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I am so disappointed with myself. I started off great, then I had a blood clot and just was focus on not bruising myself or falling. Now, I have gained 10 lbs and still haven't reach my goal. I haven’t exercised, but now I am trying to do something each day. My two year surgerversary is 4/16/2016. Has anyone else come back and met goal after a long stall and weight gain? Thanks

Lacecute, I’m sorry that your dealing with this, but I hate to say that this is a rude awakening for you any will be for many others. This surgery is a tool to help assist with your weight loss. You still have to put the work in as you stated your doing. You will find in your journey weight gains and MANY stalls. The stalls could last 1 or 2 weeks, later in my journey my stalls lasted longer. Your not even two months out so your doing awesome with your weight loss. One thing you don’t want to do is compare your journey to someone else. Everyone is different! This will not happen overnight, please keep that in mind. As the person said prior to increase your food intake, Men’s bodies are different as well and will need more calories than a woman. When you come across a stall increase your protein and water intake. Stay focused on the end result, and to reach the end result don’t add in your triggers or those things that are not good for you I.e. chips. There are healthy options if you desire those guilty pleasures. I would definitely wait until later in your journey to indulge, bad habits now lead to more bad habits. Don’t be so hard on yourself the surgery is working and your doing awesome with your weight loss thus far!

I am aiming for 185 by July 4th. We shall see. I had a Water weight gain this week (traveling for work and eating out) and I am fighting to get off. I have started running/walking and I love it. Good Luck staying on track fellow bandsters!

All of the above for me.lol I was like you and had started yet another diet and was doing well. Right up to the night before surgery, I was second guessing myself. I then realized it was the same old, same old. Lose the weight, gain it back plus some. I couldn't afford to do that anymore. Like Missy, I needed my life back. You are the only one who can decide if you've had enough yoyo dieting. Glad I went ahead with it. In the past, I had always given up by now. Now I'm looking forward to making my goal for the first time ever. Good luck on any decision you make. Stick around and get a really good education on what the band can do and what it can't do.

My husband and I are a couple that take advantage of the fact that the band is "adjustable". I love the fact that I am able to adjust the band to fit my life style. For an example, last year when my husband required hip replacement surgery he was able to un-fill his band enough to allow him to eat the amount of food and nutrition that he needed to help his body heal. When your band is at a certain restriction you may know that there are certain food intolerance that you might experience with fruits and vegetable and when you are recovering from major surgery it's good to be able to get those in without worrying about that and being banded he was able to relax his band during that time and concentrate on healing. The same has been true for myself. When I was sick with severe flu, I was able to relax my band to allow my body to eliminate the extra Fluid and mucus that my body was battling with. I have had to have several invasive tests and have had periods of high intensity stress that relaxing my band helped me to process and recover more quickly from. On the flip side going back to the Dr. once things are in balance I and my husband are able to add fluid back into the band to achieve that level of restriction where our food intake is lower due to lack of hunger and craving, and our weight loss continues. During the times when we have had our bands relaxed I can say that the most weight gained was about 2 pounds maybe 5 for hubby after hip replacement surgery but mostly due to IV fluids he lost that with in a week after discharge from the hospital. Slow and steady for us....the goal is at the end and today it's all about the journey.

I have to wait until I can switch insurance companies tohave the LapBand surgery. In the meantime I've being researching and readingall the books I can find on LapBand. Iwould love to have a tool with me for the long haul. I've been really bummed out and I think depressed/sad withthe state that I'm in. I've been heavy since my teenage years, so that's notnew. However I'm the heaviest I've ever been without being pregnant (I got upto 300lbs. with each kid). My weight is just not budging, even with my resentuse of phentermine + dieting.That nolonger works for me.I'm looking for some advice; of course I'll talk with mydoctor, once she is back from vacation. My question is this: Are there any antidepressants that don'tcause weight gain? How does Wellbutryn work for you? I've never taken any kind of antidepressant before so I'mcurious to hear from someone who has. Pros vs. Cons Thanks for your advice.

