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After a while you will be able to increase calorie intake the farther out from surgery you are. But you have got to get a firm understanding on nutrition and what does and doesn't work for your body post surgery to consume. As for gaining muscle yes you can have success in doing it. But just like with everything else losing weight gaining muscle, toning shape, losing inches, that take consistent effort. You have to be consistent with the working out (not just cardio, but actual weight lifting and body training), eating sensible and right, and avoiding habit forming things that will make those gains you get in the gym not last as long as you want them to.

A BMI of 47.5 more than qualifies you for surgery and it is much better to deal with obesity now before you get a lot of obesity related health issues. You don't want to do like I did and wait until I had almost uncontrollable high blood pressure, excruciating joint and spine pain and greatly reduced mobility. I doubt your family would want those things for you either. At the end of the day, this is a personal decision between you and your surgeon. While I had my surgery in the states since my insurance would cover it, from what I've read on here the program that bariatric pal helps coordinate in Mexico is quite good and there are a lot of people on here who have used it. I do agree it would be best to have someone travel with you - not because it is mexico but just in general traveling a distance for surgery by yourself would be hard but not undoable. I've very surprised your primary doc says surgery is unnecessary at your BMI. But why does your family say that? Have you discussed with them the impact of obesity on your life? As well as the impact of years of yo-yoing weight loss and weight gain? And lastly - you are not alone - everyone here understands and supports you.

@@metoonow I'm sorry you've also have had complications but I'm so glad that your leak has healed itself and it's not stubborn like mine don't worry about the weight gain on tpn, I hated it too! But it'll come right off when you're off of it.

OMG me too! I started a new job a week and a half ago and now work in an office (vs. at home). I swear I cam literally see the weight gain in my thighs and love handles. When I saw this topic my heart stopped for a sec. Not sure if it's anxiety eating (I am absolutely an anxiety eater), a lack of sugar free Popsicles because no freezer or change of environment. I'm also considering the fact that I'm alone in the office (everyone else works from home or lives in a different state) but I live alone with my puppy so not much different. I look forward to reading other responses because my one year is coming up July 9th and my loss has slowed considerably. Also, the "honeymoon" period is over and my metabolism is back to slow as molasses mode. Not to mention it's been that time of the month since January 25th. I had a polyp removed in my ovaries and I'm on a new birth control that makes you irregular for 2+ months. If you made it this far, thanks for reading. I needed to vent!

I drink with my meals as well. Hasn't killed me any. But of course, the choice is yours and like you say if you start noticing a stall or weight gain, well drop the drinking. Good luck

I'll check in with you on Monday to see if the evil weight gain has gone. Congrats on the 5 lbs.!

Rachel, I'm certainly no expert, but I would think that most of those divorces had other problems before the weight loss. Do you and your husband communicate pretty openly? I'm fortunate to have been married to my best friend. He was here through my weight gain and I sure hope he'll be here as I continue losing. I hope we're in this for the long haul! And I hope you are too!

So sorry to hear about your weight gain, of course we all fear that. I have been at my goal weight for 3 years (took me one year to get there) but in the past month I have gained 5 lbs and have now hit the reality that I must get this off before it becomes 10 lbs....and I'm really confident I can. Knowing my surgery is in Feb is an incentive because my doctor wants me to lose some weight before hand so it will be more successful. I am easing into the 5 day pouch test with doing the 5:2 this week....today being one of my fast days. I'm just curious though, it sounds like you think you should have waited to have the surgery until you were at goal weight? I can't imagine the trauma your body and your hormones went through with both a hysterectomy and a panniculectomy.

@@Dub Love the pictures lol Mine is my pre-weight gain clothes. Right now I have a closet full of stuff that doesn't look like anything I could possibly ever wear but I'm less then a month post-op, so it's going to be a while. Congrats on your progress!

Ok, I just found on my policy that bariatric surgery IS covered...if you're "morbidly obese" which in medical standards I am lol... So then I searched until I found the Blue Cross Utilization Management Guidelines which says the following (just more of what you posted above): Medical Policy Subject: Surgery for Clinically Severe Obesity Effective Date: 09/14/2006 Last Review Date: 11/13/2006 Policy #: SURG.00024 Current Status: Reviewed Description/Scope Clinically severe obesity is a result of persistent and uncontrollable weight gain that constitutes a present or potential threat to life. There are a variety of surgical procedures intended for the treatment of clinically severe obesity. This policy addresses those procedures. Policy Statement Medically Necessary: Gastric bypass with a Roux Y procedure up to 150 cm, laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (the Lap-Band® System), vertical banded gastroplasty, or biliopancreatic bypass with duodenal switch as a single surgery, is considered medically necessary for the treatment of clinically severe obesity for selected adults (18 years and older) who meet the following criteria: 1. BMI of 40 or greater, or BMI of 35 or greater with co-morbid conditions including, but not limited to, life threatening cardio-pulmonary problems (severe sleep apnea, Pickwickian syndrome and obesity related cardiomyopathy), severe diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease or hypertension. *Note: Individuals considering the laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (Lap-Band®) procedure must meet the above minimum BMI requirement and, in addition, have a maximum BMI of less than 50. AND 2. The patient must have actively participated in non-surgical methods of weight reduction; these efforts must be fully appraised by the physician requesting authorization for surgery. AND 3. The physician requesting authorization for the surgery must confirm the following: * The patient’s psychiatric profile is such that the patient is able to understand, tolerate and comply with all phases of care and is committed to long-term follow-up requirements; and * The patient’s post-operative expectations have been addressed; and * The patient has undergone a preoperative medical consultation and is felt to be an acceptable surgical candidate; and * The patient has undergone a preoperative mental health assessment and is felt to be an acceptable candidate; and * The patient has received a thorough explanation of the risks, benefits, and uncertainties of the procedure; and * The patient’s treatment plan includes pre- and post-operative dietary evaluations and nutritional counseling; and * The patient's treatment plan includes counseling regarding exercise, psychological issues and the availability of supportive resources when needed. For revision of a gastric restrictive procedure for clinically severe obesity, there must be documentation of a failure secondary to a surgical complication such as fistula, obstruction or disruption of a suture/staple line, and is subject to the same criteria listed above. :amen: Blue Cross of California_ Medical polices and Clinical UM Gui....pdf

I love this article. Very effectively separates fact from myth. I have no idea however, why it is accompanied by a shot of cleavage. Whatever. Enjoy! 10 Unbelievable Diet Rules Backed by Science By SHAPE magazine | Healthy Living – Tue, Sep 3, 2013 2:48 PM EDT by Adam Bornstein for SHAPE.com Ready for this? Everything you thought you knew about nutrition is wrong!When describing how you really feel about the latest miracle fix in the diet and fitness world, you'd probably like to drop an F-bomb-as in, what the fad? After all, how many times have you trusted logical sounding ideas or put all your faith in a diet strategy, only to find out that the time you invested was a waste--and you still haven't dropped the weight? Consider this your F-bomb-free zone. No fads, no faking, and no frustration. You see, when you really dig into the research, most of what you assume is correct about dieting is actually wrong. Discover the truth here and the only f-words coming out of your mouth will be "Finally. Fat loss!" 1. Skip Breakfast if you want. The one diet rule we've heard more than any other: A healthy diet begins with a great breakfast. There's just one problem: A good breakfast doesn't guarantee an overall healthy diet. In fact, according to a survey conducted by the NPD group, nearly 90 percent of Americans now eat breakfast, and yet nearly 50 percent of Americans are either overweight or obese. There are two things you should know about breakfast: 1. Timing isn't as important as you think. You don't need to eat immediately (or even within one hour) after you wake up. Your metabolism won't be harmed. 2. Eating an early breakfast means you're creating a bigger eating window (you eat for more total hours during the day), which might lead to more fat storage and more health problems, according to scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. If you eat your first meal at 7 a.m. and eat a late-night snack at 10 p.m., that's 15 hours of eating-which might be more than your body wants. The fad-free truth: No one meal is more important than any other. What matters most is total calorie intake, food selection (think salad versus Big Mac), and then how much time you spend eating each day. So if you don't love breakfast, skip it. If you do, enjoy your morning meal but keep an eye on your feeding window to make sure you're not eating more calories than you need. 2. It's OK to eat a big dinner. We all know that dinner is the most popular meal to eat with friends and family, but most people think eating after dark is the cardinal sin of weight loss. Nothing could be more incorrect. Italian researchers compared eating earlier in the day (10 a.m.) to eating later in the day (6 p.m.) In that study, there was no difference in weight (pounds) lost, but the late eaters lost more fat. Several follow-up studies concluded the same thing-timing doesn't matter. This statement from University of Oregon researchers sums it up well: "Eating too many calories causes weight gain regardless of when you eat them." The fad-free truth: Living in a world where you can't eat at night and can't enjoy food with your friends and family is restrictive and doesn't adhere to any science-backed rules of weight loss. You won't become fat by eating at night-that will only happen if you overeat at night. If you're aware of how much you should be eating within any given day, you can place those calories in whatever meal works best for your body. 3. Snacking does not affect metabolism. We know that when you eat, you burn calories. So about 30 years ago, it was determined that if you eat more frequently, you must burn more calories overall, and thus the "grazing" method was formed and a nation of people began consuming four to six small meals per day. One small problem: French researchers found that there is "no evidence of improved weight loss" by eating more frequently. They even went one step further to show that when it comes to the number of calories you burn per day (i.e. your metabolism), it does not matter if you graze or gorge, assuming that you're eating the total number of calories you need to lose weight. The fad-free truth: If you're told to eat 2,000 calories per day, it doesn't matter if it's separated into five 400-calorie meals or two 1000-calorie feasts. (However the composition of those meals does matter.) What works best for your schedule should determine the number of meals you eat. When Canadian researchers compared eating three meals per day to six meals per day, breaking the six into three main meals and three Snacks, there was no significant difference in weight loss, but those who ate three meals were more satisfied and felt less hunger. 4. Eat carbs to get lean. From Atkins to the Paleo movement, carbohydrates have been criticized more than all of the ladies on the Real Housewives shows-combined. Here's the real reason why carbs get such a bad reputation: Up to 50 percent of the carbohydrate intake in the typical American diet is in the form of highly processed carbs and sugar. So when people say carbs are bad, they're usually just talking about eating lots of sugar. But that's not really fair to every other food that also is labeled a carbohydrate. When compared to a typical American diet, a low-carb diet looks like the undisputed champ. However when compared to a good carb-based diet that is low in sugar, refined foods, and gluten (like the "Japanese Diet"), the results are very different. Before 1991, when Japan was considered a carb-dominate society, diabetes and obesity rates were never greater than three percent of the population. If carbs in general were the enemy, with their high starch intake via rice and sweet potatoes, the Japanese would be the fattest, most diabetic, and unhealthy population on the planet. However this was not the case, and their levels of obesity are a "problem" people in the United States wish they had. The fad-free truth: Your body needs carbohydrates. If you completely remove this essential nutrient from your diet, you could experience a down-regulation of the hormones that control fat loss, making it harder to have the lean, sexy body you want. A good general rule: Eat more carbs on the days you're active and fewer carbs on the days you're sedentary. And make sure most of your carbs come from whole foods such as fruits and vegetables. 5. There is a weight-loss pill worth buying. Most miracle "fat-burning supplements" are about as effective as an hour of Prancercizing. But if you want to take a pill to help promote fat loss, your best bet is a Vitamin that you associate with the sun. Researchers from Canada found that people with higher levels of Vitamin D also have lower levels of body fat. The connection isn't a coincidence. Vitamin D helps you feel fuller because, according to Australian researchers, it releases more leptin, a hormone essential to weight loss. It also helps you store less fat by decreasing parathyroid hormone, which makes you hold on to your love handles. Best of all, vitamin D literally burns more fat by reducing production of the stress hormone cortisol. The fad-free truth: Buying supplements to help you lose weight is not the best use of your hard-earned money. Your foundation is a healthy diet and exercise. But some supplements can help fill nutritional gaps that will help your body function more efficiently. Supplementing with 2,000 to 3,000 IU of Vitamin D3 is a smart investment for your overall health and fat-loss goals. 6. Exercise on an empty stomach. If you exercise with a high intensity, there's nothing worse than feeling sick to your stomach because you felt forced to eat before you hit the gym or pavement. There's a lot of science that shows eating before a workout is important, but "before a workout" is a much wider time range than you might think. In the simplest sense, your digestive process is very complicated. When you eat, the food does not go directly to your muscles or your gut. It takes time-a lot of time, in fact. So if you eat many hours before you train, there's still plenty of fuel to help you perform and feel great. The fad-free truth: Research published in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism found that the Protein you eat digests anywhere between one gram per hour and 10 grams per hour. So if you have a meal consisting of 25 grams of protein, that meal could last in your system for up to 25 hours. Hydration level and sleep patterns also play a significant role in performance, so make sure you're well rested and have plenty to drink, and then eat when it feels best for your body, even if it means a small meal or no meal at all. 7. Eat saturated fat. books like The China Study and movies like Forks Over Knives have pointed the finger at saturated fats-and all animal fats-as the reason for countless health problems. Yet all the research used to support this hypothesis took a very slanted bias and completely ignored populations that were incredibly healthy despite diets based on saturated fats. For example, people who live in Tokelau (a territory off of New Zealand) eat a diet that is 50 percent saturated fats, and they have cardiovascular health that is superior to any other group of people. Even Walter Willett, chairman of the Department of Nutrition at Harvard, has publicly stated (after a 20-year review of research) that fats-and more specifically saturated fats-are not the cause of the obesity crisis and are not the cause of heart disease. The fad-free truth: Cholesterol actually acts as an antioxidant against dangerous free radicals within the blood. When there are high levels of undesirable substances in the blood (caused by inflammation in your arteries from eating highly processed foods and large quantities of sugars), cholesterol levels rise in order to combat these substances. Cholesterol is also necessary for the production of a number of hormones, some of which help fight against heart disease. Plus, research shows diets higher in saturated fats are often lower in total calories consumed. 8. Consider fasting for better health. Any diet that has you not eat at all is not a diet-it's starvation. But there's a difference between withholding what your body needs and reprogramming your body so that you can control your hunger and let your body recharge. The idea of fasting is nothing crazy. You do it every night when you sleep, which is a time that that is essential for optimal health. Yet the idea of going several hours without eating during daytime is frowned upon. When done correctly, fasting can actually help your body burn fat, recharge, and stay healthy. You've probably heard of cleanse diets that supposedly rid your body of toxins, improve the functioning of your internal organs, and help you age better. Most of these don't work as advertised. The only real cleanse occurs at the cellular level. It's called autophagy, and it's your body's ability to regenerate and become better. Autophagy makes your brain function a little better, helps with fat loss, and even assists in your ability to walk and breathe. But the more time you spend eating-as in actual hours during the day eating-the less time you spend in the autophagic process, which is why fasting isn't a bad thing. The fad-free truth: Researchers at the University of Utah found that people who fasted just one day per month were 40 percent less likely to suffer from clogged arteries. While there are many ways to fast, the important point is that you shouldn't feel forced to eat if you're not hungry. Short daily fasts (for 12 to 16 hours) or a once-per-week daily fast can have health benefits, and it will teach you to separate boredom or thirst from genuine hunger. 9. Going organic won't help with weight loss. I love my local farmer's market, and I always do my best to purchase products from the best sources. That said, slapping "organic" on a label does not mean it will help you lose weight, and in some instances it won't even guarantee that a food is healthy. Research published in the Annal of Internal Medicine reviewed 200 studies that compared the health benefits of organic foods to conventional foods and the results were surprising: There were no clearly distinguishable benefits of eating organic foods, whether measured by preventing disease or an assessment of overall health. Specific to weight loss, a random comparison of organic to non-organic foods found no significant difference in nutritional information, including calories. The fad-free truth: More research on organic foods needs to be conducted. There's no doubt organic foods have fewer pesticides and toxins, the real question is if the sometimes-small difference in toxins makes any scientifically significant difference on your health. More importantly, labeling a food as organic does not mean its weight-loss friendly. Organic sources of sugar are still sugar. And organic products loaded with 1,000 calories are still 1,000 calories. If you want to reduce the potential of anything bad entering your body, feel free to purchase organic products but still keep an eye on the label. 10. There's no such thing as too much protein. You may have heard that eating lots of protein can cause all sorts of health problems, including kidney stones and gallstones, but this is a moot point for most people. Why? Because there's no research showing any relationship between eating a lot of protein and developing kidney problems. In fact, a study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research tested eating up to 400 grams of protein per day without any negative consequences. If you have a preexisting kidney problem, it's possible that a higher protein diet could be hard on your body. But if you have a kidney problem, you should be talking to your doctor about your diet anyway. The fad-free truth: If you're healthy, you are clear to eat protein and not worry about any health problems-because there are none. What's more, protein is one of the most metabolic macronutrients, meaning that the more protein you eat, the more calories you burn. Just remember that calories are still calories so the rules of total intake still apply.

Well almost 2 months since my last update and my first refill on December 19th. Unfortunately I am still up 40lbs from before my unfill in September, but I appear to be staying where I am for now. The rapid weight gain has stopped. With a few colds and some other short medical issues since my refll, my diet,appetite, excercise routines have been thrown off. I am now REALLY trying to restrict calories even further than I was before to try and move the scale down. My hunger level was cut down with the first fill, but I don't think I want to get another fill. I can see why new bandsters get so desperate for fills right away. I don't think most are truly "listening" to their bodies, the hunger signals, appetite, portions, etc. It is sooooo easy to get in way too many calories even with proper restriction. I can see why this band appears to fail. I am at a place where I am not PBing, sliming, no acid reflux, no aspiration.I can take meds without them coming back up. I can drink Water before bed without worrying about it coming back up. I am hoping that this fill will be enough to keep the weight off once I am back to my ideal weight without having to constantly count calories and deprive myself. For now, I am really having to work at getting the weight back off. I worry about eating too much and stretching my esophagus. Such a delicate balance with this band these days. I soooo wish I never had this unfill because I HATE this extra weight back on and having to fight it off, but I knew it was necessary. Just be careful about wanting more restriction. This band takes some work and paying attention. I feel like a "rebandster" in a way..without starting back at square one..but regaining a 1/3 of what I originally lost was enough!! I will update as I progress...green zone? I guess..right now I just want out of this fat zone!!! :-)

Hey all! Just wanted to give an update since my refill on December 19th. It has been a bit of a crazy time since the fill. So my appointment started out with a session with the nutritionist for the surgeon. Now keep in mind, these two hardly know me or my journey. He is not my original surgeon and I only met them after the discovery of the esophogeal dilation back in September. It is hard to explain to someone who doesn't have a band what this journey day to day is like. The nutritionist is just reading out of her "proper band diet" papers and just wanted to drill in what I should or shouldn't eat. I am a bit stubborn after 12 years with this device that I know what works or doesn't for me. They were still convinced that my sudden and excessive weight gain was nothing but me stuffing myself with TONS of excess calories right after my unfill that caused the gain. Sigh! I could not convince that even if I went over my ACTUAL calories with an extra 500 calories a day, I should have at minimum maintained on those calories. I gave up, shook my head yes to all her demands and waited for the doctor to come in. Thankfully a nurse came in first with a needle and saline and stuff so the nutritionist didn't talk him out of my refill to start. He came in and repeated some of what she said to him in passing out in the hall. Uggh! So I originally had 2cc of Fluid that he had pulled out in September.When I had my fills way back at the beginning of this, I had numerous fills in Mexico and some up here in Nor Cal..and I believe each time my fills were 1/2cc or less. The doctor decided he would add back in 1cc! I was thinking he was going to trickle me back up. I was happy but a little nervous. I swallowed my cup of Water..definitely felt it gurgle and left. He said come back in 6-8 weeks. When I went in, I was at 196lbs..this is 46lbs up from my usual weight. I was already a little under the weather but the next day had a full blown cold. I didn't get to really test out the band as I was not eating properly..just getting in some chicken Soup and fluids. The next week was christmas and I went home to So Cal for a few days. I had dropped 2lbs since the fill, but came back from christmas trip home back up a few lbs. 24 hours after returning home on the 28th, I got a violent stomach bug. I had at least 4-5 sessions of attempting to vomit which were quite painful. I was scared my band would slip. I called my doctor and got a prescription for zofran (?) to stop the nausea. That helped but diarrhea continued for another few days. I was afraid to even get water and fluids in me. I managed to drop about 7lbs in 3 days from this. NOT a cool way to lose weight. After spending New Year's in bed, I finally was feeling better and started to eat again. I managed to gain back 2lbs of the 7lbs. figured it was fluid loss coming back. As of today I am down 6lbs total from where I was prefill. Most of that achieved from the bug! I am not sure yet if I am close to a "green zone" , I told the doctor it is not the restriction I am after but the removal of the screaming appetite! I missed being able to go all day without feeling hungry. This week has been fairly "normal" work wise and schedule wise and noticed the appetite is more "quiet" than it was when unfilled. I am still trying to figure out what and when to eat. I need to get back to the gym. Been waiting for me and my guy to stop being sick! So for now, I THINK the rapid gain has stopped. My body is probably just trying to figure itself out and I am sure my metabolism is jacked up. Who knows! I am definitely relearning better bandster habits and watching how I chew my food. I can see why it is easy to fail at this band and have issues..overfilled, underfilled, not listening to the signals of full and restriction, using it as a binge and purge diet tool..lots of craziness with this device for sure! I just want to get this excess weight back off and be back to where I can keep it off WITHOUT all the issues I had when it was too tight. It may mean I have to be more careful with calories than before, but if I can keep this device safely in, I will learn to comply! Will come back and post soon with updates once my body is out of sick and holiday mode!!

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.

Sorry, I had to cut my above post short, as had to attend to kid duties. Umm.. yeah, sorry about the wasps' nest that your post has stirred. Please keep in mind, as several of the above posters have mentioned, there are a lot of people here with "parent issues", and your post pushed some buttons. I was heavy by time I hit first or second grade, but really started gaining in earnest in middle school (blasted puberty!!). My Mom and Dad didn't have much money, so they did the best they could. I was the only one that became chubby on the pasta and day-old doughnuts, so it was a problem with me, not the diet But, alas.. the past is what it is, and I'm finally on a path to better myself. I'm 38. I recognize that you are terrified of complications from the surgery. You'd hate to see a perfectly healthy young adult sign up for an optional procedure that could leave her worse than she started, right? We can't promise nothing bad will happen during/after the procedure. But, we can promise that the risks are low, and the rewards are great. Post-surgery regain is a real possibility, and it can start as early as 6-8 months post-op. She has a lot to learn about changing the content of her diet, FOREVER, not just the quantity.. because she'll gradually be able to eat more and more, to the point of eating like a typical person (1 plate, not 3.. but she can get in big trouble with 1 plate!). If you can, please look up Dr. Matthew Weiner on youtube. He is a bariatric surgeon in Michigan, and he has a TON of information about how/why the surgery works, and tips for changing diet and lifestyle afterwords. We are so used to having to steer our kids in the right direction (away from danger), that it can be difficult to let them go and do their own things. Shoot, my husband didn't want me doing the surgery! He was terrified for me. I was more terrified for my high blood pressure, pre-diabetes, joint pain, inability to fit in an airplane seat (no 2nd honeymoon in Hawaii!), breaking toilet seats all the time, having to hold my breath to tie my shoes, couldn't wash the bottoms of my feet, having very limited wardrobe selection, couldn't go out to walk the dog without feeling like I was going to have a heart attack, stairs = seeing stars.. etc. I did great on diets when I was 20. Lost 65lbs, could hike 25 miles a day carrying a pack, etc. But, we can't all stay 20 forever, and having pregnancies, sitting at desk jobs, taking care of elderly parents in the home.. these things all take their toll, and weight gain happens... especially because a broken metabolism does not get fixed by diet and exercise! (There is some hope for a ketogenic diet, I suppose, but that was one I never tried). Fix the metabolism through surgery. Learn a new way of cooking and eating. Fix any emotional problems.. and your daughter has a great chance of having a normal life.

I too am experiencing no restriction while breastfeeding! Pre-pregnancy I weighed 178 and at delivery 200. Within one week or so post partum I weighed 181 and felt so excited that I might actually weigh less than before...weight was dropping fast and I was eating right. However, when my milk came in, I was drawn to carbs and started eating constantly. My baby is 3months now and breastfeeding well; however, I am now 198 and I feel every bit of it. Super stressed about the weight gain, but know nursing is best for baby. Keep thinking about weaning, but I'd feel like a failure. If I see 200 again, I might flip! Clothes don't fit and I feel like a pudge! Afraid if I limit calories my milk will diminish. I never anticipated the hunger while breastfeeding and this is baby #2.

So just as an update, I did see my team today. They were concerned by the weight gain (even though I've been losing since Metformin), so they put me on a new medication saying they wanted me under my starting weight. Here's hoping that it works!

Hi! I've been on Zoloft for about 12 years now. I take 200mg a day and when things aren't real rough at work I lower it to 150mg. Chemical imbalance as well as depression runs in the family. I can definitely feel the difference if I miss a couple of days. Easily angered, fidgety, anxiety - the whole works. I went through a period of time all I did was cry (post partum after my youngest), couldn't write a check, couldn't decide what to wear to work and changed clothes 3 or 4 times each morning. Couldn't make EASY decisions that were basic to running a household with 2 little ones. SuperMom syndrome also as well as guilt that I worked and wanted a career. In a positive, people are always amazed if I tell them I'm on Zoloft and I'm clinically depressed. For me, it keeps me on an even keel and allows me to think calmly and rationally. I don't have the "lows" I used to have and there isn't a feeling of a "high". Just stability. The only two side effects that have happened to me are the low sex drive (can still have the BIG O though!!) and my general practitioner told me anything over 100mg can cause weight gain. With that in mind, I much rather be on my Zoloft and work with the band than to decrease my dosage below 100mg. I was on Prozac (made me EAT constantly because it made my stomach upset), Wellbutrin (made me NUTS - I constantly shook like I was going through some sort of withdrawl) and Paxil. The Paxil was ok and I can't remember why the doctor changed it. So Zoloft is my magic pill and I couldn't live without it. I did at first become angry and felt like a "mental case" and a "pill popper" to be able to get through the day. Angry that I had to rely on medicine but as my doctor said "Would a diabetic not take insulin if they needed it?". He reminded me I have a chemical imbalance and I will more than likely take it the rest of my life. It did take initially several months to get the right dosage and feel the full effects. I also went through counseling for 18 months to work out some of my guilt and anxiety issues as well as trying to overcome the "SuperMom" syndrome. Like my counselor said "Will your kids remember their socks were folded and the house was clean or will they remember Mom was there when they needed her for support or play?" Really hit home and I've tried to keep that in mind anytime I feel pulled in all directions. I unfortunately also have a very demanding, stressful job and it helps me deal with that also. Good luck and PM me if you need any other info. I swear by the stuff! Take care!

Thanks for asking. I was doing really well up until last week when my ENT surgeon attempted to sew my trach hole close. It hadn't entirely closed by itself. He left a chain of stitches that looked like he was working on a crazy quilt (or was crazy). Over the weekend I started running a fever, my motor co-ordination skills completely crashed (I couldn't hold anything in my hands and I kept falling on the floor), and I began vomiting. Two visits to downtown ERs later, it turns out that I have pneumonia in my right lung and a giant oozing infected hole in my gullet. I feel lousy and the hole is seriously gross to look at. I am back to spending most of my time in bed. This is depressing because I was - only last week! - in the process of getting my life back. I was just starting to contact friends I haven't seen since I first got cancer and I was beginning to work renewing my passport. Well, this should slow down my weight gain, eh. lol

Bandito: With all that you have on your mind, you are tremendously successful. To not show a weight gain is awesome. Think of what would be happening if you did not have the band. Emotional eating can get out of hand, but your band is working. Doddie

It's not that I care what anyone thinks. People who know me would be shocked I didn't say anything I an open book. My weight gains and losses have been an emotional struggle not just physical. I really want to do this with our anyone in my head other than me. If that makes sense. My boys are 15&19 they know and are excited for me. My boyfriend is as well. It's not that I want to do it alone it's that I need to do this for me. I finally need to make something just about me.

Get back on the horse. You can do it. If you are anything like me, half that weight gained is Water weight and will come right off. I was on a business trip last week and ate much more than I intended, but I'm back on track now. Don't beat yourself up. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Well, went to the doc yesterday and I get to FINALLY come off my steroids, so I'm hoping the weight will start falling off. It's horrible the weight gain i've had. And not eating right is not helping either. Shawn - yes, I think we are all struggling and need to hang close to the thread so we can get and give support. I know I'm having a hard time but trying to overcome it. Damn that chocolate!

I can tell you you sound really similar to me - I have been doing a little better after the surgery but I have a metablic condition that my body kinda "tricks" itself into needing just what calories I happen to be providing - and if it is "excessive" in what it is interpreting as enough I have seem weight gains at 1000 calories a day. But seriously - here is the deal - something in what you are doing is just not quite what it seems - be very thorough and careful. I know this from experience. I do not respond the same from 1000 calories a day of 30+ are carbs as opposed to 10 or so carbs. I have to have excessive amounts of Water. I canot eat highly processed foods. Thing is, if you aren't snipping around the ends, then it is just a long process - but with the sleeve you will lose. It has become an invaluabel tool while I wait out my stalls and literally outstubborn my metabolism.

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: