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I have severe back problems. I am in desperate need of surgery but presently do not have insurance so I am unable to have it. Every night, I have one or two drinks. They help me to relax and help me to sleep. Otherwise, I am awake all night from the pain. However, even without the back issues, I will continue to have a drink at night. It is a great way to unwind, that, however, does not make me an alcoholic. I worked in a psychiatric and substance hospital for 13 years. Lets not confuse enjoying a few drinks with alcoholism. They are two completely different animals. An alcoholic wakes up in the morning craving a drink, same as a drug addict wakes up craving their drug of choice. An addict is willing to sacrifice their way of life, their families, etc. to have their drug/drink of choice. They must have their drug or they will actually experience physical symptoms of withdrawal. That is a huge difference between enjoying a drink in the evening or going out with friends on the weekend and planning on having enough drinks where you need to designate a driver ahead of time. Sent from my iPad using VST

Your original slant had nothing to do with legality. It was a broad sweeping statement about people who use any drugs or alcohol. Pick a soapbox dear, you're backtracking on yourself.

Most people drink to relax a little. When I've drink wine I do not drink to get drunk because I don't like that feeling. Most people also smoke marijuana to relax a little. Most people don't want to get so high or drunk they are out of control or unconscious. Assuming most people who drink or smoke marijuana once or twice a week are drug addicts or alcoholics is insulting and I wouldn't have gone there if you hadn't said what you said.

I couldn't DISagree more. If you are doing these EVERYDAY then yes. But if it's occasionally no. I drink once a year at a Christmas party. And I drink to get drunk. So based on your theory I am an alcoholic by getting drunk once a year. Best head off here and google my nearest AA meeting.

I'm not easily offended but I will speak my mind. Would you say someone who has a glass of wine with dinner most days or a can of beer is an alcoholic? If not then why would you call someone who smokes a little on the weekend or at a party or after work every once in a while a drug addict. That sounds a little insulting. I can assure you, I am not on welfare or jobless. And judging by all the grammatical errors and misspellings in your post I would assume I am more literate and probably have a better job than you do. Oh and making alcohol illegal? It was a very bad idea in the 1919 and it would be a terrible idea now.

I haven't smoked pot since I was 18 and that was 10yrs ago. I don't know how my doc feels about it. We live in Colorado where weed will be legal in June or July of next year. I plan to never smoke pot again but I'm past that age where stuff like that appeals to me and I have 3 small kids. As far as exercise my doc wanted us to walk ASAP, nothing strenuous until 6-8 weeks post op. I plan to lift weights this week for the first time since surgery and I'm 7 weeks post op. Caffeine I'm supposed to avoid it until 3 months I think and that's the same with alcohol. I haven't drank caffeine or alcohol and don't plan to until I reach goal. I don't want it to slow down my weight loss.

I never said that I didn't use it for recreational use. But you also don't know me or anything about be except what I've said. How do you know I don't also have some medical use? My grandmother died from Alzheimers. My mother is scared to death. It starts way before it gets diagnosed and once it is diagnosed it is usually toward the end. And I'm not saying that the sole reason I use it is to stave off Alzheimer's. Also notice that I never mentioned whether or not marijuana kills brain cells. That was something YOU brought up. If you make a statement in an open forum, then either you can back up what you say or it is your opinion. If you can't back it up it's an opinion. You are entitled to your own opinion - you are not entitled to your own facts. By the way the articles I quoted were all are quoting articles published in medical journals. I had a friend who had to go to an alcohol awareness class and I took a bunch of their literature and none of the statements on any of the pamphlets had any references at all. If the literature the Houston Area on Alcohol and Drug Abuse wants me to believe their statements why don't tell me where they came up with them?

The Great pot debate lmao Ok I will add my 2bits to this. If you are easily offended you might want to stop reading right now I am very blunt and I don't see the point in tiptoeing around things. and I am not saying this is you but this is most pot smokers. If there is no medical reason for you to use it your a drug addict you use it to get a drug high. If you use it for recreation again your a drug addict and you use it to get high. if you use it for medical reasons and have a prescription for it then you use it for your medical need. I have Family members that are long-term years and years pot smokers. They chose to smoke then do much with there life and are either on welfare or jobless. So there you go my 2 bits on the matter. Don't feel to bad I think alcohol is bad to . If it could Be made illegal I'd vote for that lol

steelergirl, if you can cite a reputable study that says it kills brain cells, bring it on. Otherwise you are just repeating what someone else told you which may are may not be true. I do know that some people have problems with it. I have known people that had problems - I lived with a husband. but I'm a 53 year old woman, I have been using it since I was 25 on and off. I have never had problems quitting when I needed to. I have had the same good job for the last 15 years and I don't live in my parents basement. I know that drug and alcohol counselors and the drug treatment community see things a certain way and one of the reasons is that they only come in contact with people who use drugs and alcohol in negative ways and don't really understand casual users of drugs and some of them don't even really understand casual alcohol use. People who don't have problems with drugs don't go to drug counselors of their own free will. Sometimes people that would not have a problem if marijuana was legal get forced into treatment because of a positive drug test or because of an encounter with law enforcement. These people don't always need treatment. They just happened to be unlucky. I have know people who really did have a problem with marijuana. I had a husband that worked probably 2 years out of the 10 I was with him. He would sit in his chair, watch TV, pour him a coke, smoke weed and then smoke a few cigarettes and then start all over. I would go to work and come back and he would be in the same place.

By the way, it IS a proven medical fact that alcohol kills brain cells.

..... exercise?Walking the day I got home. Swimming and circuit training 4/5 weeks ....drink alcohol? I don't drink so never asked .... smoke cigarettes? ( I am sure the doctor would tell you not to start again.) I quit on August 27 and won't be starting back. .... smoke marijuana? It makes your body retain Water and slows the bodies ability to make more lean muscle and I don't do drugs so never asked. ... anything else? Fly out for business trips after two weeks. Caffeine after 14 days I did wait until seven weeks to start drinking coffee.

Exercise - he wanted me to start walking from the moment I came home, which I did. Anything more strenuous has to wait until week 6 which I also did. Alcohol - Dr said 1 year, I had my first drink on my cruise in October which was almost 5 months out. I didn't get any kind of buzz which tells me that the cruise ship drinks are really watered down. Caffiene - Dr said 1 year, I started up again in month 3 but only drink 1 cup of coffee a day otherwise my acid reflux acts up. Smoking - Dr said NEVER and since I quit in 2004 I have no plans to ever begin again.

..... exercise? Walk immediately, restricted to no lifting over 25 pounds for six weeks. ....drink alcohol? Six months out. .... smoke cigarettes? ( I am sure the doctor would tell you not to start again.) Pretty much "if you've gone this long without it, might as well not do it any more" though I quit years before surgery when I got tired of chronic bronchitis. .... smoke marijuana? Given the obvious side effect to this one I'd figure it would be one of the worst things I could do with a sleeve. Nothing like being rabid hungry and eating too much AND of the wrong things to undo the entire point of VSG in the first place. ... anything else? Well I ended up disregarding some of the "get back to normal eating" schedule and started eating certain things (Protein heavy like poultry/fish) way early.

I smoked marijuana almost immediately after because it was the only thing that would help with the nausea. It was a life saver for me. Exercise- I started on the treadmill or the elliptical a week after just for 15 minutes and gradually built up as I felt better. One month out I started doing any and all exercises. Alcohol- I started drinking wine again about two months out. Haven't had any trouble. coffee and Tea- I pretty much started on those as soon as I could eat regular food and was off my liquid phases. I think I am not a very good example but thought I would honestly answer your questions. Hope this helps.

Caffeine and full exercise at 6 weeks (by caffeine I mean coffee). I don't smoke anything so never thought to ask. I can have a alcohol as well but haven't tried. I'll probably have my first drink later on December at my work Xmas party.

When did your doctor say you could drink caffeinated beverages and when did you? ..... exercise? ....drink alcohol? .... smoke cigarettes? ( I am sure the doctor would tell you not to start again.) .... smoke marijuana? ... anything else?

I look at it as if my brother a recovering alcoholic can give up beer for the rest of his life I can give up diet soda.

I waited six months. I was cleared for alcohol at my six month appt. It just wasn't worth it to me to try it before my dr. OK'd it for me. Six months is a blink in the big picture. Lynda

How long post op did you drink any alcohol? I know it's empty calories, I'm band to VSG. I know the rules. Just wondering how soon you had a half a glass of wine or something?

Ok, quilty, so quilty. Popcorn is my one vice. I gave up everything else, soda, alcohol, sweets, potato chips, bread......... I have been able to eat popcorn the entire time. I can eat about 1-2 cups depending on how my band is responding. I buy the small bags, 100 calorie ones, pop them, spray, I can't believe it's butter on it and some fresh ground pepper. I do chew the heck out of it but it is the one thing I really enjoy as a snack, it satisfys my urge for salty snacks.

