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I was diagnosed with PCOS in October 1996 and have a number of surgeries, medications and a long line of other treatments for this disease. I too struggled with having a regular period and went almost completely absent of any menstruation for 4.5 years. When it came time for me to try and get pregnant there was a lot of discussion about IVF, but my Reproductive Endocrinologist gave me an injection of Ovidrel and I became pregnant 2 weeks later! I had the band implanted in October 2005 and it has its pros and cons. I have lost approximately 40 pounds since then and it has assisted in controlling my weight gain since I became pregnant. Fortunately, I am 21 weeks pregnant and I have only gained 6 pounds. I have had a number of complications over the last year and a half from the band, but overall I am glad that I did it. I would happy to talk more with you about any of these topics if you are interested. :Banane43: Ms. Jaime Z. Banded: October 27, 2005 Lost to date: 40 lbs. Current fill level: 1.5 cc (Was 2 cc before pregnancy)

Gummie, sounds like your husband has a little passive-aggressive thing going with his weight. Do you think he might be trying to punish you for losing weight? Some guys do get insecure when their wives do something to make themselves more attractive, so instead of trying to make himself more attractive he does the opposite. Then he can blame you if anything happens to your marriage, because you couldn't put up with his weight gain even though he stayed with you when you were heavy. I'm just doing some totally untrained and probably misguided psychoanalysis on him, and could be way off base. Anyway, I don't think you can really do anything to stop him other than go on with your life, avoid any enabling behavior, and don't let him see he is getting to you. He may straighten out if he sees you are happier and healthier without the extra weight, but still not about to leave him. You can't talk him into doing anything about his weight; he needs to decide himself that he would be better off without it. By the way, you don't need to be 100 lb overweight for a lap band that I know of. Is that your doctor's rule or your insurance's guideline?

Thanks do you think it’s to late if I have messed up. I fear I have stretched out my stomach I know it’s only been 3 months but I never thought I have any weight gain especially not this early. However it wasn’t the same scale but I know my clothes fit a little snugger then the week before. I also was on birth control that gave me crazy side affects

Hi folks, Emotional eating is sabotaging my efforts to work with my band. It's got so bad that I made an urgent call to my Dr to get an unfil because I've inflamed the restricted part of my stomach. And in the two weeks of unfil I've put on 14lbs!! Whilst the weight gain is getting me down, I'm more worried about the emotional eating. If I can't get a grip, the operation will have been for nothing - and I could do some serious damage to my body. I've been keeping a journal and I'd say that 95% of my eating is driven by non-hunger. Seriously, it's that bad. books on the subject suggest developing self-nuturing strategies to fill the void instead of using food. Thing is, I can't think of any that are appropriate or offer immediate relief. It's a little difficult to take a relaxing bath when you are at work, or mediate when family are demanding things. Any ideas or strategies I could use to control or lessen my emotional eating drives?

I hate having to make this post but I'm concerned and need some advice because I don't know what to say or do. I got my surgery done back in December and I've been doing great, since starting this journey I've lost over 60 pounds. However I'm worried about my husband. See, when we started dating (we were teenagers) he was somewhere between normal weight and underweight. Very skinny. In the last 4 years (since I found out I was pregnant 4 years ago) he has gained about 40-45 pounds. He says that his metabolism just isn't what it use to be anymore and that he thinks about food all the time. He doesn't take a lunch to work and when he comes home he overeats on foods that aren't good for him. He wakes up in the middle of the night to eat too. He says he cant sleep if he doesn't eat something. If I don't finish my meal or if my daughter doesn't finish her meal, he eats it in addition to his meal. Now I don't eat the same types of foods he eats. He buys the foods he wants but he will eat dinner when I make it. That's the only meal we actually eat together. I don't want to see him go through what I went through with the weight gain. It's a horrible thing to go through. Right now he is in the 'overweight' category but I feel like if he keeps treading down this path its not going to help any. If I say I am going to make such and such for dinner he always says to make sure I make enough. Example: His idea of enough is a 2 pound steak, of which I am only eating less than 3 ounces of and so is my daughter. He will eat the rest. If I don't make "enough" food (according to his idea of enough food is) he gets upset and says "what the heck am I going to do with that? I'm not a child" referring to the portion size, which is an average portion size for an adult. How do I talk to him? what do I say? He is extremely stubborn and set in his ways. I've already said to him that I don't want him to go through what I did with weight gain because I know how it is and it's a horrible thing to go through. He just sat there and listened but didn't say anything.

By the way, Wow you have done fantastic at this program. You deserve all the credit for your hard work. The weight loss is fast. It's going to take your mind time to catch up to your physical changes. If you feel a counselor might help you work through this..I say go for it. Yes, I've had the same experience not seeing myself correctly. People that haven't had a drastic drop in weight won't be able to understand how this messes with your mind. I still have the fear of weight gain. I keep it as a reminder to stay on track. The work never stops after goal.

The band is designed to work best with solid food. Things such as meat, chicken , fish, vegetables etc. These do not break down too easily and pass through the band slower therefore increasing the amount of time until you get hungry again. If you have too much Fluid in your band it becomes very difficult and uncomfortable to eat foods such as these so generally a person will start eating foods that go down easier.Foods that are liquid, smooth, dissolve in the mouth etc. These are termed sliders as they go down easily.Think chocolate, biscuits(cookies), crackers, nuts, custard, icecream, mushy foods etc. As well as going down easily they are generally high calorie and they do not satisfy you for very long. What happens is a vicious circle. The person thinks they are not tight enough so they go for fill after fill after fill. They are able to eat less solid foods and they eat more sliders. The person still feels hungry between meals and they are gaining or not losing weight so they think they need another fill and so the problem gets worse. Too tight leads to weight gain, reflux, slips, erosions and all sorts of problems. A lot of the reason that people get too tight is because they are chasing a mythical "sweet spot" or "restriction" . They have read about it many times and think that just 1 more fill will put them in that magical place where they can eat next to nothing and never be hungry and never want chocolate. That place doesn't exist. Each fill makes a difference. Some great, some slight. It is important to recognise and work with each one. HTH and that I haven't confused you too much

Honestly no one here can give you the best answer, the first person that replied is the one to go with - See your doc and discuss it with them, overall the thing that is the main issue is stretching of the pouch from carbonation which can lead to weight gain so why risk that? For me I have it in my mind that if I take one sip I'm going to have it all foam up in my throat and I'll be in severe pain, that's probably not true but for me it's good to think that way lol.

