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You talking about these: https://www.amazon.com/Pure-Protein-Variety-Chocolate-Peanut/dp/B01126O3OY/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1488059942&sr=8-3&keywords=Pure%2BProtein%2BBars&th=1 Those are actually a pretty well trusted name in protein supplementation. The only negative I know of is the amount of sugar alcohols contained in them. If you were to too many bars too soon together, it could cause abdominal discomfort or diarrhea. Nothing too horrific, but we used to have a saying amongst the vets here, "Never trust a fart". It was because a lot of the foods we start introducing can cause that reaction. So I don't think there is any reason to doubt the validity of these bars nutritional claims. I cycle through my bars pretty regularly. These, Think Thin, Kirkland, and Cliff Builder Bars. Every once in a while I'll get a Met-RX too, but those are complete meal replacements, 400 - 480 calories!

I think Libbe and E-Girl did a great job of answering your questions, but I had a couple things I thought I'd add. 3. Can I drink broth all day? Is there a difference between chicken and beef? Yes, you can drink as much broth as you want, but you need to be careful of the sodium content or you'll puff up like a toad. (Sorry.) I made broth with whatever I had on hand when I was in this stage and it agree with me a lot more. Leftover rotisserie chicken or any chicken bones, beef bones or bits, veggies. I throw bones and etc. into plastic bags in my freezer until I have enough for broth then throw it all in a big pot and make broth. I made hubby some wonderful onion Soup with beef broth I'd made when I was still on my liquid phase and I sat there and had my broth with him for dinner. It made it easier to eat together when I was on the liquid diet. 5. How do I keep the momentum going with the weight loss? I'm starting to feel hunger, but can't eat. I'm worried about going into starvation now that I'm actually feeling hungry and it working backwards for me. I'm also afraid that when I do start eating it will either stop the weight loss or go backwards because of the previous "starvation". Momentum, momentum, momentum, I want to keep it rolling. You won't keep losing as fast as you have been. You should drop to about 8-10 pounds a month and sometimes it will be less. This is better for your skin adjusting anyway. 6. I'm having a hard time watching my family eat. It grosses me out the food intake not so much with my growing boys, but especially with my husband who is going to have the surgery also. I feel like....."hey do you realize how much food you eat and I'm over here drinking broth all day long! Get control of yourself." Yikes, I know. So sorry, but it's true. This is emotional. You don't realize the emotions that you will go through in this life changing journey. You'll get your revenge when he's had the surgery!! (Insert funny, evil laugh here.) He still has all his ghrelin hormone making him hungry, so you could cut him a bit of slack. My hubby was eating things like chicken-fried steak in front of me, but he's not overweight. 9. Life evolved around cooking, eating out, social eating, etc. I've halted all of that and feel a little trapped. No one except immediate family, i.e. husband, sons, and girlfriend who went to hospital with me know that I have done this. I don't lie and would have a hard time explaining why I'm not eating, drinking alcohol, participating in the activities this early in my post surgery. So we are using our workload right now as a reason for staying home, etc. There's so much there for me right now. My husband is extremely supportive and wants me to do the same for him when he has the surgery. Sorry rambling but trying to get through the emotional/mental part of it. When you get to real food soon, you'll find that there's normally something you can eat on every restaurant's menu, although I do still avoid Italian restaurants and I'm four months (and two days) out. Smelling garlic bread makes me crazy. We went out for tapas last night and I was able to eat every dish we got (all Protein and veggies.) Main dish salads are my best friends, although I can't eat much of the lettuce. I just tell people like my 87YO mother who doesn't know I had the surgery that I'm on a diet, and she says, "Good for you dear, you're looking great." My other best choices are grilled salmon or fish and I totally love seared scallops. I also eat the middles out of sandwiches and if I get any weird looks, I just smile and say, "Dieting." If they say anything else, I tell them I've lost (fill in the blank) pounds. Works every time. 10. I'm still bloated and tend to bloat throughout the day. Is this normal or what can I do to alleviate this? Heck, I still have tons of gas at four months. I try to fart discretely. 11. I know I don't get enough liquids in as I can't drink Water. Any liquid suggestions would be great. I drink 32 oz. of Powerade Zero before breakfast and then the rest is a breeze. My favorites are the zero or low-calorie versions of Sobe, Fuze or putting Crystal Light in my water. I'm not wild about drinking plain water. 12. I can already tell that my absorption rate is super sensitive and high! Within seconds of trying something, I either feel sick, lightheaded or full or all of the above. Does this stay? When food is introduced will it be one bite at a time? This will get better. Eat teensy, tiny bites SLOWLY when you start eating regular food. Hang in there. It will get better!!! Carol

Congrats on your weight loss! Coconut oil, organic and unrefined, (usually the refined one is put under extra heat which kills off the benefits) the best thing you can do for dry skin is make sure whatever moisturizer you are using doesn't contain alcohol as it is naturally drying, you want as few ingredients as possible when it comes to your face. The skin on our face is different then the skin on our arms and legs etc, it's much more delicate. At night have UR basic moisturizer and apply it heavily before going to sleep, make sure you massage your face as you apply gently, this helps with circulation. buying super expensive creams with all these claims aren't necessary, any benefits you have from them will usually cease to show once you discontinue use of the product. When you wake up in the morning, Always make sure you have a cream/moisturizer with atleast 15 SPF, anything more is a bonus but extra sunscreen can sometimes cause an oily appearance. Morning creams are more crucial because of the sunscreen. If you wear foundation with 15 SPF it should cover you if it is applied all over face and neck. You can also take Vitamin A, it helps with free radicals and aging! Best thing you can do for your face is making a habit of using sunscreen, staying hydrated, and getting good sleep everyday! Okay I'm done lol best of luck!

Yes! I think its the alcohol itself that causing the burning sensation. I have felt it with other types of liquor, too. Sometimes, I feel nothing and sometimes it stops me cold. I don't drink much as a rule, but have experienced this. I also get this sometimes with salsa or other spicy foods and it never happened before the band. I can feel it hit the band because it burns and is irritable.

I count net carb so fiber and sugar alcohols are subtracted out. Different plans have different "rules"

How are you guys counting sugar alcohols in macros? I like Dr. Johns hard candies. 4 pieces count as 18 carbs, 16 of which are sugar alcohols. Would you count 18 carbs. would you count 2 carbs? What’s your thoughts?

Hey all! I'm 3 weeks post op today, from band to sleeve revision. I really did not work on my bad habits of drinking alcohol before surgery. Now at 3 weeks out, I'm feeling great, and I'm dying for a glass of wine. Since I can't have wine, then I'm grabbing a piece of dark choc. If I don't have that I'm reaching for my leftover pain meds. I'm feel like I'm controlling these urges but they are coming on stronger. This is only at night too, that was my nightly routine, after 5, glass of wine. I have a very addictive personality obviously, and I'm worried. I don't want to talk about this to my surgeon bc I already feel like she looks at me as a failure bc of the Lapland. I'm sorry for rambling or if this is even making sense. It's so hard to not fall back into old routines when you start feeling back to normal.

1. Are full liquids eating, i.e. no drinking for 30-90 minutes after? Ask your doctor. 2. Is Jello considered eating? No, its a full liquid believe it or not. 3. Can I drink broth all day? Is there a difference between chicken and beef? Yes, and nothing. 4. I don't like artificial sugar for the sugar free diet. How can I compensate? You can't. Although you have had a sleeve. You can still get dumping as you do with gastric bypass if you eat sooo much table sugar. But you won't have the cramps...you will get diarhea...trust me. 5. How do I keep the momentum going with the weight loss? I'm starting to feel hunger, but can't eat. I'm worried about going into starvation now that I'm actually feeling hungry and it working backwards for me. I'm also afraid that when I do start eating it will either stop the weight loss or go backwards because of the previous "starvation". Momentum, momentum, momentum, I want to keep it rolling. If you wait to each until you get hungry. Make sure you are eating every 3 hours at least (3 meals - Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and 2 Protein shakes) It the protein that is most important as it contributes to healing and more "filling". 6. I'm having a hard time watching my family eat. It grosses me out the food intake not so much with my growing boys, but especially with my husband who is going to have the surgery also. I feel like....."hey do you realize how much food you eat and I'm over here drinking broth all day long! Get control of yourself." Yikes, I know. So sorry, but it's true. This is emotional. You don't realize the emotions that you will go through in this life changing journey. Don't know if anyone told you but when you lose a lot of fat, your body will release a lot of hormones into you rsystem which give you mood swings like crazy. I felt the same way about my family but I remembered that my husband did not have the surgery and I didn't like it when someone told me that I ate too much so I usually talk more at the table or sit down at the table 10 minutes after everyone else does so that we all finish at the same time. My husband has decided to go forward with the surgery so soon he'll know what I went through. 7. TMI Warning!! I am on the Depo shot and I have been spotting ever since the surgery - 12 days. I never have a period if I do it a day or two of lite spotting. This is every time I wipe, not fresh but old if you know what I mean. Sorry again. Could something in the surgery have messed with my shot or what are your thoughts on this? I do not want to get pregnant! Again the hormone release do to the rapid release of fat can do this. Call your doctor to besure. 8. I'm starting to feel normal and that scares me a little. When I could feel the soreness and restriction (no hunger), it made it easier to not eat and be great with it. Now, it's like appetite is coming back. I'm scared of gaining. Other diets have worked opposite for me and I don't want this to also. I'm scared of any change or move! I feel like I have to starve myself to keep this going. :-( Remember this is a tool to help you adjust to a new healthy life style. If you try to eat something fried or full of sugar you will get very sick. You will only be able to get 300-500 calories in the first month or so then you will need to get 800 to keep your hair from falling out. And it will be a challege to get 800 in. I am at 3 months and I'm struggling to get 600 calories. Also measure, measure, measure your food. I can't stress this enough. Normally, leaks occur 3 weeks after surgery because patients feel better and use the sleeve to gage fullness. But remember, it take 20 minutes for your mind to get that signal that you are full so by then you would have consumed to much. Besides, if you do eat to much or too fast, you will thowup and believe me, it's no the same as throwing up before you had surgery...it's worst! Not to freak you out but it is painful and sometime lasting. You will also plateu that will sometimes last for a week. You may gain a little when drop the following day. These are all normal things. I used a calendar to write down my weight everyday and the total lost. Then at the end of the month I figure out how much weight was down for the month. One month I gained 5 pounds but had at total weight loss of 13 pounds. My husband has been very supportive. He is having his surgery in August. We have already change what we eat when we go out and what I cook for the family. Being obese is just as much of a mental battle as it is an emotional and physical battle. Everytime I was tempted to eat bad or eat fast or stuff my face or felt sad that I can't eat what everyone else was eating, I would redirect my mind to think " in 3 month I am going to look HOT!!!!" Now, I am the envy of every woman at work! I can fit in to a Small Shirt!!!! i have never fit into a small shirt!!!!!!! 9. Life evolved around cooking, eating out, social eating, etc. I've halted all of that and feel a little trapped. No one except immediate family, i.e. husband, sons, and girlfriend who went to hospital with me know that I have done this. I don't lie and would have a hard time explaining why I'm not eating, drinking alcohol, participating in the activities this early in my post surgery. So we are using our workload right now as a reason for staying home, etc. There's so much there for me right now. My husband is extremely supportive and wants me to do the same for him when he has the surgery. Sorry rambling but trying to get through the emotional/mental part of it. I like to cook too. It was a real adjustment to cook healthly things. I have discovered new foods as part of the process and that has been fun. As far as explaining why I don't eat to colleagues, I told them before the surgery. For colleagues I haven't seen in a while, I told them the truth if they ask and answered their questions. I have had only one person treat me bad but she was a big B to begin with so I was prepared to handle it. As for anyone who had past judgement on me to my face or behind my back, that just doesn't bother me because I did this for me and my family and for my health and that is all that is important. I think you will surprise how supportive people can be. Most people are just curious. And again don't get sorry about rambling because you are emotional...it's the hormones talking. 10. I'm still bloated and tend to bloat throughout the day. Is this normal or what can I do to alleviate this? Yes, this is normal. I was bloated for 5 weeks. This is because of swelling. Also there may be gas still trapped inside. Walking makes a big difference. 11. I know I don't get enough liquids in as I can't drink Water. Any liquid suggestions would be great. Frozen sugar free popsicles, warm tea, and sugar free gatorade were my friend. I also had sugar free jello and broth. 12. I can already tell that my absorption rate is super sensitive and high! Within seconds of trying something, I either feel sick, lightheaded or full or all of the above. Does this stay? When food is introduced will it be one bite at a time? You may need to eat slower. Take a bite, chew 25 times, swallow, then count for 10 before taking another bite. This does going away...sort of. You will get sick, lightheaded if you eat too fast. As far as full, you will have to figure that part out on your own but my Doctor told me to start with 4 Tbsp. (2 tbsp of a protein, 1 tbsp veg, tbsp fruit - in that order) but be prepared if you can only get 2 tbsp down. I started with 2 tbsp but now I am up to 1/4 cup. 13. I think protein shakes make me sick?? You tastes with change over time. I liked my protein shakes before the surgery. Then could not stand them for about 6 weeks after surgery but now I like them again. I would try a bunch of difference one. I like the Unjuy and nectar brands. The nectar brands taste like fruit juice with not after taste.

What a great thread! I am on around 1,300 calories a day, as I've worked out. (these are Kcals, I'm not sure if they're the same as your yankee calories - apparently 1 Kcalorie is the energy required to heat a litre of Water by one degree). A typical day... Breakfast - Branflakes. lunch - some crackers and humus, maybe small, grilled low-fat sausage too. Mid-afternoon - A banana. dinner - a meal of around 600 Kcals. Evening Snack - half a roll of fruit gums (a small, chewy candy) Nutritionally, this works out at - <TABLE style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" borderColor=#111111 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=1><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=150 bgColor=#eaeff2></TD><TD vAlign=top width=190 bgColor=#eaeff2><TABLE cellSpacing=6 cellPadding=0 width=190 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=15 bgColor=#5796a6></TD><TD>Carbohydrate (51.7%) </TD></TR><TR><TD width=15 bgColor=#d2981a></TD><TD>Protein (19.7%) </TD></TR><TR><TD width=15 bgColor=#b22c20></TD><TD>Fat (28.6%) </TD></TR><TR><TD width=15 bgColor=#dedede></TD><TD>Alcohol (0.0%) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> According to www.weightlossresources.co.uk This combined with 9,000 steps a day means I'm currently losing around 4-5 pounds a week.

No, I definitely can't drink like I used to drink and it has nothing to do with malabsorption. It's entirely to do with the length of time the alcohol is in my stomach before hitting my bloodstream. Much like sugar can dump post op if you consume too much for the body to process before it hits the intestine, the same can happen to alcohol. Body weight also has something to do with it, as I'm 100 pounds lighter now. The more sugary the drink, the faster the reaction. I seem to metabolize it much faster - I can get completely tipsy from less than 1/2 of one drink or a few sips of beer or wine but within an hour I'm fine again. I used to easily consume two or three mixed drinks and only feel a buzz. One night I drank a mixed drink rather quickly and could hardly walk when I went to stand up! I was never this much of a lightweight before. You'll see a mix of responses, OP. A lot of people report that they're lightweights post op, but some people handle the same quantities of alcohol post op as before. Be mindful of it and be careful at all times because where I would have been perfectly fine to drive somewhere after one glass of wine at dinner before, I could not possibly do it now. ~Cheri

I was never given a timeline for alcohol. I'd wait until you're at least done with the special diets post op. Alcohol will hit you harder than prior to surgery - or at least, it does most of us. In the beginning, I sincerely doubt you'll be consuming even remotely close to 700-900 calories a day, let alone what you'd been eating pre-op. There is nothing wrong with the OCCASIONAL indulgence. You have a choice: treat your sleeve like a diet or treat your sleeve like a tool that can help you learn moderation for life. If you choose the first option, remember that you still have to learn how to eat in maintenance. If you choose the second, maintenance becomes infinitely easier. In any case, always be wary of transfer addictions. Freshly sleeved we can't eat our emotions and there are numerous threads on VST about transfer addictions - to alcohol, in particular. So remember that the long term goal is control over food and our emotions, as opposed to letting food and our emotions control us. Do not feel bad for asking this question, OP. For every question you ask, you'll get as many varied responses as their are people on the internet. You have to choose what sounds right to you and what you can live with, but ultimately it's your choice and it's up to what your body will tolerate. ~Cheri

I'm not a teacher, but I am a school-based occupational therapist in 2 public school systems. I've been in the schools for 13 years. Most people do not have a clue how hard teachers work. It is definitely not a 9-5 job. Most teachers I know work long hours, both in and out of school, to do the best they can for their students. The behaviors that are in most classrooms today is appalling. I don't think that people know what happens in school. Many classes I work in are special education. The majority of classrooms are now cross-categorical, meaning that many types of disabilities and behaviors are now in one class rather than having more specialized classrooms that serve a particular population. Classrooms that used to be just for mentally retarded kids now have kids that have behavior and emotional disorders. Kids with autism are thrown into the mix. Teachers are overwhelmed trying to serve each student according to their individual needs. There is often not enough staff in the classroom. But I don't know one special ed. teacher that hasn't gone above and beyond to make sure that her students get the best from her. Regular education teachers now have special ed. kids mainstreamed into their classes on a regular basis, whether that child is appropriate to be mainstreamed or not. They have to deal with behaviors and needs that they were never trained to deal with and are expected to adjust the curriculum for that one student so they can "fit in" to the class whether they can do the work or not. Kids today now have family members that are drug addicts, alcoholics, or in jail. Many see violence as part of their daily life. Some parents don't give a damn about their kids, never participate in school activities, or offer support to their children at home to enhance the learning process. These are often the parents who scream the loudest because their kids are struggling and it must be the teacher's fault. The "No Child Left Behind" requires that all children are tested at their grade level for standardized testing. That means that a 3rd grader with mental retardation who functions at the level of a 2 year old, must be tested as a regular 3rd grader. The schools looks bad because then the tests make the school look like their students, as a whole, are testing poorly. So funding is lost and programs are cut, the kids lose out, and parents are bitching about what a rotten job the teachers are doing with their kids. What do I hate the most about teachers? Nothing. Over the years, I have met a couple of people who really should have gone into another line of work. 99% of the teachers I have met are dedicated, caring, do their best for each of their students, want their kids to succeed, and will do as much as they can to make sure that the time in school is safe, nurturing, and a haven, for some, from the crappy reality that is life outside of school. I have nothing but admiration for teachers. Thank you to all that teach our children.

Hi all, <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p> I’m not banded yet. I’ve been researching and researching and thinking and thinking. My insurance won’t cover it so I’ve been looking into having it done in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region>. I read these boards all the time and just love it. Everyone here is so supportive and honest. I feel more comfortable on these boards, even though I haven’t been banded, than I do any other weight loss/related boards. <o:p></o:p> My biggest fear is that something will go wrong, I will have complications. The kind of complications that are worse than slippage or erosion that couldn’t be fixed by having the band removed and then I would be buried in medical bills for the rest of my life. My second fear is that if it slipped or eroded and I had to have the band removed I would have to pay for that. So even if I had it installed and removed in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Mexico</st1:country-region>, aftercare and fills, etc. in the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">US</st1:place></st1:country-region>, travel expenses, etc. I would still be looking at around 15,000 to 17,000. My third fear is that it won’t work for me. I won’t be able to stick to the rules and I will eat around it. I don’t think I would, but I didn’t think I would ever end up 290lbs either. My fourth fear is that I lose all my weight, things are great and then something happens and I have to have it removed and then I gain all of my weight back. My fifth fear is that if I don’t do something to change my eating and my weight I’m going to die. If I’m lucky I will have a heart attack and die instantly. If not, my health problems and complications from those health problems, will slowly get worse and I will linger around and slowly deteriorate for another 20 years. At least my insurance would pay for that though. <o:p></o:p> Has anyone heard about The Solution by Laurel Mellin? I think she hits the nail on the head as far as the “why” and “what” needs to happen to turn off that drive to overeat. I love her program but it’s really hard to do on my own. When I am able to do the work I do feel better, more at peace, and emotionally stronger. But most of the time I feel like an alcoholic or drug addict trying to work a self-help recovery program, by myself, while still drinking/using. It just doesn’t work. I thought that if I get banded, I would be able to work this program and hopefully, hopefully, if anything happened and I had to have my band removed I wouldn’t gain the weight back and my drive to overeat would be gone. Or would I just rely on the band to lose weight, be on such an emotional high from the weight loss and not do the emotional work? Just trying to imagine living life without a constant drive to overeat and the constant worry about my weight and eating, it sounds like a fantasy. <o:p></o:p> Sorry about the long post. I’m just thinking, thinking, thinking. <o:p></o:p> PS

Right on, congrats that you have made it this far! I wish the best to you with your band and in fighting alcoholism.

My BMI was over 48 and I had diabetes, plus heart and blood-pressure problems, so my approval took less than a month in 2002. Since then, however, my medical plan has removed bariatric surgery from it's list of covered surgeries. My daughter-in-law's mother had to gain about 30 pounds to become eligible for her policy's approval. Maybe one day, our disease will be treated like most other diseases. Alcoholism, drug addiction, mental illness and morbid obesity are all treated as step-children in the medical insurance industry.

Has anyone tried the Pure Protein crunch bars? I happened to pick up a box of them at costco yesterday after reading the label for a few minutes thinking about it. The package my local Costco had contained 6 of each kind: Double chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch and Double Chocolate vanilla Crunch. I wish they had a little bit more protein per bar (only 17g), and a little less carbs (14g per bar with 5g sugar, and 4g sugar alcohol), but they only come in at 190 calories per bar. I've had one of each kind and they taste like you should be eating a delish candy bar. Just wondering thoughts from anyone else on here that has tried them. I have a few boxes of Quest bars, but it's always good to have a variety. Makes for a great snack or Meal Replacement. I find they seem to fill me up more then the Quest bars do! Attached a couple of pics of the Peanut Butter:

Dear Chris - As a daughter of an alcoholic (who died at the age of 39 as a direct result of this horrible disease), I applaud your sobriety!!!! As a grown woman starting the process of becoming banded, I appreciate your hard fought battle!!!! You hang in there and as said before, one day at a time, baby!! Take care and keep in touch. Yours is a story of inspiration and courage.

I found this post really interesting because I still have not come up with an answer to "Are you glad you had the surgery done?". Even though I have had few complications and great results so far, my answer usually starts out with, "Wellll,...." But I have to say I felt this was the last resort for me to get some kind of normal life back. A friend of mine who is a recovering alcoholic and AA group leader has said that an alcoholic/addict will ask for help once they get to the point that they are willing to do anything to stop from feeling the way they do. That any other existence is better than the one they are living in. That is probably the closest description I have heard to what made my decision to have the surgery. I woke up one morning and was just sick and tired of being sick and tired, realizing that ANYTHING would be better than where I was at and I was willing to do anything to bring about that change. But I also know that nobody can make the decision for us. Countless doctors and well-meaning friends and family had tried for years to convince me. But I had to be ready and I was willing to accept all the risks that came with it. I think it is reasonable to assume that your co-worker went through a similar experience, so please don't feel responsible for her situation. I do hope that she gets through her challenges soon and her pain is abated. Please keep sharing your story, keeping in mind that it will be their decision. You may even save a life someday.

I'm 5yrs out and I am brutally honest about this surgery. I am the type I'd rather you tell me like it is instead of sugar coating it. I've lied to myself almost my whole life with the "I don't eat that much.." excuse. I am where I am today because I did it to myself. The obesity I did myself and the surgery I did to myself. I accept my actions and trust me its a dark life when ur in a hospital and all u have is urself and ur thoughts. I do not intend to terrify ppl to have the surgery but I can say this I care enough for my fellow bari patients to tell yall the truth and what can happen. Bariatric surgery has became so mainstream now I fear a lot don't take this seriously hence why suicide, sex addictio. Or alcoholism rates are so high for us. The reason you will probably hear about my story in every post is bc I would have truly appreciated someone in my pre-op post-op days coming to me with the truth. Instead I felt dooped. Out of all the reading on forums etc not once were there a person openly honest about how it truly affected them. Do you know how hard it is to be deathly sick and you hear rude comments from nurses such as "bet ya wished u had just got a gym membership huh?!" Or to have your family just get tired of listening or you lose relationships bc of your condition? It really hurts to come to a site and literally pour your heart out only to be berated by somebody you look to for support. We may weave our story in all the time but we do so bc we know or HOPE fellow bari pt will listen and not mind to do so bc unlike everyone else we r all supposed to be on the same road. Accept us all no matter what bc haven't we lived a life of hell prior to surgery due to the constant degeading conments and stares...let this be the one place u can trust to come to and know ur not going to be hurt..we r all entitled to that. =)

My doc said 4 months before any alcohol. Every surgeon is different tho, some people have to wait a year. While I probably will enjoy an adult beverage every once in a while, they are just empty calories. For me, hitting my goals are more important than a beverage, even if I do miss them.

Please don't feel bad. We are who we are. I truly compare our food cravings/addiction to alcohol addiction. It's tough to be good all the time. Our brains are wired for old habits b/c it makes us feel gooooood.

Pebbles... Don't rush this decision. Please make sure you're well informed and do your research first. It's not a quick fix!! As for smoking, I am a smoker, and it was important that I was able to keep smoking because in the past, anytime I try to quit, I gained 50lbs from stuffing my face I knew I could give up one or the other for now, but NOT both. I am still smoking, I did have a blood clot scare last weekend.. it wasn't a blood clot, but the ER doctor really chewed me out for 1. Having Surgery 2.Taking B/C (even though I haven't taken it in a while due to surgery) and 3. Smoking He said pick one or the other (B/C or smokes).. I pick condoms and smokes. Haha. I know, I'm horrible. But it's honest at least.. As for drinking, I was never a big drinker so it doesn't bother me that I was told not to. My doctor does GB and LB, and the dietician was talking to me and a girl getting GB the same day about our nutrition info. It was different. She told the GB girl NO ALCOHOL WHATSOEVER. She told me, be very moderate and NO carbonated alcohol. Because, carbonation isn't good for the pouch from what I've found out. I guess you could drink wine and maybe hard liquor? I don't have good advice on this really, I have read people around here doing it, but I don't plan to do it anytime soon. Just because it's courteous- You should stop smoking. But I know how it is, everyone said that to me along the way. Please research though, do not make a hasty decision.

Carol..looking at your starting wegiht , were started at almost the same weight. After reading your tips on Water aerobics and what you eat..I have lots of hope I will be as successful as you. I do the water aerobics every night in my pool, I just got out of the pool after 30 minutes of aerobics.I have all the gadgets to do it with my best friend is a wter aerobics instructor and has given me many exercises to do as well as helpful web sites on it.... and I eat almost exactly what you do everyday minus the alcohol, I have yet to drink since being banded. I have had a couple bites of ice cream since banding though . Thanks for your post, you have inspired me!! You have done an awesome job and you desreve lots of praise! Please post some pics if you have them!

Dear NAK77BRR, First of all, let me offer you my sympathies on your Mom passing away. My Mom is also one of my best friends. She is 90 now, and although still healthy and in her own home, I know she won't be around forever. I dread the day she is no longer there for me! Secondly, Congratulations on making a life changing choice! Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy is truly a Life Changer! I was overweight ALL my life! I have been to every weight loss group, taken part in every new program, tried EVERY diet ever published in the Women's magazines. In short, I have DONE IT ALL (several times!), and NEVER with any lasting success! I joined (and when I got bored, quit) Weight Watchers 17 times! Every single time I lost at least 40-60 pounds. But every time when I quit, I gained it all back, plus a couple more pounds. It was so frustrating. I went from being mildly overweight (5'7" and 175 lbs) to being morbidly obese (258 lbs) after about 35 years of weight loss efforts. I thought about getting skinny 24/7. It consumed me, but I was always paralyzed with inaction. I could never really take a step towards doing something permanent. Finally I needed surgery for a hernia, and went to my 1st cousin, who is a general surgeon, but has had bariatric surgery himself. He is now specializing in bariatric surgery, specifically Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomies. When he was getting ready to do my hernia repair I asked him how hard it would be to slip a Lap Band in while he was repairing the hernia. He told me he didn't do Lap Bands anymore. He gave me all the stats about how they didn't have a very good success rate long term. He told me about VSG and highly suggested it. Unfortunately, my insurance wouldn't pay $0.01 towards bariatric surgery. So even though Steve (my cousin) offered to do my surgery free of charge, I chose to go to Mexico to have it done. (I would still have had to pay for hospital and anesthesia charges myself, which he estimated would be $15-20,000!) So off to Mexico I went last summer (June 18th) where I underwent a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. Although my hospital experience was not perfect, I have had fantastic results (and no complications)! Just last week (or maybe it was the week before) I hit the 100 pounds lost mark. I have another 8-18 pounds to loose to reach my goal. Originally I wanted to weigh around 150, now I am thinking of adjusting my goal downwards to 140. (Currently weigh 158 lbs) I too was a boarderline diabetic. I had high cholesterol, high blood pressure, was on anti-inflammatories for my joint aches and pains, bad environmental allergies, horrible fatigue, my life just sucked! When I was 47 I had to have a total hip replacement because I had worn out my right hip socket. My surgeon said if was largly due to being overweight my entire life. (Thankfully my left hip is healthy!) My knees were getting bad, and I was afraid that bilateral knee replacement was in my near future! Since the surgery and my weight loss, I am off my cholesterol meds, I am no longer boarderline diabetic (off that medication), my blood pressure is normal (off that medication), my joints don't ache all the time, (off the anti-inflammatory medication). And for some strange reason, my allergies are SO much improved. I quit taking my sinus meds and using the nasal spray that I used for the environmental allergies. I feel so much better, Have tons of energy, and can't tell you how much my life has improved. When I was discussing with my husband why I wanted to proceed with the surgery, I told him I wanted to be healthier, to live longer. (He was AGAINST the surgery 100%!) I told him looking better was just "frosting on the cake". (His argument against the surgery is that he loved me no matter how I looker.) But I have to say, it is Tasty Frosting!!! I LOVE being able to shop in any department store for clothes. I love clothes and I love dressing nice and looking good! I also love that I no longer am limited to shopping in Lane Bryant, Catherine's, Fashion Bug and Dress Barn. I go to all the trendy stores and love it that I can fit into a regular size! Never in my life have I been able to do that before! It is SUCH a HIGH!!! I can't stop looking in the mirror, and it never ceases to thrill me how I look now! I have to admit, there are down sides to being a smaller size. I gave away most of the clothes that were to big for me. I am now at a point where I am going to have to give my clothes to Goodwill, or find smaller friends, as I am smaller than all my friends, and have no one left to give my clothes to as I continue to lose! Also, I am a cheap date. We used to go to Sam's Club or costco on Saturday mornings for our groceries and then out to lunch. Now when Bill and I go shopping at Sam's or Costco, I only need six to eight bites of the samples they are giving away, and I am full. So when he wants to impress me, Bill takes me to Sam's on Saturday morning and feeds me their sample bites. After that I am to full to go out for lunch! Have also found out that I can't drink as much alcohol as I could pre op. I have to limit myself to one glass of wine or one mixed drink. So am REALLY a cheap date! Seriously, I think you are making a wonderful choice for a healthier life style. Best of luck to you. Please continue to frequent this web site and post how you are doing. Everybody here is great at cheering you on, offering encouragement and advice when you need it. Looking forward to Welcoming you to The Loser's Bench! (Sorry this turned into such a long epistle!) Again, welcome and Congratulations! Kathy D (alias Helen the Cat)

I was terrified right before my first fill and almost cancelled and rescheduled since I had worked myslef up into such a state of panic... Then after the Dr. Swabbed the area with an alcohol pad, I actually reached down and put my hand on the spot and said "wait... I'm not ready" and he was peeved and had to swab me again... After that he made me put my hands under the back of my head... LOL... Turns out it wasn't that bad after all.... He does not numb since that would require two shots and I'm glad of it... Once is enough... He also does not do Floro... It takes about 30 seconds and I'm outta there... Very easy with minimal discomfort... Afterwards, the nurse makes us drink a 4 oz cup of water to make sure we can swallow... This gives us about 15-30 minutes to sit and chat with Prospective and current LB patients in the waiting room and answer questions and just share our story or advice.... It's like an unofficial therapy group, which I like since I have only told 4 people whom I don't even see often... It's my opportunity to talk talk talk about it....