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Good luck! I was converted 4 weeks ago and was able to do both in one surgery. I too had the Realize band. For me, the surgeries were totally different. The band surgery was easy for me to deal with and I didn't have any issues during recovery. This time around, it has been really hard. I have been extremely tired and I just don't feel like myself. The doctor has told me that I have to keep in mind that I have essentially just had two major surgeries at one time and that I need to take it easy on myself. He told me it could take more than 6 weeks before I start to feel like my normal self. I had pretty bad pain those first couple of days and it seemed like walking the halls was the only time I wasn't in awful pain. I was off the pain killers after the first week and stayed home from work for only two full weeks. I've had to adjust my work schedule a bit and I only end up in the office about 6 hours, but it is better than nothing for my team! I have one of the docs that is very anti-white-carb, so for me that meant giving up the popcorn (so sad) I relied on heavily during my time being banded. It was one of the foods that no matter the amount of restriction I had, I could always eat it. So if I was having a really bad day (meaning throwing up a lot and not able to get anything down) I would switch to Protein shakes and popcorn. I do miss it, but there are so many people on here that can have it, that I just figure if I give myself some time maybe I will try it. The other huge difference to me was that when I was banded, I had no saline in the band when I came out of surgery. It took 3-4 weeks to get my first fill and that really didn't help any. I think I had a good few months of almost no restriction and following the diet was really, really hard for me because most days it was like I didn't have a band. From the moment I woke up from the band removal and RNY, it was like a whole new world. Gone was my ability to drink like the wind and test the limits of my tool. Also, it stopped feeling like liquids and soft foods were sitting in my esophagus like it was with my band - the noose effect I have heard people refer to when talking about the band. Oh and that damn port is gone. I hated my port. It could have been the placement of it, but it got in my way quite a bit and I had pain on and off in that area the whole time I had it. Having it taken out means I had one extra incision for the RNY surgeon. The one incision is a few inches long and it was one of the most painful areas during recovery. RNY causes a lot of left side pain because that is where all of the "work" is done on the insides, but I also had the right side pain to go with it because they have to scrape the port off the wall of your abdominal muscle. Not pleasant, but nothing that pain killers didn't fix! Good luck and I hope you are able to do both the band removal and RNY in one surgery! The best part of that is no fear of weight gain between the two (my biggest fear of all) and only needing to go through one recovery. I was terrified that I was going to wake up bandless with no RNY. I have so much respect for all the folks on this site that have had to go through two surgeries.

Hi Skylily, What a journey you've had! I've had it fairly easy in comparison, but am still struggling to get to a "healthy" weight. I had a set back last year after an injury and spent the past year not exercising and eating what ever I wanted. Somehow I've managed to keep the weight gain to only 12lbs. I'm back on track now, doing medifast (that I get from my WL surgeon) to try to get under 200lbs. Even with the band we all have to work at this! Have you have an xray of your band? The reflux and choking sounds like your band might have slipped. My sister in law had that happen afer she had a baby. The band slipped and the reflux was terrible. She had her band totally unfilled and after 4 weeks the band is back where it's supposed to be. She's starting to have it refilled next week. Might be worth a visit to your surgeon to have that checked out. Good luck to you on your weight loss journey!

As of today i have lost 30lbs since my preop diet and the surgery. That means i added my 3rd bead. But the most exciting thing today is i noticed i have lost 5 points off my BMI... now thats exciting a long way to go but Yay. I am a bit worried as of today i am on high dose steriods due to a bad case of bronchitis and that is a worry cause it causes blood sugar spikes and weight gain. So got to watch it..

When you start exercising, you can retain a bit of Water in your muscles which can account for weight gain. Muscle doesnt weigh more than fat, its just that a pound of muscle takes up less space than a pound of fat. People say it flippantly and its misleading, what it simply means is that if you have more muscle you'll weigh more. But its fantasy to think anyone can gain few pounds of muscle from doing a couple of weeks of cardio - most women wont gain that much after a year of weight training. The real truth is that when people first start exercising, its hard work, takes lots of effort and dedication but its not really that intense in terms of what exercise can be for someone who is fit and athletic and a seasoned exerciser. It is possible to burn 1000 calories in an hour running, but you sure as eggs cant do that when you start. A couple of hundred calories a day is not that huge an amount of calories to be burning, its not going to make THAT much difference. Also there's the tiredness you feel as a result of your efforts until you're more conditioned, you kind of slow down for the rest of the day and burn less calories overall which kind of nets out the exercise. Not to worry, if you keep at it, you get fitter and you will get to the stage where you can say go out for a run, come home and continue with your day without even feeling tired. You'll get there. You really have to watch what you eat too, its not uncommon to eat more as a result of exercising - it may make you hungrier or you may subconsciously think you can afford to because you've exercised. Weight loss still comes down mainly to diet. All those are factors why exercise may not give you the weight loss result you may expect - at first. Keep at it and it will pay off and at first cardio everyday is GREAT, its the best fat burner and that's what you want for the present time, to get rid of fat. Dont be discouraged by gain, it wont go far and it will reverse quickly.

Well this initially started as a search to find out if it was worth it to buy protien shakes that have 30g+ of protien in them. I am still not fully satisfied that say those 3oz shots of 42g of protien are a waste. I would love some real answers backed up by medical websites that are in plain english as to whether the body can use 42g of protien in one meal what is the magic number? Obviously obsene amounts of protien are a big mistake. But if we are supposed to have 60-80g a day why not have it all at once or in two meals? It seems to me that nomatter what it is calories in the end that determine weight gain or loss. Eating enough protien prevents our body from burning muscle eating too much protien can lead to other health problems like gout. We all know what a healthy per day total is for us from our nutritionists if no one else. But it still begs the question of how much can be absorbed from one meal. If it truly absorbs all the way through the intestines then it would be in our system for what like 24hr's? It seems that in that time it would make the argument moot whether a 42g shot of protien is a waste or not. I am not trying to be argumentative. I am just frustrated at the lack of solid information I have been able to find via the internet. Every source seems to disagree and most of the sources I have seen on the internet are body building sites and I'm sorry but I don't believe their info is necessarily correct for the general public at least. I just want real answers that are backed up by something that is written in lay language so that I can follow it. Jack I love you but with all your technical talk you lose me, I was a music major not a science major.

Thanks for the information so far! I did a little research on the Internet and the following is an excerpt from Chalene Johnson's Blog Spot The temporary weight gain explained: When someone starts a new exercise program, they often experience muscle soreness. The more intense and "unfamiliar" the program, the more intense the muscle soreness. This soreness is most prevalent 24 to 48 hours after each workout. In the first few weeks of a new program, soreness is the body trying to "protect and defend" the effected or targeted tissue. Exercise physiologists refer to this as delayed-onset muscle soreness, or DOMS. This type of soreness is thought to be caused by tissue breakdown or microscopic tears in muscle tissue. When this happens the body protects the tissue. The muscle becomes inflamed and slightly swollen with Fluid retention. This temporary retention of fluid can result in a 3- to 4-pound weight gain within a few weeks of a new program. Keep in mind that muscle soreness is not necessarily a reflection of how hard you worked. In fact, some people feel no signs of muscle soreness, yet will experience the muscle protection mechanisms of Water retention and slight swelling.

Is there any way you can see a counselor? Maybe some of the issues that caused your weight gain in the first place, are resurfacing? It sounds like you are slipping back in to the bad habits. Maybe talking with a professional will help you. New Year....New Start!

I have just had my 3rd fill and I am up to 2.6 cc's in my 4 cc band. I have a little restriction but not enough. I don't swell from fills which bums me out a little, but oh well. I still have to wait 2 weeks before I get another fill and it took my 7 weeks to get this one because my MD couldn't figure out how they wanted to do it, in the office or under floro. They also had to get the supplies into the office. Finaly, they did end up putting .5 cc in my band. I have gained a couple of pounds back, but it could be fluid retention because my ankles and calves are swollen. I know that I have heard that a fill can spontaneously make you have restriction weeks after the fill, but if there is no initial swelling then why can't I feel it now? is there anyone else that doesn't swell that has gotten a fill and didn't feel a change right away? Did you feel restriction a week or 2 after your fill? Just wondering. I am really upset about the weight gain because I know how much I normally fluctuate and this is actual gain. :cry

Wow, that's really crummy of your PCP. Having such a huge life-change ignored feels just as bad as if he were totally negative about it. I am thinking about finding a new PCP, too. My husband and I are going to be having lap band surgery in about 6 months (insurance requirements - DOH). We have been seeing a husband and wife pair of doctor's as our PCP's for about seven years. About 6 months ago, before I had even really decided to get WLS, my doctor and I were discussing my latest weight gain and how difficult the previous year had been for me. I asked her opinion of WLS and was totally FLOORED when she looked me straight in the eye and said she "I think it's the absolute worst thing you could do". I was shocked. She went on to tell me about studies and there being no evidence that long-term weight loss was the norm after WLS and more negative stuff that ended with her telling me about what a "wonderful example of someone who got it right, the actor Jason Alexander", was. Apparently, she saw him on tv talking about how seeing a shrink and "fixing what was going on in his head finally helped him lose the weight". So, not only was she basically insinuating that I would be stupid and wrong to get WLS and that I was crazy, to boot. My husband has since found out, through conversations with her husband, his PCP, feels pretty much the same. We just really need to find another doctor, because we are both dreading telling them about my decision to have WLS and just don't really want to hear what they has to say on the matter. We've only told my Mom and my best friend about our decision, who are both very supportive. I am nervous about telling my sister, too.

Generally when we undergo an operation in a hospital we are treated with antibiotics to protect us from harmful bacteria present in a hospital. This kills not only the bad bacteria but also the good gut bacteria in our colons. As a result, many of us take probiotics to reestablish the colonies of good bacteria in our gut. I came across research of gut flora this morning that seemed interesting. Our body’s microbiome, the bacteria living in symbiotic harmony in our gut provides us with a source of wellness. Two small, exploratory studies, analyzed microblome in terms of change and resilience. Influence of Geographical Change In the first study, researchers looked at the diversity of our gut flora as individuals immigrated and assimilated, changing diet and geography. The inspiration may have been the finding that immigrants to the US often develop weight gain and Western diseases - obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and coronary artery disease. While refeeding of individuals who came from food challenged areas is felt to be part of the issue, changing diet has also been implicated. The authors collected stool samples, 24-hour food recall surveys and demographics from two distinct Thai populations, the Hmong and Karen. Individuals included those still living in Thailand as well as immigrants (1st generation) and their children (2nd generation). Thai immigrants were chosen because the study was conducted in Minnesota a central site for their immigration; women formed the predominant research population because they were more frequently the immigrants. Americans of European ancestry served as the control. * Microbiologic richness and diversity were greatest in current Thai residents. * 30% of that diversity was lost in the first generation immigrants, and the diversity continued to decline and resemble that of the control group as time in the US increased and in the 2nd generation, American born Thai children. * Bacteroides strains replaced Prevotella strains among immigrants, the extent of that shift again associated with length of residence in the US. * The loss of Prevotella was felt to be the driving force behind a decreasing functional ability of the microbiome to degrade dietary fibers indigenous to the native Thai diet. Think of it as use it or lose it. * Dietary shifts to a Western diet was felt to account for only about 16% of total variation. * Westernization of the microbiome began within nine months of arrival. Resilience A second, "proof of concept" like study, looked at 12 healthy men treated for four days with an antibiotic cocktail meant to mimic common first-line choices for intensive care patients. [1] The outcome was the effect on the gut microbiome over a subsequent six month period, again measured by stool cultures taken at various time intervals. It is no surprise, at least to clinicians, that the antibiotics did not sterilize the gut, but it did bring about changes. * There was an immediate drop in the diversity and richness of the microbiologic populations, but by Day 8 diversity was returning although it never reached baseline values. * By Day 8, the relative abundance of about 50 species changed, some increasing and others decreasing – clearly, the ecology was different. And while some bacterial species were still absent after six months, by Day 42, the ecology had, for the most part, returned to its baseline. * Antibiotic resistance was only one of many virulence factors enhanced by the antibiotic exposure that lead to an early increase in pathologic bacteria. But over time the pathologic bacteria were again overrun by more symbiotic species. Virulence factors * Interestingly, Clostridium species which had not been seen initially were now present – this is a species that forms spores as protection in an unhealthy environment and then returns to its other form when “the coast is clear;” it is the source of antibiotic-related hospital-acquired morbidity, C. difficile diarrhea. Source: I Sing The Body's Microbiome So what are some of the takeaways? First, antibiotic treatment does not sterilize the gut microbiome. But it does reduce the diversity and richness of gut bacteria. Recovery of the colonies of good gut bacteria begins about 8 days after the antibiotic treatment end. So a patient is more vulnerable to pathologic bacteria during that time. For example - it is the source of antibiotic-related hospital-acquired morbidity, C. difficile diarrhea. Therefore using probiotics after the antibiotic treatment ends and you leave the hospital is a good approach in order to quickly reestablish the diversity of good gut bacteria.

During the time that I planned my meals post Gastric Sleeve I never ventured off the "reservation" so to speak. My diet has consisted of dense proteins as these things gave me nutrition and filled me up. The added benefit was, they also helped maintain my weight goal. In my last post I described a slight weight gain that I'm having difficulty taking off. I recently visited my surgeon for my regular six month check up and while all of my blood tests were good my A1c went from 5.6 to 6.5. Diabetes that I have lowered with WLS has come back. I realized that I changed my diet from all dense proteins to a mixture of dense proteins and fruits. Post surgery I did not eat fruits or vegetables ( my choice) as I found the proteins to give me adequate substance and to be filling. A family member had WLS and her surgeon told her to eat fruits and veggies. I went along with her meal plan and it had a negative effect on me. I gained weight and my A1c was elevated. She on the other hand has maintained her goal weight and her blood tests including her A1c are in the normal range. What do I take away from this? Could there be metabolic changes in our bodies post WLS that either assist or deter our abilities to switch diets or to lose weight after a regain? I asked my surgeon and he wasn't sure himself. Since we have many people on the forum who are staying atop the newest science as it pertains to Weight Loss Surgery maybe someone could help me shed some light on this subject. As always, I appreciate the advice and I wish everyone success with your new found health.

yup, perfectly normal. If you've just moved from liquids to soft, then you suddenly have mass in your colon. which was pretty empty from the weeks of liquid. Lots of people see the scale move up at this stage. notice I did not say weight gain. Very important. Any weight lost before the first fill is BONUS and not band weight loss. Many people don't lose any real weight until after their first and sometimes second fill. Cheers and Courage!

Hello! I'm new to the forums. For the last two weeks, I have been reading stories of amazing transformations, overcoming hurdles, regrets and fears. It's positively overwhelming! I'm currently at 118kgs, 26 years old, have been overweight all my life due to many ailments that started around the age of 9. The weight gain was a side effect which, in turn, kickstarted PCOD, thyroid, Insulin resistance, fibromyalgia, deficiencies etc. To top it off, I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis 2 years back-which hasn't made things easier. My doctor has been suggesting a Bariatric surgery for a few years now, but I could never muster up the courage. Instead, I kept trying endless diets, fads, shakes, exercises etc. Always managed to lose between 6-10 kgs but it never sustained. Now that I'm unable to exercise due to constant pain, I've given up all hope of losing weight. Decided on getting a sleevetonomy 3 months back but was told have to get my ESR levels (due to RA) down first. I would really want to get the procedure done in November. Just wanted to ask if anyone ever had irrational thoughts and endless anxiety about the procedure? Cause it's keeping me up at night. I've never really gotten any surgery done, or even stayed at a hospital overnight. Anesthesia scares me, waking up mid-surgery scares me, endoscopies scare me, the thought of dying scares me, along with the stupidest things like not being able to wear innerwear during surgery, needing a catheter etc etc. I really need to overcome this!!! Did anyone ever experience similar bouts of panic? -Maggie

I also drink before I eat until a few minutes before the next meal. This is acceptable to my band surgeon. Like RestlessMonkey and others, it is not really a question of whether or not you drink while you eat or immediately afterwards. It hurts too much and sometimes liquid comes right back up. Hmmm. I drank soda during pregnancy because I had no fill and was entirely open. I ended up with a slipped band and dilated pouch. My band had to be replaced one week ago. The surgeon said the dilation was caused partially by soda and partially by having a slip for an extended period. The gas expands in your pouch and the gas doesn't escape fast enough. Yes it escapes eventually, just not quickly enough. If you have read very many posts regarding banding, most people complain about gas problems post banding. It is difficult to relieve it and there is a lot of it . . . and that is when you are not drinking soda. Throw soda on top of it and it makes sense you might just have a problem. If you do get banded, gas is one of the first things that will give you problems and you might look at this discussion differently at that time. You would think that, like liquid, gas should also be able to flow back and forth fairly easily but experience for most of us with bands tells us different. Could all of those surgeons possibly be wrong??? There are many points upon which different surgeons disagree . . . but the "no soda" rule seems to be uniform across most. Many of us decide to pick and choose which rules we want to follow . . . unfortunately some of us suffer dire consequences for doing so. I agree on checking on the rationale behind some rules but I think this one is better followed than ignored from personal experience. For your own sake and the health of your band-to-be, please be careful about what you choose to do or not do post banding. Too many of us make our own decisions to not follow some of the band rules and either don't lose, don't lose as much as we want or cause irreversible damage to our bands. Is she holier-than-thou because she has a different opinion than yours post banding? I guarantee you that your feelings on a lot of subjects pertaining to banding will change dramatically once you have the experience of being banded yourself. It happens to all of us since experience is one of our greatest teachers. In my opinion, I don't think Crystal Light if really much different nutritionally than soda. However, post banding you are supposed to avoid soda due to pouch dilation so CL is indeed a better choice than soda given dietary restrictions. Studies have also shown that sugar substitutes can lead to weight gain in some people due to a multitude of reasons, but that would apply to both diet soda, CL and a ton of other beverages. Good luck with banding.

