Requirements At-A-Glance In a nutshell Americans eat and drink about one-third of their calories away from home. Making calorie information available on chain restaurant menus will help consumers make informed choices for themselves and their families. As required by statute, FDA’s final rule for nutrition labeling in chain restaurants and similar retail food establishments will provide consumers with clear and consistent nutrition information in a direct and accessible manner for the foods they eat and buy for their families. Posting calories on menus and menu boards and providing other nutrient information in writing in chain restaurants and similar retail food establishments will fill a critical information gap and help consumers make informed and healthful dietary choices. Covered establishments will list calorie information for standard menu items on menus and menu boards and a succinct statement about suggested daily caloric intake. Other nutrient information—total calories, calories from fat, total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrates, Fiber, sugars, and protein—will have to be made available in writing on request. In addition, covered establishments will also be required to post a statement on menus and menu boards about the availability of such additional written nutrition information. To be covered, an establishment must be a restaurant or similar retail food establishment, as defined in the final rule. In addition, such establishment must: (1) be part of a chain of 20 or more locations, (2) doing business under the same name, (3) offering for sale substantially the same menu items. Examples of restaurant-type foods that are covered when sold by a facility that is part of a chain with 20 or more locations include: Meals from sit-down restaurants Foods purchased at drive-through windows Take-out food, such as pizza Foods, such as made-to-order sandwiches, ordered from a menu or menu board at a grocery store or delicatessen Foods you serve yourself from a salad or hot food bar Muffins at a bakery or coffee shop Popcorn purchased at a movie theater or amusement park A scoop of ice cream, milk shake or sundae from an ice cream store Hot dogs or frozen drinks prepared on site in a convenience or warehouse store Certain alcoholic beverages Foods not covered include: Certain foods purchased in grocery stores or other similar retail food establishments that are typically intended for more than one person to eat and require additional preparation before consuming, such as pounds of deli meats, cheeses, or large-size deli salads.Effective date: Based on comments, the FDA has extended the effective date from six months to one year after the date of publication of the final rule. On July 10, 2015, FDA published a final rule to extend the compliance date to December 1, 2016. View a statement on Menu Labeling Compliance. back to top Vending Machines Labeling Requirements At-A-Glance In a nutshell Americans eat and drink about one-third of their calories away from home. The FDA’s final rule for vending machine calorie labeling, coupled with the requirements for menu labeling, aim to provide consumers with clear and consistent nutrition information in a direct and accessible manner for the foods they eat and buy for their families. Even though some foods sold from vending machines already bear calorie information, this labeling is not always visible before purchase. Calorie labeling of foods sold in vending machines will help make calorie information available to consumers in a direct, accessible, and consistent manner to enable them to make informed and healthful dietary choices. The FDA is allowing two years from the date of publication of the vending machine labeling final rule for covered vending machine operators to comply with the requirements. FDA received approximately 250 comments on the vending machine labeling proposed rule issued on April 6, 2011. FDA reviewed and considered each comment carefully before issuing the final rule. What’s required? Disclosing calorie information of foods sold in vending machines operated by a person owning or operating 20 or more machines, subject to certain exceptions. Calorie information may be placed on a sign (e.g., small placard, sticker, poster) near the article of food or selection button. Electronic or digital displays may also be used. Posting of calorie information for foods sold from bulk vending machines (e.g., gumball machines, mixed nut machines). Disclosing contact information of covered operators on the machines or otherwise with the required calorie declarations to enable FDA to contact operators for enforcement purposes.

@@Lapbandster , you say that, but I'm afraid I don't agree with all of it. I'm not his mother and I'm not his doctor, but I am just shy of being his wife which I still feel holds a lot of stock. I can't support him getting his lap band out if he is completely unwilling to change his eating and exercising behaviors. I have loved him no matter what weight he's been since we were both 16, and he was heavier then than he is now. Yet I was having conversations with him then about my concern with his weight and if he removed all restrictions for eating what he wants, then I know we'd be taking steps backwards and having those conversations again. I want him to finally be my husband and I want us to have a life and family together. Therefore, I cannot find it in myself to support him removing the lap band to eat like he used to before when it will increase his health risks all over again. I don't want to be widowed by his health. I wouldn't want our children to lose their father to his health. When he could go for any numerous reasons out of our control, his health -which can be taken into moderate control- shouldn't be one of those reasons. I want him to be around for a long time. Similarly, my Aunt is struggling with being an alcoholic. Should I support her alcohol addiction with the same tolerance you're saying I should have for my boyfriend's food addiction? They're both real, out of control problems, and because I love these people I can't support what they're doing to their bodies...

alcoholic beverages actually have started causing a stomach ache and wine is the only thing that doesn't seem to bother me.

