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I usually drink some wine or a nice vodka martini. Alcohol is fine but it WAY goes to my head fast. I think it's mostly because of the reduced calories I'm eating. It used to take three or four and now one and maybe half of two and I'm blitzed. Cheap date!!! It's hard to find mixers without the massive sugar and calories. I've tried two brands of sugar free margarita mix and they both tasted terrible.

I just came across this and thought you might find this interesting: The 10 Most Common Mistakes WLS Patients Make Vitamins, supplements, or Minerals 2nd Mistake: Assuming You Have Been Cured of Your Obesity 3rd Mistake: Drinking with Meals 4th Mistake: Not Eating Right 5th Mistake: Not Drinking Enough Water 6th Mistake: Grazing 7th Mistake: Not Exercising Regularly 8th Mistake: Eating the Wrong Carbs (or Eating Too Much) 9th Mistake: Going Back to Drinking Soda (soft drink) 10th Mistake: Drinking Excessive Alcohol For anyone wanting to read the mistakes in full detail; the National (America) Association for Weight Loss Surgery website address. The 10 Most Common Mistakes Weight Loss Surgery Patients Make I know I've been guilty of some of these from time to time. I think I need to print this out! :thumbup:

Not all doctors require this. My doctor does and mine is a 14 day dose per day. I had to watch the DVD on how to give yourself a shot. The morning of surgery, the nurse had me do the shot so that they were sure I knew how to do it. It helps to prevent blood clots. Some days I feel it and some days I don't. They did suggest to make sure the alcohol swabbed area is dry and that will help in preventing the burning. It will leaving bruising but hey it is a blood thinner. After reading someone's post who developed a blood clot in the stomach and had to be readmitted, I am glad that this is a requirement from my doctor.

How do you chew forty times? Wow I can barley get in 20 times. I also don't drink for an hour after I eat and that gets easier as time goes by. Good thing to give up cokes and alcohol too. I have missed my diet coke so much. I only drink water day and night since I can not find something that taste good. Your doing good!!!

Been banded 2 1/2 yes. Lately when I eat it hurts when food goes down Caffeine or alcohol burns really bad. I almost never drink alcohol but with Christmas parties have had a few glasses of champagne It burns so bad going down I wonder if I am too tight or is something else like an ulcer on my esophagus. I do not have heartburn. Only burns as food or liquid is going down. Thx

Hi! I just found this app today! I had my sleeve 6+ years ago. I did meet my goal which is 155, but I've slowly been gaining it back. Today I am up to 190. Ugh!! I was at a steady 175 for a couple of years, but I want to get back to my goal weight. I don't feel that I over eat, or eat bad foods. My problem is alcohol (beer). It's easy to drink but wasteful calories!! I need support getting back to 2008. Lol

