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I am bipolar. I have to take 7 different medications. Not taking my medications is not an option for me. My medications do have the side-effect of weight gain. What the medication does is it turns off the brain's signal to tell me when I am full. That is where the band comes in. I have accepted that my medication has an effect on how fast I lose the weight. But I am still losing!!! So I rock!

I know this was addressed under the "Lapband Strugglers" thread, but I wanted to start a discussion about anyone's experience wih their past/present psych meds. How do you feel your experience with weight loss (before or after the lapband) has tied in? How to you deal with the side effects (if you have them)? I've taken a few different medications with different results. Paxil and Trazadone worked for a time but I gained about a pound a month while I was on that combo. The doctors warned me about that. That was especially frustrating because I purposefully increased my activity level to compensate, and the emotional blunting with Paxil was dramatic. Prozac didn't have the gaining side effect, but not the mood elevating side effect either! Finally, Wellbutrin, which I took for 3 years, was my most successful med. I was in an emotional place where I was motivated to be more active and, at the same time, it allowed me to at least maintain my weight. How's everyone else doing with theirs? Finding the right med can be such a harrowing journey, I wanted to put forth a place in this forum to reach out for help and validation. Also, please note that I am not purporting that psych meds that cause weight gain are some kind of blanket excuse for struggling with weight loss. I regret I have to make that explicit. Psych meds are one factor that can make it tougher for some than others, and this is a place to discuss those experiences.

you are just precious but the vicious cycle of depression/ weight gain/ fractured hip... loss of income.... im just too weak. I need surgical help

My "railing" is against Almanza. He is a narcissistic A**hole who cares only about money. He is a terrible surgeon as well as a horrible person. I have been accused of all sorts of crap on this message board.. working for another doctor, not following my original lifestyle changes. I dont even care anymore, I certainly do not have to explain myself. I was simply wanting to WARN people about Almanza. I dont have to do that anymore, His name is all over the news, the interned for putting people in comas, dropping off a near dead man at the border. My slow weight gain came 7 years after my wt loss from Mexicali Bariatric Hospital ((((WONDERFUL))) .. oh and NO i dont work for them, LOL. I am self employed living now in NorCal Tending to my ageing mother. My lifestyle really changed when I moved here, not much to do, no bike trails, I didnt know anyone and I became very depressed. It took about a year but I climbed about 40 pounds up the scale. Desperation and insufficient research led me to almanza. I knew there was something very wrong about him within 10 minutes of meeting him. red flags were popping like fireworks. I should have trusted my feeling and FLED. MY BAD. I own that. He cut me and created the worst adhesions, and he ran out of time before doing any resleeve. (all of this is documented at his strip mall "clinic", in spanish of course but I got one of the staff to run a copy of my 'eyes only' notes and its wasnt difficult to have it translated.) So he sloppily sewed me back up NEVER having so much as touched my stomach. I ended up going BACK to Mexicali Bariatric and they had much work to do to cut down and cut out some of large adhesions, one of which had attached to my bowel. They performed a duodinal switch (did i spell that right) and chose not to re-cut my stomach. I wish they would have but I trust their decision making. I am 15 - 20 pounds from my goal, getting a handle on the depression, making friends, finding bike trails and parks, waking in the mornings and all in all things are looking up. So go ahead and speculate, blame, accuse ... there are certainly a few of you on here. For the most part those who i have corresponded with personally from here have been absolutely delightful. And the fact that THIS website will do anything to avoid association with almanza should speak volumes. Best of luck to everyone, even my detractors. I'm pretty much done here, but I wish you all the best. OH i actually WISH i worked from one of the DOCS, haha, I would have some extra skin removed!!!!! baahaaahaa

I have a friend who is banded like me and like me she is also struggling with weight gain / inadequate loss and what to do. She has booked to attend a seminar, in Melbourne Australia, with Dr Vuong. Wondering what they are about and what the goal is. Does this Dr promote a certain type of surgery, does he have answers that other Drs don’t? Why is he travelling the world like a rockstar, is he drumming up business for some surgical group?

I originally was hoping to have an RNY when I first started researching bariatric surgery 4 years ago, but my insurance didn't cover it and after spending months, daily, on an RNY board and seeing just how many people had major complications afterward, I couldn't justify taking the chance on going self-pay, and then not having insurance coverage for any complications afterward. The sleeve was new then, and I just didn't look much into it at the time. Fast forward to this past December, when I started looking into WLS again, hoping that our new insurance that kicked in January 1st might cover it. Well, of course it didn't, because the creature who owns our company continues to specifically exclude it from our policy to save a few dollars (he's a multi-millionaire and a horrible excuse for a human being, truly, and I don't say that lightly). But I digress.... so now, suddenly there's all this new info and data about the sleeve, and so many more people sharing their experiences and successes, and much more in the way of complication stats--well, compared to the RNY, they were practically zilch. BINGO! For those reasons, in addition to all the facts and comparisons made by the posters above me, I knew immediately that the sleeve was for me. I saw my family doctor for blood work, EKG, and clearance, saw the surgeon a week after that, and had my Sleeve 12 days later and it's been WONDERFUL!!! I don't remember if anyone noted this above, but so far studies show weight-loss stats from VSG as equal to the RNY, with less chance of rebound weight-gain since our sleeves really don't stretch, but the RNY pouch does. My surgeon expects the VSG to become the go-to, preferred WLS sometime soon, and I've seen other people say that their surgeons say the same thing. In the end it was really a no-brainer for me, and I couldn't be more thrilled with it.

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

I am so sorry you're going through this. You say you throw up constantly and have 8cc in your band. I fear you're too tight, which ironically can cause weight gain because when the band is too tight you resort to slider foods to eat- which are usually very high fat and calories. I also worry because vomiting can also lead to a slip. I would make an appointment with your surgeon ASAP. Tell him everything going on, about the vomiting and weight gain, and ask that your band be checked. Best wishes to you.

This isn't a slam the needs of protein, but this article came across my email and caught my attention. If this is what is noted for the average healthy person aging, I'm curious to know how it relates to those of us after bariatric surgery. Just a random article I thought I'd share... no comments needed. https://www.silversneakers.com/blog/3-weird-reasons-youre-gaining-weight/?utm_campaign=SilverSneakers - Newsletter Yes&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=67292921&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--bgIkZMMoXHl8eJUMMRjxMMUuiYzaEtVkTcwRgP-UiUdHdA3Q8fweyYpH_KzVU4cVE4_dnLCDov6AACwajYuSl8JItqA&_hsmi=67293380 3 Weird Reasons You’re Gaining Weight By K. Aleisha Fetters | October 31, 2018 Staying slim through the years isn’t as simple as calories in, calories out. Here are the age-related changes that can mess with the scale. As you get older, it becomes more difficult to keep your weight in check. You’re likely well aware of this fact. The most common culprits: slower metabolism, less active lifestyle, or menopause for women. But sometimes, the source of weight gain is much more mysterious. “A lot of changes occur in the body during the aging process that people aren’t aware of,” says Craig Primack, M.D., an obesity medicine physician at Scottsdale Weight Loss Center in Arizona. “And these changes can have a large impact on weight.” Here are three such examples, plus simple ways to tip the scale in your favor. Weird Reason #1: Your Body Doesn’t Absorb Protein Like It Used To “As we get older, our bodies become less sensitive to protein and can absorb less of it,” Dr. Primack says. And since protein is critical to muscle health, this means it becomes more difficult to maintain your muscle mass and continue burning the same amount of calories every day. Remember: Muscle burns more calories than fat, even at rest. Your body also absorbs amino acids, the building blocks of protein, more slowly with age. Recent research published in the Journal of Nutrition, Health, and Aging found that while amino acid levels spike in one hour after protein consumption for adults ages 20 to 25, it takes three hours in people ages 60 to 75. More research is needed to determine exactly why older adults absorb less protein, and do so more slowly. But we do know that stomach acid levels decrease with age, Dr. Primack says. And since stomach acids play a role in protein digestion, it’s one possible explanation. Tip the scale: Increase your protein intake. According to the National Academy of Medicine, the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for adults in their 50s and older is 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of bodyweight—or about 0.36 grams per pound of bodyweight. But research shows that roughly 40 percent of women and men ages 51 and older don’t meet those recs. Meanwhile, mounting research suggests that for optimal muscle health and metabolism, adults ages 50 and older should consume at least double the RDA for protein. That works out to about 0.7 grams of protein per pound of bodyweight per day. For a 180-pound adult, that’s 126 grams of protein per day. For maximum benefits, space out your protein throughout the day, suggests Rob Danoff, D.O., director of the family practice residency program at Jefferson Health Northeast in Philadelphia. Getting 25 to 35 grams of protein at every meal will help keep your muscles fueled with the protein they need, increase your daily calorie burn, and help reverse weight gain, he says. These protein-packed breakfasts and high-protein dinners can help. Weird Reason #2: Your Sense of Smell Isn’t What It Used to Be Loss of sensitivity to smells, called anosmia, affects between 10 and 20 percent of all older adults, according to 2017 research published in the Journals of Gerontology. What does sense of smell have to do with weight gain? Smell plays a large part in how foods taste, Dr. Primack explains, so when smell fades, foods can taste bland. This may result in a loss of interest in food, which could cause unexplained weight loss. But it can also lead people to seek more flavor, so they eat fewer healthy foods and more processed ones high in artificial flavors, sugar, and salt. What’s more, when people stop finding pleasure in the taste of foods, the next thing they look to is texture, Dr. Primack says. And the most commonly preferred texture is the creaminess of fat. Tip the scale: If you think your sense of smell or taste is dwindling, ask your doctor for a referral to an otolaryngologist (a.k.a. an ear, nose, and throat) specialist. The ENT will be able to rule out nasal problems like polyps, blocked sinuses, and seasonal allergies. If all checks out, simply understanding how sense of smell can influence your eating habits can help you eat more mindfully going forward. Try adding flavor with herbs and spices or marinades. Plus, harness the power of exercise to sharpen your senses. Weird Reason #3: Your Circadian Rhythms Are Off There’s no end to the list of ways poor sleep can trigger weight gain, including increasing levels of the hunger hormone ghrelin and slashing levels of the feel-full hormone leptin, Dr. Danoff explains. Even short periods of too little sleep can have a big impact. A 2015 study published in Diabetologia found that as little as four days of sleep deprivation reduces the body’s insulin sensitivity, which increases the risk for fat storage. Not making it a priority to get seven to nine hours of sleep each night is one thing, but if you’re physically unable to fall and stay asleep, changes in your body’s circadian rhythms could be to blame. A research review in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism shows that production of melatonin, the hormone that helps you sleep at night and regulates your sleep-wake patterns, decreases with age. This often causes people to wake up earlier, not sleep through the night, or need naps during the day, Dr. Primack says. Another potential disruptor: cataracts, which happen when protein that’s naturally found in the eye starts to clump together, making the lens cloudy and obscuring vision. In people with cataracts, light might not effectively enter the eye to help your body know it’s daytime and time to be awake, Dr. Primack explains. Tip the scale: Start by prioritizing good sleep hygiene—no excuses. That includes going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, avoiding electronics at least one hour before bed, and using your bed only for sleep and sex—no work, TV watching, or anything else that’s associated with a wakeful state. (See five ways to fall and stay asleep, starting tonight!) Also, try keeping a sleep journal to track how many hours you’re sleeping at night and when you find yourself needing a nap. This can help you ID and deal with any lifestyle issues that are keeping you up at night. If good sleep hygiene isn’t enough to score you a good night’s rest, the next step is talking with your primary care physician or a sleep specialist. He or she will want to check for any underlying health problems like sleep apnea. Last, for those dealing with cataracts, talk to your doctor about whether surgery makes sense for you. A 2017 review published in the International Journal of Ophthalmology found that cataract surgery improved sleep in people with both cataracts and insomnia.

