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I was told to do essentially Atkins (lean protein and steamed vegetables) but without any of the crap Atkins fillers (bars/shakes) . That starts today for just shy of 2 weeks, then 2 weeks of the Vitaleph diet. The nutritionist said I need to go from 295lbs to 280lbs by July 6th (current BMI of 44), and zero alcohol from now until then. I'm going to miss a relaxing after work beer with the fiance. For Canadians mostly - On the Vitaleph website its about $360 total for the pre-op and post-op Vitaleph, with $35 shipping. It ended up being about $500.00 to get it to me in Calgary.... but I figured what's the point of a $10,000 surgery if I don't bother to take full advantage and make it all worth it, plus I might appreciate a chocolate shake to break up all the chicken broth lol blah blah blah sorry for the long post 28 Days to go..I'm so happy I'm almost giddy like a child

I was told nothing with alcohol Sent from my 5054N using the BariatricPal App

First, I think you should ask your doctor. A few beers? Think of your poor little pouch and all the gas from those beers coming up to torture it. (:shades_smile:) I don't know if my doctor gave a firm recommendation as to when alcohol was allowed, but especially at this early stage, I don't want to drink a significant number of non-nutritional calories. If he gives you the okay, I wouldn't think of drinking more than a glass of wine or something with no fizz. Then, carry around a water with a swizzle stick, to keep your hands full.

Wow I never knew that! And you know what's funny, I'm the type of person on a flight I have to drink alcohol to wash down my xanax (I have a HUGE fear of flying) and I noticed the last time I was on a plane, it took me forever to finish a bloody mary. Also, fyi, if you don't live in a higher altitude area, that will mess with your restriction. We went on a cross country trip, and when we were at the Grand Canyon (alt 10,000 feet), I couldn't even eat ravioli! I felt like crap! And on top of that it was TOM which restricts me even more. My dad goes "you know the altitude may have tightened your band up" he was right because when we got to Las Vegas, I was fine! Have fun in San Diego! Good luck!

My doc says that an occasional glass of wine or mixed drink is fine but no beer/carbonated beverages. The only thing about alcohol is that there are extra calories...

Had surgery 1 1/2 years ago, lost 155 lbs, and at 6' 220lbs am pleased with my new body... probably still about 20lbs overweight and despite working out 5x/week still have a lot of loose skin. It was pretty easy losing the weight, but it was torture the whole time. Post surgery eating was a horrible experience - nothing tasted good, I never felt satisfied and I always felt sick after eating and extremely hungry all the time. It was brutal. The good news, though - was that the weight just seemed to melt off. The bad news was that to survive, I would cheat with candy, cake, Cookies etc on the side because they didn't make me feel sick and they felt satisfying, and it didn't seemed to slow my weight loss. Now, the sick feelings after eating seems to be easing. I still have to eat slowly or I will feel terrible, and I still have to have small portions, but my weight loss has completely stopped and I have actually gained 7 lbs from my low. No matter how careful I am with my calories, at levels where before I would steadily lose weight, now causes me to stay flat at best or even gain. Yuk. This is kind of depressing. BTW I have cut out all alcohol now for 2 years, which is very boring and I eat very little, exercise a lot - and am now gaining - yuk, yuk. I feel like I am back where I started, ever day I wake up and say to myself I am going to try to eat even less and exercise more so that I can lose more weight, ie DIET. This doesn't feel sustainable and doesn't feel good. Any words of encouragement/advice or similar experience? Thanks

Thank you so much for answeing, Eurika C! You are right, that decision is difficult. Hearing from other, who have had the surgery - og could give some kind of input. I have trying to read a lot in here, and will probably read all, every thread, before I dicide. "1. I am a person who likes to eat large amounts. I think the restriction will be the most important tool for me. " I hope it is ok for me to ask you these. Large amounts of intake is no longer possible, so it will give you some kind of resticted intake. Do you think, that your urge to eat is so strong, that over time, you could stretching the stomach? And you could digest larger amount over time? What I am thinking about is, that no matter how strong ones feeling of succes is. It is difficult to know, if the old habits will get control over one again. I personally think, that I will do all there is to do, to keep a healthy lifestyle. I have been looking into and working with all the emotions eating is giving me. Mayby the ghrelin reduction will handle some of the appetite "2. I am concerned about the malabsorption of the RNY. I have a brother in law who has done very well so far on the RNY, but I am still concerned. It is important to me to eat as close to a varied normal diet as possible once I have healed and reach maintenance levels." That is also how I feel. What will happen in 20 years from now. It seems logical, that the long time Vitamin and mineral difficiency must be less with a sleeve operation. That is pointing me in the sleeve direction :-) "As for the sweets issue, people can sabotage their surgery by eating high calorie slider foods." Excactly - and how much is too much? I would do anything, but I also more and more see this urge to art like an addiction. Like alcoholism. I know, I need to take care of it every day I have read that 2/3 of the people who have batriatic procedure is have some kind binge eating disorder. " Is this something you are willing to take ownership of and combat? " Yes - ownership is a good word. I need to struggle with after an operation - but I hope the struggle with get just a little easier in some ways. "The sleeve is a tool, and you have to work the tool by following the post surgery guidelines." Yes, and that tool could be so helpful - mayby I am to optimistic, but I see it as I am half way there with this helpertool of mine. THANK YOU AGAIN!

