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Agreed :w00t: I think I want Koli to stay and Daris to go. I didn't care for Daris's attitude about his weight gain, it's like he didn't really care.

My BMI is high enough. They can deny me because my thyroid levels are not in the normal range, even with medication, which causes weight gain. They can say WLS won't be successful. Hopefully I'm just stressing because of being so close. Sent from my SM-G900P using the BariatricPal App

I think an "implant to help control hunger" is a pretty accurate description. I think that people need to remember that Lapbanders are learning to control their lives they are learning how to finally take control of themselves. To me, the only lap band failures are those who just continue to eat out of control. AND, they are only failures if they do not seek additional help and support to continue the process. There are lapband misfortunes such as erosion, accidental slips, body rejection, etc. Bypass and rerouting surgeries are usually successful, yes, but when you factor in the weight gain that they usually have at the end, to me, that is failure. There was no self control and no change in lifestyle and thinking about eating. I went to eat with two ladies one night, one with the band and one with the bypass. Both ate regular fat-laden food to the point of having to stop on the way home and BOTH women were out of the car throwing up. They eat what they want and then when they are too full, they throw up. To me that is failure. They did not learn to change their lives and how they eat to be healthy.

Also, remember muscle weighs more than fat for it's size. I have noticed that intense exercise sessions are normally followed by a weight gain. That's where the tape measure trumps the scale. Muscle takes up less space than fat. You could very well be gaining weight and losing fat at the same time. Some pro bodybuilders are pushing 300 pounds with 10% or less body fat.

I am in the same place you are. I was banded in 2009 and put on almost all but 10 pounds. I did have a small slip 3 years ago and had a complete unfill. a few months later they did a fill. Now I have 1.2 in my band and they advised to not go higher. That was 3 years ago. That is when my weight gain started. I am now going to have the band removed and have the Gastric Sleeve 1/20. When in doubt, always get a 2nd opinion.

Jorge, I have a very similar story at this point. I have had two fills and have absolutely no restriction. I think that my mind is panicking a little bit about getting to restriction and not being able to eat much so I'm binging in anticipation. I had lost weight when I went in for my first fill because I was still sore and swollen from surgery. When I went in for my second fill I had gained a half pound. I wasn't really worried about it because I knew I had probably gained a little and I knew I didn't have restriction. What I wasn't prepared for was my doctor was pretty cranky with me about it. I think he was surprised because up to that point I had pretty much been the model patient. I had lost my presurgery weight in record time and had been losing very rapidly. He started to lecture me about my half pound weight gain and I just sort of politely stopped him and said, "You know, this is a lifetime of habits I'm dealing with here. It was one bad week, that's all." He backed off a little after that but clearly was disappointed in me. When I left his office I was pretty discouraged and started thinking that I'd better get myself in gear and be sure I lose a ton of weight before my next appointment. That of course triggered a diet mentality and another binge. I then had to back up mentally and just realize that this journey is about me and not about my doctor or anybody else. I need to work on my food issues and my history with food and I need to take responsibility for my choices and the rest will take care of itself. I have stopped binging (which usually happens when I start to talk nicely to myself and quit pressuring myself to lose weight immediately) and I have started exercising again. My initial reaction was to be mad at the doctor and not want to go back. But that's not going to help me and it certainly isn't going to hurt him. It only hurts me. And he wasn't trying to be hurtful. He was trying to very firmly talk to me and motivate me to get back on track quickly before I spin completely out of control. My head just turned it into an attack and I responded with a binge. I think I heard my mother's voice in my head instead of my doctor's! When I could get some distance I was able to see that he was trying to talk to me about the importance of following the band rules, continuing to exercise and working on head hunger. I have committed to myself that I will exercise and I will try to eat only when physically hungry and only until satisfied. I have also committed to myself that if the binging and head hunger issues continue that I will go back into counseling. I will also always go to the doctor when I need to and try to listen to his advice without feeling attacked. I also remind myself that I will undoubtedly slip up from time to time. It's a process and an entirely new way of living. It's really hard because even though we all knew it was just a tool, most of us probably hoped for a magic bullet. I now know I did. Now I have to learn to work with the tool and not wait for the magic. Please go back to your doctor. Regardless of what he or she says, it's the only way to get to restriction and work the tool properly.

Hi everyone, I wanted to say goodluck to everyone who is being banded soon and my thoughts are with those currently on their preop diet that I will soon be doing. While I'm not looking forward to two weeks of a liquid diet I am excited about being banded. My biggest problem right now is that I seem to be eating everything in sight. I find myself snacking alot throughout the day and not caring much about it. I have this faulty thinking that it doesn't matter because I will be doing my preop soon. I have also found myself not wanting to catch up with old friends that haven't seen me in a while due to my big weight gain. Anyway I can't wait to hear everyone's post op stories!!!

My surgery was on July 17th. I have been losing slow and steady. But today I weighed and I gained 1.5 pounds. Now I am in full panic mode. Has anyone else experience a weight gain?

If you are still obese you technically do want to maintain your weight rather than gain, if overweight I think they recommend a 10-15lb weight gain. Those recommendations are the same surgery or not. I will say- I have only gained 7lbs at 30weeks. I was at the top end of normal weight so my doc wanted me to gain no more than 25lbs. If I keep gaining a pound per week- I should wind up around 15-17lbs gained. I'm perfectly ok with that. (I did lose 13 from Hyperemesis so my net gain may be 5-10lbs)

Journaling is no fun but it helps in figuring out what may be causing weight gain or a plateau. To be honest, I only did it for 7 months. I stopped only after I was confident in my ability to measure the size and quantity of food by eye. Give it a shot and if it proves to be too tedious then try something else. I used the Bodybugg site but a popular free site is Calorie Counter, Diet Tracking, Food Journal, Nutrition Facts at The Daily Plate

My massive weight gain is from an under active thyroid problem...I am at my highest weight ever...I weigh more now than I did when I was pregnant with my 3 children...God in Heaven please forgive me...We had a young relative die from WLS...She never made it out of surgery, because of a blood clot to the heart...I may not have the surgery now, because the doctor called and said my eco was abnormal...Going to the cardiologist tomorrow...He will have the last word...They all think right now, that my throid is being removed...If I do have the surgery, I will tell them the truth after the fact....

What factors do you think are behind his weight gain?

This foolish behavior deserves consequences. Maybe not as bad as a life threatening leak, but something...I suppose I can be happy knowing that if they are so silly as to push their program directly after surgery, despite the horrific medical consequences they could face, I should be at least happy knowing they weren't committed enough and they will likely be back in two years whining about their weight gains. Really, you ripped out most of your stomach and now you want to see if you can pop the dang thing because you feel you are immune to consequences. Smart...very smart! Edited to reflect a grumpy post in the middle of the night

