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well lets see, i'm going into my 3rd year and i'd say i eat anywhere from 1000- 1400 calories per day. For example: Breakfast : 1 - 2 slices of toast and butter and coffee (always coffee); Lunch: kids hormel complete ready to eat meal (6 oz) ; dinner: spa lean cuisine; snacks: whatever the heck strikes me that day, be it M*M's; wheat thins; fruit; whatever. . . of course I still drink my alcohol every weekend; eat the occasional bakery goodie (i'm not into bakery goodies too much though) whatever. . . I reached my doctors goal and even surpassed it by 12 lbs. . . i've been maintaining my weight between 210 - 215lb ever since and at 6' tall it looks pretty healthy on me. . . . good luck and I hope this helped a bit

Rubbing alcohol took it right off.

Honestly, measuring portions is the easiest thing to do in the world until you can eyeball portions. The idea is to stop eating before you feel stuffed. Initially early out, your stomach nerves have been severed, and need time to heal. So the ever elusive "full signal" can take weeks to months to be recognizable. My full signal is a single, solitary hiccup. If I eat a couple more bites after that hiccup, 2 things will happen. Either I'll get super uncomfortable, or I'll puke up that one last bite. It only happened a couple of times way early out for me because I was still learning. Also, individual stomach length can change sleeve capacity. So just because myself and another VSG'er surgeon both used a 32fr bougie, we might have different capacities. Plus, once the sleeve matures it's capacity is different for everyone. Also, the consistency, temperature, food type change my capacity. It's all a learning experience. It's really more about changing poor eating habits. Instead of shoveling food in frantically, in huge volumes, it's learning to measure portions that will give you satiety, keep you within the prescribed dietary guideline, and to establish a relationship with food that promotes the mentality that food is fuel. Even at almost 22 months out, I rarely eat until I feel "full". Getting that feeling every meal for the past 20 years is what helped me get fat so why continue that path if I want to be successful long term? For me, there's a big difference in being "full" and being "satisfied". I'm satisfied on 3oz of dense Protein, 2-4oz of green veggies and/or 3-4oz of carby goodness like mashed potatoes. Mixing carbs with my dense protein allows me to eat more, drinking warm fluids or alcohol before/sipping during my meals allows me to fit more in. It's called "cheating the sleeve", and I do use these tactics to get in a couple more ounces of food per meal because I'm in maintenance, pregnant, and I need at a minimum of 1800 calories per day. If I adhered to every single sleeve rule like I did during my losing stage, I would literally have to eat 7-8 times a day to meet that caloric intake. There's no way I have time in my life to eat that many times a day. I need to do it in a max of 4-5 meals. I personally stretch my meals out further, eat softer meats, mix carbs/starch with my meat, and sometimes still stick with mushie/puree consistency food to get in enough calories/protein to maintain my weight. As soon as I go back to the dietary guidelines, I drop weight and that's not the goal long term with the sleeve. But, changing a lifetime of craptastic habits is/was my goal.

Hello - I was sleeved on 9/10 and so far my recovery has been right on par. Everything I expected to happen, happened (THANK GOD FOR THIS WEBSITE!!) and every day I saw drastic improvements in how much Protein I was able to get in, fluids, etc. Small victories, but exciting nonetheless. In addition to quitting medicine for Diabetes Type II and Hypertension (yea, kicked them in the a**)... I've quit smoking and quit caffeine (I am also a recovering drug/alcohol addict with almost 3 years sober). So, I have a LOT to be grateful for and proud of. But, I have a lot of fear and anxiety that "it wont happen." Anyone else have this post-op? I even gained 3 lbs when I switched from Clear liquids to full liquids. I'm still getting less than 600 calories a day, 70+ grams of protein and as much Water as I can. Is this normal? How can I not focus on the # glaring back at me from the scale? Thanks!

I have a 2 shot limit on anything with alcohol

Has anyone experienced a sweet alcohol from your breath? It also makes everything smell and taste funny

i tell everyone. all my family and friends definately know, and my classmates/coworkers are super excited for me. i'm getting it out there, that way when i go out with friends, there are no weird excuses about restaurants/food/alcohol. they no it's not part of my life anymore and they are more supportive now that they know i'm serious about my decisions to change myself!

Like everyone else said I wouldn't be too hard on yourself. However I would be curious to know tomorrow if it causes any problems with gas or your pouch. My doc told me alcohol would irritate the pouch just like caffeine. Anyone had any experience with that and know if it's true or not???

Perhaps addict isn't a fair description for everyone but for me it is. First thing my counselor said is that I will always be a recovering food addict just as a alcoholic is in recovery the rest of their lives even when they stop drinking. And so yes, the surgery doesn't stop you from being an addict and I think that's the whole point. I didn't get to 326 pounds because I was eating like an "average" person. So if I don't deal with the addictive behaviors upfront then the surgery, for me anyway, is nothing more than a quickie diet. I may lose the weight but I will eventually gain it back if I fall into old patterns. Learning the surgery is only a tool to aid in the weight loss and not a "cure" for obesity has been key for me. And my counselor has been great. We aren't necessarily spending the hour bemoaning a bad childhood, etc. We are just figuring out why I turn to food and then she brings every single thing I say back to the food and my control issues (or perhaps lack thereof).

You're not hijacking. I wanted to see a discussion and I thank those so far that have responded. I'm stilly confused about the fact, that, according to Mayo Clinic sugar substitutes don't alwsyd affect blood sugar but sugar alcohol can. Not all artificial sweeteners contain sugar alcohol. My family is still actively debating this and Iis leaning toward saying using a little sugar is healthier. My head is spinning.

I read articles about the evils of artificial sweeteners often. The media loves talking about their relation to cancer. They really freak me out! The FDA says most are "safe". I wish we had more concrete evidence on what's safe and what's not that safe. I was a huge Splenda fan until approximately one year ago. I quit my 6-8 daily cups of coffee along with the 3-4 packets of Splenda that went along with each. I converted to decaf herbal tea and use Stevia as my sweetener of choice. Supposedly not all Stevia sweeteners are created equal. Many are mixed with other ingredients. My personal favorite so far is NuNaturals Pure liquid vanilla Stevia, Alcohol Free.

Since I've posted this topic, I've been (honestly, I know I'll get some ridicule for this) having drinks 2-3 evenings a week since my 30 day mark. I do not drink mixed drinks, just hard alcohol on the rocks- no tummy troubles here, but everyone is different! I am also the same weight I was at age 13....13!!! I am aware of the empty calories etc. etc., and this month has been filled with Christmas parties, family in town, and my husbands 30th birthday- I don't intend to keep it up at this rate. I also am "good" about my eating aside from alcohol. I do intend to drink once a week or so.

I second that emotion! I was sleeved on November 1st, and really had no intentions of never drinking again. I enjoy my wine, and my occasional bloody mary! I am allowed to drink alcohol 1 month out, but I do think I will just wait until Christmas Eve until I have that first glass of wine, boy am I looking forward to it! I do hope my sleeve will tolerate a little vino!

I had my first fill done last month. It was a miserable experience. I went to a Dr. Lewis in Albuquerque NM. I don't want to sound dramatic, but I am just now emotionally able to talk about this in a public forum. He was touted as a lapband expert...my first instinct, when his assistant slammed the balance bar on the scales at super speed (no way that balance had time to record a weight), and then showed me in to a store room filled with junk and jugs of distilled water, was to walk away. My daughter, who also was banded 2 months before me, had accompanied me. She literally had to push junk out of the way to find a place to sit. The assistant set out an autoclaved needle and 3 way stopcock, a couple of alchohol pads and a multidose vial of saline. I remarked that for the fee being charged, they should have been able to use a new, sterile needle and supplies. No one explained anything even though I said this was my first fill at least twice, and no one seemed at all interested in my records I had brought along. When the "doctor" came in, he didn't introduce himself, didn't acknowledge my daughter, and seemed bumbly and sort of out there. He said I weighed more than I did before I was originally banded (in April, and my clothes and scale told a different story) and told stories on other banded patients that "never lost any weight". He couldn't find my port, stuck me repeatedly, told me that I would know if he missed it when the needle hit my muscle wall and hurt...and God, that was the only thing he had right. All the while, he was mumbling about how on earth he was expected to find a port through all this fat, how doughy and lumpy my fat was, complaining about other patients that were so fat. He said I was so fat I should have had fluoroscopy to locate the port. I told him I had wanted to have fluoroscopy but was assured he was very good with locating the ports with my BMI. He was horribly sarcastic, told me to look around and see if there was a fluoroscope there. I told him I would have had it done under fluoroscopy but didn't know if there was anyone that would do the fill without a local surgeon. I had driven almost 400 miles, had no options for a fill in my home town, and did not want to return without a fill. To make a long story short, he grudgingly wrote an order and sent me to what turned out to be a really good experience. He referred me to El Camino Imaging Center (505-998-3089). I am not the crying kind, but it was all I could do to hold it together. I was humiliated and disgusted with myself, and didn't think I could stand any more degradation. It was a totally different experience. He wasn't even close to where my port actually was, it was easily palpated once they got away from the area he insisted it must be and they used, gee, sterile, new supplies. They actually cleaned the site with betadine, not alcohol pads. They checked the restriction with barium, made me stay and drink water to make sure there wouldn't be any swelling or issues, and treated me with respect. They told me they did band fills frequently, had written protocols on getting the correct restriction, and would do it for any banded patient with an order from their doctor. It doesn't have to be from the surgeon, only the personal physician, and they are very, very professional. The problem was it cost me another $473.00 on top of the money I had prepaid for the quack. In retrospect, it was worth it. And, the company that I had prepaid refunded my money when I told them about the experience. I have no quarrel with that company, they were professional and extremely concerned about the experience, and I continue to thank them for providing an avenue for after care for those of us that don't have access to a local doctor. So, those of you in New Mexico that are floundering around, looking for a fill provider, I truly recommend this imaging center. I strongly advise against anyone ever setting foot in Dr. Ed Lewis's office. My restriction has been excellent. I am still not losing quickly, but it is steady, and I am happy. Thanks for listening.

You're not alone- I was honestly frustrated when posing the alcohol question prior to starting this thread (with lots of helpful responses, thanks everyone!) because the unanimous response was the "it's empty calories!" or people simply chiming in that they lost the taste for alcohol after surgery. I think it's the sort of thing to be enjoyed occasionally and not as a very regular thing, if you have a tendency to gain weight it's obviously not smart to indulge in something like alcohol regularly. I've always detested soda, and I'm not a fan of candy (except dark chocolate) so perhaps thats why I have gotten away with it for now.

P.P.S. My bariatric PA also said she sees a lot of people during maintenance who start to drink a lot more of their daily calories -- specifically in the form of alcohol. She didn't reference this as a "transfer addiction" issue, but as an "empty calories" issue.

Thanks all. We've been talking about it a lot and he's feeling better. I think it's fear of the unknown and worrying about how this will affect our lives which right now center around food and alcohol. He is not overweight. He was blessed with a super-charged metabolism and can eat whatever he wants. I on the other hand have gained 100 lbs since we met 16 years ago. I am thankful he's loved me through the gain, and I am hopeful he'll be happy to have the old, thinner me back in the coming months. I know it will be hard but I'm so ready for it. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I am working on my Master's of Science degree and hope to gather several responses. Would you like to be a part of research by sharing your experience after gastric bypass surgery? The survey is completely anonymous and asks questions about your body image perceptions and alcohol usage one year after having bariatric surgery. Just click on this link or copy into your browzer to complete the survey. http://nnu.us.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_aXzZzHDDZiajdC4 Thank you in advance for contributing to this all important research. Feel free to pass this survey opportunity along to anyone who has had the surgery. Warm Regards, Northwest Nazarene University

Have you tried the Luna protein bars? From what i can see looking at the ingredients list they dont contain any alcohols. 190 calories, 19g carbs, 3g fiber, 12g protein. I usually dont eat these instead of my meal replacement shakes but i am allowed another shake during the day as a "snack". But after drinking two shakes i would prob cry if i had another one. I switch these out instead. The peanut butter is pretty good and i have a cookie dough box i am waiting to try.

Hi Maddie, I think you are making a good decision to have surgery. I turned 30 a few months ago and am so excited to do things in this decade that I was unable to do in my 20's. As for my experience with your concerns (remember everyone's different)... 1) Lactose Intolerance, does this happen to everyone? If it should happen, does it go away or am I stuck with it? I've had this issue for my entire life, I still eat yogurt, but some cheeses and dairy products will get to me, it's just always been a part of my life, so I guess I don't find it that bad...sorry no answer to your question, my surgeon said it might happen for some and not others. 2) The hair loss ?...I'm expecting it to happen but my hair is the only thing I get compliments on. Will it grow back? Will it be like it used to be? You'll see, you will get so many more compliments on other things when you start getting healthier. My hair loss started around 2 months post-op and started to slow down around 4.5 months post-op. I'm still losing more than normal and do not notice new growth, but it's still pretty thick. 3) Bowel issues...as a child I had lots of bowel issues and I can still remember the horrible experiences. Will constipation always be a problem after VSG? Honestly is has been a problem for me since I've had my surgery. I always was a very regular person (2-4 bm's per day), so this was something that I've had to work on. Now, 5.5 months out, I usually can go every other day and I know foods (spinach, applesauce, even pita chips) that can help me go...sometimes I will start cramping really bad and then realize it has been a couple/few days and try to up my Water and add in the Fiber...it usually helps. 4) Alcohol...I do enjoy a drink now and then. Will I be able to enjoy a glass of wine or a vodka drink? I would not attempt this until way further out. I gave up drinking a couple years ago when my husband and I started to try for a baby, now I'd rather use calories for other splurges (a couple of french fries or bites of ice cream), but I've read of many other wls patients who have had no problems with this. Good luck on your journey! It has been such a great thing for me and I think you will be so pleased with it as well.

Hi there, I am sure you will love your sleeve as much as the rest of us. I can eat milk products such as cheese and yougurt, but I can't dirnk very much milk. I am almost 9 months away from surgery. I've never been someone to drink alcohol so I can't answer that one. I know people who do drink in moderation though. hair loss is pretty common, and yes , it does grow back. Since I had my gall bladder out, I am never constipated. I have the opposite problem. Before GB surgery, I took Miralax every other day and that kept me pretty regular.

Okay, who really does like a good spanking? I only got "spanked" once, many moons ago. At first I almost punched the guy in the face, but I eventually ended up marrying the pervert. I guess the best thing about today is that my father (alcoholic asshole absent pig man) called. It was about the nicest talk we've ever had, and probably the only one where we didn't fight. I didn't even meet him till I was 18. Control freak male chauvinistic, racist, judgmental bastard. I even confessed that I'm selling adult items now. I figured I'd just get the insulting and bashing over with, but the guy actually supported me since the money is coming in. If I could just hold my breath and not let him get to me, I could be fishing in the Keys next week. Now that he's inbetween girlfriends (friggen blue eyed playboy even at his age) he has time for me. I'm checking flights while the vibes are good! Key Largo is dreamy, and he's got 3 boats, a glass bottom paddle boat, lives on a Water canal, toys galor, takes me DANCING at night on the boat to the Carribean Club. Yep, time to grind my teeth and visit him, right? HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME, the world's biggest ham. By the way, you guys must know by now that I despise Christmas, Easter, etc., right? I like the religious and family parts, but hate the decorating and commercial parts. So I rarely celebrate. But birthdays are special and wonderful. I always felt lonely and sorry for myself on my birthdays till I hit 40, then I decided to make my own damn parties! Ever since then, I'm having a blast. So, next time it's your birthday, don't sit around waiting for any to plan stuff. Go shopping, make reservations, have a party in your own honor. Once a year, it's the only day we are special. Oh, I'm rambling cause I could just hug and squeeze and kiss you all right on the lips with huge smooches. This is so, so nice. Thanks again.

I like to blend Muscle Milk chocolate protein powder and some added cocoa powder with Fage Zero greek yogurt, and then I add a little stevia or monkfruit to it if it's too sour. This works on my husband's sweet tooth (I had surgery but he's the one with the sweet tooth). I also ran across Smartcakes for when you are further out and can do all foods; they are 38 calories each, zero consumable carbs (fiber and sugar alcohols). They are low fat and have 4 grams protein. They come in lemon, tangerine, coconut, chocolate, and cinnamon roll. They are spongy and moist like you'd expect cake to be. It's a healthier alternative than going off the wagon (dietitian thought they were cool when I had her look at them today). Good luck; cravings sweets can't be fun.

I thought I had a strong online support group through a daily thread on the weight watchers website. We checked in every day for about ten years. We even took vacations together. Then all of a sudden it's fallen apart. And since I am the only one of the group who had wls, I am the odd person out. So I'm looking to connect with some folks, or even one FOLK, for support and maybe some fun. I don't care if we have a lot in common. I'm 59, had my surgery in June, after a lifetime of dieting. I've been married for 35 years. I have three grown sons, all of whom still live at home. I call them Moe, Larry, and Curley. I am the director of a drug/alcohol treatment program in eastern PA. I've been doing counseling of one kind or another for over 30 years. I am a Buddhist. I currently have one crazy Akita named Finn.

I know I'm a foodaholic too. I fall off the wagon...I lie to myself about what evil foods have crept in to my diet....I can look in the mirror and not see myself accurately. I figure I will always address issues, the rest of my life. But without the band, a slip up would mean rapidly regaining all my wieght and then some. With the band, I can get it together before all of that happens. It is more forgiving. Alcoholics strive to fall off the wagon with less intensity and for shorter periods of time each time. Me too. And I've made peace with "dieting". I am on a strict "diet" of healthy food and porportions at home, and order whatever I want when I'm out, allowing the band to assist with just portion control. So I have my cake and eat it too, sort of. I also know that when I have good restriction per fluoroscope, but can eat too much, I've stretched my pouch. The time I did it, I was lucky that a few days of liquids resolved it. I'm always restricted in the morning, so I needed to stop gulping breakfast too. But if that hadn't worked and I needed a slight or complete unfill to take care of it, I'd gladly do it to re-start the restriction of the band. And finally, once a month, I go down the list of rules for the bandster life and keep a 3 day food long so I can honestly see what I've allowed to creep in. I'm making peace with the work involved...Heck, befor ethe band I was a total failure at weight stuff. Now it's just hard work. I can live with that.