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Weight gain on reduced calorie intake (defecit) is almost always fluids. If you went from being sick, to now being well-hydrated, any weight gain will be a reflection of rehydration.

Been on liquids only for 2 weeks... No scale movement... Went the wrong way since surgery! I'm afraid this won't work for me. Starving and not losing sucks

Donna, I know you don't know me but I just want to tell you how proud I am of you! Your honesty is inspirational. My weight gain in the past was ALWAYS tied to emotional pain, family problems, and a lack of self esteem. I am slowly beginning to heal, and I know that you will too.

Thanks for sharing your story. I so understand how you are feeling right now. This has been an extremely LONG process. After I completed my 6months of NUT visits(Sept2015), I called his office and could not get in to see him for 2 months! During this time I found out that I actually needed an additional NUT visit (my insurance requires a certain number of days from start to finish and (I think mine was 180) I had just under. I verified this with my dietician and had to make an additional appointment. That was TOO CLOSE...I would have been HEATED if, after 2 months of waiting, the office submitted my paperwork and it was denied by insurance. Luckily, a co-worker who was also going through the process gave me the heads up. This was their oversight and I was mad enough to make an appointment with the my New Self Program at Des Peres. I paid a mandatory 75.00 program fee, signed a medical release for my records to be sent from Dr. Eagon's office and met with Dr. Ricks. He was extremely nice but then a few things happened... 1. At this point I had not decided between the bypass or sleeve. I had been holding out to receive a medical opinion from Dr. Eagon. Dr. Ricks told me he only did the lapband and sleeve and when I asked him why he told me that the malpractice insurance was too high. 2. When the program coordinator called to tell me that my insurance would cover bariactric surgery (i already knew it did but I assume every program routinely checks) she told me that I have an out of pocket max deductable of 1500.00 and would have to pay this amount subtracting any copays made thus far in the year to Des Peres. 3. They wanted me to have an EGD which was another 150.00 deductible. These were the major deciding factors for me...I decided to be patient and just wait. Dr. Eagon attended Harvard Medical School and did his fellowship at Mayo Clinic. He is the only WU/BJH bariactric surgeon and does many of the most complex surgeries that most other surgeons can't or won't. I would argue that he is the top in the St. Louis area. I work for WU so I may be biased but, I have also spoke to many of his patients who say he is worth the wait!!! After the disappointment and shock wears off you will feel better. During the seminar, I remember someone asked him a question regarding gaining and losing weight pre-surgery and he said that he would cancel surgery if there was weight gain. As I can recall it was a specific question and not something included in the presentation. It sounds like the issue of weight gain was not addressed during your seminar. Im so sorry and feel your pain. Loose the weight quick and get on the schedule fast!!!

Wow, why are you only eating 500 calories? That is not enough so I agree that you should up your calories a little more. At least to 1000. Or, instead of listening to us...could you ask your nutritionist? But, like others have mentioned...this temporary plateau or weight gain during the first few weeks after surgery is normal! Dont stress. It happened to most of us:)

I have stayed the same weight, within 1-2 pounds for about 2 years now without counting calories or really even watching what I eat much. I think the key for me has been getting a tiny fill about once a year. I can feel when it's time and don't wait for a big weight gain before I go get that tiny "maintenance fill." Of course it may not be that easy for everyone......I don't have hormone issues (hysterectomy at young age). As far as things being back to normal...... it's is a new normal. Life in general is back to normal, but my eating will never be the way it was before the band. I have not eaten a full plate of food since July of 2009. This is my normal now.

Just a quick warning about the board. There are MANY very sincere people here with great insight and experience. However, there are a few who seems to have a chicken little view of things. You really have to view things over time to be able to discern the difference, so be patient and try to get a good feel for those that really want to help and those that are looking for playmates to their pity party. Here is my opinion: The band works for some and not others. If your expectation is that the band is a tool as part of a larger solution, then you have a GREAT chance of success. However, if you are looking for a fix that will allow long term weight loss with no change of the emotional and psychological reasons for your weight gain, than your chance of success is MUCH lower. Also, be very sure that you have a decent basic health and fitness education. If you are not aware that eating a large Big Mac value meal (with an extra Big Mac just to be sure) is a bad thing, then you are not ready for the band. Keep in mind, even the band doesn't prohibit me from grazing all day on really bad things. For me, the band is the best tool for me to control my portion size and assist me in making better choices for the limited space I have.

Those are a great thing for us Amanda! Imagine yourself looking at those cute glass dishes pre-sleeve, those would never look like a "serving" of food to you then, right? Me either! I have to say I love my sleeve. MissAMcCoy: A lot of people experience the dreaded "stall" in the beginning due to their bodies recognizing the severe calorie deficit and therefore shutting off the ability to burn stored fat as a survival mechanism. This is a long proven theory in the fitness world when it comes to metabolism stimulation- this is why fitness models and body builders insist you MUST eat every 3 hours and have the proper amount of calories each day to burn the fat while keeping the muscle. It's a very high Protein low carb diet. The same rule applies here, calories in actually make your metabolism work harder- and too many calories in cause weight gain. It's a tricky game for people with normal sized stomachs, but we all have a sleeve advantage here- so don't be afraid you're eating too much, and get your protein is my advice. At 500 calories a day, your body is bound to eventually recognize that it's starving and slow down on the weight loss. I find the Protein shakes to be amazing for weight loss and getting my needed healthy calories in from protein. Nutritionally, I find iSatori's Eat Smart Protein powder to be the best out there- they do not promote on here like other brands, but if you read the nutrition on them vs. any other product, they win in the protein/fiber category and have virtually no sugar. Your sleeve is pretty strong, I doubt you can stretch it with mere eating to fullness at this point. If that were the case, people would be "popping stitches" all over the place and this would be an incredibly risky procedure.

Thank you Lulugirl. I am having the same issue, was self pay in Mexico because of a low bmi, and now on the same boat. I was told I need to gain about 15 lbs. I cannot afford to do self pay at this time or I would go do it. Maybe my friend the accountant can loan me the money, lol....It is very frustrating, he is correct, I need to eat right and excercise, so why can't I do it??? Seems like the harder I try, the more I set myself up for failure. I think I'm depressed because of the weight gain. I refuse to give up, someday I will Killl the fat monster. I wish you luck and advice you to do something about the weight gain now, it is 30 lbs, do not wait until it is 60 like me. Stay in touch

Combination of poor eating habits, lack of exercise, compounded by thryroid disorder. This past year I have not been able to walk more than 5 minutes due to arthritis os.my lower back, which has added to weight gain. I did not begin to have a weight problem until my mid twenties, the same time I was diagnosed with Hashimotos thyroiditis. Sent from my SM-G930T using BariatricPal mobile app

I've had two unfills and never experienced any of those side effects. As far as "rapid weight gain", that only happens if you start eating more than you should be. The band itself doesn't make you lose weight or gain weight. The band simply allows you to be satisfied on less food for longer periods of time. Whether you lose or gain weight depends entirely on how much you eat.

Greetings. This has not been a wonderful week for me. I started a new job and have made some really crappy food/eating choices and as a result have gained 1 lb. My first non weight loss week since starting this journey. A combination of lack of protien rich foods and eating more than three times a day is *not* good! Also, I pb'd last night for the first time since getting the band. It was weird, the milk I'd just sipped to get it to go down was still cold. Gross. So I'm about to get up and start my exercise regimine, which up until now has been ignored. My dog will be so excited. It's a beautiful time of year here in Richmond and absolutely zero reason why I should not go walk/jog around. I'm extremely optimistic that next week will be a loss and Monday after the holiday I have an appointment for my second fill! Warm wishes to you all.

What kind of protein shakes are you drinking? You have to be very careful because some of them are formulated for weight gain.

Well, my surgery took place despite my weight gain. I literally STARVED myself for the final 3 days of my pre-op diet, drinking almost zero -- this resulted in a net weight loss. Surgery happened on Tuesday, September 20 and I am now BANDED. The surgery went off fairly well - I was able to get up and about walking on my own - pain was not too bad. A bit of discomfort, especially in the incision where the port is located. The only problem I had was with the oral pain meds -- when I swallowed the meds hit the band and just STUCK there. Burned like mad. It just wasn't worth taking them - so I decided to stick with just ice bags and forgo the pain meds. Now the real work truly begins -- I'm hoping that this "tool" will help me to FINALLY get control of my weight. I've been overweight to obese my entire 56 years - and am really ready to be over it. Luck go all others as they begin this journey.

The first week went great. Lost 13 pounds. Went from 311 to 299. Then the second week started and I was up a pound. I thought no big deal, probably Water retention or something. Then the next day I was up another. And the next, another. I am on day 12 and am at 303. Making it look like I've only lost 8 pounds. What in the world is going on? I have stuck to plan. 2 meals of 1-2 slimfast shakes, 1 meal of lean Protein and non starchy vegetables. I also get "free foods" of cucumber, pickle, sf Popsicles. I have been meeting goal of 64 oz of Fluid a day. I don't know what is wrong and it's making me sad and frustrated.

I had a baby a yr ago and lost 30lbs after that. Then I went and got th IUD I was fine the first few months. I have lost my sex drive my additude is off the charts and I gained weight. I have read boards with a lot of people gaining weight from it. I just don't want it to interfer with my band, but I guess I will stick with it until after surgery. I may just try another form of BC becuase this has got to go I don't like the mood swings and lost of sex drive. Then the weight gain I know is from the IUD becuase I still eat the same way.

I am in urgent need of a mentor/support buddy. I am several years post op. I was getting comfortable with my size about 18 months after surgery. I really don't know what happened after that. I know that I got super busy with work. I got laid off. I have a gazillion responsibilities with the kids. I have four children, one about to start college, one sophomore, one 8th grader, and one in elementary. I became a PTA president ( dumb, I know ). I did TONS of volunteer work until I started my new job. Somewhere in the span of these past 6 years, I have been a faithful wife of a deputy who has had four episodes of unstable angina, and has undergone 4 PTCAs and has had 7 stents placed. That was a bit distracting. Long story short, life happened. I know that life happens to everyone, but I let myself forget that I'm a lap-band patient. Sure, I was used to everyone commenting on how little I ate, but I could usually explain all that away. I ate what I wanted when I wanted, and I didn't bat an eye. I really didn't notice any difference in my life. But I had a reality check recently when I couldn't fit into one of my old scrub tops. What the hell??? I realized that for the last 5 months, I really have packed on some weight. I hadn't weighed myself in over a year. Since I got down to 175, I was pretty satisfied, so I just stopped doing it. I went in to work and weighed myself, and I found that my new weight is 202! I thought about things. I've been having severe reflux, to the point of waking up choking on my own vomit (essentially). I gained 27 pounds in 5 months. I was just a hot mess. Clearly, I know better. So I FINALLY went in and saw by surgeon. He remarked how proud he was because he hadn't seen me since 2008, but I was at the same weight as I was in 2008. I had to explain to him that I had gotten down to 175, and had a recent issue with weight gain. I realized, as I drove home yesterday, that I really did fool myself into thinking my relationship with food had changed. And really, it has in some ways, but I guess not in a good way. I developed a passion for the culinary arts about two years after surgery, and have become quite the food snob. I make my own EVERYTHING from scratch. I use fresh ingredients. I use (GASP!) butter, half and half, and real, honest-to-goodness eggs. I know! I drink great wine. I know! I'm a crazy lady. I thought that since my portions were so small, it wasn't a big deal for me to enjoy good food. Clearly, 27 pounds later, I was wrong. My relationship with food is just as unhealthy as ever. I just eat better food. My doctor said that the reflux and tenderness around my port was due to the weight gain. He unfilled me and placed me on a liquid diet for 2 weeks. I haven't even made it one full week, and I've eaten 3 meals. They were not unhealthy at all ( for example: grilled tilapia and steamed veggies when we went out for the boss' birthday yesterday), but I had ZERO self control. Why didn't I stick with Water? Because I suck at this! I WANT to be healthy. I WANT to be sexy. I WANT to feel comfortable in my own skin. But I have come to realize that I SUCK at self control. I would love to lean on my husband for support, but 1) he doesn't understand this struggle, and 2) he's hardly ever home. Seriously. I feel like (and get confused with being) a single mom the majority of the time. So please, is there anyone out there who gets me? I need your help. I need to share email addresses, etc. I need help from someone. I have been a good girl today. I've only had coffee with Splenda and ff non-dairy creamer, 1 Atkins shake, and chicken broth. I'm good right now. But who knows about tomorrow?

Cookie, I would seek medical attention. The doctor's office has seen many people struggle with the band. This band is not a cure all so don't feel bad that you have gained some weight back. Let them check your band out and give you a clean bill of health. It may not be the band at all. I would stay with Clear liquids until your doctor appointment. My doctor said that if something gets stuck, stop eating and wait until your next meal to eat again. However, I would go to the doctor if I were you. Who cares if they give you a hard time about the weight gain? We all make mistakes. Please get there and let them help resolve your problem. That way you can get back on track!

You and I are very close in weight and I know how you feel about the difference between the 130's and 140's. I just had plastic surgery this week and from the Fluid, I went from 135 to 142 and had myself a little mini meltdown when I got on the scale the day after surgery. Fortunately, a few days later all of the fluid is gone and I'm back to where I was, but I would love to be down to 130 and I completely understand that even though 142 is small, you feel so much hotter at 130. So..you can get off the weight gaining track! Today is Monday, December 1 which is like the perfect day to start a diet, at least until Christmas. I would really like to know out 5 pounds before Christmas pictures so I eliminated all sweets for the next 3 weeks. Think about all the cute clothes you can wear when you're 10 pounds thinner, and go get on that treadmill.

I am NOT telling my boss.......... HE FREAKED when I took time off for my consult and kept asking me if I had an interview.... so when I told him I needed time off for appointments (tomorrow and next MOnday) he looked at me cockeyed (thinking I had 2nd and 3rd interviews) so I broke down and told him that I was meeting with a nutritionist.. (NOT telling him about the psych) OMG... it has been nonstop talking about NUTRITION!!! and my latest weight gain..... We are in a small department with adjoining offices so our only coworkers are each other.. he is 60+ and he truly thinks of me as a daughter..... HE IS NOT SUBTLE and basically a loveable pain in the ass..... I am taking PTO days to cover my time. I have told exactly ONE person here because she is a good friend, but I'm already regretting that one too. because she is now making excuses why SHE CANT DO IT.... (I told her today... HEY its not for everyone, but it IS FOR ME, I'm not trying to talk you into it) Good luck with whatever you decide.............. (OH and I will most likely tell people freely AFTER I have lost weight.. because I am HR and I truly want people to know they have the option with our insurance)

So I already got the appr9val from my insurance company for the surgery but since I have had my depo shit and gained like 10 pounds this month so very nervous to go for my final weight in. Any one experience this. I haven't changed my diet I don't know what's going on Sent from my VS880PP using the BariatricPal App

I was type 2 diabetes and was on the full dose of metformin, as my weight decreased so did my need for metformin, however there is research , not sure where from but if u stop metformin too early it can lead to some weight gain, metformin does support your liver functions and help with some weight loss so dont be too hasty to stop it completely unless your sugar levels deem it. My suagr is normalised now completely but iam still taking 1 metformin of a night and in a few months i shall stop that one too, i could have stopped over a year ago but chose not to and have been happy with my weight loss and my doctors support. U can overload on protein as a diabetic and i would stick to whatever it is recommended u have it is normally around 45 to 60 grm per day spread over the day. Your body has difficulty metabolising more than around 25 to 30 grms of protein per session and the best time to get your protein working for you is after at least 45 mins work out within an hour. Too much protein will metaboilise into glucogen and then get stored as fat. I still eat low carb/low sugar /low fat even tho i am on maintenance now and feel fine. Always discuss with your doctor reducing medication and the amount of nutrients they say you should have .. good luck to u all to get rid of nasty diabetes but i hope u are all on your way to kicking out your lives forever

I got the Lapband in July 2009. Before I got the band I had a severe mental block with "calorie counting," making healthy choices, exercise, etc. Like many people who get weight loss surgery, I felt like I needed to take drastic measures to protect me from myself. No matter how much I wanted to be thin, no matter how depressed my fat made me feel, I could not stop eating. I thought the Lapband was the thing that was going to protect me from myself. And it did, for a while. From the time I got my band I lost about 10 pounds per month. I felt like a weight was lifted off of my shoulders because no matter what food I chose to eat, I could not over eat. I could eat cake if I wanted, but just a little. I could go out to a restaurant and order anything I wanted without feeling scrutiny from the crowd. And I did not have to worry about whether I was making a bad choice or not because I knew I was still going to lose weight. The band was my ever present friend, protecting me from myself. It was wonderful, and effortless. The world around me began to treat me differently. I had been thin before, so I knew what it felt like to get positive attention from others regarding my looks. It felt good. It also felt good for my boyfriend who was now the object of envy, whereas before he was the object of curiousity. "Why is he with her? He is so cute, she has gained so much weight," etc. I went from a 242 starting weight to 220, 210, 200, 190, 180, 170, 160, 150, 140, 135 ---- It was amazing. Every time I stepped on the scale I had lost weight. Then, in November 2010, I kept losing and couldn't stop. I went from 135 to 125 then 118....which is too thin for my height. I looked like a skeleton. I thought that my band was too tight and needed to be loosened. However, when I couldn't get an appointment with my band doctor soon enough, I went to the emergency room. They did some blood work and found that my potassium was dangerously low and I was at risk for a heart attack. The doctor also did an x-ray and told me that my band had slipped down and was strangling my stomach. They told me that they had to do emergency surgery that day to remove it. But first they had to get my potassium high enough so that I would survive the surgery. NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!. Don't take away my security blanket! Don't take away my insurance policy and leave me to my own devices! Especially, don't take it away from me today without any warning. I cried. The doctor took out the lapband. He was NOT a fan of the lap band claiming that he had to take out about 4-6 per week that slipped. The moment they took out the lapband a sheet of anxiety hit me like a ton of bricks. I began to think that I was going to gain weight uncontrollably. The anxiety about about food and gaining weight caused me to eat. I felt anxious about eating, so I began to eat. I tried in vain to take some preventative measures, like join weight watchers. But my uncontrollable will to eat was stronger than my willpower to stop it. I immediately began gaining weight. Which was 'ok' at first because I was underweight to begin with.But then I began to gain more and more. I went from underweight, to normal weight, to overweight. Now I think I am on the brink of obese again, If I have not already reached that point. This all happened in a span of 7 months. I am now at 210 and don't know where I am going to go from here. The doctor told me that I had to wait for one full year for my stomach to heal enough to have any other kind of surgery. I can never have the band again because of what it did to my stomach. Now my option is the sleeve. At first I just wished they could put me in a coma and wake me when it was time to have the surgery. I did not feel that I could sustain the horrors of weight gain. At about 192 I started therapy for my disordered eating and began really learning a lot. I had been in therapy before, but never with someone who specialized in disordered eating. I am learning that I am not truly alone. Many, many people use food as the mechanism to deal with any emotion they may feel (or may try not to feel). I am learning that for myself, and for other people, food is a constant in my life. It is always there for me when I need it, It never lets me down. I eat when I feel happy, eat when I feel sad, eat when I feel anxious, eat as a response to almost any emotion. At this point I believe that when I am able to have the sleeve in October 2011, I will still want it as my back up plan to protect me from myself. But I hope at that point to have a different perspective and possibly the ability to show different responses to feelings and emotions other than eating.

@@JupiterinVirgo thank you for your post I just got home from the hospital and I am feeling pretty good. I am sore but my surgery was just 2 days ago. I really need this to work for me...I can't wait until I start seeing weight loss instead of my usual weight gain. I am feeling hopeful so I think thats a good start

Ohh good to hear that weight gain after you start to eat mushers is normal!! I was down 28 lbs between pre op and post op then started my mushies and gained 4 lbs!! I was so darn mad!! Lol I blamed it on getting sick with upper resp crap and being unable to continue with my mile walk each day! My option was walk or breath! Lol