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Having alcohol right now is a bad idea since your body is still weak from surgery. It will affect you quickly, and maybe not in a good way. MOST people don't have restriction right after surgery. The band works by making you feel "full" quickly and keeping you feeling satisfied for 4-5 hours, but it's not going to stop you from eating or drinking a large amount of anything. Just because you can, doesn't mean you should

I searched this because I think I may have pancreatitis and was concerned that it may be related to the band. Through the little spat I was able to get a few facts about pancreatitis. More importantly I want to say that I read this very unassumingly. When I read the post that read, "If your husband drinks...", well, I certainly did not read it as though an assumption had been made. In fact, when I asked my doc about this matter, his immediate response was, "If you drink...stop." He was referring to any drinking at all. He wants to halt all alcohol until we rule out pancreatitis. So, I believe the statement about whether your husband drank was actually sound advice given by an individual who has identifiied him/herself as a medical professional. I don't know, not trying to rehash anything...I was just a little taken back by how feelings were worn on shoulders. We should all remember that soooo much can be lost in the typewritten word. I TRULY don't believe that any insult was intended by the statement. And Soexcited, I understand how stressful things can be when there is uncertainty regarding a medical condition. There is a lot of stress there. I really hope that you all have your answers. In addition, I hope you post anything new that you have learned. I am still trying to educate myself on this matter. I am terrified that my condition could be pancreatitis...and worse, I am scared to death that cancer is causing it. ((You know how us crazy people are...))

hi everyone- i'm jennifer- alcoholic/addict with 20 years sobriety looking to start the oa program- will be sleeved 7/20/11! i've heard there may be some prejudice in oa meetings when it comes to us wls folks. any wisdom/experience with this?

Soft Foods Diet: Beverages: Water, tea, coffee, sugar or fat free coca, Crystal Light, sugar-free Kool-aid, sugar-free Tang, sugar-free lemonade, Diet-Snapple, Diet V-8 slash, skim milk, lactose free milk, light soy milk AVOID: sugar sweetened drinks, coca, carbonation, caffeine or alcohol others: sugar-free popsicles, fruit n juice popsicles, sugar free Jello, sugar free pudding soup: low fat cream Soups, soups of any kind AVOID: full fat cream soups, full sodium soups starches: cooked Cereal, cream of rice, cream of wheat, malt-o-meal, thinned grits or oatmeal, mashed potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes, crispy toasted bread AVOID: sugar-sweetened cereals, cold cereals, bread (unless toasted), Pasta, ritz crackers or soda crackers unless light and all other starches meats/protein: low fat cottage cheese or ricotta, low fat yogurt, low fat cheese, egg, tuna, canned chicken (with light mayo only), shaved deli meats, ground beef, ground turkey (Cooking methods: baking, broiling, slow cooker, foil wrapped) AVOID: Dry meat or poultry, mixed dishes (ie lasagna), beef (other than ground because it's hard to digest) vegetables: cooked, canned or pureed (soft-able to be mashed with fork) AVOID: Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, onions, snow peas, asparagus, celery, raw vegetables fruits: cooked, canned or pureed, unsweetened applesauce, and bananas (fruits only occasionally) AVOID: Cherries, berries, citrus fruits, grapes, plums, most raw fruits fats: margarine and I can't believe it's not butter spray Hope this helps!

so yeah there are the calories to consider but like you said it's very rarely that you are doing this BUT here is my thing!! after 9 lemon drops one night I found myself SICK BEYOND belief! and I began puking violently! sorry groose- and puking with the band SUCKS!! it really hurts! so just dont drink to the point of puking- oh and another time I didn't drink quite as much but you know when you are at that place where you are like UGG if I could just puke I'd feel so much better! well I couldnt puke thanks to my band keeping everything down and I had to sweat it out literally for hours until my body worked out all the alcohol and it sucked! cheers!

Obesity is a disease just like alcoholism or drug abuse. Unfortunately, you can't help someone until they're ready to help themselves. Go have your surgery and work your ass off (pun intended!). When she sees how successful you are she'll probably change her mind. By then, you'll be an old pro and will be able to help her be successful too.

A few times a year isn't going to hurt you, just stay away from the carbonation. Life doesn't stop just because you are banded. In fact, done properly, it begins! I used to have such a high tolerance for alcohol. My father was a construction worker and my step-father was a sailor. They were both alcoholics. There was a time when I could drink either one of them under the table. Now, with the minimal amount of food in my system at any given time, it doesn't take much for me to start feeling it.

Jersey Girl, One suggestion, give up the beer. It will stretch your pouch. Any carbonated beverage no matter how slow we drink it over time will stretch the pouch. You could let it go flat but who wants a flat beet. Yuck, I was a guiness drinker and had to give it up. Try some SF drink mixes and switch to something else or maybe wine. Most of the reading says we should not drink alcohol for a year after surgery, well I fluncked that the first 2 months. The other think I noticed, is I used to be able to tolerate alcohol and now because we eat so little at meals and have to drink on an empty stomach that I am a cheap date. Two martini's and I am done! I love a good dirty martini and I have decided the olives are my fruit, veggies and fat. Two olives and one drink and I am full. I would love to find some of the CL Mojito mix, afraid I would be tempted to add a little rum and mint to that. Back to losing, some bandsters do not lose until after there first fill, it takes some of our bodies a while to adjust to decrease in activity and as you said the weight loss is slow and steady. Good luck, keep blogging and reading and you will be successful.

Thanks for all your replies. I just like to say to those of you pre op its just different on the other side. Simply said, I can remember be on here and just waiting to be on the other side. Feelings change on some topics so drastically and compassion instead of angst is replaced. There was no one or anything that could have stood in my way of surgery and getting what I wanted which is to say like 'wishes' rid me of my fat suit. However, there are those natural and I believe very normal feelings of loss. I just really needed to share them and have some agree that this is normal. I don't want to be alone in my feelings. I knew very early on that things that I mentioned above about missing were going to be gone. I knew this! Yet, I should and you should as well be able to grieve them and miss them still. I am a bartendar. I am around beer, alcohol, and fried food all day. I'm not complaining, but some others environment may be easier. It is hard and no one ever said it would be easy. I don't ever want to take this for granted so I'm glad it's not just easy. I just wanted to share the realities of this so others early post op and pre op can be mentally prepared for what is to come. Thanks for listening.

They haven't mentioned if I will be doing a liquid diet I'm pretty sure not as all my instructions say to follow the pre op diet right up until surgery day. I am currently following the pre-op diet which consists of 3 meals, no Snacks. Each meal is approx 400 calories. It is very carefully proportioned. I have to eat my Protein first and then the other parts of the meal. No drinking 10 minutes before a meal or 1 hour after, no gum, no straws, no rice/pasta/tortillas, only well toasted bread, no alcohol, no caffeine...basically what it will be like after surgery. They want to make sure that you are able to do it and are committed because you will have to eat like this for the rest of your life after surgery.

Sure did. And nobody is more surprised or pleased than I am. I owe it to a consistent eating plan (I follow a modified South Beach Diet kind of thing), an hour or so in the gym four or five days a week, a good night's sleep, lots of Water, and trying to stay as active as possible. That's it. I don't binge eat, I don't graze or snack, and I rarely drink alcohol. (Half a glass of beer a time or two a month in a restaurant doesn't count as much alcohol.) If I decide to have a sweet treat, I'll have a bite or two, and stop. I don't have room to eat a whole dessert after a meal, and I don't really have the desire to eat one. And if I do eat something like that, I don't do it often - certainly not like I did pre-surgery. I feel great, I have a ton of energy, and I look ten years younger. I'm able to do my work much better than before (I'm an IT guy for a large hospital), and I intend to take this as far as is reasonable. The biggest thing my band has given me is my life back again. I was a spectator on the road to an early grave. Now I feel energized, and ready to face the rest of my life head-on. I'm 57, but haven't felt like this since I was in my 30's. By the numbers, I've reached 66% of my ultimate goal, which is another 49 pounds down from where I am now. I don't expect to get that low. I may stop at 25-30 pounds more, depending on how I look and feel. Hope this helps, Dave

July 5 for me at fair oaks hospital virginia. Dr moazzez. Starting weight: 205, current weight 181 (no clothes). Eating less, losing weight, can't wait for band to help me stop feeling so crummy and hungry. My plan is to be hungry for next 16 days and then applying current better eating habits to my new pouch. Have diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Need excess weight gone so I can live to see great grandchildren born.

Hiya, thanks for asking. Well I can say I TOTALLY fell off the wagon this weekend! Friday I went out for my best friend's leaving party, and my attempt at not drinking was met with abject horror by said friend, so in typically me style I decided that it would be fine as long as i substituted food calories for alcohol calories! So off I trot with an empty stomach, 5 glasses of wine, 1 cocktail, 2 parma violet flavour vodkas, and two bottles of WKD, and my good intentions lie in ruins! However Saturday morning I tentatively crawl onto the scales to find I am down to 181!!!!!! I sat on the bathroom floor weeping with joy, the last time I was 12 stone something was the weekend i moved in with my husband, and that was 12 years ago, and at that time I'd got a major eating disorder, and was cycling and swimming for hours a day just to get that low. And hey presto! I'm suddenly there again, but this time i am not killing myself to be there! :D Yesterday we had house guests so had the ritual of chinese take away food, so i had duck (thinking Protein but no batter or anything carby = perfect option) only for it to make me really sick! Never one to know how to quit whilst I am ahead I then stupidly decided that having failed to stomach food I could afford another night of drinking, so a pint of ginger cider, and two pints of WKD later my day is done! Yes, I know how much of a total cock-up this weekend has been and just to remind me how stupid I've been I weighed back up at 183 this morning, so back out of the 12's! But I am feeling good! Total disaster? Yes! Insummountable problem? No! I messed up, I am moving on, no big deal (usually I'd be freaking out right now), although breifly, I saw the 12's there for a while which means I can get back there and stay there by not wobbling off the waggon! I can do this! I have no more big social occasions planned until my anniversary weekend on 1st july, and after that nothing until mid-end of August, so a long stretch of no distractions, and no excuses ahead! Plus my one social feature of the week is ending this week, so I get my wednesday nights off to use more wisely, starting 29th I'm joining Zumba class followed by Fitness yoga class - can't wait! Back on it, but the flicker of 181 was enough to really help me believe that this can work again!! Wow, long post, sorry! Off to set up wii family trainer now and to get our arses moving!

Welcome to the wonderful world of lap band. I have been banded for almost 7 months now and so far so good. I think the reality of the lap band really set in for me after my first fill. I had some restriction immediately post op but could pretty much eat anything if I chewed it well. After my first fill last December I really begain to realize what having a lap band meant. The one bad habit some of us fall into occassionally is letting the band do all the work. You have to become very in tune with your band. Always remember the band is just a tool, all those feelings and addictive behaviors we had before banding are still there, and believe me they will play with your mind and you can become very creative on how to get food to go down. I sometimes say the lap band is harder than any diet I ever participated in because it forces me to make healthy choices or suffer in the aftermath. My advice is stay away from slidder foods when on solids, a slidder is anything that will go through the band easily and add up the calories and you do not stay full. Stick with the 3 meals as it recommends on the web sites, it is easy to get into the habit of snacking between meals or grazing all day long. Because we can only hold small amounts at each meal if we eat the wrong foods or drink with meals it empties out our pouch and we are hungry. I know it is hard not to drink before, with and immediately after meals but if you don't do this as it recommends it really makes a differience. You stay satisfied longer and less likely to eat between meals. If you do feel the urge to eat between meals, stick with healthy snacks and stay away from carbohydrates. If you like sweets, find a good protein bar you like and that can be your sweet treat. I sometimes consider my gummy calcium chews and vitamins my sweet fix. They are small, I have to take them and I feel like I am getting a treat. A few protein bars that I have found good are the Zone Bars, Biggest Loser, Chocolatey Coconut ( I love german chocolate cake and this reminds me or it) also the Pure Protein Bars. All of these are low carbohydrate bars, I don't buy bars if the are over 200 calories or more than 16-17 gms of carbohydrates. The Prue Protein are very low carb but have sugar alcohols and in some that causes gas. Gas-x is your friend once on solid food, I got tired of the pills and chewables and found some strips that dissolve on your tongue in peppermint and cinniamin. Keep some protein drinks on hand they are great when you are in a hurry, hungry and don't have time to eat. This is a web site that I like for protein drinks. There drinks dissolve well and they dissolve in only 4ozs of liguid. There are recipies for some of them to enjoy them hot in the summer. I love the unflavored, I can add it to soups, drinks, yogurt and just about anything to get my protein. WWW.bariatriceating.com. Good luck on your journey, you will be surprised how many people actually will read your blog and be supportive. Good luck on your journey, remember we didn't get here overnight and it truely is a journey. Remember to celebrate all of your successes and DON't become a slave to your scale, all of us seem to loose inches along with pounds. Good Luck!:bananajump:

I have thought about this a fair bit and I have come to the conclusion that 'carbonated drinks stretch your pouch' is a myth. It just seems a bit trusting to take that statement at face value. For a start, there are actually two holes for the gas to escape, either up or down... if food is blocking the down bit, then up it comes... I know that from experience LOL. The pouch is made from an elastic material and the brief time a little liquid is effervescing in it is not enough to permanently stretch it. I know if I drink carbonated drinks too fast that I pay for it either by burping or it coming back up... but I don't believe it can stretch our pouches. I am not advocating drinking sugary or alcoholic carbonated drinks... all I'm saying is that I don't think a bit of sparkling Water, soda water or sugar free diet sodas is going to be bad for us. We have to deprive ourselves of so many things, why deprive ourselves unnecessarily?

Good Afternoon Peeps Had boot camp this morning then funeral - then did a little shopping got this great bbq sauce from World Mart - Stockyard BBQ - OMG to die for - I know there is a Stockyard Restaurant in Dallas that's really famous I assume it's from there - going back tomorrow to buy a whole bunch - cuz it's hard to find good bbq sauce and when I find one I love - they quit making it.. So gotta stock up Candice - I don't think I have had rubbard.. Bannana nut bread - omg - that can't be a N American thing - how werid Linda - How' Mindy doing are you home yet Phyl - Wine really doesnt help your bp - I think it makes it worse really This is from the Mayo Clinic - I just wanted to make sure that Dr Janet was giving correct info Question Alcohol: Does it affect blood pressure? Does drinking alcohol affect your blood pressure? Answer from Sheldon G. Sheps, M.D. Drinking too much alcohol can raise blood pressure to unhealthy levels. Having more than three drinks in one sitting temporarily increases your blood pressure, but repeated binge drinking can lead to long-term increases. Heavy drinkers who cut back to moderate drinking can lower their systolic blood pressure (the top number in a blood pressure reading) by 2 to 4 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) and their diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number in a blood pressure reading) by 1 to 2 mm Hg. If you have high blood pressure, avoid alcohol or drink alcohol only in moderation. Moderate drinking is generally considered to be: Two drinks a day for men younger than age 65 One drink a day for men age 65 and older One drink a day for women of any age A drink is 12 ounces (355 milliliters) of beer, 5 ounces (148 milliliters) of wine or 1.5 ounces (44 milliliters) of 80-proof distilled spirits. Keep in mind that alcohol contains calories and may contribute to unwanted weight gain — a risk factor for high blood pressure. Also, alcohol can interfere with the effectiveness and increase the side effects of some blood pressure medications. So gf sorry to say gf - you need to only have 1 period - they can give you meds for the bp - are they talking about changing it.. Exercise and getting some more weight off will help.. Hugs on that proceedure - you are in my prayer - but ya gotta limit salt too i think Well I am off to the couch for a while - cbl

