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I have never personally known anyone who has gained their weight back and I do know a few people with the band. But since the band is relatively new who knows. But, when you think about it logically I really think you would have to try to gain it back. I would think that if weight gain begins then you can just go and get a fill. But maybe they're something that I'm missing. On the other hand, if a person became an ice cream and milkshake addict and refused to give that up they'd gain back no question. Or if they drank Coke and didn't follow any rules. Hmmm, now you've got me thinkin'....

I don't know anyone who has done that, but I am also the only person I know who has a band! Just wanted to say that it's possible. But it's usually preventable. Unless there's a malfunction with the band, you can get it tighted and prevent weight gain. Just like when you are losing weight. That's the #1 reason I went with the band. jayme

Okay, so the results are Benign. Whew! I have to admit, it's just as I thought. But it's SOOOO nice to have a name. Fibroadenoma. What they said before. So I follow up in 6 months with another mammogram. As long as they don't grow, or get so big they are in the way, painful, or make my breasts distended (as if they aren't already from weight gain and nursing 2 children!) then they stay. It doesn't freak me out to have them there. If they leave me alone, I'll leave them alone. Plus the Doc said that fibroadenomas are not something that turn malignant. Is she right? So glad it's over! I hope you all don't mind me saying this but it's been a HELL OF A WEEK!!! I am leaving shortly to meet my MIL at her new nursing home. SIGH. She's going in for rehab, and she doesn't yet realize it, but she's more than likely staying. I hate it. She simply cannot care for herself. We have showering and bathroom and walking without falling and breaking a hip issues, plus the short term memory loss and she needs pain medication for her little legs...MS AND Arthritis...what a mess. But we'll get her settled. I gotta put my smile on with my optimistic happy upbeat attitude and get her settled in. My brother-in-law and his wife (who she lives with...or, more properly written, with whom she lives! ha!) will be there too so it isn't just me. Anyhow, I'm just ready to crash. I could use an entire weekend away with hubby! OH! Wouldn't that be heaven?! Thanks for listening, those of you who have been able to tirelessly read this long post. For those of you with short attention spans, the bold type, quick info, good news is for you!!

Here is a great piece of info directly from the Inamed Handbook I got from surgery that may help you Kansascitygal Page 7 Q- How would I know if my band is"too tight or "overfilled" A- If the adjustment results in too tiht of a stomach opening, you could have a hard time eating most foods. Sometimes this causes people to avoid solid food. They may drink liquid meals. This may result in weight gain especially if the liquid used is high in calories. A band that is too tight can cause reflux symptoms particularly at night.It can aslo cause frequent vomiting. The opening to the stomach can become completely blocked. This would result in not being able to keep any food or liquids down. Should you develop these symptoms, please notify your surgeon at once. I hope today you have called your Dr. for the sake of your health and the longevity of your band

I don't know if it will effect how they look afterwards after a boob job. I can tell you this. I nursed both of my children (way too long) and my breast have deflated and headed south. (lol) My breast also seems to be the first place I loose weight, so figure after I'm near goal they will have to be unrolled from my bra and somthing will ahve to be done about them. I joke about what nursing did to my breasts, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. If you are interested in breastfeeding future babies it something I would certainly discuss with your plastic surgeon. They have come along way over the years, but it used to be it could effect your milk supply if breast tissue was cut or moved in a lift or implant. Now with the tummy tuck I was advised by my plastic surgeon that it was best to wait till you were done having children. Key word best. The worst that I think would happen is that you have to have a re"tuck" after child birth though. (but this could happen with any weight gain or loss...a friend had a tummy tuck then lost more weight and needs a revision tummy tuck now.) Melissa

Hi Everyone, I could really use some input, if you'd be willing to share your thoughts. On Friday (6/24), I had my first appointment with Dr. Hoehn (in the Kansas City area). Was really looking forward to getting a surgery date maybe as early as August, when he told me he had a cancellation for (gulp) this Wednesday (6/29)! I was instantly thrown into a half ecstatic state/half panic, thinking maybe this all had gone too quickly, especially since insurance won't cover and we're self paying ($16K). My questions: --I never seem to hear anyone regret the surgery--why not? --If I'm 5'3" and 210 lbs, I obviously love to eat. Will I ever get to eat yummy food again? Maybe after the weight is off? --My weight gain hasn't been due to extreme overeating/bingeing... more of a sedentary life style. Does this mean I might not lose weight with the band? Maybe I should just hit the gym HARD (for once) instead of going through with the surgery? --Since this has gone so quickly, I haven't made it to a group support meeting. Bad decision to go through with the procedure without talking to a support group first? Panic... panic.... thanks, everyone! Lisa

Hi Everyone, I could really use some input, if you'd be willing to share your thoughts. On Friday (6/24), I had my first appointment with Dr. Hoehn (in the Kansas City area). Was really looking forward to getting a surgery date maybe as early as August, when he told me he had a cancellation for (gulp) this Wednesday (6/29)! I was instantly thrown into a half ecstatic state/half panic, thinking maybe this all had gone too quickly, especially since insurance won't cover and we're self paying ($16K). My questions: --I never seem to hear anyone regret the surgery--why not? --If I'm 5'3" and 210 lbs, I obviously love to eat. Will I ever get to eat yummy food again? Maybe after the weight is off? --My weight gain hasn't been due to extreme overeating/bingeing... more of a sedentary life style. Does this mean I might not lose weight with the band? Maybe I should just hit the gym HARD (for once) instead of going through with the surgery? Panic... panic.... thanks, everyone! Lisa

From liquids to solids willl cause weight gain until your body adjusts, another reason is 900 calories is not enough, try keeping it between 1200-1800 and see if that helps, body goes into starvation mode with that little ammount of calories. hang inm there is will happen, you have not had a fill yet, once the fills get rollin' you will see a difference in the numbers on thescale, but alos try not to focus so much on what the scale says, look for the other possitive things goin on that have changed since your band, like more energy, feeling better, clothees getting bigger, etc..

Hi Everyone, Today is my two year bandiversary!!!! I was hoping to be at goal today but I had a very long plateau and a slight weight gain due to the fact that I quit smoking in preparation of plastic surgery in August. So now I have six weeks to get to the 170's!!! There are lots of things I want to share, but many of been said by other tenured bandsters here on this board. The most important change in my life is that I can do most anything!!! I fly airplanes regularly, go to theme parks and do all the coasters, go to Water parks, play with my kids and chase them around and I have lots of energy!!! Plastic surgery is the last part of my journey and then I need to maintain my losses. The one thing I have found is that if you really want to gain weight with the band, it is quite easy to do so. No matter how long you are banded, you have to stick to the plan. meat and fish first, then veggies and last carbs if there is any room left. And exercise is so important. No matter how big you are, it is possible to get exercise if you really want to do it. NO EXCUSES!!! LOL SO today for my second bandiversary, I am going to see my plastic surgeon to finalize all of the details of the procedures that he will be doing tag team with another plastic surgeon. I am having an abdominoplasty, medial thighplasty, breast augmentation with implants to help my saggy boobs! I am excited, but also nervous. It is anticipated that my surgeon will remove about 14 lbs of excess from my stomach and thighs. Yucchhh! But hopefully the results will be worth the pain!! I am scheduled for transformation on august 3rd. I changed the date from June 15th cause I am moving, packing and in the process of building a new house, so the June date didnt work. I want to thank everyone who has offered me great advice over the last two years!!!! Babs in TX 334/18-/170 -154 6/23/03 :rolleyes :laugh :rambo

I've learend to let what the bypass patient say go right through me, Time will tell, when the bypass patients are having health problems bypass related and are gaining their weight back because their pouches are stretched ..I get all the satisfaction I need For every person I have told about my band, they have all known someone who had the bypass and had some kind of problems whether it be malabsorption issues, weight gain, other major organ problems, they see me and I do not look like i had weight loss surgery, my skin tone is beautiful, I do not look gaunt, nor do I look flabby like bypass patients do. Iam my best advertisement for the band

How many calories you consume is what determines whether or not you gain or lose weight. If you ate a pound of lettuce, it would have far less of an effect on weight gain/loss than if you ate a pound of chocolate. 1 pound of weight gain or loss is equivalent to 3500 calories. Everyone burns a certain amount of calories by just existing and this amount is different for each individual and depends on many factors. The more you exercise the more you burn. Let's say that you burn 1000 calories by just existing (no additional exercise, movement, etc.) and you eat 4500 calories in a day, scientifically speaking you should gain 1 pound... but there are other factors that also play into how much you might gain/lose... if you are retaining Water, you may find that even though you didn't consume enough calories to gain a pound, it may still happen. All in all, gaining a pound has nothing to do with eating a pound of food. You win this one over dear old dad. Have a good day.

I think someone needs to do a major study on antidepressants and weight gain. I've already posted elsewhere about my experience, and while I can't say that Prozac and its SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) friends made me fat -- I did that all by myself -- they didn't exactly help. I complained to my shrink for a few years, and he finally admitted that while there wasn't any medical literature indicating that Prozac led to weight gain, he had heard this from so many of his own patients that he could no longer deny a connection. I suspect other SSRIs may tend to have the same effect. Years ago, a few docs were prescribing Prozac for weight loss. I haven't heard of this for a while; I bet that too many patients realized it didn't work! Rhonda, talk to your prescribing doc about your concerns. We have different reactions to different drugs. There are some new meds available now that might be better choices for you -- if you decide that drugs are the way to go. For some of us medication is the only thing that brings us back from the brink; for others, it's an ineffective or second-rate solution. Whatever you choose, I hope you feel better soon.

This Says it ALL! This is from AOL Medical News Drink More Diet Soda, Gain More Weight By Daniel DeNoon WebMD Medical News June 13, 2005 -- People who drink diet soft drinks don't lose weight. In fact, they gain weight, a new study shows. The findings come from eight years of data collected by Sharon P. Fowler, MPH, and colleagues at the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio. Fowler reported the data at the annual meeting of the American Diabetes Association in San Diego. "What didn't surprise us was that total soft drink use was linked to overweight and obesity," Fowler tells WebMD. "What was surprising was when we looked at people only drinking diet soft drinks, their risk of obesity was even higher." In fact, when the researchers took a closer look at their data, they found that nearly all the obesity risk from soft drinks came from diet sodas. "There was a 41% increase in risk of being overweight for every can or bottle of diet soft drink a person consumes each day," Fowler says. More Diet Drinks, More Weight Gain Fowler's team looked at seven to eight years of data on 1,550 Mexican-American and non-Hispanic white Americans aged 25 to 64. Of the 622 study participants who were of normal weight at the beginning of the study, about a third became overweight or obese. For regular soft-drink drinkers, the risk of becoming overweight or obese was: 26% for up to 1/2 can each day 30.4% for 1/2 to one can each day 32.8% for 1 to 2 cans each day 47.2% for more than 2 cans each day. For diet soft-drink drinkers, the risk of becoming overweight or obese was: 36.5% for up to 1/2 can each day 37.5% for 1/2 to one can each day 54.5% for 1 to 2 cans each day 57.1% for more than 2 cans each day. For each can of diet soft drink consumed each day, a person's risk of obesity went up 41%. Take some more tea," the March Hare said to Alice, very earnestly. "I've had nothing yet," Alice replied in an offended tone, "so I can't take more." "You mean you can't take less," said the Hatter: "It's very easy to take more than nothing." Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland There is actually a way that diet drinks could contribute to weight gain, Fowler suggests. She remembers being struck by the scene in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland in which Alice is offended because she is offered tea but is given none -- even though she hadn't asked for tea in the first place. So she helps herself to tea and bread and butter. That may be just what happens when we offer our bodies the sweet taste of diet drinks, but give them no calories. Fowler points to a recent study in which feeding artificial sweeteners to rat pups made them crave more calories than animals fed real sugar. "If you offer your body something that tastes like a lot of calories, but it isn't there, your body is alerted to the possibility that there is something there and it will search for the calories promised but not delivered," Fowler says. Perhaps, Bonci says, our bodies are smarter than we think. "People think they can just fool the body. But maybe the body isn't fooled," she says. "If you are not giving your body those calories you promised it, maybe your body will retaliate by wanting more calories. Some soft drink studies do suggest that diet drinks stimulate appetite."

Rhonda...I think everyone responds differently to all of the various meds for depression. I have been on Prozac, Zoloft, Wellbutrin, Effexor, and now Cymbalta and have never seen a weight gain that I could pinpoint on the meds. Whether it contributed or not to my weight gain I don't know, but I am doing fine losing weight now. For me, it is worth it to have my sanity back. Like DeLarla, I started having panic attacks so badly that I had to go on disability. The meds and therapy have brought me back to the "land of the living". I haven't had a panic attack or a major depression since April...praise be. Best of luck to you. DeLarla...I wish I would have know about the "Water therapy"...sounds much more effective than the Xanax...

I gained 65-70 lbs with the Paxil before my lap band and am now off of it, there is no way I would ever go back on that, it has nothing to do with the ammount of food you eat, I ate the same foods that I ate before I started taking the paxil as I did when I was taking it, same ammounts too but gained all that weight. all of those meds make your metabolic rate zero( Paxil, Zoloft, Wellbutrin etc..) I went round and round with my PCP about this and all the different meds. I do not think having the band or not having the band will make a diference , weight gain is still possible, this is just my opinion on it!

A little background..I had taken Zoloft for the last 8 years for anxiety (not so much depression). Over the years, I went from 155 pounds to 223 pounds. Not blaming it all on the Zoloft, but I have researched and that does seem to be a side effect of it. Anyhow, I went off of it back in August of 2004. I didn't really lose any weight during the time I was off of it and having my band surgery in March 2005 (in honesty, I didn't really try to since I had made up my mind to have lap band surgery) I am now going thru some trying times (not related to the lap band) and have considered going back on it. My question is, do you think I will have a weight gain? Rhonda Dr Lopez 3/10/05 221/198/140 First Fill 05/07/05 3cc

Hi Guys, Has anyone gained weight between having surgery and getting your first fill? I have (about 7 lbs). I'm so glad I'm getting a fill tomarrow, maybe at least I'll feel I'm on my way to losing some weight! Patty

I had the same concerns myself a few years back, as it is genetics on both sides of the family to be overweight. I am the obese one of the family on my side, and yet, I was always the athletic one, go figure. On my husband's side, he has one sister who is obese, as well as many great aunts and uncles and his mother. The rest of his family has a weight problem, but it's minimal. On my side, half are overweight, the rest are thin, and I am, as I mentioned above, the only obese one in the family. I've learned with my kids, to limit junk food intake, and teach them about healthy eating habits. Tell them why a glass of orange juice is better for them (potassium for the heart, vitamin C for colds) than Hi C, or a side of salad instead of chips with their sandwich for lunch. I find that if they understand the importance of nutrition, and not weight gain/loss, it is less intimidating to them. If you constantly get after them for having a freeze pop on a hot day, you will only make them feel guilty for having it, then they will sneak food, to make themselves feel better. Let them have that treat- it's ok, so long as they get enough exercise and eat properly most of the time! Isn't that what we should concentrate on, instead of scaring them into eating their way into an eating disorder? I cannot emphasize enough, physical exercise. I see way too many kids, obese, heavy, and skinny, playing too many video and computer games. Kick their butts outside, give them a ball, and tell them to PLAY. For that matter, join them- you'll both benefit from the exercise and fun.

I lost 42 lbs in the first week after my surgery. Due to internal swelling, I was completely dehydrated (well, ok, not completely, else I would have been a pile of dust) and had to have IV fluids a few times to keep going. Last week, I re-hit that 42 lb mark... 4 months post-op. I was depressed at first, but it's really nothing. I spent 15 years of my life steadily gaining weight. Then I spent 4 months losing it FAST FAST FAST (100 lbs). Then I gained 60 lbs back in one month, and 40 in the next month. With the band, I know that those kinds of weight gain are simply impossible. (Ok, I tend to use the extremes.... how about almost completely improbable?). Even weeks when I lose 1 lb, or stay the same, are weeks when I've done better, on average, than any other week in the past 15 years of my life. If you lose half a pound a week (a ridiculously conservitive rate), in 4 years, you will lose over 100 lbs. Where would you be in 4 years without the band? I know you're discouraged... I've been there -- we all have. You've done a wonderful thing for yourself, and all you need to do is keep your eye on the ball. Don't be fed up with yourself. You've turned the corner, reached the apex, made the change. Don't beat yourself up at all anymore -- I bet you did plenty of that (we all did, if you didn't, you'd be unique =) ) over your weight a lot in the past, and it didn't really get you anywhere, did it? =) Keep your eyes on the present, your heart on the future, and leave the past where it belongs. Gaining a few pounds of Water right now means *nothing* in the end. It's nothing you're doing wrong, it's nothing you *should* prevent. And best of all, it's a short term problem. =) I'm not trying to lecture you at all -- I hope it didn't come across that way. I just know, personally, the frustration you're feeling and know that it will pass. Peace to you, Jonathan

Ok ok, I know that it should be expected to gain weight when we finally switch back to solids from liquids. But, when I see 5 pounds come back after losing 16...I feel like a failure. I did what I could to prevent it, but it still happend. I want a HUGE fill so that I will have super duper restriction. When will this weight gain stop?? How can I slow it down?? Lots of exercise maybe?? I know I'm being a drama queen, but I was so excited about the lap-band that I could hardly contain myself...watching the scale go up is something that I hoped wouldn't happen. I am so tired of being fat!!! I am tired or snoring and not sleeping well!! I am tired of being unable to jog or climb up stairs without being winded!! I AM FED UP WITH MYSELF!!! Whew...thanks for listening.

