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I hope mine doesn't stick out when I loose the weight....

I'm glad your doctor was able to help you. I too suffer from depression but haven't noticed it to be any worse since being banded. Around time for my period I sink pretty low into depression but I'm otherwise okay. Having the band has given me back the control of my weight that I was lacking for so long. I hope it has this effect on you as well. Hang in there. Take each day as it comes. Donna

Wow, we have almost the exact story - banded in 2008, lost 70, you gained 30, I gained 35! I'm also restarting and am totally committed. I went so far as to be approved for a revision surgery then canceled a week before because I was nervous about changing my anatomy permanently. This is my last try and then I will get the surgery I really don't want. As for now, I'm determined to lose it and am coming on here every day for support and reading the success stories. I'm hoping that will keep me on the right track. I wish you the best of luck and know we can do this!

Hi my name is Dawn. I have been struggling with my weight since my early 20's when I became pregnant with my first child. After that my weight just kept getting heavier and heavier. I tried every diet you could imagine. Sure it worked for a few months and then I would spiral out of control and gain all of my weight back and then some. In 2001 I had open heart surgery for an Aortic Aneurysm. They also replaced my valve. At the time I had a pigs valve which only lasts for about 10 years. I chose this because I really didn't want to take blood thinner for the rest of my life because I was only 34. So soon I will need another open heart surgery. So my cardiologist told me that if I didn't lose the weight, I could wind up dieing on the table. That was my wake up call. I was not going to leave my 2 children (even though they are grown now), one of them having Down Syndrome. In April of 2009 I decided to attend a seminar. Then in May was the start of my 6 month journey before I had my lapband surgery. I then found out that I was borderline everything (diabetes, fatty liver, cholesterol, Sleep Apnea..etc.) On October 23, 2009 I had my surgery and it was the best thing that I could have done for myself. The only thing that I regret is not getting it done sooner. I am no longer borderline anything. And today I was told that I no longer have sleep Apnea and can get rid of my CPAP machine. I AM SO HAPPY!!! You know it's the small things in life that amaze me. Things that you miss when you are heavy. Like being able to cross your legs, tie your shoes, pick up things off the floor, being able to walk without having to stop over and over again. And most of all having people including your family come up to you and say, "I didn't recognize you. You look so good!" If I had to do this all over again I would do it in a heart beat. I went from 304 to 217. I have 34lbs to go until goal. I went from a size 26 to a 14. And I haven't been this size since 1989. My self esteem is back and I feel very good about myself.

If you feel up to light exercise right now then you should do what you can handle. As far as gaining weight, I doubt that you would be able to consume enough to gain anything right now. good luck! and congrats on your sleeve!

Thank you. Tonight I went for a power walk around the block with my husband. It wasnt a whole lot but it was something and it made me feel good. You have lost a massive amount of weight. That is so awesome. I can't wait to start seeing results.

Hello, Congrats on your decision to have surgery, I don't know much about BCBS of CA, because I switched over to Tufts because of a job change. I can tell you that as soon as my insurance kicked in, I went to my PCP and got a referral, and two and a half months later I had the surgery. So I don't think it matters when you seek the surgery, it mostly just depends on the insurance requirements. As Beni stated they may require a two year weight history, but your PCP should have that info. Best Wishes!

The effects of gastric sleeve surgery are: restricts food intake controls hunger Following gastric sleeve surgery, food continues to move through the digestive system naturally, from the time it enters the stomach to the time it is released into the small intestine through the pyloric valve. The difference is that after surgery the amount of food that can be eaten at any one time is greatly reduced. The surgery also helps to control hunger, because the upper portion of the stomach that produces the hunger stimulating hormone Ghrelin is removed during surgery. I've gone through the Kaiser Options 12 week pre-op program with the intention of having weight loss surgery, after many years of yo-yo dieting and always gaining back the weight. I'm 56 and I needed to do something very proactive to give me longevity and a more active lifestyle. I got really tired of being sedentary! Tired of needing a belt extender on an airplane, tired of never sitting in a booth in a restaurant! In the 12 week program, we were expected to lose 10% before being eligible for surgery and put on a restricted calorie diet, mine started at 1400-1700 calories for six weeks, then 1200-1400 for the next six weeks, and after that 1200, which is ongoing while I wait for surgery. The post op information indicates that the dietary restrictions after surgery, once fully healed, are to eat mostly Protein, then fruits & veggies, then carbs. The new stomach pouch can only hold about 3-4 ounces in the beginning, so this is not much food, but you feel FULL after eating very little, and the stomach is no longer "stretchy". You have to supplement with protein about 80-100 grams per day. This means for most people supplementing with Protein shakes between meals and then meals with high protein as a main component. I can envision having some carbs after surgery, but this will not be my mainstay. I have lost a good amount of weight even now at 1200 calories and 30 minutes a day of walking and some resistance work and strength training. I take Vitamins everyday and drink at least 64 oz of liquid daily. Mostly, if you feel better having some carbs in your life, you would be better to switch out to whole grains. I do this by having whole grain crackers, reduced fat triscuit and wheat thins, whole grain bread, brown rice (learned to love this) and whole wheat english muffins, Pasta, etc. Even tortilla chips are whole grain, so I can have my chips and salsa and still lose weight. In the big scheme, you can't do things the old way. You have to eat healthy and do the work, by monitoring your intake, and drinking Fluid and getting excercise. The sleeve is a tool not a simple fix. I'm going for it.

Hey there! I was just banded on 10/22/09 and my 1st fill is scheduled for 12/01. I am in Federal Way, WA. I am 39 years old and starting weight at time of surgery was 390 lbs. My goal is to reach 200. I am really concerned that I feel almost no restriction in what I can eat right now. My first fill was scheduled on 11/24 but they rescheduled it because of Thanksgiving. Something about having to be available for 48 hours after a fill. So now it is set for 12/01. Seems soooo far away. I am working out 4 days a week for 45 mins. Doing Water aerobics at Bally in Kent M, T, Th, F at 5:00AM by myself. Then I treat myself to 10 minutes in the steam room! I lost 5 lbs since surgery. That's IT!!! I am eatting 3 small meals a day and 1 snack. Somedays I have 2 Snacks. My meals are no more than 1 cup of food. 4oz of meat and lots of steamed cauliflower. For lunches I am eatting tuna salad (4oz of tuna with 2 teaspoons of lite mayo) and a piece of whole weat toast. For Breakfast I have 1/2 c. of 2% cottage cheese. For snacks I am having 16 lite wheat thins with 2 oz of turkey ham and 1 oz of provolone cheese. That's it! And 5 lbs??? I don't really know what I am doing wrong. And I am starving!!! I used to only eat once or twice a day. But once I eat breakfast I am hungry throughout the entire day. Any advice?

yes and no When I was in high school and thrown off the football team for chewing out the coach I went through a huge weight gain -- coincided with drinking tons of soda and such Normal weight was 180, but shot up to 240, but easily lost it within a few months doing tons of situps, pushups, and eating nothing but a couple Peanut Butter and jelly sandwiches a day. Weight was fine for years until a post-relationship depression went on (when you work hard for years to keep a relationship going then decide fuck it), in my mid-late 20s, a bunch of health issues arised and shot up again but instead of from 180 to 240 in a matter of a year or so, went up to 360 in 5 years. So I'm here in my early-mid 30s with newly diagnosed stage 3 fibrosis and type 2 diabetes. I'm not accustomed to weighing a lot so the changes I went through were all debilitating to me. Apparently after MRI's and such I had fractured my spine as a kid but never knew it until I had this weight gain, then moving to another house caused me serious injury to where I need facet injections in my lower lumbar (soon to be some sort of ablation) as simply taking out the trash caused extreme amounts of pain to my back. In the US, we're not educated enough how utterly useless carbs and especially sugar are in the diet, and how easily we can get into dangerous territory without thinking about it. Given how it's turned into a serious societal issue where kids in their 20s are having fibrotic/cirrhotic livers without even being alcoholics or drug addicts, it really points to an education being necessary. Since being in Canada, I've noticed the education is a little better, but still needs improvement. It's definitely a western problem, where we're taught to be good little excess consumers with little regard for our health. It's up to us to change that. My surgeon decided on a 12 week pre-op liquid diet that I started Feb 1st, far longer than I see anyone else with, already I went from 350 pounds to 314. I'm thinking if I really have to go all 12 weeks (OR date already confirmed April 20) I'm likely gonna be in the 200s before surgery. Some have said why not be on this miserable diet for so and such amount of time to get back down to normal weight, but sometimes for us mechanisms of hunger (satiety) we can't control are required to be corrected. In my case, the surgery should accomplish this. Also, a very important point, that for many of us who "become" this way, it's up to us to recognize where we screwed up and work to change it. Personal responsibility is a must.

I'm just curious for those seeking the VSG. Have you always had a weight problem or has this been something you developed in adulthood? I've been obese since childhood and lost a significant amount of weight (170 pounds) using Weight Watchers about five years ago, but gained it back and then some. Keeping weight off is definitely a challenge!

Do any ladies have PCOS & are losing weight just fine? Or do you have PCOS & the weight is coming off slowly? TIA

Try taking some biotin supplements. There is also some shampoo's that might help. My hair thinned out a bit. Unfortunately this is a side effect of drastic weight loss. Mine is coming back now. I noticed it because I have short hair and use gel, but switched hair products and all is good. Take care

Hi, I had a lot of heartburn yesterday, I am okay today. I drunk my Protein this morning. Will drink another 23 grams today. I want to lose weight, that is why i had the surgery, but my weight is coming off fast. I had the lap band before, and revised to the sleeve. My goodness, I am 5'9", and I weighed 220 before surgery, lost 10 pre-op (230), I am nearing 200 pounds. I have not been heavy all my life, I know how I will look at 160, and 170m, I had the surgery done to maintain my weight. I have HBP, High Cholestorol, and a knee injury that hurts if I gain over 200lbs. Sure, befoere I could gain 80 and lose 80, and gain most of it back in no time, once the knee goes out from running on it. My goal is 170, I look great at that weight and not mal-nutrition, 160 is pushing it, I look frail. I am in a size 10 at 170, and that is great for me. I am figuring that once i reach goal. I will up my calories. My question is will my capacity increase at 6months, so I can increase my caloric intake? I am a gym rat, always have been, just mainting weight was an issue. 165 would be my max loss.

Hi, thanks for your response, I don't blame you, I don't want to gain either. I am talking maybe increasing to 1000 calories 1100 max, because I will be going to the gym to tone up.

I remember that weird taste in my mouth. Nothing tasted good for weeks which helped with the initial weight loss. If you can have any protein that is not sweet that may help. But otherwise, just hold out. It will eventually go away. I was light-headed for about 4 days and then survivied the liquids without much of a problem which was a huge surprise. I was more worried about the 2 weeks on liquid than the surgery. Funny what we get fixaited on.

Hello all, I am new to blogging so please bear with me as I learn. I was banded on 9/29/08 and have had two fills so far. I am losing weight but..... My doctor doesn't use and x-ray or anything like that when doing a fill, he inserts the saline as I am drinking water, but I don't know yet, when to say stop. There are times when I feel like my band is full enough, there are times when it feels too full and there I times when I know that if I let myself, I could eat to my heart's content. It has all been very frustrating. Is this normal? Does it get better? And is it normal to be hungry about every 3 hours. Please let me know some of your experiences. Unfortunately I haven't been able to make it to my doctor's evening support group meetings, so I am hoping chatting with you guys will help.

Hi all, My name is Katie. I'm a 25 year old mom, I have two little boys. Well I guess I am here because I've been overweight forever, but I've finally gotten to a weight where I can't stand it. Right now I am at 283 lbs. It's gotten so hard to play with my boys, and my 3 year old is one active little guy. Right now I am SOO excited to get started, but I have to wait for my husbands employer to switch our insurance. Which is really good sincethe new insurance company will cover the surgery. I am jsut not sure how long I will have to wait until I can start the process. I truly hope it's not too long because I would lovethe start out the new year with a new begining and a chance to be a healthier and more active me.

I was banded on 9/27, down about 28 lbs. Original weight 273.8, current weight 246. I am back to working out. No fills and eating normal foods. I love the band!

Congrats with the changes and the weight loss i was banded 9/26 down 19 pounds. No troubles at all. Stay focused

I did not have Cigna. I had a supervised 6 month weight loss insurance requirement.

Good idea!! I am 2 1/2 weeks post op so I am in bandster hell right now, but still trying to stick to eating well. Breakfast--2 egg whites, 1 egg yolk Lunch--1/2 turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread and applesauce Dinner--grilled tilapia, and half of a bacon potato with ff sour cream I didn't add the calories up but from all of the weight watcher days, I know I'm good. Tonight I will either have a ff fudgesicle or yogurt.

I only have 3.6 more pounds to lose and I will be able to schedule surgery and start my 4 week pre-op diet (Phase 3). I am HAPPY TODAY. And scared. And happy. And nervous. And then happy again. For the last month I have worked my ass off doing my requirements, losing weight. All in the face of: Tax audit Fiance job demotion 15 year old picked up at a party now has probation officer til May to avoid a "frequenting" charge House repairs we can't afford Etc. But it all blew up the same week I started this. And Ive kept on track. Its scary. 3.6 pounds seems so small, and at the same time, feels like 20 pounds away again. Normally putting such pressure on hitting a "number goal" isn't something I do ( I go by my size) but its my requirement...and the closer it gets the more it feels like *something* else is going to happen. Something else will finally happen and break my resolve to complete this and I will end up gaining or regaining (rapidly, as I am wont to do) the weight I have lost, and not make my requirements by the time I am supposed to. So. I have my Water bottle. And my Walk Away the Pounds DVD is queued up to play on my PS3. Im so close.

How much weight do you have to lose for goal?