Search the Community

I agree with Denise. For me, it's also redefining what is normal. My new normal means low carb, low sugar, and protein first. I don't intend to "indulge" in food that is unhealthy because that is what got me here in the first place! In the past, I could diet like a rock star, lose the weight, and then feel that I could have a few "treats" now and then. Once i was at my goal. I'd eat something unhealthy, notice no weight gain, and think it was okay to continue eating "normal" by fitting in the unhealthy foods until I was back to eating junk on a regular basis. Soon, I was back to my original Pre-diet weight, plus another 10 lbs. I didn't go through a risky surgery only to let that happen again! I have a friend who had Gastric Bypass surgery 10 years ago. She lost all her weight, then began to gradually eat and drink "normal" again. It worked for a few years, but guess what? She is now back to her original size. it's a slippery slope and a gamble that I'm just not willing to risk.

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.

Wow, that's really crummy of your PCP. Having such a huge life-change ignored feels just as bad as if he were totally negative about it. I am thinking about finding a new PCP, too. My husband and I are going to be having lap band surgery in about 6 months (insurance requirements - DOH). We have been seeing a husband and wife pair of doctor's as our PCP's for about seven years. About 6 months ago, before I had even really decided to get WLS, my doctor and I were discussing my latest weight gain and how difficult the previous year had been for me. I asked her opinion of WLS and was totally FLOORED when she looked me straight in the eye and said she "I think it's the absolute worst thing you could do". I was shocked. She went on to tell me about studies and there being no evidence that long-term weight loss was the norm after WLS and more negative stuff that ended with her telling me about what a "wonderful example of someone who got it right, the actor Jason Alexander", was. Apparently, she saw him on tv talking about how seeing a shrink and "fixing what was going on in his head finally helped him lose the weight". So, not only was she basically insinuating that I would be stupid and wrong to get WLS and that I was crazy, to boot. My husband has since found out, through conversations with her husband, his PCP, feels pretty much the same. We just really need to find another doctor, because we are both dreading telling them about my decision to have WLS and just don't really want to hear what they has to say on the matter. We've only told my Mom and my best friend about our decision, who are both very supportive. I am nervous about telling my sister, too.

You have time to lose the 5 pounds. What are you doing to lose? Perhaps you can add a Protein shake as a Meal Replacement for 1-2 meals and do some like exercise like walking. I'm sure you'll be fine. Most insurance companies/surgeons is more concerned with weight gain opposed to weight lost. There could be a number of reasons why you haven't lost so Im sure they will factor that in. I was told if I didn't lose as long as I didn't gain I would be fine. You'll do it. Let us know how things work out for you. Good luck.

I think the skinny jeans look way better too. Globe, where are you? Are you still in Oregon? I really feel for all of you taking care of elderly parents. I did that already and it was very hard. It really wore me down. I miss my parents, but I don't miss their health failing more and more all the time. Going off to Roseburg today so Bill can go to Costco. It's 80 mi one way. there's some othe stuff he wants to do there too. I am just glad to get out of town. It will be warmer there too. I am really afraid my gabapentin which I take for sleep is causing weight gain. I have been really good and not dropped an ounce.

Well, I am now eight weeks post op/revision. I must say, I physically feel better. But that is where the good news ends. I have managed to eat my way up 12 pounds and climbing. I have walked (3-4 miles) every day, worked out 3 days per week, journaled my in take and still gained. I am eating larger portions and yes, I am eating CRAP. I can't make myself stop. I went on the detox and did fine, then got down when the scale went up and had a cookie..It has been non-stop since then. My naval still hurts and so does my mid-section. The doctor says I am just healing and to relax. Don't stress about the discomfort nor the weight gain. It will calm down and this is expected. Posh, Posh, Poo, Poo. The B-12 shots have my thighs bruised and I have had enough of those. Weight gain is weight gain is weight gain any way you want to look at it. I can't control myself and as much as I hate to admit it..I almost don't care at this point. My band is gone..there is no alternative on the horizon except "self-control" and we all know how well that works - that's why we had WLS in the first place. I have met with the NUT and a dietician..my GYN and my PCP...no luck, they all say, you look great, you can do this, just say NO...HAHA..They are skinny and haven't dealt with obesity their entire life. There is an evil gene inside me and it wants to be fed..the little sucker was alseep for 2 1/2 years - the band had choked the life out of it...but as soon as the band was gone - surprise - here it came again. I know I still have the plication but that is not the same...I need that tiny little pouch that sent the burping message to me to "put the fork down and walk away". I had a good relationship with my band - the slippage was not my fault - I want it back. The surgeon says I can't have it back because my stoma had formed scar tissue around the top and therefore it can't be put back. OK fine, I am intelligent, I understand...but what can I put in it's place????????????? How about "fat gene removal"??? As hard as I try to focus on something else..anything else..it call comes back to FOOD..For those of you reading this, you now think I am a "head case" and only a shrink will help me..well, maybe so, but in the mean time..I am snacking and munching my way back to being "chunky" all over again. I am still in contact with the doctor and I think he realizes that I am on a downward spiral...I hope he can help me out of this funk before I gain anymore poundage. I have little faith there. Have a great weekend to all..I hope you don't mind that I had to vent..I had to vent somewhere and this blog seemed like the best place. One thing for sure...many of you understand where I am coming from..you have been there and have the T-shirt to prove it. Melinda in Florida

I suspect there is also the demon that part of the reason we ate was to calm our anxiety down. We did it subconsciously and food soothed us, made us in a sense, happy, at least for the momoent. Now we do not have that soother in the form of food. This is also part of the picture I feel. That is why I have gone into therapy to learn to wrestle this dragon so I do not go back to being the fat person I had become. As to the hands shaking, and feeling hyoglycemic, are you getting your Protein? Keeping sugars out of your diet? I find when I even have a small amount of sugar as in non fat frozen yogurt, I have periods of hypoglycemia until I get more protein into my system. I think this is a really under analyzed portion of weight loss, the increased irritablity and anxiety can lead to weight gain and I feel should be acknowledged and studied. I for one am going to fight it daily, I am down 114 pounds in 10 months and never want to be fat again.

It's funny that you say that. I didn't have my P since February 15 and then suddenly on Saturday I started spotting. Since then I have continued to spot. I've only lost 17 lbs so far. I'm 50 so I thought maybe it was menopause, could still be. Weight gain/loss does affect hormones.

hi....I too am band to sleeve... I was a slow looser and now my weight loss has stopped instead I have put on..maybe its the gout....it says gout gives sudden weight gain... I am too low...I was always afraid this wouldnt work for me...I have arthritis ..cant walk much...metabolism is very slow...

It isn't your fault. After care is not something I'm finding that surgeons' want to deal with. I am starting to hear it more and more. It includes weight gain but also in cases where you have problems. I'd say listen to the good advice here and see what you can do with it, what would help me. Let me commend you for your strength and character in seeking help. You recognize that you are worth helping. That is a huge step. Keep thinking about that and fighting for you.

My wife is on anxiety meds and they make her put on weight like mad. Ask your prescribing doc if that's a side effect of yours and see if there is another variety you can take? I know they're very hard to get off of and change. And it sounds like you need them. If you must be on them, you'll have to work them into your lifestyle. Research how they work chemically and see if you can't make some nutritional changes to minimize their weight gaining side effects. And try to get off them when the time is right. You've been through a lot, but you can do this. Tell the people closest to you how much you need them. People react poorly to friends and family with depression. They just don't know what to do. Tell them what you need and forgive their dumb reactions.

I start my preop diet friday. I stopped smoking years ago, but recently realized how comforting I feel from food. My marriage is not good, I have no one to tell about my surgery, by choice in some ways, as I don't want to. I've isolated myself drastically since this last weight gain. I avoid going home for years...bc I don't want anyone to judge me! I will not smoke or drink after surgery...I want to but it's something I have up. It's hard not having any crutch. What's going to happen when I lose food? I'm scared and emotional over this, although READY....just struggling. I don't know what to do when I get emotional or angry about not being able to eat. How do I handle this right???

I am going through that very thing right now. Insurance denied me because I had shown a weight gain during my weight management, but at my last weight management appt i had shown a weight loss of 20lbs. Insurance claims they did not receive my paperwork from May which is the month that shows the weight loss. My doctor is going to do a peer to peer phone call with my insurance to have the decision reversed. My doctor also told me that they were not giving the requirement that I could not gain weight. So, I am hoping to receive good news soon. IF your insurance denies your request then you should have the option to appeal their decision. I would talk with your surgeon to find out how to go about something like that. For now, stay positive! You never know, you could be approved! ????

I haven't been on this forum in forever but I'm looking for a couple friends to go through this journey with. I'm 20 (almost 21) weeks along with my first (lil' boy). I was 11 months out when I found out I was pregnant. I still had about 30lbs to my goal. So this whole weight gain thing is starting to get to me a little bit (mentally and emotionally). I had gotten down to about 210 (from 299) and was 216 when I got pregnant and now I'm at 230. I know I'll be able to work on this again when the baby gets here but for right now, it's just challenging. Anyone else in the same boat?

I can agree, I dont like or think artificial sweetener is good in any sense of the word good. With that said, lots of stuff like medicine I take that I need (blood pressure etc.) is not good for me in one sense but it is better for me than the alternative. (heart attack, stroke). So for me that is how I think of the sugar free is that as an obese person, when I feel I have to eat something sweetened, it just has to be sugar free because the alternative to it is more sugar and more weight gain. We absolutely should eat it in small amounts and learn to cut it out or greatly decrease the amount and while we are in that process the sugar free is what helps us get there and loose weight in the meantime. I hope that made sense, Colleen

There are 'good' carbs and 'bad' carbs (or 'evil' as you say). Bad carbs include sugar and simple carbs and have almost no nutritional value. They contribute to obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes. Eating simple carbs result in sluggishness and weight gain with very little benefit. Simple carbs are basically anything made w/white flour, white rice/rice flour, or enriched wheat flour (if something needs to be 'enriched' it's because they processed the hell out of it, stripping away any nutrients it might have had). Good carbs are complex carbs. They are recommended and desirable. They have soluble and insoluble Fiber, Protein, nutrients, and are more slowly digested resulting in a more steady energy supply and other health benefits. Good sources are whole grain breads, crackers, and cereals; brown rice; quinoa; Beans and legumes, etc. A bariatric patient's dietary requirements for good health is protein first, vegetables second, and complex carbs last. It works. :-)

Hi All, I am 4 1/2 weeks, almost 5 weeks out from the sleeve and I'm looking for opinions. I have an appt with my Doctor on wed, and will also ask her then. For the last two weeks or so, I am been having terrible constipation. And when I do go, it's extremely painful. I take 2 Colace every morning and it doesn't seem to be helping. I also think the lack of Bowel movement is showing up on the scale as a weight gain or staying the same. For the last two days, I added a bit more fat in my diet and that seemed to help. I've been eating for the last week pretty much the exact same diet.... shake for Breakfast Shake for lunch 1/4 pound of extra lean turkey breast with balsamic vinegar and liquid aminos and about a 1/4 cup of 1% cottage cheese. Boring I know, but I'm hardly ever hungry and this gets me to about 700 calories. Had anyone else struggled this badly with BM? I've never had problems in this area in my life having always had a pretty high fat diet. Thanks!

Here are some more Iron and vegetarian types of resources in case red meat is an issue: healthy fats nuts seeds vegetables fruit grains wheatgerm flaxseeds soya mustard seeds avocado coco It’s easy to add fat to your diet simply by eating a healthy mix of the foods listed above. Try adding coconut oil to your porridge, adding flaxseed oil to your Soup just before serving, or eating an avocado sandwich. Run if you see ingredients like hydrogenated oil, high fructose corn syrup, and MSG. The difference between a vegan and a vegetarian is that vegans eliminate all animal products from their diet, including dairy and eggs. Those following a vegan lifestyle generally do not wear leather and avoid products made from animals such as wool, silk and down. Vegans' tremendous compassion for animals is an abiding, overriding conviction in their lives. Vegetarians do not eat meat, fish or poultry but they tend to consume dairy products and eggs. Lacto-vegetarians consume dairy products but not eggs, ovo-vegetarians eat eggs but not dairy products and lacto- ovo-vegetarians eat eggs as well as dairy products. Vegetarians also do not eat products that contain gelatine or other meat-based products. The vegan point of view is that animals are not here to be exploited by man, and that commercialization of animals necessarily involves a fundamental, inhumane component and lack of respect for basic life. From a nutrition standpoint, the only difference is that vegans need to take a B12 and amino acid supplement, since they have no dietary source of these nutrients. You can get all the nutrients you need on a lacto- ovo (eggs and milk) vegetarian diet without supplements. A vegan diet also minimizes food allergies or intolerance since it eliminates the most common allergens like shellfish, eggs and dairy. VEGETARIAN: Vegetarian is a blanket term used to describe a person who does not consume meat, poultry, fish, or seafood. This grouping includes Vegans and the various sub-categories of Vegetarian; however, it generally implies someone who has less dietary restrictions than a Vegan. SEMI-VEGETARIAN: The term Semi-Vegetarian is usually used to describe someone who is a vegetarian who consumes dairy products, eggs, chicken, and fish, but does not consume other animal flesh. OVO-LACTO-VEGETARIAN: Ovo-lacto vegetarians are Vegetarians who do not consume meat, poultry, fish, and seafood, but do consume eggs and milk. This is the largest group of Vegetarians. OVO-VEGETARIAN: Ovo-vegetarian is a term used to describe someone who would be a vegan if they did not consume eggs. LACTO-VEGETARIAN: Lacto-Vegetarian is a term used to describe someone who would be a vegan if they did not consume milk. VEGAN: Vegan is the strictest sub-category of Vegetarians. Vegans do not consume any animal products or by-products. Some go as far as not even consuming honey and yeast. Others do not wear any clothing made from animal products. Important: Take some time to figure out for yourself, what group you will belong to when you become a Vegetarian. You will want to consider both dietary and ethical reasons for choosing this lifestyle. Vegan and Vegetarian lifestyle leads to weight gain for many It is hard to imagine that anyone following a lifestyle filled with healthy, whole choices would gain weight as a result of that decision. But they do. Here’s (usually) why: *Starchy foods – Vegan and vegetarian diets consume higher amounts of natural, whole plant foods. In addition, most include greater quantities of other nonmeat/seafood products like Pasta. Whole foods and food products like pasta are higher in calories and carbohydrates requiring more energy spent when consuming more calories. *Low Protein – Most natural foods contain lower amounts of protein than other food resources (example - dairy, meat, poultry and seafood/fish). Protein provides many benefits, including slower digestion, leaving us feeling full and satisfied longer. *Excessive calories – Anything consumed needs to be ‘burned.' Food is fuel and exercise is the way our body utilizes and burns the calories we consume. When we consume excessive amounts of fuel – even healthy fuel – our activity level must increase to offset consumption. *Activity level – Our body breaks down carbs consumed into ‘glycogen,' later utilizing it for energy. Glycogen is stored to muscles, brain, liver and other tissue. Excess carbs are stored to fat tissue. If we are not building muscles, exercising regularly (aerobics, yoga, weight lifting, etc.) then our body will naturally store excess carbs (and calories overall) to fat. Building muscles naturally gives our body a location where glycogen can be stored and used when needed. The lack of muscles = increased body fat. Excessive consumption without matched calorie burning exercise = weight gain. *Balanced diet – 60/20/20 = Carbs/Protein/Fat. Regardless of nutritional lifestyle choices, balanced nutrition is required to help our body survive and stay healthy. When those ‘numbers’ (60/20/20) are out of balance our body follows suit in several ways (i.e. weight gain, muscle mass loss, increased body fat, etc.). Complex versus simple carbs Carbohydrates are complex and/or simple. Some carbohydrates are from natural resources while others are ‘refined’ (processed). Natural carbohydrates are beneficial to our overall health. They also provide antioxidants which aid our body’s natural ability to restore, renew, and replenish. Simple carbs = Comprised of one or two molecules, digest quickly impacting the way our blood sugar rises and falls. *Sugar, high fructose corn syrup, molasses. Some fruits and vegetables are classified in both simple and complex catagories. Complex carbs = Contain starch and dietary fiber. Dense and digest slowly with less impact on our blood sugar rising and falling. *Nuts, legumes, seeds, fruit,s vegetables, fruit and whole grains, barley So how does someone follow their passion for staying healthy, eat whole food and live a Vegan or vegetarian lifestyle nix the worry about weight gain? *Eat more complex carbs – Beans and peas are small ‘jewels’ packed with natural protein and fiber. From Soups to side dishes, both leave you feeling fuller longer. According to the USDA, they’re essential in living a healthier lifestyle and useful in receiving what our body naturally needs: “Beans and peas are the mature forms of legumes. They include kidney beans, pinto beans, black beans, lima beans, black-eyed peas, garbanzo beans (chickpeas), split peas and lentils. They are available in dry, canned, and frozen forms. These foods are excellent sources of plant protein, and also provide other nutrients such as iron and zinc. They are similar to meats, poultry, and fish in their contribution of these nutrients. Therefore, they are considered part of the Protein Foods Group. Many people consider beans and peas as vegetarian alternatives for meat. However, they are also considered part of the Vegetable Group because they are excellent sources of dietary fiber and nutrients such as folate and potassium. These nutrients, which are often low in the diet of many Americans, are also found in other vegetables.” (http://www.choosemyplate.gov/food-groups/vegetables-beans-peas.html) *Eat healthy, protein rich grains – Quinoa is a seed, an excellent source for protein (approximately 9 grams a cup) and perfect when added to rice, soup or other vegetable dishes and salads. *Limit pasta – A cup of pasta can net almost 400 calories, 80 grams of carbs and 14 grams of protein. Add the sauce and other vegetables to that meal and you are probably reaching over 700 calories real quick. *Limit starchy vegetables (but don’t completely avoid them!) – Potatoes, corn, yams, and squash are very healthy food, but they are higher in starch (and calories) than other vegetables, causing our blood sugar to rise. The below "Vegan Food Pyramid" (www.veganfoodpyramid.com) helps to visualize the balance of a healthy lifestyle. Quick Tips for Wellness: Just remember....a calorie still needs to be utilized through exercise or else it will turn into excess weight gain. That’s because beans and green leafy vegetables?which vegetarians and vegans tend to eat plenty of?are loaded with iron. And many other foods are iron-fortified (breakfast cereals, for example), as you’ll see on their labels. A 1-cup serving of green vegetables provides 1-3 milligrams of iron, depending on which vegetable you choose. A 1/2-cup serving of beans provides 2-3 milligrams. A bowl of a typical iron-fortified Cereal has 18 milligrams. How much iron do you need? The recommended dietary allowance for adult males and for women over 50 is 8 milligrams per day. For women aged 19-50, the RDA is 18 milligrams per day (it’s higher to compensate for menstrual losses). So, with all that iron in everyday foods, how could a vegetarian run low? Several reasons: First, some people eat everything veg except those healthful, iron-rich vegetables and beans. In that case, it is easy to run low. Also, dairy products interfere with iron absorption: if you have a glass of milk with a meal, it reduces the iron you absorb from the other foods you eat by about half. A young woman’s menstrual flow leads to iron losses every month. Distance runners lose iron too, both in sweat and through the repeated pounding of their feet, which breaks up red blood cells. Q: Is there a difference between the iron in vegetables and the iron in meat? A: Yes. The iron in plants is called nonheme iron. Its absorption depends on how much iron is in your body already. That is, if you are low in iron, your body absorbs more of it from the foods you eat. If you already have plenty of iron in your body, nonheme iron is less absorbable. That’s good. It means you’ll get the iron you need without overdoing it. The iron in meat is called heme iron. Its absorption does not change. You may have plenty of iron stored in your body already, but like an uninvited guest at a party, heme iron barges in whether you need it or not. As a result, many meat eaters end up with too much iron, which is dangerous because iron sparks the production of free radicals?molecules that can damage your body tissues. Think of it this way: iron rusts; that is, it oxidizes. The same chemical reaction that turns an old nail rusty red can occur with the iron inside your body. In the process, iron releases free radicals that are linked to aging, cancer, and heart disease. Q: Should I take an iron supplement? A: No, not unless your health care provider has diagnosed an iron deficiency. In the past, iron was promoted as the answer to life’s problems. If you were dragging through the day, iron pills and various tonics promised extra iron to perk you up. That was a mistake, because iron overdose is as dangerous as iron deficiency, and is much more common. So if you think you might be low in iron, get tested. It is quick and easy. And because high levels of iron can be risky, doctors are quite happy to see your blood tests come out at the lower end of the normal range. But if you really are low in iron, your health care provider will look for reasons why. The first concern is bleeding, as can occur from normal menstrual flow, or from abnormal conditions, such as an ulcer or colon cancer, that require more detailed evaluation. If you do need to boost your iron intake, the answer is to fill up on “greens and beans,” as well as Vitamin C-rich foods, such as fruit and fruit juices, which increase iron absorption. Avoiding dairy products also helps (and don’t worry about calcium?green vegetables and beans provide a healthful source of that too). Only in rare cases is an iron supplement necessary. According to the CDC, heme iron is absorbed two to three times better than non-heme iron. To make matters worse for vegetarians, many sources of vegetarian iron also contain chemicals called antinutrients. These antinutrients can block the absorption of iron (as well as other nutrients). One common antinutrient is oxalic acid, which is found in spinach. Because of how poorly vegetarian iron is absorbed, the Institute of Medicine recommends that vegetarians consume double the recommended amount of iron. The current RDA for iron is 18mg/day for adult females and 8mg/day for adult males. Based on the Institute of Medicine recommendations, vegetarians and vegan women and men should respectively strive to consume 36mg and 16mg of iron daily. 36mg of Iron on a Vegetarian Diet?!? There are a lot of vegetarian and vegan foods which contain lots of iron. Rice bran, for example, contains 11mg per half cup. It isn’t the tastiest food in the world, but you can sprinkle some into your cereal or add it to baked goods. Beans and lentils are also rich in iron, with about 2-4mg per half cup. You’ll also find iron in foods like whole grains, dark leafy greens, and seeds. Even if you are chowing down on only these healthy, iron-rich foods, you’ll still realize it is pretty hard to get your iron intake to add up to the 36mg per day recommended for vegetarian women (vegetarian men definitely have it easier than women here). Don’t worry! You don’t necessarily have to consume massive amounts of iron just to stay healthy. There are some tricks which can help you absorb iron better. Easy Ways to Increase Iron Absorption One super easy way for vegetarians and vegans to get more iron from their food is to add some Vitamin C to the meal. This is as simple as topping your bean burger with some tomato salsa or even squeezing some lemon juice into your Water. A lot of vegetarian sources of iron, such as leafy greens, are already high in vitamin C, which helps counter the whole oxalic acid anti-nutrient problem. If you are worried about iron levels, you’ll also want to lay off the coffee and tea – at least for an hour or so before and after meals. Natural chemicals in coffee and tea block the absorption of iron, as well as several other important nutrients. You can always take an iron supplement if you are worried that you aren’t getting enough iron from food alone (you’ll probably want to check with your doctor first and have a simple blood test done to check hemoglobin levels; iron supplements can cause overdoses of iron!). Your body can’t absorb a lot of iron at once though, so it is best to space out your supplementation. You can break your supplement in half and take it in the morning and evening, or you can get a time-released iron supplement. http://plenteousveg.com/vegan-coupons/? utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=vegan-coupons Kale is an especially good source of these nutrients because it has a high bioavailability of iron. If you can’t fathom the idea of eating greens (which is lame because greens can taste great if you cook them right), then maybe consider drinking green smoothies or incorporating some green superfoods like spirulina into your life. What are good vegan sources of healthy fat? Avocado, nuts, seeds, olives, and flax oil are the big ones. Even some foods which you wouldn’t suspect also contain healthy fats, like raw wheat germ and dark leafy greens. The good news is that all of these healthy vegan fats often also contain other nutrients you might be lacking on a poorly- planned vegan diet, like zinc and vitamin K. http://www.uhs.wisc.edu/health-topics/healthy- lifestyle/documents/Iron.pdf Vegetarian Resource Group http://www.vrg.org/ http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Iron-HealthProfessional/ Iron http://plenteousveg.com/ Nutrient Guides, Food, Nutrition http://www.vegkitchen.com/nutrition/iron/ How to get enough iron in your diet http://www.vegkitchen.com/vegetarian-tips/ hints tips http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/nonheme-iron-foods-4268.html nonheme ir on foods http://www.dietitians.ca/Nutrition-Resources-A- Z/Factsheets/Minerals/Food-Sources-of-Iron.aspx Food Sources of Iron http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/03/vegetarian-breakfast-protein- yum-filling-_n_5418578.html

Finally figured out how to cut and paste on here! (Duh) I was on vacation with family this week and concerned that it might result in weight gain, but I lost 3 pounds! I am very happy with that. HW 243 SW 228 CW 175 TPL -68 TPG -93

Hey there Kaz, I was actually thinking bout you today and wondering how you were doing. Ahhh mazing by the way!- .5 is still .5 take that and add it to the rest it will all add up in due course. I've learnt early on to remember not every time i overate or ate wrong foods did I see immediate weight gain but sometimes I did and sometimes it came on slowly but eventually it did of course - therefore on the flip side, I expect I should see some immediate losses, some slow ones and some stalls.... Just coming out of a stall and slow loss these last three weeks. Keep going strong - and remember all the good advice and support you give to everyone else :-) Thanks, I needed that. Yes, slipped off the bandwagon into a chocolate lake again. Not the answer! Have to keep reminding myself of the money and pain I've put myself through for this; I'm determined again! X Hi Kazyy! I think we are both walking the same path but we will not be defeated! I know stalls are frustrating but we have to push forward. One of my tools is to only weigh myself once a month or I just wait until I go to the doctor. I took someone else's strategy about getting more Protein in. I also let my clothes tell me if I am losing. I bought a dress on 4/25 that was too small for me (it was bulging on all sides, lol). Yesterday was my second time wearing it and it is now too big. I didn't realize how big it was until I saw myself in a photo my friend took. So although the numbers on the scale aren't necessarily going down, my body is obviously getting smaller. So.....take it slow, keep eating healthy, exercising and getting in your Water and protein and you will do just fine.Thanks Miss B! I put a dress on today and was tripping over it with less boobs and bum to keep it up lol. You're right, I'm clearing out clothes already. Lost a couple of pounds, probably just the stress of doing school reports haha. Thanks for the encouragement! We will succeed!

Hey there Kaz, I was actually thinking bout you today and wondering how you were doing. Ahhh mazing by the way!- .5 is still .5 take that and add it to the rest it will all add up in due course. I've learnt early on to remember not every time i overate or ate wrong foods did I see immediate weight gain but sometimes I did and sometimes it came on slowly but eventually it did of course - therefore on the flip side, I expect I should see some immediate losses, some slow ones and some stalls.... Just coming out of a stall and slow loss these last three weeks. Keep going strong - and remember all the good advice and support you give to everyone else :-) Thanks, I needed that. Yes, slipped off the bandwagon into a chocolate lake again. Not the answer! Have to keep reminding myself of the money and pain I've put myself through for this; I'm determined again! X Hi Kazyy! I think we are both walking the same path but we will not be defeated! I know stalls are frustrating but we have to push forward. One of my tools is to only weigh myself once a month or I just wait until I go to the doctor. I took someone else's strategy about getting more Protein in. I also let my clothes tell me if I am losing. I bought a dress on 4/25 that was too small for me (it was bulging on all sides, lol). Yesterday was my second time wearing it and it is now too big. I didn't realize how big it was until I saw myself in a photo my friend took. So although the numbers on the scale aren't necessarily going down, my body is obviously getting smaller. So.....take it slow, keep eating healthy, exercising and getting in your Water and protein and you will do just fine.

Hello all , I hit rock bottom , I'm 42 turning 43 June 25h. I'm 5"3 CW 215. BMI 38.1 - I've been pre diabetic and all the other complications. With weight gain . In April , I tore my ACL and just recently had surgery for that. So I've been home bound for almost a month . I can't exercise or bear weight on my leg ... The weight has been creeping up ... I'm a single parent of a 17 year old boy and 4 year old girl . I never go out or want to be seen due to the shame i feel. Recently I was browsing through my iPad pictures and I found a full length picture of me while waiting for my RX at Kaiser . I looked in horror - I had no idea I looked so big . Depression kicked in badly so much I scheduled an appt with my primary doctor and saw her the next day ... I bawled like a baby when she asked me why I was there ... I just broke down. It was. The best thing that could of happened ... She was so compassionate. And offered the weightloss surgery ... She prescribed a stronger dosage of my Wellbutrin and was concerned about my emotional health . While there at the office , she called the psychiatric dept and put in a referral . The next morning I got a call from the p psychiatric dept to schedule a visit - I go this coming Monday - and then I got a call from the other dept that schedules for the weightloss classes - I am scheduled for next Wed ( which is my birthday) for the two hour class ..... My question to you KAISER / OAKLAND patients ; what happens next ? I believe only one class is needed ... I just had knee surgery so I imagine I meet all the criteria ... I could really use a friend since I am keeping this a secret from my family and work except for HR ofcourse . How long is the process ? Help - btw I m new here and to all of this.

I found a study... http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1421028/ It basically states that 60% had excellent results after 5 years, while 33% had good results. 7% a BMI of >35. A small amount of weight gain is not the real issue. It's can you lose the weight and keep the majority of it off. However, my nut said that of those that are successful at maintaining 80% of their weight loss 5 years later (the accepted definition of successful barbaric surgery)... over 60% track what they eat daily. You have the power to maintain the good habits the surgery helps you obtain. And lastly... from what i've read on these forums... stick to the guidelines given by your nut and surgeon. Don't try to eat things you shouldn't. The worst thing you can do is discover your pouch doesn't have a problem with ice cream, candy or fried foods. Best to assume it will and never test it. I will be putting my money where my mouth is on Monday. Wish me luck!

I asked the question when I had my first NUT appointment. I was told 80% of the wls patients will gain "some" weight back. About 20lbs. He said he sees about 50 patients a week and probably sees about 4 a year who put a significant amount of weight back on.....and its always because they choose to eat foods they know full well are not on their new diet plan. You will eventually be able to eat normal foods...just less of it. So you can choose to eat candy and icecream or you can eat healthy foods. Weight gain after surgery is choice of food, not failure of the procedure. And, if you read something about insurance companies saying that wls doesn't work or is a failure, keep in mind that most insurance companies consider a 20lb gain a wls "failure". Really? A failure? In my opinion, that is insane. A severely obese patient.....say 300lbs, who reaches goal weight of 150lbs, then 2 yrs later puts 20lbs back on... how in the world is that a failure?! I guarantee you that once 300lb person would be a happy little camper to be 170lbs when its all said and done! Honestly....do not dwell on the comment/opinion of one person even if its from a doctor or nutritionist. Do your own research. Read the studies and form your own opinion. No one on this site has a doctor or nutritionist who is all knowing. I absolutely mean all of this in the kindest way possible....typing seems to come across so harsh. I just hope that you, and anyone else on the fence, doesn't take this "failure" talk as an excuse to back out of something that can be a kick start to an amazing change in their lives.

@par1959 I was going to say the same thing... How much is the true question... I have heard of the small weight gain once you have hit your goal & are year or more out... between 10-20lbs... Thats what my Doc & Nut told me... I just cant see how someone would gain all the weight back when your not eating like you use to....