Search the Community

Ok, so of course we're all entitled to our opinions. And if you weren't here inviting our opinions, then what? If you post here or anywhere, surely you must be prepared for descent as well as people who pat your back and tell you you're making great decisions? I don't get that, honestly. Here is why I think this has danger all over it. This is your treat--roughly. (But since this isn't happening once every so often and appears to be happening daily, maybe you should just call it what it is: dessert. You are a recovering alcoholic. I have enough alcoholics recovering or otherwise in my family who've been there and done that, printed the t-shirt with the 12 steps...who will bold faced tell you: sugar is as sugar does. Doesn't matter if you're drinking it or seeking it out to eat it. And that need will build. It's like wrestling with a siren. You won't be content eating it now and then, or every day. Pretty soon it evolves to eating it preferentially for a meal in addition to dessert cuz it's easy and IT HAS PROTEIN! And it's easy. And tastes great. And IT HAS PROTEIN!!! You admit that you are under goal (congrats again, btw) and have wiggle room to experiment with fire swallowing once more. Well, that is a painful thing to watch from an outsider looking on. Can you succeed and only have a "taste" or a swallow? Maybe. But our chemistries as addicts don't really change so much. The propensity and RISK is hugely more than someone who does not share the addictive nature. Here's are some links about the connection between sugar and alcoholism/cravings: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20648910 https://www.mnn.com/health/fitness-well-being/stories/new-study-finds-link-between-a-sugar-cravings-and-alcoholism https://wellnessretreatrecovery.com/sugar-and-dopamine-link-sweets-addiction/ (I could go on...but why?) Again, you're entitled to live your life as you see fit. I agree you have that right. But coming here expecting that only those people who agree with you can post to your thread is not a logical expectation. I do not even begin to think that everyone will agree with me, or even like me--for that matter. But if I see new clothes on the emperor and it's really just him nekkidy...I'd appreciate someone telling me. I would tell them the king is nekkid. (And I think learning to make low carb sugar free treats is a much better choice, BUT it's still dancing with fire for the alcoholic who MUST have sugar or sweets or die--unless they totally kick it.) Again, I'm giving my opinion that is probably not popular. But you are free to do as you want as an adult. So I'm not judging you and finding you lacking personally. But your actions are questionable from my perspective. And sorry your sick, xyz, feeling down, fill in the blank...none of those things actually figure into the equation--instead they are rationalizations for the choices you're making. So EVEN you don't believe they are good healthy choices for you. But I am sorry you're sick and feeling blue. That sucks. ((hugs))

I've read some articles that indicate that "addictive" personalities - those addicted to food, alcohol or drugs - sometimes end up "switching" addictions. Their personality traits still lend them to being addicted to something, and they switch from bad stuff to exercise. Though I don't have this issue, I, like Beth, would have assumed that people would revert to prior bad habits with food. That's what we've seen in the tabloids and on web sites - Biggest Loser contestants struggling to keep the weight off once the show is over. I've never understood anorexia - and I feel bad for those who suffer with it. I do know of someone addicted to exercise...she was a bank teller at one of our local institutions. Always thin, but usually healthy-looking. Over the past 5 years or so, she has gradually gone from thin and healthy looking (she has a small frame) to looking almost skeletal. If she were younger (she appears to be around my age, maybe a bit older) she would make a decent supermodel - she's that thin now. She's always out walking - seemingly for hours at a time...or in the gym on the aerobics machines (that was a couple of years ago when I was there too). I almost want to say something, but I don't feel I know her well enough to do that...I just hope she really is healthy and I just don't know it...:eek: But then who am I to judge? :sad:

I'm so sorry for your devastating news. I've also dealt with a lot of loss and stress in recent years, and it takes its toll. I'm also an emotional eater (semi-reformed). A little trick that works for me is to drink constantly during a bad spell. Well, that sounded bad, but I meant regular liquids, not alcohol. Something more yummy than plain water like Crystal Light. If I'm constantly sipping, then my mouth can't be occupied eating! I also try to redirect myself by doing an activity, even if its nothing productive. I have a stash of such activities around the house to distract myself when the cravings start, because I live alone and no one would see me cheat! Hang in there and I truly hope your brother's health improves.

Hello Abby - It's always nice to meet other Kaiser patients. I went through So. San Francisco for my surgery. Maybe I can shed some light on this stuff. Before I start, look up Warrior on this board and she went through the Richmond program. She can answer the specifics about their program. Now for the list of stuff they told you: 1. From what I understand (I'm a lightweight smoker) there are tests that will give them results to tell you if you smoke, drink, or use drugs. SSF didn't run any but I imagine they do have them. However, once they do the surgery what are they going to do...take the band back? If Richmond does test for these, then stop until after surgery if you must continue. 2. Yes, there are many people who drink an occassional drink (some drink more but that's another issue) and they do just fine. However, alcohol is loaded with useless calories and doesn't mix well with loosing weight. BUT, you can plan ahead and figure that amount into your daily intake and still loose weight. Constant drinking will slow or prevent you from loosing weight. It is a bypass thing not to be able to drink EVER AGAIN!!! 3. Bread, Pasta, rice and anything else that you can take in your hand and ball up (like when we were kids) CAN give bandsters problems. If it will ball up in your hand it will ball up in your stomach and cause you grief. You can find substitutes like whole grain breads, pastas, and non-sticky types of rice and you may be able to eat these. This falls into that everyone's different stage. These along with potatoes and Peanut Butter are not really condusive to weight loss. BUT, if you want to count them into your day and use them on occassion you can. 4. Kaiser is in it's infancy in Norther California. They just started doing the bands last year. This means that in order to make sure that they have the best results they will be more causious than most places. They also want to make sure you know that there are ways to eat around any WLS and cause yourself not to loose weight or to loose it very slowly. This is a lifestyle change that you need to be comfortable with or wait until you are. There are a lot of people who don't make the change and cause themselves a lot of grief. I guess the thing I'm trying to say is become knowledgeble about what those foods will do and proceed with caution. Do I sound like a know-it-all? :w00t: I'm not. I eat things that I'm sure my surgeon would be shaking a finger at me for. BUT - I accept what I'm doing as my responsibility and I don't blame them if my weight loss is slow one week. I also am VERY cautious about introducing new stuff that might be a problem. I haven't been stuck or PB'd or slimmed and I DON'T WANT TO. But, I do want to enjoy my life. When I decide to do something it's not on a craving or a emotional issue, it's because I wanted to do that and I keep it under control. So, learn to say the right things to the doctor's, if they test for something make sure you come up clean, and become as knowledgeble about this process as you can. If you don't know something, take the responsibility to learn it. And for goodness sake, if you're not ready to make this lifestyle change then don't put yourself through it. You're way too important to do something like this and then put yourself through hell. If I can be of any assistance, please contact me. It's actually a wonderful journey and suprisingly I haven't wanted a lot of those things since I've been banded. It's way more fun to buy clothes, watch myself shrink and get the compliments then it was to eat anything I set eyes on. Good luck!

Ewww...really? I can't stand licorice either and I have never noticed this aftertaste with the brand that I use. It's very clean tasting, kind of reminds me of sweet n low. I use the Nu Naturals Alcohol Free Stevia. There is a vanilla flavored one that looks almost exactly the same, but I prefer the clean taste. If I want vanilla, I'll add it myself. I get it at the health food store (can be very hard to find) and it costs about $8 a bottle. At first I thought that was a little pricey for such a little bottle, but I've had the same bottle for two months, and am only about halfway through it. Here's a link. Be sure to check out the reviews. A lot of people mention the lack of aftertaste. http://www.iherb.com...59-ml/4460?at=0

What you may need to bring on vacation depends on your eating plan and how firmly you intend to stick to it. If you do protein drinks and intend to stick with them then you'll need to bring protein drinks. Obviously, anything you just must have that may not be available on vacation you need to bring. Or your can adjust by eating foods on the vacation that still allow you to achieve your protein and calorie goals. Or, you can just ****-it all because you're on vacation. Personally, I'm somewhere between the last two options on vacation, depending on the meal. My plan since puree has been easy to follow no matter where I am with no special potions, lotions, or concoctions. As for drinking, you have similar options. Be careful, though. At this point you're eating very little, so alcohol can hit harder. Many sleeve folks are also generally affected by alcohol faster and harder so be very careful. If you're going to drink do it in a safe place initially so you can get a handle on the new paradigm for you. Also, transfer addiction is a hazard, so again, be aware and careful. Again personally, I don't recall drinking until more than a year out, on vacation. I don't drink normally but ****-it all, I'm on vacation. Once people understand your vacation, goals, and plan, they can offer a ton of tips. The requirements for a backpacking trip would be different than a 5 star resort. Enjoy your vacation. Tek

