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yes - definitely sounds like a reaction to artificial sweeteners. Would they let you have Fairlife milk instead? (It would probably have to be the plain milk since I'm assuming the chocolate milk and the Fairlife shakes have artificial sweeteners, too). Although maybe there's a sweetener that you can tolerate (most people aren't intolerant of all of them - just some (sugar alcohols are a common culprit. They're the ones whose names end it "-itol", like xylitol)

I had a 14 day liver shrinking diet so you definitely still have time!! Mine was protein shakes for breakfast and lunch (and I could have a small apple or orange for a snack). Then 4 oz lean protein and 1 cup non-starchy veggies for dinner. (Sounds similar to yours). And the great news is your “cheating” wasn’t with really bad stuff - or even worse - alcohol! It was a little extra of the food you were supposed to be eating!! :) I was/am a BIG girl (highest weight 365 - surgery weight 327) and this diet shrunk my liver just fine! I do agree with what others have said about alarms. I’m so busy at work I set them to remind me to drink water!! Don’t stress - you can totally do this!!!! We are here to support you!!!

I like your attitude! I think a lot of people lump cigarette smoking and cigar smoking together. One is dangerous habit and while the other is rather benign. I belong to a social club and smoke cigars with several medical professionals. None smoke cigarettes. I look forward to the day when I can have a drink too. Life is to be enjoyed. I used to smoke cigarettes, 2 packs a day for over 30 years..... Along with a lit of things, I quit for good. I am now a cigar aficionado. Yes, I smoke cigars, drink coffee, double espressos, consume alcohol, enjoy ice cream and other delights, At 63 soon to be 64, I am enjoying life more now than I ever have. I can now appreciate the things life offers, rather than being a glutton and sitting on the sidelines as a spectator. Of course, listen to your Dr. and gauge your results/successes against your new lifestyle.

My tips: I try to keep my house stocked with a variety of foods that I allow myself to have. There are no junk foods, or breads, or sugars in my home. That way, I know that when I get the urge to browse my hand is only going to fall on something that won't hurt me. I too refuse to eat breads and sugars. These are my downfalls and I know me - once started it would take months or years to stop again. Within the bounds of those foods that I bring into the house, I have the freedom to eat what I want, when I want it. And I rarely struggle to ignore that certain food that is calling to me from the pantry. I swear some foods are possessed and have telepathy powers! I have been working very hard on brainwashing myself to think differently about the aroma of foods that used to trigger "hunger". Much like when we smell beautiful spring flowers along side of the road.. we enjoy the aroma but we don't stop and get out to graze on the flowers. I think I am succeeding. When we drive by a steakhouse, donut shop, chinese restaurant, or burger joint and those smells come drifting into the car I just take in a big deep breath and focus on how pleasing they smell, tell myself that was the end of the experience and go on. I rarely carry cravings with me after such encounters now. Avoid temptation. Alcoholics don't frequent bars and remain alcohol free. Drug addicts don't go to parties where their favorite drug is being passed around. And I don't go to ice cream parlors, Mc Donald's, or any other of my once-favorite food places. It's been about 6 months since I've been around the foods that I used to live on morning, noon, and night. And now, when I do encounter such foods by accident I find that they don't even look appealing to me. I was at dinner with a group of friends last week and there were dishes of Pasta and some deserts that I used to die for. I looked at them and it was like they didn't even register as real food. My response was more like, "Why would anyone want to eat that?" So I guess no exposure to temptations really does pay off over a period of time. Weigh no more than once a week. Weighing everyday is like clock watching. The days will begin to drag by and the natural fluctuations of body weight will drive you nuts. Pop Secret 100 calorie packs of Kettle Corn. The only snack allowed in the house. Never leave home without some sort of safety food with you. Getting caught out with no "safe" food when hunger strikes can lead to impulsive choices and justifying foods you know aren't going to help you get healthy. And finally, journal your food intake, calories, and Protein. While you may THINK you aren't eating very much, you can easily overlook 300-500 calories a day in those things you just nibbled on or drank while you were working.

Alcohol is worrying me right now, we have had some devastating family news and I've found alcohol is becoming my new habit most nights as I can't eat myself happy now. I had my op on May 6th this year. My weight loss is very slow and I know why. I'm trying to stay away from it now. I don't need to go from food to replace it with this poison xx Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I am an expert on no one but me. I am over three years out and have had gastric sleeve. I lost all my weight in 9 months and have been maintaining since. My surgeon cut out the fundus (the stretchy part) of my stomach leaving behind the muscle so I have little to no stomach left to "stretch". I drink carbonated beverages, I use straws, I consume alcohol, and I am fine. That said, I could easily "eat around" my sleeve if I wanted to. I choose to follow my surgeon's dietary recommendations 90% of the time. If instead, I chose to eat ice cream and Cookies, I would/could gain all my weight back. If I make good choices, I can eat no more than 1/4-1/3 cup of food and I am full for hours. If I choose carbs, I can't eat much more than the above, but I can eat more sooner. Again. MY stomach hasn't stretched nor will it, I am quite confident. I can't speak on anyone else's.

According to my doc, yes, we will get 'buzzed' faster. So, for that reason, and of course the useless calories, he strongly discourages (but does not ban) the occasional drink. I'm still alcohol-free...I always think of something better to have...like nuts!

I had surgery on December 29, so I think that counts as January. I am doing great and love my sleeve!! I have lost 80lbs and I am down from a size 22/24 to a 14. I am still consistently losing. I have not had any complications and no dumping. I still follow the rules. I have not introduced carbs, sugar or alcohol. I feel great!!!

Does alcohol affect u differently after lapband? It does after the RNY, the RNY folks drink much less after the surgery they say it buzzes them faster. Just wondering

I have only been banded since mid January and do enjoy a small glass of wine with meals a few times a week. My weight continues to drop and overall I'm eating much less then I normally would have back before the surgery. The alcohol also does not impact me, they are liquids and go right through. At the end of the day it's about what goes in and how much you burn. In addition it's about satiety, so if you're eating less and can go the 4 (recommended) hours and loosing the 1-2lbs a week - you're golden (in my opinion) Also to note I read a book my surgeon had given me based on the Dr who was instrumental in the band procedure; his studies actually show that patients who enjoyed a small amount of wine throughout the week with dinner had favourable results.

I'll have a glass of wine maybe four nights out of the week, and maybe if we go out that will be two glasses. That's about it, once in a blue moon on a hot day I might have a beer, but I can only drink one. I never drink spirits or cocktails at all. Very very occasionally we might pour a Drambui or Baileys after dinner, just a tiny one in a liqueur glass. So I'm maybe get 600 calories a week from alcohol on average.

It can be very confusing to know what to listen to and what not to listen to. Yes, we have the internet but it makes things even more confusing with all the different opinions. I guess that is why we trust our information will be helpful from the program that we are in. It too has been suggested that there is no alcohol, but I will make that decision when I see fit. We have the doctors and nurses to advise us, but I guess we are able to make our own choices, good or bad, on our own, for what we see fit . Any piece of information can be torn apart, analyzed or discredited. It is up to each of us to take charge of our health.

I'll try to present my case better today (I'm just so damn frustrated these days that, yes, my knee-jerk reaction IS to ditch all programs) and try to sound reasonable while doing so. Should many programs be ditched? Yes. Should all? No. However, I am of the mindset that if you abuse it, you use drugs or alcohol while on it, you get caught cheating, stealing, or in any way manipulating the system, if you are a criminal or become a criminal while on services, it's a one strike and you're out. If you can't prove you live here LEGALLY, I don't care if you're bleeding in the friggin' street, you get NOTHING. NADA. ZIP. We are bleeding here and can't take care of our own, yet we have to take care of thieves who don't belong here? I don't think so. If you get services and are able-bodied, you WILL work. I heard somebody on the radio yesterday mention something I could live with: Start out working one day a week, then after a period of time that is reasonable, they begin working two days a week, and so on and so on until they are working full-time. If you choose to have babies while ON welfare, you get cut off (unless you give the child up for adoption). There is free birth control on virtually every corner (ALSO paid for by tax dollars). Use it or lose everything. Let your mama take care of you because I WON'T. I think the biggest problem we have in this country is the utter apathy of so many. And that apathy has been CREATED by the government hand-outs, in my opinion. There was a time when legal immigrants came here with nothing in their pockets, and by sheer willpower and determination, they made it work. They worked hard, they learned the language, and they became productive members of society. Very few sat around just waiting for handouts. If they chose to do so, they probably died. I feel if you're able-bodied and choose to sit around collecting your monthly check while watching cable and drinking beer all the time, you are worthless to society and I frankly don't give a crap what happens to you. You can starve, you can rot, you can fall off the earth for all I care. I care NOTHING for you. Every tax dollar of mine that is going to feed and clothe and house your fat ass is a dollar that is taken away from me and mine. The fact is, there has always been the poor. There always WILL be the poor. Redistributing wealth from the rich to the poor does not make the poor any less poor -- it just makes the rich, those who have worked for it (because let's be real, what's considered "rich" these days is not what I would consider rich) less rich. It is NOT my job to be my brother's keeper. It is NOT my job to be sure that some loser on the street has cable TV or food on their table. If they can't do that for themselves, then they are a useless waste of space, in my opinion. I know it's harsh, but I don't care. I am NOT a bleedin' heart, and I know this about myself. And I'm fine with it. If we were talking about a relatively minimal percentage of society that this referred to, it could more easily be ignored. But our states are DYING, and I see many of the reasons they are dying. And the answer is NOT to continue pouring good money after bad on the lowlifes and illegals while cutting services to the poor sap who is sitting here footing the frikken' farken' bill! Okay, I'm sure I don't sound as reasonable as I had hoped, but damnit, I've had enough of this already.

Yay Sarah, so glad to see you here! When we "spoke" (through the magic of MSN Messenger!) recently, my heart went out to you, you seem to be suffering so much, in a circle of self-loathing and comfort eating - You HAVE to look at the weight you have lost with joy and respect. If you didn't have your band put in, you would more than likely weigh 50lbs more than your top weight. I am so glad you got the book - she specifically doesn't lay out exact diet plans but lists food's glycemic (sp?) index, ie how much of a sugar "hit" you are likely to get from certain foods - she has fructose syrup at one end of the scale, and wood at the other end! For people who haven't heard of/read the book, here is a quote: "While we think of sugar as a food, it is actually a drug - an external substance acting throughout the brain and body on cellular receptors designed for an internal chemical called glucose. Since glucose is usually the only fuel the brain can ever use, and is critical to mental clarity, mood states and the controlled release of energy in the body, it is astounding how cavelierly we sprinkle sugar, its inferior substitute, into everything from children's breakfast to ketchup. If sugar were to be put on the market for the first time today, it would probably be difficult to get it past the FDA...." I don't want to advertise this book - when I read it, the whole concept of the glycemic index of food was totally novel to me - but I now often see articles/books/tv programs about it - so if you are interested in this concept, or feel you may be sugar sensitive, you could check out any source really. What attracted me was, the title - I had just weaned myself off prozac - I had all the symptoms of depression, and was prescribed the drug, but it made me crazy - so I felt there was something else wrong - and kept researching until I fould the link between sugar addiction + MO + depression. She even mentions in the book how you are more likely to suffer from sugar sensitivity if you have a lot of alcoholics in your family, which I do, so this convinced me that I was on the right track. I am SHOCKED at the difference this theory has made on my life - that's all I can say. And Sarah, I really hope it helps you too - mostly tho, you should try to visit the support boards, and try not to get too isolated - you are doing brilliantly, considering the year you have just been through - I am thrilled for you and so proud of you.

Just an update for everyone on my status..... After a lot of careful thought, I determined that the Bypass would be the best surgery for me. Locally, only Bypass or Lapband are offered, so a Sleeve wasn't an option for my surgeon. Starting weight before surgery was 235 (I'm 5' 5" tall). Had my surgery 11/16/10 at UMass Hospital in Worcester MA. Very successful surgery (though LONG surgery), went home on time. They took me off some of my meds before leaving the hospital, including taking me off insulin. Well, I"m back on insulin again, but MUCH less than before surgery - before surgery, I ws taking 100-120 units of long term insulin every night, and another 30-50 units in the monrning, plus supplementing during the day with short term insulin (between 20-30 units for each meal). That's a LOT of insulin every day, up to 200 units or more a day! Now, 4/28/11, I'm down around 55 pounds, down to just under 180 lbs. That has met my first two goals - first goal was to get under 200 lbs, 2nd goal is to weigh less than my DH (6' 1", 180 lbs dripping wet). So I"m really close or have already passed my 2nd goal. Insulin - down to 25 units long term at night, and 10 units long term in AM, supplementing only when I eat sugar with short term insulin. so maybe down to 35-40 units a day (down from over 200 units a day). I'm also hopeful that as I continue to lose weight, and excersise more (hurray for warmer weather!!), the insulin needs will contine to drop, and hopefully get off of insulin all together (even if I have to go back to pills). I'm off of my blood pressure meds, no problems with blood pressure. Am still on cholesterol meds, but those numbers are MUCH better too. May get off of the cholesterol meds soon. I don't have any problems eating anything, sugar, alcohol, no problems, except if I eat/drink an unreasonable amount - 1 cookie is OK, half a dozen Cookies, I do get dumping, but only if I overeat sugar. Of course, I try not to overeat sugar, but when I found out I was being laid off from my job, I did discover the feeling of dumping from eating too much sugar! But I've gotten over that, and am back on track with much better eating habits. I'm happy with my decision, am feeling great, and already have had to buy a new wardrobe as my old clothes were all falling off of me. Will likely need more wardrobe adjustments as weight loss continues. Sizes - I went from a size 24 women's pants, to nicely fiting into a standard size 16 pants at a normal clothing store! And bras - I went from a 46DD to a 40D! So I wanted to thank eveyrone here for your great advice, and for just listening to me. Jill

Some things I brought to the hospita were... -my own slip on slippers for walking & flip flops for the shower -chapstick -a smal mirror (so i could look at my belly easier, hehe) -sugar free Vitamin C drops *ok'd it w/ my RN before I took and only took them to try to get my bowels to start waking up (bc the sugar alcohols start to get the bowels up and running.) And it worked. I had about 4 Vit C drops before I went to bed and the next day everything cam out fine, - Gas X disolving mouth strips. I read they can help with the gas they fill your abdomn up with, Seems like it works for some but not for others,, I'm over 1 week out and I still have pain in my left sholder from the gas pressure, -my own Vitamins, the did supply all but didn't have some of them, but I made sure I was ok to take them. - A comfortable! bra! I got one at Kohls.. it's more of a sports bra but kinda loose and comfortable, I wore that everyday I was there, because you have to walk so much and for me I deff needed some support even thou it wasn't much it was better than nothing, -cell charger a few pairs of undies Bring your own deoderat. I used the toothbrush, toothpaste & mouthwash. I

I waited 3 months post-op to have any alcohol. Since then, I have had it in moderation (mostly in social situations and only red wine or carb-free liquor drinks). At 16 months post-op, and below goal with a 225 pound total loss, I have no issues with it. In fact, I usually weigh less after drinking because it dehydrates me a bit. While I return to my regular weight the next day, I have never gained an ounce from it. YMMV. But, as folks have said in the thread, be mindful of the calories, and watch out for the sugar and carbs in many of the mixers. And, most of all, listen to your doctor's advice.

This is the bigger reason so much caution is used in regards to alcohol. I'll have to look up the stats but the rate that people turn into alcoholics after WLS is significant. Lower inhibitions may lead to eating more or eating things that you shouldn't.

sounds like something alcohol can cure. If it works out then you can say you were sober, if it doesn't you were drunk and didn't remember anything.

I could use an online friend(s) too (I'm in NC)- my surgery is September 26th. I'm getting both excited and nervous! If anybody has vitamin advice, I could also use them! I know Walmart sells liquid vitamins, but I'm not sure how good they are for surgery. I think it has alcohol in it to make them liquid. I know that Centrum makes Vita-Mints that are melting- I just need to compare stats to make sure it has everything needed!

So today has been a rough day and we haven't even hit 1 PM yet. This morning, instead of having my normal 3 turkey sausage links for Breakfast (100 cal, 13 gm protein) I decided to have a ham, egg and cheese croissant with only 1/2 the croissant from our local donut shop. I have done well lately and have been seeing the scale move which has made me really happy. I have been craving one of these croissants which I haven't had since before surgery so I figured this morning I would stop and get one and then do REALLY good for the rest of the day. I don't mean skipping meals, just getting the most out of what I would eat for the rest of the day. Anyway, things got hectic at work and I didn't get in a morning snack, by 11 I was so stinkin hungry and with no end in site for lunch I grabbed what was easiest and closest, 1/2 a donut... and then the other half. I haven't eaten a donut since well before surgery. Then the boss went out and bought hamburgers and fries from Burger King for lunch. I ate mine with only half the bun, and only one fry but still, not my good planned lunch that I was counting on. He also bought me a chocolate shake and I can't remember how long its been since I had one of those. One drink of it and I knew if I kept going I would feel bad because of all the sugar. It went down the drain. I haven't had a drink out of a straw since surgery and I even drank the drink of the chocolate shake through the stupid straw. I know better. I know better than all of it. I'm disappointed in myself that I let myself fall off the wagon like I did. I'm a food-a-holic, I have to watch myself just like an alcoholic does. I feel like I have failed miserably today. I also feel like I missed the good feeling of the "drunk" and went straight to the hungover feeling. None of what I ate made me feel better. In fact I kinda feel gross right now. I know it is a lesson in learning. I've been really proud of myself with how well I have done over the past 5 months. I thought I was getting to the point where battling these food demons was getting to be second nature and it wasn't so hard anymore. I don't want to do anything to screw this up. I don't want to start gaining back what I've lost... I've worked too hard. Nothing about this journey has been easy but I have been living it. I've been making it and making it work for me. I just feel really defeated. I told my sister about all of this (she is in the process of getting approval for the sleeve) and told her that tomorrow would be better. I can't wait until tomorrow, starting from this minute the rest of today has to be better. Sorry for the vent/whine. Praying for a better rest of today and for better decision making...

Can't really vouch for post band, but I'm a long time low carber and my goal was always 20-30 after subtracting fiber/sugar alcohols (aka net carbs). that was being very strict, tho. Most of my carbs would come from vegetables or quest bars

Sure you can. The carbonated stuff is usually off limits for most of us but there are other choices out there. Be mindful of the calorie content of your choice, I go for Vodka and sugar free cranberry juice myself. Alcohol has no different effect on me because of the band either. Some say that they get drunk faster but I really don't see why that would be except that as we lose body mass, alcohol might affect us differently. I guess because with the band I can't drink as fast as I used to so maybe that balanced it out because I don't get drunk any faster.

Have you seen Gerard yet?????????? Tomorrow is a new beginning to a new year that will make our ties stronger and our lives longer.....Watch the alcoholic intakes everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello and I’m sorry you are going thru this. I had RNY GBS 16 years ago and did fine until, I would say, 3-4 years ago when I started showing subtle symptoms that I attributed to stress and my quitting smoking and drinking alcohol. However, my symptoms got worse and I’ve been on a mission to find out what is wrong with me. May I suggest that you have a Hair, Tissue, Mineral Analysis (HTMA) done? It’s one of the most accurate ways of measuring our biochemistry to determine if we have acceptable levels or deficiencies with those vitamins and minerals that are so critical to us WLS patients. Your symptoms sound like some of mine, and I have yet to convince a doctor to order the HTMA for myself. From the blood tests I’ve had done, I’ve been determined to be Vit D and Zinc deficient. The top 3 minerals our bodies require to survive are Calcium, Magnesium and Zinc. Please get checked. Also, check out Robert Selig on YouTube and www.backtonaturalhealth.com. The information was eye opening and led my quest to other sources, which I would love to share if you find you are interested in learning more. I don’t work for this doctor or anything but I am a bit of a nerd and I needed so badly to know what the heck is happening to me. Also, something to consider is the menopausal period if you haven’t already gone thru or you’re in the midst of it. I found out (after advocating for myself and INSISTING on testing) that I am in menopause, which causes an imbalance in our hormones, which in turn presents the types of symptoms you are describing and which I am going thru. I’m not a doctor, just a person who has been suffering with chronic symptoms that would be debilitating if it were not for my absolute desire to not only live, but have quality of life. In order to do that, I had to advocate for myself, research everything I could that’s related to our WLS and the symptoms we are experiencing. I also stopped running to the doctor every time I had a new symptom. Nope, I put the brakes on and reassessed what I want to accomplish as far as my care and treatment are concerned. I want to be treated as a WHOLE person rather than symptomatically and not take a pill for each of those symptoms. I’m in search of a functional medicine practitioner to supplement the treatment plan of what my PCP would offer by being transparent with both of them and expressing that desire. Good luck and I hope you get better very soon!