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I have been seeing a dietician for a year and a half and through all this she has seen all the struggles I have had and I finally discussed weight loss surgery with her. I had decided years ago off and on to get it, but always thought I could lose it myself. Of course I did but you know how that rolls. Anyhow she was very skeptical at first but she decided to do some studies on it and to my surprise she decided to support me on my decision. This dietician works for the VA whom I am going thru for all this so we decided to get the ball rolling. She clearly has 1 1/2 yrs of records for my weight loss and weight gains. I wanted to learn how to eat healthy and not go on the all or nothing plan. I lost 32lbs which clearly wasn't fast enough for me but then again I was not dieting like I was use to doing and I really learned to live on a healthy plan. I went thru all the rig a moral with the drs, psy, therapists everything I had to do to clear me for surgery. My dietician told me she talked to the bariatric coordinator and she was going to call me. Well she did and everything sounded real good and all I had to do was wait for the hospital surgeons nurse to call and set everything up. Supposedly when it got as far as the hospital it was stopped, and I was told that they wanted 3 more months of record keeping and counselling before she would approve it. When I heard this I was livid, here I was waiting on my surgery date and then I was told a year and a half was not enough. I felt so much anger that I started eating like a crazy woman and gained all the weight back. I am trying so hard to get my head back in the game but I just don't know how and now my dietician and I are really struggling. I told her I cannot trust that if we do this another 3 mos that it will be enough for them. And can't they see how hard I worked to lose 32lbs in a year and a half? If I could have kept it off I would have? Now here I sit with a nontrusting bad attitude and can't wrap my head around the fact that I have to do this again. To me it is very much like losing it and gaining it back yo yo syndrome that I have been through all of my life. I know that I can't let this beat me because I want to get this done, but yet I can't get my frame of mind to do this again. I have waited all my 57yrs to be skinny and it just doesn't seem like it will ever happen. It pretty much destroyed my will to keep trying! So, I need help to get my head back in the game and get back on my eating plan. I know I am mad and distrusting of the VA but I am not doing this for them, I am doing this for me. How do I get myself to do this? any ideas? I just needed to get this out and I couldn't think of a better place than here! So thank you!

I just had my 4 year anniversary in July. When I had my surgery I was young and it was two weeks after my Dad died. I also went though a divorce within 6 months of having the surgery. I am not making excuses but I can honestly say now that I want in the right mindset for the surgery. I am now 37lbs heavier than my lowest. And I cannot seem to get the weight to come off. I am very discouraged.

Hello there, My name is Nikkita and I'm 22 years old. I live in Perth, Western Australia. I recently discovered this forum and spent a few days absorbing it, in total awe. I am fascinated that people out there feel exactly as I do, and I'm not alone. I have been obese for over 4 years now, due to chronic PCOS. It affects my life in the most awful way. I am having WLS, (vertical sleeve) in or around October. Here, I am waiting on my Health Insurance to cover me, and I still have to come up with the remaining balance of - $3000 - my fiance and I have paid almost half already! I havent ever really spoken about being overweight, to others - only my close friend and fiance know how I really feel, most of the time. Its hard for me to open up about how much it really affects my life. I cannot wait until I have a date; I should find out on the 8th of September. I am so touched, that there is a place for me to talk about how I really feel.. I sound silly, but I have always felt that weight gain is my own fault, and I should suffer it. I can feel myself opening up, and I actually feel very vulnerable posting this. I am a smoker, and I plan to completely ditch the fags after my last pack - only four left now. I have given up so many things due to my size - my dream of becoming a Teacher is on hold for now, as I am struggling to hold down a part time job in order to pay for my surgery - standing for over 8 hours a day at 130 kilos is no easy feat. Most days I want to quit on the spot. I am currently : HEIGHT - 163 cms WEIGHT - 130 kilos or 286 pounds. Thanks for listening, :heart:

thank you to all who replied! I too am on the 2 week liquid diet. I was given Bariactric Advantage Meal Replacement shakes and couldn't stomach them so I am now tring to get in 5 Carnation Instant Breakfast shakes a day which is hard because I am type 1 diabetic and have to wait 4 hrs inbetween insulin injections. Now that I am 4 days away...the diet seems easier even though I find myself admiring food I look foward to at least some Soup after surgery. I am only allowed sugar free Clear liquids and Jello or popsicles...as well as the shakes and chicken broth. I have had a few days where getting fluids in was hard but did really well today! I am glad to find others going through or went through this surgery. I was originally going to get gastric bypass but couldn't come to terms with the finality and complications. I know it would of helped get the weight of quicker but I kind of want to work for it also from the start. I feel if I can do these two weeks I can do the rest of my life. The weight gain has caused me to have PCOS and in order to have a child I need to lose weight and get my diabeties under control and I feel inside this surgery will be a tool to help!:thumbup:

Thank you!!! Im 250 & have severe sleep apnea and have other issues from weight gain. I am now on the liquid diet and am scheduled for surgery on Oct 10th. Have been seeing others talk about leaks just has me spazzing out. Gettin scared but at the same time i know this surgery will help. Just mixed emotions i guess.

Help one year since surgery. Up until a few weeks ago maintaining all the weight I lost at goal 75 pounds down. Now the hunger has come back to a degree and I put on four pounds in the last week. Am so upset. I know I am eating to many snacks. Also has anyone been diabetic free for more than five years. I have been off of medication for it since the day after surgery. But heard for some reason it usually returns after five years. Also anyone have any recommendations for skin wrinkles? Bad on face especially neck. Sorry for so many questions but just found this site. Thank you and suggestions for any of the above would be appreciated.

I had my surgery on Tues. May 29, and was told that I would probably see a weight gain after the hospitalization due to the fluids and the gases. When does weight loss start?

I'm not banded but I can try and give you some advice! Your first 2 weeks is usually when you see the weight drop quickly, especially if you had to do a liquid pre-op diet. Once you start moving on to more solid foods, a weight gain is not uncommon and shouldn't get you discouraged! A ton of people experience up to 10lbs of weight gain as their bodies shift from liquids to mushies or semi-solids. And walking will help you with the gas pain. And Gas X strips are recommended by lots. I hope this helps some! And welcome!! :thumbup:

I am almost 2 weeks post op & still on a liquid diet. I only have 2 more days left before I introduce mushies, but just within the past few days my weight has gone up! I don't understand how if I'm only having liquids I could be gaining. Did this happen to anyone else? It's freaking me out a bit that I am one if those statistics that the band is not going to work for. I'm following Dr orders, I'm walking every day, & I'm drinking my water. The only thing I can think the cause is that I'm not getting enough calories. I'm getting at the least 500 a day which was considered acceptable from my Dr at this stage. I need encouragement :-(

please can someone advise me I have my pre op talks on 16 august and I was 97kg my weight has ballooned again to 103kg and I am worried they will refuse me due to weight gain again I'm having op under the nhs any help or advise

Well, after the weight gain with the band, my total BAND weight loss was like 30 lbs. I have only had the sleeve for 10 days, so........I can't answer for it. I can already tell I am much happier with the sleeve than the band. Since my pre op diet, and post of diet thus far I have lost 17 lbs.

Well this is a hit in the head. Lost 12# one week post op. Next 2 days, I have gained 1 1/2 #. Getting 90% of water, 100% protein, and about 500 calories what with skim milk and protein mix. Anyone else had this happen?

Hi, I am back online to this site. I started about a year ago but did not care for the doctors or their set up so it's taken me a year later to get it together enough to try other doctor's. Anyway, I have my paperwork in but have not heard anything yet. I am 53 years old, married to my best friend for almost 30 years. Two children, two grandchildren and one granddog. My family is very important and love spending time with them. I have a great support network with family, friends and church family. I have severe arthritis and have been disabled for 5 years. Unable to walk, work and everyday mobility has brought me close to 300 lbs. My life took a total change when I could no longer walk, I have to use a walker and a scooter to get around. I am tired of not being able to live my life to the fullest and sitting on the sidelines. That's why I have resorted to Lap Band surgery. When I am able to lose 75 lbs. I hope to be able to have my knees replaced and then get back to a normal life style. I need a lot of help if anyone wants to contact me, I also would like to have recipes and figure out what to expect after surgery. I love to cook, sew, play with my grandchildren , attend church activities and was pretty active prior to the health problems after the 100 pound weight gain these last 5 years.

This surgery is the best thing I ever did !!! I had always been normal weight until my early 20's and then developed thyroid issues where I had my thryroid removed. Ever since then my weight went up then went down, the went up then went down... the yo-yo weight gain/loss is not good for your body so last year my sis had the surgery and I saw how wonderful she did so I made my appt. and had my sugery this past April 2012. I will be one year out soon and have never felt better. I would do this again in a second !!!! Stay positive, follow your doctors orders and you will do fine !!! Good Luck !!!

Help I have gained 5 pounds while on vacation! Does anyone else have this problem? Also I have no restriction after having 1 full so far.

My periods are screwed up as well. I had surgery 2 weeks ago with period during the surgery time now started period ago and im on birth control. Weight gain and cramps and back pain. Pcos stinks.

Hi I am new to all of this! I have battled my weight my whole life. I have lost weight gained it lost it again i am just so tired of this!!! Through my years of dealing with my weight I decided to go back to school and get a degree in nutrition (it's so much fun to be a chubby dietitian) so as you can imagine I no what to do to lose weight I just have such a hard time doing it. If someone told me that there was a magic pill I would take it!! So what I want to know is this worth it! Does it work? I know the science behind it all, but does it really work! I work at one of the local hosptials and the surgeons are having an info meeting this week and I just wonder if I should go. I have not talked about this with anyone in my life (my husband, sisters, friends etc) I feel like my god if I can't lose the weight who can. Sorry to have rambled I just would really like some help thanks for you time. Angela

This is the start to my journey back to a former life. Yesterday I complete the six month doctor visits that is required by my insurance company (BCBS). I am now waiting for the insurance companies OK stamp on my paperwork. I know how slow paperwork can creep through the system, so I am a month or more from surgery. I am starting off a 365lbs at 5'11" and BMI about 50. I am borderline with a few medical issues that haven't cropped up yet, so I better do something. Yes, I have tried the diet plans from A to Z and a few I have tried a few more than once. Part of my problem is a bad back problem I recieved for a car accident in May 1990. At that time I was a 210, six foot military man in good shape. Since, it has been a downward spiral of weight gain and pain... Now, is the time for me to turn this around before medical issues crop up or death replaces this life. If you care to read my journey, I plan on posting at each event while going through this change of life. Since, my goal is 210, I might be writing for awhile. If you care to comment I would love to hear from you. -Bill

Yes I agree I don't have a scale I don't want to purchase one and it's simply because I've watched so many people get discouraged to the point they were in tears because of weight gain and they start to regret the surgery and it turns into a psychological thing and I don't want to deal with that and I've never been a person that looked at the scale so I don't have a problem with not having a scale Sent from my SM-G935T using BariatricPal mobile app

Why not have a small piece of something on a special occasion? I think it’s unrealistic to think of certain foods as “never” foods. Should you justify eating whatever you want for a whole weekend because it’s your birthday? Probably not. Is enjoying one small dessert item throwing you down the worm hole back into an endless spiral of weight gain? Likely no. Happy Birthday and Enjoy.

I am hopefully getting vsg in August (not scheduled yet.). My concern is that I've lost 130 lbs on my own without surgery in the past. I've since put back on half of that amount. Nothing I did to lose weight before works now so I decided to get sleeved. Will I have the same problem as the ppl who are 2-3 years out and not lose after surgery? Sent from my Nexus 6 using the BariatricPal App

Hi there, Ahb08, I would call your doctor's office and ask them what they think you should do, i would think they would not want you to go below 40 bmi though, possibly stay the same weight aka lose 8 lbs.; but not go below 40bmi before approval?? Ask them " Do you usually get approval from aetna ppo with this regime, Has anyone ever been denied? What about the weight gain, has anyone ever been denied for gaining or being at 40 bmi exactly? Waynes6, I just cut out almost all sweets, and most of the high cal foods, like potato chips, butter,corn chips, bagels, ect. I logged what i ate on "My Plate" and i would make sure i was exercising... walking an hour a night at the gym on the treadmill and doing crunches.... I lost 7 pounds. I actually gained back 3 and had to lose it again!! I got sick for 2 weeks with that flu i think and i actually gained??! I have read on here that you do not want to lose more than 10 pounds during the 3 months.... My nutritionist just had me bring in a few days printout of my online food diary ~~ "My Plate" and i brought in my workout routine printed out too. You should be working with a facility that puts the whole package together for you, all you do is schedule appts. with the physical therapist and psychologist and your primary care physician. To find a actual Bariatric Center within a hospital that does this {puts together the pre-req's for insurance} is A Must!! They should be putting it all together because they will know what it takes to get approved, and who to call ect.... I met with a nutritionist, nurse, & surgeon every time i visited. They guided me through the entire process, this is what you want to find first off; If i did not have that now where you are you might want to look at Obesity Help and read reviews on the centers and surgeons near your area. I personally went with what i knew was a top ranked hospital in the first place and then checked out their seminar, and decided that it was where i wanted to go. They had good reviews but they were not too over booked...

As a young adult, I wore a size 7. Through the years of weight gains, I moved up to a size 8 1/2 and was fast headed for a size 9. Now my shoes are getting loose, so I guess I'll be down sizing soon. I look forward to a size 7 again. So, in answer to your question, your shoe size does change.

It's only your weight from your initial visit....if you lose 50 pounds in 6 months, awesome! I was scared of the same exact thing and the doctors office told me that it goes by the initial weight....they don't want to see a weight gain, as that might be an issue with your "dedication" to the lifestyle change.

DENIED!!!!!! I didn't lose the 5% required by my insurance company over the past year. I had a heart problem (since been fixed) and went on a medication that made me totally sedentary. I didn't want to do a stinking thing! And I gained 27lbs on it. My high was 371, my starting weight (the one they use) was 344. So in order to qualify I have to be 335. Granted I've lost weight (I'm now 347.6), but even with a letter from my doctor stating that the weight gain wasn't totally my fault, and even with my case manager pleading my case to the medical director for the Ins Co. I'm denied! I can try again next month... One positive thing, it only took a couple of hours...