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I had my 6 month medically supervised diet a couple years ago - so I haven't been "dieting" at all and as a matter of fact it's been the opposite. My surgery is Nov. 6 and I keep telling myself I have to get on track before the pre-op diet (they'll weigh me in on Oct. 24 the day of my nutritional appt. and I don't want to show a big weight gain since my appt. with the surgeon). The 2 week preop diet is really scaring me - can I do liquids for 2 whole weeks. I've seen some ppls' Liquid Protein diet actually allows them to eat one real meal a day - I'm hoping I have that but I'm not counting on it. You're not alone in your reservations. I'll be totally psyched one day and then depressed the next questioning my decision. I just know in my heart it's the right decision. I'm on YouTube and hope to post videos of my journey (I've posted 2 but don't feel like I want to post another until after my NUT appt. and start of the pre-op diet). You can find me on YouTube at cmf1267. There's a big WLS community there and they are very helpful. If you haven't already - check it out.

I had metatastic breast cancer back in 2012... I just got the bypass...being overweight and getting fatter by the day was worrying me....weight gain and obesity would cause it to reoccur and I have to lose this weight.I take anastrazole and lupron shots post breast cancer...now I am off metformin and ,chloresterol medication. Nosy relatives with too many damn opinions.Keep the em out of your business...tell them you have hiatal hernia...end of story...being overweight you just may have a hernia. Not being able to drink and eat at the same time? are you kidding me..,you will be drinking Water every second throughout the day. Being a big fatso is no fun and I am sick of being invisible...I am too good for that...I had to do something.Bypass is working...it is helping me...take control.

Post is getting a little old, but have to say this has been my experience. B-52 nailed it. All the tearing of muscle creates inflammation which, I believe, is mostly Water retention. My weight always jumps for a few days after starting a workout. I jumped 3 pounds almost overnight this last time. This initial weight gain though falls off within a week then I usually see a huge weight drop.

This post highlights the fears so many of us have on the physical and emotional side of this journey. Your surgeon and his/her office should be able to assist you with the fears of surgery (especially those with other health complications). I do not have much data on the chances of becoming anorexic. Since anorexia is an eating disorder that is not about food - it is about someone's coping with emotional problems by losing weight/increasing exercise - I think the probability of developing that is extremely low. Saying that, it is very true that people replace some bad habits with others so it is important to consider the emotional consequences before undergoing this surgery. I would encourage anyone who is considering this surgery or scheduled for surgery to ask upfront for information on coping with this new lifestyle and its challenges. That would include asking about all area support groups, online options, psychologists/counselors, mentors, etc. Putting a plan in place to assist you with this part of the journey - the emotional one - is a smart move. If you have a good support network or can build one, I encourage that for after the surgery. As many of us are finding - this surgery does not take place in a vacuum - life goes on. People face challenges and dark times - many not anticipated - following this surgery and I recommend having a plan in place in case life hands you lemons. That being said - most people are not facing their biggest fears - loss of income, job, spouse, loved one. But life happens - so being prepared to face life after is critical. Having doubts is normal and a very healthy way to approach this surgery. This process of critical thinking is a good one. If your gut instincts tell you this is not the right choice for you - then follow them. You know what is best for you. We tend to focus a great deal on the weight loss and a little less on the positives that come with the weight loss. We celebrate the pounds off - many of us with the assumption that people understand what less weight means. I encourage people who are concerned about moving forward to dig through these postigs and see the results people are getting beyond the pounds. (Not to say that the reduction in pounds is not also fun to look at). What have I seen by other posters - MORE self esteem from achieving goals - fitting in the airplane seatbelt, onederland, shopping in the regular size department, having doors opened for you, getting a family portrait taken, finally able to stand looking at yourself in a mirror...... MORE energy - Many people remark that they finally "FEEL ALIVE" again. COMPLETE recovery from co-morbidities, including Type 2 diabetes, high BP, sleep apnea to name a few MORE active lives - from exercise to just being out of the house more MORE happiness enjoying time with family and friends, getting rid of the self-hate, removing the guilt associated with their weight gain Dig deep....the results are there beyond the pounds. Have a well thought out plan for emotional support if you go forward. Trust your instincts. Deciding not to go forward with this surgery now or ever may be in your best interests. This is not for everyone. Either way - take good care of yourself.

That was the case for me, I was over 60bmi and as such my insurance did not require me to do the 6months physician weight loss plan. but despite being given the green light, I opted for the 6 physician visits, because I wanted to learn more about my body and the food I consumed and as i result i learned more about me. It was sort of strange, every one at my surgeons office from the Physician assistant to the NUT asked me why i wanted to do it this way, and my response was something like, surgery is not a silver bullet, if I don't mentally prepare I will fail.. I am glad I took the extra time.. despite the extra weight gain and pressure to get under 400lbs to even have the surgery, it was worth the battle for me.

I second @@James Marusek on the walking and caffeine. I did both and it helped immensely. I actually was so terrified of going through caffeine withdrawal after surgery that I gave up my 25+ year Diet Coke Habit before I even had my first appointment with the NUT! I did it slowly, taking a full month, weening myself off a little at a time. First I drank less, then I drank smaller containers. Until I stopped. I still had another 2 weeks of headaches, but now I am great. As far as messing up, liquids are hard. You messed up. Its good that you feel bad because it means you really are trying, but let's face it, we have lots of issues to overcome and slipping up is going to happen. The only thing you can do is acknowledge your goof, IMMEDIATELY get back up and get back on track. The longer we wait to get back on track, the harder it becomes and that's what causes weight gain after surgery. "well I've already messed up so I'll just X." Don't beat yourself up, just get back into the plan. Mistakes happen. Its how you recover that is the measure of success. Good luck, pam

My allergic reaction consists of itching of my mouth, lips, gums and for strawberries my throat swells up bt only for strawberries. Also could u imagine never being able to eat any fruit ever again?? I have a 5yr old so when im cutting his fruit i sometimes take a bite or slice and have a slight 1 minute reation. So its not that im eating a full apple or anything. Also i wasnt always allergic these allergies developed over time. It started with an orange and then everytime i ate a fruit i would discover it over the years as i went along until i realized its all fruit. I just put that in there to say pre-op my body was able to tolerate them now just smelling fruit will make me nauseous or vomit smh. Also its not only corn its mostly every vegetable its very weird to me. For example when i was pre-op i didnt like evry vegetable, but i was able to force myself to eat salads and a lot of things that didnt taste good at all to me because i knew it was healthy. Now if i would dare try to do anything like that i ruin my meal. Many times i will buy a sandwich or be out to eat and ill be okay and 5 mins later my body will reject food. And because of this i went to snacks which are no good because theyre "slider" foods which also contribued to my weight gain.

Yes poor eating habits will cause weight gain. This is the reason why everyone that decide on surgery should really think "are you ready for a life change"? this is not the so called easy way out or the fast way to lose weight. It's all up to the individual. If you eat pizza before you stop it completely or you can eat it once every 2 months a slice not a pie or a few slices. It's about mind control portion & if you are ready to change. I haven't gain any weight back even when I get TOM. I eat as healthly as I can because eating a lot & fried food is what made me fat. I want to live long & enjoy my life healthly not a fat woman not wanting to go out & have fun.

