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The weight gain is fine, when you have an IV you are pumped full of fluids which can make you gain water weight, it did that to me too, no worries. I have been in alot of pain too, I had surgery on Friday and today is the first day it hasn't been as bad. Its still hurts though, for me its been my throat and gas pains. Hang in there, it can only get better right?

Hi personally I was/ am a sneak eater binger. FOOD ADDICTION Food addiction manifests itself in the uncontrollable craving for excess food that follows the ingestion of refined carbohydrates, primarily sugar and flour substances that are quickly metabolized and turned into sugar in the bloodstream. Due to those uncontrollable cravings, a food addict's quality of life deteriorates when he or she eats sugar, flour or wheat. It can deteriorate physically, emotionally, socially and/or spiritually. If any of the following symptoms are familiar to you, you may be a food addict: Physical Symptoms of Food Addiction • Do you think you cannot control your intake of food, especially junk food or high sugar foods? • Have you tried different diets or weight loss programs, but none has worked permanently? • Have you found yourself vomiting, using laxatives, diuretics, or exercising a lot to avoid a weight gain after you have eaten a lot? Many food addicts are obese and have tried numerous methods for weight control (diets, drugs, surgery, etc.) yet nothing has created a permanent solution. Other food addicts have never been obese. Their physical weight has been controlled by extreme measures such as excessive exercise, purging through vomiting or laxatives (bulimia), or the severe and unhealthy limiting of food substances(anorexia). No matter which version of food addiction fits you, all of these symptoms become more severe with time and eventually lead to physical problems that can create an early and sometimes painful death. Emotional Symptoms of Food Addiction • Do you find yourself feeling depressed, hopeless, sad or ashamed about your eating or your weight? • Do you find yourself eating when you are upset or reward yourself with food when you do something good? • Have you ever noticed after eating sugar, flour, or wheat that you become more irritable? Food addicts notice that their emotions become more severe, intense, or unreasonable when eating the addictive substances. For many food addicts, emotional life may deteriorate into despair, depression, or thoughts of suicide. Social Symptoms of Food Addiction • Do you eat in private so no one will see you? • Do you avoid social interactions because you feel you do not look good enough or do not have the proper fitting clothes to wear? • Do you steal other people’s food? • Are you more interested in what food is served at social gatherings than looking forward to the warmth of being with the people attending? A food addict’s social life is affected by intense obsessive thinking about food. Making eye contact with people and taking an interest in developing friendships or intimate relationships become secondary to locating and eating addictive foods. Food addicts often hide or steal foods and eat in secret.

I'm thinking this is what "normal people do, see the 7 lb weight gain and then stop and get it off. My problem was always....1. I could not stop after the vacation. 2. I would buy new pants. I vow to never buy bigger clothes again!!!!

Vicki, Im due sometime at the end end July. Yes they dont unfill it totally they go by how you feel. Like I said she took out two leaving me with 4cc and I can eat A LOT. Its kinda fun to eat a whole bagel and not get stuck and barf. I knew the bathroom at every restaurant because I had to use them during every meal out. I guess thats not so good but I didnt really realize that I was getting stuck with everything I thought it was just how it had to be. Im just trying to go slow with the weight gain this time around.

Hi,Clempier Hang in there, as women we get one huge roller coaster ride every month. I won't even weigh myself one week before or one week after my period becuase I know with water weight I'll be up,but then a week after my weight is back down. The weight gain even though its temporary "freaks" me out so for my sanity and my husabands i don't weigh.You are trying to juggle a lot of balls at once sister don't forget to pick your battles. God bless you, Book

Concerning WIC, let's see how you twist this "drama" around: How WIC Helps WIC saves lives and improves the health of nutritionally at-risk women, infants and children. The results of studies conducted by FNS and other non-government entities prove that WIC is one of the nation’s most successful and cost-effective nutrition intervention programs. Since its beginning in 1974, the WIC Program has earned the reputation of being one of the most successful Federally-funded nutrition programs in the United States. Collective findings of studies, reviews and reports demonstrate that the WIC Program is cost effective in protecting or improving the health/nutritional status of low-income women, infants and children. The following highlights some of the findings (pertinent references are provided). Improved Birth Outcomes and Savings in Health Care Costs Improved Diet and Diet-Related Outcomes Improved Infant Feeding Practices Immunization Rates and Regular Source of Medical Care Improved Cognitive Development Improved Preconceptional Nutritional Status Other Improved Outcomes Summary References Improved Birth Outcomes and Savings in Health Care Costs Research has shown that the WIC Program has been playing an important role in improving birth outcomes and containing health care costs.7,20 A series of reports published by USDA based on linked 1988 WIC and Medicaid data on over 100,000 births found that every dollar spent on prenatal WIC participation for low-income Medicaid women in 5 States resulted in: longer pregnancies; fewer premature births; lower incidence of moderately low and very low birth weight infants; fewer infant deaths; a greater likelihood of receiving prenatal care; and savings in health care costs from $1.77 to $3.13 within the first 60 days after birth.3,4,5 Improved Diet and Diet-Related Outcomes Studies have found WIC to have a positive effect on children's diet and diet-related outcomes such as: higher mean intakes of iron, vitamin C, thiamin, niacin and vitamin B6, without an increase in food energy intake, indicating an increase in the nutrient density of the diet;19 positive effects on the intakes of ten nutrients without an adverse effect on fat or cholesterol;14 more effective than other cash income or SNAP benefits at improving preschoolers' intake of key nutrients;14 and decline in the rate of iron deficiency anemia from 7.8 percent in 1975 to 2.9 percent in 1985 which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention attributed to both a general improvement in iron nutrition and participation in WIC and other public nutrition programs.20 Improved Infant Feeding Practices WIC promotes breastfeeding as the optimal method of infant feeding. Studies show: WIC participants who reported having received advice to breastfeed their babies from the WIC clinic were more likely to breastfeed than other WIC participants or eligible nonparticipants;18 WIC breastfeeding policy and program activities were strengthened in the early 1990's; Between 1996 and 2001, the percentage of WIC mothers breastfeeding in the hospital increased by almost 25 percent, from 46.6 to 58.2 percent; The percentage of WIC infants breastfeeding at six months of age increased by 61.2 percent, from 12.9 to 20.8 percent; and, For those infants who are fed infant formula, 90 percent received iron-fortified formula, which is recommended for nearly all non-breastfed infants for the first year of life.1 Immunization Rates and Regular Source of Medical Care A regular schedule of immunizations is recommended for children from birth to 2 years of age, which coincides with the period in which many low-income children participate in WIC. Studies have found significantly improved rates of childhood immunization and of having a regular source of medical care associated with WIC participation.19 Improved Cognitive Development Cognitive development influences school achievement and behavior. Participation in the WIC Program has been shown to: improve vocabulary scores for children of mothers who participated in WIC prenatally; and significantly improve memory for numbers for children enrolled in WIC after the first year of life.19 Improved Preconceptional Nutritional Status Preconceptional nutritional status is an important determinant of birth outcome. A previous pregnancy can cause nutritional depletion of the postpartum woman, particularly those with high parity and short interpregnancy intervals. One study found: women enrolled in WIC both during pregnancy and postpartum periods delivered infants with higher mean birth weights in a subsequent pregnancy than women who received WIC prenatally only; and, the women who received postpartum benefits had higher hemoglobin levels and lower risk of maternal obesity at the onset of the subsequent pregnancy.2 Other Improved Outcomes WIC participation has also been shown to: increase the likelihood of children having a regular provider of medical care;19 and, improve growth rates.6,8 Summary: WIC reduces fetal deaths and infant mortality. WIC reduces low birthweight rates and increases the duration of pregnancy. WIC improves the growth of nutritionally at-risk infants and children. WIC decreases the incidence of iron deficiency anemia in children. WIC improves the dietary intake of pregnant and postpartum women and improves weight gain in pregnant women. Pregnant women participating in WIC receive prenatal care earlier. Children enrolled in WIC are more likely to have a regular source of medical care and have more up to date immunizations. WIC helps get children ready to start school: children who receive WIC benefits demonstrate improved intellectual development. WIC significantly improves children’s diets. WIC reduces fetal death and infant mortality. I don't see how you can call yourself pro-life and be against WIC. Of course, you will notice that I don't call you pro-life, which you aren't, but rather anti-abortion, a BIG difference. But it doesn't really matter because people who are heartless can find numerous ways to justify it.

Thank you all for these tips. I found through my weight loss I became very obsessive and would be self conscious anytime I ate something I wasn’t suppose to : which is good and bad, good bc I’m aware, bad because I beat myself up over it. The weight gain was fast and unexpected. I started today my do over diet, I didn’t realize how off track I. W.a.s because I found myself lost at what to pack for lunch. I appreciate all your support, I forget that this is a life long journey not just a quick fix and I really do need to work at it. I’m happy you guys responded to me and helped. Thanks so much.

Well I had my 2 week checkup today and I have lost 4 lbs (I didn't know b/c I don't weigh at home). I thought I had lost more, but the nurse said 2 lbs a week is perfect. I was just eating SOOO much before the band (trying to cram it all in I guess) and now I am probably taking in 1/4 of the calories I was, so I thought I would have dropped some water weight quickly (or something!) My doc HATES weighing - he says we should only go by how our clothes feel. But I haven't been weight lifting or anything so I know its not muscle weight gained or anything. Anyway, if these 4 lbs never come back ever again and this is the last time I see those numbers on the scale I will be happy! I have my 1st fill in 4 weeks so we'll see! Anyway, anyone else feel this way? My doc says my body may need more calories to lose weight (the starving body theory). Who knows? I will just keep on what I'm doing and now I can add exercise so that should help~ Hope everyone is well!

I did the same thing (eating to gain) because I was scared that I would be knocked back for not being big enough. Turns out my surgeon like to band people at around 92kg, so he made me lose all the weight gained or he wouldn't band me haha.. Crazy isn't it. I got up to 104, so gained 10kg for it.. Regret it now, could have been 75 instead of 85! But i got what I wanted and would of ended up gaining that weight anyway as it wasn't that hard to do it.

Ashlee - glad to hear things went well for you. I have one more hurdle. I have polycystic ovaries, and have to go see the gynecologist tomorrow. Since PCOS can cause weight gain, they want to make certain they're under control. Not sure what they can do, but I told him I'd go see one. I've been working on the high protein, low cal diet already - wow am I hungry! How strange will it be to eat a few bites of cottage cheese and actually be full!

Welcome home, Karey! Mazatlan...how exotic! I'm going to Cancun for spring break, and can't wait. I'll be a LOT smaller than the last time we went on vacation. I posted the recipes a couple of days ago... http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?p=333977#post333977 Hope you enjoy them. Don't sweat the gain. It's probably at least partially water weight gain. Air travel can make you retain water. My hubby travels a lot for business, and drops a couple of pounds the day after he gets home. And even if you do gain a bit, hey, it's Thanksgiving. As Dr. Oz says, at the next available opportunity, make a U-turn and get back on the right path! Tami

Reporting no weight loss or weight gain! GRRR! I don't think I watched my calories good enough this last week. If I don't watch it VERY closely, I don't lose. I guess I better go back to logging my food. Miriam: one pound loss is much better than my NO pound loss! How's the exercising going?

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

Hi everyone, I was catching up on reading posts and you guys are crazy funny! I watched myself on tv last night - the show was taped right before surgery. It was good to see the change, and I could see it, although my hair is long now so that was also different. I weigh myself when I feel good or know I have been really bad so I can keep it under control. I saw Hoffman last Tuesday. I gained weight but he didn't make me feel bad. He really emphasized how much he wanted me to eat Breakfast and even said I could have sips of coffee with it if that would get me to eat. I get up have coffee and 2 gummy Vitamins, 4 benefiber chewys and my medications and I am full! I understand I have to get my metabolism moving. He also said he would like to see me loose 10 more lbs. Hey now that I said it out loud that is not to hard. I can do that.......... I think the first year is hard. You are trying to get in a routine and learning how the band reacts and works. I am looking at my 1 year anniversary next month and I think it is finally clicking. I do see a food therapist once a month and last week she used props, a heavy chain which we used as a kind of tug of war, and I think I am finally getting it. Dr. Hoffman was very happy that I wasn't blaming the band on my weight gain. I know the band works. It is the head that is still a little off balance. I don't have time to get on this site often but I do enjoy all of your insights. HOpe to see everyone at the support meeting Wednesday the 16th at 6pm in the cafeteria at Buffalo General.

Your band can get tighter because of stress. I had this happen when I had to go to St. Louis for a few days. The trip wasn't stressful, but I never felt that I had enough time to eat. Many people notice that their bands get tighter during their period -- well, right before it and when it first starts. My theory, you ask? Alot of women retain water before their period (thus the weight gain)...I think that affects the band too. Causes things ALL OVER to swell. If you had a PB, you should back off a little bit. If a PB was bad enough, your stomach might have been irritated because of the PB making you even tighter than you were before. This is very common -- alot of surgeons recommend going back to liquids for 12-24 hours after a PB because of this. The restriction may have kicked in. Alot of people swear that they don't feel their fill until 2-3 weeks after it. I haven't ever experienced this and I personally can't figure out the "science" behind it, but so many people have said it, that I just got to believe it to be true.

Correction everyone, my BMI is 29. Just got back from my OBGYN and she let me know that I've gained 10 lbs since I last saw her 6 months ago. She is concerned with my cholesterol levels as well as my weight gain over the last 5 years. However, she wants me to try Weight Watchers before I go through with WLS. I've tried weight watchers before and it didn't work for me. I just seem to struggle with my weight and can't lose it. I'm worried about becoming a diabetic like my other family members. Anyone have a jump start diet they know of that would possibly work? I think I will try and see what I can do once again on my own for the next several months and if I can't do it, then I will opt back to the sleeve. I was just hoping to be a little smaller for swimsuit weather coming up. ????

@@Jenaenae84 Wow you are doing really well!!!! I haven't weighed yet (didn't want to get bummed out with the weight gain from surgery), going to the Dr. tomorrow for the 2 week check up & will get weighed then. I feel like I have lost a few lbs. but I'm sure its not as much as I would like! Will see! I'm a slow looser no matter what, I guess thats part of the reason I had this surgery! @@anewme2015 I'm sure you do feel lonely not feeling like you could tell everyone! I told everyone but I can tell you there is some people I wish I hadn't just because of there attitude, other's have been very supportive & usually have a story of someone they know who were very successful! That is why this forum is so great, we are here for you, going through this same journey. Some days are better than others! Hopefully the kids will understand Mommy has a belly ache! Best of luck to you when you get home!

So glad to have helped. You made the right choice; the doctor is always ready to answer any questions, no rush. Don't pass by Natalee's office without picking up a card for your pocketbook. It's about how you should feel and when to gage if you need a fill or not. ( I got to know her my last visit out there and found her to be an exceptional resource for diet, and kind of a "go to" person). She gave me this article: Think You Need a Fill? THINK AGAIN By Nikki Johnson Do you remember that feeling you had when you first had your band placed? For a while, everything was great. You didn't experience hunger, you felt satisfied with a small portion of good food, you had more energy, and you were thrilled with your initial weight loss progress. If you are like most people, your experience changed over time, Some of those feelings of hunger returned, and you stopped losing weight. You knew you needed something, so you went to your surgeon's office and asked for a "fill" right? If so, you might be surprised to learn that it is your thinking about your band, and not the band itself, that needs adjusting. The LAP-BAND Bad Word Paul O'Brien, MD, FRACS, is a skillful, compassionate surgeon and a foremost expert on the LAP-BAND System. he was involved in its design in the early 1990's and placed the first band in Australia in 1994. Since then, he has treated thousands of patients and is recognized worldwide for his expertise. When his patients utter that worst of four-letter words, "fill," in his office, they are asked to throw a dollar in the Red Cross donation bucket--a reminder that, according to Dr. O'Brien, thinking about a "fill" is just wrong thinking. How can a concept that we hear about so constantly be so very wrong? Dr. O'Brien's answer is simple: "Any adjustment to the band is something that only takes place in the context of clinical consultation--part of a relationship of trust, honesty and communication between patient and surgeon--that is much more key to the success of the patient than the precise number of milliliters of fluid in the band. This concept of partnership is the central theme of Dr. O'Brien's new book, The Lap-Band Solution--A Partnership of Weight Loss. Patty's Note: Available on Amazon.com ISBN#9780522854121 Like many people, you might assume that weight gain or a sustained plateau means an incorrectly adjusted band; in fact, you may be right. But you may be surprised to learn that weight gain sometimes results from a band that is too tight. This is part of the reason why the "fill" concept is so misleading. If your surgeon determines that you are not losing weight as you should, then discovering why that is happening is crucial. Sometimes adding fluid to the band will only make matters worse. Life in the "GREEN ZONE" Most people who have the LAP-BAND operation will have an amazing feeling of disinterest in food for the first week after surgery, before any adjustments are even made to the fluid in the band. According to Dr. O'Brien, that lack of interest in food is referred to as satiety. A related but different feeling is satiation, or the feeling you get as you are eating, precisely at the point that you don't need any more food to eat but you do not have an uncomfortable feeling of fullness. These two feelings--satiety and satiation--are what the properly adjusted band helps you achieve, allowing you to maintain your new healthier eating habits. Your careful observation and truthful sharing of your feelings and eating behaviors, combined with the expert care and training of your surgeon and his or her staff, can make the very individual determination of whether your band is properly adjusted much more accurate. In order to help create the most effective partnership between themselves and their patients, Dr. O'Brien and his colleagues at the Australian Centre for Obesity Research and Education have developed a concept they refer to as the "Green Zone". When patients are in the green zone, they experience satiety, satiation after properly-sized small meals, and satisfactory weight loss or maintenance. However, there are also yellow and red zones, both of which indicate that the band is not optimally adjusted. If your band is too loose, you will not have the benefits the band's hunger-controlling mechanism. If your band is too tight, you will have trouble eating properly and may actually gain weight because the foods you can eat more comfortable, that tend to be liquid and calorie-rich, like ice cream and chocolate, do not provide the proper nutrition. Learning to recognize when you have the feelings and eating behaviors that signal a problem can help you give your surgeon the information he or she needs to help you keep the band optimally adjusted. Thinking Adjustment Once you have eliminated the concpet of "fills" from you Lap-Band vocabulary, you will be able to let go of much of the conventional thinking connected to it. Perhaps you have heard talk about the "ideal" amount of fluid in the Lap-Band. While it may be helpful to have some idea of how much fluid is in your band, Dr. O'Brien says there is no magic number. No perfect amount of fluid will provide the best results for everyone. He says, rather, that "whatever volume of fluid is needed to achieve the [feeling of non-hunger] is the correct volume." When you notice that you are feeling hungry or are not losing weight, your body is telling you it is time to revisit your partner in weight loss -- your surgeon. your success absolutely depends on this relationship. So rather than thinking "adjustments," adjust your thinking, and, in partnership with your surgeon, find a lifetime of health! For more information about all of the themes discussed in this article, please see Dr. O'Brien's book, The Lap-Band Solution--A Partnership for Weight Loss, which is available fro Amazon.com. We also invite you to visit LAP-BAND® System Forum - Home for more information and supportive resources. You should ADD FLUID Hungry Early Big Meals Looking for food You are OPTIMAL prolonged satiety Small meals satisfy satiety Satisfactory weight loss or maintenance You should REDUCE FLUID Difficulty swallowing Reflux - hearburn Night Cough Poor eating behavior Regurgitation

Hi girls. Well, looks like I'm probably gonna lose my band :hurt: . I'm still in a lot of pain, only now it is 2 very distinct types of pain. One is what I have had all along... the crushing, spreading pressure/gas-like pain, the other is what I call the "ball of pain" that is the feeling that someone punched me in the right boob and left their fist in there. This occurs when I eat or drink anything and lasts for hours. I ended up going to the ER 2 weeks ago for this new pain. They told me my stomach was still distended (like I didn't already know that). They also called Dr Metz about this. He called me back about 4 days later (nothing like customer service, huh?) And told me that he thinks the band is pressing on the vagus nerve and is probably is going to have to come out. This scares the HELL out of me!!! I still have at least 50 pounds (my goal) to 90 pounds to go (where the BMI charts say I should be). I am so afraid I will put all this weight back on. We just started with Kaiser, evidently so did Dr Metz, so he recommended I call the head of the bariatric program at KP and ask for a referral to see him. I did this and she told me she had no problem referring me, but she wanted to talk to him first to see what his plan of action was. I am still waiting to hear back from her, too. I finally got into a gastroenterologist, it took me 3 weeks to get an appointment, while I was steadily geting worse each day. I have gotten to the point that I am barely eating/drinking for the pain. Now I am so weak I can barely stand for more that a minute or two at a time. I figured they were going to jerk me around... "Here, try this med and come back in a month" type of thing. But she was like "I can get you in tomorrow for an endoscopy" This would have been at St Joe's but admitting was already closed for the day, so we made an appointment for tomorrow at 11 AM at the Kaiser office downtown. She will be looking for an ulcer or stricture, though she told me she doubts it is either of these things. I told her of my weight gain fears without a band and asked her if I truly have gastroparesis (basically your stomach muscles aren't working to push the food through... it just sits there and rots) if a bypass would fix it (that seems to be one of the few things that works for people). She told me that if she doesnt find anything tomorrow she is going to call Natalie (the head of bariatrics) and suggest she refers me to Dr Metz for exploratory surgery <Yikes> and a bypass. She said she feels that this is being caused by something structural, and I will definetely have to have exploratory surgery, so they "might as well do a bypass while they are in there". I am reallly freaked out about needing X surgery. And if I can't have a band I will take the bypass. Now I'm stressing thinking that Kaiser will not want to pay for the bypass, since they tend to have a lot of hoops to jump through before they will pay for bariatrics. I am hoping that they will not deny this since: 1). This would be done to alleviate a very real, dangerous stomach condition. And, 2). I have "proven" myself and my commitment already by losing 113 pounds with the band. Of course, now (for the first time in probably 20 years) I am under a 40 BMI. This may come into play also. I didn't elect for bypass in the first place because of the risks and more danger associated with it.... but I guess the risks of ballooning up to over 350 pounds are pretty high too. Figures..... I decided on who I was going to go to for my PS, and to have my boobs done too. Now this is most likely going to be put on the back burner for quite awhile. Best case scenario: She finds an ulcer, and I am all better after 6 weeks of meds. I can get my band refilled and have my lower body lift. Second best case scenario: Kaiser pays for a bypass, I quickly lose even more weight, and look even better after my LBL. The last scenario: Kaiser refuses to authorize the bypass. Dr Metz removes the band and I see how much it would cost for me to pay cash for a sleeve while he's in there. There goes my plastics money..... OR ..... I go to Mexico for a sleeve or the new sleeve plication. Again, bye bye plastic surgery. :broken_heart: Sorry for the long post, and I'll post back tomorrow after my test.

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.

It's too bad that people don't view Bariatric surgery for what it is, a medical intervention. Nothing is easy about it except that the tool we are given causes all our efforts to finally actually work for us. People are plain ignorant about the medical reasons behind weight gain. After all the years of working out and dieting with no results, I say we deserve this. But it's easier for them to think we chose surgery over doing the work. No one has said anything negative to me yet, but if they do, I guess I'll have to school them. LOL

I haven't read through the entire thread, so forgive me if my post has repetitive information. Your stomach hasn't stretched, but it has healed since your surgery, thus allowing you to consume more without experiencing as much discomfort as you might have previously. There's a bariatric surgeon named Dr. Matthew Weiner who has a channel on YouTube with informative videos that I recommend you check out if you haven't seen then yet. He discusses common myths about bariatric surgery, including the misconception that your stomach stretches out. He explains how the healing progress impacts your feeling of satiety and comfort levels when eating. There are general guidelines for everyone who's had WLS or is trying to lose weight, but we also have to figure out what works best for us as individuals. Some people abstain entirely from all bread, rice, and Pasta, and are successful in their weight loss. Some have it in moderation, and are equally successful. I try to not make any food into a "forbidden fruit" by forbidding it from my diet, but instead have it in small quantities infrequently rather than habitually. Others go cold turkey. What's a boatload of food to one person is a reasonable amount for another. I think the key is to learn your body and your mind and do what works best for you. If you ate the second half of the sandwich because you were still hungry, I think that's fine. Your appetite can fluctuate depending on various factors, from what else you've eaten that day to your level of activity. There are days when I'm feeling ravenous and can eat more, and days when it takes me two attempts spaced an hour or more apart to have a cup of Greek yogurt. If you ate the second half just because it was still there, or because you felt compelled to finish it, then it's really not a big deal but you might want to avoid doing that again. I keep insulated lunch bags in my car and office for leftovers. I try to either eat when I'm genuinely hungry, or on a schedule (which helps me to avoid getting to the point where I'm so hungry I'd eat whatever wasn't nailed down). I don't really eat sandwiches all that often, but when I do I typically will take half the bread off and eat it open-face. If I'm really wanting something that feels like a sandwich I'll put the contents on a Wasa crispbread (low carb). In the early stages, tracking what you eat and focusing on your total goals for the day is helpful. There's so many useful tools. Many chain eateries let you figure out specific information for your meals through calculators they have online. You pick the bread, fillings, condiments, etc, and it then tells you the calories, carbs, fat. Subway probably has this if you're interested. I think what's important is putting meals into context. If you've eaten a flatbread turkey sandwich after a strenuous workout that burned a lot of calories, and you've had lower carb, healthy foods throughout the rest of the day, then it's not going to have the same impact as if you'd been sedentary and your other meals were carb-heavy. The Washington Post recently had an article about how it can be detrimental to cut your carbs too much if you've intensified your workouts. There's also plenty of research about how eating too many carbs when you're not exercising enough leads to weight gains or stalls. So you have to determine what works best for your own lifestyle.

I can totally understand why you would be very nervous about your op tomorrow especially after hearing about the very unfortunate complications with Lila. But honestly it is very rare and I agree with Cookeeez that the hundreds of successful ops needs to be your focus. I personally do not want to even think about weight gain as this to me is a whole lifestyle change and you may only gain weight back if you allow this. We have been given a great tool to change our life and i have heard from a few that are 4 yrs out that drop in to provide an update sometimes that they are still very happy and have maintained their weight. I don't know if there is many past 5 yrs or so but don't know how long they have been doing this procedure. I really don't think from my experience only that you can not get enough Vitamins in as personally I can get all food in, just very small amounts but definitely have no concerns of lack of vits & mins. You have come this far and you have to remain positive and feel in your heart of hearts this will help your health for you and your family. Prayers are with you

Red Robin List (copy and past) Going to be there: Dynamo (Michelle) Tied2BFit (Dee) Mal Marilyn (I HOPE) Well I can't seem to beat this bug. between the chest cold and tummy upset, I am worn out and cranky. I have been staying home from work I feel so weak. I know it will get better, but I am ready. Water and food still taste funny. everything beside liquids pb's. So since I am such a mess and did I mention CRANKY, I haven't posted. However, Dee, You can do IT!!!!!!! I thought the waiting would never end and now you have had to do it several times. I am really impressed with you girl. Hope I can come to RR and give you encouragement. You are so sweet, awesome, pretty and such a great all around person. So kick that depression right back where it belongs. "This too will pass" You go girl!!! Dyna - where did you put those good things to eat, I want them and you only live a couple of miles, i will eat them for you and save you from temptation. that is what good band buddies do for each other, RIGHT!!!! So bring it on, nothing much stays down so I should be able to eat and return with no weight gain. I think I am loopy, maybe aother protein shake, then bed.

Hello all......the last couple of days have been hard....I'm sick of liquids and have been testing my chewing abilities to see if I can eat or chew something more substantial, but I then feel guilty and return to eating soup and other liquids, feeling like I'm not giving it time to heal properly. This morning I used 1/2 a banana, 1 scoop vanilla creme and a slim fast and mixed it in the bullet...wow, it was good and it has kept me full for hours!!! I think most of it is just head hunger and the fact that I'm being lazy..... My one week follow up tomorrow......keep my fingers crossed that they will allow me to move to mushies!! Forgive - sorry to hear your weight gain, but I would just put it down to water retention of your on-coming "that time of the month".....next week will be a whole new ballgame!! Phyl - Just wanted to say thanks for the heads-up on the group meeting in my area, met two new people who have been banded for a long time and hope to meet more next month!! Lynette - sounds like you love your work and they love you.....that's a great place to be. I can really "hear" the satisfaction in your posts!! Marcy - Doritos? Wow......can those really go down?