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It was really hard, but I did it. FYI, there were no video games in the 1960's and nowhere in my post did I mention cigarettes. What I was pointing out was that he was perfectly happy with a situation that most people would have been clawing their way out of. He had no desire to change or make things what most people would consider better for himself. He was just fine with the way things are. Maybe you are too. You don't have to have surgery if you don't want to .... just don't fool yourself about what your situation really is. Whether you think so or not, you aren't eating for optimal nutrition and weight loss. Do you know how much sugar is in sundried tomatoes? How much sodium? For you to get in the proper amount of Protein with all those ingredients, your salad would have had to have been MUCH larger than you stated, and the calories would have been pretty high. Skipping meals causes weight gain. For one, it slows down your metabolism. I could go on and on. You're just not eating the way you need to. If you want to have surgery, you are going to have to take a crash course in nutrition and really grasp what you are putting in your mouth.

I went to a lake house this weekend. I grazed, drank beer and had about 7 beers and 7-10 shots over he whole weekend. I ate whatever everyone else ate (just small portions). I wasn't worried about weight gain. I had figured that when I got home I would have gained ten pounds. I came home stepped on the scale and I had lost two pounds. I don't know but I am definitely motivated to get back on track. Going to the gym tomorrow and gonna be a beast!!!

Hi - Just about 3 years out of surgery. Still best thing I ever did. But, the weight is start I g to creep back on and I know why. Lack of exercise. Feeling a bit of panic and working to my exercise back into my daily schedule. Having a hard time with the little voices in my head being so negative and sabotaging my efforts. Trying not to pay them any mind. But does anyone have any tips, book recommendations etc.. To shut these buggers up? Thanks ! Sent from my LG-H901 using the BariatricPal App

Got the band out on 5/23/13 and just received a call for KC Bariatic, they received the clearance from the cardiologist, waiting on the one from the pulmonologist which is on the way. See my PCP for weigh in on 17th and that will be it. See the dietatian on Thursday and then have to do something else, which I think I might have already done. Will know more of what it is, nurse is leaving a packet for me. So it looks like surgery in August for the bypass. Thank goodness, didn't want to fight any weight gain and think a couple of monthss will be manageable.

I have Aetna and I'm in Missouri and my policy said no net weight gain buuuuut at my very first weigh in my weight was recorded wrong they had me 35 lbs lighter then I actually was so by the end of my 6 months it looked like I gained 35lbs but it didn't get caught til after my documents was submitted for approval so my patient advocate was in the process of getting ready for an appeal because we thought it was gone be denied but I was approved in less then 24 hrs and my surgery date is February 10!!!

Hi, My name is Nicole and I just joined this site. I was banded on May 26th and i've had only one fill..working on getting a 2nd scheduled because I have absolutely no restriction and am relying only on my will power, which Isn't perfect but I'd say im doing ok. I've lost 35lbs so far and i've had no complications. Basically, i'm considering getting pregnant soon and am concerned about possible weight gain. I've heard of many women managing to loose weight still during pregnancy and they have perfectly healthy little ones. Im 24 and I have a 16 month old son who is amazing =). My husband and I conceived him very easily and almost immediately. I also had zero health problems or complications during my pregnancy..not even any normal pregnancy symptoms ( morning sickness, back pain, heart burn, swollen feet..ect) however I did gain about 40lbs with him and so the thought of gaining all that back scares me. At my heaviest I was 315lbs and 9 months prego. i know the doctors recommend waiting at least a year before getting prego but its becoming more and more important to me to keep my children close in age. We are a military family and with all the moving around that comes with that Im realizing more and more that I want my son to have a sibling to bond with during hard times( first day at a new school, leaving friends behind, daddy going on deployments...ect) I'm a pretty healthy person..even at my heaviest I had no health problems. I would appreciate any similar stories or advice from women already pregnant or gone through a pregnancy while banded. =)

There is a good article below, looks like if someone does not lose weight, it is not her or his fault totally. Why Did They Lose More Weight Than Me?” - by Cynthia K. Buffington, Ph.D. During a recent support group meeting, five patients whose surgical procedures were identical and performed on the same day asked why they were losing weight at different rates. Three months following laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding, the only male patient, Charles, had lost 71 pounds. Sarah, on the other hand, had lost 57 pounds, Sally had lost 40 pounds, Sue was 29 pounds lighter, and Jennifer had lost only 19 pounds. Why had Charles lost more weight than the female patients? Why had Sue and Jennifer experienced less weight loss than the other patients? Were Jennifer and Sue not adhering to the recommended postoperative dietary protocol? Were they consuming calorie-dense beverages or foods, such as milkshakes, colas, cake, ice cream? Did Charles and Sarah, who lost the greatest amounts of weight, exercise more regularly than Sally, Sue, and Jennifer? In order to determine why there were such large differences in weight loss between patients, we examined the lab results, nutritional profiles, and clinical reports of their most recent follow-up appointments, which had taken place only 3 and 4 days earlier. To attempt to understand why some individuals lost more weight than others, we first examined body size measurements before and after surgery. All patients had a somewhat similar body mass index (BMI) prior to surgery, i.e. range 43 to 47, but patients differed as to where on their bodies fat was distributed. Body fat distribution is determined by measuring the circumference (distance around) the waist and the circumference of the hips and then dividing the waist circumference by that of the hips to derive the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). A male with a WHR greater than 0.95 stores much of his body fat around the waist (abdominal fat). Premenopausal females store fat in their hips and buttocks and generally have a WHR less than 0.80, but females with a WHR greater than 0.80 tend to store fat in abdominal regions, as well. Deep abdominal or visceral fat has a much faster rate of turnover than fat that is deposited on the hips and thighs. For this reason, larger amounts of abdominal visceral fat are lost with calorie restriction than are fat deposits on the hips and thighs. A person with abdominal obesity, therefore, is likely to lose weight more rapidly on a diet or after surgery than would someone with fat on the hips and thighs. Men tend to store much larger amounts of fat in abdominal visceral adipose depots than females and, for this reason, men are generally able to lose weight more rapidly than females. Charles had a pre-surgery WHR of 1.2 and at 3 months had lost most of his weight from around his waist. The greater rate of turnover of Charles’ abdominal fat is likely to be one of the primary reasons he was capable of losing more weight than the female patients. Sarah, Sally and Sue all had similar WHR, i.e. 0.85, 0.84, and 0.83, respectively. Changes in waist and hip circumferences at 3 months after surgery were also similar, with all patients having a proportionately greater loss of inches from the waist than from the hips and thighs. Jennifer who had lost the least amount of weight of any of the patients (only 19 pounds) had very large hips and thighs and a relatively small waistline and upper torso. Her WHR before surgery was 0.68. Fat on the hips and thighs is broken down at a far slower rate than fat in abdominal regions. Women who have large hips and thighs and small waists generally have the greatest difficulty losing weight following surgery or with any other anti-obesity procedure. Jennifer may, therefore, have lost the least amount of weight post-surgery because most of her fat was stored on her hips and thighs where fat turnover is slow. Differences in fat distribution could not explain why Sarah, Sally and Sue’s weight losses differed, as all three had a similar WHR. (Remember: Sarah had lost 57 pounds, Sally 40 pounds, and Sue only 29 pounds.) The three females also had similar starting weights. Furthermore, exercise habits could not account for differences in these patient’s postoperative weight losses, as all three patients were participants of the same postoperative exercise program. Nutritional profiles, however, did provide a clue as to why Sue’s weight loss post-surgery differed from Sarah and Sally. At our clinic, nutritional profiles are obtained from patients’ food diaries at each of their follow-up visits. Nutritional information obtained from these profiles include total calorie intake, the percentage of diet that is Protein, carbohydrate and fat, the types of protein, carbohydrate and fat consumed, and dietary Vitamins and minerals. We found that Sarah and Sally’s nutritional profiles were similar with regard to daily calorie intake and dietary composition. Sue’s diet, however, significantly differed. Sue was eating an average of 250 calories more per day than Sarah and Sally. In addition, Sue was consuming fewer calories as protein and more calories high in sugar-containing carbohydrate. Sue’s