Oooh! Sorry that you had to have th eband removed, be careful of weight gain! Just my personal waring. I only had a revision in November of k]last eyar. I am just now starting to lose again since my intial weight gain while empty and it has been a battle of my own wits, not surgeon's. He is satisfied, but I am not. I am back to being overweight! Anyway, glad to hear that you are on the mend. It can happen to anyone, but it is not as common as people on this board seem to think. Mine was my 2nd slip, the 1st one was approxiamtely a year and half before, and it was easily fixed by an unfill for a month. I think the 2nd was because I sick and then let myself get dehydrated. People, take care, call your surgeon even if its Sunday, and don't do what I did, i didn't want to disturb him and flet it coudl wait for Monday! Good luck.Karen

Hi, Last week one of the pre-op doctors and I almost came to blows. First off I have an IUD and am 49 do not have a partner. But I had not taken a pregnancy test. We went back and forth and he said "do you want your date canceled"? So I went ahead and took the test. The next day I was sleeved, 6/8. They will find any little things including weight gain to make sure you are ready. So just hang in there and brace yourself for these things. And do not be like me and wait to kick caffeine. Going through recovery and having the headache from hell was not fun. So you will be able to breath and sleep better going forward after the having the study. Just do what they say and keep on track. I am so hungry right now it is crazy. Go ahead and eat something you really, really like not overboard and not same week of surgeryand follow it up with walking to burn the calories. If you gain even an ounce though they will stop you. Just be smart about it. Funny my daughter is 15 her name is also Mia, that was my screen name for along time MamaMia. Wishing you all the best, be strong! Walk, walk, walk! My start weight was 280.1 currently at 235 post-op. Still getting rid of the surgical gas that stays in your body. It is no joke it hurt my shoulders and neck but went away in a couple days. If you have any questions feel free to reach out. Good luck! Michele

@@sjidaho Drinking is discouraged for a couple of reasons. First, it allows the food to slip through your sleeve. This means you will be hungry sooner and your food will not fill you up. This leads to overeating and eventually leads to weight gain, especially after your honeymoon is over and your appetite returns. This is where you see people who have lost 100 lbs. start gaining it back in year 2 or 3. Take a look at this video that shows what happens when you drink with your meal. For me personally, when I eat my solid Protein first, the liquid piles up on top of it and comes up my esophagus. Really gross. Drinking with sliders, like Cookies, is even worse for me because the drink just liquifies the carbs and sugar so they flow right through. This is a path to the dark side I was always a big drinker with meals. 4-5 glass of Water. It's taken time but I have completely conquered the eating/drinking thing. You can get over it, just stay committed. Unfortunately, I have no tricks to offer for this particular issue. It was just willpower and a vision of the fat coming back that kept me on the straight and narrow.

I am only four weeks out, but I went to a wedding and had a small amount of salad, chicken, and potatoes, and it wasn't obvious to anyone that I had surgery. I even ate a whole cupcake later! (Special occasion exemption:-) Last night, I ate a whole Chalupa from Taco Bell. Now I know I shouldn't be eating that really because it is not that good for me, and I probably should have eaten only half of it because I was really full when I was done. The good news is that, in the past, I would have eaten two Chalupas, a taco, a apple empanada, and then chocolate later. The point is here that, instead of eating huge amounts, you will actually eat like a normal person. You should actually be looking at everyone else and the huge quantity that people eat, not the other way around where they are looking at you for the small amount you eat. You are about to eat like a normal person, and your family should want that for you, and they should want you to be healthy and not overweight. Diets don't work, and I think we all know that. You may lose weight on one more diet, but chances are really good that you will not keep it off. I have 30 years of dieting and weight gain under my belt, and so I speak from experience. I agree that watching You Tube videos are very helpful. Check out some of these ladies: GastricSleeveReviews, AmySDMOM, luvenit1979, scneaux, cecelialane, vsgtanya2011. They have all documented their journey, including what they eat now. Lastly, even though you may never eat the huge quantity of food that you may now have with your family, that doesn't mean you can't sit down with them and talk with them and enjoy them and let them enjoy you. You will adapt and eat slower. The focus shouldn't be on the food anyway; right? It should be on each other. I am sad for you that you don't have the support that you need. I would hope that your family would be behind your decision to get healthy.

