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I haven't regained much weight since having the VSG in August of 2015, but I can relate to feeling severely depressed and like a major failure. I squandered much of the earlier years of my youth being miserable about my weight, and so self-conscious I became a bit of a hermit. I declined social invitations because I had nothing to wear. I now waste time feeling angry at myself and regretful for having wasting time earlier on, even though I realize how counterproductive that cycle of thinking is. I try to remember that quote about how success is not final, failure is not fatal, it's the courage to continue that counts. Have you discussed this with your surgeon, or even just with your general physician? It might be wise to get some blood work done, including having your hormone levels checked, if you haven't done so recently. It's possible there's an underlying medical condition that is contributing to your cravings and could be treated. I have PCOS and hypothyroidism, but was not on the proper medication for it for a long time. I was taking far too high of a dose of one medication (Spiro) that was causing weight gain. PCOS itself was making me crave carbs. Since starting Metformin I broke a long stall and lost the final amount of weight to reach my goal. It caused unpleasant side effects (nausea, insomnia) at first, but then once I was acclimated to it I no longer had any problems. I also am taking a really low dose of Wellbutrin. I've found that it helps me with depression, as well as helping to curb my appetite a little. A higher dose made me more jittery and caused weight loss, but the lowest dose has still been effective. Maybe something like sugar free popsicles could help you to prevent dehydration when you're having a hard time getting enough water. In my first couple of months post-op plain water would make me nauseous, so I drank a lot of sugar free lemonade and Crystal Light. Peppermint might help to settle your stomach, too. Best wishes!

Hi i have been up and down with my weight loss while during the 6 months weight managment, anyone been denied insurance for this, next Tuesday i have my last visit and then my paper work will be submitted im so nervous i will get denied because of this please advise thanks

Be patient with yourself and the process. We all went through something like this. Your body just had surgery and has to take a break to heal and adjust to the losses experienced. Each of us do this stall at different times and for different lengths of time and for some of us it happens often. But guaranteed your weight will start dropping again soon and if you are following the rules (i.e. enough Protein, sleeping, eating right, exercising and drinking enough water) there is no way you will not lose this weight. Honestly at your stage it will not stop. I had a major stall in the second month for almost 3 months, that included gaining weight. Heck, I just gained back almost 2 pounds in the last couple days. Am I frustrated yes, but I now know it will start up again and to just keep on plugging away. I even raised my excercise level and still gained. It is what it is and your body is doing what it has to handle all the changes. We did not lose this overnight and it is unrealistic to expect it to happen that quickly (I remember being lectured with that same quote and boy did it annoy me at the time lol), so reevaluate your goals and expectations and stop worrying. You are doing awesome, you have lost a lot of weight already and it will come off and you will love the new you, we promise!! Three months out from surgery today and have lost halfway to my goal weight even with all the stalls and weight gains I keep experiencing. OH!! measure yourself everywhere and write it down, then every week check those measurements because those change even when you are not losing weight and it is nice to see that progress as well. best of luck and keep strong it is worth it!!

Hi Everyone, i had my sleeve done approx 3 years ago. I lost soooo much weight very quickly & went from 94kg down to 59kg within about 5 months. My weight stabilised at 62kg & I lived quite happily for the next few years. The only issues I had were significant (I'd say 70%) hair loss which has still not returned and reflux/nausea. If I drink alcohol I get so sick. I start sweating and feel like I'm going to vomit. So I have had to give that up too but it's not a problem. Over the last 6 months I have gained about 12kg. I constantly feel like my stomach is in my throat & keep eating food to push the stomach back down. I even get up at night and eat. I get a bit of reprieve from the symptoms then it happens again so I eat more. I also feel like eating settles my stomach. Water is so hard for me to drink that on days when I force myself to drink nothing but water, I'll be lucky to get a 750ml bottle down. I find diluted juice is okay & for some reason I can drink more of this. I feel like such a failure. The weight gain has made me severely depressed. I don't want to leave the house because no clothes fit me and I feel like a massive failure. Even though I am still 20kglighter than when I had the sleeve, my body image is worse now than it was before. I feel like there is no hope & no use trying anything else. Has anyone experienced similar symptoms?

I agree with Manyloves...some of it could be shrinking feet! Has your shoe size changed? In my thinner days years ago I wore a 5 1/2-6, after pregnancy 6-6 1/2, with weight gain 7 1/2-8 and now back down to 6 1/2-7. It's not bad enough we have to buy all new clothes several times on the way down but we have buy new shoes too! I finally ordered all new appropriate size underwear after my plastic surgery. I had to draw the line somewhere so I wore baggy underwear for a long time.

