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AAAAH!!! Just arrived and already loving it!!!! How's that possible??? Super friendly people and amazing weather great cocktails (not enough alcohol, but still!) and diet Dr. Pepper... I could die here! I LOVE IT!!! I guess I'll just buy basketball jerseys instead of hockey... It'll be alright! What's the basketball team called here again???

Wow. It seems you've made the most of the opportunity to get your life back. Last night at a New Years Party I was looking at my beautiful niece who probably weighs what you weighed when you started this. She is so depressed and overdosed on food and probably a bit too much alcohol. And she was talking a lot about losing weight and how hard it is to meet a nice guy, and I was sitting there thinking how pretty she is naturally, but how much the weight is robbing her of her life!!! I was thinking how different her life could be, and how much more power she could have over her life if she wanted the sleeve and went after it. No one asked me for an opinion, me who has now lost over 70 lbs in less than year. Me, who went from wearing a size 20-22 to an 8P. I thought that was interesting that the subject of weight loss is now taboo with me. She is trying to exercise, but of course at 295 it is no easy feat, right? My opinion would have been at her weight it is not realistic to think you can do it on your own without a tool to keep you 'reigned in'. Especially bc she is a single mom with two young daughters. It is possible, but not realistic. And until people realize that they refuse to consider surgeries like this. And they are not even interested in learning about it. That is interesting to me, because I was overweight for 20 years. Until I heard a doctor actually quote the statistics of how many people successfully lose weight and keep it off on their own. KNowing I only had like a 1% chance of that, and knowing I sucked at dieting, let me know I had fought a losing battle for 20 years. And in 1 year I've accomplished it with this tool, something I never even came close to doing in 20 years. I read in some countries the sleeve is a remedy for Type II diabetes, and yet here it is not well known. I also wonder how many celebreties and models have the sleeve but do not discuss it. I wish there was more on television about this surgery. So others could be as happy and fit as you are. COngrats!! That is how I feel, that the sleeve gives you an opportunity to gain more of who you are - helps give back what might have been taken from you for whatever reason (for me it was hypothyroidism).

Well sorry to ruffle your feathers but its the truth. We all got obese drinking and eating whenever we wanted the lap band is a tool not a fix. Anyone can lose 23lbs drinking only fluids for three weeks. You lost 23lbs because you havent eaten not because of the band. What a protein shake your considering food. Just wait you think that losing weight with the band is easy cause its not. You will put it on as quick as it came off alcohol are just empty calories and if you dont want advice from people who have had the band for a long period of time then start a website for immature banders that cant take advice.

““After many discouraging and unhelpful responses... I guess I'm going to give this a go somewhere else.” What, no one here told you what WANTED to hear? Reality bothers you a little, maybe? “I've been called a lots worse than stupid” I have no doubt. “I think people's morality gets too involved on this site.” Morality? When did morality EVER come into this conversation? Morality has got NOTHING to do with it, at least as far as I’m concerned. Alcohol consumption in the first few months of your band experience is a BAD IDEA, however you want to spin it. You came to this site looking for support/advice/whatever, you don’t get the info you WANT, so you go running off like a two year old on a tantrum. Sweet. Real Sweet. You’ve lost 23 pounds so far. That’s great. But that’s the EASY part. The first few pounds are usually the easiest. But if you continue to consume food and beverages that are UNHEALTHY, then that last 50 is gonna come off REAL hard, if at all. And the sooner you learn that, the better. “there, done that, eff off.” Charming. Absolutely Charming. Happy New Year. S.

After many discouraging and unhelpful responses... I guess I'm going to give this a go somewhere else. I think people's morality gets too involved on this site. I'm sure I've been called a lots worse than stupid by a lot better. I am following the diet and have lost 23 lbs so far, and do not regret my little two glasses of wine, which is hardly my normal intake of alcohol. Been there, done that, eff off.

I didnt even attempt alcohol til six months post op. You guys are too new to be varying from your diet already and Im not saying that to be mean but if your already trying things you shouldnt be then you are setting yourself up for failure. Stay strong and stick to the script you will be much happier in the end.

Have you tried the Luna protein bars? From what i can see looking at the ingredients list they dont contain any alcohols. 190 calories, 19g carbs, 3g fiber, 12g protein. I usually dont eat these instead of my meal replacement shakes but i am allowed another shake during the day as a "snack". But after drinking two shakes i would prob cry if i had another one. I switch these out instead. The peanut butter is pretty good and i have a cookie dough box i am waiting to try.

What do they use to sweeten them with since there are no sugar alcohols? I'm curious now and I think I'll try them out. Thanks!

Hi, I am getting ready for my Plication next Wednesday with Doctor Corvala in Tijuana and I am very excited. I read through all these posts to get ideas and help and I have noticed several people mention drinking wine or cocktails. I would have thought with your stomach being so much smaller that you'd be unable to drink much? Is this correct? I am just wondering if it's even worthwhile having a drink once you've had this done since you have such a small capacity. Anyway any comments would be appreciated.

I'm not! Alcohol wont make or break the evening for me so I will just forgo it this time.

Yup, my doc said one glass of non carbonated alcoholic beverage is fine per day....so one before midnight and one after

Hi All. I was banded December 6, and recovered from surgery pretty easily. Had a few sidetracks along the way, (like learning I am lactose intolerant), but overall, it's gone well. I was on Protein shakes and Water for three weeks, and lost a fair amount of weight. Now that I'm cleared for soft foods, I'm eating smart (I think) high protein meals, supplementing with Protein Shakes, and sipping the ever present water. I haven't eaten anything I'd consider "wrong" (no sweets, fried foods, no alcohol), and feel like I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing. So why has my weight loss stalled? Where I was losing about a pound a day, in the last week I've only lost two pounds, and today I'm actually up a pound. I'm confused. Anyone have ideas about this? Why is it happening, and what can/should I do about it? Thanks, Dave

Morning from the frozen southwest. The lowest I saw it last night was 25 degrees. I'm sure some of my plants are going to be mush, but I did set up lights and covers for a lot of them. I have quite a few plants....not as many as I used to but still I have indoor plants and outdoor plants in pots. A lot of them are frost sensitive....not sure how well they will survive a hard freeze even with protection. Brrrr. It's still only 31 degrees out. Yes, I am a wimp. Went shopping yesterday and bought a new MP3 player...it's so tiny and all it does is music, no video or anything else. It can do radio but you have to add a radio card. My old MP3 isn't recognized by the computer anymore and I really like to take my stories with me while I work. I also bought some outdoor fabric to redo my cushions on the front porch chairs. Every one of them is ripped and I don't like what is commercially available as replacement cushions. They won't be fancy, but they should work. Then I went to the sushi bar for lunch. That is always nice and relaxing. So yesterday I didn't get much done but shopping. Of course I'd be up for a trip to Chicago. Right now I have nothing on my schedule except a trip to NC or OH at the end of September. Cheri...you are too funny. It's almost nice to see someone post stuff that is "taboo". I have to monitor myself so I don't blurt out inappropriate things. My DH has no problems in "that category". He will take me any way he can get me as long as he can. It keeps him happy. I'm almost at the point I don't care either way, but I do like the intimacy. My arthritis is acting up. My fingers and hands are sore, my back and hips are sore, and my right hand keeps going numb. I started with the ibuprofen yesterday and think I may have to stay on it for a bit to stay moving. It's still low dose so I'm hoping I won't have to go on the high dose stuff again. I'm also very stuffy today. Hope it's just allergies because I don't want to be sick. We are going to a pajama party tonight at my friends house. She lives half a mile away so no problem with driving. I made posole for it both vegetarian and regular so people have something to absorb the alcohol. She is also providing many beds for people to sleep over. Happy New Year's Eve. I'll try and check in later as I don't have much planned for today either. Wow. Eva

THE MY WEIGHT Protein BARS DO NOT HAVE THE SUGAR ALCOHOLS IN THEM THEY COME IN SOME GREAT FLAVORS ROCKEY ROAD,CARAMEL BROWNIE, CARAMEL CRUNCH, Peanut Butter ECT THEY ARE JUST LIKE REAL CANDY BARS BUT WITH 160 CAL AND 15 Proteins THE PROBLEM IS U CAN ONLY GET THEM FROM MY SURGENT BUT HE WILL SHIP THEM TO U FOR LIKE 4 DOLLARS U GET 7 BARS FOR 14 WORTH EVERY DIME HIS NUMBER IS 985-234-3000 JUST ASK FOR THE MY WEIGHT Protein Bars THEY ALSO HAVE A VARITY PACK TOO THE WEB SITE SAYS WWW.WHYWEIGHT.COM BUT I DONT THINK U CAN ORDER THEM OFF OF THERE. HOPE THIS WORKS

I prefer Protein bars to help boost my protein intake but the sugar alcohols in them really mess my stomach up. Is there a brand without the sugar alcohols?

I had surgery in July in Mexico with Dr. Corvala.....I actually had surgery the day before Julie....I am down almost 60lbs....I eat everything and do everything...as a matter of fact I just got back from a trip to Las Vegas, tried out new restaurants and (ok not the best choices, but it's Vegas) had a few too many adult bevy's....I am still down 1/2 lb.... I have learned that I need to order what I really want from a menu...yes there will be left overs, and yes, sometimes it is easier and better to order one meal for me and my husband and eat "family" style..... other than that...it has been great.... Read my blog, go back to July, and you can see what I was doing, eating and feeling...I write about 1 a week now, but will get back into the swing of writing with the new year... I started at over 300 and am now in the lower 240's!!!! so yes, would I do it again...in a minute....would I go to Mexico...No doubt! Just think of your stomach at a wayyyyy smaller size....I can eat about 4-6 oz of food, if it is soft and mushy I can eat maybe 8-10oz...but still think about a 1 cup measure, that is 8 oz.....so if you are full (and for the first time in my life I knew what full felt like....).....I have now made it through the Holidays and am down 4 lbs in December...it is a slower month than any other month, but also I indulged in alcohol, Cookies, etc...so all in all it beats my usual 10+lbs gain...... good luck and keep us posted...

Like Indiogirl said... this is just a tool...this is not the case where "the surgery is doing the work for you" that is an illusion. You. have to work this. I have lost about 100 lbs in 6 months. I have a very good friend banded longer (a lot longer) than I, who has lost almost nothing. Y? I go to the gym 2 hrs a day 5 days a week. I eat Protein first....then veggies and salad. I stop eating by 5pm. I go to support groups, keep in touch w/ my dr, and kept getting fills (and an unfill) till I got where 3 meals do the trick, and I am not hungry. I cut waaaaaaay down on alcohol. I dont eat sweets. so what do I eat?? hmm.....salads, cottage cheese, soy crisps, homemade healthy chilis and Soups. seafood. veggies. very little red meat. Protein shakes. nuts. Peanut Butter....I keep healthy snax around (the cottage cheese and soy crisps are my fav!!! ) but also heart healthy nut packs, baby bell cheeses, EAS shakes......I cook at the beginning of the week to make sure there is something around for me to grab quick, because if I get starving, it isnt good.....eggs are also good protein, and have gotten a bad wrap.....hang in there!! You have to make a decision to put yourself back on the map. its really as easy as that, and no one is busier than I am. I have triplet 3 yr olds, a 5 yr old, and no outside help. My youngest son also has a disability so throw in many hours of appts, and therapies every week, and I still get myself to the gym. its all about priorities......!!!

I was retarded and had my first couple of drinks only 2 weeks after surgery. (red wine and margarita) I felt fine although I'm a little nervous about it now. I'll probably have a drink tomorrow as well but will try and stick to something "easy" like vodka mixed with crystal lite. Other than empty calories and inhibiting your ability to make sound eating decisions, alcohol doesn't seem to be harmful to the sleeve (even an early sleeve) right?

I think many people have to go through the "MENTAL TEST" before anything else is decided. I had a 10 page questionaire to fill out before my initial intake visit. They emailed it to me and when I went to print OMG 10 pages. It was all about my family history, my history, when i became over weight, diets I have tried, suppliments I used, reason for being overweight, my religious views, my work status, maritial status, if my spouse is alright with my choice of WLS... Then to have to be evaluated by the psychologist!!!! I am diagnosed already with anxiety and depression...I don't need them to tell me that! Anyways, They really have to do that because some people are SERIOUSLY addicted to food. I had a friend of mine, her brother had the band done, and has completely lost his mind (because he couldn't turn to food). He turned to alcohol and drugs...lost his license and (WAS) a local fire fighter...Needless to say not anymore...but these surgeries are LIFE CHANGING!!!! Remember that! If you are not mentally stable enough then honestly, you shouldn't have surgery! Good luck on your journey!!!

I asked specifically what I would be eating after surgery, what foods to avoid, when can you drink coffee, alcohol, how many calories a day roughly should you be eating when you're on solids, I wrote down everything and went to see the nutritionist with my list of questions!

We all have triggers and foods that call to us. Today my family would be called working class poor but when I was a kid we were just poor. Throwing away perfectly good food was a sin. If I buy something, I end up not liking if it will keep until I see my mother I don't throw it away. There are things since being banded that I have thrown away because I was out of control like honeynut crunchy Peter Pan Peanut Butter. If it's in the trash I won't take it out. I am going to chastise you for the Combo's purchase. Did you eat them right away or save them for a later time? If you were in the store and just could not go a minute longer with out eating; than choose a lesser evil. Even many convenience stores have apples and banannas. Or crackers (a personal demon) that would not have had the fat value. For Christmas my sister and niece made home made chocolate bars. I had a piece of one at her house. The two they gave me in my stocking I sent to my mothers for a party we're having next week. I figure counting her's we'll have four bars (larger than Snickers) that we can cut up. One thing I've discovered is that I need to plan for hunger incidents away from home. Premier RTD chocolate Protein shakes are good for that; 11 oz 160 cal, 30 g protein. I very much believe in the rule that if you eat correctly 80-90% of the time then you can have the occational treat. There are things however that I can't keep in my house because I just can't stop at a couple bites (Ever notice we don't tell an alcoholic to just have one beer. We know they can't do that.) Sorry to be long winded but you need to either throw everything away tonight or plan that it is going to work with someone tomorrow so it is'nt around.

Good morning! GRRR more techie issues. This morning my internet wasn't working. Went to check the modem and no power. Somehow the outlet it's plugged into keeps tripping. No idea why so I found some extension cords and ran them to another room and got power that way. DH is in Denver today (without me BOO HOO!! but just for the day) so he can look at it when he gets home or I will call the builder if we have an electrical issue. Not sure if the storm has anything to do with it, but all my other power is working. After our issues getting the XBOX Kinect hooked up I did real well connecting it last night to the wireless etc. and was worried I did something there but then saw that DH was on the internet early this morning. So frustrating, at least in pony express days you just had to care for the horses! LOL Looks like I may be snowed in today, will see how it goes, I'd like to run a few blocks to Walmart and check out the Christmas clearance for next year (Paper and bows, etc) but that's not crucial of course. My dogs (black lab mixes) stunk so bad from being boarded at the kennel that I decided to give them baths. I usually hose them down outside which they love but in this cold I couldn't hardly do that. They are too big for the bathtub so I took them one at a time into the shower with me. OMG now I have black hair everywhere. So gals, I knwo a few of you have big labs, how do you give them baths? Especially Apples there in the frozen tundra of MN??? Jewel, congrats on ONederland. You have come so far, so proud of you. You should go back and read some of your first posts on this thread and see for yourself where you were and where you are now. Amazing girl! Tina, good luck at your appt on Monday. Yep that is all Janet eats, that is a typical banded lifestyle diet, or should be. No eating around the band. Apples, hoping you can get some rest. Linda, now that is junking up the thread. Too funny how that kept doing that. LauraK, enjoy your new years. Janet, I did a New Year's eve when I lived in Vegas, it was the year they imploded the Hacienda hotel. But they imploded it at 9pm so that it would be midnight on the east coast for television. DUMB! So at 9pm we are all shouting Happy New Year and singing Auld Lang Syne and then go home and watch it all over on TV at midnight. It was crazy the people and oh the alcohol by the actual midnight it was pretty bad. It's a new Year's I will always remember and my kids talk about all the time, hard to top that one. Arlene, be careful on too many stops on that choo choo!! That's also what I wanted to go to Walmart for today, get some Protein bars, etc.

Hi Restoration, I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and I truly believe that therapy is a great way for some people get help with problems, heal from old wounds, find new opportunities for healthier relationships, and learn to lead more fullfilling, productive lives. I say that to let you know that I am definitely not anti-therapy. However, I am thoroughly disillusioned and annoyed with the attitude that most medical and mental health professionals have toward obesity. The fact that you are 140 pounds suggests to me that you are struggling with a complex set of genetic and metabolic issues. I obviously don't know enough about you to give an opinion about whether or not you have an eating disorder--but at this point, what you have described about yourself would not meet the criteria for any kind of diagnosis. You can look up the diagnostic criteria for eating disorders online and see if you meet the criteria. That's not to say that counseling wouldn't be a good experience, or improve the quality of your life--I just don't think it's going to help with maintaining a permanent weight loss. I was at 283 when I had my surgery. Prior to my decision to have surgery, I had previously reached my pre-marriage weight of 140-150 four different times through strict dieting efforts (Weight Watchers, Diet Center, etc...). After gaining the weight back each time, I pathologized myself by going to Overeater's Anonymous (and drove 1 1/2 hours with two children to get there). I had sponsors. I went to meetings. I walked. I went to the gym. I wore a pedometer everywhere I went. I sat in smoke filled AA meetings with alcoholics when I couldn't find an OA meeting because I was desperate to keep the weight off and willing to go to any length to beat myself into making healthy choices with food. I went to a therapist and placed myself on a food addiction plan with no sugar, wheat, or flour (which I adhered to for years at a time.) Is that how I would have treated myself if I had been a diabetic? Hardly. I would have gotten medical attention for a medical problem. I wish I had known about VSG years ago and been able to afford it. Any unhealthy relationship I had with food was only exacerbated by years of dieting and my self-imposed "treatments." My questions to you would be this: 1) Who decided who would do your psych eval? Could you have chosen someone else? Can you request a second opinion? 2) Did the evaluation go directly to you, or did you already release it to someone else? 3) If you have a copy of it, is there a Diagnosis section that would list an Axis I diagnosis? If yes, type the name of the diagnosis into your computer search engine along with the keywords, "diagnositic criteria". You should find a site that would give you a specific set of criteria that have to be met before a diagnosis can me made. 4) Did you pay for the evaluation, or was it covered by your insurance? Most insurance companies require a mental health diagnosis on the claim form before they pay for mental health services. The unfortunate truth is that most mental health professionals will pick out some diagnosis (even if the client doesn't exactly qualify), because it's one of the hoops they have to jump through to get paid. 5) If you believe you have been improperly diagnosed, contact the professional who did the evaluation and request that they remove the diagnosis (which can permanently affect your medical history). If the professional refuses to comply, and you still believe you have been improperly diagnosed, you can tell them that you will file a complaint with the state licensure board for improper diagnosis and possible fraudulent insurance billing if the issue can't be resolved in a satisfactory manner. If you decide to just accept the label that has been attached to you and pursue the 3 months counseling, I would definitely insist on seeing a different professional than the one that did your evaluation, because your ability to trust has already been compromised. Therapy will always be more helpful if you trust the person you are working with. Take care and keep us posted!

I weighed at WW. I lost 2lbs. Now that is two of the ten I gained since Vegas, but I'll take it. Lori, we booked the cruise for several reasons. I want to go on the new ship Magic.....we want to go to Belize......DH always takes off at Christmas .........and I want a Christmas Break. It just so happens that two of my kids are going on a vacation at the same time. Now, if something happens between now and then we can always cancel. We are doing Christmas on Thanksgiving. I think it will be a nice change. We do Thanksgiving at my house every other year. I think we will do the same with Christmas. That way the kids can go to the in-laws on Christmas too. Our family is up to around 25. It is fun, but a lot of chaos. I think we are also going to scale down the gift giving. I have all my decorations down......now to pack. It shouldn't take too long. Tina, so sorry you are having problems. I think the medication will really help. Also try to get out and walk. It really clears your head, and make you feel healthier. Take it from someone who detested exercise. I just feel so much better. Peaches, I just loved the poem......thanks! Cheri, being a child of an alcoholic I have read many codependency books. Ugh! I just wish I would have not been such an enabler. It really hurt my kids. Jodi, I will be bored with you on Friday. I don't go out on New Years......too many crazies on the rode. We don't have mass transit like NY. Everyone drives down here......and some should not be allowed to drive anything!!! I think the Houston area has most DUIs in Texas. Crazy! Meredith........get well soon! Sorry, I only read the posts on this page......Later! I better get to packing!