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One thing to keep in mind - a lot of the "sugar free" stuff out there isn't made with Splenda or Nutrasweet. It's made with sugar alcohol (manitol being a common one) - this still has calories but doesn't mess with a diabetic's blood sugar like regular sugar might. The side effect is that there's a *strong* laxative effect with too much of it. I'm 11 weeks out and have occassionally indulged in something sweet, but so far no dumping, thank goodness.

I need to throw this out there now that I've calmed down. My BFF was sleeved four years ago and has been a big help in this journey but I'm a lil over week out and she just blasted me for a bite of french fry and a taste of sugar free fudge. She's sad that I'm even thinking of eating a food like that, i should be just drinking water, i never should have gone near the the boardwalk and I'm just not gonna make it. Now while she runs marathons and works out, this is from the girl who's eating ice cream and donuts, cake, and more. She's up 10lbs from her goal weight and angry with people that can eat what they want. She's also drinking every night. She's a "tough" personality anyway but this was shocking. I think she's jealous of my "easy" honeymoon stage, needs to cope with her anger about food, in a possible danger zone with alcohol and it just spewed all over my feeling great. I'd like feedback on how to deal. I've let go of my pissed off attitude. It's my journey to test limits, to fall down, to get up but i really felt judged. I won't talk to her about any challenges anymore. I'll use the forums here (which she had said i should get off of). Thanks for letting me vent

I typically avoid the posts on this website where people are ranting at each other. I feel like handing out a virtual cupcake to everyone and saying, "can't we all just get along?" Seriously people, the awesome thing about an online forum is you get to pick and choose what you read and engage in. This is the main reason why I prefer this over attending the support groups at my local barriatric center. I can't control who attends those meetings and then I'm stuck with them for an entire hour. I sign on to Barriatric Pal daily. Why? Because I know staying connected is one of the best things I can do to insure I am successful in this journey. Time and time again I read posts from people who have strayed from the site, gone off track, gained weight and come back for support. I come on this website and read these posts daily. IT'S MY CHOICE. I will be a year out from surgery on April 16, 2014. Yes, sometimes it is annoying to read the same posts over and over again about stalls, hair loss, loose skin, food intake and Vitamins. Guess what? One short year ago I was the newbie starting on this journey anxious whether I would succeed or not. I was full of questions and eager to reach out to others as nobody in my "real" world had weight loss surgery. I work with a lot of people in 12 step recovery programs in my profession. Bill Wilson, one of the founders of AA, early on grew frustrated when he reached out to fellow alcoholics to help them, but often those men he tried to help went on to drink. He felt like giving up and one night his wife Lois, reminded him that HE was no longer going out and getting drunk. The act of giving back to others helped maintain his own sobriety. I remind myself of this. I choose to give back and help newbies on this site to help myself. I read your posts and it reminds me of information I learned long ago and "forgot". It helps me stay on track. If a post annoys me, I can choose to ignore it. I help you to help me. I'm going to eat a real cupcake now.

Well I am a red blooded woman who likes all of those things AND my husband had the sleeve done 3 weeks after I did last August. Collectively we have lost roughly 235lbs. We eat red meat now in moderation (probably one or twice a week). We eat a lot of chicken and sometimes pork. As for beer....we don't' drink anything carbonated. My husband was what I like to call a "beer snob or enthusiast" and he is worried it is a slippery slope. He has lost 135lbs in 7 months and he is afraid if he starts drinking beer again it will just stall his weight loss. Its just not worth it. It is empty calories and hard to control. I think as we get further out he may feel confident to have the "OCCASIONAL" beer but I think it won't be anytime before he hits his 1 year mark. He has tried other alcohol with low calories but all in all we don't drink much anymore. As you drop weight and see yourself drink you will find that beer isn't worth it when your scale doesn't move the next day. I would say don't plan on drinking beer for a long while. Keep your steaks lean and eat them in moderation after your surgeon clears it. You will find that your life gets filled up with new things to replace eating and drinking. Like walking, jogging, Frisbee golf, volleyball, going to the Sky Zone place for kids and jumping on trampolines and into foam pits. Eye on the prize....! OH and I forgot to mention the other big thing: SEX. It is way better. Worlds better. It is worth it. Stick with the plan.

Great post! Very inspiring! I'm going to the beach next month and I wonder what it will be like without alcohol. Your post made me feel better.

Had wine at 4 months. Tried a Bloody Mary at 5 months but it burned...switched to a mint julip (I was at a Kentucky Derby party). Couple Vodka cocktails at a gold tournament 6 months out. Didn't get too carried away with drinking until I went on vacation 10 months out. (When I was already well below goal weight). Unfortunately alcohol doesn't affect me any differently....I can still out drink a football team. But if I drink more than 2 days in a row I get bad gastritis.

I was sleeved on 1/20/15. To date I have lost some 48 lbs in the 11 weeks since my operation. I hope this will inspire some of you that this operation is not something that will handicap you but will actually free you to a much more enjoyable side of life. One of the things my wife and I enjoy is cruising. Pre sleeve it was all about the food and the beer. Life has changed now as my 2XL body is just now adjusting to a “lumpy” but comfortable “L” size. My eating habits have become healthier and less the big part of my day. The thing is…. I couldn’t in all fairness to my wife stop vacationing (my wife is not overweight). Veterans of 23 prior cruises over the past 16 years, I had to see if it was possible, and as soon as possible. We booked a cruise on NCL Sun out of Tampa to coincide with my transition into stage 5 (solid foods). I learned a lot this week. And I like what I learned. BTW it was the best cruise ever. No alcohol, small portions…. I had my doubts. But I stuck to the plan. It was easy and doable. Here is what I learned, how I coped, what I did, how I ate and how I did weight wise. 1. I decided on day one that everything I ate would be quality….no bread or Pasta. I ate steak, shrimp, chicken or pork for lunch or dinner, no sandwiches , no sweets… I want to emphasize that there are and to my surprise always were good options on every buffet…..especially for sleevers! 2. Breakfast everyday was eggs, cottage cheese (yes the had it) and if I had room a little yogurt. After which we sent for coffee from room service to enjoy later on the balcony. 3. My day started on deck six everyday with my wife ….which has an open air walking track (on most boats ) for 8 to 10,000 steps….about an hour of leisurely walking. By day 3 I was actually jogging small stretches of the track. 4. Dinner every night was a small bite of an appetizer or a few bites of salad and about half the portion of meat. No dessert, instead I would treat myself to a single espresso after my wife finished her dessert 5. I drank ice Water, skim milk and occasionally made myself an ice coffee in my waterbottle everyday. 6. I drank no….yes zero alcohol!!! It did not bother me a bit. My wife did drink and I got all the exercise going to the bar for her….lol 7. At night we took in as much of the activities and shows as possible. 8. Late night occasionally we would get a small bite at the late night buffet. Most nights. 9. I challenged myself to do a shore tour ( I never liked doing things because of my weight ) We did cave tubing in Belize and snorkeling in Roatan Honduras. Which is “not” like me. 10. I think the toughest thing on the cruise is the looks the waiters give you when you don’t finish your meal….I got a lot of…. “you no like? I bring you something else?” I gave a simple “I’m fine…it was delicious!” which works everytime. 11. I think my smartest idea was though to bring a nice water bottle… it was very handy. 12. I bought a new T-shirt in every port in my new size “L” That was a great feeling. So what was the end result? I was never hungry, slept great, ate some tasty things, met a goal of at least 10k steps every day and still lost 3.2 lbs. It was the first cruise that I actually fit in the clothes that I came on the boat in. I hope this blog encourages you to get out there……but you have to follow the plan and be strong enough to stick to it. It wasn’t hard at all. LOVING MY SLEEVED LIFE John M

I waited about 5 months. Alcohol does hit faster simply because the tummy is so small that there's rarely food in it. So that makes me a cheap date. Of course, I'm a guy and we're mostly cheap dates. Most everything you eat/drink is "as tolerated" unless directed otherwise by your physician.

I waited a few months - maybe 5 or 6 months. I found that drinking an entire drink was out of the question. It took too long to drink it all and I got bored with it. So now if I want something to drink it has to be a shot. Right away I discovered that the alcohol hit immediately. I could feel it go down and it felt like it spread over my whole body , stomach first then outward from there. Woweee....it was intense. Now I rarely drink but I can manage a shot then one more a little later. After that I throw in the towel. You can drink something just be real careful on the quantity and time frame. It sneaks up quick.

How long did you wait before you had any alcohol? Did the effects set in quicker? I am only two months out and I know I won't try any time soon. I'm just hoping I don't have to wait a year. Thanks!

@@Destiny66 hello I don't know how strict your program is but my surgeon was very strict if u gained he wouldn't do the surgery 6- 10lbs isn't horrific get on south beach phase one today no carbs sugar pasta rice bread etc proteins and vegs only no soda no alcohol exercise as much as u can u should lose most of it hopefully if your only up a 1 lb or 2 they will overlook it lol good luck to u

5'5", 140#, 10 pounds below goal. I probably get at least 60-80g protein/day (40-60g from my daily smoothie and quest bar) and minimum 64oz fluids. I don't count calories, carbs or fat, so can't give you an answer there. I Simply eat a well balanced diet of protein, veggies, fruit and whole grains. Sweets, alcohol and other simple carbs in moderation. Love my sleeve!

Marijuana isn't addictive IMHO. Never seen anyone go through detox on it. Same category as alcohol but even less danger. Nobody ever beat their family on pot. Never seen a bunch of stoners in a bar brawl. However even medically it's used to induce increased appetite. If i hadn't quit (other than the rare once every couple years) I would probably steer clear on that aspect. So forego that weekly joint, you heathen pothead lolol!

