Made a mistake...lesson learned!

I had a night out with my sister after a VERY stressful week at work.  I probably had four glasses of wine, which is WAY more than I would ever allow myself post op.  I have made the choice to drin****asionally post op (4 times total), and typically it is one drink, at the most two. 

Well, I gained THREE pounds after that night.  And it wasn't jus****er weight.  I did hot yoga on Saturday to sweat it out, and drank tons and tons of water.  I have lost two of those three pounds, but the other one is still there.  And if I hadn't made that bad decision that night I would have lost, not gained. 

This is the first time I have ever gained post op, and it is scary!  I am cutting off drinking entirely.  I want to make the most of this gift I have been given, and do not want to see the scale go up again!  I am sure I'm going to get criticized for this, but I thought it was important to put out there for others.

Good morning.  You made a mistake.  Many people do.  It's trial and error.  You owned it, now you can move on. 

The first issue is weight loss. Drinking calories, especially that many calories, will derail your weight loss.

The next issue is overall hwalth. One of the reasons not to drink for a year or so after surgery is our livers and kidneys. Our bodies are processing the fat we should be burning, and also busy converting a higher percentage of protein than usual. Four glasses of wine puts a LOT of extra stress on your organs.

Third, transfer addiction becomes a major problem for some after WLS. There are a lot of posts on OH from people warning about how they ruined their lives by turning to alcohol after food was no longer an option. I have no idea if this will be you or not. But it's a great reason to give up alcohol entirely.

I couldn't agree more with all of those reasons.  I have found my social calendar filling up a lot more since losing 70 lbs, probably because I don't mind being seen now.  I am 29, so most of my friends go out to drink.  It is something I have always been used to, but post op it is so different.  I get drunk so quickly and sober up so quickly as well.  It is just not worth it.  Time to learn to go out and socialize without the alcohol!

Good for you. Being self-aware and mindful is very important.

I have yet to figure out how people can become addicted to alcohol post rny. A couple of sips is all it takes to get me tipsy, and I will be 9 years out next month. I had 2 wine cooloer and a glass of sangria, while on vacation a few weeks ago. Big mistake. I was nauseous and headachey for the rest of the night.

Yeah, usually if I do drink, I have vodka with crystal light and water.  I'd be just as happy drinking the crystal light and water themselves.  Especially when I feel like I've had 4 drinks after 1 and get sober 10 minutes later, its just odd...

you think you getting sober in 10 min... I checked my levels after 1 drink after 1 hr - when I thought I was "sober"and I was not within legal limits to drive.. 

I understand that, I would never ever drive, not even after 1/2 a drink.  I mean I feel sober.

Good for you for recognizing your "mistake" but remember it is only a mistake if you keep repeating that behaviour.  You learned from your "mistake" so therefore it becomes a learning experience.  I have always told my kids (who are now 22, 24, 26) that we make mistakes in our lives in order to learn.  This is what this whole journey is about, learning how to live a life that is totally different than anything else we have ever experienced.  We are ALL going to experience "mistakes" along the way but it is going to teach us a new way of living.  Remember one thing...we criticize ourselves harsher than anyone else, be happy that you learned a lesson.