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Decide if drinking is really something you want to do. As a post op, I went through a short lived phase between month 4-6, having a drink a couple times a month. Yes, it was a little nice to relax with it. However, desire for it has since vanished. None whatsoever. Maybe most people drink post op just because they were not allowed to do it after surgery. Again, think about what drinking really means to you at a coping level, whether that means coping in social events or coping with your own subconscious. You may find that you really do not need it and, then, will find out you really do not want it. Sugar is kind of in a similar boat as alcohol post op. Complex id stuff to think about, but it might help. One of the best artifacts for me personally as a post VSG is coming to grips with who I am and not what I think others want me to be.

Empty calories, and high in calories. I do have a non carbonated alcoholic drink every so often, maybe once a month, but I did not have one until I reached goal, I reached goal in six months and had a mixed drink at about fourteen months out. I hope this helps. My doctor said a year, some say six months. I'd err on the side of caution, but I'd also follow YOUR doctor's plan.

My doc said 6 weeks and was most concerned with calories and carbs than the alcohol itself. One of my fav pasttimes was being "overserved" margaritas on Girls Night Out. I went out with my friends recently and drank a margarita - nursed for over an hour (because I wasnt sure how it would affect me) and all it did was give me a headache.

I know my surgeon's rules were "no drinking for one year post-op" but he also acknowledged that was the number one most commonly broken rule. And not to be holier-than-thou but I did it. I did NOT drink alcohol for one year post-op and my husband is sleeved and he also made the one year mark. Obviously it wasn't incredibly hard for me to give it up, and even one year post-op the glass of wine that I had hit me pretty hard (now I'm a lightweight.) I'm not saying you have to do what I did, but I'm just saying that it can be done. I still rarely drink, maybe a couple of times a year at parties, weddings, dinner groups, etc. but just be careful because alcohol does have a harder effect on the post-sleeve body.

Every dr is different. mine said at 6 weeks, I could have a small amt of alcohol. I drink about 3oz of red wine about 4-6x a week. Had a sip off hubbys beer a few days ago (3 mths out) and that was enuf for me. I do miss a Corona Light on a hot day. Yes, we're not sposed to have beer ever again. That being said, as I said I had a sip of hubbys. had a sip of his diet Coke last week and the world didn't come to an end. I would never drink more than a sip tho. Too scared of what would happen.... Not sure he should be drinking to excess however, no matter how far out he is...

This was always my main question and my surgeon said no beer but after 5-6 months you can introduce hard liquor, however he said it will take much less to get drunk because the alcohol is immediately absorbed into the body.

Im writing on behalf of my husband as we were both recently sleeved..... He knows beer could be a bad idea bc of carbination, but wonders about alcohol. he understands that alcohol could slow weight loss, but is only concerned with it being detrimental to his healing. He does not drink daily but likes to drink to excess at special events ie. weddings, BIG sporting events... and if you do/ did drink- how soon after surgery?

I plan to give up white rice, white Pasta, white bread, and white potatoes for life. Not because I CAN'T eat them (I don't know if I can or not) but because I DON'T WANT to eat them. Those were always trigger foods for me, along with sweets of any kind (another thing I'd like to ditch forever). It's like an alcoholic giving up alcohol. He can't just have a drink once in a while - he has to stay away from it completely. I guess I'm a "carboholic". I will eventually have healthier carbs like brown rice, wheat pasta, sweet potato, and whole grain bread, but in very limited amounts. That being said I think white rice would bother me if I ate it. I think that because I bought Beanitos to try and they didn't sit well with me. I only ate two but that's all it took. I tried them twice with the same result - gurgles, burping, and foamies. One of the ingredients listed was rice flour - I'm assuming that was the culprit, because the other listed ingredients are common in other foods I've eaten w/o trouble.

It always sends off warning bells in my head when I hear things like this. It means that alcohol is pretty important to you, and you may have trouble with it when you can no longer "use" food. Please be aware!! You might blow off this post, and think, "alcohol is not a problem for me." If that is the case, it should not be a problem to give it up.

This is exactly what got me started. I'm really concerned that every vet on here tells us that the hunger will return and you will want junk again and the weight will return. And then there are all these threads saying, the hunger HAS returned, I DO want junk again, the weight HAS returned. But we're not always drawing good connections between those. I also worry about telling pre-ops or new post-ops that it's okay to break rules because they could of course, DIE from breaking rules. I worry when we tell them to ignore their doctor's orders because our doctor's orders were different. Well with all due respect, first we are not doctors (most of us anyway), and second, we have no idea how our doctor's complications rates differ from their doctor's rates. Their doctor's advice could be spot on. My husband and I were sleeved by the same doctor on the same day, and had different pre-op diets! We have to believe there's a reason behind the differences. I know this is just my perspective and I'm presenting it as such, but there are days when I sign onto the forum (entirely too often every day!) and feel like I'm an alcoholic in a bar because we're all taking about cheating and eating fun stuff. All I need is to give myself permission, or for someone else to give me permission, and it will be off to the races with me unless I'm really vigilant. So I too am a bit frustrated and I've had several cups of coffee and have no excuse. Thanks for listening.

