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The surgeons look at those of us who have excellent insurance as 'cash cows'! They can bill highest fee on scale (I'm sure what ins. pays surgeons is a lot more than self-pay!) Send us for a kazillion tests, etc. I'm glad I have great ins. and had all the tests. With self-pay I don't know that my apnea would have been discovered and treated! My oxygen level dropped to 85% when sleeping-a big reason for my recent rapid weight gain and constant fatigue. I do have to save up for the inevitable tummy-tuck I'm going to need after losing 100 lbs. I don't think my ins. covers this. Maybe by the time I'm ready it will be- who knows! (throw in breast augmentation and I'll be good as new! Ha ha!) Good luck!

Diet is an ugly word but yes, you do need to watch what you put in. After a while I learned how to "trick" my tummy and get more in than needed by doing all the things I shouldn't. Yes, I am above my lowest weight and would like to lose 5 to 10 pounds but I am comfortable where I am still below surgeons goal for me. So, what was suggested to me was having a single day of liquids protien shakes once a week. This allows me to have fun food every once in a while and now worry about weight gain. Luckily my sleeve prevents overeating. Snacking is a killer of any sleeve post op plan. You know what you need to do. Easy? No, my surgeon did not do brain surgery only stomach surgery. So just continue to do the right thing. Follow the 3 meals a day plan, 60 gm min of Protein, suppliments, 64oz of Water, stay away from sugar, limit my carbs and excercise. Good luck! I love my sleeve and have no regrets.

In the late 1970s the government mandated we get the fat out of our food. The food industry responded by putting in more sugar. And that, we see by historical data, correlates to the time when America’s obesity epidemic began. Read my article, “Cause and Cure of Obesity in America.” In the New York Times best seller Fat Chance: Beating the Odds against Sugar, Processed Food, Obesity and Disease, author Dr. Robert H. Lustig, a renown expert on obesity, points out that “a calorie is not a calorie.” Not all calories are equal. Whether the calorie comes from fructose, glucose, protein or fat is important to its metabolic effect and how much fat that calorie accounts for. Fructose and glucose — just two of the many names that sugar goes by — and even protein are said to be the culprits behind insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. Insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome are two primary causes of obesity in both adults and children. If you are struggling with the problem of an overgrown waistline, aka “belly fat,” this may be an indicator of these health conditions. Read my article, “Belly Fat is a Danger for All People.” If metabolic syndrome is the cause of your weight gain, a diet that is low to moderate in calories coupled with an exercise plan may not be enough to lose the weight. And if you continue to eat the wrong foods, exercise and diet may not help at all. What are the Wrong Foods? Sugar goes by a variety of names, about 52 in all, including glucose, maltose, sucrose, and fructose. The result has been an altering of our biochemistry that has driven our eating out of control, according to Dr. Lustig. Dr. Lustig further states that so-called healthy sugars such as agave, coconut and palm sugars are all “crap.” Checkout this HealthCentral sugar infographic named Sugar is to Blame: http://www.healthcentral.com/obesity/c/380545/179644/sugar-blame-infographic/ Dr. Andrew Weil, a well-known guru for holistic health and integrative medicine, agrees on this point. Dr. Weil warns that sugar is toxic, and coupled with modern industrial food, has disastrous effects on the hormones that control hunger, satiety, and weight. Both Dr. Lustig and Dr. Ron Rosedale, author of The Rosedale Diet, advise that branch chain amino acids (BCAAs) and protein contribute to insulin resistance and obesity. I’ve been eating a high-protein diet and taking BCAAs because I thought I was doing my body good. Whey protein, which I and the majority of bariatric patients have been conditioned to consume, is one of the worst foods for releasing insulin in the body according to Dr. Andreas Eenfeldt, a Swedish medical doctor and specialist in family medicine. Dr. Eenfeldt, commonly known on the web as the “Diet Doctor,” interviews Dr. Lustig on the "Causes of Obesity" in the video below (or watch it on ). The Bottom Line If you think metabolic syndrome may be the cause of your weight gain, then eating a traditional “healthy diet” combined with exercise may result in failure to lose weight. Talk to your nutritionist. Further, you may wish to explore three diets for metabolic syndrome from Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Robert H. Lustig, and Dr. Andrew Weil in my article, “Metabolic Syndrome and Weight Loss.” Living larger than ever, My Bariatric Life

I have a lower-profile port that was in front but on the side of my old abdomen. I just had an Abdominoplasty (or Full Tummy Tuck, also called a TT ) in December, to rid myself of excess skin and tighten some abdominal muscles loosened during the weight gain/loss process. My Plastic Surgeon (P.S.) is a colleague of My Weight Loss Surgeon (W.L.S.) at the same hospital and patients are often referred to him from my WLS. Therefore the PS has extensive experience with port placements with LapBand patients during TT's. I heard from the PS' office staff that the new lower-profile ports make a nicer 'line' in a streamlined abdomen and are easier to work around while the cosmetic surgery is done. Well, long story short, my port is now placed directly over my new Belly Button, as the PS moved over & removed the excess skin near where my port 'mini-scar' was. I'm sure my WLS will be thrilled with the new location - it should be much easier to access (I must admit, I knew I really needed a Tummy Tuck but I was shocked at how much skin the PS removed and by how much the port 'access' scar is to my new BB. ) If all goes well, I'll get my first fill (since the Tuck) sometime later this month and we'll see if the new location makes access easier for the WLS. Just my experience. Hope this helps!

I am hoping you make an appt with your dr, maybe a small fill ? Perhaps load up on Protein Drinks, Protein Bars , eggs, tofu. Whatever you know works for you...i think half the battle is at the store! Please don't mistake me for someone who has the right answers....ive been at this 11 years and just experienced a weight gain I never thought i would have again....now, i do have a bit of a fill, but it is a long journey! I try to remember that I don't have to be at my destination ,but need to be on the road headed the right direction...and moving Best of luck Ps. You are not a failure! Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Just wanted to share something I experienced and would love to know if this has happened to anyone else. For the last couple of years I have experienced ongoing severe lower back pain. I assumed it was due to my weight gain but it restricted my activity to the point that I rarely left the house. Going to the grocery store was excruciating....had to find places to sit down briefly while shopping due to the pain. Husband suggested using one of the motorized shopping carts but there is no way I would do that. Terrible pain when doing simple housework activity and had to sit on a stool while cooking. It got so bad I consulted a spine specialist and had an MRI. It showed normal wear and tear. He suggested some steroid/long acting analgesic injections and I reluctantly agreed. Had the injections on each side and there was no change in the pain at all. He then prescribed a topical NSAID cream which had no effect whatsoever. I rarely left my house for the next couple of months other than my preop appointments. Started the preop diet April 18 and when I got up on April 22 I noticed that my back was not hurting AT ALL. It has not hurt AT ALL since then. Surgeon had no explanation when I saw him last week for preop appt. and said he did not think my liver could be that enlarged to cause severe back pain. It is still hard for me to process but I am so thankful!!

If you threw up 3 times yesterday, you probably shouldn't be eating prime rib, a baked potato and bread today. You should rest your stoma/pouch after numerous PBs and or vomiting episodes. I agree with Wheetsin that you discuss with your doctor any alternative forms of your medications. Some have a liquid or chewable form, or even a time-release patch. I don't know what your numerous medical problems are, but they may be inhibiting your weight loss. Many medications have weight gain as a side effect. If your health problems prevent you from exercising that can also contribute. I do recommend that you go to your doctor and see if they can examine your pouch under fluoro. You may have lost some fill due to a leak or your band may have loosened due to weight loss of 40 lbs. Drinking with your meals works for some people, but I can't do it. It is also known to wash everything quickly through the pouch leaving you hungrier sooner. Hopefully, it is not a slip. Best of luck to you!

Before looking for a second surgical intervention, really she would need to do the above to make sure it's not bad habits and lack of exercise that caused the weight gain. Her body has already hit 129 therefore it will be easier to get there again. The DS surgery is not if you can't handle eating healthy and exercise. Because having the DS will cause worse issues regarding absoption of cruicial vitamins and minerals. If a person continues to eat poorly, their health will really suffer. Stick to the non-evasive treatment plan as mentioned above of changing eating habits and exercising consistently 4-6 times a week. Good luck. Really, this is something that you can fix. It's just you putting in the effort.

