does anyone have any suggestions for alcoholic beverages?

hello my name is trish haven't posted for a while 6 months post op gastric bypass, doing incredibly well. just had my 26th birthday on june 27th and would like to have a alcoholic beverage.  i realize we can't have anything carbonated or that if you drink a lot there's a chance u will be very sick.  i just wanted something that i could sip on and enjoy nothing too strong. anyone post op who has enjoyed a drink or 2 please let me know of some suggestions. can u please email me at sweetazpie627@ aol.com with suggestions. and also post for everyone else, im sure there's somebody out there with the same ? thanx for any suggestions.

Hello Trish, and Happy Birthday. After doing some research to back up my opinions on the alcohol issue, I have this to say. For us, 1 drink = 2.  Because of the bypassed intestine, the enzyme that breaks down alcohol is no longer present, which means we get drunk faster and stay drunk longer.  It's toxic effects on our brains and organs is doubled, it interferes with the absorption of vitamins and minerals, and causes our blood glucose levels to drop significantly.  Another risk of alcohol consumption is "addiction transfer."  We already suffer from addiction to food, and can very easily transfer that addiction to other substances after weight loss surgery. Why bother?  Why jeopardize everything you have accomplished just to have a drink?  Why risk addiction transfer?  I hope I don't sound too harsh but I am just so passionate about having been given a second chance at life, and I hate it when people try going back to their old habits that made them sick in the first place, and then want to know why it isn't working for them.   Have a happy birthday celebration, whatever you decide to do. KathyG.

Trish, WLS for me was my 2nd chance also. I haven't had anything to drink for 3 1/2 yrs. If  I am with others I will get a virgin drink. Without alcohol that is. I take a couple sips and find its too sweet now.  I don't want to trade addictions either.  I'm sure you already know that our behavior is to be addictive. My new addiction is exercise.  I really never enjoyed alcohol anyway, although I used to smoke. When I gave it up I replaced it with eating. Thus 400 lbs later I don't want to start in on bad habits anymore. Enjoy your birthday without any alcohol. It can still be special without embibing. Elissa

Happy Birthday Trish and congrats on doing so well with your surgery.  Everything I have read strongly suggests that it is wise not to use alcohol at least for the first post op year.  I think it sage advice however should you ever decide to so (regardless of your time post op) to have someone with you that you would trust your life with, as they may very well be speaking on your behalf.  There are never any guarantees with how our bodies will process it. To add insult to injury, for some of us, just because something works one day does not mean it will work the next.   Please be careful.  If you are interested, here is the latest article I have read regarding alcohol and weight loss surgery.  I found it very informative.  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19296700/ Wishing you the best!

Hijack.

Gosh I miss you!  Good to see your advice still floating around the board!  Miss the red bikini!  Wish things weren't so hard for me now. 

Hugs and Fleece Blankets

Debbie

(((Debbie))) Hey there sweetie .. good to see you also!!!  I am so out of touch, sorry, but I don't know what you are talking about ("hard right now")? What in the world is going on?

Life is moving along.  Sometimes too fast.  I can't figure out how to get back to that slow pace of things.  Eating is too fast, work is the same, and school too.  I can't understand how I did so well the first year and here I am third year and I can't get back there.  I have a gain which is bothering me a lot.  We have crept up 20 lbs.  Different things I eat don't agree with me anymore.  I do have to make an appt but I want to try and contain me first.  I have gotten to the point again with doing for others before me.  It isn't good.  I know old habits are easier than new.  How do I get back to my new habits?  I hope you are doing well.  I do need to hear there are others doing well keeping the gain at bay and still making things work.  I wish others would come out and state how they are keeping things in the same pattern.  Is it a mind set?  How do I get there?  ((((((HUGS)))))) Debbie

Hi, Trish! I had lap-band surgery instead of RNY, so you're also dealing with the intestinal thing, too.  But I can tell you that I sipped at a marguerita one evening and got deathly ill from it.  It just seemed to churn in my "pouch," which caused cramping, nausea, ...  Definitely wasn't worth ruining an evening over!  And it was far from enjoyable!  I've since learned to ask the bartender for ice water in a wine glass.  (Tipping well helps.) Sometimes it's hard to remember that we AREN"T the same as we were before in many ways.  I've made the same mistakes with food choices before, too.  But you learn or you sabotage your efforts.  Who was it who said, "Nothing tastes as good as thin feels"?  That probably goes for alcohol, too. Good luck & Happy Birthday! Love & Peace, Fran

I would not start.  It does not help us in our quest to be thin.  Remember what you drink is calories as well and they go down way too easy.  Just my two cents. Debbie

My personal experience is: Mixed drinks with hard liquor do nothing to me, no buzz, so I don't even bother with them. I haven't tried beer or anything carbonated, just doesn't interest me anymore. I stick to wine.  Usualy a White or a Zinfandel.  I do catch a buzz off 1/2 a glass but it lasts maybe 20 minutes. Also I only drink maybe 4x's a year.  Although I did kill 1/2 a bottle with a friend one evening while on vacation last week.  That was the first drink I've had since March. Remember, alcohol has lots of calories, converts to sugar quickly and can make some people dump, so you MUST allow for those extra calories in your doutine on the days that you do consume alcohol.  (i.e, extra exercise, water & fewer solid calories)