I entertain clients often and have found if I tell the server ahead of time and in private that I'm going to order an alcoholic drink but please make it a virgin Noone even suspects that I'm not drinking alcohol

I just have a harder time knowing when it's going to hit me and I seem to get reoccurring drunk with it. I'll be buzzed then be fine, then have another drink and end up being drunk unintentionally. I could always hold my booze before surgery but I have to be careful now. Two glasses of wine is pushing it, three is probably a mistake. Hard alcohol is way less predictable for me for some reason.

People are going to judge with me saying this, but I drink probably a few times a month. I entertain customers and as much as people say you can fake it, it makes things awkward in my industry if you have always drank and all of a sudden stop. I haven't had any issues - just take it slow because it hits harder and faster and goes away sooner than before (for me). I haven't lost as much as I thought I would have and I'm sure drinking had something to do with it. But so do the long hours and the travel and other life circumstances. I'm following my diet very closely but still have problems with hydration (yes I know alcohol makes it worse). Hard liquor had been a bad idea. wine has been fine. Good luck and you do you.

Take the discount!!! Although it's not quite the same thing I still get VERY happy when people card me when I'm buying alcohol (I'm 31 so well past the age where I'm not obviously old enough to drink). I am almost always carded, so I suppose I have gotten a bit spoiled. The other day my boyfriend and I were out to dinner and the server carded him (he's 4 years younger than me) and didn't card me. I was like, ummm hello, do I really look that much older?! Still though...I say take the discount. I wouldn't have minded 20% off at my Michael's trip today, lol.

Here's what I've learned from my doctor, nutritionists, nurses, and all of your doctors, nutritionists, and nurses: Weight loss is a life long process. You need to lose most of the weight in the first few months, or you won't be successful. If you don't lose a lot of weight pre-op, surgery won't be successful. No pre-op diet needed. Only Protein shakes the week before surgery. Low fat diet before surgery. No prescription pain meds after discharge from the hospital. Prescription meds for about a month. Only Motrin is allowed for pain from no on. Never ever take Motrin ever again. You can only drink Clear liquids the first week. You need to be on clear liquids for as least two weeks. You can eat very soft foods while in the hospital. Protein Shakes only for two weeks. Protein shakes only for four weeks. Don't graze all day. Make sure you eat every two hours. Take only small sips of Water. You must get 64oz water every day. Don't drink water half hour before eating. Make sure you drink 64oz water. Don't drink water half hour after eating. You can return to work after a week. You'll be off work 4-6 weeks. No carbonated beverages ever again. No carbonated beverages for the first six months. You will probably start to be lactose intolerant. Eat Greek yogurt, it's high in protein. meat is better for you than fresh fruits and vegetables. You'll stretch your sleeve very easily and gain all your weight back. It's really hard to stretch your sleeve. After 6 weeks, you can eat the same as everyone else. You'll never eat the same again. No alcohol for 6 months. No alcohol for 1 year. No alcohol ever again. Over the counter Vitamins are fine. You can only take bariatric vitamins. And my personal favorite, just for me: "oh you're passing out due to being malnourished? Ok, for the next three days, only drink water, don't eat anything." Okey Dokey, then... ????

I feel dumb just asking this...I am a lurker and was sleeved on Monday (7/13) I am getting horrible gas every time I sip anything. I feel like an idiot Hi, I have a drinking problem Oh, you're an alcoholic? No, I can't sip fluids without taking in 3 times the amount of air from Fluid. I basically get horrible gas pain behind my sternum and spend 5 minutes belching (mmmm, attractive) I spoke to the nutritionist and she said in some people the swallowing mechanism is different if their tongue is too far forward. The easiest way to tell this is if they needed speech language pathology Well guess what I spent years in Speech as a child. All three of my kids have been in it. My gene pool (and tongue apparently) are defective Does anyone have tricks for how to get this liquid down without so much gas? My wife is getting me Popsicles on her way home, but that's not going to solve the shake issues Thanks in advance

At 2+ years out, my normal diet includes meat, fish, eggs, green veggies, healthy fats (olive oil for the most part), fruit, tree nuts, black coffee, tea, and yogurt. Things that I have occasionally include dairy (other than yogurt), beans, ground nuts, and pulses (such as lentils). Things that I avoid other than on very special occasions are grains, refined sugar, alcohol, and starchy veggies. And by "very special occasion" I mean basically Christmas and Thanksgiving, not "my niece's graduation" or "my mother's birthday." I have learned through very hard experience that with that last group of foods, if I let them into my life, they take over and I am on a rapid road to re-gain. There are definitely some people who can practice "everything in moderation" after the sleeve and not re-gain their weight, and I am not one of them. All that said, I enjoy my food, I love my life, and I do not feel deprived. There isn't any food that I can't physically tolerate (to the point of throwing up or getting food stuck, or dumping), but both leavened bread and carbonation make my tiny stomach very uncomfortable, so I avoid them. Well, I have a few sips of champagne on those special occasions but that is it. Anything more just hurts and defeats the purpose.

