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I wonder if having this type of surgery also affects the thyroid gland. One of the symptoms (major symptom for me before I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism in 1995) of hypothyroidism is hair loss, and for me it was by the clumps! Other symptoms include being cold, weight gain, and lethargy. I had all of those, as well. Apparently there are many people out there who have hypothyroidism who don't know they have it, as the symptoms creep up slowly, and sometimes there are no symptoms at all. A simple blood test at your doctor's office will tell you if you have it. I take a tiny pill every morning that takes care of my symptoms. Worth looking into if you think you may have it. I wonder if having hypothyroidism and having the sleeve surgery may enhance hair loss. I will be asking my GP when I see her in February. I'll also ask my surgeon (if I ever see him again!). Good luck all!

I know I'm super late with this (I just signed up to this forum) but have you thought about the Nuvaring? This was my birth control before my surgery and I loved it. Low dose of hormones and not any weight gain.

I eat carbs - but I try to stick to foods that are low-glycemic - vegetables, Beans, lentils. I normally try to eat 75% Protein and 25% carbs on average. But I do eat things like Pasta, rice, mashed potatoes, donuts (at most 1 per day... err, on a stressful day, sometimes 2 ), Rasin Bran (I fill a 12oz cup halfway and eat it dry), and the occasional cookie or small piece of cake - but I had to learn how much of each I could eat without causing carb cravings or slowing my weight loss. It took time to figure it out. Whenever I see my weight going up, day after day, I cut back on the sugar, flour and pasta - and stick to protein and vegetables. And monitor my portions more closely. That gets me back on track. There's nothing I can't/won't eat, but it's all in moderation and I choose what I'm will to accept (think weight gain) as a consequence.

Way to go. Be careful opening the band, it could allow weight gain instead of maintenance

This can all get more intense around the holidays. You need even more discipline and planning when there are holiday treats everywhere you turn. People may notice your weight loss even more because you may see them only once a year. And the ones who share their negative opinions of weight loss surgery may be your relatives. It’s easy to lose sight of the big picture and get down on yourself during this season. But you’ll get through it, and come out on the other side ready to keep losing weight and following a healthy lifestyle. Staying positive helps. Here are some of the barriers you might come across, and how you can try to overcome them and stay positive. Comments from Other People Regarding Your Weight or Weight Loss Surgery You probably get some comments all year. People may notice your weight loss, or want to talk about your weight loss surgery once they find out about it. But during the holidays, this can get nearly unbearable. The people noticing your weight loss may be friends or family who are in town only once a year, and haven’t seen you since last year. They can be shocked at, proud of, or jealous of your weight loss, and any of these reactions can be uncomfortable if you’re not the type to enjoy attention. The other set of comments you might get include comments on your weight loss surgery. Almost every bariatric surgery patient has heard some unfair things about bariatric surgery, such as people saying that it’s “cheating.” What makes them worse now is when they come from family members. These comments can get you down. You may start to feel self-conscious about your body. You may feel defensive about your decisions. The negative feelings can wear you down. What to do about it. You have a few different options here. First, try talking to the people who are making the comments. For example, tell them: “Thank you for complimenting me on my weight loss. I appreciate it, but it makes me feel self-conscious. Do you mind not mentioning it, especially in front of other people?” “Thank you for your concern over my weight, but I think I’m doing okay. I’m working closely with my doctor and surgeon, and they both agree that I still have a few pounds to lose.” “I wish weight loss surgery were a magic solution, but it’s actually not. Would you like to hear about how it works and what I have to do to lose weight? Until you tell them directly, people may honestly not realize that it bothers you to hear comments about your weight. They may not know that weight loss surgery isn’t magic, and that you really do work hard every single day to lose weight and stay healthy. Talking won’t solve every problem. The next step is to prepare for the comments. If you know they’re coming, you can put up your guard mentally so they don’t get a reaction out of you or make you feel bad or defensive. You can also recruit a few allies, such as close friends, your spouse, or your parents. Ask them to stick with you at parties and gatherings so they can change the subject if your weight loss or weight loss surgery come up. Feeling Guilty. You go to a party. You eat a bit of this and a little of that, and then find yourself in the bathroom with dumping syndrome. Or you sneak in a treat here and a taste there, and at your weekly weigh-in, you find that you’ve gained weight. Bad eating and weight gain happen all the time during the holidays, and they can make you feel guilty. The problem is that guilt isn’t usually very productive. It’s more likely to drag you into a vicious cycle of overeating, feeling guilty, and overeating. What to do about it. First, forgive yourself. You can’t work with yourself if you’re mad at yourself. Admit you did something you’re not proud of, then accept your apology to yourself. It’s time to move on. Next, focus on the future. You can’t change the past, but you can shape the future. Recognize that you feel guilty, figure out why you have been making poor choices, and think of what you can do to do better next time. Log every bite, good or bad. Something as simple as keeping an honest record of what you eat is enough to stop you from taking that extra bite. Predict problems, and avoid them. If you know you can’t pass up fudge, don’t walk by the candy shop with free samples in the mall. Plan ahead. Take a salad, some chicken skewers, or a basket of mandarin oranges to your next holiday party so you can be sure there will be healthy food to eat. Feeling Deprived. The holidays are filled with delicious food. There’s candy at work, Christmas cookies from your neighbors, egg nog and finger foods at parties, and feasts with family. The problem is, you can’t have any of it. At least, you can’t eat the way you could before weight loss surgery. You’re limited to a few bites of certain treats. It’s easy to feel deprived. Your feelings can be even worse if you feel sorry for yourself for “needing” to work out, especially if you’re getting up early or staying up late to squeeze in a workout. The solution. This one’s not easy, but you can make it a lot better by changing your attitude. First, know that you’re not alone. Everyone feels that way. Don’t believe it? Go up to the most fit-looking person you know and ask. They will tell you that they are tempted by the holiday food, and they work very hard not to overeat. They’ll also tell you that they have to work to make exercise a priority during this busy season. Next, try to think about what you’ve gained by changing your lifestyle, and not about what you’ve lost. Sure, you can’t eat frosted cinnamon rolls anymore because they’ll give you an obstruction or dumping syndrome, but you can keep up with your friends at the mall. Or, you can’t drink spiked eggnog at Christmas parties, but you can fit into a flattering dress or suit to wear to the party. The holidays are about celebrating, being grateful, and appreciating friends and family, but you’re not alone if you find yourself getting down during the season. Weight loss surgery changes your life, and some of the changes can be magnified during this time. You can fight this by staying positive and planning ahead – just like you do to succeed the rest of the year.

Weight loss surgery is challenging at any time of the year. The weight loss surgery diet is strict, and following it takes a lot of discipline and planning. Acquaintances and close friends alike may make comments about your weight loss and appearance. People who don’t know the first thing about weight loss surgery may not be shy about sharing their opinions of it. This can all get more intense around the holidays. You need even more discipline and planning when there are holiday treats everywhere you turn. People may notice your weight loss even more because you may see them only once a year. And the ones who share their negative opinions of weight loss surgery may be your relatives. It’s easy to lose sight of the big picture and get down on yourself during this season. But you’ll get through it, and come out on the other side ready to keep losing weight and following a healthy lifestyle. Staying positive helps. Here are some of the barriers you might come across, and how you can try to overcome them and stay positive. Comments from Other People Regarding Your Weight or Weight Loss Surgery You probably get some comments all year. People may notice your weight loss, or want to talk about your weight loss surgery once they find out about it. But during the holidays, this can get nearly unbearable. The people noticing your weight loss may be friends or family who are in town only once a year, and haven’t seen you since last year. They can be shocked at, proud of, or jealous of your weight loss, and any of these reactions can be uncomfortable if you’re not the type to enjoy attention. The other set of comments you might get include comments on your weight loss surgery. Almost every bariatric surgery patient has heard some unfair things about bariatric surgery, such as people saying that it’s “cheating.” What makes them worse now is when they come from family members. These comments can get you down. You may start to feel self-conscious about your body. You may feel defensive about your decisions. The negative feelings can wear you down. What to do about it. You have a few different options here. First, try talking to the people who are making the comments. For example, tell them: “Thank you for complimenting me on my weight loss. I appreciate it, but it makes me feel self-conscious. Do you mind not mentioning it, especially in front of other people?” “Thank you for your concern over my weight, but I think I’m doing okay. I’m working closely with my doctor and surgeon, and they both agree that I still have a few pounds to lose.” “I wish weight loss surgery were a magic solution, but it’s actually not. Would you like to hear about how it works and what I have to do to lose weight? Until you tell them directly, people may honestly not realize that it bothers you to hear comments about your weight. They may not know that weight loss surgery isn’t magic, and that you really do work hard every single day to lose weight and stay healthy. Talking won’t solve every problem. The next step is to prepare for the comments. If you know they’re coming, you can put up your guard mentally so they don’t get a reaction out of you or make you feel bad or defensive. You can also recruit a few allies, such as close friends, your spouse, or your parents. Ask them to stick with you at parties and gatherings so they can change the subject if your weight loss or weight loss surgery come up. Feeling Guilty. You go to a party. You eat a bit of this and a little of that, and then find yourself in the bathroom with dumping syndrome. Or you sneak in a treat here and a taste there, and at your weekly weigh-in, you find that you’ve gained weight. Bad eating and weight gain happen all the time during the holidays, and they can make you feel guilty. The problem is that guilt isn’t usually very productive. It’s more likely to drag you into a vicious cycle of overeating, feeling guilty, and overeating. What to do about it. First, forgive yourself. You can’t work with yourself if you’re mad at yourself. Admit you did something you’re not proud of, then accept your apology to yourself. It’s time to move on. Next, focus on the future. You can’t change the past, but you can shape the future. Recognize that you feel guilty, figure out why you have been making poor choices, and think of what you can do to do better next time. Log every bite, good or bad. Something as simple as keeping an honest record of what you eat is enough to stop you from taking that extra bite. Predict problems, and avoid them. If you know you can’t pass up fudge, don’t walk by the candy shop with free samples in the mall. Plan ahead. Take a salad, some chicken skewers, or a basket of mandarin oranges to your next holiday party so you can be sure there will be healthy food to eat. Feeling Deprived. The holidays are filled with delicious food. There’s candy at work, Christmas cookies from your neighbors, egg nog and finger foods at parties, and feasts with family. The problem is, you can’t have any of it. At least, you can’t eat the way you could before weight loss surgery. You’re limited to a few bites of certain treats. It’s easy to feel deprived. Your feelings can be even worse if you feel sorry for yourself for “needing” to work out, especially if you’re getting up early or staying up late to squeeze in a workout. The solution. This one’s not easy, but you can make it a lot better by changing your attitude. First, know that you’re not alone. Everyone feels that way. Don’t believe it? Go up to the most fit-looking person you know and ask. They will tell you that they are tempted by the holiday food, and they work very hard not to overeat. They’ll also tell you that they have to work to make exercise a priority during this busy season. Next, try to think about what you’ve gained by changing your lifestyle, and not about what you’ve lost. Sure, you can’t eat frosted cinnamon rolls anymore because they’ll give you an obstruction or dumping syndrome, but you can keep up with your friends at the mall. Or, you can’t drink spiked eggnog at Christmas parties, but you can fit into a flattering dress or suit to wear to the party. The holidays are about celebrating, being grateful, and appreciating friends and family, but you’re not alone if you find yourself getting down during the season. Weight loss surgery changes your life, and some of the changes can be magnified during this time. You can fight this by staying positive and planning ahead – just like you do to succeed the rest of the year.

So...Im currently on the 6 month physician supervised diet required by my health insurance. Went in today for my 3rd weigh-in and my doctor was so frickin negative. It left me feeling so bummed. He said something like "I really wish there was something to say to get you to change your mind. I know this surgery will not work."....MIND YOU...He was originally supportive when I started in October. Maybe he said this cuz I had a 2lb weight gain...but I am on my period....I usually gain about 4lbs. Perhaps he was only supportive because he thought I wouldnt follow through. Idk...im just feeling bummed out about this. I really LOVE my doctor and do not want to switch providers mid program but I just may have to. Thanks for listening

My wife is 3 weeks out from surgery, has lost 47 pounds but has been having some issues as of recently. She started getting this severe pain in her right lower back/side, we think it could be constapation, she has went 3 times in the last 22 days, I ended up taking her to the ER and everything checked out normal from the blood work and cat scans. She has tried over the counter laxitives with no evail. She was originally losing 2 pounds a day, now she has gained 6 pounds, any ideas?

Tamg26k that's a good idea for a St Louis chapter for those post and pre op- it's great to read experiences but I have very little support here. Luckily my mom is slowly starting to be on board-but she's never had a weight problem-she's complaining of weight gain in her 60's and she's a size 8- LOL! I'm not sure what area would be convenient for people or what day (like maybe a Sat meet after the holidays for the StL peeps!

Interesting way of thinking. But the flux will happen whether you want it to or not. It is the body's way of dealing with excess calories. Metabolism dictates how the calories are burned so if we are unlucky to have a metabolism that does not work like a freight train spiraling out of control. We will fluctuate in weight. Up and down. but it is up to us to keep it under control. that 10 lb goal to settle the fear of gaining it all back in the future. But our minds will continue to play tricks on us for the rest of our lives. There will always be a voice in our heads that tell us we will fail. And that even 10 lbs will be too much. I am trying so hard to come to terms with my 6 lbs I have gained back. I know it is because my muscles are starting to form again and that is adding weight. I think I look better with muscle definition again...lol. My sister called me yesterday. She feels that she will not lose the weight. She is just over a week out. This is and will always be our monkey on our backs. We will always worry about weight gain. And in a sense we should. But not to the point where it dominates our lives. That is the panic that envelopes many who travel this path. Skinny is a state of mind. Healthy is the the goal. Active in our lives and a new outlook on life. They are so important..... And looking amazing in a little black dress.....

Definitely much better! Pre-op, I definitely had "stress incontinence" as it's been defined above. And now, 60+ pounds lighter, I don't. I'm not saying if I sneeze or cough a lot that I don't "leak." But it's nothing like the embarrassing condition I'd gotten myself into with weight gain. It was even a qualifying comorbidity for surgery / insurance.

Doesn't matter to me that we're in the midst of the holiday season. I know I won't overeat at functions because I hardly ever did even when I was obese. I'm a 'secret' eater. I don't/didn't eat to excess while out in the public. I certainly didn't want to bring even more negative attention to myself by having people see me eat everything in sight. No....I hid that. I couldn't hide the weight gain obviously, but I hid the consumption. I'd go out to dinner, eat 'normally' and then finish my leftovers as soon as I got home....oh and keep eating while I was at it. I've already been to several holiday functions since Thanksgiving and haven't gained an ounce. Why not? Not because I'm limiting my food intake at said functions but because I'm watching what I'm eating at home. I eat my usual portions and partake of my usual healthy choices. I haven't changed any of that during this period and it's why I'm finding success. Not everyone suffers from the same triggers so we need to identify what they are and have plans to eliminate or minimize the danger. For me, it's not eating out at an Italian restaurant with friends/family. It's making a pot of spaghetti in my house where no one can see me scarf it all down. So I use a small pot...cook up a small amount, and portion it right away into 1/4 cup amounts. Then I freeze the containers and pull out one when I have a meatball dinner or something else where I want Pasta on the side. By controlling the amount, I control the overeating. Even with the surgery, this is still so much of a mind game and for me, I have to prepare at all times so I don't 'go rogue'. Hope this give folks some insight into ways to try to be successful.

Thanks for your input B-52. You sound like you are truly listening to what your body and band want and disciplined enough to follow through with that. I think the majority of people who diet and lose and gain is because there is lack of discipline..desire is there, but our bodies tell us to eat when we KNOW we should restrict our diets. This is why diets fail and why we all got banded..but the same patterns of behavior are there that got us and kept us fat!! There are folks who successfully could lose weight on WW, Jenny, diet book of the day, etc etc and keep it off because they had that discipline. I like the idea of giving the pouch and esophagus a rest. I will incorporate that. DEFINITELY will be more mindful of what I eat and how much. My motivation to stay at my weight was all about leather! A one piece very unforgiving of even a few lbs weight gain motorcycle track suit. I love to do track days and it has been depressing to have had to miss out because this extra weight prevented me from fitting in that suit. I was gifted a suit form track friends in a larger size and had it altered a bit, but I told the leather guy that by the time next track season starts, I am hoping I fit back into my old one OR he has to alter the larger one down. I stare at my closet full of clothes that no longer fit, but also look at pics of me and want THAT person back again..the one that felt better in her body, achy joints back, not feeling like a lead balloon hauling around an extra 40+lbs. I think I will keep these size 14 work pants out when I get back into my usual 8's as a reminder to never go through this again! Tomorrow is the day for the journey to refills.. keep you all posted on how it goes! Green Zone here I come!

My weight gain happened over the course of 15 years due to a traumatic life event, I finally received the right help to deal with correct diagnoses and then as a last step decided to deal with my weight. I fortunately didn't have any health issues besides my weight and some tolerable back issues. I wanted to act before things did get worse for me to lead a healthy life to be able to watch my daughter grow up. I never was treated differently because of my weight till the past few years my inlaws make comments, now they talk about how great I look since I've been losing weight and it sorta makes me mad coming from them lol.

You offer some great and well-founded insights and I thank you for taking the time to tell your story. I spoke too fast (and perhaps too naively) when I wrote that other WLS are plug and play. I think they just seem that way when one has experienced complications with a lapband. I also suspect that we haven't yet seen the long term effects of the more recent WLS and that is why those surgeries currently appear to be so much more attractive than the lapband. Let's get 10-15 years of data collecting behind the more recent WLS options and then we can talk! The rapid weight gain after an unfill, or getting one's band removed, is logical so don't be hard on yourself. The lapband, when optimally adjusted, really allows us to live on 900-1,000 calories/day without the hunger or feeling of deprivation. Take away the lapband (or its optimal fill) and there is no one in the world who could hang on to 900 calories a day comfortably....at least no former obese person. All the best, and welcome back to the banded life.

Any update on this??? I have this insurance and was wondering something similiar about weight gain due to medication.. My dr noted it, but still a concern of mine.

I always start my day with something hot, I have convinced myself that it helps me hold food down during the day. Needless to say I have become addicted to dunkin donuts hot choclate but it has never interfered with weight gain. I have remained at 135 for the last three years.

