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Don't be so hard on yourself. Remember this is a mental change as well. Did you ever address the reason behind your weight gain, mind set, and eating habits? Like another poster said you acknowledged the situation but how are you going to cope in the future? Have a plan for holidays and get the crap out of your house. You got this!!!

Welcome from the Land of Gracious Living -- that is what it says on the local license plates. I am watching the sun set after a full day of watching the NCAA basketball tournaments, 60 Minutes is on the HD flatscreen, and I am overdue for my delicious dinner: a chocolate Protein shake. I am scheduled for my surgery on Wednesday, March 24th. I won't know for sure until tomorrow afternoon. Last Thursday I went to my surgeon's office to meet with the surgery scheduling person; they weighed me as I had been on the liquid only diet for the previous ten days. To my chagrin I had gained four pounds; the young lady I met with informed me they would need to reschedule me because of this. I was totally bummed and confused. How did that happen? After a few minutes of protestation and dismay, I gathered up my crestfallen ego, took my wife by the arm and made my way back to the parking lot. My option was to lose this weight and a few more by Monday; my surgeon would decide then if it was a go or no-go. If a no-go, the young lady promised to reschedule me the first thing the following week.:laugh: Fast forward to the afternoon when I met with my Family Physician. We chatted about this situation and he asked what exactly was I eating. So I rattled off a litany of things including V8 juice, the broth from chicken Noodle Soup and Beef Noodle Soup, and at least 72 oz of G2 Sports drink/day. He started to chuckle and asked me to lift up my pant leg so he could look at my legs and ankles. He gently squeezed me just above the ankle for about 30 seconds, enough to leave a noticeable indentation. He looked me in the eye and said, "I am surprised at you. You are a college graduate, a pretty smart guy. Yet you didn't realize you were pumping yourself full of Sodium. The weight gain is Water weight." Pointing to the bottle of water I carried in, he said, "And your solution to losing that weight is to cut out the G2 and stick to the water." So for the next three days it was Protein drinks and bottled water -- interrupted by a few dozen visits to the WC. Hopefully, I will have something good to post tomorrow night. And if not, I am cool with that, too. It may mean another week of protein drinks and water, but I will lose the weight to improve my chances for a successful surgery. Enough about me. How are you ex-fatties doing now. I need to read some success stories!

So true!! I want to point out the hi-lited too. Since I had the band AND the sleeve I think I can guage that different surgeries can be cheated *but* in different ways. I know Tiffy knows this as well... You really can cheat the band quite easily and yes, the drinking while AND shortly after eating your meals is a huge one. It washes the food in your pouch right straight into your big stomach!! But for the sleeve... this is not possible. The contents you just consumed are already in your stomach. When I do choose to sip during eating (which is not all the time), I have not gotten any hungrier any faster. I do still wait at least 30 minutes after finishing - but - like Tiffy its mostly due out of habit from being banded nearly 3 years. With the sleeve though, it's true - grazing I could see being one of the biggest culprits in weight gain. That and drinking a lot of high calorie/sugar drinks or snacking on a lot of sugary things. My stomach is way too small to be able to gain on sipping during my meals and drinking right after. Especially since I rarely feel true hunger anymore anyway (this could be different for those who do still feel hunger a lot though! - however rare...). The "no drinking rule" just really doesn't fly with *this* particular surgery, IMPO.

My wt loss has been going SO GREAT lately. And now: a herniated disc in my back. The inflammation and pain was / is terrible and they now have me on oral steroids (prednisone) to bring down the swelling. I get to lie on my back in bed for 3-5 days until the swelling has gone down enough for me to be up walking around. I just finished my first day on steroids and I can already tell that the side effect of "increased appetite" is hitting me with a vengeance. I'm determined to stick to my 1200 cals a day despite that. I can't exercise for the next few days either. Just wondering if anyone has managed to at least maintain their weight while on steroids, or if weight gain is inevitable? :wink2: I'm hoping they do their thing and I can get off them in 2 weeks. Tomorrow's MRI should help clarify how bad things are...

I looked this up, and the causes of weight gain from it are all general things like increased appetite, maybe slowing of the metabolism, etc. There is no reason to think bariatrics won't be effective. A slower metabolism means you just can't eat as many calories as someone with a faster metabolism. So you may always need to eat 1200 rather than 1800 calories. The good news is your new, smaller tummy will make 1200 calories a LOT more do-able than before the surgery.

Read your article, nice progress. I also have had no complications with the band and have lost 100+ with no weight gain. I am right by Ridgefield, NJ. I think as long as you follow the rules as you do, it’s a great option. It saved my life too and that was what made me do it also.

Ive always seen friends and family have gall bladder issues from weight gain, so the weightloss effect is new.

I got my band Oct of 2012 and have only lost 40 pounds at first. Now since my one year bandaversary I have gained weight. I am having such a hard time losing. I have a 10 cc band (I guess) and have 7cc fill. I have not seen my Dr in months for another fill because I was ashamed of my weight gain. I fell like a failure and thinking about having the band removed. I am at the point that I just have to accept that I will always be a fat girl/mom/wife. My body is never going to change to matter how much I want it to. I feel like I wasted everyone's time and money getting this wonderful band in. I feel ashamed I have not lost any weight. I can eat full meals and not feel full. Now and then my food will get stuck and I get rid of it, but then I will take another bite to replace what I just lost. This just is not working out for me. I guess I am just that one person who will not succeed at losing weight.

Here you go thanks for posting this! Slider Foods Spell Weight Regain For Weight Loss Surgery Patients Soft processed carbohydrates, slider foods, are the bane of good intentions and ignorance often causing dumping syndrome, weight loss plateaus, and eventually weight gain for gastric bypass, gastric band (lap-band), and gastric sleeve bariatric patients. Learn what slider foods are and why they cause weight regain for weight loss surgery patients. 5 Day Pouch Test Store By Kaye Bailey For most people eating sliders is a good thing. Popularized by the American food chain, White Castle, a slider (originally slyder) is a miniature grilled hamburger or cheeseburger on a steamed bun often served with onions and dill pickle and other condiments. They originally sold for a nickel a piece in the 1940s making it affordable to add a side of fries for just pennies. By all accounts this is a good kind of "slider" food. To the weight loss surgery patient slider foods are the bane of good intentions and ignorance often causing dumping syndrome, weight loss plateaus, and eventually weight gain. Slider foods, to weight loss surgery patients, are soft simple processed carbohydrates of little or no nutritional value that slide right through the surgical stomach pouch without providing nutrition or satiation. The most innocent of slider foods are saltine crackers, often eaten with warm tea or other beverages, to soothe the stomach in illness or while recovering from surgery. Understanding Slider Foods The most commonly consumed slider foods include pretzels, crackers (saltines, graham, Ritz, etc.) filled cracker Snacks such as Ritz Bits, popcorn, cheese snacks (Cheetos) or cheese crackers, tortilla chips with salsa, potato chips, sugar-free Cookies, cakes, and candy. You will notice these slider foods are often salty and cause dry mouth so they must be ingested with liquid to be palatable. This is how they become slider foods. They are also, most often, void of nutritional value. For weight loss surgery patients the process of digestion is different than those who have not undergone gastric surgery. When slider foods are consumed they go into the stomach pouch and exit directly into the jejunum where the simple carbohydrate slurry is quickly absorbed and stored by the body. There is little thermic effect in the digestion of simple carbohydrates like there is in the digestion of Protein so little metabolic energy is expended. In most cases patients in the phase of weight loss who eat slider foods will experience a weight loss plateau and possibly the setback of weight gain. And sadly, they will begin to believe their surgical stomach pouch is not functioning properly because they never feel fullness or restriction like they experience when eating protein. The very nature of the surgical gastric pouch is to cause feelings of tightness or restriction when one has eaten enough food. However, when soft simple carbohydrates are eaten this tightness or restriction does not result and one can continue to eat, unmeasured, copious amounts of non-nutritional food without ever feeling uncomfortable. Many patients turn to slider foods for this very reason. They do not like the discomfort that results when the pouch is full from eating a measured portion of lean animal or dairy protein without liquids. Yet it is this very restriction that is the desired result of the surgery. The discomfort is intended to signal the cessation of eating. Remembering the "Protein First" rule is crucial to weight management with bariatric surgery. Gastric bypass, gastric banding (lap-band) and gastric sleeve patients are instructed to follow a high protein diet to facilitate healing and promote weight loss. Bariatric centers advise what is commonly known among weight loss surgery patients as the "Four Rules" the most important of which is "Protein First." That means of all nutrients (protein, carbohydrates, fat and alcohol) the patient is required to eat protein first. Protein is not always the most comfortable food choice for weight loss surgery patients who feel restriction after eating a very small amount of food. However, for the surgical tool to work correctly a diet rich in protein and low in simple carbohydrate slider foods must be observed. The high protein diet must be followed even after healthy body weight has been achieved in order to maintain a healthy weight and avoid weight regain.

Beautiful before, stunning afterwards photo. Thank you for reminding everyone that the hunger can come back. I get hungry now too, much to my dismay. Making bad choices can cause back weight gain. Hugs - and keep rocking your sleeve.

Wow! That will be one busy appointment! As far as reading negative things, don't let that scare you. I remember reading the "weight gained since having surgery" thread on this site before having my sleeve surgery and nearly backing out of it because of it. If you take the opportunity this surgery gives you, follow the plan, and do the emotional and physical work you need to do, you will do great! If you want to read some positives instead of negatives, feel free to check out my blog in my siggy. I've tried to share the good, the bad, and the beautiful from my first appointment on. Good luck to you on your journey!

Slower weight loss coupled with great exercise = LESS loose, hanging skin. I'd say that is a huge plus, not a negative thing. Keep pushing, keep your head up, exercise, and throw out that scale. Today. If you're like most of us, you probably have clothes in different sizes that weight gain prevented you from wearing. Take out the next smallest size and try it on maybe once per week to see how it fits. The scale can be such a terrible and discouraging thing. Use clothes to monitor your progress instead. Best wishes to you.

What the heck? I had gastric bypass on jan 8th and have lost 10 pounds already. When I got on the scale this morning I'd gained 2 pounds. Nothing I ate yesterday stayed in my system, I tossed my cookies each time I ate. How do you gain when you're tossing you're cookies! I don't get it.

I am thinking a thigh lift is the only way to tighten my inner thighs also : ( I really do not want to have another surgery !! I had a tummy tuck years ago so luckly that was not ruined by my massive weight gain . Good luck ob your TummyTuck and let me know if you have a thigh lift : )

I've heard good and bad things about that birth control. My bestfriend was on it and it effected her badly. Weight gain and she had periods on and off sometimes 2 times a month. Have you thought about the one they put in your arm? I was looking into that one for myself.

This is a great forum for women who have underlying issues that contributed to weight gain. I didnt have emotional related weight gain, so like myself I leaned toward thinking all overweight people were similar to me just fat and lazy, but I thank you women for sharing your stories, I think it will open a lot of our eyes(especially me), as well as encourage other women to evaluate themselves and grow.

Has anyone gained weight during nutrition visits? I think I effed up. I gained 10lbs between my consult with the surgeon and second nutrition visit. I explained to her the very devastating loss of a family member... and also how I wanted to kinda .. "eat my last junk foods". since then, I have lost 6lbs. I plan on being down even more when we meet again in 2 weeks. Basically I'm terrified the insurance will deny me because of the 10lb gain- even though I lost it back and more. Has anyone been through this or heard of this? What happened? thanks!

I used to be on Paxil CR and it worked very well for my anxiety and depression. After a few months, my doc switched me to the generic Paxil that was not controlled release and I gained 20 pounds in about 3 months! Withdrawls were HELL for me getting off Paxil. Sounds like you're going through the same thing with Effexor. I have also taken Celexa, but it didn't seem to work as well as Paxil. However, I didn't have any weight gain or withdrawal symptoms on it. I hope you find somthing that works!

plus no weight gain or other side affects that go along with other birth control

Hey, BariatricPal Members! Another month has gone by, and we’re deep into summer. We hope you have been taking advantage of the season to drink plenty of Water, try a few new fruits and vegetables, and enjoy some time outdoors with your family. We’ve been working hard over at BariatricPal, and we’ll give you a taste of what we’ve been up to in this newsletter. Here is what you will find in the newsletter. Member Poll: What Do You Do When a Craving Hits? Member Spotlight: Meet Carolinagirl! BariatricPal Updates: Stay in the Loop! Enjoy the newsletter, then head on over to the boards for some inspiration and fun. Thanks as always for your support! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder, BariatricPal Member Poll: What Do You Do When a Craving Hits? Everyone has a craving sometime. It might be for pizza, ice cream, tacos, Pasta, or any of the other foods that you used to eat – or overeat – before weight loss surgery. What do you do when a craving hits? Wait until it passes, even if it’s a few days. Wait a day, and then give in if the craving is still there. Make a healthy substitute, such as sugar-free hot chocolate instead of brownies or light popcorn as a salty, crunchy substitute for potato chips. Have a bit or two of the real thing, since that is the only thing that will satisfy you. Give in. Enjoy your treat, and worry about the consequences tomorrow. Choose your answer, and explain it in the conversation on BariatricPal. Share your tips for dealing with cravings, and include any recipe swaps that you use to deal with your cravings in a healthy way! Member Spotlight: Meet Carolinagirl! We are very glad to feature Carolinagirl in this month’s newsletter! She is from Raleigh, North Carolina. With a height of 5’2”, her highest weight was 335 pounds. At the time, she was classified as super morbid obese. She could barely walk and had trouble taking care of herself. Her wakeup call came when her son told her that she was going to be a grandmother and she realized that she couldn’t even push a baby stroller around the block. Her surgeon suggested the gastric bypass, but she chose the sleeve plication with the lap-band. She told him she would prove him wrong. Her surgeon made sure that she knew that it was up to her, not the surgery, to change her eating and exercise habits. She did. She has lost 170 pounds – more than half of her body weight! – and weighs 165 pounds now. She is almost at her goal weight of 155 pounds and a BMI of 30. So much of her life has changed since getting her surgery and losing the weight. She can keep herself clean, put on socks, and feel alive! Being able to walk has let her get her freedom back, and she loves it. One of her great moments, after hitting a high of size 30 pants, was fitting into a size 12. It hasn’t all been easy. Carolinagirl needed to face her inner doubts head on to find the strength to make the right choices. She points out that she needed to take responsibility for her choices and actions. Also, she knows that it is not about being thin, but about being healthy. She first came to BariatricPal to meet others like her. Few had as high of a starting BMI as Carolinagirl, whose highest BMI was 61.4. She now considers the members who welcomed her to be good friends. She tries to offer support on the boards, and is constantly receiving PMs (private messages) from other weight loss surgery patients with questions. Carolinagirl gives good advice and honest answers without sugar coating them. She says that the forum keeps her going forward in her own journey. Carolinagirl has some advice for members who are struggling with their weight loss. Be honest with yourself. You know if you are eating right and exercising. Measure inches lost in addition to weighing yourself. Don’t get on the scale too often. If you eat or drink more than you burn off, you will gain weight. Thank you, Carolinagirl, for being in the spotlight and for being a being a great community member. You are very much appreciated on the boards. Congratulations on your phenomenal and hard-earned weight loss! Do you want to be in the member spotlight? Is there a BariatricPal that you would like to see in the newsletter? Let us know in the Member Spotlight forum! We love getting nominations! BariatricPal Updates: Stay in the Loop! It has been a busy few months at BariatricPal. Here’s what’s been going on. The Big Book! In early July, we published The BIG Book on Bariatric Surgery: Living Your Best Life After Weight Loss Surgery. It’s a guidebook for losing weight and keeping it off in the months and years after weight loss surgery. You’re in this for the long haul! You can see chapter summaries and get more information here. If the title sounds familiar, it’s because this Big Book is the fourth in our series. The first three were on the different kinds of weight loss surgery. They are great for weight loss surgery beginners and anyone losing weight after weight loss surgery. The Big Book on the Gastric Sleeve: Everything You Need To Know To Lose Weight and Live Well with the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy The Big Book on the Gastric Bypass: Everything You Need to Lose Weight and Live Well with the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery The Big Book on the Lap-Band: Everything You Need To Know To Lose Weight and Live Well with the Adjustable Gastric Band BariatricPal Local Chapters We’ve been rolling out a new program called BariatricPal Local Chapters. It’s in-person support group meetings in your local area run by BariatricPal members for BariatricPal members. So far, we have seen a lot of interest, and are excited about continuing to grow the program. These local meetings are a great chance to meet BariatricPal members in person and to get tips for losing weight. Check the Local Chapters forum to see whether there is already a group in your area or to start a new group. Happy Surgiversary to Alex! On July 18, Alex Brecher officially celebrated his 11-year anniversary of the lap-band surgery. 11 years ago, Alex came home from the hospital after getting the lap-band. He started LapBandTalk.com to support other patients, and then VerticalSleeveTalk.com, SleevePlicationTalk.com, and RNYTalk.com. The rest is history. 11 years later, Alex is down 100 pounds. The four original boards joined together and are now BariatricPal, with hundreds of thousands of members. Congratulations, Alex, and thanks for giving us BariatricPal! Come on over to BariatricPal and join the action! Ask your own questions, browse the conversations that are already going on, or weigh in on the hot conversations on topics such as weight gain after sleeve surgery, finding a bypass buddy to motivate you, recipes for the liquid stage after surgery, or getting over a stall. See you on the boards!

