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Today is my 6 month surgiversary. I have been wanting this day to come for so long!!! I remember how miserable I was the first 8 weeks after surgery. Sometimes the only thing that would get me through it was knowing that I would someday be right here - near my goal, eating more normal food, and living a good life. I was not sure what to expect from this journey - and it continues to surprise me. In some ways I am more limited than I thought I would be. However, I am also a lot more successful than I thought I would be. As of today, I have lost 52 pounds, gone from a BMI of 31 to a BMI of 23, gone from a size 18/20 jeans to a snug size 10, gone from a 40DD bra to a 34DD bra (which is still hard to find). This surgery was everything the lap band promised to be, but wasn't. It has forced me to change my life. These changes are not always easy to make, but you really have no choice. I still struggle with the emotional side of eating certain things. I am still restricted to just over a 1/4 cup of food, but I find that I am able to eat again within an hour - this is where I have to try and be disciplined. It's always easier when I am busy :-) I find that I have no physical sensation of hunger, but I do have powerful cravings - something I still have to work on. I can't drink alcohol because of a burning sensation I get when I drink it. I could probably triple up on acid reducers to fix that, but I figure I'm not missing out on much by not drinking. I also stopped eating bread because of reflux issues. I find I can skip my acid reducer altogether if I eat clean and I eat small portions - it's worth it to me to try and eat the right way and skip the meds. I've been off the acid reducers for about 3 weeks. My weight loss has slowed down a little. I think I am eating between 1000 and 1200 cals a day - more on the weekends because I have more idle time and I will snack a little. My report says I have lost 5.5 pounds in the last 30 days. It seems to come off in small bursts now - no weight loss for 2 weeks and then 2 pounds in a few days. That cycle is fine with me :-) I would be happy at this weight forever, but I am curious to see where my body wants to settle. On a personal note, I got engaged last month. I went wedding dress shopping and my biggest fear is that the dress will be too big for them to alter when it gets here. Crazy. It's 2 months till the wedding and I am hoping that I don't lose too much. Oh well, we'll deal with that when it happens... Finally, I'll talk about health. I don't exercise - I know, I know, it's terrible. I just haven't been able to force myself into regular exercise. I do walk A LOT more than I used to - to the store, around the block, by the beach, etc. I don't take the Vitamins anymore and my 6 month bloodwork was perfect. I stopped taking the acid reducer last month and I noticed the weird taste in my mouth went away and I have more frequent BM's (sorry if too TMI), I get about 60 grams of Protein a day - all from meat / yogurt / cheese, I eat about 50 grams of carbs - mostly from granola or oatmeal. I still eat 5 to 6 times a day. I have 8 pounds until I reach my "made up" goal. I know in my 20's I was very healthy at 120 pounds which would be another 20 or so to lose. I don't know if I want to go there - at this point I feel like I am along for the ride. If I lose 10 more, great! If I lose 20 more, great! If I stay where I am, great!! Bottom line: right now, I am really happy. Good luck to all----

I'm 6 months post opp and enjoy alcohol a couple times a week (down from a couple drinks a night pre-opp). I waited about two months post opp to give it a try. I've keep it to wine and the occasional martini, beer or anything fizzy doesn't seem appealing. No physical complications whatsoever and alcohol basically effects me the same as preopp. Two big points of caution, (1) there are many people that trade one addiction for another post surgery so beware of that phenomena, and (2) as others will undoubtedly tell you, alcohol basically falls into the useless calorie bucket same (or worse) than a coke or glass of grape juice.

I had my surgery June 10th so drinking is not on my mind yet. However in the future I would still like to be able to enjoys a cocktail here or there when out with the wife and friends. For those that have continued drinking post op a few questions. 1. How long did you wait. 2. How did it go. 3. Any complications Thx

My experience is similar. My surgeon recommended waiting 6-8 weeks post-op. I had my first drink at about 2 months. Don't like fizzy drinks (beer, soda) or sweet mixers. I usually sip a long island tea or sometimes I will ask for Water and a shot of liquor and add a packet of crystal light. While alcohol affected me a little more post op, it wasn't as much as I expected. And it was probably more because I had abstained for a while. You do need to be careful of the transfer addiction. I have an addictive personality and alcoholism runs in my family so that is always in the back of my mind. You also have to be careful because too much can be hard on our stomachs and there is the risk of ulcers.

I had to go through one too and it was a very strange experience. We discussed my support systems with friends and family and who cooks at home and what do we cook. We talked about my history of diets since I was very young. We talked about my job and if I drank alcohol, my education, exercise habits, etc. But we never discussed food as an addiction. He did ask how I planned on handling food choices when I traveled for work. The head part of this whole thing is huge. I have been very successful so far since surgery, though I have eaten things I knew weren't good choices now and then. Yesterday at work I suddenly found myself in the kitchen looking for something sweet to eat because I had this sudden craving. I wasn't hungry at all. There was some toffee popcorn and I ate several pieces of it then I got myself the heck out of there. Then I wished that I hadn't done it. The great thing about the sleeve is that it minimized the calorie damage since there is no way I can slam down food like I once did.

Lisa, I can feel your pain! I think that was the hardest thing to get used to after banding. I'm still working on it. I thought Food was my steady comforting friend, who was always there, no matter what time of the day or night. I couldn't wait to try out a new place to eat. But I realize that "Friend" was entrapping me, ruining my health, and shortening my lifespan. Food is still there, and unlike an alcoholic who can walk away and never touch another drop, is a necessity that we must have to survive. We'll get through this one day at a time. You're doing a great job!

Special medical conditions aside, you do NOT learn anything new by weighing daily except the false indicators coming from Water gain/losses. Never forget, that in the short run, the scale lies. On the long run, it tells the truth, but think if it more as an indicator, not an exact measure of your progress. Let me give a specific example. If you go out drinking alcohol and consume many extra empty calories you might very well show a loss the following morning as alcohol TENDS to dehydrate you. So, I think we can all agree that partying on the town everynight is counterproductive to your weight loss (not to mention general health and welfare!) and yet it might look like "you got away with it". I also think it is not mentally healthy to obsess on the numbers. In my work we talk alot about leading, versus lagging indicators. A leading indicator of success is how you are managing your food, activity and healhty lifestyle (example, hitting Protein and hydration targets). Pretty good evidence that if you do those things, even if you never step on a scale, you will get slimmer, healthier and lose weight. Lagging indicator is what the scale says. For whatever its worth - yes I care about the scale, but don't let it make you crazy.

I'm almost 2 months post op and have already had one fill. I can tell you from experience that you can't gulp anything, Water included; but you can get it down in 1/2 cup increments fairly close together. The alcohol deal, sure the docs say no because of calories, but once you are done healing, it's like any other food choice.. it's a choice. I have had wine since surgery and just sipped on a glass for the evening... Your bar tab will be a lot cheaper! :smile2: One of the blogs I follow on here of a fellow bandster in NYC drinks wine and goes to supper clubs, the whole nine and she has lost tons of weight and looks amazing so it is absolutly do-able! Best wishes! Heather

It's better to abstain. WLS patients are at a higher risk for alcoholism, beer has a lot of empty calories, and it's carbonated to boot. That having been said, I've had a couple ounces here and there and it hasn't affected me. I'm very, very careful about it though. Sent from my SM-G925V using the BariatricPal App

My doctor said to stick to 1500 calories and keep it low fat. That's pretty much what I've been doing all along anyway. I did notice, however, that it said no alcohol for 6 months prior. Guess I'm going to have to fudge a little on that one. I drink very seldom, but I have had a very few drinks in the last 6 months. Anybody else been told this?

This was an ignorant comment from an ignorant person. It's like telling an alcoholic to just stop drinking. It doesn't work for them, and just not eating doesn't work for us. You don't need to give her any comeback or smartass remarks. Not when you look like you do. You are strikingly beautiful and that picture tells it all.

Re-evaluate your diet. I to have had bad diarrhea and eliminated sugar free pudding and jello and it slowed down quit a bit. I also had problem with milk but I love milk so much that I still try to have some to maybe get used to it again. I talked to my NUT yesterday and she informed me that sugar alcohols in sugar free products will cause diarrhea (as posted earlier in this thread)

I get this whenever I eat Low Carb. I was fine when on fluids, but Thursday went to pureed foods and immediately started getting. I used to take a potassium pill and a calcium/magnesium pill when doing Atkins, but that's obviously out for now. The rubbing alcohol sounds like a good idea. I too am not getting charley horses but feel things starting to cramp up when I'm sleeping.

I am 3 months post op and drink socially. Orange juice with pineapple juice and vodka gave me cramps but my Dr said it was probably the sugar. Also he said its okay after 3 months to have alcohol.

I know this has been a thread before, but I can't find it now!! How long after post-op did y'all wait til you started drinking alcohol again? I'm a month and a half out, I just would like to gauge how much longer I should wait!

What a powerful story! Thank you so much for sharing. I've just begun my journey -- at 55. My mom died at age 56 of alcoholism and I made up my mind I didn't want to die at age 56 of my own addiction. It sounds like you have worked very hard, and you have found peace -- and health. I'm so happy for you. Thanks again for sharing.

Great thread. People talk about transfer addiction to alcohol and drugs (and maybe sex), but rarely other things. Many people have "addictions/obsessions" that never had surgery and don't realize their hyper-focus on those things. So it's great that you're willing to take another look at your situation to discern if it has become an unhealthy focus in your life.

I had surgery on December 29, so I think that counts as January. I am doing great and love my sleeve!! I have lost 80lbs and I am down from a size 22/24 to a 14. I am still consistently losing. I have not had any complications and no dumping. I still follow the rules. I have not introduced carbs, sugar or alcohol. I feel great!!!

I got chafed around my belly button last month, first time that has happened. I dried it out with alcohol, yeah it burned like hell, but I find it works really well. Before I discovered body glide for my thighs, I used to always chafe there and I always used alcohol to clear it up. Oh btw I mean rubbing alcohol, not the kind you drink, lol

health1st Personally, I never overeat. It is far to uncomfortable and I have been very careful with that. Now, I did drink alcohol and I know your not really suppose to do that. So that was probably not to smart on my part.

Thanks for filling out a little more info about your journey! So your revision from band to MGB was also laparoscopic and more recent and would also provide you with the advantages of the latest techniques and surgical advances in WLS! Good for you! And you make a great point about being able to fake anything on the internet. I remember the "Kimmer" scandal and class action lawsuit. She set herself up as a guru, charged money for a VLC diet and forum membership and said she was this total fox. She turned out to be well over 300lbs, and was a regular consumer of candies/chocolates like Snickers etc and an alcoholic.

yes - definitely sounds like a reaction to artificial sweeteners. Would they let you have Fairlife milk instead? (It would probably have to be the plain milk since I'm assuming the chocolate milk and the Fairlife shakes have artificial sweeteners, too). Although maybe there's a sweetener that you can tolerate (most people aren't intolerant of all of them - just some (sugar alcohols are a common culprit. They're the ones whose names end it "-itol", like xylitol)

Please do get help with this. And beware, it is easy to turn to alcohol during this time. I myself had to give it up completely. I practice deep breathing and I see a therapist for my divorce. Life is very stressful and without my old comfort, food, I don't want to turn to anything else dangerous. Take care and keep posting.

Happy birthday to me! Happy birthday to Hollie! Happy birthday to me! Today is 1 year exactly from my surgery. The same way alcoholics and drug addicts count there years clean as birthdays. This is my new life. I was born again, one year ago today.

I drink socially and have since month one. Tiffy is right, for me, it did burn at first, which limited my intake to a few sips of wine (my favorite) and it WILL hit u hard and fast. I notice that the effects wear off fast too, at least for me. If I indulge, I usually have something easy for me to handle, a daquiri, coconut rum with juice, or a vodka & cranberry juice...I normally just nurse the drink, no more guzzling for me...lol If you are controlling the making of your drink, then you can put a tiny bit of alcohol with a mixer, or better yet, just juice or the mixer, who will know but you? Good Luck!