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7. Do you have restrictions with taking pills? I.e. is Tylenol still effective, does it digest regularly, etc. 8. What about drinking alcohol? Is it OK occassionally?

Both weight watchers and stoufers, make exactly what you are talking about - healthy??who knows.. they are sugar free, un sure of fat content and cals, too many can also cause loose stoole since it is made with sugar alcohols.

I love all the positive reinforcement from you guys.....I'll be having my surgery in NYC on a Wed. I work from home, so I'm hoping to be back at work on the following monday. I'm planning on not scheduling any travel or client visits for at least the first week and maybe the 2nd week too, if I can help it.... The one unfortunate thing I'm finding is - I'm counting the days to pre-op and trying to get in all my larger portions of candy, ice cream, Pasta and alcohol!..... I attempted to have the lap band 2 years ago and did the exact same thing....I continued to have my last suppers for a week. Had the surgery, but they were unsuccesful in actually placing the band due to excessive scar tissue...My new surgeon claims he will have no problem with the sleeve, but you never know... All these last meals and drinks are not what the doctor ordered, but I just can't help but feel like I need to overindulge right now.....

Might be reflux developing (citrus, spices, alcohol, etc. make the burning worse). It's a very common banding side effect so keep an eye on things.

So everyone says (including my surgeon) not to drink for 30-60mins after eating because it washes the food out of the pouch into the larger part of the stomache....but I can't stop drinking! It's usually Water or milk, (I don't do alcohol or sodas) and that, by far, has been the hardest habit to break after being banded. I've been told to ask the waitresses at resturants to not bring you a drink at all, but what about when you're home? Drinking water is an obsession of mine or something...I can't not drink...lol I know I'm sabotageing my own weight loss by doing this...so help me! How can I stop?

Current Mood: Hopeful:thumbup: My last blog entry was about how much I drank (and ate) over the holidays and the fear of getting on the scale. After New Year's I went back on the program and finally screwed up the courage to get on the scale on Monday, 1/4. As the title says, it was some very unexpected good news! I'd previously suspected about a 4 pound gain but I was wrong. Instead, I have lost about 15 pounds since my fill on 12/3. Wow! 15 pounds over the holidays and I wasn't actually following the plan very closely. I still think I eat too much in one sitting but I definitely feel some restriction and if I eat too fast (usually bread) I get a horrible pain that takes a minute or two to go away. At least when that happens, I have to stop eating. For the new year, my resolution is to make better food choices, avoid too much alcohol and finally get to the YMCA to sign up for the free (for members) personal fitness program. Other thoughts: 1) I got back in touch with a friend from 25 years ago via Facebook. Hopefully by the time I see her again,I will weigh less than I did in 1984. 2) My skin is squishy already. Man am I going to need some serious plastic surgery after this. 3) I love cooking and am considering it as a new career which is sort of funny for someone who has food and weight issues. I realized the reason I love cooking is the appreciation of those eating my good food not because I want to eat it all myself. As Martha Stewart would say, "this is a good thing." 4) I wonder how much weight I need to lose to go down one size in pants. I have been wearing the same size (even when they were so tight I could barely move) for the last 31 lbs and they are getting loose, finally. 5) If I could just win Mega Millions...

Current Mood: Hopeful:thumbup: My last blog entry was about how much I drank (and ate) over the holidays and the fear of getting on the scale. After New Year's I went back on the program and finally screwed up the courage to get on the scale on Monday, 1/4. As the title says, it was some very unexpected good news! I'd previously suspected about a 4 pound gain but I was wrong. Instead, I have lost about 15 pounds since my fill on 12/3. Wow! 15 pounds over the holidays and I wasn't actually following the plan very closely. I still think I eat too much in one sitting but I definitely feel some restriction and if I eat too fast (usually bread) I get a horrible pain that takes a minute or two to go away. At least when that happens, I have to stop eating. For the new year, my resolution is to make better food choices, avoid too much alcohol and finally get to the YMCA to sign up for the free (for members) personal fitness program. Other thoughts: 1) I got back in touch with a friend from 25 years ago via Facebook. Hopefully by the time I see her again,I will weigh less than I did in 1984. 2) My skin is squishy already. Man am I going to need some serious plastic surgery after this. 3) I love cooking and am considering it as a new career which is sort of funny for someone who has food and weight issues. I realized the reason I love cooking is the appreciation of those eating my good food not because I want to eat it all myself. As Martha Stewart would say, "this is a good thing." 4) I wonder how much weight I need to lose to go down one size in pants. I have been wearing the same size (even when they were so tight I could barely move) for the last 31 lbs and they are getting loose, finally. 5) If I could just win Mega Millions...

I could bore you with the "I’ve been fat all my life..." story and sadly its true but I won’t. Instead I will start this "journey" of blogging with my epiphany. I am not fat because I am depressed; I am depressed because I am fat. I am a fit woman in a fat suit!:thumbup: I thought about it long and hard. I have issues looking into mirrors, not because I don’t like what I see, and sometimes I don’t, but because I don’t recognize what I see. In my minds eye I am thinner. In all (ALL) my dreams I am thinner. I look at a space and see that I should be able fit, and in my mind I do but I physically don’t. I see myself in clothing that just doesn’t fit my body type. That’s what makes this so hard. I just don’t feel like I belong in my skin. I can relater to transgender people. I feel like there is a mistake, Im not supposed to have all this extra weight. I’m supposed to be thinner. I feel like a failure. :frown:That’s how I beat myself up! I tell myself that I don’t deserve something that I have worked SOO hard to earn but I still feel that I am worthy. I work out, and 3-5 days a week I don’t eat much, similar to what size portions that I would have should I have a LAP-BAND®. But its that 2-3 days that kill me. I eat “normal” portions, or eat because I’m bored, Sad, angry, PMS-ing… ect. you know the drill. My DR 15 years ago explained it as I go through “starvation” mode and my body holds on to every cal it can. That means even if I diet, the week after I stop I will gain it all back on! I am an odd ball I love to work out. I love the rush I feel after. I forget to go to the gym. I make excuses like I don’t have childcare, I’m not going to get any sleep yadda yadda yadda. (I work overnights so it is difficult on days when I don’t have childcare) I have always thought that I can do this! All I need to do is go to the gym. I would dream of an event, for example my graduation, and would say OK it’s a month away. I could easily loose 30lbs in a month. I just have to … then I would “fall off the wagon” one meal, then that would turn into one day ect. That would depress me to the point I would not only give up but I would hate the event. :cursing:Sometimes even cancel (things like a trip to the beach or vacation to Puerto Rico) It was very recent that I have even thought about the LAP-BAND®. Mom has been pushing this on me forever, always saying that she wishes she qualified to have it done. I had always turned her down as well as the idea because after all the DR said my issue was not that I ate too much but that I often didn’t eat enough. It all happened the day that I talked to the Girl Scout leader. She had gastric bypass. This was not a surgery though for someone who loves to work out. I told her my “problem” and she said that was her problem too.:wink: Her Dr said that this will make you hungry when you forget to eat, and will restrict the meals you DO eat. So I looked into it. I searched many message boards and read a few blogs to see if there was anything that would be a deal breaker. No alcohol, :Banane34:I don’t drink. No smoking, I don’t smoke. No carbonation, until a few months ago I didn’t drink soda. No caffeine, now this one may kill me,:smile2: I am addicted to my espressos but I guess that if I lost the weight and had energy I wouldn’t need them, and the occasional decaf coffee for taste maybe. (though I can’t stand decafL) there isn’t much else that I could think of that would keep me from getting it done except that fact for me (and I stress for ME not you!) it feels like Im throwing in the towel. I feel like I cant do it any other way I guess I have to get banded. Here is the catch, although there is a mandate in IN for insurances to cover bariatric surgeries, My insurance does not cover it. :thumbup: So there is road block number 1. I did find out that I am on Medicaid. So I guess that will cover it (I know the Medicaid insurance covers it but I always feel guilty for having it and even more for using it.) Now all I need to do id get a surgeon to look at me and call me a candidate! I will update you all later so for now Keep Dreaming Some Dreams Come True!

I could bore you with the "I’ve been fat all my life..." story and sadly its true but I won’t.:thumbup: Instead I will start this "journey" of blogging with my epiphany. I am not fat because I am depressed; I am depressed because I am fat. I am a fit woman in a fat suit!:thumbup: I thought about it long and hard. I have issues looking into mirrors, not because I don’t like what I see, and sometimes I don’t, but because I don’t recognize what I see. In my minds eye I am thinner. In all (ALL) my dreams I am thinner. I look at a space and see that I should be able fit, and in my mind I do but I physically don’t. I see myself in clothing that just doesn’t fit my body type. That’s what makes this so hard. I just don’t feel like I belong in my skin. I can relater to transgender people. I feel like there is a mistake, Im not supposed to have all this extra weight. I’m supposed to be thinner. I feel like a failure. :frown:That’s how I beat myself up! I tell myself that I don’t deserve something that I have worked SOO hard to earn but I still feel that I am worthy. I work out, and 3-5 days a week I don’t eat much, similar to what size portions that I would have should I have a LAP-BAND®. But its that 2-3 days that kill me. I eat “normal” portions, or eat because I’m bored, Sad, angry, PMS-ing… ect. you know the drill. My DR 15 years ago explained it as I go through “starvation” mode and my body holds on to every cal it can. That means even if I diet, the week after I stop I will gain it all back on! I am an odd ball I love to work out. I love the rush I feel after. I forget to go to the gym. I make excuses like I don’t have childcare, I’m not going to get any sleep yadda yadda yadda. (I work overnights so it is difficult on days when I don’t have childcare) I have always thought that I can do this! All I need to do is go to the gym. I would dream of an event, for example my graduation, and would say OK it’s a month away. I could easily loose 30lbs in a month. I just have to … then I would “fall off the wagon” one meal, then that would turn into one day ect. That would depress me to the point I would not only give up but I would hate the event. :cursing:Sometimes even cancel (things like a trip to the beach or vacation to Puerto Rico) It was very recent that I have even thought about the LAP-BAND®. Mom has been pushing this on me forever, always saying that she wishes she qualified to have it done. I had always turned her down as well as the idea because after all the DR said my issue was not that I ate too much but that I often didn’t eat enough. It all happened the day that I talked to the Girl Scout leader. She had gastric bypass. This was not a surgery though for someone who loves to work out. I told her my “problem” and she said that was her problem too.:wink: Her Dr said that this will make you hungry when you forget to eat, and will restrict the meals you DO eat. So I looked into it. I searched many message boards and read a few blogs to see if there was anything that would be a deal breaker. No alcohol, :Banane34:I don’t drink. No smoking,:biggrin: I don’t smoke. No carbonation, until a few months ago I didn’t drink soda. No caffeine, now this one may kill me,:thumbup: I am addicted to my espressos but I guess that if I lost the weight and had energy I wouldn’t need them, and the occasional decaf coffee for taste maybe. (though I can’t stand decafL) there isn’t much else that I could think of that would keep me from getting it done except that fact for me (and I stress for ME not you!) it feels like Im throwing in the towel. I feel like I cant do it any other way I guess I have to get banded. Here is the catch, although there is a mandate in IN for insurances to cover bariatric surgeries, My insurance does not cover it. :thumbup: So there is road block number 1. I did find out that I am on Medicaid. So I guess that will cover it (I know the Medicaid insurance covers it but I always feel guilty for having it and even more for using it.) Now all I need to do id get a surgeon to look at me and call me a candidate! I will update you all later so for now Keep Dreaming Some Dreams Come True! :thumbup:

I'm 21 days out since my surgery. I haven't drank any soda, too afraid of possible pain or messing up my band, which I paid for myself. I don't drink alcohol at all, but I do know others do, but in moderation, as they are empty calories. How weird that your doctor does your fills by the amount of weight you lose! Mine does it based on my hunger level. I've eaten tiny bites of a Pillsbury crescent roll, maybe 1/4 of one roll. I've had 1/2 slice whole grain bread, well toasted. I've had a tiny bit of tortilla. I've eaten turkey, chicken, ham, beef meatballs, pot roast, without problems so far. I cut them into tiny pieces and chew the heck out of them. I haven't tried steak or pork yet. I haven't had any issues yet with something being stuck (except perhaps one of my antibiotics that I didn't cut in half), but I definitely do feel full with around 3/4 to one cup of food, sometimes less. I expect once I get my first fills, that will change. Good luck!

Thank yall so much for the encouraging words! It makes me feel so much better about everything. Are yall able to drink carbonated drinks as well? What about alcohol? My doctor will not do a fill until 40-50 lbs are lost. I've lost a total of 20lbs already. Have yall tried bread or meat yet? I have no problem with chicken...

I sorta do my own combination also. I remember hearing once, "Lose it how you will live it." It is so important that we are able to live with the changes we are making! :smile: Right now I am having really bad cravings for chocolate -- real chocolate that I can sink my teeth into -- but it's just not worth it to me. And my tummy can't handle all the sugar alcohols in the sugar free kind. I know, this too shall pass!

The book says to avoid alcohol during the losing phase and to limit alcohol in the maintaining phase. Beer is carbonated and shouldn't be consumed. However my surgeon told a man yesterday, that in the maintaining phase he can drink it, but said that he would probably find it very uncomfortable. I personally stopped drinking for spiritual reasons before the band, but I made the mistake of sipping on sparkling cider over the holiday and it was PAINFUL, the carbonation, just a few sips was NOT fun. Someone else asked about wine, and he said if you limit it to a glass a day you would be fine, but they recommend abstaining for the losing period because it's empty calories and turns into sugar in your body. Hope that helps

I was wondering if we could drink alcohol when we are banded and if yes what kind. Could we drink beer cause it’s a carbonated drink?

I was wondering if we could drink alcohol when we are banded and if yes what kind. Could we drink beer cause it’s a carbonated drink?

"I was so tempted by the chocolate covered cherry that is sitting on the counter, but when I was reaching for it, I thought of you, Michelle and I said.. Nope.. not gonna do it. So now I can thank YOU!:thumbup:" Voila! & that's how all this is *supposed* to work! Yay! You motivate me, I motivate you!! After 3 years we've finally figured it out! :tt2: "From here on out I'm going to be doing everything I can to try to get my weight down. Not only to look awesome in my wedding dress but we are going to start to try to conceive on our honeymoon so I want to be at a healthy weight..." How exciting, Haydee... oooh la la!! May I suggest you check out the Eat-Clean Diet program... that's what I'm looking into... right now I'm kinda Protein shake/Atkins-ish/fruits & veggie'ing it for a quick start. I picked up a mag about it @ Borders the other day... the "principles" are: * Eat 5 or 6 small meals every day. * Eat every 2-3 hours. * Combine lean protein & complex carbs @ every meal. * Consume adequate healthy fats each day. * Drink at least 8 cups of Water each day. * Never miss a meal, especially Breakfast. * Carry a cooler of foods to get you through the day. * Avoid all over-processed, refined foods, especially white flour & sugar. * Avoid chemicals, preservatives & artificial sugar. * Avoid saturated and trans fats. * Avoid sodas & juices (& margaritas, I think :thumbup:) * Consume adequate healthy fats each day. * Avoid alcohol (oh, here it is, drat!) * Avoid all calorie-dense foods that contain little or no nutritional value. * Depend on fresh fruits & veggies for Fiber, Vitamins, & enzymes. * Stick to proper portion sizes. Sounds reasonable... & pretty much what we're supposed to be doing as bandsters... Off to switch around the laundry... everyone have a great night!

I am a Certified Addictions Counselor and in my career, pre-banded, I have seen and assessed many, many people who become "addicted" to drugs/alcohol after Weight Loss Surgery. While talking with these individuals entering treatment they believe that their addiction started after surgery and they had no problems prior. I know as well as most people on this site that we all have suffered from Food Addiction. It is very real and very profound in controling your life and causing the same crisis as it would in an alcoholic/drug environment. "Cross addiction" as it is called happens often. Please be careful with this. It is very real and will cause much harm in your life.

The time off from work will depend on what type of work/job you do/have. As for alcohol, I wasn't cleared until around 3-3.5 months post-op, and then was cautioned to take it slow, no carbonated drinks, and only light wines to begin with. Some people experience a much lower tolerance with alcohol post-op. I know that 2 glasses of wine is my limit. 3 glasses even over 5-6 hours is a bit much.

Some of the shakes have sugar alcohols--which can be really hard on the gut. I really love Bariatric Eating's Inspire line of Protein. The flavors are awesome, and the PURE unflavored protein isolate is quite possibly my favorite (it can be added to anything). You can order at BariatricEating.com - BE, Inc. The number one bariatric website for protein, Vitamins, and success..

hi, i am having the sleeve next week and wondered how long before you can get back to work and how long before you can drink alcohol

I thought it was usually the courts and child welfare/protection systems that say the babies are better off with their natural parents and it is the rights of those parents to have their children with them whatever their circumstances, attitudes or adictions. Blah blah blah... Many infertile couples would happily raise and love any unwanted child regardless of colour or creed. Adoption authorities often insist that children or babies are adopted by culturally suitable/appropriate families and these days often insist on the adoptive family maintaining ties and contact with the childs birth family through regular letters and photos. This is more like long term babysitting and leaves the adoptive family unable to lay the adoption process to rest and be a complete family. It is only aesthetically orientated people who want babies that need to be perfect and pristine and preferably in a matching, rather than contrasting shade. Some men seem to prefer a child whose appearance fits in and so can easily pass for the product of their own loins rather than one who is (and these are the words spoken to my friend, who has 2 adopted children, by her brother in law) obviously someone elses b*****d. I am anti-abortion rather than pro-life. There are instances where abortion is justified and in less medically advanced or equiped countries womens bodies would often not carry to full term any foetus that was not developing as it should. Terminating lives for little or no reason is not good, but I think there is also a line where prolonging life that should have naturally expired is not good either, death is part of the natural cycle. I feel that anyone who has multiple abortions for non medical reasons ought to be sterilised, as should those who give birth to a drug or alcohol addicted baby. They really are past caring and should not be allowed to procreate especially with the way the 'do gooders' insist on maintaining their rights over the rights of the vulnerable children they produce. Modern values seem to be materialistic and self orientated. I never wanted children and finding I was 4 months pregnant at 32 was like my world was ending. It didn't of course, it just entered a new phase, one which I would not want to give up or trade. Since the moment I found out I was pregnant it was never about me, it was about us! I got over it and got on with it. I am adopted and could easily have ended up a blood stain in a bucket if my birth mother had opted for abortion. Some say that would have been a good thing, given my strong opinions on anything related to adotion/ abortion and child protection:cursing:, but then my beautiful children would never have had the chance to exist and the world would be a little less bright as a result. These are my opinions and as usual you are all welcome to them...no charge!!:smile2:

Well, I was a social smoker too and, honestly, I cannot even remember when my last smoke was... maybe one month before surgery. But, I never declared myself as a 'smoker' to my surgeon because I didn't think smoking 1-2 cigarettes a month really meant you were a 'smoker'. And, I don't know all of what they tested for when I went for my pre-op testing, but they said my results were all good including my chest x-ray. As for alcohol, I used to drink almost daily. I cut that out about one month before surgery, but I still had a couple glasses of wine w/my friend about one week before surgery. I had surgery on 12/17, then had wine again on Christmas Eve, Christmas, and New Years Eve. My surgeon did not give any cutoff date for drinking alcohol. The dietition did say to try to avoid it after just because of the calories, but that it wouldn't hurt the band. I feel good that I was just able to give up my daily habit w/it and it didn't turn out to be as hard as I thought it would. I feel like I have a lot more respect for my body now that I have this band and a chance at getting my health back.

I've been in AlAnon for years (rampant alcoholism in my family), and I'd say that there are a lot of people who have been affected by alcoholism and other addictions that have weight issues. Also childhood sexual abuse. I'm addicted to food---it's just like a drug for me. It helps me to comfort myself and push down all those emotions that I don't want to deal with. I notice now that I'm controlling my addiction with the help of the band that I've become more depressed. I think part of that is that some of those feelings are beginning to come to the surface. I know I have to deal with this stuff, and it isn't easy. I haven't felt the urge to pursue another addiction yet...not shopping, not sex, not alcohol, and I hope I don't.

Which just goes to prove that food is an addiction. Alcoholism, obesity, gambling, smoking, etc. run through my family. I have one uncle who didn't have any of the above but he was obsessive about his diet and exercise. He ended up in therapy where he learned that, in his case, it was also an addiction. He still runs in marathons and still enjoys working out, but there is a balance in his life now. Any compulsive behavior taken to extremes is a problem. I belong to several WLS lists although this is the only one I actively participate in and there are always a few people who very obviously have traded their food addiction for an addiction to physical exercise. Some would say it's the better trade, but an addiction is still an addiction. The key is 'balance'...in our eating and in our life. .

I'm pretty aware of when I'm craving vs hunger but the problem is I know I'm craving and eat it anyway! Darn! I've actually been doing well with eating since Jan 1 but something really weird is happening now. For some reason I'm REALLY bloated. I haven't had any soda, sugar, alcohol. I don't smoke. Haven't eat that much so it's a puzzle. I just took my 2nd does of Gasx today and it just isn't going away.