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Studies have found that artificial sweeteners create a false dependency. They stimulate your appetite, Increase carbohydrate cravings and stimulate fat storage and weight gain. In short artificial sugars prepare your body for food that often is not coming and thus confuses your system while also making your body crave more and more sweeter things.

Did anyone else gain weight after starting soft foods? and then go into a stall??

I'm bipolar II but haven't had my surgery yet. The mania has relapsed a tiny bit but it's manageable minus the lack of sleep. I take lamictal for mood. Mania relapsed because I had to stop seroquel after it made me gain 100 lbs. If you need to reduce your appetite a bit you can try metformin. It's an old school diabetes II med that greatly reduces my appetite. I don't have diabetes but started it to aid in weight loss. Speak to your psychiatrist. Antipsychotics have a huge affect on weight gain and seroquel in particular makes you gain a ton and makes you extremely hungry. I don't know if you take it. It basically ruined my life. (Being a little dramatic). I have my surgery end of July assuming everything goes according to plan. I've already met all the requirements. I think it would be good for us bipolar people to continue checking in with each other. I'm extremely nervous about meds post op. My bipolar is usually suicidal depression with occasional mania.

I am on my weight loss journey with the support of a dear friend who is on a weight gain journey. Honestly, she hears more rude comments on a daily basis than I do. People are awful. I would never make a comment to someone regarding their weight (unless it was a close family member and I knew they needed intervention) because you just don't know the situation. I was molested as a young child and dealt with a lot of death throughout my life. I ate to feel better. My friend had cancer and lost a lot of weight. While she has always been small, she just can't seem to keep up with her own metabolism. Different situations, different issues. Yet people want to judge. I'm sorry you are dealing with this. Just know that people make comments when they can't seem to control what is going on in their own lives. They feel like they need to bring you into their misery.

I gained 30+ pounds in 2018; 1. because I stopped taking diet pills after 20 years of taking them off and on, 2. I was in an accident and sustained a pretty bad back injury and mild head injury - couldn't walk at first so exercise was limited; 3. My mom got critically ill with ovarian cancer, I was her caretaker - she died in December; and if you want to add more stress - 4. My husband and I were both unemployed for about 5 months last year, after moving to Florida for his new job (which didn't work out because the project he was relocated for got put on hold and they no longer could afford to keep him). So - by the time all of that was said and done, I was already 25 pounds heavier. I decided for my back pain, depression and general health I wanted to explore this surgery. So I did gain about 5 pounds just to hit the BMI mark because I knew once I stopped those diet pills my weight gain was really just starting. I did have to be self-pay, but overall I'm sooooooo much better now than I was a year ago in pretty much every aspect. I start a new job this month (well, my old company is hiring me back - very generous), which I'm so happy about having quit my job last year to care for my Mom. There is so much more to this whole background/story, but anyway, sometimes you have to do what you have to do! I know now I made the right decision. We are also buying a new house so I'm out house shopping pretty much all day these days after being renters for almost a decade. Things are good in my life, no complaints. Sounds like you made the right decision too... So happy your sleep apnea has improved! On another note - I love salads and have no problems with lettuce. Spicy food seems to be a problem for me.

Hi there, I was banded in January this year and have currently lost just over 5 stone , since being banded (6 in total). The only advice I can offer is that the band, whilst marvellous (i honestly don't believe I could have done it without it) is only an aid to weight loss. There are days when I long to be able to eat food with ease and without worry of getting 'stuck'. It also seems that 'bad' foods, ice cream, chocolate, other 'high calorie, low satisfaction' foods are often easier to eat than good, heathy foods....for instance I can no longer eat salad, I find it difficult to eat pasta unless cooked to death. I still have an overwhelming mental desire to eat. That said I absolutely do not regret having the op, quite the opposite. It has allowed me to regain my life. Not only do I look better, mentally I'm in the best place I've been for years despite personal dilemmas that would have crushed me a year ago. What I have come to realise through this journey of an initial huge weight gain (8stone in 4 years!) before having the op, is that I have always been mentally 'fat' even at 5'7" and a size 12. But like a self fulfilling prophecy, I had to become truly morbidly obese in order to appreciate that my weight problem was in my head not my body! Only you have the power to change your life, do it....with or without the band. Xxx

Congratulations Lisa ... Ha Ha Seroiously , sorry to hear you had a PB but atleast you know your band is still working right? That is a good thing! Your concerns for erosion should be at ease a little bit now, if you were eroded , anything and everything would be sliding down that hatch with no pain, no slime. I'm so glad you heard my voice..I hope you listen to it What I experienced after my major PB was NO fun at all! Just think with you doing soft foods and liquids today, you will have cushion for tomorrows goodies without any weight gain..pretty good huh?

Hi , I agree with Vinesqueen, Alex and everyone else here who posted about unconditional love. The physical part should equate to very little in a relationship of substance. It sounds like you have been battered emotionally and I was angry when I read your post and subsequent posts (not at you, just the futility of the situation) because you really seem to believe that your husband has a right to treat you with disdain and repulsion just because of weight gain. And divorce is not the end of the world. I have been there and life goes on. Your husband does not sound like a good role model for your child. If he berates you about your weight and allows her to believe that it is OK to only commit in a relationship just based on someone's appearance, what kind of message is that sending to your daughter??? Also, the question you should ask yourself is if your husband gained 80 lbs and tried diligently to lose the weight and kept yo -yoing would you leave him? Would you support him or would you tell him that you met him thin and his present weight repulses you?? Or would you try to support him and do everything possible to help him succeed no matter how many times he failed??? food for thought..... Babs in TX 334/180ish -154 ish

Hello, Im 17 weeks now and have gained 4lbs. I didnt really start gaining until I was about 13 weeks. Keep in mind though I also didnt lose as much weight as you did, I was banded february 21, 07 and had only lost 50lbs before I became pregnant. So Im probably still carrying more weight than you are, which means I could afford to avoid the drastic weight gain. My doctor says that the baby is fine growth wise, and that I'd probably not need to gain any weight as long as im taking my vitamins. We're taking it month by month though. I'm going to schedule an appointment with my surgeon for a defill of at least 0.5cc, Ive never had one and Im currently at 3.1cc, but im still able to eat lots of goodies:)

I remeber seeing a bumper sticker that said "I may be fat but your Ugly and I can Diet", think I was around 16 at the time. I always broached the subject of my weight gain before someone else had the chance too - always in a humorous way, I was the thin one until I got married. So, in becoming the "Fat" one - I could not let someone else feel uncomfortable with having to mention what I already knew since I do own mirrors, so I would quash the topic fast, have a laugh and move on. I gladly take any and all compliments that come my way, I try not to be sensitive with the imperfections that accompanied the weight gain...rather work to be a healthy person - Who, can get PS and fix the "fat" issue rather than the "ugly".

Hi Ladies!! Just as an update I had a defill 0.4cc so my current restriction is 2.8cc and man what a difference it makes, I've been eating like theres no tomorrow I've gained 5 lbs since November 3rd total weight gain so far is 12 lbs, yikes! Its otae though as long as I know my bundle of joy is growing up to speed nothing else matter, right gals! Where is everyone at gaining wise? Wow Raynie, Batman theme, you'll have to take pics when its done I cant wait to see it!

hey dody thanks.. okay so its a diurectic,,,but how does this contribute to weight gain>> I find I am waking up now at night three times peeing...last two nights.. I didnt start drinking diet pepsi ( just one) til tonight. So not sure why. thanks

Thank you for the kind words. I wrote this once but apparently it got lost somewhere in cyberspace. The worst part of the TT was not being able to exercise. The first week or so I wasn't hungry at all...then watch out. I felt like I could eat ANYTHING and EVERYTHING. My PS has me on low carbs because for me carbs=swelling. That is how I have managed to keep my weight down. Low carb always worked for me. My PS said to expect a 4-5 pound weight gain because of the lack of exercise. Of course for me that was completely unacceptable so I pushed myself on walking and dieting to not gain the weight back. So far I am fluctuating between 140 and 150. Yes that is BIG swings. When I eat low carb I am around 140...when I don't...well you get the picture. I figure I will be able to go back to more carbs when I start running. I don't eat processed carbs just my Kashi go Lean, WASA crackers, whole wheat bread, and yes...my downfall...popcorn! Congrats on the running. You will be running your 5k on my bandiversary. I am not sure how I am going to Celebrate but it won't be with food! I will be visiting my family in WA without my wonderful DH who has been stuck to me like glue since my surgery. SO perhaps I will sneak out and run a 5K to celebrate! Shhhh...don't tell but I ran 1 mile this morning and it felt FABULOUS. Uggghhh...I missed running soooooooooo much.

I'm glad that you are feeling a bit better about the whole band process. I've gotten pretty down about it myself at times. I lost 55 lbs from July of 04 to August of 05, and then nothing until last month. Eesh. It gets so frustrating at times!! I don't like that doctors are 'fine' with 60%, and tell their patients not to expect any more than that. That 60% is an AVERAGE, which includes lots of people who lost 100% of their weight, and any people who haven't lost any weight, and everyone in between. I do think that as we get closer to goal, it will be harder to lose, but easier to maintain our weight with the help of the band, if that makes any sense. I'm sure that no one will have much of a problem for you to join the slow losers club. Well, to find out what's going on, I think we need more info! Are you tracking your calories n' stuff? Have you started exersizing (I know, it's horrible)? How much are you eating, and what are you eating? What does your doctor say? *hugs* Also, if you are working very hard, and not losing, go to your doctor and start demanding answers. Find posts on this site by Vinesqueen. She has worked her band as hard as it can be worked, and has lost I think 15 lbs total since being banded (she was down to 30, but gained 15 on a ONE THOUSAND CALORIE DIET!!!). She has been diagnosed with cushings disease and is being run through a gamut of tests, to try and find out what she can do to take the pounds off. Well, feeling better and having your blood suger be in control is good, right? What kinds of stuff are you eating? How many calories are you eating? And what does your doctor say? Like I said above, if you are following all the rules, your calorie levels are good, and you are exersizing, there has to be another part of the equation that isn't being addressed. Another thing to thing about is medications. Are you taking any medications that cause weight gain or anything? Is there an alternate medication you could be on? There are so many factors to weight loss sometimes, and it doesn't ALWAYS come down to calories in/calories out.

Kat, as always...you clearly have a way of expressing what others are maybe thinking but cannot put into words. On the steroids...I was on them for 5.5 yrs. Really raised havoc and contributed to a lot of my weight gain. Helped with the symptoms I was dealing with but also helped add the pounds (along with the fork in my hand).

Dianne, don't worry over the prednisone. My daughter had walking pneumonia (at age 6!) last month and the doc gave her the antibiotic and liquid pred. She was much better in just a few days! It really helps. Take it like the doc ordered, and please don't stop now! You have 11 people at your house over the weekend...you need to feel your best! Throw out the scales until you have been on and then off the pred for a week. You will pee like a racehorse for a few days after the pred is done and then you will know it's safe to get on the scale. Your weight loss journey is for the long haul. A little temporary Water weight gain won't hurt you...really!!!!! Warning: long and complicated plans ahead... I got a call today from my sister-in-law from Texas. Shhhh...it's a surprise! She, my brother and my 16yo niece are driving in to Charlotte late tomarrow night! Yay! Our Christmas is complete! So noone knows but me. Geez! Talk about pressure! I have my dad coming over for coffee tomorrow night, then I gave hubby the heads up that me and dad need to go out and do something secret after 11pm. Please don't freak out...we'll be back. Fine. So I'll wait for the call, load up dad, stop and get my sis, and meet them at the Cracker Barrel on Billy Graham. They will be so happy! We will get my bro and bring him back to my house. He'll go home with my dad and stay there with him. My SIL and niece will drive on to her sisters house in South Charlotte for the weekend. THEN! My Mom and her fiance (yes, drama at our house this Chistmas...lets just add the new fiance to the family pic this year, huh? sigh. Wish I didn't like him so much, right? He's a great guy.) Anyhow, Mom still doesn't know. I called her today and said..."I just talked with Cathy. Her Mom is coming into town from Tx with our gifts so she doesn't have to ship them. Can you come have hamburgers Friday night and stop by the sister's house to pick up our gifts? We'll send ours back with her when she goes back after Christmas...they'll be late but it's okay" blah, blah, yada, yada, yada. So Mom will go to the sister's house and find her Daughter-in-law and Granddaughter there...Get in her car and come up for burgers. Surprise! And we'll all be together Friday night. With the new fiance. Let's just add to the plate! Then we'll be together again on Christmas day here. That's 14 people Friday night and Christmas day. Time to go grocery shopping? Karen: I'm so glad your Christmas musical is going so well. God is so faithful, I love to see His Spirit move. Bless you for using your talents. Angie: I posted about your surgery on the other thread...keep us updated! Melissa: you sound like me with appoinyments. It's a busy time of year to be scheduling these things! But, they are important. I wish I had a nutritionist following along with me. Ya'll all be thankful for your insurance! Me and Sherrie will ride your coat tails, okay? Kim, I really hope your back feels better. Yuck. Do you like the Chiro? I have always wanted to get adjusted several times over a month and see if I can just get a better feeling of well-being. They say so many things can be out of whack and cause problems all over...sinuses, allergies, digestive system issues, foot pain, etc. I hope that works for you. If I were desperate enough, I'd drink an adult dose of the liquid and wash wash wash it through with plenty of water to keep it off the stoma, ya know? I wonder if your doc would allow that? You don't need it everyday, right? Might be worth it? Pat, that sounds so nice...even just one night away at the beach with the girls would be worth the drive! How fun! How far is it to the Outer Banks from here...isn't it an 8-9 hour drive? Yowza! I'd love to do it. It doesn't even have to be summer! Okay, I need to wrap one gift tonight...then I'm hitting the sack! Night all!!!

I exercise four times per week. Running and cross-trainer. I have just went thru revision surgery and it is helping me combat this weight gain that I have struggled with since unfill, surgery, barely any fill, etc. If I didn't eat crap I probably would loose. But for me 153 is ok, not really where I liked previously. I felt more comfortable in a size 8 and 140 lbs. But until I am restricted I struggle? Go figure. I also am almost 4 years out so the doc said my stomach isn't a normal virgin one that would respond to the band like it did in the beginning. As long as I am restricted and keep my eating to 1 cup to 1.5 cups eating wise choices, exercising I was able to loose. best wishes to you. Dody

Poor girl, you`re still snowed under with work. Well, i hope it lightens up for you soon. In relation to the weight gain, your ideal is 135 right? You know what to do, hun. Hope your little puppy is doing well. HDmama, heard from the MIL? The weather is dreadful here. It`s windy and has been raining. It was not fun being a rugby groupie this morning. I lost a brolly to the wind. I could not walk around the pitch. What a pain. The eating is going well. Hope you`re all doing well.

I am on a cocktail of meds for major depression as well. It's actually a very common approach to treating depression. I take effexor, remeron and seroquel. It played a huge part in my weight gain. Kimmason - what area of psych do you work in? I have an MA in counselling psychology, but unfortunately with my depression am unable to work and have been on disability for a few years.

Hi Everyone, I am 12 weeks pregnant and so happy to have found this thread! :whoo: This is my first pregnancy and I am trying to be careful to make sure that I don't go overboard on the weight gain. I am going to work very hard to only gain the recommended amount. I found this calculator that I thought would be good to share with the group since we are all focused on a healthy pregnancy. Weight Gain Calculator for pregnancy. Weight gain when pregnant. One of the things I read that I am very excited about is that the pregnancy weight is so much easier to lose with the help of our bands! Gawd, I love my band. I had a complete unfill at 8 weeks and it has been really hard not to go all out. I have to admit that I have not been eating very healthy (too much fast food and dining out) since my unfill. I'm inbetween my regular clothes and maternity clothes right now. So I decided to go to our outlets and stock up on some work clothes that are 2-3 times larger than my normal size. The Lane Bryant Outles has some very cute career and casual clothes that I am wearing now and I think they will work just as good on the 9 months down. Well, I wanted to introduce myself and say Hi. Here's to a very healthy and happy 9 months to all of us! :clap2:

jodie you poor thing it sounds so sore im sure it is a nappy type rash but it could be fungal infection and require a different type cream( canasten )works great and you need to get it clear before the birth or that would really really hurt ... just one of the many joys of pregnancy!! i know what you mean though ive been so lucky in pregnancy so far and had no complaints now im on home straight i feel like never a day goes past im not moaning ..i aint bloomin now......lol i have had second uti and im so exhausted all the time ,no weight gain so pressure all around me about the health of baby ,(going for check up tuesday)and now my little one aidan whos four is ill with high temperature runny nose ,eyes and headache and now measles type rash poor wee man before panic sets in im immunised so im ok !!and its not menegitis its been coming on past two days. then lately been having nerve pains where babs seems to be putting pressure on places he shouldnt and im nearly jumping through roof as i get these sharp pains between legs or in my hip ,they kinda funny pains so sharp and quick they make you jump then laugh then go ouch !! see i told you im a moan ....lol.........not all day long though so i guess im ok

What I was told in the pre-surgery information session is that about 2 years out, the body will adjust medabolically and most patients gain about 20 lbs. But considering that I will have lost way more than 20 lbs, I think I will be able to live with it. That said, there are many people on this site who haven't gained weight, so the weight gain isn't universal.

I've gained about five pounds over the last month, which has nothing to do with eating differently around the holidays. And I'm totally comfortable with my weight gain. I went on maintenance a couple of months ago after hitting a low of132, eight pounds below my goal. I started consciously eating up to 1,500 calories a day to stop losing. I went up to 135 and stayed there for several weeks. I started adding even more variety to my diet, no longer avoiding carbs and fats as if they were poison. I've now settled in at a range of 139-141, which I consider a good weight. I no longer look quite as gaunt as I did at 132 and I feel great. The challenge now is to stay here. It's still a bit of trial and error. Happy new year to all, and congratulations on our upcoming first anniversary!

Hello hello... just checking in. Not much to report except a weight gain. Now up to 270... been bouncing around that for a while. I am incredibly anemic and find it hard to keep my levels up and think that I may just have to have iron infusions for the rest of my life. I'm vegetarian and I am just wondering if my stomach has become injured after the sleeve leak and then the RNY... I don't think I can absorb iron. I've been on Saxenda for a bit, but it's not doing a lot for me, except maybe keeping my weight stable, which is good I guess! I'm thinking of going on Wegovy when it's available. Apparently it's low on stock because people love it so much. How is everyone doing? I'd love to hear how everyone is. Anyone else having issues with keeping their vitamin levels up? @Goody222 you look amazing! You must feel great! Well done!! Love to all xxx

I'm sooo with you! I have a weight gain of 4-5 lbs when "aunt flo" comes to visit. It's so frustrating because they just look at you like-ya right...