Drinks for the holidays ??

okay just lately am almst 7 months out ..well hubby been wanting me to have a drink or 2 with him . well I tried a couple lite beers ..and I felt so bloated ..am just wondering what the rest of you have tried ?? would wine or a liquor be better and what about the sugar ?  Sherry

Sherry, I would steer clear of beer (haha!) because of the carbonation.  It always makes me bloated for days. I have just recently tried a bloody mary and vodka made with Crystal Lite.  Just be very cautious when you drink one, as you never know how they are going to hit you.  You should drink very slowly. Good luck to you!

Postop I think more about low carb when it comes to alcohol...but then again I was a drinker back in the day so I naturally just go towards the hard stuff.   Beer is for whimps.  lol    I normally stick to the liquors...the clearer ones have less carbs than the darker ones...so stay with vodka, rum and maybe an ocassional whiskey or tequila wont ta-kill ya ;)   The mixers are the main concern carb-wise when it comes to the hard liquors though.  Stay away from juices unless you are watering them down a lot or are a sipper.  Personally, orange juice  is not my friend but cranberry seems to work just fine for me.  A good one is Vodka & Cranberry with a twist.   Some have issues with drinking pop due to the carbonation....so that would be your call if you'd want to or not.  There have been studies saying though that hard liquors have a faster uptake as well if mixed with diet as compared to regular pop.  It has something to do with the artificial sweetners/chemical combo  in it.  When you add alcohol...the body absortbs it faster than if had real sugar in it  - so keep that in mind.   I still mix with diet pop though...actually a plus for me (hehe) but since you are new at trying this...I would either avoid mixing with diet....or again sip-sip-sip till you can figure out the effect it will have on your new post op body. Again...since you arent too sure what hard liquor will do to you in a social setting...might want to try it at home to see or be a sipper on your first drink out in public so you can gauge what the effects will be. Hope this gives you a little insight so you dont endup like this.   lol

Malibu rum and pineapple juice   it works for me I was never a beer drinker either

I have to say I'm surprised to see all these post-ops condoning (to an extent) drinking post-surgery.   My opinion is why risk it?  You risked your life to get healthy and have lost 100lbs.  Why the hell would you want to risk how good you feel now to partake in a few drinks with your husband? Just my opinion, but I think it foolish to even try to drink alcohol as a bariactric. 

Well, we're all adults and we make our own choices.  Whether you condone another's actions has no bearing on what an individual may choose to do.  So, as is the nature of this site, because she is "considering" it, she is merely asking how it has affected others.  If you choose not to drink, that is fine.  If she chooses to have a drink or two with her husband, that is her choice.  As long as she is comfortable with her choice.  Tina

I have to agree with Tina on this one.. Just because I lost a 100 pounds to be healthy does not mean I don't want to have an occasional drink. Yes there are some people who have taken to drinking a little more than others after surgery. But I had this surgery to be normal and normal people go out and have a drink here or there with friends or family. As far as what I drink... I drink cranberry juice and vodka but I buy the light cranberry juice. I had a friend dump on normal juice so I took the lead from her. I also drink martinis. I like the key lime ones or just apple. I tend to stay with the liquors. I have drinking beer before and it did not bother me. It is the same with food I think it is trial and error what we drink. I know other post ops that just drink wine. So you might want to try that too. Be careful and experiment at home first since it does tend to hit us a little harder than it does a non bariatric patient. Have fun at the holidays Suzanne

I don't think it is anyone's place to condone anything on this board.  We are here to give our own experiences with gastric bypass surgery.  You can take or leave whatever suits you.  I was told at 3 months post op, by my dietician, that it was ok to imbibe in alcohol.  I was shocked and chose at that time not to drink alcohol. I did not choose to drink alcohol until I was 10 months post op.  Even then, it was one drink.  It was my choice to find out what the effects of alcohol would be on my post WLS body. We all as WLS patients have to make choices every single day about what we put into our bodies.  I would say that it's going to vary greatly based on the individual.

I did not have my first taste of alcohol until I was a year out.  Believe me, it really hits ya!  I can drink Smirnoff Ice, but about 1/2 a bottle in 45 minutes and then I'm done.  Have had Caramel Apple Martini's and those really hit you.  Be cautious, as those drinks that don't really have the 'alcohol' taste really hit you after it starts through your pouch.  Had some Korbel at my brothers wedding reception in Florida - big nono for me!  OMG, I was sicker than a dog!  Hope that helps!  But be sure to try things very minimal first and if possible, at home prior to going out.  Michelle

I was wondering if poor Sherry was going to get out of this post without any controversy! I can understand Ana's post.  I was worried about alcohol after surgery too.  Our Nut has given lenghthy talks about it and the dangers.  It's also no surprise that all us as overweight and formerly overweight people have some issues with moderation. I was over a year out when I first tried it (a lot of you were there with me!) and it was fine.  I do have a few drinks now and then, but I have to be careful.  It hits me hard, and doesn't take much to get me nice and toasty.  That is a powerful draw....when you can sit down with one tasty drink and get drunk.   I think alcohol is just like fast food, or sugar, or anything else we went without for a long time.  It's a part of life....part of being a social being.  You have to retrain your brain so you don't over do it.  These things are treats, to be had few and far between.  If you can do that, you're all set.  Some of us on here don't want to "test the waters".  I respect both schools of thought, and in the end, we all have to decide for ourselves.