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Hi I am being banded March 12, 2010 and the time doesn't seem like it is flying by fast enough, but I know it will be here some day I'm 38, mother of 2 boys, an LPN in nursing school as we speak to get my RN. On November 6th, 2009 I herniated my L4 disc and have been in and out of agony ever since. My doctor suggested I take off at least 100 pounds, but told me that it would all have to be done by diet or at least until I could get the pressure off my spinal nerves, yeah RIGHT!!! Anyways, all I am waiting on now is for my income tax return to get here as I am flying in to El Paso and going into Juarez MX for my surgery to be performed by Dr. Jose Rodriguez as I do not have insurance and his reputation seems pretty good. I am using BeLiteWeight to facilitate my surgery and they are very nice. My biggest problem with my weight seemed to come after my children were born and I had double oopherectomy operations after tubal pregnancies. I just started racking up the weight until I am so out of shape, my metabolism is shot, and I can't seem to get it off. My weight gain is making me hurt everywhere and I am to the point I won't look at myself in a mirror anymore. My S.O. is a little reluctant and thinks I might leave him after I lose the weight, but with reassurance he is actually starting to get excited and showing me a lot more support. My family, who is all in the medical field, are very hard headed and continue to believe that I should just eat right and exercise and it will come off and feel that what I am doing is a bit self-serving and I could use the money somewhere else. I will be very happy to join the March-banders and wish each and everyone of you the best of luck!!

I exercise four times per week. Running and cross-trainer. I have just went thru revision surgery and it is helping me combat this weight gain that I have struggled with since unfill, surgery, barely any fill, etc. If I didn't eat crap I probably would loose. But for me 153 is ok, not really where I liked previously. I felt more comfortable in a size 8 and 140 lbs. But until I am restricted I struggle? Go figure. I also am almost 4 years out so the doc said my stomach isn't a normal virgin one that would respond to the band like it did in the beginning. As long as I am restricted and keep my eating to 1 cup to 1.5 cups eating wise choices, exercising I was able to loose. best wishes to you. Dody

I think March is busiest month for lap band surgeons because people really start thinking about this surgery after the weight gain during the holidays and the New Year's Resolutions. By March, most testing and insurance companies have already given the ok and the surgery is done.

I have a healthy sex drive and unfortunately my long time boyfriend sex drive has drooped. When we First met we had sex almost everyday if not everyday. But since I've gain so much weight its like I'm pulling his teeth. I asked him was it my weight that was an issue he said yes. I was really hurt by it. I've tried everything to lose weight but I would gain it all over again. We're still together but its not the same, I always have that thing in the back of my mind that he'll leave because of my uncontrollable weight gain and other issues we are facing. :thumbup: (I have not had banding yet)

I just wanted to, as a nurse, that there are low dose birth control methods that you can try that do not cause weight gain. My fav is the NuvaRing. Its the lowest dose of hormone possible and it only works where it needs to and doesn't effect the entire body like oral pills do. Hope this helps because as i want you to lose the weight I don't want you to get pregnant if you don't want to :thumbup:.

Ahh okay I gotcha. Well under the circumstances girlie I wouldn't feel too bad about it. If they didn't put you on a strict "eat x y z" and then gave you something that has a side effect of weight gain then what do they expect! Good luck with everything and don't worry about the hijacking as long as there are no snakes on plane we're alright

Good morning fellow April Avengers! I hope you are all well. I'm feeling better today as I feel I'm finally back on track. I had to go back to LapBand 101 rules. I had totally gotten away from those rules. I went to the grocery store yesterday and stocked up on good protein and salad. Retraining myself to chew well and eat slowly. Since I had 1/4 cc taken out I've been able to eat pretty much whatever I wanted. So, I've taken the steps to avoid weight gain by getting my rear in gear!! I've also noticed the last few days that my stomach was really hurting and growling. It was like the worst hunger pains ever. They were so bad that they made me sick to my stomach. I felt like that right after surgery if I let my stomach get too empty. I finally figured out that I wasn't eating enough good protein and was having way too many carbs which left me hungry much too soon. Now that I've gone back to the "rules", it's much better. I also think part of the problem was not drinking enough water and I was getting dehydrated. I go back in two weeks to have my 1/4 cc put back in. So in the mean time it's going to have to be up to me to do what I know I need to do. By that time school will be back in session for all of us and I do so much better with a regular routine. It's been a nice relaxing summer, but I'm so ready to get back into the swing of things. Anyway, I hope you are all doing well. I've enjoyed reading everyone's posts and am glad we are all here to support each other. Have a great day!!!

