surgery this week and getting nervous

 my surgery is in a couple days and im getting nervous, i know i need to do this and i want to do this but i am nervous about my social life after it. i have a lot of great friends but everything we do revolved around drinking and i dont even notice that with every dinner my family has a glass of wine or beer. I used to only drink heavy micro brews but switched to light beer to help with the weight issues now i really only have a glass a wine now and then but i d enjoy a cold beer once and a while. i guess i just dont know how i am going to handle it. i dont want to sound like an alcoholic but i am 23 and for the past 5 years drinking has been a part of my life. anyone have the same worries or how did you handle the change? when did you feel like you could have a drink again? any other these next up coming weeks and months?

thanks for helping and letting my vent

Hey!  Congrats on the surgery coming up.  Nerves are normal and a good thing so just try to relax knowing that you are doing a good thing for yourself. 

The drinking issue is a common one for people our age because that's a big social activity right  now.  I guess you just have to look at it as a sacrifice that you are making for your health.  You can drink again after your surgery (I did, I think 4-5 months out) but it's going to be completely different.  One glass of wine and I'm pretty well done for and I really don't want anymore after that unless my intention is to get plastered, which it never really is.   I do wine ok bu****ch the sugar..I just so happened to pick up a bottle of wine at the store tonight and it had the nutrition facts on the back....20 grams of sugar per 8oz and 170 calories.  I immediately put it back on the shelf and slowly backed away...LOL!   I found a wine though awhile back called Slender that is made with a sugar substitute so I tend to stick with that when I have some wine.  That is not, however, a license to drink the whole bottle in one night (which I have done, big mistake!).  I just looked that facts of Slender wine (they have white, blush and red varieties) and there is roughly 130 calories per 5oz for all the different kinds...so still not calorie free!  Good for me to know that too. :-)  

Aside from the issues of transfer addictions, drinking and driving, and all the other bad stuff associated with drinking alcohol, I look at drinking as anything else that could derail our weight loss.  I mean, really, it's no different than having a fast food meal...yeah, it's good and yes, we can do it on occasion and we won't die (sick maybe but not death) but is it really the best for us?  Probably not.  However, I live by the motto of enjoying my life to the fullest which to me can and does include a glass of wine, beer, or mixed drink (watch the sugar on those!) on occasion.  Where I'm at in my surgery life, I feel like anyone else who is trying to lose weight and keep it off....we have choices and my choices affect my progress if I go overboard and have more than what is considered moderation.   That's sort of the thing that surgery does not do for us, it does not automatically switch our brains to doing what we should do all the time, unfortunately, we are still in control of that and have to work on it daily.  But, it can be done! 

Sorry, I went off a bit there...but in a nutshell, yes you can drink again be it a bit differently than before.   When you are with your friends/family and everyone is drinking, remember why you are there...to enjoy them, not the alcohol.  :-) 

Good luck with your surgery, you'll do great. Keep us posted!!!

~Emily~

Hey!

When, I read your post... it made me smile a little because I had/have the same worry. I'm a very socia and outgoing person. I typically go out most night to drink! So, I totally know where you're coming from...

I guess, I equate drinking with having fun... (that sounds bad, but I'm just being honest). Anyway, I decided I was willing to post-pone some fun in order to make this huge life change for the better. And, I know this will be easier said than done...

As for me, I had surgery last Tuesday (9/7) and had some friends over last night to visit. I still have my fridge stocked with protein drinks AND beer... and made sure everyone had their bevarage of choice.

I was drinking some tea and my best friend was having a redbull vodka! So, I'm less than a week post-op, but for me, I didn't "miss out" and I was really happy to feel "normal."

Best of luck!
Diane

my surgery is in 15 days, and that's my biggest concern too. i love going out and drinking and dancing and i know that's something i won't be able to do for awhile.

Hey,
I'm 23 so I know what you mean about every social event revolving around drinking. I am 7 months out, and I drin****asionaly. I had my first whole bottle of beer since my surgery the other night. I just made sure that it was light beer and that I drank it slowly. I also have had glasses of wine since my surgery. Drinking and getting plastered is something that I don't do anymore. I don't deprive myself but it's a choice that I have made for my health. My friends are very understanding. So much so that some friends and I were about to take a shot but another friend  yelled for us to stop because she thought that there was carbonation in it and she knows that I can't have carbonation. It's a choice that you have to make for yourself.

-If there is anything I can help you with let me know.

i had this worry too...being 24, all my socializing revolved around "the bar".  But honestly I have so many other things to focus on that I havnt had time to miss the drinking...good luck to you all : )

 i had my preop visit and nutrition class today, the nutritionist said they only ask their patients not to drink for 3 months, they prefer 6, but if we want to try after 3 its ok. is it sad that i was excited when she said that? lol