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Hi all!! I'm new to the forum. I started my journey in July and my surgery date is set for the 22nd of this month!! Yesterday was my first day of the liquid diet. I noticed everyone is pretty much able to eat a little something or the liquid diet isn't that strict. Can I just say that I'm really jealous! My surgery is really really really strict. For 2 weeks it's CLEAR liquids only, besides the protein shakes. So I only get to have shakes, broth, jello & SF pops. That's it. No SF gum, because of the sugar alcohol. Ah well, it's worth it. I do have to say, I"M STARVING! LOL! Is that bad? It's only been a day and a half. I'm worried I'm going to bite my families head off and kabob them. Did you/are you all dropping weight really really fast in the liquid diet? I've dropped 5 lbs. since yesterday. That's not right. It must be all water because I've been in the restroom every half hour. Crazy! My spouse doesn't believe me, it's that crazy! Good luck to everyone getting their surgery today! I'm excited to get to know everyone.

I read about one lawsuit where a paroled drug or alcohol offender had his parole revoked because he did not complete the terms of the required substance abuse program he was in. Apparently, he was Catholic and the center was Protestant-based. He was told that his religion was witchcraft and that he should convert. When he refused to convert, they said he did not finish the program.

Nor should we condone it either and let the cycle continue. One would assume the kids would want to better themselves so they don't end up like their parents! My grandfather was an ironworker drank up a storm. My dad is one of the most anti alcohol people I know and their family never got any hand outs or anything "special". They were dirt poor and managed to survive somehow. It can be done, come from absolutely NOTHING and make something of yourself to have a better life for themselves and their family w/o all this gov't "assistance".

Haydee and laura, so excited for you both....2 lil beebee girls..went out for dinner and had 2 margies...and enchiladas...yummmm-hopefully we get to stop for lunch when we get by my sisters' for a margie lunch...omg..am I becoming an alcoholic??? Saw a pic of Kat on FB-did she go to wedding too??/ Curious...was wondering if any contact was made with the "others". Ok, going to bed, gonna be on the road early --allegedely....:redface:

Hi Loridee, 30 pounds cool start! Deal Breakers, definite Abusive behaviour be it Drugs, alcohol, mental, physical, drama queens and LIARS I have found that often times where a littany of excuses lead BS follows. Boy am I cranky, strarting to feel effects of that darn unfill!!! I could eat my !@#R$@^%^& *(&*&^%^$# $#$@# coffee table right now!! Three weeks to refill :-( JC

You are absolutely right. The bypass definitely makes alcohol a big fat no-no. For sure it can create an alcoholic out of somebody who never had a problem very quickly. But the sleeve is not the same thing Thank goodness and I never had a problem with drinking alcohol in the past but I certainly enjoy a glass of wine from time to time. I had 3 oz of white wine last night over 2 hours. I never once felt buzzed and I enjoyed it very much with a little bit of cheese. As for soda I have never been a big soda drinker. I can't drink caffeine I can't tolerate it for the last four or five years I have had no caffeine in my life and I'm better off for it. And soda doesn't call to me thank goodness. I'm good with water. Every now and then I have Crystal light but I actually get bored of Crystal light and crave plain water.

i would slit my wrists and pour alcohol over them if my MIL moved closer than the hr away from us that she is now. ok - that was dramatic, but still......that would be a HUGE pill to swallow. i would have PB&J out for them this evening for diner and take your son out to eat.:smile:

Walks in hanging head low in shame. The amount of alcohol I drank tonight should not have fit into my body. I don't know what was more fun - the drinking to excess and not caring since it's a rarity for me, enjoying bar food and the fact that it stayed down or the ridiculous flirting going on between myself and my out of town friend who is 8 years my junior - damn he's hot though! (ok so not really a contest but it made for an amazing night) Plain - forget the roofies - I use propofol on almost a daily basis at work

Now that makes sense! But of course it eliminates the possibility of me enjoying this concoction. Which leads me to the topic of alcohol...last weekends discussion was on Mojito's. What shall the drink of this weekend be?

People with the TAS2R38 genotype have a heightened sensitivity to bitter taste. Their genetic makeup includes a gene discovered in 2003 that controls the presence of receptors for a bitter-tasting compound called 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP). Scientists believe that the presence or absence of this gene can help account for individual taste preferences and eating habits. A study published in February 2005 found that children who had this gene were more partial to sweet beverages and foods than those without it (though this effect seemed to wear off by adulthood, when race/ethnicity was the strongest determinant). Researchers theorized that these children may be less likely to find vegetables palatable, which could limit their intake of important nutrients. On the plus side, an earlier study suggested that those with the TAS2R38 gene were less likely to indulge in underage alcohol consumption, experiencing it as more bitter and irritating than do those without the gene. Nutritionists hope that this type of information will help improve dietary planning for children. We were just discussing this on another thread I am on regularly. It was a subject on a Nova Science program. It was common among the group of us, that those of us who disliked broccoli, cauliflower and brussel sprouts as kids, were also the ones who disliked bitter alcohols. And some of them who really liked those foods, even find swishing VINEGAR in their mouths to NOT be horrid! There were of course exceptions to the rule--but it was kind of interesting...... Not of course as interesting as hot handy men, or sponge baths given by hot handy men, or giving sponge baths TO hot handy men......deep, deep sigh.......

PJTP...Getting ready to go to lunch with friends, but...since I'm a PJTP addict, I had to check in! It was...interesting...picked up a pair of "slim fit" capris, didn't see the "slim fit" part until I got into the changing room. It was okay, though - I got them on, buttoned up and zipped! And I could still breathe! Now I didn't like how my legs looked in them (I still have big legs) so I didn't buy them, but I'm thrilled I FIT into a 14! My DDMIL (dear departed mom-in-law) had a problem with my SIL's marrying her partner also. It took my DH pointing out that they have been together as a couple longer than any of the other folks in the family to make her see that they KNOW how to do it right... you couldn't have planned that if you wanted to! *Ebony sighs heavily* Can't wait until I get off the diabetes meds so I can get seriously trashed! Mine will be non-alcoholic, but still...I'm in! Off to lunch shortly...have a great afternoon, Everyone! :wub:

Ok, so DH has decided that the mojito is his new favorite drink. He is actually drinking a virgin mojito right now. He said that he can't handle the alcohol tonight, but loves the taste (even with the mint that he didn't think he liked Friday). He seems to think that mojitos with tacos would be an awesome combo. I can't believe he tried it in the first place so him liking it is surprising.

My mom is an amazing cook! When she and my dad were first married (pre VHS/DVD) she used to find out what was being prepared on that days Julia Child episode on PBS get out her cookbooks and measure and chop ingredients and then do the prep with the show so she got it just right. She said she'd go through 2 lbs of butter in a week cooking or just the two of them. Once as a child I had asked for a Twinkie like my friends had. I wanted to try one. My mom got so annoyed! She said she'd show me what Twinkies were supposed to taste like and bought me an eclair. When I was really young we lived overseas in a place where you couldn't even buy Pasta or cheese in the stores... so she made them by hand. Seriously, she can make liver taste amazing. All it takes is a mustard cream sauce. However by the time I was a little older there were five kids and my dad was seriously focused on not dying at 52 as his dad had. So the regular meal became salad, rice (often brown), a steamed vegetable, and broiled chicken. Liver for Breakfast on the weekends. Snacks and special recipes came out of the Pritiken Promise cookbook and my mom was miserable as cooking was her primary creative outlet. Weekly trips to a french restaurant after my piano lessons were a bonding activity for us and while my dad was at work we did eat a fair amount of fast food but by no means every day. My siblings never had weight issues as kids and I didn't really until I was in puberty. While the others occasionally have issues with weight as adults they seem to have had better luck with it just being a blip that happens in response to stress or injury that they then get under control whereas I have been overweight since my teens. I think that was in part because as the oldest and a girl I had to fight the hardest to be allowed to play sports. My parents were living over seas in a place gender equality is still an absurd idea during the whole get your girls playing sports things and holy crap when we got back I had to FIGHT to even be allowed to play soccer and didn't succeed until I was 10. All I had was swimming as that was a safety issue as we lived in a beach town so being a really good swimmer was very important. But food has always been how my mom comforted us and how she comforted herself. The same with several of her siblings who also have serious weight issues. So it was less about knowing what was healthy and more about not having a healthy emotional outlet.... at least it wasn't alcohol? Also she really hated being the only fat one in the family, so when I'd start to diet, the same woman who wouldn't buy Twinkies would buy double stuff Oreos which are my kryptonite.

@@melyssafaye that's a common misconception. Truvia is actually a blend of stevia, sugar alcohols and other ingredients I can't pronounce. I can't say that it's bad for you but it's produced by Coca Cola which makes me suspicious. Though that may just me being paranoid!

