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First.... I know this is the Rants & Raves section. This is why i'm posting it here!!!! Trust that i know i will get flack for this.... I'm confused about how people are gaining weight during the Covid..... Shouldn't people be losing? It would seem to me that with people not having to get up and go to work they would have more time to dedicate to there diet and exercise. People have been complaining for YEARSSSSS that they don't have time to plan their meal and don't have time to exercise. What about now? What's stopping people from either... growing there on veggies or buying them and having more time to food prep. Also, why aren't people taking the time to exercise more.... walking, running, yoga, stretching..... repurposing those milk jugs and filling them with water/sand. Grab those resistance bands and use them or the exercise equipment you are using as a clothes hanger....... I just really don't understand. Not trying to be mean.... i really just don't understand. There is no way i'm the only person that has these questions.

13 months post sleeve, lost 50 pounds gained almost 10 back. Feeling frustrated. Please send me some good vibes and any suggestions Thanks

Dear New and Improved, When you have been a 5’ 2 “ female - who is 64 years old - I and other will take your opinion more seriously. Have you ever had a hysterectomy ? Had to make the choices between adding Synthetic hormones that might help balance Weight gain and loss against a high risk of breast cancer ? Have you given birth to a child ? Or two ? Or had degenerative disease ? Or just been over 50 ? I hope that you remain healthy and never have to deal with medical issues. But growing older is not for the faint of heart. Another good thing about being long lived is the ability to know when to be insulted and when to just be amused. I remain the later

Part of the mental health evaluation of people seeking surgery is whether or not they have a rational and realistic view of what is possible In terms of weight loss with the bariatric surgery. Of course some people lie about that (health care professionals aren’t psychic after all). And the fact is that it is unlikely that people who have WLS will reach their full healthy weight, but will instead lose only a percentage of that (for many, 60%). That’s not my opinion, that is a scientific fact (ask any Bariatric surgeon or expert). When people have expectations that exceed that (and I have seen it many times on WLS boards, patients talking as if they are Joan of Arc determined to defy all odds), But it’s a real problem when people have unrealistic expectations as they can lead to significant disappointment, or depression, and sometimes weight gain. I don’t understand people thinking they’re surgeons are somehow it gets them, or have a low bar for them, or just know less than WLS patients. I have lost 100 pounds and kept it off for six years (and got a leg injury for the effort) and then regained the weight. I hope this surgery will give me a tool to keep it from happening. And if I get anything remotely close to being normal again I’m going take that and be thrilled beyond words.

My initial plan was to have sleeve surgery and see if my fertility boosted but I fear I left this too late. I’m 40 & my gynaecologist is recommending a hysterectomy for long standing adenomyosis and endometriosis. I have to accept this as I can’t tolerate my periods and I can’t stay on menopause injections long term. Weight gain is partially from my hormones. My question is can I have a sleeve first or will I regain after hysterectomy??

I had a sleeve gastrectomy on Monday and had to go through the approval process with Health Alliance. My hospital handled all of the paperwork and there were never any hitches or questions. Then again my hospital has a very good rep, so it may be as much a question of how thorough and diligent the personnel are at your hospital, as opposed to Health Alliance itself. When I first embarked on this journey late last year my doc told me up front that Health Alliance will want to see long-term weight loss during the pre-surgery program and no major weight gain at any point. They never gave me any specific numbers. I was originally scheduled for surgery in April, but of course that had to be canceled due to COVID. When elective surgeries opened back up in June, I did not have to get re-approved; everything was still in place. So no sage words of wisdom, just a singular data point.

I've been on Wellbutrin for a number of years. Didn't need to stop for surgery and still taking. Wellbutrin doesn't usually cause weight gain. I also take Klonopin which worries me that it might interfere with weight loss. But without it, my mood gets unstable. Sent from my SM-T580 using BariatricPal mobile app

I gave up carbonated drinks many years ago because of the gas (terrible hiccups & aggregated my reflux) & the calories. I only drank soda, tonic or mineral water (& wine, gin & scotch 😁). I didn’t miss other carbonated drinks. Now, I only have tonic or soda, which I let flatten a bit, the rare times I have gin. I agree with the studies about artificial sweeteners @s@ssen@ch mentioned. Artificial sweeteners don’t do anything to stop your desire for sweet things because they provide you with the same sweet hit just with much fewer calories. Sugar has addictive qualities as does the caffeine in many carbonated drinks. That’s what you’re likely missing @Heather13 not the Diet Coke itself. For me, this process has been perfect to cut out, reduce or limit my intake of things like sugar, carbs, alcohol, etc. All the things that contributed to my weight gain & inability to lose & maintain loss in the past. You’ll notice for every person that says they can eat or drink something or can or can’t do something after their surgery, you’ll find someone who doesn’t or can’t. Remember, we’re all different & have different experiences on this program. One of the big learnings is discovering what works for you & brings you success. I’ve very much appreciated the suggestions, advice & stories people posted on these threads & through trial & error I’m working out my what helps me & brings me success. Good luck.

Hello, I started my 2 week pre-op diet on Monday.. Weighed myself Sunday night, and was 283. By Tuesday I was down to 278. Yesterday I was 276 and today I'm back to 278.. how the heck did that happen? I'm on two bariatric shakes plus one healthy meal a day. Usually 3oz chicken or steak with brocolli or green beans. I drink a crazy amount of water and I'm using Metamucil like the doctor asked.. What am I doing wrong? Sent from my Z982 using BariatricPal mobile app

Congrats on your surgery and new tool! I agree on waiting on weighing yourself! That water weight gain is serious lol. i have renpho. It connects to my phone via Bluetooth and keeps everything documented for me so I can go back and see what I weighed at week 2, 10 and so on. It also is a body mass analyzer so it tells me how much bone density, body fat and blah blah blah. It keeps track of my BMI as well. I have it set up so when I open the app, it shows me what my current weight is but also how much I’ve lost and how many BMI points I’ve lost. You can also do body measurements and keep track of them on there. I believe it’s called a renpho body smart scale and is on amazon for about $32.

So I first had a banded gastroplasty in 2001. I had to have a revision into a gastric bypass in 2012 because of scar tissue issues. I had lost 197 pounds between the two surgeries. I’m ashamed to admit that I’ve gained 150 pounds of that back. I’m not supposed to be able to eat sugar or high fatty foods due to dumping, but I can do both with no problems. I’m wondering if anybody else can eat anything they want after bypass? I’m so frustrated it sucks.

I weighed myself when I went to bed after being discharged and was up 3 pounds. It dropped right off within another couple of days as all of the fluids that I'd been pumped full of via IV worked through my body. Visiting nurse said between that and edema from inflammation, it is very common to see a momentary weight gain right after surgery.

so, i had m surgery on July 14, and first time i have weighed myself since surgery (same scale) I am up 5 pounds. Since i am tracking my intake and know that i am consuming about 600 calories, i ask....is this normal? Am i just holding surgical/anesthesia/fluid? So odd.

Wow, no-one will ever need weight loss surgery any more! I wish I'd read this post years earlier, it would definitely have fixed my years of struggle with weight gain and loss, and eating disorders. Seriously though, tough love DOES NOT WORK. I'd have thought the fact that we have all needed weight loss surgery is a clue to that. My eating disorder was not something I could out think, fix with a diet or just white knuckle through with willpower. If you made the mental decision and that was all it took, why get surgery???

Also, my experience with steroids for sciatica were pretty significant weight gain. Did any of you experience that?

I was athletic and strong as a teen/young adult and never had issues with weight gain until my 30’s, so I have been struggling with seeing a fat person in the mirror and feeling cheated when I can’t climb stairs or tie my shoes. (I’m still pre-op). I can’t wait til my outside matches my inside!

