PlzCoolerMe

As I posted before, my tolerance is not nearly as good. It's been an adjustment for sure. Going from beer to hard alcohol I mean. Best thing I do is when I remember to drink Water in between drinks. 18 months post sleeve.

This is an old forum...but humor me fellas. How do you handle alcohol after sleeve??? I'm like 1.5 years post sleeve. I love Whiskey. I find I get a huge up front buzz after drinking it..but it fades after 30 min or so. Just curious what other Bros are experiencing. I can drink about 3 mixed drinks before I need to chill...but same thing...it wears off after 30-45 minutes. Hit me up!!

Update... 16 months since I first started this topic. I can say at this point that I can definitely tell the difference in my tolerance. I'm down around 125 lbs and sometimes after a few too many, I forget that my tolerance is not as good, and it can be a disaster lol. I have definitely been able to control it better as of late by learning to drink Water in between drinks.
I still do not drink more than 1 or 2 beers in a night, mainly because the carbonation seems to fill me up. I think this might be part of the tolerance issue as well, hard alcohol vs beer.

If you could take word "does" out, that would be great... Appreciate the help!

Wow, this is nearly identical to my experience 16 months out. I completely agree with the comment about wanting to "advise" other folks to look into the surgery. As you said, it comes off as "judgey" in my head, but, I just know how much of a positive change it has been for my life.
I also think it is funny how I view myself. I don't think I ever saw myself as large as I really was. In the same respect, I still don't believe I see myself as skinny as I really am in the mirror... It takes me seeing pictures of me with other friends in the same image to register with my brain... Not sure if that makes sense? It's all about point of view I guess.
One other thing, it took a while, but, I think my brain, eyes, and stomach have all come around to agreeing what the right portions are and when i'm actually full. This took a while to learn for sure. I also think it's interesting now, how something I would consider a "large portion" differs from what it was prior to surgery. There are just times where I feel like I may have eaten too much and get conscious about it, but, it's actually smaller or equal to what an average person would have eaten at same setting.
Thanks for the post.

Update, I am now around 190lbs give or take a couple, and have been so for the last 3 to 4 months. As most people indicated, my body just needed to get where it was "comfortable" and it has seemed to stay there.

Update... 16 months since I first started this topic. I can say at this point that I can definitely tell the difference in my tolerance. I'm down around 125 lbs and sometimes after a few too many, I forget that my tolerance is not as good, and it can be a disaster lol. I have definitely been able to control it better as of late by learning to drink Water in between drinks.
I still do not drink more than 1 or 2 beers in a night, mainly because the carbonation seems to fill me up. I think this might be part of the tolerance issue as well, hard alcohol vs beer.

From listening to everyone's replies, I think (just like many things) carbonation effects everyone in different way post-sleeve. I know my buddy still can drink 3 or 4 beers a night along with a lot of red wine and liquor. I've also read a couple people say they can still drink pop (just not as much.)
Others have said they just poor their carbonated bevgs out of the can/bottle into a cup and this helps. I think it's safe to say that things won't be the same with it as pre-op, but, it's just a matter of how much change...

Update, I am now around 190lbs give or take a couple, and have been so for the last 3 to 4 months. As most people indicated, my body just needed to get where it was "comfortable" and it has seemed to stay there.

Wow, this is nearly identical to my experience 16 months out. I completely agree with the comment about wanting to "advise" other folks to look into the surgery. As you said, it comes off as "judgey" in my head, but, I just know how much of a positive change it has been for my life.
I also think it is funny how I view myself. I don't think I ever saw myself as large as I really was. In the same respect, I still don't believe I see myself as skinny as I really am in the mirror... It takes me seeing pictures of me with other friends in the same image to register with my brain... Not sure if that makes sense? It's all about point of view I guess.
One other thing, it took a while, but, I think my brain, eyes, and stomach have all come around to agreeing what the right portions are and when i'm actually full. This took a while to learn for sure. I also think it's interesting now, how something I would consider a "large portion" differs from what it was prior to surgery. There are just times where I feel like I may have eaten too much and get conscious about it, but, it's actually smaller or equal to what an average person would have eaten at same setting.
Thanks for the post.

