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THIS IS BANANAS!!!!! If a person feeds an addiction, they'll eventually want more! When chewing and spitting no longer satisfies, then what?!?!?! Weight gain is inevitable!!!!

I had my surgery done on Dec. 26. I started out at 305 and went through education classes and at the time of surgery was done to 285. It has been one week since my surgery and I have followed the clear liquid diet to a tea. I had some kidney complications and they had to pump me full of IV fluids. The fluid weight is making my legs and feet swell. Has anyone gone through something similar and have any advice for me?

I had a Uterine Ablation 4+ year ago and thought that not really enjoying intimate time was a side affect. I see now that it was moats likely depression then the weight gain. I see light at the end of a long lonely dark tunnel.

1. My sllep apnea 2. Elevated blood pressure 3. The shame of running into people i havent seen in years and wondering if they're shocked at my 50 - 100lbs weight gain since they last saw me 4. Spending $100 to $150 a week on fast food and sit down restaurants 5. Always being the fattest one in my team photo (each year our P takes a picture of each grade level team and hangs it in the front office so the parents can k iw what their child's teacher looks like. I hate how big i always look compared to my sz 1, sz 8 and sz 12 teammates) 6. Having to teach most of my lessons sitting down because standing for more than 10 minutes straight hurts my knees and feet 7. Constantly wondering/tninking about my next meal 8. Looking forward to times when my husband is coming home late from work so i can sneak and eat an entire McDonald's meal before he gets home, then ride out to Chipotle with him again and eating half a burrito bowl 9. Weighing more than my father, brother and male cousins (and they are by no means super thin guys, but average size and height) 10. The sense of utter failure and defeat because i can't control what i eatlike a normal person.

Please do not reply to this thread if you have any form of criticism or anything negative to say to me. I had lap band surgery in 2009. Everything was great until 2011. I got glandular fever and lost too much weight so I was very skinny. The port ended up eroding through my stomach because I was so thin and it was literally on the outside of my body. I walked around like that for well over a month with no problems. Eventually it was getting difficult to even drink anything so I went to the hospital and they cut off the port. Without a port my band was rendered virtually useless. Over the course of a year I put on 20kg and was very, very unhappy. Then I had a new port put on and lost 10kg to reach my goal weight of 50kg. Sadly I developed a strange sore on my stomach and then another one. They are both open wounds and ooze puss every day. I can also see that the port is about to erode through my skin again like in 2011. It seems that the area around the port is infected. I am very, very upset about everything. Cutting off the port which will lead to weight gain is not an option for me at all. My lap band is the best thing that ever happened to me and I would rather die than not have it. I am in a really difficult situation and was wondering if anyone has some practical advice. My local surgeon comes back from holidays in 2 weeks. I spoke to him on the phone and he said he basically has no idea what can be done except for cutting off the port.

Hi All, Long time since I've been on the boards but my new year's resolution is to come back. My surgery was June 2010. I've had weight gain issues. I'm probably about 135 lbs now--still a healthy weight but 1) I'm afraid of continuing to go up and up and 2) I really did feel better at 120 lbs. Sooo, what to do? Considering 5:2. Actually, I'm doing a modified 5:2 this week because I have a (routine) colonoscopy on Thursday. My doctor has a two day fasting protocol. I am on day one. so far, so good.

I don't understand how you think that eating pizza and three slices at that is on the list of what you can eat foods. Nothing on your diet that you have listed is healthy. Especially all the soda you are drinking. Soda causes weight gain and hinders weight loss. I think the real problem here is you are eating with the same mentality you did before you got the band. I am not sayin a slice of pizza now and then is bad but no way can I now or before any fills could eat three slices of pizza. If you are just trying to make our hair stand up then you have done your job. If you seriously are eating like you stated then no way would any of us lose weight. I don't see why if you have good cuts of meat that are tenderly cooked that you can not eat them. Some days for me its hit and miss but the days that I can eat meat I take advantage of it. The days I cant eat meat I find other things that are healthy and not pizza and soda. You have to know that those things are what got you over weight to begin with. Why not some cottage cheese instead of meat with some fruit on it. Why not some nicely cooked seasoned beans. Your choice of foods is why you did not do well with the band so it probably is a good idea for you to get it out. If you don't change your eating habits once the band is in place then it will not help you do its job. You have to help. Point blank.

My apologies. I sincerely thought it must have been a typo and was teasing to be funny, not hurtful in any way. That being said, if a person is overweight it's a result of calories in versus calories out....overeating. You are right that there are other ways to become overweight, such as drastic hormone imbalances or certain drugs that cause weight gain. But those reasons don't land you on a WLS forum.

"Ditto" to almost everthing said here . Mine is a little different in that I spent many years in a mental institution for depression, cutting, completely unbalanced for being molested between 2 thru 14. It was physical and emotional abuse and family members doing the molesting but I put on weight conciously so I wouldn't be attractive to anyone. Then after 20 years of hospitals and doctors got diagnosed with bipolar disorder rapid cycling. I didn't care what I looked like I was in a very deep abyss. Me nothing...my family....well...they were there but I wasn't mostly mindfully but alot of hospitalizations. After the diagnosis a few years down the line I couldn't get over my depression it was severe. I had shock treatments over 25 in under a 2 year span. I began to make progress I was on many pills. I woke up to an obese person I didn't recognize and didn't want. I had a family that was still with me that I did want. So along with getting mentally healthy I tried many times to do the same with my weight but by that time I was in a habit of eating whatever and that is hard to break. I've reached nice goals and I started liking myself a little better but then would gain the weight back. Thus the band...health reasons first but weight loss and hopefully no regain second. So that is where I'm at. I have 50 lbs to go til goal and I'm looking forward to it like a beacon in the night....but it turns into daytime and I seem to lose my way. So slow and steady and readjusting my thinking and motivation and trying to do this with weight gaining pills, diabetes, low thyroid and a host of other problems...like depression and self loathing. It all keeps coming back at the wrong times or should I say just too damned often. My journey is no different than any of yours we all ended up about the same place but by different paths. I'm doing better mentally inbetween bouts but I know I look terrible but will feel better when reaching goal and with the band help keep myself at that weight and not regain ( hopefully ). Thx for letting me tell my story.

Here it is. Obesity and Mortality Risk New Findings From Body Mass Index Trajectories I signed up for this site, its free and quite interesting. You can get notices on any topic you want. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/815335_1 Here is a tantalizing two paragraphs from a LONG DRY article. IntroductionThe rising prevalence of obesity has emerged as a potential threat to overall life expectancy in the future. The extent of this threat, however, is still uncertain, and estimates of the percentage of total deaths due to obesity vary widely, from 5%[1] to 13%.[2–4] Although these estimates are all based on measuring the mortality consequences of body mass index (BMI) assessed at baseline (i.e., at 1 point in time), other studies have found that a dynamic measure of weight status (weight or BMI change) is more predictive of mortality than is a static measure of weight status (i.e., baseline BMI), especially among older adults.[5, 6] We might expect obesity to increase the risk of death more profoundly when it persists over the life course. Therefore, in order to better assess the rising threat of obesity, it is essential to examine the mortality consequences of BMI trajectories. Prior studies based on dynamic measures have yielded mixed findings about the mortality consequences of weight change.[5–21] Several factors contribute to the mixed findings. First, the association of weight change with mortality depends on baseline BMI status. Weight gain leads to excess death among overweight/obese individuals but lowers the mortality risk among underweight or normal weight people.[8] Second, the association differs by the magnitude of weight change. Modest weight gains are associated with a decreased mortality risk, but excessive weight gains predict an increased mortality risk.[7, 13] When both initial weight and the magnitude of change are taken into account, small weight gains (1.0–2.9 BMI units) are not associated with excess mortality risk among 50–70-year-old Americans, regardless of their initial BMI levels, whereas large weight gains (3.0–5.0 units) increase the risk of death only when the initial BMI is greater than 35. Moreover, both small weight losses (1.0–2.9 units) and large weight losses (3.0–5.0 units) are associated with an increase in the risk of death among people who are normal, overweight, or mildly obese at baseline.[22] What!??? 8o

I don't think you're being paranoid. If you haven't experienced this type of ongoing pain before, then it's certainly something to ask your doctor about. I have been having the same problem; a constant stomach ache. It started a couple of weeks ago; some days better than others. I am also concerned about possible complications, and will discuss it with my surgeon next month. For me, this pain isn't something new, though. I had bouts of it pre-band, and I think it was stress and too much stomach acid. Knowing that, I went back on Prilosec a couple of days ago. And to be completely honest, during the holidays, I've pushed my stomach capacity to the limits. No weight gain, but giving into some old habits. My paranoia about this pain is because of that. As banded people, we do need to pay attention to symptoms of possible issues. Knowing how neurotic I can be, I paid very close attention to all of my gastric pains & other issues before surgery. I made mental notes so I wouldn't freak out that it was surgery related, afterward. Even so, I will rest easier when I address this current issue with my doctor. Our minds can really do a number on us

Hello everyone my name is Jessica and I am sure that my story can relate to many others. I've been having my entire life coming from a family that is also very overweight and I wanted to make a difference in my life. I love being active and working out and trying to do different weightlifting and things like that but I found that because of my weight I would get injured often. I ended up getting a tear in my meniscus which sent me to physical therapy for an extended period of time and then occasionally it would still hurt when trying to work out on it. I realize that I really needed something to help me with the eating aspect of dieting and becoming healthier so that I could be able to work out and really be as active as I want to be! I actually looked into getting gastric bypass in the past and my insurance didn't cover it and at the time I do not have the funds to pay for it, So When it came to my attention that I would be able to get a surgery for weight loss and have it be covered by my insurance it was a breath of fresh air! I am also a preschool teacher and being so overweight I feel as if I am almost a bad role model for those students. It makes me sad to think that they look up to me so much and I should get healthy role model to them! I got married in April 2013 and one day we want to have children. I feel if I were to get pregnant now at a weight of 369 pounds that I would have complications with my pregnancy and it could not only hurt myself but also my future child! At first I decided on the sleeve procedure and then I went to a support group and I realize that a lot of the patients that had gotten the sleeve then went on to get the gastric bypass years later. I realized that perhaps just going straight for the gold and getting the bypass was the best option for me! I called my doctor the next day after researching it with my husband and I actually switched my procedure to gastric bypass weeks before my actual procedure! I have battled with weight gain and loss and self-esteem issues my entire life, and now I feel that I finally have a tool that can really help me to lose the weight and to keep it off and to be healthy and live a long, long life! When I started this journey with the preoperation diet on December 10 I weighed 368 pounds. On the day of surgery I weigh 347 pounds. At my doctors appointment after the surgery on December 26 I weighed 334 pounds! So I am down 34 pounds 10 days post-op and I'm feeling great! I am definitely looking forward to being cleared to exercise to help with the weight loss! I feel so great to a found a forum in which you can actually talk about all of the different things that you're going through during the process of weight loss surgery! So I'm very excited to get to know everyone and be able to answer any questions that I can personally answer ( although I am kind of a newbie at this point) but also to be able to ask those questions of you guys who have experienced what I am experiencing!!!!

Hey guys! I'm new to this site and been having a hard time finding info on PCOS and the sleeve... I have severe PCOS and my symptoms are out of control... between the hot flashes/sweating, hair loss, no energy, of course the weight gain..all the fun stuff. Just wondering if any ladies who have had the sleeve w/ PCOS notice any changes since surgery!? I'm anxious and so excited about my upcoming sleeve!! thanks!!

I wish I could relax! It's not in my nature. Weight gain just doesn't make sense with what I'm consuming. I'll keep getting my water and protein in and not weigh for a few days.

Hi everyone, I've been on soft foods for 5 days and I've gained 2.4lbs. Pure panic has set in and surgery regrets and all that fun stuff, but I am a worrier by nature. There's no way I'm eating enough to gain 2 lbs in 5 days but it makes me think I'm doing something wrong. I'm usually getting 2 meals and 1 snack in and I'm having no issue with foods so far. I don't have an appetite but I make sure to get my Protein in. For example, this was what I ate yesterday: Meal 1 - 1.5 oz lean roast, 1 laughing cow wedge, 1 piece of soft beet Snack - babybel Meal 2 - 2 oz baked chicken breast, a few peas and 2 T of tzatziki sauce I could eat about 75% of each meal. I drink a lot of Water. Is this a normal part of recovery or am I doing something wrong?? I fear 2 weeks of liquids has further damaged my metabolism. I'd appreciate any input! Thanks Kelly

Hello Fellow Vets! I was just wondering what everyone's plans are for getting back on track after the Christimas Season? I haven't really done terrible but I did gain 3 pounds in the past two months. It really scares me. I don't really feel I eat more just made some bad choices. But with the weight gain, I HAVE to be eating more. Seems that old "sugar" habit is sneaking back in my life. I've decided to set a new goal for myself and be at goal by my 2 year surgeversay in May. I really want to have a BMI of less than 25 and be at my healthy goal of 145 to 150 by then. I'm excited about getting back on track and having some normalcy in my life after the holidays. I've also had a lot of stress in my life lately and am still dealing with the GERD issues and esophageal spasms. I've decided to try and live with it even though I'm on meds and probably will be forever. I still can't sleep on my sides and have to sleep propped up on my back or else I will get a spasm and they hurt like CRAZY!! Bypass isn't an option as long as I can function without doing more surgery. I can keep down food obviously so I pray that things stay stablized. Well, would love to hear how you guys are doing and what ideas y'all have for the new year! OH NSV.. Even though I gained three pounds, I was able to buy a size 10 jeans yesterday and they fit comfortably. I don't think I will be able to wear a size 10 in everything but I was happy happy happy to buy these! Decided to post these before and afters. I am still so grateful to have made it this far! Would love to see before and afters of my fellow vets! It really does help to see how far we ALL have come. GOD BLESS!

My overall trend is downward, but I have gained on some days. I don't know how, because it's hard to gain on 500 cal a day, but I'm assuming it's just a Water retention thing and not true weight gain. That said, I'm 17 days post op and I've only lost 5lb, so I'm probably not the best example.

Laura, Butter, Rj and Riberty I took all your words of wisdom and copied them down for my kick in the butt printout of "Truth" Which I have on my miror now. As a professional dieter I too have done every diet and even have been the poster child for the successful one of said diet with a docotr an dwith out. After the lapband failure and weight gain it took a while to get the courage to fight again for Me to look at another surgery tool. I am so glad I did and have also found this site to keep it real. Thanks for the words of wisdom. My revision surgery is in a few weeks and I hope to be Walking and living WL success story too.

when I had the band I too was eating more than 1000 cals..and now even with less cals wt does not go down....body has adjusted to less food...unfortunately.. try some Soup to reduce your hunger pangs...I know its easy to preach....but i am sure you can over come this phase....dont be depressed...srtess and depression also causes weight gain.. all the best dear....

You're not alone or crazy or whatever. I completely understand the dilemma about not wanting to be social due to weight gain. Congrats on the weight loss by the way. There will be plenty of other games later on. Hopefully by the time the next one comes along you'll be further on your weight loss journey with more confidence, and you will be further post op with less 'restrictions' too. If something comes up sooner I'd suggest to take a protein shake with you and drink it on the drive over to the bar. I've had a bit of wine here and there already. If you go with reds you can sip it very slowly without the taste changing due to temp changes.

I have read many posts in the past about the same situation as u. Your body is adjusting.. Once it stabilizes.you will see a continuous drop..watch your salt intake. This can cause water weight gain. U may not want to weigh as much. I did have a little stall for several days ..so I just stopped weighing for several days. Then my weight loss was inching down again.

I love this article. Very effectively separates fact from myth. I have no idea however, why it is accompanied by a shot of cleavage. Whatever. Enjoy! 10 Unbelievable Diet Rules Backed by Science By SHAPE magazine | Healthy Living – Tue, Sep 3, 2013 2:48 PM EDT by Adam Bornstein for SHAPE.com Ready for this? Everything you thought you knew about nutrition is wrong!When describing how you really feel about the latest miracle fix in the diet and fitness world, you'd probably like to drop an F-bomb-as in, what the fad? After all, how many times have you trusted logical sounding ideas or put all your faith in a diet strategy, only to find out that the time you invested was a waste--and you still haven't dropped the weight? Consider this your F-bomb-free zone. No fads, no faking, and no frustration. You see, when you really dig into the research, most of what you assume is correct about dieting is actually wrong. Discover the truth here and the only f-words coming out of your mouth will be "Finally. Fat loss!" 1. Skip Breakfast if you want. The one diet rule we've heard more than any other: A healthy diet begins with a great breakfast. There's just one problem: A good breakfast doesn't guarantee an overall healthy diet. In fact, according to a survey conducted by the NPD group, nearly 90 percent of Americans now eat breakfast, and yet nearly 50 percent of Americans are either overweight or obese. There are two things you should know about breakfast: 1. Timing isn't as important as you think. You don't need to eat immediately (or even within one hour) after you wake up. Your metabolism won't be harmed. 2. Eating an early breakfast means you're creating a bigger eating window (you eat for more total hours during the day), which might lead to more fat storage and more health problems, according to scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. If you eat your first meal at 7 a.m. and eat a late-night snack at 10 p.m., that's 15 hours of eating-which might be more than your body wants. The fad-free truth: No one meal is more important than any other. What matters most is total calorie intake, food selection (think salad versus Big Mac), and then how much time you spend eating each day. So if you don't love breakfast, skip it. If you do, enjoy your morning meal but keep an eye on your feeding window to make sure you're not eating more calories than you need. 2. It's OK to eat a big dinner. We all know that dinner is the most popular meal to eat with friends and family, but most people think eating after dark is the cardinal sin of weight loss. Nothing could be more incorrect. Italian researchers compared eating earlier in the day (10 a.m.) to eating later in the day (6 p.m.) In that study, there was no difference in weight (pounds) lost, but the late eaters lost more fat. Several follow-up studies concluded the same thing-timing doesn't matter. This statement from University of Oregon researchers sums it up well: "Eating too many calories causes weight gain regardless of when you eat them." The fad-free truth: Living in a world where you can't eat at night and can't enjoy food with your friends and family is restrictive and doesn't adhere to any science-backed rules of weight loss. You won't become fat by eating at night-that will only happen if you overeat at night. If you're aware of how much you should be eating within any given day, you can place those calories in whatever meal works best for your body. 3. Snacking does not affect metabolism. We know that when you eat, you burn calories. So about 30 years ago, it was determined that if you eat more frequently, you must burn more calories overall, and thus the "grazing" method was formed and a nation of people began consuming four to six small meals per day. One small problem: French researchers found that there is "no evidence of improved weight loss" by eating more frequently. They even went one step further to show that when it comes to the number of calories you burn per day (i.e. your metabolism), it does not matter if you graze or gorge, assuming that you're eating the total number of calories you need to lose weight. The fad-free truth: If you're told to eat 2,000 calories per day, it doesn't matter if it's separated into five 400-calorie meals or two 1000-calorie feasts. (However the composition of those meals does matter.) What works best for your schedule should determine the number of meals you eat. When Canadian researchers compared eating three meals per day to six meals per day, breaking the six into three main meals and three Snacks, there was no significant difference in weight loss, but those who ate three meals were more satisfied and felt less hunger. 4. Eat carbs to get lean. From Atkins to the Paleo movement, carbohydrates have been criticized more than all of the ladies on the Real Housewives shows-combined. Here's the real reason why carbs get such a bad reputation: Up to 50 percent of the carbohydrate intake in the typical American diet is in the form of highly processed carbs and sugar. So when people say carbs are bad, they're usually just talking about eating lots of sugar. But that's not really fair to every other food that also is labeled a carbohydrate. When compared to a typical American diet, a low-carb diet looks like the undisputed champ. However when compared to a good carb-based diet that is low in sugar, refined foods, and gluten (like the "Japanese Diet"), the results are very different. Before 1991, when Japan was considered a carb-dominate society, diabetes and obesity rates were never greater than three percent of the population. If carbs in general were the enemy, with their high starch intake via rice and sweet potatoes, the Japanese would be the fattest, most diabetic, and unhealthy population on the planet. However this was not the case, and their levels of obesity are a "problem" people in the United States wish they had. The fad-free truth: Your body needs carbohydrates. If you completely remove this essential nutrient from your diet, you could experience a down-regulation of the hormones that control fat loss, making it harder to have the lean, sexy body you want. A good general rule: Eat more carbs on the days you're active and fewer carbs on the days you're sedentary. And make sure most of your carbs come from whole foods such as fruits and vegetables. 5. There is a weight-loss pill worth buying. Most miracle "fat-burning supplements" are about as effective as an hour of Prancercizing. But if you want to take a pill to help promote fat loss, your best bet is a Vitamin that you associate with the sun. Researchers from Canada found that people with higher levels of Vitamin D also have lower levels of body fat. The connection isn't a coincidence. Vitamin D helps you feel fuller because, according to Australian researchers, it releases more leptin, a hormone essential to weight loss. It also helps you store less fat by decreasing parathyroid hormone, which makes you hold on to your love handles. Best of all, vitamin D literally burns more fat by reducing production of the stress hormone cortisol. The fad-free truth: Buying supplements to help you lose weight is not the best use of your hard-earned money. Your foundation is a healthy diet and exercise. But some supplements can help fill nutritional gaps that will help your body function more efficiently. Supplementing with 2,000 to 3,000 IU of Vitamin D3 is a smart investment for your overall health and fat-loss goals. 6. Exercise on an empty stomach. If you exercise with a high intensity, there's nothing worse than feeling sick to your stomach because you felt forced to eat before you hit the gym or pavement. There's a lot of science that shows eating before a workout is important, but "before a workout" is a much wider time range than you might think. In the simplest sense, your digestive process is very complicated. When you eat, the food does not go directly to your muscles or your gut. It takes time-a lot of time, in fact. So if you eat many hours before you train, there's still plenty of fuel to help you perform and feel great. The fad-free truth: Research published in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism found that the Protein you eat digests anywhere between one gram per hour and 10 grams per hour. So if you have a meal consisting of 25 grams of protein, that meal could last in your system for up to 25 hours. Hydration level and sleep patterns also play a significant role in performance, so make sure you're well rested and have plenty to drink, and then eat when it feels best for your body, even if it means a small meal or no meal at all. 7. Eat saturated fat. books like The China Study and movies like Forks Over Knives have pointed the finger at saturated fats-and all animal fats-as the reason for countless health problems. Yet all the research used to support this hypothesis took a very slanted bias and completely ignored populations that were incredibly healthy despite diets based on saturated fats. For example, people who live in Tokelau (a territory off of New Zealand) eat a diet that is 50 percent saturated fats, and they have cardiovascular health that is superior to any other group of people. Even Walter Willett, chairman of the Department of Nutrition at Harvard, has publicly stated (after a 20-year review of research) that fats-and more specifically saturated fats-are not the cause of the obesity crisis and are not the cause of heart disease. The fad-free truth: Cholesterol actually acts as an antioxidant against dangerous free radicals within the blood. When there are high levels of undesirable substances in the blood (caused by inflammation in your arteries from eating highly processed foods and large quantities of sugars), cholesterol levels rise in order to combat these substances. Cholesterol is also necessary for the production of a number of hormones, some of which help fight against heart disease. Plus, research shows diets higher in saturated fats are often lower in total calories consumed. 8. Consider fasting for better health. Any diet that has you not eat at all is not a diet-it's starvation. But there's a difference between withholding what your body needs and reprogramming your body so that you can control your hunger and let your body recharge. The idea of fasting is nothing crazy. You do it every night when you sleep, which is a time that that is essential for optimal health. Yet the idea of going several hours without eating during daytime is frowned upon. When done correctly, fasting can actually help your body burn fat, recharge, and stay healthy. You've probably heard of cleanse diets that supposedly rid your body of toxins, improve the functioning of your internal organs, and help you age better. Most of these don't work as advertised. The only real cleanse occurs at the cellular level. It's called autophagy, and it's your body's ability to regenerate and become better. Autophagy makes your brain function a little better, helps with fat loss, and even assists in your ability to walk and breathe. But the more time you spend eating-as in actual hours during the day eating-the less time you spend in the autophagic process, which is why fasting isn't a bad thing. The fad-free truth: Researchers at the University of Utah found that people who fasted just one day per month were 40 percent less likely to suffer from clogged arteries. While there are many ways to fast, the important point is that you shouldn't feel forced to eat if you're not hungry. Short daily fasts (for 12 to 16 hours) or a once-per-week daily fast can have health benefits, and it will teach you to separate boredom or thirst from genuine hunger. 9. Going organic won't help with weight loss. I love my local farmer's market, and I always do my best to purchase products from the best sources. That said, slapping "organic" on a label does not mean it will help you lose weight, and in some instances it won't even guarantee that a food is healthy. Research published in the Annal of Internal Medicine reviewed 200 studies that compared the health benefits of organic foods to conventional foods and the results were surprising: There were no clearly distinguishable benefits of eating organic foods, whether measured by preventing disease or an assessment of overall health. Specific to weight loss, a random comparison of organic to non-organic foods found no significant difference in nutritional information, including calories. The fad-free truth: More research on organic foods needs to be conducted. There's no doubt organic foods have fewer pesticides and toxins, the real question is if the sometimes-small difference in toxins makes any scientifically significant difference on your health. More importantly, labeling a food as organic does not mean its weight-loss friendly. Organic sources of sugar are still sugar. And organic products loaded with 1,000 calories are still 1,000 calories. If you want to reduce the potential of anything bad entering your body, feel free to purchase organic products but still keep an eye on the label. 10. There's no such thing as too much protein. You may have heard that eating lots of protein can cause all sorts of health problems, including kidney stones and gallstones, but this is a moot point for most people. Why? Because there's no research showing any relationship between eating a lot of protein and developing kidney problems. In fact, a study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research tested eating up to 400 grams of protein per day without any negative consequences. If you have a preexisting kidney problem, it's possible that a higher protein diet could be hard on your body. But if you have a kidney problem, you should be talking to your doctor about your diet anyway. The fad-free truth: If you're healthy, you are clear to eat protein and not worry about any health problems-because there are none. What's more, protein is one of the most metabolic macronutrients, meaning that the more protein you eat, the more calories you burn. Just remember that calories are still calories so the rules of total intake still apply.

Iwas banded 8-23-13. I had an easy surgery hard time getting approved b/c I take 22 pills a day...used to be 33. I've lost 25 lbs. I've not had a fill yet. Dr says I'm doing real well. Slow and sure. But I take psychiatric drugs that are weight gain...have diabetes...and low thyroid. You would think I'm a failure before I began...but I would do it again. I've learned some things others take awhile. If you don't have my sort of problems...and you follow the plan...you'll probably lose weight fairly fast. Mine is going to be slow...but I did it for health reasons first weight reduction second. I have 50 lbs to go to meet my goal so I'm happy the way I'm going. If you have questions I can try to answer but going to general lapband support groups then lapband support groups alot of vets are on there and many are willing to help. I go there with my problems and they are very supportive. But always consult your lapband doctor. Good luck.

Monymo...I was banded in aug. I've lost about 25 lbs. I'm on weight gaining psychiatric drugs...diabetic...low thyroid..and having alot pbing...don't eat enough right things...not enough Protein...don't know what to fix...I'm a mess. I have short term memory problems. I've had problems from day 1 but also have had some success...I don't overeat...I don't snack alot once in awhile. I can go several days eating the same thing then the next time food won't stay down then it goes another couple days and does the same thing. I'm not having 2nd thoughts about the band I'm having 2nd and 3rd thoughts about what I am doing wrong. Can you help or do I sound like too much of a buden?

I'm a 40DDD. I hope I don't lose much in the breast department. Before my weight gain I think I was a 36 C\D cup. I'm not certain since I never measured before. My family is well endowed for the most part so maybe mine is genetically okay.