Search the Community

..... exercise?Walking the day I got home. Swimming and circuit training 4/5 weeks ....drink alcohol? I don't drink so never asked .... smoke cigarettes? ( I am sure the doctor would tell you not to start again.) I quit on August 27 and won't be starting back. .... smoke marijuana? It makes your body retain Water and slows the bodies ability to make more lean muscle and I don't do drugs so never asked. ... anything else? Fly out for business trips after two weeks. Caffeine after 14 days I did wait until seven weeks to start drinking coffee.

steelergirl, if you can cite a reputable study that says it kills brain cells, bring it on. Otherwise you are just repeating what someone else told you which may are may not be true. I do know that some people have problems with it. I have known people that had problems - I lived with a husband. but I'm a 53 year old woman, I have been using it since I was 25 on and off. I have never had problems quitting when I needed to. I have had the same good job for the last 15 years and I don't live in my parents basement. I know that drug and alcohol counselors and the drug treatment community see things a certain way and one of the reasons is that they only come in contact with people who use drugs and alcohol in negative ways and don't really understand casual users of drugs and some of them don't even really understand casual alcohol use. People who don't have problems with drugs don't go to drug counselors of their own free will. Sometimes people that would not have a problem if marijuana was legal get forced into treatment because of a positive drug test or because of an encounter with law enforcement. These people don't always need treatment. They just happened to be unlucky. I have know people who really did have a problem with marijuana. I had a husband that worked probably 2 years out of the 10 I was with him. He would sit in his chair, watch TV, pour him a coke, smoke weed and then smoke a few cigarettes and then start all over. I would go to work and come back and he would be in the same place.

Very early stages of electing for WLS. I have been reading that many people all together lost the urge for soda and booze. I love bourbon, will I have to forgo this for life? moderation? after losing weight can I get the little buzz from just a drink? I have come to the point where I need to give it up if I want to see my 3 year old and my unborn child grow up. Something that I do enjoy every morning (sometimes feels like a necessity) is my coffee to get me up and moving. how does caffeine affect the body after WLS? I have been looking forward to a real motivator to get me to stop most of these things that are generally unhealthy to begin with.

My surgeon required me to be caffeine free prior to surgery - that sucked, because I was a 4-6 cup of coffee per day person. But I did it because it was important. I wasn't much of a soda drinker prior to surgery, but I did enjoy some every once in a while. I wasn't a heavy alcohol drinker, but I did have a drink sometimes. So, I'm 6 months out...I do drink coffee, but not as much as I used to (I had to pinkie promise my dock that I wouldn't go back to old habits). I enjoy a Starbucks Carmel Macchiato, but it's a treat, not a habit. I drink 2 cups of decaf and 1 cup of regular every day. My drink is a DiSorrono and Coke...I've had two since surgery. The carbonation didn't bother me, but I stirred and stirred to try to flatten it. I can't see my drinking a lot of soda - it just doesn't make me feel good.

Some of the restrictions depends upon the type of surgery. In general, Avoid drinking caffeinated beverages because it stimulates appetite, irritates stomach lining after surgery and acts like a diuretic. Avoid carbonated beverages because it causes increase in gas and puts pressure against the healing staple line which can lead to ulcers. Avoid alcohol because it's empty calories, irritates the new stomach after surgery and may cause dumping syndrome. In my case, I had a 6 diet Coke per day habit. When I began my medically monitored weight loss program required by my insurance, I went cold turkey on the diet cokes. I had a rough couple weeks because my body was addicted to the cokes. But because I made that change alone, I lost 20 pounds in a few weeks. I suspect the carbonated beverage releases small explosions of carbon dioxide that microscopically expands my stomach. Over time my larger stomach allows me to eat more and I gain weight. When I cut this component out, my stomach grew a little smaller and I lost weight.

I stopped drinkng soda 6 months before my pre-op and haven't had any sense. My doctor told me I had to stay away from the carbination and to be honest I don't miss it and I was a BIGGG soda drinker. As far as alcohol is concerned I'm not a drinker so.....I drink alot of tea throughout the day and it's cafinated, my doctor never said I couldn't have caffenee but every doctor has different guidelines. The reward of not having certain things is far greater than having them:-) Good luck on your decision!

