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Ok, so I quit smoking. Not fun. Also quit drinking. not AS bad. and not a single carb for 7 days now. not-a-single-gram. I'm finding myself having energy crashes, which i guess is a good think cause the old carbo-bank in the liver is empty now. which was the point. My pre-op is basically 10 days of zero carbs (and alcohol, etc) and then liquids only the day before. I'm set for the 15th. did my preops, have clearance. it's a countdown now.

I feel your pain on the wine thing. I am a home brewer (beer). My friends, my social life, everything has been brewing and beer. Beer club meetings where we all share our latest creations, brew fests, micro breweries, this was what I did when I took a night off from being a mom. The day I found out I was approved was a Friday. We got a sitter, and all my friends and I went to a beer bar where I said goodbye to all my favorites ... I explained to my Maharajah IPA(my favorite beer) it was not him, it was me ... and had one last glass. And I have not had a beer since. HARD to do. Unfortunately, I have had to separate from spending time with most of my beer buddies as that is just what we did together. Now I work out at least 1/2 an hour every day ... usually more, but that is my minimum. It keeps me motivated to stay away from the no no foods when I just burned off calories. I do not enjoy working out. I do not enjoy giving up beer. I miss laughing with my friends while tasting an awesome new release beer. On the flip side ... I have lost 40 lbs in less than 3 months!!! My first fill was 10 days ago, I had no restriction before, and almost none now. I eat three times a day. 4 oz of Protein, 1/2 - 3/4 cups of veggies with every meal. I even puree spinach, bell pepper, and fresh basil into my eggs before I scramble them in the morning so it will make a bigger portion until my fill. For me, this was a life changing decision and I am in 100%. The thing that helps me stay on track with not drinking alcohol or eating the wrong foods is journaling. I journal on line, enter every bite of food i eat. I have been at 800 calories a day since two weeks prior to surgery. 800 is ot a lot of food (tons of veggies help). I'll be damned if I'm going to have a couple of drinks and blow a third of my calories for the day doing so. Butter, yea friggen right! I would NEVER waste those calories on a full fat condiment either. Start journaling, every bite. It is totally what keeps me on track. If it's truly what you want, to lose the weight, make the decision. Best of luck!

I thought to try these before surgery and had a bad reaction to the alcohol sugars which I am fairly sure caused a rapid drop in my blood sugar. I would feel lightheaded, then flushed, confused, shaky, and nauseous. They tasted great, but I am scared to try it now post surgery.

This is a journey. Sometimes it feels like being an alcoholic. Food is our alcohol and we fall off the wagon. However, your strength and determination will help you to refocus and move forward. I do use this website as my support from those who understand what I am going through. I am fortunate to have a supportive family, but it is nice to have the support of others who know what I am going through. You are refocusing and you can do this!

Gosh this site is making me mad..... multi, did not work again, but on the positive side I AM getting email notifications in my hotmail inbox!!! yeah for that! Yup still getting snow Phyl, 3 foot drift just outside the door.... Peter took care of it... I am lucky!!!! Bridget has taken to peeing 2 feet from the back door, on the DECK.... only goes down the stairs to poop.... and I`ll bet she shortens that route soon too! LOL Phyl, that skin rash sounds nasty.... is it yeast? sounds like the areas that its in is YEAST friendly... man we do have issues with skin huh? I never had this much trouble until after menopause... do you think lack of estrogen has anything to do with it? Waiting by the phone today for Mark (guitar player) to call... see if we can tee up some kind of a meeting... I may sound nuts, but I am leery about inviting someone who I`ve never met into my home..... how do you ask someone IF they`ve ever been in trouble with the law? What is his alcohol consumption like? Does he DRINK before a gig? I know, I`ve just got to suck it up and ASK!!! or I`ll not be able to relax. Any suggestions would be appreciated.... seriously.. We are going ahead and rehearsing with another musician(piano) tomorrow night... Peter has already met him several times and this guy is a MUSIC teacher at the school on the military base here.... so he`s CLEAR!!! Karla, I`m gonna skype you ok..... turn yourself ON

i was told 3 months for alcohol and carbonation.

The problem with alcohol is empty calories. I think my doctor had told me to wait up to a month but still doesn't recommend it. As far as you Swan56, I would ask your doctor. That could be a problem with pre op, or maybe not. I really don't see how it would be a problem pre op unless you drink a lot and it was like a day before your party. Remember you need to try and heal your liver and reduce the fat in it, if you don't they can cancel your surgery. As long as you are doing well with the pre op weight loss otherwise, then I don't know how it would be a huge problem. Again, I already said that. LOL

Hi there and welcome ! ! ! As for the alcohol, I was restricted for 3 months. Sodas were out for 6 months, and heavy lifting (anything over 10lbs) was restricted for 6 weeks. Normal working out could resume at 6 weeks out. As for the pills, I was allowed to swallow pills no bigger than a regular m&m around 4 weeks out. You'll want to remember that with alcohol comes some dehydration and immediately post-op, you might struggle to get in fluids. That goes for night clubbing, dancing etc. You'll just want to make sure you're hitting your calorie/protein/fluid goals to ensure success. Just play smart, and you'll be fine.

How true you are!!! I am 57 yrs old and have been battling this weight my whole life. I have been banded since 12/20/08 and am down 90 pds but every day is a new day to fight this addiction. Everything you said in your post is so so true and I agree 100% with it. We cannot give up food like an alcoholic or drug addict and go on to live life, we have to learn some kind of controls and every day is a new trial and error episode to our life long battle of the bulge. Truer words were never spoken like you hit the subject on the head with this post. We are all in this together and that is why even after 2 years of being banded, I come on this website every single day, every morning with my cup of coffee, I read how we are all in this together. I hope that everybody that reads your post realizes that we are all in this together and there is no magical cure (the band), everything is a work in progress. I will continue this battle since I love being a size 8-10 again after all of these years of being overweight. I love people saying how tiny I am and how young looking I look after shedding all that weight. Good luck and I hope that someone else beside myself can see the reality of what you have just posted. Bless all of you for your long journey to a better life with the band.

Hi -- this is what I was told by my surgeon, but PLEASE note that every surgeon's recommendations are different and you should ask/follow his or her suggestions: 1. sex -- we could have sex within 2 weeks following surgery 2. alcohol -- I was told I could have it now (3 months out) -- BUT from what I've read and learned, alcohol is empty calories -- you will be using up a fair amount of your day's allotted calories on alcohol. In addition, from what I've read, the alcohol immediately passes through the stomach to your small intestines, making you feel buzzed immediately and then it wears out immediately. So, might not be worth it until you're done with the losing phase of your post-op adventure. In addition, you probably should avoid any carbonated drinks -- beer, champagne, spritzers, etc. Hope that helps -- and if I don't have the facts right about alcohol (those who are done losing have a better grip on it) then I'm sure others will chime in.

What about alcohol during pre op diet? I know the big issue would be the sugars in the drinks but my big 30th birthday party is about 9 days before surgery. I am skipping Christmas dinner (2 days before) and not having cake on my birthday (13 days before) but I figured a drink or two as long as it's not beer (carbs) or some super sugary drink may be okay...? Just need some opinions...

I read the replies to the CNN report on the FDA recommendations and they were 80% horrible as well. Some of the logic was really disturbing; they felt that if you are fat that you should receive no help and die from complications. We treat people for cancer, heart disease and infertility; but if your fat than you should not get help. Wonderful. The article I read did not really explain the after surgery effort that someone has to make. Most of the responders thought people could continue to eat badly but loose weight. Many of them said we should take the money spent on the operation and get a lifetime gym membership. What stikes me as funny is that I KNOW that I exercise more than most thin people. I go to the gym everyday Sundays, holidays most people don't do that. Some of them wanted to compare losing weight with drug addiction. Only problem is we don't tell alcoholics to have three small drinks a day then stop. I agree with a previous poster that many remarks regarding online articles are very disturbing. People are very bold online. Someone would never dare to say these things in person because in many cases they could be arrested for hate speech (religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity).

