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I weigh every day. It keeps me focused. and acts as a gentle daily reminder to file in the back of my head for the rest of the day. I found in past dieting that when I weighed daily, I did better....no kidding myself that having that piece of cake won't make that much difference....and most of the time, it is a positive reinforcer. The thing is, occasional weight gain is inevitable-- Water retention, body chemistry changes, whatever. I have had times when I am eating and taking in liquids perfectly (I keep daily track of all that), and I stay the same weight for days--then all of a sudden, I lose 2 lbs overnight! So please don't get discouraged about occasional weight gain...it's just that if it's on-going, that may take some re-evaluating. Please don't worry about the weight gain right after surgery. My doc said almost everyone does. Your body went through so much, including lots of gas, water retention, etc. You'll feel so much better about everything in a week or two. AND, if you are taking any pain meds, that means constipation! Best of luck to you! I think you will do great!

Hi everyone! I'm from Mobile, AL and I'm considering the Lap Band surgery. I'm 25 years old and have been overweight all of my life. What lead me to the idea of Lap Band is the fact that I have tried diet and exercise and nothing seems to work. Being young of course I've tried the crash diets and the diet pills but where my heartbreak has come in is two separate times in my life when I worked my hardest with hard exercise and saw no results. I am currently divorced but before I got married I spend 3 straight months on a watchful diet but worked out in the gym about 4 days a week, over an hour each time. This included aerobics class, weights, treadmill and cycle. I never saw any results that I thought I would have for that amount of work but I didn't let it bother me. I was getting married to a man that loved me no matter what, right? Fast forward 5 years later. Left me for another woman, same ole sad story. So of course my already non-existent self confidence left-even though she was no beauty queen & was older than I was, it really hurt me. I lost a lot of weight right after I left, which I joking called the "divorce diet" but 3 months later I fell in the yard and got a very, very rare ankle injury. That mixed with a quack of a doctor left me almost unable to walk for over a year so physical activity was impossible. That did nothing but put me in a complete panic about gaining weight. So 3 months ago I saw a new doctor (sadly thanks to my dad breaking his leg & needing 2 metal plates & 7 screws) but there was no way I would allow my mother to take him to the same orthopedic clinic!!! So after they saw the professionalism they asked my dad's dr. to look over my records. He forwarded it on to a surgeon who specializes only with ankle injuries. So on May 24th I had a major surgery that involved removing an entire section of my talus bone and implanting a section of bone & cartilage from a cadaver & screwing it all back together. So from this I have not been allowed to walk for six weeks. Again, panic mode about weight gain. So my point of that was to say that before this surgery I had given up on them finding a solution and decided I was going back to the gym. I didn't care if my ankle hurt because it hurt regardless, even to walk. (Bare in mind I was only able to walk with the help of a leg brace/air cast) But I hit the gym. 4 times a week, around 10 miles the cycle put on random hill (so there was varied resistance) as well as a mile or so on the treadmill at about 3.5 miles an hour w/ slight 2% incline. Lifted arm weights at home, total of 120 lifts a day (I did 6 different arm exercises, 10 reps each exercise but did this twice a day). I cut out all soda, starting drinking Water (almost no diet drinks due to preservatives), ate amazing (I can't eat veggies because they make me vomit) but ate nothing fried, went to GNC and started taking OxyElite Pro (for appetite control) as well as CLA to help with the belly fat--even though it takes a long time to work. So 2 1/2 months.......almost NO results. I'm at my wits ends! I was working out, pouring buckets of sweat, feeling sore and being so very hungry. Thinking about food alllllll day long and being so very hungry. I discovered than when you cut out junk food, that hunger is not just hunger--it's pain. So I've been reading up on the Lap Band and I like the idea because it's done laparoscopically & doesn't involve cutting & sewing of organs. The reason for my recent work out kick was not to just simply loose weight, it was because I wanted to change my lifestyle. I'm not worried about dieting and simply dropping pounds, I want to change my life. I was ok with the results taking a long time to see because I don't weight myself. I'm more concerned about what I see in the mirror as results. A lady my mother works with is a nurse and she's talked before about the procedure and raves about it. I'm not sure if my insurance will cover it, although with my ankle now being a life-long condition (I'll have to go several times a year for the rest of my life because that section of bone could collapse) I feel that it is important for my health and for the well being of my walking condition LOL. My major fears are post-op. I'd like to get the surgery done within a few months so the time out of work is kind of scary because I've been out for 2 months already, but I'm a dispatcher so I sit for 12 hours & do little physical activity (which I hate...but in this instance it's helpful) and because I work shift work I have a crazy schedule so if I take 2 days it's actually a full week. But only a week. If I take 2 more days it ends up being almost 2 weeks (Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs) then back that next Fri. I'm also worried about the food afterwards, eating only liquids for a while seems like that would be tough and I'm scared I'd be hungry. Although after looking at some recipes on the Lap Band site I see I could easily make them ahead of time & freeze. I'm worried about how long the operation takes and how bad the pain level is. I'm concerned about getting band adjustments because I read it takes several times to get right and I'm scared I won't see the weight come off. I would be committed to living a better lifestyle that included a better diet and exercise but spending months in a gym 8 hours a week and seeing almost nothing isn't going to help me. I just want to feel good. I never have, I've always been self conscious and I just want to not be anymore. I'd like to shop in more than 2 stores in the mall & not feel embarrassed to go into the women's department where the styles are so limited I'd almost want to wear a garbage bag. I want to be social, I want to go out and I want to meet people. I want to go do things and I want to have fun and honestly I feel like a living Eeyore (from Winnie the Pooh) and I'm just not like that. Where I use to work (when I felt half way confident) my co-workers described me as "bubbly" and I am. I'm single so I want to be able to go out and not be embarrassed anymore, I want to try and find a better job, one that might involve travel and I don't want to see that "Oh, she's the fat girl" look on their faces when I go into an interview. I'm just ready to change my life and I know that simply losing weight won't do that and I'll probably need some cousiling too but I gotta take that first step. ANY and ALL comments, opinions, hints, tips, advice is MORE than WELCOME & WANTED!!! Thanks soooo much!

Your story is so similar to mine, banded over five years, had done wonderfully and then out of the blue, diagnosed with rectal cancer. I had chemo, radiation and a huge surgery in which my rectum and a fair bit of colon was removed, i was given a temporary ileostomy and sent home with a bag on my lovely flat stomach. I got through to the actual surgery without unfilling my band and I looked at it like this - cancer is a nasty shock and its life threatening, but that's not the worse. I hate how it took over my life, I couldnt work, I wasnt free to do any of the stuff I normally did, I was tied to the hospital routine of daily radiation, I was limited by my need for treatment. I'd just gone back to university at 36, gotten a teaching degree and was in my first job, i was so devastated. But I was DETERMINED that it was not going to undo my triumph over my weight - I ran and did bootcamp right through the initial six week chemo and radiation, right up until my surgery and I went for a run ten days after my bowel resection. I went back to bootcamp. I had another 20 weeks of chemo which was MUCH tougher than the initial lot, and my band was now totally unfilled, but I kept to my normal excercise routine. I lost a fair bit of weight through the surgery and I've managed to hold it off. I. just. will. not. let. the. cancer. win. I wont. I have hung on with grim determination to my diet and exercise routines and its paid off. I dont know how to say that without it coming across as I'm stronger, smarter, better, whatever. I'm not. Its just I looked at it and I thought I can beat anything, but if I get fat again, its won. And I wont let that happen. i was greatly helped by the fact that my treatment has had effects on my digestive system, even the chemo regime is not the same as for breast cancer, with breast cancer, weight gain during chemo is very common. I didnt tolerate my second chemo that well and had to be hospitalised three times for bowel obstructions, so every time I gained a little weight, I found I was nil by mouth for four or five days and it would come off again. I've gradually started filling my band again now. I'm about to have my ileostomy reversed and will now have the challenge of regaining bowel control, which might mean that I have to moderate my exercise - I might be running on my treadmill near my toilet for a while to come, but truly, where there is a will there is a way. I have to have genetic testing too, I'm the fifth person in both the current and previous generation to have had bowel cancer in my immediate family under the age of 45 and the only one not to have died from it. Sometimes I felt so damn sick but I went out running anyway - it never failed to make me feel better and just the emotional benefit of it was enormous. I dont have a secret or anything to tell you, I can only encourage you that maintaining your routines, keeping on top of your weight, not allowing the cancer to take away what you have achieved - it makes you stronger, and more emotionally stable and that has positive benefits on your health. It is SO worth getting yourself back on track, and I will definitely pray for you.

