Search the Community

I don't weigh daily. I just weigh monthly. Have seen a downward trend each and every month for the past year and a half. I personally, can't handle daily fluctuations. Many people can. I'm not one of them. I may change to weekly weigh-ins once I get to maintenance, but for now, once a month is the way I avoid those fluctuations.......You've probably always had a little weight gain from Fluid retention during your cycle, but you're probably in super excited mode about your stellar weight loss that you have a heightened awareness of the numbers on the scale. Give it a few days and weigh again. VIOLA .......You may be even below that 150 mark!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Every day I think about my surgery and alternate between relief that it is almost here and doubt that I'm doing the right thing. I tell myself that cutting away most of a perfectly normal organ is no big deal and the surgery is pretty routine by now. Then I wonder what my new normal will feel like once I get through my recovery period. I think that is the part that causes the most anxiety for me; who will I be once the majority of the weight loss is past and the novelty has worn off? Will I have some kind of normal life or will I never feel like myself again? Does anyone else feel like this? Then I kick myself because I've been working towards this surgery since last Nov so I'm going to make it work and try not to worry about possible future anxiety. I dont know if anyone else did this, but during my 6 months of supervised weight loss, I didn't take it seriously at first, and considered it just part of the hoops I had to jump through for insurance. I gained a few pounds here and there and got a serious warning after the surgery class at the hospital where they told us that weight gain at this time could be grounds for a denial. I began my diet and managed to drop 10 pounds by my final doctor appt but I was worried before that weigh-in. Now I'm 3 days in to my pre-surgery diet and I got a bit of a late start due to work travel. I missed the first 3 days of my diet but have been determined to make it up since the goal is to have a less fatty liver so no cheating during these 7 days. I thought this would be harder but I'm doing pretty well I think. I can't take some of my Vitamins but I'm not as hungry as I thought I'd be. I think I've sort of psyched myself into this liquids and one small meal zone so that food isn't really an issue for now. Feels like that could change any time but I'll take my victories where I find them. Went to dinner with my family last night, an italian place, but I was up to the challenge. I would rather get creative with menu choices than tell my husband no dinners out. We all needed this time to hang out together. I ordered a half-size spinach salad with grilled chicken and skipped the bread and I felt great and salad was good. After surgery I'm taking two weeks off from eating out at restaurants but pre-surgery I have more menu options. I think this is the point where some might be tempted to cancel surgery because weight loss is going well. Did anyone cancel their surgery less than a week out? This must be diet amnesia because I'm sure we've all been on diets where we lost and gained it back. I know that I couldn't sustain this forever on my own and would invent a reason not to continue with a diet (vacation, stress at work, travel, family issues, etc) I think the success of this surgery is that we don't have to worry about weak willpower and failure. I'm lucky that I don't really have a sweet tooth but I'll probably have a pizza or burrito attack at some point. Right now, I'm living on every type of low or no sugar drinks and Atkins shakes. I like the Atkins shakes but I need to remember to order the powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury Protein for after surgery... What sustains me are the success stories here where so many have lost weight and feel great. All of the medical statistics in the world can't compete with these real-life stories and I thank you all for sharing. I'm trying to keep up with this tradition and promise full disclosure along the way. My pre-op appt. is this Wed and surgery Thurs. Strangly, after reading other stories, I'm most worried about the gas pains! I wonder how soon after surgery I can drive and will feel like going out. I haven't seen many details so would love to hear what I might expect. I'm hoping for another significant weight loss this Wed and will share my experience. To those just starting out, hang on, it's a bit of an emotional roller coaster!

I admire you for being able to post here about what you did, that takes courage. You have it in you to do this. Here is what I do as I struggle with foods I should not be eating. Every time I see something that is not healthy for me, or not on my pre-surgical diet and I am tempted, I visualize the skull and cross bones symbol for POISON right on top of it. After all, some of these foods are poison to those of us who struggle with obesity. Even thin people should not be eating that stuff, but some can eat away without it causing them to gain weight. That is not my luck to be able to. But then again, when I think about it, maybe WE are the lucky ones. We are learning to eat the right foods in the right portions. The people who live on fast food still pay a price, it may not be in weight gain but they will surely end up with unhealthy fat in their arteries. As the others have said, you have time to stick to the program now. And be prepared to say good-bye (at least for awhile) to those foods that are poisonous for you. Good luck. Nancy PS, I am pretty sure the day will come when I will be the one posting here about needing to stick to the liquid diet, LOL. We all have to do it after all.

Check to make sure you're not letting those pesky simple carbs sneak back into your diet (the crackers, chips, breads, etc, etc, etc). Seems a lot of us at one time or another along the way encounter this and it is often a reason for weight gain. Good luck in getting a grip on what's going on. You are being proactive and that's the important thing.

Do you take your measurements? I try to do that the first Sunday of every month. Remember that mussel weighs more then fat. If you are exercising with weights, this could be the issue. Have you been getting all of your fluids? Have you has a BM recently? I don’t mean to be personal; just spiting out ideas. Any one of these could be a reason for weight gain. Don’t stress too much and let it derail you.

I weighed myself and the scale showed I gained 6 lbs. I don't eat much, barely 4 ounces. I eat healthy, when I can eat. I can't figure out what I am doing wrong. I can see I lost weight, I wear a size 18 - 20. I was wearing 24. I don't want to gain back the weight.

I am meeting with surgeon in a couple weeks and we are discussing the sleeve verses bypass. I am 50 years old, no other health concerns except my knees are bad from my extra weight and the obvious.. I am overweight scratch that obese : ) So for those of you who have had bypass I was wondering if you would now have considered the sleeve or visa versa. THANK YOU ahead of time as I am a newbie. Losing weight Gaining Life, Cindy Virden www.cindyvirden.com

I am meeting with surgeon in a couple weeks and we are discussing the sleeve verses bypass. I am 50 years old, no other health concerns except my knees are bad from my extra weight and the obvious.. I am overweight scratch that obese : ) So for those of you who have had bypass I was wondering if you would now have considered the sleeve or visa versa. THANK YOU ahead of time as I am a newbie. Losing weight Gaining Life, Cindy Virden www.cindyvirden.com

The holidays remind us of family get-togethers sharing food, laughter and bonding. If you are a food addict, the holidays may be one big guilt ridden binge. Food addicts think about food and have memories of food too, but they will most likely be linked with memories of hiding food, being punished by withdrawal of food, or being abandoned from loving relationships and using food for comfort. This is one reason the holidays are so stressful for people who struggle with food addictions. The frenzy and excitement brings stress, and food addicts comfort and calm their stress with food. Many people don’t understand the obese person’s journey with food. Nor can they relate to actually being under the influence of the intense food cravings, but ask any alcoholic or drug addict what these cravings feel like, and a food addict will be able to recount a very similar craving. The substance most craved with food addicts is sugar, and anyone who has tried to remove sugar from their diet knows how incredibly difficult that can be. The majority of food addicts have been brought up with another addiction. Maybe their parents were alcoholics, abusive, gamblers, smokers or hoarders. The child learned it was safer to turn to food or some other substance for comfort, because turning to a human for a hug or soothing words was impossible. Many food addicts lose weight to get married, only to find that they don’t have the skills to communicate loneliness, boredom, or anxiety to their partner. They slowly begin to turn to what has helped soothe them in the past, which is food. Before long, communication is compromised in the relationship. There is severe weight gain, which begins a disastrous cycle of withdrawing from sex, and turning to food. Soon the partner isn’t happy and the food addict feels shameful and guilty. These feelings of guilt and shame lock the cycle of turning to food even more securely. Weight loss surgery can help minimize disease and help people become more confident and mobile, but if there is an underlying sugar or food addiction, the weight will be re-gained. Sometimes that is in excess of eighty pounds. How can you help if you are addicted, married or know a food addict during the holidays? The key is to plan now. Realize that your partner or friend has a bigger problem than just eating too much. They need professional help, and they need it now. Find out who is on your plan for insurance and what it allows for help with eating disorders. Begin journaling your intake and talk to your partner about journaling theirs as well. This helps you become a team and to feel supported. Encourage your partner to begin turning to you for comfort or if you are alone, have someone who can accompany you to the party. Stay close to them, and when you feel alone turn to them for conversation or hold their hand. This helps delay your sense of needing food. Help them join a food addiction group, and if they are your partner, go with them if they need your support. There are several in Houston, and “Over Eaters Anonymous” offers a 12-step program for food addicts. Your partner suffers shame and guilt every day. Try to remember this, and be gentle. There is a lot of secrecy in this disorder. If they let you in, respect that. Food addicts are hurt, and we as a society can become part of the problem or part of the solution. Most addicts of food (and other addictions) have an enabler. The enabler complains about the behavior, but also supplies the fix. People who are co-dependent or have a low self-esteem may derive their security from enabling an addict. If you live with a food addict, or you suffer a food addiction, the best thing you can do prior to going to the party or being with friends where a lot of food will be present is to have a plan. Set a time limit for yourself at the party and have someone you are accountable to who helps you stay on track. –Mary Jo Rapini *As with all addictions, interventions only work if the addict wants to heal. Harping, nagging and pleading will be met with resistance to change until the addict is ready to make the change.

