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I come from a family of skinny people. The women are naturally under 115 lbs . Most have hypertension, a few have sleep apnea and a couple have diabetes. Sometimes it isn't due to weight but body composition, genetics, diet (e.g. too much alcohol or salt) or unmanageable stress. I honestly can't see a surgeon doing RNY to someone who has a BMI of 30 and is active as you say. I wouldn't recommend it but to your question, I know a few who had a BMI of 30 and went to Mexico to get the sleeve (not RNY).

I remember seeing them somewhere and it seemed that the sugar alcohol was pretty high. Last night at support group my band surgeon said sugar alcohol is pretty much the same as sugar and really discouraged us from eating it. I just mainly hate the way it gives me horrible gas. I have enough gas already.

drinks IN MODERATION is a good way to look at the alcohol issue and being banded. Actually drinks in moderation with alcohol and not being banded should be the way it is dealt with in all aspects.

I wish alcohol were a problem... goes down way too easy for me!

Since alcohol is a dehydrator, it is feasible that one might sense less restriction. Of course, after enough alcohol, one might sense less of a lot of stuff...

Okay, flipping through Discovery Channel last nite they had a show on about a 750 pound man. Amazing. So this doc was discussing research about food addiction, and they did test studies on obese people, seeing how their brains reacted to foods. The MRI scans were eerily similar to the scans of those who are drug and alcohol addicted. What happens (if I'm remembering correctly and this doc is right) is the food causes dopamine levels to surge, and for some reason, obese folks do not have the receptors for the dopamine like "normals" in the world, so it takes lots and lots of food, in increasing amounts over the years, to get the dopamine levels to cause the addiction to be triggered properly...so you get the HIGH from your food. So, the more you eat, the more you NEED to eat to get your HIGH. Sigh. She also commented that exercise increases dopamine receptor sites, so not only is the exercise good for health and weight loss, it SHOULD cause the need for less food to get the same HIGH. I'm addicted to food, coffee, and ciggies. I'm going NOW to call my doc and change my Wellbutrin prescription so I can actually take it. I'm hoping it helps to get rid of the ciggies for good and helps me not to get so anxious about my food. Don't get me wrong, my band helps tremendously. I have been stuck fighting to stay below 190 for months now and it's getting old. I'm dong whatever it takes!

What diets have you tried? What do you expect from this surgery? What does a normal day of eating look like? Do you binge? Do you graze? Have you ever been physically, sexually, or emotionally abused? How much do you drink? Are any of the members of your immediate family alcoholic? Are you now or have you ever used illicit drugs? Do you now or have you ever smoked? Who in your family knows of your decision to pursue WLS? Who lives in your household?

Oh it sounds like you are miserable right now, and I really feel for you. Withdrawal from something you are addicted to is really hard on a person. I am a recovering addict alcoholic and have sure gone through the ups and downs through all of my recovery. AA and NA have helped me so much. I am in my 81/2 years of sobriety now, and those 12 steps and all of my friends at the meetings have helped me so much. And that's how I got addicted too....percocets for a long term complication from surgery and then another repair surgery. When it was time to give up the Percocets, I did it but I went through withdrawal symptoms, and started drinking more to get that good feeling. It progressed until I had developed an addiction to alcohol too. I'm so sorry you are losing your hair too, that's gotta be horrible for you. I have read other people saying that if you keep on taking your Protein shakes and make sure to get the maximum protein every day, it stops the hair loss. I can't remember how many grams of protein a person needs though....can someone tell us? I am pulling for you. You have already done a fantastic thing and lost all of those pounds.

My surgeon said no alcohol at all for the first year, and ideally never. I had a tiny sip of expensive champagne when I retired six months after surgery. (I swear is was such a tiny sip that it barely counted!) I was a very light drinker before surgery and do not miss drinking at all, so I intend to avoid alcohol forever. Alcohol is empty calories that take up space in your pouch that could be used for something more nutritious. Just because you can drink doesn't mean you should. My post probably sounds judgmental, and that's really not the case. It's just my perspective. 🙂

