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Hi All, My name is Amy. I am new to the forum and I look forward to reading all of your posts. I have finally decided to seek gastric sleeve surgery and I am in the beginning stages. I have received a refarral from my PCP, have gone to the first info. session, and am approved by my insurance company for surgery. Seeking health has been a life-long journey for me. I exercise regularly, and eat a balanced diet. Unforunately, my body has many auto-immune conditions, including Type I diabetes, chronic hives, hashimotos thyroid, and celiac diease. Worsening blood pressure, asthma, sleep apnea and cholesterol levels are complicated by weight gain. I have worked with a nutrionist for 11 yrs, and I am ready to see the results of my efforts. I hope the gastric sleeve will be a helpful tool for me! I have a 35 BMI, and would love to know the expereinces of others with a lower BMI. Thanks! Amy

The beauty of the band is it is there waiting on you to work with it. Now that your ready to get back on track, maybe a small fill would be beneficial, or maybe the boost of exercise is just what you need. I'm impressed that you are getting back on track with a 20 lb weight gain, instead of it being 50. Your doing good and have the right mind set. I have read that everyone should have a set point of how much they allow themselves to gain, the expert say 5lbs, once you get up 5 lbs, start back tweaking your diet etc. So 20 lb is not that bad, and it won't take you that long to loose it with exercise. I've made exercise a part of my life now and am on my 4th week of the Body For Life challenge,(working out 6 days a week) I honestly am seeing some muscles come out in my stomach area. And - I am getting collar bones. So, I am a firm believer in Exercise!

This is my first challenge, I am new to this board and I am trying to get back on track after a year of steady weight gain. Name, real or screen~ Maggie Goal weight for March 31st~ 175 Weight on March 1st~ 184 Age~ 38 Dietary goal for March~ NO DRINKING while I eat Exercise goal for March~ 60 min 3X a week Personal goal for March~ don't give up Date banded~ 3/12/10 Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~ Lost 80, then Gained 40 = Net loss about 40 What is your good luck charm? mys hubby

I have Aetna and was never told it would be an issue if there was weight gain during pre-op. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm just curious & don't mean to sound selfish but I don't have any kids and all my friends kept telling me that I should have had a kid before I had bypass (04/03) but I didn't & I felt that I'm not ready for kid(s) I'm 27 & still it's like I kind of question should I have had kids or a child before getting the surgery... because of future weight gain when I decide too in which it's not on my mind the way the economy is and I'm still trying to reach other goals then weight lost but I guess I'm saying I don't want the weight gain but then again having a child or kids is not my concern either but did I do it wrong?

In addition to the dreaded 3 week stall you may have pin pointed why the scale is showing a weight gain; you're bloated and constipated. There are many solutions to that; colace stool softener, milk of magnesia, miralax, benefiber, prune juice, a tsp of epsom salt in organic grapefruit juice to name just a few. Since you can't exercise, walk. Walk at least 30 minutes every day and drink you water/fluids. It will all get the plumbing moving. Most importantly stay off the scale. It will make you insane. Take your measurements instead. and every month take them again. Even when you are stalling if you are on program, the measurements will change when the scale doesn't.

It could be anything. Water weight (especially if your cycle causes weight gain at particular times), constipation (yes *that* weighs a lot), not weighing at the same time each day, broken scale, body just being weird . . . and hang on, because your body will continue to be weird. Minor fluctuations like this will continue to happen. What you really need to pay attention to is long-term trends. I would suggest either weighing yourself less frequently or using something like trendweight.com to see the bigger picture and get away from having little blips stress you out. Good luck!

Here you go thanks for posting this! Slider Foods Spell Weight Regain For Weight Loss Surgery Patients Soft processed carbohydrates, slider foods, are the bane of good intentions and ignorance often causing dumping syndrome, weight loss plateaus, and eventually weight gain for gastric bypass, gastric band (lap-band), and gastric sleeve bariatric patients. Learn what slider foods are and why they cause weight regain for weight loss surgery patients. 5 Day Pouch Test Store By Kaye Bailey For most people eating sliders is a good thing. Popularized by the American food chain, White Castle, a slider (originally slyder) is a miniature grilled hamburger or cheeseburger on a steamed bun often served with onions and dill pickle and other condiments. They originally sold for a nickel a piece in the 1940s making it affordable to add a side of fries for just pennies. By all accounts this is a good kind of "slider" food. To the weight loss surgery patient slider foods are the bane of good intentions and ignorance often causing dumping syndrome, weight loss plateaus, and eventually weight gain. Slider foods, to weight loss surgery patients, are soft simple processed carbohydrates of little or no nutritional value that slide right through the surgical stomach pouch without providing nutrition or satiation. The most innocent of slider foods are saltine crackers, often eaten with warm tea or other beverages, to soothe the stomach in illness or while recovering from surgery. Understanding Slider Foods The most commonly consumed slider foods include pretzels, crackers (saltines, graham, Ritz, etc.) filled cracker Snacks such as Ritz Bits, popcorn, cheese snacks (Cheetos) or cheese crackers, tortilla chips with salsa, potato chips, sugar-free Cookies, cakes, and candy. You will notice these slider foods are often salty and cause dry mouth so they must be ingested with liquid to be palatable. This is how they become slider foods. They are also, most often, void of nutritional value. For weight loss surgery patients the process of digestion is different than those who have not undergone gastric surgery. When slider foods are consumed they go into the stomach pouch and exit directly into the jejunum where the simple carbohydrate slurry is quickly absorbed and stored by the body. There is little thermic effect in the digestion of simple carbohydrates like there is in the digestion of Protein so little metabolic energy is expended. In most cases patients in the phase of weight loss who eat slider foods will experience a weight loss plateau and possibly the setback of weight gain. And sadly, they will begin to believe their surgical stomach pouch is not functioning properly because they never feel fullness or restriction like they experience when eating protein. The very nature of the surgical gastric pouch is to cause feelings of tightness or restriction when one has eaten enough food. However, when soft simple carbohydrates are eaten this tightness or restriction does not result and one can continue to eat, unmeasured, copious amounts of non-nutritional food without ever feeling uncomfortable. Many patients turn to slider foods for this very reason. They do not like the discomfort that results when the pouch is full from eating a measured portion of lean animal or dairy protein without liquids. Yet it is this very restriction that is the desired result of the surgery. The discomfort is intended to signal the cessation of eating. Remembering the "Protein First" rule is crucial to weight management with bariatric surgery. Gastric bypass, gastric banding (lap-band) and gastric sleeve patients are instructed to follow a high protein diet to facilitate healing and promote weight loss. Bariatric centers advise what is commonly known among weight loss surgery patients as the "Four Rules" the most important of which is "Protein First." That means of all nutrients (protein, carbohydrates, fat and alcohol) the patient is required to eat protein first. Protein is not always the most comfortable food choice for weight loss surgery patients who feel restriction after eating a very small amount of food. However, for the surgical tool to work correctly a diet rich in protein and low in simple carbohydrate slider foods must be observed. The high protein diet must be followed even after healthy body weight has been achieved in order to maintain a healthy weight and avoid weight regain.

Hi- I just want to let you know that this will get easier! I remember at the very beginning thinking it was taking too much thought and how was I going to be able to have a band and a life! But it works out. I'm not sure why you have only eaten mashed potatoes and eggs. Is it because you are afraid to try other foods? My doctor had me on soft proteins four days after surgery and that meant I could eat eggs, chicken,turkey,fish, refried beans, cottage cheese...lots of stuff. As long as you follow the post-op instructions from your doctor you aren't going to hurt anything and you should be eating more than it sounds like you are eating. Instead of mashed potatoes, though, you should be eating protein. Your body is trying to heal and protein is what helps it to do that. Don't be afraid. Take it slowly and follow the rules for eating that I'm sure your doctor told you about (eat slow, chew well, small bites etc.) As for the weight gain, yes it is quite normal and don't stress out about it. The month or two after surgery is not for weight loss, it is for healing. You have fluid and swelling from the surgery and weird things are happening to your body. Don't worry about it. Do what your doctor told you to do and you are going to be fine.

Try to consider your new stomach as a new baby that has to be progressed SLOWLY. The food guidelines provided to us are to help our swollen and upset stomachs heal. Can you get down a few bites that aren't allowed? Probably. Will it cause damage or be a problem? Maybe. Should you talk to your Doctor? ABSOLUTELY! Try to stick to the diet so you heal properly and so that you don't being micro-stretching your stomach. The name of the game is to eat until full and not a drop more. That way you'll always fill up faster. If you stretch it out, you're going to run into plateaus and possible future weight gain. Stick to the program. It was designed this way for a VERY specific purpose. Just my 2 cents. J

So true!! I want to point out the hi-lited too. Since I had the band AND the sleeve I think I can guage that different surgeries can be cheated *but* in different ways. I know Tiffy knows this as well... You really can cheat the band quite easily and yes, the drinking while AND shortly after eating your meals is a huge one. It washes the food in your pouch right straight into your big stomach!! But for the sleeve... this is not possible. The contents you just consumed are already in your stomach. When I do choose to sip during eating (which is not all the time), I have not gotten any hungrier any faster. I do still wait at least 30 minutes after finishing - but - like Tiffy its mostly due out of habit from being banded nearly 3 years. With the sleeve though, it's true - grazing I could see being one of the biggest culprits in weight gain. That and drinking a lot of high calorie/sugar drinks or snacking on a lot of sugary things. My stomach is way too small to be able to gain on sipping during my meals and drinking right after. Especially since I rarely feel true hunger anymore anyway (this could be different for those who do still feel hunger a lot though! - however rare...). The "no drinking rule" just really doesn't fly with *this* particular surgery, IMPO.

I was just getting ready to START Wellbutrin. I am soooo nervous to start it because of weight gain but my doctor thought it might actually help me with binge eating. So fingers crossed.

Hi Everyone, I have the band and am trying for a revision to RNY. My BMI is currently 37.5. I was denied last year as the Insurance company told me that I had to be at a 40 BMI for 5 years (the same rules as before I was banded). This seems a bit absurd that I would have to do the same song and dance for a revision. My only real complications have been GERD and lack of weight loss (I am fortunate). My question is - has anyone gained weight or somehow artificially inflated their weight consistently for approval for a short period of time to realize the goal to a revision? I don't want to gain 15 pounds and have keep it on for 4 more years to have the surgery! I feel like it is almost a bullying technique by the insurance company, esp. as it has been shown that the band is ineffective. I also realize that I sound kind of whinny (lol) and in the end I need to blame myself for my weight gain. I also realize that this is kind of an ethical question...but there has to be someone out there who has at least been in my boat? I think I might be beaten up a bit by asking this question...

It has band awhile since I posted. I have been making wrong food choices and have re-gain my weight and plus.... I noticed yesterday for lunch I had a few pieces of chicken and that was it. I could not eat any more. About 30 minutes later I threw up. I know the band is working.. again with my weight gain its about wrong food choices. Well time to start up again. I weighted in this morning at 333.6 lbs ( sucks )... Goal weight 200 lbs My lowest after being banded was 269 lbs back in 5-16-06. I had no issues weighting my food then and working out was a biggie for me . Did it all the time in the past, and have to do it now. I need help with a menu, if you can post what you eat daily that would be a start me for. Thanks everyone! Joe H.

So do you think the little bit of weight gain is from some retained fluid associated with swelling/inflammation from the surg? I am going to try to stay off the scale after mine cuz that would kind of ruin me! I am so excited for you!!! Pickly

Having gone for a second opinion and changing doctors because of it, I am a big proponent of getting second opinions. My former doctor was inexperienced especially in follow up care and it showed when I developed problems. You need to feel comfortable with your doctor, have things explained to you and have your questions answered. If you weren't having problems - why did he do an unfill? Were you eating high calorie slider foods that can cause weight gain when you are too tight? Or were you just able to eat too much of regular food without problems of reflux or heartburn or pain? When was your most recent upper GI? Did it show that you were too tight? But as far as dieting - that is something that you will have to do for the rest of your life even with the band at it's proper fill (sweet spot). It just means that smaller amounts of healthy foods will satisfy you and cause you to lose weight. Many with the band continue with weight watchers or some other program. The band is suppose to help you with that by causing satiety with smaller amounts of food. But dieting and exercise is a part of the whole band experience. That being said, I know from my experience that the band will never work like that for me and have accepted that I will just have to calorie count and use willpower and exercise. I am unable to reach my sweet spot and will not tolerate pain, reflux or heartburn. How I think the band will work for me is to keep me from being able to eat the amounts of food I ate before, but as far as causing me to lose weight - well not so much (maybe a pound a month). I was banded in Sept. 08 and have lost 13 pounds from the band but my overall weight loss is 70 pounds (most from my own and all that pre and post op dieting - especially with liquids only). So each of us have to reach a point with the band where we can work on being healthy and feeling good. I hope you find that point. Good luck.

I would join you girls, but I have not seen TOM in many years!!! Thank heaven...but I still like to blame weight gain on hormones!

I feel like I'm much more open and free than I was this time last year. I'd dread running into people I hadn't seen in a while because I knew my weight gain would be noticeable, and would only attend social functions out of fairness to my husband. I was much more self-absorbed because I constantly was self-conscious about myself instead of focusing outwards. I was hibernating in a way, still alive but not engaged in life. I'm living again now.

Thank you very much jachut. I mean really I am a little ahead of myself here I mean I haven't even gotten my surgery yet, but I am hopeful and with hopefulness comes a million differant idea's in my head. I truly do want to wear a two piece not a tankini a two peice again in my life, and since i have know what my stomach looks like when I'm a size 5 after all the damage my weight gain and loss has done to me I know for me to feel truly comfortable in one or even to be truly comfortable naked a tummy tuck is my only option I just don't want to spend all that money just to ruin it once I do decide to have children. But then again I am going through all this now for health but also because I want to be and feel sexy and attractive. So I may as well do it all.

With doing the boot camp exercising, your body is changing; and a weight gain is not uncommon as you are building muscle, not fat. That being said, STOP the alcohol as much as possible; all empty calories!!! Have Water with some fruit in it (or bring one of those flavor dispenser/packets with you)...be the designated driver... that stuff is not doing you ANY favors... Next find out if there is a bariatric center near you and if they have meetings, a lot of centers have to have a monthly meeting for post-bariatric members to keep their certification. It has been proven that if you attend these meetings you are more likely to succeed in your endeavor! Helpful hints are always given at these, including easy recipes! try "The World According to Eggface" for recipes, she's got some great stuff... your weight loss is nothing to sneeze at...it's great! when was the last time you lost that much weight in that amount of time?!?! If you are like the rest of us, the answer is "never"! Don't discount yourself...you can't compare yourself to others! And lastly, remember, Protein FIRST! Good luck, you've got this!

I was self pay in Mexico. I read on here and dozens of publicly accessible medical journals through NIH, NHS and Health Canada before even making contact with the surgeon in Mexico. I started receiving preop emails around the time I was to begin and have received weekly post op care emails each week since surgery. I also fortunately had a long history (of success) with low carb and ketogenic diets, and unfortunately also with drug and alcohol addiction and other self destructive behaviours. The latter contributed to my weight gain, and I made a decision to get totally clean and chart a new path for my health and sanity. Perhaps that's why I don't mind straight advice. I can't get down with Jesus or higher power BS and thus 12 step programs were never on my radar. I indulged myself in information and tried to educate myself as well as possible about any and all possible outcomes. This has always been my approach, and I totally accept that it's not for everyone. Some people want information presented to them personally on a silver platter and some of us need to be muckrakers and find it ourselves to believe it. What I can't accept is anti-informational people. People who don't want the truth and are happy subsisting in an echo chamber of what they want to be true instead of what is true. People who want sympathy instead of empathy.

How did you do in the time before this past month? Or was this your first month? Has your period historically affected your weight? Take a close, hard look at your food diaries. You may find some choices or quantities that, on paper, will elicit an "Ooooh." Show a week's worth to the practice RD; he/she may spot things that you're unaware of. Do you record everything that goes down your gullet? You're sure? I've never heard of weight-gain from eating to lose. All things are possible, but not probable. There's a reason that you'll discover. Surgery won't stop you from being hard on yourself if you're hard on yourself habitually. Separate out the facts. The purpose for surgery is to lose weight, that's it. The emotional, behavioral and other changes you'd like to make or see are under separate-but-related categories. I think you'll better focus on the first if you don't conflate the whole shebang.

Emotional eating is one of the biggest causes of overeating, weight gain, and weight re-gain. April is Emotional Overeating Awareness month and to commemorate this, I'm offering a free teleclass to answer your questions about how to take control of emotional eating and struggles with food, weight and healthy lifestyle. The teleseminar will take place on Wednesday, April 22, 2009 at noon Pacific and 3pm Eastern. Creating change isn’t automatic and it isn’t always easy. However, it DOESN’T need to be a struggle. Join me for this free teleseminar where I'll answer your questions about how to end emotional eating battles and make peace with food—once and for all. Just go here to register and submit your question.

My daughter is 17. She knows the pitfalls of dieting. My years of eating one meal a day as a teenager and into college led to my 75 lb weight gain when I was pregnant with her. When your body is used to living on 750-1000 calories per day and suddenly you eat 2000, you put on a LOT of weight. She loves food and does not diet, yet she is a healthy 125 and is very active. She fully supported my decision and sees what a wonderful impact this has had on my life and the life of my family. Isn't it amazing how a happier healthier mom can lead to a happier family?!

Like everyone else here, I have a weight problem! (glad I got that off my chest! ) I went from a very active job to an office job and in 3 yrs I went from a size 9 to a size 18!! That was 15 ys ago. Ive tried every diet I heard of. Ive gotta admit WW does work if you go to the meetings EVERY week and truely WATCH what you eat. I lost 27 lbs the first time I went, and I felt great! The only reason why I stopped going was because I got pregnant,so of course there was weight gain, and up 2 sizes. Now at a size 22, Ive had ENOUGH!!!!!!!! My dad had about 11 siblings, all of which have passed away from obesity/heart disease before age 60 except for 1. I want to live a long heathy life, I want my kids to understand how important it is to be healthy! About 3yrs ago I pondered on the idea of Gastric Bypass, but I wasnt fat enough (imagine that). I did go back to WW, but I had a much harder time committing with my new schedule. Recently a close friend/relative decided to have bypass, I didnt even think about myself ( I guess I just came to accept being fat is me! lol) and we'd talk about her weight loss and her goals etc. Then one day I was talking to my mother in law, I didnt realize that she had researched the lapband for her self, and she suggested that we go to a seminar together. I was a little unsure when I left, just because of the foreign object in your body but after a few prayers I got over it pretty quick!! So I made an appt. w.Dr.O on 3/24/09, the girls in the office were very friendly and comforting! So thats about where Im at, Ive had several tests done.. 4/3 Upper GI/Chest Xray 4/9 Pulm Funct Test 4/14 Psych Eval/Nutritionist 4/21 Ekg/labwork 4/22 Echo 5/8 Sleep study My insurance does not require anything extra, thank god!! I do have to pay about 5k out of pocket, but it is so worth it!! Iam addicted to this website!! I love to read the testimonials from everyone! I have decided that I AM ready for a life change!!! I want this more than anything!! I want my family to be healthy, and I have to be the one to make that happen!! So let the journey begin!!!!!!!:tounge_smile: