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I can't wait to fight fire again! I used to be a fire fighter, but because of the weight gain I moved to the administrative side of the department. I can't wait to be back in the heat of it all!

I never lose weight on the weekend and most weekends I gain, despite following my normal eating regiment. Overall, I am extremely happy with my loss, but would like some guidance in dealing with weekend weight gain. Thanks!

I am banded over 10 years and am alive and healthy and have had no problem with my band. The only "band" problem that I have encountered is the same one anyone would have if you choose not to stay on task of weight re-gain. I would hope everyone does their pre-surgery research to decide what kind or even IF WLS is the way to go. There are no magic bullets! Repeat NO MAGIC BULLETS. I lost weight well and steadily and reached my goal and then hit an emotional rollercoaster and tried as hard to put the weight back on as I did to take it off a few years into my journey. I totally believe that the band is an excellent tool to assist with good eating habits and exercise. No matter what a person decides it takes dedication andd focus. A lot of us are more familiar with being a caretaker than taking care of ourself. I have addressed the emotional component to my weight gain and am back on track. My long term caution to anyone considering the band or newly banded is to NOT DEPEND ON FILLS as being the total answer to losing weight. I believe the less fills the better. Using your band as a tool, listening to your body's "full" signals (and you will acquire some with the band) and staying focused on living a healthy lifestyle will take you where you want to be. Seriously, don't waste your time on any "haters".

You simply CAN'T focus on day-by-day weight loss, as there are too many things that happen on a daily basis -- eating/drinking, elimination, Water weight gain/loss, hormonal changes, exercise-related changes, sleep-related changes -- for a daily weigh-in to be useful at all. Frankly, even a weekly weigh-in is almost too much, but it is the most frequent you should weigh yourself. Day-to-day changes in weight are nothing to really pay attention to.

I did the Master Cleanse although I initially lost 11 pounds I gained it all back plus an additional 5 pounds. The problem with cleansing is that it's difficult to stick with. If you veer off track the reprecutions are weight gain. Once I got back to high Protein and exercise I was fine. I guys it depends on the type of cleanse. If it's healthly ( master cleanse isn't the healthiest cleanse out there) then go for it. As long as you are prepared to stick with it go for it. The other problem with cleansing is that lapbanders can't eat certain foods that may be on the cleanse. Like certain fruits or vegatables. Does your tea. M v

Don't be discouraged! I'm 9 days post op and still weigh the same as I did the day of surgery. I've only been getting about 400 calories a day so there's no way I will stay at this weight forever. I do think you need more Protein. I had a goal of 40 grams of protein the first week for each day but could only manage to get in about 30 grams because of sipping and waiting and feeling so bloated. Yesterday I had my first doc's appointment, I was told not to worry about calories or even pounds coming off at this point but that my goal was get 60 grams of protein in. I am to no longer sip and wait...just to drink like normal but no chugging. Also, I was told that my stomach will hold up to 4 oz. at a time. I was told if I didn't get my protein intake up that I would probably lose my hair. I'm also on full liquids now instead of just clear. So last night I had 4 oz. of bean and bacon Soup pureed to a thin liquid. It was very fillling. Don't worry about calories and definitely not weight gain. Remember we just had surgery and our bodies are full of fluids and are slow on digesting. Also, you need to stay hydrated. That alone will help get rid of the bulk and Fluid build up.

Hey there, here's a link to a whole thread of people in their 20s (and at least one 18 year old). http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/anyone-banded-who-thier-20s-34936/ I was 22 when I got mine, and I'm 25 now, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who sees the pattern starting with the trying to lose weight, gaining more, etc, etc.

So I made it a month without a band and no weight gain....was pretty much thinking I was a rock star!!!! I spent Labor Day weekend with my parents and gained 2 1/2 pounds....I've always said no one can be skinny around my mom's cooking!!!!! Darn that woman!!!!