Those damned grocery store displays is right. We are surrounded by temptation, damned commercials, damned ads in magazines. But Tricia is right, the first line of defence is keeping a 'clean' house. I have 3 young kids, 11, 8 adn 6. I often feel as though I have to have 'something' in the house, 'for them' But often I am eating more than each of them. So I am starving my kids off sugar. That can only be a good thing, or at least training them that treats are for weekends. But certainly I feel your pain. I am all for throwing them in the garbage. I had to do that with much of the crap candy from Halloween that my kids had. I didnt' even want them to eat it. Good luck with this, it is a very difficult thing to do. hugs here is a good article I read on Canada.com Michelle Lang, CanWest News Service; Calgary Herald Published: Wednesday, May 10, 2006 KANANASKIS, Alta. - With an abundance of cheap, high-calorie food all around us, eating is replacing cigarettes and alcohol as the new "drug of choice,'' says a University of Calgary scientist. At an Alberta obesity conference on Tuesday, Jaideep Bains argued food may have more addictive properties than many people realize, with both eating and drugs activating the same regions of the brain. Back to Body & Health A molecule called orexin, for instance, is critical to stimulating appetite and also makes the brain more sensitive to the effects of cocaine, noted the neuroscientist and assistant professor at the university. "It's not drugs and alcohol that are the drug of choice these days it's food,'' Bains said. "Feeding behaviours are not dissimilar to addictive behaviours.'' The Alberta Obesity Summit is a two-day conference bringing together scientists from across North America to discuss their research into the growing problem of bulging waistlines. Bains also told the conference that stress appears linked to eating and addiction, triggering both behaviours, particularly binge eating and relapses in recovering substance abusers. He noted stressed-out university students, for example, may "pig out'' during exams. "Stress could make cravings (for food and drugs) more profound,'' he said. "There's also some thinking it could relieve stress. That it's a coping mechanism.'' Another presenter at the conference said it's never too early to start tackling weight problems, arguing a predisposition to obesity could even begin in the womb. Rhonda Bell, a human nutritionist at the University of Alberta, noted a Dutch study of pregnant women who were malnourished when their country was occupied during the Second World War had children with increased obesity rates. Bell's own research in animals also suggests early eating habits have a profound impact on weight gain later in life. In one study, Bell introduced fructose, a type of sugar, into the diets of rats between seven- and 12-days old when they would normally be feeding on milk from their mothers. The rats grew up to be 20 per cent heavier at 12 weeks old than rats who consumed a normal diet in the first weeks of life. Her research also found rats on high carbohydrate diets passed their weight problems onto their offspring. ``We look at kids and say `they can eat anything. They're so resilient.' But that isn't always true,'' she said. University of Calgary scientist Keith Sharkey said research presented at the conference suggests obesity is a disorder of the brain that's also strongly influenced by early life experiences. He said more research needs to be done to understand obesity so scientists can advise policymakers on how best to intervene in the problem. "We're not in any doubt as to what we have to do,'' said Sharkey, who helped organize the conference. "We're in doubt as to the best way to solve it.'' © CanWest News Service 2006 Oh ya, and love yourself enough. <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

I am a "chick" but I could out drink most guys I've ever met before surgery. It's almost like I'm immune to the effects of alcohol. Sure, I could get puking, stumbling, falling down drunk in college and in my 20's, but as I got older it's like I couldn't get "drunk" anymore. 12+ beers and numerous shots of whiskey and other mixed cocktails in a single day camping or boating would leave me a little buzzed but mostly sleepy. I had 2-3 very strong whiskey or vodka cocktails everyday after work just to "relax". (This was after my brother died and a food and alcohol daze is the way I chose to cope) I would definitely call myself a productive alcoholic. I was actually looking forward to alcohol affecting me more strongly after surgery, like so many people have reported. After 4 months out I had a glass of wine.....nothing. Then I had 2 glasses....nothing. Then one weekend at a golf tournament I had 3 vodka cranberries....got a little buzz, but nothing special. Had a Bloody Mary at a Kentucky Derby party but could only finish 1/2 because I got so full. As for carbonation, I've tried beer, sprite, and hard cider. They were all a no go. The bubbles burned and hurt. I've managed to take a sip or two if some new local brews, but a whole bottle would be out of the question. And to tell you the truth, I really haven't been that interested in drinking postop. I've been to several parties and out with friends and I am easily the only non-drinker in the crowd. The examples I listed above were more of "I wonder if I can" kind of experiments, but my craving for alcohol is totally gone. No one is more surprised about that than me! So I guess you will just have to wait and find out your yourself how you feel about drinking and whether or not you can tolerate carbonation.

