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So here are the stats: 75 lbs down 73 inches lost BP from 160/98 to 114/88. Sugars from 102 to 83 No aches or pains. From no exercise to walking 5 hours a week and taking 5-1 hour classes a week. Size 24 to a 12 No diet coke for over a year. No alcohol for over a year. Kicked caffeine in the last 4 months. Still working on the sugar thing... I also submitted a "Wow" moment to OH and have been informed that my story and picture have been accepted for a future issue. Very Cool. Best of all, I feel normal. Most of you will know what I mean by this. I don't worry about the size and strength of chairs. I don't measure myself against others to see if I am the biggest person in the room. I just...feel...normal. But the funny thing is, I still feel like the same me inside, just in different packaging. Best of Luck to Everyone on this Journey, Susan

All of them...including Beer! Sunday we went out to dinner...had two Bloody Mary's while waiting in the bar for our table...... It's a lifestyle...all my skinny friends are not afraid to have alcohol from time to time....but if you are just starting out, you need to develop and get to that new lifestyle...does not happen overnight.

I had my RNY Gastric Bypass on November 14, 2016 and lost most of my weight in the first 9 months. I started this journey at a maximum weight of 360 pounds, and on my day of surgery, weighed 334 pounds and am down to 234 pounds. When I was released from the hospital after my Gastric Bypass, I wasn't sent home with instructions to stay on any PPIs or antacids, so since I was feeling great, I stopped taking my daily regimen of Pepcid. In February earlier this year (2017), I had a perforated intestine that nearly killed me (became septic) and was hospitalized for nearly a week after they repaired the hole in my intestines (near the pouch). I went through another treatment for H. Pylori and was on strong oral antibiotics for 6 weeks, and then have been continuing 20mg of Prilosec every day (have recently started weening myself off of it). In mid-April, I became severely constipated and impacted and was back in the hospital with a diagnosis of Prostatitis. Since then, I have suffered from chronic constipation and have had solid plateaus for several months at a time. I am posting my story because I am trying to see if anyone else out there has gone through anything similar, and I would like to understand if anyone lost more weight after their first surgical anniversary? I am having a Resting Metabolic Rate test tomorrow morning, so I am trying to figure out why I'm not losing more weight, but thought I would post and see if there is any hope. I am taking Probiotics (Culturelle), multi-vitamins, Calcium/D3 chews, and get all my protein and water in every day. I also exercise at least 2-3x per week. To get by, I wind up taking milk of magnesia roughly every other day...I only recently stopped taking Stool Softeners...I had been taking a Stool Softener (2x at night, every night for months). Ironically, I notice things move more easily on their own when I drink a glass of red wine after dinner, but don't want to depend on alcohol to help me go. So, I'm posting because of 2 things: the constipation and the amount of weight loss (the length of time, the plateaus, etc). I am hopeful that as I reduce the Prilosec that things will get better as my body starts producing more acid. Keeping my fingers crossed. Any thoughts?

My doc approved anything with no-cal sweeteners. Although my stomach likes diet drinks like Crystal Light, it does not play well with sucralose or alcohol sugars. You just have to test each one to see what your stomach likes. I don't know of any artificial sweetener that is considered safe. They scream about sugar, they scream about honey, they scream about every artificial sweetener. I figure I am doing more harm to my body every day by being fat as opposed to drinking artificial sweeteners every day.

Often in the past during my weight loss efforts and when I'd get off track and eat off of plan, maybe have more alcohol than usual, I'd realize how much harder it was to get refocused. I also realized that during that time, I'd have caused some acid imbalances by poor food choices and booze. I wouldn't have traditional heartburn sensations, but a constant gnawing hunger. Starting to take an acid reducer like Prilosec or something (not the gummies or tums) would help me get back on track. An acidy tummy can feel like hunger. I remember that now that I've had sleeve and am trying to stay focused and on track. Also, if you got off track - there is a good chance you are dehydrated. Are you meeting water/fluid goals? If not, start there. Are you constipated from eating crap food? Another good place to start. Probiotics can also help reset your gut flora - that can cause cravings when disrupted by processed foods, sugar and drinks. Maybe focusing on a couple things at a time and giving yourself a little grace can help. Self sabotage can continue when our minds are in a bad space because of getting off track. You can do this! You had fun, now it's over. No biggie.

