What kind of Alcohol can we drink??

This is not the most healthy question in the world, but here goes. What kind of alcohol can we drink? Has anyone asked their doctor or attempted any yet? I know we can't drink beer because of the carbonation, but what can we drink? I've heard margarita's are ok, but what else can we drink? I had a poker party last weekend and it sucked to not only watch everyone else eating pizza and snacks, but also drinking all night while I sat there with crystal light! Chris S.

It seems that most people are told not to drink alchohol for be tween six months and a year -until the rapid weigh loss stops because weighloss stresses the liver. Jan B

Chris, I was told absolutely no alcohol for the first year at least. Due to the absorption to the liver, it is very dangerous. Be careful. Enjoy your crystal light and be happy about getting healthy! Good luck and take care! Bethdale 281/247/?

Hey Chris--I actually just asked my doctor that questions yesterday at my 1 month check-up. They said that I need to wait at least 6 months before any alcohol. At that point, they said to only drink wine (and half a glass should knock us off our feet--what cheap dates we all will become!!!). They said a year before any hard alcohol due to the damage of the liver. I know it sucks, but just think of all the calories (and money!!) we are saving! Keep up the good work! We will make it through! --Courtney

Word I got from both my surgeon and my nutritionist is no alcohol for a year.

I'm gonna have to say ask your surgeon, I've heard a million different things from different people about when we can have alcohol, anywhere from 3 months post-op to never again. I plan on asking my surgeon at my next check-up (3 months). *In Theory* we should treat alcohol the way low-carbers do (avoiding sugar) therefore wine and hard liquor would be the way to go, liquors would need to be mixed with sugar-free mixers or diluted fruit juices. However, alcohol is still chemically made from sugar so we must be careful as it will hit our systems VERY QUICKLY and hard, and if not careful it can bring on anything from diarrhea to coma and/or death if not handled properly. We will also become much more intoxicated. (yet the buzz won't last as long, which makes things dangerous) Our livers are also working overtime during the period of active weight loss, flushing the fat out of our systems, so drinking would be an extra strain on our bodies. Not to mention that alcohol is empty calories that we don't need when we're trying to lose weight. I don't plan on being a tee-totaler for the rest of my life, but everything I've read has made me cautious, I plan on handling alcohol much more carefully once I'm cleared by my surgeon to have it again. Only small doses, occasionally. ****tails made with sugar-free mixers at home, or a glass of wine if the occasion is out somewhere and I'm not driving. Here is a very good article on the topic: http://www.beyondchange-obesity.com/obResearch/precautionsUsingAlcohol.html

Hi, don't know if you were diabetic, but I am, and was told never alcohol so I personally will still abide by my diabetic days...You know the low sugar bit and all. I feel it's still great for this wls as well. Think about it and good luck to you. Deborah W.

Since alcohol is pure carbohydrates and converts directly to sugar, it's not a good idea to have any until you've lost the weight. Our nutrition folks say 1 year, and even then, be very careful due to the effect of the weight loss and the increased protein intake on the liver.

My surgeon's office has only lost two people to WLS, and they both died because they killed there liver by drinking after WLS within the first year. Granted they were drinking a lot, but it doesn't take much to get us drunk. I know a guy who gets drunk after 2 beers. Our livers are only able to handle so much and we are pretty much working it overtime with the weight lose, so stay away from the liquor till your surgeon says ok. It just isn't worth it to go through this surgery and then damage ourselves with alchol. Remember we didn't get fat overnight it took time. And it is going to take time to lose the weight. What is one year when we have the rest of our healthy life to live.

Okay, ask yourself if it is really worth it to drink something you shouldn't be drinking. This surgery helped us be able to eat small, but it didn't do anything to our minds. We have to retrain our minds to know that food and drinks do not make us happy or have a better time with our friends. Don't let old habits creep back in. You are doing such a great job so far! Kudos on not caving in to pizza and drinks at the party. You know you can have baked chips, corn tortilla chips, pretzels and crackers (saltines or cheez its) to munch on if you want soemthing to crunch. That helps me. Just chew it well and eat slow. Keep up the good work and please steer clear of the alcohol. We are all in this together. You aren't alone!!