I don't have any carbonation per surgeon's instructions but no problem with alcohol or caffeine. I am a big tea drinker and I enjoy a drink or two some evenings. I don't feel deprived -- at all.

My surgeon says one cup of coffee a day is fine. That's all I have. I am off carbonation and alcohol. He doesn't want us drinking for a year. I don't think I will drink until I hit goal.

Not sure if I woulda gone ahead with wls if someone told me I'd have to give up coffee (well, probly but I wouldn't have been happy). I was offered coffee after I passed my leak test the day after surgery in the hospital. It didn't sound good so I didn't have 1 for about 4 weeks. Then I just woke up and said "Today is the day"! I drink 1-2 cups (to be perfectly honest, they're more mugs than cups) a day splashed with a little sf creamer or sf coffee syrup and milk. I only drink good coffee (grind my Beans as I go) and my family says I'm the "coffee snob" of the family. U couldn't pay me to drink Folgers. As for alcohol, I do drink a glass of red wine most nites. Started that about 3 mths post op. I don't remember there being rule about alcohol, as in when. Just remember to log in those calories (and don't drink too much cuz that will lead to mindless eating - been there). And I've taken a sip or 2 of hubbys soda about once a month when we go out to eat. I miss it when I eat pizza, but thats about it. My dr told me that carbonation might stretch my sleeve so that scares me enuf to keep me away. And I'm not a big fan of letting the bubbles die and then drinking it (as some suggest). Yuck. Whats the point? Good luck to u!

Happy belated Thanksgiving everyone! I had such a great day. I saw my cousin who I hadn't seen in forever and was so happy to not be shamefully huge. I would never have gone to see him 61lbs ago because he and his wife are so thin and fit. I went to my boyfriends moms house and had a good time as well. Her home at Thanksgiving is a gluttons paradise- literally 40-50+ family members, extended family and friends with buffet style catering dishes with TONS of food. Desserts galore and the liquor flows well into the night- it's an absolute feeding frenzy! Two men commented on how small my plate was- I told one who's known me for a long time about my surgery. I had even put more on my plate that I knew I wasn't going to eat! Once my boyfriend settled in to a game of Madden with his best friend from high school (these are 42 yr old military men mind you), I took the opportunity to go see a friend from college that I recently reconnected with. Again, I would never have gone to see her either. She and I were obsessed with our weight and the gym in college and I would not want her to see me that way. Even now it's still not as comfortable. I was so happy to see her and when I move she'll be my gym buddy like old times. We've also made plans for a Caribbean cruise in April 2015! So many people said how good I looked and it made me happy but also kind of sad knowing how much I had let myself go. I'm not going to dwell on the past though, but I know no matter what I will never let myself go there EVER AGAIN. I had a great holiday, didn't have alcohol even though I thought I would try some, and lost another pound! Who can ever say they LOST a pound the day after Thanksgiving? She wins!!!

How far out are you from your procedure? Have you consumed alcohol yet? Have you noticed any change to the way your body metabolizes it? Feel Drunk much more quickly? Any odd unusual or unexpected side effects? Gas? LoL [emoji23] thanks!!

Yeah, you really have to make a conscious decision to stay away from the foods that you know were triggers to overeating, and chips are one of them. Pure carb and fat calories, very little nutritional value and it's impossible to stop, once you start. So it's a little like being a recovering alcoholic...those things that you know have been triggers for you, you just have to give them up...because they will trigger relapses.

Mine are not healing as well as I would like. The one where thy took my stomach out is fine.all healed up. the one above it ( under my left girl) is a mess. It keeps oozing blood and pus. It was/is a tiny little thing, but, it just won't heal. I am one month out. I am keeping it clean with alcohol. and covered lightly. (gauze) I think I caused this to happen. I wear an underwire bra. I think it irratated that site and ground some dirt in or something. All my other wounds are healing nicely enough. One of them opened up when I took the stiches out. Pcp here said it will heal from the inside out. Will just take longer. I am with Cajun on the scars VS fat. gimme the scars, there is always a one piece suit for the pool. Plus you can say you had some moles removed. That is what it looks like. There is always tatoos for coverage. LOL Wait for at least a year or two before resorting to that. Tiffy could get a pink (breast cancer) ribbon to cover hers. HA

As mentioned earlier in a post I was diagnosed with End Stage (4) liver disease after a gallbladder removal surgery. The primary cause was (NASH) aka non-alcoholic cirrhosis and my doctors feel that it was most likely brought on through being diagnosed with diabetes since childhood. I was recommended by my hematologist to have the gastric sleeve because it has a 98% success rate in completely stopping the progression of the NASH, however I will always have the 49% liver damage. I am currently pre-op but I have been in the works of the surgery for a while. In 2006 I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and went from 135lbs to almost 200lbs within a year. I did have a poor diet and bad habits of doing nothing but drinking coffee all day and only eating dinner at night. At that point I tried to diet and exercise and continued up to this day without success. Originally, per the request of my PCP I looked into a Gastric Bypass in 2010. I started the insurance dance performed all the requirements diet history, psych eval, other comorbid through Tricare and was denied on the first go. It was at this point I became very ill and it was discovered I had gallstones just shy of a quarter sizes blocking the bile duct and I had them and the gallbladder removed. That is when they discovered the liver damage and told me if I had gotten the surgery years ago I would have never had this problem or it was highly unlikely. However, now with an army of doctors at my back I am on my way to getting the surgery, but I wonder if at all now other than weight loss will there be a true benefit from it? Don’t get me wrong, I welcome the weight loss but I will still face an inevitable situation of liver transplant or complications later in life. I am currently just worried that since this entire if I am putting myself at even greater risk, because all surgeries are a risk and I would think especially one that is pretty much a 70% amputation of the stomach. Anyone else here ever have any difficulties with the liver? Or diabetes? I’ve heard that some have even been diabetes free from after the surgery? Is that only for type 2 diabetics? Any advice is greatly welcomed and appreciated

Wow Tiffy, you are actually living your life and enjoying food proportionately! This is something I want so badly--this is the "normal" I hope to aspire to. I am not a drinker per se but on occasion enjoy a little wine or a fancy frozen tropical drink. I'm now 3 months out so like Stoongal am wondering if it is still to early to sip on anything alcoholic.

Neither my surgeon nor dietician gave me calorie goals to follow while losing. They did recommend 1/4 cup of food from purée stage slowly increasing as I was able to eat more as long as it was low fat, low sugar, low carb. I wasn’t eating 300 calories in that first month. I remember my surgeon drawing a picture of a side plate, then drawing a circle of protein & a circle of vegetables & saying that’s about how much I’d be eating at goal. He also outlined the size in my palm. He was pretty right. I was told a daily goal 60g of protein & then slowly add vegetables & fruit to my eating as I progressed. I saw my dietician every two weeks for almost a year (COVID ended it) where we discussed what I had added to my diet & what I thought I’d try next. I can go back to her at anytime. It took me about a year to find the sweet spot in maintenance & to stop losing. I’m really not active so I maintain my weight through calorie control though I don’t religiously measure & count calories except when I add new foods or do random checks to ensure I’m not slipping. I keep to about 1200 calories give or take. Awareness of portion size & nutritional value of what I eat are my key considerations. I prepare most of my food so I have control over the ingredients & how it’s cooked. I eat protein (average 60g from meat, seafood & dairy), vegetables, fruit & whole/multi grains (some crackers as a snack & rolled oats). No processed carbs & I avoid as much sugar, sugar substitutes or artificial sweeteners as I possibly can. No fast food in my life & I’ve had takeaway three times since surgery (braised chicken & cashews & skinned steamed gyoza). No carbonated drinks except for tonic, soda or sparkling water. I don’t allow high sugar or high fat food in my house - if it’s not there I can’t eat it. If I have people over, they take home the leftovers of foods I don’t eat now for the same reason. It may sound restrictive but it’s working for me & I really don’t miss anything. There are some things I can’t eat or don’t enjoy anymore because my tummy doesn’t tolerate them. I used to eat a lot of avocado but now it tastes off & the texture is strange. Mashed potatoes & pasta (including plant ones) sit heavily in my tummy & I don’t enjoy alcohol as much. My hunger only came back earlier this year but I still have days I’m not really hungry (like yesterday & today) so I try to eat to routine so I don’t miss meals. If I’m going out for dinner, I’ll drop a snack to allow for what I might eat at the restaurant. In the past, I wouldn’t weigh myself if I thought I’d put on weight - if I couldn’t see an actual number on the scales I could convince myself I hadn’t gained. So I weigh myself almost every day. I have a fluctuation window of about 1kg (2.2lbs). If it sits on or close to the max for a couple of days in a row, I review my diet & make slight adjustments: drop a snack, reduce a portion size. Sometimes it’s just fluid or constipation but I find I know my body a lot better now & I make allowances for that. My medical team would like me to put on a couple of kilos but I’m happy where I am. But who knows what the future will bring. I certainly eat way more frequently than I ever did before surgery and also more than I used to eat: 3 meals & 3-4 snacks. I think I have a metabolism that is finally working again. There are so many different eating plans you can follow to lose or maintain. You’ve just got to find what works for you & how you want to live & enjoy your life. Finding a good dietician & therapist who are experienced with bariatric patients is a good place to start. Good luck finding your path. Sorry it’s so long.

I am having this same issue post VSG. Two days after surgery I started with two and have had between 2-6 since then with some respite when I took dexamethasone and chlorhexidine Rx rinses. When I stopped taking the rinses though, they returned. We (Doctors & I) are wondering if it is a sensitivity to sugar/sugar alcohols/stevia/monkfruit. Any one else experience this and able to resolve the sores?

You really should consult your surgeon. For my program guidelines, alcohol should be avoided for a minimum of 3 months to give the sleeve time to heal, and it's even more preferred to wait until you are at goal weight to indulge in alcohol. Alcohol is just wasted calories, but if you're not strict then you can indulge once your doctor releases you do so. I personally wanted to wait until I got to goal, and not waste calories on drinking.

It does make a lot of sense, I agree. I mean, why do some people gain weight so easily? There's got to be loads of obese people out there (like my DH) that seriously dont eat THAT much food. I mean yes, he overeats for him, but he would literally eat half what any other 6ft 1, 260lb man would. He eats 3 meals a day, never Snacks, moderate alcohol intake (like a beer or two twice a week and a couple of glasses of wine a week) and he exercises too and yet he cant control his weight. Comes from sitting at a desk 10 hours a day no doubt. Some people simply have to go that low to lose. I worry seriously that people eating that little are malnourished and would argue seriously that its not necessary for most people, but when it is, you've got no real choice have you? I dont really believe in starvation mode personally. And I'd rather run for 3 hours every day than try to live on 800 calories, lol, I like my food too much to tolerate that.

