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50 Shaded is definitely a distraction lol. I started reading it when I first came home from the hospital. I just finished book 2. I didn't even think to look for sugar alcohols but when I ran to the bathroom I knew they had to be in there. I bought them because there was a Protein bar thread and people seemed to like those. I'll go back and try to find another. I always plan ahead, but looking for things to stash in my drawer that can keep.

Whey Isolate Protein is the best quality protein you can get. It's not a matter of taste. Rather, It has more SOLUABLE protein in it & Your body absorbs and metabolizes this type far better than any other. I usually get it from Vitamin World or GNC. I make a concoction-smoothie. Milk based (more protein), I toss the recommended amount of chocolate powder in the blender with Wymanns Wild Blueberries (antioxidants) straight out of the freezer (buy them in the frozen section). To that, I add Colon Cleanser (psyllium husks) to keep things moving along, *Warning! Too much will bind you & be a whole other 'situation' to deal with before you can resume normalcy with your band. I add liquid Collegen to restore/maintain elasticity, L-Glutemen (sp?) for muscle-support, Crushed Flaxseed or flax seed oil for Omega 3's (heart & brain function), liquid L-Carnitine (metabolizes fat), and Milk Thistle (supports weight loss). I take my multi-Vitamins & some hyaluronic acid (keeps joints cushy and skin taught) with the shake. Muscle Milk is good in a pinch too. Muscle Milk has a good array of vitamins & nutrients in it. They sell it pre-mixed at convenience stores with the individual drinks or you can buy it in quantity at the big box stores. They have powder too. Muscle Milk has more alcohol sugars (sweeteners) in it than whey isolate protein but if you really need to gas up quick & grab a quick meal for the road- Muscle Milk works. I always use Protein shakes as a Meal Replacement. Not something you want to gulp all day or suck down with meals as your 'drink". I don't count calories, but these shakes ARE caloric! Protein Bars are good in a pinch too. I like Pure Protein best & buy in bulk at BJ's. Great to keep a couple bars in the purse for those times when you're ravinous and won't get home anytime soon- like when you have to pop & go to work w/ no time to fix a lunch or eat breakfast. The other kind I like are "Supreme"-something found in gas-convenience stores near the candy. They're bigger & feels SO naughty because they taste just like gooey candy bars. When I get the GOTTA HAVE candy/ chocolate, I hit up a small protein bar- guilt free. Best luck in your journey.

I agree that it’s not really self sabotage unless you actually intended to harm or sabotage yourself. Don’t beat yourself up, Just try to learn from your mistake and do better today. Have you tried searching for a sugar free or no sugar added alternative? I have found Many sugar free or no sugar added options out there that honestly don’t taste bad. I had sleeve so I don’t have issues with sugar, but I found Yasso Greek yogurt bars that are only 100 calories and satisfy my sweet cravings. They do have some sugar 13g total and 9g added sugars? I am pretty sure that’s quite a bit LESS than regular ice cream though. I don’t have any ice cream to compare it to. Okay I just searched Walmart real quick and it is less than regular ice cream but Klondike makes no sugar added desert bars that have even less. 6g of sugar per bar (11g of sugar alcohol. I’m not sure how that plays into it). Also, Bryers makes no sugar added with 5g sugar and 10g sugar alcohol (salted caramel flavor). I personally like the idea of the bars cause it’s already portioned out for us. Most but Not all products have the nutrition info online so a little research and hopefully you can find an option that will work for you. If you live near a Publix I have found that they tend to carry a wider variety and have more of the healthier options (compared to walmart). Trader Joe’s and Aldi are supposed to be good for healthy options too but I don’t have either of those I am, of course, not advocating that you eat ice cream this early out but i will admit that I tried a few treats just to see if I could eat them once I got to regular food such as chocolate, pizza and pasta. For me it was a mindset thing. Once I knew I could tolerate them in small amounts and eventually have them later it was that much easier to do without them until maintenance. Everyone is different though. All we can do is what we think is best for us. I hope this helps

As is often noted, when performing surgery, our surgeon only operates on our digestive tract, not our brains. Many of us come to WLS with a long time or even a lifetime dysfunctional relationship with food and/or our bodies. One resource for making peace with food and our bodies is Overeater's Anonymous (OA). OA is a worldwide fellowship that is fashioned after Alcoholic's Anonymous. OA uses AA's 12-step model of recovery and changes the words alcohol and alcoholic to food and compulsive eater. If you are struggling with food and emotional eating or other issues around food and eating (anorexia, bulimia, compulsive eating, binge eating, body dysmorphia, food obsession, etc.), then you may want to explore OA. The website (OA.org), has information about the program, literature, meeting lists, podcasts, and other useful information. Here is a good blog post about how WLS and OA can work together: http://www.mybariatriclife.org/oa-overeaters-anonymous-after-surgery/

Atkins bars are very low carb. Like 3 carbs per bar. They look like they are high, but what you need to look at is net carbs. The other stuff is stuff like fiber, sugar alcohol, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, and Glycerine, which have little to no impact on a diet. I learned this from doing the Atkins diet so many time. BTW, they taste good too..

THANKS FOR YOUR INPUT DJHOHR. I LIVE IN SOUTH AFRICA, AND LIVE ON A DISABILITY GRANT OF R1500 EQUIVALENT TO USD 109. I NOW HAVE ABOUT 5 DIAPERS LEFT FOR THE MONTH. I HAVE TO SAVE THEM FOR WHEN I HAVE TO LEAVE THE ROOM I LIVE IN. I CANNOT JUST GO BACK TO THE HOSPITAL, THEY DO NOT ALLOW IT. MY OP WAS DONE DUE TO NON ALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE. I WILL SEE MY DIETITIAN IN 2 WEEKS TIME. IF I HAVE ANY PROBLEMS SHE WILL CONTACT MY DR. I WILL ONLY SEE HIM IN 2 MONTHS TIME. THE HOSPITAL I HAD MY OP IN IS A STATE RUN FACILITY, A VERY GOOD ONE AT THAT. BUT DUE TO THE MASSES OF PATIENTS YOU CANNOT JUST WALK IN THE FRONT DOOR. INKOSI ALBERT LUTHULI HOSPITAL IN DURBAN. MY SURGEON IS VERY GOOD, BUT OVERWORKED. DUE TO NOT HAVING MONEY FOR DIAPERS, I AM RUINING THE CLOTHS THAT STILL FIT ME. I CANNOT GET THE STAINS OUT OF THEM OR EVEN MY BEDDING. THEY FOUND POLYPS IN MY STOMACH TOOK A BIOPSY OF THEM AND MY LIVER BUT THE RESULT ARE NOT IN YET. I ALSO HAVE REACTIVE LYMPH NODES IN MY GROIN THAT HAVE NOT YET BEEN BIOPSIED. I AM HAPPY ABOUT THE WEIGHT LOSS, BUT THE PROBLEMS ARE PILLING UP AND TAKING THE JOY THAT I SHOULD BE FEELING AWAY FROM ME. I AM BECOMING VERY DEPRESSED.

it can also be if you have issues with certain sugar alcohols, so I would read the labels of what you are consuming to see if that could be a possible issue. I know how rough it is since I was on Metformin before surgery and had constant diarrhea. mostly have to manage to not be constipated now.

i also forgot to talk about drinking. post surgery i don't drink. frankly after the band surgery i had reflux and the last thing i wanted to do to my burning stomach is add alcohol. I'm on prevacid post bypass and have no desired to test my tummy with alcohol. that I can live without. For people who really enjoy drinking you need to be careful because weight loss patients have significantly higher rates of alcoholism, especially if there is a family history of that. it puts you at a much greater risk.

My NUT told me I can have a sip of champagne or white wine at an upcoming wedding (I will be about 4 months post-op), but never have liquor, beer, etc. I have no desire at this point to go against her wishes. One day I will probably try it, but I rarely drink anyway, so it's not a huge loss. Every time I think about alcohol, all I can see are calories and sugar now...not as appealing as it once was!

Had my first mixed drink at about 4 months out. Did perfectly fine, and a few at a time haven't been a problem for me. Word of warning...while I hardly follow the 30 mins before and 30 mins after principle with Water, you absolutely must do this with alcohol! Horrid problems will result with food and alcohol in the sleeve at the same time. I get dizzy and feel like I am going to pass out. Carbonation has generally been difficult, as it can cause stretching and horrible gas, so I try to avoid beer or champagne except at special events. Your doctor will probably be pretty discouraging about consuming any alcohol, so this is where you will want to use particularly proactive trial and error to see what works for you and what doesn't, both on the scale and off.

I had gastric bypass September 12, 2011...I have done great with it...I'm down 100 pounds! My doctor said no alcohol for the first year, but now that it is summer, I really want a glass of wine. Anyone out there have any suggestions? Did you really wait a year??? Thanks

I just read in one of my books that one drink can be the equivalent of 5!! Start with a teeny tiny bit!! I think the reason they say a year is because alcohol has lots of calories and no nutrients so it can thwart your weight loss efforts. So I think I little would be fine...just be careful!! Cheers!!

I completely avoid artificial sweeteners (was addicted to Equal), use Stevia now. I completely avoid alcohol and chocolate. I avoid fruit juice, ice-cream and red meat, bread Basically avoid any foods/drinks that my body reacts to in an unpleasant way

I definitely realized something when this happened. I felt like an alcoholic in a desert having to choose between thirst and a cold beer. (Not sure where he got the cold beer ????). I'm so scared to cheat because I'm afraid I won't get back on track. Also afraid it will become a habit. That I will justify it the next time and then the next and the next. I didn't realize until that night that I was literally afraid of junk food and afraid of failure. I have already thrown some nuts in my glove compartment.

On the day after surgery, my surgeon came in and said surgery went well, and then talked to me about non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which she discovered during surgery. She wanted to make sure I understood what it meant because it is in the surgical notes and she didn't want it to be a surprise, and also the causes and how to deal with it. She checked around my incisions, which are covered with steri-strips. On the next day, when I was discharged, she wasn't on call (it was a Saturday) but the covering physician came in and talked about the dietary requirements, exercise, and what to watch for in case my incisions became infected. I don't recall either of them mentioning bypass or sleeve, to be honest. I know my surgeon knows I wanted the sleeve. She even asked me why I'd changed my mind from the first meeting, to do the sleeve instead of the bypass. However, when the admissions nurse called me 2 weeks before the surgery, she said "bypass" and I said no, sleeve. She laughed slightly and said, "better change that!" or something to that effect. When I checked into the hospital on 9/15, I don't remember the admitting nurse mentioning the procedure at all; I just gave her my name and said I was scheduled for surgery with Dr. T at 7:30am and she started asking me to sign on the electronic pad for permission to treat and HIPPA. I just realized I didn't read the HIPPA form because I know what it says, but I didn't read the permission to treat form- in fact, none was offered and I was so anxious I didn't think to ask to read it. Honestly, I just remembered this as I was typing NOW, and I know it was stupid not to ask for the paperwork. The admitting nurse never offered paperwork, just said, "Please sign the pad for permission to treat, and again for HIPPA." And I don't remember anyone in pre-op asking what I was in for, just my name and birthdate, and they scanned my bracelet before they did each IV line and before giving me the pre-op meds. I guess bypass would be OK except it's NOT what I wanted, for what I think are very sound reasons. I'm sure it's just a paperwork error. Oh crap.

I use alcohol free, liquid stevia drops and I've never had that problem. If I didn't use the drops, I'd let my tea and lemon water sit there until it got gross, and then toss it. Just those couple of drops of stevia make it so tasty to me and then I drink all day long.

Understanding smart food choices. Portion size is a major factor in your success with the LAP-BAND® System. However, the types of foods you eat can affect your weight loss as well. A healthy diet will have items from each of the following food groups. Quantities and suggested foods are listed in each group. Always talk to your doctor or dietician about your particular dietary needs. Good Choices Fruit and vegetables: 1 to 2 servings of fresh fruit daily 2 to 3 servings of fresh vegetables daily Whole grains: 1 small portion of cornflakes for Breakfast, or 1 to 2 slices of toasted whole wheat or rye bread each day. If you find you have trouble with bread blocking your stomach opening, substitute other whole grains such as refined, cooked or ready-to-eat Cereal, oatmeal, cream of wheat, or grits. Protein: 2 to 4 oz of meat, fish or poultry, or one egg for additional Protein Remove all visible fat from the meat. Remove skin from poultry/fish. And cook with little/no fat — grill, steam, microwave, or boil. Dairy: 2 cups of low-fat milk or yogurt, or 1 oz low-fat cheese (max.) Since milk and yogurt are calories in liquid form, you might think they should be avoided. However, the Calcium and protein they have makes them an important part of a healthy daily diet. Fats: 3 to 4 teaspoons of margarine, butter or oil per day (max) Low-fat salad dressings and mayonnaise (in moderation) Drinks: Unlimited zero- or low-calorie liquids per day, including: Non-carbonated beverages Tea or coffee (black) with low-calorie sweetener Clear Soup and broths Water Not-so-good choices Proceed with caution: Some foods may cause problems as they may block or have difficulty passing your stomach opening. Introduce these types of foods to your diet slowly, one at a time, to see if they are tolerated. Remember: always be careful and chew these foods well before swallowing. Dry meat Peanut Butter Shrimp Untoasted or doughy bread Pasta or rice Fibrous vegetables (e.g., corn, celery and asparagus) Dried fruit Coconut Popcorn Citrus fruits Nuts Steer clear: Some foods contain too many calories and too little nutritional value to be of any use to you with the LAP-BAND® System. Avoid foods high in sugar or fat, including: Syrups, jams, honey Candy, pies, cakes, biscuits chips, dips High-calorie soft drinks Some doctors suggest patients avoid carbonated drinks, as they may contribute to enlargement of the stomach pouch. Alcohol should also be consumed in moderation (one glass of wine or less per day).

I have been eating like a crazy person for the last few weeks. My restriction is adequate, but at night I eat the wrong foods all evening long. Evening always was my problem. I'm not gaining any weight, probably because I'm exercising. But I don't understand why I'm doing this. My life situation is not exactly ideal, but it hasn't changed recently. My mood has been good. I'm not stressed about anything. I don't get it. I've started writing in my journal again, hoping that something will occur to me to explain this behavior and help me change it. Then again, I'm wondering if part of the explanation could be that overeating is just a bad habit that is going to rear it's head from time to time, similar to a relapse for an alcoholic. What do you all think? Nancy

It's like alcoholism. You will ALWAYS be an alcoholic but you are a recovering one. They say now (took them long enough) that obesity is a DISEASE. We will never be cured of that disease but we CAN keep it under control. WELCOME BACK!

I can eat any meat, seafood or fish if it is cut small enough, moist enough and chewed well, however i cant eat scrambled eggs or raw veg, although i do eat a lot of chopped salads. I dont eat pasta or any high carb foods like rice or bread by choice ! .. Some cant eat much of a morning as the band can be a little tighter so they stick with a protein shake or a warm drink to relax it a little first. Most food people eat is individual to them, so it would be individual to you if u have the lapband fitted as to what could end up eating .. big no no's are drinking while eating, eating large quantities or too fast and not chewing well seem to be the standard sort of restrictions ... In general there isnt really intolerance to anything because of a lapband, some doctors will ask for no caffine or alcohol others will say no problem, i drink coffee, not strong, and tea as fillers in between meals my doctor is fine with it and as u can see i have lost the weight i needed too and am continuing on the homeward stretch to my goal. Good luck and maybe this will be the year that changed your life

Quick question...when did you guys have your 1st alcolholic drink after getting the band? I am 20 days post op and down 25 lbs (including liquid diet) This week has been hectic and exciting, celebrated my 2 yr anniversary with my boyfriend and today is his birthday. Just wondering if having one glass of white wine will do any harm? Tganks for the input

I had a biopsy when I had my band surgery. They said I have non alcoholic Steatohepatitis. Has anyone had this same diagnosis. They say you have to loose weight slower... Boo Hooo

I used ooops paint remover, VERY CAREFULLY, LOL. I tried polish remover, alcohol, peanut butter, olive oil, finally got tired of the tread marks on the tummy and got out the oops, put it on a q-tip and gone with the first swipe. WARNING-DO NOT GET ON OR NEAR THE INCISION.

Gigi, Maddysgram, elcee and ajtexas.... First, I want to thank you for so kindly responding to my plea's for help. I'm in a bad place and I needed your ears/eyes. No, I am not in control of my life at the moment. I think maybe I am trying to take control of my life, even if it's deciding to sabotage myself and my journey. Sounds weird, I know, but it's easier to control with learned reinforced bad behaviour than with new, difficult behaviours like my dieting, journaling my food journal. It's easier to fail than to fight to succeed. (I'm coming up with this stuff as I write) Hm, something else to think about. Gigi_Girl, I'm so proud of you for quitting smoking completely, I hear cigarettes are one of the hardest addictions to quit! And good luck with your new Band. My therapist is admittedly stuck on this issue of why I "have" to eat bad foods. I mean, she has shed alot of light on the subject, as she has worked with many addicts. She just felt I should get some inpu by those going through the Band journey. Maddysgram, it was very, very hard to take in your kind words of wisdom, but a few things helped me. "Tomorrow hasn't happened yet..." "You're brave to come out..." "...me a complete stranger loves you..." have all been allowed inside, and helped me for that moment. My past has not made me a criminal, a drinker, a drug user, etc. I guess that's a very good thing! Elcee, I did walk away with major issues, but I consider myself a genuine, honest, caring individual in spite of my issues. I see that I have achieved very little in my life but be a survivor. I'm a fighter, which is why this whole thing about fixating on cheating myself and my diet, is baffling. I never give up, not for long anyways. Your positive comments embarras (how do you spell that!) me, but secretly it's nice to hear. ajtekas- I have a history of sabotaging things when they go well, and I was doing very well. Is it because of fear of success? Is it because of fear failure? It it because it's all I know? All of the above. I was proud of myself for adhering to the program and I think it was overwhelming for me. Didn't deserve it. I say the serenity prayer everyday, everyone should. I started Al-Anon four weeks ago, and I honestly feel blessed to have the kinship of those who share my experience with alcoholism and the family. And, yes, we members do beat ourselves up! Tomorrow is a new day. There are many success stories to help me along. I so hope I get more responses to this...every one of you makes a difference to me. My therapist would thank the four of you! And I thank you. (*bows down*)

I think acknowledging the problem is half the battle and you have done that. I understand fighting the sabotaging yourself, I do it anytime I get close to a goal. Why? I don't know. Fear of success? failure? or just wanting to make things hard on myself cause that is all I've know? What I do know is if I keep at it and meet that goal, the pride I feel is overwelming. It gives me the courage to keep trying. Those little voices in our head can really mess with us! But we CAN BEAT THEM! just do it one day at a time, or one hour, or one minute, whatever it takes to get through it, Remeber the serenity prayer it helps me get through a lot of tough times. I also had an alcoholic husband and spent a few years in al-anon. It's funny how us "co-dependence" seem to beat ourselves up more than anyone else. Take care.