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When I got banded, I had all the feelings of "maybe this isnt necessary, I really SHOULD be able to do this on my own". But it was a major reality check to really consider the fact that statistically, it was 99.9% certain that I wouldnt and couldnt do it on my own. I really think I'd try to have the same reality check post banding. Statistically, the weight's likely to go back over time. I really would consider another surgery personally if I possibly could. But in the meantime, I think exercise really comes to the fore as a tool to prevent weight gain. The times in my life that I've been successful in the medium term in keeping off a reasonable weight loss - like over 20lb which is all I had to lose in the old days before babies - were the times when I exercised - and I mean hard - like an hour of hard cardio like running almost every single day. Whenever my life changed and the commitment to exercise waned, that's when I gained weight. Same after I had my babies. First baby, no problem, I continued with a really vigorous walking routine with him in the pram. Second baby, and a toddler as well, the exercise fell by the wayside, and I ballooned. Exercise really is your best defence.

I used to work midnights as well (part of my huge weight gain was from it). Is 1am a time that works slows down and you have more free time? I figured out that I was snacking out of sheer boredom. Between 1am and 2am the night started really dragging on. Can you try taking a quick walk around the boat, the bldg, something? Maybe just to clear your head? Or can you take a 10 minute break and read a chapter in a book? Working mids is really rough on the body. You've been doing really well though, keep up the good work!

Up here in Canada a lot of the advertising which is allowed south of border is simply not permitted. Much of this which is forbidden has to do with legal and medical services; we also have funny laws covering prescription pharmaceuticals. The way I heard about the lapband and the Toronto Lap Band Centre, the place were I went for my surgery, was through a girlfriend who had seen one of the surgeons interviewed on a local morning show. She had heard me whining about my weight gains for a long time and thought that I might be interested. Before I knew about the lapband I was thinking about extensive lipo but was terrified of the pain. The rest is happy history. :eek:

Oh thank you so much for getting back quick Grace!!!! & what a GREAT experience! I didnt think fill centers used fluoro so wooohooo & double woohoo highland is much closer than salt lake for me! (in fact I work in american fork lol) im much more excited about going now! What did he say about weight gain? I contacted my surgeons office (the nut) & she said its quite normal but obviously its not! I also have a 9.75 band so I hope they are just as good at filling it! (heck now im considering canceling my trip to mexico & just doing the fill here!)

I got a tight fill about 3 months ago and it got the last 30 pounds off. I had been at the same weight for 1 year. I am now get a little losser after the 30lbs loss. I hope to loss a little more in case of weight gain.

If you want to do the sleeve, don't wait until you are experiencing symptoms of stomach inflammation. I had a pretty severe erosion and they would not convert me to a VSG at the time I had my band removed because my stomach and esophagus were severely inflamed. Now, my health is greatly improved, enough that I can do the sleeve but I was hoping I could keep my weight stable without a 2nd surgery. Unfortunately I'm having trouble with weight gain since being disbanded, despite my best efforts. I know how you feel with the frustration of really trying hard and not getting the results you deserve. Sounds to me like getting a revision to a VSG would be a good way for you to go, just don't wait to decide and find out they can't do it until you heal from the band removal. I definitely stuck my head in the sand and didn't face up to the fact that my band was gradually going bad until things got really, really bad.

Hi Everyone, I need some advice with stopping the weight gain I've experienced since I was disbanded 16 weeks ago. I had a pretty severe erosion and had the band removed. I had it for nearly 6 years. I opted not to get a replacement because the erosion was such a bad experience, I didn't want the worry of another band slippage down the road. Since being disbanded, my health has dramatically improved. I'm not experiencing severe acid reflux, inflamed stomach and esophagus, vomiting every single night no matter what, pain and sleeplessness, etc. However, I've gained 10 lbs in 16 weeks and I'm worried that at this pace I won't be able to fit through a doorway soon. The hunger has come back strongly and I'm not "bulemic" anymore. Everything goes down just fine unfortunately. I've been taking phentermine to take the edge off the hunger, and I've been walking and going to the gym much more often, but I still can't seem to keep the weight from piling back on. I have to say, this is truly a shock. I really thought I would be able to keep my weight stable but apparently my body has other ideas of its own. It's like all of the sudden, my body thinks it had been starving and is now in massive fat storing mode again in case there's a giant food shortage in the future. I am seriously considering getting converted to VSG if I can talk DH into letting me spend the $11,000. He seems to think it should be so incredibly easy for me to lose weight without the band. Well, that's why I got the band to begin with, I could not do it without serious help. What's the verdict - am I going to need to get a revision surgery to stop from plumping my way back into a queen size wardrobe again? It seems like my worst fear - regaining all that fat I hated - is coming true. I admit that I loved being normal body weight and feeling like I was attractive again. It wasn't so much a health issue for me but more of an emotional/social issue. I felt extremely self conscious about my weight when I was heavy and I isolated myself because of it. I never want to go back to that depressed and sad person again. I may override DH and spend the money and work OT to make it up in the future. Thanks.

I am also back from my appt. I ended up getting 3 cc's. I have the VanGuard band, so it holds 10 cc's. The RN said that I am working soooo hard that it is time to let the band do some of the work!!! I was kinda happy about that. They are VERY happy with my loss so far!!! J, I asked the Exercise Physiologist about a weight gain after long rides and he said it is almost ineviatable. Your muscles retain water to repair. SOOOOO, you are fine and going to be losing that extra fast!!!

I understand, my DH doesn't like intimacy, cuddling,or even kissing, or saying I LOVE YOU. I know we have been married almost 38 years, but in the last ten it has really began to bug me that he can't see my side. I love kissing, cuddling, holding hands. He just doesn't like to touch at all. We sleeping a king size bed and we never touch or spoon. Sex is almost never anymore, maybe every 6 or 8 weeks. I love sex and still want it more than he does. I understand the anger and the self doubt that goes with the rejection. I have told him that I will never ask for sex again it up to him, I'm tired of trying. When the kids were at home we had a very active sexual life, and I know that since the kids left home that I have put on the most weight around 100 lbs since the early ninetys. I also worked nights starting in 1993 and I know that has had a lot to do with the weight gain, but the rejection hurts the most. I retired last year and I'm home all the time, but the sex is almost never. I always wonder if this is the last time I will have sex. I not good at the self satifaction. Thanks for this thread it has made me aware that I'm not alone and its alot more common than I every thought it was.

J, You biked an extreme amount of miles this weekend. You would NOT of been able to do that without fueling your body. Your body is going to burn fat, but you have to have an input of energy too. My thought is that your muscles are still in recovery mode right now, holding onto water to repair. A day or two and you will have lost that 2 pounds plus some. Also, what about the other factors? Did you eat something with more sodium than usual, you did say you detoured for lunch, was is restaurant food, which has lots of sodium????? Is it PMS pounds???? I really think that your body holds onto all the water you can drink when you are biking like that. You are sweating sooo much and I think your body doesn't want to let it go, it needs it to repair. J, you are sooooo awesome and have done sooo damn good. 74 pounds!!!!!!! WHAT? DID I SAY 74 POUNDS??????? That is freakin awesome!!!! How many times have you lost 74 pounds and knew in your heart that it was really the LAST time you would ever see those 74 pounds?????? You rock sistah!!!! About the pictures, I tried to post some pictures and it said they were too big. Maybe I will try to paste some, but I wish I knew how people were putting up their before and afters with no problems. Maybe I will do a search on that..... HP, thank you for the compliment. Also, I would think that canoeing would be an extreme amount of calories burned!!!!! Google calories burned by canoeing and see what you come up with. I bet it is A LOT!!!! We went to the lake both Sat and Sun and I really really really wanted to get into the water from the boat but, once again the fat fear monster wouldn't let me. We don't have a ladder or platform on the back of the boat, so you have to get helped in. I was scared if I jumped off, my poor DH who weighs in at 169...the jerk....would NOT be able to help me get back in the boat. So, once again, I did not get to have as much fun as if I was thin and boating. I keep saying next year, next year. But, you know what??? I am TIRED of thinking next year. I want to live my life now!!!!! I am sooooooo tired of waiting....shit, I feel better now...thanks all for listening... Oh, BTW, I go to the fill appt. today. I will ask the EP what he thinks about the weight gain after biking so much this weekend. Maybe he can give some insight to it.

Dear Bfyne: Wish I knew your real name :-). Thank you so very much for writing us such a detailed and informative letter on your experience with Cigna so far. Congratulations!! I would love to know how you are progressing post-op? How are you feeling? Hope you are as positive as ever? I was so excited when I saw your BMI. I too have CIGNA and my BMI is 36/37 with no comorbities, only high cholesterol and a recent back problem that the Chiropractor said was due to weight gain. I know these aren't on the "list" but I am praying that they will be taken into consideration. My PCP said he would be willing to recommend surgery only problem is the local surgeon said I wouldn't qualify! At least that's what the office staff said when I called to make an appt. (Dr. Geiss in LI, NY) ...they said my BMI was too low and that I needed a 38 BMI with high blood pressure or diabetes or 40 with no co-morbities. Typical American Doctor who only wants to treat the sick and forget preventative medicine! I know I will find a doctor who would do it but it makes me nervous that CIGNA would pay for it now. I do have 6 months doc supervised doc. under my belt. No proof of weight watchers but have been on every diet know to man with no major weight loss except for ATKINS and that was 13 lbs. ...amazing you lost 88!! I have been overweight for the past 10 years since my last pregnancy. I am miserable at this size please send a prayer. thanks for everything.

Thank ya'll for the support. I will try to be more patient.It is just after 3 days of eating nothing it showed a weight gain. I am now drinking my protein shakes and I will see the Dr in about a week.It helped to hear about your story Psyched2.Have you had your surgery cookiecutter?I know how you feel esummersett,I had to pay for mine also,it was 14,000,so it better work.Thank all of ya'll CINDYMC

I am the only overweight person in my family. My father theorizes that I overate because the first 3 months of my life I was always hungry. Everything that they tried to feed me made me sick and I would vomit it back up. I cried all the time because I was hungry until I started on a pre-digested soybean formula, which finally did the trick. When I was in my 20's I saw an overweight psychiatrist who had a similar story about herself, only her deprivation was caused by a sadistic nanny. So who knows? That same psychiatrist put me on Elavil (an older anti-depressant that was notorious for causing massive weight gain--although I didn't know that) and I put on 60 pounds in a year. Then she warned me about it. Also I have a mood disorder that started in childhood: severe, recurrent depression that started at age 7 and much later I was dx'ed with bipolar disorder. Hopelessness and binge-eating "feed" off of each other quite well. My psychologist of 12 years would not write an approval for the band because she feared that I might suffer a psychotic break if I lost food abuse as a coping mechanism. So far, so good. That said, I and only I chose to put every single bite of food into my mouth. It was always a choice, even when I felt powerless. Nothing compelled me to do it.

Thanks for your understanding reply, Monk--I wasn't sure how I would be perceived on this thread. I admire you greatly, by the way. 2-3 times a week???? That would have been manageable. We are talking 2-3 times a day when we were first married. I always felt like a failure for not having the desire as often as he did. Last summer I did a survey for the US Dept and Health and Human Services that asked a lot of questions about intimacy and sexual matters and for the first time in my adult life, I felt NORMAL. I would say that the average times most of the people I interviewed (who were in a sexual relationship) was 1-2 times a week. I could live with that I think. As far as the boys--yes, the statistic does seem high but it only applies to boys who FINISH the program and the program takes 2-3 years. Of course, it is much lower for boys who aren't in the program or who leave or are forced out before they complete. it's a court-mandated program--these are multiple offense offenders. As you alluded to, the recidivism for adult offenders is just the opposite--over 98%. Sad. I've often wondered if a big part of my weight gain was "protection" or maybe a hope for decreased attractiveness in some sick way to solve my problem of guilt over sexual intimacy. I don't know. I was hit upon so often as a young married and I never trusted myself to be able to resist every time. Although I always resisted, there was something in me that wondered if I would slip up and ruin my marriage and family, given the "right" (or should I say "wrong") circumstances. I like hugs--most of my kids are very huggy and touchy, though not all. I'm comfortable hugging "my boys" (the offenders)--of course, only side hugs allowed, no frontal hugs. Like you, I know that some of these boys have never had appropriate touching in their lives. Breaks my heart. They have a long way to go but we have seen some great successes and know they can make it if they are willing to do the immense amount of work that changing thoughts and behavior takes. Hmmm, changing thoughts and behaviors--that sounds vaguely familiar.

