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Its going great...I started at 257 and Im now 154....Im almost 9 months out.... Dont worry about the small weight gain..your still healing....

1) Protein. I get 90% of my calories from pure protein. I completely avoid carbs like the black plague. I snack on chicken, and whatever I can get my hands on. Yesterday for lunch I had pulled pork bbq, 3 oz and I was done, saved the rest and ate it again for dinner. No sides, no bread, nadda. The bbq was more than enough. 2) Routine is my bff. I know what I'm going to eat every single day before I leave the house, I leave nothing for imagination and I workout with other people so even if I'm not feeling motivated to do it, I know they are waiting on me to show up- there for I actually do my workouts religously. 3) Here's the tough love. I commit to at least 1 FULL HOUR EVERY SINGLE DAY to working out. Math says it takes 3500 calories to burn 1 lbs of fat, even on a low calorie diet and your BMR helping to burn some calories that still a LOT Of calories that you need to burn. 4) READ the guru's. I've read Jillian Michaels and Bob Harpers books, I've read Oprah's trainers, I've read all the top hollywood trainers books. I've educated myself thoroughly and there are several key things THEY ALL AGREE ON: A) To lose weight you must work out a MINIMUM of 1 hour 6 days a week and it must be intense, not lolly gagging- doesn't matter if it's running, walking, elliptical or what you got to make it intense and get your heart rate to 120. B.) Weight lifting is NECESSARY. At least 3 times a week for 30 minutes at max weight. All the trainers said it, if you want to change your metabolism it starts with weights. Muscle burns more fat. There for increase your muscle. If you rotate a day of weight lifting for cardio, or add them both in for a 2 hour workout 6 days a week, magical things might happen. C) Carbs are the enemy. They all agree. We are a carb heavy society. And because of our sleeves now is the time to back away slowly and reconsider them later. Eat a very heavy protein diet. D) Sugars are the enemy. And you know what I'm talking about. Even the Protein shakes are full of crap. Time to step back drink h20 (and none of the other crap) and focus on Proteins again. I will miss my smoothies and my fudigcles and my occassional sweet tooth cravings, but do want to lose weight or not? E) DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT eat after 7pm. Water ONLY. sleeping on a full stomach, partially full, or any thing at all in your stomach will screw with your metabolism in your sleep. Just don't do it. Maybe masters swimming and water polo are my saving grace, but I know several people who've had success with trainers, workout buddies, etc. It's HARD. Period. No matter who we are to get this done. It takes time and commitment. I have PCOS (PolyCystic Ovary Syndrome which has been a huge factor in why I needed the VSG- my body cannot regulate my hormones or my insulin), and I have always gained between 7 and 10 lbs on my period (sorry guys for the TMI but weight gain is true for the vast majority of women). If I only fluctuate by a pound or so I will be delighted. So this week I'm easing up on myself and just training and ignoring my numbers as they will most likely go up. BE AWARE of your cycles and get a calendar. Start tracking on your calendar, calories consumed, when your period is, when your PMS'ing (which is when your hormones start to surge and the first onset of weight gain pre-period happens) and watch what happens. You might be bloating because you're so close to your cycle. I also get horrific acne- which right now is pretty bad :/ so that's my indicator mother nature is about to come kick my a$$. I work out a LOT. A minimum of 2 to 5 hours a day and that's why I've been dropping numbers. I know a lot of people cannot commit to that, but I'm doing with with a packed schedule and a kid because my health is #1. It's time for me. THIS IS MY TIME. And I don't have anymore time in my life to waste. I'm being as completely proactive as possible. Hope this helps!

The amount you need is different when healing, and changes based not only on height but weight. My goal now during healing is 58g's (I'm 5 foot nothing by the way) which I round up to 60 for easy math per the NUT's instructions. But my goal after the weight loss period will be 50g's given a height of five feet and a weight of 110. I'd call your nut or doc and ask what you should be doing at this point...but also advise you do a shake at lunch if you can't eat. Your comment about not making good choices so you chose not to eat at all kind of worries me about long term success. I think you should take a hard look at yourself and make a real effort to eat something for lunch. Skipping meals leads to over eating later (yes you aren't doing it now but you're building a very unhealthy habit). Skipping proper meals is what sends out body into bad cycles, feeling it needs to over compensate when we do offer it a little food, leading to....you guessed it, weight gain, even when we are taking in lower calorie bases.

