Search the Community

I'm killing it, body fat down below 10 percent, I'm working out at least 4 times a week, am lean and strong. But I've found solace in whiskey. I drink it neat, no mixers. I don't drink during the day, but need to quiet my mind. Good quality whiskey does that, after 35 + years of total sobriety. I'm in Texas, so pot is largely illegal- and the illicit vapes make me paranoid. Crazy thing is I don't wake up with a hang over- I take Pharma sleep meds but am careful about the combo. I did talk to one guy who lost a crazy amount of weight through surgery and told me that heavy alcohol consumption is not uncommon. I was not fixated on food before surgery, but gained a lot during Covid sitting on my ass without serious exercise. I'm now working hard at the gym with a good trainer, and the results have been impressive. But the alcohol is an issue. I don't drive or go out when I drink, I'm home. I'm a high functioning boozer, but still. I hate being dependent on any substance, but I need to turn down the noise in my head. There are some legal CBD outlets in Texas which I can explore. I know the volume of whiskey I'm consuming is not necessary good for long life, but it definitely chills me out. Would love input from others who have had the same experience. Physically I'm in amazing shape, and generally, my mental attitude is quite positive. TIA!

I share this story in hopes that it may help someone to never pick up a drink after VSG or to at least be hyper-vigilant about the dangers of drinking post weight loss surgery. I was sleeved in August of 2015 @ 310 lbs. Quickly lost most of the weight needed and began running 5k. Not really setting the world on fire, but it was really good for me. Prior to surgery, I had always enjoyed drinking with friends. Typical guy stuff - couple beers @ a football game or watching the game on Sunday, meeting for drinks after work, etc. Never an issue or problem. Never anything that i had to have. My doctor warned me against alcohol, sodas, and transfer addictions, but I thought "never me". WOW, was I wrong. I remember the first couple times I had a beer after the surgery (I waited 6 months), it was very fizzy and uncomfortable. I convinced myself that it would get easier, and unfortunately it did. Next came the rum and coke zero. Wow, that tastes great, and I get a buzz very quickly. That fast buzz turned into getting very drunk, very quickly. Our new bodies absorb the alcohol in 1/2 the time that a normal internal system would. Over the last couple yeaars there have been many episodes of drinking way to much, blacking out, and not remembering what happened. I have had to apologize for my behavior more than once after a night of drinking. I even started drinking every day. I would make a drink as soon as I got home each day. 1 turns into 2 or 3. Just like lays potato chips you can not have just 1. Alcohol consumed my every thought. When can I have a drink? How can I make sure I can get a drink? It amazed me how I was able to justify that if creamer was good in my morning coffee, how great would Rumchatta be (it's damn good, by the way). I am living proof that transfer addiction is a real thing. I am now in counseling for my alcohol addiction. Transfer addiction is definitely a real thing. Prior to VSG surgery I was over 300 pounds because I had an addiction to food, and all the wrong kinds of food. My new addiction is alcohol and it's best friend is food addiction. what goes with beer = chicken wings, or nuts and pretzels, what goes with a margarita = tacos, etc. Alcohol also makes it impossible to lose weight. So if you are really dedicated to clean eating but you drink, your weight may stay the same, but it surely will not go down. I have packed on 60 lbs of the 120 that I lost. And, I am slowly changing behaviors to get back to where I want to be. It is a journey,, but I am worth it. I will overcome. Addiction is sacrificing everything for that one thing ! Recovery is sacrificing that 1 thing to have everything !

Hi I am 5 months into my journey after a bypass. I'm having a few issues but doing ok. I was wondering why alcohol isn't allowed for 12 months? Does it damage your new pouch or is it normal health advice? Can anyone shed any light on this please? Thanks 👍

Well post sleeve alcohol has absolutely no effect on me. I figured it’s a waste of Callie’s and money and stopped drinking. Post revision I figured why try it now that I’m used to not having it

I hear the GLP-1/GIP drugs (Ozempic, Wegovy, etc) can drastically reduce cravings for alcohol. If you have that combined with some regain could your surgical team prescribe perhaps?

Thank you! I'm know my husband’s favorite Podcaster lovvvves the paleovalley bone broth protein powder, but we haven't got any of the unflavored for me to taste. Anything with flavors (i.e. stevia, monkfruit, sugar alcohols, etc.) makes me ill. I'm just trying to get some things on hand to try after my surgery.

@Todd_196 Thank you for being brave and sharing this. As another guy that who has ups and downs in this area, I appreciate it. Alcohol is so tricky after these surgeries. I am very proud of you!

2024 was no my eating friend. I had Surgery 9 years ago and I am just so mad at myself for letting myself go. Soooo.... 2025: Take my Vitamins Drink less alcohol Drink more water Meal prep Take more time for me Actually exercise

GLP-1 receptor agonists are now being studied for alcohol use disorder so that maybe an option for our population. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/08/28/1194526119/ozempic-wegovy-drinking-alcohol-cravings-semaglutide https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/news-events/research-update/semaglutide-shows-promise-potential-alcohol-use-disorder-medication https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10371247/

Oh this is VERY interesting thank you for sharing @GreenTealael! I have loads of friends on these drugs who tell me that along with losing interest in food they lose interest in alcohol. And this is in Ireland, where alcohol is THE social lubricant. Does not compute. Many people even on strict diets will include a 'beer allowance', LOL. Seems there might be a place for these drugs in managing alcohol dependence post physical WLS. Watch this space?

Check to see if your shakes have sugar alcohols (those that end in ‘ol’ like arthritis, sorbitol, xylitol, etc.). They can cause bloating, gas and diarrhoea. Worth checking & if they do ask your team for an alternative shake that uses another sweetener. All the best with your surgery.

First and foremost, I'm not going to preach abstinence, we are all adults and can make our own decisions. For me, apparently, I'm not an adult enough to be responsible. I've let alcohol take over, I drink daily and I've gained weight back. My spiral started around 4 years ago and has progressed steadily. Until recently, I was in control. I could drink and be ok. I would get drunk and know what happened the next day. Now however, I will get drunk and can't remember a thing. The next day I have massive brain fog, can't concentrate, can't orate correctly, I feel like crap, have the shakes etc. To be clear, I never leave my house and drive. I worry however that it could come to that. My weight is making my back problem even more painful. My clothes are tight, I'm depressed, and it's just awful. I feel like it's groundhogs day every day. I say I'm going to stop and I last a few days and then I slip back. However today I've made a decision to stop drinking entirely. I'm done. I'm not drinking ever again. I clearly can't control my self. I'm an addict with food and now alcohol. Much like food did, booze will ruin my life if I continue. I'm going to join AA and clean my life up yet again. Writing this is a first step for me. I'm not looking for pity, or to be chastised. I need to be self shamed and admit what I am. I'm an alcoholic. However, I can change this, I will change this. I will be healthier soon, it will be hard but I'm going to get there. So please, be careful with alcohol. We all spent a lot of time and money to say nothing of the physical and mental pain we've been through, don't throw it away. Sent from my Pixel 7 Pro using BariatricPal mobile app

Todd, you have admitted that you are an alcoholic which is the first step. Hallelujah for you being able to do that. God bless you on your journey. My husband drank over 50 years. We just celebrated year 3 of his sobriety. It can be done. We are rooting and praying for you. Love, Teresa in Virginia

Drink less alcohol (i drink too much, and it really is getting out of hand) Do less exercise (i exercise too much and my body is starting to object...feel like i am hurting in some body part or other like 24/7 these days). Buy less clothes. Eat more often. Read more books. Floss my teeth regularly. Do what i say i'm going to do.

You've gotten some good advice already, but reading your post, a few things stood out to me. These are in no particular order: 1200 calories sounds high for 15 weeks post-op, but if that's what your plan calls for, who am I to question it? I think the bigger question is does this 1200 number include all the alcohol? One of the reasons alcohol is not recommended post bariatric surgery is that it's got a ton of calories and will definitely slow weight loss. The other huge concern on alcohol is that a substantial number of post-op patients develop alcohol use disorder. (Some estimates are as high as 20% or even 30%.) You didn't actually specify how much you drink, but when I see "active social life", I interpret that as "I drink a lot". Maybe try drinking non-alcoholic drinks when you are socializing? If you find that you can't give it up the alcohol, this is a major red flag and you really need to seek help. Taking another approach here, I noticed that you are being more active, which is fantastic! I did want to make sure you knew that changing your activity levels like that (starting a couch to 5k plan), will cause your body to retain more water. This means you may not see the results you are expecting on the scale, even if you are still losing fat. Keep in mind that the your weight is made up of lots of things other than just fat, so variations are normal and are just part of the process. If you are eating less than you burn in a day, then you are 100% burning off fat reserves, even if the scale does not show it. Best of luck.

was thinking the same thing....? (just one 1 G&T is like 120 cals, and just one beer is at least 200 cals...). alcohol in and of itself will not stop you from losing weight, but too many calories (in the form of alcohol or whatever else) definitely will. further, are you tracking your actual food/beverage intake to conclude 1200 cals a day, or eyeballing it? lastly, my NUT wanted me at 1500 cals by 3 months, so i guess it depends on who you ask if that is alot of cals or not at your stage. BUT, despite this recommendation , i personally was NO WHERE near 1500 cals at that stage, more like 400 cals honestly (which is on the lower end of average, but still).

Well done OP for nipping this in the bud. I regained 7kg last year (3rd year after my surgery) and I had to diet for months to lose that again. I am now back to tracking everything. I too got complacent. Alcohol crept in. I wasn't exercising NEARLY as much as I had. No more. It took too much effort to lose, I do not want to have to do that (all) ever again. Far too comfortable at my new weight. So far this year I have maintained by sticking to the surgery rules - protein first, veg second, carbs third by a long way. Everything crossed I can stick to this!

I'm 14 weeks nearly 15 weeks post op, I have only lost 19lbs overall, I was on holidays and have had a some social occasions, I started at 93.6kg, I'm 85.5 this morning, my calories intake is only every 1200, I'm hitting my protein target, I walk 4 to 5km a day and started doing couch to 5k. It's so frustrating, is it alcohol stopping me losing weight? I have an active social life I thought the sleeve I would be able to lose weight and maintain that. I know other people's surgeons said no alcohol for the first 6 months, but my surgeon was like go be free live your life, maybe I'm expecting too much?

This is one thing I look out for all the time. I am 3.5 years into recovery and not had a drink of alcohol since 8/11/2018 but california sober got me for awhile. Got really real and I am worried about this but learned during pre surgery **** that it happens, and is real so I stay very diligent. Keep up the good work, the first step is always the hardest.

out of curiosity... define "few".. ? (no judgement as im probably the resident alcoholic here, just wanna know...for SCIENCE lol)

Do you track (weigh and measure) everything you eat and drink? Are you following the plan set by your surgeon and dietician? Are you meeting your fluid (alcohol doesn’t count) and origin goal every day? Are you focussed on eating protein rich and nutrient dense foods? Yes, alcohol will slow your weight loss. Did your surgeon really say live your life? Did they mean alcohol? Did they know how much you drink? Did I drink alcohol while I was losing? Yes. I had a gin & tonic at around month 3 (nursed it for hours) and then a couple of single glasses over the next 6 or so months after that. This first 6 months to a year or so are a gift. You want to embrace this time to lose the majority of your weight. So yes, you will have to make some sacrifices but for these few months it’s so worth the lifetime of future benefits. Doesn’t mean you can’t go out and socialise. It just means you have to make best choices you can in whatever situation you’re in and put yourself first. The reset diet of returning to the liquid stage is an old wives tale. You’re not trying to reset your tummy but reset your head, your thinking. You can do this.

Wagyu is expensive steak; so I had my 1 oz and I was good for meat pretty much. The cocktail went okay. I definitely think alcohol hits me more, but I don't know if that's the sleeve or that I haven't drank in 5 months. I didn't drink the whole cocktail, but it was nice to go for dinner and drinks, because I feel like that was something I was missing out on, not being able to drink while I'm eating.

Yet another holiday post 😅 My bariatric nurse has given me the go-ahead to try a small amount of alcohol whilst I am on holiday next week - I will be 4 months post-op on the 14th when I fly out! She has suggested trying a white wine as they tend to be dry and therefore low in sugar. Any other recommendations - such as type of alcohol, and how to go about trying it again etc ❤️

Definitely not an ideal day, @ShoppGirl! I'll be smarter next time and make sure I test meds before taking them 😭😂 though with that being said, I don't see myself taking cocodamol again! It's definitely a really interesting topic on how our body absorbs things now, and I think @SpartanMaker had a really valid point in that my body is probably absorbing things a lot quicker! It is a conundrum for me, because I fully expected that alcohol would be absorbed quickly post-bypass, and was warned about this by everyone but all it does is give me a headache, no drunk feeling at all! So it's pointless for me 😂

Just that it's going to hit you FAST. It goes right into your bloodstream. So just keep that in mind (it leaves my system quicker than it did before surgery, too..). And in general, be careful with alcohol as some people have trouble with it after surgery - cross-addiction is real! I limit myself to a glass or two of wine a couple of times a month. Between the surgery and the fact alcoholism runs in my family (two uncles), I don't want to take chances.