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I have not had a carbonated drink in almost 2 years. I don't miss now - but sure did in the beginning. My nutritionist said no alcohol/no carbonation. I would think once you have been out for awhile - perhaps at goal weight a little beer now and then would be ok???

I'll be the odd one out - I smoke weed on the regular. I also live in Washington state where it's legal and I'm a medical marijuana patient. My doc says I'm to treat it like drinking alcohol. Rare. Avoid if possible.

No I would never buy a 6 pack for myself. but if my husband bought some I would just have one of his and he could have what I dont drink. I love beer and im OK with not having soda for the rest of my life. but there is something about pizza and a cold beer in the winter its delish!!! how long out did you wait before you had an alcoholic drink

Who wants flat beer? I don't drink sodas, I haven't had beer but I have had alcohol. I just don't have enough real estate to want to buy a beer knowing I likely won't finish it. However I would wait at least 6 weeks before trying any alcohol. Sodas aren't worth ever drinking again.

When I had mine I was terrified that the fact I've only been free of abusing drugs and alcohol would surely stop the process. It did not. The psychologist was wonderful and even spoke to my regular therapist. They want to help you. They aren't there to be roadblocks but to help insure success.

I'll be three weeks post op on Monday and my weight is all over the place. I weighed 246 at my consultation and 243 at my nutrition appointment. My surgery was less than eight weeks after my consult, and I wasn't given a diet to follow, other than clear liquids the day before. I was encouraged to practice behaviors like tiny bites, chewing and not drinking with meals. I also tried to avoid sugar and alcohol. But during the last two weeks before surgery, my mind played tricks on me, and I told myself I would never, ever eat sweets or drink again (my diet mentality rearing its ugly head.) So I indulged. No bingeing or anything, but I ate what I wanted. So I was 248 on my own scale on surgery day. I've weighed myself at home every day since and the lowest I've been is 231 (233 after I moved the scale.) I've been getting in 60-64 ounces of water, but at my support group on Thursday our NUT said we have to drink more than 64 ounces. She said an extra cup for every 25lbs you're over your ideal weight. That made sense so I drank over 90 ounces yesterday, and this morning I was 236.5, then 238 (I have to stop moving my scale.) I didn't go the bathroom that often yesterday and feel water bloated and my weight has always fluctuated due to water. But man, I'm discouraged! I'm also somewhat constipated. It doesn't hurt, I just don't go every day. I walk briskly every other day, although I walk the dog every day. I'm definitely getting in plenty of protein and have no problem eating. I'm starting to think I'm not having drastic losses because I finish everything I eat. I don't stuff myself, I just mean I'm not only taking two or three bites. I've been drinking coffee almost daily to help move things along, which is dehydrating, so maybe that's it. I can stop the coffee. Thanks for listening!!

I was told no alcohol for a year, and never again if possible. There is research correlating WLS and alcoholism. Addiction transference. Your new stomach will get you drunk and sober you up quickly, making it easy to go back for seconds, thirds, etc throughout the night. I'm not saying you'll never be able to enjoy yourself again but drinking with your friends will never be the same. It's an activity/behavior you'll have to accept drastically altering. Not easy at such a young age when all you and your friends want to do is go out and have a good time. As you get older it will become less important good luck.

hi i had my band fitted five years ago and was very happy with it for the first 3 years 10 months but i found out that soothing was wrong and the tube had come out of the port making the band usless. i was heart broken as i had done so well lost 4st 3lb taking me down to about 9st 10. i am now a year later still without my band. i got no help off the nhs and i thought i could control the weight myself. however since then i have put on nearly two stone but i am now considering having port replacement surgery and it will cost 2000 pounds on top of the 6000 the operation cost in the first place. i still don't know what to do as there is no garentee that it wont happen again and it is only covered for 28 days. its not as easy as people think it is just a tool to help you but if you like chocolate or alcohol these things will still make you fat. drink is my biggest problem its full off sugar. however on a plus side once you do see the weight come off and the comments you get are far more rewarding than food. let me know how you get on. regards tracy

Hey May 26thers! Congrats on our one month surgiversary! Hope everyone is doing well. =) How's everyone doing? Lets hear some updates! I drank two margaritas last night. My surgeon OKed me for alcohol and my indulgence did put me over 900 calories for the day total, but it was worth it - had tons of fun and workeds some of the calories off while dancing! Nothing bad happened, not even any nausea. Though my tolerance level seemed about the same as pre-op, unfortunately.