I pulled that article for you Gummiebear. It's a good read. Think You Need a Fill? THINK AGAIN By Nikki Johnson Do you remember that feeling you had when you first had your band placed? For a while, everything was great. You didn't experience hunger, you felt satisfied with a small portion of good food, you had more energy, and you were thrilled with your initial weight loss progress. If you are like most people, your experience changed over time, Some of those feelings of hunger returned, and you stopped losing weight. You knew you needed something, so you went to your surgeon's office and asked for a "fill" right? If so, you might be surprised to learn that it is your thinking about your band, and not the band itself, that needs adjusting. The LAP-BAND Bad Word Paul O'Brien, MD, FRACS, is a skillful, compassionate surgeon and a foremost expert on the LAP-BAND System. he was involved in its design in the early 1990's and placed the first band in Australia in 1994. Since then, he has treated thousands of patients and is recognized worldwide for his expertise. When his patients utter that worst of four-letter words, "fill," in his office, they are asked to throw a dollar in the Red Cross donation bucket--a reminder that, according to Dr. O'Brien, thinking about a "fill" is just wrong thinking. How can a concept that we hear about so constantly be so very wrong? Dr. O'Brien's answer is simple: "Any adjustment to the band is something that only takes place in the context of clinical consultation--part of a relationship of trust, honesty and communication between patient and surgeon--that is much more key to the success of the patient than the precise number of milliliters of Fluid in the band. This concept of partnership is the central theme of Dr. O'Brien's new book, The Lap-Band Solution--A Partnership of Weight Loss. Patty's Note: Available on Amazon.com ISBN#9780522854121 Like many people, you might assume that weight gain or a sustained plateau means an incorrectly adjusted band; in fact, you may be right. But you may be surprised to learn that weight gain sometimes results from a band that is too tight. This is part of the reason why the "fill" concept is so misleading. If your surgeon determines that you are not losing weight as you should, then discovering why that is happening is crucial. Sometimes adding fluid to the band will only make matters worse. Life in the "GREEN ZONE" Most people who have the LAP-BAND operation will have an amazing feeling of disinterest in food for the first week after surgery, before any adjustments are even made to the fluid in the band. According to Dr. O'Brien, that lack of interest in food is referred to as satiety. A related but different feeling is satiation, or the feeling you get as you are eating, precisely at the point that you don't need any more food to eat but you do not have an uncomfortable feeling of fullness. These two feelings--satiety and satiation--are what the properly adjusted band helps you achieve, allowing you to maintain your new healthier eating habits. Your careful observation and truthful sharing of your feelings and eating behaviors, combined with the expert care and training of your surgeon and his or her staff, can make the very individual determination of whether your band is properly adjusted much more accurate. In order to help create the most effective partnership between themselves and their patients, Dr. O'Brien and his colleagues at the Australian Centre for Obesity Research and Education have developed a concept they refer to as the "Green Zone". When patients are in the green zone, they experience satiety, satiation after properly-sized small meals, and satisfactory weight loss or maintenance. However, there are also yellow and red zones, both of which indicate that the band is not optimally adjusted. If your band is too loose, you will not have the benefits the band's hunger-controlling mechanism. If your band is too tight, you will have trouble eating properly and may actually gain weight because the foods you can eat more comfortable, that tend to be liquid and calorie-rich, like ice cream and chocolate, do not provide the proper nutrition. Learning to recognize when you have the feelings and eating behaviors that signal a problem can help you give your surgeon the information he or she needs to help you keep the band optimally adjusted. Thinking Adjustment Once you have eliminated the concpet of "fills" from you Lap-Band vocabulary, you will be able to let go of much of the conventional thinking connected to it. Perhaps you have heard talk about the "ideal" amount of fluid in the Lap-Band. While it may be helpful to have some idea of how much fluid is in your band, Dr. O'Brien says there is no magic number. No perfect amount of fluid will provide the best results for everyone. He says, rather, that "whatever volume of fluid is needed to achieve the [feeling of non-hunger] is the correct volume." When you notice that you are feeling hungry or are not losing weight, your body is telling you it is time to revisit your partner in weight loss -- your surgeon. your success absolutely depends on this relationship. So rather than thinking "adjustments," adjust your thinking, and, in partnership with your surgeon, find a lifetime of health! For more information about all of the themes discussed in this article, please see Dr. O'Brien's book, The Lap-Band Solution--A Partnership for Weight Loss, which is available fro Amazon.com. We also invite you to visit LAP-BAND® System Forum - Home for more information and supportive resources.

