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No worries, it's our little secret. I think they say no alcohol "ever" because it can lead to snacking and of course, it's Kaiser - the whole Thrive thing you know - healthy living.

@@laguerr13 many people cannot tolerate SF stuff. It's known to cause diarrhea - particularly sugar alcohols. It's not at all uncommon.

I wouldn't have done anything different. What I did worked just right for me.....avoided those no-no foods, exceeded Protein and Fluid goals, learned to eat just until satisfied, not full, established new eating habits and a regular Vitamin schedule. I never did measure or track my food (besides protein and water) because I knew I would never keep it up. No sense trying to implement a plan I would not stick to. Instead, I just taught myself to eyeball my portions and learned the limits of what would let me lose vs maintain vs gain. That turned into a new lifestyle I can easily maintain. Likewise, I knew I would not keep up with an excercise program so I never bothered with that either. Basically, I would start doing now whatever you think you will be able to do forever and be very mindful of what foods you need to consume to lose weight vs foods that could cause weight stalls/gains in the future. Also make sure you have a plan in place for dealing with stressful events in your life. Those seem to be the trigger point for when many people start to regain weight. For me, seeing a therapist and getting on antidepressants was what I needed to help me cope since I refused to use food and alcohol as a crutch like I'd always done in the past.

Hydrogen Peroxide is better than alcohol. But you should contact your doctor. I used my cellphone camera and took a picture and sent it to my doctors office. This saved me an hour one way trip. My redness went away after awhile.

Hello Everyone! I am really enjoying this website. Lots of useful information. I was banded April 26th. I have been feeling great and following the diet to a T! I just have one question. I have a super busy summer coming up. Lots of wedding and graduation parties. Although I am not really a big drinkier I do like to have a couple when and where appropriate. I know alcohol is just empty calories. Just wondering what other peoples reactions are about it. Does it effect you diffently ect......

I stopped drinking before getting banded so I don't know if it effects you differently. Just the fact that you are eating less food may cause the alcohol to have a greater impact. I would be cautious for sure. And you are right, it's empty calories. Try to factor a drink or 2 into your calories for the day. Of course, this is not something you should do on a regular basis. Have fun!

I drink vodka/cran as well and did notice that the alcohol has more of an effect on me. So, I don't drink as much and try to eat 30 minutes before I drink. Julia

@@VSGAnn2014 Your initial comments were fine. The Oak Park OP said she's "depressed," and since that depression, is drinking more beer, ingesting more calories in beer than in food. Liking beer doesn't make one an alcoholic; regularly/frequently turning to it in depression, etc., warrants contemplation. To consider AA...legitimate query, if one is truly open to exploring all reasons and all possible remedies for the weight gain. [Ann, hope you're hubby is progressing well.]

Hmm, well, I'm not sure why you assume that someone who drinks is an alcoholic. I'm fairly certain and confident that I am not, so AA would not really be much help. As for therapy, sure, I've been in therapy my entire adult life. I'm a big fan of therapy, but again, as I said in my OP, I know what I should do, but doing it is tough, I'm looking for others in the same boat, not for people who want to pathologize what is simply the human experience! I sincerely wish you the very best results in addressing your regain. I'm truly sorry if my questions offended you. I certainly don't think everyone who drinks is an alcoholic. I certainly don't know if you are an alcoholic. You said you're taking in more calories daily via beer than through the food you eat and that you are having a hard time cutting out the beer. You offered as context your struggles with depression after a physical injury. And since transfer addictions are real dangers for WLS patients post-op, I asked whether you thought AA or therapy could be helpful. You sound very determined to regain your health and to lose the weight you've gained. Again, I wish for you great success in achieving your goals.

I appreciate you sharing this info. I sooo miss my margaritas! Lol. I can't drink them no longer because I was diagnosed Bipolar 2 years ago...so my meds doesn't allow alcohol. I am also unable to exercise...one because I hate it and two I have too many physical limitations. I do love to walk but my bad knee and spurs in my feet take care of that. My story on my profile tells my weight issues. I know you will get this all figured out. Sent from my SM-G920V using the BariatricPal App

I hope you don't take this brief post as "preaching." Have you also considered: * Alcoholics Anonymous? * Therapy? If not, what are your thoughts about these resources?

Thought this might help. Fluids - the good and the bad Fluids come in many forms - Water, ice blocks, fruit, juice, tea, and cordial. Many foods are mainly Fluid - custard, jelly, ice cream, and Soup. These can contribute vital fluid. Caffeine drinks such as coffee, cola, Milo and alcohol are fluids, but have a diuretic effect so fluid is lost from the body with these drinks. If a person has one of these drinks it should be accompanied with a glass of water. Certainly coffee and alcohol should not be the main source of fluid intake as they further increase the person's risk of dehydration.

This is going to be kind of long, but I want to air out everything because any time I've read anything from you guys it's been awesome advice, and I know that most of this is my fault (sort of). I had my surgery 12/21/2012. I was 289 Starting, I had lost a little over 100 lbs. Then I had put on 10 lbs, and I was like wth... My eating/exercise/daily life patterns had not changed. Everlything was exactly the same. This was 16 months later so April 2014. At first I didn't think anything of it, just figured I had been eating more sweets than normal because it was around Easter, and I visited home for my sister's wedding. Those 10 lbs just stuck there no change (197). Then I skipped a period. I took a pregnancy test it came back negative. So I was like okay. Then I skipped another one. I had plans to get a tattoo so I took another pregnancy test, still negative. Took another one a week after that, still negative. Here I am thinking wth, but still only 10 lbs with skipped periods. So then my hubby and I started talking about TTC, and due to my age went in to talk about fertility. Well my OB makes you take a pee test no matter if you're there to talk about pregnancy or not. Not sure why, but whatever... Well she comes in and says congrats your pregnant. I was like wtf... really???? So she started to do my ultra sound, and low and behold I WAS STARTING MY SECOND TRIMESTER!! So of course tears of joy, and then panic set in. It made sense why I had gained the 10 lbs. But I had just got a brand new tattoo, I had drank 1 alcoholic beverage socially (which I know I know just 1), I was taking something to help me sleep occasionally. Then of course my fear started to set in. That OMG what about my babbbbbbbby. Of course everything was fine. So I stayed with the 10 lbs until August. In conjunction with my normal OB I also was being seen by a High Risk Dr. In August I found out that I had incompetent Cervix. That night, I was pulled out of work, put on confined bed rest (I call it house arrest), and was told basically I needed to have surgery or I was going to most likely lose my baby. So yay me, surgery it was. During pregnancy I kept putting on weight, and more weight. This was a mixture of issues. I had gone from 187 March 2014 to 233 lbs by Dec 2014. I was put on Progesterone Suppositories, put on restricted bed rest, and just continued to watch the weight add and add and add. Dec 1st, I had my sutures removed from my cervix, and on Dec 3rd my beautiful baby girl was born. Within 3 weeks, I had gone down to 200 lbs, but now am back up to 210. I know right now I'm only sitting at a +23, but it's enough to make me depressed (not overly depressed where I'm eating feelings), but clothes are starting to fit tight, and I can tell my legs thickened back out again, and it's just I feel defeated. While on bed rest I could only stand on my feet for 10 - 15 min every few hours, however, my MFM didn't even want me to do that. I could take showers every other day. I was told I could go to the restroom, make lite meals, otherwise I was to be in bed the remainder of pregnancy. Finally after the first few weeks I got one reprieve and that was to go to dr's appts. I had asked if I could do small walks, and he immediately said No way! I was like great, there goes my metabolism. But I was not going to risk losing the baby so she was def way more important. We are now 2 weeks shy of my baby being 4 months old. All I want lately is carb carb carb. I don't know how to nip this in the bud. I was doing so well prior to getting pregnant, and I feel like all my hard work, is being shoved out the window. I even called my surgical center to see about going from VSG to Gastric Bypass. I know really I just need to get my arse into the gym or exercise, but I'm finding very limited time to do any of this. I also have noticed that my eating is way more than what I could handle originally. For example I could eat a full bean and cheese burrito whether homemade or from T-Bell, and a thing of their chips and cheese. I can eat 2 eggs, some lil Minnie wieners, and a piece of toast (sometimes 2). It was not like this prior to becoming pregnant. I could maybe make it through 1 egg, and a piece of toast or half of a burrito if I was lucky. So here is my dilemma... My work schedule is 5pm to 1:30am. My husbands shift is from 5am - 2pm (40 min away). I've ready too many horror stories about children being neglected at the different local gyms we have here to even remotely think about bringing my daughter to one while I go and work out. I could go walk at the park for now, but with summer coming we're talking about 100 degree plus weather. (I know these are a ton of excuses. I know that, I already beat myself up about it, but at the same time this is what I have to work with). I was thinking of starting up P90x or one of those type of work out videos. I know I also need to change my eating habits and get rid of my carb in take (But it's so hard! Wah! lol) If any of you have gone through the same type of thing, and can share a success story on how to lose the weight, that'd be awesome. I feel like a giant failure. I told myself that I would never let this happen, and here we are... and it's happened. Even if it's harsh advise I'm all ears, and have my BGP on. Oh and because I'm in the sharing mood, here's my little munchkin. ETA.. 263 was at time of surgery. Technically my Starting was 289.

I would go and order a non alcoholic drink and if he asks just say that you're not an alcohol drinker and move on with the date - it shouldn't be a big deal or you can make a different suggestion and let him know upfront that you're not a drinker- personally, I would probably just go to the place he chose and keep it moving Have Fun [emoji16]

It’s pretty widely known that chronic over-indulgence in alcoholic beverages can play havoc with one’s liver — in extreme cases ending up with cirrhosis and a non-functioning organ. But non-drinkers can also have liver problems. In particular, there is one called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, or NAFLD, which is a risk factor for chronic liver disease and cardiovascular disease, according to the authors of a recent report in JAMA Internal Medicine. NAFLD is a condition in which triglycerides (fats) accumulate within liver cells. If the accumulation is extensive enough it can trigger inflammation and a condition known as steatosis, which can then progress to irreversible cirrhosis. The authors of the report conducted a randomized clinical trial to investigate the effects of different levels of exercise on NAFLD in obese Chinese adults. Led by Dr. Hui-Jie Zhang from the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China, they randomly assigned 220 adults (40-65 years of age) with abdominal obesity and NAFLD – documented by MRI – to one of three exercise conditions. They were particularly interested in ascertaining whether vigorous versus moderate exercise differently affect NAFLD. The three groups were: VM: vigorous exercise for 6 months followed by moderate exercise for 6 months. M: moderate exercise for 12 months C: control — no exercise program. The authors concluded “Vigorous and moderate exercise were equally effective in reducing intra-hepatic triglyceride content; the effect appeared to be largely mediated by weight loss.” http://acsh.org/news/2016/08/23/exercise-could-save-your-liver/ So I guess the bottom line is that if you lose weight and exercise, you can repair some of the damage to your liver, prevent cirrhosis and live a longer healthier life.

Sugar alcohols have 7 calories per gram whereas fat has 9 so you do get a little less calories in the SF Russell Stovers. Mannitol and Sorbitol are the sweetners they use. They are laxatives! LOL.

It's been 3.5 weeks since I have had a diet coke, and I am frequently day dreaming about having an ice cold can of DC! I was drinking a super big gulp everyday before my VS. I plan to give them up for good, because it is so bad for your health and because research has shown it leads to weight gain. But truly, giving up diet coke is harder than all the other foods I am giving up. Yesterday I went into a 7-11 for my kids, and I felt like an alcoholic walking into a liquor store. And believe me, I am by no means making light of the struggle addicts go through on a daily basis. This is so hard for me!!

I absolutely understand what you are experiencing. I actually cried the day before I started my "pre-op". I'm scheduled for Sept 27th so I still have a ways to go. But decided I'm starting now and not waiting for the surgery. I'm a "lightweight" but still a BMI of 36 is a lot to carry around. I cried because I started to realize I can't use food to "deal" with my stress or my fears or my emotional roller coasters. I am an addict and my drug of choice has been food. I was not always heavy, actually skinny as a kid. My weight came on after starting a small business. The more it grew, the more stressed I became. I would diet, lose weight, it would come back anytime something major came up. Now my weight has crept up to the point I'm pre diabetic. Yes, I'm active, but I eat entirely too much food and not good food either. Sitting down and eating an entire Ben and Jerry's because of a bad day at work can no longer happen. I must view food at a source of fuel, not an emotional bandaid. I am following a low carb diet, so thankfully all cravings are gone. But, right now I"m in the place that I must avoid temptations, just like an alcoholic. Something that did help was putting out in the open that I have an issue with food. I discussed this with my husband. He's totally on board. Our kids are grown so it's just he and I. I am cooking for myself and than he gets extras like garlic bread with his dinner. He's the type that can eat anything and has never gained weight. But I do know he enjoys food, but it's just something you do when you are hungry. In the end, the place I am at now is I must do something. I am tired of feeling the way I feel, tired of be concerned about my health, tired of clothes fitting like crap, tired of this emotional weight I've carried around for too long. I'm tired of my weight being an issue in my life. So, when the head stuff starts, this is what I think about. And believing it's going to be OK.

Alcohol numbs the stomach and in return you get the feeling that food is not such a problem anymore. While you still get full...you do not experience the general malaise associated with eating...or more so swallowing and waiting for the food to get into your stomach. At the same time you get a little buzz and life seems...for a short while...to be a little normal. Be careful my friends...it is a dangerous slippery slide that can grab you in an instant and pull you down quickly.

Your post is timely. Last week, a 37-year-friend of mine (who had a RNY--gastric bypass--Sept. 30th), was slurring his words after having 3 drinks. Mind you, he's an alcoholic who had been doing very well until of late! Also, since he's lost 100 pounds and is looking good, feeling cocky, and noticing the "honeys checking me out," (despite being married), he now feels he can do what he used to do--hang out and drink. Being that he'd previously been in a car accident due to driving drunk, on Monday I actually contacted his doctor (who I met at Obesity Week last November), and I told the doc to contact his internist and get him in for new labs. Just a month ago, my friend said his internist told him his liver showed signs of him drinking again, and to stop! My friend then admitted to me that he said he'd only been drinking two glasses of wine, but in fact, was drinking a full bottle of wine every night. Addictive personailities really need to be careful with the alcohol, especially given malabsoprtion, or altered absorption post-wls. Thank you for your important post.

Good thread - I really want to lose this weight and am fully prepared to make the necessary food choices. I have always enjoyed a glass or two of red wine and beer - Now that I'm in the Optifast stage, I am not going to drink alcohol, but once I am banded I don't want to totally miss out on the things that I enjoy. I will simply just have to watch very carefully and ensure the calories are deducted from somewhere else, or my activity is increased to compensate.

I have a few drinks a week too, I only ever drink wine, but I have had a beer once or twice since banding. Yes, alcohol is empty calories, but life is about more than staying on a strict diet 24/7 for the rest of your life. If you're not having more than a few and not having them too often, there's not a problem in the world with relaxing the rules every now and again.

I am awful fond of Scotch-rocks/a glass of wine (preferably French) but now that I am suffering from acid reflux it seems that I am going to have to smarten up and avoid all alcohol until this biz is under control. Bummer, eh. Drinkies were my favourite empty calorie zone. I guess I am going to have to switch to icecream. :eyebrows: Green isn't going to have the same bounce or whatever.... :bounce:

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...

Good luck to you on your weight loss journey my friend. Though others who haven't walked in the shoes of a person morbidly obese, may say that surgery is the "easy way out", I'm hear to tell you that there isn't anything easy about this procedure at all. So the first tip I will give you is this, prepare to work your ass off, cause thinking that this is the magical cure all for your weight-loss blues is going to sourly disappoint you. You have got to prepare your mind and will power for this life changing procedure. Because its just that, life changing. If you have an unhealthy relationship with food (i.e. using food as a cope mechanism, addict, emotional eater, etc) then I would highly suggest that you need to deal with those issues first before going under the knife. Get a very good support system in place to help you mentally deal with those things prior to the surgery. For me I had friends who had already had the surgery that I could lean on for advice, and I was seeing a therapist to deal with some of my emotional issues related to stress/food/and image issues. Because once you get cut on and have 80% of your stomach removed, you won't be able to use food as a comfort release or coping mechanism as you may have done in the past. I learned that lesson the absolute hard way and I spent a good bit of my first year post surgery fixing and dealing with those mistakes that I made, because I wasn't as mentally ready for the surgery as previously thought. And experiencing dumping once or twice and needing IV fluids to be able to see, and comprehend again will make you follow the damn meal plans. Carbonation beverages I would just avoid, especially the first year or so. Now you will have a lot of people here that say never do it and some say its alright, I leave that up to you for you are an adult and can make your own decisions on that. For me I do rarely consume carbonated beverages (maybe a soda or hard cider ever 2 to 4 months at most), but I mostly find comfort in drinking flavored water, tea, coffee, and juice. I use to be about a 1.5/2liter a day diet Pepsi drinker and now I may have a can every 6 to 8 weeks at most and usually when I am out. I haven't really had a beer in like almost two years but I have consumed hard alcohol like Tequila, Rum, Bourbon, and Whiskey. Alcohol is very different for me now in that I don't need no where near as much as I did pre-surgery to get a buzz. So because of that and the fact that I don't like the "buzzed/drunk" feeling I limit the amount of alcohol I consume too. If I am out socially I usually have one to two drinks at most and I sip them slowly throughout the evening to minimize the affects that the alcohol will have on me. As the farther out from surgery I have gone, my tolerance has slowly increased, but its nowhere near where it was at per-surgery. Again not a bad thing because alcohol, especially beer is empty calories, and gas which you will not need. Trust me on the gas part cause being bloated is an absolute pain in the gut literally. I say all of that in the regards that you don't need the stuff really. Those first 12 to 24 months you should honestly be focused on eating properly and getting into a good workout/exercise routine so that you can continue to post gains(weight loss) while your VGS is still in its magical weight-loss phase. Cause eventually you will hit the stall and the tool will at some point stop being so magical. Get into good habits and work your ass off literally and you will see the difference. Sex Yes it will change. If you had low stamina and energy, it will increase. I mean you will have a lot less weight and body mass to deal with, so there is that bonus too. Also men tend to store testosterone in their fat cells, so the more fat you burn off the more testosterone you will be releasing into your blood stream. This means more hair growth, stronger erections, huge sexual desires, and if you hit the gym a lot some more strength. Guys with erectile issues may see those issues go away when they lose the weight off. Also your confidence will start to grow the more the weight comes off. You will look and feel better in your clothes. If you have a lot of fat padding around your pelvic area that will shrink away, which can help in penis growth a bit. Less fat around the "Ram Rod of Justice" I say the better for both you, your ego, and his/her pleasure (for my bi/gay friends there don't wanna leave you all out). I say all of this because I too was in your shoes almost three years ago. Hell if they would have told me about the sexual benefits, as well as me buying normal size clothes in normal stores I would have done the surgery years ago. Instead all I heard about or feared was the complications from the surgery, and all the foods I could no longer eat. Yeah sometimes I do miss being able to eat anything I wanted to eat, but I wouldn't go back to it at all. Because now I enjoy so so much more out of life than what is on my plate.