I was told I can't drink for the first 6 months is this true if so why? I'm thinking about thanks giving I usually have wine and was wondering if it would be ok. also can anyone tell me their experience with alcohol after being banded thank you in advance!

I was told I can't drink for the first 6 months is this true if so why? I'm thinking about thanks giving I usually have wine and was wondering if it would be OK. also can anyone tell me their experience with alcohol after being banded thank you in advance!

You should probably speak to your doctor or nutritionist, but I've had a beer with dinner.

The only problem is that the alcohol seems to affect me a lot faster than before surgery.

Allow for the faster buzz and you'll probably be OK, and make sure to have a sober

driver.

you should go by what your doctor tells you. I have been banded just over 5 months, but I started drinking my wine at about 3.5 months after surgery. I'm enjoying a glass as I type this. I haven't had any ill effects. the one thing I would go slowly with is beer. I had a beer about a month ago and I drank it very slowly because I just wasn't sure what it would do to me and I was fine...but again, check with your doctor as we are all different.

This may not be the best advice but, I drank like 2 weeks after surgery and had no problem. Just doesn't drink anything too carbonate and only do half of a shot at a time.

Thank you all.

I was told I can't drink for the first 6 months is this true if so why? I'm thinking about thanks giving I usually have wine and was wondering if it would be ok. also can anyone tell me their experience with alcohol after being banded thank you in advance!

Hi

I was banded in June this year and for the first couple of weeks i did,nt have a drink because i did,nt fancy it, but ever since i have drunk when ever i wanted and been fine, just stay away from any think fizzy, i used to drink vodka and coke but now i have vodka with cranberry juice, yum..lol

In general my doctor says no liquid calories and alcohol is nothing but liquid calories. Really no redeeming value other than the antioxidents.

the main reason they dont want you to drink is because 1. it takes less alcohol to get you intoxicated now, so it could be dangerous since you're drinking on an almost empty stomach. 2. there is a lot of calories and carbs in these drinks, so they will slow your weight loss down, and the drinks will be stored as belly fat since alcohol turns to sugar once processed through your system. On another note, I have had several glasses of wine, and no problems. My nutrionist told me to have a glass of water after each drink, she was furious though when i told her i drank the wine so soon. Oh well, what can you do...vacation peer pressure LOL. I would be nervous about beer, doesnt that have carbination in it? my friend made me a wine spritzer with seltzer, and i drank it thinking it was just some cheap ass wine, I started foaming at the mouth...literally, and had the worst knot in my chest.

I don't remember when exactly I had my first drink after surgery...probably my birthday, which would have been about four months after my surgery. I would suggest staying away from anything carbonated, and stick to something low-cal. I found the best sugar free margarita mix...I can make an entire pitcher for 300 calories-which is all just the calories of the alcohol!

I didnt drink at all for the 1st 6 months after surgery... now I drink from time to time. I usually stick with Vodka & Cranberry when I am out. If I am at home I will have a Skinny Girl Margarita or Sangria or a Jose Cuervo Light Margarita, not too many calories or carbs in them... unless you drink alot of course . I would steer clear of anything carbonated though... so beer is out for me.

I don't remember when exactly I had my first drink after surgery...probably my birthday, which would have been about four months after my surgery. I would suggest staying away from anything carbonated, and stick to something low-cal. I found the best sugar free margarita mix...I can make an entire pitcher for 300 calories-which is all just the calories of the alcohol!

Hi, Ok, love Margarita so much. I have been banded aug 15th and have ONLY drank 3 times.. all of which I got drunk. I would lov ethat recipe please!!!! Thank you!!

This subject does come up frequently, and it usually provokes some pretty strong opinions on all sides.

I'll state the same things I have stated on this subject before:

If you are really serious about losing weight, you need to consider giving up the booze. It is NOT conducive to good health OR weight loss, regardless of what some small studies say about the occasional glass of wine.

Don't get me wrong; I always enjoyed a good blast of hootch, but NOTHING could make me feel as good as I do as a thin person.

Sure, you could have a drink occasionally; you could also have a Snickers on occasion. Or a Hot Fudge Sundae. But WHY would you want to, after everything you have been through with your weight?

It's the little decisions that we make on a moment to moment basis that impacts our health so dramatically. A shot of booze here, some cheez whiz there,....it all adds up. And you don't NEED a drink to be happy or have fun....if you DO,....well,,,,there are perhaps some other issues that you might want to address.

There are certain things you need to eat to live..... Alchohol is one of those things you do NOT need. And it can hurt you in a number of ways.

Also, consider the very real idea that after you have had one or two drinks, your will-power does tend to diminish, if not vanish entirely. This could lead to more drinks, and then the snacking that can often accompany a buzz.

Sure, you can drink. Sure, you can have that piece of pizza, that slice of cake.

But will that move you ANY closer to your goal? Nope. Will it keep you away from your goal? A little, tiny bit, yes. And will it continue to expose you to the foods that made you fat to begin with? Sure will.

A couple of you have said your Drs have said that it is OK to have a drink.. Some have said their doctors advised against consuming alcohol. You will find Drs that say both.

But….I would challenge you to ask any Dr if it would be better that you did NOT have a drink/Pizza/whatever. I can guarantee you that probably %100 would say that it would be better if you didn't.

You always have a choice. And you should always strive to make the HEALTHY choice.

S.

I don't know about you but to me if I decide to have a drink or two it doesn't mean I am going to give up on my goals. And yes I don't have to drink to be happy but I do like having a drink when I want to. My life doesn't revolve around my lap band it is only a tool and I plan to use it as such it doesn't define me... I got my band mainly for one reason and that reason wasn't to stop living. I do appreciate you opinion but it is just that your opinion. The reality is that yes I would love to lose some weight but being skinny is not my ultimate goal.

This subject does come up frequently, and it usually provokes some pretty strong opinions on all sides.

I'll state the same things I have stated on this subject before:

If you are really serious about losing weight, you need to consider giving up the booze. It is NOT conducive to good health OR weight loss, regardless of what some small studies say about the occasional glass of wine.

Don't get me wrong; I always enjoyed a good blast of hootch, but NOTHING could make me feel as good as I do as a thin person.

Sure, you could have a drink occasionally; you could also have a Snickers on occasion. Or a Hot Fudge Sundae. But WHY would you want to, after everything you have been through with your weight?

It's the little decisions that we make on a moment to moment basis that impacts our health so dramatically. A shot of booze here, some cheez whiz there,....it all adds up. And you don't NEED a drink to be happy or have fun....if you DO,....well,,,,there are perhaps some other issues that you might want to address.

There are certain things you need to eat to live..... Alchohol is one of those things you do NOT need. And it can hurt you in a number of ways.

Also, consider the very real idea that after you have had one or two drinks, your will-power does tend to diminish, if not vanish entirely. This could lead to more drinks, and then the snacking that can often accompany a buzz.

Sure, you can drink. Sure, you can have that piece of pizza, that slice of cake.

But will that move you ANY closer to your goal? Nope. Will it keep you away from your goal? A little, tiny bit, yes. And will it continue to expose you to the foods that made you fat to begin with? Sure will.

A couple of you have said your Drs have said that it is OK to have a drink.. Some have said their doctors advised against consuming alcohol. You will find Drs that say both.

But….I would challenge you to ask any Dr if it would be better that you did NOT have a drink/Pizza/whatever. I can guarantee you that probably %100 would say that it would be better if you didn't.

You always have a choice. And you should always strive to make the HEALTHY choice.

S.