Search the Community

Hello all, Have you ever gone off of your program and eaten a little too much and bam..the weight just heaps on? Do you know why that happens? Is it because we limit our calorie intake and then when we eat like regular again or add a small meal our bodies don't know what to do?

My first "spouse" cheated on me from the moment we were together, and I blame a lot of my weight gain on her. I am an emotional eater, and man did I eat (and cut, and drug, and everything else I could do). Then on to the next one, who after cheating with me on her ex (I was desperate, fat and stupid, what can I say) was fine for about 3 or 4 years. Then she met a woman at work that she "clicked" with. They never got physical, at least that is what they said, I am still not sure if I believe it....but I moved on, and gained more weight. Now, I am with the true love of my life, and I know that there is no cheating because when I look into her eyes, the love I see reflected there is so pure and true...I mean, it is different. Having been with two people who did cheat, I can sense the difference. I would say that my weight has a lot to do with not feeling good about myself because of the cheating. I tried to make it so that "if she cheats, and she will, it is because I am fat, I can understand that".

I must've not seen this - cause I wouldve responded :biggrin1: Im very open about my usage of diet pills. I prefer Tenuate (generic) taken with a little food or protien shake preferbally around noon time. The pills are oblong so I break them in half and take just 1/2 a day - when needed. I might take one everyday for 4 or 5 days, then not take another one for 3, 4 days or even a week later. PRN - as needed. When I was first banded and discouraged in weightloss, I remember using the diet pills more often, maybe every day? cant remember. But I DO remember thinking that I would do whatever it takes to get the weight off - even if it was taking the diet pills WITH the band. As for now, I stay around 180 and when I feel a weight gain OR see that my eating has increased (esp. around my period) I pop the Tenuate. ALSO - if I dont have a bm in 3 days I will take gen peri-colace tablets for a couple of days to get things flowing . Dont mean to steal the thread topic, but I did want to repond to you. Im also very interested in reading about the other forms of WLS. So now there's a mini-bypass? __________________ Originally posted at www.lapbandtalk.com

I must've not seen this - cause I wouldve responded :biggrin1: Im very open about my usage of diet pills. I prefer Tenuate (generic) taken with a little food or protien shake preferbally around noon time. The pills are oblong so I break them in half and take just 1/2 a day - when needed. I might take one everyday for 4 or 5 days, then not take another one for 3, 4 days or even a week later. PRN - as needed. When I was first banded and discouraged in weightloss, I remember using the diet pills more often, maybe every day? cant remember. But I DO remember thinking that I would do whatever it takes to get the weight off - even if it was taking the diet pills WITH the band. As for now, I stay around 180 and when I feel a weight gain OR see that my eating has increased (esp. around my period) I pop the Tenuate. ALSO - if I dont have a bm in 3 days I will take gen peri-colace tablets for a couple of days to get things flowing . Dont mean to steal the thread topic, but I did want to repond to you. Im also very interested in reading about the other forms of WLS. So now there's a mini-bypass?

This book written by a Dr. claims chronic dehydration causes obesity, depression and cancer - [ame=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0970245823/002-6746921-4982420?v=glance&n=283155]Amazon.com: Obesity Cancer & Depression: Their Common Cause & Natural Cure: F. Batmanghelidj: Books[/ame] Spooky huh? I really think years of drinking almost nothing but diet coke in my past directly affected my weight gain and my depression. I am feeling SO much better staying properly hydrated.

I am new to the site and have banding scheduled for 7/31. I have been reading lots on the site and a lot say they have gained back. I am now very worried about this. Is this a common occurance or is it mostly people who don't get Protein and follow the program? I guess I just want some great reassurance that this will be successful as I believe it will be.

Ouch, I hear you, I'm not bipolar, I have major depression, but Effexor alone doesn't work for me, I have to take a cocktail of meds, and a few of the ones I take cause weight gain. You know counsellors and drug treatment programs are confidential. NA is confidential. The only people that will need to know are you, and which ever professionals or support groups you choose to involve. These are people who are either very experienced in working with addiction and are not judgemental, but understanding health workers, or people who share the same struggles you do. If you feel the need to hide it from people in your life and your family you can still do that and get help, you can tell them you are getting help around your depression or whatever, but don't let it hold you back. You might want to look into taking a mood stabilizer in a lower dose rather than cutting it out completely. Have you tried Tegretol? It's an anticonvulsant med like Depakote, some people find they have less side effects on some meds than on others, you may have less weight issues on one than you do on another. What I've chosen to do with my weight gaining side effect meds are to take as low a dose as I can with still getting a positive effect. A lot of the weight gain from these meds comes from them causing you to crave carbs and to cause you to feel hungry all the time, with the band, a lot of those side effects are minimized or gone totally. I'm still on my meds that cause weight gain, but since being banded I -am- losing weight. I talked about it a lot with my family Dr, with my psychiatrist, and with my surgeon, and they all felt you can still lose the weight with the band, while taking meds that cause weight gain. So don't give up on them. Get help, and get yourself back on track, you deserve it. big hugs Leila

Gollum rocks. glad i now know where the av has originated from. Still trying to find the source of Telly's av. LOL Nut, I have a solution for your weight gain. Switch to scotch! It gets the job done in a lot fewer calories Although it is not as fun to sit and sip it on that new porch.

G'day from Melbourne, Australia! (sorry - I'm a metric girl - 140kg or about 315 pounds) (sorry also for the long first post - there's a lot to say to begin with....) I am SOOOO glad I found you all on this forum - reading your posts over the past week, and viewing all those inspirational before / after shots has helped me in my decisions and plans immensely. God Bless you all for sharing and caring so much:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: - I hope that I may contribute to the forum as well as the benefits I'm already enjoying. I'm 34, a mother of one boy (who's 5), married to a WONDERFUL man (he always cheers me on, and thinks I'm sexy however I look! Bless him!). I work part-time as a consulting environmental scientist. I have been thinking of getting banded for over a year - but only just started to discuss it with my hubby. I got a referral from my GP this week, and will meet with surgeon later this week (with Mr Chris Hensman at EndoSurgery Victoria, Mulgrave).:nervous I have fought the battle of the bulge since I was 16 - when my mum joined me at WW - since then I've been the classic yo-yo ride of WL support systems, diets and pills. Depression and control issues with food haven't helped either (Man! How do I relate to some of the stories posted to the forum!) I want to GET OFF THE ROLLER COASTER - NOWWWW!!!! My weight has hovered around 135kg since just after my son was born. My hubby was made redundant from his job at the same time, so my emotions and eating were all over the place for a LONG time. I maxed out at 138 - 140kg during last year.:omg: I'm currently around 132kg. (I'm so ashamed...) The thing is, until recently, I've never felt big or heavy. Because I'm a pear-shape, and therefore most my fat is on my legs / hips / rear end, it's kind of "out of sight, out of mind". Only this year have I felt too big / fat / tired / slovenly / unfit / "insert any other of your favourite self-depretiating terms here" (they'd apply here) to get off my but and do things - even things I love to do like play with son (who can run like the wind) or gardening. Cleaning the house even feels like too much effort... I feel like that a lot of the emotional baggage I've been carrying around has been put down over the past year, and is now GONE FOR GOOD. :clap2: Hubby and I have a stable, Christian marriage, we have a loving home life and good jobs and career prospects. It was a long struggle. I also feel like I'm able to finally put down the bags I've carried siince school days, feelings of insecurity and inadequacy (God knows why I have them in the first place, but the mind is a beast...). I honestly feel that if I can make a break in the weight gain-loss cycle, and lose the excess weight once and for all, that I'd have a great chance that the fat would also be GONE FOR GOOD. I guess none of this is new to many / most of you in LapBandTalk land. Anyway, it's these new feelings about myself that have shocked me into doing something more to lose the kilos- enter the LAPBAND - dadadadaaaaaa!!!:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: My hubby & I REALLY want more babies - but right now I'm too scared of complications / dying to contemplate getting pregnant yet. I can't seem to lose the 15kgs and 5 years of age I put on since I had my son... The desire to make some new people for our family to love is also contributing influence to my decisions right now, but not the main motivation. Initially, I'd like to get down under 100kg before trying for another baby, and then after that continue on towards an ultimate goal of 60kg - 70kg (would be nice on a 5ft 4inch girl...). I think I was about 15 when I last saw my weight defined by a number lower than 70kg.:cry :faint: :help: I'd like to hear from anyone who has conceived / had a baby after LapBanding (how soon after can we go for it - I've heard 2 years, but that's too long!). My GP suggested we had a baby (or two) first, and then the LapBand - the way I feel right now, I don't think that would be sensible - I can almost feel diabetes or a heart attack at the thought of it!:sick Also, I am really nervous about how I will adjust to the Bandster's lifestyle given how much and how often I eat. Feelings of hunger / fullness / satiety etc are almost meaningless to me right now. I'm looking forward to changing this, but for now, the thought of restricting food volume and types fires up those old feelings of rebellion!:hungry: :angry Thanks for the inspiration so far - looking forward to chatting with you again soon!

I have taken blood pressure meds for a long time, and they have never caused weight gain for me. There are so many different types out there, I would suggest talking to your doctor and trying something else. Good Luck!

I agree with the comment about possible water retention. Usually high blood pressure and water retention go hand in hand. The water retention may be the cause of your weight gain. See you doc and get a duiretic (water pill) if needed. I have on/off high bp meds since my teens, (family history & obesity), and have NEVER gained weight on a BP med. Best of luck to you!

Medications prescribed for hypertention usually do NOT cause weight gain. If you think the weight gain IS truly related to the medication, call your MD. He/she might elect to switch you to a medication that also contains a diuretic such as hydrodiuril. Have you noticed increased shortness of breath, swollen feet/ankles, etc.? If so, call your MD ASAP.

Hi LadyTonya! The weight management people are (supposed to be anyway) registered dieticians to help you in your weight loss journey..I have seen mine once so far--11 more visits to go. They help you make good decisions when it comes to eating..esp after being banded. Endocrinology is for glands and hormones...hmm not sure on that one, but maybe they want to rule out any glandular problems that would cause weight gain...cause then the banding would be useless. I called my pulm docs office to ask a question and they got all up in arms...they were completely unreasonable! I asked them if I could go to another sleep apnea location (same company mind you) and they told me the doc doesn't read there and I explained that my insurance covered the "other" location and ----they could get me in way sooner than where they wanted me to go...doc promised to get me in asap...and the staff scheduled me for 5 weeks later!!!! Ummmmm, no that doesn't work for me! They were so rude they told the person at the other sleep center that I called them, and the new girl had the nerve to tell me that me getting the sleep apnea test sooner wouldn't get me surgery sooner!!!!!!! OMG....so I explained to her that I could not afford to pay out of pocket and as a patient I had the right to make sure that everyone got paid for services rendered. She was much better after that! I wanted to slap her. My surgeon specifically told me the sooner the sleep test, the sooner the band. Don't feel that you are being a pest......it is your right to see that anything related to your surgery goes smoothly!! I haven't been banded yet, I am like you--I really want this to happen!!! Best Wishes!!! Let us know how you are doing!!

I have recently been diagnosed with mild hypertension (even though I have recently lost 140 pounds with my lapband - go figure) I never had hypertension (high blood pressure) even at my highest weight of 365, but it runs in my family.....long story short, I recently started on lisinopril about 2 months ago and have had a weight GAIN of 15 pounds!!! I have been doing the lap band diet rules and still have gained. I do realize I need another adjustment/fill but I honestly had been "holding my own" or maintaining before the blood pressure pill (lisinopril). Has anyone ever taken it and noticed a weightgain? I am VERY frustrated and have an appt for a fill/adjustment in couple of weeks and so dread my doctor because he will fuss about the gain. Any suggestions? Thanks

Ccfrog4u, believe me, I know this is very difficult. All my Turtles, this is very important. If you have made an honest go at making the Band work, and if you tell me that you have, then I believe you 100%, and the Band still is not working for you, then you need to start demanding answers from your doctors. It is so easy for doctors to dismiss us because we are fat. If we are fat, then obvously we are lazy and good for nothing. (LIES!) If your doctor doesn't know what's wrong, then ask for referals. It might be any number of things, but it is so important to find out what's going on. Do NOT let them push back on you. If more fills don't work, then it's time to get other help. I'm not saying that you might have Cushing's, what I have. Although one of main symptoms of Cushings is weight gain and central obesity (big round body, fat face and a buffalo hump). If you cannot lose weight on a calorie restricted diet, then you need to find out what is going on with your body. This is important!

Mine fit my thumb now!! I'm going to wait til I get to goal to get them resized. I had to resize them because of my weight gain, so I will probably have to get the stones reset instead!!! KInda cool thought, a new band for a new me!!!! ~cheri

Weightloss definitely impacts your hormone levels. BCP definitely manipulate hormones. The connection between the two could be none, or could be all - only your doc can say for sure. I haven't experienced anything hormonal (that I can tell anyway) with my weightloss, but I'm not on BCP, either. However I was on BCP during my weight gain, and had to stop taking them because I starting getting completely spontaneous superficial thrombophlebitis -- in really weird places.

I've read so many times in various threads about people eating super low calories, and it always worries me. And also high fat, high Protein, low carb diets... I wanted to post about the dangers of very low calorie diets and of high fat/protein low carb diets, so here is some info and the sources it comes from: "When you want to lose weight, a very low-calorie diet can seem attractive. After all, the sooner you lose weight the better, right? Well...no, that's not right. Eating fewer than 1000 calories a day can, at best be a short-lived attempt at dieting, at worst it could be a recipe for long term health problems. Your body is not designed to function well on a very low calorie diet. In fact, it goes into starvation or famine mode and tries to preserve essential functions at the expense of the less essential ones. So what happens to your body on fewer than 1000 calories a day? Your metabolism slows down to conserve energy. Your body uses blood sugar, made from carbohydrates, for fuel just as a car uses gas (petrol). Without blood sugar, the brain and central nervous system, as well as other bodily systems, will cease to work efficiently. To try to counteract the lack of blood sugar from carbohydrates in the diet, your body will break down fat, which is what you want, but it will also breakdown muscle and other lean body tissue. Losing lean body tissue can be very dangerous. Even organs can be broken down to use as fuel. Losing lean body tissue can also be counter-productive. Muscle tissue increases the resting metabolic rate. With reduced amounts of muscle, your metabolism will slow. When you come off the diet, increased fat cells will form because your metabolism is slow and so your body needs less blood sugar for fuel. It is also a survival mechanism in case of another 'famine'. With very low calorie diets, an imbalance in minerals and electrolytes can occur, which can be dangerous. These govern the balance of fluids in the body allowing nerves and muscles to function. Osteoporosis can be another danger, especially for women. Often dairy products like eggs, milk and cheese are cut out of a very low calorie diet so cutting out a major source of Calcium leading to loss of bone mass. Anaemia (a lack of Iron in the blood) can also be another risk. If taken to extremes, women can find that menstruation (periods) becomes irregular or stops altogether. A lack of serotonin in the brain can be another problem which leads to clinical depression. You might find that the lack of essential nutrients on a very low calorie diet leads to a deterioration in the condition of your hair and nails. One of the great dangers of this kind of dieting is that you can become acclimatised to it. As your body reduces some of its functions, including those of the brain and nerves, and as depression takes hold due to a lack of serotonin, you can slip into anorexia nervosa - a truly life threatening condition. As mentioned above, when you finally come off this diet, you will almost certainly regain all the weight you have lost plus more leading to yoyo dieting, now believed to be dangerous. Altogether, very low calorie diets are a danger to physical and mental health. They are counter-productive and can lead to long term problems as well as a lifetime of yoyo dieting. It is far better to lose weight safely and slowly on a sensible diet." (source reference: http://www.allinfoaboutdietsnutrition.com/index.php?page=21 ) "Low-carb/high-fat diets pose dangerous health risks and may increase the risk of contracting serious chronic diseases. Studies have linked extreme low-carb/high-fat diets to an increased risk of developing certain disease states, including: • Alzheimer disease • blindness and macular degeneration • some forms of cancer • cardiovascular and heart disease • c-reactive protein/inflammation • metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance • osteoporosis • kidney stones This is due to increased levels of saturated fat and dietary protein in the diet, with inadequate nutrition coming from plant-based phyto-chemicals. [/url]Low-carb diets may increase the risk of birth defects and childhood cancers. Bread, Pasta, Breakfast cereals and orange juice — foods that are “off-limits” in a low-carb diet — are fortified with folic acid, a micronutrient essential to the neurological development of fetuses. The U.S. food and Drug Administration currently requires that enriched grain products be fortified with the essential Vitamin folic acid (the synthetic form of naturally occurring folate, or vitamin B-9, found in many leafy green vegetables, fruits and legumes). Since the fortification of grain-based foods with higher levels of folic acid, beginning in 1999, there has been a remarkable 19 percent drop in neural tube birth defects in the United States. Followers of a low-carb diet do not receive the benefits of folic acid fortification. Low-carb/high-fat diets are not more effective for weight loss. According to studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine and the Journal of the American Medical Association, there are no significant differences in weight loss between low-carbohydrate diets and conventional weight-loss plans. The study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (April 9, 2003) reviewed studies of low-fat diets conducted between 1966 and 2003, and found that weight loss from low-carbohydrate diets was associated with length of diet, pre-diet weight, and the number of calories consumed, but not reduced carbohydrate content. The study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (May 22, 2003) found greater weight loss with a low-carbohydrate diet than a conventional diet during the first six months, but no significant differences in weight were observed after one year.1 Low-carb diets are perceived to be effective because of the rapid, initial weight loss. However, the weight loss is primarily due to the loss of muscle glycogen and Water — not body fat. Loss of muscle glycogen can result in lethargy and fatigue.1 Foods high in carbohydrates, such as fruits and vegetables, are generally more filling — more “bulky” — than foods high in fat, and less prone to overeating. Foods high in fat can increase energy intake (calories) because they are more energy dense, not as “bulky,” and taste good, leaving eaters desiring more and making it easy to over-consume them. A lifestyle that is high in high-fat foods and low in exercise can lead to weight gain. Carbohydrates, such as pasta, do not make you fat. Consistently overeating calories— whether they’re from carbohydrates, fat, or protein — will make you fat. The only genuine, time-tested principle of healthy, long-term weight loss is to take in fewer calories than your body burns. Low-carb diets may cause cognitive difficulties. Carbohydrates are the only source of fuel that the human brain — the most energy-demanding organ in the body — can use. Muscle cells can burn both fat and carbohydrates, but the brain does not have the “machinery” to burn fat. Depriving the brain of carbs means depriving it of energy — and the shortfall can affect intellectual performance, such as memory and cognitive processing.1 Once the body’s glycogen reserve is exhausted, the brain ends up using ketones, a by-product of the breakdown of fat. Ketones are not the optimal energy source for the brain, and their increase in the body has been shown to impair mental judgment.2 Low-carb diets can make people — especially women — short-tempered. A new study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that the brain produces serotonin — which regulates moods and emotions — only after a person consumes sweet or starchy carbohydrates, in combination with very little or no protein. A shortage of serotonin can lead to mood swings and depression. Eating a healthy pasta meal encourages the brain to make serotonin; eating a steak actually stops it from being produced.3 A Healthier Choice According to the American Dietetic Association, the voice of nutrition in America, there are no good or bad foods — only good or bad diets. At “Healthy Pasta Meals,” a recent Barilla-sponsored conference in Rome, Italy, a team of 38 nutrition scientists from around the world concluded that the “Mediterranean diet” is an excellent choice for maintaining overall health. The Mediterranean diet includes abundant plant foods (such as vegetables and pasta); olive oil; dairy products; fewer than four eggs weekly; fish and poultry in low-to-moderate amounts; red meat in low amounts; and wine with meals, in low-to-moderate amounts. A 2003 study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that the Mediterranean diet reduces the risk of death from heart disease and cancer.4" Low-carb/high-fat diets pose dangerous health risks and may increase the risk of contracting serious chronic diseases. Studies have linked extreme low-carb/high-fat diets to an increased risk of developing certain disease states, including: • Alzheimer disease • blindness and macular degeneration • some forms of cancer • cardiovascular and heart disease • c-reactive protein/inflammation • metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance • osteoporosis • kidney stones This is due to increased levels of saturated fat and dietary protein in the diet, with inadequate nutrition coming from plant-based phyto-chemicals. Low-carb diets may increase the risk of birth defects and childhood cancers. Bread, pasta, breakfast cereals and orange juice — foods that are “off-limits” in a low-carb diet — are fortified with folic acid, a micronutrient essential to the neurological development of fetuses. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration currently requires that enriched grain products be fortified with the essential vitamin folic acid (the synthetic form of naturally occurring folate, or vitamin B-9, found in many leafy green vegetables, fruits and legumes). Since the fortification of grain-based foods with higher levels of folic acid, beginning in 1999, there has been a remarkable 19 percent drop in neural tube birth defects in the United States. Followers of a low-carb diet do not receive the benefits of folic acid fortification. Low-carb/high-fat diets are not more effective for weight loss. According to studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine and the Journal of the American Medical Association, there are no significant differences in weight loss between low-carbohydrate diets and conventional weight-loss plans. The study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (April 9, 2003) reviewed studies of low-fat diets conducted between 1966 and 2003, and found that weight loss from low-carbohydrate diets was associated with length of diet, pre-diet weight, and the number of calories consumed, but not reduced carbohydrate content. The study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (May 22, 2003) found greater weight loss with a low-carbohydrate diet than a conventional diet during the first six months, but no significant differences in weight were observed after one year.1 Low-carb diets are perceived to be effective because of the rapid, initial weight loss. However, the weight loss is primarily due to the loss of muscle glycogen and water — not body fat. Loss of muscle glycogen can result in lethargy and fatigue.1 Foods high in carbohydrates, such as fruits and vegetables, are generally more filling — more “bulky” — than foods high in fat, and less prone to overeating. Foods high in fat can increase energy intake (calories) because they are more energy dense, not as “bulky,” and taste good, leaving eaters desiring more and making it easy to over-consume them. A lifestyle that is high in high-fat foods and low in exercise can lead to weight gain. Carbohydrates, such as pasta, do not make you fat. Consistently overeating calories— whether they’re from carbohydrates, fat, or protein — will make you fat. The only genuine, time-tested principle of healthy, long-term weight loss is to take in fewer calories than your body burns. Low-carb diets may cause cognitive difficulties. Carbohydrates are the only source of fuel that the human brain — the most energy-demanding organ in the body — can use. Muscle cells can burn both fat and carbohydrates, but the brain does not have the “machinery” to burn fat. Depriving the brain of carbs means depriving it of energy — and the shortfall can affect intellectual performance, such as memory and cognitive processing.1 Once the body’s glycogen reserve is exhausted, the brain ends up using ketones, a by-product of the breakdown of fat. Ketones are not the optimal energy source for the brain, and their increase in the body has been shown to impair mental judgment.2 Low-carb diets can make people — especially women — short-tempered. A new study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that the brain produces serotonin — which regulates moods and emotions — only after a person consumes sweet or starchy carbohydrates, in combination with very little or no protein. A shortage of serotonin can lead to mood swings and depression. Eating a healthy pasta meal encourages the brain to make serotonin; eating a steak actually stops it from being produced.3 A Healthier Choice According to the American Dietetic Association, the voice of nutrition in America, there are no good or bad foods — only good or bad diets. At “Healthy Pasta Meals,” a recent Barilla-sponsored conference in Rome, Italy, a team of 38 nutrition scientists from around the world concluded that the “Mediterranean diet” is an excellent choice for maintaining overall health. The Mediterranean diet includes abundant plant foods (such as vegetables and pasta); olive oil; dairy products; fewer than four eggs weekly; fish and poultry in low-to-moderate amounts; red meat in low amounts; and wine with meals, in low-to-moderate amounts. A 2003 study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that the Mediterranean diet reduces the risk of death from heart disease and cancer.4" (source: http://www.barillaus.com/Dangers_of_LowCarb_Diets.aspx ) Take care of yourselves! and research the effects of your choices!!! XO Leila