Lighter02, I'm so sorry for your frustrations. Did you know going in that you were going to be continuing with lupron? If weight gain or retention is a known side effect of that medication, banding wasn't ever going to have any impact on that. Some people find out after banding that they have a medical condition causing their weight problem and have to address that. While that's frustrating for sure, banding still had an impact because if they hadn't been banded the medical condition might not ever have been found. So maybe you know something you didn't know before, and when/if that situation is addressed and you can remove that factor, the band will still be there waiting to help you control your caloric intake. And in the absence of other influences, that will always help someone lose weight. The best of luck to you!

Is this medication regime or the severity of your endometriosis going to affect your fertility? I too had endometriosis, granted nowhere as severe as yours. I fought the idea of a hysterectomy for years. Finally uterine cancer took away my options, I had the hysterectomy....and my life improved in so many ways!!! Now looking back I wish I had done it years ago, followed by the band years ago...it's that 20/20 hindsight!!! Meanwhile, at least while you get a handle on the illness issues, the band will keep your eating in check, and stop any weight gain. Many times these type of things cause eating as a response to depression. What type of exercise are you capable of doing at this point? Can you think of any ways in which we can help you? Let us know!!! Kat

This entry is for Monday, March 27, 2006 Breakfast: nothing, not hungry Lunch: beans, 1 oz. Mexican beef steak Dinner: Mexican beef steak, 3 tomillos Snack: serving cookies, cup cappaccino I notice since my husband has been home, I've been eating an actual dinner. And at about 8:00 p.m. I've been eating a snack. This is, I'm sure, the reason for my 2 pound weight gain. That, and I'm expecting my cycle soon. Now that I realize that in only a week's time, I can mke a change to my eating schedule.

I agree this is not the place to debate the band. There are other forums for this, however, in respect to smkeller's input, I think doctors need to be up front with complications and their own success rates on lapband surgeries. I did much internet research before proceeding with the surgery and everything scared the heck out of me prompting me to cancel my surgery once. Something that you have not mentioned though is that there have been great improvements to the band and the surgical technique. Not to say that this eliminates complications and there is not enough long term data yet, but, many of us have made the decision to go lapband because it is removable and there is no re-routing of the inside plumbing. In addition, I personally know a few people that took other WLS routes and a couple are miserable and two of them have stretched their stomachs and have gained most if not all of their weigh back and now have no other choices. I do understand that weight gain can also happen to banded people, but, there are options and the band is adjustable. Here's my story. I started my WLS journey research with the gastric by-pass procedure and was to go that route, however, along the way I met 2 of the people mentioned above at which point I started looking at the lapband and found it was the best fit for me and only because I did not want permanent routing of my intestines. That's just me though and I respect any of the WL surgeries. The final goal regardless of which route we take is "getting healthier" to live a longer and fuller life. Words of encouragement to mstrustar2730. Yes, death is a possibility as in with every surgery, however, lapband is less invasive and usually done as a day surgery. Death from a lapband surgery is minimal and is usually not from the procedure itself, but from surgery complications. After I did all my research on the lapband I discovered that a co-worker died from the surgery and I cancelled my surgery a 2nd time. Well, after asking more questions it turns out that he had heart complications and the surgery was never performed. I, as you thought it was a sign and should not proceed. My support system was awesome and with prayer and encouragement I went forth. Best darn thing I have ever done for myself and as I always say live for today and if complications come later on, I'll cross that bridge when I get there. I am convinced that lapband has saved my life. I was in trouble medically taking 8 prescribed medications and am down to 3 for blood pressure. Would i do this again? ABSOLUTELY!!!!! Jake

I cannot walk much due to severe arthritis. So I started weights. Yesterday I did weights many times during the day. I was happy with my exercise,hoping the body will respond. But no today my weight is up by half kg. How depressing is that... why do we gain weight after doing almost 4 lbs weights almost 400 times?? I am really sad. Was so hoping to break the 1 month stall.

#9 How I'm Keeping on plan: Some fear of weight gain keeps me on plan. I gain quickly and it's slow to come off. I log, exercise, keep motivational things on my fridge, set goals, and this challenge is helping. Thanks @GreenTealael Don't judge. Three months until Vegas. I'm going to see my sister in law on this vacation. At the beginning of my weight loss, she said to me " you know your just going to gain your weight back." 🙄 Anger is a great motivator to stay on plan. I hope to be in the low 130's for Mt Charleston.

It often seems to me that people make things up as they go along.Very often,depending on who they are talking to,the story changes to suite the audience.About events in their lives,about the way they feel about thing and the way they have experienced it.Human beings are great at self deception and deceiving....not always on purpose either.Often to make things seem better.Often to make ourselves look better and often because we just dont remember things the way they happened.I have friends that had this surgery and the way they remember the early days now is not the way I remember it at all,and I did go through this at some small level with them...what they ate,how they felt,how they reacted to things. The purpose of my blog is to expose the way having a surgery like this makes me feel.What it does to me physically and my reactions to it.How it affects my every day life and what my expectations are. Now,I live in a country where no one is prepaired to admit they had this surgery.Support group is in early developmental stage and my great therapist left abruptly in the middle of last year sans a 65 pounds regain from me and the surgery as a result. I do not work outside of my house and I have a full time live in housekeeper.I have 2 kids,one at uni and one going to middle school next year.I have a lot of free time on my hands at the moment as a whole lot of my close friends left the country last year and the friends I have left are the people that we mostly eat with and have coffee mornings or tea with.That in itself is slightly challenging for me at the moment.Eating out,going to Friday "brunch" (lunch like on sunday) going to lunch with friends and eating cakes at coffee shops for some reason,mostly peoples birthdays or going away teas, are big passtimes for us here.o,when we are not to heavy or ashamed of the weight gains we also exercise together when we can agree on which class to do.Life as an expat is different.life in the middle east is different.It is a good life with lots of disposable cash and no family support structure and a lot of heartache over good friends leaving.It is a trancient society where no one ever really gets to know anyone too well...they will leave again so you just dont invest too much of yourself in people anymore...10 years experiencing all this teaches one how to protect your heart.All this might seem very trivial to some but I do not need to defend my life or justify the way we live anymore.This was the first thing I now had to overcome.This is my life and it is great. We are blessed beyond believe with a wonderful church and wonderful people in church.Our kids are healthy and doing great.We have enough money to travel a lot and life in general...just great. This surgery is a big thing in my life.I believe I am as positive as I can be about it.As for my feelings about the long term outcome.I know I will have to make this work.At the moment it is still a little overwhelming to me that it is school holiday and insteat of going to stay at a beach resort we will stay home...the eating thing is just to complicated for me at the moment.Summer holidays are coming up in little less than 3 months.This is the time of year we go back to our home countries for 2 months or travel to europe to holiday,how will I cope with that?The lack of routine always gets to me during summer and the family back home do not know about this surgery. I am,and will go through all 120 different emotions every day and I will acknowledge each and every one of them.Pay attention to the good ones and let go of the bad ones.That is the way I will earn to deal with the new me.The me that cannot eat away pain.The me that constantly think about food.The me that realize that my hunger has always been in my head,and it feels no different now. This is how I will overcome using food for fun and learn to be normal.I can feel all this and not react to it.Not act on it.Not give in to it.I will be honest about everything I eat and feel. I will win this battle to become normal.

I completely and totally understand the frustrations you are experiencing. I'm so sorry you are going through this. When a band goes bad it affects every single area of your life. If you are having major band problems I wouldn't wait long to have it removed. I waited too long and have permanent problems because of it. If you slip and an unfill doesn't do the trick they won't be able to do a revision in one surgery, two surgeries is much more expensive. If you erode... again, two surgeries. Then the weight gain while you wait for surgery #2 for revision. If you are self pay don't wait, get it done as soon as financially possible.

I am a 75 year old male that weighed 420 pounds when I first considered lapband surgery. My original consultation was to be in September 2008 but was interupted by a hospital stay and the consultation was postponed to December. While in the hospital, I was on a restrictive diet and lost weight. I decided to maintain a 12-1400 calorie diet upon release and have continued to lose weight. I know weigh 352 pounds. I am completing the pre operation tests and have an appointment with the surgeon the end on March and I assume a surgery date could be set at the time. I know the arguments that weight loss after dieting is usually followed by weight gain, but I feel very motivated by my results to date and am debating not going ahead with the surgery. To date, my diabetes, kidney and heart have all improved with the weight lost to date I am intersted in hearing from older memebers as how the judge the lapband proceedure and are there others who were able to reject the operation after positive diet results

About periods. My weight always affected my cycle before. It was one of the good things about gaining weight. I remember my freshman year of college I told my PCP that I thought my weight gain (about 40 pounds) was unhealthy because it was affecting my periods (they were lighter, shorter) and I thought that was a good sign. So I said, help with this please. He said don't worry about it. I insisted (he was a bad doctor). So he refered me to the campus weight loss program-- I lost 30 and kept it off for a year. But yeah, thats always been just about the only good side effect of weight gain. It made the periods less excruitiating. I remember back in Junior High I would wish that I would just pass out (I used to get terrible vaginal pain with them too in adition to the lovely cramps). LOL. As a teen I got my periods about twice as often as everyone else and they lasted longer too. Sure didn't seem fair. Then I got on birth control. It was like the clouds had parted and the sunlight came streaming through. What hadn't anyone told me about this miraculous thing before? I adore my birth control. Though I did notice last month mine came about two days early even on that. With my lovely birth control my period only comes once a month. And its light!! And it only lasts about three to five days! No cramps either. Before I always actually lost weight during my period due to the vomitting and diarhea. If men had periods, the world would be a different place. They think they are all so tough... HA! (or at least this is what I think to myself when my husband whines because maybe he pulled a muscle a little).

Good Morning everyone, i truly enjoyed reading everyone comments. When i tell you guys this has been super hard for me. My first year all i did was stay going into the hospital from issues with my surgery. like now i was rush to the hospital from my PCP. The issues was that my throat felt like something was blocking it and it was cutting off my airways. Once i arrive to the hospital and they check me out. According to the doctor it's GERD I HAVE. its been kicking my butt for years. like now cook food is a no go for me. cant swallow meat so i do not eat it. Let's not forget about constipation x10. Plus now i have arthritis in both knees and neck until its hard for me to walk. fluid building up because of my 20lb weight gain from the steroid shots... just started walking again... i need some relief from all this. The insurance i have do not cover no type of weight loss surgery. when i got my sleeve done my late husband insurance paid 100%, but this market place cigna EPO connect do not cover at all. unless the doctor will have to submit a medical note. i do not know what to do helpp...

Based on your post above, you may even be suffering from depression. Most of us have had it at one time or another, and for me, it does lead to weight gain. Perhaps talk to your doc about the possibility.... Good luck, if you can improve your outlook on life, your weight loss will continue.

Well I did pretty good for my Christmas dinner and dinners... I had a little turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and cranberries.. I also had pie for dessert and then a small piece of rice crispy square. I told everyone that after new years junk food and sweets will no longer be allowed in the house. I have to hard of a time staying away. Tonight there is still pie and other desserts on the counter but I have stayed away.. Congrats to me... I choose not to weigh myself. Just because I have started more solids and have a sinus infection which does not allow me to walk due to asthma.. I do not want to have a weight gain and be upset with myself.. So I will weight a week or two.. I am going shopping tomorrow and will be buying more healthy food since I have been having no problem with the mushy stage.. Anyways all congrats on being banded and all of us keep up the good work..

I usually notice a pound to a pound and a half close to that time of the month and the cravings....:croc:they get me every time. Salty Snacks, sweet snacks, it doesn't seem to matter. But once "Flo" has completed her visit, usually the weight gain is a distant memory. I never really noticed it before surgery, but then again what was a pound or so when you weighed close to 300. Also, the scale was a bad word in my house at that time.:bandit

I have pretty much every one as well; the weight gain, the difficulty losing it, the stupid little hairs that grow where they shouldn't, the skin condition, the messed up periods, the hormone imbalance, the thinning hair, the fertility problems... The list goes on.

Isn't personal accountability one of the things we all need to learn? Aren't we supposed to be learning to take responsibility for the choices we make, rather than make excuses? And in making someone else accountable for our progress, isn't that a way to put at least part of the responsibility on others? I really don't want to be flamed for this, LOL, but lets be honest here, we've all read the threads about how this one or that one is failing because their spouse is not supportive. That isn't the best situation, to be sure, and yes it makes it harder, but unless my spouse is shoving slider foods down my throat, I am responsible for any weight gain. I own my successes -- but I also own my failures. This was my decision to make, and it was not predicated on whether or not the people in my life would act as my Diet Police or what have you. Honestly? I would be pretty upset if someone told me what I could or could not eat, or made little remarks if I cheated here or there -- regardless if their intentions were pure. I am not an idiot, nor am I a child. I would feel that these "good intentions" were implications that I was weak of mind, and I would resent that. A lot. The decision to have this surgery is not one that can be made by a weak minded individual! Speaking only for myself, and not for anyone else here: If I cannot exercise a little willpower, after everything I've gone through with this surgery, then I feel like I wasn't ready to have the surgery. This is my body. This is my health. This is my life. Fail or succeed, I alone am accountable for it. I totally respect those who told everyone, and that's cool if their relationships are such that spreading the word would mean a more positive experience. I cannot say that this would be the case for me, which is why I was upset that my personal business was discussed -- especially because I specifically said that I wanted it kept on the down low, and requested that they keep the info to themselves.

How do you know whether weight loss surgery is for you? Will it be the weight control solution you have been searching for for years? Or will it be a decision you regret? Nobody can answer that for you, but here are some considerations as you think about whether weight loss surgery is for you. The Qualifying Criteria You are not a candidate for bariatric surgery unless you meet certain criteria set by your surgeon or, if applicable, your healthcare coverage plan. The standard criteria are: Body Mass Index (BMI) over 40 or BMI 35 with an obesity-related comorbidity, such as type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, or sleep apnea. Confirmation that your obesity is not caused by an underlying condition that would make weight loss surgery ineffective. A psychological exam to show that you are capable of sticking to the post-op diet and lifestyle changes that are necessary. Previous documented attempts at losing weight with diet and exercise. Ineffectiveness of Previous Efforts Weight loss surgery is a last resort, not a first try at losing weight. It is for patients who have been obese for years and who have tried to lose weight using lifestyle changes, such as a modified diet plan and a formal exercise program. Many weight loss surgery patients try “every diet under the sun” before deciding that it is time for WLS. They may have had trouble losing any weight at all, or may have lost weight initially but been unable to keep it off. Readiness to Change Weight loss surgery is just the beginning. The way you eat after weight loss surgery determines how well you will be able to control your weight for the rest of your life. You need to be ready to change if you want to be successful with weight loss surgery. No longer will you be able to down a pizza or hit the drive-through on a whim. Are you ready to possibly: Give up coffee and regular and diet soda? Cut sugary treats and fried foods, especially with gastric bypass? Pass on the alcoholic offerings at home, parties, and restaurants? Count protein, slash carbs, and measure portions? Addressing Other Issues Weight gain does not always take place in a vacuum, and weight loss does not solve other problems you might have in your life. First, identify why you became overweight in the first place, and what is keeping you from losing the weight. Is weight loss surgery the answer, or do you need to first deal with an abusive relationship or lack of self-confidence, for example? Emotional eating is a common reason for weight gain. If you tend to eat your feelings away, you are best off figuring out other ways to handle your feelings before you get surgery. Can you use walking as a form of therapy? Maybe you can join an in-person or online support group to turn to when you feel sad, lonely, or angry. If your emotional eating is related to a specific problem, such as stress at work, your best bet may be to handle the problem before getting WLS. That could mean finding a healthy coping mechanism, or it could mean getting counseling to help you work through the source of stress. It could even mean finding a new job, as scary as that sounds. Consider Replacement Addictions Replacement addictions are common after weight loss surgery. They happen when you give up food – which can be an addiction – for a different addiction. Instead of turning to food for comfort, entertainment, or companionship, some weight loss surgery patients turn to “replacement addictions” or “cross addictions” They may take up smoking, or start to abuse alcohol. Replacement addictions can also be healthier than eating; some weight loss surgery patients become gym rats or take up gardening, sewing, or other hobbies. As you consider weight-loss surgery, think about the possibility of food addiction being replaced by replacement addictions. What role does food play in your life now? What do you see replacing that emotional or physical role after surgery? The decision to get weight loss surgery requires a lot of soul searching for most candidates. These points can help you work through some of the doubts you may have as you try to decide what is best for yourself.

Hi CherieLynne~~ I was, and still am doing great with my band. I had a crisis....and amid it all regained almost 40 pounds! I have a history of nausea with anesthesia. I had 3 surgeries in a year, only related to my band in the way that one of them was a TT. I also had a thyroid tumor, and an intestinal torsion. So due to surgery, I was totally and completely unfilled. I managed fine through that. Was unfilled for over a year, without weight gain. Then my DD began having some issues with her outer ear swelling, and was soon hospitalized, with the most horrendous looking ear you can imagine. Her ear was tomato red, and was so swollen you could not see an ear canal. There was an abssess, that ate all the way through her ear. They were caused because it would swell until the skin popped. The diagnosis come in with it being a cartiledge destroying disease....which is fatal, life expectancy is no more than 7-10 years. I cannot tell you the devastation. I was keeping her 4 year old, who was scared at what was happening to her Mommy, and my DD was, well, like you would expect a 26 year old to be that was just told she would never see her child grow up, and the disease would be disfiguring, disabling, then fatal. The stress caused hives.....which would not go away, so they put me on high doses of prednisone, then tried repeatedly to taper it off, only for them to return. They operated on my DD, and eventually sent her to a different hospital, where they discovered the disease was only a psuedo disease----she too has RA, and this illness mimics the disease, but is NOT fatal. Is usually no more than what she had, but hers had been mismanaged for so long, they expected it to be disfiguring, and prepared to amputate the external ear. End of the story is happy, the meds made a HUGE difference. She had a PIC line at home for 2 months. But she has not lost any of her ear, only the lymph nodes below it which surgeons removed in diagnosis. But.....I lived in the hospital, eating LOTS of ice cream, because it soothed my acid ridden stress related tummy----and also tried to soothe my soul. I have not experienced hunger since being banded. But once the prednisone began, I was ravenous again! I am off the prednisone, and have no hives. Nothing negative to show for the experience except for about 15 pounds now! I NEED to exercise to get them off, I am just lazy about it. I could lose them just as well, by getting another fill, and eating less, but I choose not to go that route. I have a small fill in----less than 1cc---in a band that will hold 4cc.'s. But I do not have tight restriction, mild is good for me, I do not PB, but I cannot eat large amounts. I can eat roughage (salad) and meat, without issue. I can eat some bread. Mostly my portions are diversely different than pre band. I think if I had more weight to lose, I would be more motivated, but I am really OK with where I am. I began in a 22/24 pants, and now wear either an 8 or 10....without elastic! LOL Everything I owned before had elastic everything! I think since your body is used to the steroids, you are used to the things they do to your body----mine was not, and the hunger was so new, and I was so scared, I fell into old habits and tried to eat my way to comfort..... You should be able to get back in the pool as soon as your incisions heal, and I would bet you will be able to add other exercise as the weight drops. So sorry my post scared you----was not meant to!!! Good Luck to you on your surgery---it was without a doubt the best thing I ever did for ME!!!

One thing that will help is that most doctors recommend that you track what you eat. Assuming you weigh yourself regularly, you'll be able to spot weight gain early and then you can look back at what you were eating to determine why. Emotional eating can still happen post-surgery, but part of the work we have to do as WLS patients is finding different ways to cope rather than food.