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I spent the six months before my surgery changing my relationship with food. I trained myself to look at food as fuel. I also worked really hard to create a lifestyle where food wasn't central to everything. I no longer Celebrate with food, comfort with food, or do anything else with food outside of getting the necessary fuel I need for the day. Cutting out carbs (20 per day) was central to that for me. I also cut out alcohol for 9 months, and even now (at 4+ months post-op), I only have some occasionally and in very small amounts. You are right. The mental game is the biggest part of this journey. I know that I have issues with food, and I also know that I will have to battle it every day for the rest of my life. Some people won't agree with the stance I have taken, and that's okay. I know that if I don't take this hard line, I'll be 400 pounds again before I know it, sleeve or not. Good luck!

@FINFAN3DP yeah it did work. I lost about 90 lbs in about 1 year and a half.. but I used to go to the gym every day almost. Then I started working so my eating schedule and habits changed... but what really I think hurt me was the alcohol.. I love wine.

See, I guess this is another pet peeve of mine. Every surgeon's program is different. There is no standard program. I agree that alcohol should be avoided because it is liquid calories. But I don't agree at all that it is a safety issue. That brings me to another pet peeve, scare mongering by surgeons and NUTS. No straws, because you'll swallow air? How do you even do that? And if you do get air in your stomach, you burp, bfd? Carbonation will stretch your sleeve. So these tiny little bubbles are powerful enough to stretch this incredibly tough organ that churns and breaks down all of our food. I'm not a Dr., but I have common sense, I just don't buy it.

In my opinion (totally my opinion) I think that the affect is felt more because of the deficit of food calories we consume. I don't think that the effect is felt because of metabolizing or anything else but the lack of food. Before my surgery if I barely ate (and anyone can contest to this) my buzz was MUCH faster than if I ate before going out. I will say that my alcohol consumption has cut down ALOT...and it does only take a small amount of alcohol to get me tipsy. I have to watch it, I will be stumbling drunk by the second drink (I drink liquor not beer).

That literature is for gastric bypass patients, who, unlike band patients, do have different absorbative properties. Our stomachs aren't any smaller and alcohol should not metabolize any different. Brad

Alcohol likely won't affect you differently postop, except inasmuch as you won't be eating as much with the alcohol--and food can delay absorption. I know my tolerance is nil--but that's because I very, very rarely drink at this point. That's not really band-related--it's just what happens when you do it less

By the way Laura, I LMAO reading about you getting a buzz on Nyquil. That stuff is 80% alcohol. Next time just make yourself a "hot toddy"! Cheaper and probably better tasting!

I just confirmed a week's vacation with my hubby, son and daughter to spend Thanksgiving on the beach this year. This will be unusual for me as I usually host the big family dinner with 30 plus people and enough food to feed 60 which results in a 4 day feeding frenzy. I'm glad we're doing something a little less traditional this year as I hope to break some of my Holiday habits...gaining 5-10 pounds. What do I plan to do in Daytona? Swim, walk the beach, ride bicyles, dancing at night clubs, Christmas shopping, anything that requires me to be active. My goal will be to burn off any daily calories that are not necessary (ice cream, alcohol) and continure to lose weight while I'm there. I have approximately 130 days to get my body ready for a skimpy swimsuit. Will I be a size 8? No.... But I'll look damn good in a size 12! :shades_smile: P.S. I have officially walked 100 miles since the first week in June and have ridden 48 miles on my bike. I feel so much stronger than I did 2 months ago.

It’s been three years and, as I did a year ago, I wanted to post my annual update. The two year update, which includes the one year update is linked below. Enjoy. What's changed from year 2-3? No longer a fat guy. I changed jobs and met a lot of new people over the year. Combined with the fact that I'm 3 years out from surgery meant being a fat guy, both in my head and as reflected by people around me, is a very faint memory. I had the surgery when my kids were 3 and 6. They don’t really even remember me being fat, until they see pictures which just makes them giggle. This is a good thing, but when I reflect back on the 35 years of being overweight, it still blows me away. Portions Normalized. I really am just a normal (for a non-fat person) eater. I eat whatever I want, just normal portions of it. Breakfast might be 2 eggs and a piece of toast, lunch is a half sandwich and some Soup (or a whole sandwich without the bread), dinner is frozen dinner from trader joes or a small portion of just about anything. For those of you yet to have the surgery and can't imagine eating so little or those of you who just recently had surgery and can't imagine eating so much, I know it sounds very strange. Between years 2 and 3, I'd say the portion sizes really seemed to normalize. Here's the best way to describe it: Look at the nutritional information on something -- like a package of ravioli or a can of chili, etc. and find the serving size. That's pretty much what I can eat until I feel full and happy. In the olden days pre-surgery -- those suggested serving sizes always seemed like some sort of hostile joke! Battling 10 Extra Pounds. I feel like I have to watch my weight and need to lose 10 pounds. This is new. I weigh 194 on a 5'11" frame, wear medium or large shirts and have a waist of 34 or 35 inches depending on the brand. Don't get me wrong, that's amazing. BUT, last year, I weighed 185, which did feel a bit better. I'd like to say that my weight has finally normalized, but that wouldn't be totally in line with how I feel. The point is that, just like about everyone else I know, I'm working on losing those extra 10! For the first year of surgery, I couldn't stop LOSING weight. In the second year, I rarely thought about my weight. Now, in the third year, I feel like I need to lose 10. Health is Excellent. I just had my annual physical and everything is great. Blood sugar: Normal. Cholesterol: Normal. Same with everything else. I still take 20mg of Omeprazole for heartburn at least 5 out of 7 nights. It doesn't have any noticeable side effects and if I don't take it, I definitely get mild to medium heartburn. Some Advice to Those on the Fence: If you can, do it. Like a lot of people on this site, I'd say my only regret is not doing the surgery sooner. I honestly think (no scientific proof) that there is just simply something wrong between my head and stomach that resulted in me NOT having and "off" switch when it came to food. I'd watch other people that seemed to like food, get a plate at the buffet and then just eat a normal portion and stop. I'd go to the buffet, fill up a big plate and then get seconds and thirds. Even then, I'd probably just stop eating because I felt disgusted with myself or embarrassed, rather than feeling satisfied. This surgery really helped me in that way. As I noted above, I'm one of those small one-plate people now. By weighing a regular weight, life has completely changed. I wear normal clothes, can participate in all sorts of activities, happily sit in the back of the plane, etc, etc, etc. I wish I would have done the surgery when I was 21, not 39. VSG helps Quantity, Not Rate or Frequency. You engineers might appreciate this. Basically, VSG allows me to eat much less quantity at any one sitting. It doesn't tell me which foods to eat. You will need to find ways to eat steamed salmon vs. fried chicken, broccoli vs. mashed potatoes, etc. In the very early days, I really disgusted by really fatty food and was also worried about Protein intake. As a result, I directed my eating towards healthier foods. Three years out, VSG no longer helps with those types of decisions. Furthermore, if you like to graze, VSG doesn't help that at all. I work in an office that has Snacks all over the place. It's super easy to grab a handful of mm's or a bag of doritos every time I pass by the snack area (actually that's part of the reason I'm up 9 pounds from last year). I just want to set expectations about what you’re getting and NOT getting. Alcohol drinkers: Watch out. You can't eat much with VSG, but drinking is even easier than before. About 6 months ago, I felt like I was drinking too much and have limited my intake by a lot (1 or 2 drinks per night, not 5 or 6). I know, I know, still too much. My point is that this is a real risk area and something that needs to be considered. This post is getting long enough, so I'll stop here. If any of you would like to reach out with a PM, I'd be happy to chat. Good luck. http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/355438-two-year-post-opp-upda/

