I'm a 21 year old male college student and have been struggling with my weight for a long time now and am seriously considering the lap band. My biggest concern is how to deal with the eating and drinking changes I'll have to make while still being a college student. In the past 2 years I have cut my drinking down a lot, let me just say that where I live, drinking every Friday and Saturday night is the norm from about junior year of high school on. I have cut back my drinking a lot; senior year of high school I could down a case of beer every night I drank and now I usually have a 12 pack when I go out. I know that I am going to have to make some huge changes and DRAMATICALLY cut back on my drinking if I go ahead with the lap band. I wanted to know how everyone, especially the guys, has adjusted to going out and drinking after their lap bands? I have already come to terms with the fact that I won't be able to drink beer, but will hopefully be able to drink 2-4 whiskey or vodka drinks when I go to the bars with all my friends.

Hey!

So drinking is a huge sacrafice... it is something that you will be able to do in moderation. If you are planning on still drinking a lot or don't know if you will be able to make a huge cut back than I urge you to not go through with the surgery.

Lap band is a huge commitment and you have to be ready on all angles to change the way you live. That includes your eating and drinking habits. Beer and soda (at least for me) is forbidden for at least 2 months because of the carbonation. I cannot tell you how good an ice cold Mich Ultra sounds... but I can tell you how I would rather be thin and healthy than have one.

Maybe wait a few years till your out of party mode... than re-evaluate.

Either way... best of luck to you. :drool:

ok so I'm bad I probably go out drinking about once a week with friends. well before the band I could drink a TON before I felt it. now I'm the biggest light weight EVER. I normally have about 3 cran vodkas and I'm done. Eating is a little tough. I haven't told all my friends about my surgery and I think that they think I'm anorexic. They are constantly teasing me about how I can't finish anything I order. hahaha but I'm so glad I did this now instead of later.

i waited until after college to have the surgery because i was afraid of the affect it was going to have on my social life. meanwhile, my social life probably would have been better if i lost weight during college. its a double edged sword. either way though you are going to have fun and get healthy, so id say make the right decision. i had surgery and i still go out and have fun, i just dont drink like i used to (or eat, obviously). but that means no more beer bongs or chugging contests or rum and cokes.

I think BEK had it right when she said it is a huge commitment. You can't agree to do it but expect it to do the work for you. If you don't think you are 100% committed and ready to put your all into it, then wait.

Hey! I haven't been banded yet. I can tell you that as hard as given up drinking may be for you its totally worth it when it comes to your health. Alcohol has a ton of empty calories the importnat thing is that if you do get the surgery you do it for you.

Let be the old woman to chime in.

If you think you can't cut back on drinking or don't want to cut back on drinking you have a bigger problem than your weight. You might want to look at alcoholism.

I'm over shooting it I'm sure, but it's something to consider.

But like others said, you'll not be drinking beer, but a few mixed drinks and you'll be good to go.

Things to consider with the band: you can't chug anything, so you'll be sipping.

If you're sipping you won't drink as much over time.

You're tolerance will go way down shortly after surgery.

Carbonation kind of hurts so you'll only do it once or twice.

The old lady will leave now.

some people like to approach banded life with a set of rules and a ban on alcohol because of the empty calories often tops that list.

But a band is a tool to help you manage a lifestyle change that will see you reach a normal weight. And within that, I personally believe, there is room to be a normal person once in a while.

You've got to face facts - if you go out and have 3 or 4 drinks four times a week, that's going to affect or negate your weight loss. Alchohol IS empty calories and you cant down too many empty calories.

However, going out for a drink once or twice a week if you stick to 2 or 3 drinks and dont do the usual burger/hotdog/kebab thing at 2 am need not really be ap problem for a young person who is otherwise active and healthy in their habits.

Decide before you go how you're going to tackle it, some occasions are honesty not worth wasting the alcohol calories on - others, like dinner with the in-laws, you need all the help you can get!

One thing that really struck me in my decision making though was the fear of having to change habits like this. I love my cup of coffee, packet of Cookies and a good book sit ins on the couch. It was my relaxation time. I really feared what life would be like without it. then it hit me like a bolt from the blue - IF I WANTED TO BE THIN, I COULDNT EAT LIKE THAT ANYMORE, EVER AGAIN, BAND OR NO BAND. It wasnt the band I was afraid of, it was changing the habit. D'oh! So obvious. But so true.

Likewise with social drinking. The band doesnt make you stop that. But if you ever want to get thin and stay that way, something must change, no?