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Hi ya.. I am due to be having my band fitted at the end of Aug and since booking the op - i have had loads of questions and hoping you guys who have been through it could give me an honest account of what is to come. In terms of drinking alcohol- what is the situaion with that? Can you still have a few drinks and do you get drunk easier?? With food- what types of foods do you seem to struggle on- and is it rite you cannot drink fizzy drinks? Oh typical; i cannot remember my questions now- but any handy hints you have learnt since being banded would be appreciated- and congrats to you all who have lost so much its so inspiring. Take care & keep it up..:thumbup: Kel

Just tell her it is not WLS, but rather stupid people like her that make you want to drink. My wife watched the Oprah about WLS and addictions, and we were laughing that I was going to become an alcoholic sexoholic. Of course she said how is this any different than before the surgery. :omg: I am reallly wondering if all this crap in the media about WLS is just a way for popular media to get one last chance to kick a fat person when they are down and trying to improve thier lives. WLS saves lives and makes way more positive impacts in peoples live than the few who end up having problems. I honestly think that those people would have been addicted to something irregardless, and that the WLS surgery industry is having to suffer the negative stereotypes due to a handful of people who do not have the courage to challenge thier demons. Andrew

Personally, I don't believe in the NO-FOREVER list. I mean, unless one is an alcoholic, why the heck not? I'm not a drinker, but I like one occasionally. I certainly take the Eucharist every Sunday and have been since 2 days post-op. I think the no soda forever is BS as well. Yeah, like it's going to pop my sleeve. I can burp ya know. The upper esophageal sphincter works just fine thanks.

I am new to this -- just two months out -- but so far I am able to enjoy the foods I love to cook. chicken thighs done French style (sauteed then covered in broth, add lots of veggies and slowly simmer until the liquid thickens) make a nice meal that can be varied a lot by using different veggies, beef stew, chili of all kind but especially turkey and black bean chili. Salmon and other fish, baked. We eat a lot of veggies -- I don't go wild with the potatoes because I will run out of room too fast. oatmeal with maple syrup and a little butter, homemade applesauce, Greek yogurt for comfort foods. Nuts, like four almonds chewed very, very well. I don't eat bread or regular Pasta but have had a little gluten-free once in a while with no problems. I have a big pot of black bean Soup on the stove right now. No chips or ice cream for me. I have had cheese but think that may be a slider food for me so I think it's best I don't have that temptation right now. I was able to enjoy the holidays having a little of everything -- we had leg of lamb, potatoes and peas for our Christmas dinner with gluten-free apple pie and whipped cream for dessert. Had to work at having just a wee bit of everything so I could have that wee slice of pie. My goal is to be able to eat all the foods I enjoy, just in very small amounts. I was never a junk food eater -- I love real food, it's just that I ate way too much of it -- so I don't feel deprived at all. Trying not to exclude anything except that I found alcohol too readily available -- wine, etc. Thanksgiving through New Years got in my way and I am going to exclude that now to see how I do without all those empty calories. Spitting up is not okay. I would be back at the doctors office pronto to have a small adjustment to be comfortable. Good luck as you sort out what works best for you. I love reading every one's posts to get new ideas, etc. Prior to being banded I worried that I wouldn't be able to get what I needed, etc., but I can see that this is not true. The good foods are very available, even if I have to run into a grocery store to pick up a yogurt or stop at a deli for a scoop of tuna. Oh, I forgot to add smoked salmon. I am loving smoked salmon and figure that is a good food for me for whatever reason. I don't have much but sure enjoy my little bites.

I went back to Minnesota for two weeks over Christmas and New Years and did good eating healthy at most meals, but why are there so many snacks! I had way too much sweets, snack foods, and alcohol, I fell of the wagon hard. I am a strong willed person though and snapped right back into VSG mode as soon as I got home Tuesday afternoon. I will say that I still used portion control and kept semi track of calories in my head and I did lose 5 lbs since leaving 2 weeks ago. Now for the fun part! All my family and friends were blown away by my success and everyone was so proud of me! We went out dancing at some of the country bars and I brought my newly learned Texas two step skills and a lot of people wanted to dance with me. I never could get attention at bars before. My favorite part was when the band played Copper Head Road and 4 great looking girls started doing the line dance and while all the guys stood around watching them my new confidence had me right in between them rocking out (Thanks Texas for teaching me to dance lol) The point of my message... Were all human, we make mistakes. I have worked very hard to get where I am today and for two weeks I let lose again and embrace my new self. It proved to me that all the hard work I have done is paying off. We just need to be strong enough to know when enough is enough and get back on plan. I missed my goal of 100lbs by NYE because of the decisions I made, but the smile on my face and the happiness in my heart meant so much more than any number on a scale could ever mean! My NYE Picture!

This is one of those topics that get a lot of debate. Some say never, some say a few weeks or months, some are given straws in the hospital. I started using a straw about 3 weeks post op. I get more air without one than with, that's just me. Here's how I look at a lot of the different surgeon's instructions on everything from post op diet, some people are on soft foods from day one, some, it takes a month. Also, caffeine, alcohol, straws and grapes. Yes, some are told to avoid grapes. I don't even get that one at all. The list goes on. In my opinion, first our surgeons give advice and instructions based on medical fact, medical opinion, covering their asses and lastly serving the lowest common denominator. I think we need to take everything in and make the best decisions for us. Hope that helps.

I'm a drinker, and I waited ~ 3 months. When I say drinker, I mean a couple times a month, not alcoholic-type. I have drank whiskey, white russians (getting the protein in with the milk, you know), vodka... etc. Never been a beer drinker, and I wouldn't be surprised if I never drank another beer. Be aware, your tolerence is waaaaaay down. I used to be able to drink about as much as I wanted and still be completely functional. No more! a couple drinks and I'm feeling it.

I stomach alcohol just fine but I avoid soda with it. The soda just gives me the instant full feeling. I am a cheaper date though as well now.

Of course, when I do drink alcohol, my drinks have *no* carbonation:)

When you say you are having a hard time with it....does that mean your system is not tolerating the alcohol? Would you mind explaining. I like to have a drink once in awhile and would love to continue after surgery. But, if I end up not being able to tolerate it, I will give it up:mad2:

Have you gotten off track and lost your "Bariatric Brain"? Maybe it's time to start thinking like a bariatric patient again! Let’s face it - after bariatric surgery, life is not the same. Your diet will change, your body will change, and in many cases, your attitude will change. For many of us, however, a point in time comes when we find ourselves in a different state. In some respect, we almost forget that we’ve had bariatric surgery. After our initial phases of being on liquids, soft and chopped foods, and transitioning into full solids, we spend some time reveling in our ability to eat a ton less and to be able to only eat certain foods. For the first 6-12 months, we are in a “honeymoon phase” of sorts - we’re losing weight easily, we have the assurance that we just CAN’T eat certain things such as rice, bread, pasta, etc., and we’re in a certain mindset that I’ve dubbed the “Bariatric Brain”. For some of us, that mindset remains because we are never able to eat certain things without them getting stuck or without experiencing dumping syndrome. For others, that mindset all but disappears when we discover that we can eat certain foods without sliming or them getting stuck, or that other foods no longer send us to the bathroom for an hour. From my own experience, the downfall out of the “Bariatric Brain” began 6 months after my surgery. I was told my my nutritionist that I was allowed to have carbonation from that point on. I was a little confused, as all of the other people I knew with the sleeve had been told they could never have it again, but my addiction to diet soda was stronger than my common sense. From that point on, I learned I could also eat bread (8 months), pasta (10 months) and rice (14 months). From there, it was no-holds barred. Something else that happens with the sleeve that they don’t tell you is that at a certain point - your stomach capacity will increase after a time. This is because for a few months, it’s swollen to a point that you can only hold about ½ a cup of food at one time. After the first year, and it is completely healed, that capacity increases to about a cup. For someone that’s not expecting that, it can be a little confusing. For a food addict, it can be exciting and tempting. At that point, you are no longer bound by restrictions. When this happens, some people begin to forget about their surgery. They begin to get back into a different mindset. One of “oh, I can eat this!” instead of, “Nope - gotta leave that off”. When this happens, the diet shifts to one of fast food, sugar, carbs, soft drinks, and alcohol (not every food in every case, mind you). It is that moment when the tool that we so greatly loved and admired begins to fail us. Or, rather, WE begin to fail our TOOL. When this happens, it’s time to return to the mindset we were in during the first year. It’s time to think like a bariatric patient again. This is no easy feat, after all, we’ve returned to our addiction - FOOD. But at the same time, in the case of most other addictions - drugs, alcohol, nicotine, etc. - there is almost always a backslide. A heroine addict may sneak out of rehab for that one more fix, an AA leader might get depressed one night and get insanely drunk, someone trying to quit smoking might sneak a puff or two at a rock concert. These instances are normal and, some believe, even a healthy part of the healing from addiction. If this is acceptable in these cases, why is it not acceptable in the weight loss world? When this happens, take a step back. Look at yourself from the outside in. It’s important here to remind yourself that getting off track is NORMAL and OK. Although not everyone has done it, many MANY people have - and some of those people have the most successful weight loss stories on the Bariatric Pal forum. With that in mind, how does one go back to the “Bariatric Brain”? Go Back To Basics Remember what started the weight loss to begin with? Protein, water, walking? Get back to it! Make sure you’re getting AT LEAST 60g of protein a day (even better is 80-90g!). Make sure you’re getting AT LEAST 64oz of water a day, and make sure you’re getting some kind of activity for AT LEAST 15 minutes a day (30-45 minutes is better). Return To Liquids? Some people return to a liquid diet for a few days (no more than 3). They feel that this helps “reset” their system and returns their mindset back to where it should be. One way of doing this is through the “5-Day Pouch Test” (designed for RnY or Gastric Band patients) in which you return to liquids for a few days then gradually return to solid foods. For those that have the sleeve or the duodenal switch, the pouch test might not work for you as it’s not designed for that kind of surgery. That being said, if you feel the need, you can also return to liquids for a few days. Return To Support Groups Support groups are the #1 key to a successful weight loss surgery, regardless of your surgery or your stage. If you are a year or more out, consider returning to a support group. Hearing what the people in the early stages are having issues with, and helping them work through those issues can, in fact, help you work through yours. Read, and Educate Yourself Consider finding books, articles, cookbooks, and magazines on bariatric surgery. Do research on one aspect that really interests you. Immerse yourself in it again like you did in the beginning! Remember Your Motivation What was your reason for having Bariatric Surgery to begin with? Your health? Your family? Your looks? Looking at what you wanted from your surgery and where you are now might help you to refocus. In The End Remember … What you are going through right now is okay, and completely normal. Thousands of people are going through exactly the same thing you are. You are not alone! Remember that if you’re REALLY struggling, you can always find help. Talk you your nutritionist or dietician, seek mentorship in a support group, or find a good counselor that has experience with food addiction and bariatric patients. And ALWAYS remember - YOU CAN DO THIS!!!

I think it's sad the stigma involved with marijuana. The way you had to throw the 'disclaimer' in before you posted your question. I mean, nobody does that with alcohol? 26 states have marijuana legal in some form, and I'm sure more will follow. It's SO much less dangerous than alcohol. My dad was a pot smoker and a drinker. Guess what he died from at 56? Cirrhosis from drinking. Yup. That being said, I'm a very casual smoker. Like before surgery, a couple times every few months, to after surgery a couple times a year (2.5 years out from surgery). I would just be careful newly post op. I think you should wait until you are at least fully healed at around a couple months or so. I ended up cutting way back on smoking it because it hurt when I cough (No idea if it has anything to do with surgery or not, but i can actually feel it in my tummy sometimes when I do), and I would get a little bit of the munchies, although not too bad. I have a hard enough time staying on track lately, so I don't want anything making it even more difficult for me! Anyway, my two cents

