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I was banded in Summer 2007. I've had all kinds of difficulties with restriction, life issues (dad passed away, mom cancer, moved, 5 kids, etc), and it seemed like no matter what I tried I couldn't lose more than 30 lbs and then quickly gain it back. I worked out to the point of constant pain and ate like a bird, only to lose very little. And the minute I had a setback the weight came rushing back. I'm grateful I got the band and I believe it's kept me from gaining a whole bunch more weight but it never worked for me like I saw with so many of my fellow bandsters. Good news, bad news.... (mostly good) I found out that I have PCOS and some pre-cancer symptoms. One of the main side effects is extreme weight gain and difficulty with losing weight. I've had all the symptoms of this since I was a teen but nobody ever caught it. Now, it has advanced to an alarming degree and they finally discover the issue! Thank God! I will be having a complete hysterectomy next week and won't have those issues anymore!!! I will have to have my band unfilled for the surgery and then go through the fill process again from the beginning. With a new, unhindered metabolism and a fresh start with my band... I get a do-over!!!! I'm almost as hopeful and excited today as I was when I first got banded! Woohoo!

Glad u posted this...I wonder if my tax has contributed to weight gain???

I respectfully disagree, buplee. I do not believe that some arbitrary number of psychotherapy appointments should EVER be required. Not every person with a food issue needs therapy. In some cases, it's knowledge they need, or some support while they assert their own discipline (i.e., the 6 month medically supervised diet). Some people have physical issues which exacerbate their weight gain. Some people just let themselves go because of other stressors in their lives, and by the time they started taking care of themselves again, they'd already dug themselves into a deep hole. I do agree with the psych evaluation that most of us have had to go through. If problems are uncovered at that time, of course it would be wise to get them fixed before they proceed into weight loss, but I don't believe that dictating that you will have 5 or 10 sessions is realistic. Some people can work through minor issues very quickly. Others may need to go longer. Either way, that should be something between the patient and their medical team to decide, and should not be an arbitrary dictation from on high.

It is possible to gain 5 pounds in 3 day Sent from my iPhone using LapBandTalk

Pre banding, I lost 24#s and after surgery in Nov. 2011, I lost 28#s but I have regained 15#s much to my dismay. I hit a plateau after July of last year (2012) and I have felt weight gain since the holidays. I must admit that I have not always followed the basics, including exercise. I know how important it is to get your adequate water and protein. I was told once that I may not be getting enough calories. I use to skip meals routinely and I am trying to do better. I rarely have hunger pains so I know that I am getting sufficient protein. Only one month did I feel that I was in the green zone when I lost 9#s of fat even though I had water gain. In my last visits for refills,I have been told that I gained water but not fat when I went for a refill. I am currently at 81/4 cc(s); my band is 10cc. Any way, I need a jump start, because I know it is in my best interest to do so! Exercise, I understand, is the way to go, but I need to be motivated. I am trying to follow the SUGAR BUSTERS DIET as close as possible. Although, I am not losing, I am trying to stay committed although it is frustrating when I think about it at times, especially when I consider how I have given up eating ice creme at night. Hopefully, being a member of lapbandtalk will help!

Are you vomiting or feeling "stuck" a lot? If so it might be your band becoming tighter. To be honest, I would worry more about a possible slip rather then weight gain right now. You got it off once you can do it again I would give your surgeon a call and have some fluid removed. Good luck!

I'm not condemning the cheeseburger, but I'm just saying: why get sleeved in what I am assuming is January only to consume a 300-500 calorie burger in one sitting? Why would you just not eat 1/3 or even 1/2. I'm not perfect, I drink juice, eat ice cream, munch on crackers I eat Cheetos, and have had Chinese food. But I also limit myself to just a taste. I'm 100+ pounds lighter and I will never allow myself to eat my way back up the scale. Call me scared of weight gain if you must The sleeve is a lifestyle change. It alone will not make you thin. You also must change your thoughts and approach to food. It is hard, but that's part of the journey.

This is tough because, for me, I've lost a lot of weight several times on my own only to gain it all back! With my pattern, I'd still have the surgery. If you have been obese for a long time, statistics say I believe only 10% of people will lose weight and keep it off. Crazy right? Not saying you won't be successful, but something to think about. With every weight gain came depression and absolute loss of control. Right now, I'm smaller than I've ever been as an adult! I had my surgery 5 1/2 months ago. I'm happier than I've ever been and have no fear of gaining the weight back! Good luck with whatever you choose and you are doing an amazing job!