Wishes - the book that they gave me is called Snoring and sleep Apnea: Sleep Well, Feel Better - here is an Amazon link to it if it is okay to include outside links http://www.amazon.com/Snoring-Sleep-Apnea-Well-Better/dp/1932603263/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1309664094&sr=1-1 It has a lot of great information if like myself, are not familiar with slepp apnea and its treatment. I always thought I just liked naps lol. As it turns out sleep apnea can actually be a contributing factor in weight gain - it affects our organs, if we are not getting good rest, enough oxygen - we are slowly killling ourselves - I swear even after one night on the cpap even my aching joints felt better. I have an appointment next week to get my own machine for use at home. I would definitely look into having a sleep study, my insurance (BCBSIL) requires it - folks who have apnea are much likely to have not so great htings happen during surgery.

Have you ever heard, misery loves company...well thats what is going on. I'm a christian woman who use to be very athletic, but due to a knee injury and weight gain..I'm unable to lose. I firmly believe God wants the best for us. Our bodies are a temple in which we need to keep in good condition. She is taking the word out of context and using it for her own reasoning. If it isnt for her so be it,,but don't make you feel bad. Do you!!! A real friend would support you not be judgemental. I'm having my surgery on July 12, and its about me not anyone else. Get your life...health back...l will keep you in prayer. Chanel

Don't be discouraged! I'm 9 days post op and still weigh the same as I did the day of surgery. I've only been getting about 400 calories a day so there's no way I will stay at this weight forever. I do think you need more Protein. I had a goal of 40 grams of protein the first week for each day but could only manage to get in about 30 grams because of sipping and waiting and feeling so bloated. Yesterday I had my first doc's appointment, I was told not to worry about calories or even pounds coming off at this point but that my goal was get 60 grams of protein in. I am to no longer sip and wait...just to drink like normal but no chugging. Also, I was told that my stomach will hold up to 4 oz. at a time. I was told if I didn't get my protein intake up that I would probably lose my hair. I'm also on full liquids now instead of just clear. So last night I had 4 oz. of bean and bacon Soup pureed to a thin liquid. It was very fillling. Don't worry about calories and definitely not weight gain. Remember we just had surgery and our bodies are full of fluids and are slow on digesting. Also, you need to stay hydrated. That alone will help get rid of the bulk and Fluid build up.

It's perfectly normal not to lose weight at this stage. Your body is directing all its energy towards healing from surgery, so you may even notice weight gain. Concentrate on your recovery right now, and don't worry about the scale. The weight loss will come!

I have felt that very same thing! I have been having to go onto Meal Replacement packs which is costing more money on top of aready money spent on the Gastric Baloon which perforated on the stomach.. Then to have it removed and the band fitted which then the PORT Flipped and have it resited.. So not a Good Journey for me thus far on this Battle with the Flab. I have to restrict what I eat ridgidly.. I think I will need a bit more of a fill soon I was told I had 5mls in the band.t I can eat soft bread and chicken.. Rice and breast of chicken drier meats get stuck.. But never get that really full feeling. I can also feel the food going through the band. I am not sure if this is meant to happen so readily?? I am restricting my own intake.. ..I think the only thing the band is doing for me is to stop larger amounts going down which helps avoid the weight gain..I can maintain but losing has been harder at my age.. Menopuse 54. Grrrr Oh well onwards >>>> Dawn

im 3 weeks post op and was horrified by the 3 pound weight gain so I feel your pain!

Ok- So My life is always a little weird, but here goes... BANDED 5 years ago- lost 120lbs.. great.. 2 years ago started haveing complications,... let out fluid and then progessivly kepts getting more fluid let out... and gaining... and heartburn... lost heath insurance so did not have upper gi etc... I had major body and mind trauma 1 year ago in a accident where i was rescued out of the ocean after 3 hours in alaska... i was very thankful for the extra warmth layer of fat!!! anyhow- my physical system for the last year was up and down with adreiline, sugars, shock, -i gained 70 llbs,... had band completely deflated and still had major acid flux... lost health insurance. i suspected something was not right... was told i neede to do something... i was dying with moe weight gain, etc. soooo with little $ for usa.. i schedualled a fix it op. in mexico... went well. but due to extensive scar issue etc surgery itself too awhile. i had been living with a band to tight and slipped and scr tissue grown over etc.. so i was used to the pain and not really being aware anymore.. NOW I am 7 days post op... DR wants me on clear liqu 15 days THEN 15 days of shakes, milk thick, THEN 15 days of the puree.... Im not EVEN looking at cottage cheese for another 4 weeks!!! WHAAA im not sure im gonna make it.. I have an incredible pain tolerance and think im super human.... soo liquids are no problem... i drink them till the cows come home... i am DYING for SOMETHING... not sure what to do cause i dont trust myself to KNOW if it hurts enough to not do it... i really can not screw this up.. but at same time my body is crying out for some milk or something... im scared...worried that im gona die os some weird complication cause my body does not heal well, and i was in mexico, and on and on... IT is nice to have No more heartburn... i am geting in liqu and protien... CANT I MOVE ON??? 7 more days of this i dont know.. im gona start self medication with smoking and sucking on candy soon.. and that is not the route I want .. i want this oppurtunity to really change the way i handle life and food... Im scared... my back hurts much.. are my kidneys ok.. (Urine DARK) ... I can not afford to keep running to DR. at least not for a few more weeks.... i need to get back to work to earn...because life is life i have been up much and carrying a little. i hope i am not ripping things out in there... I cant sleep well- I think im just anxious.

Well...I just started my soft food diet. It's only day 3 and already I think I am doing things very wrong. My diet (given by my NUT) explains very little. It doesn't say how I should eat, when I should eat. And that's what I'm having trouble with. I still don't feel hunger so I don't know when to stop eating once I start! Because I'm deathly afraid of getting sick or throwing up, I take only 3 or 4 bites at a time. Then I'll take a nother few bites 10 or 20 mins. later. This is bad b/c it takes me hours to eat a meal (I still don't finish many of them although they are small portions). I feel like that's bad b/c 1, I need to get my nutrients and protien. and 2, it's like I'm grazing which I know I shouldn't do b/c it can cause weight gain. In addition, its hard for me to get all my fluids in b/c it takes me so long to finish eating and I we're not supposed to drink w/in 30 mins. of eating. I'm so bass ackwards right now I really feel like I don't know what I"m doing or what I should be doing to correct it. Someone, anyone please chime in and give your thoughts and suggestions!

I am just starting this whole process. I called the insurance Co. and they sent me a list of requirements they need before approval. One of them is *Documentation from multidisciplinary non surgical weight loss program with unsuccessful weight loss or weight loss followed by weight gain* They don't say for how long? I have been on a million diets, just none of them have been supervised. Does this mean I have to do the supervised diet thing? Already getting frustrated and I have just started!

Hi! I'm in the process of deciding about surgery and just trying to collect as much information as I can. This forum is an amazing resource. :-) I realize VSG is a tool and that regain is possible if you aren't careful. On other WLS forums (RNY, Gastric bypass, band...) I hear some people talk about regaining a significant portion of their lost weight, even all of it. But I have yet to read about a "sleever" regaining more than 20-25 pounds. So my question is ... are there any sleevers out there who have experienced this higher level of regain that other WLS patients have? No judging - I know life gets in the way of the best intentions! I just wondered if I haven't read enough or if the VSG truly has lower regain stats. (And in case it comes up, I've already decided that it's the VSG or nothing for me! Love everything about the principles of it, and wouldn't risk anything else available out there right now.) Thanks! Heather

very well put! ive had both my tonsils & gall bladder removed & im getting my wisdom teeth removed next week! haha. i guess im so used to being over weight and people OPENLY commenting on it. the one comment that SERIOUSLY gets under my skin is, "omg!!! i didnt know you were pregnant!! congrats." its a double slap in the face for me since im not & i have pcos (irregular periods, very difficult to get preggo) due to weight gain. it makes me so depressed & 10 times more embarrassed than any other comment. then they used to do it in front of my bodybuilder boyfriend who wanted kids! i felt embarrassed and like a complete FAILURE!!!!!

Unless you can calibrate yours to say the same things as your doctors office, keep your sanity and listen to yours until your next appointment and then you'll see the difference between the two and are able to do the math. scales rarely say the same thing, even two identical models side by side. Just know that you're losing, pay attention to the one at home and like myori said....only weigh in the mornings. Sensitive scales will show a difference after you've eaten a meal or drank your 64 ounces of Fluid and show a weight gain. I hope this makes sense, I just woke up and am still kinda ditzy / foggy right now (not that this isn't normal even after I've been up all day LOL) xoxo, Renee`

Removing fill can help you lose weight. You can eat healthy foods. Being too tight will cause weight gain because you resort to sliders and on the odd day you can eat you over eat. The band isn't about restriction. It's about making it so you eat until satiated (not full) and that you don't eat again until hungry. If you're eating more than 1-2 cups per meal ask yourself why. Are you doing it because you can or because you're actually hungry. If you're doing it because you can then no surgery will help you. Write down everything you eat, everything you feel before you eat, how long it takes you to eat a meal (30 mins minimum), did you eat more because it tasted good? Are you eating white carbs? Sugars? Drinking fruit juice? How active are you really? Get a FitBit $99 to see how much you really move. Take a photo of every meal before you start and when done. Remind yourself about what you're doing. We often overestimate our calorie burn and underestimate our intake. It sounds more like it's you that is not working -- not the band. It's doing its job sitting there. You have to make the conscious decision to stop eating when you are no longer hungry, to slow down, to drink 8 oz of Water 15 before a meal to help fill you up and hydrate you, to make the right food choices, and to use your band as it is intended -- to make you mindful of hunger.

I had the same problem. Last year my Dr. could not add or remove fluid. He was pushing so hard on the plunger of the syrenge that his hand was shaking. He said that my port was not functioning properly. The dr. replaced my port. Two months later, the same thing happened all over again. I had another port replacement. I have had fills without difficulty. I had gotten another fill may 17 and had no restriction at all. I normally had decent restriction after an adjustment, but not this time. Today I seen my dr for an another adjustment and the dr. added one cc and then he made me drink to see how my restriction was. I drank 32 oz . The dr said I should have felt the liquid in my chest and I did not. He then pulled all the fluid out and I only had 4cc. In Feb I had 6cc and then got two more fills which would have had me at 8cc. Today only 4 cc in band. The dr was concerned about a leak and sent me to xray. He could not find a leak. When he puled the solution out of the band that he had to use for xray he had no difficulty getting it out. When he went to add fluid he could not get it back in. He was pushing as hard as he could and nothing. He then started pushing around my port and it finally went in. He said it seems my port was twisted. Thank God he got some fluid in as I was so afraid he would not be able to and then back to weight gaining until this could be fixxed. Well now I am at 4.5 cc and am having restricttion tonight. YAY!!!! My dr is hoping that when I go back to see him in the future that the 4.5 cc is still there. I am unsure where my other fluid went and am hoping no leak as he said I would have to have another surgery. I did read in posts just a bit ago about adhesive added to plug the leak, my dr said surgery is the only route. I have a fabulous dr that is very experienced in the lapband. I hope everything works out and there is no leak for you.

Be careful with anti-depressents because some of them can cause weight gain. I know my doctor put me on Wellbutrin because it is not supposed to cause weight gain. I'd ask him which one would be right for you.

Well, I have been pretty vocal about my slow weight loss. Im 3 months out and have only lost about 37 lbs. Some days the restriction is full on, other days, like today, I barely feel anything. I dont know why some days are more restricted than others. Most times, more often then not, Im crying over slow weight loss and other days.. well, Im happy about things so far. HIT OR MISS..What helped me was looking at pics of me prior to my weight loss and pics of me now. I had 80lbs to go and I am half way there in three months. Well, not to bad all things considered, but I wanted to lose at least 15 per month so in my opinion, im behind about 8 lbs. But, at least there is loss. I remember for years one month turning into the next, no loss and in fact weight gain. Im done with being negative because whats done is done.. Cant go back.. just gonna think positive and DO MY PART, MEANING Water AND EXERCISE. I realized way in the first few weeks, this really is ONLY TOOL. I watch what I eat more now than ever. Still, I would have to say, no regrets.. In no way, absolutely no way do i feel like a lab rat. Hell, I remember in 2001 wanting and researching LapBand. People didnt have long term clinical studies and it was considered experimental then. Soooo... at the least I am a LAB DIVA!

I did the Master Cleanse although I initially lost 11 pounds I gained it all back plus an additional 5 pounds. The problem with cleansing is that it's difficult to stick with. If you veer off track the reprecutions are weight gain. Once I got back to high Protein and exercise I was fine. I guys it depends on the type of cleanse. If it's healthly ( master cleanse isn't the healthiest cleanse out there) then go for it. As long as you are prepared to stick with it go for it. The other problem with cleansing is that lapbanders can't eat certain foods that may be on the cleanse. Like certain fruits or vegatables. Does your tea. M v

I have to wait until I can switch insurance companies tohave the LapBand surgery. In the meantime I've being researching and readingall the books I can find on LapBand. Iwould love to have a tool with me for the long haul. I've been really bummed out and I think depressed/sad withthe state that I'm in. I've been heavy since my teenage years, so that's notnew. However I'm the heaviest I've ever been without being pregnant (I got upto 300lbs. with each kid). My weight is just not budging, even with my resentuse of phentermine + dieting.That nolonger works for me.I'm looking for some advice; of course I'll talk with mydoctor, once she is back from vacation. My question is this: Are there any antidepressants that don'tcause weight gain? How does Wellbutryn work for you? I've never taken any kind of antidepressant before so I'mcurious to hear from someone who has. Pros vs. Cons Thanks for your advice.

hi thought id say hi,well ive been banded nearly7 years and struggled always ,losing weight gaining all back etc,never felt full just if something was stuck etc,i finaly 8 days ago got my band filled 10 cc sand yes all be it tight i know for me its something i need to lose the weight as before just wasnt working,also lost 7lbs so far so fingers crossed it will continue!! ps where are you located as im in the uk and can def recommends gateway health louise king does the fills etc for £100 a time,let me know how you get on,dont leave it as long as me hun,good luck ,x

The band isn't supposed to provide restriction. It's supposed to provide a reminder to stop eating when you've had your 1-2 cups of food (amount depends on the food) and help you eat slower so your brain sees that you're full faster and will keep you feeling not hungry for 4-5 hours. Not hungry Is the key. You may still WANT to eat but if you're not hungry you shouldn't eat. When you are physically restricted then you run into issues with sliming, pbing, vomitting, nausea, overeating sliders, etc. Which can all lead to weight gain and band slippage. Are you eating more because you can or because you're hungry? If the former, then no amount of restriction will help. You'll still be able to eat sliders easily. Write down what you eat, measure your food out and stop eating after the 1-2 cups. It's a tool, like a hammer, it can't actually do the work for you, it's going to sit there until you learn how to use it correctly.

Thank you guys for the encouragement. I get a fill next week, I hope it will help me start to eat less. I am trying not to be depressed about the weight gain but I really want it off!!!!