Was reading other blogs today and it got me thinking. I have said many times that I was addicted to food, but not until today have I realized that I am a food addict. Been banded 16 days now and it has made me very aware of everything I put in my mouth. If addictive personalities run in families, then I can see that I am an addict. My father was an alcoholic as was my older brother. Second brother was addicted to perscription narcotics. I used to pride myself that I did neither of those. But now I see that I was not immune. I can sit here and blame it on my childhood traumas ( do not wish to go into those here) but it comes down to personal responsibilities. No one forced me to become this obese. I want and I need to lose this weight, as much as I can, be it 60 lbs or 160lbs. I know I need to get support everyday for my journey. I don't think very many people read these blogs so I don't expect much in the way of responses. I just want to write down my feelings, my goals,and my successes or failures in order to continue on. Maybe I can read my entries in a few months and see I am getting better.

A lot of it has to do with your metabolism has changed. Also, alcohol is a can have a diuretic effect so it's calories, but you might urinate more, and in effort to make up for it, your body is processing stuff differently. Calories in, calories out, pushing Protein and fluids. The closer to your goal, you might find that you have to tweak your intake even more. I had the same issue as I was getting close to goal and trying to get my losing to slow down. You're building muscle which in turn burns fat stores, and takes up less space in the body. You've done great, and for me, there was no rhyme of reason as to the number of the scales, I never stalled, lost consistently and never questioned it. I just kept going until it was maintenance. That's when the real work begins on this journey.

Hi, just thought I would pop in and update anyone who is trying to find an answer from HIGHMARK BLUE CROSS BLUE SHEILD ADMINISTRATOR FOR Alcoa plant in Ferndale Wa. I just got the big answer that in order to apply for the insurance, I would have to meet all the comorbidities (no problem) be over 50 bmi for the VSG, (no problem) ...AND a 6 month Dr, assisted monitored diet to prove how I lose weight!! Now, does it make sense they just payed 42.000 to replace my right hip due to osteoarthritis and if I don't get the weight off quickly, will end up having to do my left hip too? I can't beleive that none of the weight loss from Jenny Craig, weight watchers, nutrition center etc. count towards proof! If I was an alcoholic, drug addict, they would spend thousands helping with that issue. If I wanted viagra, yep they would cover that.... Hummmmm, guess that's how it goes!!

So I live with one of my coworkers - had reservations about it, but it was just the best option financially as we we're both mid-twenties and not "settled down." I didn't tell her or anyone else that I was planning to get surgery, just said I was going on vacation to Mexico. Explained away my pre-op diet by saying I wanted to lose some pounds before going. Unfortunately, there's a lot of crossover between my job and my social life, and it got really hard having to avoid situations with food and alcohol, worrying that everyone wondered what was wrong. Also I did have to tell my roommate after getting back, and I felt guilty thinking that she'd have to lie if anyone asked her what was up with me. It's a tiny office and yesterday our boss was out, so I decided to tell my supervisor. I say "supervisor" but she's only a few years older than me and we hang out socially, so it's really just a title. Anyway, I tried to bravely tell the story with a smile on my face, and was all ready to explain how I didn't mean to be secretive, just needed some time to get used to things before I started telling people. I never even got the chance - she blew through a few judgmental questions ("Did you go to a really reputable clinic or something?" Ummm, NO, I just had it done in a rusty van behind a 7-11! I mean what kind of question is that?!) and then insisted that the reason I was tired at the end of the day was not that I'm recovering from surgery but that I'm starving myself and not getting enough nutrients. When I tried to explain that I actually have seen a nutritionist and there are plenty of ways to make sure I stay healthy, she just ignored it. On top on it, my roommate starting piping in saying she'd "never seen me eat anything" since I got back. I've had Jell-o, Protein shakes, Soups, yogurt, etc. all in front of her!!!!! It was so unsupportive and just ended up feeling like a humiliating ambush. I didn't even get a chance to finish before they just changed the subject and I pretty much just slunk away. I already forgive them - they haven't done the research I have and I can't expect them to understand. It just made me feel awful, and now they will go and tell people what a "crazy" thing I did. I never should have said anything, it wasn't their business to begin with. It's just really hard to keep up a lie, and I thought I'd be saving myself trouble. Might I add that I got this lecture while they sat there drinking soda and stuffing their faces with brownies! Like that's so "healthy and nutritious"!!!!

Hello all, hope eveyone is well I have been awol a few weeks since the defill, cos it has been horrendous. Terrible pains and trapped wind after eating, many nights awake in agony because of the stomach pains and I have also managed to catch 2 bugs, one sickness and the other down south which I hadn't suffered with at since having the band fitted. I dont remember ever feeling this uncomfortable even when my diet was so full of crap pre the band, and the wind is just awful, my mood has been terrible as well. I have just been a snappy nasty b***h really So I have now put on a stone and feel so uncomfortable so I mailed Freddie and he assures me the weight gain is normal as my body had completely re hydrated, so I feel a little better knowing that, but I have booked in to be refilled next Thursday as I just don't feel in control. He said I can be refilled to a maximum of 6.5mls, (currently have 5mls) as we fly out to Egypt in July and he said I really can't go any higher than that, and defo not back to the 7.5mls as the heat over there will make the band too tight. I just need to get this stone back off, because . . . we have our appointment with the Fertility specialist on 8th August!!!! So utterly delighted that we will hopefully be starting treatment this year and also gutted as had the letter come sooner I wouldn't have had the defill to ensure I was still in or less than the weight range to be accepted for treatment, but hey ho its done now. MMM, thanks for the advise re the diet chef, got myself lots of Soups and porridge so that I am only eating a meal once a day if that, so hoping the weight may start slowly coming down this week any way, as I made the most of drinking alcohol and eating at the IOW festival last weekend and then came on on Tuesday so very bloated and lots of Water retention. Can't wait to get the skinny feeling back again, just hope the 6.5mls gives me enough restriction. Good luck to the newbies and hope the rest of the gang are doing well with losing C xx

That was a crappy thing for him to say, but as I always say "men are VARMINTS'. lol! Sorry, all you great guys out there. lol! Just keep doing what you are doing. I have not had Lap Band, yet, but plan to in a few months if all goes well. HOWEVER, I have dealt with those kind of comments from my dad over the years. I lose weight all the time, just to gain most of it back so he feels he has to comment on it. It's very frustrating because unless someone has been in our shoes to know what it's like, they Just DO NOT know. I always feel like this is a type of addiction just like an alcoholic in an ABC store. That's the only way I can describe it best. That's why I don't do well at buffets, no matter how good my intentions are. Something in my brain just goes haywire with all of that good food around. Many blessings to you as you continue your journey. Don't allow his comment to bring you down.

Maybe they were talking about alcohol? Because you do tend to get drunk faster. If not alcohol, I'm not sure why they would make that one of the big rules. I drink coffee, tea, water ...... all the time when I drive. I also live in a very rural area and do a lot of driving. It's nice to have something to drink on the way.

The honeymoon period is definetely over!! And now I know by personal experience that the honeyperiod does exist! As many of you know I've been struggling with working my sleeve lately, so I decided to go back to basics and it isn't easy!!!!!!!! I'm back to mostly Protein and good carbs and no snacking. I've started to increase the intensity of my workouts to try and start moving the scales again. No more snacking and NO junk or alcohol! And it's much harder then in the first 6 months, at least for me. I'm craving carbs like mad, today I was doing a body combat class and I got all shakey and had to sit down and put my feet up for a few minutes, and I know it'ss my blood sugar trying to regulate itself again. I didn't give in though, just had a small fruit smoothie (no sugar) and now having chicken breast for lunch. So for those of you who are in the early stages try and do your best in the first few months, check on Tiffykins posts where she said she never strayed til she got to goal (or Juliarh). I know I'm gonna make it to goal, but it's damn harder now that I'm almost 11 months out, so wish me luck and makethe most of your first few months!!

I use the myoplex lite. I don't like the taste of most others, 190 cal., 15 g protein, 28 g carb ( 4 g fiber, 15 g sugar). I also liked the Costco bars, but the alcohol sugars gave me a low blood sugar rebound affect. Sweating, shaky, nauseous, light-headed.