Search the Community

Hi Heather- I have been reading this post and wanted to say that I hear your dilema. I was first banded in 2006 and it worked like a charm. I was very happy and lost weight...until........I started having reflux like I couldn't believe!! I was waking up in the middle of the night and I couldn't catch my breath! My throat was burning! It was aweful! Finally after having fluid removed little by little I had an xray that revealed a slip. First step was to remove all the fluid to see if band would move itself back. It didn't. That was the beginning of my dreaded weight gain! The dr.'s answer was to give me a new band. In 2009 I got new band and things just haven't been the same. It's not the same band, but supposedly a new & improved band. I just know its a bigger band that has taken a lot more adjustments for fills. (Funny at the time of getting second band my dr. mentioned a sleeve, but I had no idea what it was) I have gained almost all of my weight back and I am totally discourage & depressed by my new band. I am seriously considering talking to my dr. about a sleeve. From what I gather it people seem to be really happy with it. I am sure there are some drawbacks, although I haven't heard any of them. But keep talking to your doctor and others. Take your time in making your decision then you can be sure you will make the best decision for you! I wish you the best of luck & keep us posted!

So, I mentioned a few days ago that I had the big 24 week checkup today for little Miss Tatum and myself for the pregnancy and stated I would post an upate for those that have been following our progress in the pregnancy. While I understand this is not the pregnancy forum, this is my home, I do not post regularly on the pregnancy forum because it's just you guys so that's my purpose for sharing here, and for any other mommies-to-be post-VSGers that have questions of concerns. Thus far, we are both thriving. She is weighing about 8-10oz heavier than what she should. My labs have remained stellar in regards to metabolic panels, CBC and all Vitamin levels. The clotting disorder is being managed by the aspiring therapy. My platelet functions, and numbers have stabilized and with this update, I will be able to have an epidural for the c-section rather than having to undergo general anesthesia. I have officially gained 18-19lbs at this point, and every one of my doctors from my surgeon to both of my ob's are elated, and think I am doing fabulous in that department. Admittedly, I am not working out, exercising, walking, or doing any more or less activities than I was pre-pregnancy. I am probably going to start swimming a couple of times a week because I am having hip pain due to the weight distrubution to my belly, and it's throwing everything off. Today, was the glucose test appointment. However, after much discussion, my ob decided to err on the side of caution and have me do at-home glucose testing at home for 2 weeks. I will poke myself 4 times daily after my largest meals of the day, and then log my numbers for 2 solid weeks. This will determine my gestational diabetes status. For those not familiar with glucose tolerance testing, I would have to chug a shot of icky Fluid that consists of 75gr of sugar in one whack, on most days, I never even consume that much sugar throughout the entire day. My ob called my surgeon discussed with him the best action plan and this is what they've come up with for my case. Sleeve patients can indeed do the standard test. The issue is transit time due to the shape of the stomach. The liquid goes in, hits the pylorus and empties into the intestine. There is no big tummy for it to sit in and seep through slowly. So, the results could be skewed, or wrong. Least to say, while I am not excited about poking myself, I am very grateful that my medical team is doing the very, very best to make sure my body is not suffering through this pregnancy. The main concern is that Tatum is a chunky baby already so that is a sign of early gestational diabetes. As for all the other stuff. I've still had very few issues with the pregnancy. My main complaint is hip pain. I've dealt with the weight regain, and while it still messes with my head, I'm better today than I was a month ago. Tatum is extremely active, kicks my bladder around 5am every morning, and she gets extremely active after I eat super spicy food. She also is not a fan of electronic devices being put on my tummy, she kicks off the remote, and cordless house phone which amazes my husband. The ob's typically have to chase her around for a good heartbeat count, and ultrasounds have been tricky to say the least. I don't have new pictures of Tatum, but will on the 28th, and then I have a 3d scan scheduled for August 8th so we'll have more pictures at that time. Here are my 2 most recent pictures of the ever growing baby bump which is now impossible to conceal. She's way up high, and sometimes I feel a foot moving up into my abdominal cavity. She stretches a lot, and I can see little alien baby movements under my skin which is pretty cool considering I could not see that with my 1st pregnancy because I was too fat to see anything except fat rolls. Main physical changes noted to date: Way bigger Boobies again YAY YAY, obvious HUGE Belly. My butt is still narrow, but kind of gotten a bit round, my hips have gotten a bit wider with the weight gain. My face, and neck are still thin, as are my arms and legs. 22 weeks (2 weeks ago) 24 weeks (just a couple of days ago) Ignore the funky wrinkles along my back. These maternity pants are too big, and the panel is only mid-rise so it bunches up everywhere hence the funky patterned shirt in attempts to hide it.