He made a decision about what he enjoys, and he's made the decision to sacrifice certain things to do so. It's not up to me (or us) to say whether or not he's making a bad decision. The fact is, many of us have things in our lives that we could cut out and potentially live happier, healthier lives (or just healthier), whether it's food, caffeine, smoking, alcohol, etc. He's decided that at the moment, he's okay with what he's potentially sacrificing. I'm not going to say he's wrong just because it's not what I would have done.

@@Roxie Malone you don't owe anyone explanations for a decision to try and stay healthy and prevent future problems your the one who will live with the effects if u don't do it and get heavier etc ppl can't understand things they don't experience don't listen to ppl who speak to u this way if someone lost weight without surgery kudos to them it doesn't make u a failure surgery is a tool not a cure I'm nearly 6 weeks post op I smell things I want but know I shouldn't eat etc the food u put in is up to u the want will be there they just think if u simply eat less excercise etc blah blah well if it were that simple no one would be overweight it's an addiction like drugs and alcohol hmmm rehab would be out of bussiness if only ppl wouldn't drink or take drugs so think of it as rehab for yourself and tune out the rest I find that usually the ones who criticize are also the ones who whisper about and point at the overweight ppl and likely any other flaw they can find

My plan calls for 1500 mg of calcicum a day. I started out taking the Caltrate Petities (500 mg for 2 pills) but that meant I had to take a total of 6 pills throughout the day. Trying to space them out along with my other viatmins and making sure I gave enough time before taking my Iron supplement was just so time consuming. Based on feedback from others I bought some of the Bariatric Advantage calcium citrate chews in the caramel flavor. There is only 2 g of sugar alcohol per chew and the taste is awesome (the something sweet that I don't get to often). They are definately pricey but so much easier for me.

WLS defiantly altered the way my body processes alcohol. I had quite a strong constitution pre op... But not anymore!! Two glasses of wine and I'm ready for bed these days. So I find I don't really bother much, it's not enjoyable and the hangovers are a killer!

@italianlady13: We are all different. Some people have craving foods that they can eat moderately. Personally, I have never known an obese person that can. Most of my downfall in the past is the belief that I can "have just a little." Next thing I know, I am eating them regularly, and have gained another 20 lbs. It is like alcohol for me (never been an alcoholic, but, believe me, I can relate!) It is about willpower (I hate that word! Many skinny friends say "Oh just use your willpower and eat less, exercise more!) I knew when I embarked on this journey that there are many foods that I can't have ever again, and I mourn the loss. If I label them "addicted to," then I have to walk away, especially when they have no nutritional value. But, again, let me emphasize, that everyone is different. For me, It is a slippery slope. I CAN'T rely on willpower when it comes to food. If I could, then I wouldn't have needed WLS.

Hi all, I've had great success with my surgery... List 100 lbs in 10 months... But I've been drinking wine again and it scares me a bit. I'm wondering if I've changed my obsession with food to alcohol. I really never drank much, I always got horrible headaches. But I don't now. Anyone else having issues like this.

You may also want to consider visiting some 12 step groups (Alcoholics Anonymous and/or Overeaters Anonymous). Food addiction and alcohol addiction have many things in common and unfortunately it is very easy to substitute one for the other.

@@joatsaint Thank you for the feedback. I will definitely check out the reviews. Unfortunately, I just bought the sample pack. I wanted to give these a try since they didn't contain any sugar alcohols. I usually only eat a Protein bar when I know I won't be able to get a decent meal. I also like Quest bars!

@@My Bariatric Life lol! I know they are processed. It's hard to cut out all processed foods...baby steps. I think I'm going to buy the variety pack of these. I like the fact that they are very high in fiber and no sugar alcohols. I was hoping someone tried them to give an opinion. I do eat a Quest bar from time to time but they are not my favorite. We will see what these are like. I'll keep you posted.

I am by no means a heavy drinker, but with that being said, I like to go out from time to time and have a drink. I went to NYC about 1 month after surgery and I asked my Dr. if it was alright to have a drink or two. Just told not to over do it. I had a few cocktails and just stuck to vodka(Grey Goose) and Water. I always got a tall (extra water) and then just mixed in a Water Enhancer. I didn't have any problems whatsoever. I will say that one drink gave me a pretty good buzz. Since then, I had a few cocktails from time to time, always the same- vodka and water with my flavor enhancer. Always in moderation though. I tried a glass of wine and it didn't go down well. Although I've been known as a wine snob in the past (lol) and maybe it was the wine and not me. Pretty much a bummer because I have about 100 bottles of wine in storage. Oh well, wine makes excellent gifts! We don't want to replace one addiction (food) with another (alcohol). Only in moderation. I would steer clear of high calorie cocktails!

Just had my 3 month post op checkup and my surgeon cleared me for alcoholic beverages. He stressed moderation and cautioned getting drunk faster. I had a few sips of my hubby's beer 2 months post op. No issues but apparently my tastes have changed because it was gross.