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Thanks everyone for the advice. My friend had a glass of wine 6 weeks after surgery and she was fine but she said her alcohol tolerance is nothing compared to how it was before surgery. I do not want to feel bad just for one drink so I think I wont have any

I also recently heard that alcohol affects us differently now. Because you don't have all the enzymes to process it more of it goes directly into you intestines and your blood level rises faster and it takes longer for it get out of your system. I would be very careful even after you heal.

Oh yeah it gets better. Insurance finally decides to take my surgeon's word for it that I wasn't admitting to current alcohol use during the program...but now, today...Wednesday, dat one of the clear liquid diet...two days before my surgery, my insurance informs me that they want me to do a urine nicotine test that takes two days to process. I learned this 20 mins before the lab closes so I have to do it tomorrow morning. This is utterly ridiculous. Why would they go as far as to pay for all of these procedures, including the IVC filter last week, to pull all this just days before the surgery. I live in Southern Oregon. 2 hours south of the hospital. So if I don't get the all clear by 5pm tomorrow, I'm guessing my surgery is off for now.. just the way they want it.

Thyroid - yeah definitely go and get your bloodwork done. In addition to the TSH, T4 and T3 (If I remember correctly), you should ask your doctor to check your Vit D levels. My family has a history of thyroid issues (mom is hypothyroidism - can't lose weight, her sister has hyperthyroidism - can't gain weight); my sister's daughter was born without a thyroid (or it wasn't functioning). I can check off almost all the symptoms too but my bloodwork has always been within the 'normal' range. I understand your frustration there too. For the Vit D levels - get that checked. If your Vit D levels are low, you will be sluggish and tired. That's a different story, but might help you feel better / have more energy to get to the gym. "Diet" - well this is supposed to be our new lifestyle (eye roll). So far I'm feeling better on this South Beach / Atkins / Paleo blend of a diet I'm doing. I've mostly tried being gluten free and my stomach has thanked me. I have eggs every morning, but I'm a boring no thinking type of person lol. Are you just flat out tired and no suggestions will help? I really like doing the 'egg muffin tin' recipes. There's lots of different recipes if you google. Make one batch at the beginning of the week and you're set for a while. I really like the eggs, cheese and ham recipes. There's eggs, spinach and feta, or eggs, tomatoes, and cheese; etc. Also, what about yogurt with some fruit? I like the chobani greek versions. I tried to look it up online - which chicken wrap are you doing? The fried chicken one is pretty high in calories, but skipping the shell is a good idea. The shell gets stuck for me. I can't do the fried chicken a the breading gets stuck for me. Did you have all the condiments with it too? If it was the grilled chicken could it have been too dry? When I go to Chick-fil-a and get the grilled nuggets, I add some BBQ sauce to make sure it goes down. I'll also bite the already small nuggets at least into 3 so that I'm only chewing a small amount. I'd worry about the graham crackers, at least for me, having those carbs will make me hungry again. It's weird. I used to think that carbs helped to fill me up, but they just make me hungry really quickly. I'd suggest to go ahead an sign up for myfitnesspal. It's free. Many of us use it for logging our intake and exercise. If you have a fitbit you can sync that too. There's also a phone app to log while you're on the go. You might want to keep a watch on how much Peanut Butter you're eating. Yes it's good for you and good Protein, but it tends to be high in sugar, carbs and fat. That would make me want to eat more. Also, if you don't stay on top of the hunger and you're playing catch up at the end of the day, you might take in a lot more to feed the hungry monster than if you would have snacked more often. I like to have an afternoon snack of either yogurt or beef Jerky quite often. I eat out a lot too. There's a number of other threads on here devoted to eating out options. Alcohol is one of my weaknesses and a big source of my empty calories. I log those calories/carbs too. Also, are you able to see another doctor / surgeon to get a second professional opinion? I'm not a doctor or any sort of expert. Just giving you my opinion / thoughts to try to help you out.

