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I'm more along the lines of KateP. I never limited myself to just Protein and veggies while losing, so ketosis didn't play a factor with me. I was eating MORE protein and fat than carbs, but I always tried to eat a balanced diet of protein, veggies, fruits, whole grains and nuts. I started adding in more fruit, more grains and more fat once I hit my surgeon's goal. But like you mentioned above, i still continued to lose another 20 pounds until my body found its new set point.....10 pounds below my personal goal. Yes, I can eat much more than I could once I hit goal and I my hunger returned in full force at around 10 months. I just had to find things to distract me from eating too much. I drink a lot of Water and tea, I clean my house a lot, I go outside and do whatever to get away from the kitchen. I don't buy stuff I shouldn't eat (resisting temptation once in the store is easier than resisting over and over if it was actually in the house). I basically just feel I'm eating like a "normal" thin person with no weird rules to follow. I choose protein over other options most of the time, but I don't hesitate to indulge in Desserts, candy, alcohol, or other "bad" carbs in moderation. Too much restriction would just piss me off and make me want it more. I have a 5 pound bounce range that I stick with. If I pop even 1 pound above, I will limit my carbs for However long it takes to get back into range. I'm only 17 months out, but have been maintaining this way for 9 of them.

Seriously listen to me. You can do this. What you tell friends is that you are dieting. Truth. You are changing your life. Truth. You have a diet plan of no soda, carbs, sugar, alcohol. Truth. My husband and I did this. I too felt I was not being truthful but I know in my heart my husband was right in making me promise this was our business and no one elses. People love to talk and they would be talking about us if they knew. I have lived my life too much like an open book so this was hard for me. My husband has a 30 year old son who has not said a word about his dad losing 60 lbs. Hang in there, you can do this. Hey, you are getting healthy while you recover from that hernia (like we both had) surgery and losing weight. Best of luck!

Hello I was just banded on Monday March 3rd and my 21st birthday is on March 20th.. So is this too soon to have a first drink of alcohol if not what would you recommend I drink?

I don't get. I love my wine and tequila and rum like the next person. I was having wine shipped to me a small winery in California, but when I decided on surgery I stopped the shipments. I buy the expensive tequila and rum because I like it on the rocks or straight up - not reprocessed rot gut stuff for me. 'I'm not 20 any more. I'm now 6 weeks out and focusing on getting and being healthy. I don't miss having a glass of wine, or tequila or anything. nor do I feel I need to or want to. I've been out with friends twice and on both occasions encouraged them to have their wine.... I just stuck with water. At 3 and 4 weeks your incision is still healing. Just cuz you can't see it, doesn't mean it's not there. It's about 10 inches long. If the incision was on your leg, would you way it with alcohol? My surgeon recommends waiting 1 year. I may wait that long or I may not. I don't have a plan at this point. But I know this, I opted for surgery to be a healthier me. I know all the ways to cheat the system, but I'm only cheating myself. Once I have my eating in balance and I've achieved my goals then I look at enjoying a 'normal' life. So I have to ask...what is more important to you? Vodka, Wine or a better life?

I'm definitely going to wait a bit longer. But I do need some wiggle room here. To tell a 26 year old to never drink again is tough. I've never been a big drinker but having a glass of wine with friends on the weekends would be worth the calories. That day I would hit the gym harder. I think these type of strict requirements should be based on the individual. For some, alcohol is a slippery slope.. However my slippery slope is ice cream and chips, which im staying away from like a plague.

@@JamieLogical and @@AvaFern have made some good points above which I agree with. @@jadama22, glad to hear you have a great nutritionist as she will be a huge help along the road of your journey. Hopefully, you will find, as I have, that you can still enjoy your favorite foods, just in MUCH smaller portions, but also that you won't necessarily want the same things as you did pre-surgery. Once I transitioned to regular foods and began reintroducing some favorites (no necessarily unhealthy), I found my new tummy to be very tolerate of what I ate as long as I took VERY SMALL BITES, ate VERY SLOWLY, and CHEWED THE food until it was "puree" consistency in my mouth. Since post-surgery we're instructed to EAT Protein FIRST, I'm finding I'm not interested in the carb heavy foods anymore. If I do get a "taste" for something that's not high protein, then a bite or two is sufficient to satisfy my "taste" for it. Just remember - even though weight loss is a huge result of sleeve surgery, I believe the most important reason we do/did this is for our health, to improve our conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, non-alcoholic fatty liver, etc. You'll find your way post-surgery with the help of your surgeon, nutritionist, and all the great folks on BP. Good luck on your journey!!!

12 years out. I had several blood transfusions after my WLS so I had big regrets. The issue was that I replaced food with alcohol (was not a drinker prior to WLS) 3 years ago I got my sh*t together and got serious about supplements and started Keto. I am now at a healthy weight 145 and plan to eventually get back down to my lowest weight (135) which was pre covid. I gained 10 pounds when the lockdown started. I don't regret the surgery as much now as most if not all the issues I had were avoidable and just really my fault for not following the post op way of life.

I just returned from a cruise and came home 1/2 pound lighter than when I left! It was a little frustrating at times - cruises are known for their good food, in abundance! The good thing about it is that the portions are not huge so you can order a few courses and eat a bit of each and not overdo it. I'd order salad and an entree at dinner (when everyone else ordered appetizers and soup besides) and only eat a few bites of each (I'm really tight, had a fill just before I left - I wanted to be tight, I know that's weird but I couldn't bear the thought of gaining anything) I ordered dessert almost every night at dinner and still lost that 1/2 pound. Some tips: I took the stairs instead of the elevator whenever possible. I walked a lot on shore excursions (I tried to choose ones that I knew involved lots of activity) I didn't drink calories - I know that's really hard for some people, but I'm not a huge drinker so not having alcohol wasn't that huge a deal for me - I'd rather have ice cream than a margarita. I drank water. I didn't eat anything between meals (that wasn't that hard - I ate enough at meals that I wasn't hungry between meals, half the time I wasn't hungry when I sat down to a meal either!) Have fun on your cruise!

Hi everyone, does anyone know how many weeks after surgery i will have to wait before having any non-carbonated alcoholic beverage ???

You can drink what you want- acording to my Doctor- just like the others said- some people can tolerate it and some can't. I drink diet soda with no problems- and no stomache expansion. You don't want too much alcohol, however, becuase of the calories.

Beer is a no no because of the gas. When you pour the beer, you see the gas on top, the foam. That is the part that is not good for you. As far as alcohol is concerned, you are able to drink it or course. In moderation also and that is only because you want to be able to chew your calories and not drink them. Try to remember, alcohol turns into sugar 3 days later and then sugar turns into fat. I haven't had a drink since Nov. 2005 and I don't miss it at all, like I was never really that fond of soda so I didn't have any problems. My doctor says that having a glass of wine is a good thing. Josephine

most alcoholic beverage have a lot of calories, the Dr. don't want to waste calories on drinks that's calories you can eat.plus you will get drunk faster it will run right though you,:omg: you will be the life of the party

Likewise--- I agree with @Beckyyb93 What courage! Being a parent, I think, does change one for the better. Please keep thinking of them and be careful about mixing alcohol with the other drugs you are taking! Lots of people have died from mixing the two. What is your new career? How did you start on that path? Does it fulfill you? Remember, you've lost 139 frick'in pounds man.... time to be PROUD!!!

I am 18 months post op from bypass. I have been able to eat whatever I want without dumping. I very occasionally treat myself to sweets. It is all about how how much of something you eat. If I have a small piece of cake, cheesecake, pie, scoop of ice cream, I don't get sick. I have only made the mistake once of eating just a little too much and it left me feeling crappy but I don't get sick. Now, I have had too many carbs and they can stall you so just because I can eat whatever I want, doesn't mean I should. Also, anything overly sweet just simply doesn't taste good to me. I try to choose a dessert that isn't overly sweet tasting. My favorite is cheesecake! I have a couple of bites and I am satisfied. Of course I never even attempted trying sweets until I was post op 6 months. I still have not tried alcohol but that is because I am on pain medication. I also don't do carbinated anything mostly because I didn't drink soda before and I don't need to start now. Life after bypass is pretty darn good. My only side effect that I truly complain about is constipation. My doctor recently put me on Linzess and it is working fantastic.

Mine was about a ten page quiz with weird questions. Then the Physch. came in and we talked a bit about a few things. The only thing that he was concerned about was when I told him I was very surprised that I didn't miss diet coke (after drinking tons of for years), he likened me to an alcoholic. (I've never drank alcohol, ever!) Whatever. I passed with no problem, though I don't know the criteria needed to pass.

I used to enjoy bourbon before my surgery. If your doctor cleared you for booze - enjoy. Just be careful when you first start. My first experience with alcohol after surgery was not great. It felt like a roller coaster ride.

My doctor was crystal clear that drinking alcohol before 6 months post op can have very serious consequences (he would prefer 12 months). He said alcohol acts as an abrasive in the stomach and can wreak havoc on the skin around the staples. I wouldn't risk it. My anniversary is October 11th and I plan on going out, having something simple to eat (soup), but definitely NOT having any drinks.

Is ice cream one of the foods you can have a little of? For me, it's like when an alcoholic says they can have one drink. One spoon of ice cream would make me lose my self control, therefore it wouldn't be worth it. Only you can know if you can handle it. Also, my nutritionist encourages me to try "new foods" at home first. Not everything is as easy to digest!

Not having the emotional crutch of food and alcohol. Learning how to deal with life's stresses without my old standby's. Having to feel the full effects of my emotions without being able to dull the pain. I eventually had to find a good therapist and start taking antidepressants after my best friend committed suicide. As for drinking with meals, I do it all the time and have since about 6 months out.

Tried out the Detour Lean Muscle Bar today. It is not bad in terms of taste, nutritional stats and satiety. The flavor I got is cookie dough caramel. This may be on the sweet side for some, but it does not seem to bother me. Calories: 190 Fat: 6g Carbs: 17 g (1 fiber, w sugar and 13 sugar alcohols) Sodium : 230 mg Protein: 16 g Vitamins: claim is 21 Vitamins and minerals. A little high on sodium, but still manageable. I still like the nu go slim bars better over all.

I don't struggle with drug or alcohol addiction, but I wanted to reach out and tell you how brave you are for telling your story and looking for support. I can't imagine dealing with these food issues we all face on top of maintaining sobriety. It is a lot to handle, for sure. In the food realm, the "one day at a time" approach has served me well in this journey. I used that strategy to get me started in March, and although I am firmly rooted in what I am doing now, I try to embrace that mindset when the scale is pissing me off or I have to face any of the occasional obstacles that present themselves. The fact that I have now lost 124 pounds is comforting no matter what happens in a day. As you lose more weight, that will comfort you, too. I encourage you to find something non-food related that is fun and makes you happy and get out there and do it. I go to the spa every day, and that has helped me as I move into the final stages of my recovery before I go back to work in a couple of weeks. Also, lean on your husband. I lean on my partner every day, as he leans on me. That's one of the most important parts of relationships. I wish you all the best!

Hey all, Just wanted to check in and introduce myself. New here. Just had the sleeve done last Friday 10/28, and I am definitely adjusting. Pain was bearable, but honestly the least of my worries looking back. I left the house for the first time in 4 days yesterday and as soon as I started talking to anyone I felt like I was about to burst into tears. I have wanted this surgery for so long and I definitely do not want to go back but at the same time I feel stripped of my comforts and safety nets. It feels as if I'm 18 years old again, living on my own for the first time. Just opening up to my husband created this big knot in my throat like I was holding back tears. I've always struggled with food addiction since I was a young child. When I was 19 I got clean and sober after using and abusing drugs and alcohol and it's been 4 years since. I guess food has been my go-to now that drugs and alcohol are gone. Anybody on here struggle with addiction and recovery? I know I will prevail, one day at a time, but dealing with my own feelings are pretty rough sometimes. I just want to shove my face in a huge chocolate cake and cry while simultaneously eating Ben and jerrys. From what I see on here, it will all be worth it in the long run. I guess I'm just looking for some experience, strength and hope! -Chris Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Last week I went to my three year surgery follow up at Kaiser Fremont. It was a group appointment that took a couple of hours and included talks by our Bariatric Medical Doctor, Bariatric Psychologist, Bariatric Nutritionist, and Bariatric Surgeon. If you needed one on one appt, they scheduled those after. Kaiser does a great job with education. There were a lot of good handouts and good information shared. Some highlights: From the Surgeon: When people get a revision, weight loss is only around 10 lbs., which the surgeon credited to the liquid diet followed before and after surgery. He said they don’t know why there is not substantial weight loss with the revision surgery, but he theorized that whatever was reset during the first operation was a one time thing. He also showed an image of stomach and how blood flow to the stomach is decreased with each operation. I hadn’t realized how many veins and arteries were connected to the part of our stomach that is removed. A lot! The stomach can only stretch so much. It does not continue stretching once it gets to maximum capacity. People may think they are eating more at one time because the brain adapts. Ulcer is leading cause of death in long term complications. Ulcers are caused by too much alcohol, smoking, and some drugs, including SSRIs, immunosuppressors and the usual suspects. Not spicy or acidic foods. From the medical doctor: Kaiser Vitamin recommendations have changed. For the latest, along with the latest Kaiser Bariatric Surgery Guidebook, see: Iron in Ferrous Sulfate form can cause stomach upset, that’s why they recommend Ferrous Fulmanate or Ferrous Gluconate. Take with stool softener if needed. Watch for birth control pill malabsorption. For those that don’t like pills, she offered the following schedule:Morning: Wellese liquid Calcium or calcium citrate chews, multi with iron Evening: Wellese liquid calcium or calcium citrate chews, multi with iron Weekly: 5000 mg B12, 250 mg B1, Iron with Vitamin C Once per month: 50,000 iuVitamin D From the Psychologist: Tip for eating less: Do not put serving plates on table. People eat more then. Serve from kitchen so people don’t see extra food and have to get up to have a second helping. Cross addiction is more common in year two than year one post op. She had a whole list of books for us, but strongly recommended Mindess Eating by Brian Wansin. She had a handout from AmiHungry.com for Mindful Eating After Bariatric Surgery. Download it here: Water, etc. From the Nutritionist: Eat 20-25 grams of Protein per meal (70 grams per day). 3-5 planned meals per day, 1200-1500 calories per day, limit carbs to 30 per meal (15 carbs average in 1 starch, dairy or fruit). Eat protein first, then up to ½ cup veggies, then carb such as whole grain, fruit or dairy. Eat protein with any foods with higher sugar content. For example, have some cheese with grapes.

It takes alot less to have any affect, so you'll want to be careful when you start drinking again. I waited the full 6 weeks that had any dietary restrictions, since it was the 'healing period'. Calorie wise, alcohol is a beast, so be careful that you aren't eating well and exersizing and then blowing your weight loss cuz of the drinks!

I don't think that is fair. How many times have you done the same thing? Looked at a drug addict and wondered why they started drugs to begin with? Or an alcoholic and wondered why they don't just quit? There are a million similar examples. We have an eating disorder in my opinion and just like alcoholics we don't get help usually until it is out of control. We all think we can do it on our own. I didn't relate to fat people either until I was one. I did not understand why they didn't just quit eating. Typically in society we hear "eating disorder" and think anorexia. It goes the other way too. I'll never relate to wanting to get another good drunk in, I'll never relate to missing cocaine. I wouldn't fully relate until I had the same experience. Same holds true for fat folks.