@@shadowsoldier I don't want to sound negative here and by all means you should listen to your doctor but you have to keep in mind your insides are going to take about 4 months to heal. The reason we're told (we were handed books telling us specifically what to eat at Mayo) to follow the different stages of liquids, purees, soft, etc. is because the opening from our new pouch to our newly connected intestine is the size of our pinkie finger nail. It has to be slowly stretched by this process. That's why it's also very important not to stay in the liquid stage longer because of fear of discomfort. Protein is driven home constantly and it is of the utmost importance. It will continue to be the rest of our lives. Day 2 being home from the hospital I was getting in my 60 grams and today at almost 7 months post-op, I'm averaging 130 grams of protein. It can be done but I am able to do it by supplementing my diet with Protein2o Water (dual liquid in my book) and by using Premier Protein ready-made shakes as coffee creamer, milk substitute in recipes, etc. Give them a try but no matter what get your protein in! Here's something else that helped me that I read at bariatriceating.com: Sew what? In terms of food, you must stick to your surgeons program for post op food stages. You need time to allow the tiny pouch cut and sewn from the fabric of your giant floppy stomach to heal itself closed. We have all glued something only to have the seams pop open. The liquid and soft food stages are to avoid stressing pouch seams and give your stomach a break from the process of digestion. Is ice cream a puree? Sirloin steak is not a soft food. Ice cream is NOT a puree. You can’t eat popcorn, raw carrots or celery ten days after surgery. People ask if we think they could have a pork chop, we say ‘no’, they eat it anyhow, then tell us ‘they didn’t have a problem’. No alcohol for a year… non negotiable… but people push back saying their surgeon said five weeks was okay. Folks… we know better and we are trying to help you. General Tso? NOT your friend The post op dietary stages are not a suggestion, they are a requirement for you own safety. You cannot eat Chinese food the week after surgery because you ‘chew it well’. A ‘craving’ for Orange chicken landed one support group member in the hospital! It’s a very bad idea to push. Being ‘released’ to ‘regular food’ does not mean what you think it does, but you already know that. How long until you can have pizza again? “Pizza is not a food for someone having obesity surgery.” (that’s a quote from Dr. N on My 600 lb Life) Every single week in our support group, these actions land new post ops in the hospital. Sip sip sip sip sip… If you had a back injury, you would not tile your kitchen floor the same week. Yet, people think nothing of making a trip to a theme park when they should be at home resting and taking in fluids. People ask us ‘Do you think I would be able to go on a cruise two weeks after my sleeve?’ (Nooooo!) As high as 30% of post ops are dehydrated enough to land back in the hospital with a Fluid IV. Not drinking enough water after surgery can cause heart damage. Dehydration is the most common bariatric complication, yet it’s largely avoidable. Stay home and heal… drink hot water, cold water, broth, Diet Snapple, herbal tea, eat sf ice pops and Jello. (We have a free bariatric water app called HY, click for GetHyApp.com) What’s eating you? If eating is a compulsion that you cannot control, ask your surgeon to suggest someone for you to talk to. A therapist can help you come to conclusions about your life – you talk, they listen and even after one chat you’ll often have a clearer truth of why you use eating as comfort. Knowing what drives you can help you deal with your eating issues to better work with your surgery. Vitamins are critical It is impossible for you to have your stomach surgically removed or reconfigured and take in the nutrients needed to run your body. While your surgeons group has mentioned Flintstones, that is so you will possibly take something instead of being one of the 67% of post ops who take nothing. They are not optimal and won’t prevent long term problems like broken bones from simple falls and losing teeth, but may keep you from dying in the short term. The idea behind supplements is to prevent issues from grabbing you in twenty years when it’s too late to change the path. Take them! Protein from food? What a novel idea! Yes, yes, yes, we’d all like to get our protein from food and that’s what you want to hear. However, if you are unable to take in 70 grams of protein per day, you can either weaken and lose your hair or you can figure out another way until you are able to learn and eat the right foods. Protein drinks make up the difference between what you can eat and what you need. They are not simply a tasty beverage for your enjoyment for you to be all picky and ridiculous over. They are the antidote for your disease of morbid obesity. Morbid means death and obesity surgery only slows and reverses the disease IF you follow your plan. Please wake up get very serious about what you have done to your body. There are obvious rewards to losing 150 pounds, but it does not need take place at the expense of your life. Peace.

