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I had a radical hysterectomy 10 years ago. I was already overweight but the hormonal changes seem to speed up my weight gain. I gained nearly 100 lbs since my hysterectomy. I wasn't put on hormone replacement therapy since I had uterine cancer. As far as effecting my sleeve, I don't think it has. I didn't go through any emotional changes post sleeve. In comparison I'd say the hysterectomy surgery was a more difficult recovery.

I haven't had weight gain issues but I have been very afraid of that...especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. I think my fear of turning back into "my old obese self" motivated me to keep exercising and watching what I eat (somewhat) throughout this whole thing. I wish you luck in taking that weight back off. You did it once and you can do it again!

Hi all, I was banded on June 3, 2009 and have been doing really well up until this weekend. Today mostly. Let me explain. I've lost almost 30 pounds since the 2 week pre-op liquid diet. I'm very pleased with the loss but I'm do for my first fill this coming friday 7/10 and I guess I'm afraid he won't give me a fill. I had mentioned to the dr just this past week that I have limitations when I eat. He mentioned that I must have restriction with the band in place even though I have no fluid in it. He also said we'll have to go slow with the fills. Now, I've been so good with my diet and exercising more than I would like and I think that's why the weight is coming off. Yes, I fill fast, but I do get hungry between meals. So, with this in mind, I set out to test the full limits of my band. I found out that what people say about chips, ice cream and sweet is true. They are definately slider foods. I also went and had a little mac salad and potato salad. I had veggie burger and turkey sausage for my meats. I ate no where need the amount of food I use too, but even when I did get full, I went a litle further. I experienced for the first time what I see people call PBing. Not much though, but I did. Here's what I don't understand........why do I do this? Is it normal? Before the band, I never felt full and would eat until I would almost vomit. NO CONTROLL. What is wrong with me? Can anyone relate to this absurd behavior? I'm so mad at myself. Here comes a five pound weight gain!!!

My boobs are saggy from the weight gain over the years and I am only 26. When I lose all my weight I am planning on getting the girls fixed so they are nice and perky.

I read a book (or finished reading it) on Nov 1st. It's 'How to stop eating bad sugar' by Allen Carr. Since I stopped I've kicked my sugar habit which was wreaking havoc in my life. Not huge weight gain, but there was a slide upwards. It was just the mental nastiness - the feeling of constantly losing a battle and it made me sick and I'd started getting really bad reactive hypoglycaemia. So since then: no sugar, potatoes, sweeteners, honey, syrups and no processed food made with sugar. I still eat a lot of fruit but mainly apples (loads of fibre) and tangerines. Bananas are a slight problem - I note they increase sweet cravings and give me muscle cramps, but I'm recently bereaved and so allowing myself to skate that one for now. Dried fruit is also a big no. I eat meat, fish, veggies (often oven roasted), small amounts of organic proper wholewheat bread - have only found one brand - Cranks- which doesn't have a load of other nonsense in. I snack on nuts and fruit as above. I've lost 6lbs of my slide up from my lowest, but I think I might be at what is a healthy weight for me. (Need to get back to the gym really). I don't log or do macros but I aim to eat whole food, lots of veg and fibrous fruit. It's working in that I've only had the reactive hypoglycaemia a couple of times since Nov 1st (I think it was banana that did it!) and the cravings are generally gone. The evening hunger is fixed by eating a big apple very slowly and I sometimes have a bed time snack of a little fruit and cheese, or nuts, but the urge to do that is passing slowly. I do occasionally use Stevia in my posh hot milk and pure cacao/ashwaganda type drinks, but I try also to not make it a regular thing. I suppose my point will be, that having taken these steps, the obsession, and the compulsion have faded and now I'm free to deal with all my other problems!!! Good luck to you - your exercise regime is awesome. I so want exercise to be my next addiction!!

Hi Skip, I hear your desperation & I can clearly remember feeling desperate, w/ no choices left yet scared to do the WLS. What if it does not work, what if I gain it back, what if I wreck a perfectly good body part...... Like I said I was at my wits end, I had tried & tried over the years to diet, I'd lose some weight, gain it back & more. I am now 9 months postop & 110 lbs less. I am light on my feet, I go up stairs and am not out of breath. I put my tennis shoes on w/out dreading it. I do not worry about fitting in a chair or walking in a room. I go to support groups, work on my mental addiction, talk honestly with others. I do water aerobics 4 times a week, lift some weights, walk my dog. Summer has arrived, I am now on my bike. The exercise caused me to have consistent weight loss of 10 lbs every month, more in the beginning. The surgery made it possible for me to not give up, I ABSOLUTLY could not eat more than the 1/4 c, them up to a 1/2 cup and I stayed at a 1/2c per meal for a long time and overall I was satisfied. Now I can eat 1c & a little more. I am much much happier but I still have the same personality, I can get depressed for no good reason, I overdo it & become exhausted (but I had a lot of fun before I got exhausted). I do real well w/ my liquid & protein most of the time. Vitamins too. This is my story of commitment so far with this surgery, without this my story would be my old story, I tried, I got too hungry, I ate, I gave up. My doctor told me I was not a loser, he says we just get too hungry & it takes too long without this surgery. God Speed to YOU, your doctor & your wife. Your life is going to change, follow ALL the rules!!!!!

Hey Everyone, Just thought I would start checking in again on LBT. I have had a busy 6 months since I have really been able to log on. Its time for me to turn to you, my fellow bandsters for support and inspiration. I swear I will be reading all the "new posts" I have missed for the next week, Boy you have been a busy bunch hahaha. I managed to keep my weight off and do quite well over the past year, I was down a total of 140 lbs and feeling great. once the holidays came around I started to struggle with weight again, those pounds started to creep back on (I only gained 8) but it was enough to scare me into getting a fill. So I had my most recent fill on Dec14, 2006. The Dr seems to think I may have a leak in my port or perhaps somewhere in the band which causes me to slpwly lose restriction. The fill was wonderful for a while then hunger becan to rear its ugly head again about 2 weeks later. Yup just in time for christmas ahhh all the food and parties again. so I ate and I gained then I went to aruba the second week of January while there of course you go out and have fun, eat drink and be merry right???? Well I was sick, nauseaus, couldnt keep a thing in me, vomiting at least 6 times a day and generally not feeling myself. I did a little counting in my head when I got home because I was still feeling ill and realized I was LATE! Well low and behold my december/january weight gain was due to being pregnant! NOW.... not only am I just pregnant I am pregnant with TWIN BOYS! wow, now that explains my hunger from christmas on, my excessive vomiting (I had my fill removed in February to be able to ingest enough food for the pregnancy and to generally feel comfortable) Of course also to reduce the tightness and lessen the risk of a slip from the morning noon and night sickness. I am currently going into my 5th month of my pregnancy, I feel GREAT although I am having a hard time emotionally seeing the weight come back on.... up 24 pounds but the babies are doing great and I have to keep telling myself I am gaining this weight to give my twins a good start at a healthy birthweight when they are born. My other 2 little boys are awake now, So much for free time (its going to be less in about 4 months) hahah so I better tend to their needs and enjoy my time as I know I will be busier than ever soon. Take care xxooxx

Hi, I am 6 1/2 years post op (gastric bypass), I’ve gained 54 pounds since my lowest weight of 245. I’m not up at 299 and need to loose the weight. I’ve taken the necessary steps to make it happen, but am struggling with my calorie goal each day (logging on My Fitness Pal), I can’t seem to pass the 900(ish) calorie goal, I’m eating VERY CLEAN and Lean. Is this too little calories or should I be consuming more? I do work out one on one with a trainer 3 times a week, and 2 other days, I’ll do Home walks and what not. In the past i went with calories suggested from MFP, and I lost 2 pounds in 2.5months (I was working out hard, and eating right, but eating the 1,875 calories MFP recommended. So this didn’t work for me. My trainer is training with other bypass ladies and says their goals are 1200-1300. Day. I can’t even eat that much unless I chose to go with pizza and icecream. Help me please, what should my calorie intake be to lose weight? I do realize my macros should be 60g of protein, but I’m clueless on fats and carbs too. Ugh, I’m so frustrated.

You have to find what works for you. That is what allows you to maintain your weight, be healthy & enjoy your life. You don’t want a diet that is so restrictive that it limits you doing the things you enjoy or affects your health. It’s as simple as that & also as hard. Lots of trial & error over time. Do your own research. Try recommendations from people on this forum. I still don’t eat rice, pasta or bread or bread alternatives like wraps. I did try a soybean pasta that others here recommended a couple of months back but even the tiny bit I had didn’t sit well & was too filling. I was surprised though at how well it cooks & it tasted similar to wheat pasta. It’s way better than vegetable pastas were years ago. I have tried cauliflower rice but I don’t like it very much. I enjoy zucchini noodles a lot. I used to eat quite a lot of bread, rice & pasta but I avoid them now cause I think they contributed to my past weight gain. I don’t really miss them. I also avoid them because if I can only eat a cup of food, I’m going to make sure it’s nutrient rich. I get my carbs from fruit, vegetables, rolled oats & some multigrain crackers. It’s working for me but it may not work for you. Good luck.

Wow 20 years ago you had bypass? That is amazing. I saw someone else on here mention alcohol is causing weight gain for them. Maybe you can switch to a very low carb, calorie beer?

And it is true vice versa. Women also like to see men and women of like attractiveness yoked up. We all like to see a couple evenly matched when it comes to the beauty department and a disparity is always unsettling to the casual onlooker. This sense of wrongness disappears, of course, when you come to know the couple. The superficial impact of looks always disappears when you come to know the people inside the packages. This is just how it works. My own mate is 9 years younger than myself and while I had been a fairly good looking woman in my day, age and weight gain have certainly damaged my allure. *Please insert irony here, by the way.* As for my mate, well, the body gods have been very kind to him. This has resulted in some occasions where my feelings could have been hurt if I was less comfortable in our relationship. We have, you should know, been together for twenty years. I am also aware that I would have made the same judgement calls had I been on the outside looking in. This is something that we are prone to do is all.

I have been married for over 6 years now. When I married my husband He was 6'2 and 195 lbs. I was shocked the other day when my mom asked me, "What if your husband feels bad that you are getting surgery but he isnt?" I said, "Why would he want surgery? He's not overweight." My mom looked at me like I was joking. Later I was looking at my husband and realized he was getting a little chunky. I asked if he knew how much he weighed and he said "ABout 275 I think, why?" I couldn't believe I hadn't noticed an 80 lb weight gain!!! mb I just love him or just am not focused on his weight, or just TOO focused on my own weight problems. Anyway, once I realized he was overweight I now worry that he'll start getting some of the same health issues I'm dealing with. However, I think after surgery he will lose weight just because I'm eating/cooking better and I want to be much more physically active as a whole family. But yeah, mb love is blind. BTW- weird coincidence. We've both struggled with weight our entire lives. when we met, we had BOTH just lost about 50 lbs and BOTH were at a normal weight. I just gained it all back before we got married and he hadn't. BUT that was one of the things that attracted me to him was that I knew he would understand my weight struggles and wouldn't judge me if I regained (which he NEVER has judged me for)

You can't change the past, but you can affect the future. Consider it a lesson learned, and get on with your life. If we were all perfect we wouldn't need the band in the first place. If it's a small slippage you may be fine after an unfill. Increase your exercise a bit and you may not have any weight gain at all. I know I'm not answering your specific questions, but just wanted to say stop beating yourself up over what is in the past.

The pill doesn't necessarily make you gain weight but the hormones that are released definitely play a part in weight gain. I have Mirena IUD and the hormones stay located to that specific area. It usually does not encourage weight gain

I lost 1206 lbs in 19 months, I loved my band but I eroded, and I have no regrets. My band and I worked wel ltogether, it did its' job and I am happy to report in the 2 months I have had no band I have had NO weight gain. I learned from my band and got my head on straight.

I wasn't sure if this should go in the Ladies Gone Wild section, but then I really wanted input from men as well, so I figured I would put it here. I have often wondered if many of us put on weight as a defense mechanism, I think it has been proven time and again -especially with females- that massive weight gain happens after a sexual assault or abuse or something. I'm not saying this means every last fat person was abused, so please, those of you chomping at the bit for someone to flame - no. What I'm trying to say is ... I was invisible for a very long time. During the years when I should have been learning how to interact with men, get my heart broken, get tough, get wise, learn from romantic mistakes, learn to spot predators - I was cocooned in my obese isolation and never learned any of those things. I never learned what other women learn about other women, that there are so many out there that are so crippled by insecurity that they will attempt to destroy you just to secure their own positions. I never learned that if you appear to present any sort of "threat" to these kinds of women that they will stop at nothing - including destructive gossip and libel, to eradicate you as a threat. I also didn't learn how to interact with men or rather, I never learned that there are consequences to my behavior; as an obese invisible individual, I was, ironically, treated as a person not a "woman" with all the connotation and baggage therein. I was treated by men as an honorary dude and got to joke and be bawdy and opinionated and they were comfortable around me. Now, if I make eye contact with any man, they see it as an invitation. Now, men are aggressive in trying to mark their territory, and I'm the territory! Now I am viewed as physically weak and now for the first time in my life, I am afraid when I have to walk somewhere alone in the dark. I don't know how to deal with all of this, I don't know how to weild this power, I was never taught. Help?

I bought a Fitbit and I really like it. It estimates how many calories I'm burning each day, so I have a good idea of how many I should be eating. It has already helped. I'm back up to 109. That's only a pound, but it may mean I'm finding my healthy calorie allowance. Edited: that weight gain was just a digestive fluctuation, I guess. I'm down even lower than before. Now at 107.

You do realize that pre-op & post-op weight gain/loss is expected right? I see a lot of people on here concerned with their gain/loss when it is completely irrelevant. I honestly don’t know why anyone is concerned or is even keeping track at this point when the real concern should be preparing/recovering. Really the only time anyone should be paying attention to the scale is when the transition to solid food has been made & even then results shouldn’t be expected immediately. Before I had surgery I devoured all the water I could & after surgery received god knows how many bags of fluids as well as the fluids I had started drinking. I don’t have a scale at home & honestly don’t care to. I’ll leave it to doctors appointments or the gym to see what I weigh & even then there’s no rush. All that should matter really is that in the next 6 months to a year I hope to see 100 pounds less of me than a year before & everyone else should be hopeful to see the same.

Hi! I can semi relate a lot to u n yes unfortunately I slowly but surely gained all the weight I had lost with the LB. Which, overall it’s been very upsetting.😩😞 So now, I’m getting ready for a possible RNY in about 6 months cuz I again refuse to let myself go without exhausting all measures for BETTER HEALTH. Also, ever since I entered menopause arnd a year ago; my body has been going through lots of unpleasant changes n weight gain is one of them. Meanwhile, I’m already being monitored/treated by a Bariatric specialty team n too pray to God for His will over my body/health. Therefore, I too recommend u do the same in exhausting all measures for better health n cuz it’s better to BE IN PEACE instead of IN PIECES. Agreed n God bless. 🙏🏽

I've used MyFitnessPal for almost two years now and highly recommend it. It's quick, easy and makes you accountable - to you. I have found that it establishes an irrefutable link between what I put in my mouth and what I see on the scales. That link is reinforced every day. And perhaps more importantly, the control and confidence that my log gives me is beyond priceless. Enjoying those special occasions in life that involve food will often result in a little weight gain. I simply adjust my calorie goal down by 100-200 calories for a day or two and my weight comes right back down. I've done it not just once or twice but many times. You don't have to do that too many times before your confidence goes right through the roof. You don't think you're in control, you know you're in control. You no longer stress or worry about enjoying a special occasion because you know you can correct it. Food logs/apps/photos are an enormously powerful tool that should be in everyone's toolbox!

Actually not entirely true... 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 for gastric bypass, gastric band (lap-band), and gastric sleeve bariatric patients. 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.

I had the sleeve Nov 2014 and I am so happy with the decision I made. I decided on gastric sleeve vs. bypass because gastric sleeve patients don't have the malabsorption issues associated with bypass and my surgeon won't even do lap bands anymore due to the high failure rate. My pre-op weight gain was directly related to my over-eating. But not eating too much at meals, rather eating 2-3 candy bars along with a bag of chips and three scoops of ice cream every night after my family went to bed. Call it binge eating, grazing whatever, it was my way of feeling comfort. Now, post-op, I have control of my head and what I put in my mouth. I haven't felt real "hunger" since surgery, so I eat to live. I still get the late night cravings to eat junk because I'm bored, but I usually just eat a Protein bar while watching TV after the family goes to bed. Plus, eating really sweet foods before bed gives me terrible acid reflux during the night and that is a constant reminder that junk food and boredom eating should not mix. I see many pre-op patients at my monthly support group. They are either waiting for surgical approval or just getting feedback from those of us who have had WLS. It's a great forum for face-to-face conversations about options. I doubt you'll find one person who says they are sorry they made the decision to have surgery. Benefits clearly out weigh any pre-surgery food passions.

Our weight fluctuates from day to day depending on the time of day, time of the month etc. As long as you're doing everything right stay focused and don't worry about the scale that will all work itself out. I weighed myself weekly and I did this consistently for 14 months. I noticed one week I'd have a 1-2 lb loss another week .2 lb loss another week I'd be up 1.5 lbs then one week I'd lose 3.2 lbs. Watch your sodium intake as water follows salt. Make sure you're drinking enough water, and make sure you are also measuring yourself. If you're working out consistently 5 days a week, then I wouldn't be surprised if that weight gain is muscle but maybe you've lost a few inches instead. Let the scale be your guide to help you stay on track with your goals but dont' let it ruin your day. We've all been there. Keep up the good work!

If you're on a stall, and especially if you have a lot of salt so as to pick up water weight, you can see some minor temporary weight gain.

I can totally relate to you. I'm 5'4" and weigh 243lbs. Everyone tells me that I'm not big enough to get such an extreme surgery done because my weight is proportioned evenly. They look at me and you can't weigh that much. One dummy even told me "remember what happened to Kanye's momma"...Seriously!? (completely different...I think she died while getting liposuction?) I have decided that after 3 c-sections, pregnancy weight gain on average of 45lbs., going from a size 12 to a 22 it was time for me to do something for me that will ensure I am here to spent time with my husband, children and future grandchildren. I applaud anyone who takes their life seriously and actively seeks to be healthier. You go Girl!!! I'm standing with you!