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food -- particularly carbohydrates -- is a powerful mood-altering substance. This isn't just the case for people with food addictions, it's at least partially how the body works. Carbs, for instance, have been shown to have strong connections with serotonin levels, and other foods (notably chocolate, but there's more... just can't remember them all) have strong affinities for dopamine. The bottom line is that going to food for comfort is very normal. Without this crutch it can be very difficult to self-soothe. Again, this isn't just "addictive behavior" -- anyone who is low-serotonin will feel stressed and anxious and blue. Tiffykins' recommendation to get a massage is spot-on; you have to find other behaviors that help to soothe you without being unhealthy. A hot bath and a glass of milk is another method; the heat relaxes your muscles and lets metabolism byproducts like lactic acid get released, and the milk is full of tryptophan, which is a natural serotonin precursor. Exercise is also a good choice -- exercise ALWAYS makes me feel better -- but you have to be careful not to overdo it, because if you're feeling stressed and anxious because of "low reserves," then burning up the LAST of your reserves with exercise isn't going to help. The best medicine is a good night's sleep! Protect your sleep time fiercely, because consistent sleep deprivation is an almost sure way to lapse into low-grade depression and anxiety. Mild exercise is good as a sleep aid, as are the relaxing effects of a hot bath or shower. Also, milk and its tryptophan-explosion. So maybe the ideal thing is: exercise mildly to moderately (around midday when it won't affect your sleep time). In the evening, drink a tall glass of nonfat milk and take a long, hot shower or bath. And then, sleep like a baby. The odds are that you'll wake up feeling right as rain! The thing to NOT do is to "relax" with something like alcohol or marijuana -- these things will further deplete neurotransmitter levels, and while you may feel better in the short term, over the long run you're just digging yourself in deeper!

I haven't had much alcohol since my surgery I don't have any craving for it and I used to love a Margarita with Mexican food but since my sleeve I really don't have any desire for it. I did try to have a glass of wine and it didn't set well. I got terrible indigestion and only a few sips and I was feeling the effects of it right away. My husband says I am a cheap date now...LOL My doctor said that he advises all his patients that want to have a drink to do it the first time at home since the alcohol will affect you very quickly. He was right. I was never a big drinker and now I tend to just stick with water with lemon even when we go out. Everyone is different so try it slowly and see what you think.

I went in for surgery in Jan and he ended up just doing a liver biopsy as my liver was enlarged, diagnosed with non alcoholic fatty liver. Surgeon required me to lose 30lbs prior to trying again. I ate 1200 calories a day and limited my carbs to less than 100. Lots of salads soups and tacos. Lost most in 6 weeks and had my surgery. Lost more the week before surgery on the pre-op diet. Youve got this. I was pissed for a while but got over and got it done! good luck!

My boys were 7 and 6 when I had my surgery in April this year. Last year my husband had to have emergency quadruple bypass which terrified them when they were able to see him and he was in the hospital right at a week. I sat them down before going to the bariatric doctor and told them what I was trying to do. they told me I didn't need to because I was pretty the way I was. I had co morbidities and I needed it for my health. I told them that I was trying to do what I can to be a healthy mom. they also know I'm in recovery for drugs and alcohol and they know what my AA book is and I told them momma is trying to be a healthy mom both from bad things like germs and things I can control so I can be with them as long as possible. I was in the hospital for my wls for about 4 days and they stayed at their grandmothers house for a few days and then my hubby went and got them to see me and see I was ok in the hospital and being taken care of. They also were told because I was going to be sore and walking around uncomfortable for a little bit. They were my big little helpers when I came home. Now, since I've talked with them like miniature grown ups (on their level) they actually look at calories and ask me if I can have certain foods. They are a huge part of my journey because they have motivated me to be the best me.

*laughs* You didn't piss me off, Donna. In fact I agree with you. At our support group last week (which really is kind of pointless at only 1.5 hours per month in a group of 25 people) several people talked about what a crock the psych eval was and how stupid the questions on there were. They pointed out how many questions about drugs and alcohol were on there and asked how in the world that pertained to getting the band. I guess what they were overlooking was that while those questions might not be relevant to them, there is a very real chance that they might be very relevant to the next person. I too have a very hard time with blanketing everyone with the same conclusions based upon the "normal" or "typical" responses from a test study group. Everyone is an individual and letting a stranger speak to you for a few hours out of your life to determine something so important about you is down right scarey. I guess it comes down to this. They'd rather be safe than have us be sorry. Getting a bit healthier, mentally or physcially, before going through something so extreme can't be all bad. It's not a permanent "NO", it's just a "Get a little better first so you can have better success" kind of a thing. Like Crystal said, it's not a patch you can pull off and return to old habits. I was just reading and posting on the thread about what others think of your weightloss, and it really hit me. It's time for some serious issues in my life to be dealt with as I progress to my physical goal. Otherwise, my mental state will have a heck of a time dealing with my physical state. I think those pre-tests picked up on that - for me anyway. And his advice was right on the money, "Whether it be me or another counselor, you need to start seeing someone to help you through this."

It will get better. I liked to keep ice on my belly. I would do it all day and night. I sucked down the liquid pain meds when I needed it. I just used a chaser like I was doing a shot of alcohol. Take it easy if your in that much pain! No need to rush yourself. Relax a little.

Band-plus-10 days and I think I'm ahead of the curve (thanks doc!). I've been able to eat some things I maybe shouldn't have but what's a guy to do? Went to a Seahawks game, went out a bunch of other times during the holiday break... ugh! I busted most every rule we're supposed to follow during this period (alcohol, solids) but seem to have gotten away with it as I'm down 11 lbs. Now that partytime is through I'll be better. Although I've yet to experience some of the bad symptions (nausea, vomiting) I think I've been close to being stuck. Things like greek yogurt have a way of piling up if not eaten very carefully. I can tell I'm going to miss eating haystacks of food but I suppose so long as I'm full I can handle it. Restaurant bills ought to be less cringeworthy from now on! Today I'm starting some light work on the treadmill - maybe 20 minutes of uphill walking. I'll wait a few weeks to hit the weights but am looking forward to coming home from the gym and not having to eat pails of spaghetti to feel satisfied. At least I hope that's how it will go.

Generally, VSG is only a bit of restriction. All the plumbing is as it was pre-op. So, generally, there is no reason tolerances or much else should change. In some VSG folks, and depending on circumstances, alcohol may dump through the pyloric valve quick than pre-op, causing an effect similar to Gastric Bypass below. There could also be an impact that because you eat less and weigh less that eventually the buzz could hit slightly harder. For Gastric Bypass, in addition to the restriction, the pyloric valve is no longer in play so any alcohol dumps straight into the intestines. Generally this would cause the alcohol to hit nearly all at once, making it feel like it's hitting harder because it's processing all at once. Because all you drink is processed immediately my Doc* felt it was harder on the liver, so with my severe fatty liver he cautioned me not to overdrink if I could avoid it. As with all things, your mileage may vary. Good luck, Tek * I took what Doc said as fact though I don't recall researching it on my own as I usually would.

Please do get help with this. And beware, it is easy to turn to alcohol during this time. I myself had to give it up completely. I practice deep breathing and I see a therapist for my divorce. Life is very stressful and without my old comfort, food, I don't want to turn to anything else dangerous. Take care and keep posting.

Tracy, you know how I feel. I've been at a plateau for months now.. almost a year actually. I gained 13# and lost the 13#, but nothing since. The lady that got me onto lapband info and had hers done a few weeks after me has lost 115#!!! I've lost 60# and I think that's great until I think about her and then I get discouraged. And then when I think it's been 2 years and that's only 30# a year!! BUT.. we are all different. I'm not her and you're not me. You need to take care of you and not worry about the scale or how everyone else is doing. Get rid of the things that are hurting you. concentrate on protein. Cheese, meat, yogurt. Don't make cookies if you can't resist them. Don't buy the ice cream. Let Frank take Macy out if they need it. But YOU need to take care of YOU! YOU are the most important part of the lap band journey. Do you know how awesome ALL of us would be doing if we were close enough to exercise together, call for someone to spend time with us when temptation calls, just be near each other???? But we're not and we really have to be true to ourselves. We have no one to answer to but ourselves. So keep on keeping on. Don't let it get you down. Just like an alcoholic, it's one day at a time, one meal at a time. Love ya!!!!!!!!

