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Thank you for posting this thread. I know that we're all very different and that we will all have different stories, but it has been nice to see that SO many people have had success... and to me ANY weight loss is success. I just keep reminding myself that if I take the slow and steady path I won't end up with a bunch of loose skin hanging on me. I know that is a petty thing to think about but I do want feel good as well as look good : ))

Hi Dan I'm a 30 year old female with the same issue. I'm just about 4 years post op. I had lost a lot and now gained a lot back. I have lots to lose. I'm a newly wed And my husband wants a baby. I need to get healthy again.

I weigh on an analog, not digital scale - so mine isn't nearly as precise as yours, Cludgie. I count the victory when the desired weight shows up two days in a row.

Hi all, So I was sleeved 1.5 weeks ago. I tend to be a pear shape and when I lose weight it goes from the top. I feel like I'm losing starting at the bottom half, with the belly now seemingly bigger over thigh area. Anyone experience this post sleeve? I'm not complaining about thigh reduction but just wondering if it's a figment of my imagination or not. Thanks Rita

I googled bariatric cooking and found this: The Everything Post Weight Loss Surgery Cookbook

I am different than the others, I can't eat eggs unless it's egg salad. I also can't do Pasta or rice. I can eat ny kind of meat, and most veggies are fine. I usully order grilled fish or shrimp and mshed potatos or sub a fruit cup and my daughter eats it later or I make a smoothie with it for a snack. I don't eat pork at all, and I also don't eat mushrooms so I have no experience on those. I am 18 months post-op and eat very well I think. Most places will allow you to sub something for rice or pasta. My favorite thing right now is chicken salad, or crab salad. Tonight for dinner I had grilled shimp ( I did them in the toaster oven) and my family had pizza. I don't do Breakfast unless it's a smoothie or oatmeal. And I try to keep lunch light and small, usually my DD and I split a weight watcher meal or have lunch meat with sliced cheese. If we go to a sandwich place I just order no bread or I order my stuff in a wrap. Eating out is not only possible but I have found that I enjoy food soooo much better now, I actually taste what I order and I order what I want not the biggest thing on the menu now. ~Mandy PS I have a theory, I can only eat a small portion each day, and I'm not going to waste that on crap, it's going to be a good qulity 24oz for the day, not the huge quantity of crap like before. ~Mandy

I actually gained 9 pounds,so that is bologne all your dietian wants you to do is keep coming to her for the $$$$$$

My story is rather lengthy and sorted. I am excited to exclaim that today is the first day of the rest of my life. I was banded in October of 2003. By October of 2004 I had lost 165 pounds. My problems began somewhere after that point with a slip. My wonderful insurance that paid for my surgery in 2003, would no longer support the band by October 2004. Somehow I missed the announcement, or decision. My problems began after the major weight loss. TriCare would gladly pay for the removal of my band, but nothing else. My surgeon offered no other solution, but removal of my band. After losing 165 pounds, that was not an option in my mind. But I didn't know what to do. I suffered from frustrating reflux and I deamed my band useless. The food that would go down well was not good for me, empty calories, calories that served no purpose, carbs, sugar, and I rediscovered soda. A down fall for me. I accidently found a new surgeon. I wasn't looking for one, but that doesn't matter. What matters is that, hands down, I have the best, most sincere, caring surgeon in my life. He repositioned my band. I continued to have problems, eating too much, another slip, removal of saline, no fills. Disappointment. Regain 100 pounds, more disappointment, more "rounds" with myself in the boxing ring. It hasn't been pretty at all. I've appealed twice to TriCare to no avail. At one point, when my Saint surgeon "labeled" me with an eating disorder, I did us both dis-justice by following through. If I was going to have a label on my forehead that said I HAVE BINGE EATING DISORDER by gosh I was going to make sure I really did. A few weeks ago, admitting defeat, trying to believe that the band failed ME, I went to see my Saint of a surgeon and tell him to remove the darn thing. I was ready. I can't eat past 6pm or suffer from no sleep because of horrible reflux. I have regained a whopping 100 pounds, so I just wanted it out. Finally, after agreeing with myself that it didn't work, I couldn't think of a reason to keep it inside me? The band failed me. That concept is really difficult to grasp. The band failed me. The band failed me. The band failed me. I talked to Dr. Saint and we decided to replace my band with the new Allergan band. The most bizarre thing happened. The following week I received a TriCare newsletter in my e-mail at work and I opened it up, which I never do. The second article was about TriCare approving Lap Band surgery if the certain qualifications were met, effective FEBRUARY 2007! It is good news, however, Dr. Saint is not in my network. TriCare will only pay 50 percent of what they will approve.

I know many of you had to go through many appeals to get this done. I have been told by my insurance that my employer excluded it from coverage. My question is this: what happens if I lose some weight in the interim? My highest was 241, currently 231 but what happens if I lose, say 20-30 lbs and my BMI is no longer over 40? Do I not qualify if I win the appeal now? I am not well and cannot stay at this weight (pre-diabetic, high cholesterol, GERD, sleep apnea, multiple sclerosis) but I don't want to eliminate myself from this surgery altogether. I am at at BMI of 40.2 right now. Why is this so hard? When will people understand this is a health issue and not a "character" issue?

Hi ladies...I joined few days ago...in the same boat as y'all. I am almost 7 yrs out RNY 2/19/08 I started out at 277 , got down to 132 ( looked way to thin and sickly) so I went up to 140 and was healthy looking and comfortable...maintained my weight until we moved from California to Indiana a year and half ago and lost control,gained 34 lbs now I have been working to get my weight back down ,get back on track with my Vitamins and supplements cuz I am very anemic and vitamin D deficient. So far I have lost a few lbs. And do Zumba at my YMCA when I can otherwise my biggest Loser DVD at home and getting better with a vitamin/supplement schedule... would like a buddy.

I started out 222 and I currently weight 206 and it has been that way for the last week. What should i do Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Officially freaking out...surgery is tomorrow morning!!! I’ve been trying to get ready and have most of what I need at home. Ventured out to GNC today to look for isopure (read it’s good during pos-op liquid diet) and wanted to look at some protein powder. I am really worried about getting my protein in and it is all very overwhelming. Interestingly, while I was trying to look at all the options, a couple with a baby came in and I overheard their convo (very small store). The lady explained that she’s always had trouble gaining weight and once she got pregnant and had her daughter (super cute btw [emoji846]) she thought her ability to gain weight would get better but it actually got worse. So the husband cut her off and said they needed a weight gain protein powder and basically after that, the conversation ended up being between the GNC employee and the husband. He wanted whatever had the most and best chance and it didn’t matter how much she had to drink in a day, even though she kept telling him that she would not be able to drink that much. To top it all off, he ended up choosing her flavor and a mix cup (even though she said she didn’t like the color). Sharing bc I was put off by the husbands attitude and felt bad for her. I could be completely wrong here but wouldn’t surprise me if he gets on her about her weight, maybe about not eating enough, her appearance, etc. Most of us are on the other side of that spectrum but it made me realize that we might be going through the same things in terms of insecurities and it was eye-opening. Because I am overweight, I sometimes look at skinny people and feel jealous but didn’t really think about any struggles they might have. Thought I’d share. Anywho! Lol. They left with a giant tub of protein powder and I left with nothing! Lol. I was so overwhelmed with the choices I couldn’t make a decision. So asking for a friend [emoji3] I hope you guys can give me some recommendations of what you’re using. I worry about fat and calorie content and maybe how often you’re using the powder.....and do I really need it?? Thank you!!!!

Thank you both so much for responding. I still have my gall bladder. This has been my only surgery and I hope its my ONLY surgery. Congratulations to you both on your great weight loss! What inspirations.

Maddie, what does that calcium powder taste like? I quit taking my supplements for two days and lost a pound each of those days. I took them again and gained a pound back! This is really making me crazy. I tried to take a multi pill again today and it tried to come back up again.

Actually have not been banded yet. 3 month minimum required medically supervised diet with a 10% weight loss. Was approved last week and have my surgery scheduled for October 3.

Those last 4 lbs lost to reach the 100 lbs lost mark seemed like it took forever. It has been less than 7 months since my surgery and now I am only 16 lbs from my goal weight. It actually seems attainable now that I am that close. When I started this journey 100 LBS seemed like a dream but it is now history. Like I mentioned in my blog, I had increased my calorie intake for my strength training. It helped in my exercise and I continued to lose inches but it had slowed my weight loss. Since the weight loss was still my main priority until I reach my goal, I have decreased my calories and carbs back down to 900/80 a day and that got the scale moving again. I am going to increase my cardio, slow my strength training a bit and see how that goes for the last 16 lbs. For those of you reading the forums that have to lose 100 lbs or more, it can be done and you can do it. I used the sleeve as my tool, changed my diet and worked out like a mad man at the gym. The sleeve is not a magic wand, especially if you have this much weight to lose, the restriction has been the key for me. I look back over this 100lbs lost and I have no doubt I could of lost more in probably less time but I felt the strength training and muscle building was worth the trade off of the speed of the weight loss. I have very little lose skin after losing 100lbs and I think that has a lot to do with replacing it with muscle. Losing the 100lbs is a big deal for me but not as much as reaching my goal, that last 16 lbs is going to be a real motivator.

Has anyone experienced a plateau in their weight loss? I'm afraid I am right now How to get past it?

New to the site and my first post. My question is this I called my HR Rep and asked if this type or any weight loss surgery would be covered by my insurance Anthem BC & BS. He stated no. that was an option the group could do but it would cost to much for all the employees. Has anyone ever had this problem? If so how did you go about getting this approved thanks.

I had my lapband done in dec.06 lost 49 pounds and 35 more to go, I'm 42 yrs old and feel so much better, I can't wait for my goal weight target, my dr was dr treen at west jefferson hospital in marrero louisiana him and the nurse's are great supports.....

I've been a pescetarian for about 25 years or so. I'm about 12 weeks post-op. The focus on Protein is a huge change for me. For my whole adult life, I made whole grains the base of every meal, surrounded by veggies and just a little protein. I had to admit to myself after all these years that it wasn't working for me - constant cravings and low satiety. I still don't believe in the high levels of protein that most adhere to (except during the post surgery healing phase) Which is good, because veg protein sources don't get you anywhere near 60g a day and I don't want to rely on shakes and bars now that I'm past the healing phase. I'm a total convert to the low carb camp for the duration of my weight loss phase. It really does reduce hunger and cravings. I haven't decided on a maintenance plan yet - I'll figure that out down the road. I've been eating 3 meals a day comprised of 3 oz of protein (fish, hard cheese, eggs, nuts, beans) and 1 oz of veggies plus fats (olive, coconut, butter, avocado), Sometimes, I'll add a Protein Bar, but not everyday. The weight is coming off at a nice steady pace. I don't know if I am on the right track or not - all seems well for now and I'm open to experimenting down the road.

maybe i just need to vent, if so I apologize in advance. If Im doing something wrong someone please set me straight. Im 5 weeks post op today, & since about the 2nd week post op Ive done nothing but yo-yo up & down or stay at the same weight. Granted, I was sidelined with a UTI from the catheter in the hospital & took Cipro for 10 days, which I was told would make me retain water. I lost a few more pounds after it got out of my system but since then its been lose 2, gain 1.5, lose .5, gain 1 lb. SO FRUSTRATING!!!! Im getting my protein in (75-100g per my program) getting my fluids in & walking everyday for at least 30 mins. Only thing I could be doing wrong is weighing myself too often. somedays I do it everyday, some days I will skip a day or so. I havent had my monthly since pre-op too. That was last week in august. I had to discontine by birth control pills when I started by liver shrink diet & I didnt have one the whole month of September. I feel great, i still feel like I made the right choice, Ive had zero complications, Im eating normal foods, being good, no or little sugar, no breads, mostly just good lean proteins & fluids. Am I expecting to much too soon? Just seems like with all Im doing I should see more results....thanks for taking the time to read my vent. Hoping it changes soon!

That's awesome! My husband and I were both sleeved as well. Me September, 2014 and him October, 2014. I've lost 61lbs and he's lost 72 I think. He carried most of his weight in his belly and it is gone now. I always tell him how skinny he is! lol I'm sure he loves that! I carry my weight all over so it's going to take a little longer to see a big difference with me. Boo hoo ;-( Oh well, I'm still pretty happy with my progress. Good luck to you all!!

Yes I've has I've had eggs before, I've even had few bites of cheese omelette and was fine, fills me up real quick. I've never felt sick from them before surgery: April 24th~~~current weight loss 27 pounds