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Stress can be tough! Mom died in 2002, 20 pounds. My son was born in 2009 and he had multiple problems, my wife was diagnosed with cervical cancer a month after, 30 pounds. My wife had a brain tumor this year, no weight gain but suddenly I had a blood pressure problem. When she was in the hospital I went to my doctor because I was feeling bad he prescribed a blood pressure med and made me promise to take it before leaving the pharmacy and call him in the morning to make sure that I was alive. My blood pressure was 222/111.

Mine is a little different. I’ve actually put weight on in the last year, I think about 10 lbs? Not sure but I’ve gained weight because I’ve eaten more and the weight gain has really improved my appearance and health. I didn’t try to gain weight by stuffing myself or anything I just have allowed my body to weight whatever it wants to. I stoped trying to control it.

I beg to differ. I'd say that emotion eating and addiction play the biggest part in weight gain. I know several people who eat only healthy foods but way too much of them. It is okay to enjoy ALL foods in moderation. If fastfood is a trigger for you (mine is sodas) then stay away from it. Make the best choices you can and understand that treats, like fastfood, are just that. They are not everyday food.

I forgot about Friday Weigh-In! HW: 290 (4/2012) SW: 262 (8/29/12) Last Week: 241.5 CW: 238.5 3 pounds this week! 23.5 pound in 1 month since surgery! 51.5 total! It's slow, but it's coming off! I'm spending the afternoon switching over summer and winter clothes - and finding myself a new wardrobe in my own closet! I very conveniently pretty much skipped over an entire jeans size - which works out great, because I ripped out every pair I had in that size during weight gain - and I have 8 perfect pairs in my current size!

Hey Vicki whats going on with you?/ New fixed band= weight gain huh??

Shar, I don't know about the vitamins but I take the Viactiv with no problems and believe I would know cause I am off the hormones and the hot flashes are fast and furious. And I am not taking the viatamins or viativ as you should stop them a week before surgery so I just stopped them early. Do you have a surgery date? Have you lost your 5%? Once you are approved I don't believe they will cancel surgery for weight gain but SB Phase 1 is very important for the week before surgery. My final weigh in is Monday and I suspect I have gained a few pounds after my marathon poor eating this week.

Hi Ladies.. I had a great weekend. LV Glad your back in the game. UK Cathy. good idea on the personal trainer. I'm still not there yet. Cheri. She is adorable and of course a good reason for a weight gain. Just think you'll be able to set her on the right nutritionists path with all you've learned and your new eating lifestyle. I may not have been an overweight adult had I had more information about eating right during my youth and especially my teens. My grandmother always told me not to eat bread, but there was no real understanding of carbs and sugar avoidance or ever really balanced eating in my household at that time. Your children are lucky they have you to teach them all of that. CGJ glad you got back safe , sounds like the trip was a success. Continue to rest, relax and heal. The 50th anniversary party I threw this weekend was a great success. I had a fabulous time. There was lots of dancing and dancing and dancing. I had on a new dress, currently the smallest size dress in my closet and I felt beautiful. Really enjoyed my self, until I got home and started to relax. Well I got the worst Charlie horses and leg cramps I have every had in my life!!. So much pain I wanted my family to take me to the emergency room!!.. Lucky hubby was willing to rub my feet which is where the pains were starting , rub my legs and help me stretch them out. OUCH!! such pain. I know.. I know... if I were exercising often that would not have happened.. I have cleared a path to my recumbent bike and might have to wrap my head around moving more than once a year. Still nursing the initial 3 pound loss. I weigh daily, and I've seen a 5 pound loss, but it goes up and down. This will be the second week of really moving the calories down under 1200 and no snacking on fast days, not even planned ones. trying to learn control. Marching into a new week..

I had sad news this morning my SIL passed away (lung cancer) only 58. She was diagnosed about 8 months ago and was told at the time she only had a 1% chance of survival. She had op and a few rounds of chemo. She kept it from friends and only the immediate family knew, she was still going in to work a couple of days a week. She founded and ran a charity for disabled youngsters to enable them to meet up and have a social life. Her youngest is 22 and he has cerebral palsy and this was her motivation. Even though it was expected it was so sudden, last week she was at the Glastonbury Festival with her family. Weight gain seems very insignificant today.

morning all! I have been a little absent, getting ready for a big show... over 75 pieces done over the last 30 years. I AM OLD... but not dead yet! The show looks fab. I will post a pic. You are so right! My doc keeps hounding me to lose 5-10 pounds, but really, I feel so successfull... even with the weight gain. It is so true, we have beaten the odds, all of us. SO FAR... aways vigelent.... It makes me SO happy to hear such an upbeat and positive post from you! Keep up the good work, and a prescription for massage! Genious! Iceland!!!! Lucky dog. I hope to do more traveling in the future. Its been toooo long. Craig is still in New Zealand, and will stop in Kona for a week on the way back. Good news from the Doc! This must ease your mind after all the problems you had with the trainor...