I had my VS in 2012, lost 150 lbs and maintained that loss almost effortlessly for 8 years, then Covid hit and in a matter of 3 months I gained 80 lbs back WITHOUT CHANGING MY EATING HABITS!!! I feel like I’ve been robbed. By no fault of my own, the weight came back and stayed. I still can only consume 4 or 5 bites to eat and I’m full. I just don’t understand why this happened and if I do a revision to a DS will that help?

I am talking about the stomach (organ) not the exterior (waistline).To answer the other question re: 2 gallons of Water, yes I mix Chrystal Light in a half a gallon of water and carry it with me and have 4 of them a day = 2 gallons. But I've always been this way, even before I went on methyprednisone for 3.5 years which caused the weight gain to begin with. Please, I am just looking for input and not criticism. I suppose I feel I must hide this from my surgeon because I do not want to be a "bad patient." I do now see the flaws in my hiding this from my surgeon. I am good at asking for help and honestly taking seriously advise especially when there is a general consensus answer. Thank you for the nonjudgmental responses. I don't hear criticism, I hear concern. CALL YOUR SURGEON. Do you have a counselor or therapist? If not, see if the person who did your psych clearance can see you or refer you to someone. Have you talked to your NUT about your concerns?

I am talking about the stomach (organ) not the exterior (waistline). To answer the other question re: 2 gallons of Water, yes I mix Chrystal Light in a half a gallon of water and carry it with me and have 4 of them a day = 2 gallons. But I've always been this way, even before I went on methyprednisone for 3.5 years which caused the weight gain to begin with. Please, I am just looking for input and not criticism. I suppose I feel I must hide this from my surgeon because I do not want to be a "bad patient." I do now see the flaws in my hiding this from my surgeon. I am good at asking for help and honestly taking seriously advise especially when there is a general consensus answer. Thank you for the nonjudgmental responses. No judgment......just was confused by your initial post. Hiding anything from your surgeon is a red flag and will get called out on here. Glad to know what you mean, now. I don't see the problem with sipping tons of water throughout each day....so long as it's not around meal times. I've been encouraged to do so. Crystal Light was always supported by my surgeon, too.

OK, what an old subject! I mean, its obviously old to those of you that are pleased with your results so far. (that sounds tacky, but I dont mean for it to be) Its the weight thing again.... I just dont understand it! I weigh every morning (and please PLEASE dont suggest for me not to do this). I lost 12 lbs right after getting the band (on liquids) and didnt lose another ounce until my first fill (fortunately I didnt gain -due to diet pills). Then it was down another 10 within 2 weeks. You didnt hear me complain about that; but now things seem to be on the up - again - like 5 pounds up. And I HATE taking those diet pills, but Im ready to get them out again. Im really getting aggravated with this band. And for the most part, the weight gain makes me WANT to eat. If I starve - I gain. So why not eat and gain... at least Im enjoying myself. And NO its NOT pms stuff. That was 2 weeks ago when I lost the 10 pounds (I know, this is crazy). And then there's the fill. Let's see... Saturday was the last time I pb'd from getting the hang of having the first fill. I called my doc today and "they" told me to come in next Tuesday for another fill... but is that the answer??? Maybe I should try the "liquids only" for a couple of days.... maybe that will help. Delarla, Theresa.... what did YOU do to get back into losing???

quote=Sherrirbgr - Wow!!! You've done great! You've lost 93 lbs! That is awesome! Thanks though it doesn't always feel like I've done well. Especially since I'm still sitting at a weight gain nearly 3 months after my tummy tuck, which should have made me 10 pounds lighter. UGHHH! I think the problem is that when you're 2 years out, and you see all these newbies who have met their goal in less than a year, you just get back in that mindset of "woe is me, I'll never lose this weight!" I know what you mean about beating yourself up. Still sometimes the newbies can also be a good motivator as well. ...which helps you eat that dang Publix chocolate covered brittle, which I swear is CRACK. My "CRACK" was cookie dough icecream but has moved to French Truffles. YUMMM.. the first time I ate one of those I swear I was moaning like I was in the "bedroom". These are nothing like those chocolate flavored wax balls sold by lindt or lindor, these are soft chocolate butter balls rolled in cocoa powder and taste like ambrosia. Lord help me! My only saving grace may be that I've only been able to find them at those temporary Hickory Farm Stores you see around Christmas. I just heard from Dr. Bagnato's office. They want me to come down for an x-ray. I'll call Monday and get it scheduled. What is the X-Ray for? Are you worried you have slipped? Keep us posted.