I completely agree with you. I've always been an athlete and I was in the Army and could eat a hardy diet and stay only slightly overweight, and teeter totter back and forth into a healthy BMI when I was required to. The problem was once I stopped working out my appetite was still there and I wasn't working out nearly as much, the weight didn't come on over night, maybe 3 to 4 lbs a month over the course of a few years that added to about a 50+ lbs weight gain. The bigger I got, the hungerier I was, allllll the time. Dr. Alavarez was my surgeon and he did diagnose me with a metabolic disorder just as you had mentioned. The bigger I got, the hungier I was, and I had complete insulin resistance and was even put on medications for it. After surgery my hunger went almost completely away, and now I have it but in the faintest form. Nothing like it was before- that by itself was life altering. I know how to eat healthy and workout, but my brain was always hungry and I was never on the same page with my body. Self control is mysterious to me- so much self control in other areas of my life, and yet I struggled so fiercely with my weight and controlling my eating habbits

Like you said - it helps keep you hydrated, you aren't taking in as much food and food contains Water so you need to get it from the water. 2 it does help you stay full longer. 3. it helps flush salt from your body, you may not eat a lot, but it doesn't take much to cause water weight gain. The water helps delute the salt and your kidneys flush it out. I have also heard that it helps up your metabolism, but that wasn't from a doctor so I am not so sure I believe it.

OK, so I have been researching the lap band for the past year or so and was convinced this was the surgery I wanted. It is the safest, least invasive, and I had read about peoples great results and then came on the forum about a month ago and was even more convinced from reading people's stories and seeing their success. Well apparently from the research they showed at the seminar, the lap band is the least successful weight loss surgery compared to the gastric sleeve, and the roux-en-y bypass. During the break I spoke to the surgeon and he said that that the bypass and the sleeve were best for people with a high BMI and had a lot of co-morbidities that the rapid weight loss would make pretty much go away in a short period of time. Well, lucky for me, I'm just fat. I have no diabetes, pre diabetes, hypoglycemia, hypertension, high blood pressure, and my cholesterol is good. I'm honestly not surprised as I do not drink soda, I do not eat fried and fatty foods, most of my weight gain is a result from almost back to back pregnancies and then a year of medication I was on to shrink a tumor that made me pack on 80 pounds. And most of my weight is in the lower middle of my body, hips, tummy and thighs, which the surgeon said I was "distal shaped".... that being said he thought I would be a good candidate for the lap band but he says that in his 35+ years of practice, someone with my BMI has the best results with the bypass. So now I really don't know! Honestly, I did love to exercise before I gained so much weight, I used to walk, go running, kick box, aerobic DVDs and do Pilates. So I think that with the fact that I am otherwise healthy, I like healthy foods and to exercise I think the band will do what I want it to do, but I also do not want it to fail. I know I will have to work hard and am more then ready to commit to the band. Ugh. The research he showed was not encouraging, but then I come on here and see so many people succeeding.....I don't know anymore. Help!

Refresher............ I was banded on the 22nd,..(not that long ago I realize) I dont weigh often at all...in fact 2 times total since surgery with today being my 2nd time..... but decided I was feeling good about myself and decided to weigh at home to see how it was going...I GAINED 3 lbs...yes gained. Now...I track my food on "lose it" am staying around 900-1000 calories a day and no cheating what so ever. HOW IN THE WORLD is it possible to gain weight on a restricted amt of food...I want to cry! I feel like a MORON....gaining weight after having weight loss surgery..... I mean what is the point. I can gain weight easily on my own with out having had surgery???!! I guess it is so frustrating as I am following exact what I am to do, eating the proper amts and nothing more. HOw is it possible to eat 1/4 of what I used to eat, cutting out all sweets and pop etc only to gain weight. BUMMED BIG TIME

1) Increase your calories a little if you can. There is no point in starving yourself, just take it slow, eat every couple hours, and make sure what you eat is high in protein - Your protein goal is far more important than calories. 2) Accept the stall. It's almost impossible to do while you're in it, but a few weeks out I hit a stall that lasted 3 full weeks. I was nutty at that point worrying that I'd gotten stuck and wouldn't continue losing. I tried EVERYTHING I could think of. Eventually it just broke on its own. I know I am gonna jinx myself typing this so *knock on wood* I have not had a stall since. My weight loss is slowing down a bit now (About 3.5 months out) but I'm still losing a good 2+ pounds a week. 3) Do something fun. All the stress just increases cortisol in your body, which can be a contributing factor to weight gain. I dunno if it really makes a huge difference, but either way - getting out and doing something for you so that you feel good is healthy! You're doing great. Hang in there and the pounds will just randomly start coming off again one day after your body finishes adjusting.

So I went in to a stall just after my 3 week post-op. It's been hanging around for a week and a half now, no big deal. What is a big deal is that even though I'm religiously following orders, I'm noticing weight creep. It's not much, but it's about a pound and a half since last week. I'm doing everything I was told to do - I'm exercising (walking) 20-30 minutes a day, I'm getting in at least 70 grams of Protein, under 100g of carbs (way under!), very little fat, and taking all meds and Vitamins. On average, I'm eating about 500-700 calories a day, which leaves me at least 2k caloric defecit on a daily basis. Now I'm getting frustrated. I know I'm supposed to wait this out with the patience of a saint or something, but I am neither patient or a saint so it's going really poorly. I've tried various tips and tricks to jump my metabolic rate and I'm just... ugh >.< Nothing's working.

I will be very interested in seeing how you go with this. 80% of the reason I am having this surgery is due to the diabetes. I am so insulin resistant and they just keep pumping me fuller and fuller with it and it causes weight gain and inflamation in every part of my body. Somedays I can't life my hands above my heard to blow dry my hair, Wising you the very best and hoping so much this is the answer to oru diabetes problems. or that at least the need for insulin is lessened.

Surg wt 300...wt last week 277. Then no loss. Today, i am up to 281!!!! Help!! I'm on purees but only eating 1/4c or less, and it's very basic stuff. My plan doesn't allow tomatoes, cheese or "anything" you can puree. I dont eat canned soups. Normally i take a fluid pill for BP but have not since sleeved. Surgeon says not to. I wonder if this is just water wt?? Can't see how it could be real weight gain!! What should i do? Thank you.

U lok great and I have gain back about 8lbs.im 15months out.i lost a total of 128lbs in 12 months but im jumping rite back into the groove..i feel real bad about my weight gain..it look like I gain 16lbs and I have pics and I rilly look small on them but now I lok at myself and say damn..but it will be ok very soon.

Do you mean 3---5oz drinks or 35 oz of drink I drink a 14oz bottle of protein 3 x's a day that's it for me I get a sf pudding, popcicle or jello in between, I have had tomatoe soup but next day I have a weight gain fluid I think I think this is all trial and erro I have talked to people who say 1 day you can eat something and the next day it makes you sick just get plenty of fluids of some kind is what I was told. Good luck at the Drs.

My family is 1/2 supportive. I have my hubby, mom and grandmother pro sleeve, and everyone else con. What's funny is the first people to point out I'm fat all the time are the people against me getting the surgery. I have 21 days till I get it done. Its at Good Shepard Hospital in Barrington, IL. I'm 31, about 247lbs and 5'8". I also have three kids, ages 2,2, and 1. I would like to blame them for my weight gain but it's my fault. I'd like to be 155lbs. I'm starting to get really nervous about Dec 3rd. I'm worried that it will hurt, that I'll have all this extra skin and what if I get this done and it doesnt work. I'm glad I found this so I can read what others are posting so I don't feel so alone.

I did go into a slight depression after my rny. You are right this is all a mental game. I did not realize until my second month how much of a mental game it really was. My weight gain has been due to medication. I have been on prednisone for 5 years for rheumatoid arthritis and it caused me to be hungry all the time. I did not consider myself a typical fat person using food for coping measures. However after the surgery I have realized how bad my eating habits were. I still struggle with the munchies and head hunger. The great thing about this procedure is that if you truly listen to your body it will guide you to healthier choices. Everyone goes through regret the first few months and the thought of what the hell did I do to myself, but after a few months that goes away. I am now able to eat anything I want just much smaller portions. Your relationship will change, but for the better and fitting into dress and feeling sexy is a much better feeling then the candy bar you are about to eat. I look at photos from before my surgery and I do not recognize the girl in the photos.

"Bawse"...I hear ya on the weight gain. I had put on a few myself when getting my strength back, then took a couple of weeks off and dropped about 4-5 pounds. Just curious since you lift, are you taking creatine?

Well I am three years out 178lbs and I still feel fat. If my stomach would vanish mysteriously I would be happier. I think we will always feel we are fat. I dont agree you need therapy because really if we let go of the band the result would be weight gain again. I feel I am in control but I think I will always feel fat.

Hi there, I was banded in January this year and have currently lost just over 5 stone , since being banded (6 in total). The only advice I can offer is that the band, whilst marvellous (i honestly don't believe I could have done it without it) is only an aid to weight loss. There are days when I long to be able to eat food with ease and without worry of getting 'stuck'. It also seems that 'bad' foods, ice cream, chocolate, other 'high calorie, low satisfaction' foods are often easier to eat than good, heathy foods....for instance I can no longer eat salad, I find it difficult to eat pasta unless cooked to death. I still have an overwhelming mental desire to eat. That said I absolutely do not regret having the op, quite the opposite. It has allowed me to regain my life. Not only do I look better, mentally I'm in the best place I've been for years despite personal dilemmas that would have crushed me a year ago. What I have come to realise through this journey of an initial huge weight gain (8stone in 4 years!) before having the op, is that I have always been mentally 'fat' even at 5'7" and a size 12. But like a self fulfilling prophecy, I had to become truly morbidly obese in order to appreciate that my weight problem was in my head not my body! Only you have the power to change your life, do it....with or without the band. Xxx

Bawse52 congrats on your 210 lbs weight loss - not to mention your weight "gain" this side effect/victory for men has been mentioned before but you seem to forget - women enjoy being on the "receiving" end of growth oh dear, you never know what this grammy might say continued good luck you are doing amazing with your weight loss keep doing what you are doing happy one year surgiversary +...... we never see you - come visit more often take care

Some of the reasons for the 6 week liquids are prob the liver size, like you mentioned, and some doctors want to see if you can keep doing something you are told to for an extended amount of time. Your success will hinge on being able to follow orders for a LONG time. That includes not drinking coffee (make that caffein...) and alcahol, fizzy diet or reg sodas, beer and such. The reasoning behind not drinking sodas are that the long term studies are pointing to weight gain with regular AND diet sodas. The fizz does seem to cause some problems as well. We all know beer is full of carbs, and our little stomachs will be tender for quite a while, perhaps over a year. I am almost at 2 years, and there are still things that tummy just doesnt agree with, and i have a pretty cast iron tummy. I can just now eat hot chili after two years, and I always used to eat things HOT. We have a set of habits, some of which have gotten us into trouble... now is the time to change as many of them long term that we can... or at least part of the weight will come back on. I speak from experience, having gained 11-12 pounds. I know it is from eating habits (junk food and grazing) and a reduction in exercise (knee bone spurs... working to remedy this) Even those 12 pounds tell me the sleeve is working pretty well because my portion sizes are better than before surgery... the more changes you can willingly make in the quality of what you eat, the better for you and your kids and busy lifestyle. I have a glass of wine now and then, I stay away from caffein, I eat almost anything I want, protein first, and try and keep the portion sizes down... do the best you can. It will pay off in better weight loss and maintenance. Best of luck.

Omg I am going to try this!!! I have been stuck for over 3 weeks!!!! Thanks sooo much missy!! You are truly great!!!! The best!!! I have been eating 800-900 calories a day and exercising no weight lose... :'( Need to increase my calories but have the fear of weight gain! I will defo try it starting from today! Hope it starts my weightloss again!! Thanks alot!!! Xxxx

I can attest to the pms weight gain. Every month it just soooo hsppened i was scheduled the week of my cycle, pure coincidence, to have my monthly meetings w/ the surgeon..!!!!! For this 3 month period ot actually looks like i gained weight from my initial appt. I just took some diurex or ramped up my Water intake from 64 to 80oz a day.. it helps!!!!! Best of luck and you should be fine Sent from my SAMSUNG GALAXY SII Skyrocket using LapBandTalk

Losing weight reeks havoc on your hormones. Right now your body is being flooded by them. This is probably why you always feel this way when you start losing weight. Part of it is psychological because there was likely something behind your weight gain in the first place. It would be a good idea to try to get to the bottom of what that is if you don't know already. The other part is physical because of all the changes going on in your body. So feeling down is completely natural. Overtime, you will start to regulate on your own. If you don't, I highly recommend you talk to a professional about it. Hang in there!

I'm glad you got to spend the night with your babies Jessie. I know that had to feel wonderful! But I am worried about that fever! Whatever it is, and I know it's hard, go back in and get to the cause hun. I nearly died due to complications and while the separation from my child was hard, very hard, dying would have been so much harder on him! Have they done a barium swallow on you yet! It's a leak test, different than an xray or cat scan. That was what finally diagnosed mine. Keep us in the loop if you can. We all hate to see these stories, but now we are attached . We want to kow when you are out of the woods...I would bet you do too! As to the weight gain...I gained 40lbs the first six weeks. All from multiple surgeries, procedures and the IV fluids as well as the tpn feedings. That took a couple of weeks to get rid of but it does fall off. 8lbs is pretty normal and easy to get rid of. But I also understand your regrets. I still regret the risks I took. I don't know if that will ever fade.

I had a band and lost 40lbs but was always slimming and was disappointed with my weight loss. So, I had a revision to the sleeve. At first I lost 12 lbs, and then stopped dead. I followed the diet, exercised intermittanly but still didnt lose. The nutritionist where I had surgery had me take Metformin as I take anti-psychotic meds and they are known to cause weight gain. It didnt work. I have been in touch with the doctor that did my revision and he feels the problem was due to too much scare tissue from the band.He has only had this happen one other time. I am going back on Dec 6 for a "Re" revision. I am not going to name the doctor as everyone I know, or have seen on the boards have had excellent results. I am fearful that the same thing will happen again. I know I will have to lose weight if my stomach is smaller,but I am not sold just yet. Oh, the doctor is doing the new surgery for free. I cant get much better than that. Has anyone else had this problem?