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I LOVE this quote from your psych! This is one of the things I have learned and the reason I am always mentioning that therapy is a huge help on our weight loss journey. I truly believe that we cannot be mentally healthy after WLS without some time spent dealing with the issues that made us obese, whatever they may be... and it's not all about the food. We've allowed food to have a much larger place in our lives than it ever should have occupied and it's a huge mental shift to put food into the "food is fuel" place that t-dog mentioned earlier. Many of us are just as addicted to food as an alcoholic or drug addict is to their poison of choice. I'm really happy to see that you have recovered without permanent damage and that you are moving forward in a positive manner.

I'm 2 weeks post op and I had a small (1/4 c) of red wine last night. I wasn't sure if I was going to like the taste. I let the wine sit on my pallet and it wasn't bad. It relaxed me...I was afraid it would do damage to my healing process, pouring alcohol in my healing tummy. I felt fine.

I have a concert at the end of July and my surgery is end of June how long before you can have a glass of wine ? Not sure if I will ever want to have another drink after the surgery bit I'm just curious

The best exercise is the one you will stick with. I was so disappointed recently when I looked up calories in alcohol and found that most liquor is about 70 calories per ounce. One ounce! Not counting mixers! Not fair. I had just discovered the joys of spiced rum, too.

I will just tell you from personal experience that I drank once at almost 5 months out & I don't ever want to drink again. Whiskey neat was my drink of the night. I am no light weight drinker. I got VERY drunk VERY quickly. In the past I would have had a liter of water & 2 Tylenol before bed. With the sleeve I just couldn't get anywhere near that quantity of water in. I had one of the worst hangovers of my life the day after. The alcohol tore my whole intestinal system up. It was horrible. I can tell you that I have absolutely no interest in ever drinking again. So, I won't preach about calories or addictions, but I'll tell you that it straight up sucked. Big time. So, proceed with caution.

Okay, you asked for info, so I'm going to give you some with "no holds barred". Let's start with some facts: Beer - 12 oz - 5-6% alcohol - 150 calories Beer, light - 12 oz - 4-5% alcohol - 105 calories Wine - 4 oz - 12% alcohol - 77 calories Wine cooler - 10 oz - 5-6.5% alcohol - 125 calories Spirits - 1 oz - 40-80% alcohol - 64-84 calories Liquiers - 1 oz - 16-26% alcohol - 103-123 calories You're not using mixers, so you think calories are not a problem. WRONG! Just ONE drink per day will use up approx. 10% of your target calorie intake in the first few months of your post-op life. That is without any redeeming nutrional qualities such as Protein, Vitamins, minerals, etc. In fact, alcohol causes very significant dehydration during the metabolization process (that's a large part of why people get such horrible hangovers). The liver metabolizes fat (important during weight loss), however alcohol intake takes "priority" in the liver and fat metabolism will take a "back seat" while it works through your alcohol. Alcohol consumption causes increased loss of Calcium, magnesium, potassium and zinc. It interferes with Vitamin absorption (B1, B6, B12 and folate), as well as interfering with the processing of Vitamin A and D. Post-op you are already facing a significant challenge in maintaining proper nutrtion, preventing muscle loss due to protein canabalization (the body prefers to break down muscle for energy before it breaks down fat) and dehydration due to smaller quantities of food/fluid intake. The body also needs much more Water to process fat and alcohol than you normally need when not in weight-loss mode. SO WHAT, you say? A couple of drinks a day won't hurt me (I assume you mean at least that many if you "like to drink a lot"). Aside from the obvious health risks excessive alcohol brings into your life without this surgery, you MUST realize that drinking AFTER this surgery will negate most of the positive effects of this very drastic decision you've made to remove 85% of your stomach! Now as to problems....... You wil get drunk VERY fast compared to pre-op. That could lead to safety issues (driving, operting machinery, hell even walking could be dangerous!). And when you drink, you lose your inhibitions, and sometimes self-control. But for the first few months of post-op life, you MUST be super-careful what you eat/drink so you don't damage your stomach and possibly cause a life-threatening leak! It's hard to be in good control and make smart decisions when you are impaired. And you WILL be impaired, even if you're not ready to admit that to yourself or anyone else. The brain does not operate at optimal performance levels with toxins "on board" and that is literally what alcohol is, and that is why we get drunk. I'm not saying NEVER drink. But you should wait until you're stable and fully recovered from surgery (that can take up to 6 months), on a good stable eating plan (also at least 6 months) and when you do start drinking again, make it in a controlled and safe environment (at home?). Okay. So now you know and you can make informed decisions. It's up to you.

I drank at 10 weeks out, with no complications. My doctor told me I am ok. Just watch empty calories, ulcers and transfer of addiction (food for alcohol) I drink seldomly during a given month with no problems. Lots of people have their own thoughts on this- and it can be a touchy subject. I drink beer and cider, not liquor- I don't like it.

The thing with alcohol is that it can hide huge amounts of calories and unless you know exactly how many calories sit on your mojito, chances are that you're consuming more than you think, plus it sucks to workout the next day. I'm not saying not to go out and have fun but be aware that you're gonna have to workout or eat extra clean the rest of the week in order to compensate and still lose weight.

I think with any stall BBoodle is right... you have to change things up. If you arent logging what you are putting in your mouth you need to. You need to make sure the protein is where it should be and you need to exercise no matter what.... Just having surgery doesnt ensure weight loss... it is a tool. I know a guy that didnt lose... he was putting pizza spaghetti you name it in a blender and not moving his ass. He drank alcohol like crazy and wondered why he wasnt losing. Look at what you are and are not doing. Consult your doctor or nut... they are there to help you!! Good luck

Sorbitol and xylitol, two sweetening sugar alcohols that are often used in sugar-free gum and candies, can give people stomach cramps and diarrhea if overused, as well. There's also a thought out there that gum chewing--like straw sipping--leads you to swallow extra air, which can cause gas and bloating.

Yes I drank during my pre-op diet, however some doctors restrict alcohol during the pre & post op diets, my doctor did not. Always follow your doctors orders. Alcohol does give you munchies, it also makes your band feel looser. This is something that you have to manage, "the munchies" is head hunger and the band will not stop that. I still eat around 1200 calories a day. When you reach your goal and you want to maintain nothing really changes. You need to eat the same healthy meals, same volume of food, exercise the same, drink the same amount of Water. If you don't the weight will creep back on. This is why I call it a lifestyle and not a diet. It is for life.

There's lots of hospitals who put their informational booklets online. Here's one that I found very helpful: https://www.hsc.missouri.edu/documents/bariatric/Bariatric%20Booklet%20VSG.pdf I know Kaiser put together a good one too, but I can't find it... maybe someone else has the link... As far as beer, I didn't drink it pre-op so I didn't ask or pay attention to the specifics on that. I know carbonated drinks can give you painful gas after surgery, but that eventually it's tolerable (after a few months). My surgeon said absolutely no alcohol for the first 6 months minimum. Most surgeons say no alcohol for a year... so you don't replace a food addiction with an alcohol addiction and also because it's empty calories/carbs. I do plan to enjoy a glass of wine again one day, but I've never been much of a drinker so these restrictions don't bother me at all. Good luck!

This was/is a hard one for me. I grew up in a very strict Baptist church, where just about everything was "not allowed." The list of "don'ts" included: dancing movies mixed swimming of course alcohol of course smoking However - whatever the occasion - food was appropriate. Party = eat. Funeral = eat. Wedding = eat. Graduation = eat. Church function = eat. Family gathering = eat. Lost your job = eat. Baby born = eat. Holiday = eat (the bigger the holiday, the more you eat). Celebrating anything = eat. I'm truly not bashing "religion." I have a very strong faith and even though I've come to have different standards than those I was taught as a child, I still very much identify with my small town, Baptist culture. The problem is, I have had to (and am still learning to) change my approach to just about every life occasion. Learning to Celebrate or mourn without food is a struggle. Some of my new favorite ways to celebrate include getting a massage, shopping, and dancing. It's a challenge, but I'm learning. I LOVE the charm bracelet idea! May have to steal that one! :-) Shelly