Lap-Band System After surgery, it is extremely important to follow diet guidelines to assure proper healing and to obtain adequate nutrition. Your pouch that is created by the Lap Band needs to heal, so you must sip fluids slowly and avoid getting overfull. Once your pouch has healed, you need to continue to keep portion sizes small to maintain your weight loss. You will progress through the following phases of the Lap-Band diet after surgery. Liquid diet. For the first two weeks following surgery, you will consume only liquids. For one to two days after surgery, you will need to sip only clear liquids or fluids that you can see through. Clear liquids include diluted apple juice, chicken or beef broth, sugar-free gelatin and artifically sweetened, non-carbonated beverages. If you tolerate clear liquids without difficulty, you may add full liquids to your diet. Full liquids include the broth of low-fat, creamed soups, protein shakes, milk, yogurt and sugar-free puddings. Most people require two high-protein supplements daily. Your dietitian will calculate your individual protein needs and provide examples of how to achieve this amount. Avoid carbonated beverages as they may cause gas, bloating and pain. Pureed diet. You will need to puree your foods for approximately two weeks. Your meals will be small and should focus on high-protein foods. Regular diet. By 5 to 6 weeks after your surgery, you will be incorporating foods with more texture to your diet. You will always have to chew your foods thoroughly, avoiding tough meats, fibrous vegetables and doughy breads. But your diet should ideally include low-fat proteins, fruits and vegetables, healthy carbohydrates and heart-healthy fats. Protein. Getting adequate protein in your diet promotes proper healing and also helps your body to maintain muscle and lose fat. It is important to choose lean protein foods because they are lower in calories and will help ou maintain your weight loss. Also, high-fat foods can cause dumping syndrome and make you sick after surgery. Protein is made up of amino acids. The body can make 13 amino acids, but nine amino acids are essential, meaning they cannot be made in the body and must come from food sources. A food source is said to be complete if it contains adequate amounts of essential amino acids. The following types of protein products are readily available: Whey is a byproduct of the dairy and cheese industry and is a complete source of protein. <LI class=copy>Whey isolate has virtually no lactose in it. Lactose is the sugar naturally found in milk. Some people become lactose-intolerant after surgery and experience gas and bloating after drinking dairy. If you are or become lactose-intolerant, whey isolate would not cause intestinal distress. Lactaid milk and soy milk are great alternatives for people who are lactose-intolerant. Whey concentrate may contain some lactose in it; however, most people can tolerate this product without problems. [*]Soy products are made from soybeans. Soybeans contain all the amino acids essential to human nutrition and are a complete protein source. [*]Hydrolized gelatin or collagen. These products do not contain all essential amino acids and are not recommended for weight loss surgery patients. Protein Shake Recipes. Protein shakes are needed to get adequate amounts of protein after surgery. We have specific products that we recommend, but remember that if you do not like the taste of your shake you are less likely to drink it. The following recipes and tips may help you improve the taste of your shake. Simple Shake (28 grams protein) 1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder (20 grams protein) 8 ounces fat-free milk Mix well in shaker cup or blender. Banana/Peanut Butter Shake (12 grams protein) 8 ounces fat-free milk 1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter 1/4 - 1/2 banana Blend until smooth in blender. Orange Dreamsicle (28 grams protein) 1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder (20 grams protein) 1 scoop (individual serving) sugar-free Sunrise Orange Crystal Lightâ powder 8 ounces skim milk Alternatives: substitute 4 ounces orange juice for 4 ounces milk; substitute 4 ounces yogurt for 4 ounces milk; add 1/2 tsp. orange zest to shake. Hot Cocoa (13 grams protein) 1 tablespoon Splenda 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa 2 tablespoons dried milk powder 8 ounces non-fat milk Dash salt Blend Splenda, unsweetened cocoa, dried milk powder and salt in large mug. Blend in milk, stirring until dissolved. Microwave 1 minute on high or until hot. Can also heat in saucepan on stove. Tips for Protein Shakes. <LI class=copy>Use flavorings such as vanilla, almond and coconut extracts to improve flavor. <LI class=copy>Coffee added to chocolate-flavored protein powder makes a mocha-flavored shake. <LI class=copy>Bananas, strawberries and peanut butter add the most flavoring to shakes. <LI class=copy>Unflavored cocoa powder can be added for a deeper chocolate flavor without adding fat. <LI class=copy>Freeze milk in ice cube trays to make milk cubes. Blend these with your shake to make it icy cold and to add protein without diluting your shake. <LI class=copy>If you are lactose intolerant, you can use Lactaid milk or soy milk to add protein to your shake. Yogurt can be added to shakes to increase creaminess and protein. Long-term Tips It is important to make healthy food choices throughout your weight loss process to be as healthy as possible while losing weight. Healthy food and lifestyle choices are critical to maintain your weight loss long-term. These tips are recommended for people who are in the maintenance phase of weight loss. <LI class=copy>Eat three meals a day. Have a healthy snack only if hungry. Skipping meals does not promote weight loss and results in overeating in the long run. <LI class=copy>Eat lean proteins first at each meal. <LI class=copy>Include fruits and vegetables with meals. <LI class=copy>Avoid drinking fluids with meals. Fluids may force foods through your pouch too quickly. This may cause dumping syndrome in gastric bypass patients but may cause all patients to become hungry quickly and eat more food throughout the day. <LI class=copy>Strive to drink 6-8 cups of water daily. Artifically flavored drinks are fine, but we recommend that you avoid carbonated beverages, even diet soda. The carbonation in diet soda may contribute to enlargement of the small pouch. <LI class=copy>Chew foods thoroughly. Your small pouch will not be able to physically break down foods that have not been chewed to a liquid consistency. <LI class=copy>Avoid problematic foods such as tough, fibrous or overcooked meats; doughy breads; pasta; rice; skins and seeds of fruits and vegetables; nuts and popcorn. <LI class=copy>Stop eating when you begin to feel full. It is critical that you do not eat to the point of feeling overfull. People have stretched their pouch by eating too much and have regained weight. <LI class=copy>Take daily vitamin and mineral supplements. Have labs checked annually. <LI class=copy>Weigh yourself weekly. It's much easier to correct a 5 pound weight gain (physically and psychologically) than a 25 pound weight gain. <LI class=copy>Attend support group meetings. Don't "forget" that you have had weight loss surgery. Staying in touch with other weight loss surgery patients is a great way to reaffirm your journey and stay on track. Exercise. Many patients know people who've lost weight without exercise, which may be true for a single individual, but most people who do not exercise have a more difficult time reaching and maintaining their optimal weight loss. And exercise has multiple benefits in addition to controlling weight such as decreasing risk of cardiac disease; lowering blood pressure; improving mental function; improving blood glucose levels; reducing risk of some cancers; and improving immune function. Try to get at least 30 minutes of physical activity each day. Physical activity is defined as activities in addition to normal daily activities such as work, shopping or housekeeping. Hope this helps! Audree :clap2:

Are is it to just nod and agree? No, which is exactly why I commented What does the fact that i'm a two-time WLS patient have to do with my question As I wrote in my first post, most WLS patients have a long history of being asked questions similar to the ones in your original post. "Why don't you just eat better? Why don't you just exercise more?" I would think as a two time WLS patient you would know that those comments are condescending and offensive. Weight gain and reasons are a legitimate question They are. But you didn't pose this as a legitimate question. You posted it in the Rants and Raves section and you said "Trust that i know i will get flack for this...." I am left to draw one of two conclusions: You are completely unaware of the thousands of articles that have been written about pandemic related lifestyle changes and its effects. You are also oblivious to the common sense impact of gyms/parks/trails closures, poverty's effect on one's diet, mental health consequences of social isolation etc.. The option I find easier to believe is this was not a sincere question. Instead it's an opportunity for you to congratulate yourself for having more fortitude than all these weak willed people who when faced with a life altering pandemic and economic shut down and didn't plant a garden, meal plan or pick up milk jugs filled with sand.

I hear ya. My alcohol consumption had increased dramatically since March, which also happened to coincide with my early-covid weight gain.

Hey, I thot my family was nuts, but I am truly lucky. But from a psychological point of view, do any of you think that the abuse or just wierdness in the family may have contributed to your weight gain and obesity in the long run? I know that while I was little my mom was a little nuts because her mom (my Mama Di) treated her like she wasnt worth the dirt she walked on, so Mom pushed me to be the perfect little girl, especially since my Mama Di took away my sister from my mom after she was born and told everyone that she had had a baby when she was about 35 (which isn't old btw) but everyone saw Mom pregnant, and never saw Mama Di pregnant, but she honestly believes that everyone thinks that my biological sis is her daughter (weird huh?) My family is WACKY! That's all, when I was little Mom used to make me do pagents, to this day I dunno where that money came from because my Mom worked for Mama Di in her conveniant store making $50 a week, and Dad made about $6,000 a year. I am a natural blond haired, hazel-eyed girl, with dimples, and it was more than anyone could stand (I was soooooooo cute) but I started gaining weight when I was about 3 or 4 like CRAZY!! And have never lost it, I was born big, but I mean I blew up and Mom did everything she could to stop it which led me to being a Binge Eater from the ages of abour 4 until I was about 12, then I became a short-term anorexic (when school ended I started eating a lot in the summer). Now I am just huge and in a lot of pain, but I am so lucky to have the parents that I have, and you all have shown me that, thanks, you all are an inspiration Oh, wanna here something funny!!!! My other grandmother (Mamo) got arrested about 5 weeks ago for public intoxication, she had went to the doctor and faked serious depression to get Xanax and Trazadone and took some on the way home, and did not make it 2 miles before she hit someone in an intersection but drove off to Casa Ole (mexican food place) and hit someone else then freaked out, turned around and almost hit another person trying to back out of the police baracade!!! All they gave her was a PI tho, but we made her sit in jail until she sobered up!!! My family is just plain ZANEY!!

Some banders can eat bread if it's toasted. But yes, rice, bread, Pasta are all carbs and add to weight gain. some people can tolerate those foods and choose not to eat them, others can tolerate them and eat small amounts and some can't eat them. How tight your band is can have an affect on which of those foods you cant eat. Some banders want/need very tight restriction to lose weight, others need less "help" from the band and a lower restriction gives them the "willpower" they need, so how tight YOU need or want your band will allow you some control over which foods you can eat. I can eat toasted bread and I do occassionally, but I know I'll slow down my weight loss and since I can resist the bread, with the help of my band, I just don't eat it often. Same with pasta and rice. I choose not to eat them. Before they band, resisting them was much more difficult.

I had surgery after I'd already gone through menopause, so I have no experience with this - or at least post-surgical experience, but I'd be careful with things like implants and Depo-Provera (the shot). Both are notorious for weight gain. I don't know if that's true after surgery, too, but...

I was sleeved 9 years ago. I lost 110kg over the first 2 years and maintained weight at 67kg for 3 years. Then, I was put on ssri and anti psychotic meds and gained 10 kilos in the first 3 weeks. I went on to gain back 70 kilos of what I lost over the last few years. My psyc. put me on metformin to minimise the weight gain (even though I’m not diabetic) and my weight stopped going up for about the last year now. I have just come back to the community today as I recently committed to losing this weight again. I’m pleased to hear a previous comment here that says that people have lost weight on mental health meds successfully, I’m on the wagon and going for goal.

I started on Depo and Prozac in Dec. 2017. At the time, I had lost 40lbs from my highest weight. Within a year, I had gained it all back. Its hard to say how much was from each, as they are both well known for weight gain. That being said, I had VSG in Sept. 2021, so nearing 4 months post-op and I've lost about 65lbs. About 20 of that was pre-op, 45 post-op. I figure that's pretty average, given my starting BMI, age, etc. I'm now 10lbs lower than I was before I started the meds, and at my lowest ever adult weight and the loss seems to be holding pretty steady week over week.

First, congratulations on your weight loss. It’s a fabulous achievement - please remember that. The hard truth is not everyone gets to their goal weight. Your goal weight is a number you chose for various reasons significant to you but your body has it’s own goal weight - its set point. This is the weight your body is happiest at. It is a weight that’s easiest to maintain & your body will keep pulling you back to. Your set point is what makes it hard to lose weight & easy to put back on any you did lose back. The surgery lowered your set point from what it was but you can’t control what the lower level will be. Be careful as you can increase your set point again by eating to excess & making poor food choices. Yes, increasing your physical activity & building muscle will increase your hunger. The trick is to balance the hunger with the calories your body needs. Check your basal metabolic rate to give you an idea if what calories your body may need to maintain. Seeking support from a therapist may help especially with your cravings & late night hunger. Many find therapy very beneficial to support their weight loss & manage their maintenance. Therapy will help you identify what’s behind your cravings & hunger & reflect on your relationship with food. Your surgeon or team should be able to refer you to a suitable therapist (one who specialises in disordered eating & is knowledgeable of bariatric surgery). All the best. PS - I found it helpful to get the ‘bad’ food out of my house. If it’s not there I can’t eat it. I know it’s not always possible especially if you have a family but even if you got rid of the your favourites would help. Try to pick a healthier option. Want sweet try some fruit. Want salty or crunchy try roasted fava beans or chick peas. Of course even ‘good’ food eaten to excess will lead to weight gain.

I'm married (2nd marriage) but no kids yet. It hasn't really been my weight stopping me, but my life...career, my first marriage ending, meeting my hubby at the time that I did in relation to my career. Now I have to finish anesthesia school before I can try to be a mom. By then, I should be at my goal weight and able to keep pregnancy weight gain to the recommended level...provided I can get pregnant by then. We'll see! Balancing career and wanting to have a family has been tough.

Alot of wonderful advice and great success stories here to help you. We've all been where you are at right now. You have to decide if you're ready to make the changes with yes...another different kind of tool for weight loss. No matter how we decided to lose the weight, we always use a tool of some kind....but bottom line, if you're not ready to make these changes, then you will fail! I'm almost 1yr post-op and yes you can lose at first while eating junk/fast food. But eventually, with the band, it will catch up and cause weight gain. You're doing great research and have the right questions...now...are you ready to ACCEPT the changes and challenges? Are your current weight and feelings worth it? Here's my honesty. I was DETERMINED to make it work when I decided to have the band placed. Yes I was concerned of failing and gaining it back (still am), but, I NEVER once complained about what all it will take to make it happen. And doubting yourself does not help. I'm not "bashing" you personally. I just hear from others "whine, whine, whine because of not weight loss here..." so I don't want you to get into that frame of mind at the start. Find the peace you need before if you do get the band. You need that peace to go to when things get tough/challenging! I wish you best and like I told my neighbor the other day, MAKE this happen...don't waste time pondering or you'll never get there!

Hi everyone. I have been fighting with my insurance and IPA since September. I finally won and have an appointment to see my surgeon on the 10th. I have NO restriction and have gained some weight, I was up to 192 and I was 190 today at my Dr. I have a mental block against meat so I have been eating only whole grain cereal and vegetables. I drink vegitarian protien drinks to make sure I get enough protien. My biggest problem is nuts and whole grain crackers. I still do not eat rice, potatoes, bread, sugar, fried anything and of course fats. I know that the nuts are a downfall and have cut them out. I was doing good only drinking shakes, but stress caused some eating and damn if those crackers don't add up. So it is still a stuggle. My Dr is still proud of my progress, but we are all afraid of any weight gain. We both just want me to stay at 180. I have had chest pains which only make me more "meat" phobic. I now have nitro pills and heart meds. Funny, loose all this weight and now this popps up. But I know that the damage I did to my body will last the rest of my life..... Hang in there everyone. I hope you are all having more success than me. :smile2: