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Question to all you "Veterans" out there, who have finished loosing the weight......talking Lap Band......Am I missing something??? I read from time to time where people say they are now on "Maintenance"....I'm curious, what does that mean to you??? I know, with all the diets I have tried,Maintenance started when after a period of extreme low calorie weight loss, say for 12 weeks, you move to the next, possibly the 3rd stage and increase your calories and foods you eat....start eating normally again? Like a re-entry phase. But with the band, what do you do??? get Fluid taken out of your band in order to start eating more??? Does your food choices, portion sizes change??? For me, this was never a diet...this was from the start, a learning experience...learning to eat differently, learning to give up some foods, take in new healthier foods,...high Protein, plenty of Water....etc, etc...all the things I needed to do to let the band work. Sprinkle that with increased physical activity and Presto! I changed my lifestyle.....and because of it my body reversed the weight gain and went in the opposite direction....it did not (and could not) stop when I said so, the weight loss continued until everything reached an "Equilibrium" Don't like the term, but everything returned to "Normal" Normal Eating, not in excess, and Normal weight...right where my body should be...and Normal exercise. This learning experience, this life change, is something I will keep for the rest of my life...it will not change (unless the band changes)... so therefore, where is the "Maintenance"? I don't see where or what I can do differently...or want to....(except explore better, healthier foods) Only thing I do for good band health is go full liquids for a few days, about every 6-8 weeks....but that's another issue I'm curious what others have done when they are finished loosing weight....

Ok, I'm totally confused by this.... I am doing most things right. I'm not perfect, but I log everything in my fitness pal and keep a good track on my diet and exercise. For example, I apparently did 9,100 steps yesterday on Fitbit. Which is weird because it was one of my lower activity days I felt. I ate ONLY about 849 calories yesterday. Totals 849 36 27 107 1,852 7 849 cals 36 carbs 27 fat 107 Protein 1852 sodium 7 sugar Besides sodium being higher than I would like, I did decent. Today is my second day on soft foods. Yesterday was my first. So this morning when I weighed myself, I gained .7 of a pound! Is this because of eating solid food and it weighing more? My bowel movements have been infrequent. Could that be in play as well? Like am I still on the right track? Is this just a minor setback? I am 3 weeks post op. So could it just be a plateau in combination with being blocked up inside? I feel bloated. Also, I've noticed I really don't get full. I stop willingly and am content, but never full. I wonder if I really have the sleeve sometimes. I'm usually hungry and I'm able to eat with no problems. I stop when I think I've eaten enough so that I keep on track. Is this normal? While I feel I have much more control over how much or little I eat post-op, I'm still usually hungry and really didn't get all the results that I thought I would have. I did lose about 50 pounds so far (30 day pre-op diet + 3 weeks post op). Thank you for your answers.

I have a lot of experience on this issue. I am currently 11 months out. I ended up in the hospital, impacted right after surgery. My first BM was 11 days out. The fact that you are passing gas is a great thing. That means your bowels are working. I was advised by my doctor to take Milk of Magnesia at first. Unfortunately that didn't work for me. I put miralax in my shake every morning. Some people have had success using the tea called "smooth move" which is caffeine free and can be found in most grocery stores. The best thing you can do is call your surgeon and follow their directions. Your intake right now is limited...later on you can implement more fiber. Don't let it go to long. Learn from my experience. Prior to gaining weight I had issues with constipation. When I developed Type 2 Diabetes with the weight gain and put in Metformin. Metformin helped me stay regular but the diabetes resolved itself immediately after surgery. I hope this helps you...it will all work out just keep that communication going.

Hi guys and welcome to you @@Kogo Great to hear from you Hey @@VSGmary great to hear your from Melbourne too How are you finding the sleeve? I was sleeved in Feb 2014 so been done just over a year and loving mine....I have hit a wall trying to budge under the 90kg but am hoping the gym will get things moving for me (after the initial muscle weight gain) I am down 50kg's so far and 60kg's since the beginning so I am very happy with my progress @@Bellarose stalls just happen and it won't last long.....probably just Fluid @@Kogo you have been through the hardest part......won't be long till your back on normal foods and feeling like your old self again...only lighter Who was your surgeon??

I have not seen an endocrinologist. In 2007 I had my gallbladder removed and weighed 240 pounds. Even though I was overweight, I still rode a bike 30 minutes a day, walked about a mile a day, and was very active. Since then, I have nearly doubled in weight. I'm having digestive issues as well as my bloid pressure so my doctor and I have been focused on that. I plan to bring up weight loss surgery on my next visit. I just started seeing this doctor so she is unaware of my rapid weight gain.

Thank you to everyone who posted about avoiding the carbs because whenever you try them, they lead to cravings for more. That's exactly what I needed to hear! I haven't tried them yet for fear of the slippery carb slope, and your posts inspire me to keep avoiding them. Thus far in maintenance, nuts, cheeses, and decadent meats have been my treats; and so far they have not led to weight gain. Thanks again for your really helpful advice!

I agree on changing things up. I was hardcore low-carb but found when I increased carbs, weight starting coming off. I'm not saying that's what you should do. Just saying trying something new might be worth a shot. You mention grazing. That's also where I got in trouble. The more I stick to regular meals, the better for me. My worst weight loss weeks correlated with lots of grazing. Hang in there. You will figure it out. It just takes time to understand your body. You might also discuss Wellbutrin with your doc. It's in a different class from Prozac, but generally has less weight gain (and for some actually has weight loss) compared to SSRIs like Prozac. If you're open to it, you might also consider talk therapy. You're going through major changes, and trying every tool available is not a bad idea. You're not alone. Many of us have been where you are.

I personally don't believe you can stretch your sleeve. But I do believe that eating the wrong foods and eating when I'm not hungry can lead to weight gain. After 2+ years, I still only eat about a cup and 1/2 of food per meal, but I can eat again within an hour. So it's up to me to recognize when I'm truly hungry and when I want to eat out of boredom or just because it will taste good. Here is the article about possibly stretching your sleeve: http://obesitycoverage.com/weight-loss-surgeries/gastric-sleeve/gastric-sleeve-will-my-stomach-stretch And here is the 5 day pouch test, which is sometimes used to get back to basics. http://www.5daypouchtest.com/plan/theplan.html

I'am currently in my 6 months of monitored diet. My first appointment was in February and I was 253 lbs (I'm 5'3), I went to my first consultation two weeks later and gained 2 lbs. At my second doctors appointment I weighed in at the same 255 lbs. My insurance doesn't say that if I gain weight, that I will be denied, but I've read things online that says people have heard if you gain weight you can get denied. The reason for the weight gain is stress. I recently got moved to the third shift, and I'm struggling getting my eating times switched around, sleep schedule adjusted, and had to file a sexual harassment claim against a co-worker. So, the stress is there and I go to food for "relief". I did tell my doctor this information, and she wrote it on the sheet that I recently moved to third shift, but idk. Now, I'm just so scared that I'll get denied because of a measly 2 lbs weight gain.... Please help! TIA!

Yes. I am 4 days post op and 10 pounds heavier than surgery day. I hope this is temporary, and the weight gain goes away quickly.

Some random thoughts... I desperately want to go to the gym. I was always athletic until injury and weight gain sidelined me. I'm soooo ready! I have several brands/flavors of Protein powder and ready made shakes I no longer like. They are downright disgusting now even though I loved them before. Going to try layering them for new flavors. I was a little down today over liquid Protein only though it was better in the afternoon. Working out would help that but that's still a no no. It snowed here today on the first full day of spring. Couldn't even go for a walk. This hellish winter needs to end NOW! I'm more than bored with the shakes although they are filling. The satiety just isn't there and I miss texture and chewing. My husband has been great but he keeps saying he doesn't understand why people feel I'm fat. He never thought I needed the sleeve but supports me. I love this and hate it at the same time. Why do both the pre-op and post-op diets for docs differ so much? I'm all about letting my sleeve heal and will follow the post-op diet to a t but some are allowed a lot of diversity after one week. I haven't had a full nights sleep since two nights before surgery. Going to try lukewarm chamomile tea tonight. Ok that's it. Just needed to get these thoughts down somewhere. Hope you all have had good days. Tomorrow is the start of a new week and I plan to make the most of it!

I went in asking to have the sleeve but was experience bad bout of acid reflux that day and she said she really did not recommend the sleeve because it can make the acid reflux worse. It took me a while to come around to the idea of bypass, but I am finally there. I really don't want to have a revision later either and plus I'm tired of the acid reflux and given bypass can essentially cure that, then I am ready to go with bypass. (PS - those I have known that had the revision was due to either reflux and/or weight gain.)

You know what I really love?....How skinny people believe that weight gain and weight loss is just a simple thing....eat less and exercise more. Period. So easy, right? Why didn't we think of that? Gheez! I told my niece....an exercise aholic and nutritionist, 3 mths after. Her first comment...I wish you would have told me before because I would not have let you have the surgery and I would have made you go to the gym. Really? I am 23 yrs older than you and in that 23 yrs I lost and gained around 100lbs. I understand the calorie in/calorie out thing sweetpea. This whole weight loss/gain thing is way more difficult than the 2+2=4 formula so many skinny people think they have figured out. 1+3 still equals 4, so does 5-1 and 8-4......doesn't matter, it all still equals 4. Our decision on how to get this weight off shouldn't make a difference to anyone. Its no ones business. Oh....and just wait. Rude people will continue to be rude and get pretty stinking good at it. I just heard....you had surgery 7 mths ago and you're still fat? Are you doing what your doctor told you? You should be skinny by now! That was my mother!!!!

Had my surgery 3/17 (4 days) got on the scale and gained weight. Is this common? Is it possible I've only had liquids?

Makes sense. Still sucks Well, the good news is the weight gain is temporary. And once you are working out regularly, even if your weight loss slows, your body composition will be changing. A scale that measures body fat percentage can be encouraging. Even if the percentage itself isn't highly accurate, it works for comparing against itself and you can still see it drop over time, even if your weight doesn't. Edit: Also be sure to take your measurements regularly!

Muscle weighs more than fat, so if you are building muscle your weight will slow down at first. Also, some antidepressants cause a little weight gain. Keep going! You're doing great!!!!

Yoyolifechange: You go girl, you can and should do this!! It is not the easy way out by a longshot. It is a LIFETIME commitment, and it is just a tool to help you achieve your goal. Show your husband the before and after photos from gastric sleeve....that should convince him as well. Your kids are old enough to pitch in....mine are 15 and 16, and they are completely on board, along with my husband, for my March 31st sleeve surgery. They see how my weight gain over the past eight years has changed me, my personality, my health....they want the old, thin, healthy me back!!! Show him the positives about this surgery; include him so he'll understand. I pray you are successful in your Quest for the you YOU want to be!!

Hi, my insurance is a 3 month wait. And there have been times that it was sooooo long! But now i have my last appointment April 10! It feels like it flew by (if that makes sense). Since I decided to get surgery in November, I went through a lot of different emotions, food funerals, weight gain, and acceptance. Looking back I think I really do need this time to prepare myself for this transition. I know what I want, and I am figuring out ways to deal with my emotional eating habits before the big day. I am hopeful it is going to help me tremendously. Take this time to focus on yourself and really deal with the issues you personally have with food. The time goes by faster than you think : ) good luck!

Yes, that's exactly what he thinks. He thinks he's given me all the necessary time to devote to getting myself in shape, so he doesn't understand why it's not my #1 priority in life. Getting in shape and looking good so I don't want to hide in the house all the time is "putting my marriage and him first". He views my whole weight gain as me not loving him enough to want to look good for him, to put us back on the path of an intimate relationship, etc. I understand that, but I've resisted doing anything "for him" because of the tough love approach he has taken as his way of "encouraging me". I would get a job, but I want the weight gone first. We have enough money that I can have the surgery, and I even have my own money with an advisor, I just hate doing this behind his back. And once I do it, I doubt he will respect me not wanting the world to know. He's all about having integrity and being honest. Ugh I can't stop crying about all this

I am literally at the end of my rope here and don't know what to do. I've gone to the seminars and scheduled my consultation appt in 2 weeks for sleeve surgery. I've not told anyone about this because "my weight" has become such a huge issue within my marriage and family. My husband views weight gain as a result of being weak and "giving up fighting for life". I've been my heaviest the past 2 years and they have been absolute misery. I've tried every diet known to man, only to plateau or loose so slowly that I end up giving up. I don't work outside the home so hubby thinks I should be "fighting for my family" everyday by going to the gym for 6 hours. Every morning I'm met with the "so whats your plan for exercise today?" instead of good morning or i love you. His nagging and negative comments about my weight have led to most of my unhappiness, which I counter balance by eating. I've tried and tried to talk to him about how he makes me feel, but he feels this is a black and white situation....I either want to loose the weight and will go full force with an exercise plan or I don't. Simple as that. If only, right? So secretly I've been going through the steps and researching the sleeve surgery, getting my thoughts together on when and how I can make it work and as usual, he asks me first thing this morning what my plan of attack was with exercise today. I reply "eliptical" to which he starts the normal lecture about how that's not enough, its not gonna give me the results I need, I've gotta go hard, he thinks I would've had more results by now......so I decide to broach the subject of "getting some drastic done" to which he boldly tells me gastric bypass is nothing but giving up, taking the easy way out, how will the kids react knowing their mother wouldn't fight for her family, fight for her marriage. I said I wasn't doing bypass and he asks "what then"? and I refused to tell him. I said I didn't trust him, obviously I don't have his support, and there was no reason for him to know. He asks "well than why are we together" and I'm left thinking I really don't know. I refuse to let him see me naked, we haven't made love in over a year because he makes me feel like a fat slob, so theres no way I'm down for giving myself to him in that way. I don't work, so I have no income of my own. Insurance won't pay for this, so I'm left wondering how I will pay for this without having to go to him and ask for the money. I was finally proud of myself for being selfish for once and I do view this as a total fight for my family and children. Im trying to think big picture and make a true lifestyle change and because it's not a "6hr in the gym" change HE wants, it's not worthwhile..... what to do? What to do?

I am little over 3 months now, so far doing well. SInce a week or two, I have started to feel hungry and I am scared of this feeling. I am afraid I may gain again, though I still eat more or less the same as I did a month ago. I can now understand what some of fellow sleevers have described to me, the fear of gaining weight, even when they are in perfect shape.

Starting weight 350 Weight at surgery 330 Surgery Date April 12, 2012 Reached 280 by August 2012 with one fill October 2012 had a second fill. I have remained at 280 up until July 2014. Started gaining weight July 2014 Current weight 313 Had my third fill March 17, 2015 At this point I feel like I am starting all over again. I admit that I feel off the "band" wagon and let my emotions and stress get the best of me. I didn't care about my eating and didn't exercise at all. I was at a point where I was eating like I didn't have a band. I could eat so much and was hungry all the time. After all the weight gain and my eating habits my doctor gave me a huge fill. I was filled with 5 cc of liquid and I already can feel it working. I am still on liquids only. I was allowed to eat a yogurt today and I could not eat the whole thing. I got so full. I am eating healthy again and working out, I feel great!!!!!! So now that I am back, Does anyone have any tips? Anyone been here before? My goal weight is two fold: I want to reach 250 by this fall, Then 200 by spring. I will be satisfied with 200 for my Lifetime!!!!

To regain some how about going back to tried and true yet healthier things. Fat and carbs are an awesome weight gaining combo. How about Protein drinks mixed with milk and Peanut Butter. Eat nuts a few times a day. Drink milk, eat some Pasta covered in cheese some times. Your type 2 diabetes is not improved by your weight loss? If I were you I'd get some medical tests done. You got to goal really fast by my standards. Really fast for a woman. I'd want to know why since good health is key.

Sorry to hear about your weight gain. It's a lifelong struggle for sure. What triggers you to eat? How do you think getting a second surgery is going to help with your head hunger?

Has anyone ever gained back there weight and went for a second vertical sleeve surgery? I ask because I am back to my old depressed self and I have gained back almost 50 lbs I cant seem to lose the weight im back to eating really restricted one week then fall off the wagon for three days then get back on it and my weight does not go down but 1 lbs at a time seems to increase.