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I've just finished the third week of my pre op classes. The thing that led me this is of course the obvious... I'm obese!!! But, the health and social issues that follow have finally made it too much to bear. I am a 60 year old grandparent who has never gotten on the floor to play with his grandchildren. I suffer from osteoarthritis in both knees which hinder my ability to walk across the room. I have diabetes, COPD, hypertension, high cholesterol, and I'm sick of being sick!!! I don't think I've had lifelong history of weight problems but I can remember being teased for being "fat" as a young child. This changed as I entered high school and started to played sports and then joined the Army. After the military I became an avid backpacker and got into rock climbing. During this time I keep my weight in check without problems. It should be noted that I did suffer from other self esteem problems... I was an addict and I think I used the alcohol and risky activities to mask my low self esteem. If I was great athlete I couldn't be a drunk? Or if I was a drunk... whatever was needed to cover up the real me and what I was feeling. After I got sober I got married for the first time and as things didn't go well I took to eating to cover up what I was feeling. After the end of this marriage I once again took to activity to hide out. I biked up to 200 miles a week, or would go days without eating. People gave me praise for losing weight but didn't know that I was going through my first major depression and couldn't eat or sleep. The bottom line is that I got down to a respectable weight again in a totally inappropriate way. Soon I got married again and things were good. I exercised at a healthy (non manic) way. Life was good and my wife soon gave birth to my first child. It was during this time that the exercise stopped and quit working to be the stay at home parent. Within the next few years I started to exhibit emotion problems and was eventually diagnosed with bipolar disorder. As the psychiatrists piled on the medications I became less active. I developed breathing problems and was placed on oxygen. Talk about a cluster ****, my body totally shut down. Over the next 15 years my health got totally out of control. During that time period I was hospitalized no less than 7 times for emotional and health reasons and no one was willing to identify my psych meds as a major health concern. Finally, 2 years ago I decided to go off of my meds after I start to develop some rather nasty neurological side effects from one of the psych meds. During the ensuing months I started to breath again and was no longer physically depressed. Luckily I now have a psychiatrist who sees that I had been over medicated all these years. Instead of being on a cocktail of meds that promote weight gain I am on only one. (Unfortunately this med promotes weight gain but it's the one that seems to work) It's been like waking up from a dream, there are literally years that I can't remember. My wife and family are happy that I am awake. So this brings me to the next chapter. What am I going to do to prolong the rest of my life. This surgery is the first step! With it I can be not only see what is going on around me but I can participate in it. And with the help of my higher power I hope that all will go right.

I understand now. Yes bypass patients typically lose a little faster. Did he offer any suggestions to help speed up your weightloss? I was sleeved on 9/18/14. I'm having more trouble with my fingernails than my hair. May I ask what you ladies typical eat? Are you getting in all your Protein & Water. Do you exercise regularly? If your weight gain steady as in about the same amount of weight loss each week? I tend to have a big weight loss followed by a smaller one, but so fair I have steadily been losing.

This post is half sharing of my experience with the band, an half question (see down below!). I'm still new to LapBand, and working to get into the green zone. I had surgery in November and after about 3 weeks of healing I could eat the same foods and portions as I could pre-surgery (this is normal). After my first fill I didn't feel any restriction yet (also a normal occurrence). After my second fill I finally started to get restriction. I found that I could still eat all of the same foods as before as long as I was slow and mindful. If I took a bite of something while distracted (this happened often at work -reading emails while eating- or sometimes at home -watching TV-) I would get stuck. That food would have to come up before I could continue my meal. After surgery, and after my first fill I was gaining weight (up to a pound a week). After my second fill my weight gain final stalled and I was stable. Now I've gotten my third fill and the restriction is upped again. I'm hoping to start tipping the scales in the right direction! I feel like I finally have the band I did all of the research on, and mentally prepared myself for, before surgery. The one that changed your eating habits, made you eat slowly and carefully, and might give you some food restrictions (like doughy bread or dry, tough meat). I'm wondering, for all of you out there with properly adjusted bands, what are your favorite go-to foods? My food habits pre-band included bread at Breakfast, fruit for Snacks, and usually veggies with Pasta for dinner. I think I now might have trouble with bread, fibrous fruits (like citrus, which breaks my heart since it's one of the only in-season fruits during winter) or veg (like cooked cabbage, less heart breaking but slightly annoying since I had just cooked up a large head of it for use in some freezer meals). I'm looking for help to reshape my food habits and find healthy, delicious foods that are band friendly so I'm not relying on processed or soft foods. Thanks for any tips!

@@PuraVida37 I guess it is a good thing to enjoy every stage of pregnancy. I have had terrible pregnancies with really high sugars in the past and so my doctor was hesitant about me getting unfilled. Since I have been pregnant I have not had to have ridiculous amounts of insulin injections everyday and he is actually surprised that I havent gone up on my insulin since I started 25 weeks ago (im only insulin dependent when Im prego). So, I guess it all depends on the situation. Ive actually lost weight since I started. I started at 245 and weighed in at 243 when I went to get unfilled. My surgeon/doc told me that he will just take out 1 cc so that I dont have to start from the beginning when I want to start filling my band again. I got the 1cc out yesterday and already feel a world of difference with my eating, so I have to be careful not to go crazy with it. I have about 9 more weeks to go so I will just monitor what I eat and try to make better choices. My port is higher up on my abdomen, towards the left. It gave me problems/pain in the beginning of my pregnancy but not anymore. Only thing now is that its starting be get pushed out and so I can feel it more. Hope it doesnt protrude out of my belly. LOL. Good luck to you. Hope all goes well with your pregnancy. This is still a fun event so just enjoy it and dont worry about the weight gain too much. That's what my hubby tries to remind me. LOL...and besides, were growing humans in us, so we can gain a little weight

Almost had a full blown panic attack when I got on the scale this morning. I've lost 120 lbs. I am 17 months post op and for the last few months my weight has been stable. I normally fluctuate from 162-164, which I think is mostly water weight. Two weeks ago I started doing crossfit and got on the scale today expecting to be on the lower end of my flux or even slightly lower. Instead I weighed in at 165.4. I know it's not much, but it's got my anxiety through the roof right now. My husband doesn't really get it and thinks I'm nuts about freaking out about a pound. Needed to get this off my chance to someone that can relate to the fear of gain. I'm just so confused by how this happened when I've upped my exercise level.

I am 3 weeks 2 days out of surgery and have lost 45 pounds. but I have not lost any weight in the last 3 days. I know I am eating so little my body should still be losing weight. before the weight gain I was an athlete and when I cut weight I consumed more calories than I am now and would drop weight fast. Has anyone else plateaued this early in their process? I know I should not weigh myself everyday but its a hard habit to break being a former wrestler.

There is a study on the recidivism-weight gain of participants on the show. I read it while I was doing research. One of the points made was that the contestants do 90 minutes of cardio a day with "suggested" times of up to 3 hours more. They are not fed a certain diet, and can choose what they eat. Before weigh-ins, many are dehydrated, etc. (like my WW weigh ins for sure;-( ) once off the ranch, they try to keep to these same measures to win. I don't know anyone who has an outside life of family, kids, dogs, jobs etc, who has time to work out 4 1/2 HOURS a day. Not to mention, it is near impossible to keep up. I used to watch the show and loved it, until I realized that like many of us, they lost all that weight to regain much of it. I do have my guilty pleasure of my 600 pound life...

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

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

Hello! This will be my first post. My name is Jenniffer, I'm 26 years of age, suffering from PCOS (no periods, hirsutism, weight gain, infertility, except for the hair loss) and Hypertension. I'm 5'4 and 266 lbs. I've been overweight my entire life. I developed hypertension when I was 14 years old (inherited) due to my obesity. When I turned 15, I decided to do something for my health and got a gym membership, That's when I reached my lightest weight 180 lbs. Years later, by 2008/09 I was 289/290 lbs. I made it to 207 and then again I'm back to 266/7 in a three year period. I have tried as many diets as you can imagine. I have become a diet connoisseour and a fitness lover. I have become very deppressed and getting sleeved has become my last resource. I found out about going to Mexico and getting sleeved through A Lighter Me , but I also learned about Dr. Ramos Kelly. I have some questions for those that can relate to my experience. Here are my questions: -A Lighter Me (cheaper still good) vs Dr. Kelly (more expensive) -Which loan company lent you the money and how was the process. -Were you able to lose weight with PCOS, just like regular women do? Tell me about your experience please, because I'm completely lost. P.s. I heard bypass surgery works better for women with PCOS but I prefer the sleeve. Please help!

I was banded in Sept 2013 and got pregnant July 2014. I wasn't sure about getting any saline taken out. My cousin took all her fluid out for her 1st baby and gained 60lbs and so for the 2nd baby she kept all her fluid in and gained like 10lbs. I decided to keep all my fluid in (3cc in a 10cc band) and was doing well up until my 25th week or so. So now I am in my 29th week and have finally decided to take out at least 1cc. I go in tomorrow to do that. Main reason I am taking out is because I have not been able to eat well with all the tightness that I have been experiencing. I have gained about 3lbs since i have gotten pregnant. Usually by now that number would have been about 25, so I am happy for the minimal weight gain. I hope I don't gain too much after I get unfilled but am more worried about baby's weight gain than my own. I have 9 more weeks so I am sure it wont be too bad. I also want to get the unfill to make sure that I am staying hydrated and eating well for when I breastfeed. I will decide after baby comes when I will get more saline in to my belt. My doctor as has never been too concerned or worried about my minimal weight gain and that has been the main reason for not taking out any fluid, but For now, I will do what my body says is right

@@PuraVida37 congrats. How is the pregnancy going? I'm 29 weeks. My first baby post lapband. I wasn't sure about getting unfilled and my doctor wasn't pushing it so I left it unfilled. Now that I am this far along, it seems that I am getting stuck more often and am really tight so I decided to get unfilled. I go in tomorrow. I think I will just ask for 1 cc to be taken out. I didn't want to gain too much weight, which I haven't (I think Im at about 3 or 4 pounds gainged) but I am starting to worry about baby's weight gain. My doctor still doesnt seem to be worried about babys weight. But just for my peace of mind and also so that I can keep things down, I will go and get unfilled. I only have 3cc's in there...so that will put me at 2cc's in a 10cc band. I havent been on much but I have been reading all the updates via emails sent to my every time someone posts on this thread. Sounds like we are/were all on the same page of standing still as far as weight goes. I was stuck at 245 before baby came for about 3 months...and now that I am pregnant I am at about 247, give or take. I hope that I don't gain a whole ton after my unfill tomorrow and I hope that I can get on track after baby gets here and be able to lose weight. This has most def been a really trying and frustrating journey. With all the stand still on my weight loss and all the getting stuck. I have never been able to eat right after because everything I eat usually gets stuck and so it has kinda forced me to do shakes and chips and other sliders, just so that I feel that I am getting things down. I'm hoping to get a better diet in after i get this cc taken out. And with a regular exercise routine after baby comes, I hope I can get back on track. I'm 17 months post surgery and I have only lost about 1/3 of what I was hoping to lose by now. Anyways, hope all is going well with everyone else. Have a good week

Ive gained like 3 pounds. I dont know if I should be happy or worried. LOL. Usually by this time in my previous pregnancies I would have gained at least 20 lbs and another 20 in the next 10 weeks. I'm 29 weeks now, so I have 11 weeks til term but I am high risk because I have had a still born at 39 weeks so I am usually able to cry my way in to an early labor...I usually get induced at 38 weeks, so I am about 9 weeks away from D-Day. I have been so tight lately and worried about baby's weight gain so I will go and get about 1cc taken out tomorrow. I cant wait to actually eat

I've been reading this thread and lurking in the background. I am trying to do this fasting but find that I feel ravenously hungry and end up snacking myself into oblivion. Sigh. Also trying to stay very low carb. I find the low carb thing difficult at times but not as hard for me as the fasting. For some reason it makes me feel very fatigued. Does anyone else experience this? Maybe it's just not for me. I am very frustrated with myself and my inability to lose the holiday weight gain. Just seems like I never had the surgery sometimes except I'm fighting from a much lower weight than before. Other than that it's just as frustrating.

Florinda, I don't know anything but you describe picking at skin,out of control housekeeping etc...could your current weight gain be a symptom rather than cause of your distress? If you had weight loss rather than gain what would you do to feel better in these other areas? I ask this because it becomes a habit to blame everything on being heavier than we want but maybe the underlying issue is something else. I am trying exercise/kickboxing again... after a week of resting my knee. I am doing so good in so many ways but every once in a while I feel that sense of panic...what am I doing with my life??? I wish I could let go of this thinking but it rears its head sometimes. Today it hit me because i made a choice to go out with Steven rather than do fun stuff with a group on Saturday and I have people annoyeded at me over it. I am annoyed at me over it...like what am I doing? It is a very small thing actually but it made me feel like I am blowing in the wind rather than setting my own course. This was just over going out..Haha...on serious matters I feel similarly rudderless at times. I told my friend Shawn that I made one goal, it is fitness related and it made me feel good to have a plan for one thing in my life at least.

@@beltran2000 - Hopefully the most of your weight gain is from all the fluids and you'll soon be on the mend.

Don't let any weight gain you see discourage you. It's the IV fluids and you will drop it when you are off those. Focus on doing what the doctors say... you will get through this! You are a WLS vet after all and we're made of tough stuff ???? I'm sending you (((( BIG HUGS )))) and healing thoughts ☺️

First, as a disclaimer, this post is under "General WLS Discussion"....and my surgery was the Lap band. So different people with different surgeries will have different experiences, and different stories to tell.... No one wants to have to resort to surgery in order to loose weight...at least I didn't. But I tried and tried over years of dieting...and failing all the time...Up-down, up-down...gain weight, loose weight, gain it all back again.... Plus it was really staring to effect my health, in a very serious way.... So yes, for me it was a last resort...perhaps a desperate resort....as hesitant with 2nd thoughts as I was, what was the alternative? I wanted to be skinny and fit! I wanted to be healthy...I wanted to dance at my daughters wedding.... Know what? I got all that...AND MORE....I am absolutely ecstatic with my decision, and THE RESULTS! It CHANGED my life in ways I can't put into words at this moment. So what if it is the easy way out...EASY IS GOOD...what's wrong with that? Some people think that's a bad thing....I DON'T....and look at what I got in return! Where would I be today without this surgery? Probably 6' under, or ashes in an urn...not kidding! Weight loss surgery is not for everyone...it is not about the surgery, but it is about LOOSING WEIGHT! However you do that, it's all good. I needed my stomach tied off, restricted...after 4 years I'm still good with it! Like I said, I have been down all those other roads, and diets do not work for me. Perhaps for the first few months, then it all come back......surgery is permanent!

@@Folly ok but you're trying to say that we all have food addictions? Not all obese people are obese or over weight because they have a food addiction. And all people are exploitable kate plus 8 small plp big world sister wives 90 day fiancé intervention say yes to the dress and i could go on and on about how tlc has made billions exploiting plp. Let it be known that some plp have hormone issues that cause weight gain some have medications that cause it some have food addictions etc. Let's not generalize. And my biggest point was let's not assume that because someone is over weight they have more issues than anyone else and are less happy than other plp.

I've been fasting even though I am not supposed to due to liver issues. I am not losing. I am sure it's because of the gabapentin. I really need that stuff, but I am so bummed that it causes weight gain. I can so relate to you Sheryl. I can't go to the gym. Hell, I can barely walk. I am really depressed. I can't do anything. It hurts to get in and out of bed. I went from an active middle aged lady to a crippled up senior citizen in a matter of days. the only good thing is that there is no sign of infection. This is really stupid. I lost my blender cup. It's a mini blender and I've been using it for years. Occasionally, I will bring my shake into the bedroom. I've looked everywhere. All the little odd places I stick it when I am drinking it and I am not in the kitchen . It's sitting somewhere, getting all moldy. I'm going to go and buy another one today. I'll find it eventually. This is so ridiculous.

Good evening everyone. On one of my FB groups they were saying that Biotin causes weight gain. Anyone ever hear of this? I take 5000 a day. Two people said they stopped and lost 12 pounds fast. I take it for nails and hair loss. I have a few thin spots and also use hair products my stylist told me to use. Begins with a N and is like Nixon but not Nixon. Well tomorrow the snow begins again and again on Monday. Drive safe snow bound people. Just remember the Pats are winning Sunday. Arlene

yeah, seriously dieting to gain weigh is like shooting yourself with a bow and arrow, not likely to happen. If you wantthe no fail weight gain? drink a few full flavored beers especially darks. those will get you there in no time ohand to help those go down, try Fettuccini alfredo. youll get there in no time.

Bobby you are correct in your statement. The misconception that surgery is the easy way out for obesity is worldwide. I noticed that even some in my family have discounted my success because they assume it has been easy. I too had been on every weight loss program and gimmick on the market. if I had all the money I have spent on those things I would be extremely wealthy. In reference to the Big Fat Happy girl , Whitney, she knows she is obese and has tried to accept it but is actually trying to lose weight. I give her credit for dancing and trying to keep moving. I am not sure what her diet is like they do not show her eating so I wouldn't judge her. I do believe there are medical issues that cause weight gain. I went through menopause and hormone therapy in my late 40's and put on about 50 lbs in the process. But I still believe that limiting your intake and choosing healthier foods will get you where you need to be. this is the first time since I started trying to lose weight that I have been able to maintain . I am happy that I made the right decision for me. My health has improved drastically and I am enjoying life much more. We would all like that "pill" but I know from experience with pills that they don't work long term and do damage to your health.

Cowgirl, sorry about your knee. My knee spurs have not been too bad for a while... but I know its just one too many spins away... I really have to watch it. The Tylonol and ice pac really helps when it does flair. I wondered if anyone had read that 5:2 hunger link... I think its valuable info too. After so many failed "diet" experiences, shame and lower self worth have gotten me down too... and knowing that the weight gain problem is not just me failing. Being a (non)loser. Bests of luck to you, let us know how the 4:3 works for you.

Thanks for writing this ladies. In many ways its similar you your stories. In a nut shell: 1 year. slow but steady with a butt load of stalls thrown in for good measure. did not quite get to goal. 2 year. Get to within 5 pounds of goal, then lost my way and gained to 22 pounds above goal. HUGE sad face! I took my eye off the ball... I started acting "normal" (eating without being accountable) I had a big eating vacation, to NOLA, I had an injury that kept me down for a few months, I had my mom in law visit for 10 weeks with happy hour every single day. 3 year. Tried several methods to get the 22 pounds off and reach goal. Georgia turned me onto the 5:2, and I managed to get to goal in year 3. Took up birdwatching, walking, kayaking and continued bellydancing... loving a more active lifestyle. Really enjoying dressing up. Half way through year 3, mom got sick, and a pile of not so nice things moved into my life, job, home, relationships, sick and old dear dog.. then mom died. I fell back off the wagon, and just hung on the best I could. My weight started going up again.... and emotional eating and the holidays collided. I finally managed to get the weight gain to slow down and stop.. I started getting the good habits back on track... put my fitbit back on, started using myfitnesspal every day, every meal, every bite.... and started fasting two days a week again regularly. Still a few things I could tighten up... but not to bad. Unfortunately, the behavior that got me through the last push goal do not seem to be working the same way they did the first time.. but I am only 7 pounds from the high end of my goal range, so really thats not TOO bad all in all. My skinny jeans are tight. My cholesterol is up. My Dr says lose the weight, but its going really slow. I know stalls all too well and its not putting me off my task, but its a chore. I consider myself a success. Peoples eyes still bug out when they see me... even after 4 years. I hope I can go the rest of my life this close to goal... I really don't know how easy that will be. If it gets much harder than it is now, I don't know if I can pull it off, but so far so good (without saying it was easy) I just had my 4 year surgeversary on Jan 19th 2015.