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Steph I hope you will be able to eat at least something again soon I did not realize you were into big brother that is my fav reality tv show I watch the big brother after dark even I like ryan he is my fav so far jill I am proud of you no weight gain you must be doing something right Okay guys I am almost embarssed to tell this story but here goes so last night I decided I was going to start working out again so I set my alarm one hr early to get started I have not worked out since I picked my son up at the hospital 4 months ago well needless to say I lasted 5 mins on the stepper and I was worn out talk about out of shape I used to do over one hr on that thing I guess baby steps work

Steph- if I am filled to a spot where I lose weight I cannot even eat 1/2 cup at a time. You will get used to it. As far as the gas, try some Gas X before bed. Also may need to increase the fiber, which could cause more gas intially but got make sure things are moving thru there well. If you get constipated, it really backs things up I have noticed Update on me- pg is going well, except i have a horrid rash and I am allergic to my own progesterone!!!!!!!!!!!! Unbelieveable! Sometimes it just makes me cry! Oh well onlt 28 more weeks to go! My weight has stayed the same even with my unfill. I thought I had gained a pound but as of this morning I am still at my lowest weight ever! YEAH Made it thru 1st trimester (almost) and no weight gain. So how much do you think I will gain on this cruise coming up in may??? LOL I will probably make up for it there! Jill

Hi to all February banders! My surgery was February 24. Down 82 pounds so far! 25 to go. Weight loss lately is only a pound a week at this stage of my journey. Even had a few weeks where no weight loss but no weight gain either. Challenge will be the winter months. Do a lot more sitting around in the evenings. A big incentive is my daughter is getting married in August so want to be looking good for that. My Dr. Says I am doing great, hope it continues

Stay away! I know it's hard but it's worth it. I was a coke junkie too but it has no place in my new life. Even diet coke has been linked to weight gain by causing cravings. Now no one wants that mess! Good luck girlfriend! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using the BariatricPal App

Hey there Bermy: I am no longer banded since Dec 2005. I lost my band to erosion. So the weight gain is from no band and eating like a pig. I am struggling every day with the head demons but eventually I WILL WIN!!! Now back to the regularly scheduled program,... I made a comment that the title was harsh. I didn't mean the content was harsh. I tthink the content is "spot on" as Gordon Ramsey would say. He was the chef from "Hell's Kitchen". Anyway, the only thing I am ever so gradually getting around to saying is that in the rush to post sometimes we all need to think about how things are worded. I think we should all do our research. As Photonut commented about the thread I started "Be your OWN patient advocate" it gives the researcher some tools and questions to ask. But then again even doing the research you can NEVER answer all the questions or you might not be ready to hear the answers at that time. Life is a learning process and sometimes you just gotta roll with it. Tricia isn't asking us to conform to her way of thinking. I believe that she is just frustrated with the repeat questions at times. But let me clarify that she is NOT frustrated at the person but at the situation. Then again I don't wanna put words in her mouth either. That is my perception of the situation.

Thank you!!!! The way my doctor has me set up is, one week clear liquids, second and third week full liquids, meaning all kinds of broths, protein shakes and drinkable yogurts. Then from there I go straight to solids.. So was not sure about the weight gain, and how it will affect my tummy...I guess time will tell!!!

No who are banded. I am just curious what a normal weight gain should be with someone who has undergone the procedure. My OB would like for me to eventually get another slight defill but I think I have gained properly as of now....That's why I was asking Sorry I know I'm new to the board so I don't want to sound pushy just noticed a few people read my post so was curious if maybe people were hesitant to reply due to me being new here

Well I'm 28 weeks now and am up to 135.5 lbs so getting close to 20lbs I've gained. I find I reach for Soups and yogurts and things that go down easily. I can eat an english muffin in the am with a HOT coffee and its fine. Anything really hot helps me get my foods down easily. If I try to take a few sips of Water that is cold I will throw that up. My OB thinks by 39 weeks when they plan to induce me I should be around the 145-150 mark so 35lb weight gain in total. I have a HUGE love affair with sweets that's def not helping me along with the weight gain....lol....Get's even worse when I'm breastfeeding...... Fritzy1980.......Do find you have restriction at all? Are there any foods you can't get down?

Erin, I wouldn't take it personally that your aunt does not ask you to go riding. I must admit, there are very few people that are allowed to get on my horses. I have to know how they ride and feel like they will be safe on my horses and that my horse will be safe in their care. Some of us are very protective of our horses - it's not personal. I had a friend that wanted to sit in my saddle while it was on the horse. I reluctantly agreed to avoid being rude. She landed on the back with a THUD - my horse was not impressed. I honestly didn't think I was going to be able to get her off fast enough to avoid her being injured. hmarko, I'm so sorry for your loss. I also lost a horse a couple of years ago, just before the weight gain started. It's like losing a part of us.

FYI - while I may be nationally ranked in my age group in my sport - I also have a resting metabolic rate of 1100 cal per day to avoid weight gain (had the study done a few weeks ago - my resting heart rate is generally about 45). I generally do not eat what I burn, but do work out to burn about 800-2000 calories a day - So on those days I boost my protein and carb consumption usually with supplemental shakes pre or post workout. However, on Saturday, I did fence a tournament and burned about 3000 calories. I had takeout chinese for dinner that night - but ordered shrimp with broccoli and ate 4 shrimp and a bunch of broccoli over about 1/4 cup of brown rice. Certainly whether to eat out or not is up to you. I eat out at least one a week. I've learned to manage - it has taken time. Best wishes to you.

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

Wishes - the book that they gave me is called Snoring and sleep Apnea: Sleep Well, Feel Better - here is an Amazon link to it if it is okay to include outside links http://www.amazon.com/Snoring-Sleep-Apnea-Well-Better/dp/1932603263/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1309664094&sr=1-1 It has a lot of great information if like myself, are not familiar with slepp apnea and its treatment. I always thought I just liked naps lol. As it turns out sleep apnea can actually be a contributing factor in weight gain - it affects our organs, if we are not getting good rest, enough oxygen - we are slowly killling ourselves - I swear even after one night on the cpap even my aching joints felt better. I have an appointment next week to get my own machine for use at home. I would definitely look into having a sleep study, my insurance (BCBSIL) requires it - folks who have apnea are much likely to have not so great htings happen during surgery.

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.

And what a puzzle it is. It's so overwhelming that I'm still trying to put it all together in a way that makes sense to me, much less to my peers who I'm asking for opinions! First of all, BMI is a ratio. Had I achieved the rather unambitious goal weight set for me (variously 18#-20# from my current weight) then I wouldn't have been obese anymore by BMI standards. That part is simple. {As for the Tummy Tuck or Abdominoplasty -To those who have not have yet had cosmetic surgery: I did have an Abdominoplasty. This surgery is very different from weight loss surgery or lipo. The traditional abdominoplasty is not a weight loss procedure - it does do not ultimately affect your scale weight either way. In fact after a Tummy Tuck, there is often an initial weight gain, due to Fluid retention and swelling. (I already factored that in with my latest weight issues.) I was told I was close enough to goal to be within range to have a this done and I knew with some effort, I could have it covered at 100%. So I was happy to seize that opportunity for a much needed procedure. I sought 4 different plastic surgery consultations and my WLS surgeon's advice before I had it and it was definitely the right move. But never ever think a Tummy Tuck makes will mean significant weight loss. It's a wonderfully complex procedure but it changes how your body contours, but although it might change your posture or even how your clothes fit, it may not change your weight. If you see Fatty meat on a butchers scale (ewwww ), you may see that the marbled fat doesn't weigh as much as the meat's muscle and bone, and Abdominoplasty surgery primarily removes skin and it's associated flab and repairs muscles if needed. Just an FYI! :straight } I'm trying to clarify all the parts of the story because it seems a bit disjointed with the way I outlined it. Chalk that up to emotion. But I have to wait until my medical records are in my possession to put ALL the missing pieces together. There is much more to this for me to work through and the more information I have, the clearer I will be on what's really going on here. So as I really do appreciate everyone's comments, I will take some of this very much appreciated and very much solicited advice under counsel. I posted here first because I needed to hear what other Bandster patients thought about how I should proceed next. I've been very grateful especially to those who contacted me privately and attempted to help me work through it. Yes, I had a very visceral, heartfelt emotional response to the letter (which just seeing a certified letter, much less one from a surgeon, nearly scared me silly :cry ) and I think my post reflected that. I was upset (still am) overwrought (no longer that) and shocked. Now I'm justifiably upset but I am trying to look at my options. So, for now, I should remove my post before I make a bad situation even worse. It's bad now, so I should try to have enough presence of mind to not inflame things further or seem unclear, especially when I lack all the true details here. I am crafting a measured written response to the office, but of course I have accepted his decision. I do accept that this is as much as I could have done (to whoever said that, I do realize they have no idea what I've gone through - hopefully I can expand on that later also) so such hold on to your hats. Once I get my medical records released I think I'll have a very relevant and thought provoking story to tell my Banded (and de-Banded) Bandster peers. No one likes to admit they made a mistake. I am no different. I fully believed the Band could take me to an acceptable level of weight loss. Maybe it still can but it's a bit discouraging to hear your medical professional say you've come to the end of your road. (Again, those were his words.) If he thinks I should be satisfied to have come from where I was to where I am now, then he really didn't ever clearly hear my goals, aims, and wishes. And if it sounds like belly-aching to say I did NOT undertake the time, money, effort and blood, sweat, and tears just to end up still obese - then a belly-acher I am. My goal was to get to a healthy, and satisfactory weight. This isn't it. Again as I promised, I will first attempt to get the records released, get them analyzed by another professional and then know how to proceed next. Then hopefully I'll be in a position to put ALL the pieces together and then more clearly outline the details on why my journey with this surgeon, is being cut short. No matter what my (former) surgeon thinks, I am not definitely through trying to succeed at this. Again thanks.

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!!!

Julie, Don't be too hard on yourself about the weight gain. With all that you are going through, it would be unusual if you didn't gain weight -- it is a very stressful time. Also, please let us know what your DH finds out today. You have been in our prayers.

BTB I can be happy with that and would be. My problem is that over and over I read "one week out and 15 lbs down" or " 30 lbs my forst month" i expected to lose 1-3 lbs a week after i got rolling. I also expected a really amazing first month though. Almost all of my loss came on the first week then nothing at all for a week. That was basically my food funeral weight gain amount. It's a bummer for me but I will muddle through it. I have no choice. RJsBeginning, goirish78 and gamergirl thank you all.

Grace,It's good to see your post. One thing you have to remember is that we who are older and I am 73 will not lose as fast as those who are younger and a bit more active. Other things that affect weight loss are the medications that you are on and a lower metbolism. I had my surgery about a week before you and I have only lost 15 lbs. While it is frustrating I am okay with that and will be patient. It is a process. I do I'm eating between 6 and 700 calories a day which is where my doctors want me to be. I make sure that I get the prescribed amount of protein as well as fluids. My stomach definitely tells me when it's full and that's when I stop.So that is the advantage of your tool.Although you and your sister are both losing weight right now here's what's going to be different for you. You have a lifelong tool now a smaller stomach that's gonna help you maintain proper portions to lose your weight and to maintain your ideal weight. We have all experienced the ups and downs of weight loss and weight gain because the body tries to throw everything at us to regaining that weight (Hunger changing metabolism at cetera) And that's what your sister may go through again and you won't if you follow The rules. The surgery Lowers your setpoint For your body weight. Hang in there and try not to get too discouraged. And stay safe through the corona virus.

Hello I just recently created an account in hopes of receiving some help and advice from gastric sleeve patients (It took me a lot of courage to decide to do this though). I hope I am asking in the right place though hehe. Anyways, I have had my vsg on August 4th 2014 at the age of 17 and so far I am over 80 pounds down! My sw was 220lbs and I am hoping to be near 102-110 pounds (I am only 4 foot 10). I have a few questions so bear with me please I have had my vsg in a different country than in the one I currently live in so I do not have anyone to kinda follow up with. I was also given a nutrition plan for the first 6 months only(although it was quite vague). Right now, I am currently struggling with a lot of grazing. I have never been the one to actually eat a proper meal before my surgery and I grazed instead, but right now I am grazing non stop through the day especially on sweet things. Sadly, this has resulted in me in stalling for a few months and then putting on 2 pounds and i decided to seek advice before I gain more. Also, my family eats completely different things than I do, so I am literally left on my own to figure it out and it is hard to cook and such since I was busy with my last year of high school and I will be starting university soon. I looked up online and a lot of surgeons or nutritionists say no snacking while others encourage it. I believe that maybe having 1-2 planned Snacks would help since I am awake for a long period of time and if I try only sticking to 3 meals I feel like gnawing my own arm hehe I am sticking to Protein but sometimes I am just overwhelmed or bored because I keep eating the same things everyday (I do love chicken though!). I was hoping if someone could share their food choices/meal plans with me if possible or maybe easy things I can cook for myself? Lastly, I was hoping if there are other people who have lost weight everywhere except for their belly. I have lost weight in my whole body and a bit in my belly, but it seems to be the only place where there is stubborn fat (I am apple shaped) and my belly is just hanging and nothing seems to help.( I am guessing that's why I am a bit carb sensitive and I need to completely cut carbs out if i want to lose weight.) Thank you very much in advance and hoping to meet other people as well

Thats good news! Did the weight gain,occur because of an unfill for surgery? I want the same surgery just curious thaanks!

Does anyone have advise for me? I am considering rebanding after my band was removed April 2006. I have gained 27 lbs. ,and each week another 2 lbs. jumps on board. I stayed in the hospital ,and , according to surgeon, almost died because the band hand completly cut off the blood flow to my stomach. I can't stand what's happening to me(weight gain); but I am scared, too. My rebanding cannot be done laproscopically. Advise, anyone! DDee

Mimi, that unconscious food fest is so well known as to have a name: it's the Last Supper Syndrome. We all go through it. Sometimes twice--once when we make up our minds to have surgery and then again, much later, when we actually get the surgery date. It's very hard to conquer, I know--I gained 7 lbs in the last two months before surgery. But it really is important not to let it get out of control, since you want to be as healthy as possible for the procedure and healing. Take comfort in knowing that our food choices are the same after banding as before, and the behaviors that will change are those that MUST change if we want to leave our obesity behind us. So eat what you want, but try to practice not gorging. That will set you on the right path and possibly abort your weight gain in the process. Good luck with this!!

Hi, I've wandered around the forum quite a bit a put up a couple of posts but never really introduced myself... I'm currently at about a 35 BMI...and gaining. I have been almost this heavy three years ago, then dropped about thirty five pounds, then gained it all back plus some...but prior to that I had always been overweight, not obese as I am now. Am I going to run into a "you lost it before, you can do it again" sort of attitude before I can be approved for surgery? I feel so certain that this is the right path for me BUT I'm having massive mood swings over the whole thing. Panic, then elation, over the PERMANENCE of it all....thinking this is the best idea I've ever had, then that I'm completely out of my mind.....did anybody else go through this? A lot of my weight gain is due to medications for fibromyalgia and depression.....some of them make me eat, others just seem to magically attract fat--what if I go through the surgery and it doesn't solve the problem? Then....I'm doomed. Scary thought. Somebody, please tell me this is normal! (By the way, I love you guys already. You're fabulous.)

I have not been on here in years but don’t know where to go for help. I had the sleeve on 6-10-13 I lost 135 pounds and was extremely happy with the results over the years I was able to maintain and would go up and down a little but stayed within 10 pounds of my lowest weight of 140. Then COVID hit and now I am working from home and don’t get out much and I am weighing in at 180. I am terrified to gain my weight back and can already feel it in my joints and such just the weight I put on. I can’t seem to get back on track. I need any ideas/tips that anyone can offer. Someone that has gone though a weight gain of 40 lbs and got it back off. thanks

Hey Shanda - I think the weight gain is probably water retention and one you start I am sure it will go away and so will the pounds. Don't weigh everyday - that might help, too -- and the measurement thing is a GREAT idea. Keep your positive attitude - you will get through this and start losing lbs. again.