[ChuppyGirl]

Good morning

B: coffee with chicken and vegi's low carb wrap
S: green tea with mint, coffee, cereal bar (blueberry), peanuts
S: veg instant soup, 4 Rye crisps, apple, Turkish coffee with splenda
L: chicken low carb wrap, beef burger in bitta bread (LOTS OF CARBS!)
S: Banana before I went to the GYM
D: at the GYM as usual chicken taco salad with 100 ml diet coke!
S: 5 juicy plums

[Kat]

Good Morning!!!
I had a raspberry martini last night. OMG!!! It was good but it knocked me for a loop. It had raspberry stoli, chambord, and Godiva white chocolate liquor. Not exactly low cal but tasted good. 2 sips are enough, though.

B) Smoked salmon

[DocSanae]

Ahhh, beware of alcoholic drinks.

[ChuppyGirl]

hmmm pardon me if I ask this question totally out of curiosity and maybe ignorance

didn't you get detoxed from alcohol for one year?! was it more healthy?
My religion prevents us from all spirit drinks, drugs,...basically all things that may take your sense. and I totally admire my religion for that because I believe that people when they become drunk they lose their dignity and reputation!

so if you got used to not to drink for a year, why would you drink again? is it so tasty that people can't give up drinking it? I cannot imagine that if it's made of rotted fruits (grapes, or apple!) you still want to drink it?? do you eat rotted food for example?!

pardon me if I may have hurt anybody's feeling

CURIOUS
Hanadi

[DocSanae]

No offense taken.
It isn't really about detox, it's not like many had issues with alcohol pre op.
Cocktails--that's what martini is-- can be tasty and sweet, and some with low alcohol content, through martinis are stronger. Also, in a social situation, drinks are likely to be served, though of course, non alcoholic beverages are available, too.

There are surgeons who say an absolute "no" to alcohlic beverages, but others allow post ops to drink a small amount after a while.

The reason alcoholic beverages are a tricky area for gastric bypass patients is just that, the bypass. Alcohol hits the bloodstream almost immediately after drinking because of the shortend digestive route. So, it hits the liver much earlier and much harder, too. For the post ops, one drink is said to equal the amount of five drinks for non-ops. So, a post op can get trashed much faster than a non-op, but also, post ops do come out of it faster, as well. Another reason that alcohol is tricky is that it can contribute to addiction transfer--what emotions you used food to sooth, since you can't eat that way now, you turn to alcohol. Of course, not every one does that, but it is now coming to the attention of the medical profession that this happens more often than was first realized--the rate reported is anywhere from 5-30%, and unfortunately, from what I know, it is closer to the higher number. There is no need to overly be concerned or afraid, but it is better to be warned than not.

If you can enjoy a sip or two without having any trouble, enjoy.
If you smell trouble, then refrain.
That's the best advice I can give.

[ChuppyGirl]

With all due respect I don't understand why would people sacrifice their health just for socialism! if it hurts the liver and takes the mind away, and it's addictive, why would I have it?!
I felt so sorry for my class mate Nikki in Leeds when she came to the class so sick (vomiting and was sleeping during the whole class) because of the night before drink party! she hardly pulled her head between her arms and opened her eyes looked at me and said I know Hanadi you're so happy that you don't drink! I look miserable! honestly at that time I felt so sorry for her

I'm glad that I don't drink alcohol, at least I don't get hurt by craving it

Doc Thanks for the info.

[DocSanae]

Hanadi, I guess it's hard to understand about alcohol since it is forbidden in your religion, and you have never tasted it.

I can and do drink though in moderation, and it isn't really that bad if you can control it and drink in moderation, and are responsible with your behavior. I also come from a family who's main branch manufactures a Japanese alcoholic beverage that is a kind of spirit.

Alcohol in small amounts act as appetisers, and also, when the right kind is used in the right amount, will enhance the taste of food, such as French recipes with wine. It is also used as spice in cooking in many cultures, brandy and wine are often used in French and other European cuisine, Japanese sake in Japanese recipes, etc etc.
The mind bending part of it also affects people differently, some will become jolly, others teary, still others grouchy. Some tolerate it well, while others can't.

Not all religion regard alcohol in itself as sinful, for Catholics, red wine is used as a sacrament symbolizing the Last Supper and the blood that Christ shed. In Japan, Japanese sake purified and blessed by Shinto priests are shared as sacraments. Of course, these are in very small amounts.

You have to keep in mind, alcohol is a preserver, it acts to stabilize things, keep them from decaying, so our ancestors who discovered that must have been drawn to the mysticism of alcohol. While on one hand it preserves, on the other hand, it can make men who had been sad, merry, those who are quiet, boisterous. That kind of change in character must have seemed like magic. So, in some ancient cultures, alcohol was regarded as a gift from the gods.

As with anything else, the key with alcohol is understanding the effect it can have on you, and if you drink it, do so within the limits that you can stay responsible with your behavior.

[BreeChick]

I'm going to remember that 1 drink equal to five example..and I DO believe it's true. A warning for those who plan to drink and drive you CAN and there are those who HAVE tested over the limit after only ONE drink...it is something to do with the way it hits us full out, absorbing immediately.

))not a theory here--played with the breath analyzer stuff to prove it unfortunately (((( -played being the key word!!! I'm lucky to be in that field where someone has those equipment to check this 'theory' out..

-bree

[DocSanae]

Well, I believe (and follow), if you drive, don't drink, if you drink, don't drive. Period. If everybody else wants to drink, I'm perfectly happy to stick with non-alcoholic drinks and be the designated driver. As a matter of fact, if I am attending some function where I know alcoholic beverages will be served, and don't feel like drinking, I drive there, so I have a perfectly legitimate reason for not drinking that will not offend the host.

Mind you, it's not that I have never ever driven without having had a drink, but it's always been a sip just for cheers at the start of the party or whatever, then I put it down and change to non alcoholic stuff. and I haven't done even that in many many years now. I did once have a total of about a glass of wine during a full course French dinner, several sips per the glass of white and red served along with dinner. Now, I deal with alcohol pretty well, and have never been beyond control, but that one time, I was suprised at the change in my perception when I started driving, even though I felt that I was pretty much sober--it was a total of one glass over about 3 hours, and my stomach is intact, so I don't think the breath analyzer would have come up high enough for me to get a slap--which really scared me. Lucky for me, I was aware enough about the delay in my function that I drove with a heck of a lot of care than usual.

Being in the profession I am, it would be irresponsible for me to do something that I know can very well harm others as well as myself.

[Kat]

Hi Handi. I just got back from being out of town and read your question and Docs. answers. Very interesting.