Of course not- it actually works and does not cross the blood brain barrier (like REGLAN- the perferred drug of choice which can cause depression or suicide in some women) AND IS AN OFF MARKET USE. dOMPERIDONE (20 mg 4x per day) IN THE AMOUNTS NEEDED TO INCREASE PROLACTIN - HORMONE MAJORLY RESPONSIBLE FOR MILK PRODUCTION is no where near what they were talking about and the heart attacks were for introvenous use- again not the same. This drug is used in almost all other countries (England, Canada, Australia, New Zeland,France, etc) as a stomach aide for children and adults and sold over counter in most. But we the fount of all knowledge find it unreasonable to let medical professionals and people decide what works best for them and ruin our ability to help lactating women with problems. On a note- your doctor can prescribe reglan if there is an issue- but I wouldn't use it. The cross the blood brain barrier and probability to personality and mood changes was too much of a side effect for me. Also iusing anything to enhance proolactin- usually cause some mile weight gain due to increased appetite. If you haven't guessed --- I used domperidone to facilitate lactation for my adopted little ones- before Adrian. I also believe it helped me so well that I had/threw the one and only egg I ever mad e to get pregnant with Adrian. So I am happy it is there and that the American Assoc.,of Pediatricians is still recommending as preferred drug for lactation enhancement

But I also took all of my (then three) kids to Mexico with me for banding- because Adrian needed to nurse and I was afraid of who would bring her back if something happened. I also didn't stay in the hospital overnight. I went to the hotel around 8 pm and had som chicen broth & gatoraide per instructions!!!! Adrian also went when I got my one & only fill. If i were to get pregnant. I would personally try to keep my fill If I am not vomiting (however this would be different than with Adrian- that was 10 months of pucking!! DH thought bullimic pucked less than me). I would also try to keep weight gain to the baby- but keep the carbs and Protein high through good stuff, (My opinion and hoping it waits till I am at goal to happen if god knock twice in this lifetime)

I am a recovering bulimic. I fully admitted it to my doctor who will be doing my band surgery and he still ok'd me. In fact, quitting purging but not able to quit binging led to massive weight gain. I now have much more control over that demon. I don't binge like I used to but I still tend to overeat. LOTS AND LOTS of obese women are bulimic. It's not only skinny girls. For me, my history of bulimia will make the band that much harder. It's going to test the bounds of this demon that lives inside of me. But the greatest part I'm looking forward to is something I read on a blog page for a person who had been banded....they said that having the band made them for the first time that they were in control of food, not the other way around. The only proven method for overcoming an eating disorder is therapy. I'm here to testify that therapy works but it takes a lot of effort from the bulimic to make it happen. There are a LOT of psychological issues behind an eating disorder. And ED is NOT only about food....it's about SO MUCH more. Food is just a symptom. So as you said in the very first post....maybe this is for a reason. Maybe it's time to face up to some issues before getting banded. Big hugs to you. You are welcome to PM me if you have any more questions.

Okay, so I got pregnant with my oldest, and what did I weigh? 208 I had her, lost some weight, gained some weight, then lost, and settled at 208. I got pregnant with my youngest and weighed 208. Had him, lost weight, gained wieght, and never saw 208 again. I weighed 223 when I got banded, and quickly lost some weight. Guess how much? 15 pounds. And that put me at 208. And I have stayed there since day 12 after surgery almost 8 weeks ago. My body LOVES 208. I HATE it!! So today on the scale I weighed 206.4 I'm still not convinced I'll never see 208 again but at some point I'll get below it enough to know I will never look back. It has taken me weeks to convince my body that 208 is BAD. Our bodies tend to get stuck sometimes. Keep pressing forward. 8 weeks is a drop in the bucket compared to a year from now. And you can be pretty well guaranteed that you will NOT be in the 200's in a year. I know you are frustrated. I'm really sorry, but we can do this!!! With the Band, it's not that you just eat whatever just less of it and lose IF you DON'T have good restriction. For me, it simply makes the diet possible day after day after day. And THAT is what speaks to my 208.

Say HE-EEYY!!! Yes, Protien, just like those of us who want to lose the weight. It's good for muscle bulk, and you definately want to avoid bulking up with fat from junk food and lots of processed foods. Keep it real food, meats, veggies, potatoes, and protien drinks (1-2 a day) will help. there is a website, someone help me here and post a link if I can't find it, that will tell you how many calories, grams of protien, fat, etc. you should eat to lose or gain weight....let me see if I can find it... http://www.room42.com/nutrition/basal.shtml Yep, there is a button for gaining weight, too. It's pretty interesting! Let us know how it goes! We are good at weight gain here, but most of us have gained the wrong kind of weight...fat!!! But at 110, maybe you could use just a Little bit of padding? hehe