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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

Hi ... I am unsure if this message will be read or acknowledged but I thought I would give it a go. I'm Angela, 27 years old . I'm engaged to my college sweetheart, Paul. We've known each other for 8 years now and he has been my rock throughout the years. We studied sport and exercise and I had hoped to progress to become a fitness instructor. I loved working out, always made me feel good afterwards. I loved the gym, swimming, hurling and dancing (I know some people debate about wither dance is a sport or not but it burns calories). I grew up without a dad. He left when I was a baby. My mother had a hard time and I didnt make things easy for her as a child. She was my best friend. At the weekends she used to do fun an interesting things with me like make a tent out of a bed sheet and chairs and we would cuddle with hot chocolate and marshmallows and read stories. She was a great mother. She died during my third year of studies and I hit rock bottom. I gave up on the idea of being a fully qualified fitness instructor and running my own gym(s) and I took over my mother's business, a little florist shop. I began binge eating and I started off thinking that because of my body's metabolism, I wouldn't gain weight. I was very wrong to assume I would never gain a pound. I did not notice the weight gain until my clothes shrunk. At first I blamed the tumble dryer. This upset me and what did I do? Only retreat back to the cookie jar again. I no longer felt full after a mcdonalds children happy meal. Now I am able to eat an extra large big mac meal and a regular cheese burger meal together. My BMI has shot up to 45.8 and I am far from the thin girl I used to be. It amazes me sometimes how Paul is still standing by me. He has tried to get me up and exercising again but I've asthma now and I find it hard to do any form of exercising. Ive tried a few diets but they don't work long term. My last option is weight loss surgery. I have only joined this forum and will have a look into the different topics available. Thanks for reading.

I was banded 13 months ago. I have had no weight gain at all in those 13 months. I do have months when it is slower but not weight gain. I absolutley hate not being able to get food down and I am going to get a small unfill. I know how to eat or I would have gained. My after care has not been the best.

Indeed I am a father again and it FREAKS me out. Just kidding, it has been hard having a newborn again but it’s cool. I think some of my weight gain might have been stress related. At any rate, I am down 5 pounds and sticking to a plan. I have cut out diet soda as my psychiatrist told me that apartame is really bad for you. It’s highly addictive and it causes mood issues. I noticed it makes my anxiety worse and my depression worse. Life's stresses. What ya gonna do.* Laughing* Congratulations on the new baby and finding what works to get the scale moving.

After my battle with my insurance company, I was approved. Initially I was told that because I had given birth to twins in the last year, that more than likely that was where my weight gain came from. After they recieved my medical records they saw that I was infact pounds smaller after the birth of my daughters. I had this surgery to improve my health, I have horrible cycles, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and I'm just out of shape. I need to be in good health to take care of my daughters. It has been a struggle for me. The pre-op two weeks diet, i did in moderation, i kicked candy and sodas but i backslide on small portions of food. After surgery on the 28th, i'm scared but a burger sure sounds good. I can not wait to lose this hunger feeling. the only thing keeping me going is the fact that i went through so many doctor visits to get here to screw it all up and I dont want to make myself sick. I'm struggling! I hate the protein drinks! can't drink no more than two, bare drank one today and that was because i put it in coffee. I'm dying for some grits or potatoes. My head hurts alot. taking multi-vit. drinking some water, not really thirsty. I have gas moments and it feels so good to burp. No bowel movement yet. I have consumed a few oz. of chicken broth over the last few days. Any advice?:smile:

Good morning.... So happy I found this site and have the opportunity to share my weight loss journey. I had surgury last August and have lost close to 70 pounds. My story is not typical although I have struggled with weight all my life. At 20 I lost over 100 pounds and kept it off for 10 years. At 30 illness entered my life and I gained it all back plus. I am so very grateful to have the opportunity to lose weight once again. But I have a fear of the success.... since I know nothing in life is guarenteed. I suffered for 8 years with my weight and my illness and now have the freedom to make the best of my health and I'm scared. For many reasons... but most of all, deep inside, I am indignant. Meaning that I know that the outside is only a shell for what's inside. I was forced to recognize this and accept that no matter how thin one is... it does not solve everything. So this morning I faced this fear that I face everyday.... but today I am chosing to throw caution to the wind and begin to maximize my weight loss potential... taking on an exercise ROUTINE and hoping for the best. My motivations for weight loss are difficult to manage. I am not a vain person but appreciate physical beauty. Somewhere along the line in my struggles I gave up on my own.... as if I was not worthy to enjoy that. I have an emotional and psychological illness that forced me to focus on my mental, emotional and spiritual health. I had to let the physical go... the medications played a huge role in the weight gain and my depression and anxiety kept me from trying to exercise to conteract what was happening to my body. I had to find self worth inside and let go of the rest. As I am losing weight, these issues are surfacing and my fear of success and having it taken away again is huge. Also, having experienced this medical/spirtual transformation... I know in my heart that people will be drawn to me for vain reasons and that upsets me. The advice I try to give myself is to stay in the moment and just do my best which is great... because I am maximum capacity person. I was wondering if anyone out there has a similar challenge/fear going on. I would love to here from you. I don't want to waste anymore time on waiting for the right motivation to come along.... This fire needs to be walked through and I welcome your support. Peace, love and understanding, Robin Marie Coley

well if she doesn't notice ( and i'm sure she will because grandma's are notorious for noticing weight gain/loss ) CONGRATUALTIONS ON YOUR SUCCESS!!

You are only 8 days out. Did your doctor give you any directions? I am suppose to be on clear liquids for 2 weeks then when I get approval move to full liquids for a few weeks before I move to mushy food, then soft food then regular food. This should take close to 10 weeks. Your sleeve is still healing, what kind of food are you putting in it? Are you just doing protein shakes or eating real food? Also, the IV fluids cause weight gain, so if you had an IV for a few days that's going to take time to leave your system. Your stomach is still swollen and it takes well over a month for your stomach to full heal inside, so maybe someone else knows better than me, but I had several nutrition classes and they scared the heck out of me with the fact I should not be eating real food or solids because it could cause so many issues. Good luck.

I had the last supper going on also. My surgery is 9-9. I had gained 7 lbs. since May when I went to see my surgeon 2 weeks ago. My liquid diet starts tomorrow officially(8-26) but because of my weight gain, they put me on it two weeks ago. Just told me to up my portions some, which I did. So...I've been doing liquid during the day, but eating supper (just moderately) until tomorrow. It has worked though, because I haven't felt completely deprived. And.. I have lost some of the pounds I put on. The bariatric nurse told me as far as liquids, to go by the "stage 2" diet but that I could also have eggs with cheese and oatmeal.

I have thought the same thing at times (why didn't I have the bypass). My sister had the bypass and what happened to her (as the statistics show) is she lost a bunch of weight and then gain a little back. With the band, it is much slower and steady but I don't think there is the weight gain at the end (because you have always been on solid foods). Anyway, my doctor says that after 3 years, the band and bypass end up being about the same weight loss.

food funerals are a very common topic on this website. I struggle to understand it, but that's just my own experience. I paid out of pocket for the procedure and so I was committed with my mind and pocketbook to making sure I am successful, no matter what. When I received my preop and post op plans, I started comparing all my food choices against my surgeon's directions. If it was something I shouldn't be eating to be successful after surgery, I tried to cut it out before starting the process. I ended up doing an extra few weeks of preop because I was anxious to get the ball rolling. The kinds of foods I crave are my nemesis, not my friends. I wouldn't mourn the loss of someone that ruined my life and ditto for the foods that contributed to my weight gain. Good riddance, I say.

OK, so I have UHC as my insurance right now. But my current plan does not cover the surgery. I am switching to a plan that does cover it, but that will not be effective until Jan 1. In the mean time, I have been going to regular NUT visits (I have been working on this for over a year now, do to insurance changes). Over the last 3 months I have seen some weight gain, and my GP finally referred me to a vascular center. This new Dr. gave me the diagnosis of lymphedema that has gotten inflamed because of outside issues. These outside issues mostly revolve around stress (of a few different types and happened at the same time). I was told by my NUT that for most insurances I need to be at or below my starting weight in order to have surgery. Right now, because of the lymphedema, I am above my starting weight. since lymphedema does not have a "cure" and there is treatment, but it takes time for the treatment to be effective. I was also told that WLS will help with the lymphedema Does anyone have any advise on how I should proceed in the process? I was planning on having the surgery in Feb/Mar with the new ins.... is that now going to be delayed?

I was convinced that my obesity would end my life prematurely. do you feel like you can live a normal healthy life span at the weight you currently are? because honestly, most people who loose weight gain it back and more. this is a powerful tool to give you an edge with those odds. the thing I hear consistently is that people only wish they had done this sooner. You are at a fork in the road, and need to decide which way you want your life to go.

My name is heather and I'm a scalaholic. lol. I've done the same thing and experienced the same thing with the weight gain after peeing. Or even seeing the scale stay the same! I weigh myself about 2 or 3 times a day. Usually 1st thing in the morning. If it's a weekend I'll wait an hour and weigh myself after the morning weigh in and then I usually weigh myself at night just to see how much i'm up from the day. So no it's not just you there are others out there just like you!

If you use it as a meal replacement, it wont cause weight gain, but its a pretty hefty snack, as is a Protein bar. Well the ones you can get in Australia anyway are. The atkins prepacked ones are a couple of hundred calories each and many Protein Bars are over 300 calories, which by my way of thinking is way too much for a snack. That would cause weight loss to slow down. But as a meal replacement, if it satisfies you (it wouldnt me), sure. Personally, I think they're lacking in green stuff, I'd prefer to include fruit and veg but each to their own.

Research is starting to show that after you have reached the obese range of weight, your physiology changes, and it is not like a regular sized person who wants to lose a couple of pounds anymore. It is probably true that you could eat like you have the sleeve for a year and take off lots of weight... but that would be crazy! I ate 350 cals a day for the longest time, then slowly popped up to 800, 900 and now 1100 at 8 months. I will probable stay pretty close to this for the next year I am guessing. Without the sleeve and Drs supervision, that is pretty much an eating disorder! With a regular sized stomach, could you really eat this way for the rest of your life? That is why my diets failed in the past... I just couldn't keep it up. I couldn't fight the hunger, the small portions, or really HUGE portions of no calorie foods....no feeling of satisfaction...skipping meals, trying to stay away from the foods I loved. Well with the sleeve, I am satisfied with much less, I do watch protein intake and when I drink my liquids... but I can eat a little abnormally for long enough to get the weight off, and then eat pretty normally to keep it off without getting killed by those couple of weeks of birthday parties, holidays or vacations that make it sooo easy to bust the diet and spin out of control again. I just can't eat enough at this point to spin very far out of control, and the next day I just don't even want to eat crap. I say this at 8 months, and I see statistics show some folks have some weight gain between 1-3 years... I may not have met that challenge yet, but I am working on it right now changing habits before I get there.

I meet my husband while I was still thin in high school. We just celebrated our 5 year anniversary last week. He has been very supportive of my weight gain and my decisions to have surgery. It sucks because he is 6' 175lbs and can easy anything! I feel that people have to have an initial physical attraction in order to be interested in getting to know you in a romantic way. I do feel my husband may not have hit on me if I had started at this weight before he knew me.

