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DebSom hello hello hello. We are going to be friends, let me be among the first to apply. We have a few things in common, Don't feel you're too old for this venture, I am 72, will be 73 on December 26th. CW323 down from a HW of 355, officially 5ft8in, still believe I am 5ft 11in, well I was before menopause collapsed my spine, which gives me BMI 47+. so we are pretty comperable in this undertaking. I am widowed for nearly 6 years, 3 children only 2 living, my son who lives with me and his older sister RD short for Rotten Daughter who speaks or interacts with me every solar eclipse or so. Every family has one, I guess I gave birth to mine. As an example I called her to tell her I was planning bariatric surgery, she immediately turned the conversation around to herself and her problems. I tried again,i called her by her first and middle names, now when my parents, her grandparents did that I ki,da shrivled inside, I knew it was tongue-lashing time, I said " Did you hear me? I am going to have bariatric major surgery in Columbus before summer? Her answer " Oh, whatever!" and this point I had it, I said"Whatever right back at you!" and hung up. I could have told her I was going to crouch over a buzz saw and expose my lady parts to the blade and got the same reaction. Sad, isn't it? My son on the other hand is super-supportive, much more than his late father would have heen, but alas there lays another story all together. What brought me to surgery? Well that it is multi-faceted. The latest was the 30 lb weight gain in one month. I had been seeking surgery since August 2015, just before I turned 70,when I realized I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. Many of my high school classmates were dying I could feel my body starting to slow down in earnest and realized death might be in the cards for me as well. I have had arthritis since I was 25,2 knee replacements,every joint in my body hurting. Do I sit down,lie down and let the Angel of Death claim me as his own? No I came into this world, screaming at the top of my lungs and fighting mad. I won't leave without doing the same. The red(well strawberry blonde) head is natural and so,is the temper, I never will go gentle into that good night(sorry Dylan Thomas, I do apologize), In August 2015 I took myself to Columbus and applied for admission to a Bariatric Program, found out my,current insurance UHC would cover such a thing. Was doing everything requested, had completed 5 of the 6 mandated nutritional sessions when my job terminated in January 2016. Tried to Cobra my insurance over, it would have taken $700 of the 900 I would now receive from Social Security. Oh I still looked for another job, but who hires a 70 year old fat woman when there are young slender chicks-babies available? So with a heavy heart and tears in my eyes I just didn't return . Never did formally resign. Found out just this year, Medicare's requirements were much less stringent, I had completed all of theirs and could have had my surgery February 2016. I littered along trying to keep on losing weight, think I kept gaining the same 5 pounds. Early last fall I asked my PCP for some assistance. See I'm bright enough to know nutrition etc but I was getting nowhere but older. Dr Carroll, is a heck of a nice guy, he's in his mid40s, when I get peeved at him I call him Junior, but still pretty good doctor. He agreed to prescribe phenteramine, to aidmy diet endeavor & oh I tried, cut,my portions down gave up sodas, stopped eating carbs, are so much salad that i felt like a farm animal. Went back after a,month to be weighed, not only had I not lost weight, I gained 30 pounds. Had journeyed,my weight diet,is My Fitness Pal, so he said back to the Bariatric Surgeon with me. Although all body systems were reading normal or low normal, I was still a loaded time bomb at this age. So I humbled myself, went back to the Bariatric Surgeon and went,through the whole program again,including one extra one I hadn't done before Everything was done the third week of January, so I proceeded to wait 1st week,of February- it's in the,pile and hasn't been worked,2nd week- we found up,and are submitting it 3rd week- yes it's back, stop calling, we'll call you with a date. Everything looks fine? Well things are not as they seem. February 20th I received the call, the 3 surgeons,in the practice had themselves a little meeting and voted to a man, to decline my surgery. I'm going Whha What do you mean? Something screwy, the psychologist turned in to them a declined evaluation. This woman, in front of,my adult son told me I had passed everything perfectly and shook my hand, wishing me Well on my future surgery. My son even remarked as we left "Gee Mom I bet you're glad that is over, now we can move on" Her assessment now- I am psychologically and emotionally unfit and lack the,mental capacity to understand the risks of surgery. Geesh, why not say I stink too? Oh I refute it all, I have an IQ off the boards, have been eligible for MENSA from the get go, have no understanding? I have been mentoring "newbies" from the time I signed into BP, I not only understand it, I can explain it all. So I cried my eyes out for a few days, then my temper kicked in. How dare they try to siderail my plans? Was I going allow a piss-ant group like them to put me down? Sorry for the term but I was country-raised and we say that. At this point I may have stomped my feet like an enraged skunk but I resolved to move forward. They weren't the only game in town so I called the other 2 Center of Excellence programs in Columbus Ohio and booked time in their seminars. Went to one at Ohio STATE university hospital-Wexner Medical Center on March 9th,fulled out an application, a release of information, made sure all those credits would transfer, and returned home. Less than 5 business days OSU called me back, they were very interested in me, would I please come for a 2 hour psychological evaluation/consultation with their staff psychologist Dr Kramer on April 25th, 6 weeks away but I didn't care, I said YES YES YES. I had a wonderful exam with him, don't remember the last time anyone wanted to talk two hours to me. Not only did I pass but he gave me papers for the next steps. On May m I meet for what I call the trifecta appointment, I meet with my case manager, nurse practioner, and dietician- okay,i figured it for a Hi Nice,to meet You meeting, now I'm not so sure. There was another poster on here meeting with the same professions of people, she said it is her presurgical appointment, perhaps just perhaps it will be mine also? I'm,living now with this hope! Now you know most,of the Frust8 story, still want to be my friend? I do hope so, there aren't as many,of us well-ripened individuals as the young ones on here and I'd like a "peer" to talk to.😜 Also I will,be a RnY bypass when my surgery comes.

