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Darcy, I think it took pretty much of a full year to really not think about having a cigarette once in a while...and there are STILL times that it crosses my mind, but briefly. As I become more and more sane (quit lauaghing!), I realize that inhaling smoke into my lungs or having alcohol for that matter, is not going to change whatever situation is causing me stress. So, I have been learning other ways to deal. I'm not going to blow *smoke* and tell you it's easy. It's not. I just know I am not going to smoke or drink. Maybe I'll just cuss more...LOL! Donna, stop it right now! All of us get busy, come and go, and we know who is missing, but we know they will come back, so no sweat. You are fine. Eating some bad stuff is not really a secret around here, sweetie! Just start your new day, every minute if you have to! Hugs, and remember we are SUPPORTING each other, not showing off how perfect we are. How can we help? HUGS! Betty, dang it, girl! All these sweet aunts having all these problems...I will pray for your family and hope they all regain their health and quality of life. I can so relate to the feeling that you are afraid you are losing all of the family at the same time...I have that feeling too at times. You are a strong lady, and we are here to help you if you need anything. Pat, I can picture you spinning around in your office chair, answering phones, typing, and signing papers, with about six hands going in all directions, foot tapping, waiting for your seafood alfredo! Hope you have a good day anyway! Eileen, have fun with the PRe-K and kindie kids! It can be fun, but oh is it ever loud, right? I'm just better with the incorrigible teens myself! That's about all the time I have now...I'll check in later... Hugs to all, Cindy

How are you feeling? What are you eating? How are you sleeping? Do you use a Cpap? Have you had any acid reflux? I want to know everything about everyone, lol! =) Feel great...down 55lbs, 2 shirt sizes and 3 pant sizes. Not bad for a month. I sleep longer than I used to...I need about 9 hours to feel energized. I've never needed a cpap. The acid feeling is weird, I don't help it because I have indulged with the occasional cocktail...is what it is though. Thank you! I sleep better as well, so odd because before surgery I had so much trouble. I hope this part continues! I got a wedge pillow to sleep on to raise my head, I'd try that at night for sure if you haven't yet. I haven't had alcohol in a 3 months now. Really ... and I never liked hard alcohol or wine, I only like good beer. But I can't have the fuzz nor the alcohol. Yet? O.o

Maybe splenda is not a sugar alcohol, but it somehow impacts me the same way, so maybe it is just that it is grouped in my head as one. Splenda = sucralose, and sorbital, xylitol, malitol = sugar alcohol. But to me, same difference! Thanks for all of the suggestions. I'm going to try Beneprotein and also try to contact unjury to clarify the statement. I have sent two emails thus far with no reply, so I will try to call on Monday.

Definitely get help. I to work in the medical field and I had a coworker that had RNY and shr ended up becoming an alcoholic. She ended up losing her Xray license. Definitely not something to mess around with. Sent from my SM-G900V using the BariatricPal App

I can't have it either - particularly sugar alcohols (sorbitol, manitol, xylitol, etc.) Nausea an chronic migraines. I'm also concerned about my options after

I agree about the sleep study. My hospital required a sleep study because apparently there is a higher incident of problems if there is sleep apnea that is not treated. So, I found out I have pretty bad sleep apnea. Now I know why I would wake up so tired and with headaches. I don't have the same issue because I have a ton of co-morbidities with a BMI of 37. My bp is so bad they have been working hard to reduce it it just for surgery, it was 200/120 not too long ago. Plus I have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes diagnosed at 34/35 years old. I am 43 now. I am really anal about seeing the doctor and so I may not have had all my diagnoses if I had not been pro-active in seeking medical care. So , one thing is to keep track of your blood pressure. Have your liver enzymes checked out and also the sleep apnea. I am surprised they wont take you just with your BMI!

Hello, I’m currently going to doctors and collecting my documents for surgery. My dietologist telling me scary story of future: no alcohol, no sugar, no fat and spicy food for all my life after the surgery. And it can’t leave my head, because I’m only 21 and my future life will be in China. So there is a lot of “problem” food that I want to try after year or two. I really want to ask you all about your life after surgery. Do you able to have fun? How was your pregnancy after the surgery (if you had)? (My weight is 100 for hight 165 and I have pco, so maybe surgery covered by my insurance. I’m thinking about different types of surgeries, maybe you can give me some advice)

What I'm looking for is NO STEVIA! I'll be starting a 10-day pre-op liquid only, high-Protein, low-carb diet soon. I've tried every vegan protein powder that I can find in sample packs. All of them make me gag. They are way too sweet and sweetened with stevia, which I just can't stand. All of them are pretty grainy, too, though I can actually handle that better than the flavor. My ideal flavored vegan protein supplement would contain: - Minimal ingredients (most have all kinds of veg & fruit additives, which affects flavor and increase the chances of allergies). - Sweetened with a mixture of fructose, xylitol or ertythritol, and monk fruit to get a natural low-glycemic sweetness without too much sugar alcohols. No stevia. - Not overly sweet! You can always add sweetener if desired, but once it's in there you can't take it out! - Available in chocolate, vanilla, & berry favors. - Dissolves well without a heavy grainy texture. - Has at least 15 g protein and no more than 8 carbs per serving

Ah - Another day has passed... I have tracked my exercise at 11 days for the month-to-date. I will check in with my total in the AM. I am planning on going again tonight. 12 days out of 28 is still pretty wimpy - so I am going to have to do a whole lot better than that in March. Unofficial weight for today (per my scale + 4 lbs variance) would be 292. That's still only 39 pounds since my surgery date - and 55 pounds all together. I need to move that along just a smidge. I need to have this a little bit more under control by the time the next set of food holidays roll around. I think I will be able to pass up Easter Candy - so then I am clear until at least the fourth of July - and probably until Thanksgiving. Today, I have successfully avoided eating any of the evil carb laden treats lying around the office. With the exception of some veggie-dip which had some sugar in it, I was pure. I purposely avoided the dessert section of the office... I resisted the chips that were staring at me all afternoon - and I didn't even smack my idiot co-worker when she repeatedly blathered on about how delicious the Desserts were - AFTER I asked her not to mention it. GOLD STARS for me. (and lucky for her that I didn't snap) So, going into March - it isn't all that bad. I have lost a few pounds, I am hitting the gym, and I am not doing too badly on the whole food concept. Now all I have to do is improve on my ability to stop eating when I am full. Since this has always been the hardest thing for me to do, I forsee some fluctuation in my success rate... I will try not to bore you too much with the blow by blow daily report. I am determined to lose a minimum of 5 lbs in March. That is my goal. I would like to see at least 10 - but 5 is an attainable number, considering a week of travel food & no exercise might occur. That trip is a double edged sword. It's so fun - but so bad for me! Mary - sorry your computer is such a punk. Hugs to you and the boys. Cindy - I will totally call you when I get back from Tuscon. I could really use some veteran assistance. And I am so there with you on the body changes being the flip side of no weightloss. I only lost a couple of pounds in the whole month of February - but I am wearing a shirt today that I wouldn't wear three weeks ago cause it was too tight in the belly. How cool is that?!? Mandy - I hope you actually got some rest today. How nice that your DH isn't Kitchen-Phobic. Kat - I worry about you with that nut-ball around. Geez - the mediator thought she needed an escort to her car! All I can say is I hope the judge doesn't spank him so hard that the Nut-Ball feels the need for revenge. He sounds almost as scary as Crispy's neighbor. I hope he isn't someone that you will have to see on a regular basis in the future. Sherry - hope you get a break from the late hours soon. xo Eileenie - Hugs!! I can't wait for tomorrow! Now, how can we arrange for Boss Man to be away... permanently.... :heh: LOL! Darcy - Huge Hugs! I hope FIL is ok and the surgery was a great success - but there isn't anything you can do if people won't take care of themselves. I am thinking good thoughts for you & your DH. It's hard when your Daddy is sick - even when Daddy is an alcoholic. Well, I am off toward home, now. DH is flaking on the gym - but I am going without him. So there, NYAAAAA. Love you guys! (Where ARE those stinking flying Monkeys, anyway?? We are still short of a few of our peeps...)

Posted this in the general forum, but, was mainly getting responses from women. Wondered what your guys' take was? Thanks: I am 31 years old and have basically done whatever I wanted (within reason) whenever I wanted since mid-college. I'm self-employed in the financial industry so I have been able to take off on a vacation, golf, or whatever reasonably easy (since I didn't have to ask my employer first.) This do whatever, whenever mentality is partly why I'm in the shape I'm in, I love to eat... and eat good. One of the things that I'm most worried about is the possibility that I won't be able to drink carbonated beverages such as beer or alcohol in general after surgery. I'm not an alcoholic by any means, but, I have a lot of fun. And drinking on the golf course or during a cocktail hour in business settings has been a big part of my life over the past 10 years. Not to mention, most of my friends like to kick back and drink on the weekends. I'm confused because I have read many things that a lot of folks aren't able to handle alcohol or drink carbonated beverages at all... Yet, I have a good friend who had the surgery and in some ways, I wouldn't hardly notice a difference in his eating/drinking unless he had told me. He still drinks a few beers, drinks a ton of wine, and some mixes and seems to be fine. The main area I can see a difference is that he seems to get drunker quicker. What are your experiences? What is the norm? Is it just that this surgery affects everyone differently? I mean, I am obviously willing to give up some of this for my health for my family... But, I'm just trying to figure out what to expect. Any input is appreciated. Oh, and my surgery is scheduled for this coming Monday. Thanks.

