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Ahhh, more sweet toothed folks out there! Good to meet ya! Everything suggested above looks yummy, but I would throw a word of caution out there (not to seem like a wet blanket) that I make a point of checking the calorie count of those Protein bars. 20 grams of protein sounds great, but some of those bars I've seen can pack over 300 calories! sugar-free doesn't necessarily mean "low calorie"- those things are sweetened with sugar alcohols, which can be just as high in carbs as some high octane sugary stuff. All depends on what you're trying to accomplish and watch, but for me, 300 calories isn't worth it. I can be happy with one sugar free Peppermint Pattie type candy from Weight Watchers for about 60 calories... I just eat it all slow and dramatic-like, like they do on the commercials & walk a little extra on the treadmill With that being said, sugar free pudding, Breyer's Carb Smart fudge bars & Hershey's Sugar Free baking chips are awesome!

My date is October 5th too. My surgeon and NUT are anti-Protein shakes so I am supposed to just keep doing the pre-op plan (3 high-protein meals/day, low carbs, no sugar/caffeine/alcohol) through 6pm the day before surgery.

Hi. I was sleeved 01/28/2012 so coming up on seven years. I was 238 at my first appointment (5'6 female) and 219 the day of surgery. I was 39 and wanted to lose by my fortieth. I was down to 129 within a year. I am currently 114 but at year five I bounced back up to 160. I have been holding steady now under 120 for about six months. It was a huge adjustment the first year for sure. I was cooking for my family a lot and had two kids. We entertained almost weekly and had a very active social life. Everything was centered around food and alcohol which I now was trying to avoid. Eating out felt line a punishment watching everybody else eat. But I just kept ordering and eating the way I was supposed to because my life was getting so much better. I could do things I didn't want to do when I was heavier. Eventually I actually craved the proper foods. I couldn't believe the mental and physical changes. Now I am very content with all the changes I have made and no longer feel cheated when others eat. I swim everyday and love shopping for cute clothes. My relationships got so much better and I have been unbelievably happier. My compulsion to overeat disappeared and life became enjoyable instead of something to endure. Do I wish I had done it sooner? Sure, but I needed to hit my emotional bottom and figure out why I ate compulsively first. I don't think I had the determination to do it correctly before that time. It was the best decision I've personally made. I love my life, my stronger, fitter capable body and the freedom from my weight that was literally weighing me down and holding me hostage in my own body. Today I embrace and love my life. I eat to live and choose healthy options. This works and has been such a gift. It's not easy the first year, but it's so worth it in the end. I still have a lot of restriction and it reminds me not so gently when I overdo it. I rarely do because I know how to eat for my sleeve now. Good luck to the rest of the forty somethings. So far this has been the best decade of my life! Good luck.

I am having a bad day! Feeling very frustrated and like a failure. I will be 4 weeks post op tomorrow. For the past week, I keep gaining and losing the same 2 pounds. GRRR Then I took it a step further and drank alcohol last night! I only ordered one shot and sipped on it for about 2 hours. I got a little buzz from it and feel like total crap today! I keep feeling like I am never going to lose weight. I have failed at every diet I have ever tried (obviously, that is what led me to the sleeve) and I am staring to think I will fail at this too! Ugh! I hate feeling this way! Definitely one of those days I would like to stay under the covers and cry myself back to sleep! For some reason, I feel like I can't get my emotions together! Anyone else have these problems/feelings???

I am kind of dreading my appt with Dr. C today. I've been doing great until this last month. I didn't get a fill last month and he even threatened to do an unfill because I was getting stuck a lot. I was comfortable enough and asked him to leave me where I was. Since then however, I have gotten to where I can eat quite a bit and I get very hungry between meals. I've also been doing a LOT of socializing, especially drinking alcohol. Lots of empty calories. So, I have barely lost anything since my appt last month. I have recommitted myself and am going to ask for a fill today. I'm going back to less than 30 gms of carbs a day (I've also been sneaking in more of those) and hit the gym more often. I've basically been consuming like I probably would when I'm at maintenance instead of what I should be consuming while trying to lose, so I need to get back on the wagon and lose my remaining 24 lbs I need to get to goal. Another concern I've been having is hair loss. It has gotten really bad the past couple of months and I'm actually seeing thin spots where I can see my scalp. I'm going to talk to him about that today as well. Hope everyone else is continuing to do well!

I 100% live by the anything in moderation idea at this point in my journey because I know my triggers, what to avoid personally and when I can allow myself a "treat". I didn't want to live on a "diet" for the rest of my life but instead wanted to learn to eat normally. I will be the first to admit that I allowed myself to indulge a little over the holidays and now I'm back on track with my normal diet. That being said, I'm a year post op and 12 pounds from my goal weight. When I was a month out from surgery, I was still on pureed and I followed my plan to a T. I was also not allowed alcohol before 6 months. It is absolutely dangerous to stray from the plan this early out for multiple reasons, most importantly your stomach is still healing, which I think is what many previous posters were concerned about. If you are allowed alcohol and sweets per your plan at this point, great! Indulge, enjoy and get back on track but if you are not, I would stick to the your doctors plan. Sweets, alcohol, carbs and all that will still be here in the future and you can indulge when you want then.

I am struggling here as well. And the funny part is I AM a therapist! We don't always have magic answers and it's something that I've tried to overcome many times and failed. I think what's scary for me now is food isn't an option anymore. It was always there if I needed it... But now it's not! Eek!! And Congrats on controlling your alcohol and other dependencies... That means you are strong enough to do this too

So we've all heard it- "You need to change your relationship with food." But what does that mean? How do you do it? How do you know it's done? I see this advice all the time but never steps to take to make that change. I'm seeing a therapist ( I have bipolar disorder and have had several different addictions through my lifetime so I will ALWAYS have a therapist) and I'm working through my problems with her. But I want to know how everybody else did it. How did you start? Did you have any slip-ups? When did you realize that you had gotten over your love of eating, or the unhealthy eating for convenience? I'm not saying everybody here is addicted to food. I don't even want to start that debate so please don't misunderstand Just to go ahead and start the discussion: Like I said earlier, I've had many dependency and addiction problems. In middle school it was my obsession with friends and attention. In my high school and college days it was pot and pills. In the most recent years I've struggled with alcohol dependency.* I've overcome it all! (YAY ME!!!! ) Now I'm staring down losing my most basic coping skill - food. It scares me. Of course all programs start out by telling you to QUIT. Quit smoking, quit drinking. We can't do that with food! So wtf do we do? What do I do? I'm working with my therapist but I'd like to have some advice from people who have actually faced this and overcome it. *I'm hoping that you guys will withhold judgment of my past deeds and try to help me with my current problem. I fully understand the risks associated with WLS and transferring addictions. Thank you

I have found that I can't drink because it burns too bad. And I loved beer, cocktails, not so much wine unless it was Lambrusco..so I have given up alcohol all together just because I can't tolerate the burn.

I became an alcoholic after the sleeve. Started with wine occ. at 4 months out and by 11 months I was up to 2 1/2 bottles a day. One half box worth. Occ. got drunk ratherwise just loved the feeling drinking. Took a nap on the couch in the evening. I was a mess. Had enough stopped cold turkey Feb. 5th 2013. I occ. will take L-glutamine if I have cravings, works well. You can become a drunk quickly, never thought I would.

Gayla, I think most docs do know what they are doing but it appears you got one that didn't. I have a friend who got LBS and her surgeon put it on wrong and shortly afterwards lost his medical license over his alcoholism. He moved to Florida I hear. She had to have her band removed. There are some bad ones out there that's for sure. And I do agree that surgeons may embelish results or screen the % of results. My only advice for you is to somehow try to find the enthusiasm you once had for the band and try to find those positive thoughts that have been crushed by a bad doctor. Can't blame you for being pissed but the band won't work for you till you can find the silver lining in the crap you've been dealt. tmf

Please take that with a grain of salt. That looks like a fitday graph. I use it too and love it. Problem is, it isn't always accurate with the breakdown. The other day I had kidney Beans. We cooked them here and I think home-cooked dry kidney beans showed up when i logged it as having 14g of fat (see below)! Ummmm, no, try 0g of fat. Also, the calories were too high. If anything looks a little off, look at the label of the item you are eating and enter it as a custom food. I have about 20 custom foods I entered that I eat on a regular basis. Nutrition Facts <table><tbody><tr><td colspan="2">Amount Per Serving </td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><table><tbody><tr><td>Calories </td><td colspan="2">330.3 </td></tr><tr><td>Calories from Fat </td><td colspan="2">131.3 </td></tr><tr class="Bar2"><td colspan="5"> </td></tr><tr class="View_FoodLabelRow"><td class="Name">Fat </td><td class="Amount">14.9 </td><td class="Unit">g </td><td>23 </td><td>%</td></tr><tr class="Minor View_FoodLabelRow"><td class="Name">Saturated Fat </td><td class="Amount">1.9 </td><td class="Unit">g </td><td>9 </td><td>%</td></tr><tr class="Minor View_FoodLabelRow"><td class="Name">Polyunsaturated Fat </td><td class="Amount">7.4 </td><td class="Unit">g </td><td colspan="2"> </td></tr><tr class="Minor View_FoodLabelRow"><td class="Name">Monounsaturated Fat </td><td class="Amount">4.8 </td><td class="Unit">g </td><td colspan="2"> </td></tr><tr class="View_FoodLabelRow"><td class="Name">Cholesterol </td><td class="Amount">0.0 </td><td class="Unit">mg </td><td>0 </td><td>%</td></tr><tr class="View_FoodLabelRow"><td class="Name">Sodium </td><td class="Amount">344.6 </td><td class="Unit">mg </td><td>14 </td><td>%</td></tr><tr class="View_FoodLabelRow"><td class="Name">Potassium </td><td class="Amount">653.1 </td><td class="Unit">mg </td><td>19 </td><td>%</td></tr><tr class="View_FoodLabelRow"><td class="Name">Carbohydrate </td><td class="Amount">36.9 </td><td class="Unit">g </td><td>12 </td><td>%</td></tr><tr class="Minor View_FoodLabelRow"><td class="Name">Dietary Fiber </td><td class="Amount">12.0 </td><td class="Unit">g </td><td>48 </td><td>%</td></tr><tr class="View_FoodLabelRow"><td class="Name">Protein </td><td class="Amount">14.0 </td><td class="Unit">g </td><td>28 </td><td>%</td></tr><tr class="View_FoodLabelRow"><td class="Name">Alcohol </td><td class="Amount">0.0 </td><td class="Unit">g </td><td colspan="2"> </td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"> </td></tr><tr><td><table><tbody><tr class="View_FoodLabelDvRow"><td class="Name">Vitamin A </td><td class="Prct">0 </td><td>%</td></tr><tr class="View_FoodLabelDvRow"><td class="Name">Calcium </td><td class="Prct">5 </td><td>%</td></tr><tr class="View_FoodLabelDvRow"><td class="Name">Vitamin D </td><td class="Prct">0 </td><td>%</td></tr><tr class="View_FoodLabelDvRow"><td class="Name">Thiamin </td><td class="Prct">17 </td><td>%</td></tr><tr class="View_FoodLabelDvRow"><td class="Name">Niacin </td><td class="Prct">5 </td><td>%</td></tr><tr class="View_FoodLabelDvRow"><td class="Name">Vitamin B6 </td><td class="Prct">10 </td><td>%</td></tr><tr class="View_FoodLabelDvRow"><td class="Name">Phosphorus </td><td class="Prct">23 </td><td>%</td></tr><tr class="View_FoodLabelDvRow"><td class="Name">Selenium </td><td class="Prct">3 </td><td>%</td></tr></tbody></table></td><td><table><tbody><tr class="View_FoodLabelDvRow"><td class="Name">Vitamin C </td><td class="Prct">3 </td><td>%</td></tr><tr class="View_FoodLabelDvRow"><td class="Name">Iron </td><td class="Prct">27 </td><td>%</td></tr><tr class="View_FoodLabelDvRow"><td class="Name">Vitamin E </td><td class="Prct">15 </td><td>%</td></tr><tr class="View_FoodLabelDvRow"><td class="Name">Riboflavin </td><td class="Prct">6 </td><td>%</td></tr><tr class="View_FoodLabelDvRow"><td class="Name">Vitamin B12 </td><td class="Prct">0 </td><td>%</td></tr><tr class="View_FoodLabelDvRow"><td class="Name">Manganese </td><td class="Prct">39 </td><td>%</td></tr><tr class="View_FoodLabelDvRow"><td class="Name">Copper </td><td class="Prct">20 </td><td>%</td></tr><tr class="View_FoodLabelDvRow"><td class="Name">Magnesium </td><td class="Prct">18 </td><td>%</td></tr><tr class="View_FoodLabelDvRow"><td class="Name">Zinc </td><td class="Prct">12 </td><td>%</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>

Could be all the artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols in the SF stuff. I know I couldn't tolerate artificial sweeteners at all and a lot of people have problems with sugar alcohols causing diarrhea. If it continues, call your surgeon or PCP. You don't want to get dehydrated and they may want to check for C. diff. What you describe is how mine started.

I gave it up after the seminar, and I was a stop on the way to work for a 32 ounce pop, and drank all day long. I did fine, until about a month later I had a HUGE craving for one, but worked through it. Then I decided to cut out caffiene, and had a huge headache one day when me and DH were out to lunch. So I got a 4 oz kiddie diet coke. At the first swallow it almost made me giddy like alcohol, but then I couldn't believe how horrible it tasted to me. This from a confirmed addict! So I'm ok with it now. The caffeine thing though. Sheesh! I make a pitcher of tea everyday, and am down to 2 caffinated tea bags, along with 4 decaf, so surely there can't be too much caffiene in there. (here's hoping!)

I've been reading this thread since it popped up. WOW!!!!! is all I can say...Lots of emotions. Which I believe in 100%. This is a VERY EMOTIONAL subject for everyone involved. It seems we've all been to the point of being overweight and can't do alot about it no matter what we do. The weight will drop and then come back with more attached to it. As I say all the time 'my fat and I, we've bonded. we're best buds' lol. I think the questions everyone has asked are legit. All doctors have different ways of treating there patients and giving advice. Mine won't do the surgery if you are going to continue drinking sodas or alcohol. As he said why waste his time and yours if your not into it 110%. Alot of it is trial and error. What works for one may not work for another. I believe the rules are put in place to help you. Not necessarily hurt you. If you didn't want to loose weight and have a better quality of life then you wouldn't have made the first step to do the research on it and go to the doctor and inquire about it. The way I compensate for the cravings or 'rules' is I tell myself that I'm allergic to it and I can't have it. That way I won't be tempted to eat and/or drink it. So for me that is my rule. I'm sure at one time or another anyone of us will have something we aren't supposed to. BUT I know with me it won't happen again. I have to much invested into this to screw up and throw it all away. If you aren't serious about wanting to loose weight then go have the band taken out and be on your merry way. It's not a miracle band that will make you loose weight. It's a tool to HELP you loose weight. You are the one that is in control of what you put in your mouth. So if you deem that you want sodas, beer, or whatever else your not supposed to have and your not loosing weight then it totally falls back on you. There is no one else to blame but yourself. You are in control of your own destiny.

I don't doubt anything you've said, but I have to say my experience couldn't have been any more different. I felt like I was on a fairly strict diet for 6 weeks before surgery, but it was easy because I stopped drinking alcohol. After surgery, I had no pain, no side effects, and no hunger. I followed the 30 day post opt diet to a T and by 6 weeks out, I eased back to a normal life, just ate less. Oh yeah, never had a second thought, mood swing, or anything but joy over the new me! The only thing I wish I'd known was how easy it would all be. I would have done it 20 years ago!

I am with you on this one. Once I get through surgery, my goal is to never touch the trigger foods again. My goal is to make life about not living to eat, but living for life. I don't have self-control either so it's wise for me to treat those trigger foods like an alcoholic abstains from alcohol.

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

Monday made 35weeks smoke, alcohol & drug free! DOS:358 CW:270 SD:1/28/13

Awww, thanks, Joni!! I don't drink a lot, but I do feel the alcohol VERY quickly these days. But, IMO, celebrating outliving the prediction calls for a drink...for me. I understand that some folks dont drink for various reasons, though. I'm still excited every day to see what new discoveries my sleeve has in store for me. My latest have been my collarbones and hip bones....

I'm in absolute shock! I have not had surgery yet, waiting on insurance approval. Why would you want to sabotage yourself? I'm fortunate to have and be part of an awesome support group and when some of them told me there are web sites and blogs on how to cheat I was floored. Now I'm reading posts asking if bacon or alcohol are bad choices within days of surgery? Seriously?!

denise, sorry to hear about your itchy problem. Don't go over to the other side. Your right it, it would be like giving alcohol to a drinker. I would be scared to start eating and can't believe anyone told to do that. Stay strong, and we will be here for you. Good luck.

OH I ALMOST FORGOT, REGARDING THE 64 OZ OF WATER MENTIONED , ALL MY ADULT LIFE I HAVE BEEN AN ADVOCATE OF DRINKING WATER, I DON,T DRINK TEA OR COFFE JUST WARM WATER, (OR ALCOHOL...LOL ) BUT SERIOUSLY I THINK IT IS SOOO GOOD FOR YOU IN MANY WAYS. YET WHEN I ASKED MY DOC ABOUT HOW MUCH I SHOULD BE DRINKING HE JUST SAID "DRINK WHEN YOU ARE THIRSTY" HE SAID "THE BODY IS A VERY COMPLEX AND CAPABLE MACHINE THAT WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN YOU NEED TO DRINK" WHAT,S THAT ABOUT? I THOUGHT ALL DOCS WERE KEEN FOR US TO DRINK MORE WATER?:rolleyes WHEN I WAS TRAINED FOR S/W WE WERE TOLD TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DRINK WATER AND THAT HOW SOMETIMES WHEN WE THINK WE ARE HUNGRY WE ARE ACTUALLY THIRSTY. I KNOW I GET HEADACHES IF I AM DEYHDRATED. SO I AM GONNA CARRY ON SIPPING LOTS OF WATER.

Chelle, I love the way you say things. You should be a diplomat! If I could add anything to your post (not that it needs anything), is that this is the REAL WORLD with REAL PEOPLE. Not just avatars sitting behind a computer. We are dealing with human beings with feelings, emotions, FAULTS, past histories, drug addictions, alcoholism, abortions, infidelities, bipolar disorders, prison time....I could go on and on.... Think before you write, is all I'm saying.

Happy Thanksgiving!!! Kat - on your 30 year old "kid" - next year - just ask her what she is bringing - pointedly. She will get the message. It's past time for her to step up.... :] Oh - and we don't cater too much to picky eaters at my house. If you don't like it - don't eat it. Amazingly enough - folks always seem to find something they can tolerate. :] Oh - and the poundage in the signature is the "Official" weight as of my last doctor's visit. I will change that when I go to see him again next month. Jules - glad to hear I am not the only one who doesn't know about Chess Pie. Hope you are having a great day! Mandy - non-alcoholic wine is about the same thing as decaffinated coffee. I guess they can suck the alcohol out of anything.... I will have to try the pork thing. We are big into pork at my house. Chrispy - Calzones? I want some! What a great non-traditional feast food. Do you put meat in them? Do tell. It's all about food porn today, anyway, isn't it? I mean Geez. We have already read about Caremel Pecan pie... how much more hungry can I get? :] Eileenie - cute card! Have fun cooking. Just in case I somehow don't get back here before Friday - HUGE hugs and much love to all of you - I will be thinking of you as I take my two bites of stuffing every 15 minutes. Hugs & Love Irene