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My experience is that I decided to diet to get a head start on the band, and I ended up gaining weight! I should have left well enough alone - I had been maintaining for years until I changed my eating habits. So my advice is to only diet if you have a serious plan you can follow and you know you will stick to it and not gain weight.

I recommend you take before pictures. Here's why: Most people who are morbidly obese do not like having their picture taken. They avoid the camera because the photographs don't lie. That fact can be put to good use before and during your weight loss. Simply put, the best way to document weight loss is not a scale graph of pounds lost, or a size chart of inches lost. The best way to document weight loss is to take photographs before and during the process. I advise people setting out on this journey to take three initial pictures. The recommendations that I give are these: 1. Take three views, front, side and back (That means you need a automatic timer camera or a friend to help you) 2. Take the pictures in the same place every time. A doorway is a great choice, because it helps put a known quantity into the picture. Other good places are in front of a fireplace or another known point of reference. 3. Take the pictures while wearing form-fitting clothes. A swimsuit is IDEAL. 4. Take the pictures with the same camera, and make sure you are standing the same distance from the camera every time. That's why a doorway helps. You can line yourself up in the doorway and use a measuring tape to find the distance to the camera. 5. Take that same set of pictures every month. Front, back and side views. Wear the same clothes and make sure the distance to the camera is the same. 6. Have the "Before" pictures printed out, and tape them to your refrigerator. 7. Have the latest set of pictures printed out, and tape those next to the "Before" pictures. In doing this, you mind has irrefutable PROOF that what you are doing IS WORKING. People frequently do NOT "See" their weight loss, and they become frustrated, perhaps by a scale weight that is not moving, even though their body size is reducing at an amazing rate. This is a great way to "See" your weight loss. The best way to document weight loss is to take photographs before and during the process.

I will be four months post-op next Tuesday, and I have already lost 57% of my excess weight. That's including what I lost on the pre-op diet and with 155 lbs as my "ideal weight" (25 BMI). My surgeon said that most sleevers average 60% EWL in the 1st year. I'm already almost at 60% and still losing steadily. Sorry, I guess this probably doesn't help much because I'm still losing, but that's where I'm at. :ohmy:

Colorado. Actually moving to this state is what made me decide to finally get the weight off. Everyone here is so outdoorsy and even though that has not changed with me and I still don't like the hiking and biking I just don't like the looks of disgust i get when I'm heavy.

I am 6 weeks post op, 30 lbs lost & I have stalled. Well, not only have I stalled but I gained 2 pounds in the last couple days ???? Wth??? That is mathematically impossible as I would have to be consuming an additional 7000 calories a week to gain a pound. I am NOT..... unless this water weight fluctuation &/ or PMS....I cannot think this type of restrictive dieting can lead to any gain. Please please shed some light on this for me.

Was banded October 23, 2007 at the outpatient surgery center off Bee Caves. That was three weeks ago. I weighed 254 lbs. I notice that my personal scale is calibrated at 10 pounds less than at True Results. At my first post op appt., I gained about half a pound, it was very discouraging. I got my first fill November 7th. It restricted me for a couple of days but now I'm hungry a lot AGAIN. My scale shows that I now weigh 236 lbs. So if I add the 10 pounds that means I lost 8 lbs since last week. Cool. I still get frustrated because of gas pains and discomfort in the port area. I understand that all this is normal. My shoes fit me loose. I wish I felt better with my knee. It hurts very badly when I walk. I see the knee surgeon on the 28th, my birthday. Yipee. I have physical therapy tomorrow. I also have a second fill scheduled tomorrow. Hope I'm not over doing it. When I went for my first post op appt., I felt very light headed after the NP gave me the first fill. She said I was over exerting, and I was dehydrated and needed additional protien. Go figure. Get some rest and drink plenty of fluids. Imagine that! I can't believe that Thanksgiving is next week already. It'll be fun to visit with my family. Looking forward to it.:tired

Hi, I think those are GREAT reasons. Congratulations on doing this. I have been teaching in an Alternative High School. And I always show the kids my "fat pictures". I want them to know that I can relate to those who struggle with their weight.

I've loved it from day one. The band is doing the trick for me. I would have never taken off this much weight without it and that was the point of getting banded. Now I am confident I will take off the rest of my excess weight and keep it off. ........Love the band!

My date is October 10th I am super excited! I started my pre-op diet a few days ago and thrilled to be looseing this weight forever!

Yesterday made 3 weeks post op for me. I feel hardly any restriction. I go for my first fill on Monday. I'm so ready. I feel like I haven't had weight loss surgery. I can eat anything. I have even eaten a little toasted bread today with no restriction. The incision where my port is located is still very sore. The others I hardly notice. Hoping that goes away soon. It feels like my port is very close to skin. I can feel the whole outline of it when I touch it, and when I'm standing it actually protrudes a little.

I chart my weight weekly and noticed trends every month around my cycle. I ALWAYS gain 2-3 pounds during ovulation (middle of the cycle) and then it all goes away right about when aunt flo visits. Like clockwork. In fact, when I'm feeling fat or my jeans feel awful, I look at the calendar and I'm ovulating. As much as it's frustrating to see a gain, there is a little comfort in knowing that that is all it is. Now that I'm slowing down, I notice Week 1 a loss of 3-5 pounds, week 2 down a tad more (but still in the 3-5 pound range), Week 3 gain 2-3 pounds, Week 4 stay at high weight, then it all starts over. But every month, I managed to be a pound or 2 down like average. Don't over think it too much. If it really bothers you, chart it. Before I figured it out, it drove me nuts!!!!

Went into Surgery 1 year ago at 215 lbs. Have been 165 lbs. since 5 months out. Clothes fit the same too. I exercise 3-4 times a week, and follow all rules; except I have incorporated sugar back into my diet. It does not make me sick. Mostly Dove Dark chocolate squares; I used to be happy and satisfied with 2, but now I can (want to) eat 6. I have also dabbled in Desserts brought into work and at parties. Thinking I would only eat a bite or two, but then I eat like 2 or 3 cupcakes, brownies, or pieces of pie. Ugh.... Anyone else having these issues? Cannot imagine this is what has stalled my weight loss for the past 7 months?? Just not sure. My Surgeon thinks I should get down to 140-145 pounds, I am 5' 3". I feel good at my current weight, just cannot accept it yet. If I am this weight at 18 months out, then I will accept it.

To your point about people asking inappropriate questions, I would probably be a smart ass, which I know, I know, is terribly out of character: "How much have you lost?" "Looks like I might lose another friend that doesn't seem to understand not to ask inappropriate questions." But, to the question you want us to answer: While dealing with things that are better, like back, hip, knee, ankle, foot pain from carrying around an extra 1/4 ton of weight. Reduced Fatty Liver disease. Blood Pressure. Sleep Apnea, Reflux. But more other worldly were all the things I gained that I didn't realize I was missing, like DisneyWorld, walking, running, marathons, kayaking, horseback riding. Tek

Ok I had my surgery on 10/30 I weighed 193 now I weight 196? what gives I have had nothing but liquid? Also I am starting to get sick with chest congestion usually drink oj and take mucinex but I know I cant now.

I Feel for you. I went into the hospital weighing 229 on a Monday, got home on Wednesday and I had gained 16lbs!! Yes! I said 16lbs!....All I had was maybe 3-4 SF popsicles and Water. Someone said it was probably the fluids and the swelling. Two weeks later yesterday and I am now at 226. Still aggravated about the wt gain, but at least its gone! I hope it stays that way!!

I had my "Last Suppers" at a couple of mine and my son's favorite restaurants. We ate a little bit of everything from everywhere. Then I started the required pre-op diet 1 week before surgery. Just remember once you're off the post op diet, you can still eat all your favorite foods, it will be a smaller portion, and if you overeat, it will give you that "totally stuffed" feeling. It isn't pleasant, but I don't think when I overate at Thanksgiving was really pleasant either. I had to unzip my pants, or change into lounge pants so I could fit in more broccoli cheese casserole. Also remember, any weight you gain right now has to be lost post-op. That's just extra pounds that will have to come off.

I was sleeved on June 9th. A month later, I stalled for almost two weeks. It's just what happens as our bodies adjust to the new reality. Stick with the program and know that it will pass. You will lose more weight, just hang in there.

Hey everybody. So I am 15 weeks post op as of yesterday. Got on the scale this morning for my weekly weigh-in and I weighed in at 234.8 .... well 235 is my halfway to goal mark!! So now I am down 75 lbs of the 150 lbs I am planning to lose. It feels WONDERFUL. I happened to get my hair cut and colored yesterday as well, and took a photo of it after, which is now pretty much my favorite picture of myself... and a great way to Celebrate being half way to goal I already made it my avatar on here... lol. What can I say, I am diggin' it. I am feeling so blessed and grateful that I made it here, because a week ago I wasn't doing so well. Basically when I hit 237 which was my lowest weight ever as an adult.... although I felt happy, I also felt scared. Since I am not someone who has ever been thin as an adult, ever!! It is a big unknown for me. Of course I WANT IT... but I guess I'm also afraid. I know THIS person... the weight I am now. I don't know THAT person.... the one I am becoming. I found myself eating some junk food over the weekend and a couple days into this week. I ate a whole bag of Squiggles (Cookies... sorry BISCUITS... from New Zealand) which I guess is 12 cookies... over the course of 3-4 days. I can say I didn't stuff myself or overfill my tummy... but I know I was eating these because I was attempting self sabotage. I was attempting to prove to myself that I would NOT lose more, that I WOULD get stuck here again like I always do, and start gaining weight back. That I will never be thin and healthy and normal. That I am still controlled by food (even though I really am not anymore, for the most part). I think I was trying to prove all of this to myself because THAT is the ME that I KNOW. I realized talking to my dear friend April from the boards here (while we were at the gym earlier this week)... that I am carrying some guilt also. Guilt that i had surgery, and that many people in my life who struggle with weight may be feeling jealous even though they do fully support me. I don't want to make anyone feel bad. I don't want to make anyone else feel that they failed and I succeeded, especially because I have this amazing tool to help me, and I was NOT able to do it without this tool. Then there is also the fear that my friends or loved ones are thinking that. "You were only able to get this far cuz you had surgery." Which I guess is true, but it sounds more negative the way I am thinking it. There is also the fear that I will lost my friends.... especially my best friend of 15 years who has always struggled with weight but I have ALWAYS been the bigger one of the two of us, and I will be passing her up soon and be smaller than her. Same with my sister in law, I'm a size away from being smaller than her. I am so worried that when they realize I'm smaller than them, they will not feel good about being around me and they won't want to be. I am comfortable being the bigger one... I don't know how to be the smaller one. April helped me to realize I need to let go of the guilt and stop worrying about what anyone else is thinking. That if I am going to reach my goals, it will take hard work, and I am earning it, and putting in the time for ME, and that it is not selfish to do so. Thanks for listening.

Christie, you look fabulous! I love the hair. You're doing amazingly well with the weight loss, and I am glad you have a good friend who can help you through some of these issues that are bound to come up for most of us.

Congratulations! I was sleeved on 2/23. Good luck I your weight loss journey.

I hate to tell y'all that it's probably not going anywhere! It's crazy because as much research as I did I never heard about permanent gas. Before surgery I had gas maybe a couple times a week now it's all day everyday. Thank God I have my own office. It's sometimes painful. I asked the PA about it and she told me that for some patients it never goes away, but if that's a side effect of amazing weight loss, well, I guess I'll take it.

My BMI is 37. I am tall (5'10) and some say I dont look like I weigh as much as I do. I was thinking about not dieting until my appointment but i'm scared i will gain alot and then be denied. I would do it in a second if I knew for sure I was going to be able to get the surgery but imagine gaining 20 lbs only to be denied Did any of you diet before your appointments of just eat whatever>

Trish I know what you mean I dont want that to get out of control !! Yes use weights to tone the under side of your arms . Push ups help to !! If you can't kneel on the ground I went to a rehab facility as part as my pre op pre requisites and they said do them in up against the wall.

Trishcruise....awesome weight loss!!! I'm only down 21.5. I'm walking on the treadmill from 30-40 minutes everyday. Tomorrow will make 1 week of mushies. I really thought I'd be down 25 by now. I'm not hungry. I make myself eat every 4hrs...just finished cream of brocolli soup. What have you been eating?

My doc told me not to do heavy weights for 6 months. I can do light weights... I just don't know what movement will help tone my bat wings on my arms... And I'm doing the treadmill and the exercise bikes and stairs...