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Not that I have your attention lol...What's good? How many post-op sleevers still drink hard liquor? Soft liquor? I do understand it's counter-productive to losing weight, but that's my only vice or should I say my poison of choice.

Loneil, my apologies to you. I had you confused with another post about alcohol where the poster was three days post op.

You'll be fine, just don't drive & don't drink alcohol.

Is it a box of sangeria? I might not be able to spell it but I do love to drink it. Can I join?Dr Oz website has a recipe for healthier version, which is pretty good. I don't think anyone said alcohol should be a major part of diet and I don't think anyone else did unless in jest. Like I have said this topic comes up so many times and its always the same argument. There will always be two sides: those who say that yes I do enjoy some alcohol in moderation and those who say how unhealthy and how far it will set you back. Listen I am not an alcoholic but I do enjoy doing to a club, bar or simply staying at my house enjoying a couple drinks with friends. I do thinks I would never have done had I not lost this weight. Again I would like to state to the op you need to talk to your surgeon about this and be truthful to them. Everyone has a vice, well at least the fun ones. Lol When I talked to my surgeon about my drinking habits , he said that most people will be that honest. He said wait at least a month to heal. Your surgeon will probably say something different due to them using a different technique. He actually laughed when I told him and said well don't we all enjoy some drinks now and then.

Do you honestly think it's a good idea to tell a brand new bander (This person was three days post op when she posted.) how to sneak in as many alcohol calories into her diet as possible? At three days post op you should be concentrating on healing and setting up good habits for the future. You act like I'm so anti alcohol. I'm not. But no, I don't think a person three days post op should be drinking. I'm an RN, alcohol that soon after surgery IS NOT good for you. But if you can't give it up long enough to heal it's not my problem. The truth is alcohol should not be a majority of your diet. Period. And giving new banders ideas at how to sneak in MORE alcohol is not good. Justify it anyway you want but it's not.

Sorry if you took it personally Ducker, not my intention. It just seems line you have gone a little overboard and have gotten a little too angry at the alcohol post.....

First, I'm not a dude. Second, I'm not, and never have been, an alcoholic. Although some here sure seem to be. I've only ever been a very casual social drinker. Alcohol is NOT the center of my life. Nor will it ever be.

Ducker... You sound like a friend of mine who's a recovering alcoholic. Lighten up dude.

I would never consume my daily calories in alcohol. But I want to enjoy my life. I also tend to work out longer on days I do to make up for it. And yes I even log every drink I take in myfitnesspal. Yes I consume alcohol and yes I eat ice cream, well delicious frozen yogurt sometimes. Everything in moderation, that was always the problem I had before the band and it has helped make amazing changes to the way I choose to live my life.

I definitely DON'T think it has to be an all or nothing thing. BUT, alcohol should not be a major player in your diet. One, it's empty calories. Two, it dehydrates you. If you're newly banded alcohol is a blood thinner and can put you at jeopardy in the healing process. And there are many reasons more not to drink in excess. Sure, ONE drink or two a week isn't going to kill you but really, we should be focusing on how to get our REAL nutrition in and not what we can leave out so we can have those four shots today. Truly, do you REALLY need to drink alcohol on a daily basis? Supposedly we all did this to have a healthier life. So what if you eat a salad and then drink a bunch of alcohol. That doesn't make your life all that healthier. Common sense. If you're leaving out food to drink a bunch of alcohol, REGARDLESS OF THE HEALTHY FOOD YOU EAT, you are not really healthy. I've heard many experienced lap band patients say that the day after drinking leaves them very restricted, tight, and sore. Is it worth it? I guess to some who absolutely can't live without it. I find it very disappointing to read people responding with "Drink clear liquor and have shots. You can drink more liquor that way." Is that the advice we're giving to other band people? How to "cheat" the system? Honestly this disgusts me. I drink on occasion. I have no problem with drinking. But you know what? Reaching my goal weight is so much more important that looking cool with my friends or partying or anything else. I'll be thin and happy. Even without booze.

Consuming all your daily calories in alcohol is NOT healthy. Keep talking but I'll never believe otherwise.

