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One thing we don't talk about is the link between mental health issues and obesity. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/758035 Everything from the biology of some mental health conditions contributing to extra weight....to behaviors (lack of sleep, poor impulse control, addiction, emotional disregulation)...to the weight gain side effects of meds used to treat them.....a massive number of folks with mental health issues are heavy. Not to imply we all struggle with mental health issues....but a big chunk of us probably do. Put a population prone to mental health issues together in a room...and it might get interesting. I absolutely agree with cocojay on all points. We should make efforts to always be kind and try to live and let live. It's important to keep in mind that posters here and on all weight loss message boards might be suffering from mental health issues that limit their self awareness, emotional regulation and tact. Not playing apologist for crappy behavior....just sayin....there's a reason. Having a good reason for behaving like a turd doesn't absolve you from accountability, though.

I had my first appointment with surgeon in Virginia on October 15. I weighed 265. I had my first appointment with my primary care on October 31 I weighed 269. I had my second appointment with my primary care on November 18. I weighed 276.2. I had a third appointment with my primary care and I weighed 276.4. Worried about net weight gain, I did the cabbage soup diet and went back to my primary care on January 6. I weighed 266.2. My surgeon submitted my paperwork to Aetna open access on January 9. The surgeon was told I was denied due to net weight gain. Unknown to me the surgeon coordinator appealed on my behalf indicating blood pressure medicine had caused me to gain water weight and that I had since been on a diuretic and lost weight. Aetna approved on Friday, January 16. Submittal rejection appeal and approval all took 7 days. My surgery is scheduled for February 12.

I'm New York, and within the past few months - bleh. The lockdown didn't bother me so much as a concept, weight wasn't a problem for the first two months. I was VERY involved in a virus-related contact tracing effort that has basically consumed all of my time, and obviously the status of healthcare in America means that I've spent since mid-Feb bashing my head against a wall to try and make things happen and hitting political and insurance roadblocks and let's just go ahead and agree that being 20 feet away from the kitchen during 13-hour days when you can't leave home without wearing a mask is... not ideal for maintaining weight loss? Long story short, I am a whopping 30lbs up on my lowest weight right now. It's reversible, and in fact with some of the virus-related work finally getting traction (Americans finally stop living in denial, hopefully?) and being parceled off to other teams I'm actually seeing work hours go back down to a normal schedule, but I'm rebooting starting this week through Orgain protein shakes twice a day and one carefully planned meal, plus coffee, water and a cheese stick. I've deliberately and proactively sectioned off my calendar to make sure I don't keep working until 8pm every damn night anymore. I have done terrifying things in Salesforce so now all of my spinning plates are in view at all times. How did I get here? Well... Stocked up in late-Feb when I realized that this was going to be a pandemic. Then tried to order once or twice a week from restaurants when it was clear they'd otherwise shut down, which meant a single dinner lasted three nights. Two months in, I started going to the store occasionally for simple human contact, usually ended up buying stuff I didn't need as an excuse to make the trip. By the end of the spring, the stocked-up stuff started to reach the end of its expiry date, which meant I had to eat it... You see how this spirals. I hate summer. Hate it. Seasonal depression (yes, it does exist for summer). Oh, and then this year it turned out I developed a sun allergy. So even if I did go out to exercise, I risked days of an itchy, poison ivy-like rash. Pool closed, obviously. Work stress. Firstly, trying to make sure I kept my team employed and occupied and engaged as they ended up stranded in apartments and parents' spare rooms in rural towns and assure them that layoffs aren't coming to get them. Secondly, all the virus work. Work happy hours at the start of the lockdown. I had maybe 3-4 drinks every MONTH before lockdown. But then everyone started having happy hours to stay connected, and about three weeks in I think the cocktail started representing the time you officially stopped work so we were all starting making it more of a daily ritual. And once you're having a drink every afternoon when you shut your laptop, you start having two on the days things are particularly rough, and now it's August and I have consumed a remarkable amount of calories via gin, tonic and cider and definitely need to change that pattern. Pandemic stress and constant, haunting thoughts about why I didn't get New Zealand citizenship when I lived there and could do it, dammit. Stopped wearing proper clothing. I vowed to keep wearing my jeans and nice work tops, and stuck to it for about two months. Then I realized that wrap dresses worked great on calls and were cooler. Then started wearing yoga pants (but not doing actual yoga!) and a nice top on calls. Over the last three or four weeks, I've worn zip-up hoodies on internal calls. So it was easy to ignore the weight gain. My wireless scale broke and it took me three months to buy a new one. Anyhow. The pandemic sucks, so many things about living in the US reality distortion field suck right now, but one thing I very much can control is my food intake so it's back to basics on that count. The grocery supply chain is just fine, I've bought a projector TV so I can lock my dog out of the room and do yoga with an image projected on a wall instead of trying to contort myself to do yoga via computer while battling weak wifi, and IT'S GOING TO BE AUTUMN!!! Also I'm taking a week off. Also one of my NZ friends is now living in Sweden, so we spend a lot of time WTF-ing at each other about our situation compared to our friends' situations. How are all of you doing? Working parents, I am not one of your number but know that as one of your colleagues, I do not mind seeing your kids onscreen, totally understand you can't make that deadline, and basically just want to make sure you can make it through the week with 50% or more of your sanity intact. This pandemic has not fallen equally across all shoulders by a long shot, and anyone who's trying to make you stick to a Before Times schedule or gets ratty about "unprofessional" childcare complications can go stuff themselves. **definitely not looking for any advice or encouragement here, and am in fact allergic to both unless expressly requested - just figured since this is a check-in I’d update on current state of play for anyone interested in comparison.

Golly, what rotten luck. You are right though, I simply cannot understand that if you use your head, use the band the right way and bloody well teach yourself some decent eating habits, why there is any need in the world for you to gain weight back. Keep up your exercise, keep up your new sensible habits and you should be right. Get right onto any small weight gains immediately. For the record, I find it much easier to avoid gaining weight than I do losing it. I managed to get through my third pregnancy without gaining anything significant, and since I realised 10 or so years ago that I could easily gain 7kg on a 2 week holiday, I've never gained a gram on holidays since. It doesnt require quite the same deprivation as dieting does - for me I find it requires a big commitment to loads of exercise. Then I can afford a treat here or there and I dont gain. You can do that too. You know you can. Surely with banding there's an element of it being a crutch, to allow you to work on your head issues without that exhausting expectation of failure. You've done the hard yards, now you can just keep going! Good luck and I hope it goes well for you

OK Delarla you went out drinking last night and having fun and so did I. I had to get away from the weight gain demon. However this is the holiday season, MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! I am facing those hunger pains every day when I wake up till I go to sleep at night. IT really sucks. Vera thanks for the sweet phone call yesterday. It is calls like that which will keep me on track. Lisa we both will be able to do this. I am gonna fight this tooth and nail all the way. You can do this. We can do this together. Have you filled out your Biggest Loser application yet? LOL!! I say we start a talk circuit of Eroded Bandsters and encourage all 1 year or more bandsters to get Endo's. We can get local docs to give discounts on the Endo costs and give them away as door prizes. :Bunny Anyway, try to enjoy the holiday and I will see you when I get home. Offer still open and on the table to come stay at the house. HUGS Give Chris a hug for me.

Hi -- just wanted to say I had the same symptoms (vomiting at night without realizing it), but it wasn't like vomit, it was food that hadn't cleared the band. I had a barium swallow and Dr. Bagnato removed everything from the band (2 ccs), and said I had to come back for a egd (where they put the camera down your throat), and he said that if what he suspected was the problem (slippage), he would remove the band at the same time. I am so freaked out at the thought of losing my band. I had lost 40 pounds (20 prior, so 60 total), but since the band was unfilled, I have been eating stuff that I have missed -- salads, fruit, bread, and fibrous meats like chicken breast and steak... oh steak! I've gained back almost 20 pounds in 6 weeks!!! I'm afraid if I get the band taken out, I'm going to be back to where I was (282) shortly. I am already suffering from the weight gain (joints killing me, clothes getting tight). I know I have to get my mind back around this, and get focused on not eating things I shouldn't be eating, but I've always been an emotional eater, and between the open band and working 80 hours a week, I'm stuffing it down, and of course, it is almost all junk (whatever I can eat and work at the same time). Please keep me in your prayers!

I rarely have so much to share, but I must reach out to you. I know you. You are me. Please, I urge you to consider this reply. I hope this will not be perceived as condescending. I speak from experience. I spent years in a relationship that was NEVER obviously abusive. He was the love of everyone we knew and everyone thought that I had it made. Even me sometimes. Weight seemed to be to blame for everything that was wrong though, and certainly the root of my self-hate. It turned out though, that this person didn’t want what he perceived as damaged goods no matter what the issue was. Finally with weight watchers I started losing the weight, but my joint problems are not related totally to weight and they still got worse over time. It all came to a head during a trip to the zoo. I was having a horrible time limping around, in pain and struggling. I was almost in tears when I swallowed my pride to take a wheel chair. I had never done that in my life, and I was humiliated by admitting my weakness. I just didn’t want to ask him go home because of my problem because he loves the zoo and being outdoors and active. Then it came…the knife. He said “No, pushing you around in a wheel chair isn’t exactly my idea of a good time. I would just rather go home.” This man, who was so seemingly gentle and kind, and yes, wonderful with kids, was, at the heart of things, cold and unthinking. That was the beginning of the end and I have regained happiness since then. After finally learning to love myself, I then started dating a man while I was on Topamax and thin, and now have ballooned into a big big girl. He still tells me I am beautiful. He supported me in my surgery and even loaned me the money and we aren’t even engaged. He keeps encouraging me even though I haven’t lost weight very well because of other medical issues. That is real love. That is real support. John, that is his name, would push me in a wheel chair for the rest of my days if necessary and pop wheelies with me all the way. He has known this is a possibility for me from the beginning, but sees my worth far above that. YOU ARE SCHEDULED FOR SURGERY!!! This is taking care of “this one thing.” He should be jumping up and down for you! Why? Because this is not a weight loss scheme! Has he researched it with you? Does he show interest in this process and what will be happening? If weight loss is truly the answer, then right now, he should be feeling a renewed sense of hope, and so should you. But is it? This is a very complex issue. You have responsibility to love yourself. There is no doubt about that. And that is not just a feel good notion that I throw your way just to make you feel better. If you cannot, you won’t be happy with anyone, and it can destroy everything you love. Now with that said, I do not mean to cause despair. I KNOW that is not just something you decide to do and POOF! you suddenly think you are awesome. It is a process, but one that is up to ONLY YOU and it is ABSOLUTELY POSSIBLE. There a lot of things you can do to get started. Counseling is one obvious one. It is likely that larger issues and addiction drive the weight, and this will only be discovered in deep self-discovery. THIS IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. BUT!!!!!!! His IS TO LOVE YOU UNCONDITIONALLY. Yes, UNCONDITIONALLY. “Just because we took vows?” YES!!!! That is exactly why. If you were in a terrible accident and were paralyzed, what would be the outcome in your marriage? Only you know the answer to that. That answer is very important. Why? Because this parallel can create a very similar situation without the stigma and blame of weight gain. However, it can also produce the same bad characteristics in our loved ones. The fact is though, then, they do not have the luxury of blaming, judging, pointing the finger, and pretending there are far above you because of “your condition.” How do you REALY THINK he would behave? Again, REALLY. Be honest with your self. I do not pretend to know that answer, but you must find it. I have seen both sides. Think long and hard about what you deserve. YOU ARE NOT YOUR WEIGHT. YOU ARE NOT A FAT CELL. YOU ARE A WOMAN WORTH LOVING. Please PM me if you wan to discuss more. It so much deeper than what I can write here and I know you understand that. I hope this helps.

Julz, you sound like one terrific human being. What a blessing it would be to have you as a friend, a neighbor! There were sooo many things that went into this huge decision I made not to do the lapband at this time. A lot was fear of the unknown.. But much was the state of my being right now. i just retired from 36 yrs of an extremely stressful job. Stress that caused me to overeat and gain a lot of this weight. Hypothyroidism that went undetected for several yrs that caused weight gain. I feel that I need to allow my body to decompress from working...focus on what's important, which is health and see if I can make a change naturally. I love healthy food. im not a junk food addict. Never have been. I Dont want to restrict my body from healthy eating by putting a band in my body. I hated the idea that I couldnt eat asparagus without getting stuck. Not eating kale or lettuce was not an option for me. Besides all this, my 90 yr old parents were diagnosed with cancer and Alzheimer within 6 mo of each other. im the only child in the area to care for them. I cant be thinking of myself right now. Im thinking this kind of stress with a band will only lead to trouble. SO, I think you can see the sum of all of this is how I made my decision at this time. YES, banding is the most personal decision and it must be honored. Thank you April Bandsters! Good luck.

Thanks Rootman, I'm also doing self-pay and there is no aspect of this decision that was easy. Easy was gaining the weight and easy would be letting the repercussions of the weight gain continue to deprive me of living. I've tried so many ways to lose weight, different diets, different exercises, and it just didn't work for me. And it isn't working for Americans in general. I refuse to listen to another person who hasn't battled what I'm battling.

My apologies. I sincerely thought it must have been a typo and was teasing to be funny, not hurtful in any way. That being said, if a person is overweight it's a result of calories in versus calories out....overeating. You are right that there are other ways to become overweight, such as drastic hormone imbalances or certain drugs that cause weight gain. But those reasons don't land you on a WLS forum.

It's been 2 weeks since my last update. The first week, I was on liquids and the second week soft foods. The two drain tubes were pulled leaving only the feeding tube and G-tube into the stomach. Both have been capped off and only left in as a precaution. Today, I have an appointment to remove these remaining tubes. I am also supposed to get the go ahead for solid foods. I think it will still be months before the wounds stop leaking completely and close up/heal. The only scare I had was after 7 days of liquids and 2 days of soft foods, I gained 18 pounds!!! Who gains 18 # in 9 days?!!!! I panicked and paged the doctor. He explained that this was a reaction to my body from being in "starvation mode" for several weeks. Previously, I was only able to get in 600 calories each day. I wasn't so concerned about the weight gain as I was about whether or not food or liquids were still leaking out of my stomach. The doctor said that if that was the case, I would be violently sick. Fortunately, I am still healthy with no fevers. He said my metabolism should stabilize. I think it has because I dropped 4 pounds already. Apparently, there is a ton of politics in my doctor's office. My doctor left the business (with no notice) and moved to the opposite side of town. I sought him out so he could remove these final tubes. My follow-up care will be at the Mayo Clinic. Hopefully, there won't be any further complications.

I'm glad to hear that all is well now. I had a GI swallow this morning due to pain,weight gain and reflux. Doc said that I was entirely too tight but my surgeon will talk to me about it on my next visit. I'm afraid he will tell me that it's also a slippage. It's nice to hear that someone else has gone through this also and with a good outcome. Nevertheless; I still don't know what my outcome is. I guess I'll know next week. And you are right, I really dont want to lose my band and gain the weight back. Pray that all goes well.

Hi Nykee - All the advice given here is right on. I second the following points: 1. You are TOO tight. 2. You must be loose enough to eat REAL food - Proteins and veggies. 3. Bigger meals in the afternoon to help cut cravings at night. 4. Hot liquids in the morning to help loosen you. 5. More Water. Can I reiterate - YOU ARE TOO TIGHT. But, to help even out your restriction. 1. You are consuming waaaay too much sodium and not enough water. Of course you are going to have edema first thing in the mornings, which will make your band feel even tighter. Soups and cheetos are full of salt. Cheetos chew down to mush, and soup is a liquid (particularly if you're spitting out the meat and veggies), and does not help you stay satisfied. If you choose to eat this way, then you MUST make up for all that sodium by drinking tons of water to help your kidneys flush out that salt. Otherwise you will swell up like a balloon and your band will be too tight. 2. Do you have any kind of allergies or post nasal drip? Do you wake up congested in the mornings? That will make you tight as well. You need to keep your mucus as thin as possible, which of course is best done by staying hydrated. If you have some sort of allergies or tend to wake up congested perhaps you should try a decongestant before going to bed. Mucus draining into your pouch all night will also make you feel tight in the mornings. Here is an interesting article on edema, causes, and possible solutions: http://www.diagnose-me.com/cond/C576850.html I found these points interesting: "Low Protein levels in the blood that can be seen in malnutrition, kidney and liver disease. The proteins in the blood help hold salt and water inside the blood vessels so Fluid does not leak out into the tissues. If albumin (the most abundant blood protein) gets too low, edema occurs especially in the feet, ankles and lower legs." "It may take from 2 to 6 weeks following long term dehydration for your body to get used to being normally hydrated again and flush out the extra fluid it has been retaining." "Semi-starvation can cause edema. People with eating disorders may interpret the puffiness of edema or any changes on the scale as weight gain or getting "fat" and may panic and purge or take laxatives even more." You need some protein, less salt, and lots more water, IMHO. You also need a slight unfill. IMHO. Wishing you all the best - xxoo

Kim, prayers go out to your FIL and whole family. Praise God that he is going to be OK! I'm also praying the truth will come out. You would think that the trooper would take statements from the medic too? Dianne, hang in there lady. You'll have a date soon, and be as good as new ... or actually better! Angie, I'll eat Soup with you Melissa, you're looking great. Please don't sweat a little Water weight gain. Had a good weekend, but a sweet old gentleman in our church went to be with the Lord this weekend. He suffered from congestive heart failure and had been on Oxygen for at least 1 1/2 years. I'll attend his services tomorrow (Tues.) afternoon.

Ok you guys here is another update, I went to my PCP today to get the additional info that they (the insurance co) requested. My blood pressure was up, they had to put me on BP meds (a plus for me). Now don't get me wrong, I don't won't high blood pressure, but if this is what's going to help me get approved. The acid refux yall is a very terrible feeling, they put me on meds for that as well. My PCP said she will write a letter regarding these issues, and will put on there that this is do to weight gain. Yall pray for me that this will help me get approved. I'll keep you all updated. So far as I know my dates have not changed for surgery, which is 08/13.

Let your doctor advise you on what's best in YOUR case. Sometimes (in my case) that isn't determined until he can actually see what's in there (xray is helpful but not a substitute). Scar tissue won't go away because you have two separate surgeries. I would guess there could be more at the time of the second surgery because the band removal surgury is going to have it's own set of scars. I'm glad mine could be done in one surgery because: 1, I was under anesthetic once instead of twice 2, only one recovery period (less work days missed) 3, once going through the pre and post op regimes 4, not having to deal with excess weight gain (therefore risk) between the two surgeries. That being said, if the only SAFE way would have been with two surgeries, I would have done that. Actually I wouldn't have a choice, my doc will only do what is best for his patients' health. I suppose if it didn't matter I had a choice, I would prefer all in one. Hope this helps.

Welcome! Its interesting that you say there may be a corallation between TBI and weight gain. My son in law was always slim until he fell and had a severe head injury. He gained a huge amount of weight and developed diabetes because of it. We just thought it was because he wasnt able to be as active and because he sleep eats in the middle of the night. He is also looking into WLS. Good luck to you. I hope you get to have your surgery soon. I am also just waiting for my Echo and my EGD and hopefully will have a date too.

I have been lurking for a couple of weeks and finally joined today. I have gotten a tentative approval for VSG. Final approval is dependent on heart health clearance via results of echocardiogram, which is scheduled mid-February. Hopefully, I can set up my surgery in March. I view Gastric Sleeve and all bariatric procedures, as tools to help, not as a sure fix....it is not the easy way out as some would claim! I have been severely hypothyroid since I was 20 years old after having most of my thyroid removed because of Graves' Disease (autoimmune hyperthyroid). Although, I take thyroid replacement, synthetic drugs do not work as well as your own natural hormones. For the past 40 years, my weight issues have been cyclical "hills and valleys". I would normally stay slim about 12 years and then would go into a gaining pattern but never topping more than 163, lasting 6 to 7 years before dropping the excess weight again. In 2012, I suffered a head injury and my weight exploded. I went from 117 to 212 in 8 months! The medical community is now starting to study the relationship of TBI's (traumatic brain injury) and weight gain. I can relate a definitive change in my food cravings and appetite. This time, I couldn't get the weight off even though I had a history of successful dieting. My resolve was as strong as ever but something had changed with the head injury. What this proves is the path to losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight is rockier and steeper for some than others through no fault of their own. The adverse changes to my health was the catalyst that motivated me to look into VSG. I recently had to start on HBP meds and have a been experiencing knee issues. I have always enjoyed an active lifestyle but the extra weight has elevated my fears of a stroke or heart attack due to heart palpitations and shortness of breath with even the slightest exertion. I am certain I will be asking lots of questions and am grateful for such a knowledgeable and supportive group.

I DID IT ! I hit MY weight goal. NOT my surgeon's goal 10 years ago when I started this advent....that was to weigh145 pounds. Then he agreed that having started at 320, (and then 5'3" ) that a more logical goal would be in the area of 160 to 170. The lowest I ever got was 175. And I did not maintain that for even a moment. The the next 8 years of losing my only sibling to the Flu at the age of 49 (please get your flu shot) and then my surviving parent a few years later... personal illness and drama.... and creeping weight gain.... 14 months ago at 220 pounds and 63 years old I got my act back together. I went back to eating protein - first and foremost - protein, healthy vegetables and fruit, and a smattering of healthy whole grain carbs and healthy fats. I ate mindfully - and intentionally to fuel my mind and body. I ate a treat daily I slowly changed HOW I eat, what I eat, and when I eat it. I did not announce it, I did not talk about it. I just did it. I lost 45 pounds in the past 14 months. Not fast weight loss, but steady And I may decide to lose a bit more. Or not. Thank you for being my sounding board. Thank you for being here for support. Today I am thankful for my sleeve, for saggy baggy hanging skin and not caring. And for being healthy !

Well, another goal I'm not going to make........I wanted to be at my goal weight by my bday, which is next week. eeeek, not going to happen. So now I'm just hoping by my 3 year band anniversary which is in January! Eating has been good lately, exercise needs to pick up - it needs to be more consistant. I've got a plan for next week, so we'll see how that goes. Tomorrow taking a vacation day from work to just play. I plan on hanging out at my friends and lounging in her pool all day. Yay. The scale is going down, but not down as fast as it goes up. Why is that? Ever wonder how you can show a 2 lbs weight gain overnight and then only lose 1/2 pound the next day? Hmmmm. Wt 164.6

Well, another goal I'm not going to make........I wanted to be at my goal weight by my bday, which is next week. eeeek, not going to happen. So now I'm just hoping by my 3 year band anniversary which is in January! Eating has been good lately, exercise needs to pick up - it needs to be more consistant. I've got a plan for next week, so we'll see how that goes. Tomorrow taking a vacation day from work to just play. I plan on hanging out at my friends and lounging in her pool all day. Yay. The scale is going down, but not down as fast as it goes up. Why is that? Ever wonder how you can show a 2 lbs weight gain overnight and then only lose 1/2 pound the next day? Hmmmm. Wt 164.6

so i had a really bad "food" weekend..snacked way too much..ate the wrong foods...i got on the scale this morning and it said i was up 3lbs :smile: :smile2: I don't know if it's just a bloating/water thing or actual weight gained, but either way i'm going to be super strict so it goes back to normal hopefully by my weigh in day on Friday. So sad! b: dunkin coffee with skim, about 50 cal b2 (i may eat this in the afternoon as a snack..depends on if i'm hungry this morning or not): greek yogurt, 140 cal l: lean cuisine, 340 cal d: lean cuisine, 340 cal No snacks!!! Total cal: 870 Gym: going. cardio and toning. will push it!!!

We have the same surgery time period! June 2nd 2014 for me. I have gained and working my weight back down. Guilt and shame over weight gain are unproductive and useless emotions. Don't let yourself wallow in the negative head space. Get up and fight for this! Make this the year you will be healthier, stronger, brave and fierce! Some things to try: Once you eat carbs and sugar you will crave them more. Time to detox off carbs. (get them out of the house) Acknowledge your triggers that take you back to bad habits : Could be depression, emotional/stress eating or boredom. Get back to basics. 80-100 grams protein. Drink plenty water hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! (if you're not doing this already) Be sure to log your food. (food logging apps makes it easy) http://www.myfitnesspal.com/mobile/android Yes, even if you have to force yourself. Get out and walk or find some activity for exercise. It's winter. Treadmill in your home, workout videos, walk a mall or gym. Keep busy and find things to distract yourself from food. Bariatric pal has a great holiday weight loss challenge. Join us to keep motivated. https://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/405183-holiday-challenge-time-lets-do-this/

I never thought to ask those questions either! Once you are at proper restriction you need fewer and fewer fills. You may have been gaining for a couple of reasons. You started eating higher caloric foods or larger amounts of foods. The reason for larger amounts of foods with the same fill can be that as you lose weight, you lose it everywhere, including the fat around your stomach beneath your band. When that happens, your band feels looser. Like what happens to a belt as you lose weight. When your band feels looser you get hungrier. For me hungrier means I eat more, eating more means weight gain. I seem to just get a teensie tune up fill yearly. About 0.25cc. It's good though, because I see my surgeon this way, and he checks everything out. He does an upper GI each time to check placement is still good. I had my last top-off in September. According to my surgeon the older bands seemed to have a bit of Fluid that seeps through the bladder of the bands over time. Not so much in the newer bands. He said my AP Standard 10cc band is one of the newer ones. For me, I've reached a fill level where what I eat is appropriate to maintain my weight. At this point, I could not take any more fill in my band. I am far from the capacity of it. I have a 10cc band, I have less than 7cc in it, not sure of the total. My surgeon has the total in his notes, it doesn't really matter to me, what matters to me is that I can eat and maintain my weight.

No, I was completely off track. I started eating a lot sweets, breads, pastas....hence, the 40pd weight gain. I've been slapped back into reality and I'm ready to get my butt on track. I'm heading home, I will share more when I get home.