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I hate it, I don't do it (rarely anyway). I've lost weight, but am not as healthy as I could be. I am more active than I was pre-op, but I could certainly be more-so. I go in fits and starts. Say I am going to be a good little bandster and start a walking program. It lasts a couple of weeks, then I slack off. I have an arthritic knee which provides me a great "excuse." We have a pool, but it needed replastering. That has just been done, but it is still too cold, another good "excuse." Well that one is true..the Water is about 65..aint no way, no how! But I think Rachel is correct, bandsters who exercise are more successful than those who don't. You also won't find me on here asking why I am not losing when I know darned well I could be exercising more and not consuming alcoholic beverages from time to time. However, my blood pressure is good, my blood sugar is good, my cholesterol is good. I wear a size 10. I am a happy clam!

As a 5 month out sleever I am quite biased, however I think that the sleeve is the perfect mid ground in terms of wls. I was afraid to go for the full bypass because of the possible problems with absorbing Vitamins, however if I change my mind later, I know that my sleeve can be converted. I thought I was hungry post surgery for weeks, and then it suddenly dawned on me - my mind hadn't caught up! My stomach does not tell me I am hungry, my mind struggles sometimes with what else to do because until surgery food was the solution for every problem, or emotion I encountered. Things have eased massively since I worked that out, and yes, sometimes I pshychologically want to eat all the wrong things, but my stomach soon tells me what a massive mistake I'm making if I try. I have found a few evil "SLIDER" foods and alcohol will go down very easily, so my stomach is not fool proof, but it is a damn sight more effective than my willpower ever was. Good luck in your decision.

Fatty Liver is a big issue for overweight patients- mainly because there is no good treatment other than weight loss- NASH ( non alcoholic steatohepatitis ) , a subgroup of fatty liver that may lead to cirrhosis, so if you have this the surgery is a good thing to do...My liver function studies are elevated and hopefully they will return to normal with weight loss---.I will keep you posted-

Alcohol? Yes, they're OK in moderation. Some (most?) surgeons advise you to avoid carbonated drinks though. And alcohol may hit you a lot harder/faster post-surgery.

I'm not a beer drinker, but I drink soda. I waited until I was at goal to drink it. My sleeve had relaxed, and I would burp and the liquid would pass. I know there are a couple of the other guys on the forum that enjoy beer now. I'm a rum/coke drinker, and haven't had any issues with having carbonation plus alcohol. I wouldn't do it early out if you have really great restriction still because it can be very uncomfortable. Flat beer sucks so I wouldn't recommend letting it go flat like a lot suggest for soda consumption.

Sugar alcohol does not affect the blood glucose level like sugar. But I understand too much can cause diarrhea or discomfort in some people. I imagine how much differs from person to person but I don't know. I've had pure protein bars with no trouble. Sugar alcohols ok to eat on a low carb diet though according to my doctor's nutritionist.

I have to add my thoughts to this one. I'm 4 months out and have lost 80 pounds ( stalling right now due to TOM). I do have an occasional sweet usually mini reeses cup me and my hubby keep in the freezer. Im also part of a wine club and love to drink wine. I go about once a month to a wine tasting and my husband and I usually have a glass of red for dinner. I don't count calories and just listen to my body what it needs food wise. I do find that since I eat so little I do make much better food choices. I eat more fish since it has more protein and always make sure to drink plenty of water. If I drink wine I have extra water to make up for the alcohol. This surgery is the best decision I've ever made for myself and as a self pay the money I spent was well worth it. I've never felt better and since I'm eating so much healthier my husband has also lost 40 pounds since I've inspired him. Make sure you do plenty of your own research and don't blindly follow the advice of a NUT. I've picked up books to read and like to make my own decisions based on a wide range of facts. Best of luck to ya!

Protein Plus is lactose free powder and has 27g protein per serving. I use the vanilla one only--I like to freeze berries fresh to actually flavor my shakes with. Since I am now doing pureed food, I also use either Almond Breeze Light or light soymilk to blend my shake or foods with. It is very good with strawberries and /or banana in a shake. As for the sugar alcohol issues, I would limit those and try to sweeten naturally with stevia. The art sweeteners have left my tastebuds uneasy, and I decided early that I would limit using those and to cook with natural ingredients as much as possible. I won't use cow's milk anymore. That tends to bring on gassy stomach aches. Knowing my lova affair with some bars, I would not stop at one or a half of one. So, for me, I avoid those--the GF ones sound like they are delicious, tho.

Not all sleeve patients lose their hunger so you can't count on that aspect. But, if you choose the right foods, you will stay satisfied longer. If you eat mushy, carb-laden foods that slide through you can eat more and more often. All the junk food you listed, the cakes the Haribo Snacks will not stay with you long, and will allow to continue to eat well over the suggested caloric intake for optimum weight loss success. You can have all the foods you listed. It's about moderation on what you put on your mouth. Not every person can just eat what they want and lose weight. If you continue to do the same thing you've always done, you will get the same results. The sleeve gives you restriction, 100% correct, but if you eat to just eat, and eat junk food, lots of carbs, then your weight loss might not be what you want. You can eat what you want, but you also can't expect fabulous results by not following a more nutrient dense, balanced, and planned food plan. You do not have to diet, but you can't just eat whatever you want and have fabulous weight loss. If that were the case, you wouldn't be considering surgery. Losing weight is easy in the beginning. I can tell you at 2 years out, that gaining weight is easy as well. There are plenty of us that are further out than 12 months that have seen gains. I saw a gain over the holidays because I ate just whatever I wanted, drank lots of alcoholic beverages, partied for 3 months straight. Well, that behavior gave me about a 7lb gain. So, again, everyone that thinks "Oh I'll never gain the weight back, I can eat whatever I want, and not worry about regain, or I'll never gain again." don't be surprised if/when regain happens when we allow ourselves to forget how we got fat in the first place. It's naive to think that surgery will fix everything, and that just because we're eating smaller amounts, we won't gain weight. It is easier with the sleeve to make the best choice (fruit over chips), but making those choices, and breaking bad habits is the really tough part of this journey. It's a lot easier said than done in my opinion.

I agree with both Sandworms and Rachel you get out of the band what you put into it. Unless the band has slipped or their is some type of malfunction, it will do its job, but your job is still the hardest. It is was determines significant weight loss from plateaus and weight gain while having it. I've noticed a trend over the last 6 months on blogs, forums, youtube etc. from bandsters who are having trouble shedding the pounds and aside from band malfunctions, they are all cheaters. Whether that be with alcohol, not exercising, or poor food choices. If your drinking alcohol on weekends, or fruit juices high in calories, snacking on cookies, ice cream and other high calorie items you were told to stay away from, you are NOT gonna be successful losing the weight. If you put in the work and follow the diet, you will lose the weight you want. I've also noticed a trend in those who lose alot, and who are most sucessful at keeping it off over time, and that is, they've become alot more physically active. They take gym classes, do workout tapes, 4k runs, etc. Lapband isnt a magic pill, its just a tool to help you, but you've got to be willing to put in some work if you want to be successful. Good Luck, I'm sure you can do it. I intend to work my butt off to lose all the weight I want to. If you are too, you will.

I just tried the pure protein bars the other and they are very good. My concern now is how it says that it has sugar alcohol in them, but very low sugar. I'm just so confused with the whole sugar alcohol and what to think of that when it says (ie 15g) . So can someone please tell me if I should avoid the sugar alcohol all together or is it not as bad as I think?

How many days post op are you? Are you on solids yet? If you are allowed mushies you could try pulled pork or chicken since that would be the right consistancy. I would not feel bad about pulled chicken but I would about beer. One my doctor says no carbination, two it's empty calories. Personally I would rather have 150 cal. or dessert than alcohol.

Here's a bunch of topics with a lot of replies to the great soda debate. This is my standard reply: I'll throw out my experience just for s&g's. . . I've been drinking soda for a year, and have zero ill effects from it. I rarely drink diet soda because most are sweetened with aspartame which I hate. I recently found Diet Shasta cream soda which is sweetened with Splenda so this one is doable. I can say without a doubt that drinking soda has not changed my sleeve capacity in the least. Nor has it effected my weight loss in a negative manner. My restriction is the same as it was a year ago unless I cheat (take longer to eat my meal, sip throughout my meal, drink a glass of wine or other alcoholic beverage before my meal, drink hot fluids like coffee or tea before my meal) to get more in. I don't even let it go flat before drinking it. Early out, I would get a gas bubble, burp and it was over. The whole soda leaching Calcium from our bones is obviously a concern, but in my opinion, moderation is key. There is ZERO scientific evidence that soda drinking causes stretching. Even for RNY patients, there is no proof that soda causes the pouch to stretch. We have a normal stomach with a pyloric valve intact. The fluids, be it soda, Water, crystal light, all go in, hit the pyloric valve and dump into our intestines. It isn't like the soda is sitting in there brewing for hours on end. Plus, there is NOT enough tissue left to stretch out our sleeves if the surgery is performed correctly. There is only so much stretch that can occur. It isn't like the stomach tissue regenerates, or can stretch back to pre-op size. It just is not physically possible. Not that I'm advocating going against any particular surgeon's recommendation, but this has been my experience and my opinions on soda drinking post-bariatric surgery. http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/15947-the-diet-coke-debate/page__p__134881__hl__soda__fromsearch__1#entry134881 http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/13580-carbonated-beverages/page__p__116756__hl__soda__fromsearch__1#entry116756

I enjoy a cocktail everyonce in a while.... since my Jamaican Rum and DIet Cokes are a thing of the past and I am not fond of the taste of most hard liquor I struggled on what to drink. I found Citron or Manderin Vodka mixed with Water and a splash of regular cranberry with a lime is actually very refreshing and good. I tried the splash with the diet crandberry but it left such a bad aftertaste I couldnt stomach it. I estimate the "splash" of cranerry is not much more than a teaspoon full so It wont kill me. Make it look the color of a light pink flamingo!! 2 of those and I am feeling it.... and to think I used to think I had a high tolerance for alcohol. LOL Just dont forget to count the calories in your food diary... Vodka is about 60-80 calories per ounce

I am told not to eat anymore than 10 grams of sugar per serving at a time to help avoid "dumping". As far as wine, I have already indulged in a few ounces a few times and did not have any problems. Sorry, but the "you're never gonna have alcohol again" doesn't fly with me. But that being said, I am going to put weight loss over wine any day, considering I just had 85% of my stomach cut out Good luck to you!

I'm about 3 months out and I talked with my nutritionist about alcohol. She told me it would be ok but not to make it a regular habit and to make sure an calculate in with my daily calories and carbs. Like you I wanted to have something while out with the girls. I had a skinny girl margarita first and yes it hit me fast but also the buzz wore off fast too. The second time I had vodka cranberry and it was the same fast buzz but then quickly went away. Both times I felt fine the next day but I didn't over induldge. I agree with doctors using the scare tactic. I understand where they're coming from but I agree more with having everything in moderation. I think that is easier for us to take in as well and not think it will be off limits forever.

Just to add my two cents - I tried alcohol twice recently. I am 3 months out from surgery, so it was really too soon to try it. But I wanted to know. The first time, I drank 1/4 cup of beer - slowly - sipping it with little baby sips. After the 1/4 cup, I had a buzz like I had just downed a couple of shots of tequila (back when I was young and stupid). No ill effects the next day - and I had allowed for the carbs in my daily carb allotment. The next week, I tried 2 tablespoons of a fine tequila. Again, I sipped it with hummingbird sips - and got a distinct glow from it. No ill effects again, and I had allowed for the carbs and calories. Experiments complete. I don't plan on having any more alcohol until I hit goal. I think it would be GREAT if sugar made me sick. I had that reaction to it after I was without it for over a year when dieting several years ago. That response makes it easier for me to leave the sweet stuff alone.

Some people can't tolerate sugar, but the majority of sleeve patients suffer no ill-effects from having occasional indulgences. I'm a very social drinker (well before pregnancy), and I've been drinking since I hit goal without issue. My alcohol tolerance is the same it was pre-op. The first time I drank 1 glass of wine, it hit me hard and fast, but it had been over 8-9 months since I had consumed any alcohol. That's a pretty typical reaction to alcohol when you remove it from your intake. It's the same as fried foods, or carby junk. When I first added in other indulgences, I didn't feel the greatest. I was sick per se, but I didn't feel myself, just a little lethargic and needed to sleep off the carb overload. I have found that a lot of surgeons and nutritionist use scare tactics to keep people from falling off the proverbial diet wagon. BUT, then there are other doctors and nutritionist that promote a life of moderation and better decision-making processes when it come to food choices. I didn't eat just whatever I wanted in small portions until I got into maintenance, and have kept that habit for over a year now.

I guess I'm in the minority here. While we'll always have to be around food situations and make choices accordingly, I think it is inconsiderate for her husband to be eating fast food regularly in front of her. Of course the family doesn't have to change, but I just cannot fathom how people that love one another wouldn't try to be helpful and considerate of their loved one's feelings. Does the man really need fast food several nights per week? I am here shaking my head wondering why many of you feel less worthy of certain respect. Here, let me put it into perspective from my point of view: If your child was recently diagnosed with diabetes, would you be eating ice cream in front of him/her several times a week while your child couldnt have any? Would you not change the family eating habits a little? Of course you would. Would you eat a hot fudge cake in front of your child for dessert while offering him a piece of fruit? Of course you wouldn't. What if your elderly parent came to visit for a long period of time, wouldn't you try to accommodate him/her with a comfortable place to sit, maybe a wheelchair ramp, foods they like? Of course you would. Would you be sloshing back the wine in front of your husband who just started attending AA meetings? I wouldn't dream of it. Sure, at some point he's going to have to be in social situations where alcohol is and be ok with it, and sure I'd still have my coveted glass of wine on occasion as appropriate, but I sure as heck wouldn't be bringing it into my home his first weeks in recovery. Why are we less worthy of the same mutual respect and care? ::shaking my head:: The difference is that the family still has to eat, I get it. But the family doesn't have to be gorging on decadent Desserts and bringing home trigger foods the first few weeks you are in recovery. Can they? Sure. I wouldn't do that to them if the situation were reversed because I LOVE them and want to support their recovery. Why don't I deserve the same love and respect? I do. And so do you all. I've explained to my family that I may not be able to eat with them while I'm on the liquid diet for the 4th week in a row and that I may have to leave the room while they eat. I also explained that I will still be cooking their meals, but I also asked that if some night I just can't do it, would they mind fending for themselves. They are all supportive of it and just asked that I buy foods to keep in the fridge/freezer that are easy for them to prepare on their own. Now having said all that, I don't believe I have a food addiction. I've been fine with the family eating fast food while I passed. I don't anticipate it being too difficult to deal with them eating when I can't unless the smell just makes me nauseous, which I anticipate immediately after surgery. I don't have a love of fast food or sweets and desserts. My trigger foods are savory foods and, yes, my feelings would be hurt and I would feel less loved if 2 weeks after surgery, while I'm on my 3rd week of liquids, my husband brought home scallops and made pan seared scallops served on spinach greens with a bacon vinaigrette dressing or made filet mignon with bernaise.

uhm...the fast answer is: cookie yes. Wine no. The long answer is I understand a bite of a cookie once in a while or something sweet, but don't let it become a habit because after all, you're doing this surgery to lose weight, right? Why put crap into your body at this point? Wait until you're at the maintenance stage of the game, then worry about Cookies LOL Sleeve patients don't experience "dumping syndrome" like the DS or the RNY so it won't make you sick. Wine or any alcohol is going to be really hard because you'll have a very small tummy and so you may absorb alcohol (and medications) at a faster rate. They advise you not to drive after even a SIP of alcohol because of this. It's not worth the risk. If you're home and not driving? Try a glass of wine. The worst that can happen is you're crocked and your hubby takes advantage of the situation LOL Renee`

Congratulations or the approval!!! I started out at 271 and in 2 weeks I was down to 256. I wasnt restricted to a certain amount of calories. I had to do 2 Protein shakes a day and Soup for the other meal. I could also have sugar free Jello and pudding in between which really helped with cravings. By the 2nd week I didnt have many cravings anymore. I think part of that was the motivation of seeing the pounds starting to disappear. As far as the social aspect I totally understand. I go out several times a week. I had to make myself stay in for those 2 weeks because I knew I couldnt not eat or drink alcohol if I was with all my friends. I went out tonight for the first time since surgery and I did really well. I think alot of it just depends on how determined you are. You will do great and good luck!!!!

Interesting point...however everyone needs to eat..no one needs to drink alcohol

OH I know the feeling. I loved and love my cocktails. I havent drank any cocktails in a while but did have 2 glasses of wine last week and woo felt good. Im on occasion going to do what you are asking about. We need to make lifestyle changes and I dont see anything wrong on occasion. Dont over do it I cant bare the thought of throwing up from alcohol. July 4th is huge at my house and i was sweating it but Im going to have 2 drinks in the night and thats it. good luck

Hi, everybody! I just met with the dietician today and am now a little apprehensive about my upcoming sleeve surgery. I was told by others that I could have the occasional cookie or sweet thing and now my dietician is telling me I won't be able to without getting sick I was told by others that I could pretty much eat what I want just in very small portions (at least after 90 days or so). Also, will I be able to go out with my friends and have a couple glasses of wine?? I 'm worried about my nights out with the girls!