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What I find amazing even when I gain a little weight after a vacation. It is still nothing compared to what I would of gained before the lapband. And it feels really good to lose the weight again and not feel bad because of the momentary weight gain. Now it is time to get back on track because I am so worth it. I met someone today that I have not met for a year and used to be alot thinner then me. Now that person is alot larger then me.

This weight gain is normal. But different for everyone. Week one weight loss was 8lbs week two- 4lbs week 3- 2lbs gained 9 this is where I decided to go on the 5 day pouch test until out of bandster hell.) week 4- 2 lbs re lost plus 2 pounds week 5- 2 pounds lost- First fill at the end of this week still little restriction so I will continue on the 5 day Pouch test on monday. 16 pounds lost total in 5 weeks. every body is different but this is what I have experienced.

Riley 5 pounds overnight!! Seriously I want someone elses fill!! LOL. Ah have a really bad headache today. I did start taking my blood pressure meds again today and wonder if the headache is related to that. Going back to bed I think. Between the diahrea and that headache I wonder if it is the flu............ Riley maybe the weight gain was just water weight??

Allright I know my Doc told me that it might happen but why I havent changed anything as far eating goes and I have been loosing really well. I droped 40lbs since june 3rd only to wake up today and notice 2 pounds back??? I havent eatin any thing more than before? So why, I know its not alot and Ill loose it again but why? hmmmm :thumbup:

This is very common with weight gain during post op. Some lose and then gain after liquid phase so that does happen. My weight loss did slow down after the liquids phase. Stick with eating protein first etc. Don't start eating all the wrong food cause in the end you will be very disappointed with yourself cause it is very easy gain weight.. losing it is the HARD part.. :cursing:I know it is not easy. But you are doing great with exercising and 9lbs is GREAT!! your body is still healing and your body is adjusting. I started keeping food journal this week and that has helped me cause writing everything down really make you realize how much you are eating. Hang in there and take care

Hello again ladies.. Just got off the phone with Donna - she missed us :thumbup: Hi Donna!! Tamra, this is step 1 girl - you are on your way - whoop whoop! Don't be sad or down about the weight gain - that part of your life will all be over before you know it! This is why we are ALL here!!! I had a nice time today at the group fill - simply because I got to "feel" like I was already part of the bandsters - LOl. It's good to know what I have in store for the future - It was great to finally meet Riley, Nicole & Christine (Christine, those pics were great but they don't really do you justice!) Here are the pics I got

When I need to get the scale moving again I go on the plateau buster's diet - which is basically just going back to the lapband "rules". Protein, veggies, then carbs. I started back on it on Monday after some weight gain (8 lbs) and I've already lost 4 lbs. If you'd like I can send you the guidelines.

What Kristine73 said is very true, different meds work very differently for different people. It's interesting she said wellbutrin made her eat more. Many people have taken wellbutrin to cure cravings, some have used it for weight loss and to quit smoking. The weight gain possibility on it is very low, and as i said some people actually lose weight on it. I take wellbutrin for depression. It didn't help me lose weight, but it certainly helped my depression. It didn't make me gain gain weight either. Good luck. As mentioned above it may be a good idea to see a psych specialist to prescribe these types of meds .

You know, Jennifer, the Doc was actually right about that, strange as it might seem. Some people DO lose weight from using an AD. In the case of Effexor, though, it's pretty well documented that weight GAIN is more prevalent. I read somewhere, years ago, that the AVERAGE weight gain for Effexor use was about 50 pounds. I don't know how accurate that it, probably not very, but in MY case, it was very accurate. I'd also suggest seeing a shrink for help with your AD meds, if you aren't already. PCP's really, really do NOT understand the complexities of dealing with "mind drugs", certainly not with the "cocktail" concept of Psychopharmacology. Some of these shrinks can really "tune in" to just what is causing your depression and they know the chemical combo that can relieve it! :bored: HH

