Search the Community

I just got my Nugo sample pack today and tried the Brownie Crunch. It is really good tasting and satisfied my hunger just fine. Each bar has 16 g of protein, 19 g of carbs (2 g are sugar carbs, others are sugar alcohols or something not counted in net carbs) and 7 g of fiber. After I finish the 3 bars in the sample pack this weekend I am going to put in an order for a box or two of my favorite flavor. I can see myself eating 1 a day or maybe not even that often. It depends on the impact of these on my goals.

A friend of mine got banded years ago....and she wanted me to follow suit. No way would I ever have WLS, there was no reason medically, I was healthy as a horse. I did feel down after I HAD to go shopping when I HAD to have something new. I did always feel like the biggest girl in the room, I did hate to have my picture taken....but I was healthy, I had a husband who loved me big or small. No way, hell would freeze over first. Well three years passed and my friend had lost 60 lbs and she had not died. Ok, positive things, but still. At 2 o'clock one morning, I got up to go to the bathroom and my tummy was in my lap.....right then and there, I made the decision to do it. Yes, I think clearly and come up with great ideas in the middle of the night, some times I'm in the bathroom, sometimes I just wake up and something comes to me. The next day, I told my husband I'd made this decision. I was firm about it, not wishy washy. He was not on board with fixing something that was not broken. I had no health issues, I wanted to have fun shopping and feel good about myself while I was younger (49 yrs) and while I was still healthy. Vanity and preventive maintenence, priorities rule!! That was Dec 2009, my DH wanted me to do research. I did, I read every single thing I could come across. I found a support group and started attending, and so did he. This guy became my biggest cheerleader!! He attends all my group meetings, even asking questions and taking notes when need be. I found a doctor in Texas, our 'home'. We were at that time living out of state, but I knew I wanted someone in Dallas or Houston to take care of me. I knew we would be moving back at some point. I first thought I'd get a band, but the more I read and heard, even though my friend did ok and did not die......it wasn't the best choice for me. I chose the sleeve procedure after days upon days of talking to different doctor's offices, and after obsessively reading everything I could find. I attended the seminar in Dallas in April and in June 2010, six months after that fateful 2 AM decision, I did it. I never, ever, ever regretted it. Not one minute of buyer's remorse. I've loved every single second since I woke up in recovery!!!! It is a wild ride and the most fun I've ever had!!! Clothes started falling off me, people started to ask if I'd lost some weight, which can be uncomfortable some times. A saleswoman called me LITTLE. LoL I have bones and my mom was wrong all those years, I am NOT big boned!!! I love my collarbone!!! It's my favorite NSV to this day. I'd wake up and all of a sudden have hip bones and my shoulders feel so boney now days!!! I finally got use to going to the Missy dept instead of the Women's. That was hard and it is STILL difficult to get a size that fits. I tend to want a size larger. It takes a long time for your head to catch up with your body!!! I'd read on this forum somewhere that we should get a disposable camera prior to surgery. Have someone take a picture the day before or day or surgery, then once a month on the date of your surgery. I did that, and then after my 1 year anniversary.....I got it developed. Wow, those pictures laying side by side from the previous year, I saw my transformation. I highly recommend doing this!!! I reached my doctor's goal in just under five months. My goal, five lbs less, a month later. My total loss is anywhere from 81 - 84 lbs, depending on the day. I lost 23 of those lbs prior to surgery. I have been maintaining for over 2 years now. I had a hard time stopping the weight loss....is this possible???!! Yes it is! I added calories and gained back to where I was comfortable. Would I do it again....in a New York minute! Forced portion control, that is what I needed. I still make choices, but I don't feel deprived at all. I'm not hungry, my new hunger is an empty feeling, which makes making wise choices much easier. I weigh myself every single morning, first thing. I've done this from the beginning. I log my food on line and I weigh and/or measure my food when I'm at home. This is part of my life, it's like a game. I love it, it also keeps me aware of what's going on with my body. Even if it isn't the wisest choice, I am aware of everything that goes into my mouth. No more mindless eating. I need 1150 - 1275 calories per day to maintain. I do not exercise, not really, so I knew that I'd have to make life changes I could live with, that would allow me to accomplish what I wanted. I get anywhere from 60 - 95 grams of Protein per day, almost without fail. It's all been pretty easy for me. I think I eat pretty much like a naturally thin person. This is my new life, it's fun. I feel good. It is possible to lose all you want, still enjoy food and maintain, but this is not a magic bullet. You can't have 85% of your stomach removed then eat chips, ice cream, drink alcohol, milkshakes and eat food from a drive through, and expect to be successful. We still have to make good decisions. 'Nuff said!!

Thanks for the advice on the soda...I really don't do it that much. If I have 1 Diet Mtn Dew a week I'm lucky. I used to easily drink 4-5 cans a day before my banding. Now I mostly drink Crystal Lite or water. As far as the alcohol I'm a social drinker and that's far and few between. I'll usually drink Vodka Cranberry to avoid the carbonation. I used to drink whiskey and seven up but I don't want the carbonation...especially in public. Again I don't do it often. I really think I am going at a good pace and I'm sure once summer comes around I'll be more active outside and that will help even more.

I think that it is natural to fear regaining the weight. We all have been in the endless cycle of losing and gaining and losing and gaining again. I think you have to take a different approach this time with the sleeve. Sure there is a possiblity of gaining weight, IF you fall back into the habits that got you to point of needed the surgery to begin with. Learn those good habits early on in your process and you will have a better chance of success. We are very much like an former alcoholic that is just one drink away from going back to being an alcoholic. We have to focus a little bit more, work a little bit harder. That doesn't mean we can enjoy eating and eat the foods that we love, but use the sleeve as a guide. It will certainly tell you when you've done too much. Getting in the mindset that you will not return to your old ways is also key. I haven't done it yet, but I plan to cleaning out my closets and getting rid of anything that is too big now. I've been up and down the scale so many times, that I have clothes of every size. But no more. I didn't sprawl full out on a cold OR table and let a group of strangers cut out my stomach to go back to where I was. Keep a picture of your former self somewhere and look at it regularly to remind yourself of where you've been. I don't think that you'll go back to that person anytime soon. Hang in there!

I was sleeved July 27th 2012 and I can honestly say that now I eat to live and not live to eat, life to me just feels "normal" now I can still enjoy the foods I love just in smaller portions, I have lost 83.7 pounds (37 kilos) and I am 6 kilos to the "healthy weight range" I was mentally ready for the life change and worked with the tool of the sleeve to change my life around, I can't tell you enough that NOTHING taste as good as how I feel both inside and outside so having to give up the little comforts like drinking with a meal or alcohol was a no brainier for me, I do not regret my decision one bit, in return for giving up those crutches I have my life back and it's a very happy healthy one. Lilly

how about tracking what you eat (maybe with myfitnesspal), eat less of it and exercise more? Knock off the junk food, the empty calories, the alcohol. Get plenty of water and try to walk about 1 mile a day (or 10000) steps. You should be in good shape by the time you have your surgery.

Just reading your story Scotty. My heart breaks for you. My grandfather was a functioning alcoholic for over 40 years. He quit drinking and smoking January of 2000 with AA. By 2004 he was facing stage 4 lung cancer and late stage cirrhosis of the liver. It was too late for him. I will never forget my last conversation with him a week before he passed. He told me, "the drink and smoke may have killed me, but G-d dammit, I quit. And no one will ever take that away from me." You started this thread saying that you needed fear. You are burning your stomach from the inside out. You are at serious risk for internal bleeding and stomach cancer if your ulcers are both left untreated and compounded with alcohol use. THIS is the fear you were looking for. Those are life altering and in a lot of cases life ENDING complications. I know this is hard, especially as a functioning alcoholic. Functioning so well keeps you from many of the immediate consequences that could come of your drinking but it keeps you from dealing with the long term consequences that are building up in your body. Keep going to the AA meetings. Use the resources around you. The recovering addicts that are reaching out to you. Don't let your massive weight loss be your grand finale. It is not too late for you!

I lost 100 lbs in 5 months and then another 10 lbs in the last 2 months. I have had more than a few dizzy spells from low BP. Hydration seems to help. Alcohol makes it worse. I am hoping for some improvement as time goes by. Sent from my iPad using VST

Good luck... cut out the sodas and alcohol and it will go faster! Try diet sodas or crystal light.

This is my first time posting on here..I had my surgery on December 11th. I started my journey at 417 pounds. The surgery itself went very well. I spent the night in the hospital and went home the next day. I had minimal challenges after the surgery itself. I did the liquid diet for a week, then the blended food, etc. My only difficulty that I have is first thing in the morning I have a hard time drinking Water when I first wake up. Having a C-PAP machine I tend to be quite parched when I wake up. I was told that there is a build up of mucus and it's usually best to drink warm liquid first thing in the morning to break that up. I'm usually not a warm liquid drinker but it's helped. Since the surgery I've had 2 fills. The first fill was challenging in the first week but after that I was eating normally but my intake was a lot less. When I got my second fill last week I've noticed it to be more challenging to eat. I've had more foods getting stuck than in the past. I've learned that I have to make sure I really cut my food smaller. (especially steak) I've been able to tolerate a soda from time to time. I pour it in a cup and stir out the carbonation and I've had no issues with it. I know that I should avoid it not only because of the carbonation but for the sugar as well. Once in a while I've just gotta have one. I'm tolerating alcohol pretty well. I haven't had a beer yet but I've been doing mixed drinks and I haven't had any issues. I haven't really exercised that much other than walking further in the parking lot to the store because I intentionally park further away. So far since I've started I've lost 42 pounds!!! My pants are falling off my butt...shirts are getting big. I'm loving it!! I want to lose another 10-15 pounds before mid May so I can go to Six Flags and hopefully fit on a roller coaster again and ride with my kids!! My goal weight is 260 and I know I can get down to that.

After all is said and done after surgery....was about 6 months for me....it took me that long to figure out what I was doing, learned to "Listen" to my band, and felt securely in the Green Zone.... THEN I started to drink alcohol, including Beer....but I know what I'm doing....I do not think it would have been a good Idea when I was first starting out and learning my lessons, developing my new Lifestyle....and I was on a good, steady consistent weight loss journey.... Also, there is very little I can eat that is co-operative with my band in the way of fast food.....Wendy's Chili is a favorite, but not much else jumps out at me....

Hi, Doing better every day it's been slow going doing this at 54yrs but every day is better and better I was scared also but so ready and glad I did this wish I could have been able to have this done in my 40's.Get in some kinda of group in your home town it will help good luck with your psych eval.. I was there for about 3 hrs..they want to see if you are a alcoholic ect.. a lot of people don't cope very will after weight loss so take your time and you will be ok don't let them get in your head to much...you know how psych Drs. can be I read a lot from a great book weight loss for Dummies being scared is part of your new life good luck you will be fine..

Yesterday was awful. Emotions all over, nerves and stress levels on high. Today is much, much better (just ask my man!). Pre-op tomorrow and surgery on the 25th! I feel pretty crappy right now thanks to a farewell to food (and alcohol) festival this evening. Passed the psych eval today...I felt confident and "normal," lol, but that's my "I don't know you so I am just going to show you my well-educated side." Lol. Hope you're all well! Thanks for sharing your stories. The camaraderie of this thread amazes me. I love it.

I think both should be avoided whenever possible, but if you are going to have bad food and alcohol then be sure to count their calories in your daily total. Let their calories decide what to eat and not.

I am on the road constantly so I can understand the need for ff occasionally. Like others I love Wendy's chili. Chicken nuggets are pretty good too. Most else I try to avoid. Alcohol I avoided while in losing stage. If you do make sure you count and remember Alcohol not only is Empty cals it also makes you care less what you eat. Personal experience.

I am proud to report I didn't not cheat at all. No alcohol or food!

Interesting and somewhat surprising. I have no idea if it is good or bad medically but maybe you can avoid it in the future. I am taking the Wellesse liquid multi-Vitamin which uses Erythritol (I looked after reading your question!). A web search shows that to be a natural sugar alcohol with the least impact on blood sugar. Maybe give it a try once you run out of Centrum.

Centrum and its ethyl alcohol

It burns a little all the way down. I haven't taken it in 2 days because I have an upset tummy and I shudder at the thought. So is this bad? I really wouldn't think That (stearyl? ) alcohol would be wise?

Okay, so my pre-op diet starting two weeks before surgery will be 900 calories a day with at least 70g of protein, less than 30g of carbs and less than 10g of fat. No caffeine, no alcohol and no carbonated beverages. The day before surgery I will be on clear liquids only, and no red food coloring (first time I've seen that specified). The Post Op diet will consist of four stages, during which I need to try and get 800 calories, 70 -100g protein and 64 oz water (or other liquids) per day. Stage 1--Clear Liquids. Weeks 1 & 2. Includes water, sugar free Jell-O, SF popsicles, crystal light, SF Kool Aid, Propel, Fruit 2.0, broth (veggie, beef or chicken) or clear protein drinks like Syntrax Nectar. Stage 2- Full Liquids. Weeks 3 & 4. adds fat-free milk, low-fat strained soups, and protein shakes. Add vitamins at this stage. Stage 2.5--Pureed Foods. Weeks 5 & 6. adds blended soups, baby food from a jar (meat or veggies only), light sugar-free yogurt, no-sugar-added apple sauce, cottage cheese, pureed beans (but not from a restaurant due to high fat content), pureed tofu, pureed lean meats except for beef, well-cooked pureed non-starchy veggies. (no carrots, peas, potatoes, corn, etc) Stage 3--Soft Diet. Weeks 6 -12. slowly add tender meats (still no beef), flaky fish, low-fat cheese, egg whites or Eggbeaters, beans, tofu, occasional soft fruits, well-cooked or canned veggies. Avoid tough or stringy veggies. Chew, chew, chew. Avoid all liquids with calories such as milk, V-8 and soups. Protein drinks are allowed to achieve your protein requirements. Stage 4--Regular Diet. Forever. You should be able to tolerate almost anything now, including lean beef, shellfish, raw veggies and small amounts of complex starches. An approximate meal for someone at this stage will be 1/2 a piece of chicken, 2 broccoli florets and two tablespoons of brown rice. Eat protein first, veggies and fruit second, and starches last--if you have room. Avoid sugar and large amounts of fats. No snacking.

Neither are good choices for us bandsters but sometimes you may find yourself in a situation so.....if I have to make a fast food choice I look for grilled chicken, salad without dressing, no fries, dump the bun. On the alcohol side, volunteering to be the designated driver makes me everyone's best friend! But if I have sufficient calories available for alcohol, choose lighter options, non-carbonated.

The biggest dangers of alcohol are the empty calories and the likelihood excessive drinking can lead to other things like over eating and vomiting. Once your all healed up if you were able to stop yourself at 1 drink when drinking socially before the surgery talk to your surgeon but you should be able to do the same. Wine is a good suggestion but so is scotch. No one thinks anything of a person sipping a glass of Scotch for hours on end. Most expensive hard liquors have complex flavor notes that allow you to enjoy them slowly (except vodka since the better it is the more it tastes like water). The carbonation in beer means extra complications and the additional calories in cocktails (as well as the fact their designed to hide how drunk your getting) make them a poor choice generally.

After 3 1/2 yrs, I can eat whatever I want, including fast food. Just had KFC last nite (2 chicken popper-thingies, 1/2 thing of mashed potatoes and 1/2 biscuit). The rest is for 2 more meals. Tonite I plan on having a few btes of hubbys Chinese food that we eat at poker. I would avoid fast food for a few months tho, until you actually a=have restriction (most likely 2-4 fills), you're bound to go overboard, cuz you'll still be able to eat just pre surgery. I didn't drink alcohol for about 4 mths, then I got tipsy on a few sips of wine. Now, I drink maybe once a month I'll have a margarita or glass of wine. I can process it alot better now than in the beginning. My very first REAL food after the liquid and mushy stage was a Burger King cheeseburger. I could kick myself for doing that. Hindsight is 20/20 however. I don't recommend you follow in my steps. Do as I say, not as I do! Good luck on your surgery! Marci

Understood. I try to avoid fast food. It's high calorie, fairly low satiety, and loaded with who knows what that would probably gross me out if I knew it was in my food. If I'm forced into it, I also try to go for Wendy's chili. The important thing is that whatever you choose, control your portion size and count your calories. And still practice small bites and slow chewing. As far as alcohol goes, it's a similar story-- control your portions and count the calories. Wine is, in my opinion, the best bet. It's socially acceptable to nurse a glass of wine forever, you have a variety of flavors and styles to choose from, and it's not mixed with anything carbonated or high in sugar/calories to add to its negative impact. Also, there are proven health benefits to red wine in particular, provided it's consumed in moderation (1 glass per day). Don't be surprised or insulted by people who caution you after reading this type of question. In the end, everyone just wants to help you succeed. Good luck!

I am a little concerned that you have not yet had the surgery and you are already thinking about fast food and alcohol. This is a big step. It is about getting healthy. It is about working with your band to ensure that you get the best outcome. Alcohol and fast food are not going to be the way to get that outcome.