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I think I win the prize for knowing the most band doctors one-on-one. They all disagree at many levels, but the one thing they agree on completely is that erosion happens. Lopez appears to have the most erosions, but he also has the most patients. She went 1.5 years with no fill because she was doing great. Then the temporary port problem added to the weight gain made her decide to get a fill. Going to Mexico from here is a major ordeal, kill 2 birds with one stone. That's when he did the endoscopy and found erosion. I do know that port infection and erosion are related. She didn't mention that though, but since I'm the Queen of Port infections I happend to know that little diddy. I'm not sure if she's related to the person you're talking about. This is posted on the Vegas Bandster board, so it's not like I'm posting something private. I think we all need to know every thing.

First, you're not drinking enough Water. You should be drinking closer to 2-3 litres a day. Second, you also shouldn't be concerned with weight gains or losses during the recovery stage. How much weight did you lose pre-op and post-op? What kind of purees are you consuming and how much? If you're consuming carbohydrate rich purees, your body will retain a lot of fluids. Plateauing during the first 2-4 weeks is normal and gaining a few lbs of water is typical. Read this article about the 2 week plateau: http://www.dsfacts.com/weight-loss-stall-or-plateau.html

I am hoping to be ready to start maintianing my weight by fall and would like to hear if any of you have a maintenance plan and if so what it is. I discussed this with my Dr. at my last appointment and we decided that we would start removing small amounts of fill until I was maintaining. This is what I wanted to do but I am having second thoughts. I don't think this will happen for a few more months. Even though I am close historically it has taken me a while to loose the last 20-25 pounds so it is not like it is going to happen tomorrow. I am just trying to think ahead because I have gone to my goal weight twice before in the last 12 years and managed to gain it back. The first time I maintained well for one year and then gained about 12 lbs. per year for the next three and then gained 25 lbs. the fifth year. Lost 61 pounds, but managed to gain back that 61 + another 25 before I stated looking into the lapband. The second time I started gaining it back as soon as I stopped "dieting." I am determined not to do this again so maintenance is on my mind these days. The thing is I don't diet at all with the band. I eat whatever I want; I do Protein first so I get full and don't ever want much else. I don't count calories and I don't use fat-free or low-fat, etc. Two things that were likely big issues to my weight gain in the past were 1) alcohol and 2) Dr. Pepper. I haven't had a Dr. Pepper or any soda for that matter since I was banded on 8-11-2005. The alcohol is another story, right now all I can say is that it is much better.

I tell everyone as well! I figure if they see you losing weight and keeping it off then they are gonna talk anyhow because everyone knows that 99% of people who lose weight gain it right back with out some kind of help. Don't want to be another Star Jones that was a no brainer watching a fat all of your life woman go down to nothing and lie about it on national TV.

Hello, I guess this is my introduction to the forum. I'm a 46 Y/O guy, about to go in for a revision to my RNY that was done a while back (exact date when I remember...) My new date is this coming Tuesday, May 30th, 2017. My first surgery was somewhat successful, but I guess I got tired of the restrictions and requirements after a while, and I started cheating more and more in my diet. I dropped down to around 300 lbs after starting at 618, my heaviest. A few years ago I had an accident, where I was left in a lot of pain, and since I didn't have insurance I left it go untreated, and that was the beginning of my weight gain, to where I'm now, 504 lbs as of last Monday. Well, here I am, not as excited as the first time, and not scared either, more of a feeling of "whatever". Now, don't get me wrong, I will make it work, it's not as fun being fat and 46, like it was being fat and 30. Anyway, I'm an open book, ask away if you have any Q's, and I'm looking fwd to learning from ya'lls successes and mistakes, especially now that I found a forum dedicated to guy's issues, because my first time around, it was mostly ladies, with very few guys, and most of those guys were young. Best Regards.

I have been a bad bandster I am two yrs post op and havent lost weight since last january. Lately I have been eating unhealthy and not very motivated to better myself. I think alot of it is being complacent in life...new boyfriend..bought a house...and just happy in general. Now my problem is keeping food down. If I dont eat throughout the day then I cant eat without vomiting. I need to start with lots of liquids and almost stretch out my stomach. Once I do that I have a good chance of eating more than just soup. I havent had a fill in a year and a half and dont know if its too tight or just my fault for not following the rules. I dont have pain unless I need to throw up...no heartburn or nausea. But I am hungry....alot. I only eat one good meal every three or four days. Other than that its just snacks or ice cream to get me through. I feel like I am failing myself and the band...please help!

We dont do thanksgiving in Australia, but Christmas is just around the corner. I've actually never had a problem with celebratory eating, I was a little and often overeater not a massive humungous intake all at once eater and i've never ever liked the sensation of scarfing down Christmas dinner, followed by plum pudding, washed down with four or five wines till you need to undo your pants type eating. I hate it. So I've not really dont it. Likewise in any other situation where weight gain was a threat - holidays and pregnancy mainly - I have an Iron will, I plan ahead of time not to overeat and I dont. its the day to day routine eating where I tend to go off track, just not planning, thinking about it or shopping properly.

Well--I'll give you my first account experience of this...so far. I was banded on April 18, 2006--have been doing VERY well--had lost 25lbs. A week ago, I discovered I was pregnant (fourth child). You have no idea the shock and frustration and yet at the same time, the joy. I've been nauseated a lot lately--but I haven't vomitted. I never received a fill, so I won't until 6 weeks after the baby's born. I have slight restriction but am able to eat a fair amount of food. My doctor said he'd be pleased if I eat about 1800 calories (of healthy foods)/day. He said that the baby would be fine--even if I lose weight in pregnancy because I'm overweight--he said that the baby would get what he/she needed first and then I would get the rest (calories/nutrition,etc.). So--another adventure--another chapter in my book of life....I just PRAY for no or minimal weight gain. I've been exercising a lot, so I know this will help. One thing I know--I don't want my tubes tied after this baby, I want them cut out, burned, and thrown into the dead sea. Bless you all--

Yup sounds very normal. Most docs will say not to really count weight loss until you are off the liquids and onto regular food. My doctor said to count that as bonus weight. And the longer post op you will probably find yourself hungrier. It's the hardest part for most as you havent had a fill yet. As for the BM, your not eating anything solid so you will probably have much less in the way of BM's. I will sometimes, even six months out, go two weeks withough a BM and will have to do something to help things along :thumbup: The sodium in soups can defanitely be an explenation for weight gain. I will carry up to three pounds just in water retention if I have too much sodium. Up to five pounds during my period. Try some mom to move the bowels and lower your sodium and drink lots of water and see what happens.

this is a long article, so here is an excerpt: "If you offer your body something that tastes like a lot of calories, but it isn't there, your body is alerted to the possibility that there is something there and it will search for the calories promised but not delivered," Fowler says. _____________________________________________ Drink More Diet Soda, Gain More Weight? Overweight Risk Soars 41% With Each Daily Can of Diet Soft Drink By Daniel J. DeNoon WebMD Medical News Reviewed by Charlotte Grayson Mathis, MD June 13, 2005 -- People who drink diet soft drinks don't lose weight. In fact, they gain weight, a new study shows. The findings come from eight years of data collected by Sharon P. Fowler, MPH, and colleagues at the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio. Fowler reported the data at the annual meeting of the American Diabetes Association in San Diego. "What didn't surprise us was that total soft drink use was linked to overweight and obesity," Fowler tells WebMD. "What was surprising was when we looked at people only drinking diet soft drinks, their risk of obesity was even higher." In fact, when the researchers took a closer look at their data, they found that nearly all the obesity risk from soft drinks came from diet sodas. "There was a 41% increase in risk of being overweight for every can or bottle of diet soft drink a person consumes each day," Fowler says. More Diet Drinks, More Weight Gain Fowler's team looked at seven to eight years of data on 1,550 Mexican-American and non-Hispanic white Americans aged 25 to 64. Of the 622 study participants who were of normal weight at the beginning of the study, about a third became overweight or obese. For regular soft-drink drinkers, the risk of becoming overweight or obese was: 26% for up to 1/2 can each day 30.4% for 1/2 to one can each day 32.8% for 1 to 2 cans each day 47.2% for more than 2 cans each day. For diet soft-drink drinkers, the risk of becoming overweight or obese was: 36.5% for up to 1/2 can each day 37.5% for 1/2 to one can each day 54.5% for 1 to 2 cans each day 57.1% for more than 2 cans each day. For each can of diet soft drink consumed each day, a person's risk of obesity went up 41%. Diet Soda No Smoking Gun Fowler is quick to note that a study of this kind does not prove that diet soda causes obesity. More likely, she says, it shows that something linked to diet soda drinking is also linked to obesity. "One possible part of the explanation is that people who see they are beginning to gain weight may be more likely to switch from regular to diet soda," Fowler suggests. "But despite their switching, their weight may continue to grow for other reasons. So diet soft-drink use is a marker for overweight and obesity." Why? Nutrition expert Leslie Bonci, MPH, RD, puts it in a nutshell. "You have to look at what's on your plate, not just what's in your glass," Bonci tells WebMD. People often mistake diet drinks for diets, says Bonci, director of sports nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and nutrition consultant to college and professional sports teams and to the Pittsburgh Ballet. "A lot of people say, 'I am drinking a diet soft drink because that is better for me. But soft drinks by themselves are not the root of America's obesity problem," she says. "You can't go into a fast-food restaurant and say, 'Oh, it's OK because I had diet soda.' If you don't do anything else but switch to a diet soft drink, you are not going to lose weight." The Mad Hatter Theory "Take some more tea," the March Hare said to Alice, very earnestly. "I've had nothing yet," Alice replied in an offended tone, "so I can't take more." "You mean you can't take less," said the Hatter: "It's very easy to take more than nothing." Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland There is actually a way that diet drinks could contribute to weight gain, Fowler suggests. She remembers being struck by the scene in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland in which Alice is offended because she is offered tea but is given none -- even though she hadn't asked for tea in the first place. So she helps herself to tea and bread and butter. That may be just what happens when we offer our bodies the sweet taste of diet drinks, but give them no calories. Fowler points to a recent study in which feeding artificial sweeteners to rat pups made them crave more calories than animals fed real sugar. "If you offer your body something that tastes like a lot of calories, but it isn't there, your body is alerted to the possibility that there is something there and it will search for the calories promised but not delivered," Fowler says. Perhaps, Bonci says, our bodies are smarter than we think. "People think they can just fool the body. But maybe the body isn't fooled," she says. "If you are not giving your body those calories you promised it, maybe your body will retaliate by wanting more calories. Some soft drink studies do suggest that diet drinks stimulate appetite." SOURCES: Fowler, S.P. 65th Annual Scientific Sessions, American Diabetes Association, San Diego, June 10-14, 2005; Abstract 1058-P. Sharon P. Fowler, MPH, University of Texas Health Science Center School of Medicine, San Antonio. Leslie Bonci, MPH, RD, director, sports nutrition, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. WebMD News: "Artificial Sweeteners May Damage Diet Efforts.""Artificial Sweeteners May Damage Diet Efforts." Davidson, T.L. International Journal of Obesity, July 2004; vol 28: pp 933-955.

This should be setting off alarm bells. You say you already have restriction but you are having a fill every 3 weeks. WHY? You have admitted that your mind is not in the right place and you are deliberately setting yourself up for failure by not following the rules by drinking with food. What do you think more fills will do? How do you think they will help? If you continue to push the food through then the band will not work the way it should. But what will happen if you continue the way you are is that you will end up too tight, you won't be able to eat proper food, you will exist on sliders which will not fill you up and will contribute to weight gain and you risk a slip, erosion and serious reflux. Does your Dr know what you are doing? If not then it is time to be honest. The band won't work if you refuse to work with it.

Hey, if the steroids work, at least I can start walking again. The orthopedic guy has me on a five-day steroid burst; with luck, I can stop ASAP. Anyone else have weight-gain issues this week?

:sad:I am 32 yr old woman with 3 little boys. I have struggled with weight gain forever. I want this so bad because I have tried everything else with little results. I am worried because I don't quite reach the 40 bmi I am 63inches tall @214. about 37 bmi I don't know what to expect at the doc's office. I feel like it is gonna be so humiliating! Any advise?:cursing:

I've been banded almost 4 years now. Like you, I've never really assumed this will be a lifetime thing, I really hope to get 10 years out of it, if nothing better's out there and my band wears out, I wouldnt hesitate to get another. I'm intrigued by the sleeve and I do believe for a lot of people its a better surgery but I dont think I'd swap over, I think I'd get another band. If I were so lucky as to get 20 years out of it, I dont know what I'd do then, whether I'd have any other WLS at all. I really think the longer this goes on, my habits are becoming more and more consolidated. I dont want to be so arrogant as to say that I could have done this without the band, but I am now maintaining my weight on about 1800 to 2000 calories a day which is quite a reasonable amount of food (I have to work REALLY hard to get it all in, but I need it) and I will never give up running, I love it. So I lost 120% of my excess weight and whilst I'm sure I'd have rebound weight gain if I lost my band in even 10 years, I dont think I'd really shoot up to my previous high, which was heavily influenced by being a stay at home mother of young children, something which no longer applies to me. Not sure there. But I do think somewhere in the future they'll work out how to control our appetites, not restrict our stomachs! i dont need an emergency fund, in Australia, if my band slips, wears out, or I just want it out, its pretty much free. Our health insurance covers it, no arguments, no pissfarting around. Its paid for. I paid a once only $3000 fee and I will never pay for any service from my surgeon out of my own pocket again. He bulk bulls everything, so its billed straight to our public health system and my private health will always pay for ANY hospital stay costs.

I love a good reason to sleep more, but as a south Georgia resident, I'm not turning off the air conditioning. NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - "Super-sized" fast food meals and TV time shouldn't take all the blame for the U.S. obesity problem, according to a research review published Tuesday. <SCRIPT type=text/javascript>if (window.yzq_a == null) document.write("<scr" + "ipt type=text/javascript src=""http://us.js2.yimg.com/us.js.yimg.com/lib/bc/bc_1.7.3.js></scr" + "ipt>");</SCRIPT><SCRIPT type=text/javascript>if (window.yzq_a){yzq_a('p', 'P=uwQlus6.I3oMK09aRKFaWRAYRNwytkSjvdYAB5Ny&T=17b35a3bh%2fX%3d1151581654%2fE%3d7666449%2fR%3dnews%2fK%3d5%2fV%3d1.1%2fW%3d8%2fY%3dYAHOO%2fF%3d4293078391%2fH%3dY2FjaGVoaW50PSJuZXdzIiBjb250ZW50PSJkaWV0O0hlYWx0aDtJdDtjaGlsZHJlbjt3ZWF0aGVyO2l0OyIgcmVmdXJsPSIiIHRvcGljcz0iIg--%2fS%3d1%2fJ%3d4723BECE');yzq_a('a', '&U=139fb8112%2fN%3dMt0BB86.Isc-%2fC%3d378029.7424007.9670348.1442997%2fD%3dLREC%2fB%3d3800058');}</SCRIPT><NOSCRIPT></NOSCRIPT> In fact, a group of researchers contend, a number of aspects of modern living -- from lack of sleep to exposure to environmental chemicals to living with air conditioning -- may be feeding Americans' weight woes. Writing in the International Journal of Obesity, they argue that obesity research and prevention efforts need to look beyond the "Big Two" -- food industry practices, like beefed-up portion sizes and added sugar; and reduced physical activity from factors such as cuts in school gym classes. That's not to say that diet and exercise aren't important, said report co-author Dr. David B. Allison of the University of Alabama at Birmingham. However, he told Reuters Health, the evidence linking obesity to food industry marketing and lack of gym class is circumstantial. It's equally plausible that a range of other factors are also involved, Allison and his colleagues point out. Lack of sleep is one, they say. Research in animals and humans suggests that chronic sleep deprivation boosts appetite and eating, and studies also show that U.S. adults and children are sleeping less than they used to. In recent decades, adults have gone from sleeping for an average of 9 hours to about 7 hours, the researchers point out. There is also evidence that industrial chemicals that act as endocrine disruptors may increase body fat. These chemicals, which are used in products such as pesticides and plastics, alter hormonal activity when they get into the body. Studies suggest that people have been increasingly exposed to these chemicals through the food chain in recent decades. Another factor potentially weighing Americans down is air conditioning. The body burns calories when forced to regulate its own temperature and, Allison noted, people tend to eat less in hot, humid weather. He and his colleagues cite 10 potential obesity risk factors in all, including: increased rates of older mothers, whose children may be more prone to excess weight gain; a range of medications, such as antidepressants, which can promote weight gain; and a decrease in smoking rates, because people often gain weight when they quit and the absence of nicotine, an appetite suppressant. No one is suggesting that people should stop taking their prescriptions, keep smoking or swelter in the July sun, according to Allison. When it comes to any one person's weight, he said, "what ultimately matters is calorie intake and calorie expenditure." That means diet and exercise is still key. But, Allison argued, researchers and policymakers should be "open-minded" about the potential contributors to the obesity problem and not assume that the answer lies in simple fixes like ridding schools of vending machines or installing sidewalks in the suburbs to encourage walking. SOURCE: International Journal of Obesity, June 27, 2006 online.

Hi y'all.. .guess what??... I can log on here and finally post what I have been been reading from other for a year now..I HAVE A SURGERY DATE!!!!!! YEAH!!!!! March 17- St. Patrick's Day!!! I wish y'all could see the smile on my face as I am typing this- But, with that comes this great shadow of doom- the preop liver shrinking diet. I understand I need to drink liquids and eat one low fat meal a day such as grilled chicken and a salad. Will this work? I haven't been on the scales but I fear I've gained about 20 pounds over the last 9 months waiting to get my dr visits and preapproval done. Do you think I will be put on hold for the weight gain? And again, should I be able to do my liver anygood with a 2 week liquid diet? I feel like a fool.. help!:confused:

Here's a little more info. I lifted this from a post I made on 7/12 in answer to the same question: A PB is a bandster term for "productive burp" which happens thusly: Usually once you have good restriction, but possible any time, if you eat too large a bite, don't chew well enough, or are overfull, the bite of food can't fit through your stoma (hole formed by the band between your "pouch" or upper stomach and your lower stomach) and it has to go somewhere, so it comes back up. The esophagus isn't built to have things just sit there, it's a conveyor belt that likes to move things along. So it will spasm...and if the food doesn't go on through, the body produces a lot of mucous (called slime here) which lubricates the esophagus and offending bolus of food and helps move it up and out. it is different from vomiting in that there are usually no stomach spasms involved, and there is no stomach bile/acid expelled. It can be dangerous if you PB too strongly or too much at first, before your band is healed, and later on even if healed, if you PB a lot (some do it daily as a way of life) it is very hard on your innards and can cause the band to slip. An occasional misstep/PB, however, especially if it happens after you've healed from surgery, isn't really a cause for concern but it should be a lesson to be learned. They are almost always caused by "operator error"...not chewing well, bite too big, or overeating. Occasionally, though, a PB is caused by being too tight (too much fill) and if that's the case, you need to get a little saline removed quickly or risk poor weight loss/weight gain, problems with your band, etc.

Oooh! Sorry that you had to have th eband removed, be careful of weight gain! Just my personal waring. I only had a revision in November of k]last eyar. I am just now starting to lose again since my intial weight gain while empty and it has been a battle of my own wits, not surgeon's. He is satisfied, but I am not. I am back to being overweight! Anyway, glad to hear that you are on the mend. It can happen to anyone, but it is not as common as people on this board seem to think. Mine was my 2nd slip, the 1st one was approxiamtely a year and half before, and it was easily fixed by an unfill for a month. I think the 2nd was because I sick and then let myself get dehydrated. People, take care, call your surgeon even if its Sunday, and don't do what I did, i didn't want to disturb him and flet it coudl wait for Monday! Good luck.Karen

My anxiety is at an all time at the moment. My surgery date isnt until October 30th and I start my liquid diet October 16th. I'm not stressing about the surgery but the weigh in with my Surgeon. She wants to do a weigh in on Tuesday October 17th but the probably is I gained 15 lbs!!! I gained all that weight in 5 days. There are a lot of factors... 1) I didn't drink any water for 3-4 days 2) My period has been on and off for 2 weeks because the birth control in my arm was expiring so I got a new one put back in 3) stressed 4) lack of sleep and have been sleeping late. I know you can gain some weight from water retention, being on your menstrual and being stressed out but 15 pounds?! This is really bad timing. If im not the same weight or have lost anything that means my surgery will be postponed and that isn't an option for me. I plan on starting my liquid diet a little bit in advanced ( Sunday 10/15 ) This has to be all water weight but i don't know if it's possible to lose 15 pounds in 3 days. This is all just bad timing

I've been having lots of issues with my weight loss the last two weeks....I've been using dailyplate, exercising, and limiting my carbs. I was only eating between 500 and 700 calories, realized was probably in starvation mode so I upped my calories to 1000-1100, started my period, had a 7 pound Water weight gain and now I've been drinking water like crazy trying to get rid of the extra weight fast. Well my period is over and so I decided to weigh myself last night. Before my period I was at -24...then I stepped on the scale...-31.5...I ran into the living room and excitedly told my dh. Then I thought...I will weigh myself again before putting my jammies on...I will probably weigh a pound less......... I pulled out the scale an stepped on it...My scale had lied...my digital scale that has NEVER read wrong...had....I was up 7 pounds still. How could this be?? I cried and cried...I thought everything was going well since my fill except for the low calories, which I had just changed days ago. Was my water weigh going to go away... I just don't understand! I certainly ton't want to go down to my second fill appointment with a weight gain on the 1st. So now I'm just disgusted and second guessing myself. The scale thing...I may have had it off center of where I usually have it, but I weighed myself twice and our home is only 5 years old so it would not be because the floor is uneven... Should I up my water intake again? Take water pills? Exercise moring and night? I'm just disgusted. I make great food choices and have been right on track with healtheir foods and such. This water weight gain is really bringing me down again. This is my second period since surgery and I lost the other water weight relatively fast after my period. I really need to get out of this Funk I'm in.... Any ideas.... I'll have my 2 month bandiversary on Friday!

For many years I gained weight strictly due to being lazy and eating poorly. But for the last several years, I have been driving myself crazy because I feel like I have been doing everything I should be doing in terms of eating the right foods (Whole30 and Paleo) and exercising intensely (Obstacle Course Racing and Weight Training) and nothing worked for weight loss. I have often felt like my body and brain were working against my heart and preventing me from achieving what I wanted. In my ongoing research, I recently found another Bariatric Surgeon that post his bariatric videos on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DrMatthewWeiner I found his Informational Seminar video to be much more informative than any other I attended during my search for a local surgeon. One point in particular is the slide I've attached to this post. The stats he shows in this slide are my exact stats. His explanation here is that to gain 100lbs over a 20-year period, a woman only has to eat an average of 50 additional calories per day. Which is basically nothing. This takes into consideration pregnancy weight gain, weight loss, and weight regain over this time period. He affirms that significant weight gain from such a low number of additional calories means that there is actually something else going on besides just eating more calories than you burn. And as many of us suspect, it is due to hormonal and metabolic changes because of both age and changes that occur from diets you go on. This alone lifted a huge weight off my shoulders. Because I am not crazy after all, my brain and body were working against me. And surgery can help me get back to where I want to be. It further confirms my decision to have this surgery and use it merely as one tool in my arsenal to regain my health! I wanted to share this for anyone else has felt like they were crazy and wondered endlessly why diet and exercised worked from everyone else but you...

P.S., my husband still loves me at any weight, with zits on my face, with bad morning breath, with greasy hair, with my bad attitude, with weight gain and weightloss.

Gcravener, I have to say that if you're having reflux and PBing all the time you probably are too tight. It's accepted wisdom that being too tight can lead to weight gain just as easily as weight loss, because the patient stays away from the healthier (harder to eat) foods and gravitates toward softer foods. Finding the right spot with the band is not necessarily an easy thing. You've only been banded for three months and many, many people don't get to the "sweet spot" right off the bat. I'd suggest an unfill immediately and that you then take a careful look at what you are eating. Fitday.com is a great tool to help you track your actual calories in and out, which might be enlightening all by itself. Being too tight is NOT the way to banding success. Please consider having an unfill and getting a fresh start. Banding can't possibly work if you're fighting with it all the time, and you may even do yourself some damage along the way. You may want to start a new thread with your experience and see what other bandsters have to offer. I'm sure there are other people in your shoes who can benefit from a discussion about it. Welcome to LBT!!

I am 5' tall and was 234. I call myself the weeble wobble. I had no comorbidity, in other words I have no illnesses. I didn't have high BP my cholesterol was only up 2 points and down 2 points for good cholesterol. I had no signs of diabetes but I have Hypothyroidism which causes weight gain and then PCOS which causes weight gain. So with the odds stacked against me and wanting to be proactive I was blessed that the insurance approved me. As far as the first few weeks, they are tough, liquid diet to mushy to solids. Definately research recipes ahead of time, it will make your life so much easier to have several ideas for mushy foods. I made thick chili with bison meat. 4oz or half a cup was 23g of Protein. The pain wasn't that bad, as long as you don't lay around. You have to get up and walk and it is uncomfy, but it is much more uncomfortable to have gas trapped in your body. Once on solids before a fill, you are going to be hungry at times, Water, water, water, fluids, fluids, fluds. Stay away from sugar and carbs and you should loose weight fine. I wish you the best of luck.

I've also heard such dire predictions from the so called "nay sayers", and also that on average an individual will loose only 66% of their excess weight with the band. My weight loss has also been basically stalled over the past few months, but I do attribute that to the 2 surgeries I have had since December, 2012. I will reach my first "bandiversary" short of my goal, however also 78 lbs less than I was, and much healthier from a clinical standpoint. I have little doubt that I will reach my goal, as I know how to work with my band and how to eat a healthy, band friendly diet. The carb addiction which was a major factor of my weight gain is in the past, and I am vigilant to keep it there. I know from my history, it will be the exercise which will help me reach my goal. It helped me to begin to use a "Fitbit", which helped me see how many calories my activity level that day had burned, and it motivated me to get on track and exercise more regularly. I still lack the patience to participate in "My Fitness Pal", at least I believe that is where you log your foods daily. I just try to stay with basic and unprocessed foods, and that has worked for me. I also believe that motivation for success and maintaining focus on goals are integral parts to successful weight loss. We will all get to where we want to be weight wise, if we are sufficiently motivated to get there!