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Holy Cow, I am just now realizing that for once in my life, I am close to actually acheiving a goal I have set for myself. I sat down and thought about all the unkept promises I made to myself, lose 10lbs by Disney, lose 20lbs before dating again, lose 30lbs for family cruise...all never to be realized until now. I am starting to let myself believe that I WILL get to goal this time, that this is the miracle I hoped for all those years. This is not a magic bullet, but a vehicle to get you to your dream. I have worked very hard for my band (not the other way around) I have not taken my commitment to this surgery lightly. I have worked out a minimum of 1 hr, 6 days a week and have behaved myself at functions that in the past would have put me on the road to weight gain yet again. I am so thankful I was able to do this. I am looking forward to losing the next 58 pounds to my ultimate goal of 116lbs weight loss and have not one doubt in my mind that I will get there! Realize Band 7cc's in a 13cc band.. Loving my DOC right now!!:thumbup:

Some of the most forward and promising research on weight gain/loss has to do with the gut biome/microbial system. This is just one more bit of research. I am going to move this to the research forums here. Other bits of this kind of research is posted there and I think I put some in the 5:2 info links in the Vets forum if you are interested.

I went to Cleveland Clinic and spent a couple of days going through tests. The dr ( saw so many I don't remember which one ) told me the stomach is an organ. Organs malfunction or develop problems. He also said it wouldn't cure the problem but help with the side effects. ( weight gain) I can't help but believe the weight gain is the side affect to the problem, correct the problem and the weight gain might disappear. I do believe science will get there but the sleeve will do the trick until then.

Hello lds! Welcome to LBT! I will try to answer your questions to best of my ability. So do I have to do three months of supervised diet/exercise? Six months? None? - That will depend on your insurance or your Surgeon’s program. My insurance, Blue Shield required I complete 6 one-month dietician appointments. Then, my Surgeon also wanted me to have 1 appointment with his RD. So do I worry about my BMI falling? - This also will depend on what your insurance will require of you. I was too high of a BMI at the time so I was in no danger of going under 40. Also, I did have a co-morbidity so that is also different than yourself. You’ll want to contact your insurance advisor or surgeon to find out if this might be a problem for you. I want to do something that will curb this! I want to feel better. I want to not be in pain just for trying to do what I love to do. I want to think that I can chase my future children around the house and ENJOY it! I want to think that I can make my husband think - ooh, she's all mine. I want to FEEL BETTER! - Well I can tell you from personal experience that all of this happened to and for me post banding. I’ve lost around 100 Lbs and even though I’m only half there I can already tell you I have so much more energy. My husband DOES tell me, oh yeah you’re all mine! How awesome is that? I feel so much better about myself, and best of all my high blood pressure is all but cured!! But will this surgery "fix" me? I'll eat less. But can I not do that on my own? I served in the military for a decade. I understand discipline. I am a motivated person, always have been. I am competitive - makes me a fast swimmer. - Well, yes and no. The surgery will do two things for you and those two things only. It will prevent you from over eating, and it will help to keep you satisfied with what you’ve eaten for a longer period of time pre-band. Here’s what it won’t do for you, it won’t stop you from eating the bad stuff. I won’t make you get up and workout. It won’t magically slough off the pounds for you. Nope, won’t do that. Also, don’t put so much merit into it preventing weight gain. I can tell you from personal experience that you CAN and you WILL gain weight with the band, IF you do wrong things. I’m not just talking a few pounds. I mean, you really can gain all your weight back if you don’t catch it soon enough. That being said, it sounds like you are a very dedicated person to a healthy program so you will likely do an awesome job with the lap-band! I really hope this helps. If you need anymore support, this is a great place to get it!

All I can say is I'm sorry for your experience. My father in law had an infectious colitis and it took him wasting away and getting very ill to get the correct diagnosis. It's been some time, but I believe a few rounds of antibiotics and he recovered fully. I can't recall exactly how long it went on but his biggest issue was actually diagnosing the problem. It's been a long time but he's absolutely fine now and has no problems. How far are you out from surgery? The only real issue with medication comes if you need it to spend a long time in the stomach or if it's something (like B12) that needs to be absorbed there. I've taken several rounds of antibiotics and many people take anti-inflammatory meds (we have a few folks here with lupus and other autoimmune disorders) without any problems. Wishing you the very best with your treatment and a speedy recovery. I know that your fear right now is gaining weight on meds, but if your case is infectious colitis it will clear up and go away, and you will only need the meds until it's gone. Colitis can be serious if left untreated, so I'd simply do what the doctor suggests (once your colonoscopy confirms what you've got going on) and worry about losing any possible weight gain once it's over and done with. Your quality of life with colitis will be crap. With a sleeve, there's no time limit on weight loss and you can easily take off any pounds gained on a treatment cycle afterward. Put your overall health first. ~Cheri

I normally gain during November and December and then take the next few months losing the weight. This year I had to work from home and by the middle of May had gained 7 lbs from the holidays and then an additional 10 lbs from March to the Middle of May. As of today I have lost the 17 lbs. Part of my insurance program is they have an app where I weigh in every day and give you suggestions on losing weight. You also have to take picture of your meals and submit on the app. As a result of having someone to be accountable to has kept me somewhat in line. The main weight gaining opportunity is unhealthy snacking. So this been curtailed as well.

