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It is widely known here on the forums that I attend AA meetings. As SooCalChic suggested, going to a meeting or two is a good start. Talking to your Dr is another. If you would like to PM me, I can also offer some guidance in your local area. Cross-over addictions are very real. There was a reason why you abused food and where you used to turn to food, you are now turning to alcohol. Getting to the root will be the source of serenity for you. I know for myself, alcohol wasn't my problem, I was. How I dealt with my emotions and how I channeled my thinking just wasn't healthy. I got sober years prior to my surgery and have continued to work on myself. I am a never ending project!

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??

Sorry to go back to the original topic here, but beyond all of the other advice here. If you are complaining about having to eat the cheap food, stop buying the alcohol and spend that cash to buy better quality food. It doesn't have to cost a lot to eat good, it takes thought and will power to make good decisions, like not buying bad things like cereal and alcohol.

How far out from surgery are you? Don't be too concerned about the hair, it seems to happen to everyone(including me!) What are you eating? If you are just eating cereals/grains you won't feel the restriction, have some protein first before you eat anything else. go back to the basics, lots of water, protein, get some basic exercise like walking. A 60 lb loss is a great start, you didn't say how much you wanted to lose, so I am assuming that you still want to lose more. About the alcohol, my Doc told me that alcohol would speed through your system now, you are now officially a cheap drunk, probably don't need more than 1-2 to get that way. If alcohol is a big issue for you, you could try having a glass of water in between your drinks.Do you have a NUT or a counselor you can talk to? Hope things improve for you.

Were you honest with your surgeon's office about your drinking? If so, shame on them for being greedy. It doesn't sound like you were a good candidate for WLS. VSG was an intervention to help you make your life better, but it's totally up to you if you want to succeed. Alcohol alone is not going to stretch your sleeve, though it will make you incredibly sick and cause you to further progress your clearly budding addiction. Are you following the nutritionist plan at all in terms of food? Small meals, high Protein, low carb? Separating eating and drinking? Are you only spending 20 minutes eating at each meal and chewing slowly? These are the most basic requirements postop. If you aren't following the guidelines and you are depressed and drinking heavily, then it's easy to see why you are struggling. I think you need to seek help if you want to make this work. It's NOT too late to make real change for yourself.

Here's a bunch of topics with a lot of replies to the great soda debate. This is my standard reply: I'll throw out my experience just for s&g's. . . I've been drinking soda for a year, and have zero ill effects from it. I rarely drink diet soda because most are sweetened with aspartame which I hate. I recently found Diet Shasta cream soda which is sweetened with Splenda so this one is doable. I can say without a doubt that drinking soda has not changed my sleeve capacity in the least. Nor has it effected my weight loss in a negative manner. My restriction is the same as it was a year ago unless I cheat (take longer to eat my meal, sip throughout my meal, drink a glass of wine or other alcoholic beverage before my meal, drink hot fluids like coffee or tea before my meal) to get more in. I don't even let it go flat before drinking it. Early out, I would get a gas bubble, burp and it was over. The whole soda leaching Calcium from our bones is obviously a concern, but in my opinion, moderation is key. There is ZERO scientific evidence that soda drinking causes stretching. Even for RNY patients, there is no proof that soda causes the pouch to stretch. We have a normal stomach with a pyloric valve intact. The fluids, be it soda, Water, crystal light, all go in, hit the pyloric valve and dump into our intestines. It isn't like the soda is sitting in there brewing for hours on end. Plus, there is NOT enough tissue left to stretch out our sleeves if the surgery is performed correctly. There is only so much stretch that can occur. It isn't like the stomach tissue regenerates, or can stretch back to pre-op size. It just is not physically possible. Not that I'm advocating going against any particular surgeon's recommendation, but this has been my experience and my opinions on soda drinking post-bariatric surgery. http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/15947-the-diet-coke-debate/page__p__134881__hl__soda__fromsearch__1#entry134881 http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/13580-carbonated-beverages/page__p__116756__hl__soda__fromsearch__1#entry116756

My junior year in college I came to terms with my alcoholism. I was so afraid to go to parties and not drink! I would drink 7-up or coke but put a lime in it to look more like a cocktail. People who didn't know me didn't even notice I wasn't drinking. My closer friends noticed but they were the ones who were happy I quit. And if I was at a bar to see a friend play, nobody even noticed. I think people are more focused on themselves than the details of others. All this being said I gradually stopped going to parties and bars just because I had made new sober friends and different things interested me. I'm just sharing my experience and helping you see that people don't notice the details as much as we give them credit for.

Weight loss surgery is a life-changing event, and not something to be undergone lightly. Some weight loss surgery candidates know that weight loss surgery is for them, but many others are unsure whether it is time for them to get weight loss surgery. At best, it can help you lose weight and get your life back. At worst, it can cause complications or make you miss your old way of life. How do you know whether weight loss surgery is for you? Will it be the weight control solution you have been searching for for years? Or will it be a decision you regret? Nobody can answer that for you, but here are some considerations as you think about whether weight loss surgery is for you. The Qualifying Criteria You are not a candidate for bariatric surgery unless you meet certain criteria set by your surgeon or, if applicable, your healthcare coverage plan. The standard criteria are: Body Mass Index (BMI) over 40 or BMI 35 with an obesity-related comorbidity, such as type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, or sleep apnea. Confirmation that your obesity is not caused by an underlying condition that would make weight loss surgery ineffective. A psychological exam to show that you are capable of sticking to the post-op diet and lifestyle changes that are necessary. Previous documented attempts at losing weight with diet and exercise. Ineffectiveness of Previous Efforts Weight loss surgery is a last resort, not a first try at losing weight. It is for patients who have been obese for years and who have tried to lose weight using lifestyle changes, such as a modified diet plan and a formal exercise program. Many weight loss surgery patients try “every diet under the sun” before deciding that it is time for WLS. They may have had trouble losing any weight at all, or may have lost weight initially but been unable to keep it off. Readiness to Change Weight loss surgery is just the beginning. The way you eat after weight loss surgery determines how well you will be able to control your weight for the rest of your life. You need to be ready to change if you want to be successful with weight loss surgery. No longer will you be able to down a pizza or hit the drive-through on a whim. Are you ready to possibly: Give up coffee and regular and diet soda? Cut sugary treats and fried foods, especially with gastric bypass? Pass on the alcoholic offerings at home, parties, and restaurants? Count protein, slash carbs, and measure portions? Addressing Other Issues Weight gain does not always take place in a vacuum, and weight loss does not solve other problems you might have in your life. First, identify why you became overweight in the first place, and what is keeping you from losing the weight. Is weight loss surgery the answer, or do you need to first deal with an abusive relationship or lack of self-confidence, for example? Emotional eating is a common reason for weight gain. If you tend to eat your feelings away, you are best off figuring out other ways to handle your feelings before you get surgery. Can you use walking as a form of therapy? Maybe you can join an in-person or online support group to turn to when you feel sad, lonely, or angry. If your emotional eating is related to a specific problem, such as stress at work, your best bet may be to handle the problem before getting WLS. That could mean finding a healthy coping mechanism, or it could mean getting counseling to help you work through the source of stress. It could even mean finding a new job, as scary as that sounds. Consider Replacement Addictions Replacement addictions are common after weight loss surgery. They happen when you give up food – which can be an addiction – for a different addiction. Instead of turning to food for comfort, entertainment, or companionship, some weight loss surgery patients turn to “replacement addictions” or “cross addictions” They may take up smoking, or start to abuse alcohol. Replacement addictions can also be healthier than eating; some weight loss surgery patients become gym rats or take up gardening, sewing, or other hobbies. As you consider weight-loss surgery, think about the possibility of food addiction being replaced by replacement addictions. What role does food play in your life now? What do you see replacing that emotional or physical role after surgery? The decision to get weight loss surgery requires a lot of soul searching for most candidates. These points can help you work through some of the doubts you may have as you try to decide what is best for yourself.

Wow Brewa...that's a big hurdle you overcame being a brewer!! I think Guinness is great.. I agree with the alcohol / junk food association. That's why my limit will be 4 drinks. If I drink enough to be hungover the next day I crave the bad stuff!! I never eat while drinking thought, my appetite hits me post-session! Good luck to you & congrats on the weight loss & lifestyle changes..well done

Sorry about that guys! The carbonation can cause your pouch to expand and lead to band slippage. My doctor does not want us to drink at all. A very small amount of alcohol will have a big effect on you. It can lead to cross-addiction. Apparently he has had a few patients have severe problems with drinking with the band. I know I will have to give beer up for sure. It will be rough. I am working through it, though. I kinda feel like I am grieving. I know the band will be worth it. Hopefully it will happen soon. I'll let ya all know!

@@suzzzzz I think that's an important point - not everyone has the same triggers. I didn't get fat by drinking alcohol. I don't plan to give it up completely. Now if we are talking bread and pasta...that's another story. ????

There are lots of reasons doctors have no alcohol or a fairly long wait on drinking. First and foremost. Empty calories. Your goal is to lose weight, I assume. Drinking your calories is a really bad idea. And once you've had that alcohol, many people tend to make bad decisions on what they put in their face. Are you (general/plural) really going to reach for SF puddding (sic) or greek yogurt or are you going to finish off that bag of popcorn or the infamous box of Cheez its? Secondly, your stomach has a fresh incision and it takes time to heal. The acidity in wine, soda, and jooce (sic) mixers can irritate that tender tummy. No bueno. Third, you don't know how alcohol will affect you. I got totally blitzed off a glass of wine, and was dead sober an hour later with my first drink. (And the heartburn that commenced had me rolled up on the floor in tears for an hour.) You really shouldn't be eating and drinking at the same time, so there goes the option for foood (sic) in the tummy to soak up some of the booze. But you are an adult and only you can decide for yourself. I am sure you will make exactly the right decision for you.

My Dr says one year before alcohol again. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

My dr says to wait a year and that sounds about right to me. Your new tummy needs time to heal. Adding alcohol to it too soon after surgery seems like a bad idea. In addition the empty calories go against getting the most you can out of the short honeymoon phase.

It is too late to ask your doctor today, but what were your post WLS instructions? Are there any medical reasons why you need to follow a slightly different plan? You were sleeved ~2 months ago. If you do have a drink, be careful, alcohol may have a stronger affect on you post WLS, so let someone else drive. Alcohol, as compared to a battery acid martini with a carpet tack instead of an olive, when you don't know if it is safe to consume, is a better choice.

Although you will ultimately lose more weight when you cut the alcohol out of your diet, if you must, and I like to have one socially or every now and then, I stick with gin or vodka mixed with sugar free cranberry and a splash of OJ, or Crystal Light. Low to zero carbs, and 1 or 2 won't kill your efforts. But this sparingly. I do not do anything carbonated, beer, champagne, soda, etc...it just puts too much pressure on me and it is openly frowned upon in banding. My big concern that I see across responses is that people feel the need or even desire to deal with stress(work, family, school, etc) and correlate it with drinking. To be drinking 2-3 drinks 4 or 5 times a week....no matter how you put it, is A LOT. Stress should never be the reason you drink. I bet you use to eat when you were stressed, and you see where that got you. You have just substituted one thing for the other and I'd rather be fat than a drunk. I am neither...goodbye 120lbs, hello size 6. Stress is ultimately alleviated with relaxation techniques(hobbies, me time, sleep, rest, etc) or exerting it out physically through exercise. So why not kill two birds with one stone and when you are stressed from your so many figure positions, take your unhappy behind to your fancy gym or equipment, work the stress out and lose weight as a result. Drink if you like socially but definitely do believe that you need it to relax...scientifically it just doesn't work like that. I don't earn six figures or more as I am a public school teacher(so I should). I also am a special education teacher, so I teach students who are the lowest in the school and are emotionally and behaviorally difficult. I sometimes complete 15 hr days, plan until midnight, up back at 4 to be back at 7 doing it all over again. I am also working on my second masters/last rank. So I know stress.....

I wrote a lengthy post and lost it . . . aargh!!! So I will have to rewrite an abbreviated version, lol. I am not a member of the SCA but have attended many events similar in nature. You should be fine going to events banded as long as you are prepared. I would suggest bringing a cooler and other items to help with our post-banding diet. Lots of Protein options, Jello cups, sugar-free pudding cups, cottage cheese, string cheese, some low fat crackers and other band friendly items willl help. If you are still in a liquid stage, you can buy pre-mixed Isopure drinks in a case (maybe $30-$40) that can supplement your protein. Just make sure you have plenty of stuff that you know you can eat with you. If you are purchasing any meals from a vendor, be careful about trying new things that you haven't tried after banding. You want to go really slow and carefully just in case. Also remember that one meal may now be several meals post banding, your food expenses may go way down if you have a means to keep things fresh. Be careful about breads. If you drink alcohol, you want to stay away from beer or other carbonated beverages . . . but wines or mead might be OK in limited quantities depending on what your doctor says (although you want to watch the calories). This might seem gross, but you also want to keep a container, perhaps a big plastic cup, in your tent/yurt/or whatever you are sleeping in for emergencies. If something gets stuck and has to come back up it is best to be prepared. Also, if you are stuck or need to PB, it can take a while to work its way through or out. You don't want to be holed up in a restroom or port-a-port for an extended period. This may never happen, especially if you are careful, but it is best to be prepared. If you get yourself involved in any war related activities, you would want to make sure that you are completely healed from surgery. Also, if you bump your port with any force, it is going to hurt no matter how far out you are from surgery. One good thing to consider is that you will need to think about making, buying or modifying your clothes for the 2010 season. I am sure that whatever you are wearing this year is not going to work for next year . . . and that is the most fun of all the banding dilemmas you may experience :0) Good luck with banding!!!

Oh yeah, Kirstey Alley with a weight loss centre. What's next? The Lindsay Lohan Alcohol treatment centre? The Britney Spears Mental Health Centre? The Mary Kate Olsen Fashion Advice Service? Honestly, these people are in the public eye, their successes and failures are there for all to see. How can you help forming a judgement about it?

Awww, Sweetie. Sure you will be able to eat normal again. As far as starting the liquid diet over with each fill, not necessarily. My doc just said nothing heavy for a few hours. Then back to *normal.* Mac and cheese? My favorite. You might have trouble with pasta. I do, but now I use rice pasta and that seem to go down just fine. Tastes nearly the same, It is sometimes difficult to find elbow rice pasta but it is doable. Try Asian markets. There will be some foods that you personally can't tolerate. I have trouble with peaches. Pastas, sticky white bread and rice. However, refried rice is great. Yay for Mexican foods. Now, before reading the rest of this, remember that I am at goal. MmmmK? I eat my comfort foods although now in smaller quantities. I even had them towards the end of my weight loss journey. (Maybe that's why it slowed down so much, ya' think?) I drink alcohol, eat ice cream, etc.

Well, I never 'drank' them.. I used the 42g, and I shot half at a time.. like you would do alcohol, and chased it with something pleasant (or just water). It tastes like a weirdo nasty koolaid if you actually 'drank' it.. but.. I wouldn't recommend drinking them. It's only 3oz in the whole thing, so 1.5oz is a shot.

Alex is right. I'm amending my committment to no booze for 6 months, and no eating after dinner. Yesterday I had one Coke and ate past pain. This is awful. Life shouldn't be so hard. Please remind me that I don't drink alcohol. I have gone 2 full weeks without a drink, then during my 2nd glass of wine I'll whack myself upside the head because I forget I quit. Today is Day 3 of no booze. I have to remind myself not to drink.

Alex: I had no problem eating and drinking alcohol at the Bachelorette party and did not experience the pain you mention. I still knew when to stop eating and did. The only reason I can imagine that would happen is if you get so drunk that you forget you are banded and do eat way too much. Then the pain the next day would be horrendous. I can't imagine the way alcohol affects the body chemically would make the band loser. THat just isn't feasible in my mind. But I might be wrong here. Yes, It can happen.

One last thought on alcohol. I still drink, but I don't get drunk. A comfortable buzz is the farthest I'll take it. I don't want to get so drunk that I have to puke. Vomiting is a no, no, no for banded people!

Just out of couriosity, did everyone on this board give up alcohol entirely once they were banded? That seems to be a big issue for some people who are interested in the band - they don't think they can deal with not ever having a drink again. I told them I would check with you guys (the smartest bandsters in the world) for more information. Please provide specifics - like when (after banding) it is okay and how much & how often or if Never. Thanks,

I just had my surgery done 1 week ago today and while I'm totally committed to taking my excess weight off first, I was/am really wrestling with the thought that I could never drink another beer... EVER, which is why I searched for a discussion forum such as this. I also realize that I'm going to have to make behavioral changes with not only my eating habits and choices but, also with any beer consumption. I am somewhat of a beer connoisseur and after reading other posts the issue seems to be more that of CO2 content and not the alcohol content per se, and I can tell you there are beers out there with relatively low CO2 content Guinness Extra Stout comes to mind (not the ones with the "gas widget" in it to produce the creamy/foamy head upon opening). A lot of these beers are called Big Beers and have higher alcohol content so watch your intake level/tolerance, not to mention they'll have more calories. I'm not a fan of liquor or wine and all the "Light" beers that I'm familiar with seem to be all the more carbonated:thumbdown: And don't forget why you had this surgery in the first place. Start meeting those goals first and then incorporate the "brew" back slowly over time with committed moderation.