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I eat because i am a food addict. I LOVE FOOD. Food for me is the same as alcohol or drugs or cigarettes are for some. The reason the band has worked amazingly well for me is that it physically stops me in my tracks from being able to over indulge in my addiction. Does it stop me from wanting to eat (aka head hunger) HELL NO. Does it stop true hunger, not for me, what the band does is allow me to eat a small portion that is just enough to satisfy the real hunger and be done.

My doc says no alcoholic drinks for 6 months to a year and no caffein ever again. I've started drinking de-caf tea and I'll probably go to de-caf coffee when it gets cold again. I'm putting lemon or lime in my water and it helps so much. GB

So what about us heavy drinkers. I don't want to sound like an alcoholic but I do some serious partying on occasion. Obviously carbonation is a problem but is there anything else about alcohol that causes issues? Basically I want to know if I will have a problem getting buzzed up at parties.

I have some questions relating to alcohol AND cigarettes. I don't want to sound alcoholic, but one of my ways of releasing stress is a night out drinking chatting with friends. I don't drink beer, but I drink coolers, cocktails or shooters. Coolers like Bicardi pineapple... Can I have like 3 coolers in one night once a month or something? :smile2: I am an occasional smoker, smoke once/twice a day, or none a day. When I drink alcohol I tend to smoke more, but I'm going to limit my drinking and going out after being banded, so I'll only drink about once a month (if that's allowed). Do i have to quit smoking? Is 3 coolers one night "allowed"? Did anyone go through the same thing? :frown: I'm having consultation with my surgeon May 1st this friday :biggrin: If things go well, I'll be on Meditrim and get ready to get banded within the next 2, 3 weeks.

The bad breath comes from your body being in ketosis. I've never had the "bad" breath, but I had a sweet taste in my mouth all the time back when I lost a bunch of weight real fast on MediFast. Besides adding in some carbs to your diet to bring you back out of ketosis, the best thing I know to do is drink more Water. Being dehydrated seems to make it worse. And use alcohol-free mouthwash/breath treatments for the same reason. As for your hair, I've had that happen as well, no matter how much Biotin I took. My doc told me it's your body's natural reaction to stress, in this case what it perceives to be starvation. Your hair will grow back, but it might some time. But just to be on the safe side, have your doc run some tests. As I found out a little too late, hypothyroidism can cause hair loss as well! Best wishes to you!!

Hi Serenedeer I've been in recovery in AA for 5 year. Got the band not quiet 2 weeks ago myself. I'm worried about my ism's as well. What new and wonderful addictive and destructive behavour can I dream up to take the place of food... or even better.. will I dream up creative ways to beat and band and set myself up for failer. Oh yah,,the ism's are there. I went to an AA meeting tonight and although it was about alcohol, it applied to weight loss to me now. In an odd way, the band is my higher power right now. I have to accept it, use it as it should be used. I do have a real higher power but this twisted way of thinking kinda helped me make it work.

uhh i wouldnt plan on drinking that many..if u need "chase" it with a beer and spit the alcohol back into the beer

Anyone can go to a party. Its whether you go to a party and can stay strong. Rule of thumb so early out? If it is nutritionally bad for you? Don't eat it - it'll make you feel awful. Try and identify the 'better' options around the table. Or better still, eat before you go to avoid having to eat whilst you're there, drink something with no carbonation, avoid alcohol and enjoy the company and surroundings. Doesn't always have to be about the food, so make the company, surroundings and music your focus instead. If it gets tough? Leave early. Your friend will be happy that you showed and you'll be happy that you socialised but managed to stay strong. A party is not an interview with the firing squad! Well, it shouldn't be! Best of luck

I think I was pretty much exactly where you are at 3 months post op! My team went one step further and didn't give me ANY goals at all. Just food consistency phases. I learned how to eat and what to eat mainly by reading this forum. I think I still had to push myself to reach 800 calories a day - I remember at that stage often having to take a few spoons of nut butter or some cheese at bedtime just to hit the 800 some nights but I never wanted to eat any less than that. I was drinking alcohol at weekends by then too so my intake was well over 1000 on two days a week - that was by choice though. It may have slowed my weight loss a little but luckily it didn't stop me reaching goal. I mainly walked, but I walked *very* fast and did (still do) it several days a week. I have never adjusted my intake to make allowances for that - never felt the need. I was very conscious of squeezing every pound of loss that I could over the 'honeymoon period' when I wasn't hungry - with my own personal concession being a couple of glasses of wine on Fri and Sat night. Over the months my calories have kind of drifted upwards really - never planned. I can just eat a bit more before I get full, and I get properly hungry now which forces me to eat again at the most 3 hours later - at 3 months out I was pretty much eating by the clock to get 100 or so calories in every 2-3 hours. You had your surgery almost exactly a year after me and you started 4lbs heavier. I've just looked at my diary and this time last year I was...218lb exactly, same as you today. What are the chances? You are doing brilliantly. 😍

It depends really, it's pretty personal, not everyone is effected the same way. I haven't had much issues with Stevia and other alternatives, high levels of sugar alcohols case some discomfort, but I haven't had any classic dumping from any substitutes.

Two weeks should be fine. I also have a desk job, and realistically could have returned to work after a week. I was tired for a few days after surgery, but that went away at around day four. At six months out, I can eat anything that I want. I try to eat clean for the most part, but do have "bad for you" foods on occasion. I had a few alcoholic drinks at 4 1/2 months out (New Years Eve). I was fine, and didn't overdo it. I haven't had drinks since, because I just haven't felt like it. I did make myself throw up once a few months ago. I normally weigh and measure my food, and on that particular occasion, I was out to eat with friends. I either overate, or ate too fast (or a combination of the two). Long story short, I ended up vomiting. I was really pissed at myself, because I tried hard to keep this from happening. Since then, I have practiced asking for a to-go box when my food arrives. I then pack away everything except for what looks like a handful. I eat that, and take the rest home. It is all trial and error, and you learn from your mistakes.

Yep that's more than 10lbs a month which is fantastic. I agree with Jessiquoi. We need measurable data. You also should consider curbing any alcohol for awhile. Reason being that it is carby and when your body burns, it will burn the alcohol before it burns any fat. Our rule is always Protein first. If you're sticking to that, you should be fine. Your loss is GREAT. I know it's hard but try not to compare yourself to others, especially because a person losing 70 lbs in 5 months may have started MUCH heavier than you did and therefore they have more to lose. Eventually EVERYONE slows down... there's no race, so do it right, not fast!

So, I got a text message from my DH last night (and that doesn't mean Dear anything!). Text message said, basically, "File our divorce papers now!" We've been separated since June. I came home from the hospital June 3 on 3 kinds of oxygen. He got ticked because I didn't know what was for dinner that night @@ and broke every dish in our house. I moved out a few days later. I've been doing everything I know how to a. get healthier mentally and physically and b. have even gone to marriage counseling with him, which was useless because he thinks everything is ALL my fault. He's an alcoholic, which he hid from me till after we got married. Now he's in full bloom again. I guess we just weren't meant to be. So, to keep this on topic, can I count this as losing 180 pounds of unnecessary crap in a hurry?

Lissa, I "liked" your post - you are very brave and I know going through this is very hurtful. My Sister married an alcoholic after dating two alcoholics. They werent back-toback-to back but I can tell you you are much better off filing for a divorce. Reoccurence in alcoholics is high, and the chances of an enabler changing the situation for an alcoholic is slim. I dated an alcoholic for awhile and we were very serious, until they wrapped their graduation present around an oak tree. It may sound horrible but what if they hadn't? I would have probably spent years and years putting up with an escalating situation that could already get bad at times. I would have never met my wonderful Spouse, left the town I really needed to get out of...you are out, and you see it for what it is. Be brave. Be prepared too. Do what you need to to be protected. Get your handgun license if you don't have it yet. Please don't take offense. I didn't say you needed to get a gun, i just said get the license. The license takes longer, and you don't want to be two or three months out from legally carrying one if you decide you need to. This step, from what I observed with people I knew, can be really hard. This is the physical and spiritual representation of your marriage, and you are going to have to separate all of this out. Be really careful, get a lawyer and email me if you ever need to talk.

Carbs are sneaky. "Carb Creep" will get you every time. I suspect they are higher than you realize. Re-count. When (hint to self) I get on a low carb diet I have to be no more more than 25-40 grams a DAY to lose anything. Also, look at total carbs, not the carb minus Fiber or sugar alcohol-but total carbs. sugar free is not carb free. Additionally, since the carbs are at night they are not getting burned off. (So for example, 3 Popsicle pops at 4 grams each is 12 grams at the very end of the day). The Premier shake has 5 total-so then there is 10 grams there. Plus, now you have dressing (check the carb count and the amount you are using). Then everything else. Try pickle pops to curb sugar urges and add more Water? More water might help.

