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Umm, if you really want to be really scientific about this, you are really in murky territory. All we have are educated guesses. For instance alcohol. There is a set calorie amount based on how much energy it produces when ignited. Now how much of this enters your system? That's a guess. It gets even stranger when you consider the VS changes absorption rates. So you are really looking at potential calories. That said, after tracking a couple of years I am fairly confident that the "relative" accuracy of the protein/calorie counts on myfitnesstracker. You are not going to be 100% confident, but you will be close enough for your use. BTW, fascinating article: http://drinks.seriouseats.com/2013/10/cocktail-science-do-alcohol-calories-count-digesting-spirits.html

I guess my doc is a lenient one. I am drinking coffee and any number of different alcohol drinks and having no problem. He said ok to the carbonation too but I just know it will be a painful burp issue and I just dont crave it. There is such a HUGE variability in everyone's instructions , I think that's kind of strange but who am I to say? Cheers!!

I'm almost 18 months out and can eat pretty much anything I ate pre-op, just in smaller amounts. Some people, including the woman who writes the eggface blog, decide to give up a problematic food instead of trying to eat smaller amounts of it. Kind of like an alcoholic gives up drinking alcohol instead of trying to control something they know they can't control. That decision rests with each individual. I am grateful that I haven't ran across a food I felt the need to give up yet. I love my life on the goalies' bench! I do eat differently now. Here are a few examples: Night time salty snack: pretzels. I am pretty satisfied with a one-ounce portion. Popcorn: Try not to eat more than a couple of times per month. Hamburger: Generally, I make sliders at home. 4 oz. raw hamburger, formed into three small patties. I take two Kings Hawaiin Rolls and split them horizontally into third to make three buns. I use a little light mayo on the top bun. Chili Dogs: I like the Hebrew National Light Hot Dogs, 97% fat free beef chili,the light shredded cheddar cheese, some chopped onion, and don't eat much bun. Sometimes no bun. Sweets: I do indulge in sweets, but mostly try to stick to something light. I enjoy graham crackers with a little Peanut Butter or Quaker granola bars. The 90 calorie Fiber One brownies are good too. Sometimes i have soy milk heated with a splash of sugar free syrup. I also like the sugar free hot apple cider mix. Best wishes on your journey! Lynda

Thank you for getting back to me guys. It's so nice to have people to talk too on here! I am on my second week of the pre op diet and hopefully I do better this week than my EPIC fail last week. I drank (alcohol) on 3 nights, ate sweets, carbs and pretty much everything else that is banned. My will power is just shocking. I have 5 days to go for surgery and I am going to stick to the diet like crazy. I am so determined. I have to do this. I'm so scared the doctor is going to operate and then see that my liver is just a huge hot mess and then he won't operate. I know that I can't re-do my wrongs and if anything happens then all I have is myself to blame. I'm hoping that if I drink enough Water and hardly eat anything he won't be able to tell....ugh. This part has got to be the worst, surely?! How long are you guys taking off work after the surgery? I'm off for 1 week. And then I'm walking straight into a brand new job. Hopefully they won't notice that I'm only eating liquified foods!! It's a fresh start at least. Xx Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hey there I am hoping ya'll can help me , I am 2 months post-op( down 34 pounds, YA MEEEEE) and doing GREAT. I have been very fortunate to not have any problems with eating or nausea or acid refux. My husband is coming home this weekend from Afghanistan and we are planning a "honeymoon weekend" downtown and I am wondering what alcohol drinks I will be able to drink. In the past I have always been a Miller Lite girl , but everything I have read said beer does not usually do well with the sleeve. So what about Captain and diet coke( again what about the soda issue) . I know we will be having a few drinks and I would much rather not have the "bad stomach" issues , so I would appreciate some ideas of what would be ok to drink. Another silly question, have you found that you get "drunk"faster after the sleeve,? I also dont want to get sloppy drunk early in the night. I obviously have not had a drink since I was sleeved. Thanks for your input. T

I put the full 8oz. I will try using only 6oz tonight, cross my fingers and pray... I really want to like matrix LOL. I have this big 5lb or so bag (I think that's what they are) with only 3 or 4 scoops out of it. I don't want to waste it. So you didn't like the shots, but I was thinking it would be like alcohol to me. I don't like the taste of alcohol, but I've had test-tube alcohol shooters and I can do them alright. I figure I'll do the same with these. Not mix them in anything or drink them on ice. Just shoot 1/2 a tube at once. Chase it with water and be done. Did you try this??

@Ro2x - I had the same concerns about chantix but in the end the only side effect I had we're really weird dreams. I eventually connected that the dreams were only when I drank alcohol.

I'm trying to be more patient with the process. I am sick of Water, indigestion and trouble sleeping, but my spousal problem is front and center. I am SO grateful for my lack of desire to drink alcohol as it used to be a regular part of my life. That said I am having huge problem with my husband's lack of desire to change eating and drinking habits. Pre-op we talked in depth and he agreed things would change for the better, but they have not. I hate being around someone that is so opposite all that I am trying so hard to be. Last week he bought fried chicken for he and our 9 year old. He is 50 lbs overweight with high cholesterol and in complete denial. We are arguing terribly as well. He disgusts me with his choices and most of all his denial. I don't want to do anything drastic but I want a healthy household for our son and me and I certainly think about how much easier it would be without him around. Yes, I know he probably needs AA, but he will not go, so all other advice is more than appreciated!

6 weeks post op i got a really bad flu/cold. The Nyquil that I took gave me the room spins. I thought that was pretty amusing. About 3 1/2 months post op I took a half shot of Jager to Celebrate my recent engagement and it was fine. But I would recommend having alcohol so soon after surgery. Give your body a chance to heal.

My dr said to wait 9 months to a year but that the main reason was because of alcoholism. He said that most wls patients take comfort on certain foods an of course by eating them, an after surgery an literally NOT being able to have them that ppl substitute there go to. So basically when ur having a hard time dealing with something or having bad day.. Instead of munching on snack they find comfort in drinking alcoholic beverages an become an alcoholic. Let me say this... I am not an everyday drinker but occasional an events/parties I do have a couple! Now I had surgery 5/28 an yes I waited to drink for little while (2 1/2 months). Some might think that was to soon, and I will say the first time I had a drink I took a couple sips an was a little tipsy. So u really don't need much! After that 1 drink 2 months after surgery I didn't have another for another month. When I did it was a cold beer. Pre surgery I was a sometimey beer drinker(cold beer when real thirsty cause hot outside like at beach) but now I would prefer a beer over vodka. I have only drank about 3 times since my surgery but only a little each time. I no beer is supposed to be bad for u but so is cake cookies ect.. That other ppl are sneaking and doing. I would prefer to be able to go to the beach an fish with my hubby an have 1 cold beer than to sneak an eat cookies. Just my opinion...

Who knew what a group of partyers we VSG peeps were?! I was a beer drinker. Now that carbonation is out if question I just don't see alcohol as being a big part of who I am! I will miss the sound of a pop a top, but will buy myself some super cute boots or short jacket and enjoy the fun differently from now on!

I drank alcohol 4 weeks after surgery and still do every week or two. No problems. It's all liquor...no beer....no carbs.

I had my sleeve 9-2, and yes I've had a few drinks since. Unlike everyone else it seems, I am not any more sensitive to alcohol than I was before. I like to occasionally have some light cranberry juice with vodka, and my stomach seems just fine. And I'm still losing. I think it is hooey to say if you drink, you will not lose weight. Calories in, calories out. Alcohol doesn't have super calories that defy physiology. They are empty calories, sure. Alcohol may impair your judgment about food choices, yep. But I've seen no credible evidence that drinking alcohol will stall weight loss, all calorie intake being equal. I'm obviously not saying go against what your surgeon says, this is just my experience.

My dr recommends a year before alcohol is permitted. I never drink so that's not a problem for me

I was sleeved on 9/23, I have had a glass or two of wine since then. I haven't noticed the flavor has changed but I did notice I drank slowly.. very slowly, a 4 oz glass lasted about 90 mins which is fine. I drink dry red wine or dry whites so they were not sweet at all. I haven't really noticed that flavors have changed but I haven't tried anything sweet or fried and I don't mind missing out on those. We collect wine and have about 200 bottles plus sitting in the house with our fall wine club wine deliveries coming in right now I was banded for a long time and I knew a lot of RNY patients, I noticed more with the RNY where the intestines were changed that patients felt the effects of alcohol faster and some patients did trade a food addiction for a booze addiction. I think if you deal with your food issues you will be ok with booze but it is empty calories!

At first it was difficult cutting out the booze. However, after month and learning how to cope with life without alcohol I became awake. It was a incredible change. Now people that drink bore me with their same old stories and drama. Since day one I vowed to not attemp to drink until I reach my goal weigh. Keep the brass ring in sight.

Its good that you are being honest about being lazy and you have concerns. The band is just a tool. I have only lost 37 lbs in 8 months. I do not exercise and I drink alcohol. If you want to truly lose weight you have to follow the band rules, exercise included. Best of luck to you.

I think both sides of this discussion have merit. I too know people working in the penal system, and they agree saying they (the molesters) will be back to the old tricks if let go. That they opt out of treatment when it is available. But I also see how it could be viewed as an illness. I do not know anyone personally who is the type of molester your friend has turned out to be...as far as I know, I suppose any one of us could be blind sided by something such as this, just as you were John. But, from books I have read and shows I have seen on TV, it does not appear that the molester is enjoying themselves 24/7, and excited and happy about what they do. It seems an urge they are unable to control, and once it has been attended to, by molesting a child, they seem remorseful, and full of a different type of rage. Rape itself is a crime of rage, not sexual pleasure, so while castration may answer the repeat crime of rape, it will not address the rage that leads to it. I do not have an answer, I have little in the way of new ideas to even offer...about all I can do at this point is mourn the innocence of the children, and pray for peace for them. As far as testifying, I would let the DA know he would have to subpeoana me. And then, rather than trying to "help" your friend (or however you choose to view him now, it would be hard to know), I would just be honest, answer both attorneys questions willingly. Seeing you testify, that yes you too had been raised similarly, and that you did not know what he was doing, and that you, yourself have never done such a thing, may give his children hope. Because even though you 2 were raised similarly, you are different people. My brother and I were raised in exactly the same home, and by the same parents in a stable 2 parent home. We were never exposed to drugs, or alcohol in extremes, when punished we were treated fairly and the same. He however has a very addictive personality and has battled with both drugs when he was younger and is an alcholic (sober for 7+ years). I have never had a problem with anything but food...even though we were raised the same, the outcome was different, he also has a learning disability that I do not...so really comparing the 2 of you is not fair to either of you. Relax John, you made the right decision...you were true to yourself, you visited while not condoning what he did. What he did is not something you knew about or could have prevented. If forced to testify, keep his kids in mind, and be honest, show them they can be different, just as you were. Compassionate, caring, and not abusive. Will keep all of you in my prayers... Kat

My doctor said I can have alcohol at 6 months. Same with carbonated beverages. I had half a sip of DH's beer the other day, just enough for barely a taste.

I am 8 months post sleeve. I am 12 pounds from my goal weight which I set...not my doctor. I wanted to get out of the "unhealthy BMI" range. There is a chance I'll lose more than that, but for now, 12 pounds to go. I have written a blog for many years, it started with looking for plus size clothing, learning about the Health at Any Size movement and now I write about binge eating disorder and alcoholism. (Yep, I got the double whammy) Just wanted to put it out there, that the sleeve has helped me so much, but I still see my eating disorder evolving and trying to manipulate the crap out of me. The sleeve is my tool, I am full, I try not to eat any more. But sometimes I do overeat. And that's okay. https://healthatmysize.com/2016/10/14/its-a-slippery-slope/

And if the government, an entity that feels entitled to regulate every other aspect of life for its citizens, should not be responsible for its most defenseless members (children and elderly), then whose job is it? Let's punish that baby because its dad spends his money on expensive rims instead of providing health care for his child. That makes perfect sense. I was not advocating publicly funded health care for the general population - just for those who have no other source of health care. How does the state "educate people in making good choices" when there ARE no choices? In the example I gave Jodie, what choices did you have for that young woman? Borrow from her parents...beg for help from churches. Is that the best the state can come up with? If being poor is wrong, maybe everyone who doesn't pull his/her own weight financially should just be executed. I'm sorry, but I will never be able to harden my heart to those less fortunate. I was raised by a single mom who very rarely saw any support from my alcoholic father. Yes, my mother had lots of help from her family and I don't know what would have become of us if she hadn't. And she had a college education, but it was still tough. My mother made most of my clothes and took in ironing to pay for my dancing lessons. I guess if I were growing up today and got a free lunch at school, someone would say, "She doesn't need that free lunch; her mother can afford to send her to dance class." What arrogance! I don't really like entitlement programs either. I worked with those people every day for 15 years and I know that too much of it saps ambition. But for such basic human needs programs as WIC and free school lunches, I just think it's small and mean-spirited to begrudge those things. It's food, for heaven's sake. And if memory serves from my own days in public school, not very good food, at that.

I think there's so much conflicting information because we all hear different things from our surgeons, nutritionists, etc. We're also individuals and that counts for a lot of variations. 1. I was told never any NSAIDS mainly because they can cause ulcers. I'm a bypass patient, but I've heard some sleevers say that they can take NSAIDS occasionally with an acid reducer. I don't know if that's true or not because I didn't get the sleeve done. 2. One of the many reasons I was encouraged to get bypass instead of the sleeve is because of my GERD. I'm almost 3 months out and so far, so good. 3. This varies highly! I was a carb addict before surgery and I was really just starting to phase bread, Pasta, rice, potatoes, etc. out of my life during the pre-op diet phase. I still don't trust myself though. I don't think I can personally eat those kinds of things in moderation, so for me and my team, they’re off limits. Also, I've heard that for some those types of foods can expand in the stomach and cause discomfort. 4. I've heard the statistics about addiction transfer. I've also run across posts (all across the Internet) from various people talking about how they got addicted to alcohol after surgery so I think there's at least some truth there. 5. Not everyone experiences dumping. Or some do early out, but then they're able to eat or drink anything once they're further out. I don't eat sugar except in dairy, so I don't know if sugar will make me dump. But greasy foods (even things that are lower in fat) don't agree with me at all. Overall, there are a few things that seem universal (eat Protein first, drink your fluids, take your Vitamins, etc.) But this journey is so individual and you never know where you'll end up on the spectrum until you have the surgery.

Hi all, just back from a week long cruise. Left for the trip at day 26 post op and was pretty nervous about eating, flying, etc. Came back and gained .5 lbs but had a great time. I didn't expect to lose any weight on this trip and was pretty happy that I didn't have a big weight gain. I searched and searched for some advice about taking a cruise so soon after surgery and didn't find much so thought I'd share my experience for others about my trip on Carnival Cruse Lines. This is definitely not advice and don't recommend anyone does this but what I found: Buffet: Limited Breakfast selections that worked for me. Scrambled eggs, some luncheon meats, scoop of tuna from the deli, maybe a sausage link (only had them one day), milk. The yogurt they had was only 3 grams of Protein and loaded with sugar so avoided that. I did order a Guy's Hamburger and had a couple of bites of the burger with a fork and not too bad. There was some other stuff that looked edible for dinner but never ended up eating dinner at the buffet. Dining Room: There was usually a Soup every night but found most of the chilled Soups seemed to me to be very high in sugar so I avoided them unless there was no other option. Entries were limited to eat because of being carb/pata heavy or tougher meats. They always had flat Iron steak which was tender and I was able to eat so got that a few nights and most other nights got chicken or something like that. Got a tofu steak one night and it was bogus . Had to cover it with hot sauce to make it edible. Sorry tofu lovers... Only one night did they have a no sugar added desert that was something I was able to eat and it was a key lime mousse. Most the other nights, the no sugar added desert was cake or bread based. I usually couldn't fit desert anyway so didn't deal with it too much. Islands, Beaches: Most serve typical beach stuff. Burgers, fried foods, etc but there was usually something that you could order if you wanted. I'd usually get something simple like a club sandwich and just eat the meats. Had a fry here and there also. Alcohol: Talked my doc prior to cruising and although he did recommend being very careful with alcohol, he said it wouldn't damage my sleeve or anything like that. This is definitely not medical advice and just sharing my experience. So a couple of the days, on the beach and here and there, I had a pina colada's or daiquiri's and maybe a beer here and there. The first couple of beers I had, I would put my finger in the top and shake them a few times to let out the carbonation and to be honest, flat beer, even when cold wasn't that great. On our last beach day, someone bought me a Heineken and I didn't shake it up but drank it right from the bottle, carbonation and all and it went down okay, no pain or anything but waited a little bit before eating or drinking everything else. The buzz if definitely different.. About mid week, I went wild and had two Frozen banana daiquiris (with a dark rum floater) in about a half hour time span and got a good buzz but the buzz was gone within an hour at most. I really enjoyed the cruise but found that having some soft-ish Protein Bars were definitely beneficial for those times that I didn't want eat breakfast at the buffet or beach food. I enjoyed the cruise tremendously and found there was always something to eat but you definitely had to plan a bit due to buffet hours/selection and choices in the dining room. Keep in mind, I was just starting soft foods so had some limitations. With all that said, I'd do it again in a second.. m

It sounds like you are doing great. I am in the US and I did gasp when I read your NUT recommended you drink carbonation and alcohol, especially so early post-op. My insurance didn't cover my surgery, but my surgeon is excellent and has performed thousands of successful surgeries. You didn't mention Protein at all. My primary focus was and is getting AT LEAST 100 grams protein and 64 oz of (non carbonated, no caffeinated, and nonalcoholic) liquid a day.

My dr said no carbonation or alcohol for 6 months and even THEN, open it and let it sit got a few minutes. The alcohol is due to dehydration too early after surgery.