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I haven't been on this site in forever, so it's nice to be posting again. A little back story: I was banded in Jan 2011; starting weight for this journey was 278 and my lowest weight so far has been 165 (my goal; lasted about a day...lol). I'm normally somewhere in the 170-175 range and I'm happy with that. At any rate, I'm currently 5 months pregnant with my first child and just wanted to reconnect with others having band babies. I have been very fortunate that I have had minimal morning sickness and though my appetite was voracious during the 1st trimester I didn't really gain any weight. I was about 172 when I got pregnant and am 176 as of this morning so weight gain has been minimal, though it fluctuates depending on my food/fluid intake. SOO...on to the questions: how much weight did your OB's tell you was okay to gain? Because of my weight history my OB said he would love it if I stayed within the 10lb range though 20-25 would be acceptable for someone my size. If things continue the way they are currently that shouldn't be a problem, but I have to confess I have a history of being a little scale obsessed so it worries me a bit. Other than my belly and a slightly bigger chest I look pretty much the same thank God, so like I said I feel very fortunate that things are going so well thus far. Port: *sigh* I have a love hate relationship with my port. Before I got pregnant I spoke to my surgeon concerning my port; it's not very noticeable when I'm standing but it protruded horribly when I would lie down, especially if I was a bit bloated. He told me my protruding was minimal and that it was something he would revisit after I had a baby but to leave it alone for now. Fast forward about 8 months and it now seems as though my port actually tries to flip when I lie down due to my growing belly; it's not horribly uncomfortable but it looks and feels awful to the touch. For those of you who are further along or have already have babies, should I just expect this to get worse? I know my port is stitched to my muscles, but I have this awful fear it's going to tear and I just moved to a new area so I don't even know where the nearest gastric surgeon is located. Finally: appetite. I have not had any Fluid removed or added to my band in probably about a year and a half; I think I have somewhere between 6-7cc's in a 10cc band. Like I mentioned earlier I ate like a cow first trimester but now there are days where I have to force myself to eat and after about 3 bites I already feel myself getting full. I'm having a hard time getting enough fluids as well . I'm not feeling sick or anything and baby seems to be doing okay, but has anyone experienced this and had issues arise later on down the road? I've never been at a place expect for right after a fill where I have been able to eat the suggest 1/2-1 c of food and feel full; I'm curious to try one of those pouch test diets to see if I stretched it or something but I know now is not a good time for that. Did any of you ladies have trouble eating while pregnant, and did you OB's express any concerns about your caloric intake? How will you know if you're not getting enough, or will that fact that most of us probably started a bit overweight be enough to buffer any possible nutritional concerns for the baby? Sorry for such a long post, but I look forward to hearing what others have to say. Thanks in advance!

A friend said that to me and I told her what my surgeon told me. You may experience some weight gain while trying to figure out your maintenance. Whether you do and how much is entirely in your control. I told her that I am in control and she shouldn't bother worrying about it. You go Kathy. We all know you are strong! Sent from my iPhone using VST

I am 221 and 9 months pregnant. That is a 58 pound weight gain and this month alone I gained 17 pounds. My belly got huge this month! I started getting edema bad so hopefully 10 pounds of that is water. I am really sad...but at the same time...I am having a baby. I lost 130 pounds!!!!!!! Now my loss is 70 pounds. I have been eating so many freaking carbs! Any day now I will start posting my losses again. I just hope I can get back to 160/165!

You should be proud of your success, and they, as health care professionals, should be proud of you too and want to encourage you! I really think weight loss causes most people to be jealous. Especially if they see you doing well. Most people want to see others fail at trying to lose weight. The dietician at my surgeons office told me that only a small percentage of people in their practice have gained 'some' weight back. And have an on-going study over the past few years to deterimine why that small group gains some weight back. They don't have all the results yet, but it boils down to them eating all the 'wrong' foods (high fat/calories) and enough of that, even in small quantities, will cause weight gain.

I was first diagnosed with PCOS when I was about 18 years old, this was around 1992. At that time, little was known about PCOS. I was basically prescribed birth control pills to regulate my periods. I think I was probably around 200 lbs then. I actually participated in a clinical trial at a research hospital where they were researching the use of metformin to treat PCOS (yes, it's been a while:/). Gradually, the weight gain, painful acne, facial hair, diabetes, high cholesterol, high triglycerides snowballed. All that became complicated by clinical depression. By the time I was 30, I weighed more than 300 lbs. I could not understand why I continually failed at weight loss attempts. I had graduated colleges with honors, earned a Masters Degree, and excelled in my career....I knew I was not lazy nor ignorant, but I could not succeed with weight loss no matter how hard I tried. The depression spiraled out of control and I generally stopped caring about my health, defeated. At 32 years old, I topped the scales at 333lbs. Then I began having long, heavy periods which was my body screaming that something was wrong...endometrial cancer. In 2006 I had a complete hysterectomy at age 32. Single, no children, devastated. Then came medical menopause. I eventually began to feel better and was able to lose down to about 265 on my own with diet and exercise, but it was a hard, hard struggle. From 2008 until 2012 I bounced around on the scale from 265 to 280 or so. My diabetes was out of control, cholesterol very high. I had lap band surgery in March, 2013 weighing 258. Today I weigh 222. My recent lab work revealed excellent control of the diabetes, cholesterol that is only slightly elevated. My skin/complexion has never looked better. I sleep so good at night and wake up rested. I want to lose down to about 180. I don't have periods any more due to the surgery, but I do feel that the WLS has helped to alleviate the PCOS symptoms. PCOS is more than just a disease of infertility. It affects your whole body and your whole life. It is nothing to deny or to play around with. Oh how I wish I had the information years ago that I have now. I would have had lap band surgery years ago. The lifestyle for wls still requires work and conscious decisions to make your health a priority, but the difference for me is that the work I put in actually yields results! Yesterday I bought a size 18 pants when it wasn't too long ago I barely squeezed into a 28. The NSVs are great too! I know that was a long post, but I hope it helps someone.

CHRONICALLY AWESOME !!!! I'm so stealing that term! I just posted a new bolg entry - but had to go on steroids this past week. Guess what? NO WEIGHT GAIN!!! I actually lost 4 lbs. So happy that I did the surgery - I'd be doing a happy dance (if I could) right now!

Believe me.....I KNOW it's not easy! My doctor put me on a 1200 calorie per day diet for two weeks prior to surgery. I didn't even stick with that; ate more like 1400-1500. And THAT was a stretch. All of this WILL be much easier once banded (after you go through bandster hell), and 1500 calories will seem like a lot. After my little meltdown yesterday, I felt like my 1500 calories was 4000 calories! That is the beauty of the band (and plication....for me). 1500 calories on a bad day will not cause weight gain, and my need to add those extras got me through a difficult day. Today......back to my usual 1000. I hate "diets" too, but really, I feel like I still AM dieting. The difference now is, that I'm able to comfortably stick to a lower calorie plan, and not feel hungry all the time.

Ok i am 3 weeks post OP and am so frustrated...i lost about 16 lbs the first 2 weeks and for the last few days i was stalled ABCs this morning i was even up a couple lbs!!! I am still on liquids for a week and then puree for 2 weeks...a couple contributing factors could be lack of protein or lack of water...very hard for me to get those in...anything else that could be causing this? Any one have suggestions to jump start my weight loss again? I am kind of freaking out...why am i torturing myself for no weight loss??!

Gastric Band- advice for week 5 onwards Weight loss You may lose some weight in the first 2 weeks post-surgery, but this is more due to the low calorie liquid diet and the fact that sometimes, appetite is reduced due to the area around the band swelling initially after surgery. Your weight is therefore likely to plateau or even go up slightly by 4 weeks post-surgery. By the time week 5 comes around, it is highly likely that you will be feeling hungry again; this is because the swelling will have most likely subsided, therefore the top of the stomach is no longer being compressed by the band to the same degree. The process of gastric band adjustments is required in order to ensure adequate compression of the stomach and hence adequate appetite reduction, reduced portion sizes and weight loss. However, the band needs very fine-tuning to provide optimal reduction in appetite and satisfaction on small portions (sometimes described as ‘restriction’), and you should expect to need 4-6 adjustments to the band in the first 6 months post-surgery before this is achieved, although everyone is different and a small minority of people can even feel the effects of the band with only 1 or 0 adjustments. Band adjustments One of the best features of the Gastric Band is its ability to be adjusted to ensure of a sensible and successful weight loss. The members of the multi disciplinary team will assess your need for the band to be adjusted during your follow up consultations. We do not perform adjustments unless they are genuinely needed. We will always carefully review your status before deciding on a ‘fill’ because the aim of the band is to reduce capacity, not completely restrict you. Problems related to the band are often associated with it being ‘over filled’. What is a gastric band adjustment? An adjustment is the process whereby Fluid is added to the silicone band, which then tightens the band itself and makes the stoma (opening) between the upper and lower parts of the stomach smaller. This results in food flowing through the stomach more slowly and therefore the band squeezes on the vagus nerve at the top of the stomach to a greater degree, thereby meaning you feel satisfied on less food. Fluid can also be withdrawn from the band at an adjustment – this may be needed if weight loss needs to slow down or if it is suspected that the band may be too tight. Everyone is individual and usually patients require several adjustments to gain and maintain optimum restriction. The members of the multi disciplinary team are trained to assess whether or not you require a band adjustment. You are likely to require a band tightening or ‘fill’ if one of the following is the case, usually in combination with lack of weight loss: 1) You are hungry sooner than 4-5 hours after meals. 2) You are able to comfortably consume a large quantity of textured food within a 20 minute period. You are likely to require a band loosening or ‘aspiration’ if one or more of the following is the case: 1) Symptoms of discomfort/pain on eating, regurgitation, night cough, acid reflux/heartburn (especially at night) 2) Difficulty tolerating solid foods despite appropriate eating behaviours, and reliance on soft/high calorie foods that are easy to eat, resulting in sub-optimal weight loss or even weight gain. If either of the above is the case, you MUST contact your local clinic without delay to arrange an appointment. A competent practitioner will add the amount that he/she feels is clinically required based on your weight changes, your appetite after eating and the volume of food that you can manage. There must be a minimum of 3 weeks between band fills in order to allow you to adjust to the altered level of restriction, and for the Dietitian to review your progress. What is involved? You will most likely be asked to lie on the couch, however sometimes it is easier to access the port whilst standing. The practitioner will ask you to expose the area where your port is sited. You may be asked to raise your legs or raise your head because this pushes the port closer to the surface, which can make it easier for the practitioner to feel it. The practitioner will wash their hands and then clean the port area with an antiseptic wipe. A needle will be used to puncture the skin and gain access to the port area and fluid will be added or removed using a syringe attached to the needle. You will be asked to drink some Water whilst the needle is in situ so that the practitioner can ensure there is adequate restriction or the band has been adjusted appropriately. Some patients may experience “burping” after the procedure. Will I be able to eat afterwards? It is essential you progress gradually with your diet during the initial 3 days after an adjustment. Phase 1: fluids for the first 24 hours • This minimises the risk of any complications associated with tightening the band. • The practitioner who performed your adjustment may advise you to extend this phase to 48 or 72 hours, especially if they checked how much fluid was in the band initially before replacing it and adding more fluid, as this can cause additional swelling to simply adding fluid. You will usually only require this ‘fluid check’ at your first adjustment to provide a baseline level. • Fluids are defined as anything liquid that can pass through a straw. • Fizzy drinks are not allowed during this period. • You should aim for about 2-3 litres of fluid per day, or enough to ensure your urine is pale straw-coloured from around 4 hours after waking onwards. • Follow the same regime as you did during the first 2 weeks after your operation. Phase 2: soft/pureed food for the next 24 hours • Follow the same regime as you did during the second 2 weeks after your operation. You should then start to notice a reduction in appetite and reduction in the quantity of food required to stop you feeling hungry when you first start to eat normal/textured foods again, although it should be stressed that an exact degree of appetite reduction and reduction in portion size can never be guaranteed following an adjustment, and if you are in the early stages of your weight loss journey, it’s important to remember that several adjustments are usually required to gain and maintain optimal restriction. Continue to take your Multivitamin and mineral supplement. The supplement and any medication will need to be crushed, soluble or chewable during the initial 2 days after a band adjustment. Are there any complications? There can be complications, which is why we ask that you do not eat normally for 3 days. There have been reports of band slippage or gastric erosion associated with over-tightening and hence we take the process of performing band adjustments very seriously and only arrange them when clinically indicated. If you do require fluid removal or a review of the band, you MUST contact your local clinic without delay to arrange an appointment. We do not advise that you fly within 2 weeks of having your band tightened - this will ensure you have enough time to check the band is not too tight and to give you time to arrange an aspiration if necessary. Furthermore, the change in air pressure may affect the tightness of the band, and so it is recommended that you do not have fluid put back into the band for at least one week after flying in case the band has tightened up during the flight. Increased stress/anxiety can sometimes make the band feel tighter than usual, and the nurse will not be able to tighten the band in this instance. Hot weather can also cause the band to feel tighter than usual – with this in mind, we do not recommend you travel to a hot climate within 2 weeks of having the band tightened. Some women find that the band feels tighter during menstruation, hence it may not be appropriate to tighten the band at this time of the month. What are the risks of this procedure? Immediate • Slight discomfort/pain. • Bruising • Punctured port tubing. • Inability to access the port – in this instance, you will be referred to an alternative practitioner in the first instance. If the second practitioner is unable to access the port, we may consider referral for an x-ray guided band adjustment; charges may apply. Soon after • Bruising. • Heartburn and/or reflux. • Infection. • Over-restriction, characterised by sickness/vomiting, inability to swallow fluids, nocturnal acid reflux & pain Over 48 hours • Infection. • Over-restriction – as above. • The band may become “unclipped” – this can usually be rectified by a surgical procedure. • Port may become detached – this can usually be rectified by a surgical procedure. • The following (commonly caused by an over-restricted band): o Erosion. o Slippage. o Oesophageal dilatation. o Pouch dilatation. o Achalasia/oesophageal dysmotility – these are pre-existing conditions, the symptoms of which the band can exacerbate. How can I tell if my band is too tight/I am over-restricted? There are a number of signs or symptoms that might indicate your band is too tight. They would usually become apparent within 24-48 hours of a band adjustment. They include: • You cannot swallow your own saliva • You cannot drink sufficient fluids (leading to a risk of dehydration) • You are unable to eat solid food • You are experiencing frequent heartburn, belching and regurgitation • You are having reflux more than one night a week (when food or fluid comes into your mouth or nose when you lie down) • You are experiencing difficulty swallowing even well-chewed food In any of these cases, you MUST contact your local clinic without delay to speak with a nurse or dietitian as you may need to have some fluid withdrawn from your band. Do NOT struggle with an over-restricted band – doing so puts you at unnecessary risk of complications. Call your clinic within 48 hours if symptoms of over-restriction become apparent following a band fill. Choosing the correct texture From 4 weeks post-surgery onwards, it is essential that you progress onto a diet of solid/textured foods. Solid food requires thorough chewing, meaning that not only are you less likely to rush your food, but you are more likely to feel satisfied and enjoy your meals. In addition, firm/crunchy foods tend to be more nutritious and lower in calories and fat than softer foods. Opt for wholemeal/wholegrain products where possible, as these are higher in fibre and other nutrients. Most importantly however, the number of times the oesophagus has to contract to get solid foods through the band is greater than with soft foods, so you will experience a reduction in appetite far sooner, hence eat less. However, it is important to remember that appetite and portion size reduction is unlikely to occur to any great degree until the band is adjusted appropriately. Things to be wary of: 1. Dishes where lots of sauce is used as this will make the dish less suitable and more likely to slip through the band too quickly, so you can eat more and not stay satisfied for long. Good examples would be sauce on Pasta and gravy on a roast dinner. You can overcome this by reducing the amount of sauce used and adding chunky vegetables, Beans and/or lentils to the sauce to improve its texture. 2. Soft ‘complete meals’ e.g. fish pie, shepherd’s pie, lasagne. Ideally avoid these meals, but if and when you do choose them, they should only fill ½ of the plate; fill the rest of the plate with crunchy steamed vegetables or salad. Use the list below to help guide you to choosing the correct texture. Avoid – too soft Rice Krispies, Frosties, Weetabix, Porridge, Readybrek Mashed potato Stewed fruit / fruit smoothies Liquidised Soups Curries with lots of sauce Drier consistency Overcooked/soft vegetables, Mushy peas Overcooked/soft pasta Better choice All Bran, Branflakes, Fruit & Fibre, No added sugar muesli, Minibix, Special K –ensure only a splash of milk is used to ensure they remain crunchy when eaten. New potatoes (with skin), jacket potato (with skin), oven-baked potato wedges (with skin; use spray oil) Whole fruit (with skin) Stew/casserole – with chunks of crunchy vegetables & potatoes with the skin on curries e.g. tandoori, served with crunchy vegetables/salad Crunchy steamed vegetables Wholemeal pasta cooked so it retains some ‘bite’ (al dente) Caution foods There are some caution foods, which are more likely to cause discomfort and/or regurgitation when eaten, particularly if introduced into your diet too early. Always take care when introducing foods back into your diet and take note of any discomfort. It is important to experiment with these foods to identify how your body will react. If a food causes problems, remove it from you diet and then re-trial it again after a few weeks. The caution foods listed below should be the last attempted when progressing onto solid foods – try other foods first. They should also be avoided for two weeks after each band fill, to give you time to attempt other foods first. The main caution foods are: 1. Bread & bread products Try none of these foods until week 5 post-op and follow the below staged approach when introducing these foods: • Try 1st: low fat crackers (e.g. Ryvita, Crackerbread, Finncrisp, Krisprolls) • Try 2nd: well toasted wholemeal pitta bread • Try 3rd: wholemeal wrap • Try 4th: Weight Watchers/Nimble bread, toasted to begin with • Try last: normal wholemeal/granary bread, toasted to begin with • Try to avoid: soft doughy white bread 2. Boiled or steamed rice Do not try until week 5 post-op and ensure you have tried other types of carbohydrate first e.g. potatoes with the skin on, pasta cooked so it retains some ‘bite’ (al dente), couscous, noodles. • Brown rice is better. • Ensure you wash it thoroughly before and after cooking to prevent it becoming “sticky”. 