I just ran across this article this morning. I am on Omeprazole for heartburn. (CNN) - Sometimes, solving one problem only creates another. Millions of Americans take proton pump inhibitors to treat acid reflux and heartburn. Known as PPIs, they are among the most prescribed drugs in the United States and are widely available over the counter. But according to preliminary research presented today at an American Heart Association conference in New Orleans, these medications may also increase the risk of ischemic stroke. Ischemic strokes are the most common type of stroke, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They occur when a blood clot cuts off blood flow to the brain. "PPIs have been associated with unhealthy vascular function, including heart attacks, kidney disease and dementia," said Dr. Thomas Sehested, the study's lead author and a researcher at the Danish Heart Foundation. "We wanted to see if PPIs also posed a risk for ischemic stroke, especially given their increasing use in the general population." Most serious warning yet The research was conducted in Denmark among a quarter-million patients who suffered from stomach pain and indigestion, and were taking one of four PPIs: Prilosec, Protonix, Prevacid or Nexium. Overall stroke risk increased 21% among patients who were taking a PPI, according to the study. At the lowest doses, the authors found either no or minimal increased risk of stroke. At the highest doses, they found that stroke risk increased 33% for Prilosec and Prevacid patients, 50% for Nexium patients and 79% for Protonix patients. In an email to CNN, P&G, the company that makes Prilosec, said the drug is an "FDA approved, safe and effective remedy to relieve frequent heartburn symptoms. Prilosec OTC has the longest history of safe and effective consumer use of any [over the counter] PPI." Takeda, the maker of Prevacid, said it could not comment on the results and conclusions of the study until the full data is published for review. "Patient safety is a top priority ... and we continuously monitor the safety of all our medicines and collaborate with regulatory agencies to ensure this information is reflected in the respective prescribing information," a spokesman said in an email to CNN. AstraZeneca, the maker of Nexium, said, "Patient safety is an important priority ... and we believe all of our PPI medicines are generally safe and effective when used in accordance with the label." A spokeswoman said the company was not consulted during the research, so it could not comment on the data. Pfizer, the maker of Protonix, did not respond to CNN's request for comment. "At one time, PPIs were thought to be safe, without major side effects," Sehested said. "This study further questions the cardiovascular safety of these drugs." For years, doctors have questioned whether too many people are taking heartburn drugs. A pair of 2010 studies found that PPIs were associated with an increased risk of a serious bacterial infection. Stomach acid seems to play a role in killing off both good and bad bacteria in our gut. When someone is taking PPIs, their amount of stomach acid is reduced, and it creates an environment in which bacteria can flourish. "As a culture, we tend to want a pill to deal with our problems, when a lot of people could reduce their heartburn by eating smaller meals, drinking less alcohol or not smoking," Dr. Michael Katz, who wrote an editorial accompanying the studies, told CNN in 2010. In April, another study published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology found that patients who took PPIs had a 96% increased risk of kidney failure and a 28% increased risk of kidney disease, compared with those who were prescribed alternative medications. What are the alternatives? Medical professionals estimate that the majority of people who suffer from acid reflux or heartburn could drastically or completely reduce their discomfort by making a few lifestyle changes: quit smoking, lose weight and cut back on spicy and fatty foods. If your doctor determines that you do need pills for your problem, pharmacist NaaDede Badger-Plange suggests starting with an antacid, such as Tums, Rolaids or Maalox. "Antacids usually would help if you have less than one incident a week," Badger-Plange said. "So, if you have heartburn very rarely -- especially people who have heartburn associated with certain foods -- they could take antacids." Antacids provide quick relief, but only for a short amount of time, said Badger-Plange, and consumers should pay close attention to the ingredients on the label. If you're pregnant, you should avoid sodium bicarbonate and magnesium trisilicate. Patients with kidney disease should avoid antacids that contain aluminum. For longer-lasting relief, H2 antagonist medications (also called H2 blockers) are also an option, but they can take a few hours to kick in. "One thing to keep in mind is, certain products that are in the H2 receptor antagonist class have drug interactions," Badger-Plange said. "So, if you have a lot of medications, you probably want to check with your pharmacist at the counter to make sure it's OK to take those medications." As always, you should talk to your doctor before starting or stopping any medication -- prescribed or over the counter. For years, Katz has been worried that PPIs "reinforce the idea that the solution to behavioral health issues is to take a pill, and that's just not how we're going to get healthier," he said in 2010. "Consumers need to ask their doctors, 'Why am I taking this? Do I still need this? Do I have an alternative?' " Copyright 2016 by CNN NewSource. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. http://www.clickondetroit.com/health/popular-heartburn-medications-linked-to-higher-risk-of-stroke

Vodka cranberry is usually my drink of choice. I often order a double which gives the same alcohol content as two drinks but with half the volume to accommodate my smaller stomach. A double will also reduce the cranberry ratio which is good because of all the sugar in juice. I tried a vodka collins the other day. Loved the flavor but I think the carbonation really bothered me.

I just got home after a 12 day road trip. This included an 8 day Florida vacation with friends and family followed directly by a 4 day California business trip. I ended up eating meals out several times a day and consumed alcohol on several occasions. This morning when weighing in, I am at exactly the same weight I was when I left. One could consider this a failure - I didn't lose an ounce in 12 days. Or, one could consider it a success - because of the limitations of the sleeve I was able to travel for 12 days and not gain anything. I'm choosing to look at it from the positive perspective. If I had not been sleeved I am certain this trip would have added 3 or 4 pounds that I would have to work on taking back off. Because of the sleeve, even though I was traveling I was conscious of my meal selections and able to enjoy myself without coming home to a big gain to worry about. No it's time to get back on track with good meal choices and exercise to kick the weight loss back into gear!

Count me in the alcoholic/codependant family. I was raised in beer joints, witnessed bar fights, got caught in the middle of fights, thought 'jail' must have been a fun place cause that's where my dad spent his time when he wasn't at the bar. My mother was such a sick codependant that she had no time for us emotionally. "Children are to be seen and not heard' was the motto we were raised by. My father was extremely moody, brooding and violent when he drank, so we all pretty much curled up in the embryo position when the 'fun' started to end. I have NO good memories of any family holiday - mostly the money was spent on jail fines or booze and they always ended with my father and his brothers fighting amongst each other. Interestingly, my dad didn't physically abuse me as much as my mother wound up doing, but he was very hard on my oldest brother who was not his birth son which hurt me just as bad as if he'd hit me. Mostly, they both held high standards for us kids. We were to do exactly as we were told, have perfect manners, not talk back and never ever dispute their word. I can't say either of them were 'crazy', but they were two extremely messed up people, both who had been abused and neglected in their own childhoods. For a long time, I tried to think they did the best they could with what they had to work with, but only since I've become an adult has it become apparent to me what a truly terrible situation we were forced to live in and that it wasn't 'normal' for lots of people to live that way. I never realized how desperately poor we were and how truly deprived we were as children. Not because we couldn't have had better, but because our parents didn't strive to make things better for us. Alcohol was the big thing in our dad's life and controlling/enabling the men in her life was our mother's main focus. We were basically just accidents - mouths to be fed, never encouraged to be our own people or ever expect anything out of our lives except to take care of ourselves and not make waves. Forget things like self esteem, group activities, no Girl Scouts, no cheerleading, no slumber parties, never draw attention to our home or ask anything 'maternal or paternal' from either of them... We merely existed - me becoming the invisible, self reliant one.. In many ways, it's to my advantage. I don't rely on anyone. I CAN take care of myself, but that can end up a very lonely situation too... Don't talk, don't trust, don't feel...no wonder you learn to 'stuff' it all inside..

Hi there! I'm right there with you. . .I had my surgery on Dec 29, 2009 and have lost an incredible 150 lbs . . . however since January 2011 it slowed down and came to a screeching halt. . . I've teeter between 200 - 210 lbs all the time. . . i have found what my problem is has been night eating. . . ugh that was my big problem before surgery too. . . so i've tried to decrease that bad habit. . .as with sodas, i drink diet, but limit them to 2 a day. . . instead of potatoe chips I eat pork rinds, instead of chocolate at night i eat those whipped chocolate mousse yogurt things (only 1 though) and/or some yummy fruit. . . and of course TONS of Water splashed with lime juice and lots of ice. . . for my alcoholic beverages, I use a little diet soda, splash of lime juice and rum and limit it to Friday and Saturday only. . . never beer or malt beverages. it's the little changes that could help. . . i haven't lost any weight by doing this but I haven't gained either and to me that is the most important. . . you could throw in extra exercise as well to help boost your metabolism a bit. . . good luck, i hope this helps you. . . some folks will think this is totally dumb, but it works for me. . .

Yes you can have wine but in moderation. My surgeon said after two months. But keep in mind, alcohol will affect you differently. So when you drink wine for the first time, make sure you have a driver or drink at home to see how it affects you. A little can make you tipsy.

While I don't believe drinking alcohol so soon after surgery is a good idea. I am really appalled at the attitudes of some people on here, I thought this was supposed to be a support forum not a act like children and call people names forum.

Sweetheart I'm not a hater just hate ignorant people that diss people commenting on ur comment we all tried to help and then u laughed at everyone- so give me a break and everyone else - know that U realize how dumb u sounded ur apologizing - please don't feel sorry for me dumb ass I feel sorry for u especially bc ur number one priority was alcohol - I truly blessed so I hope god watches over u especially with ur habit lol

Actually I could have had it on mine. I was limited to 40g carbs per day so I could easily have had that on a good day. But honestly, if alcohol isn't on your post op, why are you having it? I am asking from the position of someone who suffered horrific complications doing what was required by my surgeon. I can't imagine risking those for a glass of wine....

Empty calories aside.... I find no reason to not enjoy a drink from time to time but 2 weeks out is a bit too early. Your staple line is healig and alcohol acts as a blood thinner and can cause bleeding which isnt good for our healing stomachs, wait a bit longer ..... I am having a drink right now as I type this, I was about 5 months out before trying it