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I waited 4 months to have my first drink, then it was several months until I had another. Even now at 18 months out, it's very occasionally that I imbibe. Can't do beer at all anymore (booo!) because the bubbles are just too much. I do love wine and a vodka and cranberry when I do drink socially. I count the calories and always make sure I'm well hydrated, but even then I always see a gain when I drink. My body apparently hates it, lol. That's one of the reasons why I don't do it very often. But when you're cleared to drink alcohol, I would try to steer clear as much as you can in the losing phase, as it may slow your loss down.

Technically if you stopped drinking and didn't change anything about your eating habits you should lose 1 to 1.5 lbs a week. A bottle of wine has about 600 calories and you need to burn 3500 calories to lose a lb. So you're taking in an extra 4200 calories a week. So if you cut those out you should lose at last a lb a week. But for someone who is drinking that much and trying to stop you may find yourself snacking more or wanting sweets which is going to cancel out some of those calories. I suggest buying some sugar free hard candies to have on hand if you need them. Coming from a family of alcoholics I urge you to get help if you need it. Don't let it t

My surgeon does 2 weeks liquid, 2 weeks pureed, 2 weeks soft, then regular food. Of course they say no alcohol, popcorn, sweets, or carbs like bread, rice, Pasta, and I probably won't have have any of those for a while, mainly because I truly want to focus on protein being that I cannot eat very much.

Today is my last day before I start my pre diet and I'm feeling Very afraid and cranky. Alcohol and food have always been my run-to's when I'm stressed. Reality is settling in Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I agree with the above statements you do not owe anyone an explanation I think your overthinking this just be you, you do. It have to drink alcohol everytime you eat to have a good time, and just because you take your time eating just means your enjoying your food and making healthy and wise choices good luck.

You didn't mention this, but their flour was rationed and consumption extremely limited, as were fruits. You just listed a host of confounding items. Also limited as you mentioned is sugar. So during this time, they limited sugar, flour, fruits, baked goods. They ate high fat tinned meats, high fat butter (limited), real meat was limited, eggs/bacon as was alcohol and beer were limited...many fasted but def observed a calorie restricted diets. BUT, the issue with the people who do low carb or keto is NOT that it's our way or the highway, or that we believe and say that ALL people MUST low carb or die...the issue is with having alternate agendas so rudely and repetitively shoved down our throats and lambasted for believing in the efficacy of our woe (way of eating). The other issue is having our dietary choice misrepresented by nonfactual BS. And most of us are sick of it. Cuz the OP posts it OVER and OVER and OVER ad nauseum. Like it's being shoved down our throats with the force of Thor's mighty hammer. Most of us who are objecting are all in the same camp: THERE IS NO ONE DIET that is suitable for everyone! LOL. We pretty much all agree that we must find our own path through the woods to arrive at a sustainable liveable diet that turns into a forever lifestyle. And that is A-okey-dokey with us!!!! I'm glad this high carb diet works for OP and others. I am. More power to them. They clearly did not have the same degree of metabolic derangement or medications that necessitate a low carb, adequate protein, lower fat diet as I have. LOL. That's ok. LOL. The even bigger question is why then, if they can now magically tolerate all manner of carbs, why did they get so fat they needed bariatric surgery? And how is their lifestyle modified so they won't repeat history? But I do hope we all agree, that you wouldn't give a diabetic or pre-diabetic heaps and heaps of carbs and expect their insulin levels and blood sugars to improve. At least I hope that's a universal understanding cuz if it isn't, then someone is engaging in magical thinking. And btw, wouldn't it be fun? Let's all make a pact to meet back here in 3-5 years and measure our success with pics, weights, and tape measures.

i also forgot to talk about drinking. post surgery i don't drink. frankly after the band surgery i had reflux and the last thing i wanted to do to my burning stomach is add alcohol. I'm on prevacid post bypass and have no desired to test my tummy with alcohol. that I can live without. For people who really enjoy drinking you need to be careful because weight loss patients have significantly higher rates of alcoholism, especially if there is a family history of that. it puts you at a much greater risk.

Good for you. As many opinions as there are out there on post op diets, such as caffeine or not, alcohol or not, carbonation or not, soft foods after a week or not...the list goes on. The only thing I have noticed that IS universal is the minimum amount of Water that should be consumed. I wish the best for you and hope you don't get dehydrated. From what I have heard, it's not pretty. I have been a 100 or so oz drinker for years and years as kidney stones run in my family and I am one of the few who has not experienced them. I have to think the water consumption has made somewhat of a difference.

I found that sugar free Water ice from Rita's made me go within 10 minutes of eating it. my surgeon said that the sugar alcohol in it is high and makes you go. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

it doesn't match up for me. i lost 72lbs and i had my surgery oct 2015 so about 7 months ago. My starting weight was 232. 229 on day of surgery. I'm 160 now. but i work out 3 to 5 days a week and i don't eat carbs or sugar or alcohol or caffeine for the most part and i've been doing that since about month 2 from surgery.