BetsyJane posted this and I thought it might come in REAL handy. `````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` HowtoTellWhenYouArePerfectlyAdjusted: You are losing 1-2 pounds per week. If you are not losing 1-2 pounds per week: A. You may need an eating adjustment 1. Are you eating 60 grams of protein a day? 2. Are you eating 25 grams of fiber? 3. Are you avoiding all liquid calories? a. Soup can be sign of soft calorie syndrome b. Alcohol contains a lot of calories 7 calories per gram.(It's also a stomach irritant). c. Fruit juice is just sugar water 4. Are you making healthy food choices from a wide variety of foods? a. Are you avoiding soft foods b. You can't just eat what's easy c. Cheese is glorified fat 5. Are you drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day between meals? 6. Are you eating too much junk? a. Chips, chocolate, nuts, ice cream, cookies and other highly processed junk foods are too calorically dense to be regular parts of a healthy diet. But don't avoid them completely to the point where you feel deprived. b. Stay out of fast food places 7. Are you getting in two servings of calcium daily? 8. Do you always eat the protein first? 9. Then the vegetables or fruits a. Five servings a day b. Potatoes are NOT a vegetable 10. Is your portion size appropriate? a. Meat or fish (3 ounces the size of a deck of cards) b. Vegetables (½ cup the size of your fist) c. Starch (If you eat the protein and the vegetables first you don't need much - Avoid: rice, potatoes, pasta) 11. You might try avoiding artificial sweeteners a. Some people think that artificial sweeteners stimulate the appetite b. They are HUNDREDS of times sweeter than sugar c. They teach you to like things too sweet d. There is no evidence that people who use them are any thinner than people who don’t 12. Avoid most diet foods a. Real food usually tastes better b. Real food is more satisfying than low calorie substitutes c. When you are only eating a tiny bit the caloric savings is not that great (Use a teaspoon of real butter instead of a tablespoon of diet margarine. d. The body has no way to break down artificial fats). a. They may go into permanent storage b. Some people think liposuction is the only way to remove hydrolyzed fats from the body B. You may need a behavior adjustment 1. Are you eating only when you are hungry? a. If you're not sure drink 8 ounces of water and wait 2. Are you eating three meals a day? a. With maybe 1 or 2 small snacks 3. Are you sitting down to eat? 4. Are you eating consciously? a. No distractions, turn off the TV, put the book or newspaper away, pay attention to your food and your companions 5. Are you eating slowly? a. Put the fork down between bites b. Take 20 to 30 minutes to finish a meal c. Taking longer might cause the pouch to begin emptying 6. Are you taking small bites? a. Tiny spoon, chopsticks, cocktail fork 7. Are you chewing well? 8. Are you drinking with your meals or too soon after your meals? a. Practice water loading between meals b. You won't be thirsty if you are well hydrated before the meal 9. Are you stopping at the first sign of fullness? a. Sometimes it's a whisper: not hungry, had enough b. Hard stop versus soft stop 10. Do not eat between meals. Stop grazing. 11. Do not eat when you are not hungry C. You may need an activity adjustment 1. Are you getting in 30 minutes of physical activity at least 3 times a week? a. Over and above what you would do in the usual course of your day b. Could you make it 4 or 5 times a week? c. Could you make it 45 or 60 minutes? 2. Are you taking advantage of opportunities to increase your physical activity? a. Taking the stairs instead of the elevators or escalators b. Walking on the escalators instead of riding c. Parking your car further away from the entrance d. Getting out of the car instead of using the drive through e. Getting off the bus one stop before your destination f. Washing you car by hand instead of the car wash g. Playing with your kids D. You may need an attitude adjustment 1. Are you committed to your weight loss journey? 2. Are you totally honest with yourself about how much you are eating and exercising? a. Log your food and activity on ww.fitday.com for 3 days 3. Are you using food inappropriately to deal with emotional issues? a. Have you identified what the emotions are that drive your eating? b. Can you think of more appropriate ways to deal with those emotions? c. Are you willing to seek help from a qualified counselor? 4. Are you attending and participating in support group meetings? 5. Have you drummed up some support from your family and friends? 6. Have you dealt with saboteurs realistically? 7. Do you have realistic expectations about the weight loss journey? 8. Are you still obsessing about food, weight, dieting, eating? a. Obsessive compulsive thoughts (Obsess about something else) b. Perfectionism (All or none, black and white thinking) c. Patience with the pace of healthy weight loss 9. Are you acknowledging your successes with non-food rewards? 10. Have you learned how to take a compliment? 11. Are you giving up diet mentality? a. Stop weighing yourself several times a day or every day b. Stop dieting c. Stop depriving yourself d. Stop defining food as good and bad e. Stop rewarding and punishing yourself with food 12. How do you feel about all the changes taking place? E. You may need a band adjustment 1. You feel like you are making healthy food choices in appropriate portion sizes but getting hungry between meals? 2. You can still eat white bread, fibrous vegetables and large portions. 3. You are having to struggle to lose 4. You are gaining weight in spite of eating right, exercising and having a good mind set. F. You may need your band loosened 1. There are times when you can’t get fluids down 2. You are vomiting too much a. How much is too much? 3. Do you have frequent reflux or heartburn at night? a. Do not lie flat or bend over soon after eating b. Do not eat late at night or just before bedtime c. Rinse your pouch with a glass or water an hour before bedtime d. Certain foods or drinks are more likely to cause reflux: (1) Rich, spicy, fatty and fried foods (2) Chocolate (3) Caffeine (4) Alcohol (5) Some fruits and vegetables (6) Oranges, lemons, tomatoes, peppers (7) Peppermint (8) Baking soda toothpaste (9) Carbonated drinks e. Eat slowly and do not eat big meals f. If you smoke, quit smoking g. Reduce stress h. Exercise promotes digestion i. Raise the head of your bed j. Wear loose fitting clothing around your waist k. Stress increases reflux l. Take estrogen containing medications in the morning m. Avoid aspirin, Aleve and ibuprofen at bedtime (Tylenol is OK) n. Take an antacid (Pepcid complete) before retiring o. Try other over-the-counter heartburn medications p. See your health care provider

carbs - Fiber - sugar alcohol = net carbs is how they come up with the "net carbs"

The net carbs refers to the carbs your body can actually digest and absorb. The undigestible carbs can be things like fiber, sugar alcohols, and artificial sweeteners. As far as the truth behind any one product being true to the label, I got nothin. But I can tell you I've read that if a product contains 1.9 digestible carbs, the manufacturer can round the carbs down to 1. So just be aware that even if it says 2 net carbs, it may actually be almost 3 net carbs.

Thank You So Much For Everyone's Support. I Was Really Nervous About Posting All My Feelings Out There But It Is Really Hard For Me To Talk To My Immediate Friends/family Since They Are One Sided. I Know What I Need To Do That Is For Sure But It Hurts So Much. I Have Realized That I Am A Victim In This Relationship And That I Have Given And He Has Taken. I Have Spoken With A Counselor Before And They Have Told Me About Alcoholics And How Many Victims Find It Just As Hard To Leave Because You Get Used To "taking Care Of Someone"....i Just Have To Be Strong And Get It Done Sooner Than Later. I Appreciate You Guys And I Look Forward To Strengthening My Ties Here

Hi Freckles, . . . everything Kathy said . . . I've had some experience with this too. An alcoholic's sole purpose in life is to preserve the environment that allows him to keep drinking. Don't be a contributor to it. My husband put it this way to a girlfriend of mine who was mourning her upcoming break-up with a guy who was cut from the same clothe: "Remember, this is the best it will ever be. This is your courtship. This is when he's trying to woo you. What's it going to look like once he's got the security of a wedding band on his finger and doesn't have to treat you this well any more?" Also, if you get married and he goes to school and doesn't work, if he decides to dump you and get a divorce, he may be entitled to spousal support and tuition etc. (whatever lifestyle he became accustomed to while you were married). RUN FOR THE NEAREST EXIT!! Godd luck. LizzyD

I agree, you should most definitely mention this to your surgeon. Then you should ask for a referral to a therapist. Talking to a qualified person has been a tremendous help for me. As L.L. Said eating is a different type of addiction. We need to eat to survive AND thrive, unlike using drugs or alcohol. I had a raging alcoholic (mother) tell me for years that " I only needed to cut back to lose weight." My "cutting back" and a lifetime of emotional abuse got me to nearly 300 pounds! For the first time in my life I am taking care of me. I am only six weeks out, but feel very hopeful about the future. Best of luck to you and remember to take one stage at a time.

In addition to meeting with my nutritionist for an hour appointment, I had to attend a 2 hour class which discussed nutrition post surgery. We were told to avoid alcohol at all costs for the first year of losing weight. Not only does it lower your tolerance to alcohol but also puts your liver at increased risks for liver toxicity, cancer and other liver diseases. It can also contribute to hypoglycemia. ulcers and malnutrition. It was explained that your liver is not only working overtime burning fat from your body but if it has to process alcohol then it's giving it a double wammy for having to work that it's defenses are at higher risks for getting sick.

They probably are too expensive to "just try" - but I will say that I had a lot of trouble with sugar alcohols prior to surgery but after surgery I haven't had a single issue. I take the Celebrate chews now without issue. Would your pharmacy let you return them if they are opened? If so it might be worth trying a couple to see if you can tolerate them. Or, there is a calcium citrate powder (UpCal I think?) that you could try. I used that first and it was ok but doesn't really dissolve all that well and I didn't like the chalky taste so that's why I switched.

I shopped yesterday for my supplements and just discovered the first ingredient in the calcium chews is Maltitol. This product has never agreed with me. Does anyone have any advice? I'm so upset, I shopped at the hospital pharmacy, thinking I was paying fir quality products.

Does anyone know how to get the glue/sticky stuff off your skin? I tried alcohol and tonight I tried Vaseline and nothing works. I am dying to get it off because it makes my incisions look way worse than they actually are. I am 2 1/2 weeks post op and the strips have been off for a week.

Just be prepared that alcohol affects us differently now with the miniature tummy. The first time I had a drink , I was really surprised how much I felt it!

I am being sleeved tommorow and I am not afraid of the surgery but starting to fret over the loss of my social life. Most always friend get togethers are over food and alcohol or dinning out.. My husband and I are weekend social drinkers, we have a boat and drinks throughout the day have become a norm. Its a good thing that I am 53 for I see it would be more difficult as a young woman in her 20's in todays society. We like to travel and go to places that are all inclusive but it looks like that would be a waste of money. Please help me with some tips on how to drink and eat sleeved yet still be safe.. I know it will be several months before I will even begin to experiment but If youve had similar experiences I wold like to hear from you.

This is a great idea for a thread, since almost everyone's insurance and/or surgeon requires some sort of history. Mine wasn't so much a list as an actual history. Here's the gist of it: ---------------------------------- Age 0 - 10: (1961 - 1971): Fat from the start; my family was always restricting my intake and talking about my weight. I’ve asked my brother for his memories and he concurs–most of our childhood was about my being told not to eat. Age ??: When Dr. Atkins first published his diet, my mother tried it on me. I remember testing our urine with ketone strips. Age 10: Diet camp. Lost about 30 lbs through strict diet and daily exercise. (150 lbs at end?) Age 10-12: Weekly visits with pediatrician; continued lectures f rom my parents. At this time I weighed over 150. Age 8-16: Weight Watchers, several times. Lost small amounts of weight occasionally, week to week; no major loss. Age 16: Broke 200 lbs; was 212 first visit with my "adult" doctor. By this time I had almost reached my adult height of 5'10". Age 20: Summer before senior year of college: Lost 30 lbs (hit 197 at my low point) as member of a WW-like group following a modified Atkins diet. Lived essentially on celery, diet 7-UP and turkey, and walked each way to work: at least 90 minutes every day. Up until this point I’d have said I was “active” with regard to exercise. I lived in NYC and did a lot of walking, but also played volleyball in high school and throughout college. Every summer I worked at a camp and was a swimming instructor, and I never owned a car at college. Age 21 - 28 After graduation I started working full-time at a desk job. Met (alcoholic) boyfriend and started drinking frequently. Broke 300. Sometime during this period I tried hypnosis. No effect. I also tried a hospital-based support group recommended by my nutritionist. Age 28-30: 1990: Medical fast (Opti-Fast). 12 weeks without solid food. Lost 75 lbs (230 at end). At end of fast I participated in a clinical trial of an SSRI being tested for weight-loss maintenance, and so was under close medical supervision for many months afterwards. During 1991 the weight came back on, and by spring of 1992 I weighed 280 and continued to gain. Age 35 (1995): 340 lbs. Went on an herbal concoction containing ephedra, lost 40 lbs. Age 35 - 39 (1997 - 2001): 300 lbs., then got pregnant. Between two pregnancies I got back down to 310. Age 40: A year after my second child was born, I’m now at 330. No longer worried about impairing my fertility and filled with new concerns about my health and future, I'm ready for serious intervention: surgery. ----------------------------- I had started with just a list but that didn't convey the lifelong nature of my battle with obesity. I needed to explain why and how I'd come to make the decision that surgery was right for me, how it came to be my last resort. Not only for my doctor and insurer, but myself as well.

I didn't have to take an extensive written Q&A. I just sat with the wonderful therapist who also runs the support group and we talked about my reasons for wanting the surgery, how I've changed my lifestyle towards nutrition, exercise habits, hobbies, and what my support is with friends and family. She also asked about any history of alcohol/drug abuse and any diagnosed eating disorders. I love psychology and completely trusted the therapist and all went really well.

SouthBeach Diet Tips and Guides The SouthBeach Diet is different from the Atkins diet in that it is not a low carbohydrate diet. Regardless of which phase you are currently in, you should follow these recommendations: Drink a minimum of 8 glasses of water, decaffeinated beverages such as club soda, tea, coffee, or decaffeinated sugar-free soda every day Limit your intake of caffeine-containing beverages to 1 cup each day Take one multivitamin and mineral supplement daily Take 500 mg of calcium for both men and women under the age of 50, and 1,000 mg for women over the age of 50, each day Eating can be both pleasurable and healthy as long as you eat the proper foods. All the meals in the SouthBeach Diet consist of healthy combinations of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Dishes can be made by anyone and the ingredients can be found in most grocery stores. These foods will satisfy your hunger without depriving your system of the low-quality starches and sugars that caused problems with your blood chemistry in the first place. The SouthBeach Diet does not involve counting calories, fat grams, or portion sizes. This plan was designed to be simplistic and will help you understand the principles of metabolism and put it to work for your own body. A major key to success with the South Beach Diet is the Glycemic index (GI), which ranks carbohydrate foods based on the effect on blood sugar levels. When you start adding foods back into your diet in Phase 2, keep your focus on low-GI foods such as apples, berries, grapefruit, high-fiber cereal, and whole grain breads. Preparing For The Rest Of Your Life Mindset Change for South Beach Diet You have learned what the South Beach Diet is, how it works, and what to eat. Now, you need to get prepared to change the way you eat, for life. Start by accepting that the first couple of weeks will be a big change but one you will not regret. The first morning of this diet, you will eat a breakfast that may consist of a two-egg omelet with two slices of Canadian bacon, cooked in either spray canola or olive oil. In your old life, you may have toasted bread or a bagel and had fresh fruit or fruit juice to go along with your omelet. However, with the South Beach Diet, the bread will have to wait. Most people have been conditioned their entire life to add bread to meals. You have toast with breakfast, sandwiches on bread for lunch, dinner rolls with dinner, and cake, cookies, or pie for dessert. However, during Phase 1, you will have to forget about the bread. It may take a few days to leave old habits behind but keep in mind that it is during this time that your body’s inability to process sugars and starches is being reversed. After trying numerous diets, most leave you feeling hungry, is one of the most difficult aspects of any diet. A common denominator seen with overweight people is that most of them skip eating breakfast. When this happens, blood sugar drops, which then increases the desire for bad carbohydrates to escalate until lunch when the entire meal is blown. Planning for South Beach Diet Planning will help you stay away from snacking or substituting things that are not healthy and could cause weight gain. Remember that once you start into Phase 2, carbohydrates will start being introduced back into your diet along with fruits. You also need to remember to eat your mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks, even if you do not feel like it. Some of the greatest low-fats foods to incorporate into your planning include cheese and yogurt to replace the fats since they have no bad carbohydrates. In addition, the sugar is found in the lactose, milk sugar, is one of the things you can have with the South Beach Diet. The South Beach Diet is a lifetime change, lifetime commitment, and a lifetime of health and vitality! How Does The South Beach Diet Work? As mentioned, the South Beach Diet is unique, successful, easy, and works in a three-phase process. Unlike many other so-called diets, with the South Beach Diet, simply substitutes your bad carbohydrates and fats for good ones. After trying this, you will be amazed by how well and quickly it works. South Beach Diet Phase 1 South Beach Diet Phase 1 lasts for two weeks. During this first phase, you will eat normal meals of chicken, beef, turkey, fish, and shellfish, lots of vegetables, eggs, cheese, nuts, and garden salads using 100% olive oil for your salad dressing. Each day for 14 days, you will eat three, well-balanced meals. While eating until your hunger is satisfied may go against most diets, with the South Beach Diet, it is part of the plan. Trying to lose weight and become healthy by depriving the body of food makes no sense. In addition to the three meals each day, you will also eat a snack between breakfast and lunch, and then again between lunch and dinner. Even if you do not feel like eating these snacks, for the South Beach Diet to work, you need to, and after dinner, you will even have dessert. Additionally, during this phase, you can drink all the coffee and tea you want and be sure to drink lots of water. You may be thinking that this is a lot of food - it is! With most diets, you deprive your body, eating only small portions of foods that are unappealing. The change you will make during this phase is that you will cut out all bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, baked goods, fruit, candy, cake, cookies, ice cream, or sugar. Keep in mind that these eliminated foods will be added back into your diet, starting in Phase 2. In addition to taking these foods out of your diet temporarily, you will also need to avoid beer, or any kind of alcohol. Once you start Phase 2, reasonable amounts of wine can be added back in. Instead of feeling overwhelmed about the foods that will be taken out of your diet during the first two weeks, stop and think about this for a minute. To achieve a life of health and lose unwanted weight, two weeks is a small investment to make. After all, you are worth it! The first two or three days will be somewhat challenging, but breaking any bad habit starts out a little bumpy. Once you pass this small hurdle, the rest of the time will go by quicker than you think. When you see the results that these changes bring, you will be glad you did not give up!

I am just over a week out, and I would do it again in a red-hot second. My doctor has allowed me to eat whatever I can tolerate as soon as I got home from the hospital on Day Two, and honestly I am just breezing through the whole thing. I think one thing that has really helped me is that I am 51 years old and have had a LOT of time to do diets and exercise and everything known to man to get this weight off, and it is clear as day to me that (a) it is just plain impossible for me to keep up the willpower and time commitment required to stay slim on my own, and (:redface1: I was WAY past the point where I really and truly enjoyed overeating. I was like an alcoholic who drank to get drunk, you know? Not because I particularly liked it, but because it was the only thing I knew how to do. The thing that is almost impossible to describe is that my cravings and appetite really have gone away. I ate 1/3 of a grilled sandwich the other day -- one of my very favorite foods -- and I was as happy as could be with that little bit. I think the hardest thing would be if I still had a lot of active food addiction issues. If food is your main coping mechanism, it'll be very hard to give that up, and you'll need a lot of support. I've been in therapy for a while and it's been a lifesaver for me. But bottom line: No regrets at this point.

I am a lite drinker, I drink vodka maybe once or twice a month and I was wondering if that would be a problem, I didn't want to ask my surgeon because I didn't want him to think I am a drunk lol.

I feel like sugar alcohols are the "artificial sweetener" of the future. In other words, its a scientific miracle that one day they will tell me causes cancer. I try to avoid them but don't always succeed.