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 can agree to disagree I just can't see not legalizing it because it MAY be harmful to others, through my research I find the benefit outweigh the risks. I don't know what I would have done during radiation treatments not having it, I was very sick without it. Everything and anything may be harmful to others. Stress and driving while tired is harmful. I just don't see how we can ban something that has been proven to have medicinal benefits where as things like alcohol and tobacco do not but they are legal and socially acceptable. We can't guarantee people won't drink and drive, text and drive, or drive tired, or under the influence of prescription medication (all extremely dangerous). all we can do is encourage people not to and educate them on making the right decision and enforce the laws that come with those rights.

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.

After RNY gastric bypass, there are two problems with traditional chocolate candy: sugar and fat. During RNY the part of the stomach that processes fats and sugars has been cut away. If you eat several chocolates, it can lead to dumping syndrome. Eventually your intestines will figure out something is wrong and will step up to the plate and begin to process these foods. This can take about a year. You are within the "weight loss" phase for such a short time, it is important to maximize the weight loss. Once you transition into the "maintenance" phase, the strategy is different. Fats are a useful tool during maintenance because they take away hunger. Maintenance is about hunger control. But I would recommend you avoid sugars during the maintenance phase. Natural sugar (fruits and milk), artificial sugars (such as splenda), and no calorie natural sugars (such as stevia) are fine, as well as sugar alcohols. So if you have a craving in the maintenance phase, it is fine to consume Adkin's treats. Or enjoy a cup of hot cocoa, only make sure it is the "no sugar added" variety.

When I went to my pre-op appointment they mentioned no alcohol beverages after 2 months of surgery. Hope that helps out.

I am proud of the fact that I have quit alcohol for the time being in preparation of surgery. I think that most of my weight is from those bourbon drinks! Eventually I would like to have a drink or 2 in the future. Glad to know that I can if I really want too.

Oh yes, MJ....I most definitely had a cocktail!!!! My beverage of choice has always been Crown Royal with water......nothing exciting or exotic. And on Wednesday of last week.......it was Crown and Ice! and it took a good hour to drink it, which was fine by me. I've always had an unusual tolerance for alcohol, so the effect was minimal - other than it just took the edge off my nerve. Not really sure if it was the alcohol that did that, the setting, the company (I really do like my hubby), or just the fact I sat there, breathing in and out, sipping on my beverage. But if your question regarding effects of alcohol were more tolerance directed....it doesn't hurt my stomach, cause nausea or anything like that. And if your question is more of how does it effect my weight loss, couldn't tell ya cause I quit weighing daily weeks ago. I discovered that was bad for me. Leslie - go for it girl! And, ain't it lovely to cherish all 4 delicious bites of whatever it is that you're eating (cottage cheese and tuna are a favorite of mine)? I don't remember really enjoying eating pre surgery like I do post surgery.

So i am only 2 weeks out , i know i cant drink till month 3 , but i am curious , do you get drunk faster like they say? one shot? one drink? or ? let me know about your experience with it please

I came across this article at our local support group this week. Found it to me a good list for personal evaluation and focus when I am off track. Wanted to share... http://www.nawls.com/ In a November 2005 poll conducted by NAWLS, the following were identified as the top 10 mistakes WLS patients make: 1st Mistake: Not Taking Vitamins, supplements, or Minerals Every WLS patient has specific nutritional needs depending on the type of surgery you have had. Not only is it a good idea to ask your surgeon for guidelines, but also consult with an experienced WLS nutritionist. Understand there is not a standard practice that all surgeons and nutritionists follow in guiding WLS patients. So, it is important to do your own research, get your lab tests done regularly, and learn how to read the results. Some conditions and symptoms that can occur when you are deficient in vitamins, supplements, or minerals include: Osteoporosis; pernicious anemia; muscle spasms; high blood pressure; burning tongue; fatigue; loss of appetite; weakness; constipation and diarrhea; numbness and tingling in the hands and feet; being tired, lethargic, or dizzy; forgetfulness, and lowered immune functioning. Keep in mind, too, that some conditions caused by not taking your vitamins, supplements, or minerals are irreversible. 2nd Mistake: Assuming You Have Been Cured of Your Obesity A “pink cloud” or honeymoon experience is common following WLS. When you are feeling better than you have in years, and the weight is coming off easily, it’s hard to imagine you will ever struggle again. But unfortunately, it is very common for WLS patients to not lose to their goal weight or to regain some of their weight back. A small weight regain may be normal, but huge gains usually can be avoided with support, education, effort, and careful attention to living a healthy WLS lifestyle. For most WLSers, if you don’t change what you’ve always done, you’re going to keep getting what you’ve always gotten — even after weight loss surgery. 3rd Mistake: Drinking with Meals Yes, it’s hard for some people to avoid drinking with meals, but the tool of not drinking with meals is a critical key to long-term success. If you drink while you eat, your food washes out of your stomach much more quickly, you can eat more, you get hungry sooner, and you are at more risk for snacking. Being too hungry is much more likely to lead to poor food choices and/or overeating. 4th Mistake: Not Eating Right Of course everyone should eat right, but in this society eating right is a challenge. You have to make it as easy on yourself as possible. Eat all your meals–don’t skip. Don’t keep unhealthy food in sight where it will call to you all the time. Try to feed yourself at regular intervals so that you aren’t as tempted to make a poor choice. And consider having a couple of absolutes: for example, avoid fried foods completely, avoid sugary foods, always use low-fat options, or only eat in a restaurant once a week. Choose your “absolutes” based on your trigger foods and your self knowledge about what foods and/or situations are problematic for you. 5th Mistake: Not Drinking Enough Water Most WLS patients are at risk for dehydration. Drinking a minimum of 64 oz. of water per day will help you avoid this risk. Adequate water intake will also help you flush out your system as you lose weight and avoid kidney stones. Drinking enough water helps with your weight loss, too. 6th Mistake: Grazing Many people who have had WLS regret that they ever started grazing, which is nibbling small amounts here and there over the course of the day. It’s one thing to eat the three to five small meals you and your doctor agree you need. It’s something else altogether when you start to graze, eating any number of unplanned Snacks. Grazing can easily make your weight creep up. Eating enough at meal time, and eating planned snacks when necessary, will help you resist grazing. Make a plan for what you will do when you crave food, but are not truly hungry. For example, take up a hobby to keep your hands busy or call on someone in your support group for encouragement. 7th Mistake: Not Exercising Regularly Exercise is one of the best weapons a WLS patient has to fight weight regain. Not only does exercise boost your spirits, it is a great way to keep your metabolism running strong. When you exercise, you build muscle. The more muscle you have, the more calories your body will burn, even at rest! 8th Mistake: Eating the Wrong Carbs (or Eating Too Much) Let’s face it, refined carbohydrates are addictive. If you eat refined carbohydrates they will make you crave more refined carbohydrates. There are plenty of complex carbohydrates to choose from, which have beneficial vitamins. For example, if you can handle pastas, try whole grain Kamut pasta–in moderation, of course. (Kamut Pasta doesn’t have the flavor some people find unpleasant in the whole wheat pastas.) Try using your complex carbohydrates as “condiments,” rather than as the center point of your meal. Try sprinkling a tablespoon of brown rice on your stir-fried meat and veggies. 9th Mistake: Going Back to Drinking Soda Drinking soda is controversial in WLS circles. Some people claim soda stretches your stomach or pouch. What we know it does is keep you from getting the hydration your body requires after WLS–because when you’re drinking soda, you’re not drinking water! In addition, diet soda has been connected to weight gain in the general population. The best thing you can do is find other, healthier drinks to fall in love with. They are out there. 10th Mistake: Drinking Alcohol If you drank alcohol before surgery, you are likely to want to resume drinking alcohol following surgery. Most surgeons recommend waiting one year after surgery. And it is in your best interest to understand the consequences of drinking alcohol before you do it. Alcohol is connected with weight regain, because alcohol has 7 calories per gram, while Protein and vegetables have 4 calories per gram. Also, some people develop an addiction to alcohol after WLS, so be very cautious. Depending on your type of WLS, you may get drunker, quicker after surgery, which can cause health problems and put you in dangerous situations. If you think you have a drinking problem, get help right away. Putting off stopping drinking doesn’t make it any easier, and could make you a lot sicker.

Tho is an amazing list! I'm going to borrow this! Thank you so much for sharing! I'm not sure why people feel its okay to drink soda and alcohol as they do- probably because people tell them it's okay.... I guess if you don't make the total lifestyle change - people just Veiw it as another diet that will eventually fail:(

Good lord I love this thread. I am a binge eater and a secret eater. If I picked up food for work or home, I always had something "extra" to eat in the car on the way back. If I had to stop at the drugstore, I got a candy bar and ate it before I got home. I'd sit in my car and eat lunch after driving through somewhere bc I didn't want anyone to see how much I ate. And when I'd get donuts on the way to work, I pretended that some of them were for my coworkers, but they were really all for me. It's such painful behavior and it's both humiliating and liberating to admit it. My BFF and I (both with troubled childhoods and difficult mothers) "joke" about our addiction by saying, "Well, lets just go eat a hug." I've always HATED myself for having no willpower and feeling powerless over food. I'm about 3 months out from surgery and my appetite is returning to a certain degree. It terrifies me. To date, I have not "cheated". I'm proud of myself for choosing well so far and I have an amazing DH and circle of friends cheering me on. I know I'm one of the lucky ones. I'm trying hard to deal with my addiction to food and it is like dancing with the devil. I come my a family of addicts and worry every day that I can't do this. I told my DH, "It's like telling an alcoholic, 'I know you can't handle alcohol, but you'll have to drink it every day of your life and it's up to you to make sure that you drink only this certain type of alcohol and only in moderation.'" It seems almost impossible! .

I joined eharmony at the weekend and have already found a guy I think I really like. We've been talking lots and he has asked if I would like to go for a drink. Obviously I have said yes but I'm so scared! I'm only a week and a half post op so I won't be able to drink alcohol and I don't feel like I've lost anywhere near enough weight for him to be attracted to me when we meet. I don't know whether to tell him about my surgery. What would you guys do? And if you would tell him, would you do it before you met him or not? Argh this is so bloody difficult!

New year New you...listen to your own positive words....your the white sheep, your thinner than other family members, you offered for her to come visit even with her life long attitude,you removed yourself States away to get out of the toxic relationship with her...Be proud of the you and all that you have built in spite of your up bringing. It's easy for everyone to say just cut her out of your life,but clearly that's not your feelings or you wouldn't have invited her. So moving forward realize all her faults and continue to do what makes you feel good. Communication if your blocked just send her a card if you feel like you need to reach out. Like on Christmas or Mothers Day. In Psych even the most abused/neglected child still has feelings for the abuser that an outside person can never under stand. Be proud of the person you have become as an adult. Even having this surgery to continue being the best you. Kudos to you that you have chosen to break this alcoholic, neglectful, destructive family pattern. New year New you

This is odd isn`t it? He blames a parent. Imagine that?! Jack blames Ozzy's wild antics for turning him into a drug addict - Nov 17, 2005 Jack Osbourne has blamed his dad Ozzy's wild antics for turning him into a drug addict. The 19-year-old says as a child he thought his rock star dad was "cool" for partying and losing control with alcohol and drugs. But the newly svelte star admits after following in his father's footsteps his wild lifestyle became too much - and he came close to committing suicide. http://www.myvillage.com/pages/celebs-jack-osbourne.htm?domain=myvillage Another odd one. Gee who made her famous ? Kelly: fame sucks - Feb 05 Kelly Osbourne blames fame and fortune for her drug addiction. The youngest daughter of the Osbourne dynasty has taken the time out to have another little whinge about how awful her life is. Kelly says that the fame and money that came to her as a result of her life on a reality show and her record deal led her to become addicted to opiates. "Growing up in the public eye sucks." The star complained "it's bad enough having your family judge you, never mind the whole world. So I tried to escape. But I didn't like cocaine or speed so opiates became my drug of choice." http://www.myvillage.com/pages/celebs-kelly-osbourne.htm?domain=myvillage

Calories can generally be somewhat higher than women, but there's still a lot of individualism to it. Some guys have more significant metabolic problems than others, such that they may have similar metabolic levels to many women - maintaining in the 1200 calorie range, etc, so they need lower calorie levels to lose. My guess is that at your starting point that your metabolism isn't that screwed up so you can lose like a "normal" guy. My doc didn't have a specific calorie level (they're a DS centric practice, which has fuzzy math in this regard) but I quickly settled in around 1100 calories. Protein target was 105g, based upon my lean body mass. Carbs and fats were "whatever" - not particularly important with our caloric deficits - but I simply endeavored to get the best overall nutrition for the remaining non-protein segment of the diet, which in retrospect worked out to be a rough caloric split between fats and carbohydrates. For the vast majority of us, it's the caloric deficit that drives the weight loss and not any magical macro splits Your missing watermelon may be an indication of some missing nutrients contained within - potassium perhaps, as our typical supplements don't make much of a dent in satisfying our requirements. Many sugar substitutes are known for having a laxative effect in many people, particularly some of the sugar alcohols and a few of the zero calorie sweeteners so you seem to be right on track with those.