I'm only 1-1/2 years out. I'm considered a success because I'm 80%+ of weight loss. I self sabotaged with alcohol and that has created a big stall though no weight gain. Why did I do Sleeve over other procedures? The Mayo Clinic was in year four of a five year follow study, and the results were nearly identical to the bi-pass with fewer complications. I also had a fear of dumping. Despite the stall, I could not be happier with the results, I climb mountains, run 5K's and have enjoyed the best sex of my life. I did recommit to breaking the stall, quit drinking and I joined the Memorial Day challenge. Let's see if I can get to goal by my 53rd birthday.

For me it's exercise. A five-mile run minimizes bloat and water weight gain while functioning as a natural antidepressant (a.k.a. runner's high). Exercise also minimizes cravings for junk because your body will demand better forms of fuel.

@@jackersducky It's very hard to offer any constructive advice with so little information. Do you want to tell us more about what's going on with you / your eating / your lifestyle / your environmental factors affecting your weight gain?

Not eating and drinking is a struggle for most of us, so this is what I do, I do not allow the waiter/waiteress to bring water and neither do I have it on the table while I am eating. Just out of habit we do things so don't make it so convient for yourself. You difinately needed your band to rest, you gave it to much in a day. After any PB episodes you must allow your band to rest. Take it slow, it will be alright. For me, fills are always a challenge. Usually up to 2/3 weeks after a fill I am very limited with what I can eat and then one day I wake up and I can eat things that have been a struggle. That's my sign for a fill. I usually wait 5/6 weeks in between fills. I waited over 2 months before getting my first fill so I feel like I'm behind on my weight lost but it's still been consistant and no weight gains since I was banded. That is a blessing for me all together. Stay encourage and try to follow the band rules. I know it's hard just from my own personal experience.

I too was so worried about going to my doctors this morning for my fill worried that she would scold me because I knew I had gained weight over the holidays, well needless to say I gained 4 POUNDS!! UGH, but she did not scold me. We identified the reasons for the weight gain and decided on a path forward. I recieved a fill and I'm back on track and ready to lose!! Don't be so hard on yourself, it happens.

Beyond any shadow of a doubt, hands down, absolutely positively the single most powerful tool you can possibly have in your arsenal, regardless of where you're at in your journey - pre-op, rapid weight loss, maintenance, and yes - getting back on track following weight gain. Nuff said.

Hi Carlene, My weight gain came during the pregnancy of my first child. I gained 50+ with my first, 30 with my second and 20 with my third. In between the pregnancies I gained and lost. Unfortunately, I gained more than I lost. I think being under 130 is fantastic. I would be thrilled to be there. It is people like you who give those of us just starting the journey hope that we can succeed. As far as PS, if I am financially able to get a TT, breast lift down the road than I will. These are the 2 things I definitely think I will need to be comfortable with myself. I know I will never had that pre-pregnancy body. I can live with that. I will be happy just to feel better and fit into my clothes. My NSV is to be able to tuck my shirt into my pants without my stomach hanging out.

The recurrence of weight gain postOp is as welcome as the ex- coming to the new wedding. Giving up on the game at intermission after playing a winning first half is an alluring strategy that doesn't lead to victory. It is way too easy to slip back into Old Bad Eating Habits -- overeating and grazing during non-meal times---without really grasping how our path has turned in the wrong direction. The Band is a tool but it is our Mind, our Brain, our individual Determination that must be played every day, every meal, every snack, and every time we seek to soothe the Belly Beast. We must engage ourselves in the Daily Choice: do I eat to live, or do I live to eat? The habits of decades remain all to ready to leap into control of my own Daily Choice. re: "I gave up but recently considering going for another fill. Any similar stories?" In a word, yes. Don't give up. Don't give in. Get back in to your A-Game. Use your best moves, and engage your determination to succeed. The Enemy is Morbid Obesity. It has many tricks. Rededicate yourself to reach your goal. You can do it.

Dolphin Dreams, did you even have to prove weight loss attempts, medically supervised? I am on plan 3, the supposedly best one, or at least most expensive. Here is what they asked for from me: 1)History and physical info incl. height, weight, and co-morbidities 2)Initial Evaluation 3)Documented history of morbid obesity (5 years) 4)evidence of at least 12 consecutive months of medically supervised, non-surgical methods of weight reduction with documentation that such efforts failed. the supervion must be provided by an MD, DO, or Nurse Practitioner. The weight reduction methods must include nutrition therapy, behavior modifying exercise or increase in activity, medication therapy and maintenance therapy. 5)psych evaluation 6) Documentation of willingness to comply with pre-op and post-op treatment plans 7)Documentation of procedures to be performed, with pertinent CPT codes. #4 is the tough one. the doctor in the network, Dr. Davis does provide a medically supervised weight program that costs for 6 months....$3800. I called and asked BCBS if they would pay for this (spoke to Meriah on 6/27/06) and she said "NO". hooboy:faint: Then I spoke to Janis, supervisor who Meriah transferred me to. I told her I had been to one doctor or another almost every month for the past year. I asked her did it have to be every month. Janis said no. Janis can look at their records of pay outs and see when I went to the doctors. Did they ask you for all this too? It is true I have been to doctors alot b/c I'm sick and worried about this metabolic problem and continual weight gain...:sick I'm sick and tired of being fat, sick and tired. OK this tirade is over:clap2: If you are still with me thank you for reading all this mess.

Another thing about a small weight gain like that....are they counting those that became pregnant after the sleeve? Because that's definitely a 22 lb or more gain....

I just joined this forum last night. I just put a post in the intro section http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f18/need-go-back-fill-after-3-yr-absence-weight-gain-rhode-island-64424/ I too have been off the "wagon" for the last 3+ years and wondering if I was alone or if I could restart the whole process. TS, thanks for your post, It really helps to know that not everyone has a sucess story. I ready to do whatever it takes to get down to my ideal weight but I need to levage this lapband since i went through all the work of getting it. Chris

Guys ... I think we always have a choice. And I know (because I'm old) that our thoughts and emotions affect each other and that both affect our behaviors. If we *think* a 5 pound weight gain is the limit we will tolerate, then we will *feel* differently about a 5 pound weight gain. And we will *behave* in accordance with those thoughts and feelings. I'm only 20.5 months post-op. I can't guarantee how I'll behave when I'm 4-5-10 years out. But for now, my intention is to remain at or below goal (150 pounds). I'm now at 135 pounds.

i agree with the last reply whats done is done.... but the weight gain i dont. anytime you have surgery you are going to swell and you are going to gain weight even if you didnt eat a lb because your body went through a surgery the weight will come off in about two weeks maybe less depending on the swelling. its normal to gain weight. i gained like 13 lbs after having a tt and a breast lift within two weeks or so i dropped back down to what i was pre op. so don't stress so much it will only make it worse. in the mean time heal and get some rest..

I have been banded almost 5 weeks and have been on solids for a week with no weight gain. My weight loss is getting a little slower but have kept losing up until the last few days. I need to get back into regular exercise which I'm sure will help.

Thanks for that share. I was a normal weight child before I started school. My first grade teacher would not let me leave the lunchroom until I finished my food. She would leave me alone sometimes until the bell rang to go home. I didn't know how to tell my mother and started gaining weight to not get left in the lunchroom. I gained 30 pounds that year and that is a lot for a little kid. I remained the biggest kid in the class until after the sixth grade. I got my beloved horse and she helped me slim down. It was after my dad died in 1992 that my weight problems started again. I was the apple of his eye and it devastated me. In August 2011 I had gastric sleeve surgery. I started at 269 and had lost to 185 in August 2012. I was out of work from January 2012 to August. I think going back to work that August contributed to my current weight of 220. I have been out of work again since the end of December and can't get this weight off no matter what I do. I am starting back to work this Monday July 13 and I am terrified this is going to cause more weight gain. I have done nothing but Protein and a couple of cantaloupe slices this week and lost 3 pounds. My injuries from a car accident and chronic anemia (it is genetic, not Iron low) prevents me exercising enough to help add muscle and burn some fat. Sorry I got off topic but I needed to rant.

Have you considered pregnancy? Food cravings and weight gain? You're probably not but just something to think about.

Had a wound infection which has slowed me down. Coming up 6 weeks post op. No weight gain so happy with that. The surgeon warned me I would need ' Nana' sleeps for a time and he is right. I'm not superwoman. Have been doing a bit of soul searching with the down time. It's all good !

Glycogenation is the primary reason for weight gain when starting a new exercise routine. Exercise enhances your muscle’s energy storage capacity. Active bodies require more fuel, so one adaption involves storing the carbohydrates you eat as glycogen in the muscle tissue. Therefore, you may be losing fat when you start a new exercise routine, but the progress you make has been masked by water weight gain. You could have perhaps lost a couple of pounds of fat the first week but gained a few pounds of glycogen in that time. In essence, you get on the scale and conclude you're stalling because you see water weight gain. You might have even jumped to the conclusion your exercise regimen is all for nothing. Therefore, hide the scale for several weeks. Measure your progress how loosely your clothes fit, not by some arbitrary scale number. Also, bump up your food intake. The less you eat, the more your body wants to retain water. Nourish your body with the food it needs, and it will reward you by eventually shedding its fat stores.

Thank you guys !! i have written down all shampoos and biotin!! I have also read about ovationnhair therapy, it is even used with quimio patients, I and willing to try everything, and yes, even washing my hair less times per week !!!!! A friend used zinc, that also could be an option. I know hair loss is normal, as stall, nut when you are actually going thru it it just sucks !, no matter how normal !!! May we continue to lose weight....gain hair !! Thank you again !!