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  1. #1
    Gastric Sleeve Member
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    Default Pre-surgery: keen to hear experiences from previously heaver drinkers

    Hi there everyone!
    I am in the UK, and in the process of having my pre-approval for a gastric sleeve. I am 33, 5'4 (164cm) and approximately 20 stone (280 pounds).
    One thing that came up in the psych assessment is that I am a heavy drinker, and this will hinder my attempts to lose weight (with or without surgery.)
    The doctor said I need to decrease my drinking to 10 units a week, which is a lot less than I drink now.
    I was wondering if anyone had a similar experience, and had to drastically reduce their alcohol intake, and how was their experience of that? Was it easy/difficult? Was it an issue post-surgery?
    Thanks for your help.

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  4. #2
    Gastric Sleeve Member AnnieG's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
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    Annie
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    10/05/2017
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    Default Re: Pre-surgery: keen to hear experiences from previously heaver drinkers

    Alcohol is primarily sugar, so its' not a good decision if you're losing weight. Also, the VGS means that 1/4 of what you were drinking in terms of alcohol, will hit you about like 2 normal size drinks.

    Pre-op diets usually emphasize protein & dense carbs (no sugars). After surgery, alcohol would not be good until you are about 6 months or so out (my opinion but others will add thoughts). No judgment about drinking, just it's meaning your sleeve won't help if you don't change.

    I started at 240 - weigh about 135 most of the time, and lost very quickly.

    Like most people here, I followed pre-op to the letter, and post-op to the letter. Tracked all my food, weighed every day. And when I've hit maintainence, even though I have some leeway about what I eat, I still track everything and daily weight.

    You really have to be ready to make the change for the sleeve to work. It's a tool, along with behavioral changes. It's not an easy fix to weight.

    Best of luck! Post lots of questions.
    [I]HW: 240 lbs SW: 199 lbs GW: 140 lbs

    1 MO = 167.0 2 MO = 156.4 3 MO = 148.4 4 MO = 140.6
    5 M) = 136.0 6 MO = 130.0
    1 YR = 122.0 2 YR = 140.00 2.5 YR = 139
    Happy with my weight; happy with my size; over-the-moon with my health!

  5. #3
    Gastric Sleeve Member KiwiGal's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
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    Lisa
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    09/04/2017
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    Stephanie Ulmer
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    Default Re: Pre-surgery: keen to hear experiences from previously heaver drinkers

    Hi There

    I never drank a lot prior to surgery and afterwards cut it out all together. I tried a couple of small glasses of wine but they hit me hard and fast and I didn't really like the feeling. Also these days I would much rather get my calories from food :-)

    I'm not a professional but I think that if you really want to succeed with your weight loss you will need to address the amount of alcohol that you drink.
    As Annie said above "You really have to be ready to make the change for the sleeve to work. It's a tool, along with behavioral changes. It's not an easy fix to weight."

    It will seem like a miracle in the beginning as the weight just drops off but as time goes on you really do need to work at it. Nearly 3 years out and I still weigh and measure my food and keep a track in a dairy and on an app of my intake. I also weigh myself every morning so there are no nasty surprises.

    Wishing you all the best.



  6. #4
    sraebaer
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    Default Re: Pre-surgery: keen to hear experiences from previously heaver drinkers

    Before surgery and while losing it would be best to try to break the habit. I'd say a just the occasional drink. I guess the question is are you addicted to the alcohol? Can you stop? If not, you'll have to get that under control before surgery. Try quitting now and see if you can do it.

    I'm 6 years out, and do drink. However nothing like before surgery. One drink now is about equal to three drinks pre-surgery. In other words, it hits me like a ton of bricks. I can no longer drink like normal people, not only is my stomach smaller, I am smaller. I have learned that lesson a few times and totally embarrassed myself. I even quit all together for 6 months. Now I'm doing the never more than one drink an evening. That works for me. After this pandemic I may go back to none again.

    Good luck! Keep asking questions, this place is super helpful.

  7. #5
    Gastric Sleeve Member kenson's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
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    Default Re: Pre-surgery: keen to hear experiences from previously heaver drinkers

    Welcome to the forum. You've gotten some great feedback from the veterans, but I'll add my two cents! Good for you for asking questions, this is the perfect time for doing it. I have always been a social drinker and occasionally have a glass or two at home. As Sharon said, post-sleeve, one drink is about all I can handle. It literally hits you much quicker than it did pre-sleeve. Now is the time to rid yourself of any bad habits, its time to recognize, evaluate and eliminate any bad habits that you do not want to carry into your post sleeve life.



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