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I had a lot of stretch marks and 80 pound weight gain with my first child prior to banding. I had 1 band baby and found that after losing the weight with the band baby, the small excess of skin was enough to allow me to grow with pregnancy without getting bigger or any stretchmarks. I am now 30 weeks pregnant with the second baby and I still have not had one stretch-mark or extra skin. It seems like the extra skin from weight loss allows pregnancy to occur without additional impact in my case.

@@rydersmama, congratulations on developing all of these new problems! And thanks for this great thread. Yes, being cold without 100 lbs of fat to insulate is definitely a problem that didn’t exist before weight loss surgery! It’s nice that I can fit into the extra layers of clothing that I need, though! Another one is the annoyance of people telling me that I don’t need to… “You don’t need to watch what you eat.” “You don’t need to skip dessert.” “You don’t need to work out so much.” Well, yes, actually, I DO need to! That’s how I am able to maintain my weight loss! It is so flattering that people see me as someone without a weight problem, but it is annoying when they think I can maintain my weight without any effort – almost nobody can, even most people who have never been overweight work really hard to prevent weight gain! All these “skinny people problems” are such beautiful reminders of how far I have come, and I wouldn’t trade them for anything.

okay so im going crazy:lol:. after 2 years of debating this im finally going for it. my hubby is in the airforce and we ae currently overseas in germany. i started the first step of making an appointment with my PCM but am terrified of not getting a referral. not to mention even if i do get a referal, so many people are having trouble with tricare. im 22 years old, 247 pounds. 5'8inches tall with severe arthritis and a degenerative hip diesease that can only be fixed by a hip replacement. has any one on here had hip surgeries (i've had 2 so far) and got approved for the band? im worried that it could hurt me instead of helping me with the surgery. they might say the hip diesease caused the weight gain and i know that you cant have any condition that causes the weight gain. you can only have a condition that gets better by less weight. even though ive always been a big girl, i have to admit, i wouldnt be this big if i could exercise more. (my hip has no cartlige in it so its painful to exercise.i still do though, and im sure with less weight on my joints it would be less painful. anyways, thrusday is approaching ever so fast and i have no clue what to do.

i had no symptoms at all except weight gain. they did the fluroscope Wednesday morning and that's how they found mine. she said with me having no chest pain, no reflux, no throwing up that i prob caught it early so i'm hoping liquids will fix it and no surgery.

I'm 2 years out and initially lost over 110 lbs. I more than passed the expectation of my surgery team. Over the past six months I have gained back more than 15 lbs. My surgeon is okay with my weight gain because I'm still within my expected range, but I am not. He also said that they do expect some weight gain about 2 years out as your body adjusts to its new size. What I also learned from my team is that you need far less calories post surgery than a normal person. Because you have essentially flushed your system out, your heart, lungs, muscles need much less energy just to work normally. They compareded it to a car needing less fuel after a tune up. So translate fuel or energy to calories. Much less calories are now needed and that as time goes on and my body continues to adjust, I may continue to drop in the amount of calories I can tolerate. So it appears that I need to limit my daily caloric intake to approx. 1500 calories to simply not gain. Even though I'm active, running, walk, kayak, ski etc on a regular basis. Doesn't seem to matter. In fact it was suggested that I might not be able to tolerate 1500, that as time goes on I may need to reduce my caloric intake even more. I still find I need 5 smaller meals a day. Do the math, that means 250-300 calories a meal. I know I've been eating more than that. So I struggling with accepting that if I want to keep the weight off, I need to live on a highly restricted calorie diet, which basically severely limits my intake of sugar, alcohol, carbohydrates, meat and fats. I lost the weight on low fat cottage cheese, greek yogurt, salads with vinegar or yogurt dressing, fish, Beans and low-fat cheese as my primary nurishment. I am realizing that I need to follow that diet for life and it is challenging, particularly when it comes to social events and dining out. I am praying for fortitude and solice to accept this as a permanent lifestyle change and would greatly appreciate hearing your stories and knowing that I am not alone.

I am a April sleever ... I was sleeved on april 14th ,2010 and I am down 53 lbs so far ... I have been at a stall for 45 days now with ONLY 1/2 lb lost:sad0:!! Its very frustrating but I know that it will pass. I have NO hair loss :thumbup:.. My hair is actually extra thick!!!! I get plenty of protein and that is no problem.. I just have the problem with this stall. I pray that it will get better.. No weight gain , just no weight lost... I still have to work @ the weight loss with exercise and diet .. NO SILVER BULLET !!!:thumbup:

Is it normal to have some weight gain after one month of surgery? I just want to ask if this is a normal thing ocurring to me. I will transition to solids finally tomorrow and dont know if that will help with the weight gain. I was doing fine while on liquids and for the majority of pureed. Just feel bloated and my chest feels very tendered which dont know if that is something normal for men. Thank you..

I've been reading this thread and lurking in the background. I am trying to do this fasting but find that I feel ravenously hungry and end up snacking myself into oblivion. Sigh. Also trying to stay very low carb. I find the low carb thing difficult at times but not as hard for me as the fasting. For some reason it makes me feel very fatigued. Does anyone else experience this? Maybe it's just not for me. I am very frustrated with myself and my inability to lose the holiday weight gain. Just seems like I never had the surgery sometimes except I'm fighting from a much lower weight than before. Other than that it's just as frustrating.

Normal weight gain for a bandster would be what any other normal person's weight gain would be. I gained about 50 lbs but I had half my fluid removed at 10 weeks and had no restriction. I think you are doing just fine!

OMG!!! I really needed to see this post today. with some weight gain over the holidays, i have only managed to lose 22 pounds..but I can honestly say that it has not been a slow process because of the band. They say eat protein but I am sure they were not refering to a 10 piece hot wing 2 times per week. So i rededicated myself to the band as of Sunday just passed. Not dieting but making better food choices. Have lost 2.6 pounds since sunday. Exercised everyday so far on my wii and have just realized that i can't focus on what the band "will let me eat" and eat what i know I need to eat. I spent so much time trying to see what i could and couldn't eat that i slipped back in to bad eating habits..had started back frying foods and stuff.. but as I said, sunday was a new start for me and I will reach my goal of losing 15 pounds by Feb 14th....So to all of you that I am sure will find fault in what i did in the past, my response to you before you even start is "Who cares"!!! I recognized the problem and I am fixing it. Everybody has/had food issues or else we would not have needed the band. For my August buddies that started this journey with me, thanks for keeping me posted on your weight loss and thanks for all of the encouragement that you give by your posts!:thumbup:

me too exactly .. as far as back pain , try a heating pad .. does wonders with some tylenol , for me it was lower back .. i am wondering if it may be monthly weight gain ? im thinkin its about that time 4 me

I still have a hard time with sweetners. I try to find things with sugar and then just dilute them. I know that it slows my weight gain, but I am happy to loose only a couple of pounds a week. Slower is better because it will be more permanent and I won't have all that loose skin hanging on my body! As long as you are conscious about it, I think you will be fine. I am about 11 weeks post-op and I have lost a total of 48 lbs. I am pretty happy with the weight loss so far and I am even happier that I can finally get in the total amount of fluids. Just this last week, i started being able to drink enough liquid! Good luck! Happy that you are now on our side:)!...the loser's bench always has room for more!!

How did you gain? I know it sounds silly, but I've been eating crap for two days and I guess you are what you eat because I feel like crap! Ive only gained 3 lbs. usually i can just look at bad food and gain weight. I usually eat very healthy, just too much, thus the weight gain. I know I'll gain it eventually, but this sucks! I've never purposely gaîned weight!

I have been reading through these posts and its really irritating that people are making judgments based on whether your 300 pounds or 205. I'm 28 years old, and I weight 218 and I'm 5'4, but I have serious health issues. I had post partum Congestive Heart Failure at 25 yrs old, I'm insulin resistant because of my PCOS, and I have high blood pressure. I may only be 37% BMI, but I have health conditions that have prevented me from losing weight despite everything I've tried. I am not someone who has eaten themselves to being fat, or overweight, but have had health conditions that have contributed to my weight gain and my weight retention. 6 years ago, I was competing in Figure Competitions, and was at my peak fitness and health until I was in a severe accident, then taken off my birth control...that became my downward cycle of my PCOS symptoms and the weight started piling on. Now I'm 85 pounds overweight, and despite my efforts I can not lose it. My doctor says I am a perfect candidate for this type of surgery because I have good eating habits and I work out 5-6 days a week. I think that WLS is for all types of people, not just the 300+, or for the people who have been overweight their whole lives. All of us have different reasons and stories as to why we are chosing to take this route, and I believe that if you have weight issues and have been fighting it for 6 years or your whole life you shouldnt judge why others are making the same choice as you to better their lives. There's enough judgment in this world, and if you dont like being judged by your looks or weight, then you shouldnt judge someone for making the same decision as you, but their weight is not where YOU expect it to be to qualify!

I was banded in May, 2003. My loss has been slower than some, but really better than I felt I was doing. I have lost 63lbs to date and I can't tell you how my health has changed. When I began this journey, I had been recovering from a bout with deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in 2001. Between the year 2001 and 2003, my body basically just turned on me. Feet and ankles swelling to almost bursting, my lung capacity went to nothing after the embolism, my cholesterol went up to 306. I was started and stopped on several different medications which started a weight gain mode. I wound up gaining an additional 40 lbs on what was already a 210lb 5ft tall body. I was dying a slow miserable death. I had heard just bits and pieces about the lapband possibilities, but when I heard that a co-worker had gotten one and our insurance company paid. I got busy on finding out what I would have to do. I saw a doctor in Houston, who refused to band me due to my diagnosis of Systemic Lupus in 1983 and my past blood clotting problems. I was so ready to begin losing, but I had promised myself I would never do the yoyo dieting thing again. But, I was at the point of asking to be put on some sort of medical weight loss plan or consider gastric bypass. I was so depressed and out of shape, I was ready to give in, but I am single and had no one to fall back on, so I knew I HAD to do something to regain my health and be able to continue to provide for myself, so I set out on my research to find someone who would do the surgery for me. Long story a little less long, I read the yahoo message boards faithfully and everything else I could find and finally heard of a woman in San Francisco who had been banded and also had Lupus and DVT problems. My ex-husband and my son live in Northern California, so my daughter had wanted to move out there and asked me if I wanted to go with her. My job was 100% travel, so I was able to do that. I contacted the Dr and the rest is history. I was the first to ever have the lapband and a vena cava filter (to help prevent blood clots from moving to the lung, brain or heart) placed at the same time. My surgery went perfectly and along with learning how to deal with my band, I also have been able to work my health back to some semblance of normalcy. Instead of barely being able to do 10 minutes on a treadmill, I now go to Curves 3-5 times a week. I can walk much farther and I'm trying to get the guts to see if I can jog. (I don't know about that yet.) I've bought myself a bicycle, which I haven't tried in years. I have gone from 250- 187 (size 24-16). My cholesterol is no 168. I am beginning to feel more like the feminine, sexual being that I once was as opposed to the sexless blob I felt I had become. My whole outlook is back to something much better. I have had some complications recently, which I had repaired. My band was apparently positioned too low or had 'slipped' and I had a hiatal hernia repaired just 2 weeks ago, but I'm definitely not finished. I love my band and I missed the restriction when I was un-filled. I do have respect for the band, because I know it's not foolproof, but, yes. I'd definitely do it again. So, where in Texas are you located? I wish you much luck in your journey to be banded!!

Hello! I am new to the board and had a few questions. I am currently 24.5 weeks pg with my 3rd child. I was banded back in 2011 and lost all and some of my weight. I had very high blood pressure issues but not extremely over weight and so was considered a candidate for the surgery. I started out this pg at 115 lbs and am now sitting at 132.5 lbs. I had a slight defill done in my first trimester (1cc was filled to 7.5cc's so I'm still at 6.5cc's about).... So my question is how much totaly weight did everyone gain during there pg's? I find I am still restricted to a certain amount and have a hard time eating certain Proteins, rice and dry things.....I am not really wanting to get a defill as I find I am gaining a sifficiant amount of weight.........How did all you ladies make out in that department? I am noticing I am eating alot of ice cream and chocolate at night.....lol......My cravings....lol

I was banded on July 18, and have faithfully done Clear liquids for seven full days. I have walked (albiet slowly) for at least a full hour each day, and rested as I need to. I jumped on the scale this morning, and was dismayed to discover that I am a half pound HEAVIER than I was a week ago. What could possibly be causing this? Although my belly is still somewhat tender and swollen, I don't think it should account for a GAIN of weight? i'm beginning to wonder if the success that others seem to have is going to elude me, even when I follow the rules? I'm crabby and disappointed after being so hopeful. It seems an especially cruel joke to travel to Mexico, pay for my own surgery, endure a week of painful body, and be rewarded with a weight gain? Am I the only one this happened to? Can others suggest what I might be doing wrong? Frustrated and upset, Polly

I know what you mean about wanting to be thin and healthy. I dont have any kids, that's the main reason I decided to do this because I have a disorder called PCOS and it led to my weight gain and infertility issues. This surgery is supposed to help if not correct it. So I hope in a few years I will be running around chasing my kiddos. You will do great I'm sure, you already know mostly what to expect, about won't be a total shock. How long before you know about insurance approval?

Oh man, am I ever THRILLED to find this thread!! I am in serious need of a re-commitment and I AM DOING IT NOW! So here's the cliff notes version of my story: -Highest weight: 374 -Weight on surgery day: 342 -Banded August 7, 2009 -As of May 2011, lost 162 pounds total (12 pounds from goal weight!) -Got married: gained 10 pounds (wedding stress much??) -Went off birth control: gained 10 more pounds -Had a small unfill due to horrible acid reflux: gained 10 MORE pounds -Gained 20 pounds between Thanksgiving and Christmas -Total weight gain since May: 50 pounds! YIKES!!! The good news is, I went to the doctor a couple weeks ago and discovered that my thyroid levels are off, so I'm back on synthroid. I honestly think that my weight gain has been part my own fault and part my thyroid. I've gotten so complacement, and I'm eating WAY more than I'm supposed to...or should even be able to (I ate a whole sub the other day. I shouldn't be able to do that!). I've also been struggling emotionally because hubby and I are having a hard time getting pregnant...so I've gone back to eating my emotions. Gaining all this weight is NOT going to help me make a baby, now is it? I'm also sure my stomach pouch has stretched some, based on how much I can eat on a regular basis, so it's time to shrink the sucker back. Soooo...here's my NEW plan: -Take synthroid religiously! -Giving up junk food for Lent (all of it!) -Back to basics of Lap Band diet - eating no more than a cup-sized meal, half of it Protein, half of it veggies/fruits/whole grain carbs -Exercising AT LEAST 5 days a week. -Starting Couch to 5K TOMORROW!!! And this time I'm actually going to finish it...well, unless I get pregnant first. -I'm going to blog again and HOLD MYSELF ACCOUNTABLE. -Had a chat with teh hubby tonight, and told him I can't do this without him. Meaning, he has to stop being my enabler and tell me NO to food sometimes (I think he's a little scared about this that I'll yell at him...and I might...but I told him to stand firm and remind me why I'm doing this. I'll get over it eventually and love him even more.) Alright people, LET'S DO THIS!