I would say "Don't worry, you'll be able to eat all those things," but I don't want it to sound like encouragement! No but truly, you will probably be able to eat most foods you loved pre-op once you have recovered from surgery and your stomach heals. The decision to NOT eat those foods is when the real work begins, because eating around the surgery is self-sabotage and will probably lead to weight gain. Post op, I really miss 3 things: pizza, diet soda, and cake. I mean, really. LOL, sometimes I obsess about those things but I make a choice not to eat them - otherwise, why did I have this huge surgery? My desire for cake, etc, hasn't disappeared, but I'm more motivated to lose weight than I am to buy and eat that piece of cake from the bakery. Post-op, I spend a lot of time thinking about food -- food I should eat and food I shouldn't eat. It's a battle every single day to make the right choices. Thank god I had the surgery to help me along - otherwise, what's the point?

Hi Ladies, I am sorry to hear about the struggles and weight gain. I am right there with you! Mostly, I have been at the same weight for the last two months. I'll gain a few pounds and then struggle to lose it. I'm headed in for a fill soon. But I am looking at all the tickers showing all the weight loss. And I think about what that means in clothes size! I bet most everyone has lost 3 clothes sizes! And I think about where I was at last year and will take the slow progress. Hang in there. I am trying to up my exercise. i am registered for the SF half marathon in October. I'd hoped to loose more weight before then. I'll walk a lot of it but its a good goal for now! xoxo Melissa

I cant seem to lose alot of weight. i have notice that i have gained 5 pounds this month and i need help i have only lost 40 pounds in nine months