There are two phases to weight loss surgery - the Weight Loss Phase and the Maintenance phase. Because you had surgery around 3 1/2 years ago you are most likely in the Maintenance phase. This is the approach I used in the Maintenance phase. http://www.breadandbutterscience.com/Surgery2.pdf It is common to have some limited weight gain after gastric bypass surgery. They call it a 20 pound bounce. The important thing is not let go beyond it. According to my nutritionist, meals should consist of equal parts of protein, fats and carbs after the first couple years post-op. Snacks should be limited to primarily whole food options: nuts, natural nut butters, fruits, veggies, boiled eggs, string cheese, yogurt with berries and almonds, tuna pouches. Avoid processed packaged foods as much as possible. Also do not expect to lose weight at a rate similar to right after surgery. Generally if you gained the additional weight over a couple years, then it may take a couple years of watching what you eat to get back down.

I still take one med for high blood pressure, down from three, synthoroid for thyroid and allopornol for gout. When I was at my max weight the testosterone shots did very little and the gel did nothing, the shots are a lot cheaper. When I was at my max weight I was hardly ever interested in sex, I had to work myself up to it for my wife's sake, but usually we had relations every month or two. Now it is more like 3 or 4 times a week, and I could probably go every night if I got to bed early enough and I am approaching 60 years old. As far as food calling me yes I still have cravings but then I remember how I felt then and how I feel now and I can usually pass up the bag of chips and go for some baby carrots instead. Now that's not to say that I don't cheat once in a while it is hard to change years of bad eating habits overnight. My advantage is that I never had a sweet tooth, my problem is carbs and a lot of my weight gain come from drinking, wine and beer are my downfall. I still drink occasionally but usually bourbon on the rocks, no mixers. I went from about 4 or 5 drinks per day since I was 21 to 1 or 2 a week or less. As I said before the band only controls your appetite, it does nothing for cravings, that is where the will power comes in. The other problem is that you can fool the band. If you lube up your food or eat slider food it goes right through. For example I may be able to only eat half of a chicken breast but I could sit down with a bag of chips and dip and eat every bit of it. You really have to want this and it sounds like your do. The motivation is loosing the weight, you feel so much better you can't imagine going back there again, and the band will help you maintain. This device does have it's problems and may not be for everyone but for me it was the best decision I ever made. As far as the ratio of male to female 9 to 1 is probably on the conservative side. Women are more concerned about weight gain than men. Men tend to be like us, they wait until they reach critical mass before doing anything about it. I keep stats for our monthly challenge (the link is at the bottom of the page) and it consists of me and about 30 females. Feel free to add me as a friend and keep in touch. Larry

It's been six months since my sleeve surgery (6-12-12). It's been up and down, but mostly up. I'm incredibly pleased with my 75 lb. weight loss. Yes, 75 lbs! I feel like a completely different person. I have 25 more pounds to my goal of 100 lbs. lost. I not only used the surgery as a tool to eat a considerably less amount of food, but I hired a personal trainer to help me tone and ward off the potential weight gain from old habits that don't seem to go away. Yes, it is almost impossible for me to consume amounts of food like I used to, but its the wrong kinds of foods you must be aware of! If there is anyone on the fence about this surgery, you have every rig to be scared or to wonder if this is right for you. It isn't right for everyone. You can really hurt yourself if you don't listen to your body! It took me awhile to realize the pain in my chest, that was my body telling me I'm full and I need to put down the fork, NOW! At times I would get sick, and you learn. I stay away from most breads and rices because they just aren't worth it to me, and they are carbs, so it is a win/win! I get the occasional criticism, "oh, you cheated," or "it was the easy way out." Look, you go lay in that hospital bed after I woke up from having major surgery, and we'll discuss what was the easy way. It hurts. It's hard. It's also expensive. But it's worth it. I would be 27 with diabetes and high blood pressure, hitting the scale at around 250-260. I think I did what was best for me. Thank you for listening. And to whoever set up this site, thank you. Before and after my surgery, I checked this app daily. It was extremely useful!

Hello Everyone.... I am not new here...I have actually been banded since May 5, 2005. I am struggling and need to get myself back on tract soooo here I am. I actually was very very very close to meeting my goal. Then, I got pregnant. I had my beautiful baby girl in December 2009~ and have not dropped the weight I gained with her. I was diabetic during my pregnancy so I think that sorta contributed to my weight gain...but I also fell off the radar and didnt do much in regard to keep my weight down.. I got all the Fluid removed from my band in the beginning of the pregnancy...and I didnt follow up with my LapBand doctor. I screwed up....ALOT..... BUT I am here now and I am recommiting to do this. I have set certain goals for myself and I am going back on the plan and I hope that within 6 weeks, by March 4th I would like to drop atleast 16 pounds. I am very much considering bypass surgery.....but.... I want to know I have done everything I can do with this LapBand before going through yet another surgery. As it stands right now, I am at 260 pounds, 5 foot 4 inches tall. When I got banded back in 2005 I weighed in at 289...... At my lowest weight during the last almost seven years, I was at 168 pounds~!~!~!~ I am an emotional wreck over this weight loss challange.... I recently also lost my father who was my biggest supporter in getting banded in the first place.....at this point....I am clawing my way back up, or down the weight loss ladder..... and I hope to reconnect with some old friends I made here...along with make some new ones..... Thanks for reading....and I will talk to you soon~!~ Ciao

I wish I could answer your question. I actually have the same question. Depo provera has been the most effective and convenient form of birth control for me over the last 10-12 years. It's also be been a part of my 50 lb weight gain over that period. Of course the larger part of my weight gain was due to my unhealthy eating habits and inactivity. My banding isn't until April 2012, but I would somewhere down the line like to consider going back on it. I know that I have to get my lifestyle (food and activity) under much better control first.

I worked for an gynecologist for a few years, and I learned that Depo is notorious for causing weight gain, the average being about 30 lbs. Most of the doctors in the practice would only consider it for women who had low normal BMIs. I would try to find another option if you can; you don't want to be behind the 8 ball before you're even banded.

I lost 90# and I'm 3 yrs. post op. 6 months ago I was put on an antidepressant [sNRI] and have gained 25# without changing my eating habits. I know weight gain can be a side effect of this class of meds and now am off of them, but still can't lose weight. Anyone have a similar experience and/or any advice? Thanks bunches!

So I decided to drop a friend who literally told me I was "taking the easy way out" if I got this surgery and all the months leading up to it would say I was "pathetic" and "lazy" just threw a slew of disgusting insults my way which made me feel shitty Little back story: I'm 22 and struggled with my weight my whole life (due to PCOS and other medical things) from 13-19 years old I suffered anorexia and got down to 80 something pounds (I was literally on my death bed)so right when I graduated high school for an entire year after I was inpatient in the hospital and recovering from the anorexia when I got out I guess I just couldn't stop gaining weight? (PCOS, hereditary etc)It started triggering me a lot and I would try everything to lose weight! I'm a vegetarian I work with dogs running around all day with them constantly moving very active job so you can imagine my frustration so I decided to go this route and I'm 3 weeks out and 25 pounds down and I'm doing very well this is kinda going all over the place lol sorry to whoever reads this Anywhoooo my "friend" would just put me down constantly and they knew me during my anorexic days they knew me during the recovery days they saw how much I struggled with weight gain and loss and still had the audacity to say if I went through with this procedure I was taking the "easy way out" and they'd "never be able to look at me the same" so a couple days before my surgery I dropped them and I gotta say I don't miss them at all if anything this surgery is HARDER than doing it on your own it's a fucking surgery for fucks sake #1 and #2 there is no going back you gotta learn new ways to eat you gotta take vitamins and minerals you gotta make sure you get a certain amount of protein everyday this is by no means "easy" and it still fuckin annoys me that people have the audacity to say some dumb shit like that Sorry this went like all over the place I'm just annoyed at the moment and I had to vent about it

Well, I'm 3lbs away from hitting my personal goal weight. Firstly, I know it's all about doing what I'm most comfortable with but I've been doing some thinking as the weeks and months flew by. Secondly, I'm just not sure if the stories I've heard about the whole gaining 5 to 20 or so pounds back after said years are even true once you hit your goal weight or let alone just make it to a healthy BMI and stay there. That leaves me asking myself and just wondering.... Once I make it to my goal... (Which I'll give it til next month) should I just stay at my goal and maintain that or just add a 10 or 15 pound gap between my goal just in case... Then maintain? At first I was dead set on just getting to 130 and then stopping there... But if that weight gain thing is true where you'll lose and lose.... Then gain like 15 lbs then just stay there or whatever happens. I'd prefer to be on the lighter side then be 130 rather than 140. I like being in this weight range. Told myself that I was getting myself into the healthy BMI range and I'm staying here. Life is too sweet to make a departure. Lol Hw-273 Sw-226 CW-133 GW-130 Size- 4 or 6, Small in sweats. Small in shirts. depends on how it's cut or made. Bra Size- 36C Surgery Date- April 26th, 2017 RNY "Only those who try will become" FFX

