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God bless you and I'm glad you're taking to it so well (and thanks for checking in with us!) Just a couple questions--what was wrong with the anesthesia? Also, why the 6 lb weight gain (maybe IV fluids)?

Congrats on the first 5k! Hey, those are the days you can see weight go in the wrong direction and still smile. When you exercise so much more than normal, your body demands exactly what it needs. Sure, you could have found better ways to eat, and hopefully next time you will, but just doing that activity is a huge accomplishment. You may take an extra week to lose the weight gain, but your body will be better for it. Stronger, more muscular and better apt to lose in the future. My brother is a bike racer and told me that all the cyclists agree you never lose weight during the race season. It's just too hard contending with what your body requires. But it's during e offseason that the racers get so thin they can fit into toddler clothing. What I take from that for my exercising is I don't expect to lose much on my most vigorous workout days. But it's exactly those vigorous days that set my body up for big losses on the more normal workout days. Two weeks ago I went on a monster ride, over 60 miles with a mountain. I burned almost 5000 calories, but only lost 0.2lbs that day cause of all the food, salts, power bars and shot blocks I consumed, not to mention a glass of wine that night. But in the two weeks since that ride I've lost 9lbs. Sure, I exercise daily, but 500-1200 calories usually. And I've been good on my food intake. But I personally think that huge workout day jump started my body to burn more calories and that's why the last two weeks have been so prosperous. I'm planning another huge days soon. Anyway, my point was, congrats on the 5K and don't let the immediate weight response mean more than it should.

I was a year Sept 7th and have only lost 50lbs. I say only 50, but 50 is better than none. I am disappointed in my loss, especially when a close friend of mine had it done end of June this year and already has lost 47lbs. She did start with a full band though. Congrats to all of you who lost 100+ pounds so far!! What an accomplishment! I think any weight loss is better than a weight gain. I already have 11cc in a 14cc band. I am thinking I should have went with the bypass. I was against it when I went to the Dr to begin my weight loss journey, but now have regrets about my decision. I want to see what my options are for a revision surgery, but not sure if insurance will cover it now that my BMI is lower than requirement level. If I can't get a revision then I will have to be happy with what I have. My Dr said your first year is the best year..hopefully I can prove him wrong!

Hi there.... we share a banding birthday and my experience is very similar to yours. I also have had 4 fills and the restriction is ever so slight but mostly not enough. I also eat far more that the recommended palm size/half a cup. I followed a thread on this site called 'starting over' and those ladies have been so humble, so helpful and so honest about how tough it really is for a lot of us bandsters. They have lost loads of weight, gained weight but still are winning - suggest you read their posts. Most of them had the banding done over 2 years ago. I haven't lost more than a kilo since December so was feeling totally discouraged and wanting to give up. They have inspired me and i'm feeling more positive and ready to try another fill.... always dread them as I arrive feeling guilty! I'm going to book for my next fill in the new week so will be holding thumbs for both of us. :thumbup:

Hi everyone! I have a cold and didn't feel like going to a party that I was invited to. Plus I didn't want to deal with all the forbidden foods that would be there. Wouldn't you think being on a liquid diet would be the same as Phase 1? While I was on the liquid diet, I was using Slim Fast Low Carb which has 3 grams of carbs. I need to go grocery shopping to start the South Beach diet. I am having a problem though because my doctor doesn't want me to eat fresh veggies until 6 weeks post op. And no red meat. But I can still do meat and cooked veggies. But that means no salads. I don't know what his reasoning would be for no salads for 2 more weeks. The problem is I don't feel well from this cold so I don't feel like going grocery shopping. So far today all I have had is a slice of deli turkey and a slice of Provlone cheese. Last night for dinner I had a lean cuisine chicken that had chicken and cooked spinach. Besides that, I had a can of slim fast. I got 64 oz of Water in. I haven't lost any more weight in the last week. I am not happy about that. It was so nice to see the scale moving down. Audree Congratulations! I knew you would have had to have lost at least as much as I did, from being on liquids. I am anxious to get my first fill. I have a medication that I sometimes take for sleep, because I have horrible insomnia. It is known to cause weight gain. It makes me crave sweets horribly. Well, another weekend here. I am glad I don't have little kids in the house eating sweets in front of me. I feel like I don't have much willpower left. Yesterday I wanted a cookie really badly!! I hope I lose another lb soon. If I don't, I get in that mood "I might as well eat since I am not losing anyway" That's old thinking. I am glad all of you are here. It's encouraging to have all of you, and being able to read the board.