Wow, this is nearly identical to my experience 16 months out. I completely agree with the comment about wanting to "advise" other folks to look into the surgery. As you said, it comes off as "judgey" in my head, but, I just know how much of a positive change it has been for my life.
I also think it is funny how I view myself. I don't think I ever saw myself as large as I really was. In the same respect, I still don't believe I see myself as skinny as I really am in the mirror... It takes me seeing pictures of me with other friends in the same image to register with my brain... Not sure if that makes sense? It's all about point of view I guess.
One other thing, it took a while, but, I think my brain, eyes, and stomach have all come around to agreeing what the right portions are and when i'm actually full. This took a while to learn for sure. I also think it's interesting now, how something I would consider a "large portion" differs from what it was prior to surgery. There are just times where I feel like I may have eaten too much and get conscious about it, but, it's actually smaller or equal to what an average person would have eaten at same setting.
Thanks for the post.

Update, I am now around 190lbs give or take a couple, and have been so for the last 3 to 4 months. As most people indicated, my body just needed to get where it was "comfortable" and it has seemed to stay there.

Update... 16 months since I first started this topic. I can say at this point that I can definitely tell the difference in my tolerance. I'm down around 125 lbs and sometimes after a few too many, I forget that my tolerance is not as good, and it can be a disaster lol. I have definitely been able to control it better as of late by learning to drink Water in between drinks.
I still do not drink more than 1 or 2 beers in a night, mainly because the carbonation seems to fill me up. I think this might be part of the tolerance issue as well, hard alcohol vs beer.

It's been just about two years since my VSG and I thought I'd share an update. I've copied my post from one year out below so that you can have a point of reference.
In sum, VSG was really the best thing I ever did. While it has only been two years, my life as a big fat dude is sort of a distant memory. Let me share some of the observations I find most interesting...
Positives:
I'm basically at peace with food. By that I mean that I enjoy and appreciate food, but it's just no longer a monkey on my back. I weight 186 pounds (5 pounds greater than last year and about 85 down from my peek of 272). There are just so many things that you can do at a lower weight that are either impossible or unpleasant at a higher weight. I played golf all summer (walking the course), do hot yoga twice a week, play squash, mountain bike, etc.. In the gym, I can do pull ups and dips. These things were out of the question before. I shop for clothes at regular stores and beyond being able to find my size anywhere (medium / large shirt, 34" waist), clothes just fit and feel better. Oddeties
I see overweight people and think they're crazy for not doing something about. I was flying home from a business trip a few days ago and saw a woman that weighed about 300 pounds shove herself into a first class seat, ask for the extra belt and then eat huge sub sandwich and a bag of chips that she brought on the plane and wash it down with a few cocktails. I wanted to send her the WLS clinic immediately. This is obviously terribly judgmental, but it's true. I still sort of feel like a big guy in my head. I used to always make fun of myself as a defense mechanism when I was huge. I would say things like "not bad for a fat guy" and people would laugh. Every once in a while I say the same thing and people just look at me puzzled. I still feel like I perpetually need to lose 5 or 10 pounds. My lowest weight post opp was 175 and though people said I looked too thin, I felt great. I'm 186 now and would really like to be 180. That's crazy talk to someone that's 2, 3, or 4 hundred pounds, but there you go. Annoyances -- not much to report, but here are a couple.
I still cannot eat and drink at the same time -- there is just no room. I'm used to it now, but it sure would be nice to wash down dinner with a glass of wine, Breakfast with a cup of coffee. Instead it's drink a cup of coffee, then eat breakfast. Ditto for other meals. I still take 20mg of omeprozole daily. With it, I'm fine. Without it, I have some heartburn. Since this hasn't changed in two years, I'm resigned to taking it perpetually. Advice -- Everyone is so different so take this for what it is...
If you're into alcohol pre opp, you're in for a challenge post opp. While you can't eat tons of food after WLS, it's just as easy to drink and you don't have hundreds of extra pounds to absorb it. I get into trouble with this every once in a while. If you're pre-opp and thinking about the surgery, consider what kind of overeater you are. If you just have a huge appetite and eat portions that are too large at meals (a bottomless pit), then this surgery will help you a lot. I used to be like this and now a big meal is a piece of chicken and a half cup of veg or starch -- even at two years out. HOWEVER, if you eat reasonable meals but have a problem snacking on junk food all day long, I don't think VSG is very effective. I can eat whole bags of dorritos, large portions of ice cream and drink whatever, i.e. slider foods. VSG just doesn't help with this stuff and it's easy to snack all day long and pack on the pounds. I was on this site constantly leading up to and after my surgery and really appreciated hearing everyone's story. I'm rarely here anymore, but thought I'd share some perspective especially for those considering surgery and needing some extra support or wondering what the future might be like. Feel free to comment or PM me.
Family guy
My Post From One Year Out
November 25th is one year post opp for me and I wanted to share my observations for the year. Here you go....

Unwarranted Pre Opp Fears:
I was super worried about complications and recovery and felt like I was seriously risking my life. In reality, surgery was a breeze. I had 2 or 3 uncomfortable days and then was quickly back on my feet. I dreaded pre and post opp diets. The pre-opp diet was harder for me, because I knew that my food days were coming to an end and I sort of had to mourn all the things I loved to eat. The post opp diet wasn't fun, but since I really couldn't eat anything (nor did I have any desire to), it wasn't all that difficult. Now that period is just sort of a distant memory. Standing out for eating like a mouse / not being able to dine socially -- I have a job that entails a lot of entertaining, business lunches and dinners and was really worried about this. In reality, it's been no big deal. After a while, I got used to ordering the right stuff and just picking away at my plate. When I'm done, I just put the silverware on the plate and the waiter whisks it away. This is actually what most people without eating issues do! It turns out the big eaters and the table are really focused on their plates and not yours. Every now and again, people will make a comment like "you barely ate" or "was the food not good", but they're very easy to dismiss away. Pleasant Surprises:
I started the process at 255 (275 highest ever) and was hoping to get down to about 200. That goal seemed like a big stretch because the best I ever did on my own was 225 and that was by starving myself for months and working out like dog and I was only at that weight for about 5 minutes. About 9 months after surgery, I bottoming out at 175 and currently hover between 178 and 182. I didn't think my current weight was even possible, but it turns out I feel and look great at this weight. I wear a medium shirt and have a 33" waist, down from xxl and a 42" waist. This is just shocking to me. Everything is easier. sleeping, tying my shoes, clipping my toe nails, sitting in airplane seats, shopping for clothes, exercising, playing sports, etc. My joints feel better and my frequent head aches have gone away. I was pre diabetic, had high cholesterol, and elevated blood pressure. All gone. Not having food monkey on my back. I still think a lot about what and how much I'm eating and have some bad habits (see below) but the monkey is gone! For as long as I could remember prior to surgery, I woke up every morning hoping that I wouldn't overeat that day and went to bed every night feeling guilty about all the eating. Food just doesn't occupy my mind like it used to.
Annoyances:

Every once it a while, it would be fun to man down a big meal. I recently went to an amazing new BBQ joint in town and it would have been a great time to wolf down a huge plate of smoked meats and sides and wash it down with a few beers. That's just not possible. I had a glass of wine before the food came and ate about 20% of the plate of food I ordered and was absolutely stuffed. It would be nice to eat and drink at the same time. lunch with Iced Tea, Dinner with Wine -- I've been doing this for 40 years but again, that just doesn't work with VSG. Sometimes I eat and sip (small sips) but that's about it. I was prescribed omeprazole (prilosec) right after surgery to control heart burn. If I take it everyday, I have zero heart burn. If I stop taking it, I have a little (not horrible) heartburn. I was kind of hopping to not have to take a pill for ever, but I think that might be the case.
Bad Habits / Struggles / Watch Areas:
Slidder foods -- chips, ice cream, candy, etc. I can pretty much eat these foods in the same quantities as pre opp and will munch away if I'm not watching it. I've found that the best strategy is to eat the good stuff (proteins) first and then there's really no room for junk. Starting with the junk first is a bad idea. Alcohol -- I liked to drink pre opp and that hasn't gone away post opp. In fact, since food is much more effort, drinking sort of becomes easier. I now see why people caution about the dangers of substituting. Eating too quickly or too much. Food still tastes good and if I'm not concentrating, I can still eat too much and really regret it. This happens less and less now that I'm 12 months out, but it's still something I'm always watching for. In sum, VSG was the best decision I ever made. If I could go back in time, I would have done it 10 years sooner. Comments or personal messages / questions welcome.

My husband and I had this conversation just last night. He didn't have the surgery but has been steadily losing since I started the Preop stuff 7 months ago. He is 6'3 and currently weighs 210. His goal is 200 which would put him at a BMI of 25...the top of the normal range/bottom of overweight. He is thin everywhere but has that 40yr old daddy tummy that he's trying to get smaller. I personally would not want him to go lower than 200 because on his frame, 200 is thin. I think body frame, how you look, and feel should be your deciding factors on when to enter maintenance mode.

I've chosen to use a "normal" BMI as my target. So my stated goal is exactly one pound into that range. But in order to maintain that, I'll need to get below my target. Since my goal is BMI-based, it would suck to go "overweight" every time I splurge during maintenance. So my stretch goal is four pounds lower. But whatever system you use to determine your goal weight, go a little below it to give yourself a cushion, and use your original goal as your upper weight target. If you start approaching it, you'll need to buckle down and get back to your "cushion" weight. Does that make sense?

I started eating in maintenance mode when I hit my surgeon's goal (BMI 26). I dropped another 22 pounds ((BMI 23) before my body finally stopped losing. I can gain 4-5 pounds by eating a lot of carbs and drinking alcohol (ie. holidays and vacation) but can lose it again just as quick going back to Protein and veggies. I don't go to the gym or exercise, but I have a very active, physical job and lifestyle, so I didn't lose muscle mass. You can control what and how much you eat and how active you are, but in the end Your body is just going to find its new normal.

@@PlzCoolerMe
No judgment from me:)
Congrats on you're success! A healthy BMI is a good indicator of goal range. The exact scale number..you get to figure out what weight you are comfortable at.

Hello,
First, I want to thank this forum for helping me get through my surgery and the first 2 months after which were tough for me. I recently took an interest of viewing the forum again since it helped me so much. I will be 6 months out on Feb. 4th. For me, surgery has been one of the BEST decisions I have ever made. I hit my original goal of 225 lbs in 4.5 months post-op. I am now down to 215 with a BMI of 29 after starting over 42.
I know 215 might not sound super-skinny, but, honestly... For me, I feel like give or take 5 lbs, this is where my ideal weight is. I am down to a 34-35 waist from 44-46, and wearing size Large shirts. I graduated high school wearing XL's and was getting into Triple X at my biggest.
So, in a nut-shell, what decides when I'm at my ideal weight and what is the best strategy to help maintain where I am right now? I've never been a huge fan of the gym, but, I feel like I might need to start visiting just to keep/gain muscle and avoid losing any more. Thanks again for the help, and feel welcome to ask me any questions as well.

I don't believe you can edit the Title of your post, once submitted. I've tried to edit my titles before and couldn't find any buttons that would allow that.

I guess the weight loss stops when you want it to. My ideal weight is around 185, but I'm pretty happy at 205, and it doesn't take much effort on my part to maintain it.
If I see my weight creeping up, I know to cut back by a few bites per meal - it really only takes that little bit of an effort to get back to 205. I also think back on what I've eaten. During Thanksgiving and Xmas, I ate a lot of Spiral Ham and "ballooned" up to 215 - 220. But I figured a lot of that weight was Water - from all the salt I was ingesting. And sure enough, 2 weeks into Jan, I was back down to 205 - 207. After I had returned to my normal eating.
I know I could start losing again if I cut back on my calories and/or stepped up my exercise routine.
So it's really up to me to decide what weight I stay at.
Hope this helps.

Hello,
First, I want to thank this forum for helping me get through my surgery and the first 2 months after which were tough for me. I recently took an interest of viewing the forum again since it helped me so much. I will be 6 months out on Feb. 4th. For me, surgery has been one of the BEST decisions I have ever made. I hit my original goal of 225 lbs in 4.5 months post-op. I am now down to 215 with a BMI of 29 after starting over 42.
I know 215 might not sound super-skinny, but, honestly... For me, I feel like give or take 5 lbs, this is where my ideal weight is. I am down to a 34-35 waist from 44-46, and wearing size Large shirts. I graduated high school wearing XL's and was getting into Triple X at my biggest.
So, in a nut-shell, what decides when I'm at my ideal weight and what is the best strategy to help maintain where I am right now? I've never been a huge fan of the gym, but, I feel like I might need to start visiting just to keep/gain muscle and avoid losing any more. Thanks again for the help, and feel welcome to ask me any questions as well.

Was just sleeved on the 4th. At home now and things seem to be going fairly close to normal.
1. Waking up after surgery really does suck. All I wanted to do was sleep to get away from the pain, but, they really wouldn't let me and it pissed me off.
2. All the gas is crazy. Between burping, farting, hiccuping (which is uncomfortable) I wasn't really prepared for this part of it.
3. I feel like I could eat a little normal food now and be ok, but, I know it wouldn't be good for my new stomach. Very tough to resist and I'm already tired of liquids only.

I'm curious about the gin and tonic (as that was one of my main pre-op drinks.) I would think the tonic Water would have a ton of carbonation? Glad to hear it doesn't affect you that much. I hope it's the same for me.
A month out and just experimented with alcohol for the first time this past weekend. We had a tailgate event with a bunch of friends. Over a period of 5 hours, I had 3 drinks. I had a glass of red wine with dinner, a screwdriver, and a Moscow Mule after.
I was a little worried about the Moscow Mule since there is a little Ginger Beer in there. However, it went down fine. I drank all of the drinks very slow compared to how I drank pre-op. I might have had a little buzz after the screwdriver, but, nothing major. Overall, I was very glad to see that I could socialize like normal and not have the alcohol majorily affect me.
However, I will say that I had been losing around 1.5 lbs every other day prior to drinking. And I was same weight for 2 days after. It definitely affects the weight-loss part.

Posted this in the general forum, but, was mainly getting responses from women. Wondered what your guys' take was? Thanks:
I am 31 years old and have basically done whatever I wanted (within reason) whenever I wanted since mid-college. I'm self-employed in the financial industry so I have been able to take off on a vacation, golf, or whatever reasonably easy (since I didn't have to ask my employer first.) This do whatever, whenever mentality is partly why I'm in the shape I'm in, I love to eat... and eat good.

One of the things that I'm most worried about is the possibility that I won't be able to drink carbonated beverages such as beer or alcohol in general after surgery. I'm not an alcoholic by any means, but, I have a lot of fun. And drinking on the golf course or during a cocktail hour in business settings has been a big part of my life over the past 10 years. Not to mention, most of my friends like to kick back and drink on the weekends.

I'm confused because I have read many things that a lot of folks aren't able to handle alcohol or drink carbonated beverages at all... Yet, I have a good friend who had the surgery and in some ways, I wouldn't hardly notice a difference in his eating/drinking unless he had told me. He still drinks a few beers, drinks a ton of wine, and some mixes and seems to be fine. The main area I can see a difference is that he seems to get drunker quicker.

What are your experiences? What is the norm? Is it just that this surgery affects everyone differently? I mean, I am obviously willing to give up some of this for my health for my family... But, I'm just trying to figure out what to expect. Any input is appreciated. Oh, and my surgery is scheduled for this coming Monday. Thanks.