My doc wants me to go on some horrible daily drug and they cause all sorts of side effects. I don't need xanax daily... just a small dose, maybe right now a few times a week but I think once under control, just occasional. They hate you using it because of the addiction risk. Trust me, I have asked - she relented and gave me a tiny amount for the surgery. I will admit my friend P that went with me to Mexico had a more generous prescription and I did take it a few times when things were going to happen that stressed me - drain removal etc. Anyway, it is very frustrating. I am going to see another person next week that is a nurse who also does therapy so she can prescribe drugs. I will try to have an open mind but I am fairly adament I don't want to start on a daily anti depressant/anti anxiety. I don't want the side effects and the weight gain. There are alot of things that I have complex emotions about but the heart stopping anxiety is because I can't concentrate at work and I just get further and further behind. It's awful.

Like coops I read every single day, many threads, but I don't always post. The weight gain has zapped my confidence a d I feel like I'm back on the gain, lose, gain lose roller coaster but the gains are exceeding the losses so it is going up. I wish re were a bit closer to each other coops then we could meet up and we accountable to each other with direct eye contact. You off work coops? I pulled my back a bit when my trainer was here last week so I stopped the exercise for a few days, back is fine now but I'm finding it hard to get back into it. I know I'm making excuses to myself and I too need a kick up the bum. Lipstick lady writes as she sees it and it doesn't go down well with some people. I don't recall the other person. It's true we are not a 5:2 follower group anymore, some try others have stopped but I do think we are a support group. People have shared a lot and I do think we have to be careful who we allow in. If it became confrontational some of those who do post (even now and then) might stop. I do wish we could get hold of some of the people who stopped, Brown etc.. It's going to be the hottest July day for 9 years so I had best go and slap on some sun cream before work.

I've been back on the 5:2 bandwagon for a couple of weeks and have managed to rein in the really bad junk I was consuming; hence, weight gain. Have lost back down some of the weight. Need another 5-8 pounds to be where I want to STAY. (Yeah, here I again! ????). Haven't been on BP much because the new app freezes up everytime I try to read posts on any thread. Lots of people having the issue so hopefully, there is. "Fix" soon. Anyway, let's hit it, Girls! Florinda, "Fall- new season - fresh start!"

I think the skinny jeans look way better too. Globe, where are you? Are you still in Oregon? I really feel for all of you taking care of elderly parents. I did that already and it was very hard. It really wore me down. I miss my parents, but I don't miss their health failing more and more all the time. Going off to Roseburg today so Bill can go to Costco. It's 80 mi one way. there's some othe stuff he wants to do there too. I am just glad to get out of town. It will be warmer there too. I am really afraid my gabapentin which I take for sleep is causing weight gain. I have been really good and not dropped an ounce.

I think finding a hobby/activities to change your focus away from food is very useful. Some years ago I recognized this about my horse world - yes, I rode even when I was huge. Anyway, I could be out all day with friends doing a long ride, and all the logistics that go with it and as long as I had enough water, I was fine. We might take small snacks along, but food just wasn't important. If i were home that same day - trying to go say 6-8 hours without eating, I would have hunger headaches, shakey lowblood sugar, growling tummy and general feeling of low energy misery. It would trigger an overeating when i did finally eat. Anyway, I use this basic approach now - I try to do things that keep me outside of the "foodie" world. I simply don't hang around with people or put myself in situations that are so food oriented. When i did the VSG, I lived with my ex Sig Other, and my two grown sons - I didn't expect any of them to change their junky food habits because I was obese and they are in the range of trim to a few extra pounds. anyway, what i discovered is that I was the source of most of that bad eating and they have all taken it further and really don't bring junk home. They use my approach for treats and temptations - have something you want but don't bring it home. Once you bring it home you have to "resist" every minute of every day that it is sitting on that shelf. Globe - I got really constipated to the point that miralax and all didn't work since i had basically a blockage. I had to use those glycerin suppositories which was gross, but worked. Cheri - I guess for many of us there are multiple dimensions to the whole obesity story. I know that being molested as a child was a major thing that set off my weight gain. You know what, i looked at pictures of myself at 4 or 5 and I was slightly plump, cute as a bug, long shirley temple like curls. My first grade school picture shows a girl with the shortest hair cut you can imagine (I wacked it off to the scalp with scissors myself) and decidedly obese. I remember how much I was teased for both the fat and the haircut... but I have reframed that whole event to thinking about how I was able to make the molesting stop - I made myself unattractive - and it worked. I had something else really bad happen in my late teens (again when I was not so heavy) and sure enough, my response to it was to gain weight. It is a shame that something in our past may have made us feel the need to put on a fatsuit for self protection. I think that I generally worked through all that baggage a long time ago, but by then the fatsuit became very well ingrained and it was time for a physical change (the sleeve) to help me lose weight. What gives me hope about long term maintenance is that I no longer feel afraid of the world, even when I am thin.

I feel for all of you who have ailing parents. I remember that time as being the hardest times of my life. Even when my husband died from an accident at age 36, watching my parents fade every time I saw them, just broke my heart so much. I kept their house in Arizona for 3 years even though I live in Oregon because I could not bear to part with their things and their house. All of us are dealing with the same thing, weight gain. We are all veterans though. It drives me nuts that I was 139 this morning and my clothes don't fit. How is 135 all that different from 139? It just makes no sense to me that I can barely button my jeans with a 4 lb. difference. I have a very large friend who is contemplating either gastric bypass or sleeve now that Medicare is finally paying for the sleeve. I am telling her of all the complications I know gastric bypass people face down the road. I know so many people who have gained all of their weight back, and deal with iron infusions, and hypoglycemia , who have had gastric bypass. You can definitely eat around the sleeve, but at least we are all healthy! I have to drive 3 hours next week to see a malpractice attorney. I really hope he can convince my first surgeon's insurance company that they need to pay my medical bills. He said he has gone against every malpractice insurance company any doctor can have. I really hope he can help me. I deleted a couple people from the group who have never posted. wish Brown and Sarsar and Kelly from Seattle would would check in!

Holy cow! I finally got to the end of the line of posts... Want to comment on them all, but have been away so long im sure its old news.... I have been so busy, time just flys some times... Last weekend went kayaking, hubby finally got his own so we can plan more trips for the summer. Gardening and weight gain! Just 2 pounds over my bounce, but can I see it on the muffin top! I have been fasting pretty well, one or two times a week, but the other days are full of c-r-a-p! I am inspired by you all, hitting the fasts or not, keep up the good work to those doing it, and lets get out of that slump to those who are in it with me. Good for you getting back on track! Feels pretty good to be there I bet. I have been logging too, yesterday was 1900 So I hear you... I can really put it away some days! I did get in some exercise, but still... the scales don't seem to care about that.... . I have a docs appt in the middle of June where whe expects me to have lost 5 pounds.... uh, not really going to happen... and a dance performance in July... holy cow! Good luck on that one. I am just going to do it and try and get over my fear of looking like a goof...my dance girls want me to be in thier troop, and if I want to go there, I just have to start somewhere. Go Girl Go! you are my inspiration Coops! Nice to see you here... job stuff sucks sometimes... We are going through Unionizing... I am going to a negotiating workshop on Sat... I figure it might help me in other parts of my life as well... you are a star girl, time to hit the thrift stores for groovie cloths and the new free agent that you are! Love my fitbit too...but not anywhere close to 10,000 most days... Sheryl, I have always felt bad about my arms... no mater thin or thick... getting the surgery might really be good for me, but the scars and the pain.... not sure Im ready for that... and about your tests, I hope it all works osut right... do try and balance your diet with lots of veggies... gotta stay healthy for that fun new wildman! Can I tell you how that pic just lit up my face?! You guys are so obviously young and in love! YOu are just glowing. And model beautiful? Absolutely girl. So sorry for the addiction friend... sad to see someone letting thier life slip away. You have reached out, and im sure she knows it... when she hits bottom... you will be there for her. Georgia, Denise, Wanda, and all, love coming here and hearing from you all girls!

Boy I have missed so much! Florinda I am so glad we heard from you. You know I am right on the coast. Are you going to come up the coastas far as OR after you leave Northern Ca? Bill and I just made that trip, going up highway 1 and 101. You know I would love to meet you . I go to Eugene all the time! did you meet this guy through an online dating type site? I would love to hear how you two found each other!! Sheryl, I am as far out as Susan.I don' t have the problems she has. I know people farther out than me who don't have problems either. We can run into problems if we don't take our Calcium citrate. I do the chewables from Bariatric advantage. I don't care about the calories. I feel my health is more important. They taste like Tootsie rolls. I have them on auto ship so I get 2 bags a month for 20.00. I would like to meet you too, but you have never answered whether that would be possible. I go to Portland all the time. Georgia, I know how you feel. I'll be 62 this fall and I don't feel like it, except when my back really hurts. Getting the sleeve has made me so much healthier! Cathy, I am so glad you're in your house!! As far as adding anyone, I am totally against that. I want us to be able to read and post without feeling stressed that I am missing posts because I don't have time to read them all. If gamergirl wants a support group , she should start another group. She can call it anything she wants. Peole close to goal, People close to being a vet, whatever. She can PM the people she likes, and start a group. Sorry if I have missed anyone. I haven't been able to get online. Bill is really sick. It's 2:30 am now, I need to go to bed. I'm having trouble too, with weight gain. Bill is such a bad influence, as far as fasting goes. It's a lot harder when there is someone eating around me.

I'm sorry you're having such a hard time Florinda. You have MS though and I am sure that contributesto everything. Depression causes weight gain. I am really depressed. I can barely walk, let alone go to the gym, dance or hike, all the things I love. I have an appt. with two therpists and I will pick one to do some counseling.

Good food day today, 785 calories and within my limits for fat and carbs, and 77 grams of protein. 140 oz of water or herbal iced tea, so far - up to 10 pees! I sure hope it helps! I only have 6 miles in so I'm headed out - I refuse to let this weight gain stick on me!!!

Tina & Pammie - I've been on wellbutrin for a year now and let me assure you - it has NOT helped me with any head hunger or weight loss - however I have Zero side effects and I no longer cry LOL. I take 2 x 100mg pills in the morning. They are the sustained release and before you all yell at me - Doc Who said There was no problem with me taking the SR version with the band. I switched to the regular ones after surgery and had to take 1 in the morning and 1 in the evening but I found that they didn't work so well - I was getting my headaches back more freequently and they they kind of keep you awake when you take it too late. So, I got the ok to go back on the SR version. The reason I started off with them is because my PCP said it had the least chance of weight gain as a side effect. All anti depressants are "blockers" so that is why they slow down the weight loss process - because the "block" the hormone that tells your brain to burn cals. I think with this one, though, it amps you up a bit in the beginnig so that you are in such a good mood that you don't eat as much - just my opinion but I'd LOVE to hear what Dr. Oz said about it. Got an appointment with unemployment tomorrow - UGH!

Donna you are the best... Will you be there Saturday? Maria - hang in girlfriend - I recall the first time I ate mushies I had so very little and felt stuffed for about 7 hours! Oh, what I wouldn't give to have that back again LOL. So I got this crazy Body Magic girdle thingy for the wedding and was told that you have to wear it 6 hours the first time you put it on so that it can mold to your body - They stuck me in a size 32 inch - hooked it all the way on the tightest one so now they want me in a 30 inch - crazy cuz this thing is so snug I don't want to eat anything! I love it though - flattens out all my lumps & bumps - probably will never take it off and will have to buy a new one by the time the wedding rolls around - I hear they have red ones for the christmas season Hmmm... feelin daring enough to get sexy in red! Man, my tummy has NEVER looked FLAT like this before - think I'll wear it Saturday so you all can see! Jes, Don't you love yours! So, what's going on with everybody.... Who will be at group on Saturday - I'm so looking forward to it - no wight loss since last month - only weight gain but I did lose 1/2lb when I weight this morning - I hope to be heading back in the right direction. I got a handle on my snacking - at least for the last two days! Back to No Carbs - will have a very small amount tomorrow for T-Day - Turkey and stuffing will be no carbs - well a little from the celery & onions in the stuffing but good carbs - NO BREAD IN IT. Also will have cauliflower mash (my fave) & will make my own cranberry sauce with fresh berries - wont the rest of may family be jealous when they are eating all the high carb grub! LOL LOL

I actually had no idea it was erroded. I just couldn't eat anything without throwing it up. I just chalked it up to the weight gain with the pregnancy. I love the sleeve so far and am only a month out so im still learning my hunger cues and when I'm full. I start my full regular diet this week so it's anything I can tolerate. I also haven't had kaiser. I actually lost it a month after surgery when moved to Washington and was just going to fill centers. When I moved back to CA I got anthem bluecross and have had 2 amazing drs. I also have a hard time with support now that I'm sleeved because I know only my band sisters. I ask my friend who has rny a lot of questions but I'm finding out how different things are between the two surgeries. It would be nice to talk to people who have gone through what I'm beginning to.

Hi everyone! Chrissy!! That is GREAT!! Congratulations!! 100 lbs gone! My goal is going to be to be below 200 lbs by my 1 year bandiversary on 1/26. Even with my current weight gain I think I can still do it. Ladybandido- it is such a slippery slope, isn't it! But it's still something we can conquer. Horsegirl, I laughed too after being done, it was just so gross! And since I really haven't been eating fast food in my car I had only the few napkins they'd thrown into the bag. It was all over my sweater and shirt. Super icky! Luckily it was just the clear stuff, ya know? LOL. Only here would I post this!!!! So I haven't been exercising like I was since Thanksgiving. I brought my stuff today and am definitely going to the Y at lunch, since I have to stay really late today- I need that time out of the office! I am reading that carb cycling book and it's really good- and I haven't even gotten to the carb cycling part! He talks about committing to yourself an integrity- keeping promises you make with yourself and how your mind has to rule your body. It's good stuff and speaking to me - helping me get back into my groove. Still have sinus issues going on, not really getting better but not worse. So I just have to power through! Everyone have a great day and just do it! Nicki

This is a great idea! i'm a newbie soon-to-be-sleever and am loving all the information and support on VST! I am a 33 yr. old Kansas girl transplanted 9 years ago to Florida. I've been married for 9 1/2 years to my wonderful husband, together for almost 16 years. We have 3 great kiddos - ages 7, 5 and 2 - 2 boys and a sweet and sassy princess :biggrin5: I graduated from the University of Kansas in 2000 and am a forever Jayhawk, hence my screen name. I have a degree in psychology and went to nursing school post-graduation and became an LPN. I worked as a nurse until my second son was born and have stayed home full time since. I have a small online business where I make and embroider children's clothing and other gift items. We have one silky terrier who is rarely away from my side and two cats who believe they rule the house. I was active in sports throughout high school (softball, track, cheerleading, swimming) and started putting on weight my first year in college. I never lost more than about 20 lbs. when I would try and diet and even if I lost that, it went right back on, plus a few more. When I got married in 2002, I was 225 lbs and although I wished I was smaller, I was still comfortable in my own skin. Then we moved to Florida, away from all my family, and I gained about 15 lbs over the next year and a half and then got pregnant with my first son. I kept my weight gain reasonable during my pregnancy and lost all my baby weight within just a few weeks of having him, plus another 5 lbs. but by the time I got pregnant with my second child I was up about 10 lbs. Again, I kept my weigh gain reasonable during pregnancy and lost almost all of my baby weight soon after he was born, only to gain back about 15 lbs of it. By this time I was around 260 and stayed around that weight until we got a big surprise and found out we had another baby on the way. Same story - reasonable weight gain with pregnancy but after the third baby, I had more trouble taking off the baby weight and have bounced around between 260-287 for the last 2 1/2 years. I have lost about 20-30 lbs a couple of times but can't seem to keep it together to lose more than that or keep it off either. I have researched WLS for a long time but really just got serious about it as an option for me in the last few months. My mom was obese for years and had gastric bypass about 10 years. She has done great and knows that it saved her life. In being connected to her process over the years after her surgery, I have seen how true it is that WLS is just a TOOL, not a magic fix. It is in no way "the easy way out" as many people view WLS. My mom lives with us now and is a big part of my support system and a great source of advice since she has been through so much of it. I attended a few seminars and chose my doctor a few weeks ago - I will be having my surgery with Dr. Domkowski in Sebastian, FL. My insurance won't cover any weight loss surgery so I am self pay and my doctor's office is kind enough to schedule several of my appointments in one day since I am a bit of a distance away. I am scheduled for my surgical consult, psych eval and nut appointment on Feb 8. I'm hoping I will have a surgery date soon after that as I am anxious to be a sleever!! I have started my own pre-op diet - nothing too crazy, but lower carb, higher Protein, smaller portions, etc... and have lost 10 lbs so far :biggrin5: I look forward to getting to know you all and finding some buddies being sleeved around the same time as me for support!

Hi, Although I will not get my surgery date until my last appointment with the surgeon and nutritionist on 11/12, they say that my date will be the end of November! I’m in NYC. My center only requires a pre-op liquid diet for two days pre-surgery! They do not require weight loss, they just don’t want weight gain. Anyway, I’m both nervous and excited! Good luck to us all.