You're not going to stretch out your sleeve. My recommendation is to start snacking on more complex carbs, and Protein based foods. You can not cut carbs in pregnancy. It is not possible because being in ketosis will cause fetal brain damage and can lead to defects, and pre-term labor/stillbirths. So, DO not cut carbs, but get on a good eating plan. My instructions are to at 1700-1800 calories a day with 100gr of protein, a minimum of 100-200gr of carbs (can be any form of carbs, but preferably complex carbs), and 100oz of water/clear fluids per day. Depending on your early pregnancy weight (like around 6-8 weeks pregnancy weight), that will determine your caloric intake. For me at 131lbs, they put me on the above requirements. I am projected to gain 30-35 pounds in the pregnancy, and at 24.5 weeks pregnant, I've the 18-19lb gain already. My surgeon and ob's are both elated with my gain and due to my low body fat percentage, they are not concerned with my weight gain. Weight regain sucks. I hate it, but it's getting better for me mentally. As for getting things under control, you're just going to have to tweak your intake. Pack veggies and ranch dip for a snack, or cheese and whole wheat crackers. Start choosing healthier options. Don't forget just because we have lost weight doesn't make us any less of a risk for gestational diabetes and gaining too much weight too fast in the pregnancy can contribute to that issue. I'm going through testing at this point for gestational diabetes and it's not because I've gained too much, but it's because Tatum is weighing 8-10oz heavier than she should at this point. Good luck with the pregnancy, push fluids, take your Vitamins, and have your labs monitored carefully.

Just read the article on weight regain. interesting but the samples are very small -- 26 in one study and 41 in another. I believe one had 96 patients but that is still pretty small to generalize to the total population of vsg patients. Also mean EWL is just the arithmetic average. Some people would be lower and some would be higher than the percentage they present. In a small sample, one or two "deviant" people with huge weight gain could throw off the mean. Using a median (50% above it; 50% below it) might be more meaningful as a middle point. Hard to know without seeing the entire database. As one of the formerly super obese people they mention in the article, at least this is a sign to me to be really vigilant forever about what I put in my mouth. Water, healthy eating, and exercise is a way of life during and after weigh loss and I imagine a lot of people slow down on those, hence the weight gain.

Kristie-- I am soooo with you. I stumbled accross the lapband forum maybe 3 years back and didn't have the 7500 ( at the time for it)... Then of course, I thought, nah, Nutrisystem is the way to go. Never works though! I always fall back into weight gain, and gain MORE. So, I'm with you. Good for saving up for Aceves. It'd take me years to do that - haha (Im a single mom ) so I gotta go with Almanza. Anyways, hang in there. Ladies, we will all be hot soon!

The Depo shot is notorious for weight gain. Can your doctor put you on something else? I would go see your surgeon and tell them your situation. Then they can suggest the best course of action. Good luck, and hopefully you can get off that Depo!

I beg to differ. I'd say that emotion eating and addiction play the biggest part in weight gain. I know several people who eat only healthy foods but way too much of them. It is okay to enjoy ALL foods in moderation. If fastfood is a trigger for you (mine is sodas) then stay away from it. Make the best choices you can and understand that treats, like fastfood, are just that. They are not everyday food.

I wanted to tell everyone that i had my surgery on June 29.. i had some weight gain. 4 lbs between week 2 and 3... it totally defies the laws of physics! am just a little discouraged about that but i know it cant last. I think im doing what im suppose to and never go over 1200 calories a day. but so far i feel like a new person already and a ton more enerygy then i had in 20 years. i hope this keeps going like this.

Untreated hypothyroidism can definitely cause weight gain. I gained 40 pounds in 6 months from mine being out of control. You need to make sure your surgeon sees your lab results. I'm assuming they started you on thyroid meds right? Take them daily. It may take a while but after a few weeks you should start seeing a difference. If your surgeon continues to act like an @ss then you should try and find another one. Your surgeon shouldn't be demeaning you like that.

