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I always eat a little bit before taking mine. I've never felt gassy. But you might check to see if it is sweetened with sugar alcohols or sucralose. Both of those sweeteners cause me cramps and gas bubbles.

So let me get this straight....I'm home....no sugar no carbs no caffeine hardly any alcohol work out five days a week....stuck at same weight for three weeks. Go out of town eat a bunch of shit all day for five times a day don't work out drink alcohol come back… Lost 3 pounds. WTF? How my supposed to keep making progress when my body is an asshole and makes no sense at all? Only thing I can deduce from this exercise is that maybe I wasn't eating enough before or I was gaining muscle before as well…#mybodyiscray #annoyed #53lbsdown #20togo

Wow, this has definitely been a loaded thread in several different ways. So, I thought I should put my two cents in as well. I think I've now experienced first hand the benefits of sticking on the narrow path, and the problems when I don't. For example, the first time I had a carbonated beverage, holy cow, I paid the price in discomfort. However, I have to say that I had a beer the other evening, and because I really nursed it (over a 2 hour period), I wasn't really thrown by it, although it takes far, far less alcohol now to feel the effects than it did pre-band. I've decided that perhaps with the exception of a very occasional indulgence, it's not really worth it. I have been able to eat just about anything since going on solids post-surgery. Do I gradually advance my diet post-fills, as recommended? Sure- and I love the little weight loss boost I get as a side perk. Do I eat tiny bites and chew like crazy, as recommended? Most times, and when I don't, I pay in being "stuck", which simply hurts. Do I restrict portions, as recommended? Generally, although I'm not as vigilant as I should be...and again, I pay the price. These days, I'm extremely stressed, so now I know that I'm not good at focusing on the rules when I'm so pulled aside with other things. I trust that my surgeon and his team know more about this journey in general than I do. Just like I trust my general doctor to guide me in managing my medical care, I trust Dr. McKenna to help manage my Lap-Band care. It's crystal clear that when I make my own decisions in this arena, against his direction, I'm the one who loses the game. So, why not set myself up to win? I may question the methods or the motives, but the results of compliance (65 pounds so far- my surgery was 2/26/10) is hard to deny! My very, very best wishes to you all on your journey! Christine

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

What kind do you take are they soft chews? If so are there sugar alcohols in them or dairy? Maybe that's it?

I don't have any articles to give you, but one thing that helped my DH with his understanding is when we were talking about his drinking of beer (which is his vice). He thought I didn't understand how it calmed him down to toss back couple after work. I said something to the effect of "you use beer, I use a pint of ice cream, that's the only difference". He sat silent for a good 10 minutes after that. Does your DH have anything like that you could use as a comparison? I think that type of comparison only works if the person you are talking to has something like that. Telling someone that our eating is like an alcoholics taking a drink doesn't mean anything to anyone who's not an alcoholic, you know? They still don't get it.

I had family visiting and i thought it would be ok to have a drink(rum punch). And the day before i ate some mac& cheese.....both of those turn out to be BAD idea's. I have been in the bathroom since 5am. My tummy is sore not to mention my bottom this the worst. I never want to feel this way again. For best results follow directions! No alcohol or food i shouldn't eat .

Well more than that, not that I'm a saint about anything, but IMHO we all need to try to make the next best choice from here on out. Doesn't mean we will win, cuz I can guarantee we won't win 100% of the time. But each time we DO win the test, we get stronger and are one step closer to redefining a lifetime of bad habits that got us a lifetime invitation to the Obesity Ball. You know? And you know, there are a host of reasons why alcohol isn't a great choice, but 5 weeks out it's even worse: 1. Wine = highly acidic and could increase acid and possibly cause a small ulcer at the operation suture line. Big time Billy-badass probs then. 2. Empty calories that disrupts fat burning mode in some way I can't fully explain to you. 3. Your tummy is still pretty raw in there. God! Imagine having to confess why you're hemorraging! Cuz alcohol thinned your blood too much now your bleeding at your incision sight. 4. Then there's the whole transfer addiction thing...and I'm not qualified to talk about that... But hell...I'm just a shmoe on the internet and am not qualified to talk about any of this stuff! Lol!

June Chat I POSTED THIS THIS MORNING.. SEEMS WE MUST HAVE STARTED THE SAME POST.. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Good Morning and Welcome to June... Darcy - Have you made an appt with Your Doc yet? Hopefully it turns out to be nothing but better to be safe.. Sorry to hear about Ava ~ ouch in the pocketbook ~ Hopefully your babies will get to feeling better soon. Hi Kat ~ Praying that you get the call and everything can move along for you and DH. I have not had time to read back on your trip ~ Hope you all enjoyed it and relaxed. You got it girl... Donna ~ My Heart and Prayers go out to you. I have seen on my ex's side what alcohol can do to a family. Hopefully he will make a turn around. Eileen ~ Mine are coming more common since Dec ~ early menapouse is what the Doc says. Hopefully it is not true but it's expected I guess. Beanie - I have a call into my Lawyer cause I really do believe that I am entitled to the whole thing. But in order to get him to sign off on the house I will use anything at this point to keep the peace and the house and it's contents. Believe me I would rather not give him a dime for all the emotional crap I have had to take from his bottom of the barrel family and that is putting it nicely. I will be taking cell phone / ins pymt off the top... sounds like you all had a good time this weekend Patty ~ was it hard to set up the Tivo? I would really love one but am still not sure. I order movies from Net flix and those sit around my home for like a month. I was thinking they were going to call and tell me to send them back.. Pat ~ Sorry about your friend {{HUGS}}} I love your golf course yard.. Especially your ride ~ I could go round and round on that all day.. Even make money giving rides. Cindy ~ glad you are ticket free.. Betty ~ Are you getting any rest yet?? Becky - Happy Belated Birthday Sherry ~ have you checked out Ebay for the Gun he wants? That is good that he is working to offset the cost.. " EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH ~ SHERRY" Dianne ~ I bet once the Snacks are out of the picture for you and ME - we will see a differance.. Carol ~ Hi Well here we go another day in the neighborhood. Just pluggin away and waiting for the insurance lady or adjuster to call. Total loss is what the adjuster told the collision place.. See how much they will be offering is the next question? Other than that this would be the first weekend he would get the boys for overnights but he already said he would rather not take them till he has his apt ready? humm all the flippin fighting and now he does not want them. A$$ Well tomorrow is pay day and hoping to get some bills out of the way at least on my side, little does he know that there is a garnishment on his check. Kids are doing great and ex SIL is taking them to the park to ride bikes today. Other than that not a whole lot going on today. I bring in Breakfast tomorrow that is todays delimma.. Crap why did I agree???

Thank you everyone for the great ideas on feeling full! I'm on a one week liquid only plus 90 grams of protein shake diet for preop. Sounds like there's quite a bit of variety when it comes to the preop diet, but I've been told no milk or milk products, no sugar, no caffeine, no alcohol (which would probably just make me looped off a sip at this point!) sooooo yeah #hungry. I'm glad I really only have to do tomorrow without the band because FRIDAY is the big day!! But I'll also be on this same diet for 4 weeks postop! Hoping just having the band with a little fill will stop me from being so darn hungry :/

Program Coordinator/Senior Case Manager of a Foster Youth Program. I am also a Drug and Alcohol Counselor with a specialty in co-occuring Mental Health Disorders.

Wow, that sounds like what I would have written the day before I made the deicion to have weight loss surgery. I've been in your shoes, so take those damn shoes off and get some new ones. It's a little creepy that you wrote that because they really were my words last year. Mentally ill mother, alcoholic father, very rough life. I turned it all around and became a goofball. It's my built-in defense system. Find a fabulous new career, for example. It's working wonders for me. Rearrange your entire house. Put the beds in the living room and paint the whole thing bright, cherry colors. Go on a bike ride, read funny books, collect phone numbers and make new girlfriends. Go to comedy clubs, don't sit around. Go to the drugstore and try on all the makeup. Call all the Mary Kay reps in your area (there are probably 95 on your block) and get daily facials. Wear flowers in your hair. Go to the mall in a dress with no underwear. Do something - do anything. Just do do do do do!