Alcohol would be very drying so don't think that a good idea... In the past I have heard of putting antibiotic ointment... I think this may also depend on how far post op are you... Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I begin the real part of my journey on Monday December 30, 2013 with my Roux-N-Y. I started looking into the surgical answer to my struggles with weight maintenance a year ago. At 5' 1.5 I weighed 120 in my teens, one year at 140 after dieting, and never close again. As with us all, I have tried every diet that has been suggested, advertised, and failed at keeping the weight off. In the last six years the weight has been slowly creeping up. Since then, I've developed PCOS, degeneration of joints in knees, back and neck. I've had a hysterectomy, and I think it's been worse since then three years ago. I am exhausted... So incredibly tired of the disappointment of not being able to lose it or keep it off it's like climbing up a steep icy hill and sliding back down continually... I need a little assist I think. The straw that broke the camels back was being diagnosed with Barrett's Esophagus this month. Being further restricted from coffee, hot food, spicy, fried, chocolate, alcohol etc. I just could not imagine holding up. I've done my research and continue to do so, but still am anxious about altering my digestive system and the repercussions of that. I'm trying to think logically that I am having issues now that in time will do damage more intense than what the changes I make to my stomach will do. It's hard to be at complete peace with the idea I guess. So that my Barifriends, is my story...

No carbonated drinks, no alcohol. Limit carbs pretty strictly.

Use rubbing alcohol to get the old tape glue off, and put some antibiotic cream on your incisions .

I am under the impression that the reason for not having alcohol is because it causes the liver to swell and part of the banding procedure involves moving the liver out of the way. I guess the question I'm asking is how much liquor causes the liver to swell sufficiently to have a negative effect on the surgery or on recovery time.

Ultimately, I think it's like an alcoholic with drinking buddies. You need to find other ways to spend time together that don't involve eating....or the relationship will get toxic. Or you have to 100% cool with each other's eating habits....which is also harder than it seems. Weirdly...my mom and I really struggle with this one. So many of our visits revolved around getting a meal out together, or cooking together. It's been sort of awkward to find different ways to enjoy time together. We're getting there....this week be bought and planted flowers. We've been playing cards and drinking tea, instead of soda, chips and dip. But yeah....a HUGE part of my relationship with my mom has a ton of eating activities attached that are really tough for me cause she doesn't struggle with her weight like I do. Mom activies of the past: Let's go get a donut. Let's make cookies. Let's make bread. Let's go grocery shopping and get fast food. Let's go to a new restaurant. Let's got get ice cream. Can you detect a pattern? LOLOLOL When I was a kid, every Friday was "Celebration junk food night". We'd get KFC (or pizza, or burgers), tabloid magazines, rent videos, and buy ice cream or candy to have with the movie. And scratchable lotto tickets. Two liters of cola. LOL. It was a celebration of God-awful choices....and You know what's messed up? I remember it really fondly. And if there's a day I'm gonna cheat....you can bet it will be on Friday. I remember about two months post-surgery...we went to a movie with my mom and she ducked out and came back with sodas and candy and popcorn! I'm like...Mom...I can't have this stuff......and the look on her face was so sad. It's like I'm taking away her enjoyment by not sharing her habits. I am rejecting her traditions!!!! Ultimately...she was totally on board with me not eating the snacks and she was sort of horrified she got them for me..... but I think she genuinely forgot, and it just felt disappointing to her not to "give me a treat" or revisit that tradition that reminds of of happy memories. My mother expresses love in fat, salt and sugar. LOL. Seriously. So yeah...it's been hard. Relationship changes are tough. Changing your activities so you're not always eating together....can be disarmingly tough.

I am a sugar addict but I am treating it like alcohol,addiction...just like an alcoholic cannot have just one beer, I cannot gave just one candy. So I go day by day. I am on day 41 now. Yes once or twice, I did give in and had a piece of candy bug the next day I started over and go day by day. That is the only way I am able to do this. To reconize that each day is z victory. I am also off of bread , pasta, wheat and rice. One day at a yime, one step at a time. My surgery is July. I Want the change...I want the freedom from sugar. It's a conscience choice, to tell myself not that I can't have it but that I don't want it. Sugar addiction is hard to break but it can be done...one day at a time. If alcoholic's can do it. I can do it!!

I was also told a year but that my dr understansd around the holidays you may want to have ONE glass of wine or a beer. I'm so thirsty all the time; I think trying to drinking alcohol would be bad for me. I got some stuff to flavor my water (lime and lemon) but I thinkc rystal like actaully has alcohol flavored drink mix now that is still zero cal, zero sugar. I might try some of those

In the beginning of Aprill I stopped smoking but started chewing the nicotine gum.I did fantastic while on the gum with not smoking. But the gum gave me extremely severe gastritis.I started refluxing like crazy and had to stop using the gum.Now this is where my challenge started.One must never ever underestimate the power of an addiction.I have gained 6 pounds in the last month.Yes,boys and girls,all of the buffer weight I allow myself is gone,just like that. What is worse I am eating like I have never had the sleeve.Dont ask me how.I just can.I am never uncomfortable.Never feel like I over eat.I think I just pace myself very nicely and keep eating all day long. IT IS ABSOLUTELY CRAZY TO FEEL THIS OUT OF CONTROL AGAIN. My very worried friend brought me the number of a therapist who works with eating disorders and I am going to go and see her.It feels like before the sleeve when I just couldnt stop.I even eat chocolate,which doesnt taste particularly nice to me.BUT I HAVENT HAD ANY NICOTINE (since stopping the gum) in 4 days now.I ama super b***h,have fired my lazy housekeeper,put my kid on a bus instead of a taxi (she refuses to keep a budget) and gave the little one a permanent tv ban during the week.Everyone hates me but feeling like a maniac at least makes me a little more assertive than usual. But this is sooooo hard.I have a huge oral fixation.My life feels empty and sad when Im not able to get a high from something I stuff into my mouth,all the time.Thank goodness I sorted the alcohol thing out with myself as this would have been the perfect crutch now if I didnt make the choice to never drink to much or too often. Anyhow,this is to warn people.Get into that healthy life style.Exercise.See the shrink,deal with your issues or they will deal with you,like mine are now. I am back on my chicken and am not gaining weight anymore.The evenings are just still a challenge as this is when I want to really smoke.I also need to turf this chocolate ganash that I have in the fridge and I will be ok. My aim is to lose this weight in 2 weeks but I will tell this blog when the 2 weeks starts.My imediate goal is to just get over the smoke thing and stay quit.Boy I sometimes just want to say whatever and have a smoke but I know is is just practicing saying no to myself.Something I am not very good at and the reason I got so fat in the first place. So,no!I will not gain more.No,I will not smoke again!No,I will not eat that chocolate (well,maybe a little...lol.)

This forum has been really helpful to read about the success of others and also the challenges that are discussed. I started out at 335 lb and had weight loss surgery on July 2nd. I am in my second stall at 2 months ( 3 days now). My weight is currently at 255 lb and I know the stall will eventually end. 80 lb sown so far. Yay! However, I am looking for some advice for breaking this stall. First, I would like to give some background on eating, exercising and vitamins. I have been exercising daily either walking my dog for between 2 and 4 miles, sometimes with hills. I have done some hiking a few weeks ago, but it just about sent me into the ER because of dehydration and the hike was rated hard even for athletes. I felt like almost passing out at the end ( 8 miles round trip). Part of the trail is 2000 feet in 1.2 miles and was brutal stair climbing, literally. I used to be such an avid hiker previously when I was in better shape ( also hiked most of my younger years), before gaining quite a bit of weight ( 100 lb) after losing 100 lb 5 years earlier (atkins eating and lots of cardio). I gained mostly due to life and work stresses, but before that kept it off for 5 years. I gave up on dieting because of yo-yoing and the downward effect it was having on my ability to have a stable and happy life. That is why it has been such a good decision to have the sleeve surgery. It was a little difficult the 1st week post op, but then got better. Incisions still hurt a little on occasion, but manageable. Coming back to the stall, I am looking for advice of starting weight training program. I have never enjoyed weight lifting and have always preferred cardio like elliptical and treadmill. I have never been able to "get into" lifting or even basic training because i am not sure how to get started, even though i have a ton of books. Lol! My post op food intake has been fairly rigorous. I usually eat a matrix/soy shake for breakfast ( have been mixing in a low calorie veggie powder recently - a little weird but i got used to it after a few times), a greek yogurt for 9am snack, 3 oz chicken/ salmon for lunch, matrix/ water for 3 pm snack, some protein based dinner(3oz) and 3 oz matrix/water shake for 8 pm. I do not always have the 8 pm snack. I always get in the 80+ oz protein and usually have 100+ oz water/mio/crystal light a day. On weekends, i have been trying one or two meals at my favorite places to eat such as indian, red robin or olive garden. I mainly go to spend time with my family andy everyone is supportive and even help me find suitable choices. I am also very careful to eat 3-4 oz of something very high in protein. And yes, I really do like the matrix and nectar shakes, especially cookies and creme or oreo. I do not have and trouble with eating wrong foods, being over hungry, or drinking alcohol. I just do not have the urge nor want to sabotage the successes so far. Besides i think any high sugar or high fat would just make me sick and uncomfortable. I just want to keep eating simple as i have enough other things going on in life with family and work. I have not missed a day of taking vitamins. I take multi, calc chew, c, b50, b12, omega3, d and a few others. Taking all these vitamins is starting to feel like work, but i have always taken vitamins over the last 10 years so more of the same. Finally, i do journal every day with regards to weight, energy level, sleep hours, vitamins, prescriptions, food intake, liquid intake, exercise and general notes. It is helpful to have the notes and does put me in the right mindset for the day. My biggest concern is having a gall bladder issue as i read about it so often on the posts. No issue yet, but i do feel minor acute jabs from time to time under right rib. Again no issue yet but am concerned. Sorry this is so long winded, but i am looking for some long term advice to break stalls ( hopefully with regards to weightlifting) and get some comments on my approaches so far.

Could it have been the sugar alcohol? We're not suppposed to absorb it so it it doesn't officially count in the carb count. Hence the "sugar free", but I know it's always affected my gut even without the sleeve so I avoid the stuff.

I detoxed from carbs and alcohol. It was difficult for only about the first 3 or 4 days. The less you eat carbs the less you crave them. I did 3 protein shakes and one solid, super low carb meal a day. Lost about 30 lbs in 30 days before I even started my 2-week pre-op liquid diet.

I have had trouble with losing. I've been banded for 2 years and lost only 10pds the first year. The first part of 2nd year lost nothing. Then I decided that I was getting too many calories from wine. I drink 3 sometimes 4 glasses of wine almost every nite. I quit and lost 23 pounds over 6 months. Started back a few months ago and gained 3 pounds. Now I am going to quit for good. I think liquid calories are the weight killer. Liquids like alcohol and pop just go down the band so easy. Also try to remember when eating it's protein first.

Hi: In my experience, any addiction, no matter what type, alcohol. drugs, or food is a bummer to try and control. Unfortuantely for me, I seem to have the addiction to salt and fats. My GP insists I weigh in every Saturday and when I visit him he records it. His interest is what keeps me going knowing I have to account to not only myself but him. Have fun at the gym and high energy is my wish to you.

Believe me Teatime, it is a life long struggle! I too was on the road called "Eating Myself to Death". I love to cook and bake, and of course, I love to eat! That is how I got to where I was. I had my procedure almost 8 months ago, and the weight just seemed to melt away after my surgery. Now the weight loss is slowing down, and I am (trying) to come to terms with eating in a correct fashion. I still love to cook and bake, and it is SO hard not to EAT! I fixed desssert last night (at my husbnad's requst) and ate it myself (he didn't even eat it after I fixed it for him!) and when I got on the scale this morning, I had gained 4, Yep that's right FOUR fricking pounds!!!!! I know that one desset didn't do that, it was a combination of the food choices I made yesterday. So today I have made a decision to get serious about my weight loss. I HAD lost 100 pounds, now I am only down 96 pounds. The last 15 pounds have been SO slow. I have really struggled. And now I am gaining, so I HAVE to get serious! (I think my 100 pound weight loss lasted all of twenty minutes. I was lucky that I happened to get on the scale during one of those 20 minutes!!!) I used to drink alcohol on a fairly regular basis. (I don't mean go out and get drunk drink, just a cocktail before dinner, or a glass of wine with or after diner.) But, I have found that alcohol doesn't sit that well with my sleeve. So I have pretty much given up on drinking. ~Good bye margarites that I love, ~ Goodbye chocolate martinis that I crave.~ Goodbye Peach Bellinis that were so much fun at Lunch occasionally!~~~ Goodbye. And now I am saying goodbye to desserts that I love. Oh how I love to read those receipes for Red Velvet cupcakes with frosting an inch deep! How I love to read a new Beef Stroganoff recipe that is loaded with sour cream and calories. How I love to read (Oh Hell you get the idea!!!) Instead, I am choosing to be healthy and fit! So, Excuse me, now I have to get up off my butt and go get busy, my treadmill is just around the corner!!! By the way, Congrats on your weight loss, and thanks for letting me vent! Best of luck on your journey!!! I mean that, good luck. It is a journey, and it can be a life long struggle, But as my Dad used to say, nothing good comes easy!