I had one a few years ago but had weight gain because I had to eat so much for my pregnancy but I am thinking of doing a revision soon! Everything will be great! GO for short walks every day after your surgery twice a day. Helps with gas, pain and healing! dont cheat on the after diet, it will hurt so bad! and take your vitamins and protein ❤️ also always stop eating before your stuffed even after you start being able to eat more

Sooo i need some help! My preop is July 27 surgery date is august 25th. My Bariatric coordinator keeps telling me that if I’m over my original weight my insurance will deny me. She keeps saying Aetna is strict but i don’t have Aetna i have Medicaid but it’s called Aetna better health Maryland. I even called my insurance company and they said weight gain is not something that will deny me that’s not something they look at. Help please!

Being genetically pre-disposed to obesity will make it “harder” for one to lose the weight and eventually maintain, but it doesn’t mean it can’t be done. If you are fully committed to a lifestyle change, I believe it is achievable. You’ll just have to work harder and longer than the person who isn’t pre-disposed. My mother and sister are both obese today. My mom was just overweight when she was in her twenties, but my sister has been overweight to obese since puberty. My father was normal weight up until his 40’s, and then slowly entered into obese territory as well. I was normal weight up until my twenties, like my mom, and got MO by the time I was 40. I had dieted and lost weight a few times (50+ lbs each time), but always managed to gain it back plus a quite a few more within a year. I am now 1 yr, 2 mnths since reaching goal (1 yr, 9 mnths since actual surgery), and I am 17 lbs less than when I decided to stop losing weight. So I think (hope!) that I broke my own personal curse of the 1-year-weight-loss-weight-gain cycle. Based on what I’ve read, I was/am a normal to faster loser (but I lost at the same rate even before surgery). The main difference between now and then (besides my physically smaller stomach, of course) is my attitude. I have done a total 180 in regards to eating habits, exercise, and probably more importantly, in temperament. Could I have done this without the surgery? Maybe. All I know is that I have a ridiculous amount of confidence now that I didn’t before, and this self-belief thing started the day I decided to go through with WLS (I had changed my mind twice about going through with it over a 2-year period). And it only got stronger as time went on. So I get where @Arabesque is coming from about the therapy thing. The mind is a very powerful thing when used to your benefit. So, did I worry that biology would hinder me? No. I just figured I would do what I need to do to get what I want. P.S. I know I am not one of the wls lottery winners. I exercise a crap ton more than others on here who manage to maintain a weight similar to mine without a lick of exercise and who even eat pasta (the horror! Lol.). Luckily I like exercise now vs dreading it (well, except maybe for strengh training, which I still sorta hate, but it’s slowly growing on me...) P.P.S. Sorry this was sooooo long.

I had a 40 lb weight gain over 8 years. 10 years post sleeve. Life happens. too many personal losses and changes.... Back in control now. Lost 37 pounds in the past year. Back to basics. Protein, veggies, fruit , sprinkling of carbs, healthy oils and fats and a daily treat. Also back to the scale twice daily. Morning and Evening. Evening also lets me know if I have had enough water. I dehydrate too easily. And not good with my fluids... I will never be "normal" weight or BMI - but am back to my lowest BMI, and almost lowest sustained weight.

Come to think of it ’m the same!! The last photo of me looking ‘normal’ was the end of Feb was and wearing 33” Jeans. was I don’t know what my weight was before but it must of been around 14-14.5 stone as all my clothes fit (size 33” men’s waist) but now none of my jeans fit and must be about a size 36” waist. Before I never really set to a strict diet, in fact I don’t know how I didn’t put in weight! My housemate is a couple of years younger and eats more than me but he must have a look at higher metabolism as he eats worse and more than Me yet stays around 31”/32” waist and about 12 stone. Does anyone have any ideas as what’s wrong with me and what to do? I read about the pouch reset to shrink the stomach and kick start the metabolism again? Im eating relatively well at the moment also, yesterday breakfast was 3 eggs with 1.5 pieces of sliced toast and butter, some grapes and followed by supper consisting of the follow (rough measurements based off visual inspection of 125g of Halloumi • Grilled Halloumi (125g) • Chop Ham Chunks (100g) • Mixed Salad (Filled base of bowel) • Sweet Chilli Sauce (30ml) The rest the Day I had Tea and nibbles on grapes. Zero exercise apart from walking the dogs (same as before) I never really exercised much apart from the daily dog walk and my weight still hung around 14/14.5 stone. Before the weight gain I would eat loads of rubbish and just slightly less than the average adult at meals but would make up for it in snacks etc. i really don’t know what’s going on It’s like my body just uses all the food as don’t often need to go to the toilet like I used to. Not sure if it’s because I’m eating less post weight gain?!

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

I had sleeve surgery in 2016 and got down to 160 pounds, then lost the last 30 doing keto. I stayed at 130 pounds almost perfect for me for 3 years then all the sudden this covid quarantine has me 23 pounds weight gain in just a few months! I’m eating sweets like crazy and bread and just a complete carb fest I don’t know what has gotten into me but it’s scaring me.

Hello, I’m new here so a little history first; I am currently 33 years old and had my surgery about 11/12 years ago when I was around 21/22 old (@ 23• stone) years when I had my surgery done. I lost a large amount of weight very quickly due to the surgery and was soon at my ‘starting going to the gym weight of 15 stone in around 2 years! That was without even exercising much apart from normal day to day tasks and no change in diet apart from the starting liquid one.,My weight range over the years has varied between 13.5 stone to 15.0 stone due to going to the gym 3/4 times a week for about a year which led to around a stone of muscle. I did however have some problems, the first being a blockage which required a nights in hospital but no surgery thankfully. I also developers a increase in alcohol consumption due to the increased desire for it over the year, maybe 3/4 pings a night I was drinking most days and more at the weekend. Out the blue about 7 years ago I had the sudden onset of Generalised and Social Anxiety. The anxiety would be way worse If I was hangover or after a heavy night out. This developed into vicious circle to a point about 5 years ago where it spiralled out of control and was drinking 6/8+ pints a daily/all day. Thankfully I’m a sell employee property landlord. During this time I had quite multiple periods of longish abstinence (with medication from my GP for help with my anxiety) with the longest one (just over a year) which ended just over a year ago and was drinking heavily (8+ pints) again during July/August/September 2019 but stopped again. In the past when I went on my every/all day alcohol sessions for long periods of time I never put on any weighteven though I was consuming 2000+ extra empty calories plus loads junk food and takeaways. In fact I would sometimes lose weight?! I don’t until now own scales so always ‘weighed’ myself based on how my clothes fit. In late February I started again heavily but this time I started massive weight gain I couldn’t believe it and that alone caused me to quit (with the help of my GP for some Diazepam from my GP for the 1/2 weeks of horrendous anxiety I get when stopping. I am worried about the random weight gain as it’s never happened before in the past with a massive calorie increase due to alcohol (beer/cider). I thought I might have diabetes as I was really thirsty, quite hungry all the time and putting on weight but went to the GP and see did a diabetes, liver ,kidneys, bloods etc and all came back completely fine. It also been a weird weight gain as it’s mainly in my upper body and I also have dry skin, it goes white/dry when I itch myself on most my body. I bought the Withings Body + scales so I can start logging my weight and also body fat % and was surprised to be 16.5 stone! It’s about 2 stone over my idea weight (no gym) and I’ve last that much in 3 months!! Has anyone personally post op noticed a sudden increase in weight randomly? or tied with something else like alcohol? Also any diets to kickstart the weight loss? I have heard of the pouch reset diet, is it any good? Please help, I hardly have any clothes that fit now! Cheers

Hi @1AnnieOkie, have you tried a "reset diet" yet for your sleeve, or focusing on high protein foods? Diet pills like phentermine to curb hunger are likely very off-limits for you if you just had pneumonia. I am hopeful that someone more knowledgeable chimes in with their experience, as I have not had the surgery yet. In the past, steroids caused a lot of water weight gain for me, which I was able to lose after a while. At least you are catching it early, and not letting this get out of hand. Although I don't have VSG experience yet, I would say stay positive right now and don't assume the worst about your metabolism being permanently damaged by the medication. Your body has been through a lot recently, and may need some time to heal. Good luck to you