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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.

What? No alcohol? Excuse me ?

LOL I hate the taste of alcohol and I can't remember the last time I drank it. The closest I get is eating chicken Marsala!

I was told no sugar and no alcohol but sugar alcohol is an artificial sweetener and as far as I know it is O.K. There are several different types of sugar alcohols. Some can cause diarrhea if taken to excess. An example is sugar free gummie bears. Sugar free pudding was on my list of acceptable foods from the very beginning of the program.

5 days post op- My dietitian told me to not have sugar alcohol. Apparently irritates my new stomach. Then I'm reading about my stage 2. Apparently I can have sugar-free pudding. All the sugar-free pudding has sugar alcohol in it. So I want to know is a little bit Okay?

to be honest, i didnt completly stick to the pre-op diet. i talked to several people who said that they cheated and it was ok. the doctors tell you its to shrink your liver, but the main purpose is to get you're stomach to shrink so you won't struggle as much on the post-op liquid stage. i stuck to the pre-op diet 90% of the time. I went out one night and had a bit too much alcohol, and i added some carrots and potato with my vegetables sometimes and had some low fat crackers a few times. My surgery went fine, I had no problems. As long as you stay away from fatty foods you should be fine :cursing: all the best!

carbonations....I completely gave up soda pop and all carbonated drinks 3 weeks before surgery. I was a HUGE Pepsi drinker but I don't miss it at all and actually feel better for not drinking it! I thought it would be harder, but it was a breeze. (smoking is definitely harder habit to break). My doctor said no to carbonation so I don't really care why, I just don't do it. plus, too many people on here have said it causes discomfort and i just avoid the feeling I guess. As for the NSAID's. I am still not quite sure what exactly it is. What drug in there is bad? Are there prescription meds like that or just over the counter? Is just one time use bad or extended use? (example: having cramps and all a friend has is aleve.. is it bad to take just that once?) I am a fan of Tylenol for any aches and pains. Do sleep aids have NSAID's in them? I need to know what exactly I am looking for!!! (someone help me answer this!!) Alcohol: I don't drink really anyway. Hate beers and wines. If I am anything it is more a strawberry daquiri type girl. Or Amaretto Sours (yummy!). But maybe once or twice a year at most and not to a drunk phase. However, I have a feeling that being friends with Lisa is going to bring out the freak in me while visiting!!! As with drinking before/after meals... it is kinda hard for me to control the before factor since because of my job I can't "plan" my meal time. So, if I have been drinking Water like I am supposed to all day long, sometimes I am eating just after drinking water ("this one is for you Lisa"). As for drinking during... I do order a water with the meal to not get a strange look from the waitress but I don't drink it. Once in a great while I have to take a ultra small sip just to wet my throat but never enough to water anything down. More like a larger swallow of my own spit than a drink. Drinking after... I can have more control about and generally avoid.

First, congrads on your decision and good luck with your surgery. But would you mind asking your surgeon some questions? We need some fresh opinions (in my stale opinion!) These things have been discussed many times here at LBT, but all the surgeons have different opinions, so what's the latest opinion on: 1. Carbonation: Does it cause erosion? Does it stretch the pouch? Or do we avoid it simply because it causes gas pains? 2. Alcohol: Does it cause erosion, or do we avoid it because it's empty calories? 3. Drinking before and after meals: How long to wait after eating? What are their reasons for these rules? 4. NSAIDs - is there any new information regarding them causing erosion? Any new info out there? Anything you can share would be greatly appreciated. I've had my band one year but I still get tons of different information, so I'm curious what today's docs are saying. THANKS! Oh, anyone can add to these questions.

Nothing cause I eat whatever I want, in moderation of course. . including alcohol 1-2 drinks only though, go straight to my head they do! hehehe. . . before the sleeve, my problem was portion control and not junk food eater. . . when i discussed this with the surgeon, he told me i would be an excellent candidate since this surgery controls portions. . . I eat healthy stuff, cheese, meat, veggies, fruits, tons of water, sugar free desserts if i have any, nuts, seeds, etc. . . but it's portion controlled. . . tonight i was really happy that i actually finished 1 whole hamburger (small one) with a slice of cheese and a pickle. . . then about 2 hours later about 6 chucks of fresh pineapple and a little bit of nuts. . . if i feel like eating ice cream, i have it, but it's sugar free and about 100 calories only. . . so nope, no missing foods here at all and loving it. . .

Congrats on losing 20 lbs. so far!!! So in order to break your bad habits you have to first recognize them and want to change, which you have! Change is tough and it doesn't happen overnight. When you go out can you limit yourself to the lower alcoholic drinks and switch between alcohol and Water? As for fast food you just have to say NO, or have a healthy choice on the menu, but when your drinking it's harder! Are you going to a gym or working out? I think when I work out I try harder to be better!!! You live in LA so there is a lot to do. Find other interest, take a photography class, or dance lessons. Start focusing on healthy choices!!! You can do this!!! Ask yourself what you do like to do, and ask your friends to join you! There is a lot to do other then the bar scene you just have to look!!! Good luck and we are all here for you!!! Joleen

I was really shocked when my post op nurse offered me coffee as one of my liquid choices after surgery... I can have coffee if I want it. I usually have a really big cup every morning with my GENEPRO Protein powder in it to get me going As for alcohol, I've only had a couple of drinks since surgery 6 months ago. One thing is true... A little goes a long way! haha! My doctor just said to be careful with alcohol and drink in moderation. The only beverage I was told is definitely off limits is anything carbonated because it can stretch my sleeve.

Consumption of coffee/caffeine seems to be an issue only with doctors in the US. I've never heard of any doctor in the UK even mentioning it. I have always had at least two cups a day and it has never caused me any problems. I rarely drink alcohol anyway, so that's not been an issue either, but I don't recall the dietician mentioning it other than in the context of empty calories. As always I just think it's a case of 'moderation in all things'.

I have coffee daily and alcohol sometimes. I am 8 mos out and I still need a daily acid blocker, which lots of people don't need after the first month. When I drink, I don't lose that week. So, you can do it, but there might be tradeoffs.

I drink a cup of coffee every day and drink alcohol probably twice a week. I'm 8 months post-op and I've 92 lbs. I've lost 92 lbs and feel great

As for cream in coffee, I use Mini Moos (Half & Half) when I'm at work, which are 10 calories each. And I use Silk soy milk when I'm at home, which is 28 calories for 2 oz. and has 2 grams of Protein. So, on a week day I get about 68 calories from "cream" in my coffee and 2 grams of protein. On weekends I get 84 calories and 6 grams of protein. I use Truvia in my coffee at home and work. If I'm out somewhere and don't have Truvia as an option, I use Splenda. The calories in alcohol are NOT trivial, so I am pretty careful about that. I rarely drink. Maybe once or twice a month? My experience with alcohol post-sleeve is that I get "drunk" feeling VERY quickly, but then I also sober up very quickly (don't worry, I never drive if I've had ANY alcohol at all). It's like my body just processes the alcohol much faster than it did pre-op. I was on vacation in Gatlinburg, TN back in April (7 months post-op) and moonshine is a big thing there. They have a whole bunch of competing moonshine places on the main drag that offer free samples in tiny little shot glasses, about 1/4 the size of a normal shot glass. They are literally the size of a thimble. I drank 4-5 of those and I was SOOOOOOO drunk. Granted, moonshine is pretty high proof, but still, I basically had the equivalent of ONE shot and I was wasted. But probably 20 minutes later, I felt completely normal and sober.

My surgeon only said to wait a month after surgery for alcohol. None during the pre-op diet phase either so about 6 weeks overall.

Ryan, I would think it best to have the option to be off just in case you don't feel so hot. Lots of folks feel just fine, but some take it a little slower than others. I had surgery on a Friday and returned to work on the following Wednesday. I flew home from Mexico 2 days after surgery and it was pretty tiring, but I had been sick post-op. If I were you I'd take an additional day or two, just in case. I can't believe they sanded your chest! And then poured alcohol on it, whew! Do ya think they just get jaded after a while and forget how it feels on our end? Glad your test results were positive. Soon you'll be steppin' lighter, my friend.

So I'm sat writing this update whilst having a coffee, with my legs crossed :-) these nsv's really are just as satisfying as the scale victories:-) Speaking of which, 12 weeks today and another 4lbs off! Wasn't expecting that this week as it was my best friend's mums funeral this week so we all had a few drinks, I stuck to low cal/carb and non fizzy but it was still alcohol, and I slackened the reins a bit on food that day too, but got straight back to it the next day and it seems that helped damage limitation :-) Incidentally, the alcohol went down fine, I took it easy and drank Water too. I'm not much of a drinker but it's nice to know if there's an occasion I do want a drink it won't be a big problem. hair loss is in full swing :-( trying not to freak out but it's not easy! I've been here before when I did a vlcd and I didn't go completely bald so I'm hoping this time I don't either! And hoping it passes quick but time will tell. Already thinking about cutting my hair off into a short bob. I wear my hair up all the time as it makes me hot if I leave it down, but as I lose weight that's less of a problem so I think by the end of the summer I'll cut it off. One thing that has happened this week is I've started catching sight of my reflection, and liking what I see :-) I've always been very aware of how big I am (was!!) but I tried to dress well and take care of my appearance, and in some ways I think that led to me have a vision of myself in my head that wasn't quite accurate, so if I saw my reflection I'd be bit shocked/disappointed/disgusted by how large I was! Now I think I've reached the point where my vision in my head matches reality, so yes I'm still big (I'm still bigger than where some people are before surgery!) but body and mind are in sync! What's going to be interesting is how that works as I lose more weight. I just can't imagine myself slim so I imagine as my reflection continues to shrink I'll get back to being surprised by what I see...but in a good way!! Loose skin is starting to show. I was resigned to that from the outset though, and plan to get surgery to fix it when the time is right. My only real concern is my calf's as the skin there is starting to appear a bit loose and that's not an area easy to fix or to his unless I live the rest of my life in trousers! @@chrisredjeep I got Biotin from Amazon, take 10,000mg a day and I do have lots of baby hairs so it's worth a try! Sounds like you are doing really well, well done! I bet your surgeon was pleased. You are doing a lot of steps! I am getting a Garmin vivofit today actually to try and encourage me to up my steps. I've signed up for my personal training to start 1 sept, I'm looking forward to it!

What surgery did you have? Your avatar still says "pre-op" We were advised to stay away from alcohol for a minimum of 6 months for bypass. And forever if we could...

What kind of alcoholic beverages can I consume, my 3 months is almost up! I know NO BEER, NO SODA... so any suggestions on healthy alcoholic beverages... besides crystal light lemonade & vodka😁

Great story... gave me chills! Yes, you can do it! One word of caution though, the band will not help with the "head" hunger, that addiction is powerful and, unlike alcohol, cigarettes or drugs, since you can't give it up completely, you might want to look into some counseling! I'm a firm believer that a good counselor is worth their weight in gold!! And I look forward to reading your post a year from now after your next Disney trip!! I'm sure you and the kids will have a blast!

I quit 2 1/2 years ago after 20 years of smoking. Basically cold turkey. I did use a zero nicotine electronic cig for about 1 month. The 1st 2-3 days were a little rough, but manageable. Just a tip...caffeine and alcohol will trigger cig cravings, so avoid both for a couple of months if possible.

I enjoy a beer, wine or White Russians on occasion with no problems. Well, no problems other than since getting the sleeve I have become a total lightweight when it comes to alcohol. One or two drinks and I am the life of the party, lol. Sent from my iPad using VST