The holiday season is here and it’s time for us all to quickly gain ten pounds. What? Why would I say that? I say that because it’s written all over the place. Over the next few weeks, you are going to see and hear references to our tendency to gain weight during this time of year in every newspaper, magazine, website, blog and television news program. And while the opportunities to eat may increase this time of year and the kinds of foods pushed on us are often not the healthiest, you don’t have to gain weight. However, if you expect to…you will. The holiday season is here and it’s time for us all to quickly gain ten pounds. What? Why would I say that? I say that because it’s written all over the place. Over the next few weeks, you are going to see and hear references to our tendency to gain weight during this time of year in every newspaper, magazine, website, blog and television news program. And while the opportunities to eat may increase this time of year and the kinds of foods pushed on us are often not the healthiest, you don’t have to gain weight. However, if you expect to…you will. What do expectations have to do with weight gain? Think of expectations as a combination of predictions and learned patterns of behavior. Outcomes that have occurred in the past, we generally expect to happen again. Take Thanksgiving for example, or what I like to call “National Binge Eating Day.” Thanksgiving is one of those few days of the year where the holiday seems to be about overeating. Of course, Thanksgiving is supposed to be about taking the opportunity to give thanks for how fortunate we are to live in this great country and to count our blessings for what we have. However, if you ask most Americans what comes to mind when they think of Thanksgiving I’ll bet turkey, stuffing, pie and football come long before giving thanks. More importantly, it’s not only food and eating that we think of but overeating and overindulging. This is so common that it’s often parodied in television commercials. Companies that manufacture antacids run ads showing people with exploding pant buttons or slumped back in the big armchair following the big meal. Thanksgiving, holiday parties and overeating seem to be synonymous. Many of us expect to overeat on Thanksgiving and at holiday parties so we inadvertently mentally gear up for this to happen. With this expectation of overeating in mind, our behavior becomes less controllable…you’re psychologically setting the stage for a binge to occur by expecting a huge meal to be served and by recalling previous Thanksgivings when you overate. Similarly, this is the season of holiday parties. Holiday parties tend to include foods that are rich, highly caloric and plentiful. And let’s not forget the alcohol. When you attend holiday parties, many of us expect these foods and drinks to be available and we are more likely to overindulge if that has been our pattern in the past. You’re certainly not a drone who is unable to make change, but it is infinitely less likely unless you take active steps to make that change. What can you do to prevent overeating at this time of year and gaining those extra pounds? Change your expectations by planning what you will do ahead of time. On the morning of Thanksgiving, think about what the likely layout will be where you are having the meal. Have you been there before? Do you know what to expect to be on the table? If so, plan ahead. Make some decisions about what you will eat and how much. Promise yourself that you will not overeat. After all, it’s just one meal and ironically many people who overeat say they’re not particularly fond of Thanksgiving food. They just get caught up in the collective binge mentality and the rest is history. If you plan ahead and carefully consider what to do instead of binging, you have a much better chance of controlling yourself and feeling good about your eating behavior afterwards. Consider that while eating may be a significant and enjoyable part of holiday parties and gatherings, OVEREATING does not need to be. Try not to give yourself permission to overindulge. Let’s face it…eating is fun and enjoyable and is a large part of holiday merriment. However, there is no fun in feeling nauseas or uncomfortable just after the meal and guilty and self-deprecating hours later. Don’t starve yourself on Thanksgiving morning or on the day of a holiday party. This is one of the most common, yet foolish strategies people employ. The calories you give up by skipping breakfast and lunch usually pale in comparison to the calorie content of the evening binge at Thanksgiving or the holiday party. Instead, eat normally during the day which may actually help keep you from binging later. You are far more likely to control yourself if you are mostly full during the day rather than starving when you walk in the door of the party. Consider making some eating compromises. Who said you have to have turkey only on Thanksgiving? Is pecan pie banned at other times of year? Consider having the foods that truly are once a year items rather than loading up on everything. And even then, you don’t need five pounds of the special foods. If you only get to eat your grandmother’s special stuffing once a year, you certainly shouldn’t pass that up. However, I promise you that eating a ton of it will not make you happier than having two nice size tablespoons of the stuff. Again, plan ahead and make decisions earlier in the day. Watch the booze. Alcohol causes our judgment to get a little fuzzy. You are going to be more successful controlling your behavior if your brain is firing on all cylinders. If you drink too much too early in the day, you’re going to have a tougher time sticking to whatever plan you created. Also, too much alcohol causes us to make other foolish decisions. There are enough unfortunate tragedies that happen this time of year. Make sure you’re not a part of one. I’m not suggesting in any way that you be a killjoy and I certainly don’t believe that it’s necessary to avoid holiday parties or gatherings where food is available. By planning ahead, changing your expectations, and making a few specific eating compromises, you can truly have your cake and eat it too. Happy Holidays!

The holiday season is here and it’s time for us all to quickly gain ten pounds. What? Why would I say that? I say that because it’s written all over the place. Over the next few weeks, you are going to see and hear references to our tendency to gain weight during this time of year in every newspaper, magazine, website, blog and television news program. And while the opportunities to eat may increase this time of year and the kinds of foods pushed on us are often not the healthiest, you don’t have to gain weight. However, if you expect to…you will. What do expectations have to do with weight gain? Think of expectations as a combination of predictions and learned patterns of behavior. Outcomes that have occurred in the past, we generally expect to happen again. Take Thanksgiving for example, or what I like to call “National Binge Eating Day.” Thanksgiving is one of those few days of the year where the holiday seems to be about overeating. Of course, Thanksgiving is supposed to be about taking the opportunity to give thanks for how fortunate we are to live in this great country and to count our blessings for what we have. However, if you ask most Americans what comes to mind when they think of Thanksgiving I’ll bet turkey, stuffing, pie and football come long before giving thanks. More importantly, it’s not only food and eating that we think of but overeating and overindulging. This is so common that it’s often parodied in television commercials. Companies that manufacture antacids run ads showing people with exploding pant buttons or slumped back in the big armchair following the big meal. Thanksgiving, holiday parties and overeating seem to be synonymous. Many of us expect to overeat on Thanksgiving and at holiday parties so we inadvertently mentally gear up for this to happen. With this expectation of overeating in mind, our behavior becomes less controllable…you’re psychologically setting the stage for a binge to occur by expecting a huge meal to be served and by recalling previous Thanksgivings when you overate. Similarly, this is the season of holiday parties. Holiday parties tend to include foods that are rich, highly caloric and plentiful. And let’s not forget the alcohol. When you attend holiday parties, many of us expect these foods and drinks to be available and we are more likely to overindulge if that has been our pattern in the past. You’re certainly not a drone who is unable to make change, but it is infinitely less likely unless you take active steps to make that change. What can you do to prevent overeating at this time of year and gaining those extra pounds? Change your expectations by planning what you will do ahead of time. On the morning of Thanksgiving, think about what the likely layout will be where you are having the meal. Have you been there before? Do you know what to expect to be on the table? If so, plan ahead. Make some decisions about what you will eat and how much. Promise yourself that you will not overeat. After all, it’s just one meal and ironically many people who overeat say they’re not particularly fond of Thanksgiving food. They just get caught up in the collective binge mentality and the rest is history. If you plan ahead and carefully consider what to do instead of binging, you have a much better chance of controlling yourself and feeling good about your eating behavior afterwards. Consider that while eating may be a significant and enjoyable part of holiday parties and gatherings, OVEREATING does not need to be. Try not to give yourself permission to overindulge. Let’s face it…eating is fun and enjoyable and is a large part of holiday merriment. However, there is no fun in feeling nauseas or uncomfortable just after the meal and guilty and self-deprecating hours later. Don’t starve yourself on Thanksgiving morning or on the day of a holiday party. This is one of the most common, yet foolish strategies people employ. The calories you give up by skipping breakfast and lunch usually pale in comparison to the calorie content of the evening binge at Thanksgiving or the holiday party. Instead, eat normally during the day which may actually help keep you from binging later. You are far more likely to control yourself if you are mostly full during the day rather than starving when you walk in the door of the party. Consider making some eating compromises. Who said you have to have turkey only on Thanksgiving? Is pecan pie banned at other times of year? Consider having the foods that truly are once a year items rather than loading up on everything. And even then, you don’t need five pounds of the special foods. If you only get to eat your grandmother’s special stuffing once a year, you certainly shouldn’t pass that up. However, I promise you that eating a ton of it will not make you happier than having two nice size tablespoons of the stuff. Again, plan ahead and make decisions earlier in the day. Watch the booze. Alcohol causes our judgment to get a little fuzzy. You are going to be more successful controlling your behavior if your brain is firing on all cylinders. If you drink too much too early in the day, you’re going to have a tougher time sticking to whatever plan you created. Also, too much alcohol causes us to make other foolish decisions. There are enough unfortunate tragedies that happen this time of year. Make sure you’re not a part of one. I’m not suggesting in any way that you be a killjoy and I certainly don’t believe that it’s necessary to avoid holiday parties or gatherings where food is available. By planning ahead, changing your expectations, and making a few specific eating compromises, you can truly have your cake and eat it too. Happy Holidays!

Personally I look at it as another reason not to spend the money! I've never really liked alcoholic drinks but I've certainly had my share of Diet Coke. When you go out however a Diet Coke in my area will cost you 2 - 2.50 which I think is kind of outrageous.

Ast night I ate some apple slices with some peanut butter and 10 minutes later, I was full blown dumping. What gives?!? I have eaten apples before and was fine so I'm guessing it was the PB. The PB was the natural with 1 gram of sugar and no sugar alcohol. I miss my peanut butter

Ok, that was hilarious and completely believable. In my opinion, I would tell them so they're not shoving alcohol or junk food in your face. Let them razz you all they want, like a previous poster said, they'll be hating it when you're getting all the attention from the ladies. Good luck on your journey.