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I was put on a two week pre-op diet and, at that time, that's when the alcohol stops.

I really appreciate everyone's input. Thank you very much. It is not difficult to quit smoking for me, I usually only smoke if I am having a glass of wine or a beer, but it is not very difficult for me to let that go. What is difficult for me is to not be able to drink a glass of wine or a margarita every now and then. It is a bit overwhelming no alcohol, no cigarettes, no food. Exercise, exercise, excercise; is that what my new pass time is going to be?

i was a tad bit more then a social smoker, and i quit the day before my surgery adn i have not smoked since... and it has not bothered me . I had my last cocktail a wonderful lemondrop martini 3 weeks before surgery and again have not touched anything. My surgery was November 17th and i feel great -- lol seriouly i do feel really good . i will allow myself a glass of wine on my birthday or at my 1/2 way point which ever comes first..... everyone has there "thing" that they either can or cant stop.. for those of you that dont smoke - please dont preach about how bad smoking is... we all know that .. so is being over weight .... and obviously we are here to do something about that ..so when you are ready to quit smoking , hopefully you will have a great support team to help you ... it is alot to give up --- no alcohol ( too many calories) , no smoking and then no food -(lol) not much more in life to enjoy as a "bad" vice ....

Congrats, you must be so excited. I was wondering did your surgeon tell you how long before surgery you should not drink alcohol. Some people say 2 weeks, others say 4 weeks, 8 weeks, etc...

Want to be thin. I am glad that you are so honest, thank you. Does anyone know how long you have to stop drinking alcohol before the surgery. Just to be safe I am no longer going to smoke or drink.

Here are some other things that I should not have to pay for. But you should, since you love your government sooooo much and want to give it your full support. 1. The federal government made at least $72 billion in improper payments in 2008. 2. Washington spends $92 billion on corporate welfare (excluding TARP) versus $71 billion on homeland security. 3. Washington spends $25 billion annually maintaining unused or vacant federal properties. 4. Government auditors spent the past five years examining all federal programs and found that 22 percent of them–costing taxpayers a total of $123 billion annually–fail to show any positive impact on the populations they serve. 5. The Congressional Budget Office published a “Budget Options” series identifying more than $100 billion in potential spending cuts. 6. Examples from multiple Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports of wasteful duplication include 342 economic development programs; 130 programs serving the disabled; 130 programs serving at-risk youth; 90 early childhood development programs; 75 programs funding international education, cultural, and training exchange activities; and 72 safe water programs. 7. Washington will spend $2.6 million training Chinese prostitutes to drink more responsibly on the job. 8. A GAO audit classified nearly half of all purchases on government credit cards as improper, fraudulent, or embezzled. Examples of taxpayer-funded purchases include gambling, mortgage payments, liquor, lingerie, iPods, Xboxes, jewelry, Internet dating services, and Hawaiian vacations. In one extraordinary example, the Postal Service spent $13,500 on one dinner at a Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, including “over 200 appetizers and over $3,000 of alcohol, including more than 40 bottles of wine costing more than $50 each and brand-name liquor such as Courvoisier, Belvedere and Johnny Walker Gold.” The 81 guests consumed an average of $167 worth of food and drink apiece. 9. Federal agencies are delinquent on nearly 20 percent of employee travel charge cards, costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars annually. 10. The Securities and Exchange Commission spent $3.9 million rearranging desks and offices at its Washington, D.C., headquarters. 11. The Pentagon recently spent $998,798 shipping two 19-cent washers from South Carolina to Texas and $293,451 sending an 89-cent washer from South Carolina to Florida. 12. Over half of all farm subsidies go to commercial farms, which report average household incomes of $200,000. 13. Health care fraud is estimated to cost taxpayers more than $60 billion annually. 14. A GAO audit found that 95 Pentagon weapons systems suffered from a combined $295 billion in cost overruns. 15. The refusal of many federal employees to fly coach costs taxpayers $146 million annually in flight upgrades. 16. Washington will spend $126 million in 2009 to enhance the Kennedy family legacy in Massachusetts. Additionally, Senator John Kerry (D-MA) diverted $20 million from the 2010 defense budget to subsidize a new Edward M. Kennedy Institute. 17. Federal investigators have launched more than 20 criminal fraud investigations related to the TARP financial bailout. 18. Despite trillion-dollar deficits, last year’s 10,160 earmarks included $200,000 for a tattoo removal program in Mission Hills, California; $190,000 for the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming; and $75,000 for the Totally Teen Zone in Albany, Georgia. 19. The federal government owns more than 50,000 vacant homes. 20. The Federal Communications Commission spent $350,000 to sponsor NASCAR driver David Gilliland. 21. Members of Congress have spent hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars supplying their offices with popcorn machines, plasma televisions, DVD equipment, ionic air fresheners, camcorders, and signature machines–plus $24,730 leasing a Lexus, $1,434 on a digital camera, and $84,000 on personalized calendars. 22. More than $13 billion in Iraq aid has been classified as wasted or stolen. Another $7.8 billion cannot be accounted for. 23. Fraud related to Hurricane Katrina spending is estimated to top $2 billion. In addition, debit cards provided to hurricane victims were used to pay for Caribbean vacations, NFL tickets, Dom Perignon champagne, “Girls Gone Wild” videos, and at least one sex change operation. 24. Auditors discovered that 900,000 of the 2.5 million recipients of emergency Katrina assistance provided false names, addresses, or Social Security numbers or submitted multiple applications. 25. Congress recently gave Alaska Airlines $500,000 to paint a Chinook salmon on a Boeing 737. 26. The Transportation Department will subsidize up to $2,000 per flight for direct flights between Washington, D.C., and the small hometown of Congressman Hal Rogers (R-KY)–but only on Monday mornings and Friday evenings, when lawmakers, staff, and lobbyists usually fly. Rogers is a member of the Appropriations Committee, which writes the Transportation Department’s budget. 27. Washington has spent $3 billion re-sanding beaches–even as this new sand washes back into the ocean. 28. A Department of Agriculture report concedes that much of the $2.5 billion in “stimulus” funding for broadband Internet will be wasted. 29. The Defense Department wasted $100 million on unused flight tickets and never bothered to collect refunds even though the tickets were refundable. 30. Washington spends $60,000 per hour shooting Air Force One photo-ops in front of national landmarks. 31. Over one recent 18-month period, Air Force and Navy personnel used government-funded credit cards to charge at least $102,400 on admission to entertainment events, $48,250 on gambling, $69,300 on cruises, and $73,950 on exotic dance clubs and prostitutes. 32. Members of Congress are set to pay themselves $90 million to increase their franked mailings for the 2010 election year. 33. Congress has ignored efficiency recommendations from the Department of Health and Human Services that would save $9 billion annually. 34. Taxpayers are funding paintings of high-ranking government officials at a cost of up to $50,000 apiece. 35. The state of Washington sent $1 food stamp checks to 250,000 households in order to raise state caseload figures and trigger $43 million in additional federal funds. 36. Suburban families are receiving large farm subsidies for the grass in their backyards–subsidies that many of these families never requested and do not want. 37. Congress appropriated $20 million for “commemoration of success” celebrations related to Iraq and Afghanistan. 38. Homeland Security employee purchases include 63-inch plasma TVs, iPods, and $230 for a beer brewing kit. 39. Two drafting errors in the 2005 Deficit Reduction Act resulted in a $2 billion taxpayer cost. 40. North Ridgeville, Ohio, received $800,000 in “stimulus” funds for a project that its mayor described as “a long way from the top priority.” 41. The National Institutes of Health spends $1.3 million per month to rent a lab that it cannot use. 42. Congress recently spent $2.4 billion on 10 new jets that the Pentagon insists it does not need and will not use. 43. Lawmakers diverted $13 million from Hurricane Katrina relief spending to build a museum celebrating the Army Corps of Engineers–the agency partially responsible for the failed levees that flooded New Orleans. 44. Medicare officials recently mailed $50 million in erroneous refunds to 230,000 Medicare recipients. 45. Audits showed $34 billion worth of Department of Homeland Security contracts contained significant waste, fraud, and abuse. 46. Washington recently spent $1.8 million to help build a private golf course in Atlanta, Georgia. 47. The Advanced Technology Program spends $150 million annually subsidizing private businesses; 40 percent of this funding goes to Fortune 500 companies. 48. Congressional investigators were able to receive $55,000 in federal student loan funding for a fictional college they created to test the Department of Education. 49. The Conservation Reserve program pays farmers $2 billion annually not to farm their land. 50. The Commerce Department has lost 1,137 computers since 2001, many containing Americans’ personal data.

