When did you have your first drink?

I know they say no alcohol. But I'm looking for personal stories, not opinions please I'm going to a wedding this weekend - I know, no beer.

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So, does that mean since its not "technically" wine that i won't get drunk drinking the entire decanter? Darn....

Thanks to everyone (Well, some)! I'm only asking because I want to know what other people have done. I understand that everyone's plan is different, but I don't understand why. If your plan says alcohol after 4 weeks, why does mine say no alcohol for the rest of my life? There has to be a reason your plan says 4 weeks. So I think it's okay to veer to someone to else's plan for a second.

Cheers to that. I'm having wine at the wedding tonight.

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A couple of more thoughts to consider:

1. Why do some plans allow and others ban for life? I think there are a couple of reasons. Most high quality programs measure the results of their patients and they want good results! No doubt, you are more likely to lose and stay thin if you avoid alcohol. It's empty calories and can lead to bad choices.

2. When to drink, when not to drink, and what to eat while drinking is very complicated. In addition excessive alcohol consumption can easily lead to more excessive alcohol consumption. This makes it very difficult for NUTs and Pyschs to give us effective guidelines, so they "just say no".

3. Many obese people got there because they had an addiction disorder with food. It has been shown that people who have one addiction disorder (food, cigarettes, drugs, Etc) can easily become addicted to alcohol post wls. I know that I never had an addition to food and thus felt that I could safely manage my alcohol consumption. So far so good!

My thoughts on it.....

Absolutes like "always" and "never" are ominous and frankly pretty unrealistic when we are talking the rest of our lives.

I personally feel alcohol should be at best minimal during the weight loss phase, and you should at least allow your cut and stapled stomach to heal before imbibing.

I think once a person hits their maintenence phase, it can be incorporated occasionally in an otherwise healthy, well balanced diet of lean Proteins, fruits and veggies.

If you're doing what you're supposed to be doing 95% of the time, the occasional drink, chocolate, or piece of cake shouldn't be an issue, unless you make it one

This thread is causing me to rubberneck. Just when I am ready to look away, something new catches me.

On my doctor's plan alcohol after a month is permitted if it isn't carbonated and if the patient wasn't a heavy drinker before. The plan says nothing about Cheezits or Catholicism, however.

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This is sort of funny in a sad way. If someone wasn't a big drinker before surgery then they probably don't care one way or another. But, I bet all the heavy drinkers latch onto these guidelines and swear they weren't heavy drinkers so they can have permission to start drinking after one month.

How is this policy working out?

I have no idea. I've never been a drinker. Maybe twice a month. I'm not too keen on drinking carbs especially since I'm not a wine, beer, whiskey (etc) enthusiast. There is a big social event coming up for me next month and I may have some wine, but probably not.

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