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Ditto here. Wish I had done it sooner. I fooled around with a lot of research for a long time. Not a bad thing because I found a wonderful surgeon and staff in the process which for me was essential in my weight loss efforts. I look in the mirror and think about what I looked like and how unhealthy and inactive I had become and it makes me so sad that I let it happen. There are so many emotional issues and physical issues associated with weight gain that shorten our life span. What a gift I found with the band. It is still a lot of hard work and there is a boatload of eating temptation and people trying to sabotage your efforts but it is worth every defiant "No thanks. I don't need that piece of pie today." I am still adjusting to shopping for normal clothes but I am thrilled about it just the same.

I cant seem to lose alot of weight. i have notice that i have gained 5 pounds this month and i need help i have only lost 40 pounds in nine months

I am new to the group and have been thinking about the Band for quite awhile. I realize at this point in my life I'm not able to lose the weight like I used to. I have had two major knee reconstrcuts and I can't exercise like I used to, hence lot's of weight gain. My brother has had the surgery and I see the good as well as some of the bad with his experience. I'm sure like most of you I'm having thoughts about failure (If I have to resort to something this drastic then I must be a failure), how this will effect my life (both good and bad). So lot's going on inside my head. But I also know that if I don't get this weight off I will be much worse off. So My question to you all that have had this are what are your regrets, would you do it again or try other means to get to your weight loss goals? My wife and I are going to an info seminar Monday so I'm sure that will answer alot of my other questions. Hopefully $$$ won't be an issue, I am on TRICARE as I'm retired military, and I know they now cover this surgery. Thanks in advance for the info. D:thumbup:

Hi Pam...welcome to our group! We have a wonderful group of people here. Most of us have been banded a while, so if you have any questions let us know! It looks like you are doing great so far! :smile2: Way to GO! I love this group of ladies. We talk about everything under the sun here as well as cheer each other along as far as our goals go. Hope you stick around...we would love to have you! No, I did not get a complete unfill when I got close to goal...I just started to eat instead of smoke. Eating the wrong things to make myself feel better and then I just got depressed over the weight gain and then I started to have ALOT of stress in my life over this past summer and it was so stressful that it caused my band to practically close up. So, I started to eat ice cream since nothing else would go down. Not just a little ice cream...ALOT. Then when I realized what was happening I got an unfill and some antidepressants and now here I am. In alot better place emotionally and ready to start over. Oh well, at least I didn't gain ALL of it back. Sorry for the longgg answer to your question! I would LOVE for you to take this ride with us! Hi ladies! so what does everyone have planned for this weekend? So far for me it has been COFFEE :wink2: After that it is a laundry day, then cleaning bathtubs...you know, fun stuff. DH started back to work today so it is just me & the girls. It is supposed to be pretty today. We actually had some sunshine yesterday and it is here again today. I am gonna try to enjoy it while I can. Have a great day everyone! I will check back in!

Congrats, Kiddo!! Enjoy!! Yep, I sure remember John!! So much enjoyed the music, and he is a pretty interesting guy! AND, he doesn't like Obama!!! LOL!! Earl's antics are never-ending!! Told the neighbor, Jim, it was all his fault because he started this cement thing!! I watched World News TWICE!! I LOVE Charlie Gibson!! Especially when he says, "I HOPE you had a GOOD day!!" I told Earl he was going to cry at the end, and so when Charlie got all choked up, so did Earl!! I will really miss him! And I will hate not hearing him say, "I HOPE you had a GOOD day!!" Who will say that to me now????? Oh, Gosh... I think I had too much wine again!! Earl forgot to tell me the neighbors invited us for a party. So after the Christmas potluck, we went to the neighbors' for a patio party!! I walked home from the clubhouse, BTW, to walk off some of what I ate!! So they were surprised to see me arrive on foot and Earl on the scooter!!! :smile2::biggrin: Our cinnamon roll was only about half the size of a cinnabon, so hopefully half the calories, too. Didn't even really enjoy it!! Now the Lady Godiva truffle, that's another story!! LOL! Crap! I can't get started on sweets again! This has got to stop! The cinnamon roll was NOT worth it, but as I said, the truffle is another story!! And tonight was a bust! Too much food... I had some ham, some scalloped potatoes, green bean casserole, corn casserole, and a small piece of... oh, I HATE to say it, carrot cake. After my resolve to stay away from the dessert table.... carrot cake!! Crap! It wasn't worth it either. We decided that we will SKIP the chapel potluck on Sunday. Potlucks are the devil's work! I will have to walk, walk, walk this weekend! I cannot give in to any more temptations! I am WEAK!! Oh, but I gotta tell you a couple of things... if I can remember them. These are NSVs, since I've been bad this week and had a weight gain.. have to focus on positive things and resolve to do better so I can look forward to more of these! First, I discovered that I can put my socks on by putting my foot up on my opposite knee. HAH!! So what, you say!?? Do you know how long it's been since I could do that??? A LONG time! So that's been several weeks now. So, I'm sitting at book club the other day and I had this sudden urge to cross my legs! I had this voice in one ear saying, "You can't do that!!" and in the other ear.... "Oh, yes, you can!! Remember the socks????" The rest is history... I sat there for the rest of the meeting with my legs crossed! HAH!! Another victory! Janet, hope you can come and hang out with us Sunday. Program starts at 6pm, but I have to be there at 5 pm... but you can come over whenever. We will just be chillin' all afternoon. Not sure what we'll do about dinner. Before 5pm is too early... might have to eat "dinner" after church and keep it light in the afternoon. We'll figure it out.

Hi everyone. Yesterday I met with my weight management doctor and he said I am right on track and I can look to having surgery sometime in February. I made an appointment with the surgeon for Tuesday 12/22. I also have an orientation meeting at the hospital on Monday 12/21. Things are moving right along. I'm getting excited now. I also met with a Psychologist yesterday and she talked about the results of a test I took to determine my state of mind. She said I was more depressed than 90% of the people that come in. I told her I thought all people who were struggling with being overweight were depressed. She said yes, to an extent but with my stats she said that it looked like a person that would have trouble with weight gain even after surgery. That scaires me but we talked about it for awhile and I think we're ok. She also strongly supported the Lap Band surgery and said that the device has greatly improved and it's much safer than the other options. They have lost patients with the other surgeries, but never with the Lap Band. I know there are risks but from what I've read on this site, the Lap Band just doesn't seem to last long-term. She kept saying that the VSG is such a long incision and the stomach acid could impair the healing in the lower part of the stomach. She said I should bring up all these things with my surgeon on Tuesday and see what he says. I know there are risks but the VSG still seems to be the best alternative for me at this point. Thank you all for your support and advice.

You know Val, maybe that is why they are cancelling surg. due to weight gain because they know they are overwhelmed with people waiting to get in. They can pick and choose who they want, and who they think will have the most success rate..Not to imply you renee, because we have all had struggles with our weight, you just happened to have your weight fluctuate right before your surg..

Sorry to hear your bad news, Paigey . . . I hope May will come fast for you . . . I don't understand such differences in insurance companies' requirements. I had to provide written documentation of my dieting/weight loss/weight gain and it's been an ongoing yo-yo for 30 yrs.---time for a change. I've been contemplating lap band for almost two years, but finally decided that with my health problems--sleep apnea, high blood pressure, aching joints, no energy, etc.--that I don't have much choice if I want to really have an active life. My surgery date is Dec. 29 at Emory Mid Town . . . I'm in Georgia too, near Athens. Good luck with your process!

Sally What I do is make deals with myself - I work and my office gets tons of cookies candies etc - well my deal with myself is that I don't eat any of the junk here at work so that I can have a few Xmas cookies that I make w/my granddaughters every year... I guess what got me was the title of this thread Relax - Eat what you want - Well hell - that's how most of us got fat in the 1st place. I know that a few pple who have the band - didn't eat all that unhealthy prior to banding - they just ate too much food - (I wasn't a fast food eater - I ate too much home cooked food - that was high fat and I ate tons of carbs and sugar) would say for the majority of us weren't eating healthy.. here's a link that may help w/the holiday temptations 10 Ways to Avoid Weekend Weight-Gain You can do this - you really can - If I'm doing it you can - it's work but your health is so worth it - it's hard at time and easier at other - But it's do-able.. Wishing you success on your journey

I'm one of the original "failed bandsters" who thought the band would work for me and got it a couple years ago when there still wasn't enough information out on it. I actually "thought" it would restrict me from eating sweets and junk and that was the type of food that went right through. Being a type II diabetic, perimenopausal, hypothryroid etc...just added to the problem, also on antidepressants. Anyway my GERD pain was so bad it put me in the ER one night and after that with the weight "gain" instead of loss and the GERD hospital stay I was able to have my insurance cover it's removal and becuase I felt like such a failure I didnt' revise. I learned more information about lap bands on this site after I was banded but by then it was too late. Anywho long story short I gained a bunch of weight after my band was removed which made me feel even better:thumbdown: so I decided since my daughter had RNY and was successful that I'd give myself one more shot as long as my insurance would cover my revision which I'm lucky enough to say it did.. I'm not saying it was a breeze, longer recovery, more pain and you're restricted from the very beginning no guesswork there or "bandster hell" but it worked for me. I'm never going to be a "Tiger Woods' mistress" but I've lost a chunk so far and I'm off my diabetic meds and keep up with my vit/supplements and appear to be healthy and happy. Anyway the band is a great tool if it works for you and stays in good working order if not well there are always other options. Good luck and health to all of us! Nancy.

Hey everyone, Happy Holidays. Sorry to see everyone is struggling. UGH i am too. This time of yr is really hard. I made a goal to lose 40 lbs for Thanksgiving and I came really close. I was at like 38. Someone at work told me to load up on Activia and be done with it.. LOL Well I saw my family for the first time since surgery and EVERYONE noticed. I've dropped down two sizes and even that size is loose! :thumbup: But that's about it, it's all gone downhill since there.. The holidays are stressing me out, ok maybe it's just my in-laws but I find myself eating. Eating a lot and all the wrong things. I'm going food shopping and determined to lose the 7lbs I've gained by new yr. Paige you cracked me up with your scale story. I thought I was the only one that thought a warped floor MIGHT be the cause for my weight gain! LMAO Heidi, I too am making a ton of excuses. Easy to do when you are exhausted with kids and the last thing you want to do is exercise. I hope to join a gym in Jan. I'm at 4 cc's and can eat ANYTHING, had one moment this morning, where my toast just didn't want to move, no pain or anything but it did and all is fine I should call and schedule another fill soon. :thumbup:

So, should all surgeries be covered? There have to be some guidelines. And, I am with those who think it it stupid to intentionally gain weight. So sue me. OP, that said, are you off the meds that caused the initial weight gain? And what does your doc say about that link, the potential for loss, and your illness? If you can't lose while on the meds how will that change if you continue to take them? I know that if I was on meds that caused weight gain, as I have been, that I could not quit eating even with a surgery, kwim? I'd have found a way to cheat the system.

I gained 7 lbs before my first fill. My doctor told me not to worry about it, that it happens to some people. I also gain weight (or definitely don't lose) about a week or a week and half before my period. I'm trying hard not to pay too much attention to the numbers. I'm eating better and way less than I ever have, and I am definitely getting healthier! Try not to worry about the weight gain. It happens. Once you start getting fills and have more restriction, it won't be as difficult as it is now. Sheri

The transition to solid food often brings a small weight gain. All that liquid pretty much emptied your bowels of waste (this is how you lose weight with a colon cleanse)! You started eating mushy foods. Then the transition to regular food. You're recovered from the surgery, you don't have any restriction to speak of and you're feeding your body normal food. Don't worry! With that first fill, you are on the road for real and it will all start working for you. It could take several fills to get to your sweet spot, but just eat the portions you've been told to eat and if you get hungry in less than 4 hours, snack on a little bit of Protein .... a boiled egg, a little deli sliced turkey, an ounce of low fat cheese (all of these are about 60-70 calories). It will all come together for you!

Hi everyone, i will be getting my first fill this morning and I know I will have a weight gain when I weigh in. I did great on liquids, mushies, etc. When I started solids, the scale didn't move then went up a little. I already feel like I'm failing with the lap band. I'm down 21 pounds including pre-op diet. Surgery was Nov 9th. I would really appreciate some feedback. Did anyone else have a gain before first fill?? I weighed 205 post op visit on 11/17. Am now 207. Ugh:bored: Thanks everyone.

Hi all! I'm on a week of the strict clear liquid diet. I"m only drinking shakes and Water and some crystal lite. Jello now tastes like metal to me, it's really gross. So, that's all I"m having. I have only lost a pound. I'm freaking out because the Dr. told me if I don't lose a lot more weight he won't do the surgery. Ugh. HiMow, you and I both have Dr. Oh. I was looking at his profile here and you were on there. He's one tough guy don't you think? My Dr. makes me nervous that he won't do the surgery. I haven't cheated AT ALL but because I only lost 5 lbs since the liquid diet he is threatening to call off the surgery and that was Friday and I've only lost like 3 pounds since then. Me = freaking out. LOL I keep weighing myself, I keep worrying if maybe 3 shakes is too many. What about water weight. I'm also seriously bloated because unlike the guys, we have that lovely weight gain before a menstral cycle. I"m a mess people! And I'm so so very hungry. LOL I only have 8 more days of eatting shakes and well...that's it. (I swear I"m so losing it.)

Hi, I'm carolyn and I was banded in July 2002. I am at my goal and have been for a couple of years. I am not having a problem with weight gain, but rather weight loss. I have to continuously eat in order to maintain my weight. Anyway, looking for fellow old-timers who may be experiencing the same swollen feeling in the mornings like I do. I am also here to help anybody who would like it, any advice I can give to any of you who are new to this. I was not one much for support groups, but have been thinking about it for a long time. So here I am.

Can someone tell me about the weigh in the day of surgery with Dr. Posner? I have so much anxiety. He said if there is any weight gain, surgery will be cancelled. My date is this wednesday the 16th. Does the nurse weigh you in? The doctor? Is there a weigh in at all???? Soooo nervous !!!

Hello all :willy_nilly: my name is Kayla, I'm 20 years old, a junior in college, and I'm from Minnesota! I just joined this website figuring it would be good for me to have others to talk to who are going through similar situations and so far I think it's really cool! I've always been a chubby kid growing up and just became used to it. I got made fun of a little bit but not as bad as some people, I figure it was just the 'average' amount if that makes sense. Growing up I never really let my weight bother me but the few times that I heard some of the mean things that people would say it really hurt my feelings and made me hate my body. After experiencing my bullying I became the 'funny girl'. I've always been very outgoing and very social but it's like I started performing for people so that even though I was overweight people would like me because I could make them laugh. For most of my life that worked alright. I always had tons of friends, never had a problem getting boyfriends, I did all the fun high school things, so I never felt that my weight held me back much since it was something that I had for as long as I could remember. About 3 weeks before my sweet sixteen I got the news that my aunt was murdered by her husband. My aunt was like a second mother to me so it was a very traumatic experience. I think that was a big trigger for more weight gain along with being sexually abused my sophomore year in high school and being diagnosed with depression in 9th grade. I was always over weight but I didn't look fat I just didn't fit into size 2 jeans. When all of those things happened I really started packing on the pounds. I saw a therapist for all my problems and I'm very proud to say that I'm doing so much better but food was my comfort and I was just never able to really let that go which is how I got to my highest at 281 pounds. In October of 2008 I went to my first doctor appointment to learn about the weight loss surgery option and began doing all my pre-surgery requirements. After I completed like 5/6 of the requirements I changed my mind on the surgery because I began to lose weight on my own and thought it was somewhat easy. I was able to drop 25 pounds in like a month and a half. Then the weight loss haulted and I gained about 7 of the pounds back. It is very hard being on a diet and making it to the gym 4 times a week while going to college and working as well. When I realized that our insurance would pay for all of my surgery I reconsidered the surgery and have a surgery planned for Monday, January 4th, 2010. I feel so blessed for all of my family and friends who are in my life and supporting me through this time. I also feel very blessed to be given the opprotunity to have surgery in the first place! I've never felt that my life was terrible or not fun or that I've missed out on anything but as I've gotten a little older I'm starting to figure out things that I want to try but could be difficult because of my weight. Last February I was diagnosed with PolyCystic Ovary Syndrom (PCOS) and was told that it will be very hard for me to get pregnant in the future unless I lose weight and I'll most likely still need fertility drugs even after some weight is lost. Even at 20 and not desiring children anytime soon, one of my dreams is to be a mother and I want to figure out things now to make that dream possible. I also think that this surgery will give me more self confidence and overall happiness in my life that I lost about 5 years ago. I hope you all enjoyed reading my 'story' as I have enjoyed reading yours! I also look forward to getting in touch with people since the people I have talked to so far have just been wonderful! Happy holidays everyone & God bless! missKAYLA

I meant to give up smoking a month before my surgery, but just couldn't do it. In fact I had a smoke on my way to the hospital a few hours before the actual operation to 'calm my nerves'. This did not cause any problems for me personally, but the longer you can give up the better. Whilst smoking is undoubtedly bad, I would not worry too much especially if you have stopped for 2 weeks. Your blood pressure will be lower after just one day of quitting, and after a few weeks your lungs will be more efficient and will have started cleaning themselves. Quitting even a week before surgery has got to be better than not at all so don't beat yourself up over it. Just try to make sure you stay quit AFTER the operation too as smoking slows the healing process. Once you are banded you won't have to worry so much about weight gain after quitting either :thumbup: Good luck with your band!

I was told not to have rice because it expands and continues to expand in your stomach. Not sure how true that is, but that is what I was told. LOL. For those of us who havent had a fill and have no restriction, be careful!!!! You quickly learn that without restriction, you can basically eat whatever you want. But you will pay for it with weight gain, as I did. Over Thanksgiving weekend I gained 6 pounds. Luckily, I am back on track, but I still have to be careful because I dont have that restriction. Best of luck!

What kind of things are you eating, or were eating, when you were on liquids and then mushies. And then once you started real food what were you eating? I am worried I won't lose weight. I don't know why I am thinking like this. I am eating right now things like liquid yogurt, cream Soups strained, sugar free popsicles, and lots of Water. I have not lost anything since my surgery Wed. In fact, I've gained five pounds! ACK! Maybe it's water weight gain from the IV fluids?? Anyone else gain weight right after surgery? Help with ideas please!

I am new at the band, but a long, long time gamer, going way back to Ultima on the Commodore 64 in the early 80's. Everquest 1 and 2, and WoW has consumed many hours of time. Talk about addiction, I used to "Raid" all by myself, with quad-boxing 4 accounts, sometimes 5 or 6 with borrowing friends accounts. So I am saying this, to establish my credentials, I FULLY understand gaming, and the addictions that it CAN represent. As I look back, and chart my gaming against my weight gains and losses, there is a correlation, due to the time I had available. No, playing games does not make you overweight. But for me at least, it had a huge correlation to the time I put into games, vs other things in life. So in the end, your choices are completely up to you. But I think you have come to this forum asking for help, asking for advice, or support. I am "down" to one WoW account now, and play alt's most of the time. You may want to try that, create another character that you can casually play, here and there, without the "pressure" to perform, or Raid. Try another server, the other faction, horde or Alliance. Try a different game like Age of Empires, or Civilization. Sometimes you have to go cold turkey, sometimes you can scale back. The bottom line is, that you are looking for time to exercise, and you can't cut work out. I try and get 5 min here, 5 min there, I walk down the hall to the farther bathroom when I need to go. I get 10 mins of hall walking in at lunch time. (I work with a really big complex of offices) You can try leg lifts while sitting at your desk. 100 leg lifts per hour. Some workplaces will let you bring in one of those giant ball to sit on instead of your desk chair. Not much difference, but you are using your core muscles to sit, instead of slouching in a chair (like I do ). I park in the farthest lot. I know, people use that excuse alot, but for me, it is 3/4 of a mile (according to my pedometer) from my car to my desk, each way. That is 1.5 miles a day just getting to my car. Now it sucks in winter, and Michigan winters can be brutal, but bring boots, heavy jacket, hat, wrap, gloves, even snow pants. You are worth it. I have found that if you look, you can find a few minutes here and there to increase your activity level. Sure, 30 min of cardio is the gold standard that we shoot for per day. But sometimes, we give up on exercise altogether, because we don't have the hour available to exercise (and then shower, change, get back to work). Three, 10 minute walks is not the same as 30 minutes of cardio. But to your muscles, it is activity, you are burning SOMETHING, it is better than just sitting doing nothing. And I found that it got me into a better place, where now I walk 1 hour each morning. (Ugg, I am NOT a morning person, but I set that alarm at 5:30, and drag myself out) You can do this, we are here to support you, but it is up to you to commit. Send me a PM if you want to chat more about games, and ideas for limiting their influence on your time.

Thanks Ziahmama for your concern. I don't plan to exercise as hard as I was prior to the pregnancy but I do plan to keep walking a few miles a day. Hopefully that will delay any weight gain. The doctor said to try to gain a minimal amount of weight because I am still overweight and the baby will get what it needs. I am soooo tired right now. I had an ultrasound yesterday and I am 6 weeks and 2 days pregnant my baby is due Aug. 2nd, 2010. Good luck to all the pregnant ladies out there.:rolleyes2: