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Well i weight myself everyday and everyday I've increased a pound my surgery was 2/26/13 and I've only lost 44lbs,5 of those I've gained back.my pouch no longer feels like a pouch it feels like my old stomach.I feel as though im on a emotional train wreck.it's hard to get exercise in cause im a single mom and my youngest is 8 mos. and once i finish with chores,cooking,cleaning,changing,washing,teething im pooped!!maybe this will be another failed attempt at Weightloss again,I don't have any support groups in my area or any support period,maybe i had this done to soon after giving birth plus my surgeon acts like whatever,someone please pray for me or give me some advice please!!!

I have A-Fib and take Metoprolol twice a day. Since my surgery and slow weight loss I have had very few issues. I still take my meds, but don't worry about it. That racing irregular heart beat is very scary.

So i know my body and have gotteb use to stalling every month for like 2 weeks then losing for a week but gaining during a stall not good so i weighed 163 friday and by sunday 166 and today 167 and usually i bounce around 1-2lbs during a stall but this scale is creeping up daily and im kind of pissed its very discouraging.....i dont usually weigh this often just did it because i wanted to make sure i didnt go up more then 2 and make sure this is a stall but it seems to be more than a stall to me ....i know im venting just 4lbs up is a lot and in less then a week crazy Sent from my SM-G935T using the BariatricPal App

For me....I have no interest in food, and no interest in eating most of the time...in other words, no hunger...I know may people say no hunger between meals, but remember the band is adjustable and no 2 people are the same....so for everyone it is their choice... Also, I can eat just so much, then I have to stop....making my portion sizes automatically set...AND making it impossible to over eat.... When I have those 2 things going for me, then I have good steady weight loss, which equals complete patient satisfaction.... It was hard work for me to get to that perfect balancing point, took a good 4-6 months after surgery with aggressive fills....there were a few times I wanted to give up and go and get some Fluid taken out to make things easier...but in my case, I'm glad I did not because things did settle down and I found that "Groove" I believe many people choose not to pursue it but fall short..which is OK because that is one of the good things about this surgery is YOU finding YOUR comfort level...and where YOU choose to be is not right or wrong, and should not be considered the ONLY avenue as some here believe...(Their way is the only way) But once I did get through that difficult struggling period (Bandster hell)...it has been all an effortless coasting downhill ever since!!! Another perk I enjoy being in the Green Zone....for over 2 years now, consistently with no problems what so ever... But again, it is important to know that everyone is different....there is no right or wrong, just examples of how everyone has found their success and happiness.....or lack thereof...and it is up to you and your Dr. how you want to proceed wit tis journey...no one Else's.

I was starting to notice my weight loss stalling, so I took a good hard look at everything I was doing. I was in denial, thinking that the band "wasn't working" and that I shouldn't have to work so hard to lose weight. In reality, I was eating too fast, too much, and too long. I was also drinking much more than I should and not exercising at all. I started a workout routine, tracked my calories on myfitnesspal.com, cut down on alcohol, and ate more mindfully, and the pounds started coming off again. Remember that the Lap Band is a tool, not a magic wand. I tend to forget that sometimes, even all these months later. You can do this, but it does require work and effort on your part. The Band can only do so much.

I am the same way..... only my waiting periods in between weight loss is about 3-4 weeks. I am losing in stalls.... but still losing! Doesnt help that I weigh first thing EVERY morning... This last 50 that I need to lose are going to be a b***h!

I think I might have had unrealistic expectations. My boss had bypass surgery last year and I remember seeing her a month out and she looked like a different person already. I think I pictured the same happening for me. I'm trying not to be discouraged and not forget that we started from very different places. I was 223 at my biggest, 214 before pre op diet, 206 on day of surgery. Today I am 185. Surgery was 12/3 so today is exactly 5 weeks post op. She was over 300. My doc tells me that people who start at a lower weight with a lower BMI ( mine was 38.4 at my biggest) will have a different journey, but when I come on here I see others who started from a similar place who have already lost way more than me. Anyone else feeling a little discouraged? Overall, I'm sooo glad I did it. Just need to find my patience with the marathon and stop expecting a sprint.

I go through the same thing and mine normally happens at least 2 weeks out of every other month so I end up with about 5-6 weeks of weight loss then 2 weeks without any and the cycle repeats itself!

Just a heads up for those of you still trying to be approved for surgery by insurance....the TODAY show is reporting on a "new trend" where people are gaining weight to qualify for wls...... This might put a huge wrench in some peoples plans if the insurance company's decide to change policys that you must show longer weight loss waiting periods, or longer times of obisity being recorded by your doctors.

Someone told me, that people end having their Gall Bladder removed after Weight Loss Surgery. Is this true?

I am thankful to say that this is the first year I have NOT needed to put "Lose weight" on my New Year's Resolution list. As a matter of fact, I have very few things I want to change in the new year. It has been a blessed last few years and spiritual growth has taken me to a place of loving myself. So in the new year I feel that I need to use my life long experience with weight, weight loss, food issues, & banding to help others. So I vow to be an active advocate for obesity awareness. Oh, I'm not planning a campaign or anything, just helping a little here and there, starting with my own family. I think that if people here things over and over and from different sources, sometimes that sticks a little more than a full throttle campaign. That little voice saying 'proper portions', 'healthy choices', 'nutrition'....we've all heard those things for so long they are FINALLY starting to seep into popular culture. So I intend to be another one of those little voices that repeats those phrases and with the help of my band, lives the lifestyle, so that maybe, just maybe, the next generation doesn't have to suffer through the obesity epidemic as we are now. I notice in this past year that the general food service public seemed very confused when I ordered extra small portions of things or asked for less of something. I generally didn't go into detail about why I wanted less but on a few occasions when I did explain people seemed surprised, almost like a little light bulb went off over their heads, that less is ok. For example, every time my daughter and I stop at our local ice cream shop for a cone I have to literally yeall "STOP!" as they are scooping. I say "That's plenty." Inevitably, the kid says, "Are you sure." I have had to explain that their 8oz portion of ice cream (which the kid informed me was in reality a 9oz portion) was far to much for both myself & my 8 year old combined and that a 2 to 3 ounce portion was more realistic for a healthy lifestyle. The confused look on their faces speaks volumes to the obesity epidemic here in the U.S. Throughout this whole process I have tried to teach my 8 year old daughter that it's about health, not weight. She is a head taller than most kids her age and has a very sold frame (thanks to Eastern European genes). According to governemtn growth charts she would have to lose a whopping 20 pounds to be considered 'normal." 20 POUNDS!!, from where I ask? She isn't overweight. She is heavier than almost all the kids in her class except for one who is her height but she is most definately not fat and she's 5 feet tall. She has already voiced concerns about being fat based on the weight of her best friend who is of Asian decent & at age 8 is barely out of a size 6x. That worried me so I spoke to her about exercise, nutrition & the fact that we are all different body types & she was good with that. Admittedly I had to throw in the fact that she will probably grow to be 5'10" like my mother. That really perked her up. She loves her grandma. Proper portions, enjoying food for it's health benefits, & enjoying our favorite treats in the right portions. So I figure if I start with her an maybe catch a few unsuspecting people along the way I'll be helping the community. So, how will you help enlighten folks based on your weight loss experience? Good luck.

So basically your 17 pound loss was in a single week? Awesome job! You should be proud of the progress you've already been making. Plus, I wouldn't discount the weight you lost pre-op. My ticker includes it. :-) I think about the weight that we gain from surgery from the IV fluids, and it makes me realize that you really did lose more than 17 pounds in that week since surgery.

I use the St Ives Timeless Skin Moisturizer even before surgery and it seems to have helped a really deep line I had on my forehead. I saw it on an episode of Dr Oz, they were talking about cheaper alternatives to Wrinkles/Aging that were good. I am happy with it now, but still have a lot of weight to lose, so I may get more wrinkles before it's all over with. It says it is "collagen elastin" on the jar. I got it at Walmart for a little over $5. I think they had other stuff, maybe a scrub? While looking at supplements, I also saw where you can get collagen supplements to take orally. Seemed like it had some good reviews. I am 47 so I thought I needed to start some kind of regimen. I just had no idea what to get either, but the price was reasonable on this so I thought I'd give it a shot.

How can the inches drop but not the pounds? I was banded 5 weeks ago and have cut down on my calories, increased my protein to at least 60 grams/day, trying to get in plenty of fluids, but will admit that I probably fall short on getting in all of my water. I haven't started to exercise yet, BUT... I haven't dropped any weight in the last 2 weeks, and I had only lost 9 lbs up to that point. I have measured and there have been some decreases in inches, but I don't understand if I'm not losing pounds/ounces, then how can I be shrinking inches? The disappointment I feel with such a huge decrease in calories and no weight loss is tremendous!! Any thoughts?

I'm not sure. Up until Wednesday I was being weighed by the hospital or my surgeon's office. I never felt like I had gained anything from the IV's but who knows. I was in the hospital from Friday morning to Saturday night. During that whole time I ate (HA!) broth once. Spent the rest of the time dry-heaving. Anesthesia sucks. Since I have been home I sip liquids and occasionally take in a puree. I tolerate just about all things well except corn. Used to like it. Used to LOVE it. Can't stand it now....

DH is feeling better about me having LB surgery. He took the time off of work and said that he wants to be there for me. So, surgery is paid in full and airline tickets were a bargain $49 each way to San Diego!! I had a voucher for $420 with Southwest Airlines and only used up half of it. I will save the rest of my voucher for when I have to get my first fill. I have not started the pre-op diet yet but have been cutting back a little. I will start on the 25th and will have to keep myself very busy and away from the kitchen because I tend to migrate to food when I am at home. On a real personal note, I have not wanted to go anywhere, except church, because I feel so embarrassed of my weight. When I was in my 20's early 30's I was overweight by 30-40 lbs. but people would say how beautiful I was. I hated it because I felt the pressure to keep up with that label. Why do I even care? God loves me. My husband loves me. And, my children love me any way I look! I know that I am depressed because I would rather stay at home with no make up, hair not "done" and in comfortable (ugly) clothes than go out with my husband anywhere. Not that he is ashamed ... I am! I would love to have a trendy, small sized wardrobe and be able to go in at any time and wear anything and know that it is going to look and fit great. No more wearing black all the time to make myself look slimmer! The ultimate would be to wear jeans and look great! I love jeans but have only worn them a couple times in the adult life. I am going to name my band "Freedom". Not that it will give me the freedom to eat anything and everything but that it will give me the freedom from my volume eating addiction. 12 days until Freedom!

Hi . I was banded at Emirates Hospital in Duabi March 6 this year however I live in Abu Dhabi. LIke you I am doing most of my research post operation. Loss was 10 kg in first 6 weeks but slowed up since then. Bigger fill on MOnday just gone so I have had the challenge of discomfort and unable to keep anything down. The inability to keep anything down was certainly more than a little scary. The surgeon saw me the same day inspite of just ringing for advice as to how long I should leave it before returning to see him in Dubai. He immediately slotted me into his day.. and a trip to Dubai resulted in .5cc out and all is well. I was very very impressed with the responsiveness to my concerns. I have followed up with fluids for the last few days and today tried scrambled eggs and yoghurt. I can get only a few tablespoons down before feeling uncomfortable but looking forward to the weight moving again. HAng in there....The first two months were definetely the most difficult. Things do improve.

Way back in my weight watcher's days (which I think is a great program, but I was never able to keep the weight I lost off permanently) I had a leader used a great analogy that has alway stuck with me. She said losing weight and dieting is like being in a relationship: In the beginning you are in the "honeymoon phase" and you can face anything with the determination you have. After a while, you start to feel "disenchanted" with the whole relationship and question your commitment and might even stray a bit in your thoughts or actions (or food!). Some folks will get a "divorce" after this phase. I have divorced a lot of diets :thumbup:. For the folks who hang in there, next is "renewed resolve" where you recommit yourself to your goals (dieting or relationship). After this phase comes "permanent lifestyle change." It simply a part of who you are. I just loved this analogy and have been thinking about it again recently. I believe I am in the "Renewed Resolve" stage and I hope to stay there long enough to get me to my new permanent lifestyle. I'm done with divorce :smile: :w00t: :thumbup:

Hi all, <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p> I’m not banded yet. I’ve been researching and researching and thinking and thinking. My insurance won’t cover it so I’ve been looking into having it done in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region>. I read these boards all the time and just love it. Everyone here is so supportive and honest. I feel more comfortable on these boards, even though I haven’t been banded, than I do any other weight loss/related boards. <o:p></o:p> My biggest fear is that something will go wrong, I will have complications. The kind of complications that are worse than slippage or erosion that couldn’t be fixed by having the band removed and then I would be buried in medical bills for the rest of my life. My second fear is that if it slipped or eroded and I had to have the band removed I would have to pay for that. So even if I had it installed and removed in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Mexico</st1:country-region>, aftercare and fills, etc. in the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">US</st1:place></st1:country-region>, travel expenses, etc. I would still be looking at around 15,000 to 17,000. My third fear is that it won’t work for me. I won’t be able to stick to the rules and I will eat around it. I don’t think I would, but I didn’t think I would ever end up 290lbs either. My fourth fear is that I lose all my weight, things are great and then something happens and I have to have it removed and then I gain all of my weight back. My fifth fear is that if I don’t do something to change my eating and my weight I’m going to die. If I’m lucky I will have a heart attack and die instantly. If not, my health problems and complications from those health problems, will slowly get worse and I will linger around and slowly deteriorate for another 20 years. At least my insurance would pay for that though. <o:p></o:p> Has anyone heard about The Solution by Laurel Mellin? I think she hits the nail on the head as far as the “why” and “what” needs to happen to turn off that drive to overeat. I love her program but it’s really hard to do on my own. When I am able to do the work I do feel better, more at peace, and emotionally stronger. But most of the time I feel like an alcoholic or drug addict trying to work a self-help recovery program, by myself, while still drinking/using. It just doesn’t work. I thought that if I get banded, I would be able to work this program and hopefully, hopefully, if anything happened and I had to have my band removed I wouldn’t gain the weight back and my drive to overeat would be gone. Or would I just rely on the band to lose weight, be on such an emotional high from the weight loss and not do the emotional work? Just trying to imagine living life without a constant drive to overeat and the constant worry about my weight and eating, it sounds like a fantasy. <o:p></o:p> Sorry about the long post. I’m just thinking, thinking, thinking. <o:p></o:p> PS

Thank you for posting this today. I just returned from a fill and only got 1/2 cc and wondered if that would even help (?) I had lap band surgery on April 9th and am still seeking the Green Zone. So, I am also about 5 months out and getting frustrated with S-L-O-W weight loss.

What I do, is tell people that whatever road gets them to a healthy place, is great--for them. And this is your road, and your journey, and if it is getting you to a healthy place, then thats all that matters. Honestly, sometimes people need a little snark to put them in their place, and it can be done tactfully-- for example, if someone is comparing the weight loss, maybe a comment like "good news is were not in a competition" might do the trick depending on your relationship with them. With my family (grandparents especially) I had to tell them to stop asking me my weight loss number every time I saw them. I explained that this is a lifetime of a journey and there may be times where you've gained, or lost, but 1) that can't be all life is about, and 2) no one needs to feel like they need to lie or explain a bump in the road should one occur. My answer is they will know when they see it, and otherwise we don't need to analyze it at every function.

Yes, B12 deficiency can cause fatigue and a host of other issues, too. But it sounds like you should talk to someone in person, if that's an option for you. Sometimes the start of the weight loss journey brings other issues we have (but blamed on the weight) to a head. It's not uncommon for people to battle depression after surgery. In fact, there's a sticky'd thread about it somewhere on VST! I'd get in to the doc and ask for guidance. Perhaps counseling could help. Vitamin deficiency could be a culprit and exercise will help you release more serotonin and help you feel less "down." This could be your signal, feeling this way, to get started on the head work that should accompany your surgery. Periods of depression happen to a lot of us (I've had my share!) but getting at the underlying issue can only help you in the long run to be a happier and overall healthier person. Best, ~Cheri

When I had my surgery..my surgeon said had a massive liver and a massive spleen..anyone have a giant spleen?..I'm trying to be educated and he didn't tell me much .I'm nervous anyone know anything ..I know loosing weight will help..any experience or knowledge anyone would like to share?

Don't let it put you off! I read that stalling is something that needs to happen in order for one to lose weight! Hope all goes well sanaa♑️

Hey Kelly......Know how you feel. Went through the same thing. I've had 3 fills and still can eat quite a bit. Not as much as before but more than I thought I would. I am going Tues. for another fill and hopefully this one will do the trick. My Dr. allows us to get a fill every 2 weeks as long as we meet 2 of the following criteria. We don't lose any weight, we are hungry between meals, or we are able to comfortably eat more than we should. I know that I am close because I can't eat some foods now that I could 2 weeks ago. Hang in there and ask your Dr if you could get a fill sooner. Best of luck.