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My husband & I went to Mexico last week on vacation and I just wanted to share with everyone that it IS possible to have a fun vacation and not worry about food, even though we are on specific eating programs. I am 4.5 months post-op and pretty much adhered to my proper diet with a few exceptions. I took my vitamins, ate a lot of lean/grilled protein and tried to get my water in. If we were off-site on an excursion, I made sure to have a protein bar and extra water on hand. Breakfast was usually an omelet with veggies or a yogurt & fruit and lunch/dinner was grilled or poached fish, shrimp, chicken or lean beef and veggies. We stayed at our favorite inclusive resort and I pretty much ate dessert every night, only had pasta once (two spinach raviolis) and only ate rice once (a couple bites of sofrito & rice). I did have crusty bread at dinner most nights (usually with olive oil & balsamic) and I did drank alcohol most nights at dinner and at the swim-up bars at the pools. Before everyone gasps, I only gained two pounds. We walked a lot and went on several off-site excursions, along with swimming almost every day. I got back home Saturday night and went back on program Sunday. I weighed myself this morning and not only did I lose the two pounds I gained on vacation, but I also lost an additional pound. We took this same trip at the same resort two years ago and we both ate and drank like no tomorrow and I gained 14 pounds. I did have to say “no” to a lot of things that looked delicious and I couldn’t finish a lot of the yummy food on my plate, but it is possible to go on vacation and enjoy your meals with minimal weight gain.

Hi I am Shirley from Kansas. I am thinking about having the Lapband surgery. I weigh 235 lbs., 68 years old. Does this help with the desire to want food. I also did the FenPhen and had great results. Since I have retired, it has been hard to keep the weight off. I am very depressed about my weight gain.

No, it doesn't have to happen. It happened to me though, and it was hard to take it off. You have to be vigilent, and not snack or think you can make a whole lot of changes in maintenance. The farther you are post op, the harder it is to take off weight gained back. Whatever you're doing now, tracking your food, counting your calories, etc, it's pretty much a life long plan. If you keep losing and you don't want to lose, you can add in a healthy snack, like avacodos, nuts, etc. You'll find your calorie range.

I don't judge nor fault you for not wanting to wait. I started the process in December of 2015, I met the BMI requirement, but I didn't have any co-morbidities aside from possible undiagnosed sleep apnea (my bf would tell me about certain things that led me and my PCP to believe this). So they referred me to a sleep center to do the test. It took two months for the referral and appointment to get situated. It was scheduled for February. Then something came up that caused them to have to re-schedule, and it was another month out. Right before a trip I had had planned for months prior. I got fed up with it and just cancelled and started looking into Mexico. I went with Dr. Illan, and I have absolutely no regrets about doing so. His team is fantastic, he's so nice and caring. I also just loved that he was partnered with BP themselves, and Alex being a long standing person in the Bariatric community backing him as well just spoke volumes in my eyes. So I said to hell with proving the sleep apnea. Because even after that, then I had to do the 6 month weigh ins, psych eval, etc. etc. My weight gain was a culmination of my PCOS, bad eating habits, and severe depression from the PCOS. I could lose 30-40lbs, but I couldn't keep it off or get under that. I got fed up and booked with Dr. Illan the moment I got back from my trip. Now I'm 9 months post-op, 48lbs away from goal, and life is fantastic. Some don't have the means to take the self-pay option, and technically I didn't either (I took out money against my car, and my bf of 9 years took money from stocks he had and paid a portion of it too). But I'll say, it was the best $4400 I ever spent, and I wish I had done it sooner. To think that if I hadn't I would just NOW be getting my surgery? The thought makes me cringe and so happy that my impatience did me a favor for once. I did get lucky, my PCP had 2 other patients who'd gone to Mexico to get the VSG and had done great, and so that even eased my mind. She wasn't a stranger to it, and that was even better. She's been very supportive. If yours won't get on board, I'd definitely think about changing to a new one.

Great post! I luv the fact that ur no longer on a diet. I was banded 3 1/2 yrs ago (awaiting revision to sleeve) and lost 104 lbs eating everything, just smaller quantities. Its why I even had wls _ so that Id never have to diet again. I luv being able to eat anything (including Taco Bell and Jack in the Box) and still lose weight. However, since my band slipped, Im counting calories. My band is totally unfilled and can eat alot more. So I've gained about 22 lbs. My fault. I own my mistakes. But if I wanted to watch what I ate and count calories I wouldn't be having the band or the sleeve. Im having the sleeve done because Im no good at watching what I eat. I've proven that recently with the weight gain. Congrats on ur achievment. I hope to be u when I grow up!

can you feel it inside? I was looking into the depo shot but side effects include weight gain and hair loss. Not a good combination

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 tried it in my early 20’s but maybe I should give it another whirl. And yes! Stress is a big factor here. It seems like as of late if I’m not worried about school I’m worried about being approved for surgery. I keep telling myself what’s meant to be will be, but for me that’s easier said than done. Luckily I got a call from the bariatric center letting me know that they’ve made a note of the med change & all aware that mirtazapine causes weight gain. I’m determined to plow through this because I really want this!

Having chronic insomnia forever, and tried prescription and gone through major withdrawals from the prescription sleep med in the past I take otc diphenhydramine or doxylamine succinate at varying doses. Though I’ve got a weird routine personality. Maybe it’s because I also have adhd, am on the Autism spectrum, something with my chronic illness, who knows, I need caffeine at night to help me sleep a little better. But one key thing I’ve learned is the simpler the better when it comes to what you take for sleep. I was stressed worrying about if my surgery was going to be covered because the first doctor I went to gave me such a horrible attitude, meanwhile other people loved him. I fought until I was exhausted. Until finally an endocrinologist referred me to Cleveland Clinic. And I gave it my all. And had to just let it go and hope it was happen. It was either surgery or totally give up. My endocrinologist knew my metabolic disorders were sending me into a tailspin or weight gain and nothing i was doing could stop it. thankfully it did happen and it will happen for you.

Hello all, thanks for the happy anniversary wishes. I have some sad news and some good news. I had to have my band removed in May after loosing 97lbs. which was the happiest I have ever been in my life. That's saying a lot at the age of 56. Scar tissue developed to the point where nothing was going down and what was supposed to be a 45 min. procedure turned into 2 hrs bec. there was so much scar tissue. My Dr. suggested I go ahead and have the gastric while he was removing the scar tissue but I decided against it due to my husband's and my fear of the surgery. BIG MISTAKE! Hubby was supposed to be my support and we were going to exercise and he was going to lose 50lbs and I would keep my weight down. NOT! I have gained back 60lbs and he has not lost 1lb. Of course my life has been miserable, all the old pains have returned, back pain, knee pain, arthritis pain in shoulders worsened due to weight gain and the most painful my type 2 diabetes is returning. I was taken off of 3 diff. meds. 1 which I had to take twice a day and put on 1 small injection of Victoza. I cannot get back into my clothes size 12-14 from 24 -26 & I buy the size 20 I'm in now as needed. After much discussion with my husband and our both going back to talk to the Dr. about the gastric bypass and asking more precise questions about what went wrong with the lap band I opted to go ahead and have the procedure done. As it turned out the plastic from the band caused the scare tissue. By metal staples being used for the gastric I will not have that problem this time around. I had to repeat some steps like the psych eval. but I was willing to do everything that needed to be done. This was in the early part of December. Yesterday I got a call from the Hospital saying my insurance had been approved for the gastric bypass. I jumped up and down, praising the Lord and asking him to watch over me and the Dr. I'm scheduled for sometime in February and I look forward to the new me, AGAIN. Keep me in your prayers.

hello everyone, my name is jil. gosh i havent been posting on forums since 2011! i have been doing amazingly well!! my surgeon has a poster of me on his door! tears of joy! tears of change! but after almost 2 1/2 yrs it hasnt been easy. im just here because ...i recently havent been feeling well....blood work, mri, xray...NO answers?? .i started doing reseaching...reading....reading....ive heard so many stories! so many warnings on meds our doctors arent picking up on! i have also heard alot of your questions that no person..or no doctor has the answer for.if you ask me, there NEEDS to be more pysicians and more therapists that have actually HAD the surgery or with a current bariatric backround!! there isnt alot of data as far as absorbtion (Vitamins,medications,etc) so i feel likw there are no answers. i am active in support groups, i coach 8 sleevers pre and post op. i am very successful as far as my surgery goes.but i need more info! i neeeed to put some data together, or at least get that ONE nurse or doctor to hear us. in all aspects....our feelings...our questions, good and bad! I would love if you could email me your "story". let me try to put some stats together to potentially help pre ops and each other. im not trying to change the world...but if some of you have questions, or are frustrated...pain, weight gain, do you have questions that cant be answerd? Even if you have the BEST outcome, a truely inspiring story...i want to hear it i read them all the time..but i cant legally use your stories without your permission. im putting together a short survey too... i just think it would be nice to say to my surgeon, my doctor, my nutritionist, "hey look, here are 50 people 1 year+ post op, 20 of them feel this way...5 of them feel this", yada yada...lol i promise to make it more professional than that email me j.lucidi@yahoo.com

