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I'm also 8 days out and have been trying different things too. Protein shakes have been hard to choke down so I started trying some soft foods (before my NUT's time) just to get my protein in and I've tolerated almost everything (except chicken as well). I have yet to have a full feeling, not sure I can actually feel my stomach. I don't do anything SF because it has the sugar alcohol in it and it does cause me stomach pains. I quick smoking, gave up my "occasional" glass of wine (or two), and can't eat...yes I'm really pleasant these days...hardly.

Ok, so what protein drinks are you taking in--what's the nutrition on them specifically prot, carbs, fiber, sugar alcohols, and sugars?? Are you already eating protein bars? What puree/soft foods are you eating. Give us 1-2 days sample menus please. Thanks! (I personally gained TONS of fluid in my ankles and left arm because my body doesn't tolerate an ALL-protein drink kind of diet even though my drinks were low carb. It wasn't until I was eating real meat protein and veg that I really started losing anything significant.

You may discover that your definition of yummy changes. A lot of fast food, takeaways, sweets, etc. are really unappealing to me now. Watching advertisements for this type of food almost turns my tummy. When I was losing I ate the inside of a wonton (group of friends decided to order takeaway for dinner) but didn’t really enjoy it. I’ve had gyoza (steamed, inside only) twice & Chinese (braised chicken & vegetables) once since I started maintenance. Again a bit blah! I’ve also had some dessert & cake at Christmas, a wedding & a birthday but again honestly the couple of teaspoons/bites was more than enough. I didn’t get the same enjoyment from eating them. I do drink alcohol. About once a month & usually only a glass. Gin & tonic or champagne usually. Some people do have the odd pizza, burger, etc. eat the occasional biscuit, etc. but it’s an individual thing. Some have found healthy versions (like bun less burgers, high protein chips). You know your lifestyle best & how you will be able to manage adding some things back into your diet in the future.

Men are always talking about how there are so many crazy women out there. I've been single a year and it seems like the world is FULL of crazy men!!! Not women!! Or is it just people in general? Geeze I thought I had problems. I go out with a guy twice and he's ready to marry me. I date an alcoholic and fall in love with him. I hear endless stories about crazy exes. What are people willing to settle for these days? Is it my age? (35) Is it that I'm online dating?? I have guys yelling at because I don't text them fast enough. I have guys who are completely emotionally stunted. What the hell????

I have bipolar disorder and some history of eating issues but only for brief periods of time (maybe 15 incidences of vomiting and a few months of restrictive eating). I can't think of anyone who hasn't yo-yo dieted: I have once lost 50 lbs and another time lost 100, but gained it back. I'm not sure what you mean by "hiding extra food from others". I have no history of addiction, but I know that can be a concern for WLS because cross addition especially alcoholism is a problem after WLS. For me, the weight center (also a major academic medical center) is requiring that my psychiatrist speak to their psychologist and clear me for surgery. Did you see the bariatric psychologist?

I totally understand. I have followed every single rule that they have set for me. Getting sleeved should not mean the end of all the things that made us happy. I can deal without the grease and junk food. I get that it will get me nowhere, but caffeine, COME ON doc!!! I'm not going to OD on it when the only time I consume it is through coffee. Funny story (speaking of condescending)....I asked my NUT when I could start having the occassional glass of wine. She literally looked down her nose at me and said, "We will talk about that at your next appointment, but you must remember that alcohol is nothing but empty calories." I wanted to look at her and say, "well so is Water, but you sure want me guzzling 64 oz of that crap a day!" Besides, I don't think there was ever a time in my life where I drank a beer because of how HEALTHY it was. DUH!!

Be warned - the Bariatric Advantage Calcium Chewables are loaded with maltitol (a sugar alcohol) that act as a rather potent laxative. I know thus first hand. Here are other's opinions: https://www.buzzfeed.com/michaelrusch/haribo-gummy-bear-reviews-on-amazon-are-the-most-insane-thin?utm_term=.xfdEGGQ6M#.xwV1nnwM4

Wait thats the story I'm using. Poor gallbladder being blamed for everything. Tell them you are being treated for an urinary tract infection, alcohol needs to be avoided to ensure antibiotics potency. Then you can tell them it leaves more alcohol for them. I'm on the pre op diet and no alcohol so at a business function(cocktail party) this week and asked the bartender to give me club soda in a cocktail glass with an olive and i just carried that around all night. Good luck

Am I am being banded on May 5th, and have had a few business functions that I will just say docs have told me to avoid alcohol for the next couple of months to monitor hormone levels. Say whatever it takes so you don't feel awkward. This is a lifelong decision and will really have to start adapting now!

