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I love this thread. I am a little over two months (8-27). And I confess.. - this is harder than I ever thought it would be - I wish I could eat the way I used to - since loosing the weight I haven't been hit on once.. - I just now jot rid of all my bigger clothes because I am afraid I will just go back and have to re buy all those - I eat things I know I probably shouldn't - posting things in this forum is kinda of scary because of fear of judgment - I drink alcohol and caffeine - I am more self conscious now than I ever have been - I still see the fat girl I was - I haven't been to the gym - my body grosses me out - sex now.. Hurts - I snack more than I should - I still think this was the best thing I have ever done for me - peoples comments about my weight loss makes me uncomfortable - my family isn't that supportive

You know there is research out there that has found those with by-pass surgery have a propensity to drink too much. Google it and see what you find. I have a son who had a Gastric Bypass and is fighting this issue at times. Something to do with the way the alcohol is processed in the stomach....don't necessarily have the turn off point that non sleeved patients have. For most of us by-pass patients - we are food addicts - unfortunately some of us replace the food with alcohol....the issues that caused the food addiction are still there - they just move to a different venue....

Food addict reporting for duty. I find the closer I get to goal the more I see how easy it is to let those behaviors reemerge. I don't know if it is fear of getting to goal and then what? As an addict, once I start on a trigger food all control goes out the window. That's why there can't be certain foods in my house. I imagine it is like telling and alcoholic one sip is ok. Where I am currently challenged is that my addiction is always seeking a new outlet, a food that held no power over me one day like cookies (I'm a crackers/chips kind of girl) can suddenly become my drug of choice. I am already dreading this week a bit as I must do what all addicts do and go cold turkey. Today, I am getting all of the Halloween treats out if the house and pushing water. I've got 2 carb-bloat pounds that I need to get off from a week of feeding the addiction.

My junior year in college I came to terms with my alcoholism. I was so afraid to go to parties and not drink! I would drink 7-up or coke but put a lime in it to look more like a cocktail. People who didn't know me didn't even notice I wasn't drinking. My closer friends noticed but they were the ones who were happy I quit. And if I was at a bar to see a friend play, nobody even noticed. I think people are more focused on themselves than the details of others. All this being said I gradually stopped going to parties and bars just because I had made new sober friends and different things interested me. I'm just sharing my experience and helping you see that people don't notice the details as much as we give them credit for.

I'm starting my pre op on Tues. I used to be a heavy drinker in my long ago past. I found that I'm craving alcohol more than food. I've gone almost 2 years without drinking anything other than 4-6oz of red wine once a week and its been 3 weeks since my last glass. I haven't acted on it but I think I just might miss my Saturday glass of wine more than food. Is this weird?

Ok, it's been a while since I've been on here. But I'm feeling the need to confess so here goes... I confess that I'm way more arrogant than I ever thought possible I confess that I see myself as one hot momma (it took pics to convince me I wasn't before weight loss, lol) I confess I'm addicted to beef jerky and I justify the unhealthiness of it by the great protein amount I confess that sex is way better now! I confess that I'm 11 months out and drink alcohol several times a week even though I signed a contract that I would wait a year I confess that I love my cheese puffs and dont even feel guilty about it I confess that I don't say it out loud but I am beyond thrilled that I now share clothes with my 14 year old daughter I confess that while folding clothes I hold up my new panties and just grin at how tiny they look Last but not least I confess that this is by far the best decision I've ever made, better than when I said 'I do' to my husband!!! Whew, that felt great, thx

Ok seriously this was not meant to be combative what so ever. I was simply stating that some people are very set in their ways and if anyone goes against that they can be negative. I posted because my dr was saying so many things that I questioned from this site that it was hard to believe what I read. I was writing my personal feelings down about what my dr said as many on this site do. I follow my drs rules I do what I am told and I learned a lot from this site. Yes I posted that I had family problems and really appreciated everyone that resoonded. Didnt take it for granted. I explained myself and said sorry for the name of the thread I should have calles it something else. I find it hard to believe that so many people got so mad about a thread titlle when all I did In my original post was state that some things are hard to read because my dr says that it isn't true doe sleeve patients. Maybe he is wrong maybe he isn't. I really couldn't tell you. I never said I had a problem with alcohol I don't drink. My mom was an alcoholic all my childhood and far into my teen years. I have made some mistakes and ate the wrong things and stopped losing but I decided to change my eating and I am losing at a good rate again. I am a young woman who wrote one stupid thing on a SUPPORT forum so please forgive me if any of it sounded so rude that I needed to be reprimanded by you all. I will go back to reading posts that I want and not saying much its not a big deal.

Ladyglory, I know what you're talking about. I've done the same thing also with cigarettes, alcohol, drugs...and other things. Our bodies have changed but our minds need to re-program. You did good. I talk to my feet, "Get me the heck outa here!"

Being a Quaker makes me desire consensus. A laudable goal, though not often reached. I feel that we can all find the helpfulness in each person's struggle, though some may wish to be more gentle with the advice shared, and some may wish to look past the first impression to the helpfulness within. Whoever we are in this battle, we are in this battle. And we are stronger together than we are apart. Back to the thread: ... You must be aware that it is very common to substitute an addiction to alcohol for an addiction to food ... You are out of control and can regain some to all of your weight. Lots do... They rarely post here though, being busy with finding the next snack ... There appears to be a consensus that you need therapeutic help. No sin, but suggested when needed. We are not professionals ... And IMHO, this is a passionate thread because your behavior scares each of us. "there but for the grace of God go I"

Laura, the test I took that may indicate higher cortisol is the: EOSINOPHILS ABS 0.1-0.3 K/MM3 0.05 L A lower-than-normal eosinophil count may be due to: Alcohol intoxication (not! in this case) Over production of certain steroids in the body (such as cortisol) so really, I am only guessing here... will find out more next month some time....

Sorry to go back to the original topic here, but beyond all of the other advice here. If you are complaining about having to eat the cheap food, stop buying the alcohol and spend that cash to buy better quality food. It doesn't have to cost a lot to eat good, it takes thought and will power to make good decisions, like not buying bad things like cereal and alcohol.

The previous posters have nicely summed it up. I look at the sugar content more than the carbs. I eat Pure Protein bars which have 2 G sugar and 24G carbs. They do have 15 G sugar alcohol which to me means don't eat a lot of these or the gas will make you and everyone around you less than happy. I have studied nutrition many years having been a body builder and found the NUT OK but not terrific. They also seldom take into account your activity level. After recovery I put my body on a permanent training regime, determining that I would be a lifelong athlete. I have stuck to that promise to myself and have NO problem keeping fat off. For an athlete, carbs are essential. Fruit is good, vegetables are good, protein is supreme. Sugars are the cutie pies that sneak in but do you little good. If too many show up you have problems. My stomach gets nausea when too much has been taken in. My gastric bypass wife has heart palpitations. That aversion therapy is quite effective. Carbs OK, sugars not. Fruits don't seem to have the same effect when eaten in moderation. Fruits also vary in sugar content.

Hey Natalie, I agree with Aubreanna 's advice "Protein first, veggie or fruits next, carbs last." I make my kids do this also and it has been AMAZING how much less snacking goes on during the day now that I make sure they fill up on protein first. Other than sodas I don't consider any food off limits. I pretty much stay away from sweets also - but every once in a while I have a bte - just a bite. It's so nice to have such self-control (love my sleeve!). I wasn't told to stay away from fruit, so I eat fruits a lot. In fact I was encouraged to eat real food - fruits, meats, veggies - anything not processed. I was told to stay away from artifical sweeteners and sugar alcohols. Adkins products are FULL of sugar alcohols. About a month ago I tried the Adkins bars and LOVED them, but I noticed I was always hungry - very hungry. The only thing I was doing different was eating the Adkin's bars - so I chalked the hunger up to the sugar alcohols. Sure enough once I stopped eating them - hunger gone. SO even though they had a ton of protein - I'm not eating any product loaded with sugar alcohols again. Honestly I didn't even look at the carb count - usually I do, but maybe since it was a "diet" food I neglected to? Anyway, usually my rule of thumb is to NOT eat anything in a package that has more sugar than protein. If you aren't getting the answers you want from your nutriontist & you are paying for your appointments - it's time to find another one. Call other bariticians in your area & see who they recommend. You are doing great - don't give up!

