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Hi great job cupcake! I have 26 pounds left until I am a normal bmi of 22. love my bypass. I can't tolerate fats, alcohol, more than 10 g of sugar at a time, processed and fried foods.. I pretty much can only eat healthy foods which is awesome!

I am booked to have sleeve on Oct 15th in Mexico. I am 58 years old and very nervous. I am wanting a change in my life and cannot seem to have the will power to do this on my own. My husband is an alcoholic and I've been depressed. when he drinks I eat... thus the vicious circle. I can't change him, but i can change ME. that's my goal. being from Canada, it's great medical coverage, but to get a sleeve paid for is impossible. I am paying myself as my mom died recently and left me some money. I want to use this for my happiness. got any pointers for me?

You are so right. Life time struggle. Never ever going to totally beat it. It is like being an alcoholic. Once one always one. Day to day, hour to hour, minute to minute. That is what addiction is all about. You know it your going to do great getting back to where you want to be.... Oh welcome back to the forum! It is always nice to see a vet return home!

I get hungry. I get thirsty. But honestly in a lot of people pre-sleeve the thirst mechanism is so weak people mistake it for hunger and eat. Often when I feel hungry I have a drink and realize I was thirsty. (Honestly I am not sure where I picked that nugget up from but it seems to work for me). I was only on liquids for two days in the hospital. I was put in purees for a week once I got home. Then soft solids for a month, then normal diet. The post op diet varies from surgeon to surgeon. I'm told to limit Pasta rice and bread but I can still eat them. A lot of people limit carbs because they are empty calories or they are sensitive to them. I had alcohol last weekend. I'm almost 5 months out. Sweets taste the exactly same to me. I don't dump.

VEGAS is alcohol and bad food decision central. I'm going with my girlfriends and will be six months out. I'll have a cocktail or two, but won't go insane.

1. food won't be the dominant thought but you will feel hungry at mealtime. 2. Thirst is an issue. I rarely get thirsty. You need to track your Water intake to make sure you get what your body needs. Sip, sip, sip. 3. Liquids was only 2 weeks post op moving on to mushy and by two months whole foods but remember to chew well. 4. Haven't heard about the hiney thing though it has far too. Many carbs. Alcohol sounds right. Moderation though empty calories. 5. Bread Pasta and rice should only be brought into diet when at goal weight. Still watch those carbs. 6. I agree that sweets do taste differently after surgery. Tastes even sweeter. Don't crave sweets as I did before. I have allergies and they don't effect the sleeve. Stress effects your stomach whether sleeved not sleeved or banded. And yes if I eat or drink very sweet high fat I get dumping sensation. Ue ice cream ice coffee etc. hope this helps. Good luck

I was banded in 2006 and it was really great for about six months. That was when I had the first episode of the band closing itself up. They had to remove all the Fluid and it never worked right after that. Fast forward a few years and I've been to the ER twice to have fluid removed because it has closed up on me again. I haven't had any fluid in my band for the past three months and I'm still struggling with things getting stuck and vomiting and never knowing when I'll be able to eat food or only have liquids. So, I went to the doctor today, we reviewed my issues and he suggested removing the band and doing the sleeve. Now I'm freaking out a bit. I worry that if I failed at the band, the sleeve won't work either. And the sleeve is permanent. However the doc feels that I will lose what weight I need to within six months. I went ahead and did the first step of meeting with the nutritionist today (she had a last minute cancellation). Here's a list of things I was told...I'd love to know what the reality is, though. 1. I won't feel hungry again 2. I won't get thirsty again 3. Two months of liquids post-op 4. No alcohol or honey (what I use for a sweetener) for at least 8 weeks 5. No bread, Pasta, or rice for six months 6. Sweets will taste different after the surgery How do allergies and stress affect the sleeve? These seem to be the culprit to causing issues with my band. Do you get dumping syndrome like with Gastric Bypass? Any information at all would be greatly appreciated.

Rovobay I too enjoy a bourbon on occasion. You will hear differing comments about alcohol and weather you should or should not partake. It is a personal decision. I waited about 4 months to have a drink. I agree with the focus on weight loss and getting your head in a great place to do this, especially early in the process. But I happen to feel that an occasional drink ( one every couple weeks) is not going to mess me up. I can say that being at goal weight, 9 months post op.

