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I am a 12/3 girl. I enjoyed my cream of mushroom soup for supper. No more clear liquids for this girl. Felt full of energy yesterday..not so much today..taking my anti depressant and anti anxiety meds is no fun..its like doing a shot of the worst alcohol but having to sip it..yuck

Almost 2 years out. Never dumped. Can eat anything I like, but my portions are dramatically smaller. However............I have changed my lifestyle and do not WANT to eat the junk that made me fat in the first place. I make my own gluten free pizza crust with sweet potatoes and almond flour, and top with veggies. I avoid processed grains and sugars, alcohol, cookies, and soda. Did I have candy today? Yup. Sure did. In fact, I ate a whole BIG HUNK candy bar!!!! But it's back to to soup and salad tonight and right back on track tomorrow with my sautéed veggies and tofu scramble for breakfast. In short, I can eat sugar, but it makes me feel tired and achy. It is so inflammatory for me, that the sweetness really isn't worth the end result. Once you are off sugar, stuff like raisins or a piece of fruit are incredible sweet and delicious all by themselves.

When food is Love by Geneen Roth (actually, anything by Geneen Roth) Eat it Up! by Connie Stapleton Overeater's Anonymous literature (OA.org) Alcoholic's Anonymous Big Book (replace alcohol and alcoholic with food and compulsive eater and it applies) Not food related, but very helpful: The One Life Solution by Dr. Henry Cloud Anything by Brene Brown The Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie

They aren't alcoholics. If you're going to reply, reply to what I said. Not to wine tasting.

I guess your next post will be for alcoholics just to swish the liquor around in their mouths then spit it out. WTF man???

@smokey2112 get use to not having as much alcohol as before! I'm kind of scared of everything right now...talk about everything in moderation, geesh, what do I do now??? Glad I'm banded after the superbowl..lol...

I also was told I was fat when I weighed 113 lbs in Jr High. I too use food as my drug of choice. I have an addictive personality. My family history is full of alcoholics. I eat for all emotions I have. I am thankful for this band. It's helping me get that all under control. I will be victorious. Linda in WA Banded 10/30/09

I love to eat, but I hate to cook! I love anything fast food... especially Double meat Whataburger with Mayo & Cheese and don't forget the fries. I eat very fast and drink a lot of Diet Coke so I don't have to chew so much. My first obsesion with food started with two major changes in my life at age 9. My grandmother died and my family moved. I was depressed for 2 years and ate myself into a very chubby 11 year old. At 13, I got a pinched nerve in my back from PE at school. The doctor gave me diet pills to lose weight. I lost 28 pounds until I stopped taking the pills, then gained it and more back. At 17, I discovered Alcohol. I would not eat, drink, throw up. Well that weight loss plan got me to 104 lbs. I was sick all the time so I quit drinking and started gaining weight. I got married and had two children. Struggled up and down on weight...mostly up. Got divorced, lost some weight, got married again, gained some weight. Moved 4 times and added 20 pounds per move (stress eater). Went on Sugar Buster's diet and lost 40 lbs. Allergy problems went on steriods...Went off Sugar Buster's diet and gained 50 lbs. Went on Weight Watchers lost 25 lbs, Allergy problems went on steriods..went off Weight watchers gained 30 pounds. Went on South Beach diet lost 30 pounds, Allergy problems & constipation..went off South Beach gained 25 pounds. After all that I decided to quit trying. I even stayed within a ten pound range for a whole year. Then my friend's doctor recommended she get banded. My friend never wants to do anything alone, so I went to seminar and doctor with her. I really felt like she, myself, and my daughter (BMI 45) had some real hope of beating this destructive cyle. My friend and daughter are waiting on insurance to aprove theirs. Mine was private pay because I was under BMI 40. So here I am with a chance to not have Diabetes, or High Blood pressure like my parents. A chance I can go off my cholestrol medicine. A chance my osteoarthritis will improve so I can go off Celebrex. Mary

Oh, some sugar alcohols like malatol can have a bad digestive effect on people. If you ever want a giggle read the reviews on amazon.com for Haribo sugar free gummy bears.

No don't have to use a specific type/brand really...just a lowcarb one.. but they didn't say that you could use a whey protein powder though...they just named the ready to drink ones.. they named the EAS, ATKINS, Slim-Fast, and maybe Isopure or something maybe.. I can't remember.. I'll prolly just get the other ones from amazon...those expired ones kinda scare me! OMG I had that 3 hour class today..the last half hour was exercising.. I'm exhausted.. unfortunately I haven't exercised in like 3 years.. but it felt good! I definitely had more energy the rest of the day. Otay.. does anyone know.. this liquid 2 week diet thing.. am I supposed to not have alcohol for these whole 2 weeks.. I know I should prolly just ask the nurse but does anyone know??

Hi Everyone (I'm new to this board) I can't believe this thread and how I relate in one way or many to every single response. I'm fat (but getting smaller) because........... I was raised in a home with an abusive, alcoholic dad who made life resemble one walking on egg shells, which lead to me having an anxiety disorder (not diagnosed until adulthood). My medication of choice was food. It never left me, hurt me or made me sad (at the time anyway). It was my comfort during life's trials growing up. I used food as my friend. I had a mom who was rail thin, could eat anything she wanted. I use to raid her candy stashes and get yelled at. I use to raid the fridge at night and she'd sneak up behind me and yell out DO YOU REALLY THINK YOU NEED THAT! My reply was to always eat more. As an adult, and as harder times hit, food became even more of a comfort for me. My mother died at an early age from cancer and despite her reactions to me being overweight, we we're best friends. The only thing that took the stabbing pain I felt in my heart that came with losing her...was food. My father died suddenly of a massive heart attack and left me with the evilest step mother one can imagine who tied me up in court for three years...food saw me through it all. My husband deployed for war, on and on and as these things happened I grew more attached to food. For it never let me down. I grew to just adore the taste of food and I became addicted to it. Fast food was my best best friend and I would (and sometimes still do) sit and think on where I would eat next. To this day the thought of food consumes my mind for long periods of time. Much like Delarla, my mind thinks all the time and alot of the thoughts surround food. I also get upset, and feel anxious at the thought of just one taco. So much so that even with a band...I will still order more food than I am capable of eating. And if I confessed to exactly how many trips I take in a month to the grocery store...you all would be amazed. I still fill my plate with food KNOWING I cannot in any way eat near what's on it. And for me......I will go all day long and not eat one thing.....but come evening time I have a very hard time with controlling myself. Has nothing to do with hunger. It's a very STRONG URGE....to eat good food. I will eat dinner and within an hour....even though I'm not hungry, this URGE hits me to eat more. When I fight it, anxiety hits me like a brick. I'm obsessed with food. My sister will call and I will ask her what she had for dinner and then I'll ask her what was in it and did it taste good. She laughs and says she's never known anyone to be in love with food the way I am. She's right. I had lapband surgery a year and 3 months ago. I'm by no means even close to being a good lapband patient. I skip meals, I go hungry, and I don't drink enough water. My greatest fear is gaining the weight I've lost back. I'm terrified in fact. I remember how miserable I was. How my clothes we're ugly, I couldn't exercise, I hurt all over, breathing was a chore and if I was faced with a flight of stairs, I climbed them slowly and while praying that I wouldn't just drop dead in front of everyone. There I'de be, dead with people staring saying...well no wonder, look at her! All of these things would pass through my mind any time I was faced with excertion. I feel most day's like I have a battle going on inside of me. On one side is my addiction/love for food.....on the other is the fear of failure and going back to what I once was.....Someday's......I can't breath. Not because I'm not fit, but because I'm scared half to death, just like I was growing up. Thanks for listening......and thanks for this thread. Kay AKA: Miss Losin' Lot's

Before I start my long story, I have to reply to this:<wich wasn't helped by the fact that my mother loves short hair <WICH hair short loves mother my that fact the by helped wasn?t>><O:p</O:p Oh god, my mother, too. My mother and my sister have always had short hair, and until I moved out of my parent’s house, mine was too. Right now, it’s down to my waist, and I’ve been growing it for 10 years or so with only trims and such – it hasn’t been short-short since my mother lost control of it <O:p Okay, on to the story. <O:p I’ve always been fat. And yes, I say fat because that’s what it is. No reason to beat around the bush. I’m fat. My father has always been morbidly obese, for as long as I can remember. His sister, my only aunt has always been more obese than my father. My grandmother – their mother – was heavy, but not morbidly obese, same with their father. My mother has always been a size 18, for as long as I can remember. Her weight doesn’t go up or down – ever. Her parents were both very thin. Both of my grandfathers were alcoholics. My dad’s parents divorced when my dad and aunt were very young, and my grandmother (my favorite person on the entire planet – ever) remarried several years later, to the love of her life – who died six months later of a stroke. Another few years later, she married my Grandpa Bob, who was the only grandfather on that side I really knew as a kid, and I adored him, but my dad and my aunt did not like him at all. My mom’s folks – well, since my grandpa died two years ago, and we had to put my grandmother in a nursing home – let’s just say that I’ve heard some of the more interesting stories about these two – including that they cheated on each other. Okay so, my parents came into their marriage as partially broken people, but hugely committed to NOT breaking their children as they were broken. And for the most part, they did a good job. As kids, my sister and I never *needed* anything. We were not spoiled, and we didn’t ever *everything* we wanted, but we were very well taken care of. We were not abused – we did get spankings when we screwed up but I do not consider that abuse, and would spank my own kids if I had any – if anything, maybe we didn’t have all the emotional support we’d have liked, but over all, we had decent childhoods. My mother did try to get my father and I to lose weight. (my sister was stick thin til she got married). She would hide sweets in the house, but at the same time, cook meals that were full of fat and calories. I can remember one time running across a package of oreos she had hidden (Think I was like 12) and eating HALF the bag, then putting them back, knowing that I was gonna get yelled at for it, but not caring. My mother is a perfectionist. She can let you know she disapproves of you without saying a word, and I think I grew up knowing that I was never gonna be good enough. But again, I had a decent childhood. I was just fat. Graduated high school weighing probably 220 pounds. Kids in school are cruel. I grew up constantly seeking acceptance. I had friends in all of the groups in school – jocks, brains, druggies, geeks – I made friends with people easily, because I was always such a nice person (acceptance). Once I got out of high school and started college, it was basically the same except that now, my seeking of acceptance also included men. Add 40 pounds. I have a lifelong problem with men and relationships. Rather that stems from my being fat, or is why I’m still fat, I dunno – but I tend to think it’s a vicious cycle. I always “settled” for boyfriends who wanted me, or acted like they did. I never chose the men in my life carefully, I just went with whoever asked me, because I thought to myself – finally! Someone who will love me for me!. I had physically abusive ones and emotionally abusive ones and sexually abusive ones, but I always stayed with them until either they got rid of me or in the case of the physical ones, I finally got enough self-esteem gathered to get rid of them. I got married for the first time at 26, to the first boyfriend I’d ever had that had his own apartment, a good job and his own car. I was fat then. And he loved me anyway. So I married him, even though he was an alcoholic and smoked pot like there was no tomorrow. And it was good for awhile. But eventually, I started to not feel good about myself again. And I started hanging out with a male friend of mine a lot, and we started messing around a little. It made me feel good about myself, cause here was this gorgeous guy, and he wanted to kiss me! My husband was apparently too busy sleeping with a redhead (his weakness) from work to notice, or so I found out later. Add 40 pounds.<O:p Then I discovered the computer, and met a guy on there, who I’ll call C., who seemed to have the same wants, desires and needs that I did! He lived in Wyoming</ST1:p (I lived in the <ST1:p<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comCheyenne</font></st1:City><st1:State><font face=" /><st1:City>Rock Island </st1:City><st1:State>Illinois</st1:State></ST1:p with my husband). My husband and I had been to counseling for the affair(s), but it wasn’t getting any better, and he was drinking more and smoking more pot. So I made up some excuse and set a weekend to meet C in <ST1:p<st1:City>Lincoln</st1:City>, <st1:State>Nebraska</st1:State></ST1:p (half way between us). We spent 4 unbelievable days together, and I was feeling good again. When I got home, C told me that he couldn’t handle the distance, he was still in college and we ended it. Add 20 pounds. </FONT> <O:p My husband and I went back to counseling, but it wasn’t helping. I went into a severe depression. Zoloft. food. Add 20 more pounds. <O:p Sometime later that year, C came back into my life, and after he found out that my husband had threatened me with physical violence, told me to pack a suitcase and get on a bus, and come to Wyoming. I left my husband, and did. Subtract 60 pounds. C and I did really well for about 9 months. Then work was bad for me and school was bad for him and he got scared I was going to leave him, so he kicked me out. Add 20 pounds. Anyway *chuckle* Add and subtract around 80 pounds over the next five years – and another man who wanted me, then didn’t want me. C and I had actually found a way to stay friends over this time, and when the other guy broke up with me four years later, and I spent another year by myself, I went to Vegas (where C was living then) to see him for his birthday. We got right back together then and there. He moved to <st1:State><ST1:pCalifornia</ST1:p</st1:State> with me, and then to <st1:State><ST1:pOregon</ST1:p</st1:State> when I got transferred. We were really happy. Til he couldn’t find a job. (add 10 or so pounds). So he went into the Navy (subtract 50 pounds), and about six months later, when 9/11 happened, we got married. Lived apart while he finished school in <st1:State><ST1:pConnecticut</ST1:p</st1:State> and I worked in <st1:State><ST1:pOregon. </ST1:p</st1:State>Then when he got his submarine assignment in VA, I quit my job and moved to be with him finally. Things were very good until last year, when his dad died. (add 70 pounds over that time – maybe 2 years?) He got – weird on me – and again, I started looking for validation with other men, and actually had an affair (1 weekend) with a guy. He still doesn’t know that, but last October, I moved out of our apartment and back to <st1:State><ST1:pWisconsin</st1:State> for us to “think” and for him to prepare to go <ST1:pGuam. We speak about once a week. We still love each other. But he’s unhappy with his navy career, and I am unhappy with my self-esteem and my weight. I’m fixing mine now. His – well, unless he finds a way to be happy there, he won’t be able to fix it. Anyway. In the past, when I’ve lost weight, it’s because bad. I could never seem to do it when I was happy. Losing weight hasn’t really ever been a problem for me. It’s keeping it off that’s the issue. Food is comfort. Food is celebration. Food is habit, a boredom-cure, a reward. I’ve always hidden food, always been the secret fast-food eater, always waited until I was alone before I pigged out. What has become abundantly clear to me now (as you can see, cause I’ve actually written it out above) is that I have always looked outside myself for validation on being a good person, and I have always based being “good” on how attractive I was to other people. This is something I’m working through now. I’d love to do it with a therapist, but the military insurance only covers so much, and I’m not currently working. So I read other people’s stories (like these in this thread and goddess bless you all for writing them) and I read books and articles on the web and I find things that truly hit home with me. And then I take a deep breath. And realize I am not alone. And part of me feels just a little bit better each time. My decision to get the band was well over a year in the making. I knew I was going to do it when I moved here. I put it off – for a reason still unclear to me – until this spring when I finally started the process. And even though it’s been less than a week since my surgery, I cannot begin to tell you how much lighter inside I already feel. Cause this is ME time. And I’ve taken control of it. My self-worth will no longer be determined by anyone but ME. I am a princess! Either treat me like one, or go away <O:p Okay well that was a lot longer than I intended /blush. If you made it all the way through, thanks for listening :Bunny

My name is PDXMan and I am an alcoholic. One of the toughest phrases I ever uttered, but one that has saved my life. As has been mentioned, AA has been the program I have used to keep me sober. You may wonder, "How does AA keep me from drinking?" It doesn't. It shows you how to live life on life's terms. Once you start doing that, you see that you don't need alcohol or drugs anymore. For me, alcohol isn't my problem. I am my problem. Alcohol was my solution. Until it wasn't anymore. If it is no longer your solution, then try finding one that has worked for millions. All it takes is some willingness to make a change. That's it. And showing up ... BTW, it also works for other drugs of choices, too. It's a scary thought, not having your coping mechanism around, but it just might work.

Its not that I want freedom, I need fear. Alcoholism has been a struggle and don't get me wrong I try hard not to cave in. Today I was glad to be honest with the doc, they gave me a medicine to coat my stomach and to prevent ulcers. Doc said u don't want bleeding because your stomach being small, makes it more difficult to repair.

Because I was usingfood for everything but nutrition. As a child I was never overweight. My mom was pretty strict on what I ate at home and I was very active so even if I had junk, I burned it off. In high school I thought I was heavy at 180lbs and 5'10. Funny since now my new personal goal weight is 200! Went to college and found new freedom and comfort in food and alcohol and gained about 25 lbs. Funny that I can rememberthe horror I felt when I went over 200lbs way back then. After I got married, had a couple kids the pounds just kept coming. Working nights as a nurse did help either, nor did the stress jn my home life that literally drove me to fast food at least once if not more daily. I got a wake up call in december 2010 when I went for my annual check up and tipped the scale at 317! My labs were terrible and I was put on diabetes meds and increased my BP meds. That was web I decided I ha to take control. I was banded feb 10,2011. I am down 38 lbs so far and off all my meds already. I feel so much better physically and emotionally. It was truly the best thing I have ever done.

CINDY !! your birthday is today ? Well girl dang !! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, YOU SWEET WONDERFUL WOMAN Patty, nope I don't remember sheriff John...? I was in diapers in the 60's LOL. Actually I do remember some stuff from the 60's. I remember the man walking on the moon, I remember my easy bake oven. Watching I dream of jeanie. My sister fussing over the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Why do you ask? Tomorrow is real food kids.... I get to eat real food, I'm so nervous. I feel almost like a druggie taking a small hit of speed or something like that. Like here alcoholic, you can have 1/2 a beer instead of a case. Does anyone understand how I feel? I've been starving these 4 weeks but I've felt in control, now that I can have "FOOD" I'm almost terrified. Guess I'm afraid of gaining and losing control again. I know I'll be okay, I just had to get that off my chest. Where is everyone this beautiful evening ?

Even though I have Telly on ignore, a third party actually private messaged me with this post link. So it got read by me anyways. That being the case, I'm going to respond, keep Telly on ignore, and make this my very last post to you Telly and on this subject. I'm saying my bit, and leaving it at this. I don't buy that it was an honest question. I don't think anything I've written or my behavior has indicated me being 'off my meds'. I think you were being deliberately cruel. You start your post to me with 'what I've noticed about you...' So I'll respond with what I've noticed about you. I've noticed you have a tendency to be deliberately cruel to people when you disagree with them. I'm not the only person that has noticed. I had a stack of private messages this morning, of people with similar experiences to mine, with you. I didn't realize, using your words, 'showing soooo much compassion' was a sign of instability. As for taking a keyword such as drinking and then pracitcally 'accusing' someone of being an alcoholic, I don't think I did that, here's the thread - http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?p=254351#post254351 and in my one post of concern I did not accuse her of alcholism, I clearly state "I don't know whether you have a problem with alcohol or not". As for the ice cream addiction, you remember wrong, here's the thread - http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?p=248176#post248176 - The person themselves mentioned multiple times that they had food addiction issues, particularly ice cream addiction before I even responded. From their posts: "...I am only as sick as my secrets!!!!!I bought two pints of ice cream yesterday. Ate one before DH came home from work and ate the other when he left..." "...Thanks for all the words of wisdom! I feel like an addict! It is crazy this food addiction!..." "Thank you all for the support. I actually went the whole day today without ice cream! I had to break the cycle of eating it everyday again...I am addicted to food. I know in my head I can't have it... I know it in my heart I can't have it! One taste and I'm off and running..." "I told DH last night and he said he was disapointed in me, but understands that this is a food addiction. I feel so much better getting one day under my belt and sharing with you guys and DH my secrets!!!!" "Donna... I also had that discussion with Dr. Rodriquez! I knew going in that my addiction to ice cream would be an issue! The result is I can't have it! If I start I can't stop! Bean: I want to thank you for being a constant support for me! I am unfortunately well aware of the downfalls of addiction. I can become addicted to anything and everything that alters the way I feel about myself... alcohol, relationships, drugs, cigaretts, ice cream and potato chips! I work on this addiction on a daily basis through diffent avenues, but sharing where I am at helps to get it out in the open so I can move one. Makes me accountable! Thanks so much for the love and support! It means the world to me" There are actually more posts of hers still before I respond about food addiction. Many other people were writing her with support before I did, and I didn't label her an addict, she knew it was her own issue. If you are so motivated about concern for people, like me, why not chime in and have supported her? Or did you only read the thread recently? Maybe searching through my posts looking for questionable posts I've made so that you could find an excuse for having said something cruel to me? You're right, I do have a background in psychology, and when I wasn't on disability and was practicing I made a good therapist because I tend to have good insight into people, and I care about people, and I'm pretty sure I have your number. I don't think you're worried about me at all, I think you're scrabbling to cover up your impulsive nasty behavior. You can think what you like about me. I figure you're hurting yourself with your nastiness to others as much if not more than you are hurting me. I know I'm not the first person on the forums you've had conflict with, or the second, or the third, or the fourth. Maybe you should stop examining other peoples behaviors and attend to your own.

I'm not here to win points. It was an honest question. Was just that I saw you writing books and books on this subject of colon cleansings and you showed soo much compassion, which was cool but, it made me wonder. What I've noticed about you is that you take a keyword such as "drinking" as in the GFG thread and went into a whole "alcoholism" thing on that person, practically accusing her of being an alcoholic. Then in another thread someone mentioned, if I can remember correctly.."ice cream cravings" and you went into a whole addiction thing and your expertise on addictive disorders which had me worried about you. So the question was valid. Hope you get better though. Depression is no joking matter.

This is reposted from another WL forum - thought it could be useful to add to a blog post to remember~ Ten Mistakes that Weight Loss Postops Make 1st Mistake: Not Taking Vitamins, Supplements, or Minerals Every WLS patient has specific nutritional needs depending on the type of surgery you have had. Not only is it a good idea to ask your surgeon for guidelines, but also consult with an experienced WLS nutritionist. Understand there is not a standard practice that all surgeons and nutritionists follow in guiding WLS patients. So, it is important to do your own research, get your lab tests done regularly, and learn how to read the results. Some conditions and symptoms that can occur when you are deficient in vitamins, supplements, or minerals include: Osteoporosis; pernicious anemia; muscle spasms; high blood pressure; burning tongue; fatigue; loss of appetite; weakness; constipation and diarrhea; numbness and tingling in the hands and feet; being tired, lethargic, or dizzy; forgetfulness, and lowered immune functioning. Keep in mind, too, that some conditions caused by not taking your vitamins, supplements, or minerals are irreversible. For example, a vitamin B-1 deficiency can result in permanent neurological deficits, including the loss of the ability to walk. 2nd Mistake: Assuming You Have Been Cured of Your Obesity A "pink cloud" or honeymoon experience is common following WLS. When you are feeling better than you have in years, and the weight is coming off easily, it's hard to imagine you will ever struggle again. But unfortunately, it is very common for WLS patients to not lose to their goal weight or to regain some of their weight back. A small weight regain may be normal, but huge gains usually can be avoided with support, education, effort, and careful attention to living a healthy WLS lifestyle. For most WLSers, if you don't change what you've always done, you're going to keep getting what you've always gotten -- even after weight loss surgery. 3rd Mistake: Drinking with Meals Yes, it's hard for some people to avoid drinking with meals, but the tool of not drinking with meals is a critical key to long-term success. If you drink while you eat, your food washes out of your stomach much more quickly, you can eat more, you get hungry sooner, and you are at more risk for snacking. Being too hungry is much more likely to lead to poor food choices and/or overeating. 4th Mistake: Not Eating Right Of course everyone should eat right, but in this society eating right is a challenge. You have to make it as easy on yourself as possible. Eat all your meals--don't skip. Don't keep unhealthy food in sight where it will call to you all the time. Try to feed yourself at regular intervals so that you aren't as tempted to make a poor choice. And consider having a couple of absolutes: for example, avoid fried foods completely, avoid sugary foods, always use low-fat options, or only eat in a restaurant once a week. Choose your "absolutes" based on your trigger foods and your self knowledge about what foods and/or situations are problematic for you. 5th Mistake: Not Drinking Enough Water Most WLS patients are at risk for dehydration. Drinking a minimum of 64 oz. of water per day will help you avoid this risk. Adequate water intake will also help you flush out your system as you lose weight and avoid kidney stones. Drinking enough water helps with your weight loss, too. 6th Mistake: Grazing Many people who have had WLS regret that they ever started grazing, which is nibbling small amounts here and there over the course of the day. It's one thing to eat the three to five small meals you and your doctor agree you need. It's something else altogether when you start to graze, eating any number of unplanned snacks. Grazing can easily make your weight creep up. Eating enough at meal time, and eating planned snacks when necessary, will help you resist grazing. Make a plan for what you will do when you crave food, but are not truly hungry. For example, take up a hobby to keep your hands busy or call on someone in your support group for encouragement. 7th Mistake: Not Exercising Regularly Exercise is one of the best weapons a WLS patient has to fight weight regain. Not only does exercise boost your spirits, it is a great way to keep your metabolism running strong. When you exercise, you build muscle. The more muscle you have, the more calories your body will burn, even at rest! 8th Mistake: Eating the Wrong Carbs (or Eating Too Much) Let's face it, refined carbohydrates are addictive. If you eat refined carbohydrates they will make you crave more refined carbohydrates. There are plenty of complex carbohydrates to choose from, which have beneficial vitamins. For example, if you can handle pastas, try whole grain Kamut pasta--in moderation, of course. (Kamut pasta doesn't have the flavor some people find unpleasant in the whole wheat pastas.) Try using your complex carbohydrates as "condiments," rather than as the center point of your meal. Try sprinkling a tablespoon of brown rice on your stir-fried meat and veggies. 9th Mistake: Going Back to Drinking Soda Drinking soda is controversial in WLS circles. Some people claim soda stretches your stomach or pouch. What we know it does is keep you from getting the hydration your body requires after WLS--because when you're drinking soda, you're not drinking water! In addition, diet soda has been connected to weight gain in the general population. The best thing you can do is find other, healthier drinks to fall in love with. They are out there. 10th Mistake: Drinking Alcohol If you drank alcohol before surgery, you are likely to want to resume drinking alcohol following surgery. Most surgeons recommend waiting one year after surgery. And it is in your best interest to understand the consequences of drinking alcohol before you do it. Alcohol is connected with weight regain, because alcohol has 7 calories per gram, while protein and vegetables have 4 calories per gram. Also, some people develop an addiction to alcohol after WLS, so be very cautious. Depending on your type of WLS, you may get drunker, quicker after surgery, which can cause health problems and put you in dangerous situations. If you think you have a drinking problem, get help right away. Putting off stopping drinking doesn't make it any easier, and could make you a lot sicker.