As per requested, a bit about me. I turned 37 on June 14th, same day as I got banded! So my banding birthday and my real birthday are the same. I'm married 11 years to a great supportive guy that I've been with for 14 years. Childless by choice, we have two pugs. I live a weird alternative lifestyle... and will say nothing more about that than that. I am on longterm disability with severe depression that is under control, I'm functioning pretty good right now, I can't handle major stress, and as long as I take good care of myself and my medications life is manageable. Since I'm from the West Coast of Canada, Vancouver, and my Dr. of choice was on the East Coast, in Ontario... we decided to pair the lapband surgery with a long continental exploration adventure and went gypsy. We sold our condo, bought a small RV, and have been travelling in it for over 2 months now. Currently I'm in Newfoundland in a Provincial Park area on a private campground with great wireless internet. My hubsand works online, so we can travel and do business at the same time. We plan to keep travelling until October, going back west this time through the U.S. instead of Canada side and then spend a few weeks back in our home town, and then head South for the winter, California and Florida primarily. After that, we'll see. I used to be a kickboxing instructor, and am hoping to be able to train and teach again one day, my depression was connected to a great deal of my weight gain, as well as deteriorating health (I was hospitalized for long periods). I'm mostly focused on getting healthy again, body, mind and spirit. This forum has been very helpful. XO Leila

Hi TexasBecky! You sound like one of us already! The time that I spend running is a wonderful part of my week. I don't talk or listen to music. Instead, it is a time to let my mind wander and go wherever it wants to. Many problems have been analyzed, plans have been made, artistic endeavors visualized, wise words (from my friends here at LBT) have been contemplated, and blessings have been counted. It not only clears my mind of unfinished business and give opportunity to reflect, but also makes me feel powerful and proactive. Instead of feeling like a victim to my uncontrollable weight gain, I have faith and hope in my ability to choose. All of these things bring me a brighter mood. There are also endorphins that are released. Though I have always exercised, it became less consistent as I put on weight. The way I have succeeded is through an exercise challenge thread that was started for those banded in the same month. The accountability and iprogressive ncrease in time and difficulty was what I needed. That is how I came to know Julie and Betty, and a few others here. We challenged each other and ourselves. Instinctively, I built a program for myself very similar to the couch potato to runner method. Julie used that and it is how she has become a strong runner. I totally recommend starting one for yourself!

Hi again...thank you all for your replies. Greythope, I'm glad there's someone who truly understands how I feel. People don't realize just how debilitating the sleep apnea is...my family used to think that I just LOVE to sleep and am a lazy fat ass. Well, that was never the case. I used to be quite active too...played soccer and basketball on teams well into my twenties. But I've always had this sleep issue and the weight gain has just exasperated it. I drive 50 miles each way to work and also worry every day that I'm gonna fall asleep and crash. People that haven't experienced this don't know how it feels....worrying about your LIFE being in danger...worrying about losing your job cuz ur always late...the list goes on. I had high hopes that this surgery would atleast help with my sleep and so far it hasn't done much. Jachut, I can really appreciate your enthusiasm for exercise, but our situations are like night and day. If you didn't exercise, you would have no excuse because you HAVE the energy. And don't get me wrong, I'm not using it as an excuse...but like Greythope said, you've never been in my shoes so you will never know what it's like. Making the time for it is not even as much the issue as even HAVING THE ENERGY to START!!!! Greythope, I guess we can only hope that with a little more weight loss every day the apnea will subside...even a little bit so that we can find the energy to start exercising. My life has been absolute HELL with this condition...frankly I'm sick and tired of being sick and TIRED!!!!!!!!! Good luck to you all and thanks for the great feedback...wishing you all continued success on this life long journey!!!

FOR ANYONE IN THE FUTURE THAT MIGHT STUMBLE UPON THIS AND WANT TO KNOW... I will also update after my WLS. Can Weight Loss Surgery Help Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome? Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine system disorder in women. About 10% of all women of reproductive age have signs of PCOS, which is a hormone imbalance that can cause weight gain, acne, extra hair, irregular periods, and other problems. Perhaps the most significant problems experienced by women who suffer from PCOS are hyperandrogenism (the presence of excess of male sex hormones), and anovulation, which causes a woman to stop ovulating, rendering her infertile. Many women who suffer from PCOS are also obese. Recent studies have indicated that women who are significantly overweight may achieve improvement with PCOS through the significant weight loss that bariatric surgery can bring. Below we discuss the role of weight loss surgery as a potential tool to assist patients with PCOS. The Connection Between PCOS and Excess Weight Almost 60% of women with PCOS are obese. Many women with PCOS are also insulin resistant and/or have a reduced glucose tolerance. When someone is insulin resistant, their body does not use its insulin effectively to store glucose in the body as fuel. Too much glucose is the system slows the breakdown of fat in the body and creates new fat cells. This is why someone who is insulin resistant tends to gain weight. The problem worsens when the insulant resistant person’s body makes more insulin, trying to compensate for the inefficiency. This increase in supply only makes the body more insulin resistant. It is estimated that over half of women with PCOS are resistant to insulin and eventually will develop metabolic syndrome, a cluster of serious metabolic conditions (high blood sugar, high HDL cholesterol, high triglyceride levels, abdominal obesity, and high blood pressure) that increase risk for coronary artery disease, stroke, diabetes, and heart disease. Since bariatric surgery treats weight gain and obesity, it can have a positive effect on the metabolic processes – including how the body metabolizes insulin. This in turn may be able to treat the symptoms of PCOS that relate to problems processing sugar, such as weight gain. This relationship may explain why weight loss surgery seems to affect PCOS symptoms. Studies Show Bariatric Surgery Can Help PCOS Research has shown that weight loss surgery can reverse the conditions associated with metabolic syndrome (such as high blood pressure, high blood sugar, etc.) or prevent them from occurring. Additionally, scientific studies have shown a positive connection between bariatric surgeries and relief from PCOS symptoms. The basis of these assertions is the relationship between PCOS and obesity. One study of 33 women with PCOS who underwent weight loss surgery at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation found that bariatric surgery resolved many key characteristics of PCOS, including enlarged ovaries and excess androgen. The study concluded that women should consider weight loss surgery as an extreme remedy for PCOS. Still, the women with PCOS who did undergo bariatric surgery did report positive effects on their symptoms. Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app

congrats on your weight loss! I can't hardly wait til I can say the same. I don't have a surgery date yet and I really just got started with the process. I've wanted to have the lap band surgery for a few months now. I did WW and lost 83lbs. but I have really struggled to keep it off. I have gained 60lbs. of it back. My PCP knew I was doing WW at the time but I only saw him 1-2 times during the diet. My last check up ( last July), he was concerned about my weight gain since he saw me last. I hope he will be supportive since he knows I have tried in the past to lose the weight. It seems the older I get the harder it is to lose it. ( I'm 34).I go for my seminar and surgeon appt. in 2 weeks.

As someone who has had untreated and poorly treated bipolar for a number of years until recently and has had the surgery I think I agree that if you are right, until she is medicated and things calm down a bit it would be difficult for a parent to focus on themselves enough to make the surgery work for you right now. You can still focus on eating healthy and not gaining as best as you can and set a specific time to revisit the idea though. Best of luck with your daughter. There are very good medications out there. Just need to keep working to find the right one. Talk therapy helped me as well. You may want to mention weight concern to the doctor since obesity is genetic and mood stabilizers and anti depressants have a tendency to cause weight gain. There are a few that cause less.

One day at a time...today is Day 3 on Atkins Induction. Surprisingly, I'm not craving as much as I have in the past when I went on induction. Maybe it's the mental attitude of seeing my carbs as a true addiction and knowing that I'm avoiding them completely for that reason...and not just a diet to lose weight? Who knows the head games we play with ourselves. :smile: At any rate, my headache is finally gone and I feel better than I usually do the first week. The mental fog seems to be gone as well. Bonus - my belly is shrinking again. At some point, after that initial reshifting of body weight (skinny legs, no butt or hips, belly reducing) any weight gain (which I did when I went from onederland back up about 20 pounds) went right to the tummy so it's nice to see it shrinking back down. Since I'm on the induction phase I don't worry about monitoring the quantity...just making sure I'm eating minimal carbs. So, since it's a cold, rainy day I think I'm going to make a pot of my chinese Soup so I can sip on it throughout the day. It's pretty low calorie anyway but very satisfying. Only 4 more days to Disney! WOOHOO! .

The report below came from John Hopkins health Alerts. Thought you all would be interested in it A revealing study published in the International Journal of Obesity (online edition, June 27, 2006) highlighted 10 reasons why Americans are fat. The study explained that too much food and a lack of exercise are not the only factors contributing to obesity. They identified 10 other possibilities: Weight gain factor 1. Less sleep. We’ve gone from an average of nine to seven hours of sleep a night; sleep deprivation is linked to a more robust appetite. Weight gain factor 2. Pesticides and other chemicals in foods. These substances can change hormonal activity, which can boost body fat Weight gain factor 3. Air conditioning and heating. We don’t sweat and shiver as much as our ancestors, so we don’t burn as many calories. Weight gain factor 4. Fewer smokers Nicotine is an appetite suppressant. Weight gain factor 5. Greater use of medications, such as antidepressants and diabetes drugs, which have weight gain as a potential side effect. Weight gain factor 6. Population changes. There are now more older people as well as more Hispanics in the United States, and these groups have higher rates of obesity.[/font] Weight gain factor 7. Older birth mothers, whose children are more prone to excess weight gain than the offspring of younger mothers. Weight gain factor 8. Genetics. Obese moms may pass the trait onto their children in utero. Weight gain factor 9. Higher body weight = greater fertility. Heavy people produce more offspring than thinner people. Weight gain factor 10. Assortative mating. Heavy people tend to mate with each other and produce heavy children. <!-- google_ad_section_end --><!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

My name is Alex and I'm a 39 year old male living in Tennessee. I am divorced with three children. My highest weight was 323 and I became more and more concerned with my overall health condition. In 2007 I was diagnosed with sleep apnea, and just two years ago, atrial fibrillation. When it was suggested that all of these problems could be related to my obesity, I started looking for more extreme ways to try to lose weight. I have struggled with weight gain my entire life, trying all kinds of diets, losing 60 pounds when I was 16 but gaining it back by the time I was 22. My ex-wife had Roux en Y surgery in 2007, and had a dramatic weight loss. Unfortunately, she did not heed the advice of the doctors and dieticians and never took her supplements, so the weight came right back within two years. This has turned me away from having the surgery until a mutual friend of hers, a lap bander, had me speak to another friend who had recently had the gastric sleeve surgery, which I had not heard of until earlier this summer. I got very excited after researching the surgery and called my insurance company for physicians in network who perform it. I signed up for a consultation with the Vanderbilt Center for Surgical Weight Loss in Nashville in July and that is when I was sure this was the right time and the right thing to do. When the surgeon, Dr. Brandon Williams came in during the presentation I realized I went to high school with him and felt another sense of ease since we already knew one another. I had complete encouragement from my parents, my fiancée, and my personal physician, who wrote the letter of recommendation for me to have the surgery. And my insurance company was very easy to deal with, and only required a few standard prerequisites prior to having the surgery. (Psych eval, attendance of support group, evidence of trying other diets, etc). Four months later my surgery took place 11/21/2013. My only complication during the surgery was during post op; my heart went into atrial fibrillation while I was in the recovery room. I was moved to the cardiology floor at Vanderbilt for monitoring. The first night in the hospital was spent seeing many cardiologist trying to figure out how to get my heart rate below 130 where it stayed for hours. By morning, it was down to the 80s, since I was able to take my beta blockers crushed (yuck!). I was discharged the next day since my heart rate was back in the 60s. It has almost been 2 weeks since I had the surgery, and the only pain I feel is in my right side around the ribs, which is close to where they removed most of my stomach. I am now past the soft foods stage and can drink and eat ok, long as I resist the temptation to eat too big of a bite of food. I still crave the old foods I am no longer allowed to eat, but am putting in the toughest battle to stay with this diet by the book. I am 27 pounds down and hope to lose more and when I return to work I hope I can keep in control of my daily diet. That's enough about me... Good luck to everyone out there. I feel good about what I have done, no regrets.

I am 34, I had my surgery a week ago on 4/16/13. I am an RN and I work in Neonatal ICU. I have been happily married for 13 years, but we've not been able to have children. My husband actually had gastric bypass in 2009 and lost 150 lbs. Our pets are our "children" for now - we have a yellow lab and 3 kitties, all of whom are very spoiled! I have 2 little nephews (also spoiled by me!) and adult neice who is about to graduate from grad school and an adult nephew who just graduated college. Also I have 2 sisters and 2 brothers, and my best friend who I consider a sister as well. I was a thin child, underweight actually until puberty. My weight gain was gradual starting around age 17. I married at 20 and was diagnosed a couple years later with PCOS while we were still in college. We were told we could not conceive without medical intervention, which turned out to be true. When we graduated college and were ready to start a family, we went on fertility treatments right away. 3 pregnancies in about 6 years of active fertility treatments (everything but IVF) all ending in early first trimester miscarriages. After extensive testing, no reason was found for the miscarriages except for my PCOS and insulin resistance. We are very hopeful that reaching my goal weight after surgery will help with conceiving and carrying a child.