Hi all! I have been been banded now just over 12 years and lost 130lbs and last 5-6 years have been at the same weight..pretty much at what I would call a "goal" weight..not what BMI charts say. My last fill was at least 5 years ago..don't even remember. The last fills were not done under flouro as I did not go back to my surgeon in Tijuana. Found a "local" dr willing to fill me..but he does "blind" fills..so we never saw my restriction level. The last fills I felt like I finally had restriction enough to get off the last 40 or so lbs I needed to still lose. I was never a really compliant bandster, so it took me awhile to get the weight off. I have been happy at the same size for years. I learned to live with the quirks of the band..I was careful about eating foods that I know would get me stuck. I probably compensated for too tight of a band by drinking liquids alot. I did PB daily, but thought this was just because I was not careful enough. I avoided eating or drinking too close to bed so I would not reflux up..though sometimes still did. This all was just the way it was for a bandster. I was happy to be keeping this weight off. I only even went up and down by 5-7 lbs but knew what I was doing to gain and stopped. So..here is where I am now. Since my band had not really been checked by flouro since my last fill in Mexico at least 7-8 years ago, I figured I should at least have a look at it to make sure all was okay. Figured it was since band seemed to be doing its job. I figured a slip or erosion would make it self know. I didn't need a fill..so just plugged along. I finally made appt with Kaiser here in Nor Cal to just do a routine Flouro this past August. The flouro showed that the barium would barely drain down. They had me practically dance around the room to try and move it down..nope. What this restriction caused was for me to pack my esophagus and it was double its size. The band was perfectly in tact, upper pouch was there..but now my esophagus was dilated. The bariatric surgeon saw the results and told me to get an appt to get an unfill. So a week later, the doctor drained my band. I have a 4cc band and had 2cc in it. For at least a week, I had horrible pain off an on..lots of air and gas..that subsided and the weight started piling on. I was unfilled Sept 19th and as of today, December 17th, I am up by 40lbs! Doesn't matter what I eat or don't eat for that matter, how much I work out at the gym..the weight just piled on. Most of that was right away..at least 1/2 but I continue to go up. This has been an expensive lesson as I have had to buy new work clothes, casual clothes. All my clothes have been size 8 and 10 for years. I quickly went through 10s to 12s and now to 14s. I ache in joints I haven't ached in for years. Dramatically gaining 40lbs in 3 months has been difficult. What I miss the most is the lack of hunger..not necessarily the restriction. This is what I fear the most..that I won't get to that "green zone" where I don't have an appetite. I always told people to not wait on me to be hungry because they would starve. I could go most of the day and not care about food. I want that back!! I worry that getting to that spot again won't happen. So I had a follow up flouro done a month ago and my esophagus had improved enough where my doctor is willing to start refills. He wanted to give it another month at that point, so I am scheduled for a first refill in two days. I have no idea how much we will start with. I am sure he will increment me back up again. I know we won't be going back to a total of 2cc's again since that was obviously too tight...but all I want is that hunger to go away! Has anyone else had to go through this and get back to where they were. I just need to stop this weight gain. I am trying so hard to stop it and nothing works. I watch calories, I am excercizing..even on weeks where i had walked thousands of steps around the city for a conference and ate very well as far as calories and food types, drank tons of Water and managed to pack on 5lbs that week anyway!! I should have at minimum maintained if not dropped a 1lb! I really do think our bodies are thrown into some long term low calorie survival mode when banded and restricted properly. If the vagus nerve controls our appetite and is effected by band restriction against it..perhaps not feeling like you are starving helps us survive on less calorie intake. When that pressure against the nerve is reduced due to unfill, your body is sending signals to get back to where you can store it up again for possible times of "starvation" again..who knows..everyone has a theory..SOMETHING happens. This is not normal to gain this much weight in short amount of time when your calorie intake is at a level where any normal person would at least maintain or lose the avg 1-2lbs per week. I could eat celery sticks or a box of chocolates and still gain weight right now!! I am tired of people telling me I just need to reduce my calories and get in some excercise! I AM I AM I AM!! Doesn't matter!! I am sure I have ONLY gained 40lbs because I have been trying hard not to. If I decided to just fully let loose every day, I am sure 100lbs would have already been packed on! OKay...enough of my rant...I am praying that in 2 days,I get a starter fill that will get me back to wherever it was to help me keep the weight off so I can now get off this excess 40lbs. I am sure it will take work, but right now I feel like I am swimming against a riptide with a wide open band. Maintaining on extremely low calories is impossible right now, never mind weight loss..Uggh!! If anyone else has gone through similar with unfills to refills, would love to hear how it went!!

@@Buttercupbrown, yes you are right. Flabby "bat wing" arms are quite unforgiving and hard to shape up. Hard, but not impossible. Our arms will never look flawless as they did prior to massive weight gain, but other than plastic surgery, weights are all we have. Lighter weights (those in the range you are using) are good for people who have limitations or they are already a normal weight and just trying to tone. Light weights + lots of repetitions = toning for regular folks. Heavy weights + lower repititions = muscle building for obese folks. The building of muscles is what helps the appearance of the arms. Cardio exercises will help burn off the fat and the heavy weights will help build the muscles to fill out the loose skin. If you can do more than 8-10 repititions with your weights, they aren't heavy enough.

Couldn't have said it better myself! I'm 30 years old and I'm 2 weeks post op. I have been over weight since the age of 8 and have gone through all the cycles of losing gaining etc. My health started to take a turn gor the worst about 10 years ago when i was diagnosed with PCOS and honestly my 20's were a whirlwind of health issues and weight gain. But i have never hated myself because of my weight nor have i blamed my weight for what happened to me in life good or bad. The one thing i do recognize is that alot of my health issues were related to my obesity. Like my diabetes for example. I was diagnosed last year and was an insulin dependent diabetic (haven't had to use insulin since the pre op diet phase ) but again i have a girlfriend who didn't have health issues except being over weight and got the surgery done because she expected her whole life to change once she lost the weight she expected her husband to come back and everything to be just peachy. Well she has lost the weight and looks amazing but her husband didn't come back, her job didn't get any better, and honestly isn't even enjoying the attention she is getting from other men because they only want to sleep with her or use her. So is losing weight which ever way ypu accomplish it the answer to all your problems no it is not! I have been married for 7 years and have had peaks and valleys like most marriages I'm happy right now because my husband who is not overweight never has been, has been very supportive through this process just like all my other health issues I've gone through. My husband has never put me down verbally about my weight or anything else that's just how he is. Have i joked that I'm gonna leave him once the weight comes off, yes i have but i noticed about the 3rd time I said it (Which i wouldn't because I love him and habe no desire to be with anyone else) that he did kind of believe it and he seemed hurt so i will no longer joke about that. I guess I'm lucky that my weight has never been an issue in our marriage at least that he has ever ever showed me. We have been together for 12 Years and married for 7. I'm hoping this journey only brings us closer. But again who knows how he might feel or see me once the weight is off. Best of luck to all of us taking this courageous journey and best wishes to all your marriages.

I have stayed at the same weight for over 4 weeks. The scale varies very little. I joined a Zumba class and add modest treadmill but have yet to see their impact. I will have my 3 month check up a bit late, maybe at 3.5 months out, so my concerns might be answered then, but is there a chance that this is the best it gets? Could I have already passed the honeymoon stage in first 8 weeks? I would have laughed at a post such as this if I had not written it myself.... While not stellar with diet, calories are under 1000, good protein and water intake. No weight gain and no weight loss... I began with a starting weight of 182 and have been at 152. I am short. Is this a stall, or plateau, or the best I can be? Lots of hair loss in the last month and fingernails are thin. Thanks for your input!

@@woo woo Dr. Winslow is tightening me because I had some looseness. It is a revision. I have the incisions inside my ears and behind them. I don't know if I have a neck incision. We really destroy the quality of our skin with massive weight gain and loss. Plus I lost some weight after my face lift. All of it contributed to some loosening. It is wonderful of her to revise me for free. I know many doctors would say it is your own fault for losing weight, or would say that I look fine the way that I am.

Cruises .. well, there are cruises and then there are cruises. For the past five years, pre-op, hubby and I have gone on annual all-inclusive cruises. On every one of these cruises I lost 2 pounds in 2 weeks. No big weight loss, but no weight gain either. That particular cruise line does not overserve its guests. Yes, one can certainly still overeat and gain weight there. But portions served at mealtime are small (definitely not American-sized), the restaurants are open only at mealtimes, and there are no food malls with hog dog stands, donut buffets, and ice cream parlors. In contrast, most cruise lines seem to design the cruising experience as a food Bacchanalia and see their guests as Christmas gooses who must be stuffed every day.

I just wrote and article about the link between marriage, depression, and obesity. I think it played a huge role in my weight gain.