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Hi All... im scheduled for July 17th in NJ. I too do not have a pre op diet to follow... just eat “lite” the day before. I’ve been eating a ton and having “food funerals” I’ve decided to stop drinking alcohol and caffeine today in order to prepare...thinking about doing a liquid diet a week before just to get in the right mindset etc. July 4th will be very hard for me. Anyway just wanted to say Hi

Many centers/surgeons sell Bariatric-marketed products as a revenue stream for them, not because they’re better or necessary, but instead to make $$. IMO, don’t waste your money on new vitamins that are equivalent to the ones you already have. I got caught up in the madness and purchased chewable and dissolving vitamins prior to surgery, but then afterwards they made me nauseous or caused me to throw up because they contained Sugar Alcohols. Post-bypass, SAs no longer agree with me. You don’t need to worry about vitamins the first month post-op; instead, your #1 priority should be on getting more than 64 oz of fluids each day. Then after the first month you should be able to take vitamins in pill form, but preferably one at a time, not a big handful like what you may have done pre-wls. And the large pills may need to be cut in half. REMINDER: Iron, calcium, and thyroid medication need to all be taken separate from each other (2-4 hours apart) as they will impede absorption if taken together.

I just had the 2-year anniversary of my VSG and I'm maintaining my 100 lb weight loss. It IS harder at this point, my restriction has relaxed a bit and it's not as insistent...I now rely on proper portioning and good eating habits vs letting the restriction keep me from overeating. I had very strong restriction for a year, slightly less until 18 mos, a small lessening after that and I expect it'll continue to lessen as time goes by. You have to discontinue any old, bad habits: grazing, eating crap carbs, soda, overindulging in alcohol, not exercising. Use the first year wisely and you can and should maintain, but if you waste that first year by eating what you want and thinking you can do that long term, you might find yourself in the 'regain' group. Your sleeve is a tool, a helper...it's not a solution.

If you want to lose on the band, you have to count carbs, protein, etc. Adding carbs and the calories from alcohol is not good. 14 grams carbs, maybe 150 cals? Adds up fast. I had to give up sugar and all forms of bread to keep losing after five years on the band.. My diet is now 1200 cals max, 80 grams protein and under 100 grams carbs in order to lose about 1/2 pound a week. After the first round of dropping pounds you have to work for each additional pound. You can easily drink around the band, there is no restriction from the band. And, it will flush foods from the pouch, causing you to be hungry sooner, and maybe eat more than you need,

The reasons for avoidance are: 1. Because alcohol is laden with empty (useless) calories. 2. Because the carbonated drinks can dislodge the band. 3. Even if it does not dislodge the band it expands the stomach making it hold more (hence why restaurants serve all you can drink soft drink refills), so you can eat more. Sent from my SM-N950F using BariatricPal mobile app

Good Morning All. Still pre-RnY but have something else to share. I'm yodellng my yodel, honking my horn, ring my bell, whatever. I discovered something new to add to the vitamin lineup. It is called Wellesse Calcium and Vitamin D and is a,liquid. Shake it up and it tastes like a melted orange push-up treat. Containes calcium citrate our form of choice for calcium 500 units, Vitamin D 500 units and Magnesium 20 mg, color is from fruit/vegetable,so no artificial, no sugar, less than 1gr sugar alcohols and 125 mcg Boron. Cost me less than $10 at WalMart, so I imagine Meijier and Target might have it also. I've been a looking for Calcium Citrate pills every since my,preoprative lab results came back and I did have some vitamin/mineral deficiencies. Happened across this and so far I'm liking it. Like I said in another posting I'm now,on prenatal vitamins for the Fe(iron for you non- chemists) content. Wow, I got a few raised up eyebrows for that, I'm 72, not a typical prenatal,vitamins ingester! Doing pretty good,withbthat and my itty,bitty Vitamin A pills as long as they don't get lost,in the rug pile bouncing away. Yes it is the 2000s but my rug is still a " flower child" poor old thing!

I would plan the surgery over the summer just to give you a little more time adjusting to it. I had gastric bypass surgery and one of the interesting points was that after surgery I completely lost my hunger. (It didn't happen immediately but when I reached the solid food stage. And it didn't happen forever but it lasted for about a year post-op.) As a result, it didn't really feel like a diet. I just followed the instructions and the weight dropped off like magic. I do not feel like I changed inside. When you are overweight and obese in todays world, you are somewhat invisible. Many people treat you like you are not even there. Once you lose the weight people notice. So from my perspective, it was not I that changed but how the rest of the world began to treat me. I don't know what you mean by "I am such a thirsty individual." After surgery, you will need to drink a lot of fluids. You may find it difficult at first to meet your daily requirements. But if you mean by thirst the need to consume alcoholic drinks, that might pose a problem. My stomach and insides do not feel weird an I feel like I did internally prior to any surgery. The first year my stomach was sore but then it healed.

How has the lap band effected anyone’s consumption of alcohol, in particular beer? I’m a huge craft beer fan and the thought of me never being able to drink a beer again (or so I’m told......) because of the carbonation, seems like a hard thing to sacrifice. Did any other beer drinkers out there experience the same sort of issue? Can you really not drink beer or do you just have to take it slow and drink very slowly and just sip it? Also, are there just issues with the consumption of alcohol in general or is it really dependent upon what u drink in particular?? Any feedback you could provide would be EXTREMELY helpful!!! Thank you all, Joe

Love this post Ash! I agree, food is everywhere. Food and alcohol is embedded in my work life, they are embedded in my personal life. Go out on a date, let's meet for a drink. My mom meets me for lunch on weeks I'm not traveling. Extended family BBQ for birthdays and holidays. Out to dinner with friends. Vacations focus on delicious and unique local foods. With work going out for a meal and drinks is invaluable for building relationships that can't happen across a conference table or the phone. I have a love hate relationship with my restriction. I love that I am satisfied with a couple of ounces of food. It is still crazy to me. But that is such a small amount of food it is absolutely noticed by dining companions and wait staff. I hate the attention it draws. I absolutely feel strong every time I ignore the bread basket. Each time I order the chicken vs. the pasta dish. I honestly never thought I was capable of making good choices over an extended amount of time. I do really miss social drinking though. It is a big part of my work life. I feel very self conscience and awakward drinking my water while everyone else is having drinks.

Make sure you are with someone you trust. Apparently when that part of our stomach was removed the enzyme that digests half the alcohol went into the garbage with our stomachs. Normal stomachs "digest" half, we get the full %. As my nutrionist said, you are a cheap date now, one drink, and you'll be sloshing around. Sent from my Pixel XL using BariatricPal mobile app

I was cleared for alcohol after my 3 month appointment, but I waited until 4 months post op to try. I tried at home. I did sugar free red bull and plain vodka. The red bull can even says "light carbonation" and it didn't bother me in the slightest. I drank very slowly. You can do sugar free juices and hard alcohol though. Honestly, no matter what you have for the alcohol part, it will have calories, so if you'd rather do wine... The important part is to make it a special treat, and not a regular occurrence. Also, I make sure to cut back on my calories for the day to compensate.

Yeah I'm afraid of bubbles in my stomach, I don't want to sabotage anything on my new weight-loss journey, but mama wants to sit by the pool with an alcoholic beverage! But I do want to be smart about it! Thanks guys!

I stuck to wine. just keep it to one drink. we process alcohol differently post op. more is absorbed and it is harder on your liver. Also, you cannot drive after even one drink you will fail a breathalizer. Many patients are not told this by their doctors.

Any sugar free / calorie free "soda" and clear rum is going to be a low calorie, low carb drink. Any calorie free flavored water and alcohol... you could mix it up, get a pina colada flavored water additive and put some vodka or light rum into that. Straight up scotches, whiskeys and bourbons work.

Vsg... my surgeon said 3 mos for alcohol, I'm no alcoholic but I do like to enjoy one especially on hot summer days!

What surgery did you have? Your avatar still says "pre-op" We were advised to stay away from alcohol for a minimum of 6 months for bypass. And forever if we could...

What kind of alcoholic beverages can I consume, my 3 months is almost up! I know NO BEER, NO SODA... so any suggestions on healthy alcoholic beverages... besides crystal light lemonade & vodka😁

I quit 5.5 months ago using the Juul e-cig a nice little prescription of my dear friend Wellbutrin (it was prescribed for depression/adhd, but also helps with quitting smoking!) I am now switching to nicotine free vapor juice as I have surgery in a month and it’s a requirement. It’s great if you can do it without vaping, but honestly do whatever works for you. Think about why you smoke and what’s stopping you from quitting. For me the habit was strong, I have bad anxiety, and adhd. Addressing those issues made quitting a lot easier for me. The first three days are the hardest no matter what method you choose. The only time I’ve badly craved a smoke is when I’ve had a few alcoholic beverages, but thankfully I rarely drink and I’m having the surgery so I won’t be able to drink afterwards anyhow. Good luck!

I’m currently taking a 30 day hiatus from alcohol but i can drink the same as I did pre op unfortunately. Although my tastes have changed. And I used to love red wine but now it tastes like straight acid. I don’t want the useless calories anymore. Maybe special occasions after this 30 days

I had my first post surgery drink when I was about 4 Months out. I used to love red wine but I now despise it. Tastes horrible for some reason. I drink beer now but it fills me up so quickly. Also, post surgery, the alcohol hits me very quickly and it doesn't take much to become intoxicated. The occasional light beer seems to be the best course of action for me. Good luck

Stalls Happen Your surgeon will probably tell you about your likely weight loss. You might hear numbers such as 70 to 100 lb. in the first year, or up to 10 to 20 lb. in the first couple of months. Those might be realistic and turn out to be accurate for you, but what might also be true, that your doctor did not tell you, is that weight loss may not be steady. You might lose 75 lb. in a year, which is an average 1.5 lb. per week, but you are not going to lose 1.5 lb. every week for a year straight. You may lose 5 lb. in one week, 3 lb. in another, 0 lb. in another, and, some weeks, even gain weight. You are almost sure to encounter stalls, or plateaus, or periods of weeks or even a month when you do not lose weight, even if you are eating right. Your doctor may not tell you about stalls ahead of time, but you can handle them better if you are prepared right out of the gate. Your Metabolism May Plummet As you lose weight, you need fewer calories to sustain your basic body functions. Furthermore, when you exercise at a lower body weight, you burn fewer calories doing the same workout at the same intensity than you did when you were heavier. On top of that, your body may go into starvation mode and use even fewer calories as it becomes more efficient at using what you give it. While there is little that you can do to prevent a slower metabolism, you can at least be aware of it. Also, you can take heart knowing that you are likely to be able to exercise longer and at a higher intensity to offset some of the reduced body weight. It’s Freezing! Brrr…! Remember the days when you were the hottest one in the room, and all you wanted was to stop sweating? Those may be in the past. Part of the slowed metabolism can be due to your body’s new mechanism to save energy, which means turning down the thermostat. Another possibly surprising side effect of weight loss is that having less cushioning (body fat), so sitting in chairs or lying in bed can be less comfortable. People Can Still Hurt You You probably know that Weight Loss Surgery does not change who you are, but your doctor may forget to tell you that it does not change other people, either. You may no longer get flack for being overweight, but people can still be hurtful. They can tell you… You took the easy way out with Weight Loss Surgery. You have not lost much weight. Clearly, Weight Loss Surgery did not work. You lost so much weight that you look sick. All you care about now is your diet and exercise plan. Your Social Life May Change Some friends will stick by you. Others may desert you. If some of your friends have just been “eating buddies,” or people you go out with to the bar or restaurants, you may need to exercise self-control at the bar or restaurant, find new activities to do with those friends or find new friends. You stand to gain wonderful new friends who share your new interests, such as walking, going to the gym, or cooking healthy fun foods. The Skin Stays Losing body fat will not give you a movie star’s appearance. It may not even be all that you need to lose. You may have loose skin that flaps, chafes, and interferes. There is a chance that you will want to get skin removal surgery for cosmetic, comfort, or medical reasons. Beware Replacement Addictions You may have been addicted to food. It may have provided comfort, entertainment, and companionship. Give it up, and you are likely to find something to replace it. Alcohol is a common replacement addiction, but you can do better! Stay aware of your emotional and physical needs, and you can be mindful of what replaces food in your life. Exercise, within reason, is a common choice; another healthy option is to make some great friends who are supportive and make you feel good. Your doctor will tell you a lot about what to expect after weight loss surgery, but she may leave out several important items. Go in with open eyes, and you can prepare better and come out farther ahead.

Eat Right Now® is an Evidence-based program developed from over 10 years of groundbreaking medical research by Dr. Judson Brewer MD, PhD while he was at Yale University School of Medicine’s Therapeutic Neuroscience Clinic and UMass Medical School’s Center for Mindfulness. Oh if the weight loss surgery fixed our "brains," too. Or wherever it is that originate the preoccupation with food, the gnawing in the pit of our stomachs, and the loud voice that says, "I want that!" Unfortunately our brains are WIRED FOR ADDICTION according to research. Each time we eat something sweet or salty or crunchy our brains release “feel good” chemicals – the same chemicals that drive other addictions like smoking, alcohol and even cocaine. Fortunately, we can learn to differentiate between real hunger and emotional craving, and to identify the triggers that drive our cravings. Psychiatrist Judson Brewer's A Simple Way to Break a Bad Habit was the 4th most watched TED Talk of 2016. Psychiatrist Judson Brewer is a thought leader in the “science of self mastery,” having combined nearly 20 years of experience with mindfulness with his scientific research therein. An internationally known expert in mindfulness training for addictions (he wrote the book The Craving Mind), Judson has developed novel treatments to help individuals with substance abuse and eating disorders. And these same principals can work to stop cravings and bad eating habits. To learn more about the mechanism of habit development and discover a simple but profound tactic that might help you beat your next urge to snack, check out Dr. Brewer's app Eat Right Now®. Eat Right Now® is an Evidence-based program developed from over 10 years of groundbreaking medical research by Dr. Judson Brewer MD, PhD while he was at Yale University School of Medicine’s Therapeutic Neuroscience Clinic and UMass Medical School’s Center for Mindfulness. The app can change people’s unhealthy relationships with food and help them break the cycle of craving-related eating, according to a study published in the Journal of Behavioral Medicine. Dr. Brewer is joined by experts Kara Nance, MD FACP, a leading nutrition and weight management expert, and Ashley E. Mason, PhD, an expert in food craving and addiction. According to a study from UCSF, participants in the Eat Right Now® program reduced their food-related cravings by 40%. You can learn about the Eat Right Now app on the program website and sign up for a 7-day free trial. Note that this is NOT an affiliate link.

I really hope that is the case! Thank you! Is it really true that we can NEVER have any alcohol EVER again?

You might want to increase your calories a bit with protein if you are doing some serious workouts, you are going to burn through upwards of half your daily intake in 1 good session! Cutting the alcohol and coffee is a good idea, lots of extra calories and carbs in the alcohol. What's your water intake? If it's not upwards of 128oz, work on getting it up there. Something else to watch for in case you didn't think of this, working out is going to increase muscle mass, so you might appear to stall weight wise. If your gym has a body fat % measuring device or scale, start checking it out to track your body fat % losses.