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I was banded Oct of 2009 and lost 200 pounds. I was 368 lbs and went down to 168. I was too tight and never could eat except dinner. I liked drinking alcohol, but my like for it became extreme once I took away the food I use to eat to deal with life. I would go out to dinner and order my food to go and just drink the entire time everyone ate because I did not want to keep getting up to run to the bathroom. I turned myself into a alcoholic, or I could say the problem reared its head fast once I took away food from my life. Anyway I am now sober and got to AA, but I did not know that you cause an extreme sugar addiction when you are an alcoholic. I never ate a ton of sugar. Sure I had ice cream a couple times a week, but never gained weight from it. I started eating like 3 pints of Ben and Jerrys a day. Since Sept I put on 71 pounds from pure sugar. Now of course comes the depression, none of my clothes fit, and my body hurts just walking again. I just got a fill and explained everything to my doctor. I am finding I can eat huge portions again and that is scary. I eat all the time and am hungry.I may go in for another fill, but would like to work on getting back on track first. I do enjoy not vomiting every time I eat and I know another fill could bring me to that. I never snacked, never over ate, never gained weight over 5 years. This has really turned my life upside down. I am not willing to let my overcoming alcohol ruin 5 yrs of constant weight loss. No way! It was bad to be heavy before, but to lose that much weight and be packing it on is so much worse. Anyway I could really use a network of weight loss friends to get back on track and be happy again. I am not good at these msg boards so who knows if I will be able to find this site again. If you all have some group or place to support each other my email address is diana_dickey00@yahoo.com let me know where to find it on the site. I may figure it out once I post this, but just in case. Thank you to everyone that shared on the site. It has given me a lift and hope. You all stay strong. We can do this. Diana Tampa, FL

I haven't heard of being tested for alcohol. I have been having a glass of wine here and there while I wait for my surgery to get closer. I only have to do a 2-week pre-op diet, so I won't be indulging at all during that time. I would assume as long as you don't have alcohol in your bloodstream for the pre-surgical tests, you'd be fine?

I used to LOVE the children's cherry cough syrup. Then again, it was the early 70's and the children's cough syrup had alcohol back then. I think we also had lawn darts... That was also when we learned I was allergic to alcohol. I'd have a cough and take the cough syrup. Then I'd stop coughing but I'd start sneezing. That never stopped me from drinking as an adult, I just don't drink much, and just as I'll be doing with food after my sleeve, I go for quality over quantity. When you can only have two beers, you don't waste your time with Budweiser...

You're my 'effin' SPIRIT ANIMAL! That's pretty much how my life is going at the moment. Do you still drink alcohol, or do you pretty much leave it alone now? Also, what do you eat now on a normal day? (sans liquid and mush in the beginning?) Also, do you have a lot of loose skin? Are you exercising?

The primary reason the Doc's tell you no alcohol for 6 months is because alcohol is empty calories (and lots of them !). It offers no nutritional value and can slow your progress significantly. That said, I tested the waters at 8 weeks (was very cautious). Over 3 days I had a couple glasses of wine, a couple of vodka/cranberries, a couple 7 and 7's, and a couple mimosa's (champagne and OJ). I experienced absolutely no problems nor did I become a one drink drunk as many have warned was possible. While my tolerance isn't what it used to be, it was only slightly less. That was my experience and yours may be different, but I can say out of everything I tried, the carbonated beverages were the most uncomfortable and took the longest to drink. Overall, having an alcoholic beverage was no big deal and I still lost a few pounds over those 3 days as well.

And it is very easy to avoid the buffets. Go somewhere nice and if with bandsters, share a meal with one or more. Or eat a wonderful appetizer. At the Bellagio, crab cakes benedict is awesome and bandster friendly (always have to go there for late Breakfast and that tides me over till dinner). :hungry: I always share. I would think alcohol would be more an issue for me than buffets (and gambling) :youcandothis: . But I'd go there. :clap2:

Hi Mini, well darlin' I'm sorry to say the honeymoon is over and you may have to go on a diet. . .here is my depressing story . . . I've been stalled and gaining slowly over 7 months. I stopped dead in my tracks in January and 2 weeks ago i weighed myself and realized i had GAINED 15 lbs over the 7 months. . . WTF was my inital statement, then realization struck. . . i have to go back and do what i've been doing ALL MY LIFE. . . I have to go back on a diet. . . so out came adkins and make sure that i don't go over 900 calories and have less then 40grams of carbs everyday for the next 6 weeks (I'm doing this in little 6 week increments until i reach well below my goal) . . . well my 1st week was a total success I lost 10 lbs. . . I cut out all diet sodas, all alcohol, all breads, no flour products, no fruits, no sweets at all, i drink only water and crystal lite and coffee. . . a basic meal for me now is 2 eggs in the morning, 1 can of tuna or chicken breast mixed with mayo (1 tblspn) for lunch, and some sort of meat, be it fish, chicken, turkey, or shellfish 1/2 cup for supper. . then water water water until i go to bed and start all over the next day. . . ugh i'm glad i have the sleeve cause it really does help with the hunger and mostly it's head hunger, so the water kills that. . . be strong and fight! This isn't for everyone, but it's working for me. . . good luck to you all and i'll definately herald my success when i hit onederland in about 5 weeks! Wish me luck

So - I fessed up to dieting. I said I was working with my medical team to get healthier and was on a very strict diet, if I was asked. Generally at group events, I wasn't - e.g. conferences with multiple meals with other members. No one is looking at the food on your plate. Just push it around and re-arrange it to make it look like you are eating it. Cut things up and move stuff around - you know like you did when you mother gave you something you didn't like as a kid. As for the rest - I answer the question the same way after 2 years and 150 pounds from my highest pre-surgery weight - I worked with a medical team. I eat a diet that is very high in protein and have given up processed foods, white flour and all non-fruit based sugars. I do not drink soda or alcohol. I exercise at least 1 hour a day and log every bite of food with an app to be accountable. It hasn't been easy but it has been worth it. Generally, as soon as they hear you've given up sugar, bread, pasta and booze, they run for the hills and change the subject.

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!

That's why there are nearly universal rules set up. Portion size (1/4 cup- 1/2 cup servings) and time limits (only eating within a 30 min window) as fail safes for when the sleeve does not prompt you to stop. How are you with those things? If you have materials from the start of the journey go through those and see what you can start to reintroduce while you wait for testing and results. Alcohol has a lot of calories. Since you may never feel any restrictions from liquids you can introduce a lot more calories into your diet than you can metabolize effectively eating (or drinking) around the surgery. But the test will confirm all things.

Okay so lets both take a deep breath together and break some of this down: Almost everyone here is here because we’ve had a history of eating/food/metabolism/addiction/toxic relationship issues. Maybe I’ve left a couple of things out, but that’s a good starting place. Let me start by saying that I’m now 3 years and 2 months from VGS. I had exceptional results. Lost over 100% excess fat, exceeded everyone’s expectations, and have more or less maintained. I lost 135 pounds in 9 months. Went from 267-132 (SW was 246). I’ve managed to maintain between 137-147 in the last 2 years after the free-fall dropped me down to 132. I was a hot mess at 132– BMI was right at 20% and people asked me all the time if I was sick. What I’m saying is the 10 pound “regain” is okay because I know that’s where my body needs to be. That being said, it’s still work. I still have to monitor what/how much I put in my mouth. Sometimes I tend to drink too much and I realize I’m using alcohol as a sub for food and then I stop and regroup. Sometimes I will find myself emotionally eating and have to stop and regroup. Sometimes I’m having a bad day or I’m on vacation and I just don’t give a damn. Afterwards I will stop and regroup. Only you (working with a therapist) can help deal with those habits, recognize them either during or after, then course correct. YOU do have all the power. Families can and will be toxic. If at all possible, have an exit strategy when it becomes too much. Have a go-to that doesn’t involve comforting with food and do that activity. Even if it’s as simple as putting on earbuds and listening to a guided medication. Even if you can’t physically exit the room. Also, I’m going to recommend that-for the short term at least-you’re going to have to let a certain amount of it roll off of you. You have decided a change is needed, but others aren’t compelled to go along with. In a perfect world, they would, but none of us got morbidly obese by living in a perfect world. I’m going to come out front and tell you that you WILL lose friends over this. There will be some relationships that WILL NOT be the same. They might end forever. You are about to embark on an amazing, difficult, rewarding, trying, and fantastic journey. It will be ugly at times. You will have highs and lows that will give you whiplash. You will not be the same person next year that you are this year. You MUST be prepared for all of this and be willing to embrace the good, the bad, and the ugly. It’s okay to vent. This is one of the safest spaces ever so vent away unapologetically. I’m trying my best to take my own advice because I’ve got plastics set up for May and my husband and my son are the only other two people on the planet who are aware I’m going to do this. I’m keeping it a secret from the rest of my family because of how many of them reacted when I had WLS. If any of them notices (somewhat doubtful as I can hide a LOT of skin under my clothes and nobody is going to see me naked) I will tell them after the fact - unapologetically and with a challenge in my tone. That challenge will remind them of how far and how successful I’ve become since I started this journey in early 2018. You’ve got this. We are here to help

I just came across this and thought you might find this interesting: The 10 Most Common Mistakes WLS Patients Make Vitamins, supplements, or Minerals 2nd Mistake: Assuming You Have Been Cured of Your Obesity 3rd Mistake: Drinking with Meals 4th Mistake: Not Eating Right 5th Mistake: Not Drinking Enough Water 6th Mistake: Grazing 7th Mistake: Not Exercising Regularly 8th Mistake: Eating the Wrong Carbs (or Eating Too Much) 9th Mistake: Going Back to Drinking Soda (soft drink) 10th Mistake: Drinking Excessive Alcohol For anyone wanting to read the mistakes in full detail; the National (America) Association for Weight Loss Surgery website address. The 10 Most Common Mistakes Weight Loss Surgery Patients Make I know I've been guilty of some of these from time to time. I think I need to print this out! :thumbup:

@italianlady13: We are all different. Some people have craving foods that they can eat moderately. Personally, I have never known an obese person that can. Most of my downfall in the past is the belief that I can "have just a little." Next thing I know, I am eating them regularly, and have gained another 20 lbs. It is like alcohol for me (never been an alcoholic, but, believe me, I can relate!) It is about willpower (I hate that word! Many skinny friends say "Oh just use your willpower and eat less, exercise more!) I knew when I embarked on this journey that there are many foods that I can't have ever again, and I mourn the loss. If I label them "addicted to," then I have to walk away, especially when they have no nutritional value. But, again, let me emphasize, that everyone is different. For me, It is a slippery slope. I CAN'T rely on willpower when it comes to food. If I could, then I wouldn't have needed WLS.

Not in any particular order: Ice water Hot water (with or without lemon) Black coffee, black tea, carbonated water (i.e, Perrier) w/ or w/o zero-cal "water enhancers" (i.e., liquid, stevia-sweetened citrus flavourings), lemon/lime wedges, cucumber slices broth alcohol: mostly vodka or gin with low-sugar (if any) mixers, or dry red wine. **Note** I am 2+ years post op and very rarely drank alcohol during weight loss phase...now however, is a different story... I don't drink pop/soda, beer, milk nor juice if I can help it.

Wow! It sounds to me as though you are too tight. Keep in mind while not being so tight, will let you eat more, it also will relax you some, and allow you to eat enough that your body will respond. It is in a starvation mode now, and while you will lose weight, it will be muscle mass, and you really don't want to lose that. You need to be able to eat a normal type of food to keep your body healthy. We all would love to be instantly thin, but we REALLY need to keep the health aspect in the fore front. Our relationship with food has to be compared to an addiction, in my opinion, I was/am, addicted. It is hard, especially in your situation to think of little else, because right now it rules every breath you take! When you cannot eat---is when you want to the worst. It is just like when our car breaks down, is when we want to go somewhere, or your hands are full of something when your nose itches the worst. We always want what we can't have---it is human nature I guess. I really do feel like you would focus less on food and eating if you weren't so tight. Being that tight can also lead to other issues, and cause you to lose your band. If you were to lose it now, you would not have learned any other eating habits that would allow you to keep the weight off without the band. I went through the bandster hell I mentioned earlier---same as everyone. I literally purged our house of food I couldn't have for a few weeks! I also made a point of getting up and taking a walk around the house or out into the yard...eventually down the road---whenever the urge to eat was just overwhelming!!! I missed favorite TV shows, because the urge to eat, and the commercials were just too much, so I went for a walk. Ironically the walking did me good---but my goal was just to get my mind off of food! I was not going to walk down the road eating---I could just imagine what people would have thought or said---and instead I imagined them watching the transformation of me....as I lost weight! If I owned a dog, he would have been one happy camper---I walked a lot!!! Short quick bursts around the block---but got away from where there was food. Then as I could I started putting out flowers, watering....anything, that was out of the house and away from the food. Soon the weight was dropping, and some of my habits had changed. The longer you stay away from the carbs and sugars, the easier it is. I would seriously consider a small unfill, until you can at least eat say tuna fish, or ground meat...something that will do your body good. You know how an alcoholic has a sponsor in AA---maybe that's what we need to start here. If you don't have someone you can call on to talk to and stay away from the food---you let me know, and I will PM you my #. This CAN be done without starving your body. We want to be healthy hotties!!! Consider it anyway.... Kat

It's so easy to feed the addiction now since sugar goes through the band so easily. In addition, artificial sweeteners do the same thing to me...make my blood sugar go up and make me crave sugar. I find that I'd just like an alcoholic. I can't touch sugar or I binge. I have to cold turkey off of it until the cravings pass. Then sometimes I fall off the wagon and binge. Just like an alcoholic....

There is a real problem when someone has a candida overun in their intestinal track. You crave sugar because it feeds the candida, then It can manufacture as much as 1 quart of alcohol in a day. The withdrawal from the sugar is really the candida slowing down the alcohol, and not producing as much as before. Long term antibiotic usage or a recent use of any strong antibiotic can kill all the healthy bacteria that usually balances out the candida problem. It can survive antibiotics because it is so large and prolific. It is always in our bodies, but it could be out of balance. I had a Dr prescribe probiotics that were enteric coated, so that they open into your small intestine. If you have an energy drop about an hour after eating sugar it could be from the alcohol that is produced by these little buggers. This is just a thought, as it does cause you to crave sugar. I hope you can find out why you are craving sugar so much. Good luck.

I wish I could say I'm doing great, but my weight has been all over the place. This head hunger thing is killing me. I've now had 3 fills- up to 6cc's and the dr said I should be getting close to the green zone. My portions definitely reflect that, but it's the little things like walking past a candy bowl or grabbing a piece of fudge at Christmas. And again- alcohol. What a failure- ugh!! New Year- new weight loss resolution. Keeping a food diary like I've done before in prior diets. It was the only way I was able to lose before- diary/calorie counting. But now that I have this, I think ill do much better. And the holidays have passed- thank god- no more fudge or eggnog or brandy alexanders. Lets do this.

s I am 4 years banded. I am down 102 lbs. I started at over 385, lost 20 before surgery and now weigh 283. My goal is somewhere below 240. My BMI now is only obese, not morbid obese. After surgery I went from 365 to 290 then back to 353. This year, I committed to following the rules and lost 70 lbs. My secret, eat real food. I usually start my day with unjury Protein shake with a banana in it and chocolate Silk soy milk. lunch is usually what my wife makes. Salads, meat and cheese, sometimes leftovers. We do Water Zumba at the gym. dinner is meat, vegetables, salad, sometimes potatoes or bread. All made from the outside aisles of the grocery store. Way off the carbs. Way off the sweets. When we eat out (we travel a lot) we ALWAYS split everything. Never order 2 Entrees. Little soda, never diet soda. Alcohol is allowed. This is how normal people live. I now feel normal. I spent the last 6 weeks in Hawaii, Atlanta and Florida and most days in swimsuits. This is how normal people live. Really, while I still want to loose 40 or so pounds, I feel normal. It has taken 56 years, but I am Happy! Hi, congrats on 4 years banded, I just had my 4 year bndiversary on 10/30. I, also, lost my 100 lbs. You have done great. I have gotten off track for a while, but am getting back on!

Clearly this is a difficult post for me to write, because this is the sixth time I've wiped it out and started over. So forgive me for poorly constructed sentences, the occasional grammatical error, and even -- heaven forbid -- typos. I've always been the lazy perfectionist... if I can't do something perfectly, I don't want to do it at all, and since I can (very) rarely do something perfectly, I find myself not making the attempt all that often. Nonetheless, here I am. Again. I had surgery on January 31st, 2005. I thought I'd be done with this whole "weight loss thing" by now. And here I sit, only 44 lbs down from where I was, with about 100 lbs still to go. What went wrong? In June, I completley changed careers, and I'm a full time graduate student now in addition to working a full time job. About that same time, my wife and I divorced, for the 2nd time. (Yes, from each other, for the 2nd time.) For 3 months, I was a "full time dad" too, but now they've gone to live with their mom and I miss them terribly. Lesson: life happens at a pace most people can barely hang on. But, we do. Somehow. Maybe nothing went wrong. Maybe I expected too much, too fast. Maybe as long as I'm making progress, that's all that matters. Lesson: I didn't get fat overnight, so I'm not going to lose weight overnight. But, the fact of the matter is that I'm not making progress. In fact, I've gained 18 lbs in the past 3 months, so I have to think that something's not right. I was having bad reflux at night and thought I needed an unfill, so I got one. And now, though I can't eat like I did pre-band, I eat too much, and I eat stupid stupid foods. And, if I eat at night, I STILL have reflux. Lesson: don't eat at night. And when I started gaining weight, I left my support group. That would be you guys. I'll be honest -- I don't find a lot of accountibility here, because you guys are just so loving and understanding, and despite what the world thinks about how quickly a weight-loss-surgery patient should lose weight, we know better. But, in the past, accountibility is what's always helped me lose weight. What I find here instead, though -- overflowing constantly -- is love and grace. And somehow, that's what it really feels like I need. What kind of group would this be if forgiveness and understanding were sacraficed for the sake of harsh accountibility? Not one that many (if any) of us would stick with, I suspect. Lesson: when things get hard, don't run and hide. The band isn't working for me. It's not tight enough. What ever shall I do? Duh. This "tool" isn't right for me because it's not restrictive enough; fortunately, it's an adjustable tool. Clearly, I need to get off my ass and get an adjustment. Lesson: the band is a tool, and you have to have the right tool for the job. Even with all of that, I'm still so damned stubborn. When the band was tight enough, I was PBing all the time, because I ate food I shouldn't eat, and in quantities that I KNEW I couldn't handle. Why? Because I'm addicted, and addicts make really stupid choices. Lesson: sometimes the band isn't enough. There are alcoholics on antabuse who still drink, despite the reaction. There's a 12 step program for people like me. I used to go. It used to help. Then things got hard, and an ran and hid. Lesson: when things get hard, don't run and hide. Hmm, that one sounds familiar. So now I now exactly what I need to do. Should be easy from here on out, huh? Lesson: there's a mile between knowing and doing. But at least I know what I should be doing. I miss you guys. Can I come home?

I am 12 days po and I need a drink. My husband is annoying and although I am not really a drinker... the low sugar skinny margarita in the cabinet is looking very tempting. How long did u wait to have a drink?

I was banded on 10/26 and had my first fill today- up to 3.6cc's. Thanksgiving got me though, and I went up from my 2 wk weigh in (4 lbs.) My dr. was not thrilled. I've found my biggest calorie ruiner is alcohol- and i didn't help that I was at the in-laws for t-giving. Is anyone else having this problem? The fill didn't hurt as bad as I thought it was going to, but I made the mistake of looking at the needle beforehand. That sucker was huge!

2) Yes. Alcohol is not particularly conducive to weight loss, so not wise on a regular basis, but once in awhile is fine. I used to love frozen drinks like dacquiris but drinking something that cold constricts my band, so these days when I have a drink it's usually a glass of wine. 3) Recovery is pretty quick. I was back to work (desk job) in a week. Surgeons vary on their post-op eating requirements. Mine was one week of liquids, two weeks of mushy food like yogurt & mashed potatoes, and then I started back in on solids. I don't remember how long til I was exercising - maybe 2 or 3 weeks? 4) Oh yes! Definitely worth it. I feel tremendously better at this weight than I did prior to banding, and know that I will eventually hit my goal. That's priceless. I'm more than 2.5 yrs out with no regrets. Good luck with your decision!

I am not a drinker but have have a few special nights coming up. These are the only types of alcohol i enjoy. Does anyone else drink these? I know we are not supposed to drink bubbles after but......

In answer to your questions.. PB is sort of like burping up food, that you ate to fast or was to much for your new small pouch to handle. Like regurgitation in a way. Alcohol is permitted, I do have a drink on occasion, but i prefer to eat my calories rather then drink them. Is it worth it, i think SO VERY WORTH IT. I dont think i would of stood a chance in hell of losing as much weight as i have doing it on my own. My band has given me a life back.