So, I just got back from a computer conference in Vegas for 5 days and I thought I would report on what it was like. For those who don't know me, I was sleeved 07/08/2011 and have been maintaining at goal since 03/2012. The conference supplied a continental Breakfast buffet everyday which consisted of: Fruit (melons, berries, pineapple), cereals, yogurt and about 7 different danish/roll type things. Oh, also had a variety of Odwalla juices and of course, coffee. lunch was a choice of two different meat dishes, one poultry and the other a beef item. One day was spaghetti and meatballs. The had a salad, bread rolls and two choices for vegetables. Again, this was buffet style. First off, those who read a lot around here might remember food was limitless and I wouldn't be able to abuse food the way I had before. I learned a lot about myself and the strength my sleeve gave me on that trip and I am happy to report I had no anxiety going to Vegas knowing that pretty much 67% of my meals were going to be from a buffet and I was going to be surrounded by a large percentage of people who were going to be eating quite large portions. So, for breakfast, I would take some fruit a yogurt and the yummiest looking danish thingy I saw. I would start with my yogurt because I knew that had the biggest nutritional impact of my choices. There was no way I was going to be able to eat all the fruit I took and I was able to have about two bites of the danish. I also took one of the Odwalla drinks ... the superfoods one with the spiralla (sp?) stuff in it. Since I was at a conference and breaks were few and far in-between (and I would spend most of that break time speaking to the presenter) I knew I did not have time to snack in between sessions, so I would be able to drink that and not make noise of opening a Protein bar or the like. Lunches were similar in that I would grab some salad, some veggies and each of the meat selections. Like suggested by the guidelines, I would eat the meat first having about 3 bites putting down my utensil after each bite and chewing well. The first day the server asked me wanted to drink and looked at me funny when I said, "Nothing, thanks!", so I would order a Water, but never drank from it. Besides ... it's water from Vegas ... have you ever tried that stuff? OY! Anyhew, after about 3 bites of meat, I would have a couple bites of salad (with the dressing) and a couple bites of veggies. All together, I would say about 10 bites and I was stuffed to the gills. I had no anxiety about the others stuffing themselves around me and was able to move on to the next session and NOT be in a food coma ... unlike a lot of my cohorts. At night, I went to fabulous restaurants: Emeril's (amazing chowder with half a roll and I had gumbo another night ... incredible) Hugo's Cellar (by far the best salad ... I've been going there for it for over 20 years, but had leftovers this time) and Wolfgang Puck's splitting a cheese burger (I removed the top bun and had a couple fries). I don't drink, but am in AA as a recovering alcoholic. I would have loved to have either met up with other WLS folks or gone to an AA meeting, but I simply had no time. Did a little bit of gambling and came home about $175 ahead. So, no anxiety about food and had a great time. No food or alcohol hangovers and had a great time with my fellow computer geeks. Shows me that life with the sleeve means so much MORE, not less. You can do this deal ... really.

I didn't read the rest of the thread and just read the initial post but it sounds like you may need direct counseling rather than a support group. You may be addicted to food and alcohol.

I have to agree with what most people are saying, which is that you should stop blaming outside circumstances that could be changed and instead look inward, being very blunt and realistic with yourself. Alcohol should not be consumed by people who have had a sleeve for ideally 6 months to one year after surgery. There is a special digestive enzyme in your stomach that processes alcohol. Since 85% of your stomach has been removed, there is very little of that enzyme (if any) to process alcohol. You could actually end up with alcohol poisoning and be in the hospital getting your stomach pumped. If cereal is a "trigger" food (a food that you can't seem to stop eating once you start) then don't buy it. There are a ton of things that I just can't buy because I know I can't control myself and I will eat all of it! Grocery stores sell pre-cooked chickens, usually for $5. If you want something quick and easy, you could get a chicken and eat off of that for a few days. Also, Protein shakes with milk will give you protein and what your body needs to feel full. I tried Isopure Water for the first time today. It smells kinda weird but tastes OK... and dang, it filled me up. I'm actually burping! (TMI) Support groups work when you work the program. Do you think it would be acceptable for an alcoholic to attend an AA meeting if they just kept drinking and drinking, week after week, year after year? Just going will not help someone until they actually hit rock bottom and make the decision to stop. The point is, it is horribly difficult... horribly horribly difficult to stop eating... (I am literally fighting it every minute of the day) but it is something you have to fight just like any other addict. Your stomach is not likely stretched all the way out, but you could be doing damage to your insides. Your hair is falling out because you are not consuming nutrients. The majority of people who get a VGS will have hair fall out - this is because your body is working to keep the more important parts of your body working (like internal organs and muscles) and ignores things like hair, nails, and skin. I've noticed in a lot of your posts you mention things you can't do, such as not being able to cook. I can't cook either, and that was a big fear of mine. So, what am I going to do? I'm going to sign up for cooking classes. In the meantime, I look up stuff on youtube that looks basic enough for someone who can burn water! My nutritionist gave me smoothie recipes that use frozen fruit and yogurt. The frozen fruit doesn't go bad for ages (cuz it's frozen) and the yogurt isn't anything fancy. Then I just add Protein powder and put it in a blender. It literally takes 5 minutes and you can't screw it up. To conclude, it's easy for anyone to tell you what to do; however, you sound very depressed on top of everything else, so anything people tell you to do will seem unrealistic. I have been through therapy myself and was on antidepressants from the time I was 15 up until last year when I finally got good therapy (I'm 33 now). So, I do understand depression... everyone is just like, "Well... don't be sad. Think positive." Gee.... why didn't I think of that? I'm cured! haha. The point I'm trying to make is, PLEASE reach out for help... either to your primary doctor to work with you on getting the correct type of medication for you, or to a licensed therapist that can help you through this. If you can work through some of these issues in a non-judgmental environment, you will feel more positive about your outlook in life, then things kind of click into place slowly but surely.

Mine are always out of whack too! I don't have hepatitis... I'm not an alcoholic...lol. who knows? I feel fine.

The day after Halloween...and I feel like I have a hang over! It's very odd because I have not touched any candy, I did not drink any alcohol, but today I'm feeling like I was up all night drinking and partying. Today I did allow myself one almond cookie, this lovely lady in our education department brought in from the bakery on her lunch hour. (I know everyone wants to beat her over the head!) I have to tell you though I could only eat about 3/4 of it and the smell of the rest of them was actually making me feel sick. I had to move them all into the kitchen away from my desk. I'm the "festive" gal around these parts, so everyone brings things and brings them to me, because I am the self appointed party planner on top of my actual "work" title I'm glad to see people bond together though, so I'm happy to be the office cheer leader, it makes for a nice mix of people working together and getting so much more done then working against each other. There is a method to my madness but don't let them know. I can't wait to go home today and just get into my PJ's and crawl under my covers and turn on the idiot box as my Mother used to call it, and do NOTHING. I took a couple of Advil and might need a couple more to get rid of this brewing migraine...been drinking lots of water, and just trying not to get into full blown black out the world migraine. I love how the band really helps us to avoid these testing times like Halloween. I LOVE the spirit of the holiday, and this year I really have no desire for candy or cake and if I want to have something I can and do and it's very small just a taste and I'm satisfied. Maybe next year I'll have to have a real bitchin party so if I have to feel hung over it will be well worth it after a rocking party!!! At least my body could ache from dancing all night instead of just the miserable weather Hope you all had a good one...I'm off to PJ land and beddybye. Have an awesome weekend all!!!