Update!! I was on vacation for two weeks!! I'm talking about eating out everyday and sipping on alcoholic drinks 24/7 with that and all i still managed to lose 5 pounds making my total weight loss today 67 pounds! My neXt goal is to start walking, running, yoga, zumba, something!!!

I took small pills from day 5ish after returning home and it was not an issue. I tried crushing larger ones (the ones that are safe to crush, not all are so check with your doc)! but the taste was SO bad I ended up cutting in half and swallowing the 2 pieces. After a couple of months even large pills were not a problem. I take a time release Calcium that's pretty big and it's a non-issue. I DID find that Mucinex gave me kind of a tummy ache when taken on an empty stomach. It's s largeish time release thing and having a couple crackers before hand solved that problem. Alcohol: YMMV, but I don't find that my tolerance is significantly less, (some, yes, there is almost 100 pounds less of me to metabolize it after all), but one drink does not put me under the table as I was led to believe. It's probably as much of a factor that I avoid food\liquid together (it's one of "the rules" AND it makes me uncomfortable to put liquid on top of food so I just don't) so I tend to drink on more of an empty stomach than I used to.

i know it's tiring to hear "talk to your doctor", but if something should happen you want your doctor to have your true and complete history. I know with my doctor who I also signed a contract for a year no alcohol surprised me when I told him about my annual Christmas drink. He let me have it! So ask him/her.

For the love of the gods, husband, if you insist on buying chips, keep them on the top shelf where I can ignore them. I have asked him nicely, more than a few times since being sleeved in March to put that stuff where I can't see it. Instead, he leaves the open bag on the bottom shelf of the cupboard with the plates and bowls. I go to get my little plate on which to put my 3oz of chicken, only to be greeted with the aroma of deep-fried goodness in the form of a potato. No, I don't believe that he is trying to sabotage me, he just truly has no comprehension of my deep-seated issues with potato chips. You see, chips and I, we were BFFs. But alas, no longer. Husband looks at me like I am crazy when I tell him to put the bag out of my sight, until finally I ask him, "Would you leave alcohol out in the open in front of an alcoholic?", and I see the light bulb go on. He sorta gets it. And the chips are moved. One step at a time, my friends. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Well its been about 2 1/2 months since surgery. All is well. I run 2 miles everyday, no longer drink alcohol, only water, no coffee, etc. I feel great I have lost a total of 80lbs. and counting. I have only had one fill of 3cc's. I have found that eating with this restriction can and is difficult. I have spit up food on about 6 occasions. It seems to mee that I need to leave off that one last bite, before it throws me over the edge. Question, is that PBing. I am scheduled for another fill on the 15th of June, I do not think I will ask for anymore. I am loosing quit rapidly, and do not suffer from hunger. Either way I love this band, and most of all, I love how I feel. I am working out like I used to. No more excuses. I will say that the band is only 1/3 of what I am doing. It is only a tool. The rest is will power, exercise, and dedication. I have gone from a 52" waist to a 42". I will reach my goal weight in the next few months. Best thing I did was deciding to be proud of my decision. I have never lied or hidden what I have done.

Ohhhhhhh this was a bad weekend. Bridal shower and bachelorette party. So many good foods and gah a lot of alcohol. I knew it was going to cause a gain. I already had my game plan set for Monday on how to get back on track. This weekend has been so out of the norm since surgery and I feel miserable. Bloated. Water retention. Dehydrated. (In between festivities water was all I drank) Thank goodness I don't do that stuff every weekend. I'm just not cut out for it any more. I'm actually excited to go back to my normal way of eating.

I'm not! Alcohol wont make or break the evening for me so I will just forgo it this time.

Yup, my doc said one glass of non carbonated alcoholic beverage is fine per day....so one before midnight and one after

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.

Mostly what I eat is lean meats and fruits/veggies. That fills me up without needing to add in a lot of filler foods like bread, rice or potatoes. (and no, this is not even remotely low carb) Notice that "mostly". Because it's OK to have some of the other stuff; just watch the calorie & nutrient intake to make sure you're giving your body what it needs. It's OK to have a bite or two of dessert once in awhile, or an alcoholic drink... it's just a matter of planning to incorporate it and not making those sorts of things a big portion of your daily diet.

I'm your gal on this one!!! I had my surgery done in Germany (I live in Hawaii) while on a year long trip! After the surgery I took the train back to Amsterdam for 3 weeks, then started traveling FULL TIME for the next 4 months! And my loss was steady and good. It wasn't always easy because I couldn't find a lot of things in Europe that we have here and sometimes my energy level would wain. But I would recommend packing some Protein liquid shots and mixing that with Water or juice and some Protein powder and Protein Bars so you be sure and get your protein in. There is always yogurt in Europe so that worked for me for Breakfast (and the upside is you won't be interested in the pastries after your surgery). Italy was a tough one, so I always found a place that had minestrone soup; I think I was the only tourist there that had no Pasta, pizza or wine! But the gelato is divine. The toughest part will that you will be eating very little and cannot take the leftovers with you usually; and so many of the restaurants are locally owned and they seem so hurt when you don't eat! I would suggest a little flexible cooler and put things that you know you can eat in it for the plane. For me, I always had to have some saltine crackers or pretzel thins to help keep my stomach settled. I never worried about calories while traveling; it was all about protein and what my tummy could tolerate. Just eat slowly and forget about the alcohol for now; it probably won't taste good anyway. I am chronically A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF A SLEEVER on my Sunday blog, which is sort of a travel / weight loss blog; you might want to take a look at the link below and look at months Nov -Feb and you will see I was in many different countries and I made it work! I am now 10 lbs from goal..... Good luck; and you'll do just fine!

Alcohol is not supposed to be consumed for several months out. One guy said he got ulcers from alcohol. https://www.google.com/amp/guidedoc.com/8-foods-to-avoid-post-bariatric-surgery-diet/amp Tie Hill Samsung S6+

I am using the Pure Protein chocolate Peanut Butter right now, and they are ok, sometimes I will spread a little almond or peanut butter on them. But I really want to try the Quest ones I keep reading about, they don't have as many net carbs or sugar alcohol. I just don't know which flavor I want to order.

Hey Everyone! I made it back safe and sound without any trouble - thanks for all your information and well wishes - I appreciate them! The surgery went well and I only had what I would consider the normal amount of discomfort after surgery. I did have a few minutes of remorse in the recovery room and the day after surgery when I was still feeling a bit under the weather but I think it's gone now. Still sore of course around my port area but my appetite is returning and I actually felt hungry today. I was hoping it would stay away a little longer so the 4 weeks of dietary restriction would go a little faster but, oh well - I'll just have to manage! Lucky to have no shoulder pain, but oh yeah, lots of gas! The only thing I could complain about was their alcohol swabs, and that's pretty minor but in the cardiologist's office the girl took a cotton ball out of a glass jar full of cotton balls and alcohol and I noticed the alcohol was cloudy....? The other time was in the hospital when they took out my IV. She put a cotton ball dampened with alcohol on my hand and taped it down. I kept smelling something sour and even asked my friend if she smelled something like yogurt in the room. I thought maybe my clothes stunk from the suitcase because I had just showered and changed them a little earlier. When I took the tape and cotton ball off my hand the smell got really strong and when I put it to my nose I almost puked! What on earth can grow in alcohol to make it sour - and why aren't we dying from infections? I figure they must put something in their mix because I didn't get any infection at all. Really weird! Telly - I think it's a requirement to be hot to work in Dr. Rumbaut's office. They all had it going on didn't they - and how beautiful is Elsa? Did she have the picture of the SUPER HOT guy in the frame on her desk when you were there? She said he's just some random guy but that she's using him for postive imagery! Have you heard anything out of Amy? I was wondering how she was doing but haven't had time to check around here for her. Thanks again everyone! It's nice to have this over with and I'm anxious to get on with the day to day life of a lapbander! I'll check in soon.

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 still eat out, Usually at least once a week with friends or family. I can find something to eat on just about every menu ( i usually look at the kids menu but at most places everything on the kids menu if fried or pasta). I always come home with a lot of leftovers. Only thing i miss is going out for drinks, but my surgeon recommends no alcohol for 1 year.

First, I want to thank everyone for your replies and support. It means SO much to me. I am generally not a weepy person - as a professor and counselor I've learned to keep pretty tight control of my emotions. Yesterday, however, I was crying at the drop of a hat! All day long. Even until I went to bed. Every time I would get a new response here in my email, I started all over again. What most people would not understand (except you guys!) is that the appointment itself was shocking and a disappointment, and I left feeling defeated - in ways I never would have imagined. I really felt like I got shafted yesterday. Not only with what I expressed earlier regarding the weight loss and Crohn's, but I went in expecting to be setup to see the nutritionist to start the supervised weight loss (ie. as required by insurance), to talk with someone about insurance and how much the total would be, etc. Instead, he seemed to just be going through the motions without any real plans to see me - just shuffled me out the door. To respond to everyone's questions/comments. The center IS one of the Center's of Excellence. My insurance company requires it - so they do have the full team of nutritionists, psychologists, etc. My insurance requires three months of supervision by one of the centers, as well. The doctor did not require the weight loss specific of me - the nurses told me before I ever saw him - he requires everyone to have a BMI below 55 before he will operate. The diet they gave me - their pre-op diet, IS a low-carb/high-Protein diet - unfortunately, many of the foods they are telling me to eat on it are foods I cannot eat due to my blood, for example. As for the surgery - I told them I was interested in the Sleeve. Although it is irreversible, which makes me more nervous, I did my research. Research says that it is better for patients with a higher weight, it is better for patients with Crohn's and Anemia (due to absorption issues, I am guessing), etc. Although some of the stats say RNY has a higher overall weight loss, the sleeve seemed a better option due to my own health issues - which I took into consideration before ever meeting with the doctor. In regards to the green stuff + blood thinners: It's not the blood thinners with which the green stuff is incompatible with, it's blood in general. Whenever you have blood clotting issues, you are suppose to eat a VERY limited amount of green, leafy items. Ie. cabbage, lettuce, broccoli, etc. Last year, they said that included other 'green' veggies, as well, as I was eating a lot of asparagus (it was my go-to veggie when losing weight) - it was messing up my blood. The 'green stuff' thickens your blood, in the same way alcohol thins it (it's the reason you are not suppose to take aspirin for a hangover - they both thin your blood). I mean, I guess I COULD eat a salad and then drink some alcohol, but that might be defeating the purpose As far as what I do now - I cut out salt years ago. If I DO ever drink soda, it's diet - I drink Water almost exclusively. I eat minimal carbs - I am simply not a bread, rice, Pasta type person. I use a Fitbit and walk a set number per day. I have been using LoseIt! for a couple of years and log every bite of food I eat and every minute of exercise I do. I go to water aerobics several times a week. So, in a lot of ways, I feel that I was somewhat ahead of the game in preparing. I acknowledge I've had a lot of health problems. Oddly, none of them are weight related! I have perfect BP, low cholesterol, etc. I would like to KEEP it that way! I have already called a clinic I went to several years ago which said they did NOT see any signs of the Crohn's. I have asked for my records. This can be 'proof' for him, with or without additional testing. As well, I have looked at another center. As I said, there are three in my state. He's about an hour away. The second I have seen mixed reviews. The third is about three hours away, but my general MD likes it. I looked on their website, and they require a weight below 400 lbs. That I can manage. I THINK I got everyone's questions...! Again, I appreciate all of the support. I have never opened up about my weight to anyone, and although I have a beyond supportive family, they simply do not understand. My mom keeps saying she has struggled with weight all of her life, and this is true, but not to the same extent. To everyone on here - keep doing what you do for everyone else on here. Your words of encouragement, no matter how strong the support system of others, are so much more meaningful than you can ever know...

I have Tricare Prime and no there is no supervised diet. Tricare requirements is that you are 100 pounds over your ideal weight. Most of the time, the doctors office lumps everyone under one insurance requirement forgetting that each insurance has a different requirement. My doctor was trying to tell me that Tricare was requiring a drug and alcohol test, I called Tricare and found out that was not one of there requirements. Also I found out that my doctor accepts Tricare Prime none of the hospitals that he is affiliated with are in Tricare Network so that mean I can go but they may bill me the 15% cost. That is why I have insurance. I may have to find another doctor. I have all of my tests done even my labs. So I will see. Keep us posted.