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the benadryl tablets are pretty small - i was definitely allowed to take tablets that size whole. But since benadryl is not extended release, you can always cut them in half or crush them and take them. Most kids liquid medicines have a lot of sugar or sugar alcohols so I personally would try to avoid the liquid form of benadryl.

Happy Birthday! I just want to say that I had a tiny sip of a fall punch about 4 weeks post-op-well, about 20 minutes later I was sick as a dog! It wasn't worth it at all! Meanwhile, I asked my doctor last week at my 2 month post op visit about alcohol and she said they recommend waiting 3 months and then to avoid beer and wine. She said have Crystal Lite with a dash of vodka would be ok. Also, she warned that sleevers are cheap dates-be careful, the buzz sneaks up on you! Good luck!

This is not true. People who don't understand wine often think that because wine is made from grapes, it must be full of sugar, like a grape right? The issue being is that the sugars in wine are cooked off during the fermenting process and turned to yeast. A typical glass of wine (4oz) has 3 to 5 carbs total in it when it's served to you in a bar. Wine will NOT Throw you out of ketosis. But as with ALL alcohol, what will happen is that while the booze is in your system, your liver will be processing the alcohol first, then when it's done it will go back to processing fat. The more booze that you drink the less time the liver has to work on fat. The only wines that are high in sugar are cheap cheap wines with added sugars (which increase the alcohol content). Flavored coolers etc are also high in sugar. Cheap sparkling wine often has added sugars as well, though not much. Drink good wine and don't drink a lot of it and you'll stay in ketosis. Drink lots of cheap wine and add those numbers to your daily totals...and you might find you're thrown out of ketosis, but good wine alone isn't going to do that any more than any other alcohol. BTW...due to labeling laws, flavored vodka's are not required to list a sugar content. The flavoring does have sugar in it so if you do feel vodka is your choice drink..make sure its not flavored.

Well, once again, I am the freak in the crowd. For me, maintenance has been boring and wonderful! I reached goal around this time last year and continued to lose another 10 pounds. I've maintained my lowest weight (with a small bounce range) for almost 10 months. But besides rough counting my Protein and Water amounts in my head each day, I never tracked or measured anything, so the transition between losing and maintaining was no big deal. I'm also one of those "I had surgery so I would never have to diet again" loonies. I am committed 110% to being successful with my VSG, but I'm also not willing to go against what's in my nature to do. I know I would fail (and be unhappy) if I tried. Following a regimented diet plan, using MFP, going to the gym, running 5K's, etc. are just not "me". The main changes I made in conjunction with surgery were to simply make healthy food choices and drink a lot less alcohol. The other difference I've noticed with me compared to a lot of posts I read is that I never made that big of deal about my goal weight. I didn't really perceive of reaching it as an end point. I knew being a WLS patient was a forever thing, not just a losing thing. Maybe that's why I never felt the need to seek a new "goal" to stay motivated. I'm just happy to be the size I am, feel as great as I do, do all the physical activities that I can and simply eat like a "normal" thin person. That's all the motivation I need.....That and an occasional glance at my before pictures. I hope you all find what works for you for long term success. (And that my way continues to work for me)

This month I've had visits from relatives and old friends who live afar. These are people who have known me all my life, but I haven't seen much of in the last 2-3 years. Naturally, they were amazed and pleased. They were also a little weirded out. Evidently I now look like my mother, which no one has EVER said of me before. She was a beautiful woman undone in later life by alcohol, but early pictures of her bear a striking resemblance to Lauren Bacall. So to have an aunt on one day, and an uncle the following weekend, be moved almost to tears by my resemblance to their dead sister was both complimentary and a little sad. I'm really sorry my parents aren't here to see my transformation.

Good lord...yet another retarded study. Ignore it. MOST of those are glucose with a bunch of sugar alcohol's attached to it. Your body gets confused because it doesn't know what it is, so it sends it down the intestine to be excreted. Show me a study that is reputable and THEN we'll talk. (Not pointed towards you. haha)

Wow, this one is a tough one because I can see it from both sides. I am 50, my husband and I lived for fun on the weekends with our friends. Alcohol was very much part of our social life. My surgery was January and I totally stayed away from any alcohol for 6 months per doc recommendation. It was very different being around the same group of friends, being out on the boat, or camping with our friends without drinking. I did it because I was determined to follow doc advise and like Tiff said above, I did enjoy just being with my friends and hanging out,,, the fellowship of being with friends! Then I tried crystal light with cherry flavored vodka and loved it.. Now I am “almost” at 9 month mark and I have allowed drinking to back into my weekend activities…not smart.. I regret it and my slow weight loss is reflecting it. Summertime boating and camping is done now where I live and I have vowed to get back on track of no alcohol until I reach goal… In hindsight I wish I had never touched the stuff until I reached goal because it does bring in sloppy eating habits as well. For me... although my doc said I could drink after 6 months.. I wish I never had.

My nutritionist suggested we avoid special K because they are designed for a different person that weight-loss/meal replacement. It was also because of tehir high sugar content. I was told to look for foods that have less than 7 grams of sugar per serving and to even avoid sugar alcohols, which are what is used ot replace sugar in a lot of the "no sugar" or "sugar free" stuff.

@@Mary Jo Rapini very well said! As a food addict myself I actually now fear family functions because I know that everyone works hard to provide the delicious foods served and even home made from scratch sugary delicacies. I am 41 days sugar free (yes I count them like an alcoholic does, it works for me) but I will have something tomorrow which is when the family is doing the get-together. But I have already planned ahead and told my husband that all I'm allowed to have is anything I want but only about 1" x 1" which equates to probably 3 or so bites. NO MORE! I will also make sure my meal consists of very high Protein so the sugar won't spike in my blood causing the addictive chain reaction. I love this article, I completely understand.

I was able to.get mine off with rubbing alcohol and a cotton ball. I just had to rub really hard. Good luck.

Well, the 2 concerns with alcohol are fizz and calories. So if you avoid beer or drinks mixed with soda you should be fine as long as you don't mind the "usless" calories in wine or other non carbonated beverages. I think a brothers wedding would be a good reason do take in a few extra calories!!! . Have fun!

Just as one element of dealing with Alcoholism is avoiding triggering situations, the same can apply to at least some eating disorders, that you should avoid triggering situations. If you are triggered by this sites food talk you can get the same information from other places without the triggering food discussions. I stopped going to my Surgeon's support group because the talk was about how to cheat, or at least that's what I got out of it. So I stopped going. There is no law that says we have to allow ourselves to be triggered. Even if others think it's nonsense. Perhaps especially. Take care of you, do what you need to do. Good luck, Tek

Fiber is not used by the body for energy, that is why it can be subtracted from the carb count on a low carb diet. However, lots of low carbers count everything. It's a personal preference thing. I have always paid attention to the net carbs, even though all carbs are logged. I do think subtracting sugar alcohol carbs might not be the best practice. Sugar alcohols are metabolized differently by different people. To be on the safe side, I count them.

Sunwyse, Hi. I was banded about 8 months ago, and it is true that I am moodier than ever, but I feel as though the depression I felt reight after surgery has lifted. I think it is common because when I go to get my fills they have me answer a questionnaire and there are 4 or 5 questions on moods and depression on there. I do not currently see a therapist, but at the suggestion of fellow bandsters will look into finding one soon because I definately think that helps. I also need to start attending the support groups that my surgeon/hospital have. I am lucky that my sister had the band done 2 months ago so we are great support for one another. I sure saw her depression and moodiness after the surgery!!! That is getting better, she is on effexor and she may have upped her dose. I consider my getting the band a life changing event. It is similar to me to when I quit drinking alcohol and using drugs 15 yrs. ago. I was ready to be this happy, straight, RICH, and without depression. My mother simply told me..."I don't mean to burst your bubble, but you weren't a whole lot of fun to be around BEFORE you started drinking!!!" (My mother doesn't mess around, she says what she wants to!) I was shocked and thought thanks a lot mom! But she was absolutely right. Just because I was sober did not make me happy rich or not depressed. I just did everything minus the hangover! I guess my point is just that I have to learn to accept and love myself the way I am. Everyday I will have to learn it again. Good luck learning to love yourself today! bbanded

@@haleymarie A psychologist isn't a medical doctor and should be advising your about your weight loss and what you can expect. It is pretty unethical in my opinion. A masters degree or a Doctorate of Science does not make you a MD. Next to you see her tell her that, and hopefully find someone else to see. The psychologist is probably using the excess weight chart estimate. http://www.obesitycoverage.com/weight-loss-surgeries/gastric-bypass/how-much-can-i-expect-to-lose Something like that. The thing is, you can lose whatever you want to lose. If you decide you want to keep losing and you make it a serious goal for yourself. You will probably lose 70 or 80lbs just follwing the program in 6 months with little effort, then after that is going to require more work, possibly. You are really young so I think the weight will come off pretty easy, if you can resist alcohol. The next time the psychologist offers you medical advice, tell her you are going to report her ass.

Did the drink also contain artificial sweeteners specifically sugar alcohols (xylitol, maltitol, erythritol, etc. - those that end in ‘ol’)? These are renown for causing nausea, diarrhoea, bloating & other digestive problems. Many find after surgery, they can’t tolerate these sweeteners after surgery. Of course your tummy can be sensitive & fussy in the first couple of months after surgery (like a petulant two year old). A food or drink you can eat/drink one day causes you problems the next: tummy says no, not today. Doesn’t mean you won’t ever be able to have that food or drink. Give it a week or two & try them again. I remember easily eating a soft well cooked carrot one day but the next up it came. Tried it the next week & all was fine, never had an issue again.

What's happening is that your liver is burning off the alcohol. The results would be the same if you tested after drinking vodka. It does not necessarily mean you are out of ketosis. Alcohol can actually increase your ketone level in some instances as it's burned off. But you are burning booze, not fat. Two glasses of decent wine have at max maybe 8 to 10 g carbs. That will only toss you out if you are right on the border of your body's ketone max limits (which do vary).

I agree with what everyone else is saying. You have plenty of life time to have those "legal" drinks of alcohol. Just wait 3 months and see how you feel. It is not worth it!

I was told no alcohol for 6 months... Then only low sugar, low carb drinks. I know they sell "skinny" drinks...

I am almost eight months post-op and I just had my first adult beverage last weekend. I was scared to death that I would be "that person" who passed out after having one drink. Happy to report that I was not "that person", as a matter of fact, it really had no effect on me at all. As everyone has already said, each person is different and each surgeon is different. I was advised not to drink alcohol for six months, but did not have to sign a contract or anything. Best of luck to you.

By "not eating healthy" do you mean not following your prescribed diet? Being the same weight for days or weeks is normal but gaining 11 pounds isn't. How much Protein and carbs do you eat daily? Drinking enough Water? Exercising? Avoiding "Slider" foods and alcohol? You don't have to justify any of this to me but you do need to be honest with yourself. The WLS is just a tool. To lose weight we really have to do ALL the work ourselves.

kamicola, thanks for all the info, you sound like you know what you're talking about. I was originally sent to an endocrinologist when my gen practitioner thought I had pcos and also was found to have high blood sugar at that time but she said my thyroid was "normal" and put me on metformin and said "don't think that you're going to lose weight on this drug". I was like well I didn't but okay???? She had a really bad bedside manner and I had this feeling she hated fat people, I don't remember why I got this impression because it was a few years ago but I remember the feeling. Anyway I ended up losing about 20 pounds after that because I went on a diet drug that I don't remember anymore. Went back to her and she didn't change anything but they did take a blood test every time I went in and that was a big twice! My gen pract. had then written the Rxs for metformin. Then, probably about 5 years later I decided to have lap band surgery and my surgeon was pretty thorough and he sent me through all sorts of testing. It was the blood test that I had done through them that caught the thyroid issue. I've heard there's a thyroid test that is very expensive and many don't have that test done, maybe that's what the one that caught the problem. I did a follow up with their endocrinologist and she's the one that put me on synthroid and I told her how I had been on metformin but my gen pract. took me off and didn't renew my prescription because I had lap band surgery (still hadn't gained it back yet) and she's the one that thought that was weird and I also told her how I never tested my blood sugar because no one told me to or how and was never given a kit. Anyway she whips one out and shows me how to use it and tested it right there so now I have one. Unfortunately she never wanted me to follow up with her but did order some tests so I made an appointment anyway. Probably because I went there for pre-op to lap band and she possibly thought I'd see another endo or something, I have no idea but my script from her for synthroid runs out in a couple months so I'll have to find another doctor because she moved to another office much further than I want to travel. Sorry for making this so long and I hope I'm making sense and not just rambling. OKay, I had surgery the end of last August and have put back all the weight I had previously lost on Medifast prior to surgery. I don't know why I totally screwed this up but you've said and so have others that I need to see the endocrinologist. I understand that I should take this into my own hands and find a new one, which by the way, there aren't that many endos here for some reason, but do you think this could be related to my weight gain? I can get on the scale one day and be five pounds heavier, it's awful. I tested my blood sugar yesterday and fasting was 125 but I kept it down most of the day with just one spike in the 250s and that was 2 hours after lunch which was mostly Protein. I don't drink any sugar drinks and rarely alcohol. Anyway hate to lay this all on you but you seemed to know a lot about this and God knows when I'll get an appt. with a new endo. Thanks for listening, brandyII.:regular_smile:

I understand your point and I agree with it but as with every disease (and obesity should be veiwed as a disease just like alcoholism, diabetes, depression, etc.) it takes our generation working to make the world a better place for the next generation. Treatment is easier for me to get than it was for my grandmother. I want it to be even more easily obtained for my children and grandchildren. Yes, we have to learn to function in our world and not allow people who discriminate, to harm our self-esteeme, There are no easy answers but discussions like we are having will help to open doors and start the dialogue that will lead to change. I should not have had to stand at the back of the auditorium at my daughters college orientation because the seats were too small for my hips to fit in. I did it with a smile on my face because it was more important for me to be there with her than to be comfortable. I decided a long time ago that I was going to live life and love it and not allow other people to steal my joy. I am looking forward to being smaller so that i will be healthier and able to do the things we want to do in our retirement but I would also like to help make the world a better place before I leave it.

What do we do when we fall from grace? The research on relapse (with any addiction; food, drugs, alcohol) is that recidivism is the rule not the exception. So why do we get so down on ourselves when we fall short of our goals? Why is it so hard to get back on the horse with the same vigor we had when we started? And how do we give ourselves a renewed sense of hope and motivation for change once we've fallen? “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” - Socrates Everyone does well out of the gates. We all impress ourselves when we start, what we believe to be, a new lifestyle change. However, "out of the gates," can mean different things for different people; for some it is two months, for others (usually depending on how strong the addiction or habit is) it can be two minutes. But what do we do when we fall from grace? The research on relapse (with any addiction; food, drugs, alcohol) is that recidivism is the rule not the exception. So why do we get so down on ourselves when we fall short of our goals? Why is it so hard to get back on the horse with the same vigor we had when we started? And how do we give ourselves a renewed sense of hope and motivation for change once we've fallen? One magical ingredient in the secret sauce (and one of many concepts I talk about in my book and my wls courses) that is lifestyle change is the novelty effect. The new plan to quit something or change a bad habit is something unlike we have ever done before, so we hope that we can achieve something we have never done before. The problem is that the moment we slip, that novelty loses its magic - and each time we start over, it loses its power to give us hope. So the solution is to cultivate more novelty. Our ability to continually grow and change is largely limited by our creativity. The more creative we become, the easier it is to take a different approach to change. To open a window when life seems to shut the door. In other words- what I am telling you, is that the only secret to long term weight loss maintenance is the knowledge that there isn't only one secret. There is no ONE diet that will forever change someone. Eventually people get tired of eating bacon and eggs every meal on Atkins, or grapefruit, or cabbage soup- but the thread they all share is their novelty. This is why all of them can work initially. Even as powerful as weight loss surgery is- people still find that they start to plateau or even gain the weight back if they aren't simultaneously addressing the behavioral and psychological factors that got them there in the first place. They too, must also continuously be creative about renewing one self throughout their lifetime. So the following is for all of you who are struggling today. Those that feel they have lost their way and perhaps feel disenchanted or disappointed. Below is a recovery "map" I created a long time ago for my clients, some struggling with substance abuse, others with food. It all works the same. Print it out, or copy and paste it in the notes section of your phone and take 20 minutes to fill it out with the things that are personally meaningful for you. This is not THE answer to long term recovery from addiction, but it is a fresh approach for many who feel stale at the moment: Baptism - Some ceremony to signal a renewed sense of hope and a fresh start. One client trying to recover from substance abuse, buried all of his wine and liquor bottles in his yard. Another client had a "garbage party" with her kiddos, and they loved smashing all the processed foods they had in their pantry and throwing them in the trash. Associations/triggers list all of the things that get you into trouble (being at a bbq, wanting to celebrate something, holidays, 7-10pm at night, date night, etc) Coping Skills (what gets you through the crave waves) These are the behaviors that you do INSTEAD of the addictive behavior. Extra credit if you are able to make a coping skill for each trigger listed above. Higher Desires/Vision of Self when you let go of your attachment to food and all the self loathing, mental, and physical heaviness it brings- what are you freeing your life up for? will you write a book? will you do more outdoor activities with your kids? do you want to resume an activity you once loved as a child? Is there a role model that inspires you that has done what you want to do? Cons Why are you doing this in the first place? These are the things that are hard to keep in mind when our reptilian mid brain (see last article) is at the wheel. What is personally meaningful? Does it age you? Does it make you feel out of control? Do you dread going on airplanes because you know you'll need an extender? does it prevent you from going to amusement parks with your kiddos? Spirituality (religion gets us into heaven, spirituality gets us out of hell) All addiction is what disconnects us from our deeper self and edges us further and further away from God (or whatever you like to call it) and our deeper spirituality. Spirituality is what allows us to move into the unknown, be comfortable with discomfort, and have faith that everything will be ok. It can include a gratitude practice, volunteering, play, aligning one self with nature, connecting with a spiritual e newsletter (mind body green, daily om, etc), generosity, etc. Daily Recovery Ritual (symbolic gesture to self every day that we are consciously devoting time to our recovery) What are the things you can do daily to symbolize to yourself that today is a new day? Keep it realistic or you won't do it. Vitamins, meditation, lemon water, supplements, self care, reaching out to a loved one, exercise, etc. Reward System What will you do for yourself if there is a certain period of time reached where you meet your goals? Will you get a massage at the end of every month? Will you plan a vacation after three months of solid goal hitting? Will you reward yourself with one day per week of going to the movies in the middle of the day and playing hooky if you're on the straight and narrow for five days? Strategy This is your "what." What are you doing daily to ensure that you are in alignment with your goals? Are you reading something fresh all the time? Do you make a timeline of your addiction and how it has affected your life? Do you go to local support meetings each week? Do you keep in touch with an online community? Do you make sure to give yourself small breaks while with the kids every day? Do you have a self care space set up in your house? Do you talk to a partner about how to change behaviors of theirs that might be hindering your efforts? can they get a mini fridge? Do you do acupuncture to balance your chi? Do you do yoga to manage your depression? Do you find a therapist? Recovery Resources (try to hit one each morning) what resources are in your pocket when you are feeling weak? bariatricpal.com? WLS journeys on Instagram? The Fix, Reddit, unique blogs documenting their weight loss journey, wls and vsg searches on Pinterest, etc. Good luck on your fresh start!

Really great point, I could not have put it better myself. The reactions I get from people are almost like I am breaking a rule or a law, rather than undergoing a procedure that could really help me overall. About 75% of those I've told (most of whom are healthcare personnel) seem to emote a quiet judgment, like they really disapprove of this. I catch myself thinking that if I had been addicted to cocaine/meth/alcohol, and came to them, they would extend their arms and be a lot more supportive, trying to give me a hand up out of the problem since I'd sought help. And yet, I've done none of those (illegal) things, kept my nose clean and tried to diet hard, and catch tons of crap just for wanting a WL procedure. Like you mentioned, I'm almost treated like a criminal.