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Hi Sandee! If you have the financial resources and having the surgery won't burden your family financially, then DO it!!! I knew that I would have to battle weight gain, weight loss for the rest of my life and THAT depressed me. My weight is coming off slowly (normal for us low BMI folks) but at least I know now that once off, always off. As far as your friends and family thinking your crazy, that's because there are so many misconceptions about surgery in Mexico (or anywhere outside the US for that matter). I didn't tell anyone, including my children, for at least two weeks afterward. Only my husband knew and he supported me completely. A lapband is simply a tool---not a simple tool though. It's taken some getting used to for instance, when I talk and eat, I don't chew well enough and it gets lodged in my smaller stomach (stoma). It's pretty uncomfortable when that happens. Also a little scary----don't want to hurt my band, stoma, or waste money. Also, I can't eat breads anymore for the same reason---pain. But hey! Go figure that I can still eat chips and salsa! I am so glad because before the surgery, I wasn't sure if life was worth living if I couldn't eat chips and salsa. I'm grateful for that. Everyone is different with what they can and cannot eat after surgery. I can eat soft cuts of meat just fine with no problem if I remember the rules of the band----eat slowly and chew, chew, chew-----take small bites----don't drink fluids with the meal (this is not only because you will somewhat negate the reason for the band in the first-place but also because the fluid will make the lump of food get stuck in the stoma opening--ouch!!!). Lettuce sometimes gives me a problem but popcorn does not---nor do nuts (chew well). I also keep jerky in my car for moments of perceived starvation! Did you know one whole package of jerky only has about 550 calories!? Lots of sodium but who cares. It's a good way to get your protein and requires you to chew it completely before swallowing. I know a lot of people have problems with eggs but I don't. The band takes a lot of getting used to and I am still learning. I'm glad I did it though. Remember, if your friends and family are giving you slack now----just don't tell them. Don't lie, just keep the secret to yourself until you start seeing results. The lapband way of life is not the easy way out that some people think it is. It's actually a lot harder than a normal diet ------but it's permanent and that's why I did it. I don't know if this ranting has answered any of your concerns but I'm open to keeping the dialog open so you can feel free to ask away! There are many really smart, and funny, people on this board with many varying experiences in lap-band world. It's a good idea to keep checking in to learn from them all. Stay plugged in after surgery as well. We are all here to support each other in this journey. My opinion----GO FOR IT! You won't regret it!

OK, I'm on my second week of mushies (surgery May 23rd) and ever since I lost the initial weight gain after surgery (went from 207 before surgery to 215 day after) I have not lost anything. I go up and down the same two or three pounds. Anyone else had this same problem? I have one full week left on mushies and then on to real food for two weeks before I get a fill. I am discouraged even though I keep telling myself that I am only in Bandster Hell but is it normal not to lose anything when you aren't eating too many calories? Seeking reassurance. :think

Well today is one day away from having to weigh in after 2 whole weeks. It has been driving me ......to eat...not crazy. Yeah I will blame any weight gain on them. I am exciting and scared to weigh in. I am glad I walked this weekend. 3 miles at Haines Point with Kee was not easy. Thank God for sending one of his angels, a fiesty, older lady who could out walk us decided not to walk with her 2 daughters but with us. She talked and she walked and talked and walked. Finally she decided to leave us near the end but if she had not been with us I would have said Kee I need to slow down and would have. This woman kept our speed up. Also, everything was going on at the park. There was a triathalon going on, there is a swimming pool down there. There was a 10k training going on and it had to be about 200 people doing that. Then there were the usual walkers and joggers and all of this was going on at 7:30 am. Sunday morning I knew I had to walk so I text Kee again and she said where. I thought PGCC would be good because the track was resurfaced but then I started thinking about the sun. So I said Watkins Park, which is what she said on Saturday. Then she said well let's walk around Fed Ex Field, you don't know how big that things is but I got to her house got out the car and we were stretching. I said are we going to be in the sun the whole time and she said pretty much. I said let's go to Watkins, I can't do it. After not walking for a few weeks, daily, I was not motivated to walk in the beeming sun, after walking yesterday and know how I was struggling....oh no. We went to Watkins and the trees were just a tall and blocked out ALL the sun. LOL There are 2 spots on the trail that does not have tree coverage and that sun was beaming. 3.4 miles done in comfort. That girl has more energey then a jumping bean. sat sm salad, pickle egg salad steakum/cheese 1 bread slurpee med 4 crackers spoon of peanutbutter fried egg 1 cheese few doritos McD sundae,pie 580 cal sun 2 fried eggs 2 cheese 1 1/2 sausage 8 M&M's hamburger/ 1 cheese Roast Beef soup hershey bar w/ almonds cereal sundae/pie 580 cal

Well today is one day away from having to weigh in after 2 whole weeks. It has been driving me ......to eat...not crazy. Yeah I will blame any weight gain on them. I am exciting and scared to weigh in. I am glad I walked this weekend. 3 miles at Haines Point with Kee was not easy. Thank God for sending one of his angels, a fiesty, older lady who could out walk us decided not to walk with her 2 daughters but with us. She talked and she walked and talked and walked. Finally she decided to leave us near the end but if she had not been with us I would have said Kee I need to slow down and would have. This woman kept our speed up. Also, everything was going on at the park. There was a triathalon going on, there is a swimming pool down there. There was a 10k training going on and it had to be about 200 people doing that. Then there were the usual walkers and joggers and all of this was going on at 7:30 am. Sunday morning I knew I had to walk so I text Kee again and she said where. I thought PGCC would be good because the track was resurfaced but then I started thinking about the sun. So I said Watkins Park, which is what she said on Saturday. Then she said well let's walk around Fed Ex Field, you don't know how big that things is but I got to her house got out the car and we were stretching. I said are we going to be in the sun the whole time and she said pretty much. I said let's go to Watkins, I can't do it. After not walking for a few weeks, daily, I was not motivated to walk in the beeming sun, after walking yesterday and know how I was struggling....oh no. We went to Watkins and the trees were just a tall and blocked out ALL the sun. LOL There are 2 spots on the trail that does not have tree coverage and that sun was beaming. 3.4 miles done in comfort. That girl has more energey then a jumping bean. sat sm salad, pickle egg salad steakum/cheese 1 bread slurpee med 4 crackers spoon of peanutbutter fried egg 1 cheese few doritos McD sundae,pie 580 cal sun 2 fried eggs 2 cheese 1 1/2 sausage 8 M&M's hamburger/ 1 cheese Roast Beef soup hershey bar w/ almonds cereal sundae/pie 580 cal

Hi Carlene, My weight gain came during the pregnancy of my first child. I gained 50+ with my first, 30 with my second and 20 with my third. In between the pregnancies I gained and lost. Unfortunately, I gained more than I lost. I think being under 130 is fantastic. I would be thrilled to be there. It is people like you who give those of us just starting the journey hope that we can succeed. As far as PS, if I am financially able to get a TT, breast lift down the road than I will. These are the 2 things I definitely think I will need to be comfortable with myself. I know I will never had that pre-pregnancy body. I can live with that. I will be happy just to feel better and fit into my clothes. My NSV is to be able to tuck my shirt into my pants without my stomach hanging out.

Hi everyone, I thought I'd share this interview which was on AOL Wellness today: Awaken Your Fat-Burning DNA Dr. Mark Hyman discusses the interaction between genes & weight-loss. Listen to Dr. Hyman's Podcast Dr. Mark Hyman, author of 'UltraMetabolism,' talks with AOL's Book Maven Bethanne Patrick about the role genes play in your diet and weight-loss plan. Here are excerpts from the interview: Bethanne Patrick: Oh, it's great to talk with you and this is so exciting. Your book is about nutrigenomics, can you explain to us what that is and then we'll talk a little bit more about your background. Dr. Mark Hyman: This is a whole new wave of medicine that's emerging based on science and nobody's hearing about it. It's really how food talks to our genes and turns on messages of health or disease, weight loss or weight gain, and it's called nutrigenomics. Bethanne Patrick: Wow that's something I don't think any of us ever really thought about. Is that why I love bacon so much? Dr. Mark Hyman: Probably not. I don't know if it's sending the right messages. Bethanne Patrick: So explain to us, when you say 'food talking to your genes,' what kinds of messages are you describing? Dr. Mark Hyman: Most of us think of our DNA as sort of locked in our body, waiting to be passed onto our children, but in fact your DNA at every moment is interacting with your environment, interacting with every bite of food you take, interacting with your thoughts, your feelings, and various things, so when you take a bite of food, literally, the information -- beyond the calories in the food -- goes right into your cells, into your DNA, and switches on genes, or turns off genes based on what information is in that food. Bethanne Patrick: So, DNA is interactive. Dr. Mark Hyman: It's like the software for your body. If you are not giving it the right messages to start the gene activation that leads to your metabolism, it's going to lead to weight gain and disease. The whole book Ultra Metabolism is based on the notion of this revolution in medicine -- that if we live in a way that's in harmony with our genes, we can fit into our jeans. Bethanne Patrick: You use the analogy that putting the wrong food into your body is like putting diesel fuel into a regular car. Dr. Mark Hyman: Exactly. I mean, would you think of feeding your dog French fries, a Big Mac and a Coke? No. We know that there's something wrong with [feeding] that to a dog. Yet we feed that to our children. These foods are not what [we have] adapted to from an evolutionary point of view. So if we live in a way that's more akin to how our bodies were designed then everything takes care of itself. Bethanne Patrick: Tell me about how you found out about nutrigenomics and ultra metabolism. Do you have a lot of experience in this field? Where does it come from? Dr. Mark Hyman: Well, I always call myself the accidental weight loss doctor because I never started out seeking to help people lose weight. People came to me with health issues, and I saw people who tried everything. My job was to be a medical detective to figure out the underlying causes of their problems. When I took care of the underlying health problems based on this new science nutrigenomics, the pounds took care of themselves. People just lost weight, without even trying. For example, yesterday I saw a woman who came to see me in November because she was tired and fatigued, had digestive issues and had many, many, many other issues and she was overweight. Three months later she came back and she lost 37 pounds. Bethanne Patrick: Wow. Dr. Mark Hyman: I didn't even recognize her and I didn't tell her to lose weight. I never tell people to go on a diet or lose weight, I said 'here's how you eat in a way that works with your body, rather than against it' and when you do that the natural intelligence and wisdom of the body takes care of the rest. Bethanne Patrick: [What are] these seven myths about obesity? What is the starvation myth? Dr. Mark Hyman: The starvation myth is the idea that if we eat less and exercise more we will lose weight, and unfortunately, when we do that, when we starve ourselves or restrict our calories, we trigger a primitive survival response that drives us to compensate by overeating. We all have the experience, for example, of starving yourself all day, skipping Breakfast, light lunch or maybe not at all, and then you get home and what happens? You clean out the refrigerator. Bethanne Patrick: Exactly! Dr. Mark Hyman: And then you feel sick. Of course, we've done that over and over again. Now the first time you might do it you might think, 'Oh well, I shouldn't do this again because it's going to make me feel sick.' But how many times have all of us done that? Why? That's how our bodies are programmed. So if you eat less than your basic needs, if you starve yourself, you'll always backfire, you'll gain the weight back, and you'll probably gain back even a little bit more. People gain an average of five pounds for every diet they go on. Bethanne Patrick: The second one is the calorie myth. What's that about? Dr. Mark Hyman: If you look at how calories actually work in your body, different foods have different properties beyond [their] calories. For example, if I [drink] a Coca-Cola which is pure sugar, it goes straight to my bloodstream. It turns on messages that make me gain weight. If I eat a diet that's full of Fiber and whole foods that has the equivalent amount of calories it has a different effect. Doctor David Ludwig, one of the top scientists and researchers in obesity in the world at Harvard, did a study with three different groups of kids and gave them three different breakfasts: oatmeal, field cut oats and omelets, exactly the same calories. What's fascinating is that the kids that ate the oatmeal were hungrier, they ate 80 percent more food that day and their biochemistry was different; their cholesterol was higher. Bethanne Patrick: Really? The oatmeal eating group? Dr. Mark Hyman: Oatmeal enters the bloodstream quickly. The omelet group had sort of a slow-burn effect. In other words, the calories were released slowly into the bloodstream and they didn't trigger these hormonal responses and these genetic responses that trigger us to eat more and be hungrier. Bethanne Patrick: The third one is the fat myth. Dr. Mark Hyman: The fat myth is the idea that if we restrict fat we will lose weight. The Women's Health Initiative shows us that low-fat diets don't really help. And I think that the real important point here is that it's the type of fat that you eat that makes the difference. I think one of the things we don't realize is that if we eat a diet full of trans-fat or the steak fats that are in processed food, it really goes to a part of our genes, turns on messages that make us gain weight, that slows metabolism, that makes us have more inflammation, that makes it more likely that we get diabetes. If we eat the right fat [like] Omega-3 from fish oil, flax seeds, walnuts and seaweed, they will turn on the genes that make us lose weight. Bethanne Patrick: The carb myth is sort of is the same thing. Dr. Mark Hyman: I say to people that carbohydrates are the single most important thing you need for long term health and weight loss. That goes in the face of what a lot of people are saying right now. The reason I say that is carbohydrates are the source of all the Vitamins and minerals and what we call phytonutrient or plant chemicals that help us stay healthy. Things like fruits and vegetables, whole grains, Beans, nuts and seeds -- these are all carbohydrates. Bethanne Patrick: But they're good carbohydrates. Dr. Mark Hyman: Absolutely. It's the ones that are processed and refined and full of sugar that are bad for us. Bethanne Patrick: The sumo-wrestler myth is about skipping meals. Love that name. Dr. Mark Hyman: Yeah, well sumo wrestlers are made, not born. The way they're made is actually the way most Americans live. Like a sumo wrestler, they wake up, they may skip breakfast, they do a little activity and then they eat a huge meal and go to bed. When you skip breakfast and eat dinner before you go to bed, you're going to gain weight because your metabolism slows at night. When you fall asleep with a full stomach you're guaranteed to gain weight. Bethanne Patrick: The French paradox myth is myth number six. Why is that? Dr. Mark Hyman: Well, we think that the French are healthy and don't have heart disease because they drink wine and eat butter, and that's not true. Actually, they're getting more sick and more overweight because we're not only spreading Democracy, we're spreading obesity across the globe, including in Europe. What they used to do was eat real unprocessed and whole foods. Bethanne Patrick: So that's the key -- the unprocessed. Dr. Mark Hyman: They ate fresh food. They went to the market place every day and walked, because that was how their villages were set up. They also enjoyed their food. They didn't have the two minute lunch, they had the two hour lunch, and when we have pleasure and enjoyment with food our digestion and metabolism is geared to burn more calories than when we're stressed. When we eat at our desk, we're actually going to shut down our metabolism. Bethanne Patrick: The final myth is the 'Protector Myth.' What is the protector myth? Dr. Mark Hyman: The protector myth is the notion that government regulations and policies around the food industry out there is helping us to stay healthy and protect us from harm. I think that's unfortunately a very sad notion. The food industry makes up 12% of our gross national product and employs 17 percent of the labor force. And it spends 33 billion dollars a year marketing junk food to consumers. Only 2% of the 33 billion dollars is spent on marketing fruits, vegetables and healthy food. We're in a crisis because the only thing you can buy when you go on the road is food that's highly processed, devoid of all nutrients, that's full of calories and that actually turns on genes that make you gain weight and get sick. The entire food industry – the restaurant industry, the diet industry, hospitals, drug industry -- everybody profits from people being sick and overweight. The whole system's backwards. We need to stand up for policy changes that can help, such as getting junk food and vending machines out of schools and stop advertising of junk food to children and so forth. Bethanne Patrick: If people are interested in this, where can they go to get more information? You've got a great website. Dr. Mark Hyman: Yeah, www.ultrametabolism.com/aol, they can actually download a free sneak preview of the book. I've convinced my publisher to offer this online which allows people to get a sneak preview. If they're interested then, they can go ahead and get the book. My DVD is available for the UltraMetabolism PBS show, which they can watch on their local stations or get a copy as well. Get More Health Advice Mark Hyman discusses how to achieve greater health and vitality and lead an age-defying, disease-free life. Listen to Dr. Hyman's Podcast Interview Podcast Interview: Read Your Body's Manual How Does Inflamation Affect Your Weight? chocolate and Other Fats to Help You Slim Down Watch UltraMetabolism Video & Get Special Offer Buy ‘UltraMetabolism' Get More Health Advice From Dr. Hyman Find More Self-Help & Wellness Interviews More Tips and Advice From AOL Coaches

i'm not for trying to beat the system per se, but what marimaru said is very true and worthy of more national discussion: isn't it just as "immoral" to go and push your weight up even more just to qualify for WLS? immoral to continue abusing yourself when you know that it's wrong? i believe so. that's why we need to push to make medicine more preventative, WLS included! lapbands are just as revolutionary and life changing for those who want to reverse a (quite often) yo-yo weight gain at 50 pounds as it is to reverse a 200-pound one. many people who are within 50-60 pounds of their goal weight are hanging on my their bare knuckles! and if they know themselves and their life-long struggle, that's a PRIME reason to 1) have the surgery and 2) make insurance companies and the FDA understand that stepping in to relieve the pressure, pain, and possible (inevitable??) climb to a higher weight is good medicine.

Please read my post again. I did not condemn the woman who needed to lose 68 lbs. I said I didn't know her story. Looking at her it didn't appear that she had weight to lose. I was only wondering about the choice. Did she do everything before taking such a drastic step, or did she do the surgery as a first attempt? I worry that this surgery is getting so popular that we will be having it for not the right reasons. I have been fat all my life and have suffered with every weight gain, every diet, every lb gained. I am not judgemental about those that have less to lose than I or haven't experienced all the gains and losses. What I was trying to express is that this is a major decision. It shouldn't be taken lightly. I don't think we should put teens through this until other avenues have been tried. To that end, the insurance guidelines are helping, in some cases. There will always be those that can afford it on their on and not need the insurance. There are those that need this surgery to live a healthy life. I can't judge anyone, nor do I want to.

I'm with em1125, I wouldn't reroute my stomach and intestines for weight loss. Too many complications and a much higher mortality rate than with the lap band. I have a friend who has had RNY and while she tolerated the surgery and recovered well - she lost about 90 pounds - in the past 4 months she's put 40 pounds back on. That's almost half of the total weight she lost. Who knows when the weight gain will stop. She's rearranged her insides and she's back in the obese category. At least with my lapband, if I regain my weight I won't have messed with my insides and have to deal with malabsorption of nutrients, etc. FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. Talk to another surgeon. In fact, talk to several surgeons. Get a wide range of experience and opinion before you make your decision. It seems like a lot of work but, honestly, do people buy the first car on the lot they look at? Or do they look around a bit first and make sure it's the car they really want? This is your body - you only get the one. Make sure you do what's best for it.

Great thread, Wheetsin! I totally agree with Amy, "FunnyDuddies." A huge part of the appeal of the lapband , for me, was to limit or stop the continual weight gain. I didn't want to develop the co-morbidities. Also, the idea of banding teens to prevent MO is really interesting. It could completely change their lives. Sho, that is so frustrating to have the rapid weight gain as a side-effect of life-saving treatment. I do know what that is like, and it totally sucks! I thought it would be temporary because it came on so fast, but even years later, it is still hanging on. But even so, I am so grateful to be alive! At least it looks like you have your weight back down again. Personally, I fudged 1/2 inch on my height on my initial application. When I went to my first appointment to be weighed and measured, I stood tall and to my despair found out I had shrunk 1/2 inch and my height was correct. Karma!

omg, you are me. i am a very well educated and professional individual. i too struggle with the whole house thing because of my perfectionism. i don't like to 1/2 clean and if i can't do it right, forget it. my closets are mostly empty and the stuff is cluttered all over the house because...i'm not shoving it in the closet. How insane is that? Clean, mostly empty closets and clutter everywhere. i'm not sure how this would apply to my weight gain history though. I think mine is for different reasons other than perfectionism. Anyway, glad to hear that there is someone out there who feels the same way as I do about having two selves.

I admit I did it... but I was also self-pay. The surgeon I went to see first wouldn't even consider doing the surgery (self pay or not) if you weren't 40 BMI or 35 with co-mortalities. He wouldn't even consider high cholesterol or high trygliserides or an immediate family history of diabetes and heart disease. My insurance had an exclusion so it didn't matter what my BMI was they weren't paying for it. I was desperate because I had struggled for so many years and all the diets and exercise and hard work just got me about 30 pounds more each year. I wanted and needed to stop the weight gain... for my health. I went to another doctor and he also said the same about the 40 or 35 BMI so I added clothes and rocks and heavy shoes... I was 5 pounds shy of the 40 BMI they needed. I later found out that my new doctor was way nicer and would have done it without the deception. He made exceptions for self-pay that the other center wouldn’t. I asked them but didn’t ask again because they told me it was the law. (it was a law I was willing to break – kind of like speeding) I'd do it again in a minute. I couldn't take another day of failing at diets, which really just felt like failing. It was a daily struggle not to let my weight balloon 100's of pounds out of control. <!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o></o> Since I was self-pay I don’t feel too bad about it.

I'm new to the forum. I haven't had the surgery yet. I went through the whole process of evaluation, etc. a few years ago and didn't have it done b/c insurance wouldn't pay. Then, I lost some weight going to WW and exercising A LOT. I was cycling several days a week including 5-6 hours on Saturdays. Then, at 38, I found out I was pregnant with my 4th child. I gained a reasonable amount of weight, but have had difficulty taking it off -- I'm one of those people who loses about 10 lbs of baby weight naturally and the rest may as well be regular weight-gain. So, now my son is 16 mos. old and I am still struggling, so I'm going to give myself the surgery for my 41st birthday. I want to be healthier and live a long time! My son will be graduating from high school when I am almost 60 -- I want to be here and healthy. I'm looking forward to getting information and support from others that have gone before me. Thanks in advance!

yes, prednisone is a corticosteroid used to treat, in my case, asthma and rheumatoid arthritis. I do not take it all of the time....but I do take it a lot. One of the side effects of steroid use is weight gain...and I am concerned as to how that will factor after lap band surgery. Thanks for the responses so far.

Okay, so here's a thread for us. My story to start us off. Was overweight/obese my whole life. When I look back at pictures of myself as a young kid (7-8), I am surprised that I didn't look as fat as I thought back then. But by adolescence I definitely was. Had some hard life stuff (Mom got cancer when I was 8, friend in high shool died sophomore year, dad had stroke sophomore year of college, got diagnosed with PCOS, lost a few important friendships) - each contributed significantly to my weight gain. Then I just got so big, I felt like there was nothing I could do. I just ate worse and worse, because I felt so trapped. I was banded about 5 weeks ago. I have lost a good part of my weight, still have a ways to go. I now find myself constantly looking at my body, trying to figure out what it is going to look like. Unlike lots of bandsters I see on boards who are 30+, I am not married. I worry about my body, about whether I will need plastic surgery, about if I will feel comfortable. About dating after losing weight but before PS. About doing this forever, even though I feel confident. About keeping this weight off forever. About what happens if I lose my band. About the fact that at 22, I'm really going to jump in and start my life, and whether or not I'm sorely behind. So anyway, there's my story. Here's my stats: 9/28/05 (1st consult): 333 4/17/06 (2nd consult): 318 5/2/06 (Surgery day): 315 6/9/06 (today) : 278 Goal (I think) :170

I had 1cc put in 3 weeks ago, and no restriction. I had a talk with my doctor two weeks ago, and he told me to come in last week for a fill. I decided to keep my appt. and go in today. I am exercising. (see additional thread as I have a question about it) I am dieting. Eating at least 1000 calories a day. 30% carbs, 40% Protein and LESS then 30% fat. (nutrionist wants my Calories UP my Carbs UP and my fat DOWN - so I shoot for that goal every day, which is a choar in it'self) I saw the doctor on May 18th. and today is June 8th - three weeks ago. May 18th - 227 June 8th - 220 I have worked my butt of. I work harder at this everyday then I do anything else. It is a focus and a driving factor of my life. I do not have a problem working this. I have a problem with how freaking consuming it is. AND - I have done this before. This is the pattern of Yo Yo dieting. I am NOT interested in fighting for this like this for much longer. I see burn out and most definetly when I hit a platue. Keeping in mind I do not have restriction - and worry that when I get decent restriction, I will not be able to eat what I eat now to make the numbers my nutrisionist wants to see me get. Now I have only been shooting for the numbers she wants since Saturday - June 3rd. The entire month of May was a loss as far as my weight loss goals are concerned as a I spent the month yo-yo'ing on the scale and fighting to loose, maintain, then loose the 3 to 4 pounds I managed to find back on my behind. Is anyone else fighting for their weight loss like this? This is nutz. Then I spoke with a another patient of my doctors - she said when she was discussing the band vrs RNY with him, he said that more then the majority of his patients he bands come back requesting it be removed and he complete the RNY on them. So she is having RNY. When I spoke with him and made my decision, I wanted the RNY - he pushed me towards the band. I know it was ultimately my decision, but with his advise and information, not to mention his pressure, I went with the band. Now I have regretted it for a very long time. The band is great. Once someone gets restriction. The band is also for someone who over eats. (my husband - who can eat a huge pile of food on his plate, go back for seconds, then clean my plate and the kids plates) He also has a great metabolism and works in a high active position at his job. His weight gain is slow and he is just now in need of doing something about it. The band will do wonders for him. I was a small eater before. I am one now. My metabolism is shot due to this crash I caused. I would like other's opinion, and most importantly, is anyone else having to work this hard as well? Today I will discuss starting the procedure for RNY. I do not think I can take a year or so of this, and then with Ins, have to fight for the surgery like I did the past two years.

Hi all, Well, today I ate a 1/2order of burrito/refried Beans for lunch today...very full, but NO slimes, NO PB's and NO chest pain. Yeah...maybe this will be the sweet spot for me...1.2cc. Dancer...I've noticed just today that my port is "pulling" a little after having it "messed with" yesterday at the unfill. I suppose it readjusts with any changes in that area...exercise, weight gain, weight loss, snug clothing on top of the area, etc. so it kinda makes sense that you'd be having lots as you increase your workout routine!! Way to go!! At least now, you won't have to "worry" about that little "TUG" from time to time. (P.S., the lady that did my unfill said she speculates that its related to increases in body temp...take it or leave it!) No cheetos needed today...or crackers! Just a nice, nourishing, satisfying 1/2 order of Mexican fare!!! It has been a good day!!! Nanster

Well--I'll give you my first account experience of this...so far. I was banded on April 18, 2006--have been doing VERY well--had lost 25lbs. A week ago, I discovered I was pregnant (fourth child). You have no idea the shock and frustration and yet at the same time, the joy. I've been nauseated a lot lately--but I haven't vomitted. I never received a fill, so I won't until 6 weeks after the baby's born. I have slight restriction but am able to eat a fair amount of food. My doctor said he'd be pleased if I eat about 1800 calories (of healthy foods)/day. He said that the baby would be fine--even if I lose weight in pregnancy because I'm overweight--he said that the baby would get what he/she needed first and then I would get the rest (calories/nutrition,etc.). So--another adventure--another chapter in my book of life....I just PRAY for no or minimal weight gain. I've been exercising a lot, so I know this will help. One thing I know--I don't want my tubes tied after this baby, I want them cut out, burned, and thrown into the dead sea. Bless you all--

Hey Anne... Been there... (((Hugs))) Good luck with you fill... crossing my fingers that this one will give you a bit of restriction! Without restriction it would be pretty darn normal to have weight gain unless a fairy sprinkled you with magic dust that took away the issues leading to being banded in the first place. Let us know how it goes!

