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Am only 13 days post op and have no plans to drink alcohol in the near future but I am curious about how long one should wait before having a glass of wine? I have an event in April and at that time I will be 6 weeks post op. I am going to be asked to have a drink and I really don't want to let on that anything is different as I have kept this surgery pretty much to myself. Do any of you out there think it will be ok to have the wine?

3.5 weeks post surgery. Went to our state fair tonight and was really sad that I couldn't eat any of the food I love having at fairs. I really wanted a corn dog, and cotton candy, and funnel cake, and alcohol, and, and, and.... We didn't stay long because I was sad plus I still haven't returned to full energy levels since the surgery. Just feeling down and wanted to share.

My surgeon says alcohol is not allowed at the 15 day mark. Your stomach is healing plus it's empty calories. Ask your doctor and your NUT

Had surgery yesterday when I woke up from surgery I was super nauseous, my throat was so dry they gave me anti nauseous medicine still didn’t work they put something behind my ear gave me more medicine then I smelled some alcohol from hospital. Finally felt better for pain in taking Tylenol I request lowest form of pain meds I’m not hurting at all. My stomach doesn’t hurt where the operation was done only the top but it’s gas I could actually feel it bubbling I’ve burpped a few times feel much better. Today I’m supposed to drink haven’t been allowed to drink anything yet since surgery it was yesterday morning right now it’s 7 am in New York. I did brush my teeth last night and this morning made my mouth better since it was dry.

I had to be real honest with myself the last 24 hours. I am not eating enough solid protein, I drink too much alcohol and I sustain on protein drinks and soft foods. I am 40 lbs from goal. So today, I went into my doctor and had .5 taken out so I could eat solid protein again. Also, I am joining Weight Watchers on Saturday to see if they can help me with my nutrition. Anyone else struggle out there? Tell me your story.

My husband is the most AMAZING, wonderful, loving, compassionate human being on the planet--- he really is the best. I could not ask for better than him. Honestly I feel guilty for not being more grateful. In addition to being a compulsive overeater, I am also an alcoholic. I have been sober almost 21 months now. Sobriety has been easy-- because if I was upset or stressed, I could always eat. Now I do not have that. I feel just like I did when I got out of rehab-- raw, frightened, overwhelmed. I have joined a 12 step group for eating disorders, but it only meets once per week. I have talked to my AA sponsor some about it-- maybe I need to talk to her more, IDK. All I know is I feel like sh*t.

it is tough. there are so many things/issues associated with food. we don't just eat for nurioushment. alcoholics can stay away from booze, they don't NEED it for life. drug addicts can stay away from crack. but, food, you absolutely NEED. and it is hard to not use food for emotional purposes. i am not bulimic anymore, but i have to constantly check myself and my emotions and make sure that i am handling them properly and not somehow turning to a bulimic tendency to cope with issues. i thought the band would make it easier. but, i count calories and weigh myself way too much. at times i become overly focused on weight and the number on the scale or the number that is in the tag of my clothes. when i realize i am being overly focused on it (or someone that knows my history points it out to me) i have to stop and take inventory of what is going on in my life that could be causing me such stress.

I've tried the Quest bars once-a cookies and cream, and it was so disgusting I wanted to puke and I am pre-op! I have a very sensitive palate, but wow those are b-a-d! My kids won't even eat them and they eat everything! I'm really enjoying the Pure Protein bars. There's anywhere from 20-23 grams of protein per bar and relatively low sugar although the sugar alcohol in the one I had today was 8g! They taste good though. I usually have one for breakfast each morning.

I'm 5 months out now, and have sort of hit a place in this last week that is unfamiliar. I don't know if it's depression, or loneliness, or something else. I live in India, and am doing med school here, but am from the US. My boyfriend was here, as well, and he finished up and went back home a few weeks ago, while I'm still working on my transfer. I was supposed to have been home months ago, but I'm still here. This past week, I've been trying to go out every night, to avoid feeling lonely or stressing out about the transfer. I've also been letting some bad habits creep back in this past week, and I'm hating myself for them. 1. I've had alcohol 3 times this week. I drink whiskey, which comes at 65 calories per 30 ml. Usually 1 or 2 drinks. However, I had 4 (2 doubles) the other day. Not good. A whole meal worth of empty calories. I didn't actually want to finish the 2nd drink, but it was in my hand, so I did. Since the surgery, I've been good about leaving food on my plate, why didn't I just leave the drink? I didn't feel very good the rest of the evening, so I definitely won't be drinking that much again. 2. Last night, I found myself eating mindlessly twice. The food choices were not ideal. It's not that I ate a lot, or that I went out of my calorie range. It's that I had better options to eat if I wanted to, and I wasn't even hungry! I haven't done this in months! 3. I don't exercise enough, and I know it. I make excuses a lot, saying it will start up properly once I get back home. Once I am able to find some more free time. But somehow, I find the time to go out and have a drink! It's really very frustrating. I know my body enjoys exercise, and wants to go for a walk. I just don't do it. 4. On occasion, I look at my body and it looks like I haven't lost a pound. this happened last night. I felt like I'd ruined all my work the past 5 months, and the cause was lost. This was the worst of all! I know what I need to do, but I just feel so poopy (for lack of a better word)! I know exercise will help, I just have to find the motivation to do it.

Hey, me too: tuna with dill pickle relish is, all of a sudden, really good. I've never eaten tuna much. I can eat avocados and guacomole. I find myself ordering Pasta dishes and I never used to eat pasta. I felt too guilty. But now I eat such a small amount of it I don't feel guilty at all. I eat a few bites of the chicken or shrimp that comes with the pasta and a couple of bites of pasta and I'm done. The rest of the dish comes home with me. The servers ask me if I didn't like it because my plate looks almost untouched. Whoo hoo! That's a great feeling. And I usually get at least a couple more meals out of it. I can't enjoy ice cream anymore or other milk products except cottage cheese and yogurt. This is a good thing because ice cream used to be my downfall. But it is very strange to not be able to enjoy ice cream for the first time in my life. I also tried to eat a small piece of my mother's recipe chocolate cake. Two little bites and that was way too much and I was uncomfortable and sorry I tried it. I love that feeling. It's my best friend! Oh yeah, I can't drink coffee or tea and only a couple of sips of any alcoholic beverage. Can you drink coffee and tea? What about wine? Isn't it strange how some people can't eat things like avocado and others can?

Great thread. People talk about transfer addiction to alcohol and drugs (and maybe sex), but rarely other things. Many people have "addictions/obsessions" that never had surgery and don't realize their hyper-focus on those things. So it's great that you're willing to take another look at your situation to discern if it has become an unhealthy focus in your life.

Last week I went for my first surgical consultation. I'm so impressed with the Dr & his staff. Everyone is so nice. They scheduled my appointment for my Upper GI, EKG & chest Xray, and they were done yesterday. My next appointments will be with the dietitian & exercise physiologist. I still have to set up a psych evaluation. So I'm moving right along... Doc was very encouraging and talked through some of my concerns. He took the time to hear my story and he agreed with me - he too, believes that the sleeve would be the best option for me. I had an "aha" moment...or actually, a weekend worth of it. We had friends in town to visit this past weekend. I knew there would be a good bit of alcohol involved in our visit. But I actually went completely off my wagon! My eating wasn't as awful as it could have been, but I wasn't following the plan. breads & potatoes were the biggest culprits. I even passed on ice cream...so I guess I wasn't so bad. But I certainly felt the difference. I gained 9 lbs from Friday morning to Sunday evening. Salty margaritas are my vice, so I'm sure most of that was water retention, but still - it made me feel horrible, physically & mentally. At the same time, I was able to recognize that I'm not going to be able to do this anymore. I don't need the alcohol in such mass quantities, I truly don't need the breads and potatoes - I would have been fine without them. I just have to work on finding better food choices when we're out and about. I'm back in the saddle again this week. And the water weight is dropping off already. I know I shouldn't be weighing myself everyday, but I have been & right now, I'm glad to see it going back down. Once I get back to where I was last week & see steady loss for a while, I'll stop weighing everyday. I've also called my insurance company to verify coverage and prerequisites for my surgery. I shouldn't have any problems, but I'm afraid of one bit of red tape. I'm supposed to have 6 months of consecutive medical weight loss (failure) documentation. I think I should be OK because I did take phentermine for several months and this was all documented, of course. And since then, I've regained every bit of the weight lost on that program. My worry is that "consecutive" word. I'm not sure that I was in the office exactly every month. I will be going to see her again at the end of the month, so I'll find out then. I really don't want to have to drag this out for 6 months. I'm hoping that I will be approved based on the records we have already established. I would be devastated to have to wait so long. I'm ready now. I want so much to start feeling better. I hate feeling so tired all the time! I hate that my back hurts from carrying all of this weight all my life. I hate knowing that I have only a 10% chance of living until I'm 65. Really? So my life is more than half over right now! Unless I can lose this weight, I won't have a life. I'm merely existing from day to day right now. I don't feel like I live at all. Who knows if I'll make it another 6 months? With my family history and horrible health as it is, I am simply a walking time bomb. I'm rambling...just some random thoughts that pop into my head.

Meals? You get Meals?? I just finished day 7 of a 3 week pre op diet. I get 4 shakes a day and IF I'm still hungry (IF!!) I can have a dry salad. I am losing my mind! I'm being a little dramatic, but this is one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. Harder than quitting smoking. Harder than quitting alcohol. I know, I'm not being very encouraging. It's just been really rough. 2 more weeks of this seems so long!!!! Pray for me, people!!!

Oy, As someone who has battled smoking, alcoholism and food addictions, I can honestly tell you NO ONE could MAKE me help myself. As a matter of fact, if my wife tried to, it would have backfired and I would have fought her on it. Just my pig-headed-ness, I suppose. I'm not saying that you are ... I hate a nag. If you want to make sure I'm NOT going to do something ... nag me to do it. H3ll would freeze over before I would do it. For me, to work on my personal issues, I had to hit MY bottom. I think the best thing you can do is be an inspiration. Walk the walk, and don't nag him about it. He will see how your life changes. It will take a spark within him to make the decision. I know you want to light it, but you can't. As far as I can tell, my wife doesn't battle any addiction issues, and she is a skinny mini, but I would love for her to be more physically fit. I suggest things she can do, but try not to nag her about it. I work out like crazy and talk to her about how great it makes me feel. When she is ready, I'm confident she will join me, but it has to be her decision. Not mine. This isn't a husband issue, it's a Christina issue.

Please watch The Secret...it will change your life. By using the principles in the Secret which I did and still do since many years ago...before the movie or book came out, I changed my life. I reversed my multiple sclerosis which had me not being able to walk or have a normal life. I fell into the VICTIM mode and it made things much worse. I can tell you that when you change your mind and the way you feel and think about things your health, your outlook and everything in your life will change!!! The Law of Attraction is real...if you think of illness you attract illness, if you think as a victim you will be a victim, if you think you are not loved or wanted, that will be true. But if you think you are healthy, happy and loved...then will be those. You will also be able to work, and enjoy life in a way you will not believe right now. At 29 you have a life time ahead of you to make it the best it can be. I never asked for a hand out...as I knew anyway it would not happen... I managed to make it with the help of positive thinking and working on my emotional issues and changing my life in Mind, body and Spirit. I am now healthy, work full time, have several degrees, have traveled the world and enjoy and VALUE my life. My work is to help others achieve what I have...and I know you can do it! Sometimes it hurts when people tell you truths...but just as an alcoholic...when you are told oh poor you and you are right and oh my you sad person you, then me o my...you are getting attention of the worst kind...that of a victim. Victims remain such until they get out of that mode and into one of power. Good luck! No matter where you go, you will find that people will call you on it until you learn and change. Such is life.

FWIW, you can also have great success even if you don't follow the guidelines that well! I'm rebellious and emotional and I make lousy food choices at least 40% of the time... But I can't binge. And I can't drink cold OJ in the AM. And alcohol now gives me heartburn. So I'm kinda forced into submission. And it's awesome!!!

oh this happens to me without the caffeine - for my body, it is a reaction to any kind of chemicals/fake foods/preservatives/hormones etc. I also have mild allergic reactions to anything with flour, alcohol, white sugar, and even apples!

Depends on the person Some people can eat a cheat meal and go back to doing the right things the right way. Thats fine. Some people can eat a cheat meal and be like an alcoholic having one drink, and spiral out of control into a path of addiction and destruction. Obviously only one of those people "can" have a cheat meal.

I know too many people who got really sick on Atkins to think about trying it. Plus, most of the Atkins meal substitute bars, etc., have really high sugar alcohol content, and I can't have that. I just follow the instructions my doctor and NUT gave me. That seems to be serving me well thus far.

SOMEONE PINCH ME CUZ I MUST BE DREAMIN!!!!! I just don't know how i lived as a fat kid for so long... I have energy like you wouldn't believe!!!!! I am at the gym every other day and the days that im not at the gym im running outside! My only day off is Sunday and i dont mind it one bit! I honestly thought that me being in ONEderland was a fluke, but nope its hear to stay.. as of this morning I am officially 195.6.... HECK TO THE FREAKING YEAH!!!!!!! Ok so that was my happy dance..lol. These past few weeks I have been on one hell of a ride. gaining, losing, pretend stalling, lol.. but i know no matter what is goin on that week that the weight will countinue to fall off because im workin hard to make that happen! Im not perfect. I eat things i probably shouldn't, i drink alcohol, and in all reality, i need to stop that. But the best part of all this is i know i screw up sometimes, but that i do my best to get back on track. Before I had the mind set oh i screwed up well i guess i will wallow in my guilt and keep messing up.. now i just go well hell it happens now let me fix it! I know i normally start with stats but i just wanted to get my piece in. so here are the stats 5'7" HW: 265 CW: 195.6 GW: 150 and of course this blog wouldn't be complete without pics..lol the first pic..i wore that dress back in 2008 when my best friend got married.. it fits again! the second pic-- i know you have seen the dress before but that was me on valentines day!

It's mostly an RnY thing, in terms of physical differences that cause alcohol to hit your system faster and be processed differently, which wouldn't happen with VSG. That said, transfer addictions (ie, psychological addictions transferring from food to shopping, drinking, etc.) are still a risk of course.

Thanks M2G. It helps to know what others think & their personal experiences. I plan on following Dr's orders as well, and wait a year. It doesn't bother me unless I'm with a group of friends. I can say I had a half pitcher of Crystal Light Margaritas (no alcohol) at my cookout yesterday & it was FA-BU-lous!!!

Did anyone else watch nightline last night, 6-18-12? It was "Weigh Less, Drink More?" about transferring your food addiction to alcohol. They talk about Carnie Wilson & Beth Sheldon-Badore, AKA: Melting Mama of Bariatric Bad Girls Club. I'm only 1 month out, so I haven't had alcohol yet. Does it really affect you quicker & sober up quickly? What do y'all think about this phenomenon? Have you experienced it? I've never had a problem with alcohol, so it makes me nervous to drink anything.

I was just thinking about this! I went out last night and had a little too much to drink. To add to my hungover headache, I decided to weigh. Bad idea. I gained 2 pounds from last night. No more alcohol for me for a while.

I think you would have to had a prior problem with alcohol or on your way there before surgery. I have drank some in my life but I am not wanting to transfer my food addiction to alcohol. I have transferred it to cooking new high protein healthier dishes for me and my family. I am having a blast looking up recipes tweaking them and cooking for my family. I also am excited about working out where that was never a thing I was excited about before. I think it is a conscious choice where to transfer your unspent energy from not being able to eat like you could before.