I think it does cause weight gain

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.

I'm 5 days out from surgery and can honestly say it wasn't as bad as I thought. The gas pains SUCKED the incisions were/are sore. By day 5 it's the port incision that bothers me the most. Be carefull getting up and down from a sitting position - I tore an internal stich and it hurt like all get out. The gas pain is worse than anything else and it's finally letting up - just mostly what felt like heartburn and pains in my left shoulder. Get up and move frequently. On the weight gain/loss side. My doctor - and many other sites really try to emphasis NOT to focus on weight gain/loss in the first month or two. Hard, I know, but we have to let our stomachs heal. We have to learn how to eat - Remember - the band is permanent. We have to learn how to eat and deal with it. I'm trying to focus on where I want to be 6, 9 months from now - not 6 or 9 weeks from now. Yes, it's surgery. Yes, it will hurt. Plan on taking at least a week of total down time. You may go faster than that (I'm working from home today and moving much better).

You cannot gain more than the weight of the item you eat. A five pound box of chocolates will produce a weight gain of no more than five pounds.

Hello Everyone, My name is Melissa and I am scheduled for surgery on July 9th. I am 50 years old and have been fighting the weight gain/loss battle for the past 20 years. I finally decided 1 1/2 years ago that I needed to finally take care of ME. In retrospect I feel like in the past I put everyone else before me. Now it is me time. Yeah!!!! So excited. Start my 2 week liquid diet next Saturday. Should be interesting.

My massive weight gain is from an under active thyroid problem...I am at my highest weight ever...I weigh more now than I did when I was pregnant with my 3 children...God in Heaven please forgive me...We had a young relative die from WLS...She never made it out of surgery, because of a blood clot to the heart...I may not have the surgery now, because the doctor called and said my eco was abnormal...Going to the cardiologist tomorrow...He will have the last word...They all think right now, that my throid is being removed...If I do have the surgery, I will tell them the truth after the fact....

J, You biked an extreme amount of miles this weekend. You would NOT of been able to do that without fueling your body. Your body is going to burn fat, but you have to have an input of energy too. My thought is that your muscles are still in recovery mode right now, holding onto water to repair. A day or two and you will have lost that 2 pounds plus some. Also, what about the other factors? Did you eat something with more sodium than usual, you did say you detoured for lunch, was is restaurant food, which has lots of sodium????? Is it PMS pounds???? I really think that your body holds onto all the water you can drink when you are biking like that. You are sweating sooo much and I think your body doesn't want to let it go, it needs it to repair. J, you are sooooo awesome and have done sooo damn good. 74 pounds!!!!!!! WHAT? DID I SAY 74 POUNDS??????? That is freakin awesome!!!! How many times have you lost 74 pounds and knew in your heart that it was really the LAST time you would ever see those 74 pounds?????? You rock sistah!!!! About the pictures, I tried to post some pictures and it said they were too big. Maybe I will try to paste some, but I wish I knew how people were putting up their before and afters with no problems. Maybe I will do a search on that..... HP, thank you for the compliment. Also, I would think that canoeing would be an extreme amount of calories burned!!!!! Google calories burned by canoeing and see what you come up with. I bet it is A LOT!!!! We went to the lake both Sat and Sun and I really really really wanted to get into the water from the boat but, once again the fat fear monster wouldn't let me. We don't have a ladder or platform on the back of the boat, so you have to get helped in. I was scared if I jumped off, my poor DH who weighs in at 169...the jerk....would NOT be able to help me get back in the boat. So, once again, I did not get to have as much fun as if I was thin and boating. I keep saying next year, next year. But, you know what??? I am TIRED of thinking next year. I want to live my life now!!!!! I am sooooooo tired of waiting....shit, I feel better now...thanks all for listening... Oh, BTW, I go to the fill appt. today. I will ask the EP what he thinks about the weight gain after biking so much this weekend. Maybe he can give some insight to it.

