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That's one of my biggest fears that I would forget and take too big of a bite, not chewing properly! It's probably one really big reason I'll hold off on alcohol....potential for forgetfulness and hunger. Bad combination. As I have been feeling more normal it is easier to forget about "mindful eating". Thanks fot the reminder!

I've pretty much maintained for the last 5-7 months at or around 8-10 lbs from goal, which I still have yet to reach. (I was once 2 lbs away). I travel a great deal for work, so eat out a lot and don't usually deny myself much. Overall I eat somewhat healthy for the most part, even when eating out, but bad habits can sneak back in. Where I still could not tolerate certain foods at 14 months, I can now eat anything and everything with no problem. I can also eat more than I could in the past. Though I will probably get fussed at, I do drink alcohol when I want (craft beer, wine, mixed drinks), snack, don't measure food, don't count calories, don't exclude any foods, skip Breakfast, occasionally drink a few sips with meals, don't always eat enough Protein, and I never exercise. With all of that said, I am still stabilized on average around 8 lbs from goal with indulgences. Last week I decided to regain some measure of control over my relationship with food and the bad habits that I have been allowing to become more and more a normal part of my eating habits. My first thought was a lot of fear. That I couldn't do it. That I would fail (again!). Those old fears from a lifetime don't just vanish. If I never reach "goal" I'll be ok. It isn't an end all and I don't know if I could realistically maintain it considering my lifestyle and choices. But I do want to address creeping gains. 3 lbs become 5 lbs become 6 lbs become 8 then 10. Changes I have made are focused on protein and Fiber, small portions of lean meat and good fats (chicken, eggs, olive oil), fresh vegetables (spinach, kale, cucumbers, celery), and some fresh fruit (frozen banana slices, frozen grapes, watermelon juice), and a few random carbs (Beans, Stacy's pita chips ....yeah, I know....). So mostly protein, fiber, a very small bit of good fat, and some carbs. I also allow myself a few teaspoons of ice cream at night. Maybe two. Ben and Jerry's. Outside of the Ben and Jerry's and pita chips, I'm averaging around 850 calories a day easily. Not saying this is good or bad or what anyone should do. I'm no nutritionist and have no medical expertise relating to proper maintenance nutrition. But I will say that it has been surprisingly easy, which would have been impossible pre-VSG. I attribute most of it to the reduction in ghrelin. The added fiber has brought on a lot of stinky gas and I'll take that any day. I am not going to eat like this every day. I plan on doing it for around 80% of the meals I eat during the month of June, with the other meals more relaxed in composition. In 3 days I've lost 1 lb, so far so good. Just a share for anyone interested.

I was sleeved Monday, so today is day 3 healing. Trust me, the pain and nausea you go through, you will not even begin to kick around the idea of alcohol. I say take you pain meds and carry a champagne glass of water around. You'll be giddy from not feeling pain and can sip the water and no one will be the wiser

Do you think it will be possible to have a little alcohol over the holiday period. I have my op on the 19 Dec.

Ok people have talked about this before, but I wanted to share or put my 2 cents and my experience in. I'm past 8 months, 253 days post op to be exact. I wasn't a huge drinker but when I drank it was usually more than 2 drinks, so the long and short of it was I always got a hefty buzz or drunk, but I never drank unless I went out so I didn't see it as a "problem". But it was classic binge drinking when I did drink. Post surgery- after my ok to drink , I had some wine, first glass I didn't get drunk any faster, halfway through second I could be good but since we can't eat AND drink then why ruin my buzz, right? I eat well, I drink my water, I quit smoking, so I'd have some wine on the weekends (not normal for me) weekends turned into many days of the week, then every night. I've lost 104 now, I was still losing when I drank because I ate very little and I only drank wine. (I'm NOT glorifying any of this) With bariatric surgery I don't think there's a ok 2 glasses and I'm ok (as in not too drunk/tipsy, etc) . Pour that third glass and I was zero to 💯 and for me I would be drunk a lot longer. Alcoholism is huge in my family, why I thought having a few glasses of wine all the time was a good idea, maybe it filled the void. I tried to rationalize it with myself that because I couldn't eat and couldn't smoke anymore that having a few glasses was ok. I've been in therapy for food addiction, he said this isn't really transfer addiction because I didn't really have true food addiction. I guess I'm posting this for anyone who asks about drinking and if you have a history of any addiction or alcoholism in the family I would be cautious of alcohol. I should've known, thought about it more, but now I carry a chip from AA in my pocket everyday. I had a problem binge drinking before surgery, and yes you can be an alcoholic even if you don't drink that much, with me I drank to be buzzed or to get drunk. Im not posting this to be policed about the calories in wine or how it halts weight loss or to be bullied for making a poor choice. I'm posting this in the hopes that someone may read it who may be like me and start drinking a lot, or if someone is in recovery and wants to talk. If you do decide drink, be careful, it stayed in my bloodstream for a long time.

I'm a firm believer that if the relationship is rocky pre-major life change, the relationship will only worsen. And, now he's accusing you, and projecting his guilt and insecurities onto you. For me, I would not stay. I just would not allow myself, or my children to endure the abuse and lack of a real marriage. I agree that exposing your children to this will forever imprint on their hearts and minds that this is the way "love and marriage" is supposed to be. Believe me, coming from an adult child of divorce(my mom finally left my abusive, alcoholic father after 23 years of marriage, I was 21 years old), I learned a lot from their relationship. I had my fair share horrible relationships(because that's all I knew), but something finally clicked and I realized that myself and my son deserved so much better. Love and marriage is a choice we make every day. It doesn't sound as if the marriage is repairable at this point, nor does it sound as if either of you have a true desire to make it work. It won't be easy, but getting out would be easier than living in and allowing your children to see/hear/feel the toxicity of your marriage.

I was married for 24 years to an alcoholic/drug abuser. He was very functioning and I didn't even know about most of his lifestyle, but that is neither here nor there A few things I've learned in life: Your kids see your relationship and will recognize it as they form their own......that means your sons will think this is normal behavior. How much do you want them to grow up this way? This behavior is not going to change. Your relationship is not going to change. He is not going to change. You COULD overcome it, but it will not change. It may deteriorate, but it will not change. This is a hard concept, but people are fundamentally unchangeable. I see the way I have grown since my divorce, and even though I look at myself and see this "change" that I mention above cannot happen, in my soul I know I've grown, I've mellowed, I've done a lot of thinking, but the part of me that knows me best knows that I am basically the same, I have just learned to recognize traits in others and myself that I wasn't willing to see when I was in my 20's and 30's. I had a 5-year plan prior to my divorce, and made it through 3 of those years before his addictions were beyond living with. I stayed together for the kids as so many do, and when it was all over I realized I didn't do anybody any favors. I wish I would have followed through when my kids and myself were younger. Starting over at almost 50 is not much fun, but it can be And it sure beats starting over in my 60's or 70's. Find a therapist, for yourself, your family, your marriage. They teach you exercises to help you recognize what you need and if you're getting it. Go together, go alone, just go.......it does help. I won't tell you to stay or go, but you already know what you need to do, its the doing that is hard. Its going to suck, but it isn't permanent. Today, life is pretty fabulous.........and a long time coming!

I worked to get my RNY surgery for almost a year. As the date approached, I got more and more nervous. It is a big deal - choosing an elective major surgery. As I was lying on the pre-op bed, I started crying and thinking maybe I should get up and leave. My surgeon came in and assured me that it would be OK and that none of his patients had ever come back regretting the procedure. My PCP previously had told me that if I had been able to do it on my own, I would have by now, Both doctors were right. This is about the best thing I have ever done for myself. Yes, I had a complication of a blood clot and am still on a blood thinner, but after 70+ pounds gone I feel like a new person. I am doing things I have not done for decades. I wish I had done it sooner in a way, but I really did need to come to a place in my life where I was willing to make the needed lifestyle changes first, and for the right reasons - health. And my commitment needed to be total. My life slogan now is "I AM NEVER GOING BACK!" If that means no more sugar, wheat, soda, coffee, alcohol, or processed foods, then so be it. My health is worth more than any of those things. Yup, my skin is getting saggy - but I am 63 years old, and the collagen just aint what it used to be. But so what? I am happier and healthier and saggy skin is just a badge of the journey. Haven't lost any hair yet, but again, if I do, so what? It will grow back. (have been taking Biotin 10,000 mcg since week 2 and nails are super strong so I hope it will also prevent hair loss). I have so much energy and stamina, my mental health is better, my sleep apnea is nearly gone, asthma improved, no GERD, my back and joints don't hurt anymore, I am not embarrassed in public, and I actually feel cold instead of sweating all the time. What's not to love? Being scared is normal for a lot of people. It just means you realize the risks. But you will never realize the benefits until you get to the other side. And this is the chance you have to take. If you could have done it on your own, you would have, It is still going to be a lot of work. This is not easy, but WLS is a tool that can give you the jump start you need for health and happiness for the rest of your life.

I think what you mix alcohol with also makes a difference. About 3 1/2 months out I tried a prickly pear margarita when we were on vacation in Santa Fe. Literally one sip and I felt hot and nauseated so I put it aside. We then ate and I tried again after 30 minutes with the same result. Now, I only drink tequila over ice, bourbon and water or vodka martinis and I have no problems. It does affect my ability to lose though..... I was a daily drinker before surgery and pretty much back to that at this point.

I am about the same age as you (I'm 22) and here's my advice. I always make sure I drink Water before I eat- both before and after my surgery I found that sometimes I mistake hunger for thirst. When I go out to eat I always ask for a box and put at least half in it straight away. This helps me from feeling like I'm 'wasting' so much food and the visual of the smaller portion helps me. I've also found that sometimes when I get cravings I'm satisfied with only a few bites. So I've learned to get the healthier option and then either it will pass or I'll share with someone else or have a bite of their food. Honestly though, sometimes I get treats but only have a little bit- I get much more satisfied now that I've been sleeved. Also, I found that I am more likely to have cravings if I'm hungry. What I've done is eat my meal and then my cravings substantially go away. (Side note: I tend to have more intense cravings when I'm on my period, so you may experience that). Drinking only water wasn't hard for me because I had started that habit years ago. If it's hard for you and you need flavor I really like the brand "Hint" water. They have no calories and come in all sorts of good flavors but don't taste artificial. For me the hardest change to make was alcohol. It doesn't seem like you're consuming as many calories as you are and it "hits" me much faster. So just monitor it if you can't completely cut it out. If I'm being realistic about myself I don't think I could cut it out completely- like I had some wine on Thanksgiving and Christmas- but just know that it's easier to over do it on alcohol than it is on food (at least in my opinion). Finally, when you go through a stall don't necessarily restrict yourself more. If it's been 4-6 weeks of a stall and you haven't lost inches or pounds then reassess your eating. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I have the same alcohol tolerance as pre-op now. It just takes a little longer to work back up. Haha, I still party. Nothing has really changed. It only happens once a month or so anyway.

When I was bigger, I had to take medication for bladder control. I took Detrol or something similar. I did for years. The OB/GYN told me that the weight definitely puts pressure on the bladder and that the condition would probably improve after I lost weight. He was correct. I am no longer on medication and have only had a very few "accidents", which I have noticed is only when I've drunk alcohol. So YES it gets better. It is so nice to pitch some of the meds you used to take once you've shed a significant amount of weight. I don't take celebrex or anti-depressants anymore either. I don't get injections in my knees and I have cut the doses of thyroid and blood pressure meds in half. It's amazing.

Have you ever been to an AlAnon meeting? As the former wife of an alcoholic, may I highly recommend that you attend one ASAP?

Yeppers, I actually 2 of them through the course of the night. I danced, jammed out, enjoyed the entire night. Alcohol doesn't really hit me hard anymore. If I just kind of nurse the drinks, I end up feeling just a little buzzed. Those pitchers were not full to the top, they were half full, and had a lot of ice. It literally took me 7 hours to drink 2 of them. I rarely get drunk off a few drinks. Plus, I ate before I left, and once I was there, I had some Snacks in my pockets LOL. I always carry some sort of snack with me, it helps keep things on an even kilter, and keeps my energy up. Carolyn - you should be so proud of yourself. . . I think you look fabulous ! ! !

I understand exactly how you feel. The thought of surgery often frightens everyone, but just remember the outcome. My mother and father both died in their early 60's. They both had numerous health issues, including high blood, diabetes and heart disease. Neither one of them smoked or drank alcohol, but they were over weight. My life-long goal is to become healthy and live to enjoy the "Best" of my life... I have surgery on May 25th... not too scared at this point... trusting that God will see me through this time... Hang in there...