I always thought that I was not addicted to food.. One reason I still think so.. is because.. after having the sleeve.. I dont really miss food.. all I really miss is chuging water.. food.. not really! I go out with friends to buffet lunches and I expect to feel depressed or something.. but don't.. But the scale has a different story to tell.. I have no linking for carbonated drinks before.. do not drink alcohol...don't smoke.. even without the sleeve.. I was eating less than 800 calories a day.. that low calories was partly because I worked/studied for atleast 16 hours a day.. and did not care much about eating when I was working.. lunch was my only meal.. and slept for less than 4 hours each night.. But.. then came the weekends.. and I would eat.. breakfast.. lunch.. and dinner.. well under 2000 cals.. but more than twice of what i used to eat the rest of the week.. umm.. and I wondered why I was gaining weight! all I am eating is a salad for lunch each day! I screwed up my metabolism.. thats' why! Just before I had the surgery.. I took a new job.. and don't work for more than 8 hours a day.. I sleep for atleast 7 hours each night.. (havent been able to do that for the last 11 years..) I actually get in more calories now after the sleeve..but not sweked towards the weekends.. So..honestly..now.. I dont know if I am addicted to food.. am I?

I want to get drunk too. Sadly my clients frown on me working while drunk, so not happening tonight. Your surgery is on the 17th, so you have 14 days between now and surgery. Go get drunk. Your liver in 2 weeks is not going to be remotely impacted in a way that is relevant to your surgery based on having a few drinks now. I'm not suggesting you get blitzed level drunk, but even if you did, in two weeks it really won't matter. I didn't even have a liquid diet or any restrictions until 1 week before surgery, so two-weeks out, yes, medically you can get drunk and it's not going to matter as it relates to your sleeve. Past that though, while having a few drinks once a week is not an alcoholic, it also isn't a plan that is going to get you to your weight loss goals. I like being drunk and yet I do it maybe 1-2 times a year, partly because I don't like feeling crappy and I don't have time for a hangover and partly because I like being thin and boozing makes me fat. You can have a regular drinking habit, or you can have skinny jeans...if you aren't willing to try to have fun without drinking now, do you think that you will be willing to do that in the future when immediately after surgery it very much matters as it relates to your medical health, and later down the road, it is a major indicator for your potential for success with the surgery, weight loss, and weight maintenance? So yes, you CAN get drunk, but whether you SHOULD or not, is entirely up to you and how you think you will handle this same issue in a month or two.

Wow....I'm so sorry to hear about your brother Laura. This scares me because I have a brother who is an alcoholic. Actually his drug of choice is robitussin. He's been on that and alcohol for years. Since high school I believe. He's had numerous DUIs and accidents. He's been in rehab many times. I can totally relate when you say how critical your brother was while in recovery as mine becomes the same way. He starts something and becomes obsessed, things like smoking or chewing tobacco etc. I worry for him all the time, were pretty close and he is my only sibling. I'm like you in that this surgery is my last resort and I have to make it work. I let myself get to 427lbs and I never want to be there again! I try to stay positive and realistic also. I don't want to throw in another thing in place of food to be addicted to. I just want to be normal! I don't know what else to say except that what you shared touched me. Addiction scares me because I can see what it does to loved ones. I only hope and pray that this works for me and I can finally find peace within myself.

Do you think with our food addiction we would be like an alcoholic? That is, they can remain sober and in control as long as alcohol is not present. However, if they drink one jack Daniel in a hotel mini bar they may say " what the hell" and clean out the mini-bar, assed-drunk even the next day (think: scene in the 2012 movie "flight"). Would that happen to a former food addict if left alone with a plate of Cookies or a dozen donuts? Not sure. I wouldn't think so if we can truly break the food addiction / emotional eating tie. What do you think? Forget for a moment that the sleeve would actually physically prevent you from eating a dozen donuts, a full pizza, etc. Would it happen otherwise? Personally, I think the answer is no but would love to hear your responses whether you consider yourself a raving food addict, an arm chair food addict or not a food addict. It would be a scary thought if we reverted to crazy binge eating like the alcoholic and a hotel mini bar. I think some of us can point at self pre op and say "yup, food addict" and then never have a food relationship issue again post op. Or do they?

Hello everyone! I am 10 days post op and I can tell you that my therapist and support group have been an integral part of recovery thus far. I used to say, "I will be ok as I don't think I have much of a food addiction " ... I was so wrong. The first few days have been so rough bc all I am left is with...myself! As my therapist put it and it's a tough place to be at. Not being able to go to food, alcohol, or shopping has been something that has made me look into myself and listen to myself. I have a long road ahead but I am so grateful to have a network of support and feel I am not alone. I don't know how people do this without support of a professional or some type of group. Good luck all! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

It is going great. The first week is not a whole lot of fun. Had quite a bit of muscle pain at the large incision site, but that mostly went away after 10 days. The first day home is the worst as you have to drink these little itty bitty cups, think child liquid Tylenol cups, every 15 minutes and keep a log of it. It is tough to get your fluids in at first. By day 7 I could drink as much as I want. The only time I really know I have been sleeved is when I eat/drink food/soup/chili that has solid pieces of food. The restriction is real and I can eat maybe 5 ozs of food. We went on vacation last week and ordered a large pizza for 4 of us. I ate the cheese and sauce off the top of one slice and was full. I used to be able to eat the whole thing myself! The only residual effect of the surgery I still have is that I sleep A LOT more than I used to. I used to sleep 6-7 hours a night and now I am at 8-9 hours per night. My doctor says this should resolve itself in the next month or so. The good news is that I am losing an average of 5 pounds per week. I lost a lot at first, hit the 3 week stall, and then started losing again after 10 days. I bought a belt in March that I could barely get to the first notch and now the last notch is too loose. My waist last Xmas was 48 inches and now is close to 40. Knee pain/back pain? Good bye! High blood pressure? Good bye! Airplane travel? I fit easily into my own seat now. Amusement park? Riding with kids with plenty of room for the bar to come down. My goal weight is what I weighed when I got out of the Army in 1997. As things are going now, I should be at that goal in late September. There is NO way I could have done this without the sleeve procedure. The sleeve can be very frustrating at time, my head hasn't gotten the message that it can't gorge on food anymore. I almost put myself back in the hospital with dehydration due to eating atkins bars with sugar alcohols (I have become SUPER sensitive to sugar alcohols, I had serious dumping syndrome). It takes a serious commitment, but for me it has produced the results as advertised. Best of luck to you!

You know I'm only 2 weeks and lost 25 lbs in a month and yesterday I felt great gettin back to cooking and I wanted to eat my pork and rice so bad which I'm not aloud to I'm still on the liquid thing but I know what I mean wanting to have a nice big meal **** I wish I I too can have a nice alcoholic drink lol the things we give up to live a healthier and sexier life style

I told my husband and my immediate family, and his immediate family. I also told my five best friends. I did tell all of them that I wasn't broadcasting it, as I wanted to tell only people I knew would be supportive. The week after surgery, my mother-in-law's friend asked me how I was feeling after surgery. Lol. So I just assume everyone tells at least one person. And I wanted to have control over who knew, not because I was ashamed but because it was private. When anyone asks me how I'm losing weight, I tell them eating small meals, eliminating sugar and alcohol, and lots of Protein. The only issue I have is when someone who is also extremely obese asks me (like a coworker and a neighbor did) and I don't tell them because I do feel like this surgery saved my life. However, I'm guessing they both know about weight loss surgery and either they don't want it or can't afford it. But I feel bad nonetheless that I don't tell them how much the surgery benefited me.

A few things that may sound familiar and affect many of us during the holiday season are: Family traditions and ethnic backgrounds with food memories that have followed us through life. Trauma, hardships or losses that make holiday cheer tough to enjoy or even tolerate on some levels. Falling back on a diet mindset and thinking it’s ok to eat recreate old habits from October 31-January 2. Awareness of mental and emotional struggles feeling more acute during the holiday season. For bariatric patients, an immediate fear presents itself: “How can I survive all the parties and family celebrations while embracing my post-surgery food choices so I don’t lose control with holiday eating and drinking this year?” The practical answer: Prepare for it, just as if the surgery was ahead of you. Think and plan for success with the least amount of guilt and destruction possible. Holiday foods are not “rewards” or “treats” or a reason to fall off the mindful thinking that you use every day. We all have family and cultural traditions of holiday foods, and the meanings behind them; that often follow us into adulthood. The connection is to people, not food itself. Holiday time often intensifies many people’s mental and emotional struggle with life issues. Food can often be an immediate distraction and way to receive immediate gratification in tough times. The trouble is, the stresses and issues remain after the food is consumed. Often, alcohol consumption increases at holiday time as well, so mindset is altered by allowing more uninhibited behavior to prevail. Using good judgment often decreases as well. So, if we can use the model of being prepared and accountable for ourselves, what would it look like? Think of the season on your terms. Where can you plan and take the lead on making good choices for yourself while still feeling the holiday spirit? Find control where you can make food to bring to others parties or meals. Host at your home to take pressure off of yourself. Be honest and ask to be considered when food is being prepared and served so that you can also taste but be flooded by the excessive choices and behaviors all around us. Find ways to relax and refresh so you are not overwhelmed or drained by the holiday madness. Keep a journal of your thoughts, fears, successes and challenges to remind you of the proud journey you are on now. Use meditative activities to bring a more even and peaceful attitude to the business of the season and the potential for burnout and self-destruction. Give of yourself to others that need to be uplifted. Find a community, group hobby or counselor if the season is troubling of extremely unmanageable. Many times the holiday triggers are too hard to handle alone. Ask for help and know that you are being proactive (helping yourself) instead of reactive (always behind and at the mercy of others decisions and actions). The key is to stay connected to the resources, the people, places and things that bring successful experiences to us, and avoid harmful or undermining circumstances that reinforce low self-esteem and bad, and often destructive, behaviors. As a bariatric patient, being accountable is helping yourself stay focused on a positive and productive mindset with help provide a fulfilling and peaceful holiday season each and every year. Yes, this is you, enjoying your life during the holidays.

Hi all! Long story as short as I can make it: I got sleeved 16 months ago, my good friend got sleeved a year ago. After a camping trip in August, (both of us over 6 months out), that included heavy drinking, we both noticed that days later we incurred a feeling of vertigo that would come in waves. The feeling is almost like you are on a boat- not full on room spinning, but oddly off balance in a similar manner to when you are flying or on a boat. We now both notice that 1-2 days after drinking alcohol, this happens again! Still! I have ruled out B-12 deficiencies, Iron deficiencies, inner ear issues, and all my physical results test GREAT. It's mysterious, but we both are affected by it similarly. I now sometimes get it if I am stressed, and odd things trigger the feeling like sitting at my computer, or eating. Anyone else experience this? **I am NOT talking about the first couple months where you may have low blood sugar from a calorie deficiency** From Wikipedia: " Stress-induced depression The hormone might help defend against symptoms of stress-induced depression and anxiety.[38] To test whether ghrelin could regulate depressive symptoms brought on by chronic stress, the researchers subjected mice to daily bouts of social stress, using a standard laboratory technique that induces stress by exposing normal mice to very aggressive “bully” mice. Such animals have been shown to be good models for studying depression in humans. The researchers stressed both wild-type mice and altered mice that were unable to respond to ghrelin. They found that, after experiencing stress, both types of mice had significantly elevated levels of ghrelin that persisted at least four weeks after their last defeat encounter. The altered mice, however, displayed significantly greater social avoidance than their wild-type counterparts, indicating an exacerbation of depression-like symptoms. They also ate less than the wild-type mice.[39] " <- I am wondering if perhaps this indicates that ghrelin may play a role in managing anxiety, and this weird equilibrium sensation is a component of this. I am wondering if others have experienced this too. [edit]

I was cleared for everything (except fried foods and alcohol) at 6 weeks out. Week 1--clear liquids Week 2--full liquids Week 3--soft foods (didn't have to be pureed) Week 4--started introducing more foods; was allowed to have caffeine Week 5--same as week 4 Week 6--allowed to start introducing raw veggies, salad, nuts, seeds

My surgeon said never to eat more than 1,000 calories per day. He also suggested that no meal should ever exceed 300 calories and that no snack should ever exceed 100 calories. His instruction was to eat only if hungry and to transition to a maximum of three meals a day, preferably two, and a maximum of 3 snacks per day. No alcohol. No caffeine. My surgeon has never been obese and follows this diet himself. He had no body fat. He practices what he says. I am trying to follow his advice for long-term success. He told me that RNY is the best procedure for maintaining long-term weight loss. I trust his advice, particularly because he follows it himself. I am 2.5 weeks post op and battle low energy. I am forcing myself to walk long distances. I love having the restriction in my stomach. I am very grateful for this surgery.

I'll be really honest with you, for me it's interesting. . . in the beginning i hated this stupid sleeve. . . i really did, then when i went for my 1 1/2 week doctor appt after the surgery and saw i lost 32 lbs i thought "huh, interesting". . . then after 7 weeks i lost 53 lbs all together, now at 11 weeks, i've lost 63 lbs. . .i don't like that when i want to go out to eat i have to request a carry out box right away cause i know i'll only eat about 5 bites of the food. . .i know that i can't go to a buffet anymore, that it would be a major waste of money. . .who after all wants to spend $10 for a buffet and all you can really have is 1/2 piece of meat loaf or a bowl of Soup???? I really hate that i have hunger pangs and eat something too fast and it gets stuck that you have "i need an ambulance" pain for about 20 - 30 minutes and have slimming for that same about of time. . . I don't like that i can't drink alcohol as i used to and that my taste for cokes, and coffee have changed and i really hate those beverages now. . . but all in all, would i do it again? yes i would, my hatred for my obesity is stronger than my dislike for this sleeve. . . the weight loss makes me happy, i feel healthier, i no longer snore, that means my apnea is gone, my heart rate is 45 - 48 bpm that means that my heart doesn't have to work so hard anymore . . cardiologist took away the nitroglycerin pills. . . my knees don't hurt so much anymore, i have more energy and can bend and pick up things . . i'll be able to see my daughter graduate from university, i'll see her get married, and have kids, i'll be able to see those kids grow up and maybe even attend their graduations too. . .so you see that weight loss is so much better. . . no i will never be able to eat normal again. . .so i have to get used to that idea, i have to be careful about what i eat cause i could eat "around" my surgery and gain weight, now that would be humiliating! I would love to eat some chocolate, or some chinese food, or fried chicken, but that would forfeit the purpose right? So i stick with my Protein foods, and the healthier stuff and sugar free stuff. . . god knows maybe i'll eventually get used to all this . . . after all old habits die hard, 48 years of over eating and stuff and being fat, fat, fat, and so sloppy looking, and literally rolling about, not being able to fit into plane seats, asking for extensions for the seatbelt, how sicking. . . so now it's time to change old ways, will take a while, but one day i'll overcome and then I'll be thin one day!!! good luck with your decisions.