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I think there are two good reasons to avoid alcohol. First, it falls in the same category as fruit juices, in that it's basically liquid sugar that just goes right through your stomach. How is that different than eating ice cream? Except for the buzz, of course. But ice cream can offer a "comfort" buzz too. So if you wouldn't eat ice cream because you know it's a really bad choice, why would you want to drink alcohol? And secondly, people who are under the influence tend to make other unwise choices. For example, I've polled many, many people who have quit smoking for a length of time of time and then started back up again. Guess what proportion had an adult beverage in their hand when they took that first puff? Yup, 100% (including myself the first time I quit). So how many sleevers have been at a party, and after a drink or two said, "Maybe I can just have one little pig-in-a-blanket..."

food anesthetised me. When I ate, nothing bothered me. But I paid big time for it...ballooning up to nearly 270 lbs. on a very small frame. I was morbidly obese and heading towards life in a wheelchair. I absolutely could not walk away from a half eaten meal. I could eat copious amounts of food and I felt entitled to finish all of it. I'm working on the core psychological issues with a therapist now because I fear gaining it back even though I've met and exceeded goal. I know that I have a problem that is both physical and psychological. Just today, I went into the fridge at work to portion out some eggplant parm and spaghetti that I had leftover from lunch yesterday. Even now, it was hard for me to throw away the extra spaghetti. I really wanted to eat it even though my life is 1,000% better than it was a year ago. I see it as an addiction same as any other addiction. If I was an alcoholic and found a bottle of booze in my fridge...I'd probably have the same issues with throwing it out as I did with the spaghetti. But I'm not an alcoholic and many a time, I've poured the lefover wine in a bottle down the sink because I didn't want to bother putting the bottle back in the fridge with only a glass or so remaining. Wish I could do that as easily with food. I see this as a lifelong battle and am just hoping that now that I have my life and mobility back, I never take it for granted again and use that as my incentive. Good thread! Thanks for letting me respond.

The surgeon's advice about alcohol after WLS -- yes or no, when to resume (if ever), how much is safe, which kinds of alcohol are fine and which are verboten -- vary considerably, depending on the surgeon advising.

I am not sleeved yet but I have heard that you have to wait a year, now why, I don't know. I have read others say that the alcohol hits your system really fast and they caution on driving, etc. Most of all, it appears it just may be the sugar that it contains. I am a margarita drinker so I understand your question. Best thing, talk to your doctor. Good Luck !!

Does anyone know exactly why we're not supposed to have any alcohol? I'm almost 4 months out and would love to have a glass or two of wine with dinner. Is there any danger or is it just the fact that it would be empty calories?

Yep, just that simple. If they enrolled you in that group appointment you're already approved. When you go, they'll have you fill out a bunch of paperwork about your weight struggles, diets you've tried etc. Be honest. They'll measure your vitals, height, weight, and calculate your starting BMI; that will be your criteria. As long as you don't increase from that intial weight and BMI, you're good. You'll meet the Bariatric Team at this group session, including an individual appt with the surgeon who will spend a good bit of time talking to you and explaining everything and answer any questions you may have. If you smoke, quit. You'll get disenrolled / delayed if you continue to smoke. They offer smoking cessation classes as part of the program. They check compliance by doing a urine cotinine test. The majority of the program is simply going through the nutrition classes and you are required to keep a food log (on paper or something like My Fitness Pal). They meet once per month and you must attend each one. You will be weighed at every appt. and if you feel like you need additional help, you can go to the nutrition clinic at any point. Lab work gets ordered to check you for baseline things that may be causing weight gain (Vitamin D deficiency, low Cortisol levels, undiagnosed diabetes or pre-diabetes, anemia, low thyroid etc). If anything comes back abnormal, they'll offer you treatment and medications. Once you complete the group nutrition classes, you'll have an individual nutrition appt and that is who will clear you as a good surgery candidate. If the nutritionist feels you haven't done "the work" (food journaling, meeting daily Protein requirements, Water intake, exercising), you'll be considered "non-compliant" and not ready for surgery because you've demonstrated an inability to make changes. They'll work with you more until you get there. You have to attend one Weight Loss Support Group. They usually only meet once per month as well. Once the nutritionist clears you, the Bariatric Nurse will schedule your Psych evaluation. Most people get cleared with that first appt. If not, they'll have you go back for a follow-up. They are just evaluating you for readiness for such a life altering change; making sure you have a support system in place; that you don't think surgery is a magic bullet; and that you understand your risk for cross dependency. The surgery forces you to physically give up food as a crutch but does absolutely nothing for the emotional dependency you have with food. Plenty of times food addiction is traded for something else like alcohol. Once you are cleared from your Psych eval, the Bariatric Nurse will schedule your EGD. This is done to assess the health of your esophagus, stomach, gall bladder, biopsy stomach skin to check for H. Pylori, and to check for any hernias that may be present (like a hiatal hernia) - because they would remove an unhealthy gall bladder and repair the hernia when the sleeve surgery is done. H. Pylori (a common bacterial infection in the stomach) would have to be treated prior to surgery; this encompasses two weeks on 2 different antibiotics. Once cleared from the EGD, you'll be scheduled for a final appt with the surgeon. It's at that time you'll need medical clearance from any specialist you may see for pre-existing confitions (such as cardiology or pulmonology). Then your surgery gets scheduled. A two week liquid diet is required before surgery (in order to shrink your liver so the surgery is easier to perform), and two weeks after surgery. Your diet will be progressed from then on as you go back for follow-ups. Hope this helps!

Pippy's Mommy, WOW!!! You are truly an inspiration. I started to cry when I read about your childhood. I can so relate to you growing up in an alcoholic, abusive and dysfunctional home. Words can not express how thankful I am for your courage in posting your story. Overcoming everything you have speaks volumes for your intestinal fortitude. Blessings, Kathleen

Tested things out this weekend and unfortunately for me, I didn't get to enjoy the perk of having less alcohol affect me sooner. I easily could have consumed just as much as I used to pre-surgery. As it was, I had way more drinks than I planned and am paying for it this week while trying to fight off what was probably a week's worth of calories consumed in one night.

I was 170 pounds overweight and I thought I had tried everything. I had a LAP-BAND for 11 years, during which I lost and regained 130 pounds. The LAPBAND was ready to do its' job, but I was not ready to do mine. This is the story of how I embraced, life, living, healthy food and exercise, and finally shed 170 pounds 8 years into my LAPBAND journey. From needing a "walker" to climbing America's tallest mountain in 2 years, this is my story. Food was my way of comforting myself and relieving stress for as far back into my childhood as I can remember. There was alcohol and violence in my childhood home and I needed comfort. There was no human source for it so I created a source for it. Food "hugged me" and made me feel safer. In an environment with stressors beyond my control. I had a small something I could easily access to sooth myself. It was my mind deciding what to eat for comfort and it was my hand lifting the food to my mouth. I was in the driver's seat regarding something in my life and body, even if I wasn't safe in my home. Food was my best friend, provided comfort and gave me a way to manage even a small part of my life. By my teens, my chubby appearance morphed into actually being significantly overweight. At the age of 12, I jumped from a women's size 12 to size 18 and never looked back. By the age of 20, soon after my mother's death, I was a size 26 and 330 pounds. In my 30s, I lost 130 pounds too rapidly and much of my hair by binging and purging and in my 40s, I again lost 130 pounds after LAP-BAND Weight Loss Surgery in 2003. But because I had not done the emotional, internal work on my relationship with food and childhood trauma, my food addiction shifted to liquid calories I could easily pass through the LAP-BAND, which is common. At this time, for the first time in my life, I developed an alcohol problem and my dinner each night was a six pack of "vodka coolers" followed by a pint of low-fat ice cream for dessert. Nutrition was the last thought on my mind and my focus was on comfort calories that could pass through "the band." By 2006, all the weight I lost was back. I also continued to eat solid foods that would force me to vomit and caused my esophagus to become distended. When a LAP-BAND patient doesn't respect the "full" signals the body sends to the brain and continues to eat, the esophagus becomes a storage place for excess food and the esophagus stretches. This made the LAP-BAND useless and while it is still in my body, it no longer functions properly. At the same time, during the last 20 years, I developed back problems from bulging discs related to the weight I was carrying. I began using opiates under a doctor's supervision to combat pain and muscle spasms in my back and in my knees that resulted in five knee surgeries. At first, I viewed the opiates as a wonderful tool as they relieved or masked some of the pain and also provided an emotional high. Soon I was using the opiates for emotional reasons more than for pain and as my tolerance for them grew, I needed larger doses to get the same effect. Then I needed to graduate to a stronger form of opiate and that is when, 10 years ago, I began taking Oxycodone and OxyContin around the clock along with Flexeril for muscle spasms. Sitting for long periods became unbearable and I was forced to leave my career as a Court Paralegal and qualified for "permanent disability." I cried as I left the hearing in which I was declared disabled. I didn't want to be disabled but felt it must be true for a judge to decide it was. It was 2010 and I believed my life was essentially over. At 50 years old I was simply waiting to slowly die. I believed all my happy days were behind me. When my doctor suggested I try yoga before we take the drastic step of implanting electrodes in my spine for the pain, I began attending a very gentle yoga class for people with disabilities. Slowly, over a two year period, I began to build stronger core muscles which made the back spasms less severe and less frequent. But I continued to take the opiates because by then I had an emotional and chemical dependence on them. During this time, I was diagnosed with Sleep Apnea which was caused by the opiates and excess weight. Opiates disrupt the brains signals to the lungs and suppress the respiratory drive. On top of this - physical pain, addiction and emotional unhappiness - I was also caring for my father with Alzheimer's. Although in a safe and loving group home, I still felt responsible for my father's well-being and comfort. I was his only family within 3000 miles. As so often happens when caring for a loved-one, we stop caring for ourselves in every sense. Soon after my father's death in 2012, I developed pneumonia because my breathing became so inconsistent that my lungs filled with fluid. I realized at that point I needed to change everything about my life including losing the weight and decreasing, even eliminating, my use of opiates or else I would die. At that moment, in the hospital in 2012, the desire to live was sparked in me by the threat of death! After leaving the hospital, for 60 days, I detoxed and experienced cold sweats, tremors and anxiety as the opiates slowly left my bloodstream. Once I was drug-free, I began making small, sustainable changes to my diet and gradually increasing amounts of movement. (Yes, that means exercise!) Over the following 18 months, my weight dropped from a high of 333 pounds down to 185. As a 6'3" tall woman this is a healthy, lean weight for me. In 2013, I decided then to give myself the gift of nearly full-body plastic surgery. Since I was already severely overweight in my teens, at a time of life when many young girls look their best and enjoy being pretty, I decided "it is never too late to have a happy childhood." During an 11-hour surgery, 13 pounds of skin was removed from my abdomen, buttocks, back, chest and under arms. For the first time since the age of 12, no part of my belly and buttocks continue to jiggle when I stop walking, no part of me droops and my thighs do not rub together. The Sleep Apnea is gone and I now climb mountains instead of grabbing railings to pull myself up stairs! But the hardest mountain I've ever climbed was a "metaphorical mountain" in those first few weeks of starting to change my relationships with food and drugs, as well as beginning to move. I am enjoying a lovely renaissance in a healthy, lean, strong and coincidentally beautiful body. However, this transformation has not been about beauty. My goals are continued health and a desire to live with passion, and about choosing to do more than survive. I am driven from an internal source to live a vibrant, full life of joy so I can continue to enjoy the love of family and friends and so they needn't lose me to obesity and addiction. This photo (above) was taken on the highest mountain in the 48 contiguous United States, Mount Whitney. After 10 hours of climbing 6,134 feet to an elevation of 14,508 feet covering 11 miles, I summited at 2:00 pm and like every part of my weight-loss, fitness and "reclamation of life" journey, I did it! Yet, like during every aspect of my journey I had partners. My partners knew the lay of the land, my strength and challenges. I surrounded myself with people who knew how to help me get where I wanted to go. Physical and mental health professionals who coached me to express my full potential. What mountains will you climb in your life and who will help you get there? Build your team, including here at BariatricPal, and there is no "mountain" you cannot climb!

Food was my way of comforting myself and relieving stress for as far back into my childhood as I can remember. There was alcohol and violence in my childhood home and I needed comfort. There was no human source for it so I created a source for it. Food "hugged me" and made me feel safer. In an environment with stressors beyond my control. I had a small something I could easily access to sooth myself. It was my mind deciding what to eat for comfort and it was my hand lifting the food to my mouth. I was in the driver's seat regarding something in my life and body, even if I wasn't safe in my home. Food was my best friend, provided comfort and gave me a way to manage even a small part of my life. By my teens, my chubby appearance morphed into actually being significantly overweight. At the age of 12, I jumped from a women's size 12 to size 18 and never looked back. By the age of 20, soon after my mother's death, I was a size 26 and 330 pounds. In my 30s, I lost 130 pounds too rapidly and much of my hair by binging and purging and in my 40s, I again lost 130 pounds after LAP-BAND Weight Loss Surgery in 2003. But because I had not done the emotional, internal work on my relationship with food and childhood trauma, my food addiction shifted to liquid calories I could easily pass through the LAP-BAND, which is common. At this time, for the first time in my life, I developed an alcohol problem and my dinner each night was a six pack of "vodka coolers" followed by a pint of low-fat ice cream for dessert. Nutrition was the last thought on my mind and my focus was on comfort calories that could pass through "the band." By 2006, all the weight I lost was back. I also continued to eat solid foods that would force me to vomit and caused my esophagus to become distended. When a LAP-BAND patient doesn't respect the "full" signals the body sends to the brain and continues to eat, the esophagus becomes a storage place for excess food and the esophagus stretches. This made the LAP-BAND useless and while it is still in my body, it no longer functions properly. At the same time, during the last 20 years, I developed back problems from bulging discs related to the weight I was carrying. I began using opiates under a doctor's supervision to combat pain and muscle spasms in my back and in my knees that resulted in five knee surgeries. At first, I viewed the opiates as a wonderful tool as they relieved or masked some of the pain and also provided an emotional high. Soon I was using the opiates for emotional reasons more than for pain and as my tolerance for them grew, I needed larger doses to get the same effect. Then I needed to graduate to a stronger form of opiate and that is when, 10 years ago, I began taking Oxycodone and OxyContin around the clock along with Flexeril for muscle spasms. Sitting for long periods became unbearable and I was forced to leave my career as a Court Paralegal and qualified for "permanent disability." I cried as I left the hearing in which I was declared disabled. I didn't want to be disabled but felt it must be true for a judge to decide it was. It was 2010 and I believed my life was essentially over. At 50 years old I was simply waiting to slowly die. I believed all my happy days were behind me. When my doctor suggested I try yoga before we take the drastic step of implanting electrodes in my spine for the pain, I began attending a very gentle yoga class for people with disabilities. Slowly, over a two year period, I began to build stronger core muscles which made the back spasms less severe and less frequent. But I continued to take the opiates because by then I had an emotional and chemical dependence on them. During this time, I was diagnosed with Sleep Apnea which was caused by the opiates and excess weight. Opiates disrupt the brains signals to the lungs and suppress the respiratory drive. On top of this - physical pain, addiction and emotional unhappiness - I was also caring for my father with Alzheimer's. Although in a safe and loving group home, I still felt responsible for my father's well-being and comfort. I was his only family within 3000 miles. As so often happens when caring for a loved-one, we stop caring for ourselves in every sense. Soon after my father's death in 2012, I developed pneumonia because my breathing became so inconsistent that my lungs filled with fluid. I realized at that point I needed to change everything about my life including losing the weight and decreasing, even eliminating, my use of opiates or else I would die. At that moment, in the hospital in 2012, the desire to live was sparked in me by the threat of death! After leaving the hospital, for 60 days, I detoxed and experienced cold sweats, tremors and anxiety as the opiates slowly left my bloodstream. Once I was drug-free, I began making small, sustainable changes to my diet and gradually increasing amounts of movement. (Yes, that means exercise!) Over the following 18 months, my weight dropped from a high of 333 pounds down to 185. As a 6'3" tall woman this is a healthy, lean weight for me. In 2013, I decided then to give myself the gift of nearly full-body plastic surgery. Since I was already severely overweight in my teens, at a time of life when many young girls look their best and enjoy being pretty, I decided "it is never too late to have a happy childhood." During an 11-hour surgery, 13 pounds of skin was removed from my abdomen, buttocks, back, chest and under arms. For the first time since the age of 12, no part of my belly and buttocks continue to jiggle when I stop walking, no part of me droops and my thighs do not rub together. The Sleep Apnea is gone and I now climb mountains instead of grabbing railings to pull myself up stairs! But the hardest mountain I've ever climbed was a "metaphorical mountain" in those first few weeks of starting to change my relationships with food and drugs, as well as beginning to move. I am enjoying a lovely renaissance in a healthy, lean, strong and coincidentally beautiful body. However, this transformation has not been about beauty. My goals are continued health and a desire to live with passion, and about choosing to do more than survive. I am driven from an internal source to live a vibrant, full life of joy so I can continue to enjoy the love of family and friends and so they needn't lose me to obesity and addiction. This photo (above) was taken on the highest mountain in the 48 contiguous United States, Mount Whitney. After 10 hours of climbing 6,134 feet to an elevation of 14,508 feet covering 11 miles, I summited at 2:00 pm and like every part of my weight-loss, fitness and "reclamation of life" journey, I did it! Yet, like during every aspect of my journey I had partners. My partners knew the lay of the land, my strength and challenges. I surrounded myself with people who knew how to help me get where I wanted to go. Physical and mental health professionals who coached me to express my full potential. What mountains will you climb in your life and who will help you get there? Build your team, including here at BariatricPal, and there is no "mountain" you cannot climb!

<p class='citation'>crazyweight, on August 5, 2014 - 4:26 PM, said:</p><div class='blockquote'><div class='quote'><p>&lt;p&gt;I just want to say that some of you are REALLY judgemental. Everyone has a different journey, everyone has different experiences.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;<br> &lt;p&gt;Here is what happened to me: I did surgery at a private hospital in Israel. All my instructions were given out in google-translated English and we did not need 6 months prior counseling, nor did we need a liquid diet, nor did I need to meet with a psychiatrist. I had exactly one meeting with a NUT who barely spoke English. None of these were really a downfall however, and thankfully I have managed to lose a significant amount of weight.&lt;/p&gt;<br> &lt;p&gt;What I did struggle with, however, was that about 4-5 days after coming home (I have three kids) everyone was stuffing their face and having a party. And I ate exactly one tiny pretzel that I chewed into pieces. And you know what? It didn't hurt, it tasted good and I was fine.. What happened next was not OK though- I really was panicked that my sleeve wasn't working, or I had ruined it. I NEEDED support desperately from people who had BTDT, and I made the mistake of posting on here. I got exactly one piece of support and the rest ridiculed/ derided/mocked or basically told me how stupid I was for doing so. Ummmm people f**k up- didn't many of us screw up somewhere to be in need of surgery to begin with? I think this board is great for questions, but you know what? Sometimes people make mistakes. And need support for those mistakes, not to be ridiculed or made fun of or be called out for being stupid.&lt;/p&gt;<br> &lt;p&gt;Had someone said to me back then- "you know, you shouldn't have eaten it, but you haven't ruined your sleeve- PM me if you need to talk in future" that would have done a lot more for my self-esteem and support through the process than all the people who told me I was dumb and I shouldn't have done surgery to begin with etc.. etc..&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;<br> &lt;p&gt;It is HARD to have little kids who wander round with food and not feel inclined to touch any of it despite having basically been on a fast for at least a week prior. It is HARD to make dinner and smell something yummy and not touch it. Yes, you should realise all thise before you do surgery, but realising something and living it are two very different things. And, quite frankly, if you cannot be in a place to give constructive support to someone who is likely going through a really low point in their lives, look away and move on. Don't mock or deride- keep it in your head or write it on a private chat or FB status. Those of us who feel like we failed at some point need help, not more mocking thrown their way.&lt;/p&gt;<br> &lt;p&gt;To be clear- I am in no way advocating someone to stuff their faces right after surgery - or any point ever after surgery (I am one of the very few who suffers/ed from dumping syndrome after the sleeve) or eat stuff they shouldn't. I am just askign that people on this board be gentle and kind to people who have made a mistake. If you want to be supportive- help them get back on the right track in a kind way.&lt;/p&gt;</p></div></div> <br> I know this feeling. It's so hard to live with someone who can eat anything and everything and does. I have tried to get my husband to hide his "treats" but he doesn't. Sometimes I fail to control myself. I'm not perfect, as no one else is. <br><br> In my experience I have found that different clinics have different rules. I am not to have protein shakes, caffeine, or alcohol ever again. I found that I needed protein shakes early on and used them anyway. I saw others use Click (has caffeine) and wondered how? I have even seen some who are allowed to have soda but I was told no more carbonated drinks. Even some who drink coffee, another thing that is off-limits for me. To me, that is technically "cheating" but that is just for me. Not saying I haven't had any of these things in the past just that it's considered cheating by my nutritionist. I was also told that eating processed foods would be better than eating out at a restaurant. I don't agree with that (most processed foods are high in sodium) and make healthy choices if I do go out. I do need to limit my carbs. I have found that there are foods low in sugar but high in carbs. Oh, my sugar and fat shouldn't be over 10 grams per serving either. I can tolerate around 13 grams of each before dumping. Yes. About 18 months out and I still dump. I was one of the "lucky" ones to get dumping syndrome after having the vertical sleeve gastrectomy. I was told on various other forums that it was impossible to dump after the sleeve. I was warned prior though by my surgical team. Basically their VSG patients are to follow the same plan as RNY patients and are told they can pretty much have the same issues. <br><br> Anyway, thought I would chime in. I am not trying to down anyone for their choices or mistakes. Basically I think some people, like me, ask some things because of the different rules. I do drink an occasional iced coffee, alcoholic beverage, soda, and have even eaten pizza, before. *gasp* Before surgery I could eat a whole large pizza...now only two small slices at the most. <br><br> Whatever works for you, is what I say (in moderation and if you're not gaining, that is).<br><br> -- Tina. :-)

Update: I do not enjoy alcohol at all anymore. It hits me hard and not in a good way. It's not worth it to me. I enjoyed it a couple times but now it turned a bad corner.. Gives me headaches and makes me feel hot and queasy with just a couple sips .. I'm over it lol I guess I'm the new DD around here lol

"During an interview with Good Morning America, Williams explained that falling back into alcohol abuse was "very gradual." "It's the same voice thought that… you're standing at a precipice and you look down, there's a voice and it's a little quiet voice that goes, 'Jump,'" Williams told Diane Sawyer. "The same voice that goes, 'Just one.' … And the idea of just one for someone who has no tolerance for it, that's not the possibility." When asked why he relapsed, Robin answered: "It's [addiction] — not caused by anything, it's just there… It waits. It lays in wait for the time when you think, 'It's fine now, I'm OK.' Then, the next thing you know, it's not OK." Replace "alcohol" with "food". Addiction of any kind is so hard. We just have to go day by day and learn new habits and try not to think of the old.

The same thing happened to a person in my wls group. He was never a drinker, never touched alcohol, in fact. He had elevated liver enzymes but nothing astronomical, so did I. Doc opened him up and he had cirrhosis of the liver and wasn't able to have the surgery.

I went to a wedding 4 weeks out. It was a buffet so I took some protein and a bite of veggies. Had a nibble of hubbies cake. I had a protein shake in my purse just in case I needed it. Bride was a very close co-worker. She knew about the surgery and we had talked about it before. It was kind of funny because I was worried about her paying for a meal I couldn't eat and she was worried about me not being able to eat anything. In the end we were both just happy I was there for her big day, the food didn't really matter. Avoided alcohol, btw. Still scared to try it.

I needed to take a break for a moment from the band discussions to reflect on the loss we as a whole have just suffered. When I say "we" I'm referring to those who have been fans of Robin Williams since Mork and Mindy. He was a genius. He was an alcoholic. He was HILARIOUS. He was severely depressed. He was incredibly talented, and our world is a sadder place without him. RIP, Robin Williams. You inspired me in so many ways.

My surgeon suggested that I avoid it if possible. Otherwise, he said be careful as WLS patients are more sensitive to the effects, as others have posted. One sip and I am tipsy and tired for hours. I also don't enjoy the taste any more. I chose to avoid it altogether, which is fine by me as had I not had surgery I probably would have been well on my way to becoming an alcoholic.

@@Menina honestly I think it is way too early for you to be experimenting with bread and alcohol, no matter how slowly you eat/drink. I would really stay away from those things for the time being. Stick with food you can easily cut with a fork and water to drink (when eating out). Good luck!

I agree with Terry - just do what your doctor tells you to do. We all see such variation in diets on this website - it gets confusing. I was way more restricted than some other people - but I just complied with my own Doc/NUT and I've been successful. Interesting tip about alcohol - I've heard about the addiction transfer too! I'd like to become addicted to exercise instead

I chose my surgeon's group because of it's experience, national rating, and results. My PCP and endocrinologist both recommended him. Since I chose him, I also chose to follow his program as closely as possible, regardless of what other people say or do. The education I have received has been extensive. They clearly explain what I need to do, why I need to do it, and what can happen if I don't. In addition to classroom education, I have a thick binder w/highly detailed information on every aspect of WLS including possible problems, staying healthy, and food lists. They have provided all the information I need for short term and long term success. A lot of my team's program are generally accepted practices proven to be successful with RNY surgeries over the years. Some of their program includes things they've learned through personal long term experience over the years. Each doctor may have slightly different experiences that may account for different instructions. For example: My team says no alcohol for the first year. They say this for two reasons. One is transfer addiction - a common problem for WLS patients who have a food addiction. While learning to deal with the removal of one addiction, many quickly substitute another one. The other is liver failure - less common but potentially deadly. Your liver is working very hard to process toxins that are being released quickly from stored fat as you experience fast weight loss. Drinking alcohol during the early months of fast fat-burning can overload your liver and cause liver failure. They had a patient die from this not long ago so that is why they stress abstaining from drinking alcohol. I'm just using this as an example of how my team's personal experience has affected their instructions. I'm not telling you to do as I do. Your own doctor probably has his own rules based on his/her own personal experience that may differ from mine. If you trust your doctor, follow his instructions.

I had my last drink the day before I started my 16 day preop diet. Alcohol was not included on my list of approved liquids . It was several months before my sleeve could tolerate wine or liquor postop.

My instructions were to stop alcohol for the 2-week pre-op diet. My post-op instructions do not say one word about alcohol though! It does advise generally against empty calories, but that's it. I see people on here scolding people for drinking alcohol, but for me, per my surgeon's instructions it is not forbidden. That said, I've had a glass of wine twice and both times it made my stomach feel irritated and also made me crave sweets, so I am avoiding it. I'm also not a big drinker generally. For those for whom alcohol has played a role in their weight struggles they might consider putting it off limits.

I was told no alcohol starting 3 months before and for at least a year after. Empty calories

Was wondering about alcohol use and surgery/anesthesia. What is generally considered the rule for drinking when waiting to get surgery? Omit all alcohols or just certain types? Restrict intake to a certain level or cut it out completely? I enjoy a couple glasses of wine a few nights a week, but I can cut it out if necessary. I had read something that it is good to stop all alcohol 3-8 weeks before surgery as it can affect anesthesia, but I don't really know. I just want to be as safe as possible. (And obvious yes, I understand there would be no alcohol 48 hours before and after surgery, but I was looking more at long term use rules)

Really no secret, just your basic, healthy meal plan..... For the first 6 weeks I followed my surgeon's meal plan and transitioned slowly through the food stages (very good restriction did not allow for "skipping ahead"). As hard as it was, I met Protein and Water goals 90% of the time. Once I was on regular food I focused on protein and non starchy veggies. Steak, burger, ham, ribs, pork, chicken, BBQ, tuna, refried Beans, eggs, milk, Protein Bars, PB2, Greek yogurt, avocados, cheese, cottage cheese, mixed nuts, beef and turkey Jerky, broccoli, spinach, kale, green and yellow beans, mushrooms, red peppers, edamame, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, Chinese mixed veggies, you name it.... Now at just over 7 months out I have a 24-32oz protein smoothie with 30-40g protein everyday and eat 4-5 meals and Snacks. I get a MINIMUM of 64oz water daily and I take whole food based Vitamins. I have had sweets, deserts, chips, fries, alcohol, bread, Pasta and rice, but in moderation and probably not even once/week. As I got close to and passed goal, I started adding more fruit and whole grains. Besides protein bars (Natures Valley Protein, GNC Lean Bars, Fiber One Protein) I added whole grain bars like Kind, Kashi pumpkin Flax, and Pure Ancient Grains. I snack on mixed nuts, pumpkin seeds, edamame, Peanut Butter and apples, frozen pineapple, melons, and plain Fage or Chobani Greek yogurt flavored with Protein powder. I add berries and other fruit as well as Metamucil and benefiber to my protein smoothie. But really, the simple answer is I eat a healthy, balanced diet of protein (always first priority) veggies, fruit and whole grains. I eat when I'm hungry and only until satisfied, not full. Besides protein and water, I never tracked anything. I have no idea how many calories or carbs or fat I eat. As for exercise, I've got no magic formula there, either. I haven't been to a gym in years. Immediately postop I walked a lot but that was pretty much to help with digestion and to decrease the bloated feeling I had. I rode my recumbent bike 20-30 minutes/day for awhile but I haven't been on it in a couple weeks. I actually just have a very active lifestyle. I work 60+ hours/ week. I am a vet tech, so I'm standing, squatting, bending, lifting and walking all day. On the weekends I ride my horse, sometimes 15-20 miles/day (which is an excellent Pilates and thigh master workout if you are riding "correctly"). And along with the horses comes chores...shoveling shit, fixing fences, hauling water, feeding and stacking hay. Last weekend I got 42 bales of hay. Each bale weighs 80 pounds and I had to lift and move each one 3 times (big stack to truck; truck to shed; stack in shed). So essentially I lifted 10,000 pounds in 2 days....and at least part of that over my head (Basically lifted weights and did stair master for a couple hours). I got another 21 bales yesterday and the day before went whitewater rafting and rowed a boatload of friends 8 miles (more Pilates and push-ups). Anyways, everyone's journey is going to be different. What works for me might not work for you. Just figure out what you are most comfortable with (establishing a workout routine and tracking everything is not a bad thing, it's just not what I did). And if you are still reading this, let me say my biggest advice is don't compare your weight loss to others. Concentrate on being healthy, don't torture yourself with guilt, keep a good attitude, and look for NSV's for validation, not the numbers on the scale.