If we are here, on a journey to Weight Loss Surgery as a life line to normalcy, we ARE addicts and our choice of drug has become food. Therapy is definitely needed to address all of the underlying issues because we will either revert back to food or likely transfer to something else. I know many people who have had WLS, lost weight and who have gained weight back (myself included) because they didn't work out the inner issues. My brother-in-law lost over one hundred and forty pounds. He switched to alcohol his weight back (and more than what he lost). A coworker had the procedure and is now sexually promiscuous, plenty of people in my support groups have their struggles as well. Just be mindful and set yourself up to win - therapy doesn't hurt anyone. Best wishes

I have coffee daily and alcohol sometimes. I am 8 mos out and I still need a daily acid blocker, which lots of people don't need after the first month. When I drink, I don't lose that week. So, you can do it, but there might be tradeoffs.

I am 8 mos out and I definitely have to work for it now. Alcohol = no loss, or even a gain, and I have to keep carbs out. I started running and that has helped, but I really do need to stick to the program as much as possible to see success. Good luck to you!

My post-op diet was: Week 1 clear liquids- sugar free (broth, Jello, popsicles, Fruit drinks, sherbert, Water, decaf coffee and tea, skim milk, Protein shakes) Week 2 full liquids- (all the same as above but can add low fat or fat free yogurt and cottage cheese) Weeks 3 & 4 pureed foods- ( food pureed with liquid to applesauce consistency, can add spices) Weeks 5 & 6 soft foods - (soft cooked moist meats and veggies, soft fruit, ground lean meat) After week 6 I can have pretty much anything I can tolerate with the exception of alcohol and salad. I have to wait until 6 months post op to add those things. From what I have learned on here, doctors vary greatly on their post op diets so ask any and all questions so you fully understand yours. I emailed my poor NUT several times a week in the beginning but she was great!

I'm a little surprised by the Water (drink only when thirsty) and alcohol (it's okay in moderation after 4 weeks) advice, but other than that, I think the calorie advice is spot on and instructions to advance your diet as you are comfortable after 4 weeks was kind of the same speech I got. I was told that as far as causing damage by food choice I was out of the woods by 4 weeks anyway. Yes, separate solids and liquids, but get as much water as you can tolerate. As for alcohol, I drink in moderation and probably drank too soon at about 3 months. Not that it bothered me, but I probably didn't need the extra calories. After being in maintenance for a year, alcohol is the first thing to go when I bounce outside my range even a little.

Part of the issue with Quest bars is the sugar alcohols and part is the Fiber. Many people have issues with them. I did when I was earlier in the process, but have been fine with them since about 9 months out.

I posted this as another topic, but figured I'd share my update with my fellow May sleevers: So I had my one month follow-up appointment yesterday and assumed I was moving from pureed foods to soft foods for two weeks until my 6-week appointment. But my surgeon shocked me by saying I'm okay to move onto solid foods. He made a few disclaimers, such as trying new things when I'm comfortable and avoiding fibrous vegetables like celery right now. So I basically ended up in Stop & Shop with my sister last night looking around like a person who had never been in a grocery store before because I had so many options now. I felt totally unprepared because I was expecting soft foods first! I only bought cucumbers (to eat with hummus) and crystal light. I ate some chicken last night, non-pureed, and it went down fine. So I don't think he's wrong that I'm ready for solids, but I'm still really nervous! I also asked my surgeon about my calorie intake and I told him I was getting 400-600 a day but the last few days it was more like 700 because I was hitting my protein goal. He told me I needed to be around 1000-1200 which shocked me too, because I've read about people on here who are maintaining on that... And finally, I told him how I wasn't getting nearly 64 ounces of water, and he told me not to worry about it and to keep separating liquids and solids and just drink when I'm thirsty. I'm also allowed to drink alcohol (in moderation, of course) at this point. -------- It all feels so real now! I'm starting to freak out. I'm totally afraid I'll fail. It's a lot easier to avoid carbs when you're limited to pureed foods.

