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Weight gain or stalls can be caused by not exercising enough or too much carbs. You are obviously exercising enough so maybe carbs? The POO thing does sounds possible too. Goodluck I hope you start loosing soon

Yes...they cover...it is going to be a challenge to try to get BCBS to pay for the lapband. So, Ihave made a decision to try to self pay. Here is the policy: SURGERY FOR MORBID OBESITY (cont.) Criteria: (cont.) A. Bariatric Surgery: (cont.) Bariatric surgery is considered medically necessary with documentation of ALL of the following: (cont.) 3. Diagnosis of morbid obesity for the past consecutive 5 years 4. Failure of non-surgical methods of weight loss with documentation of the following: ▪ Continuous participation in a weight loss program for 6 months or longer within the past 12 months. Weight loss program includes: - A structured program that includes documentation of diet and dates of participation (a minimum of one face-to-face visit per week attendance for dietary counseling/education is required), and, - A structured exercise program (unless medically contraindicated) designed and supervised by a certified or qualified professional with documentation of attendance (a minimum of three sessions per week of participation in an exercise program is required), and, - Demonstration of a commitment to results by documenting weight loss, maintenance, or no more than a 5 pound weight gain over a minimum six month period 5. Pre-operative clinical assessment and documentation must reflect a significant motivation and understanding of the risks associated with the intended surgery, as well as an understanding of the life-long restricted eating habits that will follow. 6. Clinical documentation must reflect a plan for active participation in both a pre-surgical instructional program AND a post-surgical, post-operative or follow-up program. Clinical documentation must reflect participation in pre-operative nutritional counseling and that there is a plan in place for post-operative nutritional counseling as well. 7. Individual is 18 years of age or older 8. Individual has no treatable condition that may be responsible for the morbid obesity, e.g., endocrine, metabolic, etc. 9. Individual has no significant liver, kidney or gastrointestinal disease 10. Individual has no drug or alcohol abuse – must be abstinent for 12 months or more if there is a history of drug or alcohol abuse I have most of it, except for the enrollment of a exercise program. I am unable to afford the gym card along with the 1000.00 access fee.

Interesting read. Thanks for posting. Fortunately I don't experience any of the symptoms from eating these stealth fibers. So although it's not giving me the expected fiber benefits, anything that tastes that good yet passes through without contributing to weight gain gets a thumbs up from me! And after having C. diff, anything that contributes to the health of my good colon flora Is especially welcome. Makes me love em even more.

Like with anything, practice makes perfect. I have been eating without drinking at meals for about 3 weeks now. I tell you it is easier then you think. The main reason you had to drink with your meal before was you needed the liquid in order to wash the food down. Without it you have to eat much much much slower which actually causes you to feel full eating a smaller portion. In my opinion the drinking with my meal contributed to my weight gain. If you take a bite, chew a couple times and wash it down with a drink, you can eat a whole plate in 5 minutes. If you have to chew enough (20 to 30 times per bite) to swallow without a drink, after 20 minutes you eat 1/2 of the plate and you are full. It's amazing. I wish I knew then what I know now.

MintyMew, I'm one of those that have had some problems in the weight department, meaning I gained back what I lost prior to surgery, 25 lbs. It's been a very frustrating road for me trying to get things working right. I chose this surgery over RNY because I was afraid and have had issues eating around the band ever since because I had been too tight or not tight enough. I can't say I definitely would have been more successful with the RNY because I don't know for sure but my GP wanted me to have it and I kind of convinced all my docs that I could do the lap band even though I didn't know what I was in for. I thought the only difference was that I would lose weight at a slower pace and I was fine with that but what I didn't realize is that the foods that were considered "junk foods" went right through the band and the healthy ones were the ones you had to work on to chew and could only eat so much of like proteins and veg and fruit. So if I was frustrated from only being able to eat a tbs of protein I knew I could eat a cookie I would. It's not like the band kept me from changing any bad behaviors I had before I was banded. They tell you to avoid those foods but really only tell you that the high caloric drinks are the ones that will make you gain weight. My 19 year old daughter is having the RNY this coming Tuesday and I'm really proud of her because she's done so well so far and has lost about 35+ in the past 6 weeks on her liquid diet. I am nervous because because she is my baby and because I wish she didn't have to go through all of this in the first place but for her own happiness and sanity it's a choice she has made and I'm supporting her decision. At my age and with yo yo dieting for years and a bad sweet tooth anyway it probably wasn't the right choice for me. I may never get down to a healthy weight again, it's just something I may have to accept because of my struggles. There maybe some other contributing factors to this failure of mine but for now it's neither here nor there and I have to deal with what I've chosen and how I behave. Anyway take everything into consideration before you make such a life changing decision. I'm not very popular because I have somewhat regretted my banding and this is a place where people want to support each others success with the band and that's understandable. No one wants to hear something bad about something they really are passionate about and has changed their lives for the better! There could be problems with weight gains with any of the surgeries so don't think only one type has those issues, read as much as you can. There's a good book out there that I bought for my daughter called "Weight Loss For Dummies" and she read it and enjoyed it and learned a lot from it. It doesn't cover much on the lap band though so take that into consideration. Anyway good luck with your decision I know it's not an easy one but if someone could stopped me and told me I'd totally screw this up prior to surgery I may have thought twice. Take care brandyII:smile:

Hi - know just how you feel -the same thing happened when I switched to soft foods as well - I had my post op today and the Dr, did a fill - I'm 17 days out also - he said not feeling full until after a couple of fills is normal as is the slight weight gain - hang in there - let me know how you are doing! - M

Today is Day 1 of my pre-op diet. I am ready for this. I managed to gain another 3 lbs, but I expected that. I hope that starting the diet early will make up for my weight gain during this time. So far this morning I had a single serving yougurt and coffee. I am not even sure what to take for lunch so I thought I would take a tub of cottage cheese to stash in the fridge along with another yogurt and a serving of SF Jello. It is hard to gauge how hungry I will be. I will take my glucometer with me because my blood sugars will be very unpredictable. Another reason for doing this early so that I can have them in normal range consistently before THE BIG DAY!!! THE BIG DAY - not long now. Can't wait to join the banded in this quest/challenge/journey. Update: DH took my before pics and they are not pretty. I find it so interesting how I can look at myself in the mirror to get dressed and not see myself. They were especially difficult to look at - and I really LOOKED - becauseI am wearing underwear that I wore 30 lbs ago! I am too stubborn to buy bigger clothes because I got rid of all my larger clothes last time. I will this time as well, but I am more positive that I will not EVER need them again.

Hi everyone, had my sleeve surgery July 14th. Home now and almost through the first week of liquid diet. So far so good. Word of warning that I haven't heard people talk about. Be prepared for a post op weight gain only because they pump you full of fluids in the hospital and your body is swollen. I'm still trying to get rid of all the fluids my body is holding, 10lbs of it. I'm not worried I know my weight will drop back down I was just a bit alarmed and wanted to share so others knew that this is normal and temporary. Best of luck to everyone!

For peace of mind, I'd check in with your surgeon's office and describe everything (especially the leakage). I also had quite a bit of pain immediately after surgery and I had to request stronger pain meds (which my doctor prescribed for me). Every surgery is different because we all have unique anatomy, so the surgeon has to do more in some cases than others. The bloating and weight gain are totally normal, it takes a while to shed all the fluid they gave you and for the swelling to subside. The difficulty drinking is also really common, I found drinking even a tiny sip painful at first. The doctor encouraged me to drink slowly but keep at it so I wouldn't become dehydrated. But the best one to evaluate what you're experiencing is your surgeon's office. I'd give them a call and describe your symptoms and they can either advise you or least set your mind at ease that everything is okay. I know those initial few days can be rough, hang in there - it should get better soon. Hugs. 🤗

Greetings All! I am happy to have found this site because all I had been finding is Lap Band sites with bad reviews and complaints :smile:. I am open to everyone's input, as I am in the decision stage of the process. I'm in a rut. I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired. I'm the heaviest I've ever been. My weight problems began with a sudden onset of weight gain 21 years ago. I had a two year bout of a mystery illness and packed on 40 pounds within three months. It's been a battle ever since. My body hurts; my knees, my back, my stomach, my self esteem, my spirit. I hate having photos taken. I discard most of them. I’m depressed and have become unsocial. My worse fear is that I'll just get fatter and fatter. I can't honestly say that diet and exercise doesn't work, because I just can't seem to muster up the will-power to actually stick with a portion control plan. As far as exercise goes, my body just hurts too much to do the simplest of exercise routines. I tried walking several times last and this week and I was in agony. My knees were hurting and my back went into spasms. I’m discouraged and disgusted with who and what I have become. :thumbup: If anyone out there has Tricare Standard, I’d appreciate your commentary regarding insurance coverage for the Lap Band procedure and how easy or difficult it was to get approval. Thanks!

I would be having a heart to heart wil your doctor!! If you are gaining weight because you are eating too much, you need a fill. In fact, weight gain is one of the indicators that you need a fill. Don't forget, you are a consumer that PAID for him to assist you in losing weight. You did not pay him to chastise you for eating too much. I think journaling what you eat is a great idea and you should do it so you are more aware of what you are putting in your mouth. Don't be afraid of disagreeing with your doc and questioning his decisions. ( I am married to one and disagree with him on a regular basis : ) ) If you are not pbing regularly, push for the fill. I felt no restriction at 6 cc, I now have 9 cc in a 10 cc band and really could use more!! Good luck!

I'll fess up...I enjoy a cocktail or two (sometimes up to 4) a couple of nights a week...whether mimosas at brunch or a trip to one of Denver's many breweries. I know I am going to have to give up bubbles...so no beer or bubbly which I am just fine with. I also am prepared to give up alcohol for several months prior to an after surgery. However, I just got off the phone with my sister who is coming up for a visit this summer and one of the things she and her husband are looking forward to are brewery tours and festivals that will, of course, involve alcohol. I know I will have to be careful about how much I drink as it will effect me quicker than before and with less (I'm thinking similar to moving to altitude). I also know that most drinks are empty calories that can and will lead to weight gain if you over indulge. My question for you wonderful post-oppers is how many of you gave up all alcohol for 18 months as many Surgeons recommend? And if you didn't what was the result? Am I going to be the designated DD for the next two years?

I've been reading this forum for a couple of weeks and decided to register today. There is a lot of good information here, but some of it scares the daylights out of me! :omg: It was recently recommended by my Endocrinologist that I consider this surgery as my diabetes has progressed rather rapidly. Those of you who are diabetic and on insulin know the weight-gain that accompanies insulin. I am at my heaviest ever, and I know that losing weight is the only way to reverse the path I am on. The more I read about side-effects, the more leery I become about trying this technique. I have a delicate GI system to begin with, and don't want to spend the rest of my life vomiting or in pain.:sick What is PBing? I cannot seem to figure that one out.:cry Anyway... does anyone regret getting banded? Do most people have problems? Can you live a normal life after?

I was banded on 4-4-07 and when i weighed in for my 2 week post op i had lost 13.5 lbs and was super excited !!! Since ive gone on soft foods i find myself eating "normal" things that i would before the surgery, just chewing a little more. I recently used a doctor office scale at my university to see my progess and it showed i had gained back 3 of those pounds. I have not had my first fill yet and attribute some of my ability to continue to eat regularly to that, but ive also began to excercise again walking/running 3 miles at least 4x's a week. In my mind scientifically there should be no reason for weight gain. Its really discouraging to me to see these kinds of results. I really want this to work for me, its my last resort. Does or did anyone else have this problem ?

It's really frustrating! It happens to a lot of people; it took me 7.5 months to have the surgery, but your delay sounds really unfortunate. As @ShoppGirl said, you will be there before you know it. Work on the depression the best you can with therapy and medication if needed (If you start medication for depression, make sure the doctor tries a medication that is less likely to cause weight gain). I found that once I was set to have surgery, I tried to live a more "bariatric" life, by eating more protein and fewer carbs and exercising more. It's so hard to do any of this when you're depressed, but at least try upping your protein. It will help you feel less hungry, or at least it did for me. If you can take a walk in the fresh air, it might make you feel better for a bit. (Of course, that depends on your weather... I live in Boston where we have crap weather a lot, so I often walk in the mall!) Stay strong!

Try not to be too discouraged. These are the hurdles that your insurance company hopes will make you give up so they don’t have to pay for your surgery. Keep getting treatment for your depression and do the best you can with your weight. I bet once you have a surgery date you will be able to lose a bit if you want to. Be kind to yourself though. Depression is real and weight gain or loss is not at all uncommon. I have actually had it present both ways in myself. When I was younger I would lose weight during bouts of depression but now that I am older and also on medication it makes me gain (not sure if it’s age or the meds that cause it but I can’t change either so I just accept it). I have my fingers crossed for you that your consult appointment goes on as planned and you are able to officially start this journey. Once you are on the other side of surgery looking back you will realize it goes faster than you think. But definitely keep getting treatment for that depression because you want that under control before surgery to give yourself the best chance at losing all your weight post surgery. Keep posting on here too. This is a pretty special community. It’s been very helpful for me. Congratulations on your decision to pursue WLS and best of luck on the next few hurdles. You’ve got this.

I mostly stayed on the stouts and I was fine - about 6 pints is my limit for the night. No hangovers, no throwing up, no weight gain. It was a grand time!

Another thing to consider: Are you constipated? If food is going in, but not coming out, that can lead to weight gain, or at least not losing.

Hi, I just found this site because I am considering lap band surgery and have been diagnosed as PCOS. I hear your story and sounds too much like mine. I battled weight problems as a child and around age 18 I became very athletic and muscular- weight was 140 for a little while. After college the ability to exercise 2 hours a day slowly diminished and the weight crept back up. After a rough time with work and a feeling of depression I settled on taking an antidepressant. Within 4 months I gained 40 lbs and the weight has slowly crept higher and higher to my current 235 lbs. It took only about 2 years or less to make it to 220 and then the 235 in the last couple years. I have been off the medication a few years now- fearing it caused the weight gains. But haven't lost any weight since being off it. I was diagnosed last year with PCOS only after bringing it to my OBGYN's attention because I could not understand why- no matter what I tried- I could not lose weight. I knew there was a problem when I trained for (5 months) and completed a century ride in 2000 - among several bike rides that were 50+ miles. Then in 2007 I trained (5 months) for and completed a 1/2 marathon (walking). My clothes actually felt tighter! I was going out of my mind!!! Why didn't I lose ANY weight?? I think we have all felt the devastation of saying "this is the last time I am trying another new thing to try to lose the weight." And if you're like me you keep doing more and different things just to see if it will change life because you really can't give up. I still haven't given up exercising because that is the one thing that keeps me from laying in my bed and feeling sad. Not that I don't feel it some days. It's also hard because alot of friends and family really just want to believe "if only you ate this way" or "you just have to keep up with the exercise." They don't understand and I've worked harder than they have- only to feel like I achieved nothing in batttling the weight problem. Alot of people see it as willpower- I only can smile at them and say "thanks for your advice." I still have a hard time believing that all my efforts resulted in almost zero weight loss. Today is a good day for me and I feel okay about my weight- tomorrow might not be so happy- but I at least hope you see that you are not alone. There are a generous number of women out there battling the same problem- It sounds like you will find a good handful of them- with support- if you need it on this site. I'm hoping I can get alot of support as well because I have tons of questions!!! I do hope you feel better- sorry for the long post, I just didn't want you to feel alone in this battle- I'm right next to ya! :ohmy:

Hi everyone, I am not yet banded but after thinking about it for the last year, I want to do it and I am working on insurance approval right now. I am doubtful that they will do it, so if I have to self pay I am sure that won't stop me. I have a 37 BMI with Acid Reflux, depression from the weight gain (I am sure that covers a lot of us and I was gestational insulin dependent diabetic when I was pregant (3yrs ago). I check my sugar and I have had numbers in the 200's-300s at time but it goes pretty low like 78 after eating too so my A1C is I belive .1 away from being considered Type 2 Diabetes but I am taking the Glucophage to keep it down currently. I have Priority Health and you have to have <35BMI and two comorbidities. I am not real hopeful that I will be approved, although my Dr. is.... Anyway I was wondering if anyone is in a similar situation and my biggest battle with keeping the weight off is hunger - the glucophage is helping with that - but I feel hungry all of the time and fighting with that is very hard. Do you feel the banding does a good job with reducing hunger after a while? I have a son turning 3 and a supportive and loving husband that I want to be able to keep up with. I find that my body image/self esteem keeps me from doing so many things that I did before. Well, I hope to learn a lot from everyone here. Thanks and I hope everyone is enjoying their holiday weekend:laugh:

This case study was for a patient who had a band to sleeve revision. He has the band removed following weight gain and then had sleeve. It also states this case was very rare .

I've been up front with my kids from the beginning of this journey, but then I've always been honest about my medical stuff with them (partly because they needed to know what to do if I had a sugar low or something). I need them to understand that I'm doing this to take care of myself, to better my health and outlook on life, and so that I can be around when they grow up, graduate, get married, etc. I get the feelings of shame... on my bad days I feel that a bit too. Weight gain is a huge miasma of contributing factors... not just eating junk and sitting on the couch. Weight loss is hard, and the reality is proven in the numbers. They say only 5% of folks who lose a significant/large amount of weight will actually be able to keep it off long term without surgery. You have made a hugely beneficial decision for you, for your family, for your future. I think that's something to be proud of. You have made incredible strides in getting to this point, and it will still be hard work after the surgery. You need your family to have a good understanding of what you're in for and to be your support system. Hang in there!

Seroquel is usually prescribed for serious psychological conditions, not for sleep. It can cause substantial weight gain in some cases. There is another drug in its class, Latuda, that treats some of the same psychological conditions that Seroquel does but is not associated with weight gain. You may want to ask your doctor whether your condition can be treated with Latuda or another weight-neutral drug.

I have also noticed her "slight" weight gain. She still does exercise every morning, but, in her line of work the food is always tempting. I hope she notices herself before she gains a bunch of weight back. After all her efforts that would be a shame.

Hello to you, too, Jaysmm. I can tell all the way from here that you're a "she," not a "they." I shall not venture a direct response to the title of your topic, as I have no idea and, more to the point, I believe you intended the question for yourself. Please banish "only" from your weight-loss vocabulary. Weight lost is weight lost: That is the goal. In fact, you're off to a good start. I don't know what you were expecting or why, but for your own comfort level, it's important to have realistic expectations which is another somewhat vague thing. We all lose at different rates and patterns and it's common for people of lower weight to lose more slowly. In the case of similarities, someone else of your height and starting weight will also lose at a rate and pattern different from yours. You're in good shape. There's no turning back. This is a good time to regroup, reorder your thinking and claim your power. If your surgery practice has a support group, you might find it helpful to talk with others in the in-person setting. You can also benefit by sharing experiences here. May I ask why you had surgery? [You're under no obligation to answer.] Hello, you're right i should not overthink or worry about my weight loss as long as i am actually losing weight. And as of why i had the surgery, it was because i a short period of time i gained 40lb without changing anything in my lifestyle. I'm diagnosed with pcos as well so the doctor suggested that i would get the surgery done before it gets worse as i am prone to weight gain and that the chances of me having diabetes are high. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App