Ok, I know that alcohol contains empty calories, and it should be limited or avoided to maximize weight loss, but that being said, does anyone drink with the lap band?

A few times a year, I wind up out with my girlfriends, and we tie one on. Is that going to be something of the past, once I have my band? A friend of mine, who is going to be banded after me, thinks that the band will lower our alcohol tolerance. Is that true?

What was your experience?

You're going to get a ton of different responses in regards to this. When I went through my pre-op my dr told me that it would be okay to drink, but I would be a cheap date because my tolerance is going to drop. He said to try my first drink at home or at a safe place in case I have any adverse reactions.

I'll tell you what though, last Friday, I went out with some friends to our local casino for a birthday. I ate dinner around 7 ish I would say, and it was a total a cup of food. By the time we got to the casino it was like 11pm or so. I didn't start drinking until 1am, had three drinks and was black out drunk. Mind you I'm 6 feet tall and 288 lbs, that should be nothing. But since I didn't eat much that day it affected it. So please please please be careful with drinking! And it is empty calories but everything in moderation!

It took me 3 months to tolerate drinking margaritas, but now i go to happy hour twice a month.

can drink shot of vodka in water glass with ice/water/crystal light to fill up the difference - lowest calories that i know of for a drink - goes down fine - several of them in a night.

I drink about 2xs per month and all is fine. I haven't noticed anything different on how fast it affects me.

I have gone out drinking a few times recently and generally I do get drunk of fewer drinks, it also differs by who makes them because if you are at a place where they don't go by standard amounts you can get in trouble

After going through a Divorce I have been drinking Steady for about 3 months. I nrmally Drink Vodka Water with a Squeeze of Lemon. But I am a very cheap date! Beer Makes me have gas so I do not do that anymore!

When you eat less the alcohol will hit quicker. Also as your body weight drops it will take less alcohol before you are affected. So by all means have a drink or 2 but be very careful and make sure you do not inadvertently end up over the limit.

One of my worst experiences since having the band was when I drank too much wine at a friends. I woke up in the middle of the night with a headache and feeling like I wanted to hurl. Preband that is what i would have done - stuck my finger down my throat to speed the process up . Unfortunately vomiting post band is not so easy ( and it is not recommended either as true vomiting can cause the band to slip) so I had to suffer for far longer. Lesson learnt, I have not done it again.

I rarely drink anymore, only when I go out and I try to limit it. For me, there are several reasons:

1. I'm a cheap date now. Two glasses of wine and I am trashed.

2. Alcohol slows weight loss. I'm working too damn hard to sabotage myself.

3. Drinking lowers inhibitions and makes me crave fatty foods. After a few drinks all I want is Mexican and ice cream. And more drinks.

All in all, alcohol is something I'd rather avoid for now.

This may sound bad, but I drink often. And I don't find I get drunk THAT much quicker. Sometimes alcohol helps loosen my band if it's a bit tight and I'm having a stuck day. I usually drink once a week (a few), maybe another night a couple glasses of wine. As above, many people get drunk quicker because they aren't eating as much, so just be careful.

I am glad you asked this question too. I like to have a drink occasionally as well and was wondering how I would feel after my band. Got banded on 2/21 so I havent ventured there yet but maybe I will try a glass of wine soon and see how it goes.

I am glad you asked this question too. I like to have a drink occasionally as well and was wondering how I would feel after my band. Got banded on 2/21 so I havent ventured there yet but maybe I will try a glass of wine soon and see how it goes.

my surgeon said no alcohol for 4-6 weeks after banding. Then thereafter in moderation (which i admit i sometimes go overboard). There's something about alcohol and the healing stomach that they are concerned with. When you said you may try wine soon i just thought i'd share in case your surgeon had rules on when you could have your first "nip".

I've enjoyed some wine since surgery, but not nearly as much as before. I haven't noticed a change in my tolerance yet...I think that will affect me more as I lose weight.

The hardest part of drinking is the dumb food decisions that I make when I drink too much. So moderation is key so I don't get myself to that place of fuzzy decision making.

A lot of good posts. I drink less as I want to keep losing weight. I save it for night out with my hubby or friends. But not only I am a light weight I find that I get wicked heartburn. I can't drink red wine anymore unless I eat an 30-45 mins before. I tend to drink martini's - dangerous. I like them as I can make them low in sugar. I find when on vacation and I drink daily it tightens my band up so much I can't eat. And if I drink I need to eat and can eat to close to bed which creates brutal acid reflux. Becarefull and do not drive after having a drink. Be safe all!

I didn't drink any alcohol for the first 6 months after being banded. When I did drink those first couple times I did get drunk very fast on a very small amount. Now I drink wine or a margarita now and then. I still do feel it faster and on small amounts, but not as much as I did in the weightloss phase. Any type of carbonation causes discomfort for me.

I am an occasional drinker and I have drank like 2 times since being banded. I will say I felt the effects of the alcohol very quickly! Like halfway into the drink I was feeling pretty darn good!