Kashia: I am so sorry to hear you are going through this. Unfortunately I am currently on the other side of that decision. I waited on having mine removed almost too long. If you are still getting liquids and mushies you should be ok for a while. I lasted about two months between being diagnosed and having to go in for emergency surgery because by then I had been five days unable to even get liquids. Not trying to scare you, I think maybe I was a worse case type scenario. I had to pay for both surgeries my insurance wouldn't cover anything whatsoever even though it had become life threatening. As long as you can get liquids and mushies you should be ok, it shouldn't cause damage. Check with your Dr's though. I chose to have it removed as I am too financially wounded now to have been able to do anything about a third surgery if something had gone wrong. The hospital charged me full price same as original surgery, anesthesiologist the same. My surgeon didn't charge as it happened in the first year. I had the tighter time around my cycle as well. Yet another lovely signal of womanhood. How far along are you in your pregnancy? I think they don't really know what causes slippage, there are a lot of theories and speculation. I know I followed everything too the letter and still wound up with slippage. My band was never loose though at any time which resulted in internal swelling at the outset which caused me to be unable to keep down even my saliva. That lasted about three weeks. My Dr. said that it wouldn't have caused the slippage later. I suspect my slippage occured about the time I had my fills. (.3 the first, .3 the second, two days later had to have .3 removed, couple weeks later another .1 removed. No improvements over next couple months, went in for barium swallow & was diagnosed with slippage) ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????? As for weight gain, I am dealing with exactly that problem. It sounds as if you had time to be a true bandster and develop some good habits however. If you do have to go the route I did please hang on to those good habits. Best wishes, Tuff

Linda ~ Sorry to hear about PMS. Yucko. :tired I'll be joining you next week. Don't worry about the weight gain. Concentrate on following the rules. Now, you remind me of this next week, O.K.? I've heard some say they feel more restriction when it's that time. Let me know if you experience any tightness or such. Hi Myra ~ Well, your just the little lap band trooper!!! Good for you my friend. Yipee.....15 lbs....WTG!!! I don't have much to complain about either. I keep looking at the weeds that need pulled, but I've been a chicken to get out there b/c of DeAnn pulling her port muscle. Maybe I'll stick gloves on my boys and direct them on which ones to pull.

I am still pretty nervous about the whole thing in general. I am a nurse, so a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. Surgery always seemed like such a sell out for me, personally. My sister had gastric bypass and looks horrendous. Hair loss, skin sagging and generally unhealthy. On the flipside, my sister in law had the LB and looks phenomenal. I don't even know if my insurance will pay for this procedure, so that is another subject. The one thing that seems to bother me is the lump that you can feel just under the skin (the port?). My sister in law let me feel it, and I have to admit, it creeps me out a bit. I would be excited to put weight gain behind me once and for all. I am so frustrated with yo yo dieting, and all the strenuous psychological and physical work that I have put in over the years.

I am hoping to be ready to start maintianing my weight by fall and would like to hear if any of you have a maintenance plan and if so what it is. I discussed this with my Dr. at my last appointment and we decided that we would start removing small amounts of fill until I was maintaining. This is what I wanted to do but I am having second thoughts. I don't think this will happen for a few more months. Even though I am close historically it has taken me a while to loose the last 20-25 pounds so it is not like it is going to happen tomorrow. I am just trying to think ahead because I have gone to my goal weight twice before in the last 12 years and managed to gain it back. The first time I maintained well for one year and then gained about 12 lbs. per year for the next three and then gained 25 lbs. the fifth year. Lost 61 pounds, but managed to gain back that 61 + another 25 before I stated looking into the lapband. The second time I started gaining it back as soon as I stopped "dieting." I am determined not to do this again so maintenance is on my mind these days. The thing is I don't diet at all with the band. I eat whatever I want; I do Protein first so I get full and don't ever want much else. I don't count calories and I don't use fat-free or low-fat, etc. Two things that were likely big issues to my weight gain in the past were 1) alcohol and 2) Dr. Pepper. I haven't had a Dr. Pepper or any soda for that matter since I was banded on 8-11-2005. The alcohol is another story, right now all I can say is that it is much better.

I been paranoid about complaining.. but if I dont make the thread, it doesnt count.. lol A note about whining... I have a ton of possitive stiff I could write about.... but, its the crappy stuff that I feel compelled to write about because I am working through it, I am figuring stuff out, I am LETTING IT all out, ..... I think it helps me. I am sorry if anyone feels cruddy over it. This is not how I feel all the time or in total... BUT feel free to say anything you want to me... I am not looking for attention, but I welcome it. Dont ever feel like you have to hold back. I hate to think of that happeneing.. anyway. ................. Dont mind the highlighting, i did that for my notes... sorry. BAD times. I have lost about 100 pounds. I have alot of mixed emotions. I am not myself. I didnt exspect myself to change mentally as much as I have. (I wont go into all of that now) I have this crappy mood. I KNOW I have lost 100 pounds and thats a good thing, and I should be celebrating and trying my new bod out.... But, instead... I have stopped dating. (I had a blast, BTW. I am single, and happily) I have stopped going out. ( I am down 95% of my normal outside time) I have stopped trying to look nice. (I wear my old pants, so baggy they fall off, that used to be something I would never tolerate, now I dont care) I hate my body. (and I thought I hated it before!) I feel discusting. It was just fat, now its nasty blobing deformation. I dont like my picture taken like I did when I first got the band. I dont even get naked in front of my kids anymore. (tub, changing, ect..and thats crazy cuz I WOULD never have self consciousness with my children in the normal frame of mind as I see it as real real low.. IT is NOT cuz I cant handle all the new things.... blah blah I have not experienced anything yet. I hide in my old clothes. I dont talk about my process much at all (embarrassed how slow I am loosing due to all the complications and $ troubles) I Dont want to say "I lost 100 pounds" and have so little to show for it. Its simply cuz I feel I look discustingly ugly.... I feel worse now about my looks than I did before I lost the weight. Plus I am dissapointed too. Plus I am worried about what will happen to my mood when I loose the next 100 pounds.. (making me a 200 pound fatso) I got used to my body. It was 400 pounds and It wasnt pretty. I did not look good by any means. BUT I was used to my body and I had accepted it and did the best I could with it. I was extremely self conscious, constantly 'fixing' myself. (But I hid it, lol) The things I had to worry about were: My skin was very white and streachmarks everywhere, I think I might have let the fattness go,l but the white streachmarks were really bad. I could not tan (didnt work) and self tanning stank and make me sweat. I didnt go fully naked ever. I had things to cover me up, just as much as needed. It took alot to show my legs, only to good frineds cuz they were very blobby, huge blobs... I wore capris that just hid the bloobs, always worried about them riding up. My ankles were normal thank goodness. My upper arms are deformed. They always have been the worst thing that happened to me with my weight gain. One of them has this ridge thats seriously abnormal, and sleeves never fit. I am poor, or else I would never wear anything but long or 3/4 sleeves... But I had to make the best of it, It was a constant thing worrying about if my arm fat was hanging out in a gross way. I mean there are certain levels of FATTNESS that should be contained! It was my duty to the world. GAWD MY upper arms have tortured me for so long.. My lower arms are normal as can be, (making them look even weirder!) My back, butt, fathump... So I dont have a butt, my actual buttcheeks are the size of the palm of my hands. I have what we call the 'fat hump'.. its a hump above my butt below my back, that HURTS like heck to be touched.. and I have the extra set of boobs on my back, literally big Double D boobies... Its all I can do to keep my bra strap covering them so they are as little as possible, it rides up unable to contain the boobies in back, but that didnt stop me from adjusting myself every five minutes, my back boobs so embarrassing. I hide them at all cost on important occassions.. other times, I HAVE always been shocked, never got used to how I looked when I caught my reflection sitting, By back as big as by front.. Double chin, when I went from 350 pounds to 400 pounds, THAT was a real noticeable change, no matter what I did, I could not hide it... It was too much, my face engorged all the time.. It really bothered me, alot. ok........ all that stuff, I got used to. Yeah, I hated it, obsessed over it, but It wasnt a big deal.. I call it FATTIE maintenence, its just what I did.. I didnt seem like a big ordeal at all.. ITS NOT that I want that body back.!!!!!!!!!!!! ITS not that I want to be 400 pounds instead of 300 pounds.. I DONT. I would never want to go back, NOT at all.. This is my body now, and I am NOT used to it.. I dont know what to do with it... but hate. It was surpose to be great. I HAVE LOST 100 pounds, HELLO.. I never thought it would happen, I dreamed of it for so long.. (I do have lots of possitives, but I am not in that place rightnow) ...My skin is still white and streachmarked.. But it is also, brown in spots, puckered, wrinkled, pock marked, blotchy and red pores all over. The pores and pocks and such used to be streached out I guess loooking like my actual skin, now they arent and parts of my body are corroded looking (they are not corroded, nothing could be done about it, its mostly pores from years and years of being clogged and cleaned, just like a face.. YUCK) This is mostly happening in my thighs and butt area. It all hangs, but not down so much as inward. When i sit, there it all is, my inner things squishing up inbetween my legs.. I have this 'cool' (lol) way of sitting, Its hard to explain..but it was my best way to 'hang out' 'look ok' 'relax'.... And now when i do it, all I do is expose all the blobulating fat in all its glory.. (this makes me LOOK, and feel FATTER.. BTW) Also, I have this really nice swim dress for the ymca, and it covered me just enough so that I didnt need to wear capris like I always used to... NOW, I hang below the swim dress.. I can feel it swinging back and forth and giggling all over.. IT looks like a massive vagina (the lips) inbetween my legs.. the swim dress still covers it I HOPE.. I cant enjoy my suit. (plus its too big, lol) OK, along with all of that... I have folds and creases with their own folds qnd creases.. It started out with one, and I proudly showed it off.. I use