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Honey, it's a journey and this is just part of it. Both the weight gain and having to deal with Mr. Wonderful. Try to get him out of your head. He's just taking up space there and doing you no favors. He obviously triggers alot of stuff for you so you have to minimize your interaction with him and minimize any damage he tries to inflict. Keep us in the loop...text if you need support and I know we'll try to be there if not physically, at least virtually.

Candice, were you sun sensitive before? I've been for about 10 years but if zoloft makes it words, I'm curious. Janet, really, how was Trace. I really want to see him in concert!!!! Besides him, Jimmy Buffet is my only other GOTTA SEE. Beth, zoloft is a small pill. Welbutrin was a small pill, but it never really did anything for me. Have no idea about the seraquil. Paxil is small but I never got any relief there either. Good luck. You can google antidepressant weight gain and antidepressant pill size and between the two maybe find which is most band friendly. Okay...gotta go. Have a great day ladies!

Hi Flirtlass, I'm due to get my op on the 17 march. I just read that you have lost 4 and 1/2 stone since September, that just seems like a dream! I weigh 16 stone 12 at the moment and I'd be happy to get down to 11 stone 8lbs which will give me a BMI of 27 and then I can get a tummy tuck!!!!! I hate my tummy, after 6 kids, the last 2 were twins and weighted 7lb5 and 6lb13, my belly was enormous and has never been the same since! I put my weight gain done to being depressed about my belly, so to make me feel better.....of course I COMFORT EAT all the bad things of course! Do you mind telling me what you weighed when you started and how often you had fills. If you don't want to write it for all to see I can give you my email address. Reading all these chats from everyone is very inspirational and I am beginning to get excited! :bananalama: Although sice I booked my surgery my husband has started looking at expensive bikes, which is pretty worrying as this op is taking all our savings and the rest, I hope he doesn't think he can buy toys to the equivalent value on our credit cards!!!!!!!!:cheers2::present: Fatpants

Whoop Whoop, post holiday weight gain has now gone and its back to tackling the last stone or two. I'm hoping to lose 1 stone by christmas. Freckles, I'm so pleased that your mum is getting stonger, it'll be a weight off your mind when you are on your holls. Love mmm

Good morning everyone! I am gonna try to post the same thing (copy it) on both places so I do not have to remember what I said, lol. I wish the members did not have to get approved before they can post, sure would make the transistion easier. I sent Debbie and Angela the links to both places so they can find us. I wish I knew Shars e-mail address. Who else? Today dd comes home from my sisters house. she recieved a gift card for walgreens (her fav store. she says it smells good when youfirst walk in there, lol). So, as soon as she gets home I am sure she will want to go shop. We have a walgreens right around the corner so it makes it really convenient. There is a Criss Angel Magic kit she wants from there but i told her that santa will prob get it for her. Gosh I hope they have one tomorrow when we get paid. lol I looked yesterday and they still have about 4 so I am hoping there is not a rush of folks looking for them today. I am NOT getting on the scales for about at least 3 or 4 days so I wont have to see the weight gain. Time to get back down to business! Have a great day friends.

I have sat here for the longest time, staring at this screen, not knowing what to even say anymore....staring out the window, tears streaming down my face, all the while knowing exactly what is wrong and HOW to fix it but feeling so tired to fix it again. Money is an issue. it will take a couple of months to recoup from the move. The real issue is.... I never in a million years thought I would look at myself in the mirror in a mens 3X shirt and realize it looks tight on me. Never did I think I would be ashamed to go somewhere again....grocery shopping, outside, anywhere in public. Even before when I weighed this much I did not feel THIS bad because I did not really know any different but now....since I know what I accomplished and to have ruined myself again, i seems like such a failure...twice the failure I have ever been. But I know I need to pick myself and dust myself off and just get over it and try try try. I hear the little cheerleader in my head saying 'you can do it' she just sounds so muffled and distant. I did not want to be the poster child of Lap-Band® as being a lesson on what NOT to do. I am so glad I am typing this because I really know I have been needing to cry like this and get it all out. There IS an upside...there is no junk food in the house today. In order to blow it today I would have to get up and go in public to buy the junk and I am not going to. I am just going to take this day hour by hour and do my best. I want to get a job but I have too bad of a complex to go somewhere and apply. SO, until I get a little self respect back I will just stay in this apartment and do what I know to do. I will drink plenty of water, I will work out with my exercise ball, I will swim and play with Macy. Its funny how I will sacrifice what the public thinks to go swimming with my daughter. AND i know it is good exercise...and I will strive to not eat junk. I will start listening to my band again. It has been talking to me, I just have not been listening. I wish Bob or Jillian would bust down my door and kick my ass. I have been hurting in my back hips and knee so bad and I know it is because of the weight gain and the sugar intake. Thanks for listening to me. Thanks for being here for me. Without you all, I would not have anyone to talk to that understands. :grouphug: OH...and the other question I ask myself is...do my new antidepressants have anything to do with the hopeless feeling? I never know what feeling are real anymore. That sucks big time. I wish I was just me again.

