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Ugh, a lesson learned the hard way! I LOVE to cook, especially the holiday dinners. I'm a pretty rockin' cook, hence all the weight gain after married life began and I had to learn to cook!! So since surgery was just last Monday, we decided to order all of our Thanksgiving dinner from Honey Baked Ham Co. My poor husband is very much a country boy and looks forward every year to my cornbread dressing and cranberry sauce. I also had to make deviled eggs. No big deal. I can throw those together in an hour. I don't know if it a southern thing, but I don't use recipes. I taste everything step by step to make sure it is awesome. Did the deviled eggs and took just baby samples to make sure I was on track. Thought I did pretty good and was proud of myself until I was done with that and went on to my dressing. I was/am so miserably full that I can hardly breathe. I am miserable. Stupid deviled eggs. I still had to taste the dressing in the meantime. I put a baby bite in my mouth knowing that I was going to spit it out and my mom rounded the corner and saw me tasting after I had already told her that I was a complete idiot and she yells "just spit it out!". Poor thing, she is so worried about me, but I had learned my lesson and told her that she was reading my mind and I was definitely spitting it out. So, I will continue to cook and cook well, but I will never swallow that food again! Sorry for the long post. Needed someone to vent to!!!!

wow...12 months. That is amazing. I can understand why you would do that. It is stressful and I should eliminate as much stress as I can because stress leads to weight gain! I think I just obsess about the numbers. I guess I just want to know that going through all of this wasn't for nothing. If you didn't weigh yourself weekly, then how did you figure out how many carbs, protein, calories etc. you needed for your optimal weight loss? If you have any advice, then please share. Calories during the first month? protein? carbs? Thanks in advance.

You've obviously already done a great job Ginger and I think you have a great plan for moving forward into the maintenance stage. I really believe that gradual calorie increases followed by monitoring your body's response in terms of weight gain or loss is the way to go. BMI is a less than ideal measure of healthy weight, especially for those with a higher than average amount of muscle mass. I think your plan to get the body fat analysis is a terrific idea. I've never had one but would be very interested in your experience and what you learn from it. The rapid weight loss part of the journey was incredibly exciting and rewarding. But the maintenance stage was, for me, where the real fun began. It's one thing to prove to yourself that you can lose weight. It's quite another to discover that you really have made the all important lifestyle changes. That you can eat quite a "normal" diet and still maintain your weight. That you can manage your weight instead of it managing you. That you really, truly, absolutely are in control and lovin' the new you!!

@@moorecr I understand the struggle, weight gain can happen to any of us. You might try a counselor to deal with the emotional eating and stress.. You are in the right place for support. Find your motivation of why you had surgery to get yourself and your head back in the game. Here are a few topics in bariatric pal that may help. You can use SEARCH box at the top right side of bariatric pal. This will help narrow down what you are interested in. Also helps from posting repeat topics. Emotional, Mental, and Spiritual Health and Wellness http://www.bariatricpal.com/forum/1253-emotional-mental-and-spiritual-health-and-wellness/ Accountability group. http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/329299-accountability-group/page-103?hl=%2Baccountability+%2Bgroup#entry4146871

melis there is a thread on the board called Pregnancy with gastric sleeve i'm sure there is a lot of good info that will help you sounds like your new bundle was a little bit of a surprise but i can tell are looking forward to having a cutie you've lost 78 lbs!!!! terrific!!!! you "maybe/probably" won't/shouldn't lose weight through these next months of being preggo you'll be eating, giving your "newbie" good nurishment try not to gain too much - but some weight gain i think is inevidable good luck kathy congrats

You'll need to do some research on the different methods though. See which is good for you. Although I don't and can't see weight gain as a side effect after having wls (can't eat much!!-unless you eat the wrong foods). But I'm different, lol, I would encourage you to save yourself too if you can. No worries about pregnancy for sure. Just be safe hon.

Well like I mention on my first post. I have fail so many diets, so why not fail this one. I started out at 229. Gotten down to 206. I was very excited and started treating my self to treats. Like my friend julie.ann says we use food as a way to reward us and that is so true. So I just rewarded myself back to 212. Thanks a lot Sarah!! (I talk to myself a lot) :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: Also I have a problem with being consistant. That's with cleaning, working out, everything in life. Being consistant is boring. But I have to get better with it if I want to suceed. :tongue::eek::Dancing_wub: I started back working out at least three times a week. I walk twice a day at work for 15 minutes. I do my slim n 6 dvd at home. My goal is to work out 5 times a week and to lose at least 1 to 2 lbs a week. Rollercoaster ride is over!!

