Search the Community

I have never counted calories since having the surgery, however I do watch my carbs. I understand not wanting to be "on a diet". You can look at this a couple of ways. You had this surgery so you could loose weight and so if you want to take advantage of the honeymoon period, then that is the time to focus on what foods will make the most of that timeframe. The sleeve is a tool, and its up to us to decide how to use that tool. I don't get the impression you want to just eat "anything", but at the same time, you will want to pay attention to the foods you are eating that slow or halt your weight loss or worst case cause weight gain. I'm sure you realize that you can gain weight even with having this surgery by eating foods high in sugar and bad carbs. So, to your comment about not wanting to be on a "diet", perhaps you want to look at this as a lifestyle change. Your sleeve will help keep you in check, but as you get further out you will be able to tolerate more foods and in some cases eat more. By that time, you want to have figured out what you need to be eating to sustain the goals you have set for yourself. It doesn't mean not allowing yourself little treats in moderation, but again, watching to see how that affects you during your weight loss journey and factor that in with where you want to be. We are human, we can't be perfect all the time. I don't deny myself something if I find myself just absolutely craving it, but then I know I am going to need to do some exercise to counter it- depending on what it was. So, maybe not looking at this as a diet, but as a lifestyle change.

5'7'' surgery date 12-12-11 HW: 265 GWfS: 250 DoS: 238.1 CW: 186.8 GW:150 Today is 3-19-2012, I am starting a new work out regimen so that I can prepare myself for TOUGH MUDDER! I am really excited about this journey and because I want to do everything in my power to succeed I went and got myself a personal trainer! Now this is only for 3 months, so Im making a short term goal! MY GOAL IS TO HIT MY GOAL WEIGHT BY THE END OF JUNE! I think its very doable. Now in all reality I don't care if I really hit goal because I will be doing a lot of strength training which undoubtedly will build muscle which mean possible weight gain or just lack of loss.. as you can see by the fact that I have only lost half a lb since my last weigh-in.. But im not discouraged because even tho im not losing weight i am toning up and losin inches... thats all that really matters.. Hopefully I will have great news come next week about my training.. but until then i leave you with pictures...lol

hi Shadow well I have been banded since July of 09 and haven't lost much weight at all. I have never felt restriction and have recently hit rock bottom. So there I was looking up at my horse So me and Bandie decided to get back on track I began to exercise like crazy, drink plenty of water and make careful desicions. And then it happened my kids were driving me nuts and I woke up the next morning with my stomach in knots. Was this restriction I thought. I couldn't eat a thing and when I drank I felt nauseous. I called my doc who told me to come in for an unfill. It was a week to the day that I had my 5th fill. And sudennly after my unfill things began to kinda feel right I started to feel something and get an overall attitude that wasn't there before. Was this what I needed maybe an unfill can solve my weight gain maybe staying connected to my bandsters thru fb is a very important part of my journey. I wont be the same girl I was last yr. because somehow this unfill has given me a different feeling and a whole new attitude!

I'm curious about something. I've been consistently losing on average about 1-2 per week since banded 1/17. I started back on my NuvaRing 2 weeks ago and have not lost a single pound since (not gained either). coincidence or what? I've not been eating any more and doing about the same amount of exercise. I know BC has its weight gain issues but I was thinking ok! I'm banded and exercising this shouldn't be a problem. I get my second fill on Friday.. I have to decide to continue with the ring by Monday.. (it's not for preventing pregnancy its for cycle control..it has always been a beast lol) I'm wondering what's worth more to me?? taming the beast or losing weight consistently, I hope this wasn't TMI for everyone! What would y'all do?

I am 3 1/2 months post op & had my 3rd fill this past week. I also had the "pleasure" of getting weighed (bleh). I seemed to have hit a plateau, no weight gain tho & only 1/2 lb loss in over a month. So, reviewing what has been going on & fearing the worse--that this surgery was in vain--I came up with this: 1) I stopped working out almost all of February 2) I was eating cheese (yay! a protein!) w/crackers (duh a carb) 3) Since I dont drink tea, coffee, crystal lite etc---I added fruit juice (hello sugars!) 4) Come on! a few pieces of chocolate arent that bad! right??? So after the weigh in, there was a class in the Dr's office. And I do believe the nurse was speaking directly to me!! The reminders of sticking to the diet, exercising etc. But what really hit home--she said to go back to the beginning & just do the 2 shakes a day & the protein. Soooooo.....I weighed myself today---down 3 lbs!!! Sometimes its the simplest, easy things you need to do. Keep it simple! Exercise & the diet plan--it really does work! I feel better than I have felt in a long time---I think also giving up diet coke made a huge difference in my stomach problems. Kinda funny how when I use whitening strips now, my teeth are getting whiter!! You just dont realize all that stuff you're putting in your body till you give it up & see a difference. I also believe Im having a mid life crisis---wanting to do all the things I felt self conscious of doing or couldnt because of my weight. So I made up list & a have so much going on & so much planned!! And a shout out to Groupon for some of the things I would never have found or thought to do! 2012 is awesome so far!!

Hi ladies! I quit smoking 3 weeks ago today (Woohoo!) However I've had a 6.2lb weight gain since then. It's not just water because this is the part of the month where i usually lose and next week starts that 4lb gain I am eating more but I think it's mostly my metabolism slowing down. It's really freaking me out. Anyone else quit smoking and how much bounce back did you see?

Ur weight gain at surgery is from the air pumped in ur stomach...it will go away over time--walking helps..I was like 10-15 lbs higher day I came home and it takes a week or two for the all the air to leave ur body..I still feel some air come up when I drink and I'm 6 wks post op tomorrow

waiting..... if you do that's ok too, just remember that you will probably have a weight gain with the surgery and all the fluids they give us. As long as you keep going and stay focussed and positive you'll do great~ Good luck~ Deb

Wow! The weather here is awesome! Trying to do some spring cleaning these last two days. That's one thing I've noticed with all the weight gain--- even little things like cleaning the house just wear me out! I wanna have the energy I used to have--- before I became so heavy! On the weight loss front, I finally bought a scale--- something I was not anxious to do! Also, trying harder to keep track of my eating in journal form--- this is one requirement of my insurance company before I can be approved. I'm supposed to do this for three months. I'm so anxious to get things moving along but in retrospect it has already been one month down for the journaling! I'm so hoping to get approval and surgery date for the end of May or first of June-- I'm a teacher and that would fit my schedule perfectly! Oh well, we shall see! Off to do more cleaning and laundry. Have a great rest of the day!

4 days post op. And yes grumbling is loud.. scared the crap out of my dog. Chest pains aka gas pains I'm managing with gas x strips. Haven't experienced weight gain. Actually weight loss I'm down 9 pounds as of this morning. But since I've only been on liquids since Monday I'm not surprised. Hopes are every day will be alittle bit better. It really is hard right now. But keep trying to tell myself in the end it will be sooo worth it. Especially helps talking to those going through the same thing.

I had planned to eat reasonable portions of pizza and french fries, and one Reese's peanut butter egg. However, my surgeon's NP told us at our small group meeting on Wednesday that we were supposed to start our pre-op diet that very day. She reminded us that she had that day's weight recorded. She warned us not to gain any weight by saying our surgeon had already postponed three surgeries this week due to weight gain. Now I am too afraid of losing control and getting off-track. It's happened to me before, and I don't want to take a chance.

NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! Don't do it girl. You're off the junk, stay off. Aside from the differing opinions of various surgeons-some say it will stretch your sleeve slowly over time (like mine) and some say it doesn't at all. ( I am NOT going to take that chance under any circumstances!)- aside from that- That crap is no earthly good for you. The phosphorus acid will rot your guts and the sweeteners still contribute to weight gain like real sugar. It's just not a nutritionally sound decision. Try to replace that craving with something else. I don't know what, but my opinion is don't do it!! (not that I feel strongly about it or anything

One of my very best friends for a long time was very similar height and weight wise to you, except he was a bit taller and probably a bit heavier. I can say I think it varied from intimidation to fear. We even discussed it at times and he said it was mostly his weight. He never had the issues with intimidation or fear or avoidance before the weight gain as much as he did after the weight. I know another guy about the same in size who is white and I used to hear generally the same complaints – so I think it is more a weight thing. Your sleeve date is coming up soon and I bet you are excited! Good for you. You already seem to be a bit of a heavy thinker (OMG no pun intended!). It is good that you have these thoughts and I bet you are the type that will have these and more several times a day, every day. Keep a journal, there is no ideal formula, just keep it. Maybe keep up with a counselor or stay with or find an in-person support group. I have a lot of things I find myself thinking and doing that fall out of the area of what I thought I would think, or what I might think. I also notice I do not react the same to everything the same as I have during my previous weight losses. I can also “see” my shift in a lot of thinking, which is reassuring that my counseling and talking it through is working. Judging others – I am guilty. Not when I just see someone, however. It is when I see them eat. I am trying and I feel so very sinful when I judge like that. When I see someone just eating the foulest fried foods and such (I have not ate in a fast food restaurant more than 4 times in 10 years, and the last time I was sooo ill) I get so nauseated. I actually feel physically ill! There are also thoughts of wanting to talk to them. I have started very discretely watching obese people eat and sometimes I let my mind do what it wants – and I journal at the same time…I write, draw, tear apart a magazine and make a collage (no kidding)…orgami, whatever…I then go back and review it and I have often found I think I am working through my feelings of hopelessness I was beginning to feel before (and during) this last weight loss and decision to be sleeved. It complex to say the least, however.

I second everything that was said...and, I can't wait to buy something sexy to wear for my husband. He is my rock. And has loved me and called me beautiful regardless of what size I was...he is my hero. I also can't wait to look great in our family photos. We haven't ever done any with all of us. Because of my weight gain I didn't want to be in them. So much to look forward to!

In 2004 I had the lapband done and suffered with it for 7 years before I had it removed.I lost weight gained weight,found with therapy what I thought was normal...lost that again and regained it all back. After having the band out in 2011 it took a while to get brave enough to do the sleeve.With the bad experience I had with the band I never really thought I would actually do the sleeve. The thing was that diet and not dieting took up all my mental energy for way too long.I have been thoroughly stuck for the past few years.It was just time to get unstuck and the sleeve seemed to be the only to do it. The surgery was done on the 13th of March and today is the 17th,day 3 after surgery. Today I have been drinking tea with milk,chicken broth,consomme,yakult light and hot water.It all goes down great.The only thing I cannot drink is any kind of juice.It falls hard into my stomache and I realized that it makes acid as my chest tightens and I struggle for a while to get it to open every time I had some.I must confess the yakult (drinking yogurt) did the same just now...maybe I will just give this a pass for another day or two. The only Thing I am not sure about today is the headache that keeps coming back every 6 hours.I am drinking enough,have slept enough not done too much today....just not sure why Im getting this terrible headache. O,one more thing.Every time the dr stops my blood pressure meds before surgery I come out of the hospital at least 5kg's heavier...10 pounds...(the tablet have a very powerful diuretic in it) And this time is no different.My weight is not even back to what it was before surgery so I have to be patient and wait until I can start drinking it again,which seems to be a week after surgery. This sleeve is really going to be a prosess of changing my habits and make me more patient...as I have decided to learn to go with the flow and to not sweat the small stuff so much anymore. Cant wait to see what the next few days bring. xxo

Also, remember muscle weighs more than fat for it's size. I have noticed that intense exercise sessions are normally followed by a weight gain. That's where the tape measure trumps the scale. Muscle takes up less space than fat. You could very well be gaining weight and losing fat at the same time. Some pro bodybuilders are pushing 300 pounds with 10% or less body fat.

Hi Ladies: I am the mother of a soon-to-be 2yr old & my husband and I have decided that we dont even want to discuss having another child within the next 5 yrs. So, I NEED some type of birth control. I had NuvaRing & ortho tri cyclen & believe they contributed to my weight gain. With all the recalls, the horrors of regaining the weight looming, and the possible side effects of an IUD, what's a girl to do?? What are some of you doing or using for birth control? Thank you in advance.

Yeah I can understand the weight gain. I gained about 4-5 lbs from the iv fluids. Hoping to get those off once I start getting my protein and daily fluid up. I wouldn't worry about it this early.

I was told to write it all down and it would make me feel better...Well here it goes! All my life I was up and down in my weight but never considered myself to be obest..weighting in at about 150lbs my highschool year. Right out of highschool I was pregnant with my daughter and weighed near close to 225lbs. After delivery 199 seemed to be where I was at. I should have been more concerned as my weight started to go from 199 to 215 to 225 while trying every weightloss gimic out there.... 7 years into my weight gain..I had the biggest weightloss imaginable..lol I lost a 250lb husband (divorce) and about 30 lbs of my own. Funny cuz even at 199..or even 189 (Smallest Ive been since giving birth) I always had a gut I could just hide it better then, than I can now ..lol however I was in a size 8 (I'm 5'9 BTW) some may have even said I was too thin..of course I didn't think so..How did I loose that much weight and keep it off you ask? Strees Stress and more stress...Getting back into the relationship scene, I slowly started to get alittle too comfortable with myself and the weight (after 2 years of keeping it off) started to find itself back to me whether I wanted it too or not! age 36, 242 LBS..it could be worse right? I mean at least I wasn't 250 LBS..well just give me another 1/2 year Id get there... I decided to look into the lap band when I stepped in the scale and weighed in at 253 LBS..High closterol, High Blood Pressure, bad knees, bad back...I was convinced this was the only way to go. Found a clinic in my home town and Feb 1 2010, I went for a consultation. Did my psych test and nutrictional evals over the phone and March 26, 2010 went in for Surgery..**** I didn't even meet the Dr untill the day of... It's been 2 years this month..I feel like it was just yesterday and I'm still learning and struggling..Lol I can't speak for others but in my opionion "this was a get thin quick"..or so I thought..I rememeber I use to tell my adjustment guy that I refuse to beleive that all those people on the commercials did EXACTLY what they were supose to do when they were supose to do it! How do you automaticlly just get UNLAZY? They say the band is a tool, to help you with the eating..you eat you full faster..you stop eating...well mines broke!..lol I know I need to do the things I am supose to I just think that my Dr forgot to fill my band with Motivation!...I am hopeing to find some sort of inspiration joining this group. My day starts off with a cup ( or I should say Coffee Mug of coffee) breakfast? How am I supose to eat breakfast and drink coffee at the same time..I need my coffee so breakfast doen't exsist ( I know I know mistake). Computer, housecleaning, laundry, occasion trip to the store..continues my day By about 1 am decided that I should prolly eat something althougth I am not hungry..Really? I'm not hungry? tell that to my mouth! I eat so fast that I'm throwing up what looks to me like a ball of slim! Research... your body produces saliva to help break down your food the more you eat the more salvia builds up and has no where to go cuz your stomach is smaller so out it goes... Slow down? How do I do that? I have always eating this way... By dinner and soon there after I am looking for anything and everything that I am able to eat..to eat..and I say able to eat cuz we all know there are things that just don't mesh well with us anymore..some pasta, bread, bananas, grapes, But low and behold! I have NO PROBLEMS keeping cookies and Ice cream..anything sweet ( my weekness).. My adjustment guy explains to me that most things sweet disolve in you mouth there for there are no restrictions!.. Great who knew? besides my Dr!. My current weight post surgery is 205...2 years and only 52 lbs lost...(Yes I know thats off alittle, cuz i gained a few) I just resently went to see my Dr for the 2nd UNadjustment in the past 8 months...For a few months now Ive been having alot of heartburn..after the first scare (I got sick with fever, dehydration ) I was better for a few months and all the symptoms started up again only this time I was spitting up what looked to me to be coffee grounds, Dr says it's blood! Great! Now what? the blood could be 1 of a few things, bleeding ulcer..or stomach erosion.. After having me drink water and feeling pressure build up he rules out Erosion...Good for me no Surgery!!! But now what. Back on the bland diet and food diary (ugh) no NSAI's (bad back, knees mentioned before) and come back in a month! I ask again "What did I get myself into!...needless to say I'm not gonna give up...I'm gonna figure out a way to get thru this all without the strees and headach of when and what did I eat and how long did it take me to eat and how much protein have I had today!!! And hopefully reading other peoples experainces with help me make sence of this all! I beat myself up because I know I need to take control!! It just hard..I have no paying job (I am a stay at home Mom) which means no insurance so I can't afford for these issues to get any bigger... Any suggestions? Diet wise, excersises for the Lazy...Good and inexpensive protein powders...horror stories so I don't feel alone!..lol

Well muscle gain will certainly count towards SOME of it the simple fact is that you can't be losing fat and gaining muscle pound for pound by simply walking. It takes a LOT of work to gain a pound of muscle, more than simply waling can do. It's a mystery some times. The body simply CANNOT break the laws of physics and SHOULD lose weight with low calories IN and high caloric burn OUT. But as many of us have experienced it just ain't so sometimes. Water weight gain, waste retention, sneaky calories you aren't counting, hormonal changes all effect us. What it is exactly is hard to tell. Keep sticking with it, it'll start to come off again.

I received the instruction email today from my surgeon and time of surgery. 6pm! April 2. Wow! 6pm! surgeon will be exhausted by then! I will be staying overnight for sure, I assume. He wants me on a high protein ZERO starch for the next 3 wks with lots of fruits and veggies. He's just asking for no weight gain between now and then. Fortunately, I have lost some. One week before surgery drop red meat, lettuce and leafy veggies. One day before surgery go on a full liquid diet. I can do this....getting excited ladies. Getting that email makes it seem really real......

Congrats on your surgery and the baby. Myou did great with 100 down within 7months I wish. Sometimes I wish I had the other surgery because maybe I would have hit 100 mark or further. But I had my surgery jan. 2010, beame pregnant 6 month after had no clue, diagnosed with PCOS in 2005. I miscarriages that baby and another in dec. 2011, and now I'm pregnant again, 3 months. I am so worried about my weight gain because it is a coming, literally. Since finding out this time I have gained bout 7-10 pounds. I jus started walking with the advice of my doctor, I am trying not to gain no more than 15 more, I would cry. My blood pressure issues came back over the summer and it feels like its happening all over again, weight, medical issues. I Am excited about my baby never thought I would have any but here we are, yayyyyy!! Biggest concern is weight gain, how have you been doing with your weight gain? Signed scared and worried ladyl99

I received my pre-op diet today and was completely shocked when the NP said we were to start it today. I had anticipated two weeks before surgery since that's what the handout said. She first provided us with a very detailed 7-day diet that told us exactly what we are to eat at each meal. However, she went on to say that they want us to limit our calorie intake to 1400 per day and that we could choose from a number of options such as meal substitution (Slim-Fast), established programs (Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, TOPS), diet books (Atkins, South Beach), or counting calories. I am to pick the option that is best for me. Easy decision for me---counting calories. The handout we received today states, "Two of the places excess fat can occur are in the liver and in the abdominal cavity. Having fat there makes surgery more difficult." I kept that in mind as I pushed my cart past the Reese's Peanut Butter eggs while shopping at Wal-mart this evening. (I had originally planned to buy one as a final treat before the two-week diet started.) Before dismissing our group, she warned us to not gain weight and to emphasize her point, she told us our surgeon had already postponed three surgeries this week due to weight gain. That fact will hopefully help me stay on the straight and narrow path for the next few weeks.