Search the Community

That is a difficult question to respond to. I mean, I didn't start putting on a lot of weight until after I finished college. I seriously considered WLS in 2007, when I weighed about 260-270lbs. I made it through three months of the 6 month liquid diet program, and I was ready to kill someone. I was advised by my therapist to stop, because the 600 cal/day program affected my job and relationships. Since then, I put on another 100 lbs before I decided to move forward with WLS. Nothing I tried helped me to lose weight. However, if I would've been introduced to someone like the trainer I started working with before I actually had surgery back in 2007, I'm convinced I would not have needed the surgery to begin with. Working out with my trainer, I lost about 40 lbs in less than 2 months before I even went in for surgery. However, there were still things I needed to go through emotionally before I was ready to fix myself. I spent about 5 years in therapy before I was in the right mind-set. So, I guess to answer this question: on the one level, if I had proper trainer work in my early 20s, I could've avoided the massive weight gain all together. However, I still had things to work on to stop the patterns that caused me to gain the weight I gained. ... Also, if I would not have gone on birth control in college, I probably would have avoided quite a bit of the weight gain.

I particularly related to the post on the level of parents wanting us to be "better". Felt to me like " not good enough". I know they tried the best they knew... But telling a 13 yr old to diet and getting diet pills set up years of adult up and down weight gain and loss. I look at old family pics and damn. I was good enough... Just didn't get the message from anyone. Sigh

So, I just had my blood tests and MRSA swabs in advance of surgery next week (1st March) and decided that I would detail my journey here. Partly because I want to remember to come back on here when things get tough and I need a reminder of why I am doing this, and partly because I want to have a record of what I’m doing anyway, and I figure that having one that others can read, contribute to and, maybe, learn from (if I ever get to the point of having any lessons to teach) is as good a way as any. So, my background… I’m 29, living in London. I’ve always been overweight, ever since I was a kid, but my weight has fluctuated a lot. Generally, when I move to a new place, it falls, until I discover all the good places to eat, when it rises again. About five years ago I managed to get down to about 200lbs, but since then have crept steadily up and now I am about 290lbs. I think as I get a bit older, I’m realising a bit more the impact my weight is having on me. Over the last couple of years – walking has become more of a chore, for the first time, tying a seatbelt on an airplane has become a problem, I feel less and less energy and more strain on my joints. And I simply don’t want that to get worse. I haven’t felt any motivation to lose weight since that last time in 2009, and I had to admit to myself that I never will be able to do this on my own. So I have a choice. Continue to put on weight. Face into my thirtieth birthday at nearly 300lbs, maybe my 35th at 400lbs – who knows. And continue to see my body become more and more unable to cope. Or I stop. I take action, accept that I’m not going to be able to do it alone and take measures that will force me into a position of being healthier. It’s also driven by the fact that I want to have kids. As I’m gay, the most likely way for that is to adopt, but I’m pretty sure that I wouldn’t be approved as an adopter at my current weight. And even if I was, I don’t think I could be a good dad as I just wouldn’t have the energy to be rolling around playing with a kid and giving them the attention they deserve. I decided to self-fund for the operation. I have been diagnosed with sleep Apnoea (in December) through the NHS, and since that’s technically a comorbidity, my GP did say that I could be put on the NHS waiting list. But faced with a wait of two years or more, I decided it would be better to just get it done privately. So I met with my surgeon, Ameet Patel, before Christmas. I had hoped to have it done before Christmas, but I was due to start a new job on the 12th, and he said that if I had the operation on the 3rd or 4th January, he wouldn’t recommend me going to work on the 12th. So I decided to wait until Easter when I could take some time off work. As it turned out, there were no available dates at Easter, and leaving it later brings me too close to a trip I have planned at the end of May. So I ended up plumping for 1st March. I’ve had no pre-op diet to follow, so I’ve probably been a bit naughty in what I’ve been eating since I found out my date. I know I shouldn’t but I have been seeing these last weeks as an opportunity for one last hurrah with food. Biggest Fears I was sent my consent form in the post, and seeing the risks in black and white terrified me – especially where it just bluntly lists ‘Death’ as a risk. Even though I’ve talked them through with Dr Patel, and even though I know the risks are very low, they feel very real now. I’ve started to think about things I need to do in case the worst happens, and again, I know it’s a very low risk, but my family live in a different country, so I’m making sure my partner has their number in case he needs to call them etc. The reality of that is kinda scary. I’m also scared of complications – and not knowing whether pain is normal or a sign of something more serious. But my biggest fear is that I just won’t be able to be happy when I can’t eat what I want to. I keep telling myself that being able to go shopping for clothes or go for a run or exercise without wanting to collapse will all make up for any feeling of deprivation – and that I won’t feel that deprived because I just won’t have the same appetite that I have now. But it is probably my biggest fear that I will spend the rest of my life regretting what I’ve done. To combat that I just keep reminding myself that the price of having that total freedom to eat what I want is looking and feeling like I do now – I plan to keep a photo diary of my journey to remind myself that however much I regret not being able to eat what I want when I want, it will be nothing compared to the regret I would have if I had the opportunity to get healthy but turned it down. My Hopes This is the bit that keeps me going. My main hope – what I desperately hope – is that the tales I’ve heard of your tastes changing are true. I would dearly love to wake up from the operation and be revolted by the foods I used to love and suddenly find love for the foods I used to hate. If only I could like vegetables and low fat foods more! My biggest hope is that my tastes will change, so that when I can’t pig out on chips it won’t matter to me because I don’t want to pig out on chips. The same applies – big time – to Diet Coke. I’ve never been one for full fat soft drinks, I find them syrupy. But I love diet coke, and I am really dreading not being able to have it. If I could wake up and not desire it, that would be super. I’m not claiming these hopes are realistic. More generally – like everyone – I hope this works. My thirtieth birthday is in October and I have a vision of how I will look and feel for it. I hope that vision becomes a reality. I also hope that my relationship withstands the change. My partner has been incredibly supportive. I think one of the reasons I put on weight is that he loved me and found me attractive when we first met and I was overweight (but still, I was only about 200lbs) – I think my mind went ‘yay, you found someone who’s attracted to you even when you’re fat…eat away’. But my weight gain has made me feel less attractive and so has impacted on our relationship. As I say, he’s been really supportive and I just hope that the changes don’t result in any changes to how either of us feels about the other. So, having rattled on for too long, let the journey begin…

I have been wondering the same thing! I called Oxford and they said as long as it is a motivated attempt of weight loss for 6-months and your doctor or nutritionist is noting your progress, you should be fine. I even asked if I gained weight would I get denied and they said no. I also asked my nutritionist and she said the same thing and has never experienced any authorization issues with Oxford. That makes me feel better, but I’m still terrified of getting denied! I had 4 nutritionist appts already…the first two I lost about 5 pounds altogether and the third one I gained a pound (after the holidays). I actually have my fifth appt tonight and I know I gained some weight back UGH! I’m just nervous that all this weight gain is going to get me denied and I’ll have to do this whole process again!

Hello all, I am new to the forum, but I am about 1 year and 2 months post surgery. It's been a rough road from the start was hospitalized a week after surgery for dehydration and C. Diff. Since then I have had multiple visits to the the office and ER for adjustments and pain. We can't seem to find a happy medium to keep my band filled to, it's either too tight or not enough restriction. In the last month I have had to have fluid removed and of course so goes the weight gain. Just frustrated, i do not regret the surgery because the weight loss has been awesome but I feel like I am stuck in a rut. I pretty religiously cook food from skinnytaste.com and the skinnytaste cook book, but going out proves the be the hardest from food options to cocktails and beer, makes me feel like I am missing out! I need to get back on track. Any suggestions!!!

The first time I stepped on the scale and had a 3 pound weight gain after grazing on candy bars, Cookies, cake etc the night before, I freaked. I had lost total control that evening and I was very afraid the next day that I would slip back to my old pre-surgery habits. So I refocused on documenting everything I eat on MyFitnessPal and I make sure I saved calories in my plan for a Special K Protein meal bar in the evening while I'm watching TV. Special K bars aren't considered high protein (only 10 grams of protein in 170 calories), but they come in great flavors and don't have the Protein Bar after-taste that many high Protein Bars have. So I've convinced myself that a Special K bar is like my evening candy bar.

I just got off the phone with UHC and they basically said I can't be denied because of weight gain/loss or staying the same. That said I do think that I've been eating "bad" because subconsciously I might be feeling like this is my last "hurrah" if that makes sense. Kinda like going crazy before you go to prison. Like food jail. Isn't that terrible? I definitely wasn't doing it purposely so who knows. I do have to put my foot down though and start preparing. Thanks Ladies!!!

From what my insurance coordinator told me, Oxford/UHC are not big sticklers to weight loss. They just want to see the 6 months of nut visits. Try not to gain obviously but it's not a big deal if you do. I had periods of weight gain also but I got approved

JerseyCityGal - First off congrats! that's so exciting. Seems we are about the same stats and I love your progress! Couple questions if you don't mind... 1. Did UHC Oxford mention anything about your progress as far as weight loss? I've gained some weight because I had the flu and basically sat around for days on end.... 2. My Bariatric facility seems to think right after my 6th visit with the NUT we can submit my paperwork my only concern with that is that's only 5 months total on the "motivated attempt" I'm wondering if that's true... I'm so worried about the weight gain it's driving me crazy!! Any encouragement will help. Thanks.

Yeah, that would be my thought as well. Unlike RNY, the "stretchy" part of the stomach (the fundus) is removed with sleeve. So it really can't stretch all that much. I'm sure it stretches SOME and I am sure some of our vets can attest to that, but I'm pretty sure it's never going to stretch to the point of me eating a whole large pizza in one sitting again... I suspect that a lot of the weight gain experienced years out is due to eating around the sleeve and those patients could just as easily eat around this band.

I started this journey back in September. I've kept a spreadsheet of all the HOOPS to jump through and I'm ALMOST there!! Like most of you, I really questioned this decision. I have always struggled with my weight, and have gained and lost 30 - 40 pounds every year for the past 20 years...but this time in 2014 I gained 85 pounds and was still climbing. I became a fitness instructor in 2002 and know how to keep healthy and fit, but since this last year of unprecedented weight gain and new and scary health consequences deleloping, it's clear I need a more permanent solution than sheer will power and head knowledge. I've got every size in my closet from an 8 to a 20 and I've worn them all just about every 18 months or so. Ugh. ANYWAY! I'm on the home stretch and have every reason to believe my surgery will be scheduled for March. I'm so excited! I'm so tired of being like those little plastic animals that expand to 10 times their size in Water, and shrink back down when they dry out.

I never ate off plan until I passed goal. I followed every instruction my doctor gave me. I have gotten 60g+ Protein and 64oz+ Water every day. (Except when I was so nauseous from a medication I was on for a C. diff infection that I couldn't even swallow my own spit...which of course led to dehydration and IV fluids at which point my doctor and I found an alternative solution to cure the infection. In other words, make sure you drink!). I take my Vitamins every day. I get my bloodwork done as recommended and adjust supplements accordingly. I am active everyday. I lost over 100% of my excess weight and have kept it off for 7 months. Sure, now I eat deserts and carbs and drink alcohol, but I'm in maintenance and I'm allowed anything and everything in moderation. Any weight gain I observe I immediately check by going back to strict protein and veggies. Dear God: Please make me as perfect as Kindle,

I'd love to hear how I screwed up. I never ate off plan until I passed goal. I followed every instruction my doctor gave me. I have gotten 60g+ Protein and 64oz+ Water every day. (Except when I was so nauseous from a medication I was on for a C. diff infection that I couldn't even swallow my own spit...which of course led to dehydration and IV fluids at which point my doctor and I found an alternative solution to cure the infection. In other words, make sure you drink!). I take my Vitamins every day. I get my bloodwork done as recommended and adjust supplements accordingly. I am active everyday. I lost over 100% of my excess weight and have kept it off for 7 months. Sure, now I eat deserts and carbs and drink alcohol, but I'm in maintenance and I'm allowed anything and everything in moderation. Any weight gain I observe I immediately check by going back to strict protein and veggies. Again, where is my non compliance? But if I was, then good for me for being so successful despite all my cheating! My point to the OP is that this is a lifetime commitment and she struggled with just 7 days. food addiction is serious business and everyone needs to get whatever help they can to overcome it. Like @@VSGAnn2014 said, not everyone is successful with this tool and not taking responsibility for your choices and trying to validate cheating makes for a slippery slope towards failure. I consider myself a rockstar of WLS, and I'm on here to pay it forward. I'm a big proponent of everyone making a plan that works for them. My way is not the only way, just one of the many ways that works. But not being able to say no to sweets is generally not one of the plans that works.

So all my paperwork has been submitted to insurance last Friday 2/13. I'm nervous bc I weighed 284 at the initial weigh -in and at my last appointment on Friday I weighed in at 293. I've worked so hard this entire time to try to get the weight back to the original 284 but it's been such a struggle, the lowest I've gotten is 290. I've cut out carbs, eaten high protein, and drank about 120 oz of water a day. I've also been working out every day but he weight won't budge. Will I get denied because of this? I've worked so hard and my doctors know it too.

hello. i had a sleeve surgery last jan...23rd jan 2014. then on 13th oct 2014 I had knee transplant ,both knees. now I notice I am slowly gaining weight. I am walking a lot.eating Proteins, having Water. I am scared at this gain.... does anyone have a similar experience.

As you get further out, you might find you do a little better with dry food. But I totally had to laugh about it the rules being like being Catholic. So true! As a born and bred Catholic, that's probably why the rules and following them feel a little non-negotiable to me! I try to follow them best I can, and I feel so guilty when I don't. I guess if breaking the rules equals sinning, then the subsequent weight gain from breaking rules equals the purgatory/hell from sinning, lol! Don't know about you, but morbid obesity felt like hell on earth, to me. I really hated it.

I had lap band in February 2011. My work insurance didn't cover it. But I wasn25 and learned my moms covered it. So she added me thankfully. Then during surgery my surgeon aimed a little high and hit my lung cavity. So I had a collapsed lung and had to stay over night. Then because the port was hitting my rib that had to be moved. Thankfully that was under insurance as I lost my parents insurance when I turned 26 in sept. In December things started going down hill with an emergency unfill. I was ver fortunate because my doctors wife was available. Then again in the spring it happened. My dr and his wife were out of town on a weekend but they were coming home that night and I met them at the hospital for an unfil. Fast forward. After a July vacation I came back in for a fill. He couldn't get the port to accept a fill. Kept hearing a metallic sound and bent the needle. He fiddled around and poked me (I gave him permission to keep trying) for at least an hour. Next week I had a swallow test and reg X-rays and the band had slipped and the port flipped. I was the first port flip he had ever had. I had to pay over 7k out of pocket to have it removed. I could have kept it but didn't want to pay to fix then pay to remove if something else happened. I had lost 100lbs since I signed up for the first seminar. So I think that was 70 lbs with band counting the week after surgery. I was miserable and didn't realize how bad it was. Contortion tricks were used to try to get unstuck or throw up. Hanging over the end of the sofa to remove whatever plugged the whole to my stomach. It was horrible and I didn't see how bad till I had relief. I also gained back all but 30-40 lbs. I had pneumonia that required daily outpatient treatment. All my doctors said that all the antibiotics caused such a weight gain. Been to thyroid specialist as I have all the symptoms only to be compared to a cow receiving antibiotics to gain weight. Needless To say 2012 sucked. I just noticed in January that my insurance no longer had the big red exclusion for bariatric surgery and emailed. My company is literally 500 feet from my old hospital but since they aren't blue certified I will be going two hours away. I wish you luck in getting your surgery. Thankfully the sleeve seems to not have the long term complications that the band has. I have submitted my paperwork to the hospital to get the first appointment. My email from bcbsil didn't list the 6 month diet so crossing my fingers.

I was in the same boat. But I had the revision surgery. When the band slips, it doesn't fix itself. And waiting too long can cause more damage. I suffered from heartburn and acid reflux. The morning after surgery.....all gone. Mind you, I had to start all over from 1cc, which caused weight gain. And it's takes more fills to feel any affects, but I'm on the upswing. My advice, if your being given medical advice, take it. They are the professionals. Slipped bands are so dangerous. Don't take chances.

I showed a weight gain of 2 lbs with my nutritionist today at 8am and at 1:00pm a 3 lb loss at my primary doc. Obviously someone's scale isn't right!

Jaysleever, yep, we all have to do what works best for us (and what our bariatric team recommends, ESPECIALLY during the first year when we're establishing our new habits). I agree with Babbs though. Eating after 6pm is not going to cause weight gain (unless you have a specific metabollic medical condition). And if you're prone to nightmares, you are probably better off not eating after 6. Usually just a light snack wouldn't cause nightmares--more like a very heavy meal. I personally enjoy my evening snack. I learned that by adjusting my eating times/caloric intake throughout the day, I can include that snack, guilt free. It's just another element of pleasure to my WLS adventure. I love not having to punish myself or feel guilty about anything related to my consumption of food. I think that's mainly because it's a lot easier now to make much healthier choices. I also happen to personally believe that "set points" can be changed and are not necessarily what we are doomed to be stuck with. Also, some people are particularly sensitive to weight gain in their consumption of the starchy carbs (I unfortunately am one of them). But once you know that about yourself there are so many other choices that work just as well, if not better! If you KNOW you have adjusted your eating habits and food choices the absolute BEST you can, maybe it is time to make the decision that your weight is where your body is comfortable. But if you KNOW there are some adjustments you can make to eat CLEANER maybe it's worth a try to see if you get get closer to that 30 waist. Congrats on your progress as of now!

I learned that we are not supposed to eat before bed at least 2 hours before bed anyway. I decided to not eat after dinner. why should i get in the habit of eating when im not hungry. If i eat after dinner than its head hunger not physical hunger. Night eating contributes to weight gain. after dinner around 8pm I have a glass of Metamucil and Water mixed. I always monitor for constipation that seems to be a big one (no pun intended) among those who had weight loss surgery. To minimal amounts of food and the body cannot excrete correctly. So fruit plenty of water and veggies are the order of the day. The Metamucil helps with satiety. I am over one year out and reached goal but just as the surgeon warned I will gain 15 % back after one year to one and a half years and he was right. I am a comfortable 34 waist up from a 32 waist. So I am monitoring my weight gain very carefully. Basically for one year all I ate was meat and veggies no carbs except dairy carbs. and i was down to 140lbs and a comfortable 32 waist. But I guess that was too ambitious for my body so now i weigh 160lbs my surgery weight was 296lbs. I had my surgery on Nov 11 2013. I had surgery in NYC Manhattan at st lukes roosevelt hospital. So now i added carbs like rice potatoe, mac and cheese or a flavored egg noodles in sauce but small amounts just for flavor really but my meal consists mainly of meat and veggies. sometimes a piece of fruit immediately following the meal as a desert. I eat like a thin person eats. I bought a bicycle for when the weather gets warmer out. and i belong to a gym but havent been going, I really want to be a comfortable 30 waist but my body may not be the set point and it might be unrealistic of me. I see the surgeon every 6 months for 2 years then once a year after that to do routine blood work to check for Vitamin deficiencies.

I gained about 12 pounds in the 6 month "Physician assisted" weight loss attempt. My surgeon doesn't submit paperwork till you've completed this step. I was close as far as qualifying BMI wise at 36 (35 with co-morbidities was the cut off), when I started the 6 months so losing before I qualified wasn't an option, AND my PCP had just started me on a statin, which can cause weight gain. No one cared. What my surgeon DID care about was AFTER I was submitted I did have to lose 10 pounds for liver shrink within the 4 weeks before surgery. I dropped 13.

I gained about 12 pounds in the 6 month "Physician assisted" weight loss attempt. My surgeon doesn't submit paperwork till you've completed this step. I was close as far as qualifying BMI wise at 36 (35 with co-morbidities was the cut off), when I started the 6 months so losing before I qualified wasn't an option, AND my PCP had just started me on a statin, which can cause weight gain. No one cared. What my surgeon DID care about was AFTER I was submitted I did have to lose 10 pounds for liver shrink within the 4 weeks before surgery. I dropped 13.

im at 6 months pregnant and already gained 55 pounds i had 7 cc in my band and had 3 cc taken out at 8 weeks for the babies safety i stress every day about my weight gain because no matter what i eat i gain. i dont plan to breast feed but want to know how long i should wait to have my first fill after the babies born? i was at 150 pounds before getting pregnant and now at 205

I'm sorry this happened to you. I have no use for health care providers who are mean. I don't pay people to be mean to me. I pay them to do their jobs in an honest and professional way. Did she at least evaluate the weight gain in light of your medical history or take time to really study your food diary and evaluate it seriously?