Caffeine is usually restricted for the first few months in a virgin DS/SADI surgery to help prevent dehydration. You may not have this restriction put on you since you already have your sleeve and should keep food and fluids down fine post-op since they probably won't resleeve you unless yours was done wrong. Even if they put you on caffeine restriction, it is only for a little while. There is no reason to restrict it long term, it doesn't harm the digestive system. My partner loves to dine out and we don't have kids, so I've been eating out since a month after surgery. I am careful with my choices, the first thing I ate out was grilled swordfish and sauteed green beans. It was fine. I've since eaten Thai curries (mild), pho without the noodles (they put veggies instead), sashimi, fajitas with guacamole and cheese sauce (no tortillas, rice, or beans), steak (ribeye is my favorite and digests better now than it even did pre-op), wings, traditional Chinese food (nothing fried, no rice), Peruvian chicken, the list goes on and on. I try to stick to protein/veggie options. Anything I wanted to eat at a restaurant I tried to have a version of at home first to know how it would affect me. I tolerate most things pretty well, though it seems my digestive system prefers baby spinach over iceburg or romaine lettuce, but that's not a huge sacrifice. And I can't eat beans at all, but I never really tolerated them pre-op either. Also I try not to have too many cruciferous veggies at once (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage), as they cause bloating, but I had that problem before surgery too. (I have had IBS and an inflammatory bowel disease since I was a teenager.) That said I try to make healthy choices in general whether eating out or eating at home. DS patients don't really need to restrict fat because we malabsorb so much of it (regardless of what the dieticians tell you) and SADI patients can eat a moderate amount of fat as they malabsorb a moderate amount of fat. Too much fat in one sitting can cause diarrhea, but you'd have to really make an effort to do that, and any bariatric surgery other than the sleeve can cause that issue. Coke Zero does not have sugar alcohols in it, it has Splenda, so it is fine from that perspective. Carbonation is only an issue if it bloats your sleeve. However, it can cause you to be hungry faster, or cause gas due to the air bubbles, so it isn't the best habit to have long term. But it won't piss off your intestines. I switched to unsweetened iced tea and carry Splenda or Equal packets with me! Sugar alcohols are things like erythritol, xylitol, and malitol. Allulose can also cause gastric upset depending on how tolerant you are of it. I can usually have a little of any of those, but more than a tablespoon and I'll be in the bathroom half the night. 🤣

Guh! I HATE meds that have to be taken on an empty stomach This (IMO) is the ultimate band "secret". Learning the difference between "sated" and "full" is the holy grail. I worked a retail job while I was in respiratory school. There is nothing, NOTHING (IMO...again) like a job in the medical field that will make you hate people. Don't get me wrong, I still love the work. It's just that medical folk often see people at their absolute worst. That's the Irene I know! Kick ass!! I'm pretty comfortable, but everybody is different. There's no "cookie cutter" appraoch. Yeah, I never saw the logic of using anti-gas meds with the lapband. Gas-X is basically a "detergent" that breaks down the surface area of a gas bubble (think rubbing alcohol on a soap bubble) in the digestive track, so the individual can...well...fart it out. The gas from the lapband surgery is inside the abdominal cavity, but outside the digestive system. But hey, if some folks find relief with the gas-x, more power to them!

Hi all, New to the forum and have been feeling a bit overwhelmed at times with all the info I found on my google searches I get sleeve surgery on July 4th! I am equal parts excited for the new journey and scared for what is ahead. I have yo-yo'd for years and like other posters here I like to follow a food plan but do wish others would give it to me rather than the handout I got from the hospital with a sample of a one liquid soup recipe and a list of food groups. I do well with lists and instructions (yes, I am a bit of a control freak) so it is the unknown that freaks me out the most. I have tried to do some food prep but find it all a bit overwhelming. For who I have told, it has just been my Mum (though I presume she told me Dad ), my two sisters, my boss (to discuss time off work) and three friends. I don't want to say it at work in advance but figure I will have to say it when I get back to the office after a month off 'sick'. Also my new eating and drinking habits will be noticeable in a small office. The clinic here that I go to haven't given me any pre-op advice on cutting down on foods in advance so I decided as of June 1st to give up alcohol for the month in advance so it is not too much of shock post-op. I am not an alcoholic but I do love a glass of wine (or 2) in the evening or a cocktail (or 4) on an evening out and a lot of my social life revolves around drinking with colleagues & friends so I think going forward that may be hard. I am trying my best to make healthy choices for food in the run up to the op, but again as a control freak, I would have preferred that the clinic gave me strict instructions to follow in the lead up to surgery. I know my faults (when it comes to food ) are that a lot of the time I eat too quickly, without even noticing, and I eat too much and often don't know/realise I am full so I am really hoping I find the transition to slow and mindful eating goes smoothly. For me, my weight has caused considerable knee pain and starting to cause ankle pain but then it is a vicious circle as they are too sore to do much to help me loose weight. I am hoping the op will make it easier on my knees to walk comfortably and eventually take up exercise. I know I need a knee replacement but the ortho surgeon said my knees were too fat for him to be comfortable in carrying out a successful op so that is my longer goal, as well as weight loss and being health to have bionic knees

Hi, @RedE2goAimee! Thanks for sharing! I'm with you on watching vlogs and reading articles, and having a good friend to answer questions. I'm of the "no such thing as too much information" mindset 🙂 Kudos on eliminating caffeine and alcohol! I started off caffeine when I started my 4-week pre-op diet plan last week and the headaches have been mild but constant. But I know it's for my health, so I can bear it. Yay for better sleep! Wow, a liquid diet on vacation, that's setting the bar high for yourself! But you can do it! You'll have many more vacations in the future because of this health decision, right?

Oregon is a great place to live! I think you are obsessed! You are always making me want to drink!! I seriously need to run out and by some alcohol! You're still typing, can't be too many! Lifting mojitos is just exercise, silly! And I bet your middle name is MOM! Yeah on the interview! Crossing my fingers for you! I looked at my hair today and it scared me! I thought I had some lovely blond streaks from the summer sun - wrong! I need my yearly cut and color before school starts so I made the phone call! Time to head out for dog agility! Fun, fun! Have a nice evening!

Just remember to take it slow. Our bodies absorb alcohol differently now.

Vanna - I don't think some people will ever understand the reasons that made this surgery a necessity in our lives. These folks also probably think that if you have a drug or alcohol addiction that you are week and just need to get your shit together. Forget about them, they are not you and they are not the ones that support you in helping you to make a positive change in your life. We will run across these yahoos throughout our lives and we just need to let them be crazy all by themselves! Stand strong. BTW- I'm siting on exam table waiting for staples to come out! I am down 30 lbs from SW! Vanna - you have lots of support from our Losers Bench!

So ... today is my birthday. I am having kind of a down day Birthdays are normally a big deal in my family. Parties, alcohol, and lots of food. I am way out of my element right now. I feel like I can't celebrate my birthday at all. I hate this feeling! I keep telling myself over and over I did this for myself, this is my present to myself. It's just hard to except no celebration for my one day. I know I know I should not think like this and I am beyond grateful for the opportunity I have been given. It's just a hard day :/ Also on the negative my husband has to work all day and I wont be able to see him at all on my birthday End rant! Thank you all for listening. Hope all is going well with everyone.

These pxts of our alcohol stashes are fabulous. Don’t feel nearly as guilty now - tee hee! I love a good cocktail napkin. Your mum is the best @WishMeSmaller. I love a good martini. Gin of course & plenty of olives - gotta get your daily serve of fruit in. A friend used to make a pretty mean chocolate martini but he’s in Denmark now - waah! And there used to be a great little cafe/restaurant in Brisbane that made a to die for lychee martini too. So good! And I so do enjoy the salty goodness of a margarita. Ok @WishMeSmaller, @BayougirlMrsS & @ms.sss we just need to find a date for our cocktail party. Welcome @dms75. Hope to see lots more of your posts. We do go off on tangents sometimes,, like fridge shots, here sometimes but it adds to the fun.

Red Robin - Feb. 7 (please copy and paste) Dynamo (Michelle) Brandy Mal Woofay Bookholder dee~ John t Lydia Anyone Else????? It would be amazing to have 8 of us. I think I want a round table again, because it is so much better for talking. We can pull up a couple of chairs if we need to. Hi Everyone - I am having a day off from exercise. Whew! These old bones get tired after 4 days in a row. Usually I do 3 days on 1day off 2 days on 1 day off - so I get my 5 times a week. But I didn't work out because I was in the mountains. I was sorry I missed the Oprah show. I did get to the caucus last night, what a crazy event. I was at Grandview High School as an Independent, so I couldn't vote, but I helped register everyone in the room I was in. There were so many people, they ran out of forms. The parking lot was gridlock for 45 minutes. However, it is going to be year of choice which is nice for a change. My eating is back under control. I hate being human. Although I think it is the alcohol that I drank in the mountains that puts me into a nose dive. Must be the carb thing. Well, I am looking forward to seeing all of you soon. Michelle

Hello Friends! Thanksgiving was a piece of cake. Hope you all enjoyed the fellowship of friends more appealing than food. Wow, what a feeling to not be so focused on food. I find myself still THINKING that I can eat a few things or portions. Greetings and well wishes to you all. How was your Black Friday? I stuck to my TJ MAXX and two other stores, avoided the malls, was in for the walking and less about sales and spent some quality time with my "daughter" (former foster child) who we've absorbed as part of our clan. She is married now and came up to spend the night. Great time. Wishing you all healthy choices. I'm in a good place, I've got great retriction. THE BEST. I think I should have been here months ago but who knew??? The band reminds me of getting married. New things, new way of living. Time to find the zone. Signing off today with this from my OA group. For years I thought the worst thing that could happen to a nice person (guy) like me would be that I would turn out to be coe (alcoholic). Today, I find it's the best thing that has ever happened to me. This proves I don't know what's good for me. And if I don't know what's good for me, then I don't know what's good or bad for u or for anyone. So I'm better off if I don't give advice, don't figure I know what's best, & just accept life on life's terms, As it is today especially my own life, as it actually is. AABB, 3RD EDITION PAGE 450 ... ... ... These very wise words include the rooms of OA. ... It is better that I allow other coes their personal experience including their mistakes without judging their shares. ... I have made this mistake many times until I came to realize that personal shares no matter how sick are part of someone elses journey. ... My best response is not to react; only to set an example of acceptance while keeping my shares in the soul-u-tion. ... Here is a story I would like to tell you about making judgments. ... There once was a family that lived in Astonia, near Poland, & there was a couple with one teen age son living there. Now, Astonia was a very small country & it was surrounded by countries that were at war. This family was very poor because of the war, & they had little food to eat. One day a beautiful white stallion came running into the family's corral. The son went running in to tell his father that there was a horse in the corral, & he said, "Isn't this a wonderful thing father? Now we can use the horse to go into town & get some work to buy some food!" And, the father said, "Well son, I don't know if this is a bad thing or a good thing, we shall see." Two weeks later, the boy was riding this big white horse & he fell off & broke both of his legs! All the townsfolk came to see the boy, & said, "This is a very bad thing that this horse came into your coral, because now your son has broken both of his legs." And the father said, "We shall see, I don't know if this is a bad thing or a good thing, we shall see." A week after the accident, the militia came marching through the town & took every young man to join the army. Now this army was going right to the front of the fighting in Russia & these young men would surely die. So all the folks came to the father and said, "Now this is a wonderful thing that your son fell off of the horse & broke both of his legs, because now he does not have to go to fight at the front where he would surely be killed." And, the father said, "I don't know if this is a bad thing or a good thing, we shall see." So, the moral of the story is, DON'T JUDGE IF THIS IS A BAD THING OR A GOOD THING. ... Many times I have thought that being a compulsive overeater is a BAD thing, ... Today, just as Dr. Paul experienced, I find it was the best that could happen to me. ... So many situations in my life, I could continue to react to like dysfunctional parenting & childhood abuse. ... Today I see them as stepping stones to maturity. ... Then there was difficult pregnancies & widowhood at 26. ... At first, these paralyzed me, with the application of the 12 steps, I find them to be powerful gifts. ... Finally, I watch my parents face aging & Alzheimer's with compassion & a discerning attitude. ... Their gifts have become my gifts too! ... GOMU has taught me patience in making decisions. I choose to slow down, watch,learn, practice discernment. ... Speaking of discernment, most of all, every day I practice the discipline of counting my blessings!!! ... My disease of coe comes with a solution for living life on life's terms!!! ... Just for today, I have a life that truly is not only beyond my wildest dreams; ... I simply couldn't image choosing not to coe let alone the other blessings I've been given with unlimited possibilities. ... B4 OA, they told me to get a life! ... Well I did, & it isn't worth trading for one morsel nor even a binge full of extra food. ... ...