So on friday I'll be 2 months post op... and I'm going to the beach with some friends for the weekend. What do you guys think I can drink? (alcohol) just a little bit.

I was mainly concerned with the caffeine and the impact on the stomach, etc. My surgeon said no caffeine at all because it is hard on the lining of your stomach and can cause ulcers. But if I'm not drinking alcohol or eating sugar, I need one vice, right?? Since I haven't worried about my sleeve lately, I thought I'd be concerned about the caffeine damaging it somehow!

Exactly. I don't think a lot of times these forum veterans and other judgmental posters realise that their hostile approaches to questions deemed as 'stupid' may be putting off others members from seeking needed advice for very valid and pertinent questions. I find it slightly odd that some forum members are yet to figure out that not all things are created equally especially in terms of the realm of surgery/ medicine and medical programmes. Some folks are berating others for knowing about guidelines about alcohol post surgery but just to illustrate my point about all clinics not being made equal or to the same standards, my bariatric programme/clinicians haven't stated much about alcohol post op apart from a nurse saying that i should bear in mind that if I drink, I would now be intoxicated faster and from smaller amounts'. Nothing about damage to the pouch, empty calories or cross addiction. I think its more of the posts that say stuff like, "I know I'm not supposed to drink, but I'm doing it anyway at 2 weeks post op.. " and there are quite a few like that.. But I agree..

Exactly. I don't think a lot of times these forum veterans and other judgmental posters realise that their hostile approaches to questions deemed as 'stupid' may be putting off others members from seeking needed advice for very valid and pertinent questions. I find it slightly odd that some forum members are yet to figure out that not all things are created equally especially in terms of the realm of surgery/ medicine and medical programmes. Some folks are berating others for knowing about guidelines about alcohol post surgery but just to illustrate my point about all clinics not being made equal or to the same standards, my bariatric programme/clinicians haven't stated much about alcohol post op apart from a nurse saying that i should bear in mind that if I drink, I would now be intoxicated faster and from smaller amounts'. Nothing about damage to the pouch, empty calories or cross addiction.

No. You can never drink alcohol or eat greasy bread and be healthy..... Just my opinion as a nurse and person who has struggled with my weight forever It's sad I know!!!! Some say it's ok to cheat every once in a while that you need it to keep from binging. I also disagree with that once I cheat I want to cheat more! I think it's best to say good bye to eating crap for forever!

§ Start getting in better shape. I walked, lifted, and did as much as I could 5 times a week getting ready for surgery. § Started practicing eating slower for lunch. § Watched many videos, talked to people who had been through it. § Oh, but best work was preparing for the mental changes with my therapist and worked through this book: http://www.amazon.co...=bariatric book § I drank a great deal of alcohol so I weaned myself off and slowly cut the caffeine. § Followed the pre-op diet to the letter § Shopped two weeks before surgery for the foods I would need for the first two weeks. § Revised my will and power of attorney just in case something went wrong § Tried pureed meal ideas before surgery so I had some meal plans.

Most here recommend waiting a year. Put your energy (which is limited) into getting in better and better shape. Alcohol even in moderation slows you and your weight-loss down. You only have so much sleeve space, so putting empty calories in your system is not the best use of limited space. If you decide to drink down the road, you are going to handle it differently than before. Don't know how, some find that they get drunk very quick, some don't. Everyone's tolerance is different. Another caution - the rate of alcoholism for bariatric patients is higher than typically found in the general population. So be honest with yourself and talk it over in advanced with significant partners in your life.

Hey guys so I'm a month plus after surgery, was just wondering when I can start drinking again... Moderately, but still. You gotta live a little, right? Already lost 40 pounds in like a month!

I actually like the shakes and can see using them as a Meal Replacement but my co-workers may have to wear gas masks! Is there anyway to combat that? I am sure they use sugar alcohols because that happens to me anytime I eat sugar alcohols.

This I can really relate to. I quit smoking literally overnight with no problems. Same with alcohol, but for me, sugar and junk food, especially salty chips, are really my addiction. I salivate just thinking about it. If I get nothing else out of surgery, but some mastery over that painful hollow hunger feeling that hits when I'm about to "go off the wagon" then that will be well worth it.

You shouldn't have to put off the surgery. At 10 weeks out most people are feeling pretty normal. You probably won't be able to try very much of the cuisine (or any of the alcohol) offered in the all inclusive package, but I'll bet you'll be having so much fun otherwise, you won't miss it.