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shake the other partner psychologically when one loses weight, gains confidence and starts getting more attention. But the experience taught me that someone who is jealous of something that makes me better, healthier and stronger never had my best interests at heart. Dating after that was a struggle, until I met my current boyfriend six months ago. Most guys got scared because they were afraid to take me to dinner, afraid they would break my new diet resolve, and when they saw a picture of what I used to look like, they started to wonder what would happen if I gained a few pounds again. What else has surprised me about losing weight? No one ever told me that it would upset me when severely obese people get special attention because they choose to be heavy -- like when TV shows feature people who are happy to weigh 600 pounds, or people who post YouTube videos professing love of their excess weight. Don't get me wrong, I think it is great that people are comfortable in their own skin, because many times I'm not always comfortable in my own skin. But for me, being heavy wasn't a choice. So I guess I have a hard time identifying with them. Obesity is debilitating to your health. I used gastric bypass surgery as a tool to save my life so that I wouldn't develop diabetes, have a heart attack at age 35, have a stroke, and to hopefully lower my risk of cancer. Now I have no tolerance for excuses about not being able to eat healthy and exercise. See, here's the bottom line: The biggest thing that no one ever tells you about losing weight is that eventually, the number on the scale no longer matters. What matters is how you feel, how you look and how happy you are. I know at my current weight I am still medically obese, but I have a clean bill of health. Through my bad days and my good days, I am happier now than I have ever been. When I struggle or feel myself about to slip into old habits, I pull out a picture of what I used to look like. And I remind myself that nothing tastes as good as being healthy feels.

Madigan is a great hospital. I'm a military wife also, and if you get the referral to the weight loss surgery program, you're already approved. You'll have to go through their "program" of nutrition visits etc. but you start out with an approval and the only thing that'll get you kicked out of the program is weight gain. You don't have to lose weight, but you can not gain weight. That's it!

I am no doctor but I can't help but believe that medications play a big part in weight gain and loss. According to statistics, 80% of all medications list weight gain as a side effect. It just doesn't make sense that one could eat so little, exercise, follow all the correct weight loss protocol and stall out after 50 pounds or so. I know statistically, the sleeve only helps you lose about 60% of the weight you need to lose. I think there is more to weight gain and weight loss that simply calories in, calories out. Just my opinion . . .

I'll start eating apples it'll be a nice treat as well. I stopped the shake hoping to make up for it at meals but you're right, I haven't had much luck with getting more protein from the table food. I'm really struggling with eating meat. I use to love all kinds of meat but since surgery it just doesn't taste good. I'm forcing myself to eat it for the sake of protein but it makes for miserable meal time. I'm trying to look at anything I take into my body as fuel and try and change my whole mindset on eating. That's easier said than done but I'm getting there. I'm sure this weight gain must just be a glitch and I'm trying to not stress over it but 5lbs gave me some concern.

Do they know how and why it leaked? How long did you have it before the trouble started? Did you have weight gain or other symptoms? Sorry you're going through this.

When I went into this I made up my mind to become a life long athlete. That was in January of 2012 . I have kept that commitment. Exercise was just a means, not an end. I visualized the finished product... In the best health and shape possible...and structured my life to make it happen. When I first started I could barely climb stairs. I used a steep hill by my house as my gym. I walked up and down the hill, going longer each time. Then I added weights, more time. Then I started running, then more weights. At the end of a year I was running full speed up and down the hill 12 times with ankle weights and 20 pound dumbells. This on top of push ups, knee bends, and kettle bell routines. I follow simple protein first guide lines. Now I don't work out at all. Why? I work at a job where I shovel dirt and run a wheelbarrow, carry heavy boards, and lift heavy poles all day in the Florida heat. I work with men nearly one third my age, (I am 65), who can barely keep up with me. Other than fighting cramps and joint pain my health is good. Oh, yes, forgot to mention, I had prostate cancer treatment in 2009 which caused my cascading weight gain. I was supposed to be dead in 2012. I am not dead. Make your mind up, invest your heart, your body will follow.

I got on today looking for weight gain info. I am 4 months out and lost 60 lbs but gained 2lbs in the last few days. Thanks for all the great advice. I haven't journaled so I'm going to work on that.

I will be the hopefully gentle critic here. It looks like you are making bad choices, and feeling guilty about the good ones. There is nothing wrong with a turkey wrap with no bread. In fact, that is a GREAT lunch. Try spreading hummus on the turkey instead of the cheese sometimes to lower the fat. I eat turkey, hummus or cheese, and a leaf of lettuce almost every day for lunch. Also, the pepper steak and onions are not bad, either. Those choices are both high in Protein and will keep you full. Just make sure you chew it up real good and that you eat slowly. Now.... the topping off a pizza are high fat, high sodium, and not much protein. If the chicken tender was breaded, then that was also a lot of fat. We don't need to talk about the Doritos, right? Please don't get into the "it was the only food that went down" excuses. When I had my lap-band I fell into that habit and it only results in weight gain. If you have the sleeve, then your stomach should tolerate just about everything it did before, so that is a mindset that you have to get out of. I know that a lot of people have trouble with certain types of food, but if your surgery was successful and you are having a normal recovery, you should not have many issues. I'm sure you know this, but I will say it out loud (sort of) - WLS will NOT make you lose weight. You still have to CHOOSE everything that goes into your mouth. I believe you DO have to sill be on a "diet" while losing weight. Watch your calories - do you use my fitness pal to log your food? WLS will help you control the portion of what you eat, but you have to make the choice of what that portion is going to be. In my opinion WLS gives you the opportunity of maintain your weight loss and makes losing a little easier. But you still have to diet to get there. You got this - you have lost 30 pounds which is great. It will come off. STOP beating yourself up! hugs!

So good to see you! Pleas don't wait a year to come and visit....Hang out with us vets at least. Glad you are happy. My goal was not that tiny, I wear a 12 and goal weight is 170-173 bounce range. I am at 174 this morning, fighting getting down into the range... lots on my plate now, and eating more of what I want than usual. I feel good too, and after gaining 22 a couple of years ago, REALLY do not want to do that again. I never wanted to count calories or pay attention to my "diet" again at one point, but know for sure I HAVE TO to stay on track. I stop paying attention, and I gain. Thats it. I decided to drop the "boring, aggravated, bad feelings" about tracking, and just do it. That goes for other lifestyle changes as well, I walk, Kayak, dance regularly, and enjoy it... don't think of it as exercise, but as a way to enjoy life. I cultivated this feeling, it did not come naturally. I am a success, mistakes and all. I hope to keep my success into the future, but know that weight gain is not that far from me at any time. The link worked fine for me on my laptop.... perhaps you are on a phone or iPad?

Hey Tbahm, I'm sorry to hear of your troubles, am I reading right that you are just 5 days post op ? Things will get better, the weight gain will be related to the actual op I reckon and the iv fluids. Give it time to settle. Wishing you well and a speedy recovery.

So at what point did you start to lose the water weight gained from the IV fluids? When they weighed me in the hospital it showed I gained about 7-8 pounds. I'm just curious when that went away for you

Is it normal to gain weight during your hospital stay post-op? I'm wondering if the fluids and the narcotics has caused this. It's not a huge amount (six pounds), however, it's making me second-guess the surgery itself. Has anyone experienced this before? And when did you actually start losing weight? Thank you!!

Thanks Macman. It just seems strange that my straying didnt seem to effect my ability to lose, but now it and my same eating is causing me to gain. I havent really changed anything, and am not aware of what I would change to go into maintenance mode. If anything, it would seem that any change in mode would result in weight gain. I am comfortable where I am, but I dont want to be so obsessed with my eating every minute of the day - that is the DIET model, which I hate and was the whole reason I got the surgery in the first place. Congrats to you. At your height, I would think you must feel pretty good where you are...?

You have made a great decision! Good luck! All of us pretty much have the similar weight gain stories and emotions attached to it. You are not alone! You have come to the right place for support. Things will get better. You will run with your son's bike when you teach him to ride one!

Hi, I am Lizzie and I'm 56 years old. At present, I am waiting...waiting...waiting for my Surgeon's appointment on 2 October to discuss Gastric Sleeve Surgery. I am hoping that he will see and understand my frustration and hopelessness over my long term battle with my still increasing weight. It has really started to affect me much more physically now and in many other ways too private for discussion here at present. I was not overweight as a child, my weight was gained after each of my three pregnancies; followed by emotional & stress eating; many episodes of depression and medication and lack of exercise. I can't list how many "diets" I've been on over those 34 years, there is not enough room here. I have been successful a few times in this period in reducing my weight, but after time it was always regained and then some. A turning point came in my life back in 2003, after I had a "lightbulb moment" after watching Dr Phil McGraw on an Oprah show episode. I don't know how it happened to this day, but on that day something switched in my brain and I just knew what I had to do. It was something special and it's never happened to me again, so who knows, maybe it was divine. I rejoined Weightwatchers yet again, (my height being 172cm (5'8") weighing in at 112.8kg (249lbs) and reaching my goal weight of 73kg (160lbs) in 11 months. I lost another 5kg slowly after that, maintaining at around 149lbs. It was the most successful I've ever been at anything. I stationary-cycled twice a day for only 10 mins at the start because I couldn't walk because of foot & heel pain, then a few months later, a very much lighter me took up walking every day for 30-45mins. My bubble burst in 2007 when I was diagnosed with early breast cancer. After two surgeries and 6 weeks of radiotherapy, the stress changed me and again I suffered Depression. Medication, lethergy and overeating contributed to my slow weight gain over the next few years and while I improved for a while and took up walking again, I could not get rid of the weight. A couple of years ago I weighed 106kg (234lbs) and now I weigh 121kg (267lbs). I can't walk far because of foot & heel pain and a sore back. I've had enough! ENOUGH! I've tried and tried and TRIED!!! I consider myself a smart person. I've been to dieticians, psychologists, a psychotherapist, joined gyms, read books, tried medications, healthy eating, shakes and all the rest!! This weight is killing me emotionally and I need a way out before it does kill me in every sense. My growing bitterness, hopelessness and isolation is affecting my relationships. I have two young granddaughters who I cannot play with properly. I can hardly put my socks on or get up off the floor. I'm 56 not 86!!! My self-esteem is at an all time low at present. I feel so "less than" - no positive thinking can fix me now. I am desperate...desperate enough to now finally consider gastric surgery...some of my friends and family would just scoff if they knew, but they CANNOT know how much pain I am in, so I've realised (once again) in my life - the only person that can rescue me...is me!...and I'm going to DO it!!! I am just so tired of running, tired of pretending, tired of putting up with it and tired of ignoring my needs. I know this surgery is only a "tool" but a powerful one and I need to get back Power and take Control of my life. I want to feel good about myself and to just feel "normal". I want to be healthy. I want to walk again and get fit again. I want better relationships with the people in my life and I want to travel - be able to walk & climb & explore. I want to "participate" in life and not just stand on the sidelines and I want to play with my grandchildren and see them grow up. Is this too much???????????? I hope my experience helps someone here because reading about other's success after surgery, is giving me my hope back. Thank you! Lizzie

Hi Everyone :-) Today is my 4 year anniversary. I was the one that originally asked the question about weight gain after surgery. Well I'm here to tell you that you can definitely GAIN WEIGHT BACK and not just a few pounds. Although I'm very content and blessed to be wearing a size 8 today I was actually wearing some size 4's years ago. And was a perfect size 6 for over 3 years. My goal weight was to reach 150 lbs. (a normal BMI weight for me). I got as low as 144 lbs. Today 4 years out I weigh 165 lbs. I have reached as high as 170 lbs. during my period. The sleeve is a PHENOMENAL tool and 4 years out I STILL have amazing restriction. The weight gain is from not eating properly, PERIOD. For the MOST part I'm still making pretty good choices, but obviously there are choices that haven't been all that great to gain all this weight back. I know age has something to do with it as well. I am 46 going on 47 and lots of changes going on lol. BUT NO EXCUSES for sure. Again I'm content and watching my weight pretty closely now to make sure I don't gain any more weight and would love to be back to 150-155 lbs. I know it's possible for sure. I'm so thankful for my sleevie.

Sorry, but I gotta ask? Are all these extreme weight gains due to food you're eating or is it your body retaining fluids? tmf

Ok so I have posted before about this and have not really got anyone respond that this has happened to but I am just hoping maybe someone can relate and let me know what I can do to get back where I was. So I got sick July 4 within 12 days I put on 51 pounds (went from 168 to 221) but i was very swollen. Went to the hospital and got admitted July 17th they couldn't figure out what was wrong with me got released July 19th. Went and seen different doctors since then and no one know what is wrong. My liver enzymes are elevated and I'm going to a GI doctor September 16. I was put on medication at the hospital for the swelling and went from 221 to 209 in about 2 weeks. I ran out of meds for 2 days and put on about 20 pounds so now I'm around 230. I got my band adjusted July 9 but my doctor put everything she took out back in on July 30th. But I don't have any restriction at all and before with that amount in my band I couldn't get nothing down but she wanted to test it. The soonest she can see me is Sept 4th. I know this is a long shot and it may not have anything to do with my band but I am very devastated with the weight gain and wanting to know if this has ever happened to anyone. Or if someone has put all there weight back on but lost it again? Thanks in advance!

Exercise will also cause your body to retain fluids, so it could be both water and muscle weight gain counteracting the fat weight loss. Or just your basic, regular mini stall that has no rhyme or reason My trend over the last month and a half seems to be no loss for one or two weeks and then 1-2 pounds the next. Mixing up your activity will probably kick things up again.

I have to say, I've been through several surgeries (thus my weight gain) two parents with different cancers and I've never posted on a forum until now (looked but never participated) you guys are great thank you so much. It's good to hear that I will be constantly ingesting. Since I've done this once before (dumb weight loss show) I know logically that my calorie intake is minimal, it's just a weird feeling to NOT feel hungry and believe I'm actually losing. Woke up w minor tummy pains, so the constant stream of PAC maninzing stuff Into my mouth has subsided but we will see how the day progresses. Thank you!

I am only 3 days out and I'm not hungry nor think about food at all. My recovery is going well so far thank god. I am drinking my 64 oz or close to it of water a day. I'm always thirsty. I am worried that I'm stretching my stomach by drinking all this water but that's what they told me to do and I want to follow their requirements. I only felt a little nausea the day after surgery thank god but I bought a wrist band that may have helped. Any way my start weight was 298 my weight at the hospital before surgery was 278 and today I am 279. They say the iv fluid may cause the weight gain after surgery. I can't wait to see my # on my scale to go down every month. Well good luck with your decision.

My moms memorial was last weekend. The food really wants to be my best friend right now. I am working to write everything I eat down, and keep up with my stress relief exercise and getting out into nature. I am bouncing around 1-4 pounds above my "official goal bounce range" and really don't want that to become the new me. Its not so out of control, but the stress and sadness do lead to less than optimal choices... eating out with relatives, eating on the run.... I know it can and will change with time... Im just trying to keep my eyes open to what I am doing, and not go into ostrich head in the sand mode which leads to weight gain every time.

Hi oolismom, you are doing great!. Just a little heads up here... you guys, THINNER for life and more control over food... looks like the truth when you begin this journey, but veteran after veteran say this is work forever. After some or much of your hunger comes back, and you can eat more, and the routine may get boring... weight gain is a very real possibility. It is important to learn new routines, and remain vigilant every day. Maintinaning is the hardest part for many. I did not even get to maintenance until almost 3 years out, and at this point am considered one of the centers most successful patients. You do not get to goal and then cruse. Do follow your docs advice, and keep aware of changes back to old behavior, and you will do fine! I love my sleeve and it makes it possible to live at goal, with all the work I did during the losing phase still in place.

My only concern is that my records have me being 5'3 and my BMI increased to 39 and has recently become 40.3. My comorbidities include hypertension, fatigue, and constant weight gain. My menstrual cycle has been irregular for the last three years, which I think is because of the weight gain. Is that enough to get me approved? I've been really stressing about it since my appointment with the money hungry surgeon from hell. My husband thinks it was gods way if preventing me from going to a surgeon who didn't have my best interest in mind. I'm hoping this new surgeon helps get me approved. Hopefully he'll include pictures as well. I'm stressed but excited to be going to a new surgeon.