Hi everyone,

Just found this site and have to say it's awesome - reading the threads is great. I have my first appointment with the doctor in two days on the 25th. There are a few things I'm concerned about before I commit myself to the lapband surgery though. Can anyone tell me:

- I like to exercise a lot. Is it true gulping Water can make you throw up? What do you do when you're exercising hard and need to drink a lot?

- I'm 21 and love a couple of wines at the pub with my friends on a Saturday night. Can you still drink alcohol after the lap band??

If anyone could help me out with some answers I would really appreciate it!!

Hello, and welcome!

I have not been banded yet, so my answers are based on what I have learned from my surgeon, and other banders on here. As you get closer to restriction, and your band gets tighter, it will be harder (if not impossible) to chug Water or other liquids. As for wine, and other alcohol, I look at it this way, the lap band is for life so you have to learn how to fit it into a lifestyle that can be maintained, and although most doctors will tell you that you shouldn't comsume alcohol (liquid calories) I absolutely plan to from time to time. I'm only 24, and well my friends like to go out and have a good time, so will I comsume alcohol, absolutely! I've also heard somewhere here that the "buzz" sets on faster after banding, I assume it has something to do with less food in your stomach.

Hope this helps a little.

Good Morning!

I was banded April 29th. Your Dr. will obviously tell you not to drink alcohol for two reasons: it contains calories and you will notice the effects with considerably less ingested. Having said that, I have a glass (maybe 2) whenever I am out but make it last the night. Will probably limit it to special occasions. This band is a tool and you have to make it fit into your lifestyle while appreciating you got it for a very good reason. Now, as far as the gulping Water thing goes. You quickly learn to get the water down but not in huge mouthfuls. Just like your eating habits will change - you will chew more and take smaller bites - your water drinking will change a little as well. Just take slightly smaller amounts and swaller more frequently and you should be fine. Good luck.

I am expecting to have my band in November or December. Some of the posts scare me. It is such a drastic decision and I see that Some people say they are not losing consistently but gaining. Are they not sticking to plan? Another question - I love Pizza, can it be eaten in moderation? (1 piece?) It seems this is a no carb diet???

Thanks for your replies guys! That's really helpful. I have my first appointment tomorrow - can't wait!

I'm almost 2 months post op and have already had one fill. I can tell you from experience that you can't gulp anything, Water included; but you can get it down in 1/2 cup increments fairly close together.

The alcohol deal, sure the docs say no because of calories, but once you are done healing, it's like any other food choice.. it's a choice. I have had wine since surgery and just sipped on a glass for the evening... Your bar tab will be a lot cheaper! :smile2:

One of the blogs I follow on here of a fellow bandster in NYC drinks wine and goes to supper clubs, the whole nine and she has lost tons of weight and looks amazing so it is absolutly do-able!

Best wishes!

Heather

I have had my band for 2 years and I do still gulp water when I am really thirsty. Usually with no problems. Recently I have had a couple of times when it has came back up that is usually shortly after I have ate and gulped shortly after. As for the wine I know lots of people who still drink after the band its just reccomended not to or to take it easy because of the calories and that lots of weight loss patients will roll thier food addictions over to alchol.

I was banded a little over a month ago and haven't yet had a fill, so my answers may change once I have. I do have a bit of restriction now, though. I have had some wine and a couple martinis since I was banded. My physician's office knows this and just said to do everything in moderation. I definitely drink less than I did prior to surgery, and I am thrilled with my loss so far, so I'm going to continue to enjoy life and have a drink once in a while or even some pizza.

awhenry-- I had half a piece of thin crust pizza one evening and just ate it slowly and savored it...it went down fine, but, again, I don't have a fill. You can also consider making pizzas on whole wheat pita or a whole wheat tortilla after surgery. Again, this might not work for everyone, but if they are toasted and you chew and eat slowly, they should go down fine. I think it's thick, chewy crust that would give people problems.

Some people completely avoid carbs, and I respect that and think they are amazing, but that's not me. I am a vegetarian and see the value in whole carbs, though I haven't had any "white" carbs since surgery. So far, I'm losing more than 2 pounds a week without a fill...if that stops, I'll cut out more carbs. I think the important thing is to always make sure you get all your Protein, whether you are eating carbs or not.