I have a question. I work in NYC in the fashion industry. I am constantly invited to happy hours and social events and everyone drinks like a fish in ny. How do I handle it now when I'm invited to a happy hour that I really cant refuse like my bosses birthday or a coworkers birthday? I am really nervous about this and dont want to be rude but I wont be able to drink ever again after the sleeve correct?

I have a question. I work in NYC in the fashion industry. I am constantly invited to happy hours and social events and everyone drinks like a fish in ny. How do I handle it now when I'm invited to a happy hour that I really cant refuse like my bosses birthday or a coworkers birthday? I am really nervous about this and dont want to be rude but I wont be able to drink ever again after the sleeve correct?

This is also a concern of mine. I understand it takes sometime to have a drink and probably can't handle as much but I'm goin follow this thread because I don't know first hand but interested to know

Try to stay away from alcohol for 6 months to a year. It's hard on your already stressed liver.

Drink water and tea, and nibble on olives, cheese, nuts, fruit, etc. When in doubt, eat before you go.

As obvious as it sounds to say it... go and don't drink. If people are gonna be asses about it, you don't have to tell people you're not drinking, if you don't want. Order something virgin at the bar that looks vaguely alcoholic and sip it. I did that when I was newly pregnant but didn't want people asking questions LOL.

Or, alternatively, be open that you're not drinking because you're looking after your health. People should respect that, and if they don't that's on them! You could say you don't want to drink your calories, or say your doctor needs you to be extra careful with your liver, or or or. People quit drinking for plenty of reasons!

You don't have to avoid social situations just because you can't have alcohol, though. This is lifelong. Even if you do decide to start drinking alcohol again (which you absolutely can if you want, post sleeve, you just have to be conscious about how much you're drinking and follow your surgeon's directions on when it's safe to have a drink post-op), there will always be other situations where you will not be able to do things the way you used to, or participate the same as others do... eg going out to a restaurant you might have to order a noticeably smaller portion, or say no to the deep fried chicken wings everyone else is having on wing wednesday, etc.

We just have to find our own way to participate in these rituals that allows us to maintain connections with people and be a part of social events without compromising our right and our responsibility to care for our bodies.

Great advice, thank you so much!

Talk to your surgeon. I can drink on my plan. Since I don't have addiction issues he's ok with it. I often choose not to drink; I sip water with lime. People sometimes think it's vodka. Really though, it's just peer pressure if you think you need to drink to fit in. You definitely need to be able to rise above peer pressure to be successful after wls.