Hi Joyann my surgeon bit vague and said low fat and restrict alcohol but want to get in the right mindset so been checking out whey isolate protein shakes. What's the south Beach diet? Loads of people have discussed unjury and it seems like half and half

Excellent analysis of hte problem. I went on line and took the low thyroid test and I have like 9 out of 10 symtoms.... losing hair, dry skin so bad that it turns white if I don't lotion up daily, I don't tolerate heat or cold, I had a very hard time conceiving my 3 babies, and the house temp is 70 and my feet are freezing!!! I'm tired with no energy. But whenever I have my thyroid tested with blood tests it comes up low normal. It's at the very bottom of the normal scale. I haven't had it tested in a while though. Last time I went to the weight loss clinic they did an xray of me swallowing the chalky stuff. They said it was fine. They then sent me to a nutritionalist who told me to go back on the South Beach. I've been on Atkins and South Beach for 8 yrs now and I'm sick of it. I get sick just looking at eggs in the morning. How long can a human stay on a diet?? I cannot stay on it but I do try to eat protein with every meal because it satisfies. The Lean Cuisine meal had little protein. So it didn't keep me long. I'm thinking I just have to get used to being hungry. I ended up getting up at 2 a.m. and eating a banana. I had heartburn so bad and I think it was from not eating and taking my pills. I have not kept a journal. We eat out a lot because we travel. We have family in just about every state in the US. I try to pick healthy things though. Today we took Lily to Wendy's for lunch. I ordered the chicken wrap. I left the wrap and just ate the chicken and I could feel it getting clogged so I stopped, wrapped it up and finished it at home where I could upchuck if I had to. The chicken was tender but thick. For Breakfast I eat soft because I can't tolerate much at all. I take 3 graham crackers and put thick natural Peanut Butter on them... makes a sandwich and a half. I dip it in coffee to soften it. That's all I eat until 12 or 1. Then I will eat Soup, or a Protein shake or egg salad on whole wheat crackers. I can't tolerate bread at all. For supper... that's where I think I overeat. It's like I'm so hungry from not eating enough during he day that I'm familished. I make family meals... meatloaf, potatoes and veggies and eat all but the potatoes (sometiimes do take a bit.) Yes, I sometimes taste Lily's Cookies. I buy her those tiny tiny ones... tidbits. I'll eat about 4. Before bed I eat a Skinny Cow icecream, but I smear the natural peanut butter on top so I get the protein to keep me til morning. If we eat out I like to order Chicken Souvaki or a salad with chicken on top. We have a great soup and salad bar place we like. Sometimes I crave pizza. We go to Pizza Hut and get the thin crispy crust and i eat one piece. I do not imbibe in alcohol except 1 glass of wine on New Years Eve. I drink decaf coffee in the a.m. with cremora (no sweetener), Decaf tea in the afternoon, Another coffee an hour after dinner, and Water the rest of the time. Have I been getting exercise? Not since my foot surgery in Sept. I can walk now and we just joined a gym.

I have a bachelorette party this saturday but I don't know if its ok to have a drink?? My surgery was 2/11 and last time I had any alcohol was like 2 weeks prior to surgery. Any suggestions??

I'm at 5.8 cc in a 10cc band. Yes that's a concrete number but I think the 'tightness' also varies by patient. I've read that some people have up to 8 or 9 cc's in their 10cc band. For you to still be gaining weight - do you keep track of every single bite that you eat and sip that you drink (including ice cream and/or alcohol)? Are you doing any nibbling with the 3 year olds snacks? Taste testing the temperatures? That will add up. Do you have a mfp account that we can look at your diary entries? What does your calories count look like? How's your protein intake? Do you eat protein first? If you're getting stuck with everything you're eating and chewing it really well then yes, I'd say you're too tight. Are you taking small bites to begin with? My fiancé cuts up my meat as if I was a 3 year old - actually maybe even smaller than that lol. I try my best to take the proper portion and eat it slowly one bite at a time. Could you be eating too few calories to where your metabolism has slowed to a crawl? I know if I don't eat enough protein I'll be super hungry really quickly. I know if I eat too little the scale will slow down too or make me gain. If all else fails - have you had your thyroid tested recently? Could your gain be due to a hormonal issue?

