Don't want to sound like I'm an alcOholic or anything, but at times I enjoy a glass of red wine. I'm 2 weeks post op, have a bridal shower I'm hosting on April 1st and was wondering of its ok to drink? I totally forgot to ask the doctor. And if so has anyone had any issues with drinking? I know it's empty calories...

Hi all

This is giving me a whole new enthusiasm for my liquid diet!!! throwing away the cookbook and grabbing the cocktail menu!!

Yayyyyyyyyyyyyyy

Sarah

I was banded on 3/13 and the doc said I could drink again if I wanted to. Went away with friends this weekend and while everyone else had what felt like about a million drinks over the course of the day and night I only had 4 and usually it would have taken me alot to get the effects but I was very content with the 4 drinks I had but just be careful and drink lots of water I was very dehydrated the next day !

Alcohol isn't supposed to BE your liquid diet. And four glasses of alcohol contains about a days worth of calories.

I think she was joking about only drinking alcohol! lol. And depending what type of alcohol you're drinking, yes it could but 4 shots is about 400 calories. You just have to be smart about it!

Yeah and sure that was a good joke. Stick to straight shots, anything clear only 90 calories and crystal light. And yes lots of lots of water

I'm not worried about counting calories for glass of wine even if they are empty calories ...considering be rediculous amount of calories I have already given up . like all the burgers and fries and pasta and pizza . so trust me ....I've made my sacrifice ....I feel no guilt as I drink my wine ....and I'm still dropping the pounds every morning when I get on the scale !

I think she was joking about only drinking alcohol! lol. And depending what type of alcohol you're drinking, yes it could but 4 shots is about 400 calories. You just have to be smart about it!

HIC!!

Well after those 4 glasses iv still lost 30 lbs since my surgery not even a month ago so I'm happy. Im not going to change my whole life because Of this band . I eat healthy and work out like I should but seeing as how I'm 22 years old drinking is somethig me and my friends do and iv adapted in the choices Iv made while drinking .

You're not going to change your life because of the band? Why did you get it? The band requires change. It's good that you've lost weight but the fact that you don't want to make lifestyle changes is going to set you up for failure in the future.

I can say from almost a year and half of being banded and 90 lbs lost that drinking alcohol has not held me back. But again your experience may be different and you need to tell your Dr. The reason I got the lapband was to make some positive lifestyle changes but I also enjoy going out with my friends, having a couple drinks or shots. I got the band so I could live the life I wanted to and that does include some alcohol. Plus they did a study in britian that found that women who drink 3 to 4 a week are actually healthier than those who don't. It was a 20 year study. Again you should have this conversation with your surgeon.

Consuming all your daily calories in alcohol is NOT healthy. Keep talking but I'll never believe otherwise.

You're not going to change your life because of the band? Why did you get it? The band requires change. It's good that you've lost weight but the fact that you don't want to make lifestyle changes is going to set you up for failure in the future.

Does it have to be an all or nothing thing... Making lifestyle changes doesn't necessarily mean becoming a nun... :-)

I definitely DON'T think it has to be an all or nothing thing. BUT, alcohol should not be a major player in your diet. One, it's empty calories. Two, it dehydrates you. If you're newly banded alcohol is a blood thinner and can put you at jeopardy in the healing process. And there are many reasons more not to drink in excess. Sure, ONE drink or two a week isn't going to kill you but really, we should be focusing on how to get our REAL nutrition in and not what we can leave out so we can have those four shots today. Truly, do you REALLY need to drink alcohol on a daily basis? Supposedly we all did this to have a healthier life. So what if you eat a salad and then drink a bunch of alcohol. That doesn't make your life all that healthier. Common sense. If you're leaving out food to drink a bunch of alcohol, REGARDLESS OF THE HEALTHY FOOD YOU EAT, you are not really healthy.

I've heard many experienced lap band patients say that the day after drinking leaves them very restricted, tight, and sore. Is it worth it? I guess to some who absolutely can't live without it. I find it very disappointing to read people responding with "Drink clear liquor and have shots. You can drink more liquor that way." Is that the advice we're giving to other band people? How to "cheat" the system? Honestly this disgusts me.

I drink on occasion. I have no problem with drinking. But you know what? Reaching my goal weight is so much more important that looking cool with my friends or partying or anything else. I'll be thin and happy. Even without booze.

I would never consume my daily calories in alcohol. But I want to enjoy my life. I also tend to work out longer on days I do to make up for it. And yes I even log every drink I take in myfitnesspal. Yes I consume alcohol and yes I eat ice cream, well delicious frozen yogurt sometimes. Everything in moderation, that was always the problem I had before the band and it has helped make amazing changes to the way I choose to live my life.

Ducker... You sound like a friend of mine who's a recovering alcoholic. Lighten up dude.