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Ok the story gets better. The guy who propped me up on the dance floor called. I apologized for been such a drunk and he laughed it off, said we girls were just having a good time so I guess I wasn't as bad as I feared. Well except I don't really remember what he looks like or why I gave him my number! It really was fun and I don't feel guilty more like a warning. I don't process alcohol normally so if I have a few, well spaced out with food I am fine. ..if I don't follow my own rules... well, it gets crazy fast. I never drink alone or when I need to drive...safe and at least somewhat sane. .

I have never been a drinker, before my sleeve I would get drunk after 3-4 glasses of mix drinks. Last week we went out to our favorite club and got very tipsy after one full shot and two shots of half vodka with rockstar recovery. No hangover though! The worst was a swig I had of a Peach Moscato, OMFG.... Never again! Moscato was my favorite wine but now I felt like my stomach and esophagus was on FIRE! Not sure if it's because it's a different brand, different flavor or simply because my stomach just couldn't handle the alcohol with high sugar content that this type of wine has. I do know something though, no more sweet wine for me.

I am totally with you. My fill is perfect for me right now. I am able to eat mostly anything I want (of course not too much- thanks to my bandy!) but I have found certain things that irritate the little devil (i.e. Alcohol, spicy foods, rice, etc...). When I make the decision to eat these things, I have a hard time keeping things down the following day. I try to drink thin protein shakes (EAS are good) and water. There are days that I cannot even keep those down. But I am currently taking Juice Plus+ which is a supplement that contains pure fruits and veggies- it is super! It keeps me going on those days that I cannot get any nutrients and keeps my body from freaking out! You should check it out- www.juicepluscindy.com (this lady knows her stuff about Juice Plus+ and has even talked to LB doctors about it). I think we both need to respect our band a little more... however, I did eat a little cake and ice cream for dinner last night :-/

Hi guys, I am very new to this site. I've posted before like a month ago. everyone was really helpful. So i just got my official date of surgery. it is January 8th. I am so scared, nervous, yet excited. I just hope I'm ok and make it out alive. death is by far my biggest and greatest fear. I just want to live and be ok for my baby girl, my wife, my family, friends, and myself. i need to fast with a liquid diet for 6 weeks before i have my surgery, per my surgeon. anyone else have to fast for 6 weeks? i heard 2 weeks was the norm... maybe it's because i do weight 370?? actually i am now down to 362. i am trying a little to lose weight even before my liquid diet. i want my liver to be small so the doctors can get in and out and i have a better chance of survival/recovery etc. so has anyone done the liquid diet? what is it like? is it all like Protein shakes, slim fast, boost and ensure and Water? any coffee or alcohol at all? i doubt alcohol bc that effects the liver correct? what is life right after surgery. i am expect the first week to be brutal. people say they wish they never had it during the first few days, that true? what can you eat and drink? also well after surgery, can you drink coffee and alcohol or no? how about beer and soda, can you have drink that ever again? also how do you guys eat now? are the portions really that small?? any additional tips or advice is greatly appreciated. from the bottom of my heart. i thank you.

The pre-op's purpose is to shrink your liver. The way to shrink your liver is by restricting total calories, total carbs, and total fats. Alcohol contains two of those (calories and carbs/sugars), and is also pretty hard on your liver. You could therefore increase the chance of complications. As a trade-off, it's hard to see the upside.

Mine got infected too. No big deal, my doctor made a small incision and drained the puss. Antibiotics for a week and cleaning the wound daily with peroxide and alcohol. It healed just fine. Good luck Brandy.

One word of advice: if they try to pass you off on it, ask for a liver panel (also included in a comprehensive metabolic panel). When I went in and asked them to check my gallbladder, they still weren't convinced, but to appease me they did some blood work and my liver enzymes were out of wack. The doctor asked me if I drank alcohol. He said either I'm an alcoholic or my gallbladder might be acting up. When the ultrasound came back showing problems with my gallbladder, the doctor apologized to me and said he should have listened to me.

Here is a short but good article..... http://health.yahoo....mFQ2ySsY.mailto Also check out the link immediately below called testosterone shortage. A testosterone shortage could cost you your life. As if losing muscle mass, bone density, and your sex drive to low T levels wasn't bad enough, new research shows the decline can also increase your risk of prostate cancer, heart disease, and even death. Follow these steps to lift your levels and lengthen your life. 1. Uncover Your Abs As your waist size goes up, your testosterone goes down. In fact, a 4-point increase in your body mass index, about 30 extra pounds on a 5'10" guy, can accelerate your age-related T decline by 10 years. For a diet that'll help keep your gut in check, try the all-new Men's Health e-book, The Six-Pack Secret. You'll learn how to sculpt rock-solid abs in 4 weeks. We believe it's the most effective muscle-up weight loss program ever. 2. Build Your Biceps Finnish researchers recently found that men who lifted weights regularly experienced a 49 percent boost in their free testosterone levels. "As you strengthen your muscles, the amount of testosterone your body produces increases," says David Zava, Ph.D., CEO of ZRT Laboratory. You need to push Iron only twice a week to see the benefit. 3. Fill Up On Fat Trimming lard from your diet can help you stay lean, but eliminating all fat can cause your T levels to plummet. A study published in the International Journal of Sports Medicine reveals that men who consumed the most fat also had the highest T levels. To protect your heart and preserve your T, eat foods high in monounsaturated fats, food such as fish and nuts. A Fat MORE Dangerous than Trans Fat? 4. Push Away From The Bar Happy hour can wreak havoc on your manly hormones. In a recent Dutch study, men who drank moderate amounts of alcohol daily for 3 weeks experienced a 7 percent decrease in their testosterone levels. Limit your drinking to one or two glasses of beer or wine a night to avoid a drop in T. 5. Stop Stress Mental or physical stress can quickly depress your T levels. Stress causes cortisol to surge, which "suppresses the body's ability to make testosterone and utilize it within tissues," says Zava. Cardio can be a great tension tamer, unless you overdo it. Injuries and fatigue are signs that your workout is more likely to lower T than raise it.

Did you have a question? You can still get tons of carbs/sugar through plant based foods. Oreo cookies are vegan, for example, as is cane sugar, molasses, agave syrup, and processed grains (flour), all of which will raise your sugar levels, jack up your insulin, and turn all those calories into fat, Healthy whole food plant based (WFPB) eating utilizes legumes, nuts, seeds, WHOLE grains (not processed grains), a lot of veggies, and some fruit. Most MO people can lose a lot of weight with this, and I am finding that I am maintaining my under goal weight just fine. (Lunch today was soy yogurt with protein powder, slivered almonds, 6 different kinds of seeds, and some berries mixed in.) (Supper will be lentil soup, steamed butternut squash, and a "Budda" bowl of greens, shredded brussel sprouts/carrots/red cabbage, tomato, avocado, flax/hemp seed, chick peas, cooked whole grain - any combo of amaranth, teff, quinoa, buckwheat, millet, sorghum. Dressing is made from homemade cashew butter, nutritional yeast, and vinegar.) WFPB does NOT utilize sugar or variations thereof, extra salt, processed foods, processed oils, alcohol, artificial ingredients, or animal proteins. My personal take on it is this: I have lived in and observed developing countries that are mostly plant based. These people are healthy, strong, and do not have cardiac or obesity issues. They grow their own food, for the most part, yet will still eat animal protein on special occasions (weddings, holidays, specific celebrations) or when there is a lucky find, such as a nest of cassowary eggs. However, they do NOT eat animal protein 3 times a day, like most of the west does. I am not 100% PB at this point - more like 80%. I still eat some fish/poultry (home grown) maybe once a week. I think this is in keeping with the practice of many indigenous traditions, and allows me more flexibility with family gatherings. (I don't want to be that vegan who gets invited out to eat and then won't eat anything that is offered - that's a sure fire way to never get invited out again.) I still make my choices very healthy - never anything fried or breaded, and I avoid desserts with sugar or wheat. I hope that answered your possible question. Sorry if it was too long winded. There is a lot of good information about WFPB on the web.

IMO alcohol or marijuana doesn't effect you any differently after surgery.

I'm going to have to agree with Jean on this one. It sounds to me like you may have more than one addiction and yes they are addictions.....don't kid yourself. YOU aren't in control. I would highly suggest seeking assistance with the other substances. In turn when you do have lapband you'll be much more successful. Discuss all of this and be honest with your Dr, Psych, and above all else...yourself. I have experience with both and while yes, there may be a very select few who have managed, they are the exception to the rule. Think about your family memebers whom you have lost. Marijuana is a carcinogen and make no mistake is not good for you. Alcohol is really no different than a candy bar....you can have it, but you really shouldn't. I wish you good luck and hope you do what is right for you. In the end it is up to you. X

I am really interested in having LapBand surgery, i am quite a bit overweight and heart attacks are quite common in my family, i've lost a father and grandfather of both sides to heart attacks, i've also had a history of high cholesterol but the high cholesterol is mostly gone now. My BMI is 35, i am 20 and i am having this surgery because i want to slim down the chances of any heart disease and also to live a healthier life. I am 1m 70, weigh around 100kg and my goal is to be 75kg. I have 2 concerns i need someone to answer fully so i can make my final decision. 1) Alcohol People i have asked say that its hard to drink after having LapBand surgery, they say you can't drink to get drunk, etc. I do tend to drink mostly on weekends but i don't overall drink large ammounts. 2) Marijuana I am a regular smoker, i use it to relax and sleep, i use it creatively and it's worked for me, it's not the reason im overweight and i dont intend to quit. I have completely quit smoking tobacco, it's helped with my anxiety/depression, made me quit smoking and it's made me hugely cut down on my alcohol. I also use it for work, university and socializing. Whenever i ask around about these issues, everyone seems to not answer me directly, i want to know if i can drink and smoke. I know i will have to cut down on alcohol, which i see as a benefit, but will smoking marijuana cause anything? Before you comment on weed, know that it's not the hunger factor from weed that has made me fat, i'd gone through depression and anxiety for years and became really fat, my BMI was 39, after smoking i dropped down to about 35 and im too busy to work out as frequently and my work/university cause me to stay idle for hours. The idea of having LapBand is to control the amount of food i consume so i can reach my goal weight, basically just having it cosmetically. I am also worried about extra skin, not from the belly but from my upper area, my boobs and thighs mainly. I am not interested in having any tucks or any removal surgery afterwards but the thing is, im 20, will it leave much extra skin? This is mostly a lifestyle change, i want to be thinner and be able to run and work for longer periods without getting tired because of being fat.

Congratulations on loosing 50 lbs!! It's disheartening I know to regain, but it does happen. You can start losing again if you work at it. You will get different responses to this.. but what I've been taught is that the band is supposed to DIM your hunger. Making it a little easier to control your impulses. It's always possible to eat more and to make poor choices, the band doesn't take over for you. I was told to eat 3 oz of Protein (I actually ate 4oz at the beginning of my journey because I was SMO ~ super morbidly obese ~ and have gone to 3oz as I lost) and 1/2 cup of low carb veggies. Try not to eat white carbs.. white potatoes, white rice, Pasta, bread, white flour products, corn...As these items TEND to be high glycemic and will make you hungry sooner. After eating your protein and produce.. move away from the table. If I am still hungry 20 minutes after I finish my meal, my nurses say I can have more veggies. I'm usually not physically hungry. Oh.. I can eat.. head hunger is almost never quiet.. but actual physical hunger is usually abated by the small meal. Yes, I see that you are saying that you have no control over what you put in your mouth. I know it is difficult, but you do have control. As someone said on another support list today.. food addiction is very difficult. With alcoholism or drug addiction, you can put the addiction in a cage and never let it out. With food addiction you have to let it out of the cage at least 3x a day. If you can't eat solid food comfortably, you may be too tight. When you are too tight it's so much easier to eat soft foods .. and those tend to be higher calorie. You need to be able to eat solid, but tender protein and vegetables. And a tiny tiny bit of whole grain. I have also had all my fills done by the nurses. I have seen my doctor in passing, but never had him do a fill or even an exam room visit with him. I'm perfectly fine with this. I think I might end up seeing him next week on my regular appt as he has started seeing patients on Wednesdays and that's the day of my appt. If you feel the nurses are competent regarding fills, and other follow-up, great. If you are unhappy, then you could ask to have an appt with one of the surgeons, or maybe even look for another bariatric practice. I'm not sure I buy the "no will-power" thing, but I will grant that maybe you really don't have any where food is concerned. Would you be willing to try to learn some techniques to develop some willpower? Look into behavior modification books. A very good one is "The Beck Diet Solution" by Judith Beck. It's not a diet per se, but a guide on how to deal with disordered eating and sabotaging thoughts and actions. Try putting yourself on a feeding schedule, if you know you're going to be able to eat again in a few hours, it might be a bit easier for you. For example: I have Breakfast at 7am. steel cut oatmeal with walnuts & apples & 1 turkey sausage patty or link. If I get hungry before lunch, I let myself have a high protein snack around 10am. Lunch is anywhere from Noon to 1pm depending on my schedule. smoked salmon/reduced fat cream cheese, veggies. PM snack is about 3 hours after lunch. today was a small apple and a cheese stick. Supper is usually about 6:30pm chicken breast & veggies. If I really want something ..and I haven't exceeded my calories, I will have 100 cal. snack (or less) before bed. I try to keep it to a cup of tea, but sometimes I'll have a bit of almonds. I also make myself drink 32 oz of Water between breakfast and lunch. Another 16 oz before supper and the last 16 oz after supper. This doesn't include any flavored drinks or tea I might have. I'm not perfect (fell off the wagon and ate a half box of saltines yesterday.. dang it), but every time I fall off, I get up and try again. You might also try keeping track of your food intake on a website such as The Daily Plate on LIVESTRONG.COM - Calorie Counter, Weight Loss, Food Calorie Counter, Nutrition Facts | LIVESTRONG.COM. I know other folks here really like fitday.com. The website All Things Food and Diet - FatSecret also has it's fans. Just chose one that works for you and use it. I think it's very helpful to record what I'm taking in. I can also make a printout when I go in for my appts and the nurse and I can discuss where I'm doing well and where I need to make changes. I know you said you exercise, but it might be that your body has become accustomed to what you are doing, you may need to do some extra or some intervals. Do you belong to a gym? If you do, see if they have any trainers who will work with you for a short period of time. I know I used to think that hiring a trainer was an indulgence.. and it is to a degree, but they can be very helpful. And not all of them are expensive. Does the bariatric group you're involved with have support groups? Do you attend? If they don't have any, may I suggest joining this one online? SmartBandsters : Smart_Bandsters health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SmartBandsters/ I hope I haven't come across harsh and unfeeling. That's not my intention at all. I'm impressed at how far you've come and am so glad you're reaching out for help.

Hi everyone, My surgery is creeping up fast and I’m starting to feel a little nervous. I’ve been reading on what to eat and what to avoid post surgery and it’s a little scary thinking about somethings you will never be able to eat again, or always taking tablets, rarely consuming alcohol, possible complications…. I’m sure most people get to this stage pre-surgery. So far I’ve been nothing but excited for my surgery and a second chance at life and treating my body well. Just wondering from those that have had surgery if they have any tips, advice on how they managed leading up to surgery and how it has been since? How was the purée stage and how long until you could socialise with people without being questioned about how slow or little you’ve eaten? Also I know it says alcohol on special occasions, so just wondering how people cope with alcohol since surgery? I’ve also decided not to tell people and just have the support from my partner who has been amazing. He is fully supportive. I just don’t want alot of critical people trying to tell me I shouldn’t do it or shouldn’t have done it? Hugely appreciate any help and guidance :) Thanks :)

OK so I went on vacation. It was quite awkward and I felt very self conscious, but frankly, the whole time I was there I was noticing my partners eating habits which are certainly not beyond reproach. She had dessert after every lunch and dinner and had between 4-6 alcoholic drinks a day. As much as I felt tempted to point this out, I didn't. I just minded my own business and ate how I wanted to eat, which was healthy. salads with fish for Protein mostly. I was pleased that although I dont yet really have perfect restriction I was able to eat in moderation and I was so glad to not be getting stuck on vacation. Clearly the part about not being attracted was not an issue because there was a lot of stuff that only should be discussed in the powder room area, but lets just say that it was not wishy washy. So what do I do with this information is the big question? Because I feel really hurt by what happened. I do NOT want to have the kind of relationship where we nag at each other and chip away each others confidence over too much drinking or unhealthy eating. Frankly that just results in my sneaking off to have a snack and feeling ashamed. Which I did. And which I am not proud of. I mean, she was having Desserts twice a day, so if I was craving something sweet why couldnt I have just indulged in moderation alongside instead of sneaking. It was just a granola bar for God's sake, not like I wolfed down a banana split! Ive never been ashamed of my weight or my eating and I dont intend to start now that I/m down 30+ lbs. So we need to continue to discuss this and I just hope I can be firm and resolute. I am not a child and I dont want to be motivated by fear or by someone else's disapproval.

