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Hello fellow weight loss pals, well im in a bit of a dilemma.. to start off I had a gastric banding done in the year 2008. Since then I have lost about 66 pounds. I was happy with the band until last year when I was diagnosed with a hiatus hernia. Now to fix the hiatus the docs here suggest that I have to take out the band else the hiatus can always reoccur. My fear obviously is the weight gain once the band is out, to which the doctors have suggested to do a gastric sleeve. Now my apprehensions for this are: 1) Gastric banding is a reversible procedure however a sleeve is permanent. How does it affect the life in future 2) I don't have any children yet, but would a sleeve be a hindrance if and when I do get pregnant in terms of the diet I need to follow, the nutrition required for the fetus and the quantities???? 3) Is the sleeve same as having a band in terms of eating habits. the reflux?? or is there a difference??? 4) I have read that even with the sleeve there are chances of putting on the weight again?? is that true??? I would really appreciate if someone could throw some light on these issues

I am having heavy bleeding during my menstrual cycle. My Obgyn said its because of the weight gain, after I lose the weight it will go back to normal. I'm looking forward to it going back to normal.

Sleeved on 5/22 and went in at 299.5, highest weight of my life. This morning I was 275. Thankfully I didn't have the water weight gain but we all have our problems. Maybe it was a trade out for the vomiting blood, and severe spasms due to hernia repair (I didn't know I had). Ill admit day 1-3 I was hating life and was definitely one of the 'OMG what have I done!' people. Today tho is day 12, and each day has gotten a little better. I track EVERYTHING on my fitness pal app and I'm getting at least 60oz of liquid and 60 protein....finally. Still having spasms occasionally and the tightness/bloating nearly every time I eat. I'm guessing from hernia repair. My diet phases seem to be different then most i've seen on here. I went home on full liquids and moved to soft foods after one week. Everything seems to be looking up. I'm starting to get excited about losing weight

Ouch!! As you said, the weight gain is probably from the bruising. I read the thread initially hoping you had found a way to gain weight, fast. I am continuing to struggle with weight loss and poor appetite - six lbs in a matter of days sounded great, until I read the cause. Feel better! And Happy Birthday!

It will be one year this month since my gastric bypass surgery. I loved life before but I extremely love life even more now. When I started this journey I was scared and iffy about the whole thing. I just kept thinking to myself it's major surgery. They're going to cut your stomach in half and it doesn't even work for everyone if they don't follow the rules. Can I follow the rules or am I going to be part of the 1% togo through this and fail. However, while I was playing mind games with myself I knew I had to do something. My health was slowly declining with my rapid weight gain. I had sleep apnea, pre-diabetes, and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) which consisted with severe menstrual problems, the longest time ever went without my cycle was two years and when I did get it, it was extremely heavy. Crazy hair growth which already did not bode well with my confidence and fertility problems when the time came when I want to have kids. Heart failure in the future, really bad depression and couldn't lose weight. Well with that all said and done I started on with my research. While I researched I exhausted every other avenue first. I did the gym, weight watchers, diet pills nothing worked. Doctors as my OB/GYN, endocrinologists Kept saying you got to lose weight. " no shit Sherlock I'm trying but you're not helping." So I sat with my primary care physician and was like Doc I want to get healthy and lose this weight. I was originally looking into lap band but we discussed it and I decide on gastric bypass and he gave me a number for Dr. Matt Kirkland and I went home and made my appointment. As soon as I got off the phone I just knew I made the right decision. Now almost at my one-year mark I can't stop smiling. I'm not going to lie it's been a struggle it has not been all roses and candy. (However that saying goes LOL) it was a psychological battle as well as emotional and physical. In the beginning you're looking at everyone enjoying food. And if you eat to much or not the right thing you're upchucking everywhere. Once you get past the hard parts and finally learned how to eat again and what to eat it becomes easier. I no longer get breathless walking upstairs or hills. My legs or feet don't hurt standing in long lines of the grocery store. I have a lot more energy. I go hiking, bike riding, long walks and I'm not even tired when I'm done. The best part of it all is I no longer have diabetes, or apnea, and my cycles are regular now. I'm not taking any meds besides the vitamins I have to take everyday. I made it to my goal weight I've lost a total of 134 pounds a whole other person woohoo!!! I can't believe it. It feels amazing. My goal is to maintain this and not lose anymore. It has been an awesome journey so far, now I can definitely see a future ahead. I just got to keep looking forward. Keep on moving, never give up you'll love the end results promise! Just got to keep the smiles going ???? Live the life you'll love to live!! Highest weight 275lbs. Surgery weight 258lbs. Current 1yr. As of two weeks ago 141lbs. I have my yrly check up the 4th

@@Averiex You got lots of sound advice here. Remember you just had major surgery and give yourself a break. You need some TLC not more bad feelings. You have not failed you have not even begun this journey. Surgery is but the open doorway that you have just caught a breeze from and have yet to cross the threshold of. As many have said it takes time, you did not get to be the size you are over night and it will not go away over night. If it did you would be just as unhappy for the results as I have heard many other friends who have had alternate surgeries and lost weight quickly only to find themselves struggling years out with weight gain. The beauty of the band is that as you lose slowly and adjust to your optimal fill levels you learn the basic mechanics of the band and you have the time to make the life style changes and learn to work along with your band in harmony. This is something that other WLS modalities don't necessarily have afford you the time to learn, and patients find themselves learning after their initial weight loss that it takes that permanent life long lifestyle change not just a diet mentality to keep them healthy and their weight maintained. So don't feel down, come to the boards and share your journey and seek support that's why we are here! You have a great group of people who have been down the road are on the road and we are always learning and growing and sharing with each other!

The thought of surgery was my biggest and probably only obstacle. First of all, I had lost (and gained back) hundreds of pounds over the course of my mostly obese adulthood through diet and exercise. But that no longer worked for me. Secondly, I personally know several people that had WLS, lost lots of weight and then regained it. I never had surgery, and I was mortified knowing that I too could possibly regain all my weight if I had surgery. But, I was just too fat (pardon that word) and out of shape and that was making work even more miserable since my job involves lots of walking and climbing steps. So I had surgery last August and dropped about 75 pounds. I'm very grateful, but I still fear the addiction and possibility of weight gain.

Hello fellow weight loss pals, well im in a bit of a dilemma.. to start off I had a gastric banding done in the year 2008. Since then I have lost about 660 pounds. I was happy with the banding until last year when I was diagnosed with a hiatus hernia. Now to fix the hiatus the docs here suggest that I have to take out the band else the hiatus can always reoccur. My fear obviously is the weight gain once the band is out, to which the doctors have suggested to do a gastric sleeve. Now my apprehensions for this are: 1) Gastric banding is a reversible procedure however a sleeve is permanent. How does it affect the life in future 2) I don't have any children yet, but would a sleeve be a hindrance if and when I do get pregnant in terms of the diet I need to follow, the nutrition required for the fetus and the quantities???? 3) Is the sleeve same as having a band in terms of eating habits. the reflux?? or is there a difference??? 4) I have read that even with the sleeve there are chances of putting on the weight again?? is that true??? I would really appreciate if someone could throw some light on these issues Await your help and suggestions. Love, Gia

