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My only regret would be I wish I had had bypass first! I was a revision from band to bypass in May 2014. I am 2 pounds under my goal weight. Which was a normal bmi. Thrilled doesn't even begin to describe it. The only issue I have is with alcohol. I don't handle it very well. It's probably a good thing lol. I didn't exercise, the weight still came off.. I do eat sweets now and then. I feel fantastic and I look the best I probably ever have. It was a much easier surgery for me than the band was and I had my band removed at the same time I was revised to bypass. It's soooo much easier than the band.

well sugar alcohols, i.e. malitol, xylitol, sorbitol, all have a natural laxative effect and as such i have found it does not take much to, umm get things flowing, if ya get my meaning. some of the funniest reading you can ever do is to look up the forums online for sugar-free gummy bears. i guarantee you cannot help but laugh out loud at the stories. And by the way do not eat the sugar-free gummy bears...you have been warned.

Thank you ladies for sharing and caring. @@enjoythetime just to clarify, I think at this point I'm probably only going to weigh at the doctors. I just can't deal with the numbers right now. I'd love to hear how you are doing though. I have an apt with my family doc in 1 week. I will post that weight. I know yesterday was bad. I try to be tough and I was real weak yesterday. I was heading home, and out admin. asst. and I were talking and pretty much out of the blue she said "He (another driver that drives my truck at night), is the same age as my youngest. You know the one with the heroin addiction. I always think my son could be in his position with a good job at such a young age." Immediately we both started balling. I know all about her sons addiction and have been there for support for her. When you work at a place for a long time, you tend to bear each other burdens. I could only think of my own boys and how I pray they will never have to face these addictions. @@JustWatchMe You are right food addiction is real as drug and alcohol. I was an alcoholic before I was saved 10 years ago. I personally believe God took that desire for alcohol away the very moment I believed. I truly believe he take certain desires away from us and lets us rely on Him day to day with other sins and desires. Paul said he ask God three times to remove his "thorn in the flesh" , but God told Paul that He was enough and left him with it. I think one of the weird things about food addiction is, we need food to survive. One can certainly survive without alcohol and drugs, but not food. I'm not in any way saying it is easier or harder either way, just a weird dynamic. The stupid thing about food is it is celebrated and glamorized, even in the Church. Sorry for babbling, I'm simply trying to ignore the elliptical in the corner.. LOL.

All of you are warriors. Keep up the fight. I am too. I had a mixed day with the food. It went fine up through lunch but I ate a carby dinner which didn't do me any favors. I went to an FA meeting. Not my cup of tea. It was very different from my OA meeting in tone and content, which surprised me. But I gave it a try. I'm living with my mom while I am going through this divorce. My girls are living here too, but they're away at college at the moment. My mother is becoming increasingly angry day to day and it's getting very hard to take. She's lashing out at me and to avoid taking the bait, I spend a lot of time out of the house at 12 step meetings or at the movies. Anybody who says food addiction is not as serious as alcohol or drugs has not lived with a food addicted raging parent. Enough whining. I got my stairs in and because my knees have been hurting so much lately, I scheduled my cortisone shots for tomorrow. I was bummed about that, but then realized it's been six months since my last shot in just one knee, compared to pre WLS when I had shots in both knees every four months. So that's progress. If I hadn't fallen on the ice three times this winter and then twisted my knee badly attempting Zumba a few weeks ago, I could probably have waited another month. But it is what it is. Tomorrow high Protein and low carb and lots of Water. I did drink a lot of water today. Carry on, Warriors!

I asked about drinking, very important for me as I am going to go back to school in enology and viticulture (wine making and related areas). My doc said I should really try and go a full 3 months with none, and then I'll be able to drink again, but in great moderation. Not only because wine and alcohol are high in calories, but also because the portion of our stomach that was removed is responsible for producing the enzyme that breaks down alcohol. So instead, it will enter our blood stream at an increased strength. Add to that the fact that we will almost always be drinking on an empty stomach and we should be very cheap dates. By the way redsalamander, where are you from? I only ask because I pass by the great wolf lodge often as I travel from portland, where I live, up to Seattle, where my brother lives. So I assume you are a from the northwest.

I had a single glass of plum wine (it was iced, and not much wine--Mickey Mouse is stingy with the liquor!) with some teriyaki salmon. I did break the no eating/drinking together rule for this, because I feared alcohol on an empty stomach more than distention. I felt it, but not more than usual. It *was* out of my system really fast, though. I won't make a habit of drinking, for sure (I did feel a little bloated after), but it wasn't a bad experience.

Hi All. I've had several stressful years up until now including juggling 2 full time jobs and a family. I had this surgery in December with a spleen injury complication that really slowed recovery. I'm finding it difficult to motivate myself to get stuff done at work now unless a deadline is approaching big time. I'm not sure if I'm just burnt out, or, if I no longer have the "joy of escape" through food and alcohol that I'm not able to push so hard. Lately life feels shorter and shorter and I'm not having much fun. Maybe since I'm beginning to feel like I'm making (potentially lasting -- finally) progress in my weight issue, my other issues are in sharper focus. In a way I feel like I'm doing personal housecleaning and I want all of the "rooms" picked up. Anyway -- any work motivation suggestions? Thanks.

Hi pretties! Happy that many of us are doing so well. I had been having trouble getting motivated to get back to the gym. Well, after a brief respite at Great Wolf Lodge (out of the snow, thank goodness!) I realized that I had gotten a TON of exercise in and had felt great. So that helped kick me into gear. Now I'm back to the gym, working in strength training, and getting "assignments" to do from my personal trainer friends on the days I am working so I don't get glued to my chair. I'm doing much better with food overall, but still having some troubles. Things that are too dense (meats, for instance) are bad news, as is bread. I can have bread in very small doses, but more than that and I'll be either puking or wanting to puke for the rest of the day. I also am starting to be able to see the differences in my body! My waist nips in now once more, and my belly is deflated. I went through my jeans and made a big pile of those that don't fit any longer and moved on to the ones that used to not zip, which now fit perfectly. All good things! Has anyone gotten info on when they're able to have alcohol again? I plan to ask at my next appointment. No biggie, but it would be nice to be able to have a glass of red wine to ward off the chill every now and again...

The biggest and absolute strangest byproduct of this surgery is actually the psychological detachment from the absolute love of food. I heard it before the operation but....did I understand it? I really look back before the operation to my (yes) obsession with food, how addicted and enslaved I was to the thought of food. How I planned meals around every event, .... I admit in the months before the operation....trying to do "the final tour" of all my favorite foods in abundance.... saying goodbye as you will. There never could be enough food........ Then the operation.... the first few days were rough....but ....no hunger. The day back home I got a cold slap of reality when my wife was cooking bacon..."she profusely apologized "Oh I'm sorry...this must be torture to you!" but no it wasn't... the bacon aroma smelled nice but there wasn't that attachment to oh let me try some.... no it was like when you smell flowers....you'd never eat a flower...because it dosent trigger it.... The liquid diet over the next few weeks really challenges you not in the amount you eat...but variety.... A new taste of say cream of chicken a few days in is delightful. learning to eat slower and learning the full point becomes an art in itself. But (at least in my case I still enjoy what I eat, but the crazy cravings are gone. One thing I thought that I would loose is my love of cooking..... but no I am still cooking for the family. My dinner is usually made seperate... but you can still do it. Best advice is buy yourself some small plates! It really works. Like the alcoholic....and the junkie.... we did harm to our bodies with food... and food ruled our thoughts and actions. You have to look at it that way. Looking back I realize that now. I am thankful now for this tool of VSG surgery. and for this forum to put it into words.... Thanks

Off the rails…. If you don’t know me, let me tell you a bit about me. I am a hyper organized, slightly obsessive perfection seeking mad woman. OK that all sounds really bad. In reality I’m just a person who strives to do 10001 things in the course of a day where the hours don’t quite add up to the tasks at hand. I will say 9 out of 10% of the time the balls I am juggling successfully meet their mark and as one leaves occasionally another pops in to take its place and that’s OK because I am one of those people who gets bored when things are too “easy”. All that said…lately life has been more of a challenge and when I hit the mark with one thing it seems there are 3-5 more things that need juggling. I’m battling and to be honest I can’t even catch my breath at this point. What the hell am I doing?!! Over the last few weeks I have been going through some very emotional events, and I am finding myself trying to really understand what the heck is going on. I don’t understand people for the most part, the things they do and say and why…? I often wonder if anyone stops to ask themselves why they are doing and saying the things they are. Ah well what does any of this have to do with Weight Loss and Weight Loss Surgery? Well for me…right now it has to do with the fact that I think I have had a head on collision and my car is now off the rail. My band is in there begging me to stop stop stop and you know I just want it to shut the hell up! I want to eat eat eat!!! I don’t care about losing weight! Why am I not losing weight I asked myself as I stepped on the scale this morning?! You don’t care about losing weight remember screamed my band as I tried to guzzle down my morning coffee only for it to come flying back out my nose. OK. OK. I take a breath, clean it up resume and pick up speed I have things to do dam it! My mind is reeling and I have to tell you I am utterly exhausted. Why….let me explain because if I don’t then I fear that I am not going to be able to do this. I have been reading, taking classes and studying a lot over the past few weeks about addiction. My son is an addict. His drug of choice is heroin. I have come to REALLY HATE this expression “drug of choice”. Makes me think of a Burger King where you can drive up and have it your way!! I am going through this trial by fire here because it’s about as painful as a 3rd degree burn, and I’m questioning where the hell this kid got this addictive behavior from when you know (this is where my collision happened)….I’m not as innocent here as I would like to believe I am. No I’m not nor have I ever been a drug addict or an alcoholic heck I don’t even smoke and never have, but my “drug of choice” is food. Yep, because no matter right now how much my band is cinching on me…my head is looking and calling and looking and craving FOOD. The more stress I give myself the more distractions I am throwing at myself to “hide” or sooth how I am feeling the tighter my band gets and the harder it is for me to eat and the more adapt my brain is at finding foods that are high in calorie and fat that just melt in your mouth!! Ha! HA! Band I beat you!!! What….wait….what was that??? Hold on. The only thing that’s winning here is my addiction to self-destructive behavior in the form of distractions, food, sugar, salt, and fat!! They know my name and where I live!! I am not hiding or as “busy” and invisible or unavailable as I keep trying to make myself. Nope…I have painted a big red target on myself and walked the chocolate expo begging the chocolate covered bacon to marry me! (Ok that was just a dream, I stayed away from the expo which was REAL so is chocolate covered bacon which I have never eaten, and I hope I never do because I might need a detox facility myself!!) Hold on a sec….What a great idea!!! Epiphany has struck…detox. Yes I need to detox. I need to get the sugar out of my system. I need to STOP all this. NOW not tomorrow not later, NOW. So yeah this a cry for help…I need to get back on track. It’s not going to be easy, because the reality of the situation is that all these things are still a big part of my life and they are not going to go away. However…I am going to take some time to reframe and refocus on why I am here. I am going to right now as a matter of fact going to start with my office and DUMP out the peppermint candy sugar balls I bought so I could eat them all freaking day and put them in the trash!! Then when I get home as much as I love Aunt Maria’s chocolate covered Popcorn I am going to get rid of it! I am going to detox tonight and skip “dinner” and have a Protein shake. I am going to give my band a “rest” I have really been taxing it lately and pushing it to its limits and mine. I am going to commit to working a post op liquid diet for a few days heavy on the Water and slowly ease back into mushy then solid foods. I am going to commit to getting my rear end to the gym that is costing me an arm and a leg and try giving it a thigh and some fat from my ass to chew on instead. I am bad at accountability…I’m reading all these posts about who is doing what…and I am like oh that’s awesome they are doing so great!!….delete. So here I am here’s my story…now it’s time kick my ass in gear and get it going!!!!! OK BP’s help me to kick some ass!!! Mine, yours, ours!!!

My PCP is also unsupportive , she feels weight issues are due to compulsive over eating and the surgery won't solve anything. She feels I will just change one obsession for another like alcoholism or some other horrible obsession and told me to see a dietitian. I joke with friends that I've "dieted" myself into obesity, but it's absolutely true! If diets worked I wouldn't be in this situation! I'm going forward without her blessing and will find the support I need elsewhere!

So I'm 4 months post sleeve surgery and down 40lbs. My unsupportive husband decided he wasn't in love with me and we are in the process of divorcing. The divorce was no surprise. Unfortunately he didn't want the marriage or work for it like I tried. Anyway I'm looking forward to dating later this year and meeting new people. I'm 30 yo. But food and alcohol are often part of the dating process. Luckily I never was much of a drinker. I can only imagine going out and eating 4 bites and being full. How do you deal with this? What about the scars? When do you tell your sleeve story? I'm excited but scared of dating. Any advice from fellow sleevers is appreciated.

Thanks for the encouragement babbs. I appreciate it. I mostly worry about not being able to enjoy time with the family the same way. Food or alcohol has been the center of our everything. But I am ready.

I've lost 100 pounds since my sleeve surgery on October 8. Have about 40 to go. Not a doubt in my mind I will hit my goal. But, here's the deal. I don't cheat...ever. I don't drink pop, alcohol, no caffeine, and get my calories from good, healthy food. I don't look for ways to get around my sleeve. I also bust my tail at the gym 5 days a week. The sleeve seemed by far the most "natural" procedure. Just my opinion though. I took this surgery VERY seriously. My blood work is optimal now. I no longer have sleep apnea. I feel like a new person. But, as I'm sure you've read, none of these procedures are a silver bullet. You choose what you eat, how much, and how often. But it has definitely served as "guard rails" for me. The sleeve has helped me learn how to eat like a healthy person should. The sleeve also seems to have the fewest complications from what I've read. Bypass patients seem to have an unnatural look to them at times. Again, just my opinion. I'd tell you to make sure you're totally committed t this before moving forward. Good luck.

Out of all the bars Quest sells, these do not have the Erythritol sugar alcohol listed as an ingredient. vanilla Almond Mixed Berry Bliss Peanutbutter Supreme chocolate Brownie Peanutbutter and Jelly Apple Pie

Off hand do you know which bars don't have the sugar alcohol in them?

I just watched "My Big Fat Operation" on the Discovery Life channel (channel 261). It was a good show and did show the mental side to surgery. I was a little aggravated that one girl celebrated her 3 month mark by enjoying cocktails at a bar. There was no mention that you shouldn't consume alcohol after surgery. It leads others to believe that it is a normal part of post op life.

I was up to 1000 -1200 calories by 6 months and still continued to lose....10+ pounds below my goal weight. I've maintained with 1400-1600 calories. The "didn't see it coming" thing for me was I wouldn't miss drinking alcohol. I used to be a BIG drinker....cocktails after work everyday and major "partying" on weekends. My college friend who had Lapband years ago said it would happen, and turned out she was right. I don't get the buzz I used to and it's just not worth the calories.

@@leag78 Don't take this the wrong way; I don't know you or your friend. But almost all of your replies seem to be defending her or your friendship. Almost as though you have to convince us that she's a good person. Or perhaps convince yourself? Someone can have great attributes and only have one flaw; for example if i have a wonderful husband who helps with the house, rubs my feet every night before bed, and surprises me with random gifts and flowers for no reason those are great attributes. But if the one bad thing about him is that he's completely unfaithful to me and will cheat on me given the opportunity, do those good things about him outweigh the bad? WLS is a long, hard road. I'm pre-op and already having issues with my social circle because of my changing eating habits and my avoiding alcohol. My friends don't invite me out anymore, I guess they figure whats the point if she can't eat and drink with us? Also, when I do go out people are always pushing me "one little drink won't hurt. Don't you have a cheat day?" They're excellent people, always there for me when I need someone and have opened up their homes to me and made me feel like family. But pushing me to drink when I'm under a doctor's care not to is just wrong. Offering me food I can't have and trying to justify it by saying "everybody deserves a cheat day." is not supportive to what I'm doing. It's going to be really important that you have support for your choice to have WLS and the journey you're on. If your friend isn't supportive or if you're afraid your friendship with her will change because of your decision, then the best way she can support you is not to stand in your way. I'm not suggesting you stop being her friend, but perhaps you won't be able to rely on her for support as much as you were hoping considering how close you are.

Don't touch the bread, or drink alcohol, or eat dessert. Swap out the starch for a second vegetable. Eat your Protein first, veggies second. You should run out of room part way through the veggies. Take the rest home for tomorrow's lunch. It really is that simple!

Hey, @@Joey Jackson. Here's the stuff I wish someone had told me: That it hurts like hell when you first wake up! But the improvement starts almost immediately and after 2 weeks you'll feel pretty decent. That the first few trips around the floor are really hard, but after that walking actually starts to feel pretty good. That they would transition me from IV pain meds to pills during the night in the hospital. And yes, you can swallow a small pill. That the pain meds are only needed for 3 or 4 days. That Water is even more important than Protein during the first week or two. That if you don't get enough fluids, the constipation is gonna really suck! That you should have some kind of laxative or stool softener ready. (Miralax is pretty good.) That food and drink are going to get stuck at various points in your esophagus at various times in the first few weeks, and make weird noises going down. This is normal, and due to swelling, and it improves pretty quickly. That tons of fluids (eventually) are the best way to keep your skin elastic, which might help down the road. That tons of protein (eventually) plus Biotin is the best way to try and keep your hair. That Vitamin B-12 is a happy pill. (I prefer timed-release to sub-lingual.) That around week 3 after surgery, all weight loss may stop for 2-3 weeks! This is completely normal and here's why. good article That if I follow ALL the rules about what and when to eat and drink, never eat starches or sweets (or drink alcohol), and get regular exercise, I could lose 111 pounds and reach my goal weight in 7 1/2 months. And.... that if I did all of that, I would actually enjoy the journey... and I have! Good luck! I wish you all the success in the world!!!

Apparently my doctor is not worried about the carbonation stretching my stomach. I am allowed it after 6 months. Same with alcohol.

You hit it on the nail.......self destructive. For some it's alcohol, drugs, sex, and then for others it's food. It's about that mindset and it was clear to me that Pauline needed some serious counseling...probably lifelong....prior to surgery. Sometimes you have to see your behavior in others in order to get "it", I know that's what worked for me.....straight up, frank, & clear examples. That is what keeps my tail in line.

So in January, I went to meet the first doctor, she was nice and informative, but after I left I was really nervous. Last week I had my second appointment with another doctor, who ordered blood work and diagnosed me with hyperinsulimia, and now put me on metformin. I nervous, it seems like everyone is far to casual about having my bowels chopped up. I have non alcoholic stenosis, and due to that, my liver is enlarged. I guess im just worried, I know that the surgery can improve my quality of life, but just the fact that everyone seems so nonchalant about it, I already have so many health issues... I guess what I really want out of this post is for someone to tell me its going to be fine. I've lost 9 lbs since my first consult, my next one is on March 5th, right before I have my nutrition class. Also, my doctor said that the request to the insurance company doesnt go out until I finish their 6 month course, but im worried once I go through all of this, that they won't give the pre cert. Anyone else have similar issues/concerns?

I've seen so many of these and most of them are success stories but several of them are failures and one was even a death. It's amazing the lack of support that especially women don't get from their spouses. I don't like this show anymore , I find it too hard to watch. There is a really good book by Marianne Williamson titled A Course in Weight Loss 21 spiritual lessons for surrendering your weight forever. In it she talks about how emotional baggage packs on the pounds and until we deal with it we will fail at any attempt to successfully lose weight. She gives lessons and guidelines to follow to overcome this. It makes total sense. And this is what is wrong with Penny. For some who are self-destructive it could be alcohol, drugs, a sex addiction or compulsive shopping. But emotional baggage plays a huge part in it. I personally feel I am on the right path now and I don't want to do anything to screw it up.