You guys sure have lost a lot of weight. That is awesome to see sucess so close to home (Tacoma). I am on the LONG waiting list for insurance to cover me (not done till MArch 09) Tick tock tick tock. I was almost at the point of just getting a loan and paying for it when my father in law became homeless and is now living with us (ugh...not a good deal, he is a total alcoholic) and not to be totally trailer trashy (i totally am not) he is now living on a trailer on our back property (we have 1 1/2 acres) but still is an expense none the less. I felt upset when my hubby told me because it was stealing my dream from my fingers but now i am trying to be a mature adult and know its just a delay. Its funny it takes you years to get to this place where enough is enough, you have tried it ALL, it has failed and you give up and then the surgery just clicks and a light bulb goes off. For me, its like the drug addict who had to try everything else on his own before going and getting "treatment". So once you make that decision and find the courage to say yes this is what i am gonna do, scary but worth it...then someone tell you to wait a year...yeah, that sucks. But, heck years ago they didnt cover it at all. Blah, blah. I just wanted to say Hi to the peeps in my neighborhood and connect with you all. And to tell you how inspiring your sucess it to folks like me, looking through the fence waiting to come on in =)

Thank you for the encouragement Not being able to afford the surgery here, has its disadvantages. One being part of a support group. We met another patient while we were in Mexico, who referred this site to me. She and I have been keeping in touch through e-mail. Her surgery was rescheduled, and she'll be going in at the end of this month. Anyway, I was on liquids the first week, then graduated to creamy things like yogurt, cream of wheat and oatmeal. This doctor has a different recommendation than what I have heard from others. Doesn't seem as strict. My primary doctor here recommended sticking to it. I think the longer you can go with the softer stuff, the better. The "strict" may be better overall. I snuck a few things here and there, and must say, I did regret it. I would try a bite here and there, and if it works, then I try it again another day. The broth and liquids were giving me a huge stomach ache several times a day. Yes, the port side has been quite painful. Nobody ever talked about that, so I didn't expect it. My husband felt it too. Our bandages were off after about a week. Our incisions were closed with some kind of "glue." I had two stitches, and my husband had 3, which are also out now. We're almost healed except for one long incision that is about 3". I think the port is under there because we can feel a bump. I am usually allergic to adhesive, so I understand what you went through. I started using rubbing alcohol as soon as I could get near the areas to get the sticky stuff off. Yes I have heard that men lose quickly. My husband is just in heaven, telling me his watch keeps flipping around now, and that he is on the last notch of his belt. I'm proud of him. He used to eat about 5 full dinner plate sized meals a day. Now he can only eat a cup at a time, and hasn't needed any insulin because his body is making just enough. His doctor is monitoring him, so please, don't anyone out there just go and do this on your own. Blood sugar levels are not something to mess with. He has been a diabetic for 14 years, and his top weight was 330. I did this for myself, but also to support him. We have a 14 year old son, and a 12 year old daughter, and look forward to having more energy and spending more time with them before they are grown.

My dr says no carbonation or alcohol for 6 months, and then only in moderation, very very moderated.

@@Cervidae I got a dog. It has helped me so much with my stress and isolation from living and working alone. The dog is the best comfort available. I realize everyone can't afford or wants to take care of a dog. I comfort myself right now by shopping. It isn't always about purchasing items, it is more about trying on clothes, seeing what I can wear and also seeing myself in a different environment. Even though there are mirrors and full length mirrors all over my house, I find that I can see my changes better outside the house and trying on entirely new clothes. That helps me stick to plan and also validates my struggles with head hunger. Doing your nails, deep conditioning your hair. Okay on to food. Comforting myself with food, is something I worked through before surgery, before I even considered surgery. I gave up sugar, I gave up alcohol. I learned to work through my problems and I always removed a lot of stress from my life. Now to be real, I Keto. That is more comforting than most diets. Fats satisfy a lot of needs. Low carb and low fat is just fail to me, and it doesn't seem to satisfy anything. So I have healthy fats, very few carbs and meet my Protein goals. That is satisfying and comforting to me every day. My food is high quality and delicious. I had filet mignon for almost a week straight, at 4 oz at a time, it is affordable yet still decadent.Totally on plan, totally delicious. I am savory kind of person. I would rather have fried chicken or fried fish than chocolate or any kind of sweet. That being said, it is kind of easier to get "treat" like foods that are sweets since most people are sugar fiends. I think that if sweets are your trigger then you should be really careful. I can eat these items and not care about them. They are mainly convenience more than comfort. Protein Brownies. Looking they are protein brownies and they taste like protein brownies, but they do taste good. They also aren't cheap, so you might not want one every day. Found on instagram, a real life saver, added bonus, they are moderately filling. http://www.eatmeguiltfree.com/ Protein Peanut Butter The chocolate is delicious. https://wildfriendsfoods.com/protein_plus/ Quest Bars Low carb cheesecake (just google a recipe. I get these at Trader Joes for $1.99 or 2.99 a bar, I forget the price. cheaper than Lily's I have one square at a time as a snack http://www.amazon.com/Simply-Lite-Chocolate-Cacao-3-Ounce/dp/B0049UDYHI These from trader joe's, fi you are going to buy them, weigh/measure out all the servings and put them in individual baggies as soon as you get it home. Only take one serving at a time. The calories are high per serving for those of us on 1000 calories or so a day so plan accordingly. I stopped buying them because they aren't worth the calories to me, but they aren't a terrible option. http://i.imgur.com/jWCaYT1.jpg Again I am going to state I can eat this things because sweets are not a trigger for me. If they are for you, don't do it. Food though is fuel, not a comfort device. We all need to work past seeing food as a comfort. It doesn't even work post surgery at least for me. Being full is super uncomfortable, it isn't soothing, it doesn't make me numb or sleepy, just miserable. Cooking a complicated keto or paleo recipe is soothing to me. It takes me out of my own thoughts and I have to focus on what I am doing. I find that relaxing. Recipe sites.. http://www.ibreatheimhungry.com/ http://www.ruled.me/ http://cavemanketo.com/ https://ketodietapp.com/Blog I am not familiar with what RNY people can eat so if all of these are things you can't tolerate. I'm sorry.

Hi, I was sleeved June 8th 2016, have lost 140lbs, so far I can drink sliver rum and do okay whereas sparkling wine, wine have a harder time the sugar dumps into system to quickly. Anyway no one anywhere endorses drinking alcohol post surgery but just be smart and for me I waited until I hit major goals to partake. I am on a bocce team plus work in the wine industry so its hard to not be tempted. Now I weigh exactly 140lbs lost 1/2 of my body weight, now maintaining. Again, be smart they do not want us to hurt our new pouches and to get alcohol poisoning or have transfer of addictions. Good luck

Thank you all so much! I'm not looking to start drinking as soon as I have my surgery or anything at all like that. I just wanted to be sure that there would be options later if I so wanted to. This whole surgery is so scary and seems like a finality and there's certain things that I definitely want out of my life but I've never had a problem with over drinking so alcohol is not one of them. I'm glad to hear that if I want it I can have it still in small doses.

I have a HUGE amount of restriction. But you can definitely gain with that restriction. For instance I went on a 12 day vacation, and gained 4.5 lbs. Slider foods, alcohol, eating frequently, eating high calorie foods, all can and do lead to gain, no matter how little or how much restriction you have. It's cliche, but this surgery is a tool. You have to still make good food choices.

Can I have zevia sugar free root beer soda, if I let the carbonation go flat? As far as I can tell there is no sugar or bad substitutes that would be harmful. Unlike some of the ice creams I’ve seen suggested it doesn’t have sugar alcohols in it that I can see anyways. I was told to watch their intake with gastric bypass by my surgery team. I know carbonation is bad. So do any of you drink sugar free drinks like Coke Zero or zevia once in awhile - as long as it goes flat or at least sits a bit to lose some carbonation. I miss the taste of the stuff and the bubbles too. But I’d settle for a few sips as a treat. Just don’t want to hurt myself or Stretch pouch.

FIRST meal? That? And alcohol? Yikes. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

I, personally, would suggest another place. That atmosphere tempts me too much. Post bariatric surgery you have an uber low tolerance for alcohol. I'd be afraid I'd be tempted to have "just one" or even a sip and feel it too much.

