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I was always larger than my best friend - not by much but that's the way it was. It didn't bother me, I never felt like I was competing against her. Sadly, she felt she was competing with me. Around the time I got banded, she was put on medication that prompted weight gain, so I was going down while she was going up. She told me I would die from the band. She printed out information off the internet (from questionable sources) outlining all the bad things that would happen. She went so far as to tell me to get it removed merely weeks after I got the surgery. I honestly thought my best friend would be there for me but she changed completely (or maybe she was always nasty deep down). I eventually told her to get lost and we haven't spoken since and that's fine with me. I'm not here to be anyone's 'fat' friend.

be proud that you know you need to act and are reaching out! life is hard and we all need to start again sometimes. how long ago was your surgery? what eating style made you successful in loosing weight last time ? what do you think your biggest issue is that is causing weight gain ?

Here’s my opinion & it differs from others: I am 1y post op & have surpassed my goals. I believe that a lot of my issues with weight gain came from diet culture. Now, I live in the land of balance. I absolutely have had Mac & cheese (I like the reduced guilt from TJs & have it with Tuna). I think long term health & success comes from eating a healthy balanced diet. I do not ban anything, and never ever plan to diet or ban foods again. I eat a ton of Whole Foods, lean protein, Veggies & fruit. I feel and look healthy & fabulous. What I avoid the most is processed foods. I also tracked for the first year so I knew how many carbs, protein, calories and fat I took in & that helped me learn good habits. It also helped me learn what was not worth the splurge. So, IMHO, eventually you can have some Mac and cheese- once in a while. I realize everyone is different but this is my opinion & experience. I hope this helps.

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

Just downloaded this app today. My surgery date was 4/18. First 4 days were rough but starting to feel better. I was anxious due to the weight gain in the hospital but it has all come off now. Thank god!

Newbie here, I’m getting sleeved on the 22nd of March at a BMI of 35.1 Ive had so many people tell me I’m not “that” fat but I’m sorry, 35.1 is severely obese (even though I may not look “that fat”) and as a doctor I know the risks that come with excess weight. I also know the research around weight loss and that this is my best shot of losing the weight and maintaining it long term. I have tried every diet known to man, been to see countless dietitians, have tried all the medications, I exercise like crazy and all I’ve managed is to stall the weight gain. My hubby and I want to start a family next year and I want to give myself the best opportunity for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby- which means I need a healthy weight. I feel my weight is impacting on my chronic migraines and my asthma, and I’m really hoping that losing the weight and feeling better about myself will be that last thing I need to finally fully recover from years of severe treatment resistant depression. So yes, many reasons why I am choosing to have a sleeve at a “low” BMI. Mostly I just want to be healthy! Thanks for reading...

Your pre op diet sounds way better than mine!! Lol. I guess we are both having it the same day, because I'm the 19th of June as well. I'm nervous because I've gained about ten pounds since my last appointment. Not because of food though, I wish! My surgeon insists on chewable, crushable or liquid medications for the first two months post-op, and I had to change antidepressants because Wellbutrin XL can't be crushed. My pharmacist and therapist decided liquid Prozac was the way to go and started me on last month, to ensure I can tolerate it ok prior to surgery. I'm hoping the Opti-fast liquid diet helps me shed the extra pounds. I'd hate to have my surgery postponed because a medication caused more weight gain instead of loss during my waiting period for surgery.

Because of my horrible band experience, I was pretty scared that I'd never be able to enjoy a good steak again. Funny thing is that steak (any cut) all work fabulous, and I eat some form of steak about 2-3 days a week. The band made it impossible for me to eat most meats, and salads were a big no go as well. So, I was not optimistic about ever being able to eat normal foods again. I honestly eat everything under the sun. Today, I had chicken fajitas with jalapenos, sour cream and guacamole. Grant it, it was only 1 fajita with a smear of refried Beans, about a tablespoon of rice, smears of the sour cream and guacamole, lots of salsa, 3 little strips of fajita chicken breast, and hoards of sauteed onions and green peppers. I tear off the entire top part of the folded tortilla so there is not really a lot of bready tortilla to take up room. We went out to my favorite Mexican place for lunch, I had 6 tortilla chips with salsa, then ate 1 fajita, came home took a nap for about 1.5 hours, woke up did some laundry, ate another one just like I did for lunch(about 3 hours later), and then ate another one for dinner made the exact same way the previous two were made about 3 hours later again. I didn't eat Breakfast today, and needed to make sure to eat something decent today. I'll probably eat some turkey pepperonis with cheese chunks before bed to get in some more Protein for the day. I am 22 weeks pregnant, that 3d sono is just a random picture attached to the little pregnancy ticker. I won't get my 3d sono until August 8th, but me and Miss Tatum are doing fabulous. I've gained more weight than what I wanted to gain by this point with a 12-13 pound weight gain in 22 weeks. My doctors want me to gain 30-35, and at this point, I don't see that being a problem. I'm tweaking my intake this week to see if I can stay the same weight. I'm having to eat 300 more calories a day than what I was eating in maintenance, I'm not allowed to work out, or exercise, and I have to eat 100-200gr of carbs, with a 100gr of protein per day with 1700-1800 calories. It's frustrating, but Tatum is growing and thriving, is 100% healthy, and actually weighs about 1/2 pound heavier than other babies her age. So, I'm definitely able to support myself and a baby. It's just a weird place to be to be gaining weight, and all the physical changes that come with pregnancy. My labs have remained stellar as well through the pregnancy so VSG has not negatively effected my pregnancy, or the baby in any way. Once you get to maintenance, and a good grasp on food after your losing stage, you can literally eat anything you want that your body will tolerate. I do still avoid a lot of junk food. Sometimes I cave and have chips and dip, or a small slice of cake or cheesecake, but I also know that overdoing those foods will get me fat again.

I grew up in a household where my parents were both overweight and was encouraged to eat everything on my plate. Otherwise, I couldn't leave the dinner table. The meals growing up were large and fattening, I grew up in a southern household. I have thrown away some food but a lot of times, I eat part now and the rest later for my other small meal. I haven't eaten large meals in the last few years, I just ate a lot of rich meals during my extensive business and personal travel. That coupled wit the fact that I was working 12-14 hour days (financial services pays well, but controls your life), caused my weight gain. I was leaving my home at 6:00 am and getting back home at 9:00 pm. I've learned how to be very selective when eating out in the months leading up to being sleeved.

Here the thing though. I don’t agree with this anymore. I was raised by a dieter, dieting. I was taught calories in calories out. Calories = weight gain. That’s what got me fat!! Trying to restrict my calories, failing, Binging, gaining more than before the diet, screwing my metabolism. There is no way I could be happy on less calories than my body is hungry for. When I went to eating disorder treatment I was taught that more calories doesn’t equal weight gain if you are eating for your respective metabolism, which is what I do. If you had told me I could maintain my weight averaging 2500 calories I would have said you were crazy. But now I believe differently because I’m living it. I don’t know exactly how many calories I eat a day because I don’t track, and yes I am active. I don’t work out but i do stay on the move. But I do tally my calories up once in awhile and I believe I average around 2500. I gained weight from my lowest and then it stopped. I maintain where I am easily now- except when I don’t make sure and eat enough (which can be hard sometimes given my physical restrictions from surgery), and then I lose weight, which i do not want. My belief is that my metabolism is restored and my body is able to handle the calories. If I had eaten this much when I was dieting back in the day, I would have gained weight because weight gain is the result of a poorly functioning metabolism due to dieting cycles. For women 2500 calories is a reasonable amount of food that is a full and satisfied life. It may not mean super thin but it can equal a nice maintainable set point weight. I know this isn’t for everyone and I’m challenging a lot of beliefs here. I’m sharing my knowledge of what works for me.

Hey all..sort of good news...didn't gain anything since before Christmas!! That is a shocker...so maybe something was going right..but I sure felt like my stomach was poochy!! Confused...great goals...I'm inspired. And they seem doable. Way to go. Tonya..you are always a inspiration. I think the inches lost are terrific..even if the scale is hard to give up a few pounds. Geez...you work out like a mad-woman. Juno, you rock. Only 25 pound weight gain..isn't that the desired amount for pregnancy? I don't have any kids, but I thought it was around there. You are certainly doing something right.

What is your weight loss 3 wks out? With preop and 2 day postop am 14 lbs gone. With some of my weight gaining meds this will be a slow go if all else goes well. Good to hear u are feeling good physically. Having any reservations? Or problems? Hope it goes every bit as well. If people only knew....well like the old saying...walk a mile in my shoes. No one will understand unless they have experienced it.

G'Day Stacy I gained back due to meds and also a very bad hiatus hernia which had the better part of my stomach and band above the diaprham ? and putting stress on all my organs due to the stomach being where it shouldn't be my band had also slipped slightly due to this. And as I had no insurance at the time and no way to have it repaired I just lived with it, Last year I had 7 operations which also stressed out me and my body more so weight gain was also caused from the stress.

Hey, i just had a baby 5 weeks ago today. i was banded in july 2006 lost 20pds and had a new baby surprise! when i found out i was pregnant, my dr. said it would be best to get an unfil. four weeks after i gave birth i was very ready to be filled again and really BEGIN my weight loss. so i have lost 6 pds this week and am still nursing and my baby is getting plenty of milk. my baby was 3 weeks early and weighed 8pds 10ozs he is now over 12pds. so i'd say he's doing pretty well. if your worried about the weight gain~ get a fill. good luck!

Pre op weight 189 Op day weight 5/31 183 Current weight 163 A week from today I start solids! So excited, I miss chewing food ! But I am scared as well. Afraid of food intolerances, weight gain, and if eating solid Protein will be enough to meet my protein requirements daily- and if not what are easy ways to make that up

Hello Everyone, My name is Melissa and I am scheduled for surgery on July 9th. I am 50 years old and have been fighting the weight gain/loss battle for the past 20 years. I finally decided 1 1/2 years ago that I needed to finally take care of ME. In retrospect I feel like in the past I put everyone else before me. Now it is me time. Yeah!!!! So excited. Start my 2 week liquid diet next Saturday. Should be interesting.

also, you will want to use a heating pad on your shoulder. It helps with the shoulder pain and take ibprofin.. it also helps with the swelling. I don't have those health problems. However, if you had an IV drip, they are putting extra fluids in you which means you will have a weight gain. That is normal anytime you have IV fluids put into your body. Good luck with your band!!!

I think I may be the only one on here that has the balls to admit I am currently taking Phentermine after WLS. I was sleeved on August 31, 2012 and have lost 60lbs. I got very discouraged in my weight loss venture. I am human and give in to temptation just like most of us do. My weakness is Mr Pibb. I know it's a horrible thing and I'd lose way more if I'd stop drinking 2 sodas a day. Which is a huge improvement from about 2 -2 liters a day before surgery. I don't need anyone preaching to me what I already know. I have a hard time drinking Water and yes I've put everything known to man in it to make it more desirable, but no luck. I can go 12 plus hours with out drinking a drop of anything. My Dr says I have water weight gain and has put me on the Phentermine to make me thirsty and to help with the water weight. Phentermine isn't a quick fix and I still have lots of weight to lose, but it has helped me get over the depression I have felt for quite sometime about the weight not coming off. I lost 10lbs on it and I am way thirsty. He only prescribed it a month and I'm glad he did. I have found that if I actually get out and walk around for a little while I start to notice more energy. I also have learned to pre-weigh and pre-pack my lunches and dinners for the week. This is a huge life changing journey and man what a roller coaster ride it has been. I'm sure most of you are appalled about the phentermine after surgery, but some of us need that little extra boost to help us get through hard times. Especially when there is no support and a strong ear would be nice to have for thoughts and wonders. So before you are quick to judge me, remember we are all human and no-one on this earth is perfect.

Anyone gain weight? I'm a little more then 3 weeks out. Off purée food and eating soft foods for a few days now.. I just weighed myself and I gained a little more then 2 lbs. shouldn't I be losing? Sent from my iPhone SD - 1/28/13

You haven't gained that much. Baby weight gain is a pretty normal thing...many women gain more like 30, not 10 so it seems you have done well. I guess like most of us you would need to take some sort of action to get back to the 145. I don't really know where you are post op, but in general, going back to basics like eating Protein first, not snacking, avoiding eating late, etc etc are the ways to knock off 10 pounds. I currently weigh 155, still under my goal, but i too want to get back to 145. I am holding steady right now, but come January I plan to tackle it by modifying my eating and exercise.

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!!!

Hello everyone. I’m so glad to see this forum. I’m planning a revision to the mini bypass as well. I was originally sleeved in 2013. As with everyone else, I’m plagued with heartburn and weight gain. I’m planning to self pay and return to my original surgeon. I’m hoping to have my surgery sometime this summer.

This surgey was not something I took lightly. I prayed about it and prepared for 8 months before I got the call for Dec 19, 2022. I made this decision purely for my health as I’m sure most of you did as well. I was starting to have heart problems and my knees would hurt as I walked down the stairs. I was told it would be life changing and when it came to the weight loss it has been, but the complications that have bombarded me has me questioning if it was worth it. I don’t want to scare anyone off, because ninety-nine percent get through their gastric sleeve and adapt after the initial healing, but I have always been the one percent. You see I was the one percent with my pain management as well because I took steroid shots to my back after giving birth to my daughter. This went on for 10 years and then I developed adrenal insufficiency because my body became dependent on the hormone. It could no longer produce its own cortisol so I was then on the precipice of dying if I didn’t start a steroid regimen immediately among my diagnosis. I literally was down to that one percent of cortisol in my body. For five years I suffered unimaginable low energy, adrenal crisis when my body was to stressed, countless hospital visits and of course massive weight gain from cushions disease. I thought nothing would ever be as bad as that time in my life when I finally recovered after those five years and stopped my steroids. But the damage was done and I was severely obese at my heaviest of 270 and on top of that my thyroid suffered in the process so I could never get the weight off. Thats what led me to the only solution my doctor had and the realization that their are things worse than Addisons disease, at least for me. Since my surgery I have not been able to keep any food down. I have had to be admitted to the hospital for days on end where I would go back to the liquid diets. A few weeks ago I had a little tuna and my body rejected it with a fury sending me to the hospital for five days where I had two emergency surgeries. The doctor couldn’t believe what he was seeing on my mri. Somehow so much scar tissue has devolved that it was causing my sleeve to be pulled by my gallbladder and they were attached so we thought that was the reason I couldn’t keep any food down. After I came out of that surgery I felt relief and I wanted to cry because another thing I forgot to mention is that I had been nauseous 24/7 since my sleeve surgery, but for those five hours after waking up from the anesthesia and pain meds I felt normal. The nausea was gone. But the next day it was back with a vengeance and more imaging found that my gallbladder was infected and had to come out immediately. So under I went for the 3rd time in 6 months reentering the same wounds that still hadn’t healed. And again for a while I wanted to cry out that it’s a miracle, it’s all better, but as soon as all the meds wore off I was right back were I started. I also had to have a drain put in because their had been blood pooling around my sleeve since the first surgery. All they could do was prescribe me 3 medications to control the vomiting. I lost 7 pounds during that hospital stay. When I got home after being on a liquid diet for a few more days I slowly eased into the soft foods, but to this day after every meal or healthy snack I make my way to that porcelain hell were I retch until the nausea calms. I then take my nausea medications and Valium to relax my stomach muscles. It usually takes about three hours and then I do it all again because I’m only eating twice a day to avoid being sick morning, noon, and night. The only thing that has changed is the constant nausea, it’s now only after I eat something. I’m literally living off of soft cheese and fruit, but more than a few bites and all hell breaks loose. I can tell how malnourished I am because my hair is falling out in clumps and my skin is dry. I’m drinking as much liquid as I can, but dehydration is always around the corner. My doctor says I’m loosing more weight than he anticipated so I always thought hearing those words would bring me joy, but I’m so depressed and have no energy for my family so I have to ask myself daily was it worth it? Will it get better with more time? Again, I don’t want to scare anyone because their are more good stories on here than bad. I simply want to share my story because there is no other like it and that scares me. My daughter is always asking if I could die, she did this when I was sick with addisons too? I tell her if things get better before I reach my healthy weight of 130 then I’ll be ok because right now even though i’m not getting the calories I need my body still has enough fat storage to feed off of, but at the rate I’m loosing- a pound every other day, I will be severely malnourished if it gets to that point. Most people say the surgery is a blessing, but for me it may still be, but a blessing in disguise. I have spoken with my doctor and he doesn’t have the answers. I have scoured medical journals and comment boards also with no answers. If there is anyone on here that is going through the same thing please reach out and if you prefer to talk in private my email is marsgirl22@gmail.com. I know this was truly a long post, but my journey has been just as long and I hope that my story can help someone else to get the answers that seem to allude me. Oh and just for clarification of how rapidly I am losing I started at 260 pounds two weeks before my surgery and now I am 175 pounds and counting down. Bless you all for taking the time to read my story and I sincerely hope you want hesitate to help me if you can.

I'm checking in at 193 today. I'm pretty sure I'm up a couple of pounds since this started. I honestly can't even remember if I checked in last week. I was on vacation all last week, so I'm not beating myself up about the small weight gain. I'll lose it this week. :-)

I am hypothyroid also and had surgery the same date as you. Yes, weight gain/stall is normal from what I've heard. I also got the added pleasure of having Aunt Flo visit on Friday. Plus feeling very bloated and constipated. Needless to say I've not wanted to feel dissapointed so havent weighed yet. My surgeon visit is Tuesday so will weigh in for my one week surgiversary. Keep us posted...we are all here to support each other Sent from my VS990 using the BariatricPal App