I'm getting close! Monday the 29th is my band day. I spoke to the hospital today and I need to be there at 5:30AM, scheduled for surgery at 8AM. I will spend the night with DD1 the night before because the hospital is an hour away from my home, but only a few minutes from her apartment. DH will come later - he took off from work even though I didn't want him to - I'm afraid he'll overhear how much I weigh. Isn't that crazy?? Even when I was pregnant with our 3 daughters, I didn't want him to know how much I weighed. Everyone elsed seemed so proud of their weight gain, or of their pregnant bodies, but I was ashamed - I remember it like it was yesterday. Not that he isn't able to see...it's just kind of the ultimate humiliation to weigh more (way more!!!) than him. My doctor ordered a low carb diet for 2 weeks prior. I started a little before that, and she only ordered liquids for the day before. However, I've read so much here and on other sites, that I put myself on a liquid diet this past Monday. So far, I'm doing OK except a little light-headed at work. I hope the liver is nice and small. I have a convention to go to this weekend with a bunch of teen-age girls, and we'll be eating out the entire weekend. I had to tell a few people about my surgery so they would know what was going on and so that they wouldn't try to get me to eat. They've been very supportive. This weekend will be tough, but the prize is in sight. I've been reading some other blogs about anxiety and depression...I don't really feel that way, but it seems a little weird to me somehow - like I'm separating myself from the pack...does that make sense? Maybe if I were more comfortable sharing this experience with my co-workers, I would not feel as much like a phony. Does it feel like a cop-out to anyone to see others lose weight without surgery? I know, I've been there and tried it. And I owe it to myself, and I owe no explanations to anyone. There - I said it and I feel better. I turned 50 this year and I can remember turning 40 saying I didn't want to be 40 and fat. Where did the 10 years go? I have a lot of life left in me - and I'm ready. I probably will not post until after surgery since my weekend will be full. I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for the support, for putting yourselves out there, and for being real. I know some folks don't like to read the blogs with complaining or negative thoughts, but for me, this is cathartic; and it's my diary. Talk to ya'll later. Yes, I'm from Texas!

I'm getting close! Monday the 29th is my band day. I spoke to the hospital today and I need to be there at 5:30AM, scheduled for surgery at 8AM. I will spend the night with DD1 the night before because the hospital is an hour away from my home, but only a few minutes from her apartment. DH will come later - he took off from work even though I didn't want him to - I'm afraid he'll overhear how much I weigh. Isn't that crazy?? Even when I was pregnant with our 3 daughters, I didn't want him to know how much I weighed. Everyone elsed seemed so proud of their weight gain, or of their pregnant bodies, but I was ashamed - I remember it like it was yesterday. Not that he isn't able to see...it's just kind of the ultimate humiliation to weigh more (way more!!!) than him. My doctor ordered a low carb diet for 2 weeks prior. I started a little before that, and she only ordered liquids for the day before. However, I've read so much here and on other sites, that I put myself on a liquid diet this past Monday. So far, I'm doing OK except a little light-headed at work. I hope the liver is nice and small. I have a convention to go to this weekend with a bunch of teen-age girls, and we'll be eating out the entire weekend. I had to tell a few people about my surgery so they would know what was going on and so that they wouldn't try to get me to eat. They've been very supportive. This weekend will be tough, but the prize is in sight. I've been reading some other blogs about anxiety and depression...I don't really feel that way, but it seems a little weird to me somehow - like I'm separating myself from the pack...does that make sense? Maybe if I were more comfortable sharing this experience with my co-workers, I would not feel as much like a phony. Does it feel like a cop-out to anyone to see others lose weight without surgery? I know, I've been there and tried it. And I owe it to myself, and I owe no explanations to anyone. There - I said it and I feel better. I turned 50 this year and I can remember turning 40 saying I didn't want to be 40 and fat. Where did the 10 years go? I have a lot of life left in me - and I'm ready. I probably will not post until after surgery since my weekend will be full. I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for the support, for putting yourselves out there, and for being real. I know some folks don't like to read the blogs with complaining or negative thoughts, but for me, this is cathartic; and it's my diary. Talk to ya'll later. Yes, I'm from Texas!

YES! Weight Gain with several antidepressants is a known side effect. In my case, I used Effexor back in the late 90's, and promptly put on some 50 pounds, and went up from there. It's kind of a vicious cycle.....You're depressed, sometimes because you are obese, so you take an AD, and you put on MORE weight....and get MORE depressed! Depression has been a HUGE issue in my Life....it's a genetic/inherited thing. But here's the good news, as far as it relates to weight: slowly, as I approached my ideal weight, my depression lessened, and eventually pretty much disappeared. I went from 375mg of Effexor XR a day to 0! Now, the depression comes back to visit every now and then, but it is no longer the crippling nightmare that it once was. One of the interesting methods that is used nowdays is the "cocktail", where several ADs are used in concert, and often a mild stimulant will be included. This does help control the appetite. If you are being prescribed an AD by your PCP, you might consider seeing a Psychiatrist who has a very well defined specialty in Psychopharmacology. Some shrinks are not all that good with meds, and MOST PCPs just hand out the usual stuff (prozac, effexor, wellbutrin, etc). In fact, most PCPs should not be trusted to hand out Psych meds.....you need someone with experience in that area as a specialty. Also, considering your issues with weight, you really, really need to consider regular psychotherapy, if you are not already doing so. The whole obesity/depression thing is quite tightly linked, and it would be reasonable to suggest that taking care of ONE of the problems would have a significant impact on the other. So, you are very wise to consider what changes you can make to your depression treatment in concert with dealing surgically with your weight issues. If you'd like to PM me for more info, please feel free. I know a LOT about this particular issuse; weight and depression have been the two massive monsters in my life since I was very young. I have found answers for BOTH of them, and I'd welcome the opportunity to share what I have learned with you!! Keep Smilin'! :bored: HH

