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My answer would be no alcohol. Not worth the calories - 90 calories for a glass of white wine, 120 - 160 for a martini. That’s a lot of the calories you’re allowed at this stage. The pre surgery diet is the beginning of your weight loss journey & the start of removing food dependencies like sugar & refined carbs from your diet. (Yes, I know, spirits have very few carbs but the mixers often do.) Many programs say no alcohol at all because of the calories, the risk of addiction switching - food to alcohol - & that it has no nutritional value. Nutritionally dense foods should be your focus at all time. Honestly, I had a drink at about month 2 or 3. I nursed that g&t for 3+ hours. I only have a drink about once a month or even less frequently. Not worth the calories & I don’t enjoy it as much. Don’t really miss it either. But it is your choice.

It’s off the list because 1 the calories & 2 the possible addiction switching. But it is a choice thing. I had a g&t at about month 2 or 3 at a cousin’s 40th. Sat on it for 3 hours. I only have an alcoholic drink maybe once a month or two & sip the one drink slowly. I don’t really enjoy it the same way.

I can't blv how diff everyone's plans are. It seems like my docs won't let me do anything at all. No soda, alcohol, fruit/veggie skin, no pasta, bread, rice, etc.

I thought that alcohol was also off the list?

Well first of all congrats on the 7 yrs clean! I too am a recovering addict....coke and alcohol. I have been clean now for over 20 years. Good luck with everything. Hopefully with the reduction of the meds it will help you.

I can eat basically anything (in much smaller amounts at a time than before): sugar, fatty stuff, fried stuff, oily stuff, spicy stuff (including "authentic" Asian foods) and yep, alcohol. I do have "issues" though with lots of sugar at once (I'll dump unless I take it slow), pork (I get full fast on it), fluffy bread products (again, I get full fast on it). And broth-y soups (I can't drink the liquid and solid chunks at the same time - I'll get super full - so I'll have the liquid first, then the chunks). I don't eat rice nor pasta though (by choice). Am 5'2", 2+ years out, and can maintain at around 1800 cals a day. I have heaps of fun. LOL.

I eat sugar, fat, and spicy food (I limit my sugar, though - and since I hit maintenance at about 20 months out, I count overall calories, so if the high-fat food fits into my daily calorie range, I'm good. A super high-fat meal (such as a couple of pieces of fried fish with tartar sauce and a pile of French fries and cole slaw made with mayo) doesn't usually sit well with my stomach, but I can eat one of those things - just not a whole meal full of high-fat things). I can also eat spicy food. I rarely drank alcohol before surgery and rarely drink it now - maybe three times a year - and a glass of wine is about all I can handle now (you feel the effects much quicker and stronger after surgery, and transfer addiction happens with some of us, so you do need to watch it). The first few weeks and months there are a lot of restrictions, but after that, not really. There's not much I can't eat, but I eat much smaller portions than I did before, and I focus now on my calories rather than what I can..and can't...have. If a burger or a piece of cake fits into my calorie range, then I'm good (although I usually try to eat nutritionally dense things, so a piece of cake is an occasional treat, not an every day indulgence). do I have fun? Oh good Lord yes - this is WAY better than weighing almost 400 lbs! I don't EVER want to go back there! I feel like I finally have my life back! I'm so glad I had this surgery - best decision I've ever made. I'd have it done every year if I had to! Life is so much better at a normal weight!!! I have a LOT more fun than I did when I was super morbidly obese!!

Hi, I think that is the IDEAL your dietitian would like you to follow. I have eaten (home-made) foods with healthy fats, fruit (which has fruit sugar in it) and spices with absolutely no problems. I cannot give advice on alcohol though as I don't drink it anymore (empty calories). I guess everyone's tummy is different, but don't be discouraged, you will not regret having it done. Best of Luck xXx

Hello, I’m currently going to doctors and collecting my documents for surgery. My dietologist telling me scary story of future: no alcohol, no sugar, no fat and spicy food for all my life after the surgery. And it can’t leave my head, because I’m only 21 and my future life will be in China. So there is a lot of “problem” food that I want to try after year or two. I really want to ask you all about your life after surgery. Do you able to have fun? How was your pregnancy after the surgery (if you had)? (My weight is 100 for hight 165 and I have pco, so maybe surgery covered by my insurance. I’m thinking about different types of surgeries, maybe you can give me some advice)

Thank you! And I made this on the stovetop! Here's the recipe: Ingredient: 1 red onion 4 large cloves of garlic Red wine 4 roma tomatoes (throw in blender until fully broken down) 1 -2 tablespoons of aji panca beef (obviously) potatoes carrots Seasonings S&P Adobo garlic powder cumin beef bouillon oregano 1 bay leaf Directions: In a little oil pan sear beef on all sides until slightly brown then remove and set aside. In the same pan saute onions in a little olive oil until translucent then add garlic until slightly golden. Add the tomato sauce you made in the blender to the pan and then add the aji panca and cook mixture for 2 - 3 minutes. Season mixture with all seasonings above and mix well while cooking for another 1-2 minutes. Add beef and all its juices to the pan, coat all the meat well and then pour in some red wine. I eyeballed this but Id say I added about a cup. Cook beef in the sauce for another 2 minutes and then add lots of water and then cover the pot. I cooked the beef a little over an hour and kept adding water as it got low. I think I added water about 3 times and on the last time when the water was low but not too low I added the carrots, let those cook then added the potatoes. When I saw the potatoes were almost done I added a little bit more wine, about 1/2 cup more and let the alcohol simmer away. I wanted my sauce thicker so in a small cup I added some water with a tablespoon of corn starch, mixed, then slowly added my cornstarch water to the pot until it was to thick to my liking. I didnt end up using all the cornstarch water. Note: Throughout I kept tasting and adjusted the seasonings as needed.

Questions are always good. Coffee was no for my surgeon for several months but green or herbal teas were fine from straight after surgery. Wasn’t an issue for me as I only drink green tea anyway. I hardly drink alcohol at all anymore & I used to drink a large glass or two every night. Now I only have a glass about once a month at most. I had a gin & tonic at about 2 months post surgery. Took literally hours to drink it. I’ve lost a lot of my taste for it & it’s also not worth the calories now. And yes alcohol can be an issue with addiction transfer. Stalling happens to us all. It can be frustrating when suddenly you notice the scale isn’t moving at all. The first occurs at around week 3+/- & can persist for 1-3 weeks. Ride it out. Stick to your plan. It will pass & your weight will start to drop again. I looked at it as my body taking a breath from all the changes - surgery, reduced calorie intake, change of diet, weight loss, etc. It’s likely you’ll experience a couple of stalls on your weight loss journey. If dining out while on your vacation, you’ll find you’ll only be able to eat appetiser size meals - mains are just too big. Some places may be happy for you to share meals with your family. Soups are also a good option when eating out. Oh, and pack a coat for your holiday. You become really sensitive to cold as you lose weight... even in high summer you’ll be freezing. Good luck with your surgery.

1. Stalling is normal and inevitable. It will happen at Week 3 or 4 for sure and then sporadically throughout your weight loss. It's the time when your body is adjusting. 2. Not all surgeons agree about coffee. Mine didn't limit me/restrict me. Plus I drink decaf. 3. Alcohol probably within 8 weeks post-op.

I was served coffee with my breakfast in the hospital, LOL. My surgeon never mentioned not having coffee so I never stopped drinking it (just one cup a day). I'm not much of a drinker, so alcohol wasn't an issue for me. I think I had my first drink at about 18 months out.

there is no consensus among surgeons re: coffee drinking. Some will say no caffeinated coffee again for the rest of your life, some allow their patients to drink it before even leaving the hospital. Others just limit it one to two cups a day. And still others are OK with it after a certain amount of time - like after one month, or three months, or six months. So you'll have to find out from your surgeon what he/she recommends. they usually recommend you wait a year before drinking alcohol because of the risk of transfer addiction, but I know some people drink it earlier than that.

What is stalling been I’m having gastric sleeve surgery on February 10th when would I can go back drinking coffee my husband and I we are planning family vacation in aug when would I be able have Alcohol again I’m really sorry for asking questions

I only have that issue when I eat something with too much sugar alcohol. Sugar alcohol=terribly foul and persistent flatulence. Hope you're able to find what is triggering yours so you can avoid it.

