Jewelgirl04

I'm about a week short of five months now and down 61 pounds. I figured I'd go item by item below.
Coffee - I just graduated law school and am studying for the bar exam. I cannot go without coffee at the moment. That being said, I can't drink a full cup at one sitting. I make myself coffee in a teacup and that's about as much as my stomach can handle in terms of capacity. If you need the caffeine like I do, you'll find that it's absorbed into your bloodstream much quicker than before because of the size of your stomach. It's actually a pretty nifty upside. That being said, it'll probably take you about two months to be able to drink it again post-op because it's an acidic drink and your stomach will still be healing. Don't worry though. Caffeine isn't an issue in the long term.
Soda/Carbonated drinks - Big NO. Not only will the carbonation agitate your stomach, but it will stretch your pouch (whether sleeve or bypass) and undo the operation as a result overtime. Not worth it. On the plus side, when I've dared to take a sip because I gave into stupid temptation, I've found soda is way too sweet for me now. So it might not be as big of a challenge.
Don't worry, though. Diet iced tea and lemonade is your friend!
Alcohol - I only recently tried alcohol for the first time since my surgery because white sangria was being served at my graduation party. I was a little over four months post-op then. I only drank about half of a standard wine glass. One of the major concerns concerning alcohol (aside from its high sugar content) is that alcohol (like caffeine) is absorbed into your blood stream far quicker after the procedure. Mixed drinks with something to temper the alcohol with is preferable. Light beer is also okay. Stay away from straight up liquor. Some have found red wine to agitate the stomach more than anything else. Go easy and work yourself up to the wine with mixed drinks/coolers first to gauge your body's reaction and give it some time. As an occasional wine drinker, it shouldn't be a problem.
Hope this all helps, @@Michelle Tarver!

I'm about a week short of five months now and down 61 pounds. I figured I'd go item by item below.
Coffee - I just graduated law school and am studying for the bar exam. I cannot go without coffee at the moment. That being said, I can't drink a full cup at one sitting. I make myself coffee in a teacup and that's about as much as my stomach can handle in terms of capacity. If you need the caffeine like I do, you'll find that it's absorbed into your bloodstream much quicker than before because of the size of your stomach. It's actually a pretty nifty upside. That being said, it'll probably take you about two months to be able to drink it again post-op because it's an acidic drink and your stomach will still be healing. Don't worry though. Caffeine isn't an issue in the long term.
Soda/Carbonated drinks - Big NO. Not only will the carbonation agitate your stomach, but it will stretch your pouch (whether sleeve or bypass) and undo the operation as a result overtime. Not worth it. On the plus side, when I've dared to take a sip because I gave into stupid temptation, I've found soda is way too sweet for me now. So it might not be as big of a challenge.
Don't worry, though. Diet iced tea and lemonade is your friend!
Alcohol - I only recently tried alcohol for the first time since my surgery because white sangria was being served at my graduation party. I was a little over four months post-op then. I only drank about half of a standard wine glass. One of the major concerns concerning alcohol (aside from its high sugar content) is that alcohol (like caffeine) is absorbed into your blood stream far quicker after the procedure. Mixed drinks with something to temper the alcohol with is preferable. Light beer is also okay. Stay away from straight up liquor. Some have found red wine to agitate the stomach more than anything else. Go easy and work yourself up to the wine with mixed drinks/coolers first to gauge your body's reaction and give it some time. As an occasional wine drinker, it shouldn't be a problem.
Hope this all helps, @@Michelle Tarver!