Well, my birthday was 2/28/11 and let me tel ya, Of course I had to have some cake and ice-cream and whatever else. I can say I've gain 6lbs in a week (187). But I'm not going to let that discourage me. I'm back to my gain plan. I couldn't let that day go by without celebrating. I can reframe from cake from my children's and anybody else birthday except my own. That''s the day GOD brought me into this world. So my size 14's are tight but not to worry, I am definately working out it.... GOOD LUCK EVERYONE, I KNOW I CAN USE.

Mine hurt very bad going in, I had cramping pretty bad for about 24 hours after. I however went to work that night. I jay took ibuprofen. I loved having no period. I however Hated the weight gain.

I think you are so right on this. I gained 5 lbs this last week and I had to look at why I gained that much. Part of it I knew was due to going off a heavy diaretic medication that I had been on but I also know a good part of it was the food choices I had made last week. For me this was the first weight gain I have had since I started my pre-op diet back in October and through my surgery etc etc. So it hit me hard like it does us all. But I know I made bad choices and rather then jumping to a liquid diet or doing twice the amount of exercise then what I normaly would do I simply looked at my actions and choices that I had made and decided that I couldn't continue down that path and identified what I need to do differently to get back on track and keep up the good work I have already done. Don't get discouraged. Know that you have the power within yourself to change what it was that you had been doing!

I think carbonation is only one part of the equation... The fake sugars in diet soda are a whole other animal that contribute to weight gain and slow weight loss... Those fake chemicals are just bad news... and I am not sold on that 'Truvia' crap either...

I was banded in April 08 and did well. Lost 48lbs. I have gained 12 back and I don't know what to do. Do I just go liquid for a week? Get another fill, although I am having touble with food getting stuck. Just frustrated and need support, suggestions.

wow girls you make me feel like a whimp! spinning class, running,themage, I thought I was hot shit cause I can drive now! lol Lianna- second opinion and tell them what you want, and let them know you want tight abs. My understanding is that your abs seperate towards your side with weight gain too, not just child birth, and with the tummy tuck the muscles are brought to center and stitched together to get the six pack look. ask the surgeons if the consult fee is applied to surgery if you go with them, mine was. For the breast life qustion, yes, they do get smaller. I was a Victoria secrets 40 dd/e before surgery, and bringing the girls to about face and removing excess skin I am now (yes I went shopping already) a Victoria IPEX as it has no wires, cant wear wires, ready..... 36C, yep cant believe it, I got hot, sweaty and thought I would pass out when the bra fit in the cup and then in the middle hooks around. I was crying in the middle of the mall. Havnt been that size since Jr. High. So yes they are smaller and purky. Husband told me they look fake he is so used to the saggy ones! Joestta: You have to remember Georgia is SUPERWOMAN!! I am 4 weeks out and today is the first day I have driven and if I worked at a desk it would start today dont rush things. wait till you have time to recover. Georgia; YOUR MY HERO!!! Keep me informed on the arm therm--- anything to shrink the fat!!! where do I sign up!

I expected big things from 2011...just not me! I was banded on September 30th, 2010. It has been a long, but quick process, if that makes sense. I have gone from 325-327 (by my at home scale) to 293.6 , as of this morning. It seemed so daunting when I first started the insurance process, seminars, etc, in April of last year. But, it truly went by quickly. Before I knew it, I was banded. If anyone is reading this and is overwhelmed by insurance hoops, don't be discouraged. Just take it one step at a time because the payoff is HUGE! My last fill, # 3, they put in a little more in my band. That was 3 weeks ago and I've lost about 6 pounds since then. Slowly, but surely! Fill 1 was okay...no real restriction, though, fill 2 was an overfill---followed by some being taken out, then fill 3, I feel, is my sweet spot. I feel like I eat too much (i'm so paranoid about overeating), but my husband says I hardly eat anything. In comparing what I ate before, he's probably right. I still keep track of everything on sparkpeople and really am trying to watch everything. It certainly something that isn't easy and is something that we all have to continually work at. Each day, I still argue with my body about what to put in it. I think it will get easier and easier, but it has hard not to stop at McDonalds in the morning for a breakfast sandwich (not that I can really eat it without getting stuck anyway!), but my mouth would still try. I have just started really trying to get serious about working out. I don't really have time for an actual gym between my kids and my husband's crazy work hours. I have picked up Zumba and also love working out to my Wii! My doctor's office has a program they refer to as 'Bootcamp'. It is 3 nights a week for 6 weeks. Of all of the places in my city, it happens to be held just a few miles from my house, which is great. You work out with a personal trainer those 3 nights, meet with a counselor for a few minutes on 2 of those nights and meet with a nutritionist the other night after your workout. And, as long as you don't miss more than 3 sessions, it is all free. So, I will be beginning that on their next session start next month. I really can't wait! I am starting to have loose clothing, which is great, and my knees are already feeling better when I go upstairs. I love that. When I met my husband, I was hovering around 270. Still fat, but nothing as to what I turned into over 5 years! I guess my happiness was directly correlated with my weight gain, which, ironically, caused unhappiness. But, one the road to being a better me feels good! I recognize I will never, realistically, be 135 pounds ever, but I'm okay with that as long as I can get down to a healthy weight of maybe 170. I really can't wait to to do things with my kids this summer! I can already tell I'm getting more energy and can't wait to see how that goes up, too. Anyway, those are the thought that are in my head today. I hope everyone is doing well after the holidays!

Enjoy your holidays and just make your first appt Jan 2nd....And enjoy the BMI 40! Just kidding... Sort of?? Well I remember getting so frustrated with what seemed to be an unstoppable gain about 2 1/2 years ago. PCOS and hypothyroidism were taking a toll. Tried a dr supervised plan, WW several times and medifast. Each time I lost and re-gained. I Remember wishing I was heavy enough for lapband (remember the hungry lion Commercials). I wasn't. Fast forward prob another year the local bariatric office had a new dr/nut supervised plan. No surgery and no Phentermine (another failed attempt I didn't want to repeat) and I was pretty sure my insurance would pay. So I go for the introduction and get weighed and the coordinator asked, "so are you interested in surgical or non surgical?" I said non surgical I am not heavy enough for WLS. Oh your a BMI 42 and with bcbs it would be covered. Whoa I did a double take. I was totally disgusted with getting that big and shocked I was even considering it. But I had really tried HARD since I had my son 5 years ago and was just getting bigger. Fast forward I had the sleeve 9 Months ago and I am at my personal goal and a Normal BMI. My point is you are so close... Just normal progression of weight gain you eventually qualify without doing anything to qualify on purpose. That is just how obesity goes.

Congrats to all of you who have stoped smoking, its a hard thing to do as I smoked for 23 yrs. ashame to admit to it but I did. I wanted to quit so many times before I finally gave it up but it was always the throuh of weight gain that kept me smoking, but one day I just decided on my last day of smoking and when it came I make that commitment and have not been sorry that was 6yrs ago and many lbs in weight gain but I now feel must better and have lost the cough and the control that smoking had over me and with the band the 40lbs I have lost to date have made up for the weight I gained after stopping. Good luck to all of you Angelina

I've seen all the benefits of this lifestyle change just in pre-op so I'm not sad whatsoever nor am I missing the garbage foods like soda (what I was seemingly addicted to). My commitment to having a better life far supersedes the desire at this point to submerge myself back into the habits that result in misery. Part of it is I just had far too much disgust in seeing what this weight gain had done to me (180 pounds in 5 years), a lot of contempt for what I had done to myself when I looked in the mirror, and the desire to life a normal life after being lucky and catching this food-caused liver disease before it was irreversible. Never again.

Hello there DESTROYED! It;s going to be OK.... take a deep breath, relax.. now try to focus and remember why you started down this path in the fist place. I am in your shoes so I understand. I am pre-op too and haven't even been given a surgery date because they thought I was too depressed to have surgery... I on the other hand didn't think I was as depressed as they said. ANYWAY... back to you. I think what you are experiencing is normal we are such creatures of habit and WE OBVIOUSLY LOVED FOOD! It is hard to think we are going to have to give up stuff we love, but I am trying to tell myself by giving myself this pep talk.... Hey look, you need to do this, you need to get this weight off, It's only food, and the food will be there when I am on my path to my new healthier life, you will be able to eat some of the thing you love, just less of them Lol. I didn't think I could do it either but to tell you a short story, back in 2010, I made up my mind to get the weight loss surgery after I met someone that lost 90 lbs in 3 months (by the bypass) at that time my insurance required 6 months on a diet seeing a Dr. I made it through up to a few weeks of my 6th month and final dr visit before they would approve me. I starting this weight loss adventure thinking well if I have surgery I am going to have to be able to do the 2 wks of liquids so needless to say over this 6 month struggle I rotated every 2 weeks on eating a liquid diet, and then I would eat regular foods but just less. I lost 80 lbs within that 6 months times on my own LOL!!!! BUT here is the bad part of my story... I was so close to surgery, then I was diagnosed with CML (Chronic Myloid Leukemia) and was not allowed to have ANY SURGERIES!!! until I was in remission. The big side effect of the chemo pill I take is (drum roll) rapid weight gain and adema! so I have gained it all back, the first 10 lbs within 3 day of treatment. It is only within the last year and a half that I am able to have surgery, and I restarted my bariatric journey last Nov but the clinic held me back because of depression) and PTL I am in remission and waiting for approval. My point is that I kept trying ... you see nothing is perfect, you are going to reach road blocks, but just keep your car somewhere between the white lines on the road, and moving in the direction of your goals!!! YOU CAN DO THIS! Please don't give up...the pinto Beans will be waiting for you and for me in our new lives. Stay strong

Morsaille, Joy's first meal after her doctor cleared her for mushies was mashed potatoes at Chili's. She's been doing cream soups, sugar free puddings, scrambled eggs, malt o meal, oatmeal. As for the sodium and the water weight gain, just keep drinking the water. I know it sounds kinda strange, but you need the water to flush your system.

I am wondering for those who needed surgery to try to combat PCOS or just trying to get pregnant, which surgery did you decide and why? Are you pregnant? Have you had weight gain that you can't loose after pregnancy? Any struggles?

I am almost 3 months out, and have had no complications as of now. I did have issues with constipation, but remedied that by leaving low carb for a more natural diet. I also had issues with acid reflux, but I got rid of that several weeks ago by going on a regimen of good old APPLE CIDER VINEGAR. Gassygurl, perhaps this will help you as well. I take 2 Tbsp per day. It is really good for you as well. Before the ACV, I was taking Prilosec...didn't want the side effects of long term usage. Lainey, having second thoughts is completely normal. We all have them. I was ready for surgery after decades of battling weight gains (and losing), but I still had thoughts of backing out. I am happy that I didn't give into them. I will say that you must get your snacking under control if you intend to be successful long-term. This surgery helps you to eat less, but does not stop you from eating sweets and salty snacks. You can still eat just as much as you did before surgery. I go out to eat with family and friends every Thursday after my daughter's volleyball game. I eat well. I can find a salad or protein and veggies anywhere, so it isn't an issue.

Losin it Thank you I am not going to derail all the work I have done. Going to continue to eat healthy and keep the pounds off I lost and somehow get these sugars down. More insulin, of course that will mean more inflamation and pain, and then weight gain. It is a vicious circle. But I truly respect my Doctor and Know that he is looking out for me.

@SanDiego Girl : Ok, first the disclaimers: Disclaimer 1: I am not a medical professional/nutritionist...just an avid reader/googler. Disclaimer 2: The values below are very generalized and assumes that you have more or less an average metabolism, average functioning insulin regulation, average body fat percentage for your stats, etc. etc. TL;DR: If you want to skip my very long-winded dissertation below, the gist of my message is this: you may want re-evaluate your calorie consumption-activity level combo, cut the sugar, and manage your expectations. Now, your weight today is pretty much what it was when you had your metabolism study, so let's assume you still have a BMR of 1486. This means that if you all you did all day was sit like a statue and breathe, then you would burn 1486 cals for just existing. Your reported exercise can be classified as "Moderately Active" (30-60 mins of sustained elevated heart rate sessions 4-6 times a week). Add this to the regular activity of every day living (i.e., just moving), and your daily caloric needs would be approximately 2150 cals a day to MAINTAIN YOUR WEIGHT. To lose weight, you will need to consume under this amount (or up your activity levels) CALORIES Without knowing exactly what's in your lunch salad, nor what consists of your meat/veggies dinner, nor what amount of each, I calculated the you are probably consuming about 1750 calories (I arbitrarily assigned 300 & 400 for each of lunch and dinner). This means, using the oft-used statistic that a deficit (or gain) of 3500 cal results in a 1lb loss (or gain) of body weight, you theoretically should be losing on average 0.8 lbs a week. This assumes that you NEVER go over 1750 cals a day, and you sustain your current activity level. Based on your original post, it sounds like you aren't. **Note that this is not an exact science, and I personally think 3500=1lb is an overly simplistic assumption, but for the purposes of this post, lets just keep it simple. I digress...** Soooo....if you would like to lose a bit more, a bit faster, try cutting your current cals by a couple hundred (your teams suggestion to aiming for 1200 is sound in this case). Your reported typical daily menu above includes 880 cals of JUST SNACKS. Perhaps try cutting out the Starbucks and 1/2 the nightly Dove chocolates. Doing this alone will save you 245 calories a day. SUGAR Another more controversial suggestion would be to cut all (or drastically reduce) sugar/sweeteners. Not only is sugar poor nutritionally, excess amounts causes spikes in glucose levels, which may to lead insulin resistance: which means the cells in your body aren't as efficient at removing glucose in the blood, so it will store it as fat. Which is weight gain. Further, it is theorized that sugar begets sugar. When you are eating it, you want more. So if you can white knuckle it for a few days and get it out of your system, it is suggested that you will find that your sugar cravings will subside. EXPECTATIONS Lets say you keep your cal level at 1750 & moderate activity levels (and do not deviate from it). This still means you would theoretically still be losing 0.8 lbs a week. This also means you would reach your 180 goal in 50 weeks. Are you ok with this timeline? Can you sustain at most 1750 cals a day for 50 weeks? If you go above this level you will extend that timeline accordingly. Edited to add: remember that this 1750 max cal level will reduce as YOU reduce! You are quite a ways out of surgery and unfortunately don't have the extra tailwind that recently sleeved people have. Its very easy to get frustrated and give up when your hard effort results in what is perceived as slow weight loss. The typical manifestation of this frustration is to eat (and usually its like pizza or cookies and NOT carrots and yogourt). If you can figure out how to deal with the frustration for just longer periods of time (I mean no one actually expects this to be completely solved immediately by sheer will), you will already be a couple steps up in the game. Good Luck! ❤️ P.S. Am really sorry that this was so long. P.P.S I think its worth noting here again in the postscript the Disclaimers noted above: Disclaimer 1: I am not a medical professional/nutritionist...just an avid reader/googler. Disclaimer 2: The values below (sic) are very generalized and assumes that you have more or less an average metabolism, average functioning insulin regulation, average body fat percentage for your stats, etc. etc.