I love Mythbusters! I don't weigh any time after I get up because I figure any number after that is basically random as there are too many variables effecting it. I lost 3 lb. or so from yesterday to today, btw. Of course, there is no way I really did. I figure I was losing all along in the past 3 week but the weight training was masking it with Water weight gains.

Steve did you really read my earlier posts on this thread. All I was doing was responded to whether or not on wished I'd been sleeved instead of banded. And I simply gave one of the reasons why I was happy with my choice. I said that I knew of people that had the bypass and the sleeve that had significant weight gain. I never gave medical specifics or websites to look up. I simply gave my opinion based on real life people that I sat and talked to not quotes of a website. And in my opinion I'll take real life people over websites. And yes I did read plenty about all WLS before I decided to be banded. And who I think I am is someone who has a right to speak about my experiences and opinions without being called a liar just cuz they aren't there own personal experiences and opinions. And this is supposed to be a support group not somewhere people come to get nasty and rude when they can't get people to tell them they are right.

So I am almost 3 weeks post op now. My incisions are healing great, and I don't think the scars will be too bad. My visit with my surgeon was pretty quick, and unfortunately I did not get a fill, that will be at my next appointment. Basically went over how I was doing, what kind of foods I can start introducing, and answering all my questions. I really like my surgeon he's an easy going guy, who is very patient. He was pretty impressed with the weight I had lost, but informed me that the weight loss is going to slow, and I may even gain weight as I introduce food into my diet. I was kind of bummed out by that, but so far no weight gain. On the down side no loss either. I have gone down a size though. Now I need to learn how to sew. I would hate to buy more clothes until I go down at least a few sizes, and I have some clothes I just hate to give up. Last couple of days there has been stuff posted on the forum that really kind of has me worried about my decision. I am reading so much about how that years after people get the band they start having problems. I knew going into this that there were possible complications, but the numbers seemed so low, but on here is seems the numbers are very high. The other surgery I was considering was the sleeve. And on here it seems that a number of people have converted to the sleeve, and have had much better results with no complications. Its a bit depressing reading these things, and it has me kind of freaked that 3-4 years from now I am going to end up with some major problems. I wanted a life change, but a good one. Now everytime something feels a little funny or when some pain kicks in I am wondering if its the beginning of something major. I have to keep reminding myself that I am only 3 weeks pre-op and I feel pretty damn good considering. I also have to keep reminding myself why I chose Lapband over the sleeve. There is no getting back that part of your stomach they take away. If I do have problems with the band I can have it removed. But all the talk about has gotten me pretty discouraged about the whole thing. I already am dealing with some serious emotions of loosing food as a comfort, and quitting smoking. So I guess I need to stay away from the threads that shed a pretty negative light on banding, and has posters bashing eachother left and right.:crying: I started comming here for support, because there is no support group where I am at, and the nearest one is 2 hours away. So I will just stick to the threads that are more supportive, even though the ones that become a day time soap opera can get interesting its hard not to want to see what is next. But those threads just aren't productive. I like this site a lot though, and it has been very helpful so far.

So I am almost 3 weeks post op now. My incisions are healing great, and I don't think the scars will be too bad. My visit with my surgeon was pretty quick, and unfortunately I did not get a fill, that will be at my next appointment. Basically went over how I was doing, what kind of foods I can start introducing, and answering all my questions. I really like my surgeon he's an easy going guy, who is very patient. He was pretty impressed with the weight I had lost, but informed me that the weight loss is going to slow, and I may even gain weight as I introduce food into my diet. I was kind of bummed out by that, but so far no weight gain. On the down side no loss either. I have gone down a size though. Now I need to learn how to sew. I would hate to buy more clothes until I go down at least a few sizes, and I have some clothes I just hate to give up. Last couple of days there has been stuff posted on the forum that really kind of has me worried about my decision. I am reading so much about how that years after people get the band they start having problems. I knew going into this that there were possible complications, but the numbers seemed so low, but on here is seems the numbers are very high. The other surgery I was considering was the sleeve. And on here it seems that a number of people have converted to the sleeve, and have had much better results with no complications. Its a bit depressing reading these things, and it has me kind of freaked that 3-4 years from now I am going to end up with some major problems. I wanted a life change, but a good one. Now everytime something feels a little funny or when some pain kicks in I am wondering if its the beginning of something major. I have to keep reminding myself that I am only 3 weeks pre-op and I feel pretty damn good considering. I also have to keep reminding myself why I chose Lapband over the sleeve. There is no getting back that part of your stomach they take away. If I do have problems with the band I can have it removed. But all the talk about has gotten me pretty discouraged about the whole thing. I already am dealing with some serious emotions of loosing food as a comfort, and quitting smoking. So I guess I need to stay away from the threads that shed a pretty negative light on banding, and has posters bashing eachother left and right.:thumbup: I started comming here for support, because there is no support group where I am at, and the nearest one is 2 hours away. So I will just stick to the threads that are more supportive, even though the ones that become a day time soap opera can get interesting its hard not to want to see what is next. But those threads just aren't productive. I like this site a lot though, and it has been very helpful so far.

I'm about 3 1/2 weeks post op and have slowly started introducing soft foods back into my diet the past few days. Is it normal to actually gain weight during this period? I've gained 3 pounds in about 4 days since introducing more food. Does this eventually even out? Just want to hear from others who may have experienced this. I was doing so well with the weight loss (43 pounds in 2 months) but it has completly stopped now. I admit I could be walking more and definetly drinking more water.

well wasabubble butt this is truly my last response to your attacks. since you enjoy website hunting on the sleeve so much why dont you find one that says there is no potential risk of weight gain or stomach restretching? cuz i sure as hell cant find one. and many of them say that you may eventually need further surgey( doudenal switch) depending on how obese you are. i never once said any of the surgeries were wrong i simply stated that i personally knew of people that have had all 3 surgeries and regained signifigant amounts of weight back. these are real life people that i've spoken with. and i never once said the sleeve and bypass were the same. only that i knew people that had signifigant regain after them. those are the facts im sticking to. again everyones choice is there own to make i chose the band and im happy with mine. lots of people are happy with their bypasses and sleeves and im truly happy for them as well. now you have a blessed day

I am there with you too. I got my first fill yesterday and he said I would probably want another one in a month. It is a process. I was on clear liquids for 24 hours and then could finally have a meal at lunchtime. I had a small chili from Wendy's, and now, 2-1/2 hours later, I am still not hungry, so I guess it's doing what it is supposed to be doing, for now. =) I was really struggling week three and several people and my nutritionist told me to try drinking a cup of milk while preparing a meal, so that I wouldn't be starving when it was time to eat...it worked. I actually attribute that to stopping the weight gain I was starting. Try it! I love organic milk...it doesn't upset my tummy!:smile2:

I was 81 Kilos when i did my operation, was not obese but was fat because im only 158 CM! so i was fat and round! I did this because for years i have been struggeling with weight gain and loss, i would loose then gain them in a second, i have no control over myself, i just LOVE food in any color or type, i just LOVE food! So i did the operation, did it on June / 08 and now June /09 i lost so far 15 Kilos, im very happy, a slow weight loss in one year, but very happy that it is slow, i can now control what i eat and how i eat, im the last to leave the table and the least person to have something in their plate! I love my band (When i am not tight enough LOL) and i think this was the best investment i did (i paid myself also) Good luck with wahtever you decide.

Glad you had a good time Riley woman! A little weight gain is nothing for you and your exercise addicted self - it will come right back off. Ok, so what is the deal with bread - why do you think it is such a problem - i can't eat it anyway because to look at a slice makes me gain 10lbs but why the problem after the band? Doesn't bread desolve quick?

Restless, I had a similar thing with heel spurs on the backs of my heels (they're more common underneath) - I had them both removed when I was 18. Tight achilles were part of the problem, but i ahve some sort of congenital defect there and unfortunatly I think my kids have it too as they are developing some bad food problems and heel pain - DH also had surgery for compartment syndrome in his anterior lower legs, a highly unusual problem in a non athlete, so I guess they could be lucky enough to inherit that too. the surgery fixed mine, however it wasnt till I was in my mid 30's I started having heel pain again - I thought it was another spur, but it wasnt, they never got to the bottom of what it was but in the end it was an acupuncturist who cleared it up and the way the pain gradually moved from the outer hollow at the back of my heel to the medial border of my foot makes me suspect it was plantar fasciitis. However, I never ever ever wear closed shoes if I can help it! I can wear sneakers fine and boots, but any sort of court shoe, dress shoe, ugh, I loathe them and I dont wear them - my shoes are always sling backs or mules. My heels have been sensitive and just dont feel good with pressure on them ever since the surgery more than 20 years ago - and now I also have a compulsive habit of collecting funky birkenstocks, lol. As to the asthma, I agree, if it came on with increasing weight it will probably go away. But if you are born asthmatic like my son, losing weight can help you manage it but it wont cure it. Plenty of normal weight otherwise healthy people have life threatening asthma. Same as how weight loss wont fix high blood pressure or cholesterol if they're not caused by weight gain. Some people just have a body chemistry that makes the susceptible to these conditions and they need medication to cure it. DH has lost 70lb and is no longer overweight but he's still on blood pressure medication - his blood pressure did not change at all with weight loss.

Thank you for the advice, it sounds good except I upped my calories a couple of months ago to 1200 with high protein of 100g or more and I gained 5 lbs in two weeks instead of losing. needless to say I freaked and dropped it back down. Did I stop to soon because the weight gain was initial?

I've always found exercise a better preventer of weight gain than it is a cause of weight loss. I can run 10km in an hour and burn 1000 calories - now that is quite effective exercise which will contribute to weight loss. But if you can only walk slowly for half an hour and burn 250 calories, hmmm, not so much. Your loss is going to be more dependent on what you eat. But the two go hand in hand. What exercise does for your body in terms of its composition and condition cant be underestimated and almost without exception successful bandsters are dedicated exercises. It makes the difference between being a 50% statistic and losing 100% of your weight, it provides a focus and goals that are helpful in the journey, it shapes your body and makes it healthier, honestly, you're mad not to work exercise into your schedule. And when it comes to being able to indulge a little and not gain weight, exercise is your best friend.

Karla - yep have them design one small though - and I have to figure a place to put it.. I have one on my ankle already - I just don't know where I would put it - Yes darlling you have to add a #7 to your turtle !!!!! Connie - it will be here before you know it.... Karla - that's the problem you didn't weigh in when you got back so you don't know how much you actually gained while away - so you don't know if you had a loss this week - since the scales are the same... So hiding your head in the sand didn't help - it just made things worse.. You have to deal with a gain - not getting on the scales after a bad weekend - is denial... Denial is what got us fat in the 1st place. So after a bad weekend of food you have to learn to deal with what the scales says - most of it's usually just water weight but depending on what you ate it can be real pounds - remember it take 3500 extra food to gain a pound.. And it could be when you got on the scales today - you are retaining water - scales are fickled things and our weight can vary from hour to hour by as much as a pound.. So after I scolded you for not weighing in after your weekend - you can't take that weight as an absoult but you do have to deal with what it said.. You need to start counting calories - you give us what you eat but not the calories - how is your restriction are you still to tight?? As for the July Challenge - I think that 1 lbs a week is a good starting point - as most of us #7 are 2 yrs out and we aren't going to lose quickly - and pple like Phyl will lose 3 -4 lbs in a week and not lose for the rest of the month - That's really up to you guys - Karri & I would be strickly maintance... Candice is gone for 15 days and I assume that she will have a bit of a weight gain as she is on vacation and food choice along with adult beverages And then at the end of the month we 5 of us are going to Canada - so again our mini vacations we won't the perfert banders - but again since we are all together it will be an all or none kind of thing - we will all choose to eat good - or bad which ever the case may be.. So I don't know how good a challenge would be - those of you who want to participate can - challenge each other - Maybe you and Steph can have a challenge - See me and my DD had challenges without even posting that we were - I wanted to keep up with her and she didn't want me to get a head of her - we talked about that when she was here - it was never a public challenge and never really spoken between us - it's just the way we were - one time I got a couple of lbs to her and that made her focuse to get the 10 lbs that she usually was infront of me :0) Cuz Gf we are food addicts - cuz everything we do with others centers around food - we don't want to feel deprived - it's a b to find the happy medium... You are even - so that's better than being up !!! I know you are not an exercise girl - but if you would I bet you would see a difference - just a suggestion - try it you may like it :0) and gf it's ok to be selfish !!!! I think it's a good thing... I do it all the time !!! Steph Happy that you are .7 lighter have a safe trip.. Well gang - napped yesterday afternoon - went to bed at 9 and up at six - have been on the computer ever since and it's almost 9.... It takes along time to reply to post..... My mentor thread which I didn't post to yesterday - had a poster on my Dr Bobby thread - the 50's thread - and here and then emails .. I still haven't gotten to my paper yet !!! Well today is nails and food shopping for the week - I need to get my butt in gear.... Weather report - next week we are suppose to hit 110 !!! For me anything below 105 is fine - but 110 is hot.... ok going to go get paper another cup of coffee CBL:wub: