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Thank you to everyone who took the time to offer me words of encouragement or kindness. I've scoured the internet and this far the largest surgical weight gain I could find was 11 pounds. But the good news is I have lost the 14 pounds. So for any person who finds themselves in my shoes, know the gain is normal and temporary so is the frustration. I feel tremendously blessed to have found this awesome group of support. Thank you and God bless

I've been walking alot and for the last one week my w8 has increased by 1 kg! Frm 100 to 101kgs it's killing me! I dnt eat much.. I drink lots of water.. I'm just one month post op! What in the worlds wrong!!!!

Hello JulyBride; Are you able to check with your surgeon to see if he has any guidelines for you to follow? As a previous professional dieter, I can remind you that if you eat too many calories and do not burn off those calories that equals weight gain. So you state you are still loosing weight and also eating Protein first (good choices ) which sounds right. Here is one to look at: http://www.gastricsl...leeve-diet.html for post op sleeve patients. Here is one without caloric information but does have a food log with protein grams for most foods. This would be good for newbies. http://www.cornellwe...gastrectomy.pdf Hope this helps.

Thats not to bad, my doc is 200 just to walk thru the door ... I am soo sick of the pain, getting sick and the heartburn I can hardly deal anymore. I have Poly cystic ovarian disease to and I was reading some posts that explain or have the same symptoms I do ( weight gain, major hair loss, acne and abnormal hair growth). Does anyone know if there is special meds other than birth control or diet for this?

I had Dr. Bertha and was banded Nov. 23. I first saw him a year and a half ago, but my insurance--which was CIGNA--denied the surgery. Then my husband's employer switched to BC/BS--Empire. I was 5'7" and 285 pounds, with high blood pressure and borderline diabetic. So I resubmitted this Nov. The only "evidence" I had of being on a weight loss program were my Weight Watchers meeting booklets from way back, logging my progress. My family doctor was very helpful with his letter, and mentioned "prescribing Weight Watchers, Atkins Diet, and Meridia, all with no success." While he did tell me to try Weight Watchers (didn't help much) and then a lowfat version of Atkins (I lost 50 pounds and gained it back) and prescribed Meridia, which I took for one day because it made me sick, the diets weren't really "medically supervised." But BC/BS did not request any medical records to substantiate this. They just accepted my doctor's letter that he had prescribed these things. I also had my father write a letter detailing our family history of high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes and expressing his personal concern for my health. I read that someone else did something like this and figured a personal touch couldn't hurt. The BC/BS nurse called me less than an hour after Dr. Bertha's office faxed my request, and she said "It was a very easy decision to approve you" and was extremely nice. So I think you'll have good luck, particularly if you have a co-morbidity. Newband, hi! I agree the liquid phase was very hard to survive (my last day is today). I haven't "cheated" exactly, but I've had some liquids that have a tiny bit of soft solids in them. Maggi makes a good Hot & Sour Soup mix. It's 35 calories per cup and has tiny little bits of mushy mushroom and tofu. I heat it to boiling and stir in one egg (like egg drop soup). It is pretty satisfying. Also, for my Protein I put whey Pro Protein powder in a blender/smoothie maker with 1 cup milk and 1 cup crushed ice (and Splenda). It's thicker and more pleasant to eat and helps me get in extra Water. The ice crunching makes me feel like I'm "eating" instead of drinking. I also have a really good recipe for a fairly smooth tortilla soup if you're interested. I ate that for two days straight. I also pureed clam chowder. I ate a few Yoplait Whips, the pina colada flavor. (I tried sugarless yogurt but it was icky). I also went out with my family twice and ordered egg drop soup once and cream of potato soup another time. So far, I'm down 13 pounds, although I went up one pound last night, which must be water retention because I definitely didn't eat anything differently or consume enough calories to gain a pound. I think some of the initial two week weight loss comes from emptying our digestive system of foods, in particular carbs, which hold water. One cup of water weighs 2/3 pound. So I think when people start mushies and gain a little or don't lose weight at first, it's because of the increased food matter inside their bodies and not real weight gain. Anyway, good luck to you Sonia and nice to meet some fellow New Jerseyeans.

I found myself sabotaging myself also. But then, I was having trouble seeing a thinner me. The weight gain in part, was to be invisible , and I just was not ready for all the attention that loosing weight was creating. Crazy huh? I'm a bit of an introvert, it's sort of like learning to swim, take a big gasping breath of air, then plunge head first back in the water!

1. My program had me do liquids for 2 weeks pre-surgery and I think it was 10 days post surgery. I think I lost 7 lbs presurgically during liquid phase and 13 lbs in the liquid phase post surgically for a total of 20. That is going to be different for everyone depending on your starting weight etc. 2. A lot of weight is lost during the liquid phase but it is also done for proper preparation and healing of your stomach. I personally think the choices you make once you can begin eating solid food is the most important because this is where you are making the choices/changes that will hopefully change your habits for the long term lifestyle change. I also think the liquid phases are not real life- you have a list with very specific things you can/cannot eat. Once you are on solid food you have recommendations to follow and must choose to avoid the things that contribute to weight gain. I did however keep some of the tricks from the liquid phase (sugar free popsicles, sf jello, broth, protein drinks/shakes to fight hunger. Pre-op I lost 29 lbs from my first surgery consult until day of surgery. (27.3% of the weight lost) Post-op I lost 13 lbs during the liquid phase after surgery (12.3% of the weight lost) 64 of my 106 lbs has been lost during the soft/solid phase. (60.4% of the weight lost) 3. I personally had no brain fog or weakness/fatigue after surgery. I actually felt very enrgized after surgery. I made sure to get some carbohydrates as permitted by my program in my liquid phase (G2 instead of Gatorade zero to add some carbs). Some of the fatigue/fog can be related to anesthesia. Luckily I recover well from anesthesia, but not sure that is something that can be controlled. I had to take 4 weeks off work because I do heavy lifting at work. I really think that time off was beneficial because that is when I developed a new routine of walking 2 times daily and really had nothing else to distract me from making changes to my eating habits, searched for recipes, had time to shop for all the food I needed, and was able to have reduced stress for 4 weeks. I highly recommend if you can afford to take a few weeks off work to do so in order to get organized/develop new habits/heal properly. 't. 4. Advice- listen to your surgeon/program and follow the program. I know some people say that exercise is not important, but I really feel that my activity/exercise level is what has contributed greatly to my current weight loss. I also believe there is research indicating that those that exercise regularly have better long term success than those that don't. Exercise is a good way to get away from the kitchen when you are hungry as well as burning calories and improving overall health. I also learned to roast vegetables which has made a huge difference in my food choices. I used to rarely eat vegetables. I now usually roast green beans, zucchini, carrots, sweet potatoes, onions etc with my protein (chicken, pork, beef, fish). Learn to read food labels- it now takes me longer to shop because I read the food labels before buying something. Also have found a lot of things at Aldi's that are good choices for my new lifestyle. Keep seeking support via this group and/or other groups. This is also something that contributes to long term success. Good Luck on your journey!

Maybe I should have gotten a little more detailed.. I have to force myself to eat.. there are many days the Hubs asks have you ate yet well into the evening and my response is.. uhmmmm.. no?! That's when I realize I haven't. So over eating is not an issue here. As I said before I am good about not eating what I'm not supposed to be and the weight gain is still there. I am well aware that the general cause of weight gain is caused by eating the wrong foods.. calories and carbs. This post wasn't about how did I go wrong or what am I potentially doing wrong, it's to ask others who have had the revision and repair how THEY came out of it.

I think Amy is responding from perspective of new post op, as in less than 1 month post op. Her advice is sound if you consider that perspective. You and I are much further out and said advice would not help people like us. For the record, I usually slam my 10 oz water-based Protein shakes in 5-10 seconds. Makes no difference in how fast or slow that I drink them. Back to your original question... From my research and talking to different people about recovery shakes after workouts, men and women of average frame size can consume 40 g and 30 g, respectively, without having to worry about the body converting excess to stored fat. These are considered optimal thresholds to maximize uptake by your body. Your body can process about this amount of protein over 2-3 hours of time. It is bet to be aware of this in order to maximize results from time spent working out. If you play the fitness and nutrition game right, you can be in and out of your workout in 20-40 minutes with warmup and cool down, yet still make incredible gains in fat reduction, strength and lean muscle growth, Consuming an extra 10 g above those limits is questionable. Definitely more then that could either be a waste of money or lead to weight gain ( in a bad way). It is ideal to drink your recovery shake within 20 minutes of working out, but sometimes you can extend the window of opportunity with certain pre workout supplementation. It is questionable if pre work out claims of extending this window are true or not, but you are welcome to try. There are many pre workout drinks on the shelf. I like c4 and hyde, but have not tried jack3d yet. Maybe i will try original jack3d in the future (original formula) before they are gone from the shelves (darn FDA), but am already on another fat burner for cutting fat, so need to be careful. You can also consider taking creatine before and after a workout to help with getting nutrients to your muscles for repair. In the recovery shake, I mix the creatine powder of 10 g directly into the Blender Bottle. I have noted really good results from the use of creatine monohydrate after increasing the dose to 10 g (thanks again mark). Anecdotally, I always take 40 g of synth 6 after a workout for recovery shake. I also try and take 40 g whenever drinking a shake different from the recovery shake. My real food meals tend to be at noon and at 6 pm ( lunch and dinner, respectively). All my other meals (6am - Muscle milk whey, 9am - isopure, 3 pm - isopure, 9 pm - ON casein) tend to be shake or maybe Protein Bar. On m,w,f i have extra synth 6 shake at 10:30am (follows workout). On t, thur, i have extra synth 6 shake at 5 pm ( follows workout). Works well for me. You will want to put together your own plan based upon fitness levels and goals.

I need help. I'm 5 months out and have been doing ok. I have lost 62 lbs. I started going to the gym about three weeks ago and have been burning about 400 - 600 calories per day. I use the treadclimber and do the circuit and abs. I have GAINED 3 lbs. this is so dishearting. I know it is not suppose to be about the scales, but when you have been overweight all your life and feel you are finally doing everything right ......

Just like most people, I have been plagued with weight issues my whole life - starting at a very early age, I swear I could look at food and gain weight!!! Starting with childhood, my mother was very "on top" of this "issue", and did things like making dinner for the whole family, and then serving me a "lean cuisine". I remember spending my summers with my grandparents in Florida (wonderful memories), and coming back to my parents with my mom FURIOUS at my grandmother for the weight I put on (usually between 7 and 10 lbs). I was active the whole summer (swimming, tennis, water skiing), but I also got to have ice cream EVERY NIGHT as a treat :-)! When I was in high school, I weighed a whopping 105 lbs... I was thin... but I thought I was fat because of my lifelong (so far) drama with food (and my mother). But.... I was only thin because I was active... my mother made sure of that! I was on the tennis team, I was on the dance team (despite my "Elaine" like abilities), and my mother put me through multiple "boot camps" every summer... yes I was thin... but at 16, my cholesterol was 220+.... why? Because I ate crap when away from my mother's watchful eye... I ate candy (even hid it under my bed), I ate anything that wasn't green (no salads - ever!)... we had off-campus lunch in high school - so I had Sonic, pizza, sub sandwiches, and I did dabble in drinking on the weekends with my buddies (shhh... don't tell my mother). My mom - super skinny (even when she was pregnant with me, she only gained 15 lbs), would get up at 4:30 am to run - she was a marathon runner, aerobics dance guru, tennis player, etc etc... she had soooo much energy (still does - ugh)... she would wake me up at 6:30 (even on weekends) to "start my day". I had to mow the lawn, clean my room - basically anything but sit or sleep! Note - by little brother NEVER mowed the lawn - not once (he is super skinny - always has been - and they didn't want to make him tired for his baseball games - WHATEVER)!! So, it is no wonder, that when I left for college (left the state no doubt), I had NO skills for eating correctly... AND I was out of my mother's watchful eye.. I didn't have to exercise.... I didn't have to be accountable for what was on the scale! As I grew, so did my friends, so there were plenty of "hand me downs" to grow into - clothes weren't an issue! Bring on the Freshman 15 (or 20)!! So, there it started - age 17 (I was very young going to college) - my downhill spiral to weight gain! Enter early 20's - so I was "sort of thin" - I was around 140ish - size 10ish (I'm 5'3" by the way).... I had boyfriends, I entered into the job market (working for a top company) in a size 6... and BIG bows in my hair (I grew up in Dallas, what can I say?)....I went up and down in my 20's - until I was about 26.... I went on PHEN-PHEN!!! I was about 140ish and got down to 110!!! I looked HOT!!! I loved phen-phen meds - I didn't want to eat - food was disgusting to me, and I was full all the time. I ate 600 calories a day, lost alot of hair (I have really thick hair thankfully - but still!!!)... and I had more boyfriends then I knew what to do with... So I know what you are saying... phen-phen at 140? really? Well - it worked for me - and remember - I was "fat" at 105 to my mother - and now as a young adult - to me too!! 140 - 150 - OMG - FATTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!! (funny to me now - I dream of 140)! Move on to age 28 - getting married at 130 lbs - size 8ish - looked good for wedding.... then started the weight train gain!!! Fast forward 2 kids later...and in Jan 2012 - I weighed in at my highest 259.6 lbs!!!!!! Here begins the journey.... the real journey!!! So - was my mother right to restrict my foods? Was she right to get me moving all the time? Was she right in making me feel fat (even at a size 0 - 2)? I don't know!! REALLY!!! I have gone back and forth with this question... sometimes I like to BLAME her for my weight issues - I mean it is soooo easy to, right?.... but then again, she was trying to set boundaries and keep me from being the kid people picked on, keep me from the fat kid issues, keep me healthy ... she was trying!! and I am the one that CHOSE to break the rules - right? See, it isn't so easy to decide who is to blame now is it? I think as I write this - I am going to have to start accepting my own actions - hold myself accountable - even for what I did wayyyyy back then (I'm 43 now).... I am going to have to grow up and realize - it is all ME - and it is ME that got ME into this... and it is ME that will get me out of it!! My blog is intended for me to self-reflect, document how I feel now that I have been sleeved, and understand who and what I am. I hope you too will find some inspiration in my documentation - but I honestly am doing this for ME (for a change)! For the first time ever, I am putting ME first (though some of my friends would laugh at that statement "It's all about me" has been a "motto" thrown around about me sometimes)... but I mean putting ME and my love/hate relationship with food, weight, and even my mother at rest - understanding my triggers, understanding who I am and want to be the rest of my life (now that I'm a grown up)!

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.

There are 'good' carbs and 'bad' carbs (or 'evil' as you say). Bad carbs include sugar and simple carbs and have almost no nutritional value. They contribute to obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes. Eating simple carbs result in sluggishness and weight gain with very little benefit. Simple carbs are basically anything made w/white flour, white rice/rice flour, or enriched wheat flour (if something needs to be 'enriched' it's because they processed the hell out of it, stripping away any nutrients it might have had). Good carbs are complex carbs. They are recommended and desirable. They have soluble and insoluble Fiber, Protein, nutrients, and are more slowly digested resulting in a more steady energy supply and other health benefits. Good sources are whole grain breads, crackers, and cereals; brown rice; quinoa; Beans and legumes, etc. A bariatric patient's dietary requirements for good health is protein first, vegetables second, and complex carbs last. It works. :-)

Hey everybody, I have to get something off my chest, my story towards WLS is this, 5 years ago i was not at all obese, i weighed 65-70 kgs, I actually started college at around 2011 and then moved to Australia to continue my education, but ever since I moved to Australia, I was starving myself, as I did not have enough money to buy myself food etc, then at 2014 I finished my college and moved to Canada for about 4-5 years, there it got even worse, since my field was really hard to get a job (audio engineering), I was starving myself there as well, ever since 2012 i was moving to different countries, in total 4 countries Dubai, India, Canada and Australia, but was eating well here and there, parents were sending some money, at the brink of 2016, I became homeless in Canada, for almost 8months, at that period I was eating like 1 meal a day, surprisingly I was still about 65kgs by the end of that phase, but then I committed a crime while I was in the streets and they sent me a psychiatric hospital, that's when things took a turn for the worst, after about 3 months of staying in the hospital, they started me on psychiatric meds (aripiperzole abilify) but in about 20 days I saw my weight rise from 65 to 75, then about 10 days later it rose to 85, then slowly 95, then about 6 months later I was at 110, I thought I maxed out but I gained another 7kgs in the next 6 months, also the food was rich in the hospital but very tiny portions, then they switched me to clopixol, did not help, infact caused infertility and sexual problems, I have one question for all of you, does bariatric surgery work for person like me? Does weight gain from psychiatric meds happen in like 15 days? If so that is big problem. Since I have a bad history with nutrition and my metabolism is in really bad shape, but I got out a year and 6 months ago, and i started eating a lot once I got out due to all the deprivation, I was never even planning on doing bariatric surgery, did not even know what it was, so guys please share your experience with starvation, metabolism, weight gain, psychiatric meds. Oh I did mention this to the doctor and he said that's nothing to worry about. But what do you guys think? I really want answers guys, this has been in my chest for a long time now. Thank you all for listening. Oh and I have finished my surgery , it's been 19 days, I have lost about 12kgs. Things are going well, but I don't want it stall all of a sudden and then one fine day it never moves again. That would be a nightmare, I just want some clarity on this topic. Thanks again.

Just curious to know if anyone continued to use birth control pills after their surgery and how effective was it? I am seeing mix reviews with weight gain & weight loss however I tried to get the IUD 2 days ago & it was no success(no kids so extremely painful) I am not concerned about the kids part I just have bad uterine polyps that occur so birth control helps but as stated before I’ve read that the pills may not be that effective... just wondering about birth control options anyone may have found.

Starting weight 350 Weight at surgery 330 Surgery Date April 12, 2012 Reached 280 by August 2012 with one fill October 2012 had a second fill. I have remained at 280 up until July 2014. Started gaining weight July 2014 Current weight 313 Had my third fill March 17, 2015 At this point I feel like I am starting all over again. I admit that I feel off the "band" wagon and let my emotions and stress get the best of me. I didn't care about my eating and didn't exercise at all. I was at a point where I was eating like I didn't have a band. I could eat so much and was hungry all the time. After all the weight gain and my eating habits my doctor gave me a huge fill. I was filled with 5 cc of liquid and I already can feel it working. I am still on liquids only. I was allowed to eat a yogurt today and I could not eat the whole thing. I got so full. I am eating healthy again and working out, I feel great!!!!!! So now that I am back, Does anyone have any tips? Anyone been here before? My goal weight is two fold: I want to reach 250 by this fall, Then 200 by spring. I will be satisfied with 200 for my Lifetime!!!!

I feel like I have made so much progress working towards that golden moment of getting a surgery date- I have been to the nutritionist and she is seeing me in two weeks instead of a month in order to help me try to get the surgery in April- I have so many different appointments I have put them on my phone to keep them straight- a sleep study Monday night from which I head to an Upper GI the next morning, , followed by a treadmill test the next day.... and the psych eval the following week. Even a colonoscopy as I am due for that and my dr. wants me to have it done before the surgery. None of it phases me with my wonderful goal of getting my sleeve. Then- kaboom- my lower back went out. I am already bedeviled with back and knee issues along with fibromyalgia that are a huge reason why I am bound for the surgery. I need to lose weight to ease things for my body but the injuries keep me from being able to lose - you know the vicious cycle! I am on pain medication, even a patch, and am use to living with pain, and relying on the magical Water aerobics to keep me moving and ease my pain. But this is different- it feels like a disc problem and I am bedridden and in agony. So now I have an MRI in the middle of all these other tests to see if I have something that needs surgery. Something is wrong, I know it. And my doctor thinks so too. I am terrified- for one thing the back surgery I had eight years ago precipitated a 120 pound weight gain when I went from being active and alive to being incapactated and eating for comfort. My inactivity is already an issue in my ability to lose but the thought I might need surgery again when I am working so hard to get my sleeve and go for life is completely freaking me out. I told my husband last night that I am thinking of insisting on having my sleeve first even if I do have surgery. Then at least I would have a limited capacity for food and would have my sleeve eating habits . I will try to get it moved forward based on this urgent situation of needing back surgery- so that I can recover for two or three weeks and then once I am moving well and able to have surgery again THEN I would do the back surgery. Just think good thoughts for me everyone! I just can't stand getting so close to getting all my ducks in a row only to have something take the rug out from under me. Sigh.

Because of how rapid my weight gain was, I was in the fortunate (if one can call it that) position of having a lot of new clothes (in one US visit went on a small spree of like $3,000) that suddenly were too small for me. Instead of throwing them out or donating them I kept them stored away until I lost weight again (whenever that would be). I remember even 50x32's were way too tight on me only a couple months ago, now I fit in 40x32 and 42x32 pants with some extra room to spare (a couple need belts). Added like 15-20 (all hardly worn) pairs of shorts back to my dresser, 15 pairs of pants, 30 pairs of boxers, and 20 t-shirts.. so f**king stoked.

I'm in Midlothian. Just south of Dallas. How is everyone's journey so far? Highest wt: 240 Surgery day:229 Today:231 I'm 4 days post op and I guess the weight gain is from Water retention and swelling but I sure will be glad to see the scale move again! Lisa :-) surgery date: Dec. 4th, 2012

I am 41 years old, married to a wonderful man, and the mother of two young adult children. I hope that my Lap Band story will inspire others whose lives – like mine - have been disrupted by serious weight gain... and then restored. I am the happiest person now: happy with my body, grateful for the opportunity I took to change my life, and excited about life each and every day. I went from 254 pounds to 137 and will soon reach my goal of 130. It's still unbelievable to me to have the life back that I thought I'd never have again. I wasn't always obese and drained of energy and self-confidence. Years ago, I weighed a fairly steady 145 pounds and had an hourglass figure. At 5' 6", I was slim on top and carried more weight in my hips, but I was well within the range of normal and I led an active life. I was in good shape, working out 5 or 6 times a week and I'm an OB/Gyn Medical Assistant, so that means being on my feet all day long. I was also disciplined and consistent in my eating and exercising habits and all together, that was enough to keep myself looking fit over the years. During my first pregnancy, I continued to eat well and exercise regularly. I gained a very typical 35 pounds, and lost it all in six months by simply eating well and resuming my usual workout routine. I felt good about that and just went back to living my normal life. My problems began during my second pregnancy when I suddenly developed dangerously high blood pressure and toxemia. I was given steroid injections, and had to be hospitalized twice for high blood pressure. At 28 weeks, I was put on complete bed rest and, at 33 weeks, underwent an emergency C-section. I was very fortunate to survive and to bring a healthy baby girl into the world, because I was close to having a stroke when they took her. The doctors said that either one of us could have died due to the severity of my medical condition. My metabolism was completely different after that. I had gained 80 pounds during the pregnancy and weeks of bed rest and I couldn't get the weight off after my daughter was born no matter how hard I tried. And I tried everything: Jenny Craig, NutriSystem, and many other diet and exercise plans. The fact is that I had a new body, and I didn't know how to make it do what it used to do. My weight gain was steady and terrifying, despite my best efforts, and it got to the point where I hated looking at myself in the mirror. During the years that followed, I kept trying to get into shape. I exercised, I did MediFast shakes, and I continued trying new diets but nothing worked. I would lose 40 pounds and it would come right back on, and I wasn't a junk food eater. You can imagine how frustrating it was: no matter how careful I was, no matter how hard I worked out, nothing changed. I just kept gaining weight and it was heart wrenching. I cried so much, and endured criticism from certain people who said, "Gosh, you were so slender before. Why can't you lose the weight?" They just didn't understand. I thought I'd always be like that: fat, with no energy, and deeply unhappy. On the outside, I put up a good front and people were always telling me, "You look so happy!" That's because I kept my feelings inside, but I literally felt uncomfortable in my own skin. In the meanwhile, my oldest daughter was grappling with a weight problem herself, something she likely inherited from her father's side of the family. She started going online and exploring gastric bypass surgery. I understood how she felt and thought if she wants to do something about this, it's important and I'm going to help her any way I can because I know how she feels. I attended one of Dr. Haiavy's seminars on lap band surgery not long after that to see if it might help my daughter. After the seminar, I decided to make an appointment for her to consult with him and it occurred to me that maybe I should get one myself. So, I made appointments for both of us. That was the real turning point, when I began to have hope. I found out that it wasn't me – I actually had a metabolic problem. During my consultation, it turned out that my daughter wasn't overweight enough to qualify for the procedure, which is reserved for those who are significantly overweight. During my own consultation with Dr. Haiavy, we went over my health history and pregnancies. He told me that my metabolic system had been altered by the second pregnancy, and wasn't functioning normally. He also confirmed my belief that even if I lost weight, it would come back. I was so relieved! He was putting words to my experience, and validating what I had been through. Now that I knew what the problem was, I could focus on finding a solution. I decided that I wanted to undergo the lap band surgery. I felt absolutely clear about the decision, despite the changes I would have to make in my lifestyle afterwards. Dr. Haiavy told me all about the procedure and the pros and cons, and answered my questions. He also referred me to a dietician for a consultation. Then I waited for about a month until my insurance company determined that they would approve the surgery. During the consultations, I learned what I would and wouldn't be able to eat following lap band surgery, and which Vitamins I would have to take for the rest of my life to make up for what I wouldn't be able to absorb. I learned that bariatric patients have to take chewable vitamins at much higher dosage levels than regular Multivitamins in order to get enough nutrition. I take Bariatric Advantage, which is packed with B6, B12, Calcium, zinc, vitamins E, D, A, K, and so on. I was excited the day of the surgery and it went well. Going in, being prepped, talking to Dr. Haiavy, and having the procedure done in Dr. Haiavy's surgical center...it was quick and I wasn't nervous. It only took about an hour and a few hours later I was able to go home. The recovery process was surprisingly quick and uneventful. I was definitely sore and stayed down for two days, but I only missed three days of work since I scheduled before the weekend. I was on a liquid diet – including Jell-O, broth, and a little yogurt. I was definitely tired that first week back to work, but I got through it and after that I felt fine. The eating reality after lap band surgery requires a change in lifestyle and there's no getting around it. You can only eat 3 or four ounces of food at a time, a tablespoon of this and a tablespoon of that because that's all your stomach can hold at any given time. It was strange at first. I tended to over-serve myself, proving the saying that your eyes (and brain) are bigger than your stomach! You think you can eat more, because your brain says you can, and it has to adjust to your new physical reality. I started using a baby spoon to make sure I didn't take big bites of food, and I still use one because it works. There are foods you can't have, such as rice, Pasta, bread, and French fries, but I don't mind the diet change for the most part. It's a little tougher if I'm in a restaurant. I have to be very careful and I usually order fish, mashed potatoes, and a vegetable – eating a little, and taking the rest home for a meal the next day. It sounds like a big sacrifice, but the bottom line is that I wanted to be at a normal weight more than anything and it's well worth it. It takes awhile to adapt, because you have to eat consciously and carefully. It took a few months for me to make all the adjustments, but I got used to it. Then the weight just falls off! I had my surgery in June of 2009 and lost 10 pounds the first week, then four additional pounds during the next month. It didn't seem like enough at the time, but Dr. Haiavy had told me I would need to be patient and that weight loss happens differently for each person. The band itself has to be adjusted properly and it takes awhile to figure that out. Well, he was right. I lost another 15 pounds, then another 12, and then the rest of it followed. I went from 256 pounds to 138 (my goal weight is 135) and it it's just been amazing. The interesting thing is that I used to be too thin on top and somewhat bottom-heavy, but when I lost all the weight, my body changed. My weight actually redistributed itself and now my body is more balanced – top and bottom – and it looks better than it ever did before. I'm completely proportioned now. I did so well that Dr. Haiavy invited me to come to a seminar he was having for other doctors, to share my experience, and I agreed. When his office manager saw me, she couldn't believe the change in me! She said, "You look amazing!" and that made me feel so good. The doctors had the same reaction, because I didn't look like I'd lost a lot of weight. I just looked normal, as if I'd never been fat. It was a wonderful experience for me. I exercised consistently during the months I was losing and it made a big difference. I found a cheap exercise bike I liked it because it had a feature that enabled me to move my arms while I pedaled, and I was on that bike 5 days a week, 45 minutes at a time. I also used ankle weights on my arms and circled them around to tone my upper arms, but I didn't do any weight lifting or other kinds of exercise. I just stayed with it. The transformation from Size 22 to Size 4. A funny thing happened during that time. I had no clothing that fit me, so I went to a department store and found, to my delight, that I could fit into a size 14 pair of jeans. I was thrilled! A month later, I went back and fit (snugly) into size 12. I thought, 'Well, I can't keep going in and buying jeans I only wear for a few weeks before they don't fit,' but less than a month later, I was back at the store again and it was size 10, then 8, then 6...and finally Size 4. Incredible! I never imagined I could be a Size 4 person, but I am. My life now: words can't express it. I still bike and I like to take walks in the hills around my home. Of course, I work on my feet too so I get plenty of exercise. My cholesterol levels are great and my blood pressure was 112 over 70 the last time it was checked. And I continue to wear Size 4. I'm so happy... and before I was crying on the inside all the time. My husband has been incredibly supportive all along and didn't know how unhappy I was. Now sometimes I glance at myself in the mirror and say, "Oh, my gosh! It's me!" The feeling is...well words just can't express it. I'm so happy with who I am now, and with the way that I look and the amount of energy I have. Every time I get an invitation in the mail for a social gathering, I say, "Oh, RSVP...I'm going!" My daughter was able to have the lap band procedure done two weeks before I had mine. She's also 5' 3" tall and she went from 254 pounds to 137 pounds, on her way to her weight goal of 130. We can wear jeans, little summer dresses, and shorts, and it's so much fun to shop for clothing now. Recently, I went to a wedding and recalled how awful it was for me - to be so heavy and to dread having to go to events where I had to find something nice to wear. This time, it was like a celebration, and I found the most beautiful dress. Having lap band surgery is not a cop out and it's not the easy way out. I'm often asked, "Why was the lap band surgery so successful for you?" Well, the answer is simple: I was compliant. Some people have the surgery and they're looking for a miracle, but they don't want to do the work it takes to get the best long-term results. But I knew I had to do the work. My doctor told me, "it's 40% surgery and 60% the patient." I took that to heart. You have to eat right, you have to exercise, and you have to make these changes permanent. I never miss an appointment with my doctor. I eat what I was supposed to eat and I learned quickly that you really have to do what your doctor tells you to do. I've heard people say that having the surgery is taking the easy way out. Well, I say, 'No it isn't!' It's harder, in a way, because you have to give up a lot. It was important for me to know that I had to do the work. If you're considering lap band surgery, here's what I'd like to share with you. I want to tell you the truth. It's not easy. You have to work at it. There are many foods I can no longer eat, and I'll always have to eat tiny amounts of food at any meal. You have to do what your doctor tells you to do. You have to really, really want it. You need to exercise and you have to train yourself not to cheat on your diet. But, you have choices. You can be fat or you can be slim and give up certain foods. It's not a big loss, when you look at what you can be, and you don't really miss the things you give up after awhile. You look great and you feel good about yourself and it changes your life in so many positive ways. If you put in the effort, the payoff is phenomenal. Give them a call, they really took great care of me at Surgical Arts of Inland Empire. 909-579-3111 or their website at www.surgicalartsinlandempire.com

Hi there, I rarely open this app but I share this experience. Perhaps after so long I was called online by your post? Lol The short answer is yes you can lose weight and stay on your meds. Your personal experience may differ from that of others but you can still be successful. Now the long answer: I'm over ten years post op and I have used a variety of what I call "My personal crazy pills" long before having gastric bypass surgery. I still take a combination of meds today. Please note that I am not applying my description of my drugs to you. I use this catch all phrase "tongue in cheek" rather go through the list of med cocktails I've had over time. My weight loss was painfully slow. Everyone does not have that quick pounds off honeymoon period we hear about. This was disheartening because I had no warning. FOLLOW YOUR PLAN TO THE LETTER! Many meds interfere with weight loss even immediately after surgery. I experienced rapid weight gain within the first two weeks. Fortunately, I had a great surgeon who understood this. I started as a size 2x in LizClaiborne/ EvanPicone clothing and I've maintained a 2/4 in BananaRepublic/ AnneTaylor sizes. It took me over a year and a half to get there while others lost the same amount of weight in under half that time. Despite weight changes I have never bought a larger size and I shop with a tape measure to be certain of this. Like most, I have had some regain and re loss but overall I'm keeping the weight off. I'm a long time user of a variety of meds that could negatively effect anyone's weight loss. Steroids plus a few other daily meds top up "My personal crazy pills". You can do just fine with what my doctor called metabolic challenges. Keep in mind slow weight loss does not mean you won't have long term success. Permanent weight loss is more important than fast weight loss. Follow your health plan and build physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Avoid comparing yourself to others. You don't know how another's story truly compares to your own. With commitment you'll be sharing your positive experience with someone else a decade from now. YOU CAN DO THIS!

Warning, i'm preop, so take this as it comes I feel ya. There is a part of all of us, I'm sure, who resent that we have to monitor every little stinkin' bite we take or pay the price in a weight gain. And there have been times when I've franklin fallen off my plan out of sheer rebellion at the relentlessness of it. I've spent the past year simply trying to be more aware of what I'm eating and why, quite deliberately trying to get the oughts and shoulds out of my thinking. And the real truth is, being overweight is just a pain in the posterior. It's inconvenient. it's uncomfortable, it's expensive - and that's without taking into account that it's gotten harder and harder to keep my blood pressure under control and now my blood sugar is creeping up, too. I've decided it's worth the relentlessness to get my health and energy back. I want to retire in the next couple-three years, and dangit, I want to enjoy it. I want to be able to travel and hike around Europe and simply bend over to tie my shoes comfortably and not wince at photos of myself. If I have to buy new clothes, I want it to be because I've either worn out or fallen out of love with the ones I have, not because I've gotten too big for them. I'm just plain done with that. I don't know that this will help you, but you've come this far, surely it's worth the the effort!

OMG your weight loss is awesome. Based on your profile picture you would never imgaine that you needed it. Anyway, I'll admit that I have alot going on in my life. Although things have gotten better with my husband, they arent the best. I work 10 hour shifts and when I get home I am a single mother (hubby works nights) of 3 trying to get things done in 1 1/2 hours (before bedtime for kids). By the time they are out, I'm burned out. However, I do walk/run on the treadmill (2-3 miles a day). I also have a few medical conditions that I think may be contributing to my pause in weight loss (Thyroid & Hormone problems). Grrrrr, honestly I just wish that I had someone that I can talk to about this whole experience that can provide input. My family is a hispanic family that loves to eat (with no weight gain) and always call you out in front of others about your weight, pant size etc. Tried to post profile picture but something seems to go wrong each time. SMH.... lol

I had a revision on December 28,2015.It is the best decision.No more vomiting,gerd,weight gain,slippage,port site pain or protrusion etc.My RNY is great.Keep in mind the weight loss is slower with revisions but I feel great.My cravings for sweets are gone and I have never dumped.I feel so much better.Just went for my 3 month blood test this past week.Will keep you guys posted... I feel great!!!

Good luck! I'm supposed to get sleeved about the same time as you. Can't figure out how to add you to my friends list. If you know how, add me to yours. You are probably wise to do the liquids. My surgeon is not very strict either. He did say it will make things easier because rapid weight gain comes from your stomach and makes visibility better. So I'm with you, going to do it. After reading all these horror stories, I figure do everything possible. It's great that you are excited. After joining this site and reading all the things that went wrong, I have been thinking about canceling surgery. One lady sent me a great support letter so I printed it off and look at it when I start to freak out. Like you I'm not telling anyone about the surgery.