You know what has happened to me... over time. I care less and less about my food addiction and more and more about the rest of my life. That doesn't happen overnight and I am FAR from perfect. I am a person who definately has "treats". I probably have one or two alcoholic drinks a week for example. I go out with friends and we sometimes like happy hours etc. I didn't do that during the loss phase, but now that i am in maintenance - it is something I really enjoy - it is a social event and in my world, "normal" behavior. I however KNOW that ice cream is a demon with a red dress on. That stuff is like poison to me... I eat it and can't seem to stop at a reasonable quantity... and then i feel physically sick. So, I don't want to tell people... go ahead and have that martini - because I don't know YOUR world and if you can control it appropriately. I do what works for me and one of the reasons I do 5:2 is so that during my non fast days I don't have to be quite so careful. I don't go crazy, but I feel normal ... and comfortable. I do really believe that people who want to get to goal should take seriously being pretty hard core in those early months... first year or so. My opinion... to each his own though.

Something I've learned is that it IS possible to stop losing, and even gain, on the sleeve if you stop being mindful of what you eat. Yes, we can have a bit of this or a bit of that sometimes, but for me, sometimes often turns into a daily routine - which is why I needed the sleeve to begin with - and why I'm still not at goal at over a year out. That's why this is a TOOL - not a 100% going to fix everything. Because it's not. There is still a LOT of work that we have to do daily. That's why it's so important to try to change your mentality about food completely. You have to remember you are an addict (at least I am) - you wouldn't hand an alcoholic a beer, you wouldn't give a recovering meth addict a crack pipe ... KWIM?

I appreciate your knowledge on the subject of addiction. I also think you were very smart to seek help with issues that may have been a tirgger before your surgery. I was one of those people who never thought I had a food addiction. Until I started therapy well before my surgery. . . and then had surgery. What really made it clear to me that I am a food addict was how my body/brain reacted to the pre-op and post-op diets. I felt like what I imagine an alcoholic feels like when they can't have a drink. I craved that food high that made everything "better" and numbed me to any emotion that I didn't want to feel. Even now, the sleeve doesn't allow me to eat the quantity of food to get my high I loved so much. It has been a very tough road, and my therapist has been my saving grace. Now at almost 5 months out I'm feeling more in control and my withdrawals have mostly gone away, but I will always struggle with this. I've learned so much about myself, finding what works for me to manage my addiction. By the way, there is sugar in just about everything OR it breaks down to sugar almost immediately in our body (like simple carbs and alcohol). My therapist said the research shows that sugar is AS ADDICTIVE to our brains as HEROIN. Yep! Heroin addicts who stop using usually turn to sugar because of the similar dopamine response in the brain. Interesting stuff!

Alcohol does not enhance anything for me.... But let me smoke a little bit of that good stuff and I transform into something "dangerous" (as my Sugar Daddy says) (but no real danger- I promise!)

Great topic on this thread. I hadn't really processed it, but I too feel guilty if I think I'm eating too much when clearly it is such a small portion compared to my pre-op days. I get full, like I'm supposed to, but even that is a whole new experience because before full happened only after at ate half the refrigerator ( ok a bit of an exaggeration, but I'm sure y'all understand my drift) . I have yet to experience 'physical' hunger. I eat pretty much because I know i have to get the Protein in. If it wasn't for that, I'm sure I'd just graze along with a bite here and there cuz my head does say...have some if that. As for the comments on the nutritionist, that is clearly someone who has no idea who compulsive eaters are and what food/sugar/carb addiction is all about. I highly doubt she'd tell an alcoholic to have beer when their drink of choice is vodka. I know a lot of my trigger foods, and I have to be careful with some fruit cuz it triggers too. I have a whole list of " bet you can't eat just one" because I can't - sleeve or no sleeve. I have got to keep it clean, lean and mean. I've tried moderation, and that doesn't work for me. I did a lot of work with a therapist before my surgery. I was reading a study today that commented how we choose our words.... If we say we can't eat something, there is a greater chance that we will eat it. Whereas if we say I don't eat something, there is a greater chance we won't. This was a study done with a bunch of college students and the outcomes were surprising. But it makes sense. The feelings of " I can't " leave me feeling in this place of self punishment. I can't go out, I can't eat pizza, I can't drive a car.... But to say "I don't" has a different visceral response. Ok now I think of the snooty girl who looks down her nose, that sense of entitlement. I don't wear polyester, I don't eat sugar, I don't drink tap Water, I don't eat Cookies. One is like a "poor me" syndrome, while the other is a sense of self care and personal entitlement. Granted the snooty girl can be a B$$ch, but if done honestly it sets a personal boundary that someone else just can't get thru. Ya, the first dietician would tell us we could eat popcorn in week 2.... Oh, my belly hurts thinking of eating it now. She was an idiot. I have a much better on now who get it. Ultimately we have to know ourselves and be honest with ourselves. Tallyho

Sugar free jello and puddings. Bottled water and some type of cup with a lid to keep track of how much your are drinking. Canned tuna and chicken to eat. Applesauce no sugar added, protien drinks that are ready to use at first. Mini food chopper or blender I have a Ninja. Comfy pjs, a robe, slippers, stretchy pants and tee shirts. Alcohol to remove sticky tape adhesive from your arm. 90+ lbs gone since surgery. :-)

I am new to this also. I have been tossing around the idea for a few years, while continuing with one failed diet after another. I decided this year is the year. I have just been approved by my insurance company and have my pulmonary and cardio clearance left to go. I believe I will be having surgery either right before Thanksgiving or right after. I am scared too! I feel like this has all happened so fast and I don't know what to expect. I know my eating habits will drastically change, but what about my day to day life? Will the surgery affect my digestion? How about alcohol consumption? How long does it take to get back to solid food? Will my skin "sag?" I really just need someone to give me a step by step description of the process! lol

And btw.. Love the, smoke fags and drink alcohol to get pissed

I'm not sure I agree with you about tolerance and withdrawal not applying to food. Our processed foods have crazy amounts of hidden sugar in them (primarily from corn derivatives), so I definitely think that a tolerance can be built up without us even realizing it. For a person who has physiological or emotional responses to sugar intake, it makes sense to me that the person would then need to consume ever larger amounts in order to produce the effect they are seeking. Further, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence about the physical symptoms that occur when withdrawing from carbs and sugar...headaches, irritability, shakiness, etc. So, yeah...I believe that tolerance, dependence, and withdrawal can be applicable to food. When I first started this process, I was extremely concerned about determining whether or not I had a true addiction. I knew that could be the biggest challenge to being successful with WLS, so I really wanted to know if that was my problem. While I definitely enjoy sweets, other carbs like bread, Pasta, and potatoes, were my bigger concern. I ate refined carbs in some form every single day, and I love them. In addition, I drank alcohol every day. I fixed a vodka cocktail every night in a large cup, so it was probably the equivalent of 3-4 standard drinks. Even though I didn't think my drinking was compulsive, I also knew that I could be wrong about that. I knew that if I had addiction tendencies in any area, those two areas would be the most likely to be problematic. I discussed my concerns in depth during my 3 month psych eval, and I even requested some additional substance abuse assessments. All of the results indicated no substance issues. Those findings have been supported by my behavioral changes both pre- and post-op. I follow my dietary guidelines, I haven't experience much in the way of cravings, or found myself triggered by certain foods or situations. When I have wanted to taste something sweet or carby, a small taste has been satisfying and did not leave me wanting more. Over the past 4 months, I have consumed alcohol 3 times, about a half glass of wine each time. I don't miss the daily drink & it wasn't a struggle to give it up. I know I'm not very far out, so maybe some of these choices will get harder for me. I'm trying to be prepared for that possibility, and to guard against complacency. I also know that everyone is different, so what's true for me will not necessarily be true for someone else. My personal experience tells me that genuine addiction was not a factor for me, but that doesn't mean it's not a factor for someone else.

What's so hard about this addiction is that we aren't physically able to abstain. Alcoholics can avoid bars/alcohol, drug addicts can completely avoid drugs, smokers can completely cut out cigarettes.. But food addicts can't cut out food unless we are tube fed the rest of our lives. We just have to realize WHAT the issue was before surgery, and try to resolve it. Perfect example is that while you (gamer girl) have a sugar addiction and must avoid all sweets, I've never had a sweet tooth and could take it or leave it. Me on the other had, am a carb addict. I love me some Pasta or bread or mashed potatoes. Plus, my portions were outrageous. As far as the portions go, I weigh my food so I could "empty my plate" without going over. I've slowly been learning that I don't have to empty my plate, and it's ok to leave food over. It comes from my mom and I being poor when I was little, and always being taught to eat everything on my plate. As far as the carbs go, I avoid them, just like you avoid sugar. They are a trigger, and once I have one, I want them all. I'm sorry for rambling! But I think a lot of people "enable" and act supportive is because the second someone uses "tough love", they are pounced on and called "heartless" or an "internet bully", so some refrain from being blunt all together.

I have caught a lot of flack several times for saying that I do not believe I have a food addiction. As a soon-to-be-licensed therapist, I define addiction according to the DSM psychiatric criteria. I definitely believe that food addictions exist, but I also know I don't meet the criteria that define a disorder. Lack of discipline was more my problem, and that's different from an actual addiction. With the sleeve, I have the assistance I need with portion control. I basically eat what I want, I get my Protein every day, and I don't have cravings for carbs. If I do enjoy the occasional something sweet or carby, it's just a very small amount & I've been satisfied with that so far. When I have wanted something sweet, I've made an effort to make it a "smart sweet", like fruit, or a low carb/high protein ice cream substitute or cookie. I believe in moderation and balance, but I don't eat a lot of junk. I also acknowledge that I only really know my own experience, and that my approach would not work for everybody. As with everything in life, we each have to find our own path. But to answer the original question, maybe it's just that anybody with issues in a certain area (be they true addictions or not), are likely to enable other "users". Smokers minimize the slips of those trying to quit, drinkers can minimize the slips of alcoholics, and people with food issues are very likely to minimize the slips of others with food issues. In all areas of substance abuse, most enablers don't generally see their behavior as enabling...they think they're trying to be nice, or supportive, or understanding, or just patient. And if the enabler also partakes in the substance or behavior, then it's even harder to get them to stop enabling the addict.

You know what I don’t understand? We all get that you can’t urge an alcoholic to have just one drink. We wouldn’t dream of doing that. But we routinely urge self-confessed bingers, sugar-carb addicts, grazers, and cheaters to “go ahead!” because “I do that and it doesn’t hurt me”. Well maybe YOU can, but whoever posted in a panic about it clearly thinks they can’t control it and are panicked about falling off the wagon. That’s WHY they’re posting, right?? So why do we do that? Why do we tell bingers it’s okay to overeat once in a while? And that cheating on a pre-op is okay? Or that everyone should be eating everything in moderation including junk when the person is clearly saying “I’m trying not to eat junk?” I’m not trying to be confrontational, I’m really intrigued as to why we don't see this an enabling behavior. Thoughts?

I know not everyone who gets WLS is addicted to food, but as my last comment on this thread: I totally understand what you are saying Madam, but I know, in a group of alcoholics, the person who walks in with a bottle of vodka is going to be popular and the person who says, "Hey, maybe we should put that away" is going to be demonized. I'm OK with that. If my message resonates with one person, that is all that matters. To those who find me high-minded, I apologize. My comments are not related to you. But there are those out here in the forum who truly struggle with food issues and sabotaging their efforts. I wish everyone well on their own journey with VSG. God bless.

Maybe it's your turn of phrase... "Just like I wouldn't advise an alcoholic to just have a shot on a rare occasion, IMO, this is a dangerous thread." Maybe it's your overlooking this statement: "There'll be no 'Hail Mary's' or 'Our Fathers' and flagellation will NOT and should not be forthcoming" and coming forth with a statement of this nature: "Bottom line folks, I don't want to see any of y'all crying 6 months from now that the scale isn't moving, yet these same behaviors are continuing. If someone is struggling with weight loss 6 months from now, I'm going to point them to this thread.' I understand the genuine motive behind your post - and it is laudable. However, due to the primary reason this thread was composed, I found your well-intentioned post ill-placed. If people have chosen to not delve too deeply into 'why' they have chosen to consume something and 'how' it made them feel afterwards - that is their prerogative. The core tenet still remains, that it's a place where there is no judgement - rightly or wrongly - for the occasional strays they have. There is comfort in knowing you're not alone in your struggles - it is what makes us human, after all. That, I believe, is objectivity...

So, I understand this is a venting thread AND this is something done RARELY and not a habit, but remember, people only change when they make a change. Bottom line folks, I don't want to see any of y'all crying 6 months from now that the scale isn't moving, yet these same behaviors are continuing. If someone is struggling with weight loss 6 months from now, I'm going to point them to this thread. Just like I wouldn't advise an alcoholic to just have a shot on a rare occasion, IMO, this is a dangerous thread. Yeah, we don't have issues with food, do we? OK, y'all can flame me now.