Hello- I was wondering what the average weight loss has been for anyone else that was banded in September '06? I was banded September 15, 2006 and was my Dr's first lap-band. Because of that, I have not had much support from his practice, as there are no previous patients to compare me to. I feel like my weight gain is too slow. :think I started at 282 pre-op and am now down to 235 and it has been 10 months. I now have 8.5 in a VG band. I had my most recent fill about 2 weeks ago. I had Thyroid Cancer 10 years ago and had my thyroid removed totally, so I am on synthroid replacement to help keep my metabolism working. Here is my daily meal schedule: I have coffee in the morning, and then I NEVER eat anything until at least Noon. then I have a small bowl of Cereal, a piece of cheese, or a couple bites of salad, until I feel like I am going to choke or I start sliming and I stop. Then I usually have small bites of things every hour or so, like a half a piece of string cheese, a couple chips, etc. I drink a lot of SoBe 0 calorie drinks to keep my fluids up. The thing that concerns me is I can eat like a half a bag of potato chips and am not restricted at all by the band. But if I eat regular sit-down-at-dinner food, I can only eat a few bites. Also, the only person who knows is my husband. Our children don't know, nor do any of my friends or family. They consider any type of weight loss surgery to be cheating. Sometimes when I visit my Dr he says I am supposed to be losing slowly, 1 - 2 pounds per week. But this last time I went and had lost only 10 pounds in 2 months, he criticized me and said I should have been well beyond the 50 pound mark by now. I am at 47 so far. I am confused as I had wanted a fill the visit before and he said no at that time. I think I need some encouragement. How are the rest of you September 2006 bandsters doing? Christine:help:

Urgh! Green has got the blues. She has just come home from spending a number of days in the Canadian wilderness at her in-law's cottage. Bad food, many, many bug bites, some weight gain, and, oh yah, really bad food! Apart from the trillion goddam bugs not too many animals, eh. haha :heh:

Speaking of "friends," I have one that KEEPS referring to me as someone with an eating/obesity problem. She knows nothing of the surgery, so it is as if she hasn't noticed that I have lost 50 pounds and am terribly fit. It seems I have moved on and she has not. She may prefer the fatter, more vulnerable and needy me. She was my friend through the hard times, so I need to find a way to understand, but not allow her to drag me down. I may be the opposite of what I am reading. My entire life I have been very social, until a rapid weight gain took me prisoner. It seemed an alien had taken over my body. To deal with the discomfort and shame, I avoided friends and poured myself into a new line of work, charity, and advanced education (to find self-worth that was not predicated upon my appearance or socially-acceptable weight.) Now that my weight/appearance/health are returning to "normal," I have begun to reahc out to the old friends. As was mentioned, the confidence to just be with anyone and focus on conversation is great. NEW TICKER MOVEMENT!!!

hi, i've come to the end of my rope, i'll be 50 next february and have been fat since i would say the 2nd grade. for the last 10-15 years as i've gotten older, several health concerns have arisen. as doctor's been telling us for years. i've been hospitalized at least 3 times for congestive heart failure and the last time 3 years ago, after a weight gain of over 100 pounds, they found out i had severe sleep apnea. while in the hospital, lasiks was intravenous given to me and with a low salt, low calorie diet, i was able to lose over 100 pounds. back to the sleep apnea, the hospitals tried the c-pap machine, but i wasn't able to withstand the air forces, so for my benefit (but my detriment (sp?) ) i was place with a trach. i've learned to live with this damn thing and i won't it out, but alas to get it out an additional 100 lbs have to be lost. but that was 2004, after going from 418lbs in the hospital to 300lbs when i was released 3 months later after being in an after care facility, today, i'm back at 352. i know....it's a shame and i'm ashamed. i now feel my life is going from bad to worse and if i don't do something now, it'll be too late. the last time i saw my pulmonary doctor, he asked if i've considered weight loss surgery. i wasn't sure then, but now with all of the shows on tlc (the learning channel) and my mother, i'm really ready. while talking with the pulmonary doctor he says that my bcbs insurance would take care of it. all i would have to do is get another doctor including himself and the paperwork and other things that's included and i could get the surgery. now, the bad part, i called blue cross and blue shields today and they state there's a provision that stops me for getting the surgery. my employee booklet is at home and i'll have to look that up. but what i wanted to ask after all this history and sob story i've given, can this be fought? thank you all for your help. i've been reading the threads and i have hope, maybe there's something i can do or have doctors do so i can get this surgery. it can't be thought of as cosmetic surgery, it's life and death, my life.

Hi well we I don't want to start a dissing contest as to who screwed up the most but..... I had a four pound weight gain and it was partially over eating but mostly water gain. Called my doctor who told me my blood work at 1st of July indicated my kidneys had decreased doing their jobs so he uped my diaretic. I am diabetic so kidney failure is a real worry. Problem with me though is I have such a guilt trip with weight gains that I usually end up on a grazing binge. Which I did but I think all is back to normal. I am back to measuring. I think I will get better at this job of controlling eating when I get my fills up to 6 ccs. I am told the fr. midband's normal fill level is 6 to 8. If I have one peice of advice to anyone, that is to go over your eating habits and if everything is the same, then it is a water gain. Usually at the time of your menstral cycle. If the water stays on, then check with the doc to see about increasing your diaretic. Doddie

I got pregnant 2 weeks after i got my band! I lost about 5 pounds! I was bummed but really happy, it was hard because it was my first (and only baby) that my husband and I wanted so bad, but I just got banded. My surgeons nurse wanted to take out my meager fill, but since i really had no restriction, i refused, and I never had a problem with it. My suggestion is get a really great obstetrition with experience with "high risk", she thought nothing bad of my band, and even suggested it would help me control the inevitable weight gain of pregnancy, she also said i was lucky to have the band, as though it was adjustable. She was a gorgeous little 100 pound thing, but she never judged me, and did a great great job. I only gained 10 pounds in the first 8 months, and 30 the last (i got gestational hypertension, it was all water weight). Nadia came by c-section (little breech brat) an was absolutely perfect. Doctor even took extra care not to disturb my port. My altime high was 324 a day after she was born (swelled up even worse because of c-section) but by my 6 week check up, I was down to 280 with relatively little effort (recovering and all, you know) and now 2 months out, and a good fill, I have lost another 15 pounds. The band was GREAT with my pregnancy, but having an understanding support team with my care was what made it that way. I hope you all the luck, and I strongly suggest you get a good baby doctor, as to be honest, my doc never thought of the band as an inconvienience, but rather, a helpful tool. Good luck.

I don't think without the comorbidities you have a good chance. I am at 36-37 with high cholesteral and dr told me it was going to be tough to get approved and enjoy eating for now. Every additional 5 lbs is a point - checked it out in case I needed a little help. I called insurance and they told me that I met the criteria 35+ with one or more comorbidities, but until you go through all the pre-op stuff, I can't get pre-certed. So I have to do it all first before finding out if I really will be approved. This is all out of pocket expenses. I am hopeful but I do not know. Before you go in to see a surgeon, call insurance and explain what you think you currently have and could you be a canidate. If you get weighed at the surgeons, that is the weight they go by so you won't be able to gain at that point because it looks like you can't follow the nutrionist's program. It is crazy to me that there is a procedure out there that can prevent medical ailments and excessive weight gain, but you have to be "unhealthy" first. I think the best candidates are the people who are border line and have tried getting those extra 50+ lbs off before getting unhealthy. If you have the comorbidities it can cause complications. I wish you luck and hope I am wrong - just going by what I was told

AAARRRGGGHHH I just lost my post---full of personals! Last time I think I began with Good Morning Ladies! LOL How irritating! It suddenly took me back to the homepage, and of course what I was working on was gone! Guess I'll try again!!! Jenn--I would have been very surprised if you had not had some weight gain with the new high fiber plan you have begun. The way the fiber works is to bulk things up and in order for that to work it needs added fluid. Once your system begins to "flush" (oh yeah I intended it) out, it should stabalize your weight, and your bathroom habits again. I would ask for Dr. advice if the nutritionist is not helpful as well! Michelle---Sounds like you will have fun tonight. I have never even read a single sentence of any of the books. I am not real sure why, I am an avid reader, usually a couple books going at a time. I don't know if it is that they were based on kids, or if it was the original fervor over it being anti religious or what but I was never drawn in. My step daughter wanted to go to the 1st movie, and we took her, but it made no impression on me, likely because I never read it. I thought about them when we began our summer reading, but thought it too advanced. I read to the girls each day at nap time, and have begun reading "chapter" books to Lindzie, attempting to help her with her recall abilities. She does not remember well. Things have improved some, with the steady daily one on one work we do, and my DD works with her a lot at home. I hope it helps her, I hate the thought of her struggling in school. Hope you guys have fun---take some pictures of you all in costume!! See you after your nap tomorrow!!! Terry--I am going to try to hit Curves sometime today. I am packing us to go to the rally. Rick went to the lake with our son. I could have gone, but opted not to. We will be outside for the rally, in the sun for the next 2 days---I didn't need today too. Plus they are working on the new motor, and I hate rowing, and being around men who are having fits working on something!!! DH controls his temper much better than DS!!! Tracy---girl I am so impressed and proud of you!!! One chip and One chicken taco!!! If I had that control, I'd be at goal now!!! You are soooo good! Pamela---same with you, vacation and one measly hamburger??? I wish for control like y'all have! Hope your appointments go well, and your closet is finished soon. I cannot imagine at this point having a closet that more than one person could fit in!!! Ours is made to walk in....but when we did the first stage of our remodel, we took out one bedroom, and enlarged the living room, when we did that, we lost the bedroom closet, and our living room coat closet.....so guess where it all migrated to!!! Our closets are appalling, but I do know what is in them, and where to find it, they just LOOK horrid! Judy---question! If I wear a WWJD charm, will it scorch my arm if I don't make as good of choices as say Tracy and Pamela????!!! Maybe it would work better for me if it did!!! TracyK---girl you are melting! WTG---Do you feel good? Well I didn't get to everyone this time around---will try to remember what I thought of before---but I need to go and help Lindzie with some math she is stuck on....we moved to double digits! TTYL Kat

I've been doing a little reading. In the book, Bob Green's Total Body Makeover on page 62 it says "...As you become more active and drink more water, you muscles will retain water. The primary culprit here is glycogen, a form of carbohydrate that's stored in your muscles and is the main fuel for exercise. The more active you are, the more glycogen your muscles will retain and thus the more water you'll hold on to: Each gram of glycogen stores an additional 2.5 grams of water. What's more, the fitter you become, the more glycogen you store. This initial water weight gain can be disheartening, but hang in there. Water-weight gain will cover up the body fat losses that you will be experiencing. After a few weeks, you will begin to see the fat loss. And the reality is, this is a part of charging up you metabloism, which will ultimately lead to an increase in your fat-burning power." So think about it, you are doing weight training and building more muscle. More muscle, more glycogen, thus more water weight. That'w why it is necessary to measure yourself. The very fact that you are wearing smaller sizes shows that you are losing. Another point he brings up is: "Did you know that your body allows for only about a loss of three pounds of fat per week? Sure, you can lose water and muscle tissue that's how quick-fix diets thaqt promise you'll drop a lot of pounds instantly work, but you don't want to. ...but in general losing one pound or even a half pound a week means that you aare losing in a way that can last." A added more grains to my diet and seem to be more regular now. My weight loss may be a little slower but I know I'm healthier and I'm down 2 sizes. In fact I measured my neck last night and have lost 1-1/2 inches in a month. Now that's what I'm talking about!!!:clap2:

yep...right now I'm up a pound....and yep I'm sore! It happens....and I agree it's discouraging even when you know it's not "real weight gain!"

Granted that muscle weighs more than fat (if you have the same VOLUME of it), but one doesn't usually gain the same volume of muscle that one had in fat, nor doeasfat turn into muscle. And I'd read in many places that it takes quite a while to have an actual weight gain from muscle mass increasing. So I'm unsure what your gain is from, just being human I would guess. We all fluctuate a lot. I'm up about 3 lbs from last week, but that's life. als long as the trend continues to be downward, I'll be okay. Congrats on joining the boot camp!