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I have a question. I had surgery on Jan 21, 2008 in August I found out that I was pregnant and May 9, 2009 I delivered my beautiful baby girl. When I found out I was pregnant I got an unfill. My doctor wanted it all out. I did great the first couple of months with weight gain but I ended up gaining around 50lbs. I am going in for my first fill on June 24th and I am nervous about it. I am not sure what to expect. I haven't had any restriction in so long. How do I begin again? What should I eat? Any other advice? Thanks, Carrie

Hi all, I'm a newbie to this site, looking for some help and advice and hopefully some answers. I had a lap band put in 7 years ago, I then had several complications and three revision surgeries and multiple infections. I recovered from all my infections and surgeries, started eating better and exercising. The weight was coming over but very slowly, I managed to lose 45 kilos and was feeling better, but disappointed with the slow weight loss (45 kilos over 3 years is not what I was expecting) (I have a lot of weight to lose - more than 100kgs) So after my annual consultation with my surgeon, he suggested a gastric sleeve. I was so excited, a good friend of mine had recently been sleeved and her results were phenomenal! Bring it on!! Band was removed after 4 years. 2 months of very careful eating and I was sleeved. I did everything right. Fluids for 2 weeks, mushies for 2 weeks, then small meals, gradually building up to solids. Here is where my problems begin. After I started eating, I never felt the restriction I did when I had the band. Over time my portions increased, I have never felt any type of restriction, at my 3 month post op review a temporary surgeon. (My surgeon after performing 6 surgeries on my poor tummy is no longer practicing) I was told the sleeve had failed and I wasn't losing the weight they expected me too. Instant Soul crush! I soldiered on and saw dieticians and doctors and no one to this day can explain what has happened. Fast forward to now,7 years after my band and small loss and 2.5 years after my sleeve and I'm back to my pre. Band weight. I have absolutely nil restriction. I can eat a full size meal and have gained back every thing I ever lost. I have been back to see 2 separate surgeons who have both said the sleeve looks to be fine, and have no answers as to why I'm gaining weight. (Have done 2 barium swallows) Both of them have recommended a gastric bypass as the only way I will lose weight. My head is really messed up. I don't know what to do, over the past 7 years I have had 7 operations 5 of them weight loss related (band in, port removed, port replaced band out and sleeved) Ive spent well over $30k on surgeries, Appointments hospital visits etc. and I'm really not wanting more surgery (I was told due to the difficulty with scar tissue, infections etc I will need two bariatric surgeons to operate on me doubling the cost of further surgery) Herein lies my issue. Do I risk it all, spend a small fortune (that I don't really wish to spend) in the hope that this may be the surgery to help me lose weight. Do I dare to pretend I can lose weight on my own (I'm 42 and the past 42 years have proven I can't) Do I try to be happy and live my life as a super morbid obese adult? I'll admit I'm scared, scared ill do it and fail, scared I won't do it and will be unhappy for the rest of my life, scared if I don't do it, my co morbidites will finally get the better of me I wa so sure the band was the way to go. It took me a very long time to come to the realisation I needed surgery to help me lose weight. It worked but I never had the success others did. Then , I was convinced the sleeve would help, and now I'm back to where I began all those years ago. My head is a mess, my body is a mess and I don't know which way to go...... Sorry for the mega long post, wanted to get it all out in the hope someone has had similar experiences and come through the other side ???? Ps. If anyone is reading this that is considering surgery, please don't let my post put you off. I'm a one in a million type person and no one else I know has issues like this. Ive made several great friends who have had differing weightless surgeries and they have all had great sucess. You will never look back ????

My scars are healing very well. I don't keloid. But I still won't be wearing any bikinis once I get to my goal weight because I have terrible dark stretch marks all over my belly. I think the stretch marks have been more embarassing for me than the actual weight gain. Especially since I have no children! Would the vitamin E work on them too, or is it too late?

I have to disagree with Xavier. It is not just about how much you eat but what you eat as well. It is not possible for the band to stop you eating the incorrect foods no matter how tight it is. chocolate, Cookies , icecream etc will always go down really easily and as they are high calorie they cause weight gain and they are also not satisfying.This is how the band is a tool - it helps to reduce hunger so that it is easier to make the correct choices but it does not make those choices for you. I think most of us would be really happy if they invented some kind of surgery where we could eat what we wanted in the quantities that we wanted and still lose weight. Unfortunately ( but probably luckily too) I don't think that this will ever happen. In order to stay healthy there are certain types of food that we should be eating a lot more of and others (the ones we would prefer to eat) that we should be eating a lot less of. As the others have said you have not failed until you have given up. Go back to your Dr and check that all is in order and that you have sufficient restriction and then recommit to making good choices. Remember it is about what you do 90% of the time that counts, no-one expects you to eat perfectly 100% of the time. Good luck

I got the lap band in 2006. I had a hematoma develop over the port site soon after surgery. Once that resolved, I got another hematoma over the port site. My doctor said my port was infected. I had a surgery to remove it, and later, a surgery to replace it. That's three lap band surgeries. At the same time, I had just started my first real job. I had a lot of responsibility and had to work with some VERY difficult personalities. I had to take Zyprexa to handle my growing anxiety about being at work. Zyprexa causes weight gain and increases risk of early onset of Type 2 Diabetes. I was very discouraged at this point and lost all confidence in the band. I had it completely unfilled. Six years later, I've tried several interesting diets and lost no weight. Giving up hope again, I remembered I still have a lap band! I've had three fills since mid-January and have lost 36 pounds. I like the amount of restriction I have, but it's been a problem the past two days when it comes to morning pill taking time. I think I need to change from cold lattes to hot lattes. I just don't think I like hot soy milk. I will find out tomorrow. I thought I would have to give up my vegan lifestyle, and started out with meat to meet that all important Protein requirement, but I've found it's easy to be vegan on the band. Soy milk for Breakfast, chickpeas and tabbouleh for lunch, and homemade bean chili with TVP for dinner, or something from Appetite for Reduction by Isa Chandra Moskowitz. Quinoa is a complete protein and is very filling even in small portions. I've found I've forgotten all the rules. I read Band Wagon and got a lot of answers. It's been a slow process getting back on board but I think I get better ideas every day. The last two days I had significant trouble with my morning pills. It felt like they just sat in my stomach all day and made me feel vomiting. Two days with headache, too. Must stop writing. Can't keep my eyes open

:clap2: I am very excited about being a member at this forum of bandsters. I had my surgery in March 2003 by Dr. Kuri in Tijuana, Mexico. My post-op went very well and I immediately began to lose weight. After 40 pounds I leveled off, so went down to get my first adjustment. Everything went well and I lost another 20 pounds. Then it all slowed down so I flew back to Tijuana and told them to make it "really tight," which they obliged. By the way, when I say "went down" I mean that I was flying down from remote places in Alaska, places where I couldn't just drive to the doctor or urgent care for help. I was living very remotely, and I'm sure there are others out there who do the same. But this time, my band was so tight, I couldn't sleep at night without regurgitating, which is dangerous. I couldn't hardly drink or eat without pain or throwing up; yet I was not able to get out again for 6 months! I put up with that condition...and survived, but clearly traumatized. I only lost another 12 pounds and found that I would graze or eat soft foods just to survive. Worse, I sabbotaged my goals by eating high calorie foods. It was rough. Finally, I got back down to Tijuana and had all the fluid removed. I just needed a break. I thought I would get another adjustment fill in a couple months. But guess what, it took 13 months and a 50 pound weight gain before I found someone in Phoenix who would fill my band. I also have since moved back into the southwest, but I would rather not go back to Tijuana because it's so far. This fill is working VERY well. I am excited. I feel like I am in the honeymoon phase again! I've already lost 7 pounds, more more importantly, I'm feeling the vision again, the drive to stick with it and eat right and learn a new lifestyle. Having resources such as this forum will be helpful, and I'm participating in a support group near by. So, look forward to hearing from you all and getting involved more. Adios! 312-242-296-150.

Its amazing how putting on a few kgs can affect your whole attitude. Each day I weigh myself the scales have gone up, even if it is only a little bit. 2 weeks and 4 kgs is ALOT. I havent been eating any differently to what I was, only more because the restriction has gone to nearly zilch. My mood is back to that depressive state. I feel fat...so fat. The new clothes I have bought are tight and snug fitting now. I feel yucky and I feel sh*t. Its been 6 months and its never been a problem to him before, why now? Its controlled and I dont even know I have it if I take my meds. For me my prior post is weight gain inevitable...welll right now....yes it is. I cant stop it. The difference in eating little amounts and now eating more normal ppl amounts is making me put weight on in itself. No one here (in real life) understands so please excuse my whining and if you think I need a kick in the butt and told to wake up then please do it. Tell me something...anything just dont tell me that this is the way it has to be...not with a few months left to my dream wedding.

That's very important. Realizing that you're having a weight gain problem and working on it as soon as you can. You seem to have it under control. Keep us posted. Good Luck.

I wonder if I've always had thyroid problems--since early childhood, I mean. I wonder if my TSH has always been on the edge, making it easier for me to gain weight. I remember being sluggish as a child--tired a lot, too. I've been overweight as long as I can remember. I'm not blaming my thyroid for all my weight gain, but I am a very active person now--and I have such a difficult time losing weight--even when on my meds. But--with my TSH regulated, with regular exercise, and with a major decrease in calories (hopefully due to the band), I believe I will be successful at weight loss. I really don't care if it takes me 2-3 years to lose it all--as long as it happens. Blessings to you all on this weight loss/health journey.

I have been eating like there is no tomorrow. I know that I shouldn't be...but...I can't for the life of me stop. I am so glad that I am having surgery on the 6th. I am hazard to my health..lol. I start my pre-op low carb diet on Tuesday. So...hopefully....at the very least I will get my liver where it needs to be for surgery and I will deal with the weight gain post op. I know that I am dealing with the 'last meal' syndrome. I just didn't realize that I was going to have so many of them! This too shall pass. I don't want to beat myself up about it. It is what it is.

My post op instruction was to weigh myself daily and notify my surgeon of any weight gain. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Just an update - in november i posted that my band got looser around the start of my pregnancy. Well not long after that - a few weeks - it got so tight i had to go for a partial unfill - i had a hard time getting small amounts of fluid down. I was more worried about staying hydrated than anything else. Anyway, it is now almost 7 months later, i havent been back for another unfill or fill, but I still have restriction, Just enough I think. However, some days are definately tighter than others, and mornings have always been tighter for me. One day I can manage to eat alot more than on other days. Very strange but it's been all good. My weight gain has been good, just enough, and baby is measuring normal and I feel good - havent had problems with blood pressure or gestational diabetes and I think chances are i would have if I had no restriction.

Erosion is serious business. Your stomach can be extremely damaged... it's not the same as a slip at all. Depending on the degree of an erosion, it can not only prevent a surgeon from placing a new Band, it can keep him or her from doing any revision surgery. It really depends a lot on how badly the stomach was damaged. Personally, it would seem too risky to me. I'd look at other options. But here are some studies anyway... Obes Surg. 2005 Jun-Jul;15(6):849-52.Links Treatment of intra-gastric band migration following laparoscopic banding: safety and feasibility of simultaneous laparoscopic band removal and replacement. Abu-Abeid S, Bar Zohar D, Sagie B, Klausner J. Department of Surgery B and the Advanced Endoscopic Surgery Service, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel. dr_subhi@tasmc.health.gov.il BACKGROUND: Intra-gastric band migration (band erosion) following laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) is a known complication requiring revisional surgery. Management has most often involved band removal and suturing of the stomach wall, followed by delayed replacement at a third operation. We report our experience with simultaneous band removal and replacement. METHODS: Between May 2001 and December 2003, we performed 754 laparoscopic operations using the Lap-Band ®. Patients developing band erosion were treated by laparoscopic band removal and immediate replacement of a new band following gastric wall repair. RESULTS: 16 patients (2.1%) developed band erosion after a mean of 23 months following surgery (range 11-40 months). Patients presented with epigastric pain (6), port-site bulge (3) or were asymptomatic (7), band erosion being suspected during fluoroscopy for band adjustment and confirmed by gastroscopy. Postoperatively, 11 patients developed fever that responded to antibiotics. No patient suffered from intra-abdominal infection, wound infection, pneumonia or pulmonary embolism. Mean hospital stay was 4 days (range 1-8 days). CONCLUSION: Band erosion following LAGB can be treated safely with simultaneous laparoscopic band removal, gastric wall suturing and immediate replacement of the band, thereby preventing weight gain, the appearance of co-morbidities and the need for additional surgery. PMID: 15978157 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Obes Surg. 2003 Jun;13(3):435-8.Links 11-cm Lap-Band System placement after history of intragastric migration. Vertruyen M, Paul G. Department of Laparoscopic GI Tract Surgery, Europe St-Michel Clinic, Brussels, Belgium. marcvertruyen@belgacom.net BACKGROUND: Intragastric migration (erosion) of the band after laparoscopic adjustable silicone gastric banding (LAGB) is a serious late complication. It requires removal of the entire system. Subsequent recurrence of obesity can be treated by laparoscopic placement of a larger band: the 11-cm Lap-Band System. METHODS: In 727 laparoscopic gastric bandings using the 9.75 Lap-Band, 10 cases presented with intragastric migration of the band. The same complication was encountered in an additional 4 patients who had previously been implanted with an Obtech band in another hospital. Laparoscopic removal of the band was performed in all cases. In 9 cases, after a delay of 6 months, a new gastric band was placed using the 11-cm Lap-Band, because of uncontrollable recurrence of obesity. RESULTS: No complication was observed during the laparoscopic removal of the system. The placement of a new band required conversion to laparotomy in 1 patient who had previously received an Obtech band which had been placed using the pars flaccida technique. After a mean follow-up of 21 months, no intragastric migration of the new bands was noted. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic placement of an 11-cm Lap-Band in patients with a history of intragastric migration is a safe procedure. It allows effective control of recurrent obesity. The laparoscopic procedure was easier in patients initially operated using the perigastric technique. PMID: 12841907 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Obes Surg. 2001 Dec;11(6):744-7.Links Lap-Band erosion: incidence and treatment. Niville E, Dams A, Vlasselaers J. Department of Abdominal Surgery, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Genk, Belgium. erik.niville@ping.be BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) is an effective and safe surgical treatment for morbid obesity. Migration of the band through the stomach wall is a well-known late complication that may jeopardize the aim of the treatment--permanent weight reduction. METHODS: 301 patients were followed for > or = 2 years (mean 39 months) after a Lap-Band procedure. Cases of erosion were studied retrospectively. RESULTS: 5 patients (1.66%) developed erosions. Laparoscopic band removal was carried out in these 5 cases without complication. The first 4 have received a new Lap-Band, and all are doing well. CONCLUSION: Band erosion is a bothersome late complication after LAGB and requires band removal. Rebanding is a feasible option. Further study and longer follow-up are necessary to determine whether these patients will develop erosion again. PMID: 11775574 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Thanks for light at the end of the tunnel! I too was denied, but for a weight gain. My husband had a heart attack and triple bypass (at 37 yrs old) and yes, I gained some weight. I just got my denial letter yesterday and plan on appealing. I can't wait until I get to come on here and scream at the top of my lungs..."I got approved!" So until then, I'm going to the gym every night with the hubs (he is doing very well) And eating next to nothing (I'm starving) :) Congrats on your approval and I hope to be not too far behind!!!

I'm glad to hear that you went to the doctor and are getting things checked out. It is best to get some answers. If you don't already know, prednisone will cause a temporary weight gain so don't be alarmed if you don't lose while on it.

Update: After taking another x-ray and nothing has changed with the band, we're going back into surgery next month. I appreciate all the input, and 2muchfun mentioned the band coming unbuckled. I feel like that is all that is left, as we have checked everything else. My doctor says he's never had that happen before. Dr. Kureshi has been very supportive, and open about this. He is over the bariatric unit at TMC in Denison, TX, and they've just received awards for their efforts that rank them above others in north Texas. I have confidence them. I have read enough forums to know that when I made this post, that I would get the usual, "Control your eating" responses. Because, that's why I shelled out 15 grand in cash, to get a surgery that I didn't need, because all I had to do was watch what I ate! <sarcasm> I have tried it all. Atkins, juice diet, Zeal, Plexus, etc, etc. Even after the band, I walked 3-5 miles every night. At the end of the week, I had gained 2 lbs. "It's muscle!" everyone said. I could care less! Weight gain is weight gain to me! I had an episode Jan. 4. The wife made a meal of red Beans and cornbread. All I can figure is that after I ate, it expanded in my stomach, possibly forcing the band to unbuckle. I had intense fever that night, and then again 2 days later. For the next few days, I had to go back to liquids, broths and Soups. Before the event, I had normal restriction, and just a cup of food would keep me full for hours. A cup of coffee, and about 3 of the Peanut Butter toast crackers is all that I could get in for Breakfast, and that would keep me full until lunch. I was losing weight steadily. After the event, when I could start eating, I noticed that I could eat foods that before I couldn't. Rice, potatoes, heavy beef, etc. So, back under the knife I go. If the band has simply come unbuckled, then the doctor will re-buckle, and stitch it so that it can't come undone. I will keep everyone posted. Thanks again for all the support!

Hey y'all, So, before I started the wls journey I'd continuously been on my own weight loss journey so for the last 3.5 years. My diet has been fairly restrictive for several years. Eating what I wanted but never at the portions I wanted them. (I'd have one slice of pizza for dinner when I wanted 3.4. IDK. I was HUNGRY.) Which I thought would help... Wrong. Yeah, the only time I actually had successful weight loss was when I moved out of country and really couldn't afford food. Broke grad student life. Like really, I was broke. I lost about 80 pounds. I loved it but was not satisfied, I still had another 60 plus left to lose. In hindsight, I had really lost a substantial amount of weight. So, in said oversees country, I met the love of my life who was stationed there. Needless to say, I did NOT finish my graduate degree but rather married. Happily married for almost three years now. Slightly regret. Not getting married, more-so not finishing what I'd set out to do. Still love her though, I wouldn't change that. Any-who, I'm hungry. So after about a year of dating, I gained about 20 pounds in "love fat," you know, constant eating out, eating fatty foods, eating in bed... Oh, and I WAS EATING AGIAN. Yay for me. So we married and spent two years oversees, in which I gained about 30 or so pounds.. Basically gaining more than half of what I'd lost. She loved me... she was my carbs, and I was hungry. But I still watched what I ate. Hoping to reverse some weight gain. Again, eating what I wanted but not as much of it... which did NOT work for me. Fast forward to our return stateside, I have the surgery about one week ago today, 6 days to be exact, and I AM HUNGRY. I was on liquids before surgery for two weeks and am now on the FULL liquid diet, soups, anything strained through this little hair style strainer. I'm struggling, y'all. I've already chewed up some roasted potato and spit it out. Also with some cheese. I'm bad. My surgery went very quickly, we returned stateside and all of a sudden I was on a liquid diet en route to surgery. And I did NOT cheat, for fear of being cancelled. Oh my gosh I have never wished I'd cheated more! Anyways, I'm rambling. Is anyone else struggling this hard so early on? At stage where I hoped I wouldn't even feel hunger. I'm fully aware of head hunger, I know that is exactly why I can't convince myself that the sugar-free raspberry jello I'm eating actually requires chewing. Because it doesn't. And I need to chew. Or at least my head is telling me so... Idk. I'm struggling y'all! Any advice?

https://www.aaaai.org/ask-the-expert/antihistamines-weight-gain swearsies.

That is a difficult question to respond to. I mean, I didn't start putting on a lot of weight until after I finished college. I seriously considered WLS in 2007, when I weighed about 260-270lbs. I made it through three months of the 6 month liquid diet program, and I was ready to kill someone. I was advised by my therapist to stop, because the 600 cal/day program affected my job and relationships. Since then, I put on another 100 lbs before I decided to move forward with WLS. Nothing I tried helped me to lose weight. However, if I would've been introduced to someone like the trainer I started working with before I actually had surgery back in 2007, I'm convinced I would not have needed the surgery to begin with. Working out with my trainer, I lost about 40 lbs in less than 2 months before I even went in for surgery. However, there were still things I needed to go through emotionally before I was ready to fix myself. I spent about 5 years in therapy before I was in the right mind-set. So, I guess to answer this question: on the one level, if I had proper trainer work in my early 20s, I could've avoided the massive weight gain all together. However, I still had things to work on to stop the patterns that caused me to gain the weight I gained. ... Also, if I would not have gone on birth control in college, I probably would have avoided quite a bit of the weight gain.

Weight gain & weight loss can cause a fluctuation in all of our hormones, as our body tries to become accustomed to new requirements. It sounds like your hormones were kept level & under control with the pill... Did you have an alternative method of BC placed for the surgery? IUD or Depo-Provera shot? If not, it seems like your body is in estrogen overload. Also, while PCOS is more common in larger people, it's not solely reliant on that factor, & may still be giving you some trouble. I'd make an appointment with your PCP or OB/GYN. They should be able to give you some options to help make you more comfortable. So while, heat, exercise, and fluids are needed to get you through this go round, I'd check with a doctor for options best suited for your individual needs... Just some thoughts & suggestions... Hope it helps. ☺️ Ohhh, lastly sounds like your retaining Fluid. No worries there.

I've enjoyed my fair share of alcohol beverages before surgery but due to home issues and life I've started t drink a lot more and have gained at least 30 lbs back since my surgery approximately 4 years ago. I don't know what to do at this point and am not in a place where I feel not drinking is an option (i know this is so wrong) but I feel like I'm looking for permission to do something unhealthy like not eating or severely limit my calorie intake in order to resume the weight loss process. I'm feeling weak and not in control and I don't know what to do right now. I hate exercise and i know it's something I need to do but I can't push past my discomfort to do it. I dont know why because before surgery I actually did the work and lost 40 lbs on my own in 3 months. I don't feel like I eat any more that I used to but I keep gaining. I'm so sad because a I'm writing this I'm getting drunk. I feel like maybe my drinking is causing the weight gain ( since it's the only thing that I've really changed) but I don't feel like I'm in a head space to stop. Any advise would help. Thanks

Thank you so much for sharing your year with us! It really gives me hope that even if we aren't perfect 100% of the time, our bands will still help us reach our goals without ending back up in a worse position (increased weight gain) than we were when we started. Congratulations on your 80lbs. You were definitely missed while you were on your 2 week vacation with your sweetie!!! Glad you had a great time and glad to see you back here! Take Care,

I had gastric bypass in June 2005 I lost a total of 120 pounds and kept it of for 3-4 yrs. I gained 65pounds back and opted to get the band on Jan 4 2013, have lost 20 pounds so far.. I have 9.2 cc in a 14cc band.. I saw a question above about why would someone need B.O.B if they had gastric bypass... Well in my case I thought the surgery was a quick fix and yes the weight came off quick but I didn't have all the knowledge I have now.. I mean yes I was told it was a life style change but if at first when u get the surgery u can't eat bad things if u tried or u will throw up and feel awful and then over time those symptoms start to diminish and u start to get back to those old habits u will then start to gain weight.. For me am like there was no way I would be 303 pounds again even if I ate to much I still could hold that much in my pouch.. But what got me is bc I started to drink fluids with my meals and what that does is washes what I just ate out of my pouch and then in 1 hr or so am hungry again. There by taken in more and more calories.. and that equals weight gain... So after researching this lapband for 2 yrs plus getting educated and trying to live and eat right I feel like am better prepared for this journey. Yes it's totally different from my previous surgery bc in this u have time to learn how to work with the band and not against it. Nt to mention u can get adjustments as u go along. Good Luck all

Sagging skin is inevitable for most successful bariatric patients. The only way to resolve it is with plastic surgery. I’m 5’8” and weigh 125 lbs. I look good (not too thin/skeletal) but am hoping that I can get PS one of these days. I would like an arm lift and tummy tuck. For now, I’m doing lots of Bikram hot yoga to improve my posture and develop muscle tone and flexibility. OP: i can’t imagine trying to gain weight when you’re not malnourished. Your body will find its new set point. I worry that doing what you’re doing will result in bad habits and greater weight gain than you desire, resulting in worsening health and inability to maintain weight loss long term.

I thought I was the only cheater out there! lol. My doctor requires a strict pre-op liquid diet, NO solid food whatsoever for 10 days. I did great the first two days. On the third day, I ate a very small piece of cheese bread and 2 small bites of Justin's sandwich (yum) with my strained potato Soup. The next day, I didnt cheat at all. By the 5th day, I couldnt stand it so I made Justin get me a pizza. Instead of eating my usual 6 pieces, I 'spit and chewed' one slice. Other than that, I have stuck to my diet. So, I didnt make the best choices when it came to my cheating, but I kept it very limited. :hungry: It is amazing to me to see how each doctor handles the pre-op diet. Matters-of-fact, that is how I justified my cheating. I figured my doctor was so strict because he felt that if we took one bite we would want 5 more bites. Does that even make sense, I dont even know! Anyway, I figured if I kept my cheating to a minimum AND stopped cheating 3 days before my surgery date, then I would be ok. My doctor said he will know if I have cheated by my weight gain or loss. My pre-op appointment (1/8/07), I weighed 232. Today, I weigh 221. So, that has to be a good sign. I guess we will find out on Thursday, huh?! Good Luck and dont beat yourself up on cheating. This diet isnt easy!