Butterthebean -- I think your response to what I wrote was a gross overreaction. Did you read the original post in this thread? She said she was eating two meals a day, gaining weight, approved for surgery and her doc had drawn an absurd line saying if she gained one more pound . . . . and you took what I said out of the whole context of my comment. And she was only talking about two weeks. Do you seriously think eating three meals a day for two weeks versus continuing what she was doing for two weeks is going to make any meaningful difference in her post-op recovery and establishment of new habits? Obviously I have no criteria by which to judge this person's actual NUT. Have you met a lot of middle aged nutritionists who have devoted their lives to undertanding the nuances of how nutrition affects the human body, working to understand human metabolism, hormones, hypothyroidism, etc? I haven't. I have only met NUT's, and at some fairly prestigious institutions, who are young, poorly trained and, with a couple exceptions, fat bigots who don't believe patients can gain weight while not eating much food. Also Butterbean, you seem to give MD's a lot more power than they deserve. Has anyone reading this ever been misdiagnosed multiple times as I have? It is called the PRACTICE of medicine for a reason. People undergoing any major surgery have to trust their surgeons but let's dispense with the notion that surgeons are all knowing or that many of them know much at all about nutrition, hormones, thyroid issues. My surgeon performs surgeries five days a week. She does bariatric surgeries on Tuesdays. I don't kid myself that she knows about all aspects of my nutrition, my metabolism. And I do not trust the NUT I was required to see (fortunately only once) to be approved for surgery. Two weeks. One pound. Two meals. Three meals. For two weeks, it doesn't much matter. I don't think I crossed a line but you are entitled to your opinion. I think it is a disservice to encourge people to have blind faith in the health care system -- the system does not deserve it. Lucky for me, my primary care doc knows about my deep skepticism and distrust. My bariatric surgery office thinks I blindly trust all of them. Here is what I trust: my own very deep understanding of nutrition, my own personal biochemist-trained nutritionist independent of my bariatric clinic and my surgeon's skills. All the insurance hoops, advice popped off by mostly young and often poorly educated "nutritionists" is a lot of sound and fury signifying little. I am the one who is going to have to eat right post op, gaining or not gaining a pound before surgery has little to do with anything. I reiterate my earlier position: she needs to be honest with herself about what she is eating. For two weeks, what she does hardly matters. Being honest with herself about what she is eating matters hugely . but it is a common non-professional's fantasy that alll health care 'professionals' are knowledgeable and have state-of-the-art advice to offer. That's fantasy. Surgeons, even bariataric ones, very very rarely know anything about nutrition, metabolism, how weight can fluctuate with no changes in food. It's a common fallacy in this culture to believe weight gain and loss is about calories in, calories out. I liked the person who wrote about how they gained weight because of hypothyroidism. We all want to have the fantasy that our doctors are gods. They aren't. And I didn't tell her to lie to her doctor. I told her not to tell them. The doc was only looking at a number on a scale so give him the number he wants to see without telling him how you got it. Denying someone for surgery for one pound is absurd and I bet the doc was bluffing. I have observed that many folks involved in prep for bariatric surgery freely use manipulative techniques to bully patients. Manipulating people is not going to get them to change life patterns. and Buttertebean, since you appear to have had your surgery a long while ago and I assume it has been a success and you have kept the weight off, I also assume you know that how much a person weighs, how much a person gains and loses, is not always -- and in fact rarely is -- a simple calories in calories out calculation. Obesity is complex. Medical science is showing increasingly that much, if not most, obesity is the result of health issues and not what a person ate. You want to believe in the fantasy that medical professionals are gods, go ahead. But they are not. I told her to trust herself, be honest with herself. for two weeks. over one pound. Any doc who would actually cancel surgery over one pound is no doc I want to see. They were being maniulative, I think. I toild her to trust herself.

@@Valentina is right. If you didn't have some doubts, you wouldn't be normal. @@HanSolo1977 Mine started one I started the pre-op diet. I kept thinking about the fact that I could never go to a party and get a 'regular' plate of food. That I won't be able to finish a hamburger. That I couldn't ever be a real foodie like I've been and wanted to be. I grew up poor, and we barely had food on the table. My weight gain was thanks to me wanting to eat things I couldn't afford before + my PCOS. So all this swirled around in my head, and I really doubted that having an irreversible surgery was the right choice. I was terrified. But then I bit it all back, I took a deep breath, and I reminded myself WHY I was doing this. To ensure and hold myself responsible, so I could by the cute clothes without paying nearly twice as much. So I wouldn't cringe whenever someone wanted to take a picture of me, and so I could actually have the opportunity to have kids and be there for them as they grow up. Leading up to surgery, you're going to doubt it, second guess it, everything. What it comes down to is whether you can hold yourself to your current diet and keep it going and keep it off (I never could). Or if you need that insurance.

Went to a local WLS support group meeting tonight. Out of thirty or more people, there were only two bandsters--three including me who has yet to me banded. The leader of the meeting pretty much said I would fail at this band thing--that most banded she's seen convert to the RNY eventually. She said that most of the lap band folks are not happy with their slow weight loss--and she said that there are so many things that can go wrong--slippage, erosion, etc. She said that I'd have a higher chance of having more surgeries than if I were to have the RNY. She said that if I have a sweet tooth, then the band is DEFINITELY NOT FOR ME. This bummed me out for a---SECOND--then I came to my senses. This is the best and safest way to go. Eventually, I am going to have to come to terms with the type of and amount of food I eat, and even if I were to get the RNY, I'd have to come to terms with eating sugar eventually. From what I hear, the "dumping" gets less and less severe as time goes on. I do have some what of a sweet tooth, but I don't care for sugary liquids at all. I do love cookies--cakes, etc., but I willing to say good-bye to them to regain my health. The main thing I'm looking for in the band is to help control real, physical hunger--not head hunger--but physical hunger--that's all my expectation of the band. It just frustrates me that she (leader of WLS meeting) tried to talk me out of the band. She even mentioned how she's struggling with her weight gain (after 5 years out/RNY) and that she still vomits a lot--and that her teeth are chipping easily (possibly due to a mineral deficiency). Ahh--I don't know. I just want SO BADLY to be successful. I don't expect a miracle cure. I just want help with this journey. Am I asking too much of the band for that--help to curb the ravenous physical hunger? Thanks all for listening...

April: Just received your note, have you been on Norco, it is a stronger version of Vicodin, I took it for several months until the knees got so bad and was not cutting the pain, also check with a drug book and go over your medications you are taking along with the Percocet you can also ask the drugest about weight gaining medications or possiable weight gain medications you are taking. They said at the class they could not say it would effect everyone that way but I did notice everyone in the class I was in was struggling with weight gain. Some times I think they think all we do is sit around and eat bon bon's all day. I talked to the Richmond office and they said I was too early to worry about not making mandtory appointments, and the only think I had to do was to be sure to get a weight to they with in the month. The Pill book I picked up was from Wal Mart and was cheaper then the book stores around here. By the way your address says Sacramento, is that where you are? I am in Shingle Springs need the new Red Hawk Casino. I will close for now take care. Sincerely Judy:blush:

I've gained 14 lbs. Preop surgery will be delayed from June If I don't lose weight. Ive sincerely been trying. I have I'm so stressed with other health issues now trying to make a good choice to have surgery and I'm so upset with myself.

I don't tell people I'm not close to (i.e. coworkers who aren't also personal friends) because it's really none of their business and I've gotten enough judgment from other people about my weight and eating-- I'm not interested in more. Now that I'm a year and 4 months out, I feel like it's too late even if I wanted to tell-- some people might feel "betrayed" even if they legitimately have no right to feel that way. I don't really regret being cautious, but I do feel like I'm in a corner where it would cause problems now for me to "come out" to acquaintances who have been very complimentary about my losses. I suppose if someone came right out and asked I would definitely tell the truth, but so far that hasn't happened. People who haven't struggled with true obesity (and even some who have) are still very ignorant about what it takes to successfully lose and KEEP OFF excess weight. The research is very clear that dieting in the traditional way does not create long-term weight loss, and in fact, stimulates long-term weight gain, but "common sense" says it's so easy to lose weight- just don't eat as much and exercise! I think it is going to be a difficult thing to change opinions about bariatric surgery, but it will happen someday. In the meantime, you have to do what is right for you. This is YOUR LIFE.

I had lost 3 lbs. then at my last visit to set the surgery date I had gained seven. I told the doctor I had quit smoking and was trying to fight both battles. Plus my insurance was changing and they were not going to cover the operation, I had a appointment within two weeks to be banded on Dec. 30th. And they were strict also about the no weight gain. It all in how you present it.

