Alcohol! Alcohol! Alcohol!

[SmilingBeauty 223]

I am only 8 weeks out from surgery BUT I am so sick and tired of seeing posts (I have stopped reading them) about "when can I have alcohol?". For me, this is the farthest thing from my mind. I have yet to hit my calorie goal of 700 and some days don't get all of my Protein and Water in. So it baffles me that people so early out are worried about the alcohol.

I do realize that this is a public forum and everyone has their right to post whatever topic they choose.

It certainly seems like there have been a ton of them this week.

Now I will get over it.

[SlimJill 291]

I also have no desire to drink right now... but I think most people are asking questions because drinking alcohol is huge part of most people's social lives... and we shouldn't judge people for wanting to have a social life and manage drinking in a effective way (i.e. asking for advice)...

I haven't seen any one running around saying "I want to get plastered and drink everyday!" So I don't find it that big of a deal. People are going to determine their own success.

Personally I won't drink until I'm at least 6 months out, and that will probably be 1 drink for 21st birthday... And then I probably won't have another one for a while. And I surely hope people don't judge me for asking the question when I do...

[Stevehud 1,790]

Ill say this, people always look for permission from outside sources to resume the behavior that got them to the point they needed this surgery. It is kind of heartbreaking. People who drink a lot of beer , want to go back to drinking a lot of beer.

People who drank alot of wine, want to go back to drinking wine, people who ate a lot, want to..well you get the picture. We look for validation in our bad habits. We want to know how many bad things we can "get away with", and still lose weight.

Now of course some people can drink wine and beer in moderation , after they hit maintenance and will have no il effects. ,But for many doing bad things and expecting good results, is the cornerstone of failure. The difference is in what the term " moderation" means in your specific case and how that will work for you.

[OneDollarBill 371]

I rarely drank before WLS, but I have had a few drinks post WLS too. One or two drinks aren't going to throw me off plan. I was at after work function or as I call it "mandatory fun" on Wednesday night and had 2 jack and cokes in the 2.5 hour period i was there.

The funny thing is I actually tracked it in MyFitnessPal

[SkinnyDown 409]

@@Stevehud Well said!

[DavidK 19]

For me it just works itself out if I stick to my calorie goals. The first night that I was "allowed" to drink according to my nutritional guide, I had two drinks (which worked out to about 200 cal). I got a buzz but then I was hungry with no calories left for the day, which made for a miserable evening. Worse yet the alcohol definitely seemed to make my hunger worse. To avoid being hungry I need to plan my entire days intake around those two drinks in the evening, and its just not worth the hassle, so I rarely drink at all anymore.

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

I'm drinking a glass of chardonnay right now.

[LipstickLady 25,682]

I'm drinking a glass of chardonnay right now.

I'm about to open a Stella.

[craigcu 96]

interesting post, and I applaud StephenHud forhis answer. It comes down to calories for me. I have never been a big drinker, occasional glass of scoth in a month, but thats about it. When I get maintenance mode, then I 'll consider reintroducing alcohol, but right now, its not part of the plan, so fizzy Water makes me look cool....

[YNVTish 1]

I think the drinkers are worried and those that don't indulge very much think it's dumb to be concerned about alcohol with such a serious and extreme surgery. I think you should be concerned about everything and ask but alcohol concerns are just as dumb as I can't give up my straw comments.

[LipstickLady 25,682]

I've been drinking out of a straw since day 1. I'm intelligent/coordinated enough not to suck air in when I drink.

[SmilingBeauty 223]

My post was not to condemn those who drink. To each their own. I am sure that at some point in time I will indulge in a cocktail or two or three.

This was an issue that irritated me last week. As I have stated in previous posts, I attempt to reflect on things to see if this was truly about the "alcohol" or something deeper.

I realize now that it was both and neither. As I'm nearing the anniversary of my father's death, who battled addiction the majority of his life, I know what alcohol can personally do to a family. I also read those statements thinking, "Will this turn into a hate the vets post" after one responds. My other thoughts came from wanting everyone to be fully successful on this journey.

I also drink from a straw and have since day 1. It was becuase of this site and another one that I belong to where vets said it was ok.

Clearly last week was an emotional one, here's hoping for a less emotional week! LOL

[Sherrischeffler 74]

I decided to give up alcohol 2 1/2yrs ago which was when i started the process, until this day i have no desire to drink alcohol . Im a much happier person w / no alchol & wilk continue this way, but i was a serious drinker before surgery process..

[Dub 10,022]

Ill say this, people always look for permission from outside sources to resume the behavior that got them to the point they needed this surgery. It is kind of heartbreaking. People who drink a lot of beer , want to go back to drinking a lot of beer.

People who drank alot of wine, want to go back to drinking wine, people who ate a lot, want to..well you get the picture. We look for validation in our bad habits. We want to know how many bad things we can "get away with", and still lose weight.

Now of course some people can drink wine and beer in moderation , after they hit maintenance and will have no il effects. ,But for many doing bad things and expecting good results, is the cornerstone of failure. The difference is in what the term " moderation" means in your specific case and how that will work for you.

Preach on, brother, preach on.

Very well stated.

Only idiots want to keep on idioting.

^^^^^^ I'm referring to those of us way away from reaching and maintaining our goal weight.....not folks that have reached their goals and are ongoing with the lifestyle they worked hard for. I'm far from being able to consider adding a drink or two back into my life. It will be a great 24 month anniversary celebration....a really nice cold draft or a rum drink. Long time from now.

My surgery date isn't firmed up.....but shooting for late December 2015 or early January 2016. Depends completely on the insurance approval timing.

I knew leading up to this that If I was going to consider using surgery as a weight loss tool then I'd damn well better do a lot on my own first. It didn't take a genius to figure out that alcohol and alcohol related calories were killing me in more ways than one. 12 pack of light beer knocked off while grilling.....more beer and tequila shots later on. Typical football game weekends.

I had my last alcohol in April 2015.....figuring if I can't at least start with that then I was a fool to proceed with surgery.

I fully agree with slb202's post. Let's face it.....many of us have been lazy and undisciplined for so long we have let that become who we are and are comfortable with it. I've got no desire to remain in that camp.

I can better see now how WLS patients experience elevated divorce rates. Many go on to change and take on an active lifestyle that involves exercise and movement......they aren't interested in sitting around or gong to all-you-can-eat buffets with their spouses who have no desire to change.

Only idiots want to keep on idioting.

Edited August 5, 2015 by Dub