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Do you know what all an endocrinologist tests for? It’s not just hypo and hyperthyroidism, right?? I am in maintenance and struggling big time. I feel like the only way to maintain my weight is to be on a diet (and hungry) for the rest of my life cause I add in a few calories and I gain. I feel like there is something going on with my hormones that my primary doc is missing. I see him today and plan to ask a lot of questions. Just wondering what conditions cause weight gain that I should be questioning him about.

yes - it would be a huge mistake not to wait. A vast majority of people put on 10-20 lbs after hitting their lowest weight. You really need to be at your final weight - and stay there for a few months - before investing in plastic surgery. A weight gain or loss of more than 10 lbs or so will affect your results.

To each their own. One person's "rush" is another person's lifetime. I booked my PS consults ONE WEEK after reaching goal weight (7 months after WLS). Had the actual PS surgeries 7 months later, (14 months after WLS)...and only because it was the earliest he could get me on his schedule. He (nor the other 3 surgeons I consulted with) had any time requirement to be at a stable weight. In fact, I lost another 12 lbs by the time surgery came around. At the time, my surgeon seemed to be more concerned about further weight loss after surgery than weight gain, at least in theoretical terms of how the skin at the the incision lines *may* have an undesirable "pucker" look depending on how your the scars heal. He said a 10lb loss would probably have more undesirable look-effects than a 20lb gain...but again depending on how your scars heal. In terms of weight gain, he said possible effects would be widening of scars (again depending on how you heal, AND how much you gain). I figure if I gain or lose weight in the future, and don't like how it looks, then I will do whatever I am prepared to do at that time to address it then. Maybe I'll have to re-tool my diet/exercise to "re-fit" my skin, maybe I'll have another surgery, maybe I won't care. But TODAY, I am completely and totally happy with my decision to get what I got and the timeline it was performed. Bring on bikini season!!! Do what makes YOU happy and what is in your means to do so. Good Luck! P.S. I am really excited for you though...PS is a GAME CHANGER.

Has anyone else taken this for depression and noticed weight gain. I added it about a month ago and have gained a couple pounds. It’s supposed to be weight neutral according to my dr?? In all fairness I have been eating more but it’s almost as if the medication is making me more hungry.

This will do... The most commonly consumed slider foods include pretzels, crackers (saltines, graham, Ritz, etc.) filled cracker Snacks such as Ritz Bits, popcorn, cheese snacks (Cheetos) or cheese crackers, tortilla chips with salsa, potato chips, sugar-free Cookies, cakes, and candy. You will notice these slider foods are often salty and cause dry mouth so they must be ingested with liquid to be palatable. This is how they become slider foods. They are also, most often, void of nutritional value. For weight loss surgery patients the process of digestion is different than those who have not undergone gastric surgery. When slider foods are consumed they go into the stomach pouch and exit directly into the jejunum where the simple carbohydrate slurry is quickly absorbed and stored by the body. There is little thermic effect in the digestion of simple carbohydrates like there is in the digestion of Protein so little metabolic energy is expended. In most cases patients in the phase of weight loss who eat slider foods will experience a weight loss plateau and possibly the setback of weight gain. And sadly, they will begin to believe their surgical stomach pouch is not functioning properly because they never feel fullness or restriction like they experience when eating protein. The very nature of the surgical gastric pouch is to cause feelings of tightness or restriction when one has eaten enough food. However, when soft simple carbohydrates are eaten this tightness or restriction does not result and one can continue to eat, unmeasured, copious amounts of non-nutritional food without ever feeling uncomfortable. Many patients turn to slider foods for this very reason. They do not like the discomfort that results when the pouch is full from eating a measured portion of lean animal or dairy protein without liquids. Yet it is this very restriction that is the desired result of the surgery. The discomfort is intended to signal the cessation of eating. Remembering the "Protein First" rule is crucial to weight management with bariatric surgery. Gastric bypass, gastric banding (lap-band) and gastric sleeve patients are instructed to follow a high protein diet to facilitate healing and promote weight loss. Bariatric centers advise what is commonly known among weight loss surgery patients as the "Four Rules" the most important of which is "Protein First." That means of all nutrients (protein, carbohydrates, fat and alcohol) the patient is required to eat protein first. Protein is not always the most comfortable food choice for weight loss surgery patients who feel restriction after eating a very small amount of food. However, for the surgical tool to work correctly a diet rich in protein and low in simple carbohydrate slider foods must be observed. The high protein diet must be followed even after healthy body weight has been achieved in order to maintain a healthy weight and avoid weight regain.

Talk to your NP. Make sure you are logging your food counts accurately by using an online tool like FitDay or MyFitnessPal and that you include everything--even your coffee/tea and "no cal" sweetener and that 1/4 oz. of cheddar you had the other day. (Wait. That was me.) I miscalculated twice last week and went over my counts even though I was carefully measuring and planning. It happens. Stalls also happen. They can be maddening. Have you taken measurements of yourself or written down things that have changed physically for you (crossing legs, not breathing so hard, feeling like you fit into that movie theater seat more easily, stuff like that). It's really tough to get through those periods. Can your surgeon point you to a support group you could attend? It always helps me to realize I'm not alone even if no one there actually knows how to fix it. I would make absolutely certain I was eating correctly 100% for quite some time and still experiencing weight gain before I even thought of putting myself through the expense and health ramifications of another surgery. You know what? You can do this. You went through I don't know how many months' weight loss before your pre-op diet, a week or two or even a month of pre-op, plus all the post-op relearning. You've lost forty-eight pounds. That is freaking amazing. You should be damned proud of yourself. Your hard work will pay off. Sometimes it takes our bodies a little extra time to catch up.

I too have the same feeling that you do at this time. My surgery was May 2013 and this month is the first month that I tracked a weight gain. I seem to bounce between 150 and 155. Today I am 152. I have tried the tips already mentioned (tracking food and Water, cutting out the "junk" and getting Protein first.) I find that I can get 50-60 gm of protein a day. I manage to take in about 72 oz of water. I have decided that 150-155 is an ok weight for now. I am wearing a size 8 (which is a size I have never worn as an adult) I am staying positive that the last 25 lbs will come off with time if I stay on track. If I stay this weight for a while, my body must need the break from weight loss. I am hoping that my skin will tighten up while I am working off the last few pounds. I do not look at this as a failed surgery because I am 115 lbs lighter than when I had the surgery.

While in the hospital you no doubt noticed you were hooked up to IV's the whole time, right? Constantly pumping fluids, plus edema, plus surgical "trauma" to the body all cause a little water weight gain. It will all go away in the first week or two. Not to worry.

Midnights did contribute to my weight gain. There are studies out now stating lack of sleep is proven in weight gain. 15 yrs of midnights did a number to me. Are you northern lower Michigan or northern UP Michigan??

What I say to people who think they have to be perfect to start running is don't wait, start now and do the best you can a little bit better each time. This response is not directed at you lessofmeismore, but your response prompted me to share. I do not tell too many folks, but I was afraid of running due to a long term foot injury that will never be fully repaired. You see, I got in a terrible car accident 3 years ago (other driver t boned me at 60 MPH at an intersection- they ran light) and broke my arms, legs and crushed all the bones in my left foot. I was just arriving at the airport to return the rental car before getting on the plane. Rushed to the ER and ended up flying home coach 3 days later to see a foot surgeon near Seattle. That, my friends, was the longest and most painful flight ever. My left foot was absurdly destroyed and it took 8 months before I could even walk on it again and a year of PT after that. I was just getting to where I could walk 1 mile without bad foot inflammation when I had VSG surgery july 2012. To this day my wife and I joke about my franken foot, named that way because of 2 very long scars spanning the top of the foot. The sad part is I just bought the treadmill before going on vacation. It was never used until 3 years later. Being disabled and off my feet for such a long time was the contributing factor to a large weight gain and mental depression. For the first 5 months post op, I was afraid of my treadmill (sat for 3 years since accident) and running in general because of the inflammation pain in my foot. I get a lot of inflammation from arthritis, especially when the barometric pressure changes. BTB finally motivated me indirectly with his c25k posts 3 months ago to put the fear aside and just do it. I am glad I did. Running has been not only beneficial to dropping weight, but also to really living life and mental health. VSG and running has made me into a completely new person; I enjoy life, food and people! I started out running a 5 k and was not meaning to at all. I had just wanted to get on the treadmill and see what it was all about. Needless to say, I have progressively worked on improving my 5k and 10 k times over the last couple months and feel pretty good about the progress. I am absolutely thrilled that some of the other runners have reached out to answer my questions about training, running shoes, clothes, what is best to eat before and after running, etc. I will definitely return the favor and help others who are just starting out their running. It is a great forum where we all help each other. So, long story short: Do not let fear stop you from trying something out physically. You may actually be quite good at it over time. Start slow and you will get better at it as our bodies are truly miraculous in their potential.

I had my 1 year check up a month late. I was 285 at my highest weight, 261 pre-surgery. I now weigh 183. I have only lost 10 pounds in the past 6 months. I stopped focusing on losing weight and just tried to maintain weight. I have been fighting cancer the past 6 months and that has been my focus. I am happy with how I have done as my cancer meds cause weight gain. My battle with cancer will never be over but I am at a place where I feel I can focus on my weight but will admit I could be happy at this weight. My goal is to lose another 15 pounds and settle for weighing around 165 pounds. Let’s not give up the fight. I feel so much better with the weight off.

Hey girls, are we really sure we wanna do the pie hole report???? Mine sucks in a big way!!! LOL Maybe I'll come back to that later!!! The big news is my Secret Santa present went out, and should be delivered by weeks end she said. Now if YOU get my package, be advised it is NOT wrapped inside--when you open the box it will all be exposed. So the choice is yours, open---or stuff behind the tree so the silly box will not show!!! I hope it makes it South without trouble.....wait, maybe it is north of me....West without question. Oh No! It must be East, I think I turned around in the PO parking lot! Never was good at directions, but it is without a doubt one of those---or even a couple! LOL Got my drive and walks shoveled. Rick did them before he left, and I did them again. Now the temp is warm enough even though it is still snowing, that it melts off pretty well when it hits the shovelled areas. My Kinsey is having a bit of struggle with things. She was VERY concerned this morning about her Mommy not coming back. And has ask me several times when she is coming back. Manda has called and texted Jason and ask him to please respond, she just wants to know he is ok, and that Kinsey needs him to talk to her too, to let this be as easy as possible on her, but he has not responded. Rick said he has not been at work. He didn't go yesterday because he was sore from snowboarding all weekend, and then she had the talk with him last night, and he didn't go today. Manda drove as far as the state line (NM & CO), and got stopped at the border, she was required 4WD or chains to go over a small mountain between the border and work. She has neither, she has good tires, and front wheel drive---but that wasn't good enough. So she parked at the checkpoint, and one of the field hands in a company truck with 4WD picked her up and took her on up to work. She is in charge of buying for the needy family her group adopted---and they are shopping today. The family has a special needs child, he has a disease, I cannot pronounce, but he is 9 years old, and weighs 30 pounds, wears a 24 month old clothes. The older daughter ask for new glasses. They went and met with the family to arrange for her to see an eye Dr. amd in conversation found out their washer was out, so they bought the family a washer, and clothes and gifts for the kids. Jeans for the Dad--who works, but just cannot keep up with the expenses medically, and have enough left to buy gifts. Manda said it was so much fun to buy gifts without the cost concern. I mean they still tried to get as much for their money as possible, but when we do the Angel gifts, we always have to concern ourselves with the cost factor--she said this was just amazing, and the feeling she said she could not even describe to me......although I bet it is similar to the Mom feeling I have knowing she is enjoying the giving the way I always hoped she would. Does that make sense??? Before we left for the PO and grocery store, I let the dogs out. Kinsey was right out in the snow with them. That Pug began running circles around her out there, he had us both laughing so hard Kinsey ended up falling on her fanny in the snow! He LOVES the snow! This is his first experience with it--and he rolls in it, and scoops it up on his smushed in nose---and runs like a crazy thing in it. He literally smiles ear to ear---such a funny thing. The chihuahua on the other hand, is not a happy camper. Of course the snow is way too deep for him, he is under 3 pounds, he is sooooo tiny. So he goes to the edge of the porch, does his duty (or doody---as the case may be) and runs as fast as his little twig legs will carry him back again!!! LOL OK.....not that this is seeming to make me behave, it will explain my weight gain! B--peanut butter toast S-oatmeal cookie, then another, then choc. pretzel....then it was time for L-vegetable soup---with crackers and Diet DP S-celery & Peanut Butter, handful of fresh roasted peanuts---and these sweets are not calling my name, they are screaming and threatening me!! Tacos are on the menu for dinner.......lets hope I can semi behave til then. I need Water....I need help! Hives are some better this morning, I had one on my lip.....hate them! others behind my knees. The cold made them worse, but the cleared quickly---from shovelling I mean. Well, off to make more things I do not need to eat!!! Wish me luck. Stay warm everyone! Kat

Hello, I had a busy day today, but it was nice. I had an appointment first with my regular Dr. just for a check up, I have been on Effexor (antidepressant) and it is just too expensive, so I took the walgreens list of $4 drugs and he gave me generic prozac. Does anyone here know about prozac? I hope it works. He said alot of the other drugs cause weight gain. Then I went to a friends house and we met another friend at the casino here, we didn't gamble at least with money, we just ate, and ate, and ate, and then talked and then ate, ..... You get the idea!! We were all bad girls!!! It was nice to get together with old friends, we have all been friends since high school. Really nice day!! Now I am going to bed!! Glad you are back Haydeee!! Nice to see you TRACYKS!!

BMAN....soooo sorry to hear about the court thing and the weight gain. Have you had your thyroid checked lately?? the tiredness and the weight gain despite lack of calories sounds a lot like a hypothyroid issue! Either that or maybe as someone mentioned before, you really do need to UP your calories b/c you are exercising so much?? It's worth a shot at this point, right?? NAT...congrats on the 2 teens girl!! That's my goal for the end of the year...i have about 20 pounds to go to get there, but once I get there, that will be the lowest i've been since college! Nik...my best friend actually lost weight w/both her babies in her first trimester, so I wouldn't worry too much about it! Steph...I think next week I'm going to try a 3 day liquid/high protein diet and see if I can't kick start the weight loss again. i'm also in a 'challenge' w/my best friend to do exercise at least 3x a week. There is a guy I"m interested in who is into hiking and doing 5ks, so I'm doing a 5k walk w/him on Saturday and we're going hiking w/a group on the 4th in the mtns. so I figure in the process of getting to spend more time w/him I'll also get to work out! it's win win! Now if he'd just make a move I'd be all set! LMAO!

What type of eating changes did you make and do you have any sample menu plans that are easy to accompish with three kids? I'm excited and nervous that this will be my last chance at freedom.... as far as weight is concerned . Thanks for your help! my weight gain was strictly due to no exercise and huge portions...i don't have a sweet tooth...i eat what i ate b4 i was banded...i dont treat my band like a diet...bcuz this isn't a diet...i love mexican food...i still eat chicken fajitas...taco meat...refried Beans...carne asada...lots of salsa...but i only eat a 1/2 cup...i do cut calories and fat where ever possible...but i do not cut taste or flavor...i don't make myself misreable...i do not eat "all out junk food" and i do stay away from rice...pasta and white bread...i eat a lot of Fiber...if i do eat bread...its a multigrain bread and only a half a slice...i also eat tuna salad..egg salad..i use regular mayo...i eat chicken, spinach and mushroom pesto...fish...veggies..chicken stir fry...i eat everything except for what i mentioned...exercise has a lot to do with my loss...i've exercised since the day i came home and have always added to my routine..i can tell by ur mind-set ur going to do great...take it day by day

Hi All, it's been raining here for 2 days. We need the rain. Before surgery we planted some grass to fill in the bare spots in the yard and we have been having to water them for weeks. Now we are getting a good soaking rain. I feel sorry for DH, he has to work out in it but at least it's not cold and raining. I am feeling a little better each day. I am stull very swollen, but have no weight gain ????? Maybe I will be a few pounds lighter when this is all over. We ate at Cracker Barrel today, I had turkey sausage and a biscuit....yum! With my band empty I can have a bit of bread, that's nice. I have never been a bread junkie, but sometimes I miss it. My mom and dad came over and we played dominoes until almost midnight last night, but it was welcome company, Dave was at work and they left about 20 mins before he came home. I'm still not sleeping very well, and I plan on talking to the doctor about that on tuesday. Maybe hormones will help, if not sleeping pills are going to be needed. I am sooooo tired, I know that is also from the surgery, but I am 20 days out and still need naps like a baby. I can't sleep more then a few hours at a time. It stinks. I listed a bunch of stuff on Ebay this week, spending money for Disney! WooHoo! My mom and I are going to hit the outlets while we are there. I'll check in later. ~Mandy

I can't wait to buy boots that aren't wide calf!Literally coming from doing JUST THAT! And they are SMOKIN' Hot with 4 inch heels all the way to my knees. Looking at a pair now that come over the knee. Beauties by Ralph Lauren.... Mmmmmmmmm. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App I am seriously jealous, I still have quite chunky legs and am short so still struggle to find boots that fit well and you can wear four inch heels - I think you're my new hero Mind you I'd probably be banned from going into our office as I work with a lot of blokes that are desperately easily distracted and apparently I've stopped being invisible... New hero.... Mmmm. Maybe I WILL dress for Halloween. Put a cape on with the new boots? Lol Seriously- I'm as excited as the next gal here. Years of competition gymnastics, cheerleading and volleyball left me with very muscular thighs. Even before weight gain, I had a hard time with fitted knee high boots. The WLS and years of inactivity were key- I had (finally) lost muscle mass in said calves, and with the weight loss they've gone to a "normal" proportion. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hi everyone I'm new here my name is Amy I am 37 years old have 4 children 2 girls age 20 and 10 and 2 boys age 17 and 15 and a gorgeous grandson who is 3 months old. I am married just celebrated 11 years on Saturday. As my name shows i am from Alabama I currently live in South Carolina where i have lived most of my life. I am 5'5 currently 243lbs. I was thin most of my life after my youngest was born I started gaining weight and then had to have a complete hysterectomy at age 29 then the weight really started coming on. I've done uncountable diets lost weight gained back more. I've reached the point where I can't even look Ina mirror I'm just so frustrated with myself and my weight. So finally I decided I've got to change so here I am. I cannot wait to start my new life.

I'm in a 16 pants and a large top. I'm 5' tall and 54 yrs old. I say my age because that is probably the reason my boobs deflated as I lose weight. That and I breast-fed three children. As a short person a size 16 is still pretty big but my stomach is also a factor in my pants size. Even if I get a lot smaller my stomach will always make me a size bigger than I should be (it's stretched out from the twins and then my 10.5 lb son - the weight gain came over the years). Someday I might try to get the skin removed but that won't be for several years yet, if ever. I need to be at a stable weight for a year or two and I need to have a history of infections in my stomach area before insurance will consider paying for it.

I agree that there is a honeymoon phase here. Its like prepping for the wedding. We plan plan plan and shut out anyone who tells us the groom or bride isn't perfect and that things won't be perfect after the wedding. Anybody whose been married as long as I have, 35 years, knows that it takes a lot of work to be married. I admit I was given only the bright picture from my WLS team. My only support group was from a coworker who had had the surgery 8 or 9 months earlier and was in the honeymoon phase herself. I didn't find this site until after surgery. I'm sort of glad I didn't. I see a whole lot of positive here, but I also see a whole lot of whining. I might have backed out. What a pity that would have been. What I was not told: The weight gain was never about food really, maintenance would not be about food and Long term reality wouldn't be about food. Yes, food definitely plays an important role in all of this, but it's not the biggest issue. We all eat excessively, too fast or whatever, for other reasons.Until we deal with that, we still have a problem. Maybe not even an eating problem. I have not sought counseling, but I spend aot of time analyzing why I eat and I know for sure it's not hunger. I did the Protein shake diet for 2 days this week and experienced real hunger for the first time in a year and a half. I found that this hunger was very easy to satisfy with another Protein Shake. The feeling that I've always called hunger cannot be satisfied with food, as hard as I try. My surgeon says in his blog if you find yourself hungry, ask yourself if a carrot will satisfy that hunger. If not, it's not really hunger. I tried this the other day and it actually does work. Ok, so I'm rambling now, so I'll just finish by saying, The wedding won't change the groom/bride. The WLS isn't going to change your relationship with food. You have to do that yourself. The WLS is a tool and a very helpful one. If somebody handed you a wrench and told you to take out a bolt, you'd still have to do the work. Its certainly easier with a wrench. So figure it out. If you can afford counseling, great. If not, your on your own. You can still do it. But do some research and see if you can figure out why you use food to deal with every day issues. I never could figure out drug addicts and why they used drugs as a crutch. But, I've used food the same way. I still do find myself doing this, but at least I know I'm doing it and that makes it easier to not do it. I said easier....not easy.

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I had my bat wings, moobs, and tummy tuck all in one go. I'm now 19 days post-op. I had 6 JP drains. The 2 in my arms and the 2 in my chest came out after a week. The 5th one in my groin got clogged somewhere around 2 weeks, so it was removed. The last one is still draining about 85cc / day of a slightly yellow, mostly clear liquid, so I really doubt it'll come out at today's visit. The day after surgery, they tried to stand me up. I passed out, probably because of low blood volume. Because of that, I spent a total of 3 days in the hospital, but by the end I was doing laps around the nurses' station. I had a button for pain meds & an IV antibiotic while I was in the hospital, plus Norco (hydrocodone + tylenol 5-325). A Norco every 4 hours actually worked better for me than the button, and that's exactly what my doctor prescribed for me to use at home. I also tried 500mg tylenol to see if I could get off the harder stuff sooner, but nope. I went from Norco every 4-6 hours down to just a Norco at night, down to nothing. I've been off all pain meds since day 15. The scale numbers are just plain depressing with all the fluids (and probably weight gain from being out of the gym),. My shirt size is now a men's medium! I was somewhere between a large / XL. I started working from home at day 14. I'll start going back in to the office on a regular basis once this last drain is out. Here's some tips I learned: You need lanyards for the JP drains. The nurses will pin them to your hospital gown, but once you start showering, that does you no good. Amazon sells a box of 25 for under $10. Use Glad Cling-wrap once you've only have a drain or two to keep dry but have otherwise healed up enough to shower. Don't be afraid to cut a hole in the butt of your compression garment for #2. My particular compression garment looks like a men's one-piece swimsuit from the 1920s. It has clasps and a zipper down the front. It also has a hole in the front for #1, but no flap in the back for #2. Especially with drains in your arms, it'll be hard to get in and out of the garment to use the toilet. The compression garment I got tended to roll up my thigh and cut off the flow, so my thighs collected a lot of fluid. A bed wedge or pillow + workout tights under the garment worked wonders for this. I wish I had a tip for getting rid of the glue from all the bandages. Nothing worked. I tried water, soap, ice, oil, and rubbing alcohol. I had to scrape it off with my fingernail.

I'm confused by some of the items here. Before you read on ... understand that I'm asking this because I want to believe so badly that you're RIGHT. I'm not being argumentative. I just am hesitant. Set me straight if I'm wrong here. Hummus? Isn't that really high in fat? The label I see (online) says 24g of fat. Do they even make low-fat hummus? Beef Jerky? Isn't that crazy high in sodium? That equates to retaining liquid, meaning weight gain. And sodium means high blood pressure too. The sugar free pudding I have here says zero grams Protein. I'm sure the Jello is no better. What brand are you using? I found only one or two varieties of Boar's Head products that are low sodium. Traditionally, lunchmeat is loaded with sodium. Peanut butter (the normal kind) is pretty high in fat too (16g for Jif, one serving is 25% of your daily intake!) Ok hold your fire for a moment. Maybe I should explain myself better. My nutritionist said to worry about protein, sodium, and fat content, before worrying about calories. If you can find something high protein, low sodium, and low fat (and low sugars), then the calories are less of a concern. Yes, I'm focused on sodium a lot. What good is losing weight if I still have high blood pressure? Yes, I'm focused on fat somewhat too. Sure, some fat is necessary, but if one serving of something has 30% of my daily recommended intake of fat (for a normal stomach person!), then it can't be good for me. Ok, flame on. Be gentle. Staisea ... I love your term "with a blip of cheese". That's fantastic. Like "bagel with schmear".

Hi There, Haven't posted this thread in ages! I got banded in manchester in April 2007. here is my story so far.. Lindsey, I feel l this is important to know, as the past year I have heard mosly successful band stories, with people loosing their weight from the get go. Firstly..Five years ago I weighed 10 st 8lbs.. had a personal trainer and a body fat of 20%!!! Seven years ago I weighed 17 stone 3 lbs. I white knuckled over six stone off my frame and went from size 22-24 to a size 12 who could run up stairs 3 at a time! This lasted until I got engaged 4 years ago and then the weight started to creep on. I gained 7lbs the week I got engaged because I 'let my hair down' and I FREAKED out!! NOT FAIR NOT FAIR!! Was my mantra, and I became Very Very angry. I just wanted it gone, I wanted it to be fixed and never look back. It was only a 7lb gain but it drove me to distraction and 18months later on m wedding day I was up an additional stone. In hindsight it wasn't such a disaster, but I was just FED up that my sweat and tears didn't shake that F***ing monkey off my back. In saying that I was BEE-AUTIFUL on my wedding day, and I cherish those photos!! I gained about a stone on my honey moon, bringing me close to 13 stone. I tried getting back on track and tackling the demon again with weight watchers, Motivation weight loss clinics, hypnotherapy and counselling but I was totally defeated!! Fast forward 2 years and I'm at my lapband consultation weighing 17stone 10!!! So,I weighed 17stone 10lbs last year at my initial consultation, followed by a 10 day liquid pre-op diet which got me to 17stone at my surgery date. In the following 4 weeks I lost another stone, bringing my total weight loss to 24lbs in 5-6 weeks. That was it..I did the 2 weeks liquid post op and 2 weeks mushies after that and then went back on solid food. To my horror, I felt I was eating without restriction, BUT as I had not had a fill I knew it wasn't anything to panic about. So, because I fly to manchester to get my fills, I didn't make it over until June for my first fill. I was maintaining at 16 stone but hadn't lost a pound since starting back on solid food. After that fill, once again to my horror I felt no restriction and started to feel quite down that this band was all a cod and I had spent my money on what? This feeling continued and I said nothing to anyone but it was obvious there was no restriction as I could eat anything, and my mam sister & husband were kinda saying.."what's the story?" And i was feeling mortified, but "dieting" to maintain at 16 stone. This continues until September when I finally made it over again for my 2nd fill. At this point I was up 4lbs and embarrassed that I wasn't doing as well as 1..I thought and 2...as well as other peoples tickers were showing on this site. That fill made me feel no different either and I was able to eat Steak, Crisps (my worst weakness) Anything really. WITH THE EXCEPTION of McDonlds or any french fries/ nuggets/chicken gougons.. they were painful and would come back up as a PB.. So hey...I was getting somewhere. But Nope.. Depression..this band wasn't the magic wand I had told myself it was, I was putting too much faith in it, I didn't want to do ANY work loosing this F***ing weight AGAIN..I just wanted to EAT and LIVE LESS LIKE A "NORMAL PERSON" There was my problem, I wanted the band to magically transform me while accepting no personal responsibility for my actions either. After all, all I wanted was not to think about this weight loss thing anymore and for it to just happen to me! So I gave up AGAIN and said..waste of money, waste of time..once again defeated and this is how it is and always will be. My mental attitude was all wrong, I just couldn't face it anymore. So since Sept of last year, with Chips McDonalds Gougons etc being my only restrictions I started binge eating again, and binge drinking and could see my face getting puffier and puffier right before my eyes. In Jan this year my first Nephew was born and it made me face everything again and I decided to come out of my hibernation and contact the clinic again to tell them that I was failing miserably. To my surprise they were saddened for me and that I had gone MIA on them and wanted my over straight away to help me get back on track. So I joined Weight watchers again..weighing in at 18 stone 3lbs (Jesus!!) And went to Manchester that week for another fill. This one was aggressive. For almost two weeks I struggled to get anything but soup down. I am tight. I have hope again and I am doing my damndest to get focused and loose this weight realistically and the band IS Helping me this time. I can't eat much, but I still drink too much, and twice in the last 3 weeks I have somehow managed to scoff 8 bags of crisps in one sitting (but it takes hours instead of minutes) why and how did I manage this when I couldn't even get porridge or scrambled egg down? I just don't know, It was total after drink binge eating. But twice in 3 weeks instead of daily, and suffered the consequences of mush crisps in my neck as a result. I have lost 3.5 lbs in 2 weeks still (Oh wow..big swing..only 90 more to go) But I can't allow myself to think like that. I am now geting water back into my daily routine, cutting down on the alcohol and I am STAYING with weight watchers, and If it means ONE pound a week that's what I will take. I am too long doing this to expect starvation and horrible extreme dieting to be the answer to my prayers. I Have to LEARN to do things differently. For anyone who drives, here is an analogy that describes exactly how hard it is to change being a subconscious/ emotional/ habitual eater. If you drive, that is something you had to learn to do. At first it was difficult, you had to concentrate, you had to be conscious of looking in your mirrors, changing gears and steering. In the beginning you couldn't talk on the phone or scratch your head while concentrating on driving. 15 years later (for me) I can drive, talk (even on the phone), scratch anything that's itchy, change radio stations/cd's all while I'm driving because it has become subconscious. All the driving manuevers have become second nature and I don't need to instruct my self anymore what to do coz I just do it. Now, Imagine UNLEARNING how to drive a car? How can that be done? That is is tantamount to the challenge I have at hand now. I have to unlearn how to do what has always been second nature to me, I have to unlearn how to do what has put me in this situation at the age of 32 and that is not going to happen today, tomorrow or even this year. BUT...IT WILL BE DONE..however slowly, it will be done. I will never white knuckle it again. I will never loose 7 stone again only to gain it back, my will won't let me which is why my will has given me this whole past year of struggling to learn this lesson. What have I learned? I have learned to begin UNLEARNING. THAT is my weapon and that is what I will do. SO, I won't be slim for my nephew's christening in May, or for my birthday or for Christmas..But I will be UNLEARNING. AND I WILL BE MY OWN TEACHER, I will stumble and fall, but I will learn to get up and walk on. I will never be perfect but I will be smarter, wiser and happier. There is my experience. The Band IS great, but it is not plain sailing for someone like me. It is helping me definately, no doubt about that now, but it is not as strong as whatever it is inside me that has been yelling for the last year to get my attention about how to do this once and for all. That is my epic, my story, and I apologise for the MASSIVE post but it was to show that not everyone has the same experience with the band and that ultimately the issue is MUCH MUCH bigger than a pice of plastic or food a diet. This is coming from someone who's communion dress was let out because of weight gain at the age of 6.

I have been on depression meds since 1984. It has been so long now, that I just consider them additional Vitamins. I have had to change types over the years, and in fact blame a bit of my weight gain on the depression puills. Anyway, my advice would be to keep the two issues as separate as you can. Treat your depression as it is needed. Treat your VSG sysmptoms as well. But try not to combine them. Not being able to eat is depressing. No doubt about it. i am going through a real tough time right now with solid foods (7 weeks post-op). We still go out to eat. Here is why. Before I would have spent 10-15 bucks on dinner and 10+ more on beer. And that was to eat unhealthy and drink beer. Now we go out and I spend 10-15 on dinner (and 4 bucks on ice tea - they should be arrested for a felony.... sorry got off on my soap box there.). So before I spent 10-15 and now I spend 10-15. The difference is that I eat 1/10 of it. It bothered me at first. then you know what. I said poo on it. i am going to order what I want and eat what I can. I bought it, it is mine, if I want to sticvk it in my ear I can. So if I do not eat all of it - so what. A watse? sure. If I can not take it home it is a waste. But you know what? It is your business. eat what you can. I have also come to the realization that I am eating so little, that I can be a bit more adventurous with my foods. 10,000,000 million calories a serving? Not for 3 teaspoons it is not!!! I am finding that in my period of really struggling (I took Monday off because I felt so bad and down and was not eating enough), that a treat is in order. I had some baby back ribs last ***ht. Took me 30 minutes to eat a few of them.... but so what. I think everyone in the resturant could hear me lick my fingers.... ha ha ha I am enjoying these... I would take 2 bites or so and then simply wait 5 minutes before eating any more. It worked okay for me. If I eat too fast bad things hapen, so go slow and enjoy whatever amount you can. Do not let the reduced portion size make you crazy, allow the yummy-ness of the food to speak for it self. And finally, some part of your depression has to be related to your weight and that has to be getting better. So, with all the struggles, there has to be some good feelings about the weight loss and the improved appearance. And that has to help with the depression. I can fully understand your position, (I am in it right there with ya), it will get better. And you will look and feel better. Right now just figure out the best way to enjoy what you can during this short period of adjustment. I wish you the very best of luck, and you have friends here - all understanding of your situation, keep us informed and reach out when you get down.

Is there a reason you guys picked Dr. Farhan? I wasn't really sure of what surgery I wanted. I really don't want the RNY because of the dumping and weight gain. Can you feel any restriction yet?