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I am noticing the start of a cross over addiction. When I drink I don't stop. I can... I just don't. Or maybe I can't. Anyway it is enough to raise a flag for me so I am actively not drinking. But I have two family trips coming up. One with my husbands family and one with my mom. Both will include lots of social drinking. I am worried about not being able to just social drink and not being able to choose not to. I want to commit to myself to stay in control.

Hi ladies, I read several pages to try and catch up. Carole, your constant reflux concerns me, something is causing it and it is not good for you or your band. Many people who have Gastric Reflux (GERD) and an adjustable gastric band often will see a reduction in their reflux symptoms. In some people, however, they may begin to notice gastric reflux after their adjustable gastric band is placed. This could be a sign that it needs an adjustment, but if it's persistent, here are ten tips on how to deal with gastric reflux: Do not lie flat or bend over soon after eating. Do not eat late at night or just before bedtime. Rinse your pouch with a glass of water an hour before bedtime. Avoid foods or drinks are more likely to cause reflux: (rich, spicy, fatty and fried foods; chocolate; caffeine; alcohol; some fruits and vegetables, such as oranges, lemons, tomatoes, peppers; peppermint; or carbonated drinks. If you smoke, quit smoking. Reduce stress. It increases reflux symptoms. Exercise to promote digestion. Raise the head of your bed. Avoid aspirin, aleve and ibuprofen at bedtime. Tylenol is Okay. Take an antacid (Pepcid Complete, Prevacid, Prilosec, Nexium, etc.) before retiring, or see your healthcare provider about other over-the-counter heartburn medications. Mini, I think a mothers stress is never over, you are eating, Carole has reflux. I am having pains so bad some nights i almost can't stand it. I hope your daughter finds her inner strength and leaves her husband. Sadly all you can do is be there to pick up the pieces, listen and love her. Try to find a constructive outlet for your frustration. Remember eating and hurting you does not help her, I know how food comforts us, I have many days lately where junk goes down much easier than protein or healthy foods but I am trying not to go back down that road. Know we all love you and are here for you. Dee, it saddens me to read about your lab, I lost my baby several years ago. I held my Alex as he took his last breath, it hurt so bad but he was always there for me and i was determined to be there for him as he left this world. My fur Babies mean as much to me as my real children, they bring me such a sense of peace. Big hug to you my friend. Teri, Carole, Janet, Dawn and Cawanna, I am here and I am so sorry I have been absent. It has been a very hard couple of weeks. I do good most days but Mom is fighting me with ever fiber of her being. I hate to even write this but she has been so mean and said so many hurtful things over the past few weeks it has really taken it's tool on my emotions. Daily she tells me how horrible I am and how much she hates me, I know, I really do know that this is not my mother but it still hurts so much. Every time I know it is time for me to go over to her house, my stomach hurts so bad, it doubles me over in pain. I went back on my antacid medications and have tried to cut back on acid causing foods. I got on the scales tonight and oh wow, down two pounds, not sure how. I have been trying to focus on eating but some days are better than others. My daughter and grand children are here visiting and this helps some, but reality sets in and than there is Mom. I know this all will pass but I am finding it increasingly difficult to cope with my resentment and feelings Mom dredges up. She is manipulative and knows how to push my buttons. I think this is what I hate most because I know she has dementia but sometimes she is not confused and just down right damn mean and spiteful. I pray every night and hope God will hear my prayers and help me find some peace and make sense of all of this Chaos. Carole and Teri, I will be there on the 26th come hell or high water, I need to do something for myself and I am looking forward to this so much. thank you all for allowing me still to participate, I will get back to myself one day, I have faith and having you all as friends means a lot to me. Hugs all around!

OMG How did I miss this thread till now? You can't ever drink from a straw again You can't have port again (I love Port and it's the first alcoholic drink I had post-op.) Everyone who follows a 800 calorie or less diet during the first 6 months trashes their metabolism for the rest of their life. You can't eat <fill in the blank>. You can't drink <fill in the blank>. You won't lose unless you exercise. Lynda

Mark: don't give up on yourself. You have just started. I wonder what it would have been like 45 years ago when I was 21 if this had been available. It won't be easy, but with help from some professional in the mental health field who understands eating disorders you will pull through. I can tell from your story that you would probably, probably, I say, be a good candidate for Overeaters Anonymous. It is a 12 step program based on AA for those of us who use food in the why the Alcoholic uses alcohol. You might try a few of those meetings and I bet you will find some support to get you through this initial stage. When it comes to certain foods I loved, I say, I can't have them "one day at a time." Maybe I can have them in moderation at some time in the future but for today I need something healthier. I would definitely stay from cooking videos and cooking shows for a time. Out of sight out of mind. You will make this by letting the band work for you and you work for the band.

My nut said you cannot drink again after the sleeve. She said we will not be able to tolerate even one beer without getting extremely drunk. Anyone post sleeve had anything to drink?

thank you all so very much and yes God is blessing me much every day, as you all know I'm deeply religious, southern Baptist girl here and I take my faith to heart. It breaks my heart every time I see my ex because like I said above, college grad, successful business man and now this to the man he is now. To hear his family talk, which I'm still in contact with, he goes out drinking all the time and comes in to work smelling like alcohol, just awful. I guess you are right Maddysgram he has to hit rock bottom to see his way up. I thought that would have been 3 yrs ago when he got a DUI but no, didn't phase him. Like I said, I struggle each and every day with sweets, it's my devil, but choose to suck on a piece of sugar free hard candy or occasionally have skinny cow candy or ice cream treats. God has given me this second chance and I intend on living it to its fullest.

I started drinking at 6 weeks out. Try a small sip first to see how it feels. Don't go crazy or anything the first time as tolerance changes post op. and, keep in mind that alcohol is liquid calories and adjust your day accordingly.

My surgery is scheduled for June 26th 2013 at 10:15am. I have contemplated lap band for over 2 years and just within the past year decided to do it. Sometimes I still think to myself "do I really need this? am I being crazy? I'm not THAT fat", but then I look in the mirror, look at the numbers on the scale or see someone in public looking at me funny and I realize that I am THAT fat and I need help. I had my first appointment with the surgeon on April 18th, 2013. Since then I have been eating like my life depends on it! Trying to get in everything I won't be eating after surgery. I know, I know, I'll be able to eat all the same things, just smaller portions (eventually), but I'm a food addict. Like an alcoholic can't have just one drink, I can't have just one bite. So for the last 2 months I've been eating like a glutton. I'm happy to say though, that over the last week I've come to terms with the fact that I won't be able to eat certain foods anymore. I've stopped the binge eating and am getting excited for my surgery. I've cut back my calories, started changing my eating habits by taking in more protein and not drinking when eating. I said goodbye to binge eating, my social and emotional crutch, the most damaging relationship I've ever been in, and we broke up. Like many break ups I know it will be hard, and there will be slip ups, but I'm ready to start a new life with a new love, me.

You have already done the hardest step which is to make the decision to end the madness. Really, that is key. Once you set your mind to make a change, the rest will follow. You just need to put in the hard work of following the post op eating plan, drink lots of water, exercising, cutting out the crap like high sugar, fat and salt. Cut out alcohol for 6 months. You can have it again after that, but get through most of your weight loss first. Alcohol is going to sabotage you because it will take your body out of being a lean, mean calorie burning machine. After 6 months, drink in moderation, like a couple a month to be social and to relax with the guys. I do this today. However, do not let alcohol become anything more in your life then that because you do not want a cross addiction nor do you want to get soft from it. I know you can do this because of the strong desire I read in the words of your post. Do not worry about exercising that much in the first 5 months. Getting your diet right, forming a good moderate exercise plan (read: not hard core) and forming a good set of habits are going to be your key to success. I always failed in the past to achieve my weight loss goals pre sleeve because I always tried to be a fiend in the cardio and develop a fad based diet at the same time. What ended up happening is I would get burned out from the exercise and then my eating habits were so unrealistic it would all go to hell around 6 months. This time it was different. After being sleeved, I got the lifestyle habits in place during the first 6 months, lost the weight I needed to lose a d then, and only then, stepped up the exercise and workouts to nail my fitness goals. Today, I can manage the eating and the exercise only because daily habits are in place. And they are ingrained, man. It is not work. I love to do it. I have to say my one habit i struggle with is eating slow. i can do the small portions and eating small bits, but i still woof my food. try to do perfect at this and you will have it all. All the success. You can have this vision of success! Just keep in mind my points about building up the good habits first before going balls to the wall with both a killer eating plan and workout strategy.

I have tolerated everything accept really cheesy dishes at 7 weeks out. I am on soft foods now. I don't do Pasta or bread...but I had my first glass of wine at a dinner and could only drink a few sips cause I needed to eat my Protein. Had some bourbon last night....mistake cause I woke up feeling awful and dehydrated. So no more alcohol for me til I am a few more months out. Sent from my iPad: Sleeved 4/24/2013 by Dr. Farrell @ UNC Hospital---Started: 239lbs--Goal: 150lbs--Current: 203.5 lbs

The good news for you,Donna is that you recognized you had a problem and doing everything you can to defeat it. Some ppl never admit they have a problem and need help. My sister had a gastric bypass years ago b/c of her food addiction. She lost a lot of weight, but didn't fix the head problem that caused her to use food for comfort. Since she couldn't use food for comfort, she turn to alcohol and has become a case of beer per night person and gained all her weight back.She traded one addiction for another. She wants a band over bypass, but the Dr won't do it, b/c it won't fix her head. It is very sad and until they admit they have a problem, all we can do is pray for them and not in able them. Like your ex, my sister looks terrible. She sent a family picture at my mothers 85 birthday, my mother looked in better health than my sister. Sometimes ppl have to hit rock bottom, before they can see their way up. That's where I was, literally did not want to live another day in the pain I was in. The Lord heard my prayers and made away for me to get the help I needed and I now have my life back. If I need comforting, I now turn to something that can't hurt me. Like I shared with you before, getting in touch with the beauty around me,in my own backyard, or just giving a stranger a few minutes of my day. May all those that have an addiction find peace within themselves, so they may live the life that they were meant to live.

I DVR'd the show Intervention the other night and just finished watching it. It was about a young girl addicted to heroin. Now some of you may know, I'm divorced 2 yrs this month, I literally watched my ex become an alcoholic the last 3 yrs of our marriage and I thought "how dare you do this to us". I didn't want the divorce, he did, in the end because I wouldn't go out partying with him, said we never did anything together and we had grown apart, well he had met someone too. Anyway, getting back to the Intervention, I never understood how anyone could be addicted to drugs or alcohol and do that to themselves and to their family members but tonight I looked at my mom and said "you know I no different, I'm addicted to food, always have been". Thus the reason for my surgery a year ago this week. I make better food choices now, yes its hard and a daily struggle with me with head hunger and sweets and sometimes I give in but I'm no different so I have no right to criticize anyone's addiction not even my ex's. Which by the way I saw my ex today, he always forgets to mail my alimony ck so I had to meet up with him, he looked awful. For someone that used to hold a corporate job and have a company car and make six figures now looks like he does is sad and breaks my heart, I feel sympathy for him. All I can do is pray not only for him but for myself with my head hunger in which I struggle with each and every day.

Oh not a mocktini. It has alcohol. I have about 1 drink a month. This is soooooooo good. Yummy!

I am new to the journey. I have had meetings with nutrionist, physical therapy, nurse pract. and LCSW. My labs are all done, ekg and chest xray normal. I have a vit D that is too low for them and my iron is low too. I have started on a D3 high dose and just learned that my Iron is low so I stopped and got some chewable vits with iron in them. Tell me more about the Pre surgery diets? what is involved? what should I expect? How long of time is involved. I have given up carbonated bev, alcohol and most caffeine, I am 6 weeks out on those. thanks. jane

My understanding is that 2-3 days a week of strength training is a healthy place to start in your lifting. Some of he seasoned lifters are training 5-6 days a week. That is not for me yet. Do you have any experience with lifting? If not, you may want to start out light, such as 20 lb dumbbells, and go from there. A trainer will also help you get off the ground running towards your strength training goals, so to speak. Try 4 sets of 12-10-8-8+ per rotation, increasing the weights by +5 lbs in each set. Your rotations can consist of any number of lifts, but it is good to break them up into 3 days of push exercises, pull exercises and leg exercises. Give your self at least a day of rest in between lifts and do not repeat a rotation of like exercises ( eg push ) more then once per week. Remember, muscles are made in the kitchen. You will build the best results in the least amount of time if you focus on eating a well balanced set of macronutrients and limit foods that will not help you towards your goal such as bread, dairy, alcohol, sugars, high fats and high sodium. Eat a lot of lean Protein. The recommendation is to eat .92 g of lean protein per ideal body weight. For example, my ideal body weight is 180 so my lean protein is 170 per day. I try and hit this daily, but sometimes do not make it. Plan on drinking a lot of Protein shakes because you will not be able to eat enough in order to maximize your results. For example, I drink 3 protein shakes a day in the morning, after a workout and right before bed, shooting for close to 40 g per shake as a guy. Women have smaller frames so should shoot for the optimal amount of 30g protein a day. I know- it is not fair. Women also have a lower BMI ideal weight so do not need nearly as much protein as a guy. However, the .92 scalar still applies to both sexes. The other 50 g or so I source from lean Proteins like chicken. Always balance out your protein in a meal with good fat and carbs in order for the protein to be broken down into amino acids optimally for your growing muscles. I probably eat about 1800 calories per day ( often times less because, damn, it is hard work to eat that much) and stay close to 185 lb at 16 % body fat. You might pay attention to other amino acid supplements before and after working out to maximize muscle response during and after lifting, respectively. For example, I always take an amino acid supplement called catalyst before both strength training and cross fit sessions. The result of taking this supplement is very noticeable in the power I have during a session. I sometimes take creatine after working out to force more Water into the muscles during the repair cycle. Not every time because creatine can raise your blood pressure if you have an issue with that. I do not as my blood pressure is usually 190 / 70 and my resting pulse is 44. It is also very important to eat or drink a recovery protein food after working out. This is the optimal time to be consuming protein as your muscles are open for nutrients ready to be fed. Try to eat or drink within 20 minutes. It is also important that your Protein Shake be high quality whey with a good amount of BCAA in it. Again, the BCAA chains are amino acids in their basic for and optimal for being consumed by your muscles during repair. I haven't deviated much from this weight of 185 in a couple months, but have changed my body composition substantially without that much work. I really can appreciate that my body fat % dropped from 19 % to 16 % and is still dropping as the weeks go by. My goal is to hit 10 % by October. I exercise no more then 1 hour a day (on cross fit days) and most strength training days are no more then 30 minutes. See the rotations below. It is not that much work and I feel comfortable with expending this amount of time each week. In fact I look forward to the relatively short, but intense sessions daily. I take at least 1 day off a week to just relax or do some walking, hiking, etc. Drink plenty of water to flush out the toxins created from lifting and eating protein. By a lot, I mean 1-1.5 gallon a day. Depending on how far out you are, you may not be able to do this. Try your best. Finally, aim for 7-8 quality hours of sleep a night. Your body, and specifically, your muscles, repair the most while you are sleeping, so do not skimp on sleep. Again, I am sometimes lax in this area for many reasons but I do try. If you have trouble sleeping a natural sleep aid with melatonin in it will help. I will post some more information about an example workout in a few minutes.

Wow. I believe my doctor is recommending a year without alcohol. I think part of the reason is to maximize weight loss, though. Very interesting to hear what others are being advised. Thanks.

My sleeve paper work says "no alcohol until 1 month post op"... I've sipped on a glass of wine & I was fine... Good luck

I hear you can't have alcohol till you're quite a bit out because it will irritate the sleeve

I haven't had one yet and I'm 3 months out. Talk with your surgeon. I believe alcohol can be irritating to a new sleeve.

hello, im post op 6+ mos now and got to say this journey, if you havent started it has alot of emotional ups and downs BUT can say like many state......its worth it & the wait to see results, also we must remember that the results arent going to just appear, of course you will lose your water weight in the first few months but to continue your eating right, exercise & living a new life style will be some good and bad days ahead but please dont be discouraged or think you cant do it cause im here to say what many have said BUT i believe it and am living it so i know with confidence i could look you in the eye (or thru the computer hahaha) and say YOU CAN DO IT & YOU WILL DO IT.............IF YOU WANT TO, you have to want this it isnt a temporary fix or a fad its a lifestyle change that will affect many aspects in your life & hope you have done your homeowork and made the right decision for you. my whole intentions were to learn the system, how to eat, exercise & things i needed to do without having to do surgery so for a year or so i learned it did it and weight did come off about 90+ lbs. from myself working out eating right and calorie counting, which can be hard and tedius but very rewarding. i was the kind of person alot of us overweight people are, we have excuses to why we cant work out, eat right but the reality is thats all they are, EXCUSES, i , at the time, was going thru alot of emotional things in my life, my mom was dying from liver problems, she was in and out of the hospital while i lived 3 hrs away and would rush to see her or get a call she was bad and would drop all and leave to be with her, i was slowly becoming depressed and distant with my family (eating conforted me and always was my best friend, so i thought), work was slow cause of the economy so i feared id lose my job, my oldest was becoming a father and at 19 he followed my footsteps which i begged him not to his future was set but turned on a dime and he found a girlfriend fell in love and school and his future didnt mean much to him, as i said i was a mess, every day going into work stressing on is this my last day, finally i was at the point where i was waiting for that day to come and let a lil stress off my chest from work and just lay me off so i could look or go back to school. so i followed the diet, picked what exercise i liked (biking & swimming), changed my outlook on life and started to follow my modo which i created in a clothing co. i been trying to make possible for years, and simply whispered it to myself whenever i worked out or needed encouragement.....NME= No More Excuses.....Nike has a slogan they say JUST DO IT, and as a kid it fueled me to excell in football with that thought, just do it, i would work harder, want better performance so i just did it.....so thought why not follow my own words and not have any reason why i shouldnt do this for me and for my family. people who care always tell you and worry about your weight, dont take it to the heart they care is why they say somehting, so with all that i looked at myself in the mirror and spoke to ME and said NMEwear, No More Excuses .....but stick to this and follow this dont just let it be a passing fade like nike said just do it....so again i looked at myself long and hard, cried tears of years of looking at myself thinking wow i gained alota weight, i loved me and still do no matter how big i was i never let go of loving myself and actually carried my weight well but as i clmbed to 473 i feared being 500+ than feared death as my mother on her death bed cried and worried about me, i was always a 215-220 guy but life, stress & fast food crept my weight up and noone is to blame but me, not mcdonalds for there food thats so easily found on every corner, not stress of life, not anyone.....ME, i was to blame i let myself and chose to be who i was and looked how i did cause my choices. for that whole year i did what the docs asked of me, the end results were i was going to lose the weight for surgery, but as i said i was doing it to keep doing it and avoid surgery which i thought was the best for me, but after long talks with myself and weighing the situations and lifestyle i had lived for 20+ years i said to myself you need something that will not only help but be a good tool and let your old ways not have a chance to come back, i felt as if i had ate enough hamburgers, greasy foods, to last a lifetime so i thought exactly, leave that life like a butterfly does and start a new, like a new born.....clean slate & the choice i make this time id have to live with the rest of my life since i was pushing 40 i thought i lived 40 years of garbage eating, partying, unhealthy life so why not live a healthy longer life. before surgery i was told by my docs that i was a perfect canidate not cause being overweight but cause i was morbidly obese, had no health issues at all, & was determined to do this, so i learned there ways and followed them daily and as i said i lost the wieght than came to the choice of doign the surgery, mom passed away in 2011 august she didnt get to see her 70th bday and i was crushed and determined to not let myself follow her footsteps and most of all live for her and how she worried for me, few months later i was laid off, still in pre op mode i was than clinically depressed and actually feeling better i got laid off and didnt have to stress on work and decided to go back to school still scheduled to do my surgery in december, i went to see a pyschiatrist who helped me in one session, he too gave me advice to sit in a room alone and cry with pics or songs that reminded me of my mom and that i was too worried about others and not myself and my pain, so i did and it worked i finally felt some happiness although mom was gone i saw life as a new and took my dad on trips with my oldest brother and was fun....yes mom wasnt there but i had opened up a new chapter in my life and was ready for the surgery...now remember i lost almost 100lbs on my own so i was still hesitant on surgery and was fighing on my choice to go thru with it. so finally i came to the conclusion that i need this to help keep me motivated and most of all not be overwight anymore and be the tool i needed and lacked in life, its not what keeps me healthy i knew that but its something that will help me in my habits of food and exercise. so fast forward to op date, i still was battling the loss of mom and would have good and bad days although every doc visit i had id get positive feedback from docs and nurses which made me feel better, than going thru so many tests to make sure i was ready, pre op tests and sleep apnia stay, etc. so i was there, finally, the day was set and i was ready. my dad and aunts (moms twin) came up to be with me seeing my aunt ernie really helped me she looks like mom and seeing her made it feel as if mom was with me BUT i still needed moms blessing and her presence so i said a lil prayer as my nurse came and told me the doc was in a surgery still and had been now for 6 hrs. so my time was bumped, so as i sat there i started to speak to my mom in my head (not a weirdo) as i often do from time to time, as i did i begged her to please show me some kind of sign, nurse comes back says "2pm your scheduled, doc is resting now", so i took a deep breathe and said ok, ill be here. as we waited we spoke to one another of mom and funny enough my father thought i was there for a hernia i had but told him what i was doing than he got a worried face on but at the same time looked at me as if to say "i know mom would of been happy you chose to do it" my dad is old school and a good man, so his unspoken words always had inpact on me cause his words were even more well received and understood, his lesson of life always taught me i was one day going to be a man and have to be a man for myself and family. so time passed and being pre op you got cords coming out of everywhere so going to the bathroom wasnt easy but nature called and i told the nurse i gotta go, my dad helped me up, walked to the restroom with me as i opened the door i said to him "dad i asked mom to be here with me, im not nervous but i just want her to be around me, tell me when you feel her k haha" she was a twin and in the years we seen some strange things she could think and do, being a twin, she would predict events, feel pain, etc. so i step in look at the clock 1:15pm, 45 min to op, im not scared, not nervous just a feeling of someone is missing, mom, my brothers had called me wish me luck, friends texted, and my loved ones were with me. i sat down on the toilet and said once more "mom give me a sign please i just want you to know im changing me, im shedding this skin, im going to live, healty, not overweight anymore,i hope you hear me i love you".....i looked towards the door and felt a cold draft and thought mom just than i got up flushed the toilet and got up looked in the bowl and saw nothing but what appeared to be feces, very dark water with no odor though and i thought i went pee not #2 so i rushed outside told my dad and just as we walked back to me room nurses came, doctors walked together with puzzlement in there faces, signs were posted all over the hospital "dont use the wated fountains or restrooms" ???? what, so no calm cool joe, is confused, looking for answers....i asked whats going on, than my curtain ripped open and my nurse tells me "there was a problem with the plumbing it got backed up just in our building and we may have to reschedule" i was shocked at my first thoughts, i instantly thought "mom", what did you do.....than i thought its a sign, a sign i shouldnt do this and i felt a weird feeling inside so i was set on "if i dont go in by 2 im not going" telling my aunts and dad over and over again see it was mom she gave me the sign not to do it, i could do it alone i have and know what i need to do....so 145 rolls around,.....155, im sitting thinking no not today not next week, forget it....i was about to rip my cords of but felt a urge to go to the restroom and sit and think for a bit hopefully revist mom in there so i walk this time alone no need for help im in panic and thinking mode as i schlep over open the door i look up, 157, nope im done....im goin home so i ran all the things i needed to keep doing to maintain and lose weight and be healty had a speech all worked out in my head for my doc, "thanks for all the support but im not doing it blah blah blah".....so i do my thing once more this time i stood up and said to myself "ohhhh mom i love and miss you and thanks for the sign, im not going to do it they said 2 and its going to be 2 so i made up my mind but i will continue on my path and not let you down"......i open the door see my nurse walking toward me as i tried to say i wasnt going to do it she and my family look at me and say, "you ready, its time" i looked at her and said "lets do it" another sign i felt the presence of mom once more but calming this time and reassuring myself this is what i need to do and after i wake im going to have a new life a clean slate and live how i should have been....so i did it..............rolled out to the room as i lay i remember people all around me my family hugged and kissed me as i went thru the doors they couldnt go past, i was approachedby nurses who strapped me down like a crazed man, so i started to get a lil nervous cause now it was real and being i never had an operation or been put under i started to get anxious as i got strapped a very nice woman came and says how you feeling i said good she than poked me as i said what was that for she says oh you'll be fine in a bit hun we are about to start, i remember saying hey i feel.....and out......8 long hrs later i awake with thee worst pain in my arms ever, waking up like jesus on the cross i yelled in pain....it felt as if i got punched over and over in my arms....so as i lay alone in my room i looked up and felt that draft again and smiled.....i had some crazy dreams of mom and family but wont go into that, so i woke up feeling as if it was a dream but knew my life was and had changed....im in the hospital very shortly and my nurse kept saying i was the best patient and was up and walking faster than anyone, never complained, ate, drank what and when i was supposed to, all was well.....i get released and go home, at this time i was current unemplyed but got a job before surgery so was goign to rest til january 14th than i begin my new job with a great company. getting home and adjusting to sleeping, eating was hard at first its weird you dont feel hungry i mean im a big guy who ate not alot but ate all the time so not being hungry was strange n new, soups became a meal for me, water was my right hand man, i began walking cause i couldnt bike anymore til i got better, id walk around the house, outside, with my dad, lay and relax, but got bored...so i always had NMEwear in thoughts as years passed i did make a few shirts and sold them and had ideas to get into the sporting fields to hear my slogans being used "NMEwear NoMoreExcuses".....as i looked around i thought all we make are excuses daily, i cant exercise cause im tired, i worked all day, im lazy, what for im fat already, the kids dinner i dont have time......EXCUSES....thats all it was and is.....i started thinking i got to make time if i want time......so i did............i spent the next few weeks drawing thinking of ideas, i didnt and dont want to do this to become rich i just think i have a interesting and inspiring story that i did all alone and of course with help and encouragement from family but the thing was i could do it...i had to have NoMoreExcuses and do what i said not make another excuse......i thought of making mma clothing, boxing stuff and put my logo NME its cathy and could be seen on those items and cool...but than sat and thought they dont know me they dont understand why NME became such a huge part of me and my training and exercise.......NME became my drive.....my inner voice....."no more excuses joe, do it, keep peddaling, keep walking, keep swimming,...keep moving...." of course i kept eating as i shoudl but i had NME as my guide to always not have an excuse....i love to bike have several bikes from bmx to road bike, also swimming & just started to do weights and walking....my thing is i love the outdoors but was embarressed people seeing me would laugh at a fat guy walking or riding a bike....but that was an excuses, right? right, it was and YOU dont have any excuses anymore....who care who sees who care who points, when just once person says "good job, how you do that loose all that weight, you look good" that takes away 100 stares, 100 laughs of your being fat.....i know its hard believe me im not in this to be like tony roberts and sell you something to make money im telling you so you get off your a$$ and yes i may not know you but i care, i care cause i been there i care cause if your struggling id like to be of some inspiration to you in anyway to see i did it and so can you.....the surgery isnt for everyone only those who know its time....and need help to keep them straight, like a alcoholic needs AA .....now i have so much energy, i walk 3 times for 15 mins at work, ride 20+ miles a day, swim, walk, play with my son, do things i never did.....people approach me all the time and say "wow i didnt recognize you you look so good" thats not what i did it for i did it for me.......my health.....my family.....its a big change but you can do it and WE post oppers are here for you.....i never wanted to post my story and never thought i would open up to strangers but this is life and if you wanna live you got to make that change.....NoMoreExcuses....i plan on making shirts and selling them to people who want to live by these words and need encouragement....im working on them now and like i said not trying to get rich just inspire the uninspired into make the right choices and changes to make a better you.....i still struglle with food, everyone loves food, but now i think about what im eat, calories, sugards, how it will aeffect me long term, fatty foods, etc. i drink alot of water being i sit all day at work i get up and walk around.....im here if you need to talk or tell me your EXCUSES.....im not here to put you down cause i know put downs dont help and im not that kind of person....id just like to see more people healty and living longerenjoying there lives with there families....LIVING........NoMoreExcuses.............DO...........Joe if your interested in shirts, sweat pants or whatever your needs with NMEwear logos email me for pics i dont want to post or advertise one here just yet NMEwear@yahoo.com

I have been lurking for the past week or so on the mobile app so I wanted to introduce myself. My name is Ashley, I am 23 and I have been overweight since I hit puberty at age 10. All through high school I hovered between 165lb and 185lb. When I got pregnant in 2009 I was 201lb. At delivery I was 231lb. I initially lost all but the last 5lbs of baby weight because I had absolutely no appetite and was forcing myself to eat once a day. As soon as my appetite came back (2 weeks postpartum), I gained all the weight back and then another 10lbs to put my highest weight at 241lbs. I've tried every diet out there and while successful initially, I could never keep it off. My lowest weight was 211lb and that was in April 2013. I have since gotten back up to 230lb. I began my wls journey in March 2012 by attending one of the free information seminars. I went on to see the NUT, NP, do a sleep study, psych eval, and physical and decided to get the RNY. We submitted to insurance (Medicaid ***) and I was approved same day. We set my date for July 23, 2012. July 12, 2012 I met the surgeon for the first time. He shared with me the results of my psych eval- "you passed....but...". I had told the psych that I thought I might be bi polar but that I had not sought out a therapist yet. My surgeon was concerned about this because of a former bipolar RNY patient of his who went off her meds and binged repeatedly and abused drugs/alcohol and almost ruptured her pouch. Therefore, he decided that we should wait until I began therapy and received a diagnoses and treatment plan. I was devastated. For 2 weeks I wallowed in self pity before I got a grip on myself. I decided to diet one more time. I lost 28lbs (which brought me to my lowest weight) before falling off the wagon again. I am in therapy now and have been diagnosed with Paranoid Personality Disorder (not bi polar disorder). I contacted the surgeon's office 1.5 weeks ago to let them know what was going on because I had decided once again to have the surgery. Except this time, I feared the rerouting and malabsorption issues so I spent all day, every day researching the sleeve and lap band before settling on the sleeve. I found out that the only thing standing in my way was another psych eval (because the one from last year expired right as I made my decision to have the surgery), a meeting with the surgeon, and another NUT consult (because I'm switching surgeries), in that order. Once these 3 appts are finished, we will submit to insurance again. I have my psych eval on June 20, and I'm so excited and nervous. I'm really hoping to have my surgery and be for the most part healed before my son goes back to school September 4. I also worry about how he will take the recovery as he just turned 3 and has autism. This is my little one from a couple days ago.

So im kinda curious how drinking alcohol is after post op is quicker or longer i mean what are your experiences with it ????

I have!! I am 9 days post op. I was having TERRIBLE pain after surgery, they had me on dilaudid for pain which made me so sick all I did was dry heave for hours and I even threw up blood which scared me to death , my dr told me it was ok bc it was a small amount but gahh those 2 days post op were terrible. Has ur nurse told you to keep alcohol swabs near? If you wave them in front of your nose the smell will help with your nasea. And hopefully your getting some zofran or phernergan for it as well. I am so sorry that feeling is terrible but I promise every day gets better. I am still struggling with little hurdles but I know we can do this!!!! Keep reading these forums and focus on the positive!! several weeks from now when you've lost a number of pounds and your feeling better you will say aha! It was worth it, I remember why I am doing this... Hope you feel better soon.

So can you still have an occasional glass of wine, or does the sugar cause dumping?

I am 2 weeks post op today and onto the "puréed" stage. I also had the pre-op liquid diet for 4 WEEKS which was such a joy:) Truth: My opinion is that every body type is different and reacts differently. There are some things you should plain just not eat right now (fried foods, tough meets, soda, alcohol etc) but others I feel are in the grey area. I'm on puréed foods and had a very small piece if deli turkey (size of my pinky). I chewed and chewed, took it very slowly, listened to my body and I feel great. I've had a few veggies that have been so steamed they melt in my mouth and then I chewed and chewed and chewed. I think you are the only one who knows if its worth it and how your body is healing. Of course you should be careful, but no judgement here;) good luck!