I am 3 weeks post-op & have lost a total of 11 lbs since DOS. When I weighed this morning I had gained 2 lbs. What can I do to get this weight headed in the loser's direction & not gain any? I must be doing something wrong. I thought the weight was easier to lose in the beginning?

Hey Tiffkins and thank you... That is probably a good idea. My major weight gain started when I quit smoking, so I can't go back to that. Might try a quick home improvement project.

This whole week was a mess. Mom in the hospital for 2 days and Thanksgiving. I've been eating like mad. The .5cc fill didn't work and I can't seem to get myself back on track. Tomorrow I will get back to protein shakes because I gained 2lbs this week. Arggg!! My neighbor is giving me a treadmill so between that and the Leslie Sansone tapes should be able to lose it again. I'm hoping to have another before Christmas because I don't want to be able to eat as much food as I did at Thanksgiving. Hopefully, the rest of the weekend is better.

hey dody thanks.. okay so its a diurectic,,,but how does this contribute to weight gain>> I find I am waking up now at night three times peeing...last two nights.. I didnt start drinking diet pepsi ( just one) til tonight. So not sure why. thanks

Alot of wonderful advice and great success stories here to help you. We've all been where you are at right now. You have to decide if you're ready to make the changes with yes...another different kind of tool for weight loss. No matter how we decided to lose the weight, we always use a tool of some kind....but bottom line, if you're not ready to make these changes, then you will fail! I'm almost 1yr post-op and yes you can lose at first while eating junk/fast food. But eventually, with the band, it will catch up and cause weight gain. You're doing great research and have the right questions...now...are you ready to ACCEPT the changes and challenges? Are your current weight and feelings worth it? Here's my honesty. I was DETERMINED to make it work when I decided to have the band placed. Yes I was concerned of failing and gaining it back (still am), but, I NEVER once complained about what all it will take to make it happen. And doubting yourself does not help. I'm not "bashing" you personally. I just hear from others "whine, whine, whine because of not weight loss here..." so I don't want you to get into that frame of mind at the start. Find the peace you need before if you do get the band. You need that peace to go to when things get tough/challenging! I wish you best and like I told my neighbor the other day, MAKE this happen...don't waste time pondering or you'll never get there!

After reading you post I do not feel so alone because I went through the same thing with my primary care physican after all he was always the one to suggest to me I needed to loose the weight to control my sugar levels but yet the meds you prescribed after weight gained meds, he will say just excercise cut back on your foods did that done that how stressful nothing worked I did loose 85 pds and had a follow up blood sugar was 455. Now with the insurance I have i did not need a referral. i am suppose to be having my surgery on the 2nd of March I have to see a therapist to make sure I am not bipolar and a cardiologist my ekg was not normal. I wish you well on your journey keep me posted ok.

I went to my Dr about a month ago and was told how much I had to lose before I could have the surgery,( 26 pounds) and how much I had to lose before I could schedule the surgery. (13 pounds) I thought to myself that day, wow this isnt going to be very hard at all! They recommend you do the medifast shakes, but I cant afford them. They are about $60 a week. I have a big family and only one income right now, and we just cant afford it so the Dr told me another diet plan to use. I have been doing this diet and walking 2 miles almost everyday. On the other hand, my primary Dr put me on a new medication around the same time as I went to the surgeon, for my headaches I was getting. Little did I know, a side effect from that medication is weight gain. So here I have been, trying so hard to lose this weight while being on a medicine that causes weight gain. About 1 1/2 weeks ago when I wasnt losing any weight, I went online and looked at the side effects of this medicine, after a friend suggesting maybe it was the cause. I have since seen my primary and been weaned off of it. I just weighed myself and I have only lost 1 pound in the past month because of that medicine. I guess I am grateful that it didnt cause me to gain weight, it just kind of caused me to not lose any, but I go back to the surgeon in 2 weeks and I feel like a failure because I thought I would be going there and would have lost that 13 pounds and would have been able to schedule my surgery. Thats obviously not going to happen now. Does anyone have any tips on ways to lose the weight quicker? I feel like this is never going to happen.

The past two weeks have been really difficult. Thursday we had to put our faithful dog Maggie to sleep after a short fight with aggressive cancer. First real emotional/stressful strain since I began this journey last July. I'm a glass half full kind of person so I know that my eating was not as bad as it would have been before I started...but it was not healthy. I'm more disappointed in myself for totally not exercising the two weeks. so this morning, I duly noted the 2.5 pound weight gain over the past two weeks, put on the running shoes and took Roxy, our remaining dog for a walk/run. As we were leaving the driveway, the man that lives across the street, whom we have a very casual relationship (we wave and say hi) says... "I hope you don't mind me saying something (at this point I think he is going to mention that Maggie hasn't been barking at him through the bay window which was a favorite pastime of hers) but whatever you are doing it is really working! Last week I saw you and I thought you had company...I didn't recognize you!" Just when I needed to be reminded how far I have come and that I do have the tools to go further, an almost stranger provides the spark...thanks neighbor!

Here is a thread I copied from this forum regarding weight gain/fluctuations. I'm 2 months post op and my weight goes down then up a lb or two, then drops 2 or 3, but the overall trend is down. I'm not sure how to post a "link" from another thread, so I just copied it here. Hope this helps! (the highlighted yellow words are from my search in this forum...sorry about that). Here's the explanation for the dreaded stall (you can read the full details here, including what to do about it): The Inevitable Stall By Diana C. A "stall" a few weeks out is inevitable, and here's why. Our bodies use glycogen for short term energy storage. Glycogen is not very soluble, but it is stored in our muscles for quick energy -- one pound of glycogen requires 4 lbs of Water to keep it soluble, and the average glycogen storage capacity is about 2 lbs. So, when you are not getting in enough food, your body turns first to stored glycogen, which is easy to break down for energy. And when you use up 2 lbs of glycogen, you also lose 8 lbs of water that was used to store it -- voila -- the "easy" 10 lbs that most people lose in the first week of a diet. As you stay in caloric deficit, however, your body starts to realize that this is not a short term problem. You start mobilizing fat from your adipose tissue and burning fat for energy. But your body also realizes that fat can't be used for short bursts of energy -- like, to outrun a saber tooth tiger. So, it starts converting some of the fat into glycogen, and rebuilding the glycogen stores. And as it puts back the 2 lbs of glycogen into the muscle, 8 lbs of water has to be stored with it to keep it soluble. So, even though you might still be LOSING energy content to your body, yourweight will not go down or you might even GAIN for a while as you retain water to dissolve the glycogen that is being reformed and stored.

why do we put on weight so easily after the band surgery?? If I eat protiens I am fine...but if I have normal food...uff...i have put on 1 kg in a day...so frustrating... and in India we dont have many options for protiens...we dont get all the non veg varieites that you get in other countries... and one cant go on eating cheese and pulses....I am very much depressed.

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.

Hello, I am Scot, I am about 10 days from my surgery and wanted to start this log of my journey. I have undergone a psychological review, Dietary consult and had my initial Surgeons Meeting and consultation. I am now waiting for my Surgeon to schedule my Pre Op surgery appointment and have my Pre Op appointment with the hospital. This blog will be my way of talking about the crazy thoughts going through my head as I travel this... So this is real... I am really going to do this! (as long as my insurance don't get all stupid.) I have been overweight since I left the Military 18 years ago. I have diabetes, high blood pressure, and high Cholesterol. I have had Sleep Apnea most of my life (even when I was not overweight) but it has been exacerbated by my weight. My wife is scared to death that I am going to die soon. I guess what made me seek this out is that I am not ready to die. My family has a history of being a bit chunky but not to the same level as me. I teeter from 300 to 320 depending on my constant battle with weight gain. I attribute my weight gain from my experiences in the service. I don't blame the military, I did this to myself but, my military service did not help. Let me explain without going into too much detail. In Boot Camp, while the meals were somewhat balanced, they encouraged you to eat at breakneck speed. I learned how to scarf food at record pace. This habit is perpetuated all throughout my career because of commitments we have to our command, to the schedule work needing to be done, to emergent situations. Many times I would go to the galley and mess-decks to eat quickly and get back to work on something. always dreading the phone on the deck from ringing and being for me. If it was, it meant I cut my mealtime short. Exercise on a deployed ship is haphazard at best. PT in the service back then was not very directed or mandatory for a deploying unit. Physical readiness tests were held every year and it gradually got worse for me because I Think I was too dependent on directed exercise instead of self directed fitness. I became a workaholic and some things in your life suffer when you become so fixated at one facet of your life. I had a few incidents in the service that left me with PTSD, Anxiety and Depression. While it was easy to identify the depression and get that treated by the VA, it would be nearly 14 years later that I was diagnosed with the PTSD and Anxiety to receive the help I needed. I have been working with Psychologists and Psychiatrists on the PTSD and Anxiety issues and I have gotten them (somewhat) to a dull roar in my head. One of the factors of my weight gain has been identified as my use of food to dull and cover up the anxiety and stress I have on a daily basis. Once this dawned on me, I realized that this was a huge contributing factor of my Obesity. My wife has watched me grow since 2000 from the slightly pudgy man I was, to this gigantic bellied man that waddles when he walks. I know I have been discounted at work for my appearance, although I have proved my value time and time again. I need this to stop. It took nearly a year of my wife coaxing me to investigate the process and we finally have the means to cover the costs. I am 110% onboard with this process. I used to be a confident, charismatic, and healthy young man. I want to regain that confidence and health back so that I can begin to enjoy my life instead of constantly fighting my weight all the time. Is this surgery going to fix me?? Not likely on its own, I have no illusions that this surgery is going to be the magic process in which I regain my health. This surgery is a tool for me to use to win the fight against my obesity. the surgery will cause irrevocable changes to the way I live. I have been spending the last month and a half working on breaking habits and removing some of the most difficult issues from my diet. in 10 days, this will change drastically insomuch that the current things I am doing will need to be stopped and I will need to start taking care of me, feed myself correctly, listen to my body on such a different emotional level than I have ever needed to. This SCARES the hell out of me. If this process doesn't scare someone, then they need to sit down, read about the changes, and realize this is such a drastic change in their life. This isn't about going to get a tummy tuck or liposuction, This is a complete reworking of your digestive system. don't drink before or after meals. Eat SLOWLY. No Sugar. These actions are what I do all the time, and I have to stop. This is going to require drastic measures. I believe I am ready. Step one is making the Decision. I went to a seminar put on by my surgeons practice, and it was very informative. there was a full room of people. The one thing I noticed in the crowd that I felt like I was different than these people. I listened to the seminar and watched people around me. I felt like I was in a room full of people that felt it would be completely different than what the speaker was saying. I heard lots of scoffing from people that are in a worse position than I am. I know this isn't for everyone. But the sheer lack of consideration from some of these people. I had done about a week of research and I read a lot of stories, both good and bad. I think most people do read as much as they can about the procedures. Many of the people in the room seemed to have their opinions formed prior to the seminar. Many of them had false information that was corrected by the speaker (She was a saint dealing with a couple people there) I worry about one thing... delaying the surgery because of insurance. Insurance is the evil right now. I fear that is what is holding up my next appointments. We shall see over the next few days what happens. thanks for reading. I will be back.