So this is where Im at. I am 18 days post op. I habe a picc line for nutrition-I wasnt getting enought through liquids and dr. Didnt want to advance me to next stage due to stomache inflammation. No leaks ct was good.So since Ive been on nutrition (4days) Ive gained 6lbs. Does anyone know if this is normal??

If you are unhappy with your doctor, find another that you like. You are not going to want to go see your doctor if you don't like him, no matter how good of a doctor he is. I had a problem with my surgeon as well and I just recently found a new one that I LOVE. He is awesome and SO encouraging. Don't be afraid to go back in if you've gained back weight. That's what your doctor is there for, to assist you in the process after your surgery. Trust me, he's seen it before, and probably much more than a 30 lb weight gain, so don't worry about how he's going to react. You have it in you to do it, and it seems like you're on the right track by wanting to make it work and get this fixed. Just stick with it. You can always come here for support if you need it :-)

I had my sleeve done 07/07/2015. I am 9 lbs heavier today, 07/08/2015, than when I was weighed immediately b4 surgery...... is this normal?!??!

I gotta say, steping on the scales could be, in my opinion, the worst thing we do to oueselves. I had an eating disorder when I was younger. Weighed my self no LESS than twenty times a day. It was terrible. I'd be at a friends house and would go into their bathroom and would strip down and jump on a scale. I'm serious. How messed up is that? LOL. And the second the scale would go up a quarter pond i'd be in the gym sweating like a nut. Eating a half a bagel a day. That was around twenty years ago, and thank God I got over that or I'd be dead by now. So when I decided to go for this surgery one of my fears was that I would fall back into that very very bad routine. Thankfully, I haven't. Think of the other things that are going on. How well your clothes are fitting. Focus on the positives. How nice it will be to buy new clothes because you must. And my personal favorite, getting rid of old clothes cause they will NEVER fit again, God willing and my trying =) . The weight gain is probably all water. I explained to my wife once, a professional hockey goalie will lose about ten pounds during the course of one game. A pro athlete. All water weight. So if you think about it, five pounds of water weight is nothing for us. Stick with it. Dont give up hope. You are doing great!!!!!!

Hi all I am due to have my surgery on April 20th. I have been working out for some time now and am really worried about how long I have to wait before I can get back to the gym. I run, swim, work with a trainer for building muscle, and another trainer for boxing...though just started the boxing. Pre-weight gain I was very athletic an my body seems to be "remembering." I'm building muscle fast and slowly watching my running endurance improve. I work out 5-6 days a week and am really REALLY scared about losing everything I've worked to build up to now. I have a LONG way to go and I'd rather not backslide. NOT having the surgery is not an option for me either. I'm DONE fighting this weight all on my own. I've been trying for years. I have a few questions.... During the liquids only phase... do you even HAVE enough energy to work out if you're allowed? I average 1.5 to 2 hours working out and really push it on the weight training. I'm wondering how long I'll have to wait. Is anyone else out there into weight training? Boxing? I've been looking over some posts and I'm really getting frightened by some of the "bad experiences" I've been reading about! Any advice, suggestions, etc... would greatly be appreciated. thank you Renee

Diovan HCT 320/25 mg It's bp and waterpill all in one It really does help with the bp and doesn't give me the cough or massively swelled ankles. None of the other bp meds I tried helped. I was still at stroke levels. I'm sure it's only a small part in the recent weight gain.

Hi, Im from Australia. Date to be banded is 17th November. I cant wait as I feel this will change my life in a fantastic way. I cant wait to feel normal in society as a low weight person. Im going to splurge on clothes like a kid in a lolly shop! I am a low BMI (33) but have been accepted due to my extensive battles with weight loss for over 25 years (I am 35 years old). The band will nip my weight gain in the bud, so in ten years time I wont be even bigger (with a much higher BMI). Im excited about so much. This will be my first NYE not starting with a binge after another new resolution to loose weight! Regards Sharon

Sorry to hear about your weight gain. It's a lifelong struggle for sure. What triggers you to eat? How do you think getting a second surgery is going to help with your head hunger?

