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I was told, after I experienced this as well, that the sugar-free ice cream might not have sugar but it has sugar alcohol, which some of don't seem to tolerate either. Check to see if your ice-cream had the sugar alcohol and then that might be the culprit.

Thursday, June 11, 2009 Goodbye to food---at parties:crying: I have at least 5 parties to attend over the next 3 weekends and I'm going to have to attend them without having food as a crutch. I'm going to have to bring food and not eat it. I have to talk to people without relying on food to allay my social anxiety and fear of putting my foot in my mouth in one of my impulsive, ADHD moments. I won't be able to gorge myself on foods I would never have in my home or buy for myself. That's the thing about parties. I love to go to parties because of the food, and I hate to go to parties because of the food. At my church we're into celebrating everything, and everything involves food--delicious food and lots of it. At school people bring special treats for everything. At weekly faculty devotions, the leader is supposed to bring a treat. If my husband and I want to do something special, we go to a cheap restaurant in order to stay within our budget. Family get togethers are dominated by food. I really don't know how to talk to people without food smoothing the way. Alcohol has never appealed much to me--its always been food. The food is killing me. More insidiously than alcohol or nicotine, it is still killing me. But unlike alcohol and nicotin and other addictive substances, I need it to live. How can something that God created so good, become so evil for me? Imagine a world that sin had never entered. Where genetic alterations that make some people prone to addiction had never happened. Where celebration never turns into debauchery--of any kind, either by choice or by uncontrollable compulsions and cravings. That's what paradise would look like, and what it will look like when Christ comes again to establish his new heaven and new earth. Party!

When is it ok to have a drink? I'm 10 wks out. I know every dr has their own opinions . What do you think? How have you done, if you've had it?

I have to admit, I am still not ok with going out to eat. First off, drink with a straw, a big nono and my body lets me know after awhile. Food choices usually are slim. Alcohol also if he has an occasional drink. None for 6 months. The food part isnt too bad for me. The big thing is not drinking anything for 30 min after. I think it is awesome you are supporting him. Maybe ask him? I cook for the other 4 in the house, (my cousin and her family) and afterwards come back over to my area (I have an efficiency apartment that is attached to their house) and make my dinner. It isnt always easy. You forget easily. Old habits die hard. Good luck to you both! SW 350 (11/15) BSW 260 (10/17/17) CW 207 (3/18/18) RGW 199 GW 175

Obesity is a very complicated condition and is recognized by many in the medical field as a disease. An alcoholic who has been sober for 20 years is still considered an alcoholic. An obese person who has issues with food can still have those after weight loss. This article (from webmd) speaks about how hunger hormones can sabotage our dieting. And hunger is not all head hunger. While that many exist, I believe doctors use that term too often to blame the patient when the band isn't working as it should (despite following all the rules) Some Dieters Are Set Up to Regain Weight And I know many thin adults who eat all they want, don't exercise, and by their own admission have inherited thin genes and are lucky. So, not all thin people are these healthy eaters/exercisers.

Nancy - Barrett's esophagus is a precancerous condition of the esophagus. It results from food and acid splashing into the esophagus. The esophagus is not made to have these things there and cells start to change. The pictures of his endoscopy would show a pink esophagus with large patches of red (Barrett's) and they would biopsy every year. They will tell you that only a small % of Barrett's turns into cancer. Doesn't matter if you're one of them. Because it's a death sentence. It is more common in men and more deadly for some reason. And more common in smokers and drinkers. My husband was neither. My husband died at 56, his dad died at 58 of cancer of the stomach/intestinal area (he was a heavy smoker) and his grandfather died in his 40's of some type of stomach problem (we don't know for sure if it was cancer - it was so long ago). So 3 generations of men died early of cancer - something not lost on my son. Both he and my daughter participated in a study at the Cleveland Clinic. They had to send blood and I gave permission for a sample of my husband's tumor to be sent to them. They were looking for genes for esophageal cancer. This is why I am so concerned about my reflux. I know it's nothing to mess around with. I got breast cancer 7 years ago. I have never been a smoker but blamed my weight gain as an adult for it. Yes, smoking and coffee are bad for reflux as well as chocolate, mint and alcohol. Hope your husband gets checked and good luck.

Sugar alcohols were ok in moderation but wow can they stall weight loss. Bummer

The bariatric foodie just reviewed Quest bars .. If you have FB you can like her page. They do have sugar alcohol called something else I can't remember but anyway wanted to let you know thaf date of surgery 02/21/12 surgery weight 340 lbs. current weight 146 lbs

This bodes well for many sleevers, or WLS people in general, who have non-alcoholic/drug induced liver disease (NAFLD/NASH):

Never had much of a sweet tooth myself so avoiding sugar has not been a problem. It was carbs that got me in trouble. Pizza and the like which cause me to pack on the pounds. Only sugar I can imagine liking is with alcoholic beverages, but then you add in the risk of not if but when an ulcer develops, so that's not an option anymore either.

This will be an unpopular opinion, especially since I am not a parent: Parents with children that obese should be held to the same legal standard that a parent who underfeeds their child would be. Of course their pediatrician should intervene and monitor progress at first, but ultimately, those parents are killing their child just as surely as if they were withholding food. My weight was not out of control until I hit college, so in no way do I blame my mother. The addictive personality comes from my alcoholic father. As a teacher, I often wonder when parents will be held "accountable" for their children. If the kid is obese and dies in gym class, it is the school's fault, the nurse's fault, etc. Just my opinion.Will def check out the show.

Im still pre-op, surgery scheduled for Aug 2. Im going on a cruise in June. I would appreciate any suggestions from those who have experienced this. Im not eating any bread, drinking any alcohol or soda. Advice please?

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.

OK I hope I can remember everything he said! 1. Carbonation: Does it cause erosion? Does it stretch the pouch? Or do we avoid it simply because it causes gas pains? It only stretches the pouch temporily, the problem is that it stretches it enough to make the opening larger therefore you are able to eat more. It cannot cause erosion. 2. Alcohol: Does it cause erosion, or do we avoid it because it's empty calories? Alcohol does not cause erosion, but can cause problems if your liver/pancreas gets bad that could cause problems with the band in the long run. However, smoking is much worse than the alcohol. It is also because of all the empty calories. 3. Drinking before and after meals: How long to wait after eating? What are their reasons for these rules? He would like to see two hours after eating to drink, but it is only because they want the food to stay in the pouch longer. If you eat too soon, it will empty your pouch causing you to want to eat sooner. 4. NSAIDs - is there any new information regarding them causing erosion? Yes, NSAIDS can cause erosion! 5. Slippage: Any information on what causes slippage. I know we are supposed to avoid vomitting, but what if we get a stomach bug? What are the signs/symptoms, etc. Slippage is caused mostly by wrenching/throwing up pretty hard. That causes the band to turn and flip. That is why it is so important to let your band heal in place really good at the beginning. The signs of slippage are not being able to drink Water or eat without throwing up, being in a lot of pain, or eating and not getting full (not having any restriction and you won't have any signs with this one). 6. What if anything is new in the last 6 months? They are now using the Vanguard band and think it is a better band. The swedish band is coming out real soon too. OK, that is what I found out, so it will be interesting to see what anyone else finds out too.

I'm going to the doctor on Thursday and will try to remember to ask him this stuff. Some of it we have went over lately. 1. Carbonation: Does it cause erosion? Does it stretch the pouch? Or do we avoid it simply because it causes gas pains? I was going to ask this one Thursday 2. Alcohol: Does it cause erosion, or do we avoid it because it's empty calories? He told me they are empty calories, but that I could have a glass of wine if I wanted to. 3. Drinking before and after meals: How long to wait after eating? What are their reasons for these rules? My doctor actually believes in two hours, but I agreed on one hour. It is just for keeping the pouch full longer. I can drink right up till I eat. 4. NSAIDs - is there any new information regarding them causing erosion? I need to ask this one too I will be glad to ask any other questions anyone might have also.

BetsyJane posted this and I thought it might come in REAL handy. `````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` HowtoTellWhenYouArePerfectlyAdjusted: You are losing 1-2 pounds per week. If you are not losing 1-2 pounds per week: A. You may need an eating adjustment 1. Are you eating 60 grams of protein a day? 2. Are you eating 25 grams of fiber? 3. Are you avoiding all liquid calories? a. Soup can be sign of soft calorie syndrome b. Alcohol contains a lot of calories 7 calories per gram.(It's also a stomach irritant). c. Fruit juice is just sugar water 4. Are you making healthy food choices from a wide variety of foods? a. Are you avoiding soft foods b. You can't just eat what's easy c. Cheese is glorified fat 5. Are you drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day between meals? 6. Are you eating too much junk? a. Chips, chocolate, nuts, ice cream, cookies and other highly processed junk foods are too calorically dense to be regular parts of a healthy diet. But don't avoid them completely to the point where you feel deprived. b. Stay out of fast food places 7. Are you getting in two servings of calcium daily? 8. Do you always eat the protein first? 9. Then the vegetables or fruits a. Five servings a day b. Potatoes are NOT a vegetable 10. Is your portion size appropriate? a. Meat or fish (3 ounces the size of a deck of cards) b. Vegetables (½ cup the size of your fist) c. Starch (If you eat the protein and the vegetables first you don't need much - Avoid: rice, potatoes, pasta) 11. You might try avoiding artificial sweeteners a. Some people think that artificial sweeteners stimulate the appetite b. They are HUNDREDS of times sweeter than sugar c. They teach you to like things too sweet d. There is no evidence that people who use them are any thinner than people who don’t 12. Avoid most diet foods a. Real food usually tastes better b. Real food is more satisfying than low calorie substitutes c. When you are only eating a tiny bit the caloric savings is not that great (Use a teaspoon of real butter instead of a tablespoon of diet margarine. d. The body has no way to break down artificial fats). a. They may go into permanent storage b. Some people think liposuction is the only way to remove hydrolyzed fats from the body B. You may need a behavior adjustment 1. Are you eating only when you are hungry? a. If you're not sure drink 8 ounces of water and wait 2. Are you eating three meals a day? a. With maybe 1 or 2 small snacks 3. Are you sitting down to eat? 4. Are you eating consciously? a. No distractions, turn off the TV, put the book or newspaper away, pay attention to your food and your companions 5. Are you eating slowly? a. Put the fork down between bites b. Take 20 to 30 minutes to finish a meal c. Taking longer might cause the pouch to begin emptying 6. Are you taking small bites? a. Tiny spoon, chopsticks, cocktail fork 7. Are you chewing well? 8. Are you drinking with your meals or too soon after your meals? a. Practice water loading between meals b. You won't be thirsty if you are well hydrated before the meal 9. Are you stopping at the first sign of fullness? a. Sometimes it's a whisper: not hungry, had enough b. Hard stop versus soft stop 10. Do not eat between meals. Stop grazing. 11. Do not eat when you are not hungry C. You may need an activity adjustment 1. Are you getting in 30 minutes of physical activity at least 3 times a week? a. Over and above what you would do in the usual course of your day b. Could you make it 4 or 5 times a week? c. Could you make it 45 or 60 minutes? 2. Are you taking advantage of opportunities to increase your physical activity? a. Taking the stairs instead of the elevators or escalators b. Walking on the escalators instead of riding c. Parking your car further away from the entrance d. Getting out of the car instead of using the drive through e. Getting off the bus one stop before your destination f. Washing you car by hand instead of the car wash g. Playing with your kids D. You may need an attitude adjustment 1. Are you committed to your weight loss journey? 2. Are you totally honest with yourself about how much you are eating and exercising? a. Log your food and activity on ww.fitday.com for 3 days 3. Are you using food inappropriately to deal with emotional issues? a. Have you identified what the emotions are that drive your eating? b. Can you think of more appropriate ways to deal with those emotions? c. Are you willing to seek help from a qualified counselor? 4. Are you attending and participating in support group meetings? 5. Have you drummed up some support from your family and friends? 6. Have you dealt with saboteurs realistically? 7. Do you have realistic expectations about the weight loss journey? 8. Are you still obsessing about food, weight, dieting, eating? a. Obsessive compulsive thoughts (Obsess about something else) b. Perfectionism (All or none, black and white thinking) c. Patience with the pace of healthy weight loss 9. Are you acknowledging your successes with non-food rewards? 10. Have you learned how to take a compliment? 11. Are you giving up diet mentality? a. Stop weighing yourself several times a day or every day b. Stop dieting c. Stop depriving yourself d. Stop defining food as good and bad e. Stop rewarding and punishing yourself with food 12. How do you feel about all the changes taking place? E. You may need a band adjustment 1. You feel like you are making healthy food choices in appropriate portion sizes but getting hungry between meals? 2. You can still eat white bread, fibrous vegetables and large portions. 3. You are having to struggle to lose 4. You are gaining weight in spite of eating right, exercising and having a good mind set. F. You may need your band loosened 1. There are times when you can’t get fluids down 2. You are vomiting too much a. How much is too much? 3. Do you have frequent reflux or heartburn at night? a. Do not lie flat or bend over soon after eating b. Do not eat late at night or just before bedtime c. Rinse your pouch with a glass or water an hour before bedtime d. Certain foods or drinks are more likely to cause reflux: (1) Rich, spicy, fatty and fried foods (2) Chocolate (3) Caffeine (4) Alcohol (5) Some fruits and vegetables (6) Oranges, lemons, tomatoes, peppers (7) Peppermint (8) Baking soda toothpaste (9) Carbonated drinks e. Eat slowly and do not eat big meals f. If you smoke, quit smoking g. Reduce stress h. Exercise promotes digestion i. Raise the head of your bed j. Wear loose fitting clothing around your waist k. Stress increases reflux l. Take estrogen containing medications in the morning m. Avoid aspirin, Aleve and ibuprofen at bedtime (Tylenol is OK) n. Take an antacid (Pepcid complete) before retiring o. Try other over-the-counter heartburn medications p. See your health care provider

I always knew booze screws up your metabolism, and I also realize that barfing your guts up after a drunken suarez can cause slippage. But can the alcohol itself pickle your stomach and cause erosion? Thanks for all your answers. I like the comment about asking your doctor to back up with proof. I say this cuz I asked Lopez if fizzy carbonation causes pouch stretching, and he laughed and said "there's no proof." He said carbonated liquids pass right through to the bottom part of the stomach as do any liquids, and the only problem is when the gasses try to come back up, it causes discomfort. This is why I like to hear all the opinions, especially ones from different countries. Thanks all!

Hello, As of my 3 month anniversary, I have dropped 49 lbs. I am not watching my diet and drinking alcohol due to the holidays this past month, but I have been spending 2 hours at the gym 5x week and did put on muscle weight too. I believe I can lose more by watching my intake, but I just wish to lose another 40-50lbs and hopefully will be there soon.

i was told to not use quest bars that much because of the sugar alcohols. so my NUT suggested pure protein bars. i like the vanilla chocolate baked one, it's like a candy bar! also their peanut butter chocolate one is really good.

Agree on alcohol. I can overdue it sometimes. Never did shots in my life now kind of regular when we go out. But I have been tempering that back. Not good in general but also a lot of empty calories. I'm living life but also need to remember the life I used to live and not get back to that place. Trying to hold a rule that if my size 32 jeans which I used to wear 52, ever get tight, I need to not buy a bigger size but watch my diet and work off a few lbs. That's my alert system for gaining back. Sent from my Z970 using the BariatricPal App

Hey good luck, I had a sleeve done dec 2012, lost a heap of weight and then tummy stretched and everything went downhill from then on, suger, alcohol, chocolate, I'm sure you get the picture. I decided to have an omega loo Bypass done 29th May and haven't looked back since, no nausea, no hot flushes, no diarrhoea have lost 26kgs in 10 weeks, I'm absolutely over the moon

Others may feel self-conscious or unattractive because an extreme weight loss leaves them with skin folds or scars. They sometimes feel that surgery did them no good because their bodies still stand-out in public and in private as unusual. One client referred to it as the "Is That All There Is?" syndrome. She said she somehow believed that losing 150 pounds would leave her with a body that society would consider beautiful and what she got was abdominal flesh hanging over her thighs. I notice this is especially true when a person going into the surgical process is focused on getting thin or attractive rather than on getting healthy. There can also be problems in intimate relationships. One woman spoke of her husband's lack of interest in her sexually. In all other ways the relationship was healthy so they were able to talk about it. What she learned was that after the weight loss her husband felt unworthy of her because he was still overweight. He also lost his sexual confidence when his overweight wife, in his words, became "one of the girls in high school who wouldn't give me the time of day." Also, if a WLS patient has early-life traumas unaddressed or not completely addressed prior to surgery the loss of food as a way to placate stress and to reduce anxiety can be a new source of trauma. This leaves many facing a very difficult transition to a life not centered around food. All of these stressors and others are a breeding ground for cross-addictions. It is vital to consider before surgery and in the "thinning" months and years after surgery how you will deal with stress, sadness, fear, loneliness, anxiety, or whatever thoughts and feelings triggered emotional eating in the past. If there is no healthy outlet for these the body and mind will create whatever outlets they can, which most commonly include alcohol, drugs, sex or gambling. The problem of replacing food addiction with alcohol addiction is the one I have personal experience with and have seen the most in people I've encountered. In 2006, three years after LapBand surgery, I developed an addiction to alcohol. I had lost food as my companion, soother of stress, provider of sensual satisfaction and entertainment. I was not able to eat the comfort foods that placated my fears of life prior to WLS and I desperately craved an outlet for uncomfortable emotions and beliefs I took-on and began running from during my childhood in a violent home. So three years after WLS, and after loosing 110 pounds, my dinner every night became a 6-pack of Vodka coolers or more (Sour Apple or Grape) and ironically Healthy Choice low-fat ice cream. At my lowest I was 220 pounds and I felt very uncomfortable and vulnerable in a smaller body. I continued to wear large, baggy clothes because I was afraid to look feminine. Feminine to me then meant I was vulnerable and open to attack. This went on for a year, during which I regained all 110 pounds lost and felt like a failure. Worse, I felt like a public failure because everyone around me knew I'd had LapBand surgery. What I had to do was address the beliefs and fears I had about what it meant to be feminine. I had to come to terms with my past and embrace a future in which it is possible and within reach to be healthy, feminine and safe. To avoid cross-addictions, it is important that individuals considering surgery or those who have had surgery take this very personal, individual journey into the beliefs they hold onto from their pasts. These are the beliefs that caused them to turn to food in an unhealthy way for comfort. It is vitally important to plan what healthy outlets for emotional pain they can create. A therapist or Weight Loss Life Coach can help with this. Dealing with the thoughts and emotions that caused compulsive overeating in the past and forming healthy patterns for working with and releasing fear and anxiety in the future are essential to long-term weight loss and the avoidance of cross-addictions for WLS patients.

What have you been trying? I've been supposed to lose 10lbs since January but gained 10lbs instead. I have been trying everything I could think of since April and I finally think I have it right. I've lost 6lbs in 3 weeks. Here's what's working for me. Following my nutritionist's program with some adjustment: 60+gms of Protein, then veggies. I can't do the carbs, I just don't lose if I do. I'm trying to keep carbs under 50gms, all fruit and veggies. 64 ounces of fluids. No carbonation, no alcohol, no caloric drinks. 1000 calories a day or less. My program says 1200 but I just can't lose on 1200. Believe me 1000 calories is not much food. I'm hungry all the time but I just drink Water until my next meal. I can't exercise much due to my arthritis but I added a chair yoga class and an arthritis-focused water aerobics class and I'm trying to increase my average daily steps to 5000 (from 3000). Here's a day's menu: Breakfast- shake with a scoop of chocolate Designer whey and 1T PB2 (defatted Peanut Butter powder), 4 strawberries. Snack- half of a Nugo Slim Protein Bar lunch - 1oz of tofu, 1oz of almonds and cashews, half a cucumber, a few bell pepper slices Snack- 1/4 apple with 1 teaspoon almond butter dinner - Same shake as above with 1/2 a frozen banana, a green salad with homemade low cal, low carb dressing. Snack - my special treat- 1/2 of a homemade chocolate peanut butter cup made with stevia, cocoa, Protein powder, peanut butter and coconut oil. This is 115 of my calories per day but it's worth it as it keeps me from feeling deprived. Hope you can find a way too.

I agree chicken broth or tea. If you are looking for something more sweet diluted G2. But I have to ask why flaming hot Cheetos? The thought of anything remotely spicy that early out... Reflux, excess stomach acid, fresh wound in the tummy... I would think it would feel like swallowing rubbing alcohol.