This happens to me too, especially the chocolate based Quest flavors. I think I'm sensitive to the sugar alcohols or something. I can only eat half at a time and even then it's iffy. The mint Quest flavor was particularly bad and sent me running for the bathroom within 30 minutes. So, I finally learned my lesson and just gave up on the Protein bars. If I'm on the run I'll carry stuff like beef Jerky, nuts or pork rinds.

So I had my one month follow-up appointment yesterday and assumed I was moving from pureed foods to soft foods for two weeks until my 6-week appointment. But my surgeon shocked me by saying I'm okay to move onto solid foods. He made a few disclaimers, such as trying new things when I'm comfortable and avoiding fibrous vegetables like celery right now. So I basically ended up in Stop & Shop with my sister last night looking around like a person who had never been in a grocery store before because I had so many options now. I felt totally unprepared because I was expecting soft foods first! I only bought cucumbers (to eat with hummus) and crystal light. I ate some chicken last night, non-pureed, and it went down fine. So I don't think he's wrong that I'm ready for solids, but I'm still really nervous! I also asked my surgeon about my calorie intake and I told him I was getting 400-600 a day but the last few days it was more like 700 because I was hitting my Protein goal. He told me I needed to be around 1000-1200 which shocked me too, because I've read about people on here who are maintaining on that... And finally, I told him how I wasn't getting nearly 64 ounces of Water, and he told me not to worry about it and to keep separating liquids and solids and just drink when I'm thirsty. I'm also allowed to drink alcohol (in moderation, of course) at this point. I'm just wondering if anyone has had a similar experience? Would this worry someone? My aftercare there has been great and my surgeon and NUT are both amazing at being available to answer questions at any time, but I totally thought my surgeon was tough and fairly strict, but he doesn't seem to be...

Any addiction's going to screw up your life - rather than hoping for an exercise addition (albeit one I've wished for in my previous life), I'd suggest to anyone dealing with WLS to get a good therapist and see them, at least monthly, for 2 years post op, if not longer. We're far better off seeing a therapist when we're entirely psychologically healthy and addiction free (excepting food, of course) and staying that way rather than waiting until we need it. That said, the likelihood of addiction switching from food to sex, drugs, alcohol, gambling, exercise, etc is no greater (and no less) than the likelihood of anyone else quitting another addiction swapping to another one. There's a reason for all of that coffee and those buckets of hard candies at AA, NA, etc meetings - folks just swap to something more socially acceptable. I'll agree I'd rather my own child was addicted to coffee than nicotine or narcotics, but I do wish 12-step programs did a better job writ large (I get that this is a HUGELY oversimplified generalization) of helping folks do more than just 'kick the ____ habit' and focussed on building a whole self in recovery. But that's just my 2 cents. In short - yes, you've got a higher risk than someone without other addictions, and a higher risk than if you stayed in your food addiction, but nothing some dedicated, honest, and vulnerable work with a good therapist can't help you through. Good luck!

I think it is a very real danger (just read some of the threads on here about alcohol). There is a reason that OA is patterned after AA. For many of us, we have used food as our substance or drug of choice along with or instead of other substances and activities. If we don't learn to substitute healthy substances and behaviors we can definitely be in danger of transferring addictions.

I've read that it happens with some people, drugs, alcohol, sex, cigarettes. I think it is called "addiction transfer", since you can't over eat any more you switch to something else.

What's the chance of developing a substance abuse problem after surgery? If we don't have food anymore to satisfy our "fix", will we turn to drugs? Alcohol? I've been reading up on this, and I'm genuinely curious.

Upon further research, looks like I went into hypoglycemia. Which is dangerous. I know now I need to not consume much alcohol as can come on without warning. Since we never have much in our stomachs not much to absorb alcohol and the alcohol blocks liver from producing glucose hence why it can be so sudden with a decent amount of alcohol and not much food to absorb.

I do think there are many people who have problems down the road. When asking my surgical team about this they were very up front with me about the statistics which you can find on line for your particular surgery. Those that gain back most or all of their weight revert to old bad habits like drinking soda, alcohol and not eating properly. Remember this really is a tool. In terms of people dealing with nutrient issues, many stop taking their Vitamins and do not go in for their regular labs. Ulcers happen for many reasons, some of which come from taking medications you are not supposed to. I too have read many of those threads and usually that person will say, I didn't take my Calcium or I started taking ibuprofen for my arthritis. This type of surgery is a life choice. Once you make it, you are in it for the long haul. Some people think it is a quick fix to lose the weight and revert to old habits. You have to decide who you are going to be 10 years down the road. I know that I am never going back to that unhealthy place with multiple comorbitities an almost unable to walk. I for one will follow the plan that includes taking my vitamins, getting all my Protein, and going to regular doctors appointments. I hope this helps but more importantly you must follow up with your surgical team and better understand the statistics for your type of surgery. Know exactly what you are getting into because you are making a life choice. Good luck to you in whatever you decide.

The main reason you even have to do a pre-op diet is to shrink your liver. If your liver is too large, they might end up damaging it during the surgery. It sits almost blocking most of your stomach, so they have to use the laproscopic tools to lift it and then hold it out of the way while they cut away the stomach. If the liver gets damaged, it could not only turn a fast sleeve surgery into an hours long nightmare, but you could have serious complications - a damaged and bleeding liver could mean you're hospitalized for days or even weeks. You do not want that. That scared the crap out of me and although I had one moment of weakness during my pre-op, I did my very best to stick to the diet because I knew it had nothing to do with weight loss - it was to prevent me from having very bad complications. I was doing the surgery to improve my life, not damage vital organs. As far as the smoking... I was a very happy smoker for the last 20 years. I started as a teenager, and I was pretty mad about having to stop for this surgery. But same thing again - I am doing surgery to improve my health and my entire rest of my life. Smoking is bad. There is nothing whatsoever good about smoking. I know I am addicted, and quitting is one of the hardest things I've ever done. I had never been able to quit for any length of time before, but making the decision to have sleeve surgery meant I cared enough about my body and my future that continuing to be a smoker was just the most assinine, stupid thing I could do. And so I quit. And I had one slip up about 2 weeks out, but I got right back into quitting and I didn't slip again, and it's now been over 260 days since I had my last cigarette. I won't lie; I still want a damned cigarette almost every day, but I know it's bad for me and that's not who I am anymore. I won't let them control my life any more. Cigarettes are just as bad as being addicted to drugs or being an alcoholic - you are allowing an addiction to ruin your health and jeapordize your future. If you care enough about yourself to have this surgery, then show that you care enough also to get off the smoking and put ALL of this awful stuff in your past. Most surgeons will test you for nicotine and even the metabolized form so you might just be kicked out of the pre-op the day of if you haven't quit with enough time to get it out of your system completely. At least a month out should do it, and that includes using gum or Patches, but if you only have 7 days left, then quit right now. Even if they don't test you, you're risking a poorer outcome. VSG is major surgery, don't fool yourself that you can just keep sneaking one here or there and it won't hurt anything. You are hurting your body every time you smoke, and you are risking poor circulation, poor healing, poor lung capacity and issues with breathing during surgery and even clots for months after. Why? So you can feed a deadly addiction? If you continue to smoke, you're saying to yourself that you aren't worth having the best possible outcome and faster healing and better health. You're better than that, so start thinking that way, and fight hard for your health. There is still time, and you are so worth it. You CAN do this!! (I used patches and gum for a week, then cold turkey. I also used a quit smoking app on my phone - Butt Out - that was a lifesaver as it has a community that was really supportive)