Give me the cold hard truth about... ALCOHOL!

 Thanks so much for all of your responses. I never drink at home or even when we go out to dinner only when I have a girls night out which is about once a month. I can still have fun with out it but a little buzz from a few drinks can be fun on the dance floor :) I think Ill wait till I hit goal to even go there! I will be the designated driver for a while which is sure to save our asses lots of taxi money!
Thanks

Being designated driver can be fun. I also like never having to worry, driving home from friends. I live in an area that loves roadblocks and pullovers on weekends and holidays. 

Keep going out, women friends are so important. You may even get a "contact high" and realize that part of the buzz is being in a party atmosphere!

I started drinking 6 months after wls.  I am now about 15 months out.  I go out once a week or every 2 weeks.  I'll have a couple shots of tequila, be totally freaking buzzed in minutes!!  I'll keep the buzz for about 30 minutes.  If I stop drinking I will sober feeling in 45 or less minutes.  I usually have 2 drinks when I go out and have water the rest of the time.

I started to back to drinking at around 4 months out and probably only had 3-4 drink per week and mostly they were margaritas, cosmos etc.  Now, I drink 1-2 glasses of wine 3-4 nights per week as well as a margarita is the opportunity arises.  Sometimes it hits me faster and sometimes it seems the same as before surgery so I always take it slow because I don't know which it will be.  I have seen no adverse effects from drinking...no stalls or gains.

I am about the same as Kimberly, except margaritas are a rarity.  I enjoy sippingon a glass of wine (and working on a string cheese) at night while watching tv.

I had rny and my doctor said no alcohol for 1 year. I would suggest that you don't have any alcohol until you have lost all the wieght you want to lose as well.  Alcohol is empty calories, it is hard enough for me to get in my water each day so there isn't room in my stomach or time in the day to waste on drinks that don't count towards my water intake, most people who are morbidly obease have a food addiction and when you can't eat for your fix many become addicted to other things like alcohol, alcohol decreases your absorption of some vitamins, alcohol is hard on your stomach and anyone who has had surgery on thier stomachs need to be a little more careful to avoid ulcers. That said, most of the people I know who have had wls do drink alcohol. I even know some that make protien jello shots! I would say once you are healed and maintaining your wieght, if you are going to drink, as long as it is in moderation, under control, and you are aware of the things you need to watch out for, it isn't going to be a real problem.

I have had a few glasses of wine.  Started at 3 months out.  It hits me hard and fast, but leaves rather quickly.

I am thinking of having a glass now...

I started having a small glass of wine every so often about 2 months after surgery. I used to be a beer drinker, loved micro brews, seasonal brews, new flavors. After surgery I tried a couple of sips of Flat Tire- BAD IDEA!! For me, the carbonation just foamed in my pouch, and it didn't stop for a few hours! At Thanksgiving I had a glass of wine with my meal, that went ok. I suggest staying away from heavy red's, they may make you dump, and if you do the last thing you want to see is dark red going through you!! Dessert wines, like Ports, will feel like you are drinking a glass of juice concentrate. I now stick to Patrone Silver tequila. It is a super refined mild taste (makes Jose Cuervo taste like a cheap knock off!) and can be mixed with anything. For a while I drank way too much, almost every day. I agree with everyone else, try it at home first, and don't be suprised if you stall after having a drink a few nights in a row. You will still lose weight, just much slower because it's harder to stay properly hydrated. Just use your head and make sure you have a friend there to look out for you.