Honest opinions needed Re alcohol

Hi everyone, Now I know you all won't BS me, I won't get offended with any opinion so lay them on me. I was never a drinker. I maybe drank one drink a year prior to surgery and didn't have a drink up until 2 weeks ago. I never liked the feeling of being drunk. Now I want one drink, just one, every night. Baha Bob's sugar free margarita mix with some Tequila. One thing I have found is that I don't have the uncontrollable snacking urge when I have a drink, and the other reason is I like the feeling after I have a few sips. The feeling lasts for about an hour. I don't even know if this feeling is being drunk, maybe just relaxed. So what is your honest opinion on this? Is this the beginning of some kind of addiction or am I thinking too much about this? Thanks, Michelle

I know exactly how you feel!!! For me it is wine. I'm nicer and not as stressed, relaxed and I don't snack. For me just because I can see this getting out of control, I limit how much I drink. I do no more than 2 drinks a week, if it is special occasion I will allow myself more. I don't get too hard core about it. I am just aware of how much I've had for the week and try to keep it in check. I think it is a question of what do you think? Do you see it getting out of control? Do you see it as a potential problem? If you do then I think you need to limit how much you have. Good luck with this!! Hugs!! Heather

Hi Heather, thanks for your response. No, I don't feel like it's out of control. Since I'm on the road for work during the week I don't drink, it's mainly on the weekends when I am home. I don't feel like it's out of control, but then again, I dare say many of us are post-ops because we could not control ourselves. Thanks for your response, Michelle

No problem!! Good luck with this!! Heather

I don't know all that much about addictions, how they start, etc. Your post raises a few "red flags" for me: 1. "One drink, every night". This sounds like a plan. There are plans for success and there are plans for sabotage/failure. Why do you suddenly need one drink every night vs. once in a while? 2. Are you subsitituting one addiction (food) for another (magarita)? 3. Can you find another way to relax (bath, good book, massage, exercise)? 4. If you rely on the drunk/relaxed feeling that alcohol provides to curb your snacking then how will you ever be in control of the choices you make without a drink? In other words you will require a drink to mellow your moods and your urges. Again, I am not well versed in issues with addiction, and there are many WLS grads who are, but I am concerned that substituting self awareness for reliance on mind-altering substances is at best temporary and at worst an addiction. Karen

Ok im not reading all the other responses till I post this cuz i wanted to give my opinion without fear of what everyone else wrote...lol I too, have never been a drinker !! NOW, i like a drink and also feel the fast rush of alcohol...it hits fast and doesnt last long and then Im completely 'sobered' up again and can have another drink ! I like drinking light cran apple and vodka..it is just a relaxing feeling to me that i recover from quickly..also, when having a drink I do not eat much that day either..i dont know why..kinda strange..maybe i dont want the food to hinder the effect lol... I was out with dh on sat and ordered a long island ice tea and after drinking this through a straw I had no appetite at all and just picked at my food..instead enjoying the effect of the drink. Maybe it is an addiction who knows..i know i never drank before..as long as your not out doing something dangerous like drinkin and driving then why not enjoy yourself sometimes? just my opinion of course.

I like an occasional drink, but like the recent poster stated, if you "plan" to have a drink every night, it is a "plan", not just something that happens. I don't "plan" to drink because my father was an alcoholic and I have several family members that are, and it is not a pretty thing. I believe when you plan to do something addicting on purpose, you are heading down a scary path. Why not say to yourself, I will allow myself to have a drink whenever I feel it is good and leave it at that, so that you are not setting a pattern. Just my 2 cents worth

Thank you Missy for your advice. Michelle

Michelle-First I need to explain that I have always enjoyed the buzz of an occasional drink or two. However, my gut reaction reading your post goes along the way of what Karen posted. It was my intention to respond similarly--but since she said it so well, I don't need to. Good luck to you.

I have never been much of a drinker. after surgery and losing a ton of weight and getting out having it more often kind of became a habit for a little while. the quick buzz was kind of cool. (just being honest) the last time I had a drink (1/2 glass of wine before dinner at a restaurant) tho it hit me so hard I was literally scared something bad was going to happen. I had to go to the bathroom and I did not feel like I could walk there alone. this time the buzz didn't go away in 20 minutes like usual. Very bad experience on very little alcohol. Since then I have not touched a drop of alcohol. I decided it might be dangerous to me, my health. I have a long bad family history of alcoholics. I am better off not to drink at all. I miss the occasional lemon martini, or wine with dinner,, but I worked too hard and came too far to risk my health & well being. I am not being judgemental, trying to be understanding. BUT, if you want a drink every night, yes, I think there could be a problem. your drinking is escalating from the occasional to every day. Do you want to stop now while it is one drink and maybe easier to stop than when It starts to creep up to 2, 3 , 4, a binge? Alcoholism scares me and I know it would be all too easy to substitue alcohol for food.