I posted her under this topic awhile back as not having had any problems. Since then had a little bump in the road, but not sure if it's the band or the surgeon... I think I may have been overfilled and not sure if this is the surgeon not being as accurate as possible on how much he takes out before adding more. I ended up in ER after throwing up for five days. Initially had all fill removed (or so we thought). Was scheduled for revision becuase they thought the band had slipped. Surgeon had a scheduling conflict so surgery was postponed but I've been dealing with PA lately. We decided to go ahead and refill partially. As it turns out I still had over a cc still left in the band, which if you include the 8 ccs they took out in the emergency room and then 1 cc I had taken out the month before, would bring me up to at least 10. so I'm really wondering if the throwing up was just because I was overfilled. So I've had 4ccs in for about 3 weeks with no problems (no restriction either thank you very much...agghh...I've gained 10 lbs ...but it's been a great summer...lots of pina coladas...so I've had my summer sojourn...lol) I go Monday for another fill. I'm sure they won't do more than maybe 2. But the PA seems to be better at getting more out of the band than my surgeon was. So we'll see how it goes. I personally think it will all be okay but if it's not, it probably won't rear its ugly head until there's some real restriction on the band. But I'm am so not discouraged. What being unfilled has done has made me get up off my lazy butt and join the gym and also to get out more often to the pool in my housing development and swim as much as I can. So even with my weight gain, I'm not discouraged. I know that as soon as I start getting restriction the bread will be back out of my diet. sorry to ramble...but I don't fault the band. My surgeon is very very inexperienced when it comes to the band, like under 20 total. My daughter had the Lap-Band, no problems, but her surgeon had done over 4k and had told her that the biggest issue with the bands is port placement and stitch placement for the flap that holds it in place. So worse case scenario, I've been approved in case I need it for the revision. Good luck all. Trisha pennreporter

I'm approaching my 1 year bandaversary in a few weeks and there has been one issue over the past year that I can't seem to get a handle on. This past week I've been miserable and after a few days of weight gain (just 2 pounds in a week)...I finally figured it out. Correctol took care of it. 1 dose didn't work. I took 1 and a half dosage the following night. Finally, relief...and those 2 pounds gone. Constipation has been an untold issue for me since being banded. I remember having this problem when I was on Atkins a few years back. I've increased Fiber...I've decreased fiber, MoM doesn't help. Softeners don't help....I require a stimulant to do the job. I'm really concerned with what my liver and large intestines are going to look like before long. My doctor has recommended many things and even a script. But the only thing that I can get to move me is sugar. But I try to avoid sugar as my new way of eating. Yet, it's either a Krispey Kreme or Correctol. Can anyone shed some light on this issue? I need my large intestines to not absorb so much Water. HELP!

That's my fault. The weight gain number was a ballpark based on the maximum acceptable gain to me over that time period. I didn't base the gain on the additional calories I would expect to consume. I would not be putting down 3700 calories per day for 3 weeks straight. Of the 3 weeks, there are only 7-8 days that are a concern. The other 13-14 days I will be in situations where I will definitely not have cultural/communication issues related to eating and will be able to make appropriate food choices based only on my own dietary concerns.

As the others have said it is very, very common to experience a 10lb+/- bounce back regain in your second or third year. Some gain may be attributed to your body resettling. Some gain may be to put you at a weight that is what your body set point really is now. Some may be a little complacency. Some may be the return of your hunger. Some may be changes you’ve made so your eating plan better complements your life. Some may be attributed to changes in medication or general health. Have to admit I too, would question a doctor who would prescribe medication to manage a 10lb weight gain. The points raised by @Sleeve me alone! would be a concern especially with a medication which swells in your tummy. Did your doctor request a blood test to assess your hormonal levels or to see if anything was lacking. At your age yes peri menopausal or menopausal side effects could have contributed to your gain. I put on about 15kgs very quickly when I became peri menopausal pushing me to 91kg & couldn’t lose any of it. It’s what made me turn to surgery. It’s an area to explore further. But I’d also go back to your surgeon & see what they have to say.They’ve got the experience & knowledge to give you the best advice. And maybe find a therapist who can support you identify ways to manage your hunger in case there are other issues at play too.

Thanks for the support ! I will take it of again, and I no it ! I had a great surgeon, but that's all he was, Move em in, and move em out.. He even told me I'm a surgeon, that's how I make my money... So for follow up care,,,,,,, he wasn't worth a damn. He overfilled me, and never gave me water to check it. So I found out when I got home. It was a hot day in July, and I wanted a sip, It came right back up, so I tried again, same thing. I called and they said you have to come back! (NO KIDDING) So I went back, and he stuck ethe needle in the port, and the plunger shot clean up to the top.(4cc band) I heard him say WOWWWWW! I asked what's wrong? He said when that happens it usually means the Band is blown. So he emptied me, and wouldn't see me again, The last time his PA threw me out because of weight gain... I was laid off, and that was the last of my Ins. I wanted to get it fixed, and she said "DON'T YOU GET IT,,, HE DOESN'T WANT TO SEE YOU, COME BACK WHEN YOU LOST WEIGHT, AND WE'LL SEE ABOUT A FILL !) I said yeagh ! I get it now, and was escorted out. So I had my paperwork sent to another Dr., and they said we don't no about you, you eat cake, cookies, pies... I said WHAT ! you're talking to a lady that lost over 120lbs., how'd that happen then?. They couldn't figure why he had no notes on my weight loss.................................. So this Thursday will be 3 weeks since my fill, there was nothing wrong with the band ! ! ! I have lost 19lbs., I have very good restriction, and I meet with the surgeon April 13, A surgical PA did a better job then a Bariatric Surgeon.. At a Center of Excellence, and Chief Surgeon. So I have summer cloths that are nice, some still have the tags on them. Maybe not this year, but for sure next year.. I wrote a post titled I WANT THIS PIECE OF JUNK OUT Looking for a Dr. Near Saint Helen, Michigan. Check that out, and read the whole thing if you want. Should be from page 2-10. Somewhere in there. Good Health to you ! Thanks for writing, Shirley.

I met a woman today who told me she got banded 16 years ago. She has a non adjustable band, no port or anything. She lost 130 pounds and kept it off until a few years ago when she had a bad car accident and badly damaged both knees. She's currently recovering from her second knee replacement. She's heavy but not morbidly obese. She attributes her weight gain to lack of exercise due to her knees and her love of chocolate. She still pb's when she's not careful.

UGH. I am so sorry. Definitely contact your surgeon back in Lebanon, and make sure you get copies of your files AND XRAYS. I don't think anyone is going to want to un-fill you without knowing exactly where your port is, and no-one is going to give you X-rays when you are pregnant (as they shouldn't). how do you feel, and how is your current weight gain? As long as that is on track and you can eat healthy foods, I don't think it is 100% the case all the time that you get unfilled for a pregnancy. If you aren't throwing up, and can use healthy slider foods to gain the right amount of weight, you might be OK! Anyway, if you can get a copy of your file/xrays that might really help regarding getting someone to help you, and if your surgeon knows anyone in the US, maybe that person could help?

I worked out on Saturday and Sunday and did pretty well with food, but got a pretty bad sunburn on Sunday. This morning I was up 3.5 pounds! I'm pretty sure it's inflammation from the burn...anyone else experience this?

Hello all....I just wanted to pop in and say howdy! I like seeing people my age here. My life story pretty much is: I was a normal sized young'n till 8th grade. I fell into a slight depression and weight gain followed. Then, in high school, I joined my color guard and shed the lbs. Then I quit my sr yr and bobbled back and forth. And then college was my total downfall I was and am still happy but whenever my group gets together, food is usually involved. Now at this time, out of my 5 closest friends, 3 are banded. So I have a wonderful support system waiting for me when my time finally comes. I guess to sum it up. Happy moments and family time all center around food.....and I want to change that for me!

I concur it is different for every person. Statistically, if you look at someone who has a band vs. no band, you have a MUCH BETTER SHOT of losing the weight and KEEPING IT OFF. I took my weight off many times, but was never able to maintain it for more than a year. And fill levels are different for every person, but my doc has made it very clear to me that 90% of people that have any sort of significant unfill post weight loss see a weight gain over the long term. It might not be immediate, and it might not be significant, but it does tend to happen according to the information HE has. I simply don't want people to be naive and think that once they learn 'good eating habits' they will be able to get the band removed or unfilled and stay thin. Sure, there are exceptions to every rule, but most people are not the exception.