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Wow guys. These posts really resonate with me: I gained 110 pounds when I was pregnant with my daughter (2nd child) and the abuse I took from their father still haunts me. That’s the baby that changed my whole metabolism and all I got from him was quiet disappoint and criticism In the weight gain and subsequent PPD. By the time she was 3, I found out that their father was having an active affair with one of my coworkers and that basically everything I had been struggling with had been used against me and that the 2 of them were plotting to try to get custody of the kids. They were actually using my new-found Morbid Obesity as a weapon against me to “prove” that I didn’t have the self-control necessary to raise 2 kids under the age of 6 as a single mom. I fought sooooo hard that year and in years after, trying to fix what was “broken” in me only to fail over and over and over again. Thankfully I had enough of a career and enough self-esteem to survive that onslaught and make it through. Those were several tough years where I was reminded painfully over and over that I wasn’t good enough-or desireable enough, smart enough, or like able enough to be considered a “good” parent and I was reminded on a monthly basis that it was going to be a a WAR of 2 vs 1. I somehow persevered and got those kids raised. I spent over 13 years single and afraid to even think about having a life of my own. I survived breast cancer as a single working mom. At that point, my biggest fear was dying before I could finish raising those kids— aged 16 and 12 when I was diagnosed. The kids dad stopped paying child support after our first year divorced and I was afraid to even take him to court bc I didn’t feel worthy enough to raise my kids as a MO single mom in her mid-30s. When I think of the years lost due to my feelings of inferiority, it almost makes me sick. I wasted almost 13 years of my life feeling like a sub-par human and thankfully my current husband saw me— the true me— underneath all of that baggage. He loved me— plus sized and all— in spite of me not loving myself. It took that brave and kind man’s love to realize that I could be so much more than the reality that I was currently living. With his love and respect and complete acceptance, I was able to start this journey that has led to where I am now. Ironically, my ex is a mere shadow of the man he once was— he won’t call or reach out to his kids and I’ve heard that he and that woman live a very small and petty existence where neither of them are fulfilled or even remotely happy. If I were a better person, I would feel pity for them, but I must honestly admit that I do derive some satisfaction from their misery. At the end of the day though, my best revenge is to live my best life as happily as possible, and I plan on doing that every. Single. Day.

I was feeling fat tonight as well after seeing a 2 lbs weight gain on the scale but I just got in the tub with a glass of Shiraz and remember how much more ROOM there is in here

Bethgrove- google antipressants, read up, decide what you want to try and ask your dr to prescribe it. My Mom went from Effexor to Lexapro. I've been on Trofanil/imiprimine for 18yrs for panic attacks. Ones I've heard of: lexapro, wellbutrin, paxil, cellaxa There is one they say doesn't cause weight gain. I'd google antipressant that doesn't cause weight gain.

To echo @discodawg I don't have any issues either. Not even with constipation. I can eat carbs and not have any issues. I do limit my carbs however just to avoid any excessive weight gain. I will say if I eat something really really greasy/fatty, the bathroom isn't too kind the following morning . However, I may eat like that 2x a year!! What I'm learning is it can be managed for some with diet monitoring. Your body will tell you what's good and what's not. I'm 6 years out and enjoying life. Hell some days I don't even realize I have surgery.

I’m so angry just recd a call saying my surgery was denied doe Feb 4th because I had a 2lb weight gain at my December visit I’m sobbing right now office says we can try to start all over again for a may date but I’m done I give up and can go through all this planning again

I have no side effects or weight gain. and much calmer so maybe you just need to find what WORKS for your body. There are some newer drugs that are time released and less side effects. Aren't Xanax habit forming and addictive? My son loves them. . I've never taken them so not sure about them. For me, it's easier to just take my one small dose a day.

Denise is a move to Portland out of the question? I know you started to exercise again is everything all OK with your back now and did the op fix everything? Weight gain is a pig - no take that back I'm being the pig which is causing the gain. I wish Kim would post as I want to know all about her Scotland trip.

This is what my plan is ...I am 5'2 and my personal goal is 130 but I will really just go until I feel comfortable. I am def going to need some plastics for stomach and breasts after all the trauma I have put them through(3 csections weight gains and losses along with breast feeding) I am 150 today I do want to stay curvy and have thus far so we shall see:)

I was told that you should never drink soda or anything carbonated nor chew gum because it puts gas in your belly and causes it to expand therefore you can eat more food then weight gain continues… I’ve had sips here and there and can certainly feel the difference within myself…I was sleeved 5 yrs ago and gained a little but am back on track and back down the 15lbs I put back on…

So I ended up not having the sardines or salad, instead I had about 2 ounces of curried chicken salad around 2pm, then a serving of cashews and a serving of jack cheese for dinner. I was preoccupied with a new painting I'm working on so before I knew it it was 8:30pm and too late to make a real meal. Today will be same tea and milk, same protein shake, same curried chicken, and definitely the salad tonight - I won't let myself start painting until I've made the salad! I switched mood meds, per my Drs advice, from Zoloft to velafaxine and upon doing so I discovered that one of the side effects of Zoloft is weight gain! WTF!!! I never knew that!!! I'm not going to blame all of my gain in the Zoloft but hell, that couldn't have helped!!

Eating some extras today, had carrot cake from whole foods, and some stuff from their salad bar... so yum! Luckily I went kayaking today for 2 hours, and then will have dance class this evening. That should cover the calories, but its strange sitting here eating cake! EDIT next day- no weight gain, but the cake made me feel so yuck! When will I learn!?

Alrighty. So am back from vacay. This was my first real "indulgent" vacation since going into maintenance. I've been on a couple road trips since deciding to stop weight loss, but those were weekend trips and not all-inclusive ones, nor was I surrounded with endless food and drink. So how did it go? Well, the lead up to the trip had a little fear-of-the-unknown going on. I worried that I would have nothing healthy-ish to eat and I'd strave, or, that I would eat everything I see like I did pre-wls. Turns out there was nothing to worry about. Was there a lack of healthy-ish choices? No. There were always choices everywhere I went that fit into my normal eating (salad, grilled chicken or some protein), whether it was on the resort or off it. So I didn't have to pack all those packages of beef jerky, chicharron and protein powder, lol. The kids ended up eating my jerky and chicharron and I gave the protein powders to a bartender. Did I eat everything I saw? Yes and No. I did sample many things that I normally would not eat (I'm talking to you sugary desserts, fruits and some bread-like products), but only bites, not full portions. My restriction took care of that. Also thanks to my restriction, I learned after the first day that I need to pick and choose what I want to sample, because I literally have no room to try everything (I had to hurl twice the first day due to eating too fast and too much). So I only tried the stuff I really wanted to, and if after sampling it, it was only OK tasting, I'd put it aside. Only really yummy stuff got a second or third bite. It's sobering to realize that a lot of stuff really only looks good, and just tastes meh. However. I drank alot of alcohol. I did limit myself to maybe 5-6 mixed drinks of the super sugary kind (I'm talking to you pina coladas and margaritas) for the entire trip, but I was basically a bottomless pit for skinny mojitos and tequila shots. Also, I formed an addiction to these mini chocolate chip cookies that they served in the coffee bar. They were like a version of a not-so-sweet, not-so-buttery shortbread-type cookie with chocolate chips in them. They were about the size of poker chip and I swear I must have eaten at lest 10 of them a day. Along with 4-5 Americanos a day.... I did log everything I ate (to be best of my ability...I had to eyeball everything), and according to the stats, I averaged about 3000 calories a day over the last 8 days. And roughly half those average daily calories came from my cookie and alcohol consumption, yikes. In all, despite the record-breaking calorie intake, I managed to weigh in exactly a mere 1 lb more than before I left. Which means I've at least found my upper calorie level, of sorts* *Though I did run way more than usual though, as well as generally burn more cals what with all the walking/water sports/dancing/heat-enduring, so need to take that into account... So what was the lesson learned? Well, that I'm not going to suddenly explode with massive weight gain if I indulge. But I WILL slowly gain weight back if the indulgence continues beyond a short period of time. 1lb a week over a year is 52 lbs. And that is not acceptable to me. So back to figuring out my sweet spot...

Sunshine 2.....you're just beautiful! You look great, and so happy! I got home this a.m. and weighed in...after all (what I thought) was alot of eating - no weight gain! However, no loss either. I definately have stalled. Could also be some PMS creeping up on me. Regardless, I know I have no restriction - and now I'm actually afraid! I just have to stick to my proteins and stay away from the carbs. Hope everyone is doing well!

Hey guys! So. 2 weeks post op, 13 lbs down...feels GREAT. I put jeans on right out of the dryer and didn't have to break a sweat at all during the process. That's a major accomplishment. And the straw that broke the camel's back leading me to go for banding was the fact that summer weight gain had renderred my bras tight. Well, it is good to report that isn't the case anymore. Whew. Hope everyone else is doing well.

Brown, don't lose hope! I know you say you are not THAT woman! As CGJ said, all body types are different. But just know that many, including Feed Your Eye, Coops, M2G, and others have never reached goal. They are close now and WILL but many were in very long term stalls or had gained upwards of 25-30 pounds since their lowest. Yes, I did reach goal very easily the FIRST TIME. Then I relaxed, fell into bad eating habits of junk and I'll be honest, it was not until I was facing a close to 30 pound weight gain that I truly got scared. I tried low carb for several months with no success and if you look back at posts from me around March or so of last year I truly sounded just like you! It was not until I hit on 5:2 that I found an answer for ME. And I kicked it around for about a month or so before really committing. The. I hit it with vengeance. It HAS to be if you really want something I feel really sure you will find what works for you. I would ask that you REALLY commit to 5:2 for another few weeks. And REALLY HIT IT HARD. What I found is that I had to drastically cut my feast day carbs and cals as well to KEEP the weight lost and move further down. Our bodies are metabolically altered and we cannot eat like others. That's what I think anyway All said to say, I believe in you! I know you want to be HEALTHY first and sexy second! . Go after it!!!!!

Being a vegetarian... I would have to say yes. some days not.... not sure what does it! I need to go through the underware again for sure! I remember seeing a study that showed a chart where gurd and weight gain went hand in hand after three years...not for everyone.

Yesterday was suppose to be fast day for me and I crashed and burned. I was doing good until I went to meet with my daughter's new daycare to drop off my schedule. She asked me if I wanted anything to drink, and I said no, but they ended up bringing me a glass of orange Tang, I think anyways. I didn't want to be rude, so I drank it, and it all went down hill. I have been feeling very overwhelmed lately. My husband has be gone for 2 weeks out of the last 3 (which I am not used to at all, watching my children by myself) and I am going back to work in just over a week after being at home for almost 7 years with my kiddos. I just feel very down and feel like crying. I have struggled with depression in the past (this weight gain that I am dealing with was from switching medications). I have been doing well not being on anything, its just been as of late. I started taking St. John's Wort, but only recently. And my eating habits are still very tied to my emotions. So as of late, I have not been doing well. I have been sticking to the fasting twice a week, but on days when I don't, I feel out of control. I know I have to get my head back in the game, but I am really struggling. I was happy where I was maintaining and I am frustrated that I feel like I have to diet to get these pounds back off. Ugh Sorry for my rambling. I am just feeling lonely and frustrated and, and, and. I am going to try and fast today to make up for the day yesterday. But right now it is only 8:20am, so I have a long day ahead of me!

back to 160.2, my low of 5 days ago. In the past 3 days I have stayed at 650 cals or less and part of the problem was really painful constipation which I believe is a side effect of low cal/low carb. Not to be too blunt but things er, resolved, this morning and I lost an entire pound from that alone All of us here know just how little 600 calories is, for a fitness buff or athlete that represents one meal! Yet if I eat more than that, I don't lose weight. And if I eat more than 800 cals and don't work out, I gain. Nobody should be stuffing their faces full of carcinogen laced heart clogging evil, but this just feels ... punitive. Chimera (I think it was), I have yet to find any data regarding a correlation between weight gain/loss and MS, but I completely agree that stress does horrible awful things to our bodies minds and weight. I have been under an extra amount of stress lately, I am still going against Drs orders and not taking the 3 days of brain rest because I am the only one in the office, I mean, what can I do! SherylJane we definitely need to see 6 month pics, post-op pics don't do his work -or yours!- justice

Yes, I have tried Melatonin. Sometimes it will help me fall asleep but I don't stay asleep. Sheryl Just tell your doctor you have anxiety attacts at times and you want the medicine as needed. All those SSRI's that they push cause weight gain!

newhope - I came home with a 10 lb weight gain and FREAKED! Over the first week it came off. Your's will too. You sound like you are doing exactly right with tiny sips every few minutes. I don't know your diet, but warm chicken broth sure felt good too. I also had a hard time sleeping on my back for a few days, I think it was the fourth day I used the headboard to get on my side and it was okay then. I loved my heating pad on my tummy too. Keep up the good work!

I'm combining this, with your comment on the IF thread (I missed it in my reply on there, but I think it fits here better anyway) "My 5lb window will be set between 130-135lbs. I know that sounds like it's only a "reframe" of goal 130lbs. But it's baby steps. I may later decide to make my 5 lb window be 135-140. I just know I feel better under 135. (Yes, I can feel those extra 3 lbs lol.)" I think your maintenance window is too low. You are at 133.4 now and got there at least partially as a result of your twisted bowels and subsequent "reset" type diet. I REALLY REALLY don't think you should set window so low it will be a constant struggle. It will be far too easy for you to go over 135, and then you'll feel like you've failed. You want to stay below 135, but your body doesn't seem to agree. I think the only place you feel those extra 3 lbs is in your dysphoric head Why fight your body, your MD & RD, to get to this mythical weight that you will finally feel like a success at? Another reason why I think you need to raise that upper maintenance limit is gaining and losing a couple of lbs overnight is completely normal and expected, as you well know. It isn't real weight gain, as you also know. I'm afraid you're going to drive yourself crazy fighting false gains. You need some room to play with your diet, upping your cals etc.. I think there is a good possibility your body doesn't want to get to 130, and is fighting it tooth & nail. So even if you dropped down to 400 cals/day, you'll still maintain. The other side of that coin is you very well may be able to increase your calories far above what you think you can. But you need some room at the top of your range. You're going to bounce up, and you need to be ok with that. The test will be if it bounces up and sticks around. To me, it then becomes quality of life issue. Do you want to fight your body everyday to stay under "goal". Or can you be happy, and feel like the rock star you are, at a slightly higher weight, that you know is a healthy BMI? We've established you need a goal & and challenge. How about a goal of shattering that dysmorphic fun house mirror. I guarantee you that everyone now sees you as a thin person. Can it be your goal to see yourself that way? Tough love I know, but still love! ❤️ 😘

I have zero real evidence and am just talking based on simplistic view of cause and effect (i.e., out of my ass), but I think the weight gain is because of habit changes? I'm not sure if there is anyone out there who gained those 15-20-30-40 lbs years out can say that this happened while staying vigilant with the habits employed to lose the weight in the first place? But if there is, I would love to hear from them. It would be interesting/educational to do a deep dive into that person's lifestyle choices AND health/physicality to see how they could gain weight without changes in habits, right?? I know this is a touchy subject for many, so I am hesitant to post this. I hope I don't offend.

I know it's hard when you see the scale go the wrong way...but rest assured, there is NO way that you actually gained 4 pounds...you would have had to have eaten 14,000 calories for that to happen. It can be so many things....water retention, sodium, muscle gain, etc. I had to finally put the scale away because I was eating 600-700 calories, and gaining 1-2 pounds...it's not real weight gain, so the scale is now hidden and I can only weigh once a week. As my husband tells me ALL the time...I have to look at the entire forest, not just the trees. It'll come off!

It will be one year this month since my gastric bypass surgery. I loved life before but I extremely love life even more now. When I started this journey I was scared and iffy about the whole thing. I just kept thinking to myself it's major surgery. They're going to cut your stomach in half and it doesn't even work for everyone if they don't follow the rules. Can I follow the rules or am I going to be part of the 1% togo through this and fail. However, while I was playing mind games with myself I knew I had to do something. My health was slowly declining with my rapid weight gain. I had sleep apnea, pre-diabetes, and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) which consisted with severe menstrual problems, the longest time ever went without my cycle was two years and when I did get it, it was extremely heavy. Crazy hair growth which already did not bode well with my confidence and fertility problems when the time came when I want to have kids. Heart failure in the future, really bad depression and couldn't lose weight. Well with that all said and done I started on with my research. While I researched I exhausted every other avenue first. I did the gym, weight watchers, diet pills nothing worked. Doctors as my OB/GYN, endocrinologists Kept saying you got to lose weight. " no shit Sherlock I'm trying but you're not helping." So I sat with my primary care physician and was like Doc I want to get healthy and lose this weight. I was originally looking into lap band but we discussed it and I decide on gastric bypass and he gave me a number for Dr. Matt Kirkland and I went home and made my appointment. As soon as I got off the phone I just knew I made the right decision. Now almost at my one-year mark I can't stop smiling. I'm not going to lie it's been a struggle it has not been all roses and candy. (However that saying goes LOL) it was a psychological battle as well as emotional and physical. In the beginning you're looking at everyone enjoying food. And if you eat to much or not the right thing you're upchucking everywhere. Once you get past the hard parts and finally learned how to eat again and what to eat it becomes easier. I no longer get breathless walking upstairs or hills. My legs or feet don't hurt standing in long lines of the grocery store. I have a lot more energy. I go hiking, bike riding, long walks and I'm not even tired when I'm done. The best part of it all is I no longer have diabetes, or apnea, and my cycles are regular now. I'm not taking any meds besides the vitamins I have to take everyday. I made it to my goal weight I've lost a total of 134 pounds a whole other person woohoo!!! I can't believe it. It feels amazing. My goal is to maintain this and not lose anymore. It has been an awesome journey so far, now I can definitely see a future ahead. I just got to keep looking forward. Keep on moving, never give up you'll love the end results promise! Just got to keep the smiles going ???? Live the life you'll love to live!! Highest weight 275lbs. Surgery weight 258lbs. Current 1yr. As of two weeks ago 141lbs. I have my yrly check up the 4th

TGIF!!! Well good news, I am down 4lbs since my weight gain. You were right, I guess my body just needed to adjust. Tomorrow is girls night out and Sunday is family dinner. I plan to eat a little of everything (even a piece of cake) but not get out of control. Won't be able to exercise tomorrow but I am going to on Sunday morning. Have upped my Protein from 70g to about 80g a day, cals are at 1050ish. I feel like i have more energy. Breakfast - 6oz yogurt, 6 almonds, a few banana slices lunch - 1/2 pita with 2 tbsp Peanut Butter, 3 strawberries Dinner - 1/2c braised beef, 1/2c mashed yam snack - 5oz vanilla yogurt, 1/2 Protein Bar liquids - Water, 10oz skim milk Exercise - 20 min bollywood dance dvd, 15 min pilates