Ended up having my first fill today after a couple cancelations. Here's how it went: he had my lie down flat, and felt around until he was sure he had located the port. He then cleaned the area with alcohol, and injected some Lidocaine to numb the area (ouch!) I closed my eyes, put my hands behind my head, and the rest was finished within a couple minutes. I didn't feel the actual fill at all! He had me sit up, take a drink of water to make sure I had no trouble swallowing liquid, and sent me on my way. I have scheduled 2 more fills: one in a weekish, and one a weekish later. Apparently my insurance only pays for fills/unfills for 90 days after surgery! Would have been nice to know that ahead of time- the surgeon told me this today! So, hopefully I can find a sweet spot by the end of September. I wonder how much a fill costs with no coverage- yikes!

Hey Raven.... My parents & whole family were one of those people who thought this operation was the easy way out.... and God knows how many days I spent trying to convince them...why... cause my dad was paying for it ...... they don't know how it is to spend 30 years struggling with weight & moving from one doctor to another & one diet to another... they don't know that food is an addiction as well as drugs & alcohol.... and I am sad to say I was a food addict.... can they imagine someone who can't stop eating for 24 hours.... who is blindly led to the fridge and couldn't help it... so when I started choking in my sleep many times, and had an almost stroke... I just had to stop and think..... I'm going to die soon and my kids will grow up without a mom.... so I had to do this and I fought for it..... I didn't have the money or the support but I struggled and in the end, I didn't get any support from anybody, but at least I got the money ))

You have an image in your mind of what you look like and it is hard to get that image out of your head. I look in the mirror now and there are still times when I think I am way too fat and start getting down on myself. Even though those around me complement me on how I look and I now get attention that I didn't when I was heavier, I had 20 years of putting myself down and seeing myself in a negative way. Even though logically I know what I look like the psychological part of me tends to take over. As for alcohol, stay away if possible, you will now be able to eat only a fraction of what you did before and alcohol wil hit you harder. Good luck and try to do positve things for yourself to build your self esteem. Remember this is a journey not a miracle.

Definitely check in with your doctor's office and let them know you are having problems. I had problems with that too and didn't get much help other than permission to take Immodium if I needed to. I'm not sure if you are allowed to drink skim or 1% milk on your plan and if you are, that you might be lactose intolerant after surgery. My doctor told me that many people have a problem with this and I thought I was one of them until I did some more checking on my own. I am able to drink milk without too many problems but if I mix Protein powder for a shake with it, I was having problems. I talked with my SIL who is a nutritionist/pharmacist and she told me to go check the amount of sugar alcohol or other artificial sweeteners in the Protein Powder I was using. Sure enough, all of them contained sucralose (Splenda) or other sugar alcohols that were causing the shakes to basically run through my system shortly after I ingested them. Once I found some unflavored protein powder without any sugar alcohols or sucralose in it, everything was much better and I wasn't having as many issues with that problem anymore.

I get this whenever I eat Low Carb. I was fine when on fluids, but Thursday went to pureed foods and immediately started getting. I used to take a potassium pill and a calcium/magnesium pill when doing Atkins, but that's obviously out for now. The rubbing alcohol sounds like a good idea. I too am not getting charley horses but feel things starting to cramp up when I'm sleeping.

I quit Testosterone Replacement Therapy, after 2 years on it. I was not on steroids !!!! Its testosterone replacement therapy, it makes a man at 40 years old, feel great, high sex drive, etc.. It is not pills and 5 different steroids going to you stomach. Its one low dosage intermuscular injection per week. I do not drink alcohol, or smoke nicotine. I quit cold turkey, ["weaned off, TRT with very low dosage weekly shot"], 5 weeks before my successfully , gastric bypass surgery , I am still currently off TRT probably forever. I am 40 years old, ex powerlifter. I am currently 6'3" 299 lbs , i lost 48 lbs as of today in 3 weeks. I only choose gastric bypass surgery because my insurance covered it 100%, i knew it was not reversible, going in. I was told I could continue TRT for life 4 weeks after post op. but now I read No NSAIDS and no Steroids , and they are to opposite things ???? because they can? cause ulcers in the new smaller stomach, and around the staple line. That being, said I am prepared to quit TRT forever !!! But I don't understand why ? It makes no sense. I know for a fact my natural testosterone will come back in a few months, being off TRT, I am not worried about that. *****These are some things that I cant understand and it makes no sense to me , during 4 week post operation. ******* NSAIDS is an appreciation for "NONSTEROIDAL anti-inflammatory drugs" but then it says you CANNOT take Steroids' either ????? Can someone please explain to me how that makes sense ? One is NON STEROIDAL and one is STEROIDALl ?????? Now on to the Clomid brand name drug name is clomiphene , it can be taken by men or women, i have read many posts about women using Clomid post operation to get pregnant !!! there doctors said it was fine but , as I did further research Clomid is a NSAID !!!!????? how does that make sense ??? Clomid taken by men post cycle therapy off TRT will help a man boost testosterone 200% i have done it before in the past it works bringing back natural testosterone levels. The Clomid comes in crushable form pills and liquid too, obviously because , after gastric bypass surgery, your body does not absorb medication like it did before. This is a serious post for people who know what they are talking about please respond with personal stories or any knowledge or insight that you have would be appreciated thank you.

Mine made us sign a contract saying we would avoid alcohol for 1 full year.

go to the bar to watch the game and order Water or tea. There's no rule that you must drink alcohol. I went out last weekend with friends and had no problem ordering a non-alcoholic drink while they had beer. Nobody even noticed. If you go to dinner, then just order some Soup. Claim you had a big lunch if he asks why you're eating so little and you don't want to share about surgery yet. Enjoy the date!!

Does anyone have a really good substitute for non-dairy coffee creamer? It's the one vice I'm completely unable to give up. I've tried several protein and whey powders and so far nothing even touches it. I'm ashamed to admit at work I use 8 packets in a 16 oz cup and our whole office runs on caffeine all day long. Nothing smells better than a fresh pot of coffee when it's being brewed and when that happens I'm just like an alcoholic ( I think ), absolutely unable to ignore the craving. I'd really appreciate anyone's input on this. Thanks! Susie313

I can eat just about anything in limited quantities. For example, my Breakfast this morning was a poached egg, 1/4 cup baked Beans, 1/4 cup tinned mushrooms. My mid morning snack (just finished!) was a small banana and a mandarin. I had steak, corn, broccoli and a baby potato for dinner last night. The quantities ARE very limited (2oz steak, not a whole pound, 1" baby potato, not a whopper). Because these small amounts keep me feeling full and satisfied, I have the will power left over to resist eating junk. I stick mostly to fatfree/sugar free but I'm not strict about it. I don't get the urge to snack, I rarely have refined white carbs but I don't cut them out of my diet completely. I will occasionally indulge in Pasta with a creamy sauce, but usually it's a tomato based sauce and never more than 1/4 - 1/2 a cup at a time, with other fresh veges as filler. The one thing I have given up completely for the band is carbonated drinks - they just fill me up with gas and give me instant heartburn. I still drink alcohol but have switched to the occasional scotch and Water, instead of coke, and I don't miss coke one bit! Yes, the trade off is that you do have to work with a looser restriction to eat like this but it is a MUCH healthier and much more satisfying way to live.

Fat-Shaming sucks. Addiction-Shaming sucks. Bald-Shaming sucks. Shaming-Shaming sucks. There’s no way around that. It’s just plain true. There is too much shaming going on all around us. My question is: As good as it is to call the world out on their shaming behaviors, would we maybe be better off working on ourselves and, if we are health care professionals, working with our patients, to focus on the ways they shame themselves? AND OTHERS? At least simultaneously to trying to put an end to “Other-Shaming.” The purpose of this post is twofold: · To have each reader assess themselves in regard to their own shaming-ness, and · To suggest we help individuals stop shaming themselves while we simultaneously encourage the masses to stop. There are Tweets and Posts galore inviting us, inciting us, and urging us to help stop the Fat-Shaming done by society! I agree these are worthwhile efforts and must be done. What I don’t see very often on Social Media are statements encouraging people to get help to stop shaming, bullying, and beating up on themselves. We want an end to shaming, an end to bullying and an end to domestic violence. Check it out! All of that occurs within many an individual’s head! Here are some recent posts from social media, along with my posted responses: “Stand up to #weightbias! Sign the #petition to end fat-shaming and weight bias today.” My response: “Yes, please! Also work to stop #SelfShaming and #SelfBias. Sign up for therapy in your community!” “Why We Need to Ban the F Word: Fat-Shaming” My response: “If you believe people deserve to be treated well (and I do), please start by treating yourself well in your thoughts, words and actions.” “Once a person has obesity, it’s too late." One more way to #dismiss people with #obesity.” My response: “I hate that people dismiss those with obesity. I hate even more how those with obesity often dismiss themselves in so many ways.” “I believe that the morbidly #obese population is stigmatized, abused, neglected and mistreated by most facets of society.” My response: “I hate it, but those suffering from morbid #obesity also abuse, neglect, and mistreat themselves through negative self-talk, self abuse.” “Don't blame the person, rather treat the disease.” My response: “Don't blame patient for factors related to obesity they can't influence. Hold them accountable for those they can.” Please be clear about the message I am sending. I do hate the very real fact that society shames people who suffer from obesity. I hate that many people, including doctors and other health care providers, solely blame individuals for being obese. It’s horrible that a person is dismissed because they carry extra weight. No doubt. I know from both my personal and professional work, as well as from life experience, that I can influence my own behavior a lot more quickly than I can influence the masses. Typically, a person has an emotional connection to an issue if they are working to right some wrong related to that issue. Not all, but many people fighting to end societal Fat-Shaming, have “some skin in the game,” as they say. I am one of those people. Much of my work is done in a bariatric center where we aim to help those suffering from obesity, both physically and emotionally. Many health care providers, people who are personally struggling with their weight, along with family members and friends, all work together to try to end fat-shaming. Keep on keeping on with those efforts because they are worthwhile! In the meantime, are you, regardless of your size, weight, color, or religion, looking within yourself in an attempt to “clean your own side of the street?” Do you have biases about other groups of people being stigmatized? And more importantly, are you aware of, and working on, the ways you stigmatize, dismiss and shame yourself? Calling a person who suffers from obesity an ugly name, overlooking them for a job, dismissing their opinion or making a critical comment to or about them is wrong. It is equally despicable that people say things like, “I wouldn’t date a bald man,” or “He wouldn’t be right for the job. He’s bald.” My husband is bald and he struggles emotionally because of it. Have you (to include anyone suffering from obesity, alcoholism, drug addiction or any other ridiculed member of society) made ugly comments about bald people? It is disturbing that subjectively unattractive people are considered less intelligent, are helped less frequently by the public if they have a flat tire, and are hired secondarily to “beautiful” people. Have you (to include anyone suffering from obesity, alcoholism, drug addiction or any other ridiculed member of society) made ugly comments about unattractive people? How dismissive it must be to be a person who is part of an ethnic minority to have people call you a hateful name, to overlook you for a job you are very qualified for, or assume negative things about you. Have you (to include anyone suffering from obesity, alcoholism, drug addiction or any other ridiculed member of society) made disparaging comments to or about minorities? Religions are always good fodder for shaming, dismissing and bashing. Have you partaken? “You don’t look like one of them,” said my doctor to me when I shared that I am a recovering alcoholic and addict. One of them. A patient in a therapy group of people suffering from obesity said, “I cannot, for the life of me, understand why an alcoholic doesn’t just stay away from the bar.” To which I responded, “What is it like for you when someone asks why you can’t just push away from the table?” Wrong is wrong and it is wrong when any of us engage in dismissive or shaming conversation or behavior. Check yourself. Youre human and that means you have your own prejudices. You’ve likely engaged in your own dismissive comments about groups other than the one(s) you’re most closely aligned with. Relax, I’m not shaming you! I’m asking you to look at your own side of the street. Does it need sweeping? We all need to keep a broom nearby because we are all guilty of judging others at times. In my work, it is a priority to help people stop shaming themselves. Negative self-talk is a powerful way in which we shame ourselves. Yes, you do it, too! “I’m such an idiot!” “How could I have done such a stupid thing?” “What is wrong with me?” “I don’t know why I even bother. I never follow through anyway.” The list of examples illustrating negative self-talk, or stinkin’ thinkin’ is endless. Every single negative statement you make about yourself is dismissing the value of the person you are. Ironically, the shaming statements people make about themselves are representative of their own internal shame. The negative self-talk says, “There’s something wrong with me.” “I don’t feel ok about myself.” Isn’t it odd that we run around making a fuss about stopping the masses from shaming people when we spend some much time shaming ourselves? I’m thinking we would all be better off if we “swept our own side of the street” first. When we treat ourselves more tolerantly and we are accepting of others who we tend to dismiss, then it’ll make more sense to focus on what the masses are doing wrong.