Hello fellow sleevers/future sleevers; Along with everyone else, I joined this forum so i can educate myself a little more in depth of the journey ahead. I am 24 years old. I have a 6 year old son with whom i gained 100 lbs with during my pregnancy (at age 17). Before then I was 170lbs. After pregnancy with the 100 lb weight gain, I let myself go. Almost 7 years later, I have an official date of getting sleeved. I have few questions, as I am anxious and cannot wait to start this journey. Aside from the weight gain from my pregnancy, the surgeon informed me my eating habits may change. It is very difficult for me to eat during the day , missing Breakfast and not eating until dinner time where I "PIG OUT" If i attempt to eat during the day, i will end up with a stomach ache . Hopefully, the surgery can correct that . I have a question for the already sleeved patients on the losers bench; After surgery, when you wake up, is the tube that's down your throat that bad ? Aunt was sleeved last week and she said it felt as if she was drowning. Thanks in advance, Cannot wait to embark on this journey with you all and get back to playing softball and finally becoming able to practice with my son. CW: 404 GW: 170

I thought this ASMBS (American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery) info was interesting--- it adds information about how prevalent obesity is becoming and the progressiveness of the disease. http://asmbs.org/obesity-and-surgery-learning-center/obesity-the-disease/ Obesity Prevalence and Rate of Occurrence According to the W.H.O., 65 percent of the world’s population lives in countries where overweight and obesity kills more people than underweight. Approximately 500 million adults in the world are affected by obesity and one billion are affected by overweight, along with 48 million children. In the United States, epidemiological data from an ongoing study that measures the actual body size of thousands of Americans, show that 34 percent of adults more than 20 years old are affected by obesity and 68 percent are overweight (2007-2008 data). Obesity affects 10 percent of children between two and five years of age, 2 percent of those between 6 to 11 years old, and 18 percent of adolescents. Throughout the last 20 to 25 years, the prevalence of obesity has been increasing at an alarming rate. Since 1985, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has supported an ongoing study, conducted on a yearly basis by state health departments, to examine changes in obesity prevalence state-to-state, and has found the following: In 1990, the obesity prevalence for most of the states was 10 percent or less. By 1995, more than half the states had a prevalence of 15 percent. By 2000, nearly half the states had a prevalence of 20 percent or higher. Five years later (2005), all but three states had a prevalence greater than 20 percent and nearly a third had a prevalence of 25 percent or more. By 2010, the data show that most of U.S. states had a prevalence of 25 percent and many had a prevalence of 30 percent or higher. For view of yearly changes in prevalence, view the CDC’s online data. Not only has the obesity epidemic increased in number throughout the past two decades, but also in severity. Data obtained from the yearly ongoing CDC-supported U.S. study found that between the years 1987 to 2005 the prevalence of severe obesity increased by 500 percent and super severe obesity (BMI greater than 50) increased by nearly 1,000 percent. According to the 2007-2008 NHANES findings, 5.7 percent of American adults, or nearly 14 million people, are affected by severe obesity. Progressive Nature of the Disease of Obesity Obesity is considered a multifactorial disease with a strong genetic component. Acting upon a genetic background are a number of hormonal, metabolic, psychological, cultural and behavioral factors that promote fat accumulation and weight gain. Positive Energy Balance A positive energy balance causes weight gain and occurs when the amount of calories consumed (energy intake) exceeds the amount of calories the body uses (energy expenditure) in the performance of basic biological functions, daily activities, and exercise. A positive energy balance may be caused by overeating or by not getting enough physical activity. However, there are other conditions that affect energy balance and fat accumulation that do not involve excessive eating or sedentary behavior. These include: Chronic sleep loss Consumption of foods that, independent of caloric content, cause metabolic/hormonal changes that may increase body fat. These include foods high in sugar or high fructose corn syrup, processed grains, fat, and processed meats Low intake of fat-fighting foods such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, quality Protein Stress and psychological distress) Many types of medications Various pollutants Weight Gain Weight gain is yet another contributor to weight gain or, in other words, obesity ‘begets’ obesity, which is one of the reasons the disease is considered ‘progressive’. Weight gain causes a number of hormonal, metabolic and molecular changes in the body that increase the risk for even greater fat accumulation. Such obesity-associated biological changes reduce the body’s ability to oxidize (burn) fat for energy, increase the conversion of glucose (carbohydrate) to fat, and increase the body’s capacity to store fat in fat storage depots (adipose tissue). This means that more of the calories consumed will be stored as fat. To make matters worse, obesity affects certain regulators of appetite and hunger in a manner that can lead to an increase in meal size and the frequency of eating. Weight gain, therefore, changes the biology of the body in a manner that favors further weight gain and obesity. Obesity-related Conditions A number of other conditions associated with obesity contribute to the progression of the disease. Obesity reduces mobility and the number of calories that would be burned in the performance of activity. Weight gain may also cause psychological or emotional distress which, in turn, produces hormonal changes that may cause further weight gain by stimulating appetite and by increasing fat uptake into fat storage depots. Sleep duration is reduced by weight gain due to a number of conditions that impair sleep quality such as pain, sleep apnea and other breathing problems, a need to urinate more frequently, use of certain medications, and altered regulation of body temperature. Shortened sleep duration, in turn, produces certain hormones that both stimulate appetite and increase the uptake of fat into fat storage depots. Weight gain also contributes to the development of other diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, osteoarthritis and depression, and these conditions are often treated with medications that contribute to even further weight gain. In all of these ways and more, obesity ’begets’ obesity, trapping the individual in a vicious weight gain cycle. Diets A low calorie diet is the primary treatment for overweight and obesity, but, dieting is also a contributor to obesity progression. Dietary weight-loss causes biological responses that persist long-term and contribute to weight regain. One of these responses affects energy balance. When a person loses weight, the body ‘thinks’ it is starving and energy expenditure is reduced in order to conserve calories. The reduction in energy expenditure with dietary weight-loss requires that, in order to maintain weight-loss, the dieter eat even fewer calories than someone of equal body size who has never been on a diet. However, eating less is difficult following a diet because there are long-term changes in regulators of appetite that increase the desire to eat and the amount of food that can be consumed. Such diet-induced changes favor a positive energy balance and weight regain and, because the conditions responsible for the reduction in energy expenditure and increased drive to eat persist long-term, an individual will often not only regain all of their lost weight, but even more. Another biological response that occurs with dieting involves changes in fat metabolism that reduce the body’s ability to burn fat and increase the capacity for fat to be stored in adipose depots (fat storage depots). With dietary weight-loss, the amount of dietary fat the body burns is reduced by approximately 50 percent. In addition, dieting reduces the amount of fat the body burns for fuel during low-grade activity such as walking, cleaning the house, fixing dinner, or working on a computer. The reduction in the amount of fat that is burned for fuel following a dietary weight-loss makes more fat available to be taken up by fat storage depots, and dieting increases the capacity for fat depots to store even more fat than before a diet. Altogether dietary weight-loss reduces the use of fat for fuel and increases the capacity for the fat that is not utilized to be stored. These changes lead to a progressive increase in fat accumulation even if the individual is not overeating. Summary Multiple factors acting upon a genetic background cause weight gain and obesity. Conditions associated with weight gain and biological changes in the body that occur as a result of weight gain contribute to progression of the disease, often trapping the individual in a vicious weight gain cycle. If you are concerned with your weight, please speak to your primary care physician to learn more about how to improve your weight and health.

You and I are very close on our stats. When is your surgery? I want to get to 135 minimum. If it goes lower, great. I have an appointment for my 5th monthly weigh in on the 10th of 6 required by my insurance. Almost there. I go from 205-211lbs each weigh-in. I have been told to not lose anything because I am borderline bmi. But after that last weigh in and the insurance approves me I plan to do a two week liquid diet until surgery. I want to kick it off with a few lbs lost pre op at least and get myself used to liquids only. Been saying goodbye to some foods I feel I may miss. Idk they all say you change what you like after surgery. I am so excited though to get started. My friend at work is over 3 months post op now and is down 50lbs. That would make me so happy to be down that much in 3 months. That means by October for Halloween I would be about 150lbs and I can celebrate by buying a cute costume and feel good in it. I want to work hard and achieve my second mini goal to be at 140lbs or less by January for new years and goal by my birthday in February. But we will see. Everyone is so different. I'm going to follow my plan and see what my body does. I've started going through my massive clothing collection that ranges from size 10 to 16. I've quit smoking. I drink water and tea all day. I've joined a gym and I am trying to be committed to going but with my schedule it is tough. I work 6-2 /9-5/2-10/12-8/10-6/8-4. You name it. I work it. And it's different every week. I'm a front end manager for my Smiths grocery store. After I lose the weight I think I would like a career change. I feel like it's contributing to my weight gain. All the inconsistent hours. Anyways, sorry for going on and on. Just getting excited. Lol