greater intake of sugar-containing carbohydrate, coupled with the slightly greater number of calories she was consuming each day, could have contributed to the lower weight loss she experienced when compared to the weight losses of Sarah and Sally. Sugar-containing carbohydrate and processed grains increase insulin to levels higher than would occur if fiber-rich carbohydrates were consumed, such as fruits, whole grains, nuts, legumes, vegetables. Insulin, in turn, drives fat into fat storage depots and reduces the breakdown of fat, thereby adversely affecting weight loss success. Sue’s diet was not only higher in simple carbohydrates but was also lower in protein than the diets of Sarah and Sally. Eating sufficient amounts of protein helps prevent the breakdown of muscle and other lean body tissue that may occur post-surgery or with low calorie diets. Muscle has high metabolic activity and oxidizes (burns) fat. A loss of muscle or other lean body tissue, therefore, would reduce metabolic activity and fat metabolism. Over the 3-month postoperative period, Sue lost proportionately more muscle and other lean body tissue and proportionately less fat than did Sarah or Sally. (Note: body composition was measured by bioelectric impedance). Sue also had a greater reduction in basal metabolic activity (measured by indirect calorimetry) in association with her loss of muscle and lean body tissue. Basal (resting) metabolic activity accounts for up to 70% of all calories burned during the course of the day. Sue’s failure to lose weight as effectively as Sarah and Sally, therefore, could have resulted, in part, from her postoperative loss of lean body tissue and decreased basal metabolic rate. Sue’s poor nutritional profile, her greater muscle and lean body tissue loss with surgery and reduced basal metabolic activity could explain why she lost less weight than did Sarah or Sally. However, differences in nutritional profiles, body composition, and basal metabolic activity, as well as fat distribution, initial body size, and levels of physical activity do not explain why Sally lost less weight with surgery (17 pounds less) than did Sarah, since all of these measures were similar. Why, then, would Sally have lost less weight than Sarah? According to Sally’s 3-month postoperative clinical records, she was still taking diabetes medication (a sulfonylurea) to control her blood sugar, albeit at a lesser dosage than before surgery. She was also taking a beta-blocker for hypertension. Sarah, on the other hand, was on no medication. Ironically, many medications used to treat diseases caused or worsened by obesity increase body weight. Most diabetes medications (except metformin) cause fat accumulation and weight gain, including insulin, sulfonylureas and the thiazolidinediones. Many anti-depression medications or mood stabilizers also cause weight gain, especially lithium and the tricyclic antidepressants. In addition, steroids used to treat osteoarthritis or autoimmume disorders increase body weight and fat accumulation, as do beta-blockers and Calcium channel blockers for hypertension. It is likely that Sally’s diabetes and hypertension medications were responsible for her inability to lose as much weight as Sarah. However, there could have been factors other than medication, diet, exercise, metabolic rates, or fat turnover that caused post-operative differences between Sally’s or Sarah’s weight losses or those of other patients in the group. One patient may have lost less weight than another because their growth hormone levels were low, sex hormone production was altered, or cortisol levels were high. Defects in hormones, gut factors or neurochemicals that regulate food intake, satiety and energy expenditure may also have caused variability in patient post-surgical weight loss. Altered activities of enzymes regulating fat metabolism or energy utilization may have influenced rates of post-surgical weight loss. Genetics could have contributed to weight changes, as could numerous other conditions that influence energy intake or expenditure. Why, then, does one patient lose more weight than another with surgery? For numerous reasons, including differences in calorie intake, energy expenditure, body habitus and body composition, basal metabolic activity, hormone profiles, genetics and much more. Because weight loss is regulated by such a myriad of factors, it would be highly unlikely that any two individuals would lose identical amounts of weight post-surgery, even if they were consuming the same amount of calories and performing similar amounts of physical activity. Therefore, it is important that healthcare professionals realize that identical surgical procedures do not result in identical weight loss patterns and that weight reduction is regulated by far more than calories in and calories out. Furthermore, patients should not despair or feel unsuccessful if they have lost less weight than others, particularly if they have been honest in adhering to their postoperative dietary and exercise regimens. Cynthia Buffington is the Director of Research, U.S. Bariatric, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Orlando Originally Published in Beyond Change - 2004

