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All my life i struggled with my weight. My father made me feel like i was less of a person because of it. As i got older it is still stuck with me as to being a failure. i have tried every weight loss pill, diet and program there ever was. i finally lost weight down to 210 and was a nice size 14 for i am tall. i got married and pregnant and then my husband made me feel like i was nothing for 3 years because of my weight gain. when i got my band and starting losing weight, my self esteem came back and i stopped letting him treat me as if i had a problem with my weight when he was the one with the problem. He wouldn`t even take me places. so i vowed to lose weight and then leave him. if you can`t be with me on the journey down i don`t need you on my way up. but he`s probably smiling because i`m not loosing maybe gaining. I decided to get the band after 2 months of research and did it self pay. I was banded july 30th and have only lost 20 pounds. i suck. what is wrong with me. food has been my comfort for so long its hard to kick the habit. i am tired of sayin tomorrow and just want to do it. I always slip up and look back at bein a failure like my dad said and how my husband used to treat me. I need motivation and help. i read other threads and get upset and sometimes motivated because i need to know what will kick my drive off to success, why do i always feel the need to have something in my mouth. i stayed a size 14 for 8 years and once i got married the weight piled on. the band may not be for me. i have had two fills and yet i feel restriction sometimes but i can eat more then a half of cup. so is any one having the same problems. i also will start counting calories again tomorrow. i am challenging myself to weight lost of at least 25 to 30 pounds by christmas and i hope you all will join. i got the band to feel better about myself and i`m tired of cryin over spilled milk or maybe i was just meant to be fat. so any motivation, help or encouragement will do me good.:help::help::help::help::help::help::help::help::help::help::help::help::help::help::help:

Is it possible that I am not eating enough and my body is going into starvation mode? I am trying to keep the right Protein in me, etc, my calories probably total 600-800 tops. I have started to add some real food, mushy stuff but now I am putting weight back on. My calories are still low seeing as I am less then a 1/4 cup on everything. One egg is not enough calories to push me way up over the limit. I think my body is going into starvation mode. Anybody have any thoughts?

Paxil is a brutal wean, Apple, I don't envy you. It's also one of the worst ones out there for weight gain. Plus side: I'm guessing you're gonna see a bump in weight loss after you're off:) I gained 25 pounds in a year on Paxil in the late 90's. Felt great, but ate like a crazed hippy at a rainbow gathering. LOL:) Had crazy dreams when I went off, but a lot of folks have worse discontinuation symptoms. You are very smart to wean.

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.

Ok ok, I know that it should be expected to gain weight when we finally switch back to solids from liquids. But, when I see 5 pounds come back after losing 16...I feel like a failure. I did what I could to prevent it, but it still happend. I want a HUGE fill so that I will have super duper restriction. When will this weight gain stop?? How can I slow it down?? Lots of exercise maybe?? I know I'm being a drama queen, but I was so excited about the lap-band that I could hardly contain myself...watching the scale go up is something that I hoped wouldn't happen. I am so tired of being fat!!! I am tired or snoring and not sleeping well!! I am tired of being unable to jog or climb up stairs without being winded!! I AM FED UP WITH MYSELF!!! Whew...thanks for listening.

I am calling myself a success story...was banded in 12/2009....band slip and removal in 10/2010...I managed to hit goal before my slip (roughly 10 months and 90+ pounds)...at first I was nervous and scared to be without my "friend" but now I feel amazing...amazing because I am still using what I learned with band. Am a success because my surgeon and even my support group expected me to have weight gain...I have not gained a single ounce since my band removal..I have enven lost a few more pounds.. I eat 3 meals a day and have 2 Snacks in between..I dont deny myself anything and dont feel the need to binge...am I an emotional eater...yes...do I over eat now due to stress/emotion..no...instead I invested in a punching bag (works great)..I talk about my feelings and I am dealing with my past pain/abuse. I am greatful to have had the surgery and do not regret having the lapband...I am more greatful to have learned from this journey and to a great husband and family who support and believe in me. So on 12/07/10...I will have my bandiversary....I think I will treat myself to a new pair of size 6 jeans...and maybe even a size 4 with the right stretch (gotta love stretch)...

Weight gain is a trap, and surgery is often the only permanent way out. Set point theory is a really awful thing to think about, especially when it is suggested that set point in the human body can only go up. Asking a morbidly obese person to resist hunger and stay thin after being large is like telling somebody not to breathe. Your body is smarter than your brain, and it will find a way to return to obesity. The brightest, most determined dieter in the world could not truly defeat obesity for life with just diet and exercise. We may have made mistakes to get here, but we are not weak-willed because we couldn't escape without arresting our bodies' ability to defend obesity. For some people, surgery may not even do it. And even then it is not evidence of something wrong with our heads.

I know this is an old thread. Just hope to get this topic going again. Yes i went to an eating disorder clinic...Insurance would not cover. Third year My bariatric professionals program view me as one of their most successful patients. What they don't understand Is I have disordered thinking around my weight loss I'm obsessive in my exercise ( exercise is viewed as a great thing in life) When you over exercise its becoming an issue. The disordered thinking is driven by the fear of weight loss and being happy with the weight i'm at. I acknowledge that its preoccupying my thought and time. I am aware I push my workouts to the point of exhaustion. It's affects my blood sugar, I have brain fog, my hair loss continued. Sports injuries. I feel I have to have control of this...If I let go of maintaining the way I do...I have weight gain. When life get out of control I replaced going to food for comfort to going two plus hours to the gym.

I had gbp ten years ago. I lost 150 lbs and now am regaining like crazy. I saw my doctor and my pouch was fine. Has anyone done band over bypass.

Okay, first of all......I know what it's like to want to step on the scale everyday, just to see your progress.......but STOP! It is not good on your mental health. Just weight weekly, or twice a week if you can't stand to wait that long. Just realize that your body has daily fluctuations, but you measure your progress in longer time spans. Lizzie, sorry about your weight gain, I'm terrified that when I get on the scale next week that is where mine will be. We shall get through this, I just know it!

i think it's possible that constipation can cause a little weight gain. but i was wondering if being over-weight can cause constipation in adults. please sure ur thots with me. Blessings, sasha

There is no worrying about weight gaining while you are in bandster hell. So stay off the scales. This time is for focusing on recovering and learning. Hope everyone is feeling fine!

Your story sounds so much like mine. Was even born a big baby, and overweight as a child, but not obese until I got into college (which also happens to be when they finally tested me for hypothyroidism and reluctantly started to treat me for it). I was really active in high school - lettered in two sports - and as much as I walked in college, the cafeteria food did me no favors! Bad eating, a decrease in intense physical activity, the alcohol that frequently accompanies college days, and hypothyroidism led to a 50 lbs weight gain in less than two years. I just had my endoscopy today, no abnormalities found, so I'm excited for my sleeve date of May 12. I, too, had some initial good results with the Band, but slowly gained back a bit over time and then it just seemed to be rejected by my body.

I know most of you are not doctors, but perhaps you can speculate about something that just happened to me. For the past year, I have maintained within a 3-4 lb range, never deviating. About six weeks ago, within three days I had gained seven pounds to my highest weight in about two years. I dismissed it as water retention because I hadn't changed my diet or any medications, but for the next six weeks I stayed five to seven pounds above my baseline, so I began dieting and drinking more water but to no avail. I couldn't figure out how it could be from food because I log calories every day and there were no changes in calories or types of foods that I ate. Then a few days ago, I had a horrible mood swing -- so bad a depression that my family and friends were really worried about me -- and they said they had never seen me act like that before. I recovered from it but the following day, I began vomiting out of nowhere, tons of water, something that has never happened before since WLS and was something I can't ever recall happening even before WLS. And then for these past few recent days, I'm exactly back to where I was for the entire year -- within that 3-4 lb range again. The five to seven pound gain is gone. I'm post-menopausal so it's not hormonal I think. No dietary changes. No new medications or getting off old ones. No changes in activities and exercise. The massive weight gain seems to have just "happened," remained in my body for weeks, then dispersed. And possibly could have caused a serious mood swing. Oh, and for an annual checkup I had an EKG which was normal so it has nothing to do with my heart. And I had a recent brain scan six months ago that showed no abnormalities. My blood work also is normal.

I was always very thin until about ten years ago when I gradually started putting on weight. I'm a 55 year old female. Until I was about thirty I was very self conscious about being so thin. (5'6" 120 lbs). When i was in my mid forties, i experienced several life changing events that affected me greatly and I found comfort in food. Over the past ten years I've gained 90 lbs. and feel miserable in my body. I stopped working out and allowed thoughts of food to consume me. It seems it takes a ridiculous amount of food to feel satisfied and full. So the weight gain continues. I've tried several diet programs, traveled across the country to weight loss and fitness camps, only to return to my usual poor eating habits and inactivity. I researched weight loss surgeries and after consulting with my dr., decided on the sleeve. I've done all of my prelimary ore op tests and am awaiting approval from my insurance company. My BMI is at 35, which may make it difficult for the approval I have only told one family member about my intentions and do not plan to tell anyone else. My family lives out

Thanks. I've already started going back to the lower carb way of eating. For the most part I do eat low carb, but I started adding things back into my diet (good carbs) back in January. So, I started eliminating stuff again this morning thinking that the extra carbs may be what's doing it. I just can't get past that feeling of being hungry. I'm not used to it at all!! So, I'm focusing on Protein, veggies and good fats. Thats the diet I've followed since I had my surgery. I have PCOS so my body doesn't respond well when counting calories. Low carb is the way to go for me. I just wanted to know if anyone else had experienced a significant weight gain after an unfill? It's only really showing up around my waist. I mean, I have skin from my weight loss, but I suddenly have a muffin top & it's making my clothing SO uncomfortable. Anyone else out there have this happen?

So I had surgery on July 24th I am 3 weeks into this lap band. With Pre op and post op diet together I lost 42lbs but I recently started eating and it's like I gained 5 lbs is this normal? I do not have my adjustment appointment till August 21st. I don't want to go in with a weight gain. Thanks

Welcome! I'm not judging you for the weight gain. I also gained weight preoperatively due to food funerals (compulsively eating favorite foods 'one last time' before saying "goodbye"). Luckily, the operation preceded as planned and I've been able to maintain my 100+ pound weight loss. The honeymoon period of 6 to 18 months will be a time of almost effortless weight loss because neurohormonal changes have altered your setpoint. However, after the honeymoon period ends, the likelihood of weight regain is staggeringly high if you don't get your head fully into the game. Bariatric surgeons operate on our stomachs, not our brains. People have regained 100+ pounds with their bands, sleeves and bypass pouches in place. I'd say 90 percent of this game is psychological. Pre-existing issues with compulsive eating, binge-eating, food addiction or emotional eating will never be corrected by weight loss surgery. The majority of people with these issues need some professional help to avoid repeating same pre-surgery eating patterns. Good luck to you. You've got this.

yes ia m having the same problem as far as not losing weight. but I am not eating right . I am eating a lot less than before and I do walk but the weight is not coming off. I have been filled around 5 time s I have loss track and don't want to go back for another apointment because I am embarrassed about my weight gain.

Hi all, my name is Tom. By no means am I new to the Lap-Band, having had mine since November 2003, but I am new to this site. I was banded by Dr. Jeff Allen in Louisville, Ky. and have lost 150 lbs. since my surgery. I've put on a bit of weight lately, but I've had my band deflated as I had major surgery. We just started the process of retightening, and the weight gained is coming back off once again. I'm back down 22 lbs. So we'll get that excess weight taken back off in short order! Just wanted to say hi to everyone and compliment you on the site you have here. Keep up the good work!

Para guard IUD. No added weight gain or hormones, love it! Hate depo and pills and this works for me

Your plan should mention something about weight gain. My plan required an exercise program with documentation. Sent from my SM-G530T using the BariatricPal App

Hey All. It's my first post. I was sleeved 5 weeks ago today. I've been weighing myself once a week. I lost fast the first three weeks then week four only 1/2 a lb but still a loss. Then today I get on the scale and I am up 3lbs!! It was very alarming as I've been following my diet to a T and trying to get between 600-800 calories a day (closer to 600 typically). I don't know what to think. I am at a loss -- a 3lb gain is not a 1lb fluctuation. Has anyone else had an early gain and it resolved itself or is this going to be it for me for weight loss and now I"m going to be fighting to keep even these few lbs off?

We all have our own issues. If a person has a problem with you they have the problem of being and idiot! I have fought clinical depression and axiety disorders for years. Now, on meds that make life great and helps me deal with stress. However, the meds do carry a possiblity of weight gain. I have to be really careful, but thankful for the meds.

And what a puzzle it is. It's so overwhelming that I'm still trying to put it all together in a way that makes sense to me, much less to my peers who I'm asking for opinions! First of all, BMI is a ratio. Had I achieved the rather unambitious goal weight set for me (variously 18#-20# from my current weight) then I wouldn't have been obese anymore by BMI standards. That part is simple. {As for the Tummy Tuck or Abdominoplasty -To those who have not have yet had cosmetic surgery: I did have an Abdominoplasty. This surgery is very different from weight loss surgery or lipo. The traditional abdominoplasty is not a weight loss procedure - it does do not ultimately affect your scale weight either way. In fact after a Tummy Tuck, there is often an initial weight gain, due to Fluid retention and swelling. (I already factored that in with my latest weight issues.) I was told I was close enough to goal to be within range to have a this done and I knew with some effort, I could have it covered at 100%. So I was happy to seize that opportunity for a much needed procedure. I sought 4 different plastic surgery consultations and my WLS surgeon's advice before I had it and it was definitely the right move. But never ever think a Tummy Tuck makes will mean significant weight loss. It's a wonderfully complex procedure but it changes how your body contours, but although it might change your posture or even how your clothes fit, it may not change your weight. If you see Fatty meat on a butchers scale (ewwww ), you may see that the marbled fat doesn't weigh as much as the meat's muscle and bone, and Abdominoplasty surgery primarily removes skin and it's associated flab and repairs muscles if needed. Just an FYI! :straight } I'm trying to clarify all the parts of the story because it seems a bit disjointed with the way I outlined it. Chalk that up to emotion. But I have to wait until my medical records are in my possession to put ALL the missing pieces together. There is much more to this for me to work through and the more information I have, the clearer I will be on what's really going on here. So as I really do appreciate everyone's comments, I will take some of this very much appreciated and very much solicited advice under counsel. I posted here first because I needed to hear what other Bandster patients thought about how I should proceed next. I've been very grateful especially to those who contacted me privately and attempted to help me work through it. Yes, I had a very visceral, heartfelt emotional response to the letter (which just seeing a certified letter, much less one from a surgeon, nearly scared me silly :cry ) and I think my post reflected that. I was upset (still am) overwrought (no longer that) and shocked. Now I'm justifiably upset but I am trying to look at my options. So, for now, I should remove my post before I make a bad situation even worse. It's bad now, so I should try to have enough presence of mind to not inflame things further or seem unclear, especially when I lack all the true details here. I am crafting a measured written response to the office, but of course I have accepted his decision. I do accept that this is as much as I could have done (to whoever said that, I do realize they have no idea what I've gone through - hopefully I can expand on that later also) so such hold on to your hats. Once I get my medical records released I think I'll have a very relevant and thought provoking story to tell my Banded (and de-Banded) Bandster peers. No one likes to admit they made a mistake. I am no different. I fully believed the Band could take me to an acceptable level of weight loss. Maybe it still can but it's a bit discouraging to hear your medical professional say you've come to the end of your road. (Again, those were his words.) If he thinks I should be satisfied to have come from where I was to where I am now, then he really didn't ever clearly hear my goals, aims, and wishes. And if it sounds like belly-aching to say I did NOT undertake the time, money, effort and blood, sweat, and tears just to end up still obese - then a belly-acher I am. My goal was to get to a healthy, and satisfactory weight. This isn't it. Again as I promised, I will first attempt to get the records released, get them analyzed by another professional and then know how to proceed next. Then hopefully I'll be in a position to put ALL the pieces together and then more clearly outline the details on why my journey with this surgeon, is being cut short. No matter what my (former) surgeon thinks, I am not definitely through trying to succeed at this. Again thanks.