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Hello. i'm new on here. just want to share my story to seek advice. when i was 15 back in 2008, i got the lap band. it was the worst experience ever. i was only loosing weight because i threw up EVERY SINGLE bit of food i ate. i lost 80lb very very quickly and i was extremely sick. my doctor said it shouldn't be happening, so instead of trying to fix it he drained my band. After a year i started to gain weight. In 2012 i was revised to the gastric sleeve. at this time, this procedure was brand new to my doctor, he hadn't done it before. I got it done quickly after the appointments with him, maybe 3 months. i was a slow loser for a whole year. it took me a year to lose 70 pounds, even eating what i thought was healthy (Protein first and some vegetables and brown rice, wha i was taught). i wasn't never really taught about carbs at all, always just eat "whole grain everything but eat your protein first and you should be fine" none of the information that i learned now from the fb group. i got into my first relationship, went to the DR and was diagnosed with PCOS, like lots of girls are. I was put on birth control and as soon as i did my weight shit up. as it shot up and me not knowing why i threw myself into a mind change that i couldn't shake out. while working 2 jobs (13 hour days) i began to lose care about myself, and regained most my weight, shooting back up to 230. i hadn't noticed the weight gain for a while, either because i'd stopped weighing myself. last year i started to exercise and count my calories and lost 20 lbs. even continuing it again, i have not budged. does anyone have any advice? yes, i know that you need to diet with the sleeve. it wasn't till recently by following where i learned about macros and counting calories and Protein shakes. my mother recently got the sleeve procedure, and i was thinking of going to her doctor to discuss my options, because mine no longer takes my new insurance and he is a pediatric doctor. do you think he would help me, or just toss me to a nutritionist? thanks. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

This is SO true! In high school I weighed in the 140's and thought I was huge. When I got pregnant with my first daughter 26 years ago I weighed 148 at my first OB visit, I thought I was a whale! I wonder now if had someone had told me I was normal weight back then would it have made any difference? I think part of my weight gain can be attributed to the fact that I always thought "oh well, I have never been skinny and never will be, why bother". Sad how messed up our self image is ya know???

I can relate, nprcowboy. I started Wellbutrin and Paxil in May and have gained 20+ lbs. Paxil is the most notorious SSRI for causing weight gain. I am now off of it and am losing weight again, but it just feels so unfair that a medication can throw such a monkey wrench into someone's weight loss! Best of luck to you!

Has anyone gained weight prior to pre-op appt? I may have gained around 10 lbs after my dietician released me for surgery... ???? I'm really scared they will postpone my surgery... please tell me some good news. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using the BariatricPal App

I've just started my liquid diet today. My surgery date is October 5th. I am at my highest weight at 225. I am 59 years old. Can’t stay like this much longer. I realize that I have to make some serious changes in my life. I’ve decided to write a sort of journal of my experience of going through this time in my life. I admit that I am somewhat scared and anxious but it is something that I want very much. I want to feel HEALTHY again. Just had my first shake. Not so bad. Probably won’t say that after a few days of these drinks. I’m nervous and I don’t know why. I realize that I have to do this for 2 weeks. Will I succeed? I will really try my best. To come this far. I must push myself like I never have before. I have all the co-morbidities that go with the weight gain such as high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, joint, back pain and sleep apnea. Very dangerous combination.

Hi everyone, As a few of you know I'm recovering from an abdominoplasty and breast correction with implants. I'm 21 days post op and am healing greatly. One of the things I've noticed is my increase in appetite. While I've been told this is normal, my psychologist told me it may be physiological (mental) hunger. I do struggle with mental hunger, and have had some instances of it recently; but I can't say that my extra hunger is all mental. On top of my hunger I just feel so out of routine and find myself going for carbs and grazing. I guess I can say I'm lacking The usual structure of my diet regimen. Last week I weighed 146.4 pounds, this week I'm at about 150. I feel awful. I know I'm not supposed to focus on the number, especially during recovery, but I can't help it. I have an obsession with numbers, it was to the point of obsessing over the ounces of food I was eating and or the number in my clothing size. I've backed off a little and have been trying to find a happy medium, but the scale went up and I'm not happy. I don't know what to do with this whole recovery thing. I know lack of exercise has contributed to weight gain also. I'm all over the place right now trying to stay on track with my healthy eating, finishing up my last month of college, and healing. It's too much. I need guidance. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm only 5 weeks post op but was told the IVs and hydration after surgery could cause a temporary weight gain. It's probably just Fluid so don't be discouraged................