Why the attack? The poor thing obviously didn't get much support from her doctors office and ate what she thought that she was allowed (Cream soups were allowed for me early out...I had creamy potato in the hospital after my second surgery). I also gained not twenty, but FOURTY pounds in the first five weeks, so it's not impossible. I gained it because of my complications causing fluid retention, then on TPN in hospital (IV's etc). There's another thread where the poor gal posted her sisters tragic story and this same thing happened. She got beat to death when she just needed to share her story and was looking for help. If you don't believe the gal, WALK ON BY! Why do you have to beat her up. I also did not have a leak test at the hospital. They are not a 100% guaranteed test given to everyone. What your doctor does Dawg is not what every doctor does. I see this time and time again here, that people boast they have the "top surgeon" one of the "top ten" and yet I see so many names of docs in that top ten that even my 20 years in banking is not necessary to see that there are over ten top tens out there LOL This gal wanted help. Leave her be if you're only here to beat her up. Do you also stop and punch homeless people when you walk by you negative posters? Walk by!!! OP, I was allowed cream soups and things as well but I was limited on the amount. For instance 18oz is just way way way too much for anyone when we're talking cream based soups (or any soup really) and they are calorie packed. I'm wondering if you maybe need to work with a different nutritionist? Or also if you do have surgical issues to worry about. Did something go wrong? That could explain a weight gain. I hope you get to the bottom of it and I'm sorry that you got goober here. People on this site don't like to read about the bad stories. They make it very clear and unwelcome sadly It's human nature I guess, but for those of us who suffered them, it's also very real and our stories should be heard as well. Intelligent people do want to hear them!

Of course over eating is a cause of weight gain. I must have miss understood you when you said "but some of us didn't eat unhealthy food to get to this weight".

Okay, interesting about weight gain. I have just had my sleeve for about 4 weeks. Converted from lapland. I can hardly get anything down, and I get satisfied. Obviously, I better enjoy this "honeymoon" because it appears the ability to eat more and want more creeps back in. Best to all of you for getting back on track. YOU CAN DO IT!

I feel EXACTLY the same about looking at my pre unfill weight gain photos too. We can do this, WE CAN and we'll be THAT hot again.

Update: I have bottomed out again and am in a major relapse of my eating disorder, triggered by surgery and fear of weight gain. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hi All, My name is Holly. I'm 46 (actually had to think a bit before I remembered!! - Just shows I really am 46!), have been married to the same wonderful man for 27 years, and have a beautiful, kind, intelligent, hard-working 16 year old daughter. We are a homeschooling family living in southwest Louisiana and I am a licensed florist - currently unemployed by choice. I'm get tired of talking about my weight gain/loss/gain/loss/gain history so if it's ok I'll just post my stats. highest/surgery/current (total loss) 400+/403/343/ (-60) (Edited because I forgot to say some things)

Hi All, Had my surgery Jan 16th, had problems signing in to be a part of this group...finally able to get in to comment. I've been following along since beginning of Jan....so much good info from you guys!!! It's helped me alot!!! I'm down 22 pounds as of this am. Was 23 lbs, but gained a pound this past week?? My visit with Dr. last week went real well. He's pretty much cleared me to eat anything now, stating everyone is different and your stomach will tell you if you shouldn't eat it. Wants me to weigh in once a week instead of everyday. I asked about calorie intake, he's more concerned about protien instead. I've been having a very hard time getting protien in. Cannot drink shakes, tried all of them. Thought I'd do good on Clear Protien water....nope too sweet and I gag when I drink it. Finally found Fairlife Core & Core Elite (from reading comments on here). Also gag now with water!! Never had a problem with water before 3 weeks ago...now it's a struggle. Ice chips work instead. This past week I tried tuna fish!! It goes down easy and high in protien....I find I'm craving salt! I started eating Saltines, letting them "melt" in my mouth. Thinking I maybe eating too many since I have a weight gain this week.(?) I have 2-3 at a time....about 3 times a day. My average calorie intake is 520 or less. Staying within macros guidelines. So I'm a bit upset about the weight gain, since calorie intake is so little. I walk a mile and a half everyday. Ride bike for a mile and do some strengthening excercises for upper body 3 x's a week. I thought I'd be down a pound[emoji53]. Had the 3 week stall, got through that. Thanks to all of you talking me through it![emoji4] I have found I really need to push my plate away, taking the one more bite throws me over into "stuffed", therefore getting that pain where esophagus meets stomach. And boy-oh-boy it hurts!! I'm finally getting a handle on how much my new belly can hold. Thank you all for the good advice you've posted. We are in this together, and you do get me through stuff!! Sent from my SM-G960U using BariatricPal mobile app

