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Hi everyone I am new here, I'm going to my seminar to start the process for WLS tomorrow. I want to hear from people who are addicts/alcoholics who are sober whom have gone thru the process. I'm afraid that bc of my past history and medication I'm on for opiate addiction I will not qualify or my process will be harder. I'm a recovering addict for 3 1/2 years, from heroin addiction and currently working a program and on suboxone. This has worked for me. I had a c section a year ago I was on subutex during my pregnancy and under the knife. Which it was fine for baby and me baby healthy and no w/d . I'm worried that I will be judged and told to get off meds completely when I know what is working for me and what can work for surgery procedures... such as 3 days prior to surgery lower your dose and conitinue to take that lowest does with the opiates the dr has prescribed for a few days after surgery, and when u feel u dont need them then to conitinue to take your subutex like you would have pre op. I've been reading that cesections are much worse pain than haveing GBS but yes I know everyone is different. I am just wondering how your process went? I've also read up on people switching food addiction for drugs/alcohol/ gambling/ or having too many cats ... 😜 J/k but I would like to continue on the subutex after surgery bc I've been down that dark lonely road of addiction and don't want to do it again. Also I've read articles about after having GB that patients whom taken suboxone that the naloxone isn't processed into your body. I know this is a lot and I may be all over every place I guess I'm afraid I be honest with these people and get treated like I'm a drug seeker. Or if my dr is uneducated on the medication. But at least I know the experience I had before and how I felt the last time. I will hope and suggest that to them. Please tell your stories!!! I can't stop searching the web on WLS!! 🤗

I trashed my pre-op diet 5 days prior to surgery due to a long standing business arrangement. I resisted all alcohol but I did enjoy a small fillet steak with spinach and grilled tomato on the side followed by good blue cheese and two crackers. 1400 calories by my best estimate. After my surgery 2 days ago my consultant commented on how well my pre-op had prepared my liver and so I smiled and agreed. Your mileage may vary...

The upper portion of the post mentions both tobacco and alcohol industries as well as test markets-that is where I got it from. Sorry if I misunderstood your original post.

Now here's a scary news item... News Candy-Flavored Meth Posted by DAN SAVAGE on March 27 at 9:24 AM Ripping a page from the tobacco and alcohol industries’ playbooks, the folks that bring you crystal meth have started offering candy-flavored meth—and Washington state is apparently one of the test markets. From USA Today: Reports of candy-flavored methamphetamine are emerging around the nation, stirring concern among police and abuse prevention experts that drug dealers are marketing the drug to younger people. The flavored crystals are available in California, Nevada, Washington, Idaho, Texas, New Mexico, Missouri and Minnesota, according to intelligence gathered by Drug Enforcement Administration agents from informants, users, local police and drug counselors, DEA spokesman Steve Robertson says. Meth now comes in strawberry, chocolate, and cola flavors—in addition to blue meth, or “Smurf dope,” that one meth maker had selling in Missouri.

They want to be sure you are of sound mind, know the consequences of your actions. That you are not a binger, abuse alcohol, etc. and need other psych help before getting a major life changing surgery. Most likely whatever eating issues you have all banders have had so don't worry about it. Be honest.

Have one for me! The only word of caution I have is that alcohol seems to affect me much easier now! Sip slowly and enjoy!

I am so thankful for your responses. She and I just had a conversation and we are going to make sure she is a "squeaky wheel". I just called her nurse and left a message that Mikaela is still throwing up. Her last ER visit was a few days ago at John Muir Trauma Center and by their mannerism you could tell they were not real impressed with her surgeon. In answer to the drugs. When we reported to her surgeon that she had gone to the ER and had to have potassium pushed, he decided to order her hydro condone for pain. She took it and threw it up. I know it would be naive to think that our 21 year olds are always angles but she never saw the point in alcohol or drugs but even if she did she would just throw them up. She has not kept much down since her surgery. Last time she had her glucose levels they were low at 60. At first the doctor went over her diet and told her to be sure to stay away from sugar and then when he got the labs back he changed his mind. He told her to drink anything she could keep down. They have done the swallow test twice and the liquids are moving through. Mikaela watched the test and she told me that her stomach looks really small like it would only hold two ounces. She said the Fluid goes through but very slowly. Last ER visit as well, they pressed on her stomach and it was painful. They checked her bilirubin, and anything that would have to do with the liver. I know I'm all over the place with this information but we have done so much. It is like her surgeon is giving up because he does not know what to do. When I asked if she is such an inconvenience could be get a referral out he said no because she signed a contract with him. Her surgery was done at Travis AFB in Fairfield CA. We bring her home every weekend except this past weekend to keep an eye on her.

I remember watching a programme on British TV when I lived there, about a low income woman who was given free WLS, and after she had lost all the weight, free plastics. She went from a quiet church goer to a wild child who had unprotected sex with multiple partners and abused drugs and alcohol. There was no psych or nutritional support that I can recall. It was pretty scary for me at the time. I wonder what happened to her.

Hi. WLS is a big deal so kudos to you for thinking everything through again before surgery. Food changes after surgery...that’s why we do it...at the same time, as long as your surgeon is ok w it - eating some things here or there like two bites of birthday cake isn’t unheard of. My surgeon said no sweets and no alcohol. How determined are you to stick w it? You will be the best predictor of the outcome. By following your surgeon’s guidelines, you’ll give yourself the very best opportunity for success. Will two bites of cake cause you to want more sweets more often? If it will, are you able to stop yourself from eating more? The same about wine - will you want to drink more alcohol more often? It really becomes a mental game as much as a physical one. If you don’t want to be part of the 30% that regains, you’ll need to eat only what your stomach allows in terms of portion sizes. In general, I think you may eventually be able to eat a little more than two spoonfuls but it will still be a lot less than it once was. I had surgery just over 2 months ago. I was nervous too, especially the night before. Everything went really well for me. I’m super happy I had sleeve surgery. I wish you all the best. [emoji272]

A social drink you can do with in normal don't drink while medicated rules. You know no vicodin and alcohol kind of thing. Beer is carbonated. Carbonation is bad. Like it hurts bad and it's bad for the band. If you don't like it, don't put it in your body. If you do like it, it's a struggle to stay away, but staying away is typically recommended. Find something else you can drink. A mixed drink or wine. The problem with alcohol is the empty calories. If you're willing to consume them, knowing you've got to burn them anytime you are off of pain meds is okay.

Hey Jenniferinfl, I am nearly 4 years out from WLS, have been successfully maintaining my weight loss, and I enjoy all fruits and vegetables. Although I've also seen many references to the low-carb post-surgery diets that you're talking about and have no doubt they work for some people, I'm not one of them. I eat all the fruits and veggies I want; my bargain with the carb deities is that I don't eat white sugar or white flour. I eat a cup of fresh berries or grapes or pineapple for breakfast every day, plus one large apple or banana for my afternoon snack. I definitely struggled with both apples and bananas during the first year after WLS, and I still find both very filling. At this point, I eat pretty much just fresh and whole fruits, but you will probably find that canned and pureed fruits or smoothies are much kinder to a new sleeve (though managing simultaneous sugar intake can be challenging) . I don't remember berries being overly difficult, so those might work for you. I eat at least two servings of cooked veggies with lunch and another two servings of cooked veggies with supper. I still find potatoes, corn and broccoli extremely filling; I can eat maybe 3 baby potatoes or 1/6 of a medium-sized baked potato or 1/4 cup corn or 4 broccoli florets as part of a meal. As you've noted, most bariatric diets recommend steering clear of starchy veggies after surgery anyway; the good news is that won't be too difficult if your sleeve is anything like mine! I have no trouble eating 2 servings of other cooked veggies (including stalky ones like asparagus) as part of a meal. Raw veggies are a bit of a different story. I couldn't eat raw cauliflower or broccoli florets or raw carrot sticks at all for a LOOOOOO-NG time. Now I can manage a floret or stick or two, maybe a bit more if I really spread them out. On the other hand, raw salad vegetables (lettuce, kale, cucumber, celery, sweet peppers, tomatoes, avocados, green onions, etc) are no problem. I can eat a full plate of salad (actually, salad is the only full plate of food I can eat even at my stage). Unfortunately, salad was also difficult for me in the first 6 months post-WLS; I just gave up on raw veggies altogether for quite a while. I never drank coffee or alcohol, so am no help to you there.

Thank you all for the information. I had seen some sites say no coffee ever, no alcohol ever and no fruit/ few veggies. That was really holding me back from wanting to do weight loss surgery. Went out and picked up a nutri ninja this evening. Used to do kale/spinach smoothies regularly, but, blender broke and I never replaced it. Might be good to be in the habit of using it since it looks like the first several weeks are very limited from a textural point of view. Still haven't decided if I'm doing it after this tax return or waiting for next year's tax return.

i have had severe reflux that has made me spring up to a sitting position from my sleep. That has happened after having a heavy meal and consumed alcohol (especially tequila or red wine). I don't do that anymore, thus I have not had this happen. I do have occasional minor acid reflux. My surgeon and the pre-op info so far does not indicate a endoscopy test in the horizon. Perhaps I should look into that. My preference is for sleeve surgery. Thank you for your responses!

1. food won't be the dominant thought but you will feel hungry at mealtime. 2. Thirst is an issue. I rarely get thirsty. You need to track your Water intake to make sure you get what your body needs. Sip, sip, sip. 3. Liquids was only 2 weeks post op moving on to mushy and by two months whole foods but remember to chew well. 4. Haven't heard about the hiney thing though it has far too. Many carbs. Alcohol sounds right. Moderation though empty calories. 5. Bread Pasta and rice should only be brought into diet when at goal weight. Still watch those carbs. 6. I agree that sweets do taste differently after surgery. Tastes even sweeter. Don't crave sweets as I did before. I have allergies and they don't effect the sleeve. Stress effects your stomach whether sleeved not sleeved or banded. And yes if I eat or drink very sweet high fat I get dumping sensation. Ue ice cream ice coffee etc. hope this helps. Good luck

This is truly me. Not the professional, mother, friend afraid of judgement or wife making light of her past - but really me. Feels good to just be that - me. I had an emotional childhood. The oldest of 5 kids and daughter to high functioning alcoholic and untreated bipolar disorder/clinical depression parents. Riddled with disabling eczema and asthma, I got to know hospitals very well. I would scratch, bleed into my bed covers and by morning they had become the scabs we could not rip off. The belt beatings from my mother in a blind rage were the worst. I can still hear myself screaming. I chose happiness any way I could. I started hoarding candy from birthday parties. I was a heavy teenager but excelled in high school. I was the smart overweight friend who would tutor the football team in basic math. I wasn't date able so the guys treated me with respect but not the same goofy behavior as when the liked a girl. I was relieved to stand behind them instead of being in their sights as a possible conquest. Then one day my junior year in high school, one of the most sought after and cutest boys "Victor" looked over the railing of our 2 story honors classes building and called my name. Me? Probably dropped something he wanted me to bring up? Then he ran down the stairs half way to meet me to talk about last nights reading assignment. All the saliva left my mouth from the stair climb but I managed the brief conversation. Next day he waited and we walked up together. We realized we lived on the same long curvy street but on opposite ends. That summer we did not see each other at all. We both had jobs. Determined, I started exercising. With all my job and academic involvement I walked to the school quite a bit and decided to run. Senior year was great until his mom said he could not go to prom if it was with me. So he went with another girl "for the pictures." Talk about a kick in the self esteem. But, I chose happiness any way I could. Depressed and choosing happiness/gaining weight, I graduated and as I threw my cap in the air I walked away. I knew I was going to college somehow and getting out of this small town where you grow up, marry some guy you never would have dated in school. Have kids and repeat cycle. Got a new job through a friend who said she would set fire to my bed if I did not get out of it! I discovered that I could starve myself and only ate every 4th day and workout 3x week. That's about as long as I could go without starting to fall down a lot. When I did eat, it was about 2tablespoons of whatever. I lost 80 lbs. Women would ask me how I did it. If I felt like being honest, I would tell them. No one believed me. Guess who called 1 year after high school? Yup, Victor. I was living on my own, with job and school and car but I still accepted his invitation to lunch. He had to be home before his mom got home from work so we could not have dinner. I know, cringe. I thought I was choosing happiness. We dated again, it ended when I started dating grown men. Still starving, I started eating every other day to control my weight. I dated a semi pro athlete and he would always call me fat. I has 5'1 and 115 lbs. So, more starvation. Eventually, I met a beautiful man who loved me thin and as the pounds creeped back on. We have been married 22 years. I had a wonderful 25 year career as an advertising director of an department. I worked hard to get to that position. Many 14 hour days and late night binge eating. After 10 years and several miscarriages, we finally had a baby. 6 months later we discovered I had breast cancer while pregnant. With a very young child, I opted for bilateral mastectomy. After extensive chemo and 11 surgeries, I made a full recovery. I tried every diet out there. I had the money so why not try? Then the company shut down as the economy tanked. I was now out of a job. I could never starve myself again. It was so painful. I tried more diets. Cheaper ones. Still, they only work as long as you stick to them. 1year into my new job I started feeling sick and very tired. I knew it had to be something deep. Colds or flu don't feel this way. I had a two week rule. If it hurts for two weeks, then I go in to doctor. Most everything passed before time was up. One day as I getting my son ready for school, I lost control of my bowels and soiled myself. I knew I was going to hospital. I took a shower, got my 1st grader into the car and drove him to school. Instead of walking him in as usual, I encouraged him out of the car and told him to walk in and tell the office his mom was going to hospital. I riddled off my medical history as I sat in the ER doubled over. Good thing most of that history occurred there. After some tests and pain meds they consoled me by letting me know how sooty they were to inform me that my appendices ruptured and they would have to perform surgery asap. I chose happiness. I laughed as I told them I thought it was cancer returned. And since people live through appendicitis, let's go!!! I met my surgeon after he performed appendectomy - maybe before...morphine. When I asked him how is it my body did not stop me sooner, he very gently stated that it was my nature... My nature to endure pain. So much for choosing happiness. He suggested some form of WLS but I snuffed it off telling him that I was way to strong, smart and happy to do it. I just had to get my butt in gear. But, 1.5 years later after having lost and regained 45 pounds plus some, I came back and asked for help. I had been so tired lately since regaining weight. I just couldn't choose what I thought was happiness anymore. I needed help. When I look back and think of all the pain I went through, I wrap my arms around myself and thank God I am still here. Now that I have had Sleeve surgery, I feel like I can step back from anxiety, emotion and that overwhelming urge to eat high calorie ice cream and truly chose happiness that in the end will result in happiness - a healthier me!

I searched the forums and only saw threads about constipation. I am guessing my recent vacation had caused me some problems because I replaced Water with soda/alcohol and Fiber with sugar in a splurge. I haven't gained weight but definitely messed up the digestion pipes. Due to the lack of bathroom visits and the strain I have developed a very painful, large, external hemmorhoid. PrepH makes it feel better but I have had it for about 2 weeks and it is not shrinking . I am to the point that I do not want to use the restroom because it hurts. Any other home remedies I can try as I do not want to visit the doctor for this issue if I do not have too? Or is this still within the normal timeframe for the ailment to heal on its own.

If you seriously want to lose 22lbs or 10 kilograms in 28 days then you must perform all of the principles exactly as recommended. Unlike the recommendations in my book, ‘Look good, feel great!', where you can pick the principles you want to use and ignore the rest and where you can even modify the principles to suit your lifestyle, these principles must be followed exactly as they are outlined. If you want extraordinary results, then you must be willing to put in an extraordinary effort! I realise that some people may be thinking, ‘But it is impossible to lose 10 kilograms of fat in a month!' I agree- it is! However, the truth is, it is impossible to only lose fat on any type of weight-loss program. You will always lose a combination of fat, water, stored carbohydrate and some muscle. Furthermore, most people who want to lose 10 kilograms in the first place are generally retaining excess fluid anyway, so a system that helps get rid of the excess fluid is certainly going to accelerate their results. Perform 30-60 minutes of aerobic exercise morning and night. Yes, you read that correctly, morning and night- 2 sessions a day… every day! No excuses. We're all busy, we all feel tired some mornings, but if you're serious about getting amazing results, then you must be willing to do everything necessary. When we talk about aerobic exercise, we're talking about exercise! Not walking around the shops, doing the gardening or doing housework. It must be exercise, which means your breathing rate increases, your face goes red, you sweat, you get tired- simple! Some examples of aerobic exercise include: walking (pounding the pavement at a brisk pace- not dawdling), cycling (stationary bike is ideal), swimming, rowing, stepper, cross-trainer, aerobic classes, boxing, etc. Use ‘thermogenics'. There are several very effective thermogenic supplementson the market that can accelerate your progress towards your goal. Those containing caffeine, green tea extracts and an extract from a plant called coleus forskohlii are the most effective. They will boost your metabolismand promote the release of fat from the fat stores. ‘Scorch' by MAN Sports is a good example. It contains a combination of 7 powerful herbal ingredients specifically designed to boost your metabolism, burn body fat and increase your energy. Unfortunately though, thermogenics are not ‘magic pills'. You can't expect to take a couple of thermogenic capsules and then go home and eat pizza and drink alcohol and expect to get results. Thermogenics only work when their use is combined with a good nutrition and exercise program. Take 1-2 capsules twice a day; once prior to your morning exercise session and once with your lunch. Don't take them later than 4:00pm in the afternoon because they may keep you awake at night. Before using thermogenics, see your doctor first and obtain their approval. Do not eat anything for 30 minutes after the completion of any exercise. As a result of using the thermogenics combined with the exercise, your metabolism will remain elevated for some time after the exercise session is finished. This means your body will burn fuel at a faster rate than normal. Any exercise causes the body to use carbohydrate (muscle glycogen and blood glucose) as a fuel source. This means that after the exercise is completed the carbohydrate stores in the body are low and the body will be forced to use fat as its fuel. If a meal is eaten immediately after the completion of the exercise session, the blood glucose level will rise, inducing the secretion of insulin from the pancreas. One of the effects of insulin is to stop fat burning in the body. Therefore, wait 30 minutes (but no longer because cortisol will rise) before having your next meal. Perform a weight training workout 2-4 times a week. Lifting weights is the most under-estimated way to lose fat fast! Now, before you start saying, ‘But I don't want to get big muscles!' or ‘I don't want to look like a man!', consider the following. The main purpose of lifting weights when your primary goal is to lose body fat is to preserve the muscle massyou already have. You see, muscle is the ‘engine' within which the fat, or ‘fuel' is burnt and maintaining or even increasing your muscle mass slightly will help ensure your body fat is burnt off efficiently. If you don't lift weights, your body will quite happily lose both fat and muscle as you drop the kilos. Lifting weights forces your body to maintain your muscle mass, therefore keeping your metabolism elevated and turning your body into 24-hour-a-day fat-burning machine! Incidentally, it only takes two 30 minute sessions a week to obtain the muscle preserving benefits of lifting weights. Have 5-6 small meals a day. One of the most common strategies people use to lose weight is to skip meals. Whilst reducing food intake is certainly an effective way to lose weight, having fewer meals is not the way to go. Many overweight people say, ‘I don't know why I'm overweight, I only eat once or twice a day!' Unfortunately, this is exactly why they are overweight. Having a mild calorie restriction is effective because if you consume less calories than you burn each day you will lose weight- simple! However, skipping meals forces the body to invoke its ‘Starvation Mechanism' because it thinks it is entering a famine. As a result, the body slows the metabolism to preserve energy. It also increases cortisol output and cortisol is the most powerful catabolic hormone in the body, which means it goes around the body breaking down lean tissue, particularly muscle. A loss of muscle slows the metabolism even further. Skipping meals also results in an increase in appetite, which forces you to eat larger amounts of food when you do eat. In addition to all these factors, the body also increases the activity of fat-storing enzymes, lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and fatty acid synthase (FAS), so when you do eat the food gets stored as fat. All of this results from simply skipping meals! By having a small meal every 2-3 hours throughout the day, your metabolism stays elevated and your body will happily burn fat all day long. Unfortunately though, most people are conditioned to having large meals and they automatically assume they will put on weight if they have 5 or 6 meals a day. The fact is, the ideal portion sizes for most people are actually quite small and in order to lose weight fast it is essential that you never feel full from a meal but you do feel satisfied. Also, most people find it difficult to have a meal every 2-3 hours throughout the day because they are so busy with work and/ or family commitments. Here are some suggestions to ensure you get your 5 or 6 meals a day. • Plan and prepare your meals the night before • Use meal replacements (protein shakes or bars) • Select foods that are quick and easy to prepare and consume Ensure each meal contains protein. Protein is a component of all cells and makes up over half the dry weight of the human body. Furthermore, the human body is a dynamic structure, which means it is constantly building up and breaking down tissue. Just imagine a bath full of water. At one end of the bath the plug is pulled out and at the other end the tap is turned on full. The water level in the bath doesn't change but there are ‘new' water molecules entering the bath and ‘old' water molecules leaving the bath all the time. The human body is exactly the same. If the body breaks down more tissue than it builds up, then it is said to be in a catabolic state. This results in the metabolism slowing down due to the loss of muscle tissue. Having a portion of high-quality protein every few hours throughout the day provides the body with a constant supply of amino acids- the building blocks of the body. This prevents the catabolic state, promotes an anabolic state (tissue building) and therefore keeps the metabolism ‘fired-up'. If only carbohydrate or fat is consumed for a meal, for example a piece of fruit (carbohydrate) for the mid-morning meal, then the body will still enter a catabolic state because it doesn't have the building blocks (amino acids) to re-build body tissues. Protein, as its name suggests, is of primary importance. Reduce your intake of high-density carbohydrates. Most high-density carbohydrates like bread, pasta, rice and cereals cause a rapid rise in blood glucose. This invokes the release of insulin from the pancreas, which in turn stores the glucose. The body stores glucose in the muscles and liver as glycogen and once these sites are full, the remaining glucose gets stored as body fat. Not only this, but insulin also stops the body from mobilising and utilising fat for fuel (burning fat). So if you want to maximise fat loss, you need to keep insulin to a minimum and the best way to do this is by reducing your intake of starchy carbohydrates without cutting them out altogether. Cutting them out totally is a philosophy of many low-carb diets on the market. However, these are very hard to sustain long-term and may lead to nutrient deficiencies. Each day, have a small amount (1-2 serves) of high density carbohydrates (bread, pasta, rice, cereals); a moderate amount (2-3 serves) of medium density carbohydrates (starchy vegetables and fruits); and a large amount (5-6 serves) of low density carbohydrates (fibrous vegetables). [For a complete list of carbohydrates, see pages 136-138 of the book, ‘ Look good, feel great! ] Do not have a Treat Day. Since you are expecting an extraordinary result, it is essential that you put in an extraordinary effort. Accordingly, for the next 28 days you must follow the plan exactly as it is outlined without deviating. This means you can't allow yourself to indulge in any ‘forbidden foods'. This also means avoiding alcohol for the entire 28-day period. I know this may be hard for some people but let's face it, it is only for 28 days! By committing to the plan and disciplining yourself to see it through, you are ensuring that the results will follow. Plus, the disciplines you create to help you achieve your physical goal will have a ‘carry-over benefit' to other areas of your life as well. I wish you the greatest success in achieving outstanding results! * Before using any nutritional supplement, speak with your health care professional.

I totally agree with all of the above....don't sweat it. I cheated a little to (in fact I drank alcohol both Saturdays before the surgery and was told none was allowed) we're not expected to be 100% perfect. You're doing great!!

Thanks BOS123, I just so on the fence about the money. I would love to just go to Mexico and save 10k that I don't have. I am sure I would cry non-stop too. I know I would not be able to get my mother to come with me. EVERYONE thinks about how unsafe it is, but boy would I love to SAVE that money! 18,500 is a fortune to me. but I keep telling myself that it is my health. I had that set back a couple weeks ago... Today I go to the Risk Managment class for alcohol... and then I was able to get an appointment with the Psychologist on Thursday and I PRAY she clears me... ! !

I just get very congested very quickly and past two drinks my throat starts to constrict. I'd likely die of suffocation before I got drunk. Although I did experience a hangover once not from too much alcohol, but stupidly mixing wine and scotch in a short period of time. I'll never understand how anyone who goes through that even once ever drinks to excess again.

Hi. I'm just 5 weeks post-op. My NUT said not to have alcohol for about a year out. Just wondering if anyone with GB has tried drinking alcohol earlier than a year out, and what kind of reactions you've had. Thanks. It's the holidays and everyone's drinking at parties, and just was thinking about having a sip.

thanks everybody. Well the good news is my mom and I are very close. We can talk anything or joke about anything. I was a very tough kid to deal with and I pretty much rejected authority. As a young adult I found myself in a not so good place. When my chips were down I called her for help and she was there. With her help I dusted myself off and started a new life literally. Through the years I have thanked her many times. Maybe I use that to her advantage. The bad news is she is the type of person who is scared to death of anything. That may have even saved her life once. I was young but I remember the phenphen craze and her saying h@# no I'm not taking that stuff. Smart move. She's never smoked. Has never in her life drank alcohol, no drugs. I know her and she's also affraid she will find out bad news about her health other than the obvious. Its going to be hard and take a lot of work. I will look into a seminar immediately. Someone had mentioned to me something about being too big for surgery. That she may have to loose x number of lbs before she would be elligible? These type forums are excellent. I want you guys to know that. When I quit smoking seven years ago my support group was a user forum kinda like this. Its hard to explain how helpful it was.

*typed as I sip my starbucks... Through a straw* I *think* the main reason they say no straws is because typically we use straws when drinking sodas and milkshakes and alcohol and.. and... you get the point. Sure there's a chance that it could cause you to take in extra air, but the amount would be so miniscule that it likely wouldn't bother you too terribly much. I think it's more just the fact that straws are associated with stuff on the no no list.

They call this first week hell week for a reason. It is hard! But it will be worth it. At the moment you’re suffering withdrawals from your previous diet - sugar, carbs, alcohol & caffeine (if you dropped or reduced that too). It will pass and you will get through it. This whole process is not easy. You will have to work hard to be successful but the benefits are amazing & sooo worth the pain & effort. Good luck.

I had a great time with my son and his girl. We went to Laguna twice - what a beautiful place! Dana Point, the pier in Oceanside, the beach walk in San Clemente - all beautiful! David had duty every morning and his girl slept late so I walked the beach by myself. We went out to eat every night and I ate a lot of great sushi and delicious Mexican food - and by 'a lot' I mean variety, not quantity. I even tried soft-shell crab for the first time. I stocked my little fridge w/Greek yogurt, Atkins Protein shakes, humus, and sf Popsicles for Breakfast and lunch. I carried Quest bars in my bag for a snack, if needed (I found a nutrition store 1/2 mile from my hotel that carried them). I went to Starbucks every day for my iced green tea and drank it in the sunshine from a park overlooking the beach. We went to a luxury movie theater where I drank a little wine while watching the movie (very little - I'm a major lightweight w/alcohol now!). I enjoyed myself, tried new foods, and still lost weight! I'm down 3lbs! Now I'm only 3 pounds away from my goal weight of 115. :-)