I lost 33 lbs total from Preop diet to Sunday. I am 10 days post op. I have gained 4 lbs. I haven't had but one BM and was told today this may be the reason.....any experience with weight gain immediately after surgery? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

It's hard to decipher all the replies you have gotten I'm sure. So let me say one thing first. You have had several "Vets" reply and try helping you. You will also see a lot of replies that jump to conclusions and or from posters who are really new that honestly think they know all the answers. That's not a bad thing but there is a difference in information between not being sleeved yet, recently sleeved and years out sleeved. As well as different info from rny and bypass people. Everyone's body is different and will adjust their own way. My surgeon told me my sleeve won't stretch. However should I eat things I shouldn't and way too much of it my stomach will expand but it will contract back down. We have bunches of layers inside out tummy walls and that's what expands and contracts before and after you eat. If you eat a large meal and then eat a small meal it won't "stretch" however if you get to a point where you are only eating large bad meals it won't contract all text way back down because of the brain signals saying hey he/she is still hungry. And then you get the weight gain back. I was told (every surgeon and every persons body is different) not to drink for an hour before and an hour after my meals. I was to be finished with my meal in 15-20 minutes and if I still had food leftover to put it up and not pick at it. It's leaning to feel full not finishing what's on your plate. If you drink with your meal it will cause the food to slip through your sleeve making you think you are still hungry and washes away the good absorption that we need. You make feel hungrier sooner or sick with foamies, even vomiting. So what's the point in risking it when we all are using this "tool" to helps us get back to healthy. Just my 2 cents from a newb. Proud Nana of a very handsome grandbaby

@lelewatson. You will not be in a lot of pain. I had rny on wednesday sept. 14. Came home sat. First day you are druged. No pain. Second day your mouth will be super dry when you wake up. They will give you swabbs for your mouth and one once crystal light per hour. Should be no pain or problem. Second day 2 onces hr. And you will go home. You might weigh ten pds more due to iv weight gain this will vanish. Follow the diet and walk. Best of luck.

I am freaking out and need smart advice. During the 2 week period (pre surgery and post surgery) I lost 22 lbs. I was thrilled when I weighed in at my 1 week post op checkup. I went from BUT I weighed myself at home few times in the 2 weeks since and I have gained weight. I feel so discouraged and upset. I am following the diet averaging 50g of Protein a day and 55 ounces of Water a day. The other day I realized that I am drinking to close to eating times and I have now adjusted to 15 minutes before and 30/40 after. Even with that, how could I GAIN weight?!?! My partner told me to stop weighing myself (which I have done) and have faith in the tool. I feel like the surgery did not work or that I am doing something wrong. My 3 week checkup is in 2 days and I am terrified to step on the scale. HELP!!!!!!! Lauren My New Life

Hi - I take Lamictal, and when I found out that my nurse wouldn't give it to me the night I was in the hospital I freaked out. My mom and husband tried to talk to her - it wasn't her, but my surgeon. I take Xanax as well as 2 antidepressants and 1 sleep med. Nurse asked for Ativan since it can be given IV. He came back and offered benadryl...... it was a bad situation - I don't say this to scare you, but to share so you can cross that bridge up front. The preoperative nurse said they'd have all my meds for me, so I thought I was fine. Please ask your team - it was a rough night, as I'm sure you can imagine. The good news!!!! I'm 4 days post op, can swallow meds (some have to be cut, and very very spaced out) and I think they fill my little stomach up as I'm struggling with protein/calories. But my mental health is fine, just the same as it was before surgery so don't worry. I also worked hard to be mentally stable, the meds are part of my weight gain, but I am good post op so wanted to share and reassure you. Please just ask about your overnight hospital stay ❤???? Sent from my SM-T550 using the BariatricPal App

Has anyone experienced this...i am doing Protein and liquids....i can eat reg foods now but still am full really fast so i dont understand why i am gaining weight....helppppp Sent from my SM-N900P using the BariatricPal App

My first bariatric surgeon looked about 14 months pregnant. My first consultation was in November and he was OK. My second was in December and he warned me about holiday weight gain. (DUH!!) My third was in January and I was appalled that he went from 14 months pregnant to about 19 months. I, in turn, had lost 2 pounds. He had the AUDACITY to tell me that I clearly ate crap all holiday. I told him he clearly ate an elephant. It was our last appointment.

My clinic told me. I worked with my pcp on the DASH diet, it is helpful for blood pressure but wouldn't necessarily make me gain weight. Think south beach with no salt (grain rice, grain Pasta, fish/chicken). My weight gain is also heavily from rx meds. So it's impossible to get off without serious intervention ie surgery.

I'm sure you all have heard this question several times. I have researched and talked about it myself. I just want an honest opinion. I originally wanted to get the sleeve, but I did not want to only lose 100lbs. I want to lose more. I'm currently 378, 5'5 and I carry my weight in pretty well places . So my question is..... If I went with the sleeve will I lose weight slower than having gastric bypass? Will the sleeve help me keep my shape? Will the sleeve be better for me because I have NO Health issues besides being overweight? Will I get under 200 lbs with the sleeve? That's based on my current weight. Or have you sleevers been unsatisfied with your results and got a revision? Did you get a revision because of easy weight gain? Not enough weight loss ? I really would like to know. I'm getting closer to surgery and need to get serious here. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

@@lf1227 HI there and good luck with your move. I really learned a lot from the two links below in my signature: The Lapband is Not About Restriction (Dr. Simpson) and O'Brien's Eight Golden Rules. Every one is different as far as what they can tolerate and how much fill is required for the Green Zone. I don't like to be too tight but in my view if I ever am I can do a liquid diet until I am able to get a smidge removed. My personal test is salmon and broccoli -- I need to be able to eat those foods easily. Sometimes chicken, steak, etc. are too tough and require a lot more chewing or still will not feel "right" to me. The problem with a too-tight band is reliance on Slider foods which will cause weight gain. You'll get there -- stay on it!

So, last Friday was my 3-year surgiversary. I had good intentions to post on that day, but this is the first day that I haven’t been slammed with work or other stuff. This in itself kind of makes me smile because while I was busy before I had surgery, it was never because I was away from my desk for huge amounts of the day and not really thinking about weight at all. On surgiversary day, I woke up at my goal…I was 129.2. I have been at goal for about 18 months now, although I do fluctuate down to 127 and up to 133, depending on the day. The only way I have been able to stay at goal is to weigh myself every day and take immediate steps to correct any weight gain. As an example, while 9 days ago I was 129.2 and 3 days ago I was 129.8, this morning I woke up at 132.8 (yikes). This happened because I spent two days eating sweets. I had a mini scone from Starbucks…and then two more. I had a pumpkin spice latte, several pop tarts, a cake pop, and I’m sure I’m missing something in there. I really didn’t eat much more than that, so I wasn’t much over my calories for the day, but sugar and sweets are one way that I gain weight almost instantly if I eat them more than occasionally. So, this morning I’m back to my normal routine where I can have sweets sometimes if I want to, but I’ll be more careful for the next few days and I will be right back around 129 by about Tuesday. In the event any new person happens to be reading this, getting to goal is difficult, but being aware of the fact that you never get to just ignore the scale and think you get to stay skinny once you’re at goal is also not exactly the most fun realization. I am fine with it because my size 2 clothing makes me far happier than cupcakes, but it is a sobering thought to know that if I want to be thin, every single day for the rest of my life I will need to be aware of my weight and the actions I take to maintain it. On that note, maintaining is not terribly difficult as long as I don’t eat too many sweets. I was one of the people who didn’t follow the vast majority of the rules after I hit the 6-week post-op mark, and it worked for me. When I want cake, I eat cake…I just make sure I weigh myself and then if I gain weight, I eat carrots instead of cake the next few days. Most days I don’t workout anymore. When I was losing I worked out for 1-3 hours a day- now I don’t have time for that and to be fair I’m kind of lazy. I eat about 1200- 1500 calories on average, which means that on days where I am out of my house all day I eat about 800-1000 calories and days where I am at home all day I munch my way through probably about 1600-1800, but it all averages out to roughly 1200-1500-ish. Most days I have sugar free Red Bull and a Bevita bar for Breakfast, I snack on goldfish crackers throughout the day, and then I will have either half of a pick 2 from Panera for lunch and the other half for breakfast (ex: a cup of chili for lunch and half of a sandwich for dinner), or a turkey and cheese lunchable for dinner without much lunch, a few bites of a Chipotle salad as kind of a lunch-dinner ongoing chew-fest at my desk, or some other variety of something that usually involves some form of meat, vegetable, and mild carbs. Past that, I drink coffee like a fiend and I mix in the full fat caramel from Starbucks with skim milk, I drink diet soda, I never use a straw, and I drink and eat during all my meals. If I want to have alcohol, I do, although to be fair I think I’ve had a few glasses of champagne and a few sips of wine once this summer and that’s about it in probably over a year. At three years post-op, I know what foods my stomach doesn’t like (too much sugar, dairy, oil, fat, fried stuff), so if I want to eat something like that I know I get a few bites and if I eat more I’m going to get sick. Basically my diet is one that works for me and is something I can do for the rest of my life. I don’t care that I don’t eat Pasta, burgers, pizza, chips, brownies or Cookies anymore, because I know if I want them, I’m allowed to have them, so I don’t have much interest in having them often. I don’t care that I can’t sit in front of the tv and enjoy a giant pile of food like I used to or that I don’t really get to fully enjoy the going out to dinner experience because some food just makes me want to barf looking at it. I am just fine with not being able to eat heavy foods in the morning- no more eggs and waffles, because just thinking about that made me feel woozy, and I am ok with walking through a grocery store and feeling no real interest in actually buying and eating anything. My relationship with food has become one of necessity as opposed to friendship. I eat when I am hungry (and sometimes when I’m bored), but not when I’m sad or overly happy and I don’t wander through the grocery store after a bad day and throw everything that looks good into my cart because I can console myself with it later. Food and I are friends now, because it keeps me healthy, not because it makes me happy. Beyond that, my life is totally different now. When I first debated having this surgery, I was horrified that I was cutting my stomach out FOREVER. What in the flip was I thinking?! The first few weeks after surgery I was sure I had made a mistake and I read all of the stories on here in the hopes that I would feel better. I looked for those of people who were years past surgery to know that I wasn’t making a mistake. I can honestly say at this point having the sleeve was the best thing I have done. For the first time in my life, I am not obsessed with my weight. I had been thin in the past but it required exercising everyday and constantly feeling like I was starving. I very rarely even feel hungry now. I had put so many things on hold in my life because until I was thin, I had no interest in doing anything else. I now own two successful businesses, I am in law school full time (a dream I have had since I was a kid but never even considered seriously as an adult before) and I am working on my MBA. While work was good before the sleeve, any pursuits outside of that were entirely oriented toward being thin. I had no time to improve my education because fat people need to be on treadmills, not in law school (my thoughts at the time- not now!). When I leave my house in the morning, I look in the mirror and 90% of the time I think…damn, you look good. Never once in my life have I felt that way before. When I have a bad day, when someone is not very nice to me, or when something doesn’t go right…my first thought is no longer that it happened because I am fat and worthless, and in fact, it doesn’t even cross my mind. I shop in stores where 3 years ago I couldn’t fit in their biggest sizes and now I am in their smallest sizes. I spend money on makeup, shoes, watches, clothing- things to make me feel pretty, whereas before I never bothered because I didn’t think I was worth it. Although this is kind of a long post, as a three-year update, if anyone is thinking about the sleeve, I wanted to explain how much it gave me my life back, how I really do get to eat normal food and live like a normal person, and because of this surgery, I have SO much more in my life than I ever did before. I am happy, I am healthy, and every bit of misery along the way after surgery was worth it to be at the place I am now.

