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I do drink sometimes.. It is now wine instead of beer. Just remember that alcohol will effect you much faster now and the calories in your drinks can be massive. Oh don't try doing shots!!! Hard to make a big swallow and it comes right back up....lol

When I do intermitten fasting I stop eating foods but I may have a cup of tea, or coffee before my workout in the morning. I was taught that you can drink whatever you want but as always limit your sugar intake to about 60g during an entire fast (16-24 hours) and If you must eat something let it be no more than 100 calories within an entire fasting period. NO ALCOHOL I generally stick to Water, tea or coffee. It has helped me finally reach my water intake, because I'm usually still awake 6 hours after I begin a fast.

Mine was an hour long conversation. She touched on multiple subjects.....she was trying to see if I had an addictive nature (cigarettes, alcohol addictions), mental illness, and did I fully understand what was involved, and that VSG is not a quick fix.......it's interesting to see how these appointments vary from dr to dr.

I'm two and a half years out - went down to about 114 but was really too thin. Then went up to 140 and definitely wasn't happy. My problem is very definitely sugar and carbohydrates. I'm a sober alcoholic (8 years this time out, and before the four year break (divorce + stupidity = relapse) was 22 years. Bu the point is that for me sugar is a drug and the insulin response I get from any processed carb works in pretty much the same way. So I've been working on killing sugar and processed carbs, plus grains and simple starches like potatoes, along with most fruit apart from small amounts of low GI berries over the last six months or so, trying various things. What have I learned: I can't do anything in moderation that isn't real food (by which I mean protein and fat and small amounts of carb appearing in leafy veg etc. This, alongside intermittent fasting (Dr Jason Fung is great on this) has begun to make a real change. Because it's not really about the losing weight for me now, although I want to lose about 15lbs still and it's beginning, It's about the need to be healthy, not to be constantly sickened by food, not to be constantly obsessed with food and to find a long term sustainable solution that allows me to get on with my life. Still hoping to cross addict onto exercise but that hasn't happened yet! Funnily, the post op diet which led with protein and allowed the veg and carbs in if there was room is closest to where I am now. I fast 16/8 - it varies but the average seems to be about 17/7. This is comfortable and I have loads of energy. Only been doing it a week properly and the keto for about a month but I was struggling with the macros and counting. Keeping it simple now. Be interested to hear if anyone is doing similar. What I would say is that my level of trust for something that doesn't involve someone trying to sell me special foods, vits, supplements, meal plans, exercise regimes is naturally quite high! Everything I need to do IF successfully if available for free. I like free! Actually - and again I'd be interested in people's thoughts here, I wish I'd discovered this and worked it pre-op. But hey, can't turn back time! Thanks all - this was a bit lonnnggg - sorry!

My Dr. said no alcohol ever. As unreasonable as it sounds, it's to avoid drinking your calories and my Nutrition Class talked about cross-addiction with alcohol. The strict no-no's were no alcohol, gum and soda. Not fun but it's for a reason. They want us having Protein first, then veggies, fruit and if there's room for carbs they are last.

I'm not really sure why some doctors do 1 week vs 2 weeks but it seems to vary. Today has been a bit better so far. Broth with unflavored protein powder for breakfast and a coffee flavored shake for lunch. They told me to limit caffeine and very minimum sugar (if any). Now that it is the weekend I'm trying to decide if wine counts as a liquid since I can't have any alcohol for 6 months after[emoji3] Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

I don't really see why you can't have any alcohol ever, unless you know you are prone to addiction or something. I do agree that drinking it daily would be stupid, since it's empty calories. Soda has carbonation, which some believe can stretch the sleeve and I'm not willing to take that chance, so I avoid it 100% of the time. But I have had alcohol several times in the last 9 months. Maybe once a month or so once I was allowed. Just at social occasions and I'm very careful about it, because I have noticed I get drunk much faster post-sleeve, so absolutely NO driving the entire night, just to be on the safe side. I'm generally opposed to drinking my calories, but I don't see the harm in drinking in moderation on occasion.

I am 5’4”. Starting weight was 247. No long pre-op diet. I was sleeved in late August 2017. So I am 9 1/2 months out and down 95 pounds. I feel very confident I will lose over 100 pounds by the one year mark. I do walk a couple of days a week and also do 30 minute strength training twice a week with a trainer. I have never followed a very strict plan but do monitor my macros (protein, carbs and calories) several days a week to make sure I am on track. I also only drink alcohol on the weekends, usually just one night. Just remember the main objective is to be healthy so eat accordingly. Follow the two main rules of Protein first (it fills you up fast!) and no liquids before and after meals and you will be successful.

Most Important Luck/Skill of the Surgeon - I have very little hunger and it seems more restriction than most at this stage. Least Important Supportive home environment - I live alone, so there is that. But I spend a lot of otherwise personal time working. Of course no ones knows of my WLS, but that environment is not conducive to a healthy diet, lots of alcohol and rich meals. I've had wine poured for me, shots bought for me, and lots of pressure to eat more and have a drink/s. Exercise - This is terrible to admit, but aside from walking on days I'm home, I don't exercise. Unknown Mental Health/Emotional Stability - I'm a pretty level headed person. No mental health issues. I think what is helpful in this journey is having some perspective. For me, WLS hasn't been hard in any real way. Easiest weight I have ever lost. Although stalls annoy me, I know they are inevitable, and it's only a matter of time and I'll start losing again. Don't many people on here have a lot of success, but still seem to think the sky is falling at times Diet - I know that my food logs would give some people on here fits, mostly due to how much dining out I do, and that I'm not usually ordering the grilled chicken. But I do keep my calories really low, but that of course gives other people fits . But I'm able to keep my calories low due to my restriction and lack of hunger, so back to #1. Will to Succeed - I want to believe this is a factor. But if I didn't have the lack of hunger, restriction and such fast and visible results, would I have been discouraged and fallen off he wagon like all the times in the past?

Be careful about sugar-free candies with sugar alcohols--they cause some people serious intestinal distress.

OP- Everyone has a different preop diet. Your nutritionist should have given you a list of acceptable and permitted foods. You are essentially starving. I'm almost done with my preop diet (surgery is Weds) and they tell everyone else clear liquids the day before but because I'm working a 12 hours shift the day before I get to have protein shakes as well. If it were that easy to shrink a liver alcoholics who have fatty liver could just stop drinking for two weeks. The real purpose is to reduce abdominal girth and put you at a lower BMI so the surgery is successful and get you used to not eating solid food since it is so critical in the early stages of the diet. I don't looks at this as breakfast lunch dinner etc I look at this as drink something all day so I don't fall over. Try Tylenol for your headache and stick with the plan your doctor gave you.

This is a copy and paste from the "Tell Us Your Story" forum Yesterday was my surgery. I had a check in time of 12:00 noon. I was very thirsty, as you can imagine! They brought my husband and I back and we worked on some paperwork and the final pre-op weigh in, I was down about 30 pounds since I started with this doctor last June. 13 pounds were from the pre-op diet alone. I also got a huge heparin shot in my leg to prevent clotting and an anti-nausea patch behind my ear. The hospital was running a bit late (they kept apologizing) but brought me to the OR at 1:45. I was having some anxiety laying on the table, but the put me under very quickly. Next thing I knew, I was awake and the nurses were asking how I was doing. I remember replying "Hot, thirsty, nauseous." I'm not sure how it all happened, but the next thing I knew, I was in the big hospital recliner with a bottle of Water to sip and a fan pointed right at me! I felt much better at that point. They wanted me to get up pretty soon after that. Walking was not at all a pain, but I was having trouble focusing my eyes. My DH was there too, and he sent out some texts to the family that I was all done. I passed out at that point. The rest of the evening kind of went on that way: sip, sip, sip, walk, doze off. I listened to music and podcasts to help keep my mind at ease. DH had to leave to help out with the kids at home. I had my surgery at a stand alone bariatric hospital, and there was only one other patient there overnight. My abdomen was a bit sore but not too painful. However, my right shoulder was. Luckily I had brought a heating pad that is helping A LOT. I asked for chicken broth, but before I could try it, I had a dry-heave thing. The nurses waved some alcohol wipes under my nose and that helped it to stop. I waited a bit longer till it had totally passed to try anything else. At abut 5 this morning, the nurses got me up and dressed. I did some more walking and sipping. I had to really play around with the sipping. Too little and I think I was swallowing too much air which was VERY uncomfortable in the esophagus area. To much and my tummy kind of spasmed. Around 7, I had to go back for the barium swallow/X-Ray which was AWFUL. Apparently, the liquid is having a hard time moving into my stomach (refluxing) and is kind of just sitting in my esophagus. She also saw a big air bubble sitting in the top of the stomach. That sort of explains why swallowing has been (and is still) very uncomfortable. Not painful, but really strange feeling. At that point, my husband returned and I got discharged to come home. I'm still having the weird feeling in my esophagus. My surgeon said the swelling there should go down in a day or so. But other than the general discomfort, nothing super acute has been bothering me. I think I might feel a smidge worse tomorrow. I've been drink water, Vitamin Water Zero (the lemonade is good and not too sweet, the mixed berry is good too) and some warm chicken broth. I am trying to take it all slowly. The weather is really sunny day, so I may even take a little walk outside! Please let me know if you have any questions about the surgery, my background or even the pre-op diet!

Hello there! Haha, definitely ZERO alcohol! That would be a horrible idea, as I'm only 2 weeks out! I drank Crystal Lite at a NYE party we went to and nobody even said a word. There were a lot of yummy desserts and I didn't even take a single bite of anything. I still had fun though and I really didn't have a desire to drink or eat any of the food. We ate dinner at home before we went and I felt satisfied! Thanks for asking and yes, Happy New Year to all! Here's to 2014!

I think these things about myself too. I find myself correcting myself from "I should" "I would" to saying "I will." At least you aware of your demons cause then you can confront them head on. I have had some time to correct a few things because I am type 2 diabetic and not on insulin I have to MAKE myself, and sometimes fail, not gorge on something like Chinese - it is self correcting because I hate the feeling of being "sugar drunk." Or I can't eat too many carbs but trust me when I say I am fat cause I still make bad choices like how am I going to give up butter?????? And no straw?? And no diet mountain dew? We get all caught up in these unhealthy habits and it is going to take some undoing after surgery. Some of it will be self-correcting, I bet. I don't know. I am in the same boat, though, surgery is Sept 18 for me. And of course, here is me saying, go eat that chinese if you can for just this moment. I miss chinese food, especiall Thai. Good for you for kicking tobacco and alcohol. You must have a pretty strong determination if you got past those things.

It's my understanding there are two types of fatty liver disease. One is alcoholic and one is non-alcoholic. I have the non-alcoholic type, which is caused by eating too much carbs and fat, if I understand it correctly. I'm sure it's not just the milk alone causing yours.

I've taught psychopathology for over 25 years and I don't believe that article suffers from selection bias or that the results could be applied to the general population at all. There is a far greater incidence of PDs in patients with morbid and super obesity than in the general population. Furthermore, NurseGrace, I am not here as a staff member or the forum psychologist. Given what's transpired on this thread, that article is entirely apropos and informs a great deal of what the OP complained about. The sharing of that article was not a bastardization of anything despite the fact that my motivation in doing so was obviously over- and multi-determined! As for your earlier idea about labeling members by their orientation to abstinence vs. moderation, i.e., "different ideas about how closely we follow the guidelines," the only long-term guidelines I received from my surgeon were: 1) no carbonated beverages ever and; 2) no alcohol for at least one year. For the record, I plan to follow both those guidelines religiously. So, please, put me down as "by the book!"

My initial post on this thread was a highly critical indictment of the abstinence model in regard to compulsive eating and I have been taking this position professionally since 1985. I have written numerous articles and professional book reviews that have essentially made the very same points. Not once have I ever been attacked by other professionals who also happen to be members of OA or AA or believe that abstinence from sugar, wheat, and alcohol is essential to their own personal recovery (and there are many who do). I appreciate that this is not a forum for professional people (although there are members with professional degrees) but I am not going to apologize to those who took offense because they live by an unsubstantiated model of recovery that I happen to be critical of and have been professionally critical of for 28 years. Does my promotion of moderation mean that I am encouraging people to live an unhealthy lifestyle or to subsist on junk food? Of course not and that's a completely disingenuous distortion of what I've written. I don't see this as a contest or issue between strict vs. "undisciplined?" sleevers. For me, this is strictly a matter of two competing models: disease vs. mental health. I stand behind everything I've written on this thread with the caveat that nothing I wrote was deliberately directed at anyone in particular. If you took offense, then challenge the argument, don't attack the member. You and Dean are right about one though: I really shouldn't be writing here with professional authority as an academician and then claim "regular member status" when feathers get ruffled and buttons get inadvertently pushed. I have been writing as if I were addressing colleagues, yet another book review, and you and Dean have made me realize that I need to write at all times as if I'm addressing patients, i.e., with a very different kind of sensitivity and mindset. Quite frankly, that's a burden I rather not assume. I won't be posting on these forums anymore. Best of luck to everyone in their life's journey towards a healthier and thinner body.

I am glad to find this topic. I remember post lapband liquid hell, I could not tolerate it more than one week due to severe diarrhea. I was drinking lowcarb no sugar added protein drinks and I guess the sugar alcohol or whatever they sweeten them with did not agree with me. Anyways I had to start mushies a few days early. I don;t guess that I will be able to do that with the RNY so I am glad to see the suggestions for different liquids esp. Salas for the liquid bean soup.

I made it out of this weekend alive and able to pull off our friends not knowing about the surgery! It was pretty hard being at a very nice steakhouse and seeing all of the AMAZING food around me. I ordered an ahi tuna appetizer and ate that while my husband and our friends had delicious steaks with sides of scalloped potatoes and gorgonzola mac n' cheese. I wanted to eat everything, but instead, I ate a few pieces of tuna and hid the rest under the pile of carrots the tuna was sitting on. Afterward, we went to several upscale bars and of course I did not have a sip of alcohol. Our friends kept accusing me of being pregnant, and boy will they be surprised in 9 months when I have lost a significant amount of weight instead of a baby appearing! As for today, I spent the morning deep cleaning my closet and organizing everything by size and getting rid of things I no longer want to wear. I was so excited to see that a lot of my work clothes and blazers are fitting now! Just in time for NYE :)Oh, and my winter coat that I couldn't even get over my shoulders a few months ago… it now fits! Today is the kind of day that makes me so happy to physically see the results instead of just looking at the number on the scale!

What kind of doctor recommends alcohol and soda to a post bariatric surgery patient?! I would seriously have concerns. I was warned that it is possible to lose too must weight. Of course, some people never lose as much as they would have liked so it is not across the board. I did have a friend who has Gastric Bypass who lost more than she wanted to and she consistently upped her calorie intake until she got back to where she wanted to be, but she didn't eat crap food. Keep in mind, that it is normal for people to gain 10-15 pounds within five years. My doctor said not to worry if I felt like I got a little too skinny because my sleeve would stretch a little over time and I would gain some weight.

"I feel skinnyyyyyy, oh so skinnyyyyy....." So this happened. I'm back to my lowest post op weight today. Yay. This is big. I've been bouncing into and out of Onederland for SIX months. A month and a half ago I made some big changes to my food and behaviors. It resulted in the loss of ten pounds I gained back from my low weight last year up to that point. So today I'm back down to 193, back on track, and feeling great. Less than fifty pounds to goal. I started thinking I'd make a list of what's going right. When I can't figure out why things are slowing down or going in reverse, I'll pull out this list and see what I'm doing or not doing. Here goes. Feel free to add your own tips to this thread. Tracking food in MyFitnessPal. Weighing daily. Going to OA and CODA meetings. Therapy every two weeks. Planning food the day before and committing it to my OA sponsor. Staying under 1200 calories a day. No fried food. No carby Thai noodles. No movie crapcorn. Two fruit or p rotein shake s nacks a day. Measuring out nuts instead of guessing the portion. No alcohol. Healthy, boring, simple foods like eggs and cheese and yogurt and meatballs. Way fewer processed foods. Bye bye bread. Just because I drop it in the salad bowl doesn't make it salad. Log it. (See nuts, measured, above.) Journaling. Listening to weight loss and addiction recovery podcasts. Obeying my band. It says "enough"? I stop. I have found that this same fill level that I have been at since August suddenly is just right. Before these changes, I was contemplating another fill because I was able to eat too much. But even then I would get stuck on certain foods if not chewed thoroughly. I wisely took my NP's advice and cleaned up the food and drink before getting a ninth fill. I don't need it now. I'm at the sweet spot, the green zone, the holy grail of band land. It took about four weeks for me to stop daydreaming about the perfect meal and missing my fried foods. Today I crave veggies and simple meals. It's a miracle. But I can't stress enough how important the "head and heart" work is. I am working very, very hard on the emotional and spiritual recovery from my food addiction. Like every day. No kidding. So anyway, just wanted to share this joyful stuff and ask others to pile on. What's going right for you?

I had VSG 15 months ago and have lost 100 pounds. I reached my surgeons goal at 6 1/2 months, my personal goal at 7 1/2 months, then lost another 10 pounds and have been maintaining in the middle of normal BMI range for over 6 months. And I've done this without weighing or measuring or logging a single bite of food. I followed my surgeons postop directions to a T, ate mostly Protein and veggies until I reached surgeons goal and have simply eaten a well balanced diet of protein, veggies, fruit and grains since then. I eat when I'm hungry, I eat until satisfied, not full, and I eat pretty much whatever I'm in the mood for....no planning or prepping whatsoever. I eat a lot of leftovers and my vacuum sealer had been awesome. I have a 30-40g protein smoothie and a 10-20g Protein Bar everyday and try to go for protein rich foods for the most part. I also keep a mental tally of fluids to make sure I'm getting at least 64oz/day. I do eat carbs and sweets and alcohol sometimes, but in moderation. That is the extent of my "diet" routine. I don't really think about any of it. I go to the grocery store and wander around the deli and produce sections and up and down the aisle, looking for what looks tasty. I pretty much stay clear of the bakery. Like today, I was taking a friend to a doctors appointment and afterwards she wanted to go to Sizzler. I, of course, overpaid for an all you can eat salad buffet, but it was delicious, I had a little bit of many different things, sticking with more Proteins (meatballs, shrimp, taco fixings without the tortilla, broccoli bacon salad, hard boiled egg, etc) than anything and then topped it off with some cantaloupe and a bit of bread pudding and ice cream. My friend meanwhile (who is 5'2" 105#...bitch????) had 2-3x as much from the salad bar plus a steak and broiled shrimp plus a whole brownie and ice cream for dessert. I, too have done the diet tracking/logging thing with the zillion diets in the past, and I knew I didn't want to do that after surgery. In fact, in my mind I was having surgery so I wouldn't have to ever do that again. There are many different ways of being successful with WLS, and it IS possible without focusing on every little food detail. For me, it's as simple as my sleeve restricts my portions and I make good choices (most of the time) about what I eat. Pretty simple.

I am with you, I want to be healthy and happy... I am not so worried abou the procedure but I am worried about some of the lifestyle changes, mostly no soda... it's my alcohol. BUT I want to be runnig around with the kids, feeling good and looking good so I guess no more soda!!!

I don’t think we would be on this forum if we weren’t mostly terrible dieters ☹️ But we have made a decision to change our lives for the better 😊. You can rock this diet! Good luck! Your pre op is more the UK’s post op, mine is just 1000 calories a day no alcohol, as it’s Christmas they said I can have a relatively normal Christmas Day (probably not my normal 🐷) and then 800 calories to compensate until the 30th.

I probably waited a couple of months after surgery, but you say you have been cleared. I also have a glass or two, a couple of times a week. I work rotating shiftwork and quite often will have a nice 6am, "bedtime" drink. I never noticed any difference in how alcohol affected me pre or post banding, but as many people say, it does affect them differently. Go slow until you see how it affects you. Its still the same amount of alcohol as it was pre banding. As you can see from below, calories can add up...and no protein in wine, so have some cheese with it. Calories A typical 3.5-oz. glass of Cabernet Sauvignon wine contains a total of 88 calories, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Alcohol makes up 77 calories within the serving and 11 calories come from carbohydrates. No appreciable amounts of proteins or fats are within the wine. Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/312718-calories-in-cabernet-sauvignon-wine/#ixzz2Onla0wd9