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Congrats! 15 pounds is a good weight gain for seven months. Talk to your obesity. That dr. Is who matters most right now. Sent from my KFTBWI using the BariatricPal App

I think you're right, I don't know why I weighed myself, I think it was to teach myself a lesson that I can't slack off no matter what. I really am attributing the weight gain (most of it) to the TOM, darnit! Thank you for your support as well

I'm very sorry you're struggling. If your surgeon isn't sufficient then it's time you take charge and find one who is. Studies have shown that aftercare and patient compliance is crucial for weight loss success- and so far it sounds like you have neither. You talk about not going for more fills- but it sounds like a fill is the last thing you need. You're clearly too tight and are having "soft calorie syndrome" because of it. Being too tight is not only dangerous but often leads to weight gain because you can only eat slider foods and liquids- which are notoriously high calorie. Not to mention because you can't eat healthy foods, you're probably seriously lacking necessary Vitamins to be healthy. Btw- vomiting is also extremely dangerous with the band and by doing so regularly you're begging for a slip. You need an unfill so you can actually eat healthy and not jeopardize your band. Here's a really good article about why being tighter isn't better and the dangers that come with it: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/page/index.html/_/support/post-op-support/tighter-isnt-always-better-r118 Make an appointment with a new surgeon if that's what is necessary, but one way or another it's crucial for your health you get in to see one ASAP. Best wishes.

How Common is food Addiction? Although there is little doubt that food addiction exists, the question of how common this may be remains a matter of debate. Now a study by Pardis Pedram and colleagues from Memorial University, Newfoundland, examine this issue in a paper just published in PLoS One. I am a food addict. I found this to be confirming.... The study looks at 652 adult volunteers (415 women, 237 men) recruited from the general population. ‘Food addiction’ was assessed using the Yale Food Addiction scale (YFAS), a questionnaire consists of 27 items that assess eating patterns over the past 12 months. The YFAS translates the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV TR(DSM-IV TR) substance dependence criteria in relation to eating behavior (including tolerance and withdrawal symptoms, vulnerability in social activities, difficulties cutting down or controlling use, etc.). The criteria for ‘food addiction’ are met when three or more symptoms are present within the past 12 months together with clinically significant impairment or distress. Based on these criteria, ‘food addiction’ was present in 5.4% of participants (6.7% in females and 3.0% in males) and increased with obesity status. Interestingly enough, the clinical symptom counts of ‘food addiction’ were positively correlated with all body composition measurements across the entire sample (p<0.001) – not just in those with higher BMI. Nevertheless, “food addicts” substantially heavier (11.7 kg), had 4.6 units higher BMI, and had 8.2% more body fat than “non-addicts”. Furthermore, food addicts consumed more calories from fat and Protein than controls. Thus, this study shows that as many as 1 in 20 (or 5%) of the general population may have a diagnosis of “food addiction”. Those who do are substantially heavier than individuals who do not meet these criteria. Furthermore, individual symptoms of “food addiction” are associated with higher body weight across the entire range of BMI suggesting that even mild to moderate signs of “addiction” (below the threshold of a formal diagnosis) may contribute to weight gain in the general population. As with all addictions, simply warning about the “evils” or making consumption more difficult (taxing, banning, punishing) is of limited help in addressing the problem. In addition, given that total “food-abstinence” is not an option, the best you can hope for is “harm-reduction” – a rather conservative goal for any addiction. Clearly, not recognizing the potential role of food addiction as a contributor to the obesity epidemic means missing the boat on providing appropriate care to individuals with this condition. As with other addictions, “Simply say no” approaches are naive at best in addressing the problem. @DrSharma Edmonton, Alberta

I read this and kinda laughed at myself. I haven’t had the WLS yet, but I’m already noticing a boost of confidence and seeing myself thinner. Not crazy, I think I’m skinny, but I’m already identifying with a healthier body. Maybe because I’ve always fluctuated weight, I know what I look like under this weight gain. I feel very relaxed and ready to be the me I see in my head :)

I was athletic and strong as a teen/young adult and never had issues with weight gain until my 30’s, so I have been struggling with seeing a fat person in the mirror and feeling cheated when I can’t climb stairs or tie my shoes. (I’m still pre-op). I can’t wait til my outside matches my inside!

I am also a frequent prednisone user. The source of most of my weight gain. I am a terrible asthmatic. When I discussed this with my dr. he said that he might prescribe a short term appetite suppressant during my steroid courses if I wanted. It is definitely worth asking. I have not needed any since the band. If not, keep your head up and work really hard when you are finished with the prednisone. During the course, curb the hunger with as healthy of food as possible and exercise! Good luck to you, I hope this is short term!

I don't have any post surgery experience, but do have weight gain experience. I have a tattoo on my abdomen that I got before I put on 150 pounds. It has stretched a lot, almost to being unrecognizable. I imagine that shrinking would make the objects smaller, possibly less detail apparent but still recognizable. Let me know how it goes.

Good stuff! Thanks for sharing! I do question #3. I've seen several veterans say that gaining weight a few years out is much easier and losing the weight gained is much harder. I don't believe all of these people are engaging in bad habits. How is that explained then? PS: I'm printing your post and sticking it on my fridge for when I hit maintenence!

Hi All, I haven't been on this app in years. I was sleeved (after having my lap band removed) in 2013. It's been a while. I've had to reconnect bc of weight gain, oh yeah it's real. I'm 5' 9" HW: 259...left: 170 cw:201....when I saw that number over 200 I almost passed out. I just came back from my nutritionist and that was hard bc I've had to relive my worst fear. I will not go back. I've signed up for several 5ks, 10k's and half marathon over the next year. I'm currently walking on an incline on the treadmill bc that burns the calories the fastest. I've paid for weight training and hot yoga, which I will implement over the next few weeks. I will not go back. I've come way too far. But I need support. So if anyone has advice, pls share. My motivation is here bc of fear but I'd like it to stay bc I'm comfortable with how I'm challenging myself. Please join me MyFitnessPal: treciagesq99 Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

We are certainly all different, but I've done several n=1 experiments, and I have learned much about my body and metabolism. I have learned that anything beyond a small to moderate amount of cheese will stall my weight loss totally. So the many delicious and low carb cheese recipes come with the added knowledge that the scale will not budge. Starches are my Achilles' tendon. My blood sugar is impacted much more by bread than by sugar itself. The effect is longer and more pronounced, and thus anything made with wheat flour (whole grain or otherwise) will promote Water weight retention and weight gain besides. There is no moderate amount of starch for me, it has to be cut out totally. Corn products, be it through sugar or tortillas or whatever will make me crave more of the same to an almost unbearable extent. I will literally dream about tacos and wake up unsure if it was all a dream (nightmare) or I really ate like 12 tacos. Corn syrup is so ubiquitous in North America that it basically means eating real foods only to avoid them. No amount of time seems to improve my cravings for corn based foods, so I have to accept the reality that I can NEVER indulge that disastrous addiction. No different than a heroin addict having to swear the stuff off totally, lest they be dragged back into the life.

If you just had surgery last month, then you need to fully understand what this lap band surgery is all about....just because you had this thing installed, it does not always mean it is going to do anything just yet....does for some, but that is a minority...the low end of the bell curve.... Now comes the series of band adjustments to find what is the best setting for you.... When I was where you're at...(I'm assuming you're recently banded) I actually started to gain weight as though nothing changed....then only after my second adjustment my weight gain/loss leveled off...then later after another fill, started to loose consistently ... It took me months for this to actually start doing what it was supposed to do......not overnight....or weeks even But hang in there...it DOES WORK!

Maybe you should step away from the scale for a few days, Elizabeth. Sometimes weight can fluctuate so much from one day to the next for a number of reasons. It could be a weight gain due to hormones or you could be retaining water. Are you close to that time of the month? Does the stew have a high amount of salt in it? Just be patient. That band is not going anywhere, but the weight will! Just concentrate on following all of your doctors orders. This time is about healing and learning all of the new, healthy eating habits that you will carry with you on your journey. If you have a local Lap-Band support group, try attending the next meeting. Maybe someone there has experienced the same thing and can help ease your mind. Whatever you do, don't get discouraged. You're doing great!

I'm sorry Ashlee you are going through so much, For 2.5 seconds I almost regretted mine to but then quickly found the bright side of things. No more weight gain for a while & I started looking at the long term, I pray you feel better quick & the negative aspect of your surgery ends quick & like Katie said ignore those comments. Sometimes grandparents can take things to far & you find yourself wanting to choke them. I have a grandma & I just smh @ her lol. I think we are very brave for taking a stand. It will get better. I'm 5 wks out now & I was having issues too. neek41

I can definitely relate. I've put on 40 lbs in the past few years, and I've always felt embarrassed about going out in public or seeing people who knew me when I was "smaller" (relative to the size I am now). I feel like a huge ungraceful elephant compared to the others who are much smaller. I go to the gym now, and I can feel the eyes on me for being the biggest person there. I am afraid that I'm sweaty and smelly at the gym (and think people don't want to be next to the fat girl huffing and puffing on the exercise machine), and that's so embarrassing. I didn't even want to go to my 5 year high school reunion last month (because of the college weight gain), but I went anyway and had a blast. Granted, there was alcohol involved that took away any self-consciousness and awkwardness, but I'm really glad I went! Now that I'm getting the band, I hope I will regain some confidence about going in public and being myself (sans alcohol) without being judged. BTW, 20 lbs lost is a great achievement. That definitely would be a noticeable physical change on you I hope you regain your confidence, because you deserve it!

