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Work place chatter is always hard. If you don't share it with anyone, it should be kept quiet. Your managers are not allowed to ask about procedures etc. If it is your time to take off, then your privacy should remain in tact. I am 16 months out, and though I haven't had any foods I can't tolerate, there are foods I avoid. Trigger foods for me. chips, etc. go down way too easy, and regardless of our restriction, you can eat around your sleeve if you choose to. It's not a cure all. Just a tool, we have to do our part to be as successful as we can be. I enjoy an occasional drink, but I didn't for a while. I'm not going to be a hypocrite and tell you not to drink, just giving my experience and how I proceeded. Aside from the empty calories, our bodies will burn the alcohol first before fat. And I have noticed the alcohol now has a much quicker effect on me. I avoid drinking sepcifically in "tailgate" situations because I don't want to make bad choices worse if I'm not on my game. Everyone is different and everyone's triggers are different. You have to manage your choices and do what is best for you. I do have days where I am not as strict, but I track it all and account for it. All that being said, one day is not going to ruin anyone's progress overall. I specifically had this procedure becuase I didn't want to diet for the rest of my life anymore. I wanted to have things in moderation and get my eating and choices under control. When I have party or social situations, I bring a dish I can enjoy. There are tons of healitier choices out there. No reason you can't enjoy your social gatherings as much as ever. food doens't have to be the focus. I had surgery on a Tuesday and was back at work Monday. I'm in an office situation so no lifiting required. Best of luck to you!! Great progress so far!

You will be able to do "normal" stuff soon. You can still go out, do the movie thing, whatever, it just doesn't have to involve eating as much. I've been to girls night out where we had a bunch of munchies and lots of alcohol. I nibbled on the stuff I really liked and since I was the DD, stuck with Water and juice. Been out to a Thai restaurant and pizza joint for birthday parties and enjoyed little bites of everything. Everyone knows I 've had surgery, so my strange eating habits aren't questioned. For your down time, besides the exercise suggestions, maybe pick up a new hobby or start a project that will keep you occupied. As you lose weight, you could use your weekends for mini shopping sprees...Use your Taco Bell money to buy something new to wear. But be careful - I guess you could replace food addiction with a shopping addiction...maybe stick with the thrift stores to minimize the damage

Thanks for the suggestions! I'll check them out. No partying for me, though. I was always a lightweight when it can to alcohol but now I get pretty drunk on one glass of wine so I only drink it at home. :-)

I copied and pasted from drugs.com What should I avoid? Avoid taking tryptophan while you are taking Lexapro. Ask your doctor before taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) for pain, arthritis, fever, or swelling. This includes aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), celecoxib (Celebrex), diclofenac, indomethacin, meloxicam, and others. Using an NSAID with escitalopram may cause you to bruise or bleed easily. Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects of Lexapro. Lexapro may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert. So far, Premier has the lowest amount of tryptophan, about .36 for a chocolate shake that's probably fine.

One day I'm going to make a list of everything I didn't get told pre-band, and "Your feeling of restriction/satiety will vary day to day" will be at the top of the list. I think it is important for people to realize this, so they don't think it is odd when the tight feeling fluctuates with one's stress level, temperature, state of health, exercise, morning/evening, alcohol consumption, etc. In a way, it's a neat thing to realize that the band is capable of modifying itself according to what is going on with your body and mind. But it would be beneficial for bariatric teams to share this information from the outset, just as they tell as about pre and post op eating directives. My surgeon, like many others, never once said it is perfectly normal for a band to feel tighter in the morning (and then explain the mechanics behind why that is), or when one is congested with a head cold.

Hey everyone. I have par taken in a drink here and there. I used to drink whiskey and diet soda and had a pretty high tolerance to it. Not so much these days. While no soda for me. My dr is against it and not thrilled with the alcohol either so I met him halfway and had whiskey and water. My tolerance is nothing so half a drink is all I can do. I joined a gym today very excited about it. I have been pestering my dr to allow more than walking and light cardio and finally got it. First training session with trainer Tuesday. So glad for this sight and all the suggestions and support there is from others going through this. Much success to all!

Let me just start by saying, I've been banded 11+ months. I don't keep or have any desire for my band to be really tight and my surgeon is leaving how tight up to me. I like that. I just wanted to share my story. I have a very addictive personality. A type AAA lets say. Everything I do, I do full steam ahead. Eating, drinking, you name it. I experienced the alcohol thing when I was younger and did it much to excess. Coming from a home with an alcoholic father, this scared me and I eventually with some help was able to leave this behind. Then the devil on my shoulder became smoking. That was a really hard one to kick, but eventually, I did that too, this time on my own, but with much failure and restarting. food being an acceptable addiction crept up on me then it stopped creeping and just started moving in. After years of yoyo dieting and trying every diet I could find and making up others on the way, with thousands of dollars spent on fads and diet pills I found I could not handle this on my own. I decided to get the band. When I first got my band, I admit I thought it would cure me my addiction. I didn't know it was a tool. I had been told it was, but I still didn't know it. I had not yet found this forum and a part of me wishes I had, but another part of me wouldn't change a thing. The preop weight came off great, I didn't totally hate the shakes though I missed the lunches out 3-4 times a week with my coworkers and found it difficult to avoid the Snacks that were constantly being delivered to the office by well meaning clients. The post op diet was more difficult for me as by then I hated the shakes and had very little imagination as to what else to try. My first eggs, 3 weeks post op was the best food I had ever eaten. I had hiatel hernial repair and plication with my band. I do love the plication and believe I avoided BANDSTER HELL because of it. The surgery itself was pretty hard on me and it may have been because of the extra procedures involved, but like we all do, I eventually bounced back. I had my surgery on Friday and went back to work on Monday. Tuesday I had to go to surgeons office and have all of my residual fill removed due to too much swelling. I had my first stuck feeling that day due to gulping fluids through a straw (I forgot no straws). Looking back, it was probably alot of gas in my stomach, much different feeling than the gas around the stomach. Anyway, 11 months out, I'm down 75 lbs and only a few to goal. My goal isn't set in stone, so may be adjusted depending on how I feel when I get there. I'm not going to have any reconstructive surgeries as my body has managed to bounce back ok. Not bikini-ok, but I'm 55 and never was a bikini personality anyway. I put a full length mirror in my bathroom 4 or 5 months back so I could make myself look at me. Something I haven't been able to do in a long time. I'm just starting to convince my mind that I'm not obese anymore. I eat what I want, I just don't want as much and I'm mindful of what I eat so I don't sabotage my weight loss. I don't feel like I'm dieting, just reprogramming myself to want healthier foods. I exercise 4 to 5 days a week and mix that up a lot. I feel I have developed alot of tools to go with the band and if I lost the band, I might could manage now. I hope I don't have to find out. I just want to give a shout out to all of you out there that are on this journey with me. I know we each may do it slightly differently, but we are all heading in the same direction and it helps. I love that most out there aren't trying to tell others how to do it, but how they do it, which is sometimes different.

I'm about 4 months out. I still drink carbonation every once in a while. Usually it's in the form of a sip or two of my fiancé's drink. Drinking too much of it leads to pain in my shoulder. Alcohol - usually have a glass at night. It's empty wasted calories so that has slowed my progress down but it's enjoyable experience and doesn't make me feel like I'm on a restricted diet. I hardly drink beer now. Between the higher calorie content and the carbonation it's just not worth it for me.

It was 3 months on Thursday since my surgery. I am now down 78 lbs! Everyone is different, but I have had no stalls or setbacks. I don't follow all the rules. Yes, I've had alcohol, yes, I drink carbonated drinks, yes, I drink caffiene daily. I'm not saying tjis is the right way to do it, this is just the way I've done it. Yes, I drink with my meals. It's real simple, I just can't eat or drink as much of anything as I used to. I walk a couple miles a couple days a week, but other than that, I just try to live as normal as possible

Well I'm 3 months out and I drink alcohol occasionally. I also had a vodka tonic because I didn't realize that's what it was. I thought my cousin was handing me water at the club on Saint Pat's... I should have known. Lol. I'm okay with the idea of not having carbonation ever again but alcohol I do love and need occasionally. Everything in moderation

i did not do any "sugar free" stuff. i dont even do stevia. i did do a Protein shake with sugar alcohols in it. i used coconut sugar post op. its a low glycemic sugar. i dont eat jello, or SF pudding or popsicles or "lite" yogurt. i did do grass fed Gelatin, eddies fruit pops (the ones with 60 calories.. not splenda), cottage cheese and vanilla or plain greek yogurt. i have juiced cucumbers (and other veggies), made lots of bone broth and drank plain coconut Water. i made popsicles with coconut water and yogurt too! i have lost 80 pounds post op and so feel like i must be doing something right! my nut agreed she doesnt do artificial sweeteners and so encouraged me to find low sugar whole foods to eat post op.

I applaud that you are asking questions in advance to get more information. Like most Drs. lists, mine says "Make smart choices". My Dr's list also says avoid soda, beer and other alcoholic beverages along with gum and straws. In discussion, he really wants patients to avoid carbonation. Good thing for me, I enjoy a good whiskey ????. At 5 weeks out, I have no desire for carbonation or alcohol, and trust me, I to had that heavy addiction to Diet Mountain Dew all day long and more than an occasional beer in the evenings. I always had a tin of gum in my purse and variety in my desk drawer at work. Those are gone now replaced by breath strips, spray and tictacs. I will have to judge in the future how to live my life in moderation, which I've proven in the past is quite difficult for me. I started on this path with my new teeny tiny tummy with the goal to be above average with my weight loss and retention of that loss for the long-term. If that means no more beer or Mountain Dew for me? Well then so be it. I choose to do without and excel in my goals.

Water, lots and lots of water! It'll flush the alcohol and help you feel better, once you stop feeling waterlogged anyway. I'm in preop diet too, and am finding I do better if I think of this as my "early surgery mode of eating," not a diet that is separate and "pre". Surgery. It's all a head thing, but then I never much ate because of stomache hunger - mostly head stuff; Family celebration, noshing/drinking with the girls, treating myself after hard day, etc. Also I'll bet that this won't affect your surgery at all--lots of people have less requirements. Just smile at the memory of a fun night out with friends and remind yourself no more imbibing like that until surgery is well past! If they know about it, do a spa evening together next time--mani-pedis, facials, moisturizers, and everyone brings their favorite mineral water! Party on!

Well, I do not drink at all, but as far as never having beer again ... I don't believe VSG is a death sentence to enjoying an occasional brew. My Dr told me no alcohol for the first 6 months, and you'll read postings on here from folks saying they are just empty calories. Well, if we made a list of all the foods we still do eat which are empty calories, I would need a larger monitor to see them all. Much larger. Then, of course, there is the carbonation factor. Going on 3 years out, I enjoy the occasional root beer or a few sips of Sprite. The carbonation definitely restricts the size of gulps I can take, but I still enjoy them. But, back in the day when I did drink, as I recall, a nice porter or stout didn't have the carbonation of the lagers. I would think a Guinness on occasion would fill the need. I'm sure @@Madam Reverie would agree.

I definitely agree with what everyone above has said. You should always strive do to do more fresh Protein from chicken etc. but occasionally a protein bar as a Meal Replacement just can't be helped:-) I eat a protein bar about once a week for lunch, typically because I'm in a hurry or if I know based on my menu for the day that I could be short on protein. Remember you should really only be looking at the net carbs. I think sometimes people look at the total and trip out. To find this you would subtract the Fiber grams and the sugar alcohol grams from the total carbs and this will give you the net. The net carbs are what affects your blood sugars etc. I buy the Low Sugar Detour Bars from the Vitamin Shoppe. They are 340 cal, 30g of protein, 2 g sugar and 5 net cabs But yes do try to add more protein in by consuming more meats, eggs and cheese.

Hey so first congrats on your process your doing amazing! My advice for you would be to make sure your still chewing slow so you don't over eat and if you are most defiantly trying to loose more weight you should only be eating clean and maybe one cheat day maybe! But make sure you are taking your Protein and working out at least and I mean at least 2x weekly .... You'll reach your goal!!! Good luck and stay focused also limit your alcohol intake because that's the weight that sneaks on You with out a sign ....

So let me start out by saying that I drink alcohol maybe 2-3 times a year. A six pack will go bad in my fridge before I drink it all if I buy it. With that said I do enjoy an occasional ice cold beer. I was sitting on the side of the bed this morning just thinking and it hit me.... No more beer. I am early in he process so i'm sure plenty of other things will hit me as well. I just tell myself that the advantages of being small far outweigh anything I may feel I miss.

Most of what I have read about alcohol is that it is empty calories & will not help you lose weight but I don't think a few sips on Date night is going to hurt you. I have had a few sips myself but is not a regular thing. Enjoy!

I've had alcohol. I talked to my surgeon and he suggested rum and diet coke. I'm following a low-carb plan, so he recommended it over a glass of wine for me. I felt the effects of it quicker than before surgery. And I felt really dehydrated and crappy the day after. But I probably overdid it that night too.

Well, I'm not supposed to have alcohol for a year and am gonna try to stick to that if I can. I have a mild allergy to the tannins in red wine so I always drank Asti, which was carbonated. Or vodka and cranberry. Or beer.... Lol Anywho... My favorite was Asti, but since it's carbonated I'll probably forego that and stick with the vodka and cranberry when I do drink alcohol. My sister was cleared for alcohol in 3 weeks. Every surgeon has his/her rules and I don't see anything wrong with you posting about alcohol. If I'm being honest with myself, I will probably have a drink on my birthday in June or when I'm on vaycay in July. But I'm not sure. Be sure and let us know how it goes. I know with my sister she has a much lower tolerance than she had. She gets a buzz much faster. But she also gets sober faster so I'm guessing that she's metabolizing the alcohol at a faster rate than before. Have fun!!

I have had a few drinks. Not together. Except one night. I had a ridiculously huge margarita with my brothers (so it was still technically just one) and it was awful. I got really dehydrated. I wasn't even really hungover but I just felt bad all night. But I have had both mixed drinks and wine. A half glass of wine really helps me relax and feel like a "normal" (non-sleeved) person. But I haven't done it more than 2-3 times. I have also found the alcohol topic to be really hard to talk about. People just talk down about it and try to make you feel like an idiot. If you have just one glass I'm sure you'll be fine. But don't be surprised if you can't finish it or get tipsy really fast. Enjoy your date night!

Thinking about sneaking a small glass of wine in tonight on date night. I was given the okay and I'm not really a habitual drinker. I'm a little reluctant to ask if anyone has had a little alcohol since surgery just because every forum I've read with the same topic is filled with indignation and it's really annoying to read. This has been been a great group so far so I just wanted to run by you guys what you thought? I figured I'd have a few sips to celebrate tonight ..thoughts?

Thinking about sneaking a small glass of wine in tonight on date night. I was given the okay and I'm not really a habitual drinker. I'm a little reluctant to ask if anyone has had a little alcohol since surgery just because every forum I've read with the same topic is filled with indignation and it's really annoying to read. This has been been a great group so far so I just wanted to run by you guys what you thought? I figured I'd have a few sips to celebrate tonight ..thoughts?

I think one of the best things you can do is prepare yourself as much as possible NOW--before surgery. Stop drinking soda and understand that for best results you won't ever have it again. Stop drinking alcohol - you shouldn't have it for 6 months after surgery and even then the amount is very limited Stop drinking during meals. This explains why http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xR0VM3mnsgM (this was the hardest for me) Start exercising - even if it is walking down the street...create new habits. It worked for me to do all these things before. I would also recommend not having food funerals - the more you put on now the more you have to take off. i admit - i did indulge in one item pre-surgery but I didn't go crazy (one sleeve of little chocolate donuts and yes it was heaven) If you plan right you may still be able to have some to the foods you love now--it is all a work in progress and how you want to live. This is all for you - no one else. Figure out what works for you. I have been overweight since I was 11. I tried every diet and nothing worked - I didn't lose the weight. I would do a good job of maintaining the weight while I was dieting but never lost. My sleeve has now helped me lose 27 pounds in 3 weeks. I have no hunger, no cravings, no appetite. My hips thank me, my knees thank me. I am learning to eat all over again-- What my stomach can handle what it can't and how it feels to be truly be full. (after 3-4 bites). I will continue to learn along the way on what works - I can't wait to start really exercising again and seeing where this takes me months / years down the road GOOD LUCK!!!

I have to agree with most of the post on here... NEVER.. well that is up to you... I feel like the Doctors give us the "road map" and its up to us if we want to be successful and follow it... I am 4 mos post op - i have not had any alcohol or carbonation since a month before my surgery. Once in a while i miss it, but i dont give in because i look at how far i have come & what it took to get here, that sip or drink isnt worth it. Now maybe in a few months when i hit my goal weight i might feel differently... but that will be up to me and not my doctor... I think you just have to think about what is important to you and do what you think is right... it might not be what everyone else is doing but its up to you... this new tummy is only a tool and its up to us to use it good luck to you!!!