First of all let me intorduce myself. My name is Michelle and I will be 32yrs old if a few days. I have not had the surgery yet but have my pre op visit on Sept 6th and was told my surgery will be 3-4 weeks after that. I have been over weight my whole life and am hoping this helps. I have been over 200 lbs for 13yrs and after my first child went to 220 and stayed there until 2 yrs ago. I hurt my back 2 yrs ago well actually it will be 3 yrs in Oct and as the scale went up my health went down. 1 yr ago I was diagnosed with diabetes, I also have asthma, high blood presure, chronic joint and lower back pain, irritable bowel syndrome, heart burn 24/7 and poly cystic ovarian syndrome. I have been looking into the band for just over 2 yrs since my weight gain after hurting my back. My highest weight was 272 and right now I am at 269 at 5'' 8' tall. My question is about the different size bands. I know that they are using a 10cc band now and I was wondering if that effects the speed of weight loss or increases problems people have with the band? Why did the change band sizes? My ex sister in law had it done 3yrs ago with the 4cc band and has lost 100 lbs. Some of the post I have read seem like it is a slow start with the weight loss. I feel comfortable with my decission and the process. This is just the one thing that has been on my mind and I dont see the surgeon untill Sept 6th. Any input?????

I had posted on another forum, but also now posting here to see if anyone else can share their experience or interested in chatting regarding this issue. How long did it take to get back to a point where you were losing weight again?? I have had to have a complete unfill (due to major restriction and complications) and have since gained 25lbs in the last two months. I am now close to where I was before I had the unfill (previously at 5.6 and now at 5.0) and while I feel closer to 'green' I know i am not quite there. I go for another fill next week and will reach the max capacity my surgeon wants me at (5.5) since the episode. I am trying to eat the right foods, lots of protein and veggies, but I am still constantly hungry and not feeling near enough restriction (next to none). And despite the fact I am exercising daily, the scale still isn't moving! Anyone else have a similar experience? I am personally horrified by my weight gain and feeling very much a failure right now. I could really use some advice, motivation, etc from someone who has been through the same. Thanks.

I have gone back and forth on 1.5lb this week so no real change trying not to think about it and keep moving!!! Did anyone find that muscle weight gain made it challenging to see some loss? I have been focusing on work out and see loss of inches but weight is hovering at not moving.

Hi all:sad::biggrin: It has been a while since I posted or came on this forum. I had many changes in my life sinceI the last time I was here. I got re-married, both my parents past away months of each other; I have had lots of stress. On March 3 2009 I had a fill and un-fill within 2 days leaving 8.5cc in my 10cc. Band. For the past 5 months I‘ve been plague with very bad acid reflux (throwing-up in my sleep even 3 to 4 hours after eating) and no restriction. As a result my diet consists of soup, and any mushy food. Today I went for a fill, instead I had barium and esophagus x-ray to find out I am to restricted which cause the acid reflux, and the diet of mushy food caused the weight gain (21lbs) and I had to have my band un-fill. They took out 5cc leaving only 3cc. I feel horrible, like I have to start all over. How will I prevent myself from gaining more weight? 3cc. Is nothing! Help me please, I need help:sad::thumbup::scared2::tongue: Thank you

