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I am hoping never to drink alcohol again because of the calories. My colleagues are frustrated by this development but I prefer being in good health. I would much rather drink a protein shake than alcohol.

I am curious also ? I have my sleeve May 28 (Dr Aceves) so I will be off the booze for awhile. But I do enjoy a glass of Lambrusco while I watch my TV (True Blood, Dexter, Borgias, Homeland, etc). Wondering if I will be able to sub some wine on the rocks as part of my "liquids" ? or will alcohol cause problems after a couple months post-op ?

I can eat any meat, seafood or fish if it is cut small enough, moist enough and chewed well, however i cant eat scrambled eggs or raw veg, although i do eat a lot of chopped salads. I dont eat pasta or any high carb foods like rice or bread by choice ! .. Some cant eat much of a morning as the band can be a little tighter so they stick with a protein shake or a warm drink to relax it a little first. Most food people eat is individual to them, so it would be individual to you if u have the lapband fitted as to what could end up eating .. big no no's are drinking while eating, eating large quantities or too fast and not chewing well seem to be the standard sort of restrictions ... In general there isnt really intolerance to anything because of a lapband, some doctors will ask for no caffine or alcohol others will say no problem, i drink coffee, not strong, and tea as fillers in between meals my doctor is fine with it and as u can see i have lost the weight i needed too and am continuing on the homeward stretch to my goal. Good luck and maybe this will be the year that changed your life

I was so tired till closer to 5 months out. I was very sensitive to greasy foods, acidic foods, and spicy foods till 6-8 months out. Things are still a bit different but in a good way, At almost 18 months out, I feel I can eat a healthy meal including veggies, whole grains, and Protein. I can enjoy junk food or alcoholic drinks when I want and, in fact, I have to monitor their intake to keep my weight stabile. I finally have more energy than I did pre-op. It's amazing how losing more than 100 lbs. can free your movements! Keep an eye on things. If you are feeling worse instead of better, time to call the Dr.! Best wishes on your journey to the goalies bench! Lynda

To be honest not much except walking and house work.. it seems like the surgery really completely changed my metabolism it's like I can't put on weight anymore... This morning I'm 169lbs and I've pretty much stabilised around 169-171bs for a few weeks now... I've experimented with a few treats like chocolate for Easter and a few alcoholic beverages as well and I still seem to be able to maintain my weight loss...

Hi everyone! I was sleeved on April 7th and I've lost 61 lbs! I have a couple of issues I need to put out there. One I have days of such nausesa I can't eat or drink. It feels like wet cement and lays there for hours. Secondly I have multiple sclerosis which is stable. I'm a highly medicated bipolar. I take lamictal Prozac for OCD I take Four mgs of Xanax for anxiety and seroquel which is a mood stabilizer and sleep aid. I've fallen twice in the last two weeks but MRI came back good. 3 days ago I had an event I don't recall much about. I was complexly out of it, dizzy, falling doing weird stuff, incoherent and confused. The ambulance kindly came to my rescue when my roommate knew something was very very wrong. They thought I had taken street drugs and it alcohol, blood test was negative. My bp was dangerously low. I had a cat scan which was negative. They think somehow I had overdosed myself. Apparently I had spent the day in bed and not eating. When I finally came home and tried to drink every little sip came up. It was like that for about six hours. It's been brought to my attention that because I've lost weight so rapidly there's been no dosage change. The ER doc said I was on enough meds to kill a horse. I'm actually prescribed 15 bottles and I just take my regulars and then as needed. Could my weightloss and meds possibly be the cause??? I intend on calling my psych tomorrow but I'm just curious what any of you have experienced. Thanks for hanging in there!!!

Congratulations on overcoming your Diet Coke obstacle. I started tapering off of them July 5. Now, I will only have one when we are out of the house or I am traveling for work. I know I will have to give it up completely after the surgery, but in all likelihood, that will just have to happen then and I will have to deal with it. I can give up alcohol; I can give up carbs; I can even give up cable, but giving up Diet Coke is the hardest challenge of all!

