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This is the first time that I have written on this forum. I hope that this is informative or helpfull in some way. I was at about 290 lbs and 5'9 in September of 2012. I am currently 224 lbs and feeling much better. I also found out through this process that I have celiac disease. Change came in a major way to my life when I began this process. Most likely some of my weight gain came from how completely off my entire system was from the celiac. I was deficient in every Vitamin and severly anemic. That has been corrected. Ironically the band helps me as much with the celiac disease as the celiac disease helps me with the weight loss. I have to avoid so many foods now. The band helps with that because I don't need to eat nearly as much as I did. Alot of people that have the band complain that they have had problems, slippage, vomiting whatever. I can tell you slippage comes from the fact that many of us have so much viseral fat when the band is installed that the band can't really be anchored. The person who recommended the doctor to me, went a year and had to have his band replaced. Now his new one is anchored, due to his weight loss, that was now possible. He will never need another surgery. I needed 40 percent a large fat deposit around my stomach to be removed in order for my band to be installed in the first place. That much viseral fat = no good. The up side is that viseral fat goes away first. The other problem, that no one wants to admit, is many people don't follow the doctor's instructions. That causes the majority of the problems. People think they can get a band and do whatever they want. It doesn't work that way. You need to make a lifestyle change. If you aren't ready for that then don't do it. You need to be a different person after the surgery. It will also take some time to master how to control the food intake with the band. You will need to learn about volume and speed at which you eat. I pause several times while eating as I feel pressure start. Also watch your Fluid intake while eating. That will get you faster than anything. You'll end up burping to try to get air out and possbily throwing up. I can manage this very well now. I am now at the point where I am beginning to realize that I look so much better than I have in a long while. I'm down 64 lbs and am 10 lbs away from where I was as a baseball player in High School. I was always a little higher on the scale than the average person my height due to muscle make up. I was always a weight lifter. I describe myself as a work in progress as I still have work to do. I get a lot of compliments now and it is nice to hear. My personal decision was to not advertise the fact that I have the band. Very few people know about it. I'm not embarrassed by it, I just wanted it to be personal. I wanted the battle to be won, but didn't want to feel that people were trying to judge my progress. There are only a couple of people at work who know and I do talk to them about it. Sorry to chew your ears off about it, but thank you. The few that know, I love you guys for your support. My immediate family knows and I talk to them about it here and there. That's about it. I'm not telling you out there to do that. It is just what works best for my personality. This is what I want to point out, at least to the guys out there. No one tells you this part. You will find new confidence in your new look, when and if you get there. I'm a married father of two. I have found myself recently thinking about other women that I encounter and even acting out like I'm gonna try to make that connection with them to make something happen. I sware I stopped myself, and have done nothing wrong. The problem is, you all of a sudden correct a problem, in a short period of time, that you've most likely had for years. You suddenly start feeling like you can do anything and like you've been reborn. It is mostly good, but just be careful and make decisions based on where you are at in your life, not where you are at in your weight loss and new self image. I actually started to walk over a talk to a very attractive girl, this week, a total stranger, who I was able to see showed interest in me. I was going to try to get her number or whatever. I then said to myself, "what is wrong with you, you're married." I then changed direction and walked away. I sware, this is what happens when you get to the point that I'm at. I'm sure it will fade, but I'm just saying, be aware that your thought process can be a little affected by your success. Just don't act without thinking carefully. You don't want to make a mistake that you will regret. By the way, some one showing interest in you is ok. It's kind of validation, especially if you haven't felt good about yourself in a long time. It helps you see that you are getting somewhere, but if you don't see that in someone, that doesn't mean that you're not doing well. Just remember you can see that type of attention come your way, that doesn't mean you need to act on it. For me, it brought me back to a time in my life where that type of attention wasn't so illusive, a time when I had a very different self image and level of confidence. It did make me feel good. The funny part is, that encounter made me realize that I'm well on my way to experiencing life with that type of self image again, just not totally there yet. Time will hopefully totally get me there, but I'm doing well now. If you're single, knock yourself out, have fun. If you're not single then remember the one at home who most likely helped you get through the rough part and helped you get where you are right now.

When you look in the mirror, what do you see and how do you feel about yourself (before and after surgery)? Last night I got a bit of a wake up call. I was at a party where there were lots of picture being taken. I saw some photos of myself, and was like "holy crap, is that really me??" Was not feeling too happy because I look really large in pictures, yet I never felt like I had gained so much weight back, and didn't see myself as being so overweight. Reality check, bigtime. I'm way larger than what I perceived. In the mirror, In my eyes I still saw that person that I was 10 years ago, but on paper (and on screen) the fact is that I am so NOT that person I was 10 years ago... and not perceiving the true reflection of the person I am in reality helped lend itself to the big weight gain (again) I now think. "But I don't FEEL that large, so I can't possibly look so fat in pictures..." Contrarily, I have a friend who had a full bypass a few years ago. She's dropped almost 200 pounds, yet she tells me she still "feels fat". She is far from that and looks good. I know I'm overweight, but don't feel it sometimes. Well what I mean is that I do feel it physically (because I'm uncomfortable) but I don't feel that people see me that way or that I look that way, it's very strange. I suppose I need to keep looking at pictures of myself to reinforce my reality and the fact that I really need this surgery to happen. And when it does, I don't want to fail at it.

Re: In-person Support Groups - I have only gone to support group meetings at Sky Ridge in Lone Tree...not every month, but 3-4 times this year. (I had surgery in late December 2012) This particular support group doesn't really do much for me. It seems like the main people who attend on a regular basis fit into two categories: people who HAVE NOT been sleeved/lap banded/bypassed and people who have had some sort of bariatric surgery but have had weight gain. There are almost no successful, POST OPERATIVE weight loss people to talk to. I don't find it as motivating, because it's almost like if people are not struggling post surgery (one year, two year, etc POST OP), they do not need the support group which kind of creates a vacuum. At the last meeting I went to, the only person there who had lost all her weight AND was maintaining for more than a couple of years spoke about being so regimented re: her cooking/eating, I just could not imagine that would be me. I have four kids under the age of 11...youngest is 3. This woman cooks all her food on Sunday and packs them in individual pre-portioned containers. I would need another refrigerator just to hold this much food, but more importantly, it just seemed kind of extreme...not a realistic way to live. But, I have very little to compare it to, because all the other post surgery people who are as far out from surgery as her have weight issues....Most of these weight issue people had lap bands and are struggling. If any of you have attended an in-person support group somewhere in the state, was it like this (as I describe) or did you find more successful, long timers in attendance?

I've had far too many surgeries . I have a rare type of brain tumor that helped contribute to my weight gain. I'm doing this, like everyone else, to try to reduce my morbidity. But with my underlying condition I'm virtually being a guinea pig in hopes it will help, but I guess someone has to be the first one to do it, so here I go!

Banded May 10th and I'm still kicking. Down 38 lbs. I had the plication with my banding and so far my hunger is controlled. I had two major problems that caused my weight gain over the years.....portion size and munching/grazing. Soft drinks didnt help either. I've given up soft drinks totally and portion size is being mostly controlled by band, so all I really have to focus on is not munching and grazing. I dont think its going to be a short journey, but I do feel it will be effective and I'll get there. Did I mention......no fills as of yet? But I do see my surgeon Monday.

Did they try you out with different masks so you could decide which was more comfortable? I couldn't tolerate a full mouth and nose mask, so I've been using a petite (ha! the only petite thing I've ever owned) nasal mask for years. I don't even feel the air going in ... Sometimes I pull the mask away to make sure it is actually working. Do you need a mouth mask because you didn't close your mouth with a nasal mask or nasal pillows? If they didn't try different masks with you give your Dr or respiratory rep a call and tell them you aren't tolerating this one. One other thought, your machine should have a "ramp up" or "warm up" setting that you can select that starts the machine off at a lower pressure and gradually builds, allowing you to fall asleep before the maximum pressure setting is reached. Yep, they usually want your usage data for awhile to make sure you are compliant with the therapy. They look at hours used and they can look at a bunch of other data, if needed, to make sure you are getting the full benefit. Additionally, the machines aren't cheap, so your insurance company wants to make sure you're using something they are providing (or paying a part of for you) you. An added benefit from CPAP use is that it may help you with some weight loss. Research has shown that sleep apnea may be linked with weight gain, high blood pressure, and a laundry list of other health issues. I know it's a hard adjustment, but think of it as another positive step in your new healthy life. Best wishes!

I think all of us can understand your fear but consider the fact that at three weeks post-op, you really don't have any basis for assuming anything. A minor weight gain following the surgery is quite common and doesn't mean a thing. So - perhaps the best thing you can do is take a deep breath and really focus on trying to relax and setting your fears aside. Trust the process. Allow your body to find its own way in its own time. Consider focusing all of that energy on continuing to follow the protocol as closely to the letter as you can possibly can. Stay active - even if it's only walking short distances. Drink as much Water as you can. Get as much of your doctor's recommended Protein as you can - protein is crucial for healing and you're doing a lot of healing right now. And I know you don't want to hear it but ... stay away from the scales for at least a week and two would be even better! Instead of being a slave to the scales - consider becoming a slave to a food log. Now is the perfect time to start (if you haven't already). I've been logging for almost two years and the single biggest benefit from a long list of benefits is - peace of mind. Regardless of what the scales tell me, if I KNOW (not think, know) that I'm meeting my calorie goals and eating healthy, the rest will take care of itself. You're gonna love the new you!!

I don't know how to fix the header but I obviously meant weight gain!!

I had my sleeve Aug 8. down only 8 lbs since surgery as I had left the hospital with a weight gain of 4 lbs. I am very tired and weak and find I get short of breath easily. I started preop at 240 and am now at 221. I wish I could be skinny right away too but realize this is a patience thing. I am very thankful to have this opportunity so don't want to mess anything up. I have been walking for 40 minutes a day but other than that I am recovering. 1 more week of liquid diet and then I start mushy foods. I have a wedding on Saturday and it will be hard when the buffet line starts. Haven't figured out what I will do, probably go sit in the car LOL

I'm 2 months out on the 17th and I'm stuck again...I had a 2.5 week stall at week 3,4 and 1/2 of 5...down 6lbs and stopping again. I'm 42lbs since Spring break and have 38lbs to go. i know these next 38-50lbs are going to be the hardest. So tell me....how much exercise do you get?

FROM THE ARTICLE Re: Why dieting results in weight gain & will 5:2 be differe by carorees » 06 Feb 2013, 19:34 Hi Dominic I think the issue is not with the basic equation, which is of course correct, but that for most people who have lost weight the biological drive to go into positive energy balance is hard to overcome because our appetites are increased while the energy metabolised is lowered. Facing a lifetime of dietary restriction, most people fall off the wagon either intentionally (because the diet is too restrictive) or accidentally (because they did not realize that their energy use is lower than it should be for their height and weight). What happens as a result is that they not only regain the weight lost but a bit more because of the upward drift of the set point. Looking at the population of dieters it is not the weight loss that is the issue, it is maintaining the healthy weight afterwards for most people. The fact that the 5:2 lifestyle is sustainable indefinitely and the potential for it to have a different effect metabolically than traditional methods of calorie restriction gives us hope that it really will turn out to be the 'one'! I LIKE THE LAST PART!

Hello everyone, I am a newbie to the site but am post op three years in September. My starting weight was 370lbs and 8 weeks ago I was 282lbs. I was thrilled but really struggling to eat. Something was blocking and I was choking at night while sleeping. Pretty scary to be woken up out of your sleep because you are choking on your own saliva. Anyway I went to the doctor and they immediatly emptied me out. It was such an incredble feeling to not have any restriction. They wanted me to be empty for a week or two to make sure I was ok. But I was supposed to still be careful with my food intake. Well I went haywire right away eating everything I have not been able to eat for the last two years.(pasta, bread and fast food). I did not go back to the doctor for three weeks and in that time I gained twenty pounds. They gave me a partial fill and told me to come back in a month or so depending on how I was feeling. Well it is a month later and I am dreading going back. I have gained another twenty pounds. I put on almost half the weight I fought to lose in just two months!! The worst part is I am so upset with myself, my cloths don't fit me, I threw out all my "fat" clothes and refuse to buy a larger size yet I cannot stop myself from eating. I now know what it feels like to be a drug addict. I am eating secretivly in my car figuring if nobody sees maybe I won't gain any weight. I am in a real bad place right now and need help. I am so glad I found this site, I believe it is a step in the right direction. So upsetting the jeans that were falling off of me 8 weeks ago I struggled to button this morning. I just hope I can get back on track. I know I have to go in for another adjustment but I am so embarressed by my weight gain I am afraid to face the doctors. So Sad JimmyXXL

While in the hospital you no doubt noticed you were hooked up to IV's the whole time, right? Constantly pumping fluids, plus edema, plus surgical "trauma" to the body all cause a little water weight gain. It will all go away in the first week or two. Not to worry.

Ok, is this normal?? I gained 7.8 lbs while I was in the hospital. Surgery was Tuesday, I only had water, small container of apple juice and ice chips while I was in the hospital. Came home yesterday and took it easy only drinking water. Weighed myself this morning thinking I would have another large loss and I GAINED over seven pounds!! WTF Tell me this is normal??

Agreed!!! Since you are only 14 days post op, I am asuming you have not had your first fill, so the band will be more "forgiving" in these situations. As guy touched on, the bigger concern is your mental approach to life and food after the band, I will share with you what others (including my doctor) have shared with me. As always, I include the disclaimer that these are things that have worked for me, they may or may not be helful to you... 1. You are not going to follow your lap band "diet" perfectly every day. NO ONE DOES! But, as my doctor often repeats - If you eat right MOST of the time, you will lose weight. 2. This is not a RACE...it is a journey, not just to lose weight, but to live a healthier, happier, longer life. 3. DON'T Beat yourself up, when you mess up!! Most of us, have spent a lifetime of dieting, then when we mess up, we just say "what's the use" which just leads to more eating and more weight gain, which leads to another diet, and the cycle repeats on and on and on....Just because you mess up, doesn't mean you have to give up! 4. The band helps with the physical issues of our eating, but we still have the mental side to deal with...the head hunger...what are your eating triggers? Stay connected with a support group, such as this forum, or better still, if there is a live support group in your area, check it out. Finally, take an HONEST look at how you think about food and your decision to have the band...are you thinking, I have made a smart investment in my future health, or do you think of all the things you can "NEVER" eat again....By the way, my doctor does not give a list of foods you can "NEVER" have, but lists foods which commonly give band patients problems - otherwise everything in moderation. Best of Luck!

These people posting just had the surgery and are still in the honeymoon phase of it all. You can lose for up to 1.5 years give or take. I would not look at those weight gain as the end all be all. I got pregnant at 1.5 years out from the sleeve and settled into 160 for two months prior to getting pregnant. While I am probably on the high end...I gained 70 pounds. I just had my LO 5 days ago and a significant portion of that weight was water!!!! So yesterday I weighed 206. I believe I will land around 195/198 in the next week as my uterus shrinks and I lose more water. My appetite is so-so now, but I still have crazy hormones going all over the place. I really want to see where I get to in six weeks. I will post again.

Greetings. I know this post will be contradictory to everything you just read. So bare with me... Here in the US, the band is typical for BMI 40 and higher (35 w/ comorbidities) However, this can be circumvented if you are self pay as there are no insurance hoops to jump through. Our peers in other countries (Europe and Australia specifically) have been doing this much longer and many of their participants are lower in BMI. I would be assumptive to believe their average 'obese' person in their population is not the same as ours. I am not sure at what your height is, but for me 195-200 would be a BMI of 30 for me. And for me, that is obese an unacceptable standard. And despite differing opinions, if you were to ask bandsters if they would find it acceptable to remove the band at BMI 30 because they are not fat enough anymore, they would all balk. I get peeved when I hear others state whom they feel is an appropriate candidate for the procedure. It is likened to family and friends discouraging someone from the band because they deem it drastic. Because hey, all you have to do is eat less right? But in reality, you are suffering like the rest of us. You can mask it with all the positives you want, but in reality, you are out of control and struggle with maintenance like the rest of us. We just managed to gain more. I am certain you can find others here who have the same habits (ie binging etc) and ended up in the yo-yo effect you are living out. Whether you are 300, 250 or 200 the lifestyle, the habits are the same. The negative effects you are having on your body are not mitigated by the 'healthy cholesterol and low sugar' bit. Your playing havoc on your metabolism, wasting muscle weight with fat and setting yourself up for easier weight gain each and every time you reattempt to lose. This is the bodies natural response to this kind of loss-gain-loss-gain cycle. So let's talk mental for a minute. You avoid life as a consequence of being overweight. You feel devalued at work. You feed the emotions etc. This is more of a burden than the weight itself wouldn't you agree? It's the impact fat has on your life, your decisions and your relationships that create this vicious cycle. If all your efforts are unsuccessful, or temporary, you need another solution. We all sat at this intersection and had to determine if the band was that solution. Sure you and I have different circumstances, but our needs are the same. Being vegan you should already be savvy on how to achieve minimum Protein levels through your current diet. I personally find vegan Proteins (ie tofu, Beans etc) much easier to digest than meat proteins so, in reality, you may have a head start on us. Can you achieve 80g min of healthy protein daily in your current diet? Recognize you will be limited to about 1c of food per serving. If so, than you'll be like the rest of us calculating protein levels and finding creative solutions to achieve those numbers. As for the longevity/success of the band. If you want a guarantee, you won't get one...that's true for any diet or wls procedure. However, the band is designed to be placed once and for the life of the patient. True, some need revisions, repairs, replacements or removals for various reasons. But this is still the minority statistic. Much of the success is up to the patient to be compliant. But side note, specific to maintenance. I too was easy at losing weight initally. My issue was always maintenance as I reverted back to old habits. And this is where the band saved me personally. After getting banded I lost 50 lbs easy. THan got pregnant, than had a bad accident that put me into rehab for ovr 8 months. That's 18 months of not dieting. But unlike my 1st pregnancy where I gained 50 lbs, I only gained 20 w/ the band which I readily lost after the pregnancy. And because I am horrible stress eater, I ate poorly the entire 8 months I was in rehab. I would equate it to preop eating but the trick was..I couldnt eat as much. Would you believe I didnt gain weight?!?!?! And in January when symptoms got better I decided it was time to start again and I lost another 50 lbs. There is no way I could have done it w/out the band. Even today, I have a +3lb rule. Where when I go easy on myself and eat more freely, I will go back to strict eating if I gain more than 3 lbs to maintain. It's harder to gain 3+ lbs as it was before and thus I find maintenance to be a cinch. This is how the band can help someone like you. I know that if I did not have the band, not only would I gain weight back readily, but I would find maintenance an impossibility long term. And that's how the band serves me. Just my personal take on it.

So I had surgery on July 24th I am 3 weeks into this lap band. With Pre op and post op diet together I lost 42lbs but I recently started eating and it's like I gained 5 lbs is this normal? I do not have my adjustment appointment till August 21st. I don't want to go in with a weight gain. Thanks

I’m not saying that severe Fibro symptoms is only experienced by overweight people with FM. I know several pwf who are average or underweight. I also know a few people with diabetes who are average or underweight. By providing the info below, I am acknowledging that some of us do need to know this info. Fibromyalgia and Insulin Resistance The pain, stiffness, malaise and fatigue of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome [Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)] often cause people with FM or CFS/ME to become sedentary. This sedentary lifestyle may lead to severe weight gain and obesity. Obesity has been linked to insulin resistance. Researchers have found that “insulin resistance is a fundamental aspect of the etiology of type 2 diabetes and is also linked to a wide array of other [conditions] including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis. . . the metabolic syndrome, or syndrome X, and, polycystic ovarian disease.” [1] MedicineNet.com reports, “insulin is a hormone that is produced by the pancreas. Insulin is an essential hormone that has many actions within the body. Insulin resistance (IR) is a condition in which the normal response to a given amount of insulin is reduced within the body. Higher levels of insulin are needed in order for insulin to have its proper effects. So, the pancreas compensates by trying to produce more. Insulin resistance is a risk factor for development of diabetes and heart disease.” [2] So what does all this have to do with Fibromyalgia? Well, how many of us with Fibro, [overweight, underweight, average weight], have experienced the cognitive impairment referred to as Fibro Fog. Fibro Fog is that episode of forgetting words, walking into a room and forgetting what we went in there to get, losing thoughts or words, etc. One study found that an increase in insulin resistance in people with FM [pwf] may be a risk factor for increased Fibro Fog. [3] Endnotes: _____________________________________________________________________________ [1]Obesity and insulin resistance, Barbara B. Kahn, Jeffrey S. Flier, Published in Volume 106, Issue 4 J Clin Invest. 2000; 106(4):473–481 doi:10.1172/JCI10842 [2]http://www.medicinenet.com/insulin_resistance/article.htm#what_is_insulin_resistance [3]Insulin resistance possible risk factor for cognitive impairment in fibromialgic patients. Fava A, Plastino M, Cristiano D, Spanò A, Cristofaro S, Opipari C, Chillà A, Casalinuovo F, Colica C, De Bartolo M, Pirritano D, Bosco D. Metab Brain Dis. 2013 Jul 28.

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

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

It's been an exercise in frustration, vomiting, regurgitating and doctor's visits. I have had it prolapse and then replaced. Initially lost 60 lbs, but after the prolapse, weight keeping coming back, even w/the vomiting. In an effort to protect my stomach and esophagus my dr decided to unfilled me, which then led to additional weight gain.. Bottom line, band has not been successful for me nor have I been successful with it. Regardless, I need to have it removed. Why keep this foreign object in me if it is doing me no good?

I was just approved to have my lapband removed on 10/30/13, but I am freaking out a bit. I have had an unfilled band for 3 years now and weigh about 10 lbs less than I did when I got banded. My weight keeps rising, and would be higher, but I work out religiously. My BMI is about 35. I am terrified of gaining weight after the band is removed. My surgeon has a policy of waiting 3 months before scheduling a sleeve, so that's three months of potentional gain. Also, I don't yet have approval for the sleeve, so working hard to lose weight during the 3 month period will make approval even more unlikely, especially if my BMI drops a little bit. I know myself and while it would be wonderful to get my BMI down after removal, it wouldn't last and I would be exactly where I started before I got banded. I am 53 years old and losing weight gets harder and harder each year. I guess my question is, do people who have gone thru the removal gained much between surgeries? Was the lapband removal surgury difficult to recover from? Days? Weeks? Terrified of going backwards. Thanks.

Ready for some RAW confessions-I have spent the last 8 years living (or dying to be thin) with my band. For the most part I have lived a life of chronic vomiting, severe restriction, with a trade off of loosing 190 lbs at one point. About two years ago, my weight has been creeping up, at 6ft tall I can hide pounds pretty easily...but after 20 lbs the battle was on. At 205 I started to panic and got a trainer, and really watched my food. For the most part, because I could not eat alot without vomiting...I was always eating. And because I was always vomiting, I thought I could eat whatever I wanted...because I would throw it up after all. On June 15th of this year, I managed to gain 10 lbs over a weekend. I thought this is crazy, what is happening with my body? I found a trainer, and began working out every day...still doing my daily gig of eating and vomiting. Well, I went to see a new PCP, and admitted to my band problems and concern with weight gain at very high rates. All labs have come out normal...and I thought this is it, I am going to eat well and get my life in control...so off I went for my first upper GI since banded...and guess what, total restriction, nothing getting through & my esophagous was 3 times the size it should be. The radiologist was wonderful, and being a Clinical Nurse Specialist I am pretty wise in medical stuff, and can talk my way (or manipulate) through most things. So I told him I would go get it assessed and unfilled. I did, I was following the rules to be healthy. I weighed in at 207 (working out, eating well) and was actually really excited to eat normal for the first time in 8 years. I felt like I was freed from survivor and off the island and could eat! I guzzled water, I ate...and did not binge but enjoyed every meal. On Monday getting ready for work, my pants were TIGHT...got on the scale and in FIVE days gained 23 lbs. I freaked, called my PCP, ran blood work, all normal. I had a theory my fat cells were trying to blow up again. Yesterday I met with a new surgeon and he confirmed that exactly that....that my body was trying like hell to reset to 360lbs. SO my question for you all, can you relate to anything I am saying? I am scared to death, crying, sobbing and grieving this weight nightmare. He has recommended a conversion to the sleeve...Please help me understand the good & the bad? He went ahead and filled me with 2.5 cc to stop the rapid weight gain...and so now my puking has resumed. I have never been so open about my experience, but I am ready to live again...and cannot believe I have destroyed my metabolism...I thank you in advance for your help.