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So I went camping this weekend with a huge group of friends. I had just a few worries about packing the right foods and being in a social situation for the whole weekend. It went ok though! I did have a few sugar free jello shots and 64 calorie beers thruout the weekend. As long as I don't make the alcohol intake a regular habit I think I will be ok! But come on, it's summer and I was among many great friends! I did notice that my energy level wasnt like it usually is and I attribute that to the carbs. For meals, I took along several pouches of tuna for lunches and had a hamburger patty each night from the grill. We had plenty of cut up fresh veggies and for breakfast, I brought boiled eggs. I didnt even feel left out about s'more time! I know that if I have something that is high in sugar, I will feel terrible afterwards, so it is easy to say no to those foods! I have learned to just plan ahead for situations like this and it goes fine. It is even true for my work week. If I make the effort to plan ahead things go so much smoother

Well, hi, Andrew! I'm a Michigander, too, and just six days post-op RNY. You say that dating "isn't a problem" for you... I've been wondering about post-WLS dating. So much socialization happens over food and alcohol. Do you have any tips? Thanks!

I would explain to her how hard it is sometimes to just walk away from food. It's not as easy as it seems and someone who has never struggled with their weight just doesn't get it. My husband is the same way he struggles to keep weight ON and he doesn't understand the power food can have. If he doesn't want to eat something he just doesn't. He isn't faced with the temptation even if it is sitting right in front of him. I've just come to understand that he will never understand my struggle with food. I guess it's the same as it is hard for me to understand alcoholism because I have never had an issue turning down a drink-it just doesn't have the same appeal to me. Food addiction is real just like any other addiction.

I saw this on another forum and thought it worthy to share as it has all the great information and advice we all need for the journey! it is written by Mellissa Gangi and what I had wished I had been told from the very beginning. Sleeve Tips: I'm 10 months post op today and along this journey, so far, I've seen a lot of the same questions or concerns from many. I thought these tips could help! 1. Take preop photos... you'll want them! 2. Protein shakes...I used isopure protein powder and scooped it into 2 oz. of water (u can add ice and blend too) to drink in my immediate postop period. It was much less to drink at a sitting and you still got in your protein. It would take me over an hour to drink each one, but way easier to me. Plus, isopure has multiple flavors and it was reasonably priced. I bought off Amazon. Also, Genepro is an unflavored protein powder that is very popular. It can be added to pretty much anything. The scoop is tiny and it gives 30g of protein per scoop. I use it daily in my morning coffee but if adding it to hot liquids you have to add creamer 1st to cool it down or it will clump up or dissolve in a little warm water 1st then add... the directions are on the bag. It is not completely unflavored and it has a smell to it, but most of us get used to it quickly. Your body can only absorb up to 30g of protein per serving, so anything more than that at once will be wasted and it doesn't count towards your daily goals! 3. STALLS happen...stick to your plan and the scale will move again! You most likely will be losing inches during that time. They can last a few weeks...especially the 3 week stall. The further you are out they may even last longer and at that point you may have to shake things up a bit, maybe a day or 2 most increase your carbs then go back to your plan. Don't get discouraged and try to just be patient. 4. No NSAIDS (aspirin, ibuprofen, aleve, motrin, etc...) they can cause ulcers...tylenol products are ok and Excedrin Tension is ok (great for headaches) it has tylenol and caffeine in it, no aspirin like the other excedrin products. Also, peppermint oil rubbed on your temples help for headaches. 5. Fluid intake...atleast 64 oz of non caffeinated, non carbonated, sugar free fluids but the rule of thumb is drink half of your body weight in ounces. 6. Caffeine and alcohol...follow your surgeons orders. They both can dehydrate you and cause ulcers in the beginning of your journey. And alcohol may affect you differently postop, so be careful. Absorbtion changes postop. 7. Transfer addictions...a lot of bariatric patients give up food for other addictions like shopping and alcohol. Be mindful. 8. Increased chance of pregnancy after surgery. You can be much more fertile. Even if you had problems with it preop. 9. Increased divorce rates postop...I have looked into this because I was curious as to why. I have found that it does indeed increase, but the majority of the couples that do have had issues preop and the spouse that had surgery loses the weight, increases their self esteem and simply won't stand for the same behavior anymore. 10. Sugar/Carbs...1st and foremost, follow your plan. There are reasons why your surgeon and/or nutritionist gives you one, especially while healing and it takes approximately 6 weeks for your tummy to heal. After you are advanced to a "regular" diet, usually about 2 month postop, yes you can eat some sweets or carbs but in moderation. Always try to get your protein in 1st, though. I have chosen to stay away from sugar and certain carbs. I don't crave them, so why reintroduce them. I know me, and moderation is hard for me. 11. Everyone's weightloss journey is different. Try not to compare yourself to the next person. It's hard not to, I know! But their weight, height, sex, medical history all plays a part of it. If you do what you should be doing, you'll lose! 12. Dumping and The Foamies... Dumping occurs when your new tummy just doesn't agree with something you consumed. Dumping occurs more in bypass patients but it can occur with sleeves, also. Symptoms can include sudden vomiting, diarrhea, and increased heart rate and last anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours. The Foamies... you'll know what this is if you get it. It's a lot of phlegm that is produced in your esophagus all of a sudden. It can happen if you eat or drink too fast, or take in too much, or drink right after eating...wait to drink atleast 30 minutes after eating. Plus, if you drink with eating or too close afterwards you flush the food through your belly too fast and you're not absorbing nutrients. 13. Take your vitamins and get in your protein daily! This will not only help your weightloss and prevent vitamin deficiency but it will help with the sunken in look when you lose weight. I was told 60-90g of protein daily, but follow your drs orders. I take 2 flintstones with iron chewables a day because I couldn't tolerate the prescribed multivitamin, in addition to calcium with d3, and magnesium and b12. 14. Gas ex chewables, heating pads, and walking help big time for your gas pains. When I woke up from this surgery I thought I was having a heart attack because the gas was causing chest pains. Also, use the incentive spirometry in the immediate postop period. Anesthesia affects your lungs and it takes 72 hours to completely wear off so the breathing exercises help strengthen them and prevent pneumonia. 15. Heartburn...omeprazole works so well for me. My surgeon prescribed it from day 1 and I love it. 16. Postop hormones... your body almost goes into shock in the 1st 6 weeks or so after surgery from the major changes to it. You may feel different mentally...it does get better but if it's bad talk to your dr about it. 17. Medications... your body can change postop. The same medications you were on preop may be absorbed differently postop so if you notice changes talk to your dr. They may need to be adjusted. And extended release meds may not work as well. 18. Tracking your intake keeps you honest. I love the baritastic app. It also has recipes for all the stages and reminders. 19. Head hunger vs real hunger. This is a lifestyle change, your body needs much less calories postop but you have to retrain your brain. It may take time and that's normal. If you fall off the wagon one day...oh well...get back on it the next. We are all human. Don't get discouraged. Just pick yourself back up. 20. Complications can happen. If your body starts feeling different...new onset pains, nausea, vomiting, passing out, food feeling stuck in esophagus, etc...call your surgeon. You're always better safe than sorry. 21. Abbreviations... HW your highest weight SW what you weighed on your surgery day GW your goal weight CW what you weigh currently NSV non scale victory Nut nutritionist VSG vertical sleeve gastrectomy (sleeve surgery) RNY roux-en-Y (gastric bypass) DS duodenal switch surgery 22. Hair loss or thinning happens. But, it will grow back. I thinned starting at about 4 months. It can last months. Many take biotin supplements for it, I didn't. 23. Get ready to be cold! You're body is changing, it's almost in shock so invest in a Comfy, like me, or electric blanket to keep warm lol. 24. What to bring to the hospital for your surgery stay...a long phone charger, chapstick, your phone, comfy pjs, slippers, a robe, earbuds, and a list of your medical history, surgeries, allergies, and medications with dosages. Others add gas ex chewables but I'm an RN and don't recommend taking any meds from home without the nurses or drs knowledge. Some also say a heating pad to help with gas pains, but walking is best. Also, remember to hug a pillow if you cough or sneeze. It will help! 25. Constipation! It is a part of this journey, unfortunately. The only thing that helps me, and this is not conventional, is sugar free hard candies. A few of those babies (no more than 5 or you'll hate me) and you'll be going within 12 hours. The sugar alcohols do it for me. But, more conventional approaches are benefiber packets, smooth move tea, or miralax. And there's diarrhea in the beginning...liquids in, liquids out. But your 1st bowel movement may take awhile...its all normal. 26. Ketosis...when you cut out sugar and go low carb you're body goes into a state of ketosis. This is a metabolic state that now uses fat for energy, instead of carbs. It aids in weightloss, but has some side effects like bad breath, body odor, bowel changes, fatigue at 1st but then increased energy the longer you're in it, and insomnia. Those side effects will decrease over time so just invest in mouthwash for the meantime! I know this is a lot, but hopefully it helps! If I missed anything, feel free to chime in. Best of luck to everyone!

Glad you have a meter to monitor what's going on. I was diagnosed with reactive hypoglycemia. (complication from surgery) I worked with my bariatric, sports medicine and diabetes dietitians to get better control over my blood sugars. Here is an article: If you are diagnosed, Work with your team to find what foods and meal frequency work for your body specifically. June 2015 Issue CPE Monthly: Nutrition Tips for Reactive Hypoglycemia After Bariatric Surgery Reactive hypoglycemia (also called postprandial hypoglycemia, hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia, or noninsulinoma pancreatogenous hypoglycemia) is characterized by recurrent episodes of symptomatic hypoglycemia occurring two to four hours after a high-carbohydrate meal (or oral glucose load). Patients who have undergone bariatric surgery, especially those in whom the pylorus is bypassed (gastric bypass, biliopancreatic diversion/duodenal switch), may experience reactive hypoglycemia. The dietitian is key to helping these patients manage symptoms. Symptoms Patients may experience any of these symptoms one to three hours after a meal high in carbohydrates: hunger, feeling shaky, dizziness, sleepiness, sweating, anxiety, feeling weak, confusion, heart palpitations, fatigue, aggression, tremors, fainting, or loss of consciousness. Dietary Modifications Work with your patients to help them identify and eliminate from their diets simple sugars, concentrated sweets, high-fat foods, alcohol, caffeine, and lactose (possibly). They also should avoid skipping meals or consuming meals comprised only of carbohydrates. Focus on how you can help patients modify their diets, including the following: plan mini meals spaced equally throughout the day (three to four hours); make low-volume choices; consume high-protein levels at each eating occasion, pairing protein choices with complex carbohydrates, fruits, and vegetables; choose healthful fats; and separate food and fluid intake by 30 to 60 minutes. Soluble fiber from guar gum, glucomannan, and pectin and alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, (eg, acarbose) or somatostatin analogs (eg, octreotide) can help delay gastric emptying, increase small intestine transit time, and slow glucose absorption. Patient-Specific Tips Acknowledge that everyone may have different triggers for low blood sugar or reactive hypoglycemia. Advise patients to keep detailed food journals that you can review to identify patterns (eg, timing and amount eaten as snacks, meals, and drinks; blood sugar levels; feelings). Encourage patients not to use foods or drinks with added sugar to boost low blood sugar levels, as this can cause blood sugar crashes and spikes.

Most plans advise against the use of alcohol after surgery. It's empty calories, irritates new stomach, may cause dumping syndrome. According to the instruction book I received for surgery: ----------------------------------------- Thinking about resuming your old lifestyle??? If you decide to return to pre-op behaviors of smoking cigarettes and/or drinking alcohol, you are at risk for creating bleeding ulcers - which may have to be treated by surgical intervention. ------------------------------------------ In general, I found exercise (walking) to be the best tool for relieving pain right after surgery. When you go to bed at night, I found a pillow between your legs to be helpful, especially after some of the weight comes off and it feels like your leg bone rubbing against your leg bone. The incision points can take awhile to heal. I had several small ones but the big one where most of the surgery takes place took a year to disappear.

I had no pre op diet three years ago. Non alcoholic fatty liver disease is quite common when we are obese and the liver enzymes are elevated. Unlike some of the things that get better immediately (diabetes, blood pressure) it can actually get worse before it gets better for the reasons stated above--the liver is taxed during weight loss. My liver is only now starting to normalize at three years out! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

The alcohol is always a big question and big issue. I am quite sure my alcohol consumption had something to do with my excessive weight. I am being sarcastic of course, but alcohol should always be accompanied by moderation, self-control, etc. My brother had a gastric bypass and his doctor gave him two stern warnings: 1) your body cannot process this stuff like it used to and 2) if you drink and drive with a bypass you will get a DUI. The physical difference between the band and bypass is obvious. For me, I need to be aware of my new diet (and changes) and change my definition of moderation. Personally, I like Bombay Sapphire martinis - dry with two queen olives. It has been two months and my wife and I will be going to Vegas on business the end of this month. I would love a martini, but if it is not on the diet or advisable then I will just wait. I like a good single malt scotch too (as well as a good Churchill). I like chicken fried steak to but that is over. I guess it is a matter of personal preference, ability and need. I have made the mental adjustment to booze early in the game because above all else - a good Delmonico needs an excellent cabernet. I just need to adjust the portion size accordingly.

Yes it is the pressure, for sure. I drink sparkling waters and prosecco if I'm having alcohol (with Dr blessing) and it makes a real difference to me which brands I drink. The more bubbly it is, the less good/comfortable for sure. If you like sparkling mineral waters, I find that Pellegrino is delicious and has little (smallish) bubbles [emoji4] Sent from my SM-N910T using BariatricPal mobile app

Alcohol AND common sense...Hmmmmmmmmmmmm...Interesting....It will never catch on!!

Yes I have dumping but my surgery was more complicated than most. It's rare to have it with the sleeve. I get it and it sucks so bad. But it's getting better. I've been eating Intuitively for about a year now with some small relapses back into dieting and that mindset but not for more than a day or so. The last 3 months I've REALLY let go and stopped weighing myself EVER, stopped even considering what I eat. I eat so much, always listening to my body and it's cravings. I eat all kinds of foods from fresh to processed and savory to sweet. I eat carbs all the time. I love desserts. I drink alcohol. I enjoy whatever I want. I've not been actively dieting for a year at least but now I've really, really let go of the fear and I'm continuing to make progress. I don't worry about wether I'm eating too much, grazing, eating something fattening. I have really just LET GO. I eat when I'm hungry and when I'm full I stop. Honestly I just don't even think about it. I follow my bodies cravings. I have gained no weight. I'm exactly the same. If anything, I've lost. I don't know. I don't care. I don't weigh myself. BUT my clothes all still fit perfectly. But who cares anyway. My life is finally where I want it to be and I am free. I will never ever go back to dieting. I truly believe Intuitive Eating will keep me healthy for the rest of my life. Picture of me and my daughter a few days ago.

I enjoy craft and specialty beers, when I user to live close to a WOB location it was a weekly visit. Unfortunately, where I live now there is no local WOB but the question about drinking beer & alcohol drinks was one of my top 5 questions and I was not very happy with the answer. All thee surgeons I spoke to over the course of about a year (Since May 2019) said the same thing: NO Alcohol drinks, including beer during the first year post-op. ☹️

I wrote a lengthy post and lost it . . . aargh!!! So I will have to rewrite an abbreviated version, lol. I am not a member of the SCA but have attended many events similar in nature. You should be fine going to events banded as long as you are prepared. I would suggest bringing a cooler and other items to help with our post-banding diet. Lots of Protein options, Jello cups, sugar-free pudding cups, cottage cheese, string cheese, some low fat crackers and other band friendly items willl help. If you are still in a liquid stage, you can buy pre-mixed Isopure drinks in a case (maybe $30-$40) that can supplement your protein. Just make sure you have plenty of stuff that you know you can eat with you. If you are purchasing any meals from a vendor, be careful about trying new things that you haven't tried after banding. You want to go really slow and carefully just in case. Also remember that one meal may now be several meals post banding, your food expenses may go way down if you have a means to keep things fresh. Be careful about breads. If you drink alcohol, you want to stay away from beer or other carbonated beverages . . . but wines or mead might be OK in limited quantities depending on what your doctor says (although you want to watch the calories). This might seem gross, but you also want to keep a container, perhaps a big plastic cup, in your tent/yurt/or whatever you are sleeping in for emergencies. If something gets stuck and has to come back up it is best to be prepared. Also, if you are stuck or need to PB, it can take a while to work its way through or out. You don't want to be holed up in a restroom or port-a-port for an extended period. This may never happen, especially if you are careful, but it is best to be prepared. If you get yourself involved in any war related activities, you would want to make sure that you are completely healed from surgery. Also, if you bump your port with any force, it is going to hurt no matter how far out you are from surgery. One good thing to consider is that you will need to think about making, buying or modifying your clothes for the 2010 season. I am sure that whatever you are wearing this year is not going to work for next year . . . and that is the most fun of all the banding dilemmas you may experience :0) Good luck with banding!!!

I tried shots,burned way too much. Cranberry and vodka. Or in my case, double shots of vodka. I logged every single calorie of my cranberry and vodka drinks in that night, and coming out around 500-600 calories in just alcohol alone was not one of my proudest moments. I had factored the alcohol in before hand and tweaked my diet accordingly but still. I have not had the urge to drink that much since. I suppose I had to get it out of my system. Kind of like my few bites of bread that I no longer crave either lol. As long as you don't make it a habit, one night if getting **** face wasted isn't going to kill you. If you start hardcore partying, you would face some serious problems. And yes, I had as much fun as I did before. Though the drunk feeling was a bit different. It's hard to explain. I can't drink as much as I could pre op though. I did keep up very well though, but looking back; other helped me drink my drinks, and I couldn't finish one. I instantly felt the alcohol though. Like I drank a few sips, and under 5 minutes later, I could feel it kicking in. 1 drink later and I was buzzing

I plateaued for 7 months. I joined Weight Watchers 1 week ago and lost 5 lbs my first week. I follow the core program which is high protein, fruit and vegies. I get approximately 3k calories a week extra for alcohol or whatever. I really like the program and it works. You should give it a try if you are plateaued. How many calories a day do you eat?

Week 21 Last week’s weight – 200.2 This week’s weight – 199.4 Total weight lost this week – .8 Beginning weight – 246 lbs Total weight loss since surgery – 46.6 lbs Average weekly weight loss since surgery – 2.1 lbs Woo Hooo!!!!!! I am officially under 200 lbs as of this week. Although I didn’t have a spectacular weight loss it was enough to drive me under the 200 mark. My next goal is to get some more distance from the number 200 (right now I’m a little too close for comfort…particularly since I go into PMS mode next week). I joined our Cross Fit gym this week and am currently going through their foundations class (4 classes total $100 not included in the month rate). I signed up for 3 months (after which it becomes a month-to-month charge). It is kind of expensive ($125/month) and I hesitated to join for a couple of reasons (expense and difficulty). The expense part I will have to live with (this was made slightly easier because I had a summer job that I applied that money toward) and I can scale back the difficulty and build up What I like about the gym is that you walk in and there is a warm up and a routine of the day (once that is done you are finished). I also like that there is always a certified staff on the floor who can help. My warm up yesterday was a 250 meter row, 10 situps, 10 walking lunges (done twice). I scaled back the walking lunges because my knees aren’t great and they are difficult for me. The workout was 21 deadlifts, 800 meter run, 21 deadlifts, 550 meter run, 21 deadlifts, 400 meter run. My workout was scaled back (with the help of the staff) to 15 deadlifts (with reduced weight) and a 400 meter run/walk, 10 deadlifts with a 250 meter run/walk, 5 deadlifts with a 100 meter run. The goal is to build up from that. My plan is to go to the M-W-F classes and see where I stand at the end of the three months. Another thing I like about the gym is I really don’t care what I look like or what anyone else looks like. Everyone is just coming in, doing the routine to the best of their ability and moving on. Since we are all “in it together” people are very encouraging (some are competitive but that works for them). The one thing I don’t want to do is become bulky (there is a lot of weight lifting). There are several women who go to the gym who are quite muscular and my goal is a bit different. I just want to become tone and fit but I think I can manage that by not going crazy with adding on insane amounts of weight. I was also hoping by joining the gym it might help boost my weight loss by shocking my system (we will see how that goes at the end of the three months!). Food wise I am doing fine. I’m packing my lunch since we are back to school. My lunch the other day was deli turkey and cheese roll ups and cut up green peppers and an Atkins chocolate/coconut bar for a snack. I’ve also had a Campbell soup at hand (cream of chicken or tomato), Atkins chocolate/peanut butter meal replacement bar, travel size peanut butter cup (for snack). I still need to be better drinking water throughout the day. Yesterday I went to Outback and I ordered their new $15 meal deal which actually was quite a lot of food. I saved half of my steak and potatoes for lunch today. I need to stop ordering alcohol with my meals (habit). I wasn’t able to finish my $4 margarita and I really didn’t need it. As I mentioned last week I am getting a lot of compliments on my weight loss after coming back from the summer break. My favorite was from a former 4th grader I taught (I know her mom) and she said, “Oh my gosh Mrs. Heaton I didn’t even recognize you. You look so skinny.)

Wait, aren't you in Med School yourself? I thought I had read where WasaBB wrote that. I imagine it would be somewhat hard to be in the shadow of someone like your father. I agree it has the potential to be tough as hell. But guess what? YOU ARE NOT HIM, so stop beating yourself up and comparing yourself to him. He lived his life, it's your time to live yours. I understand what you mean but it's time to grow a thick skin. WGAF what your DAD's friends say about you? Do they pay your bills or control your bank account? Do they support you emotionally? Do they control your life or do you? I had a desire to do more as well, why couldn't I get it together and go do something with my life? I should have done SOOOOO much more. but I didn't. I have no one to blame but me. You are still only 22, get out there and do it, whatever "it" is. On the relationship front, I now this is going to sound silly and you've heard it a million times, but really, honestly don't worry about it. Again, you are young, too young to worry about settling down. Settling down means responsibility and inability to uproot and move and do something else. Settling down means you have to think of someone else when you make a life change. So don't worry about it right now. That having been said, if you just want women to come flocking to you, I don't quite know what to say. Do you wish to be a playa? Men like that are giant a-holes (sorry...). I just went to my 20th HS reunion this past w/e and ran into the male who in my mind was the biggest playa in HS and though he is fairly successful and has a trophy wife, I cannot imagine his life is at all happy. His comments in conversations and rolling his eyes when talking about having kids and his boistrous, loud attitude and buying everyone drinks to somehow prove himself and his success was so transparent. He is obviously a closet alcoholic and I wonder if at some time in his life he ever did what HE wanted, or if he always followed in his successful father's footsteps. On the other side of the room was a gentleman with his wife who bucked his family's traditions and became a minister. Had four kids and is incredibly happy. His dad said he was so proud of who he had become and what he did with his life. (Yep, we talked about it that night-he and his wife had been very good friends of mine in HS). I'm sort of rambling here, but I just want you to understand you have years ahead of you to become what you want to be. You just have to decide what that is and DO IT. Don't get strapped down with a relationship or kids or a mortgage or a huge car note to look impressive. It may only make you more sad in the long run, and fifteen years from now you might find your liver pickled and your trophy wife is really a bitch who is doing the tennis instructor.

Hi EK, Well lets see, I had 6 kids. Lost my oldest son 2 years ago and gained about 40 # since then. I have 12 grandchildren and a new little great granddaughter. I also have a little dog, Sophie who is my avator. I was married 37 years to an alcoholic and divorced him because he was getting mean. I now live with my daughter and son-in-law and 2 boys 9 and 10. Also their dog and 2 cats. Never a dull moment here. I'm an RN and still work one day a week. I really envy your time in the RV. That use to be my dream but now have to settle for week ends. At least there are lots of great campgrounds around here. Guess thats enough about me.......oh the fancy stuff....click on my ticker and you will get to the site where you can make your own. There are better instructions on the home page of LBT that tells you how to do a lot of stuff. Good luck with that. Do you have a name:)

I just had my one year checkup after my conversion from band to Bypass. I've lost 98 pounds and have a BMI of 22. My surgeon asked me not to lose any more weight.. Words I never expected to hear from a Doctor's mouth. My story started in 2009 with a lap band. I lost about 60 pounds while throwing up almost daily. Even with repeated fills and unfills, there was no "sweet spot." I either could only have liquids, or experienced no restriction at all. After 3 years, I asked that it be emptied. I ate whatever I wanted and began living on milkshakes and M&M's, My sugar addiction was in full swing. I was drinking 2 liter of Diet Coke daily and felt terrible. At this point I was 64 and my Dr. gave me a harsh wakeup call, I was 100 pounds overweight and heading for a crash. I talked to a surgeon who was pessimistic about my success with the band because of my habits. My family shared his doubts. I shared his doubts. I prevailed. My insurance paid for the revision. I had to take the nutrition classes and I spent a lot of time on this website. The time on Bariatric Pal was the most valuable preparation I had going in to the RNY. I learned from the rest of you how awesome and how difficult my life was going to be. I ate my last big meal and then it was time for surgery. I had no pain with the lap band insertion or removal and I had none with RNY. The biggest adjustment was that I no longer wanted to eat. I followed the rules - got in my protien, water and supplements. The weight came off - quickly at first, then slowing. I developed new eating habits. I haven't had sugar or diet soda or alcohol since surgery. I don't crave them. I've gone to the movies without popcorn. I've colored my hair, purchased a beautiful wardrobe and look 10 years younger. I accepted a new position at work. I'm off all my Rx with the exception of the 2 for depression and cholesterol - both genetic conditions. I've saved a lot of money. I didn't exercise. I keep thinking about it, but haven't gotten out of my chair, yet. Thank you all for the information and encouragement I've received on this amazing journey and for letting me share my story with you.

My surgery is 3-22 and need advise on this.... Fast food what is best eat and alcoholic drinks how many? Thanks

1. Do you FEEL the LAP-BAND® around your stomach? Does it feel tight or uncomfortable? Not really. Mostly just the port. 2. I think giving up soda will be really hard. WHY must it be done? I am a former diet coke and seltzer Water junkie. Never drank flat. But I followed the rules. I have been told that the carbonation is added gas and when you are healing and learning how your band works you want to do whatever is recommended until you get to know how your band and body will get along. Sometimes mine doesn't play so nice - I named her Princess. She's a little better behaved as they (my body and band) play well now. :-) I just stayed with flat water and am fine. I don't miss diet coke - sometimes seltzer. 3. What is the purpose of the liquid diet pre-surgery? And post? Pre-op: To shrink the liver, and make the surgery easier on your body. Post-op: To aid in healing, your stomach does not need to work as hard. I was a bad patient when it came to this. I ate WHATEVER I wanted...up until the night before the surgery. Awful. But I was fine. Thankfully! 4. Did your insurance company cover the procedure? How long did the pre-auth take? Did you have to do psych evals, etc? My insurance did cover it. With TONS of requirements, it took about one year - yes seemed like forever. Attended the seminar, then surgeon's visit, blood work done, pysch eval, 6 month monthly appts with primary for history - waited painfully 3-4 mos for approval from insurance company. 5. The port - does it physically bother you? Can you see it initially, after losing, etc? My husband is kinda freaked out about it.... All five of my scars are visible. It will be a year in Feb since being banded and I've lost 85 lbs. I have started to notice my port sticking out more and more (bc of weight loss) it's right under my breasts and looks like an alien living in there. I showed my dr a month ago and he said we could do a low profile port revision but I want to lose more so would rather weight until it's all gone. But I am interested in doing it. 6. Does getting a fill hurt? Or does it feel like getting a flu shot / giving blood? Not at all - I go in - chat a few mins - lay down and pull my shirt up, left arm under my head - they stick huber needle in and done. Don't feel anything and no bandaid needed. 7. Do you have restrictions with taking pills? I.e. is Tylenol still effective, does it digest regularly, etc. Sometimes but after surgery I switched to every chewable or liquid that I could. Vitamins are chews or chewable and if nessa I use liquid tylenol for pain. Recently, I haven't had a problem with regular vitamins and/or ibuprofen. Fine. 8. What about drinking alcohol? Is it OK occassionally? I have no troubles with it. I am a big fan of wine. I have noticed I cannot drink as much - that's a good thing. Especially wine though - it causes acid reflux to me. I've tried to determine if it's red/white/heavy/etc. It's a little better but no more than three glasses - GOD telling me something - another reason to love the band! btw - I had wine two weeks after surgery. 9. WHY IS IT YOU CAN'T DRINK liquids, LIKE WATER, RIGHT BEFORE, DURING OR AFTER A MEAL? This one is still tricky for me. Not so much at first. But now - I guess bc I'm filled. I can't have both - food and water at the same time. I can have liquid up to 15 mins prior to eating but 60 mins after. In fact, at a time when I've felt like I ate too fast or was going to puke or stuck - if I drank water - it immediately came up. That was a good thing for me bc I can't take being stuck. I do have to be careful sometimes with gulping water or milk...u can't drink or eat anything too fast. This past summer I would even have Protein shakes at around 4:00ish at work so I wouldn't be starving when I got home and inhale food. It helped a lot. Now I think I've got it but I can have a glass of wine, eat some dinner but I cannot drink a drop of liquid for a good 60 mins after eating...tea, water, whatever - I have to do it slowly and be careful. I just can't have both at the same time. It looks like some pepl can. I hope has been helpful! This site has been my savior! GOOD LUCK!

7. Do you have restrictions with taking pills? I.e. is Tylenol still effective, does it digest regularly, etc. I use liquid Tylenol and it works just fine. It's a 'slider'. 8. What about drinking alcohol? Is it OK occassionally? Yes. .

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

Congratulations on taking steps to get healthy! You will likely have no problem qualifying. Usually most insurance companies will approve a person with a BMI over 40 as long as you follow their requirements. Jumping through all the hoops is a pain but in the end you learn a lot along the way. I am glad to see you are excited! I know I felt the same way going in, the morning of surgery felt like Christmas morning for me. I was very ill and knew this was literally going to save my life in the long term for me. There are things you can do now that will set you up for success post surgery: - begin removing as much sugar from your diet -if you smoke, quit now, you will be required to and it gets hard changing everything all at once -if you drink carbonated beverages now, stop. You won't be able to ever again post surgery. -if you drink caffeine, try to ween yourself off if it. You will need to for a period of time. If you can live without it, even better. Caffeine dehydrates you and post surgery it is difficult to get hydrated properly -if you drink alcohol, you will need to stop that as well. It hampers your weight loss and your body changes post surgery to where you can become drunk very quickly. My surgeon had me sign a contract stating I would not drink for the first year. Not hard for me I only drank a handful of times within a year. -start drinking lots of calorie free liquids. 64 oz. per day - start walking everyday for 30 minutes. - remove distractions while eating so you can pay attention to how your tummy is getting full. Along with this eat slowly over the span of 20 minutes to no longer than 30 minutes. This will become important post surgery. -this one is harder than you think to do but nothing to drink 30 minutes before or after a meal. Once you have surgery this becomes much easier unless you eat a lot of spicy food. These don't all have to to be accomplished at once but these are a lot of the changes required. For me, I had 9 months to work at them so by the time I got to surgery day, life was a lot easier to adapt to! best of luck to you and feel free to reach out with questions!

by the way...just joking about the martini's.... have to shrink the old liver... so no alcohol everyone!!! I'm just a jokster!