I should not have to pay for anyone elses rent, utilities, medical care, child care, transportation , job training or schooling. I will say that since food is a daily essential, food stamps are a good thing. Those who don't have enough money to eat should be helped. But, if they are buying cigarettes or alcohol or drugs, they should not get help. Peeing in a cup should be a must for anyone receiving food stamps. They make employees do it to keep their jobs so that they could pay for the food stamps for those who don't work, so why not for those who receive the stamps?

Wow I am so sorry to hear that. I asked my surgeon about the vice swapping thing and she says it tends to be true and most of the time it is alcohol one switches too. She had (what I thought) a lame explanation..that it takes less to make someone "buzzed" and they don't adjust for it! I think it is all about addictive behavior. I have heard about the sex thing too. I think you will be okay because you are aware from the get go. Have you ever talked to your mom about why she thinks it has happend to her?

my mother had a gastric bypass. She never drank more than a beer in one sitting. In the past year since she lost the weight she has gone to rehab for alcoholism 4 times. She definitely swapped. I also heard someone talking about becoming sexually addicted and cheating on their spouse but i tried to tune it out because it was so offensive.

Minimeme, I think you are on to something. I have read lots of articles that state people who have weightloss surgery do infact pick up another vice. I have a close relatve that seems to drink more now that she has had WLS. It scares me enough that I am being very mindful of my drinking. I once heard Rosie O'Donnell say that she had empathy for those famous celebrities that kept getting arrested for drug and alcohol issues because she beleived that if overeating were illegal she would be arrested. I think we really do need to be mindful that we have "addictive" tendencies and if we drop the food addiction we need to make sure we don't pick up another bad habit. I do think you and I are in a good place because we are going to be mindful of what could happen. Goodluck!

I had an uncle years ago who was an alcoholic. When he finally decided to stop drinking, he started gambling. He actually became a bookie and would sit in front of 4 TVs watching all the games with a bank of telephones (this was pre-cell phone days). He use to brag how he wasnt truly an alcoholic because he was able to give it up. Even at my early age I recall thinking he didnt give up anything, he simply switched vices. food has been my vice for years. All of my family is slim, but most have alcohol or drug addiction issues. Mine was always food. It has worried me some that I might just pick up a different vice, rather than truly give up over eating. Luckily so far I have been able to control my behavior and exercise (at least for now) seems to be my drug of choice. Has anyone else had any issues with picking up another bad vice post obesity surgery?

Ditto to all of the above! I went to the doctor last week and was the EXACT same weight (to the ounce) that I was 10 days prior. I just shook my head and decided that it wasn't going to bother me: 1) It's too early - it had only been three and a half weeks since my surgery (it was one month ago today); 2) I have NO fill in my band and no restriction (this is 'bandster hell'); 3) it was just the holidays and I was surrounded by temptation every day. *I DO confess to some poor food choices (i.e., wine, a tamale and pumpkin pie and chocolate), but that's all behind me now. And I've started walking and riding my bike, which is new for me. I can't wait til 6 weeks is up and I can start actually using the band! In the meantime, I gotten pretty good at the whole 'no eating within 30 minutes of drinking and no drinking an hour after eating' thing. Also, I'm totally over carbonated beverages - it's no huge loss. I'm loving coffee and tea now and sneak protein wherever I can. So I'm working on what I can work on - - writing down what I eat, asking myself to move around a little (exercise - in som e way) every day. My two main problems are: 1) 4 ounce portion sizes (I'm hungry and usually eat 8 - 10); and 2) cabernet sauvignon. I hate to say it but I think I just need to quit drinking alcohol altogether to save on the calories. Bummer too cause I really looked forward to that one glass/day. The fact is, I'd rather lose weight. Hope you all had a very nice holiday! I was away from a lot of it, but am back now.

In the very beginning (March 2009), I chose only to tell my immediate family and a few close friends that I was going through the process to be approved for WLS. Their negative reactions toward my announcement really hurt my feelings. Also, they were not supportive of my decision to have WLS. In fact, they were against. I thought through time, they would become educated and more supportive but they didn't. In fact, they became more convinced that I shouldn't have the surgery. In my family and circle of friends, WLS is a taboo subject, like depression or alcoholism. I learned that people can be really judgmental. The very people that I loved and trusted. So, I kept my mouth shut and decided that it was no one's business but mine. So only those few know that I've been banded. Everyone else thinks I've had surgery for my endometriosis. Yes, I lied. Do I feel bad about lying? Nope. Do I feel accountable to anyone? Yes, I feel accountable to myself. Am I glad that I kept this as quiet as possible? Yes, because people are still in the dark about mental illness and other diseases. In 2010, I'm stil judged about suffering from depression. Talking about taking anti-depressants is a taboo topic. It makes other people uncomfortable. I don't go around saying, "Hi, my name is Amy and I'm Bipolar." Nor will I go around saying, "Hi, my name is Amy and I'm Banded." It's too personal for me to discuss with everyone. And it's no one's business. That's how I approached the situation. BTW~ Hope you are doing well, Cheryl. :blushing: Amy

If you are filled as much as you can, I have noticed that i I have a sweet craving I go for fruit as much as I hate fruit it does fill me up super fast and make me too full for sweets. That is the beauty of the LB it works if it is full enough and the foods I don't like do fill me up. It's almost like a diet pill to eat fiber foods. Have you checked to see if you might need a mini fill? Before the band when I started eating anything my insulin would spike (in my opinion) and it would be like an alcoholic with alcohol and I would get hungry and couldn't stop. This halloween was a horror ....I ate my daughters candy and couldn't stop like years before ...

Try this http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f22466/december-delights-2009-a-106299/index23.html#post1388171 or search December Delights 2009 On the drinking thing my lap-band book says that "alcohol has a high number of calories and breaks down Vitamins but an occasional glass of wine or other alcoholic beverage is not considered harmful to weight loss". I would think a beer would be like a coke with the carbonation and all but they do sell some low carb lite beer. Good going all!!

Carolyn, Something tell me you did not gain 3.5 lbs of FAT. That is OVER 10,000 calories more than you burn. More likely, you are retaining Water due to decreased exercise and increased carbs. I had knee surgery on 12/16 and weighed 173.5 lbs. I weighed on 12/26 and weighed 179. I know that I had not been following my plan - no exercise except PT, drinking alcohol, snacking on carbs, etc and my knee was still swollen - but I was pissed off anyway. I got right back on the program and dropped back down to 173 by 12/29. This week - another 4 pounds lost. I haven't lost 4 lbs in a week since early out. So give yourself a break, get back on your program and work that sleeve. It's an amazing tool that helped you enjoy the Holidays with friends and family while losing 5 pounds. That's pretty cool. :thumbup1:

You know for years Suzie, they had programs for young men, that they had the option of joining the service to avoid jail time on small charges----non violent charges usually. One of my oldest friends her DH of over 30 years, did that, joined the army to stay out of jail, for alcohol related issues. Turned him into a man! The ALL ME attitude we are all finding is taken away from them there! Maybe we should send a bunch of people!!! LOL I am on edge----I know I am----and that may be a lot of my problem. I have avoided talking about it, and basically hid from it in general, and it wasn't until your line you wanted to say to your sister, about having problems too--it clicked with me! I feel relieved that I can recognize what is behind some of my stress. I was beginning to wonder if I just invited their attitudes! I called my DD to let her know I was taking Kinsey to the movie, and if she wanted to go fine, if not we would go without her!! While talking to her, my Dad called and invited us to lunch, after church. So in the end, DD, DGD and my folks and I went to Chinese food, and then us girls--Mom, me, DD, and DGD, 4 generations went to see Alvin and the Chipmuks!!! There is a point in the movie where the chipettes meet the chipmunks, and are smitten, and they are batting eyelashes and wiggling their noses, and I look down at Kinsey, and she is grinning ear to ear, and wiggling her nose. It was priceless. She loved the movie! Come home, talked to Rick for awhile, and now just vegging until my shows come on--new ones tonight!!! YAY!! Heated up a bowl of black eyed peas and cornbread for dinner. We haven't had any more snow, but the temps have not gone above freezing in days....high today was like 28 or so. Just yucky! My niece spent NY in the hospital, having emergency surgery---she had an ectopic pregnancy. She had been told for years---I mean lots of years, like 20---that she could not get pregnant. Then this! She is heartbroken. She wanted a baby so badly. It destroyed her marriage, them trying so hard, and in the end she turned to a lot of drugs, and hard lifestyle, I have to wonder what this is going to do. So do the kids go back to school tomorrow? I have none, here regularly to know if it is tomorrow or not. I'll check in after my shows are over....FINALLY new TV!!!

When I went to Overeaters Annonymous, we would start out saying, "Hi, I'm _____ and I'm an overeater." At first it was really hard to say that, because I didn't want it to be true. I just needed to lose weight that was all. Nope. I AM an overeater--was and still am. When I use food to fill the gaps in my life, to calm the anxiety, to celebrate, to comfort saddness, to reward hard work, or to zone out, I am using food (much like an alcoholic or an addict). I totally get where you're coming from since your unfill. You weren't asking for advice--just sharing your story. Thanks for sharing. PS. I like your signature: "If you always do what you've always done, You'll always get what you've always gotten"

Well, you can definitely add me to the None of Your Business Camp. Besides the medical staff, the only person that knows is my husband. I've read the other posts where people tried to keep it semi-secret and you have only confirmed my fears. Someone always "swears" someone else to secrecy and then it's common knowledge. I struggled with the decision as far as telling my two sons (18 & 23) but decided it might be information they may tell their girlfriends, friends by "accident," and then I'm in the same situation where people that I don't want knowing my business end up knowing. Unfortunately, WLS is judged by society and not in a positive light. I, myself, feel that I have taken a very, very extreme measure in the fight of obesity. I can't help but sometimes wish I had the "power" to lose weight with proper diet and exercise and not with the aid of a tool. I am an alcoholic in recovery and have been sober almost 2 years so this may just be part of my problem, too. Admitting my food addiction may be even harder than admitting my addiction to alcohol. I am new to this lapband process so perhaps in time, I will be able to share this news in the future. But for now -- mums the word. I also don't know how successful I am going to be so telling others about this extreme measure and then failing would be devastating. PS: I do sometimes remind my husband that he is the ONLY person who knows and that if it ever gets out, I'll know where to go "Soprano Style."

Thanks! the story around those pants is wore them for my 40th b-day party and held on to them because I wanted to get back in them by my 50th, well I'm 4 years early. Candra the exercise is the key, I'm holding steady because of it. BUt I'd be a lot further along if I paid more attention to my eating. I really want to get below 170 by my b-day and keep it there by the time I see Dr P for another fill. I need one to help me know when to stop. I'm off alcohol for a bit...one carb craves another. Tina I'll do the Carb fast with you. ok, I'm cooking greens & black eyed peas, yummo. I know those peas are carbs but I'll just have a few for luck.

Morning all - and happy new decade! I will be there tomorrow too - for sure! Tina - you can have the 14's as I am still mostly 16 and when you get to 12 you can pass the 14's on over - Now, about Mr. Wrong - sounds to me like he's upset that you lost the weight and are succeeding in life because he isn't so he felt it necessary to call you and try to bring you down to his level to make himself feel better. As you have progressed - he has regressed - seriously from alcoholic to Heroine! No self respecting hot 19 year old redhead is really gonna be with an IV drug user so my bet is that, while she may be 19 and redheaded, she is a junky too and not real hot - just my experience with the loosers daddy use to hang out with LMAO So I want to see you again so what's up?? Can't you and Michaela come out tomorrow? Tell her I promise not to flash my stomech! Riley - I have learned that i can't do this crap on my own - so many times I have lost this weight and so many times I have found it again - I have learned that support is necessary to succeed in all walks of life so here I am - with my super support group making things happen once and for all! My husband is a cereal junky - he had a bowl last night right before he had a bowl of pasta - why, oh why, doesn't he ever gain weight??? One more thing i had learned in 2009 that I get to hold against men! Tamra - I will stand in front of you so when you're pushed I'm pushed hahaha - I NEED IT TOO. I'm a super duper slacker - because I lose the weight so slow it gets frustrating and I give up - it's not as easy as it was when I was your age LOL So glad you're coming tomorrow! Niclolie - You rock - i love your spirit and the "i can do anything" attitude - Bring on the bebe - but she may not like that bumpy trail ride LOL How are those almonds??? I'm an addict - i think my issue is that I'm just so very lazy and as a lazy gal Almonds are really the only no carb food you can just grab and not have to cook! JES - Im so glad you had a good time - when reading your post and you said "malibu rum" which, by the way i find very yummy - my first thought was "so much damn sugar" but what the hell, that's why we did band and not RNY and you are rocking the size 12 leather pants so what the heck do I know! I mean - I'm not losing a friggin pound and you are so maybe, just maybe - I need to start livin it up with some steak, lobster and malibu rum - do you have a spare room?? Monique - Can't wait to meet you FINALLY! Oh, how I miss clam chowder in a bread bowl - friggin carbs! Speaking of which - I had zero for two days but then this morning - at 12:01 am I drank a glass of champagne - GRRR! But who can really resist champagne in bed with a bang??? happy new year to me, happy new year to me... Happy new year for Candra - happy new year to me hahahahahaha Donna - where are you my love? want to be sure you are coming tomorrow - don't make me call your house and wake everybody up at the crack of dawn tomorrow just to get your little butt over here! Any word from Pat? Would love to meet her/you Pat - will you come tomorrow? Lee - are you coming? Pammie - I want to see Alvin & the gang! We watched the ball drop too - what is the deal with Dick? How much plastic surgery do you think he's had because the man is like 180 years old without a wrinkle or sag - I need his skin cream! See you tomorrow girlfriend -

A happy and healthy New Year to all! As someone said, we get to do a do-over. Keep sending in all those good results; I plan to join you! Jewel, you must be excited about your surgery. The healing is minimal and soon you will be on your way. I wish there was surgery for the head.... My sister, who weighs 100, but has an eating disorder, does not eat any sugar. Period. Hasn't for years. I just don't seem to be able to entirely eliminate any one thing. Why can't I look at potato chips (for example) as an alcoholic looks at liquor? To know that I just cannot eat that. Can't..won't....well, maybe just a little.... Isn't it funny how someone can be so strong in some areas and the one thing that we DO have total control over (what we put in our mouths) is my weakness. I have a change of attitude coming. I think with more exercise and better meal choices, I will feel better physically and ...emotionally. Is there anyone that is starting over again, like me? judy--hugs to all

Had a Happy NYE with my sis and good friend Jennifer! we had very little chinese and cheese fruit and crckers. I managed to avoid alcohol Yaaay me!.... today is my moms seafood gumbo OMG how good, but I'm gonna behave and no rice... okay very little rice.... OKAY NO RICE geesh! LOL

Had a Happy NYE with my sis and good friend Jennifer! we had very little chinese and cheese fruit and crckers. I managed to avoid alcohol Yaaay me!.... today is my moms seafood gumbo OMG how good, but I'm gonna behave and no rice... okay very little rice.... OKAY NO RICE geesh! LOL

Well so much for being good, pigs in a blanket, motz sticks, a cupcake, cookies and of course alcohol...which has caused me to check my spelling twice LOL!!!! I am soooo fasting tomorrow!!! URGH!!!!