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I'm pre op and have thought a lot about this issue. My mom is a recovering alcoholic so I am concerned about the idea of swapping addictions. With all that being said I plan to drink post op but not for a long time, at least 8 months out. Longer if my stomach seems iffy. But even then I plan on only doing it on special occasions (birthday, thanksgiving, etc and no more than once a month). But before I do any of that I'm going to have a drink at home with a close friend here to see how I react to it. I do love cooking with alcohol though, does anyone know if that is an issue post op? I know it will be a while before I'm cooking real meals but wondering if it's acceptable. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Sorry guys I have been out of touch. I am busy at work since I hae gone back. I am one month post op today. I can start regular food next Friday. However, I have not lost weight since the surgery. My first fill is on the 22nd. Anyone else having the same problem? I haven't been cleared to exercise yet. Also, has anyone had any wine or alcohol yet? I am craving wine.

Catlady what a great birthday present. I do have to do an all liquid clear diet. I am dreading that. But I was talking to my surgeon and he said they recommend no alcohol for 3 months however wine is like Water he said. It goes down easy. So I was thankful for that. However, I am nervous I have my pre-op on monday I have gained 30 pounds since my six months even though I am still on a 1300 carlorie diet. I had to go off my meds so we will see yikes. One of my biggest concerns is how to answer all the questions about my weight loss.

there should be a post to list your favorite alcoholic drink after wls.

Back to the original thread, eek trying to divert attention, I ONLY drink vodka with water and a splash of diet cranberry lemonade. I would love to drink a beer. I have tried and simply can't. Well i could if I wanted to make a mad dash to the pot every time. I waited until my 6 month mark before I chose to drink. But that was just my decision. Not my doctors. Like the others stated earlier, the alcohol definitely hits you faster than before. Boy do I know this first hand. Birthday was last Tuesday. Ended up drinking 3 drinks. Thank goodness I have lost 77 pounds. Because helping me walk a straight line would have been way more difficult. Just trust your judgment when you drink.

@roxiemalone I put that I wanted my husband with me when I drank because the surgeon and NUT stressed that you don't know how alcohol will affect you when you first start drinking. I want it as a safety precaution and to make sure I make responsible choices until I know how my sleeve tolerates alcohol. Not a red flag, just being safe! Alcohol can be enjoyed responsibly. It seems like you have a stricter surgeon's plan, which is fine. I'm just glad that my plan allows for a drink or two, since I got the sleeve to enjoy life to the fullest and healthiest in the manner that I want. Good luck - I know I'm doing great and love my sleeve!

Right, I was gaining nothing for the 1st 2 years. I then developed bad habits of drinking too much and eating some bad choices. For me it was mostly alcohol, we like being sociable in the pub and beer and cider are packed with calories, and don't even mention the fact that a bottle or red wine has 630ish calories! So anyway, I then found I had managed to put on 15 lbs and I am now remedying it using fitnesspal and will power. The foods not so difficult but my husband is still drinking and it drives me mad! So for the past month I have not had a drop and I am losing at a rate of 3lbs every 2 weeks on average. I hope I have learnt my lesson, but I probably haven't.

No, binge eating doesn't just hit after a few years. And yes, indulging in that behavior is our fault. Sure, there are biochemical components that perpetuate the behavior, just like smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol or any other behavior that becomes obsessive like gambling, cleaning or shopping. But it IS a complex behavior that involves choices and active participation on our part to occur. Obesity is a mental illness and mental health professionals are needed to help us change our behaviors. No surgery will cure us and it's unfortunate that so many people try to shift the focus from the mental aspect to the physical and try to say it's "not my fault". It's not the size of our stomachs that made us fat, it's the behaviors.....including binge eating. With appropriate support and professional intervention, our behaviors can be changed. In the meantime, be accountable for your actions and stop being the victim of your choices.

So i went out with friends last night. Amazing time. I have had alcohol in the past wine makes me a little tipsy, beer just makes me full... Last night we had a cream type wine and some shots before we went to the bar. OMG I didn't know if I was going to be able to walk down the stairs to the car! I'm such a light weight now. It was a fun tipsy feeling and once I was at the bar I switched to water. Danced for 2 hours and had a blast! One of my friends said I looked like a cute little barbie doll last night. haha made my night!

I went for my post op (8 days) last Friday and was concerned about the look of my incisions too. I had taken off the icky, bloody strips off of the outer ones and replaced them with some band-aid butterfly things. BAD idea. 2 days later I went down to my Mom's armed with supplies and had to say "help me Mommy! Fix it" I was in such pain and the darn strips were giving me some sort of reaction and it HURT. The strips took the skin off so now I have raw spots on either side of the incisions. One even blistered! Gads. So I asked the Dr. about it the next day and he said the healing looked fine and that he preferred no bandaids and that at this point nothing was going to come open anyway. I will have to trust him. He also said not to use alcohol but a vaseline type or baby oil to take off the strips. Sat. I was so uncomfortable around my port incision that still had the strips on it (that were gross from the Neosporin) that I took them off too. It feels so much better now. I think the strips were pulling and I was getting a rope-y feeling along the cut. Still looks a bit gruesome, but feels much better.

Hello Everyone Its been a long time. I got an email alert that there was some new post. Im in the same boat as some of the others. At this point I have gained back about 40 lbs of the 110 lost. Im happy that I havent gained it all back but still very ashamed of the weight I have gained. I cant believe that I was given such an amazing opportunity and now Im throwing it all away. I cant blame the band for any of the weight gain. My band does the job it is suppose to. The problem is with me. I eat and throw up on a constant basis or just eat stuff that I know I shouldnt, not to mention the alcohol consumption. I didnt know that after all of this time that our band could still slip Nimblebean Im sorry to hear this has happened to you and wish you the best of luck. Maybe we all can start supporting each other like we use to do in the good old days when we were just starting on this adventure and had the motivation and desire to make it work.

I did "okay" during the superbowl.......the chips and dip kept nagging at me....but didn't drink any alcohol and stayed away from the sweets....oh, and drank about a 55 gallon drum of water......salty things are always my downfall....UGH. Paid my penance on the treadmill tonight, though.......I'm WHOOPED.....I do walk without holding on, but generally keep it around 3mph max....I have pretty short little legs, so that feels like a pretty good clip to me! My iPod is definitely my friend during a treadmill session. I have a playlist set out that keeps me going.....sometimes I just shuffle and skip through the slow songs if I'm bored with the playlist.

I keep my sugar alcohols under 5 seems to be with the plumbing....

Indigestion and heartburn are caused by an increased or decreased secretion of acids and other digestive enzymes in the abdomen. Symtoms include burning, a feeling of fullness and gaseousness in the abdomen. Reflux esophagitis is the medical name for heartburn. The acid reflux is caused by the flow of gastric juices up the esophagus. Indigestion and heartburn are usually caused by overeating, obesity, chocolate, fried foods, carbonated beverages, alcohol, coffee, and cigarettes. Eliminating these causes is the first step in preventing occurrences of indigestion. Eat small meals, eat slowly, limit intake of fluid during meals, avoid spicy foods, eat whole-grain carbohydrates such as bread, brown rice, and pasta, and avoid eating fruit with or after meals. The following remedies for indigestion can be found in health food stores. <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=center><SCRIPT type=text/javascript><!--google_ad_client = "pub-6167988213978292";google_ad_width = 180;google_ad_height = 90;google_ad_format = "180x90_0ads_al";google_ad_channel ="5878910303";google_color_border = "FFFFFF";google_color_bg = "FFFFFF";google_color_link = "339933";google_color_url = "000000";google_color_text = "000000";//--></SCRIPT><SCRIPT src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Peppermint in tea or tablet form contains menthol and has an antispasmodic effect on the digestive tract. It relieves gas and stomach cramps. Chamomile in tea or tablet form has antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and gas-relieving effects. Slippery elm bark in tea or tablet form helps form a protective coating in the stomach. DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) is an anti-ulcer agent. Ginger in tea or tablet form relieves gas and reduces bloating and pain. Aloe vera gel helps soothe the stomach. Activated charcoal tablets or capsules are useful for gas pain. Charcoal absorbs medications and should not be taken within two hours of taking any medicine. To relieve pressure at night, use blocks to raise the head of the bed frame at least 6 inches. This will lessen the pressure on the stomach and prevent stomach contents from moving into the esophagus. Wait a couple of hours after a meal before lying down. Sleep on the left side of the body, the stomach is lower when lying on the left side. Stress, obesity, and pressure on the stomach can cause indigestion. These causes can be eliminated by participating in regular exercise such as walking, bicycling, swimming, or yoga. Avoid strenuous exercise immediately after a meal. Aromatherapy can relieve an upset stomach. The following essential herbal oils can be used in an infusion or diluted with almond or olive oil (four drops of herbal oil with an ounce of almond or olive oil) and massaged onto the abdomen: Peppermint Marjoram Fennel Coriander Always consult a physician before proceeding with any remedy.

OK it's true that I know how/why I gained the weight. My husband was transferred to Florida 2 years ago. I didn't start gaining until we got here. We live in a town that is very resort-like. So we are always living life like we are on vacation. Drinking wine and margaritas by the water and eating out. It gets hot here so I became too lazy to work or walk outside. But I know these are NOT REASONS, they are EXCUSES. What would I do differently? Keep exercising, stop grazing on potato chips and skip the alcohol.

For all of you that have regained, did you ever seek psychiatric help? You are all admitted addicts and/or turned to old eating habits as soon as something bad happened in you life. We got help from a bariatric surgeon, but what we really need is help with our heads. What would you say to a meth addict who had the choice to get help and regain control of their life but instead chose to just stay in their room and keep using? Turning to bad eating habits is no different than giving in to a crack habit. I actually never sought counseling before or after WLS because I never had issues with the process. In fact, I found it quite easy to lose and maintain when everything was rose colored and happy. But when my best friend committed suicide last year, I knew I couldn't cope on my own. I was depressed, angry, sad, confused, and ready to put a bullet into my head as well. But since I couldn't do that to my parents, I had to figure out another option. I REFUSED to turn to my old standbys of food and alcohol....but that's all I knew how to do. After all, I spent 18 months drunk and gaining weight after my brother died. I was really good at it. With no relief in sight, I finally sought the help of a grief counsellor. I'm not saying it was a magical fix, I still struggle and I barely function through my fog of grief some days. But I'm still here and I am learning new coping mechanisms. We don't even talk about weight related issues because that's not the problem. The grief is the problem. And for most people who have WLS, eating isn't really the problem, either, life's stressors are the problem. You just don't know any other way to cope besides turning to food. But in the end WLS is a waste of time and money if you don't address the REAL reasons behind why you abuse food. You've GOT to learn how to deal with life without using food to cushion the blows. If time or money are constraints to getting help, there are alternatives. OA is free. Larger cities, hospitals, even churches have free support groups. It doesn't have to be bariatric specific support. It isn't about what to eat and what not to eat......You already know all that. It's about dealing with an addiction and learning new life skills. Even something as simple as meditation or yoga can be helpful. Smart Recovery is a very good addiction recovery program and an alternative to the better known 12 step programs like AA and OA. Its based more in CBT and treats addiction like a behavior that you have the ability to change rather than treating you like a victim of a disease. They have online forums and meetings, in person meetings, and the handbook to get started on your own is just $8.00. I've found it very empowering and a nice supplement to my counseling. There is no shame in seeking help. Life is hard and sometimes we need a stronger hand than our own to drag us through the worst parts. (Sorry for the long rant)

Oh that wasn’t my first drinking with a post-wls bod. im 3 years out now and drink quite regularly (bring on the concerned comments, I’m ready!) my fIrst attempt at alcohol was 3-4 weeks post. I had maybe two sips of red wine and it slightly burned a little and I swear I could feel it travel down my intestines. With so little drank, it had no effect on me. second attempt was closer to 2 months post had a few sips of a sugary soju drink and I had a several hour long dumping episode. Not pretty. I probably had 5 or so PARTIAL drinks my ENTIRE weight loss phase. It got me tipsy quickly even with small amounts of less than 1/3 a drink, and I could tell I wouldn’t be able to drive….but I also sobered up really quickly. fast forward to now and i can drink maybe 2 drinks in succession (like in under an hour) and be pretty toasted…if I nurse the drinks over a period of time I can keep from getting too drunk. And I still sober up really quick. oh and I mostly stay away from sugary mixers if I can help it…

Hi Everyone! I survived my horrid school administrator's exam last Saturday. I sure hope I did well enough so I don't have to do that ever again--3 two-hour blocks of solid writing (and a real bargain with its $500 price tag--NOT)! One more awful test to go on July 14th--another 6-hour writing marathon. This one is worse because I have to memorize all kinds of people and laws. If I don't screw up, I'll be done school at the end of August. I can't wait to be out from under this constant stress--I'm getting too old for this crap! I wanted to tell everyone how much better I feel now that I've read that some of you are having some struggles too. I'm glad that I'm not alone. I haven't been able to go to any of my local support group meetings because I've been in school every Thursday night for months (which is when the meetings are held of course). I started off SO well that I'm really ticked off at myself for letting my weight loss practically come to a dead stop! I just couldn't keep everything going at once. I didn't want to go for my fill this week because I knew that I hardly lost anything. I am SO grateful that I haven't gained any weight though. I guess that things could be worse! Although I haven't suffered any great tragedies or anything, life has just gotten totally out of control. I haven't had time to exercise or to plan out and prepare my food. ARGH! I can't say I'm doing poorly because of the band (it's staying tight) or because I'm drinking alcohol or eating whole cheesecakes or bonbons. It just boils down to not having the time to plan and pay attention to my eating plan. I've got to fix that now! So, because I got mad about the time I've wasted, I kicked myself in the butt. I pulled out all the paperwork from when I had my surgery and reread everything. I started my food log back up and broke out the old measuring cups. I have to go shopping tomorrow to make sure I actually have something decent to eat in the house (too tired to shop last weekend). I'm going to walk on the treadmill when I'm done writing this. If I'm really anal, maybe I'll catch up with where I should be with my weight loss. On the positive side, I bought a bathing suit 2 sizes smaller than the one I wore last summer. I'm trying not to beat myself up too much because I at least have kept off the weight I've lost so far, which is a little something to build on! I guess the bottom line is that we have got to hold it together so we can get to our goal weight! Hang in there, we can do this!

