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Part of me wants to have a few drinks, Celebrate, show off my new self (haha) but then I know I really shouldn't. Robert which side is winning??? you'll be pushing about 4.5 month po on your b'day - right??? few drinks???? IMO - I don't think you should you need to check with your doc to see when he even allows alcohol again if he approveds you for a drink, go for it!!!! how often do you have a b'day anyways but............be careful you are now 80 lbs less (by your b'day maybe a few more lbs down) your body can't handle as much alcohol without you possibly feeling a little 'tipsy' earlier than before cuz you are so much smaller now gotta be extra careful - cuz there are girls out there that might want to take advantage of your situation!!!! happy birthday guy have a wonderful day - enjoy the company/night out with your friends maybe allow yourself one drink then........... "maybe" settle for a glass of Water with a lemon in it people won't know what you are drinking good luck 80 lbs down great weight loss kathy congrats

Don't they make low cal drink now...? Fake a nice drink. It is not the liquor ..it is meeting and greeting. Don't give the power to alcohol. It is not worth it. The purpose of the evening is to socialize with people.

Not to jinx it but I think I broke out of my stall. I weighed on Sunday and I was finally down under 270!! I have been flexing between 272 and 275 for 2 1/2 weeks and almost screamed when I saw the scale! I hope this is not short lived and that it keeps moving. I am really sticking to good choices even with all of the parties and food. If I have to try something a have a single very small bite and then move on. Focusing on getting my Protein in and trying to up my calorie intake to 700-800. I still only get about 550-575 in a day. Loving this though, feeling the difference and seeing it dramatically in my clothes. I think this time of year is hard too because of the alcohol. I have been trying to limit this but do enjoy a couple of vodka mixed drinks on occasion. Usually mixed with diet v8 or diet ruby red grapefruit also flavored water is good and no calories!

Hi Brown Eyes, sounds like you're doing great! I was banded 11/5 and today I'm going for a third fill. I'm doing well but finding this season of holiday festivity a little hard as there's so much going on, food and alcohol everywhere, etc. I'm still looking for a pattern to my daily life as far as when to eat. I'm not hungry in the mornings so I may be a two meal a day person. Have enjoyed shakes sometimes in the AM but not sure whether to incorporate that into my regular routine or if it's better to not "drink" my food. I am liking chicken and fish -- smoked salmon is a good food for me. Veggies can be a little tough but I just need to chew a lot. I had one stuck episode weeks ago and hope to avoid that. Eating beets too fast, went into an epic 20 minute hiccup fest followed by throwing up. I also want to bump my exercise up as I have slacked off a little due to very cold weather and busy holiday season. I am a bit stressed and want to keep my determination turned up high as I know that this time -- six weeks out or so -- can be difficult for some and it is coinciding with Christmas, etc. Need to stay relaxed and continue to choose myself first. Best wishes to all and thanks so much for creating a place for us to check in!

I just got home from a long business trip and I'm only 3 months out, so it's been easier for me to be "good". I'm sticking with my same eating plan and I carry a shaker bottle of Protein powder and bottled Water for days like yesterday when I'm caught out almost all day running errands. For the family gatherings, I've found some "naughty" recipes that my daughter and I can bake together and some healthy ones (crab stuffed mushrooms) so I have a treat with my turkey. I guess I'm really lucky. I haven't had any trouble turning away from the high-carb and high-fat holiday foods so far. At Thanksgiving I had a fork tines full of Italian wedding cake crumbs as a "taste" and was satisfied. I have't had any desire to add non-vegetable carbs, sweets or alcohol back in my life (yet). I'm enjoying it (and my new size 12s) but I know I'm going to have to be vigilant when my honeymoon period is over.

Erm, large amounts of alcohol? <skulks off in fear for her life>

Yeah, alcohol really hits us hard because our stomachs are so small. If I have a drink , I have to have a snack with it, or I am drunk on one drink.. Good idea not to drink with new guys. Skiing can't be that hard if I can do it. I haven't gone in years but I only took one lesson and I was skiing all over the place. You just have to learn to stop and to turn. I found it really easy to learn. I had some bad sweets today and it really sent me to the toilet. I hope all the calories went down when I flushed it.Christmas goodies. I don't have to worry anymore now though. Nobody else will come around with treats. I want to get back to the gym but I want to hold that baby all day!

I am going to take back my statement above about sugar not affecting me. My wife and I hosted a huge cookie decorating party today for extended family. There was a ton of sugary food (and non sugary food) from frosted cookies to home made marsh mellows to homemade almond roca to home made candied pecans to gourmet chocolates to... Trying one thing led to another. I sampled it all. Oh I was so naughty ! anyways, I was not feeling good afterwards and went to lay down. I was sweating, very warm, heart was racing and I was overly lethargic. I promptly passed out and napped for a couple hours. When I woke up my whole body ached. I mean really ached deep in the muscles. I started drinking water because I thought that might help due to a dehydration effect from the sugar (or some other anatomical process). It did. After about 45 minutes the aches are diminished. My body must not have liked that sugar rush at all (insulin response through the roof?) after eating fairly strict paleo for almost a year and not having any real sugar amounts from food since pre surgery (1.5 year ago). I don't think I will be doing that again nor will I eat much sugar again if I can help it. That did not feel pleasant at all. Definitely an overdose of sugar. Almost like the effects of drinking alcohol to excess and passing out. I have never done that, but I imagine the process would be about the same as sugar is a drug as alcohol is a drug to the body. Not meaning to derail others from enjoying their xmas parties. I just wanted to share what happened for me in case it helps someone.

No problems with alcohol here. Been drinking since I've been banded per doctor's orders. I drink both wine and liquor. Good luck!

----Wow@steak 15 days out -- only a dream for me My NUT told me that the sleeve really isn't healed for minimum of 4-6 weeks (she mentioned Peanut Butter (my fave) really gets stuck and shouldn't be tried until 6 weeks) I'm also instructed to avoid breads, rice, Pasta, red meats, fried foods and baked goods for minimum 6-12 months Not sure how long for alcohol but I assume at least 6 months too I'm afraid all these restrictions will force a really fast weightloss leading to to low a weight for my large frame --- I'll revisit some restrictions with her as time goes on I've already lost 15 pounds (currently 220-221) and I'm only 10 days out and on full liquids

you've had a bad go. Did you drink alcohol? are you drinking alcohol now? why i ask.... i like to have wine. Ive found though that it makes my stomach so acidic that i cant tolerate much either. I have had a lot of trouble in the last 21 months myself. I got to the point where i was having so much pain even inbetween meals that it was hard for me. i lived on antacids. i even went and bought somac. i was having nights where i was afraid to sleep because of regurgitation... and i would have to sit bolt upright. I was sliming and vomiting nearly every meal. My dr. visits were monthly, some months i would need some fill taken out, other months we would try a very small amount again. it was hard to get a good balance. Ive just had a fraction taken out again, about three weeks ago. Im not sliming now.... but i think im putting on a small amount of weight again. With christmas coming up thats going to create another issue in the new year im thinking. One thing i did find out though. Im now drinking orange juice about twice a day with a good two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in it. I started off with much less vinegar but have been able to build it up . this is extremely good in creating the right balance of alkalinity in the stomach. Wine especially is very acid. I originally started having more wine some days because it would relax the band some more but in the end the acid balance was all out and that didnt work at all. At the moment im having up to a half small cup of cider vinegar a day. its also helping me with my joints. Its got to be apple cider vinegar. i do have a lot of Soup. i add veges and meats to my soup... in fact i have 2/3 of my diet with soup. Im quite happy with that, Other than having cut up meat in soup, i do have difficulty eating meat myself. Pork isnt quite so bad. fish is o.k... so long as i take ages to eat it. My dr did tell me that it may be a good idea for me to become vegetarian completely. i dont want to do that though so im very careful but still have some meat. i dont eat much bread at all. i find it very hard to digest fruit. there are ways of getting around that though... for example the orange juice drink with the vinegar in it. i can only eat about a tablespoon of salad. i hope that your second attempt gives you much encouragement that it will work for you. its so good to hear that you havent given up. I believe that you will get there with perseverance. One thing for sure.. .we are all different. good luck

I have no hunger pains but mentally I want to eat. However my incision is letting me know that I better just stick to the liquids and be done with it... I read all of the stories that people were told to go on a pre-liquid diet before their surgery date. I went on a one day liquid diet and my surgeon stated I did great. She said my liver was perfect, she asked me if I drank alcohol. I am not a drinker or a smoker I live a clean life. (I don't judge those that do. I'm just letting you know what works for my life)

Before people start arriving, try to sit down & eat some of the turkey chili ahead of time. This may help you to better resist the temptations around you tonight. Keep Water in your hand to sip throughout the party, and be very careful not to overdo the alcohol. Since you're not even a month out yet, you don't have any way to know what foods might not sit well or make you sick. Good luck!

Had my first major outing today. My boyfriend and I decided to take a little road trip to a snowy mountain town about 4 hours away. I drove and by about hour three had a fair amount of back and abdominal pain. Got to the hotel and took some Tylenol and laid down for a min, then hit the town! The walking around was fine and the not eating was manageable, but I really felt sad that I couldn't enjoy an adult beverage with my honey. It didn't even sound good! Thinking back now, a lot of our road trips and outings include alcohol. I used to be very into wine tasting! I know it won't be this way forever, but I did feel a little regret in terms of losing that part of my life. My life doesn't revolve around booze (please no Addiction accusations) but I'm young and we used to Include it in a lot of the things we would do. I look forward to someday being able to enjoy a glass of wine with him. Moderation! Anyway, I had French onion soup (sans bread and cheese) for dinner, and slept like a baby. We head home today and although I'm not looking forward to driving, I'm pretty happy it was a successful trip.

About 2 years ago, there was a small group of people who were all getting banded the same month...they decided to break away and start their own private facebook group....they wanted to be of a single mind with a single goal, and felt this forum was too confusing with people in all different stages of this journey...not to mention the negativity...the group grew to around 100 people..ALL being banded within the same month or so....ALL moving forward at the same pace. As a group, they decided early on they needed a few Veterans in the group to give advice and hints based upon experience....so they hand picked 2 or 3 from this forum...I was one of those invited.... The group was very productive and very tight knit, planning reunions here and there......it was fun to see and watch them, as a group, enter and pass through the different stages...such as their first fill...or bandster hell...or their first stuck episode.... I remember once they were all talking about how they loved Sushi,,,,I mentioned something which none of them understood...but sure enough 6 months later I was asking...."What...no one eats Sushi anymore? What happened?" The group was so good, everyone started to invite others to join with good intentions...and it grew and grew in numbers....it slowly became a microcosm of this forum, with people at all different stages...some just starting out, some just considering the surgery...and yes, negativity and some friction between members started, with some quitting having their "Feelings" hurt, or insulted........it slowly became confusing, not knowing where someone was in their journey, making it difficult to give advice...again, there are some things beginners will not, and cannot understand yet....so I no longer knew what to say to who, and started to keep my mouth shut when a topic came up such as "Alcohol" and the band....for some people it is better not to hear what I think....even if it is from experience... Long story short though....NONE of those people ever came back to this forum...they ALL left...I do see one, maybe 2 now and then, but that's about it....the "Core" of that original group are all happy, met their goals, and many of them moved on from that group....and of course, statistically, a few never found that compatibility with this, and had their constant struggles. It's just the way it is...you can't be responsible for what others think or feel, whether they have interest in staying or leaving...it just happens...it's natural...it's happened before, it's happening now, and will happen in the future....it will always be that way. It happens....it's a big world and this IS the internet after all....

Sorry I hit some key and it post the Hi... don't know which one...every site is different and I not a quick learner. I had total knee replacement of both knees 45 lbs ago. My knees surgery was wonderful no pain afterwards, none. Now I am back to pain because of the 45 lbs. The doctor either wants you to lose weight or you are way too young. My daughter is way too young and she is definitely not overweight but our doctor will not replace her knee. I don't know how old you are so it may be age, knees can only be replaced once. I am in this forum to read about your experiences before and after surgery. I am just starting my journey ... ooo hate that word.. but that is what this is a journey into the unknown for me. What is this pre-surgery diet? I have not seen a doctor yet. I am still trying to figure out where to have the surgery, guess I could call it RNY... What are the most common after effects? Besides throwing up.. that's all I had heard about ever since this started in the 80's.... Crazy8, I hear you Babe when you say it's an addiction to food... just like any other addiction... and the worst one.... you have to have food to live. You don't need cigarettes to live so you can give up smoking and not have to touch them or hold them, see them, or smell them.... you know what I mean... but food .. aahhh .. we have to have it... and for some reason it is our addiction of choice.. I'm a happy drunk I wish I could drink but I think I am allergic to alcohol so I eat... I hide food, I stuff my face on my way home and hide the wrappers if I can't throw them out the window and I feel so guilty about that with the guilt about eating.... I am seeing a therapist and she is the very best one I have ever seen, I've had a few. We have had great successes in other parts of my life so I know with her help and this surgery I will be successful. Any suggestions from you ladies and men about what questions to ask, what foods are good, just anything that help get a little bit more knowledgeable before I jump in. Thank you so much for reading and I have to tell you I have a quirky sense of humor, please bear with me, my family does not know where I came from I am like none of them (except for my grandmother and her sister's sizes).

Hi Kay, As far as Diet coke I still don't drink carbonation drinks. I sipped it once and it gave me an amount of Gas that I won't forget. But I've read people here that can tolerate carbonation. Being real about Alcohol. Talk to your doctor. I do have an occasional drink of alcohol but I can't tolerate sugary drinks of any I tried it my self at the same time. That said enjoy your Holiday.

The chicken noodle soup sounds good. I think that was my first too. Good luck at work! Walk as much as you can and warm beverage (tea, chocolate or coffee) goes good. Forget the sodas & alcohol. Praying for all in Band-Land! Merry Christmas & Happy Healthy New Year!

Okay, here is the mediocre picture of the lemon Protein pudding I made: To give you an idea of portion size, that is a regular size teaspoon and a small dessert ramekin sitting on a saucer. I made a half-box of pudding with one cup of milk, and then turned that recipe into three servings. Here are my ingredients and the final numbers: 1/2 box sugar free, fat free lemon pudding mix 1 cup (240 ml) Carbmaster vanilla Reduced Sugar Milk 2 scoops* Syntrax nectar Medical Unflavored Protein 1/4 t. lemon extract** 1 dollop fat free Redi Whip Final numbers per serving: 62 calories, 10 g. protein, 4 g. carb, 0 g. fat. *Syntrax Nectar Unflavored protein comes in very small scoops! 2 scoops = 80 calories, 20 gr. protein, 0 gr. carbs. **I put in the lemon extract because I love lemon flavoring, but if you do, be warned that the pudding will set a bit softer than normal. If you like super firm pudding, don't add alcohol-based extracts. This was super yummy! I have lots of flavors of pudding mix on hand and will definitely be adding this to my repertoire. Thanks!

1. We love you. 2. We are not going to beat you up. I hope we each realize that "there but for the grace of God go I" OK, I (intellectually) knew that the Sleeve was not magical. But emotionally I just wanted the sleeve to work automatically. Maybe it would be a switch that would turn off my hunger. Maybe the operation would automatically make be want only the 'nutritious' food and change my taste buds so that I'd hate "slider" foods. Maybe the sleeve would end my work and life stress. Maybe the sleeve would vacuum the carpets... (um, sorry) Nope. For me it is a tool and nothing magical at all. I CAN eat around the sleeve. I can eat a lot more than I thought I could and I also have a stomach of steel. Aside from one episode of nausea and vomiting, I have had NO problems. I think I could eat a box of carpet tacks. I have had good loss. I am coming up to 7 months out and am down 100# from my heaviest weight and 45# down from surgery. I have been in a frustrating stall for over a month, sigh, but I press on... But I have a fat brain (named, as many folks here know, "Skippy"). Skippy wants me to eat. ALL the time. I can only deal with Skippy by having a daily eating plan. I know what I will eat and when I will eat and that's it. I just never change from the plan -- not because it's fun or because I don't WANT to -- but because Skippy is freaking insane and is FULL of wonderful snack ideas... Also, from reading here and other research, I have come to believe that I am a Carb Addict. Period. One day I had a bananna... and was STARVING the rest of the day. One day I had a small (tiny) rice pudding cup... and was starving for the rest of the day. This made no sense. BUT I have found that IF I can stay on a very strict low carb eating plan (NO sugars and NO starches and NO processed carbs) for 3 or 4 very difficult days it does get easier. And after about a week, I really don't mind the temptations of TV, work parties, and home; and I no longer have terrible and painful cravings. 3 or 4 TOUGH days to pay for a much easier time later, with Skippy being quiet in the background rather than continuously whispering in my ear. PS, I have given up longing to be normal... I never was and I refuse to "long" to be fat any more. I struggle every day with eating slowly, I drink coffe, my NUT is not happy, but it's the only drug I've got left. PS, I drink it black -- took a month to transition to black coffee but I did, I drink no soda, diet or otherwise, no beer, nothing bubbly I do not smoke (thank God) I limit my alcohol to special occasions, I get my Water in I get my Protein in I write everything down I take the Vitamins required PS, we love you, and this book helped me: http://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Get-Fat-About/dp/0307474259