Every person who comes to bariatric surgery has a reason, a story. No one wakes up one day and goes "you know, having my stomach partially removed,diverted, or banded sounds like fun- I think I want to do it!" Nope. There is a reason. A moment of giving it over to a higher power mixed with taking full charge of your weight loss. It is the most odd feeling when your brain makes the leap and decides it is what needs to be. I truly believe bariatric surgery is a last ditch effort for so many of us. (Disclaimer- can't say there are not those who think it is a quick fix or an easy out. But from all I have read and seen, it is FAR from "easy".) I admit, I am from the school of thought where this kind of surgery is "giving up". I have never seriously considered it for me. When I thought about weight loss it was all on me and my will power. If I just dieted enough or exercised enough it would be all I needed. But at 43 years old the light bulb, as dim or as bright as it may be, finally went off. I am not a dieting or exercise success. I am morbidly obese. I need to be realistic. I need to change now, while I still can. The consequences of not changing are just not an option. Let me go back here a little. I have to say I have always been on the chubby/chunky/ curvy/ husky side. I was never "thin" like the other kids. I had a round face and a tummy when I was young. I developed early. In junior high and high school I felt pudgy. Even though I know now I was far from obese, society made me feel fat. I wasn't athletic, but I was active. A band nerd. ( And anyone who has been in marching band knows it is a physically active thing!) After high school and into my early adulthood I was still heavy-ish. But I was starting to realize I had curves that were pleasing to some, it wasn't just being fat. Into my mid twenties I probably wore a size large, maybe up to a 14-16. But since I was only 5'3", this was FAT. Then in my mid twenties I got married. The perfect storm for weight gain began. I began to have "female issues", I was in a somewhat stable relationship, ( at least for a short while) I quit working jobs that required me being on my feet and got a desk job. It all added up, and I started piling on the pounds. I quickly gained in excess of 50lbs in the matter of months. 200lbs, 225lbs,250lbs...the numbers on the scale just kept going up. I stopped gaining around 250lbs. I went into "diet" mode. But this time it wasn't coming off like before. When I had wanted to lose weight before all I had to do was eat less and move more. This time it wasn't working. After some other things going on health wise, I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. (PCOS) My marriage failed in a few short years. I joined a gym. I dieted. I gave up. I was on the hamster wheel... Years passed and I lost weight, only to gain it back with extra. This went on for years. Then my mother passed away unexpectedly in 2003, which threw my world into chaos. I gained custody of my niece and nephew when she passed. I had never had children, so it was a new world. And they did not come without a LOT of issues of their own. The next four years were a struggle to just get through life. During that time my weight edged up further, until I hit a (then) all time high of 314lbs. Finally, in 2007, I decided I REALLY needed to change. I joined Curves and got my butt moving. I put myself on a very restrictive diet and managed to knock off 36lbs. In about six months I started to feel great, see a new me emerging. But then I hit a stall. I stopped losing. I managed to keep it off for a while, but could not get back to dropping anything. Then something happened I never saw coming, which lead to the next major change in my life. With my 36lb weight loss came a new confidence. I started going out and dating. I met a man. I won't go into all the troubles that came of that, it is best put on another blog! LOL But I did end up pregnant. I NEVER thought it would happen. With my PCOS and female issues, I did not believe I could get pregnant. But at 38yrs old I did. I had a healthy baby girl in November of 2008. But life wasn't perfect. I am a single mom. There are a lot of struggles, including financial. I would love to say I never lost the baby weight, which got me to where I am now- but that would be a lie. I lost all I gained plus a couple extra pounds by my 6 week check up after she was born. No, my body was changed by having a baby but I cannot say I gained weight from it. But slowly I did start gaining again. So in 2010 I decided to start back to Curves and I added Zumba to my arsenal. I was determined to get back on the right track. But an already arthritic knees could not handle the intensity of Zumba, and I was soon having a lot of problems with my knees. I started seeing a orthopedic doctor and tried all kinds of things to help nurse the knee back to health. You see, before the knee problems I was a pretty darn healthy person. Yes, I had PCOS and female problems. But I did not have the common weight related issues such as high blood pressure or diabetes. I just had bum knees holding me back. So after months of trying this remedy or that one it was decided I needed surgery to "clean up the knee". Well surgery went off without a hitch. I had more severe arthritic degeneration than he had thought, but other than that I was ok. Until two days post op. I developed a DVT (deep vein thrombosis-blood clot) behind my knee. The day after I was admitted to the hospital for it I had a pulmonary embolism and was rushed to ICU. ( FYI- actor Dennis Farina just died yesterday from the same thing) This was a set back to say the least. But time passed and eventually I got back to "normal". I was never able to go back to Zumba, but I did return to Curves. Yet the weight continued its climb higher. I can maintain a weight for a few years, then suddenly I start gaining another 10, 15, 20lbs. As I have aged, and as I have gained, it has taken more of a toll on my joints. I started having to swallow anti inflammatory medicine like Pez. Then suddenly, without warning, this past spring all hell broke loose... In March I started having pain in my "bad" leg. I thought I had another clot, but it was determined I did not. I was told I had vasculitis or phlebitis. Then in April it got worse. Another check determined I DID have another DVT. I started treatment with blood thinners and bed rest. A few weeks later I returned to work for a sum total of 2 1/2 days. Then my leg took another turn for the worse. Apparently the clot got BIGGER, migrated upward AND I had another small pulmonary embolism. Five more days in the hospital. After I was released I had to be on bed rest for another month. I was told I now have to take blood thinners for the rest of my life. My vascular doctor has informed me the veins in my leg are "destroyed". I have chronic venus insufficiancy. I have to wear a compression stocking on that leg everyday for the rest of my life to try to avoid further deterioration. And the worst part.....I can no longer take my arthritis medication due to taking blood thinners. I have lived with increasing pain for the past couple of months. It is no doubt my weight has continued to climb now, as I am basically seditary at all times. And depression over my situation has lead me to eat more. I looked into disability. I actually have two qualifying factors, so physically I can get it. But I thought long and hard about it. Do I want to live the rest of my life in pain? Do I want to keep gaining weight from being depressed and unable to do anything? And what about my daughter? What kind of mother can I be to a four year old like this? How can I be an active part of her life when I can't even be an active part of my own life? That was the day it all changed for me. The day I decided I had one answer, one path I MUST follow. I HAVE TO GET THE WEIGHT OFF! And the path I decided I need to take is the bariatric path. I started doing a lot of research. I called my insurance provider and verified they cover it and the qualifications for it. (oh I TOTALLY qualify!!) I spoke to my primary care doctor. He referred me to Dr. Bruce. I have not stepped foot into his office yet, but I feel my choice is clear and made for me. After much research and consideration I choose to pursue the sleeve. I had initially thought lap band, but a lot of things are swaying my decision. So if Dr. Bruce agrees with my thought process, and my insurance will cover the cost, I plan to go full steam ahead with it. I have already been to my vascular doctor to get his clearance for surgery. He said losing weight would help my vascular issues a great deal, and is very much supportive of my decision. I have researched and read and planned as much as I can. I am being VERY proactive. I have decided (on my own) to begin changing as many habits as I can now to help with the process. I am making myself drink more fluids (ie:water) daily. I have decided that, starting in August, I am changing how and what I eat. I want to begin the post surgery diet, consisting of mostly protein. I feel it will not only help me succeed in the long run, it will also be easier to NOT have to change everything I have done all my life in just a matter of a few weeks. (not to mention having to deal with major surgery at the same time) One BIG habit I have to get in to is NOT drinking while eating, and chewing my food until it is paste. Those things will be tricky for me. But I know I can do it..I know I HAVE to do it. And I will be documenting and blogging as I go. ( If you have not been able to tell, and have read to this point, I like to speak my mind! No matter the form or to whom...LOL) So if anyone else is just starting this journey, or has been on it for a long time, and wants to read one woman's insightful, crazy, thought provoking or just plain weird story stay tuned..................................