The stats he is quoting is from the early days of the Band when it was just approved. I totally remember the study and the discussions it caused on the Bandster boards. This was probably 2002 or so. I think you need to go with the operation you are comfortable with. Ask yourself, if I was to lose 50-60% of my Excess Weight, would that make a big difference in my quality of life?? The good and bad thing about the Band is its adjustability. You need to get regular fills... and may always need a bit of tweaking (due to permeability of the Band... they now recommend having your Fluid checked every 6 months during maintenance.) So, if this doc is not going to be pro-Band, and help you with your fills and such, you need to find another doc. Not one who is going to say... "Are you sure you don't want me to convert you to an RNY?" I really think that each operation is great for different people. I think you'll get the best advice from surgeons who perform all of the operations--RNY, Lap-Band, DS, and VSG. Who don't have a stake one way or the other. My Lap-Band doc was Dr. Rumbaut. At the time, pre-FDA approval, he'd done thousands of Bands. He has a Band himself. But he also does the RNY and says that it is a better choice for some people. I would try consulting with a pro-Band doctor as well... and see what the experience is like. And then, make your decision. I need to disagree with this... being a long-term Bandster. I know quite a few people who had to have their Bands unfilled due to reflux issues. If they refill, they will have those problems again. BUT, for whatever reason, they're not willing to have their Bands removed. So... in theory that's correct, but in practice, not always. Let's see what I can find for you that's more recent: Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2007 Jan-Feb;3(1):42-50; discussion 50-1. Links Comparative study between laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding and laparoscopic gastric bypass: single-institution, 5-year experience in bariatric surgery. * Jan JC, * Hong D, * Bardaro SJ, * July LV, * Patterson EJ. Oregon Weight Loss Surgery, LLC, Legacy Health System, Portland, Oregon 97210, USA. BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) are common surgical procedures for morbid obesity. Few single-institution studies have compared LRYGB and LAGB. METHODS: All patients underwent LRYGB or LAGB at Legacy Health System. The data for the study were obtained from a prospectively maintained database. Preoperatively, most patients were allowed to choose between LRYGB and LAGB. Age, gender, body mass index, complications, mortality, and weight loss were examined. RESULTS: From October 2000 to October 2005, 492 patients underwent LRYGB and 406 patients underwent LAGB. The mean age was 44 +/- 10 and 47 +/- 11 years, respectively (P <.001). The mean preoperative body mass index was 49 +/- 8 and 51 +/- 9 kg/m(2) (P <.05). Patients undergoing LRYGB had longer operative times (134 +/- 41 min versus 68 +/- 26 min, P <.001) and longer hospital stays (2.5 +/- 3.5 d versus 1.1 +/- 1.1 d, P <.001). Blood loss was minimal in both groups. The percentage of excess weight loss was significantly better for patients who underwent LRYGB at all points of follow-up, except at 5 years. Total complications occurred in 32% of patients who underwent LRYGB and 24% of patients who underwent LAGB (P = .002). The 90-day mortality rate was .2% in both groups. The reoperation rate was the same (17%) in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing LAGB had shorter operative times and shorter hospital stays compared with patients undergoing LRYGB. LAGB was associated with a lower complication rate. Early weight loss was significantly greater after LRYGB, but the data comparing long-term weight loss after LRYGB and LAGB have been inconclusive. PMID: 17241936 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2007 Mar-Apr;3(2):127-32. Epub 2007 Feb 27. Links Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding versus Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: 5-year results of a prospective randomized trial. * Angrisani L, * Lorenzo M, * Borrelli V. S. Giovanni Bosco Hospital, Naples, Italy. BACKGROUND: To perform a prospective, randomized comparison of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) and laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB). METHODS: LAGB, using the pars flaccida technique, and standard LRYGB were performed. From January 2000 to November 2000, 51 patients (mean age 34.0 +/- 8.9 years, range 20-49) were randomly allocated to undergo either LAGB (n = 27, 5 men and 22 women, mean age 33.3 years, mean weight 120 kg, mean body mass index [bMI] 43.4 kg/m(2); percentage of excess weight loss 83.8%) or LRYGB (n = 24, 4 men and 20 women, mean age 34.7, mean weight 120 kg, mean BMI 43.8 kg/m(2), percentage of excess weight loss 83.3). Data on the operative time, complications, reoperations with hospital stay, weight, BMI, percentage of excess weight loss, and co-morbidities were collected yearly. Failure was considered a BMI of >35 at 5 years postoperatively. The data were analyzed using Student's t test and Fisher's exact test, with P <.05 considered significant. RESULTS: The mean operative time was 60 +/- 20 minutes for the LAGB group and 220 +/- 100 minutes for the LRYGB group (P <.001). One patient in the LAGB group was lost to follow-up. No patient died. Conversion to laparotomy was performed in 1 (4.2%) of 24 LRYGB patients because of a posterior leak of the gastrojejunal anastomosis. Reoperations were required in 4 (15.2%) of 26 LAGB patients, 2 because of gastric pouch dilation and 2 because of unsatisfactory weight loss. One of these patients required conversion to biliopancreatic diversion; the remaining 3 patients were on the waiting list for LRYGB. Reoperations were required in 3 (12.5%) of the 24 LRYGB patients, and each was because of a potentially lethal complication. No LAGB patient required reoperation because of an early complication. Of the 27 LAGB patients, 3 had hypertension and 1 had sleep apnea. Of the 24 LRYGB patients, 2 had hyperlipemia, 1 had hypertension, and 1 had type 2 diabetes. Five years after surgery, the diabetes, sleep apnea, and hyperlipemia had resolved. At the 5-year (range 60-66 months) follow-up visit, the LRYGB patients had significantly lower weight and BMI and a greater percentage of excess weight loss than did the LAGB patients. Weight loss failure (BMI >35 kg/m(2) at 5 yr) was observed in 9 (34.6%) of 26 LAGB patients and in 1 (4.2%) of 24 LRYGB patients (P <.001). Of the 26 patients in the LAGB group and 24 in the LRYGB group, 3 (11.5%) and 15 (62.5%) had a BMI of <30 kg/m(2), respectively (P <.001). CONCLUSION: The results of our study have shown that LRYGB results in better weight loss and a reduced number of failures compared with LAGB, despite the significantly longer operative time and life-threatening complications. PMID: 17331805 [PubMed - in process] Obes Surg. 2003 Jun;13(3):427-34. Links Comment in: Obes Surg. 2003 Dec;13(6):965. Outcome after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding - 8 years experience. * Weiner R, * Blanco-Engert R, * Weiner S, * Matkowitz R, * Schaefer L, * Pomhoff I. Krankhenhaus Sachsenhausen, Frankfurt Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery, Section of Bariatric Surgery, Germany. rweiner@khs-ffm.de BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) has been our choice operation for morbid obesity since 1994. Despite a long list of publications about the LAGB during recent years, the evidence with regard to long-term weight loss after LAGB has been rather sparse. The outcome of the first 100 patients and the total number of 984 LAGB procedures were evaluated. METHODS: 984 consecutive patients (82.5% female) underwent LAGB. Initial body weight was 132.2 +/- 23.9 SD kg and body mass index (BMI) was 46.8 +/- 7.2 kg/m(2). Mean age was 37.9 (18-65). Retrogastric placement was performed in 577 patients up to June 1998. Thereafter, the pars flaccida to perigastric (two-step technique) was used in the following 407 patients. RESULTS: Mortality and conversion rates were 0. Follow-up of the first 100 patients has been 97% and ranges in the following years between 95% and 100% (mean 97.2%). Median follow-up of the first 100 patients who were available for follow-up was 98.9 months (8.24 years). Median follow-up of all patients was 55.5 months (range 99-1). Early complications were 1 gastric perforation after previous hiatal surgery and 1 gastric slippage (band was removed). All complications were seen during the first 100 procedures. Late complications of the first 100 cases included 17 slippages requiring reinterventions during the following years; total rate of slippage decreased later to 3.7%. Mean excess weight loss was 59.3% after 8 years, if patients with band loss are excluded. BMI dropped from 46.8 to 32.3 kg/m(2). 5 patients of the first 100 LAGB had the band removed, followed by weight gain; 3 of the 5 patients underwent laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGBP) with successful weight loss after the redo-surgery. 14 patients were switched to a "banded" LRYGBP and 2 patients to a LRYGBP during 2001-2002. The quality of life indices were still improved in 82% of the first 100 patients. The percentages of good and excellent results were at the highest level at 2 years after LAGB (92%). CONCLUSIONS: LAGB is safe, with a lower complication rate than other bariatric operations. Reoperations can be performed laparoscopically with low morbidity and short hospitalizations. The LAGB seems to be the basic bariatric procedure, which can be switched laparoscopically to combined bariatric procedures if treatment fails. After the learning curve of the surgeon, results are markedly improved. On the basis of 8 years long-term follow-up, it is an effective procedure. PMID: 12841906 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

I am or I was between 2 programs. The nutritionist I was seeing, on my last visit, tried to convince me the band was now working despite being unfilled and why would I want a revision?? I was slightly ticked since I have had weight gain, SEVERE reflux, dilatation and a slipped band. I was dumbstruck! Why would I change my mind now that I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!!! If I have to go back to school myself, I will teach myself what I need to know nutritionally speaking.

Hi Everyone, I had my surgery 3 years ago, I had about 110 pounds that I wanted to lose, I went down 55 pounds in about 6 months and the last time I went to her (my surgeon) I gained a pound and she yelled at me.:thumbdown:...(i'm probably old enough to be her mother!! anyway after that, I didn't go back. so I am really mad at myself, I stalled right there and then slowly started to put weight back on, now with i've gained 20 pounds. So now it's back to the old feelings how stupid i am, I can't believe I'm doing this again (the old I'll start eating right on Monday!!! Remember that one, and the other one is no more sweets after that cake is gone....It is totally my fault, i'm a sweet eater, I have never been sick after eating sweets, and i'm always sick after eating any meat at all, so instead of a soft or crunchy diet I eat sweets...that was always my problem and it still is. I went to my regular doctor, (she shoots right off the hip, if you know what I mean) so she looks at the weight gain and says "so I guess the lapband didn't work for you, now what are you going to try" I told her that i'm so sick of my weight gain and loss, that I just don't want to talk about it anymore. And I gained the last 10 pounds since Thanksgiving, and I can only say that this is all my fault, all the old insecurities and hating myself for being so weak are here with me in full force. Something kind of good happened, a friend of mine recently had lapband surgery and when I talk to her, she is so excited and so thrilled, she has me thinking about changing....notice I said thinking:confused: What is up with me!!! I'm hoping some of her excitement will rub off on me:unsure: So please don't think i'm whinning oh poor me, I know this is totally my fault and I just wanted to write it down in case someone is in the same boat and needed to know that they are not alone. nanadi1118:frown:

Wow, six months!! I've lost 40 pounds and am officially in ONEderland!! I've still been wearing my big clothes because I haven't wanted to buy any clothes yet and too scared to try on any of my old clothes that I could no longer wear because of my weight gain. Well I tried on some size 16 pants and they were too BIG!!! So I ventured to try on a pair of 14 pants that I had buried in the back of my closet...I could get into them but they were a little snug. But SOON!! I think the working out will take me to the next level and push me into losing more weight. I've been working out but no consistently. So I need to plan on working out at 3 to 4 days a week minimum...but finding the time is so hard. With 4 kids, working, husband out of town 90% of the time...but I have to find a way!!

I need help. I am 3 years out having had the vertical sleeve surgery February 2013. I went from 220 lbs to 134 at my lowest weight. I felt amazing! I fluctuated from 135 to 140 and that was fine by me but over the past year my weight is now around 154 lbs. I'm hungry and overeat all the time. Don't get me wrong, I'm miserable after I eat that much but I have continued to over eat. If anyone can tell me how to get back on track I would deeply appreciate it. Thank you for any information you can provide. Sincerely, Linda H.

You are doing the exact right things! You are noticing the little weight gain and trying to figure out what to with that....I don't know about you, but I rarely did that when I was 200+ lbs.....I just thought it was a lb or two, and I did that every year for 25 years, so 50 lbs later (on top of being a heavy to begin with got me to 223). Thin people have a little fun, indulge a little bit like we do as veterans, but like them, we must say....whoa boy, a couple of lbs; I need to cut back for a few days or work out a little harder at the gym and get them off. For me, I do the 5:2 fasting (basically you eat 500 calories or less 2 days a week). But when I don't do that, I at least do two days a week where I call it my NO COOKIE, NO WINE DAY). Don't freak out....just try to think like a thin person; and you are! You will be just fine. Don't go back....that other place 2 years ago was not fun....I don't know you, but I know it wasn't fun. You may want to read my last post on my blog to help inspire you to move forward. I have gotten lots of comments from people that have told me it was very encouraging to them. Just click on the link below and good luck!

I want to thank you for starting this thread. It is a reminder to stay vigilant. I am 18 months out and learning maintenance. Relatives whisper about me saying "when is she going to stop". They don't mean losing weight. They mean going to the gym and watching my intake. They don't understand that the answer to that is never. Exercise and mindful eating has to be a way of life or I won't keep the weight off. This is a chronic disease and the treatment is vigilance and there is no cure. In answer to another question about how strict to be from the beginning regarding carbs, exercise, etc, I think that will be very dependent on the individual. Some people need to be vey strict. One bad bite will trigger cravings. Other people need a splurge once in a while or are in danger of having a "blow up" For my part I decided that no food is off limits to me if I track it. I refuse to feel guilt. I have learned from tracking what my patterns are and what can trigger cravings or weight gain. Does that always keep me in line. Well no but it's a start. I also don't freak out if I don't get my four days a week in the gym. Life happens and I get there the next time I can. But I also do allow wimpy excuses like I used to. Again thanks for starting this thread. I am only 18 months out but I am hoping in 5 years I will still be within 10-15 pounds of this weight. Ideally the same weight but I am practical. In any case it will take work.

I will try to answer all of your questions the best I can. I had my surgery - the RNY in May of 2004. At the time of my surgery I was just over 220 pounds. My lowest weight after surgery was 124, but truth be told, this only lasted like part of the day. My weight slowly settled at 135 and remained that way until around 2008. At this time, I began noticing a slight weight gain, in fact I remember gaining g to 138 and family members mentioning that it looked like I was gaining. I will say for the first two years or so after surgery I was very strict and cognizant of what I ate, how much I ate, was completely obsessed with the scale, and was working out at the gym like a crack head. My motivation was just very strong...this tended to dwindle as years progressed. I have noticed that I just got complacent...lazy with it all...probably because the success initially was so amazing. I never thought I would encounter issues. It was not until I noticed I was able to eat different foods, and start to tolerate some carbs that problems began...this should been an obvious red flag...but it wasn't. (So foolish on my part) I cant say I got worried, probably because in my head my initial goal was just to be between 140-150 as I thought this was a great weight. As time went on, I believe it was at a doctors appointment my weight was 141, some concern but not great concern. It wasn't until a year later in 2009 that I went to 150 and then immediately got my butt in gear and started running. Wouldn't you know it, I lost weight and was right back down to 140 in roughly a months time. I believe since 2009 a lot of my accomplishments I began to take for granted. I got married after surgery, which initially prior to surgery I never thought I would meet a man who would love me enough. I moved up in rank, completed some tactical schools that most thought I would not be able to do...and some other personal goals were achieved along the way. Ok so how did I get to where I am now...I simply just gave up. So I am going back to the very very basics...protein, Protein shakes...and working out...I am making sure I remain accountable and am tracking my efforts and I am avoiding nearly all carbs, no snacking and no sugar.....This site has been a great tool for me as well.

Glad to see some people back after hiatus. I think we all offer something unique... Weight gain is very personal ....and it is different to be so open about weight loss. Keep posting. We are all wanting better lives for ourselves and our families.

Funny that this is the first post I found while searching lap band info. I suffer from sleep apnea and apparently have my entire life without knowing. The more weight I gained, the worse it had gotten. I had a stroke in March of 2007. It took the neurologist 8 months and 80+ lbs until he sent me for a sleep study, last resort to find out what was going on. I am only 38, which they found to be unusual for a stroke. Anyway, the sleep apnea made me feel absolutely horrible but I never realized I had it. (During sleep study one I quit breathing 158 times per hour) - Once diagnosed and put on a CPAP I feel incredible, except for the weight I have gained along the way. I met with my Ob/Gyn this morning and he made me an appointment with a local surgeon who is well respected and does thousands of lap band and gastric bypass surgeries..........I have never been heavy until the stroke. The undiagnosed sleep apnea, medications, inactivity for a lengthy period and my eating habits for several months after the stroke (dysphagia) lead to an incredible weight gain. I am NEW to this board (so hello to everyone) and am looking to have the Lap Band procedure done. I am such a chicken but know that I need help getting the weight off.

1st Mistake: Not Taking Vitamins, supplements, or Minerals Every WLS patient has specific nutritional needs depending on the type of surgery you have had. Not only is it a good idea to ask your surgeon for guidelines, but also consult with an experienced WLS nutritionist. Understand there is not a standard practice that all surgeons and nutritionists follow in guiding WLS patients. So, it is important to do your own research, get your lab tests done regularly, and learn how to read the results. Some conditions and symptoms that can occur when you are deficient in vitamins, supplements, or minerals include: Osteoporosis; pernicious anemia; muscle spasms; high blood pressure; burning tongue; fatigue; loss of appetite; weakness; constipation and diarrhea; numbness and tingling in the hands and feet; being tired, lethargic, or dizzy; forgetfulness, and lowered immune functioning. Keep in mind, too, that some conditions caused by not taking your vitamins, supplements, or minerals are irreversible. 2nd Mistake: Assuming You Have Been Cured of Your Obesity A "pink cloud" or honeymoon experience is common following WLS. When you are feeling better than you have in years, and the weight is coming off easily, it's hard to imagine you will ever struggle again. But unfortunately, it is very common for WLS patients to not lose to their goal weight or to regain some of their weight back. A small weight regain may be normal, but huge gains usually can be avoided with support, education, effort, and careful attention to living a healthy WLS lifestyle. For most WLSers, if you don't change what you've always done, you're going to keep getting what you've always gotten -- even after weight loss surgery. 3rd Mistake: Drinking with Meals Yes, it's hard for some people to avoid drinking with meals, but the tool of not drinking with meals is a critical key to long-term success. If you drink while you eat, your food washes out of your stomach much more quickly, you can eat more, you get hungry sooner, and you are at more risk for snacking. Being too hungry is much more likely to lead to poor food choices and/or overeating. 4th Mistake: Not Eating Right Of course everyone should eat right, but in this society eating right is a challenge. You have to make it as easy on yourself as possible. Eat all your meals--don't skip. Don't keep unhealthy food in sight where it will call to you all the time. Try to feed yourself at regular intervals so that you aren't as tempted to make a poor choice. And consider having a couple of absolutes: for example, avoid fried foods completely, avoid sugary foods, always use low-fat options, or only eat in a restaurant once a week. Choose your "absolutes" based on your trigger foods and your self knowledge about what foods and/or situations are problematic for you. 5th Mistake: Not Drinking Enough Water Most WLS patients are at risk for dehydration. Drinking a minimum of 64 oz. of water per day will help you avoid this risk. Adequate water intake will also help you flush out your system as you lose weight and avoid kidney stones. Drinking enough water helps with your weight loss, too. 6th Mistake: Grazing Many people who have had WLS regret that they ever started grazing, which is nibbling small amounts here and there over the course of the day. It's one thing to eat the three to five small meals you and your doctor agree you need. It's something else altogether when you start to graze, eating any number of unplanned Snacks. Grazing can easily make your weight creep up. Eating enough at meal time, and eating planned snacks when necessary, will help you resist grazing. Make a plan for what you will do when you crave food, but are not truly hungry. For example, take up a hobby to keep your hands busy or call on someone in your support group for encouragement. 7th Mistake: Not Exercising Regularly Exercise is one of the best weapons a WLS patient has to fight weight regain. Not only does exercise boost your spirits, it is a great way to keep your metabolism running strong. When you exercise, you build muscle. The more muscle you have, the more calories your body will burn, even at rest! 8th Mistake: Eating the Wrong Carbs (or Eating Too Much) Let's face it, refined carbohydrates are addictive. If you eat refined carbohydrates they will make you crave more refined carbohydrates. There are plenty of complex carbohydrates to choose from, which have beneficial vitamins. For example, if you can handle pastas, try whole grain Kamut pasta--in moderation, of course. (Kamut Pasta doesn't have the flavor some people find unpleasant in the whole wheat pastas.) Try using your complex carbohydrates as "condiments," rather than as the center point of your meal. Try sprinkling a tablespoon of brown rice on your stir-fried meat and veggies. 9th Mistake: Going Back to Drinking Soda Drinking soda is controversial in WLS circles. Some people claim soda stretches your stomach or pouch. What we know it does is keep you from getting the hydration your body requires after WLS--because when you're drinking soda, you're not drinking water! In addition, diet soda has been connected to weight gain in the general population. The best thing you can do is find other, healthier drinks to fall in love with. They are out there. 10th Mistake: Drinking Alcohol If you drank alcohol before surgery, you are likely to want to resume drinking alcohol following surgery. Most surgeons recommend waiting one year after surgery. And it is in your best interest to understand the consequences of drinking alcohol before you do it. Alcohol is connected with weight regain, because alcohol has 7 calories per gram, while Protein and vegetables have 4 calories per gram. Also, some people develop an addiction to alcohol after WLS, so be very cautious. Depending on your type of WLS, you may get drunker, quicker after surgery, which can cause health problems and put you in dangerous situations. If you think you have a drinking problem, get help right away. Putting off stopping drinking doesn't make it any easier, and could make you a lot sicker[/b]

I am 5 weeks post-op, and twice now I have experienced 3-5 lb weight GAINS. The first time was random, and it really upset me. The second time was after I hurt my back and was basically immobile for 3 days as well as taking (liquid) pain meds (hydrocodone). It is very frustrating, especially when I think that I have only lost 20 lbs (+/-) total since surgery, at a time where I thought my numbers would be much higher. Is this typical?? Right now, I just got down to 1 lb BELOW the last 5 lb gain (so I lost 6 lbs, verrry slowly) and now I'm up almost 2 lbs. IT'S SO FRUSTRATING!! Especially when I don't know if anyone has ever experienced such a strange phenomena. I can't call my regular doc since they are closed for the holidays. I have to admit, I am not exercising (because of my back issues, in tandem with the stress of the holidays), and I'm hoping that this, in conjunction with my choosing high carb items (baked potato Soup, cheese soup, noodles, etc) has something to do with it. Please tell me that this is actually what the problem is, so that I can begin that rapid downward scoop that I was looking for pre-surgery!! Or, am I just expecting too much, and should I be happy with my weight loss to date? I began at 245 which is comparatively low for GSS patients, in general (I'm told). Could that be it?? I'm just stumped, and frustrated.

i went back to oral contraceptives. it remains a good option for me since I still have some form of PCOS (but it's fading quickly according to bloodwork and ultrasound!). my surgeon warned me to avoid Depo because of the potential weight gain with it, and ultimately left it up to my OB-Gyn who helped me make an informed decision.

Maggie, do you journal or blog? I started one with my pre-op diet. It keeps me focused. This link, is my first post during my vacation, we spent a week exploring the Northeast before we got on the ship. This link,is from when I returned. Like you, I did not get my first fill until I returned from a 3 wk vacation. I gained a couple pounds, but lost it in no time with the band. I took another 3wk vacations this past April, I gained a couple pounds in lost it in the first week I returned. I really think the weight gain is from all the extra salt in the foods.:thumbup:

Congratulations on your weight loss!! The same determination you had when you had the surgery, can help you get back to your goal weight. I have heard that if you start to gain weight trying the Stage 1 diet (liquid/protein shakes)for a week can help to get you back on course. I applaud you taking control of your weight gain now, because if you are like me 20 will become 40 if you don't do something about it. Keep us posted on your progress :-)

How many weeks between your last fill? I was doing 3 weeks but it will be 4 weeks this round. You may still be in the yellow zone. Share your concerns and see if they can be aggressive with the amount of your fill. I had 2 CCs primed at surgery and then 2 CCs at 3 weeks, but ONLY 1 CC at the last fill. I'm hoping that I get at least another 1 CC [hopefully 2 CCs] on Mar 4. Have you been monitoring or having feeling challenged with your food intake? Sometimes, it may be that the body is plateauing and just needs a jump start to get back to the losing weight. But, when you think about it, a 2 week plateau is miniscule compared to the years of weight gain. Plus, look at it as a VICTORY++++....YOu haven't gained weight. Patience. Be well...

I'll bite and say that after I found out my Mom had terminal cancer, I went into a tail spin of depression and anxiety. Yes, depression meds can cause weight gain - but 5 pounds of weight gain. My depression/anxiety (which I'm still medi cated and in therapy for) may have helped my weight gain but 95% of it was me eating cheap convenient meals. It wasn't so much fast food as frozen carb loaded dinners and pizza/chinese delivery. I will probably have to take meds my whole life. And maybe they'll cause me to have a lower metabolism. But that just means I have to work harder and eat smarter. We made excuses to the point of morbid obesity. So, I'm done with excuses - even if there is a slight (note slight) bit of reality to antidepressants causing weight gain.