HW 333 LW 170 CW 220 Surgery date was 6/2000 i am 21 yrs out and a daily exerciser. My step are always over 10k a day. Very active. My pouch has stretched for sure. In July 2020 I had a stomach ablation done where they go down the throat and zap the pouch to try to create some scar tissue to try to shrink the pouch to give you a feeling of fullness as if he just had surgery. I was on liquids for two weeks and lost 12 pounds. I went crazy not having solid foods. I’ve gained six of those pounds back over the holidays. I’m currently sitting in about 221 I want to be at least 180. My biggest challenge is I can’t seem to stick to any food plan. After the ablation the doctor had me doing 800 g of fruits and vegetables a day. No he’s a gastroenterologist and he supposed to know that we are to eat protein first. He disagrees. I’m in a major metro of San Diego so it’s not like he’s a fly-by-night doctor. About 10 years ago I had a metabolism study done at Scripps hospital in la Jolla and they said metabolism had really slowed and my resting metabolism was about 1486 cal a day. I’m not sure what that equates to but they said I should eat under 1200 cal a day. I’m just really struggling getting this weight off I keep starting the five day restart pouch thing and then I’ll eat pizza… Chocolate seems to be in the mix every night. I am extremely frustrated and can’t seem to get any of this weight off on my own. About five years out from my by pass I turned alcohol and became an alcoholic. That was crazy! I am 8 yrs sober and 59 yrs old! Help please! I wish I could get the surgery all over again !

I'm not really sure why some doctors do 1 week vs 2 weeks but it seems to vary. Today has been a bit better so far. Broth with unflavored protein powder for breakfast and a coffee flavored shake for lunch. They told me to limit caffeine and very minimum sugar (if any). Now that it is the weekend I'm trying to decide if wine counts as a liquid since I can't have any alcohol for 6 months after[emoji3] Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

@FINFAN3DP yeah it did work. I lost about 90 lbs in about 1 year and a half.. but I used to go to the gym every day almost. Then I started working so my eating schedule and habits changed... but what really I think hurt me was the alcohol.. I love wine.

You came to the right place! I had the lapband put in back in 2009 and removed Feb 2020. I was heavier when the band came out then when it went in. I am at a cross-roads now. I want wls, but am self-pay and too chicken to go to Mexico where all of the surgeries are more cost efficient. Below is my experience. Mt. Dew was my down-fall!! When I had the band, dark soda's tasted weird to me (thankfully) until I discovered Mt. Dew and that I could drink it (tasted super yummy and I could drink it without it hurting - darks hurt my throat). I have been able to work myself off of the dew 3 times. The first time I was completely soda free (Mt. Dew/7up) for over a year. The last time I got off of it- I did it in stages. I bought a soda stream. Once I got that, and I started with strong flavor of ginger-ale, but then got to where I was making green tea soda and carbonated water with natural fruit flavors. Now - I have been 2 months without any carbonation at all. I started with heavier flavors and more bubbles, and each week lowered the intensity of both. I have been reading and leaning on this website for support and strength! There are AMAZING FOLKS here!! I still don't know what I will do as for wls. The last day or so I have been contemplating trying to follow the bariatric/wls way of eating just without the surgery. Odds are totally against me being able to do this. But I had started a couple of weeks ago trying to change 2 of my meals to the thick protein and a small real food meal, heavy in protein and above-ground vegetables and a crap ton of water. The surgeon I was initially working with gave me diet plan for the month before surgery, and 2 weeks of clear liquid diet before surgery (this is the clear liquids with 3-4 thick protein shakes - powder protein of 30g or more in only 2-3 oz water). I was using this month before stage to get my head in the right place for the clear liquid time... I can't manage the 3oz of water in the protein powder but I have worked myself down to 4 oz. I am up to 50-60oz of water/clear liquid a day (the goal was 80). I am no longer having the surgery as planned.... but even though I was so disappointed... I gain hope and support from reading the posts on this site!!! Reading others who are in your same situation, many folks reply to do the pouch rest (I may have the wording/spelling wrong) but go back and start with the food plan after surgery. Not for as long because you don't have to wait for anything to heal but .... back the the protein shakes, water, and high protein foods... and try limiting sugars. I am sure that others will reply in time to your thread who can help more and know more about the "reset". Or... look through some of the threads here and you will find others!!! I just wanted to reach out because I know first hand how hard it is to kick Mt. Dew. I swear it was harder for me to kick the Dew then it was to give up alcohol (and at one point I did like my hard liquor so that says a lot)! Good luck!!! YOU CAN DO THIS!!! The mountain always look bigger before you take the first step. - and YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

I am certainly no expert on this (not even an MD!) but what I have learned over the years in this is that obesity is one major factor in liver disease, much of which is reversible if the obesity is reversed, so you are on the right road here. It is not surprising that he found some liver damage - it's fairly common in our obese population (and is why many surgeons impose those "liver shrinking" pre-op diets. My surgeon started out doing liver transplants, and moved into adding bariatrics as a means of treating the disease before it gets to his transplant table. Again, you are on the right path to helping yourself. Now, rapid weight loss imposes an additional stress on the liver as it is a key component in metabolizing all that fat that we are losing, so it would not be unusual for liver numbers to be wonky during this phase. This also means that we should avoid adding any more stress to the liver during this time, so that means avoiding alcohol while you are losing weight (preferably longer than that or even forever, but at least during the loss phase.) This is not a temperance or morality play, but just our physiology (we frequently get new posters in these forums, a couple of weeks out from surgery asking when they can start drinking again...) Talk to your surgeon about this when you see him again, but I suspect that you will get much the same story from him. If he is real concerned, he may send you to a hepatologist (liver doc) but most likely it will be something that is just monitored for a while and correct itself as your weight comes off and stabilizes.

Friends, I had my surgery back in Nov of 2013. It was a huge decision for me at the time and I anguished over it. All the information on this website was super helpful, both before and after the surgery. One thing weighed heavily on me was the long term effects of the surgery, so I committed to giving annual updates on my experience back to this forum. This is my seven year update. Posted below is my last update, with the previous nested within. I weigh about 205 right now and my weight continues to fluctuate within about 10 pounds. I would really like to weigh 190, so like most normal people I'm working on losing a few pounds. With that said, back in 2013 I weighted 275 and was headed for 300+ quickly. I have zero doubt that without having the surgery, I would be in very, very bad shape today and have no regrets about the decision. Positives: I've been able to enjoy a "normal" weight life style for the last seven straight years. I'm off all meds. I fit comfortably in coach seats on the airplane. I shop for clothes in regular stores and it's easy to find a size that fits. I'm between a L and XL for shirts and have a 36 waist. My bones and joints don't ache. I can exercise, play golf, ski, etc. comfortably and enjoyably. I happily and naturally eat "normal" size portions and have no "trouble" foods. My meal (whatever it is) basically fills on a salad plate. Two eggs and a piece of toast is a full breakfast. Lunch could be a regular sandwich with nothing else or a half sandwich and a small side. Dinner could be a tiny 5 oz steak and a small portion of potatoes and veg. Importantly, these are all full portions for me and totally satisfying. I love food and definitely look forward to eating (head hunger) but I rarely experience physical (stomach growling) hunger. I used to take omeprazole daily for heartburn, but it's unnecessary now. Occasionally, I'll take a Tums but only a few times a month. Since 7 years have gone by, none of my real old friends even remember me as a big person or ask about my weight. Anyone that I've met since wouldn't even know to ask -- they just view me as a normal weight person. When I tell them I used to weigh 275 the reaction is always "no way!" Occasionally, the old pictures come out and everyone gets a chuckle. I don't see myself as a fat person. Negatives: I'd still like to loose 15 pounds. Even with the gift of not being able to eat much, my ideal weight of 190 requires more work. Reducing snacking, sweets and more exercise is what's required and WLS does nothing to help on those fronts. I'd say WLS solves 80% of the challenge but the last 20% goes back to the basics we've heard all of our lives. If I overeat or eat way too fast, I will need to throw it up. This happens about once a month. It typically occurs when I eat something that's really good and I gobble it down too quickly. About 2 minutes later, I will feel pretty uncomfortable. I can wait it out and eventually it will go away. But more often than not, I just head to the bathroom and get it out. It's kind of gross to be honest. I have always liked to drink alcohol -- beer, wine, whiskey, mixed drinks and so on. IMO, drinking doesn't have any increased impact as a result of WLS -- I'm not more of a "light weight" than I used to be. But, as a practical matter, I do believe that it's easier to over drink following WLS. If I'm out to dinner with friends, they have starter courses, main courses, desert and so on. It's pretty easy for me to pour another glass of wine or order another scotch, while they eat through the evening. I would caution folks that like to drink to pay extra attention to this tendency following WLS. (BTW, I'm doing "dry January" right now:) That's about it. In sum, the sleeve was the best decision of my life. I hope this helps folks that are wondering about how things play out way down the line. If you have questions, you can DM me and I'd be happy to share thoughts. Good luck and look for another report from me next year.

I'm so sorry that you are going through this!! As Dr Phil says "You can't fix what you don't acknowledge" so it sounds like you are getting on the right path! Congratulations on kicking the alcohol habit! Definitely not easy. I am fairly new here (well, almost 6 months out), but I have read a lot about the "pouch reset" which involves about a week of going back to basics. I think you need to get on a scale and then focus on protein and water goals again! Good luck!!

Greetings all, I have been off this board for some time now, but I have come back because I need support. I lost 110 lbs with the gastric sleeve surgery in March 2019 and was doing so great until the pandemic started last March. Before I was restricted to the home office I was doing so well, I was working out every day at the company gym during lunch and I was careful about what I ate. Since then, my workouts have all but ceased, I may squeeze in a cardio session about once a week now. My eating habits are still restricted by the sleeve, but I have been eating things that get through easily, many sweets, high fat and high salt foods have been making their way into my diet. That said, the biggest issue was alcohol abuse. I was getting buzzed nearly every night from August through the end of the year. While I was feeling good I would also lose inhibitions about not snacking as well. I forced myself off the vodka (which was easy to hide from the family) and I have been doing well in the last 3 weeks since quitting, but I've been replacing those lost good feelings with even more snacks. I feel like I'm losing control and it's only a matter of time until I undo all of my great work. I haven't weighed myself in months, but I estimate that I've gained back about 50% of what I lost, I will find out in a couple weeks at my Dr appt. I need to find a way to get this turned around because all my new skinny clothes don't fit anymore and I'm starting to wear my fat clothes again. It's bad...FML...

What I’ve noticed from reading posts on this board is that nutritionalists offer a lot of conflicting advice. It can be confusing. I would tell my dietician if I disagreed with her advice or if it wasn’t something I could follow in my life & I’d ask for alternatives. What is your goal weight? Does your nutritionalist know what it is? What do they say to explain your lack of loss on the higher calorie diet? Sure, as you get closer to your goal your weight loss does slow but not losing any weight over 2.5 months at your weight sounds like maintenance to me. How active are you? Keto was my recommended 2.5 week pre surgery diet. My personal view is Keto is good for kickstarting your weight loss but not as a long term diet. There’s research about the risks from the high fat component of the diet & also that it can cause issues for diabetics with erratic insulin levels because of the low carb aspect. Just something to consider. I’m all for a balanced diet. I eat about 2 serves of carbs a day (rolled oats & multi grain crackers only not including naturally occurring carbs in other foods), 4 serves of fruit/vegetables, 2-3 serves of dairy, 60g protein & am low fat. I avoid added sugar & artificial sweeteners wherever I can & have a glass of alcohol about once a month. I will have a protein bar if my protein is a little low. My portion sizes are about 3/4 of the recommended serving size or I have fewer serves in a day (like 4 serves fruit/vegetables not the recommended 5). I was told my maintenance protein level was 1.2g per kg of body weight because of being a women in her 50s. I don’t take multi vitamins. This is working for me. It took me a while to discover out how much I could eat in maintenance & I kept slowly losing for 12 months. You will need to work out what works for you in relation to the point at which you can lose & the point at which you can maintain. It will be different to other people’s diets. You may be able to eat more carbs or may choose to go down the plant based protein route. You may need more or fewer calories. You also need to work out what food choices allow you to live your life - dining out, having a glass of wine, travelling (whatever that will be like), work, etc. It may be time for some straight talking with your nutritionalist about your goals & what is achievable for you & your lifestyle. Good luck.