I can say from almost a year and half of being banded and 90 lbs lost that drinking alcohol has not held me back. But again your experience may be different and you need to tell your Dr. The reason I got the lapband was to make some positive lifestyle changes but I also enjoy going out with my friends, having a couple drinks or shots. I got the band so I could live the life I wanted to and that does include some alcohol. Plus they did a study in britian that found that women who drink 3 to 4 a week are actually healthier than those who don't. It was a 20 year study. Again you should have this conversation with your surgeon.

The "Eight Golden Rules" for lap band patients By: Paul O'Brien, MD, We have formulated eight “Golden Rules” for getting the best result from the procedure. It is of vital importance that you follow these rules. The success of the procedure requires us to place the band correctly, but it equally requires that you follow these rules. I have been tempted to call them guidelines rather than rules. They are not absolute. A thunderbolt will not come from the heavens and strike you down if you break one of them. And, almost certainly, every patient has at one time or another broken each of the rules. However, they are more than guidelines. They do need to be followed to get the best results. If you do transgress one of them, I want you to feel guilty, admit to your sins and work out how you will avoid doing something so terrible ever again. But do remember that if the band is not correctly adjusted you will not be able to follow the rules. You must be in the green zone to follow them. So, before being consumed by self loathing at your weakness, do consider if correcting the adjustment is needed and come in to talk to us about it. We have already discussed these rules within the preceding chapters. Within these rules is a condensation of the advice in those chapters. We are repeating the key elements of the advice. We state the rules, briefly expand on what each rule intends and then restate them. If you are unsure about what they mean, reread the earlier chapters on eating, exercise and adjustment, and if still unclear, talk to us. THE EIGHT GOLDEN RULES for losing weight and keeping it off 1. Eat three or less small meals per day 2. Do not eat anything between meals 3. Eat slowly and stop when no longer hungry 4. Focus on nutritious foods 5. Avoid calorie-containing liquids 6. Exercise for at least 30 minutes every day 7. Be active throughout the day 8. Always keep in contact with us 1. Eat three or less small meals per day The Lap-Band works primarily by taking away your appetite. If it is adjusted correctly you should not feel hungry. You may eat up to three times a day. We don’t mind if you eat less than three times per day. Many people do not feel like Breakfast and some will miss a midday meal. If you don’t feel inclined to eat, don’t eat. If you find you are getting hungry between meals, tell us. We will probably consider adjusting the band a little tighter. There is not much room for food as there is a virtual stomach rather than a real space above the band. As you eat, the food seeks a space and you need to keep that space quite small. Therefore each meal should be about the amount of food you can get into half a glass. If you eat more than that you will not lose weight so easily and you will gradually stretch the stomach. This can lead to the need for a further surgery later on to reduce the enlarged stomach. The adjustability of the band is the key to allowing you to be happy with this small amount of food. If you find that you are tending to eat more than that, tell us and we will consider adding more Fluid to the band. Always use a small plate, put a small amount of food on the plate and always try to leave some. Remember the angels. They need their share. 2. Do not eat anything between meals No Snacks, no biscuits with your coffee, no fruit, nothing. All food must be restricted to meal times. One of the most frequent causes for failure is the taking of snacks between meals. If you are getting hungry between meals and are tempted to have a snack you must tell us. It is probably due to inadequate adjustment and you may need more fluid added to the band. Between meals you can only have zero calorie liquids – Water, mineral water, tea, coffee, low calorie sodas. 3. Eat slowly and stop when no longer hungry When you have eaten enough you will no longer be hungry and signals from your stomach to your brain tell you that you do not need any more. These signals take time to be generated. Give them that time. Each meal should be stretched out over 15 – 20 minutes. If you eat rapidly you will already have eaten too much before you realize that you have had enough. However, do not eat beyond 30 minutes. Throw away whatever you haven’t eaten at that time. That is the end of that meal and you must have nothing else until the next meal. Try to make each meal last for 15 - 20 minutes. Try to sense when you have had enough and stop before you feel at all uncomfortable. Use a small plate, put a small amount of food on the plate, and develop the habit of always leaving some of it uneaten. Once the meal is finished it is essential that you take no further food until the next meal time. This has to be avoided absolutely. The slow emptying of the stomach gives you a feeling of fullness which should make it easy for you to achieve this. You must ensure that this indeed does happen. 4. Focus on nutritious foods Foods that are high in Protein (meats, especially fish, eggs, dairy, lentils Beans and nuts) and foods that are high in complex carbohydrates (vegetables, some cereals) are best. Simple sugars are worst. Be careful with foods that are high in fats as they are dense form of calories. Be careful with fruits as they contain quite a lot of sugar. The good foods can come from all the main food groups and include vegetables, meats, eggs, cereals and dairy. There is no need to focus unduly on the particular foods in fine detail. It is not rocket science. It is simply selecting foods that are good (protein and complex carbohydrates), being careful with those that are not so good (fats, alcohol) and avoiding those that are bad (simple sugars). And take a well balanced Vitamin and mineral replacement each day. 5. Avoid calorie-containing liquids Any calorie containing liquids will tend to flow past the restriction of the band and not give you any feeling of satiety. You are then more likely to take too much. You are only allowed to drink: water mineral water tea or coffee (with low fat milk if you wish but no sugar) low calorie soft drinks (but be careful with the gas) An exception to the “no liquid calorie” rule is a glass of wine with meals which we have shown is good for your health and good for your weight loss when taken in a modest amount. 6. Exercise for at least 30 minutes each day This is at least as important as all of the other rules. Not only must you take in less calories but you must use up more calories. Exercise will improve your general health as well. Initially, while you are severely obese this can be difficult, but, as your weight decreases, it becomes easier. As you become fitter and healthier, you get greater enjoyment from exercise. We understand that not everybody is sports minded and exercise may be something quite new for you. Start slowly and seek to build up activity progressively. Aim to put together 30 minutes or more of moderate intensity physical activity on most and preferably all days. Walking is ideal to start off with. As your fitness improves, progress to more vigorous walking and even jogging, cycling, aerobics, swimming, and light resistance training. As your weight comes down your exercise capacity will increase and your general activities during the day will increase. This is to be encouraged and the more active you are the better the result will be. Your exercise program should be aerobic. You should be puffing and, if you check your pulse, generally it should be up around 120 – 140 beats per minute. There are a wide range of activities that will allow you to achieve this. If you can manage it, a personal trainer or fitness consultant can be an excellent assistant. They can provide an individual program according to your specific preferences and lifestyle that is realistic and achievable. Regular exercise requires commitment. The more effort you put in, the greater benefits you will see and feel. 7. Be active throughout each day Think of movement and activity as opportunities and not as inconvenience. Try to be active every day in as many ways as you can. Make it a habit to walk or cycle instead of using the car. Become active in the garden and do things yourself instead of using machines. Avoid sitting down at all cost. You should see sitting down as an opportunity for activity lost. Try to spend as much time outdoors as possible. We tend to be more active when outdoors. Use a pedometer as a stimulus to you to show how your activity level is increasing. If you are using a pedometer, aim to get beyond 10,000 steps per day – this represents a very good level of routine daily activity. 8. Always keep in contact with us We want to follow you permanently. There will never be a time when we say that the job of controlling your obesity is done and we do not need to see you anymore. There will always be a need to check your progress, monitor your health, check for nutritional deficiencies, make sure that you understand the rules, bring you up to date with new developments and adjust the volume of fluid in the band. There is always going to be a very small loss of fluid from the band over time. For example, if you had 3 ml of fluid present and we checked the volume after a 6 month gap, there would probably be about 2.7ml present. This occurs because the balloon of the band is not totally impermeable. If 3 ml was the correct volume, you would be starting to get hungry and eat more with a volume of 2.7ml. It is important you understand that this can happen and come back to see us for replacement of that small loss. This is the main reason that we want a maximum of 6 months between appointments. With this said, always follow your own doctor's protocol! There is a reason they give then to you! Also, my PA said she didn't quite agree with the "no snack" thing but if I could do with out and still be in the guidelines then wonderful. I am 3 years post op, and am in the green zone. (FINALLY) My recommendations may be different from newly banded receipants! Good luck and happy losing!!!! ~Jen~

I know, right? Personally, what's the reason, no alcohol, yes, I love the flavor, but alas, I wouldn't drink o'douls

I want a little alcohol at least....lol

Yes they have Margarita n mojito mix taste great!!! Makes it a lot easier to get the liquids in. Make as directed just put it in the blender with lots of ice n that's it. To the mojito I add half a lemon n crushed mint leaves so it taste just like a mojito without the alcohol. [ATTACH]2797[/ATTACH]

Do any of your Protein drinks contain sugar alcohols like Maltitol? Or sucralose? Some people are sensitive to sugar alcohols and have bowel issues. If so, you might try experimenting with a product that has no sugar alcohols and see if it makes a difference. \ I hope you find relief soon.

I have a corporate desk type job. I had surgery last week and feel good enough to return, but have STD benefits so I'm home for another 3 weeks. That's probably for the better, because even though the pain is negligible, my energy level just isn't there yet and I have a long commute. If you're feeling able to go back to work, and your surgeon is OK with it, then go back. Just remember no heavy lifting. And make sure you have good quality foods with you. Energy can disappear quite quickly. As for wine, I'm not a wine drinker myself but my nutritionist recommends no tea for 4 - 6 months. I talked to her quite a bit about this and she shared some interesting literature with me. It's not necessarily the alcohol (in wine) or caffeine or anything, the tannins/catechins and other acids can be an irritant to the stomach and to the staple line. Just ask your nutritionist. The best we can tell you is to follow their advice.

I would stay away from the alcohol for awhile. I had my surgery on Wednesday and return to work on Monday. This isn't the case for most folks though. If your strenght is there and your job isn't physically demanding, then try it. I was going stir crazy around the house after only a few days.

ive had my 4th fill, and i can eat EVERYTHING too. the only prob i had was i had a tiny bit of mexican food and 3 sips of a margarita last week and forgot and used a straw ( A big no no, it can introduce air in to your stomach ) I threw up my whole dinner, im pretty sure it was from the straw , as ive had mexican and a margarita since being banded. so enjoy your foods just dont use a straw and be very careful of alcohol as some are more sensitive to it after being banded.

I was looking at the labels, and it looks like Mio at least has some sugar alcohols. I don't have the other labels to check right now.

I strongly disagree that children are not eating because of emotional reasons. My family looked very normal from the outside. My father died when I was 11 from a massive heart attack. We went to church and 2 hours later he was dead. Less then a year later my brother moved back home from a failed marriage (he was 19) and brought a baby with him. I'm sure you can guess how horrible my ex sister inlaw was that he got custody; this being 1981. He was a high functioning alcoholic. Super stressful with a lot of verbal abuse. Over the next 5 years one aunt and 3 uncles died of cancer. Long drawn out illnesses. I was an emotional wreck. I was definatly an emotional eater! I strongly believe that some kids deal with their pain by taking drugs and others are eating themselves to death.

For me, being stuck is the worst ! it feels like heartburn sorta , in the middle of your chest. nothing will make it go up or down until its ready to, so chew, chew , chew and chew some more, taking small bites. PB=Productive burping, its burping a bit to make some thing move that might just be a little stuck. TMI ALERT- stop reading if you get grossed out easily. last week i had mexican food, just a little of the inside of a quesadia, 3 chips chewed well, and 3 sips of a margarita ( forgot that i wsnt supposed to use a straw -ever !) well......... after 2 trips to the bathroom wherei pb'd up the dinner, i proceded to completely throw up and slime my whole dinner out. not pretty................ i had the leftovers the next day with no probs, so im guessing it was the alcohol in the margarita, or the straw. either way i dont want to do that again ! so be advised, watch what you eat and drink !

We all know exactly what weight gain is; the scale goes up in numbers, our clothes start to get tight, it takes more effort to get out of a chair, the seat belt is tighter and we just don’t feel as well. We all know what weight loss is; the scale shows us a lower number, our clothes hang funny and fall off of us, people start complimenting us about the way we look, we feel better, and we need less medicine. But weight maintenance is something that we all have failed to understand. We have gone up and down in our weight our entire lives, struggling to keep the weight off, gaining weight over and over again. Gaining it has always been easy, I just look at brownies and I would gain two pounds. I never understood my neighbor who was always a perfect size 8 and ate everything in sight. We all know people like that. What has always been missing, is weight maintenance – it was something that I had never achieved. It was elusive to me. I was a constant yo yo. I would lose the weight and thought I could maintain my weight loss but those old habits would sneak back in and sabotage me one more time. The frustration grew every time that I would go down and then back up again and many times with a bonus extra pounds. Each time getting more and more frustrated. When you buy a new car you shop around to get the best deal and then you pick the one that best suits you and your lifestyle. When you pick it up, it comes with a manual, a set instructions and guidelines. You need to put gas into the gas tank to make the car move and every 3, 0000 mile change the oil. Then every once in a while you need to take it in to the dealer who opens it up and looks inside. They make some adjustments and then they give you a bill. You pay the bill and then you are on your way. You need to wash and wax your car so it always looks good. Well, if you think about this is the same as having Bariatric Surgery. The new car is the same as your new pouch. You decide what kind of surgery that is best for you and your lifestyle. You shop around for the best surgeon. You are given a set of instructions from your surgeon, just like you received with your car. You need to feed yourself protein and water to keep you going. Every few months you need to see the surgeon, to check under your hood to take sure your blood levels are good to keep you going in the best condition. You doctor will give you some suggestions to keep you running well and keep you on the right road to weight loss. You exercise and continually add more fuel. But then one day you stop checking the oil and washing the car. A rattle appears out of nowhere and you get used to the new noise coming from the right front of the car. A door ding shows up and you do not even notice the second or third one. You forget to check under the hood. For the bariatric patient this is the time that they start to stray from their doctors program, they start to gain a little weight, we go back to some of our old habits without even thinking about it. This is where we all start to get into trouble. We think we do not need support group anymore, after all we have lost a lot of weight and we think that we are doing just fine. Then all of a sudden we have a wreck, we got on the scale and it is up by 20 or 25 pounds. It is time to call the Auto club tow truck. We need to get towed back to the right road. The Maintenance Road. We all have heard the new Weight Watchers ad campaign, that diets do not work, every one of us know that diets do not work. We have tried them all and look where we ended up; heavier and more frustrated. The only thing that will have lasting effects on us is when we are ready to make lifestyle changes. These changes will make us not only lose the weight but to keep it off for life. To lose weight and keep it off, the best approach is to focus on lifestyle changes and develop an eating plan that's enjoyable, yet healthy and low in calories. This approach will result in weight loss that you can live with - that is, that you can maintain over a long period of time. We need to attend support groups and get a constant stream of positive motivation to keep us on the Maintenance Road. It is easy to get lost and to end up in a dead end; your support group can direct you back at anytime. We are here to help you achieve the goals that are important to you. We each need to learn to make it a Lifestyle that you can live with and enjoy day in and day out to continue to maintain your weight loss. Successful Make it a Lifestyle weight-maintenance strategies Now that you have lost the weight, you can't stop your hard work. Weight maintenance requires daily exercise, healthy eating, a long-term commitment and constant attention. The following habits are essential for you to develop to achieve long term weight maintenance: Healthy snacks and meals - Focus on low-calorie, nutrient-dense foods, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Keep saturated fat low and limit sweets and alcohol. Remember that no one food offers all the nutrients you need. Choose a variety of foods throughout the day. Remember to eat two bites of dense protein to one bite of anything else. Exercise program - One of the most important things you can do for weight maintenance is to continue a aggressive exercise program. Studies suggest that it only takes 30 to 60 minutes of moderately intense physical activity daily to maintain weight loss. Moderately intense physical activities include swimming, fast walking, biking, and hiking. Know and avoid your food traps - Know which situations can trigger you’re out-of-control eating. The best way to identify these food traps and emotional eating is to keep a food journal. For as long as you find it helpful, write down what you eat, how much you eat, when you eat, how you're feeling and how hungry you are. This will help you understand and stay in control of your eating behaviors. Regularly monitor your weight - People who weigh themselves at least once a week are more successful in keeping off the pounds. Monitoring your weight can tell you whether your efforts are working and can help you become aware of small weight gains before they become larger. Be consistent - Sticking to your new lifestyle plan during the week, on the weekends, and amidst vacation and holidays increases your chances of long-term maintenance. Attend Support Group - Getting support is critical, whether through a friend, family member, trained professional or support group, can ultimately mean the difference between your success and failure.