I am a sleep Lab technician, and I also have sleep apnea. So does my husband. My husband suffered 4 heart attacks, by-pass surgery, and now has a pacemaker because of the damage done to his heart. We didn't know he had sleep apnea until after the by-pass surgery. The damage had already been done by then. He now sleeps with his CPAP every night and even during his daytime naps. After his heart surgery and before the CPAP, he was going to his appts. in a wheelchair. Now he is fishing again, even 4-wheeling on his good days. He still has a damaged heart, but he feels so much better with his CPAP. The reason the physicians want us to have a sleep study done is because you can run into problems during and after your surgery. If you have sleep apnea, not only do you have respiratory events where you have no air flow, but your oxygen level can go down drastically. That leaves you open for blood clots, heart attacks, strokes, etc. My physician says he has almost lost some patients right after the surgery because of untreated sleep apnea. I have watched oxygen levels go to 59% in some patients, and their heart rates go down into the 40's. That's not healthy folks. Sleep apnea can cause so many things in our body, from depression to weight gain. How about that? Headaches, irritability, problems concentrating, decreased sexual drive, just to name a few. sleeping with a small nasal mask is such a small thing compared to sleeping with a pacemaker or oxygen or even becoming paralyzed with a stroke. There are many companies that make CPAP masks and you don't have to wear the first one the medical supply company fits you with. Shop around, there are even nasal pillows, which is what my hubby wears now. Much more comfortable. Gel masks are great too. I tell my patients that wearing a CPAP is like sticking your head out the car window or riding in the back of grandpa's pickup truck. Sure it's aggravating, but like the others have said, once the weight goes, the sleep apnea is controlled even better. Having sleep apnea won't kill you, but letting it go untreated will cause some major damage and will kill you eventually. Reggie White (NFL player) was diagnosed with it and after his death his wife said he refused to wear the CPAP. Watching someone come in who has it and hear them say after they are titrated "WOW, I feel better than I have in years!" the morning after is the best part of my job!

I had lost a bit before surgery like 50lbs which put me a little under i beleive 37. My docotor just asked me if I was sure I wanted this and I said yes for future weight gain. Im in NV so I think your safe as they say loose 10% before surgery!! Kepp up the good work !

We had my youngest sons birthday party today and we had such a good time. The whole family was here and the kids made out like bandits. All my kids got gifts "just because". My least favorite is an electric guitar that is very noisy and annoying. But the kids love it.. My dd said something that crushed me today after everyone left. I was fixing dinner, and she said "mom, I don't want to eat tonight, I want to shrink my tummy." I was like What? Why I like your tummy. She then tells me that Nana and her step aunts (nanas dd's) told her she needs to stop eating so much so she can shrink her tummy. This pisses me off beyond belief. I am quite aware of my childs issues, yes i think she can lose weight but I am not going to tell her she needs to stop eating to lose it. I also don't agree with putting that kind of thoughts into a 5 YEAR OLDS head.... I am going to take a step back and look at the whole pic. My father, yes I love him but I have always felt that he did not support me like he should because I was overweight. He left us as kids for months at a time, we didn't know if he was dead or alive. As a child I always felt that I was the reason my dad left my mom. He left when I was two weeks old because of another woman. When my dad was around he would make hurtful commits about my weight that were not incouraging or supportive. I wonder if that played a roll in my weight gain and addiction to food? My dd looks up to her aunts, and her step grandmother (who is the same age as me I might add). They are obsessed with looks. Nana allows the girls to "advertise" with the way they dress. They both have shirts that say things that I would not wear as an adult like "size does matter" and "this shirt looks better wet!" I don't know they are just such snobs that I don't want there opinions about body image effecting my dd happiness. My daughter is thick but in no way is she fat. I do see some signs that tell me she is not eating only when she is hungry. And I am battling those demons, everyday. We are changing our whole family, begining with me. I want our family to HEALTHY not skinny because its the thing to do. My dd will alway be bigger than others her father is 6' and her mother is 6'2. I just want to scream "STAY AWAY FROM MY DD"

We had my youngest sons birthday party today and we had such a good time. The whole family was here and the kids made out like bandits. All my kids got gifts "just because". My least favorite is an electric guitar that is very noisy and annoying. But the kids love it.. My dd said something that crushed me today after everyone left. I was fixing dinner, and she said "mom, I don't want to eat tonight, I want to shrink my tummy." I was like What? Why I like your tummy. She then tells me that Nana and her step aunts (nanas dd's) told her she needs to stop eating so much so she can shrink her tummy. This pisses me off beyond belief. I am quite aware of my childs issues, yes i think she can lose weight but I am not going to tell her she needs to stop eating to lose it. I also don't agree with putting that kind of thoughts into a 5 YEAR OLDS head.... I am going to take a step back and look at the whole pic. My father, yes I love him but I have always felt that he did not support me like he should because I was overweight. He left us as kids for months at a time, we didn't know if he was dead or alive. As a child I always felt that I was the reason my dad left my mom. He left when I was two weeks old because of another woman. When my dad was around he would make hurtful commits about my weight that were not incouraging or supportive. I wonder if that played a roll in my weight gain and addiction to food? My dd looks up to her aunts, and her step grandmother (who is the same age as me I might add). They are obsessed with looks. Nana allows the girls to "advertise" with the way they dress. They both have shirts that say things that I would not wear as an adult like "size does matter" and "this shirt looks better wet!" I don't know they are just such snobs that I don't want there opinions about body image effecting my dd happiness. My daughter is thick but in no way is she fat. I do see some signs that tell me she is not eating only when she is hungry. And I am battling those demons, everyday. We are changing our whole family, begining with me. I want our family to HEALTHY not skinny because its the thing to do. My dd will alway be bigger than others her father is 6' and her mother is 6'2. I just want to scream "STAY AWAY FROM MY DD"

Kat, Thank you thank you!!! Hmmm how I lost the weight. Oddly, I am just not hungry anymore -I only eat when I need to. Somehow (and its even strange to me---I don't feel like snacking either!) I also gave up soda...down to only one cup of coffee a day (if I even drink the whole cup!) and have been hitting the water bottles. All those changes = 4 lb weight loss this week. I am curious now to see how long I can keep it up...trying to set a personal goal to keep doing this until I get my surgery. Oh yeah I am also a couch potato, but decided that everytime I get tired to force myself to go outside...i rake or weed the garden...anything to keep me from napping. I decided napping = weight gain. Oh and I joined fitday.com and sparkpeople.com.

Did you spend the night in the hospital? How long were you on IV fluids? I spent the night and was on IV's the whole time. My understanding is there is a lot of glucose in them. Between that and the constant intake of fluids, weight gain is going to happen. I weighed 7 pounds more when I left the hospital than when I went in. The good news is, that weight will probably come off in your first week at home.

Boy, I am sick of not losing! Got down to 212 in May, been between 214-221 ever since! I know it is my own fault because of poor food choices and lack of sufficient exercise, but I can think of a million excuses why I haven't been doing the right thing! What do I do to find that initial motivation..? I am right back to the mindset I had before surgery - I'll do good today, but then by lunch I've gone and screwed up again!!!!! Well, nothing else to do but try, try again... New measurements as of July 15th Weight - 215 (-51.5/surgery) Neck - 15.25 (-1.25/Jan.7) Upper chest - 42.75 Chest - (no bra, largest area)- 45.5 (-4.5/Feb.27) Rib cage - 39.75 Waist 1 - (big pooch #1)- 44.75 Waist 2 - (at navel) - 43 (-3.5/Jan.7) Waist 3 - (pooch #2) - 46 Hips - 44.25 (-4.75/Jan.7) Thigh - 25 (-2/Feb.27) Calf - 16.75 (-1.25/Feb.27) Upper Arm - 12.75 (-1.75/Feb.27) Wrist - 6.75 (-.75/Feb.27) Pounds lost - 51.5 Recorded inches lost - (-19.75) (forgot to measure prior to surgery!!!) 12/5/05 - Dr. Les Miles - B'Ham, AL Filled to 2.5/10cc Inamed Band Goals 1,2, & 3 - priceless!! 4th mini-goal - oh, well...win some,lose some 5th mini-goal - no weight gain this month? Labor Day Goal Life Goal: 150 (maybe)