These are my personal observations about my own weight issues. I have spent years struggling with real and imagined issues with food. I decided to have the lap band surgery after about 4 months of deep and meditative introspection about what my true 'issue' with food was. I had tried everything as many of you have. But when I took a good look at why diets, exercise & food control issues failed for me I realized a lot. One thing that became clear was that I was using food to 'medicate' myself. Every issue, large or small good or bad was medicated with food. I used food in place of dealing with my true issues. Tired, bored, happy or sad I solved the problem with food. It was no wonder I was never full. It was no wonder I was always reaching for something to eat. I would attempt to make healthy choices, I would exercise and I still did not lose weight for all the biological reasons doctors explain about metabolism. But the bottom line was that food was always front and center in my mind. I hated the grocery store like most people hate going to the dentist. I realized at one point that food, for me, was in actuality, an addiction (I speak for myself only, of course). And I realized that this was the worst kind of addiction ever. People can give up alcohol completely and live, they can give up cigarettes & drugs and still live. They can completely remove themselves from temptation of those substances (in extreme cases of course) and function. But food addicts can't. No one ever says, "Oh, I'll just have a little heroin today." But food addicts do. We attempt to restrict the thing that helps get us emotionally and physically through the day. The bad news is that we can never truly escape our addiction to food, after all, we need food to live. The only thing we can do is make vital attempts to undertand our relationship with food, make changes where necessary, & most of all understand ourselves and WHY food is so gosh darn important to us. If we could simply view food as fuel we wouldn't overeat, right? After all, there's no sense in overfilling your fuel tank in your car, is there. But that's not so easily done. Food has a powerful influence in our lives. We Celebrate with it, we suffer through mourning with it, we simply need it to survive. So I had to ask myself, "What the heck are you trying to avoid by numbing yourself with food?" It took a ot of time and listening to things my inner self didn't want to listen to but in the end the answer to that question was...."Everything!" What I lacked in my relationship was covered by my relationship with food. What was lacking physically after a workout was covered by the physical apsects of food. What was lacking in the department of self-love was covered by food. For me food was a cure all. I didn't have to search for answers anywhere else, I didn't have to look for solutions to deep and heavy issues in relationships because food cured those for me. Food, for me, simply made those things go away. Unfortunately the side effects were a catch 22. The food made me feel better in the moment but then almost as soon as I'd eat it I'd start to realize that I did not do myself any favors and of course would feel intrinsically bad and would search for more food to cure the problem...creating a catch 22. For me the answer came one day when i took a good hard look at myself. I realized that I really did love myself but what I was doing with food was inherently NOT loving to myself. I knew then and there that the best way to love myself was to overcome my addiction to food and start solving the little issues of life some other way other than food. But how? I attempted to gain control of my eating. I made health choices, exercised and foced on all foods I put into my body as a gift of love to myself. Food is fuel not medication, I would tell myself. Some days I would do very well, and others I would fail miserably. Days when emotional issues, fatigue, stress or other stressors increased I would feel myself quickly losing control over my new found 'self-love' mantra and back through the drive through I'd go. After many attempts to control increasing hunger after workouts & emotional eating I decided I needed help. I did my research on the lap band and decided that it was the right thing for me. I'm a natural health kinda person so the thought of surgery was not an easy prospspect for me but I knew this was the right thing to do. I did struggle a little with the thought that I SHOULD be able to hand this on my own, after all I did have good in-control days, sometimes. But my weight was getting dangerously high and I knew I had passed my personal point of no return, weight wise. So I chose the surgery. I came to the conculsion that I would probably always have an addiction to food deep down. Just like recovering alcoholics say...you are always recovering. I knew I'd always be recovering from my food addiction but made my peace with the fact that alcoholics get help, drug addicts get help, gamblers get help, why shouldn't people with food addictions get help. The lap band was my addiction help. I knew I'd have to do some work too but I figure that if I could get a little help on the really bad days I just might be able to fight this addiction. It has been a year and two months. I've lost 80 pounds. I struggled with new issues after the band such as exercise. I knew I was supposed to exercise but exercise never worked for me before. I feared failure or even muscle