Surgery set for next Monday, July 11th. So today was my Pre-op and Nut class. After surgery diet: Stage 1 Day 1-21 Full liquid including Protein supplements (only liquids that go easily through a strainer) No Jello. Fruit juices, protein supplements, cream Soups (thinned), broth, Skim or 1% milk, sugar free drink mixes, Water, SF popsicles, and decaf tea/coffee. Stage 2 Day 22-42 Soft solid foods Stage 3 After day 43 Regular bariatric diet ********************************** Try to consume: 60 oz of liquid per day 60 gms of Protein per day Protein supplements: per 8 oz, 200 or less calories, at least 15 gms of protein (whey, egg, casein or soy based) and less than 5 grams of sugar. The paperworks says to AVOID alcohol, caffeine and carbonation. The nut says to NEVER have them for the rest of your life. The room of people started to freak out. NEVER, ever again???? It was almost comical. Her reasoning is that it can cause ulcers. ****************************** Vitamins and Minerals NO GUMMIES. What? No gummies. I went out and bought my adult gummie vitamins this past weekend. Now I can't have them. The thought of chewing up a chalky Vitamin just makes me gag. But I guess no choice now. Anyone have one they love? LOL Take 2 Multivitamin per day Take 1500-2000 mg pre day of Calcium. Chewable calcium citrate plus Vitamin D and magnesium. You are only suppose to take 500 mg at a time. So take it throughout the day. Vitamin B12: 1000 mcg sublingual once per week. All the above vitamins are to be taken FOREVER! I guess that is when it hit me...Forever? Really? Not sure what I was thinking, but this statement made it REAL for me. Part of my stomach is removed and now I have to take this stuff forever to be healthy. Also Decaf FOREVER!! That was kinda hard to hear for me. I can do without the soda's, but if I wanted some good coffee, it has to be decaf PRE-OP class was interesting too. Like most have said, No nail polish, toes or fingers. Lots of good info on what to expect at the facility I'll be at. We also got a tour of the hospital. Oh and no straws....forever. LOL I'm still very excited about my surgery. A little more scared and nervous than before. I guess this just all made it more real for me. I'm also interested if others surgeons or nuts gave you similar info on the above or not. I know alot of docs are different. And I know the info they gave us today was to help us work the sleeve to the best we can to not only lose the weight but to keep off the weight.

Even though this is 100% not recommened. .Getting a huber needle, a bottle of saline, a 1cc syringe, alcohol and a pair of gloves seems way cheeper than the $175-$300.00 these people are paying... oh and don't forget the bandaid...........thats about less than $10.00,,,but going septic is about $150,000.00 per treatment.....ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I now have another. Get the lap band so you can drink less and still get drunk. Saves money. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/drinking-lots-alcohol-43598/#post599357

plain, I originally started the gastric bypass surgery pre-op stuff about 3 years ago before my surgeon even did lap bands. Then all these things started happening like my dad got ill and my sister got cancer and my dog died, sounds like a country song but it's true and I put it off because I felt like I was needed elsewhere. Then two years later I decided to take the time for myself since everything in my life seemed fairly calm and I went back and then found out they were doing lap bands now. I started pre-op again for the gastric bypass and had it all approved and I changed my mind, I kind of chickened out I'd say and wanted the lap band because of two reasons, one I knew it could be removed if need be and two, I wouldn't have the bad side effects you get from gastric bypass surgery because I knew I'd end up cheating once in a while with ice cream. And also it wouldn't be as traumatic on my body. I think a lot of people feel that way. Anywho, I had already discussed the post op diet with the nutritionist for the gastric bypass and had done everything else and called the doctor made an appointment because I wanted to tell him I wanted the band instead. This was about one month prior to surgery. I was never told those things and maybe it's my own fault because of the way I had changed things in the middle and maybe something (info wise) got lost in the shuffle. I swear it's the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help me God. I'm not a soda drinker, I'm not much of an alcohol drinker but I like me some ice cream and knew that would be an issue. But because it was so much easier to eat the yummy cakes and cookies and pies and ice cream and candy instead of protein I tended to go that route because I found out it went down no problem. I think I learned that at Halloween. My dad was an alcoholic and I take after him, except I'm not dead and I'm not a male. I tend to choose sugar foods over alcohol but there very similar in a way. I'm ate a salad today for the first time in a long time because my fill is reduced and I also had almost a whole sandwich with Weight Watcher's bread today and that was so weird to me. Anyway I have to learn to stay away from the WW desserts though because I'll end up eating them instead of the healthier foods. I don't blame my surgeon, they have a good program here and they have an orientation first and then you meet with the surgeon, you go through a lot of pre-op testing and get screened by a psych of their choosing. I'm not a dumba...s but I guess to a lot of you I appear to be. I just have issues with certain foods that the band won't catch and didn't know it ahead of time. I'm still working on it just in a different way now. So wish me luck, brandyII.

I didn't binge but I did eat everything I wanted to before my diet started. I ate my husband's amazing homemade salsa with my favorite chips, had fried chicken, drank diet soda and had a couple of margaritas. I was allowed 1 glass of wine by the doctor at a holiday party and had no alcohol beyond that. I did cheat a little - I had a couple of pigs in a blanket at another holiday party, etc. I was terrified that my little cheats would show up but the doc said my liver looked great as I've never been a heavy drinker and they could see that I followed the diet. I remember seeing an interview with Rex Ryan of the Jets and he said he used to eat 12 tacos at once before his surgery and now he eats 1 to 2 at a time. I used to eat 1 - 2 myself so my husband said I'll probably eat 2 bites. my doctor said that eventually I can probably eat small amounts of what I like and this is sustaining me.

Laralyn_ Man, what a schedule girl. You need to take care of yourself. ,maybe a mental health day is in order. Yeah, I also would love to say good bye to the 200's. I am 34 lbs away.:phanvan. I am going on a large trip, NYC, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, amusement park, so hopefully all that exercise will bump up the weight loss. To the entire board Can you drink alcohol?? I know your not suppose too. I heard you get wasted really fast. It is so crazy with good restriction to get in all that water. it drives me crazy to just drink 16 ounces. Why really is all that fluid so important. I mean I know you don't want to dehydrate but is there any other advantages? Have a great week friends.

Alcoholism is a serious problem for post WLS. It's a transfer addiction. Be very careful. It's not just about the calories, it's the damage you are doing to your liver. Most WLS patients already have extensive scar tissue from having a fatty liver pre surgery. It takes a long time for that to heal if ever.

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 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.

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

I do not drink hard liquor or beer. Just no preference for it. But pre-VSG, I was very much a wine drinker. Not cheap rotgut stuff (no offense to anyone who enjoys $2 moscato). I would have a few glasses each night without fail. I was very concerned about what life would look like on the other side of my surgery as far as my enjoyment of fine wines. A little over a week post-op, and shockingly, I have no craving for wine. No desire. It doesn’t turn me off, but I’m not missing it. Something I never would have believed could be true pre-surgery. I asked my doctor about wine specifically at my one-week appointment, and he said it would be fine to have it in very small amounts, just being mindful of the empty calories aspect, and that smaller amounts of wine would hit me much harder now. Unlike RNY patients, VSG patients don’t experience many of the same issues with alcohol damaging their digestive systems post-surgery and can often drink in small amounts after their surgery with minimal issues. A few days ago, we had a small (socially distant!) outdoor gathering with friends. None of them know about my surgery. I knew it would raise all sorts of concerns if I didn’t drink at all, because everyone knows I love my wine, so I brought a cup with about 4oz of wine in it, which I took teensy tiny sips of over the course of a few hours. It was fine but I didn’t want any more.

I searched the forums and only saw threads about constipation. I am guessing my recent vacation had caused me some problems because I replaced Water with soda/alcohol and Fiber with sugar in a splurge. I haven't gained weight but definitely messed up the digestion pipes. Due to the lack of bathroom visits and the strain I have developed a very painful, large, external hemmorhoid. PrepH makes it feel better but I have had it for about 2 weeks and it is not shrinking . I am to the point that I do not want to use the restroom because it hurts. Any other home remedies I can try as I do not want to visit the doctor for this issue if I do not have too? Or is this still within the normal timeframe for the ailment to heal on its own.

If you read the product information of the LAP-BAND System, you will see that one of the contraindications is if you have alcohol or drug addiction. I don't know the OP, so I don't know whether there is an addiction issue; however, if there is, the physician must be told about it so that s/he can help the OP make the best decision. It really is critical that you tell your doctor everything. Omission of anything is not fair to YOURSELF. Don't you want the best possible outcome for YOU? I surely want the best possible outcome for you. :scared2:

Bay, I totally agree with btrieger! I rarely drink, but the other day, I went out with friends and had a few drinks. Before I knew it, I was picking at the cheese fries on the table. With no alcohol in me, I most likely would not have eaten them. I also had a friend who lost a lot of weight with GB. She enjoys her 4 or 5 Miller Lites a night and has gained a little over half her weight back. Not only can drinking hinder your weight loss, but excessive drinking is just plain bad for your health. Getting this surgery is mainly about getting healthier.

I have one. I have never used it. I'm an adult, sitting at a restaurant taking up the time and space that another paying customer could be taking up. It is bad enough I don't drink alcohol, I'm not going to short them on the food profit too. Almost everything on the average kids menu in america is trash I wouldn't even fee my dog let alone eat myself or give to a kid. Chicken nuggets, Mac and Cheese and other crap. Kids are as fat as everyone else, actually fatter, their menus are awful and contain nothing a post-op patient should be eating. You are better off just ordering appetizers or a light plate.

@@cseidman - Congratulations on your surgery. I would caution you with the "drink anything but soda"...of course giving up soda is a great thing but please don't replace it with other high calorie beverages and/or alcohol. It would be really easy to start drinking sweetened lemonade, iced tea, fruit juices, etc. and rack up the calories. Just be careful I have a fitbit and I love it too. You will be amazed at how much good information you can get from it.