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Thank you so much for the responses. I was a vsg expert in July before my surgery was to take place. I think I've forgotten a lot of what I read back then and that is probably where my doubts are coming in. I hands down decided against bypass for many reasons. The malabsorption and weight gain down the road were my main concerns. The sleeve seemed like the answer then and now with the responses I have received just tonight on this board it's clear again that sleeve is the right choice. Thank you so much for the guidance.

Oh, Girls, I got very concerned after reading a thread on another website. The person sounded just like us and was 4 years out telling she had regained 60 pounds!!!! Then others started talking about weight gain too 50+ lbs. then I realized it was a RNY forum. but.... Yikes!

True confession time: I actually *gained* two pounds back. Or that's what the scale says. I'm probably just retaining water because I've been cheating with salty snacks and not getting enough to drink to flush it through. So anyway, I had a heart-to-heart with myself today. "Self," I asked myself, "what gives with all the crazy wrong eating? The bag of jaw breakers you bought the other day, the popcorn and chips at work, the TWO cookies?! What--are you *trying* not to lose weight?!" ... and the answer came to me crystal clear. "Of course." I think something snapped when everybody, and I mean EVERYBODY from the hair dresser to the check-out lady at the grocery store, to the housekeeping staff at work comments on my weight loss. No matter how nice or supportive it is, it's flipping overwhelming. Then there's the trip to the Cities last weekend (that's Minneapolis/St Paul for you non-midwesterners) and hitting four consignment/Savers type stores and loading up on clothes, some of which already feel loose (yes, even with the 2-lb weight gain). And finally, I'm sure taking all my "fat clothes" to a resale shop here was the last straw. I'm "shrinking" as one coworker put it, and I just want it to stop for a while. I want to catch my breath and get used to being this size before I get smaller. I look at my poor daughter, 15, who weighs what I did a year ago, and it's shocking. Was I *really* that big? I was! And now I'm tiny compared to her, and I could shop from the regular women's sizes at the store, and I ran two miles with no pain or shortness of breath, and the whole thing is just a little bit too much. This realization has put me back on track somewhat. I've bought my own high-protein snacks for work so I'm not tempted by the starches (which, BTW, make me nauseously gassy) and I'm indulging in canned fruit when I want to get my fill of sweets, but I need support. I need you all to reassure me that we will get through this together, because going from a size 22 to fitting --tight, but zipping up!-- into a pair of Misses size 16 pants in just two months is making me a little crazy. Love you all, and hope to hear from you. If you're experiencing anything like this, please share!

While I agree with all the posts, the bigger issue is I think the pressure you are putting on yourself. That's not healthy. You are pregnant and bringing life into the world. Some weight gain is to be expected and you have to stop stressing so much - that's REALLY not healthy. Try to eat clean, but don't say "I can never have this again" because you'll fail and then beat yourself up. Pregnancy is a beautiful thing and a once in a lifetime opportunity. Enjoy it and don't be so critical honey! If it helps any (which I doubt it does) I had gastric bypass, lost 100 pounds and then during my pregnancies gained probably 40 pounds. But it came off quick after, even with me eating not so great during pregnancy. I found it really easy to get back on track right after and a lot of my crap eating was craving related. Feel good!

very true....it has only been 4 months post op for me BUT I hate looking at the enormous flabby of skin on my belly from 3 children and weight gain!!

Pregnancy is a difficult time to remain compliant with our diet...but some weight gain is expected, so be accepting of that. With 2 of my pregnancies, I gained 85 pounds, and then 65 pounds, and I did not have the band. I lost all of the weight both times, but it took over a year to do so. Don't allow yourself to get too concerned, as then it will become a recurrent cycle for your thoughts. As Dee wisely mentioned, keep,drinking your fluids. Any Snacks should have Protein. Try to only eat bandster friendly foods. Make it more difficult to get to those foods which you know you to be less preferred for a bandster, and measure your portions for everything. Be ok with any weight gain, it will only be temporary. Best wishes for a happy Labor Day!

The Beginning Growing up I use to tell everyone I was born fat so I am going to die fat! My story starts on July 28th 1983 my wonderful mother gave birth to a beautiful 10 pound baby girl…. Me! My parents told me I was the biggest baby in the hospital and I was proud of that. Who ever thought that this was the beginning of my obesity life. I am not going to sit here and writing about how I was teased when I was growing up and how I eat everything is sight because I will be lying to you guys and I am many things but I lair I am not. I was never tease about my weight growing up. So what cause me to become plus size diva? One word boredom. I was never athletic in school but I was involved in a lot of different activities like girls scouts, drama clubs and etc. Majority of the time all I did was eating junk food and when I was at home I was eating junk food either because I was bored. Fast forward to my high school life preferably my Senior year. Me and my best friend (Note: Just in case you are wondering we are still best friends!) were going to join the Air Force together but I had to lose 40 pounds in order to join. Guess what? I did as a matter of fact and I lost about 60 pounds. Impressive Right? Too bad I inherited my dad’s feet and could not join because I have no arch in my feet. True Story! I was devastated but life goes on and so did my weight. Life in my 20’s the yo-yo dieting years! Who wants to play I’ve been on that diet game? Since I couldn’t join the armed forces I decided to work for the government and started going to college. I always struggle with my weight and I spent most of my twenties trying out different diets. I gain back 50 pounds that I lost before with a new set of boobs. No I didn’t get a boob job I think 20% of my weight gain went to my boobs. For the longest time I have maintained my weight from 225 to 235. Then all of a sudden I was either losing a friend and a relative every year. I took my frustrations out by eating food. I am an emotional eater and I can admit that. My last diet that I was on was Weight Watchers I actually did pretty well on it until I hit a plateau then I never got back on track. I learned how to accept weighing at 250 or 255 and maintaining that. Until August of last year… For the past 4 years I’ve been maintaining my weight 250 to 255 but this time around my Wii fit (my scale) Said 267! I swear I thought my Wii fit was lying. Until I weighted myself on several scales at work and I found out the harsh reality. Why I chose to have the lap band….. A Quarter life mid crisis! After many bottles of beer and soul searching, I told myself “I gave obesity my 20’s I refuse to give obesity my 30’s!” I decided to start working on a better me. I watch a Weight Management seminar online to get a better understanding on my surgical weight lost options. I immediately knew if I was going to pick a WLS it was going to be the Lap band. Why, because I didn’t want my stomach to be cut in half, my inside to be rerouted and etc. Sorry but that does not sound healthy to me. I didn’t wake up and said I was going to get the lap band this was a 7 month process. I wanted to try to lose weight on my own first but at the same time I went to a local support group to help me with my final decision. I am glad I went to a local support group because some of the YouTube videos I found scared the crap out of me. October I made my decision to get the lap band. On February 9th I got my approval letter from my insurance company and 2 months later (April 9th) I got my surgery date May 1st 2013! I am looking for to my healthier lifestyle and a new me! My goal is to be 20 pounds lighter on my 30th birthday! Wish me luck! Thank you for reading

I did this, gained all of my"for insurance purposes" weight loss back. I was so sick of eating and being stuffed I embraced my pre-op and flew through the two weeks quickly. I lost the weight gained and with all the drinking and mini meals I feel like I am always satisfied.

I am 34, I had my surgery a week ago on 4/16/13. I am an RN and I work in Neonatal ICU. I have been happily married for 13 years, but we've not been able to have children. My husband actually had gastric bypass in 2009 and lost 150 lbs. Our pets are our "children" for now - we have a yellow lab and 3 kitties, all of whom are very spoiled! I have 2 little nephews (also spoiled by me!) and adult neice who is about to graduate from grad school and an adult nephew who just graduated college. Also I have 2 sisters and 2 brothers, and my best friend who I consider a sister as well. I was a thin child, underweight actually until puberty. My weight gain was gradual starting around age 17. I married at 20 and was diagnosed a couple years later with PCOS while we were still in college. We were told we could not conceive without medical intervention, which turned out to be true. When we graduated college and were ready to start a family, we went on fertility treatments right away. 3 pregnancies in about 6 years of active fertility treatments (everything but IVF) all ending in early first trimester miscarriages. After extensive testing, no reason was found for the miscarriages except for my PCOS and insulin resistance. We are very hopeful that reaching my goal weight after surgery will help with conceiving and carrying a child.

