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Scales, to weigh or not to weight. The scales can not always be your friend when losing weight. Everyone fluctuates 1-3 lbs daily from water weight gain. When you are doing the pre surgery diet, the goal is really not so much weight loss but shrinking the liver so when they do the surgery your liver is not in the way. In our anatomy the liver and stomach are very close and if the liver is enlarged it can prevent the physician from completing the procedure closed. In the beginning we all want that instant gratification of seeing the scale drop but for the long haul it is about results and a lot of our results are in inches not weight. As far as exercising during pre-surgery stages, your going to feel tired. Even now weighing 175 lbs it takes about 1700 calories just to maintain this weight if I wanted with little activity so if your only consuming 500-600 your body needs all of those calories just to maintain and when your exercising your body goes into starvation mode and holds onto every calorie because it needs it to provide energy to all your organs. Remember your heart is muscle and it needs protein also. Maybe taking a short walk in the evenings once or twice would be good but make it a nice walk, time to relax and center your self. Listen to relaxing music and prepare yourself mentally for the journey ahead. Your dedication to the pre-surgery diet will prepare you for the focus you need once your surgery is completed. Proud of you, you are doing great, the day is closer, only one week left.

Well, my surgery took place despite my weight gain. I literally STARVED myself for the final 3 days of my pre-op diet, drinking almost zero -- this resulted in a net weight loss. Surgery happened on Tuesday, September 20 and I am now BANDED. The surgery went off fairly well - I was able to get up and about walking on my own - pain was not too bad. A bit of discomfort, especially in the incision where the port is located. The only problem I had was with the oral pain meds -- when I swallowed the meds hit the band and just STUCK there. Burned like mad. It just wasn't worth taking them - so I decided to stick with just ice bags and forgo the pain meds. Now the real work truly begins -- I'm hoping that this "tool" will help me to FINALLY get control of my weight. I've been overweight to obese my entire 56 years - and am really ready to be over it. Luck go all others as they begin this journey.

Thanks so much for your reply every little bit of information i can get really helps - il have to keep every one updated on when i get my date for surgery - How are you finding the actual diet and the ammount of food you have cut back ? what sort of things can you eat now ? and finally HOW MUCH HAVE YOU LOST ??? bet its sooo exciting now your losing ? i cant wait ! do you feel like it has changed your life yet hun ? has weight always been a issue for you or has your weight gain been recent ? xxx

I did the same thing and I gained 10lbs in a matter of weeks. Because of that 10lbs I have stretchmarks on my upper outter arms. From my shoulders to my elbows. They weren't there before but after that rapid weight gain they came on. OH how I regret all that food!

I, too, had a lapband erosion and was terribly sick with peritonitis. I’ve never been so close to death but my weight gain since the removal has me scared into getting the sleeve. I am currently going through a six month supervised diet, etc. I am looking for surgery after the first of the year.

Interesting just found this on the web. Is It Really a Stall? A stall or plateau refers to an extended period of time during reducing efforts where there is no weight loss according to the scale AND no loss of inches according to the tape measure. So if you've been following your chosen low carb program to the letter, and it seems that the bathroom scales have become permanently stuck, take your measurements. Also notice if your clothes are getting looser, or if you can now fit into formerly tight garments. Chances are, you are continuing to lose FAT, but your body is adding lean muscle tissue, especially if you have been doing weight-training exercise as well. And muscle is less bulky than fat for the same amount of weight, so your body will be smaller and leaner. If this is the case, you haven't stalled at all; your body is just recomposing itself. This is why it's so important to record your body measurements at the very beginning, so you'll have a reference as you progress. Don't just measure chest, waist and hip. Other key areas to measure are neck, upper arm, thigh and calf. And yes, having some "skinny" clothes hanging around helps too. It's a great feeling to have a pair of jeans that previously wouldn't come past your knees to make their way up past your hips, then be able to do them up (with pliers, while lying flat), then be able to do them up while standing and be able to breathe at the same time .... and so on! It's normal for the body to go through adjustment periods while you're losing weight. A plateau lasting 3 or 4 weeks is no cause for alarm, nor is it a reason to QUIT. Check your measurements as noted above, and stick with your program. Low Carbing is about making permanent, lifelong changes; a few weeks is just a brief period in the rest of your life! One other thing to consider - are you within 5 to 10 lbs of your original goal weight? Following a low carb, hi-Protein WOE and exercising may have given you an increased muscle-to-fat ratio than you had previously. As noted above, muscle tissue weighs more than fat, but takes up less bulk. Maybe it's time to rethink your goal weight. You may already be there! Congratulations! Now you can focus your energies on maintaining your proper weight, instead of struggling to drop a few more pounds. Possible Causes Okay, 4 weeks have gone by, and there's been no weight or inches lost. This is definitely a stall. Here are a few things to consider, perhaps one or more of these factors may be the cause. 1. Carbohydrate level is too high - the number of carbs you can consume per day to continue to lose fat and weight varies from person to person. Some lucky individuals may be successful at 50 or more grams per day. Others are metabolically resistant, and must keep the carbs near Induction level for most of the Ongoing Weight Loss (OWL) period. For Protein Power followers, this would mean staying at Phase 1 Intervention level until goal weight is achieved. 2. Hidden carbs - Carbohydrates can sneak into your food without you really noticing! A gram here and there; pretty soon they add up to an extra 10 or more grams a day that you may not realise you're eating. Herbs, spices, garlic, lemon juice, bottled salad dressing - these foods are not carb-free. Processed lunch and deli meats, bacon, ham and sausages often have added starch, crumbs, sugar, dextrose etc. Make sure you are accurately measuring the "known" carbs. A whole stalk of broccoli is more than 1/2 cup. And keep an eye on the coffee. It is not carb-free - a 6 oz cup of java has 0.8 carb grams. That's a small cup too. Add some cream, and a packet of sweetener, hmmm.... 3 or 4 mugs a day can add up to significant carbs. Also, beware of foods made in the US - their labelling laws allow manufacturers to list the carb count as zero if it's less than 1 gram, even if it's 0.99 gram! Get a good carb counter, and look up the foods you're eating. Keep an accurate food diary, and maybe you will spot a trend. Corrine Netzer's "Snacks. Protein is required by the body to provide the building blocks of all our muscles, organs, hormones, enzymes, etc..... if we do not consume the protein in our diet, the body will use the only available source - your muscle tissue - to get what it needs. Less muscle tissue further contributes to a slowed metabolism, and reduced fat-burning. So, eat up!! 4. Overeating - In general, it's not necessary to restrict or even count calories while following a low carb program. You should eat when you are hungry, and eat until you feel satiated. But don't go overboard; it's not a license to stuff yourself to the point of being OVERfull. Studies have shown that eating smaller but more frequent meals lead to more weight loss success than eating the same amount in 2 or 3 larger meals per day. Eat slowly, and chew your food thoroughly. Listen to your body, and learn to recognise when it says "enough". Overeating can sometimes be a consequence of meal-skipping as well. You are just so hungry when you do get around to eating, or you may feel you need to "make up" for the fact that you haven't eaten all day. It can really work against your weight loss efforts if you fast all day, thus forcing your body into slowed-metabolism "starvation" mode, then eat and eat all evening. This night-time eating will trigger the release of insulin, which will cause your body to make and STORE fat while you sleep. 5. Lack of Exercise - If you have not been exercising regularly, this may be a reason for your stall. Exeercise will boost your metabolism and burn fat. Exercise, especially weight-training, will build muscles, and muscles are more metabolically "active", thus will increase fat burning as well. If you have been exercising, and have hit a plateau, perhaps your body is signalling for you to change your routine. Increase the duration and/or the intensity. If you've been jogging or cycling only, try adding some weight-lifts to your workout - and vice-versa, if you've only been weight-training, you should add some aerobic activity as well. 6. Not Drinking Enough Water - Adipose tissue, ie. fat, is mobilized through a process called hydrolysis. As the word suggests, hydrolysis requires plenty of water. Insufficient amounts of water in your body will hinder effective breakdown of fat. If you're exercising, or if your environment is warm and/or dry, you need to drink more water. If you are in active ketosis, you need to drink more water to flush the ketones out of your system. How much is enough? A bare minimum recommendation is 64 Fluid oz (that's 8 - 8 oz glasses) of water a day. Some experts suggest you should divide your current weight in pounds by 2; this number is how many ounces you should drink each day, but no less than 64 oz. There is no disagreement on the need to drink sufficient amounts of fluids every day, but there are some arguments that it's not necessary to drink only plain water. If you choose to not drink large volumes of water, you should ensure that you are consuming adequate fluid in the form of calorie and carb-free liquids. Note that coffee is neither calorie nor carb free. Three small 6 oz cups of coffee yield 12 calories and 2.4 carb grams. Add in the cream and packets of sweetener .........hmmm. Teas and herbal teas are generally close to zero carb, as well as diet sodas and mineral waters. Be careful that some diet sodas contain citric acid as a flavouring, as this has been known to stall some folks. It's best to strive to drink as much plain water as possible; at least half of your day's intake, more if possible. 7. Medications - There are a number of medications that can and will hinder your weight loss. Most notable are diuretics ("fluid pills"), both prescription and over-the-counter types. These will initially seem to make you lose MORE weight, as you lose excess body fluid. But when you are in active ketosis the LACK of fluid will inhibit fat-burning. Many antidepressants cause weight gain as well. Steroids and hormones, such as cortisone, birth control pills and estrogens will cause weight gain. So too will some seizure medications. Unfortunately, medications that are intended to lower your cholesterol will inhibit the liver from converting fat to glycogen, thus decreased fat-burning. And insulin and many oral diabetic medication will decrease fat burning and increase fat storage. DO NOT STOP OR DECREASE YOUR MEDICATIONS WITHOUT A DOCTOR'S SUPERVISION AND FOLLOW-UP. 8. Food Allergy & Intolerances - A significant percentage of low carbers report that over-consumption of cheese and dairy products will put them in a stall quicker than anything else, even when the carbs are not "hidden" but are accounted for in the daily total. There is some suggestion it may be an intolerance or allergy to the casein protein in cow's milk dairy products. If you have been eating a lot of dairy foods lately, try cutting way back, or even eliminating altogether for a week or two, and see if this breaks the plateau. Food allergies and intolerances are difficult to pin down, but are known to trigger weight gain, fluid retention, sinus congestion, skin rashes, and digestive upsets, diarrhea etc. The most common food allergens are - wheat and wheat gluten, cow's milk dairy products, corn, soy and chicken egg whites. Again, try eliminating any or all of these from your diet for a few weeks. Then, add each food back gradually, and see if symptoms return and your weight stalls again. You may have to avoid the offending food permanently, although many people find that after a few months they may cautiously eat a small amount of the food once in a while, without adverse effect. Helpful Suggestions 1. Make sure you really are stalled. Take your body measurements with a tape. Check how your clothes fit. Try on a piece of clothing that was tight before you started low carbing. 2. Don't go hungry. Eat smaller more frequent meals, and make sure you have some protein with every meal and snack. Avoid going more than 5 hours without eating (except overnight, then make sure you have a protein-containing breakfast). 3. Don't restrict your calorie intake, it will just force your metabolism to slow down to "starvation mode". Increase the amount of protein and fat with your meals. Eat some cheese, fried pork rinds or a handful of nuts as a snack. Use good olive or flax oil on your salads. Use heavy cream and egg yolks to make sauces for fish, eggs and vegetables. 4. Bump up your exercise level. Increase the duration and/or the intensity. Change your routine. Add weight lifts if you are just doing aerobics. And if you're not exercising yet, get moving! 5. Avoid eating carbs before bedtime. This will trigger insulin, which will inhibit fat-burning while you sleep and in fact, will initiate fat STORAGE. 6. Drink more water and other zero-carb fluids to enhance fat hydrolysis, and to flush ketones. 7. Keep a diet diary. Record the time and amount of what you consume. No one else will ever see it, so be brutally honest. Get a good food counts resource, or at least a pocket-size carb gram counter. 8. There are several "Stall Buster" fasts that are popular and successful at jumpstarting the weight and fat-loss. They are meant to be temporary, not long term. Most popular is meat Fast . Again, it's just as it sounds, meat, meat and more meat, and not a heck of a lot else. A little fat or oil can be used to cook and dress the meat, but nothing else. And no coffee or tea. Water, water, water. 9. Some low carbers have used a thermogenic combination of herbs and medication known as an "ECA Stack". Thermogenic means it boosts metabolism and speeds up fat-burning. The E-C-A components are Ephedra, Caffeine and Aspirin. If you want to know more, click here . There is some controversy over the safety of ephedra, also known as ma huang. It's advisable to check with your doctor. Ephedra should not be used if you are pregnant or nursing, have high blood pressure or history of hear problems. Aspirin should be avoided if you have a known allergy, or if you are taking blood-thinners or have a history of stomach or intestinal ulcers.

neeloc: Yes I am glad I wrote that blog and I hope it might help someone considering surgery one day. All the best on your journey. Laura: It sounds like you are having a tough time. I remember when I was eating heaps I kept going through that same cycle. Tell yourself no - ignore yourself - guilty feelings - weight gain. I am no expert - but small steps form better habits I guess. Good luck and keep going. you CAN do it!

Let me/us know what happens with the weight gain and surgery date. I am on the diet and am worried also,,,thx.

Thanks for asking and any other suggestions you may have. Here is the specific wording in the denial letter: "Diagnosis: esophageal reflux,vomiting, abnormal weight gain Type of treatment: longitudinalgastrectomy The service is not recommended asmedically appropriate for the following reasons(s): Authorization for Sleeve Gastrectomy isnot recommended, as clinical criteria for this procedure are not met.For example, per SPD: Recent history and documentation in MD notesthat the pt has participated in and reasonably complied with at least1 physician-supported weight loss program (including nutritionalanalysis, education and regular clinical encounters with a healthprofessional), documented by a physician who does not perform weightloss surgery, lasting for a minimum of six (6) cumulative months andoccurring within two years prior to surgery. Also dietary therapy,i.e., restricted calorie diet, increased physical activity i.e.,exercise program, behavioral therapy to reinforce dietary therapy andincreased physical activity."

I'm sorry you are struggling and feeling anxiety about the water weight gain. That is bad that you had to change meds and it's affecting you this way, but they should be able to understand. Try to get in a lot of fluids, perhaps that will help your body start releasing the water you are retaining. I am sending you positive vibes for a good outcome and a surgery date soon!

Hi everyone. When I initally went to see my surgeon he recommended the gastric by-pass since my weight gain came not from eating large quantities but rather snacking on carbs and sweets, especially chocolate. He said the "dumping" would keep me "sraight" I should mention I have been on anti-depression meds for years and my family doctor feels my cravings for chocolate and carbs is from the low sertonin levels associated with depression. After doing much research I decided, given my medical history of many surgeries and the depression, I would be much better off with the sleeve. Now I am being discouraged from this procedure because of the sweet tooth. Did anyone who has gotten the sleeve have a sweet tooth as their main problem and if so how is the sleeve working for you? I really want the sleeve and surgery is in 2 weeks. Could really use your help. Thanks

I would suggest you contact your OB/GYN doctor. Something may not be right. I use to have extremely heavy periods and found that the hormone that is suppose to slow down your bleeding was not kicking in. I tried birth control pills but they did not work, They then gave me a prescription that made my body think it was menapouse so I did not have periods (I was already done with having children) but that big side effect was WEIGHT GAIN. I finally had hysteretomy (this was all presurgery many years ago) and I don't miss a thing with that time of month anymore. The main thing is there may be a medical reason so you may not want to wait.

I really like what you've said and agree that I would rather feel like I can have an ocassional treat here and there, even if that means losing the weight slower. Although I am very frustrated with my recent almost complete shut down on losing weight, I did just get back from a 2 week road trip where I was out of control in what I was eating pretty much the whole time. I was prepared for a 5-10 lb weight gain when I returned, but surprisingly I only gained ONE pound!! If I had actually eaten more healthily during this trip I might have LOST weight! As it is, though, I am very pleased that the restriction I still have has kept me from binging and eating too much in one sitting, which makes a big difference for me.

It's official now, I'm going to do this surgery!! I have been on a long hard journey since April of 2010, and alot of it was my own fault for it taking so long. I went through a lot of soul searching to figure out if this surgery was really what I wanted to do or not, and I finally told myself I was in it for the long haul. I have struggled with my weight since I was about 8-9 years old, and I've always been the "thicker" type. I thought that I was alot bigger than I really was, and looking back at pictures of me in high school and my early 20's make me cringe to think that I really thought that I was FAT then. I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) in 2000 and got all of the fun side effects of that-weight gain, insulin resistance, and facial hair. It's great fun to say the least. Thankfully I was able to have 3 healthy girls and didn't struggle with in fertility with it. I went from 145 lbs when I got pregnant in 1999 to 200 lbs by the time I had had my 3rd baby in 2003 (yes, I had 3 kids in 4 years). The struggle was on after that. I stayed around 200-225 until last fall, and I started having alot of swelling in my lower legs and hands. I quit smoking in March of this year, and since then I've gained 42 lbs between that and the swelling, I have massive pitting edema in my lower legs and my hands swell really bad as well, and the only reason that the dr's can come up with is due to weight gain. I was diagnosed with Obstructive sleep Apnea in Dec. 2010, and then with Barrett's Esophagitis in April of 2011, and I've had GERD since 2002. They put me on high-blood pressure medicine to try and help with the leg swelling, along with diuretics. AND, I was diagnosed with carpal tunnel and tennis elbow in both arms this week. So, I wear a CPAP to bed with 2 wrist braces, I have to wear compression stockings all day to keep swelling down, I take 6 pills a day for my stomach problems and I pee absolutely constantly. Yeah, I'm ready to get all of this taken care of. My sister asked me today if I thought that I really needed this surgery. I told her that I was tired of feeling like I was trapped in this body, like my fat was in control of me. I'm tired of being terrified to go to the dr, because they're going to tell me that something else it wrong with me. I'm scared to death of the first 6 weeks after surgery, but I know that those 35 days will be the best hardest days of it. I'll live, I'll get through it. I'm ready to feel like me again, to feel like I'm in my skin again. Not this fat person's body who has no control. I'm scared,but I'm finally going to do this! Let me know all the little details that I need to know...don't hold back!!