Every good story starts like this "Well, you see, what had happened was... If only weight loss and gain,and loss and gain, and ..well you get it, was such an easy story to tell! So for me what happened was life. You see, I'm a southern girl. To say that food is a big part of my life is an understatement. I consider myself an eastern North Carolina BBQ expert! I have driven across the state of North Carolina charting my course around the best BBQ restaurants in the state more than once! My mother could out-cook Paula Deen any day (now that's the truth!) My grandmothers probably created every recipe in the Southern Living cookbook collection! Genetically, I am pre-programed to cook (and eat) all that is delicious!!! When we have a pot luck at work everyone wants to know what I made- It's guaranteed to be good. Did I mention I make custom cakes "on the side"? People love my cooking! It's been a blessing and a curse all my life. I wasn't overweight in high school,but the potential was there! Like most women my weight gain began after having kids. I gained 75 pounds with baby #1, lost most of it fairly easily (I was only 20). Baby #2, I was more careful with that pregnancy, I exercised regularly and only gained 18 lbs! Lost my best friend to breast cancer a year later and ate my weight in "friendship bread" (a delicious cake for those who aren't familiar with friendship bread, make sure you NEVER eat it!!) over the next few months - From September to January I had gained 60 pounds!!! I woke up one morning (literally) and looked at myself in the mirror and didn't know it was me. I was actually startled when I saw myself that day. I decided I had to do something, so I just started walking. Everyday I walked at least a mile or two, slowly I began to jog and then run. I lost 65 pounds over the next year. I ate nothing white- no sugar, no white flour, white pasta, white rice, white bread. If it was white or prepackaged I didn't touch it. I lived like this for about 4 years. If I would slip off my program, I would quickly catch myself and get back on track. I exercised daily , sometimes twice a day. No cake at birthday parties, no splurging during the holiday's, I stayed on a tight leash. At my smallest I was still overweight by 15-20 pounds. I was happy enough with my fitness level, my size and weight but I had to follow my program to a "T". If I slipped I could gain 5 pounds overnight. I got pregnant with baby #3 at 29 years old. I gained too much weight (60 lbs), and it was so much harder to lose than it was when I had my first two babies. I had so much pain in my feet I could hardly walk some days. Found out I had plantar fasciitis in both feet- OUCH! I needed to exercise, but my feet hurt so bad I couldn't, so I didn't. I slowly began slipping back into bad eating habits. For me sugar is the devil, so are carbs- love that white stuff!! Once I start I can't quit, it's like crack! lol!! I didn't want to go back "there" again so I once again tried to get back on track.I took almost a year. I went back to my program, started exercising again. I was feeling great again. I went through a few changes in my career over the next few years, finally going to work for the government in 2008. I was excited about the new job, but had no idea how much different sitting a desk would be. I had never worked a desk job before. Over the last three years my weight has steadily increased. I have gained over 50 lbs. in the last 3 years. I was already overweight when I started there, I've tried to control it but it has gotten so far out of control it's not even funny. In the last three years I have: begun taking two blood pressure pills daily, sleeping pills for my insomnia, prilosec for my reflux, naproxen for my other aches and pains and I can't tie my shoes with out cutting of my oxygen supply! I have to stop in between flights of stairs, I am chapped and chaffed in places I shouldn't be, even my rolls now have rolls. I've taken diet pills, every fad diet there is, spent hundreds (maybe thousands) on pills, supplements, exercise equipment and DVD workouts. Well, I just can't do it anymore. I can't wake up at 4 am, dirve the van for the van pool, work all day for some arrogant SOB, make dinner for my family when I get home at 5pm. Clean up ,check homework, take care of a house and give my husband and my kids the attention they deserve. Food has become my comfort,even though it is the cause of my misery. I'm sick of having no energy, no drive and no interest. I am tired of being tired and I want to be myself again. I have set a terrible example for my sons and I've finally decided that enough is enough! So.....on July 29th (just 12 days from today!) I am having VSG! I know it will be hard , but it will be worth it to have my life back. Some people won't understand, some will think I took the easy way out, some may even be jealous. i just don't have time to care about what anyone may think about my decision. Either they will support me or they wont. Please, wish me luck as I do the rest of you. I need all the support I can get, especially at those family gatherings with my own "Paula" and her fabulous meals! I think her feelings are gonna' be hurt when I can't eat her cookin' any more! She'll just have to get over it now won't she?

Thanks for sharing your personal stories everyone. I have a slippage and am angry right now. I started having problems at the end of last summer. I couldn't eat anything and was throwing up everyday. I had a upper GI fluoroscopy and was told I was fine. I wanted all the liquid taken out for a few months to let my system recover, but said no that I should just have some liquid taken out. I listen to my doctor for fear of gaining weight (which he said would happen guarantee) and only had 1 cc taken out. He's a doctor and I'm not, he should know best. However, I made it clear I had stomach aches and something didn't feel right with a list of my symptoms. I have been to 3-4 visits these past few months and each time is i was unfilled a little bit, so I felt better. Now my band is in the middle of my stomach instead of at the top it has been slipping slowly for the last 9 months. I should have listen to my gut instinct. My timeline: -2 1/2 years with the band (lost 70 lbs total) -First 6 months not much weightless, higher filled each doctor visit -6 to 17 months lost weight -1.5 years with the band had my first problem -Went through a year of lower adjustments and now need surgery -This past year no major weight loss or weight gain (3-9 lbs up and down) Whoever is reading this, I'm not pro or anti-band right now... I am angry and scared. I don't want to have another surgery. I have less than a week to make up my mind and don't know if I should have the band removed or repositioned. I have no answers or insights just questions. Good luck to all who are having problems and hope we each come to the conclusion that is best for each one of us. Any more info, studies or advise, please keep sharing.

Well Your elbow is exercising to your mouth ! Stop doing that ! you could really hurt yourself..... You have to heel first ! Did you do this to lose weight, or just see if you could beat this thing down, "the Band" and just do what you want. That's not what this is about. You have guidelines your Dr. gave you. Stick to them ! We all had to, so your not alone. What do you think your surgeon would say if he/she knew what you were doing? I'm sure you have a appointment to see your surgeon, and what do you think that he is going to think when he sees WEIGHT GAIN! You have a job to do for yourself, Quit testing, and playing, and do your research, and job. For now,,, Walking is good.

You have been through a lot! And we all go for comfort when that happens.... now you are "coming too" and starting back on the right trail. Just think about it, before the sleeve, those 53 days of staying the same would have been 20 pounds of weight gain! At least it would have been for me.... so back on the horse, and head in the right direction... its NOT too late. Stock up on treats you CAN have, sf pudding, cheese sticks... or whatever you like in that department. You can still enjoy life without sabotaging your progress. Good luck!

Hey girlies, so glad you remembered me lol xxx. I wouldnt mind Scooby if i had been eating loads, I could deal with the weight gain, but it seems I have to eat hardly anything and not drink much either to lose. I will go for a little fill in August to take me back to near starvation, but I didnty reaLLY FEEL HUNGRY, IT WAS JUsT THE ACID REFLUX THAT CRIPPLED ME. oops sorry about the caps. Then in December I am going to have some taken out again like last year, family says I was starting to look drawn and ill, so maybe I'll be better next time around, I think maybe if I just lose about 21 pounds that will do me. Anyway enough about me, well done hunny on your 4stone loss, its really hard I know when you've got restriction, you have to re-think every mouthful, but hey it works!!!. Sarah well done you on going back to have the repair, I hope you werent charged? I only go to Freddyboy or Chris for my fills, they are both so good, and I trust them both completely. You'll soon be falling down grids lol. Take care of you. xxx Laila, its awful that damn nighttime reflux, but Freddy told me after a small de-fill, that if I left it for a month and then went back and had the bit put back in it would give my oesophagus chance to mend the inflamation, and it was quite correct, so dont despair, or m,aybe just about the money lol. Ask for a reduction, cos its not reqlly fair is it. Chris gave me a reduction to 60 euros when I had the last de-fill. And Freddyboy has even taken some out for free!!. Well girlies, nobody mentioned Jo Jo so I guess I have to wait till she replies. speak soon xxx

I was banded on 6/17 and lost a total of 21 lbs from pre op diet to 1 week after surgery. I am 4 weeks post op and have noticed a 2 lb weight gain in the past 2 weeks. Why is this? I gained weight moving from liquid phase to mushie phase. It's Frustrating! When do I really start losing?

I think salads just slip right past the band. Try eating a hamburger or a sandwich from Subway or something that has a bit more substance. Chew slowly and thoroughly of course That should fill you up. If it doesn't, or if it makes you sick, you need to talk to your doctor. You may want to talk to the doc anyway because sudden weight gain may be a sign of problems with the band. Remember that 50 pounds is a real accomplishment! Keep working at it and you will lose more.

Ok, so I have been wanting to go on the pill for like forever now, lol, but have just kept putting it off. Hubby and I are using another form of birth control but I want to go back on the pill to regulate my period again. My period has been irregular for 20 years. I was on the pill before two different time, but never really stayed on it long enough to finally get regular. This time I would really like to, but I know it can cause weight gain. Is that something I need to be worried about? I wanted to go on the pill a few months ago, but figured with upcoming surgery and the risk of blod clots after surgery and the fact that the pill makes you more suseptable, I figured I would hold off. I know it probably seems silly, but if I am getting a surgery to help me loose weight, the last thing I want to do is to slow it down! Anyone have any insight or ideas? Should I wait till I loose my weight? Will it even matter? Thanks everyone!

1. I want my energy back. I am so sick of being exhausted after cleaning ONE room in my house! 2: I want to feel and be healthier, withour the threat of weight related conditions hanging precariously above my head. 3. I want to be able to play with my kids while they are still young enough to WANT to play with mom n dad 4. I want to live and long happy life and see my grandkids and play with them too! 5: I want to be able to get out in the world and do all the things I used to love to do but can't anymore because of weight getting in the way (like hiking!) 6. I want to get rid of my pesky PCOS problem which both contributed to my weight gain and is worsened by it, the worse it gets the more I gain.Its a vicious cycle I want to END! 7. I want to eat to live! 8. I want to be able to look in the mirror and LIKE what I see! 9. I want to go to the store and have more options on clothing, and NOT have to buy things that look like they were made for a 96 year old woman who doesn't like things that don't have a stretchy waist. 10. I want to regain the confidence I had when I was younger and thinner. I started getting self- conscious around the 200 mark.. my personal goal is 180 my docs goal is 150, I am okay with being slightly chubby, as long as I am healthy and happy 11. I want my weight to stop running my life, *I* want to run my life and LIVE it to the fullest 12. This is silly, I know, but I want to be able to sit on hubby's lap and not worry I will break his legs or something. Its so simple and yet so depressing to fear that your weight will hurt your loved ones I could come up with more but you said 12 so I will stop there. Thanks for posting! I have been considering WLS but now that I made a list of all the things that I want that WLS can give me, I am more sure now than ever that I am on the right path. There is just something about saying/writing it all out that really puts it in perspective, you know?

It's been a while, I hadn't blogged because there hasn't been much to report. I did receive my second fill today and I have lost an additional seven pounds since my last fill less than four weeks ago. My realistic loss was a little more because I had some additional retention from that "TOM". I guess my self-expectations are higher than what's realistic, I know we all think that what we've lost isn't good enough, and I have to continually check myself on not negating my progress. It's hard work! The portion controls, stopping yourself from completely indulging in a meal that you're enjoying, sacrificing your time by going to the gym and keeping in mind that you've invested some major buckaroos in attaining these goals. I'm grateful that I haven't experienced the stuck feeling, the slimming, or the episodes of pain from eating too fast or eating the wrong things altogether. I've pretty much been able to eat what I want without deprivation or restriction, but I have learned the art of grazing on those things that are the most appetizing to me. One or two bites and it's enough to satisfy that craving or curiosity. I am a workout fanatic, I love participating in spin class, lifting weights, riding my mountain bike and doing some type of High Intensity Circuit Training, because of that I have seen a difference in inches loss and total fat percentage decrease. This week has been a bit of a struggle because of my "not-so-friendly" monthly visitor, so I hope I can bounce back next week and reach my goal of working out twice daily (wish me luck). Another thing, I spoke to my PA today and I asked her about combining the lap band with the HCG injections and diet. I had actually invested 600 bucks on the program before I decided to get the Lapband. I have a vial left and she said that the diet acceptable for the protocol, but to not be discouraged if I experience a sudden loss and then later an uptick in weight gain. So I'm still trying to decide whether or not I want to do the protocol for about 20 days to jumpstart my loss (we're talking 20lbs in 20 days). I'll keep you guys posted on my progress. I did get a B12 injection today (included with the HCG program that I had paid for in the Spring) and it's supposed to increase my energy and help to efficiently metabolize fat. I did take them once a week last year, and I could tell a significant difference in my overall energy level and weight loss. I know I'm kinda long winded tonight, I'm completely relaxed as I sit here sipping on my Apple Martini! Good Night All Happy Travels, Kymberly

Hi everyone! It's been a while since I posted on here. But I noticed that since I have been prego (13 weeks 5 days now) that ALL of my bad old habits have creeped back in and I have gained so far a fluctuating 8-10 lbs depending on the day. And I want to nip this in the bud before I get out of control. I have decent restriction (if you will), I can eat about a cup sometimes slightly more with less dense foods, but I want to eat all day! like more then 6-8 times a day, not enough water and more carbs too. I did get to goal 4 months before I was prego. I haven't been exercising either. There are a lot of "reasons" I can give as to why I am so far off the program (cravings, morning sickness, death in the family/depression, ragging hormones ect.), but the fact of the matter is I need to get a reality check on this before I get out of hand. I am excited to be prego, but also scared-of weight gain (at least excessive all be it this is my 3rd baby and the first two I gained 25-30lbs and I was already over weight with both of them) and scared of stretching out my sleeve...

Different med's have have different effects on weight loss or weight gain. And they also effect every one differently too. Just talk with your doctor about your concerns about gaining weight from the change in meds. be sure to weight yourself when you start taking the new drug so you will have a true idea if you have gained anything. Just don't worry if your weight gains by a pound or two.

I can identify to a degree, I recently finished a six month course of 5 FU for rectal cancer. I have begun refilling because six weeks out hunger has picked up enormously. My.fill doc was reluctant because I lost a fair bit of weight through surgery, radiation and chemo but I yelled and screamed a bit - I am aftetall in the normal weight range, it is my body and my business how much I wish to weigh and she herself said everyone gains when unfilled! Coming back to this now I'm on my computer and not my phone, I'll add this: I did find everything tasted disgusting, but for me, that led to me not wanting to eat rather than eating and eating trying to find something normal tasting. I was also so conscious of being unfilled that I was extremely careful and actually lost TOO much weight. I really became quite afraid of food for a while there. I was pretty nauseous too so that had an effect. I think you've done pretty well, weight gain on breast cancer chemo treatments is well documented and can be pretty significant and very hard to shift, so you've contained it pretty damn well. the bad taste went away for me immediately chemo finished, wish I could say the same for the aching sore knees, shoulders and hips - I feel like I'm about 80 these days. I've started refilling my band as I mentioned, but it doesnt feel anything like the same as it did the first time round, I've got way less restriction than I had. I'm not too concerned, since I did a pretty good job of keepign the weight off whilst being unfilled for 8 months and I have to leave it anyway because I'm having another surgery next week and I dont really want to be tight at that point, but its what I feared - once you start mucking round with your band filling and unfilling, it can be hard to get back to where you were. Cancer sucks, its not fair and you shouldnt have to face these problems but we do and have to just accept that and do the best that you can in the circumstances. And dont be hard on yourself over a small weight gain.

Im feeling for you! I have read that it is between years 3-6 where people have the most weight gain. Hang in there! Does Protein first help you? How many cups of food can you eat at one setting at this time? Still drinking all your Water? Good luck....I am only at 6 months, and can eat about twice as much as in the beginning...

Within the last couple of months, I was having a lot of problems with sliming/ everything getting stuck/ and feeling just down right awful! I tried to eat smaller bites and chew my foods very slowly and wait 30 seconds before my next bite of food. Well, nothing was working for me. I had some fluid taken out almost 4 months prior so I was so afraid of losing my restriction. Therefore, I continued to endure with the sliming and every single thing placed in my mouth getting stuck. I was getting so depressed because the band is a tool that befriends you in the weight lost process, but I was not getting that return from my band. Therefore, I knew I had to make some quick decisions because the constant throwing up was starting to effect my esophagus due the acid reflux I was experiencing. I went in last week and had some fluid removed from my band. I was brought down from 4.8cc to 4.2cc. I felt instant relief and yes- I am not as tight but that was my problem. I did some research and when the band is implanted- there is only an opening about the size of an ink pen opening for foods and drink to travel through. That's why we are told to eat small bites of food and to drink fluids slowly to prevent things from getting stuck and to endure long periods of pain and suffering. Therefore, when the band is too tight it makes things that much more difficult to allow foods/drinks to go down properly. I still have decent restriction without all the uncomfortable drama (sliming/ throwing up/ acid reflux and pain)! Therefore, I have learned it's not all about how much saline is in the band, but the ability to use the band as the tool it was designed to be. I am much happier with some fluid being removed than I was having the band tighter than it should have been. Also remember, when your band is too tight you will make poor food choices. That means eating slider foods that will cause weight gain and not weight lost. (just a little food for thougth)! I am almost at my one year mark as of July 21st with only 4.2 ccs in my 10cc band. but my band is working as a friend and not a foe! I have a tendency to want everything to happen quickly, but slow and easy works better for me. If anyone is experiencing a lot of sliming, throwing up, daily episodes of food and drinks getting stuck, you may consider having a little fluid removed and allowing your band a time period to heal from the entire trauma episode it's experienced. I am starting to love and befriend my band all over again! I am definitely a work in progress. Thanks for listening and supporting me through it all. My wonderful band family!

I've battled since I was a kid with my weight. It seems like my entire life has been a diet roller coaster and I just want to be healthy and live a long life for myself and my family. I have finally decided to move forward with having the gastric sleeve surgery-not a light decision to be made to say the least. I've thought about it for about a 1 and a half now and made myself wait and try to diet and exercise just ONE more time about 5 months ago before reaching the decision to have the surgery. There have been a few times in my life where I was driven or made to be physically fit and those times were successful for me. I look back on them and realize that I didn't let food rule me and I was quite active as well. I want that ME back so badly that I feel like I need to do something extreme and permanent to make it happen. What I didn't realize when I was a young kid, teenager and after having my first child is that I wasn't obese or even fat like I'd been led to believe, even though I saw myself as overweight. As a kid I was really just a normal kid with a mother who constantly badgered about weight which in turn gave me a huge complex that at 34 years of age I'm still experiencing. Only now, the overweightness is a fact. As a teenager I was active-never a skinny minny , but I enjoyed sports and was thrilled when I became a cheerleader for my junior year just by wanting to do it and trying hard. After highschool my diet wasn't the best, but I managed to join the military right before entering into a weight bracket that wouldn't be accepted. I did it to motivate and better myself. When I say a weight bracket that wouldn't be accepted for my height and build I mean I was literally one pound away from the "un-accepted" category, so still not extreme at this point in my life either....150 was my weight. But....mentally felt like I was 30 pounds overweight. Now that I look back on this moment in my life I realize I needed to pick back up on exercise and I'd have been just fine. Well, bootcamp did that for me without an issue:) I was lean, sexy and super fit for the first time in my life and I loved my body. I got married soon after bootcamp-and got pregnant during the honeymoon! Yay....on came the weight. I gained 91 pounds with my first son. Lost down to 185 after I had him and felt like the biggest cow ever-stretch marks included. Again, I look back and think-what the heck was your problem girlfriend? You looked great and just needed to exercise and eat right to be fit and lose about 30 pounds. At this point in my life my mother was back in the picture and had harped my entire pregnancy on my weight gain (several times a week during my pregnancy I hear her thoughts on my progress) and thereafter too. Not good for moral-and it didn't help that we lived with my parents for the last trimester and a few weeks after the birth of my son as I transitioned out of the military. I kept the weight (dieting a few times and losing about 15 or 20 pds) for about 3 1/2 years before deciding to have my second child. The first delivery was hard because of the weight gain and inactiviity and I knew that I wanted to do better for myself and my body and went on a very healthy weight watchers diet and exercise regime to lose the weight before getting pregant again. I was successful! Lost the weight, got pregnant, gained a decent 50 pounds and considering I exercised until the last month I was quite proud of my success. After having him it took me about a year to get "fine" again. And wouldn't you know it-I can't think of one single word of encouragement from my mom during my "fine" times....just sayin. It wasn't until he was 3 years old that I started gaining weight back again. I let a few pounds come on during the holidays around 8 or so and still thought I looked great.....then a few more....then a few more....before I knew it I was at 187 and looking in the mirror still thinking it's ok you can get it together....then a few more....a few more.... a few more....I just lost the will to keep on the diet lifestyle and 4 years later I'm at 242.2. I'm starting to feel it take a toll on my health too. T ype 2 diabetes, high cholesterol a double chin that I hate and just generally longing for so much more than this. Of course my mother's been at me strong for the last two years-she took a break when I got the nerve to tell her to be be quite about it already a few years ago. I've tried 3 or 4 times in the past year, (starting to lose count) to diet and exercise and will lose 15 or 20 pounds and then I quit the changes gradually and get back where I started. I want permanent changes and I can't think of what else to do other than the gastric sleeve. I'm at the end of my rope so to speak and have firmly decided to go through with this.