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Pretty common sense stuff, but I thought this was a good distillation of a lot of common themes from threads across Bariatric Pal. http://www.everydayhealth.com/news/ways-avoid-weight-gain-after-bariatric-surgery/

This thread is for those longer out from their surgery. I'm not sure why the newbies keep coming in here and posting about weight gain right after their surgeries. When I catch these posts, I try to post something nice to guide them to other threads but they still keep coming in here.

Apart from fantastic good looks (ha ha), I have also inherited inter-uterine fibroids from my mother's side of the family. Every female in my immediate family suffers with this and it is likely I have passed it on to my daughter who is in her early 20s and who suffers excruciating pain during her period. Apart from three of us the other sufferers have had hysterectomies. At last check almost a year ago, I had three fibroids: one the size of an apple sitting on top of my cervix and the other two the size of plums in the back wall of my womb. I call it my uterine fruit bowl! Although they are benign, these fibroids cause a lot of trouble: chronic anaemia, Fluid retention, reduced bladder control, pre-menstrual bloating, chronic back and pelvic pain, embarrassingly heavy periods which go on forever and, worst of all WEIGHT GAIN!!!!!!!! It's a guarantee that halfway through my cycle I will feel my lower belly swelling up and the distention is clearly visible. The physical discomfort can affect my mood as can the tiredness from the anaemia (fibroids grow by being fed blood through the surrounding capillaries). Fibroids also thrive on high oestrogen levels, which according to my gynaecologist, is more likely to happen if you're overweight. Ironically the treatments available in the UK are not considered effective for overweight women unless through hysterectomy. One treatment I underwent last year was being fitted with an Inter-uterine Device (IUD) which caused me to bleed every day for 6 months. In fact it became dislodged and was removed five days before I was sleeved. My treatment of choice would be laser ablation because this does not involve surgery. I need to lose another 56 pounds before I'll be considered for that, but thankfully, since being sleeved this is a totally achievable goal. That being said, the monthly weight gains are sometimes really hard to deal with. I'm doing the July 4th challenge and had lost 7 pounds in two weeks. When I weighed yesterday I had gained 5 pounds! I was depressed all day ...even though I know when my period arrives I will lose 8-10 pounds straight away. However, staying upbeat and positive is the challenge with this condition and there are worse things I could be battling with, so onwards and upwards for Laydee G: I'm sticking with the challenge and am determined to reach my goal of 10 pounds lost by the last weigh-in on 6th July.

Aetna is no net weight gain. U cannot weigh more than your first weigh in.

Sigh, just to complicate things further, when you exercise might make a difference, especially in maintenance. http://www.mapmyfitness.com/blog/the-best-time-of-day-to-exercise-to-lose-weight-3769/?spMailingID=48935461&spUserID=MTIzODY4ODIwMjAzS0&spJobID=702946317&spReportId=NzAyOTQ2MzE3S0 There is some evidence that exercising first thing on an empty stomach may prevent weight gain.

I think your concern is legitimate. I have never read of anyone who had their band removed and was able to keep their weight off. Even unfills seem to provoke weight gain, as I have experienced. Have you considered a revision surgery? There are many on this forum that have revised from the band to a sleeve or bypass, with excellent results and no issues.

Hello let me start off by saying I was banded at a very young age, I was banded in June of 2007 I was 16 years old I'm now 23. At first it was great I lost 60 lbs is occasionally get stuck but, no major issues. A little farther down the road, I did notice that my Iron levels seemed to drop I bruised a lot easier, I was constantly cold and, I had become prone to passing out. I went to get a fill one day and, my original doctor wasn't there so there was a nurse that did my fill for me. I didn't think anything of it I hate shots so I just wanted to get it done and over with, well she couldn't find my port and was digging around until I told her to stop I was going to pass out. So, she brought in the nurse who had assisted my doctor with my surgery she found my port no problem. Ever since that fill I have not been able to find my sweet spot again, I've had complications with getting stuck, acid reflux and, sharp pain near my port. I've gained about 35lbs back since then. I haven't been to my doctor in probably 2 years, the last time I went we did a barium swallow and he said everything was fine. I get stuck still often and, will go a day or 2 unable to eat solid foods then my band will randomly open back up again and I can eat. I'm just so tired of it all, I'm on a meal plan and exercising regularly I feel that if I could get the proper nutrition such as raw veggies, meat, and fruit I would be much more successful in losing weight. Then on the flip side I'm terrified to get my band removed, being banded at such a young age I don't really remember how it feels to eat normally and to have a normal day of eating. I'm also terrified that even though I'm working out regularly and, am trying to commit to a healthy diet that I will gain my weight back. All I read is everyone gaining their weight back and they've gotten discouraged and given up after band removal I don't want that to be me...is there any success stories from having band removal? I know over all I will physically feel better but the weight gain scares me.

So I'm almost three months out and have had my share of ups and downs, yada, yada, yada. What I don't get is the physiology of my new stomach. How can I gain weight by eating roughly 1200 calories a day and of those calories, some are carbs? I mean a normal person eating 1200 calories a day would not gain weight but three straight days of "being bad" has resulted in a three pound weight gain. Doesn't make sense to me?

I'm 7 weeks post-surgery. I struggle with meeting my Protein goals, but for the most part I have followed the nutrition's guidelines. I have not touched bread, Pasta, baked goods and I hardly eat any carbs (the few grams I get in daily are part of protein meals). I had a graduation today and someone backed home-made chocolate chip Cookies as a present for everyone; she went around the room and personally gave one to all attendees. I felt so bad refusing that I took one, put it inside a ziplock bag, put it away and forgot about it. Until I returned home and emptied my bag. I ate the cookie and immediately starting feeling guilty and panicking about dumping syndrome. But what happened is that not even 10 minutes after eating the cookie, I could not keep my eyes open and fell asleep (fully dressed) on my bed. It felt like when I had to take the oxycodone and it would knock me off within minutes. I woke up 3 hours later feeling hungover. I don't think that I experienced dumping syndrome... right? Does it mean I don't dump or does it mean that one cookie is not enough to make me sick but enough to knock me down? I had no pain whatsoever, no need to use the bathroom, no sweating, no nothing. I just could not keep my eyes open and crashed. I'm trying not to shame myself for eating the cookie; I'm a therapist and I know that shame never motivated anyone to do any better. Shame is probably what fueled my weight gain to begin with so I know all too well that if I beat myself up what will follow is, "well, I'm a failure, I messed up... I may as well mess up more." Instead, I'm acknowledging that I have allowed old habits to creep in for a moment, that it's okay to make a mistake and I'm committing to promptly return on my road to recovery and weight loss.

Did anyone have any issues with gaining weight during the process with the surgeon, nutritionist etc? I gained about 2Lbs since last nutritionist visit, hoping it doesn't cause a issue with insurance coverage. Any input would be great. Thanks, Joe

I had the same fears pre op. 60% of my excess weight still leaves me in the "obese" catagory with 40 more # to lose to be normal. What I'm OK with now, 3 weeks post op in a one week stall, is that this small stomach will be a weight loss tool for the rest of my life. I don't find it hard to stay on primarily Protein with veggie back up. I now drink a lot of Water because I'm thirsty, not because I have to force myself. Down the road, if I go off the plan I'll still be eating MUCH less and I doubt weight gain will be an issue as I swim every day. Losing weight down the road is easier, I hear, by re-conforming to the diet in concert with the "baby stomach".

I had my surgery Monday June 15 and I am on day three of full liquid diet. I weigh myself every Saturday morning and this morning my weight is 19 pounds higher than last Saturday. I have only eaten what I was supposed to eat. I have walked every day. When I was in the hospital they gave me a lot of fluid to get my urine output up so I could be discharged. I have had no pain but I am very down about this unexplained gain. My follow up appointment is Friday June 26. I am calling the office Monday but I am hoping someone can tell me they had the something like this happen to them. Thanks for listening.

Hi it's really hard I know the cravings may always be there unfortunately we have to resist the urge to eat them fill up with protein first and Vegs have healthy things on hand to snack on the less u eat bad things the less u will want them find things to do to keep yourself occupied boredom invites temptation if u have a hobby do that take a walk work out walk the dog clean closets whatever the more u lose the less u will want to eat weight gaining foods that aren't good for you don't keep stuff in the house that tempts you that helps me a lot if it's not here I can't eat it only wish I'd done that years ago lol

Yep same thing here and I was devastated. It is coming back off. As long as you are following the rules - Protein, Water, etc. - you couldn't have done anything to actually cause a real weight gain. Your body is just adjusting. It will come back off.

Hey y'all, I had my sleeve on the 5th of this month and everything was great. I lost 15lbs in the first week but now I've stepped on the scale and it says I'm up five pounds. I've been drinking the Protein shakes and having a few sips of Soup. I haven't tried to sneak any Cookies or cakes or anything but this is super disheartening. Is this a normal thing where it takes your body a little bit to get used to the fact that you only have a small portion of your stomach? My step-mom said it happened to her but it's still disappointing. My expectation are all out of whack because even if I did gain and my scale isn't wrong 10lbs is still great. Let me know if you've had a similar experience.

All these threads about the scale, and what we are eating and I'm seeing the words 'good' and 'bad' throughout them. I'm as guilty as anyone else about this but I want to put it out there that eating is not bad. Weighing is not bad. WE are not bad. We might make poor decisions about our food, or we might see weight gain on the scale, but it's not good or bad. It just is. Why is what we weigh and what we eat seen as good or bad. Why do we see ourselves as worthy or unworthy based on our physical appearance. Why am I worthy of the attentions of a man now that I'm thin and didn't feel worthy when I was heavy? Why did I punish myself by wearing horrible clothing and not caring how I looked? I know for me it was like putting lipstick on a pig...but why did I think of myself as a pig? Or a slob? Or a loser? Or lazy? Everytime I think I may not need more therapy, I know I need lots more therapy. I hate how much I despised myself before and I'm scared of how much people admire what I've done in the last two and a half years. I am constantly looking to others to determine my own worth because I still cannot do it on my own. I am moving forward in very unfamiliar territory. I have no fat to hide behind. I can't blame failure on my size anymore. I can't blame rejection on my size, I have to own my life and not look to anything negative to avoid what I do. We have to stop with the good/bad thing. If I eat pizza, it's not good or bad. it just is and doesn't make me good or bad. I want to enjoy food without fearing it. I want to enjoy my life without fearing it. I want to be physically and mentally healthy. I'm working on it, but it's still ahead of me.

I'm 43 and I've recently be diagnosed with PCOS. Looking at the ultrasound, I have clearly had it for an extremely long time and never knew. I am two years post op and I recently regained 12 pounds (which I'm working on). Since gaining this weight I have had constant pelvic pain and it appears constantly bursting cysts. My Gyno has said it is due to weight gain (although I find it hard to believe that 12 pounds could make such a difference). Has anyone experienced any significant changes in symptoms etc since having the surgery? Has there been any particular dietary changes that you have made that you think helps? I was pre-diabetic before my surgery and my blood sugar level was normal afterwards, so I assumed that the surgery had removed my risk of diabetes. However I have also just discovered that I am still pre-diabetic and that my sugar levels are higher than pre-surgery. Maybe this is part of the problem? I'm really not sure as this is all new to me but I would REALLY appreciate some insight!! TIA

We actually have a similar story.. Well no it's exactly the same Lolz minus the preeclampsia. I got pregnant at 17 had my first at 18 and my second at 24. I too am 5'7 and was 150 at the start of my weight gain. I hope you get your date soon! Good luck mama and cheers to us running amuck with the kiddos ☺️☺️

I am in the same private little boat. I have only told my husband and my twin- even then I had to make it clear it was not negotiable, I was sharing the information for support and because it would be too much not to tell with this dynamic. I have no intention of offering the information to anyone else, though I don't know yet what I would say if asked. Time will tell. For me, there is some shame in not being able to lose weight, but more than that I don't want to have to explain myself to people at my age. I had a trial run a while back while I was just "thinking" about it. At that time I spoke freely about it and sure enough - everyone becomes a dietitian and health guru. I had people telling me they will get me in shape. I was athletic when I was younger and have had my weight gain for almost 10 years (around 8-10 pounds a year) and most people just tell me I just have to do what I was doing before. It's just too much to explain to them how the weight gain happened. I lost a son, and then a couple years after my mom and sister to cancer, and during this time I lost control of exercise and weight management. Theres more to the story usually, and I really just want to move on with my life and avoid the lengthy retelling to everyone as I explain my personal health decision. So for now, I will tell them the TRUTH... I have lost weight by drastically cutting my calories. Maybe after the fact, I will say something, but for now - TMI.

Hi my name is lacey and I'm 27 years old. I am a wife and mom of 4. I have two sons 10 and 4, and two daughters 8 and 5. Prior to getting pregnant at the age 16 I was around 5ft 7 and 150 lbs. It seemed like the weight just came out of the middle of nowhere as one day u couldn't tell I was pregnant to the next I popped. I gained 80lbs my pregnancy at the end I also had preeclampsia. After I had my son the weight never seemed to come off. I since then have had 3 more kids back to back. My weight has always went up. Around 6mths ago I quit drinking Dr pepper which was my addiction and thought for sure I would have to lose some weight. That never happened.I have been considering weightloss surgery for along time but recently within last few months I have completed everything. I am so looking forward to going outside to play with my kids without running out of breath. I used to be so active and play sports myself and can't wait to do it again with my son. He asks me all the time mom do u wanna go play and I really do want to but I physically cant. It makes me feel so bad. I would like to have my self confidence back like I used to. Hard yo believe my teenage years I was selected for modeling but wouldn't believe it now. I don't expect to be likeffective I was when I was 16 but I do want to be healthy and make my hubby and kids proud of me. I should have a surgery date by friday for around 1st to middle of july. I'm so anxious and excited for the start of my new life. 1st picture before my pregnancy and weight gain 2nd and 3rd picture today weighing 286

I absolutely hate this thread (in concept/theory) because reading it almost made me cancel my sleeve surgery. So I like to pop in from time to time with updates. Weight gained since sleeve surgery: NONE Weight lost since sleeve surgery: 155 pounds Time since surgery: 22 months (IE It's staying off) Inches lost from my stomach: 26 inches LOST It's possible. Hang in there and don't let some be a deterrent. If you are wiling to do just not the physical work (which to me was the easy part) but also the emotional work (much harder) you will be successful!

That's not too bad for two weeks. I am a carb addict. I laughed when my doc asked me if a contributing factor to my weight gain was sweets. (This fat chick doesn't like cake! Haha) I am a bread and rice girl all the way. I'm thankful he's letting me enjoy them until the morning of the 29th. But oddly have no problem giving it up for good after. He said it's best that I try my best never to allow any carbs back into my diet after surgery other than occasional potatoes or cauliflower. He said he won't restrict me but highly advises against it even in my maintenance phase down the road. I am really ok with Protein and veggies for the rest of my life. Don't like fruit much so no loss there. But I do have a "texture" problem with yogurt, smoothies and pudding so I am a little worried about the pureed stage of post-op. That texture make me want to vomit. I'm praying I can get past the mental problem I have with it so I can make it through that phase ok. I am so jealous that you aren't nervous. I am holding it together ok right now but know I am gonna really lose it the day before surgery. Part of me is ready to get it over with so the anxiety can go away and the other wishes I would have given myself more time to prepare mentally. I'm not afraid of pain or giving up food. I'm afraid of surgery and anesthesia. If I could just make it through that day...I'll be ok.

I'm not looking to revise, but responding because we were sleeved around the same time. I also have very little restriction these days, though I still do have it. Some days it's better than others. I think that's normal, for the most part. I think by three years out it's pretty common to be able to eat pretty normal (not "normal" overeating, like most of used to do). Anyway, I sometimes wish I could get a "touch up" or something, because even though I am maintaining at what is a good weight for me, I'd like to lose 5-10 pounds more. Also, now my weight management is about 70% me and 30% sleeve. I could easily eat my way right back to 300 pounds if I let myself. I asked my surgeon about a re-do or if I was possibly stretched, and he said that it's common to be able to eat as much as I can now, and that sometime people develop areas of stretching or ballooning in the stomach, but there is no evidence to prove that having that causes weight gain, or that removing it causes weight loss. In other words, it's up to us. For me, the surgery isn't worth the risk. Have you reviewed your diet? How much are you eating? Are you weighing, measuring, and tracking your food? Are you increasing your activity? Are you taking anything for the reflux? (I also get it sometimes, but only if I eat too much, just like pre-op). Only you and your doc can decide if you need a second surgery, but my point is you still do have a sleeve, and probably it can still help you. Mine still helps me, but I have to do the work.

Good for U!! I had a band from 2007-2014 and it was all down hill after about 2010. My band didn't slip, but I started to either wake up an have vomiting episodes and develop these wicked stomach pains almost every month or 2 that lasted about 3 days each episode. Like I was literally waking up and holding my stomach to walk to the next room. 2013 endoscopy shows nothing! No erosion no slippage! Continued on, most things I tried to eat that had any real substance like steak, chicken etc would always make me have to throw it up. It always felt like it was getting stuck. I started eating loves good food and more bad food ( cookies dissolved, icecreams, chocolate etc) since the bad food went down much easier without throwing up. I gained most of the weight back.... I joined a gym went 4-5 days a week n got back startin to lose 3-4lbs a wk. then one morning I had the wickedest of pains, was vomiting on and off and had bad lower back pain. I laid in bed and just slept and threw up all day. I are nothing and could barely hold down any drink either. This went on for a few days finally like by day 3 I was only getting worse I booked another endoscopy and once again no problems. They advised i go to ER. I did that and after lying almost 30 hrs in the ER being tested poked and prodded the doc tells me the scan shows that the cord tubing from my lap band port was entangled with my small intestines, and emergency surgery was needed. They had to cut me open down the middle like a coconut, took the band out along with 20% of the intestines, and also removed adhesions/lesions on my stomach and intestines. My dr said it was the most randoms freakish thing he's ever seen a band do! It's not even a risk or precaution of band surgery because it has never been something any dr has ever come across or has happened to any patients. I was in the hospital 1wk and it was pure hell! I couldn't even have a sip of water or ice chips for like 4-5 days! Finally I got out with pain of course. I was able to eat anything I wanted to! I started with the stuff that l could never hold down. Eventually the NO restriction and even no vomiting caused me to over eat, gain weight and lose my energy and desire to excercise, or even go outside where people could see me and my fatness and weight gain. After months of back, knee and ankle pain and now multiple hernias from the 2 abdominal surgeries, I went back to my surgeon asked for help and recommendations on what to do. He recommended the sleeve, I agreed so in February I started my insurance requirements I finished by May and had my surgery date before Memorial Weekend. I was Sleeved June 3 and so far everything's great! Went to post op visit on Fri which was 9-10 days post sleeve and I lost 12 lbs since day of surgery! I did well on liquids so now my doc told me I can move on to purée's/mushies. So that's my triple stomach surgery experiences in a nutshell! I am trying harder this time around, I know this has benefits and the outcome can be great but I have to put the work in, it's not magic, it's a tool. The 1st few months weight loss is like a gift, or a big head start. This is where the fastest weight loss will occur! Once on all solids and regular foods It's kind of in my own hands, what I decide to eat and how much of it will make me lose or gain. I plan on keeping a balance of protein shakes and certain foods. If I allow myself to eat foods just cause I can now eat them then I will stop losing and either plateau or gain. Im not trying to do any of that! I want the body of 20yr old me back, and above all I need my health back! So failure is not an option!!! Thanks for letting me tell my crazy story! If anyone has a question or anything feel free to ask!

Denise, depression only causes weight gain when you overeat to self soothe - I am eating 600 calories a day!!! I am doing a post-op diet and I weighed in at 218 this morning - which means that in 14 days I have lost only 5 pounds. and I had MS last year when I took off my regain, and I had MS (even though I didn't know it) when I lost my weight the first time around. So, GRRRRRRR, I don't get it!! My daily carb totals are super low but maybe they aren't low enough? 60g or less per day. Today I had sardines with sauteed vegetables, a coconut flour and protein powder cookie, and several tiny nutritional yeast/coconut flour crackers. 59 carbs, 637 cals.