3. meat, particularly chicken breast, steak and pork chops You may have already tried lean (ideally less than 5% fat) minced beef/pork/lamb/chicken/turkey in the soft food stage post-operatively. If not, try this first before attempting anything more solid. Once you have started eating textured foods from week 5 onwards, start building in other meat products by following the below staged approach: • Try 1st: Lean (ideally less than 5% fat) minced beef/pork/lamb/chicken/turkey (N.B. as mince has a tendency to be soft and ‘easy to eat’ when cooked, aim to include chunky vegetables, beans and/or lentils when making meals from these foods) • Try 2nd: Stewing steak/casseroled/slow cooked meats • Try 3rd: “Wafer thin” sliced sandwich meats (ideally less than 5% fat) • Try 4th: Chicken or turkey leg meat (no skin) • Try 5th: Lean sausages (ideally less than 5% fat) • Try 6th: Lean bacon or turkey bacon (fat cut off) • Try 7th: Grilled/dry fried/barbequed chicken or turkey breast (no skin) • Try last: Grilled/dry fried/barbequed beef/pork/lamb Other caution foods • Stringy vegetables/fruit such as green beans, sweetcorn and pineapple. • Fruit with tough skin e.g. apples/pears or pith i.e. oranges/satsumas/tangerines. • Nuts. • Dried fruit. Discomfort/pain on eating and regurgitation These are common complications that can occur specifically in the first few months after gastric band surgery, but are not limited to this time period. They are usually triggered due to one or more of the following: 1. Taking too large a mouthful. 2. Not chewing enough. 3. Not leaving a gap between mouthfuls. 4. Leaving too long between meals – this can cause you to become very hungry, thereby increasing the chances of points 1 to 3 above. Furthermore, the oesophagus can become ‘lazy’ and sit heavily on the band if you leave too long between meals, meaning it can be difficult to eat. Alleviate this by ensuring you eat every 4-5 hours, and drink plenty of fluids between meals to keep the oesophagus active. Remember the 20, 20, 20 Rule: 1. Take a small volume of food onto your fork or teaspoon (no bigger than the size of your thumbnail/a 5p piece) 2. Chew the mouthful thoroughly (20 times) before swallowing. 3. Put your cutlery down and count to 20 before putting the next mouthful in. 4. Eat in this way for a period of 20 minutes. At this point, stop and walk away. Give yourself 5- 10 minutes and then consider whether you are still hungry; if not – stop eating. Discard any food that is left or save for another meal. Only go back to the meal if you genuinely still feel physically hungry - try 3-4 more mouthfuls eaten in the same way and then consider your hunger level again. If you are sure you are following the 20, 20, 20 rule, then discomfort on eating and regurgitation may be as a result of attempting caution foods (see above) too early. If a food causes problems, remove it from you diet and then re-trial it again after a few weeks. There are a number of other factors that can be associated with these symptoms that you need to be aware of: 1. Time of day – during the night, the oesophagus can become ‘lazy’ and sit heavily on the band, meaning it can be difficult to eat first thing in the morning. Alleviate this by having a few Hot Drinks throughout the morning and delay your Breakfast for a couple of hours – don’t eat immediately after waking. 2. Climate – some people find that the band feels tighter in hot weather. The best way to cope with this is ensure you are drinking plenty. 3. Menstrual cycle – some women have reported that the band feels tighter when they are menstruating. This can mean that only a soft diet is tolerated at this time of the month. 4. Stress/anxiety – some people find that the band feels tighter when they are particularly stressed or anxious. Relaxation techniques are useful in this respect, or the use of herbal teas such as camomile. 5. Illness – some people find that the band feels tighter when they have a cough/cold. This can mean that only a soft diet is tolerated, but if it lasts longer than a few days, it would be sensible to have the band loosened slightly to prevent complications. 6. Excessive vomiting – vomiting as a result of food poisoning/stomach bug or pregnancy can cause the band to tighten up. If vomiting continues for more than 24 hours, you should contact your local clinic without delay to arrange a band deflation (aspiration). 7. Flying – some people find that the band tightens up on flights, particularly long haul (>4 hours); there is a theory that this occurs as a result of the change in air pressure at high altitude causing any air trapped in the band to expand. There are a number of things to consider: 1) Band fills should take place at least 2 weeks before flying, as this will ensure you have enough time to check the band is not too tight and to give you time to arrange an aspiration if necessary. 2) You should eat at least 4 hours before flying. Don’t eat directly before boarding. 3) While flying, it is advisable to take fluids only; ensure you keep hydrated and consider purchasing nourishing milkshakes (e.g. Buildup, Slimfast) or soups at the airport if you are going on a long flight. 4) Any changes occurring with the band while flying usually go back to normal when back on the ground but take care when staying in high altitude areas. 5) If you do experience any discomfort whilst flying, consume liquids only for 1 day after the flight, soft foods for another day, and move back to normal challenging/textured foods on day 3. 6) Consider a small aspiration (deflation) of the band prior to a long haul flight if you are experiencing discomfort on eating and/or regurgitation more than once a week, as this may indicate that you are more likely to experience discomfort whilst flying. Finally, if you are experiencing these symptoms despite every effort to follow the 20, 20, 20 rule and you are sure it is not due to a specific food or any of the above situations, then your gastric band is probably too tight. You should contact your local clinic without delay to arrange a band deflation (aspiration). Balanced meals To make sure that your body is getting all the nutrients it needs and to help you maximise the benefits of the band, try and make sure you have the following 3 food groups at every meal. 1. Carbohydrate-containing foods (¼ of your plate) • Breakfast Cereal Bran flakes Minibix No added sugar muesli Fruit and Fibre Special K All bran • Bread and bread products – N.B. caution food (see above) Low fat crackers (e.g. Ryvita, crackerbread, Finncrisp, Krisprolls, oatcakes)

