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Like you said, this isn't a diet...so in the scheme of this new 'lifestyle change' where NOTHING is off limits we just have to make good choices most of the time. I've been trying hard not to think of these moments of poor choices as 'cheating' as we've all been in that diet/cheat cycle for so long and beating yourself up leads to stress, which leads to weight gain. You made some poor choices this weekend, so did I, don't beat yourself up. Just try to make better choices this week...one day at a time. That's the great thing about the band...it will be with you for life.

Well, another goal I'm not going to make........I wanted to be at my goal weight by my bday, which is next week. eeeek, not going to happen. So now I'm just hoping by my 3 year band anniversary which is in January! Eating has been good lately, exercise needs to pick up - it needs to be more consistant. I've got a plan for next week, so we'll see how that goes. Tomorrow taking a vacation day from work to just play. I plan on hanging out at my friends and lounging in her pool all day. Yay. The scale is going down, but not down as fast as it goes up. Why is that? Ever wonder how you can show a 2 lbs weight gain overnight and then only lose 1/2 pound the next day? Hmmmm. Wt 164.6

Well, another goal I'm not going to make........I wanted to be at my goal weight by my bday, which is next week. eeeek, not going to happen. So now I'm just hoping by my 3 year band anniversary which is in January! Eating has been good lately, exercise needs to pick up - it needs to be more consistant. I've got a plan for next week, so we'll see how that goes. Tomorrow taking a vacation day from work to just play. I plan on hanging out at my friends and lounging in her pool all day. Yay. The scale is going down, but not down as fast as it goes up. Why is that? Ever wonder how you can show a 2 lbs weight gain overnight and then only lose 1/2 pound the next day? Hmmmm. Wt 164.6

Hey everyone, I've had my band for 3 yrs now and happy with the results (lost 104 lbs). However, my band slipped about 6 mths ago and I still haven't gotten it fully fixed. My Dr says he "treats the symptoms, not the xray" meaning that when he unfilled me partially, my reflux stopped. So he left it alone. Unfortunately, at this current fill level, I no longer have that same restriction. Not to say I have none, I can tell it's there till about 7 pm -then I can graze like a cow. Used to throw up quite often cuz I ate way too fast. Haven't thrown up in 6 mths since my partial unfill. Still have occasional reflux (about 2x a week). I was banded for a reason: Diet don't work. Hate dieting. When I was banded, I swore I'd never count another calorie or fat gram again - and I don't. Like I said, I've been pretty successful with it but after my slip, I find I can eat tons more - causing a 16 lbs weight gain in the last 6 mths. I was 9 lbs from my goal last Dec now I'm 25. But I know if I have my band removed, I will most likely gain all that weight back. Does MEdicare (who covered my band) cover revision surgery if there was a problem with my band? Or do they only cover if I gain all the weight back and my BMI is >40 again? My current BMI is 26. But obesity is an ongoing medical condition and it really doesn't matter how much you weigh at any given moment, if I have the ability to gain it back, I probably will. What do you think? Marci

"The Benefits of H20" By Donald S. Robertson, M.D., M. Sc. Water suppresses the appetite naturally and helps the body metabolize stored fat. Studies have shown that a decrease in water intake will cause fat deposits to increase, while an increase in water intake can actually reduce fat deposits. Here's why: The kidneys can't function properly without enough water. When they don't work to capacity, some of their workload is dumped onto the liver. One of the liver's primary functions is to metabolize stored fat into usable energy for the body. But, if the liver has to do some of the kidney's work, it can't operate at full throttle. As a result, it metabolizes less fat, more fat remains stored in the body and weight loss stops. Drinking enough water is the best treatment for Fluid retention. When the body gets less water, it perceives this as a threat to survival and begins to hold on to every drop. Water is stored in extra cellular spaces (outside of the cells). This shows up as swollen feet, legs, and hands. Diuretics offer a temporary solution at best. They force out stored water along with some essential nutrients. Again, the body perceives a threat and will replace the lost water at the first opportunity. Thus, the condition quickly returns. The best way to over come the problem of water retention is to give your body what it needs---plenty of water. Only then will stored water be released. If you have a constant problem with water retention, excess salt may be to blame. Your body will tolerate sodium only in a certain concentration. The more salt you eat, the more water you system retains to dilute it. But getting rid of un-needed salt is easy---just drink more water. As it's forced through the kidneys, it takes away excess sodium. The overweight person needs more water then the thin one. Larger people have larger metabolic loads. Since we know that water is the key to fat metabolism, it follows that the overweight person needs more water. Water helps maintain proper muscle tone by giving muscles their natural contract and by preventing dehydration. It also helps to prevent the sagging skin that usually follows weight loss--- shrinking cells are buoyed by water, which plumps the skin and leaves it clear and resilient. Water helps rid the body of waste. During weight loss, the body has a lot more waste to get rid of---all the metabolized fat must be shed. Again, adequate water helps flush out the waste. Water can help relieve constipation. When the body gets too little water, it siphons what it needs from internal sources. The colon is one primary source. Result? Constipation. But, when a person drinks enough water, normal bowel function usually returns. So far, we've discovered some remarkable truths about water and weight loss: - The body will not function properly without enough water and can't metabolize stored fat efficiently. - Retained water shows up as excess weight. - To get rid of excess water you must drink more water. - Drinking water is essential to weight loss. How much water is enough? On the average, a person should drink eight 8-ounce glasses every day. That's about 2 quarts. However, the overweight person needs one additional glass for every 25 pounds of excess weight. The amount you drink also should be increased if you exercise briskly or if the weather is hot and dry. Water should preferably be cold. It's absorbed into the system more quickly than warm water. And some evidence suggests that drinking cold water can actually help burn calories. When the body gets the water it needs to function optimally, it's fluids are perfectly balanced. When this happens, you have reached the "breakthrough point." What does this mean? - Endocrine-gland function improves. - Fluid retention is alleviated, as stored water is lost. - More fat is used as fuel because the liver is free to metabolize stored fat. - Natural thirst returns. - There is a loss of hunger almost overnight. If you stop drinking enough water, your body fluids will be thrown out of balance again, and you may experience fluid retention, unexplained weight gain, and loss of natural thirst. To remedy the situation you'll have to go back and force another "breakthrough."

Well I went into the office and got my second fill today. Not nearly as traumatic as the first one, not as painful and not so much bleeding everywhere. I saw the NP and she only gave me a touch of a fill, .6cc. That seems small to me since my first fill was a full 2.6cc. She told me to wait 2 weeks and then touch base with how it was going. Since I'm self pay all visits are free for me for the first year, so I don't mind going in again if need be. The second fill puts me at a total of 6.2cc in the AP band. My Dr office has me fill out a diet summary and the NP was pretty stern with me saying that I was eating too much soft foods and that I need to eat a more substantative fare. I guess this will commence after my two days of liquids and two days of solids... I was pretty unhappy since I've only lost 5lbs in the last 3 weeks. The NP said that too much soft/mushy food = weight gain. I'm syncing up my i pod right now as I've started to jog around the neighborhood pretty successfully. My neighbors think I'm a riot. Until later!

Hi I had my gastric bypass 2 years in nov and i lost 9 stone. Recently ive noticed that i put back on a stone. ???? In the last year ive had half my kidney removed due to cancer and then my hubby of 24 years leaves me for someone else. I sold the house and brought myself a little flat but i think i may have slipped back to my old ways of eating as im eating more and starting to eat the wrong food and not eat it probably. Please can you help. Debs x

Okay so I have blue shield and my insurance is requiring the 6 months of monitored nutritional visits. This Friday will be my third visit. At my first visit I weighed in at 271, my second visit I weighed 264. Since my last visit I've gained about 4 lbs. So my question is...will I not be approved for surgery if my weight fluctuates during the 6 months? Throughout the month my weight usually goes up and down a few lbs and i'm scared they won't give me surgery because of it. Anyone know how that works ?

Where is the family forum? I wish we had one.. Ok here goes. About once a month the entire family has a family gathering. The kids go swimming, play with one another, and of course there is a lot of food. In fact I think the day is centered around grazing all day long and drinking beer/wine. I don't drink beer or wine so I am good there, however, I do not want to be around all that food. The truth is that I love food and the company I have around food. Call me an addict, call me a foodie it doesn't matter. The point is I find it difficult to be around all the food and not sample it. I was the only large one in the family so the rest never had the same issues I had with grazing and weight gain. The smells are enticing and even though I am not hungry.... I still want to sample/snack (head hunger). How can I attend this gathering and not be bothered by the food at 2 weeks post op? I am seriously thinking about not going but I was given some nasty looks by family. Only 1 knows I had the surgery and the others think I had surgery for a hernia (wanted to avoid judgement). Any help is appreciated.

Hi I'm a year and 5 months out. I was wondering did anyone go through this thing of gaining 5 lbs and then lose it after a week or two? Then back again.....

When i first went to the surgeon I went for a consult on the band. She informed me that she was actually taking out more bands tthan she is putting in, but this is for her patients around the 5 year mark. They are experincing problems with continued weight loss, band issues and health complications believed to have been created from the band. She said that if the patient had increased weight gain after removal or at time of removal, was closer to an unhealthy BMI than a healthy one, most insurances were approving the sleeve. Hopefully yours will do the same and it will be smooth so that you can continue on your way.

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.

MeginNola, I had not thought of creating my own protein drink for myself. I think I might give that a try too as I have all of your suggested ingredients at home! I have been creating a protein shake on the recommendation of a coach for my son that he loves. It is milk, a little vanilla ice cream, peanut butter and banana. I would NEVER drink that of course, since it does not fit in with my nutrition goals, but for a football player who is working out all the time and trying to fuel his muscle and weight gain it is perfect, and much cheaper than my shake mix!

Good insight! A lot of times we too easily dismiss bad times as the overall cause of our weight gain. I know it is a series of bad events that got me down and kept me there. Here's to bashing that bitch depression!!

I posted this same set of questions, nearly identical, a month back and only got a few responses, most of which said it is no problem, but none of those people still had a lot to lose like me (and you) do, I still have about 40 lbs to lose. I have one non-VSG friend who had her GB removed and she blames everything on it, her weight gains, her getting sick more often, everything.

I was diagnosed in Feb. 2009 with prostate cancer, 13 biopsy grabs, all came back positive. I was put on Lupron, the testosterone killer, and subjected to 49 external beam radiation treatments, steroids, and chemo through the rest of the year. The tests did not indicate any spreading and my psa went down to 0.0001. I gain 60 pounds during that short time due to Lupron and steroids, my eating did not change, went down if anything. My psa has slowly risen through the years, now at 0.4, quite under the normal.. My chemo doctor says the rise is normal due to the prostate healing itself after the radiation. My urologist, whom I affectionately call "Dr. Doom", is betting on the cancer returning. He is wanting to put me on Lupron again, more hot flashes, tiredness, achiness, crankiness, hot flashes, night sweats, and most important, weight gain. I am resisting, believing in the chemo doctor. I have lost 60 pounds since my sleeving and feel great. I have no symptoms of cancer; urinary problems, pain, etc. I have 50 pounds to go. I do not want to get fat again and keep my heart and general health at risk for the small chance that the cancer is returning . So I am opting for no further treatment at this time. Any of you folks have any experience with prostate or other cancer combined with sleeving?

I'm 5 feet and weight 260 (BMI 51). I have sleep apnea, high blood pressure, achey knees, etc. My family history of heart conditions, obesity, and cancer on my father's side is not good. Five out of the seven children in his family have died of cancer. I somehow managed to get myself right in line to be just like him. I know that for me, this is medically necessary. I know it will almost immediately improve my health. I know that my children (ages 10 and 14) will have me around longer and that I will enjoy doing more things with them. I know I NEED to do this. But I am so scared. I'm not scared of the surgery itself but the long-term "living with the sleeve forever". What's it like five or ten years from now. Is there still satisfaction from eating so little? Is there weight gain. Is everyone still as happy as they were when they lost the first 100? Looking for a little support I guess. Thanks,

So one week out. Going back to work tonight. Have to do a couple weeks of GRAVEYARD yuck!! I feel fine. I have hypothyroidism. I am hungry all the time though. I have to admit I cheated a little and had some cottage cheese and mashed potatoes. I'm supposed to wait another week but the liquids aren't cutting it. No pain really. A slight bubbly feeling sometimes that feels like I have a leak or something but proBably just internal rumblings cause I'm not sick no fever etc. I'm a police dispatcher so no physical hard work. I'm more in pain about working graveyard then over my surgery. Well thanks everyone for being so candid on here. It helps me allot to see I'm where I need to be and what's ahead. I had lost 100lbs naturally 6 years ago. Kept if off for 5 years had $30,000 worth of tummy tucks boob job face lift then gained it all back from emotional eating. I don't want to fight this fight anymore. I hope this is the end if my battle and that the weight gain didn't completely ruin all this plastic surgery I already did.

Ok, I've been good. I've tried to give myself some time, but now I'm just pissed and about to lose my **** with this sleeve revision. I had the band Sept of 2010. Piece of crap it was. I lost a grand total of 20 when all was said and done. Sliming, weight gain, misery- many of you know the deal. Fast forward to July 9th. The Crapband was evicted from my torso. Gone, never to be seen again. Along with it, a good chunk of my stomach. All was fine and dandy the first two weeks. I went from 217 to 203. Whoo Hoo! Yeah, I know a lot of that was Water, but who cares. But from that point on it's been completely disappointing. The past 9 weeks I have only lost 8-9 pounds. Yes, that is 1 f'ing pound a week on average. Are you kidding me?!!! No, I am not eating sugar, junk, etc. Yes, I am eating loads of Protein. I am not dehydrated. I'm not sitting on my butt all day. I go to physical therapy 3 times a week at a gym for a killer workout to get me back in shape for ski season. My muscles are showing the results of the hard work. I'm active beyond that. I walk. My blood sugar is perfect and my thyroid is allegedly fine(although my family history with it is horrible). What the hell am I supposed to do? This isn't at stall, this is a full stop. I have lost more weight on my own doing Weight Watchers or Atkins! I can not for the life of me figure out how I can be eating 1/4 of the calories that I used to and exercising more and lose a measly 1 pound a week. Am I really that pathetic? My surgeon has basically written me off after two surgeries. I get the same questions each time I go in. I think he is waiting for me to fess up to something so he can bust me, but I have nothing to confess! I don't even feel the need to go back to his office anymore. His solution was to prescribe me Phentramine. I seem to get no where with him, nor my Endocrinologist who should have some better insight into my obviously messed up metabolism. I keep reading the July Sleevers thread and I seem to be literally 50% behind (or more) everyone else in weight loss. Next Monday will be 12 weeks and I will be at maybe 23-24 pounds down. I can't imagine that many others have had this poor of a result, not once, but twice, band included. I would love to hear from anyone who is/has been in my situation. I need some guidance here. This is beyond me wanting to whine. I am past whining. I am pissed off. I have something wrong with me that is preventing me from really losing weight. The past few days I have been starving and eating a lot more than usual. It's not 'head hunger', but growling stomach, light headed, give me food now hunger.

OMG!!! I have thought for years that I am some sort of freak b/c i have male-patterned facial and body hair and couldn't lose weight no matter what I tried. I didn't realize that my now-becoming-irregular periods are also a symptom of PCOS due to chronic weight gain. I am crying like a baby while sitting here typing this message b/c I have been so down on myself for so long and so very frustrated at all the medical personnel who just perscribed a cream for the facial hair and told me to just "lose weight." I am going to a new dr. on April 14 to discuss my PCOS concerns. I WILL NOT SIT BY ANY LONGER FEELING LIKE A SUB-HUMAN b/c of my size and excess hair. Thank you so very much for making me feel not so alone:)

Thanks everyone. I don't see my Dr. Until 2 weeks post op so that's the 27th for me. They had advised me not to weigh myself at home because of the weight gain in the hospital from everything they pushed into me. I am excited to see the numbers when it happens. I notice my face slimming out and my collar bone is more prominent.

So... I'm following my eating plan and exercising a bit less than usual. I got on the scale today and have gained 2lbs in 2 weeks. The first gain since surger. I just happen to have a horrible UTI... not responding to antibiotics and causeing me all sorts of trouble. I assume there is some inflamation with this. Do you guys think this could be the gain? thanks stacey

Sounds like excellent advice. I guess I just have to settle down and really understand my new body. When Monday comes, I'm sticking to the mushy stuff and the Doc says I can have real chewy type food after about a month. I get the slider aspect and I suspect that is what leads to weight gain, right? I mean milkshakes, pudding, etc...those calories can really add up fast. Thanks again for the calming words and the warning. S

Hi, I decided to add to my last thread Water. Still I have only dropped 15 lbs now (just gained back 5 despite everything I'm doing right) since surgery on June 26th. My question to any of you in the know is: What anti-anxiety, depression meds will NOT cause weight gain? What meds that treat mania / manic episodes, will NOT cause weight gain? Please do not write to me and tell me 'as long as your mentally healthy, who cares if weight loss is slow?' Being fat makes you depressed and triggerse depression and mania as well - so, even if I'm not having mild swings, I am totally down and hate myself because I'm fat. I want to treat both diseases - obesity AND bi-polar. I've been recommended Abilify, what else is out there that anyone here has tried?