There is an initial time period in which you lose the most weight. The sign that it is over is that you stop losing weight with the diet and exercise you've been doing. You start to feel like you're beating your head on the wall to no avail. That is where i became discouraged and turned to old comforts. I also had a very stressful time in my life right then, and I did not exercise the amount of self control i needed to. I continued to exercise, but the cravings were kicking in, and I was GIVing in. Then i started on the tasty alcoholic drinks. Don't drink your calories. The Grehlin figures out a way to start producing again, and the hunger pangs return. HOWEVER- you DO still have a smaller stomach, so like Diva said, you can still work your tool. Stay with protein and veg first. I strayed from that rule. Still struggling. When I get hungry, I get almost manic. I suddenly feel like I have no ability to make rational choices. So I was giving in to sugar cravings, and started that ugly cycle. Trying to break that yet again. I AM thankful to still have a small stomach, or i'd weigh 500 lbs by now. So... there's that...

Morning Gang! Just returned from So Cal yesterday - we had a great time. I think I might have mentioned last week that we were attending a close friends wedding, and sneaking off to Disneyland for a day without telling the kids we were going (these kids are adults lol). I made fairly decent food choices - and have been really watching the baked goods/rice/pasta/candy types of carbs recently and it feels like it has made a huuuuge difference in how I feel mentally, emotionally. physically. Feels like my sleeve has gotten a serious reset as there were meals that I could only eat about 3 bites and I was done. Yay for renewed restriction! Starting the new job this week so I am going to see what days will be good for fasting after my first experience with that - maybe Wednesday - just working on awareness and keeping my energy up - on Thursday at Disney it was 90 degrees - and I was exhausted most of the afternoon - I was hydrating like crazy, but I also have to take Klonopin to ride in the car because of PTSD (from a horrific accident I was involved in in the late 80's that put me in the hospital and out of work for a year) - I am thinking this might have had an impact on my energy - and I have been slacking on vitamins, coming off of my period, etc. Got a good nights sleep and feel good today. I have yet to weigh in today - feeling a bit nervous because when I ride on airplanes I puff up like a puffer fish lol. Think I will drink oceans today and weigh in tomorrow morning. Florinda - I have read many books on disordered eating, Geneen Roth is one of the big authors, but honestly I don't feel as if I have ever gotten much from her stuff (my therapists were big on her work) - I actually like the work of Judith S. Beck Ph.D. - she wrote The Beck Diet Solution, has workbooks etc - don't worry about the word diet - its more about cognitive retraining of your brain. I also like the literature from Overeaters Anonymous - because I am addicted to certain foods and tend to abuse them - just like a bad alcoholic, I can go on a bender and not know when to stop. I have gone to a few meetings, but have yet to find my tribe with that group so to speak. I like the message they have - one day at a time - which is what this is for me for sure. Here are some pics from our trip - I have been feeling huge, I guess the photos seem to say otherwise - I have pretty bad dysmorphia - was the only woman at the wedding not wearing a dress - wore white capri pants because after trying on my shapewear I thought I was going to pass out - it was like being full body squeezed by a boa constrictor - and I wanted to be comfortable. I will just get looser flowy things until I can have the skin issues addressed - its like wearing a backpack of pizza dough backwards on my front lol. I actually saw a pic from someone else of my backside at the wedding and it wasn't too bad - which is crazy to me! Check out the pic of the woman in front of us on the Space Mountain ride - mind you this was at 8:30 a.m. so it must have been a bit shocking to her lol. The gentleman I am with is my hubby who also had sleeve surgery two weeks before myself - we've lost a similar amount of weight.

Coming up on 4 years, I drink alcohol as I did before the band...even Beer (but you have to know what you're doing and how to do it) I don't worry about calories, stopped counting them a few weeks after surgery but that's another story. Only side effect I need to be careful about is I have to have my Bloody Mary's on the mild side....I learned to give up ALL things hot and spicy due to reflux....also anything straight and harsh is not good....I stay with mixed drinks and beer. This has always been a hot topic on this forum......let's face it everyone here should be focused on loosing weight. And drinking may not fit into their plan.....but then everyone has a slightly different approach to WLS.... You need to do what works for you...too many people are worried about giving up things from their past...the very things that made them fat in the first place.

What sugar free Popsicles do you eat? The ones I found have Sugar Alcohol.

I guess you guys would cringe at my maintenance diet. First off, I've never weighed, measured or tracked my food. I know I'm getting 30-40g Protein in my smoothie everyday and I mentally keep track of my liquids so I know I'm getting at least 64oz. Other than that I simply eat when I'm hungry and just until satisfied, not full. I have no idea how many calories or carbs I consume. I simply try to eat a healthy, balanced diet of protein, veggies, fruit and whole grains. Never limited fat and have had all of the "bad" stuff IN MODERATION..... Alcohol, chips, ice cream, cake, bread, Pasta, etc. in fact, I had a pancake with butter and maple syrup and sausage for Breakfast this morning. And a 1/4 pound bacon-Swiss burger with guacamole and mayo and fries last week (of course it took me 3 days to finish) I didn't have surgery to be on a diet the rest of my life. If I wanted to keep track of everything and restrict what I can and can't eat I could have stayed on weight watchers. I read a lot of threads on here about people stressing over numbers....number of calories, grams of carbs, losses/gains on the scale, minutes at the gym, etc. Postop life really doesn't have to be that complicated.

I would suggest having a drink or two in the "Safety " of your own home before going out on the town. Like trying any new thing postop, you never know how your body will react. You want to make sure you won't puke or dump. You also want to gauge how alcohol affects you now. So many people report how they get tipsy on just a little bit. I was looking forward to that. But nope, I can still out drink a football team. My alcohol tolerance followed me into postop life.

I do not plan to drink a lot, the empty calories, jeopardize my weight loss, wait until I am on solid food, etc but I will drink some down the road, I know that. Realistically how much can you drink? I had a system with my band when going out. I would make sure I ate before leaving the house and ate some while drinking. Food slides through the band with liquids so it was convenient. I also alternated with Water between each drink and could handle about 3 drinks in one evening without being empty handed most of the night. Guys really push you to keep drinking so this worked, I was still walking at the end of the night and I did not feel alienated from my friends because of my surgery. Any tips?

Who knew what a group of partyers we VSG peeps were?! I was a beer drinker. Now that carbonation is out if question I just don't see alcohol as being a big part of who I am! I will miss the sound of a pop a top, but will buy myself some super cute boots or short jacket and enjoy the fun differently from now on!

Hi Michelle! My first thought was that it could be the estrogen pills, but I'm no expert! Sorry about your stall! Sounds like you are doing everything right. I've been doing well. I'm still (and probably for the rest of my life) tracking what I eat. It's crazy how some seemingly harmless foods have SO many carbs or fat grams! I'm paranoid about gaining, so I monitor everything I eat! I know some on this forum have a different philosophy, but this works for me. I've been losing at a pretty steady 3 lbs. per week. I'm still only eating 600-800 calories daily and I think I've only hit 800 once. My goal is 75 grams of Protein, 30 grams or less of fat, and 50 grams or less of carbs per day. I was told no alcohol until 6 months out. Even then, I'm going to only have a sip or two on special occasions, since even small amounts always gives me headaches. I work out 4-5 times per week, but it's been a little spotty these past few weeks as I am adjusting back to work after summer break. I am on my feet and walking ALL day at work, though! Since my pre-op days (beginning last November) I've lost 116 lbs and have gone from a size 26-28 to a very loose 16!! I'm holding on to the 16's until the cooler weather is here and I can buy a few cheap pair of long pants and warmer tops (still in Capris and summer tops for now!). HANG IN THERE!!! Talk to your NUT and don't worry! How are you feeling? I'm sure you have more energy, feel so much better from eating healthy and working out, and are a healthier person overall! Sometimes I forget that that is the most important thing, not the aesthetic!

