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Hello Amanda; Forgive yourself and make plans for next time you might be in a similar situation. We are creatures of habit. I still struggle 7+ months out and yes, I had a Peanut Butter egg today also. I might gain a pound (or two cause I had some jelly Beans to wash down the PB egg) but I will start fresh and follow nutritional guidelines more closley tomorrow. Your stress levels are high, so help yourself by plotting for success in all situations. At my last check up I talked at length with my doc and NUT about my battles with food. Being sleeved does not give us a miracle weight loss without any issues. I am so proud you understand the battle is not won by being sleeved alone. Seeking professional advice means you are serious about your wellbeing mentally and physically. Being sleeved means you can lose weight if you choose to take the right steps. Again, forgive yourself and plan ahead next time your might face a similar situation since you are not strong enough to say NO just yet. or be smart enough to plan your food ahead. Were you really hungry? Was it just the egg that caused the weight gain or what else occured? This is war honey and I know you can WIN.

Has anyone gained weight at the end of their 6 month supervised diet and were approved by your insurance company for surgery?

Hello. May I ask who your insurance was with and also did you have to pay out of pocket expenses. My BMI is 37 but I have really bad swelling in my joints and pain due to my weight gain. Please help!

Ok so I know this is not a Lap Band topic, but I'm looking for some help. I have RLS (aching, itching legs, muscle cramps, can't sleep, etc). I have been taking Mirapex for some time now. It seems to really help. But one of the side affects is weight gain. Since I started taking it, my appetite increased and I definitely did gain weight. Now since I"ve been banded, I'm afraid of taking it, but without it I can't sleep. I was wondering if anyone else suffered from RLS and could give me some advice on other medications or options. Thank you so much!!!

I took Lexapro for 2 years. One of those years was when I was first banded. It helped a lot but after 2 years I switched back to Zoloft as it seems to work better for me. It (lexapro) did not cause any weight gain. But the Zoloft at a high dose causes really bad carb cravings. The only antidepressant I have been on that made me gain weight was Paxil I put on 40 lbs with it. Cheri

Have any of you taken up bike riding since you have lost your weight? I loved to ride bikes before my weight gain and it has been years since i have been on a bike. Have any of you had any problems riding a bike as exercise since your surgery? (after being released by your doctor of course). This is one of my goals after the surgery. I have begun to make a list of things I look forward to after the surgery that I have not been able to do for years. Thanks.

I have to take an anti-inflammatory every day. I take it with food or try to coat my stomach with something. Right now I'm tight from weight gain and am having some trouble taking it. I'm using an antacid when I take it to protect my stomach. When I'm not tight I have no trouble at all. More reason to take these lbs back off. I do supplement with Tylenol extra strength if I need more pain killer. I take half the anti-inflammatory I used to take. Need less with the weight loss. I have heard that Tumeric (spice) is a great natural anti-inflammatory but that doesn't mean it isn't hard on the stomach. Same with Fish Oil supplements. Those are known to contribute to reflux.

This won't be extremely long update since it's been just a few days since my last one, but a few had ask me to update after this appointment since this is the 12 week update with the "special" ultrasound to look for any "markers" for defects, or abnormalities. 1) Labs were pulled (results will take 7-14 days) 2) Sprout is measuring on target, and the placenta, heart, all "genetic markers" were NORMAL which is a huge relief. Doc is extremly pleased with my progress, and my little 4lb weight gain. I have definitely "popped" in the bump department even since Sunday. 3) The ugly night time reflux is creeping in. I think it's because I have have allowed an old"fat habit" to creep in. A huge contributor to my former 270lb self was night time eating. I loved having that "full belly" before bedtime, eat something/anything/lots of anything, and go to sleep. Well, I've had 3 nights of waking up spewing acid. It's beyond unpleasant, and I didn't even realize I was doing it. I wasn't eating "horrible stuff" or necessarily junk food, a handful of nuts, a granola bar, 1/2 cup of oatmeal, a few crackers with cheese, well I wasn't even feeling "full" but apparently, my sleeve is full, or partially, and with the "bump" swollen uterus, increased blood volume, bloating, my stomach's reaction is straight up ACID from hell. So, I'm back to not eating 1-2 hours before I lay down for the night. It's been miserable, and it's only been after eating and then laying down and dozing off. So, I'm being more aware of my eating at night. 4) They would not confirm gender. Apparently at 12 weeks, they all look like BOYS. Next follow up with my regular OB is Monday, and next high risk appt is at 18 weeks unless something with my labs comes back questionable/suspicious. Sprout 12 weeks Waving at Us ! ! ! Getting pictues was purely crazy, he was jumping all over my uterus, went head down, butt out, and was pretty much doing cartwheels in my uterus after the first 5-7 minutes of the tech squishing on my belly. Apparently, Sprout is not a fan of his space being invaded. And the Bump: No, I'm not holding it "up", I'm just making the dress cling to the belly LOL

I'm glad you posted, LOM. I pray for you and your daughter, and hope that you will find strength and peace to help you through such a tough time. You may want to talk confidentially to a doctor about getting on an antidepressant. It sounds as if you have the classic symptoms of depression, which is normal when you are going through something like this. If nothing else, try to take some fish oil capsules. It's known to help with depression. You can Google it and find out more. But I also agree with Mamadot that it would be good if you could find someone to talk to during this time. You are going through so much! And to only gain 16 pounds with all of this stress *and* your band being unfilled is fantastic. I have been struggling with some weight gain from emotional eating, also. It's a lifelong issue that so many of us have. I gained about 8-10 lbs. and went in for a small fill. It's helped me lose some, but I still need a band for my brain! LOL Hang in there as best as you can, know that we are here for you, and you can vent any time! God bless you. xoxoxo Ann

Renee, you REALLY need to read Crosswind's post "I left my stomach in Mexicali". It's normal to be wondering if you've lost your mind making this decision. Drastic times call for drastic measures. You've tried everything else, right? And you're tired of being a failure at something so many other humans seem to do effortlessly (lose or maintain their weight), right? Welcome to the club! Life isn't fair!! Some chicks get fantabulous bods and are "bootylicious". Other chicks (like me) get fat reading a grocery list and are relegated to nicknames like "eartha-quake". So, after determining that I've thrown a boat load of money at fighting this "problem" over the years that I could have paid for the surgery 10 times over, I've FINALLY said "stick a fork in me, I'm DONE!" So, while I don't know how things will ultimately turn out (my surgery is April 26th) I do know how it's gone for me in the past -- unrelenting struggles resulting in unrelenting weight gain and self loathing. I'm way too old and way too tired to keep fighting the insanity scenario. I'm going for it and I'm NOT looking back. Empress

I think all bandsters go through a period of regret, thinking "Oh my god, I'm starving. I'll never be able to enjoy food again. What have I done to myself?" I know I did. It passes, I promise you. As for the weight gain, it's probably some fluid retention from the IV. My fiance told me I had "pudgy fingers" when I came home from the hospital and I couldn't get my engagement ring on. That went away after a couple days. Don't focus so much on weight loss right now, worry more about healing from the surgery. I was in pain from the gas and had a gigantic bruise from the blood thinners that reduced my mobility for almost a week. Everyone recovers differently, so don't sweat it if you're not up and doing yardwork 4 days post op. You'll feel better in time. Good luck!

Just wanted to say "Hi" to everyone, I'm a newbie, and not really good at the small talk. So the intro said I should tell you more about myself. I am 35 yrs old, 5"2 and 251lbs, the heaviest I have ever been. I have been battling my weight since I was 13, when I really "blossomed". I have 5 children, and progressively gained with each baby, and never lost the weight, and put more on after. But now I have high blood pressure for the last 8 yrs, and high cholesterol, diabetes, joint issues, etc., and I feel bad about not being able to be the mother I want to be with my kids. I can't play with them at the park, or go on bike rides with them, stuff like that. Due to my blood pressure meds, I can't really be outside for more than 5-10m, or my skin fries like bacon (not a good thing since I live in Texas). I'm also a registered nurse, I work in labor and delivery, and I literally move all day long at work. It's really embarrassing to have patients that are 9mo pregnant and only be half my size. It's also hard to talk to patients about eating and drinking right or appropriate weight gain when it's obvious that I myself have a problem, I haven't gotten banded yet, trying to get the party started though, but at my initial assessment, the NP told me I needed to get a sleep study and EGD done before they will set up a date or pre-op or anything. I figure this will set back my banding about a month or more- I don't mind waiting, afterall, I've been overweight for over 20 years, but I am bummed because my family and I are going on vacation in July, so do I go ahead and wait until after so I don't have to worry about the post-op stuff? Or say the heck with it, and do it anyways. I am going through True Results in Houston, they assign a patient advocate to each client, whom also have been banded. And although I have only been there a couple of times, my advocate has already done more for me than she'll ever know. My insurance initially said they would cover the surgery if I completed the program, but after doing everything they required, they decided they wanted me to do more, and then I could never get a straight answer from them . It's so obvious they just don't want to pay up. So when I talked to my advocate about the runaround they were giving, she guaranteed me financing. I wish everyone good luck in their endeavors, and wish me luck, I'll keep you updated.

First off, congrats. Secondly, start eating carbs, not necessarily white carbs, but don't be in ketosis. You need to get into see a doctor immediately so they can pull blood levels, and type your blood. They may not want to see you until you are 8 weeks, every doctor is different. I was advised to eat 1700-1800 calories a day of a well-balanced, nutrient dense diet. You do not necessarily have to see a high risk ob. I have to see one because of my clotting disorder and because of previous miscarriages and my age, VSG plays a very small role in my pregnancy. You'll need to continue to take Vitamins. I'm actually allowed to stay on my Celebrate bariatric vitamins because they have more folic acid, and Iron than some prenatals which are the 2 they look at for pre-natal vitamins. As for the concern of weight gain, believe me, I 'm right there with you. I've gained about 5lbs in 12 weeks, and my belly has popped so none of my regular clothes are fitting, and I'm back up to a size 5. Which is a total mind f*ck, but it's getting better, and I don't want to hear that I'll lose the weight, I effin know I'll lose the weight, but that doesn't make the fact that I'm gaining any easier. I can not comment on getting married. I personally do not believe in getting married out of convenience or pregnancy. But, if you love the man, and want to marry him, then that is what is important. I'm an Air Force wife, and let me just say that if you have not experienced being married to or dated someone in the military or have zero military life experience, it is a total bitch. Believe me, I love the life that the Air Force affords us, but we sacrifice a lot. You and the baby will come second to his career, the military in general does NOT care if you have a baby while he is deployed, his schedule won't change because he's married, nor will they accommodate him in any manner other than giving him more money for his housing allowance, and you'll get insurance that is not all it's cracked up to be. I have learned to maneuver the system, but it is not fun, and there are a lot of regulations that you might or might not like. Being a military wife is by far the most frustrating thing I have ever done. But, I am grateful for the guaranteed paycheck, and benefits, the sacrifices that we make do not compare to the amount of time we spend apart, nor does any of it get any easier. I've adjusted well, but being pregnant, and my husband working 12-15hours a day, 5-6 days a week is exhausting and it's very draining. Marrying a man in the military is not as romanticized as TV or movies it, there are 3 wars/conflicts going on, my husband has a 72 hour bag, and 90 day bag packed and ready to go at a moment's notice, and I have to stare at those damn things every day of my life knowing that if the call comes in, he's gone. My husband has been in for almost 11 years, and is an E5 about to sew on E6, and believe me, military pay sucks. You'll qualify for WIC, and possibly other gov't assistance, and you'll need it. I know I'm not being positive polly, but being married to the military is just that, you're married to the military. There is an old saying " if we( the US military) wanted you to have a wife, we'd issue you one." And in some regards that is 100% true. There are tons of services available to you as a military spouse, and it is a great community, but there is a lot of negatives that come with it as well. I could tell you that it's all sunshine and daisies, but that's a complete and utter lie. With the new administration, they have cut funding, my husband's allowances were cut this year, as were health benefits, and regulations are stringent. BUT, there are a lot of positives. I have zero regrets being a military wife. I'm proud of my husband, and the job he does, but I can tell you that it is stressful, and draining. I use every resource, and available benefit the military life offers. There is spouse tuition assistance, and the Post-911 GI bill can be used for the spouse or children. We are actually using John's GI bill for the kids. He gets an annual tuition assistance from the military, and that is what he uses for online classes for his degree instead of using his GI bill. I am a stay at home mom/wife, but I do major couponing, I shop on base, I stretch every dollar we have, and by no means do we live paycheck to paycheck, but that will all change when the baby arrives. We do live very comfortably on my husband's salary, and I supplement by working part time with my lia sophia business. I really do love the Air Force because of all the resources and services that are available to us, but I won't lie and tell you that the long hours, deployments, TDYs, and exhausting shifts are easy to manage especially with children. If you have questions about the insurance, how it works, or anything else, please feel free to message me. There are 2 different options for the insurance, and it truly depends on how you want to manage your healthcare. There are pros and cons to both options. You will need to sign up for military dental insurance for spouses/children. Again, there is a lot of information, and stuff that you'll have to do if you get married. It's a great opportunity, but go in "eyes wide open". Also, know that the plication surgery is not a covered service with Tricare, nor is VSG, so you might be limited to the first Tricare Prime option which is the H M O option, and Tricare Standard which is the PPO definitely will not cover anything related to your plication. I can explain all this to you in more details, but it's extensive and might be easier to explain via a phone call.

I tried Loestrin for a month or two but I felt like crap on it and it made my blood pressure go up so I stopped it. I've also tried Femcon and was on Seasonique for many years until my insurance didn't cover it anymore (it's pretty pricey). I have been on Nuvaring now for over a year and I love it! I don't have to remember to take a pill every day and I find the side effects are much less than taking an oral contraceptive. My gyno said that it's also one of the hormonal contraceptive methods that is less likely to cause weight gain. Pretty much all birth control can make you gain weight to some degree though. Depo Provera is probably the most notorious for this (it's an injection you get every three months). Have you ever used birth control before? You may notice some symptoms like nausea, breast tenderness, spotting between periods, etc. These usually go away after a few cycles. I never had any breakthrough bleeding on Nuvaring except after the surgery, due to a combination of powerful antibiotics and stress from the procedure. BC does usually help with cramps too...it does for me, anyway. If you never want to have children, you may decide to have a tubal ligation down the line. Most docs won't do it if you haven't had children before because they are afraid you might change your mind. Reversals of tubal ligations are rarely successful so you really have to be sure. I'm sure your doc probably told you this but you have to use backup birth control for at least a week if you start the pill on a day other than the first day of your period otherwise you could get pregnant. Hope this helps! Good luck!

I'm on a diuretic called Diazide (Dyazide?) and I can actually notice a 5-8 pound weight gain when I stop taking it for a couple days. Crazy, I know! -Leah

On June 28th I will be saying goodbye to my lap band. It is very bittersweet for me. I got banded Dec 2007. I lost 150 pounds and wearing a size 5. I don’t think I had ever in my entire life been a size 5. I thought that the lap band was the best thing that ever happened to me. Then about a year ago I experienced my first slip. I had a complete unfill for three months. I gained 30 pounds in that time frame despite my efforts to eat right and exercise. Over the last year we tried to slowly add fluid back in. I never lost one pound the entire year, never felt restriction really again and then last month found out it had slipped again. Frustrated with the weight gain and tired of not losing weight I have decided to go ahead and go with the sleeve. I was not sure that my doctors would actually do it or that my insurance company would approve it. Being 170 pounds and 5'9 is not really considered super overweight. But much to my surprise, the insurance approved by removal and revision to sleeve within a matter of days. They are paying for it 100%. My doctor agreed to do the procedure without even giving it a second thought. To me I feel like the lap band was a start for me. It proved to me that I have what it takes to live the lifestyle of a bariatric patient. I have not had soda, bread or pasta in 5 years and I don’t even miss it. Even today as I wait for surgery with an empty band I could eat bread without problem but I won’t because I don’t even miss it anymore. I am ready to make this permanent commitment to have 65% of my stomach removed in an attempt to never have to worry about gaining weight again (as long as I stick to the rules). For me, now knowing what it was like to be thin for those couple of years, there is nothing I wouldn’t do for that feeling of accomplishment. So I am scared and nervous but excited and ready!!!!! So good bye lap band....thank you for changing my entire life and for allowing for me to prove to myself that a skinny me is possible.

I wouldnt do it, I think its totally the wrong way to think about eating, and you wont believe how fast you can put on weight - remember with a band you're living on a "diet" so to speak so unfill it and its liek going OFF a diet, vacations do way more damage than they do when you've already been eating a lot anyway. If it were me, I'd also ruin my vacation worrying about weight gain and moaning about how much I'm eating. I've enjoyed several vacations with good restriction - enjoy tastes of this and that and get home as thin (or thinner) than when you left - who wouldnt want that?

I'm so glad you posted, Denverlee! And I'm so very happy to hear your daughter is doing realively well!!! Please know you both continue to be in my thoughts and prayers! I have a picture of your daughter at my desk, from the fundraiser held in her honor. I send positive thoughts and prayers whenever I look at her smiling face. I was the caretaker for my Mom during her bout with breast cancer over an 18 month period, and as emotionally draining as that was, it doesn't compare with what you, as a Mother, are going through caring for and observing your young daughter. I hope you continue to post here when you need a safe place to vent your emotions. More than that, I pray you can find someone that you are comfortable talking to in person, that can provide you with the support and insight you need now and throughout the next several years. You are trying to be so strong for so many people right now, that you probably are giving little to no time for your own needs. While I'm sure it seems exhausting to make time to care for one more person - you are the most important person that needs to be cared for right now, so you can be the best you can be while continuing to care for your daughter. Holding in your emotions for too long may cause a meltdown, so please consider finding someone to work through your emotions with. As for your weight, there are a few of us who were banded in May '09 that are fighting with emotional eating - falling back into old habits - and dealing with unwanted weight gain of 10 or so pounds. My surgeon said years 2 thru 4 are the most difficult - dealing with real-life issues while maintaining a healthy lifestyle after the initial glow and excitement of the Lap Band procedure has dimmed. So hang in there, Sister, and know that you are not alone in this journey. Take it a day (sometimes a minute) at a time. Love, {{{Hugs}}}, & Smiles Jennie

I am currently trying to change my body composition a bit by lowering my bodyfat percentage, so while this may result in some weightloss, I'm not necessarily aiming to drop poundage. So I guess I'm somewhere between maintaining and slowly losing, as I'm basically trying to eat more rather than less but really bust my ass at the gym to maintain or gain muscle mass. I don't let myself drop below 1500 calories right now, and on days when I work out, it's usually closer to 1900-2000 (aiming for at least 100 g Protein on these days and 80 on others). I've definitely gone up as high as 2300 every once in a while, and while my weight has fluctuated the same 1 lb up and down in the last few weeks, my favorite pants are now so loose that even with a belt, they don't look presentable anymore, so obviously I've cut some fat. For a mostly sedentary woman my size, the approximate amount of calories to maintain weight is about 2000, so given that I exercise, I think I'm pretty close to that estimate as far as my metabolism goes. So yes, you CAN maintain and even lose fat on a "normal" amount of calories. However, this might involve regular exercise. I don't know if I would avoid weight gain if I suddenly stopped all my exercise and didn't lower my food intake. Also, I'm young and I have a pretty good muscle base from years of weightlifting. If I were 50+ and in poor shape, I would probably have to eat less than I do now. Everybody's different! You may be able to eat like a "normal" person, but be prepared to eat less if you are not as lucky with your metabolism.

Just got approved for VSG last week and am scheduled for next Monday--4/25. Have gained weight since process started in 12/10 and was chastised by surgeon. Will start liquids tomorrow. Has anybody else had weight gain and then gone thru surgery? I'm less than 300 lbs and am nervous now.

Hi there! I' new but noticed your post yesterday before I joined. I am also taking classes but I'm doing mine on-line to finish up my bachelor's degree. It has been a long 2 1/2 years but I'm almost done. I have 2 more weeks left of this class and then 2 more (5-week) classes remaining. My completion or grad date is July 11, 2011. I'm planning on becoming a teacher; therefore I have to enroll in a certification program. Here in the Louisiana there are special guidelines to get certified and it cannot be done at any institution, therefore I will be enrolling in grad school for the fall semester. Its only one more semester between getting certified and getting certified with a master's degree so I'm going for it!!! Most of my weight gain has occurred in the past 2 1/2 years. Dealing with school while working full-time and raising a family has been hard, but also I lost my mother 2 months after I began school. That was the hardest and most difficult time of my life. She died of lung cancer and I took a hiatus from life and 18 months. I just didn't care which put me up 75 lbs and I was already very heavy. Now I'm severly morbidly obese and not just obese. I feel guilty now for letting myself go and not caring, but that is life right? So I'm a cash patient because insurance doesn't cover weight loss surgery right now. I don't have the time to wait. If I wait any longer my 6 year old and almost 20 year old daughter may be motherless and I cannot let that happen to her. She is too precious to me! My paternal grandmother died at the age of 48 from having 2 major strokes within days of each other. She was not overweight like I am nor did she live the lifestyle that I have. So, I'm a ticking time bomb waiting to go off! I'm not scared to die, but I'm worried what will happen to my 2 daughters. They don't deserve this and they are my reasons for doing this! They are the reason I wake up in the morning and go to a job that I don't like. My surgery is a working progress but should be around mid-May. I have a blood work tomorrow morning and then its seeing the doctor and scheduling surgery. I also have to take some classes on-line. That's about it in a nutshell...

We'll always have PCOS, but the reduction in body weight means a reduction in insulin resistance. It may make conception easier for you, or it may be no change. I am one of the lucky few who has not suffered infertility...just weird cycles, multiple miscarriages(4 full term pregnancies in there too), weight gain since puberty, and some of the other less than feminine side effects.

I think it's a nice guideline, but as we all know, weight loss and weight gain are so much more complex than that! Your BMR fluctuates every day, which is why people are able to maintain the same weight consistently even though every day we eat a little more or a little less than the day before. Then your BMR also fluctuates based on your weight; your lean body mass (fat-free weight); your recent weight changes - your body naturally tries to resist weight changes by revving up or slowing down your metabolism accordingly; whatever supplements you're taking and what you are eating/drinking - caffeinated beverages, green tea extract pills, etc; temperature of your surroundings - which is why you get so hungry after swimming in the chilly pool; etc, etc, etc. And the same for the calorie burn you get with exercise - unless you've got a heart rate monitor and have logged your weight into the machine, the calorie reading could be totally off. Bottom line: don't worry about this too much. If you are losing, all is good; if you are not, something needs to change, that's all that matters!

Michele, Yes, I remember your story. Congrats on your healthy baby boy! What a blessing. How encouraging for others to hear about no weight gain etc. Ladies and gents, My weight loss seems to have slowed down, rather frustrating, but I am losing 3-4 pounds a month, I feel incredible and am going scuba diving.. I have not dove for 7 years due to the excess weight. I have lost 62 pounds and am at my weight for last time I went. I would like to lose another 20- 25 pounds am trying to be patient and know that is doable by August. Bonnie