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@CamillaCallie just done all my pre op testing. It was really just blood work more ? From the Dr. EKG that's it. I have to start my clear liquid diet tomorrow because of the weight gain I have to do 3 weeks. But other then that it was fine.

Hello friends. I wanted to ask for some advice/encoragement. I had my surgery in Jan of 2010 and had lost 70 pounds! When I moved to GA in July I started gaining when I saw my new surgeon. After 4 months of complaining of hunger and weight gain(20 pounds!!!!) they finally dug deeper and found that I had a leak in the port. I had that replaced on Mon Nov 7th and at that time they also gave me a fill. I feel restricted and am back to eating my 3-4 oz portion meals 3 times per day and a protein shake in the morning between breakfast and lunch. However...my weight continues to go up!!! What gives?? I am soooo discouraged because not only was I so excited to finally start losing again, but sad because I can't exercise for 3-4 weeks. I'm training for a 1/2 marathon in February so I had to stop running and will have to start all over again when they clear me for exercise. Could I still be retaining fluid from the surgery? My site is still a teensy bit swollen but not that bad...Any suggestions? I'm at my wits end and don't know what to do or what is wrong with me:-( Please help!!!

I am 25 years old, 5ft 4inches, just under 16 stone. I do have alot of stretch marks on my tummy and my thighs are fairly large although not stretch marked to the extent of my tummy (the marks on my thighs are left over from growth spurts as a teen and not as result of weight gain). I am currently a UK 18/20 (US 14/16 i think) I and want to be no less than a UK 10 (US 6). I like curves and I don't want to be stick thin. I would possible even be happy with myself at a size 12. Anyways I am going to be going to the gym at uni and might do a couple of classes like boxercise and pilates. When I have dropped a couple of dress sizesI will probs also start swimming. Anyways what do you think? Will it be a big problem for me? and does it tighten up with exercise? Thanks Anna xxx

I have not had my surgery yet, but I really believe that when you are so physical while you where training your metabolism gets really cranked up so when you had your second surgery and you physical workouts have shrunk down so far your body is not burning as much, ie. weight gain or no weight loss...My husband is a runner and did the Marine Corps Marathon if he does not train for awhile he gains...How about walking some more and add hand weights to your routine? I live in GA, too and know you can find some really great parks with killer hills!!! You can do it just take a breath and move, move, move.....))) Stay Cool

I was once 575 lbs as the name states, my wife too had a problem with the surgery and many others did as I was able to lose 200 lbs on my own presurgery but what they didn't know that I did was I could easily gain back all that weight plus some without a surgical intervention. I had lost 115 lbs in 2007 only to gain it back plus 50... before that I had lost 80, 85, 60, etc etc etc... Now that I have gone through the surgery she couldn't be happier, she still thinks I could have done without the surgery but I know the surgery was the cement I needed to keep the weight off. Now down 317 lbs in less then 2 years I couldn't be happier, without the surgery I wouldn't be as healthy at some point my yoyo would've snapped me back into a weight gaining binge. The surgery breaks the yoyo, I can still gain weight if I eat wrong but can not gain it nearly as fast and i've learned enough new GOOD habits during the process never to get anywhere close to where I was before. Ask a simple question.... How many 50, 60, 70 year olds weighing as much as you do you see walking around happy and healthy... I knew for me my weight was a death sentence and i'm so glad that over 300 lbs of me is gone!!!

I've noticed that when I PB--the next day I seem to gain a little weight--even when calorie count was low. Anyone else experience this?

Not going to look into attempting to get preg until I'm banded and have lost a considerable about of weight (currently doing 90 pre-approval diet for insurance). My symptoms included, adult acne, facial hair, horrid weight gain, HEAVY periods, depression and lack of energy. I guess I'll tell my PCP im interested in looking into being tested for it. Just wasn't sure if it was done with a PAP or a blood test or ultrasound.. Thanks for the reply :biggrin:

hey guys. so at my last appointment the scale showed that i had gained about 3lbs. which is what i had expected between finals stress, graduation celebrations, etc. but they made a really big deal out of it. and i explained myself but i was also kind of like “hey i can’t easily lose weight... hence why i’m here?” i was hoping to get surgery in july but because of my weight gain they have pushed it back to august. at first i was disappointed but now i’m mostly okay with it i guess. i’m just worried because they want me to lose weight (currently at 351 and they want me down to like 345). i know that isn’t a lot of weight, but it’s hard. that’s why i’m getting surgery!!! if you have any tips on losing weight before surgery can you let me know? i’ve been tracking my food with myfitnesspal and i’m under my calorie goal everyday. i’m just getting discouraged that i won’t be able to do it after surgery. they also said if i don’t lose this weight my bmi puts me at higher risk for clots so i’ll have to be doing blood thinning shots. which i 1000% don’t want to do. also annoyed slightly because won’t i have to do a pre-op diet regardless that is going to shed weight? just confused/discouraged/frustrated and hoping someone has gone through this and can help me out. thanks in advance

I feel like I know all of the information, I started the process 10 months ago but due to my insurance being so strict I had to attend many classes, seminars, appointments, clearances, over the phone courses, etc. So I feel like the knowledge is there, however from joining this site I am learning new things every day, especially when looking at the post op forums. I know unexpected things will pop up and am prepared for the stalls including the famous 3 week stall and some initial weight gain from water immediately after surgery. Vitamins are something I definitely need to work on. My vitamin D was previously low but I am working on that. Iron is also another issue that I need to be prepared for as I am borderline anemic. I've heard of many post ops being hospitalized and having health issues from not keeping up with their Iron. Working in healthcare I have access to the providers and their knowledge on the subject. One thing with multivitamins is if you overdose on Iron that can be an issue too that can cause issues with your can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and in extreme cases liver failure. Therefore, I am going to be in constant contact with my provider and request routine blood work on all of my levels. Since we have surgery in April, most of us will be meeting our deductibles and out of pocket max so aside from any copay's we can get as much work done that our insurance deems as medically necessary. This includes blood work and labs on nutrition and vitamin levels. For instance, my deductible is $750 and out of pocket max is $3000. Since my surgery is around $30,000 I met my out of pocket max of $3000 and can get as much work done as I need to for the remainder of the year. Again, copay's still need to be paid for each visit. If I get blood work done by my primary care provider my copay is only $10 compared to the $50 to go to a specialist who will do the same thing. So in general I feel like I am pretty prepared when it comes to the aftercare and communication with my provider's and insurance policies to make sure I can keep in touch with my body to know where I am deficient and what vitamins I will need to increase during the weight loss. I still have a lot to learn about the vitamins. I just cannot get past the taste of chewable vitamins. I tried the Flinstone Chewables my surgeon's office recommended and they are absolutely disgusting with an aftertaste that returns all day. Therefore, I think crushing my pills and putting them in yogurt might be my best option. One tablespoon I do not think will be too hard to get down. I have to take anxiety medication anyways so this won't be too hard I think. In regards to protein, I am currently doing Premier Protein and I am in LOVE!! They recently came out with new flavors such as Oreo & Cream, Peaches & Cream, Caramel, Banana & Cream, along with their traditional of Vanilla, Chocolate, and Strawberries & Cream. The reason I chose this was it has 30 grams of protein in 11oz so even if I cannot consume much in a day, 2 shakes meets my minimum protein for the day and can also double as liquids so will at least give me 22 oz of that. It has 1 gram of sugar per shake, 160 calories, 24 vitamins and nutrients, 5 grams of carbs, and 3 grams of fat, so it works perfect for the traditional Keto Diet. Along with this I will buy myself a rotisserie chicken and slowly pick through that throughout the week. Seems like a pretty cheap diet and I can treat myself to steak every once in a while. My nutritionist wants me to get my protein intake for the day before I move to vegetables, and then carbs which I will rarely be able to ever meet during the weight loss period. After surgery I am prepared for the possibility of not being able to consume Premier Protein anymore. A lot of people say dairy becomes hard to consume after surgery, in which case I think the clear, non dairy Isopure would be a great substitute. Popsicles made from protein drinks also sounds like a fabulous idea. I'd love any other suggestions anyone else may have, and am SUPER excited to get to meet some fellow April Sleever's. I'd love to keep in touch so we can all help each other on our journey!!

I know you are 5 foot 2 but at 216 pounds, you are not going to drop a ton of weight really fast. Stalls are normal. If you keep doing the same thing you will still lose. I stalled for a week or 2 at a time all the time during my weight loss. I still lost 172 pounds post op, not relying on protein shakes. I stalled every single time I had my period, and sometimes that came with a weight gain of 5 pounds. I had a period every 2 weeks for over a year. So imagine all the stalls I had. It is better to track your weight loss by the month, not the week, even if you weigh everyday. Monthly totals matte more than weekly totals. You can lose more weight faster with real food because your body burns calories just processing real food. When you have protein shakes you are giving your body immediately available calories it does not have to work for. Stalls are a part of the process get used to them.

My sleeve saved my life. Due to prostate cancer treatment drugs I had put on much weight. A cancer doctor told me the weight gain from the drugs was permanent, I would never get it off. I had to crawl up the stairs to the bedroom. I knew I didn't have long to live. My wife coerced me into a bariatric surgeon lecture. He told me he could take the weight off! He did. A year later I was 120 pounds lighter and running like an athlete. That was years ago. Today I am 38 pounds over goal. What happened? My sleeve always told me when to stop. I stopped listening. Distractions! TV, conversations at the table and in restaurants, nervousness, all dulled my sensitivity to the feeling my sleeve gave me when I'm full. I am on my way back down. Eating is a time of concentration again. I separate it from my other activities. I eat slow and savor my small portions. The sleeve is still talking but now I am listening. Sleeve talks, fat walks.

I have no experience with this, so I'm not sure if I can be helpful or not, as I am in the beginning of my journey. Your self worth is not your waist line or in the scales, I'm not telling you to accept this new weight gain though, you have worked hard and I'd be feeling the same way. Your keeping your exercise routine up and that's good, baby steps with that and you'll have to work you way back up. Hang in there!! and don't give up.

I think Covid has made the "rules" change a bit. From what I'm reading noone's surgery has been canceled due to weight gain lately and several people have posted that they were concerned and then given the go anyway. Best of luck!!

There is not a specific test. It is diagnosed according to symptoms. Here is some info that I pulled from this website. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) I hope it helps to answer some of your questions. PCOS effects so many areas in your life. It is about so much more than fertility. As I am learning to manage my symptoms, I am only now realizing the effect this has had on many aspects of my life. Best wishes to you. I hope this helps. What tests are used to diagnose polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)? There is no single test to diagnose PCOS. Your doctor will take a medical history, perform a physical exam, and possibly take some tests to rule out other causes of your symptoms. During the physical exam the doctor will want to measure your blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), and waist size. He or she also will check out the areas of increased hair growth, so try to allow the natural hair growth for a few days before the visit. Your doctor might want to do a pelvic exam to see if your ovaries are enlarged or swollen by the increased number of small cysts. A vaginal ultrasound also might be used to examine the ovaries for cysts and check out the endometrium, the lining of the uterus. The uterine lining may become thicker if your periods are not regular. You also might have blood taken to check your hormone levels and to measure glucose (sugar) levels What are the symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)? Not all women with PCOS share the same symptoms. These are some of the symptoms of PCOS: infrequent menstrual periods, no menstrual periods, and/or irregular bleeding infertility (not able to get pregnant) because of not ovulating increased hair growth on the face, chest, stomach, back, thumbs, or toes—a condition called hirsutism (HER-suh-tiz-um) ovarian cysts acne, oily skin, or dandruff weight gain or obesity, usually carrying extra weight around the waist insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes high cholesterol high blood pressure male-pattern baldness or thinning hair Patches of thickened and dark brown or black skin on the neck, arms, breasts, or thighs skin tags, or tiny excess flaps of skin in the armpits or neck area pelvic pain anxiety or depression due to appearance and/or infertility sleep apnea—excessive snoring and times when breathing stops while asleep

Has anyone else experienced weight gain once they started the soft foods/mushies phase? I'm still exercising regularly and eating according to the plan, but I've gain 2-3 pounds over the last few days, basically each day since I started the soft foods. Any suggestions?

I guess I need to make this clear, the surgery I had had nothing at all to do with the fact that I run, I have had a myriad of foot troubles since childhood including a congenital deformity that has caused me no end of misery. When I was pre and post surgery, I really couldn't do anything, walking, biking, swimming, yoga, pilates, anything, so that is a lof of what contributed to my weight gain. Running seems to get such a bad rap. I love running for a host of reasons, it's not just that it is one of the best ways to burn calories, but it requires no special equipment, you can do it pretty much anywhere or any time you'd like and it really does let you just zone out/get into the zone (your choice!) in a way that not many other things do. I think people criticize running as "injury inducing" out of habit, I actually think that my years of running helped me avoid injuries because it is a fantastic way to strengthen not only big muscles like quads, but all those little muscles in an around the ankles. Running has never been my only form of exercise, but it is one of my favorite forms. Yeah, I have a bike, but I live in a very high density/high traffic area so riding it is not that much fun, you spend the whole time worrying about cars. The trails near Chicago are very dangerous for women, unfortunately and even so, you'd have to pack your bike onto the car and drive some distance to get to one. I'm back to running again and to yoga and to pilates and to doing my usual 5 miles a day of walking (I'm a fanatical fitbit tracker!). The point of my post was to say how hard it is to start again, especially with the additional pounds, but I appreciate your response nonetheless!

That statistic, besides being an average, reflects bounce back weight gain which is pretty common, general diet complacency where after a couple of years we let things slide a bit, adjustments to the way you eat to better complement your lifestyle, general health, changes to medication, etc. It’s not the highest amount of weight you may lose but where you MAY end up at the three years point. It’s the same stat that says the a average weight loss at three years for sleeve is about 65% of the weight you have to lose. The most I lost was 43.8kgs (141%) . Then I settled at around 42kg (135%). Now at three years it’s 40 (129% - damn HRT & I had to up my protein intake.) Yes, my gain is minimal & I lost a lot more then the stats suggested but others do experience less loss & greater gains. Treat averages (stats) & BMIs for that matter as a guide only not a hard & fast rule. They just give you a bit of an idea of what might happen.

Dry crunchy food goes down so easily because it doesn't bind together. Foods like Pasta, potatoes, some veggies, egg, meat, etc. will clump together if compressed. Grab a handful of tortilla chips and squeeze them hard, they'll crumble. Now grab some pasta (cooked) and squeeze - several pieces will stick together. Which is why, with pasta, you have to grease it up to stop the starch from sticking together. But, when you eat it, that coating is dissolved and the pasta sticks together - especially as it's forced through a small hole. Same goes for potatoes, etc. If you can't keep solid food down for three days, chances are you're eating sliders to get some food in you - hence the weight gain. Keep a food diary and you'll see what you're eating and why you're gaining.

Great advice so far. I would just add, if you are on any medications, do a search online to see if any of them can cause weight gain or trouble losing weight. I say to check online rather than w/your doctor because my previous PCP put me on a BP medicine (when he knew I was trying to lose weight on WW) and did not tell me it could cause weight gain (or for me to stop losing weight). I plateaued for over 6 months on WW before I realized it was the med (Atenolol). It was a terrible terrible discouraging and frustrating time for me. I never take a medication anymore without fully researching it MYSELF. webmd.com is a good site for looking up medications, but there are plenty of other sites as well. Best of luck to you. I know how frustrating it is. Hang in there!

First and foremost, congrats on building such a great exercise program and on completing three half marathons! I have read that your restriction can change over time even if you don't get fills/unfills. It can be caused by tons of things - losing weight, gaining weight, stress, exercise, dehydration, etc. That's part of why I chose the band over the bypass. I wanted the ability to adjust down the road if I started having problems. As for your diet...your needs may be a little different than most band patients based on the amount of exercise you do. You might want to talk to a nutritionist, preferably one who works with athletes AND band patients. Your situation is somewhat unique...I don't know a lot of band patients who are running half marathons on a regular basis. I'm curious to hear about how the appointment goes...so keep us in the loop! :blushing:

I had a "secret lap band" in 2008 and it was REALLY hard not telling people. only my parents and husband knew of the surgery. The fact that everybody knows me for my hefty eating habits made me self conscious during holidays and dinners with friends and family. This made me try to be discrete and I would eat more than I should have with did not help me in the long run. My band slipped during my last pregnancy (less than 1 year post-op) and I've had reflux issues and weight gain. Now I weigh more than I did at 9 months pregnant and I'm preparing for a revision surgery to get the sleeve after the band comes out. I don't want to hide this surgery, I don't want to come up with excuses for not eating, not being hungry and actually even eating more than I should. Who cares what people say, EVEN IF IT YOUR MOTHER, we are adults and this is a medical decision for our health.

Hello All! Brian, As a fellow former Soda addict who has quit cold turkey, I would advise to just leave it alone!! Think about how it felt to be addicted to the soda...Think about how hard it was to quit. Also think about all the reasons (beside the weight gain) why soda is bad for your body. When I went a day without soda I felt so off...I'd get headaches and would be so moody...I SOOO don't miss that lol. I haven't had surgery yet but, I don't think I will try soda again. Ok now let me stop writting about this because Im starting to sound like im talking about crack lol. I hope I don't strike anyones nerves...Just wanted to give some soda advice.

This is where I laugh all the time. I could have died or ended up with some serious complications. Other than that, for me, this was absolutely the easy way out and thankfully this way existed. I mean why would you want to do it the hard way when there is an easier way. Losing weight is a full time job for us fatties and losing weight is not the kind of job I want. I am certain that in the next 5 months I will have to put some effort into losing the remaining weight until goal, but anything that will get me to where I need to be easier and faster...I will take it. I struggled long enough with the weight gain and losses - I was over it! So I paid for a scary, but excellent tool which makes it easier for me to lose weight. I don't really see this surgery as hard, but if anyone says to me...why did you take the easy way out...I would say to them...why wouldn't I? Struggling is overrated!

Very informative article. By Maureen Callahan Science is finding that these foods and drinks can help you shed pounds more easily and quickly Staying at a healthy weight during your fiftysomething years is a balancing act between calories consumed and burned. Chances are you already know that you need fewer calories as you age. So it’s trickier to prevent weight gain without making some efforts. Exercise is one good strategy, especially aerobic activities, like brisk walking, swimming, dancing and biking. But it also pays to take advantage of any and all foods that can burn fat, curb appetite and tweak your metabolism into overdrive. Here’s a look at five foods that do just that. 1. Dried Beans Foods rich in water-soluble Fiber, like kidney beans, chickpeas and black beans, not only help you feel full at meals but they may even target your stubborn spare tire. In a 2011 study, researchers noticed that for every 10 grams of soluble fiber eaten over the course of a day there was a corresponding 3.7 percent decrease in abdominal fat over a five-year period. “There is mounting evidence that eating more soluble fiber and increasing exercise reduces visceral or belly fat, although we still don’t know how it works,” said Dr. Kristen Hairston, assistant professor of internal medicine at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in North Carolina and lead author of the study. “Although the fiber-obesity relationship has been extensively studied, the relationship between fiber and specific fat deposits has not. Our study is valuable because it provides specific information on how dietary fiber, especially soluble fiber, may affect weight accumulation through abdominal fat deposits.” For more details on various types of fiber and weight loss, check out this article from WebMD. (MORE: The Fiftysomething Diet: Should You Be Juicing?) 2. Salmon One of the biggest food helpers on the path to weight loss is Protein -- preferably lean protein, which is better for the heart and overall health. The simple explanation is that a good dose takes longer to digest than carbohydrates, keeping you satisfied and therefore making you less likely to overeat between meals. It doesn’t hurt that the body burns more calories digesting Proteins than it does carbs. But the intriguing thing about fish as your protein source -- salmon, in particular -- is that preliminary reports suggest salmon plays a role in modulating insulin levels or insulin sensitivity. The key word here is preliminary. Still, two reports bear mentioning. In one 2009 study, scientists fed three groups of volunteers low-calorie diets: no seafood (the control group), lean white fish or salmon. Everyone lost weight, but the salmon eaters had lower fasting insulin levels, which is far better for overall health. Weight loss is one partial explanation, researchers say, but the compounds in salmon (perhaps Omega 3 fats like EPA and DHA) might also contribute to modulating insulin. In an unrelated 2011 study with animals, Canadian researchers found that a group fed salmon protein had significantly lower weight gains than groups eating other varieties of fish. What’s happening here is still part mystery, yet it could be a win-win. Choosing salmon as your lean protein source might not only help you lose weight, but also help prevent the insulin resistance that can lead to type 2 diabetes in later years. Wild salmon is leaner than farmed. It contains plenty of protein minus unhealthy fats. Three ounces of cooked wild salmon contains 155 calories, 22 grams of protein and just 7 grams of fat, most of it the heart-healthy omega 3 variety. (MORE: Boomer Bellies: Can Middle-Age Spread Be Avoided?) 3. Nuts Most dieters shy away from nuts due to their high fat content, but research suggests almonds, peanuts and other nuts offer special weight loss benefits. It all started with a 2001 landmark study from Harvard that found that participants following a Mediterranean-style diet that included nuts and peanuts lost greater amounts of weight and stuck with the diet longer than those on a different low-fat diet. (Harvard researchers now call the Mediterranean plan the best diet for losing weight.) Then a 2003 study in the International Journal of Obesity discovered that an almond-eating group of overweight volunteers (eating 85 grams per day or about 3 ounces) lost 62 percent more weight and 56 percent more body fat than a nut-free diet group eating the exact same number of calories but no nuts. Research also confirms that women who eat nuts have lower body mass indexes, or BMI, than women who eat little or no nuts. Speculation is that the fat and protein in nuts helps keep dieters full longer. Whatever the reason, all researchers say the key watchword is moderation -- say, a couple of small handfuls of nuts a day. Count on a handful being about one ounce of nuts: 157 pine nuts, 49 pistachios, 24 almonds, 20 walnut halves, 20 pecans, 20 hazelnuts, 18 cashews or 12 macadamia nuts. Keep in mind, you can nullify all health benefits if nuts are covered with chocolate, sugar or salt. 4. Green Tea We’ve mentioned before that green tea contains antioxidants (called polyphenols) that may fight cancer and lower cholesterol levels. But studies suggest it might be time to add fat burner -- or maybe we should say belly buster -- to the list of health benefits. Scientists seem to be zeroing in on a specific group of polyphenol compounds called catechins as the surprising force behind weight loss. A 2009 study from the Journal of Nutrition showed that a group of 132 overweight and obese adults doing moderate exercise for 180 minutes per week and drinking either a caffeinated beverage with green tea catechins or a control beverage with no catechins, had remarkably different weight-loss scenarios. At the end of 12 weeks, the exercisers drinking green tea with 625 milligrams of catechins lost more weight and more belly fat and had lower triglyceride levels than dieters drinking the catechin-free beverage. It’s unclear how green tea promotes weight loss, but researchers suspect it may have something to do with revving up fat burning in the hours after a meal. A small 2013 Brazilian study confirms these findings. Researchers there found that overweight and obese women drinking green tea and following a program of resistance training lost more body fat, lowered their waist circumference and showed more significant increases in their resting metabolic rate than women who drank a placebo or green tea but didn't exercise. Bottom line: To net the fat-burning efforts of green tea it appears you need to pair your tea sipping with exercise. (MORE: One Man's Diet: How I Lost Nearly 50 Pounds) 5. Water Call it the forgotten weight loss aid, but studies continue to confirm that good old zero-calorie H2O is one of the cheapest and most effective weight-loss aids on the planet. Will it work on a fiftysomething body? Definitely. A 12-week 2010 Virginia Tech Study divided a group of overweight adults age 55-75 into two groups. All participants ate the same amount of calories, but half the group was asked to drink two cups of water before each meal; the other half drank no water. "We found that over the course of 12 weeks, dieters who drank water before meals, three times per day, lost about 5 pounds more than dieters who did not increase their water intake,” said Brenda Davy, an associate professor in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech, senior author on the study. Davy says the exact mechanism responsible for weight loss is uncertain. She speculates it could be as simple as the fact that water fills up the stomach and makes you feel like eating less. In an earlier study, she and colleagues noticed that middle-aged and older adults who drank two cups of water before a meal ended up eating about 75-90 fewer calories. Another plus of choosing water as your beverage of choice before meals: There’s less room for calorie-rich options like soda, sugary cocktails or fruit juice. Link to story: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/28/how-to-lose-weight_n_2965765.html?view=print&comm_ref=false

I'm anti-iud, every one close and not so close to me have had really horrible side effects. I think the pills are super unreliable, but implanon(the implant) I haven't heard many negative things about it besides soreness after insertation and removal. And the patch The BC that I absolutely love is the NuvaRing. It's what I have been using since I was 15, due to possibly having pcos. I've had weight gain, but it was due to my thyroid and thyroid treatment. You put it in for 3 weeks and take it out for one week. Two weeks ago I had to take mine out but I bled for 8 days straight. Made me remember how it was when I was younger. Because my usual bleeding cycle is now two days when I use the ring.