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LOL... alcohol has not affected me either way, there is no difference pre or post op but I have heard that people either get more buzzed or less buzzed. I stayed the same (7 months post op)

You'll have to make your own choice about whether or not to drink. I usually don't get any alcohol, but will sip from my husband's. YMMV. I thought I'd share this post from another band site discussing alcohol and it's effect on weight loss. Alcohol inhibits the hormones that make you feel full, promotes the hormones that make you hungry, and lowers your inhibitions. Yes, people tend to eat more when they drink. Plus alcohol is basically a toxin that your liver has to process and it doesn't process food in the same way while it's process alcohol. It takes about 3 days to get rid of the alcohol completely. So for every day you have a drink you'll generally go 3 days without losing weight. That doesn't seem like a good trade off. One can get by with a few sips of wine before dinner but a 5 ounce serving of red is about 130 calories. When one is trying to eat 1200 calories there's not a lot of room to spend a 10th of the daily allotment on alcohol.

I can tell you, the alcohol doesnt affect me any differently than before, BUT it definitely makes you say "to hell with this diet" and eat things you arent supposed to. Thats what I did last night and after going out drinking I stopped at Jack in The Box and binged on things Im not supposed to eat. Especially since I got my fill on Monday and am supposed to be only on full liquids for a week...so be careful!

Anyone can go to a party. Its whether you go to a party and can stay strong. Rule of thumb so early out? If it is nutritionally bad for you? Don't eat it - it'll make you feel awful. Try and identify the 'better' options around the table. Or better still, eat before you go to avoid having to eat whilst you're there, drink something with no carbonation, avoid alcohol and enjoy the company and surroundings. Doesn't always have to be about the food, so make the company, surroundings and music your focus instead. If it gets tough? Leave early. Your friend will be happy that you showed and you'll be happy that you socialised but managed to stay strong. A party is not an interview with the firing squad! Well, it shouldn't be! Best of luck

Where do I start...Week 8 was the week of workouts... I concentrated on my running game...So I pushed myself everytime I ran...Managed 2 miles in 26 minutes on Wednesday...And on Saturday, I actually did an 11 minute mile...Killed me but I felt good after I caught my breath and my heart starting beating inside instead of outside of my chest...Now I need to duplicate that across two miles and then three miles...My goal is to do 3 miles in 30 minutes...I have also kept up with Insanity workouts...Still hard as hell but well worth it...I get a sense of accomplishments from getting through another greuling 40 minutes of insane workouts...I feel myself getting stronger..my stretches getting better and my cardio picking up so I am so encouraged... I know some say I am going too hard on the workouts but I do not think so...I feel absolutely fine and no pain from the workouts other than sore muscles...And I actually get a rise out of that because that means they feeling the effect and making way for change...Working out, particularly running is a lifestyle for me so no sense of putting it off any longer..I also am putting weight lifting in my routine. My arms have always been big proportionate to my body so I am giving them a lil extra work to see if I can get them to get with the program...lol... I had a few struggles with food and the dreaded alcohol...I went out to eat with friends and there was bread and I had a tiny piece...Didnt take it too far because I did not want to risk upsetting my stomach...And I also tried a drink, on a separate occassion, and it burned my stomach...Good and a bad thing...so I didnt finish the drink and have the empty calories but man I was looking forward to that drink... But the best part of the week...I got down to 199...I guess it is possible on my scale...For the past few weeks I was beginning to think that my scale did not display #'s less than 200...I attached progress photos and I can see the difference in the photos but when I look in the mirror I pretty much see myself the same as I was pre-surgery...I had a girlfriend tell me that it was funny that when I was bigger I saw myself as a sexy b*tch..and now as I have getting smaller I am seeing myself as a slob...I dont really know where I lost myself..I do remember feeling good about me or at least I played the role so well that I believed I liked myself at some point in my "big life"...Now, I critique myself so hard on that and I am almost uncomfortable in my own skin...I need for my self image and confidence to catch up with my smaller waistline...It is sometimes hard to process the compliments because I am thinking what do these folk see...In fact, I told this one guy, I wanted to see myself through his eyes...He had always adored me even at my biggest and now he can't wait to see me in the morning to shower me with compliments... HW 232 & SW 227 (VSG 08/17/12 & 5'8) LW 201.2 CW 199 [Exactly 44lbs away from goal] GW 155

my mother is kind of the same way, she was an alcoholic and was one of the people that as a kid was always giving me food when i was sad or upset. I think she has guilt some over the things that happened in the past. She still has a tendency to push food at me. I hope things can be worked out but sometimes i think we cant change peoples minds. Best of luck and dont give up on your journey. There is def. alot of support here.

I have been around goal weight plus minus 5-10 lbs for some time. I got my band in 2008. Had issues with dilated pouch/esophagus. They remove my fill liquid for 4 months, I gain weight. They put it back in and it's twice as hard to get back down the 20, 30 lbs. I do it but without some liquid in my band, I'm like an alcoholic but with food. I know this. Food is my weak point, my comforter, my vice. I try not to gain weight during that phase but so far I have lost the battle. I'm at goal weight and now I hear I might have to have liquid removed yet again. I have the opportunity to change to the sleeve. One doctor says do the revision, another says I may go underweight. What would you do if the band served you so well for many many years?

My plan counts net carbs so once you subtract the fiber and sugar alcohol it's only 3 net carbs

Thanks Mac. That helps. I am one that can definitely go without alcohol. However, like you, I think it is a guilty pleasure. I'm hopeful I can occasionally still enjoy the red wine. Sounds like red wine isn't agreeing with you though. I'm going to be as compliant as possible because I want to be successful. Maybe I'll just hide the corkscrew!!!!!!!! Lol!!!

Call your nutritionist or surgeon's office and mention the wedding, and how close it is to your surgery date. As Enchanted mentioned, the purpose of the pre-op diet is to shrink your liver, which I understand happens quite quickly if you follow the guidelines. Most likely your nurtitionist/surgeon will advise you foods that you can eat - limit the portion, avoid alcohol, soda, carbs, sweets. You are not banded yet, so you won't have to worry about restrictions or food textures. Good luck.

I’m able to tolerate most things. I never loved eggs and I like them even less now. I can’t eat very much pork (too dense and fills me up very quickly). I’m ok with some sugar in foods, but sweet alcohol contain drinks will make me dump.

They did a blood workup on me -- if they did a tox screen I have no idea. They did ask extensively about my use of drugs/alcohol/smoking. But I think that's more for know what they are getting into w/surgery. And they don't want you smoking anything before surgery. It'll be interesting to hear what people say.

I was sleeved on the same day as you. First day was tough but every day since then has been wonderful. I'm so glad that I had the surgery. I now have a stomach 'stop' button. I used to hate myself for being so greedy but I couldn't help myself. I've got an addictive personality and have managed to give up alcohol and cigarettes but food......... - no. I tried everything. My doctor suggested 'portion control'! Yeh, right! As I live in the UK our National Health Service wouldn't even entertain the idea of letting me have the op as I wasn't heavy enough. I had a hip replaced this time last year and I reckoned that I was going to have to have my knees replaced sooner rather than later as I was in agony with the arthritis in them. My cholesterol is high, as is my blood pressure. My doctor was concerned about my blood sugar levels but the NHS saw no good reason for something that would ultimately save them a fortune to be performed on this fatty! I went off to Belgium and paid for the surgery myself-well my husband did-and it's the best money ever spent. I am a very happy sleever.

Well, I survived the holidays. My surgery was November 6th, and as of today, I hit the 50 lb weight loss mark. Saturday was the hardest day so far with a big family gathering. I even had my first alcoholic drink since surgery. It must've been light on alcohol, because I was fine. How are y'all doing?

I did well because I can't really over eat without having extreme nausea. Eating for me now has no pleasure--it's only for nutrition. My only "cheat" I'd say was a few Hershey's kisses. No alcohol for me per my surgeon. He says none ever---but I know other patients of his who have tried it when they're about a year or more out. I don't think I'll chance it for now.

I have had a few drinks of soda. It burned like heck!! My tastes have changed and I miss the convenience of soda but not the taste so much. I have also had alcohol.... Who can go to a PINK concert without alcohol (not me). There is no way you are going to cut out every bad food/beverage item but you do have to have it in moderation. Good luck with your journey.

It's a fact that after VSG, your stomach is much, much smaller. Thus, alcohol pretty much goes directly into your bloodstream. Alcoholism is higher to VSG people because of it.... You get that high fast , kind of like smoking crack goes right into a crack head's system, and they are hooked. I've read about it researching VSG. Also, when you lose weight, you feel better. You go out more. So, you are probably drinking more often. It's a risk you weigh. You know beforehand the statistics, and keep them in mind. My procedure is Friday. Can't wait!

Nyquil has alcohol. My surgeon said no Nyquil. But please feel better soon.

I've certainly changed my m.o. Before banding, I lost some weight and one of the ways I did it was by eliminating alcohol. It was painful when I was out with friends. Now, I do have a couple of driinks when I go out. One of my new favorites is a bloody mary (not too many calories and for me impossible to drink too fast). I LOVE whisky sours but I can drink them like lemonade and after being banded I DO get tipsy so easy. You'll have a great time! I would watch the beer ...I took a sip of one...YIKES... the burning, the golf ball feeling...no more for me for awhile. Your friends are all going to be envious of you since you've lost weight!!

Good Morning! I was banded April 29th. Your Dr. will obviously tell you not to drink alcohol for two reasons: it contains calories and you will notice the effects with considerably less ingested. Having said that, I have a glass (maybe 2) whenever I am out but make it last the night. Will probably limit it to special occasions. This band is a tool and you have to make it fit into your lifestyle while appreciating you got it for a very good reason. Now, as far as the gulping Water thing goes. You quickly learn to get the water down but not in huge mouthfuls. Just like your eating habits will change - you will chew more and take smaller bites - your water drinking will change a little as well. Just take slightly smaller amounts and swaller more frequently and you should be fine. Good luck.

Taken from Wiki - Ketosis (IPA pronunciation: [ki'tosɪs]) is a stage in metabolism occurring when the liver has been depleted of stored glycogen and switches to a chronic fasting mode during long periods of starvation. During the chronic stage of starvation (after glycogen has run out), fat (triglycerol) is cleaved to give 3 fatty acid chains and 1 glycerol molecule in a process called lipolysis. Most of the body is able to utilize fatty acids as an alternative source of energy in a process where fatty acid chains are cleaved to form acetyl-CoA, which can then be fed into the Krebs Cycle. During this process a high concentration of glucagon is present in the serum and this inactivates glucose kinase switching the primary energy source of most cells from using glucose to fatty acids. At the same time, new glucose is synthesized in the liver from lactic acid, glucogenic amino acids, and glycerol, in a process called gluconeogenesis. This glucose is used exclusively by cells such as neurons and red blood cells. Ketone bodies, from the breakdown of fatty acids to acetyl groups, are also produced during this fasting state, and are burned throughout the body. During the initial stages of starvation the adult brain does not burn ketones, however the newborn brain makes immediate use of this important substrate for lipid synthesis in the brain. After about 48 hours of starvation, the adult brain starts burning ketones in order to more directly utilize the energy from the fat stores that are being depended upon, and to reserve the glucose only for its absolute needs, thus slowing the depletion of the body's Protein store in the muscles. The brain retains a residual need for glucose, because ketones can only provide energy when used during aerobic respiration in mitochondria. In the long thin neurons, much of the metabolically active cellular membrane must derive its energy from glucose via anaerobic respiration without the assistance of mitochondria. Ketosis, which is a physiological condition in response to chronic starvation, should not be confused with ketoacidosis, which is severe ketosis causing the pH of the blood to drop below 7.2. Ketoacidosis is a medical condition usually caused by diabetes and accompanied by dehydration, hyperglycemia, ketonuria and increased levels of glucagon. The high glucagon, low insulin serum levels signals the body to produce more glucose via gluconeogenesis, glycogenolysis and ketogenesis. High levels of glucose causes the failure of tubular reabsorption in the kidneys, causing Water to leak into the tubules in a process called osmotic diuresis, causing dehydration and further exacerbating the acidosis. The breath of people in a ketotic state commonly contains acetone, detectable as a sweet smell that may be mistaken for ethyl alcohol. Whether ketosis takes place can be checked by using special urine test strips such as Ketostix. Deliberately induced ketosis through a low-carbohydrate diet has been used to treat medical conditions. The ketogenic diet is an approach to treating epilepsy, and the Atkins Nutritional Approach is marketed for treating obesity. The very low calorie, medically supervised Lighter Life diet also uses ketosis for weight loss.

Hi all- I am a sober alcoholic and sick of the whack game. I was banded May 11, 09. No restriction since I've healed, but I have a much greater awareness of what I eat and WHY I eat it. Banding has yanked that "eating for comfort rug" right out from under my feet. I'm so ready though- if I'm uncomfortable or bored or stressed, so be it! I just pray I don't think of new and different ways to self destruct- ha! Beth

Wow. Sorry you are struggling. Don't know who told you 3-500cals. That might have been true at 3-4 weeks? But I think the biggest majority of us have cals during the losing mode of 600-850cals/day--very loose average. Maintenance for me is around 1000cals. Even at 900cals my loss if painfully slow negligible. But, we are all different and have different TEE (Total Energy Expenditure). It could be so many things: hormones, medications, genetics, nutritional components, calories, sleep, stress, physical activity/exercise, age, alcohol/caloric drink consumption. You've lost 17 pound in about 12 weeks. That's about 1.4lbs/week which is a little on the low side. The average weekly weight loss is 2-4lbs in the early losing phases. Are you maximizing everything YOU can contribute to this journey? (ie everything within your control) What does your doctor say about your progress/situation?

I think (?) it's true that I haven't mourned the loss of food. Perhaps it's because because I was sleeved later in life (at 68) I'd eaten about everything there is to eat--some great food. I also understood that being sleeved didn't mean I could never eat good food again. Four months post-op, I am certainly less focused on food than I was pre-op. I'm sure that's due to having so much less ghrelin in my body than pre-op. However, I'm still interested in food to supply nutrients for my body, to supply energy, and (to a lesser extent, for now) food's taste and aesthetics. It's pretty easy to avoid or reject food most of the time that doesn't have high nutritional value (sweets, alcohol, high-carbs). I'm sure this will all continue to evolve and change. But the current phase is a comfy place to hang out.

Alcohol is discouraged because it is liquid calories. That said, I do drink alcohol, but mostly it is red wine which has some health and, purportedly, weight loss benefits in moderation. I wouldn't drink a whiskey with coke because of the carbonation in the coke, but I do occasionally have a margarita, vodka cranberry, or gimlet (none of which have carbonated mixers). That said, some bandsters do carbonated beverages sometimes and just take the risk with the band. I'll say this-- you certainly won't be able to drink as much as before.