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The past 10 days have been kinda rough for me. I stopped losing and had a bunch of water weight come on w/TOM. The truth is I wasn't sure if it was JUST water weight because I haven't been perfect. Still having issues of slacking off on exercise and letting empty calories creep back in. And, yes, I do not have great restriction right now. I already have my 3rd fill scheduled for Monday. But, if I want to keep losing (regardless of where I am w/fills), I need to dig deep and do what I can to facilitate the weightloss. With the very limited experience I have w/the band so far, I would say that the band is giving me 1 pound of weightloss per week if I just minimally work it. But, if I want 2+ pounds per week, I need to minimize those pesky empty calories and maximize my exercise. So, then comes the challenge of what goals to make for myself for changing my behavior. My favorite empty calories come in the form of wine and martinis! :tongue_smilie: I've been good about cutting way back, but its so easy to let one night/week turn into two nights if a friend calls and invites me out. And, when I've made goals for exercise like three times per week, its easy to not exercise on Monday cause you have the rest of the week to get those three times in. And, then its Thursday and you haven't exercised yet, but you never really decided when the week STARTS so do you just start over or exercise three days straight? Well, I finally had an epiphany of sorts. I really really want to lose 10 pounds per month. This is the pace that gets me excited because I can picture what weight I will be in March, April, etc... onto July for my birthday, and August when we go to Hawaii. I just think it would be a perfect amount to lose per month and a challenge, but not unattainable if I put the work in. So, I've made a new goal for myself and that is that I simply do not drink any alcohol until I've lost my 10 pounds for the month and I exercise EVERY day so there is no debate over whether this is an exercise day or not. I need to stop the mind games! So total abstinence and total adherence until I meet my goal for the month is the best I think. And, once I reach goal, I can use the same technique, but make it that I do not drink or skip a day of exercise unless I am at or below my goal weight on that day. Do you think this will finally keep me in line??? :smile: Well, so far I haven't had any drinks since my friend's birthday party last Friday and I've exercised every day since Monday. And, yesterday I got so busy during the day that I realized at 9:30pm that I had not exercised yet. And, guess what I did??? Yes, I actually hopped on the treadmill and walked for 30 minutes while watching TV instead of just laying on the couch. Oh yeah, I am proud of myself! I am gonna stick to this!!! :thumbup:

I am terrified I am going to be the one this doesn't work for - but everyone has felt that at some point so I am trying to calm down. A lot of pretty dreadful things have happened to me in the last 18 months (2 miscarriages, my granny died, my mother had been suffering from alcoholism & took her own life a few months ago, my sister is so ill from anorexia....shall i go on!!??) and I am putting my trust in this band in a higher power (i am not a believer in a god so i'm not sure what higher power!) and in a way, trusting the people on this forum, because basically i don't trust myself anymore - I don't seem to know up from down and I think I have reached a point where I have to let go, and trust that so many other people have gotten thru this operation and are very happy with their descision. I am kind of shattered by all these events, and when I read someone saying on the Spotlight Forum, that they "suffered" from Analysis Paralysis - I thought That's ME!! - so thru this difficult time, I am determined to come out of it, once and for all, with body and brain intact, breaking the circle of repetitive behaviour and actually changing my life! My favourite quote - Definition of Insanity: doing the same things over and over and expecting things to turn out differently. This maybe unknown territory for loads of us but I am shocked at how raw this trusting of other people feels. Sorry for all this stuff from inside my brain! Aaaargghhh - the control freak letting go is not a pretty sight....

0. Type of Surgery? RNY 1. How long have you been in maintenance mode? 20 months 2. What's your current height and weight? 5' 7", 150 lbs 3. How many calories do you eat daily (on average) to maintain your weight? around 1500 4. What kind of focus do you put on Protein -- number of grams or anything else you want to say? around 65 grams of protein per day derived from meals. 5. What kind of focus do you put on carbs - number of grams or anything else you want to say? I avoid like a plague processed sugar (including sugars with calories, such as honey. The exception being sugars found in fruits and milk.) Instead I use artificial sweeteners (Splenda), artificial sweeteners (Stevia and sugar alcohol) and the sugars found in fruits and milk. I try and limit my complex carbs (bread, Pasta etc.) to about one meal a day. 6. What other nutritional tips / tricks are working for you that help you maintain? I rely on fats to avoid hunger. As a result I eat real butter, whole milk and cream, meat other than lean meat. [in the weight loss phase my stomach was cut away and fats caused immediate dumping but after the first year my intestines took up the function of processing fats and I was able to incorporate it into my diet again.] 7. Which foods, if any, do you avoid altogether? Milk shakes, ice cream, any foods with more than 5 grams of processed sugar per serving. 8. What exercise regimen (exercise types and frequency) do you follow? I rely on normal physical activity (manual labor). For example last year I moved 100,000 pounds of gravel by hand and 50,000 pounds of concrete landscaping blocks. 9. What role, if any, has counseling or therapy played in your WLS success? None 10. What advice would you offer WLS patients to help them be successful? The approach to succeed in the weight loss phase is different than the maintenance phase. They need to adapt to the transition or if they follow the same rules, they may begin to put the weight back on.

Miper - I'm not sure the objective is to feel full, so much as it should be to feel not hungry. If you can eat your meal and stop before feeling full, then that's great! Don't be in a big hurry to get cinched down tight. That can cause serious problems in the long run. Some of you may have already read this but I'll post it again for those who haven't. <TT>How to Tell When You Are Perfectly Adjusted 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 (1) 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 (1) 3 ounces – the size of a deck of cards b. Vegetables (1) ½ cup – the size of your fist c. Starch (1) If you eat the protein and the vegetables first you don’t need much (2) 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 (1) Use a teaspoon of real butter instead of a tablespoon of diet margarine (2) 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 </TT> <TT>B. You may need a behavior adjustment</TT> <TT>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</TT> <TT></TT> <TT>C. You may need an activity adjustment</TT> <TT>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</TT> <TT></TT> <TT>D. You may need an attitude adjustment</TT> <TT>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 (1) Obsess about something else b. Perfectionism (1) 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?</TT> <TT></TT> <TT>E. You may need a band adjustment</TT> <TT>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.</TT> <TT></TT> <TT>F. You may need your band loosened</TT> <TT>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 a. Oranges, lemons, tomatoes, peppers (6) Peppermint a. Baking soda toothpaste (7) 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 (1) 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 4. See your health care provider immediately (or call 911) if a. You have a squeezing, tightness or heaviness in your chest, especially if the discomfort spreads to your shoulder, arm or jaw or is accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, irregular or fast heartbeat or nausea. These could be symptoms of a heart attack. b. If your symptoms are triggered by exercise. c. If your pain localizes to your right side, especially if you also have nausea or fever d. If you throw up vomit that looks like black sand or coffee grounds. Or if your stool is black, deep red or looks like it has tar in it. These are symptoms of bleeding and need immediate attention.</TT> <TT>(Note: Pepto-Bismol or other medications with bismuth will turn your stool black. Iron supplements can also make the stool tarry.) e. If your pain is severe</TT>

What you have written in this post about the individual looking at ways to "bend" the system (in this case, the recommended diet) can also be said about other addictions as well. I spent years working as an addictions counselor for a county drug court program, and it was amazing to witness the lengths some people will go to try to manipulate the "system" (in this case the treatment center and the court) to bend the rules to accommodate them. I could also predict, virtually from week 1 who would successfully complete the treatment program. I once had a client come to my office late on a Friday afternoon to request a treatment compliance letter for court on the following Monday morning. If he did not have the letter, he was going to go to jail. I asked my client how long had he been aware that he would need this letter, and he said for several weeks. My reply was that I could have the letter for him on Monday afternoon...and that his lack of planning did not constitute my emergency. It was a common treatment issue for a "population" dealing with addictions...manipulate the system instead of changing choices and behaviors. Many of us had/have an addiction to food...emotional eating to cope with problems, stress, or boredom. And I agree, I have been amazed by the threads I have read that discuss which alcoholic drinks you can have shortly after surgery...how many calories, and so on. Also posts discussing ways to continue to have the carbs many have gained weight on, instead of recognizing that their relationship and understanding about food and the emotions which are associated with it need to change, if they want to have a successful and lasting weight loss journey. Alright, I do see a valid reason for sugar free throat drops for sore throats or coughing...but sugar free chocolate candies? I had to give up chocolate if I wanted to even hope to loose weight...and agree that if I continued to believe that it was alright to have chocolate as before, I would only be setting myself up to fail with weight loss. An occasional piece of chocolate is believed to be healthy...but if you have an "addictive" personality, one piece is too many and a hundred is not enough. There will be a number of others here on the forum who will disagree with my beliefs about the process of change as necessary for success, and manipulative behaviors as a predictor of failure, but success or failure is directly related to changing our choices and our behavior. What we were doing before with failed diets did not work...and to expect a different outcome if our approach to solving the problem does not change is not realistic. This quote "Insanity is repeating the same mistakes and expecting different results" appears in the Basic Text of Narcotics Anonymous. I'm not implying that we are drug addicts, only that some of the same behaviors packed on the pounds...and change in beliefs and behaviors is the only way to success with loosing weight. IMHO...your mileage may vary. Best wishes to all of us for success...

I just turned 52 and I still haven't grown up. I have also been kicked in the head several times by life as most of us had and as you, didn't care how I looked. At least that's what I've told myself. I'm now 13 months post op and I'm in a much better place physically and mentally but the battle is still being fought. I think now it's time to embrace the battle itself and the process and table any per-conceived notions of a "destination". I've walked away from alcohol and tobacco a few years before deciding to go on the path I'm on now. I also struggle with the stress/boredom/habitual eating monsters. What I try to do now is acknowledge these things and try my best to see them as they come and hopefully do something that moves me in a healthier direction. Life will continue to kick us but this is when we can decide what we're going to do about it. Remember, our kids are watching us... and my hope is they get strength and love from watching us get back up. I hope your wife improves her health, as do you. Much love, -D After thinking about my reply for the last couple days.... I did not mean to come off as cold or indifferent so I apologize if that's how my typed words came across. Regardless of what I or anyone else says, you are a bada$$ for doing what you are doing. Getting healthy for your self and your family shows how much of a rock star you really are.

Pre-op can be so stressful, and seemingly have no end, especially when you have to take care for and cook for everyone else. You are almost there and are holding strong. I also love to cook and enjoy entertaining and I can honestly say that though my choices have changed I still enjoy food as I used to. Much less of it, and better choices, but instead of carb-heavy meals, I focus on making the best and tastiest Proteins I can. I experiment with veggies and have had no issues going out to eat. Wine is unfortunately another story, and will have to be a choice you make for yourself. Most surgeons will say it is ok to drink after a suitable period of time, so you have time to heal. I have had a glass or two of wine in the past year, but I limit myself. Aside from the empty calories, increased potential to make bad food choices if I'm drinking and the fact that the alcohol hits me harder now, I dont' want to put anything in my body that will slow down my weight loss. My understanding is that while alcohol is in my system, my body won't burn fat, it will burn the alcohol first. I want to ride this wave of losing as long as possible, so I limit my alcohol consumption. It's a personal choice. Not eating and drinking at the same time is for a few reasons. It allows the food are you are taking in to digest slower, keeping you fuller longer. Also, if you eat and drink at the same time, you will have less "room" for food when you do eat. It gets easier and becomes second nature as time goes by. I think a passion for food gives you a leg up, you are more inclined to experiment and make foods that fit your lifestyle. Best of luck to you!!

I just turned 52 and I still haven't grown up. I have also been kicked in the head several times by life as most of us had and as you, didn't care how I looked. At least that's what I've told myself. I'm now 13 months post op and I'm in a much better place physically and mentally but the battle is still being fought. I think now it's time to embrace the battle itself and the process and table any per-conceived notions of a "destination". I've walked away from alcohol and tobacco a few years before deciding to go on the path I'm on now. I also struggle with the stress/boredom/habitual eating monsters. What I try to do now is acknowledge these things and try my best to see them as they come and hopefully do something that moves me in a healthier direction. Life will continue to kick us but this is when we can decide what we're going to do about it. Remember, our kids are watching us... and my hope is they get strength and love from watching us get back up. I hope your wife improves her health, as do you. Much love, -D

I am curious about sugar free products such as jellies jams and desserts for diabetics, and what it means when It lists sugar alcohol levels does that raise your sugar? for a lapband patient would those things be okay as a treat in small amounts?

Ice tea unsweetened with a gang load of lemon or lime. I have never liked alcohol so it's same ol' same ol' to me when I go to happy hour with a client and/or co-worker.

Hello, Good for you. I am going there to an all inclusive as well and there is talks of New Orleans style BBQ and bottles of alcohol daily. I have never really been big on drinking. I do love dessert. However, I have been struggling to keep food down now and I am 3 months out as of yesterday. I have to get an upper and lower go to see why I'm having difficulty. Back to the vacation though, my main concern are my big sagging thighs. I not sure I want to prance around on the beach like this. And I really am looking forward to relaxing on the beach daily.

I just got back from a week away on vacation, my first vacation since having the VSG. We stayed at a beautiful all-inclusive resort in the Dominican Republic. And like being on a cruise, we were always surrounded by free food and drink. There's a lot I didn't do "right". I never made it to the gym (though I did swim every day and went kayaking once). I did indulge in alcohol, though never to a sloppy excess. And I did visit the dessert buffet on more than one occasion. But I also made an effort to emphasize Protein, and stop when full, and separate eating and drinking. I was constantly struck by how little I eat now -- just a few bites and I was full. I found myself rearranging the food on my plate to make it look like I'd eaten more than I had. Honestly, there was a little regret that I couldn't "enjoy" the meal like I used to: 2-4 courses with 2-4 drinks. Instead it was a taste of this and that and a sip of wine at the end. But beyond that disappointment there was amazement that I could now just walk away from the food still on my plate, that I could skip dessert or an appetizer and not really care. I even dropped a pound or two while I was away. For example, I knew that if I had something like french toast I wouldn't have room for any protein, so I didn't bother with the french toast or at least with no more than a small bite. And after all the dire warnings it was somewhat comforting to find that neither my susceptibility or hankering for alcohol had increased noticeably. But best of all I felt so much less self-conscious poolside. I've passed my half-way point with "just" 40-50 lbs to go, and I'm rediscovering favorite old clothes I'd put away.

You can search my posts and comments for lotsa info, support, and hostility on this subject. While many doctors have cited health benefits from moderate alcohol consumption, I don't think it has any real medical value. That said, I find it quite enjoyable. Many programs say: - Never drink - Wait a year - Wait 6 months - Wait 3 months - Wait 6 weeks - Nothing on the subject My surgeon recommended the sleeve (over RNY) for patients who plan to drink. The reason is simple - once you heal (6 weeks), you basically have a normal metabolism - except your stomach is puny. RNY patients have more plumbing rerouting and thus have a greater chance of developing ulcers, although many RNY patients on this forum report drinking alcohol with no complication. So, if you drink after VSG, you must follow all the same rules you SHOULD have followed all along: - Don't drink to drunkeness and/or operate machinery. - Don't ignore the potentially high calories in some alcoholic beverages (sweet drinks, most beers, etc). - If you find yourself drinking everyday, watch out! I would add, if you were a food addict before your VSG, you may be at risk for developing other addictions - including alcohol. That said, I suspect soda, candy, or chips would be a more slippery slope for a former food addict! As long as you account for your calories, and meet you Water & Protein goals, it's no different than eating whole wheat bread, oatmeal, or sweet potatoes... I am 2 pounds away from goal and trying to develop more of a maintenance plan. Although I drank most of my life, I seldom drank during the week. My current thinking is to allow myself a limited number of Yellow and Green days. Basically, I plan to count my calories and track my steps about 16 days a month. On these days, my calorie intake is limited to 1,000 a 1,200 with no alcohol (Red Days). I will allow myself 12 Yellow Days a month. On these days, I will allow moderate alcohol consumption, but still track calories and activity. I will limit my calories to 8 times my target weight (about 1,500). Finally, I will allow myself a couple of Green Days a month where I won't count calories at all. So far this seems to be working well, stay tuned...

My doctor also recommended not drinking anymore, weight loss patients have been known to become dependent upon alcohol because it goes through our system fast. Meaning it hits us fast and then we sometimes feel like we sober up and go again. Which in turn can really harm the body. That being said I am almost four years out and drink socially. I drank almost an entire bottle of wine last night! The biggest thing is make sure you are getting your nutrients first before alcohol. Also start with liquor beer is carbonated and fills you up (not fun). Keep in mind it will hit you fast!!!!!

Cool! Cordial here is synonymous with sticky sweet sugary alcoholic drink. Good times, right? I figured it was something lost in translation.

I started my wls journey in June. Completed everything the end of August. Then the wait began. I did awesome in Sept----quit alcohol, started eating only 1 meal a day, had a positive attitude---lost 15 lbs and felt like I could conquer the world with my new vsg sleeve. My stupid insurance didn't approve me till Oct 23---yesterday. Well, being the flawed human I am, I lost it the end of Sept with all the stress of waiting and started back to my old bad habits---eating everything and anything, drinking alcohol, etc. Now I'm up 12 of those 15 lbs lost, so embarrassed of my self and the wls place gave me a choice of surgery dates. I was hoping for a few weeks to get mentally/physically prepared. Not going to happen. They have a date of Nov 6 available with the pre-op appt on Nov 1. That's next week. If I don't take it, (I booked it but am sorry I did), I will have to wait till the beginning of Dec. I feel like it would be better for me mentally to wait the extra month---my dh thinks I'm just making excuses and thinks I should go ahead with it. I really could use your input and throughs. Am I just making excuses, putting it off and being afraid??? I would value your opinion and thoughts a lot.

I don't know you so I don't know about the alcoholic thing, but please keep in mind if you're drinking every night then to excess (because you feel crappy the next day) every Friday night, you are drinking a lot of alcohol. Unfortunately for us, alcoholism does rise in people who have WLS of any sort. The reason being is, many people simply trade their food addiction for a new addiction. Just be very careful.

No. The purpose is to shrink your liver and make surgery safer. Alcohol is not allowed during this phase.I haven't had wine in almost a month now, since I got approved for surgery lol...figured it would be one thing I would have to stop sooner or later, so did it lol Sent from my SM-G900V using the BariatricPal App

another question, can you drink any kind of alcohol (just occassional) on the pre-op liquid diet?

No. The purpose is to shrink your liver and make surgery safer. Alcohol is not allowed during this phase.

My surgeon / his team have never said, "No alcohol after WLS." Their program, however, includes information about the possibility of WLS patients developing cross addictions post-op. I see a tendency on WLS boards for participants to interpret "possibilities" as "probabilities" or, worse, "100% likelihoods." This applies to discussions about cross-addictions, post-op divorces, post-op complications, and weight loss success/failure predictions. My take on the "alcohol post-op" debate is that we should be observant / mindful about how alcohol affects us. We all recognize that alcohol may (or may not) have negative effects on our health post-op, including: alcoholism, liver damage, ulcers, GERD, lowering of inhibitions against eating, etc. If you wish to avoid any possibility of any kind of damage from alcohol use, then you can decide not to drink. For myself, I've chosen instead the mindful / observant route. Since Month 6 I've been drinking wine. I drink no more than one 5-6 ounce glass of wine per day and no more than 7 glasses a week, which keeps me in the "social drinker" category -- in which there are no perceived risks. I really enjoy wine, especially with food, but also don't want to wash down my meals with liquids. So I stretch out my wine over a couple of hours before, during and after dinner. Honestly, most nights I don't even finish the glass. And now at 18 months post-op, I'm happily and easily maintaining my 100-pound weight loss at 135 pounds. That's just one woman's story. Things could change for me, e.g., GERD could get worse, I'd start gaining weight, I could start drinking more, in which case I would have to re-evaluate the upside/downside of my alcohol intake. I just see this as one small aspect of living in Wearing Big Person Panties World.

I am very discouraged by the reactions I am getting from family and friends. I have been turned down by Kaiser, switched to Blue Cross at open enrollment only to find it is excluded by my policy, and was getting ready to pay out of pocket here in Portland. Then I came across Dr. Roberto Rumbaut of the Obsesity Surgery Center of Monterrey. After researching his practice and the hospital in Monterrey, Mexico where he practices, I opted to go forward. Some of my friends are thrilled for me, but my daughter and sister say I can't change, that it is too drastic, that it is Mexico for heaven sakes. I know I can do this. 12 years ago I made a dramatic lifestyle change when I admitted to be alcoholic and stopped drinking. Never looked back. Now I want to do something else for my health and well being. I would love some words of encouragement, as well as any comments from Dr. Rumbaut's patients. Thanks. Donna Scheduled for banding 5/9/07

nope. in fact, i don't think alcohol and sugary soft drinks have been a problem for anyone but you...

This is something that I've found out for myself. Nobody made me eat the vast amounts of food I ate, I did it all myself. I am a compulsive overeater and even with WLS I will still be a compulsive overeater. The WLS has given me a great head start in the right direction but, if I don't control my compulsion I will be back to where I started before my WLS. That is why I sought help with Overeaters Anonymous (OA). It is modeled after the 12 step program of Alcoholics Anonymous. I go to meetings, call my sponsor everyday and most important I work the steps. I have said this in the past, there are many on here who can maintain the weight loss by themselves, I unfortunately am not one of them. I will never be able to eat like a normal person. If you feel that you need help, look for it and embrace it. I am only nine months out from my WLS, I don't consider myself a weight loss success just yet. I hope that I can maintain long term and stay healthy for the rest of my life.

The capacity of the stomach will increase a little after the first year, but not by much unless you are constantly intentionally overstuffing it. Someone above said they increased to about 1.5 cups. Many people who regained were convinced their stomach had stretched out, but those who had it checked were still as restricted as expected. Most people who I've seen report that they regained and are seeking support to get back on track say that over time they fell into bad habits and started grazing/emotional eating/eating poor/junk/slider foods. At 6 weeks post op I reckon I could easily consume 3000 calories or more a day if I was eating poor quality/slider foods frequently and drinking alcohol and other liquid calories. People who start drinking with their meals will find they can eat a lot more (even though it may cause some indigestion or toileting issues). Get advice and support from a nutritionist. Develop good eating habits in your post sleeve honeymoon period and work to build a strong metabolism with a workable long term diet that will remain suitable and sustainable and keep you maintaining your weight loss beyond 2 years post sleeve. Creekimp63 has posted in a couple of recent replies that her support team recommend increasing to a maintainable 1200 calories (incorporating healthy carbohydrates while still meeting protein targets) as soon as possible post sleeve, to avoid damaging your metabolism (when it wakes up post honeymoon period) with very low calorie diet and triggering diet fatigue and the metabolic/hormonal push to regain weight that so many of us already suffered after years of failed dieting and regain. And get help now for any psychological issues that were contributing to your previous weight gain and any bad eating habits, as you need to deal with stress and mental issues without resorting to food, or progressing to other damaging behaviors like alcohol and drug abuse (some people with unresolved issues move on to other dangerous addictions once surgery prevents using food to manage/avoid stressors) We are all here to support each other, and we all want everyone to succeed! Too many of us have suffered too many years from obesity.