...starting with 80% of our stomachs. But it doesn't stop there, does it? We give up solid foods for a while. We give up things we used to love, like coffee, cigarettes, alcohol--either completely, or at least temporarily. Here's a list I found online called "Fifteen things You Should Give Up to be Happy". Not give up to be skinny, just to be happy. (The sleeve will take care of the scale, but the headspace work is up to us, after all!) And being happier is probably something we're all in favor of, pre-op or post-op, right? I know there are many things on this list that I could definitely identify with. So, I thought I'd share. Enjoy! Credit: World Observer Online, April 25, 2012 Here is a list of 15 things which, if you give up on them, will make your life a lot easier and much, much happier. We hold on to so many things that cause us a great deal of pain, stress and suffering – and instead of letting them all go, instead of allowing ourselves to be stress free and happy – we cling on to them. Not anymore. Starting today we will give up on all those things that no longer serve us, and we will embrace change. Ready? Here we go: 1. Give up your need to always be right. There are so many of us who can’t stand the idea of being wrong – wanting to always be right – even at the risk of ending great relationships or causing a great deal of stress and pain, for us and for others. It’s just not worth it. Whenever you feel the ‘urgent’ need to jump into a fight over who is right and who is wrong, ask yourself this question: “Would I rather be right, or would I rather be kind?”--Wayne Dyer. What difference will that make? Is your ego really that big? 2. Give up your need for control. Be willing to give up your need to always control everything that happens to you and around you – situations, events, people, etc. Whether they are loved ones, coworkers, or just strangers you meet on the street – just allow them to be. Allow everything and everyone to be just as they are and you will see how much better will that make you feel. “By letting it go it all gets done. The world is won by those who let it go. But when you try and try, the world is beyond winning.”--Lao Tzu 3. Give up on blame. Give up on your need to blame others for what you have or don’t have, for what you feel or don’t feel. Stop giving your powers away and start taking responsibility for your life. 4. Give up your self-defeating self-talk. Oh my. How many people are hurting themselves because of their negative, polluted and repetitive self-defeating mindset? Don’t believe everything that your mind is telling you – especially if it’s negative and self-defeating. You are better than that. “The mind is a superb instrument if used rightly. Used wrongly, however, it becomes very destructive.”--Eckhart Tolle 5. Give up your limiting beliefs about what you can or cannot do, about what is possible or impossible. From now on, you are no longer going to allow your limiting beliefs to keep you stuck in the wrong place. Spread your wings and fly! “A belief is not an idea held by the mind, it is an idea that holds the mind”--Elly Roselle 6. Give up complaining. Give up your constant need to complain about those many, many, maaany things – people, situations, events that make you unhappy, sad and depressed. Nobody can make you unhappy, no situation can make you sad or miserable unless you allow it to. It’s not the situation that triggers those feelings in you, but how you choose to look at it. Never underestimate the power of positive thinking. 7. Give up the luxury of criticism. Give up your need to criticize things, events or people that are different than you. We are all different, yet we are all the same. We all want to be happy, we all want to love and be loved and we all want to be understood. We all want something, and something is wished by us all. 8. Give up your need to impress others. Stop trying so hard to be something that you’re not just to make others like you. It doesn’t work this way. The moment you stop trying so hard to be something that you’re not, the moment you take of all your masks, the moment you accept and embrace the real you, you will find people will be drawn to you, effortlessly. 9. Give up your resistance to change. Change is good. Change will help you move from A to B. Change will help you make improvements in your life and also the lives of those around you. Follow your bliss, embrace change – don’t resist it. “Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors for you where there were only walls”--Joseph Campbell 10. Give up labels. Stop labeling those things, people or events that you don’t understand as being weird or different and try opening your mind, little by little. Minds only work when open. “The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don’t know anything about.”--Wayne Dyer 11. Give up on your fears. Fear is just an illusion, it doesn’t exist – you created it. It’s all in your mind. Correct the inside and the outside will fall into place. “The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself.”--Franklin D. Roosevelt 12. Give up your excuses. Send them packing and tell them they’re fired. You no longer need them. A lot of times we limit ourselves because of the many excuses we use. Instead of growing and working on improving ourselves and our lives, we get stuck, lying to ourselves, using all kind of excuses – excuses that 99.9% of the time are not even real. 13. Give up the past. I know, I know. It’s hard. Especially when the past looks so much better than the present and the future looks so frightening, but you have to take into consideration the fact that the present moment is all you have and all you will ever have. The past you are now longing for – the past that you are now dreaming about – was ignored by you when it was present. Stop deluding yourself. Be present in everything you do and enjoy life. After all life is a journey not a destination. Have a clear vision for the future, prepare yourself, but always be present in the now. 14. Give up attachment. This is a concept that, for most of us is so hard to grasp and I have to tell you that it was for me too, (it still is) but it’s not something impossible. You get better and better at with time and practice. The moment you detach yourself from all things, (and that doesn’t mean you give up your love for them – because love and attachment have nothing to do with one another, attachment comes from a place of fear, while love… well, real love is pure, kind, and self less, where there is love there can’t be fear, and because of that, attachment and love cannot coexist) you become so peaceful, so tolerant, so kind, and so serene. You will get to a place where you will be able to understand all things without even trying. A state beyond words. 15. Give up living your life to other people’s expectations. Way too many people are living a life that is not theirs to live. They live their lives according to what others think is best for them, they live their lives according to what their parents think is best for them, to what their friends, their enemies and their teachers, their government and the media think is best for them. They ignore their inner voice, that inner calling. They are so busy with pleasing everybody, with living up to other people’s expectations, that they lose control over their lives. They forget what makes them happy, what they want, what they need….and eventually they forget about themselves. You have one life – this one right now – you must live it, own it, and especially don’t let other people’s opinions distract you from your path. http://worldobserveronline.com/2012/04/25/15-things-you-should-give-up-to-be-happy/