cleansing wipes when I go to the bathroom aslways, and it was my little ritual to use to wipe and clean my new blobs crease cuz It needed more cleaning than my regular bathing...... So, NOW.... I cannot afford that many wipes (they are a luxery as it is) and they smell and a few times now have developed rashes and they make me want to vomit to feel them. I Dont even know where they are all anymore. I have stopped paying attention, I dont look.. I cant imagine anyone touching me with all these creases in the way... THESE creases and folds make me feel fatter than EVER! My double chin is still there.. BUt theres something worse than a double chin.. its this droopy look to my face, especially around my cheeks and mouth.. that looks so off.. No one else can notice it, but I'm in the mirror enough to know its wierd looking.. I look older, I think it will get even worse. I STILL want to look like me. Everyone says I would be brittney spears if I was thin.... NOT (I never thought so).. everyone will FINALLY see what I have been saying all along, I AM UGLY! (FAT AND ugly) MY UPPER ARMS... I dreamed of the days I got some normalcy back in my upper arms, not to have to constantly worry whats hanging out my sleeves. .............. Oooooooooops, i didnt think about how worse it would be to wear sleeves, how all the fat has sagged downward instead of a big bunched up ball... so, I feel worse all the time.. it looks alot worse, it makes me feel fatter! iT MAKES ME look fatter too. One thing I like is to hold my arms up and let the fat sag to my arm pit (a fold or two here) ONLY then can I look at my arms and happy that the huge bunched up deforemed balls are GONE.. I am glad about that.. I love to giggle my LEDGE thats a slope now... My back... IS awesome.. ... WOW WOW WOW.. My back boobies have sagged into my sides, under my arms.... My bra easily holds everything in and doesnt ride up and the nightmear of adjusting constantly is over.. I walk by the mirror and look at my backside and think.. WOW, I am Skinny.. lol If I had one of those support back bra things, I could easily look as if I never had boobies on my back! The only other time I can think this is looking at my wrists and ankles. They are tiny.. way noticeable.. BUT, there is my stomach... OMG.. of course I never liked my stomach, but this is feeling like a deal breaker. In its tranformation, It only makes me look and feel fatter than ever. To look at me, or for myself to look down at me... its just a mass of fat all over the place, add my back boobies under my arms, my arms larger than ever, and my inner thighs with no where to go but my lap.. My lower stomach sits on my lap like a foot lower.. I swear it will end up at my knees.. plus it hangs over the sides of my legs too, in all its creases. It feels wrong, parts of my legs I always had access to, are covered in tummy and moist and need releif by lifting my tummy. One thing I didnt have to do much was lift my tummy, IT doesnt feel right and I have an aversion to it. I had this really tiny upper stomach that sat just under my boobies and was maybe a couple inches a roll.. my lower tummy held it there. NOW, it has not only dropped way below my breast line into "tummy area" but it has seperated into two parts and is traveling to the left.. I do sleep that way, so I guess thats why.. I am totally lopsided gravity not for me.. Oh, the bloobs on my legs.. have gotton smaller.. BUT they are drooping and I can no longer contain them nicely in capri's... THAT make me happy, to manage capri pants.. I dont want that luxery to have to end. OH.. and damn my boobs.. I have always hated them, always wanted a reduction.. always dreamed of little titties..... I was DD at age 12. For years they been deflating.. BUT now I cant maintain clevage.... they are wrinkled too.. suddenly I care about boobs! I wish i had appreciated them all those years! Whats a fat chic with out clevage??? ................HUmmmmm, is that all.........?? NO... BUt I bet no one has even read this much of my drivil.. Oh well, its for me anyway... ..... So, thats how and why I Do not feel as good as I had hoped to after loosing 100 pounds.. Also it was a big mistake to think I would be like I was before at 300 pounds.... I was 18 yrs old.......... DUH, it wont be the same.. And YES, I KNEW my body would sag and bag.. I know how people need plastic surgery ecspecially when starting out at 400 pounds.. I thought I was prepared for it.. I ALWAYS said "I will never look good" "I will look hideaous" "I will never be 150 pounds due to flab skin alone"........... BUT THAT WAS OK, anything is better than being over 200 pounds overweight... I am surprised at how I feel. I didnt know I was so vain. I knew I would never look good. I was being realistic I thought. Being able to get back surgery, and better health is GOOD enough. I will never have the funds for plastic surgery (unless I marry a guy who has some credit, a morgage?? something..,.. but thats unlikelly) Imight get my tummy done medically nessesary (I HOPE) (I have the whole rashes thing,, (everytime I get one I take a picture and file it on my computer, I can get rid of it in two days, but I wanna be prepared to show evidence.. Also I am more and more incontinent, I guess from the hanging belly) and Maybe my legs... I cant imagine the mess if I lose another 100 pounds, it would be medically needed for sure.. I WANT MY ARMS DONE!!! wahhhhh anyone know of a reason medically necesary for flabby arms.. (back pain??) and my boobs of course (a dream) I saw a pic of a butt.. hanging flab after 250 pounds lost, she didnt care to get it done, IT WAS SOOOOOOOOOO GROSS.. and I KNOW it will happen to me.. yuck. NO one will call that needed. I cant even imagine my Fupa's problems.. god I wish it would just shrink! I am on goverment medical so its unlikely, but I plan to do medical transcription or a call center after my back surgery.. so MAYBE some kind of insurence will cover it... ????? I have serious doubts about loosing another 100 pounds anyway.... I have a bad feeling my band is good for this 100 is all... I hope I am wrong.. I think my whole bad attitude would change for the better AFTER another 100 pounds... I hope.. I just cant trust my self these days... it does NO good to KNOW yourself so well, if your gonna go and change! lol ..........

:girl_hug: I 'm not banded yet and have many questions. Some people who have had gastric bypass do not change their eating. They strech out their pouch, and regain their weight. Is this possible with a lap band? I know that if it is removed there is danger of weight gain, but is it possible to gain weight with a band?