I was sleeved on 22 Nov 2017 I hit my lowest weight 96 lbs then gradually on next year I gained weight to 125 lbs I am 4'8 height so its so hard I am afraid and terrified to gain all my pre op weight back any help or recommendation or advises ?

No it will not make you gain weight. Weight gain or loss also depends on the other micro-nutrients. How many carbs are you eating. Are they simple or complex carbs? How much sodium are you getting a day? How much sugar? Other factors: Are you drinking 64 ounces of fluids, mostly Water? Are you exercising?

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

I get the tool...but a tablespoon or teaspoon or even a 1/4 cup of food should not cause ANY weight gain..if it does then thats a problem. I could shoot myself for not asking the Dr. if a smaller stomach means I will gain on way less food....

thanks everyone for all the great replies. It's so nice to get support when I was scared I'd get yelled at a lot. Also, I finally got the nerve to talk with my surgeon, and she also suprised me by being very happy and hopeful for me. that the band might be very helpful in keeping my weight gain in the 15 to 20 pound range (i'm only suppose to gain this much because of my current weight). And also that if I need to, I can get an unfill. this whole situation makes me very grateful to have the band, the adjustable band, more than ever.

Well this initially started as a search to find out if it was worth it to buy protien shakes that have 30g+ of protien in them. I am still not fully satisfied that say those 3oz shots of 42g of protien are a waste. I would love some real answers backed up by medical websites that are in plain english as to whether the body can use 42g of protien in one meal what is the magic number? Obviously obsene amounts of protien are a big mistake. But if we are supposed to have 60-80g a day why not have it all at once or in two meals? It seems to me that nomatter what it is calories in the end that determine weight gain or loss. Eating enough protien prevents our body from burning muscle eating too much protien can lead to other health problems like gout. We all know what a healthy per day total is for us from our nutritionists if no one else. But it still begs the question of how much can be absorbed from one meal. If it truly absorbs all the way through the intestines then it would be in our system for what like 24hr's? It seems that in that time it would make the argument moot whether a 42g shot of protien is a waste or not. I am not trying to be argumentative. I am just frustrated at the lack of solid information I have been able to find via the internet. Every source seems to disagree and most of the sources I have seen on the internet are body building sites and I'm sorry but I don't believe their info is necessarily correct for the general public at least. I just want real answers that are backed up by something that is written in lay language so that I can follow it. Jack I love you but with all your technical talk you lose me, I was a music major not a science major.

Your nut defines a stall as no weight loss in a week? I think that's a bit harsh. I've dieted pre-surgery 6 months pretty seriously at 800 calories 80 grams of Protein and 45 carbs. I had a hysterectomy so I don't get the hormonal issues others get, I watched my sodium everything. I had days I gained 2 or 3 pounds. Then a few days later lost 6. I don't consider the gain important or a stall. If I know I'm doing what I am suppose to be doing, there are days that you have Water weight gain, or something is not flowing exactly right. There are days your body decides to hold onto everything too. Sometimes upping my calories or adding more carbs will help me eliminate the extra weight. I have a few days that go by without losing an ounce per my my scale, then I will lose a pound. I am sure I will have days that I go up 1/2 pound because of lack of bm or water retention. I would consider a stall 3 or more weeks, then before I call it a stall I will go through my fitness pal and check to make sure I am doing what I'm suppose to be doing, then I would measure myself to see if there is anything going on there.

My 22 year old daughter took the Depo shot ( she is 5'3/ 110 lb) and had a horrible bout of depression and weight gain that took over a year to recover from. I would have a hard time recommending to anyone.

Although your symptoms could be band related it sounds like something else is going on here too. You should see your PCP and/or a gastroenterologist. You might need to have an endoscopy and colonoscopy to see what is going on. These symptoms sound serious enough not to be dismissed. Your weight gain is probably unrelated to these symptoms. You need to find a doctor who will investigate this and obviously your surgeon is not the one to do it. Good luck.

I am 4weeks post op tomorrow and I just went a week long vacation where I struggled with my Vitamin regimen and did not eat enough - but my Water was very very high and I exercised extensively I actually was able to do a 6 mile hike (cleared by my surgeon) I came home and I gained 3lbs and my body fat percentage went UP 1%. I am ready to cry. I know how important Protein is my goal is 100 grams a day and I hit 70 for most of the week bc of food options I was relying on Protein shakes and tuna (plain) a lot. I averaged 100 oz of water daily and exercised daily for 30 min to an hr. Has anyone experienced this? I assumed I might have gained muscle until I saw the body fat % & my calorie intake was around 5-600 a day. Please help. Sent from my Z970 using the BariatricPal App