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I think weight gain because of medication is something different than "the usual" regain so even if there were more veterans talking about this issue it might very well be that it's not helping you. However, maybe there are some veterans on this board who need to take similar meds and still maintain? Is there a chance that your meds can be reduced again in the future? There seem to be different strategies. I notice that several veterans talk about how they maintain their weight. It can usually be found in the threads about regain.

CherieLynne - I know just what you mean about more recent weight gains coming off easier than weight that has been around longer. I think the longer we've had the fat, the more comfortable and settled it gets - it just hangs on for dear life!!!

Mimin I could kiss you!:kiss2: I have felt so ashamed over my 17+ pound weight gain. I know there is swelling and I know I haven't been eating or exercising as well but it I still felt like I was the only one going through this. I looked at all the other PS sites and everyone looked so much better and none of them really talked about any post surgery weight gain. And at the same time I also kept feeling like how dare I whine about my poor predicament, when there are so many others out there on Lapbandtalk that would kill to have made it this far. But somehow I really do feel a change coming on. I saw some korny movie over the weekend with a couple of those silly catch phrases "Faith precedes the miracle" & "Believe and you will see" I normally hate those silly feel good sayings but something about these really hit me. It made me realize that part of my problem is that through the last 2+ years I haven't really believed or had faith that I would reach my goals. and that lack of confidence was directly related to my current backsliding. When I was in Jenny Craig some years ago they had me listening to some motivational tapes where you were suppose to repeat phrases like "I love me" & "I am beautiful just as I am." Dear me, I just couldn't say them without laying the sarcasm on so thick it was ridiculous. But now that I am so close to my goals I'm starting to think that those positive attitude techniques might actually help..... .... I was going to post that I was going to look for those tapes later but decided no time like the present and I actually found them. Now to put some batteries in my toddler's tape cassette player so I can actually listen to them. I think I'll listen to them in the car on my morning commute. Who knows maybe they will help this time.

well wasabubble butt this is truly my last response to your attacks. since you enjoy website hunting on the sleeve so much why dont you find one that says there is no potential risk of weight gain or stomach restretching? cuz i sure as hell cant find one. and many of them say that you may eventually need further surgey( doudenal switch) depending on how obese you are. i never once said any of the surgeries were wrong i simply stated that i personally knew of people that have had all 3 surgeries and regained signifigant amounts of weight back. these are real life people that i've spoken with. and i never once said the sleeve and bypass were the same. only that i knew people that had signifigant regain after them. those are the facts im sticking to. again everyones choice is there own to make i chose the band and im happy with mine. lots of people are happy with their bypasses and sleeves and im truly happy for them as well. now you have a blessed day

Many gals on here are hopeful that breast feeding will help get the weight off. My personal experience... And this could be more due to my boobs being deformed and incapable of making enough milk... But bf made me more hungry and my ppd from not making enough milk along with my metabolism slowing down from no longer working at my active job... It was a horrible combination for me. I gained 60 of the 100 I lost by the time she was 5 months. I have NOT been sleeved so I am not speaking from this spectrum. I am lurking here cuz I'm contemplating having a baby before surgery or waiting till after goal weight post surgery. I'm having a really hard time deciding now after reading these posts. I was leaning toward surgery first but I'd hate to go through weight gain again and what I've read so far has me a lil worried... You gals are doing amazing though! Not sure I would though... Ack!

:help:I have been on here as a guest for about a year now and finally got banded on the 24th of Nov. here in Kuwait..it was much cheaper and I was fortunate that the doctor from Sweden who taught my doctor was here and did it! I got a new band, I even got to keep the box, lol! It was less healing time, I was on liquids a week and lost about 10lbs. Then went to mushies and I have been on solids a couple weeks..my first fill is this saturday. I have maintained at 10-12lbs loss, but get depressed when I see all of y'all at 26-30lbs loss..what are you doing different? I do notice some of you are working out with a trainer and at gyms..don't have that here since they are soo expensive here and I work and have a 3 yr old so not alot of time. I did start walking again. My back story is I gained 60lbs with my pregnancy, he is 3 1/2 and I have been losing/gaining the same 20lbs ever since never more than that! I did nutrisystem and would lose a lil then it stopped coming off..I am sooo scared that I will not lose with the band, I have been depressed and negative since the weight gain and feel like "it will never happen to me". The before and after thread has been very inspiring for sure! Just wondering if y'all can give me any tips/advice/encouragement that this WILL work for me! I was always a "thick" 12-14 girl skinny but big butted kinda gal, lol but never "fat" til after the pregnancy and I want to be healthy! I am excited about this and I know once I get the fills and finally hit my "sweet" spot it will start flowing..but is that true does it really "fall" off? What has been your experience as far as weight loss and I am not sure how to word this I have been reading countless threads and I know but when it is you personally it is soo different, make sense? I just really want to be successful at this and I am the type that needs step by steps. I am eating healthier and smaller portions. Hubby has even commented on the smaller portions..thanks everyone and congrats on making the change in your lives! I wish you all the best and success in the world! God bless catie

Msjessiruiz, did you have the sleeve? The hunger every 2 hours is common. Don’t start caving into that hunger with a snack. It’s a horrible habit that will lead to weight gain. Trust me. I had the sleeve years ago with the same issue.

I second @@James Marusek on the walking and caffeine. I did both and it helped immensely. I actually was so terrified of going through caffeine withdrawal after surgery that I gave up my 25+ year Diet Coke Habit before I even had my first appointment with the NUT! I did it slowly, taking a full month, weening myself off a little at a time. First I drank less, then I drank smaller containers. Until I stopped. I still had another 2 weeks of headaches, but now I am great. As far as messing up, liquids are hard. You messed up. Its good that you feel bad because it means you really are trying, but let's face it, we have lots of issues to overcome and slipping up is going to happen. The only thing you can do is acknowledge your goof, IMMEDIATELY get back up and get back on track. The longer we wait to get back on track, the harder it becomes and that's what causes weight gain after surgery. "well I've already messed up so I'll just X." Don't beat yourself up, just get back into the plan. Mistakes happen. Its how you recover that is the measure of success. Good luck, pam

I waited far too long after my soaring weight gain during and after pregnancy to get my surgery. Good for you for not waiting any longer!

No. That's got nothing to do with a PAP. Ways to find it are through blood work and classic symptoms such as irregular or non existent periods, skin tags, dark areas under arms and under breasts, predominant weight gain in the stomach area, inability to get or stay pregnant, major hormonal imbalances, insulin resistance, etc...

Update: Third trimester!!! So far so good!!! Baby is healthy! Mom is healthy!!! Due to my being a Bariatric patient the glucose testing has been altered. Testing glucose levels 4 times a day, first fasting and 2 hours after every meal for 7 Days. So far so good. Ready to ride this last stretch out with minimal weight gain and a happy and healthy mom and new baby girl💜💕💞🙏🏽 Total wt gain thus far=10-14lbs. 😔

Welcome back! The veteran’s forum is not very active because many veterans don't stick around. Life goes on after goal. My surgeon told me a 15 to 20-pound bounce is normal. It was easy to maintain for my first two years. I freaked out with a weight gain my third year. I came back to the site and had great support. It took work to get it back down. Years out, I gain quickly, and I lose at a snail’s pace.

Jessb418- I'm the same way! I'm happy when the scale goes down and really grumpy when it doesn't move! I weight self everyday. And the weight will set the mood. This isn't healthy. ???? We have to remember this experience is a journey. I had such fears initially that I would be the failure who didn't lose weight and gained more! I read about the average weight loss, and worried the average wouldn't get me to my goal. I'm in my third month post op, and while I still have irrational fears, I'm coming to terms with this process. My sister is one year post, met her goal weight and struggles with maintaining. In other words, this our lives now. Thin people also watch their weight. I've been paying attention to my "normal to thin friends' eating habits. They are pretty disciplined with an occasional treat. They workout, and occasionally get upset with a weight gain. We got this! We're ok! And we will reach our goals! Hang in there. The scale is just a tool to help you gage your eating.

Hi everyone. I am so Happy I found this website a week ago!!!! I am from Lynn, but now for the past 10 years now, I have lived in Northampton, MA. About 7 miles away from UMASS AMherst. I would love to join this support group. I had mmy surgery on 6/25/13 at Baystate Hospital in Springfield, MA. Bad experience with thia hospital. I haad Dr. Kuhn. I found him to be little ion the mean side. I have BMC and Mashealth. So here were my requirements: 3 group meetings 6 NUT meetings, and she was tough. Her nick name was the nutrition natzi, lol 2 visits with the lab doctor 2 phyic visits 1 sleep clinic 2 meetings with Dr. Kuhn (WL Doctor) I started with a huge seminar on 9/23/12. I got the 3 group mmeetings out of the way quickly. By November I had all 3 done. I had my frist appt. with the lab Docotr the day hurricane Sandy hit. It was October 29, 2012. My appt. was the last one that day (1:00 p.m.) Cause they closed the hospital after that appt. I will never forget it cause when I went in I was 264 (down from 301 earlier in that year). But my weight to start was 264. We were told in the beggining that the weight from the seminar was the weight which we could NOT gain from. So I got ion the scaale and I was 262.4. I started crying. Because the rules at Baystate nd the insurance ere as such: If you gained from your started weight, your surgery would be an additional 6 months post poned. That was your warning. Secound time you gained weight you were suspended for a year and the doctor had the right to "suggest" you go elsewere. So needless to say when I saw the 4 ounce weight gain, I cried. The nurse looked at me and said that the doctor might refuse me. So when I went into her office I was till crying. She came in and asked me why was I crying. I told her I didn't want to get kicked out. She told me scales vary from one office to the next and that I had to worry bout the scale in Dr. Kuns office. She said she would change my weight to the 264.4 but that was IT. No more weight gain, period. I aslo had to quit smoking as well. I did that on October 23, 2012. I did have lot of breakdowns cause they expect you to loose weight AND quit smoking, not easy but |I did it. They told me "the story" abut how a woman was actually getting preped for surgery, she smelled of smoke. So they gave her a drug test. It came back poitive for nicotine. They post poned her surgery for 3 months. They said she a actually in her hiospital gown. I thought this was nuts, but I did as they required and quit. I had to meet with the NUT once a month and she was tough. I finally jumped through ALL the hoops and in March of 2013 I meet Dr. Kuhn. He tried to talk me into the sleeve, bt I wanted the gastic bypass. My insurance has a once in a lifetime policy. So I wanted the one that would give me the best results. Lucky my husband was there cause he almost talked me into it. I got upset and my husband looked at me and asked what did I want. I told him the GB. He looked at the doctor and said, "if that's what she wants and you can do it, that's whaat she should get". I am so glad he was there. SO I got the bypass. I got approveed in April. He was so far behind I got a 66/25/13 date. I was in the hospital for 4 days. It took 2 months before I could even drink 12 oz of water. It is 22 months out and I still have a problem eating. I had always had an eeating disorder and now it has showed it's ugly head , again. I am in theropy, but \i am grateful that |I found this site. I would love to talk to people who have walked in my shoes. I have lost a few friend who I guess wern't true friends caue of this. I would love to find anyone in my area to maybe go for walks with on the bike path. Thanks for taking the time to read this long story. I am not a VIP so my email is kimerick2008@gmail.com. I am looking forward to heaqring from you all. Everyone keep up the great work!!!!!!1 Thanks again, Kim

I've been reading through this thread and have a question. Im having revision surgery next week. Went from sleeve to MGB and now to RNY because i have horrible reflux. I had excessive weight gain in the years of trying to get to a solution, so I'd love to lose some weight with this as well, but it is not the reason Im having surgery. I see a lot of people asking for stories of success and mostly Im reading that "it's just not as fast" or "I miss my sleeve" but you guys still lost weight right? Just took longer, so had success, but not as fast as you wanted?

How do you like your band? Tight? Tighter? Tightest? MORE, MORE, MORE Americans love MORE: more of anything and everything. More food, more fun, and (for some of us) more fill in our bands. But striving for maximum fill in the effort to achieve maximum weight loss can be a terrible mistake. Fat folks become obese enough to qualify for bariatric surgery because we’ve been eating more, more, more, so it’s not surprising that bandsters long for more, more, more fill. The tighter the band, the better, right? Wrong. Here’s why: tighter doesn’t automatically yield more weight loss. It can cause eating problems, side effects and complications that none of us want. It can compromise our quality of life. It can make us miserable when all we hope for from bariatric surgery is a better life. You’re not impressed by all that? You’re willing to risk everything in the pursuit of skinny? Then try this on for size. A tight band doesn’t guarantee weight loss. Just the opposite: it can stall your weight loss or even make you gain weight. Do I have your full attention now? Good. Listen up and I’ll explain why tighter isn’t always better. THE RESTRICTION FALLACY Traditionally, the adjustable gastric band has been considered a “restrictive” weight loss surgery. Bandsters were taught to look for signs of restriction: the proofs that their bands were working. Instead of paying attention to her own eating behavior and lifestyle, the bandster waited impatiently for the flashing signs, ringing bells and slamming doors that would stop her from overeating. The idea was that the small upper stomach pouch would “restrict” food intake and result in weight loss. Sound familiar? That was well-intentioned thinking, but it was wrong. In the past 5 or so years, band manufacturers and bariatric surgeons have come to believe that it’s a mistake to eat and eat until you set off your band’s emergency warning system, for the reasons mentioned above. Unfortunately, the re-education process is slow going, and in the meantime, the restriction fallacy lives on. Even now, approximately every third word out of a bandster’s mouth is “restriction”. It’s a catch-all term for the feelings that limit how much a bandster eats. Post-op band life tends to become a quest for enough fills to reach the Holy Land of Restriction. Next stop: Skinnyland. Or not. HAZARD AHEAD! THE DANGERS OF SOFT CALORIE SYNDROME Soft Calorie Syndrome is one of the least publicized dangers of a band that’s too tight. Psychologists would call it a maladaptive behavior, that is: a nonproductive behavior that prevents you from adapting to situations, or changes in yourself or your environment, in a healthy way. It can begin as an attempt to deal with or avoid an unpleasant experience but it does not solve the original problem and eventually becomes dysfunctional. You can read more about maladaptive eating behaviors by clicking here: http://www.bariatricpal.com/page/articles.html/_/healthy-living/is-your-eating-maladaptive-r50 A bandster experiencing Soft Calorie Syndrome is responding to the unpleasant experience of eating with a band that’s too tight by eating the soft and liquid calories that slide most easily past their gatekeeper band. Instead of eating the healthy and solid foods (like dense animal protein, veggies, fruits) that provide the most satiety (both early and prolonged), that person favors easy-to-eat food that’s often junky and high in calories (for example: potato chips, ice cream, milkshakes). Even healthy foods( like yogurt, cottage cheese and, fat-free/sugar-free pudding) can fall into the soft calorie category, and they don’t provide any better satiety than the junky stuff. The net result is that you end up consuming more calories than you need because the soft stuff doesn’t provide enough early and prolonged satiety. And the result of that is a weight loss plateau, or even weight gain. I discovered the perils of Soft Calorie Syndrome for myself when I traveled to New York City to attend a trade show when I was about 8 months post-op. I had gotten a fill the day before I left, and by the time I got to New York I had realized that my band was too tight for me to tolerate. I couldn’t eat any solid food, so I spent the next 3 days eating soft, high-calorie, low-satiety foods like creamy soups, milkshakes, and ice cream. I was just trying to survive long enough to go home and get an unfill. My maladaptive eating behavior achieved a temporary goal (comfortable survival) while sabotaging my long term goal of losing weight. In fact, I gained weight during that trip and ended up feeling disappointed in myself. I promised myself no more fills on Fridays and no more fills the day before a business trip. I called my surgeon’s every time I suspected my band was too tight and found that even tiny unfills could make all the difference in my quality of life as well as my weight loss. I know I’m not the only person who’s discovered the perils of Soft Calorie Syndrome. I also know that you’re not alone in believing that more fill is better and that unfills will slow or stall your weight loss. A few months ago I talked about this with a smart and successful bandster named Denise. When her surgeon reacted to her too-tight band by suggesting an unfill of .5 cc, her dazed and frightened face made him reassure her that she could start being re-filled in a month. The month ahead scared her, but she agreed to the unfill, and discovered that rather than returning her to Bandster Hell, it had restored sanity to her eating life. She said, “I was able to eat again. Solids went down easily. Bread was on my menu. Meals lasted me several hours. I didn’t snack because I was able to eat enough to keep me satisfied.” When Denise went back to her surgeon a month later, he was delighted her hear her say that she didn’t even need a re-fill. She told him, “I can eat anything, but I’m not eating everything.” And that, my friends, is what healthy eating is all about.

Hi Karen. Sounds like you've been through the ringer and emerged with your good attitude intact! Congrats! I'm at a plateau but happy with the weight loss to date. I don't believe I've even had a plateau that wasn't followed by a weight gain. This is pretty cool!

Hey chavezmommy! I've mentioned on my previous posts that I stop losing weight after my fifth week after surgery and I have followed a low carb, moderate Protein and high fat diet since then with great results. Sometimes I overeat and I've been fluctuating between 60 and 57kg (my goal weight is 55kg). I have incorporated since last week a juice fast of four days that led me to an over 2kg weight gain but an amazing feeling of accomplishment. I stopped the juice fast and went for a 24 hour fast of non-caloric-liquids like tea, coffee and Water. After the fast I ate a bariatric portion dinner and went back to 57.5kg again. It had taken me a lot of trials and errors to find what is best for me and definitely I believe that this lifestyle is the safest and must correct for me because it prevents me from binging and brings me towards my weight goal. I also would like to add that my blood tests looks amazing: Vitamins, minerals, etc are all great, blood sugar, blood pressure and LDL cholesterol (the bad one) are perfect, so there is no reason that I'm wrongdoing. Let me know if you want to try this! Best, Ariana

I have 60 pounds to lose and i don't like when people tell me I'm crazy and that I'm not "that big." I know its not 100 + pounds to lose but it sure is still hard as hell to lose it. The struggle shouldn't be disregarded just because your not morbiddly obese. I've been trying to lose the weight for years and I just keep packing on the pounds. I'm sure there are a great deal of people whom wish they would have got the lap band before their weight gain hit the triple digits. I'm right with you and am planning to get the lap band next month. Good luck on your journey!

I am not required to do a 6 month diet, but recently read someone else had been on a 6 month diet and was required to do another 3 or 6 months due to weight gain. Not sure if this is the norm or not.

I am actually afraid of EVER eating ice cream again. First, I would have to say that chocolate ice cream has always been my favorite treat, even when I was previously thin. However, I developed a very bad habit of dealing with work stress by stopping at Baskin Robbins on my way home from work. This developed into an addiction as I stopped 5 times a week for over 2 years. That is the single biggest thing that caused me to gain 60+ pounds in two years and grow to 243. I am almost 8 months post sleeve and I have not had a single bite of ice cream. I am so afraid that, like an alcoholic, if I allow myself that first bite, it will start me down the path of weight gain again. The good news is that I don't crave it or even miss it. I LOVE my Protein shakes! I use unjury chocolate splendor powder in skim milk and I add about 2-3 inches of frozen banana, ice and a little powdered Peanut Butter. Blend away, and I feel like I am having a milk shake. This is better than Baskin Robbins because it tastes delicious and it is a healthy choice. Is anyone else afraid to even have a small amount of certain trigger foods?

Ive told no one but my fiancee,my 2 best friends and 1 sister who is my biggest confidant-she never tells anything-lol.My 17 year old daughter doesnt even know...and she lives in the house!!!!Im a very private person and never tell people anything and the 2 friends have no ties to my employment so no one will ever know-works for me.I have hated the comments people make about my weight gain-I gained 80 pounds in 10 years and people who hadnt seen me would freak out.I have my 20 yr high school reunion next year and Im totally gonna be there since I didnt go to other ones because of the weight gain.

Congrats on your upcoming surgery and wedding! FYI - Starvation Mode is a myth. As long as you create a caloric deficit, then you will lose weight. Even if your metabolic rate slows down over prolonged time (adaptive thermogenesis), it will not be significant enough to actually STOP weight loss, nor is it significant enough to cause weight gain. It's mostly just enough to slow down progress a little bit over time. A much bigger factor slowing down weight loss progress over time is the fact that you've already lost a bunch of weight, so your body just isn't burning as many calories as it was initially. Again, it has nothing at all to do with "I'm eating too little and my weight loss stopped." Many studies have been done that supports this.

I'm on the first day of my liquid diet.. i started a day early bc my surgeon said no more weight gain, whatsoever.. so im hoping that the diet & walking will get me down enough for her to cont with surgery on the day of. im sooo terrified that she'll cancel the morning of and ill get extra disappointed/depressed & won't wanna do the program anymore.. if anyone has any liquid diet tips, pls let me know!!!

The thing that led to me cinsiddering weight loss surgery was my last failed diet and weight gain that followed. At 346 lbs I was feeling doomed. After all my research this is what most strongly made me say "the band is for me!" 1. My Dr explained that there are different body types-- mine is the type that holds fat reserves and craves the kinds of foods that tend to put it on. My ancestors were the type that probably did hard labor, had lean winters or long boat trips and needed food stores to survive. Thusly there are high metabolism people with ancestors that wouldn't have survived those things. 2. I belong to a very large, supportive weight loss group that has many people who have successfully lost 100 lbs or more with dieting/life style change. They FIGHT the good fight against food every day. It can be done, BUT I'm so tired of FIGHTING so dang hard. I need some help. That's what the band is for me H-E-L-P. I want to hurry up and get with living!