My PCP did the exact same thing which in turn sent me into a depression. I gained close to 15lbs without trying. Just depression eating, thinking it was over because I have struggled to do it on my on for so long. With my weight gain my Insurance approved me because my bmi is in a danger state. I am not suggesting that you gain at all! I will keep you situation in my prayers.

OK, caveat here: I'm 55 so not in your age group. I am 6 months out from my surgery, have dropped a little over half the 100 pounds I plan to lose. I don't exercise much beyond walking, and I have been very relaxed with my food intake. My daily goal is to meet protien needs then from there, whatever I want. I lose an average of 7 to 10 pounds a month which is very slow compared to many others. I do find that I have floppy arms, but I've always had issues with my upper arms. Beyond that, my belly apron is receding and the skin is firm. The skin on my legs is also firm. If I exercised, I'm sure it would be even better. In fact, I'm planning plastics, but really only my arms and boobs. I think the response of our skin is genetics, age, life experience (I've had two kids and had a massive abdominal surgery.) Pre-weight gain, I never had the apron till I hit 170 and as I drop back that direction, it looks like it may go away. Believe me, I'm crosssing my fingers!! My doctor suggested exercise, moisturizing and hydration for optimal skin thickening. I also believe that rapid weight loss contributes to the skin bagging. I use baby oil gel, body butters and oil formulated for scars and stretch marks. And I drink a LOT of fluids, and avoid sodium and alcohol. Best of luck!

Conquer Even Your Nastiest Cravings! by Bridget Kelly eDiets Senior Writer Do you eat healthful, balanced meals all day long until 4 p.m. or so, when a sudden and irrepressible craving for rich, dark chocolate or salty, crunchy chips strikes? Does your mind consistently wander to that pint of coffee-chip ice cream, tucked away behind the frozen broccoli, an hour or so before bed? Lately, a popular theory attests that craving a particular food means you must be deficient in one of its ingredients. For example, you might believe that hamburger hankering is due to your need for the Iron in red meat. But what's really behind those seemingly uncontrollable cravings, and how can you get a handle on them before they wreck your diet plan? While some cravings may indeed relate to a need for certain nutrients (as you'll see below), employing this reasoning as a blanket justification for nibbling on foods that are packed with fat and calories will only result in one thing -- weight gain. Many doctors and nutritionists dispute the claim, citing a lack of good evidence, and raise a solid point: If you're truly deficient in iron, say, why not crave other iron-rich foods, such as spinach or black Beans? When it comes to food cravings, researchers believe there are other biochemical and psychological processes at work. And they agree that understanding the cause behind a certain yen is the key to prevention. So follow these basic strategies for staving off any kind of craving, then identify your specific food lust and learn how to stop it in its tracks! Dodge the desire: Be a grazer. Nutritionists suggest that eating several small meals throughout the day (or three meals and a few light, low-fat snacks) can help to prevent cravings later in the day. Choose high-Fiber, low-fat foods to keep hunger at bay longer. Go cold turkey. Some research has shown that completely giving up a particular food can result in losing a taste for it. According to Elizabeth Somer, M.S., R.D., author of Food and Mood (Owl Books), the longer you go without eating a particular food, the less you'll crave it. Get distracted. When you feel a craving coming on, do something that will get your mind off of it. Go for a walk or make a phone call. After 10 minutes, you may notice that the craving has passed. Fast fixes for the top four cravings Although we all have our favorite must-have foods -- ranging from pickles to pastries -- there are some common threads when it comes to the provisions we pine for. Here, identify the type of food you desire, then read on to conquer that craving. The craving: sweets If visions of Cookies and ice cream dance in your head, what you may be craving more than the sugar in these foods is the fat that provides their texture, taste and aroma, according to Somer. Several studies have shown that fat and sugar may release endorphins into the brain (neurotransmitters that can produce a feeling of pleasure or euphoria). This hypothesis may explain why people crave that sweet, creamy taste -- it produces a pleasurable feeling. The solution: Guess what? Good old-fashioned exercise also appears to boost levels of endorphins (they're the same substances credited with the so-called "runners high"). So next time you feel like biting into a chocolate-covered ice cream bar, lace up those walking shoes or hop on your bike instead. You'll get the same pleasing feeling and the benefits of doing something good for your body. If you're on the job or unable to get immediate fitness gratification, you can still get the creamy taste and texture you yearn for from low-fat yogurt or cottage cheese with fruit. The craving: salt According to Somer, many women experience salt cravings related to premenstrual syndrome (PMS) since fluctuating levels of estrogen can interfere with the normal salt concentration in the body. Unfortunately, cravings for salt often result in the consumption of foods that are not only high in sodium -- dangerous for anyone with hypertension -- but also heavy in fat (think chips, French fries, pizza). Some studies have shown that people who are deficient in Calcium crave salt more frequently than those who are not. And Somer suggests the desire for salty foods, such as chips or pretzels, may have more to do with the wish to crunch than the actual salt. The solution: Try upping your calcium intake (which will also benefit your bones) with low-fat dairy foods or leafy greens. And reach for crisp, fresh, munch-able foods, like baby carrots or bell pepper wedges -- they make great stand-ins for that pretzel or chip crunch. If you can't forgo the salt, eat just one serving of low-fat, whole-grain pretzels. The craving: carbs Cravings for simple carbohydrates are most frequently associated with times of stress. The explanation behind this relationship? Carbohydrates found in such foods as crackers, breads, unsalted pretzels, and animal crackers have been shown to help boost levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin, shown to produce a feeling of calm and well-being. The solution: Anything that relieves stress can help to inhibit these cravings. Try deep breathing techniques, yoga or simple exercise instead of resorting to the refrigerator. When you feel the need to feed, go for Snacks of complex carbohydrates, such as yogurt or vegetables, which can help fend off