Hi fellow April bandits- Well, After losing 38 pounds I have been fluctuating up and down without any weightloss since August. I had to have extensive eye surgery and was out of work and under docs orders could not excersise and soooooo I got out of the groove, The positive is that I haven't gained any weight. I just keep fluctuating 3-4 pounds. Last week I started back at the gym so hoping that helps. I did go for a fill 3 weeks ago, but they denied me saying that it sounds like I have restriction and that I need to work out again and it will come off......I am in the lower 190;s which is a weight that I have been stuck at quite a few times before the band.....Hopefully the gym works. Positives- no weight gain. Negatives- no weight loss. LOL!!! I am back on now.....Thinking I may have another visit to the dietician to put me back on track as well.

Three years ago I had set my mind into having bariatric surgery. I searched information on the internet and came across lapbandtalk. Through this website I found the information I needed to make a decision and a commitment to have lap band surgery. I lost about 50 pounds before I was banded in Sept 2011. I lost another 60 pounds by Feb 2012. I felt like the model lap bander. I loved working out. I loved Protein shakes. Everything was easy peasy. I had a really bad break up from my boyfriend on Valentines day, 2012. After that day, I just didn't care anymore what happened to me. I gave up. I ate with reckless abandon. Fast forward to now. I have gained ALL but 24 pounds of my weight back. I finally went back to my surgeon a few weeks ago after my gastrointestial system began rebelling and causing great discomfort. He removed all the Fluid in my band and sent me for an upper GI series. Thank goodness everything was ok with my band. I just got home from seeing the surgeon. He and I had a very long discussion about the band, my weight gain, and where to go from here. We discussed having gastric bypass. I am cautiously considering this as an option. In the mean time, I have to give my band another try. The surgeon gave me a 3cc fill. He is sending me back to the nutritionist and the psychologist. I know I have it in me to get it back on track, but I need some help. So I am reaching out to the good people at the place where I began this journey. I would love to find a texting buddy or email buddy that will hold me accountable and encourage me to make positive choices.

:omg: I went to California for a week to vacation with family. Hmmm, I'm afraid to step on the scales although I earnestly tried to limit my intake of food. I am still eating portions I probably shouldn't. Can't seem to get that under control yet. Now I can eat regular type food again, so it's like an open door. I must get help, must get fill! :omg: I am anxious to get my fill. I get my first fill next week in hopes I will see some real progress. I am feeling well after the surgery with two months out. It appears all the healing is completed. Once in a while I will get kind of a odd pain on my left side but nothing that seems of real concern. It's hard being patient while the healing process is going on. You just want to see pounds start shedding. I felt fairly miserable around my thinner family members, but I am trying to remember this weight gain didn't just happen over night. I sure have blown my exercise routine, I just can't seem to get into the groove. Maybe due to a few factors like; I had the surgery, looking for a new home, vacations, my husbands illness, etc. Can we say stress! However, no excuses, just want to see what a filled band will do for me. I am in great need of limiting portions and getting some exercise. My knees and joints hurt so bad that exercise is no my strength. Hmmm, maybe this site will give me some much needed suggestions. :tired

Hi there! I am trying not to freak out, but I stepped on the scale yesterday, and I was the same weight as the day before (which was 10 days post op) but now today, I am up a pound! I did look and dos not have enough calories 3 days ago, and I am a woman who is at the middle of her cycle, but mentally, that is pretty devastating go see! I also gained 10 pounds immediately post op, so I am truly only down 6 pounds from when I went in for surgery! I am doing 70g+ of Protein and 800 calories a day...has anyone else experienced this? Thoughts? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

GOOD JOB!! Size 10, oh how I want to see that size again. Currently at a 16/18 (was at a 20/22). I know that I too will have tummy issues after having 2 c-section and the weight gain. I'll tackle that when I get to my ultimate goal. Thanks for posting, it’s great to hear good news!

Well I went into the office and got my second fill today. Not nearly as traumatic as the first one, not as painful and not so much bleeding everywhere. I saw the NP and she only gave me a touch of a fill, .6cc. That seems small to me since my first fill was a full 2.6cc. She told me to wait 2 weeks and then touch base with how it was going. Since I'm self pay all visits are free for me for the first year, so I don't mind going in again if need be. The second fill puts me at a total of 6.2cc in the AP band. My Dr office has me fill out a diet summary and the NP was pretty stern with me saying that I was eating too much soft foods and that I need to eat a more substantative fare. I guess this will commence after my two days of liquids and two days of solids... I was pretty unhappy since I've only lost 5lbs in the last 3 weeks. The NP said that too much soft/mushy food = weight gain. I'm syncing up my i pod right now as I've started to jog around the neighborhood pretty successfully. My neighbors think I'm a riot. Until later!

Hello I am five days out from gastric by pass surgery and went in at 249 and after surgery I was up to 267. I am now back down to 259. It takes me four hours to get down a protein shake at a time and I sip juice other wise. Anyone know if this is just fluid weight from the surgery and if so how long before I am at least where I started. Signed, Frustrated

I have my surgery date set for tomorrow (March 11th). I am getting very nervous that I will not be able to enjoy certain foods eventually again. I am wanting to enjoy all foods just in smaller portions. I no this is a tool to help control food intake but am nervous to give up (pizza, bread, steak, roast) ect. I know some of these foods have also been the cause of my weight gain, but would still like to enjoy a slice of pizza once in a while, or a small steak, ect. Just wondering if other people have went through this or are going through this same phase. I sometimes feel I am to young (28) to have to give up some of the good foods for life. (I also posted in the pre-band section, but thought I would get some peoples thought from after they had the band put in) Thanks Any comments appreciated.

Has anyone had a weight gain after starting Fish Oil? I started it back in October after my bad cholesterol started going up a bit, even though it was way below being an issue. Figured it might help. Stopped losing and even gained 4 lbs. I stopped taking it last weekend. Haven't changed anything else. I have lost 3 lbs since Sunday! This is the only time in 2 years that I have gained weight. I usually just "pause" for a few weeks but this went on for almost 4 months! I am glad I am losing again but wondering if it's just a fluke or if it's a known issue.

My BMI was 51 when I started (310, 5ft 5.5") and I'm now 37.2 halfway through 19 weeks later. I feel so much better and with a tummy so little many times it honestly feels like a Thanksgiving dinner after a 3 oz pc of chicken and a couple bites of veggies. I'm happy about where I'm headed and my self esteem is a million times better than 4 months ago. I have a 10 and 12 year old myself and for the first time in a long time soon I'll be able to go to the theme parks with them and actually ride the rides with them. I know there can be weight gain but when you can only eat 4oz at a time and you stick to eating mostly healthy protein foods for 3-4 times a day I don't see any big gains happening. Most of my family is obese and 3 of 4 grandparents had/have cancer so I know the dread feeling of what if. When is your surgery?

I was banded on 6/11/12, I immediately started seeing results and lost 13 in the first 3 weeks, but over the course of the last week I have very slowly started to gain some lbs back, its only 3 or 4, but I am now paranoid that I am doing something wrong. Is it normal to go up and down like this?

Exercise Routine & Weight Training Ok, I made up my routine however I did use a Personal trainer to get me aquainted with the circuit machines. My P.T. reviewed proper stance, movement and isolation using free weights. Please feel free to copy and paste my workouts and use them for yourself. Get a very supportive sportsbra, I would get mine a size smaller than I normally wore b/c it held me together better. Try to get 4 of them, that way there are enough to have for a 4 day per week workout. I have 6. Get a sweat jacket if you can. I used to wear the sauna suits to drop water weight and inches but it got to be too costly as I wrecked those suits every week. I use a sweater or sweat jacket and it works great. Keeps the heat in as I run and workout. Heat also allows your muscles to be less tense and more relaxed, so in other words, it will loosen up your muscles. After I run, I tend to get really cold so it keeps me warm. Just think about boxers in training. They wear sweat jackets, with their hoodies on. Weight training is great for you, toning your muscles and tightening your skin as you lose weight, however your weight will stall a bit during weight training. You will be building muscle hence speeding up your metabolism, causing you to be hungrier, more often. That's why I eat 6 times per day. I weight train 3x's per week. Word of advice - if you just want to tone and not bulk up then go with bigger repetitions and lower weights. If you want to bulk up and build muscle then up your weights heaviness and lower the repetition. The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn. Muscle burns more calories than fat. Food Choices & Food Portions Try to drink 64fl oz to 128 fl oz (1 gallon) per day. This will keep you hydrated and keep your system clean. Stay away from sugar and flour products. I stay away from pasta as well. Eat tuna if you can. It's packed with protein and very low in fat, abvout 1.5g of fat for 3oz. Albacore is the best. Salmon is high in protein and has good fats such as Omega 3's. Lean Chicken or any kind of Lean meats. I eat alot of Spinich leaves. It is high in iron, folic acid and full of nutrients, not like your iceberg lettuce. Iceberg is all water. I will also mix the Spinich greens with a bag of garden salad mix. I use fresh lime juice as dressing or I will use Asian Sesame or Mikoto dressing. I stay away from Italian, Thousand Island, French, Ranch, etc. They are very high in fat. Try to stay within whatever your nutritionist layed out for you with regards to caloric intake. If she said to stay around 1,000 calories then darnit, you better start counting. Calorie counting is a chore but it works. If you take in too few calories, you will lose weight BUT your body will go into "starvation mode". We don't want that. Starvation mode kills your metabolism and will allow you to survive and maintain at that calorie count. However, you will ruin your metabolism and if you started to take in more calories because you are hungrier then ..uh oh. Weight gain with a slower metabolism. Don't go under the recommended amount. If you are stalling on weight loss and you are taking in 1,000 calories.... crank up your exercise. You will exert the weight off in a healthy way. If you are running marathons or biking, jogging and lifting weights in the same day then you will need to up your caloric intake to over 2k calories. You need to understand that in order to drive yourself to these extremes, you have to fuel your body. If you are banded and are filled then you should be able to feel restriction and will know when to stop eating. However, the purpose of the band is to help remind you when to stop. You should be aware of portion size as well as be aware of how much you are eating on your own. You should pay attention to how much you are eating and stop yourself before the band does. I mean, we all know when enough is enough right? I got here b/c I had a bottomless pit I think, but I ate good foods, I just didn't know when to stop. I kept eating and eating and stopped exercising. So review time: Water - Drink lots of water Food Choices - Eat good, wholesome foods with alot of nutrients and low in fat, low in carbs. Complex carbs are better for you. Complex Carbs - potatoes, pasta, grains, beans, etc. Also may want to invest in some protein shakes. Isopure, Spiru-tein, Myoplex are good protein shakes to check out. Try to replace at least 1 meal a day with a shake. Cardio - Put in 45min - 1 hour of cardio per day for 5 - 6 days per week (if you can). Weight train at will but alternate muscle groups. Never work the same muscle groups 2 days in a row. It will do more harm than help you. (If you lift weights in a muscle group, you will create small tears in your muscles. This helps to build muscles as they heal. However if you go and weight train the same muscle groups the next day you will hurt that muscle and possibly damage it due to too much work and stress on it. Give it a day or so to recooperate). Portion Control - Know when you feel satisfied or pay atten to the band. Do not try to pouch pack. Vitamins - Take a multivitamin. I take GNC's Nature something..I forget it's a women's multivitamin. I also take biotin for hair, skin and nails and my hair is growing back after some recent hair loss. My skin is very clear, even glows and my nails are stronger than ever. I hope this helps a little.

hi everyone. i am almost 12 weeks post op and i have lost almost 60lbs. last week Tuesday id lost 4lbs then weighed again on Wednesday and i had gained 1lb literally overnight i was like HOWW?? Then i jst weighed now and iv gained an extra 2lbs like what is going on? i am eating clean i barely touch carbs iv been eating chicken and fish with veg no carbs. i eat about 800-900 cals per day do regular excercise iv treated myself to some chocolate once a week which i have done since the start of my solid food journey and never gained so it definitely cannot be that. im pulling my hair out and feel like a failure Whats happening to my body??? Sent from my SM-G935F using the BariatricPal App

It's a good thing you decided to get an unfill. The damage an overfill can cause to an esophagus might not be temporary. As you discovered, an overfill doesn't allow for the ingestion of solid proteins and can actually lead to weight gain. I hope you're feeling better.