Here read this about SLIDERS.. Slider Foods Spell Weight Regain For Weight Loss Surgery Patients Soft processed carbohydrates, slider foods, are the bane of good intentions and ignorance often causing dumping syndrome, weight loss plateaus, and eventually weight gain for gastric bypass, gastric band (lap-band), and gastric sleeve bariatric patients. To the weight loss surgery patient slider foods are the bane of good intentions and ignorance often causing dumping syndrome, weight loss plateaus, and eventually weight gain. Slider foods, to weight loss surgery patients, are soft simple processed carbohydrates of little or no nutritional value that slide right through the surgical stomach pouch without providing nutrition or satiation. The most innocent of slider foods are saltine crackers, often eaten with warm tea or other beverages, to soothe the stomach in illness or while recovering from surgery. Understanding Slider Foods The most commonly consumed slider foods include pretzels, crackers (saltines, graham, Ritz, etc.) filled cracker Snacks such as Ritz Bits, popcorn, cheese snacks (Cheetos) or cheese crackers, tortilla chips with salsa, potato chips, sugar-free Cookies, cakes, and candy. You will notice these slider foods are often salty and cause dry mouth so they must be ingested with liquid to be palatable. This is how they become slider foods. They are also, most often, void of nutritional value. For weight loss surgery patients the process of digestion is different than those who have not undergone gastric surgery. When slider foods are consumed they go into the stomach pouch and exit directly into the jejunum where the simple carbohydrate slurry is quickly absorbed and stored by the body. There is little thermic effect in the digestion of simple carbohydrates like there is in the digestion of Protein so little metabolic energy is expended. In most cases patients in the phase of weight loss who eat slider foods will experience a weight loss plateau and possibly the setback of weight gain. And sadly, they will begin to believe their surgical stomach pouch is not functioning properly because they never feel fullness or restriction like they experience when eating protein. The very nature of the surgical gastric pouch is to cause feelings of tightness or restriction when one has eaten enough food. However, when soft simple carbohydrates are eaten this tightness or restriction does not result and one can continue to eat, unmeasured, copious amounts of non-nutritional food without ever feeling uncomfortable. Many patients turn to slider foods for this very reason. They do not like the discomfort that results when the pouch is full from eating a measured portion of lean animal or dairy protein without liquids. Yet it is this very restriction that is the desired result of the surgery. The discomfort is intended to signal the cessation of eating. Remembering the "Protein First" rule is crucial to weight management with bariatric surgery. Gastric bypass, gastric banding (lap-band) and gastric sleeve patients are instructed to follow a high protein diet to facilitate healing and promote weight loss. Bariatric centers advise what is commonly known among weight loss surgery patients as the "Four Rules" the most important of which is "Protein First." That means of all nutrients (protein, carbohydrates, fat and alcohol) the patient is required to eat protein first. Protein is not always the most comfortable food choice for weight loss surgery patients who feel restriction after eating a very small amount of food. However, for the surgical tool to work correctly a diet rich in protein and low in simple carbohydrate slider foods must be observed. The high protein diet must be followed even after healthy body weight has been achieved in order to maintain a healthy weight and avoid weight regain.

ANYTHING .. That you can eat a lot of. As in cereal and alcohol in your case. Alcohol is sliding and you can drink endlessly and gain from all the gazillion carbs/calories. If you can eat/drink something and not get full with it then it's a slider food. You're digesting it as fast as you're consuming it. Avoid it.

Alcohol is PACKED with calories dude, so yes alcohol is the problem AND do is food.

Im 11 weeks out and I've had 2 drinks over the last 6 weeks. i choose not to drink because of the calorie count, but the alcohol doesnt affect me any differently than it did before. I did not get drunk or even tipsy off of 1 drink... Just my story

i miss alcohol lol! I haven't had a drink in two years and I'm so nervous with the sleeve

OP- only YOU can decide if you have a problem with alcohol. The reason we are all picking up on that is because it is fairly common to see an alcohol problem emerge after WLS. It seems to me that alcohol is very important to you. That doesn't necessarily mean you have a problem with it. But consider also, if it is not a 'problem', then it shouldn't be a problem to give it a rest for a while. I must tell you that I, personally, am a recovering addict with over 3 years free of drugs or alcohol. When we are having trouble succeeding, we have to look at our self-destructive behaviors which may be contributing to our failures. I wish you much success and hope you can get some assistance to help you get on track.

Ooops.. I had a little candy and some alcohol...