Already started my journey and I meet with my surgeon on the 30th to talk all about the surgery...but today has been a bad day. Went to go get dressed for the day and I noticed that I have so many new stretch marks all over my stomach that I'm in so much pain! For gaining 100 lbs in one year I'm so uncomfortable... I've been on prednisone for 3 years and the weight gain is so bad. I have been so strong about this because I know its the medication but going to my moms today.... I broke down. I am so looking forward to the surgery. . I want to just be comfortable and have a day where I go to put on a T-shirt I bought last week and have it fit!! Feel like I'm moving in slow motion!!!!

this is a long article, so here is an excerpt: "If you offer your body something that tastes like a lot of calories, but it isn't there, your body is alerted to the possibility that there is something there and it will search for the calories promised but not delivered," Fowler says. _____________________________________________ Drink More Diet Soda, Gain More Weight? Overweight Risk Soars 41% With Each Daily Can of Diet Soft Drink By Daniel J. DeNoon WebMD Medical News Reviewed by Charlotte Grayson Mathis, MD June 13, 2005 -- People who drink diet soft drinks don't lose weight. In fact, they gain weight, a new study shows. The findings come from eight years of data collected by Sharon P. Fowler, MPH, and colleagues at the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio. Fowler reported the data at the annual meeting of the American Diabetes Association in San Diego. "What didn't surprise us was that total soft drink use was linked to overweight and obesity," Fowler tells WebMD. "What was surprising was when we looked at people only drinking diet soft drinks, their risk of obesity was even higher." In fact, when the researchers took a closer look at their data, they found that nearly all the obesity risk from soft drinks came from diet sodas. "There was a 41% increase in risk of being overweight for every can or bottle of diet soft drink a person consumes each day," Fowler says. More Diet Drinks, More Weight Gain Fowler's team looked at seven to eight years of data on 1,550 Mexican-American and non-Hispanic white Americans aged 25 to 64. Of the 622 study participants who were of normal weight at the beginning of the study, about a third became overweight or obese. For regular soft-drink drinkers, the risk of becoming overweight or obese was: 26% for up to 1/2 can each day 30.4% for 1/2 to one can each day 32.8% for 1 to 2 cans each day 47.2% for more than 2 cans each day. For diet soft-drink drinkers, the risk of becoming overweight or obese was: 36.5% for up to 1/2 can each day 37.5% for 1/2 to one can each day 54.5% for 1 to 2 cans each day 57.1% for more than 2 cans each day. For each can of diet soft drink consumed each day, a person's risk of obesity went up 41%. Diet Soda No Smoking Gun Fowler is quick to note that a study of this kind does not prove that diet soda causes obesity. More likely, she says, it shows that something linked to diet soda drinking is also linked to obesity. "One possible part of the explanation is that people who see they are beginning to gain weight may be more likely to switch from regular to diet soda," Fowler suggests. "But despite their switching, their weight may continue to grow for other reasons. So diet soft-drink use is a marker for overweight and obesity." Why? Nutrition expert Leslie Bonci, MPH, RD, puts it in a nutshell. "You have to look at what's on your plate, not just what's in your glass," Bonci tells WebMD. People often mistake diet drinks for diets, says Bonci, director of sports nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and nutrition consultant to college and professional sports teams and to the Pittsburgh Ballet. "A lot of people say, 'I am drinking a diet soft drink because that is better for me. But soft drinks by themselves are not the root of America's obesity problem," she says. "You can't go into a fast-food restaurant and say, 'Oh, it's OK because I had diet soda.' If you don't do anything else but switch to a diet soft drink, you are not going to lose weight." The Mad Hatter Theory "Take some more tea," the March Hare said to Alice, very earnestly. "I've had nothing yet," Alice replied in an offended tone, "so I can't take more." "You mean you can't take less," said the Hatter: "It's very easy to take more than nothing." Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland There is actually a way that diet drinks could contribute to weight gain, Fowler suggests. She remembers being struck by the scene in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland in which Alice is offended because she is offered tea but is given none -- even though she hadn't asked for tea in the first place. So she helps herself to tea and bread and butter. That may be just what happens when we offer our bodies the sweet taste of diet drinks, but give them no calories. Fowler points to a recent study in which feeding artificial sweeteners to rat pups made them crave more calories than animals fed real sugar. "If you offer your body something that tastes like a lot of calories, but it isn't there, your body is alerted to the possibility that there is something there and it will search for the calories promised but not delivered," Fowler says. Perhaps, Bonci says, our bodies are smarter than we think. "People think they can just fool the body. But maybe the body isn't fooled," she says. "If you are not giving your body those calories you promised it, maybe your body will retaliate by wanting more calories. Some soft drink studies do suggest that diet drinks stimulate appetite." SOURCES: Fowler, S.P. 65th Annual Scientific Sessions, American Diabetes Association, San Diego, June 10-14, 2005; Abstract 1058-P. Sharon P. Fowler, MPH, University of Texas Health Science Center School of Medicine, San Antonio. Leslie Bonci, MPH, RD, director, sports nutrition, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. WebMD News: "Artificial Sweeteners May Damage Diet Efforts.""Artificial Sweeteners May Damage Diet Efforts." Davidson, T.L. International Journal of Obesity, July 2004; vol 28: pp 933-955.

That is exactly what I'm afraid of. Loose skin and deflated boobs. My husband loves my breasts. After 3 pregnancies, weight gain/loss, nursing etc they do droop some but like I've told him before, in my head it's not as bad since they are huge right now but when they are droopy AND tiny it may be a different story. lol! Oh well, I'll take that any day over being fat

I am glad I found this topic. as I too have gained a pound after surgery, I had lost 8 pounds and for the past 4 days ...a bit of weight gain and 700 calories the most per day...

I'm a guy about an hour northeast of DFW.Commerce Tx.Feel free to lean on me a bit.Ive had my 10cc realize band for about 2years.I lost a lot of weight for the first year.Then in January of 2012 I had a fill to 6.5.I was complacent up to fri October 12.Then I went in for another fill.im sitting on 7.5cc right now.I do work out and I lift heavy.So I don't know if my weight gain could be attributed to that.I feel good and my friends say I still look good or even better.So this has been my life changer and story.I think this last fill will hopefully put in my sweet spot.By no means am I an authority on this.Still practicing to get it right

I had similar problems for months, X-rays, barium swallow... Still nothing. I ended up having to have my band emptied and after a CT and Hida scan they realized it was my gallbladder. Bad thing is now I'm feeling very defeated by my band. Up 25 lbs since last year, finally keeping food down but feeling bad about the weight gain. Any tips to get back in the game?

Thank you! *hug* You know, I'm sitting here listening the GMA. They are talking about someone famous (sorry the name escapes me) that lost a lot of weight recently. "She did it without surgery or gimmicks..." See, now there is the problem. No wonder people are so judgmental! Thats why I rarely tell anyone how I lost it. When the media downplays this method, makes it like we are doing something wrong, the stigma of being weak, and bad for having the surgery will never go away. Shame on the media... My morning thought... When will the scale stop mocking me? Its like a daily showdown. I circle and tell it "ok, scale, its either you or me, one of us is going down!" *insert old western music here* too bad its NOT my weight thats going down!! I need to lose 5 lbs (I had gained 10 after a pregnancy and subsequent miscarriage), I lost 5 of it but the other 5 just won't come off! I hate that scale, yet I can't live without it. I have to know, I have to watch. Those 5 lbs SHOW. I SEE it. My clothes look awful. I can't find anything baggy enough. I know...I obssess on my weight. I am well below my goal weight but its not enough for me. And you know what, thats not going to stop because when it stops being a concern, it will creep back, slowly... and before you know it BAM...182 lbs back on. No, I'll take the obssession rather then the weight gain tyvm. Ok, scale...I'll see YOU....tomorrow... Have a good day everyone

WTF????? I do not understand what is going on with me and my scale. I got my latest fill a few weeks ago. It worked very well, I was so motivated and lost 8 pounds pretty fast. Then last week, TOM, and Water weight gain + cravings. I didn't give in to cravings, etc. Now, understand that I retain SERIOUS water - like 5 to 10 lbs of water. It sucks. Okay, so water gone, scale went back to normal. I fully admit I fell off the wagon on Friday night and gave in to temptation (Marble Slab Creamery is the of the devil). I logged my food at thedailyplate, and yes, I was way over, but not enough to even gain a pound, much less the NINE pounds that my scale reflected Saturday. I thought it was a fluke, but it was still there Sunday and this morning. NINE pounds - as in, heavier than before my fill. Again - WTF??????

Did anybody gain weight while in the hospital? I actually gained 6 lbs! It must be retaining water from the IV's cause I was only on liquids.

Recently an acquaintance told me about seeing an obese man on TV who claimed that bariatric surgery hadn’t worked for him. “How can it NOT work?!” Patsy exclaimed. There’s no simple answer to that question. In the past I’ve written about why weight loss surgery fails (read the article here: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/page/index.html/_/support/why-does-weight-loss-surgery-fail-r88). Today I’d like to revisit the topic and focus on how our expectations affect the perception of as well as the ultimate success or failure of WLS. BARIATRIC MYTHOLOGY Some powerful myths influence our beliefs about and expectations of WLS. An especially insidious one that affects both bariatric patients and the general public is that WLS is essentially magic, requiring little or no effort on the patient’s part to achieve the desired weight loss. Hence the infamous and heinous phrase: “Weight loss surgery is taking the easy way out.” This magic myth has a corollary one that purports that the weight lost as a result of bariatric surgery is weight lost forever, again without any effort on the part of the patient. Sorry, but that’s not true either. While the whole point of bariatric surgery is to make weight loss easier, it does not eliminate the need for hard work by the patient. No bariatric surgery can cure obesity, which is a chronic, recurring disease. That doesn’t mean that succeeding with WLS means you’re sentenced to a lifetime of hard labor, dragging heavy chains and digging ditches, but it does mean that in the long term a successful patient is one who takes responsibility for his or her eating behavior, weight management, and general health. Reading the paragraph above may serve to shatter some illusions that you held dear, but when would you rather face the truth: early in your journey, or later? Although I was once a bandster like you, I lost my beloved band and recently converted to vertical sleeve gastrectomy. I have to tell you that despite all my advance research and preparation, the reality of living with a sleeved stomach is giving me a bad case of buyer’s remorse, but there’s no going back now. Seventy-five percent of my stomach is gone forever, but living with what’s left and finding a way to eat and to manage my weight now is an ongoing challenge. And I’ve heard countless stories from all kinds of bariatric patients about the challenges they face after surgery. Anyone who promises you a completely sunny picture of the future is either mistaken or trying to avoid bursting your bubble. BAND MYTHS There are a number of myths related to the adjustable gastric band. One of them is that slower weight loss with the band will prevent sagging or excess skin, and that just ain’t so. A more dangerous myth, peculiar to bandsters, is that fills cause weight loss and unfills cause weight gain. While fluid adjustments are an important part of how the AGB works,the fluid is NOT what causes weight loss. In fact, there is absolutely nothing in any part of the band system (the band, the tubing, and the port) that causes weight loss. The band does not directly affect the way nutrients from food are ingested or metabolized. It releases no weight loss instructions into the patient’s bloodstream, nervous system, or endocrine system. It doesn’t directly affect the patient’s eating behavior or exercise habits. It doesn’t compel the patient to make good food choices, limit portion sizes, eat slowly, or resist the urge to graze or binge because of boredom, stress, cravings, etc. Weight loss results from eating fewer calories than you burn, and the band helps with that by reducing your appetite and causing early and prolonged satiety. Those features are related to the pressure of the band against the stomach and the consumption of solid food whose mechanical digestion triggers the vagus nerves in the upper stomach to send satiety signals to the brain. If the patient ignores those signals, the calories taken in may exceed the calories burned, slowing or preventing weight loss. And since weight is affected by many other factors entirely unrelated to the band (like medications, hormone imbalance, etc. etc.), all we can do is to concentrate on the ones that are within our control and understand that it’s a fallacy to attribute weight loss to the band or to fills. One harmful consequence of the fills=weight loss myth is that the patient seeks more and more fills in the quest for “perfect restriction” (also a myth) or the legendary (but also mythical) “sweet spot.” This patient tends to tolerate side effects and eating problems that can cause serious damage to them and their band because they’re so focused on finding that perfect but elusive fill level and believes (erroneously) that the more fluid in their band, the better. When you suggest to this person that they may actually need less, not more fluid in their band (so that they can eat healthy, solid food instead of not-so-healthy slider foods), they react with panic, so aren’t able to make a good decision and may not even be willing to tell their surgeon about the eating problems they experience. Please don’t read this article thinking that my purpose is to discourage you. I’m the eternal optimist who believes in self-fulfilling prophecies. If you’re determined to lose weight and work hard at it, you can indeed use your band to reach your weight goal. The key phrase in that sentence is “work hard at”. There’s just no getting around that, so if your expectation is that you’ll lose weight effortlessly, you’re probably going to be disappointed in your band, yourself, or both. Your band can assist your weight loss efforts by providing early and prolonged satiety, but it’s not going to make good food choices, control portion sizes, make you exercise, be vigilant with aftercare, win you cash and prizes, or turn you into America’s next top model. On the other hand, believing that you will succeed and working hard to learn and change what you need to in order to lose weight will greatly increase your chances of becoming a bariatric superstar. And when stardom comes from hard work, it is much, much sweeter and longer lasting than stardom that falls at random out of the sky!