I got a 6 month rule for alcohol. Have a margarita! But without the tequila

I have been there JGo. I had doubts hours after the surgery, when you feel the bloating and everyone tells you that you just need to get up and walk. My wife and I went Red Lobster two days before my surgery. I thought that I would order one of each from the menu, but I didn't. One thing that I wish I had done, was apply more of the VSG post-op diet before the surgery. If you get used to starting the day with a protein shake and Greek yogurt now, it will be less 'painful' later (post-op). My first whey powder shake was a week after surgery. I tried this beef based first but it didn't 'go down' well. (Who thought Raspberry flavored beef powder was a good idea?). As for alcohol, your body won't miss it and will thank you for it. IN my case, I had already cut back because alcohol interferes with NSAID's and Tylenol type medicines that I took for my arthritis. Sometimes I do miss the days of us going out and not being conscious of what I order from any menu, but every time I can buy smaller size on the pants and shirt rack, I feel better about it.

Cookies are crunchy and go down well for me (unfortunately), so I avoid temptation. It's the sugar alcohols in the sugar free stuff that make me dump and irritate my pouch. Had 3 bites of homemade cheesecake. Dumped almost instantaneously. So fat content has a lot to do with it too. But yeah, no problem with sugar cookies either. I wish they made me sick too.

D. asked: TexasT, OK have to ask; I too am a tea-alcoholic( just regular Lipton no fancy stuff for me)! Did you switch to decaf??:smile: I am weaning myself off of regular and miss my caffeine. Besides sugar it is the only "vice", if can call it that, I have left. How did the port removal go? I have a realize port and am concerned because it is attached with surgical clips not sutured in place. Getting my unfill next week, concerned I will gain too much weight back. already up 5 # my jeans are getting tight!!! :thumbup1: No way going to buy a bigger size... D. OK - I'll fess up. I did decaf the first week after surgery, then went back to my normal tea. I love Constant Comment, Earl Grey, and Lady Grey - which all taste better with a touch of sugar. So I put in just a little. I get migraines from artificial sweeteners, so I forgo them. I'm still losing weight at a steady pace, so I'm not worrying about it. I can taste a difference in decaf vs. caffeine, so I prefer the taste with it. I haven't had any problems so far. I do drink decaf or herbal teas at night, but after drinking a big Protein drink, I don't have much room for tea. As for your question regarding port removal, you should see my thread titled "Hematoma Hell" for the answer to that question. :scared0: They put those ports in to stay, so taking them out really messes your insides up. Mine was sutured and had clips - it wasn't going anywhere! Good luck with the unfill. I had mine just 10 days pre-op so I didn't have much time to gain any back. With the band, your stomach has shrunk already, and I found that I still couldn't eat a whole lot with an unfill. But it was nice to eat salads, which I couldn't eat with the band. Plus they were very filling. Starting on some Protein drinks now will also help you feel full.

I was sleeved in Mexico in 2009, and two years later I lost my gall bladder because all I did was focus on protein and nothing else. I wish I had known that we CAN overdo protein. I wish I'd known that too much protein will kill your gall bladder, your kidneys, and your liver. I wish I'd exercised from the get-go instead of waiting 3 years to finally start getting on that elliptical. It would have given me more muscle tone and less hanging skin. I wish I'd stuck to my exercise instead of letting myself get overwhelmed with all the tragedies I experienced from 2014-2020. I wish I'd gotten therapy instead of looking to Xanax, Ambien, and alcohol to distract me. I'm 23 days out of a revision from a sleeve to a bypass due to weight gain. This journey is going to be much harder than my sleeve. Treasure your sleeve, work with it, respect it. *Edit: You're goal right now should be to hydrate and keep walking. Even just the shuffling around the house is good. It helps prevent blood clots and helps flush out the anesthesia and water retention from the IV fluids. Shuffle around the house 3 or 4 times a day. Count 500 or 600 steps each time. It gets easier. Don't be bending over to grab stuff from the floor. Ask someone to help or get a $10 extended arm grabber thingy. That helped me a lot when I would drop my sock or my vitamin on the floor. 😊