The stall is normal. We all have them. The weight gain could be a simple as water. So hang in there and press forward. Keep up the good work. You will break through it!

The general side effect of hormonal birth control is weight gain, but by no means is it enough to negate your WLS. My uterus was too small for Mirena (I wanted something with the greatest side effect of stopping my period) so I ended up with the Nexplanon. It totally beats having to remember taking a pill at the exact time every day.

Not consuming enough protein will not stop your weight process, it will under nourish your muscles and cause you to lose muscle mass. Do you monitor your menstrual cycle closely, as your weight gain can be water weight in PMS mode. Is it just fluid your intake problem or can you eat mushy foods? Maybe adding unflavored protein powder your meals can help up your protein intake.

so could not eating enough protein stop weight loss? I'm having trouble getting anywhere close to the amount of protein im suppose to be taking in. I'm having trouble meeting my fluid intake as well... just wondering if this is whats causing my stall (actually 2lb weight gain)! at 4 weeks.

I agree that everyone's journey is different! Before my weight gain, I did have a pretty fast metabolism, as far as what I am doing now is just prioritizing protein and trying to stay away from carbs.

I had surgery April 2014. At 5'7", my highest weight was 245 and I was 226 on the day I was sleeved. My surgeon's goal weight for me was 160 and today i am around 150-152. I started in a size 20 and I'm now in a size 6/8. My recovery was a breeze! I didn't have one single complication after my surgery. Trapped gas pain? Nope. Acid reflux? 14 months out, never had it or a reason to ever take the prescription medications. Heart burn? Nope. Throwing up? Nope. Dumping? Nope. Aversions to food? Nope. The only "real" issues were things you really can't avoid which are hair thinning between months 3-8 BUT by one year it all grew back in. I also had a hard time with vitamins, but found some awesome melt away kind and the problem was quickly resolved. The first 24 hours in the hospital I was cursing the BP community for not warning me. Coming out of surgery wasn't fun as I was nauseous from the medicine. Once it was out of my system, I was fine. I didn't need much in the hospital except my cell phone, charger, long extension cord, my own pillow and toiletries. The first 3 days at home were the hardest and after that I didn't feel like I had surgery at all. I was back at work by the end of two weeks. I could have gone back earlier (I sit for a living, it's not very active.) and honestly, I found the process harder having so much unstructured time at home and the ability to wander into the kitchen. The supplies you will need post-op are minimal. I went overboard and bought stuff I still have never used 14 months post-op (example: those sugar free torani syrups.) Don't laugh, but one of the most handy things I found to have was Dixie paper cups. They are the perfect size to measure a few ounces of cottage cheese and other food and then you don't have to wash endless dishes! Keep in mind that everyone's process is different. The scary thing for me is I couldn't imagine what it would feel like to have my stomach removed post surgery. You just feel full quicker at first after you eat. Some people get into trouble when they push their new tummies limits. I'm not sure why, but adjusting to a new lifestyle was easy for me. It's not to say it didn't have challenges. I didn't go out much to eat in public at first. Now 14 months out I can eat whatever I want. It's both a blessing and a curse. I was able to reach my goal weight within a year without issue and am now maintaining. For the first time in my life, I'm not really worried about weight gain. I love the fact that I never feel hungry. I love that I feel satisfied after a small amount of food. 14 months out I still have a great amount of restriction. I've never pushed this. I know my tummies capacity and stop eating well before then. It probably helped that I ate a pretty clean diet pre-surgery. I wasn't one to binge on Big Macs and never drank regular soda or any drinks with calories in them. Many of the "rules" this surgery requires I was already doing. Other rules I couldn't do before surgery, but after surgery it's really easy to do. For example, I had difficulty not eating/drinking at the same time before surgery. Now my tummy is so tiny that I can't drink while eating! I do still take tiny sips though! Do I follow the rules 100%? No way! I log everything into my lositapp on my phone and for me, having that accountability has been key. I pretty much eat whatever I want (in smaller quantity) BUT I find myself typically making healthy choices. That doesn't mean I don't enjoy dessert on occasion or other treat that I want. For me that's what makes this a lifestyle change vs. a diet. Good luck!

If you go WAY over your Protein needs, the excess protein can be stored as fat. Here's what livestrong.com has to say about it: In the Unites States, protein intake generally exceeds requirement. After protein completes its functions, the extra protein becomes a source of energy. This is fine as long as there is energy balance and the intake of energy does not exceed energy expenditure. When carbohydrate and fat intakes meet energy requirement, then the energy from protein is not necessary. Since protein cannot be stored as such, the body converts the extra protein into fat deposits. In this indirect manner, extra protein contributes to weight gain. Read more: http://www.livestron.../#ixzz2X4g3L6az It sounds like what they're saying is that we need to balance protein intake with exercise, to make sure any excess isn't stored in our bodies as fat. Also, our bodies can't absorb more than about 15-20 grams of protein per hour--so doubling up on protein might not give us any real benefit. More about protein absorption: http://www.livestrong.com/article/480054-how-much-protein-can-we-absorb-per-meal/

As others have said - check with your program. It could be intentional to help keep your blood sugar from crashing and keep you out of ketosis during a short period pre-op and/or post-op. I know my program advocates for small amounts of 100% apple or grape juice for those reasons (yes, my program tries to keep us out of ketosis which is different from others). If you are only taking in clear liquids the amount of sugar you are getting from a moderate amount of apple or grape juice is not going to cause significant weight gain. Moderation is the key though - I wouldn't drink gallons of apple or grape juice all day long.

you will be able to enjoy food again, just not in the quantity you were consuming before the surgery (I had the same worries). I am 5 months out from the sleeve procedure and I had my first slice of pepperoni pizza today (my birthday celebration at work) I was able to eat the entire slice (the most food I have eaten in 5 months) and though I was worried about weight gain, I wanted the pizza and allowed myself to enjoy the party. You will have days when you doubt the decision, and worry you will never enjoy a meal again. The time after the surgery is short considering the rest of your life at a normal weight. Hang in there. List the pros and cons to the surgery. If you still have doubts, postpone the surgery till you feel it is right, but don't let this be the sabotage that keeps you from meeting your goal to get down to a healthy weight.

I completely and totally understand the frustrations you are experiencing. I'm so sorry you are going through this. When a band goes bad it affects every single area of your life. If you are having major band problems I wouldn't wait long to have it removed. I waited too long and have permanent problems because of it. If you slip and an unfill doesn't do the trick they won't be able to do a revision in one surgery, two surgeries is much more expensive. If you erode... again, two surgeries. Then the weight gain while you wait for surgery #2 for revision. If you are self pay don't wait, get it done as soon as financially possible.

So my surgery was on 1.8.18, and since I have had zero appetite. I will eat somethings ( still on phase 2 full liquids and soft foods) but most of my options are sweet ( yogurt, oatmeal,pudding, jello, premier protein) with the 2 exceptions of grits and mashed potatoes. I just rather not eat and drink water then to suffer through more sweet crap. Also has anyone else noticed a stall in weightloss after 3 weeks or even a lb or 2 weight gain? My husband says I'm stressing over nothing but idk. Sent from my SM-G930P using BariatricPal mobile app

:help:Last night was a really bad night! I have had several episodes where I start by having to throw up something I ate that sticks and then it progresses to not being able to keep down even a sip of water. Usually, by the morning, and with no sleep, I go get my fill taken out. Last night, I determined in my heart to see this thing through without having to call my doctor, drive over to Texas, have the fill taken out, and start over with the inevitable weight gain of the "freedom to eat" ticket (no fill)! Me and the Lord had a long and continual talk through the night and praise God this morning I didn't have to go have my fill out! I am trying to recall all of the enormous amounts of information you get before surgery about eating right, troubleshooting, etc. and I started out this morning with a glass of grape juice. Liquids today, soft foods next, gradually building up to a normal diet (if I can ever find what that is!)! I feel like I have jumped a tremendous hurdle and I feel really encouraged! Pray for me that I can FOLLOW THE RULES! To date, I have lost 30 pounds - several times in the past year actually - and I want that number to be 80!

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.....

That's exactly what I'm afraid of. If I put my foot down and let my family know that I'm sticking to it, they would have no choice but to be supportive. However, I know they would definitely monitor my eating and make sarcastic remarks whenever I want to treat myself. Oh and God forbid I experience weight gain....I would never hear the end of it! Sent from my SM-G935T using the BariatricPal App

I've never smoked but I heard those pills can cause some crazy nightmares, but I know lots of people that they worked for. But is it the pill causing weight gain or substituting food in place of cig?

I've been taking Wellbutrin for about 7 years (I guess 8 come this fall) for depression. When I first started taking it, it really decreased my appetite and I lost about 25 pounds. Then after I got a new boyfriend all of the weight came back... so many restaurants. But ever since that weight gain, Wellbutrin never helped me to lose weight again. Energy and motivation have always been big issues for me and I would say that even when I'm taking the Wellbutrin, I still struggle with them. I just know that if I stop taking it I get more of the depression symptoms (sadness, suicidal thoughts). On Wellbutrin I just kind of feel that I'm evened out. I rarely feel very happy and I rarely feel very sad. I do have anxiety and insomnia as well but the insomnia started before I started taking Wellbutrin and the anxiety, I believe, is a genetic thing (same with the depression). I do take other medication to help with the insomnia and anxiety but I won't get too into that. Just wanted to mention that I do also suffer from those things but I do not believe them to be caused by taking Wellbutrin. My PCP has recommended I try lowering my dose once the weather gets warmer out, but I really don't think I am affected much by seasonal affective disorder. My depression is a constant thing regardless of the time of year - so I most likely won't change the dose. In fact, I'd like to start going back to a real psychiatrist so I can maybe take another antidepressant in combination with Wellbutrin that may help with the energy. And lastly, the Wellbutrin doesn't affect my sex drive at all. I have always had and will probably always have a low sex drive. People seem to have much better or much worse experiences with it than I have, but I'm not sure if that's because I've been taking it for so long.

Well, sure, but even a doctor isn't really likely to want to operate on a healthy patient "just in case." Once the patient really did start to gain weight rapidly a doctor might reband, as happened in Wayne's case, but insurance carriers have their guidelines and preventing future possibilities aren't in them. Personally, if my band slipped when I was at or close to goal I'd first want to see if there were any possible chance that my new behaviors could prevent weight gain before having the band replaced. The less surgery the better, IMO.

Depending on your insurance, you will have to do a 3 or 6 months supervised diet. My PCP followed me during mine. She said the diet wasn't so much for weight loss, but the insurance company is seeing whether you make the effort and keep your monthly appointments. The doctor who is doing my surgery (tomorrow!) did require that I lose any weight gained from my initial appointment with him. Meaning, when I had my first office visit on May 16th of last year, I weighed 242. I had my appointment to schedule surgery about 3 weeks ago and I weighed 248. I had to lose 6 pounds by today. I went to the office to weigh in today and weigh 240, so I am good to go! Good luck on your journey.....