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The first thing I would do is try smaller bites. Really small, like the size of your fingernail. Also, chew it until mush and pause between bites. If you do this and still can't eat solids, it's entirely possible you're too tight and need a slight unfill. If that's the case, don't wait, call your doctor. Being too tight can not only prevent you from getting enough nutrients and cause weight gain, but it can actually lead to slips if left that way. It's always better to be safe than sorry. Best wishes.

RNYTalk Newsletter By Hey, RNYTalk members!Thanksgiving is behind us and the holiday season is officially underway! Filled with holiday shopping, festivities at work and spending time with friends and family, this time of year is can be the most rewarding. It can be hectic, too, so paying extra attention to your diet and health is even more important than usual. Use this newsletter as a reminder and some motivation to be extra cautious with your choices so that you can keep seeing the results you want from your weight loss journey. Here’s what’s coming up in this newsletter. Member Spotlight: Meet kristy3k! Tips for the Season: Thriving at Holiday Parties! Member Challenge: Activate Your Party Action Plan! A Big Thank-You to Our Members as 2012 Ends We know the hustle and bustle of this season make your life busy, but we hope you spend part of your holiday season with us at Alex Brecher Founder RNYTalk.com Member Spotlight: Meet kristy3k! Our Member Spotlight this month is on kristy3k from Oklahoma. Kristy3k has a family that many people only dream of: she has been married for 21 years and she has a 19-year-old daughter, a 15-year-old son and a 12-year-old son. She works as a USPS worker. As she says, she played the “constant blame game” for years as she blamed her weight gain first on her pregnancies and then on her night-shift job. Her wake-up call came when her father passed away last July. Finally, kristy3k realized that she needed to take control of what she could – her weight. Her high weight was 340 pounds. After a lot of research – including many hours lurking on RNYTalk.com! - kristy3k got the gastric bypass done in February of this year. Since then, she’s lost 149 pounds and is well on her way to her goal weight of 165 pounds. She tells us that she’s had so many highlights in her life since the surgery! Just a few include not having to use the handicapped stall in public restrooms because she couldn’t fit in regular stalls; not being out of breath all the time; and not being the “fat mom.” She gets a kick out of her kids telling her she’s skinny, and one of her greatest moments was when her husband was able to wrap his arms around her again. Throughout the process, kristy3k has gained a lot of self-esteem and general happiness. She still wonders how she let herself get so big in the first place, but she’s determined to continue her weight loss journey. She loves RNYTalk.com because she can get information and inspiration from it anytime. Everyone on the boards is “so upbeat.” Kristy3k is modest enough to say that she is hesitant to offer weight loss tips, but she suggests eating your Protein, drinking your Water, exercising and above all, being patient! We know you’re doing all of those things, kristy3k, and thanks for sharing them and your story with us! Please post in the food choices. Holiday parties can interfere with your best intentions to stay on track. From Thanksgiving to New Year’s, parties can be regular events at work and the homes of family and friends. Frequently overeating can not only derail your weight loss, but also lead to bypass-related complications, such as dumping syndrome. Whether you’re a weight loss surgery veteran or this is your first holiday after getting the surgery, these tips can help you enjoy the holiday parties without doing damage to your diet. Eat before you go. You don’t want to go into the party on an empty stomach. If you’re starving when you get to the party, you might be tempted to grab whatever’s available – which probably won’t be that healthy. Enjoy the party. The holidays should be about appreciating people. Use parties as opportunities to spend time with coworkers and other people who mean a lot to you. Focus on enjoying the party, not on hiding yourself in the food. Take care of yourself. Make sure there’s something at the party that you can eat. One option is to pack a high-protein snack or two for yourself and eat it when it’s time for your regular meal or snack. You can also take a healthy dish for the host to serve at the party. Sip water. Carrying a glass of water around gives you something to do without adding any calories to your day. Another benefit of drinking water is that you know you shouldn’t eat solid foods when you’re drinking fluids. Avoid alcohol. Alcohol is a source of calories that you just don’t need. Worse yet is that it lowers your inhibition. That means that you’re less likely to resist unhealthy holiday foods. Member Challenge: Activate Your Holiday Action Plan! This newsletter’s challenge is related to our advice on holiday parties. The challenge is to choose a specific strategy designed to get you through the holidays without interfering with your weight loss goals. You can take one of the suggestions listed above, or choose your own. Some other ideas are to keep healthy Snacks at work so you’re not tempted by unhealthy snacks and to record each treat that you eat in your food record instead of pretending that it doesn’t count. Tell us in the Member Challenge Forum how you complete the challenge! Was it easy or difficult? What tips do you have for other RNYTalk.com members? We also want to know anytime you go back and complete an old Newsletter Challenge, which you can find in the archived Newsletter Forum. It’s never too late to try a Newsletter Challenge! A Big Thank-You to Our Members as 2012 Ends As we close out 2012, we wanted to take this opportunity to thank each member. We truly appreciate your support. We value each member, whether you post many times a day and use all of RNYTalk.com’s many features, or whether you log in infrequently to read just a few posts. You, the members, are essential to RNYTalk.com’s success, so a heartfelt thank-you to each of you! 2012 has seen rapid increases in the number of members, the beginning of regular newsletters and the launch of mobile apps to access all of the forum’s features. Big plans are in the works for the coming year, and it promises to be an exciting ride. We’re glad to have you on board! Of course, we’re always open to member suggestions, so please feel free to contact any board administrator. That’s it for this month’s newsletter. We hope it was inspirational and helpful. Have a safe and peaceful holiday season, and take care of yourself and each other, Alex ==============================================================If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, you may unsubscribe by going to your Control Panel and clicking on the Newsletters tab, or clicking on the following link: {unsubscribe}

For the past few weeks I had been substituting meals with protein shakes. I thought this was something that needed to be implemented before surgery so that it would make it easier getting in enough protein after surgery. However, my surgeon told me that protein shakes should only be used after surgery because adding protein pre-op could cause weight gain. However, I have lost 16 lbs while supplementing protein. Did anyone drink protein shakes to help with their pre-op weight loss, or should I avoid these for now?

Hi Jessi, You sound like you've really been through some challenges -- major bummer. And with three little boys! But you're still trying to take care of yourself -- good for you. Is it that you're trying to weigh enough to convince a doctor to do the surgery or that you're trying to qualify for insurance to pay for it? Being only 30 years old, you don't have the co-mordibities yet that all us older folks have. Once you become hypertensive, diabetic, have GERD, stress incontinence, joint pain (you'll eventually have all of these if you're really overweight), you'll more easily qualify for VSG without being at a BMI of 40. I was at at BMI of 39, but the co-morbidities made it a slam dunk with my insurance company. (I am also 58 years old.) Are you working with any doctor closely enough that he would support your need to lose weight so that your back and knee would likely be less of a problem? That's probably your best way to go. As far as putting on weight (ouch!), it probably wouldn't be that hard to let yourself gain. And you might only need to gain a few pounds for real -- I know if I eat a few big meals in a row AND I'm somewhat constipated, the scale will reflect a pretty hefty weight gain until all the food "moves on". Good luck, Jessi!

Yes I had weight gain after my first month out 3 lbs then I started losing again and started losing a pound a day for almost 2 weeks then it stopped and I gained 6 freaking lbs grrrr and 2 weeks later I'm slowly going down again that's where I'm at now, I don't mind the stalls "well I don't like them" but I can't stand when I gain, just know it will won't last for ever and you will start back losing again. :-) Hope this helps.

My stall came with a weight gain, too. It was close to 3 pounds, I think? Since then I've had mostly loss, but occasionally I'll have a couple days where I don't lose, or a day where I put on a pound and take it right back off the next day. Bodies are strange >.>

Wow - they thought I had Gullien Barre initially in 2006 when I was diagnosed - I had ascending paralysis. It was not fun. Teh steroids killed me with weight gain and are a major part of the reason I gained most of my weight (well steroids and immobility and stress and...). Dana - I live in Northern Virginia - right outside of Washington, DC. I need to finish up my profile and add pictures and all that stuff.

It's great to hear your doing good! From what I heard the weight gain after surgery is usually due to all the fluids they give you. Please Continue to keep us posted...you are the losers bench now:-)

I spoke with both my doctor and my massage therapist about this. Our centre of gravity is changing. My question to my doc was well why didn't I feel like this when I gained the weight? Her answer? Because the weight gain was gradual. It took me a year to gain 40lbs and 2 months to lose it!

Let's see...where do I begin? I think I should start by letting you all know that I am 30 pounds from my goal weight. I had my surgery in October of this year...just a couple of months ago...literally. Since then, I have lost 16 pounds. However, I lost an even greater amount of weight before my surgery. I have lost a total of 67 pounds since beginning my journey of weight loss back in June of this year. Now, I have to tell you that I am not your "normal" lapband patient. Nope! I eat normal...chicken, beef, popcorn...you name it, I can eat it. I swallow pills...regular pills...Not a problem. I live my life normal. BUT~~my normal is not YOUR normal. We are all different. My lapband is NOT the reason I have lost ANY of my weight...not even the 16 pounds since my surgery. Why? Because I made a conscience decision to begin eating healthier way before my surgery. I had already begun to get in the mindset of eating smaller portion...that is something "most skinny folks" do already. I had already begun making wiser choices in my food preparations. I had a healthy mindset. So why did I get lapband surgery? Because I wanted a backup plan. Yep! I had to gain weight three weeks before my surgery in order to make the cut off line of weight limit. We are not talking 20 pounds...only like 7 or so. I have always had the yoyo thing going on with weight gain and loss. So, gaining it was a breeze! Now, what I can say is that I have conditioned my mind and my body to eat "normal". And if my normal is 1/2 a cup...fine. If my normal is 3/4 cup fine. If my normal is 1 whole cup..GREAT! The deal is that my body is now working with my band. I am not overeating. I have never thrown up. I have a grasp on my life. I have a NEW life! But~~YOU may be different. And if so, just remember, just as I have a testimony, I also have had many tests...and I am certain I will have more! So, as you are going forward with your journey, remember you are awesome, and your journey is YOUR journey. You are an individual and what works for one person may not work for another. Smile! And you will have a story to tell! :-)

If you can't keep healthy foods down, and are resorting to slider foods, then you are likely too tight. You need to get back into your surgeon and talk to him. Contrary to popular belief, too tight isn't good. As you're finding out, it leads to weight gain because most slider foods are very high calorie. People are shocked when they have a little Fluid removed, they can eat healthy again, and start losing weight. Go see your surgeon, his job is to help you through times like this, but he can't do that if you don't let him. Best wishes.

So I was sleeved yesterday afternoon. I weighed in at the hospital yesterday morning at 241#. I got released home today & stepped on my scale.. 256#?!?!?!?!? Are you kidding me?!?!? The doc said I would have some extra weight from all the IV fluids & gas pumped in to me.. But 15#??? Did anyone else gain this much immediately after surgery? If so, how long did it take you to lose it?

Hey Julie -- I had to go look upCellucor - and was struck with the one thing that differs between Protein drinks & meal replacement drinks --- the amount of protein and then the nutrients. The best way I can explain the difference between the two - imagine two plates, one has just a chicken breast, the other has a smaller chicken breast, but it includes veggies & some simple carbs. Protein supplements do not garner the "Meal Replacement" moniker unless they have a decent percentage of the common 23 Vitamins & minerals that the USDA recognizes as necessary to thrive. Cellucor looks to be a weight gainer type of Protein Drink, one used by serious athletes, (weight gain is not fat but muscle). Is it a bad drink? Probably not. Is it a good source of protein? To a degree. I just like to balance my "meal" replacement offers with the nutrients, the amount of calories, the type of calories, and of course the amount of protein I get when I substitute my meal. I have used Meal Replacements drinks for a long time. I found whey works better for me, over the soy based ones. I like NatureAde, it isn't as high in protein as many of the whey products, but I am always open to new products. Cellucor is only 130 calories - a definite plus for 30 grams of protein, but it does not include any of the USDA recommended nutrients. Chike is a happy balance of protein and nutrients, and I like the flavors - all 5 of the meal replacement and the additional coffee flavor. It will be a a personal taste preference, for sure! You won't get benefits from a drink you will not drink daily. Chike isn't too sweet for me, so I am more able to enjoy instead of just "gulp it down" for the protein. When you have a limit as to how much you can eat, you have to eat more creatively My suggestion, contact Chike, see if they have samples, then you will have a better view if it is the right product for you. That is how I started using Chike, they talked with me over the phone, asked if I knew the difference between protein vs. meal replacement drinks (I did, as I was on a seven month program years ago), and they sent me FREE samples. I have been a fan & user of Chike for YEARS, and drink it for 2 of my 5 meals each day. I am a lay person, but I think after losing over 200 pounds, I may have an idea how this process works. I just got my two year follow up blood test, and my numbers are great! Give Chike a try, try LOTS of products, then you will know what YOU like and will continue to use. Brenda : )~

I too am worried about the pre-diet... I dont have a surgery date but its going to be in Jan 2013. I have been eating like a pig & now im thinking when I go in for my pre-surgery appt they will refuse me due to the weight gain? anyone know if thats a possibility?

I think bottom line its calories in equals weight gain. I notice at about eight months out the carbonation doesn't bother me much, but I still notice it..I would imagine if you were to drink two or three drinks like we probably used to pre surgery then yes, it might well affect your pouch. One or two sips? Probably not. But...I met a lady prior to my surgery that had gastric bypass about 10 years ago, and she was 400 lbs if she was an ounce. She told me, (when I told her that I wasn't sure I could give pop up) you can do that! (I.e. drink pop) no you can't. Not unless you want to go back to where you were weight wise. Pop is a small price to pay for skinny jeans and turning guys heads. I hated being fat. I hated being prejudiced against. I hated looking in the mirror. I hated clothes shopping. I hated my hubby looking at other women all the time. I don't love pop that much to lose all these other things I have retrieved back in my life.

I agree everything don't work the same for others. However I feel that there is way too many women that actually suffer from the side effects from Depo. My eating habits didn't change. I didn't even have cravings. Plus I got started right after my daughter was born so I was actually trying to lose my pregnancy weight by dieting and working out! But I kept gaining...then that's when my OB told me I should consider different methods. (He was actually against the shot in the first place) after I came off it I still couldn't lose all the weight and it took 5 years to become pregnant again after my last shot. Too many people have had the same side effects to blame it on the individual eating. There has been many women that has never had weight issues till getting the shot. Just do a quick google search and look how many women experienced awful side effects besides just weight gain. With all options out now compared to when Depo first came out I'd urge anybody to pass on Depo. Sent from my iPhone using VST

I was on depo and loved it. I was on it for 4 years and had no weight gain with it. The weight gain is actually the individual's fault. It causes cravings and if you give in you will gain. I lost the majority of my weight on it. I never was moody or had spotting or had any problems at all. I recently switched to the implanon for more convenience - it is the same hormones as depo but for 3 years. Everyone is different and it may be worth it to check it out. I had terrible experiences with the mirena and have scarring that may make it impossible to conceive.

I'm on Paxil for anxiety n scared some of my weight might hv come from it..will surgery still work?any advice?

I am on antianxiety Paxil n scared that some of my weight is from it..will the surgery still work? Any suggestions?

Depo shot me up about 50 pounds when I took it as well. I never would have but I went with a friend who didn't want to do it alone. Hurts and weight gain is CRAZY!

I hate the depo!!! I gained 30 pounds like it was nothing. I love my para guard IUD! No added weight gain and no hormones. Down 54 pounds in 5 months!

I decided against the depo shot due to the potential for weight gain and possible issues with getting pregnant after stopping. I'm getting the Mirena IUD very soon, my gyno estimated the cost to be $800-900, but it's good for 5 years. Hoping it's a good choice, looking to avoid for another 2ish years.

I'm sure I'll be having a hysterectomy, having had a large tumour right adjacent to where this growth now is, they're not going to muck around. I'm having an ultrasound tomorrow and one in three months to measure change - because fibroids shouldnt grow after menopause. But the HRT kind of explains that - dont worry, I'm in the hand of a gynecological oncologist. There's also the fact that since my bowel surgeries I suffer from obstructed defecation - meaning I cant have a bowel movement without an enema or a large dose of lactulose. My colorectal surgeon feels the growth (which is on the left and towards the back might be blocking my altered bowel. The gynae didnt think so but the condition is so awful to live with that I'd be willing to have an op just to see if it made any difference! I dont want to stop taking HRT partly because my bones are fairly bad - I've had two broken ribs this year but mostly because by the end of last year I was so depressed and anxious I was having serious suicidal thoughts. That and testosterone really made me feel loads better, but I'm just so terribly afraid of feeling that way again if I stop. But the weight gain and heartburn - hmmmm. I'd love to solve those issues! Thanks for listening. My forties has been the hardest part of my life so far - definitely more challenging than having babies! But I've got loads of support and am really very blessed.

I'm a former Depo user and I'd never do it again! In addition to the weight gain I had fertility issues that several doctors said was related to prolonged Depo use. This surgery is a terrific tool and those shots have a long and notorious history for causing women to gain extreme amounts of weight. In my opinion, the risk is too great. Definitely ask about an IUD or some other form of birth control!

DON'T DO IT! I was on it for 1 1/2 years and gained 10 lbs. with every shot and couldn't lose it. I put 60 lbs. on and then was stuck there for 10+ years, which is exactly why I'm having this surgery. I know everyone is different, but the depo shot has a reputation of huge weight gains. I wouldn't do it!