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Hi smithpy--so sorry you are struggling. Those major life stressors can (and do) derail us big time. BUT, you are NOT IN DENIAL of the reasons for your weight gain, and that is something to pat yourself on the back for!!! You are taking ACTION!!!You have gotten great words of wisdom here so far from the above posters (as we all always do!). Please remember too, though, that you first have to get your responses to all the STRESS in your life under control before you can recommit to your WLS healthy eating habits and lifestyle. (You know-- Are you paying attention to how important it is to be GOOD TO YOURSELF EVERY DAY? Moms tend to put ourselves last, and that usually means zero time for US. Do you meditate? Do you do deep breathing? Do you take a fun short-term class/workshop? Do you meet a friend? Do find a self-help book of interest? Do you enjoy nature? Do you sing a motivational song, even if you can't sing? Do you journal? Do you buy some dumb little special thing for yourself once a week? Can you have just 4 hours a week that can be JUST YOU time that someone cares for the kids? etc etc? ). Only you know the answer to this, and of course it is not expected that you respond in any way to this here. Please do not take offense--you mentioned alcohol, and I'm sure you are aware of the potential of transfer addictions with WLS patients. Just wanted to offer a caution. You don't say how old your kid(s) are, but get them on the bandwagon with you, and create some FUN stuff to do together--both in healthy meal prep AND with fun exercise activity. Don't go this alone. This is a TEMPORARY setback, and you will clean up your habits and move on to your healthy lifestyle again! You go girl. . .

Yep, it's a travesty. I have to wait another 7 months before VSG:( My doc has to have surgery, at this point it is unclear if he will even be able to operate at all, although I am not sure what it is that happened to him exactly either. The thing is, I finally came to a decision about a doc. I've looked for several months and found "the one." It took me awhile to get to this mental place to be surgery ready, but I finally am, and now I have to wait 7 months. I know, I know, things could be worse but I am just a bit bummed as the post says. I am not looking forward to carry around 80 pounds of excess weight for another 7 months. Ba hum bug. So, I am trying to see how I can be positive and productive about this. I thought that maybe I could use this time to lose some weight since I have been worried about how losing weight with VSG potentially quickly might result in excess skin. But another part of me like "well, heck, if I could'a did that, I would'a done did that." I have a real issue with food especially since changing vices (alcohol to food). Food been my crutch, feeling out of control with it and having little confidence that I can lose any weight at all. Trying not to gain, that's more of a reasonable goal it seems, but feel pretty powerless. Negative Nancy in here. Any words of wisdom out there?

Okay, so this is an update on me in a nutshell… I had taken a short break from college, but now I am going back. I had moved back to Corpus for about 3 months with a sorority sister, but she ended up being a, well, a bitch and because my name wasn’t on the lease, and I stuck to my responsibilities instead of partying all the time, she kicked me out the day after I paid rent on grounds that were completely false, however I don’t have a leg to stand on in them. I have a boyfriend that Ive been dating for about 2 months that I have had hell with, however he and I are both working on our lives right now. I am back in my hometown trying to get a full-time job and goto school as well as get back in the Theatre. He is in rehab for alcoholism. I asked him to go. He is a great guy, but I cant be with someone that I cant trust with money. Atleast if he bought crap we would have something to show for it. I love him so much, and he is freakishly in love with me, but unless he straightens up his act, I can not be with him. Im diagnosed as pre-bipolar or bipolarish and Im taking trazadone and abilify to help manage that. Im not happy about being home, but its better than being homeless in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Corpus Christi</st1:place></st1:City>. I actually have a positive outlook right now, which is rare as many of you may know. Im in debt up to my ears, but with the right job I can fix that in a few months. I need a new car and new cellphone, but since I lived a homeless life in Corpus (thanks to my wonderful roomie), and lived very poor because my boyfriend was a bartender/busboy and I was a hostess at a restaurant, we couldn’t afford much after helping our friend that we were staying with out with rent. Ive never lived that way before, it really opened my eyes. Ive almost completely quit drinking myself btw. I finally saw how much money I was wasting just tipping the bartender for free drinks! I still enjoy a couple of drinks every now and then, but as for the every night party I would rather not. As for events coming up……..Im going to school to get my paralegal certificate and Im going to Substitute teach at the schools here until I get a fulltime job. Well that’s my update……….Im open to questions, I know it is kind of brief for my writing lol!

Actually opiates are sedating, but they also have an impact on the dopamine system, so they have stimulant qualities as well. A lot of people get energy from opiates, especially depressed people. Actually, some opiates have been used as anti-depressants. They are not like alcohol:downers because the primary neurotransmitter targeted (GABA) is different, but opiates can cause sedation, euphoria and other effects but differently than alcohol or benzodiazepines. I mean, I guess people call them downers sometimes, but it isn't very scientific. It is possibly to get withdrawal symptoms after 2-3 weeks of continuous use. Depression can rebound after stopping opiates. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App Well they are CNS depressants. They do have the psychotropic effects you describe through the dopamine channels, but "uppers" vs "downers" usually refer to effects on the central nervous system. We don't disagree on their effects, just the terminology of uppers/downers. Yes the brain chemistry is different than with alcohol and benzodiazepines. Anyhow, to the OP definitely talk to your doctor. You really shouldn't need the narcotic pain relief at this point, there are alternatives that don't have the same potential for problems.

I was told that carbonation can stretch your pouch, so steer clear. I have a daily alcoholic beverage with soda and an occassional beer and have had no issues. It has slowed weight loss down I am sure (but so has not working out)

Well, I don't know which kind of alcoholic beverages we're talking about here, but I love my liquor.

Well, it's my opinion that it's unreasonable to ban everything enjoyable from one's life unless it's absolutely necessary. They say no carbonation then I say don't do it. But, no one is saying "no alcohol". And, if your dr is saying "no alcohol".....I'd dig a little deeper for the reasons. If it's life threatening to YOUR medical situation then of course---abstaining is key. But, if it's the calorie content then if you know that and choose to imbide, you have the information you need to make a decision. Like everything else---moderation is the key. I truly believe that each one of us has to figure out a way to make this work for our life. For me.....I love gin and tonics. Carbonation! So, I had to give them up and have made peace with that. I'm trying to enjoy gin martinis instead. Not straight up! Extra lime and extra ice. It's not so bad as long as it's a good quality gin. Thankfully, my husband has been a gin martini drinker for years and has mastered the blend. So, I didn't have to endure the misery of lousy gin!!! LOL!! Also, my husband and I belong to a wine club and take several wine trips a year. In fact, for his 50th B-day, we are going to Napa...can't wait to buy some new smaller clothes for that trip!!! For my husband, wine is an art form. He spends hours researching wines, exploring wine and food combinations and acquiring specific wines. Although I don't share his passion for the "legwork", I know that part of the enjoyment he gets from all of it is sharing it with his loved ones. That is a big part of our life. And, I get great joy out of all of it. Would I stop that? Absolutely not. I do not drink everyday except for when we are at the beach for 2 weeks every summer. So, I will find a way to do these things that makes sense for me. If I was told that alcohol would break my band---that might have given me some pause before I got banded. Not that I would not do it. But, I would have needed to really think about it in a whole new way. Getting our bands is about enjoying our lives. And, I say that each of us need to remember that and embrace those things that give us joy. Having said all that---I don't endorse getting totally trashed. Although I've been there, done that...LOL!!!! But, from experience---I know what could happen!!! Vomitting is not a good thing for our bands!!!! And, that morning after is not fun either. At my age....it's not even a "morning after"......it's the 2 days after!!!! LOL!!! Cheers!

Thanks for you input everyone! I decided against drinking a soda last night and I don't think I'll even try it for at least another couple of years, I'm fine with tea and will continue to drink that. I tried drinking alcohol, but have completely lost the taste for it - I only had a couple of sips of one two weeks ago and wasted my money, not a bad thing...I wasn't much of a drinker anyway, but when I was I was the life of the party and people miss that. So do I, but it's okay...I'm still good company, just not the happy drunk everybody grew to know, love and look forward to. LOL

Actually both Norco and Percocet are downers. The depress your central nervous system they don't stimulate it. Yes they can have the psychological effect of euphoria and decrease anxiety and depression just like alcohol or pot which are also CNS depressants/downers. Some depression is really common post op, especially in women because of hormone release (estrogen is stored in fat). But PLEASE DO check with your doctor. It's not likely withdrawal (as stated above) but you could be becoming psychologically dependent. Or it could be normal side effects of survey that you are medicating with the Norco, which is a step down the road to becoming psychologically dependent.

Actually opiates are sedating, but they also have an impact on the dopamine system, so they have stimulant qualities as well. A lot of people get energy from opiates, especially depressed people. Actually, some opiates have been used as anti-depressants. They are not like alcohol:downers because the primary neurotransmitter targeted (GABA) is different, but opiates can cause sedation, euphoria and other effects but differently than alcohol or benzodiazepines. I mean, I guess people call them downers sometimes, but it isn't very scientific. It is possibly to get withdrawal symptoms after 2-3 weeks of continuous use. Depression can rebound after stopping opiates. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Well i think you have to get a handle on whether there is any physiological basis for it or not, I know i certainly like a bit of alcohol and comfort food after a busy day at work. Thats a matter of willpower and sometimes counselling depending on your issues. We have all used food inappropriately in our lives. Lately though, ive had sugar and carb cravings that are insatiable and have many days where my entire food intake is caffeine and sugar. Ive been fighting it for months. But i guess ive had a traumatic year with cancer and its treatment and Im feeling horribly depressed despite getting the all clear, routine bloods have shown severe Iron depletion, zero ovary function (so im completely menopausal at the age of 44, thanks chemoradiation), thyroid insufficiency, and low serotonin levels. I feel lie crap, look like crap and am eating crap, sigh. But all i want is sugar sugar sugar, story of my life but never like this. So for me, i have a lot of willpower but i have to address these underlying issues. Likewise, you have to eat well, not be lacking things and identify the factors that set you off and kearn to reprogram yourself. I believe some can do this on their own, others need professional help.

I have Barretts as well, and a precancerous Barretts polyp to boot. RNY was the only viable option. Best thing I ever did. No more GERD at all. I will have another endo in a couple of months to check the status of things. For me, no sugar was a no brainer. I didn't want to risk dumping, and I just feel so much better without it. No great sacrifice there. Alcohol was also a no brainer, as is coffee and soda. I LOVED my coffee, but I am not going to do anything that will risk the anastomosis or cause damage to the pouch or esophagus. I am a GI nurse and I have seen first hand the amazing damage that alcohol can do the WLS tissues. It's pretty horrifying and for me, not a risk I'm willing to take. With a history of tissue changes (Barretts), I'm keeping it clean for the long haul. Best wishes to you.

In talking with clients I am constantly reminded of the dietary myths that circulate to leave people confused about weight management. Here I bust some of my favourite weight management myths. Myth 1: Don’t eat after 7pm (or 7:30pm or 8pm, etc) Our body doesn’t switch off at night. Our metabolism continues ticking over as our heart pumps blood, our lungs breathe, our muscle tissue repairs, etc. This happens all day and all night. In fact, we burn calories when we are sleeping, just as we do when we are awake. Our metabolism does not shut down at 7pm, so there is no reason to stop eating at any one particular time. It is important however not to leave all of our eating until the evening. We should fuel our body regularly throughout the day so that it can perform at its best. This is even more important following weight loss surgery, as you can no longer eat the size of meals you once did. Therefore, you can’t skip your meals during the day and expect to meet your nutritional needs at night. Regular meals throughout the day are also important to control your hunger. Being ravenous at the end of the day is another trigger for overeating late at night. Some people find rules that they should not eat after a particular time at night appealing, as this is when they tend to overeat. Overeating at night can act as a ‘reward’ for getting through the day, or as a way to relax and wind down. It may be habit as we watch TV or a movie. This is when night eating is problematic, as it is not eating for hunger. Do you eat for reasons other than hunger at night? What else could you do to relax? Could you sort through those photo albums that are overflowing, have a bubble bath or phone a friend you haven’t spoken to for sometime. What about a jigsaw puzzle, a crossword, scrapbooking, sketching or even an evening walk? The options are endless. Myth 2: There are good foods and bad foods Food is neither good or bad, it is what we do with it that counts. Of course, some foods are high in energy (calories/kilojoules) and have little nutrition, so these should be eaten in small amounts. However, food itself is morally neutral. We assign it the ‘good’ or ‘bad’ label, or define it as ‘allowed’ or ‘not allowed’. By labeling food in this way, we are then ‘good’ or ‘bad’ if we eat it. A better view of food is one where all food is morally neutral. You have permission to eat any foods you choose, you can choose eat those that are more nourishing, most of the time. I often say to clients that there are 21 meals in a week, if one or two are not perfect nutritionally, it is not a problem. If the balance is reversed however and only one or two are nutritious, then this is not going to help you achieve good health. Some foods that provide little nutrition may provide much enjoyment, so may play a very valuable role in your diet in other ways. You can and should include foods that give you pleasure, it is managing the amounts of these foods that are important in achieving good health. Myth 3: Carbs are fattening Nothing is fattening in isolation. Anything can be fattening if you eat too much of it. Food is made up of combinations of carbohydrate, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals, fibre and water. Carbohydrate, protein and fat provide energy, the other nutrients do not. If we look at the nutrients that provide us with energy in their most simple form: • Carbohydrate contains 4 calories per gram • Protein contains 4 calories per gram • Fat contains 9 calories per gram. Whilst not a food, alcohol contains 7 calories per gram As you can see, carbohydrate itself is quite low in calories. So why does carbohydrate have such a bad reputation? The problem with carbohydrate containing foods is the way we have come to serve and eat them. We heap rice, pasta and noodles on our plates, leaving very little room for protein foods but more importantly, vegetables and salads. Low glycemic index, carbohydrate-containing foods can be quite nutritious and when eaten regularly, in appropriate amounts, help us manage our hunger through the day. We just need to look at how we serve them. For example, rather than serving spaghetti bolognaise as a plate or bowl of pasta topped with a little meat sauce, serve equal amounts of meat sauce and pasta on half the plate with a side salad on the other. Myth 4: You can do some extra exercise to compensate for eating ‘bad food’ The problem with this myth is that is feeds into the ‘good food’ and ‘bad food’ myth. If exercise is something we do when we eat ‘bad food’, exercise is seen as a punishment. Exercise can help you feel good, help you sleep better, give you more energy and help you become healthier. It should be enjoyed for these benefits. Myth 5: You need to eat every 3 hours to keep your metabolism up Every body is programmed differently and will have a slightly different metabolic rate. Some bodies will need to be fed more frequently than others. If we set a basic meal pattern, our body will let us know how much we need to eat. If we provide our body with appropriate fuel three times a day, it will then let us know if we need to eat more often, we just need to tune into the signals. If we start the day with breakfast, our body is given the signal we are starting the day and can help regulate how much we need to eat through the day. You may have heard a ‘rule’ after weight loss surgery to eat only three (or less) meals per day. I strongly believe that there is no one rule that fits every person. The only way you can tell if you need to eat between meals is to tune in to your hunger and satiety signals. If you are genuinely, physically hungry between meals it may be fine to have a small snack. If you are eating as you feel bored/tired/frustrated/lonely or simply watching the clock, then you need to work on another solution. Myth busting your way to success Whilst the internet has brought a whole world of information to our fingertips and can help share dietary fact, it has also perpetuated lots of dietary fiction. Think about some of the food facts you have come to believe over time. Write them all down and take them along to the dietitian in your weight loss surgery team. They will help you sort the fact from fallacy.

Soulful Living Food Addiction Part 1 ​(Part 1 of this article originally appeared in the WLS Lifestyles Magazine in my Soulful Living Column) Louisa Latela, LCSW, LCADC Of my clients who struggle with compulsive eating those who have a strong desire to live a joyful, healthy, peaceful life are the most successful in moving from living in the insanity of food obsession to the serenity of a healthy relationship with food and weight. This is because a highly respected and well-nourished body is the foundation upon which such a life must be built. When a person who is overweight and/or a compulsive eater desires to feel good physically, emotionally, and spiritually her motivation to make peace with her body and food is multidimensional; it is not simply wanting to see a particular number when she steps on the scale. It ‘carries with it more weight’ (pun intended!). However many people do not understand that what they eat directly affects their every experience. Do You? Take some time to think about how your weight and relationship with food affect the following areas of your life: Physical Health: Are you overweight? Do you have heart disease, diabetes, shortness of breath, sleep apnea, decreased energy, or chronic joint pain? Are there other ways that your weight and food consumption affect you physically? Emotional Health: Do you harshly judge yourself; feel shame, guilt, anger or self-hatred in relation to your weight or what you eat? Do you experience periods of depression because of your inability to control your eating behavior? Do you ever feel anxious if you do not have certain foods available to you? Finances: How much money do you spend on food that you use for bingeing, overeating, or avoiding uncomfortable feelings? How much money have you spent on diet books, diet supplements, diet foods, consultations with weight loss professionals, and seldom used exercise equipment and gym memberships? Do you miss time at work because of health problems related to how you eat? Do you believe your weight prevents you from getting a promotion or new job? Are there times that you are not as productive at your job because of how you feel (emotionally or physically) in relation to what you did or did not eat? Relationships: Do you use your weight as an excuse to avoid relationships? Or, conversely, have you ever stayed in an unhealthy relationship because you believed no one else would want someone your size? Are people in your life inconvenienced by your food related emotional or physical problems? When you eat foods that zap your energy or make you feel ill, are you sometimes nasty, short, or cranky with family, friends, or co-workers? Sexual Experiences: Does your weight physically or emotionally prevent you from having a satisfying sex life? Mental Clarity: Do you ever feel a bit dull or foggy in the brain because of the quantity or quality of food you eat? Activities: Does your weight physically or emotionally prevent you from engaging in healthy, fun activities like hiking, bike riding, swimming, dancing, or playing with your children? Are simple activities of daily living like putting on your socks and shoes becoming increasingly difficult? Do you avoid certain social situations because you don’t want to be seen at your current weight or because you are afraid you will overeat? Time: How much time do you spend thinking about food or weight issues? How old were you when you first thought you had a problem with food or weight? How many years have you been dealing with this? How many precious moments of your life have you lost to your preoccupation with food and weight? The purpose of answering the preceding questions is to not elicit feelings of self-blame or harsh self-judgment but rather to increase your awareness of how your current weight and eating behaviors may be preventing you from living a normal, productive life. Understanding that what you eat affects your every physical, emotional, and mental experience can serve to increase your motivation to cultivate a healthy relationship with food. If you are still riding the yo-yo dieting roller coaster you may have an addictive relationship with food. Addiction, as defined by Merriam-Webster’s Medical Dictionary, is “the persistent compulsive use of a substance known by the user to be physically, psychologically, or socially harmful”. Sound familiar? Studies have shown that compulsive overeating and drug addiction share many of the same biological characteristics. For instance, when people eat large quantities of sugar and fat they develop a tolerance for these substances and need more sugar and fat to satisfy them, much like alcoholics and drug addicts who, over time, require increased amounts of alcohol and drugs to get high. Other research has revealed that many obese people and drug addicts have a lower number of dopamine receptors (the feel good receptors) in their brains which make them more likely to crave things that boost dopamine like sugar, alcohol, cocaine or heroin. Also when some people are suddenly cut off from sugar and certain carbohydrates they experience withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, depression, irritability and strong cravings for the substance from which they are cut off, just like alcoholics and drug addicts do when they are detoxifying from alcohol or drugs. However; neither acknowledging the depth to which your relationship with food is negatively affecting your life nor understanding the biology of addiction will in and of itself cure your obsession or right your relationship with food. You may be thinking “Well I know how to eat well and what I need to do to lose weight.” Do you really? The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. How many times have you gone on a diet proclaiming “This is it! I will never again be overweight! My eating behaviors have forever changed!!” only to find yourself starting a new diet the following Monday morning? Three, four, five or more times? Sounds like insanity to me! You may know how to diet and temporarily lose weight, but you have not made the internal psychological and emotional shifts necessary to sustain a healthy relationship with food and permanent weight loss. Moving from the insanity of a food and weight obsessed life to the serenity that a loving and respectful relationship with food affords you requires the willingness to consider a new way of thinking and being in the world. For many it requires learning to live a spiritual life. Cultivating a relationship with your Authentic Self, looking at yourself through kind and compassionate eyes, being willing to listen to and act on the guidance you receive from your Inner Knowing, and understanding that your true essence is pure love are all part of nurturing your spiritual self. As you mature spiritually, behaviors that no longer serve you will fall by the way side. On page 15 of “A Course in Weight Loss” Marianne Williamson writes: “Spiritual growth is a fascinating process if you allow it to be. It is an inner journey from one insight to another, in which helpful realizations fall into place as you are ready to receive them. Twisted thoughts become untwisted once you see them for what they are. Your journey from blindness to spiritual vision precedes your journey from dysfunctional eating to a healthy and wholesome relationship to food; in fact it is a necessary prerequisite for it. As you understand more deeply the roots of your weakness you lay the foundation for the cultivation of new strengths.” To be continued.....

The thing about torrid love affairs is they never end with a clean break. Sure, you have every reason to think it’s over. You changed your phone number, attended a weekly support group, burned every picture of the two of you together and started dating a healthier, saner person - one your friends actually like. But passionate romances don’t die until the second or third bullet. There’s always at least one steamy reconciliation before the thing is finally stone cold dead. You’ll run into your ex at the store and go a little weak at the knees, or you’ll send a gushing e-mail on a lonely Friday night, or you’ll decide that avoidance is childish and the grownup thing to do is at least be friends. Before you know it, you’re right back where you were, and after the initial exhilaration dies you realize your mistake. Nothing’s really changed and you’ve wasted time and emotion yet again on someone who isn’t and never will be good for you. An unhealthy relationship with food is eerily similar. You may be stunned to learn that you’re so in love with the simple act of eating. One of the most common things bariatric surgeons hear on follow-up visits is, “I never realized what a relationship I had with food”. You thought your weight problem was from ignorance over what to eat, or faulty childhood messaging, or not making time to care for yourself, or your grandmother’s genes. That may be where it started, but that’s not what kept it going. After surgery, you figure out the truth. You’ve been embedded in a romance as sticky and hard to leave as Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor’s on-again-off-again love affair. Just like lovers in a doomed romance, you’ll be tempted to drift back into your old relationship with food. And it’ll sneak up on you when you’re most vulnerable, right when you think you’ve got the whole thing whipped. Here’s what happens. Your surgery gave you a massive head start. It forced you to change your eating habits, it did away with your hunger pangs and allowed you to drop weight at breathtaking speed. You got positive reinforcement from the immediate success of your new behavior and from the fact that you just flat out felt better. Every week contains a little drama in the form of unaccustomed praise, changed relationships, different activities, and new clothes. But the excitement will wane. Life will settle down, just like someone who’s had a thrilling engagement with lots of gifts, a fabulous wedding, an extended honeymoon, and the first couple of scary post-marriage fights and rapturous make-up sessions, but now has to get used to day-to-day married life with the spouse who leaves a trail of potato chips in his wake and the mother-in-law who calls three times a day. In other words, life will become normal, and, at times, even mundane. Even more sobering, your body will adapt over time. You’ll be able to undo the straitjacket put on your system by the surgery. For those who had a gastric bypass or vertical sleeve operation, two things come into play that will test your resolve. First, you’ll get hungry again. Even though the surgery bypassed ghrelin, the hunger hormone, other hormones will ramp up to fill the void, and most patients will start feeling hungry again, anywhere from six to twenty-four months after the surgery. Second, your new stomach will adjust and toughen up, just like babies’ feet callous as they learn to walk. It will expand a bit, and its cells will change to create more and thicker mucus which cushions the food you ingest, making it easier to eat bigger quantities and varieties of food. If you had the gastric bypass surgery, a third issue will come into play. The dumping syndrome that’s kept you from eating sugar will disappear in most patients. So the piece of cake that would have made you violently ill six months ago won’t cause a problem now. For lap band patients, two issues can lure you back into your old lifestyle. First, you’ve figured out how to cheat, and you’re familiar enough with the band that you’re no longer worried about hurting yourself if you thwart its restriction. You can drink high calorie milk shakes or put your favorite food in a blender and eat as much as you want. Second, you rely on the lap band to limit your food intake like a surgical shock collar rather than taking control of your own behavior, creating a negative reinforcement method of diet control that starts to grate on you. You have your surgeon decrease the saline in your lap band for special occasions, like Thanksgiving, and then put in enough saline “to make me throw up” when you want to lose more weight instead of taking the steering wheel and driving your own eating and exercise plan. Over time, you’ll begin to resent the choke hold the band has over your body and you’ll grow tired of the twice-monthly maintenance visits to your doctor. That’s why the first six months after your operation should be treated like a sprint, wringing every benefit you can from the surgery while you’ve got all its mechanical and behavioral benefits going for you – the compliments, the falling scale numbers, the lack of appetite, and the physical inability to eat too much. This time won’t last forever, and those six months will be the best shot most people ever get at losing their excess weight. You’ll learn to listen to your body to tell you when you need food. You’ll figure out what it feels like when your glucose is low, which means you need energy and should put some fuel in your tank. You’ll be able to tell the difference between real hunger versus head hunger, between needing energy and just mindlessly following an eating habit, between desiring food versus needing food. There is no finish line. There is no moment when you can say, okay, I’ve won that battle and I can forget about it. Like a recovering alcoholic has to pay attention to what he drinks for the rest of his life, you’ve got to be vigilant about diet and exercise for the rest of yours. But, you say, that sounds depressing. Surely life wasn’t meant to be quite so restrictive. That’s just too hard. Actually, it’s not. It’s just conducting yourself in a fashion that’s consistent with your goals, something you’ve been doing your entire life with your job, your marriage, your family, and your friends. Think about it. The things you’re proudest of in life are the things that have required the greatest work and sacrifice - your education, your children, your marriage, your career. Maintaining a healthy weight is no different and it’s something you should pat yourself on the back every day for doing. You’ve tasted what life is like without the suffocating excess weight. Your new habits are far less restrictive than the physical, social and emotional limitations your old weight burdened you with. It’s time to kick your dysfunctional romance with food out of your life forever.

My Dr. gave me a great little book that has some great information that I thought would be helpful and thought I would share some of them. Don'ts to Drinking * Don't Drink Carbonated beverages (my dr says never, but ask your Dr.) * Don't Drink Alcohol. (First year, ask your Dr.) * Don't Drink coffee. (First Year ask your Dr.) * Don't Drink Caffeninated Beerages (first Year) * If on Iron Suppliment don't take with milk. * Don't Drink with meals (wait 30 mins before and after meals) * Don't Drink your Calories * Don't Drink Protein shakes like Ensure, Carnation Instant Breakfast unless your Dr. Tells you to do so. * Don't wait until you are thirsty to drink Water. by that time you have already lost two or more cups of your total body water. Do's * Do drink a minimum of 64 oz of water a day or more. * Do drink water as your beverage of choice * Do drink herbal teas * Do Sip frequently * Do drink diluted drinks such as crystal light on limited basis * Do drink chicken, beef and veggie broth * Do use splenda instead of other sweetners to sweeten beverages * Do increase your water intake on hot days and when exercising * Do increase your water intake if constipated Warning of Dehydration Mild - Thirst - Dry Lips - Slightly dry mouth membranes Moderate -Very dry mouth membranes - Sunken eyes -Skin does not baounce back quikley when pinched and released Severe -All signs of moderate -Rapid week pulse (more then 100) -Cold hands and feet -Rapid breathing -Blue lips -Confused, lethargy, difficult to arouse

It's so easy to feed the addiction now since sugar goes through the band so easily. In addition, artificial sweeteners do the same thing to me...make my blood sugar go up and make me crave sugar. I find that I'd just like an alcoholic. I can't touch sugar or I binge. I have to cold turkey off of it until the cravings pass. Then sometimes I fall off the wagon and binge. Just like an alcoholic....

There is a real problem when someone has a candida overun in their intestinal track. You crave sugar because it feeds the candida, then It can manufacture as much as 1 quart of alcohol in a day. The withdrawal from the sugar is really the candida slowing down the alcohol, and not producing as much as before. Long term antibiotic usage or a recent use of any strong antibiotic can kill all the healthy bacteria that usually balances out the candida problem. It can survive antibiotics because it is so large and prolific. It is always in our bodies, but it could be out of balance. I had a Dr prescribe probiotics that were enteric coated, so that they open into your small intestine. If you have an energy drop about an hour after eating sugar it could be from the alcohol that is produced by these little buggers. This is just a thought, as it does cause you to crave sugar. I hope you can find out why you are craving sugar so much. Good luck.

Makes one wonder how some of us came out of it alive, literally. Or how we were able to pull ourselves together and become respectable citizens. It also seems to be a very common thread in compulisive eating. Sometimes, those of us who were abused or lived in dysfunctional families either turn to alcohol, drugs or become overeaters. Some of us go through a procession of several of those things. My father was an abusive, brooding alcoholic, his father before him was too. Most of his brothers and sisters were alcoholics or staunch Christians. My mother's family had the same affliction. Both sides had histories of depression, anger issues, abuse, neglect. It just gets passed down and all around. Studies have shown that daughters of alcoholics often become overeaters, sons are more likely to take the alcoholic role. In my case, I went through the partying stage, stayed thin, then stopped and went the way of overeating and depression. My sister turned out being the one unable to handle drinking, then moved on to much worse things. She's now a recovering( knock on wood) heroin addict. I can definitely relate to the 'who took my sister' statement. The person she was is definitely not the person we got back after the damage or during the nightmare. Thank God she's alive, there is still hope. My father and mother were both married numerous times. Seems she had the pattern of marrying alcoholics and he moved on to other caretakers/enablers. None of them successful. Not a great legacy to try to follow, for sure. I have 2 half brothers from my father's first marriage. The oldest died in 98 at 45, having fallen out the side of a van door while he and a bunch of partying friends were out driving and doing drugs/drinking. The other is still a barroom brawling son of a gun and probably doesn't have a great future ahead of him either. I also have a sister from this marriage who lives in Wisconsin with her 7 (SEVEN) kids and is a dope smokin old hippie who thinks she's still in the 70's. lol I met her for the first time when I was 26, the next time we saw each other was at our oldest brother's funeral. Her daughter was the spitting image of me. Pretty eery.. Then, I have a wonderful older brother who was my mother's first. We don't share the same father, but he's a keeper. Then there were 3 of us from the same father. Thankfully, we saw enough that we tried desperately to break some chains. My baby sister is working on perfecting some things, but she sure made some bad choices along the way. Our family runs the gamut. There are those who worked hard, believed in responsibility and instilled a sense of 'rightness' in us. Thank goodness. Then there were those who just could not escape the alcohol and barroom brawls, prisons, yep, we even had a couple of murders on the outskirts. One cousins husband strangled her to death during a fight, then cut her head and hands off thinking he could dispose of her fingerprints. Then the fool drove her torso back to her home county and dumped her over a guard rail, I guess thinking the coyotes might get rid of the evidence? Instead a rancher passed by as he was disposing of the garbage bags and returned to check out what he seen as suspicious. Luckily, he got the license plates and that guy wasn't so smart after all. I hear he's living in Florida now, after spending 6 yrs in prison. Amazing... Character building indeed...

I have to tell you guys -- this is bizarre, but I'm actually doing ok all things considered. I'm feeling a little squirrley, but for the most part, I'm just excited it is almost here! For those of you who are behind me in terms of timing on this journey, here have been the most challenging parts of this process: 1. Making the decision. Until I literally put down money (I'm self pay), I was having a constant dialogue about "should I or shouldn't I." It was exhausting. 2. Mourning the food. I felt like a crazy woman for the 2 weeks leading up to my pre-op diet. I ate everything I could get my hands on. Seriously. I went to a different restaurant every night. I ate until I was sick. It was horrible. And it made me question EVERYTHING -- I kept saying to myself, "You are pathetic. If you cannot control yourself better than this, then surgery will never work for you." I now know that was just self-sabotage (as was the crazy behavior itself). 3. Giving up smoking and alcohol. These were a bit tough, but not nearly as difficult as I thought it would be. I just feel like if my entire life is changing, my entire life might as well change (if that makes any sense). No use holding on to other unhealthy coping behaviors. And what's the point of getting my health risks down with the surgery if I were going to continue to smoke? 4. Thinking too much about what my life will be life after this surgery. I know this is an important part of the decision making process because this surgery is irreversible and life-changing. That said, I think I over-scared myself. I keep forgetting that the person I am today does not have the same perspective as the person I will be after surgery. For example, right now, food is the center of my world. I can't imagine life without big plates of pasta, and ice cream, and steak, (etc). But once I get used to eating with the sleeve, I am confident that other things will fill in that void. I have faith that there is life on the other side of food addiction. Okay -- off to eat my last popsickle before I make an effort at sleep. See you all on the other side!!!!

The primary reason the Doc's tell you no alcohol for 6 months is because alcohol is empty calories (and lots of them !). It offers no nutritional value and can slow your progress significantly. That said, I tested the waters at 8 weeks (was very cautious). Over 3 days I had a couple glasses of wine, a couple of vodka/cranberries, a couple 7 and 7's, and a couple mimosa's (champagne and OJ). I experienced absolutely no problems nor did I become a one drink drunk as many have warned was possible. While my tolerance isn't what it used to be, it was only slightly less. That was my experience and yours may be different, but I can say out of everything I tried, the carbonated beverages were the most uncomfortable and took the longest to drink. Overall, having an alcoholic beverage was no big deal and I still lost a few pounds over those 3 days as well.

I have never drank carbonation, but I have had a glass of wine, 3 times since surgery. Made me tipsy quickly. But thats fine one glass takes about an hour to drink, and never have I drank it with food. Im 2.5 months out. And for those of you who are saying we shouldnt drink alcohol becuase of the empty calories, I know I know, but give me a break...I have 3 teenagers, and 1 of them is a GIRL teenager...LOL so only 3 glasses of wine in 2.5 months is pretty good.

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?

So good to know. I'm going in an all inclusive vay-cay in May. Pre-surgery I'd drink all day too. It's nice to see someone else can tolerate it. 2 glasses is really good. I was expecting to read 1/2 glass of alcohol. I can't wait! [emoji16] Height: 5'0" Weight for WLS consultation: 216 lbs. Surgery date: 2/13/17 Goal: -71 lbs for healthy BMI (about 145 lbs). Current weight: 180.8 My profile picture is not me. It's my "FITspiration" body.

The reason the doctors tell us no alcohol is the high sugar and calorie content. Between ice cream and booze, wow. A lot of people know how to really keep a tight reign on it, but others just indulge. That's dangerous. This is a tool for me, I've cut out all the alcohol in my diet. Stopped eating sugar, period, don't do sweeteners either. I figure since I got so fat they had to cut me open, why ruin the fantastic tool I'm to be given?