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Hugs, Jamie. Lots and lots of hugs! It is a vicious cycle - you gain some weight, you feel guilty/stress about it, which causes you to eat more which increases the stress....Try not to put so much pressure on yourself; summon up whatever it takes to realize that the band will still be with you after you deliver a beautiful new baby, any weight gain now is not permanent. Your band is NOT time limited; it will still be there. Take care of yourself and the wee one. keep posting so that we know how you are doing.

Although it seems obvious to me now that you mention it, I wasn't really thinking that I was at an energy deficit. Of course I would have to be to lose weight. I could probably start adding in a supplement like a once a day nutrition shake and just watch the weight gain. Perhaps I could just knock out the shake or cut back if I gain more than 2 pounds in a week. I just realized that with my pregnancy half finished, even if I gain a pound a week from this point forward I am still well within the appropriate range. I might have just become a little too uptight about weight loss after being so dedicated for such a long time. I guess I am a little nervous about losing my momentum.

Robin, FANTASTIC on the weight loss! You've done a really great job - time to update your signature stats! And I'm sorry that stuff with your man isn't as easy as you might have hoped. Relationship stuff is hard - there are so many different factors that go into making something feel good or bad at any given moment. Are you SURE that he's not being as loving as he was? Could it just be that you're disappointed that he hasn't become MORE loving as you've lost weight? Could it be that he's feeling competitive with you, and feeling like he's losing because you've done well while he has struggled? I think the whole weight loss thing is a tricky business. We got overweight for a reason - obvs because we ate too much, but we ate too much for a reason, and we ignored our weight gain for a reason, and we probably found some benefits from being at our high weights. The thing is, when the weight goes, the reasons we got that way in the first piece don't really disappear along with the weight, and we're left a bit dazed and confused at some level. This isn't to say losing weight isn't a great and exhilarating hting, just that it's... complicated. So you lose weight, and perhaps your drives come back more vigorous than they were before, and your husband, struggling with his weight still, hasn't caught up to you at that level. Perhaps your husband is worried you'll lose weight and leave him for someone cuter. Perhaps he feels judged by you, judged as a failure because you've lost and he hasn't. Perhaps he's frustrated by his lack of loss right now, and blames you for putting him through an ordeal which hasn't yet yielded any results for him. And then there are all the reasons why all couples sometimes have difficulties - money worries, work stress, exhaustion etc etc. There are so many things it could be - assuming it's even a real change, rather than something you're imagining - but I think the first step in dealing with all of them is to open up a dialogue. Which will probably be hard to do, at least at first. Most guys don't like to talk about their feelings, and if you make him feel pressured, imply that he's not performing, he'll likely clam up. You know him best, know how to talk to him, know how to get him to relax before you introduce your concerns, know how to keep him comfortable and get him to talk. I think that has to be your first step - if he's not giving you the love you need, he'll likely become defensive, so just encourage him to talk, remind him how you care etc etc. It's always a tricky conversation to have - such a sensitive topic! But you know him and love him, and I'm sure you can find a way to make it OK for him... Good luck!

I think that's a good idea. That said, the whole you need to gain 25lb thing is a bit of a myth. Your baby needs nutrients, not calories. It takes very few extra calories to grow a baby, perhaps 250 a day in your third trimester. If you are taking in the nutrients your body needs during pregnancy, things will probably be just fine. In my third pregnancy, I gained no weight at all. I kept it completely stable BY DIETING. Moderately - weight watches, 27 or so points a day. With my doctor's blessing. I took a good supplement and I ate really really well because I was already about 210lb when I conceived and had had blood pressure probs resulting in induction twice before. When I had Eliza, she was a healthy 8lb and perfect, and I left the hospital 10kg (25lb) lighter than when I'd conceived. Mild fat loss from YOUR body wont harm your baby. But that said, you've actually lost while pregnant, which would indicate your energy needs arent being met. I'd consider a supplement like your doc suggests, I wouldnt curtail physical activity because it is so good for you, but supplementing calories AND nutrients might be a really good idea. You dont want to lose any more but it probably wont matter if you dont manage to gain much. But bear in mind, that without the weight of your baby, and all the extra fluids in your body now, you actually probably weigh a bit less than 142. You want a bit of condition on you if you want to breastfeed! Good luck, dont let it worry you though, once upon a time a much much smaller weight gain was considered healthy in pregnancy, the standards quoted today are just current trends is all.

My doctor expressed today that she is becoming concerned about my weight loss. I started around 154 when I conceived and now I am at 142. I lost 1 pound since my last OB visit a month ago but she said that now that I am nearing the halfway point I need to start going up. I am not dieting at all right now. I eat when I am hungry and drink plenty or milk and orange juice. I am trying to avoid the junk food but I eat plenty of healthy foods. I am eating somewhat cautiously but not depriving myself. I am not sure why on earth I haven't gained because I am certainly eating a lot more. I have also being eating a bowl of Cereal as almost a fourth meal everyday. She said that if I had been around 200 pounds to start, it wouldn't make a difference but she needs me to start gaining healthy weight now. She even mentioned supplements like Ensure. I feel like I am in the twilight zone . . . I am losing too much weight, are you kidding???? My OB has never had a bandster before and I can tell by the questions she asks that she doesn't know a whole lot about it. So what are your thoughts??? I am probably eating anywhere between 1500 to 2000 calories per day right now. I am also still physically active so this must have some impact. I don't feel like I am doing the wrong things, I just can't explain my lack of weight gain. If you were in my shoes, would you make a concerted effort to gain weight or just continue with current habits?

Give yourself a break girl! You are a hormonal mess and you are eating for 2. Think about it, you have been through ALOT this past year and I am willing to bet that part of you being hungry all of the time is your body's way of making up for the loss in Vitamins & such that your body has done without for the past year. I wouldn't sweat the weight gain unless you start gaining more than the 30-35 that is recommended for any pregnancy. Take care of that little one

Ok people here is my story, I was banded on 10-16-08 since then I have lost 50lbs, but.........after my first fill( 3cc) I noticed a actual reduction in my restriction after a few days, and even though I have tried to start walking on my treadmill 15-20min / 4x week I have managed to gain 8lbs back :cursing:, I talked to my surgeon and he said he wasn't worried about it because I haven't gotten to my "sweet spot" and I had lost the weight too fast to begin with and he could get it back off but he was happy I gained some weight becasue he was thinking there might be a problem with my digestive tract becasue of loosing so much so fast. My Question is this, has anyone ever lost restriction with a fill? It doesn't make sence to me? I have been sneezing and coughing a tremendous amount with the weather here lately, one day 70 degrees next day 12 degrees, I have thought maybe I had a slip or erosoin?but wouldnt that cause other problems? (besides weight gain) but I am probably just being over thoughtfull on the whole matter and should wait until my next fill to see if the restriction comes back.........RIGHT? I still have lost 42lbs in less than three months. :bigear:Thanks for listening:bigear:

Don't be scared of a small unfill...right now, you're eating the wrong foods...which won't help your weight loss or your health. By being slightly unfilled, you'll be able to eat the right foods in the right amounts AND lose weight AND be healthier. Too many people think tighter is better, but it often leads to bad food choices and weight gain. Plus, do you really want to be miserable all the time? The green zone chart in my doctor's office says, "Patient Satisfaction" under the green zone...are you satisified?

It sounds like the issue is you have not had a fill in 2 months. The band is a tool, it wont work if you dont use it . The band wont work as a tool with out the fills ( for most people) you say your hungry , the fills and the band control hunger. As for the weight gain, you said yourself you are probably eating slider foods. Slider foods or eating around your band is usually done by high calorie / low in Protein foods. So that can cause weight gain . Also when you work out you sometimes gain muscle at first , that can cause weight gain. You can eat a whole bowl of salad because you need a fill. Mindy

Morning Girls, Up and trying to get my butt moving. I'll be leaving here soon to go to Curves for my workout. Than I have a full day. One of those things is going with the nextdoor neighbor to her sons Baketball game at the high school. Pam, you better quit tempting all of us. You may be surprised sometime with a knock on the door and us all standing there in our shorts and t-shirts waitng for the Margi's Terri, Hugs to you. TrackyK, Keeping fingers crossed you neck gets better. Michelle, We Frontlined all 3 kitties last night and they are still mad this morning. They can't figure out why we aren't petting them. I was laying in bed this morning thinking to myself how I haven't had the best last 4months with my weight loss. I actually gained 4 pounds in that amount of time. But I thought to myself that had I not had my Band, that that lost of 4 would certainly would have been a 40 pound weight gain. I've seen this happen before, lose to only gain it back faster. I Love my Band. Everyone have a great day.

I am getting my first fill tomorrow at 2pm, I know after ur fill 2 days liquid and then 2 days mushie then regular foods. But what about right before the fill? Should I eat or just drink liquids? They didnt mention anything to me about it.. but i want to make sure.. this fill is 2 months late. My dr. was on leave.. 2 months of no weight loss but no weight gain :grouphug: which is good. But want to look good for this summer! anyway thanks!

Hey Georgia Girl. I was an advid jogger as a teenager and twentysomething young woman, but because of my weight gain I stopped. I so want to jog again, but I am afraid because I am 5'6" and 220 pounds. I don't want to stress my joints by jogging/running with this excess weight. However, I know that I can lose the weight quicker if I jog/run rather than walk. Are you running on a treadmill or outdoors. I so want to run/jo outdoors, but I was thinking I would have to loose more weight first.:confused:

Hi! I am 3 years out from my lap-band surgery. About 7 months ago, I started having a bit of discomfort under my left breast when I would bend over to pick something up. When I would be sitting down, I would lean back to avoid this feeling. I had my surgery in California, but have subsequently moved to PA and am followed by a surgeon in Pittsburgh. Over the phone twice (it is a 2-hour drive), they told me that it did not sound like anything band-related, perhaps, just some inflammation. It went completely away after a couple of months. Four months ago, I went to the ER with severe abdominal pain. After x-rays and a CT scan with contrast, they diagnosed me with constipation. Okay. I took some meds and did get rid of my constipation (!), BUT since then have had chronic diarrhea (sometimes just water). In the interim, as part of the workup to determine the cause of my diarrhea, weight loss, extreme fatigue, I had a colonoscopy and EGD. Last week, the EGD showed that my band has eroded into my stomach. Now, I obviously have been in contact with my surgeon in the city, and am scheduled for an upper GI series and interview, etc. next week. On the phone, however, they tell me that none of my symptoms have to do with my band. My PCP here says that he doesn't see how it could be anything but my band. I have even found an undissolved pill in my stool. Interestingly, one of the symptoms of erosion is supposed to be weight gain because of loss of restriction, but I have lost 25 pounds in these past few months and have very little appetite and still have lots of restriction. On films, my band is pretty far into my stomach; it is not a minor erosion. I come here wondering if anyone else has experienced these types of symptoms with erosion. Because if this hypermotility is not band-associated, I'm wondering what my next step will be. Oh, in case you're wondering, I have lost 75 pounds. :confused: Thanks, Kelli

I ask myself that sometimes. I think there's something to be said for making a commitment like this. Now that I've spent the money, went through a surgery, had to recover from it... how am I not going to follow through. It's easier to make some sort of tangible commitment - like paying for something - than it is for me to make a promise to myself. Also, I felt this was kind of a last resort. Not to be too dramatic. Same as you, other stuff didn't work, didn't make me exercise, didn't make me do anything else I didn't want to do. However... My biggest problem with weight gain was portion control. That's why I opted for a band instead of a bypass even. In this case, the band is helping me. I know that I can't take that last bite when I'm full, because I could get sick. I hate hate hate feeling that sick, so I know I won't push it. Again, the rest of the stuff falls into place because you're doing this for you - no one's going to lose weight for you, make you exercise, make you eat right. If you're committed to getting the band, then you have to commit to all the "rules" it comes with. It's not always easy, but neither were any of the other diets I tried!

i started in may received my band june30th i have lost 53 pounds total and six sizes yet im frustrated that i bounce back and forth 2 or 3 pounds for weeks at a time but now my dr gave me water pills and i lost 6pds in less than a week but my friend says i only lost it because of the water pills can that be true other than that im excited i fit my husbands large sweatpants and xl tshirt how does the size compare what size would that be in womans

Heather, ick, I'm sorry! I hate vomiting. Are you sure it's not morning or pregnancy related sickness babe? My band has been tight and picky lately. Not so tight I can't eat, but I'll take a few bites, feel the chest pain, belly tightness and have to stop or slow down. I have had lots of gas ever since banding and now that I'm preg I don't tend to take my Gas X since it's not safe to use. In pre-preg days, I found that being in a back-leaning position and taking gas meds really helped a tight band. If I took bites that weren't going down, I would lean or recline back for a few min and swallow a pill, 10 min later I could usually eat fine. This also helped to eat certain "no no" foods like Pasta and chewy breads. Lately the pregnancy and gas bloat are back. I often have a jacket or sweater with me in the restaurant so I can casually have my pants unbuttoned and lay the jacket across my tummy so nobody can tell. :thumbs_up: I gained 8 or 9 lbs the first few weeks of pregnancy, and only now the hunger has slowed a bit and my appetite is getting to a more manageable level, so I'm ok with the band tightness. I'm hoping to get thru the next 6 or 7 months without an unfill so that I have at least SOME control and don't go weight gain crazy.

Hi CherylCovey - Welcome, Welcome Welcome!!! We are so glad you have joined us!!!!! With the exception of a couple of people, all of us on this thread were banded, lost weight, then lost committment resulting in either stalled weight loss or weight gain. So we can definitely empathize with your situation. I think it is important to feel a sense of sadness and disappointment in oneself. I have been there. However, what you do with that emotion, that feeling is what will make ALL the difference. I am not talking as an expert as I too have struggled, gained,and now relosing, but just from the perspective of a fellow struggler. I'm going to assume that your band is working properly and there are NO band issues, medically par se. if that is the situation, they you may want to try a recommittment to the band. Here are some ideas: a) Step 1 - the 5 day pouch test. Following this religiously could help you seriously get back on track. evaluating why the band is not being successful for you. Being truly honest in this process and acknowledging the role you have played in it. c) setting specific goals to help you get back on track. If you decide to join us long term, we wont judge you. This is a judgement free zone. But you will get tough love and celebration along the way. I know that this has helped me reignite my weight loss after 1.5years of no loss/gain. With that said, what are your goals for the month of January???

I think I lost 11 lbs before my first fill but I cannot remember how much I lost between my first and second. My weight loss was never dramatic but it sure was satisfying for me. And after 10 months of eating much, much less (thanks to the band) and much more carefully, I was at my goal. I weighed 145 and my total weight loss was about 50 - 55 lbs. I was very content with that. I think that I was thrilled by my relatively slow weight loss because of a few factors: 1) until I got the band I had been gaining 2) the only times I was weighed was during my visits to TLBC or my doc. This meant that I wasn't obsessing about weight gain/loss on a day to day basis. Whenever I was weighed, the loss was a wonderful surprise for me. Oh, and 3) I did receive a lot of positive feedback throughout the process of losing weight. Those NSVs are important to a grrl, eh. Since then I have lost a lot more weight but this has been due to cancer. My band is currently defilled but my appetite is returning and I am thinking that I am going to need filling up fairly soon.

Tomorrow I go to the meeting at Beth Israel Deac and next week I go to my final meeting at Brigh and Wom. For some reason I gravitate towards the Brig. One thing I definitely want is a facility with a good post op support ring to attend and good aftercare as well as a good facility and , above all, experienced specialist. So next week I will be on the forum looking up drs and finding out about the treatment received by the guys and gals here. Do they provide a nutritionist to help you lose the 10 lbs? Even 10 lbs is monumental for some of us! One of the many reasons I chose the Band vs the GP, music, is the weight gain is not scaringly dramatic! I'd rather lose steadily and moderately...if I don't do it that way, my body will look sick and saggy ...especially at my age (a young looking 59 so I am told)

Rhonda, You have done so well. I think this is always going to be a battle for us all. I baked cookies also and when Christmas was over, I tossed them in the trash. They were too tempting and I was determined not to have a weight gain. We will just have to get a handle on it before it gets out of hand. I know you can get to your goal by your bandiversary. Keep up the good work.

I've always felt really sorry for Oprah. Not in a pitying way of course! What I mean is, it must be really hard to be Oprah. For example, I could always find myself a walking partner and meet up for a walk wherever I want to go, whenever I want to go. There would be no expectations placed on me by the world at large, and my partner could be a friend or could be just a walking partner - a relaxed relationship. Oprah, on the other hand, can't have casual relationships like that. She can't be friends with "just anyone" because (A) most people can't see passed her name, which would NOT be a comfortable relationship for her, and (:thumbup: she's probably paranoid that everyone wants a piece of her (and she's probably right). The only "friends" she can have, then, are other celebrities like herself - and they are a bit competitive with each other, and can't always be trusted. And she can't just put on her shoes and go for a walk by herself because she'd attract a crowd (except on her ranch, but that's lonely!). So, if Oprah wants someone to work out with, she needs to hire trainers. But for her to hire a trainer is not like for us to hire a trainer. Whoever she hires has to be discreet, because you never know if they're not going to go blab their mouths off to the tabloids, spilling all of Oprah's weaknesses and "secrets." So she can't open up too much to them, and she can never completely trust them. I'm sure she has cooks to cook for her, and that would be very convenient for helping someone like me to stay on a diet - but if you were Oprah, wouldn't you be paranoid that they're not going to go spill your Beans? She probably has to wonder if they're not going to go tell the tabloids, "Oprah started Weight Watchers, and you'd never believe how many zero point recipes she asks me to make in one day..." Her life is an open book! She has all the comforts of life, but it can be a lonely life. Why else do you think she admits to being clinically depressed? Heck, she won't even get married! Probably she's afraid that whoever wants to marry her is after her fortune - not many men make more than her, after all. So she continues this relationship with Stedman or whoever he is, but she never marries, and she has said she plans to never marry. Anyway, that's why my sympathy and respect for her go hand in hand, inseparable. I know this is a bit long, but it just so happens to be that I gave Oprah a bit of thought today in the car when they announced on the radio that she's clinically depressed. See what I mean? This is a classic illustration of what I wrote above. Oprah says she's clinically depressed, and suddenly it's broadcast about in all the news. How uncomfortable for her. I wish her only success in her weight loss and in her personal life, and I hoep she finds the happiness she's seeking. P.S. Anyway, part of me thinks she announced her weight gain and depression as a PR tactic to soften her public image - rumors had begun to spread that she's trying to start a religion around herself, so these announcements help humanize her. Sadly, the need for such announcements and PR is yet another consequence of living under a microscope.

In 2001, I gained 60 pounds in about 6-weeks, while at the same time I had severe joint and muscle pains. I had difficulty walking. I had no energy. I had trouble getting out of bed. My hair was falling out in clumps. I had no idea what was going on, so I went to a doctor, who gave me advil and told me to go home and get some rest. I knew that there was something seriously wrong with me, so I went to the school doctor at my university campus. He knew immediately what was wrong with me and the blood work results confirmed his diagnosis. My thryoid was shot. He placed me on medication and I am doing so much better. However, I was not able to drop the weight. I do know that the rapid weight gain was from the thryoid issue. As far as Oprah, I have never seen her be a "hater" to anyone. I case I must have missed the shows where she was hating WLS patients. :thumbup:

Hi Everyone! I made it through the holidays with NO weight gain. That has to be a first. I'm down 27 lbs since surgery on 10/28 and I can't be more pleased. I've had 2 fills and am just about ready for a 3rd. The second one didn't seem to last as long as the first, seems like I adjusted to it much faster. I'm so glad the holidays are over! Now I can see what I can really do with the band when I'm not constantly tempted with a bounty of treats and snacks! I'm also back to Curves as of Saturday. I'm hoping that adding a more consistent exercise plan will keep to pounds coming off!

I unlike where you are coming from Pamela can pinpoint almost to the minute when my eating issues started, and led to my weight issues. Most of you know my story----I'll shorten it as much as possible! Married at 17, he cheated from early on, had my DD Manda, divorced, married again 4 years later, and he was abusive, seriously so, and had lied to me from day one, he was still married, was an ex con---all kinds of things naive me had never encountered before! Well one day well into the abuse, we were in the store, and we past a woman who was overweight, but not morbidly so, and he said to me that if I ever looked like that he would leave my ass. HELLO FOOD! Food had never been a big deal to me. I ate and went on with life. I had a normal reaction to food---like "normal" people do. There IS a difference! I have lived on both sides of this road and there IS a difference. From that day, I cooked different, adding butter, and cream, and ate tons more than I ever had or ever had wanted to. I even bought weight gain from GNC and drank it. In the end I know the weight helped me get him away from here, and allowed things to end the way they did. Then, I did not trust myself, my own judgement, I did not trust men-------so the weight was not a hindrence in that respect. I was scared of everything! So I stayed home, was an amazing Mom! And I ate. One day I woke up and realized I did not want Manda to be fat---and tried to change. And it come to light---I am addicted! I have altered the way I look at food, and how my body reacts to food. I have given my body wrong signals for so long, it no longer reacts the way it used to....period! When I was at my sweet spot with my fill, I felt like the old me again---food was not the be all end all. My brother is an alcoholic---------8 years sober, but he cannot drink, at all. He cannot have a small glass 3 times a day....and a shot for a snack twice a day. He has overcome (within reason) his addiction by total avoidance. I cannot do that with food. And where I cannot see him with his drinking issues, stopping after a civil glass of wine with dinner----he would binge.....I find myself doing that with food. And total avoidance is not an option. When Rick come back into the picture---he was already safe, and he already had my heart, so when he accepted me as I was --- it sealed my fate! And I have been trying in all the years since reuniting with him, to get this weight off, be the person I know I was---and the band was the only thing I found to do that......now I need filled back to that spot! I really think once you do whatever to your "eating center" and gain weight, it is changed permanently! It is different. Whether that change come about hiding food in a closet to eat after lights out when someone is 8 years old, or whether it is when you are in your 20's or 30's--------when you change....it alters how your body metabolizes things, and it is a battle from then on! Few people do as I did, and set out to be fat. I had no idea I was setting myself up for a lifetime battle! I ended up with a good life, and don't regret the moves I made, but wish I could do as I thought and just go back to being the old me, and eating and thinking of food the way I did then. Fever is gone, wish the hacking cough and stuffy head would go too!!! I had quit using my sinus spray----maybe a month ago and wham! Gonna go buy me another bottle of saline and Dr. it! BBL----gonna go eat some chicken salad. Kat