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I would stay away from the drinks since alcohol affects the liver and the whole reason behind the liquid diet is to shrink your liver for a safer surgery.

Bless you for posting this! I am so frustrated I could just scream. Sleeved on Feb 20th, lost 30 pounds practically overnight and haven't lost a pound in 20 something days as well. I am getting my ass kicked in boot camp several times a week plus going to the gym on alternating days and I am back to the liquid diet. Haven't touched sugar or alcohol since my surgery and the shakes I prepare do have some carbs but not a lot. It saddens me to think that this is as good as I'm gonna get :-(

I, for one, think that making access to the RnR forums limited is basically hand holding of people who are old enough to make their own choice as to what they read. If you are mature enough to make the life changing decision to get the Lapband in the first place then you are mature enough to decide what posts you want to read and don't want to read. When you enter the RnR forum you are not automatically thrown into each and every thread and bombared with peoples thoughts, opinions, rants, raves, etc. whether the topic is "inappropriate in your mind" or not. You see titles of various topics, you are NOT required to click on them and if you do then be aware that you could read something that you may personally find offensive. Ignorance or lazyness of not paying attention to what forum you are in and what thread you read is no one's problem but your own. If you step into the street without looking both ways and get hit by a bus - is that the bus driver's fault? I don't think so. Making the RnR forum something that you would have to specifically ask for registration with would absolutely inundate the site moderators with unnecessary work. A newbie thats posts something like "help I'm having the lapband and I have a bunch of questions, etc, etc, etc ..." when they get no response will then realize "hmm perhaps I'm not posting in the right spot" and if they don't ... that is their problem for not learning how to read and research around the forums before making their post. Who are WE to decide who should have the right to participate in certain forums? I've only been around these forums since approx. July and have less than 60 posts (I think) and generally choose to read more than I choose to post. I am old enough to vote, buy cigarette's (not that I smoke), buy alcohol, and even porn if I so choose and I am mature enough to make the decision to have the Lapband done. So who are YOU to tell me what I can and cannot read, and if I read it and don't like it then I can chose to not read it again, that's no one's issue but mine. Last I checked this is a free Country... If you don't like the heat - stay out of the fire. This post is not aimed or directed at anyone but is an expression of my opinion. When I state "you" I am not singling any one out.

Have you gotten off track and lost your "Bariatric Brain"? Maybe it's time to start thinking like a bariatric patient again! Let’s face it - after bariatric surgery, life is not the same. Your diet will change, your body will change, and in many cases, your attitude will change. For many of us, however, a point in time comes when we find ourselves in a different state. In some respect, we almost forget that we’ve had bariatric surgery. After our initial phases of being on liquids, soft and chopped foods, and transitioning into full solids, we spend some time reveling in our ability to eat a ton less and to be able to only eat certain foods. For the first 6-12 months, we are in a “honeymoon phase” of sorts - we’re losing weight easily, we have the assurance that we just CAN’T eat certain things such as rice, bread, pasta, etc., and we’re in a certain mindset that I’ve dubbed the “Bariatric Brain”. For some of us, that mindset remains because we are never able to eat certain things without them getting stuck or without experiencing dumping syndrome. For others, that mindset all but disappears when we discover that we can eat certain foods without sliming or them getting stuck, or that other foods no longer send us to the bathroom for an hour. From my own experience, the downfall out of the “Bariatric Brain” began 6 months after my surgery. I was told my my nutritionist that I was allowed to have carbonation from that point on. I was a little confused, as all of the other people I knew with the sleeve had been told they could never have it again, but my addiction to diet soda was stronger than my common sense. From that point on, I learned I could also eat bread (8 months), pasta (10 months) and rice (14 months). From there, it was no-holds barred. Something else that happens with the sleeve that they don’t tell you is that at a certain point - your stomach capacity will increase after a time. This is because for a few months, it’s swollen to a point that you can only hold about ½ a cup of food at one time. After the first year, and it is completely healed, that capacity increases to about a cup. For someone that’s not expecting that, it can be a little confusing. For a food addict, it can be exciting and tempting. At that point, you are no longer bound by restrictions. When this happens, some people begin to forget about their surgery. They begin to get back into a different mindset. One of “oh, I can eat this!” instead of, “Nope - gotta leave that off”. When this happens, the diet shifts to one of fast food, sugar, carbs, soft drinks, and alcohol (not every food in every case, mind you). It is that moment when the tool that we so greatly loved and admired begins to fail us. Or, rather, WE begin to fail our TOOL. When this happens, it’s time to return to the mindset we were in during the first year. It’s time to think like a bariatric patient again. This is no easy feat, after all, we’ve returned to our addiction - FOOD. But at the same time, in the case of most other addictions - drugs, alcohol, nicotine, etc. - there is almost always a backslide. A heroine addict may sneak out of rehab for that one more fix, an AA leader might get depressed one night and get insanely drunk, someone trying to quit smoking might sneak a puff or two at a rock concert. These instances are normal and, some believe, even a healthy part of the healing from addiction. If this is acceptable in these cases, why is it not acceptable in the weight loss world? When this happens, take a step back. Look at yourself from the outside in. It’s important here to remind yourself that getting off track is NORMAL and OK. Although not everyone has done it, many MANY people have - and some of those people have the most successful weight loss stories on the Bariatric Pal forum. With that in mind, how does one go back to the “Bariatric Brain”? Go Back To Basics Remember what started the weight loss to begin with? Protein, water, walking? Get back to it! Make sure you’re getting AT LEAST 60g of protein a day (even better is 80-90g!). Make sure you’re getting AT LEAST 64oz of water a day, and make sure you’re getting some kind of activity for AT LEAST 15 minutes a day (30-45 minutes is better). Return To Liquids? Some people return to a liquid diet for a few days (no more than 3). They feel that this helps “reset” their system and returns their mindset back to where it should be. One way of doing this is through the “5-Day Pouch Test” (designed for RnY or Gastric Band patients) in which you return to liquids for a few days then gradually return to solid foods. For those that have the sleeve or the duodenal switch, the pouch test might not work for you as it’s not designed for that kind of surgery. That being said, if you feel the need, you can also return to liquids for a few days. Return To Support Groups Support groups are the #1 key to a successful weight loss surgery, regardless of your surgery or your stage. If you are a year or more out, consider returning to a support group. Hearing what the people in the early stages are having issues with, and helping them work through those issues can, in fact, help you work through yours. Read, and Educate Yourself Consider finding books, articles, cookbooks, and magazines on bariatric surgery. Do research on one aspect that really interests you. Immerse yourself in it again like you did in the beginning! Remember Your Motivation What was your reason for having Bariatric Surgery to begin with? Your health? Your family? Your looks? Looking at what you wanted from your surgery and where you are now might help you to refocus. In The End Remember … What you are going through right now is okay, and completely normal. Thousands of people are going through exactly the same thing you are. You are not alone! Remember that if you’re REALLY struggling, you can always find help. Talk you your nutritionist or dietician, seek mentorship in a support group, or find a good counselor that has experience with food addiction and bariatric patients. And ALWAYS remember - YOU CAN DO THIS!!!

I eat carbs - but i choose them wisely. I don't have rice, pasta or white potatoes or white bread. All vegetables have carbs. and once I'm further out, I do plan to have whole grains like oatmeal or a half slice of whole grain bread occasionally. But binging on pasta and potatoes? Not in my plan and if I do it, I will consider that as a personal failure that day on my part and get right back on track. I know what trigger foods I have that I need to avoid because they will just cause me to want more. You seem so convinced that I will never be able to avoid binging on pasta - do you think every recovering alcoholic in AA is DESTINED to stay an alcoholic? Or is it possible to mature enough to know your issues and develop coping mechanisms to prevent going down that slippery slope again? If I wanted to continue to eat the way I had been, I personally wouldn't have gotten the surgery.

Kate you are my hero. Congratulations!! Before committing to this surgery, I was a daily drinker. A relaxing cocktail after work was just part of my routine. I had to come to terms with letting go of that lifestyle. I am feeling much better for it, not to mention a little richer:) Also, my mother is a recovering alcoholic 29 years sober. Keep putting you first, one day at a time!

So, as I travel this road of research heading into this decision, I find myself very concerned about privacy. I’ve been adding up the pros and cons of using a local hospital versus an out of town one strictly in the name of privacy. I know a lot of folks in my local medical community, and I feel it will be nearly impossible to keep this quiet if I do it locally. And really, it probably would not take much for it to leak if I go to an out of town hospital. One piece of paper crossing the wrong reception desk and my “secret” would be out. It is frustrating to keep waffling back and forth. On one hand, I don’t want to hear judgmental comments before or after, or unwanted advice. On the other hand... am I really going to go through all of this and a big transformation and deny the fact that I got some medical intervention as support? Really, where is the shame in it, anyway? I figure, if I encounter anyone who judges my decision or brings negativity to me, I will show the them the exit door out of my life and enjoy my new health with people that matter. Wondering what others thoughts are on privacy. The stigma with weight loss services is frustrating. No one ridicules smokers for using medicine to help them quit. Or alcoholics who go into intense rehab.

I had my surgery 12/2/22 and I can only use monk fruit that doesn't have the sugar alcohols. I get nauseous with anything else and will eventually have diarrhea if I drink/eat too much of anything that has stevia or other artificial sweeteners. I can't even chew the sugar free gum without it upsetting my stomach.

Evo, there is a 105 lb difference in the numbers you posted. Either there is a typo or you lost 100 pounds and didn't realize it. Alcohol is empty calories. You are not going to lose weight pounding beers. A friend of mine had bypass; lost obscene weight and gained it all back with the help of Budweiser. If you're going to drink, drink something stronger so that it doesn't take as many to get a buzz.

I understand your struggle because I too struggle with losing weight. Check this: I'm post 1 year out of lapband surgery and I have lost 35 pounds--but I've hit a snag. I blame myself for this, but I did not stay continuous with my eating and exercising. I started back doing the exercising and eating right, keeping the food journals, etc. Now I'm back on track. Now, I'm not going to lie, I may have a few naughty things at the end of the week. But, as long as I stay motivated by exercising and doing the things I need to do and don't go overboard, I will continue to see results. I am a binge eater. That's why I have the band. Someone mention earlier about the psychology of why we overeat and getting to the bottom of the deeper issue. My issue has always been insecurity and shyness. I hope I'm not being long winded but the bottom line is I have issues. Some of us have issues. It's probably the same issues that follow people who do drugs and alcohol. I was a chain smoker and a binge drinker. Hell, quitting (praying) those two things is a something else. And you have to applaud yourself for that. Take in all the victories. I'm in college and I'm taking a class in Addiction. I should have earlier, but, better now than later. Off the dais!

Exactly. I don't think a lot of times these forum veterans and other judgmental posters realise that their hostile approaches to questions deemed as 'stupid' may be putting off others members from seeking needed advice for very valid and pertinent questions. I find it slightly odd that some forum members are yet to figure out that not all things are created equally especially in terms of the realm of surgery/ medicine and medical programmes. Some folks are berating others for knowing about guidelines about alcohol post surgery but just to illustrate my point about all clinics not being made equal or to the same standards, my bariatric programme/clinicians haven't stated much about alcohol post op apart from a nurse saying that i should bear in mind that if I drink, I would now be intoxicated faster and from smaller amounts'. Nothing about damage to the pouch, empty calories or cross addiction. I think its more of the posts that say stuff like, "I know I'm not supposed to drink, but I'm doing it anyway at 2 weeks post op.. " and there are quite a few like that.. But I agree..

@@Djmohr I had to sign a contract for smoking and drinking alcohol also. It's something new because I didn't have to do it when I was banded 5 years ago but had to do it for my revision (same dr.).

I am anxiously waiting to have my first drink, I drank massive amounts and got into 2 or 3 day stupors in college 30 yrs ago, I decided to stop on my own and combined with getting older I became a very light but discriminating drinker, maybe once every two or three months and even then very specific about what I want, I prefer beer or fun wines, and if it is beer I limit myself to one or two and stop, but this 4th of July was tough, I was BBQing for family and craving my favorite beer, a chilled Dos XX dressed up, I still researching on the use of alcohol after gastric, so far the studies of pros and cons seem to be about even 50/50, so if I do I will try to be smart about it and if I see any negatives from it it will be the last time, interestingly no one seems to know exactly why, theories range from sugars in the body to fast alcohol absorption and intoxication, so we will see.......

@ My clinic made me take a written test. It was not an easy one either! I agree with you, I do think every bariatric doctor should require it. I also had to sign a contract stating I would not use alcohol for a minimum of 12 months.

I've been getting tiny fills now and then over the last year. Four fills of 0.10, with my last one in August. I debated getting one in September but my NP and I decided together to try modifying my food plan and waiting to see those results. Well, I'm a stubborn old broad, and I resisted making serious changes right away. But here's what I did change over the last four months: I gave up alcohol completely in September. I gave up fried food in November. I gave up my weekly carby Thai overindulgence in December. Do I miss it? Hell yes. I gave up movie crapcorn completely in December. (Not movies though. I actually smuggled two pears into the movies a few days ago and got a little thrill out of that.) I began planning, committing, and tracking my food to my OA sponsor and using MyFitnessPal again two weeks ago. What happened? My band is talking to me again. I feel the stop signals very clearly now. I get the "enough" sensation on much smaller quantities. My dog is loving it because he gets the p rotein I can't finish. Bottom line is, I had to clean up my food for my band to be able to do its job right. I'm filled enough. I know that now. The band surgery alone enabled me to drop 2/3 of my excess weight without much behavior modification. Sure, I was eating less, and not eating between meals. But I was emotionally hanging on to my greasy, fried favorites and drinking with friends every weekend, not to mention socking away tubs of buttered crapcorn on a twice-weekly basis. And scratching my head as to why I stopped losing weight. Making the changes I made above was an incremental process. I wasn't ready to do it until I was ready to do it. I'm really glad that my band stayed consistent while I floundered around figuring this out. For whatever reason, I'm now motivated to get the rest of this weight off, and to follow the disciplined plan I have worked out with my OA sponsor. This may or may not help somebody else. But if you're chasing the elusive green zone, and wonder if you really need more fills or not, see if cleaning up your food for a few weeks first makes a difference. It did for me.

For me it comes down to portion size, awareness of calorie & nutrient content, & a balanced diet. I guess it depends upon what you consider a variety of foods. I eat a variety of plant & animal proteins (more animal I admit), vegetables, fruit, a small amount of whole or multi grains. No breads, no pastas, or rice or alternatives. Avoid sugar, artificial sweeteners or sugar additives as much as I can (can be challenging cause it’s everywhere & yes I had cake & dessert over Christmas). No carbonated drinks (except for tonic/soda/sparkling water which I let flatten & drink slowly). I drink a glass of alcohol once a month or two. I don’t take any supplements. Since my surgery almost 2 years ago, I’ve had takeaway three times - braised chicken & vegetables twice & steamed gyoza once (ate the filling only). Do I miss it? Nope. I never was a big fast food eater so no loss there either. I cook most of my own food because I can control the ingredients & how it’s cooked & prepared. My decision came down to two things: what I used to do which contributed to my history of gaining weight & the things I realised I just didn’t need. Does it restrict my lifestyle? Nope. I go out to restaurants & socialise with friends & family without a problem. I freeze meals so if I need a quick convenient meal I just defrost something from my freezer. (God bless my microwave.) Honestly my inability to eat spicy food is my greatest problem - it seems they put chilli in every darn thing these days. But this is what’s working for me. You have to work out what works for you. If that means you can have some dessert or takeaway or become vegan or whatever it’s all good. If your diet becomes so restrictive it compromises your enjoyment of your life (i.e. being happy & healthy), you’ll likely fail. Good luck on your journey. Sorry for the long post🙂.

Protein synthesis and builds muscle that can lead to a higher metabolism. In the same way that strength training can create an anabolic environment that helps burn fat, performing sprints does the same by temporarily boosting growth hormones and testosterone. After performing sprints, metabolism is significantly elevated, meaning you continue to burn a higher number of calories, even at rest. That means that you can cut your workout time in half and still get the results you’re looking for. Sprinting can take the form of running, cycling or even rowing. A great starting point is maintaining a sprint for 8 seconds with 3-5 minutes of rest between bursts. Pushing a prowler can combine the benefits of strength training and sprinting into one exercise. The prowler push is a great full-body, fat-burning workout that allows you to maximize your heart rate while using your lower body to push and contract your upper body and core muscles. Since high-intensity work using a large volume is one of the best ways to decrease body fat, make sure the resistance is challenging to see the best results. Counting calories may not be enough to get results if your diet isn’t “clean.” Eliminate all processed foods, sugar and trans-fats from your diet, and focus on eating fresh forms of protein, vegetables, a moderate amount of fruits and healthy fats such as coconut oil, olive oil and butter from grass-fed cows. Make sure to get enough Fiber by building your plate around a large serving of antioxidant-rich vegetables such as kale, cauliflower, broccoli, bell peppers, eggplant or spaghetti squash. Stay hydrated, especially in the hot summer months, by drinking plenty of Water and avoiding juice, soda, sports drinks and alcohol.

I 'm only telling my family and one truly supportive friend. When Ive discussed this with friends before I was discouraged by the negative feedback. Another friend of mine who had WLS and has had amazing results told me that people act really strange. The most negative comments come from friends who are also big and have chosen not to have surgery because they are afraid of it or they don't want to change their lifestyle. Even when I was strict on my diet and was eating clean and no alcohol I had friends who made remarks like oh call me when you can have fun again. I realized that people don't want you to change from the role you play in their lives. If you are the fun one and always available when they want to go out and have fun, they are afraid that will change. I have no problem socializing with people without drinking and I can still have fun. I think it makes people uncomfortable when I'm not drinking and eating bad food and they are because of their own issues. Your true friends will be supportive. For some it just might take a while to realize that you are still you.

So the whole nothing to drink 15 minutes before a minute, nothing during the meal, and nothing 45 minutes after. Is that a lifelong rule? I mean, not even a sip???? I don't want to gulp, but a sip would be nice. When were you allowed to have alcohol? I'm not a big drinker, but I have a birthday coming up and would love to enjoy ONE drink with my friends, but I doubt I can. I am six weeks post op. Why can't I have salad? What does it do to the stomach that makes it temporarily off limits?

Biotene like others have recommended immediately after surgery. Wouldn't know why it wouldn't work for you also. Worse case scenario, rinse out your mouth with non-alcoholic mouthwash. Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

I had my surgery in dec and my outlet is a snickers bar. I never did drugs or alcohol so no that's not an issue with me. The therapist that we had before surgery said that some turn to alcohol and I may since I can't overheat in food. I laughed in her face. A coworker that had the sleeve all she talk about is drinking. She did four wks out and was bragging that she didn't get sick. I pray she don't get addicted. Are you honestly having issues with addiction to something? If so, we are here to talk if you need to.

Tips? Keep saying the mantra "it gets better." Every day things get better: the pain, the emotions, the weird feelings when you drink. And before you know it, you are rewarded with weight loss! My tastes seems to change everyday. I was able to eat my chewable Vitamins for the first week post op. Now, they make me nauseous. Like they actually come back up or make me feel blah I am switching to the Celebrate vitamins you can mix together like Crystal Light (Celebrate bariatric vitamins are what my surgeon recommends). The simpler the taste the better for me. I was able to drink some Protein shakes and Carnation Instant Breakfast-No Sugar Added post op. But after a week, the only thing I want is plain skim milk with nonfat dry milk powder added (by drinking 3 to 4, 8 ounce glasses of these a day, I get my 50+ grams of daily protein needs). My best tip would be using alcohol wipes to stop nausea. I got nauseous about 4 times during my 3 day hospital stay. I would call for my nurse and she would quickly put one on my nose and I would take like 3 to 5 deep breaths and it would calm me down (meanwhile she would be putting nausea medicine in my IV but told me it would take a few minutes to work). I still use this trick regularly (my nurses kindly gave me like 30 wipes to take home). Granted I don't get anti-nausea meds pumped into me anymore but it still works (you have to realize early post-op nausea is a little more intense because of all the pain meds they are pumping you with). One more thing - friends and family act funny post op. Learn to deal with it/laugh it off. A coworker ate candy in front of me and then was like Oops! And hid the wrapper behind her back. I laughed it off but trust me, I want nothing to do with sweets right now! And then the other day my dad was driving me to the pharmacy and was mad that I didn't "eat" anything that day yet. He asked if I could have a Wendy's Frosty! Clearly that is not a good idea - but I gave him an alternative, we went to McDonalds and I got a kid-sized milk. I now use that little half pint container daily (8 oz)...cutest thing ever. I digress... Let me know if you have any other questions while it is still fresh!! Good luck with your surgery! I am sure it has been a long journey. I had to go through a 6 month insurance approval process. I pinch myself everyday that I am now on the other side!

The orthostatic hypotension is not unusual with rapid weight loss, and is one of several ramifications of your body still trying to function at your old weight when there is substantially less of you at hand - we often feel cold for the same reason, that the body is still trying to cool what is no longer there. These things do improve over time, though it may be a year or two. In the meantime, as the docs and others suggest, more salt, lots of fluids (non-alcoholic), and also exercise is also a common prescription to "keep things pumping" On the exercise front - this should improve things, but let your trainer know that you have this problem so they can watch for it. Also, another side effect of the rapid loss is that your heartrate will likely be lower, at rest and in activity, so if the trainer is pushing to achieve some specific heartrate to indicate some level of exertion, (often it is 80+% of a theoretical maximum rate) their measurement scale may be skewed and they may push you harder than they should. When I was 2-3 months out, I noticed that exercise (brisk walking short of a jog) that used to get my heart into that 80% zone (140-150 for me at the time) would barely get me over 100; even today, years later, my resting pulse is low, often 50 or below, and doctors/nurses unfamiliar with me will question it (yes, it's normal) though my BP is normal to a touch high. So, the exercise should be OK, but let them know and don't let them push you too hard - your cardiac system may have excess capacity, but you may be evertaxed elsewhere. Your ketone levels have little to do with whether or not you are losing weight. They are in indication that you are burning fat. but that can be ingested fat as well as stored fat. If you want to burn your stored fat, you need a good caloric deficit, and it matters little what style of diet is used to accomplish that - low fat, low carb, keto, paleo, Atkins, whole 30 or whatever it may be. I used a relatively high carbohydrate diet (by Atkins/keto standards - 100ish g/day) and lost quite rapidly - because of the fairly high caloric deficit; ketones were there in the blood tests because I was burning my fat stores, but those readings weren't a goal. The high fat/low carb type diets a la keto and paleo are popular these days, but the high calorie levels that often accompany them can sometimes make weightloss difficult. Clinically, high fat/low carbohydrate diets are often prescribed to avoid or minimize weight loss after a non-WLS gastrectomy, so if you are trying to use such a diet for weight loss, you have to keep a close eye on calorie levels. Being four months out, you should still be fairly restricted in you eating volume so that you should still be losing at a reasonable pace, but if you are ingesting too many calories by "eating around" your wLS - drinking calories or very high calorie foods - then you can see low or no loss at this point.

you should go by what your doctor says, not what random people online say. Just because someone has one particular experience doesn't mean it will be the same for anyone else. The best thing to do is to go by what your doctor says, they know you and your medical history and the details of your particular procedure. At the practice where I am having my surgery, I honestly don't think it has anything to do with my medical history and the details of my particular procedure. I was told on the very first day I was there, attending a support group/info meeting, that BWLS patients are NEVER allowed to have alcohol again. Now... the surgeons weren't even there. Only one of the five NUTs was there, along with a bunch of post-surgery folks and about a dozen of those of us who were just starting our journey There is absolutely no way anyone there knew my medical history or my procedure. Heck, I hadn't even decided IF I was going to have BWLS, much less what type of surgery. I just think this practice is opposed to "wasted" calories and also cautious about the effects of alcohol on the body due to a redesigned/rerouted digestive system, so they say, "Nope, nada, never again" when it comes to alcohol. I can promise you that I'm not going through this surgery (VGS) to find ways to cheat the system, to try and eat all the crap that got me this fat without gaining weight, but I also know that when my daughter gets married or I'm at a family celebration or something of equal import, I am more than likely going to have a glass of wine or other adult beverage. I can avoid carbonated drinks if I must (although I love a good stout beer or Dark&Stormy), but I am 99% sure that I will not abstain from alcohol forever. Therefore, it's helpful to hear about the experiences of others who've already been down this path. I appreciate the opinions of those who have gone against what might be recommended as much as I do the experiences of those who stick to the straight and narrow. It's all information- not permission, not judgement, not edict- just information that's always handy to have.

I was never told that I can never have alcohol again. I was advised to not have any for a while after surgery but not even given a time line. I turned the big 4-0 about 6 weeks after surgery. Did I have a glass of wine. You bet I did! I was turning 40! Have I had many drinks since...? Um.. yes. Yes I have and no I have not had any problems. At 11 months post op I am down 118.8 pounds and only 4.6 lbs from goal. Don't care what people say - I'm gonna have a damn "adult" drink whenever I want. I've worked very hard to get to where I am - in life and with weight loss. I'm 40 years old. I can make 40 year old decisions and if drinking alcohol is one of them, I'm gonna do it. Lol I have even had a forbidden beer or two. I'll admit it - I don't feel great after a beer because of the carbonation and it filling me up so quickly, so I don't drink them very often at all. We are all adults and know our own bodies best. I get that the doctor and nutritionist knows a lot about the effects of alcohol but not ever drinking again is unrealistic. In my opinion.