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I somehow lost 12 pounds the first week. Then I never lost one more pound for at least two months. Like everyone says, you have to think about a year from surgery and figure you are going to have lost at least 52 pounds then and not worry about when the pounds are lost. I gain 4 pounds every month the week before my TOM - I don't think I really gain those 4 pounds but it still freaks me out to see the scale go up. Weight gained/lost right after surgery is not really gained or lost so try to keep looking at the overall picture. You aren't losing lap band weight until you get at least one fill.

There are a couple of reasons for my weight gain, but I suspect the biggest one is the slippage. My pouch is larger than it should be and not having it checked last year just made the weight gain worse. On top of that, a couple of years ago I underwent infertility treatment and gained about 25 lbs from the hormone injections. I am looking forward to getting back on track and getting this weight off once and for all.

With the lapband weight gain is typically a lot less due to the fact that it is adjustable and you can always go get a fill.

It is possible with the band or with GBP to eat "around" it and regain. Slider foods, high calorie drinks can cause weight gain. Either procedure is a "tool" that you must help to work and neither is a "magic wand".

People in our society notice weight gain and weight loss. While some of us may find it offensive that we personally get noticed for either gaining or losing, social interaction is likely to be the result of weight loss even if we resent people who never sought us out before the lap band or other assistance in weight loss. The process is going to be slow but people will first notice your face getting thinner because you are consuming(hopefully) less sugar--no soda, juices, etc.--more water and sugar free Crystal Light lemonade. You will be having broth which is high in sodium and Boost which is just high in calories to get you your protein intake--I guarantee you that you will be wondering in six weeks if the band is working because you are able to eat so much--this means it is time to ask the doctor for a fill(2cc) each month for the next five or six and then, the weight will start to drop along with exercise. Since we are nearly in spring, this is a great time to get out and walk and keep walking all spring and summer. After six months of good behaviour , I would be shocked to hear you are not a happier person with more attention than you have dreamed about since you were a kid. Good luck

I am on Day 10 of my 14 day liquid diet, the first of two! Yup my surgeon requires 2 weeks liquid, 2 weeks low cal, 2 weeks before surgery liquid again. I am so close, my surgery is April 18th. I fell very hard today and I cheated, I ate like 10 chocolate truffles! And I am on the verge of a total breakdown! I haven't been an angel so far but I haven't cheated this badly! I am so afraid it will have caused a weight gain and that I jeopardized my surgery. Has anyone else had a hard tome on liquid pre-op?:smile2:

This is to Renewedhope about Metformin. Before my surgery I was on and off of it for one year because my body could not handle it. I noticed since my surgery my Avandamet did not effect my body like it did prior to surgery (making me very ill). So I pulled the good ole Metformin out of the cabinet this week to see if maybe it has the same effect and I have not been sick once. The reason I tell you this is because Metformin stopped my weight gain before being banded unlike anything else I just could not deal with the side effects. I cannot explain it, but I have had 0 side effects now. This whole banding thing is amamzing.

Hey Socalgal! Hang in there. I think you are doing great. Some of that weight gain is most likely fluid from your cycle. Keep doing the things that got you to your goal and you will be just fine. Pinky --sounds like things went well at your nutritionists appt. I hope that he/she is able to offer you the accountability that you need to reach your goals. I am treking along. I lost another pound, finally!!! But I have lost many inches. I have had several NSV that I have noticed. Last week I pulled out an old XL concert T-shirt thinking this should fit just fine. It is actually too big. I am also wearing a blouse I bought last year, only 10 pounds heavier, and not able to even button it. It is now fits with room to spare. I had a set back in my running as I kind of re-injured my ankle. Or I should say...the ankle is lettling me know what it will and will not let me do for right now. I have been trying to just walk several times a week and I hope by the end of march pick my running up again. Not that I was doing that much running. I hope everyone is doing well. I am off to my life on the highway. Have a great day! Melissa

My Doctor is very compassionate. I have been really struggling the past few months and had tummy problems to boot (with the iron) and she told me this was a long process and everyone goes through it. I had a real long talk with her last time because I was so frustrated and she is leaving! She told me that I would probably be losing for the next two years because I have so much to lose. You are not alone Susie!! It is a hard hard fight. I love my band also, just didn't know that at times it would be such a struggle. But, I hope all Dr.s are caring and compassionate with weight gain or plateaus. Jane

Liquid. But what you are wanting is a diet...not just liquids. Grapefruit juice w/ green Beans and broiled chicken...that's what alot of people use to get weight off...QUICK. I wouldn't worry about the weight gain a bit. So what you gained 6 pounds during your grandmother's passing. That's not going to stop a doc from doing surgery.

Wow--your schedule does make things difficult, it is going to be something you might have to adjust as time allows. I too love cornbread, and can eat it without issue, but it is not exactly low cal---especially when I smother it in butter!!! You might try some high Protein Snacks to take with you so you don't get soooo hungry at work. I take a cheese stick, and slice it length wise into 2 or 4 pieces, then roll a slice of the thin lunch meat around it. I can drop 3-4 of these in a zip lock, and snack when I want without worrying about them being bad for me....and they will hold me til I can get a good dinner together. Or in your case until your lunch break at work hits. Plus, they don't leave your breath horrid for dealing with your patients!! Maybe a can of raw almonds somewhere that you could grab a couple of them from time to time if you are starving at work, as well. They are high protein, and will help hold you over. If you got a few divided plastic childrens plates, you could dish you up small servings of the things you make over the weekend, and since it would be in kids plates, the real kids would know it was yours!!! I have one of Tweety Bird!!! I use it here at home, if I make a full dinner, I fix me a plate to have for lunch the next day, and it keeps me mindful of how much I am eating. I know you wouldn't want to take that to work but for eating when you get home. Do you eat when you get home, right before going to bed? I can't do that due to reflux, but I understand it is bad for weight gain too. I notice when I eat oatmeal of any kind, even the weight control kind, I get hungry really quick! I would have thought it would stay with me, but for some reason with me it works the opposite---so you might watch and see if you are reacting the same way. I know prices are so much higher for healthy foods--seems so backwards! Walmart is not my favorite place to go, but I like the ability to price match all the different stores in one place. What I do is this....our grocery store ads come in our Wed. newspaper. So Wed. morning, I sit down and look through them, make notes about what is on sale where. Then when I hit Walmart---and I try to do it at an off time so it is not so busy---if it is in an ad at another store, they will Price match it....so I get the sales from several different stores, and only have to go to one. Like I just did this....and the little baby carrots---peeled and ready to eat are on sale at several places, so I will get a couple bags of those, they are good to snack on, and my granddaughter loves them! Good Luck----you might ask your Dr. if they have a nutritionist you could consult with....they might have some great ideas for you!!! Kat

Morning V's! We went to some Beatles tribute band last night, was out till 11pm and then we went to Waffle House and talked for a while, so we were home late! It's kicking my butt this morning, I'm sick as it is, my sinuses ache so bad.. my neck hurts. Hah hah I actually didn't get what Terry was saying.. woops. But I second Pam, the best way to get over a man is to get on top of a new one! I don't know that Chantix made me scatter brained, I'm pretty thorough at work and did not notice it slip. The only issue (besides weight gain) was the night terror things. I was waking up all throughout the night freaking out from nightmares. Too scared to get up and turn on the tv or light, I would sit there staring at DH and mad he didn't wake me up (it wasn't logical).

I put on 2 pounds and i'm so upset with myself. I took my butt to Shapes today and worked out for 45 minutes. I thought going back to work would help me not think of food all the time and help lose weight. I called and moved up my first fill to the begining of April instead of the end of April. I hope that helps.

wow, poor carnie...if this is not a testament to "its hard for everybody" then I don't know what is...she went from a size 28 to a size 6...I read she had a TT, breast lift and bracialplasty...wow...weight gain can happen to anyone!

I saw a recent picture of Carnie Wilson today on tmz.com and couldn't believe how much weight she has gained. She looks like she is 220-240 again. I feel so sorry for her. My doctor said that bipass patients typically gain back 25% of their weight in the first few years. I am so glad I have the band!

Weight and Lapband restriction. My weight still hasn't come down from surgery and I'm continuing to hover around the 10 pounds heavier than my pre-tummy tuck weight. I wanted to believe it was all or mostly from the post surgery swelling but 5 months out it is hard to not face the reality that I have actually gained some weight. If I had to hazard a guess I'd say it was probably 75-80% weight gain vs water weight from the swelling. I don't have any one to blame for this but myself. Yes I had a large unfill pre-surgery and yes 2 fill later I'm still struggling with what feels like no restriction and some extreme hunger issues. But just like pre-band it is still my hand putting the food to my mouth. Not to mention the poor food choices and lack of anything that can really be called exercise.

I'll try to hit on everything. I hate multi-quotes, so forgive the font changes but it's the most concise way I can think of to do this. Responses in blue below. You say its not genentics, well I have to disagree, on both sides of my family, the women struggle very hard to lose and keep the weight off. The men in the family struggle very little but the woman, if not constantly working out and eating a low cal diet ( basically if it taste good spit it out rule) you wont stay with in a good rate of eating well. No, that's not what I said. I said I would have a hard time being convinced it was genetics. You come from a whole family of obese women, then it seems natural that you would learn behaviors that come from an obese lifestyle. Men genetics, and women genetics - no. Genetics are genetics. By and large, you're just as likely to get something from your father as you are your mother. So for all women to be fat, and all men to be skinny, doesn't make sense from a genetic perspective. What does make sense is learned behaviors, even subconscious ones. It also makes sense that physiologically and statistically, men do better at weightloss than women. "Won't stay within a good rate of eating well" sounds 100% behavioral. Eating well is not gentic, it's behavioral. There's nothing genetic about whether or not someone eats well, that's defined by personal choices and maybe some influencing factors such as socio-economic status (and all that other good naturalism stuff). So do you think that maybe my "body has an ideal weight of it being to high"? I'm not sure what you're asking here. I wouldn't even worry about "ideal body weight" if I were you. I would find my BMR and my AMR and identify an attainable number between the two, then compare that to where you're at on an average basis. When I say I eat way less then my husband is no lie, You may have misunderstood what I was saying. I have no objections to the idea that you eat less than your husband. I ate way less than my husband, and still ballooned up to nearly 400 lbs while he put on... 25 or 30 lbs. Who eats more than whom is irrelvant. good example the other day we went out to a pizza shop, I had one slice pizza and 3 wings and a coke, and I was stuffed!!! The boys on the other hand ate the entire large pizza and ate the rest of the wings a several beers before they were stuffed! Still irrelevant. You can't take different genders, different body types, different activity levels, etc. and say that weight their weight should be higher because they eat more. Now tell me did I over eat? I only had that day a bowl of cheerios, 1%milk and cup of coffee, and was cleaning all day before we went out!? I don't think on average that I eat more then 2000-2500 cals a day If that's all you ate then I wouldn't say that one that day you overate, but if you get 2000-2500 calories per day, you're maybe eating more than you realize because what you're reporting isn't near that number. , granted you may be right that is obviously way to much for my body! So yes my metabolism doesn't burn as fast as this skinny girl who eats everything in site! Perhaps not, but there are a LOT of other factors, too many to start listing. Yes I believe that genetics do play a role, I watched national geographic dealing with weight issues, yes I believe that if you are not gorging yourself and eating fast food everyday, yet your body seems to not burn what it should, there is something wrong that scientist haven't found yet! You realize that medical science has found many reasons for weight gain despite a healthy diet, right? Hence my statement that if you are being honest about what you eat, then you need to seek an aggressive medical provider. I'm not saying you're lying. You don't eat below a BMR/AMR range, for any significant length of time, and be active on top of it, and gain weight, without something being wrong. It just doesn't happen. And if it does, then it's time to seek a doctor's help -- probably with some urgency. That doesn't mean you need to seek a genetic answer. For example, a member here, VinesQueen, had similar trouble, and walked away with a pituitary tumor. When you look at all the women down to both my great grandma's and they are very over weight, you cant tell him that gene's dont have a hand in it! I'm not sure who "him" is - but yeah, I would tell him that. If some weight anomoly occured randomly, or could be traced through the family history, or linked back to some genetic issue, then I would believe gentics more quickly than I can when I hear "every woman." When I hear someone say "every woman in my family is fat" I think - wow, it's sad that the women are perpetuating poor behaviors. A fat mother is going to teach her child poor behaviors, even if it's not intentional, and even if the child is able to avoid manifesting the behaviors. A fat woman who learned fat behaviors from her fat mother who learned them from her fat mother who learned them from her fat mother... is going to have that much more chance of passing on the behaviors down, and so on. Add to that the amplified effect of a female child who sees her mother, aunts, grandmothers, sisters, etc. all overweight. This is no different from other "family" behaviors. You could just as easily have said, "Every man in my family beats his wife." That doesn't mean there's a wife-beating gene, maybe it just means that boys have learned from watching their parents and other family members. Anyway. This was not a personal attack. You posted in RnR so I didn't assume you were seeking support or validation. Best of luck to you on your band journey. :blushing:

Yes, I'm in Kansas City though I grew up in Nebraska. I use Dr. Malley for my fills though he wasn't my original surgeon. I agree he is one of (if not the) best docs in K.C. He has done over 1000 lapbands and is a regional proctor for Inamed. I changedmy ticker to reflect a mini-goal but ought to update it again. My starting weight was around 255 and I lost down to 163 last fall. My current weight is up a bit from there due in part to some swelling from plastic surgeries and in part from lack of restriction while being unfilled during the recovery from the PS. I'm hoping to have lost what I gained plus a bit more by June then just focus on maintaining. You are right that with any procedure there will be a percentage that doesn't find success. Though it also depends on how you define success. For some success may just be stopping the scale from continuing to climb while others may refuse to call there journey a success if they are unable to lose every single extra pound they ever gained. My own not so scientific conclusions on why some bandsters have not been as successful as others. Boils down to three main categories. - COMPLICATIONS - Unforseeen and RARE complications with the band such as a leak in the tubing or band slippage. There have also been rare complications that aren't band related such as various thyroid issues that can make weight loss extremely difficult, in those cases I would feel the band's ability to stop the weight gain if not turn it back should be considered a success in itself. - FOLLOW UP - Lack of necessary adjustments to feel proper restriction. This may be due to lack of funds or a reluctance to go back for fills for a variety of reasons. - HEAD ISSUES - And finally, yes there are those that just aren't ready mentally or physically to adjust to life with the band and will sabotage their weight loss efforts by eating around thier band with soft foods and high calorie drinks. This last comment is a bit of a hot button topic even for me. After all if I could have changed my behaviours before the band why would I have needed it at all? Right? But the band really can help. It only bands your stomach, NOT your head. However, it does make it much easier to move in a more 2 steps forward one step back fashion as you continue to struggle with whatever inner demons you may have in regards to diet and or exercise. And I am proof positive it is possible to lose the weight and still be a basket case when it comes to both.:sneaky:

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.

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. Any comments appreciated.

My wife and I are considering having lab band surgery. Both of us have always been bigger people but we are heading in the wrong direction with our health. We are both close to the 400 lb mark and no end in sight. Her weight gain really happened when she had to go on certain meds. She gained 180 lbs. I gained a good 100 lbs from my desk job. Diet and excersize just doesn't seem to be working for us. We are wondering about the lab band and how it will affect us. What is the down time after the surgery? What can we expect? How much weight can be lost, and is it possible to still gain weight or stay at your current weight if you have this?

My desire for lapband surgery began in the fall of 2006. I'd struggled with being fat for over 10 years and had many health problems including: PCOS, diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, sleep apnea and depression. By doing my research and speaking with my doctors, I'd learned that it was the PCOS that caused my massive weight gain of 100 pounds in a year. It was also PCOS that made it damn near impossible for me to lose weight. My desire to be healthy and to be able to have children further cemented my resolve to have lapband surgery. I'd done the research and knew all the risks involved. These risks were nothing compared to the ticking timebomb of a heart attack that I'd surely have if I stayed at the weight I was. We went to a seminar and shortly after I was already done with my surgeon consult, nutrition class and psych evaluation. My family doctor and cardiologist were both on board and had written my letters of support for the surgery. Now the only road block was our insurance company. Blue Cross/Blue Shield of California had a BMI restriction in their policy. My BMI had to be 49 or less in order for them to approve coverage. Well, needless to say, my BMI was over 49. I struggled to lose the 15 pounds necessary to qualify for the surgery. If it was easy for me to lose weight, I wouldn't have been trying to get the surgery in the first damn place. After almost a year, I'd just about given up. Thankfully, my husband checked the insurance policy again and discovered that they had amended the restriction. So, in November of 2007 we called our insurance company (whose named changed to Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield) and they confirmed the restriction had been lifted. We then contacted our surgeon to get the ball rolling for approval. We explained to them that the policy had changed and we should now meet approval for coverage. They stated they would submit the paperwork right away. But...instead of listening to what we told them, they simply reviewed the printed policy they had in their office and sent us a letter stating the BMI requirement. So, we had to call them and reiterate the amendment in the policy. Due to their lack of attention, this set us back two weeks. Finally, they submitted the paperwork as they had originally promised and we got our approval. My surgery was scheduled for March 3rd, 2008. In preparation, I had to spend 4 hours at the hospital for various exams: Upper GI, barium swallow, chest x-ray, blood tests, etc. The week before was spent gathering everything I would need post-surgery. We also cleaned out our fridge and cabinets, tossing out most everything that would not be allowed on my menu. My pre-op consult was on February 28th, only a few days before the surgery. He asked if I had questions. I really didn't. We had done so much research that I felt fully prepared. The truth is that for the two weeks prior to the surgery, I was crying every other hour. I was so worried that something would go wrong. I was envisioning the worst - that I would die during surgery. My concerns revolved around leaving my husband and parents behind. My father has emphysema and COPD and my mother is not as strong as she used to be. I wanted this surgery so that I could be more help to my loved ones - not leave them behind. My hugs lasted longer. Late at night, tears would roll down my cheeks as my husband slept. I made a point to tell my friends how important they are to me. I tried to make sure everyone knew how much I loved them. I had a wonderful time saying good-bye to the foods that I loved. T-Bone steaks are one of my first loves. I was also a Coca-Cola addict. Being asian, jasmine rice was a staple at every dinner...this is probably one of the most difficult habits to break. Luckily, I'd become tired of food, so saying good-bye wasn't difficult. Ultimately, I knew that this was what I needed to do in order to take control of my life and my health. As scary as it was, I was ready.

My desire for lapband surgery began in the fall of 2006. I'd struggled with being fat for over 10 years and had many health problems including: PCOS, diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, sleep apnea and depression. By doing my research and speaking with my doctors, I'd learned that it was the PCOS that caused my massive weight gain of 100 pounds in a year. It was also PCOS that made it damn near impossible for me to lose weight. My desire to be healthy and to be able to have children further cemented my resolve to have lapband surgery. I'd done the research and knew all the risks involved. These risks were nothing compared to the ticking timebomb of a heart attack that I'd surely have if I stayed at the weight I was. We went to a seminar and shortly after I was already done with my surgeon consult, nutrition class and psych evaluation. My family doctor and cardiologist were both on board and had written my letters of support for the surgery. Now the only road block was our insurance company. Blue Cross/Blue Shield of California had a BMI restriction in their policy. My BMI had to be 49 or less in order for them to approve coverage. Well, needless to say, my BMI was over 49. I struggled to lose the 15 pounds necessary to qualify for the surgery. If it was easy for me to lose weight, I wouldn't have been trying to get the surgery in the first damn place. After almost a year, I'd just about given up. Thankfully, my husband checked the insurance policy again and discovered that they had amended the restriction. So, in November of 2007 we called our insurance company (whose named changed to Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield) and they confirmed the restriction had been lifted. We then contacted our surgeon to get the ball rolling for approval. We explained to them that the policy had changed and we should now meet approval for coverage. They stated they would submit the paperwork right away. But...instead of listening to what we told them, they simply reviewed the printed policy they had in their office and sent us a letter stating the BMI requirement. So, we had to call them and reiterate the amendment in the policy. Due to their lack of attention, this set us back two weeks. Finally, they submitted the paperwork as they had originally promised and we got our approval. My surgery was scheduled for March 3rd, 2008. In preparation, I had to spend 4 hours at the hospital for various exams: Upper GI, barium swallow, chest x-ray, blood tests, etc. The week before was spent gathering everything I would need post-surgery. We also cleaned out our fridge and cabinets, tossing out most everything that would not be allowed on my menu. My pre-op consult was on February 28th, only a few days before the surgery. He asked if I had questions. I really didn't. We had done so much research that I felt fully prepared. The truth is that for the two weeks prior to the surgery, I was crying every other hour. I was so worried that something would go wrong. I was envisioning the worst - that I would die during surgery. My concerns revolved around leaving my husband and parents behind. My father has emphysema and COPD and my mother is not as strong as she used to be. I wanted this surgery so that I could be more help to my loved ones - not leave them behind. My hugs lasted longer. Late at night, tears would roll down my cheeks as my husband slept. I made a point to tell my friends how important they are to me. I tried to make sure everyone knew how much I loved them. I had a wonderful time saying good-bye to the foods that I loved. T-Bone steaks are one of my first loves. I was also a Coca-Cola addict. Being asian, jasmine rice was a staple at every dinner...this is probably one of the most difficult habits to break. Luckily, I'd become tired of food, so saying good-bye wasn't difficult. Ultimately, I knew that this was what I needed to do in order to take control of my life and my health. As scary as it was, I was ready.

All the things you mentioned could cause getting stuck. Eating too fast is a big problem for me. I almost always get stuck if I wait too long to eat, get very hungry, then eat too fast. Bread and tortillas often cause problems for me as well. I can eat chicken breast with no problems, but many bandsters find it to dry and it gets stuck. Try slowing down, chewing better and avoiding these 3 foods until Thursday. If things improve, you can probably get a small fill. If they stay the same, don't get a fill. It is a misconception that being really tight will produce faster weight loss. Many people when they are tight turn to poor food choices like ice cream that actually causes weight gain. Also, being too tight can eventually lead to a slip. If you haven't actually PB'd, I think you just need to slow down and be more careful.

To clarify, a piece of cake and ice cream will certainly not bust a diet or cause 5 lbs of fat gain. I've found that starchy/sugary carbs will make me hold more Fluid than consuming salt. And the good news is, the fluid tends to whoose away with extra liquid consumption and reducing the "bad" carbs. Notice I said "reducing" not eliminating? I do have a taste of them, they just aren't the main entree. When I did Atkins induction (several times) I couldn't even taste them without a weight gain (fluid), but within a day or two it would come right back off if I followed the plan. But it was still very discouraging. I lost so much fluid with my pre op and post op diet. My ankles that had been puffy (my sister, who's a nurse called it pitting edema) became bony. But as I began eating real food again some of it came back. I tend to be a person who has considerable fluctuation with fluid. My point was that sometimes it's hard to tell why our weight does these crazy ups and downs. And they are very discouraging. We just have to keep reminding ourselves of the big picture.