Search the Community

My name is Taylor, and I will be 21 in August. I've been employed as a 911 operator/dispatcher for almost 4 years. I made the decision to get the sleeve last winter, because I'm only four foot ten, and weighed 210 lbs. I had insulin resistance (a form of prediabetes), and I was starting to have knee problems. I had the surgery on March 7th, and the rough recovery was worth it. This has been the best choice I have ever made, and I will never regret it. My lifestyle and eating habits have changed so much. I make really healthy choices and I don't touch carbonation, which is a big deal because I had a big Dr. Pepper problem. I have been doing yoga off and on for a month, and once or twice a day in the past week. I also swim and do some quick exercises. I used to drink a lot of alcohol and eat taco bell every other day, but it's all changed. When I'm on a month of days, on my off days I rarely wake up after 9:30. Before, I rarely woke up before 1. I know this is a lot, but I'm excited to finally be able to discuss it with people who understand, so please excuse me. And just one last thing.. I'm the smallest ive been since before I was a teenager, and I'm almost at my fifty pound mark!

I've tried several different bars, including Atkins, but think of Protein bars as more of a treat than a meal or healthy source of protein. I'm dubious about the hidden carbs and sugar alcohols except in moderation. Of course, you should follow your surgeon's orders, but I'd opt for real protein sources and eat the bars in moderation. I also love making 'powder pudding' with Protein Powder, sugar free pudding, and greek yogurt. Pudding isn't the greatest food on earth, but it's a wonderful treat. I understand they can be frozen also, but it never lasts that long.

Wow, I seems that ur going through a whole lot of different issues and drinking is ur escape , ur not alone lots of people are also go through the same thing they just don’t have enough courage to say it or write it out loud just as u have ! My husband is also shy and he drinks because he also feels he helps to loosen him up, however I try to tell him that I enjoy that person that he is and that he must learn to feel confident in his own skin and who he is without anything altering his personality, I would say the same for you!!! You need to get to know u and who u r without food or alcohol and learn to embrace that!! I am sure Ur a great person also surround Ur self with positive people and positive things!!!! Take care and I hope these words help!!! awill

When I saw that you'd just posted, I was so excited. He's back!! I came to this place after you were long gone, but through random clicks on miscellaneous blogs, had come across one of yours. It touched me so much, that I then went back and read each and every one of them, amazed at your prowess with words, amazed at how I could relate to so much of your emotion. You have a succinct way of exposing your underbelly in such a shoot-from-the-hip manner. Then as I got to the end of your posts, and you said you had nothing else to say and was leaving, I felt saddened -- because you, like no other, get to the absolute heart of things for us all. I was hoping as I began reading your latest post that it would be filled with the halleluiah's and whoops and whistles from your most recent victory over the hunger demons -- but, of course, that wasn't what I found. Once again, I found a straightforward heartfelt post that we can all relate to in one way or another. I can very much relate to your relationship with alcohol. It's all so familiar to me - "Am I an alcoholic, am I not -- maybe I can just drink more like a lady if I try harder, maybe if I just switch to beer and lay off the hard stuff." All of that internal dialogue I was intimately familiar with for about 25 years. Five and a half years ago, I realized that the label didn't matter, it all boiled down to one thing: alcohol was prohibiting me from being the person I wanted to be -- somebody that I could be proud of -- and I quit. Yep, have not had a drink since. I was sick of it all, and finally found some internal source of power that told me to stop all the messing around and get to the task at hand -- changing my life and stop all the crap feelings telling me I had no choice in the matter. I found an online sponsor to help me with some of the AA stuff, and got on with discovering who I was without alcohol. I can tell you that it is all TOTALLY relevant and runs concurrently with our food issues. I know that many of us will spend our lifetime digging down there to find out the root of it all. The whole point of it is -- when you decide, really decide, that you want to make a change in your life, whether it be alcohol, overeating or other poor life choices -- you most certainly have the fortitude to do it. Just take the steps to make these changes, and they will happen. What I've discovered for myself is that life goes by so quickly. As friends and family members die, this realization is solidified for me. And I, for one, have decided that I'm not going to let another day, month, year, DECADE go by being somebody I don't want to be and feeling like I'm the victim. A very wise man (okay, my oldest brother) once told me years ago, "You're in a deep hole, waiting for somebody to throw you a rope, and you can't even see that there's a ladder right there next to you." May you find your ladder. And please keep posting -- you add such texture to this site. Cindy

I'm new to the site but my surgeon seems to have answered all of your questions: SAG: as some others have said, is related to your current age and elasticity. #2 he says, will begin again with food. He does recommend a stool softener (also mentioned). HAIR: all protein related. Preop should be a minimum of 40grams a day but post op at least 80 (40 Food 40 drink) i'm using isopure zero its 40 grams per drink and zero carbs. It's very important. Also he says 4 flinstone complete chewables per day. ALCOHOL: NONE for at least a year! This will be a hard one for me. After a year he said don't drink anyway, too many carbs and too much sugar. Additionally, no pregnancy for 1year, no breads, and no white flour. I hope this helps. My facility requires that all patients attend 3 meetings while they are preop. That's where all these questions are asked. Good luck with everything. I'm going tomorrow to hopefully get my date.

AHHH! I just found out today that my surgery date is March 16th. 3 weeks from tomorrow. It all seems so fast. I just started this process with an all day appointment at Mayo Clinic in November, and the time has FLOWN by. I had my last visit with the psychologist on Friday and she signed off/discharged me then. I got the call from the surgical scheduler today and, I'm not even going to lie, started freaking out a little (okay, a lot). Anyone else with March dates? My birthday is March 10th, so I can't think of a better way to usher in 33 than a new me. I'm starting to get more nervous, but I keep telling myself that it's all for the better. One preop visit, one lab visit, one bypass diet visit and then surgery. I don't know if anyone else has gone to Mayo Clinic, but they do not mess around. I've had to keep a significant food log (with pre and post-meal feelings) since November, had to cut out any alcohol and most caffeine and had to significantly increase exercise in order to be discharged. Sorry, I'm kinda freaking out here. All of the forums here have been a massive help thus far, and I hope to post/contribute more as I go through the process. WHEEE!

This is a life changing surgery, not life stopping! Life includes eating things that fuel your body with healthy eating....it also includes overeating, indulgences and joy. I don't eat the sugar free candies cuz the sugar alcohol makes me gassy. If I want something, I eat a bite or two and I'm done. You're allowed to be kind to yourself. That's why you had the surgery in the first place. So allow yourself a treat and pick healthier the next meal. I used to obsess over then strictest plan imaginable, and I was healthy but miserable. I finally can take a sip of a milkshake, single bite of cake/pizza/chocolate and put it down! It's amazing to be able to say NO after 1-2 bites!! It's so satisfying seeing other people jealous of my "discipline" when I've really just been "bad"!!

Wow Eli! I finally found some one who's my age and did the sleeve while being in college! I would really love to contact with you because I really have a lot of questions to make you since we are basically in the same page going through the same things! I am in my 5th month post-up. I was 215 the day of my surgery and now I am 158/160. I feel i could be less though, but alcohol on weekend has been a huge challenge for me! Also being in college is very hard to follow a specific meal plan but i always try to eat as healthier as possible. I started drinking alcohol my third month post-op since I read i could start drinking after the 3rd month but i know i shouldnt do it and every one here keeps telling me not to do it but its very hard (you understand me because you are in college as well) i have a verg active social life, always had always did and always will.. I know alcohol is not needed to be social and have fun.. But lets not bullshit here but a party with out having alcohol is just not the same fun! Anyway .. I am scared about every thing that awaits because i dont know if i'll keep loosing weight or im staying stuck in this weight like the past month. Hope we can really get in contact! Here are pictures of me before and now so you have an idea of my change!

Ditto all of this! It is certainly part of the journey to be unsure at some point as to which surgery is right for you. And, I ultimately came to the same conclusion as the above poster. One thing that made a difference in my decision, too, was that I learned that dumping (sugar aversion) only stays with you for the first year or two w/bypass. So, eventually, even w/bypass, you will have to deal w/your sugar issues. The reason why some bypass patients gain back is because they are counting on the bypass to prevent them from eating sugar. And, it really does for awhile, and very well. But, eventually, you will have that looming that you will need to control it on your own after you no longer have the dumping. Also, w/the bypass, my surgeon says you should really NEVER drink ANY alcohol again. I know there are many bypass patients who still drink, but they are taking some significant chances w/their liver. The stomach is the first line of defense against toxins in the body. And, the body does recognize alcohol as a toxin and the stomach does significant work to metabolize that before it actually ever goes to your liver. When you drink alcohol after bypass, it is like injecting alcohol straight into your system. The stomach has no chance to detoxify it at all. For me, this is scary cause I really do like my wine. I am cutting it out for the first 6 months or longer just because it is empty calories, but when I imagine a 'normal' life after reaching goal, part of that means that I can have a glass or two of wine occasionally as long as I am exercising enough and eating healthy enough to maintain a healthy weight. But, bypass is a lot better if you have Type 2 diabetes. The bypass will cure that immediately. Personally, I think the sleeve may be the very best choice of all, but my insurance doesn't cover it right now.

The main issue with RNY regain is that once their malabsorption wears off, it's called intestinal adaptation, they are NOW metabolically challenged to keep the weight off. We have simple restriction only to keep us in check. For all the sleeve patients I've seen gain weight is that "life happens", and emotional eating creeps back in. Also, choosing the wrong foods, getting back into bad habits/behaviors that led to their obesity in the first seems to be the culprit. I've said since hitting maintenance that losing was super easy. Maintenance is where the hard part comes in. I'm a firm believer that behavior modification is the biggest contributor to long term success for any weight loss surgery patient. Trying to find a balance of a new "normal" and remembering what contributed to my obesity is what helps me tremendously. I do live a pretty extreme life of moderation, and I accept a 5lb bounce. Anything more than 5lbs, be it Water weight from alcohol, and carbs, or if it's a true gain from several weeks of just eating what I want (which I experienced last holiday season), and I go right back to Protein, protein, protein. Knock on wood, I was not compulsive or emotional with food. I just ate a lot of it. I have only recently been dealing with head hunger, and absurd cravings that I can only contribute to the pregnancy. I honestly can not wait for the next 3 months to fly by so I can get off this rollercoaster, and back on plan with my eating. It's been an emotional twist for me that I've gained weight, and that I can not get into ketosis.

Sugar alcohols will do it, and not in a good way. That being said, I have a confession to make. A few years back while I still was still working, I used to keep a jar of jelly Beans on my desk. This one man that worked in the office was not only a jerk but pretty much cleaned out my jar each week. I enjoyed people helping them selves but most people would take a few but this guy would take huge handfuls and put some in his shirt pocket for later.I let him know one time that he was welcome to bring in a bag every once in a while to fill the kitty. He looked at me and said "why would I do that when you will do it?" Wrong thing to say to me. Next day, I went and bought 3 bags of the sugarfree jelly belly beans. It says on the bag not to eat more than a few because of the of the high content of sugar alcohols in them. He was all over them by 9am. I made sure I got up and left my desk area when I saw him coming. The warning on the bag is true. That's all I'm saying. To add to my delight, I let him know after the fact that those were sugarfree. He never ate another one of my jellybeans.

There's a great solution do not tell ppl that act this way ppl that don't have the weight problem cannot understand if it was simple as just stop eating and go to the gym there wouldn't be a need for bariatric surgery it's the same as drug or alcohol addiction just stop drinking and taking drugs we gee that's so easy why do we have rehab then? I know it sucks but sometimes you just can't confide in ppl you must be your own cheerleader remember it's only your opinion that matters they aren't living in your body or with whatever issues you may have because if it they don't have to live with it you do don't listen to the opinions of ppl who cannot possibly understand the issue

Do the sugar-free products you are trying have sugar alcohols in them? A lot of people experience a laxative effect from those. I'd say, start reading ingredient lists and paying close attention to how you feel after eating specific types of artificial sweeteners to try to figure out if it's all sugar substitutes or only specific types that are causing the problem.

I think most addicts will trade one addiction for another. I have two (well three) examples. The first, a friend of mine moved to San Diego and got addicted to snorting Crystal Meth. When she came back to the east coast, she wasn't able to access it as easily as she did when she lived out west (it was so bad she was fedexing money to her dealer and of course no drugs would come back) so she started drinking a lot. It was so bad, her husband almost put her into rehab for alcoholism. Another friend of mine was addicted to cocaine, had to give it up because it was costing her her life and her family (her daughter was taken away from her by her ex-husband) she cleaned up her act and then got addicted to smoking angel dust, which she is still doing to this day. I think if someone has an innate addictive personality you do end up "switching" for me (the third example) the itch will always be there to eat crappy food, but I feel like my new addiction now is buying clothes. I'm an online shopping fool! It's such a great rush, but after you feel bad. The other day i went to Victoria's Secret was fitted for bras and bought about $500 worth, the minute I left the mall I thought to myself "wtf I'm just going to have to get new ones in six months!" but then the other side of me goes "hey it's $500 you can't take that money with you when you're dead"

My instructions said no alcohol for 3 months. At about 3.5 months I had about 3 ounces of Bourbon over a couple hour period. It ended badly. Safe to say I won't be doing that again for another few months or more. Not that I'm a huge drinker and had plans to start drinking regularly, but it was a major deterrent.

Well, went out for a bit on Saturday and did a little bit of bar hopping, live music, etc. Started pretty light at a winery, and the first sip of wine burned down my throat and into my stomach like a shot of whiskey. Didn't think I would be down for a full night of "fire belly" but I guess it was only the first few sips. Was able to have my wine and a few Crown & Cokes. This is by NO MEANS a scientific or medical assumption, just how I felt, but it seemed that the alcohol was metabolizing in my system much faster than it used to, thus, giving me a buzz much quicker....but....it seemed to be more short lived than normal, if that makes any sense. Felt great that night and even better the next morning. No hangover, upset stomach, etc. Much better than I thought it was going to be, to be honest.

I haven't tried drinking yet, but I have taken zzzquil a couple of times to help me sleep since surgery. That has about 10% alcohol, and I can definitely feel a burning sensation as it goes down into my stomach.

So I'm 16 days post op. I was out last night with a group of parents. Our 15 and 16 year olds were in baseball tournaments for the past 4 days. Last night coaches bday its our time. Some of the parents went out and bought drinks. No one knows I had the surgery. I poured a 8 oz cup of grey goose and pineapple orange juice. I pretended to sip until someone called me out. I started sneaking and pouring my drink on the ground we were on the hotel patio. Finally i quietly walked over to my hubby and begged him to drink it for me. One of the moms imitated me to a tee and jokingly accused me of telling my husband to take one for the team. I was embarrassed... but didn't take one sip. To each it's own. That's my personal choice NOT to drink at this time. Do you! Just be careful and very mindful that alcohol can be a barrier during weight loss. I'm sure an occasional cocktail at a concert or a night out should be ok take it slow and keep it at a minimum.

My doctors written instructions say "No alcohol for one month". That seems a bit strange to me and I plan to hold off longer than that as I'm not sure I'll be ready but to each their own.

I think this forum is giving me an ulcer. Some people seem so angry, like chill out. The world is not coming to an end. I don't see anything wrong with someone making a post about their experience with alcohol. I don't see the person asking for advice or tips, but some folks just don't have enough self control to keep scrolling. If u don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all. Its their sleeve!!! Did u pay for it??? Well zip it!!! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Sorry to hear about your situation. Alcohol has a ton of calories which could be a factor for not losing weight. Also if you are not getting what you want from your doctor then yes I would find another one. I have been blessed with my doctor and so I know there are good ones out there. Good luck!

I would suggest having a drink or two in the "Safety " of your own home before going out on the town. Like trying any new thing postop, you never know how your body will react. You want to make sure you won't puke or dump. You also want to gauge how alcohol affects you now. So many people report how they get tipsy on just a little bit. I was looking forward to that. But nope, I can still out drink a football team. My alcohol tolerance followed me into postop life.

Thanks all. We've been talking about it a lot and he's feeling better. I think it's fear of the unknown and worrying about how this will affect our lives which right now center around food and alcohol. He is not overweight. He was blessed with a super-charged metabolism and can eat whatever he wants. I on the other hand have gained 100 lbs since we met 16 years ago. I am thankful he's loved me through the gain, and I am hopeful he'll be happy to have the old, thinner me back in the coming months. I know it will be hard but I'm so ready for it. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I wouldn't. But only because of the amount of sugar alcohols. It could play havoc with your still healing anatomy. That said, I eat them all the time, just make sure to clear the calorie count with your daily maximums and you'll be fine. Arctic Zero isn't any better than halo top for sugars, they both have the same amount. But Halo Top wins out on ingredients, sugar isn't in the top 3 for halo top, but it is for arctic zero. Halo Top also has more protein than Arctic Zero. Overall, the 2 of them are pretty evenly matched. Halo Top wins out slightly for higher protein and not having sugar in the first 3 ingredients. Halo Top is creamier and more like ice cream than Arctic Zero because of the fact that Halo Tops uses milk, Arctic Zero uses water. Arctic Zero wins out in the amount of flavors available though. Either way, these 2 are miles better than regular ice creams. https://spoonuniversity.com/lifestyle/halo-top-vs-arctic-zero-which-healthy-ice-cream-is-better

One of my worst anxiety ridden fears is that someone will say something to me or the gate agent or flight attendant is going to take me out of line and tell me I need an extra seat. I've even had dreams about it.... it is one (of hundreds!) of the reasons I am doing this. I just don't want to live like this anymore. My husband and I were having a heart to heart talk a few weeks ago. I had kept the gastric sleeve thing to myself until I made a decision. When I finally told him he was very apprehensive. He said it breaks his heart that I loathe myself. I've never been and never will be the fat girl/woman who accepts herself and moves on. It is not possible for me. Fat has stolen my life. So my husband said most everyone has something they carry with them that has broken them a little ( his father was an abusive alcoholic). I started crying and said, yes, but you don't have to go through life with a giant sign wrapped around your body telling the world what your weakness is. Ok, not sure how I got off the actual subject here..... back to the subject - I dread flying - I am filled with utter terror that I will be humiliated in some way....