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So, this got me curious. I went to guinness.com and looked up the brewing process. Under Fermentation it says: Arthur's yeast in action; now the liquid is cooled, our special yeast is added and is allowed to ferment for a number of days. The yeast converts brewing sugars to alcohol and carbon dioxide gas, creating that wondrous flavor. This gas is collected and purified for re-use. Then in Packaging: The beer is now almost ready for packaging, but whatever the variant, GUINNESS® is always crowned with a distinctive head. With GUINNESS® Draught, nitrogen is added in the packaging process , this is what gives the pint the magical beauty. When the beer is served, the nitrogen bubbles will be released, bringing the beer alive and creating that famous surge, settle and wonderfully creamy head. With GUINNESS® Foreign Extra Stout — the depth of character in flavour is matched with the amount of entrained carbon dioxide. When poured from a bottle it releases an eruption of foam, creating the classic, slightly brown, full and creamy head. After packaging, every batch is tasted by the brewer before leaving the brewery, to ensure that it meets our exacting standards - one of the world's greatest jobs! It's the tradition, craft and passion, passed down through generations for 250 years, that makes it GUINNESS® beer, draught, or stout. Finally our creation is offically GUINNESS® beer, draught, or stout and it's ready for the rest of the journey. Whether in keg, bottle or can it's on the move again, bound for pubs and bars around the world (or the local just around the corner). I dunno what it means, but they mention both CO2 and Nitrogen.

I think that obesity and depression go hand in hand for many of us. Especially in women. There is documentation that the combo is even more frequent in families with alcoholic members. Good thing we are survivors!

@@Daisee68, Interesting question! I can definitely see your nutritionist’s point. She apparently sees your patterns at that meal as being similar to patterns that got you in trouble in the first place. And I think there is research to back up that the more variety you have at a meal, the more you are likely to eat. On the other hand, you didn’t have THAT many foods – you had 5 at the first, and 2 at the second. (By the way, my concern would be the Bloody Mary). I would ask if you were in control. If you were completely in control of what you ate, you made a sound decision, and you stuck to it, I don’t think it’s a problem. If you start with a chip and turned it into a two-course meal with alcohol, that is more of a problem.

I try to eat different stuff all the time. I purposely still drink a Protein shake and eat a Quest bar every day so I can meet my protein goals. And although most of my food choices are high protein, the shakes and bars give me the freedom to eat a balanced diet including fruit, veggies and whole grains while still getting 60-80g+ of protein. From a physiological standpoint, I like the idea of providing my body with different nutrients all the time. From a psychological standpoint eatng the same thing over and over with no variety would only be frustrating and lead to cravings and binges (for me, anyways) However, the examples you gave (pizza, chips, Bloody Mary, wings) are all pretty poor choices when it comes to healthy, weight loss friendly foods. That first meal was pretty much all carbs and the second was some protein, but laden with fat and probably carbs from the sauces. If you want variety, great, but make sure you mostly focus on lean protein and non starchy veggies. Your only carbs should be from maybe a little fruit and healthy, whole grains. Alcohol, bread and chips certainly should not be regular choices.

I know, atkins is low in carbs because you subtract the fiber and sugar alcohol. The bars other people mentioned just had sugar, it didn't say sugar alcohol so that can't really be subtracted. I'm guessing you're pretty far along to be eating more then 50g carbs a day? My Dr wants us to eat as low as possible, but no more then 50g a day.

I just went and checked some of the Atkins bars again. If you are thinking they are low carb, then you are going off the net carbs, which Atkins labels explicitly. Quest and others don't necessarily do that, so you have to do it yourself. Atkins is taking total carbs and subtracting fiber and sugar alcohols to get net carbs (I don't know about subtracting sugar alcohols as a practice, but maybe it's okay... one of my diabetic nutritionists said to only subtract half of those). If you do that with most of the ones mentioned here, you get about the same (but double check).

Hi Paige, I lived and worked in Europe for ten years and understand the healthcare system. My husband is Dutch and I DO understand that you cant have immediate service . I am also not suggesting that the US system of health care is better. Regardless based on what you told us, your band is TOO TIGHT. You do not benefit mentally or physically from a too tight band. I don't see how barfing and living miserably (which is not what the band is about) is productive and helps you in any way at all. If it aint working of course you will be depressed. Anyone would be. However, you have not had enough fills by a competent professional to say that you really know that there is a problem with the band. Here in the states, the increments are much smaller for first and second fills and even third. Most docs are really conservative and it seems that the biggest losers are the bandsters who have the least amount of fill in their bands and do lots of head work as they build up restriction. So empty it, (not all of it) work on your head and healing your esophagus and giving it a rest and then fill it up really really slowly to find your sweet spot. Regarding your mental health issues, I understand that the band is causing them or exacerbating your mental health issues. The band is not for everyone. It doesnt work for everyone. But having some other bariatric surgery such as a bypass or DS may not solve your problems either. Its really a lot of work having a band, both mentally and physically. There are days I DO wish that I had some other procedure. I was always a volume eater and still to some extent dont know when to stop. My band makes it harder, but you can quite easily eat around the band. I know it to be so. I gained back some of my losses as a result of pouch packing and dilation. ALL of us here to some extent carry some major psychological luggage as obese or formerly obese people.. I lost a lot of weight with the band and sought therapy for the new problems of being thin, more attractive and desirable. I was miserable as a morbidly obese person, but I was also very very sad about some of the developments I encountered as a thinner person. I lost friends who really werent friends and people treat you differently. My point is Who cares whether the cart is before the horse? I would tell an alcoholic if one treatment is not working, then to try another, so I dont get your analogy. With the band LESS IS MORE. You dont have to be restricted to the point of daily barfing to lose weight. Does it really matter whether the band caused your mental health to deteriorate further because it hasnt worked for you? Having your hair fall out and not getting Vitamins coupled with not losing weight would make anyone depressed. Feeling healthier with a less full band will help you to think more rationally. Hugs, Babs in TX 334/190 ish

Here is why alcohol is really bad when your trying to loose weight. The body uses alcohol as fuel first, and only after all the alcohol is used up does it obtain energy from your fat stores. So basically drinking is stalling your fat-burning process. I got this info directly from "the complete idiot's guide to Glycemic Index Weight Loss". Seems right to me.

My therapist (who I got to help combat my food issues) said cravings usually last 30 mins or less. Try to keep that in mind when you are craving something. I think you are like me. I am going to have to be very careful around certain foods (carb heavy hitters like bread and pasta for me). If I start, I won't stop. Kind of like an alcoholic in recovery. Some people can have a little bit and not suffer from "withdrawals", but if I were to have a little bit then my cravings spike and can spin out of control fast. My recommendations: 1. Track what you are eating in an app if possible cause sometimes that will help reign it in 2. Wait 30 mins when craving something and drink water. Go for a walk or pick an activity to distract you. After 30 mins, see how you are feeling and what your body may really be after (protein/more water/?) 3. Try to find healthy substitutes for what you are wanting. Pizza? Find a low carb recipe that tastes good and fills that urge. Sweets? Are some sugar free options or low carb options a possibility? 4. Journal and track when these cravings are happening. What's going on when they do? Are you stressed/bored/angry? Are you around others who are eating things you want? Are you out of the house and having to do fast food as quick options? Etc. See where your weak points are and then start identifying ways to help deal with them. 5. Get a supportive therapist to help you deal with your mindset around food. You can outeat wls. For many of us, this is going to be a lifelong addiction that we can defeat but will always have to be mindful of.

I remember researching this long before surgery. I'm a little over five weeks out now and I smoked again for the first time last week. Since then, I've smoked twice more. Honestly, it is something I will probably always do. I am not a big drinker and my body responds good to weed. I get relaxed and it's something that can really make a night out with friends more enjoyable. As for the munchies, I haven't had any issues. I went to dinner with my friend and had my small plate of food. I ate slow and really relished the taste of it. I actually think I ate slower than I would sober because I was so aware of everything. Honestly, it's not for everyone. I get that some people will always frown upon it. But I personally think alcohol is far worse for you AND for your sleeve. To each their own!

Agreed. This is a huge decision. The sleeve is irreversible. You want to go in with your eyes wide open. The psych needs to make sure you know and understand what you are getting yourself into. Real world example - I knew someone who failed the psych years ago. What did he do? He went to south America where the requirements were easier. About a year after the surgery he started sabotaging his progress by grazing with carbs and alcohol. Gained the weight back. It is tough if psych says no but I think it is important. I am on my pre op diet and already I am noticing how I have previously used food to comfort me during stressful times. Just had my pre op visit and it was a little stressful so after the visit the first thing I thought about is how normally I would just go to the hospital cafe for a snack and a coffee to deal with it. Of course I can't now. Amazing how the mind works. We need to deal with our minds or this won't work. May not be what the op wants to hear but I mean no offense, just my .02

Hey guys, can anyone tell me about alcohol and wine with lapband ? before getting banded I would only drink on special occasions just a glass or 2.i have not drank since i got banded,will it be diffrent after being banded? can any one tell me ? i am going on vacation sept,7th to hawaii for our 1st wedding anniversary and would like to have a drink or 2 .and info would be appreciated! thanks tonyann

Check with your surgeon as to his/her rules on alcohol. As to a contraindication for it, no there is not. It is not carbonated, so there would be no discomfort. It is a clear liquid, you should be able to drink it at a normal rate. As in, I could "shoot" Water, I have done shots of tequila. I can freely drink water, milk, beer (even with carbonation). I can chug water and non carbonated liquids. Beer I don't chug. I don't sip it, either. Just remember, if you are told to wait 6 months to a year before imbibing, your tolerance will be lower. However, we still metabolize liquor the same as we always have, so you won't be a true "cheap date."

Hey everybody, Globetrotter here, long time no post! As some of you may recall, I returned from deployment one year ago this month. Life has been a whirlwind of adjustment ever since and I have become a stranger on our forum. In the year that I have been home I have lost "only" 40 lbs, bringing my post-op weight loss to 130 lbs. I am 18 months out from surgery and am still not at goal, which is just so frustrating and demoralizing. I am 15 lbs away from surgeon's goal and 40 lbs away from personal goal. Anyone who remembers me here knows that I have been a slooow loser from day one, always fretting over it, but now it really has slowed to about one or two pounds a month. In the last 7 months I have lost only 15 lbs. I exercise at least 4 days a week, for several hours at a time. A typical day of exercise for me includes a TRX class, followed by a yoga class, followed by 2 hours of tango. I still eat a lot of Protein but I will admit - I eat s*** now. I have allowed myself to eat french fries, chocolate cake, alcohol, whipped cream, bread, etc. I am incredibly lucky that, a year and a half out, I still do not have real hunger, but my tastebuds rule. I have fallen off the path my brothers and sisters, and I know that falling away from the Forum has NOT helped. I've got to get to goal folks, I've got to. I am 5'3" and 164 lbs, I am still fat. Yes, I am active, yes I look 100x better than when I started, but my chub still prevents me from running that mile, from achieving that yoga pose, from enjoying those killer stillettos longer than an hour. I plea for your help in returning me to the fold and helping me across that finish line. I didn't know if there is a place in the forum now for long term sleevers, a place to discuss the changes in metabolism, the challenges of acheiving goal after the first year when you've beena slow loser, all that. I look forward to hearing from you. =) Globetrotter

Some of the quest bars have the sugar alcohol that makes me very sick, also yes it is more sugar but as double of protein, usually is my lunch. I have to say that I'm getting tired of protein bars or shakes. I just wish I could eat " normal" food and still meet my protein goal.

BUT, I looked it up and pretty much it can be all kinds of things.. What ever, all I know is that for two weeks, I am in pass out mode.. all times of the day and with seemingly no cause.. It wont matter how long or how hard I have slept..and I have NEVEr slept nor drempt (lol, is that a word) so much in my life. Its totally different than anything in my life I have EVER experienced. I have tried and tried to get on a schedule.. doesnt work I have checked my meds to make sure I am not suddenly without realizing it, taking too much. .... I am not. I have thought long and hard about it being depression.... WHo knows I have not checked my blood suger and I guess I will go to lab next week and check it.. but ITs NEVER my diabeties whenever I think it may be. I am eating like CRAP.. worse as I ever have, but still think I get enough nutriants and stuff not to have some weird sleeping disorder. Its ticking me off.. I cant live like this!!! I looked this up.. but what do you guys think? Anyone go through this? Hypersomnia leads to the urge to nap during the day, no matter what you're doing. Thats what I am doing Other symptoms may include anxiety, always increased irritation, well yeah when the house isnt quiet and my body is in pass out mode decreased energy,duh restlessness, yes, dont know what to do when I am up, but I dont do anything now cuz I feel like I am just gonna have to be asleep soon slow thinking and speech, loss of appetite,well I cant ever eat cuz I am always 'waking up' and I wake up swollen.. hallucinations the dreams I am having are pretty darn close and memory problems. hard to tell Hypersomnia may be caused by narcolepsy (or sleep apnea, another sleep disorder)Not that I know of, drug or alcohol abuse, No, not unless my pills are affecting me different all of a sudden (pain pills) But I dont feeeel anything when I take them (like high or euphoric or nothing a tumor, or injury to the head or central nervous system. well thats broad Multiple sclerosis,no depression, I dont know encephalitis, ??epilepsy no or obesity so there it is.. THATS IT!!!!lol can also be contributing factors. grrrr

Hello all...lately I have been having trouble being a good bander on the weekends (alcohol, food, exercise) but I was determined to change that. I'm proud to say that although my TOM hit over the weekend, I still lost! I'm officially in another decade. 230's! It has been years since I have seen a 2 and a 3 preceding the last digit! I weighed in at 239.2 this morning. I walked around the lake on Friday morning (before it got too hot! I'm in the south) which completed my 4 workouts for the week. AND I went to body step class yesterday afternoon so I'm already one workout behind me for the week! Plus for the entire weekend I got in my water and took my supplements. I'm pretty sure I ate much less that I should have. I have heard ladies say that during TOM they have more restriction...well I find that to be true. Saturday morning I cooked steak, eggs and grits. The steak got stuck! Never had a stuck episode like that before, needless to say, I didn't try anymore. I really thought I was going to throw up! After that, I just wasn't hungry. Didnt even think about food. I like that feeling!! I hope to keep this downward trend going....soon I will be seeing a 2 and another 2 before the last number! Woohoo!!!

I could not agree with both of you more! Our problem is infinitely more serious than the general populus thinks - unlike an addiction to cigarettes or alcohol, which you can avoid completely after you've gone through recovery, we will never be able to avoid food completely. An addiction to food may just be the most difficult kind to overcome, because not only do you have to learn not to depend on the food, you have to learn to have a comfortable relationship with it, instead of, say, learning to say 'no' to that proffered drink. We need to raise awareness! Maybe there should be a walk for MO, like there is for breast cancer or March of Dimes. Excercise and fundraiser at the same time!

I am still covered in lovenox bruises and I did my last shot a week ago lol. Some hurt, some didn't and some bled, some didn't. It was definitely frustrating. I agree with the recommendation to wait a minute after you use the alcohol wipe to avoid stinging. Also, I think that the harder/long you pinch before injecting the less pain/chance of bleeding there is. That seemed to help me atleast.

Three hours does seem awfully long (mine was an hour and I thought that was long). Mostly, I think, they are looking to see that you don't have an eating disorder, that you have realistic expectations for the band, that you don't have severe mental illness (like delusional thinking or hallucinations), that you don't have a drug or alcohol addiction, that you are getting the band for the right reasons (for yourself). They want you to be successful. Probably with the three hours they will talk with you about "head hunger" and using food for things other than strictly nourishment; might also talk about what to expect after you lose your weight (during my psych evaluation the therapist talked about the high rate of divorce among wls patients). They also will probably talk to you about your weight loss/gain history. They are not going to be concerned that you take an anti-anxiety medication--especially if your anxiety is controlled (I have clinical depression, but it's controlled with my medications, and they didn't blink an eye about it). Don't worry. They won't think you're crazy. :tongue2:

I've had wine and champagne. Just some sips, not the whole glass. Also, I was at least 4 1/2, maybe 5 months out. I've only done it a few times on special occations. Oh, last weekend I had a chocolate martini! ... well, about three sips of one! But it was good! It was at a comedy club! I don't really want the emply calories and I've never been much of a drinker so If it turned out I could not have any alcohol at all, I would be fine with it. As long as I get my sleeve!!! :-)

I waited until I was about 4 months out (my doc said 3-6 months). I drink pretty much whatever I want, obviously in moderation. I've had beer, wine, mixed drinks, etc. The carbonation in beer can cause a little discomfort, I usually drink a wheat beer like blue moon that isn't highly carbonated and I always drink out of a glass. Alcohol (especially mixed with high-calorie mixers like fruit juices) is TOTAL empty calories, so most surgeons warn against drinking during the weight loss phase. It can also lead to crossover addictions, so be cautious. I'm a social drinker and haven't noticed that it has impacted my weight loss at all (I don't even bother tracking/logging my drinking on MFP) so each person may have different experiences with it.

Okay thanks. I know a alot about liquor (well at least my favorite ones) including the caloric content. I was a gym rat a few years ago and I googled all of my favorite drinks for the alcohol content. Can't remember the exact numbers but it was like 1000 cals for one of my favorite drinks depending on the size. I'm not a big drinker, just was interested on how it affects some, and if there was a "list' on here. I was watching someones youtube, and she still felt the liquor the next day, but she was drinking at 4 weeks out so I'm sure it would be different later. I guess there's only one way to find out.

I love the Atkins bars but the sugar alcohols will give you the runs if your not careful. I have to modify my tummy routine when I eat them

Kate, Drinking should be cut back for the major reason alcohol is high in calories. Its tough when you see how much food you have to give up to compensate for the alcohol. My Dr's don't want us to drink because of this but they leave it up to each patient. I cannot drink beer anymore as I have trouble with the carbination. Same with soda pops. I do have an occassional Rum and diet coke as long as I can use caffine free diet coke. If it is poured out of a bottle I stir the carbination out of it and then add the rum. If I'm at a bar the fountain drinks they use for mixing are less carbinated so that works fine. Hope that helps you.