Oh, and I'm scheduled for 6/17. (RNY - was gonna do sleeve but I decided on the RNY after talking a lot with my nutritionist and doing research) Was supposed to be May 4th, but was postponed due to COVID-19. I was feeling pretty hopeless that entire month and a half when it was cancelled (cancelled late march..), so I gained some weight. Luckily, my surgeon said no more weight gain and we can still do the surgery. My insurance doesn't have any requirements but the 6 month weigh ins. I'm 16 days away and I"m pushing myself with eating more veggies, more protein and drinking more water. It's stuff I've done before, because I lost ~80lbs on Keto a year and some change ago, but gained it all back. I figured this time, I can do all those changes I made w/keto, and the new tool of the surgery and I should be set. 🤞

I don't mind you asking at all, but it's a hard question for me to answer. I had my surgery right after my final and third child was born over 15 years ago, and with each pregnancy I put on more weight. It had been a steady incline set in motion after my first pregnancy. My best answer is that I had been gaining weight for five years at that point, and I didn't notice a marked increase of weight gain after my gb surgery, but I continued to gain weight over the years. There's plenty of over weight to obese people in my family, but only my mom and I had to have our gall bladders removed. This is not scientific, but in all honesty, I don't believe losing your gall bladder will in any way affect your weight loss.

You know what, you have a really good point. I am just so afraid that I am going to fly off the handle with the whole last supper syndrome and totally derail my progress. Choban had me paranoid when she said that she would cancel the surgery for any weight gain, but with 12 lbs. gone I think I am safe. And thanks for reminding me that dispatching my brother for his bacon violation would make me miss my date, lol. You talked me down, thanks Lady! :sneaky:

My husband of nearly 30 years has actually expressed this once or twice, but only early on. He went to the seminar with me, where they gave the statistics of increased divorce rates after WLS. He was also a huge feeder. If I wanted some absurd food item at any time of night or day, he would actually run and get it for me, lol. I am spoiled. I was 145 when I met him, and while I think this behavior contributed to my weight gain, I blame no one but myself. But, since surgery, he understood my goals, and has been very supportive. He stopped offering food, and doesn't bring much of it in the house. He can eat anything and everything, and will try not to do it in front of me. Anyway, I do think it's a rational fear, given the statistics. If you have a solid marriage, he will quickly learn it's not a risk in your circumstance.

Ur weight gain at surgery is from the air pumped in ur stomach...it will go away over time--walking helps..I was like 10-15 lbs higher day I came home and it takes a week or two for the all the air to leave ur body..I still feel some air come up when I drink and I'm 6 wks post op tomorrow

Here I am:D just had a very busy week and week-end DH and I went to the Air Show it was Great :rockon:. TM don't worry about your weight gain it is more then likely the stress! Sue just think, once my Ins. BCBS approved me I was having the surgery in a matter of a week so you don't sweat the small stuff, if Charlene says she figured it out what was wrong just believe that it is all right and hopefully you be an Oct. banded baby!!! You know you can go on BCBS web site and see for your self if Dr. Choban is "In Network" I don't see why she wouldn't be if she is "In Network" for both Debbie and I who both have BCBS it just must have been some typo or miss understanding!! Dorothy must not be addicted to this web site like we are:heh:! I just can't get enough of it even though I was busy I was still thinking of you guys, about yall was doing, what you have been sharing ect. ect. ect. Debbie how was the Octoberfest? I have never been and always say I want to go be when it is going on I am always busy doing other things, guess there is always next year, when I will be thin....... Okay weight loss has been slow for me, at least I think so I am down 35 pounds but I want it to much more..... So I have decided that I am going to work out every day I will be going straight to the Gym right after work, we have a Really nice one at my job that is FREE so I have to get my Bootie up there to be like Debbie!!! TM, your step-daughter's comment is one of the major reason why I choose not to tell anyone about having the surgery, my own mother doesn't even know I had this done, I will be telling her soon due to me deciding to help any one who ask me how I am losing this weight and looking GOOD:o. Anywho don't listen to her because if it was that easy to lose weight why wouldn't all obese people just lose the weight, not every one is blessed like she is to be able to drop weight like that. Okay Every one I am heading upstairs to get ready for bed:notagree. Good night all and I will talk to everyone soon!!!!!!!