This foolish behavior deserves consequences. Maybe not as bad as a life threatening leak, but something...I suppose I can be happy knowing that if they are so silly as to push their program directly after surgery, despite the horrific medical consequences they could face, I should be at least happy knowing they weren't committed enough and they will likely be back in two years whining about their weight gains. Really, you ripped out most of your stomach and now you want to see if you can pop the dang thing because you feel you are immune to consequences. Smart...very smart! Edited to reflect a grumpy post in the middle of the night

Good Morning Every one, I need some suggestions for mushy foods besides mashed pots. I've been experimenting this week, seeing what I could eat. Was banded on 3/23. I've noticed my weight starting to creep up slowly and that is a no no. I've been exercising with Zumba tapes for the last couple of days, so not sure if my body is trying to adjust to the minimal food and exercise or what. Any one else having issues with slight weight gain post op after starting to eat more solid foods?

I hear alot of people here saying that they are skipping breaksfast my Dr tells me never to do that and that you should eat withing a 1/2 hr of waking if your weight lose is slow and you're not eating breakfast maybe try and add a protein in the morning and aee how you do This is an article I found Some people skip breakfast in an effort to lose weight, but the practice is more likely to cause weight gain than weight loss. Skipping breakfast is strongly linked to the development of obesity. Studies show that overweight and obese children, adolescents, and adults are less likely to break the fast each morning than their thinner counterparts. According to research, skipping meals, especially breakfast, can actually make weight control more difficult. Breakfast skippers tend to eat more food than usual at the next meal or nibble on high-calorie snacks to stave off hunger. Several studies suggest that people tend to accumulate more body fat when they eat fewer, larger meals than when they eat the same number of calories in smaller, more frequent meals. To teens, especially teenage girls, skipping breakfast may seem like a perfectly logical way to cut down on calories and lose weight. It's important for moms to educate their kids about the importance of the morning meal and the role it plays in maintaining good health and preventing obesity.

i am scheduled for my second fill on may 10. i have lost 10, and the last couple of days i have gained back a couple. i dont think it is true weight gain, rather i think it is Water retention and lack of regularity. regardless, i hate not seeing the scales move. i MUST break the weighing everyday habit... Maybe my next fill will give me some restriction and i can get this party started!

Hi all... I was banded on the 24th....2 days ago. I have been in more pain than I had expected. I'm walking around better but this darn gas is killing me....The first day in the hospital, I was so worried that with every movement I would hurt the band....I also weighed this morning and gained 3 pounds. My Dr.s office called to check on me and told me the weight gain was from the IV fluids and not to weigh til i get into my post op visit. I have no appetite, and having trouble getting all my Water in. Dr's office said as long as I take a sip every 10 minutes i wont get dehydrated and I am getting like 32 ounces in. I need to get one really good burp out and its just not coming......I think if I could burp I'd feel much better....I am feeling emotionally very excited and proud of myself for doing this. I think this is really gonna change things around for me. I am very committed and excited. Want to try to walk outside but just in my parking lot near my building. everything inside is just so sore....I have a lot of bad bruising on my abdomen....I am hoping tomorrow i will feel good enough to stop the pain meds and take only Tylenol. So glad to be on the other side now.....Here we go!!!! Meg

I am not losing like I thought i would also. I was banded 4-18. I have kept a food journal since day 1. I have either gained or stayed the same on 600-700 calories or less some days and I am confused. I walk alot...I for the first time yesterday ate some more calories(1000)...got on scale gained...really??????? I have lost 10 pounds since surgery....it is three weeks, ten pounds... I also have not gone to the bathroom(if u know what I mean) in three days....trying to fix that today....maybe that is the weight gain. It is a puzzle we all are trying to solve, as each of us is different and most accept our bodies reaction to the surgery and lack of calories... I at time have felt why did I not just do this low calories and forget the band...and then I remember I needed a TOOL in my life to assist me....the band is not going to work unless we also work at this journey

Hunger continues to be my nemesis!!! I just keep eating a lot of clean solid Protein to satisfy it. I know carbs food is going to feed the hunger and make it stronger, so I do not go there. A chicken sausage or a baby bel helps keep it at bay. As long as my extra eating does not result in weight gain, I will do it. I should start tracking it though as to not break any hard calories boundaries I have set for myself. It is a little strange as to where the hunger feeling comes from. It is not from the stomach, but in the back of my throat. Maybe it is caused by salivation at the back of my mouth, top of throat. No idea. What are your thoughts?

Congratulations on making goal! That's so exciting and you should be very proud of yourself. I am almost 4 months out and I have no doubt that I will get to where I want to be because of this tool that I chose to utilize. That said, weight loss can be done without the sleeve, it's just a lot harder to maintain. In turn, weight gain CAN occur with the sleeve if we don't do what we are supposed to do. What are we supposed to do? Make good choices and exercises. It's hard work and it's mental as much as it is physical. The sleeve is a tool to facilitate weight loss but it is NOT the solution. WE are the solution, some of us just need a little more help getting there.

How Common is food Addiction? Although there is little doubt that food addiction exists, the question of how common this may be remains a matter of debate. Now a study by Pardis Pedram and colleagues from Memorial University, Newfoundland, examine this issue in a paper just published in PLoS One. I am a food addict. I found this to be confirming.... The study looks at 652 adult volunteers (415 women, 237 men) recruited from the general population. ‘Food addiction’ was assessed using the Yale Food Addiction scale (YFAS), a questionnaire consists of 27 items that assess eating patterns over the past 12 months. The YFAS translates the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV TR(DSM-IV TR) substance dependence criteria in relation to eating behavior (including tolerance and withdrawal symptoms, vulnerability in social activities, difficulties cutting down or controlling use, etc.). The criteria for ‘food addiction’ are met when three or more symptoms are present within the past 12 months together with clinically significant impairment or distress. Based on these criteria, ‘food addiction’ was present in 5.4% of participants (6.7% in females and 3.0% in males) and increased with obesity status. Interestingly enough, the clinical symptom counts of ‘food addiction’ were positively correlated with all body composition measurements across the entire sample (p<0.001) – not just in those with higher BMI. Nevertheless, “food addicts” substantially heavier (11.7 kg), had 4.6 units higher BMI, and had 8.2% more body fat than “non-addicts”. Furthermore, food addicts consumed more calories from fat and Protein than controls. Thus, this study shows that as many as 1 in 20 (or 5%) of the general population may have a diagnosis of “food addiction”. Those who do are substantially heavier than individuals who do not meet these criteria. Furthermore, individual symptoms of “food addiction” are associated with higher body weight across the entire range of BMI suggesting that even mild to moderate signs of “addiction” (below the threshold of a formal diagnosis) may contribute to weight gain in the general population. As with all addictions, simply warning about the “evils” or making consumption more difficult (taxing, banning, punishing) is of limited help in addressing the problem. In addition, given that total “food-abstinence” is not an option, the best you can hope for is “harm-reduction” – a rather conservative goal for any addiction. Clearly, not recognizing the potential role of food addiction as a contributor to the obesity epidemic means missing the boat on providing appropriate care to individuals with this condition. As with other addictions, “Simply say no” approaches are naive at best in addressing the problem. @DrSharma Edmonton, Alberta

You go, girl!! Your friend sounds a bit green-eyed to me and not much like a friend at all! You don't owe an explanation to ANYONE. Your business is YOUR business and your decision to have surgery was a very personal one. Congratulations on your 50 pounds lost! You are doing an amazing job! You are absolutely wrong. I once lost 80 pounds in three months on WWs and exercise and I kept it off for a year. I was eating micro amounts and going to the gym twice a day. There was no way I could maintain that pace (and the hubby knocked me up) but I did do it and I lost a lot faster than I am with the sleeve. It is not my job or hers (or yours for that matter!) to "inspire" anyone. If it happens, awesome! I would love to think that I could help someone else get healthy but it's not my duty. It's up to each individual to find inspiration in his or herself. I am no more responsible for anyone's weight loss than I am for anyone's weight gain. (Except maybe my husband because he keeps finishing my leftovers.) I am utilizing a tool that is available to anyone. Even with this tool, I track every bite that goes into my body. I exercise at least an hour a day. I wear a pedometer so I can make sure to get in my steps each day. I make great food choices that meet my nutritional needs and that will help me hit my weight loss goals. Most importantly, I have dropped the excuses and THAT is where I will win.

I've read several articles about how sleep deprivation can lead to weight gain. Isn't that strange? I think that it's hormonal. I still am too stupid to go to bed at a decent hour! It must be stupidity because I'm plenty tired................