How to Lose 22lbs or 10kgs in 28 Days Without Starving or Training Like an Olympic Athlete!' By Stephen Smith BSc If you seriously want to lose 22lbs or 10 kilograms in 28 days then you must perform all of the principles exactly as recommended. Unlike the recommendations in my book, ‘Look good, feel great!', where you can pick the principles you want to use and ignore the rest and where you can even modify the principles to suit your lifestyle, these principles must be followed exactly as they are outlined. If you want extraordinary results, then you must be willing to put in an extraordinary effort! I realise that some people may be thinking, ‘But it is impossible to lose 10 kilograms of fat in a month!' I agree- it is! However, the truth is, it is impossible to only lose fat on any type of weight-loss program. You will always lose a combination of fat, water, stored carbohydrate and some muscle. Furthermore, most people who want to lose 10 kilograms in the first place are generally retaining excess fluid anyway, so a system that helps get rid of the excess fluid is certainly going to accelerate their results. Perform 30-60 minutes of aerobic exercise morning and night. Yes, you read that correctly, morning and night- 2 sessions a day… every day! No excuses. We're all busy, we all feel tired some mornings, but if you're serious about getting amazing results, then you must be willing to do everything necessary. When we talk about aerobic exercise, we're talking about exercise! Not walking around the shops, doing the gardening or doing housework. It must be exercise, which means your breathing rate increases, your face goes red, you sweat, you get tired- simple! Some examples of aerobic exercise include: walking (pounding the pavement at a brisk pace- not dawdling), cycling (stationary bike is ideal), swimming, rowing, stepper, cross-trainer, aerobic classes, boxing, etc. Use ‘thermogenics'. There are several very effective thermogenic supplementson the market that can accelerate your progress towards your goal. Those containing caffeine, green tea extracts and an extract from a plant called coleus forskohlii are the most effective. They will boost your metabolismand promote the release of fat from the fat stores. ‘Scorch' by MAN Sports is a good example. It contains a combination of 7 powerful herbal ingredients specifically designed to boost your metabolism, burn body fat and increase your energy. Unfortunately though, thermogenics are not ‘magic pills'. You can't expect to take a couple of thermogenic capsules and then go home and eat pizza and drink alcohol and expect to get results. Thermogenics only work when their use is combined with a good nutrition and exercise program. Take 1-2 capsules twice a day; once prior to your morning exercise session and once with your lunch. Don't take them later than 4:00pm in the afternoon because they may keep you awake at night. Before using thermogenics, see your doctor first and obtain their approval. Do not eat anything for 30 minutes after the completion of any exercise. As a result of using the thermogenics combined with the exercise, your metabolism will remain elevated for some time after the exercise session is finished. This means your body will burn fuel at a faster rate than normal. Any exercise causes the body to use carbohydrate (muscle glycogen and blood glucose) as a fuel source. This means that after the exercise is completed the carbohydrate stores in the body are low and the body will be forced to use fat as its fuel. If a meal is eaten immediately after the completion of the exercise session, the blood glucose level will rise, inducing the secretion of insulin from the pancreas. One of the effects of insulin is to stop fat burning in the body. Therefore, wait 30 minutes (but no longer because cortisol will rise) before having your next meal. Perform a weight training workout 2-4 times a week. Lifting weights is the most under-estimated way to lose fat fast! Now, before you start saying, ‘But I don't want to get big muscles!' or ‘I don't want to look like a man!', consider the following. The main purpose of lifting weights when your primary goal is to lose body fat is to preserve the muscle massyou already have. You see, muscle is the ‘engine' within which the fat, or ‘fuel' is burnt and maintaining or even increasing your muscle mass slightly will help ensure your body fat is burnt off efficiently. If you don't lift weights, your body will quite happily lose both fat and muscle as you drop the kilos. Lifting weights forces your body to maintain your muscle mass, therefore keeping your metabolism elevated and turning your body into 24-hour-a-day fat-burning machine! Incidentally, it only takes two 30 minute sessions a week to obtain the muscle preserving benefits of lifting weights. Have 5-6 small meals a day. One of the most common strategies people use to lose weight is to skip meals. Whilst reducing food intake is certainly an effective way to lose weight, having fewer meals is not the way to go. Many overweight people say, ‘I don't know why I'm overweight, I only eat once or twice a day!' Unfortunately, this is exactly why they are overweight. Having a mild calorie restriction is effective because if you consume less calories than you burn each day you will lose weight- simple! However, skipping meals forces the body to invoke its ‘Starvation Mechanism' because it thinks it is entering a famine. As a result, the body slows the metabolism to preserve energy. It also increases cortisol output and cortisol is the most powerful catabolic hormone in the body, which means it goes around the body breaking down lean tissue, particularly muscle. A loss of muscle slows the metabolism even further. Skipping meals also results in an increase in appetite, which forces you to eat larger amounts of food when you do eat. In addition to all these factors, the body also increases the activity of fat-storing enzymes, lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and fatty acid synthase (FAS), so when you do eat the food gets stored as fat. All of this results from simply skipping meals! By having a small meal every 2-3 hours throughout the day, your metabolism stays elevated and your body will happily burn fat all day long. Unfortunately though, most people are conditioned to having large meals and they automatically assume they will put on weight if they have 5 or 6 meals a day. The fact is, the ideal portion sizes for most people are actually quite small and in order to lose weight fast it is essential that you never feel full from a meal but you do feel satisfied. Also, most people find it difficult to have a meal every 2-3 hours throughout the day because they are so busy with work and/ or family commitments. Here are some suggestions to ensure you get your 5 or 6 meals a day. • Plan and prepare your meals the night before • Use meal replacements (protein shakes or bars) • Select foods that are quick and easy to prepare and consume Ensure each meal contains protein. Protein is a component of all cells and makes up over half the dry weight of the human body. Furthermore, the human body is a dynamic structure, which means it is constantly building up and breaking down tissue. Just imagine a bath full of water. At one end of the bath the plug is pulled out and at the other end the tap is turned on full. The water level in the bath doesn't change but there are ‘new' water molecules entering the bath and ‘old' water molecules leaving the bath all the time. The human body is exactly the same. If the body breaks down more tissue than it builds up, then it is said to be in a catabolic state. This results in the metabolism slowing down due to the loss of muscle tissue. Having a portion of high-quality protein every few hours throughout the day provides the body with a constant supply of amino acids- the building blocks of the body. This prevents the catabolic state, promotes an anabolic state (tissue building) and therefore keeps the metabolism ‘fired-up'. If only carbohydrate or fat is consumed for a meal, for example a piece of fruit (carbohydrate) for the mid-morning meal, then the body will still enter a catabolic state because it doesn't have the building blocks (amino acids) to re-build body tissues. Protein, as its name suggests, is of primary importance. Reduce your intake of high-density carbohydrates. Most high-density carbohydrates like bread, pasta, rice and cereals cause a rapid rise in blood glucose. This invokes the release of insulin from the pancreas, which in turn stores the glucose. The body stores glucose in the muscles and liver as glycogen and once these sites are full, the remaining glucose gets stored as body fat. Not only this, but insulin also stops the body from mobilising and utilising fat for fuel (burning fat). So if you want to maximise fat loss, you need to keep insulin to a minimum and the best way to do this is by reducing your intake of starchy carbohydrates without cutting them out altogether. Cutting them out totally is a philosophy of many low-carb diets on the market. However, these are very hard to sustain long-term and may lead to nutrient deficiencies. Each day, have a small amount (1-2 serves) of high density carbohydrates (bread, pasta, rice, cereals); a moderate amount (2-3 serves) of medium density carbohydrates (starchy vegetables and fruits); and a large amount (5-6 serves) of low density carbohydrates (fibrous vegetables). [For a complete list of carbohydrates, see pages 136-138 of the book, ‘ Look good, feel great! ] Do not have a Treat Day. Since you are expecting an extraordinary result, it is essential that you put in an extraordinary effort. Accordingly, for the next 28 days you must follow the plan exactly as it is outlined without deviating. This means you can't allow yourself to indulge in any ‘forbidden foods'. This also means avoiding alcohol for the entire 28-day period. I know this may be hard for some people but let's face it, it is only for 28 days! By committing to the plan and disciplining yourself to see it through, you are ensuring that the results will follow. Plus, the disciplines you create to help you achieve your physical goal will have a ‘carry-over benefit' to other areas of your life as well. I wish you the greatest success in achieving outstanding results! * Before using any nutritional supplement, speak with your health care professional.

Hello Daybyday! What a wonderful name you chose! It's possible that you might need a fill. Go through this checklist and see what you think. I've seen several people post this information but I think it might be helpful to you. (Adjustment = fill) Adjustments<!--webbot bot="Navigation" i-checksum="27883" endspan --> <TT>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</TT> <TT>B. You may need a behavior adjustment</TT> <TT>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</TT> <TT>C. You may need an activity adjustment</TT> <TT>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</TT> <TT>D. You may need an attitude adjustment</TT> <TT>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?</TT> <TT>E. You may need a band adjustment</TT> <TT>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.</TT> <TT>F. You may need your band loosened</TT> <TT>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.</TT> <TT>(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</TT>

:faint:I am not a beer swilling kind of guy but I do like to have a beer watching the red sox kick butt or the Patriots trouncing the competition.I know this is all about sacrifice and all that, but I was wondering if you can still have a Mai tai or a beer once in a while? Just starting my Journey Paul

Hey Sabrina, and welcome to VST. You've had a heck of a journey thus far. As for my band complications, I had a flipped port from early on, and it caused a lot of pain and discomfort. The tubing was actually tugging on my stomach in addition to all the other wonderful "band" issues. So, I was able to revise to the sleeve. As for your concerns, I was not released to drink alcohol until my 3.5-4 month post-op mark. I have a glass of wine a couple times a week. It doesn't get me drunk faster unless I drink it quickly, then the drunk wears off, and I maintain a nice relaxed feeling. I'm 7 months out, and I indulge in a soda once a week, once every other week. It takes me 2-3 days to drink a soda because I don't drink it all the time. Some doctors are absolutely against them. Mine happens to believe that they are just wasted calories and that it will not stretch out the remaining. We do not have a pouch like RNY or band patients so it's a little different. My post-op diet for the sleeve revision was 2 weeks clears 2 weeks full liquids (I did a week doc progressed me to mushies) I did mushies for awhile with some soft Proteins for 2-3 weeks then onto regular food. You'll need to stick to the post-op diet because healing of the staple line is completely different than with your band surgery. Food particles, seeds, and chunks of stuff can get in your staple line causing infection, irritation and lead to a leak. I had a leak 2 days post-op revision, and it wasn't fun at all. I was in ICU for 5 days, on a ventilator, and had a slim chance of survival. The leak was successfully repaired, but I was on a pic lin in my arm being force fed 1800 calories a day through a TPN bag for over 2 weeks. I didn't have anything to eat or drink for 22 days. NOTHING no ice chips, no Water, nothing at all. Just my opinion, I think 6 weeks out is way too early to consume alcohol. Your stomach has been traumatized, and will still technically be healing. I've heard people talk about stomach burning, but wine (Riesling) hasn't bothered me at all. Keep us posted on your journey, and I'll be looking for updates.

Just wanted to put this out there for those soon to be surgeries. I've read so much about how bad the gas will be the first few days and the necessity for the Gas-X DISSOLVABLE Strips. You might want to get them ahead of time. They may not be easily found in stores (although Wal-Greens has them). They were about $6.00 per 18pkg, recommended 2-3 at a time. Wal-Mart does not carry them in store(or not in all stores) CVS does not either. Amazon had them listed from about $9 up to $30. Crazy prices. It's been said they are discontinuing them but I suspect they will probably come back at a higher price due to increasing needs due to bariatric surgeries etc...All I could find were the mint flavored but I'll probably need them for fresh breath anyway. I got 4 boxes to be safe....I had to order because our nearest Walgreens is 50 miles away. Trying to make sure I have everything needed for the first week or two. Found that zero Gatorade too. I'm just ready to get this party started. Cooking supper tonight, all I could think of was how I'm going to miss my veggies. Crazy right, ok with giving up alcohol and desserts, I'm going to miss my steamed veggies, cabbage, asparagus. I only have a 24 hr liquid diet but, I'm going to start a week earlier and be diligent the last 3 days. Dr. said no need but this is one time I'm going to go with my gut. I'll abide by his orders afterwards. (smile) Have a great weekend everyone!

The biggest lifestyle change for me is exercise and alcohol. If you drink a lot you may have difficulty losing. Likewise with exercise. The more you exercise the greater the results. The food issues too. Some foods go down really easy. It will be very important for you to eat good healthy solid proteins and less junk. If you are ready to do those 3 things then you can be banded. Good luck on your journey.