I am 2 years out and here are my answers to your survey: What contributing role would you say your sleeve (reduced stomach) plays in your ability to successfully maintain the weight loss (e.g., 25, 50, 75, 90 percent)? Seriously 100%. Now, I can eat more than in the beginning, but it is all about portion control for me. I do still have to deal with emotional eating because I can lose control, but there is sstrict limit with how much I can physically put in my body. My big problem is eating every 2 hours. in the beginning I had to, but now I don't and it has been trying making that mental shift. If I didn't have the sleeve, I would be completely lost. Related, how much conscious effort does your continued weight loss require? That is, must you deliberately monitor your food intake on a daily basis or does the restriction of the sleeve necessarily limit how much you can eat so that maintenance is relatively effortless? It does take some effort. if I eat as often as the urge strikes, i would slowly gain weight. however, I don't find it too difficult to eat mostly good things. If I track my eating, I can see that it's the 6th snack and/ or the one alcoholic drink that will put me over the limit. If I am in a good frame of mind (not recently because of family suicide) I find it pretty easy to cut out the one serving that is keeping me from losing. Right now I am struggling, but my struggle lands me in the 135-140 range without too much effort. I am not upset about it. How has your relationship with food changed, if at all? Related, do you still enjoy eating or, currently, is food just something you must consume to sustain life? I love food. I wish I could eat more of it sometimes :-) I have settled in to loving the things that I can eat that are mostly good for me and keep my tummy from hurting. I eat a little cheese every day. I eat meat every day. I eat at least one serving of green veg every day. I have started eating alittle bread, but it hurts my stomach so I can't eat too much of it. I still can't eat more than one piece of pizza, if I include the crust - but then I get heartburn or my tummy is painfully full, so I don't eat pizza very often. Compared to the type of hunger pains you had experienced pre-surgically, while on a calorie-restricted diet, how would you rate the degree and quality of your hunger pains now after the surgery? That is, do you still feel hunger pains and, if so, how is your hunger drive different now than it was before the surgery? I still have no hunger pains. I get an "empty" feeling when I am hungry. It is more of a low blood sugar feeling (speedy, woozy, lack of focus). My tummy rumbles from acid, but not from hunger pains. In fact, I keep forgetting that I used to have that sensation - it's just completely different now. Maybe I'm lucky. Maybe becuase I was low BMI when I started, I don't have the same experince post-op. I can say that I could gain weight if I was totally out of control. The sleeve buys me a little more control in my daily habits. I have had some very dark emotional times this last 6 months that has lead me to drink a lot and have zero focus on what I was eating. I was trying to lose a couple of pounds when my world started falling apart and it was working very well. My lack of focus only cost me about 5 pounds - even through the holidays. Good luck to everyone.

After reading her story, how can society not consider food an addiction? All you have to do is substitute drugs or alcohol for her issues with eating and you have an addict same as an alcoholic or drug addict.

I waited about a year, until I got a good handle on my weight loss and new lifestyle, and got to know my band and how to "Listen" to it. Then once I understood and was comfortable with everything, I began to reintroduce many things, including alcohol.... I also drink beer. and other carbonated drinks...but i understand how to do it now. There were more important things to deal with than alcohol within the first year.

I've tried a few of the sweets recipes from Bariatric Foodie. (Make a small portion ahead of time and have it for a few days.) I just made two of the protein cheesecake ramekins (eating one now) and it is so good! I also got in the kick for a while of buying sugar free angel food cake or SF shortcakes and adding some low-carb toppings (cool whip, nuts, SF chocolate chips, torani syrup, PB 2). There's always sugar free candy, if one piece will satisfy you. But that's where the real sugar alcohol problem comes in. I learned my lesson the hard way!

Hello all, I am in the early stages of considering and researching the Lap Band. I have some questions on how the Lap Band would work to help me lose weight. First, let me fill you in on a little about me and my weight issues. I am a 45 year old male who is approx 150lbs overweight at the moment. Since my twenties I have been up and down in weight from my ideal weight to 150 pounds overweight. I have many times lost a significant amount of weight in the past. Over the last 15 years I have lost all my excess weight 4 times over a 10-12 month period, but then over 2-3 years I put it all back on, plus a few more! I lose it through diet and exercise, and I put it back on with lack of diet or exercise! I also enjoy having a couple glasses of wine almost every night or a hard drink or two with friends on the weekends while BBQ-ing or watching the game. All this is culprit in not being able to keep the weight off. I know how to lose the weight and I am successful as long as I have a goal and have the excitement of watching the weight come off. After the weight is lost and the excitement is over, I have a hard time sticking with the diet regiment to keep the weight off. In addition, I eat even when I am full because I enjoy the taste. When I am at a buffet, I have a hard time stopping because it is all delicious! Many weight lose clinics will try to determine the subconscious reason for eating. I have never found any such thing, I just enjoy the taste! So my questions: 1. How will the Lap Band help me lose weight? 2. What kind of diet needs to be kept after the Lap Band is installed? 3. If I/We/anyone can’t maintain a diet regiment before the Lap Band, how can we expect that it would be any different after the Lap Band? 4. Are there medications or supplements that need to be taken after the Lap Band is installed? 5. If insurance covers the procedure (I am investigating that with my insurance right now), and there is a problem with the device such as a leaky port, who covers the expense of fixing it? 6. Are there other manufacturing defect problems that can occur with the Lap Band, and if so who absorbs the cost of repair? 7. I am noticing the number one side effect of the Lap Band is nausea and vomiting. Is that a temporary problem or an ongoing problem? 8. Is there any restriction on drinking alcohol when you have a Lap Band? Any insight that anyone can give me would be greatly appreciated, Regards, Bob