weight gain so I didn't exercise much. Yeah, a new issue to deal with. I feared I spent all that money on the band and it wouldn't work, because after all, nothing else had and this was (for me) an addiction which is all in the head right? But as weight slowly started to come off and I recieved support from friends and family who loved me (but admittedly knew nothing of how hard it is to struggle with food issues) I began to see the light. The band helped me gain control where I was simply ill-equipped to do so previously. Can you fail with a lap band? Probably. Can you sabotage yourself? Probably. Did I want to? Absolutely not. In my mind, this was my last chance and I was going to do whatever it took psychologically & physically to make it work. Even if that meant I'd have to search elsewhere, namely deep in my soul for answers to those daily stressors and emotional issues I avoided and had medicated with food for so long. Do I still crave food when I am angry, hungry, happy or stressed? Not really. Does it cross my mind? Yes, on occasion. Why? Because over the last 14 months the physical attributes of the band and intense personal exploration has helped me develop new habits. I use the band like alcoholics use Antibuse. I know that if I eat more than I should out of compulsion I will get sick and that's not good for me. So over time, I have come to the understanding that my band is there to help keep me in control of eating while I use my mind to solve emotional stressors. Of course I still need to eat, but out of nutrition needs, not emotional needs. I let the band help me get the proper nutrition and use it to assist me in dealing with stressors appropriately. It's sort of my version of 'tough love'. It won't let me have what I want because it knows it's not good for me and forces me to deal with the rest of life the way I should. And the only side effect is that I am losing weight. Recently my band became lose with weight loss & increased exercise. I was hungier than usual, could eat more and I did. I felt like I was a little out of control. I attempted to handle it on my own for a few weeks understanding that at some point in my life the band may not work well anymore and I needed to see how much progress I had made in my emotional journey. The answer to that was...only a little. I didn't feel bad however, after all, I'd spent a lifetime developing my food issues. I didn't expect them to disappear in 1 year. I found myself able to eat larger portions, reveling in it, & in truth thinking "Oh, I bet I could have a Sonic hamburger." In essence, I was having a relapse. I was thinking of all the wonderful things I could have to 'love myself' with. But! the funny thing was, that the food didn't have the same medicating response anymore. Nothing that I ate gave me that sensuous UMMMM! response I thought it would. I didn't have one of those...."Oh my God, I haven't had this in a year and it tastes incredible!" feeling. I simply just ate a little larger portion than ususal and felt kinda bad about it, simply for the fact that I was pretty sure I didn't need that extra portion. So I learned that just because I could eat more, I didn't really need to and in actuality I wasn't getting that response I had expected. And no, I never really did eat a Sonic hamburger. It was at this point I chose to get my band adjusted a little to give myself the assistance I needed. I know I am making progress and my goal is to some day get to the point where I am in control of all food issues band or no band. I think I'm well on my way. I no longer fear the day I may not have use of my band because I have seen progress and I know I will get there. So for those who still struggle with hunger, compulsion to overeat or cravings I feel for you. All I can suggest is that maybe you take a good hard look at what food means to you and how you are using is. Be honest with yourself, I know it's hard. Society doesn't make weight loss or body image easy. After all, simply take a look at your next restaurant portion and you'll see that. Your body probably only needs about a quarter of what is put on your plate to survive nicely. No one can come to these realizations for you. All I know is that I was tired with struggling with my love/hate relationship with food. I was tried of trying to bend food to my will skipping this, substituting that. I wanted my relationship with food to be normal. And I can honestly say that with the help of my lap band I'm as close to normal as I have ever been in 41 years, but still a work in progress. I am slowly making peace with food, using it for what it was intended & loving myself in the process. I used to tell people who said I need to love myself more...."I'll love myself when I'm a size 8 again." I finally realized I was missing their point. Loving who you are, doing things that honor & love the self is a process not a size destination. I am now 185 pounds, 41 years old, a size 12 and if I never lost another pound I honestly think I'd be perfectly happy with myself, physically and emotionally. If you have ever uttered the phrase "I love to eat." or "I just love food." I would highly suggest you take a good hard look at why you made those statements and you'll get some good insight as to your personal issue with food. It may not be like mine but it just might. Thank you for reading my story and I hope you have a wonderful learning experience with or without your band. Sincerely, Samantha Hall

My work out of choice is swimming. After swimming I am Starving! My mother on the other hand does not get hungry from swimming. Soooo I exercise before dinner. I measure my meals out and that's what I have no seconds. I recently had my fourth fill which may be restriction (or close to it) but time will tell. You may want to find preplanned Snacks. When I don't have a plan and get hungry is when I'm in trouble. I like hummus and baby carrots, instant hot cider (non alcoholic) 15 cal., suger free hot chocolate about 60 cal., and hot coffee with splendra/and or suger free flavored syrup no calories. I'm in NE and it's starting to be winter. It can really calm me down to have a hot coffee.

Jackie, I can so relate. I love to bake and cook and, particularly at this time of year, I get the urge to bake. Even one year post band, though, and I know it would be a huge mistake. I'd start off with good intentions, but it would be a cookie here, a cookie there and 10 extra pounds after Christmas. I did make pies and a fruitcake for Thanksgiving, but took it to my mother-in-law's for dinner and left it all there afterwards. They weren't the kind of things you could take a bite or piece out of, so they were safe. Cookies, though...uh uh. Good for you for knowing your limitations and don't let anyone guilt you into baking if you know it will be your downfall. I mean, realistically, if you were an alcoholic, would you let your family guilt you into stocking up on alcohol for the holiday season? It's the same thing...really. .

Well I have to admit that I have not always followed my preop diet to perfection. Through Kaiser they want you eating a certain way and well I would on a few occasions have a cheat day or rather a cheat meal. Just this past Friday, 9 days before my surgery, I drank two margaritas and had a veggie burrito. I felt really guilty about the alcohol. I guess it was sort of my last meal. I just now worry that my liver is going to be all gigiantic and slippery during surgery. I think that I am just getting really nervous about the surgery in general. I will be sticking to low carbs and high protein until my surgery which will mean that I will be doing that consistently for 8 days. I have lost a little over 30 pounds during this preop period. I just hope that I will be okay and that my liver will not cause any difficulties during surgery. I can't stop thinking about this surgery. It is so crazy that I am doing this to myself. I know that it is just nerves and that almost everyone goes through these feelings before surgery. I just wish that I wasn't so freaked out. I am sure that I will have a mini panic attack when I get into the operating room. Then being in the hospital overnight by myself. I guess I just need to stop thinking about these things and try to think about 2 months from now when I have lost weight and can eat and drink easier and not be in any pain. During my preop class last week the case manager gave us relaxations CDs...maybe I need to go and listen to it!

i have struggled so much this year!! we lost my father in law in february to alzheimers. i had my band surgery in may. then in july i lost my only sister. we were twins. she was a recovering alcoholic and was bipolar. it's been very very difficult for me. ok it's been diffcult for everyone who lives in this house. the kiddos weren't dealing well with anything at all so i have them both going to therapy. my youngest has adhd and they wouldn't give him meds without him seeing a physcartic and she suggested he go for therapy. my oldest is angry at everything. my hubby also goes to therapy due to the fact he has anger probs and it's hard for him to cope with it somedays. i suspect his has ptsd and we found out this past week he also has mild sleep apnea. i am seriously dreading the holidays this yr. i was happy we made it through thanksgiving lol. now gearing up for christmas. it's just not in me. i thought decorating would help and i went overboard on lights and garland in this house. we could land a 747 in here lol. but it is very pretty!!! i put on my happy face and smile and it does help- to a point. i figured there are less fortunate people in this would then me and i should just pick myself up and move on. i have my health, my family and i am still alive and breathing. so instead of looking at all the negative in my life i am trying to look at the positive things.Worry is like a rocking chair--it gives you something to do but it doesn't get you anywhere." same this for negativity and feeling blue. sure in the world doesn't get you anywhere...

I still think I have my same food obsession, just can't eat as much of it. I feel like I have done okay shopping, only once half way I splurged on a spring suit (300) that is now too big I'm sure. Regret that! I don't like to overindulge on senseless things like that, but I did look great that one night. At least I sort of made sure it was things that could be altered like a straight skirt, etc. and I do plan to do that. But the blazer that goes with it....I don't know if it can be altered. I hate that feeling of waste. I will say my culinary skills are improving post sleeve.. I seem to be in search of that "perfect bite" and get really pissed if I get a bad meal since I can't eat much anyway. I'm more interested in recipes and novel tastes and things cooked to absolute perfection. Like this morning I made a small Breakfast for my family, and was overjoyed that I finally did not waste food, but I was so happy each and every item tasted perfectly. It has been hard to not cook too much and I still tend to fall into that. My dog has eaten very well this past year b/c I basically need to stop wasting ingredients. We have two children (step kids) that moved out too recently so I think I was used to cooking too much bc they would eat it eventually and now there is no one to eat the extra for the most part as my 12 year old only likes certain things and not others and my little guy does't eat much (he is 3.5 years). My husband rarely eats leftovers. As for shopping, there are so many things to buy once you lose the weight bc NOTHING in a closet or drawer fits, not even your shoes as I went down a size and a half. I am so sad I have wasted so many clothes and shoes b/c I either give them away or they just sit there not being worn. I gave so much away and recently did a garage sales. But it is just waste everywhere!! I did wear 3" thin heels to a special event the other night. I have not done that in years and I was very uncomfortable (my feet seem very bony now with not much pad on the heel). But heh, I made it standing up a couple hours on and off throughout the evening. I cannot believe how uncomfortable heels are, but I couldn't even try before so it was fun to just wear them to look cute which was not an option for me before. But will I wear them again?...that is the thing. I don't like to waste. I tried so hard to find a pair of comfortable heels but I tried on a million shoes and these were the most comfortable I could find. My foot is so damn tiny and small now and the heels just swallow me and I couldn't find narrow size shoes that were cute and comfortable. I'd rather buy a pair of comfortable shoes I wear every day than buy fancy things I hardly wear - especially right now bc I always need clothes for work. Before I would have worn dressy flats so I wouldn't have made that extra purchase which is what I'm talking about. THose one time purchases to look extra cute are killers. Like I bought some expensive jeans in Vegas that are so fancy I've actually never found a place to wear them. Once again, regret. I could spend all my time just buying and returning, buying and returning. One purchase that worked out was some cute straight jeans from banana Republic (8P) and some Ann Taylor jeans (8p) and some tall black boots with a heel which are extremely comfortable. I don't think I've EVER had the nerve to have tall boots b/c a short fat girl in tall boots is well, not real nice. I bought a sweater dress too to wear with them but haven't done so yet. Still might return that. I spend a lot of time questioning my purchases and if it is expensive it is even worse. I don't have endless time to shop so that makes it more challenging. But definitely no matter how many clothes I buy now I need something else because I have nothing old to fall back on in my closet. I feel like I've overdone it and yet I just wear the same things over and over again. So that is what I've struggled with, not an obsession, but I have definitely struggled with waste - buying/cooking too much food/clothes/making senseless purchases. It is like a new door has opened and for some reason it has led to me feeling like I overspend on groceries, restaurants, and sometimes shopping. I can't tell you how many times I have wasted money/food at restaurants bc I overorder. It is all so overwhelming and then in a couple hours just hungry again. I try to save and eat again but sometimes it isn't what I want. I am a bit fickle with everything now. We are going on a cruise this summer and I've been shopping already for that and have really picked up some bargains off season. We are going to DIsney World, then beach/fishing for a few days, then a short cruise. This trip would have been way to much for me before...whereas I'm really looking forward to it. But all this extra activity leads to a lot of extra spending for my whole family, not just me. It is hard to define, but sitting at home was just cheaper. As for alcohol, I've never had an issue bc I can take it or leave it. I had a full glass of champagne at the party and never felt it for some reason, but it didn't make me sick or anything. I think one thing is as you are losing, and as the surgery is new, you get used to a lot of attention from it and when people get used to you thinner and they don't say anything you are like !!!???!!! I do I not look good? But hopefully eventually I won't be looking for that constant feedback. BC people just get used to you thin and don't mention it anymore. My husband is tired of me saying" feel this bone ", etc. One day he even said he wanted his fat girl back b/c I get annoying to him sometimes stressing over how I look, trying to get noticed, etc. It is kinda weird that I would be that way bc I'm not a teenager. Some days I feel so damn cute, but other days feel the same as before. Like when I needed a dress and couldn't get in the small sizes (I had to buy a 12P) and I felt so fat. For some reason my rib cage and breast area is still kinda thick and fitted dresses do not fit extremely well and I was kinda embarrassed that I popped a zipper b/c I tried to wear too small of a dress. It is all just weird. Thanks for listening.

That's a lot of wine. The recommended amount of alcohol for women is 2 drinks or less per day (a 6 oz glass of wine would be an example of a drink). Lots of empty calories, too. A 6-oz glass is about 120 calories, so 3 glasses add up, plus there's zero nutritional value to those calories. I say, post-sleeve would be a great time to cut down on alcohol. You can't drink for a while after the surgery - this is surgeon-dependent, but I've seen guidelines that range from 1 month to 6 months of abstinence from alcohol - so it'd be a good time to kick the habit. You can have alcohol once you're all healed up. I've never been much of a drinker, so I can only speak to being able to have 1 drink without consequences. I usually have mixed drinks - I never liked wine much before, but now it makes me very nauseous after just 2-3 sips.

Bob, you've been my role model here since I first found this place. I am immensely proud of you and what you've accomplished in such a short time. I'm finally being banded the day after tomorrow, so am where you were a year ago. I hope I can report such an excellent journey as yours a year from now. I wish you nothing but continued success and a rapid, painless healing from this latest surgery. Good luck! As for the cigarettes, if I can offer my personal experience: I quit smoking eleven years ago after more than thirty years as a heavy-duty 2+ pack a day smoker. I had quit a hundred times before then, for varying amounts of time, from a few minutes to as long as seven months. But I always went back to them. I finally realized I had never felt like an ex-smoker, always that I was in-between packs. I always felt when I'd stopped smoking that I'd be smoking again at some point. And I always did. The turning point for me came the day I came to the thundering conclusion that I didn't have a smoking habit. I realized I was a nicotine addict. Just as bad (to me) as a heroin addict or being an alcoholic, and I was just as addicted. And just like that, I quit. I ddn't STOP smoking, I QUIT. And I haven't lit one since. I have absolutely zero desire, because I know, just like an alcoholic or a heroin addict, that I can't have just one cigarette, or I'll be back at it. Changing my frame of mind from thinking of myself as a smoker to accepting that I was a nicotine addict completely changed my entire attitude. No drug was going to control my life, and that was that. I've never looked back. Good luck with all of it! Dave

thanks for the suggestions ajames and cindy, milkshakes do sound way better then just drinkins, and im sure after 5 days of sweets a soup will taste like a god-send. Where is everyone getting unflavored Protein powder? i looked in 2 places today and couldnt find it and think it will be necessary for my week of clears. loralee- i too am scared of the anesthesia, but they do have stuff to reverse it and having talked to an OR nurse about 1 in 20 people do have a reaction and they just give this med, reverse it, and try another sedation method. I also talked to my ER doc who did a surgical residency and he said that without family history or previous reaction your chances are very slim, just dont drink alcohol or smoke the week before and make sure they know ALL of your meds, otc and scripts, and the chances decrease even more. Most of the time someone does not tell them about a heart problem or their lungs are so fibrotic from smoking/aspestos/ect. that they get the tube in and start to give meds and the person's lungs cannot handle that, just be honest and you will be fine =). That helped me relax a little about it, but i doubt i will be turning down the pre-anesthesia sedation iv meds the day of. What is everyone bringing to the hospital? I have to stay overnight per the doc, all his pt's do, and since i have only worked nights, never been a pt, im not sure what to bring...i have chapstick, change of clothes, magazines, ipod, slippers, and a robe packed already (yup, all set!) what else would you bring? Here we go everyone, 10 days till a new you =)

I am glad I am not alone. @Mommy (and man, that is weird calling you Mommy), I think if you scroll down, there is a box called Meta, which has two links for Entry RSS and Comment RSS. That should allow you to add it to your blogroll @NBFlo, I believe it is about the fresh surgical wound and caffeine, which can cause ulcers or so? Same for alcohol and I believe I am supposed to stay away from both for 3 months. @Tiff, when did you pick it up again?

Ideas for portable protein: cheese sticks greek yogurt Protein bars (be careful about ingredients, calories, carbs, sugar alcohols, etc.) hard boiled eggs protein shakes RTD (ready-to-drink) beef Jerky (again being careful about nitrates, sugar added, etc....I usually make my own) cottage cheese ( you can buy little individual cups or just use your own tupperware and fill it and keep it in a cold pack) I hope you actually get a BREAK ...you SHOULD be having a snack at 10am ...esp. if you are feeling hungry. I think they are legal rules that employers must follow in regards to working x number of hours and getting x number of breaks per hours worked. I think .5 hour lunch is fine, but then again I'm a contractor (I work for my former employer on a contract basis...no benefits, or legal lunch breaks, etc.) and I used to work 10 hour days and take only .5 hour lunch. It seemed like more than enough time. Now when I work, I never take a lunch break but hardly ever work more than 8 hours in a day. I eat at my desk, because my job is in front of a computer so it's not a big deal to eat and work at the same time. I don't take a lunch because I only get paid for the time worked, so I would rather get in, do my work and get out than take any type of unpaid break.

Hi...again have no freaken idea....how to navigate this site....and no time to fiddle with it....so sorry everyone for the typical font and reply style. lol so unlike me which is the reason for the apology. Its been a week since posting and well.....it hasnt been a great week for food, exercize or Water....but am getting back on the saddle tomorrow AM....rather the seat of the cycle at the gym. Foods havent been horrid just eating Proteins and shakes and not enough vegetables and water.....Ive been so busy running around buying presents and supervising that I have no idea if im coming or going.....I thought this would be the easiest holiday to deal with but......I realize its so much easier to shop, cook and have off from work but nooooo going to work run around after looking for presents in a million different places and going to one party and celebration at this ones house or that ones...or dinners out etc has taken its toll and im just plain tired!!! Of course its a wonderful holiday...but all the running....and partying and its only just begun...eight more nights!! I am just thankful there is school all day otherwise...in addition to busy and tired Id be totally broke with a babyisitter in addtion to all the presents and goings on...lol This weekend we are going to our synaguage for chanuka dinner tomorow night....that should be fun and nice. Sat lunch is at another shul. That should be fun too....if course this means I wont have anything to eat good for me....but I have prepared one of Phyllis what I call famous BBQ chickens!! Thanks again..saving me. So at least I know ill go home and eat if there is nada...and I know what shabbos dinners are about soooo I know there wont be anything for me. Sat night im the car pool mom, my turn to drive to and from Bat Mitzvah about 45 min away....where I will be twiddling my thumbs wating around for three hours....probably go shopping for more presents at that time.... Sunday is our family chanuka party at my brothers house....I am hoping for some serious alcohol or other to help with the drama that im sure will happen at that party! Of course its all in the spirit of chanuka ....so im sucking it all up and running, running, running!!! I see everyone is getting ready for Christmas....and I love reading about all your plans....jealous of the great decorating and table settings and the gettings ready....cant wait to hear about all the fabulous christmas eve and morning stories with everyone and their families.... well... must run its late and exhausted.....welcome to the newbys....and have a great holiday...and remember WHEN YOU FAIL TO PLAN YOU PLAN TO FAIL (like me this week) Okay....have a great night...... Jodi

I've not been maintaining for a year, but I've been at goal for nearly a year. I continued to lose past my goal weight and have been easily maintaining for the last 7 months. I still love my sleeve, and do not diet at all. I indulge with sweets, alcoholic beverages, and even white carbs weekly. The difference is that I don't overindulge, and I have realized that my body runs better on mainly protein first, but I eat a very balanced, healthy diet. I do not deprive myself of anything, I just don't eat in large quantities anymore. Do I sometimes splurge a little much? Sure, I do, but I also know that splurging leads to me feeling fatigued, and I just don't "feel good". It's just how my body works. Food is an afterthought, I eat because I have to eat, and yes, I have cravings, but the sleeve makes managing those cravings much easier, and obviously I can't binge out anymore. Plus, I have zero desire to get that overly stuffed, busting out of my pants feeling anymore. Food is just fuel. I've learned to eat to live instead of living to eat, and it would not have been possible without the sleeve.