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I have had trouble with losing. I've been banded for 2 years and lost only 10pds the first year. The first part of 2nd year lost nothing. Then I decided that I was getting too many calories from wine. I drink 3 sometimes 4 glasses of wine almost every nite. I quit and lost 23 pounds over 6 months. Started back a few months ago and gained 3 pounds. Now I am going to quit for good. I think liquid calories are the weight killer. Liquids like alcohol and pop just go down the band so easy. Also try to remember when eating it's protein first.

WLS has completely taken the joy out of alcohol for me. I get word-slurring drunk on a tiny amount and 30 min. later I'm stone, cold sober. I never get that nice mellow feeling. I didn't do alcohol for most of my weight loss phase though... I wanted to lose as fast as possible because I knew maintenance would be the hard part and I wanted to start on it as soon as I could.

I talked to my surgeon about this a couple weeks ago, and he cleared me to have a few sips of wine. I doubt I'll ever be able to consume an entire glass of wine again. I am almost 4 months out, and my surgeon advised me to steer clear of super dry red wines (I didn't ask why, but that's what he said). I haven't tried any alcoholic beverages since surgery. He advised that if I wanted to experiment with alcohol to do it very slowly, and minimal amounts. I have a feeling just a couple of ounces will have me boozed up.

You know you're a bandster when.... ...you consume a case of Water in a few days rather then a case of soda ...you are so use to eating so fast that you are done with ur entire meal before anyone else even gets started, but now you are still on your soap while they are finishing their entree ...you are drinking water at the bar and acting as if it's a gin and tonic so no one knows you aren't drinking alcohol ...everyday people ask, "so how much is it now?"((as in how much weight have you lost))

Thank you all so much for the very warm welcome. I was not sure for a while whether I was going to have the sleeve or the Rny. I have more concerns with the Rny and especially the absorption and bowel obstruction issues. Based on the pros and cons I have set my mind on the Sleeve. Also, I eat healthy food, no refined sugar, no hydrogenated fats, no red meat, no alcohol, nothing preserved, or any white flour, rice or pasta. I have been eating this way since July 29th and to date I have lost 24 lbs. my problem is portion control, not choice of food, and for this reason I believe the sleeve is the choice for me. My first appointment is Nov 16th and I am so excited. I look forward to sharing my journey with all of you and wish you all the best. Thanks again.:thumbup:

It has happened to me three times. I'll find a great web site, like this one, connect with people who have the same surgery date as I did, February 10, feel like I really have a lot of support, until after the surgery, when everyone just sort of disappears. I have posted, asking how everyone who had surgery the same day as I did are doing. Nothing. I understand that people get busy. I understand that people get better and move on. But it doesn't stop me from feeling sad, wondering why it always seems to happen--this isn't the first time. Am I so lucky that I just happen to fall in with a group of people who, once they are better, just can't be bothered? Do they forget how terrified they were? Maybe I have abandonment issues--my mother died when I was nine, my father was an alcoholic, and not available. I dealt with physical and emotional neglect. Maybe I just want a bandster buddy, the way it seems so many people have. I read about those who have made some kind of connection and I want that. It can't be blindness, at least not on this web site, because no one can see anyone else, unless, of course, they post pictures. But that's not the same as a face-to-face meeting. Support groups I'm in do have that barrier. I have no problem dealing with that, and I'm not the kind of person who feels sorry for myself. This has happened to me enough times to make me wonder just what it is about me that causes me to fall in to this situation? Guess I just needed to write it all out.

It has happened to me three times. I'll find a great web site, like this one, connect with people who have the same surgery date as I did, February 10, feel like I really have a lot of support, until after the surgery, when everyone just sort of disappears. I have posted, asking how everyone who had surgery the same day as I did are doing. Nothing. I understand that people get busy. I understand that people get better and move on. But it doesn't stop me from feeling sad, wondering why it always seems to happen--this isn't the first time. Am I so lucky that I just happen to fall in with a group of people who, once they are better, just can't be bothered? Do they forget how terrified they were? Maybe I have abandonment issues--my mother died when I was nine, my father was an alcoholic, and not available. I dealt with physical and emotional neglect. Maybe I just want a bandster buddy, the way it seems so many people have. I read about those who have made some kind of connection and I want that. It can't be blindness, at least not on this web site, because no one can see anyone else, unless, of course, they post pictures. But that's not the same as a face-to-face meeting. Support groups I'm in do have that barrier. I have no problem dealing with that, and I'm not the kind of person who feels sorry for myself. This has happened to me enough times to make me wonder just what it is about me that causes me to fall in to this situation? Guess I just needed to write it all out.

Hi girls~ A listener, not a talker....huh! Tell my DH! Love the shoes Haydee! Heather I would love to meet you too! Laura, I do the same with the mod stuff---and I rode the fence in this disaster. I refuse to say more! LOL As for the Moms and the kids---do either of your Moms read much? Maybe a couple of books on enabling, and the written word of someone else, reiterating what you have been saying....otherwise I have no idea. My parents finally did just like Terry with my brother. He got arrested for DWI, and in the holding cell, he had a seizure, well come to find out, he had been trying to quit drinking, and with his brain injury and the detoxing, he was having seizures. He was unconcious in his truck, not passed out from alcohol. But they made the choice NOT to remove him from the charges, and allowed the charge to be changed to DUI (driving under the influence as opposed to driving while intoxicated) which could cover driving while taking Tylenol even! It caused him to get a mandatory jail sentence of 28 days, and he could receive medical aid while detoxing. They knew he wanted to quit, but with the brain injury, it messes with his short term memory, and makes quitting harder than even normal. They thought with 28 days sobriety, maybe it would "take". It did, he has been sober for many years now. But it was hard, my parents both aged seriously, visiting their son in jail was not something they ever planned to do. But it was better than visiting him at the funeral home, or in prison from causing an accident that hurt someone else or killed him. Hard choices, but worth it. BTW Laura, I am sending you a PM with info on Gone4ever. She met up with you for the formula. She just got a cancer diagnosis, and is facing a really hard time. Another weekend of wood cutting coming up, then WE are done. Still have to haul for the in laws. NOT a happy subject with me. What's new??!!! DS had an accident today----he got ticketed, and he says it was not his fault, so guess he will fight it in court. Stressed us for awhile. Well I am off to bed. See you all soon.

Take an alcoholics stance on this--take it day to day. It's very important that you don't move your diet ahead any faster then the doctor tells you to. That being said, after 7 days or so on clear liquid--call them (if you haven't already had a follow up by then) and ask them if you can have more at that point. You have to give yourself time to heal. I was pretty hungry by day 3 or so also. I know the feeling, most of us here do. Try very hard to keep yourself busy, do light housework around the house, paint something, take the dog for lots of walks, do something to keep your mind off your stomach Good luck dear

It takes a bit of getting used to. The 1st fill can be a dramatic difference. I remember losing 5kgs in a w/e after a fill. Unfortunately, I was partying, not eating & drinking a bit of alcohol. I nearly dehydrated, but woke up to what was going on. This is where the REALLY conscious intake part of your life begins. Don't worry tho, it's easy to adapt. You might hit a few bumps in the road. I'm 7yrs post banding & I still occasionally find myself 'stuck' or stuggling & don't know why. I'm excited for you, cause I know you're going through the 'wow' stage-losing & feeling fantastic about it. If you struggle with water & cant drink a litre of fluid in a day, then you're too tight & need to go back & have a little let out. Good luck, & happy days!

Janet, sounds like a crap day. I agree, a little tough love is in order. He'll live without the phone and the car. Get his own rides places or maybe this "friend" will let him drive his car. I hope he pays his own insurance. I took my son off my insurance by the age of 17 after he got in several accidents. We lost our coverage so I excluded him from the policy and he wasn't allowed to drive our cars. One thing, he always found work and made enough money to buy his own car and pay his own insurance. I also quit getting him out of bed and let him bear the consequences of those actions. I refused to do his laundry and made him drop out of school at 16 when he ditched constantly and got F's. He was in a private Christian school and I wasn't paying for F's. He went to public school for two whole weeks and started ditching and not getting up in the morning. So I researched it and had him drop out. After one year out of school he could take his GED. I made him sign a contract that he had to work full-time, go for an ADHD eval and take meds if recommended, and be back in school, or working towards his GED by 18 or he was out of the house. He lasted 1 semester before begging to go back to the Christian school. I wouldn't enroll him till he paid me $300, $50 for each class. I told him he'd get nothing back on F's, $25 on D's, and $50 on C's and above. On the day the semester started he finally handed me the money. He eventually got back all but $50. Eventually, when they wouldn't let him graduate with his class because he had too many credits to make up, and he was ditching school again, and I didn't know it, but his father had been telling him he was planning on leaving me, I had him study for his GED in the state where he'd dropped out (we lived on state line in Indiana). They didn't know he'd been attending in Illinois. He took the GED while on his ADHD meds and passed with such a high score he made the Albert Einstein Society and got a college scholarship. He ended up with a degree in marketing. It took him 5 years to get thru college and the last year I gave him $5000 from the sale of my house and told him he was on his own. I was getting remarried and he wasn't living with me anymore. One of my better decisions. I had no guilt and didn't have to put up with his assinine behavior anymore. (He is an alcoholic, though a very high functioning one.) He is now over 30, married, and has a little girl he adores. He owns his own home and has a nice wife and a relatively good job. I have heard him say that being on his own was the best thing that ever happened to him. He says this like it was his own idea. He still can be a real donkey's rear end, especially around me, so I tend to see him only when there's family get-togethers. I don't see my grandaughter nearly as much as I'd like, but my mental health is more important. My other son is a whole nother story but I'll save that for another time. Cheri

Well - while we're making things public and all - just thought I'd throw something out to Mr Lapbandtalk (ALEX) Now I seem to recall you saying you weren't going to respond any further unless it was PM. But that's a chicken shit way to get in a public verbal war of words, get the last say and then state that nothing else can be said publicly. I call for an apology (multiple actually - although I'm afraid there are probably more needed than I will currently remember) If you hope to redeem any sense of public dignity (not that I expect you to care - but let's imagine for a second that you might care what impression you are leaving on new people coming to your cash cow for the first time) I believe an apology is due to Lulu for your statement regarding her attitude. I also believe you owe an apology to myself for your callous and insensitive remark pertaining to the size of my alcoholic beverage that night and to the fact that you suggest we should have one. Furthermore you should retract your words regarding my language being "combative" - oh forgive me for daring to voice opposition to the poorly made and personal vendetta based decisions of people doing your bidding - this is a free country and a public site - it is my right. Unlike some of the responses coming from some at LBT - I at least had evidence for the points I made. Not that I expect an answer - but I'm putting it out there for all to see!

I had my banding surgery on Sept 21 - 3 days ago. I feel pretty good. The pain/discomfort has subsided and I'm following the liquid intake recommendations pretty strictly. I'm hopeful I'll be able to go back to wotk in 4-5 days. My main challenge is going to be smoking. I gave up pre surgery but finally relented and have had 1 today. I have read that it can interfere/slow down healing, which makes sense. I just don't know if I can give up proper food, alcohol AND smoking without going totally insane this week. Anyhow, good luck to all considering it. So far it has been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster for me, but I am very relieved to have done it & now the banding is done the hardest part is over.

What about sugar intake? My nutritionist says to not consume any food with more than 5-7 grams of sugar per serving (watch those sugar alcohols too). And absolutely no sugary drinks. Just my .02. :tongue2:

Special K I thought by now our craving for sweets would finally go away. I Know how alcoholics feel. If its not in the house I'm fine, and I can even go to the grocery store and not buy the junk, but if I go to a picnic where its avaliable I lose all self control. I think I actually eat more sweets at social events than I did before banding. I am to the place where I have asked my friends to stop me from going crazy. It's common for me to be up 2-3 pounds after a social event. I leave feeling like a failure and I'm so mad at myself. Any advice?

I eat Atkins (but I don't eat the ones that have any sugar alcohol) and another one I like a lot are Oh Yeah, but I have to order those online. I bought some at GNC but we don't have a GNC here in hicksville where I live.

Congrats on your weight loss btw.. I don't know you or your hubby... but from what i read. it seems you have had a realization that your not happy. I have been in a similiar situation. I was with my boyfriend for 8 yrs. (since i was 14) I literally woke up one day and said. this is the day. i slowly broke it off with him. he was a very sensitive man.. so it was hard for me being that i am a very compassionate person. I even had the same feelings of maybe he would meet someone.. or tell me he was gay .. anything!! I didn't hate him for anything.. i just realized I live once.. and other than wanting something more.. i felt like i was leading him on. I had to make the decision for the both of us because if i left it to him, we would be together still.. i went through months of sadness because i had a hard time dealing with the fact i hurt someone.. but... it was the best decision i made. i gave him sooooooo long to get over our breakup. i remained friends.. i talked to him when he had a bad day.. i helped him with relationship advise. NOTHING worked. I moved on. he became an alcoholic. and you know what.. i really don't care anymore. it's been 6 yrs since the breakup and i haven't talked to him in maybe 3 / 4 yrs or so. i am happily married with my soul mate.. and we have a beautiful daughter.. I can't advise you do anything but follow your heart. stay strong, think it over twice, and if you really feel you need to move on.. go for it! best of luck.. i'm sure you will make the best decision..

Good Monday morning! Rainy and wet here today but we are supposed to have cooler temps soon so that's a big plus! I got my new car and I finally got to drive it this morning. It's awesome! New Orleans was so much fun! Have any of ya'll been? Lots of history and beautiful architecture. The food is AMAZING. We ate at so many wonderful places. Lots of the restaurants there are hundreds of years old and we were able to experience such rich culture. Walking through the cobblestone streets was so idylic. And there are so many horse drawn carriages around and so you hear the clopping of the horses feet on the cobblestones and you can feel what it must have felt like long ago. I always imagined that New Orleands was just alcohol and debauchery but we were able to see the other side of it and we are definetly going back. I'll post pics on Facebook as soon as I can. Judy - OMG, poor Bob! I'm glad it's getting better though but that sounds like a big gash... Michelle - sooo jelous of your disney trip. When ya'll go do ya'll do the same rides or do ya'll always manage to find new stuff to do? Pammy - yay on the excersise. I go back tonight after being "OFF" for 6 days! It's gonna kick my ass. I'm not looking forward to it. But i've indulged way too much these past few days and so I know I need it... Jane - Doesn't it feel so good once you've gotten started on something that you've been putting off for a loooonnngg time. Me and you are very much alike... To make the cell read what you put in there you need to right click on the cell and then click on the FORMAT CELL option. Then click on TEXT. That means that whatever you put in that cell it will take as is with no corrections... Hope that helps! Kat - have a good day at work. Is that lady still making things difficult for you? Can ya'll believe it's already the end of September? Where did September go? Seriously, I missed it. Time is FLYING. I need to get my butt in gear and start looking for invites and start looking for a dress for me. I fear it's going to be a daunting task....

Hi, My name is Julie and I'm an alcoholic in recovery. I was banded 3 years ago June. When I got sober in January I had some fill taken out. I have gained 30 lbs. The folks I have talked to in AA say that is quite common as we intake more sugar. I was sober 4 months and in May relapsed. It's been a struggle and I keep going in and out of the rooms of AA hoping to finally get it. Can you please share your story of recovery with me. I know cross-addiction is very common and when we don't have food to comfort us we can sometimes go into other areas of addiction. I don't want those people to answer me like "get a f* clue don't drink". I live in a world that is filled with both joy and isolation at the same time. AA friends always welcome me back no matter what. I would love to hear more from you...God Bless.

Here’s something my dietician provided me for the pre-op diet, the basic and alternative if you can’t do all liquid. The Diet: 1. Drink at least 64 ounces of fluids per day (all must be sugar-free, calorie free, and non-carbonated) 2. One multi-Vitamin with essential minerals per day. 3. Consume 1000 - 1200 mg of Calcium per day 4. No Alcoholic beverages 5. Drink 4 - 6 no sugar added Meal Replacement shakes each day (recommends Adkins Advantage even though it has 1 gram of sugar. They taste great and have 15 grams of Protein and 24 essential nutrients plus calcium and no trans fats) Sample Day: Breakfast: 1 shake Lunch: 1 Shake 4pm: 1 Shake (optional) Dinner: 1 Shake Bedtime: 1 Shake (optional) What if you break the liquid fast or just cannot follow a liquid diet for 2 weeks? Plan B - A shake and food meal plan that will keep the fat extremely low. The goal is still to lose as much weight as possible before surgery. The Meal Plan: 2-4 8-11 ounce high Protein Shakes a day 1 meal a day, composed of 3 oz seafood, turkey or chicken (no skin) Or 1 cup Non-fat/low-fat yogurt, cottage cheese or ricotta cheese And Non-starchy vegetables - up to one cup No corn, peas, potatoes, sweet potatoes or baked Beans Fresh Fruit - 1 piece (1 cup) per day Olive oil - 1 tablespoon a day, no salad dressing, no mayonnaise Eat only 1 meal a day. Limited to 20 minutes per meal. Sample Day 1: Breakfast: 1 Shake Lunch: 1 Shake Dinner: Stir-fry 3 oz chicken ? cup broccoli ? cup mushrooms 1 tbsp Mrs. Dash 10-minute Mesquite Marinade 1 tbsp Olive oil Snack: 1 Shake Sample Day 2: Breakfast: 1 cup 2% Cottage Cheese 1 cup fresh peaches 1 cup Lettuce Lunch: 1 Shake Dinner: 1 Shake Snack: 1 Shake Sample Day 3: Breakfast: 1 Shake Lunch: 3 oz shrimp Lettuce 1 cup zucchini 1 tbsp Olive Oil Salsa 1 Pear Dinner: 1 Shake Snack: 1 Shake Hope this gives you some alternatives. Hugs, JoAnne

Alcohol is dicey (unless you mean Isopropyl?) may just make 'em party all night.

Propofol is kinda frowned upon now - and too short acting to do you any good - I guess you'll have to use good old alcohol (make some delicious 'ritas!

The only problem I find now is people tell me not to get too small. How much more weight are you going to lose? you don't need to lose more... You don't need to get sickly looking... etc. My answer to that is... all you have known me as is BIG... you didn't ever know me "thin".... I worked where I am for 12 years, and have been heavy the whole time... but worse the past 5 years! I am still considered 'obese'- My goal is 160lbs- to be "normal" I also decided to tell everyone because I didn't want "rumors" to fly- that I might be sick etc. losing weight that fast. I just faced my demons- admitted I had a problem with food and drastic times called for drastic measures. Just like an alcoholic- I have a food problem, and needed to face it head on. I do hate having to admit how bad I let myself go- but I have support there too... people are reasureing me that I did what I had to do to get back some control in my life. Not to look back at the past-but to the future of being healthy and at least I did SOMETHINg- It's just hard to face....That I could let myself get that bad........ It is strange how my body has changed thru all this... I am 211 lbs now.... and can fit a size 14 pants! What will I be in at 160? It baffles me. It baffles me that people say I look good- I am still obese-not overweight-OBESE. You hear the words "skinny"-"sexy" etc... I KNOW they aren't talking about ME! Lots of demons I still have to face......

food was my way to make me feel better when I felt bad, it was readily available, it was pleasureable, distracting, and socially acceptable. You can do it at your desk, in your car, at church, anywhere..and they throw it in your face at every chance they can, billboards, TV, magazines...did we have much of a fighting chance?? I have to find a replacement for that "temporary high" Listening to a really good mix while sweating it out on the treadmill, that releases some of those "endorphins" which I like to call dolphins. Sex would work, but too many diseases out there, so yeah, better stock up on batteries..haha. I think I could easily transfer it to some good drugs, but I don't have Rush Limbaugh's connections..hahah...alcohol just makes me wanna eat more..never really like to drink that much. Smoking? I quit years ago and that would interfer with my *dolphins* when exercizing. Shopping? I am not there yet, still too big to really enjoy it and get a *rush*. But, for me, I difinately need to find another *feel* good drug to replace food. So far, exercising is the only replacement I have found. I wish drugs were legal..hehe.