I remember going to my Doc at 260lbs, and telling him I would like surgery to cope with my drastic weight gain-a few years back. He told me "Why don't we put you on a diet low in calories (yea right..never thought of that before), and increase your exercise." Uh, huh. Excercise. At my weight...exercise is cleaning my kitchen floor, walking from the parking lot to the university, and doing laundry! There is a new day on the horizon. This is for all of us-because we are still alive! Joan

I will admit that I still want to look good on the outside... so that is a reason. But also, and mainly, I am tired of being tired. I have always been an active person and since the weight gain, I just don't have the energy. I have terrible sleep apnea and really, really want my cpap machine to go away. I have reflux that I would like to go away also. I love clothes and can't wait to fit into cute things again. Sorry y'all. I am not as advanced! I want to be cute again!

Perhaps a counselor would help. food addiction is very real and very powerful. There is plenty to "fear", like weight gain, band slips, and health issues. But I don't think fear will help you. Addiction isn't rational and fear rarely plays a role in it. Just like a crack addict knows it can kill them, the fear of death isn't strong enough to tame the addiction. Food addiction is no different. Find a good counselor that deals with addiction, I really think it would help a lot.

Besides my husband and my kids. I have decided not to tell anyone in my family. I have been really upset that they have badgered me about my weight gain and have made it very difficult for my to even want to be around them. What I find so insulting is that they are all extremely overweight but because my parents were both thin they assumed I should be as well. I hate also when people say that getting wls is the "easy" way out. How is it easy? I have give up almost everything and learn to re-eat and get treatment for learning how to stop overeating and go through the pain and struggle of doing without any support. If that is easy, what is hard?

If you're *just* over into the obese range and hesitant about Lapband, have you considered trying a medical weight management program first before surgery? They will prescribe you rx diet drugs and have you on Optifast for several weeks, which may be enough for you to get into the normal range. That would be my first go-to if my BMI was around 30. My friend had Lapband 6 or 7 years ago and is still going strong, for what it's worth. No weight gain, no problems. She does have to go and get it filled some or unfilled on rare occasion, which seems like a huge pain.

Hello all...and thank you for all your well wishes! We had the first appointment today... all went well. Still too early to hear the heartbeat (7 weeks... due 4/25). They said I'm in perfect health to deliver at the Birth Center (which is all holistic..run by midwives) She even said I have the BP of a runner!... yeah I'm thinking... you see the size of my rear?? I dont run!! HA! I'm having bouts with nausea and I get tired pretty fast...but I went to my chiropractor and got adjusted and feel 100% better. They also have no worries about the band and pregnancy. They just want me to visit my Dr and have him write up a little note saying that he agrees to treat me as needed if any complications (too much restriction) arise. So far so good... I'm able to eat small meals...and quite alot at times. I still have good restriction but I'm able to eat without any trouble at all.... meats, breads... everything goes down fine. I'm a little tight in the morning with my cereal but I'm able to eat a cup with no problem. And funny thing is... I'm craving proteins! Mostly cheeses. And all of a sudden I hate fish and seafood... something I've always LOVED! Very odd... I didnt weigh in today so I'm not sure where I stand with gain/loss... and honestly... I'm really not worried too much. Dont get me wrong.. I dont want to gain nearly what I gained with my first pregnancy (nearly 80 lbs) but I'm looking to have a normal, healthy weight gain. I'm still walking and just trying to take good care of me and the baby!

Hi all! Been quite a while since I've been on here... Was doing well with the weight loss... Even started running! Then I suffered a back injury... Had surgery 3.5 weeks ago. The back issue lead to depression which lead to more weight gain... And so on.... Hoping the surgery was a success so I can get back on the right track!