All of the above for me.lol I was like you and had started yet another diet and was doing well. Right up to the night before surgery, I was second guessing myself. I then realized it was the same old, same old. Lose the weight, gain it back plus some. I couldn't afford to do that anymore. Like Missy, I needed my life back. You are the only one who can decide if you've had enough yoyo dieting. Glad I went ahead with it. In the past, I had always given up by now. Now I'm looking forward to making my goal for the first time ever. Good luck on any decision you make. Stick around and get a really good education on what the band can do and what it can't do.

I used IVF w/ICSI for my twins (prior to sleeve) and did a frozen embryo transfer to get pregnant this last time with my daughter. I gave birth four weeks ago and I'd say that while my pregnancy wasn't more enjoyable now that I'm smaller, the recovery was fantastic compared to past pregnancies. I developed gestational diabetes with my twin pregnancy that did not resolve afterward until I had my VSG. This time around my blood sugar was better than a non-pregnant lady so that was no concern. I was a big gainer with past pregnancies - 97 pounds with my first single, more than 80 pounds with my twins - but only gained 32 pounds with this pregnancy. Within a week I'd lost 18 pounds and now at 29 days out from delivery I only have 9 pounds left to be back at my pre-pregnancy weight and I'm already in my size small and 5/6 clothes again (though I admit they aren't the form-fitting ones yet). If you're diligent about your habits you will remain in control. I was able to eat quite a bit more during pregnancy than I am postpartum, but I still eat very little. Max, about a cup of food in a meal and that's if half the meal is soft enough to slide. I wasn't as strict as I could have been while pregnant but I kept weighing daily like I was in maintenance to stay on top of things and I kept trying to eat right at least 80% of the time. It seems to have worked, even though I really wanted to gain less than 32 pounds. In fairness, though, I think that being on progesterone shots for nearly two months is partly to blame for my weight gain. I put on nearly half of it before five months and then slowly gained the rest through the last months of pregnancy. I am pumping (and still diligently attempting to get this child to nurse) and have had absolutely no problems with supply or getting enough nutrition for the baby. She's gaining very nicely and has already outgrown her newborn clothes. You'll do fine, and in my opinion waiting is the best thing you can do. I feel that it would have been near impossible for me to eat enough to stay healthy if I'd gotten pregnant sooner because I never had a large capacity post op. I also didn't have my lab numbers in a good place until more than a year out. The longer those good habits are ingrained, the less chance you have of falling back and getting sloppy or using pregnancy as an excuse to do all those things you know you shouldn't be doing. Good luck, and many ladies here have increased fertility post op, so perhaps you'll find your PCOS isn't as much an issue this time around as before. ~Cheri

I'm right there with you AudOne! No surgery ever and my only hospitalizations were when I had my babies....BUT...I want it enough to do it. At first, in looking into this last year, it scared me so bad I stopped my research for about 6 weeks. Then I worked through it and decided I would rather be on the sleeve road than the current one of weight gain each year and snowballing medical problems. Am I looking forward to the surgery? Yes and No. Not looking forward to the immediate potential for pain, nausea and possible complications. Yes - looking forward to getting it DONE and getting past it to use it for a permanent change. I'll be rooting for you on the 13th (and all our May sleeve buddies)!!

My doc wanted to check my thyroid, turns out it is lazy. Might explain the 44lbs weight gain in the last 18months, or at least how more easely they came than before. So I am starting on some thyroid meds. But what I am worried about is does it affect the surgery or more so the weightloss after surgery? It would suck so bad if it will cause me to lose less after taking this step and all the sacrifice.

I read that same article and yes, I weigh every day. Part of the reason I do is that my weight gain came from ignoring the scale. I knew I was putting on weight and didn't get on a scale for 5 years because I didn't want to see that number..... Ignorance is NOT bliss and just because you don't look doesn't mean it isn't there. I will weigh myself daily for the rest of my life whether I want to or not and I will jump into action if I see a consistent increase - will never allow myself to be obese again!

I've gained three pounds in the last week or so! I'm six weeks post op. my starting weight was 200 and now I'm 178. I eat about 500-800 calories a day, the majority of which is protein. I fall short on my fluids - I get around 45 ounces a day. I've also started exercising almost daily over the last couple of weeks. What else can I do? I'm so very frustrated to have had this huge life-altering surgery and to see the scale moving in the wrong direction... I'm trying not to focus solely on the numbers but seeing them move up is really scaring me. Open to all feedback!!

Ok folks, I would not have this surgery again. Like any other addiction food is just the conveyer. Weight gain is the result. If a person puts their mind to the fact that they should quit eating so much and exercise more, they could get the positive results they desire. I had the surgery in January of this year. Yes I am losing weight but the price of surgery, sickness from eating anything even in small amounts is not worth it. Do it on your own and save your money and health.

Yea Stay Away, I do not drink soda very often. Hear an interesting thing from my DR. Every person that later had a weight gain after successful weight loss had something in common, and that was they started to drink soda again. Not to say every banster who drinks soda gains their weight back but all that she has seen had this in common. Now certainly this was not the only factor but might have been a symptomatic of a person going back to their old habit of eating. Regardless was an interesting observation. Also the more I hear about the obesity problem one common thing is Soda, DIET and Regular. Our bodies were not meant to drink this stuff. I am certainly not perfect and am having issues but try to keep away. For yourself, I too can go up 5 lbs in a day and its caused by Carbs, Salt etc. My body just loves to retain water and carb do it every time. Anyway good luck to you, you seem that you are well on your way.

How are you today??? I just saw your above post...I say go to another doctor TODAY. No sense in waiting until your Doc returned Monday. What you are describing are reason to be concerned to me. don't wait!!! Maybe it's nothing and we can all laugh with you about it, but to me those symptoms don't sound like 'nothing'. Swelling, rapid weight gain, pain under a rib cage, tenderness and warmth don't sound like no big deal type of symptoms. Please go get it checked out TODAY!!!

Since this thread was revived, I’ll offer my two-cents’ worth. On this forum, we have an overwhelming number of self-assigned experts on weight loss, dieting, nutrition, and vertical sleeve gastrectomies based on a case study of one. For one year after my surgery, I attended a monthly support group of VSG patients in my doctor’s office. We would just go around the room sharing our experiences mostly. What amazed me was how different everyone’s experience with the surgery and recovery was. One guy reported he could enjoy steak at 4 weeks out and someone else would say that he couldn’t eat steak until 4 months after surgery. Some people can’t tolerate salad, I eat it with every dinner. I don’t think anything is more personal and individualized than weight gain, weight loss, and immediate and long-term responses to this surgery. I can tell you what worked for me and that’s it. As I see it, I have no right at all to instruct someone else about what they should be doing based on what worked for me or what my doctor advised me to do. Even with something like knee surgery, each recovery plan is very different based on the specific type of injury that was repaired. We all have different histories with weight gain, diets, and weight loss and different issues with food. I was a skinny kid and then a skinny adult until I had an accident. I didn’t get fat because I ate too much "junk food". I got fat because I ate too much food, period. I used to be a semi-professional athlete before a serious knee injury laid me up. When you are running 5 miles every day, you can come home and put away a 16 ounce steak and a big plate of spaghetti with no problem. I used to eat like there was no tomorrow and I never gained an ounce because I was always active. Problem is I continued to eat like that and even more after my injury because I got seriously depressed. I went from being a skinny guy to becoming a fat man in just two years. This surgery was perfect for me because it did what I needed it to do. It forced me to reduce my portions of food at each meal. I eat the same way now that I used to before the injury except just in much smaller quantities and I have been 8 pounds under goal for almost 9 months. Before my knee injury I was a young, healthy athlete and I occasionally ate a Big Mac, a piece of candy and a chunk of cake. Now, almost two years after surgery, I am a middle-aged healthy adult who still occasionally eats (a few bites of) a McDonald's sausage McMuffin with half an order of hash browns, a Baby Ruth candy bar, and a 3 oz portion of full fat ice cream. I am as physically healthy today as I was 5 years ago and I have the doctor's report and blood work to prove that. Still, I have no more right to warn forum members that they are going to fail because they are not learning how to eat all foods in moderation than someone else warning me that I am going to fail because I still eat chocolate and ice cream. Based on my sustained results, they would be 100% wrong. Even if there was a real doctor or licensed therapist on this forum, he or she would have no right to dispense warnings without at least reviewing that person’s medical file and then meeting with the patient. This is the real reason I am not a regular contributor on this forum. These forums appear not to be moderated and I have no interest in my posts being attacked or insulted by people who don't personally approve of my approach to weight loss and weight loss maintenance. I also don’t need or want lay medical advice. I have real licensed healthcare professionals that I rely on for that. Is strict calorie monitoring considered dieting? If so, then I will be on diet for the rest of my life. If eating everything I used to eat and want to eat now but in much smaller quantities means I'm not on a diet, then I can honestly write that I have never been on a diet even once during my entire life. From the first day I could start eating solid foods, I have been tracking all my calories. From one year ago, I started using the BodyMedia Fit Link armband to monitor my daily calorie burn. I didn’t have this surgery to leave anything to chance. I weigh myself every single morning as advised by my doctor and nutritionist and I monitor everything that I consume. I also keep records of my calorie intake and expenditures for each month and use them for review. What has made keeping the weight off effortless for me is following Dr. Michael Mosley’s Fast Diet. For two days out of the week (Monday and Thursday), I eat a 600 calorie high Protein diet divided into two meals and separated by a 12 hour period (like 250 calories at 7:30 am for Breakfast and then 350 calories at 7:30 pm for dinner). Then for the other five days, I eat 25% over my daily calorie burn to maintain my current weight. My nutritionist told me that a healthy diet is a well-balanced one and that includes carbohydrates, protein and fat, all three. I follow the percentages recommended by MFP. When I was still trying to lose, I would eat a little less so that I was running a 5200 calorie deficit a week, which comes to a pound and a half weight loss every week. Do a search on “Mosley Fast Diet” for free information about his Fast Diet if you are interested. This program has been very easy for me to follow. Please consult with your doctor before starting any type of fasting diet. I am not a doctor or a licensed psychotherapist so I can’t advise anyone about what they should be doing. I have seen members threaten other members here with failure, illness, an "unhealthy life", and even death if they didn’t follow the same program they had come up with for themselves. All I can do is write about what has worked very successfully for me. If you can relate to my story and reading about what has worked for me has you thinking or rethinking about what might work for you, wonderful. If not, please ignore what I just wrote and be sure to consult with your own healthcare professionals before trying anything new.

i was told i was not supposed to gain weight while getting ready for surgery. however in the last 5 weeks i was on prednisone twice for unrelated things. which totally makes you hungry and can lead to weight gain. i am required to track all of my food or the nut. to review. i cannot be cleared for surgery until i can show that i know how to plan healthy balanced meals. i can see that some days i do well, and others i eat like total crap with way too many calories. when i went for my appt last week i had gained 2.4#. but the nut. didnt say anything. *shrug*

Thanks guys! My doctor is on vacation until Monday. If I gain anymore prior to her return, I am going to the ER. I forgot to mention I am having pain on my right side right under my rib cage when I take deep breaths and can feel it whenever I eat. It's tender to the touch and feels a little warm. I had a HIDA scan to check my gallbladder a few months ago and all was fine..... Would gallbladder issues cause weight gain and swelling? We will see I guess.

Ive always worked very hard.. I work 2 full time jobs and have for ever it seems.. I work in a hospital and in a nursing home doing restorative therapy.. go on vacations.. work is my life.. so I eat on the go and fast food much of the time.. yes ive been heavy for a long time.. after my children of course..and battling cancer as a child didnt help matters.. my parents were always happy when I ate.. I was an active child.. did sports and in highschool too.. was always slightly over wt because of the chemo and sterioids.. but I thinned out some after highschool.. so all was well til I started having kids.. then hello weight gain.. been that way ever since.. then a rude awakening happen.. my mom begin to have health issues.. she was over weight too.. heart trouble.. fluid over load.. stuff like that.. I could see what the weight was doing to her.. heck I work on a cardiac/cancer floor.. I knew what she was doing and tried to educate her.. but alas too late.. she kept in and out of the hospital.. fluids.. blood clots in the lung.. diabetes.. high blood pressure. then the worst possible thing.. she got a fungus in her lung.. operable... yes.. for her no because of her respitory issues...I lost my mom July 28th of last year.. yes sent me into a depression..and on more wt came... but then My hubby is like.. surgery.. im like what? he said.. we could get the lap band.. and im like huh? so we went to a seminar..and did research..and came here to this site.. found out the band was too easy to cheat on.. so hello sleeve.. I did not want to die like my mom did.. I didnt have high blood pressure or diabetes.. but hey it was gonna hit at one point im sure.. my hubby already had both of those cuz of his weight.. so we both had surgery.. mine dec 20th and his dec 27th.. then God decided to load my plate even more so to speak.. my son was murdered on dec 20th the day of my surgery.. I was devestated beyond words.. how could this happen? to me? it was unbearable.. but I had to keep on.. I had to be strong.. for me and my hubby and my other kids... hasnt been a hard journey.. other than emotionally for me.. but I had my hubby and my jobs have been the best supporters in all that has happened.. I cant believe im down 80lbs... and feeling great.. still missing my son.. and upset over that.. but health wise im great.. my hubby and I go to the gym at least 3x a week.. a trainer made a program for us and we follow it.. my hubby is down 80lbs also and I call him a stick now.. he looks so fabulous.. but he did before too in my eyes.. I cant wait to be a stick too lol.. that will come soon its only been a few months and im very proud of myself for sticking with the program and following all my docs and nurses advice.. and so now God again thinks I have nothing to do other than my 2 full time jobs.. since Ive lost the weight.. they found a mass in my leg.. they arent sure what it is..worst case situation.. cancer.. so a biopsy next tuesday..then wait for results.. he must think I have a huge platter.. but I will get thru this too.. I know I can.. been thru the worst already... but going on a vacation in may on a cruise to Alaska.. cant wait to spend that time with my hubby.. he works 2 jobs too.. runs our construction business and manages a set of condos.. so we are busy people.. .. thats my story so far.. food no longer rules me.. I rule me now. ))