The NUTs had a 15/30 minute rule, but I asked the surgeon and she said it didn't matter. That said, I seldom drink in the 30/30 mealtime window unless I'm drinking wine or another alcoholic beverage. Then I sip up until eating and usually leave the glass half full after dinner (cuz I'm all full). I would say that if I do continue drinking later, it's probably naturally 30 minutes plus, but that's all the sleeve restriction allows. That said, I'd love to see the "evidence" you were shown!

No way around it, liquid diet sucks. I am 8 days out and bored as hell with my food choices. It is because I enjoy eating good food, how I got here to begin with. 😔 I am trying to look at it like detox for any other addict (drugs/alcohol). Food is gone. Maybe I need to take this time to adjust my relationship with and the way I think about food. I am detoxing from Food, it needs to have less of a hold on me. That is just my Zen moments, the rest of the time I am grumpy and want something good to eat. Trying for more Zen moments. . . . . FluffyChix said something in another post that I also try to keep in mind: Embrace the suck, you will never lose weight this quickly again.

To me my weight issue is comparable to being an alcoholic except it's food. We have to find a way to have some control over what and when we stick something in the hole in our face. I lack control over how much of something I eat. I'm hoping that the band will force me to have more self control thus allowing me to bring down my weight. I wish you the best and yes you can achieve your goal! Be tuffanf remeber why you choose this option. i to need support as I have just begun this journey and I as new to this as a newborn baby.

I'm 8 months post-op and 85 pounds down... I have lost... an Olsen Twin. 1) when you eat and get full, is it the same feelling as today, just without the big food quantities? Or is it a different feeling? It's different. I feel fullness less in my stomach and more in my chest\throat now. 2) are you handicapped for life? Like the need to avoid certain foods and certain drinks. Since about month 4, I've been able to eat whatever I like in small quantities. Rice was the last hold out, but I can do that now too as long as I take it slow. I drink alcohol on occasion, (even a beer sometimes!) but not nearly like used to. I do not drink even diet soda. Just a choice. I don't really want it anymore and the carbonation is supposed to be bad for my sleeve. 3) can u ever drink a whole cup of Water, or will you need to sip slowly for life (sounds lile a torture). I can't gulp, but I can drink normal mouthfuls of water. Took a few months to get there, but feels perfectly normal now. 4) just tell me about ur day to day life. I dont know if u had the same feeling, but I sometimes think to myself that I might be crazy to be cutting an organ that functions 100% right. I'm up at 4:30 am and on the exercise bike for an hour every work day. I burn 500-600 calories per the heart rate monitor. I look forward to it now as I get to feed my NetFlix addiction for an hour a day, I've developed a good habit and it allows me to eat pretty much what I like in small quantities and still lose weight. I take a handful of Vitamins and I have 1 egg with a slice of cheese for breakfast. I Am. Full. I have a scoop of Protein powder in my coffee, (bonus 20g). I work. Have a handful of almonds about 9am. Some of them have thick dark chocolate! High protein lunch followed by a high protein dinner, (typically 3 oz of some kind of meat each meal) and I've hit my 80g of protein for the day and stayed under 1000 calories. If I want an afternoon snack or something I have it. If I'm busy, probably won't bother. Afternoons\evenings\weekends are motorcycle riding, dating, yard work, dog walking, festivals, movies, TV, shopping for smaller clothes. I wear a 4 or a 6 now after having been an 18. I finish the day with another Multivitamin and 1 Omeprazole, (stomach acid reducer) the only prescription I take after giving up 3 BP meds, cholesterol meds, several asthma meds, etc. Life. Is. GOOD!

Thank you very much you have no idea that your post really impacted me and touch my heart thank you for being so supportive and non-judgmental against me I am having the hardest time I almost regret having the surgery not only am I having issues with this surgery and trying to make better choices and learn as much as I can about the sleeve which by the way I should have done before I have the surgery I am dealing with an alcoholic adulterous husband which is causing more emotional pain besides the pain that I have dealt with since a child I am in the process of checking myself into some serious counseling to get over the problems of my past once and for all so that it doesn't lead back to eating my way through the pain I have lots of things to conquer but I am strong I am smart and I'm Not Dead I will overcome these things I will live and maybe one day find happiness Within Myself first and then hopefully in a meaningful relationship with someone that I deserve vice versa thank you for sharing I really enjoyed reading your post it touched me and led me to think of lots of other things kind of outside the box what a support and Super Trooper you are thank you again[emoji5] [emoji7] I absolutely loved your post what encouraging words!!!! Sent from my SM-J327T1 using BariatricPal mobile app

I like sweet drinks. I never really cared for the taste of alcohol.

Once I learned how to disguise the taste of alcohol I was able to enjoy it, but I pretty much stopped drinking a while back.

I love your post. I try to ignore the posts where people are "bitchy" to each other or complaining because some "newbie" didn't look for an old "thread" before posting a question. BTY, some of the old threads are six+ pages of responses and sometimes very difficult to find answers. I love your philosophy. I am currently reading the AA book (my son is an alcoholic and doesn't want to change), so I know what you mean about constantly reminding yourself of where you were in order to become and remain the person you want to be. Thank you for the reminder!

sugar free gums and candies have sugar alcohols in them and cause gas and also they tend to do the opposite of taking away the craving. They cause you to want to eat. I can see it not being a problem 1+ years out when you are well established though. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

i was told that if I wanted to drink wine/alcohol or eat something spicy to "protect" my stomach first by taking a pepcid chewable or a liquid antacid before Mary

Wow? Down to 4 a week? Well I don't know what your previous consumption was, but if you're cutting down to 4 a week, it was probably pretty robust. I'm the Bandster exception I guess. I look to the European Bandsters since they have been banding there for decades with great success. Euro Bandsters drink quite regularly and still lose well. Of course moderation is key, but I never missed a Friday Happy Hour during my banding (except for the 2 Fridays after my TT - ouch!) and I lost fine. In fact I think that most of the light social drinker Bandsters I know seem to have lost a bit more some of that didn't drink. Doesn't make sense but it's true. (And the Bandsters' unofficial fave liquor is vodka - from coast to coast. Don't know why but it is.) Anyway, that's completely unscientific but bottom line is that I was never a beer drinker but those who do drink it say that the carbonation isn't easy to tolerate in larger quantities. I believe it. Two or three drinks a week will probably not slow anyone down from weight loss - if they account for those 'empty' cals or carbs elsewhere. No one got this band to make their lives miserable, I bet. I think I lot of us chose this option to help us make good choices and maintain our weight over a lifetime. It's not a reason to eliminate things that we enjoy - the band is suppose to help us moderate our intake of those things, and that might well include alcohol. (I can't drink as much as I did before banding, basically because I eat so much less. It's simple. I'm a cheaper date now! ) So for that reason it's important to find a way to incorporate the band into our lives - not to make our lives dry (so to speak). Let's be banded and live our lives to the fullest - I'll tip my martini glass to that!

Random B12 information (includes some folate) Causes of non-megaloblastic macrocytosis (megaloblastic meaning large immature erythroblasts that come from the bone marrow, due to defective DNA synthesis, normally either B12, folate or both deficiencies. Macrocytosis refers to a blood condition in which red blood cells (RBC) are larger than normal) Liver disease can cause these items, as B12 can be stored for years in the liver. Unless released due to problems with the liver, it is normally good for 2-5 years. Serum folate levels are normally taken but red cell folate is more specific. Serum B12 is NOT not always an accurate reflection of deficiency at a cellular level. This is why some patients have symptoms when the injections or pills are reduced, even with normal B12 levels. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1570488/ http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/410469_4 "A low serum folate level may indicate only a decrease in folate intake over the preceding few days. [26] A better indicator of tissue folate status is RBC folate concentration, which remains relatively unchanged while a red cell is in the circulation and thus provides an assessment of folate turnover during the 2 or 3 months preceding measurement. Also, low RBC folate levels correlate better with the degree of megaloblastic changes in the bone marrow than do low serum folate levels. When there is coexistent Iron deficiency, liver disease, serum and RBC folate levels may be normal -- and serum B 12 levels may be normal or even elevated -- but tissue Vitamin deficiency can be present. This is only demonstrable via subtle hypersegmentation and/or deoxyuridine suppression test and is subsequently confirmed by response to vitamin therapy. Decreased serum total folate-binding capacity is another test that may indicate hidden folate deficiency." An elevated MCV can be associated with alcoholism (and if you look for signs & symptoms of alcoholism, malnutrition, vitamin deficiencies, you will see bariatric patients that mimic those symptoms when deficient! Vitamin B12 and/or folic acid deficiency has also been associated with macrocytic anemia (high MCV numbers).

yes - it's due to transfer addiction. Unfortunately, it's not uncommon among WLS patients.. I think they want to make sure you have your eating issues under control so you just don't substitute alcohol for food in response to stress, etc. I was told to wait a year as well.

My doc’s rule is six months. I was told it was because they want to make sure your pouch is healed completely and also dehydration is an issue since alcohol is so dehydrating.

@@Slick300 I think true foodies, not food addicts, do well after surgery. If you thought you were a food snob before surgery, after surgery it is times 10. I will not eat bad food or mediocre food, not at all. This have to basically be delicious for me to eat them. The time post off where you are eating very simply for weeks/months cleanses the palette in a very interesting way. When you add food back, good high quality food has the taste amplified quite a bit. You taste everything more. Which is why bad food is so terrible to you. I enjoy being able to eat at trendy restaurants and not walking away hungry. I can have a couple bites of something, get a taste for it and be satisfied. I really enjoy places with small plates, it completely cloaks my small capacity, and by the time people have realized I have barely ate anything, they are almost done (realizing they pigged out). I gave up alcohol long before surgery, so I can't really comment on that. I will have a sip of something if it compliments the dish, but it is purely for the taste/compliment. Alcohol does enhance food. I suggest paring with liquor before surgery and not having it, until you have lost over 50% of your excess weight. Some people can do well with alcohol after surgery, but others not so much. It is just empty calories, with no nutritional value. I think about food/drink in terms of how it benefits me, and alcohol just has few benefits and lots of cons. If you love food, really love, good food, you will after surgery. If you follow your food steps, and change your relationship with food in a positive manner, you can still be a foodie and be successful.

Addiction is REAL!! Be it food, alcohol, sex, shopping whatever is real!! Cross addiction happens to many after WLS. For sure. My hubby was hoping and praying that I would have SEX as my cross-addiction!! NOPE didn't happen, now shopping watch out. LOL All joking aside, I had a very hard time justifying going out to eat!! I felt the same about cooking because when you can only eat a few bites it was hard!! Notice I said WAS. My hubby has said all along that I should look towards QUALITY, not QUANTITY!!! It was such a SMART thing to say!! I'm not saying that I'm like all cured of the examples above but it is much better. Now I am not a fancy foodie I was just raised on the OL SOUTH GOOD FOOD!! But, I can deal with having them ever once and awhile. Heck, one of y very favorite meals could more than likely cause most of you foodies to go into a swift HEART ATTACK!! LOL My old fav used to be fried potatoes, Mac and cheese, corn and a buttered piece of Wheat bread (the bread was more than likely the healthiest part of the meal) of course even if I fixed it I wouldn't be able to eat but a few bites. LOL Just a thought. Oh, BTW I always loved a cold beer before my WLS now I like wine. Does that make me more sophisticated? Just kiddin

The NUTS in m Bariatric Center say that foodies do very well after WLS. We foodies love food and know it, you'd be amazed at how many overweight people deny their love of food or actually consider food their enemy. As for me. I am 7 weeks post sleeve. Mostly solid food but red meat still doesn't go down well. About 600 calories, 25 grams of carbs. I am not hungry so that's plenty to get a taste of everything but desert when we go out and tasty small meals at home. We eat out 3 sometimes 4 times a week. My surgeon said I could try alcohol and I has a sip of wine last week but seem to have no taste for it right now. I get 8 oz coffee drinks (instead of 20 oz) and drink about 4 oz before I am done. I use heavy cream in coffee at home because it is lower in carbs and I don't have a restriction on fat. I expect that at some point I will allow myself some sweets but right now I want to loose weight more that I want chocolate. My hope is that I will be able to decide ahead of time that I will eat a certain food instead of impulsivity eating then regretted. I took a weekly, six month "lifestyle" class before surgery that has really helped my understand my eating issues and, so far, it has really helped me choose between short term pleasure and long term gain.