So, how was your first time introducing alcohol into your new body?

Still screwing off at work. I had lunch with the cute guy and another co-worker. Ummmm, why is he 26? And why is he oh so bold? And why was I just gushing on the inside? I had to go home and change my pannies. (j/k) Seriously though, he is just a sweet sweet sweet young man. I keep reminding myself to keep a professional distance. KNOWING I wanted to put my hand on his leg under the table. Or twist my foot around his. I think I'm smoking crack. We've been emailing this afternoon... Naughty naughty me. He said he can keep a secret, and doesn't kiss and tell. HA! As for the ex. The only reason he's an ex is because I moved out of town. That's the short version. Long version: He was separated from his wife and was not entirely ready to start dating. He was up front about it. His wife & kids were (and still are) in Australia. So we were friends for over 2 years, hanging out and taking trips together. We had a lot of fun. And an opportunity arose, and I moved to FL. So it's not like he betrayed me or was violent, etc. It was just bad timing. I now live in his home town. And he's divorced. Regardless, he didn't email me back when I told him it would make me happy to see him on my trip to Atlanta. That in and of itself is a sign that he's not interested and I'm mis-reading his cues, so EFF 'em. It's all so confusing as he sent me a b'day card on my b'day. Thanksgiving and Christmas cards... It's just a pile of mixed messages. The one thing that would make me happy is seeing him in a thinner body. I figure I'll be a solid 40 pounds thinner by April. And about 60 - 70 pounds thinner than the last time he saw me. He likes women with a little meat on their bones, and he always appreciated my body before. *sigh* Maybe I'm just hung up on the memory of him. On paper, he's the perfect match for me. But enough about that. B'man, you cracked me up. Mirror Mirror on the wall, indeed. Learn to accept a compliment gracefully. My Gramma taught me that. You deserve to be complimented, baby girl. Believe it! Kirsten - I bet that is a pound of water and nothing more. You'll flush it out in less than a week, watch and see. Plus the extra calories will boost your metabolism. I expect a big drop this week! StephC - "my hips ache" made me cackle. I bet they do! And sessy mama in the sweater. Don't you love a good semi-clingy sweater to accentuate your curves? I agree that the bangs would wear me out - I'd do them a bit shorter. And right on about calling the doc for a fill! I lost 2 more pounds since Thursday. I was astouned. We can do it, y'all! A question for you lush-ous bitches: When you drink, do you feel the effects of the alcohol quicker now that you're banded? What do you drink? I miss my beer, but won't do it to myself. I'm having that superbowl party, and think that I'm going to indulge in a glass or two of wine. Or maybe a martini. Okay, almost 3pm - let me wrap up my day. I'm leaving at 4. N.

Well, got back on the bike yesterday. Saturday was a mess. Apparently your body doesn't like you when you've "detox'ed" for 4 weeks then decided to fill it up with bad stuff like alcohol. I had the worse head ache, and my old body just ached. Not to mention I figured out another reason the weight wasnt moving. My monthly friend came to visit yesterday (gggrrr) :-( soooo Im sure THAT was been messing with my weight for the past week as well. I was crampy, bloated and grouchy all weekend. sooo much for fun. But I did get on my bike and pump out over 4 miles yesterday. Only about 20 minutes of riding, but I felt it was a good healthy "jolt" to my aching old body. Worked some of the bad out... Will be back on the elliptical tonight... need to get my crunches on too. I usually do a monthly pic at this time. I think I will wait till the end of the week -- hopefully, not so bloated and will have a few more days to tone some more things up before the dreaded PICTURES!! I feel tired.:faint: -- I do NOT want to be at work right now!!

