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I am currently 4 months (16+ weeks) pregnant and had my sleeve in October 2013. (I was 14 months out and 3-4 months maintaining a 150lb loss when I got pregnant). I've had a very smooth and easy pregnancy. I had a Mirena IUD for years, had it removed 13 months post-op and got pregnant right away. I just had emergency gallbladder removal surgery as i had 4 gallbladder attacks (stones and blockages) in 3 weeks. I've always had stones since high school but a 150 lb weight loss and pregnancy exacerbated the condition. Baby and momma are both doing great. In reference to weight gain. I have actually lost about 7-8 lbs since I learned i was pregnant (i had gained 15 lbs from my absolute lightest). My doctor isn't concerned AT ALL. With constant nausea it is challenging for any pregnant woman to eat. I get constant bloodwork to ensure that me and my baby are getting the nutrients we need, which we are. No pregnant woman should be "eating for two". This is what puts women in the category of gaining too much weight during pregnancy. The priority is getting all the nutrients necessary, not eating bigger quantities. If anything i think my sleeve is letting me have a healthier pregnancy by not allowing me to gain too much weight, specifically fat. I'm sticking to my goal of 15-20 lbs weight gain by delivery. Meaning my weight gain will be primarily if not all baby and the extra blood, fluids, placenta etc. which should weigh around 15lbs. Please feel free to contact me with any questions. I am a first time mom and am 28 years old.

Good choice. You should never take on a major risk like this without really understanding it and how you would feel about it. I always tell people the risks are low, but if you have a complication, you have it 100%. It's not for everyone. I would not have had this surgery if I was at or under 200 pounds. I am surprised at people who have a BMI of under 30 and are having WLS of any kind to prevent further weight gain. In my opinion, that is a not a case of benefit outweighing risk. Good luck to you!

Hello April 1st Sleevers How is everyone doing???? Tomorrow is our first week Anniversary! I feel great lots of challenges getting all protein in! Yet, in the big picture I am so pleased with my decision! Today I finally hit my Pre-op day weight! GAINED 8 lbs With all those fluids!!!! Scary! Now ready to watch The scales start that downward movement! Hope everyone is doing well! Linda

It could be something more serious if you're gaining weight without a diet change. Perhaps a serious medical, hormonal or prescription issue? You said you moved too, maybe stress/depression; it plays a HUGE roll on weight gain/loss. Definitely be persistent in getting in touch with your doctors. I'm sorry they've been so difficult to deal with. Try to do an elimination diet, maybe the shakes aren't taking well to your body now after some time. I know when something works for me (even in a positive way) I find my body builds a tolerance for it and it never works the same way! I'm unsure if you can have two procedures entirely different from one another, but I'm sure it is possible. I can't imagine it being terribly healthy or wise though, I'm sure your surgeon would have a better understanding of your body.

So I met with my surgeon last week and am feeling better. My patient coordinator eased my fear of any weight gain. She said that it doesn't mean that Aetna will reject me. They just don't want to see huge amounts of weight gained. The important thing is meeting with my doctor every month. I also found out that my MD's scales are WRONG and not correct. They finally listened to me when they weighed me and it said I lost 65 lbs in a month! lol So they are ordering new scales and I will be weighed there after.

In the last 10 months I went from a size 6 to a size 17. I went from my goal weight of 135 up to 180. I redid the protein shakes like you do before the surgery and the 1st time I lost nothing, 2nd time I gained 4pounds. I am unable to vomit since my surgery in June 2012. I have a constant pain right below my sternum area. My diet did not change when I started gaining weight but I made it more strict. I get nauseated a lot but of course can't vomit and that pain increases terribly for up to 5 hours the longest. I moved to a different state about 8 months ago and I am still waiting for my records to get here so I can be seen. I have sent for them 4 times and my PCP lost them every time but this last time I asked them to be sent to the gastric office. Has anybody ever went from sleeve to bypass? Or has anyone had my issues? I am so frustrated and sad that this is happening to me. Any suggestions? Thanks Kari

Welcome janae. I was an OHSU sleeve patient so I can't help you except to say I've heard really good stuff about the kaiser Bariatric people. What are you looking to get done? If you are getting a sleeve, gaining it all back is going to be difficult. It's just that I get full so easily that I don't think I'll ever be able to gain it back because weight gain would have to happen so slowly that I would have plenty of time to correct. Today I had by far, the toughest workout I've done in decades. On my vacation I biked up mount lemon, about 27miles each way with over 7000 feet of elevation. I haven't had dinner yet, but trying my best to eat extra because of my workout in the sun, I'm still only at 1000 calories because that's all I can handle. Gaining weight would be difficult for me now, and I've been a yo yo dieter all my life, but now I don't see that as a possibility. This really isn't like a diet, it's harder to start but easier to maintain. And the physical restrictions really make it so you just live life a little differently, in a way that results in a skinnier you.

I have Aetna insurance and they require a 90 day supervised diet. I go tomorrow for my 3rd visit with the nutritionist. I am not having any luck on loosing or maintaining my weight. I have gained 3 pounds and I have been documenting in a journal daily my food and exercise. I am getting my daily water in and walking 30 minutes daily. The last couple of times I have seen the nutritionist she's only given my advise on portion control and chewing 20x per bite. She has never set any calorie ranges or other goals to work on to help me loose. However even with portion control and walking I am gaining, now I am terrified that Aetna choice POS II will deny me. My BMI is 45 and I have diabetes, high cholesterol, and PCOS. Can anybody tell me their similar experience with weight gain during 90day diet and insurance approval. Thank you.

I didn't notice any weight gain, but some do. You are building muscle so that could be it... It also messes with your Water balance and retention if you don't drink enough to make sure you do that. I do notice that the only time I get hungry post op is when I am putting in a lot of miles (my sister calls it the Rungry's) so keep tracking to make sure your calories and carbs are supporting your effort and not subconsciously creeping up!

Ok, lets clarify a few things....I DONT do this on a dly basis. I eat what I know I can handle/tolerate. It was Easter, with family. I did not want to drink water while they ate. I DO understand what vomiting does, I've been an RN for 23 yrs. Your condescending attitude is what irritates me. The no weight gained, was a joke. Did you really think I was serious about that?? And lastly, if that's not judging....you & I have 2 diff meanings to that term.

Weight gain with increased exercise intensity is pretty common. You will initially retain more water as your sore, tied muscles need it to repair. And, overall you may see a slow down in your rate of loss. My weight loss definitely slowed when I started running, but my body composition began to change pretty drastically. My body fat percentage is declining very steadily now that I am exercising more.

Started 14 day liquid diet weighing 300 lbs. went to the hospital on March 30th weighing 271. Now 7days post op and I have gained weight, I now weigh 285 pounds?!?!!! What is the deal!!?!!

consider all reasons for weight gain. It may just be fluid. Fall on the mercy of your surgeon. I am sure you are not the only patient who has gained. I did not gain I kept losing but it did take a year for me to meet all the requirements of my insurance company. I had to have a certain amount of visits to my doctor plus be cleared for surgery by a cardiologist, pulmonologist, endocrinologist, phsyc evaluation plus group sessions with other bariatric patients. Maybe your trip to the operation room will be a little longer than you thought but you can lose that Go on a liquid diet and mentally tell yourself your life depends on it because in the long run it does. Do the liquids for one week and see the results. Do protein shakes, broth, V8 juice, get balerina tea it works like you won't believe. YOU CAN DO THIS!!! I am not in Texas but that doesn't matter. YOU GO GIRL

When you’re rolled into the operating room for bariatric surgery, you pray that the procedure will help you overcome obesity and all the sad and difficult things about it. It’s the start of your weight loss journey, and you’re ready to leave all that behind. When you look back, the excess weight that was so very, very heavy becomes smaller and lighter. Eventually it disappears. Is that the end of your weight loss journey? No, it’s not. Or it hasn’t been for me. I'm still moving down the road of recovery. I still remember the bad stuff, the ridicule and humiliation and pain. It’s hard to dispose of because a lot of it is tied up in memories of incest, physical and verbal abuse. Some of that may have contributed to my overeating. It’s hard to put it all away in a cupboard and lock the door. For 20 years, I considered myself a victim of a dysfunctional family and of the siren call of food that helped numb the pain. Then the excess weight was gone, and it took me another three or so years to stop thinking of myself as a victim and start thinking of myself as a survivor. I was (and am) proud of myself for surviving the terrible, terrifying years of strife, weight gain, and self-pity. I was strong, not just because I’d been lifting weights at the gym but because I’d been exercising my free will. I was strong enough to make better choices in life and in eating. I was going to survive, damn it! More time passed. My weight went up and down as I dealt with physical and emotional troubles, but I was still a survivor. All the weight didn’t return to weigh me down. I became even stronger as I mastered those troubles – a stronger, more triumphant survivor. I was on top, right? Finally, I was wonderfully the victor over villains that took the form of people and problems. And more time passed. Hey, I’ve been on this journey for quite a while by now. I’m 8+ years out. I’m 8+ years older. I don’t want more change now. I hate change, don’t you? It’s scary, hard, painful and time-consuming. But I hate being obese even more than I hate change, so I persist. I’m nothing if not stubborn (and of pig-headed Scottish descent). One day I stepped on the scale and was so startled by the number that I stepped back, waited a minute, and stepped back on. The same number appeared. I had lost 120 pounds. Really, truly 120! I was almost half the weight I was before my surgery. I had gone from size 3X clothes made by Omar the Tentmaker to size XS clothing from an assortment of cute, skinny apparel brands. I could even wear some children’s size clothing and shoes. Finally, finally, I liked looking at my reflection in the mirror. I might even have become a bit vain, but I deserve that, don’t I? Don’t we all, after a lifetime of shame? Then a logical question popped into my mind: WHAT’S NEXT? It’s my million dollar question, and one day it might become yours. So, what do I do next, having survived over 50 unhappy, often miserable years of victimhood? Do I want to tread water for the rest of my time on this earth? Well, no. I’m a lousy swimmer, afraid of the water (which I’ll blame on two episodes of a family member’s attempts to drown me). I don’t after all want a long, straight road without surprises and amazing views and adorable size 6-1/2 shoes. I want my adorable feet on the ground and my head in the heavens. What do I want? I want to move from SURVIVING to THRIVING. I want to prosper and grow like an exotic, sweet-smelling hothouse flower (preferably one that never dies). I want to flourish, prosper and succeed: growing happier, healthier, and even more adorable. I will not let myself be dragged through the frailty and doom of old age. I will NOT. I will thrive. In fact, I am now thriving, even as we speak. It’s by far the sweetest reward I’ve ever had for all my hard work. I’ve earned it, and so have you. Nowadays I’m enjoying interesting new friendships, richer old friendships, various hobbies, pets, and countless activities I had even never dreamed of, never mind tried, before weight loss surgery. I actually enjoy exercise classes (as much for the social aspect as for the calorie burning), new ideas and adventures, hobbies, church, writing, laughing (I’ll give up exercise classes before I give up laughter), and of course the never-ending delight and occasional insanity of caring for two jobs, a house, nine dogs, two cats, and the 63-year-old child I call my husband. NEXT has arrived. It is here and now. I’m not a victim, I’m not just a survivor: I’m a THRIVER. Sometimes that’s quite a stretch for me, but almost always it’s interesting and challenging and even fun. What's next for you? Decades of weight maintenance and tolerance of the tiresome aspects of life? Happy medical appointments? Happy clothes shopping? Admiring glances from strangers? The spouse or partner or baby or job you’ve always wanted? I’ll tell you what’s next. Life is next. Live it as a thriver, not just a survivor. Celebrate and enjoy it. You may have to experiment, try on as many new activities as clothes, discarding some and keeping the bright, shiny gems. Those are the jewels in your crown. Wear that crown with pride. You’re a thriver, and don’t you ever forget it. Treasure your thriving, because it’s the best gift ever paid out to someone who’s worked as hard as you have. It’s so valuable that no one can name its price. It’s all yours, and don’t you ever forget it!

I had a 21 day pre op diet that was liquids only and my goodness was it HARD. I cried a few times and was really mad when people around me ate solid foods but I made the choice to eat the bad foods to cause the weight gain and this is a choice to fix it. I would not beat yourself up about it if you still have 2 weeks to go. I think you should speak to you NUT again and let them know you are having some terrible head hunger and texture cravings they might have some suggestions for you to either one emotionally work through it or two have something you can eat/drink that will help with those cravings. Good luck and stay strong we've all been there!

Just wondering if you or anyone doing the 5K's noticed weight gain? I was losing weight during the 1st and 2nd weeks, now I'm slowly gaining weight. I don't think I'm eating more food or making poor choices, I pretty much eat the same foods daily without much variation.

I feel for all of you who have ailing parents. I remember that time as being the hardest times of my life. Even when my husband died from an accident at age 36, watching my parents fade every time I saw them, just broke my heart so much. I kept their house in Arizona for 3 years even though I live in Oregon because I could not bear to part with their things and their house. All of us are dealing with the same thing, weight gain. We are all veterans though. It drives me nuts that I was 139 this morning and my clothes don't fit. How is 135 all that different from 139? It just makes no sense to me that I can barely button my jeans with a 4 lb. difference. I have a very large friend who is contemplating either gastric bypass or sleeve now that Medicare is finally paying for the sleeve. I am telling her of all the complications I know gastric bypass people face down the road. I know so many people who have gained all of their weight back, and deal with iron infusions, and hypoglycemia , who have had gastric bypass. You can definitely eat around the sleeve, but at least we are all healthy! I have to drive 3 hours next week to see a malpractice attorney. I really hope he can convince my first surgeon's insurance company that they need to pay my medical bills. He said he has gone against every malpractice insurance company any doctor can have. I really hope he can help me. I deleted a couple people from the group who have never posted. wish Brown and Sarsar and Kelly from Seattle would would check in!

I'm scheduled for April 7. I'm nervous wreck. I keep going back and forth about it. If I should have it done or I can lose the weight another way. I had the lap band 2 yrs. then it slipped. so here i am again. weight gained back plus 10 more, since Nov. of 2013. Im afraid I won't take care of myself as I schould and end up worse. I can focus on everyone else but me. I pray I make it thru and dont back out. thanks for listening oceanswaves

Hello fellow sleevers, I was sleeved march 15th 2012 and it was the best decision i made in my life. I lost weight and felt great about myself. Most of all i got pregnant and now have an angelic baby girl. After my pregnancy i gained weight and its now a year in and it's proving to be rather difficult to lose the weight. Currently i'm at 78 kilo's. Pre pregnancy i was at 72 and my goal weight in life is 60. Will i ever get there. Is there any advice any one who has been in my position can give me?

I had surgery 2 years ago May 26 i lost from 238 lbs to 183 lbs .I kept this weight for a long time now i have gained about 9 pounds and i am fighting so hard to get the pounds back off .i am 73 years old and my DR. says to walk but I live in southwest Florida and it gets a little to warm to walk . I am begining to get very discourage i have worked so hard for so long to keep this off .I am at a loss in what I should do . I hope that maybe the two of us can email encouragement to each other My friends just do not understand why i am so upset at so little weight gain but I know it be more if i don't get myself in control .

Up till 1 week ago i was steadily losing every day. At 4 weeks i was cleared for solids and has seen my weight go up! In 1 week i have put on almost 2lbs could this be because i am eating solids? I can 2 bites of chicken breast, cheese and yoghurt. I am getting in 1 litre of water. Think i will go back to protein shakes and water reluctantly to see if this pushes the scales back down. Did anybody else experience weight gain after solids?

My kids are older, in their early 20s and late teens. They have watched me struggle with weight all their lives. I have exercised on and off, been good and bad role model on and off, and really, really tried to just focus on 'healthy". They all have the propensity to gain weight, and my oldest daughter had a sleeve 6 months ago. So, while I think I'm a pretty phenomenal mother in spite of my failure to really teach healthy habits, you might not actually want advice from me! But I'm going to give you advice, anyway! I do think it is fine to weigh and measure food in front of your kids and read labels. I don't see how that is damaging to anyone. It's just a reality for some of us. It's not anything to hide or be ashamed of. By the nature of their genetic makeup, most of our children are probably predisposed to weight gain. Giving them some solid tools and actions they can mimic to control intake and weight is good. Portion control is critical to success in maintaining a healthy weight. I think making your time with your children active is a no brainer. Also, I think talking about and modeling weight management can only help your kids. Contrary to what so many people seem to think, they actually do listen to us. I suppose the trick is to not beat them over the head with it ad nauseum. Kind of like I do now.....talking about "I just want to lose 10 more pounds" over and over and over. Do as I say, not as I do

My kids are older. When I had my surgery, they were late teens/early 20s. My oldest is a slim, but not necessarily healthy habits person. My youngest is more prone to weight gain. I did enlist them in my transformation in the sense of i had a very hard time resisting certain foods so we came up with the "Carb drawer" which i simply don't open but has some foods they enjoy and want. They don't tend to shop with me or anything like that but they observe that I eat small portions and often on an appetizer sized plate. On the rare occasion that they prepare and serve up food, they always put mine on a small plate - I don't even ask. My youngest who is now 22 told me early on that he wanted to improve his eating habits and has lost weight too. (He was never obese, but is a big guy and has always been prone to some extra weight). I think my modeling of eating behavior has influenced him in a very positive way. My kids don't really like doing "active" stuff with me like they did when they were younger. However, last several years the mothers day tradition is going for a hike, not a big ole brunch. The oldest in particular hates hiking, but he does it in recognition of doing something that makes ME feel good. I don't think my exercise/activity habits have really reasonated with either of them - as they are young enough they only like to do fun stuff for exercise! I wouldn't do this with younger kids, but with them I do sometimes bring up my weight loss, how I am still working at maintaining it etc. I do it because they both live with me again and I find that touching on my struggles improves our relationship. Example, if i am going through a time of feeling a bit more emotional around food - I might mention it so they know I am going through something. IT makes them more aware of my possible behavior and consequences - not that they need to do anything. The thing that shocked them both was bringing out my before picture after I had been at goal for awhile. It was deeply upsetting to them because they didn't remember how I looked. It wasn't just the fat, it was that you could see my physical pain and misery in that picture and I think they felt terrible that they didn't even remember it. i told them it was okay to not remember it, but it was a reminder of how much I have changed. That led to the conversation about how much I have changed in terms of interactions with them and others - all very positive I might add!

Choose one day of the week for weigh day and stick to it. You are stressing over .2 and .4 weight gain. Think about it, is it really that significant? Unless you are weighing naked the weight difference could be your clothing. If you weigh after your shower it could be wet hair. It could be your scale. I hope you can stop stressing. Stress makes you make poor choices that leads to weight gain.