@@finding_onederland I had a small hiatus hernia over 20 years ago. I was most surprised after my pre op endoscopy, that it was gone! It fixed itself, amazing. As to reflux, I had a bit of intermittent reflux in the past couple of years, I put it down to my big weight gain, and eating lot of chocolates. I was given pantoprazole that I took for 2-3 weeks, and was good afterward. Post op, gastric sleeve however, I was horrified by the strong reflux I had, even while on rabeprazole. Every day I was uncomfortable or in pain during my nightly reflux foaming and frothing attacks. I also noticed that at every food phase change, reflux was bad again, even with me eating the correct food, eating slowly and chewing lots. So for me, Nexium was heaven sent. It fixed my reflux, and from then on I was fine. Good luck to you.

I am in urgent need of a mentor/support buddy. I am several years post op. I was getting comfortable with my size about 18 months after surgery. I really don't know what happened after that. I know that I got super busy with work. I got laid off. I have a gazillion responsibilities with the kids. I have four children, one about to start college, one sophomore, one 8th grader, and one in elementary. I became a PTA president ( dumb, I know ). I did TONS of volunteer work until I started my new job. Somewhere in the span of these past 6 years, I have been a faithful wife of a deputy who has had four episodes of unstable angina, and has undergone 4 PTCAs and has had 7 stents placed. That was a bit distracting. Long story short, life happened. I know that life happens to everyone, but I let myself forget that I'm a lap-band patient. Sure, I was used to everyone commenting on how little I ate, but I could usually explain all that away. I ate what I wanted when I wanted, and I didn't bat an eye. I really didn't notice any difference in my life. But I had a reality check recently when I couldn't fit into one of my old scrub tops. What the hell??? I realized that for the last 5 months, I really have packed on some weight. I hadn't weighed myself in over a year. Since I got down to 175, I was pretty satisfied, so I just stopped doing it. I went in to work and weighed myself, and I found that my new weight is 202! I thought about things. I've been having severe reflux, to the point of waking up choking on my own vomit (essentially). I gained 27 pounds in 5 months. I was just a hot mess. Clearly, I know better. So I FINALLY went in and saw by surgeon. He remarked how proud he was because he hadn't seen me since 2008, but I was at the same weight as I was in 2008. I had to explain to him that I had gotten down to 175, and had a recent issue with weight gain. I realized, as I drove home yesterday, that I really did fool myself into thinking my relationship with food had changed. And really, it has in some ways, but I guess not in a good way. I developed a passion for the culinary arts about two years after surgery, and have become quite the food snob. I make my own EVERYTHING from scratch. I use fresh ingredients. I use (GASP!) butter, half and half, and real, honest-to-goodness eggs. I know! I drink great wine. I know! I'm a crazy lady. I thought that since my portions were so small, it wasn't a big deal for me to enjoy good food. Clearly, 27 pounds later, I was wrong. My relationship with food is just as unhealthy as ever. I just eat better food. My doctor said that the reflux and tenderness around my port was due to the weight gain. He unfilled me and placed me on a liquid diet for 2 weeks. I haven't even made it one full week, and I've eaten 3 meals. They were not unhealthy at all ( for example: grilled tilapia and steamed veggies when we went out for the boss' birthday yesterday), but I had ZERO self control. Why didn't I stick with Water? Because I suck at this! I WANT to be healthy. I WANT to be sexy. I WANT to feel comfortable in my own skin. But I have come to realize that I SUCK at self control. I would love to lean on my husband for support, but 1) he doesn't understand this struggle, and 2) he's hardly ever home. Seriously. I feel like (and get confused with being) a single mom the majority of the time. So please, is there anyone out there who gets me? I need your help. I need to share email addresses, etc. I need help from someone. I have been a good girl today. I've only had coffee with Splenda and ff non-dairy creamer, 1 Atkins shake, and chicken broth. I'm good right now. But who knows about tomorrow?

No- I have never heard of that shake. I know that there are Protein drinks for weight gain, but there are also some for weight loss or Meal Replacement. When Ive resorted to having to drink a Protein Shake I have had the low carb Tigers Milk one and the EAS low carb drink. Wal Mart makes a good generic brand.

I just thought I would share some of my story for those of you who are struggling with getting to the green zone as I am. I was banded in July. I lost 15 lbs in 14 days on the pre op diet. My first fill was 2 CC and I was primed with 1CC during my procedure. I had 5 fills in between then and now. I only lost another 15 and gained 5 back even though I felt like I was eating way less. I realized i had been misleading my Dr., unintentionally. I had been telling them what I was eating. Not what I was capable of eating. When I was discouraged, my portions became larger as I started to give up and not watch what I was putting in my mouth. Had I been more forthcoming with what I was able to eat, he most likely would have been giving me larger fills. I was also discouraged right after a fill. The first week I would be tight and feeling like I was in the green zone and by week 2 I could eat almost anything again. I was embarrassed that I had gained those 5 lbs back and finally worked up the courage to make another fill appointment and get back on track. I went to my fill appointment and waited until my dr came in, fully expecting to be scolded or frowned upon for my weight gain. I explained to him everything that I was experiencing and he gave me a larger fill of .75 CC. I believe my band has just over 5CC now. He also wrote me a prescription for a new drug called contrave. At first I was resistant to try it. I just had weight loss surgery and now it's back to the pills that have never worked for me in the past? He told me it was only temporary and it was a way to jump start my weight loss as the scale was moving in the wrong direction. I agreed. Filled the prescription and waited two days before I started taking it. I read some reviews online and found very few positive ones. I decided to give it a shot anyway despite the negative side effects I read about online. Turns out, it is working for me. I have lost 9 lbs in a very short period of time and the scale is moving in the right direction again. I have my motivation back, however I am experiencing some side effects but very mild and they have lessoned as time went on. So the moral of this story is.. Communicate with your surgeon and be extremely honest. And DON'T give up

Remember LapBand is a tool NOT a magic wand. I have to remind myself of this as well. Follow the rules and you will lose weight, it is that simple. Making the proper choices is the challenge we all face and the challenge we faced before WLS but before WLS we made poor food choices which lead us down the weight gain path. Everyone loses at a different pace and please be careful not to compare your success with others. Just be mindful that every bite counts. I wish you much success and be kind to yourself.

I can't make a decision for you, but I can shed some light on my thought process as I had the same thoughts and fears you did. I went around and around with this for more than two years. I was really scared of the small, but real possibility that something could go wrong. I have two children and a husband who is disabled with muscular dystrophy. He is completely dependent on me for all things. While he is a wonderful husband and father, he cannot drive the kids around to their activities, or get himself to their stuff. If something happened to me, it would be devastating to my family beyond just the loss of a mother. I was 272 lbs when I finally made my decision. I had no other co morbitities other than some mild sleep apnea. But the reality is, the chances of my having a heart attack, or developing diabetes and all the complications that go with it are much higher than 1%!! Then where would I be, and where would that leave them? I was only living half my life....if even that. I tried doing it on my own, but the reality has always been, I would have some success and then gain it all back plus an extra ten pounds for good measure. I finally decided enough was enough. I did my research, found a really good surgeon who has logged several hundred of the proceedure I was doing. It was time to give my trust to GOD, the surgeon and his team. I figured if it was my time, then it would be my time one way or another regardless if I went through the surgery or not. I was part of the 99.9% where everything goes right. I have read the posts of people who have had terrible complications. My heart goes out to them. I also see how that can really scare someone who is still deciding. But, now that I have done this and taken the chance, I am so happy that I did. I have undone over 15 years of weight gain in just three months. I am finally eating healthy and feeding my family healthy and enjoying it. I still have just a little under half way to go, but I now know it is doable! I have so much more energy for my family and feel like I am living life again. Yes, there is some risk, but it is a calculated and small risk to take, with huge gains on the other side.

I'm so sorry that you have to go thru this with your mom. It' is so hard to have your life changed and all out of whack too. I think you are very courageous> I also took care of my Mom and my Mother in Law in their last days. It was very hard to leave to go even to the store. You worry the whole time you are gone. Maybe you can go back to your basic program. I know it will be hard but you don't want your weight gains to continue. I would go back to measuring everything. Write everything you eat and drink down in a journal. It helps when you can actually, see where you are at. I don't know if this will help but good luck. BTW be sure you are getting your water and protein in.

No weight gain...no weight loss. I wish this wasn't my story. Posted by AngieB, Jun 11 2009, 02:34 PM Admin/Owner Options Make This Entry A Draft

I read an interesting article on here yesterday that really made me stop to think - why was I overweight? Was I just going to blame my bad habits on my parents for the rest of my life? Or was there something more to it than that? Part of the reason I've avoided thinking about it before is because to do so would be admitting to myself that I had a problem. When someone talks about overeating or people with eating problems, I immediately conjure up in my mind people that snack on potato chips constantly, eat half a cake for a snack, and chug a 2 liter bottle of coke with each meal. And since I didn't eat like that, then I'm obviously not in the same category as those people, right? Well, it's only now that I'm beginning to see and accept that I *am* overweight, that I *do* look overweight to my peers, and that hardly anyone who is overweight eats an entire pizza in a single sitting. So I sat down and really thought about the painful things (yep, I cried) and tried to get to the bottom of what was behind my weight gain and poor eating habits. Why do I eat? Denial - If I didn't eat at all during the morning, then I must have some extra calories to spare in the evenings. If I didn't diet then I couldn't fail. If I didn't diet then that meant I didn't need to diet. Control - Eat what I want, no one can tell me not to. Not missing out on my favorite foods. Sadness - I earned or deserved it. Ability to relax or distract myself and not think too much. Boredom - Keeps me busy, something easy and enjoyable to do. Better than just sitting and doing nothing. Rewarding - I cooked it, accomplished that it turned out great. Some of my earliest memories of food as a child were that of my dad eating the last of my favorite food. Many times we'd have left overs and if I wanted to save something for myself for later, I'd have to choose between eating when I wasn't hungry or eating more than I needed. Often I would find myself in the situation where my dad would have a large dinner and eat the last of whatever I was saving for myself and I was forced to have something else that I didn't want or sometimes I just chose not to eat. I also remember very vividly this fear of eating something "ok" only to find out that my parents had decided to have pizza for dinner after my dad got home. So more times than I would like to remember I would have 2 dinners because I didn't want to "miss out" on the special food that was ordered or prepared later in the evening. My parents were also ALWAYS dieting. We did Atkins on and off for years. After I moved out I really began to resent them for this. I was obsessed with thinking about food and diet and my weight - eventually to the point that I swung to the other end of spectrum and avoided all diets and forms of calorie control. I wanted desperately to be accepting of my body and who was, I some how tricked myself into thinking that to love myself mean I wasn't suppose to care about what I ate. I tried a couple of diets after highschool, but I didn't want to turn into one of those compulsive dieters that spends most of their life yo-yo-ing and failing. I didn't want to fall for fads. I didn't want to turn into someone that hated my body. Now as an adult, I am beginning to realize and accept the fact that I have complete control over my body. That no one is going to run off and hide my favorite mashed potatoes. And if for some reason I run out of a certain meal before I am tired of it, I can always make more when I need to. Food is becoming more about "what I need to survive" and variety and less about what I am craving. And I'm getting better at saying no to cravings and impulses or limiting the extent to which I give in (having only 1 cupcake every couple days, as opposed to a huge slice of cake with dinner). The food isn't going anywhere and I don't need to eat it before it disappears. I am giving our family more structure so that our daughter doesn't have to have the same worries I did as a child - and I want more than anything, even if I can never save myself, to teach her positive attitudes about food and have her educated about the effects of foods on the body so that she can make healthy choices and live wisely. I don't want her scared of food or obsessed with food - I want her to learn to be normal. Or even if she has some of the same issues I do, to have the confidence and education to make wise choices.

Its such a long time since I posted on here, I cant even remember just when it was. Everyone seems to be losing loads of weight, well done all of you. Unfortunately I'm back where I started almost. I know its not an excuse but 3 years ago I developed breast cancer, and for the surgery I needed to have most of the saline taken out. Then 2 weeks later I had further surgery to remove my Lymph Nodes under my arm. I had given up smoking 6 months earlier, I dont know if that triggered the weight gain or not. I also lost my Mother just before I got cancer, but not once have I wanted those nasty old ciggies. I have had a few fills, since the surgery but I still cant get rid of the 2 stone I put on. I cant eat a great deal and I get dreadful acid reflux. It makes me wonder if my body has grown used to accepting less food and has slowed my metabolism down. Hope this doesnt depress anyone. Keep smiling and carry on losing xxx