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For the past few weeks I had been substituting meals with protein shakes. I thought this was something that needed to be implemented before surgery so that it would make it easier getting in enough protein after surgery. However, my surgeon told me that protein shakes should only be used after surgery because adding protein pre-op could cause weight gain. However, I have lost 16 lbs while supplementing protein. Did anyone drink protein shakes to help with their pre-op weight loss, or should I avoid these for now?

Do what's best for you and don't worry about anyone else. It's so easy for people to voice their opion. But if they are not in your shoes it does'nt matter. So I feel like your make the best decision which is choosing to stop the weight gain before it gets worst. And if your looking for inspriration Look at me I was weighing 462 when I started I'm already down 25lbs since MAy 2 2007. Keep you head up. GOOD LUCK 2 YOU

Well like I mention on my first post. I have fail so many diets, so why not fail this one. I started out at 229. Gotten down to 206. I was very excited and started treating my self to treats. Like my friend julie.ann says we use food as a way to reward us and that is so true. So I just rewarded myself back to 212. Thanks a lot Sarah!! (I talk to myself a lot) :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: Also I have a problem with being consistant. That's with cleaning, working out, everything in life. Being consistant is boring. But I have to get better with it if I want to suceed. :tongue::eek::Dancing_wub: I started back working out at least three times a week. I walk twice a day at work for 15 minutes. I do my slim n 6 dvd at home. My goal is to work out 5 times a week and to lose at least 1 to 2 lbs a week. Rollercoaster ride is over!!

Yes, yes, yes. About 6 weeks post op I began having major depression issues. I started on Zoloft, and it really helped. However, for three weeks I took the smallest dose and didn't gain or lose any weight. I had a follow up with my surgeon and he was concerned that I started a new med without contacting him. He explained that most SRIs have a side effect of weight gain and since I wasn't losing, I needed to stop taking them. I weaned off and instantly began losing rapidly. Unfortunately, I can also feel the depression creeping back. I'm trying to work through it with long walks and summer activities. Also, I see a therapist. It's a bad and strange place to be because on one hand, I'm happy about my success. On the other, I'm grieving my old life, clothes, habits and activities. It's hard but you'll get through it! Just remember not to make any serious decisions (like changing jobs or ending relationship) while you're recovering.

Check in Start of challenge 133 This morning 135 Maintaining my weight Workouts and food have been slack. My friends father passed away. Spent three days with her while she was in town. Back to things this week. two pounds up Into the holidays. I'm making cookies with my grandson. I can't keep them in the house. I know my weaknesses. Weekends seem to be my biggest challenge. Parties and potlucks. My goal is to rock my New Years dress and go into 2019 without major holiday weight gain.

Dear Diary, It's been awhile, I haven't been on site lately. I'm trying to get back to a routine. So much has happened. I am sorry to say at my last Dr. appointment I had actually gained 8 lbs.. My Dr. was very upset with me. He said you're such a nice person don't you care about yourself? You have diabetes and you're eating sweets. You need to see the psychiatrist immediately at least 2 times. He is a bariatric specialized psychiatrist that uses a cognitive approach. I know it would be helpful but he isn't covered by my insurance and pre-op visit alone (mandatory) was 220.00 He then proceeded to give me my first fill and said no matter how many fills I get if I continue to eat sweets I won't lose weight. He had some trouble finding the right part of my port and had to keep sticking me then manuevering syringe. He finally came in at a steep angle and filled my band. He said jokingly that this was my penance for eating poorly. As soon as I left the office--without making my next appointment ( I left quickly) and cried as soon as I got into the hall. My brother who had come with me was very worried. He asked if the doctor hurt me, I said no it was my own fault then went home and cried more. Even though I knew I had lost control and was eating way too many sweets. Sweets are my weakness. I was still disappointed about my weight gain. I now know I should have called the office and insisted on getting a fill after 6 weeks post op. I was hungry and could eat whatever I wanted so I did.I felt like such a failure. Here I went through surgery and I'm sabatoging my efforts. My doctor believes you should postpone doing fills until you have lost as much as possible on your own, without restriction. I assume full responsibility for my hand to mouth disease. I felt like the poster girl for What Not To Do With Lapband. Now on the bright side-- here it is almost 4 weeks later and I have lost the 8 plus 2 more pounds. I still need to call and set up an appointment but I am not letting the doc anywhere near my port. I have enough fill for now. I'm still getting used to eating post band fill. I've even vomited a few times. Soft bread and vegatables are a problem. I really have to chew carefully and limit bite size. At home I use a crab fork and take small bites. It really helps. I also use a jam spoon and that helps as well for yogurt etc. I really have to plan ahead because I need to concentrate on getting in enough protein. Sometimes at the end of the day I will have a protein shake to up calories and protein. I am finding that after my fill that I have really cut back on portions as well as my appetite. I am finally seeing the light and starting to believe I made the right decision by having the Lapband.:whoo: Much to my relief. I was eating grapes this morning, 3 grapes to be exact and that was enough. I chuckled because the quantities I am eating are so small. Yet I am satisfied so I am happy. I find I am more cheerful and upbeat. I even have more of a lap for my nephews to sit on while I read to them. I have also had to buy new pants in a smaller size. We're going to Claim Jumper for Thanksgiving and they serve huge portions, so I am taking a small cooler to store my leftovers. Leftovers from restaraunts are another thing I'm getting used to. Before I seldom had leftovers. Well good night all. Take care and keep your chin up.

Perhaps.....O is happy fat? Could be, I dunno? Perhaps her med team is telling her she is happy fat? We must be going to different dr.s, lol! Maybe...she is telling herself she is fat, healthy, and happy(lies we tell ourselves)! Been there, done that! Please, if her wonderful planet dr.s are telling her dont get help for your weight(O), then what is she to do? I know ....think for herself. No one should criticize another for weight gain and no one should take pleasure in anothers faults. Hers just happen to be front and center and she discusses it, so do we. If I put myself on tv and discussed my weight issues, so would others, of course.

Bodybuilders are in a different class of their own. As mentioned before, pre-competition is a lot of calories (4,000+ a day) and a ton of Protein (I have seen as high as 1 gram per pound of bodyweight). A lot of the heavyweights go over 300 pounds during the training cycle, then compete/show at around 260. Unless you are working out every day, it'll be impossible to reach close to what they are doing to their bodies. Typical adults would be hard pressed to add 20 pounds of lean muscle mass in a year, so don't fall into the trap of "Oh, I gained 10 pounds this month, but that's ok because muscle weighs more than fat." It's true it does, but 99.9% of people out there would not be able to gain that much in lean muscle in such a short time frame. Short term weight gain for those of us who lift weights is typically Water retention. Oh, and those bodybuilders use diuretics to lose those last few pounds prior to shows too. They don't look like they do in pictures as soon as the next day, and a few have died from dehydration complications.

I guess I didn't make myself clear enough the first time around. My dietician's (over the last three years) did not want me eating less than 1500 cals, as it was hard to keep my blood sugar on an even keel. I have a tendancy to be hypoglycemic, and get shaking and sweaty when my sugar is dropping. This has been happening on the 1500 max diet, which is what I tried to tell him today. I always eat my Protein first as to give it the max amount of time to work before the carbs are added, but it doesn't seem to help on this program. I was having much better luck controlling my diabetes when I was eating a min of 1500, with at least three meals and trying to get at least two Snacks in too. I don't think the 1500 max would be a problem for another patient, but that shipped sailed long ago. My metabolism was wrecked years ago, and have been trying to get it burning again for two years. Like I said, I was thrilled to see the scale going back down instead of up! Sometimes I think doctors forget each of us has our own unique body, and history that can't be made equal to another person. I am the ONLY large person in a large family of thin people (I'm the tallest female though) - mainly because my metabolism is burnt out. I started looking at Lapband as a way to keep small meals in my body consistently in order to get it burning correctly again. I don't want to ruin the progress I worked so hard to achieve. Quoting one of the thousands of studies on weight loss does not mean it will work for me - especially if its the program he uses for himself. Men and women are not the same creatures. I'm not looking for excuses, but solutions. I don't think this physician is looking to help a patient recovering from what is essentially anorexia (one meal a day) overcome their struggle, but to neatly fit me into their profile. He clearly stated that he doesn't have the time to read my reports from my endo, obgyn, dermatologis or neurologist, and thinks that my PCOS, migraines and diabetes were caused from my weight - not as a result of it. My endo and I have clearly marked the illness I had that resulted in 30 lbs lost in 30 days in my late teens, and weight gain/complications that resulted every year since. It clearly shows the progression of my diabetes, along with the increased symptoms of PCOS. This history will not be solved with a diet that isn't tailored to my individual needs - like the ones my dieticians have given me.

Just to give you a different perspective! I had lap RNY 2-1/2 years ago. I have recently gotten banded on top of it because I began to gain with the RNY. My stomach grew and my system got used to whatever they did. I find the weight gain and diets a common theme after 2 years post op!! With the band, you just get a fill.

Good morning! I am so sorry about the weight gain. All I can tell you is what I do, what I've done from the beginning. For me it is a total lifestyle change, as natural to me as breathing. I call this my 'dashboard'. 1) I weigh EVERY day. I KNOW how quickly I could gain eight or ten pounds, and that would be overwhelming to me. If I'm up a pound or two, I just make a change or two and it's gone in several days. 2) I weigh and/or measure my food when I am at home (eye ball it carefully when out) 3) I log my food on my fitness pal. Before discovering MFP, I used fitday.com and at the VERY beginning, I have a spiral notebook and wrote it down. 4) I attend support groups My comfort zone is 142 - 145, I weigh first thing in the morning, out of bed, go to the bathroom and on the scale. A pound or two is manageable, but for me, I cannot go by how my jeans fit, by that time I'd be up ten pounds and it would take me a few months to get that off, I'm sure of it. I must track my calorie, there is a fine line for me between maintaining, gaining and losing. I've been doing this for over 2.5 years, so I've got the hang of it, but I can never be complacent. Like I said, this is my new normal. This is why I call what I do, my dashboard, if a 'light' comes on, and to me, being up a couple of pounds, or my calories being above what I need.....those are my lights. I just change things up a little, meaning, I lower my calories by 100 -150 and that takes care of it. Make sense? My advice is, find something that works for you, something you can do forever, there is no end date, we've made a lifetime commitment.....and make it part of your life. Good luck, you can do this.

You know what I really love?....How skinny people believe that weight gain and weight loss is just a simple thing....eat less and exercise more. Period. So easy, right? Why didn't we think of that? Gheez! I told my niece....an exercise aholic and nutritionist, 3 mths after. Her first comment...I wish you would have told me before because I would not have let you have the surgery and I would have made you go to the gym. Really? I am 23 yrs older than you and in that 23 yrs I lost and gained around 100lbs. I understand the calorie in/calorie out thing sweetpea. This whole weight loss/gain thing is way more difficult than the 2+2=4 formula so many skinny people think they have figured out. 1+3 still equals 4, so does 5-1 and 8-4......doesn't matter, it all still equals 4. Our decision on how to get this weight off shouldn't make a difference to anyone. Its no ones business. Oh....and just wait. Rude people will continue to be rude and get pretty stinking good at it. I just heard....you had surgery 7 mths ago and you're still fat? Are you doing what your doctor told you? You should be skinny by now! That was my mother!!!!

Hi! I haven't been banded. I am just doing research regarding LapBand. I weigh over 100 lbs. beyond my goal weight, but the gastric bypass is too invasive! I am 59, and not sure whether this is for me. Secondly, my husband has Medicare with Tricare for Life, and I am covered as his dependent (spouse) with Tricare Prime; I do not qualify for Medicare. I found Tricare Prime accepts referrals from Primary Care Physicians for GBS. However, I checked about 4 months ago about whether they approve for LapBand surgery, and was told "No, not at this time." Has anyone heard different as to whether they have reconsidered? I am curious. Does anyone know why Tricare Prime would pay for GBS and not LBS? Maybe because the procedure is still too new? I would also like to know why it is easier to exercise and eat right when one has the LBS, than before the surgery? Doesn't the motivation have to continue? Perhaps the LBS does motivate, when youhave gone that far? I know one thing... I have been too heavy, too long (about 8 years) and realize that soon I am prone to diabetes, sleep apnea, etc. as it runs in my family, both sides. My motivation to lose lasts about 1 week, then it fades. Could be because my husband can and does eat Desserts, or anything he desires, with no weight gain. Guess you might call that co-dependent, but I can't help it. When sweets are around, I weaken. I have not been a happy person for a long time now. This weight is depressing. I would hate to think that I would have to carry my two dogs around all day long, but my excess weight outweighs them! ...and they are BIG dogs! Any information about insurance, or advice about LBS will be appreciated! Thank you! Pam pamblundell@aol.com

I haven't been banded yet and while I am going to work out with weights and try to fill in the skin, drink plenty of water to hydrate my skin, and apply lotion frequently, I am realistic in knowing that I have had 2 babies back to back, which included a 50lbs weight gain with the last one, and both were c-section. It's not ever gonna look like abs of steal. My fiance is prepared to pay for a tummy tuck and a breast lift once I am at goal and I am completely ok with that!

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

So I'm kind of a unique case- I had the lap band in 2009. Was 385 (I'm 5'4") at my highest, got down to 217 at my wedding in December 2013. Was working out 6 days a week, was a size 10-12, and had an ass you could bounce a quarter off of hahaha. But all of 2014 I was getting crazy stomach pain and gaining weight. I had moved and lost my gym routine so I thought it was that and jumped back into the gym and injured myself. Put on more weight during recovering from that. Then I had inexplicable back and pelvic pain (which later turned out to be a kidney infection)- during a CT scan for this pelvic pain they saw that my lap band had slipped, so that must have been what caused all that pain and weight gain. They gave me the option in Nov 2014 to convert to a sleeve but I was very gun shy and thought I worked so hard and I know how to lose weight, I can do it on my own. I don't want any more complications. So they took it out. I was 250 at that point. I ended up gaining 70 more lbs over the next two years. This was after I had gotten skin removal surgery (which sucks btw lol). I was incredibly depressed, gaining weight, unable to get in control of it, unemployed etc etc etc. So finally I in February of 2016 I thought I need to just bite the bullet and get the sleeve. I don't want to wait until I'm 385 lbs again to get motivated- I need something to help me now. So I started the process. I wavered on it a lot, which is why it took me 8 months instead of 6 to get approved- I kept going back on the idea of getting the surgery. Here's what I'm worried about: 1. What if I get a leak 2. What if I lose all the weight only to gain it back again 3. What if my skin sags so the horrible skin surgeries weren't worth it? I've got seams like a build-a-bear already- how much would it suck to be a build a bear AND have loose skin. All in all though, the pros outweighs the cons. Last time when I had Bariatric surgery I was 21. I didn't feel the effects of being obese on my body. Now I'm 65 lbs lighter than before and my back and knees and ankles kill. I have sleep apnea. My prediabetes and blood pressure are creeping up. My social life is suffering. My three-year-old marriage is suffering. The fears I have are far outweighed by the reality I live in. @@OhHeyMarina, you've got this girl. You will come out much healthier and happier. Don't worry about the loose skin. You may have some, but skin is an amazing organ and actually does snap back pretty well. If you're weight lifting and moisturizing well, you're gonna limit the amount of excess skin. And if not, you can always get it lifted. I'm telling you, nothing is not worth feeling thin and healthy. Wearing the clothes you want and feeling healthy on your body. You're making an investment in your life- ylure getting sleeved so you won't have the pitfall I had. Just stay on track and make that lifestyle change and it will be so worth it!

I'm almost 8 months out. In the immediate pre- and post-op sleeve environment, it had a really profound effect - changing my relationship with food, getting a full-body "reset", having little to no hunger, much more energy, etc. I never had any problems with any food or drink along the way. But I have since learned the hard way, that that's not necessarily a benefit. Over the summer I was travelling, for basically 4 weeks, and it became difficult to stay completely on track the entire time. So, occasionally at first, but then with more regularity, I started trying more foods that I've been avoiding - wraps for lunch, chai tea from Starbucks (the only thing other than regular tea that I can drink there), and other foods (mostly carbs) that I told myself were a one-time only thing (like my dad's birthday cake). But once I started introducing carbs/sugar back into my life I noticed 2 things - one, that my cravings came back with a vengeance, and that I didn't feel full or satisfied as I had in the past; and two, that my weight loss came to a complete and absolute standstill. It's clear that I can eat anything - I did not have any negative reactions to anything that I tried - therefore, I know that I will have to vigilant about food for the rest of my life. It's taken me a couple weeks to wean myself off the carbs and back into a proper diet, much harder than when I did the pre-op diet. It's been a real wake-up call for me. So I'm thankful that my sleeve (and the effects from it) is preventing any demotivating weight gain, and that I have a chance to get back on track.

I had a sleeve 7 years ago and lost 85 pounds over 6 months. I had no loose skin whatsoever, but I have regained the weight and I'm due to have a revision to a Mini Gastric Bypass in a few weeks. I'm curious to know if you are more likely to have loose skin after a revision for weight gain? I am also now 7 years older 🙂

No need to pop any tablets, you can eat them. Ouch!!!! Food blockages are the biggest pain of a lap banders life. We must prevent this situation occurring daily, as this is crucial to help avoid a pouch forming. A pouch results in a dysfunctional lap band and weight gain is common.Ouch!!!! Food blockages are the biggest pain of a lap banders life. We must prevent this situation occurring daily, as this is crucial to help avoid a pouch forming. A pouch results in a dysfunctional lap band and weight gain is common. Therefore, our primary focus is to avoid food blockages and secondly learn how to manage them. To understand the top three key points that will help you avoid food blockages, get your free ebook at www.weightlosssurgerydiet.com.au with all the answers. In this article, let’s discuss how to manage your predicament once the food has been dislodged and unfortunately you will likely feel a little raw and uncomfortable internally. But why? Improvise with me. If you were to walk slowly through a rose bush forcing your way through, I am 100% confident you will come out worse for wear. Your skin will feel raw, sore, grazed and irritated. Guess what! A similar situation could occur internally, as the food tries to squeeze through the lap band also. The area may get a little swollen and the lap band may physically feel a little tighter and more restrictive. Foods which you would customarily tolerate well may become a little challenging. You must avoid further irritation, by following the next 3 steps: Step 1. Relax the diets texture to soft, wet and easy for the remaining part of the day. Suggestions include soup, casserole, cottage pie etc Step 2. Take your internal anti-inflammatory. This will include icy cold water or ice cubes. Yes this is correct. No need to pop any tablets, just help ice the area and reduce the swelling ASAP. Step 3. Uncover what caused the food blockage and try to prevent this in the future. Wishing you luck Helen Bauzon Dietitian www.weightlosssurgerydiet.com.au

I had the band in 2010, revision to sleeve in 2014 due to major band slip (couldn’t even drink water with empty band), and now having acid reflux and weight gain following a hysterectomy in 2016 and looking for options to revise again. Anyone else have a similar situation and any success with insurance approval?

I had a hard time getting down all the recommended fluids and Protein for the first week. The PA for my surgeon said it was ok and that I should just take small sips and drink as much as I could handle. I had little appetite the first week but gradually increased my Liquid Protein. I had some dizziness and added something with a few carbs, like light apple juice. They pumped you with gas and IV fluids for the procedure so don;t worry about the weight gain. Hang in there, it'll get better in a few days.

I am 17lbs short of the needed BMI for lapband, I am a type 2 diabetic, and I'm starting on the insulin pump this week. I already take metformin and lantus, as the dr has increased my lantus I've started gaining, now the pump comes. I was wondering if anyone who is on a pump or was on a pump can tell me if gaining weight on the pump is more rapid that shots? I've heard it can be. I'm honestly not hoping for weight gain, but I'm so OVER diabetes and all that comes with it, I really wish I could have the surgery, I see so many on the boards talking about getting off most or all their meds and I would love to have that happen! Thanks Ren

It's all about the FOOD! If u ask me ne ways. When I'm @ restriction I don't count calories. Also u will plateau. Everyone does. I personally loose for 2 wks then hold steady for 2 wks. I'm down 120 lbs in 13 months. I've had a lil set back due to be unfilled & unable to exercise bc of plastic surgery. So currently I am counting cals to help get the last 13 lbs of my 30 lb weight gain off! Surgery was 3 wks ago... I had a ton of swelling. But right b4 surgery I hit 120 lbs lost & was 14 lbs from my 150 lb goal weight

Will your hospital put you on days temporarily just to get the surgery? That's underhanded but, my gosh, he's an idiot. An educated idiot, but an idiot. Lack of SLEEP contributes to weight gain, but working nights doesn't contribute to weight loss. Where's the proof? Where is he getting his data? From the gnome who lives in his closet? good grief.

Hello there. My name is Amanda and I am new to the group. I am here trying to regain my balance. I got a band in late May and did really well at first, but I moved from Philadelphia to New York, started a new job and moved back into my home in June. I was fine when I was not working but work seems to have sent my diet into a tizzy. The good thing is that I love to exercise. But it's the food I find such a huge challenge. I had my first fill in June and it was minimal. Since then, I have been constantly hungry and can't seem to put down my fork. Anyone have good suggestions on how to get back on track? I see my doctor in Philly soon for a fill but I am dreading that visit. I feel so disappointed in myself. This was a big decision and recovery was no piece of cake. I feel like I am blowing the journey just as it as truly just begin.