Congratulation on your surgery! No worries. All normal. Weight gain immediately after surgery happens--lots of excess fluids are in your body.

I weighed on my one week post opt day and had gained 4 pounds. I have had nothing but liquids, I believe it may have been because I had not had a bowl movent after surgery, I have now, will weigh at surgens on Friday. I am expecting some loss.

ok, cruisette i'm confused, lol doesn't take much for me. You got a 2nd band and it didn't take?? or you went from band to sleeve and it didn't take?? where did the 60 lb weight gain come from??

Were you worried at all that your insurance would deny you because of weight gain? I'm a little worried if my clinic weights me in the will not do the surgery. I finished the 3 month trial and I'm tentatively scheduled for June 9th; just waiting on BCBS insurance approval.

OK, so do you want quality or touristy? Not that you can't have both but alot of the best restaurants are not well known outside of the city. As you know, it's Protein first, veggies and then carbs so I would say you should stick with places that can offer you and your sister that option. FYI, I am banded, my sister is not, and we eat out together all the time. If you want great fish, Oceana is terrific as is most Greek restaurants. Fresh and simply grilled. You can't beat it. If you can tolerate meat, one of the most iconic steak houses is The Old Homestead. The meat is top notch and it reeks of 'old New York'. If you want to step into a time warp, Spice Market in The Meatpacking District is amazing. Like you've walked into a 1930's Shanghai bar. The food is terrific as well...especially the cod. If you want small plates...tapas...Alta on West 10th St. in the West Village is the place. This way you and sis can share a few items. The brussel sprouts is to die for...and so is the Sangria...lol. If you want something like pastrami or corned beef, Carnegie Deli is OK but Katz's on the Lower East Side is better and really iconic as well. Just know that the meat is very sodium laden and you will have Water weight gain for sure. I agree that Chinatown and Little Italy are places you should explore and as long as you eat sensibly, you will be fine. Everyone who visits Chinatown should experience a Dim Sum Palace. It's amazing.... If you like 'ethnic' food, I can recommend Turkish, Russian, Italian, Mexican, Spanish...even more exotic like Ethiopian and Afghan restaurants as well. Just let me know how adventurous you are. Feel free to PM with any questions you may have. As Lisa notes...I live here in the city and know it very well. I can recommend restaurants and sightseeing options as well.

I can always tell weight loss and weight gain in my pictures. You can really notice the loss in your pictures. WOW

Hi all, I'm a newbie to this site, looking for some help and advice and hopefully some answers. I had a lap band put in 7 years ago, I then had several complications and three revision surgeries and multiple infections. I recovered from all my infections and surgeries, started eating better and exercising. The weight was coming over but very slowly, I managed to lose 45 kilos and was feeling better, but disappointed with the slow weight loss (45 kilos over 3 years is not what I was expecting) (I have a lot of weight to lose - more than 100kgs) So after my annual consultation with my surgeon, he suggested a gastric sleeve. I was so excited, a good friend of mine had recently been sleeved and her results were phenomenal! Bring it on!! Band was removed after 4 years. 2 months of very careful eating and I was sleeved. I did everything right. Fluids for 2 weeks, mushies for 2 weeks, then small meals, gradually building up to solids. Here is where my problems begin. After I started eating, I never felt the restriction I did when I had the band. Over time my portions increased, I have never felt any type of restriction, at my 3 month post op review a temporary surgeon. (My surgeon after performing 6 surgeries on my poor tummy is no longer practicing) I was told the sleeve had failed and I wasn't losing the weight they expected me too. Instant Soul crush! I soldiered on and saw dieticians and doctors and no one to this day can explain what has happened. Fast forward to now,7 years after my band and small loss and 2.5 years after my sleeve and I'm back to my pre. Band weight. I have absolutely nil restriction. I can eat a full size meal and have gained back every thing I ever lost. I have been back to see 2 separate surgeons who have both said the sleeve looks to be fine, and have no answers as to why I'm gaining weight. (Have done 2 barium swallows) Both of them have recommended a gastric bypass as the only way I will lose weight. My head is really messed up. I don't know what to do, over the past 7 years I have had 7 operations 5 of them weight loss related (band in, port removed, port replaced band out and sleeved) Ive spent well over $30k on surgeries, Appointments hospital visits etc. and I'm really not wanting more surgery (I was told due to the difficulty with scar tissue, infections etc I will need two bariatric surgeons to operate on me doubling the cost of further surgery) Herein lies my issue. Do I risk it all, spend a small fortune (that I don't really wish to spend) in the hope that this may be the surgery to help me lose weight. Do I dare to pretend I can lose weight on my own (I'm 42 and the past 42 years have proven I can't) Do I try to be happy and live my life as a super morbid obese adult? I'll admit I'm scared, scared ill do it and fail, scared I won't do it and will be unhappy for the rest of my life, scared if I don't do it, my co morbidites will finally get the better of me I wa so sure the band was the way to go. It took me a very long time to come to the realisation I needed surgery to help me lose weight. It worked but I never had the success others did. Then , I was convinced the sleeve would help, and now I'm back to where I began all those years ago. My head is a mess, my body is a mess and I don't know which way to go...... Sorry for the mega long post, wanted to get it all out in the hope someone has had similar experiences and come through the other side ???? Ps. If anyone is reading this that is considering surgery, please don't let my post put you off. I'm a one in a million type person and no one else I know has issues like this. Ive made several great friends who have had differing weightless surgeries and they have all had great sucess. You will never look back ????

Congrats on reaching your "regular food" stage. Sure, some people experience a temporary weight gain somewhere along the way like you described. Is 3 oz of Protein the amount that is recommended at this stage for you? 2 oz sounds more typical for 6 wks out, but every program is different. Your best bet is to just as carefully as you can, follow the quantities recommended by your program, especially in the first 6 months. Eating out frequently can be a slippery slope. Even when you ask for those "special requests," you really do not have the control over how your food is prepared and what the actual ingredients are that you are consuming. There is nothing that compares to preparing your food at home--you know exactly what you are eating. Yep, so many of us eat out due to our busy lives and just run out of time to eat at home. I know I had to really get creative with "brown bagging" more often (especially for Breakfast and lunch meals). It takes a lot of planning, but now I pick one day a week (usually Sunday) to do a mini-marthon cooking session and divide up "to go" food for the week (or at least for 4-5 days) so at least I'm eating healthier MOST of the time. Then, for example, on Wednesday, it feels so good that I have already made my food decision for the week--I just grab it and go! Keep up the good work. Just keep following your program and your scale will keep moving in the direction you want it to.

I was having trouble with my kindle... not sure why. Fiddleman's post was well written and much of it resonanted with me. I am 2.5 years out - so similar situation timewise anyway. I was not the one who said that plastics reduced chance of regain due to fat cell removal. I don't know if that is true or not, but I am not inclined to believe it because #1 I think most of the really harmful fat cells are in our torso between the organs and #2 I know several people who have regained after plastics. I had two reactions to the thoughts... first is that "normal" people put on weight especially as they age. If you look around you will notice that many many people could stand to lose 20-30 pounds. I think as the formerly obese we are so afraid of regaining everything that we tend to get caught up in the idea that we must do whatever it takes to remain at a certain target. Heck I WANT to stay where I am too, so I get it, but my point is that normal people eat a bit more and gain a bit of weight and that isn't the end of the world either. I do think that the possibility of a "normal" weight gain is something that many of us should wrap our heads around as a possible long term outcome and not let it turn into a massive regain. My second thought was along the lines of what you were saying. I am sometimes shocked at how little I eat compared to others. There is this little part of me that wonders why I don't weigh even less...haha... I sometimes wonder if it is sustainable, but for now it is not a problem. I realize that it can change in a heartbeat though. There is something about eating low carb/clean - in my opinion bigger influence then working out - that makes you lose your appetite for the junky stuff. I feel like I was more worried about regain at 2 years out then I am now 6 months later. I know it could still happen though.

Hi All! I am looking for some advice from you wonderful folks. My VSG was done 4/8/14 (so about 6 weeks ago) and things have been progressing great. This week I had a slight gain (3 lbs). Is this normal? Could it be from finally getting to eat regular food? As of about a week and half ago I am on a regular diet but I have restrictions still such as raw veggies, nuts, rice, etc. I have been following my program and getting exercise and like I said everything seemed to be progressing just fine until this week. The other thing I thought about was I have been eating out more often than usual. Even though I make smart choices and can only eat about 3 ozs of Protein maybe that could be contributing to the weight gain. Any advice/comments/thoughts you all might have will be greatly appreciated! Thanks! Tony

I knew that my forthcoming period might make me gain a pound or so, so I didn't get on the scale for two days. Stuck to plan, however, and kept walking. I'm still pre menstrual but got on this morning: up SIX pounds! This is so discouraging, and it makes me want to stay home in bed. This can't be normal!!!

I cannot walk much due to severe arthritis. So I started weights. Yesterday I did weights many times during the day. I was happy with my exercise,hoping the body will respond. But no today my weight is up by half kg. How depressing is that... why do we gain weight after doing almost 4 lbs weights almost 400 times?? I am really sad. Was so hoping to break the 1 month stall.

Your question is very broad and it's almost impossible to offer any meaningful suggestions without more insight. Have you discussed your weight gain with your surgeon and if so what was the recommendation? What type of revision are you considering? Do you maintain a food log? Did you ever maintain a food log during your journey? Do you exercise regularly and if so, how much? How much weight did you lose following your surgery and did you reach your goal? What are your thoughts on what changed from the five year mark to the point that you started gaining? What steps did you take when you initially started to gain weight? What was the result? There are lots of knowledgeable folks here who are anxious to help in any way we can. Help us help you.

@ Jazma: I had my lapband removed last April. I was scheduled to have the bypass at the same time but changed my mind the morning of the surgery and just had the band removed. I gained about 35 lbs since it was removed, which Dr. says is quite good for typical weight gain after is much more. At any rate I feel really good about the sleeve and can't wait Till June 5th when I get mine. Good Luck to you! Also, Do any of u take Probiotics? Last year before my surgery I went to costco and bought " Advance Probiotic 10" By Nature's Bounty. They are capsules and give u 10 probiotic Organisms and 20 Billion Live Probiotic Cultures. Of course being concerned about surgery, it was important to me to give myself a boost in my recovery process, so I started up on these two weeks before. Right after surgery I broke the capsules apart and them in my Water. On my follow up visit after my surgery my Dr said I had so much scar tissue and removing my band was a challenge. He was surprised I had no complications but I believe it's my secret gem, these probiotics that made the difference. Needless to say I just bought some more to prepare for this surgery as well...

I wrote this question in the veterans forum only to find I do not have enough posts to post in the Veterans Forum! So I hope a veteran can help me out here.... Ok, I get it....i think....Is regain more of a probabilty or just a possibility? I am 3 months post surgery and lurking in the Veterans Forum searching for any scrap of information and inspiration that will help me in this fight for life. (Down 40 lbs, so far) My question is this: After weight loss surgery, does 3500 calories still equal a 1-pound weight gain? Or do we gain weight more easily, like looking at a chocolate bar equals a three pound gain!? I understand salt impacts Water weight. I get that once started down the slippery slope of one bad choice, it is tough to stop. But scientifically (?), why do we put on weight so easily? Am I doomed to some sort of a new physical curse whereby 500 extra calories equals a pound gained?