Not sure what your history is, but here's something else to consider--can you imagine GAINING 32 pounds in 6 weeks? You'd feel like the little girl in "Charlie and the chocolate Factory" and you'd probably be panicking over how fast it was piling on, right? It would alarm you, because you wouldn't want such a speedy weight gain, and you'd be anxious, upset, and desperate to get it to stop. Well, the flip side is that when we want something (like weight loss) SOOOOO badly, it seems to take forever to arrive. Same 32 pounds, different reaction. Also, if you've put weight on all your life, or even just over the course of a few years, try (I know it's hard, but TRY) to keep in mind how slowly and gradually it went up. It's going to sometimes be a slow descent, too, but you will get there! Meanwhile, the weight loss that seems so painfully slow to you is really very inspiring to someone like me, who is just starting the VSG process and has to be patient about getting the surgery. You're going to do fantastically! (Edited for a typo, because I'm an English teacher and it would keep me awake at night to leave it sitting there. Kidding. Sorta.)

First let me say I LOVE YOU GUYS! Everyone of you. To address some of your very helpful responses and questions: Dylan, Carolina girl, -I don’t know about the inches yet. I will measure and watch and wait. I forgot to do that before starting exercise. Excellent reminder, thank you! I doubt I’ve lost any inches yet, but will keep an eye on that so I don’t keep getting so discouraged, if I am indeed shrinking. Terry: BMI, BMR -I see what you are saying, makes perfect sense! I had my BMR tested last week, at my doctor’s apt. Resting I burn 1728 in a day + 516 for lifestyle and activity, not including exercise. According to the testing, I should be able to take in 1384-1728/day and loose weight slowly (without exercise). So, it seems like I should be able to take in 1600 and exercise, and loose weight. That would put me at burning 2400/day (when I exercise) according to this testing. According to the test (that one you breathe into for 12 minutes), my metabolism is between normal/high and high. Of course, all of this is assuming that the testing is accurate. Big IF, right! Catfish, -UGH the adjustments! I have had super struggles with this! I’ve been bouncing around in single CCs the last few visis. One time too tight, the next time too loose…fill, unfill, fill again…Here’s the thing….I get stuck easily, but I’m hungry all of the time. The band does what it is supposed to do – restrict my eating (I guess) but I’m so stinking hungry! Seroius tummy grumbling hungry – not just “I feel like eating” hungry. I try to not eat late, but I wake up, in the middle of the night, so hungry I can’t sleep. I’ve settled my stomach with Water, but I just feel like I’m always hungry. How can that be, especially on 1400 calories! I try to avoid the sliders and stick with real food, but I find that I need those Protein shakes to really satisfy the hunger. This has been an issue for about 6 months. Can’t get to the sweet spot where I don’t get stuck on everything (and tempted to eat sliders), yet, the band is restricting me so I don’t get hungry. Grown, -Yes, banded 10 months. I had lost 38 pounds. I lost the last 5 in March-April, but gained that 5 back last week. My doc gets me all confused. He says…eat 1000-1200 calories per day, eat when you are hungry, eat solid food. If I ate when I was hungry I would eat 2000 calories a day. So, I try to eat as little as I can, of healthy food, and not get so hungry. I’m crabby with everyone right now because of the hunger, and weight gain makes it worse! I’m starting to wonder if I have PMS? I never know. All I can think is that one of these 3 things may be true…. I may be miscounting my calories or forgetting to record things I eat. I will be more careful and track more meticulously. I may be destined to be this weight. Maybe I need to have a fill – but dang! I don’t’ think I’ll be able to eat much if I get any tighter…and then I slip into eating too many slider foods. Perhaps I’m doing that already. So see point 1, track better. Perhaps I need to eat less food, but eat more often (but I do feel like I eat often enough) Perhaps I need to tolerate the huger???? Ugh I will fail for sure if I try this route. I don’t know what else to say. I totally appreciate the help though, and have been encouraged by your input!! More is welcome!!

Maybe some of you need to read the entire thread titled "Weight gained after having gastric sleeve surgery". These are from vets 1 or more years out and having to lose some lbs gained back. Just a few ppl who are being honest and reporting their issues about maintaining and gaining. Unless you got the Magical Sleeve Surgery then great for you! I'm so jealous Eat your Wendy's and Carry On

First off, did you get fatter or did you get heavier? Two totally different things. The fact that your muscles are sore, means you worked them and they retain water during the healing process. Happens to me all the time, Now, you bumped your eating up to 1600, yet you list your height at 5.1 and a BMI of 31.2 which would give you a (BMR) basal metabolic rate of 1518 calories a day. What that means is that your normal 1400 calories a day, you are only running a 115 calorie deficit, and since a pound of fat is 3500 calories you will lose a little over a pound a month. When you bumped it to 1600 you are probably eating more calories than you are burning. But, once again, your WEIGHT gain is not fat, it is Fluid retention. I'm not being judgmental, I am simply doing the math. I am nearly a foot taller than you, and my BMR is 2500, and I only eat 1300 calories, and about half of my exercise calories (3 hours of spin class a day, plus biking when the weather permits) and I still stall on weight loss. I lost the same 2 pounds about 5 times during the month of March. As for hunger, according to your profile you have been banded since June 2012, I would suggest going back to your Dr. and discussing it with them or seeing a NUT. Keep the faith, you will eventually get where you want to be.

Sorry to hear that. I wish I could offer some help based on real experience but I cannot. I will say that I believe if you think about it you will realize that the weight gain is A) temporary and related to the medication, not over eating. Therefore you should not kick yourself about it. This weight gain will certainly not undo all your hard work thus far. I bet that no one, even you, would have any idea that 7 pounds is there without an evil scale. So don't let that 7 pounds make your situation worse. Once you find the proper medication that's right for you, then you can deal with those 7 pounds. Btw....when I started adding propel to my Water to increase sodium I gained 6 pounds almost over night. Cut back on the propel and those 6 pounds went away.

Hello Everyone! I am very excited to begin this journey with the vertical sleeve. I am new to this site, but since my decision to begin this journey of weight loss—via surgery—I have come to love and appreciate the stories that have been shared on this site. That being said, it was inevitable that I too would become a part of this community. My story begins with my childhood. I grew up in a small south Texas town with little to do and way too much time on my hands. My parents owned a small convenient store/bar-b-que restaurant. I was ALWAYS there and I was ALWAYS eating. I had endless amounts of chips, dips, sodas, juices, candy, ice cream, nachos, tacos, and bbq at my disposal. Kids called me Fat Kathy, Little Piggy, or chanted “Boom-baba-BOOM!” as I walked by. I was very insecure and unhappy. I turned to vomiting to purge out the excessive food I would consume. As I neared my graduation year and stretched out, along with the bulimia, I finally began to lose weight. I also became more active: athletics, long distance running, and weights. My size varied from a 7 to a 10. Even though I was a lot thinner, I was not happy. I was obsessed with my body image and the idea that I was fat. I continued my destructive path once I graduated from high school and entered college. My obsession with my body image fed into my obsession with working out, eating right, purging food that wasn’t right, and consuming weight loss supplements and laxatives. I worked out in the morning with a morning 3-5 mile run; throughout the day when I taught aerobic classes (I worked for the university’s intramural sports center), abdominal classes, and toning classes; in the evenings I strength trained to build muscle. Even though I eventually reached an all time low of 130 pounds and a size 4, I was still convinced that I was overweight and ugly. My then-boyfriend-now-husband was not allowed to touch my stomach or look at me when we were intimate because in my mind I was disgusting. Nobody could convince me otherwise. When my husband and I eventually married and conceived our first child, I finally stopped with the bulimia, laxatives, and obsessive working out. However, the consequence was weight-gain-with-a vengeance. I was a size 6 when I found out I was pregnant, and a size 14 after I had the baby. When I had my second baby and struggled with his behavior as an autistic child, I ballooned into a 16. Then my third child came along with heart failure and the need for multiple heart surgeries. The stress from the situation aided in my weight gain and size 18 figure. Now that I am a mother of four, I vary between an 18 and a 20. Contradicting to what one would think, I shed many of my insecurities. I think my experiences with my children helped me to overcome such pettiness and taught me to appreciate life and all the good it has to offer. Life is too short, it is here one minute and gone the next and it would be a shame to live it—or waste it—being miserable. I am now a confident woman. I love who I have become, I feel beautiful, I love to dress up and look good; I love my life, husband, and children. My children come first and I love to be active with them. I like feeling good and throughout the years I have even gone so far as to start up aerobic classes in the community to preserve that feeling. However, despite my attempts at staying active and eating healthy, I have never been able to shed the weight. I have yo-yoed up and down for these past 10 years; and it seems as if the further I yo-yo up, the less I am able to yo-yo down. I am on this path that I can’t seem to get off despite my efforts. I am still very unhappy with my weight. I have my moments when I get depressed and I feel disgusted with my body, but I don’t let me human emotions get me down too much and I try to stay positive. An aunt of mine, who has suffered from obesity all of her life, told me about her upcoming sleeve surgery. I was surprised and awed that she would venture into this process, but her enthusiasm and praise for those she had met who had had the surgery, convinced me to look into it. Based on my weeks-and-weeks of research, information gathering from seminars, and testimonials from people like you all, I have to say I am so EXCITED to take this step. I know that I can eat healthy because I love healthy food—I just eat too much and too often; I know that I can stay active because I already am; I know that a surgery like the sleeve will help me on my journey to portion control; and I know the surgery will catch me when I attempt to fall off by over eating or eating the wrong things. My first consultation is on April 24th. My biggest fear is that my BMI will fail to be at 40 because I am at the borderline of qualifying with no questions asked: 38.6 BMI at my last weigh-in. I am embarrassed to admit this, but in the weeks leading up to my first consultation I have acquired a very ugly diet. I feel awful physically, but I fear if I don’t gain those 8 pounds they will not find anything wrong with me—health wise—and I will not qualify. THANKS FOR READING MY STORY! WISH ME LUCK!!!