NM Sunshine I have always felt that food was my addiction - There is Alcohlism & Durg addiction in my family and have been involved in relationships with men who were either on one or the other (alcohal or drugs). I understand addiction as much as it can be understood. but just as an alcoholic who thinks cuz they drink beer they are better than one who drinks the hard stuff (i don't meant to be mean here but it's all about justifing when in truth we need to fact the hard fact that it is what it is- no playing games and i think you will understand what i am say as you have worked the program) Alcoholic think they are better than a druggie and the druggie who smokes pot thinks their better than person who snorts who thinks their better than the person who shoots. Us foodies are on top of that chain as socitity doesn't look at us as having an addiction just lack of will power ... It doesn't matter your drug of choice be it alcohol - meth - heiron or food - it's all the same Sh*t it's all going to kill you. NMSunshine - sounds like you have a double whammy food & drink and I bet that is terriblily hard to deal with. but it's one step at a time and give it up to hp and move forward. I better get off this soap box before i offend everyone and thats not my attention here - it's just to face the facts that we all (including myself) hide from at times and that's why we have ended up being FAT.. xoxox Janet

I understand, that is why I wrote it. I find myself being guilty of all the things I mentioned. After a 40 hour work week I feel like I owe it to myself to eat something to "reward" myself. I want pizza or junk food or the like. I am recovering alcoholic and addict, I am sober today. Food is the only thing I have left to abuse. The sleeve has definitely helped me in the sense that I cannot eat as much as I used to, but the mental obsession to eat is still there. Before sleeve surgery I estimate I was taking in roughly 8000 to 10000 calories a day. I typically take in about 3000 per day now at 18 months out, I realize that is too many calories and am trying to get it under control and starting to walk as a form of exercise.

Occasionally I drink these low carb grapefruit soda water boozy drinks. They’re only 5% alcohol and a whole can (8-10 oz?) got me slightly buzzed but not significantly. However, I’ve always had a naturally high tolerance to alcohol. I just make sure the alcohol fits in my macros. I’m naughty and had my first drink maybe 2 months out but my stomach and I survived.

Week 21 Last week’s weight – 200.2 This week’s weight – 199.4 Total weight lost this week – .8 Beginning weight – 246 lbs Total weight loss since surgery – 46.6 lbs Average weekly weight loss since surgery – 2.1 lbs Woo Hooo!!!!!! I am officially under 200 lbs as of this week. Although I didn’t have a spectacular weight loss it was enough to drive me under the 200 mark. My next goal is to get some more distance from the number 200 (right now I’m a little too close for comfort…particularly since I go into PMS mode next week). I joined our Cross Fit gym this week and am currently going through their foundations class (4 classes total $100 not included in the month rate). I signed up for 3 months (after which it becomes a month-to-month charge). It is kind of expensive ($125/month) and I hesitated to join for a couple of reasons (expense and difficulty). The expense part I will have to live with (this was made slightly easier because I had a summer job that I applied that money toward) and I can scale back the difficulty and build up What I like about the gym is that you walk in and there is a warm up and a routine of the day (once that is done you are finished). I also like that there is always a certified staff on the floor who can help. My warm up yesterday was a 250 meter row, 10 situps, 10 walking lunges (done twice). I scaled back the walking lunges because my knees aren’t great and they are difficult for me. The workout was 21 deadlifts, 800 meter run, 21 deadlifts, 550 meter run, 21 deadlifts, 400 meter run. My workout was scaled back (with the help of the staff) to 15 deadlifts (with reduced weight) and a 400 meter run/walk, 10 deadlifts with a 250 meter run/walk, 5 deadlifts with a 100 meter run. The goal is to build up from that. My plan is to go to the M-W-F classes and see where I stand at the end of the three months. Another thing I like about the gym is I really don’t care what I look like or what anyone else looks like. Everyone is just coming in, doing the routine to the best of their ability and moving on. Since we are all “in it together” people are very encouraging (some are competitive but that works for them). The one thing I don’t want to do is become bulky (there is a lot of weight lifting). There are several women who go to the gym who are quite muscular and my goal is a bit different. I just want to become tone and fit but I think I can manage that by not going crazy with adding on insane amounts of weight. I was also hoping by joining the gym it might help boost my weight loss by shocking my system (we will see how that goes at the end of the three months!). Food wise I am doing fine. I’m packing my lunch since we are back to school. My lunch the other day was deli turkey and cheese roll ups and cut up green peppers and an Atkins chocolate/coconut bar for a snack. I’ve also had a Campbell soup at hand (cream of chicken or tomato), Atkins chocolate/peanut butter meal replacement bar, travel size peanut butter cup (for snack). I still need to be better drinking water throughout the day. Yesterday I went to Outback and I ordered their new $15 meal deal which actually was quite a lot of food. I saved half of my steak and potatoes for lunch today. I need to stop ordering alcohol with my meals (habit). I wasn’t able to finish my $4 margarita and I really didn’t need it. As I mentioned last week I am getting a lot of compliments on my weight loss after coming back from the summer break. My favorite was from a former 4th grader I taught (I know her mom) and she said, “Oh my gosh Mrs. Heaton I didn’t even recognize you. You look so skinny.)

My surgeon also said by two months your stomach is completely healed. He said things like drinking by straws can't really hurt you but can cause gas. I drink from a straw all the time because its easier for me to take in smaller amounts. Even things like alcohol my doc said they are empty calories and in excess can do damage but a glass of wine isn't going to kill you.

I just noticed that you started at a 31 BMI and already down to a 27! At such a low BMI it might take a little more work to get it off.. At this point not only is alcohol bad for you, it's empty calories, push your protein and water and exercise and things will go fine.