I'm about a week short of five months now and down 61 pounds. I figured I'd go item by item below.
Coffee - I just graduated law school and am studying for the bar exam. I cannot go without coffee at the moment. That being said, I can't drink a full cup at one sitting. I make myself coffee in a teacup and that's about as much as my stomach can handle in terms of capacity. If you need the caffeine like I do, you'll find that it's absorbed into your bloodstream much quicker than before because of the size of your stomach. It's actually a pretty nifty upside. That being said, it'll probably take you about two months to be able to drink it again post-op because it's an acidic drink and your stomach will still be healing. Don't worry though. Caffeine isn't an issue in the long term.
Soda/Carbonated drinks - Big NO. Not only will the carbonation agitate your stomach, but it will stretch your pouch (whether sleeve or bypass) and undo the operation as a result overtime. Not worth it. On the plus side, when I've dared to take a sip because I gave into stupid temptation, I've found soda is way too sweet for me now. So it might not be as big of a challenge.
Don't worry, though. Diet iced tea and lemonade is your friend!
Alcohol - I only recently tried alcohol for the first time since my surgery because white sangria was being served at my graduation party. I was a little over four months post-op then. I only drank about half of a standard wine glass. One of the major concerns concerning alcohol (aside from its high sugar content) is that alcohol (like caffeine) is absorbed into your blood stream far quicker after the procedure. Mixed drinks with something to temper the alcohol with is preferable. Light beer is also okay. Stay away from straight up liquor. Some have found red wine to agitate the stomach more than anything else. Go easy and work yourself up to the wine with mixed drinks/coolers first to gauge your body's reaction and give it some time. As an occasional wine drinker, it shouldn't be a problem.
Hope this all helps, @@Michelle Tarver!

Look, I get it. I drank A LOT in college, got married, settled down, got fatter and miserable in said marriage, got divorced, had WLS and got healthy and in my late 40's re-established my social life, (lots of dates=lots of bars\concerts\restaurants). I am having my second "young adulthood" now for sure! So... I waited maybe 8 months before I really started drinking regularly again. I did this to maximize my weight loss and because I was literally, "a light weight" now.
In maintenance now for about a year, I can tell you that alcohol is the thing that puts weight on me faster than ANYTHING. Not just the calories in the alcohol, but the munchies and reduction in impulse control for the next 24 hours is a KILLER for me. I would be the last person to tell you you must go alcohol free to be successful. I opt for partying no more than 2 days per week now to control my weight, (but I may be drunk one of those 2 days, ;-o). I've also been known to go out and drink Water (yeah, that stuff in the toilet as the BF calls it), if I've gained a bit. I LIKE my size 4 Rock Revival skinny jeans more than booze. You have to decide what it is you want more, is it to be healthy and fit? Or drunk and fat? Life's all about choices!

Thank you everyone for the well wishes! Here's a before and after.

Thank you everyone for the well wishes! Here's a before and after.

I'm so incredibly excited for this Sunday! I just graduated law school last week and have my graduation party this Sunday.
Only two of my friends have seen me since I had the surgery (and they're the same 2/4 who know I had the surgery), but they saw me at the beginning of April when I'd lost only 30 pounds. I've lost another 30 since then!
None of my other friends and non-immediate family have seen me. I was a size 18/20 in August. I'm now a size 10 across the board.
Not to mention a former co-worker I've had a MASSIVE crush on for the last two years is going to see me SIXTY POUNDS lighter than the last time we grabbed drinks.
I've been making short term goals to keep motivated. I wanted to be in the 170s when I went to this convention in Philly (and did it!) and then wanted to break 169.9 for my graduation party. I'm at 170.2 today.
I know this post doesn't have much point to it, but I just had to Celebrate this with my sleever family.

I'm so incredibly excited for this Sunday! I just graduated law school last week and have my graduation party this Sunday.
Only two of my friends have seen me since I had the surgery (and they're the same 2/4 who know I had the surgery), but they saw me at the beginning of April when I'd lost only 30 pounds. I've lost another 30 since then!
None of my other friends and non-immediate family have seen me. I was a size 18/20 in August. I'm now a size 10 across the board.
Not to mention a former co-worker I've had a MASSIVE crush on for the last two years is going to see me SIXTY POUNDS lighter than the last time we grabbed drinks.
I've been making short term goals to keep motivated. I wanted to be in the 170s when I went to this convention in Philly (and did it!) and then wanted to break 169.9 for my graduation party. I'm at 170.2 today.
I know this post doesn't have much point to it, but I just had to Celebrate this with my sleever family.

I'm so incredibly excited for this Sunday! I just graduated law school last week and have my graduation party this Sunday.
Only two of my friends have seen me since I had the surgery (and they're the same 2/4 who know I had the surgery), but they saw me at the beginning of April when I'd lost only 30 pounds. I've lost another 30 since then!
None of my other friends and non-immediate family have seen me. I was a size 18/20 in August. I'm now a size 10 across the board.
Not to mention a former co-worker I've had a MASSIVE crush on for the last two years is going to see me SIXTY POUNDS lighter than the last time we grabbed drinks.
I've been making short term goals to keep motivated. I wanted to be in the 170s when I went to this convention in Philly (and did it!) and then wanted to break 169.9 for my graduation party. I'm at 170.2 today.
I know this post doesn't have much point to it, but I just had to Celebrate this with my sleever family.

Thank you everyone for the well wishes! Here's a before and after.

I'm so incredibly excited for this Sunday! I just graduated law school last week and have my graduation party this Sunday.
Only two of my friends have seen me since I had the surgery (and they're the same 2/4 who know I had the surgery), but they saw me at the beginning of April when I'd lost only 30 pounds. I've lost another 30 since then!
None of my other friends and non-immediate family have seen me. I was a size 18/20 in August. I'm now a size 10 across the board.
Not to mention a former co-worker I've had a MASSIVE crush on for the last two years is going to see me SIXTY POUNDS lighter than the last time we grabbed drinks.
I've been making short term goals to keep motivated. I wanted to be in the 170s when I went to this convention in Philly (and did it!) and then wanted to break 169.9 for my graduation party. I'm at 170.2 today.
I know this post doesn't have much point to it, but I just had to Celebrate this with my sleever family.

I'm so incredibly excited for this Sunday! I just graduated law school last week and have my graduation party this Sunday.
Only two of my friends have seen me since I had the surgery (and they're the same 2/4 who know I had the surgery), but they saw me at the beginning of April when I'd lost only 30 pounds. I've lost another 30 since then!
None of my other friends and non-immediate family have seen me. I was a size 18/20 in August. I'm now a size 10 across the board.
Not to mention a former co-worker I've had a MASSIVE crush on for the last two years is going to see me SIXTY POUNDS lighter than the last time we grabbed drinks.
I've been making short term goals to keep motivated. I wanted to be in the 170s when I went to this convention in Philly (and did it!) and then wanted to break 169.9 for my graduation party. I'm at 170.2 today.
I know this post doesn't have much point to it, but I just had to Celebrate this with my sleever family.

I'm so incredibly excited for this Sunday! I just graduated law school last week and have my graduation party this Sunday.
Only two of my friends have seen me since I had the surgery (and they're the same 2/4 who know I had the surgery), but they saw me at the beginning of April when I'd lost only 30 pounds. I've lost another 30 since then!
None of my other friends and non-immediate family have seen me. I was a size 18/20 in August. I'm now a size 10 across the board.
Not to mention a former co-worker I've had a MASSIVE crush on for the last two years is going to see me SIXTY POUNDS lighter than the last time we grabbed drinks.
I've been making short term goals to keep motivated. I wanted to be in the 170s when I went to this convention in Philly (and did it!) and then wanted to break 169.9 for my graduation party. I'm at 170.2 today.
I know this post doesn't have much point to it, but I just had to Celebrate this with my sleever family.

I'm so incredibly excited for this Sunday! I just graduated law school last week and have my graduation party this Sunday.
Only two of my friends have seen me since I had the surgery (and they're the same 2/4 who know I had the surgery), but they saw me at the beginning of April when I'd lost only 30 pounds. I've lost another 30 since then!
None of my other friends and non-immediate family have seen me. I was a size 18/20 in August. I'm now a size 10 across the board.
Not to mention a former co-worker I've had a MASSIVE crush on for the last two years is going to see me SIXTY POUNDS lighter than the last time we grabbed drinks.
I've been making short term goals to keep motivated. I wanted to be in the 170s when I went to this convention in Philly (and did it!) and then wanted to break 169.9 for my graduation party. I'm at 170.2 today.
I know this post doesn't have much point to it, but I just had to Celebrate this with my sleever family.

I'm so incredibly excited for this Sunday! I just graduated law school last week and have my graduation party this Sunday.
Only two of my friends have seen me since I had the surgery (and they're the same 2/4 who know I had the surgery), but they saw me at the beginning of April when I'd lost only 30 pounds. I've lost another 30 since then!
None of my other friends and non-immediate family have seen me. I was a size 18/20 in August. I'm now a size 10 across the board.
Not to mention a former co-worker I've had a MASSIVE crush on for the last two years is going to see me SIXTY POUNDS lighter than the last time we grabbed drinks.
I've been making short term goals to keep motivated. I wanted to be in the 170s when I went to this convention in Philly (and did it!) and then wanted to break 169.9 for my graduation party. I'm at 170.2 today.
I know this post doesn't have much point to it, but I just had to Celebrate this with my sleever family.

I'm so incredibly excited for this Sunday! I just graduated law school last week and have my graduation party this Sunday.
Only two of my friends have seen me since I had the surgery (and they're the same 2/4 who know I had the surgery), but they saw me at the beginning of April when I'd lost only 30 pounds. I've lost another 30 since then!
None of my other friends and non-immediate family have seen me. I was a size 18/20 in August. I'm now a size 10 across the board.
Not to mention a former co-worker I've had a MASSIVE crush on for the last two years is going to see me SIXTY POUNDS lighter than the last time we grabbed drinks.
I've been making short term goals to keep motivated. I wanted to be in the 170s when I went to this convention in Philly (and did it!) and then wanted to break 169.9 for my graduation party. I'm at 170.2 today.
I know this post doesn't have much point to it, but I just had to Celebrate this with my sleever family.

I'm so incredibly excited for this Sunday! I just graduated law school last week and have my graduation party this Sunday.
Only two of my friends have seen me since I had the surgery (and they're the same 2/4 who know I had the surgery), but they saw me at the beginning of April when I'd lost only 30 pounds. I've lost another 30 since then!
None of my other friends and non-immediate family have seen me. I was a size 18/20 in August. I'm now a size 10 across the board.
Not to mention a former co-worker I've had a MASSIVE crush on for the last two years is going to see me SIXTY POUNDS lighter than the last time we grabbed drinks.
I've been making short term goals to keep motivated. I wanted to be in the 170s when I went to this convention in Philly (and did it!) and then wanted to break 169.9 for my graduation party. I'm at 170.2 today.
I know this post doesn't have much point to it, but I just had to Celebrate this with my sleever family.

I'm so incredibly excited for this Sunday! I just graduated law school last week and have my graduation party this Sunday.
Only two of my friends have seen me since I had the surgery (and they're the same 2/4 who know I had the surgery), but they saw me at the beginning of April when I'd lost only 30 pounds. I've lost another 30 since then!
None of my other friends and non-immediate family have seen me. I was a size 18/20 in August. I'm now a size 10 across the board.
Not to mention a former co-worker I've had a MASSIVE crush on for the last two years is going to see me SIXTY POUNDS lighter than the last time we grabbed drinks.
I've been making short term goals to keep motivated. I wanted to be in the 170s when I went to this convention in Philly (and did it!) and then wanted to break 169.9 for my graduation party. I'm at 170.2 today.
I know this post doesn't have much point to it, but I just had to Celebrate this with my sleever family.

I'm so incredibly excited for this Sunday! I just graduated law school last week and have my graduation party this Sunday.
Only two of my friends have seen me since I had the surgery (and they're the same 2/4 who know I had the surgery), but they saw me at the beginning of April when I'd lost only 30 pounds. I've lost another 30 since then!
None of my other friends and non-immediate family have seen me. I was a size 18/20 in August. I'm now a size 10 across the board.
Not to mention a former co-worker I've had a MASSIVE crush on for the last two years is going to see me SIXTY POUNDS lighter than the last time we grabbed drinks.
I've been making short term goals to keep motivated. I wanted to be in the 170s when I went to this convention in Philly (and did it!) and then wanted to break 169.9 for my graduation party. I'm at 170.2 today.
I know this post doesn't have much point to it, but I just had to Celebrate this with my sleever family.

I'm so incredibly excited for this Sunday! I just graduated law school last week and have my graduation party this Sunday.
Only two of my friends have seen me since I had the surgery (and they're the same 2/4 who know I had the surgery), but they saw me at the beginning of April when I'd lost only 30 pounds. I've lost another 30 since then!
None of my other friends and non-immediate family have seen me. I was a size 18/20 in August. I'm now a size 10 across the board.
Not to mention a former co-worker I've had a MASSIVE crush on for the last two years is going to see me SIXTY POUNDS lighter than the last time we grabbed drinks.
I've been making short term goals to keep motivated. I wanted to be in the 170s when I went to this convention in Philly (and did it!) and then wanted to break 169.9 for my graduation party. I'm at 170.2 today.
I know this post doesn't have much point to it, but I just had to Celebrate this with my sleever family.

I'm so incredibly excited for this Sunday! I just graduated law school last week and have my graduation party this Sunday.
Only two of my friends have seen me since I had the surgery (and they're the same 2/4 who know I had the surgery), but they saw me at the beginning of April when I'd lost only 30 pounds. I've lost another 30 since then!
None of my other friends and non-immediate family have seen me. I was a size 18/20 in August. I'm now a size 10 across the board.
Not to mention a former co-worker I've had a MASSIVE crush on for the last two years is going to see me SIXTY POUNDS lighter than the last time we grabbed drinks.
I've been making short term goals to keep motivated. I wanted to be in the 170s when I went to this convention in Philly (and did it!) and then wanted to break 169.9 for my graduation party. I'm at 170.2 today.
I know this post doesn't have much point to it, but I just had to Celebrate this with my sleever family.

I'm so incredibly excited for this Sunday! I just graduated law school last week and have my graduation party this Sunday.
Only two of my friends have seen me since I had the surgery (and they're the same 2/4 who know I had the surgery), but they saw me at the beginning of April when I'd lost only 30 pounds. I've lost another 30 since then!
None of my other friends and non-immediate family have seen me. I was a size 18/20 in August. I'm now a size 10 across the board.
Not to mention a former co-worker I've had a MASSIVE crush on for the last two years is going to see me SIXTY POUNDS lighter than the last time we grabbed drinks.
I've been making short term goals to keep motivated. I wanted to be in the 170s when I went to this convention in Philly (and did it!) and then wanted to break 169.9 for my graduation party. I'm at 170.2 today.
I know this post doesn't have much point to it, but I just had to Celebrate this with my sleever family.

I'm so incredibly excited for this Sunday! I just graduated law school last week and have my graduation party this Sunday.
Only two of my friends have seen me since I had the surgery (and they're the same 2/4 who know I had the surgery), but they saw me at the beginning of April when I'd lost only 30 pounds. I've lost another 30 since then!
None of my other friends and non-immediate family have seen me. I was a size 18/20 in August. I'm now a size 10 across the board.
Not to mention a former co-worker I've had a MASSIVE crush on for the last two years is going to see me SIXTY POUNDS lighter than the last time we grabbed drinks.
I've been making short term goals to keep motivated. I wanted to be in the 170s when I went to this convention in Philly (and did it!) and then wanted to break 169.9 for my graduation party. I'm at 170.2 today.
I know this post doesn't have much point to it, but I just had to Celebrate this with my sleever family.

I was concerned about something similar and what my doctor told me is that they send the BMI measurement from your FIRST visit, when it's at its highest, to the insurance company. I would double check with your surgeon to know for sure.

I entirely agree with everything above. I'm exactly four months post-op today and can honestly say that the 95% mark has resulted in not just weight loss, but a generally happier outlook.
Yes, certain things make me terribly sick. I know that I can't really eat a burger (sans bun, just a patty) at a diner or bar and grill-type restaurant because the amount of grease in them make me sick. I made the mistake of taking a few bites of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream that my sister offered me and the dough made me sick, too.
However, I have learned that having two tablespoons of white rice with my chicken and broccoli will not kill me or sabotage my weight loss, nor will eating a few french fries when I'm out to dinner with my family. Those were not the habits that got me here. It was the huge basket of fries with my BBQ burger and a brownie for dessert. It was the pork fried rice I ate with sesame chicken.
My point is that sometimes, it's okay to indulge just a bit, so long as it's only a couple of bites once in a while and you're not reverting to bad habits. I find it makes me feel like I'm not deprived of all things and while that might seem silly emotionally, it's why all those strict no carb diets failed for me. I felt so deprived that I binged.
If you can stay on board with your nutrition 95% of the time, you'll do just fine. You'll be happy and healthy. Both mentally and physically.
BUT what everyone else says is also true. Don't use the pre-op nutritional period as a time to binge because you know this surgery is down the pipeline. Make your lifestyle changes now, maybe treat yourself to one splurge meal once or twice a month, and know that this is your life from now on.