You know, once upon a time I didn't get where you were coming from during that debate. I may actually have said negative things to you. If I did, I apologize -- because I now fully understand where you're coming from. This place, despite the "life at goal' forum, is no place for those of us who have worked hard and had success. :thumbs_up: Recovering alcoholics have their spaces, recovering druggies have their spaces, but there's apparently no place for us recovering fatties. It's a shame, because I'll always be an obese person in remission. Where do I go??

I have always had issues with alcohol. This is because I have always had serious problems with depression, an issue which is genetically-linked and which is an issue in our family. Individuals who suffer from psychological problems, even those which are based in a neurological and genetically transferred disorder, will inevitably be prone to drift into the land of self-medication. This means that we will be suckers for drug, alcohol and food abuse. You must understand that alcohol, drugs, and stuffing yerself with food will cause your brain chemistry to unleash - on a short term basis of course - a flood of chemicals which will permit you, the miserable depressive, to feel a fugitive sense of happiness. It is when we must undergo the work of untying ourselves from this complex of buffers that we run into real difficulties. And, yes, I suspect that we are all wearing the same miserable t-shirt, doncha think?

*big hug* I'm sorry you are having such a hard time of this right now. It seems like you realize you are making mistakes in choices, etc. So why not take a moment and sit down and write out a list of why you want to lose weight and how losing this weight could affect your life. Then when you are done with that list why not take a moment to write out a list of things you dislike and are unhappy with about your life that you feel is related to being overweight. Review your lists, maybe post them somewhere on your fridge (if you are comfortable doing so) as a reminder. Then take a deep breath and remember that the band is only a tool and will only work as good as you want it to and work with it to. Recommitt yourself to living the bandster lifestyle. You can do this, you have already noted that you are making a mistake and not taking advantage of the fabulous tool you have inside you. "Every passing moment is another chance to turn it all around". You can do it and we are here to help. Perhaps read and print out the following which could help you get back on track: Adjustments How to Tell When You Are Perfectly Adjusted You are losing 1-2 pounds per week. If you are not losing 1-2 pounds per week: A. You may need an eating adjustment 1. Are you eating 60 grams of Protein a day 2. Are you eating 25 grams of Fiber 3. Are you avoiding all liquid calories a. Soup can be sign of "soft calorie syndrome" b. Alcohol contains a lot of calories – 7 calories per gram (1) It’s also a stomach irritant c. fruit juice is just sugar Water 4. Are you making healthy food choices from a wide variety of foods? a. Are you avoiding soft foods b. You can’t just eat what’s easy c. cheese is glorified fat 5. Are you drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day between meals 6. Are you eating too much junk a. chips, chocolate, nuts, ice cream, Cookies and other highly processed junk foods are too calorically dense to be regular parts of a healthy diet. But don’t avoid them completely to the point where you feel deprived. b. Stay out of fast food places 7. Are you getting in two servings of Calcium daily 8. Do you always eat the protein first 9. Then the vegetables or fruits a. Five servings a day b. Potatoes are NOT a vegetable 10. Is your portion size appropriate? a. meat or fish (1) 3 ounces – the size of a deck of cards b. Vegetables (1) ½ cup – the size of your fist c. Starch (1) If you eat the protein and the vegetables first you don’t need much (2) Avoid: rice, potatoes, Pasta 11. You might try avoiding artificial sweeteners a. Some people think that artificial sweeteners stimulate the appetite b. They are HUNDREDS of times sweeter than sugar c. They teach you to like things too sweet d. There is no evidence that people who use them are any thinner than people who don’t 12. Avoid most diet foods a. Real food usually tastes better b. Real food is more satisfying than low calorie substitutes c. When you are only eating a tiny bit the caloric savings is not that great (1) Use a teaspoon of real butter instead of a tablespoon of diet margarine (2) The body has no way to break down artificial fats a. They may go into permanent storage b. Some people think liposuction is the only way to remove hydrolyzed fats from the body B. You may need a behavior adjustment 1. Are you eating only when you are hungry? a. If you’re not sure drink 8 ounces of water and wait. 2. Are you eating three meals a day? a. With maybe 1 or 2 small Snacks 3. Are you sitting down to eat? 4. Are you eating consciously? a. No distractions, turn off the TV, put the book or newspaper away, pay attention to your food and your companions 5. Are you eating slowly? a. Put the fork down between bites b. Take 20 to 30 minutes to finish a meal c. Taking longer might cause the pouch to begin emptying 6. Are you taking small bites? a. Tiny spoon, chopsticks, cocktail fork 7. Are you chewing well? 8. Are you drinking with your meals or too soon after your meals? a. Practice water loading between meals b. You won’t be thirsty if you are well hydrated before the meal 9. Are you stopping at the first sign of fullness? a. Sometimes it’s a whisper: not hungry, had enough b. Hard stop versus soft stop 10. Do not eat between meals. Stop grazing. 11. Do not eat when you are not hungry C. You may need an activity adjustment 1. Are you getting in 30 minutes of physical activity at least 3 times a week? a. Over and above what you would do in the usual course of your day b. Could you make it 4 or 5 times a week? c. Could you make it 45 or 60 minutes? 2. Are you taking advantage of opportunities to increase your physical activity? a. Taking the stairs instead of the elevators or escalators b. Walking on the escalators instead of riding c. Parking your car further away from the entrance d. Getting out of the car instead of using the drive through e. Getting off the bus one stop before your destination f. Washing you car by hand instead of the car wash g. Playing with your kids D. You may need an attitude adjustment 1. Are you committed to your weight loss journey? 2. Are you totally honest with yourself about how much you are eating and exercising? a. Log your food and activity on ww.fitday.com for 3 days 3. Are you using food inappropriately to deal with emotional issues? a. Have you identified what the emotions are that drive your eating? b. Can you think of more appropriate ways to deal with those emotions? c. Are you willing to seek help from a qualified counselor? 4. Are you attending and participating in support group meetings? 5. Have you drummed up some support from your family and friends? 6. Have you dealt with saboteurs realistically? 7. Do you have realistic expectations about the weight loss journey? 8. Are you still obsessing about food, weight, dieting, eating? a. Obsessive – compulsive thoughts (1) Obsess about something else b. Perfectionism (1) All or none, black and white thinking c. Patience with the pace of healthy weight loss 9. Are you acknowledging your successes with non-food rewards? 10. Have you learned how to take a compliment? 11. Are you giving up diet mentality? a. Stop weighing yourself several times a day or every day b. Stop dieting c. Stop depriving yourself d. Stop defining food as "good" and "bad" e. Stop rewarding and punishing yourself with food 12. How do you feel about all the changes taking place? E. You may need a band adjustment 1. You feel like you are making healthy food choices in appropriate portion sizes but getting hungry between meals? 2. You can still eat white bread, fibrous vegetables and large portions. 3. You are having to struggle to lose 4. You are gaining weight in spite of eating right, exercising and having a good mind set. F. You may need your band loosened 1. There are times when you can’t get fluids down 2. You are vomiting too much a. How much is too much? 3. Do you have frequent reflux or heartburn at night? a. Do not lie flat or bend over soon after eating b. Do not eat late at night or just before bedtime c. Rinse your pouch with a glass or water an hour before bedtime d. Certain foods or drinks are more likely to cause reflux: (1) Rich, spicy, fatty and fried foods (2) Chocolate (3) Caffeine (4) Alcohol (5) Some fruits and vegetables a. Oranges, lemons, tomatoes, peppers (6) Peppermint a. Baking soda toothpaste (7) Carbonated drinks e. Eat slowly and do not eat big meals f. If you smoke, quit smoking g. Reduce stress h. Exercise promotes digestion i. Raise the head of your bed j. Wear loose fitting clothing around your waist k. Stress increases reflux l. Take estrogen containing medications in the morning m. Avoid aspirin, Aleve and ibuprofen at bedtime (1) Tylenol is OK n. Take an antacid (Pepcid complete) before retiring o. Try other over-the-counter heartburn medications p. See your health care provider 4. See your health care provider immediately (or call 911) if a. You have a squeezing, tightness or heaviness in your chest, especially if the discomfort spreads to your shoulder, arm or jaw or is accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, irregular or fast heartbeat or nausea. These could be symptoms of a heart attack. b. If your symptoms are triggered by exercise. c. If your pain localizes to your right side, especially if you also have nausea or fever d. If you throw up vomit that looks like black sand or coffee grounds. Or if your stool is black, deep red or looks like it has tar in it. These are symptoms of bleeding and need immediate attention. (Note: Pepto-Bismol or other medications with bismuth will turn your stool black. Iron supplements can also make the stool tarry.) e. If your pain is severe This was written by Jessie H. Ahroni, Ph.D., A.R.N.P., C.D.E., B.C.-A.D.M.

Actually I meant it in a nice way, sorry, did you think I was being sarcastic, because I didn't mean to. I don't know about you but I had to sign a paper stating that I would not drink (alcohol) prior to my surgery and I don't remember if smoking was on there or not, I think it was. I myself smoked 20 year ago for about 10 years and know how hard it is to quit especially when you're expected to all of the sudden prior to surgery stop smoking, stop drinking alcohol, and I was put on a 5 week liquid diet, my daughter 6 six weeks prior to surgery. I'm wondering if they're just waiting for you to blow!:thumbup: Smoking wasn't an issue for me but I did have a drink or two prior to surgery, but from what I recall the document I signed was not "notarized" and therefore not legally binding. I also had ice cream or gelato once in a blue moon, which wouldn't surprise most people at LBT. Anyway I wasn't trying to sound sarcastic but I can see why you might take it that way. You made a comment about yourself not being perfect or something and I was just going along with your comment that none of us are perfect and that's kind of why we're all here. Alcohol I can still pass up, cigarettes I can still pass, but when it comes to that brownie, it's my biggest weakness and why the band is still a struggle for me, brandyII.

Yes, you can "eat yourself out of your sleeve" Your stomach is still the same as before, they just made it smaller and if you over eat it will stretch just like it did before you were sleeved. You will continue to have a feeling of fullness but as your eat more that feeling takes longer to achieve. So if right now you can eat a half cup of food at a sitting , in 6 months you may be able to eat a whole cup of food before you have that feeling. Now if you are following your food plan of calories, carbs etc you will be ok but if you think a bit of pizza and a bite of cake will not harm you, you are wrong. You may not gain any weight but what you have done is tell your brain, "It's ok " . The next time you will eat the whole piece and pretty soon you will be adding a beer, eating the pasta etc. At that point you will stretch your stomach and be eating over the calories and carbs and start gaining. You may not feel hungry but you will have "head hunger" and that can be worse I think. Just follow your plan don't stray . We are like alcoholics who are on the wagon , one drink can put them back on the path of over drinking . Food effects us the same way, we can flip back to our old way of thinking and cheating. This is why so many of us gain weight after a few years.

This is where I think I disagree, not about the idea of eating too much and stretching your sleeve (which is certainly plausible), but about the idea that certain food types and what you eat will cause you to gain your weight back. I for some people who have food issues and are food addicts, food's that trigger unhealthy reactions is something I think you're being specific about. But not everybody who has weight problems are those type of people. I think your example of pizza, beer and pasta is not at all accurate. So yes, I think you can overeat and eat yourself out of your sleeve, but no... I disagree that the types of food is a gating factor to falling off course. Overweight people have many different reasons they are overweight. It's not a black and weight absolute for all VSG people that all patients have food issues that are analogous to an "alcoholic" -- that's just overly simplifying the issues. It's also painting a broad brush towards people who have a genetic disposition of being overweight or people who don't have a relationship with food that can cause them to overeat. It's just not that simple. I think it's always about calories in and calories out. If you eat pizza or drink a beer, and you continue to do that, of course you're going to gain weight and go back to being heavy or fail at the outcome. You can't do that every day of your life and all the time -- but that ALSO goes for people who don't have a VSG. It's just common sense. You have to balance your intake based on your diet and the calories you consume and understand those calories have an impact on your weight -- every day.. The worst thing a person can do decide that they are overweight SOLELY because of the types of food they eat. People fail on diets because they make their lives a compromise and stop eating the things they like in favor of things that they don't like -- "denial diets" don't work because they don't change eating habits. Changing habits and changing your attitude about portions will help you maintain or allow you to lose weight. If you figure out that you can have things you like but in moderation and within the size of the portions that limit them to being acceptable, you'll be fine. The reality is, for the most part, 400 calories of pizza is no different than the 400 calories of soup or salad, but the thing you have to understand is that one piece of pizza at 400 calories is not going to be as healthy for you and needs to be treated as such. You need to change your habits around food so that maybe having half of piece and some salad to make up that 400 calories is the better option. And if you want the wine or beer, that's fine, but maybe you need to consider that the only drink you have during the course of the week and you might need to hit the gym or get more active to offset some empty calories that you've allows yourself to have. You can just consume calories over and increase those daily calories and expect to lose weight -- you'll gain weight and the problem with things like pizza is that for 400 calories you get maybe ONE slice, if you can even eat that much (after having VSG), you're not going to be satisfied and it's not as good for you. Blaming the types of food you eat for gaining back weight is not the way to go. Counting calories and getting protein and respecting your body (and your mind) to tell you when you've eaten enough is the right way to go. For people with VSG, learning what a PROPER portion size is for whatever you're eating is the key. People that push their sleeve and eat until their overly full will continue to be challenged. My strategy has been to always put protein first, and eat until I feel that my stomach is telling me I'm done. After a while, I know that about 8-10 ounces of food total is going to be enough -- if that's a life measurement that I can live with for the rest of my life, even if that feeling goes away, I'm 100% fine with that. I know that in the past I could probably have eaten three times that amount and that's why I gained weight, I know now where my limits are and how to maintain them moving forward even long after the "tools" of a VSG are no longer able to help.

From the beginning,I have made mostly healthy choices,never denied myself. However I still don't drink carbonated drinks& very little alcohol. My theory is...why drink 150 calories when I can eat it! It is calories in,calories out. I have been exercising 3-4days/wk from the beginning.

Yes! I don't feel there's a problem with it if you're aware that they have "empty calories" and you plan for it. Also, I drink more water with alcohol as it can dehydrate you (and makes my band tighter too).

I was sooooo irritable last night, especially around dinner time. I had a bowl of green salad with lemon juice and an Optifast shake while my family ate lamb casserole. I really miss meat and cheese. I tried going caffeine free but by the end of Day Two I capitulated and decided that I would have one skim milk cappicino in the morning and then be super strict the rest of the time - it's working so far. I'm following Optifast intensive phase - replacing all meals with either the soup, shake or bar plus the 2 cups fo free vegetables (they've never tasted so good). I woke up at 1am this morning with stomach growls - I reassured myself that this was only temporary and that some people in the world went to bed hungry every night. Still I feel dreadful this morning, hungover withouth having had any fun!! Still, countdown is on, 10 days until surgery on July 31. Stay strong everyone! Cheers (an alcohol free one), Melanie:confused_smile:

Re diet soda, I had a bad diet Dr Pepper habit pre-op. I gave it up about 3 weeks prior to surgery and then the last week (on my liquid diet), I drank a couple thinking it would be my last chance. (My soda funeral) It didn't taste quite the same. I will tell you that post-op, I probably miss carbonation more than anything BUT honestly, what I miss is the "habit" and the "choice". I am almost 4 months post-op and what I crave is that part of my old lifestyle and haven't quite found a good substitute. I drink a lot of unsweet tea. BUT it does get easier. The first month as I drove past my favorite Breakfast stop, I really had to focus to keep driving. The last few weeks, I don't even see it anymore. Years and years ago when I first started considering WLS, I said I would never do it because I couldn't have soda or alcohol. Soda will never be a good choice and alcohol can be done in moderation after the weight loss phase. I wish I hadn't let those things keep me away this long though. All the benefits make it more than worth it and the "cravings" get better. Don't let this part hold you back. Re Cookies, I have not tried this yet, but I have read lots of folks cutting up Quest Protein bars into pieces (like maybe 8 pieces) and put them in the toaster oven, and they come out like cookies. A treat and you get your protein. If it is a trigger food for you that might lead to more not so healthy cookies, then don't do it, but if you can find a substitute for that craving that fits in to your food budget (and even better helps with protein needs), then all the better.

so you haven't had any problems that i hear on the site about never eating bread again etc....is there anything you find your stomach can not take? I've noticed I'm becoming scared that this might actually work! Which creates a whole new set of anxieties but I've been getting worried about people who say they can never drink soda again or alcohol or bread. I thought it just shrunk your stomach so you couldn't eat as much of things

I have ordered 3 sodas since being banded and with all 3 orders I have drank a total of about a 1/2 cup.I am a karaoke junkie and don't drink alcohol so if I go to a karaoke bar that does not have iced tea or lemonade I order a diet coke but usually just sip at it.I don't drink it otherwise but like I said in my previous post I try to keep drink sugar free drink packets.

Wow! What a topic! Here's my $0.02. Obesity is much more of an issue in 2006 than it was 20 years ago, which was more than 50 years ago, which was more than 100 years ago, and so on. If we adhered to a Biblical diet, in other words the guidelines for diet given to the Israelites in Leviticus, we most likely wouldn't be having obesity issues. But we don't live in that time and we don't adhere to that diet (it would be pretty tough). I believe we face a lot more temptations in this day and age, due in large part to our busy lifestyles and the ease of selecting processed and unhealthy foods. (as an aside -- if you look at people who have a problem with pornography, they struggle more now than people 50 years ago because -- hello! -- pornography is more readily available). So being constantly bombarded with horrible food choices and huge portion sizes, those of us with a proclivity to overeat or make bad selections are more likely to have issues. There may be an aspect of laziness here on some level, but really the issue in my mind is that living your entire life trying to exhibit huge amounts of restraint every minute of every day is practically impossible. I've always said that being on a constant diet is a horrible way to live. And for anyone to consistently eat 1200 calories a day (which is what I need to MAINTAIN my ideal weight!!!), it's just an awful way to live. I'm sure you've heard this before, but alcoholics have it easier. They just need to avoid alcohol altogether. Food-addicts still have to eat several times a day, but they're expected to choose well and stop eating when sometimes 3/4 to 1/2 of what they were served is still left on their plate! No wonder many of us fail! So back to the question of whether using WLS to control obesity is a sin? I believe God gives us tools to bring our lives into conformity with His will, some of those tools are technology, and those tools vary depending on the person involved. Heck, I use www.biblegateway.com to look up Bible verses all the time! Technology can be a blessing! Is it a sin to seek counseling when God gives us all the answers in the Bible? Is it a sin to wear a prosthetic if you lose a limb, because maybe God wanted to you struggle without a limb to learn something? Is it a sin to get a pacemaker, hip replacement, or have an operation to cure a defect in an unborn baby? Is it a sin to take Vitamins because you should be getting all of the nutrients you need out of what you eat? Of course not -- these are all tools. WLS certainly isn't the EASY way out. It'd be nice if there were an easy way out!!! It is simply the recognition that, for us, losing weight and keeping it off has proved to be, over the course of years and years, unsuccessful. And we are therefore choosing to use a tool to force us to control our intake.