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I think we all have days when we want to shove the food in with both hands. For me, that impulse is SO strong, that I have to give in so I can move on from it. It's mostly about "hand to mouth" time, so I make a bowl of popcorn, sit down & have at it. If that didn't do it, I'll have one of my favorite Protein bars. Usually, though, after a bowl of popcorn, halfway through the Protein Bar I'm already feeling maxed out. So, I give into the intense need to eat, but I choose differently. Prior to surgery it would have been a trip to the market, and back home with a package of Cookies, or ½ gallon of ice cream. I don't believe any of us are ever really cured from this affliction. To have long term success, I believe we need to stop thinking of our new way of eating as some sort of diet; one day we're on, and the next we're off. Every day isn't a popcorn/protein bar day, but when I'm jumping out of my skin with the intense need to eat, I simply....do. I just stay away from things that will cause weight gain, or send me down a road I really don't want to go.

I wouldn't worry too much about the weight gain. Even at 2 months out I'll fluctuate 1-3 pounds either way throughout the week. It's likely water retention and it will level itself out. 500 calories doesn't seem like a lot. My nutritionist advised to focus on proteins first and foremost. On my 2nd follow up appointment later this month they are going to give me a template on calories, carbs, etc. Just stick to the foods you can eat, try to get the 60-80 grams of protein and try to make sure it's quality protein too. You're doing fine. I worry a lot too but it you are doing what your doctor said, you will be ok.

Unless you continue to graze or eat things like pizza, chips, foods with high sugar and fat content, ie. ice-cream, cookies, cakes, chips etc...I don't think you will have a problem and you will continue to lose. Just follow the fundamental concept of protein first then vegetables, then fruits and other stuff and you really won't have trouble with the foods that can cause weight gain...there just won't be enough room for it! You don't have to deprive yourself either. A treat now and again will not sabotage your food plan as your need to maintain health will be a priority so things should balance out. Hope that helps.

A hernia doesn't cause weight gain. Calories do.

OMG you are adorable and you've already done so much for yourself. I see you ran in the Susan G Komen in your area, that is AWESOME!!!! I'm running the 5k here in my area on May 7th... Firstly, welcome to VST Secondly, I am a revised lap band to sleeve person. I can tell you, regaining with the lap band is *extremely* easy once you figure it out. I could eat just as much as I ever could, thereby making my band pretty useless. I initially lost about 55 Lbs with the band, and gained it all back up to within pounds of where I started. That included with needing to go BACK on my HBP tmedications and severe joint pain (couldn't run anymore ) I decided enough was enough and I needed something PERMANENT AND REAL. Not something that I could just think that it's reversible so I chose not to take it as seriously. Besides I never ever found good restriction with it... like I was always chasing that dream that everyone else seemed to get. I felt like a total and complete failure, and thought it was me. It wasn't!!! I know this now because since I've been sleeved the weight is just melting off. I'm off ALL HBP medications and I CAN RUN AGAIN!!!!! :D I'm also the furthest from perfection, and yet I'm still losing really well. I know this will work for you. If you were able to make your band work so well, this is going to blow your mind. Can you imagine having perfect restriction every single day AND NEVER, NOT EVER NEEDING A BLASTED FILL???? Yeah it's as incredible as it sounds. I don't miss my band what so ever. I have it in my hat box at the top of my closet even. It's in a ziploc bag so at least its not collecting dust... lmao!! Once it was out, there was no need for it again. Believe me when I tell you, I now have a restored faith in the WLS world all due to my sleeve. I was skeptical even though I took over a year to finally take the plunge to revision. I wondered, well if I couldn't make my band work, what makes me think I can make this work? It's so easy though, it's working amazingly. Yes, it's not all the sleeve either, it is but a TOOL... but if you do what you're supposed to you are going to lose, and lose fast. I have total faith in it. I also have no more worries on whether I'll make goal. I'm more concerned I'll lose too much!!! Can you imagine??? I set my goal higher in case it takes me awhile to get used to maintenance mode, as I just don't think my body structure was meant to be on the thinner side. I'm also not worried I'll be able to hang on to my weight loss, because since the beginning of the newer smaller and thinner sleeve, the weight gain AND the making it to goal stats are pretty outstanding. Again, I'm no angel, but I'd say on any given month I'm at about a 95%. That alone will keep me losing and maintaining when I get there. Blessings to you, and keep in touch. We all love to support, and there are a lot of us revisioners just waiting to tell the GOOD NEWS!!

A couple thoughts about your post..... 1) if you have fundus deformity then your surgeon did not do your surgery correctly. A properly performed VSG Removes all of the fundus, which, as explained above us the stretchy part of your stomach. 2) sounds lime you were grossly misinformed about WLs and what is actually required for long term success. Any surgery (including bypass) is only one small part of what is required for long term weight loss. It was drilled into me over and over that it's the lifestyle changes we make that play a much more vital role. You can out eat any physical changes created by any surgery. Success is much more psychological than surgical. I'm truly sorry you weren't told the truth when making your decision to have surgery. 3). If you are having severe GERD, then yes, bypass is probably the answer for you. But again, your long term results as far as weightloss goes will be the same as your VSG without the often overlooked psychological tools. I suggest finding a good therapist if you find yourself going back to your old eating habits.....or developing new, just as destructive habits customized to eat around your bypass restriction. I saw this all the time in group. 1)The fundus deformity is a result of stretching my sleeve. I am over two years post op; my surgery was done correctly. All of my previous follow-ups indicated so. 2)I am not misinformed about WLS. 3)I do not need a therapist. I am aware of my role in my weight gain. I hear people say all the time the sleeve does not stretch, when in fact it does.

I think all bandsters go through a period of regret, thinking "Oh my god, I'm starving. I'll never be able to enjoy food again. What have I done to myself?" I know I did. It passes, I promise you. As for the weight gain, it's probably some fluid retention from the IV. My fiance told me I had "pudgy fingers" when I came home from the hospital and I couldn't get my engagement ring on. That went away after a couple days. Don't focus so much on weight loss right now, worry more about healing from the surgery. I was in pain from the gas and had a gigantic bruise from the blood thinners that reduced my mobility for almost a week. Everyone recovers differently, so don't sweat it if you're not up and doing yardwork 4 days post op. You'll feel better in time. Good luck!

Oh, that's SO true. Me too. I was always always always going to become obese. I managed to hold it off for a long time, but having a couple of babies was the final straw for my body, the weight really began to pile on after that. As it was I really DID get banded to prevent future weight gain but this little band would have been a big help to me earlier on. I just dont see it as "so extreme" the way others do. I just cant understand why its OK to have fake tits and cut your face to bits and inject yourself with botulism, all in the name of looking better but a lapband is suddenly EXTREME. There's pills to lower our cholesterol and our blood pressure and its OK to take drugs all your life to prevent health problems related to those, and to start them when you're not already so far gone that the damage is done, but to get a lapband at a BMI of 35 is EXTREME? It does the health prevention job of about six drugs in one drug free solution! One can never be sure, you dont know what's round the corner, but in all probababily getting on top of this problem now will improve the quality of my life for 50 years to come. I'm going to be that marathon running granny! I just think its completely blind not to be able to see the virtue of preventing really serious obesity in the first place.

There’s some research coming out now saying artificial sweeteners actually encourage weight gain. The body tastes sweet but there’s no calories & no ‘sugar’ (glucose/fructose/etc.) which it does need in small amounts. Your body reacts by storing additional calories you consume as fat. That’s the basic explanation. So all those so called diet sofas & other no added sugar foods are actually making you gain weight. If I don’t let the bubbles go out or at least reduce a lot from the tonic in my occasional G&T, my restriction kicks in. Plus I get the hiccups. I drink a large glass of sparkling water everyday but I pour the glass in the morning & let it sit for ages till it’s practically flat. I usually don’t finish it until mid to late afternoon. It’s just a change from plain water which I also drink through out the day.

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

I am going to disagree with the prepared meals suggestions that Jenny Craig and Nutrisystem offer. Those foods are expensive, have a lot of salt, and really would not appeal much to a girl of 12-13. I think she would see that route as a punishment. I think you will find that you're daughter will do much better if she understands what's making her fat. Start by taking your daughter shopping with you and let her do comparison shopping. For example, show how many calories are in one cup of a sugar cereal as compared to something like one cup of Special K or Corn Flakes or Cheerios. Take your daughter to a registered dietician (very different than a nutritionist) to determine her daily nutritional needs (calories, protein, carbs, fats) and to learn what constitutes NORMAL portion sizes. Sample meal plans could be made up by your daughter and the dietician so that your daughter would be assured of eating foods that she enjoys. Spend time teaching your daughter to prepare meals with you. "Oven Fry" foods with a spray of Pam instead of pan frying or deep frying in a lot of oil. Get her to make fresh fruit salad. Take recipes she likes and modify them to make them more healthy but still good tasting such as making a pizza with some diced chicken on it and half the amount of cheese. Weight watchers has teen groups. Call the nearest center in your area and see if you can your daughter can sit in on a meeting for free. They usually allow this. Don't make these changes just for your daughter. Eating healthy should not be just for your daughter or she will see it as a punishment. Toss out all of the crap and get in 100 calorie snack packs, healthy cereals, tasty soups (toss the creamed stuff). Experiment with different veggies and salads. Walden's makes a fat free, sugar free, cal free, carb free line of dressings that taste like they are full of fat. They are in the refrigerator section by the lettuce. Toss some lettuce in a bowl, mix in a can of tuna, a diced apple, a small palm full of raisins and a few tablespoons of diced walnuts. The more you involve your daughter in the purchasing and preparing of healthy foods, the greater the chance that she'll adopt it as a lifestyle. You'll also be doing good for every member of the household. Finally, take your daughter to see an endocrinologist to make sure there are no hormonal issue contributing to her weight gain. Since your daughter hoards food in her room and seems to eat at night, why not take up a hobby with her? Once the homework is done, why not go to the gym, take a ceramics class, learn beading, sewing, etc.? I was a fat child who became a fat teen and adult. You are obviously a very caring and loving mother. Give some of the interventions offered in this thread a try and PLEASE come back often and update us or ask for more help.

i weigh myself before and after going to the bathroom, before and after I eat and dressed and undressed. I've bought more scales that most people own in a lifetime. Sometimes I even take the scale on vacation with me. No scale = eating out of control and big weight gain. This of course will change once I am banded in 8 DAYS. :hail: :funscale:

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????

22 .bs in 18 days??? Remarkable! Can you imagine gaining 22 lbs in 18 days??? Weight loss is waaay faster than weight gain and that's where our focus should be! Great job!

I too have struggled with PCOS and was told that I am darn near infertile. I won't believe it though until I TRY to get preggers. My sister was also diagnosed and told she would not ever conceive but she now has a two year old little boy! MY nephew gives me hope, because according to doctors he should not exist. The weight gain started at about 17 and it came on really fast. I made this decision because my insulin resistance moved into diabetes earlier this year and I want to be healthy and live a long life. As for the cysts, I am used to them. Sure, they hurt but when you are in pain alot of the time, I guess your body's tolerance raises above that level. I hope to live pain free someday and oh yeah have a baby!

I've hap pcos for decades....all the female and related problems, weight gain around the middle, and ultimately type II diabetes....most of the female problems were resolved through surgery or menopause, but the diabetes is now under control with the surgery....I was on 5 meds for diabetes, and am now down to 2. I've lost 31 lbs since surgery 9-21-07...it's probably more, but each doctor I go for my various other problems, shows different numbers on their scales so I don't get too excited about it... Was supposed to get my 1st fill 2 weeks ago but still have some restriction since surgery so we decided to come back in a month, but the surgeon stated that if I'm losing a minimum of 1 lb per week, come back in 2 months...which is what I'm going to do... Good luck with your weight loss program, just remember, we all lose in our own ways, but if we follow the program, we lose !

Hi all, I was diagnosed with PCOS in 1989, and have only taken birth control pills to control the cysts. I tried Glucophage, but it made me very sick so BC it was. I have all the typical symptoms of PCOS, excessive hair, weight gain, little if any menstrual cycles. BCP have really helps but I have steady packed on the pounds. I also have HBP, and was taking two different medications until last week when my blood pressure stabilized and am not not taking anything now. I had LapBand surgery 12/13/07 and am down 15lbs. I am elated. Now if I can just not over do it.

Wow 4 hours of gagging is a lot! I usually gagged for an hour and no more. I agree so much with the dr. I know that it is a fine line and right now I am able to eat more then before, faster and drink if I choose. However I am doing my best to control it! I also understand now that my habits didn't change as much as they should have so I am working on that too. Now that I am more open it is easier to go back to old behaviors,,,I am getting a little more put in in another 3 weeks and this time it will be a little bit at a time,,,I never want to irritate my stomach like I did the last 3 months,,,yes I have also felt the food in my stomach. I actually get a shart pain in my neck when I eat too much,,weird huh? It is scary to see that many of my habits were forced to change when I was so overfilled but that I now have to rely on myself for control a little more although my intake isn't nearly as much as it was pre band. I think this is a good lesson for us all! I am happy to hear that you unfilled as the long2bfree is right,,,dehydration is not a means to lose weight and that Water just comes back and then we feel dread again at "weight gain" I need to drink more fluids anyway;,,,also dehydration is self injurous to say the least. I have done that too! Good luck and thank for that helpful info from the dr. Susan

Hi ladies! My doctor will not perform surgery if there is a weight gain, no matter how slight, during the pre-surgery diet. I am vey scared--I meet with him tomorrow to go over details, but with PCOS, weight gain just seems constant no matter what I do. How has the pre-surgery diet worked for you with PCOS? Was weight loss possible? Any gainers out there? Thanks!

I had a hysterectomy (uterus only) one year ago. Although I still have my ovaries, I think menopause has finally set in. Hot flashes every evening and at night. (Anyone else have a partner who is overly amorous when s/he wakes up and finds you nude and panting in bed? I don't have the heart to tell my husband he's not a rock star.) I am suddenly far less interested in that arena of late too. I am only 42, so I am hoping for a few more years before my hormones go completely out of whack, because I have heard that menopause does cause weight gain. Good luck!

Thank you for this post. I am nearly 3 years post-op and have experienced weight gain (just posted myself about it!) and didn't really consider the menopause aspect. Funny enough, it turned out one of my last regular periods was the day of my sleeve surgery. I was told to expect irregular periods post-op, so I didn't really think much of it until I was over two years out and had only had a handful of periods. I haven't had the blood tests to confirm it, but I'm guessing that I am well into it at this point. I have noticed that the weight gain has not been in the areas that have histocially been my problem areas--thighs and butt. I have always been an hourglass, but the new weight seems to be all in the belly and love handles, never something I had before. Thank you nature!

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

Went from a 36DD pre weight gain to 44F at my heaviest and now a 34C and still shrinking 😭. All that’s left is pretty much sagged skin with very little breast tissue. I’m only 5’1 and small framed so I’m not looking for breast implants but a lift is in my future once I hit goal. 🤦🏽‍♀️

She wrote an article for Glamour. She definitely had bypass, not the band. But she had heart surgery in 2010 and her weight gain has been since that surgery. Maybe she's on steroids or other meds affecting her weight regain.

Hi guys! SO HAPPY to hear that all of you are doing so well! Keep the posts coming - including the good, bad, and the ugly - let's be in this together! My surgery is one month away. I'm anxious and excited to get it done, but the extra time is giving me more time to get prepared. I've been having some serious freak outs lately. The most recent and probably biggest freak out came after hearing about two people who gained most, if not all, of their weight back after surgery. This scared the you know what out of me. You know why these stories are so scary for us.. Because we've already failed every single other time we've tried to lose weight. Gaining back at least some of the weight is a realistic fear. So I've been thinking about it a lot. Here's what I've realized. I will, for certain, lose weight and keep it off for at least a few years because I'm committed to working hard and making this surgery work for me. If I gain some of it back over the years, let's say 50% of it over 5-8 years, I will still be much lighter than I currently am. Also, without the surgery, I would probably be gaining over the next few years rather than losing, so by having the surgery, I believe that even if the worst happens and I end up gaining, I will still be less than I would have been - hopefully by a significant amount. I just had to work through all of this. Of course my commitment is to a life change, but I'm dealing with a 40 year old addiction and that still scares me. After the freak out subsided, I once again realized how grateful I am for this opportunity. This is going to help me change my life in such a positive and significant way. I know I will do the hard work because that's what I do - now, though, I will have a super tool to help support me with my efforts.