So I'm still here. Sorry to be so scarce lately. I've been a little depressed and super busy. I just haven't been losing the way I had hoped and still struggling with weight gain when I have my TOM. Sucks! No worries though, I'm not giving up. (LOL like I have that choice.) I did get my second fill but it doesn't seem to be nearly enough. Plan on getting another one soon and hopefully that will put me into the full swing weight loss that I see everyone else on. Maybe by Christmas I'll be at goal. It is good to see everyone else doing so well. Keep up the good work! It is inspiring to see your numbers drop. Be well, be happy, and hugs to all, Julz~

I tend to get majorly off track when I try to diet. This year has been hard, I was sick, having chemo and I got right down to 130lb (I'm 5ft 10). Being as dysfunctional as I am, sigh, I loved being officially "underweight". I was so happy the day I saw 59kg on my scales. OK, so I'd lost half my colon, had an ileostomy and was majorly dehydrated with severe diarrhoea, but dammit, I was officially SKINNY. I was unfilled at the time too, I worked SO hard to keep that weight. But as nature tends to dictate, I got better. Chemo finished, my body returned to health and a little (healthy) weight crept back, I got back to 140lb. I panicked. I began to diet very strictly. Dieting never ever ever works for me. I even gained a pound or two more and my old cycle of binging/starving has returned. Eat too little and only "good" foods, restrict fat, exercise a bit too much and sooner or later your body cries out in protest and you begin to lose the willpower, cave in to chocolate cravings and such. Through this time I've been completely refilled and it still hasnt helped. The answer to me, and I've done it this past week is to STOP dieting. Accept the weight gain, stop trying to lose it in a week, just take a moment, a deep breath and start eating normally. Enough at one meal to get you through to the next. Eat raw vegies, sure, but not as your sole source of nutrition. Say no to anything between meals, but anything goes for a meal - if I want a hotdog, I have it. That squashes the annoying nibble cravings - the Cookies, chocolate chips. It works for me. I am staying off the scales for a couple of weeks because when I dont see instant results I tend to go off the rails again. I'm back to just running rather than gym for a couple of weeks - long distance running for my body cuts fat incredibly well, weights and gym dont work nearly as well for me.

Wow, sounds like we have the same beginning, so let me introduce myself. I'm Serenity, I'm 19 and from northern California. I have always been extremely active, and although I wasn't as small as you, at 16 years old I was a perfect 110 pounds. Unfortunately, I too was sexually/physically/mentally assaulted at that age, and the tolls have been enourmous. I went through, similar to you, many different forms of therapy, and many many medications to battle the post traumatic stress as well as the insomnia and anxiety. Although the depression, anxiety, and insomnia have pretty much gone away thanks to the medications and time, I managed to put on about 115 pounds in three years. Wow, right?! That's what I said. I was completely in denial of how much weight I had gained until I was diagnosed with sleep apnea. Because of my rapid weight gain I now stop breathing in my sleep. Not only is it horrible for my health, but it's definately not easy having friends over when I'm stuck wearing a cpap machine to bed. Hence how I ended up looking into the lap band surgery. Throughout those three years I have tried every diet, every personal trainer or work out video i could get my hands on, and after losing the initial 10 pounds or so, I couldn't get anymore off. I, too, am feeling a little confused and afraid of the lifestyle changes I must commit to in order for this "tool" to be helpful, however, I feel that missing out on normal teenage activities is harder than those lifestyle changes. I would love to be able to snowboard again, or go to the waterpark without crying for hours and hours at a time. I would love to go play football in the rain, skip around the mall, or even go hiking again... and for me the lifestyle changes totally seem worth it to be able to do the things i love doing again. Growing up in everything from beauty pageants, to dance classes, to an amazing 8 years cheerleading, I never thought I would be in the position I am now. I think gaining this weight has taught me alot about life, and people in general, but I also think it's time for me to take action and do what I need to do to be happy again. I would love to talk to you if you think it would help.. I'm excited I found the teen forums because I really wasn't relating much to the 40's and 50's year olds..