Hi, Bob! Here are my answers to your questions. Feel free to take a look at my blog if you want info. about how the surgery went, etc. (you'll want to go to the beginning). 1. How will the LAP-BAND® help me lose weight? It lets you be satisfied and full with smaller portions. It also stops you from overeating. 2. What kind of diet needs to be kept after the LAP-BAND® is installed? You should focus on eating Protein first. But, by and large, you can eat just about everything once you are banded. You just eat less of it. I stay away from breads that get gummy after you eat them, and sometimes it’s hard for me to eat hamburger without getting stuck, but in general, you can have a little bit of anything you like. The best part is that you will be satisfied sooner. So, if you are someone who tends to eat quality food -- but too much of those foods -- this is a really great solution. 3. If I/We/anyone can’t maintain a diet regiment before the LAP-BAND®, how can we expect that it would be any different after the LAP-BAND®? Well, it sure has been for me. I’ve dieted a million times before. Like you, I’d take off weight. . then put it all back on and more eventually. With the band, however, I have been able to follow the rules and succeed for two years in a row (and counting!). I’m in maintenance now, and it’s very easy for me. I just keep on doing what I’ve been doing all along. My problem was overeating good food, and now that I have this tool to stop me from doing that, it's surprisingly easy to keep my weight constant. (I do work out regularly now, too, which helps a lot!) Also, I am definitely a fan of nice wine as well. One of the things about the band that I really appreciate is that I’m still able to enjoy wine or cocktails. Of course, at 80 pounds down, I can’t drink as much as I used to! 4. Are there medications or supplements that need to be taken after the LAP-BAND® is installed? I take Flintstones Vitamins (chewables). That’s it. 5. If insurance covers the procedure (I am investigating that with my insurance right now), and there is a problem with the device such as a leaky port, who covers the expense of fixing it? I don’t really know the answer to this, since I was self-pay. I think most insurances would cover a problem, but you can call your provider and ask what their policy is. 6. Are there other manufacturing defect problems that can occur with the LAP-BAND®, and if so who absorbs the cost of repair? I have no information about this. 7. I am noticing the number one side effect of the LAP-BAND® is nausea and vomiting. Is that a temporary problem or an ongoing problem? It’s not a side effect. Actually, nausea doesn’t occur. What happens is that if people don’t chew well enough, or their band is super tight, they may get “stuck,” and the food will either work its way through. . or come back up. When this has happened to me, I have always had about 1-2 minutes where I look normal on the outside, but know that I'm stuck. So it’s not a problem to get to the restroom gracefully. The interesting thing about this “vomiting” (which people call a PB. .or a “productive burp”) is that the food only is coming up from the pouch above your band, so it doesn’t have stomach acid in it. In other words, it isn’t as gross as actually throwing up, and doesn’t (sorry if this is gross) taste like throwing up. 8. Is there any restriction on drinking alcohol when you have a LAP-BAND®? Not really. I have wine regularly and cocktails once in a while. You shouldn’t consume too many liquid calories whenever you’re trying to lose weight, so that’s the guideline most people follow. Also, you would never want to be hungover to the point of having to vomit, since that might be bad for your band. But, wine and cocktails in moderation are fine, according to my doctor. I wouldn’t have had the surgery if that wasn’t the case. I hope that helps! Honestly, I am a big proponent of this surgery. It's helped me so much, and I can't imagine ever getting too my goal without it. This has made the weight loss much easier than dieting alone (not that I haven't worked hard -- just that it didn't feel as frustrating and I wasn't hungry and feeling deprived all the time). Best wishes for your success! Catherine