Not sure what is going on...but my weight is creeping up every few days...I am one year out and recently decreased my caloric intake. I have NEVER had this happen before. The most I have gained is 3 pounds. it would be an up and down game for about a week and then lose it. .but now up up up! How is that much weight gain possible? I haven't really been doing alot of exercise...never have. Getting so FRUSTRATED!

I live in Grand Junction, Colorado. How much longer do you have in school? I graduate in December! I am SOOO ready. I am in a 27 month program, and it took me over four years to get my pre requisites, so I have basically been in school forever! My poor kid is 13, and was 6-7 when I went into school, so it is literally all he can remember of me ha ha. I plan to go on for my Masters, but I want to get my son thru high school first. School has definitely been one of my big stressors, and has assisted in a lot of my weight gain. I am ready to have a real job, not having to worry about homework and class times, clinical times, and tuition etc... Feel like putting the exercise effort in etc... Summer should be great for that. Hopefully by the time I hit the point where I am released for more than walking and light exercise, will be around the time I am finishing up school and I will have the time to put into the gym and getting myself back.

Hi, my name is Julia, I am 30 years old and from the Buffalo, NY area. I have been contemplating WLS for a year or more but finally took the first steps a few months ago. I, at first, had settled on the lapband, but after going to my seminar and hearing about the gastric sleeve, my husband and I decided together that that was the better choice for me. I have been struggling with my weight for over 10 years, dieting on and off for most of that time, losing the weight and gaining it back, but my weight gain escalated when I got pregnant with my daughter. I was already overweight, but then added an additional 40 lbs on top of my 175. I had complications with gestational diabetes that required insulin injections. I was told that if I want to have another child, I will have to lose a significant amount of weight to help my chances of not having it again. I would like one more child and I just don't feel that going through that again is an option! I have not been able to successfully lose the weight for any extended period of time since then. I am now at 206 lbs and 5'0 with a BMI of 41. I just had my first appointment and have started the South Beach diet (have lost 6 lbs since my initial weigh in thanks to the stomach flu). I have my psych eval next week and have to have my EGD and sleep study. Once those are done I will be able to have my appointment with the surgeon. I am very excited to finally have taken the first steps in my journey to being healthy and look forward to getting to know everyone! Thanks!

Hi, my name is Julia, I am 30 years old and from the Buffalo, NY area. I have been contemplating WLS for a year or more but finally took the first steps a few months ago. I, at first, had settled on the lapband, but after going to my seminar and hearing about the gastric sleeve, my husband and I decided together that that was the better choice for me. I have been struggling with my weight for over 10 years, dieting on and off for most of that time, losing the weight and gaining it back, but my weight gain escalated when I got pregnant with my daughter. I was already overweight, but then added an additional 40 lbs on top of my 175. I had complications with gestational diabetes that required insulin injections. I was told that if I want to have another child, I will have to lose a significant amount of weight to help my chances of not having it again. I would like one more child and I just don't feel that going through that again is an option! I have not been able to successfully lose the weight for any extended period of time since then. I am now at 206 lbs and 5'0 with a BMI of 41. I just had my first appointment and have started the South Beach diet (have lost 6 lbs since my initial weigh in thanks to the stomach flu). I have my psych eval next week and have to have my EGD and sleep study. Once those are done I will be able to have my appointment with the surgeon. I am very excited to finally have taken the first steps in my journey to being healthy and look forward to getting to know everyone! Thanks!