I have a stretched pouch,, and have been UNFILLED FOR 2, GOING ON 3 MONTHS.. I WENT today for a fill and Dr. said I am still stretched, but NOT SLIPPED>..So I am just going to stay unfilled and really watch what I eat so I dont gain any more weight.. I will take some weight gain over ANOTHER SLIPPED BAND, MY COST TO FIX A SLIPPED BAND IS 5000. I am a happy camper today

Hi everyone, I am 2 1/2 years post op and I've gained 35 lbs. I'm getting married in June and instead of losing weight I keep gaining. Has anyone had the same problem? Does anyone know how what stage should do start on so I can shrink my stomach again? Any info would be appreciated.

I had a small glass of wine about a month and a half out. No problems whatsoever. I "Drank Drank" about 3 months out. Multiple Crowns on the rocks at Hunting camp for three straight nights. No physical problems except a small weight gain from the calories and that came right off after a couple of days. I think you'll be fine if you take it easy. Enjoy Vegas and don't get locked on the roof of Caesars Palace!

I had 1cc put in 3 weeks ago, and no restriction. I had a talk with my doctor two weeks ago, and he told me to come in last week for a fill. I decided to keep my appt. and go in today. I am exercising. (see additional thread as I have a question about it) I am dieting. Eating at least 1000 calories a day. 30% carbs, 40% Protein and LESS then 30% fat. (nutrionist wants my Calories UP my Carbs UP and my fat DOWN - so I shoot for that goal every day, which is a choar in it'self) I saw the doctor on May 18th. and today is June 8th - three weeks ago. May 18th - 227 June 8th - 220 I have worked my butt of. I work harder at this everyday then I do anything else. It is a focus and a driving factor of my life. I do not have a problem working this. I have a problem with how freaking consuming it is. AND - I have done this before. This is the pattern of Yo Yo dieting. I am NOT interested in fighting for this like this for much longer. I see burn out and most definetly when I hit a platue. Keeping in mind I do not have restriction - and worry that when I get decent restriction, I will not be able to eat what I eat now to make the numbers my nutrisionist wants to see me get. Now I have only been shooting for the numbers she wants since Saturday - June 3rd. The entire month of May was a loss as far as my weight loss goals are concerned as a I spent the month yo-yo'ing on the scale and fighting to loose, maintain, then loose the 3 to 4 pounds I managed to find back on my behind. Is anyone else fighting for their weight loss like this? This is nutz. Then I spoke with a another patient of my doctors - she said when she was discussing the band vrs RNY with him, he said that more then the majority of his patients he bands come back requesting it be removed and he complete the RNY on them. So she is having RNY. When I spoke with him and made my decision, I wanted the RNY - he pushed me towards the band. I know it was ultimately my decision, but with his advise and information, not to mention his pressure, I went with the band. Now I have regretted it for a very long time. The band is great. Once someone gets restriction. The band is also for someone who over eats. (my husband - who can eat a huge pile of food on his plate, go back for seconds, then clean my plate and the kids plates) He also has a great metabolism and works in a high active position at his job. His weight gain is slow and he is just now in need of doing something about it. The band will do wonders for him. I was a small eater before. I am one now. My metabolism is shot due to this crash I caused. I would like other's opinion, and most importantly, is anyone else having to work this hard as well? Today I will discuss starting the procedure for RNY. I do not think I can take a year or so of this, and then with Ins, have to fight for the surgery like I did the past two years.

Long story short I had surgery in 2005 and was very successful for the first 2 years losing approx 85 lbs. About 3 years out my port was leaking slowly and fills were not working as well, some weight gain with that. I had surgery to change the port I thought this would solve the problem. It did not I have been getting fills every month and gaining approx 3-5 lbs a month. I am now 35lbs or so from my pre surgery weight and the rate I'm going I will be there again in a few months. I am an xray tech and brought in a film of me drinking barium and my doctor said I was too tight and took some out, why then am I gaining weight I asked? I went this last week and the PA refused to fill me prob because I stated I had a hard time with eggs that morning, although I ate a full turkey dinner on Thanksgiving leading me to believe, not tight enough, spontanious tightening I think. The PA then said "WOW I have never seen anyone gain like this, maybe you need to see a pyschologist, HEE HEE! Don't we all. Being totally honest I do not eat perfectly, by my count I am averaging 1000 cal a day, and not as much protien as I should get because it's harder to get down. I would have rather spent the 6 grand on credit card bills. I guess it's back to diet pills, trainers and weight watchers and another billion bucks!! Signed SUPER DISCOURAGED!!! :thumbup:

I had VSG in 2017 with Dr Scott Bovard. I’ve had about a 35-40lb weight gain and I’m wanting to know if anyone has the information on how many sugars, protein and carbs to consume in a day or per meal. Thanks in advance!

So I'm on 3rd week off liquids started pureed like calif lower squash tuna ect nothing high fat ir calories but never mind a stall, why did I go up 3 lbs!! Has this happended to anyone else 1 month post op I'm eating g what's on diet jot cheating

I have been seeing a dietician for a year and a half and through all this she has seen all the struggles I have had and I finally discussed weight loss surgery with her. I had decided years ago off and on to get it, but always thought I could lose it myself. Of course I did but you know how that rolls. Anyhow she was very skeptical at first but she decided to do some studies on it and to my surprise she decided to support me on my decision. This dietician works for the VA whom I am going thru for all this so we decided to get the ball rolling. She clearly has 1 1/2 yrs of records for my weight loss and weight gains. I wanted to learn how to eat healthy and not go on the all or nothing plan. I lost 32lbs which clearly wasn't fast enough for me but then again I was not dieting like I was use to doing and I really learned to live on a healthy plan. I went thru all the rig a moral with the drs, psy, therapists everything I had to do to clear me for surgery. My dietician told me she talked to the bariatric coordinator and she was going to call me. Well she did and everything sounded real good and all I had to do was wait for the hospital surgeons nurse to call and set everything up. Supposedly when it got as far as the hospital it was stopped, and I was told that they wanted 3 more months of record keeping and counselling before she would approve it. When I heard this I was livid, here I was waiting on my surgery date and then I was told a year and a half was not enough. I felt so much anger that I started eating like a crazy woman and gained all the weight back. I am trying so hard to get my head back in the game but I just don't know how and now my dietician and I are really struggling. I told her I cannot trust that if we do this another 3 mos that it will be enough for them. And can't they see how hard I worked to lose 32lbs in a year and a half? If I could have kept it off I would have? Now here I sit with a nontrusting bad attitude and can't wrap my head around the fact that I have to do this again. To me it is very much like losing it and gaining it back yo yo syndrome that I have been through all of my life. I know that I can't let this beat me because I want to get this done, but yet I can't get my frame of mind to do this again. I have waited all my 57yrs to be skinny and it just doesn't seem like it will ever happen. It pretty much destroyed my will to keep trying! So, I need help to get my head back in the game and get back on my eating plan. I know I am mad and distrusting of the VA but I am not doing this for them, I am doing this for me. How do I get myself to do this? any ideas? I just needed to get this out and I couldn't think of a better place than here! So thank you!

Kimberly, Congratulations on losing half of your weight---that's fantastic! The thought of never gaining any back is completely foreign to me but exciting. I, too, have a low-functioning thyroid and have taken medication since I was very young. When I am on the proper dosage, I don't notice any problems, but when the dosage becomes too low, the first thing I notice is either weight gain or lack of weight loss when I am trying hard. And unfortunately, when my medicine is increased, the pounds don't just drop off. However, they do eventually come off, which is the most important part. Thank you for sharing your experiences. Good luck with losing the remainder of your excess weight!

I just had my 4 year anniversary in July. When I had my surgery I was young and it was two weeks after my Dad died. I also went though a divorce within 6 months of having the surgery. I am not making excuses but I can honestly say now that I want in the right mindset for the surgery. I am now 37lbs heavier than my lowest. And I cannot seem to get the weight to come off. I am very discouraged.

If I see another shake I will hurt someone. Just discovered isopure drinks. LOVE them. 40 grams of protein per bottle. Just got a case a GNC. It's a very refreshing drink in the hot and humid weather we are having right now. Finally getting my 60 grams of protein in per day. Yea for me. This has been the emotional turning point for me. I'm exactly one week post op. But struggling with the food craving. Getting alot of quilting done. Can't eat, SEW or walk. Been walking alot also. Finally back done to my preop weight. Boy, that weight gain after surgery really is upsetting even though I knew it was temporary, Just depressing. I weight 25 pounds more post op from all the fluids and air forced into me. Today is looking brighter.