What a couple weeks! I went to Vegas for a week, flew home last Thursday night and flew to Atlanta early Friday morning for a weekend of wonderful Auburn football. It was a wonderful time even though I have a terrible sinus infection/cold. Through all that.........eating out every meal.........tailgating at the football game.........consuming "some" alcoholic beverages.......getting no regular exercise........not drinking water like I should.......etc., etc.....I lost another 8 pounds. I don't understand it.........but I'm lovin' it. I plan to get back on track now that life should settle down. I had thought I would go for a third fill, but considering my weight loss, I think I will leave well enough alone. I can pretty much eat anything I want except bread. As long as I take my time and avoid liquids before and during eating I'm having no problems. Maybe I got lucky and found my sweet spot with my second fill. I may make my Christmas goal of Onederland. I'm so excited. I haven't caught up on all the posts but I hope everyone is doing ok.

Pinky: When I was in FA( Food Addicts Anonymous) a few years ago before surgery we followed the food plan guidelines in Kay Sheppard's book " Food Addiction the Body Knows". When I was on it I had lost 35 pounds in three months! The Rules: *Avoid all forms of sugar: sucrose, frustose, corn sweetners, dextrose, honey, syrup. Anything containing sugar such as soft drinks, cereals, seasoning, sauces etc. * Abstain from all forms of flour: Pasta, bread, pizza, crackers, bagles, pita bread, including wheat grains. Whatch for flour within products such as corn starch. * Eliminate all high fat-foods: nutsand fried foods. *Avoid all forms of chocolate including sugar-free. * Avoid all alcohol beverages! The food plan : Breakfast: 1 Dairy Selection 1 Protein Selection 1 Grain Selection 1 Fruit Selection Lunch: 1 Protein 1 Raw Vegetable 1 Cooked Vegetable Dinner: 1 Protein 1 Raw Vegwtable 1 Cooked Vegetable 1 Starchy Vegetable or Grain Before Bed: 1 Dairy and 1 Fruit Daily: 1 Tablespoon of Oil 1 oz. Sauce( optional) 1 Tablespoon Spice 6 servings Sweetners(optional) * The rest of the information about the food plan you can get from her site WWW.KAYSHEPPARD.COM I was following this plan right after I had surgery from June 13th until October 25 and lost 40 pounds! I then got my first fill on October 25th. Then I just followed my old Weidht Watchers plan books. Right now Iam going back to basics and Iam upping my exercise routine to three times a week at the gym. I hope that maybe this might also help you out. Love and friendship, Lisa

Yesterday I had about 3 bites of lunch when POW the golf ball. Good news is that I was able to recover after a few hours. No PB, just some gurgling and burping. Dinner was bean soup and chili con queso. This morning I felt great. Had my coffee before leaving for work. At work I fixed some Special K and a cup of coffee. Took one bite of cereal and umm started gurling and burping. I feel a little uncomfortable, but not bad. I guess the fill has kicked in and I'm on to a new way. Maybe I have restriction now in the mornings for real. I'll go slow and see where this all leads. I sent a big box of clothes off to Seattle. The bandster received it and can wear a few of the slacks. She thinks next month she will be able to wear most of what I sent. It feels good to help someone else. I have to go shopping this weekend to pick up a few pairs of slacks to get me by. I don't have much left in my closet I can wear. I LOVE IT. Julie good to hear from you. You are really rockin on your weight loss. I love your story Lucy about not being recognized. Makes you really realize what a difference you have made in your body. I know the feeling PinkyLee about the seats. The first time I could sit on the bus seat and have someone smile when I joined them was a big moment to me. Take the time this weekend, I am, to clean out the cupboards of the nasty stuff we don't need. It's not about willpower as much as it is about healthy living. An alcoholic shouldn't have to stash booze in the house to prove they can live without it. I'm throwing out the cashews, the candy, and whatever else is left from the holidays. Its in the trash or in a bag to take to work. The house will be clean of this stuff. (I hope I can do this).

Hey Leecee, I spent the weekend with my BF from San Jose, and we were in San Francisco also for an entire day, walking those hills, and riding the cable cars. I wonder if we passed each other and didn't even know. I was thrilled to weigh in this morning and learn I am .2 pounds from onederland. That motivated me to get out on a walk this morning. My anxiety levels are through the roof though. Shouldn't that increase my metabolism? Anyone have any ideas for relieving that panicky feeling without eating or drinking alcohol? I used to be on anti-depressants, which can help, but the ones that work also mess up your sex drive, and I'd like to avoid that.