well i started my preop diet early, i've been working on it since october. I gave up chocolate, alcohol, and cigarettes. Though I've only been banded 2 weeks. I know that I have 2 new addictions. When stressed i used to eat. . IT was my comfort. Now that I've been losing weight my new addiction is sex. and the other one is checking myself in the mirror. I feel kinda vain though for looking in the mirror so much.

I had a food festivus! My wonderful husband actually asked me what meals i wanted for dinner every night for 2 weeks and we planned out a schedule. Since i'm a vegitarian and my husband hates veggies, there were a lot of dishes i knew i could never have again (even as a bite from his) because he would never want/eat it. 1 week before surgery we went to Mexico for our wedding anniversary and i drank my face off. Funny thing is, it's been over 3 months since then and i really couldn't care less about not having alcohol. It was cathartic for me to indulge and eat at excess for the last time ever. Don't feel guilty. This is a big step and it's forever, so do what you need to do to feel comfortable with your new life style. I'm down 62 lbs from my heaviest and i'm 2 1/2 months post surgery and i don't regret a single fat meal i had before my pre-surgery diet. I never cheated on my pre-surgery diet, i was locked into the mindset. I allowed myself the time to go crazy, now it's time to get healthy and love how i look again.

I am dealing with some MAJOR medical issues right now, and I had to see a rheumatologist for the first time yesterday. He was reviewing my medical history and saw that I have had WLS, he questioned why I did it and I said I was 244 pounds, at 5'5 and morbidly obese, he looked me in the eye and said, that is the average sized American why do something so drastic? I was floored. I have never had a doctor ask me why I didn't want to be morbidly obese anymore. I explained to him that I wanted to be healthy, and extend my life. I said the average American also smokes, and drinks alcohol on a regular basis, but I don't do either of those things either. He dropped it, but still I was stunned that he said at 244 pounds I was average for an American, and he was surprised I had surgery. I'm glad I did it, and I think it will help me deal with the problems I'm facing now, but it was still shocking to hear. I am 5 pounds under my goal, and I have had several people tell me that I need to stop losing weight, or ask me if I knew how to stop losing now that I'm at my goal. My mother lectures me all the time about getting too thin, or not eating enough. I am in a size 8, and I don't think I'm too thin at all, I'm very comfortable at the size I am right now. I would love to have the access skin removed, and that will probably make me a size 4, but I'm not doing it for the size, I want to do it to help with the constant rash, and sores that I'm dealing with in the folds of my skin. I am however affraid that when they take off all the extra skin I WILL be underweight. I'm 5'5 and 130 pounds now, is that going to put me in the underweight catagory? That is a question I NEVER thought I would have to ask.

I chose to go to my division Christmas party, where the group was smaller and the food was not the focus, and completely skip the huge food/alcohol-centric orgy that is our University party. It's just too much. Kind of gross actually. I'm going to the gym instead.

i agree with SS. also i think because we are in this situation you need to consider self-sabotage. we have all done it, that is why we are here.sadly. if your surgery is validated, and you are in fact sleeved, and your labs are all normal. do try a do over. do the shakes for 6 weeks, then 30mgs of Protein for three meal, and no carb Snacks. drink all the darn Water and take the power multivites. if you are sleeved, that is unchanged. (anyone with a vertical sleeve can still drink Hershey syrup) you did do this surgery for a reason, get you mind set, get a goal, take baby steps, in one direction, go to the gym, and be good to yourself, no not snack bad, you don't reward alcoholics with booze if they have been sober for a few months.. please keep a good thought and keep us posted