@@songsmith thank you so much for your response. I'm sorry it took so long for me to come back. I've started my first semester of nursing school and it's been crazy! I went to a counselor a few times who was supposed to specialize in eating disorders, but I think I need a new one. She seems to be a behaviorlist, a therapist who focuses not on feelings or emotions, but observable aspects of behavior. Her advice for me was to keep a food journal and look at myself in the mirror each day and say "I will not eat anything today that I am not supposed to eat even if ISIS attacks my city." That may work for some people, but I weighted 500 pounds not long ago. Just telling myself "No" isn't going to work for me. I'm heading back to my insurance company's list of therapists and trying again. Thank you again. @@mi75 I am so sorry for the loss of your father. That's a horribile thing to go through, and I wish you healing. Thanks for the tip about the regain section. I'll be checking that out. @@mcplu28 thank you! Best of luck to you, too. We can do this. We just have to work each day at it. @@dccarite, I agree with you. Extreme weight gain is a mental disorder. Some weight can be just overeating, but I didn't get to 500 pounds by having a good mental health. I didn't find the therapist for me with my first try, but I'm heading back to the list of therapists for my insurance and trying again. Good luck with your surgery. Keep us informed, ok? @@miamomma YaY for breaking through that stall. That good attitude is going to keep you moving in the right direction. Thank you so much I'm trying daily to Celebrate all the weight I have already lost while moving to lose more! @@Lindairene I don't think there's a single surgery that does that for us! I'm still considering revising to a duodenal switch as I know a few people who've had success with it and it does have the least weight regain of any of the surgeries, but it sure isn't an eat-anything-you-want thing! @@Hollyhock Thank you so much! I really need to keep focusing on how much weight is gone (my sagging belly skin SHOULD serve as a good reminder lol) and just keep moving forward. Do a little better every day. thanks again

I think the issue is more the empty calories from regualr sodas. Like I said, I know the artificial crap in Coke Zero or diet soda isn't ideal, either. I also know that there seems to be some studies saying that artifical sweeteners can cause weight gain (the jury is still out on that). I like my little can of Coke Zero a day. So far I've maintained my weight for a year up or down 5 pounds, so for now it's working for me. When and if it's not, I'll figure it out. @@LipstickLady has maintained her weight for like 2 years, so it's obviously working for her, too. What works for me may not work for you. In the mean time, you'll pry my Coke Zero from my cold, dead hands.