A real friend would care about you and be considerate of your feelings. She would do whatever they could to help you on your way to good health, even if it meant finding new things to do for a while. Perhaps she may be having issues of her own you are unaware of? If you want to give your friendship a chance you could try being patient with her. Continue to invite her to do non-alcohol and food activities with you but don't give in and put yourself in a situation you don't want to be in. She may come around. Or maybe not. It's not the end of the world if you move on without her. Friendships evolve and change. People in our lives who we call friend come and go as we or they change, or as our circumstances and life experiences change. Friendships happen when we have a lot in common with another person. You are changing. Your life no longer revolves around food. Perhaps it's time to move on to new experiences with new people who share your new interests. Best of luck to you as you deal with this distressing aspect of your new life.

For some people, 48-64 oz isn't "enough"; you have to consume more. Are you drinking any caffeine or alcohol (each requires additional Water intake)? My best advice is to just "try to get more", which is sad and crappy advice here. We need some of those beer-bong helmets so we can stick two 2-liter bottles of water on our heads and constantly drink all day (aw crap, straw... Dang it)

I have stayed away from all alcohol since my surgery, but naturally as I'm irish and it was St Pattys day...let's just say after half a glass of wine I was buzzed. After two glasses, I was embarrassingly trashed. Granted, it was 12.5% but still. I ended up having to force myself to throw up, and it was not pleasant. Anyone else drink since their new tummy? Bad experiences?

I saw this online in another site and thought I would share with everyone. It got me to thinking about ways to insure my success: 1. Not taking Vitamins and supplements. 2. Assuming you have been cured of "obesity". We have to live a healthy WLS life-style for the rest of our lives or the weight WILL come back. 3. Drinking with meals. The tool of not drinking with meals is a critical key to long term success. 4. Not eating right. In today's society it is a challenge to eat right. Make it easy on yourself. Don't skip meals, don't keep unhealthy Snacks around, feed yourself at regular intervals so you won't make poor choices about meals. Consider having some personal absolutes such as: avoid all fried foods, avoid all sugary foods, always use low-fat options, or only eat in a restaurant once per week. 5. Not Drinking enough Water. Most WLS patients are at risk for dehydration. Drinking a minimum of 64oz per day will help you to avoid this risk. Drinking water flushes out your system, helps you lose weight and avoid kidney stones. 6. Grazing. Nibbling small amounts here and there throughout the day can make your weight creep up. Make a plan for what you will do when you crave food so you will do something constructive that will not involve eating. 7. Not exercising regularly. Exercise is one of the best weapons a WLS patient has to fight regain. It boosts your spirits and keeps our metabolism running strong. When you exercise you build muscle. The more muscle you have the more calories you will burn even at rest. 8. Eating the wrong carbs (or too many). Face it, refined carbs are addictive. If you eat them you will only crave more of them. Eat complex carbs. 9. Drinking Sodas. Some people claim that drinking sodas stretched their pouches. What we know for sure is that sodas keep you from getting hydration you need after WLS. Diet soda has been connected to weight gain in the general population. Find other drinks to fall in love with. 10. Drinking Alcohol. If you drank alcohol before WLS you will probably want to drink it post surgery. Most surgeons recommend waiting one year after surgery before drinking. Be very cautious, you may get drunker quicker which can cause health problems and put you in dangerous situations. Alcohol is connected to weight gain because it has 7 calories per gram where Protein and vegetables only have 4 calories per gram. It is noted that some people develop ad addiction to alcohol after WLS so be very cautious. If you notice a problem, contact your doctor.

If it was as easy as "just dieting" and "eat less, exercise more" t there would be no fat people. Telling an overweight person to just exercise more and eat less is like telling an alcoholic to "just drink less" or a drug addict to "just dope up less". With drugs and alcohol, you can abstain from them to help keep your addiction in check. food isn't like that. With food you have to eat it in order to live. So life as a food addict (which is why/how I gained so much weight) is like being an alcoholic or drug addict who has to drink/take drugs 3 times a day to sustain life. Anyway don't listen to people like that. You do what works for you. For some people, dieting/eating better works well. For others, it doesn't. Take my friend and I. She went to college, became a Vegan and lost 60lbs and has kept most of it off for the last 10 years. I went to the same college and tried every diet there was (weight watchers, slim fast, starving myself, Lemonade Diet, working out 3 hrs a day while taking Phentermine, etc) and I ended up packing on 100 lbs in the last 10 years. Based off my own experience, I feel most overweight/obese people are that size due in part to genetics, but a lot of it is unresolved issues and we're using food to help us cope. Also overeating is as American as apple pie. Most of our holidays, milestones and comfort are food-centered (Christmas, birthdays, funerals, family get together, Thanksgiving, Valentine's Day, etc) so many of us come to equate food with love and community.

I appreciate your responses... I still have not heard from my insurance..surprise surprise.. my surgeon's team says that my insurance only says I can't abuse alcohols or drink regularly. So they want to fight it on that. I'm just in shock and can't believe they waited until 3 freaking days before, to tell me they have an issue. How do I find out if I have a or who my state insurance representative is? Like an advocate? I have a case worker but they never let me talk to the. I don't even know who it is. Very small town, plus, I'm the first person in my area to get bariatric surgery on state insurance. So I should have seen this coming.

PdxMan - so well put. Many relationships are based on sharing these types of things together; drinking, drugs, food, etc. When one person stops doing it, the whole dynamic changes. Years ago, the last time I dropped 90 pounds, I myself no longer enjoyed spending time with one of my very good friends. We used to sit & eat, drink, smoke pot.....for years. When I stopped doing all of it and reclaimed my life, it was no longer fun to hang out with people doing it. She is a good enough friend that my absence didn't end the relationship. But her feeling was, it's fine if you don't want to partake in whatever, but I'm still comfortable doing what I'm doing. We no longer spent the same kind of time together, and saw each other much less. I went in a whole other direction, and at a different point in her life, so did she. Anyway......that friendship remained, but others were lost. My friend's (same friend) sister is a full blown alcoholic. Her husband is a pot head/drinker. This is what they've done together since they met. She goes through periods of wanting to get help and stop drinking, but she also knows that the marriage will end. They have an autistic child, and a lot on both of their plates. Anyway......I guess what I'm trying to bring out is that once one person leaves a shared addiction behind, most times, the relationship ends. Sad but true. And logically, it has to be that way so the "healthy" one can continue on their healthy path.

Just like prior to surgery, if someone is drinking alcohol, cokes and eating slider, high caloric food, they'll gain/re-gain weight. WLS is a tool, not a magic bullet. There is no end date, it's a life long commitment. Changes must be made or it is a waste of time and money.

I believe the bottom line comes down to a basic question. What are you willing to do to meet your weight loss goals? Let me tell a little side story when I first got sober. I had abused alcohol for years using it as a crutch to avoid feelings and emotions I just as soon not have or just tried to displace them. When I had my "A-ha" moment, when I realized I could no longer go on like this, I sought help. When I came out of the hospital, I returned to my life as "normal", getting support through groups, but at the same time, trying to hang out with my "friends". They wanted to go to the bars and shoot pool, play darts and do all the things we did. I would go and drink soda, but they were very threatened by my sobriety. The bartender of our oft visited place pulled me aside and told me that other people at the bar, not just my friends, were very uncomfortable with my presence there. He said I was like a mirror to them revealing their own issues with alcoholism. Every time I walked in, I showed them their faults. Like your friends, mine tried to buy me drinks and shots. That way, I would once again be "just like them". Someone in my support circle told me it was time to leave that life behind. If I continued, there would be no way I could stay sober. It was merely a matter of time before I returned to abusing alcohol as I once did. So, I had to look deep inside myself. Which was more important? My friends or my sobriety? As you may have guessed, it was my sobriety. I let my friends know this and told them I would love to do other things with them which did not include alcohol. Hiking ... seeing a movie ... whatever. I never received a call from any of them. That was the price I had to pay, but it was so worth it. I discovered they were not truly friends if they could not support me in this decision. That was 14 years ago and I haven't heard from any of them since. So ... how does this relate? Re-read this and substitute "food" in there wherever you see alcohol (and related thoughts. Alcohol=food, bars=restaurant, sobriety=WLS). I don't think there really is much difference. If I have people in my life who would rather sabotage than support, I would really need to weigh the value of their presence in my life. It doesn't matter if it is food, alcohol ...

I would ask your surgeons insurance coordinator and your psych Doc to go to bat for you. I have always asked about that question on med docs, because of this exact reason. If you respond yes to the "Do you drink?" question it sounds like your an alcoholic even though you are only having maybe 1 beer a week or just at social occasions! It is the way they ask it, there is no way to say sometimes, maybe once every two months, I have two drinks at a party but nothing imbetween... I just shared this during my psych evaluation and told her I hate that question for this very reason. She explained that she understood that I only have a drink or two every once and awhile, and that they were trying to identify those who were drinking excessively. She shared that a recent patient was drinking two bottles of wine every night at dinner and didn't get that it was an issue for weight loss surgery. In any case, if they are going to accuse you of being an alcoholic, they better have more than stupid question to go on! Maybe even your state insurance representative could help, here in Washington our guy is a hero because he goes to bat for individuals all the time. One woman was denied coverage because her ex boyfriend beat her up, some stupid clause was referenced, it was huge in the news, the insurance company backed down and paid her claims. ..

One of my best friends was so supportive when I got my surgery now I feel like she is trying to sabotage me. People are saying it's best I was always the "fat" friend and wasn't a threat. But she is still so much smaller then me that she should have nothing to worry about. I tried talking to her and that ended up with us fighting and not speaking at work. Then when she did speak to me it was to tell me it was my fault and I was the hurtful one. All I did was cancel plans for dinner because when we went out the night before she was clearly trying to break my diet by putting all this food in front of me and order so much alcohol a grown man couldn't drink that much. I would never tell someone they can't drink but all the time we've known each other she has never ordered that much. And I don't appreciate her trying to put food on my plate when she knows I can't have it. I even asked her if we can go out and do other things besides going to dinner or a bar and she said no. It sucks because we are so close but I feel like I need to watch my back. Am I just overreacting?

My relationship with junk food is reminiscent of the alcoholic/drug user to their drug. If I slip, then I use it as an excuse to fall over the cliff, I can't even watch tv shows or read books where there is food being eaten or described, it instigates the desire. There were times when I would rather be eating than having sex (in my defense the sex was not that good). I cannot keep food in my living quarters because it will get eaten, all at once, not a little at a time. I cannot have one fried mozzarella stick, I want 10. I have successfully fasted the past 2 days and will do so again today, rebooting the system after last weeks carb madness. The first few days without sugar and white carbs - you really do feel like a junkie with the DTs but after about 3 days it goes away and so does your appetite. But if I could, honestly, I could eat 10 grilled cheese sandwiches, 20, all day long.

So I'm THREE days away from my surgery...more than a year into this program.my surgery is covered by my state insurance and I have complied to every criteria they have laid out. 6 months of nutrition classes, endoscopy, psych testing, quit smoking, don't do druids, don't drink, gave up coffee, lost 49 lbs, got the IVC filter...and 4 days before the surgery, they decide because I mentioned once in one of my many doctor visits in the past 6 months that I drink occasionally, that I did not follow the criteria for my state to cover the surgery. The thing is. I haven't had a drink, but I have consumed alcohol at random points in my life...weddings...party...once in a blue moon. I had to practically beg the lady at my state insurance co to believe me and I got an "I'll email the decision team and we will let you know." For real? Can this be before I start the Clear liquids diet on Wednesday and are you trying to test me??? Ugh. Thanks for letting me vent.

No ranch. No no no no no. No ranch. LOL!!! Dressing is just awful for you. If you want some flavor, add a little hummus (I love black bean hummus, but not too much) or salt & pepper. A good trick for salads is to dip your fork in the dressing vs. pouring it on. Or, add salsa instead of dressing. I haven't tried that but heard it's a good solution. Dressing (like Mayo and other condiments) has so many calories in such a small amount. And who only uses a little ranch? It's like alcohol - just not worth the calories. I'll indugle every now and then but it's very rare.

Hey, BariatricPal Members! Happy St. Patrick’s Day, and happy Spring Break! Even if you don’t celebrate St. Patrick’s Day or you are not planning an official spring vacation, spring is still a joyous time of year. What better way to celebrate than with a BariatricPal newsletter? Here’s what we have for you: Are You Ready for Spring Break? St. Patrick’s Day – Give Yourself Something to Celebrate! March Madness: Are You Ready? Keep working towards your goals, whether or not you are Irish and whether or not you have a trip planned this spring. You can reach BariatricPal from anywhere in the world, so come on by and celebrate the season with the other members! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder, BariatricPal Are You Ready for Spring Break? You need to plan extra carefully whenever you travel after weight loss surgery. Your preparation should begin now if you are planning a trip this spring or summer so that you can make sure that your needs are met. First, consider where you will be in your weight loss journey and what medical needs you are likely to have. If you have not yet had surgery, you probably will not need exceptional medical care, and finding out what to do in emergencies should be sufficiency. If you already had weight loss surgery, find out the location of the nearest surgeon who can help you if you have trouble. Be sure the surgeon is an expert in the type of surgery that you have. Lap-band patients in particular should know where they can go for emergency fills or un-fills. Since WLS is hard on the body, give yourself ample time after surgery to recover before you travel. You can easily need six or more weeks after surgery before you are recovered. Next, start assembling a packing list. You may need these items addition to your regular belongings. Dietary supplements: multivitamins, calcium, Vitamin D, Iron, and any other dietary supplements that you take. Prescription medications (make sure you have enough to get through your trip) and prescriptions in case you need a refill Protein powder, protein bars, beef Jerky or unsalted nuts just in case you need some protein and are not near a supermarket or trusted restaurant Phone numbers and email addresses of bariatric specialists, including your surgeon, a nutritionist, and an emergency contact Workout clothes (will this be the first vacation when you worked out?) List of high-protein foods as well as foods that you can and cannot eat. This is especially important right after WLS as you progress from a liquid to solid diet. Non-prescription medications, such as aspirin or Tylenol, and laxatives to reduce constipation Finally, do what you can to “scout out” the area. Is there a supermarket near your hotel? Are the restaurants known for being accommodating to guests’ special orders so that you can get the high-protein, low-calorie meals you need? Is there a walking route or a fitness center near your hotel? You will not be able to find the answers to all of these questions before you arrive at your destination, but you can hit the ground running if you do a little background research beforehand. St. Patrick’s Day – Give Yourself Something to Celebrate! Monday, March 17 is St. Patrick’s Day. The holiday can be a day of bar-hopping, green cupcakes, and corned beef, but it can also be an opportunity to enjoy yourself in healthy ways. Make yourself proud by celebrating St. Patrick’s Day using some of these tips. Don’t drink. You’ll consume too many calories from alcohol and lose inhibition so you consume too many calories Enjoy the greenery by making a special effort to get to a park or nearby nature center. Have fun with your children by making a treasure hunt for them to search for a 4-leaf clover. Wear green…and if you have lost weight since the last time you wore green, get yourself a new green outfit to celebrate! Find naturally green food and skip the artificial dyes and unnecessary calories in decorated cupcakes, shamrock Cookies and green beer. Instead, add spinach to your scrambled eggs, snack on edamame (green soybeans) or kale chips, and make cabbage soup. Instead of corned beef stew with potatoes, roast some lean beef and turnips. This healthier dish is less watery, so it is better for WLS patients who should not drink fluids at meals, and it is lower in calories, carbohydrates and fat. Participate in local events, such as watching a St. Patrick’s Day parade or completing a Shamrock Run 5k. If you are not yet up to a road race, consider volunteering and cheering on the runners and walkers. Take these suggestions instead of drinking alcohol and eating high-calorie foods, and, Irish or not, you really will have something to celebrate this St. Patrick’s Day! March Madness – Are You Ready for the Tourney? You may think you’re all ready for the NCAA basketball tournament to start on March 18. You’ve studied the teams, filled out your brackets, and placed your bets. There’s one more thing to consider before you are truly ready for the tournament, aka March Madness. What will you eat? Watching sports on TV can lead to serious overeating, and it is worse when the tournament includes dozens of games, as does the NCAA tournament. Chowing down on pizza, fried chicken, chips and dip, and cookies can quickly stall your weight loss and throw off your blood sugar levels, not to mention make you feel extra sick because of your weight loss surgery. Instead of choosing junk, try these WLS-friendly ideas for your March Madness parties to have fun and stay healthy. Line muffin cups with turkey or ham slices and fill them with a mixture of spinach, ricotta, egg whites and garlic powder. Bake. Play up the basketball theme by serving spherical food, such as meatballs made with lean ground turkey, mozzarella balls served with tomato sauce, and cantaloupe balls. Lettuce cups filled with lean ground turkey and served with salsa. Substitute cooked peas, broccoli, zucchini or cauliflower for half of the avocados when you make guacamole. Serve it with cut veggies yourself, and tortilla chips for your guests Place slices of non-fat American cheese on turkey breast slices. Cut them into circular shapes using an upside-down glass. With a clean brush or toothpick, draw designs on the cheese so that it looks like a basketball. Of course, playing basketball can help your waistline, too. Why not start a tradition of shooting hoops or practicing your dribbling skills for a few minutes before each game? If you eat well and exercise, you will be a true winner during the NCAA tourney regardless of whether your team comes out on top. Spring is a joyous time of growth and renewal. We hope that this spring finds you making progress toward and renewing motivation for your own goals. If you need some inspiration or have some to share, or you just want to hang out, come by BariatricPal! See you on the boards!

The opurity vitamins made me nauseated too and I returned them. For a while I used liquid centrum but the alcohol content bothered me. My NUT told me to take 2 Centrum tablets a day now that I am 2 months post surgery, and a sublingual b-12 tablet twice a week. I eat/drink a lot of calcium and don't have any osteoporosis so she told me I can skip the calcium tablets ( it also helps that I am a sleever).

Awareness of addiction is a huge step. Geneen Roth has written a number of books about addictive eating that I have found helpful. Mindfulness and DBT training can also be helpful in overcoming compulsive over-eating and replacing negative thought processes. Some people find 12 step programs helpful. For many, the answer really is eliminating the trigger foods such as white flour or sugar. It's important to realize though that an over-dependence on sugar substitute never quiets the longing and desire for sugar though. I don't think there is any "one size fits all" answer. I know that I come from a family with compulsive and addictive behaviors. I have never picked up cigarettes, drugs or alcohol but have definitely relied on food. For the first 25+ years it wasn't much of an issue because I could eat what I wanted and stayed close to a healthy weight (maybe 10 lbs heavy). By the time I finally got a handle on my compulsive over-eating, between my Hashimoto's which is difficult to control even with Synthroid, my metabolic syndrome and the pain that makes working out difficult, I know WLS is the only way to help me attain a healthy weight. If I hadn't wrapped my head around the food issue though, having the surgery wouldn't really help in the long run. I had my first WLS appointment Jan 2 and have lost 15 lbs since then. Such a struggle since my metabolism is so messed up. Do I still have an occasional candy bar and Coke pre-surgery? Yes. But I can't remember the last time I had a 16 oz bag of fun size Snickers bar and devoured them in an evening. If you are already post-op and still obsessing about food, please find a program, therapist, behavioral lifestyle class - something to help set you free. Best wishes, Chrystine