@@Kindle - sad to see you go. I'm one of the newbs still trying to get through the insurance dance and get my surgery date. I can't express how much you and so many other vets have helped me from my first post here... LipstickLady, VSGAnn, OKCPirate, Dub, and a whole bunch more I can't think of their handles off the top of my head. I had some misconceptions about what life after sleeve would look like, and y'all cleared it up for me and helped me decide to commit. I've started copying pearls of wisdom from all of you into my notebook and I know it will help me make the best of this opportunity to change my life. So I want to thank all of you so very much for sharing here. I've been on the internet since before it was the internet, and this kind of ebb and flow is fairly normal. That's why even though I'm not a vet I'm 100% in support of a vets only space. I haven't even had the surgery yet, and I'm sick and tired of the multitudes of "why can't I eat a steak in week 2" and "when can I drink alcohol" and "can I smoke weed" posts. I don't even read past the intro for most of them anymore. Not worth the indigestion, frankly. I won't be able to join the vets board for a long while, but I really hope all of you vets get it set up and that it's a good place to give y'all the support and camaraderie you need, and that you guys are still poking around when I rack up the experience to get the golden key.

I gave up alcohol along with soda and sugar pre-op I see alcohol as just one of the many things you have to change

Hi there, Just to be clear I am going to follow medical advice - I was advised by my doctor to post here to get some feedback about people's emotional and practical experience of cutting down significantly on alcohol. Thanks for all your feedback so far, more welcome

Hi there everyone! I am in the UK, and in the process of having my pre-approval for a gastric sleeve. I am 33, 5'4 (164cm) and approximately 20 stone (280 pounds). One thing that came up in the psych assessment is that I am a heavy drinker, and this will hinder my attempts to lose weight (with or without surgery.) The doctor said I need to decrease my drinking to 10 units a week, which is a lot less than I drink now. I was wondering if anyone had a similar experience, and had to drastically reduce their alcohol intake, and how was their experience of that? Was it easy/difficult? Was it an issue post-surgery? Thanks for your help.

I am also a newbie. I am also older and don't tolerate much foolishness. I've read the posts from newbies that start a few days pre-op to a few weeks post op about whether they can eat bacon, or had a slice of pizza or say I am going on vacation and can I drink alcohol. I read those posts, shake my head and think, "Why the hell did you have surgery, especially when you are making bad decision so soon after surgery?!!!" I followed the rules post op because I had major surgery and wanted to change my life for the better. Many think of this as a quick fix and it is obvious from their posts. Others haven't addressed their food addiction or food behaviors prior to surgery. Have I been perfect since my surgery, No, but I have been able to stay on the right path based on the guidance given by vets to other members. I appreciate ALL the vets input, responses and tips. I would hate for the vets to leave because your successes, experiences and suggestions have made my journey successful so far. Like others, even though I might not post often, I do read the forum EVERYDAY. I think a FAQ for newbies is a good idea and when somebody asks some of these "stupid" questions, the vet can just post a link to a section of the FAQ that explains what to eat and what not to eat post op and keep on going. Kindle, I would love for you to reconsider your decision to leave. Your postings, along with the other vets, are appreciated by many of us newbies. .

I am sorry to hear that, but at times I wish i had that. I just posted on my own thread.. I am tired of this once a week or 4x a month. I think i recall when i was eating sugar free chocolate from Russell Stovers.. the amount of sugar alcohols used to make me go to the bathroom a lot. I am seriously considering driving an hour to score some chocolate and make it a daily routine.. No worries.. last time i bought and ate it, i was on the Atkins... and it was part of my normal routine.. LOL.. but seriously.. something needs to give!

I had a 3 day interview in Spain (I live in the UK) in the middle of my 2 week pre op diet. As it was basically a 3 day interview, i didn't want to arouse suspicions by not eating the amazing spanish food and the great spanish wines. so i I was allowed to revert back to a normal diet and drink a few glasses if wine. I didn't go overboard and reverted back to the pre op diet as soon as I could. The pre op is to shrink the liver but you can also loose shed loads of weight so I would say if you don't need to drink alcohol during the pre op diet don't. Rather than seeing the pre op diet as a pain I would recommend it as seeing it as a great kick start to your new life

:bow: :bow: No, I don't drink at all (alcohol, that is), but I LOVE gadgets, etc. Anything that comes in a set of 4-6 had to be for some sort of food/drink related thing. If they weren't drink markers I was going with some sort of origami napkin ring type thing... lol Bring on the puzzles!! P.S. PnP - I got to your puzzle thread late - don't stop!! I can't decipher the Eminem license plate (stuck on LR), but I'm ready for the next one!!

Alcohol is just empty calories.

I have a big event 3 days before my surgery. Is there any danger to having a few drinks at the event?

There are a lot of issues that can contribute....transfer additions are a huge one. Where people who used to use food to cope turn to alcohol or other substances and end up damaging their relationships/careers/etc.

If you have c-diff one of the worst things you can do is to take immodium or something to prevent you from having bowel movements. I hope you do not have it. I have had it twice and it is nasty sh**. It can be difficult to get rid of hence the name difficile. Good luck. Flagyl is one antibiotic to treat it. It is one of those pills that dissolves very quickly and tastes pretty bad. You cannot drink any alcohol with it. I forgot and took a sip of communion wine and got sick. I am allergic to flagyl so have to take vancomycin when I get it. Vanco is avaiable in capsule form. The first time I got it, it was only available in oral suspension. Vanco is very expensive prescription. In 2005 the last time I had to take it was $1,600 for a two week supply. If the test comes back negative but the symptoms still persist, ask for a retest. I have had tests say negative and then retest shows positive.

@@Luvnme4eva the social events are tough. I just had an out of town party. Did good with not hitting the buffet at the party and I'm fine with no alcohol. Dinner with a big group was another story. I ended up eating salad. :-(. Then ran on the treadmill at the hotel gym because I felt so bad about it. You can do it. Keep your protein drinks and water and those snacks allowed on your pre-op diet within reach during the reunion.

That is an interesting parallel. Most of us are food addicts. I guess if you were an alcoholic and went to your AA meeting and asked if it would be ok to have a few beers on Valentine's day or shared that you threw back a fifth of vodka, you would get some different responses. Hugs from some maybe? I don't know. Others who were disappointed in you? Some who were angry? Some who said they understood but tomorrow is a new day? Of course not really quite the same thing since we can't stop eating food. I just thought it was an interesting way to consider another angle.

I’m in the same boat as you but six months ahead. In fact had my last of six nut apts yesterday. Just need lab work and X-ray and I can file for insurance approval. I lost six pounds then gained five over the last two months - when I went from having a drink every night to once a week - go figure! My wife had the same responses as you and I approached it as I’m going to go through the steps and then make the decision. I drop comments along the way to peak her interest because I know she will research it. I’ve discussed the biggest loser research, and most importantly the almost seemingly instant cure of co-morbidities. I periodically sent her links to articles as well. It’s unfortunate that WLS is so effective but so under utilized because of the stigma that’s it elective or you should try harder. I look at it as an addiction - do you tell an alcoholic to just stop drinking or a junkie to stop shooting up? No it doesn’t work that way and it doesn’t with weight loss either. Food is a chemical and mental addiction. She’s still not 100% on board but I’d say she’s now 75% and I know she would support me if I decide to go through with it which I’m getting closer to doing. One thing I asked her to do was keep it between us, which she didn’t do and she told my sister. Come to find out my sister is behind it 100% so that has helped. As others have said we can only do this for ourselves but having a spouse on board is very important IMO. I just finished Al Rokers book and now she is reading it. I find it’s easier if others tell my wife their opinion - then she listens more! I’ve read this forum up and down and there’s a lot of good info if you dig. I think the stigma that WLS is giving up is what holds back a lot of people from supporting it at first which is just a lack of knowledge.

Thanks guys! the only thing I'm not fully getting in is the exercise due to my setback and then i had a severe constpation issue, I started the C25K but I will have to restart that next week after my (TMI) butt soreness has gone away and i can walk better. I haven't been able to consume alot as i get full really fast, I'm now beginning to hit my water goals. i have been getting in the protein thanks to the shakes but my doc told me to increase my food intake which seems like a difficult task but I'm trying. It's just so depressing that i feel im doing everything in my power to do this right and i don't feel it's working. I've stepped back from te scale everyday and now I'm on it maybe every 2 days. I'll try to stay away from it. btw, the only thing I've ever drank was water, i don't drink alcohol nor sodas and here lately, I've been drinking diet snapple which is on my list from the doc.