Maybe this is sad to say, but I can handle any kind of drink. Now don't get me wrong, I don't over drink at all, but when I have a night out with my friends I can enjoy without getting sick. I believe having a drink or two of any kind of alcohol is ok. One just needs to know their limits!

Look I don't want to sound harsh but you need to really think things thru, do you want to be married to that for the rest of your life? I am almost 2 yrs divorced next month from my high school sweetheart, I was married for 25 yrs and for the last 3 yrs of our marriage I litterally watched him become an alcoholic due to a high pressure job. Not making excuses for him but he is who he is and what he is and it ruined his life, he's nothing now. He eventually lost his career, me and still drinks like a fish and tries to work. I have no tolerance for alcohol, sorry. If this man can't put you first and treat you like a queen and treat you like he can't live without you or live another second without you then he doesn't deserve you! Yes, you chose this surgery to better yourself and your health and he should be there for you first and foremost. Will he be there when your first born is comes into this world? I hate to think that you will go thru this journey alone but you have us to lean on for support. Good luck Thurs. Big hugs.

The typical baggage would be like eating high sugar or high fat food. This is going to sabotage a person's efforts during the transformation. Also drinking too much alcohol or caffeine might also get in your way. Things like that. Try and eat as cleanly as possible, almost a paleo diet.

I remember researching this long before surgery. I'm a little over five weeks out now and I smoked again for the first time last week. Since then, I've smoked twice more. Honestly, it is something I will probably always do. I am not a big drinker and my body responds good to weed. I get relaxed and it's something that can really make a night out with friends more enjoyable. As for the munchies, I haven't had any issues. I went to dinner with my friend and had my small plate of food. I ate slow and really relished the taste of it. I actually think I ate slower than I would sober because I was so aware of everything. Honestly, it's not for everyone. I get that some people will always frown upon it. But I personally think alcohol is far worse for you AND for your sleeve. To each their own!

Yup, definitely possible. You just need to wait until your doctor clears you for alcohol and then be aware that you may be affected by alcohol differently now. I enjoy a nice glass from time to time as a post op. one glass is usually enough for me in a sitting.

I went to Vegas six weeks post op and did fine. I am 41/2 months out now and can handle the alcohol and food fine. Have fun!

Don't sabotage yourself. In the long run, you'll be glad you gave up and resisted. I reached my doctor's goal in five months and my personal goal, five pounds less, a month later. I did not have one sip of alcohol until a year out, probably more like fourteen months. This first year is your honeymoon period, get the most bang for your buck.

I'm sensing a bit of envy here. We are all only victims of our own choices. Not trying to add insult to injury but perhaps you could have been in control of whether or not they came over? Asked them to leave? Kicked his bag out of the house? What drugs was he on? People who use marijuana are passive non-aggressive. Sounds like he was on either crack/coke/meth or even alcohol. I have crap inlaws too, and I've point blank told my husband to make a choice, me and our family or his family. We haven't had a problem for a long time now with them. (the bad ones) not all of the inlaws are bad. I also work in the Social Service field specifically within the GAL. juvenile protection and I've never heard of DHS removing children for someone elses stash. Further, an on-site drug test could have been administered, and if brother in law admitted it was his bag, then his stuff wouldn't be impacting you. If anyone, a minor posession charge which is a misdermeaner could be issued. A traffic ticket is also a misdermeaner. DHS doesn't take children away for misdermeaner charges, and further "a few small baggies" sounds like its less then 25 grams, and is simply a fine. http://norml.org/laws/penalties/item/new-york-penalties-2

I'm not sure whom you are talking to but here in Colorado it is legal, as well as Washington State. Currently there are 18 states plus D.C. that legalized for medical purposes, with another 11 states with pending legislation. During the economy crisis in 2008, the mmj industry kept our state afloat. I have done extensive research on the substance, and I use to disagree with it. I wanted to divorce my husband for years ago. However, it's better than any of the medications the doctors give me, that cost tens of thousands a year. ... I have CT Scans and MRIs of the brain showing the brain on no substances, legal substances and illegal substances. The Brain killers are listed as follows; #1 Caffeine #2 Nicotine #3 Alcohol #4 Methadone #5 Amphetamine Notice how all of those are legal. Now moving forward, #6 Cocaine (crack is a by-product of this) #7 Heroin #8 LSD/Psilocybin #9 MDMA Note that 6-9 use to be legal, some very recently. Cannabis, through the International Institute in Israel, has been proven to have NO, ZERO, ZILCH negative effects on the brain. The products classified as most dangerous per DEA include Cannabis, Heroin, LSD and MDMA. Why, because the government cannot control us when we use these types of mind expanding products. Heroine received its name from Bayer, and was first advertised as "Bayer Heroin". Yes, the same company that makes Aspirin. Cocaine and Heroin remained legal up into the early 1920s, cannabis until late 1930s. MDMA/LSD until the 1980s. Obesity is more of a health threat than cannabis is. Sugar is the worst! That’s why we are all here. Along with GMOs, preservatives, HFCS, etc. So when someone who claims it's bad, I challenge them to look at them their own self. Cause it's likely the people who smoke cigarettes and drink coffee and love Starbucks. I say those people are already missing half a brain (literally) and no longer can think logically. So, how many people drink soda/coffee and other caffeine products? How about those energy drinks and energy shots. Monster has a class action law suit right now against them for people who drink just one drink and have a massive heart attack. THEY ARE TEENAGERS!!!!! Teenagers are dying from Monster energy drinks. How about smoking? How many people smoke cigarettes here? Or drink alcohol? I can’t even count how many forums I’ve seen people complaining that they want their margarita or a cigarette, or even fast food. John 8:7 "Anyone who has no sin in their life should step forward and throw the first stone. That sentence is often cited as a reminder to avoid judging others when there are faults in your own life that need to be addressed."

Hi all April 2013 sleevers! I had my surgery 4/19/13. I started at 240 and down to 213....27 lbs! My goal is 150...I'm 5'9". i had a stall too but in last 2 days down 4 lbs! was glad to see. I've tried to increase my protien to see if it helps. I can have caffiene? and can have alcohol (just not beer). I feel great! I only had 3 incisions and all 3 have compeltely healed with no problems. Well, I do miss food! especially in social gathering...which i do a lot of I also am a RN Cruise bound on 7/1/13 and hoping to be below 200!!! thats 13 more lbs in a month!! hoping i can do it!

Alcohol kills and its legal. Pot doesnt kill and its illegal. Why, for the life of me I can not understand. I dont smoke and I sure in the hell dont drink. If I had to choose between the two it would be pot!