I followed every rule pre and post-op and can't understand why people are/were so indisciplined that for a few weeks they couldn't be compliant. Isn't a lack of self control the reason we had surgery in the first place. Hey, if someone wants to cheat that is on them. I chose not. I did not have surgery to see the disappointed look on the faces of my family because for a few months I couldn't control myself and ate the same things that made me morbidly obese. I need to have healthy eating and a lifestyle become a habit before I sabotage myself. Will I have a little something unhealthy in the future maybe or maybe not. The sleeve as I have heard continuously is a tool to help us get on track, not something to be ignored and pushed to the side as we decide. For all of those with no self control, think of it this way. Would you break and arm again after it has healed because you couldn't control yourself? I will not deprive myself of going our socially with friends or family, but I will make smart choices each time. I have cooked things my family wanted like fried chicken and pork chops. I have made cookies with my family after being sleeved. However, not once did I even take a bite. I have helped my wife in the bakery she owns, but did not sample like I did in the past. Remember significant weight gain can be in the future of all who don't practice sound judgement and self control.

I was recently diagnosed with Addison's disease. I truly had not changed my diet or exercise routine in 6 years and I just started to gain weight. I was banded in 2005 and thought the weight gain was because I was getting older. I was being treated for hypothyroidism and hypoglycemia for a long time. After several different tests and hospital admissions they found that I had Addison's. I saw my LB surgeon because I was not sure how to adjust my diet. My bariatric doctor tells me to follow my endocrinologist's suggestions for my diet and then the endocrinologist's tells me to follow my bariatric doctor's suggestions. UGH!!! I was wondering if anyone else has a LB and Addison's that maybe able to help me out. I do know that it is a low carb, low sugar (higher than LB suggestions) , high protein, high sodium and low potassium diet. I also had to have all of my fluid taken out about two weeks so I feel like I do not even have a band right now. I have been trying to incorporate the two diets together however I feel like it is not working out so well. The really bad thing is that my endocrinologist told me that working out causes stress on my adrenal glands which causes a chain reaction to other endocrine issues and that it maybe causing me to gain weight. I just feel frustrated and not sure what to do. Any help would be appreciated.

Hey Stephen! So glad you're home safe and sound So you're only a day behind me. I can tell you everyday gets a whole lot better. I'm feeling good today, lots of energy and stomach muscles are starting to feel better. As far as the gas, besides walking try drinking something warm and then walk around. It worked really well for me. I have made it a point to walk 1 mile everyday and I really think that's why I'm feeling so good. I walk slow but I always feel good when I get back and am sleeping better too. And ya gotta love the hospital weight gain, it will come off pretty quick once you're up and about again. Yay for us! We're on our way! Keep in touch and let me know how you're doing--Corey

I also have fibromyalgia. A lot of my weight gain over the years can be attributed to lack of energy , reduced activity level, and my reactions to medications. I was banded on 4/17/13 .... So far, so good. I can no longer take CymbLta because its a capsule . Hoping it won't make too much of a negative difference . My other meds are all crushable. One positive thing is that by crushing my generic ambien it works much faster and better. I've gotten better sleep this week than I have in a long time. Because I was so much lighter when I developed fibromyalgia I know that weight loss isn't a cure but I am also looking forward to the energy I'm sure to gain by not having to carry around so much excess weight. I'm really glad to see someone else here with fms because some of our challenges might be a little different than those of others. I hope all goes well for you !

Yes, I would do it again, even though it was a difficult start for me, lots of pain. And, even though I have not lost most of my excess weight (I'm still about 60 pounds over). I may not be typical, but here is why I love it: before the band, I was always hungry. Hungry right after I ate. Starved when I woke up. Focused on food a LOT and had to think all the time about NOT eating. Dieting all the time. And gaining weight every year, no matter how much I dieted and focused on eating the right foods. After the band: I am no longer hungry all the time. I eat whatever I want, whenever I want (but I've always been a healthy eater, still am.) I get full after eating a little bit. I don't get hungy until the next meal time. I don't worry about gaining weight, and I don't gain weight. Is this the best use for the band? Probably not. Could I use it to lose the rest of my excess weight? Sure, I know I can. However, just having this peace of mind, not focused on food all the time, freedom from weight gain, ability to eat what I want to eat whenever I'm hungry, I am OVERJOYED. I would do it again in a heartbeat!

In the early stages of pregnancy there is not a lot of weight gain. Most women can stay in normal clothes until after the first trimester. If the pregnancy tests are coming out negative, you are probably not pregnant . Worrying about being pregnant can make your period not come. I would advise just relaxing and waiting to see if you get your period in the next week or two. During that time don't drink alcohol or smoke. If you are pregnant, the waiting doesn't hurt anything. You may be stalled in weight loss because you are in a happy relationship. When I met my husband (preband) I gained 20 pounds in a very short time. And absolutely use some form of birth control. Babies need to be planned.

My doctor is very aware, and I do know that many antidepressants can cause weight gain. The one I actually started (the 4th I have tried, so I am not new to this game) is known to be weight neutral, but not in my case, of course. I am hoping to find people that can relate to the weight gain and how they handled it because right now the weight gain is making me feel worse than anything

Absolutley, some cause weight gain? I hope your doc is aware of you stoping your meds. Suddenly not taking your antidepressant can cause seriously effects. The following are an example of the meds with possible weight gain effects Certain tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline, imipramine (Tofranil) and doxepin (Silenor) Certain monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), such as tranylcypromine (Parnate) and phenelzine (Nardil) Paroxetine (Paxil), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) Mirtazapine (Remeron), which is an atypical antidepressant — medication that doesn't fit neatly into another antidepressant category On the flip side though, everyone responds to meds differently and can lose weight on the same meds others gain with. Talk to your doc about changing your med type to a different one. There are some on the market that are known not to cause weight gain

Anyone else that is sleeved for a while started any new medication and gained weight because if it? It was actually an antidepressant and I gained 7lbs in one month after starting it when I have been a stable weight for a year! I did quit taking the medication and am looking at other options. I only quit taking it a couple of weeks ago, so I am hoping the weight will come back off. Any other experiences would be appreciated? I am just feeling so frustrated when I have worked so hard, have been so stable, and BAM!

go to your doctor or plan parenthood.. for a real test then get on some sort of birth control. now that you have the band even if the birth control did cause weight gain which it does not this should ease your mind. life is all about thinking before doing and setting yourself up for success this is part of it. For now go to the store and get some off the shelf prevention until you get the advice of a doctor. Babies are forever and they come first this is the time to put yourself first and set yourself up for a good future for you and you children... good luck