At first it was difficult cutting out the booze. However, after month and learning how to cope with life without alcohol I became awake. It was a incredible change. Now people that drink bore me with their same old stories and drama. Since day one I vowed to not attemp to drink until I reach my goal weigh. Keep the brass ring in sight.

I suffered from occasional dumping syndrome before I had the op - presumably due to a combination of other health issues. Anyway, I found the ferocity of it quite frightening. First there was the totally unexpected need to rush to the bathroom with stomach pains and totally uncontrollable diarrhoea combined with sickness. Then my body overheated big time and all my clothes were drenched in perspiration as if a bucket of Water had been thrown over me. Then as it continued I got dizzy and started to black out. After an episode it was as much as I could manage to get myself into the shower and then lie down to sleep it off and recover. I had about 5 episodes over 18 months - always out of the blue and there was no common factor about what I'd eaten beforehand except that I was drinking (non-alcoholic) during my meal. I did once have a much milder bout after a bowl of cereal so perhaps it's the high carb food taken with liquid that causes it.

My dr recommends a year before alcohol is permitted. I never drink so that's not a problem for me

It's recommended that you wait 4-6 months before adding alcohol back into your diet. Personally, I wouldn't risk it this soon. Your stomach is still healing. I know it's going to be tough for me as well but I like to err on the side of caution, especially after such a major procedure.

Hey again looking for some answers. I had my sleeve on Sep 2 and I was wondering if anyone has had alcohol this soon. I know I can't drink beer but I was thing V-8 and a splash of vodka or gin not much but I'm missing my alcohol. I've had V-8 already I know I can handle it I was just wondering if anyone has tried any alcohol this early on.

Update from my last post. I have drank beers and liquor. Im 3 1/2 months out. Im able to drink beer slowly but painless. Liquor still hits me hard but goes away as fast as it hits me. You can continue to drink through the day. Just dont expect to get and stay hammered.... It wont happen. You will sober up real fast. No desire to drink every day. Its been said we are at risk of becoming alcoholics. I do love how much I save going out now.

I plan to get more details when I have my post-op appointment tomorrow. It's hard to watch the game with no beer! Not to mention going out with friends who LOVE to drink. Wife and I are going to cut the sodas (plenty other beverage options). I haven't touched any alcohol yet. Too soon..only 1 week post-op!! Again, I had the surgery to change my life and get healthy. That having been said, I'm not trying to be miserable either! I think less frequency & consuming in moderation is the key!