I made it through christmas week and being on vacation. No weight gain which excites me next fill Jan 2

TO ALL, You are all right!!! I am a obsessive weigher!!!! LOL!!! I weigh in the morning.....I weigh after work....I weigh before bed!!! I wish I could say I would only weigh ONCE a week....but I would be lying to you guys!!! LOL!!! Lizrbit, I would blame it on that....but I have been sooooo regular that I have a hard time believing it. I usually am not.....so I always blame weight gain on that but this week I deserve a prize for that!!! LOL Laura, I am prepared for water gain....I take a diuretic every night to take care of all that water that I drink!!! Legster and Mini, I know I shouldnt weigh every day but I am crazy and obsessive about everything!!! Maybe I should throw my scales away!! I hav 3 in the house!!! See I told ya I was a little crazy!!! LOL!!! If I did that then I would be at the Walgreens at 8 am weighing on there scales....and at 9 pm!! LOL Sandra 255h/242s/206c/165g

i started in may received my band june30th i have lost 53 pounds total and six sizes yet im frustrated that i bounce back and forth 2 or 3 pounds for weeks at a time but now my dr gave me water pills and i lost 6pds in less than a week but my friend says i only lost it because of the water pills can that be true other than that im excited i fit my husbands large sweatpants and xl tshirt how does the size compare what size would that be in womans

The hardest part is getting your head in the game and keeping it there for the long haul. It isn't a situation of getting an "easy ride" with the surgery then being able to resume a fun/frivolous life. Just like with diets, that will lead back to weight gain--by doing the same things that got us a lifetime ticket to the Obesity Ball in the first place. So, even though I want to go out and party like it's 1999 in my new skinny body, I don't. I stay down on the farm and do my daily work. I eat the right things. I do the daily exercise. I work on my head/relationships/spirituality/relaxation, etc.

Let me add my point of view. Surgery is not the solution it’s a tool. Those same issues you lacked self control over pre surgery will be there post surgery. You must be willing to put in the work to optimize your tool. I’m close to 11 years post op. I went from 384 to 210 with my surgery. 6 years in I stalled and put in the work myself and went from 210 to 164. How did I do it? I spent time in counseling. Learning how to love me. Resolving issues that caused a negative relationship with food. Every once in awhile they will pop up. But investing in healing has saved me. I didn’t need a cheerleader in the process. I needed someone to hold me accountable. I didn’t want sympathy for making the decision to eat crap. Call me out on my sh*t. I got rid of those who wanted me to fail and created a healthier circle of people who wanted me to succeed. I recently put on 20 lbs. I didn’t get depressed. I earned every pound gained. I knew where I slacked. I let Coronavirus get me. I owned it and set a plan that didn’t include starving. Currently down 10. Clothes fitting again. Plan to be back at goal by Thanksgiving. The decision to have surgery is extreme. And it’s going to take extreme responses to give you a reality check. The reality is you’re going to have to put in the work to lose the weight post op. And that requires being called out on behaviors that may have need brushed under previously. It’s hard but it’s needed. Hit me up anytime on IG: @bariatricbutterfly. I work with women atleast 3 years post op experiencing weight gain and want to gain control on working their tool.

Depends on the goal weight you're talking about. The one I tell my team to prove that I have a realistic understanding of what my surgical outcome is likely to be? I punched in my numbers to an online outcome calculator, rounded down so that they had the opportunity to gently adjust my expectations. I don't remember what this number is, because I could not care less about it. The one I use for my usual calculations and plans at this stage? I used an ideal body weight calculator (there are a number of different equations) and picked the highest version to be realistic. The secret one that I rarely admit or factor into planning? It's the one above, minus 10% of the amount of weight I would have lost at that body weight to buffer against expected weight gain. I doubt I'll reach this one, it depends on how I feel and whether plastic surgeons have a minimum weight requirement. I dunno, it doesn't really matter all that much at this point. I have no idea how much weight will come off from plastics and top surgery, how much weight I'm stuck with because it's extra bone or organ tissue that supported my fat body, and how my transition would realistically affect those calculations anyway.

Melody - Yes! Oh my Gosh - I forgot to add that part - during my Fluro ( GAG!! ) with the 1.5 gone, i had NO restriction what so ever, so hence , the weight gain. They put 1 back in, an i was totally blocked! lol so she put in .5, and all is well now - Very well SOOOO glad to be back!!