Oh good (okay not that any weight gain is good). I was hoping this wasn't just me. My husband was sleeved last year and I didn't recall him gaining post op weight. I'm assuming at some point it will go back down. I started to think I was perhaps the one crazy person that the sleeve would not work on! Thank you!

Hi all. Please tell me that it is normal to experience post-op weight gain! After being pumped full of liquids before I was sent home plus swelling in the abdomen I am 10 lbs up. I am getting in my required liquids daily and also am walking, usually each time I take a dose of my medicine. Thanks for any tips/thoughts, etc!

I never thought I would have WLS. Even a year ago, I would have scoffed at the idea of it. But what I did know was that a year ago, I decided that this year would be the last year in the body I had. I wasn't sure how I would get to the next leg in this journey, however I made a mental and verbal commitment that the body that I had been in for the last 15 years, would no longer serve me moving forward. She(my 335lb body) had served me well for the 15 years that she sustained me through marriage, work, masters degree, promotions, and having 3 kids in 5 years. However I realized that she had served her purpose, and in order for me to move forward as a person, wife, mother and professional, I needed to break up with her and move own. I realized that "she" had no place in the future that I envisioned for myself. So when I discovered VSG, and after researching it, I decided that this would be the tool that I would use to help me meet my goal. Like so many others on this forum, there were specific moments, incidents and pains that led me to this decision. My kids are now a few years away from finishing high school, and I realized that they have never known me prior to my weight gain. I had never been able to ride with them on an amusement park ride or travel with them to foreign lands (as I did before my weight gain). I want to not only watch my daughter play volleyball, but actually be able to play with her. I want to go salsa dancing with my husband for hours on end, like we used to and not get winded after one song. I guess in short, the goal is to reclaim my life and LIVE!!!!!!

