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I have been about 20 lbs. overweight for a long time. I'm sure it is a physical tendency as well as a few food issues, but I was always able to keep it under control with exercise. So, Why Am I Fat? I have a thyroid problem (diagnosed 7 years ago) which has thrown my whole body into another world. Like many of you on this site, I knew I was headed for trouble and as much as I talked to my doctors, they didn't listen. I changed doctors multiple times in an effort to find someone who would treat my WHOLE BODY and not just look at my thyroid test results...no luck (and the issue of Doctors not dealing with the whole person is one which I would gladly get in to with anyone wanting to vent a little). I tried many things and finally, out of total frustration, I gave up...and the weight piled on. 75lbs later I looked in the mirror and said "this is rediculous. Something MUST be done because I can't live a full and productive life with this issue dominating everything I do." Life is difficult. No matter where you are in it there are stresses, and a person can only deal with a certain number of stresses at any single time. I decided that the issue of weight was one which, if I was going to deal with it on my own, was going to dominate my life and leave little energy for dealing with anything else. So I started looking for a solution, and here I am (37 years old, banded in May at 245 and down 36lbs with about 40 to go). Like many major issues in life, I think that weight is one of those things which, for some people, requires "professional intervention". I think of it in the same category as an addiction or a disease...an issue which requires outside help and internal resolve. Once you get help and deal with the issues on the table and then you can let the issue of weight fall into the background of life...off of your radar of things which require IMMEDIATE attention and into the category of things which require diligence, maintenance and "checking" on a regular basis. I am very greatful for my band (and my Doctor, Dr. Franco Favretti in Italy) and I'm eager to get down to a reasonable weight. Of course this does nothing to address the other issues which my thyroid disease has left me with (hair falling out, dry skin, dry eyes, Betty Davis eyes, difficulty concentrating, the mental "fog" which is so common among thyroid patients, inability to work a traditional 9-5 job, falling asleep anytime, anywhere regardless of how much sleep I get), but it takes ONE issue off the list and that is a great thing, because it leaves more brain power available to deal with the remaining ones. When I was diagnosed with Thyroid Graves' Disease, I remember a doctor telling me that it was an easy issue to deal with ... something to the effect of "pop your pills as perscribed and Voila!" Well, that was a HUGE oversimplification. Nothing is that simple. Neither is my Band that simple. I have approached my Band like I have approached most of life... do my research, map out a plan for success and then try to stick to it as much as possible. 2 1/2 years ago I revamped my diet, removing prepared foods, hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils, corn syrup, preservatives...and added more vegetables...blah, blah, blah. I took this step because I realized that I needed outside help to deal with my Thyroid issues and so sought out a nutritionist who suggested that it might help with both my health and my weight gain. I got Banded because the change in diet alone wasn't working to control my weight and it was impacting my health...it was recognition that my health and thus my weight is linked to my happiness/quality of life. There are a multitue of reasons people are fat. Rarely is it just one. So, take a look at what your reasons are and get help with them. Everyone says that the Band is just a tool and for most people, we will utilize many tools in dealing with our weight, because weight is linked to health and health to quality of life. The body is a very complicated SYSTEM of interconnected functions. My thyroid no longer functions, but contrary to my Doctor's statements, pumping replacement hormones ("horror moans" as I like to call them) into my body has NOT taken care of all the symptoms, so I look for complimentary solutions. The same can be said of being overweight and getting Banded. It isn't the "fix it" which some advertise it to be. In both cases, the problem needs to be ATTACKED from many angles to get the desired result. So, Good Luck Warriors!

Why am I fat? The real reason is I ate too much and didn't exercise. Like so many others on this thread I came from a so called dysfunctional family but I had a strong mother that helped us make it through. My dad was an alcoholic. We were never sure if he would come home drunk, sober or somewhere inbetween. We were never sure what his mood would be. I'm the third oldest of 8 kids. My oldest brother is Downs so my dad was always mad about that. He basically made my older sister his son by having her help with all the farm work. I don't remember very much about my childhood. I was told while taking Psychology classes that often that happens when we want to block out unpleasant activities. I do remember wanting to please my dad but being scared of him. At times I recall physical and now I know verbal abuse too. I was also the heavest of all of us kids. You've heard of pre-conceived perception. That's what I did because I was always told I was fat and lazy. My uncle always said I was his favorite because there was more of me to love. Because of these statements I ate and did become very lazy. My mother was a strong hold in the family. She would always have something warm coming out of the oven for a snack when we got home from school, cake, cookies, bread, pie. I always ate more than my share. I left home as soon as I graduated and went to college. By than my eating habits were aready established. I tried every diet that I could do. I used diet pills and everything. I always felt that no one would ever love me. Then I met my wonderful husband. Although I didn't loose any weight, it stopped going up and up. Doug never said anything about my weight. His concern was my health as heart problems and diabetis ran in the family. He ate properly and ran 4 miles 5 days a week. In the almost 30 years we were married my dress size went from a 12 to 18. That's not too bad for 30 years I don't think. When Doug passed away 5 1/2 years food once again became my good friend. I couldn't eat enough to kill my feelings of loneliness. Each season I had to get new clothes because last seasons clothes didn't fit again. My finacial adviser was telling me a year and half ago about the lap band he had put on. Until then I had never heard of lap band except the adds on TV. I began researching and after a little over a year decided that was what I needed to end this cycle of weight gain. I've probably gained and lost 500 pounds in my life time. I use to tell people that if I wasn't an overeater I would probably be an alcoholic. Being an overeater the only person I was hurting was myself but now I know different. Do I love myself any better, I'm not sure if I love myself completely but I don't hate myself. Maybe just dislike just a little. This weekend I read the book Inside My Heart by Robin McGraw. I got to thinking how much I can change myself is I just work at it. I'm going to work at getting more of what I want out of life. What I really want I can never have again, my husband Doug. Now I'm just rattling but it does feel better to get things off my chest. Thank you for this thread.

Why am I fat? Hmm, part genetics, my mom was overweight for many years. She had GBS last year. My sister grew up big. She also had GBS about two years ago. I have become less and less active over the years, due to poor self esteem because I have gained so much weight. Does that contradict itself? It sure doesn't help that I am married to a very physically fit man who is damn sexy to boot! lol :biggrin1: I have tried in vain to put meat on his bones, but it only ends up on me. He is in the Army so of course he has to stay fit. My road to obesity started in 1996. I weighted 143 lbs at 5'6", the day I found out I was going to have a baby. By the time I had her, I was 215 lbs. I had gone from running 5 to 10 miles a day (in the Army) to practically nothing when I got out during that pregnancy. We lived in the desert at the time, I over heated too easily so I didn't go out much. Bad idea. I dropped 40 of it immediately. By the time I got preggo with my second 18 months later I started at 205 lb. With this weight gain also came VERY large breasts. I had a reduction thinking it would help me with exercising. Very glad I did that, but it didn't improve my motivation to exercise. What it did do was help my back problems and showed me just how HUGE my tummy really was. :omg: So, now I just had my third baby, luckily I only gained 20 lbs wiht him and dropped it all within the last month without trying. That is a good thing, but my husband is deployed at the moment and well, to compensate for him not being here, what do I want to do? Eat, but not at home. I just eat out WAY TOO MUCH! This is just not good for me, let alone my kids! I have researched GBS and now lap band for a while. It looks like this may be my savior, KWIM? So, we shall see. It will be so nice if I could just lose even 20 by the time my husband comes home for R&R in June!

Hi Everyone, My name is Becky. I'm 35 years old and was just banded on February 21st! I'm married to my wonderful husband Dave and have been for nine years this May. I have two cats, no childen. I live here in the City of Brotherly Love: Philadelphia! It's a most wonderful town and I encourage everyone to come visit! I am the Sales and Marketing Director for a Web design company and my husband is an IT Director with a national firm. I was a normal weight, if not downright skinny, child. When I look at pictures of myself from when I was really little, I can't even believe how thin I was. My weight gain started the very moment puberty started, and despite dieting for 25 years (you name it, I've been on it. Too many diets to list here!), I reached my heaviest ever weight a few months ago. One time in college I was able to lose 51 pounds with Nutri-System, but even then I still had an additional 30 to lose, so in my entire adult life, I have never been at an ideal weight. I'd been looking into the LAP Band since I first read an article about it a few years ago. But at that time, my insurance did not cover it. I had vowed to never get a bypass no matter how big I got, because it just is not for me. The second I found out that my insurance started covering the LAP Band in July of 2005, I enrolled in a seminar to get started. So I feel I have been waiting to be banded for years and years! Currently, I am 8 days post-op and starting to feel a bit better. I had a really rough first week. I have to say that without this board, I honestly don't know if I would have gone through with the surgery! I just am so appreciative and thankful for everyone on here. Nice to meet you all!

I think these are really valid and helpful observations and questions. I know they help me really think and own my spit. You know? I never want to rationalize my own "poor" behavior or stinking thinking by convincing myself that my viewpoint is the only right one. I also am hopeful that this might benefit someone else who might not want to post their stuff here--be able to work through some things and gain insight into their eating behaviors that both keep them thin/losing or are contributing to gain. Right? So there is no doubt that I am goal driven. I've never in my life reached my target weight goal--even as a young kid dieting (dieting since 9). 😕 And it became very important to me as I went "all in" with this surgery, that I achieve my goal weight--even if it's only for a day--or an hour. It's just a milestone that psychologically I feel like I need. And knowing what my sis (who is 2 inches taller than me) looked like with a similar build to me -- at 120lbs, she did not look anorexic. Knowing that at 23BMI today on the scale and that in real life, I still have very jiggly fat filled aspirin bottle and thighs, makes me feel like I do still have extra fat available that I can at least achieve that burning drive to 130lbs. At the very least. *I'd have to review the BDG once I get to 130lbs. Cuz it really may not be realistic for me to even hit it. There is NOOOOOO doubt I have body dysmorphia. No doubt. I work on it daily. And the struggle is real. I def don't see myself as super thin. Just normal for a 56 year old woman. Flabby flat as* and all. TY for telling me how awesome I look! Sometimes I can actually feel it - nowadays. Yesterday (no pic) I felt great in my outfit until I looked in the mirror in my white shorts. And felt I look huge in my thighs and ass--so didn't bother snapping the pic. I still wore the outfit and got so many complements including a, "You are so skinny" comment that I was a little "proud" of. I've never been a member of the you-are-so-skinny-"normal"-girl-barbie-tribe. You know? And I'm not gonna lie. It's a seductive group. Great T & A and tiny waists among all of those bi*ches! hehe. I do think I will be thin enough. That's why I think 130lbs will be end of the line for me. Cuz when I was sick just before surgery, I was 131lbs and I felt "right". Even though I was craptastically ill at the time. But yeah, that BD funhouse mirror plays wicked mind games. So the only way to tell is once I get there. I know I have no interest in going deep dive to the low 120s and maybe not even anything under the 130lbs. I keep cals that low and deeply nutrient rich cuz I flat out maintain or even gain weight in the >850 range. And that terrifies me! I'm not like @ms.sss who is having issues deterring weight loss at these levels. I WISH! Right? Cuz if you look at my graph, I'm maintaining. And I'm super terrified I've forked my metabolism. I also know I take a hormone blocker for cancer remission that puts me in supre menopause. So I am trying to restore my body fat hormones while having one hand tied behind my back via the blocking of all female hormone production. Which really sucks cuz the regulation of those hormones really drive a lot of the insulin and hunger hormones response to fat loss. Also being hypothyroid also contributes to the lowered metabolic rate. Sorry for the book. I didn't want to just blow off your question, but rather offer some glimmer of where my thought process and logic is taking me. My hope is that once I hit my 130 Goal #3 weight, then I can officially say, "I'm goal baybeeee!" And then I will be able to maintain at 1000-1400 cals with a day or 2 of fasting thrown in per week like Dr. Fung discusses. Cuz that would be sweet! But my body is resisting going lower right now. And it does not reward me with a scale drop when I up cals and give a treat day--rather it rewards me with the predicted weight gain. Also, I'm not going quietly into that good night. I will fight that fuc*ing bounce like a demon. I am not gonna accept that it has to happen. And if I start looking like I'm eating crap I really want you guys to call me on it and hold my toes to the fire! Cuz I will need y'all more than ever if/when backsliding enters the equation. Right? Ok, so yeah. There you have it. My full 10lbs of crazy shoved into the 5lb can! Certifiable? Yes or no? Here's my weight graph of the past year. The last big jump is from surgery and IVs. But you can see, I'm having trouble maintaining right now post surgery and struggling with huge hunger. I attribute it to IV antibiotics and disruption of gut biome/gut hormone disruption and insulin surges as a result. There is a study just out about this. I think @catwoman7 may have posted this on another board? Can't remember...

After my battle with my insurance company, I was approved. Initially I was told that because I had given birth to twins in the last year, that more than likely that was where my weight gain came from. After they recieved my medical records they saw that I was infact pounds smaller after the birth of my daughters. I had this surgery to improve my health, I have horrible cycles, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and I'm just out of shape. I need to be in good health to take care of my daughters. It has been a struggle for me. The pre-op two weeks diet, i did in moderation, i kicked candy and sodas but i backslide on small portions of food. After surgery on the 28th, i'm scared but a burger sure sounds good. I can not wait to lose this hunger feeling. the only thing keeping me going is the fact that i went through so many doctor visits to get here to screw it all up and I dont want to make myself sick. I'm struggling! I hate the protein drinks! can't drink no more than two, bare drank one today and that was because i put it in coffee. I'm dying for some grits or potatoes. My head hurts alot. taking multi-vit. drinking some water, not really thirsty. I have gas moments and it feels so good to burp. No bowel movement yet. I have consumed a few oz. of chicken broth over the last few days. Any advice?:smile:

I am so glad that I found this thread! I am 13 years out from my bypass and 35 lbs have crept up on me. I just barley found this website. I have support at home but since my bypass I have had no follow up with my Dr (i feel like i went to a meat factory) and no support system there. My regular Drs are not as familiar with bypass so being this far out I have no idea what to do or if I should have anything checked. So since my surgery I have had three pregnancies and 4 kids (i have a set of twins). I was really good with my weight gain there only 15 lbs for my son and daughter and 30 lbs for the twins. My weight gain came after the twins. I started to drink pop again. Big mistake. my portions have increased and my exercise was zilch. I hate the way I look. I feel like I did before my surgery when I weighed 272 lbs. I have set a goal to loose that darn 35 lbs the healthy way with diet and exercise. I am going to cut out carbs as much as I can and have quit drinking soda. I have also increased my workout to at least 45 min every day. I love the fact you chose to do this! I look forward to joining you on your journey. Current weight 172.4 Goal Weight 140 Thank you again!

I have a questions, what size is your Bougie? I'm wondering if that's the reason that we experiencing weight gain. I know that I requested my doctor to use a smaller size for me. I believe my size is a 30.

Like many others, I love food! I like everything. As a child I was given food as a reward and carried that into adulthood. I always felt it wasn't fair that others could eat all the foods I wanted and not have the same weight problems, so I just ate what I wanted and didn't address the problem except occassionally. I take full responsibility for not addressing my weight earlier in my life. But, I also had a verbally abusive father who destroyed my self esteem, making it so so easy to defeat myself controlling my weight. Add that to a very slow metabolism and I've been defeating myself for many many years. The "bounce back" weight gains were always more than I lost, making me heavier and heavier. At age 64, I have finally realized that I can do it and that I must do it. I am learning that the treadmill is my friend, not something to be loathed. I am also learning that I can get along very well with much smaller portions. I've lost 26 lbs. pre-surgery while eating out and having most of the foods I love...just in moderation and smaller quantities. My surgery date is 1/17/2008 and I am maintaining/still losing on my pre-surgery diet. I'm headed to a healthier me, albeit somewhat late in life. If this old lady can do it, anybody can! BobbiG

I'm fat because even if I woke up at 10am and ate, if it was 12pm I'd eat lunch and then 6pm I would eat dinner even if I wasn't hungry. My portion sizes where ridiculous and overall my doctors where the result of my weight gain. I've been on prednisone on and off since I was 10 and anyone that's been on it knows that a side affect is weight gain. I was one of those unlucky ones. I'm not saying that the doctors are to blame overall for my weight gain but most of it is - And they even acknowledge that.

Why am I fat? Well, for the longest time, I couldn't figure out why I was the only heavy person in my immediate family. My parents cooked healthy meals for us growing up, I was never one to over eat, I was active, I didn't sneak junk food or eat late a night, etc. However, from about the age of 11 or 12, I started gaining weight, no matter what or how much I ate. It wasn't until about 5 years ago when my primary care physician asked me if I had ever been tested for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) that I found out the reason for my weight gain....yes, I tested positive for PCOS. For those of you unfamiliar with PCOS, here's what happens: At the onset of menstruation, rather than your body using the stored fat for energy, it hordes it and pumps out more insulin instead. Now, admittedly, as an adult, I haven't always made the wisest food choices but I also didn't eat a lot. My husband commented one time that I "ate like a bird." Of course, compared to the portions he eats, everyone eats like a bird!! Unfortunately though, I'm one of those people with PCOS that can lose a certain amount of weight by exercising and dieting alone, but the weight loss will stop at a certain point. Hence my decision to be banded. I need all of the help I can get!

I am fat ..... I wasn't always fat. In high school I was really skinny, active and felt amazing. Then one day I passed out. Just out like a light....when I came to, my chest was killing me and I was freezing. Ambulance called and doctors seen, it was discovered that I had a condition called "Vasodepressorsincopy" a.k.a. abnormality in the reagulation of my blood pressure causing my heart to off be and as a result my blood pressure would plumit, my heart would start to pump harder to compincate and it would be lights out. I was 15 when that happened. I was put on a medication for a long periode of time that as a side affect would cause weight gain. (wasn't told about that until 60 pounds or so gained) The aslo took away ALL physical activity for 2 years until docs were sure that was the problem. I couldn't even walk a golf course! Well you put thoes to things together alone with depression and vwalla FAT! Now I have also developed fibromialgya so not only am I fat now but I feel like someone took a baseball bat to every inch of my body. I feel brused everywere but nobody can see the bruses....my joints hurt and my muscles feel like they have been threw the workout of 10 olypians! But no longer! I am having my surgery in October of this year and I WILL lose the weight. It wont fix the FMS...I will have that for the rest of my life but I will lighten the pain by loseing the weight.

Hey Amanda. I guess overall Im cool with the idea of the surgery, my hesitation is just more abt the after effects, and making sure Im doing everything right so that nothing goes wrong. With in the last few years I have had issues with HBP, diabetes, acid reflux, hiatal hernia and sleep apnea. I am 32 and want to live a long life and be healthy. I just want the chance to feel good again and not worry with all the ailments this drastic weight gain has caused me.

ok ok.... seems like we have a good group of "newbies" July banders I have high hopes of this working out for me (and you all) but I still worry about my history of losing weight, gaining it back, losing weight.... and so on.... I'm guessing I may have lost and gained several people by now. My mind is starting to play tricks on me.... like... "hey matt, isn't this the time you eat potato chips?" "hey matt, remember mcdonalds...mmmmmmm big macs" obviously I'll need to retrain myself on eating habits.... but dang.....*sobs* I sooo sooooooo likey sour cream and onion potato chips! then there is the burden of the "pressure" that I feel family is adding to me. I mean, they are watching to see how I do. My dad offered to pay for my brothers banding if I am successfull. (which I'm not complaining, however I saved it all by myself for 3 years) Then, being so far from my doc, what happens if I mess up and have a slippage of the band? hmmmm mo money mo money fills, fills, fills, that's the rub isn't it..... you think you are done paying ... then the fills.... sure... I have free fills from my doc.... but I have to spend 400 for the flight to get there..... grumble grumble grumble I WANT MAGIC DANGNABIT..... a automatic pill to lose all the weight I want without working to dang hard to do it basically this was a complain session and worry session... I'm happy I chose to be banded... and I made a life choice.... it's the unknown future that concerns me what happens if I still have the band and turn 70 and start forgetting about it..... ooops... pb pb pb... *lol* I think to much!! what are your worries? however crazy *s*

Question: should we be limiting our carb intake at all after surgery? Has anyone noticed problems with eating carbs after? Just wondering if that's the culprit of my weight gain last week. I do know that I get very full very fast when I do consume carbs, and do get a sickly feeling. It may just be me. We're all different.

South Beach diet is the best to follow. My PCP put me on it. Addiction to sweets is connected to spiking blood sugar, which leads to hunger and weight gain and can eventually lead to diabetes. If you follow the diet, the sugar cravings go away. To break the sugar addiction, you also have to avoid the foods that your body turns into sugar right away. The rate at which the body turns food into sugar is called the Glycemic index. The idea is for the body to turn food to sugar slowly so your blood sugar doesn't spike. For example Oat bran breads' GI is 68 while french baguette is 136. Or sweet potato is 63 while baked potato is 158!!! This really does work. Now it is time for me to follow my own advice. I ate really high GI foods for Tday and have been on a sugar binge since then. Congradulations on your no sugar day.:clap2:

Denise - I am glad that I can eat - what I consider a Normal about of food and still lose weight- I don't know how I would do if I had to eat less - NMSunshine - Yes I saw it the 1st time it was on - Oprah pisses me off some times - she seems to puts down people who have WLS - it's not just people who have WLS that can have transfer addicitions - people who lose weight without surgery can have the same issues too. Look at her she looses weight - gains weight back loose it again - want to talk about yo-yo - and she has the benefit of personal trainers and chefs where we don't - OMG if i could have someone else cook all my meals and a trainer to help me exercise - I would be in hog heaven. Notice how she talks about WLS she is negative about it - IMHO she needs to be banded Phyl - you DH is a very nice man I though his controlling was done with luv:) - I think you have a keeper in him... Have you called Dr B - I am scheduled to go in on the 19th but don't know if i need to - I have pretty good restiction when I eat really solid foods - soft go through but the solids keep me full for quite a long time and sometime if I drink to fast is sticks a little - Call him it can't hurt...

Bombero here...I am 50 banded on 1/31/08 had lost 22 lbs my first dr. visit...and am down another 4 as of today for a total of 26. Years of beer drinking payed a big part of my weight gain...that is behind me now and am looking forward to a healthier life style and a lot more weight loss...

MDM....don't leave. You are important to your sleeve sisters....and we are all here to support each other. @ green....thank you. @Jenn....since surgery 55lbs and total of 102 from preop program started June 4th. Last week I had a stall and weight gain of 2-3 lbs....I was freaking out....it broke and I tried on pair of "skinny" jeans and they FIT!! This process has been way harder than I expected.....this site and you gals have helped me so much. Still have long way to go......

thanks for the encouraging words my friends. jeeper you know the anti depressants cause weight gain? not on any at this time. i just dont get it. if i could i would get the rny but dang my tummy is so little

Hi Everyone! So it has definitely been a while since the last time I shared. I am 26 days out... 4 weeks to be exact on Monday. A week prior to surgery I weighed 245 lbs., the day of surgery I weighed 234 lbs and as of last Monday I weighed 219 lbs. I am 15 lbs. lighter since surgery and wildly confused about my latest eating experiences. For the first two weeks, I was basically on all fluids, Soups, Protein shakes, sf popsicles and Water was not well tolerated at all. After my two week follow-up appmt with the surgeon and the NUT I was cleared to eat "pureed" foods. I was given the green light on lots of different types of food, except rice, bread, Pasta, and other "carbs" that my NUT didn't think would help my supposed "high protein diet" that included Beans, oatmeal, Cereal, cooked carrots, corn and potatoes. Also, she said no to creamed soups, because they have too many preservatives or additives. I tried to be good and so far I've been cooking almost every night pretty healthy meals including baked skinless chicken with veggies including carrots and corn (lol), baked salmon with veggies, ground beef with red, green peppers, small pieces of potatoes, onions, sour cream and shredded cheddar cheese, parmesan crusted- pan seared salmon fillet and veggies and soups including creamed soups. For fluids, I am still having the "stuck" feeling with water and yet sf popsicles are super easy to eat and my personal favorite drink green tea with unsweetened lemonade and two splendas goes down super easy as well. Plus, since I commute to New York City for work Monday through Friday, I walk about 30 minutes at day at a fast pace (in other words, that is my exercise)...Lol Soooo, for the most part I stay on track not eating those "no no foods" however, lately it seems like I've been more relaxed with the rules and I've eaten everything from popcorn (at the movie theatres), to an 8oz slurpee, and a few Oreos (without the cream). I've taken bites of some junk food here and there, though I steer clear of bread, rice and pasta no matter how much I want to chomp down on them....and finding accompaniments for meat and fish has become a creative process. Lol. Sort to say. So with all this said, I am pretty worried, because many times I have been able to eat everything that I wanted at pretty high portions like 6oz of meat or fish and 3 or 4 oz of veggies even though it takes me a few hours to finish, but I get it down. Lately I've been asking myself if I'm even sleeved?? Geez! I'm almost sure I am. Lol, but I am so scared to gain weight, I have gone through the weight loss/ weight gain thing wayy too many times and I should be sure that since I'm sleeved I will go down, but I am not 100% confident. Is it possible to dialate my tummy already???... Our sleeve is a tool, I just hope I'm using it the right way. I'm sure that I don't even get half of the liquids that I am supposed to be drinking, TMI ALERT: my pee is way dark and definitely no enough at all times due to my lack of liquid in take, but I'm sure eating. My goal is to be 160-165 lbs. much sooner than later. I hope it happens. Good luck to all of you out there, reading your posts helps me immensely. I wish all of you that are having serious complications and financial issues blessings and that all gets better soon. I'm having financial issues too. But it will get better! ...and to all of you that are doing good/great keep it up! =)

I did my annual “go into the front closet and try on all of the winter coats” sort just now. Usually it’s a depressing exercise that means trying on 10 coats, none of them buttoning or hanging exactly right, pulling out the two that are somewhat manageable, and then vowing to buy something better-fitting at a sale. I then have to keep all of them on hand, to account for weight gain or the day I wear a bulky sweater. This year every single one of them fit. Four immediately went into the donate pile for being too big, three others went into the resale pile for just not being as flattering as I’d like, and three look FANTASTIC. Better yet I’ll likely be able to wear them all season, since as I lose weight I’ll wear more sweaters/layers, so if they fit over a tank now we’re good. I am astounded by how straightforward and affirming that was. Again: this is how average weight people go through life? They just do things like sort through winter clothes without feeling depressed for days after?

You know what's funny? I've lived in the same county for 18 years, and even owned a retail shop here about 9 years ago. The shop had a group of regular customers. Right after we went out of business, I became a stay-at -home Mom, and instantly gained 70lbs. For the last 9 years, I've hardly ever gotten the: {"Hey! How are you, long time no see.. miss the shop..."} But now that I've lost 69 of those pounds, suddenly people are SEEING me! My habits haven't changed, but the weight gain had made me unrecognizable. It'll be really interesting if I again become invisible when I get to goal...

Is anyone doing "my last time for this" or "my last time for that" this month? LOL The very last weekend before I have to start full liquids, my honey is making me a roast with all the fixins. This coming weekend I'm going to get all my boxes of clothes from the attic and start sorting them into sizes. Lucky for me, I have a friend who lost some weight and she gave me a bunch of clothes in sizes 18 and 16. Bad thing is she has short legs, so the pants may be too short lol. I am currently in size 22. I have clothes from size 14 to size 20 in boxes, so at least I won't have to shop. Most of my weight gain has been in the last 6 years, I hpe my skin snaps back! lol I'm worried about the skin, but in the long run, I'd rather have some loose skin and feel better physically and mentally than have tight skin and feel like crap.

Hi guys - as a psychologist I just want to add that not all anti- depressants cause weight gain and if you are taking one that does just talk to your MD about getting onto a different med. anti depressants are really important and too often I hear people going off their meds due to weight gain rather than trying another type which can really compromise their wellbeing. Not saying you would go off them but it's something I hear quite frequently