My dr said no alcohol until 1 year out. If I could have alcohol, I would for sure include it since it would have a lot of calories.

My doctor really tries to steer people away from drinking post surgery. I have had maybe two small sips of beer, and that was after a year post surgery. Alcohol isn't a big deal to me, I don't miss it really. I also feel like with the limited number of calories I can consume, I would rather save those calories for protein or something. That said, if and when I do decide I need a drink, I would definitely include it in my calories.

cutty805 wrote: »

I've blacked out after two drinks.

Wow, I know the dr told me that alcohol would affect me differently and more quickly after surgery (and after waiting 1 year) but I had no idea it would be like this. You have really illustrated the message the dr was trying to get across. Now I get it. Thanks for sharing something so personal to you. It really is more effective than just hearing it from the doctor.

At 3.5 years out I have had the occasional glass of wine and even a few sips of the Apple Pie Moonshine a friend gave me for Christmas. I've even had a little beer, but it all goes to my head so fast that if I'm driving, I don't drink at all. Frankly, the empty calories just don't feel worth it to me. I can be just as social without drinking as with, so most of the time, I just don't bother with it..

My husband and I make beer and love to drink beer. We live in Albuquerque, NM and the craft beer scene is exploding here right now. I drink beer every weekend, 2 or 3 each night. The carbonation hasn't hurt my stomach (I also drink diet soda) and the calories haven't slowed me down. Everything in moderation is key to success. I'm down 65 lbs from my initial consult just over 1 year ago. My surgery was 4/28/14.

Cutty805, I would like to thank you for your honest sharing. You bring up a great topic in
Addiction Transfer, it is a real thing that many of us do without even noticing at first till it starts to control our lives. Food has been my core addiction from a very young age. Later on in life, around 40 I did develop a second addiction. Thanks to my fellowship, I've been clean from it for almost 7 years. I do worry sometimes though that without having food as that "comforting friend", I might slip back into my second addiction at some point. It is something that I am very vigilant about.
I've always said that I'd rather get my calories from food than alcohol, and growing up with an alcoholic parent in recovery, I have always watched myself closely to not drink regularly . I did have the occasional wine cooler or white wine a few times a year before I started the program. At this point, 2 1/2 months post op I have no desire to try alcohol and I hope that I never slip back into my second addiction. ADDICTION TRANSFER IS VERY REAL.

Thanks rscpjim.

I'd like to take this opportunity to share a few side effects of WLS that my best friend encountered in her journey. Her "mistakes" helped to enlighten my way of thinking once I underwent surgery myself and could possibly help you as well.

My best friend, got the lap band about a year or so before I had my sleeve (9/10/2013). I watched in disbelief the week after her surgery as she was able to eat nearly as many buffalo wings and chips and dip as she was able to pre-surgery. Then she would go to the bathroom and throw up. Heck, even the day after surgery, we went on a little shopping trip and she stopped and got puffy Cheetos and milk. She dissolved the puffy Cheetos in her mouth with the milk so that she could eat them all. Because of habits like this she didn't see any dramatic weight loss until she received a fill that completely filled up her band and this was right around the time I had my surgery. It was only then that she stopped over-eating to just go and throw up. Because she couldn't overeat, she began to drink...a lot, because liquid was the only thing that she could really get down. Her behavior became wild and erratic and her drinking ballooned out of control. She was drinking several drinks per day and eating probably 300 calories a day. The weight and her hair, immediately started to let go to the tune of about 100 pounds lost in total. She got out of her long-term relationship due to the attention she was then receiving. The drinking and her "wild nights" went hand in hand after that. After about 6-8 months of the heavy drinking, minimal eating, and subsequent weight loss, she finally started to settle down. She found a boyfriend and at about 2 months into their relationship, she began to have problems with her band. She wasn't able to swallow even water. She quickly went to her doctor and he removed the fill completely from her band. She gained 20 pounds over the next 14 days. And another 10 pounds over the following 2 weeks, so 30 pounds in a month she gained back. She went back for a fill after her band injury healed. She is now completely filled again, but the restriction isn't there like it was the first time it was filled to capacity. She can eat quite a bit and never with control, she eats until she throws up. She was not able to lose those 30 pounds and has even gained another 20 back.

So in summary, her story illustrates a number of things:
1. Addiction transfer is real;
2. If you don't correct the root problem, you will still be in the same boat;
3. Temporary "success" is very different from long term success;
4. The surgery does not do all of the work for you, you have to be committed to this way of living for life to see life long results.

I was allowed to have wine from 3 months out. I am 16 months out and tolerate small amounts of alcohol well. I always count and add their calories to stay within my daily calorie limit. I usually have 1oz of brandy or vodka at a time. Both have no Carbs and little calories. I have the occasional wine

wow. what a story.thanks for sharing. and i hope your friend is doing better!