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UPDATE: We stopped in Vegas on our way to Utah to go riding. Didn't drink alcohol because we still had driving to do. We had an amazing time. He laughs at my portion size. We did eat out just about everyday. We chose his meal together from the healthier options, then he allowed me to take my share. Commenting along the way that he won't ever miss 2 oz of his meal. I think the biggest part of my dilemma was I thought he wanted to lose weight with me and I was supper frustrated that he wasn't willing to change. I am coping much better with the advice that I chose this surgery, My life will forever be changed. He didn't have this surgery so he doesn't have to tool. I was getting all stressed out trying to help him eat healthy, reminding him to not drink. SCREW that!! He is a big boy, if he wants things to stay that way, why should it stress me out. I now say "I am heading to the gym" and off I go. If he tags along fine, if he watches TV fine. Eventually he may get on board but for now it looks like life as usual at least for him. I am down 30 lbs!!!!

Hi Tiffy .. No dont have the old paperwork, but I am almost positive that it didnt say anything about alcohol. I only drink mixed drinks anyway, you know the girly kind. And even before the surgery I was a lightweight. Just dont want to miss out since I am having a New Years party. My BF just had his sleeve done on 12/15 .. probably not a good idea for him to drink then ha? LOL ...

I've noticed this bizarre trend of people getting crappy when they don't get positive reinforcement and validation for their poor choices regarding food, drugs and alcohol. They start accusing people of bullying, not answering the question they asked "appropriately", being meanies, acting "holier than thou", etc. I try to chalk it up to hormones, hanger, lack of good nutrition (especially based on the questions they are asking), etc. but sometimes it's really hard not to say what I'm really thinking.

Here is my version of the very simple rules I have to follow if I want to get to my goal weight and stay healthy: Consume 60-80 gm Protein per day and 60-80 oz of Clear liquids per day. Every day. Do not drink anything for at least 30 minutes before a meal or snack. If you forget and do drink, re-set the timer and wait another 30 minutes before you eat. Eat dense protein first at every meal. If you have room, eat a very few bites of non-starchy veggie in addition. Decide how many meals and/or protein Snacks you're going to have per day* (or how many calories) and stick to it. Every day. Do not eat between meals. Wait at least 30 minutes after every meal or snack before drinking anything. If your mouth gets really dry you could rinse after eating, brush your teeth or chew gum. I avoid alcohol because I'm concerned it would decrease my ability to resist bad food choices. Follow those rules at least 90% of the time, and you will succeed. For the other 10%, do not beat yourself up - just get back on the wagon immediately and Sleeve On! * The two ways I know of to lose weight are 1) Low calorie; 2) Low carb. I chose low carb because I can eat more volume and I don't have to count calories - the Atkins diet. I eat every 4 hours (8a, 12n, 4p and 8p), and I keep my carb intake as low as humanly possible. Both factors contribute to my never being hungry for very long at a time. Best wishes!

Floridays,,, thanks for your response as Ive said to you before I often loo for your advice and input as one of an 'expert' becuase you are so far along in your journey. I am not much of a drinker, actually the last time I "drank to much" was over 2 years ago. Yes I do party, but it mainly consists of dancing, and talking with my friends.. no other activites much beyond that. Interesting to me that you dont like alcohol much anymore, I could absolutely live without it now, but I do enjoy it once in a while. I wonder if I will have the same feelings as you. Only time will tell!! Thanks for your advice!!

I'm with everyone above; it would be a really bad idea. Your surgeon told you no alcohol for a reason - he wasn't doing it just to deprive you, he was doing it because his years of medical expertise has taught him that patients should not do it until a certain time frame has elapsed. Unless you are a doctor yourself in this specialty, I would take your surgeon's word on this one and not drink.. Happy 21st though!

Re: "vomit" "throwing up" "sliming" and "PB" Bandsters have evolved some terms descriptive of their particular situation. In general, "vomit" and "throwing up" are inaccurate to describe what happens when we eat too much/too fast/too dry/too fibrous without proper consideration to such factors as amount, type of food, how well we chew, etc. "Vomit/throwing up" is not accurate, as those terms involve gastric juices and at lease partial digestion within the stomach. Usually the type of smelly clumpy liquid such as after drinking too much alcohol or some kind of food poisoning. I've seen relatively few reports of actual stomach content being 'thrown up' in postOp Bandsters. Feelings of nausea etc continue after the fact depending on what the actual cause of the event may have been. Various illnesses can be responsible as well. This is the very kind of event that non-Bandsters experience. The "sliming" or "PB--productive burping" whatever we may call it, results from whatever we eat not fitting thru the pouch and we in effect regurgitate it from above the Band area. There is remarkably little digestive juices present at this point, as those reside in the lower stomach area and are not in contact until after the bolus passes thru the Band into the actual stomach. Heavy mucous/slime is most often a component and repeated spitting can and does occur. The bolus of food is rejected and returned to the world and the Bandster can return to their activities. Nausea and other symptoms pass with the objectionable material being expulsed. This is not an illness per se, rather of symptom most often of an Error of Eating. Time and experience will teach the Bandster how to mostly avoid such event in the first place. "Sliming-PBing" is different than the type of foul tasting bile type regurgitation one might get when laying in bed. Hope this helps identify some of what recent Bandsters may find confusion.

I am 18 and here in New Zealand that's the legal drinking age. Since alcohol is heavily in our Barbecue/backyard/laid back life style I know it's going to be IMPOSSIBLE to cut Alcohol out completely. I plan on counting every alcoholic calorie and allowing for it once a week or so (and of course nothing carbonated.) I know it's not ideal but its what works for me!

Tiff is correct, you need go back to basics. BUT I also want to let you in on a little secret...I do not always eat super healthy. I really try to get my Protein in through food and don't use Protein drinks if I can manage it through food, but this is tough because I also try to watch the amount of calories and carbs, I don't want to be grazing all day long in order to get enough protein. I completely understand that it is a tough time to stay committed to healthy eating, but I've found that if I prioritize: what is coming up this week, which days do I need to cut back on carbs because I know this special thing is coming up? it makes it so much easier. Long before I was even thinking about surgery my grandmother sent me an article that compared thinner/average weight people's habits to overweight/obese people's habits; it discussed how the average person would naturally scale back in areas to compensate for a splurge where an overweight person might just "give up" feeling "I blew it now, I might as well enjoy it." I don't know how scientific this article was, but I'm really trying to live with a different mindset now and train my mind and body to naturally compensate. For example last Friday I had a holiday party to attend. So for all of last week I didn't allow myself many extras...didn't have orange cream bars in the house (my vice), didn't go out to lunch (although I usually only get salad, but with teriyaki sauce), and I don't think I even went out with my husband to dinner, just in preparation. I didn't feel deprived or sad, it was just life. On Friday I was able to snack on appetizers and NOT feel guilty. I did not drink any alcohol or have any of the Desserts because I wanted to snack and chat. It was great! I am in no means trying to make you feel bad for your eating, we all must figure out what works for us. Just trying to maybe give you an idea of the way things are working for me. It's not that I will never have junk food...today I got a bag of chips from Subway with a salad and ate a lot of them on the way home (I'm having cramps), but for dinner that means I have the second half of that salad and probably no evening snack. I'm okay with that because I made the decision (probably not the best one) to have the chips and I'm not going to beat myself up over it. Good luck! You CAN do this...you just need to find your rhythm, the pouch test might be a good way to start.

If you don't see or talk to your family everyday, don't feel pressured to tell them. You are only in the hospital over night and are almost back to normal in a few days. When the weight starts to come off or they notice how you eat, just say you have made the decision to eat healthy and lose weight and that you would appreciate their support. I really wish I hadn't told my family - my sister who had bypass 25 years ago, started right out saying it won't work. My Mom of course chimed right in with her, since she is older and had bypass, she must know everything. Never mind that I am nurse and made this decision after a year of research. Well they both had to shut-up after my husband lost 75lbs in a little over 2 months, but I am sure they are just waiting for me to fail. Sorry not planning on it. Wal-mart - yes everything does get around there! My husband is a CSM, he tried everything not to tell, but personnel wouldn't let him have his FMLA without specifics. He did NOT tell any of his managers, but someone came up to him the other day and said, I heard you had surgery on your stomach and proceeded to tell him all about the people they knew who had the band or bypass. With his weight loss it is hard to deny that he had something done, so he didn't say anything at all. If you know in your heart this is the right decision, then it is no one else's business. Tell them or don't, just don't worry about what they have to say. I have had to say this to a couple of people: Would you question surgery if it could cure an alcoholic or drug addict? Easy way out: Major surgery, general anesthesia, diet and exercise for the rest of my life - ya' that sounds easy.

I've had my band for 3 years and... - I've never been a Water chugger so I don't miss that. But I can get down enough water in a gulp. I definitely did not stay as tight as I was when I first got the band. - I drink during meals all of the time. I got tired of the tiny bites and chew, chew, chew plus it made me look and feel abnormal when eating with friends. I still eat much slower than anyone else and my portions are tiny compared to what everyone else gets down but i use water to avoid any socially embarrassing sliming episodes or even when I eat alone and want to eat something that I know will potentially get stuck. It doesn't affect my stomach's ability to signal a "full feeling" to my brain, probably because my stomach has shrunk so much getting used to the small portions. 3-4 oz of Protein and a few bites of a vegetable is usually plenty to get a "full" feeling. But that came with practice, I wouldn't recommend it to a newbie. - I can get down deli meat by drinking water, otherwise it's stuck city. Same with white meat chicken....I rarely eat it because, even with a lubricant, it gives me a stuck feeling. I can eat a lot of other Proteins though..although I wish I enjoyed more types of fish because a nice white flaky fish is the easiest to eat with getting the stuck feeling and without any lubricant. - I drink seltzer like it's going out of style. I couldn't deal with the no carbonation thing so I started drinking diet sodas about 6 months after my surgery. Now I've given up artificial sweeteners so diet soda is out but I LIVE on those Canada Dry flavored seltzers, I'll take Poland Spring sparkling water in a pinch. Sometimes it's exactly what I need to hit the spot. It's also an amazing way to deal with going to a bar and not drinking alcohol (which I limit because of sugar content). If carbonation affected my pouch size, it wasn't noticeable at all to me. Any time I've stalled on weight loss, it was because of eating the wrong foods, never because I could eat too much of the right things. Really looking foward to getting a Sodastream so that I can make my own flavored seltzers. I guess my point is not to worry too much about what others' experience has been...you'll have your own which may be totally different and you are more adaptable than you think. There are things I miss a LOT, eating without fear of getting stuck is one of them, but the weight loss became worth it for me. Hope you all get to that point as well!

I had my gall bladder removed laproscopically when I was 30... some 20 years before being banded. I can tell you that recovery was WAY worse than the band. I was out of work for a month. With the band it was 5 days! I also was on my preop during the holidays and had a pretty glass of Water with lemon with me at all times. I didnt cheat either and had a great time sans the food and alcohol! You can do it!

I’m 62 pounds lighter since my May 28th LAP-BAND® surgery. In eighteen weeks, there has been such significant weight loss and, more relevantly, so much positive change in my health that I can hardly remember the time when I was medically obese and “lost.” First, let’s dispense with the formalities. Need to know exactly what LAP-BAND® surgery involves? Click on The LAP-BAND® I : "Entering the zone" | Babyboomers.tv. Want to know how civilians react to news that I’ve elected to have surgery? Click on http://babyboomers.tv/content/LAP-BAND®-zone-ii-dealing-civilian-response. Interested in hearing about my status and what happens next? Read on. In addition to monthly post-op visits with Dr. Gellman, my bariatric surgeon, -- click on www.northshoresurgical.net -- I’ve lived through 4 months now as a post-operative LAP-BAND® patient. It doesn’t feel that much different than following Weight Watchers, Atkins, and other weight loss programs. Except … I’ve had laparoscopic surgery to help cure my lifelong addiction to food; There is this device inside of me banding the upper portion of my stomach; The LAP-BAND® is a “tool” to help me cut down on food consumption; While my 62-pound weight loss has been sensational, the doctor reminded me this week that the band was inserted for a reason and it’s time to tighten it now. So, this is a different reality for me. The band will be tightened in a few days by injecting saline solution into a port which has been surgically inserted on the inside of my stomach epidermis. The net result is that the band will be tightened and my little stomach pouch (the “stoma”) will feel full with less food. I’ll have to go back on a liquid diet for a few days to allow the stoma to adjust to its new tighter reality. Aside from my regular visits with Dr. Gellman, I also attend a monthly support group with other post-op patients. These groups are enormously helpful for both the camaraderie of those who have been through my same experience as well as for the practical advice I get from participants. At the last group, the topic was “How have you changed for the better or worse following surgery?” I believe life is drastically different (and better) since surgery. However, I’m still a LAP-BAND® rookie so I asked the group “do you all tell people that you’ve had LAP-BAND® surgery?” Interesting responses: “it’s none of anybody’s business”; “nobody has to know”; “they don’t understand”; and, “I only tell my closest friends and relatives”. I understand. Even though I’ve gone public on this website for the entire world to know my story, there are specific people in my life who don’t know about my decision to go through with LAP-BAND® surgery --- most importantly, my mother and father-in-law. They are in their 80’s and they just wouldn’t understand the surgical procedure (or the need for it). Mind you, they are each thrilled to hear about and see my weight loss progress. The best advice to come from the support group, however, has been “If anyone asks how you lost the weight, tell them you’re on Weight Watchers.” This echoes a similar sentiment from Dr Gellman, who reports: “so many of the patients in our practice simply default to “Weight Watchers” when asked how they lost the weight. There is logic here … the final phase of post-operative eating adjustment encompasses a diet that is very much like the Weight Watchers protocol: Eat fruits and vegetables liberally; Follow portion control: 1 ounce of meat = size of a matchbox; 3 ounces of meat = size of a deck of cards; 3 ounces of fish = size of a checkbook; Medium apple = size of a tennis ball. [*]Use little, if any, sugar; [*]Choose lower fat foods; [*]Avoid fried foods; [*]Eat 3 meals a day; [*]Exercise regularly, preferably 3 or 5 or 7 times per week (I walk 4 miles every day;) Who, among us, has not seen this movie before? And yet it really is unlike the thousands of diets I’ve previously been on. I think it has a lot to do with my commitment to a new way of life once I agreed to the surgery. And, I strongly believe in my ability to do this. Also, there is the reality that the little stomach pouch won’t hold the huge quantities of food I had become accustomed to eating. But, if we’re honest, I believe it’s that I don’t want to betray the promise I made to myself: this time, it’s for good and will be different than before. At our tender age when death and illnesses are dodging us, who is gonna argue? I’ve learned from my support group that the post-op fellowship strongly resembles Alcoholics Anonymous: it’s critical to keep sharing your feelings and to report any incident(s) of falling off the wagon. Fine with me, so far. But then, I’ve never really had a problem losing weight --- it’s maintaining my goal weight that has always done me in. For now, I take it one day at a time. The weight loss has been thrilling and I’m extremely grateful for my newfound health and mobility. I’m off blood pressure medicine, I don’t need the sleep apnea machine and my knees have magically stopped hurting during my 3-4 mile daily walks. As for the outside world and how to respond to the queries about “how did you do it?” … I smile like a Cheshire cat and reply that my answer lies in a renewed commitment to exercise and a diet of fruits, vegetables and healthy proteins. I guess my real shorthand answer can be “I’m going to Weight Watchers.”

So sorry you had that experience! 4 more weeks of liquids would drive me insane. But think of how much weight you'll lose (....looking for the upside here....). As to being a cheap date...I told my husband I'm the cheapest date ever now. He doesn't have to buy me a drink (I'd get bombed on 1/2 an alcoholic drink now, I'm sure). And if I was REALLY hungry, he could take me to costco on "sample" day. It would be like a buffet, and I'd be full after about 3 tasting stations! LOL. Cheapest date EVER.

I had surgery on the 21st and was able to attend a class reunion on the 30th. I took bottled water with me...and wasn't ready to dance but I think that its because I was still getting used to being alcohol free. I was a party monster prior to surgery! Lol

There's no replacing a cigarette. I quit 3 years ago by chewing Nicorette. They say you're supposed to take a piece and chew a bit then tuck it in your cheek. Honey, I chewed so many pieces at times I was blowing bubbles. While I still miss smoking, I don't miss being a smoker. You're going to have to cut out the psychological triggers...for me it was the phone and computer. I also cut out ALL alcohol. Another thing that helped was looking at smokers in their 30's and 40's. Their skin looked horrible and they stank. Trust me when I say you don't realize how much you stink until you quit smoking. My doctor also told me if you quit by 40, the body has a chance to revert to a 'nonsmoking' body. After that, no matter when you quit, you face emphysema. I wouldn't go out with my friends who still smoked and I spent a lot of time in places I had already trained my body not to smoke like the library or homes of friends who didn't smoke. Take up cross stitching or something that keeps your hands busy. Get your doctor to prescribe a low dosage of Xanax for the really bad times. Keep telling yourself you're doing it for your kids/loved ones/anyone but yourself because in the throes of a nic fit, you don't really care about yourself, just getting a cig. I smoked from 13 to 37 and I still have cravings occasionally. One thing that helped me quit is I got the kids to watch me like a hawk and tell me I'd better not smoke. Then, I'd look at them and think of them having to watch me die...it was harsh but it helped me through the bad times. I quit a thousand times...it was the 1001st time that took. Good luck...it's the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. Seriously.

My mom read some article that said a large percentage of people who have weight loss surgery end up alcoholics. That is scary. I wouldn't mind a cold beer (because it's so damn hot), but I'm scared to death of the carbonation (and the fact it is junk). But I'm only a week out and I've been wondering the same thing. I can't exercise for another 3 weeks so I've been sewing a lot and trying to stay busy. And I miss food alot. But I know I just want it for the comfort - not the actual food itself. I think it will be a long process. Good luck to all! Marie

1.5 years out, have been around the same weight for a year now. Like LilMissDiva mentioned above, you'll have your "bad" days occasionally, and the possibility of regaining 2-3 lbs is always there, but it's easy to stop. I can't vouch for what things will be like 3.5 years down the road, but just taking things a year at a time, I don't see myself gaining any significant weight a year from now. To gain weight with the sleeve, you really have to eat a LOT of junk food - you won't be able to consume large enough amounts of normal foods to cause weight gain. I've had a few periods of 2-3 days of non-stop chocolate consumption, but I don't find it too hard to get back on the wagon. I always make sure I hit the gym hard at least twice a week no matter how busy I am, even during weeks when I work 80 hours. Most weeks I work out 3-4 times/week. If I notice I've put on a pound or two, I just rein myself in a bit - I go back to drinking water with my meals instead of alcohol when I go out, get a medium latte instead of a large in the morning, etc. All those "sensible choices" that women's magazines always harp on about are an awful lot easier to make once you've had the sleeve.

I know with RNY they say no carbonated beverages. And no alcohol for a year. I'm over a year and am having my Saturday night wine again. I get very tipsy on a single 4oz glass, where before it took a whole bottle. And I mean VERY tipsy - slurring words and unsteady on my feet tipsy! I haven't noticed that it wears off faster, either, though some people say it does.

Auto-correct kills more relationships than alcohol...wait, I think they go together http://www.damnyouautocorrect.com/

3 months out. I've had a couple glimpses into my old life, and I miss it. I'm happy with my loss (about50 lbs), but I've been in a couple situations where I couldn't eat (like my old normal) or drink alcohol. For the most part I don't miss it, but part of me does and I feel sad. Sometimes mad, that I can't be like everyone else. Then I feel like I am just jealous that I can't eat and drink like a piggy without showing the entire world how fat and lazy I am. I've lost 50+ lbs. I've done some kind of exercise every day. But I still feel like the above.

I loooooove DaVinci syrups. Target's Archer Farms brand also has syrups and has a pumpkin spice one for the holidays that is nommy. Another good thing to get are the candy flavorings (alcohol based). The flavor is really intense with those and you can get stuff like coconut, banana nut, peanut butter and all sorts of off the wall stuff.

No alcohol. Sorry. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I would definitely check with your surgeon before consuming alcohol. I realize it's before your pre-op diet, however, the entire point of the pre-op diet is to reduce the size of your liver as much as possible to give the surgeon easy access to the area he or she needs to work within. Alcohol effects the liver directly, and could certainly have an impact on your success during the pre-op phase. Nothing would be worse than going in for your op and having the doc close you back up because your liver was too large to proceed. Obviously that's worst-case, but probably not worth the risk tbh... Even with your doctor saying it's ok, I *personally* would probably opt against it just for the fact that alcohol directly impacts the organ in which the entire pre-op diet is geared to address. Obviously you spoke with your doc and they are fine with it so the choice is up to you....best of luck!

I applaud you for thinking about going. At 10 days postop I could not have gone out. That being said you have to decide if you want to or not. And just to be a little bossy - skip the wine. Not just because of the calories but many of us find alcohol hits us way harder especially in the beginning of our journey. Don't worry about food. Have something before you go and then stick to liquids. Get chance to get in 64oz of Water. Order a Bloody Mary without the alcohol. Or even some OJ though that is high in sugars. Perhaps the bar has some Soups if you really think you want something. But most of all concentrate on the people you're with and the game. Then you won't be so worried.