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Today is my first time drinking protein. I would only eat tilapia for lunch and dinner etc. but i also drink alcohol on weekends. And basically eat anything just in small portions

You want to ask your surgeon about rules regarding pills. They all vary -- there is no "we" in post-WLS patients when it comes to things like medications, food, exercise, alcohol, caffeine, etc (unless you are talking to someone who had the same doctor you did). My doctor's rules may be very different from yours. All that said, have you considered liquid multi-vitamins? I took Wellesse liquid multi for four weeks after surgery - a double dose. I didn't have any trouble getting it down, but you can dilute it with water or light fruit juice if the taste bothers you. My labs have always been great. Good luck to you!

Many people actually find their tastes change after their bypass anyway and a lot of foods become too sweet for their tastes. It becomes a lot easier to avoid the sugars to begin with than it is with the band because the band doesn't take away the cravings one bit. The truth is there is no way of knowing if you will be a dumper until the surgery is done. I am not a dumper but the sugar alcohol substitutes make me sick, which is also common. You're also more likely to dump on liquids because they go right through you and overwhelm your intestines quickly, which is the whole basis of dumping. So a smaller amount of liquid sugar may cause dumping while a larger amount of sugar bound in fruit may not. There are variables. The glycemic index of a food, which is a measure of how quickly the sugar in something is released into your body, is really useful if you a dumper. Raw carrots and cooked carrots have essentially the same amount of sugar in them except cooked carrots release their sugar very quickly and can cause sugars to spike. Same with boiled vs. mashed potatoes. Steer away from foods that release their sugars quickly and that can help in the dumping situation.

Sorry I didn't check in yesterday. I actually had a 1.4 pound gain!! I was gone on a business trip to Chicago for the week and ate and drank way too much! Those alcoholic beverages certainly are empty calories! Back on track this week. HW 322 (March 2013) SW 278 (Dec 16, 2013) CW 171.2 Pounds lost since surgery 106.6 Total pounds lost 150.8

I just posted this in another thread but it mostly applies. PLAN. FOR. IT. Most of us are food addicts. We have no self control when it comes to food. We will under estimate what we ate and then be surprised when the weight gain happens. I strongly advocate keeping a food diary. It's not to obsess over calories and how low we can keep then and stay healthy. It's to keep ourselves accountable. I use myfitnesspal. I have it set to also include carbs, sodium, fat and sugar. There is a maximun level of carbs, fat and sugar that works for me, so I monitor that. I used to have a problem with my feet and legs swelling so I monitor my sodium levels. I fill out my diary in the morning and add or subtract in the evenings according to what I actually ate. They also have an app for on the go changes. I do not allow anything in my house that I cannot eat without bingeing. I don't care is it's Suzie's favorite thing. It's not allowed because I am an addict and have no self control. If you have family members who miss their favorite food, tell them to buy a single serving portion and eat it. Sabotaging foods are not allowed in the cabinets.If you were an alcoholic would they insist on keeping that 6 pack in the house? EXERCISE - I don't care if it's taking a 30 minute walk each day or Leslie walk away the pounds DVDs. Commit to something on a regular basis.

Carol - wow! Talk about success stories! You are like the poster person for gastric bypass! It is unfortunate that so many of the vets drop off the forum after reaching their goals. I don't post replies as often as I once did (you can only answer the same question so many times and then it's time for others to take over) but I still monitor the forum on a regular basis and try to help out where I can. I firmly believe that, like a person that has the disease of alcoholism, I will always have the disease of obesity. Whether you're one year post-op or ten years post-op, managing your weight is a life long endeavor. Reading the victories, challenges, and lessons learned by others is an invaluable tool for maintaining my commitment. You never stop learning. Have a great day!!

This may be long – that sums up my background. This is a paper that I wrote in 2011 for an English class when I first entered college (I graduate in May 2015). Addiction His doctor said, "You're at a crossroads. You either lose weight or die." A sinking feeling enveloped him. He had a family; his reason for being. The struggle to battle his addiction had plagued him through his childhood years, through high school, up until the present day. And now, after years of excess, the doctor had delivered the final ultimatum. His thoughts drifted back through the decades of struggling with his weight and suffering as a social outcast. The classic retail store reference to an overweight kid in the 80's was "husky"; that's what the pants were labeled anyways. Adults chose words such as big boy, big fella, and chunky. He had an issue with overeating, so much as to have an effect upon his social character. For example, once a month at church the congregation would hold a pot-luck dinner. Little old ladies would compile delectable dishes that were worthy of legend in some circles. This event was a welcome time for him, for he got to spend time with friends and family. Walking down the steps to the basement, where the dinners were held, he feared entering the self-service line. It was inevitable, like the sun rising each day, that someone, normally a random old man, would comment, "I better get in there before he does, there won't be anything left." No harm was meant, but harm was done. He would just smile and laugh, but the words still hurt. Kids, on the other hand, were cruel. They had no idea the words they chose to demean him would leave cuts and scars. Although invisible to the naked eye, these words would cut away at his self-esteem. Grade school gym class was a reoccurring nightmare, a dreaded daily event that went on for six years. Coach would always demonstrate his manliness, showing off the ease in which the pull-up bar and rope could be mastered. He couldn't do either; both were feats that were unconquerable. Although he wasn't the only one who failed the challenge, the snickers, giggles, and under the breath names would always commence. He would just smile and laugh, but inside he cried tears of self-pity. The social hierarchy of school had just begun to affect his self-image. The harshness of public education would only become more discriminating. His weight was affecting the daily aspects of his life now. His eating habits hadn’t changed, in fact, they had gotten worse. Of course, he had no idea his addiction was growing. food was part of his life; his eating habits were taught to him. Breakfast regularly consisted of bacon, eggs, and fried taters; sometimes a big bowl of Cereal with sugar or honey added on top. lunch was always a double stacked ham sandwich and some sort of potato chips. Dinner was the pinnacle, consisting of some form of meat (normally fried) and potatoes. And of course, what is a good dinner without ice cream for dessert? Middle school, which is normally a time for a boy to come into his own and begin to grow, was an even more difficult time for him. Once again, the dreaded gym class was forced upon him. Sure, the exercise was needed; the mental anguish associated with it was not. The coach was an arrogant jock; an ass who loved to pick on the weaker kids. Coach's favorite activity was basketball, a team sport that "builds character." He'd gotten used to being picked last. The preppy jocks were always chosen by the coach as the team captains and given the authority to choose who would be on their team. Of course, the teams couldn't wear the jerseys stored away in the closet; one team got to wear their shirts, the other team took theirs off. He dreaded this distinction; it was the fit versus the unfit. The jocks would snicker, laugh, and call him hurtful names. He would just smile and laugh, but inside a literal hate for them consumed him. For comfort, he would unwittingly relish in their destruction, continuing to indulge in his bane. By this time, his mother realized he had a serious problem with his weight. She tried to force carrots and vegetables into his diet, but his eating habits had already been engrained into his being. She attempted to control portion sizes and he only resisted; he was stubborn and set in his ways. Food literally controlled him. He would eat when bored. He would eat when sad. He would eat when happy. High School was pretty much a blur. He had become a recluse; avoiding contact with those that chose to use their status to demean the weak. He had developed a genuine hatred for the preppies and the jocks; the entitled ones. He was never invited to their parties, but in a sense, he didn't want to be. He felt like an outcast. As the entitled ones partied and consumed their alcohol and cigarettes, he turned his addiction into an art. He felt like his life was spiraling out of control, paused only to consume the next meal. High School had given him an education; however, it also nurtured and cultivated a true hate for the social establishment. A few years passed and he had finally reached the pinnacle of his addiction. He finally admitted to himself he had a problem; it was time for a change. He joined a support group and followed their rigorous diet plan. He lost the weight by eating right, but unfortunately, the benefits of exercise were not part of the program. The days of ordering clothing from the big and tall catalog were over; he could shop at any store. People looked at him as a normal person, the vision of normal that society had set. His self-confidence had been restored, a feeling that had been forgotten. The hurtful comments disappeared from his life; he could now smile and laugh without hiding his inner torment. Happiness consumed all but his most inner feelings, and the hate for those who humiliate the powerless still loomed in his thoughts. Fifteen years passed and time gave way to his self-destruction. The burden was back; this time plaguing his older body even more. His job performance was suffering; his knees and feet were in constant pain. He would stop breathing at night and would have to be shaken awake by his wife. His blood pressure was dangerously high. His cholesterol rose. He was diagnosed with diabetes. The result of years of substance abuse, a substance known as food, had finally caught up with him. He was now dependent on another substance, medication, just to stay alive. His hate was gone now, whittled away bit by bit as maturity culminated within him. He looks around and sees the analyzing eyes of those that do not know him; those who are quick to provide a solution and quicker to cast judgment. He is criticized for his appearance; a façade of who he really is. His self-confidence has not wavered. The doctor’s words haunt his mind every time he eats. As he sits at the dinner table, he looks across at his three year old baby girl. He thinks back through his life struggles, praying she does not go through the same. He must change for her. ------------------------ Well, that is the paper. The fact is, I wasn't able to change my eating habits. I was up to a total of 4 medications with 4 of those being for diabetes. I had my gastric bypass on November 10 in St. Joseph, Missouri and it was performed by Dr. Hornbostel. I'm currently on a liquid diet and go back and see the doctor on Thursday. I have had much less pain than expected, but the smell of food drives me insane. My wife and 2 daughters both live in the house and I understand that they all have to eat. But, it seems that my sense of smell has increased tenfold. The smell of chicken enchiladas and chocolate chip Cookies yesterday was a horrific.

I finally had to take the steri strips off. They were blistering my skin. My incisions look good. Just swipe them with alcohol on cotton ball couple times a day.

Like many others my mini meals are pretty much Snacks too ???????? I eat every 1-2 hours something very small and I try to keep it Protein packed: My sleeve doesn't like jerky which makes me sad, I loved it prior to wls ???? Pumpkin seeds raw or sunflower or pistachios Honey roasted almond slices from trader joes Laughing cow cheese wedges in light Greek yogurt low fat with flax meal - I ❤️chobani: pumpkin spice, apple cinnamon, oats, black cherry, apricot Dried apricot, dried apples Lean seafood, chicken, turkey, pork, beef ---- chewed super slowly in small portions "food should taste good" tortilla chips in sweet potato (I'm on a hunt for the pumpkin flavored ones ????) Oven baked ruffles Protein bars: think thin in creamy (not chunky) Peanut Butter, Premier Protein crisp, balance bar in mint, Power crunch Lenny & Larry Vegan protein Cookies from Vitamin shoppe ???????????????? very addictive high carb but good protein (double chocolate & lemon poppy????) Yasso frozen Greek yogurt bars Protein shakes: premier protein chocolate mixed with unsweetened almond milk and powdered peanut butter Sauteed roasted or steamed veggies Soups and stews Drinks: Water, all types of teas ...green, white, oolong, chai, black, flavored non flavored , herbal ????☺️????(I never drink soda or juice and alcohol, rarely have coffee) Guilty pleasure: Pumpkin spice & peanut butter Oreos ????????????"hello, my name is sandi and I'm a Cookie Monster"

Not everybody dumps on sugar after surgery. I don't and I wish I did. Unless I go waaaaay overboard on sugar by downing half a litre of fruit juice in 20 minutes or something, in which case I will have thoroughly deserved it because that's something like 150g of sugar right there in liquid form that goes right through you and hits your gut instantly. I do fine with some artificial sweeteners, but not the sugar alcohols: they are evil. They are also the sweetener of choice in most diabetic candies, which is why I stay far away from SF candies. I never could tolerate any of the Protein powders either, but that is because I am a special medical snowflake who is missing a digestive enzyme and physically cannot digest them rather than an RNY issue. You will just have to be more vigilant in your food choices because you have the flexibility. It's so tempting to grab that iced tea from the shelf, knowing it won't make you sick, but you have to look at the nutritional information and do the math to realize that the bottle has 56g of sugar in it. Then put it back on the shelf. I have found that my tastes have changed since my surgery and most drinks have become too sweet for me anyway. You end up saving a ton by drinking Water. You're just out of surgery so you don't yet really know if you're a dumper or not. It can develop over the next few months or you may find out you're a fat dumper rather than a sugar dumper, or an ice water dumper, or caffeine. Or eventually you will have something that hits your threshold and bam, dumpsville. Time will tell.

I don't feel as though I am on a diet. I have made a lifestyle change regarding my diet and exercise and plan to stick with it. I don't feel like I'm "normal". Whether I had a food addiction, or laziness, or slow metabolism, etc., I had to change my ways. The surgery is a tool. I didn't go through the process to eat the same way I did before just in smaller amounts. I had the surgery as a stepping stone to reboot my life. I am no expert but I think WLS patients lose the most during the first 3 months, 6 months, 9 months so I am trying to get the "most bang for my buck" and stick to the plan. I mean that literally since I paid for the surgery myself. Now that's not to say that I haven't gone out and had a small (I mean really small!!) piece of pizza, or a cocktail ( I know, we are not supposed to have alcohol within the first year but I figured one vodka and water- no high sugar mixes- wouldn't hurt). I read all of my food labels and rarely go out to eat anymore. The savings in my pocketbook is a huge bonus too! Best of luck!!

I am being discharged today and asked about driving. I was told to think of the narcotic pain meds as alcohol. If I take those meds, no driving until the effects have worn off. If I'm not taking those meds, I'm clear to drive.

So surgery was Monday, November 3. I wasn't quite sure what to expect with this journey. There were a few hiccups along the way but nothing that ever made me regret my decision. When we first arrived at the airport I called Victor but he said he was going back to TJ and would send another driver. Samuel picked us up and took us on a tour of San Diego while waiting for two more people. Once we got to the Marriott we were checked in and got to our room. We waited a bit but never met a patient advocate. This made me nervous since I had no idea what time to be ready in the morning. I couldn't call from my hotel room because I didn't have the local number. I ended up texting Victor who got in touch with Sandra. She showed up within 15 minutes and explained somehow I was put on the wrong list. This made me a little nervous but was happy at least they found me and I was still scheduled for the next day. The Marriott was wonderful in every way. They are very attentive and helped with any request we had. Their broth hit the spot! At the hospital the only issue I had was waiting over six hours for surgery. After waiting six hours I had a little nervous breakdown because I realized it was dark outside and I thought the doctor would be tired when he operated on me. I also thought maybe because I was on the wrong list at the hotel that he was overbooked and overworked and I didn't want to be the last one to be operated on. I'm sure the lack of food for 3 days contributed to that but they finally took me to the OR and gave me medicines to relax. They explained that they save the easiest for last and I was the only one that day who wasn't some type of revision and I had no other co-morbidities. After I met with Dr. Lopez and gauged his alertness I felt more confident. I feel bad for the girls in the recovery room. I can only remember dry heaving, moaning and fighting with the oxygen mask constantly. I think they had to give me lots of drugs to calm me down. My recovery went better than expected. I did have some gas pain in my chest but I worked on walking and breathing deeply each day and it has gotten better. I got what feels like a bubble stuck in my chest when I would drink despite taking small sips but this only lasted about five or six days. I did have diarrhea for 7 days though. That was rough but it helped get a lot of gas out! My MIL got me some kind of herbal tea that helps relieve gas and it was magical. I had a fever for a few days post op. I think two of my incisions were very slightly infected but I showered every day and my MIL would clean them with alcohol, put antibiotic ointment and new bandages. They look pretty good now. Day 6 post op was the magical day I finally gained my independence and didn't have to rely on someone to help me out of bed or dry me after a shower. I have decided to take part in "No Weigh November" because I would like to avoid the dreaded 3 week stall so I will not be weighing until December 1st.

I think it would be help you to keep a spreadsheet to keep track of Protein eaten and the number of ounces you drank. At the end of the day, it's easy to sum them up. The protein should come out to at least 60 grams. The liquids should be at least 64 ounces. I was sleeved on Sept. 26th. To get 60 grams of protein in, I need to have at least one Protein shake (21 grams) blended in unsweetened soymilk (7 grams of protein). Do you use these? For liquids, anything 5 calories per cup or less is OK to drink. The instructions given by our nutritionist is to eat protein first, vegetables second and, IF you still want the carbs, have some. I would knock off extra carbs and alcoholic drinks. It's normal to go through a stall. Eating enough protein and drinking sufficient liquids sometimes gets the weight loss going again. Best wishes.

Hey, Steve. I wish you the best of luck with your surgery. I had mine four days ago. It isn't pretty, but you get through. I think you will be fine. I know what you mean and understand your health issues you have had to deal with lately. It sucks, but everyone tells me it makes us stronger. I suppose there is some truth in that. We all have some hope now in this surgery. You don't need to be spending your time negatively with this arguing that is going on here. You need to be positive right now. People are going to do what they want to do, whether we want the best outcome for them or not. The reason I gave the drug and alcohol analogy is because I have a young nephew who has screwed his life up so bad for the last few years no matter how much good and useful help he gets. He's going to do what he wants to do. I have accepted that. I would love for him to change his habits and turn things around, but I have done everything I can do and it just isn't up to me. A year ago, if he had told me to put down the doughnut and go get surgery, I would have told him to go screw himself. I think denying you have had surgery doesn't mean you are in denial, it means you have some reason that you don't want people to know the truth. Women's dynamics are difficult. Men just say stuff to each other and move on, but it isn't that way with women. (Ask your wife.) We have to protect ourselves. If protecting ourselves means that we are going to be successful with the sleeve and get the weight off, then that is the best outcome. Once you have had the surgery, you have to do whatever it takes to reach the best possible outcome. None of us can afford to let anyone get in the way of that. Good luck with your surgery and I wish you great results!

I have not denied the surgery nor have I said I did at any point. You might want to go back and look at my posts before you attack me, Steve. What I said about denial is the absolute truth. Before I could get help with my weight problem, I had to admit it was a problem that I needed help with and then ask for help. I've been fighting this for 30 years on my own and had not been winning the battle. In any arena where people are trying to be free of something that is weighing them down (alcohol, drugs, FOOD), they have to WANT help. I would not have been ready until I was ready to do it. People have been telling me about surgery forever. I had to get to this place on my own. I would be glad to be helpful to others, but I will never urge someone else to do this. People have to come to it on their own. I wouldn't want someone to regret doing it because they thought that what I told them about it was the gospel according to sleeve surgery. If something went wrong during their surgery, I would never forgive myself.

An alcoholic or drug addict who has not admitted they have a problem is in "denial." An obese person who surrendered to the fact that they needed help and got help in the form of surgery is not in denial. This (surgery) is as real as life gets.

I don't think anyone would deny there can be good reasons to hide it, the nosy boss who won't give you time off, of course that makes sense. But it is not comparable to having "female surgery" it is not in the same realm at all. As i said before and a lot of people here are admitting it. People are hiding the surgery because they do not want people to think they did not have to work at weight loss and it was all the surgeries doing. SO they want people to think they did it all by themselves with no help. I am very sorry ladies, but that is a lie and a cop out because it means you are simply reinforcing the belief that the surgery does it all and you do nothing. To say that you are worried people will talk about you behind your back that you had surgery! OOH, first off. who cares? people will talk about anything. the kind of person who will talk about you in that way is not going to suddenly start talking about how wonderful you are because they think you did it without some help. The biggest part of this is going to piss people off. I will bet you people talk about you now. And that they have for years. Not those same people, but people in general see you and think look at the fat lady or fat guy. they don't say hmm there's someone struggling with being overweight. No, unless they have been there and even worse if they are one of the few who did lose it on their own, they are WOSE!, its like an ex-smoker they are pains to smoker, I know i'm an ex-smoker, (15 years ago i quit yay) So you have endured years and years of people talking about you behind your back, and people staring, and many more embarrassing things, you made it through that, but cant take it if someone talks about you becoming healthy and fit and wanting live life? No. It doesn't fit. Now as i said obviously telling someone that would jeopardise you having the surgery is obviously a great reason. And even not announcing it, ok i can kind of see it. but yes if you were asked how did you lose the weight and you neve mentioned surgery as a helper, you lied, and you failed an opportunity to educate someone on what really happens. I told peole on my blog and my friends and co workers, what I will have to endure. liquids only, no more than 4oz of food , puree stage, never drinking within 30 mins before or after a meal, no alcohol, no carbonated soda ever, all these things, and once they learned what I had to do, everyone has said wow, i had no idea you had to do this. SO if you take the few moments to educate people, then maybe you will save the next person from going through any kind of ignorant actions from their peers. The reasons I am so passionate is because of the education issue, people actually back out of having surgery at an alarming rate, and the weight issue has become so bad that they now have new terms for obese people, we now have the SUPER obese, and the MEGA obese. People who have to be cut out of their homes, transported on flat bed trucks. Or who just die in their beds. We need to be the people who show that this is necessary, life changing and life giving. It is also because the more people who see me being open to i, then maybe they will pass along some information to someone who may then look into the surgery and keep it going foraward. I have a few friends who are young but weigh over 500+ pounds each, and they are still in that stage where you fool yourself with how big you are. We lose too many people to obesity. We shouldnt have to. to those i have offended..tough, you can take it. I love you all, We all can do this! Http://cuttingthefatwithaknife.blogspot.com

Holiday celebrations are all about food, right? Save up every year, to overeat and not keep yourself in check. It’s a losing mindset from the get-go. The end of the year is really about memories, gratitude and those who we care for in life, not just the Thanksgiving feast or the Christmas Day buffet. What makes a holiday special also makes it filled with emotions and triggers that enable our unhealthy excessive eating behaviors to be acceptable at this time of year. A few things that may sound familiar and affect many of us during the holiday season are: Family traditions and ethnic backgrounds with food memories that have followed us through life. Trauma, hardships or losses that make holiday cheer tough to enjoy or even tolerate on some levels. Falling back on a diet mindset and thinking it’s ok to eat recreate old habits from October 31-January 2. Awareness of mental and emotional struggles feeling more acute during the holiday season. For bariatric patients, an immediate fear presents itself: “How can I survive all the parties and family celebrations while embracing my post-surgery food choices so I don’t lose control with holiday eating and drinking this year?” The practical answer: Prepare for it, just as if the surgery was ahead of you. Think and plan for success with the least amount of guilt and destruction possible. Holiday foods are not “rewards” or “treats” or a reason to fall off the mindful thinking that you use every day. We all have family and cultural traditions of holiday foods, and the meanings behind them; that often follow us into adulthood. The connection is to people, not food itself. Holiday time often intensifies many people’s mental and emotional struggle with life issues. Food can often be an immediate distraction and way to receive immediate gratification in tough times. The trouble is, the stresses and issues remain after the food is consumed. Often, alcohol consumption increases at holiday time as well, so mindset is altered by allowing more uninhibited behavior to prevail. Using good judgment often decreases as well. So, if we can use the model of being prepared and accountable for ourselves, what would it look like? Think of the season on your terms. Where can you plan and take the lead on making good choices for yourself while still feeling the holiday spirit? Find control where you can make food to bring to others parties or meals. Host at your home to take pressure off of yourself. Be honest and ask to be considered when food is being prepared and served so that you can also taste but be flooded by the excessive choices and behaviors all around us. Find ways to relax and refresh so you are not overwhelmed or drained by the holiday madness. Keep a journal of your thoughts, fears, successes and challenges to remind you of the proud journey you are on now. Use meditative activities to bring a more even and peaceful attitude to the business of the season and the potential for burnout and self-destruction. Give of yourself to others that need to be uplifted. Find a community, group hobby or counselor if the season is troubling of extremely unmanageable. Many times the holiday triggers are too hard to handle alone. Ask for help and know that you are being proactive (helping yourself) instead of reactive (always behind and at the mercy of others decisions and actions). The key is to stay connected to the resources, the people, places and things that bring successful experiences to us, and avoid harmful or undermining circumstances that reinforce low self-esteem and bad, and often destructive, behaviors. As a bariatric patient, being accountable is helping yourself stay focused on a positive and productive mindset with help provide a fulfilling and peaceful holiday season each and every year. Yes, this is you, enjoying your life during the holidays.

A few things that may sound familiar and affect many of us during the holiday season are: Family traditions and ethnic backgrounds with food memories that have followed us through life. Trauma, hardships or losses that make holiday cheer tough to enjoy or even tolerate on some levels. Falling back on a diet mindset and thinking it’s ok to eat recreate old habits from October 31-January 2. Awareness of mental and emotional struggles feeling more acute during the holiday season. For bariatric patients, an immediate fear presents itself: “How can I survive all the parties and family celebrations while embracing my post-surgery food choices so I don’t lose control with holiday eating and drinking this year?” The practical answer: Prepare for it, just as if the surgery was ahead of you. Think and plan for success with the least amount of guilt and destruction possible. Holiday foods are not “rewards” or “treats” or a reason to fall off the mindful thinking that you use every day. We all have family and cultural traditions of holiday foods, and the meanings behind them; that often follow us into adulthood. The connection is to people, not food itself. Holiday time often intensifies many people’s mental and emotional struggle with life issues. Food can often be an immediate distraction and way to receive immediate gratification in tough times. The trouble is, the stresses and issues remain after the food is consumed. Often, alcohol consumption increases at holiday time as well, so mindset is altered by allowing more uninhibited behavior to prevail. Using good judgment often decreases as well. So, if we can use the model of being prepared and accountable for ourselves, what would it look like? Think of the season on your terms. Where can you plan and take the lead on making good choices for yourself while still feeling the holiday spirit? Find control where you can make food to bring to others parties or meals. Host at your home to take pressure off of yourself. Be honest and ask to be considered when food is being prepared and served so that you can also taste but be flooded by the excessive choices and behaviors all around us. Find ways to relax and refresh so you are not overwhelmed or drained by the holiday madness. Keep a journal of your thoughts, fears, successes and challenges to remind you of the proud journey you are on now. Use meditative activities to bring a more even and peaceful attitude to the business of the season and the potential for burnout and self-destruction. Give of yourself to others that need to be uplifted. Find a community, group hobby or counselor if the season is troubling of extremely unmanageable. Many times the holiday triggers are too hard to handle alone. Ask for help and know that you are being proactive (helping yourself) instead of reactive (always behind and at the mercy of others decisions and actions). The key is to stay connected to the resources, the people, places and things that bring successful experiences to us, and avoid harmful or undermining circumstances that reinforce low self-esteem and bad, and often destructive, behaviors. As a bariatric patient, being accountable is helping yourself stay focused on a positive and productive mindset with help provide a fulfilling and peaceful holiday season each and every year. Yes, this is you, enjoying your life during the holidays.

ok first off, please do not tell people to use sugar, yes sugar are you an idiot? why not just tell em to eat friggin donuts after surgery. Honey is SUGAR, DUH, Xylitol, and Erithritol are the exact same as sorbitol they are all SUGAR ALCOHOLS, they still contain sugar but they have a lower glycemic swing, they're good for diabetics but NOT for weight loss! also in any quantity they make you poop your brains out. acesulfame potassium is NOT related to aspartame in any way shape or form! however in many products some manufacturers will pair it with other sweeteners, so just read the label. Seriously people , you want to know why people fail , BAD ADVICE! adding vanilla to your drinks, well vanilla is sugar and alcohol. I mean do people bother to think ? Im sorry also to say artificial sweeteners should be avoided at all costs huh, how about the cost of being obese and dying horribly, of being non mobile and losing your limbs finger and toes to diabetes? is that a high enough cost? I eamn to tell people who are just out of surgery to add fruit...where did you get your surgerons degree or your nutritionist degree? Heres a real FACT. HAVING BARAITRIC SURGERY DOES NOT MAKE YOU AN EXPERT IN IT. Get over yourselves.

I use Jay Robb protein if anyone is interested in a protein mix that doesn't contain artificial sweeteners. I'm allergic to splenda (sucralose) and sugar alcohols. Just in case anyone else is sensitive or allergic as well. sweetened with stevia and the best tasting I've found.

You can do this! I smoked for 22 years. During the last 15 of those years, I was smoking 3 packs or more a day. If I took the elevator from one floor to another, I needed to have my smokes with me in case the cable broke. If I wasn't dead, I was gonna smoke! SO... If I can quit smoking, the devil himself can – and so can you! I've been smoke-free for 19 years now, but I remember my addiction as if it were yesterday. Aside from marrying my wife, having a child, and now having bariatric surgery, I still consider quitting smoking as one of the greatest accomplishments of my life. Okay, Here are some tips: Sipping citrus drinks helps curb cravings. Since fruit juices are forbidden after WLS, perhaps Crystal Light lemonade will work. Quick intakes of breath also curb cravings. If you need to suck on something (since candy will be off limits), try cutting a soda straw to roughly cigarette length. Then stuff it with two coffee stirrers to give it a "draw". There's some satisfaction to be had there. For a week or two after surgery, all of your routines will be broken. That also breaks your smoking routines and makes quitting a little easier. I quit the day I had my hip replaced. Do not drink alcohol! Whenever someone tells me they quit and then started smoking again, I ask if they had an adult beverage in their hand when they had that first smoke. 100% say yes! The good news is that you're not supposed to drink booze on this program anyway, so that should help. And finally, nicotine cravings only last 30 seconds or less. At first they keep coming, but each day that passes, the cravings get weaker, and the time between them gets longer. You can tolerate anything for 30 seconds, right? Keeping this concept front-and-center really helped me make it through. Good luck -- you can do it! And imagine the double-health benefit you will achieve. You'll feel so much better!!!

I had my surgery when I was 17 and I'm now 21. Having surgery before my senior year in high school wasn't the best idea.. I'll admit, my friends and I always have been partiers so all the alcohol and late night taco bell completely squashed any progress I had made. I've lost 45 lbs and gained 25 back. I'm almost 5 years post-op and feel like shit for not having made it far at all. I've forgotten everything I learned about what I should and shouldn't eat. I've been eating like I have my entire life.. I need to get on track again. My grandma needs to see me healthy before she goes to heaven... Can someone help me out?

Hello I'm post op 15 years sugar dumping is caused by all kinds of things just because it say no sugar add dosnt mean sugar free. Even sugar free has sugar alcohol witch may cause dumping.