SparkPoints: (25,862)
Fitness Minutes: (27,868)
Posts: 5,290
1/29/12 5:18 P

Too much alcoholism in my family. I do occassionally use a little in cooking but only once or twice a year. Not worth the risk for me.

cindy

current weight: 176.0

228 206 184 162

140

Posts: 7,116
1/29/12 10:42 A

Wine is a big no, no for me unless I am eating protein with it. I avoid alcohol because of an article that I read here right on SP.

Read the part about alcohol being metabolized differently...that's what keeps me away from it.

www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_art
icles.asp?id=563

Posts: 140
1/26/12 4:23 P

W, congratulations!! I know exactly how hard it can be. I too had an issue after surgery and overestimated my ability to consume alcohol - it was an awful period in my life and I've come to terms with my issues and can now drink in small amounts. I'm EXTREMELY careful now and don't drink liquor at all - only beer & wine in limited amounts.

Edited by: BONNIEELLEN571 at: 1/26/2012 (16:44)

current weight: 240.5

325 283.75 242.5 201.25

160

SparkPoints: (25,862)
Fitness Minutes: (27,868)
Posts: 5,290
1/26/12 12:12 A

W, I am so glad that you have addressed the problem head on and made the changes necesary for you to be successful. I wish you good luck and success and congratulations on 10 months sobriety. That is an awesome accomplishment with or without surgery!

cindy

current weight: 176.0

228 206 184 162

140

Posts: 38
1/25/12 6:13 A

I strongly wish that I had NEVER had that first drink after my surgery. My food addiction turned into Alcoholism. I had my first drink about 5 years ago after surgery, struggled with my drinking for a year and then sought treatment. I was sober for 2 years after treatment then I began to become a chronic relapser for another year. I finally had to change my life drastically to get away from the temptations and old habits that I had. I am now living in a different state and have been sober for 10 months. Maybe you will be different. But I don't think that anyone should risk transferring one addiction for another. Drinking is just not worth the risks. It pretty much destroyed my life for a long time.

SparkPoints: (15,361)
Fitness Minutes: (4,942)
Posts: 227
12/20/11 2:40 P

I haven't had my surgery yet, but I have thought about my alcohol consumption because you are asked so much about it pre-op. I am not much of a drinker now and the rare occasion I do drink it is a bloody mary which can easily be enjoyed without the alcohol ( I do this more often than with the alcohol) . I don't think it will be that much of a change in my life.

current weight: 212.0

350 303.75 257.5 211.25

165

Posts: 1,020
12/18/11 1:30 P

I drank socially before the surgery and have drank socially after the surgery. We went to a Christmas party last night and half way through my first beer I looked at my hubby and said, holy smokes I need to eat now! *LOL* We kind of laugh as I'm a 'cheap date' now. My father struggled with alcoholism right up to his early death at 48 yrs old. I have always watched this in myself for fear of doing the same. Fortunately, I don't have a problem and have never had a problem with alcohol -- but I do and have always had the food addiction.

With that said - I think alcohol in a social atmosphere is acceptable for WLS folks and attainable when you are concious of how much you are drinking and watchful of any signs of dumping. Just because you have had WLS, doesn't mean you can never have a social drink again - it just means you need to be aware that it can 'hit' you fast and depending on what type of drink you have, it could pack on a lot of unwanted calories.

Cheers!
Sunny

Posts: 263
12/18/11 9:26 A

I didn't drink before and do not plan to drink now. It is not worth it. I have a girlfriend who had surgery less than three weeks ago and had a drink. She still can't figure out why she is so sick now.
Don't do it! Wait the 6 months to a year as you were instructed.

Pounds lost: 145.0

0 38.75 77.5 116.25

155

Posts: 84
12/18/11 9:01 A

CINDY-K I could not agree with you more! Excellent post!

Pounds lost: 173.0

0 45 90 135

180

Posts: 949
12/18/11 7:22 A

My Grandfather was an alcoholic and I remember him falling down at my feet when I was a child in a drunken state. I was so afraid he had died. I just remember crying and being so frightened. I have never had a drink on any kind and never will.

Posts: 86
12/18/11 1:53 A

I don't drink. At all. Personal choice and a bit of a long story.
That being said, I *did* have a glass of wine with dinner last January when I was visiting a friend in San Francisco and it made me dump within minutes. I don't think I even finished the glass. It was a nasty, nasty experience and I will never drink again.

current weight: 224.4

292 259 226 193

160

SparkPoints: (25,862)
Fitness Minutes: (27,868)
Posts: 5,290
12/17/11 11:50 P

Now that Christmas is almost here there are many holiday gatherings and parties.
How do you feel about alcohol after Gastric Bypass Surgery?

At recent weight loss conferences speakers cautioned us attendees to avoid alcohol. Here are some of the reasons they advised us to avoid it. 1) It is concentrated sugar and therefore can cause us to dump or gain weight 2) It only takes 18 seconds for gastric bypass patients to have the alcohol go through our pouch and hit our blood stream (so we can get drunk with a couple of sips much less than one drink) 3) Some gastric bypass patients transfer their addiction personality from food to another addiction like alcohol or exercise. even though they never had a problem with alcohol before they can become alcoholics! It is called transfer additction

Here is my response: Alcoholism runs in my family. I know that my obesity had a component of an addictive personality (I am a food addict). That is why I plan to go to a counselor next year. I need help to deal with my addictive personality so that I can be successful at weight loss. For me I take this caution seriously and choose not to drink alcohol. I will still occassionally use a little wine or beer in cooking but that is usually only once or twice a year. I will stick to water or coffee at my holiday gatherings!


What do you think about Alcohol and you after WLS?
cindy

current weight: 176.0

228 206 184 162

140