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Question: - won't going off the steroids and going low carb reverse the weight gain, especially if you already do portion control? How long have you been at this high weight? What will you do for the back pain without the steroids?

Hi, I am a 15yr RNY veteran and wondering if there is anyone else here like me. I haven't been so good for years and just started vitamins again and all the cells in my body woke up. I have Covid weight gain can't wait to get my shot and just go say hi to folks!

:laugh:: Yours truly, has never blogged but has decided to do it to stay on track, TWO years ago, I had the lap band put into me. I lost so quick and was on track (very happy camper...lol). I went for my mamo and they told me that I had cancer..well the running around and the depression you feel is indescribable. At the time from the pressure, I started having some real health issues and my child needed me desperately to advocate for him in school. omg...it turned out that running for tests..showed that I had cancer...then the fools tried to take a biopsy and then they could not find it... then they take another xray..there is the cancer...then they get the surgeon.. he makes the hospital pre-op tests..then he gets looks at the tests...get a MRi ...great I am clastophobic...soooooo...I find an open MRI..wait again months for appointment..scared to death...and they can not get the color dye in me because my viens did not work..so the DR from that MRI came in and said..YOUR VAINS are the pits and we cannot do this...but I will personally review your xrays and have other doctors look...he at least said ..months of not knowing could kill a person..thanked him... a few days later he told the surgeon ..no way did I have cancer. MY has made me take the mamo again 6 months later...and when he saw that I was really in distress (go to his office and they can not find my mamos) he did his checking allowing sit in a chair, I think I upset him when he saw how much they had tortured me (it was the months of not knowing) BUT he knew since he had seen me so much at the hospital that I had gained some of the weight that I had so proudly LOST Well, I always did eat the little amounts but did stretch my stomach with large drinks and did NOT have the time or desire to exercise. At time during this period of life, I did forget to eat BUT worse is not to drink the water. Finally, I saw myself in a full mirror at the mall and was shocked to see me and my friend following me (:scared2:my boodie :laugh: ) SSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOOO:thumbup: I called my surgeon and went back for a fill. Thank god my lap band did not slip (tested) and already have lost five pounds. I would have gone back earlier:thumbup: BUT SIL made me feel very ashamed :thumbup: since I have been back...and filled...I realise that I did come back with some weight gain but I probably (honestly :confused: could have been 400 lbs) so now I am really happy and hang up on my SIL who is a nut :tongue: I am glad that I am back and can not weight to see and enjoy being without that extra fluff. I will see my Dr. Pucci on the 18th of September and pray that I will be down to 275lbs. I did invest in the QVC Dvds by Richard Simmons but will restart them today after handing out our temples telephone directories to members. I also was told to keep a log of what is going in:drool: the nutritionist said that I needed 65-70 grams of protein. Wish me a successful day :biggrin: Laura

So this past weekend I ate real healthy and I gained two lbs by tuesday morning. After a bad tuesday i ate bad tuesday night and this morning i woke up to having lost the weight gained and also having lost another two pounds. I dont fet it!

"Ditto" to almost everthing said here . Mine is a little different in that I spent many years in a mental institution for depression, cutting, completely unbalanced for being molested between 2 thru 14. It was physical and emotional abuse and family members doing the molesting but I put on weight conciously so I wouldn't be attractive to anyone. Then after 20 years of hospitals and doctors got diagnosed with bipolar disorder rapid cycling. I didn't care what I looked like I was in a very deep abyss. Me nothing...my family....well...they were there but I wasn't mostly mindfully but alot of hospitalizations. After the diagnosis a few years down the line I couldn't get over my depression it was severe. I had shock treatments over 25 in under a 2 year span. I began to make progress I was on many pills. I woke up to an obese person I didn't recognize and didn't want. I had a family that was still with me that I did want. So along with getting mentally healthy I tried many times to do the same with my weight but by that time I was in a habit of eating whatever and that is hard to break. I've reached nice goals and I started liking myself a little better but then would gain the weight back. Thus the band...health reasons first but weight loss and hopefully no regain second. So that is where I'm at. I have 50 lbs to go til goal and I'm looking forward to it like a beacon in the night....but it turns into daytime and I seem to lose my way. So slow and steady and readjusting my thinking and motivation and trying to do this with weight gaining pills, diabetes, low thyroid and a host of other problems...like depression and self loathing. It all keeps coming back at the wrong times or should I say just too damned often. My journey is no different than any of yours we all ended up about the same place but by different paths. I'm doing better mentally inbetween bouts but I know I look terrible but will feel better when reaching goal and with the band help keep myself at that weight and not regain ( hopefully ). Thx for letting me tell my story.

I did a 5 year diet history. Just list the types of diets you did, the dates, the amount of weight gained or lost.

So, on day OF surgery it STILL could get cancelled? This is crazy! I guess I can enjoy eating for another month, lol. I have never in my life purposely tried to GAIN weight, but I guess I better to be safe. This makes NO sense. Isn't the whole purpose to LOSE weight? Thinking back though... I think they told me that I can't show a weight gain either.

I'm definitely not new to what kind of head games can happen with the scale, so I have embedded a lot of this just from how it impacted me whilst dieting. I'm not immune to hopping on the scale daily - I do it right now. I just have my "official" weigh-in once a week that I actually track, and I take the rest of the week with a hefty grain of salt (oh, wait, excess salt may increase my Water weight gain. Hmm, maybe with a grain of salt substitute?). It all comes down to knowing your body's rhythms so you don't get too upset over a short term minor stall or gain. I've fought that demon innumerable times already, and I'm sure I'll do so again, but hopefully will talk myself down before I scream something about the sky falling! I hear you about the weight loss not matching at the weight loss center, though I've become immune to that to some degree. I expect what I see there will likely be about 4 lbs different from what I see at home, between clothes and the fact that my appointments tend to be mid afternoon However, I see the weight loss center far less than my scale at home, so as long as I'm consistent about my weighing habits I will see an accurate assessment of my progress in the long term, and be able to jump on it reasonably quickly if things start going in a bad direction.

I can relate to the life long struggle. I am 38. Just sleeved 1/23/18. Highest weight 322 Surgery weight 290 Current weight 253 Goal weight 150. I have tried so many diets before and been up and down in weight with nothing that really worked for long or with much weight loss in the last 20 years and been so discouraged and just about given up. I have PCOS, thyroid, been on meds that cause weight gain and was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes last year and decided to take the plunge. So glad I made the decision! Before the surgery with the support from the clinic, and making small changes preparing for the surgery I was able to lose 40 lbs. I actually chickened out cancelled my surgery holidays hit and gained 10 lbs back and then rescheduled with more confidence and was ready to do it in January. Within a month I lost another 30 lbs right away! It’s an entire lifestyle change now and I’m never looking back. I physically cannot! My stomach won’t allow it! I look forward to my new life each and every day! No longer show diabetic in my lab work and off four of my meds. Life is good! So worth it! What do you have to lose?

Like you said - it helps keep you hydrated, you aren't taking in as much food and food contains Water so you need to get it from the water. 2 it does help you stay full longer. 3. it helps flush salt from your body, you may not eat a lot, but it doesn't take much to cause water weight gain. The water helps delute the salt and your kidneys flush it out. I have also heard that it helps up your metabolism, but that wasn't from a doctor so I am not so sure I believe it.

My name is Sakoia I am 28 years old, I weigh 262 pounds and I live in the Milwaukee,WI area. On June 30th at an office vist with my pcp I decided to move forward to have LapBand surgery. By having this surgery I know I no longer have to deal with low self-esteem, high blood pressure, depression/anxiety, and other health complications i've faced over time. My weight gain started in 2005 after being in an abusive relationship and being a single mother. But I am now have three beautiful girls and a loving, supportive husband of three years. I now want to move forward in my life by dropping the baggage/weight and be the Sakoia thats trapped inside. I found this community after searching for info on the procedure and I know I will meet postive supporters and find motivition on this journey. I have so many questions about the rules, excerise, excessive skin, the mental change, and much more. I hope to soon find a mentor/buddie that could help me along the way too. Thanks Sakoia

Hi guys, So I had my one week post op appt today and my surgeon was concerned due to my elevated heart rate. It was 115 and he stated they don't want it over 100. He also said I was dehydrated due to not getting in the appropriate 64oz.of fluids which I have honestly been trying but failing miserably. If it wasn't for sugar free popsicles I don't know what I would do. So anyway he proceeds to tell me that I need to cut the fat free and sub for regular when it comes to the popsicles and milk and yogurts,etc because my body needs more nourishment. He said he understood I was trying to work my sleeve but that I may be doing too good...just to give my stats Starting weight he recorded-281 lbs.(highest weight was 297) SW-267.2(lost 14 on pre op Atkins diet) Left hospital-270.3(water weight gain of 3lbs.) 12 days post op-251.0 Total weight loss from surgery =19lbs. in 12 days....overall weight loss =30 lbs. I'm very excited with these results however I do not want to be hospitalized for lack of nourishment. Any advice of what you guys were eating on a daily basis at 2 weeks out with be greatly appreciated. I have looked at other posts but would really love a breakdown of a typical menu for those who are two weeks out. I was approved today to go to purees. Thoughts? Thanks!

At 3 and a half years post op, with nothing in my band, I eat whatever I like. I never maintained a tight fill, because while I liked the idea of losing weight, being ill due to lack of proper nutrition didn't appeal to me. It is true that it is trial and error, but I think by far and away the single most common mistake that is being made is overfilling. By being overfilled you limit the foods that you consume to a very small feild. And by doing so, you make yourself unhappy, frustrated, and likely to rely on soft foods. The result is little weight loss, or weight gain. I know you asked what foods are troublesome for banded folk. But the truth is, nothing should be a problem. You should be able to eat solid foods without discomfort and PB'ing.

So, it has been a while since I have posted anything, but I am in need of some feedback and support. The day before Thanksgiving I became completely blocked and required an emergency unfill. I was freaked out at the thought of no restriction, but was in so much pain that I did not even care at that moment. Now the bad news..... Since my unfill, I have gained 12 pounds!!! :tongue_smilie: And my doctor cannot get me back in for a fill until the 31st and when they do, they will only give me a small fill to start. I have joined Weight Watchers to try to slow down this crazy weight gain, but even sticking 100% to plan, my body is gaining weight. Has anyone bee through this and do you have any suggestions?? Thanks for listening. :tongue:

Ralheit - You lost 60 lbs that is no small feat - it you did it then you can continue to do it and get the rest of the weight off - you just have become complacent You know that you struggle with emotional issues of confidence & esteem that comes with being fat. But you may not know that you could be what are called as an avoider. This is due to the turmoil that comes with public & private dislike for obesity and you avoid confronting your situation at because of the fear of not being able to beat it. Here is how an avoider thinks – once you deviate even slightly from a diet or healthy eating you figure you might as we drop the whole thing – this stars a cycle that avoider can’t find a way out of – We are fat we try to lose weight we deviate just a little we feel rejection for the perceived failure we isolate ourselves from people we stop talking about it, we stop the diet we eat a pound of candy – we get fat then we try to lose weight and the cycle continues Instead of avoiding bad foods avoider tend to want to avoid other things like the people who want to help them and the disciple of trying to eat healthy. Avoiders try to separate themselves from these 2 strong emotion associated with dieting. The minute you ban any food from your diet you are setting yourself up for failure. If you eat half a cookie or a couple of fires from that banned food list – the diet is dead and that’s where the guilt sets in and now you feel that you lack the strength to succeed. This shame spins you back into the cycle of avoidance When you reach an obstacle you decide that instead of trying to find a way around it you might a well turn around and go back to the beginning – four fry’s leads to a handful then the whole bag. One way to handling emotional eating is you live & eat in the now – not being upset about what you are in the past and not obsessing about what you will eat in the future. The very thing that’s designed to help people lose weight is the very thing that promotes this heavier – diets promote the all or nothing mentality. In our lives we allow for a margin of error – which we should also do when trying to eat healthy – if you are eating 1000-1200 calories a day – allow for some of those calories to be used for a little bit of something you really want - you need wiggle room in your diet to make it work – the all or nothing practices has to be thrown our of your mind. You can learn to reprogram your mind to strip away the guilt that comes with dieting. You have to realize that it’s not that the first slice of cake that will doom your diet – it’s the second or third or whole thing that leads to weight gain. You have to listen to your body & respond smartly to your cravings and emotions but over time you will learn how to eat right and mange your craving and that’s when you’ll train your brain to stop obsessing about eating right and punishing yourself – If you stop overthinking you’ll stop over eating.. Go back to making healthy food choices – low fat – sugar free – I personally love WW style of eating – you get everything but it’s all about portion control – see your doc about your band – why are you pbing – eating too fast?? Not Chewing?? Trying to eat the wrong food?? Sweetie you can do this !!! You have proven you can by the 60 lbs loss – you took a little vacation and now it’s time to get back to work…

I was banded on Thursday, April 22 and have followed the post-op diet very strictly, but I have gained about 2 1/2 lbs. :biggrin: I know that this is a time for "healing" not weight loss, but I'm just surprised that I went up a little, rather than down a little. Anyone else experience this? Thanks!

TOM and colds/virus are notorious for affecting restriction. it often follows that the week before and during make it tighter as does any cold etc. i was always like this and now on combined HRT the pattern has stayed the same. On the bright side, i have avoided the weight gain sometimes seen with HRT :thumbup:

I know it's practically a cliche, but stress can physically, LITERALLY block you losing weight, and in fact CAUSE weight gain despite caloric intake/exercise levels. I know you're in a stressful situation in general, can you add in any meditation or Yoga or anything to turn off the adrenals a bit? I just listened to this podcast, says it's only available for 24 hours (from when, I don't know) -- and I had to use a work VPN via a US server to get it to play...but it talks all about how stress and cortisol and adrenal overload impacts weight severely (also causes chronic inflammation and malnutrition, bad digestion, autoimmune symptoms increase, etc.). In case you want to try listening to it... http://mindvalley.on...1503/1378361422 I would definitely not revert to post-op eating, it's not sustainable or healthy over the longer term, which is why we only do it for a short while post-op. I think it's a point in time to lose like that, not that it's healthily do-able in the longer term. You need nutrition and self-care, GT, not to starve yourself.

Carne did gain 50 pounds with her pregnancy! I think this would be a normal weight gain for a lot of pregnancies, and we all know how hard it is to lose weight after having a baby. I think she is wonderful and a great role model. She is REAL! I hope she does lose the excess 40 pounds to prove to the world she can do it! I think my Doctor at my seminar said that Dr. Spiegel in Houston will lapband a gastric bypasser that has gained weight.

Para guard is awesone! It's an IUD and no added hormones or weight gain and it's good for 10 years! Woohoo!

I was banded in 2008 at 433 pounds. For the first two years, the band was like magic, and I lost 200 pounds in 2 years very easily. The next 50 pounds came off much more slowly, with a lot more effort and several long plateaus. But I got down to 178 pounds which although still overweight, is not too bad on my 5'9" frame. My weight fluctuated a bit but always stayed below 200 pounds until about a year and a half ago. My acid reflux started getting really bad and even with prescription acid blockers was still causing me trouble every day. The band was no longer taking away that "head hunger" that was so magical in the first years after the band. My weight started creeping up and up, and when I tried loosening my band to deal with the acid reflux, the weight gain comes on even faster. At the moment I have no fill in my band because I wanted to see how I would do without it. Unfortunately, I am not making the right eating choices. And I have fallen off the exercise bandwagon. This morning, when I stepped on the scale, it said 249! I'm upset and depressed. I feel like the band isn't working for me anymore and I don't know what to do. I don't want to gain this weight back. I'm considering converting to a gastric bypass but would like to give the band one more go. Has anyone had luck getting their band to help them lose weight past the 7+ year mark?

I wanted to throw in an update because just... WOW!!! For MONTHS I've been stressing due to all the swellings, weight gains and whatever else comes with plastic surgery... however - as always with time comes healing and RESULTS!!! Every single day now I'm seeing humungous differences!! I'm over the moon right now, and THANKING EVERYTHING GOOD that I chose the right surgeons. They performed literally miracles for me. I. AM. HAPPY. In the last 4 weeks alone I've dropped NEARLY 15 INCHES off my whole body!!!! YAYAYEEESSSSS!!!!! Picture Updates: carweightintrunk.bmp Source: My Plastics Journey - My first one (of several)

Been reading through a lot of the comments for the past week. I know everyone's situation is different. About 4 years ago I went on the Optifast diet and did the Kaiser diet program. I lost about 40 points overall. I have unfortunately gained it all back. I know beer and inactivity (cubicle job) plays a good role in my weight gain along with snacking after work. From what I have read on here, a lot of doctors require you to go through a weight loss program like Kaisers. I think part of the problem with going to the class I had with the Kaiser program is that I was the only male in the class of 12. I know about portion control and triggers. I really want to plan on having this surgery next year. My insurance (Blue Cross Colorado) will cover the surgery minus my deductible or about $4k out of pocket for the sleeve surgery. I am wondering what other costs I should plan for. I am going to max out my FSA contributions so that most will be taken out of my paycheck. Few questions for the group: 1. What other costs should I anticipate for the surgery both, before and after. 2. What is the average recovery time after the surgery? (Need to schedule this off work.) 3. How soon did you return to work? I know I will have more questions. Need to go to my primary care doctor and let them know I am interested in this program to get the ball rolling I know. Thanks for the help and responses!

Hi everyone, I am 6 months out and have lost 57 lbs so far. (229 to 172) I have been on the mini pill for about 18 months, and it was great my periods had stopped completely. But now they have come back with a vengeance ... So I was looking at other options like the implant or injection... The only thing is I have read a side effect is weight gain. Had anyone any experience of this? I'm after a contraception with stops my period and hopefully doesn't make me pike on the pounds :-(

I was banded on July 22nd and am down 12 pounds since then, WooHoo! My surgeon and nutritionist recommended that I weight myself only once a week except when I get my first fill and start solid foods. My surgeon informed me that getting back to solid foods makes some gain weight and to avoid a huge shock, he recommended I weight myself every other day for a couple of weeks just to keep a good mind set and to be aware of what and how much I'm eating and possibly gaining. After the initial (possible) weight gain then he said to go back to once a week.