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Hi everyone! My name is Pamela and I am 27 years old. Oddly enough, I was very thin through most of my teenage years, and very athletic. I played a lot of sports in high school. As I got closer to my senior year, I noticed that I was putting on a little weight. I didn't think much about it at the time. About a year after I graduated, I got married to my high school sweetheart. By that time I had gained over 50 lbs and was at about 200 lbs. I was very concerned about how fast the weight came on. I was also having some female problems too. I went to my doctor and he did several test on me to find out if anything was wrong and the results shocked me! He diagnosed me with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). I had never heard of this before. He told me it was a hormonal disorder and one of the side effects was weight gain. He also told me that I would probably have trouble getting pregnant. My heart dropped when i heard this. I always thought when i was ready i would just be able to have a baby. It took 6 years before we were able to get pregnant and by the grace of God we now have a beautiful, healthy boy. I've tried every diet there is, I think, and nothing ever worked for me. I was 330lbs at my heaviest. I have been blessed with the opportunity to get the band. I've been banded for about 10 days and i am doing great. I am sooo excited about the journey ahead. I lost 13 lbs on the pre-op diet and have lost 16 lbs since my surgery. I know i rambled but i just wanted to introduce myself and see if anyone else has PCOS that has been banded and can tell me about your experience. Thanks for listening! Pamela Banded 9-20-07 330/299/150 :rose:

Thanks for replying! I have a caliper that is very very cheap so I gave up using after it told me I was 8% one time and like 35% the next time (haha) and there's a machine that's at my gym that gives you all kinds of information, including body fat. It rates me between 15 and 18% depending on the day. That is utter nonsense though because by all accounts i am still "fat". I look and feel like I could easily lose 40-50lbs from my abdomen and inner thighs alone. I was using a trainer for a time and am friends with the training staff at my gym but none of them have knowledge about bariatric patients, including their nutritionist. It feels like two different worlds to me - the gym environment and the bariatric environment. Neither one appears to have legit knowledge about the other. This is part of the reason I've been stressing about this. I need to know where the balance is. I'd also love to know if it's possible for me to actually use this surgery after 12 months for something other than creating a toxic bathroom and buying lots of vitamins for the rest of my life! You would think that would be covered day one of your consultation, but I feel like it's skimmed over in minor detail, and when I asked the simple question I got five different answers from five different medical experts. If you google something like "gastric bypass two years later" there's next to nothing other than a few weight gain articles and one forum post that says "gastric bypass 8 years later and out of control!" I am also very interested in talking to someone who knows both athletics and bariatric stuff. The nutritionist at my hospital comes across like she mostly deals with older people who cannot/do not exercise and doesn't really know my needs. And I'm scared about how hungry I am all the time. I feel like I did this for nothing :(

That is awful!! Is there an appeal process? A 2 pound weight gain could be anything... what you are wearing, sodium, menstrual cycle, digestive issues, holidays. So unfair.

I'm a 40DDD. I hope I don't lose much in the breast department. Before my weight gain I think I was a 36 C\D cup. I'm not certain since I never measured before. My family is well endowed for the most part so maybe mine is genetically okay.

I dislike shopping as well (do I really have to do this after I come home from work?) and I don't like cooking (do I really have to do this after I come home from work?) and cleaning up after (do I really have to do this after I come home from work?). I also dislike preparing food for the next day (do I really have to do this after I come home from work or before work in the next morning?). My compromise is that I keep it as simple as possible. I buy ready made soups that only have a few ingredients listed, even though they're relatively expensive. In general I think of warm food as more satisfying than cold food (e. g. warm oats are more satisfying IMO than cold oats) so I usually don't eat a sandwich/bread on its own but with soup. Soup and sandwich is a go-to for me when time is scarce. I also use frozen vegetables a lot. Saves both shopping, preparing, cleaning up and cooking time. Rice I cook in batches with a microwave rice cooker and freeze it in batches. After I started my new education my working times have changed (including 24 h shifts which are draining as hell) I'm struggling a bit as well, though it's more with regular exercise. I never got into the real groove again after my shoulder injury so far. Ok, I usually bike to work and I have been lucky with the roads not being icy so far but that's about it. Interestingly enough I haven't gained an ounce so far, even though I didn't feel I ate less food (though I must have anyway?). That's kind of a liberating observation. Convenience food (like sandwiches from the cafeteria) or eating lunch at the cafeteria even though they have a salad bar makes for less than ideal choices too often. I don't notice it in terms of weight gain (even lost a bit since starting my education), but I feel tired and drained a lot which I think is only partly because of different working hours. So even though I don't might like it, I will see to preparing oatmeal in the evening to grab in the morning instead of simply buying a sandwich at the cafeteria. There's no way though that I'll be nibbling on a piece of cucumber at 2:30 AM when I want something sweet. Protein bar for me then.

I picked 4..I really don't care what anyone thinks. My personal feelings is all that matters to me. Outside opinions can make your head get rather large...and I don't need any additional weight gain at this point..lol.

I agree with elcee...menopause does not need to include weight gain, despite the gyrating hormones and possible feelings of depression. What can easily cause weight gain during this phase of life is antidepressant medications and a lack of exercise due to the depressed mood. Menopause is another phase of life...accept it for what it is...I experienced daily hot flashes which caused my skin to get flushes and my hair to become wet from perspiration within a matter of only a few minutes. HRT did help, though I was only on it for a minimum amount of time. Try to continue your daily structure of exercise and monitor what you eat. Any mood changes you experience will be tied to the chemical changes in your body. It's going to become even more important for you to get your Calcium daily.Likely your metabolism will also be slowing...so look for ways to keep that as active as possible. Menopause is life changing, but it doesn't need to be weight changing as well... Best wishes...

I believe that any weight gain through menopause is due to bad eating habits. I may or may not be menopausal. I had a hysterectomy last year but I still have my ovary(only one) and I am not sure if it is functioning or not. I get the occasional hot flush but far more cold flushes. I have no idea what a libido is , I may have had one once but that was a long time ago. I used to have a brilliant memory , I could watch the first 5 seconds of a TV show and remember the whole thing, these days I know I've seen it before but it comes back to me slowly. I don't think I'm moody but my kids might beg to differ. I have been getting quite bad palpitations - I have just been for blood tests to try to find the cause so I'm not sure if I can blame those on menopause yet or not. I have gained a couple of kgs since the beginning of the year. Is that because of menopause? Well it would be nice if I could blame that but realistically I think it is because I am eating more junk. I haven't been working much so I'm at home bored and surrounded by temptation. I think what you need to do is be honest with yourself. Make a note of what you are eating. You can use a site like my fitness pal or just write it down or even take photo's. You will probably be surprised. It is quite likely that odd Snacks have crept in here or there and the calories soon add up. Good luck, hope you get back on track soon. I need someone to kick my a@@e and get me back on track.

You Choose: How Easy Do You Want Losing Weight to Be? Weight loss surgery is a substantial step in the battle to control your weight. It is proof of your long-term commitment to eating better and becoming healthier. Research clearly shows that weight loss surgery can be far more effective for significant long-term weight loss than diet and exercise, so why don’t all weight loss surgery patients achieve their goal weights after weight loss surgery? Why do some people find the journey easier than others, even though both sets of individuals are motivated to follow the weight loss surgery diet? The big losers do not necessarily have more willpower or desire. The important difference between the big losers and the re-gainers may be how easy they find the journey to be. Surprisingly, you can control a large part of how easy or hard it is to lose weight. The weight loss journey is not just about changing your digestive system through surgery. It is also about changing your entire lifestyle to facilitate weight loss. Weight Loss Surgery is a Weight Loss Tool, Not a Cure Weight loss surgery is a tool. It can make you less hungry by reducing the size of your stomach by inserting a band around your stomach (Lap-band), removing the majority of your stomach pouch (vertical sleeve gastrectomy) or folding or stapling away the majority of your stomach pouch (gastric bypass, duodenal switch, and sleeve plication). The vertical sleeve gastrectomy reduces hunger by reducing the amount of ghrelin, a hunger hormone, that your stomach produces. The gastric bypass and duodenal switch reduce nutrient absorption. All of these surgeries can help you eat less and lose weight, but none of these surgeries are fail-proof. You can “cheat” by eating high-calorie foods, drinking high-calorie beverages, drinking beverages while you eat solid foods, and eating without measuring your portions. Successful weight loss requires good choices on your part, and making good choices is easier if you focus on your entire lifestyle, not just the part of your digestive system that was changed with surgery. The Influence of Your Surroundings on Your Weight Think about this scenario. You leave home without breakfast and order a muffin and ice coffee at the drive-through on your way to work. You grab a doughnut at your morning meeting, and go out for lunch with your friends. You order the lunch special with a salad, breadstick, fettuccine alfredo and cheesecake. You nibble on some chocolates from your secretary’s desk as you make your way to the vending machine for a soda in the afternoon. You pick up a pizza on your way home because you know that there is nothing else for dinner. Now compare it to this second scenario. You wake up early to meet your friend for a walk before you get home for a breakfast of scrambled egg whites and spinach. You drive to work and have yogurt and some fruit at your morning meeting. Lunch with your coworkers consists of a green salad with canned tuna, and you have a hard-boiled egg for your afternoon snack. You are able to get dinner on the table quickly when you get home because you only need to defrost the meals that you prepared earlier in the week. Which scenario do you think you can help you lose weight? The second one, of course. So why not make it a reality? Do Your Surroundings Encourage Weight Loss or Weight Gain? You have battled your weight for years, if not for your entire life before weight loss surgery. In all likelihood, your environment was set up for you to eat. Take a good, hard look at your environment. Is it more like the first scenario or the second one described above? You have the ability to make it more like the second one. Notice the following items from the two scenarios. Exercise was automatic in the second one because you planned to meet a friend – so you couldn’t back out. Preparing your dinners ahead of time meant that you could eat quickly without going to a fast food restaurant. Packing your own snacks meant that you did not have to eat a doughnut in your morning meeting or chocolates in the afternoon. Make the “Right” Choice Automatic The fewer tough choices you have, the less likely you are to make poor decisions. Set up your environment so that the healthier actions are easier. To make healthy eating easier: Prepare plenty of meals ahead of time so that you always have a ready-to-eat, healthy option to prevent you from opting for take-out. Throw away the take-out menus that you used to store in the kitchen. The extra time it takes you to look up the phone numbers and menus online may be enough to let you come to your sense and realize that you don’t want fast food. Keep your kitchen stocked with all kinds of healthy foods, so that no matter your craving, you have a healthy answer. Do not keep unhealthy foods at home. If they are not there, you cannot eat them. Make sure that the healthy option is the default option. For example, measure your cheese and cut and wash fruits and vegetables ahead of time so that it is easier to snack on them than on cookies. Also consider these ideas: Meet your friends for walks or shopping trips instead of for meals at restaurants. Park your car a few blocks away from work so that you have no choice but to walk those few blocks again at the end of the day as you leave work. Do not drive past drive-thrus if they are too tempting. Also, do not keep money in the car, and consider removing your car’s cup holders so that eating in the car is no longer an option. All weight loss surgery patients have their own struggles. Far from being wimpy, removing these obstacles rather than fighting them is the best way to overcome them. The weight loss journey path will always have speed bumps and potholes, but it will be a lot smoother if you set up your lifestyle to promote better choices all day.

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.

It is a myth that medication causes weight gain and I know I will get flack from this but I do know what I am talking about. pills have no calories. Your eating habits make you gain weight not birth control. You have to stay in check. It's always easier to blame it on medication. But that one pill can not make you gain weight.

I have been on this forum for about a year and a half. I have seen so many posts of people worrying about excess skin after weight loss. I find this to be incredibly trite and shallow, a roadblock thrown up in the mind to justify the subconscious reasons why we put on and hold the weight to begin with. First of all, there are of course permanent consequences for getting so big that your skin has to stretch to be twice the size it would be if we were normal weight. It doesn't go back to a state in which it was as if we never were overweight. And so what? What is often unspoken in these forums is that a very overweight person worrying about how they are going to look if they lose weight because of sagging skin, is silly in a society in which obesity is considered ugly to begin with. More importantly, most of us have the surgery because our bodies and lives were becoming unmanageable due to excess weight, not to look better at speed dating. For those who are asking the question I have seen posted on this forum a million times, no your skin will not go back to being how it was before your weight gain. There is no cream, no wrap, no swanky magic that's going to make it be as if you were never overweight. The only real option for getting rid of excess skin if you are very overweight when you start, is plastic surgery. And that comes with its own price. I am not knocking people who choose to have that, I might even choose that eventually, as vanity is one of my flaws. That said, plastic surgery is very very serious, and fairly savage. And still, your body cannot look like it would have if you had never put on weight. They will be scars. Big ones. Surgery of any kind is a serious injury to the body. The point I am trying to make is that if you are considering having weight-loss surgery to save your life, stop worrying about your skin. Worry about the inner conditions that have led you to the point where this is necessary. Focus instead on changing your behaviors. Focus instead on health, not looks. We have such a distorted view of bodies in this country. Body diversity is beautiful! Stop thinking that you have to look a certain way. Be healthy. Be you. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I think you may be in the intial period of the surgery and it takes time to get adjusted to a new lifestyle. Yes you won't be able to binge or have big portion of food like you used to but post-Op your portion sizes do increase. I also have PCOS and have dealt with and even now dealing with it's horrendous side effects. Hirutism, acne, no periods, weight gain, dark patches, skin tags, metabolic syndrome, high BP and HR (but never took meds for it) anxiety, depression you name it and I have/had it. I'll anyday take this surgery over having to deal with plethora of PCOS related symptoms. My acne has gotten better, blood pressure and HR have normalized so far. No periods still. But I am sure as I continue to lose, some of these side effects will minimize. There's no guarantee, but I am sure I am on a better boat post-Op. My cravings and binge eating have also gotten better, which was never the case post tons of diet plans. This surgery is definitely a boon for many. But it takes time, patience,work and sacrificing of certain elements. Like many suggested, try therapist and see that may help or give it couple of months of adjustment. Good luck.

Sometimes crying can be viewed by healthcare professionals and some people in general as weak or neurotic. I quit crying in front of others at 8 years old when my grandmother yelled at me and told me it made me look ugly. Then when my father hit me because I wouldn't give him the satisfaction. I learned to cry in private. He used to beat my Mom over whether food was on the table at a certain time or if the meal was missing a condiment or not to his liking. I told my bariatric psych this is why I only ate when hungry or skipped meals. I fasted for days sometimes. I was neither anorexic nor bulimic. What I couldn't understand as a child or adult was how someone (dad) could act that way over food. So, it was easy for me not to think about eating till hungry. Then I ate whatever I wanted. Usually for pleasure. Usually not healthy choices. I saw the therapist 3 times within 3 months. First was initial greeting. Second was a 2–3-hour test I took in the office on their computer. Third was to go over my test score. I wasn't sure if I would get clearance since I was honest about my eating habits, but she said she felt I had already dealt with the mental reasonings in how I ate and believed my weight gain was more physiological. I'm not saying it's wrong to cry @saramelie and it's good to talk things out with a therapist. It was a first for me and I too questioned what I should share or not but it's for the best to get on with it so you can move forward to a better you. GL!!!

Well now this post just sent me flying into the bathroom in front of a full length mirror for stretch mark inspection! I have lost 50lbs so far and have another 50 to go. So far--I'm not seeing sagging or wrinkled skin. I have some stretch marks under my arms toward the top of my arm, some around the outside of my hips, and some toward the top outside corners of my breast. I'm not seeing any on belly or thighs. The 50lbs I just lost is "newer" weight gained in the last 5 years. I'm concerned about the next 50 because it's older weight (a LOT older!) and I'm afraid that because it's been there for a long time -- my skin won't be as elastic for that fat as it has been for the first 50.

Greetings to everyone, I am at a place right now where my complacency seems to be catching up with me, and I knew that if I came out here and 'fessed up, you all could kick-start me back on the right path. I was banded on 2/27/10, and have lost just under 65 pounds. I feel a LOT better, have more energy, etc., and I know my health has improved, so I'm happy about all of that. I got my third fill on 7/21, for a total of 5.5 in a 10 band. However, based on my perceptions, I can still eat too much, and I've discovered that I can easily get down some things that are probably not helping the situation. In the midst of all of this, I have just moved from WV, where I had lived for 25+ years, down to FL, with all the commotion surrounding that. I'm just about to get back started up at the local gym, after having been slack for 2-3 weeks while I was packing up the house. I think that some of what I'm experiencing may just be in reaction to the stress of the life change. Here are the challenge areas: 1) I'm not getting enough Protein 2) I'm not getting enough Fluid 3) I tend to be leaning towards slider foods I'm not seeing a weight gain through all of this, thank heavens, but I'm not losing either. Do I just need to stop beating myself up over this, considering all the churn in other areas of my life, and do my best to reset, or am I just indulging in a pity party (in which case, please feel free to give me a swift kick in the keester). Thanks for your support- Christine

Why do we eat? The most basic reason is hunger, however with the growing rate of obesity this shows us that people eat for more reasons than just hunger. People eat out of boredom, loneliness, hunger, or deprivation. All of which can lead to excessive overeating and added weight gain. By choosing the right foods to eat when you are actually hungry you can limit cravings to eat for these other reasons. Superfoods contain essential nutrients that the body needs to properly function. When the body is functioning optimally it will speed up your metabolism, boosting calorie burning, making it easier to lose weight. Superfoods contain Fiber, Protein, Vitamins, and minerals, which play a role in how your body responds to calorie absorption and fat cells. Superfoods tend to be lower in calories and take the body longer to digest. This leaves you feeling fuller for longer, giving you less reasons to eat unneeded calories. They also provide the body with a steady flow of energy, keeping the metabolism working to burn more calories. By adding these foods into your Breakfast, lunch, dinner and Snacks you can lose weight and feel great. -Apples- Apples are great for weight loss. They are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Apples are low in calories, low in sodium and high in fiber, which keeps the body feeling full while providing a stable source of energy. -Lentils- These small legumes pack a real big punch against weight gain. Lentils are high in folic acid, Iron, magnesium, fiber and protein. Lentils also contain resistant starch which shrinks fat cells; smaller fat cells means less fat. -Eggs- Although most people only eat them for breakfast, eggs are a great food for weight loss. High in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and Proteins, eggs help to build muscle, which in turn helps to burn fat. -Yogurt- Yogurt is a healthy combination of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. This combination staves off hunger by keeping blood sugar levels steady. Yogurt also contains a healthy dose of Calcium. Calcium signals fat cells to stop pumping out cortisol. -Sweet Potatoes- Sweet potatoes unlike most other vegetables are higher in calorie content but are worth all of them. Sweet potatoes contain resistant starch, which produces compounds to signal to the brain to stop eating. The bulk in sweet potatoes fills the stomach so you feel full. Carotenoids in sweet potatoes stabilize blood sugar levels and lowers insulin resistance. Kiwi- Although peculiar in size, shape, color and taste, this small fruit is loaded with nutrients. Kiwis are high in fiber, both soluble and insoluble, low in calories and high in Vitamin C.

I underwent my 1 1/2 year appointment with the nutritionist and doctor. One of the points I brought up was the story that I heard that the stomach begins to heal at 1 1/2 years and absorbs more calories. It turns out that is a "myth". The main reason for the weight gain (in the maintenance phase) is that individuals begin to graze and when they graze they expand their stomach and then take on more weight. They also said that after RNY surgery, the part of the stomach that absorbs sugars and fats has been cut away. Therefore if one eats too much sugars or fats, the intestines don't know what to do with this and pass it through the system (diarrhea). But as time goes on, the intestines begin to adapt and absorb sugars and fats. I am 18 months post-op and my pouch is still tight. I can tell because when I eat solid foods like steaks or chicken, at some point before I consume a cup, my stomach begins to warn me not to eat anymore. I attribute this tight pouch to my meal plan. From almost the beginning, I focused on consuming high Protein home-made Soups and chili. It is a softer food that because the ingredients were mixed had more flavor. Also it was easy to take the required amount using measuring cups and easy to heat using a microwave oven. Also the food went down smoother and didn't generate that painful experience when you eat too much. At the moment, I am about 10 pounds below my goal weight. I stay away from processed sugar. I rely on natural sugars found in fruits and milk, in synthetic sugar such as Splenda and other natural sugars such as Stevia. In the beginning if I grazed I concentrated on grazing on Proteins. But now I mainly graze on fats. Fats have the ability to take away hunger. I stay away from grazing on carbs. I do graze. But I also monitor my weight daily. I laid out what I was eating and my meal plan with the nutritionist. Their take was just keep doing what I am doing.

It's official. I gained 6 lbs since my "unfill" on March 10. It's probably not a full 6 lbs because I'm very bloated in a womanly way - I'm guessing it's about 3 lbs once I unload all this fluid. The thing is, I really don't feel badly about the weight gain. I've been able to wrap my head around the idea that this is a process and with any long term endeavor, there are ups and downs. In this case, it's still mostly downs (as in weight going down) and I'm way ahead of where I was mentally and physically, even a month ago. Sure, a month ago the weight was falling off but it was at the price of vomiting, feeling unwell and feeling mentally punished for being fat all the time. With the unfill, I was able to replenish both my body and my mind. I like to think of this period as a mini vacation from the band that allowed me to refresh and start anew...just like coming back from vacation and going back to school or work. Yesterday, I got a fill. Only 1cc which brought me back to 6cc, exactly what I had after my first fill. I couldn't feel any restriction when I had my soup for lunch and fluids go down fine but I decided on some soft cheese, salad and hummus for dinner and I could feel it. Yay! Restriction is back and not too much. I may still need another adjustment but I'm really ready to get back on the wagon and correct these bad patterns I fell right back into over the last month: 1) Drinking while eating 2) Bread, bread, bread 3) Eating too fast and not chewing well enough - even with very little restriction I had a bad PB incident with a bagel 4) Slider foods and candy 5) Diet soda 6) Booze 7) Snacking It was a great vacation - eating, drinking, my birthday, having too much fun with food - but I'm back now and tightening the reins. Happy Easter, Passover, Spring to all!

Renee!! I'm so sorry you're having to go through all this right now!! This whole process of jumping through insurance hoops is so stressful!! Is there anyway you can get on a waiting list with your pulmonoligist office so if someone cancels an earlier appt you can get in before the 17th? I have a cpap that I never wear...I hope they don't say anything to me about it!!! This is such a hard time of year to have our final appts (mine's tomorrow too) with all the food from the holidays. My surgeons office though wasn't too concerned about any weight gain so hopefully yours wont be either! I know its hard but try to stay positive...it will all work out!! Let me know if you need to chat/vent!!

Hi Fellow Springers! My name is Summer, and I am having surgery on April 5th, which I am both terrified and excited about. A little about me... I am 31 years old, a NICU RN, wife and a mother to wonderful children ages 10 and almost 2. I used to be thin. Athletic. Healthy. Then I wasn't. My fault. I take full responsibility for my weight. After the bedrest and weight gain of my first child I never lost the weight. I tried... sort of. I had never had to diet before, and wasn't prepared to do it. Then the weight kept on adding on. Eventually I got serious about it and lost 60 lbs. To which I celebrated by gaining 80. Ooops. I have been contemplating lap band for a few years now and done ample research and waited until I was mentally and physically ready to do so. Mainly mentally. It helps to have a supportive husband. He has been great. Attending meetings, classes, and doing his own research. I can't wait to have surgery. I can't wait to buy cute clothes. I can't wait to put up a full size mirror in my house. I can't wait to sit in a booth at a restaurant and not squeeze in. I can't wait to cross my legs at the knees. I can't wait to not be embarrassed by my weight when I catch sight of myself in a picture. I am also terrified I will fail the band. More pressing right now is the morbidity rate of the surgery. THAT scares me. Being a NICU RN I see how things go wrong, which does not help my anxiety. I have found such helpful information out on this site, and am so glad this group was made to support each other through it. Yay for us! Summer

@@dusky goddess, I posted a face picture comparison on this site about two months ago because I felt it may encourage other people who are in the weight loss stage. I think about having it removed from time to time. I struggle emotionally with my new body and realize there is a lot of healing that has to come from within. I was never one to flaunt it for the camera even when I was young. I didn't take my high school year book picture but picture avoidance worsened with weight gain. It bothers me when people talk about how skinny I am now. Even that makes me feel uncomfortable. My mind is struggling with these comments. I don't have answers for your situation but I hope you become more comfortable with who you are physically. I'm sure you are beautiful in a full body picture as well.

Hi everybody. This is my first entry on this site. You all seem like such a close nit supportive group. I'm having my surgery in Monterrey, Mexico on May 18th. I'm pretty nervous but I just keep reading and educating myself. I'm going to get my fills in Fill Center USA in Mount Laurel, NJ. It's about 30 miles north of me so pretty convenient. One thing that I have to say is that I have very little support in this. I have chosen not to tell people. My kids are too young and it would scare them. I'm so afraid of negative feedback because my mind is made up and I'm afraid it will get me down if people are negative. Does that make sense? Somehow I have to find somebody to tell so that if god forbid anything happened I could be reached. Hmmm. Anyway, I have a few weeks to work on this and maybe I'll come up with someone I can trust with my heart. My story is that I'm a New York State transplant and have lived here in Jersey for 10 years. I'm divorced but happily so. I always battled the pounds but stayed in pretty good shape until my 40's. I actually had my kids late my normal standards. I was 37 and 40 when I had them, I'm 50 now and have managed to get myself way heavier than I should be. So here I am. I'm an RN and live in south Jersey. I'm very contented with my life other than the fact that my weight is becoming an all consuming problem for me. Although I don't have medical complications I will if I keep this weight gain up like I have been. I feel like I'm being proactive. With young kids I need to stay healthy for a long time. Thanks for listening Laurie

I want to ask my doctor this. I made the surgery happen and it was a mistake. Im 7/8 months postop and Im gaining weight. I was down to 267 at my lowest and I was 273 at my checkin in December, and 281 now, end of March. Is there an easy way to see this? COULD my stomach stretch back to its full size? I don't need a peptalk or anything. I KIND of want to go to a nutritionist and see if they can help me. I dont want to go to my followup appointment in a couple weeks because I swear to god all the doctor will say is "youre gaining weight, this is bad. you shouldnt be gaining weight. gaining weight is bad. your surgery is not a success." - please, I don't need to drive there for you to tell me that.

Just thought I'd give you some of my thoughts on this. I'm someone who is covered in stretch marks. They are all over. I'm hoping that after I loose weight they might not be as noticable, I'm not really sure how they work, but I'm only 20 so I'm hoping my skin, even though its so incredibly stretched right now, will be able to tighten back up. However, a couple of my friends are having babies/already have had babies, so I've gotten to see a lot of their stretchmark experiences. My friend who had a baby this summer was tiny and had no stretchmarks at all pre-pregnancy, and after pregnancy, she has one tiny little one on her stomach that has since disappeared. So it seems that pregnancy can affect people differently than weight gain. A couple of my other friends have had no problems with stretchmarks and pregnancy, but most of them are in their early 20s, so it might have something to do with age? Anyways, I'm rambling, haha I really don't know what I'm talking about and have never been pregnant, I just thought I'd share some of my friends experiences. Good luck with everything!! Allison