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Okay. First of all I think what you are having to go through is a bunch of dog crap. No one should have to wait 6 months for this surgery. You obviously cannot do well on a diet or you wouldn't be obese!!! So what, that figure your going to be able to do well now? What crap I am so sorry you have the waiting period. If it was me- and this is just me! I would stuff my bra with weights on the first weight in and take one out every time. Because I don't think it's right to withhold a life saving surgery from someone because they can't go on a diet- which is why they need it in the first place. This surgery is amazing and you Should do whatever it takes to make it happen. Try and do well most of the time when you can. Read the book intuitive eating. It will help you find a good steady flow on maintaining your weight so you don't gain. Make some food choices but don't fall into deprivation or you will binge and gain weight. Wait the 6 months. Try and incorporate some healthy habits and try to get on track with your smoking. It's hard to quit coping mechanisms and it's hard to make life changes but you can do it. Smoking needs to go because it will destroy your Health and it won't work after surgery. But give yourself a break okay. You are making progress and sometimes you have to take a step back and try again. As far as trying to lose a bunch of weight before surgery- if my doctor had requires that I would have looked elsewhere. Seriously. If you could lose weight so easily why in the heck would you do this!! My doctor did not require a weight loss test. I had to meet with him and fast the day before and that was it. He is smart enough to realize that we can't loose weight. Duh. Why put us through more mental and emotional torture??? You should not do that to yourself. Find a new doctor and ask them what their requirements are up front. If they require weightloss pass!!! Especially if you don't think you can do it. Some people can and good for them. For me I was so good and carb addicted it would have sent me into a binge for sure which leads to emotional upset and feelings of failure and self worth. I said no more. Obesity is a disease and your struggling with it. Be kind to yourself. Now that I have had bypass all of my food cravings and need for sugar have vanished. Food is wonderful but I don't need it to be happy and it doesn't run my life. This surgery gave me my life back and you need to go for it. You will not regret it I promise. Do whatever you need to do for YOUR best interest.

Bellabloom, This is awful fast for gallstones. You poor thing, another surgery so soon. Hope you feel better real soon. As far as your weight loss, I think you are right in schedule. Don't try to rush it, believe me it will start melting off. My thoughts are with you, recover soon. I think the worst part is being in the hospital. Sticking you with needles, waking you up, if you ever get to sleep. And those extremely uncomfortable beds. Not to mention the crazy roommates. Can't wait for the pain to go away and you to feel better. God bless. Maggie0210

I would say - first of all - that its great that you've recognized area of weakness AND that you're willing to make changes and address them so you can utilize the band AND your head to get the weight off. It does take both I've found (and am still working on it 2+ years out!). I actually recently joined WW because my portions are out of control - more grazing than "I need a fill" portions, and I needed some structure. You say that you've broken every rule - so I would suggest going back to basics and reteach yourself to eat like a bandster. Are you drinking with meals? Stop. Are you eating Protein first then veggies? If not, start. AND - most important - just because you CAN eat more than a cup, does not mean you should. When I was having the most success I would eat what I could slowly eat over the course of 20 minutes and then I would walk away. If I was hungry within an hour later, I needed a fill, if I could hold off eating for a few hours, I was good. It sounds like maybe you are getting sick because you are eating too fast OR because you are pouch packing - overstuffing your pouch. That can lead to pouch stretching so you need to be careful. When you say you can eat more than a cup of food - what kind of food do you mean? All diced chicken breast? Ice cream? LOL Think honestly about what you're eating and how often. And I would suggest going back to your dr & being honest with him/her about this year and your plan to recommit - he/she can best gauge whether or not you need a fill. Good luck with your recommitment! Sometimes a recommitment is harder than having the initial surgery - I'm there, too. So our journey might be longer - as long as we get where we planned to go we're OK though, right? Sorry this is so long!! Kristin

