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Sleeved 3/19/13 I know everyone is different, I reason these boards about people puking almost everyday or how they can't eat this or that. I'm almost 2 months post op and I can eat everything I've attempted...salad, raw veggies like carrots, a whole slice of pizza (not the crust) at a party. I don't have to sip sip sip I can drink like I used to pre surgery. I have to be completely honest here, I feel like I'm actually on a diet not that I had surgery because I have to control myself not to go for another 1/2 slice of pizza ** btw, I'm not a pizza person but I know I'd be capable of eating more than a slice if I wanted to*** I feel like its diet control not surgery control. I hope I'm explaining myself well. Also, I often feel hungry especially in bed at night. I spoke to my nut last month and she thinks I'm doing well, but I read others on here and I'm like...how come I can eat? I know some may say..."hey don't complain", but this makes me think as months move on it'll be easier still for me to indulge. I wanted the restriction....I don't think I really have enough. Also, just so you are aware, I had the lapband for 7 yrs and lost all my weight (gained it back after it slipped and had it removed) so believe me, I know what restriction feels like and how crappy it feels to take "one bite too many" I used to puke a few times a day and to be honest I welcomed it...bulimic?? Please let me know...is anyone else like me or am I screwed? Thank you for your help!

You could very well be in what is caused perimenopause, although that would be early. It goes on for 10 years before actual menopause. Insomnia can start in perimenopuase. Sometimes doctors will prescribe anti depressants for people who can't sleep. some of them cause people to feel drowsy but you have to be careful cause the side effect for a lot of them is weight gain. if he offers you any antidepressant, look it up online.

I have to think your time counts lose or gain. I would hope that weight gain would be at the surgeon’s discretion as you will have fulfilled the insurance obligation. I am right with you, nothing but a significant weight loss is going to change my health issues. I am also a nurse (assuming that is what your name implies) 😊. It is so frustrating that insurance is always driving health care instead of medical need. i hope everything works out for you, @NurseJaci13! I am just hoping this new wave of COVID cases doesn’t hijack my surgery date again. I gained about 7 pounds when my first date was canceled🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️

As far as I can tell they don't really care if I gain or lose, at least from what my BRS nurse said. It's more about the "education" I receive. I'm more concerned that they will think I gained on purpose to get over 40, which I didn't. I also have to be over 40 or be over 35 and have co-morbidities @WishMeSmaller and I agree. I'm only 5' 3" so a pretty small weight gain or loss changes my BMI but 5-10 pounds doesn't really change my health issues. I don't think my doctor even cares that much. They want you to meet with a nutritionist twice before surgery and do two psych evals, but they don't have a minimum time to do it in. They will get you in as quickly as you meet those two requirements and insurance approves. I was just wondering if anyone else had this situation.

Hello all. So I have Lupis as well as Fibromyalgia! I have been trying not to think of it in regards to my surgery. However, in the back of my mind, there is the fear that having surgery will cause a flare up! I had to go off of my Plaquinil for a month, until after my surgery, which is July 10th. Its been about two weeks and I've been good until last night!!! I could feel the rain coming, my joints have been aching. And my hips are absolutely killing me! Like to the point of tears, and it takes a LOT to make me cry. My hands and arms/elbows are hurting not from typing, I have to keep stopping. I stopped taking the Plaquinil once before for a week, and it felt like I hit a wall going 90mph! That time it affected my hands and elbows and shoulders first, then I was curled up in the fetal position in so much pain I could barely think! And now its started again! Calling the doctor in the morning. And I guess they will increase pain meds, but I have done that for the last two nights and it hasn't helped! And I can't even take motrin! I want to pull my hair out! I am afraid if the increase my meds now, will they be able to control my pain after surgery? I have two little boys to take care of!! I will be staying at my parents after surgery for the first two weeks, but I can't let them do everything! My guys can wear the most entergetic people out! Getting a little upset about this tonight! I told my surgeon that nothing about the surgery scared me at all, the only thing that scared me was coming off my Plaquinil! And he said "for good reason"! AAAHHHHHHHH anyone else dealing with these issues? I could really use some support! Can't wait to get it over with and go back on my meds!!!!! And scared they will try to put me back on steroids, which have contributed to my weight gain over the last two years! Hurting, nervous, upset!

@@mnmlst I am 9 month's out from surgery. I follow my eating plan that has been modified by my surgeon. I exercise more than what is required . My weight loss has not moved in months. Not keeping up on my plan I believe would send me into weight gain mode

This is just what I needed I'm 2 years out and down 150lbs had an unfill in sept. and gained for the first time it was scary. I had gained 14lbs in 6 weeks got a fill in Oct. when back in Dec. I was the same weight as Oct. no weight gain since than I have lost 12lbs almost back I'm 25lbs from my goal and when I get near to it I get so scared I start to stress eat. I must get over the fear of winning this race. I have never dreamed that I would be able to wear zip up boots to my knee my legs have always been to big for tall boots. I need help to get over this hill so here goes the numbers:thumbup:. I not sure how to set it up please show me how Thank Ladyroz:rolleyes2:

Good morning ladies.... I am new to the board and have a question regarding opening my band....I am 4 weeks pregnant and was wondering when to have my band opened up. Its pretty tight now and I can mostly only get liquids and Soups in during the early part of the day...after 1 or 2. My band usually relaxes after 5 or 6 so I eat a pretty normal dinner but there are days when its completely uncooperative and I don't get much down. I have never been able to eat much meat and have gotten most of my Protein from shakes, supplements, fish and cheeses. I am very concerned (more like freaking out) about gaining weight but there is a strong possiblity I am carrying multiples so my doctor is very concerned about my diet and protein intake. When did everyone have their band opened and how quickly did you start gaining. I will do what my doctor asks but I am scared of the weight gain. Any helpful tips, ideas or suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much!!!!

perhaps the single-most predictable (and universal) weightloss pattern is a stall-out between weeks 2 - 3, sometimes as late as week 5. I've seen it time and time again (not just my personal experiences, but as a witness to medical study data, as an observer in weightloss therapy sessions, case studies, etc.) ESPECIALLY if you've had a loss of more than 1 - 2 lbs during the preceding weeks, but absolutely not required. Looking at your dates, you're smack dab in this timeline. It doesn't matter what "diet" someone is on, this happens enough to be almost guaranteeable. The short and non-scientific explanation is that there's a point where your body realizes it's losing fat and freaks out, kicks out a bunch of chemicals, lots of things are rearranged and redistributed, released, reserved, and a temporary reduction or cessation of weightloss results, or weight gain. NOT fat gain. Weight gain. Too many people are oblivious to the difference between WEIGHT and FAT. In non-banded folks, this body process often leads to a physiological urge to binge -- and is probably the #1 or #2 killer of sincere diet efforts. People do well week 1, and "suck" week 2 and say "F--- it, I'm not giving up all those goodies for <no weightloss> <weight gain>... I'm eating cupcakes!" Stick it out. It rarely lasts longer than 2 weeks. You may be able to help it on with increased exercise and hydration, but this is one of very few times where we can legitimately blame it on our bodies.

Are you familiar with the concept of head hunger? It's when your brain says, "Feed me!" even when your body doesn't need more fuel. It's a huge contributor to weight gain. MANY of us have experienced it. My suggestion is to really understand the concept & be prepared when it arrives. That will give you a huge advantage before & after your surgery. Good luck! You are not alone.

(Sorry, operator error ) what I meant to say was theres not always time, money etc for a gym, nutritionist etc, for everybody. And sometimes, no matter how hard we try, the body just doesnt cooperate. As a man , you may not have dealt with the female problems , etc. that can cause, /keep weight gain. While you are certainly entitled to your opinion (and again, you have NOT had any WLS) to post your " my way is better " opinion /story on a WLS board was waaaaayy out of line............. and honestly, rather rude. ( I see our favorite "Lipstick Lady" has already jumped in (yay !) , now Im just waiting for SteveHud to make his presence known, so then I can sit back and watch the show........... popcorn anyone ?

So, I've been fat for most of my life. I've been fat ever since I was roughly 10 years old, but what I considered fat then is nothing compared to the state I am at now. After I got sex reassignment surgery, my metabolism went straight to hell and my energy levels fell. I didn't make any lifestyle changes afterwards, but the fact that I didn't was a part of the problem that resulted in the state where I am now. And gaining so much weight, I likely contracted sleep apnea due to my weight gain and also contracted plantar fasciitis, which makes it harder to be out and about without my arches screaming at me. I've tried so many diet and exercise programmes, from Bikram Yoga to Weight Watchers, from marathon training to calorie counting, from parkour to South Beach. In fact, I would have continued trying if not for someone in a chat room. They told me that I should get a lap band... to which I said "why? I can exercise, I have the discipline to diet, why the hell would I need a lap band?" We had a long discussion about bariatric surgery and I decided to do my research. I first considered the programme at Denver Health. After all, I didn't know about the programme just north of me in Fort Collins (and to be quite honest, that's kinda okay given the support network I've built up there) and I thought Denver Health was the natural place to go. That and UCHealth has had... issues with serving employees of the State of Colorado. So, I went to their support groups/medical weight loss classes (which were combined), attended sessions with their psychologist and saw their nutritionist only to get rejected because I had clinical depression. I feel the problem was that since the psychologist was not my regular psychologist and did not know me nor my support network well, that made her more skittish than she should have been. I then contacted the programme at Northern Colorado Surgical Associates (which is a part of the Poudre Valley Health System and their combined programme is called the "Bariatric Centre of the Rockies") and started attending their medical weight loss classes, their patient education seminar, got my regular therapist and prescriber to write my letter, and as of Tuesday, had surgery with them. Unfortunately, I don't feel that I can attend their support groups often (as their support groups are in Fort Collins and the transit back down to Longmont after 8pm is dismal at best), but the good news is that I have found other practices in the area which have support groups that I might be able to attend. I have a therapist that I really mesh with and I have a support network from both my church and my political party (Green Party of Colorado, FTW!) And I look forward to the future. I look forward to wearing all those cute goth/steampunk clothes I see in my Facebook news feed, I look forward to finishing up my transition by having facial feminization surgery/breast augmentation (which can only happen once I get to my goal weight, if my concern is having the best results), and most pressing, I look forward to the day I can waltz into the Denver Health support groups, look into the eyes of the nutritionists, psychologists, and that bariatric coordinator and tell them where they can stick it.

Hello everyone. On Wednesday, April 13th, I will be four weeks or one month post-op. I am a little shocked that as of today I have only lost 20 lbs. I hear about people losing thirty or fourty the first month and I can't believe that I'm stuck at 20. This makes me very sad, depressed, and dissapointed. I have 110 to lose (now 90) and hope that this is not a very slow process. A few things may be hindering my weight loss: now that I'm on mushy Protein type foods, I am only just now getting protein into my diet. I drink a lot throughout the day but it probably is not 64oz. I also decided during these four weeks to take myself off of my antidepressant that I've been on for years. I know it caused a lot of weight gain and kept me from losing weight. I decided that since I went to the utmost extreme of having the majority of my stomach removed, there is no way I'm going to let a stupid little pill keep me from losing weight. I can manage depression other ways. My depression will be terrible until I figure out a way to cope with it, but the weight issue takes precedence right now. I'm thinking that the withdrawal from the medicine may also be messing with my weight. Until my body is used to functioning without the antidepressant, it may be messing up the weight loss. What does everyone think about only losing 20 lbs? Maybe I'll lose a few more by Wednesday.

:sad:I am 32 yr old woman with 3 little boys. I have struggled with weight gain forever. I want this so bad because I have tried everything else with little results. I am worried because I don't quite reach the 40 bmi I am 63inches tall @214. about 37 bmi I don't know what to expect at the doc's office. I feel like it is gonna be so humiliating! Any advise?:cursing:

Some Dieters Are Set Up to Regain Weight Appetite Hormone Levels May Predict Dieters' Success By Denise Mann WebMD Health News Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD Sept. 9, 2010 -- Weight regain is the bane of many a dieter's existence. Often dieters who regain weight after losing it are viewed as failures and judged for their lack of willpower, but new research may put an end to this blame game. Weight regain may not be solely a willpower issue. Some people may actually be programmed to gain weight back based on their levels of two key appetite hormones, leptin and ghrelin. The new study appears in an online version of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. "This knowledge could be used as a tool to personalize weight-loss programs that could guarantee success in keeping off the weight," says study author Ana Crujeiras, PhD, of Compejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago in Spain, in a news release. Slideshow: Simple Secrets to Portion Control and Healthy Eating Setting Dieters Up to Win, Not Fail In the new study, 104 obese or overweight men and women ate a low-calorie diet for eight weeks and were followed up with six months later. Their body weight, ghrelin, leptin, and insulin levels were measured before, during, and after the diet. Ghrelin is the "go" hormone that tells you when to eat, and leptin is the "stop" hormone that tells you when to stop eating. On average, study participants dropped about 5% of their body weight while adhering to the low-calorie diet. Six months later, 55 people maintained their weight loss, while 49 regained 10% or more of the weight they had lost. Those individuals with higher leptin and lower ghrelin levels before dieting were more prone to regain weight, the study showed. While this may seem counter-intuitive based on the actions of these hormones, the researchers suggest that it may be a matter of some people being resistant to the effects of these hormones. Their brains may not be getting the fullness or satiety messages that these hormones are delivering. You may have a lot of leptin, but your brain is resistant to its effects; much like people with type 2 diabetes become resistant to the effects of the hormone insulin. Going forward, "these hormone levels could be proposed as biomarkers for predicting obesity-treatment outcomes," the researchers conclude. "Our findings may provide endocrinology and nutrition professionals a tool to identify individuals in need of specialized weight-loss programs that first target appetite hormone levels before beginning conventional dietary treatment." Fullness Resistance Syndrome Louis Aronne, MD, founder and director of the Comprehensive Weight Control Program at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York, agrees. "There is something physical going on in people who regain weight," he says. "Resistance to these hormones is a risk factor for weight regain," he says. Aronne dubs this condition "fullness resistance" and says that your brain is resistant to signals that come from your stomach and intestines telling you that you are full and to stop eating. Fullness Resistance Syndrome continued... "With leptin resistance, you don’t feel full and the more you eat, the hungrier you may get," he says. "We need to stop blaming people and start recognizing the physical basis of weight regain and manage it so people do better," he says. The new research likely applies to significant numbers of people who are finding the battle of the bulge to be an uphill one. "We are getting down to some of the final choke points of our weight regulating system, and these should apply to large numbers of people," he says. Drugs aimed at leptin resistance -- and there are some in the pipeline -- may help, he says. 'Ample Evidence' "There's no question that most people who easily gain weight, and/or quickly regain weight after losing it are different from other folks," says Scott Kahan, MD, co-director of the George Washington University Weight Management Program in Washington, D.C., in an email. "The general public tends to think of 'fat' people as lazy and as having no willpower [but] it couldn't be further from the truth." "Ample evidence, now including this study, suggests that there are physiologic reasons for weight gain, difficulty at losing weight, and rapid weight regain after a diet," he says. "There is no question that certain people are preconditioned to gain weight more easily and more quickly regain weight after dieting, just as some people are predisposed to having their blood pressure spike after eating salt whereas others can eat all the salt they want without having problems with hypertension," Kahan says. "This study is another small step toward ultimately ... [devising] new strategies for weight management and disease prevention that work with our bodies' physiologic makeup, rather than against it." When I brought up the issue of grehlin and leptin with my former surgeon he just rolled his eyes - which is one of the many reasons he is my former surgeon. I believe that I have a problem with these hormones because it has always taken a lot of food to get me to the point of satiety and that whole "wait 20 minutes" after eating to get full never worked for me. Sometimes if I ever do achieve satiety AFTER eating it can take 90 minutes or more. That's IF. To achieve a satisfied feeling while eating would take way too much food.

Rene, my 25th reunion is in 2 years as well, never thought about it till you pointed it out. When I was in HS I weighed over 300 lbs (at graduation)... When I went back for my 10 year reunion, I weighed 150 lbs. BLEW their socks off because the cheerleaders got ugly, the jocks got fat and bald and I just got BETTER Okay well I'm back up over 100+ lbs and I refused to go to my 20th year just because of my weight gain. :devious ***evil grin*** :devious guess I'll be going to my 25th

I am completely in agreement, I went to France for mine cause my GP kept telling me to count calories. After a weight gain of almost 5 stones in 2 years I think I was way past counting calories. If it was that easy, we would all be thin right?? LOL I paid £3300 in France for the op and the surgeon there told me that I was a prime candidate with a BMI of 46. The NHS board refused to refund the op cause they said that I would not have had it on the NHS if I had been patient enough to go through the year long process of seeing all the specialist pre-op so I am glad I went abroad! Surely it is about time they realised that being obese is as much an illness as being boulimic or all those other thin illnesses around! They are advertised as ill people to be pitied, we are put up as a figure of shame to be ridiculed???!!!!!

Ok, so I think my weight gain began when I hit puberty before my peers and was ashamed of my excessively huge bust...it may or may not have ended up excessively huge, but it certainly was for other ten year olds, and now, with my weight (about 280 lbs), my boobs are still immense and immensely uncomfortable. Question: after WLS, does the bust lose weight too?

That's a great post and terrific questions! I've found just the opposite- I'm finding myself reconnecting with friends I've let go as I went into hiding the larger- and more depressed because of it- I got. My weight gain came over the course of nine years, with years 3-7 being the worst. I began "hiding". This spring, after about a month after surgery, I came out of hiding. Friends were excited to see me! They missed me!!!! How happy I was, not only to pick up where we left off, but that I was finally feeling good. I was never a drinker, but most gatherings do revolve around great food. I ate before I went out, and didn't think twice. No one noticed I wasn't eating because we were too happy chatting. It is certainly liberating to be out and about. Now, almost 10 weeks out, the difference in me is very noticeable, and when I see someone I haven't in a couple of years, usually it's accompanied by a "Lisa, you look great! Are you feeling better??" I've not opened up about my surgery. But they knew I was sick. I simply reply "thank you, yes, feeling much better and I'm finally off all the steroids. ". My advice- surprise yourself with the people who were/are close to you. They will simply be happy you are feeling better, motivated, etc. and likely just accept the fact that you are THERE.

Had my surgery 3/17 (4 days) got on the scale and gained weight. Is this common? Is it possible I've only had liquids?

I was banded in 2005. I was very successfull in my weightloss. I went from 220 to 135. I counted calories and went running twice a week. I suffered a knee injury from running about a year ago and have been going downhill ever since. I am now up to 156lbs. I know to most it still seems like a good weight. But I find myself so depressed about my recent weight gain. I thought I had it all under control. I have been eating nothing but crap recently, which is why I am where I am. It's like a switch in my head went off and I can't switch it back on again. I had a recent fill, which resulted in a small unfill because it hurt just to get Water down, and I am back to where I started. I can still eat anything. I can't rely on the full feeling because I feel like it is unobtainable. I have to rely on counting calories. I find myself so envious of people who can only eat 800 calories per day and people who were able to get RNY. Mentally, I feel like I am at square one. I have realized that this will always be a huge battle for me. For the first year, I was on cloud nine. But now, I realize that there will never be a cure for the eating issues that I have. It makes me realize that maybe we are treating our eating issues the wrong way. Maybe we should be getting therapy instead of weight loss surgery. Anyone ever feel like this? Disclaimer: No I am not knocking lap band surgery. I am just trying to work through the mental issues most of us are suffering from...how about a section for doing the head work?

DeAnn, Hang in there! I am so proud of you! I still do not have the courage to go into a gym. My husband and I are supposed to start in a couple of weeks after he begins treatment for his sleep apnea (he sleeps avg of 14 hrs a day right now). I had several reasons why I got banded, but I will never forget two nights before I first talked to the doctor about it, I went bowling with my family. I used to be a really good bowler before my weight gain so my 250 lb body within my 120 lb mind was doing real well when all of a sudden, I began to lose my footing on the my right foot and, in slow motion, I felt myself fall straight on my right hip! I was mortified listening to the laughter around me. I'm sure it wasn't as bad as I imagined it, but it was the last straw! I can't wait to be able to have the self-confindence to go to the gym. You are my hero!

wow in 10 months u lost so much congrats on doing that. I also have the big fear of weight gain during pregnancy but in know that i have not been as strict as i should and have been using pregnancy as an excuse and im accually fitting quite a bit of food in. My first few weeks of pregnancy i accually lost like 8 kgs which i was so happy about because i wasnt budging on my weight for so long. But i lost due to having so much morning/ all day sickness.. now that i have passed that ive been eating n eating and have put almost all that 8kgs back on. I was very upset as i know it cant be all baby. People are telling me to stop being so effected by my weight while im pregnant, but i know i could do better.

Hi everyone, I had a slight weight gain (6lbs) between my very first visit with the clinic and surgeon ( I had my period and I was weighed at different times of the day) and I was told you can possibly be denied for that. I did call the clinic and they told me it was ok, you are allowed some fluctuation. I’m the same now. I am waiting for insurance approval at this point. Anyone have any experience with this? Thanks in advance!

It absolutely “can” work. For me, it worked beautifully. I am 6’ tall and went from 282lbs down to as low as 170lbs. I am back up to 185-190, but that has been a welcome weight gain as I have been working out and gaining lean muscle mass. My BMI went from over 38 to under 25, more importantly my Body Fat percentage is hovering between 13-15% (which is considered excellent). Was it easy? No, nothing that works is. You have to learn how to work the tool, you have to set goals, and you have to do some work. Before this, I wasn’t always to most dedicated dieter or workout person. With the band though, I saw that my work was paying off (while losing weight I was dropping 2-4 lbs per week). Now I am careful about what I eat (but not super anal about it) and am very motivated to maintain and improve my physical fitness. I do some sort of workout 5 days a week (usually a couple of days in the gym, and a few days on the bike).