Warning! This is going to be a long post!!! Thanks. I like how your doctor thinks! Now if I can just get mine on board! And I'm thinking some of my mood swings aren't just my cycle now. Oh and then I also heard somewhere that it causes weight GAIN!!! No wonder I'm a slow loser!!! Diva, you need to do what's BEST for YOU. Not anyone else. If the band isn't working for you, then you need to find something that DOES. I'm glad you'll be sticking around! Thanks for sharing! I appreciate that. I've had migraines for some time and do have other triggers for them and they're controlled with meds. BUT seems like the only ones I have lately have to do w/my cycle, that is supposed to be non-existent while on Depo!!!!!!!! :thumbup: I'm going thru my Rx in a month and they should be lasting longer than that. Oh that SUCKS! I always hated the days at work w/nothing to do! Time drags on days like that!!!! BTW, do you mind if I ask, what do you do? Yikes! Sorry about having to wait. On a happy note, enjoy your kidless time! Such a rare and beautiful thing! LOL!! I'm sorry about the ex-friend and the loss of her father. Substance abuse is such an ugly thing. Wonderful news and what a wonderful DH re: your rings! How exciting!! Hope you had great fun this weekend!! Best wishes on the job hunt. I'm sorry you're struggling right now with your band AND insurance. No fun!!! ~~~~~ What the hell! Big noise. Be back......... Holy crap!!! BEAR!!!! Startled me as he was right out side the f'ing kitchen door!!!! Not 4 feet away!!! Thank GOD for the door (and the window in it) and that I just didn't open it to see what was what! Which is what I normally do!!!!!!! Well, hell, now I've got a big mess to clean up. Well, once the raccoons get thru with it, it will be. He didn't make a huge mess but knocked the garbage can over and managed to get the lid off. NOT going out there tonight to clean it up. I'll just have to deal with it tomorrow AM. Oh and if I'd gone outside, I would've walked right in to him as the automatic light didn't come on. He was on all fours so didn't trip the sensor. I stood inside and flipped the dang switch off and on til it finally came on! I usually just fling open the door and walk right out to the can and wave my hand in the air as I go in order to trip the sensor! YIKES!!! That would have been a disaster! Thank you GOD for stopping me at the door!!! Well, he's still out there somewhere b/c the dog is still having a flippin' fit!!! The fun of living in the mountains!!! I knew better with that can too. All the campgrounds closed a couple of weeks ago and I cleaned out the fridge today. Should have put it in the shed. I made sure the lid was on tight b/c the 'coons have been trying to get in to it but just didn't think about a bear for some reason. Tho we have them. Obviously! Well, he got fed tonight! LOL! Crap. On another note, still sick. Sometimes I think I'm getting better and other times, I know I'm not. I hate being sick! Good night y'all!!!

Hmm.. for MY weight gain it was this: I was too tight. I couldn't eat more than 2-3 bites of anything without pain. No matter how small the bite or how much I chewed. I could eat about 3 bites, wait 10-15 minutes, eat a few more, etc. That was frustrating emotionally and mentally. Not to mention, I am just not into pain with my food. So I was LIVING on things that went down easily - ice cream, candy, cookie dough, Pringles, cheese puffs. It's weird, cause I couldn't eat yogurt (maybe 1/2 container when pain would set in) but I could eat pudding fine. Anyway... So living on sugar for 6 months doesn't help weight loss.... BUT. Now I'm down from 8cc to a more manageable 7cc and feeling MUCH better. I can eat REAL food for the first time in 6 months and it is amazing. I can probably eat too much... I think I was at a good spot several months ago when I had 7.5cc, but I screwed that all up... I go back in 4 weeks to see where I"m at and how I"m doing. I might get a slight fill, we'll see how I feel in 4 weeks. But hopefully eating protein instead of sugar will help my body feel better. It sure as heck is more mentally and emotionally satisfying!!

I would totally send you my bra size, but I seriously have about 3 or 4 different sizes from years of weight gain!! Ha! Once I run out of these, I'll let you know! THanks for the offer!

Happy Fat Tuesday y'all. Decisions, decisions. Do I eat the Paczki or the Coldstone Peanut butter Chocolate Ice cream cake I got for Dan's birthday???? I just can't decide. Polish heritage or Coldstone deliciousness? Both? 10 pound weight gain this week? Maybe I will just have a salad.

Ya know, I was thinking they are making clothes bigger these days too!!! I think they really are, to accomodate all the heavy people and obesity in the country. THey make the clothes bigger, put the smaller tag in, wah lah, people don't have to deal with weight gain.....its a conspiracy!!

I hope everyone had a great Christmas. We just got back from my folks. It was a nice time. I wasn't going to eat any of the food - just have some protein shakes, but I ended up having a small amount of a few things that only come around this time of year. Overall, I'm pleased with myself. At the end of the day, I want to be able to eat normal portions of foods that are good for me. On the other hand, I could totally see becoming anorexic or developing some type of bulemia (most likely exercise). I wonder what the stats are for people who have had bariatric surgery who become scared to eat real food due to potential weight gain... Hmmm... Something to research once I get my papers done for school. I felt bad, though - I had planned on getting up and taking a nice hour-long ride this morning around the golf course and lake, but I didn't sleep past 2:30 this morning. I know that my outlook on life is changing because I didn't just say "fuck it" and blow it off - I debated and decided that with that little sleep on a new route, it might not be too safe. I did ride in the trainer for about an hour and 15 minutes - not too shabby. I've named the bike. It will be henceforth known as Bulboso. Sounds way more impressive than the English translation - Buttercup... I wanted to name the bike Katherine Heigl, but the wife got a little pissy when I talked about riding Katherine Heigl hard in the afternoon . Before I started my ride, I put the Speedplays on Buttercup, and they were an exact match. Thanks for finding the right color for me Stephanie! The Speedplays feel so different from the SPDs that I had on the Trek. They will take a little getting used to. With all of the float, it feels kind of like not being clipped in, so I kept yanking my foot to make sure I was really in. I need to adjust the cleats on the shoes a little, and I'm not sure why, but it seems like the left one requires almost twice as much heel-out to unclip as the right. It may be because that when slack, my left foot turns (heel in) a little more than the right. Not sure - have to figure out a way to adjust it. J - Good for you with the new jeans! That has to make you feel wonderful to go from a 30 to an 18 in one year's time! You didn't mention it, but did you get to spend the holiday with Allison? Was Santa (and Mommy) good to Zoe? It's back to the grind in the morning. I'm so glad this will be a short week. Good night everyone! B

I've been very open and honest in another thread about weight gain. I think it's called Weight Gained Since Surgery. There is also a Back on Track Thread. It's a battle for me for 2 reasons. One is that I can eat such bigger portions than I could when I was first sleeved. I try not to, but of course, it's hard to stop when it tastes good. Another is, I am a grazer, in the evenings. I want to have little Snacks all evening long. I am able to keep it to only 10 lbs gained back, but it's a battle. When I was fat, I didn't have a man in my life. Now I do, and he's one that can eat whatever he wants and does not gain any weight. It takes a lot more willpower and control than it did when I was early out and was so full all the time, I didn't even want to look at food. I'll be 4 years out in April and I have never stopped posting. It's comforting to me to come here and complain to people who understand, that I am still fighting this food battle . It's not because I am hungry. I am one of the people whose hunger has never returned. It's because food tastes so good and I still love to eat.

