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This should be setting off alarm bells. You say you already have restriction but you are having a fill every 3 weeks. WHY? You have admitted that your mind is not in the right place and you are deliberately setting yourself up for failure by not following the rules by drinking with food. What do you think more fills will do? How do you think they will help? If you continue to push the food through then the band will not work the way it should. But what will happen if you continue the way you are is that you will end up too tight, you won't be able to eat proper food, you will exist on sliders which will not fill you up and will contribute to weight gain and you risk a slip, erosion and serious reflux. Does your Dr know what you are doing? If not then it is time to be honest. The band won't work if you refuse to work with it.

I started Nuvaring because I was getting nauseous with birth control and it is working great. No weight gain and all of the benefits of being on BC (greatly minimized TOM issues). I highly recommend it. I should have gone with this option years ago.

Well let's see. I am a wife to a wonderful husband for 21+ years and mother to 3 children (17,15,13). I didn't really have much of a weight problem as a child. I mean I remember being a little chubby around the age of 10, but it didn't last long. If anything, as a teenager I was a little on the too skinny side. I remember being 14 and my now mother in law wouldn't let my now husband take me to the mall unless a had something to eat....I guess I was smaller than I thought.....That is NOT a problem now-haha. It seemed my issues came from having children. I gained large amounts of weight with each child. I was able to lose it in between kids until the last one. With 3 kids under 4 1/2 and a husband in the ARMY....there just wasn't time for me. I sometimes felt like I didn't have time for a shower, let alone an hour a day to exercise...I was just too tired!!! It just seemed like my body changed. When I would lose the weight in the past, it would stay off....until I got pregnant again--haha. But the third time was different. I worked so hard....eating right and exercising almost every day....almost excessively. And a would get 30 or 40 lbs off and be a decent size 10/12, but the day I would start to return to a normal food intake (and by normal, I simply mean about 1400 calories)and drop back to exercising 3 days a week....suddenly I would start slowly adding on the weight again. About a pound a month. So six months in I would be 6pounds heavier....a year later I would be 12 pounds heavier. you get the picture. Before I knew it I would be 30 pounds overweight. I would get serious again!!!drop back to 900 calories start exercising everyday and would get myself down again. and you know the rest. Repeat-above cycle two or three more times over 10 years, then just give up. That’s where I have been for the last 4 years...refusing to repeat the cycle anymore. As a result, that 12 pound a year weight gain is now 50 pounds. Add that to the 15 pounds I could never get off in the first place, and here we are... needing to lose 65 pounds (really to be ideal weight that would be 80 pounds)---but I'll be happy with the 65 pounds.....Honestly, I'd be happy just to be able to return to a life of camping, hiking and swimming like a used to do all the time....regardless of what the scale says. So now I'm playing the waiting game. I will have my last appointment on Tuesday February 21 (my 40th birthday) and from there everything heads to insurance for approval. I have Tricare North and have heard they are pretty good about approving the surgery. I didn't want to get this far in the process and have the insurance company decide they wanted me to do the supervised diet for 3 months, so I went ahead and did it voluntarily with my GP (lost 12 pounds for good faith effort). Just being proactive!! So hopefully on Tuesday I will get a surgery date; the sooner the better. I would like to have it done by the end of March. We are taking my oldest daughter on a cruise for her graduation present the first week in May and I want to be nicely healed from the surgery before I put myself on a boat in the middle of the ocean for a week Well that’s it. If you can offer any insite into how long it takes for tricare to give approval or if you have tricare and can educate me on anything, please let me know. Or any other advise is more than welcome too. This is such a lerning process. Thanks, Tina

I told my boss I was having my gallbladder removed. Some people take longer to recover an others. I don't think you have to tell HR what kind of surgery you're having. The doctor does have to complete the FLMA/ short term paperwork. Mine only listed the types of symptoms I was having weight gain, back pain, ... (very generic stuff). If you do end up saying something to HR they can not tell your boss or anyone else because of HIPAA regulations.

I did not experience the weight gain but Ihave heard a lot of people do! I am so happy you are doing good!!

Hi There, My surgery went very well! I am so glad it is behind me but doctor said I did very well... Guess my liver looked fabulous! I only had two bouts of nausea. One was when I was coming out of the anesthesia and then when they took me off the diauladin intravenous pain meds. But as soon as the gave me the anti-nausea meds I was fine. I stayed two nights in the hospital. I was very happy with my care at Lahey. I took a shower for the first time this morning and that felt wonderful. I get tired easily but each day I feel better. Trying to get down the recommended fluids is tough... If I sip too quickly I burp alot... It is a process getting use to the new you... I'm sore like I did a million situps but pain meds help with this. All in all I'm doing well!! Thanks so much for checking!!! I'll keep you posted as I progress.. Oh one thing that I think others have experienced but bummed me out was that I gained 9lbs while in the hospital. My sister-in-law who is a nurse said it is because of all the IV fluids they pumped into me and this weight will be lost quickly.... Did others experience this weight gain while in hospital??

25 lbs is a healthy weight gain. You'll lose like 10 right away at delivery, with the baby/placenta/amniotic fluid. The massive uterus (which went from the size of a small orange to bigger than a large watermelon) and the breast engorgement make up another good 5-7 lbs, so you can expect to drop that weight in the first month or so, at least as far as the uterine shrinkage is concerned. So most of this weight has nothing to do with fat. I think you'll be able to lose the odd 5 or so lbs of fat you gained by breastfeeding and using your sleeve to your advantage.

remember a baby is between 7-8 pounds and there is a large placenta and lots of fluid. 25 pounds seems like a very healthy weight gain! Congrats!

I was sleeved on 2/14. I have a high tolerance for pain also. The incision part of the procedure have given me no problems. No bruising, only slightly sore, I am getting around great. I have already logged 8 miles walked this week. My sleeve is extremely small though. It is a great struggle to get in the liquids. I have to carry a drink in my hand the entire time I am awake. I do expect it to get better over the next few days as the swelling goes down. Don't get me wrong, when I woke up I was in pain; but the team were on that like white on rice. They made sure I had everything I needed. Now, if you are like me, you are sick of hearing people say "sip, sip, sip" by now; but trust me, it is the truth. A sip is ALL you are going to get down at first. So, don't be surprised. Also something I haven't heard anyone talk about is the weight gain in the hospital. Expect to gain 10# in IV fluids and be grateful for every single one. This gives you a pad between you and dehydration. This way you can have a little time to get to feeling better. Don't worry about those scales at first, THOSE pounds are your friend. I haven't been out that long, so I can't give you much more. Just steel your constitution and you can make it. We will all be here if you need us.

Hi all I'm new to this blog stuff so please cut my a little slack. I've been searching for a solution to weight issues all my life and have done and tried almost all things out there About 10 years ago a good friend and business associate had a bypass he is 6'7" and was 450 or so. His was a forced issue as his family history of heart attacks was catching up to him. Results were mixed 150 plus loss but plenty of complications along the way. So while considering and studying this I decided it was not for me. Another friend had lapband and results were fantastic BUT after a year or so weight came creeping back along with the out of control feeling and helplessness. I remembered these feelings well as I lost 109 lbs in 90 days on pills and shots That was back in the 80's I could watch a commercial on TV and gain 5 lbs devastating feeling. I also learned that this procedure had its fair share of complications and weight gain was not insignificant. So here I am 61 years old retired since 04 going to do something for myself. Type A guy intense all the attributes. Gastric sleeve is for me. Starting weight about 2 wks ago was 362 not my highest but up there started th 1200 calorie about 9 days ago and will go until surgery march 6. Dr Nicholson out of Dallas is my guy. My regular drs partners wife (got that) had hers done there and I've since found a lot of drs send themselves their family members to him that shortened my search a lot These forums have truly been a blessing to me and I am going to try to contribute in a meaningful way as I travel along Thanks to all

I do get disappointed at times. I lost most of my weight directly after surgery and now am averaging 1-2 pounds per week. I am eating on average 1100-1200 cals/day and am rather sedentary. I'll remind myself that I'm losing consistently, mostly do not feel the insanity with food--the BEST GIFT I could've been given, and am making permanent changes in the way I eat. I know I'll not only reach my goal in time but more importantly will be able to manage my weight long-term. In my experience, reaching goal quickly lends to more grandiosity which leads to rebound weight gain.

So many good posts! But I want to mention the part where you referenced lack of will power and that the sleeve will help when you want to eat a big piece of cake - it won't help that. It will make you less phisically hungry, but it will not cure the head hunger that tells you that you want cake. The "head hunger" is something you want to be in as much control of - or at least understanding and recognition of, before you undergo surgery. The pre-diets that insurance companies make you go through, and enough emphasis is not put on AT ALL, do so much more than just qualify you for surgery or get you in a better physical state to undergo anestisia and surgery - that is when you begin to deal with your issues, and really begin to get an understanding of life after. I too am 38 and I began to think about the bypass about 10 years ago - I had a rapid unexplained weight gain (very long story) and was not able to do the things I am used to and panicking because it wouldn't come off. I decided no way on the bypass about 7 years ago, and then lapband, and then no go there, too many complications. Then the VGS and I chose that. I do not have any regrets so far - I was sleeved 1/4. George (my sleeve) has had some issues and we are still mainly on liquids but I feel better each day. I tried sooo hard before I finally decided to go with VSG. I understand the desire to be able to say "I did it on my own". But I am doing it on my own. I decided on the surgery, arranged it, paid for it, I put the food in my mouth and record my intake and take my Vitamins and exercize. The medical side would have been there to one extent or another anyway. Teh surgery was just a different type of prescription - that is how I am looking at it. Prayers for you as you make your decisions!

Ok eveyone can tell im losing weight. I know for a fact im losing tons of inches and have lost a total of 17 pounds ONLY since my surgery on December 1st ...I have only had 2 fills, I have a little over 4cc in my 10cc band. I try and walk on my lunch breaks, since I have a 1 and a 2 year old at home and I work full time. I have not had sodas or fried foods, I eat m&m's ONLY around that time of month or i will kill someone! i dont eat nearly as much food as i did before the band..... For example I had a protein shake in the morning and a bowl of soup for lunch with a salad and i most of it, but there was still some soup and salad left! When I got home I was not hungry but I had some popcorn Thats it! I have noticed my hair getting thinner.....I do take my vitamin EVERYDAY.....NO WEIGHT GAIN .... I asked my office for more fluid but they only give 1cc per visit ......SAD SAD SAD .....BOO HOO

Well crap. So, I've been stuck at the same general area since October. Yes, there has been some movement, but it keeps going back up. Before leaving to visit family last week I had finally made it to 202.8 and was there for a couple of days. While away, I didn't weigh myself at all but I was doing fairly well about my eating. Typically, when I am back home, the stress of dealing with family BS makes me eat poorly. Well, when I got back home Tuesday night, I decided to weigh myself before going to bed. Well, guess what...finally onederland! 198.8 I didn't believe it, so I took off the PJ's and got back on. Still 198.8. Awesome! Logically, ince I had just eaten, that must mean I will likely weigh a little less or the same the next morning, right? Well, no. Wednesday morning I decided to weigh myself to see if there had been any change. Yes, there fraking had. 205.8. WTF!?! And tonight, 208!!! I am so f**king pissed right now. Bummed and eating horribly since Wednesday. Damn discount chocolate...I just don't know what the hell is going on. I work out and eat right, there's little to no movement. I eat farily well and don't work out, there's little to no movement. I imagine some of the weight gain in the passed few days has something to do with my period, but still...I'm just so sick of this. I need to go shoot something. Maybe my neighbors who blast their loud music in the middle of the night. Yeah...shooting them will make me feel better... Excuse me...I'll be back later. Okay...I'm back. How weird is it that this constant plateau has me feeling no different than how I felt before I had the surgery? It's as if I am still that 300lb woman who couldn't lose ten pounds to save her life. I look in the mirror or I look down at me and I see rolls. Not "smaller" rolls (because the fat rolls are smaller, of course), but just rolls of fat. I know these feelings will go away or at least die down once my period is over with and the hormones settle, but right now I just feel like crap.

There is a difference between weight related health issues that should be addressed by healthcare professionals and outright size discrimination. I think most of what the people described here was clearly size discrimination. Sorry, but you go to a doctor to TREAT your pain or illness. If they are unwilling to do so because of your size, then that is discrimination and they are not doing their jobs. These doctors make fat people unwilling to seek medical attention. This is something that needs to be addressed and I am sure this is a compounding factor in why obese people have health problems. They go to the doctor for treatment and are turned away! Duh, if you go to a doctor for help and don't get it, by the time you do get help, it has gotten to be a serious illness or chronic pain (and chronic pain contributes to depression and weight gain, derp doctors, derp!) I've been lucky enough to find a PCP that actually helps me when I need help and doesn't lecture. http://www.prevention.com/health/healthy-living/weight-and-obesity-discrimination-doctors This one made me laugh even though I have a hard time believing it http://danceswithfat.wordpress.com/2009/12/15/so-my-doctor-tried-to-kill-me/

It is really true that most take-out food is very high in sodium, fat and carbs. My dietician states that even if you are eating good foods but you increase your salt intake it will show in weight gain. Everyone is right, take it as a learning experience about snacks and take out food and just move on. You aren't the only person who probably learned this the hard way. Congratulations for getting right back up and on track.

Wow, that must have been discouraging! I find it hard to believe that one evening of excess=5 pounds, but it must be true. Likely a combination weight gain and water retention (due to salt, alcohol?, high carbs, etc). Just get back on the program and all will be okay. Learn from this and add it to the list of things to avoid in the future. Part of this journey is figuring out how you gained so much weight in the past (and you just got a clue on the weekend). Good luck and carry on.

hi bedhead, - strong possibility that i could have been in a room near me - don't remember the room #, i will try and look it up, sounds interesting we might have been at SUNY when you were there. whats the infection you had - all better now i hope. Any comment about your electrolites, did they get them in order? every thing else going well i hope. curious on your opinions on the younger residents and nurses. Just wondering there service etc . actually since i've been home, i still am not feeling well with my whole drinking of problm. i feel again. i'm going on the road towards dehydration again - i don't understand why, but i seem like have a lot of trouble geting all my liquid (H20) I really don't want to end up at the SUNY Hotel again they continuelly stuffed me with various Vitamins, magnisium i mean, phosforus (msp) at thed hospitaland some say that stuff could help you gain weight. I'm trying to reasure myself that this is rational - i don't want to think i actually gained 6 lbs like i did, doing every properly, even througing up - throwing up dictionary - Webster new addition Then i get on the scale instead of not losing, or even remaining the same weight, I gained 6 lbs. not to cool Under most situations, i wouldn't be too upset about a little weight gain or no loss - but to have gained weight, thats beyound my understanding. I am raising my right hand that # i swear I will promise to drink, and drink more liquids. Cold is now on overtime from 24 hr flu to maybe at least 48 hours. Oh well, nice to hear from you Bedhead best wishes kathy

hi bedhead, - strong possibility that i could have been in a room near me - don't remember the room #, i will try and look it up, sounds interesting we might have been at SUNY when you were there. whats the infection you had - all better now i hope. Any comment about your electrolites, did they get them in order? every thing else going well i hope. curious on your opinions on the younger residents and nurses. Just wondering there service etc . actually since i've been home, i still am not feeling well with my whole drinking of problm. i feel again. i'm going on the road towards dehydration again - i don't understand why, but i seem like have a lot of trouble geting all my liquid (H20) I really don't want to end up at the SUNY Hotel again they continuelly stuffed me with various Vitamins, magnisium i mean, phosforus (msp) at thed hospitaland some say that stuff could help you gain weight. I'm trying to reasure myself that this is rational - i don't want to think i actually gained 6 lbs like i did, doing every properly, even througing up - throwing up dictionary - Webster new addition Then i get on the scale instead of not losing, or even remaining the same weight, I gained 6 lbs. not to cool Under most situations, i wouldn't be too upset about a little weight gain or no loss - but to have gained weight, thats beyound my understanding. I am raising my right hand that # i swear I will promise to drink, and drink more liquids. Cold is now on overtime from 24 hr flu to maybe at least 48 hours. Oh well, nice to hear from you Bedhead best wishes kathy

I also do not diet, do not count calories and simply eat smaller portions but I think it would be easy to "cheat" the band if your head wasn't in the right place. Unfortunately most of the high calorie foods that cause weight gain do not cause pain and discomfort. Well for me they don't, I think if they did it would be great as it would discourage me from eating them. chocolate and the foods I mentioned earlier are too easy to eat . B52 maybe the reason you don't have an issue with these type of foods is because you are male? Males seem to naturally prefer foods such as steak, meat etc whilst us females are generally the ones that have issues with chocolate. I am sure that there are some exceptions to that rule but on the whole it seems to be true. There are people that have been banded that have had limited success. I believe that for many of them it was because they were unable or unwilling to change their eating to the way that it is recommended you eat with a band. A lot of them were looking at the band as being a magic wand and it isn't. It is possible that the band was not the correct type of surgery for them. They may have been better suited to something such as a bypass which causes malabsorption of food as well as restriction and some people also get dumping syndrome. I think it is important to carefully investigate the different types of surgery available and work out as far as possible (with the help of a Dr) which one would suit you and your particular type of eating issues best.

It's been 8 months since my surgery. For me, the honeymoon phase of never being hungry is O-V-E-R. I caught myself grazing a few times this week, and those calories add up. My old habits made me fat, so it's time for new ones. I needed to find out how naturally thin people eat, so I did a little Google-fu and found this article on Prevention.com that pretty much breaks down the difference between the fats and the fat-nots. I'm posting a slightly shortened/edited version of the article here. Most of you will know this stuff (I'd forgotten all about HALT), but I hope it's helpful to some of you. Habit #2 might be my biggest issue. In my brain, hunger = brink of death = MUST EAT RIGHT NOW. 8 Habits of Skinny People 1. They Choose Satisfied Over Stuffed On a fullness scale of 1 to 10, skinny people stop eating at a level of 6 or 7. The rest of us may keep going to an 8 or 10. Why? Maybe you mistakenly equate the sensation of fullness with satisfaction and feel deprived if you stop short. Or maybe you were raised to clean your plate. Copy Them: About halfway through your next meal, stop eating and rate your level of fullness on a scale of 1-10. Do it again when you have about five bites left. The goal is to increase your awareness of how satisfied you feel during a meal. (Bonus: It also slows down your eating, which allows the sensation of fullness to settle in.) 2. They Realize Hunger Isn't An Emergency We often view hunger as a condition that needs to be cured. If you fear hunger, you might routinely overeat to avoid it. Thin people tolerate it because they know hunger pangs always come and go, buying them some time to eat later. Copy Them: Pick a busy day to purposely delay lunch by an hour or two, and see that you can still function just fine. Then next time you feel those grumbles, maybe you'll hold off before making a beeline for the fridge. 3. They Don't Use food To Cure The Blues It's not that skinny people are immune to emotional eating, they just tend to recognize when they're doing it and stop. Copy Them: Add the word 'Halt' to your vocabulary. More than just a command, it's an acronym that stands for Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired --the four most common triggers for emotional eating. If you're truly hungry, eat a balanced snack to tide you over until your next meal. But if you're angry, lonely, or tired, seek an alternative calorie-free solution to your emotional need. (Personal note: Food as a solution makes no sense. If a friend told you they were lonely, would you tell them that a fish stick will fix it? Sorry, Finding Nemo. Fish are food, not friends.) 4. They Eat More Fruit Skinny people, on average, have one more serving of fruit and eat more Fiber and less fat per day than overweight people. Copy Them: Find ways to add whole fruits (not juices) to your meals and Snacks. Sprinkle berries on your yogurt. Add sliced pears to your turkey sandwich, or bake an apple for dessert. Keep a bowl of fruit on your kitchen table or desk to motivate you to think fruit first, vending machine never. 5. They're Creatures Of Habit A varied diet is good, but too much variety can backfire. Too many tastes and textures encourage you to overeat. Thin people have a "food groove". Most of their meals consist of staples. There are a few surprises thrown in, but for the most part, their diets are fairly predictable. Copy Them: Try to eat as consistently as possible with your major meals--have Cereal for Breakfast, a salad at lunch, and so forth. It's okay to add grilled chicken to the salad one day and tuna the next, but by sticking to a loosely prescribed meal schedule, you limit the opportunities to overindulge. 6. They Have A Self-Control Gene Researchers at Tufts University found that the biggest predictor of weight gain among women in their 50s and 60s was their level of disinhibition, or unrestrained behavior. Women with low disinhibition (in other words, a finely tuned sense of restraint) had the lowest body mass index. High disinhibition (i.e., low restraint) was linked to an adult weight gain of as much as 33 pounds. Copy Them: Prepare for moments when your disinhibition is likely to be higher--such as when you're in a festive atmosphere with a large group of friends. If you're at a party, tell yourself you'll take one of every fourth passed hors d'oeuvre. If you're out at dinner, order an appetizer portion and share dessert. Or if you're stressed, make sure you have a source of crunchy snacks (like fruit or carrot sticks) at the ready. 7. They're Movers And Shakers On average, skinny women are on their feet an extra 2 1/2 hours per day--which can help burn off 33 pounds a year. Copy Them: Try a reality check. People often overestimate how active they really are. Most people actually spend 16 to 20 hours a day just sitting. Wear a pedometer on an average day, and see how close you get to the recommended 10,000 steps. Your day should combine 30 minutes of structured exercise with a variety of healthy habits, such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator or mopping the floor with extra vigor. 8. They Sleep--Well Skinny women snooze 2 more hours per week, compared with overweight people. Researchers theorize that a lack of shut-eye is linked to lower levels of appetite-suppressing hormones like leptin and higher levels of the appetite-boosting hormone ghrelin. Copy Them: Break it down: Two extra hours of sleep a week is only 17 more minutes a day--a lot more manageable, even for the most packed of schedules. Start there and slowly work toward 8 hours of snooze time a night. This might be a little tl;dr for some of you, but I tried to trim the fat! Pun totally intended.

Hi Jacksbanster, I was banded back in 2004 and weight loss was great. I went from 322 pounds to 140 pounds. In 2010 my band seem to stop working and i started to gain weight (plus I stopped following the bandster rules) but that is because again I didn't feel I had the control the band gave me originally. Anyway, after gaining 60 pounds I was fed up and decided to investigate if others where experiencing the same thing with the band and if there were other options out there for me to look into. So I did a lot of reading and research and found out about the plication surgery. So I met with my Lap Band doctor and he told me more about this new investigational surgery called Plication. Fast forward, I had the surgery Dec 8th 2011. The surgery was a success, recovery was a breeze, the liquid diet was hard, but I got through it. My first post op visit I had lost 8 pounds. Then I got walking pneumonia and had to go on prednisone - this made me ravenously hungry and of course I regained all the weight I had lost back. I was so disappointed and frustrated that I wanted to die. But my doctor told me that prednisone is know for weight gain and I'll get back on track soon. So fast forward, my next appointment with him I had only lost 4 pounds which did not make me happy because before I had lost 8 and now I was starting all over and at a slower pace. It is now Feb 16th 2012 and I've not gotten on the scale because I don't feel like I've lost any weight. All my clothing fits the same and I just don't see any change and I've not weighed myself since my last fill. I've had two fills since my plication surgery and I'm still hungry (more than) I thought I would be with the band and the plication. This is a different experience than when I had the lap band surgery, the lap band surgery had the weight come off very quickly. I didn't even have to think about dieting I just wasn't hungry. With this surgery (albeit it is a revision of the previous band, new band with more capacity, and the plication) I'm not as pleased as I had expected. With all that said I think my expectations need to be adjusted. I wonder if people who have had the band and have had some type of complication with it (slippage, erosion, etc) it the pouch that is above the stomach is premanently stretched out of shape. I don't have the answer I just know that the experience is not the same. I'm having to really monitor what I eat and exercise everyday. So I eat around 900 to 1000 calories a day, and I exercise on the stairmaster for an hour/ or I go for a jog. I know that I need to incorporate some weight training but I'll just have to get to it when I can. As for your questions above: How was your recovery? Recovery was great. The first couple of days there was a little pain but after that it was a breeze. How soon did you go back to work? Surgery was on a Thursday I went back to work on the following Wednesday. Do you follow a low carb diet? I followed the liquid diet they put me on for about 4 weeks. Since then I've tried everything - right now I'm basically eatting lean cuisines or smart ones. But I think I'm going to try a one week Medi fast - we will see. Right now I'm so hungry between meals I doubt if I can pull that one off. Have you had to have any fills in your band? Yes I've had 2 fills since my surgery and they don't seem to have made that much of a difference. The doctors, are being cautious because they don't want me to get too tight and have another band slippage.. I understand that but in the meantime I wish I had more restriction. How is your hunger level? Higher than I thought it would be. But if I try to stay on an eat every 4 to 5 hour schedule I do okay. How much can you eat before you feel "full" If I allowed myself I could eat a lot. The think is I count every calorie that goes into my mouth. I use www.fatsecret.com they have an incredible food database - almost everything you can put into your mouth in in their database, So that helps. I hope that my story has helped you and I will keep you informed on my progress - I hope that you will do the same. Regards, Willowsdoweep

Has anyone had a weight gain after starting Fish Oil? I started it back in October after my bad cholesterol started going up a bit, even though it was way below being an issue. Figured it might help. Stopped losing and even gained 4 lbs. I stopped taking it last weekend. Haven't changed anything else. I have lost 3 lbs since Sunday! This is the only time in 2 years that I have gained weight. I usually just "pause" for a few weeks but this went on for almost 4 months! I am glad I am losing again but wondering if it's just a fluke or if it's a known issue.

Hi everyone! I was sleeved on 2/11 weighing in at 213 but today when I got home I weighed 227.2? I feel like my skin is going to burst with how tight it is! Has anyone else experienced Water weight gain? I was on IV fluids all 4 days at the hospital. How do I get rid of this extra weight? Did anyone else have this happen to them? Talk about frustrating!!!

I completely understand what you are going thru. I felt the same way. For me, after soooo many disappointments, diet failures, massive weight gains (over and over again), the humiliation, physical pain, heqlth problems and limitations, and so on, we are scared to believe in anything. I questioned "could this be true? Get surgery and then lose the weight and associated health complications and embarrassment? And keep it off? It CAN'T possibly be for real! Maybe I'm letting myself in for more heartbreak by chasing this rainbow!" And then, scared half out of my wits, I went ahead with the surgery. I followed every rule to the t both pre- and post-op. And to be honest, unlike what some other sleevers report, this has not been an easy fix. But it IS a Godsend. This surgery has helped me tremendously, but at the end of the day, just like so many say, this is a tool, not a magic mystical pill. To me, it is VERY important for us to address our fears head-on. You are not crazy. You are facing your fear. Stare it down and never give up on yourself. This tool will work for you if you are willing to put in your share of the work. I wish I were one of those people who never got hungry and have to remind themselves to eat. I do get hungry, but not nearly like it was pre-op. My restriction is not as much as some others have but it IS there, and it is very helpful. I am 3.5 months out (surgery 10.17.11) and have lost 64.4 pounds. I can now pretty easily consume about 4 oz of protein plus a few bites of veggies per meal. I am still fighting head hunger and trying to resist nighttime snacking. And I am trying to exercise (walking for now since my hips, ankles and feet are pretty much shot from intense pounding whilst obese) 4 to 5 days a week. So yes, there is effort on my part. But I am so glad I had the surgery. I am attending monthly support group mtgs and read helpful and motivating posted on this forum. I hope this reads as it is intended: as a helpful and compleltley no BS account of my WLS experience. No pretend sunshine; no dramatic negativity. You are worth this. You can meet success. I believe in both of us!