There is also evidence of higher incidence of alcoholism post surgery. Some of that may be due addiction transfer (food to alcohol) but some is also due to different methablising alcohol . QUOTE: "Among RYGB patients, there was a significant decrease in alcohol consumption in the first year after surgery, compared to the year before surgery, but not in the second year. Thus, the increase in alcohol use disorder symptoms following RYGB surgery was likely a result of an increase in alcohol sensitivity following surgery combined with resumption of higher levels of alcohol consumption in the second post-operative year ... This is concerning, given the negative impact heavy drinking may have on Vitamin and mineral status, liver function and weight loss." See, http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/246775.php

Yes it is. I wouldn't even consider the thought of drinking for many months out. I don't drink and of course haven't drank since surgery (even drinking Water is a challenge) but I know that my narcotic painkillers used to take an hour to work, and now work in ten to fifteen minutes. Alcohol will go through you like a truck. I would not have this surgery if you can't accept that you may never be able to drink much again.

Since being diagnosed w diabetes 2 I drink about 62-84 oz of water a day n about 2-4 cups of herbal tea. Will I have trouble drinking after surgery? I gave up coffee years ago n don't drink alcohol cuz gives me hot flashes. Also does everyone get cold cuz I have window open wear tea shirts all year round. Guess losing fluff n lowering blood pressure will change things. Maybe next winter?? Surgery target Feb. Oh so ready!!

having said all this please know that quitting smoking is one of the most difficult things that you can do. I also hear about people on the site who are still drinking alcohol another no no. all you can do is try to be supportive and know that it's a very hard habit to quit.

I was pretty much like you and far as steady weight loss (except I had 1 month-long stall when I was sick between weeks 6-10). At about 10 pounds before my surgeon's goal I started adding in more fat, fruit and whole grains. I also started getting a little more lax on the "Forbidden" foods like rice, bread, pasta, desserts and alcohol. Well, that was 17 pounds ago. I hit his goal and then my personal goal and kept losing. The loss has gradually gotten slower and slower, but I think I might finally be close to the end. Basically from a mental and dietary standpoint I've been in maintenance for 3 months.....my body just didn't know it . Since I'm already eating what and how much I want, I'm not really doing anything different. What kind of transitional changes are you expecting to run in to?

Hello lovely people, Thanks for the welcome - that's really nice. I think I may have a cold coming on so I'm dreading the next couple of days - I can't have the op with the cold ;-( just my luck - keep yer fingers crossed. I never found a good Scottish man - despite years of trying but I found a good English one. I've had many a wild night in Glasgow - many moons ago. I'm hitting 40 and have a 5 year old so my wild days are over. The meds I'm taking don't agree with alcohol - mores the pity! I also have PCOS and BIPOLAR and would also love to chat to anyone going through the same - life's a bitch then you marry one! Thank you all for your kind words , I hope to be here next week having fully joined the club. Take care you lovely lot, Yvonne x

A lot of low carb/diet products are now made with sugar alcohol. Anything more than 3g per serving leaves me feeling miserable, rumbly in the tummy and attached to a bathroom for at least a day. The slimfast bar I looked up online has 12g.

I know you are frustrated but the reason these psych evals are so important is to see how well you cope. Statistics show gb pts often turn into sex addicts or alcoholics due to the surgery. . You lose your vice. I'm not kidding and I've been very open on here about my experience this surgery was hard especially hard mentally. I was 60lbs down and having extreme irrational thoughts. I opened up to my surgeon and he immediately placed me in therapy. I consider myself a tough person I worked ems for years and saw some of the most traumatic things a person can and it didn't phase me. Then here came gb weightloss and all those imbalances started I thought I'd lose my mind but I came through it. I want to tell you its friggin awesome you went in there told the truth and didn't bs them I know a lot who has and has went on to commit suicide or bc alcoholics or worse sex addicts. You go to ur surgeon open up to him/her and say yes I had these problems I'm willing to do anything and everything to prove I'm no longer like that so please guide me on what I need to do to save my life from morbid obesity.. ... I pray what I've said has helped u. Don't give up it's a long mountain...u will get there I truly believe.

I was told by my doctor's office that you should be drinking absolutely no alcohol for at least 1 year.

Do you have to have a cocktail? You can go out for a drink without it being alcoholic right? Just a thought.