Hi All! Well, i'm back! I had replied to a post on here earlier about an elimination diet i started January 1st to see if it would help control some of my cravings, etc. I am happy to say that it has worked! I have lost 10 lbs and have managed to look at this "diet" as a new way of eating. I also feel that it has "renewed my sleeve" (if that's even possible). I guess I was feeling before I started this that I could eat so much more.. and thus gaining weight. I'm now back to literally having a few bites of things and then feeling full (the way we all felt post op to about 1 year after). The elimination diet is from a book a friend gave to me called the Virgin Diet (by JJ Virgin). I believe that the reason it has worked for me thus far is that you have to be completely obsessed about what you are eating all day in order to keep certain things out of your diet. You have to read every ingredient in everything you buy. You have to be extremely creative in the meals that you prepare for yourself. It might not be the healthiest approach, but in essence, I obsess about food anyway, all day, what I can eat what i "shouldn't" eat, which creates a lot of shame, and then tells my brain to eat more for comfort. This diet is allowing me to continue the obsession, but in doing so, i'm searching for healthy alternatives. I'm eating almost no processed foods (which is a huge culprit in weight gain). And by eating mainly Proteins and vegetables, brown rice, etc. this slows down the digestive process, which allows you to feel full longer.... and also, fills up your sleeve quicker. I will admit the past 4 days or so I had a few bites of a cupcake on Valentine's day....a chocolate....two bites of a cheese quesadilla and yesterday, totally forgot to order a "pizza" gluten free. (I say "pizza" becuase it was actually a huge farmers market salad on top of a gluten free crust... i just forgot to say gluten free and thus suffered the consequences). Yep, turns out that since I haven't eating gluten for almost 2 months, I had a reaction to it when I ate it yesterday (mouth numb and tingling and stomach issues). Also, since not eating eggs for the same amount of time, when I tried to reintroduce them, they made me want to gag. I know this sort of thing won't work for everyone, but I feel such success and a new way of looking at food, that I never thought I would EVER see.... I want to share it with all of you that have similar obsessive food issues and emotional eating. You can still eat as much as you want (which us sleevers know ,its isnt much)... that's why I dont really call it a diet... i'm not restricting myself. BTW, the cupcake and the chocolate did not taste good AT ALL! All I could taste was the sugar. I will say, however, the few bites of cheese quesadilla tasted incredible! I chewed and savored both bites of it.... but that was enough. Becuase I know that if I even attempted to eat an entire slice of a cheese quesadilla, the consequences that I would suffer the next few hours following that slice, is entirely not worth it. Anyway, thank you to everyone that posted on this thread. I've read all of your posts and appreciate all of the support here. My spirits are up and I feel like I am in a much better place. I never thought that my sleeve was going to work again for me, and I was completely wrong. We can get out of this.... and its not about willpower becuase that NEVER works. I didn't think I could change my eating habits, but I do feel so much better in my body and this feeling, of not waking up every morning to diarrhea (sorry to be gross but its true), is worth me staying on this path of food decisions. I do suggest you check out the book (or maybe you can find parts of it on line if you dont want to buy it). Take care, everyone!

That you so much for sharing your struggles. It sounds like you are slowly getting yourself actively involved in getting back on track. It is generous of you to share and which will help all of us know how weight gain can occur creeping back into our lives! Your post reinforces me to continue my plan to track everything even while in maintenance, to keep making exercise a priority, and to mindfully choose what goes in my mouth. I won't be perfect but I can be accountable. Again, thanks again and I wish you all the best in getting back to your goal weight. Sounds like your eyes are wide open now and you are headed in the right direction! You got this!

Babs you are probably gaining muscle. Also, Chinese sometimes causes Water weight gain. I wouldn't worry about it so much right now, wait for a few days and try again. Maybe your body is telling you that this is the perfect weight for you also.

Hello. I had lap band surgery about 2 years ago. Tuesday I found out that I am pregnant. I am kinda worried about my diet related to my band and my baby. I feel very selfish because I DONT want to gain my weight back. I know some weight gain is normal and necessary but I have had 3 children and I have gained 50-60# with each one. I have only .75cc in my band I think that I would be ok but I dont know. Anyone out there that has been pregnant with their band??? What did you do??

It's all about moderation. If you love Chinese, eat it once in a while. That won't hurt you. I went to a Japanese/Chinese buffet with my son and DIL last night. I'm OK in buffets now because I can manage the amount I eat. And I'm fine in a place where I can get fish. I don't eat the Chinese food when I'm eating there....I stay with the sushi and sashimi. Less rice that way. I had one plate of food....not three. And the one plate was not piled to the ceiling. Even so, I'm up about a pound today. No problem. I expected it. The soy sauce, even cut with Water as I do, has so much sodium that I know I'll gain weight. But it's water weight and will be gone in a day or two. You can eat out anywhere as long as you are smart about it and manage your expectations. Don't eat fried foods...eat veggies and Proteins. Easy on the Soup...again it's loaded with sodium. If you weigh yourself often, don't be surprised to see a temporary weight gain. Good luck, and keep us posted.

Wow, you ladies are very impressive with your exercise. several years ago I did a step aerobic program with a DVD and it did shape me up, but I just ate all the calories I burned. Problem was when I injured my knee and had surgery, exercise stopped and the same intake of food did not. Big weight gain and still have almost daily knee pain. So while I want to get back to my 3 mile walk, which I enjoy, I don't want to use heavier exercise for weight maintenance. It's just not a reliable source of burning calories for me. But it sure makes losing weight harder without it. I don't know how women with a family fit it all in! Have to admire your dedication!

1. Increased mobility (I have osteoarthritis) 2. Less self conscious in social settings 3. More stamina in everyday activities 4. Buy pretty clothes from regular stores and catalogs. (I received in today's mail a catalog from one of my favorite stores. Their largest size is 18-20.) 5. End the cycle of dieting and weight gain that has plagued my entire life, since childhood. Probably should be #1 on my list. I'm pre-band and on the 6-month diet trying to lose 10% of my current weight. All of the above are motivations for me to meet the pre-surgery requirements and get on with my life. Dee

Hi gals Well, there was so much real cheese in that pie, but everyone loved it... of course I knew i was not going to be able to eat it so it has real cheese in there, and way too much due to the little accident....lol We had a nice day, my sister is really starting to become the person she use to be. I went to PA today and we had a long talk, I told her about the big weight gain with the lexapro and then loosing it except the last 5lbs, because of course i'm super pms this morning ... she gave me a fill, my biggest one, i'm up to 1.5cc, she was going to put me to 1.75 but i told her i wanted to do baby steps, I then asked her for the post surgery pages of the diet so i could get back on track of what i should be eating. That was a bonus. So I am on Clear liquids for 2-5 days, the min is 2 days but left it up to me... but no more than 5, then mushie food for the same amount of time. I also have an appointment with the nutritionist on mondy, so I hope to get a swift kick in the butt to get this going again. I'm sipping chicken broth right now. Pamela, I think you still have my aol email address, I'm going to look there, but glad you are doing well already! Judy, you getting some nice weather to send my way? I'm tired of all the cool temps and rain. Well, today was a hit, so i'm happy. never walked this morning so going out in a bit.

Rude awakening this morning to the realization that at some point the power must have flickered in the night, and my battery back up on the alarm is shot as well! Rick and I were snoozing so good, the storm last night brought in some cooler weather, when all of a sudden he bolts upright and says a bad word. Brought me out of my warm and snuggly place quite quickly! He raced around and was out the door. It would have been normal time for me to get up pretty much, and we usually are chatting before the alarm goes off, but it was kinda darker than normal, and cool and just perfect sleeping in weather....just the wrong day unfortuately! Pamela, hope today is less painful than it is going to look. Just keep in mind how it is going to look soon! My Mom is having her arms done in a couple of weeks. It is a genetic thing, and we have HUGE arms, that the fat pad eventually drops over the elbow. She would never spend the $$$ on it, then when she got this unexpected inheritance, we convinced her to do something she wanted that she refused to use retirement $$$ on! The PS told her with the type of weight gain in her arms, she could get down to 89 pounds and not have body fat ANYWHERE else, and there would be a pad of fat there--he said there is no effective way to help a muscle in that area to make it "defined" fat, it is just there, and if you are genetically disposed to the type of thing WE have then it is the only way to get rid of it. So as soon as the rest of my debt is paid, I am starting to save for it. I have several errands to run before work, and all involve money flowing like water....sucks in a major way! I gotta go get my allergy drops in my eyes, I am miserable, wish the corn would finish tasselling everywhere and my eyes would be almost normal again.....grrrrrrr Sorry about your pie Jenn, I dumped a fresh baked one perfectly upside down in the floor one time. I so wanted to jump up and down in the middle of it, had to settle for saying bad words....

Merry Christmas Everyone! Had a lovely visit with my friend in from N. Carolina. All too short. I'm still shy a few gifts, but I may have to fake it! I've had some slips with the seasoned nuts DD and I made. Not as bad as years past, but it is what it is. No weight gained so far and I am thankful to stay under 195. Two more gatherings and I'm home free! All the treats, etc get tossed or sent to my son's lunchroom at work Didn't make my Christmas weightloss goal, but I did manage to get into the size 14 jeans. The smaller top is a ways off. At least I won't be hiding from the camera this year. Thanks for all the support, stories, laughs and a few tears. Your victories inspire me and your down times help me feel "normal" in this crazy band world. Have a safe holiday.

I sent an email to the woman who wrote the article. She responded to me within twenty four hours and admitted that maybe he was not the best subject. She asked me if I would like to participate in a followup story about someone who is success ful with the lapband. I gave her referrals to Century members and three different lapband support groups. I told her to get back to me in a few months, so I really have something to tell since I am a newbie with slightly less than 30 pounds in the last 6 weeks. Here is my letter I sent to her: Dear Ms. Martin, I was thoroughly disappointed with your article on the Lapband procedure. Most of the information about the Lapband in your article is inaccurate and has no real substance.You also make a mockery of all morbidly obese people by choosing a photo of a candidate with 10,000 calories of food at his table ordering the waiter to bring more. Most Lapband patients achieve longterm weight loss percentages similar to bypass patients without dumping syndrome, malabsorption and without permanent damage to their stomachs and intestines. The process is slower at a rate of 6-8 pounds a month, which is a much healthier approach to weight loss and requires less plastic surgery (or none)for the person who is morbidly obese. We are a society of quick fixes to long term problems. Obesity is a serious problem in the US and many will choose numerous other tortuous procedures that will permanently damage their bodies over one that is slower, but more healthy. I should know because I was banded and I am successfully losing the weight I want to lose slowly and in a healthy way. I have learned that it is true that the band is just a tool and the patient must eat healthy low carbohydrate, low caloric food and exercise as well to achieve the desired result. However, it is not true that negative reinforcement in the form of food getting stuck in the band is what is keeping me away from the fast food. I eat without much restriction and definitely without pain, which could be said about most Lapband patients. I now take the time to chew my food and taste what I am eating instead of inhaling it. Most of the banded people I know have lost 50 to 100% of the weight they want to lose within 2 years. Many bypass patients will lose 60-80% of their desired weight and many will gain back 20% or more of their losses. Banded people who learn to eat properly and healthy and get regular exercise have just as much of a chance to lose the same amount of weight and keep it off as bypass patients. It is my opinion that bypass patients never really get the chance to eat normal portions, since the amount is not adjustable. I eat about 6-7 ounces of food, Protein and vegetables and then leave the table. People in other countries have been banded for the last 10 years and these statistics are more accurate than the most recent US ones. In a European study, it showed most banded patients lost between 47%-75% of their desired weight loss. What I want to know is why you would choose to write about a man who obviously has a compulsive eating disorder? Anyone who eats three Breakfast meals and is still is thinking about lunch (despite his profession) has a bigger issue at hand. I am sure if a licensed psychologist did a self inventory eating disorder panel on such a candidate, they would not recommend any surgery.One should try to tackle the eating disorder first before considering any bariatric procedure. There is a difference between eating too much and being a compulsive eater. There are also other factors such as genetics, metabolism, lack of exercise, hormonal and glandular disorders and many other factors which contribute to weight gain. These are people who might make better candidates because they are willing to make changes to improve their health. If you would really like to learn about the Lapband, I would be happy to put you in touch with at least three different support groups that are national and regional who would give you more accurate information for a future article.

I lost 1206 lbs in 19 months, I loved my band but I eroded, and I have no regrets. My band and I worked wel ltogether, it did its' job and I am happy to report in the 2 months I have had no band I have had NO weight gain. I learned from my band and got my head on straight.