Yvonne has used her weight loss surgery experience to help others. She spends over 80 hours a week advocating for bariatric surgery patients as “Bariatric Girl.” She answers emails and posts on Facebook and from her blog to advocate for weight loss surgery and support people who are fighting obesity just like she did. That’s like working two full-time jobs – for free! Being a great role model and giving back to the weight loss surgery community are what make Yvonne a true weight loss surgery hero. Don’t miss seeing Yvonne’s website or Bariatric Girl Facebook page, You Tube Channel and follow @BariatricGirl on Twitter! She’ll share her experience on bariatric surgery, and you’ll get to learn more about this talented woman’s photography and music! First, read Yvonne McCarthy’s story and our interview with her here. Finding Out How Heavy People Get Treated Yvonne was a strong and athletic girl. That worked out well when it came time to pick teams at school, but her athletic abilities weren’t needed or appreciated elsewhere. Instead, she quickly learned that bigger girls aren’t welcomed. She says, “I figured out pretty young how being different made people treat you badly.” Puberty hit hard, and the dieting started in fourth grade. Yvonne’s struggles got worse through college and beyond. She nearly turned anorexic during her college years, but “couldn’t keep it up.” After college, she “did every diet known to man” and each time, she gained back all the weight she’d lost plus a few pounds. Her highest recorded weight was 260 pounds. Didn’t Listen When They Said Not to Have “Unrealistic Expectations” Yvonne got gastric bypass in 2001. At that time, the bypass was only offered as an open surgery, not as a laparoscopic procedure. She went into surgery with the intention of hitting a “normal” body weight (BMI under 25), and didn’t listen when surgeons warned her not to have “unrealistic expectations.” She followed the prescribed diet and lost 130 pounds in the first 13 months! Yvonne now weighs exactly what she weighed in college over 40 years ago. Never Going Back to “Prison” Yvonne says she has a “really healthy memory of 30 years of obesity” and refuses “to return to that prison [that she] couldn’t break out from.” Post-op care wasn’t a standard part of care in 2001, and she didn’t see another post-op until three years later! She just stuck to the diet because she thought she had to, and she hasn’t strayed more than five pounds from her goal weight! “I assumed that you lost the weight and “IF” you regained that you should fix it while it’s small. When I attended my first weight loss surgery event everyone asked me how I kept it off. I literally didn’t know any better.” By that time, she’d developed the good habits that she maintains today. Learning to Manage an Addiction to Food Some people eat to fill a void. Some eat out of boredom. Others eat for comfort, or to manage stress. Yvonne discovered that she ate to cope with feelings she didn’t want to have. She had a food addiction. She says, “I was fortunate that I chose to work on my head just as much. I am passionate about the acknowledgement of the existence of food addiction and when I admitted I was an addict, I was able to take steps to work on the root problems that fueled my addiction. I don’t know how many years ago I started doing this but today I eat very boring things and practically the same food every day. I can no longer have “sex in a plate” so my food has to be just like the fuel you put in your car.” No More Junk Food The days of eating junk food are over for Yvonne. She’s not comfortable eating it for fear that she’ll fuel her addiction and regain the weight. “ I can’t eat just one so I quit craving sugar and junk food because I quit eating it completely. I haven’t had cake, pie, cookies, candy etc. in 13 years and I don’t even remember what it tastes like. I feel very strongly that if you wish to lose a craving that you need to quit eating it. “You wouldn’t give an alcoholic a sip of beer to get past the craving….why do we think that works with food? There are some people that can eat that stuff and maintain and I’m happy for them but I don’t know very many that can.” The Need to Support Others Yvonne didn’t just go against the grain by setting, achieving, and maintaining a goal of 130 pounds. She also didn’t know that the “only” way to lose weight and keep it off is to have a strong support system. So, she managed to succeed without the standard support system only because there were none and she was forced to figure out her “head” on her own. Yvonne turned to the Obesity Help forums and her profile there transitioned into her blog. Over the years, she “saw the exact same patterns over and over and I felt a passion to help warn others of what was coming down the road.” A Life Dedicated to Helping Others She felt obligated to help others because her own “unique situation of not seeing another post-op for 3 years in the beginning saved me because if I had seen even one other person regain I would have thought, ‘I’m nobody special and if they can’t keep it off, I can’t either.’” Bariatric Girl to the Rescue! Yvonne has done the majority of her advocacy as “Bariatric Girl.” She maintains a website and blog, You Tube channel, and stays active on her Bariatric Girl Facebook page and Twitter. She answers emails and Facebook messages, and even takes phone calls to help others with their struggles and questions. Yvonne now spends over 80 hours a week as a volunteer with the goal of supporting others who are considering weight loss surgery or who are already weight loss surgery patients. “Since the sun and the moon and the stars lined up for me I felt like I didn’t have the right to not help others by sharing the experiences of the thousands of people I’ve communicated with over the years.” In addition, Yvonne has spoken at many events and volunteered for many organizations by taking photographs and videos at events. Her other advocacy work includes: Former faculty with the Weight Loss Surgery Channel. Host of the channel’s Weight Loss Surgery Journeys, a program that included interviews with recent bariatric surgery patients. Member of Apollo Endosurgery Patient Executive Council. Three-year service on the Board of Directors of Weight Loss Surgery Foundation of America, which advocates for bariatric surgery patients and provides grants to deserving patients who can’t afford weight loss surgery on their own. Every weight loss surgery patient and candidate wants to hear success stories. These stories are sources of hope because they’re about people who used to feel hopeless and out of control, but who found weight loss surgery as a solution. Yvonne was able to use the gastric bypass surgery as a tool to learn to manage her food addiction and turn over a new leaf. Yvonne is more than just a story, though. She gives her knowledge, love, and support to others who are struggling with their weight and who are weight loss surgery patients. It’s rare to find someone as giving and dedicated as Yvonne is, and everyone whose lives she has touched is grateful.