Search the Community

Honestly, shy may be in a fair amount of denial. I denied my weight gain for a LONG time. Sure, I was overweight and could stand to lose a few pounds... HOLY CRAP I NEED TO LOSE ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY POUNDS!!!! It was a bit of a shock when I MADE myself see what I looked like, how much I weighed and what was "normal". I had a friend in high school who was bigger than me, so I figured I was 'okay' if I stayed smaller than her... her and I both gained weight proportionately over the years, I was still smaller than her tho, maybe your friend feels something like this? I hope it can get worked out, I've lost alot of friendships for various reasons, mostly that most of the friends I've had are still living the same lives they lived in high school (10 years later), and it drives me nuts! but all of the friendships lost for whatever reason hurt.

My name is Leslie, i've been obese since i was a little kid, i weight over 200 pounds starting in fifth grade, never really had any friends, kids were always so mean...but my family was worse......my own grandparents don't even have pictures of me up on the walls in their home, and they only have 2 grandchildren.....and pictures everywhere of my lesser obese cousin....it really saddens me when i visit them and see that....when i was 18 and graduated high school i decided i wanted to loose weight, i stopped drinking sodas, and ate alot less, and only once a day, and stopped eating sweets, and i lost 80 pounds, weigthed about 250, was able to fit into blue jeans that didn't have ellastic that was like the best feeling, but it wasn't good enough for my famiily, they told me i had to keep loosing, and not to eat this and not to drink that, and them harrassing me just got me down, my entire life they harrassed me on my weight and they couldn't have just been proud of me that i lost 80 pounds in only 3 mothes, so i got what i wanted out of the weight loss ( a boyfriend) and then started eating and drinking whatever i wanted again, and gained all the weight back, luckily not right away, it was about a year or so before it all came back, and as i was in and out of relationships the weight would come on and off, i'd loose weight when i wasn't in a relationship and gained weight by being comfortable in a relationship, of course most of the guys i went out with were also overweight so they liked sodas, sweets, and fast food restaraunts, not a friend to someone trying to loose weight.....but then i met my husband moved from san antonio to dallas after knowing him 1 week, and after 1 month living with him i gained 30 pounds, weighing 300 when i met him, we lived with his parents the first month, and they had sodas galore in their house, and all the sweets you can imagine, and every chip available, i love them to death but the temptations in their house are awful to someone who needs to loose weight, so yea i started drinking sodas again, before i met my hubby i was off sodas for a while, and the first 30 pounds came fast....then we got our own place and started trying for a baby, we weren't having any luck getting pregnant, i wasn't having regular periods, i haven't had regular periods since junior high, so after we married in nov we went to the doc to find out why we weren't getting pregnant, and after being treated horribliy by the obgyn telling us there was "no magic pill i can give you to get pregnant" those are her exact words, and not what we were looking for......we had tests done....found out i had a thyroid problem, but oddly enough i had the thyroid problem that affects skinny people, which happens to also be the thyroid problem that the meds you have to take are not safe to get pregnant on, so that left us with only one option, to kill off my thyroid and have me become hypothryoid....so that happened about a year after we met plus a few monthes, and i was bed ridden for about 3 monthes, in horrible pain after i had my throid killed off waiting for the meds to level off and have normal thyroid levels....i could barely move, my neck would cramp up my back would cramp up, it hurt to lay down, to sit up , to do anything so this was another 30 pounds added to my weight gain.....so now the biggest i've ever been in my entire life and can't do some simple things that i used to be able to do i'm so misserable.....then all the meds i'm taking to get my hormones in check to give me periods and to make me ovulate cause me to gain another 20 pounds......so now i'm really uncomfortable, i mean i was always used to being a big girl but 80 pounds on top of what i was used to being is ridiculous and so uncomfortable, i told my husband a few weeks ago if the clomid didnt work this month to make me ovulate that i want to have the lapband surgery, and of course the clomid did not work.....so i talked with my obgyn and she said having the lapband surgery would be a very good idea.....and go figure a week later and i have my first period on my own in probably about 2 years, my husband was thinking about trying just in case i ovulate on my own too......but i told him no, i decided i want to have this surgery, i don't want to try till after i have this surgery and get the ok to start trying.....it was just so depressing all those monthes trying and thinking maybe this time....and then getting a negative pregnancy test, i just want to feel like me again, and if i loose more then the 80 pounds to get me back to the "me weight" the weight i'm used to, then thats just an extra bonus.....

hi there, its normal to waiver back and forth but i found that when i had done my homework, i felt very secure with my decision to get banded. i was a thin child too, but started having a little weight gain around 30 yrs old and it just went from a little to alot. im 54 now, i was banded last december starting at 225 lbs. i followed the dr.s rules 95% of the time and have had almost no discomfort at all. (the 1st 10 days felt like a badly pulled muscle, i didnt use the pain reliever after the 3rd day, didnt need to) im now 170 lbs, and my days just keep getting better and better ! i swim 3x a week, and im starting with a ymca running program ! (tommorrow ! Me ? a runner ?? No way !!!!) i no longer have sleep apnea, my digestive problems are gone, i get compliments on how i look all the time, ive gone from frumpy, stretchy old lady size 18-1x clothes to size 14 skinny jeans and cute attractive tops. need i go on ? My only regret is i didnt do it sooner ! You MUST make a decision for YOU, not based on others feelings , cause its not them that has to live in YOUR body. hope all goes well for, good luck !

Thanks, BG -- I know you've lost a bunch, too! I guess I'll repost this next week for a true update. I'm leaving to Mexico tomorrow for a week's vacation. And I put off having my fill until I get back to make darn sure I don't experience problems down there. So I'm pretty wide open at the moment - ack! : ) Actually, I'm not worried about weight gain. I'm going to go have a ball, not have a care in the world, and just chill on the beach. If there's a small weight gain, I'll just deal with it when I get back and get my next fill. : ) Happy Halloween, everybody - see ya' in a week!

Funny, I never felt I was "obese" until I saw pictures of myself. when I looked in the mirror I didn't see it. When I looked down at myself, I didn't see it. When I held my clothes out in front of me I didn't see it. I was unhappy with my weight gain the first several years, and then after a while it didn't really matter. I was happy with myself. I didn't consider the lap band until I started seeing physical health problems evolve as a result. My husband NEVER said anything about my weight so I felt secure and totally accepted. We started having sex less about 2 years ago. I just assumed it was him and a "man" problem. He was compliemntary, and sweet and it didn't ever occur to me that I was the problem. I got banded about 2 1/2 weeks ago, and this past weekend, I brought up the subject with my husband. It was only then that he dropped the bomb on me that he is no longer sexually attracted to me, and that he was fine physically. I'm devastated, and for the first time, I have TOTAL self loathing. I'm humiliated and literally sick. I just want to crawl under a rock. Now I don't even want him to look at me. It's earth shattering to realize your husband actually finds you repulsive. I don't remember when I've been this sad or depressed. My new band, which was bringing me so much self confidence, almost seems like a waste of time. What do I do?????? Great timing huh?

Today I had a one pound weight gain. Fortunately, I knew that I would have a gain right after surgery because of the fluids they pump in you and the swelling at the surgery site. I felt pretty miserable last night and took a narcotic tablet that we had leftover from some back pain awhile back. My doctor doesn't prescribe narcotics...just an NSAID and I'm already on some of those (Voltarin) for my rheumatoid arthritis. This morning, I took 1/2 tablet and feel a little better. I'm wondering how much weight I will have to lose to go down a size? I just bought (online) a shirt to wear for Thanksgiving that is in my current size (but tight right now). I hope it literally hangs on me! We'll see...

I read a story of a vet sleeve patient that I could relate to all too well. I leaned on her for support as a mentor. She posted her reflections and it clicked for me. She told me that her choice to have surgery was like ending a toxic marriage. Kind of like divorcing that abusive, inconsiderate, doucehbag of a husband who was a person she loved to hate. The relationship was toxic, but they had good years similar to the good years we have with dieting/exercising/doing it the "old fashioned" way, and then those toxic behaviors, issues in the marriage would pop up again, and the marriage would go to pot, AGAIN. That made perfect sense to me, I could lose weight, I could diet and exercise, I knew the cause of my weight gain after each diet attempt and why I couldn't keep the weight off. I had a toxic relationship with food, quantity and my love of food with no consequence other than being fat were my issues. I wasn't an emotional or compulsive eater, volume was my issue. I just knew that I couldn't do it without surgical intervention. Just like some people can not leave a marriage/relationship without intervention from family, or a major trigger to make them see that they need to get out. I hope all of that makes sense. I never had any issues post-op with the acceptance of having to have surgery to be successful. I'm not one of those that believe this is the easy way out, it's easier because I had surgery, but so is driving to the store instead of walking.

Getting down I keep going up and down two pounds. I started at 210. Now I'm at 214. I always gain about 5 pounds right around my period. has anyone been denied for weight gain. It's a small amount but I'm working to get off.

Muscle Milk has several formulas. There is one for people who are trying to bulk up. ( A weight gain type) There is one for regular Protein intake with good fats. Read the label. If it's the type that is 150 calories a scoop (or 300 for two scoops), with 30+ grams of protein, it's great stuff. They also have the light version (available premixed at Costco). Great to grab for Breakfast.

Wow, been a long time since being banded in April '07. Done really well, stopped smoking, gained some back and am losing it again. Fellow long time bandsters can probably agree with this from experience....it is a life long battle with the band as well as without. It is just easier to win a battle when you have a weapon. And the band is our weapon. BUT, do not break the rules and lay the weapon down cause then you are in trouble. You have to be vigilant, day in and day out unless you want to get beaten. For example, if you would have told me this time a year ago that I would gain back 40 pounds I would have called you a liar. Sure, I quit smoking and that was the main reason for the weight gain but I mean really...the band did not keep me from gaining weight....the band HELPS to LOSE weight. So, I learned the hard way. I learned a lesson that you would think is common sense? Yep, but it happens. I forgave myself. Now I know...I have to WORK it. I have to work it today AND I have to work it tomorrow. And tomorrow I will tell myself to work it the next day...and so on and so on. I have 2 rewards in this...#1 I still do not smoke anymore and #2 I am smarter about my weapon. OH and #3 I did not have to gain ALL the weight back to realize my mistakes. I stopped the bleeding in time. The first few months with 'the weapon' was tough...losing it twice and keeping it off is tougher. BUT, it is going to happen. Once I learned that this is my life with the band and I learned to accept it, life has gotten better. I went through the 'oh, screw this' phase. You know, the inner fat girl saying "eat it, its OK". I wish I would have woke up before I gained 40 pounds but it is what it is and I am changing it. Like my violet friend Judy says "its not how you run the race, its how you finish". True, and I am running right now:tongue2:

Don't do the last suppers!!! My friend did and put on 18 pounds in two weeks. Her op was a few years before mine. And now if there is a weight gain between the first consult and surgery, they stop the surgery. This is the surgeries rules, as the want everyone to get on board mentally before the op. I agree best option is eat health and similar to want is expected afterwards, although your portion pre-op are going to be alot larger. I'm 5days post op my meals are 4teaspoons of soft mushy food.

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

I am post op and feel your confusion/concern. We sure can put on 7 lbs in a weekend but cut our caloric intake by less than half and our body hangs onto the pounds....at first. Don't cheat and your body will finally catch up. What they failed to tell me was you gain weight immediately following surgery. You are pumped full of IV fluids and I found out later the weight gain is normal. I put back on 12 lbs! Go through the surgery and come out holding the weight I had lost pre surgery. After 2 days that dropped off a pound a day. 6 weeks later I am down almost 30 lbs and 2 sizes almost 3 from my highest. Feels great to feel in control of my health. Followed the pre op rules to a T. Had no nausea or vomiting post op. Up walking a couple hrs after surgery. No gas pressure in my back or shoulders. My only post op cheat is reg coffee. Keep it down to 2 mugs before work and drink lots of water all day. Good luck. You are going to love your new body!

Ohh good to hear that weight gain after you start to eat mushers is normal!! I was down 28 lbs between pre op and post op then started my mushies and gained 4 lbs!! I was so darn mad!! Lol I blamed it on getting sick with upper resp crap and being unable to continue with my mile walk each day! My option was walk or breath! Lol

I haven't had surgery, but my understanding is that it's normal for the weight gain. I'm sure you'll see weight loss soon. Good luck!

Thanks but don't be impressed until I can actually keep it off. I'm sure that you and everyone else reading this could lose the weight if they put their mind to it. Unfortunately, if you are like me, you run out of steam or lose your train of thought without noticing and gain it back. This is going to be my third time losing over 100 pounds and the previous 2 times I gained it back even faster than I lost it with interest. That is so much more depressing than never having lost it at all. Hopefully if the band doesn't prevent me from gaining it all back, it will at least slow down my weight gain enough so I have time to notice and I can turn things around before gaining it all back.

Hello! This is my first post on the site and I wasn't sure where it belonged, so hopefully I came to the right place. I'm in month 3 of the 6 month pre op wait for insurance, and the reality of actually going through with the surgery is getting a bit deeper every day. I'm pretty sure I'm going to do it, like 85%?? I am 38 years old, 5'8" tall and 277 pounds. Wow...writing out the number it really is huge isn't it. I've been overweight since about 25 - I got married that year at 175 lbs. Three years before that I weighed 142-158. So yeah, gained over 100 pounds. This is my highest weight outside of pregnancy. I am an emotional eater, with a huge sweet tooth, diet coke addiction, and very bad at portion control. I threw most of my "healthy eating" rules for myself out the window when I experienced a difficult suicide of a loved one when I was 22 and while I have healed from that I still have very bad habits I guess the main thing that holds me back a bit from surgery, is I know the underlying issue is psychological, and I have mixed feelings about permanently altering my body in this way. That maybe I should just attack the psychological issues and not remove part of my stomach. But then I see the success people have and doubt being able to reach that without surgery. I don't really want to wait any longer to lose a significant amount of weight because I am approaching 40 and I'm very worried about heart disease and dying from a heart attack at a young age. I have a 1 year old son and I can't leave him, I want to be there for him and have more energy to do things with him too. Just a week ago I had a terrifying experience where I thought I was actually having a heart attack and had to have someone call 911. I was in a store with my son. It was awful. It turned out to be gastrointestinal. and not heart related but it gave me a glimpse that something really could happen. While it definitely thrusted me more towards surgery, I have some hangups I'm struggling with and wondering if anyone here has had the same issues. Here is what I worry about: 1. How will I still cook meals for my family when I can't eat the same things or much at all? While I already cook healthy for my son's sake, I don't want to deprive him of carbs etc because of me. How will I be able to make this work for the whole family, mainly my son? 2. When I was thinner, I never really had high self esteem. I never was able to be comfortable in my own skin so to speak, at any weight. I'm certainly not comfortable being this large but I guess part of me has accepted it. When I was thinner, and much much younger, I often felt like a sex object and hated having men "put their eyes on me" when it was unwelcome (usually was) and I've always wondered if a part of my weight gain was trying to hide and stop getting that attention, especially after getting married. I guess even though I know I'm not 21 anymore, I still worry about being "attractive" again if I'm lucky enough to lose a lot of weight, and getting unwanted attention. Those looks make me feel violated and I don't want to feel on display. 3. I worry about long term physical implications with aging. Obviously losing weight will go a LONG way towards preventing heart attacks, etc. but what if this surgery makes old age more difficult in terms of not absorbing nutrients properly? I feel like there are a million signs pointing to YES DO THE SURGERY, but these things are keeping me cfrom fully comitting to it at this point. Sorry this was a bit rambly - I started out clear headed and got very tired by the end of this as the typing editor took a very long time to process my typing....not sure why. Anyway, hope someone can make sense of how I'm feeling and give me some perspective. Thank you.

The weight gain is from IV fluids they gave you in the hospital. It'll go down over the first week or two. The "waves" are stomach spasms. Very common.

Congratulations! and welcome to The Losers Bench! It is a great feeling. Glad to hear that you aren't having a lot of pain. If the Iso Pure is bothering you, try a diffferent kind. I like Unjury in the chocolate flavor. It tastes just like chocolate milk to me (I mix it with milk!). Take care of yourself. Get lots of rest. And don't be discouraged by the weight gain. The fluid will be gone soon and you will start to notice the weight loss! Again. Congratulations! Kathy D

I am a former LapBand patient. I unfortunately had to have the LapBand removed in February of 2009 because of complications that my surgeon didn't catch early on. Because of the complications (the band slipped, causing an extra pouch above my stomach and severe scarring on my stomach), I cannot get another band put on. I recently heard of the VSG on TV and have been contemplating this surgery. When I had the band removed, I was told my only option was a gastric bypass, but I have not met one person that hasn't had to be re-hospitalized because of severe complications with the bypass - so that just isn't an option for me - scares me a little too much. So, I am wondering if this surgery would be a better fit. Through the different forums I have read throughout this web-site, it does seem like there are a lot of similarities in the side-effects with the 2 surgeries. So, I guess I am wondering if there is anyone out there that also had the LapBand removed and had this surgery done? Or, if anyone that has had this surgery done, can you tell me a little bit about your experience -- how the weight loss has gone, how much you are eating, etc. I have gained 85 of the 120 I lost and it really is depressing. Especially when I try my hardest to eat healthy and exercise. I really want to run with my kids again and have the energy back that I have lost with this weight gain. Thanks so much for taking the time to read this and any information you could provide -- that would just wonderful!!!

Get more than one opinion regarding the bipolar thing. I have been in 12 step programs for close to 20 years and then with the weight gain I started having back pain which resulted in me being on Vicodin for extended periods of time (along with several rounds of physical therapy). It is hard taking meds when a person has an addictive personality. Its like having to eat to live when you are addicted to food. I always feel mood swings when I am coming off the vicodin. I usally ask for different pain meds even if they don't work as well just to keep off the same med (of any type) too long. It is difficult. Also, how old are you. I started feeling major mood swings and funk at the end of my thirties only to find out I was already entering menopause. We are at the tail end of this obesity thing. We are in THE SOLUTION. When I get discouraged after catching a glimpse of myself in the mirror and feeling shocked, I just remind myself that it is getting better each day and I am on my way out of this obesity hell I have been in for way to long. My bones and joints aren't working as hard as they did last week. It will only get better from here on out but we must be patient. Writing is so therapeutic. Journaling is a great idea and posting to the caring people on this wonderful site it too.

We dont do thanksgiving in Australia, but Christmas is just around the corner. I've actually never had a problem with celebratory eating, I was a little and often overeater not a massive humungous intake all at once eater and i've never ever liked the sensation of scarfing down Christmas dinner, followed by plum pudding, washed down with four or five wines till you need to undo your pants type eating. I hate it. So I've not really dont it. Likewise in any other situation where weight gain was a threat - holidays and pregnancy mainly - I have an Iron will, I plan ahead of time not to overeat and I dont. its the day to day routine eating where I tend to go off track, just not planning, thinking about it or shopping properly.

I had a history of bulimia prior to getting my band. It had been treated and under control for years. However since having this band it has reared its ugly head again in a very strong way! I have not had good luck with keeping things down since day one. Food and medications get stuck with every meal.When things get stuck.. I am bringing them up. This is happening soo much I have to keep a cup handy to purge in just in case I cannot get to the bathroom. Yes a vomit cup..no house should be without one! ha! [i have to make fun of it or I would cry.] I do not get it! I take my time, take teeny bites and chew till goo! I finaly got so frustrated I resorted to soft foods which has..for me meant weight gain not loss! Everytime I go for a check up they do a Floro and say my band is fine! I have a 4cc band and have 1.8 fill. But the bottom line is I am spending way too much time with my head over the toilet again! The ability to purge so easily based on my history is not a good asset to bring to the table. My old habit is not helping an already very bad sittuation! I am seeing a therapist about my bulimia, so at least you know I consider that a priority. What do you think I need to do? Thanks!

I found doing the calculation below really useful and motivating Weight loss Starting weight 112kgs / 17.6 stone / 246.9lbs Banded 12 Jan 2013 Weight 16th June 2013 90.6kgs / 14.26 stone / 199.7lbs Lost 21.4 kgs / 3.34 stones / 47.2 lbs Lost 57% of target weight in 5 months Target 75kgs / 11.8kg / 165.34 lbs From beginning weight needs to lose 37kgs / 5.8 stone / 81.5lbs 33% reduction in overall body weight From 16th June 2013 need to lose 15.6kgs / 34.39 lbs / 2.4 stone to get to target weight So 5 months in I'm over half way in the aim to reach my target weight. I've gone from a BMI of 38 to 31.6 - very nearly 'fat' rather than overweight. I think that the final weight gain will be the hardest but if I can lose a kg a week (2.2lbs / 0.57 stone ) I could be at my target the 10th Oct - my 46th birthday. It's been far from easy but to go from a waist of 40 inches to 36 inches is really great - extra large to large - it's really good to see such distinguishable changes. So yes I think the final weight gain will mean really tight discipline ( I have a soft spot for crisps, chocolate and red/white wine) and continuing my gym / running but seeing what I've achieved in the past 5 months has made me super motivated.

Protein cookie habit is way better than the apple fritter habit, right? I need to break my energy square habit of 2 every morning. However, it gives me energy and does not cause weight gain, so all is good...