Talk to your surgeon but from what I have been told, alcohol is not OK. Empty calories and carbonation.

I am not a heavy drinker by means, but I do enjoy my glass or glasses of wine..and now all of a sudden it hit me, I am not sure how to incorporate it? I wont right away due to I am on the liquid diet.. but I am turning 40 in a couple of weeks and I dont know what to do, or how to introduce it?? I hope this does not sound dumb..I know I can not drink while eating, so does this mean I can have a have a glass of wine just before, then eat, wait an hour...then have another glass..lol..who knew this would be something that is making me confused!!! Thanks for all your help!!

My first thought is that it sounds like your just eating to eat. Nothing can help with that except discipline and determination. It's a mind twist, and I recommend having a menu set, and designated time to eat. Start tracking your food intake and stick with the plan. I know it's easier said than done, but if you want it bad enough, you'll make it happen. Protein bars are typically full of carbs and sugar alcohol which can cause more cravings for carby stuff. If you're hungry within 30-45 minutes of eating, are you still on a PPI? If not, acid overproduction could be the culprit. While acid overproduction is sometimes resolved by 6 months post-op, you might be one of us that need to be on a PPI. But, if it's head hunger, or just mindless eating, then you'll have to battle the mental aspect of eating. You've done amazingly well thus far, don't toss out the last 6 months now by being careless and going off plan. I live by the mantra of "just because I can, doesn't mean I should". I can eat every hour on the hour if I wanted to, but I make the conscious effort to eat scheduled meals, measured portions, and still eat protein first 85% of the time. I agree with the above poster regarding the 5 day pouch test. I know several people that have used it to get back on track. Or, you can back to strict low carb, high protein, and have some accountability on what's going in your mouth.

It's been 2008 since I had a very successful surgery. Seriously, I swam in SF Sharkfest from Alcatraz to SF 2 yrs in a row. As I've gotten older, I have learned a few things I'd like to pass on to those who might not know this. Someone who has had bariatric surgery can only drink 5 oz of alcohol (wine/beer) and then they are legally drunk (trust me, you look act like you have had way too many drinks--slurred speech, staggering, falling down) and if you were to blow into a breathalyzer, you would get a reading indicating you are inebriated. Although I hadn't had anything to drink in about 30 yrs, during a few social dinners at our house, I had a small glass of wine and then my husband wanted to know just how much I had had to drink. When I say, "Not even one glass of wine," I was in such bad shape that he didn't believe me. He was furious and told me I wasn't to have any more drinks for the night. This also happened at my son's who was just livid with me and told me to go to a spare bedroom for the rest of the night. And, truly, I felt super drunk. At some point, I did some research and learned that because of how small my stomach pouch is and the way liquids are absorbed, I really shouldn't even have a sip of alcohol. Just thought I'd pass that on. Also, I originally lost 137 lbs to get to my goal weight. I maintained it for several years because I was working out regularly. A few yrs ago I started to put some weight back on, mostly because I wasn't exercising as much, I was alone ALL the time because of Covid because my husband was in contact with Covid infected people at the hospital he worked at 5 shifts a week for 1 yr and 9 months until his last day was Nov. 1. My diet wasn't as healthy and we were sleeping in different bedrooms on separate floors because he was so afraid he would test positive and give it to me. All last year, from July through May 29th when I had left hip replacement, I swam in a local lake for 1 hr each session...2x-4x a week with water getting down to 40 degrees. That kept me sane. Both of us have had our Covid vaccination shots and booster shots and I'm back in swimming in the cold water. If you have gained weight during the pandemic, just go through every day thankful and get back on the post-surgery diet your doctor put you on. (Currently, mine is 1200 cal, unless I burn over 900 swimming and only then do I get to add on 300). Even though I was afraid I had "stretched" my stomach pouch (I'll be 68 yrs old in a few weeks), I had an endoscopy and colonoscopy a month ago and the gastroenterologist said everything looks perfect.

I am in agreement with Splenderella. Just to demonstrate that alcohol temperance or abstention must a life-long objective: I had my initial RNY 30 years ago and still cannot drink more than 1 or 2 cocktails or glasses of wine before becoming inebriated. As a result I drink very rarely and stop at one drink. Addiction transference is a real thing for WLS patients. Some become alcoholics after surgery, perhaps because alcohol is a substitute for food addiction, a different coping mechanism. Be cautious with alcohol after surgery and keep track of your drinking behavior. Be honest with your surgeon and dietitian about your alcohol intake. Have your first drink at home in a safe environment. Avoid alcohol for as long as you can, for at least six months post-surgery. Alcohol dehydrates you, so be sure to drink extra water. Stay away from all sweet drinks, which can make you dump. Alcoholic drinks are empty calories, which should be reason enough to abstain. Alcohol hits your bloodstream much faster after surgery so it will affect you much harder. Never drink and drive. The way alcohol affects you after surgery will definitely impair your ability to drive.

Shockingly, I'm still here. I'm down to right around 211, but I think tonight may have hurt a little. 5 pieces of pizza and right around 4-5 shots-ish of spiced rum. I don't know what it is lately, but I've had more alcohol in the past two weeks than I've had in the past year. Weird, for sure. Oh well. It's not like I plan on maintaining this and yes, I'm still a bit tipsy. ha! I hope you're doing well! I'm going to head up to phoenix pretty soon to see/meet my new girlfriend's parents for the first time. I'll let everyone know when, if we want to get out to lunch or something.

Hi all. I am 3 weeks post-op as of this past Monday and I am not going to try either of these things any time soon, but am curious about a couple foods. How does everyone tolerate salad and raw veggies? I was sent home with diet literature and it says that starting with stage 4 and continuing on that you may not be able to tolerate raw veggies. I want a salad so bad that I can’t see straight! How does everyone tolerate alcohol, specifically wine? We love vineyards/winery trips and wine festivals. About once a month we would pop open a bottle at home with dinner. I will miss that greatly if I can never do it again. It is one of our “us” things. Like I said, don’t plan on doing any of this tomorrow or even next week, but I am thinking about the future. Any insight or personal story would be helpful. Thanks so much for taking the time to respond!

Lately I've been hearing a lot about new studies liking anxiety to obesity. Cortisol, I think, is the name of the chemical in the body that is responsible for keeping the fat on nervous wrecks. I have a long-term history of severe anxiety disorder. Right now, my anxiety is 100% under control unless outside forces sneak in or if I abuse alcohol or caffeine. For example, I'll be having a perfectly normal day, but my boss could raise his voice and set my anxiety off without warning, and I'll be left with my heart pounding and hands shaking (which is lame considering I couldn't give a rat's ass what my boss thinks since he's clueless.) Even 1 cup of coffee is too much for me, but I still drink caffeine in several forms because I'm a junkie, plain and simple. When I was in my 20s, I was spending more time in Emergency Rooms than at work, so my doctor put me on fulltime disability for 2 years. I couldn't leave the house without having a full-blown anxiety attack. It was awful, because I would try my hardest to mentally fight them off. I had nothing to be anxious about, nothing scared me, I had no fears, no phobias, but the physical attacks were debilitating, and according to experts, were residual breakdowns from an abusive youth. At one point I was taking four 1-ml Xanax a day just to keep from hyperventilating. If you ever took Xanax, four pills could knock out an elephant for a week. Today, I only take about 1/2 a month around PMS time, or I keep one with me for emergencies. I noticed "Corti-Slim" is a new OTC diet drug that addresses this problem. I haven't bought diet pills since Phen-Fen, so I'm wondering if anyone knows anything about this new discovery, or if Corti-Slim is any different than any other speed pill, like Dexatrim, for example. Normal diet pills give me major insomnia, but I took both doses of the Corti-Slim yesterday and slept like a baby. Any and all info/comments/warnings/suggestions appreciated. Alex, Donali?

I am still in the approval process so Im a long way off from being pre-op, but I am trying to find out as much information as I can so Im prepared. I know that in the first few months after getting the sleeve you have the liquid then soft food phases, but does it ever go back to really average things, just in small sizes? What about drinking alcohol?

In my social group, I'm the "afternoon cocktail girl". Seriously, moderation is key for me. There is no reason to not indulge in alcohol unless you are worried about transfer addiction issues. Plus, I didn't drink during my losing stage because our livers are working double time and throwing alcohol on top of everything else it's processing is pretty unfair to task my liver even more. I'm a party girl at heart. I love the bar/club scene, and refused to give it up just because I had my guts altered. Plus, dancing on tabletops is much safer at 130lbs than it is at 270lbs LOL ! ! !

Sorry, I'm being lazy so I'm just copy/pasting this reply from another post: 1. What is a daily meal like? This answer has changed based on how far out I am, and what my goals were. During losing, I ate Protein, protein, protein, protein and more protein. Pretty much atkins diet, no more than 30-40gr of carbs until I hit goal, and was getting into maintenance. At almost 2 years out, I eat fairly normal. Last night for dinner, my almost 13 yr old son, and I shared a fajita for one dinner at a local Mexican place. I ate 6 tortilla chips with salsa, 1 small flour tortilla with about 1Tbsp of refried Beans, a smear of sour cream, 3 strips of fajita steak meat, and about 6 jalapenos. I tear off the rounded part of the tortilla once I folded it over, and I was perfectly content with my intake. I can eat 1 slice of medium thin crust pizza with toppings and cheese. Rice, bread, Pasta are now all slider foods for me so I do watch that intake, but there are not any foods that I can not eat. Pork settles heavy in my sleeve so I don't eat it. I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything at all. Saturday night my husband and I went to a local steakhouse for dinner. I ordered a 6oz sirloin (teriyaki marinade and dipping sauce) a loaded sweet potato (marshmallows and caramel topping), and mac-n-cheese. I ate 1/4 of a dinner roll before my meal arrived. Proceeded to eat 1/2 of the steak with extra dipping sauce (food lube condiments makes meat easier to consume), half of the inside of the sweet potato, and 3 bites of mac-n-cheese. This meal experience lasted 1.5hours allowing me to eat a bit more without being "stuffed". 2. Is there anything you can't eat? Nopers 3. How much can you eat? It totally varies on the consistency of the food, the time I allow myself to eat. There are ways to cheat every weight loss surgery, and I know every single one of them. But, just because I know them doesn't mean I use them all the time. It's typically in social settings when I use those cheating skills. Grazing, eating super slow, stretching out my meal, sipping in between bites, allows me to eat a bit more, and not draw attention to myself. I attend A LOT of social functions, and no one ever questions my eating or lack thereof. 4. Can you drink diet soda? I've drank regular soda since being around 6.5-7 months out without issue. No change in my sleeve capacity, and without any effect on my weight. It's all about moderation for me. As for alcohol consumption, it's wasted calories and I didn't indulge until I was at goal. The first glass of wine hit me hard and fast. I was drunk, numb lips, tingly face, and then sobered up about 20-30 minutes later. I am a major social drinker (well before pregnancy), and I drink all types of mixed drinks and wine. Not a beer drinker, but I indulge when I can. The only time it had any effect on my weight was last holiday season. From Halloween to New Years, we partied a few times a month. I drank and ate without care, and I enjoyed every minute of it. Over those 3 months or so, I gained 7lbs. Went back to my normal eating, and drinking , dropped those 7lbs in a little over a week. My alcohol tolerance is just like it was pre-op.

I do eat anything I want just small portions. There is nothing that gives me trouble. I don't drink alcohol by choice, but I have had it. I get drunk pretty quickly if I have a drink. Alcohol gets into the blood stream quicker from our stomachs being so small.

Here is the Liver Shrink Diet my Surgeon and Nutritionist gave me to follow pre-op: Liver Shrink Diet Remember: Vegetables ar unlimited on this diet. (except potatoes, corn, beans, and peas. Breakfast Protein Shake or Protein Bar (You may use any shake as long as it has 220 or less calories and 10g or less fat/serving) Mid Morning Snack 1 small piece of fruit (if you have Diabetes add 4 oz low-fat yogurt) Lunch Protein Bar (220 calories of less and 10g or less of fat) or Shake Mid Afternoon Snack 1 small piece of fruit (add 4 oz low-fat yogurt if you have Diabetes) Dinner 3 oz meat (lean) - The size of a deck of cards steamed vegetables or salad with Fat-free salad dressing 6 unsalted crackers or 2 slices low calorie bread or 1 small baked potato 1/2 c fruit or 1 small piece of fruit Evening Snack 1 small piece of fruit (add 4 oz low-fat yogurt if you are Diabetic) (You may have non-caloric beverages on this diet) NO ALCOHOL!!!!!!!! Examples: Decaf. Tea, Crystal Light, Sugar-free Kool-Aid, Water Follow This 1 Day Prior To Surgery: Clear liquids only including Jello, broth, juice, and any beverages listed above. Jello can be congealed, but do not put fruit in it it. (NO RED JELLO) & NOTHING TO EAT PAST MIDNIGHT (of course). This is just what my surgeon and nutritionist gave me. Of course everyone's seems different but I just thought I would give you something to go on.

How far out from surgery are you? I'm 7 weeks out and once in a while will get the cramps/gurgling in my intestines. I can't guess if it will be gas or that I have to go so I get up and go just in case. Most of the time it happened earlier after the surgery for me and has gotten better. Just occassionally it happens now. Pay attention to what you've had to eat that day....you could be sensitive to milk/dairy, sugar alcohols etc.

I drank at 3 weeks post op. I was at a week long work event that was very social, and had a heavy emphasis on drinking. I had no desire to drink and did only to try not to attract attention to my WLS. Despite only consuming on average 700 cals per day (including alcohol), at the end of the week I had gained 2 lbs. Quite honestly that pissed me off, and made me swear off alcohol for the most part.

I have been thinking about how I got to where I am now. How I got to be so unhealthy. I love food and food is a big part of socializing in American society. I was talking to a college friend of mine and they are big too. We came up with the following explanation. It doesn't fit EVERY situation but I think it is possible to sum it up for most bandsters. We are "Food Aholics" (FAs).We love food and like to socialize with others. The main difference between FAs and alcoholics and drug addicts is that you have to eat in order to live. We can't just abstain from alcohol or illicit substances. It's not possible for us to step away from our "drug" and continue to live life. We have made the conscious choice to make changes in ourselves and our lives by getting banded. We want to live our lives and be happier than we were. I think that some of us are "wired" for tastes of food. I love the taste of some foods. I love it so much that it goes to excess. That's how I got to where I am, I know it. I read a lot in the forums and my heart goes out to those that are chastised for getting the band or making choices that they are being judged for. I would advise that you focus on you and to hell with the nay-sayers. At the risk of sounding uneducated, "Haters gotta/gonna hate." There are some people that want you to stay bigger so they can feel better about themselves. You don't need those types of idiots in your life. If someone asks you how you are doing, and you told them about getting banded then educate them on how it works. The best remedy for ignorance is education. Good Luck!

This may seem like a dumb question but... Why do you have to drink alcohol at all?

Interested in this also. I know that alcohol is just empty calories, carbonation is bad for the sleeve(I don't like beer anyway),and whatnot, just curious on others' experiences with drinking moderate amounts(I'm talking like one beverage for the night).