My surgeon highly encouraged yearly followups, but as I am self pay and know what I am supposed to be doing and the last few appts were frankly unproductive for me (paid, charted progress, told to keep doing exactly what I was doing), I am not returning unless I have an actual issue or serious weight gain. My regular doc knows I had the sleeve and can monitor my general health otherwise.

Ditto here. Wish I had done it sooner. I fooled around with a lot of research for a long time. Not a bad thing because I found a wonderful surgeon and staff in the process which for me was essential in my weight loss efforts. I look in the mirror and think about what I looked like and how unhealthy and inactive I had become and it makes me so sad that I let it happen. There are so many emotional issues and physical issues associated with weight gain that shorten our life span. What a gift I found with the band. It is still a lot of hard work and there is a boatload of eating temptation and people trying to sabotage your efforts but it is worth every defiant "No thanks. I don't need that piece of pie today." I am still adjusting to shopping for normal clothes but I am thrilled about it just the same.

I have GERD and my surgeon talked me into a sleeve ( which exacerbates GERD) instead of the bypass ( which cures GERD). He said this is because the GERD is caused by the weight gain. Now i am worried. Surgery is April 3.

I am roughly 2 years out at 18 months I started gaining. At the time I was doing p90x which is a pretty strict workout. Eating roughly 1300 healthy calories a day. My job is a fedex driver 12-14 hrs a day very active life 5 days a week. At like 14 months was told I had PCOS and hypothyroidism had to get blood work from an endocrinologist only thing wrong was vitamin D was low and thyroid hormone was not that crazy. I am on medication from both I made sure they didn't cause weight gain. NOW my endocrinologist put me on strict hypoglycemic diet and gave me a pill called Qsymia it's a doctor approved weight loss pill well 4 months in haven't lost one lb. I am at a loss off what to do and now I had back surgery on my herniated L3 and L4 last month so this is my new obstacle any suggestions?

1.5 years out, have been around the same weight for a year now. Like LilMissDiva mentioned above, you'll have your "bad" days occasionally, and the possibility of regaining 2-3 lbs is always there, but it's easy to stop. I can't vouch for what things will be like 3.5 years down the road, but just taking things a year at a time, I don't see myself gaining any significant weight a year from now. To gain weight with the sleeve, you really have to eat a LOT of junk food - you won't be able to consume large enough amounts of normal foods to cause weight gain. I've had a few periods of 2-3 days of non-stop chocolate consumption, but I don't find it too hard to get back on the wagon. I always make sure I hit the gym hard at least twice a week no matter how busy I am, even during weeks when I work 80 hours. Most weeks I work out 3-4 times/week. If I notice I've put on a pound or two, I just rein myself in a bit - I go back to drinking water with my meals instead of alcohol when I go out, get a medium latte instead of a large in the morning, etc. All those "sensible choices" that women's magazines always harp on about are an awful lot easier to make once you've had the sleeve.