I agree with DL. About a month ago I started getting lax with logging my food intake. As I am a slave to the scale... yes I know you don't agree DL.. ha...I caught a 2 lb gain quickly. I vowed when I started this journey that it is much easier to lose under 5 lbs then 190 lbs. So, when I caught the weight gain.. I quickly got back to logging everything that goes in my mouth and upped my exercise. I was excited to see the weight come off with in 3 days. So am back to logging everything and exercising like a beast. We have come to far to see our efforts fail. Get back on the wagon and use any and every tool in your arsenal. Excuses are like butt holes ... everyones got one... only way to get it off is to be accountable!! You got this.

I just completed my 3rd week today and I struggle to get my 400-500 calories a day. I work it ALL day and its a full time job between getting the calories AND fluid in. I too hit that 3 week slump, and I actually gained 2 pounds at my weekly weigh in. HOWEVER, despite the weight gain, I lost inches. I don't really dwell on the weight, but concentrate on the inches lost. I weigh myself weekly as part of my documentation, but inches are more important. Good luck to everyone!

I made the decision to have the surgery to stop my binge and volume eating. My plan is to use this tool to end the behavior. I know that in the beginning the fast weight loss will keep me motivated. I've already lost and regained hundreds of pounds in the past and I don't ever want to have to lose the SAME pounds again. This is a last resort for me. In the past I went from 272 to 127 with diet and exercise. I broke my foot teaching a Zumba class and that was the beginning of my weight gain (again). As I watched the scale go up 3, down 2, up 5, down 3, I slowly gained 70 pounds back over the next 7 years. I saw 200 quickly approaching and decided diet and exercise just wasn't going to do it for me again. At 60 years old, the weight doesn't fall off anymore. I didn't want to be 272 ever again. So.... before my fear became my reality I made the decision to have the surgery. I'm scheduled for Aug. 1st, and it can't come fast enough.

A girl I met on this site got banded at 19. Sure she wasn't mature, but she worked the band and lost the weight, and it changed her life. She went from being the one that guys walked all over, and the one that people would treat like crap, to being confident, happy and sure of herself, whose confidence shone through. I wish I'd had the option of arresting my weight gain at a young age, so I don't feel like my healthier, fitter self only came into existence in my late 30s. I think if there's been a history of not being able to lose, and the prognosis is that the teen would likely be overweight all their life, then I think helping them sooner rather than later would be beneficial to them. Because it's obvious from this site that age and maturity isn't what makes you prepared for the band.

I did it today to see what the difference is on a work day. Plus I ate so badly yesterday that I really wanted to get back on track quickly. It really makes me mad that I can't wear a lot of my summer clothes. All of a sudden, I have this spare tire around my middle and all of my tops are too small. It doesn't make sense to me, because I'm not up that much from last summer. I got a book for .50 written by Dr. Oz at the library today. it's a cool book and it explains all about hormones and weight gain. It's not just the women hormones. There are all sorts of other hormones, like the hunger hormone and the satisfaction hormone.

Well, Wednesday is my Surgical consul with Dr. Woodman. I'll receive my pre-op & post-op dietary education, as well as my surgery date. I'm so psyched to have the surgery, I'm like a 10 year old anxiously awaiting my birthday. Pretty symbollic when you think about it; The surgery being the rebirth of the "new me!" I've purchased baby food, broth, whey protein, and other post op items to kick off my journey towards 200 lbs. After losing more than 50 lbs before approval, my prescription meds and inability to cope with my osteoarthritis pain and a very painful hernia has triggered a gradual weight gain since April. Excercise restrictions are so frustrating!!!! I plan on working my ass off post-op!

Anyone else going through this right now and wanna chat with like minded people? Ive noticed mine coming back over the last month, and I'm thinking about getting on something. (Again). I'm a little afraid of weight gain. The first three months after surgery I thought I was free from these things, but I know depression is common with Bariatric surgery. I think now is my time. I'm excited to feel happy and calm again.

I would still say I have pretty great restriction. I can eat more now at over 2.5 years post op than I could at even a year, but I still cannot eat a lot. It all really depends on food choices that dictates how much I can eat, which I know we can all relate too. I also have about the same level of hunger as earlier out. I get hungry if I haven't eaten for a long period of time, but it is not the same gnawing hunger with a rumbling stomach that I got before surgery. I agree with Cheri about the all or nothing approach and talked about it a little on another thread. Instead as looking at the sleeve as an opportunity to make lasting lifestyle changes, people, for lack of a better word, crash diet. Sure, it might get you to goal quickly, but it is not sustainable over the long haul, just like it was not sustainable before the sleeve. I never took that stance. I decided to make changes that I could live with for a lifetime (limiting processed carbs...white stuff, Protein first, no drinking with meals, etc). I believe in the 90/10 or 80/20 approach. Eating healthy most of the time, but allow yourself some wiggle room. Personally, I knew I could never go the rest of my life never having ice cream with my kids or having a piece of cake at a birthday. But I don't keep those types of food in my house because I do not need to be eating them everyday. And with this approach I was maintaining for almost a year before I started a new medication that caused me to gain 7 lbs in 3 weeks without any dietary changes. I stopped taking the medication and I stopped gaining, but the way I was eating has been enough to once again maintain but not lose. Thus why I have chosen to try the 5:2 method to shed the pounds to get back down to where I was. I also have read that you can start to produce more Ghrelin several years after surgery which could account for more hunger. Whether that is true or not, I am not sure and since the sleeve is still really in its infancy, I think there is a lot more research to be done. I cannot see that you would have a problem down the road if you maintain what you are doing. If you can look at yourself and you regiment and say that you are happy and you feel it is honestly something you can do for life, you will be rocking it 20 years from now! You have made it a new life and have chosen to make permanent changes you can be happy with and sustain. In all honesty, our downfall is ourselves. Allowing old habits to creep back in, becoming more slack, and not making lasting changes is what results in weight gain for most people (of course, ruling out the medical), not a mechanical problem with the surgery itself.

According to whom, and how far out? My surgeon says his average is 80-90% of excess weight lost initially with a small rebound weight gain typical, but not up to 60%. Also, it's said on this board over and over again, but you decide where you fit on that. If you think the surgery is a magic bullet and you don't have to change anything except the amount you eat, you probably won't hit 100%. If you stick to plan 95% of the time and exercise regularly, you'll get a lot closer.

My 22 year old daughter took the Depo shot ( she is 5'3/ 110 lb) and had a horrible bout of depression and weight gain that took over a year to recover from. I would have a hard time recommending to anyone.

My husband was on vacation last week (I'm retired.) We had a friend here visiting from Indiana. We ate out every night, breakfast out at least 3 times too. We went to a Red sox game, partook of all of the July 4th celebrations in town. Weather was in the 90's the whole time. My NSV's - no weight gain at all! I know that I did not exercise as much as I have been. - being able to comfortably walk around town for all the festivities - being comfortable in the seats at Fenway - room to spare actually!! - having so much energy that folks were trying to keep up with me this year!! I made sure I got in all of my water - averaged about 90+oz a day. Continued to track on MFP, only 2 days I went over my 1200-by less than 60 calories. I feel like this was a good test for me - I know I can do this for life. I must say these last 11 pounds are stubborn, losing just oz at a time. But it will happen, for all of us December Sleevers!!

I am on depo shot every 3 months and have been way before surgery and its been my savior. One of the side effect is weight gain but for some reason, I have not gained a pound since I have been on it but I know someone that has gained weight while on it. I had my baby 7/10/12 and was given the shot before I was discharged 3days later.

Thank you for your information clk, I honestly don't have much in the way of stretch marks, my weight gain has been slow and steady over my life and the ones I do have are fine and near invisible, so that's a positive I suppose.