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That's my biggest fear! I'm one week postop and I discussed this with my surgeon after surgery. He stated that after a year or two it's common and normal to see weight gain. Some of the reasons are: relaxed exercise regimen after losing the weight and stretching of the pouch by overeating. His advice was if weight gain occurs, pump up your exercise regimen, make sure your getting enough protein, vitamins and sleep and lastly, as already suggested go back to the post op diet for a week. Good luck!

Maybe he will come around and embrace the healthy choices that come with your surgery and the new you. I have been very overweight for most of my life with the exception of my multiple huge weight losses followed by huge weight gain. My wife is thin and could have dated and married anyone she wanted (as I had been told by her family and some of her former friends), but fell in love with me. She has been with me every step of the way through several serious and in one case life threatening illnesses and surgeries. When I started this process it was her who went with me to seminars, doctor appts, post op support groups. She spends many nights up late researching recipes, foods and supplements. Our relationship has been further cemented by "our surgery and journey" ( her words). We will be celebrating our 25th anniversary next month, and I am looking forward to being a hot stud for her. She is also looking forward to me to turn a few heads as well. This is just to say if you have a great relationship, things can only get better and nothing has to change for the worse. Sent from my iPad using VST

Hi, Thanks to those who replied. I spoke to the nurse yesterday - it is her who takes care of the dietary side of things. She has ok-ed me to have soft foods with plenty of chewing, as the swelling around my stomach has obviously gone right down if I am hungry and able to tolerate soft solids. She has also said that she will do a fill on my next appointment (in 3 wks - 5 wks post op) so the future is looking brighter. RE: the weight gain. We have come to the conclusion that it may have been caused by the fact that the Optifast diet is designed to put your body into ketosis, and now that I am on mushies a lot of the easy mushies are quite high carbs. Hopefully my body should sort itself out soon and continue to lose. Thanks for your replies.

Pain and only being able to tolerate liquids= TOO TIGHT! Don't chance it-get an unfill. Don't be afraid of a slight unfill. I won't guarantee a slight weight gain, but your health is more important. I struggled with a too tight band for months and ended up with a slipped band. I only have .6cc in now, but I have good restriction. It took a year to find that out. Go see your doc!

I am in my 9th month high weight 365 lost 83 lbs its truly a blessing from God. I have not had one stall or weight gain. WHY because I weigh at the end of each month ONLY on my surgery day, workout 6 days a week and drink 10 glasses of water per day and consume 1200 calories a day and eat something every 3 hrs to boost my matablism loving me and life. Keep up the good work

Okay, I thought I was doing great! I was due for my 2nd fill at the end of December but because of the holidays all the appts. at my doctors were filled up. So, I go in next Monday, Feb. 2nd. I went on the scale this morning and thinking I might've lost an additional 6-10 pounds I gained 5. OMG! is this normal? My first fill was 2cc and obviously I might be on track if it wasn't for the holidays. Should I worry? go on a liquid diet for myself before the 2nd fill? or just make sure I do not wait too long for a fill. Please advise.

I had to do a 6 months supervised nutritionist appointments and from the first time I got weighed until the last time I couldn't weigh more or it was an automatic denial. Some I get very anal about weight gain. They look at it as if u can lose or at least manage to stay at the same weight then u won't be a good candidate. It is hard. Just stay positive, up or protein and exercise and you'll be okay good luck

I can gain and lose 5-7 lbs easily. Healthy foods or not sometimes you may be eating your maintenance/ gaining caloric intake, retaining water even needing a proper bowel movement. Track to see if there are aby discernable patterns early instead of waiting until it's a lot of weight gained that you will struggle to lose. Congratulations so far 💜

I am being banded on 6/3 and the realization is really hitting home. I have to say I am a basket case also. I know I wasn't suppose to have any alcohol in my last 2 weeks but tonight I went out and had 3 cosmos. I feel really bad but I needed them to. Why????? I know that I am doing the right thing but I am truly scared about this surgery. I needed to feel that I can let myself go one more time before my new life. Am I going to be okay and still get the 1 lb weight gain off? I will but it will be alot of work for me as of tomorrow. Now I am down to the wire. I will be starting full liquids in a week and clear liquids the day before the surgery. I guess I will have to eat alot of chicken and salad starting tomorrow! I am glad I have the support of this group. Since no one knows what we are going through unless you are getting banded.

When I was banded - I told EVERYONE! I was so proud and excited. However, this time around only two people know about my revision. My husband and my best friend. Other family and my co-workers know I had surgeryk but think it was only to have my band removed. My band was such a failure for me (with complications and weight gain), I heard I told you so - so much. While I"m typically the kind of person that doesn't care what anyone thinks...for me this surgery is so personal I really didn't want to hear it or feel I had to defend myself. So, I decided to keep it to myself. One day I may decide to let the world know, but for now it is MY journey and not theirs... What about you?

Fat is essential to health. You shouldn't aim for no fat. Probably aim for about 25% - 30% calories from healthy fats. At 200 lbs. and 1500 max daily caloric intake you shouldn't be gaining. If you aren't underestimating your calories it's probably just water weight. Salt intake, heavy exercise, switching from a low carb to higher carb diet and increased glucagon storage, can all cause water weight gain. Log your food. Stop drinking with meals as it speeds stomach emptying and makes you hungrier faster. And remember liquid calories are very fattening so stay away from juice, soda, beer, etc. I wouldn't aim for less then 1000 calories a day as I did that a couple months back and now my hair loss has started back up again. As long as you're weighing yourself and tracking your food intake so you can stay on top of things, you should be fine. Best of luck.

I was banded in 2012, had lost almost 75 lbs. at one point. I'm now at a total weight loss of 57 pounds. Ever since my surgery, I have never really done well with solids. I didn't wrooy about it at first cause I was losing but then, my weight plateaued and I gained a bit then plateaued again that I began to get concerned that about 90% of my diet is liquid. I got sick of Protein shakes so occasional ice cream shakes and sodas came into play (thus the weight gain). But, the main problem is...when I try to eat solids, even healthy solids, I am in the bathroom getting rid of it. Finally heard from the dr. that my body produces too much digestive mucous/juices too fast and attacks the food before it can get down to my stomach and be digested so the only option...my body tries to get rid of it. I miss healthy foods and am tired of not eating and having to leave the second half of meals in the bathroom. The second half of the issue is I eat/drink so very little...I cannot lose weight anymore. So I am stuck. My band has been filled and unfilled, filled and unfilled. So medically, I have a reason for insurance to pay for the band to come put but not necessarily to be converted to sleeve. My dr. is well known and he's affiliated with a center of excellence. They said that they have not had one insurance company pay for direct conversion. My dr's office says that in order to pay, all insurance require you to meet original parameters (bmi of 35 or more with problems or bmi of 40). Therefore, I will actually have to gain some weight (go backwards) in order to reach a bmi of 35 in order to have a sleeve. Plus then, I will need hope that they will think that my sleep apnea is bad enough that I can qualify. I have Blue Shield of California Ultimate PPO that we pay for ourselves(not through an employer). I haven't actually been turned down yet cause I have to submit for approval but before I can do that, I have to pay for and re-do my psych profile AGAIN. It is SOOO frustrating to think that the insurance company would make me meet ORIGINAL guidelines...including attending possible nutrition classes (I know what is involved and how to eat by now). I refuse to gain ALL my weight back to get back up to a BMI of 40. Ugh! Has anyone, who has this insurance, gone from lap band to sleeve as a direct conversion?? Has anyone had to meet the original guidelines. Any insight you have, I'd appreciate it. Thanks- Jen

Why is it that I gained weight after surgery while I was in the hospital recovering? Is it because of all the ice and the IV and lack of urinating? Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Congrats on this big first step! It's wonderful news that you're able to take decisive action and make such a major decision to improve your life! I'm worried when I hear you say you hope the surgery will make you stop hating yourself. This surgery is a great health improver, but there's no guarantee how you'll feel about yourself afterwards. You could easily end up skinny but unhappy. I'd guess we all come into this with pretty low self image due to all of our previous failures at weight loss. But I would recommend taking some time to understand what's contributed to your self image and weight issues to this point before actually having the surgery. For most people it's not just stomach capacity that led to the weight gain. For those of us using insurance, we had to sit down with a psyche professional and they usually poke around and try to unpack these issues for each of us. Your doctor can probably recommend someone similar that works with MWL patients. I think it'd be a great benefit to you if you reached out to them for some counseling before making your mind up. I hope I don't sound preachy. I would just hate to see you spend all that money and go through everything and end up unhappy. I will pray for you and I hope you get to a really great place!

I lose some weight and then I gain some weight. It fluctuates up and down and now I'm not stressing about it anymore unless it goes over 5 lbs weight gain. I am weighing myself at least 1 time per week at the least. I thought I was done losing and low and behold I lost a couple of pounds. That feels really good too.

I sent an email to the woman who wrote the article. She responded to me within twenty four hours and admitted that maybe he was not the best subject. She asked me if I would like to participate in a followup story about someone who is success ful with the lapband. I gave her referrals to Century members and three different lapband support groups. I told her to get back to me in a few months, so I really have something to tell since I am a newbie with slightly less than 30 pounds in the last 6 weeks. Here is my letter I sent to her: Dear Ms. Martin, I was thoroughly disappointed with your article on the Lapband procedure. Most of the information about the Lapband in your article is inaccurate and has no real substance.You also make a mockery of all morbidly obese people by choosing a photo of a candidate with 10,000 calories of food at his table ordering the waiter to bring more. Most Lapband patients achieve longterm weight loss percentages similar to bypass patients without dumping syndrome, malabsorption and without permanent damage to their stomachs and intestines. The process is slower at a rate of 6-8 pounds a month, which is a much healthier approach to weight loss and requires less plastic surgery (or none)for the person who is morbidly obese. We are a society of quick fixes to long term problems. Obesity is a serious problem in the US and many will choose numerous other tortuous procedures that will permanently damage their bodies over one that is slower, but more healthy. I should know because I was banded and I am successfully losing the weight I want to lose slowly and in a healthy way. I have learned that it is true that the band is just a tool and the patient must eat healthy low carbohydrate, low caloric food and exercise as well to achieve the desired result. However, it is not true that negative reinforcement in the form of food getting stuck in the band is what is keeping me away from the fast food. I eat without much restriction and definitely without pain, which could be said about most Lapband patients. I now take the time to chew my food and taste what I am eating instead of inhaling it. Most of the banded people I know have lost 50 to 100% of the weight they want to lose within 2 years. Many bypass patients will lose 60-80% of their desired weight and many will gain back 20% or more of their losses. Banded people who learn to eat properly and healthy and get regular exercise have just as much of a chance to lose the same amount of weight and keep it off as bypass patients. It is my opinion that bypass patients never really get the chance to eat normal portions, since the amount is not adjustable. I eat about 6-7 ounces of food, Protein and vegetables and then leave the table. People in other countries have been banded for the last 10 years and these statistics are more accurate than the most recent US ones. In a European study, it showed most banded patients lost between 47%-75% of their desired weight loss. What I want to know is why you would choose to write about a man who obviously has a compulsive eating disorder? Anyone who eats three Breakfast meals and is still is thinking about lunch (despite his profession) has a bigger issue at hand. I am sure if a licensed psychologist did a self inventory eating disorder panel on such a candidate, they would not recommend any surgery.One should try to tackle the eating disorder first before considering any bariatric procedure. There is a difference between eating too much and being a compulsive eater. There are also other factors such as genetics, metabolism, lack of exercise, hormonal and glandular disorders and many other factors which contribute to weight gain. These are people who might make better candidates because they are willing to make changes to improve their health. If you would really like to learn about the Lapband, I would be happy to put you in touch with at least three different support groups that are national and regional who would give you more accurate information for a future article.

Well, I've crossed that bridge a thousand times on previous diets. Struggle very hard to lose some weight, gain it back, over and over. Oh yes, I would get a band again anyday. We all want to lose our weight fast, like yesterday, please, BUT this is THE fastest I have ever lost this amount of weight and I have to say it's been so much easier than dieting without the band. It's still hard some days, but overall better than no band. I was told to expect one to pounds a week, so I believed that and it has been true. Do I expect the last 15 pounds to be slower than that rate? YUP? After you lose 50 to 60 pounds, it will take fewer calories to maintain that new lower weight, so it will take even fewer to continue to lose, so the rate at which we lose will slow down or we have to increase our exercise to compensate. None of that is news to me, so I won't be surprised. I think if we look at our weight loss, from week to week it seems slow, but if you look at your weight loss over the past six months, then it's impressive really. You've lost over 7 pounds every month on average! Keep it up and one day, you'll wake up, get on the scale and be at goal!

(Hi Mary: We are the same age and I always like to check in with woman our age because I think it's a challenge with menopausal weight gain that comes with this time. How are you doing? Are you winning the battle? Glad your palpitations went away. I started getting them a year ago and was very scared as I lost a sister to a heart attack. It turns out my palpitations are yet another symptom of fluctuating hormones. I am pre banded but have are almost there just battling with my insurance company but still have so many questions.) I am doing well. I had my surgery on August 19th and since then have lost 20 pounds. I would like to lose 50 more. I was on one week of Clear liquids then 3 weeks of full liquids and next Wednesday I make the transition to real food. I have an appt for a tentative first fill on 9/30. Except for the bruising and soreness at the incision sites, I have not had any other trouble. I also lost a sister at a young age..8 years ago this month - she was 40 and I was 41. She was in a car accident. Good luck battling that insurance company....I see you being persistant with the appeals. Hang in there. Mary

First your band has to be adjusted properly and then YOU have to work WITH your band. So see the Dr. and discuss with them the kinds of food and the quantity of those foods you are eating and then discuss together if a fill is needed. Then do your part to help your band. If there are unhealthy foods in your house, get rid of them and bring healthy foods in. Start counting your calories to see how much your consuming and track your protein to be sure you are getting enough. Get back on the band track. I would not be afraid the Dr or staff is going to be mad at me. Just talk to them honestly. Tell them you need their advice and help. That's what they are there for. Many people fall off track, it's unlikely you will be their first patient that came in with a weight gain.

Yep! The weight gain progression there is so familiar it's a stereotype. And boy howdy is it familiar!

In order to give birth to a healthy child, it is important to have some weight gain. When my wife and I went through Natural Childbirth classes 40 years ago, the nominal number was 35 pounds minimum at full term. My wife is short. She is 4' 11". At the time she became pregnant, she weighted around 95 pounds. At full term she had gained 52.5 pounds. She had no problem losing the weight with the first nor the second child. Both my children were born without any physical defects or mental retardation. The directions for food during pregnancy are very similar to those for weight loss: Protein, and plenty of Vitamin C and stay away from unhealthy foods such as potato chips. And plenty of exercise.

Has anyone had any experience with St. Vincent Charity Medical Centers in Cleveland, Oh for either the Bypass or Sleeve surgery? In Feb 2016, I had initially met with a Dr & Patient Advocate regarding the sleeve surgery. My husband was (and still is) against the procedure for fear of complications during & post-op, & my lack of success with other weight loss trials. Here I am 10 months later, and at least 10 lbs heavier than I was at that time. I am miserable & now I have high blood pressure again. I had been taken off the meds for it previously due to losing a significant amount of weight & not needing the meds anymore. Well, since I have gained nearly all of that weight back, my BP has gone back up & I started experiencing migraine headaches again on a regular basis. I also suffer from Pseudo Tumor Cerebri, a rare condition in the skull. Fast forward to now, I'm heavier, with high BP, headaches, knee issues from past surgeries causing issues d/t weight gain, eye troubles d/t Pseudo Tumor condition flaring up from weight gain, lots of problems. Husband still unsupportive, money & cost is an issue. Must come up with $1000 for surgery, minimum. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

I am 3 1/2 years post op, and did not really follow strict diet regulations, just ate smaller amounts of just about anything. In total, I had lost 106 lbs, but recently I have gained 35 lbs back. I am getting into bad habits of eating after suppertime again - always wanting to eat at night. Is it possible my pouch has stretched back out? Can I do something to make it smaller again?

I am a firm believer of everything in moderation. I have failed too many diets because I would deprive myself of something I wanted, then couldn't stand it anymore and would binge like crazy. I got the sleeve because I want to eat like "normal people". If "normal people" want chips, they have a few and are satisfied. That is what I do now too, as opposed to eating a whole bag like I used to do. My partner is a nutritionist and he is a firm believer of this too. It is a matter of living a healthier lifestyle, making healthier choices and when you want a treat, have it, enjoy it, don't over indulge and don't beat yourself up over it. If any of you look at my diary on my fitness pal you will see, I eat like a "normal person". If I want ice cream, I have it, but I do go with the low fat kind now and about half a cup is all I need. And yes, on the weekends I will partake of an adult beverage or two as well. Now that I have my back problems somewhat under control, have recovered from the weight gain as a result of not being able to move much and it has been a while since my steroid injections, I am back losing a healthy two pounds a week and beyond happy with that. I feel good, I have great energy, a great man in my life and am happy, exactly what I had hoped for. Sent from my iPad using VST

K8tee, I know that a lot of medication can prevent weight loss and sometimes cause weight gain. I went to Mexico. I was soooo worried that they wouldn't make my sleeve small enough as I'm only 5 ft 2 in. Now, I think they may have gotten it too small. My surgery was September 17, 2014 and I weighed 218 pds. I now weigh 145 pds. and just bought 2 size 7/8 junior's jeans. I can usually only eat 6 normal size bites or 1/2 cup of whatever. I no longer count calories and eat ice cream and whatever I want. I don't get hungry very often but when I do I eat 6 bites and I'm done. I usually don't get hungry again but make myself eat. I have really bad acid reflux so that has a lot to do with my lack of appetite. In the beginning I wrote everything down on paper before it passed my lips and no matter how hard I tried I could not eat more than 500 calories. Usually it was less. I also tried hard to eat protein and kept my carbs under 15 every day. I did that for the first 4 months. If you are on any medication at all you should check the side effects. Alot of medication causes weight gain.