That's great!!! How did you do with alcoholic drinks?? Tolerance?? And great that you are loosing 4lbs a week 9 months out?!?! Was it 1wk vaca? Regardless, Congrats!!!!

I'm a big dude myself. 6' 6" with a heaviest weight of 430. I never was a big drinker, but more of a big eater. People that have this surgery can still drink, but you have to have a lot less. And I would stay away from beer just because of the carbonation and the problems with the sleeve filling up with the gas. It's just one of those things. You have to stare down your demons and decide who's going to win. We all face this in some way or another. Give up the alcohol if possible. If not, then cut back a lot and ask the doctor how long until you can have some. I can't remember what mine said, but I think it was around 3 months postop.

Hi there.. Nervous is normal! I was too. I am 4 weeks post today and have lost 25lbs exactly. It's exciting because although I am a "secret sleever" (only my husband knows), people are really starting to notice the weight loss now. My clothes are looser and I am going down in size. That's all the positive stuff. On the downside? It's been hard work. The first 2 weeks postop of just fluids was rough, and to get fluid and protein in was difficult, because you kind of aren't hungry. Don't plan on social eating during this time. Then I went on to puree meals.. I hated this stage. Felt like I was eating baby food all the time. I actually went back to the liquid diet (soups, both and shakes) because it was the lesser of 2 evils. I was still struggling to get enough calories or protein in. Sometimes it would take me an hour to get one shake down. Now I'm on soft food.. Or as my dietician says "anything you can poke a fork through". I thought I would be eating much larger amounts by now. Yes, by two spoonfuls I am done. Had lunch with friends yesterday. Chicken, salad and roast potatoes. I managed one small chicken wing and 2 quarters of a tomato, and I was done. In fact, I felt overdone! Thought I was going to throw it all back up again. I didn't have any alcohol, and haven't had for 6 weeks. The issue for me with alcohol is that it is usually drunk with a meal, and you can't drink within 30 minutes of eating! So I haven't even tried to figure it out yet. If you eat cake or bread, you might find it feels like it's stuck or very heavy. I have tried a bite of each, and that's how it felt to me. So I am not game to try that again. Your nutritionist will probably tell you, that because your stomach can only hold a tiny amount of food, you HAVE to get your protein in first! So meat, then vegetables, then potatoes for example. If you don't get your protein in, then you will break down muscle instead of fat. You will end up feeling weak, looking flabby and your hair is more likely to fall out. Sad but true. Good luck! Sent from my SM-G955F using BariatricPal mobile app

Your story is so inspiring. I started finding comfort in food at a very young age. I am an adult child of an alcoholic and have had many difficult days learning that eating for comfort has taken a such a toll on my quality of life. The band is the best thing I have ever did for myself. Thanks for posting!!