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I drink bubbles occasionally with no issues. I do agree though that it can be quite acidic so I recommend going for top quality and dry. Think champagne rather than methode traditionelle. Of course,t his is dependant on how far out you are. I am twenty months post OP and had the all clear for alcohol at 6 weeks post OP. It was six months post OP before I had champagne. So your own plan needs to be taken into account here.

I am very pleased for you and your success, I truly am...but I feel it's important to note especially for the new bandsters, that your experience is very much an anomoly. Most bandsters, even the very successful ones still deal with head hunger and have to constantly make good choices concerning both portion sizes and healthy foods vs. high calorie, high fat/salt, processed foods. For most folks, the band when working correctly, satisfies the appetite enough so the bandster is not too hungry. This way, they can control portion and content. But it is still at times, a struggle to follow the rules. I am a very successful bandster fortunately. I've lost over 100 lbs. and yet the past two days, I was at a friend's house and we ate out nearly every meal. I watched my portions and made the best food decisions I could but I knew between the couple of alcoholic drinks, and higher sodium content of some of the foods I was eating, I would get home today with likely a gain, and I did. A little over two lbs. but I also know that I'll drop those two lbs. over the next few days as I go back to 'regular' foods that I eat at home. I think that's a more common experience than maintaining a constant weight no matter what the surroundings or circumstances...which explains the fear alot of folks have around the holidays. Again B-52, this is not a knock on your experience at all so I hope you don't feel I'm doing that...I'm just giving my experience and what I think is the majority of folks based on posts I read. I can so very easily see how and why people fail at this. Head hunger is hard to control and folks can always figure out how to eat around the band...we know this. Every day, I have to commit to this new lifestyle and my fervant hope at this point in my journey, is that I can maintain my healthier lifestyle.

I know for sure that if you don't say that you are a food addict out loud or to yourself..you will never deal with it enough to make a huge difference in your life.....Sure an alcoholic does not have to worry about a beer being placed in front of him like we do food...that makes it even more work for us to be able to make choices, the right choices for our future selves....that said..We will slip because we face food every day and we are not perfect..not at all..It is getting back up and riding that horse after the fall that..The first year is all the learning curves and what do I do here and what do I do there..And just when you got it figured out...bang....another issue..There are no bed of roses here..work work and more work.....forever from the start to the end! I bought the book and looking forward to reading it as well...Have ordered a few books off here as recommended by users....

I begin the real part of my journey on Monday December 30, 2013 with my Roux-N-Y. I started looking into the surgical answer to my struggles with weight maintenance a year ago. At 5' 1.5 I weighed 120 in my teens, one year at 140 after dieting, and never close again. As with us all, I have tried every diet that has been suggested, advertised, and failed at keeping the weight off. In the last six years the weight has been slowly creeping up. Since then, I've developed PCOS, degeneration of joints in knees, back and neck. I've had a hysterectomy, and I think it's been worse since then three years ago. I am exhausted... So incredibly tired of the disappointment of not being able to lose it or keep it off it's like climbing up a steep icy hill and sliding back down continually... I need a little assist I think. The straw that broke the camels back was being diagnosed with Barrett's Esophagus this month. Being further restricted from coffee, hot food, spicy, fried, chocolate, alcohol etc. I just could not imagine holding up. I've done my research and continue to do so, but still am anxious about altering my digestive system and the repercussions of that. I'm trying to think logically that I am having issues now that in time will do damage more intense than what the changes I make to my stomach will do. It's hard to be at complete peace with the idea I guess. So that my Barifriends, is my story...

You're right about fighting the food demons. I have no doubts the 1st year will be sunshine and roses when it comes to losing weight, but it's the next 30+ years that are going to be hard. Unlike alcoholics, we can't chose to never eat again. It's more like handing an alcoholic a beer and a shot EVERYDAY and telling them "ok, that's it". Of course I'm preaching to the choir, here. As for the book, There's a lot of preop stuff that I read after the fact but it still helps get your head in the right place. I'm only on chapter 6, but the future chapters look like they address any issues I can think of that most of us will deal with in one form or another.

I think I will order that book myself..Thanks for the tip... I really believe that fighting the demon of food addiction will be a life long struggle. That we can never let our guard down over it..It will creep up on us periodically..and we will have to face it with our brains to fix each little facet of it......Life long struggle I think as this has been a life long problem for us to live with..... Like once an alcoholic always an alcoholic you know!

yeah, my nut said lack of family support (ie house full of crappy food choices) is the number one factor in regain. she recommends at the very first nutrition seminar to eat up what is in your house and not buy anymore crap. if there is still stuff in your house 2 weeks before surgery, throw it out and forbid any take out in the house at least until 6 months post op. she recommend family members come to the nutrition seminar and tells them, eat take out, etc elsewhere, not in the house. many people are all "no no, it's fine i can deal." but the fact is... you wouldnt have a house full of alcohol if your loved one was coming home from rehab. my H had been really great. but he's eating gluten free now and struggling himself with healthier food choices.

So far, I've had an easy time walking away from Desserts. I'm sure it's just because I'm still in the honeymoon period (3.5 months post op) but sweets don't really appeal right now. I had a harder time being around chips and crackers. I had made a garlic/olive/dried tomato FF cream cheese ball so I used it as a spread on my turkey. I also made a crab dip and just ate that with a spoon. However, I know I ate more than I normally would because we were there for several hours and I ate a piece of turkey every couple of hours. Proud that I managed to skip my mom's corn casserole and its ooey goodness. I won't see it again for another year and hopefully by then, I'll be in a place where I can have a spoon of it. I still haven't had any alcohol but I was never a wine/beer drinker. I was always fond of vodka/cranberry and I'm pretty sure that's a bad idea.

At three months I can have trail mix, nuts and citrus fruits At six months I get beef, steak, pork and alcohol in moderate amounts

Laura, well said. It's not a one size fits all. I was the same way with cigarettes when I smoked. I quit and after 9 months had 1 and was right back where I had been before I quit. It took me many times to quit. I knew it was like alcohol to an alcoholic one and hooked. I am happy to report that it has now been 28 years since I have had a cigarette.

an alcoholic who has slipped should not beat him/herself up either. it is not the end of the world either. it is a sign he/she needs to take action. he/she should create a plan ASAP that actively addresses the slip so that it does not become a full blown relapse. identifying triggers, dealing with difficult situations and having a plan to course correct before its too late is imperative. relapse is like a train ride. it has a predictable route. you can get off at any stop. or you can ride it to the end. the key is learning to become aware that you have gotten on the train. eventually, you can learn to not even get on. its all about being honest and being willing to look at your choices and behavior with wide open eyes. beating yourself up and/or freaking out is not the answer.

I think that we just have some apples and oranges here... Excuse the spiritual stuff in the picture it was the best comparison I could find at the moment Why “Everything in Moderation” is Killing People Published on October 12, 2013 Written by: Kris Gunnars. I can’t stand it when the “Everything in Moderation” mantra is pushed as the right solution for everyone. There are biological reasons why some individuals can’t consume certain things in moderation, no matter how hard they try. That’s because many people are literally addicted to the junk foods they are consuming. Just like with other addictions, the only thing that works is abstinence. For addicts, moderation fails… every time. Many People Don’t Even Know That food Addiction Exists In the past few decades, literally hundreds of studies have explored how certain foods can lead to addiction (1). However, food addiction has yet to make it into the mainstream and many health professionals don’t even know that it exists… yet. I’ve seen many dietitians and other health professionals literally discouraging people from completely removing the addictive foods from their life. They say that such “extreme” methods are doomed to fail and will lead to feelings of deprivation. Even though these people mean well, they fail to understand how hopeless this approach is going to be when applied to food addicts. Chances are that people who are true food addicts will never succeed if they try to eat “in moderation.” They will continue to eat large amounts of junk food and suffer all the horrible consequences for the rest of their (much shorter) lives. There Are Biological Reasons Why Some People Just Can’t Consume Junk Food in Moderation Food addiction has a biological basis (2). Humans are hardwired to seek out behaviors that release a neurotransmitter called dopamine in the reward system of the brain. This is interpreted by the brain as “pleasure.” Many activities release dopamine… including eating behavior, sexual behavior and all kinds of things that make us feel “good.” This dopamine-driven reward is NOT a bad thing when it happens under natural circumstances. The problems appear when do things that release more dopamine than we were ever exposed to when our brains were evolving. Whereas real foods cause a relatively mild dopamine release, highly engineered junk foods that are loaded with sugar can have a very powerful effect (3). Interestingly, this is exactly what happens when people take drugs of abuse like cocaine… large amounts of dopamine are released in the reward system of the brain. For people with a certain predisposition, this can lead to full-blown addiction (4). When this happens, the “reward seeking behavior” takes over… logic and reason fail and the individual starts succumbing to cravings, despite knowing that it is causing physical harm. This is the reason smokers can’t just decide to “smoke less” and alcoholics can’t just decide to “drink less.” The logical part of their brain doesn’t have control anymore. People who binge eat and can’t control themselves around junk food have the exact same problem. Of course, this is all a drastic oversimplification. Addiction and the brain are incredibly complex subjects and there are many brain centers and neurotransmitters involved. My Personal Experiences With Addiction I can support this with some personal experiences… I am a recovering alcoholic and a drug addict… sober since January 4th, 2007. I’ve been to 6 rehabs, a mental institution, jail more often than I can count and several trips to the emergency room due to overdose. I was also a smoker for many years, but managed to give that up after multiple attempts. The reason I’m telling you this, is to demonstrate that I know how addiction works. I’ve been there… succeeded, and failed, many times. A few years ago, I realized that I had been developing an addiction to junk foods. Full-blown addiction, nothing more, nothing less. I had completely lost control over my consumption… I used to binge all the time and often ate thousands of calories in a sitting. I struggled with this for years. I tried literally everything… cheat meals didn’t work, cheat days didn’t work, pills didn’t work, supplements didn’t work and various different diets failed. “Moderation” sure as hell didn’t work either. Eventually, I realized that I was experiencing the exact same symptoms as when I was addicted to drugs. The cravings, the thought processes, the failure to set rules, the complete lack of self control… being addicted to junk food was the same as being addicted to amphetamine. Exactly the same. Just like with drugs, the only way I have ever been able to stop eating junk foods is by completely removing them from my life. Moderation failed, every time. As soon as I managed to give up the addictive foods completely, I lost weight… with pretty much no effort. I have since spoken to many of my friends who are also recovering drug addicts. They didn’t struggle with binge eating like I did, but they have confirmed that craving ice cream feels the exact same as craving a drug. Even though there are no reliable statistics available, I am personally convinced that food addiction is much more common than most people think. If you have problems with binge eating or have repeatedly failed to set rules about junk foods, then perhaps this is something you should look into. It might end up saving your life. The Other Side of The Story – Restrictive Dieting and Eating Disorders There is a strange dilemma here… there are also studies showing that restrictive dieting can cause binge eating and lead to eating disorders (5, 6). For this reason, being flexible with your diet may be a good idea for a lot of people. Some people can and maybe even should include some junk foods in their life, without feeling guilty, in order to reduce the likelihood of developing an “unhealthy relationship” with food. This approach can work for some people, NOT others. I personally think that people who have already succumbed to food addiction will not succeed unless they manage to avoid junk foods completely. For these people, the “everything in moderation” message, which literally discourages them from doing the only thing that works for addiction, is seriously harmful. This is just one of many examples where there are very few “truths” in nutrition that can be applied across the board. While including junk food in moderation can work for a lot of people, it is a complete disaster for others. What is The Solution? When it comes to addiction, abstinence is only the beginning. Sticking to it in the long run (preferably for life) is the real challenge. People who truly have food addiction may need much more than just a firm decision to stop eating the addictive foods. Fortunately, there are psychologists, treatment programs, self-help groups and 12-step programs (free) that can help with this. One thing is certain… a person with true addiction will never, ever be able to consume their “drug of choice” in moderation. Telling a food addict to eat junk food “in moderation” is just as ridiculous as telling a smoker to smoke in moderation, or an alcoholic to drink in moderation. It simply does not work, period.

I ate a piece of sweet potatoe pie and the next day had a small slice of German chocolate cake only 4 the holiday will not make it a habit oh & a cup of wine 4 sips I was feeling tipsy almost drunk I don't like alcohol anymore wish I could say the same about sweets & btw I'm 8 months post op start weight 215 current weight 149

Day 1 and 2 were pretty bad. I'll be honest. I smacked a nurses hand when she waved a alcohol pad in front of me! Get out of my way I'm gonna puke! The Zonfran wasn't working at all, so it turned out to be that I'm REALLY sensitive to dilaudid, so when we changed the pain med the nausea went away and never came back.

I had nausea the day of and day after surgery. The nurses had me sniff alcohol swabs and it went away! Amazing! I've had none since the day after surgery.

I do not drink often. I had my surgery and since then I have had a few drinks...It takes me a while to get them down and I really don't crave them. I will have a drink here and there, but honestly I don't drink much anymore not sure if it was the band or just the realization that I am trying to lose weight and don't need to knock back empty calories all the time...This whole carbonation thing is crazy. Having a drink won't kill ya. The carbonation is mostly a gas thing. It makes you uncomfortable is all. I can take gas-x and have no problem drinking those lovely carbonated beverages on occasion. Hope this helps. Remember they have no benefit to you other than being tasty and a social thing. Losing weight and getting healthy is way more important....save the alcohol for important occasions. Good luck!!

I have had a terrible sugar craving too.....that is my THING...I love sugar. I have had some Russell Stover sugar free mint patties and I just take a tiny bite, put it in my mouth and let it melt. It's full of flavor and it works. They have sugar alcohols, but sugar free otherwise. I have had no issues with them. I am also trying new soup broths...I just bought the Swanson brand Mexican Tortilla....it's not sweet of course, but it redeirects my sugar need/want and settles me down.

I applaud you for thinking about going. At 10 days postop I could not have gone out. That being said you have to decide if you want to or not. And just to be a little bossy - skip the wine. Not just because of the calories but many of us find alcohol hits us way harder especially in the beginning of our journey. Don't worry about food. Have something before you go and then stick to liquids. Get chance to get in 64oz of Water. Order a Bloody Mary without the alcohol. Or even some OJ though that is high in sugars. Perhaps the bar has some Soups if you really think you want something. But most of all concentrate on the people you're with and the game. Then you won't be so worried.

When I do intermitten fasting I stop eating foods but I may have a cup of tea, or coffee before my workout in the morning. I was taught that you can drink whatever you want but as always limit your sugar intake to about 60g during an entire fast (16-24 hours) and If you must eat something let it be no more than 100 calories within an entire fasting period. NO ALCOHOL I generally stick to Water, tea or coffee. It has helped me finally reach my water intake, because I'm usually still awake 6 hours after I begin a fast.

Welcome all. I was banded July 1 2013 down 78 lbs by far the best decision of my life. Grateful I found this site some people here are amazing and so motivating . I can't explain how the band has changed my thinking as well which is why I think I have been so successful. I follow the drs rules protein small bites n portions no drinking while eating my vitamins. I also got the gym 5-7 days a week combination of cardio j weight training. I started at 297 wearing size 22/24 I am Now 217 wearing a size 16 . And only 6 months out . There will be some emotions along the way especially as you get closer to surgery I was scared to go through with it but then I said if I d nothing in letting bad things happen to me as well so let me try and do the healthy thing. I have been on a diet since age 10 27 tears of dieting at at age 38 I decided to get banded actually got the approval on my 38 bday. I still go out to dinner eat way less and don't really drink alcohol but the drinking is by my chose. Good luck and we are here for you !!!!

Holy crap!! Literally! Ha! Thankfully your husband can laugh at the situation! I don't blame you for wanting to drink on your wedding night and being 8 months out, who would have thought that you would have had that reaction?! Any experiences with alcohol since then?? I'm dying to know!

Wedding night I got cocky with drinking. Not much of a drinker before. I was 8 months out from surgery and was out of my surgeons no alcohol window. Well my wedding night I spent most of the evening in the bathroom. Hangover was worse then I ever thought. Too much sugar wreaked havoc on my gut. Good thing my hubby is such an understanding guy. He laughs now that I spent our wedding night with the trots. Good thing it didn't kick in until after I changed.

It's all cracking until one starts crying and the other one starts spewing Sleeve or no sleeve laura-ven can hold her tequila Ok imma going to have to imagine your pretty eyes to go with the rest of the fabulousness I'm seeing... : Don't kill me I can't draw! LOL Brilliant! The sad thing about that? You're actually not far wrong from reality.. Could have just done with a few fine red veins where the alcohol had started getting into my system!

My doctor said no Nyquil because it's got too much alcohol. She said I cab have Dayquil to help with my cold. Again, I couldn't sleep because I have a terrible head cold. Just going to sleep as not the issue!

Some of us have very serious and dangerous food addictions. Would you tell a recovering alcoholic it's ok to have an occasional drink and not to beat themselves up over it? Because that's what it's like for me. All it takes is just one slip up and it's like I fell off the wagon. I'm so happy for you that you don't have these issues, sincerely, but please don't judge those of us that do. For some of us that little slip of really can seem like the end of the world. Just saying. .. lol