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I have 60 pounds to lose and i don't like when people tell me I'm crazy and that I'm not "that big." I know its not 100 + pounds to lose but it sure is still hard as hell to lose it. The struggle shouldn't be disregarded just because your not morbiddly obese. I've been trying to lose the weight for years and I just keep packing on the pounds. I'm sure there are a great deal of people whom wish they would have got the lap band before their weight gain hit the triple digits. I'm right with you and am planning to get the lap band next month. Good luck on your journey!

Hi all- I was banded on April 27th of this year. I have lost all total (including pre-op) 58 lbs. I am so thankful and happy for that. However, after my last fill, I have lost maybe 2 lbs...and it has been three weeks! I am now not making great choices as far as food ( but not horrible either). I am so frustrated as I am (and have been) about 4 lbs from a MAJOR milestone on the scale. I got on the scale today and it showed I gained about 1.5lbs....from what, I am not sure. A little weight gain from the choices I made maybe but not 1.5 lbs! I am even exercising 3 times a week for 1.5 hours. I would love someone that I could talk to, who can understand, who can be an accountability partner. I can be that for someone else too. Thanks- Jen

BB I had 2 weeks prior to surgery as well. I chose to quit earlier in case I had a hard time with it. Not really understanding the weight gain that comes with it I wish I would have waited but I've come to far to start back for a couple months to just quit again.

Anyone gaining weight, while following the diet religiously? I know my body is going through major changes, I see a difference in clothing. I'm wondering if my new scale is playing with my head. If I wake tomorrow and I'm up...my new scale is going 6feet under! Lol

I was reading your other post about gaining 4 lbs and just wanted to let you know your weight gain is almost surely caused by this time when you didnt intake protein. Your body goes into starvation mode and now that your eating mushys it is holding on to every calorie you eat! SO hopefully a little more time on the mushy stage will kick your body into weightloss mode Best of luck!

Well I'm originally from Texas and if eating protein was the key to avoiding weight gain, I never would have made it to 185 much less 285! Lol!! But the absolute importance of protein post-op is undeniable. Doctors vary widely on their recommendations - from 60g to 100g a day - but I've never heard of a bariatric surgeon that doesn't stress the importance of protein post-op.

Hi all, I am dng well, 7 weeks post op and down 60 lbs!!!!!! 28 more until im under 300!!!!!!!!!!!!! Woohoo. Anyhow, it is common to have depression following rapid weight loss as well as acne, well I have both!!!! I am seeing my PCP in the morning to be put on some anti depressants and regulate these mood swings. Any suggestions on do and donts of meds for this. I know some increase weight gain ect.. So I thought I would ask the you all Thanks in advance

So I'm jogging along the creek this morning and I run into my ex. She used to be a ring girl back when I was fighting MMA and had always been (my wife isn't looking) HOT!!!! She was there when I tore my knee to shreds and we broke it off before I went from 205-337. Her father and I stayed great friends and fishing buddy's despite the breakup between his daughter and I so I'm sure she was aware of the weight gain. Fast forward to today.. She stopped me and I kept jogging in place so she didn't know my interest had peaked. Maaaaan she looked good!!! But... You guys would be proud. Gave her a shug (hand shake + hug) that we guys give each other) and kept pushing!! Man it feels good that she caught the vapors! (in my Biz Markee voice).

Could I have avoided years of weight gain and the pain of surgery by eating a little moo-moo? I realized not only do I not get enough Protein in my current diet on WLS, I never ate protein! My food intake was Pasta, pizza, and smoothie \ in that order. And maybe popcorn daily 100 calorie pop. I always stayed under my calorie count and I walk 3 times a week, but the scale was broke, it would only increase!! Now that I'm forcing myself to eat these (sorry not to offend) yucky animals snd chalky shakes, the scale seems to be fixed?? Ok I had to vent realizing I hate protein and miss my love of carbs, but they no longer taste the same. Sent from my iPhone using RNYTalk

I'm crossing my fingers I get approved I'm glad u did I hope dr doesn't say anything about weight gain fingers crossed

I guess ill see if i get to play later in the month. The medications im on for pain and spasming cause both weight gain and loss. I differ by five or ten lbs one way each morning (it's not the scale lol} so ill not post until I'm off them....god knows when that will be.