I thought about doing that, but I toughed it out. My doctor felt like it would be better for my sleeve surgery to have been unfilled prior to. His nurse said maybe two weeks before, but I went in a month before. It has gone fast, but the weight gain was fast too...

Juices are high in sugar and no good. Unless you make your own veggie juice with a juicer or limit your juice to very small portions and make it yourself. Fruit juices are high in sugar. Pop is no good either, bad nutrition and sugar content is off the charts. Diet pop is as bad as non diet pop, the aspartame can cause weight gain, stroke, and a myriad of other issues. Plus carbonation is uncomfortable for some sleeved patients. Eventually the carbonation will stretch the pouch as well if consumed too much in one sitting, just as regular water can if consumed too close to eating time and in one sitting. Both doctor and dietician said as much regarding all this.

Still loosing and almost 6 months pregnant. No weight gain yet

YAAAAAY Tina! Go Tina! Go Tina! *dancing around computer* I am SO PROUD of you! 60 miles is an AWESOME accomplishment...and you can count on me for support next year as well - I know we'll still be here on LBT together! Make sure you check with your doc on the tendon thing - though I'm sure you already have. As to the weight gain - that could be Water you've retained because you worked your muscles so hard during the 60 miles of walking...I have heard that after a tough workout, you can retain water. Of course, I'm not a doctor, so take that with a grain of salt - but - you are phenominal!:tt1:

WOW, this is very interesting information to know. Looks like my body did the sudden shift as you will see. I think I will be watching my moods. Well, after ending up in the ER, it changed a lot of things for me. I never want to be in that kind of pain again or have a gain. Since then, I started eating right and walking almost every night (i hope it will be every night soon). I went back to the doctor this week (2 weeks after my initial 6 lb weight gain, in which he gave me a fill and he later removed it). I stepped on the scales and loved it. Eating right, thinking positive and exercising helped me lose 14 POUNDS in two weeks. I could not believe it. I am down almost 50 lbs. I look forward to going on walks because I get a chance to think about all the choices I have made and need to make in my future. I am sure losing that much in two weeks was odd, so my goal for next month is to lose a total of 10 pounds. Keep your fingers crossed.

Agree with everything you said and one of the things I didn't mention I couldn't eat was potatoes, cake ... Rice, bread and a few other things was more because of in many people it causes problems long term. And because of some of those foods that swell and can lead to more stretching. So my doctor as well teaches moderation (although there are definitely some things she said to never touch again, soda) and says that one day I'll feel like I can eat just about anything I want in small portion, but just to be aware of the ones that are more prone to trigger changes that may lead to weight gain. I think we're saying the same thing and should be proud we're being diligent enough to listen and learn from the experts as well as our own bodies

276 this week...my first weight gain in almost three months; however, there was a lot of deep fried turkey consumed!

It is good to take care of myself. It is a major purchase. Thank gooodness my husband supports the decision. I know it is going to help me prevent some of the high blood pressure and diabetes associated with weight gain. So I am just going to go forward and use the tool that is available to me.

I am at my goal. I am having the problem of people close to me telling me to eat more . You are too thin. My doctor tells me I'm healthy. I can maintain by eating nutritious foods and by making smart food choices. As I am able to eat more varieties of food it's becoming more challenging to do that. He said the main thing is to monitor your weight gain within 3-5 pounds. If you start to gain change your food choices. I also have a protein shake in the morning and a protein bar in the afternoon or evening. I'm less likely to over eat when I'm taking my protein . Each person will decide what healthy food choices they want to make . This is not a diet anymore . It's a life style change. I'm trying to erase the dieting from my memory. Diet foods can make you fat. I look for high nutrition value in foods now because I only eat small portions and I feel full fast. I hope to hear from other people maintaining weight loss and anyone who wants to share on this topic. Thanks for sharing your ideas!

Our marriage wasn't affected by the surgery but rather by my weight gain. I got to the point where I hated myself so much I never wanted to leave the house and to be honest it affected our intimacy which I know was hard on him. But I'm down 120lbs and can walk more and I want to go out more now. Unfortunately he got used to me behaving like a hermit so now whenever I say I want to do things he doesn't really believe me I do wish he was more generous with the compliments. Sometimes I really have to beg for them. And one day after hearing him say how good one of our friends looked in a costume she wore for a musical they were both in I had to finally tell him that "I'm working so hard to loose weight, can you not talk about her like that, it really makes things harder for me"