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Moon, sorry to hear about your troubles. The one thing that I have heard is that if you are not getting enough protein then one of the side effects is hair loss. The other is weight gain. If you are not eating enough protein, then you must be eating too many carbs which leads to the weight gain. The pre-op diet with very high protein and very low carbs along with getting plenty of exercise should kick everything back in. Get back on your vitamins too, the B12, calcium and iron are very important. The B12 does help in the weight loss. Don't forget the 64oz of liquids a day. Good Luck and keep us posted.

Hi! It's been almost 1 year out (sleeved Dec 6th 2011) and I think I'm just gaining weight back. My lowest was 205 in the summer but now I weigh 235!! I had a rough summer with getting laid off so gained back some weight because of it and could not afford my vitamins. I got a new job now so am trying to lose weight again and taking the vitamins. My hair is falling out so is now very thin. I'm used to having a thick head of hair. Right now I put myself on a liquid diet for awhile so I can lose the 30 lbs and get back on track. I feel I should have lost way more by now so feel like a failure. My weight before surgery was 300+ and highest I been was 400. I'm still glad that I had the sleeve because there is no way I could have lost 70 lbs on my own. Does anyone have any advice on how I can get back on track?

Rapid weight gain/loss will affect your flow, I've gained 30lbs in 5months due to lap band complications causing me to miss a period. I freaked because I'm being sleeved the 10th and was afraid I was pregnant and would be able to get the revision. It's the same with weightloss plus keep in mind how dehydrated you are compared to before the surgery.

Last year when I started to see my weight plumage! My body for years was getting too comfortable with being in the 280's for decades! But when I hit 304, then 310 and jumped right into 367 I knew something was wrong. I wasn't feeling right. sleeping a lot, the weight gain, swelling. My thyroid was a little off and I am being treated for that. Not to mention, I have degenerative hips (one replaced several years ago), I couldn't walk. Today, I can walk so much better, move around faster, more agility. Best decision I ever made for myself. Yes, I wish I took control a very long time ago before it got out of hand with my health. Better late than never.....

My doc says I should eat 70 grams of Protein and less than 30 grams of carbs each day. But not to worry about calories. Do you count protein grams? Carbohydrates? Calories? None of the above? Today marks my sixth week post op... I weigh myself on Mondays and today I am UP 2lbs. I am trying not to get discouraged... but it seems as though everyone does it differently... I know that last week I ate more than 30 grams of carbs a couple of days, but my caloric intake total was still around 650 calories... would this account for the weight gain?

I don't have much advice to offer, but I hope everything works out quickly for you. I know how frustrating it is to be denied and have to prove yourself. I mean really-who wants to have substantiate that they deserve a surgery they're suffering from x y z issues because they're overweight; don't we pay our insurance fees every month? I got all the way to pre-op the day before surgery and my dr.s office told me I was denied by insurance for too low of BMI and that I didn't have the "approved" co-morbs. Had I not asked, they probably would have allowed me to go to the hospital and I would have found out there! I know you can imagine all the preparation I'd put into it, including getting approved for time off from work, buying liquids, protien powders, etc. In my case a supposed "slam dunk" with BSNV was promised and the ball was dropped when they got my denial. That was in June, I've just been approved because my BMI is now 40 due to weight gain (co-morbs not required). It still seems like my dr.s office is not the most organized, but it's so late in the game, it would take way too much to change. If they don't get me scheduled by the end of Jan., I'll go to Mexico. Tired of jumping through everyones hoops-I want to get on with my life already. I don't recall if you mentioned who your insurance is through, but perhaps this might be helpful to you: Members in a Health Maintenance Organization (***) and Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO) Plan The California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) regulates all HMOs in California. If you are an *** or EPO health plan enrollee, and you have fi led a grievance and are dissatisfi ed with your *** or EPO’s fi nal decision, you should contact the DMHC *** Consumer Help Center at (888) 466-2219 or TTY (877) 688-9891 to register your complaint. You also should request assistance through DMHC’s website at www.dmhc.ca.gov. You may contact DMHC if the matter is not resolved within 30 days from the time your grievance was received by your health plan. Contact them immediately if the matter is urgent. If you have fi led a grievance and are dissatisfi ed with your *** or EPO’s fi nal decision regarding your eligibility for health benefi ts or limits of coverage under the plan, you may contact CalPERS for assistance.

Why do we eat? The most basic reason is hunger, however with the growing rate of obesity this shows us that people eat for more reasons than just hunger. People eat out of boredom, loneliness, hunger, or deprivation. All of which can lead to excessive overeating and added weight gain. By choosing the right foods to eat when you are actually hungry you can limit cravings to eat for these other reasons. Superfoods contain essential nutrients that the body needs to properly function. When the body is functioning optimally it will speed up your metabolism, boosting calorie burning, making it easier to lose weight. Superfoods contain Fiber, Protein, Vitamins, and minerals, which play a role in how your body responds to calorie absorption and fat cells. Superfoods tend to be lower in calories and take the body longer to digest. This leaves you feeling fuller for longer, giving you less reasons to eat unneeded calories. They also provide the body with a steady flow of energy, keeping the metabolism working to burn more calories. By adding these foods into your Breakfast, lunch, dinner and Snacks you can lose weight and feel great. -Apples- Apples are great for weight loss. They are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Apples are low in calories, low in sodium and high in fiber, which keeps the body feeling full while providing a stable source of energy. -Lentils- These small legumes pack a real big punch against weight gain. Lentils are high in folic acid, Iron, magnesium, fiber and protein. Lentils also contain resistant starch which shrinks fat cells; smaller fat cells means less fat. -Eggs- Although most people only eat them for breakfast, eggs are a great food for weight loss. High in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and Proteins, eggs help to build muscle, which in turn helps to burn fat. -Yogurt- Yogurt is a healthy combination of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. This combination staves off hunger by keeping blood sugar levels steady. Yogurt also contains a healthy dose of Calcium. Calcium signals fat cells to stop pumping out cortisol. -Sweet Potatoes- Sweet potatoes unlike most other vegetables are higher in calorie content but are worth all of them. Sweet potatoes contain resistant starch, which produces compounds to signal to the brain to stop eating. The bulk in sweet potatoes fills the stomach so you feel full. Carotenoids in sweet potatoes stabilize blood sugar levels and lowers insulin resistance. Kiwi- Although peculiar in size, shape, color and taste, this small fruit is loaded with nutrients. Kiwis are high in fiber, both soluble and insoluble, low in calories and high in Vitamin C.

I got an email from my surgeon yesterday telling me that I've been cleared to schedule surgery. WooHoo!! I'm so excited! I am supposed to get a call from the office in the next couple weeks to schedule, however I am seeking a June date so that I can recover during my summer break (Im a school bus driver) and not take time off. My only other Drs order is to maintain my pre surgery goal weight until surgery...for me that will be 6 months! Ugh. Thankfully I will have time to recover from any holiday weight gain. I'm hoping that won't be an issue as I plan to be "good" other than on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day when I know the goodies will be hard to resist. LOL

Sometimes the swelling will make you retain water.. It isn't uncommon to hear about weight gain immediately after surgery. Good luck! You are going to feel great in a few days

Yay for you! Good job on preop weight...be prepared if you get on the scale tomorrow you may have some weight gain, just fluids drops off quickly. I was sleeved on the 19th and i am down 10 since surgery. Had pintos n cheese, frozen yogurt and lemadelines tomato soup today. Plus a protein shake....was a good day. Besides the acid reflux which i know will go away this is the best thing ever...you will see....we are on our way! ~kris

Dont smoke. My experience.I started at 4 months post op.Without food life felt boring.Needed something I could do and started smoking again.At 5 months I had an ulcer.I stop till my stomach felt better then start again,stop and start...Then we found my vit C and vit A is now super low.Dr. says might just be the combination of the surgery with the smoking but my vits are affected by the smoking. OK I got it.I stopped last week and boy is it difficult to not gain weight now. Point is 1.for some of us our stomachs just dont like the smoking anymore. 2.You will just have to stop at some point anyway and stop smoking usually goes with weight gain because smoking does increase metabolic rate and we tend to eat more to satisfy the oral issues when we quit. While you are not smoking,DONT DO THIS TO YOURSELF.Its harder to stop post surgery than before.

I have a similar profile, although I'm 46 and 280 lbs. I actually attribute most of my weight gain to the PCOS and corresponding insulin resistance warring with the low-fat diet craze; at the time I was gaining weight, no-one considered low-carb. But I digress. On the go-for-it side: My health has been a steady procession down the list pf problems for a typical obese person, PCOS-->weight gain->sleep apnea->diabetes/hypertension/high cholesterol. Its pretty clear to me I will keep moving down the list to the more dire conditions if I don't lose weight (stroke, heart attack, poor circulation, joint pain). If you feel this describes you, then you are a good candidate. On the try-something-else side: the diabetes medication Victoza (generic liguratide) has done wonders for me as an appetite suppressant. It really helps keep me from being a slave to hunger. On this medication I've been able to be successful at losing some weight (25lbs) and maintaining the loss. One possible option is to try this in combination with a diet/behavior modification plan to lose weight. I've been really successful working with a nutritionist and modifying my eating habits. Unfortunately, It's just not producing enough results for me. But the work I've done has given me a lot of confidence that I can handle the rigors of wls. Hope this helps.

So over the last three months I've gained ten kilos back after losing 25 kilos since my banding three years ago. My doctor thinks I had too much fluid in my band so we have been trying to find the right balance for the past month with no success so far. This has been really depressing for me and to make matters worse now I'm pregnant and so terrified of the potential weight gain that it's overtaking my excitement of the baby coming. Can anybody relate to this or have any advice?

Jcool, I actually did the pre-op for 1 month prior to the surgery. I am 5'2" and my starting weight was 265. I was terrified my liver would not shrink enough. Also, once I booked my surgery, I knew if I didn't start the pre-op ASAP I would probably eat myself into more weight gain out of nervousness/anxiety before the surgery. I still had some 'cheat' meals. My last big meal before I started the Clear liquids only was sashimi and I even had some mochi (japanese rice cake dessert). I weighed 148.5 the morning of surgery. I had no complications, so I was really relived. When I did the pre-op diet, I did isogenix. I don't do them anymore, because they are 250 calories per shake, but I followed the isogenix program completely for the month of pre op, 2 shakes a day and one meal with grean veggies and lean Protein. It was easier to follow than I anticipated. The 3 days of clear liquids only I thought I would claw someones eyes out, lol, but it was over fast enough. Now that I am post op, I am drinking a variety of shakes. On this forum, under diet and nutrition, protien shakes, there are some forums about protien shakes and where to buy 'samples' I bought about 100+ different samples, and each day I have 2 different ones. I have a notebook I write down the name of each sample, and make notes about it. When I am done with all the samples, I will go back and review all of my notes and then order the powders I think taste best. I am doing it this way because I have read a lot of people who go and buy tubs of protein powders (which cost 40 to 60 each) and then don't like them. When I was on clear liquids immediately after surgery, I drank Isopure premixed drinks. They are interesting. My best way to describe them is they taste like bitter koolaide at first, and the after taste is like skim milk. They were not gross, they just weren't incredibly good, lol. They were 40 grams of protien each though. The main thing I focused on after surgery was getting my liquids in. I didn't want to get dehydrated, and yes, it was tough being sure I drank 64 oz of liquid a day. You can only sip at first. I am not quite 1 month out now, and can drink fairly normally again, but I certainly can't gulp anything down. Message me anytime with any questions! I am so glad I can be a resource and help! I am excited for you and your daughter!

It's true that it can cause gas pains, especially when you are so fresh post op. however the farther you are out the more it is tolerated. that forant mean its the best choice for you. it was explained to me that it is not so much that it stretches the stomach permanently, it that the carbonation stretches the stomach when it is in there and creates a larger space, which allows you to put more food in it, and ultimately gain weight back, and set yourself up for bad habits again. This is an opportunity to change bad habits that can lead to weight gain again. So it's more a choice you have to make, in my opinion it's self sabotage to even rationalize it.

Needing some inspiration today! I feel horrible, I've gained 5lbs... I've been in physio for the last month as I was in a work accident before my weight loss journey began.. I've been here for a month doing physio 5 days a week and only get to get home on the weekends! They only thing I've noticed besides the weight gain is I have bicep that I've never seen before! I live in a hotel for the week and go home the weekends, I try and eat as healthy as I can I buy a roasted chicken and the bagged salad, I know not the greatest but at least it's better then restaurant food! I also have a smoothie for Breakfast everyday I'm here, 1 cup frozen mixed berries, 100 calorie single serving of Greek yogurt, a scoop of body by vi and a scoop whey Protein powder and water! I indulge in some chocolate everyone and then nothing over the top now, and just recently started drinking tea and hot chocolate for a sweet fix! I don't eat potatoes, Pasta or bread! I do how ever eat long grain rice 2 tbs at the most very rare though! Is Water seriously the issue here? I think I've answered my own question I think I only get about 1800 mls a day and obviously that is not enough! Any advice any help would be appreciated as I don't want this to be it the 250"s my goal is too loses anywhere to 80-110 more pounds! Thanks guys... I go home Friday for good and start slowly back to work as a nurse, agh so stressed????

Haha! I guess you should not worry so much about the scale weight duing TOM. And just realize it is TOm causing weight gain. Good luck.Karen

What you said is very common, It usually takes you to hit rock bottom or something related to medical issues before we decide to take drastic measures to lose weight. I can't say it enough of times "why didn't I do this sooner". I waited to get to this point to finally do something about it. You notice your weight loss not only in numbers, but the way you feel wearing your old clothing, the regained energy and more mobility you have. Those are true results. Yes, for some it takes time for 'other's' to notice or respond. I wouldn't worry about that at all, you would be surprised how often people in general are reluctant to say anything towards a persons weight loss or even weight gain. I know we are our worse enemey when it comes to sabatoging ourselves. Personally, I think you are doing fabulous! Keep up the great work

Hi Im going to have my life changing event in thw morning. I have lost weight. Gain it back fir the past 3yrs. Im ready to lose and keep it off. Im starting at 245. I pray that ill get to 160. With in 6 months.

Do not give up girl! I remember running back and forth to my primary for recommendations and paperwork to give to my surgeon so they can submit it! My primary even made a graph showing my yearly weight gain. Insurances are never easy but you break em sooner or later! Good luck you'll be fine!!!! Let us know your surgery date;)

Oooh! Sorry that you had to have th eband removed, be careful of weight gain! Just my personal waring. I only had a revision in November of k]last eyar. I am just now starting to lose again since my intial weight gain while empty and it has been a battle of my own wits, not surgeon's. He is satisfied, but I am not. I am back to being overweight! Anyway, glad to hear that you are on the mend. It can happen to anyone, but it is not as common as people on this board seem to think. Mine was my 2nd slip, the 1st one was approxiamtely a year and half before, and it was easily fixed by an unfill for a month. I think the 2nd was because I sick and then let myself get dehydrated. People, take care, call your surgeon even if its Sunday, and don't do what I did, i didn't want to disturb him and flet it coudl wait for Monday! Good luck.Karen

these were the rules given to me.... but go on and do what make you happy Lap-Band: Rules To Live By For The Rest Of Your Life Eat 3 small meals per day. Eating 3 meals per day will provide the proper nutrition your body needs. Eating more than this or "grazing throughout the day is unconsciou eating and can lead to excessive calorie intake. Limit portion sizes to 3-4 oz. Portion sizes should reflect the size of your new pouch. Eating more will eventually stretch the size of the puch and lead to an increased calorie consumption and weight gain. Eat slowly - when you are comfortably full... STOP. Eating too fast will cause pain and can lead to overeating or vomiting. No snacking in between meals. Snacking in between meals will only add additional, unnecessary calories. It may also revive bad habits of unhealthy snacking and grazing. Do not drink and eat at the same time. liquids will speed up transport of food through the stomach, decreasing the sense of satiety (feeling of fullness) and giving you the ability to eat more. Drink fluids 30-60 minutes after eating. Consume adequate fluids-sipping at all times. Fluids should always be sipped. Gulping can cause pain and lead to stomach stretching. Drink at least 64 oz. of Fluid every day - in between meals in order to prevent dehydration. Eat well-balanced, nutritious meals - Protein first! Providing yourself with the proper food is important in order to provide your body with the necessary Vitamins and minerals you need to survive. Eating your protein first will ensure that you are meeting your protein needs of at least 60 grams per day. The rest of the meal should be balanced with small amounts of fruits, vegetables, and whole grain carbohydrates. *see the protein guide* Limit high calorie food and drinks. Consuming high-calorie food and drinks such as soda and high-fat foods will only increase your calorie intake, leading to less weight loss and possibly weight gain in the long run.

I have a friend who has been thin her whole life. She is feeling really fat right now weighing 150 at 5'7" - 20-25# higher then her normal. So what shocked me in discussing this with her is that while she has never been obese, when she went through that weight gain, it was a very similiar story to what my everyday life was like pre-sleeve. 1. Start eating junky food 2. Get even hungrier then normal 3. Try like heck to "diet"; always failing and being drawn back to the junky/too much food 4. Feel bad at the failures so repeat cycle endlessly In her case, she gained "only" 20-25 pounds but she told me that over the 6-8 months it was happening she was just out of control. Once she stopped eating low nutrition/empty carb calories, her hunger came back down and she is slowly taking the pounds off. In those of us who became morbidly obese, the swing is bigger, much bigger, and I didn't have the big enough losses to ever get down to a healthy weight so I had that metabolic drive to keep overeating. I guess it was refreshing to find someone that really understands this. All the willpower in the world doesn't work if your body is literally screaming for a certain kind of food and driving you to eat. I think that the reason many WLS patients regain is not because their stomach is too big, but rather they slip back into the behavior that "triggers" a re-occurance of the disease or condition called obesity. Then, once the cycle begins it is like you can't get off the merry - go - round. I am not to maintenance yet, but I have seen this even as my weight loss journey is down to the final amount. I started feeling more hunger... felt a little panicked like "okay, this is it - no more weight loss". i took steps such as resetting back to sleever basics and then amping up exercise intensity and I have lost 10 pounds in November - back on track! I am now back t having to remember to eat as I am just not getting hungry whereas a few months ago I felt like someone who had a big return of hunger. Anyway, I continue to learn from this journey and hoping to pick up bits of understanding to help me stay successful over the long haul - truly my biggest fear is regain after all of this!

I have an Allergan omni form (latest band) 14cc band with 2 fills of 1.5cc each time. The surgeon pre-filled with 1.5cc during band date. So I have 4.5cc in a size 14cc band. My surgeon wants me around 2 pounds a week loss or 8 pounds per month. He really doesn't care about "green zone". He believes long term for a patient to adapt to good eating habits first rather than the band doing most of the work. I'm scheduled for a third fill visit on Dec 11, but I'm close to 8 pounds a month in weight loss. So, I might not get another fill until he sees a possible weight gain. I have a very cautious doctor.