Weight loss? Weight gain? Pain better? Exercising?

I had surgery on Monday 9/10. When I weighed myself yesterday I had gained 5 lbs according to my scale. I've hardly consumed anything just some broth and protein shakes. I weighed this morning I was down a lb from the day before but still up 4 from surgery. Could it be my excessive bloating from surgery causing the weight gain?

Did anyone gain during 6 month suprovosed and still got approved if so how much did u gain?

going on day 20of forced bedrest. they are pretty certwin i wont die now though. the drugs cause weight gain. i cant believe i did this to my body. my son nearly lost hia mommy all for vanity. i feel a colosul fool surgery 23rd

So I made it a month without a band and no weight gain....was pretty much thinking I was a rock star!!!! I spent Labor Day weekend with my parents and gained 2 1/2 pounds....I've always said no one can be skinny around my mom's cooking!!!!! Darn that woman!!!!

Well, the day of surgery I was at the tail end of my period. Then, the next period was extremely heavy the first two days and then mellowed for the next two but that cycle was only 26 days.Normally mine are 30 days. I did notice that my ovulatory pain is worse now. I've only had one since surgery (scheduled to start tomorrow). I haven't noticed any PMS symptoms but the water weight gain is still as bad as it was. Nothing emotional though.

Recently an acquaintance told me about seeing an obese man on TV who claimed that bariatric surgery hadn’t worked for him. “How can it NOT work?!” Patsy exclaimed. There’s no simple answer to that question. In the past I’ve written about why weight loss surgery fails (read the article here: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/page/index.html/_/support/why-does-weight-loss-surgery-fail-r88). Today I’d like to revisit the topic and focus on how our expectations affect the perception of as well as the ultimate success or failure of WLS. BARIATRIC MYTHOLOGY Some powerful myths influence our beliefs about and expectations of WLS. An especially insidious one that affects both bariatric patients and the general public is that WLS is essentially magic, requiring little or no effort on the patient’s part to achieve the desired weight loss. Hence the infamous and heinous phrase: “Weight loss surgery is taking the easy way out.” This magic myth has a corollary one that purports that the weight lost as a result of bariatric surgery is weight lost forever, again without any effort on the part of the patient. Sorry, but that’s not true either. While the whole point of bariatric surgery is to make weight loss easier, it does not eliminate the need for hard work by the patient. No bariatric surgery can cure obesity, which is a chronic, recurring disease. That doesn’t mean that succeeding with WLS means you’re sentenced to a lifetime of hard labor, dragging heavy chains and digging ditches, but it does mean that in the long term a successful patient is one who takes responsibility for his or her eating behavior, weight management, and general health. Reading the paragraph above may serve to shatter some illusions that you held dear, but when would you rather face the truth: early in your journey, or later? Although I was once a bandster like you, I lost my beloved band and recently converted to vertical sleeve gastrectomy. I have to tell you that despite all my advance research and preparation, the reality of living with a sleeved stomach is giving me a bad case of buyer’s remorse, but there’s no going back now. Seventy-five percent of my stomach is gone forever, but living with what’s left and finding a way to eat and to manage my weight now is an ongoing challenge. And I’ve heard countless stories from all kinds of bariatric patients about the challenges they face after surgery. Anyone who promises you a completely sunny picture of the future is either mistaken or trying to avoid bursting your bubble. BAND MYTHS There are a number of myths related to the adjustable gastric band. One of them is that slower weight loss with the band will prevent sagging or excess skin, and that just ain’t so. A more dangerous myth, peculiar to bandsters, is that fills cause weight loss and unfills cause weight gain. While fluid adjustments are an important part of how the AGB works,the fluid is NOT what causes weight loss. In fact, there is absolutely nothing in any part of the band system (the band, the tubing, and the port) that causes weight loss. The band does not directly affect the way nutrients from food are ingested or metabolized. It releases no weight loss instructions into the patient’s bloodstream, nervous system, or endocrine system. It doesn’t directly affect the patient’s eating behavior or exercise habits. It doesn’t compel the patient to make good food choices, limit portion sizes, eat slowly, or resist the urge to graze or binge because of boredom, stress, cravings, etc. Weight loss results from eating fewer calories than you burn, and the band helps with that by reducing your appetite and causing early and prolonged satiety. Those features are related to the pressure of the band against the stomach and the consumption of solid food whose mechanical digestion triggers the vagus nerves in the upper stomach to send satiety signals to the brain. If the patient ignores those signals, the calories taken in may exceed the calories burned, slowing or preventing weight loss. And since weight is affected by many other factors entirely unrelated to the band (like medications, hormone imbalance, etc. etc.), all we can do is to concentrate on the ones that are within our control and understand that it’s a fallacy to attribute weight loss to the band or to fills. One harmful consequence of the fills=weight loss myth is that the patient seeks more and more fills in the quest for “perfect restriction” (also a myth) or the legendary (but also mythical) “sweet spot.” This patient tends to tolerate side effects and eating problems that can cause serious damage to them and their band because they’re so focused on finding that perfect but elusive fill level and believes (erroneously) that the more fluid in their band, the better. When you suggest to this person that they may actually need less, not more fluid in their band (so that they can eat healthy, solid food instead of not-so-healthy slider foods), they react with panic, so aren’t able to make a good decision and may not even be willing to tell their surgeon about the eating problems they experience. Please don’t read this article thinking that my purpose is to discourage you. I’m the eternal optimist who believes in self-fulfilling prophecies. If you’re determined to lose weight and work hard at it, you can indeed use your band to reach your weight goal. The key phrase in that sentence is “work hard at”. There’s just no getting around that, so if your expectation is that you’ll lose weight effortlessly, you’re probably going to be disappointed in your band, yourself, or both. Your band can assist your weight loss efforts by providing early and prolonged satiety, but it’s not going to make good food choices, control portion sizes, make you exercise, be vigilant with aftercare, win you cash and prizes, or turn you into America’s next top model. On the other hand, believing that you will succeed and working hard to learn and change what you need to in order to lose weight will greatly increase your chances of becoming a bariatric superstar. And when stardom comes from hard work, it is much, much sweeter and longer lasting than stardom that falls at random out of the sky!

Do you expect weight loss surgery to pull 100 pounds out of a magician’s hat? Our expectations of surgery can have a greater influence on our success or failure than you might think. Recently an acquaintance told me about seeing an obese man on TV who claimed that bariatric surgery hadn’t worked for him. “How can it NOT work?!” Patsy exclaimed. There’s no simple answer to that question. In the past I’ve written about why weight loss surgery fails (read the article here: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/page/index.html/_/support/why-does-weight-loss-surgery-fail-r88). Today I’d like to revisit the topic and focus on how our expectations affect the perception of as well as the ultimate success or failure of WLS. BARIATRIC MYTHOLOGY Some powerful myths influence our beliefs about and expectations of WLS. An especially insidious one that affects both bariatric patients and the general public is that WLS is essentially magic, requiring little or no effort on the patient’s part to achieve the desired weight loss. Hence the infamous and heinous phrase: “Weight loss surgery is taking the easy way out.” This magic myth has a corollary one that purports that the weight lost as a result of bariatric surgery is weight lost forever, again without any effort on the part of the patient. Sorry, but that’s not true either. While the whole point of bariatric surgery is to make weight loss easier, it does not eliminate the need for hard work by the patient. No bariatric surgery can cure obesity, which is a chronic, recurring disease. That doesn’t mean that succeeding with WLS means you’re sentenced to a lifetime of hard labor, dragging heavy chains and digging ditches, but it does mean that in the long term a successful patient is one who takes responsibility for his or her eating behavior, weight management, and general health. Reading the paragraph above may serve to shatter some illusions that you held dear, but when would you rather face the truth: early in your journey, or later? Although I was once a bandster like you, I lost my beloved band and recently converted to vertical sleeve gastrectomy. I have to tell you that despite all my advance research and preparation, the reality of living with a sleeved stomach is giving me a bad case of buyer’s remorse, but there’s no going back now. Seventy-five percent of my stomach is gone forever, but living with what’s left and finding a way to eat and to manage my weight now is an ongoing challenge. And I’ve heard countless stories from all kinds of bariatric patients about the challenges they face after surgery. Anyone who promises you a completely sunny picture of the future is either mistaken or trying to avoid bursting your bubble. BAND MYTHS There are a number of myths related to the adjustable gastric band. One of them is that slower weight loss with the band will prevent sagging or excess skin, and that just ain’t so. A more dangerous myth, peculiar to bandsters, is that fills cause weight loss and unfills cause weight gain. While fluid adjustments are an important part of how the AGB works,the fluid is NOT what causes weight loss. In fact, there is absolutely nothing in any part of the band system (the band, the tubing, and the port) that causes weight loss. The band does not directly affect the way nutrients from food are ingested or metabolized. It releases no weight loss instructions into the patient’s bloodstream, nervous system, or endocrine system. It doesn’t directly affect the patient’s eating behavior or exercise habits. It doesn’t compel the patient to make good food choices, limit portion sizes, eat slowly, or resist the urge to graze or binge because of boredom, stress, cravings, etc. Weight loss results from eating fewer calories than you burn, and the band helps with that by reducing your appetite and causing early and prolonged satiety. Those features are related to the pressure of the band against the stomach and the consumption of solid food whose mechanical digestion triggers the vagus nerves in the upper stomach to send satiety signals to the brain. If the patient ignores those signals, the calories taken in may exceed the calories burned, slowing or preventing weight loss. And since weight is affected by many other factors entirely unrelated to the band (like medications, hormone imbalance, etc. etc.), all we can do is to concentrate on the ones that are within our control and understand that it’s a fallacy to attribute weight loss to the band or to fills. One harmful consequence of the fills=weight loss myth is that the patient seeks more and more fills in the quest for “perfect restriction” (also a myth) or the legendary (but also mythical) “sweet spot.” This patient tends to tolerate side effects and eating problems that can cause serious damage to them and their band because they’re so focused on finding that perfect but elusive fill level and believes (erroneously) that the more fluid in their band, the better. When you suggest to this person that they may actually need less, not more fluid in their band (so that they can eat healthy, solid food instead of not-so-healthy slider foods), they react with panic, so aren’t able to make a good decision and may not even be willing to tell their surgeon about the eating problems they experience. Please don’t read this article thinking that my purpose is to discourage you. I’m the eternal optimist who believes in self-fulfilling prophecies. If you’re determined to lose weight and work hard at it, you can indeed use your band to reach your weight goal. The key phrase in that sentence is “work hard at”. There’s just no getting around that, so if your expectation is that you’ll lose weight effortlessly, you’re probably going to be disappointed in your band, yourself, or both. Your band can assist your weight loss efforts by providing early and prolonged satiety, but it’s not going to make good food choices, control portion sizes, make you exercise, be vigilant with aftercare, win you cash and prizes, or turn you into America’s next top model. On the other hand, believing that you will succeed and working hard to learn and change what you need to in order to lose weight will greatly increase your chances of becoming a bariatric superstar. And when stardom comes from hard work, it is much, much sweeter and longer lasting than stardom that falls at random out of the sky!

So I'm still here. Sorry to be so scarce lately. I've been a little depressed and super busy. I just haven't been losing the way I had hoped and still struggling with weight gain when I have my TOM. Sucks! No worries though, I'm not giving up. (LOL like I have that choice.) I did get my second fill but it doesn't seem to be nearly enough. Plan on getting another one soon and hopefully that will put me into the full swing weight loss that I see everyone else on. Maybe by Christmas I'll be at goal. It is good to see everyone else doing so well. Keep up the good work! It is inspiring to see your numbers drop. Be well, be happy, and hugs to all, Julz~

if you use a lot of sugar free products, like aspartame (which is nutrasweet, crystal light, sugar free jello/pudding, etc), sucralose (splenda, mio, etc), sucrose, etc.. then one of the side effects is that it can raise your blood sugar and/or blood glucose. lol THE IRONY! but it does happen! here's a great article on how artificiall sweeteners can be worse for diabetics than sugar: http://articles.merc...than-sugar.aspx Aspartame Aspartame is one of the artificial sweeteners approved by the U.S. food and Drug Administration. It’s found in a variety of foods, including some baked goods, canned foods, candy and dairy products. Aspartame is a synthetic sugar that’s significantly sweeter than real sugar, but contains no calories. Possible benefits of aspartame include weight control and preventing dental cavities, according to MayoClinic.com. Blood Glucose Levels Scientists at Maastricht University in the Netherlands investigated the effects of aspartame on blood glucose levels in healthy males. Subjects drank a beverage containing aspartame on three separate visits. Blood glucose levels were measured before and after aspartame consumption. At the end of the study, which was published in the December 1999 issue of the “British Journal of Nutrition,” researchers observed that 40 percent of participants had decreases in blood glucose levels, whereas 20 percent experienced an increase. In addition, 40 percent had stable blood glucose levels. Insulin Levels Researchers at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center studied the impact of aspartame on blood glucose and insulin levels. Subjects were assigned aspartame, stevia or sucrose with their lunch and dinner meals. Scientists observed that those in the aspartame group had higher blood glucose and insulin levels after their meals compared with those in the stevia group. The findings were reported in the August 2010 issue of “Appetite.” Side Effects Aspartame consumption has several side effects, including nausea, bloating, diarrhea, stomach upset and headache, according to MayoClinic.com. If you experience any of these side effects, reduce or eliminate aspartame from your diet. Source: http://www.livestron...in-in-the-body/ Splenda The web site www.truthaboutsplenda.com lists a variety of consumer complaints from Splenda consumption, such as: Gastrointestinal problems Migraines Seizures Dizziness Blurred vision Allergic reactions Blood sugar increases Weight gain My site also contains a long list of personal testimonials from readers who have suffered side effects from Splenda. In fact, we have more people on our site that have reported adverse reactions to Splenda than were formally studied in the research submitted for FDA approval! The symptoms are so numerous I can’t include them all here, but the following are common symptoms, usually noticed within a 24-hour period following consumption of Splenda products: Skin -- Redness, itching, swelling, blistering, weeping, crusting, rash, eruptions, or hives (itchy bumps or welts). These are the most common allergic symptoms that people have. Lungs -- Wheezing, tightness, cough, or shortness of breath. Head -- Swelling of the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, or throat; headaches and migraines (severe headaches). Nose -- Stuffy nose, runny nose (clear, thin discharge), sneezing. Eyes -- Red (bloodshot), itchy, swollen, or watery. Stomach -- Bloating, gas, pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or bloody diarrhea. Heart -- Palpitations or fluttering. Joints -- Joint pains or aches. Neurological -- Anxiety, dizziness, spaced-out sensation, depression. Beware – You Could be Consuming Splenda Without Your Knowledge You also need to be aware of the fact that although the bulk of Splenda is sold to processed food manufacturers and soft drink bottlers, it could turn up in your medicine as well, as nearly 10 percent of all sucralose is sold to drug companies. Many times sucralose (Splenda) will not be listed in the drug information, so there simply is no way you would know you are consuming a potentially dangerous artificial sweetener. However, if you experience any of the symptoms above even though you’re avoiding Splenda and other artificial sweeteners, then it may be worth investigating the ingredients of any medications you’re taking as well. source: http://articles.merc...ul-effects.aspx natural/better alternatives to sugar: Swerve Sweetener (http://www.swervesweetener.com/) stevia lo han xylitol Sweet N Low doesn't affect your blood glucose levels, but figured you'd wanna hear about it anyway... so i posted it at the bottom. Saccharin/Sweet N Low This sweet mess is saccharin (think Sweet and Low). It was first produced in 1878 by a chemist working on coal tar derivatives at Johns Hopkins University. After working with his compounds all day, he discovered that his hand tasted “sweet.”1 Not really sure how it came about that he tasted his hand, but there it is. Today, saccharin is commonly manufactured by combining anthranilic acid (used among other things as a corrosive agent for metal) with nitrous acid, sulfur dioxide, chlorine, and ammonia. Yes, that’s right. Chlorine and ammonia. In fact, that particular group of chemicals sounds more like a recipe for a household cleaner than a sweetener. And yet, millions upon millions of people consume saccharin every year. source: http://naturalhealthsherpa.com/saccharin-danger-side-effects/52849

now I'm scared to death LOL.....I'm less than two weeks out and just not sure of anything.....i think I've just read to much of everything! My best friend had this done months ago, and was up walking the same day and has had no problems, I'm mean NONE and then I read on here and its all bad for the most part except for people who are months out of having the sleeve done. And whats up with the protein......I bought the Nector, fuzzy navel and the crystal sky, I don't like chocolate, vanilla or strawberry shakes, well, these things taste awful LOLOL....how are you supposed to get protein if you cannot stomach the protein shake stuff...... I'm taking extra vitamins, biotin, B12, Iron, every time I read something that tells me what I should be doing, I go buy and start doing LOL I am soooo excited and yet so worried...... I keep telling myself I need to slow down, take a deep breath and just let this happen..... I've have other surgeries, hysterectomy, bladder, breast implants prior to all the weight gain, can it really be any worse than any of that???? How long before I can start to work out again? Is anyone else feeling like they are on a merry-go-round prior to surgery? please tell me it was all worth it and OK ......not just months out down the road LOL good luck everyone!!!

I can totally understand why you would be very nervous about your op tomorrow especially after hearing about the very unfortunate complications with Lila. But honestly it is very rare and I agree with Cookeeez that the hundreds of successful ops needs to be your focus. I personally do not want to even think about weight gain as this to me is a whole lifestyle change and you may only gain weight back if you allow this. We have been given a great tool to change our life and i have heard from a few that are 4 yrs out that drop in to provide an update sometimes that they are still very happy and have maintained their weight. I don't know if there is many past 5 yrs or so but don't know how long they have been doing this procedure. I really don't think from my experience only that you can not get enough Vitamins in as personally I can get all food in, just very small amounts but definitely have no concerns of lack of vits & mins. You have come this far and you have to remain positive and feel in your heart of hearts this will help your health for you and your family. Prayers are with you

Oh and the weight gain is always possible! That's why this was step 1 leading to step 2 bypass! This surgery isn't malabsorptive, the biliary pancreatic diversion offers best weight loss over all surgeries, but more risk by far. If you get 2 + years out and need to lose more weight they can adapt the BPD to your sleeve, or do the total bypass.

We have the same banded date and I am experiencing the same thing. It truly takes a lot of self control. I lost 10lbs the first week. However since then, each time I changed to a new phase, I gained 2 lbs. I am at 1200 calories per doctors orders. I am eating a well balance meal and satiated for three hours. I have not been discouraged by the weight gain because I assume it is due to my body being confused and being sedentary. I will start working out tomorrow so that should help restart my loss. I was scheduled to get my fill on 9/20 but they said call if I felt I needed one earlier so I am going to call tomorrow. Be patient with yourself. We will both lose the weight because we are committed