@ Game of Sleeves....I am also struggling with a 8 lb weight gain....I reached my goal weight of 135 after one year of being sleeved but now bounce between 139-142 even though I am very active. Am trying the 5:2 diet and hopefully that will work. I also have a FitBit which I am obsessed with and am usually always over 10K a day in my steps. Plus I live in Amsterdam so we walk or bike everywhere. Still, can't seem to get it off. Portions are very good but I do snack on things I shouldn't. I can eat anything but rice. @Lynda.....wow. You and I are so similar! I used to live in San Jose (like you), I started at 223, goal 135 (like you), and was also sleeved in 2011. And although you don't say your age, I am also retired and our birthdays are one day apart! Interesting. So stay tuned.....this week I am recommitting myself. I cannot and will not gain this weight back. My life has been too wonderful since I lost 83lbs.

Yep, it is true. WE are the ones who have to learn to CONTROL our cravings. The purpose of the sleever or any other WLS has never been to make cravings go away. It's really sad if some medical professionals are telling patients that they won't have to worry about cravings any more and can eat whatever they want and not worry about weight gain anymore because nothing could be further from the truth. The truth is that the sleeve works really well, but WE are the ones that have to make the sleeve work. It is also very true that the more processed, starchy carbs we consume (bread, Pasta, tortillas, chips, fries, Cookies, cake,candy, etc, etc etc), the more our bodies crave them and want more and more. If we eliminate those foods from our diets and replace them with lean Proteins and fresh fruits and veggies, our bodies quit craving carbs with that obsessive force. Sorry this isn't what you want to hear, but it really is science, and not "filthy liars" (LOL) saying this. Experiment with it. I didn't believe it either at first. I was the queen of junk food. I eat sooo clean now compared to how I used to be. And what is so cool is that I don't miss the junk. It feels good to put healthy food in my body that nourishes me. If you are interested in trying to learn how to get some control over cravings a good place to start is to google "mindful eating." Good luck. You can change this. We always have choices. Even if it seem like we don't--WE DO!

Hi Liz I will talk to my friend in California and ask him to join this thread. See if he is experiencing the same problems as you. I need to ask one more question. What is your age? My mom is 85 years old and I take her to see her doctors. She never had bariatric surgery. I have come to learn (from her doctor) that the human body undergoes major physiological changes as we age especially around the age of 85. She only takes about half the dose of medicine to treat her diabetes and high blood pressure than she did a few years ago. It also affects weight gain because she is not absorbing nutrition like she did before. So I was wondering if the conditions you have encountered may be related to aging. Maybe the effects of aging is amplified by the surgery. In looking at the following reference: http://consultgerirn.org/topics/age_related_changes/want_to_know_more/ under the heading Age-Associated Changes in the Oropharyngeal and Gastrointestinal Systems there are two effects of aging identified of interest: * Malabsorption of carbohydrates, Vitamins B12 and D, folic acid, Calcium. * Decreased metabolism of drugs. and then under implications: * Risk of chewing impairment, fluid/electrolyte imbalances, poor nutrition. * Gastric changes: altered drug absorption, increased risk of GERD, maldigestion, NSAID-induced ulcers. This might explain some of your symptoms.

I listen to their specific question. If they ask, "What are you doing!?" (I focus on the "are"--present tense.) So (presently)..."I [am] doing Protein as much as possible, small portions, and cutting out the stuff I shouldn't really eat too much of." If someone specifically asks me, "Did you have WLS?" I don't like to lie, so I'd probably tell them the truth. BUT... I haven't found anyone (even of my friends) to be that direct, so they just know I lost weight since they last saw me, which (since I'd been hiding from folks due to the weight gain), has been a while. So they don't know any better, except it's been a while. If I encouter someone I don't know who is fat/obese, and the issue of weight arises, and I mention I recently lost 'x' pounds, and I might feel that they might be considering WLS, I might tell them. But most of my friends do NOT know that I had WLS and I have no need to tell them. Even the neighbors in front of me don't know how I lost the weight, but now that winter is over and I'm wearing cool stuff, they do notice it. No need to divulge specifics to anyone to whom you don't wish to divulge. "What are you doing to lose the weight?" You're "eating protein, doing portion control, etc." Period.

Hello, I was diagnosed with hypo-thyroidism in 1990...took SYNTHROID--not able to take generic --as it does NOT work for me.,,, I was diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer in 2005.....so.take SYNTHROID at a higher level and have been since and will always need to. The hair loss sucks....yet I do what I can...started taking Biotin and will post surgery as well...is supposed to help tremendously. In 2010 had Uterine Cancer, so no female part or hormones now, either.....this REALLY sucks.....and talk about being tired, weight gain, etc...HOLY CRAP!!! Anyway, this is my battle and I try to keep a positive attitude, am working with my PCP, my Nutritionist and Surgeon so my surgery is not only a medical success, yet I am a HEALTH success as well. I also have PCOS...yet now since I don't have ovaries....?????

Well, here goes nothin'. This is my first blog entry, I've honestly never written a blog before but I thought I would give it a shot. I have quite a bit to say and I feel safe saying everything here. Let's start off with my weight loss journey and where my weight problems stemmed from. I was always a yo yo'er. I would be thin, fat, thin, fat all my life. I was into sports then I would stop and balloon back up. In highschool I was a 18 and thought I was fat, little did I know, by the time I was 23, I would be nearly 400 lbs and a size 30 in jeans. I was miserable, I got married young, at 22 and before then I was on a steady incline of weight gain, after the marriage, it got out of control. I was eating my feelings and I didn't know how to stop. The topic of surgery came up when I had blood work done (i'm anemic) and my doctor told me that I was borderline diabetic and when I saw the # on the scale say 394#... I knew something had to be done. He referred me to the Bariatric Institute of Wisconsin. With my insurance I was required to do a 1 year treatment plan and several times within that year, I nearly gave up and thought it wasnt worth it. Boy, I'm glad I stuck it out. My gastric sleeve surgery was May 16,2013. The day that changed my entire life. The surgery was good, the next day in the hospital was torture but again, It was 100% worth the struggle. I spent my time looking at before and after photos and watching youtube videos of people who had the surgery and wondering "will I ever be this person with these kind of results?" and the answer is yes. If you want it bad enough, it will be you and I am living proof of someone who changed their life with one struggle at a time. The first few months are the worst, your life is basically taken on a rollercoaster with no seatbelt. You have to learn slowly what you can and cant handle, how to count protein, and slowly get into a work out regimine. At about 3-4 months, everyone besides me was noticing the weight loss. I honestly thought I was at a stand still and scared of developing body dimorphic because I wasn't seeing it but everyone else was. I just thought everyone was being nice knowing I had this surgery done. At about 8 months, it hit me. I looked through old pictures of myself where I thought I looked great and to my own self, I was unrecognizable, thats when things started to really hit me. The hard work, the 5-6 days a week at the gym, the sacrifices were all making sense and I was ecstatic. It's a strange feeling. okay.... at 10 months, my personal life started to take a bad turn. Before my surgery, my husband told me he would be supportive and was excited for me to go through this and better myself and he promised to take the plunge with me with changing eating habits and working out....that didn't seem to be the case. I was more active and wanting to experience life because well, I got my life back! and all he was concerned with was going to buffets, ordering pizza and laying in bed playing video games. Our sex life (tmi) was non existant, We started to only speak a few words a day to eachother. I was going out with my friends constantly because he would never want to go anywhere. Well.... a month ago I filed for divorce and am moving into my own place tomorrow. It's really liberating to have the strength to do this, I was unhappy for at least 2 years but this surgery gave me the confidence I needed to break free. I'm only 25 and yes, I got married young and I understand, marriage is a commitment but a person can only give so much until they break and try to work on things so much before it becomes a lost cause. I never knew I had this strength in me and I owe it all to the gastric sleeve surgery. It saved my life in more ways than one. So if you're on the fence or not sure about it... think about all the doors it can open in other aspects of your life. I'm now just over 1 year out, almost 190# down, went from a size 30 to a size 14 in jeans and i wear a size small/medium in mens tshirts, when I used to wear a 3x. it's a pretty amazing feeling! thanks for reading

I have gone the last 2-3 years without a period. It was a blessing in making ways because they have always been debilitating for me. I was thinking I was starting pre-menopause. Here I am 4 post-op, at 30 lbs down and suddenly here it is again. I was just curious if anyone else's weight (gains or losses) affected them in the same or similar manner.

Hey Lumpy....just be aware that the sodium count on the crab is through the roof. I remember when I looked at that info because I also thought the steamed crab would be a good choice and it was calorie wise. But it's really high in sodium so don't be surprised if you have Water weight gain. For me, I find the fish...grilled...is a better choice. It's why when I'm eating out in Jersey, I now go to Bonefish Grill more than Red Lobster.

Holy cow! I finally got to the end of the line of posts... Want to comment on them all, but have been away so long im sure its old news.... I have been so busy, time just flys some times... Last weekend went kayaking, hubby finally got his own so we can plan more trips for the summer. Gardening and weight gain! Just 2 pounds over my bounce, but can I see it on the muffin top! I have been fasting pretty well, one or two times a week, but the other days are full of c-r-a-p! I am inspired by you all, hitting the fasts or not, keep up the good work to those doing it, and lets get out of that slump to those who are in it with me. Good for you getting back on track! Feels pretty good to be there I bet. I have been logging too, yesterday was 1900 So I hear you... I can really put it away some days! I did get in some exercise, but still... the scales don't seem to care about that.... . I have a docs appt in the middle of June where whe expects me to have lost 5 pounds.... uh, not really going to happen... and a dance performance in July... holy cow! Good luck on that one. I am just going to do it and try and get over my fear of looking like a goof...my dance girls want me to be in thier troop, and if I want to go there, I just have to start somewhere. Go Girl Go! you are my inspiration Coops! Nice to see you here... job stuff sucks sometimes... We are going through Unionizing... I am going to a negotiating workshop on Sat... I figure it might help me in other parts of my life as well... you are a star girl, time to hit the thrift stores for groovie cloths and the new free agent that you are! Love my fitbit too...but not anywhere close to 10,000 most days... Sheryl, I have always felt bad about my arms... no mater thin or thick... getting the surgery might really be good for me, but the scars and the pain.... not sure Im ready for that... and about your tests, I hope it all works osut right... do try and balance your diet with lots of veggies... gotta stay healthy for that fun new wildman! Can I tell you how that pic just lit up my face?! You guys are so obviously young and in love! YOu are just glowing. And model beautiful? Absolutely girl. So sorry for the addiction friend... sad to see someone letting thier life slip away. You have reached out, and im sure she knows it... when she hits bottom... you will be there for her. Georgia, Denise, Wanda, and all, love coming here and hearing from you all girls!

Good morning! How many ladies gain weight when its that time of the month. I was a little upset because I stepped on the scale yesterday morning and apparently I gained 2lbs since Sunday. I'm still on mushies so I know I have not gone over my calories for the day. This morning I got my period and I'm thinking that might be the weight gain. I hadn't gotten it since April 17.

I had my band removed last year due to slippage. I was only 10lbs from target when it was removed. I started gaining weight pretty quickly... a stone in the first 6 weeks or so and then got pregnant. I've now had my wee boy and he is 3 months old. I have put on 4 and a half stone from when I had band removed and am really struggling. I have tried hard not too regain but it seems to just keep climbing. I don't feel I am overeating and am going to exercise classes during the week. I keep track of my calories and should be losing. It just is not happening. Could this be due to seriously restricted calories for so long? I had a slipped band for a year or so and I was being sick after every meal before getting it removed. It's like my body can't handle food anymore. .. Any suggestions or help at all? Any similar problems? I can't take working this hard with no results. I'm really struggling. Thanks in advance!

Your doc is right--the emotional roller coaster IS very normal. Some people don't have it at all; others have it big-time. I was (and still am) someone who has it big-time. Is there a therapist that is connected with the bariatric program you're in that you could see? It might help a lot. I know it has for me. Also if you have access to bariatric support groups (in person ones), they can be very helpful. Body image is a huge adjustment for a lot of us and has many layers that can surface. Maybe you can do some online searching (WLS body image; WLS self confidence). Also, if you haven't ever tried journaling, maybe you might want to look into doing that. Really think about all the progress you've made, and that you don't want to allow yourself to do these "cheat meals/days." You are better than that, and you deserve better than that for yourself. Stay on your program, because cheating eating is going to send you down the road to weight gain and we all know how depressing that can be. Try not to be too hard on yourself. Sometimes we just have to let our feelings sit there for awhile while our brains catch up. It sounds like you've accomplished a lot in a short 7 months. This is a big life-changing event. Right up there with graduations, marriage, having kids, etc. There's a lot of learning, growing, and adjusting to go. Just go with the flow. Take care.

Generally, when a problem is flagged by the psych evaluator, it results in the individual being referred to a psychiatrist for further evaluation. Since you already have a therapist, it seems like their opinion should carry significant weight. Since weight gain has a psychological component, the purpose for including a psychological evaluation is to determine if you will benefit from the surgery or if psychological problems would deprive you of its benefits.

Hi, my name is Tonya. I'm a 44 years old mother of five ages 16, 2, 3, 4 and 4. Number 2 and one of the 4's I have permanent custody of and I'm trying to adopt :-) I am going to try and not ramble but I do sometimes. I was never an overweight child, never gained more than maybe 20 pounds extra in high school. In college I was able to maintain 135 pounds with no weight gain. I'm 5'5. When I was 25 I got married. At 27 I got pregnant with my first child and gained 100 pounds. He weighed 11 pounds at birth. 10lb15oz exactly. From the year of his birth, 1998, until the present, I have not been under 200 pounds. My last weight was 300 at pre-op testing. Years of being abused emotionally and mentally by his father made me turn to food for comfort. I don't drink or smoke or do drugs but I had my food. He fussed about my weight so I defiantly ate more and more. He said he was ashamed of me, told me I was worthless for 9 of the 12 years we were together. So, I left him in 2006 and in 2009 reconnected with my best friend from high school. We married that year and now have 2 kids together :-) he never made an issue of my weight and loved me the way that I am. So I thought, he deserves a healthier wife than this because he's so good to me. I really thought I could diet and lose the weight because I was finally happy. Nope. I had learned what a powerful drug food was and I couldn't let go. Almost 5 years after I married this perfect man, I got my sleeve. I now 5 days post op and am feeling great. Feel free to ask me any questions if you have any. I'm an open book :-)