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I agree with the drinking with a meal once in awhile rule.... As long as it does not become a habit for you I say go and enjoy I would just be careful with the alcohol because of carbs and also if you don't know if you will really be effected by the alcohol...e I really feel it from a couple sips but I'm not a drinker.

Met Dr. Diccicio for the first time today. Of all three of the potential surgeons I have consulted with and had to pay $45.00 co-pay, I found my guy. Dr. Diciccio didn't talk at me and he didn't act all self important. He answered all my questions and he didn't treat me like I had no right to know the why this and why that. He explained to me why the liver has to be shrunken before surgery even though I'm not an alcoholic and I haven't worn out my liver. He said even obese people have an enlarged liver that can be reduced by a ten day liquid high Protein diet. I have to have my legs scanned for clots (which I had in 2004), I have to have a cardiac clearance and I can have surgery in about six weeks. Yay!

I haven't had a soda per se, but I picked up a flavored water at the drug store, and discovered after opening that it was "sparkling." Tried to drink about half, letting it sit in my mouth to "defizz," but still had pain, Prior to that, I willfully ordered a specialty drink similar to a Moscow Mule (which is made with fizzy ginger beer). It wasn't a huge drink, and it was fine going down, but all of a sudden afterwards, I was in so much intense pain, I was praying to throw up (and unfortunately, didn't). I like to keep testing things (little rebel), so I had a few sips of a hard cider this weekend, but it was so not-enjoyable that I poured it out after just those few sips. I have had no problem taking in all amounts of non-carbonated beverages, though I do strictly limit alcohol.

Hmmm I have a box of Lemon Ones, let's SEE. Rice and Tapioca derivatives, inulin, milk, soy. and Tree nuts. So I'm not thinking Gluten- bearing. Calories in each 190, total carbs 16 gr, has 4 gr of dietary fiber, 2 gr of sugar alcohols, maybe Splenda? 20 gr protein, total fats 7gr, 5 mg cholesterol and 100mg Na, the fats break down to 4gm saturated. but NO trans-fats. Honest truth why I bought my Lemon Ones? They are smooth , I can eat them sans my dentures, so many bars have barely chopped up nuts in THEM. And we owe Canada a Thank You because THAT'S where mine were produced. Hope This Helps a LITTLE, okay?🍫

Food has been one of the main things in our society for many, many years. When people used to go visit they would take a desert or some dish. No matter when you went to visit they always had to get you something to eat. I guess the way I look at it is that most if not all things revolve around food and alcohol. If I am going to a party or out to dinner I try and plan on what I will be having or take something with me for the party that I know that I can have and not abuse my intake for the evening. When going out I always try and look at the menu online to see what I can order in advance. All of my friends know that buffet meals are out for me as I can not eat that much food and I am not paying the cost for a piece of meat, a veggie and a little potato. You need to get involved in different clubs such as a running club, kntting group. scrapbooking or something where you can keep your hands busy with something other than shoveling food from a plate to your mouth. I know that when I sit and watch TV and see all of the food commercials I try to have something to do with my hands like a crossword or putting photos into an album or emailing etc.

It dosn't matter what big decisions you make in life... you will receive some critisism for them all from others. 1) Lapband surg. solution is NOT easy... YOU still have to do the work, watching your protien, calories, fat grams etc. staying away from EMPTY calories, ie alcohol and icecream etc.. they go right THRU the band. 2) you need to NOT drink for 30 - 60 after each meal... to retain that FULL feeling 3) you have to commit to excersise and a healthy lifestyle none of the above are a quick fix. consider your friend ill informed and ignore them I had the WORST reaction from my (loving) sister!! what a shock! she even called my DH behind my back to see if I had gone 'nuts'... she will never understand what it has b een like for me to battle with my weight all my life.. she has a different body type than mine.. it is not important that the other people get it.... its only important that YOU GET IT! Good luck and be strong

I'm taking Jachuts approach to banding. I see way too many people looking for that really tight restriction which dang near prevents them from eating icecream. I have a 4cc band and have 1cc in it. I'm not super tight, I can down a half a bottle of Water in large gulps, I can eat pot roast, rice, and a wide variety of other foods. I think I can eat about 1 cup of food generally, sometimes a bit more. But its far less than I've ever lived on before and I'm happy with my weight loss. Sometimes I think I'm starving all day and eating way too much. But when I add it up, I see that I rarely go over 900 calories. I'd much rather live with this than to be so tight that I'm dealing with PBs and slippage, etc. I wouldn't know if I can eat bread because I haven't tried to, and I won't. I have no self control and breads (any flour product) are my addiction. Like an alcoholic, I can't allow myself a sip lest I be under the table with a bag of garlic bread hugged to my chest! lol The main thing to remember is that everyone is different. Our stomachs are shaped differently, they are different sizes, we eat different foods, and have different responses to our bands. It is impossible to compare fills and get an accurate assessment of what we should have based on what someone else has. By the way, there is a chart on this thread which shows the different bands and how small they make the stoma with each amount of fill. It's very interesting, have a look: http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=15216

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

Always the hard headed one, alcohol does not affect me easily. It is quite a waste of time now, I am not fond of the taste and the amount needed to cause me too feel it is far beyond my capacity and not worth the belly burn. I am intoxicated my not being fat anymore.

Our home and native laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand! Happy Canada Day! I hope you guys have a great day! I love hockey and polar bears so I consider myself an honorary canuck! I don't have fond memories of the last time I celebrated Canada Day in Sault Ste Marie, Ont. The alcohol content there is OUT OF CONTROL! hahahhahahahahaha.

So, Im just starting my journey but I am already trying to wrap my brain around what my new life will be like. I currently have a love/hate relationship with Diet Dr Pepper (or regular, even) and while Im totally on board with giving it up (been wanting to for a while).. the word NEVER doesnt sit well with me. What exactly does that mean? Like, not EVER in my life may I taste a carbonated drink again because it will cause my to explode? lol or what? I totally get the "its not good for you" or "it'll make you feel too full so you wont want to eat" .. I get all that. But like I said, I hate the word "never." And Alcohol... thats another one I've been told to stay away from. Is that forever, too? I dont drink much at all... literally one or two drink a month at a social gathering.. but is that gone now too? Enlighten me, please

I was a band patient before my revision to the sleeve for 3 1/2 yrs so I got kinda used to the no soda rule a long time ago. I confess that when we go out to eat, my hubby orders a diet Coke and I will have a sip. Maybe one a week I have a sip. This is probly the only rule I don't usually break. I guess I'm a little scared of what could happen. My dr said the bubbles can stretch my tummy. Not sure if thats true but I picture my tummy exploding from the carbonation so that usually keeps me on the straight and narrow. Before wls, I enjoyed a diet soda about 4-5x a week, so not a huge drinker but I like soda with burgers and pizza. Occasionally I miss it but the 1 sip a week is fine with me. About the alcohol: I'm 9 mths out and drink a glass of wine almost everynite. I do miss my Corona Lite but the wine is fine. I calculate the 110 calories into my daily intake. My dr said a limited amt of alcohol (as long as it's not carbonated) is fine after 8 weeks (when I could start a regular diet). Good luck! It's really not that bad!

I have to agree with most of the post on here... NEVER.. well that is up to you... I feel like the Doctors give us the "road map" and its up to us if we want to be successful and follow it... I am 4 mos post op - i have not had any alcohol or carbonation since a month before my surgery. Once in a while i miss it, but i dont give in because i look at how far i have come & what it took to get here, that sip or drink isnt worth it. Now maybe in a few months when i hit my goal weight i might feel differently... but that will be up to me and not my doctor... I think you just have to think about what is important to you and do what you think is right... it might not be what everyone else is doing but its up to you... this new tummy is only a tool and its up to us to use it good luck to you!!!

I don't have a problem with diet soda for the most part. My doctor said just to make sure it's poured over ice and let it sit for at least 5 minutes. I mainly drink Water and unsweet tea but when I have a craving for a diet coke I will have one. Sometimes I do get gas pains but it's totally worth it to me I also haven't had issues with alcohol but I very rarely drink it now because it's full of empty calories.

I'm getting mine on the 17th. I'm so disappointed on myself. I cheated yesterday with alcohol on my pre op diet

Same procedure of MGB, different doctor's rules. I am not to touch alcohol, coffee or tea again. Lucky for me I dont have a problem with that.

It’s so true. When you politely decline dessert or other food item people get very defensive. I have had people say that I’m obsessed about my diet and that I am not fun. Turning down alcohol gets the same reaction as turning down cake and ice cream.

Hello Pebbles and welcome! First I have to ask if you are in the US? If you are, given you age being listed as 19, I wouldn't think you should be concerned about alcohol and the band for a couple of years, right? The band does not cause "dumping" syndrome like bypass does. Therefore you can still drink alcohol, but why would you? It's full of empty calories and can be tough on your stomach. With a small pouch being created from either procedure (band or bypass) alcohol wreaks havoc on your esophagus and stomach over time. Also, if you drink to get drunk and end up puking, you risk causing a band slippage, and that my friend, is BAD. Carbonation is generally considered off limits, at least initially and many docs still say never again, so beer or "coolers" or champagne are out unless you let them get flat first. So don't take that as a reason to get bypass, because lots of bypass patients report dumping syndrome with alocohol intake (sweating profusely, diarrhea, cramping, etc) which is no piece of cake. You are 19, believe me when I say that in a few years, alcohol will (hopefully) not be a big part of your life so please don't make a huge decision such as this based on which procedure will be easier to drink alcohol with (if that's a factor, I mean). After your initial post-op period (four or six weeks, depending on *your* surgeon's instructions), you can eat whatever solid foods you like. Though I have to say that there are certain foods some people can eat and other cannot. Everyone is different and you will not know what you can tolerate until you are banded. The point of the band is as a tool to restrict the amount of food you can eat, not what kind of food you can eat. It does require work, you have to make good choices in what you put into your body, and you will need to exercise. There are many choices and changes to be made in order for the band to be successful, but it is not anything one cannot do. Bypass malnourishes your body, it works by removing a section of your intestine and causing you to not absorb certain things. It is a truly lifetime commitment as you will never be the same again. You will need to take supplements forever. Sometimes those supplements include injections of B12 and Iron. At 19, I would never want to alter the insides of my body before I gave a band a chance (at 37 I won't, either). The band is removable, it can be deflated for pregnancy so you can eat normally, it is a flexible tool. Here's some threads that ask questions about band or bypass and what others have to say, I hope this helps you, good luck! http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=34045 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=32584 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=32616 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=32079 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=30997 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=28724 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=28690 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=27483

Hi Everyone, i had my sleeve done approx 3 years ago. I lost soooo much weight very quickly & went from 94kg down to 59kg within about 5 months. My weight stabilised at 62kg & I lived quite happily for the next few years. The only issues I had were significant (I'd say 70%) hair loss which has still not returned and reflux/nausea. If I drink alcohol I get so sick. I start sweating and feel like I'm going to vomit. So I have had to give that up too but it's not a problem. Over the last 6 months I have gained about 12kg. I constantly feel like my stomach is in my throat & keep eating food to push the stomach back down. I even get up at night and eat. I get a bit of reprieve from the symptoms then it happens again so I eat more. I also feel like eating settles my stomach. Water is so hard for me to drink that on days when I force myself to drink nothing but water, I'll be lucky to get a 750ml bottle down. I find diluted juice is okay & for some reason I can drink more of this. I feel like such a failure. The weight gain has made me severely depressed. I don't want to leave the house because no clothes fit me and I feel like a massive failure. Even though I am still 20kglighter than when I had the sleeve, my body image is worse now than it was before. I feel like there is no hope & no use trying anything else. Has anyone experienced similar symptoms?

For me I waited six months before drinking anything alcoholic and have tried both wine and beer since then. Wine seems to give me more of a buzz than it used to and two glasses is my limit now. Beer seems better tolerated even with the carbonation though I generally pour it into a glass now to get rid of some and can have a beer or two before dinner without too much effect but have to stop drinking when I start eating and wait at least an hour after a meal before drinking again which I rarely have so far. Still I am 120lbs lighter than I was a year ago so would be worried if I did not get buzzed faster than before.

Those are the "net" carbs. Many people don't include fiber or sugar alcohols when counting carbs so they'll subtract the fiber and sugar alcohols from the total carbohydrates listed.

I have been doing a lot of research and was told by someone a few years ago that had lap band that you are not allowed to eat popcorn or any type of nuts afterward. Is this true? Also is any alcohol allowed after a certain point preoperatively? Any and all comments are appreciated. Thanks in advance....

I dont know if this is the right answer, but for me, looking back at my food logs, on average, my diet ends up being 1/3 fat, 1/3 protein, 1/3 carbs. Its pretty even. That seems to work okay for me. Two weekends ago I no carbed it for 2 days (I was trying to break through a plateau) and on those days, it was roughly 47% percent protein, 48% fat, 5% carbs. You should check out fitday.com to log your food. When you log your food, fitday creates a pie chart for your day showing percentage of fat carbs and protein (and also alcohol but I dont really drink alcohol so thats never a factor for me). They also have pie graphs for all individual foods (incuding foods that you custom enter) and you can also see pie graphs for longer lengths of time (like 1 month or 6 months...so you can so your overall trend). Its great, especially for monitoring your protein intake. If you're aiming for a certain number (say 65g of protein a day), it makes it really easy to track that. I log my food (literally everything single thing that goes in my mouth) on fitday and its been absolutely invaluable. When I don't log, I dont do as well. You can also track your exercise on there as well.

Hi Blix..welcome to your new life! I was banded in Feb of this year and I've lost 39 pounds so far. I have had 2 fills and could have had 3 but I think I'm real close to my sweet spot! So I asked my doc if we could wait a month before we put any more in. When you start getting your fills ask your doc what size of band you have and how much he puts in. I find it very helpful to know what I have and how much is going in. It just keeps me focused on what is happening in my new life. I have several co-morbidity factors, High BP, High Cholesterol, Metabolic Syndrome, border line diabetes, Non alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver, sleep apnea, over 100 pounds overweight..I think that's all of them! Now the good side of what has happened since I've been banded. In March my heart doc reduced my blood pressure meds in half because my BP dropped to less than 100 on the top side and I always ran 140 with meds before the band. I have had a visit with my digestive disease doc and am happy to let you know that my liver panels came back excellent. My liver is no longer storing the fatty deposits that gave me my cirrhosis problem to begin with. He is also weaning me off my cholesterol meds and by my 6 month check up we'll know how my cholesterol is doing! My diabetes was just borderline but I checked it all the time and now it is well below the minimum and all these factor into the metabolic syndrome I suffer from, so everything is looking great for me. I wasn't worried about how I looked so much but when my health got so bad that I was headed for a donor list with my liver I decided with the help of 5 doctors to have this surgery. I am very happy but it's coming off alot faster than I can tighten my skin up! HA! But I keep working it and eventually it will slow down to where all the exercising I'm doing will pay off in my toning! :scared2: I know this is a bit of info but I think this site is loaded with lots of info and more nice and friendly people you'll never meet! The ones I have had the privilege of writing to are fun, witty, and truly good people! I hope you will enjoy this site as much as I have! Good luck on your travels with your new band and let us know how you are doing! :thumbup:

Found this on ObesityHelp and thought I would share.. How to Tell When You Are Perfectly Adjusted - You are losing 1-2 pounds per week without struggling with hunger. If you are not losing 1-2 pounds per week, then: A. You may need an eating adjustment 1. Are you eating 60 grams of Protein a day 2. Are you eating 25 grams of Fiber 3. Are you avoiding all liquid calories _a. Soup can be sign of “soft calorie syndrome” _b. Alcohol contains a lot of calories – 7 calories per gram ...(1) It’s also a stomach irritant ...(2) It relaxes the stoma, allowing food to go thru easily _c. fruit juice is just sugar Water 4. Are you making healthy food choices from a wide variety of foods? _a. Are you avoiding soft foods _b. You can’t just eat what’s easy _c. cheese is glorified fat 5. Are you drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day between meals 6. Are you eating too much junk? _a. chips, chocolate, nuts, ice cream, Cookies and other highly processed junk foods are too calorically dense to be regular parts of a healthy diet. But don’t avoid them completely to the point where you feel deprived. _b. Stay out of fast food places 7. Are you getting in two servings of Calcium daily? 8. Do you always eat the protein first? 9. Then the vegetables or fruits _a. Five servings a day _b. Potatoes are NOT a vegetable 10. Is your portion size appropriate? _a. meat or fish ...(1) 3 ounces – the size of a deck of cards _b. Vegetables ...(1) ½ cup – the size of your fist _c. Starch ...(1) If you eat the protein and the vegetables first you don’t need much ...(2) Avoid: rice, potatoes, Pasta 11. You might try avoiding artificial sweeteners _a. Some people think that artificial sweeteners stimulate the appetite _b. They are HUNDREDS of times sweeter than sugar _c. They teach you to like things too sweet _d. There is no evidence that people who use them are any thinner than people who don’t 12. Avoid most diet foods _a. Real food usually tastes better _b. Real food is more satisfying than low calorie substitutes _c. When you are only eating a tiny bit the caloric savings is not that great ...(1) Use a teaspoon of real butter instead of a tablespoon of diet margarine ...(2) The body has no way to break down artificial fats ~~~(a) They may go into permanent storage ~~~(:bananajump: Some people think liposuction is the only way to remove hydrolyzed fats from the body B. You may need a behavior adjustment 1. Are you eating only when you are hungry? If you’re not sure drink 8 ounces of water and wait. 2. Are you eating three meals a day? With maybe 1 or 2 small Snacks 3. Are you sitting down to eat? 4. Are you eating consciously? No distractions, turn off the TV, put the book or newspaper away, pay attention to your food and your companions 5. Are you eating slowly? _a. Put the fork down between bites _b. Take 20 to 30 minutes to finish a meal _c. Taking longer might cause the pouch to begin emptying 6. Are you taking small bites? Use a Tiny spoon, chopsticks, cocktail fork 7. Are you chewing well? 8. Are you drinking with your meals or too soon after your meals? _a. Practice water loading between meals _b. You won’t be thirsty if you are well hydrated before the meal 9. Are you stopping at the first sign of fullness? _a. Sometimes it’s a whisper: not hungry, had enough _b. Hard stop versus soft stop 10. Do not eat between meals. Stop grazing. 11. Do not eat when you are not hungry C. You may need an activity adjustment 1. Are you getting in 30 minutes of physical activity at least 3 times a week? _a. Over and above what you would do in the usual course of your day _b. Could you make it 4 or 5 times a week? _c. Could you make it 45 or 60 minutes? 2. Are you taking advantage of opportunities to increase your physical activity? Easy Ideas - a. Taking the stairs instead of the elevators or escalators b. Walking on the escalators instead of riding c. Parking your car further away from the entrance d. Getting out of the car instead of using the drive through e. Getting off the bus one stop before your destination f. Washing you car by hand instead of the car wash g. Playing with your kids D. You may need an attitude adjustment 1. Are you committed to your weight loss journey? 2. Are you totally honest with yourself about how much you are eating and exercising? _a. Log your food and activity on Fluid added to your band 1. You feel like you are making healthy food choices in appropriate portion sizes, but getting hungry between meals? 2. You can still eat white bread, fibrous vegetables and large portions. 3. You are having to struggle to lose 4. You are gaining weight in spite of eating right, exercising and having a good mind set. F. Signs You may need your band loosened 1. There are times when you can’t get fluids down 2. You are vomiting (PB'ing) too much _a. How much is too much? 3. Do you have frequent reflux or heartburn at night? Ideas for controlling indigestion a. Do not lie flat or bend over soon after eating b. Do not eat late at night or just before bedtime c. Rinse your pouch with a glass or water an hour before bedtime d. Certain foods or drinks are more likely to cause reflux: ..(1) Rich, spicy, fatty and fried foods ..(2) Chocolate ..(3) Caffeine ..(4) Alcohol ..(5) Some fruits and vegetables such as Oranges, lemons, tomatoes, peppers ..(6) Peppermint ..(7) Carbonated drinks e. Eat slowly and do not eat big meals f. If you smoke, quit smoking g. Reduce stress h. Exercise promotes digestion i. Raise the head of your bed j. Wear loose fitting clothing around your waist k. Stress increases reflux l. Take estrogen containing medications in the morning m. Avoid aspirin, Aleve and ibuprofen at bedtime (Tylenol is OK) n. Take an antacid (Pepcid complete) before retiring o. Try other over-the-counter heartburn medications p. See your health care provider G. See your health care provider immediately (or call 911) if 1. You have a squeezing, tightness or heaviness in your chest, especially if the discomfort spreads to your shoulder, arm or jaw or is accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, irregular or fast heartbeat or nausea. These could be symptoms of a heart attack. 2. If your symptoms are triggered by exercise. 3. If your pain localizes to your right side, especially if you also have nausea or fever 4. If you throw up vomit that looks like black sand or coffee grounds. Or if your stool is black, deep red or looks like it has tar in it. These are symptoms of bleeding and need immediate attention. (Note: Pepto-Bismol or other medications with bismuth will turn your stool black. Iron supplements can also make the stool tarry.) 5. If your pain is severe This was written by Jessie H. Ahroni, Ph.D., A.R.N.P., C.D.E., B.C.-A.D.M.