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I had been obese since I had my first son at the age of 18. I would lose weight and then gain it. When I was 24 years old I wanted to get RNY but then I got really scared and didn't go through with it. 2001 I lost my mother to Breast CANCER. she was only 40 years old. She left 5 kids behind 2 were under age. I was able to get custody of one of my brothers but the youngest one his father sent him to Dominican Republic. We lost contact with him. I was depressed I was 22 years old with 2 kids of my own and my brother. Living at my in laws house. I just started to eat so much.. My weight just started to go up.. 2005 I decided to try to lose weight. I was eating right and exercising. I lost weight but not what I needed to lose. a year later i got pregnant with my 3 baby. Of course I gain all the weight and more. I was so depress but I couldn't stop myself I just kept on eating the wrong food. On 2011 around September or October I started researching weight loss surgery. I wasn't sure if my insurance would cover it. Somehow I got to the website of the New York bariatric group. I asked some questions. They answered me right away. He asked me questions and said I was a good candidate for weight loss surgery. He asked me if I wanted to go in to speak to a surgeon. I said sure they gave me an appointment for November. I meet my surgeon and they did a couple of test. He told me that I can get surgery. He explained to me the 3 different one that the insurance covers. I decided to get sleeved. By feb. 2012 I had seen all the doctors and got clearance from all. I went to see the surgeon and decided to get surgery March 6, 2012. I had my sleeve it was a little rough the first month but it was the best decision. In a year and 8 months after I was able to renew my vows. Before surgery I wore a size 22-24 the day of my wedding my wedding dress was a size 4. I went from weighing 278-123. I was really thin I asked my surgeon if I can gain 15-20 pounds. He said to becareful but we kept tracking everything to make sure my weight gain wouldn't get out of control. While tracking that I was having a lot acid reflux problems since 3 months after I was sleeved. My surgeon did a hiatal hernia repair 02/2013 to see if I would get some relief but it didn't work. So January 26, 2015 my surgeon decide to revised my sleeve to a RNY. Now I am recovering from my RNY. I feel so much better. I got immediate relief of acid after RNY also lost 12 pounds from the 20 i gained. I feel great

Hey everyone! I am excited to be a part of this community as I am very active in forums all over the net. I am a 23 year old college student at Winona State University, MN. I am in my 5th year, completing a BSN Nursing degree with a minor in Psychology. I will be graduating in May and will be working in a hospital in the Twin Cities. A little hx of me... I was a swimmer from kindergarten until 8th grade. When puberty hit during my 7th-8th grade years, I could not get over my large size and could not feel comfortable in a speedo. I quit swimming and joined football from 9th to 12th. During my junior year in high school, I was at my largest weight... 320 lbs (I am 6'2"). Because of this, my senior year I worked hard and hard with a Body for Life program my coach recommended to me. For the three years I worked hard with the BFL program (from senior year in high school to my second year in college), I lost 80 lbs.! I was at the happiest point in my entire life... 240 lbs., met a beautiful girl, changed my major to Nursing (I wassss computer science), and felt that I could conquer anything in this world! I even got a chest liposuction to make my chest tighter/form-fitting and I looked great! Things quickly turned around. Our bodies loooove homeostasis and so when I reached my low weight, my body did not want to stay there. I started gaining weight slowly but surely. It was a process that took another 2 years (to where I am at now), but I am now 321 lbs. again. During this weight gain period, I have done everything under the sun to stop the weight loss and reverse it. Instead, I only slowed the progression at times, but my body kept gaining and gaining. This summer I discussed with my family doctor about my options. He mentioned gastric bypass and I about jumped out of my seat. I left not ever thinking I would get surgery at such a young age to lose weight that I had already loss before. But because I have tried everything, I looked into what options I had. I did not want a "cure" or a "last resort", but something that would WORK for me... and also is not so drastic as to cut and re-shape my stomach (the bypass). Hence, I discovered the LAP-BAND. I have since done a lot of research on it and feel that this may be my best option to aid in my weight loss efforts. My family hx includes everything... heart disease, diabetes, atherosclerosis, hypertension, etc. etc. I already have hypertension (on Lisinopril when I was 22) and mild sleep apnea (dx 2 weeks ago and am using a C-PAP). My father is on a heart transplant waiting list and is in very poor health in his 50's. My relatives are all extremely obese with already five of them having a gastric bypass already, and unfortunately many more who could use that sort of surgery. I know I will have heart disease and will die at a young age if I do not fix my problem now. Being in the health care field, I have seen people in poor health and I know I want to do everything in my power to prevent being sick at an early age. When I talked above about how happy I was at 240 lbs., it was truly the best days of my life. I miss that time. My girlfriend and I have been struggling a great deal in our relationship because of my weight. My activity level is horrible, our intimacy is shallow, and I can't do many of the things I used to do with her. We had broken up once before, but I do not want to let it happen again. She is extremely supportive of me getting this surgery and hopes that my struggles and our struggles together will be solved. I hope this forum will be a great way to tell my story and document my journey through my weight loss. I've already got the wheels rolling and getting all the pre-op stuff out of the way. I am hoping to get my surgery scheduled in March, during my spring break. I would be sacrificing a free Washington D.C trip for this life-changing event. I will be doing my surgery at HealthEast (in St. Joseph's hospital in St. Paul) and am choosing to do it with Dr. Michael Schwartz. I hope to hear many responses from people who are understanding and can help me in any way through this process. Thank you everyone! I look forward to the future! -Jason

Okay, so don't learn to use the VSG just band it and control it that way? If that doesn't work I guess wire the jaw shut shold pretty much nip in the bud and no weight gain a all. This is getting out of hand.

Great advice so far. I would just add, if you are on any medications, do a search online to see if any of them can cause weight gain or trouble losing weight. I say to check online rather than w/your doctor because my previous PCP put me on a BP medicine (when he knew I was trying to lose weight on WW) and did not tell me it could cause weight gain (or for me to stop losing weight). I plateaued for over 6 months on WW before I realized it was the med (Atenolol). It was a terrible terrible discouraging and frustrating time for me. I never take a medication anymore without fully researching it MYSELF. webmd.com is a good site for looking up medications, but there are plenty of other sites as well. Best of luck to you. I know how frustrating it is. Hang in there!

I can eat just about anything. For me the weight gain was quantity, but I do eat healthier now too. I've cut out refined sugar for the most part, refined flour and overly processed foods. I eat small amounts of potatoes, whole wheat Pasta and quinoa for starches. I also eat a ton of lean meat, cheese dairy products, fish, nuts, fruit and vegetables in portions that thin people do. For Easter I had a float made from diet Orange Crush and skim vanilla ice cream. I also eat dark chocolate (a tiny piece every day). I'm with Cobragc. Eat smart, but live a little. The people who have been most successful a WLS seem to be those who can find ways to have a treat once in a while while not sabotaging their weight loss.

Whether you’re young in age or young-at-heart, there are a few key steps you can take to keep your metabolism motor humming so you are blasting away calories at the highest rate possible. As you age, your metabolism slows down. Older people also tend to have less muscle mass than younger people, which also reduces metabolic rate. This is why we encourage older patients to add light weight-bearing exercise to their fitness routines. So how do you keep that furnace burning in order to burn calories, even if you’re already achieved your goal weight? There are many simple tools to accomplish this task. I’ve outlined my favorites below: Exercise This weapon is key to maintaining and increasing metabolism. Seniors, take note−The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends people 65 and older get 2.5 hours of moderate-intensity aerobic activity every week and perform weight-bearing exercises on all the body’s major muscle groups at least twice a week. At any age, indoctrinate a 30-minute daily work-out, just like brushing your teeth and eating lunch, into your daily routine. Sleep To increase the chances of boosting metabolism, adults should get seven to nine hours of sleep each night. Getting too little shut-eye can significantly alter your body’s processes enough to predispose you to gain weight. (Do you ever feel hungry for no reason when you’re exhausted and then reach for the wrong foods to boot?) De-Stress When you’re tense, your body releases cortisol, a hormone produced by the adrenal system that is linked to weight gain. It can also significantly weaken your immune system and open the door to acute and chronic illnesses. Turn to regular physical activity, deep breathing, a quiet evening stroll, or professional help from a psychologist or counselor if you are experiencing chronic stress. Eat and Drink (First and foremost, follow your bariatric practice's instructions on post-op nutrition.) Eating the right foods−clean proteins, fruits and vegetables−fuels your metabolism firing on all cylinders. As soon as you awaken, charge-up those calorie burners by feeding them a protein and a fruit (think omelette with feta cheese, spinach and veggies and a cup of berries). Eat small meals throughout the day but stop by around 7 p.m. Staying hydrated is key to maintaining good health. Keep a glass or refillable water bottle with you throughout the day. You are properly hydrated if your urine is nearly clear. Other than choosing the right foods to eat and finding spiritual solace in your life, these tools serve as a roadmap to good health, including maintaining a healthy weight. Best of all, once you’ve adopted these tips, you will look and feel better--sooner than you think.

I too got completely unfilled when I found out I was pregnant. I ended up gaining really fast - it was crazy! I think it played with my hormones and I ended up miscarrying. Next time, I'm leaving my fill in or just slightly unfilling. I don't think rapid weight gain can hurt the baby, but if you're someone who had heavy periods with lots of clotting, then I would be very cautious about gaining weight to quickly. I think it's all ties into the hormones.

When you’re rolled into the operating room for bariatric surgery, you pray that the procedure will help you overcome obesity and all the sad and difficult things about it. It’s the start of your weight loss journey, and you’re ready to leave all that behind. When you look back, the excess weight that was so very, very heavy becomes smaller and lighter. Eventually it disappears. Is that the end of your weight loss journey? No, it’s not. Or it hasn’t been for me. I'm still moving down the road of recovery. I still remember the bad stuff, the ridicule and humiliation and pain. It’s hard to dispose of because a lot of it is tied up in memories of incest, physical and verbal abuse. Some of that may have contributed to my overeating. It’s hard to put it all away in a cupboard and lock the door. For 20 years, I considered myself a victim of a dysfunctional family and of the siren call of food that helped numb the pain. Then the excess weight was gone, and it took me another three or so years to stop thinking of myself as a victim and start thinking of myself as a survivor. I was (and am) proud of myself for surviving the terrible, terrifying years of strife, weight gain, and self-pity. I was strong, not just because I’d been lifting weights at the gym but because I’d been exercising my free will. I was strong enough to make better choices in life and in eating. I was going to survive, damn it! More time passed. My weight went up and down as I dealt with physical and emotional troubles, but I was still a survivor. All the weight didn’t return to weigh me down. I became even stronger as I mastered those troubles – a stronger, more triumphant survivor. I was on top, right? Finally, I was wonderfully the victor over villains that took the form of people and problems. And more time passed. Hey, I’ve been on this journey for quite a while by now. I’m 8+ years out. I’m 8+ years older. I don’t want more change now. I hate change, don’t you? It’s scary, hard, painful and time-consuming. But I hate being obese even more than I hate change, so I persist. I’m nothing if not stubborn (and of pig-headed Scottish descent). One day I stepped on the scale and was so startled by the number that I stepped back, waited a minute, and stepped back on. The same number appeared. I had lost 120 pounds. Really, truly 120! I was almost half the weight I was before my surgery. I had gone from size 3X clothes made by Omar the Tentmaker to size XS clothing from an assortment of cute, skinny apparel brands. I could even wear some children’s size clothing and shoes. Finally, finally, I liked looking at my reflection in the mirror. I might even have become a bit vain, but I deserve that, don’t I? Don’t we all, after a lifetime of shame? Then a logical question popped into my mind: WHAT’S NEXT? It’s my million dollar question, and one day it might become yours. So, what do I do next, having survived over 50 unhappy, often miserable years of victimhood? Do I want to tread water for the rest of my time on this earth? Well, no. I’m a lousy swimmer, afraid of the water (which I’ll blame on two episodes of a family member’s attempts to drown me). I don’t after all want a long, straight road without surprises and amazing views and adorable size 6-1/2 shoes. I want my adorable feet on the ground and my head in the heavens. What do I want? I want to move from SURVIVING to THRIVING. I want to prosper and grow like an exotic, sweet-smelling hothouse flower (preferably one that never dies). I want to flourish, prosper and succeed: growing happier, healthier, and even more adorable. I will not let myself be dragged through the frailty and doom of old age. I will NOT. I will thrive. In fact, I am now thriving, even as we speak. It’s by far the sweetest reward I’ve ever had for all my hard work. I’ve earned it, and so have you. Nowadays I’m enjoying interesting new friendships, richer old friendships, various hobbies, pets, and countless activities I had even never dreamed of, never mind tried, before weight loss surgery. I actually enjoy exercise classes (as much for the social aspect as for the calorie burning), new ideas and adventures, hobbies, church, writing, laughing (I’ll give up exercise classes before I give up laughter), and of course the never-ending delight and occasional insanity of caring for two jobs, a house, nine dogs, two cats, and the 63-year-old child I call my husband. NEXT has arrived. It is here and now. I’m not a victim, I’m not just a survivor: I’m a THRIVER. Sometimes that’s quite a stretch for me, but almost always it’s interesting and challenging and even fun. What's next for you? Decades of weight maintenance and tolerance of the tiresome aspects of life? Happy medical appointments? Happy clothes shopping? Admiring glances from strangers? The spouse or partner or baby or job you’ve always wanted? I’ll tell you what’s next. Life is next. Live it as a thriver, not just a survivor. Celebrate and enjoy it. You may have to experiment, try on as many new activities as clothes, discarding some and keeping the bright, shiny gems. Those are the jewels in your crown. Wear that crown with pride. You’re a thriver, and don’t you ever forget it. Treasure your thriving, because it’s the best gift ever paid out to someone who’s worked as hard as you have. It’s so valuable that no one can name its price. It’s all yours, and don’t you ever forget it!

I didn't really mean to create a blog just to post. I have been banded since August 2009 and have had a lot of trouble since near the start, it always seemed to be hard to do a fill as I was sensitive and a small fill would result in pain and taking some out again and being hungry again so it's been very up and down and never arrived at a comfortable place where I could just lose weight without drama. Today I saw a new doctor who said you have most likely been over filled for ages and the pouch has stretched and that's why you feel hungry. It was a light bulb moment like why did no one ever say that before, they just kept adding more then taking some out. This doctor said it looks like I skipped past the right spot and have been overfilled ever since, feeling miserable like a failure because I either couldn't eat anything or i ate ice cream just to eat something. I have been told, you aren't having enough water, not chewing enough and I know I did it right. Today I had 2 mls taken out and will wait 6 weeks for things to settle doctor said I might have to fight the hunger and weight gain but have to go back a few steps. Anyone else had these issues, would love to hear from you. This is a bit of a rant but been so frustrating and now I hope this is the answer

WOW! high School Skinny! What a dream that is... Congrats to you- you must feel amazing!!! So thrilled for you... I know I can do it too but it won't happen without hitting that gym. I have my clothes in the car ready to go today straight from work. Yahoo! PS- weighed in this morning at exactly 250! OMG, can't wait til tomorrow and I can say Goodbye to that HORRIBLE # forever! LOL ***Even though I've done it before- it's still exciting for me, because all I could see was me going back to where I started. I'm so greatful to have stopped the weight gain & turn it around...

That's is so inspiring, and I am so happy for you:) do you mind sharing how you went in the earlier weeks? I'm really struggling with this purée diet thin and have started seriously sneaking in normal food... Granted I only have 1 week of purée left to go, I'm just surprised that I can mane it with no issues plus I now feel like I am hungry all the time?? Like iv stretched my pouch whereas before I could survive hours in between the liquid shakes and stuff??? Is this normal or have I messed something up already.....Hi yummy mummy, thankyou so much :)The first few weeks were hard, I remember the first night in hospital after I had it done I would of killed for a ham sandwich with bowl of pumpkin Soup haha..I honestly believe there is no way you have ruined it so dont stress about that when you say normal food what do you mean? How many weeks out are you? I don't really remember what I ate but I know there was some trying times where I did sneak a bite of my children's food and would chew it until my jaw hurt! If you body is asking for more and sleeve excepting it you should be fine just make sure you don't touch the naughty foods just yet or pushing the limit if foods you def shouldn't be touching(steak, bread ect) longer you stay away from sweets the better your tolerance will be! I still to this day feel sick if I have more then I should I junk like chocolate chips ect, my sleeve hates maccas thankgod it feels like I'm swallowing a sponge lolMy biggest motivation was the fear of doing damage to my stomach, I was petrified of leak!!Please don't let me scare you that's what's going to happen cause you ate something a bit soon but that's what helped me stay in track..now it's still my fear that helps me to stay eating well but it's a fear of weight gain. It will be hard for awhile but eventually you will see food as fuel and when you can eat more you will realise why we are so over weight the portion sizes that out society has made us think is normal is crazy! I survive on eating as much or less then my 4yo would at a meal, always serve my food up on a bread and butter plate eating my meat and veg first then carb if still hungry. i will still have a little bit if dessert alot of the time but i have an even smaller serve then my kids or just a bite so I can still have treats and enjoy food but it doesn't rule my life anymore.Your still very early out so Water is very important, right now it's a mental challenge and you have the fear of doing wrong which is good as your conscious of your old habits meaning you wont slip back into them. Keep doing what your doing and if the hunger hits have a nibble of something healthy there's nothing wrong with that, itl keep your metabolism moving.Sorry for the novel lol but ask away I'm happy to answer any questions

yes you can lose without exercising, I'm down 60 lbs but it has taken me 9 months and I say that sadly because I haven't been able to exercise during my journey for health reasons. I'm just getting to the point to where I am able to walk outside for some activity and take it from me, you need to exercise, the weight will come off quicker, you tone your body (I have loose skin) and you need to introduce this part of activity into your new lifestyle. I can't wait till I'm 100% and can join a health club and workout. My arms are grossly flabby, my inner thighs are flabby, you don't want that. I carried my weight in my rear and legs and some in my stomach and yes my arms have always been big so I have to live with the flab, I can thank my grandmother for that one. Get into the gym girl! You can do it. As far as the weight gain, it's normal at first until you get your fills and start feeling restriction but try and limit your intake to 1 cup of food at each meal.

Hi guys so I had my gastric bypass in August of 2005. I was at 280 pounds and list over 150 pounds in a matter of 8 months. I had a baby and lost the 13 pounds I gained in a matter of a 3 weeks. I got pregnant again a year and a half later and lost the 20 pounds I gained in 2 months. But after my second pregnancy I went into a deep depression and have gained weight weight again. I am 210 pounds. I still eat very little but I don't know what is going on. Can anyone help or give any advice please!

I had a similar reaction but a different explanation. For years (unknown to me) I had pancreatic tumors that secreted insulin. The results (aside from massive weight gain) was that every few hours, no matter what I ate, I would experience a pretty steep drop in blood sugar. Diabetics learn to recognize this and everyone reacts in their own way. I have a cousin who gets sweaty panic attacks and knows his BS is low. For me, the sea monster would rise out of the ocean and I felt hungry. Removal of 2/3 of my pancreas (mostly) solved this. But post op (and for a few weeks while my body adjusted to my new intake levels), I would get the sea monster but not feel the hunger so I didn't realize where my bad mood was coming from. Once I did, I would have some broth or a sip of Protein shake or distract myself. Once I just took myself out of the house to spare the other residents. For me, all this (mostly) passed around week 3. But I watch out for it because it still happens, especially on days (like holiday prep days) when I get so busy, I get off my food and Water intake.

I know I packed on a lot after being on Depo, but was off it for 2 years and did not lose much. I am back on it and BOTH the surgeon and Gyno said it has very little to do with weight gain/retention. My loss has been good with band, but I wonder if it would be better without it. I want to switch BC methods, but neither doc wants me on the pill because I am 42. The Gyno and I have discussed some permanent things, but I don't know about going that route either. I have no kids, and probably won't have any, but am just unsure about taking a permanent step. Good job to stop the Depo now and let it cycle out. It takes a long time to regulate after wards. Best of luck,

I know this is controversial but the nurse practitioner at my practice says that there is a lot of research correlating diet soda with weight gain. They can’t figure out the exact relationship. They just know that they are related. Just a heads up if you start gaining and don’t know why it could be the culprit. They told me that medically I can have soda but they recommend that I do not.

I had a very good experience. I did not have gas pains and only took liquid Tylenol. My biggest issue really was having to get up every 15 minutes the night I was in the hospital to go to the bathroom because of the IV fluids. Though on the upside I did not have the high liquid weight gain some get the day after surgery. In addition to doing short walks the first couple days I was back at the gym on day four on the treadmill.

When you are not banded yet you haunt this forum for good pieces of advice, and yes even miracles, and this certainly is one in the form of the lap band. It shows me if you want something bad enough it will work for you, as long as you work with it. I have to admit I'm going to miss my soda pop, but fortunately I love cranberry juice and grape juice, both of which are much better for me. This will be a small price to pay for not being depressed over my weight gain anymore, and blaming my giving up cigarettes as an excuse for the weight. This is a wake-up call, and yes I mortgaged the house too. It's a small price to pay for a longer life. Thanks for the inspiring story.

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..

I am now 8 days post op. My doc required a two week pre-op liquid diet. Immediately after surgery, he wants me on a two clear liquid diet. Since starting my pre-op diet, I am down 25 pounds!!! But...I had gained 15 pounds from my initial consultation in November. I think the weight gain was due to numerous things since November...Christmas, Disney Vacation in January and the whole fear of not being able to eat a certain food ever again. I feel good. I don't see my doc till Thurs. for a followup and release to return to work. I'm looking so forward to full liquids and mushies! Never thought I'd say I was looking forward to cream soups, puddings, etc. Later.

Immediately after the surgery I was curious about my weight I went I to surgery weighing 198 lbs. After surgery I weighed 230 [emoji21]🤤[emoji24] why???? I know I'm swollen everywhere but why is the question Sent from my SM-G955U using BariatricPal mobile app

Me, too. Me, too. The psychiatrist who prescribed Zoloft for me a few years ago warned me that she wanted me off it by the 2 year mark because, if you take it longer than 2 years, you can expect weight gain. So, with therapy and stuff, I was off at the 2 year point - gained weight, though. I think it was actually that last bunch of pounds that put me into the WLS mode of thinking. I had been hovering at about 30 pounds less than now for several years. But I think it may actually have been the Zoloft that sealed the fate of my already sluggish metabolism. Darn, that Zoloft really worked well. I could have stayed on it forever if not for the side effects.

I did not take Zoloft but did take Paxil..same anti depressant family. The paxil is why I'm here today. I 'm 38 yrs old but when I was 29 yrs old I had lost 100 pounds all on my own with hard work and determination...at age 35 I was put on Paxil & Xanax for depression/ panic attacks & anxiety issues when I had MAJOR tragedy hit my family. While on the Paxil, nothing in my daily routine changed, I ate the same exercised the same, my activities were the same, but I was gaining weight, now after keeping the 100 pounds I had lost for well over 5 years I was baffled as to why I was gaining weight. I know they tell you a womans metabolism changes when she hits 35 but that could not be the reason for me to put on so much weight. SO I went back to my doctor and he told me anti depressants will slow down the bodys metabolic rate to almost zero. *sighs* wish he would of told me that before putting me on the paxil. He then prescribed me the Phen Phen, he said alot of women are now doing the Pro (for prozac) Phen (for phentermine) diet. Many women put on weight with any kind of anti depressant and no matter how hard they try it is very difficult for the weight to come off. I finally told the doctor to ween me off of the paxil, the weight gain was making me more depressed then the depression I was taking it for. I also took xanax for anxiety also, since being banded and losing some weight I have only taken it maybe 1-2 times in 4 months which I used to take it daily. Now that Im feeling good about myself and have some self esteem back I do not get my panic attacks or anxious moments. Good Luck to you Audrey.. I hope everything works out for you.

Okay, here's the deal. When you're stressed (such as the worrying you're doing now), your cortisol levels increase. High levels of cortisol cause weight retention and weight gain, particularly around the abdomen. You're self-sabotaging with stress. Put away the scale. Cortisol is a steroid. Steroids cause weight gain.

Hi, my name is Linda and I'm really new to this my start date is May 2014. I have been rather heavy most my life but never this heavy at 213 lbs. I have many health issues and on so many medications that increase the weight gain also that I need some help getting this weight off and keeping it off. I have been reading the many forums on here for a week now, every day I have read something new that will help me in my Quest to be thin, or at a decent weight. Some say your not over weight enough to have this done, but when you have to buy 1x and 2 x tops there is a weight issue. I started out at the PCP at 215 he said at 5'5 I have a bmi at 37. I have had my meeting with the surge in and he is wonderful! Been to see nut and a support group just yesterday. I've had my exercise eval done and will have a EDG done on Tuesday the 10 June. My ins calls for 6 visits with PCP and I have to have medical problems, which it have many. What do I want to get out of this? I want to get down and play with my 9 wonderful grandchildren, work in the yard, do my own house work and to look healthy and live longer. Is there any one around my age that has had this done, I'm at 57. Would love to hear from you or anyone on how you made it through the surgery and recovery. I've had so much information from drs nut already that it's a bit over whelming. My fiancé was not on with this, and I don't know if he is or isn't now. He tells me it's to drastic to go through just to lose a little weight... Ha 75 lbs is not a little weight, and I want to keep it off also. Were to be married Jan 31 2015, I believe it will be put on hold just because I don't know when surgery is or what faze I will be in at the time. Also haven't told my kids, just know my daughter will have her say in this. My son well he's easy going and what makes me happy makes him happy. Wow looking back I've written a book so I will stop here and thank you all for writing on this forum for people like me to read.