Just a little help...please

 Good morning everyone! Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! I just am struggling with something I am trying to give up, surgery in 6 weeks and I have given up caffeine,sodas and sweets. I am watching my intake and trying to keep it close to under 1200 cals. Not doing so hot on carbs, and fat but am making progress. But the BEER DEMON will not let me leave! I crave it so bad sometimes, I can make it all 6 days but on the 7th, I just about croak.....I know I am an addict to many things, but I have made positive changes in exchange for the others. Anyone have any suggestions on how to give up the 1 thing that was the hardest? Thanks guys you're the best! Sherry

{{{Calling Jody in for back-up}}}} 

That's a hard one. Maybe you just don't give it up until you're ready to go in for surgery. I dunno. I know trying to drink anything carbonated right after surgery is down right painful. There's a disincentive for you. Good luck!

--gina

Thanks Gina, I am hoping after surgery it makes me sick and painful, thanks for all the great support!

Hi Sherry,

Addictions are evil demons.  I worked in OA for many years to learn to stick to a food plan and it's still difficult sometimes.

Congratulations on giving up the caffeine, soda and sweets.  That is a BIG deal.    I've never been a beer drinking.  I know a lot of people in AA that swear by it.  Maybe you'd like to drop into a meeting and check it out.  The people are very welcoming.  OA is a sister organization to AA and we used the same books etc.  Many people find they have both addictions and we always had people from AA coming around because when they put down the booze, they picked up the food.

That 1 last thing.....   I get how difficult it is and I know you can do it.  You're heading into a roller coaster ride that will be difficult and oh so rewarding at the same time.

Kudos for owning up to your problematic area and looking for solutions now.

Thanks Lee, I went on line and looks like if will have to get OA online, closest meeting for OA and AA is an hour away. But I was reading on the VSG Forum and found someone talking about a book that talks about the emotional eating. Gonna try to get one ordered. But I think this is my crutch, I think I am at the bottom of the list of the gotta go's and I just gotta kick it! Thanks for the advice, and I look foward to any you can give in the future! Sherry

You are doing so good and you are making necessary changes in your life to be sucessful in your WLS--you've gotten rid of caffeine, soda, and sweets. Now you need to, and you can, get rid of the alcohol demon.  Let it go and claim your new life. In 6 weeks you will be entering a new season of your life, and you can't let beer ruin your chances for success, and I know you don't want to.

For support in beating this you can attend AA or OA meetings.  You can see a therapist--you should have health coverage to cover that.  Don't let the alcohol win--you are stronger.

Best of luck to you.

(((HUGS))) I like my beer too. (That's why Gina called me in for reinforcement!).

I didn't have to do the pre-op diet, but I didn't have a problem giving up my beer after surgery. I wanted to be successful with my surgery. I waited 2 months before my first drink (a glass of wine on New Years Eve) then waited another 4 months (my birthday) before the next.

One thing with with WLS is it is very easy to have transfer addictions post-WLS. I know I have to be very careful that I don't cross that line. Our bodies handle alcohol much differently afterwards.

I recommend you get some help prior to surgery - even if it reading a book, AA meetings, etc. I do think it will be crucial so you can recognize the signs post-WLS.

Good luck and let us know how you're doing.

Thanks Jody and Thorney! You are all right I need to look at this head on, I quit smoking a year ago.....cold turkey and I plan to do it with my other demons too. I can do this, I just don't know why I chose this to hang on to. Time to say good bye and lead a new life....Thanks guys you are all great! Sherry ((((HUGS))))

You are hanging on to it just like most of the rest of us hung onto something that we thought we never could have again.  I don't drink alcohol but I am addicted to sweets.  I can't have them in the house.  My tool limits me when it comes to sweets but I take it to the limits before I stop.

Jody is right about the addictions after WLS so I would seriously look into it even if  you have to drive an hour. 

I went cold turkey on everything just a few weeks before surgery. I wasn't put on a pre-op diet or drinks but did so. My pop, sweets I quit a month out...beer I quit 2 weeks out. Cold turkey....I have to say I have had mixed drinks now at almost 1 yr out. They don't give me a problem but one can last me a whole night. As for beer.....Never again, I had one drink of my hubby's!!! It hurt all the way down. I can say I don't miss it after that!! You will be fine, just take baby steps until your surgery date! Everything is different after you are done with surgery. As I said before things you love you won't even look at twice! Just pat yourself on the back, for making the date, and working as hard as you are!!! I am very proud of you!!!

Loulou~