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I just went on a beach vacation last week and I'm 3 months out, honestly I enjoyed myself. I drank alcohol, took it nice and slow...1 drink lasted a while. I ate whatever I wanted, a bite this or that, and shared a lot of meals with my husband or kids. Enjoy yourself!!! You've been through alot in the past weeks!!!

I officially quit smoking 6 years ago. Since then, I occasionally would smoke when I drank alcohol. Lately though I've been struggling with wanting to smoke more. Possibly trading one addiction for another? I'm fighting with myself because I really do want to be healthy.

For Snacks or quick meals, I grab a P3 or make my own (I can get strips of low-fat meat at the supermarket salad bar, and I use cheddar cheese curd..just measure out an ounce of each, and put it in a snack-size bag). Most of the Protein bars I've seen have fairly high sugar content, and I'm supposed to avoid them for a while longer. I did find a few varieties of Pure Protein that have sugar alcohol rather than sugar, and no pieces of nuts (no nuts until 4-6 months out), but I can only take a bite or two (generally after a bike ride or hard workout) Tuna pouches are a good, quick food. I made taco salad cups the other night, and they're very portable (I used a recipe from Bariatric Foodie for the salad itself, but instead of a casserole made it in muffin tins. It was basically a bit of taco meat and salsa, with refried Beans and then cheese) String cheese is a go-to snack food.

You don't worry about making the right choices, you just do it. You didn't have this surgery to continue on the path you were going down, you had it in order to take the oath you're on now...a healthier way of eating and living. You make food choices just the way you do every day like you have been. Just because you go on vacation doesn't mean you have to stop making those choices. In this day and age, there's something for everyone everywhere and if you're that concerned about making wrong choices, take things with you, such as Prepackaged Protein bars, low-carb, high protein pre-made slimfast drinks that can be poured over ice, and if you feel like you can splurge on an alcoholic drink, that's up to you. You could always just get sparkling Water with fresh lemon and a cherry if it'll make you feel like you're part of the crowd. I mean, why would you even ask the questions you asked? You know what you have to do to stay in track. You either choose to do it or you choose not to do it. Simple as that!

I'm six months out and I don't measure or anything, so please forgive the lack of amounts in my description. I have never tracked my calories, so no help there, either. I basically eat when I'm hungry and just until I'm not hungry anymore. Mostly Protein, veggies, fruit and Water. I don't usually eat Pasta, rice or bread, but I have had them on a rare occasion. Breakfast... Workdays is something quick I nibble on while feeding dogs and horses and getting ready in the morning. Cottage cheese with peaches, an apple, premade spinach, sausage and cheese mini quiche, hard boiled egg, etc. last week I even had some leftover prime rib and sweet potato fries. Weekends I will sit down for a civilized breakfast. A one egg omelet with whatever I've got available..... cheese, sausage, spinach, bacon, mushrooms, green chilis, salsa.... I made a batch of protein pancakes and froze them and they are great with butter, maple syrup and a turkey sausage patty. Huevos Rancheros is another favorite weekend breakfast. Daytime Snacks and lunch.... I am on the road all day and I don't get a lunch break so my work days consist of snacks and Protein drinks. I make up a big protein smoothie 24-32oz, 30-40g protein with benefiber and Metamucil to bring along. Flavors vary .....chocolate with a banana, cake batter/hazelnut/Carmel, Peanut Butter, cake batter with blueberries, apple cranberry, orange cherry, vanilla/gingerbread, etc. I drink 1/2 in the morning and 1/2 in the afternoon. I also nibble on mixed nuts, sesame sticks, a protein or whole grain Fiber bar, cheese sticks, beef jerky and pumpkin seeds. I don't have any set lunch or snack times, but I'm usually eating every 3 hours. On top of the smoothie, I also get in a travel mug of decaf coffee and a liter of water. I'll drink a big glass of V8 a couple times/ week. On the weekends I get a lot more real food....I'll eat 5-6 mini meals, and not any snacks. dinner.... If I get home before 6pm I will have two dinners. One I try to make heavy on veggies and the other protein heavy. I eat most anything. BBQ ribs, chicken salad on pita bites, elk, Chinese food, burgers, tacos, pork loin, roast beef, rotisserie chicken, turkey curry, seafood, ham, steak, brussel sprouts, Beans, corned beef, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, carrots, baked beans, artichokes, tomatoes, avocados. Lately I haven't been getting home until 8-9pm, so I only get in one dinner. At night I have a cup of chamomile tea and sometimes some plain Greek yogurt flavored with Protein powder or apples and peanut butter as a bedtime snack. I also take a whole food based Multivitamin with Probiotics, Iron, and sublingual B12. I have indulged in alcohol, cake, ice cream, cupcakes, cheesecake, noodles, fries, donuts, chips and English toffee, but they certainly aren't everyday treats. I hit my surgeons goal weight 3 weeks ago. I'm 2 pounds away from a "normal" BMI and I'm still losing at a rate of 1-2 pounds/week.

Hi everyone, sorry for the absence, had my sleeve 6/19, hardly knew it happened! I have been fortunate to have no pain, nausea, head hunger or other adverse outcomes. Saw my surgeon on 6/21 9 lbs lighter and he commented that it didn't look like I had just had surgery! Then he gave me the green light to travel for a few days, so I flew down to a warm, sunny beach and am enjoying just chilling and drinking (no alcohol of course) and recuperating if you can call it that. I am anxious to get home and weigh in. And you can bet I haven't said that too many times in my life! Looking forward to making the next meeting. Deb

Hey all, Last year I booked an all inclusive vacation with friends before I knew about the surgery. Now I'm two months out from surgery and I'll be leaving next week to head south to some beautiful beaches and fun times. However, I'm also a little worried. I have plans to work out everyday and thankfully my friends are on board with this plan. But I'm more worries about handling the food situation - making smart choices, *having* smart choices available, etc. I've never been to this place nor have I ever done all inclusive so I'm not sure what to expect. Also - ALCOHOL. I didn't plan on drinking at all but I'm also thinking I'll be in the Caribbean, on vacation, with friends. For the first time in years, feeling fabulous, looking amazing (the lowest weight I've been in nearly 10 years)... Can I drink? Once maybe? What happened to you when/if you had a drink? What are my best options for drinks? Any helpful insight/encouragement would be fabulous!! Thanks, Hana

it irks me when people think we are 'jumping into' WLS. it's not exactly a decision you make on a Monday and surgery that Friday. this is a LONG process, many months for most. it also revolves around a food ADDICTION. i once retorted back to a colleague who questioned me the same way "would you discourage an alcoholic from going to AA"? and dropped it. another poster said it best, people are terribly misinformed. rest assured in the decision you made for yourself is best and keep your eye on the prize. good luck!

Because my wife and I both work with long hrs, we eat out frequently.... I always start with a pre-dinner alcohol drink.... Now it gets tricky...I have ordered Soup and salad, and/or an appetizer before my entree, but then find myself not being able to finish that, and cannot touch my entree at all....so I'm careful with the pre-meal treats. I will let my wife order something and I will pick at it.... Entree, something high Protein....since I don't eat meat, it is usually fish. I will stay with fish first, before moving onto the side, because if I start with the sides I may not be able to get to the important stuff....I have learned the hard way. Many times when I go out with co-workers, etc, after a few drinks and time to order, I will order 2 items off the appetizer selections, and that's it.... Again, maybe a salad and shrimp for instance. I am always finished long before everyone else, so when it's ready for dessert I am able to order also....but again, cannot finish it. There are certain foods I will never eat again, due mainly to the band...like Red Meat for instance. And since I eat so little nowadays, no matter what I pick off the menu, I try to make the best choices...and when I'm finished, I'm finished....that simple! So restaurant, parties, cook outs, it's all the same for me with the band. It does not change.

I also have not had any fills and it is as you say, a double-edged sword because we can eat anything and it will go down. For me, that means I have to be even more diligent because I can eat unhealthy and in larger volumes. My experience is that it takes at times, a little longer to feel satiety so I have to be listening closely or I'll miss the signs and go right to uncomflortable. Plus it doesn't take much to get there. Just the other day, I was out to lunch with a friend and we ordered a chicken quesedilla. I ate one quarter of it...which is typical but then I decided to take another small piece from another quarter. It wasn't much, but after I ate it, I knew I shouldn't have. I was too full the rest of the day and by dinnertime, I was still uncomfortable. Since I was out again for dinner, I took very small...and I mean really small portions of the meal and called it a day. I'm glad you are doing so well so soon out...I'm just going to caution you on the beer...just make sure the carbonation is OK with the doctor, and remember...alcohol is empty calories. I drink too...but in moderation. Best wishes on your continued success!

You'll get more answers if you post in the Vet's Forum, because vets usually check that forum and might miss your post in another forum if it gets buried by new posts. I kept the same exercise schedule at first and slowly added healthy fats, more carbs, and a few treats such as sweets, snack crackers or alcoholic drinks. I went into maintenance in March 2012 and did well all year till around Christmas time when I got a little too happy with the extras. I cut back and was back at goal quickly. I originally had a 5 lb. bounce range, but after the Christmas incident, I reset my bounce to 2 lbs. My weight doesn't vary much unless I'm truly gaining or losing so that work well for me. Also, I continue to weigh myself daily so I know when to cut back or when I need to add some (only slipped under goal weight a few times in almost three years). I don't exactly track calories, but I'm sure I eat more than 1200. I lose weight on 1200 per day. Lynda

I'm 7 weeks and had a salad at 5 weeks. No problem. My doc and nut says try it when u feel ready. I would go crazy w out salad/veggies! I have had no problems w any foods. My doc even said I could have alcohol when I had tried most all foods. I tried a beer-too bubbly! But than had a glass of wine about 4 oz and it was just fine.

Without this surgery, I would have gotten even bigger. My blood pressure would be higher and I would have probably developed diabetes. My sleep apnea would have compounded everything. I have osteoarthritis in both knees and hips, so my ability to exercise was minimal. I am also an emotional eater. I could see myself sitting my couch watching TV with a big bowl of popcorn and a magnum full of wine, eating and drinking myself to oblivion, something I did every night. I would have become an alcoholic. I was, and still am a food addict. I would have lost my relationship with my boyfriend and isolated myself even more than I already was.

I only had a 24 hour pre-op diet. About 2 weeks out I traded lunch for a Protein shake. At that point I also cut out coffee and struggled to cut out alcohol, I ate clean. Pretty much lean meats and vegetables only.

I think the bigger question is, will you be able to stop after just a little bit of the foods you think are "normal"? Or will you start to want it more and more after you've gone out and continue to eat it in the following days? You say you've been on multiple failed diets, and we all have. The reason the vast majority of us were big enough to need surgery is because we can't stop at just one of anything. The surgery only works by limiting your food intake, it will not fix the psychological connections and memories you have surrounding food that drive you to eat. My suggestion when going out is to focus less on food and more on your friends and your social atmosphere. I know this might sound harsh, but if you need food to enjoy yourself when you go out then you have just as much of a problem as someone who needs to drink alcohol to enjoy themselves when they go out. I used to be like you, too. Every time I went out it was an opportunity to get food. I totally understand how you see everyone else eating and feel like you should be able to eat that, too. Its not that you don't deserve to eat what you want, but you deserve to be healthy next week more than you need that french fry right now. Don't sacrifice what you need tomorrow for what you want in the moment. If you can honestly (and be really, really honest with yourself here) stop after just a few bites and not let it carry over into the next day, and if you can fit those few bites into your budget of calories for the day without going over, and if you have already finished your protein serving for the meal and still have room, then and only then would I recommend trying to eat something you call "normal". Protein and produce before carbs and crap is what my surgeon said in our seminar and its a mantra I repeat to myself every day. And honestly, the less you eat of the things you did before surgery the easier it gets to stay away from them.

I have a band, and I will have a few drinks when on vacation... but just remember every shot you intake is probably worth one or two hours work on a treadmill. It is all empty calories--zero nutrional value and over 100 calories for a 1.5 oz. shot. Alcohol doesn't bother me, but I suspect tolerance is an individual thing; along with the usual caveats about alcohol absorbion being more rapid in folks who've have WLS. Whenever I think about a drink, I think about the long hour I spent on a treadmill at the gym the day before--that is a reality check If my weight was falling off, I'd might be a bit more liberal about indulging in libation. Smoking I gave up thirty years ago.... if I hadn't I wouldn't be here now. But I believe that adults can do what ever they want, so long as it is legal.

Well, I'll tell ya, I have tried oily and alcohol I am still a mess of sticky blackish residue, whatever my Doc used could pave a freaking road... sigh. ...

Non smoker here so no answer for that question. Alcohol - you will weigh less and eat a lot less... Therefore for most of us our tolerance goes way way down. I used to be able to drink half a bottle of wine now a glass gets me buzzed. My vodka drinks have a lot more Water in them than before. Beer is difficult due to the carbonation but half a beer gets to me quickly. As the other poster said - be careful about over indulging. Too intoxicated to where you need/want to throw up is a bad thing. Just take it slow. Oh and the more you drink, the more you'll want to eat so that messes the weight loss efforts too in addition to all the empty calories.

My appetite is dimmed and I can make good choices -- and I had no restrictions after recovery, just to eat when I'm hungry (way less) and learn to pay attention to my band, I'm glad nothing is outlawed -- caffeine, alcohol, etc. I had years of outlawing all sorts of things to no avail. I am not on a diet. I have a band and make good choices.

I do think a few sessions with a trainer might help those struggling with balance and gait issues a lot. I did have to physically think about how I walked, stood, and sat for the longest time. But I know working with a personal trainer helped me recondition my thinner body faster. When I first lost the weight, I still walked hunched over, with my legs too far apart and my arms a couple of inches out from my body because I had spent quite a bit of time with that extra weight necessitating that. I still tend to slouch, but I think that's habit, age, and a crappy computer chair. I'm considering the lumo, http://www.lumobodytech.com/lumoback/. But after a bad experience with the Breathometer (blew a radically different blood alcohol every time), I'm a bit leery. Lynda

For me alcohol is about 3X more potent after being banded. So, I drink much less. Maybe one beer or one glass of wine. Rarely any hard liquor mixed drinks. The calories are empty so there's really no use for the stuff other than a stress reliever. You have to be very careful with alcohol once being banded. You can't afford to over-indulge and get hungover or throw up. Throwing up with the band is one of the main causes of slips. I've never smoked and agree with Catfish but I've read of many on this forum who say most docs won't do surgery unless the patient stops smoking. Recovery can be diminished for people who smoke. Something to do with slow healing. Best to just quit altogether.

Effects of smoking to me = causes my clothes/hair/truck, basically everything to STINK. Eyes to burn. I don't smoke...YUCK, but when I am at places they do, those are some of the ways it affects me. Similar to pre banding. Alcohol, I haven't noticed any difference pre or post banding.

Right after surgery, you have to follow a STRICT diet, from your surgeon. It's set up that way to insure proper healing of your band, also prepping you for how to eat in the future. You can't scarf food down anymore, can't chug down pop, alcohol, or even Water anymore. Everything is much slower. Lots of chewing, lots of smaller bites, lots of sips, and certainly no alcohol and sodas. The caffeine is a no-no for the first two weeks, according to my diet plan. The first 3 days were nothing but liquid, at 2-3 oz each meal, 6 meals a day, plus 24 oz of water. Days 4-6 were still 6 liquid meals, but every other one was a Protein drink, all still 2-3 oz each. Day 7-13 are what they call the blended stage. Portions upped to 3-4 oz, and now certain foods are added, such as yogurt, creamed Soups, cottage cheese, veggies, even chicken and turkey with brith added. Still drinking the Protein shakes, 3-4 oz in between each meal, still incorporating 24 oz of water. Mind you, this is how my des plan is, others may be different. So far, so good for me! (My diet plan goes up to 5 wks post-op. I can post more of it, if you'd like.) My husband was banded in 2010, and he still eats like crap, but his portions are very small. The band lets you know when enough is enough. I wish he would eat better. I'm hoping my better choices will rub off on him!!!

Is wondering has anyone had any effects of alcohol and smoking after their band? Heard horrific story's of the effects of them with the band but also story's of no effects what so ever...

Just over three months, this week my college besty came to town. On two days I had a glass of wine. It went down well but did hit me a little more heavily than in days past. I feel more guilty from the calories than the alcohol. Just not worth it at this point of my journey. I'll enjoy my glass of Jamison's in the future, but I want to hit a few more mini-goals before I repeat my drinking experiments.