I'm going to say not getting enough Water in. I'm at 4 weeks out today and my appt yesterday registered at an 8 pounds weight gain. There is no way partial way I could do that. I really dropped in my water intake so I'm hoping my numbers go down real soon. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using the BariatricPal App

i cant believe how much info this site has given me! Big thanks to all of you who are so eager to help and offer advice! When I turned 40, I declared this "My Year!!" I would do something for myself...and so far this has been my most selfish year ever! ha! I was always skinny as kid...very boney and lanky! My weight gain came on fast because I always thought I could lose it. Both my parent's passed away in 2004...and the pounds came packing on. Depression, bad choice of food, my love for pizza and my passion for a nice cold beer all caught up with me. I turned 40, I'm 5'3" and I weigh 265lbs! ugh! I always carried an extreme confidence....and even though I was sad and unhappy with myself, my friends and family never saw this. I was the jokester and the entertainment at each get together! I always managed to dress nice but the selections are small when you are wearing a size 24 jeans! I just got tired and said "I want to walk into a regular store and grab a shirt off the rack instead of special ordering my Cleveland Cavaliers championship t-shirt and paying 3 times the $ for a plus size shirt!" So here I am..... I'm waiting on approval. I have completed 6 months of nutrition visits, I had a apnea test, scope down my throat to check for ulcers, a psych evaluation (which I can proudly say I passed -haha) and many many tubes of bloodwork. I had my stuff submitted to insurance on Sept 2. They said it would be 2 weeks. They came back right away with a denial due to the hospital not being Accredited, which it is. So they went back to the insurance company...and I am sitting here waiting. They are super quick to come back with a denial but don't mind taking their time for approval. I'm a nervous wreck!! I stare at my phone all day waiting for the call. I keep logging on to my insurance website hoping I can see something positive. That's my story...I appreciate reading all of your journeys, all of your suggestions and all the info you all provide. thanks for reading! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using the BariatricPal App

Give yourself credit where credit is due. You started out at 500 lbs. You're at 340, regardless of weight gained you are better than where you started. The therapist is a wonderful idea. It sounds like you only fell back into what is comfortable for you because you were experiencing uncomfortable feelings( grief and loss). It's natural for humans to do this. I don't think obesity happens on purpose. I think it's a mental disorder ( These are only my opinions by the way. I do have a master's degree in mental health counseling so I'm only going based on my opinion/experiences). We stick with what's comfortable even subconsciously. You experienced a loss of your only friend, that's traumatic. You're beating yourself up for something you weren't necessarily in control of. A therapist will help you identify new coping skills for life stressors. That's the problem with emotional eating it's our only coping skill. We need to learn to restructure our thoughts( it's possible but takes lots of work). You're reaching out so you've already started. Btw I wish I could take my own guidance... I'm getting the sleeve in 3 weeks. It's easy to spew out all this information but hard to execute the behaviors. I hope this was helpful. Sent from my LGLS770 using the BariatricPal App

Long story short. Sleeved Nov 2014 at 308 hit LW end of March this year, at 171. Felt great looked great. Depression set in for many reasons and tried suicide twice end of March and end of April. Was put on meds including abilify which is notorious for weight gain. Have gained 53 lbs in 5 months. I'm now 224. I'm off abilify but damage is done. And don't know how to lose the weight or eat healthy anymore. I went thru hell post surgery with complications including feeding tubes and 6 hospital stays and when I hit 171 was all worth it. Was down to a medium from 3X shirts now back to XL. Help. If I knew how to do it naturally to lose 50 plus lbs I wouldn't have needed the surgery. I try and diet and I blow it each time. I still can't eat as much pre sleeve but gaining 10 lbs a month currently. Depression is coming back due to how I look and feel about this now. Any positive advice and support is welcomed. Sent from my SM-J700T1 using the BariatricPal App

Surgery in May. Doing well. Lost 55 pounds so far!!! Been at a stall for a couple weeks- so I tried extra hard to get in my Protein and fluids and I've gained almost 3 pounds. I trying not to flip out. Curious if anyone can relate? Thank you Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App