I understand the addictions as far as sweets and soda. Never smoked but my mom does non stop. I know how hard it is to give every bad habit up. One year out and have started sneaking the sweets and soda once in awhile. The soda does not feel good, carbonation I guess. But I can have some sweets without dumping. Hope I don't have any weight gain. So far it's good. My nutrionist wants me to gain 5 pounds but in a healthy way. It will be hard, but I am trying to get back on track. I know you will find a way to stop these bad habits before surgery, it's after that gets hard.

Hey Karen, thanks for your note. My surgery is Monday, and nothing was said about the weight gain. I'm all set to go. I didn't have to have the liquid diet or a pre-surgery diet, so guess I was pretty lucky. I'll keep you posted on how it goes!

Well, I would agree with you. I dont think I quite have the metabolism of a snail, but something sure doesnt add up and I'm glad I have my band. I weigh 140lb at 5ft 10, quite slim, yeah, but a healthy weight, near the bottom of my range. I eat about 1800 calories a day to maintain that weight - so I'm not complaining,that's an OK deal. But I need a lapband to stay within that calorie range. I also run an hour some days or do a spin class and a body pump class the other days. I'm very active. All the charts say I shoudl be eating 2,500 to 2800 calories a day! At the very least, you'd think I coudl eat the 2000 to 2200 recommended for the average woman. But there's no way I can eat that much and not gain. I'm not sure where the weight gain would stop, whether I'd be heavier but still in the healthy range or whether I'd become overweight again, but I dont care to find out either. I certainly know I got obese on somethign like 2,500 a day - I wasnt a binge eater, didnt eat amounts that seemed huge compared to other peple by any stretch of the imagination. What I wonder though is which came first? Did I get fat because my metabolism was slower than it shoudl be or am do I now need to stick to a fairly limited, low calorie diet to maintain my weight precisely BECAUSE I have lost a lot of weight through long standing calorie deprivation? I suspect it is the latter. Once you've cut calories as low as we tend to do for a long time, you cant eat like a normal person ever again. Your body is just conditioned to run on much less. I certainly eat less and do more than my 120lb sister.