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Most docs, mine included would like you to stay off alcohol for at least 6 months. My NUT said it would be "OK" after 3 months. The things you have to be careful of is one the behavior changes...getting the "munchies" and remember that alcohol flushes not only the water from your system but also the B12 so moderation is the key. My NUT reminded me that spirits (vodka, whiskey ect) do not have carbs its the stuff we mix with them..but stuff like beer, liqueors and stuff are loaded. Also alcohol is wasted calories..like a 4 oz glass of wine has 100 empty calories. Good Luck

Jacqui, I don't think this is an argumentative thread at all, and you pointed out some valid information. Without turning to journals or case studies it's easy to say that America's obesity crisis outweighs most other countries, right? I can't even count the number of 24-hour drive through fast food restaurants within a quarter mile of my house, let alone the 24 hour convenience stores packed with aisle upon aisle of pre-packaged junk foods. I haven't done much traveling outside the United States, but I can't imagine other countries have as much access to the crap us morbidly obese tend to crave. Within five blocks of my house are McDonalds, Churches Fried chicken, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Jack in the Box, Long John Silver, Del Taco, Taco Bell, Subway, Pollo Loco, Burger King, Wendy's and Sonic, and those are just the drive through places! I'm not even talking about all the pizza joints, sub shops, fast Chinese takeouts or ice cream stores. When I say I know 600 people, most of them are from the United States. Many of the 600 live in farm areas or out of the city. Not all of us have convenient accesss to junk food, but one thing I know for sure is that I've personally never lived anywhere that I had to drive more than 5 minutes to get to fast food or junk food. Our TV, radio and billboard commercials convince us to SUPER SIZE, while the small chain restaurants promote "all you can eat" like we need a reminder! I guess all the facts/statistics really don't matter to me considering I'm not planning on leaving my fat country soon, and I don't understand why advertising alcohol and cigarettes has been banned while we're dying of obesity-related diseases while Carl's Junior still makes commericals with skinny blonde chicks scarfing down drippy triple cheeseburgers.

Caution: Some soft drinks may seriously harm your health Expert links additive to cell damage By Martin Hickman, Consumer Affairs Correspondent Published: 27 May 2007 A new health scare erupted over soft drinks last night amid evidence they may cause serious cell damage. Research from a British university suggests a common preservative found in drinks such as Fanta and Pepsi Max has the ability to switch off vital parts of DNA. The problem - more usually associated with ageing and alcohol abuse - can eventually lead to cirrhosis of the liver and degenerative diseases such as Parkinson's. The findings could have serious consequences for the hundreds of millions of people worldwide who consume fizzy drinks. They will also intensify the controversy about food additives, which have been linked to hyperactivity in children. Concerns centre on the safety of E211, known as sodium benzoate, a preservative used for decades by the £74bn global carbonated drinks industry. Sodium benzoate derives from benzoic acid. It occurs naturally in berries, but is used in large quantities to prevent mould in soft drinks such as Sprite, Oasis and Dr Pepper. It is also added to pickles and sauces. Sodium benzoate has already been the subject of concern about cancer because when mixed with the additive Vitamin C in soft drinks, it causes benzene, a carcinogenic substance. A Food Standards Agency survey of benzene in drinks last year found high levels in four brands which were removed from sale. Now, an expert in ageing at Sheffield University, who has been working on sodium benzoate since publishing a research paper in 1999, has decided to speak out about another danger. Professor Peter Piper, a professor of molecular biology and biotechnology, tested the impact of sodium benzoate on living yeast cells in his laboratory. What he found alarmed him: the benzoate was damaging an important area of DNA in the "power station" of cells known as the mitochondria. He told The Independent on Sunday: "These chemicals have the ability to cause severe damage to DNA in the mitochondria to the point that they totally inactivate it: they knock it out altogether. "The mitochondria consumes the oxygen to give you energy and if you damage it - as happens in a number if diseased states - then the cell starts to malfunction very seriously. And there is a whole array of diseases that are now being tied to damage to this DNA - Parkinson's and quite a lot of neuro-degenerative diseases, but above all the whole process of ageing." The Food Standards Agency (FSA) backs the use of sodium benzoate in the UK and it has been approved by the European Union but last night, MPs called for it to investigate urgently. Norman Baker, the Liberal Democrat chair of Parliament's all-party environment group said: "Many additives are relatively new and their long-term impact cannot be certain. This preservative clearly needs to be investigated further by the FSA." A review of sodium benzoate by the World Health Organisation in 2000 concluded that it was safe, but it noted that the available science supporting its safety was "limited". Professor Piper, whose work has been funded by a government research council, said tests conducted by the US Food and Drug Administration were out of date. "The food industry will say these compounds have been tested and they are complete safe," he said. "By the criteria of modern safety testing, the safety tests were inadequate. Like all things, safety testing moves forward and you can conduct a much more rigorous safety test than you could 50 years ago." He advised parents to think carefully about buying drinks with preservatives until the quantities in products were proved safe by new tests. "My concern is for children who are drinking large amounts," he said. Coca-Cola and Britvic's Pepsi Max and Diet Pepsi all contain sodium benzoate. Their makers and the British Soft Drinks Association said they entrusted the safety of additives to the Government. :drum:

I chose to go to my division Christmas party, where the group was smaller and the food was not the focus, and completely skip the huge food/alcohol-centric orgy that is our University party. It's just too much. Kind of gross actually. I'm going to the gym instead.

After a good 10 years dealing with life and alcoholism I finally gave it up and once my mind was clear of alcohol I noticed geez I'm in my 30s and over 300lbs.. I don't want to still be fat and unhealthy at 40.. I need to make a change and I found surgery will help me greatly in getting my life back on track...

Similar fiasco with our wedding... But it wasn't my dad... My hubby's dad is a butt and we didn't even invite him to the wedding because he is a dead beat alcoholic and cares nothing for his family... BUT, that was my hubby's decision... I went with what HE wanted because it was HIS dad. I think your sister needs to do what SHE wants and screw what is PROPER and what everyone else thinks!

I had my surgery when I was 17 and I'm now 21. Having surgery before my senior year in high school wasn't the best idea.. I'll admit, my friends and I always have been partiers so all the alcohol and late night taco bell completely squashed any progress I had made. I've lost 45 lbs and gained 25 back. I'm almost 5 years post-op and feel like shit for not having made it far at all. I've forgotten everything I learned about what I should and shouldn't eat. I've been eating like I have my entire life.. I need to get on track again. My grandma needs to see me healthy before she goes to heaven... Can someone help me out?

Yes, absolutely. Set the small plate on the regular dinner plate as if it were a charger. Definitely coordinate with the host and bring your own food if soft food will not be available. Remember that you will be able to eat only a few small spoonsful of things like mashed potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes, pumpkin puree or pie filling. The turkey will need to go through a blender and moistened with gravy or it will get stuck. Stay away from alcohol and don't drink anything during the meals.

I have never been told that I can't use a straw.I would suggest that you try drinking with a straw prior to the event and if it doesn't make you uncomfortable go ahead and drink your cocktail through a straw. The only downside is that for some reason drinking alcohol through a straw seems to make you intoxicated quicker - so just be careful!

If you don't bring it into your house you can't eat it. I have Outshine pop cycles, grapes, peaches, and almonds for snacks. I also use a calorie counter on my fitbit and stay true to my count. I have one "free" day and I have an alcoholic drink that day.

first of all, whiskey will hit you quicker, and also, KEEP IN MIND, you can drink the weight back....alcohol or milk shakes. Both should be very limited. I've been constipated since surgery! I've tried everything!! I'm twenty-six months out and just discovered something that helps. It will be a while before you can have this, but I buy whole wheat shredded wheat and eat it as a snack once or twice a day. A half cup - 1 cup a day. Be sure and count the calories. (I highly recommend measuring and weighing food....and keep an on line food log. I'm still doing both) I had two goals, lose weight and do NOT lose my hair. I've accomplished both. I never lost hair. I started taking Biotin several months before surgery (5000 mcg per day) and I'm still taking it. It's good for your nails too! I was lucky, my stomach is flatter now than it's ever been in my adult life! I am 52 and have stretch marks from pregnancy, but all in all, saggy skin is not a problem. My biggest issue is flabby arms. I suspect I could lessen this but it really isn't a huge deal to me. Good luck.......until you reach goal, treat this as the most important diet of your life. That's what I did. Nothing sweet or fried for about six months, but I did not miss it....losing was so exciting!!!

Hypnosis didn't work for me AT ALL! The way I look at it is I'm a foodaholic. Literally. I really, truly feel like I'm addicted to junk food. I've done this over and over again. If I have ONE tiny bit of 'bad' food (chocolate, ice cream, chips), tomorrow I'll have two, then I'll have four, and it spirals until I am literally out of control. When I decide to go on a diet, I initially get the shakes from withdrawal. When I get banded in Nov, I'll have to do that liquid diet. That will be the 'getting clean' portion. Once all the junk is out of my system, this is it, I am not going to have one bit of junk ever again. I've done it before and I've gotten more and more out of control over the years. It's as though I have to 'stay clean' just like alcoholics do. I'm not paying $16,000 to then F it up. I'm sick of it already. I don't know why I eat the way I do but I know when I have a long amount of time when I'm 'clean' of the bad stuff, it's easy to eat well. Anyway, does this have any relevance at all to the topic at hand? It's late, I'm tired. I just know this is the end of the road for me, my last shot at losing the weight - nothing else has worked, this is it, I've got to do it the best way I possibly can. Linda

I never went into this journey blind. I knew this was just a tool to help me with this life long struggle of losing weight. but i have fallen back into the same old pattern. The only difference is i cant eat much. i dont eat alot of bread or those kind of carbs veggies make me extremely gassy even though i was blaming bread im nvr thirst so i have a hard time drinking water. i still can drink alcohol like i used to which i plan to give up starting tomorrow so that i can get this back on track. what through me off is the stall i have been in for a long time. i cant shake it. but now i have even gained 4 pounds. what the heck. the once a week that i do have a beer or two or more you wouldnt think would stop my weightloss. the carbs i dont eat you think would help but it aint. the most i might consume for calories is 1000 cals. that if i am eating bread or candy or crap like that. im frustrated im disappointed. i dont know what to do with myself. and the slips with the food or the drinkin is all cause im disappointed. I think i am gonna try boot camp and see where i go from there because i cannot handle this. this feels worse than when i would diet before. except before i know i consumed to many calories. where now i aint even eating 1/4 of them and still no loss.grrrr. anyone else experience an almost 2 month stall? my weight has maybe changed by 2 lbs in the last month or 2. i still have 90lbs to lose before my goal and i am almost 5months out and still only down 42lbs. HELP

My surgeon says ABSOLUTELY NO ALCOHOL for the first year and then only in small amounts after. I know when I drank alcohol before I was sleeved and "ate well" my weight wouldn't budge or it would increase. Alcohol really does a number on the body. I would recommend stopping alcohol altogether until you reach your goal. I love red wine, but I have no intention of having any until after I've hit my goal. I just don't want to fall into my old habits of just having one glass a night before bed. It stalled me preop and I have no doubt it would stall me now. Since surgery, I haven't even craved it. I guess we will see where I am in 6 months, but I personally am not opening that door! Good luck, I hope you can get yourself back on track. Just remember the sleeve is a tool, not a quick fix. We are all in the same boat. I wish you well.

Thanks for posting that website. I always joke that I like to eat my calories, not drink them. My surgeon's rules were no alcohol for 1 year post-op (he also admitted that it was the most commonly broken rule.) I did it though, and made it through the first year and no alcohol. For everyone who is struggling, get back to basics, detox from the sugar, carbs and alcohol, and get back on track. Use your tool, don't waste this gift you've been given!

Agree with Lil Diva and thsnks fir 12 steps remimder. I used to go to OA. A few times I went to this one big AA meeting where a number of people had years and years of abstinence. There was a table loaded with sugary white flour snacks and the cigarette smoke was over whelming. The recovery from alcohol was powerful in that room but got the impression that some folks had substitute addictions. In fact some OA members with multiple addictions said it was hard to go to AA because there was always sugared food there. Btw, the best book I ever read on addiction is entitled Addiction and Grace by Gerald May. It is probably not currently in print but would be available used. Very compatible with 12 step philosophy.

Well, i'm out 3 + years, have been doing well and maintaining great. . however, (yes always a however) I've been drinking coffee, alcohol, and taking ibuprofen a lot. I work in a very high stressed job and even though i know i should probably quit before it sends me to my grave, i continue to do my "prison sentence" (yes, I realize it's all self inflicted). . .now in the past 1 month, I've notice daily nausea to the point of nearly vomiting, a horrible burning pain when i eat or drink anything except water. . . i have told my doctor and she has given me some meds, but they aren't helping at all. . . i have to call her tomorrow to let her know how things are going. . . well. . . they aren't. . . has anyone else had ulcers that probably needed surgery? What happened? I'll let you all know what happens with this. . . thanks for listening.

So, just be careful. Most if not all surgeons/NUTs advise to not drink. Why? Because it is very common for people to replace eating issues with alcohol and the statistics are very high that many people who have had the surgery become alcoholics. Not everyone but it is a huge risk. And to start drinking alcohol that soon after surgery seems like a huge red flag to me. As someone has said, carbonated drinks of any sort, including beer, are not advised and can be really tough. I had been told no juice, no carbonated beverages - ever. Not just at the beginning. And to avoid alcohol, especially at the beginning. I do have wine now and sometimes a small glass of bourbon but the sugars in them are a lot as well. I would advise you to ask your surgeon and nutritionist what they think/recommend. That would be the best option.

OK so clearly I need to do some research b/c I don't know what foods contain sugar alcohols. I'm a diet coke addict and wonder if the aspartame(?) in it makes me hungrier and/or makes me less full.

I think the goal of getting drunk with friends is probably problematic, but just in case you're wondering, you probably will not be able to drink as much if you have a RNY. One, alcohol irritates the heck out of your stomach. Two, you may end up throwing up - also not great for your stomach, throat and teeth. Three, alcohol makes you more likely to make bad food choices. All that said, you will also likely get a buzz or drunk off much less alcohol. Even a "girly" drink like a margarita may prove too much. - Ask me how I know Try to focus on what you have to GAIN. The things you have to lose may seem big right now, but write a list and do a comparison. What do you have to GAIN if you are successful? What do you have to lose if you DON'T have the surgery? And like others have said, this is a great conversation to have with a counselor or therapist.

@@jintycb Good grief, I am not even talking about you. I am talking about the 200 questions a week about Alcohol, drug use, pizza, ice cream, crackers, not losing 10 pounds a week, stretched my pouch/sleeve at 6 weeks and all the other assorted stupid questions that people ask every week. You know, the ones you made this rant to complain about. Anyone that has been around here for over a year can definitely notice a huge influx and change in the types of questions asked.

I am one week post op gastric sleeve and am doing really well. I am 66 years old and on the opposite end of the lifecycle. My reasons for wls were improving health and mobility in order to enjoy the rest of my life. I was wondering what methods you have already tried and also if you already have medical issues.? Your fears are normal for sure. The alcohol issue is a moot one for me as I do not drink but if you have problems with alcohol would address that ASAP. Wish you well on this journey.

It does sound like you've tried other things and have been overweight a long time, so this may indeed be the right time for surgery. The only other thing I can recommend is to start seeing a therapist who specializes in eating disorders, to find out why you overeat. IMO if you don't do this, your chances of longterm recovery are lower. I always thought that I just liked the taste of food, esp sweets, more than other people, even as a child. I was always wanting more, even before I became overweight. It wasn't until my marriage started falling apart that I went looking for answers on the eating, b/c by then I knew there were emotional reasons that I ate. And I found, surprisingly to me, that those reasons went back to childhood. I've had to work hard on letting go of some of those emotions I buried deep inside, and find ways to express anger and disappointment without using food. Two years ago, surgery would not have been successful for me, I know, b/c I would have found another crutch, possibly alcohol. I've heard others become shopping addicts, using the excuse of needing new clothes at first, but later it's a new addiction. Geneen Roth has some books on Emotional Overeating that I found very helpful, too. Best of luck!

I drink mostly water and Crystal Light, but nearly every day I have some coffee with cream or milk, sometimes have iced tea and once a week or so a couple of alcoholic drinks. I rarely drink soda anymore, but will once in a great while.

Hey All, So I'm going to Vegas in April (7.5months post-op) and my girl friend and I are obviously going to want to go out in the evenings, dancing, etc. What on earth does one drink when they are going to a bar that isn't alcoholic, doesn't contain butt-loads of sugar and isn't carbonated? I mean the obvious answer is Water but there has to be something else? Help! :-)