What are you eating/doing today ( Thursday)

My centre never said to never drink again.  We were actually told back then to wait 3 months but I waited to get to goal before I had any.  One glass of wine at 100 calories and 5 grams of carbs is really not much difference than those that choose to eat bread and wraps at much higher carbs and calories now is it?  If your centre says no alcohol ever again then that is your decision to make if you want to follow it.  Guelph also says no protein shakes or bars yet some of the their patients choose to consume them.  Everything in moderation once you hit goal as far as I am concerned.  It's your journey and you can pick and choose to eat/drink whatever you want.  

Not saying that at all CC.  Big difference between those at goal and many years post surgery.  Like most things moderation is key.

Alcohol in the losing phase is a big no no in my book.  Your liver is already in overdrive as it processes metabolizing your fat loss.  Adding alcohol to the mix is foolhardy in my estimation.

so - Guelph is correct.  I am not sure if your post is tsk tsking our consumption - but as stated earlier - many years post op your lifestyle normalizes for a wls patient.   It will never be like a regular thin person - but you can have bites of desserts - just not regularly - plus a glass of wine now and again. 

I guess I am really not sure of your point?  You know Kelly, Tracey and I are 5 - 7 and 10 years out.  Big difference from you who are 14 months I think?  ( not sure of date)

I post what I eat and drink - including wine when I have it and bites of dessert - so again to your point - newbies can see what life is like many years post op when at goal ( or thereabouts!)

At the Southern Ontario Bariatrics conference Dr. Bhojani from Guelph spoke and mentioned alcohol. He said it's not recommended for the first year and to have occasionally after. He never said never, but did say that it's a great thing to leave alone, if you so wi**** is empty calories, after all, and those not at goal or under a year, shouldn't have it. He did say nobody should ever have pop though :)

I don't care if I'm tsk-tsked at all. The pdf I posted a few days ago that is on the TWH site says no alcohol for 6 months, but I'm sure they recommend a year in person. I actually never liked wine before surgery. My tastes changed (I also didn't eat any fish, but I eat it all now...except shrimp, I still get sick on shrimp). I'm not as much of a stickler to all the rules as I used to be. But you won't be after say the three year mark or so. Old habits can creep back in and you jump on them then, or pay the consequences. I do remember thinking that I couldn't believe that so-and-so ate ice cream...and I got judgy for a bit, like a lot of people under two to three years do. And I get it. Because at that point it's difficult to understand that things will change after 2-3 years. But it does. I haven't met one person yet that hasn't had to deal with one or all of the following; regain, vitamin compliance issues - leading to iron deficiencies, osteo, vitamin b issues etc., or falling off the exercise wagon and many more things that happen). We get on a great roll for awhile and then the high leaves us and real life comes back in. How we deal with it or live life is anyone's journey, but it's their own. 

I'm a bit wordy lately, I know, but a few things happened to me lately from some judgy people in the WLS real world and its just not nice to hear it. But I'm me, and I'm proud. I'm proud of many people here, Barb and Tracey being two who have helped me greatly along the way. 

No judgement at all on my part Barb. Just clarification for us Newbies. My first post on the topic was just to let Newbies know that Tracey was years post op and that the rest was pretty much what you just said.  Maybe also because earlier in the week the value of foods was discussed in relation to popcorn and as popcorn and wine are similar in nutrient value I was thinking it would not be a good choice when in the losing phase.

It is so surprising how Centres advice varies. Guelph can be pretty strict. No red meat for 6 months, decaf only, no salad for 3 months. I was approved for protein shakes at the 6 week mark though. It can be pretty confusing. As for drinking wine, I have nothing against wine or people that drink it. Heck I married one. Haven't had one myself since surgery but that might change down the road. Like Tracey said, it's a personal journey, some eat protein wraps and protein bread and others have a glass of wine. We do what works best for us. We are all here for support.

Glad to hear - tone is difficult to discern on the internet

and - re the dust up on Tuesday.  All the issues really boiled down to 4 weeks post op and the choices being made.  My concern was damage to the new pouch and GI discomfort. 

It is also my strong belief that the longer we can progress without tasting potentially problem foods the better.  In this category I put all sugary dessert items - breads - crackers etc etc.  Just seen too many get into trouble as once tasted they are unable to moderate.

The first 6 months is so important - cant stress this enough.  The next 6 is almost as important.  Get the weight off as soon as humanly possible.  All the tastes you love will be there and waiting for you when you get to goal.

The other point I want to make is this - You can never re-do this magical weight loss time frame.  Even those who end up with a revision - its just never the same weight loss wise then a virgin operation.  Don't waist a single day of it!  I am glad I didn't and got to my goal of 160 pounds lost 14 months out.

Thanks Barb, as always I appreciate your advice.   You're right, tone is difficult to discern on the Internet, but I hope you know that in the 15 plus months and over a hundred posts, that I've never been nasty or judgemental in my posts. I've always tried to be supportive, congenial and sometimes add humour if I can pull it off (not always the case). Internet conflicts are not my thing.

I'm not sure though why you felt the need to point out how far out I am when it's clearly stated in every post that I make.  The surgery date is there for all to see.  I don't feel the need to write 10 years post op when OH has a lovely little spot for me to put my surgery date and I use it and have for the 10 years I've been a member. 

The discussion about popcorn earlier this week and me having a glass of wine(which I never did have after all) are not even comparable.  4 weeks post op vs 10 years post op is a big difference.  I even told the poster the other day it was too soon for her choices and had someone posted they drank wine at 4 weeks post op, I would have said the same.  I waited til goal and then some to have any alcohol and I don't drink it daily nor weekly.  It's just something I have now and then just like those at goal have popcorn now and then.  

I think some centres discourage alcohol, I believe it's Ottawa at one time that said no alcohol ever again.  I think they say that because many have transfer addictions and alcohol can be an easy one.

Wine (after goal and probably 2+years later) is something I will eat and drink with. I sip and savour and my NUT is aware (or she was three years ago when we discussed it lol). 

NOT recommending it and at a stable weight here. (Before I get into trouble lol). 

Ps - I still don't think I tolerate alcohol like others do this far out. Wine in an empty stomach makes me tipsy really fast. That hasn't changed at all!

I am tipsy on one glass too - that's why I never drive if imbibing and usually limit myself to one glass or glass and a half.

I feel a slight buzz with a few sips but then by 6 sips I am completely feeling sober again.  I never feel drunk after those first few sips. I'd never trust myself to drive though no matter how I feel.  We all seem to sober up very fast after surgery.