Alcohol after WLS

Hello gettingbackmylife,

I can totally  understand what you are going through. I had gastric bypass July of 2005. I started out at 225 lbs and got down to 151 lbs. I started drinking wine socially. I noticed it would take me about 4 sips of wine and I caught a buzz. I  have since gained 20 lbs which I am not happy about. I attribute it to the wine consumption, because it relaxes me then I eat what I shouldn't. (cheese, peanut butter, aka fatty foods.)  I know I have cross addiction. I have tried to quit, but I get cravings now. What's strange is that I NEVER USED TO DRINK ALCOHOL IN EXCESS before my gastric bypass.  So this is my new struggle. I want to be a good role model to my family. Maybe we can help eachother :)

Sincerely,

Tracy

ps. And by the way I don't judge you. Let someone cast the first stone if they are perfect. 

Hello Tracy,
Thanks so much for you response!  I can't believe this happened to me and to you as well. I also have been getting cravings ~ it's the weirdest thing.  My problem is that  I was having my 2 to 3 glasses of wine then I did not want to eat.  Not good.  I have been really trying to get this ugly thing under control but I still do not have it.  So this is were maybe were we can help each.
I need to replace my drinking with something more constructive but it's hard.  I asked all my friends to join a gym with me but everyone is broke because of Christmas.  So that's may next step ~ I guess I have to join by myself ~ I am a buddy person when it comes to exercise so this will be hard for me.
The only thing I loved to do by myself is water aerobics and it really helped me but it 3 degrees outside and it's tough to go out in the cold. Maybe once it gets into the 30's I will join again.
I hope to hear from you again.
Take care,
Me

Hello Tracy,
Just was wondering how you are doing?  I am gained 10 lbs and I am sure it is because of my drinking and snacking.  It will be 2 years this April that I had the surgery and kept it off until this past Christmas to present date.  I have decided to join a  gym a get a personal trainer to get myself back on track as I still want to lose another 20 lbs plus the 10 I gained.  Hopefully this will help me.  I figure that I spend money on dumb stuff so why not invest in myself !!!
I am afriad that I may have stretched my pouch out and I DO NOT WANT TO GAIN THIS WEIGHT BACK.   Keep me posted on your progress as well
Take care and I hope all is well in your neck of the woods :)
Me

How can you drink wine?  I thought the body metabolizes as sugar and that can cause dumping. I would love to have one glass of wine but too petrified to try it.

That is if you dump.  I don't.

The whole issue of drinking alcohol puzzles me. You have just had your stomach (for the most part), duodenum, and what? 40 feet of your intestine removed so that you can loose weight and you still want to eat/drink empty calories?   I am a licensed Chemical Dependency Professional and a psycho-therapist. I am not an addict and I do not follow the 12 step philosophy. I’m not just making stuff up. And no, I do not, nor have nor have I ever had a drinking problem.   Drinking alcohol is like soaking your organs in alcohol. I what world is that OK?  And even more so if you have had your organs surgically altered!   And let’s be clear, getting a buzz IS getting drunk. Maybe not falling down, passing out drunk, but if you have a buzz and drive in my state, you’ll be seeing someone like me for about two years. While in many states you will not be required to complete that much treatment, you will get a DUI. With a "Buzz" you are impaired. One major problem is that no one thinks that they are impaired when they are impaired by alcohol because the part of your brain that is responsible for sound judgment is the first to shut off. (That's why the MADD slogan of "Drink, but don't drive." doesn't work. Everyone thinks they are fine to drive.)   There is one reason people drink and that is in order to cope. You’ve had a hard day, a hard week, a hard month – you get the picture; or you want to be more comfortable around people, you’re afraid of what people will think, you think you dance better with a few drinks, or you’re hiding from some psychological problem such as PTSD, Depression, out and out self hatred. What ever it is, it is a method of coping.   There must be at least a dozen harmless ways to cope, ie, make yourself more comfortable, deal with problems, learn to like yourself, work up the nerve to do whatever you are afraid to do without a drink. Granted they make take more effort than pouring a drink, but seriously!   If leaving alcohol behind is truly not a problem for you, then do just that! Leave it alone! If it upsets you to leave it alone, or if this message makes you defensive or even angry,  – well, need I say more?  

Just to clear up a couple of points:

First of all, no intestines are removed...they are simply re-routed.

Secondly, you lose weight, not loose weight.

Third on the list, some post-ops can very easily make due with those extra, empty calories. Some people have trouble keeping weight on, as difficult as that may be for you to understand. Some people choose to live their lives as closely to "normal" as they are able. Normal for them may not be normal, or ok, for you. Perhaps you should think about that before you judge others for their choices and lifestyles.

Finally, just because a person may enjoy a glass of wine with dinner because it enhances the experience of the food and it's flavors, it does not mean they are automatically out to get a "buzz" nor that they have a drinking problem.
In addition, simply because a person has a glass of wine, or even two, at a meal, it certainly does not indicate they intend to drive after drinking...thereby leading to a DUI. You seem to be implying that every person that drinks alcohol is also completely irresponsible and careless.

To be crystal clear, you are putting yourself out there as the one who seems to have a huge problem regarding alcohol...whether you drink it or not. It is not your place or your right to chastise others for their choices of food or drink...under any cir****tance. It doesn't matter if you are dependent on drugs or alcohol...you are behaving as though you have all the answers for every one else based on some degree you may hold. You do not. If you abhor alcohol, I would suggest that you do not partake.

I truly hope you have a fantastic day.
~Suz

BRAVO!
I was just about to have a fit when I scrolled down and saw your thoughtful and appropriate response. Thank you for speaking up. Feeling constantly "lectured" and judged by all of the "wls experts" is why I rarely come to this website anymore, but when I see it given back in such a way as you have done here...I must admit that it makes me smirk, just a little. 

Well, just as the person I responded to has no tolerance for alcohol consumption among others....I have no tolerance for narrow-minded know-it-alls.

We all have different lives and experiences, and frankly...I don't need some random, anonymous person judging me or telling me what to do. We all need to respectfully speak up a little more often and defend our choices as our own!

Oh, and I like smirking, too...just a little bit. lol.

Also, my pet peeve was addressed.  There is a difference between lose and loose.  I wish more people would recognize that.  The same goes for then and than as well.  UGH these little things will eventually drive me wacko.  I am not much of a drinker.  I may have 3 to4 drinks a year but your response was on target.  Thanks.