Hi! I have had a similar experience. I was banded in February of 2009. I did great and lost about 65 pounds in a year. But everything changed when I was accepted into grad school in a new state. I was on the wait list and didn't expect to get in and I was called up about a week or so before school started. A couple of days after I got the call, I was unable to keep anything down, even liquids. They would just sit in my pouch and sometimes I would vomit hours later. I think it was a mixture of stress and poor eating choices that caused me problems. Anyway, I went to my surgeon right before I left to move and he said my pouch was dilated. He unfilled me and told me to come back in 4-6 weeks. But I couldn't since I was in school and was unable to make the 8 hr drive home. I go to school in a really small town so there aren't any lapband surgeons. I finally found a Dr. about an hour away and was able to get some saline put back in. It had been about 4 months since my unfill and I had gained back about 35 pounds. I was embarrassed and felt like a complete failure. I had restriction but I fell back into bad habits. School was extremely stressful and I didn't take the time to eat or drink so I would end up having one big meal. I would also go out with friends to study and eat fast food since we were in a hurry. I didn't listen to my body and lived like this for about a year and a half. I would vomit and would have constant acid reflux. It got to the point where I couldn't sleep because I was coughing and gagging and food even came out my nose. I was so afraid to go back to my Dr. because I was so embarrassed that food had this much control over me. I began to see a psychiatrist and was put on some new medication for depression and I realized how much danger I was putting myself in. This was during finals so I couldn't see the Dr out of town. I was in a lot of pain and was extremely weak and dehydrated. I was tired of feeling like this so I called everywhere in town to see if anyone could help me. I couldn't find anyone. My friend was so worried about me that she took me to the ER. They said they couldn't do anything for me either. Over the Christmas holidays, I finally was able to see my surgeon. I was so scared and worried that I had done permanent damage to my body. I am extremely lucky. My pouch was dilated and I may have had a slight slip. Everything else looked ok. All of the fill was taken out and I will be going back during spring break when I go home. I didn't realize how bad I felt physically until I was able to eat and drink again. My family constantly tells me how much better I look. I feel great. But, I'm hungry a lot and I'm struggling to stay on track. I have to believe that if we really try and give 100% that a second chance is possible. Some things that have been helping me is reading these message boards and thinking about why I originally got the surgery. I also think a lot about my health now. I HAVE to give this 100%. I really think you can do it and so can others. I think it's a big step to admit that you slipped and are trying to get yourself back on track. That was the hardest part for me. It's easier to just keep bad habits and ignore the bigger picture. I wish you the best of luck. We can do this!

Pre-op was a rollercoaster of emotions for me as well. I remember falling apart a couple days before my pre-op diet was about to start. I spent the better part of a day in turmoil - in bed crying, mad at my family, disliking my job/co-workers, worrying and then crying again.....Blah! Not a good time for me or my family. I apologized for my emotional tantrum, etc.... and moved forward. I have had a couple mini "episodes" since but Its par for the course....I know this is what is right for me and I also knew from the begining it wasn't going to be easy. I'm sure many are feeling the same way and it's normal to go through all these emotions and doubts. On a lighter note...my surgery was Feb. 8th and I'm doing and feeling great! I'm not losing as fast as I was on my pre-op diet but I'm losing......and I will be happy with that!

Mine is a full 14 days (even though I got permission to do 11 so I can have my surgery on the 15th) Medi-fast liquid diet. I have to drink 4 Medi fast shakes a day with skim milk (if I did it with Water I would of had to do 7 a day) plus 64 oz's of liquid on top of it. I'm allowed water, broth, sugar free kool aid, sugar free Jello, & sugar free popsciles (sp). Night before surgery I can't drink after midnight besides a small sip of water to take a pill. I had to stop my Vitamins and Calcium pills also.

Hi...I am from WI also. What town are you from. I live in Cambridge. I noticed you said you drank with your meal? Was that a mistake in typing? You shouldn't drink an hour before a meal or 2 hours after. That is the info I got from my doctor. Who did your surgery? Your bad habits will not disappear with the band or make you exercise, that is going to be up to you. Once you get your first fill you should feel some restriction. Make sure you are totally honest with your doctor, that is the only way that he can help you figure out how things are working for you. Do they offer a support group? My surgeon offers monthly meetings that really are a great source of support and offers alot of ideas and solutions to some problems we come across. I do feel for you because I still don't feel the restriction that most feel and have NEVER reached the "sweet spot" that everyone talks about. I am 2 yrs out and have still not reached goal. But I am also not going up on the scale which was the norm 2 years ago. Remember slow and steady is okay also. I at first had a hard time with that after seeing people who were banded the same day as I was and were losing very fast. My one perk to slow weight loss is I have NO hanging skin anywhere. Exercise is definately the key. I should stop now, but I feel like I could offer alot more advise. Since we are in the same state if you ever want to talk, even on the phone just send me a personal IM with your phone number and I would be glad to give you a call for support, advise, or if you just need to vent! Good Luck on your journey and I will be here if you need anything

Whew! The last 48 hours have been a whirlwind! I went from considering Mexico if things were going to take forever with my Dr. to getting a call from my Dr. with some GREAT NEWS! My insurance has no preliminary requirements! They have put me on the "fast track" for VSG and I will be having surgery on Dec. 18th!!! I'm so excited. I got a date! I got a date! I got a date! I'm doing the happy dance! So many emotions going on right now. I jump from ecstatic to scared, and then from worried to anxious. Mostly just delighted though. I know the next few months are going to fly by, but I also hate the waiting. I've had an upset tummy for 24 hours now because my nerves are all over the place. This IS the right decision though. Even my other Dr's all agree this is going to be the best thing for me in my situation. December 18th will be here before I know it! Now I just have to wrap my head around it and decide how many people I'm willing to talk to about it. It feels very private, but I'm also not ashamed of it. Oh well, time will tell what I decide to do and I'll cross that bridge when I get there!

i had my fill one week ago and didnt feel to much restiction but today it was good. i still ate a little to much though. i went to exercise tonight and i was so tight i thought i was going to explode. i will try tomorrow to even eat less and maybe i wont be so uncomfortable. nothing is getting stuck at this point. i kind of wish things would get stuck because in the beginning it was like that and i was more cautious of how fast i ate and how much. now ive slipped on both things. andrea

I wasn't going to tell my mom about my WLS plans. She is 86 and lives far away from me and my family. I love my mom and she is wonderful but I didn't want to worry her. Then I realized how hurt and angry she would be if I told her after the fact. So last week I told her. She was very easy going and I thought "well, that was easy!" ...nope, not so fast.....she called me back today and wanted to talk to me about my plans. She feels that if I exercise and diet and work hard at it that I will lose the weight. She feels like I haven't tried hard enough. I told her I heard what she was saying and that I appreciated her concern and I know that she was coming from a place of love, but wow I felt like crap after I hung up with her. Intellectually I understood the phone call, but emotionally it was devastating. But I will stay strong with my decision and keep jumping through my hoops and move forward towards the insurance approval and surgery date! Thanks for listening, I really needed to vent! XO

Change your Protein to slim fast shakes, they have 230 calories each 325ml bottle. It also helps with getting in fluids as depending on what you eat, you need 3 or 4 to get in enough protein. Xxx

Awesome hope u have a fast recovery xx

Thanks all. The first month was rough and I had moments of wtf did I do to my body The scale was dropping fast but i didn't see it in my clothes that much. Then someone pointed out that from a size 20 to size 18 it's like 3inch difference where from a size 12 to size 10 Is like 1" it's totally true too. But when I did my 1 mo photos ( see attached) I could seeeeee a difference Already So I took before and after photos each month. ( see a few) The other thing is I went ferocious on my closet. Everything that didn't fit ( too big or unflattering) for dumped. Seriously huge piles of clothes. 4-5 rubber made bins at a time to goodwill. I have far less clothes now and it's fine. I'll need more but am still losing fast but it keeps me motivated. And I'm starting to enjoy working out. It's way easier now that I'm Not carrying around the equivalent of a giant bag if dog food strapped to my body

I think every doc is different. Mine said ginger ale was ok and was given it post op in the hospital. He said that carbonation stretching your pouch is a myth and most docs tell you to stay away from soda is because of the sugar and empty calories and it can lead back to unhealthy dieting habits especially fast food. DOS:1/28/13 HW:358 DOS:338 CW:312

I'm having an internal struggle as to which surgery I should have. I have a lot of weight to lose - almost 200 lbs. Most of which was gained in the last 2 years. I know I need to discuss this with the surgeon, but I'm still on the fence myself. I like the idea of the band as being a tool instead of actually changing my anatomy. But then with say the sleeve or the rny, the weightloss is faster. But its not all about how fast you lose - I know that. I keep thinking to myself that I can lose that much with the band. But then I think - then why can't I do it without the band? I've not been in this situation for a lifetime or even a great portion of my life so its difficult for me to comprehend. Sure, I've struggled with my weight my whole life, but up til I got sick in 2006, I always won those battles. Sure, I was a little overweight but I was healthy and happy. And now I'm far from healthy and I can't even see happy from where I'm at. Its not just that I'm sad. I'm ANGRY. I had started my training to run a half marathon. Yeah - i was in great shape! Then one day....The world toppled down on me. Combining not lifting weights, not running every day with making poor food choices and being depressed because I couldn't do what I wanted, then add in the IV treatments and the steroids, which caused more depression which caused more poor food choices and more eating - yeah I can see how I got here. I know I would have gained a lot of weight even without the poor food choices, but I just added insult to my own injury. I take full responsibility for Jack in the Box for dinner and breakfast nearly every day for quite a while. OH - and you bet that's a large fry with that. Diet coke, of course to drink. Or Iced tea - unsweetened! I'm on a diet, afterall! I kick myself every day for making a bad situation worse. There's no telling what point I would be at if i had made better food choices. I know it wouldn't be at the 200 lb overweight mark. But maybe just 100 lbs. 100 lbs is doable! I can deal with that. But TWO HUNDRED?! What the hell did I do to myself? And all because I was sad that I couldn't run. Yeah. That makes sense. Now, I'm so far beyond being able to control this that I now have to have a device put in my stomach OR have 3/4 of my stomach removed in order to even be healthy. Uhm WHAT?! I guess I'm an overachiever. I did in 2 years what it takes some to do in a lifetime! But. I'm addressing it now. I'm doing what I need to do to get healthy. It wasn't all that long ago. I don't need the pictures to remember what it was like to be a size 8/10. I remember how it felt. I remember that I could sit in any chair, climb a ladder, run stairs in 4 inch heels and put my feet behind my head *lol* it wasn't that long ago! So yeah - there's a bit of speed factor going on in my mind. But there's also a lot of "I don't wanna go through this again" going on too. But I know my lifestyle. I know what I want to do in the future and that tells me that its going to be the band or sleeve. Then I have to think about longevity - which again, is probably band. But can I just control it and do the sleeve? I just don't know that I want to alter my anatomy. But then again, if it was my foot that was killing me, I'd have that cut off.... So many thoughts. I know - meeting with the surgeon will really help. Buuuuut....the more I can work through in my mind first, the better. *ramble*ramble*ramble*ramble*

I started my pre-op liquid fast on June 4th. Lost 13 lbs. by surgery time, June 25th. However, in the 5-6 weeks post surgery, I have only lost another 5 lbs. I was surprised how MUCH liguid volume I could take post-surgery. Was still JUST as hungry as pre-surgery. Started eating puree 1.5 weeks out, and then solids only 1 week more. I can eat ANYTHING now. Just like the girl, "I don't understand my lapband" I feel the same way. I have to constantly think about food, and how much I should not eat, when I had assumed the banding would do that for me. I have not had a fill yet at all- am scheduled for this coming Monday. Will that make the difference? I had read in the forums that some say it takes 3 fills before you stop feeling hungry often? I am ready for this lion to become the cat just like the TV commercial. At what point does that happen? (and btw- I am exercising on a regular basis- water areboics 30 min per day at least 4-5x per week)

Hi. Hang in there and don't look back. I have restarted after 4 years away; and eating poorly. I thought my stomach was too far stretched to even try. But then I read your post and others, and I have renewed faith to move forward. I am lost, I keep reading, I am in and out of ketosis. Some days I am afraid to eat anything. Other days, I want to eat everything. It's all in my head I know, so now I am exercising, fasting, and into Protein shakes, powder, and liquid. When I am not hungry, I am ok. But seems everything on tv, and outside focus is on food, food, food. I need to lose 25 lbs. I have lost 21 on my own; and now need help to make it to the end. been hovering at 204 for the last week. Well, that's all for now. Glad you are out there and sharing.

when i get them its because im eating too fast. my mouth over produces saliva and it fills my pouch with foamy spit. i eventually throw it up. not a good feeling at all so i am definitely keeping my meals at a slow pace.

Quoting from the My Fitness Pal message boards, cleanses, detoxes, juice fast, and colonics are all "woo". Just a bunch of claptrap.

Hi Rachel, It does get better, you should move around as much as possible especially for the gas pain. I learned really fast!

40lbs is amazing in such little time!! I had bypass on 4/23 & last time I weighed myself (5 days ago) I was down 26lbs. I'm losing pretty fast. I never really put a figure in how much I thought I'd lose after surgery. Sent from my SM-G955U using BariatricPal mobile app

People have a lot of weird misconceptions about how fast they'll lose weight and how much weight they'll lose after weight loss surgery. Would be nice if the seminars did a better job of presenting this information factually up front. Mine did, but it seems like a lot of folks feel mislead when they're a few months out. Statistically, most people will lose on one side or the other of about 60% of their excess weight in 18 months. This is the average result. Most people will maintain a 55% of excess weight weight loss three years after surgery...which beats the hell out of the results of conventional dieting. Some people will hit goal and lose 100% of their excess weight....which is awesome! Some people will never reach a 50% loss of excess weight and end up feeling defeated. Obviously, if you work hard, follow your diet, follow a good exercise program and have good support...your odds of reaching goal go up. The biggest part is compliance, for sure. But there's also a biological component. Diabetics have a tougher time. Metabolic syndrome folks have a tougher time. Older folks have a tougher time. PCOD folks have a tougher time. Mental health issues can make things harder. Certain necessary medications can make things harder. People with limited mobility have a tougher time. Youth helps. Good general health helps. A good support system helps. No two people have the same experience with this wild ride.

I feel fine. There is still a little bit of pain more on my left side than my right side. I went to school for 30 minutes yesterday and an hour today. I do get tired very fast, should I be worried?

Just got my bloodwork results back from my doctor...and this is only 1 month post surgery...but my numbers have improved big time! Total Cholesterol was 194, is now 169 (ideal is below 200) LDL was 113, is now 107 (ideal is below 100) Triglycerides was 190, is now 99 (below 150 is ideal) HDL was 43, is now 42 (THIS NEEDS TO GET BETTER, Above 60 is ideal) Fasting sugars were 105, are now 81 (YAHOO! My risk for diabetes has gone down substantially) So now I just have to get that HDL above 60, my LDL a few more points down below 99, and keep working to get my fasting sugars a bit lower and I'll be in pretty good shape. But my doctor told me beforehand not to expect much since it's only a month out from surgery. That I should see a great improvement in 3-6 months from now. So I'm pretty stoked that they are as good as they are already. My genetic risk for diabetes and heart disease is big, so I'm very happy to get into healthy ranges. Weight is down 53 pounds...another 30-35 to go to reach my goal. As I now say...onward and DOWNWARD!

Hi, im 5 weeks post op and ive been feeling hungry since surgery. I was told while in the hospital that I would still feel hungry. Noat Im able to eat real food as I like to call it, lol I feel hungry more often. Like I eat and an hour late "im hungry" If im busy its no big deal, I just drink Water to fill my stomach up..but at night while im laying bed watching tv and my stomach growls what do you do? Well i either ignore it, or I eat a sugar free popsicle or some sugar free pudding. If you are truly hungry you have to feed yourself. You just dont have to feed yourself High fat High Calorie foods and you dont have to eat but a bite or two to feel satsfied. I would ask are you eating enough during the day. Yes you said 3x a day plus 2 Snacks. But what are yur eating? how much? how many caloried are getting? are you eating HEALTHY fats? Heathly fats and Healthy Carbs are what keeps us from feeling hungry. Also, are you drinking liquids righ after eating? they say 30 min so that the liquid doesnt empty our stomach so fast so we stay fuller longer. If you dont track you intake yet,,try getting an app. I use sparkpeople.com but ther are plenty out there to choose. I record EVERYTHING i put in my mouth. so I know how much protien i ate, how many cards, how much fat, sodium, etc.... and calories...if you dont eat enough calories your body will go into starvation mode... Stay focused and take care of yourself....