Anyone who doubts that food is an addiction just like alcohol or cigarettes should read this thread. I confessed my lifelong binging to my (skinny) mom a few months ago, telling her about how my sister and I would stop at the drive thru on the way home from school the moment we got our licenses, and then eat a full dinner an hour later. It only got worse the older I got. One of my earliest memories is lying in bed at about the age of 7 and fantasizing about ordering a stack of 20 big macs. I didn't want a pony, I didn't want a million bucks, I wanted 20 big macs. What's up with that?! The band is great for bingers once we get the right fill level, but I know that I would also benefit from some counseling. My mind is not working with the band right now.

it may be up to your surgeon as well. My doctor did not want me to fly within 2 weeks after my surgery or any fills. I don't know if that was because of air pressure reasons or if he wanted me close by in case I had any problems. 3 weeks post surgery I don't think I wanted to get on a plane as I was still trying to adjust with my mushy food phase. I'm with DodgerFan on this one, follow your dr's post-op rules. Do not cheat during this time as your body needs time to heal and adjust to this "foreign" band. Side note: I definitely was not drinking alcohol or anything for the first month. :biggrin: Good luck with your surgery and with your holiday. Let us know how it all turns out.

OMG that's a powerful story. It has to be good for you to get it off your chest and know that it can help someone else. You know if they can call alcoholism a disease, they can darned sure call MO one too. I swear you either are suseptible to it or not, and grows into a worse and worse problem over time. If you are predisposed to MO, you are almost powerless to control it. I feel sometimes like we are banging our heads against a wall trying to communicate with the medical profession. So many of them still believe that dieting is the answer. We all know that it isn't! I am hoping that I can go from looking like Mrs. Ozzie Osborne before, to within a couple of years after getting the LB, looking like her now.

Hi All, I'm pre-op, but this question is for everybody. Is anyone here practicing a way of eating, like Paleo or Wheat Belly, that eliminates grains, gluten & sugars, and focuses on high-quality Proteins (no hormones, no antibiotics, no steroids, grass fed and free range) + organic veggies and fruits? I'd love to get to know people who want to eat this way. I have a lot of inflammatory and gastric issues that I want to heal from (all of which help me qualify for the surgery). Health is my #1 concern and my main reason for wanting to lose the weight. I know from experience that grains (even whole grains), sugar, and junk make all my conditions worse, especially the arthritis, inflammation, gastro issues. I'm already feeling better. I believe that for my best health for life, I'm going to want to stick with Paleo style eating, even after my surgery. I've already spent a lifetime failing at dieting. I believe that everything I put into my body has an impact, good or bad. I'm done with just counting calories. Most diet foods are full of junk, too. Bariatric Protein drinks & products: I see a lot of ingredients that I don't want, including sugar alcohols, other artificial ingredients, and whey. Do bariatric patients have to use these pre-packaged Protein Drinks that the doctor's office is promoting? Does anyone know of healthier options? The issue for me with WHEY as the primary ingredient in a Protein Drink is that whey is dairy from milk -- and the dairy industry is pumping their cows full of hormones, antibiotics, steroids, and feeding them with genetically modified grains. However, it seems that most NUTs say that whey protein is better than plant-based protein for bariatric patients. I've found and have started using an organic whey Protein Powder that's made from the milk of grass-fed cows (organic pasture) and given no steroids/antibiotics/hormones. This product contains just the organic whey protein and nothing else (no added sugars, etc). It's got 100 cals, 1g sugar, 2g carb, and 21g protien. It's the best organic brand I've found. I've been using it in green smoothies. It has no taste at all, so I can add it to anything. The stuff my NUT recommends, Premier Protein, not only has protein but a lot of other Vitamins. Is this what we are required to drink especially during the fasting pre-op and post-op? Or, can we take pure organic protein like the one that I like, and just take supplements for the other vitamins? I'm going to ask all these questions at my next appointment in a few days, but I'd love to get info and thoughts from you. thank you!

So far, I've had an easy time walking away from Desserts. I'm sure it's just because I'm still in the honeymoon period (3.5 months post op) but sweets don't really appeal right now. I had a harder time being around chips and crackers. I had made a garlic/olive/dried tomato FF cream cheese ball so I used it as a spread on my turkey. I also made a crab dip and just ate that with a spoon. However, I know I ate more than I normally would because we were there for several hours and I ate a piece of turkey every couple of hours. Proud that I managed to skip my mom's corn casserole and its ooey goodness. I won't see it again for another year and hopefully by then, I'll be in a place where I can have a spoon of it. I still haven't had any alcohol but I was never a wine/beer drinker. I was always fond of vodka/cranberry and I'm pretty sure that's a bad idea.

Yea my cross addiction is alcohol So I try to only drink occasionally Sent from my iPad using RNYTalk

Anyone out there got any sayings...I came up with a one. 'You know you're a bariatric person when you avoid alcohol not because it could cause you to get really really drunk and lead to alcoholism but because you have to count the massive amount of calories when u drink it.'

hey all, My name is Tim and I am an alcoholic. It took me 40 years to address my disease of alchohol and now it is time to address my weight.... seems that there is lots of support in regards to the sleeve which is really cool. I just stumbled on a site that talked about it and now I have been doing some research and been verey pleased. I don't think it will be long before I decide this is what I am going to do. Is there anyone else here from Canada? Is there any other males that have had this? Thanks

hi leslie - was interesting reading this thread starting in 2009 - but we all are food addicts, what ever year it is. In my case, give me Cookies, donuts,etc. and i'll be your friend for ever! Some people (DH) love all the carbs like bread etc.. i don't know why we just cant't limit ourselves from eating the consumption of food that we do eat with. ) Most peoplec can eat a regular portion of desert or plain amount of dinner or whatever, but us food additcts-well wd just ca't stop. The temptations are too strong. Similar to alcohol yet food addition doesn't count to "normal people" Therefore we become' food addicts" don't eat properly, and can't stop eating when we should - ADDICT, ADDICT,ADDICT Oh well - i didn't answe any question, just getting some feeling outs - thanx - welcome leslie Kathy DOS 12/15/11

I realize this conversation was from a year ago, but I can't locate anymore recent talk. I am almost 14 months post op and having terrible acid/heartburn. I know tomatoes and alcohol contribute, but must I really give them up or take a pill? My surgeon never advised to stay on anything for heartburn or indigestion. About 6 months ago I had 4 attacks that were all pressure and felt like an elephant on my chest. Now it's just the acid and I cannot even sleep lying down. I've Zantac, but everyone on this thread seems to have better luck with omeprazole or Prilosec? Thanks for any advice as I'm finding it difficult to find talk for post op issues.

With doing the boot camp exercising, your body is changing; and a weight gain is not uncommon as you are building muscle, not fat. That being said, STOP the alcohol as much as possible; all empty calories!!! Have Water with some fruit in it (or bring one of those flavor dispenser/packets with you)...be the designated driver... that stuff is not doing you ANY favors... Next find out if there is a bariatric center near you and if they have meetings, a lot of centers have to have a monthly meeting for post-bariatric members to keep their certification. It has been proven that if you attend these meetings you are more likely to succeed in your endeavor! Helpful hints are always given at these, including easy recipes! try "The World According to Eggface" for recipes, she's got some great stuff... your weight loss is nothing to sneeze at...it's great! when was the last time you lost that much weight in that amount of time?!?! If you are like the rest of us, the answer is "never"! Don't discount yourself...you can't compare yourself to others! And lastly, remember, Protein FIRST! Good luck, you've got this!

That is something that my psych warned me to be mindful of especially in the first 12 months. And I have to admit it became a bit of a struggle moths 4-6 post-op, not with sex but with alcohol. I had given up overeating/poor eating, cigarettes and Diet Pepsi/caffeine all at once and I went through a two month period where I was pretty much unbearable. I have to admit that the idea of drinking alcohol to calm myself entered my mind a time or two, not just the idea but a strong desire. There was a bottle of Vodka in my house that seemed to call out to me. I am happy to say that bottle still sits undisturbed and I made it through 8 of the 12 months. The desire to replace my lost vices with alcohol has almost gone away.

It's me again. Neossa. I am 6 month post op MGB. After 3 month of my surgery I had small amount of alcohol and since then...I realized that I can drink decent amount of alcohol after my surgery. Before surgery I was drinking beer like a fish. After surgery I can even drink 2 beer at a time or 2 glass of wine. I am not drinking daily...but once a week. Over the weekend. I wonder my capacity of drinking after MGB. When I google stuff ppl says....they can't drink after surgery or they get high faster. But I don't feel like I am higher or tipsy. I KNOW its not good. and I am still half way to my weight loss journey. I need advise or a conversation for alcohol after Mini Gastric Bypass. Should I drink ( Off course NO) or I can occasionally drink 1 glass of alcohol. Thank you all in advance who can comment on it.

Thank you for all your feedback guys! I wouldn't consider myself an alcoholic by any means. It's just 2 glasses of wine hit me hard and I'll be in social settings and the "peer pressure" to keep having drinks makes me think oh one more, until I'm wasted. This isn't an everyday thing, and I'm definitely not trying to justify my behavior because I clearly have a problem with knowing my limit after surgery. It's frustrating going from being able to out drink the pack and now I'm still in that mind set but I definitely can't do that. I think taking a step back for a while would be best.

It's been a month, when can I do a shot of whiskey? Sent from my SM-N910V using the BariatricPal App