cravings for simple carbs. The craving: chocolate They don't call them chocoholics for nothing. While it could fit into the "sweet and creamy" category by most definitions, chocolate's complexity and the fact that it is the most commonly craved food among Americans, according to Somer, earns it a class unto itself. Chocolate is the most difficult of foods to explain. According to researchers at the University of Arizona who last year conducted a review of the current research on chocolate cravings, the sensational combination of the fat, sugar, texture, aroma and several ingredients with addictive properties similar to those in psychoactive drugs, are most likely responsible for chocolate cravings. The researchers also suggest that these cravings can be a result of a magnesium deficiency. The solution: Uncompromising chocolate addicts may balk, but keeping other magnesium-rich foods, such as raw soybeans (a.k.a. edamame), on hand can be a quick fix. In cases where the longing is not due to magnesium deficiency, there's not much else that will fulfill cravings for chocolate, Somer says. She suggests sipping a cup of warm, low-fat cocoa, or plunging fresh fruit, like whole strawberries, banana slices and melon wedges, into fat-free chocolate syrup -- both of these approaches will add up to a lot less fat and calories than your average chocolate bar. The way you respond to food cravings just might make or break your success at weight loss and maintenance. Veering off from your eating plan occasionally will not be earth-shattering, but if you make a habit of giving in to your eating impulses, your moments of weakness will certainly catch up with you. The good news is, if you remember these tips you just might be able to conquer those pesky cravings. It will pass. Believe it or not, you can simply wait out a craving. Sometimes we may even mistake a craving for actual hunger. Playing the waiting game will help you distinguish between the two. If you still want something 20 minutes later, chances are you really are hungry. If you allow yourself a little time to take a pause before giving in, you may find the craving will disappear altogether. Get your mind on something else: take a walk, write in your journal, play a game. You may be pleasantly surprised to find time has passed and the craving has subsided. Drink up. A glass of Water, that is. While some suggest this is another method of "stalling" like the wait-it-out method above, you may find that drinking water satisfies your craving in and of itself. Sometimes we can mistake dehydration for hunger or cravings. Your body is telling you that you need something, and you assume it's food... take a chance and sip some H20, it may be just what you need. Give in... just a little. The bad thing about cravings is that when we give into them, we are giving in to an impulse. When you act impulsively you have lost some control. Which means you probably lose control of how much you eat, too. Take a moment to think about what you are doing. Try putting some scale. Never allow yourself to sit down with an entire carton of ice cream or a whole bag of chips. Take out a serving and put the rest away. Better still, purchase small portions to begin with. You will probably find that the first few bites actually squelch the craving anyway. Then, if the food is not already in your hands, you probably won't go back for more. Keep it real. You're a smart cookie. If you really want a chocolate chip cookie, that reduced fat fig bar is just not going to do the trick. Don't try to fool yourself. That's right, go for the "bad" choice. Remember "all things in moderation." Allow yourself to indulge in what you really want (just watch your portion size!) and you will not feel deprived. If you do not grant yourself this allowance, you are more likely to eat that fig bar and the chocolate chip cookie, because the former didn't really satisfy your craving.

I searched LBT for this left shoulder pain and thought I would put my "new info" in a post. I started with my left shoulder pain on my 3rd day after surgery. Everything I read said it was gas. It was not gas. This felt like a nerve kind of pain. It was down deep in the center of my left collar/shoulder area. After about the 2nd week of surgery it would come and go. I thought it was after I ate...but after reading the old posts on this subject I thought it was time for me to listen to my body. Well...this is what i found: If I have not eaten enough and I am still hungry the pain in my shoulder is so intense I can't even concentrate at work or to do anything else. If I haven't eaten in a while same thing. As soon as I eat it immediately goes away. How weird is this??? I happened to be talking to the Nutritionist yesterday on the subject of weight gain and caloric intake post surgery when i mentioned this shoulder pain....her response, "Oh yah, that is very normal. It will either kill you when you need to eat or when you have eaten to much! Just listen to your body" It would have been nice to know about this pre-surgery, just so those of us that like to be prepared can be. I have listened to my shoulder allday today and I have had little discomfort allday! Hope this helps those that have had the INFAMOUS shoulder pain!

I have extra guilt about my weight gain because my mother paid for my surgery.