I'm 10 months post-op, down 55kg and obviously eating much smaller portions. Alcohol does affect me much more quickly than before. I won't drive now after even just one drink because I really have no sense of BAC. Fortunately (for me) I don't drink a lot because it interferes with dancing!

When you move from a food addiction - because you just can't ram it down your gullet like you used to - to other addictions like alcohol, drugs - anything that gives you a serotonin hit...

I was just thinking about this. I am celebrating a birthday and super bowl this weekend. No alcohol and no pigging out. I am getting through it by going to one of my safe resturants for my Birthday and cooking a healthy meal for tonight. For a cake I got the smallest carvel cake for my family to split.

if you wouldn't rub alcohol on an external wound this early, then you should probably not rub it on an internal wound this early. I personally think you'll regret it this soon out.

t's been a long time since you had surgery, so maybe a review of the rules would help. Here's my version of them: Consume 60-80 gm Protein per day and 60-80 oz of Clear liquids per day. Every day. Do not drink anything for at least 30 minutes before a meal or snack. If you forget and do drink, re-set the timer and wait another 30 minutes before you eat. Eat dense protein first at every meal. Eat a very few bites of non-starchy veggie in addition if you have room. Decide how many meals and/or protein Snacks you're going to have per day, and stick to it. Do not eat between meals. Wait at least 30 minutes after every meal or snack before drinking anything. If your mouth gets really dry you could rinse after eating or brush your teeth. I avoid alcohol because I'm concerned it would decrease my ability to resist bad food choices. I follow a very low carb plan rather than counting calories, but that's a personal choice for each of us. Follow the numbered rules at least 90% of the time, and you will succeed. For the other 10%, do not beat yourself up - just get back on the wagon immediately and Sleeve On! Best wishes.

Wow, that sounds like what I would have written the day before I made the deicion to have weight loss surgery. I've been in your shoes, so take those damn shoes off and get some new ones. It's a little creepy that you wrote that because they really were my words last year. Mentally ill mother, alcoholic father, very rough life. I turned it all around and became a goofball. It's my built-in defense system. Find a fabulous new career, for example. It's working wonders for me. Rearrange your entire house. Put the beds in the living room and paint the whole thing bright, cherry colors. Go on a bike ride, read funny books, collect phone numbers and make new girlfriends. Go to comedy clubs, don't sit around. Go to the drugstore and try on all the makeup. Call all the Mary Kay reps in your area (there are probably 95 on your block) and get daily facials. Wear flowers in your hair. Go to the mall in a dress with no underwear. Do something - do anything. Just do do do do do!

I'm not generally an ice cream person, but Blue Bunny makes a sugar free vanilla/caramel bar that is half covered in chocolate. It does have malitol in it, so if you're sensitive to malitol (or sugar alcohols), don't even try it!! Anyway, it's pretty good and 70 calories....doesn't taste like sugar free to me!!

Obviously there's the risk of frequent vomiting from overindulgence. Vomiting with a lapband can be risky. And then there's the loss of your good sense if you've had a few, eating things that will get stuck, not eating carefully etc. And lowered tolerance of alcohol. I'd have to say my alcohol tolerance is fairly normal again now, meaning 2 or 3 glasses of wine over a couple of hours is fine for me. But for ages, I really had to watch it, I'd find myself getting very tipsy from one drink. When you're used to being able to have a drink when you're out and still drive, you have to watch that. I may not have been over .05 (the legal limit here) but I was NOT fit to drive. And alcohol is a load of empty calories and affects your state of wellbeing, your food choices and exercise ability and habits. BUT - at the seminar I was at last week (for my DH) the doctor said that they find that their patients that have a glass of wine at night actually DO better than their teetotalling patients.

Not that I recommend this but...I had a alcoholic drink 4 days post op :thumbup: I am slowly losing and I know it would come off faster if I gave up alcohol but I enjoy a glass or 3 on the weekends. When you are single and your social activities revolve around dinner w/ friends it is hard to stay on track. (probably one of the reason I am obese...now, I can eat a reasonable sized portion when dinning out instead of cleanning my plate...thank you band)

Ok so i will be 4 weeks post op on Tues i had my surgery jan 26. Tomorrow I am going out with my hubby and friends for dinner and drinks. Is it too soon to have 1 alcohol beverage? What is safe to have?