Thank you guys !! i have written down all shampoos and biotin!! I have also read about ovationnhair therapy, it is even used with quimio patients, I and willing to try everything, and yes, even washing my hair less times per week !!!!! A friend used zinc, that also could be an option. I know hair loss is normal, as stall, nut when you are actually going thru it it just sucks !, no matter how normal !!! May we continue to lose weight....gain hair !! Thank you again !!

What kind of protein shakes are you drinking? You have to be very careful because some of them are formulated for weight gain.

I think setting a goal of 1-2 Lbs per week is both realistic and expected. That's always what I go by. Now that I'm post goal and just trying to either maintain and simply avoid weight gain, and because it never hurts to lose a little more here and there I usually say 5 Lbs per month maximum. HTH

I also started mushies this week and though there was no weight gain, I have lost only .5 lb here and there. As far as eating during this phase, I try to add unflavored Isopure protein powder to almost any of my mushy meals (cream of whole wheat, yogurt, soups, sugar free jello, etc...). It helps me get enough protein in for the day without adding too many calories and I think that's the hardest part of this phase, since I'm still not allowed to eat meat or fish or other forms of animal protein that have a decent amount of protein per serving. I am still weighing myself twice a week, which I know some people would disapprove of, but it's my way of keeping track of what's going on, and for now I feel I need to do it. Also, are you exercising yet? It's very important to start moving as soon as you feel able to. That really helps the weight loss (in combo with your post-op diet). I started walking very slowly 3rd day after surgery, then have been increasing to 2-3 miles a day or 30 minutes on the elliptical at slow to moderate pace, depending on how I'm feeling that day. I think that helps too. I don't have as much experience as some of the other responders, but I've been told the same things about plateauing and also about not worrying so much about the pounds dropping until after you get the fill (but I think we still worry because it's hard not to think that way after all this time Good luck!

I am at 7cc and I couldn't imagine having anymore in my fill- but you have to remember everyone is different. Comorbidities, like Diabetes, do cause complications- but there is absolutely no reason I could think of that would have caused your 10 lbs weight gain without "cheating". It isn't worth the chance of band slippage, paying to have it repaired and going through it all again. I feel for you- that is no way to be treated, but consider that they are not angry at you but angry that you are failing your band. What types of foods are you eating? Are you hungry or bored? Do you push past FULL? Hope all gets better- stay on top of your sugars and your choices!!! I have reached a huge goal- down 40 lbs today. YOU CAN DO IT!!!

I dont even know for sure where to start.....all i can say is i went for what i thought was gonna be a fill....well it went poorly.....my blood pressure was up the Nurse Practioner was rude basically yelling cause I gained 10 lbs....I tried to explain that my Endocrinologist said my sugars were high and suugar was spilling into the toilet in my urine....now sugars are better due to going on insulin pump and due to better sugars i am retaining some calories causig a lil weight gain. She said.....they are NUTS and yelled thats the craziest thing she ever heard....I tried to explain i feel i need a fill.....i am not getting a full feeling....she wouldnt even listen.....do i deserve to be treated and chastised for making a mistake.......i guess i just need to vent....so how do i know i need a fill??? and also what point is there in even going when she said i am at 6.5 and thats the max fill.........my band is a 10 cc can i not ever get more?? if thats the case why do i drive 2 hrs to go get treated poorly.....and when i leave there end up in an er for high BP?????? thanks for listening

can you feel it inside? I was looking into the depo shot but side effects include weight gain and hair loss. Not a good combination

I will be getting on some kind of birth control this week. But not sure what. Is there something out there that doesn't cause weight gain?? Thank you!

I would be careful with the weight gain. It may come back to haunt you. Most insurance companies want a two year previous weight history and for you to at least show you can lose weight. I wouldnt advise you not to do something but just consider all angles. Good Luck

<P>I've always had a pretty good knowledge of what to eat health wise. I could do well for weeks and months at a time with my well rounded healthy meals, but because of my body and some health issues one bad meal would cause MAJOR weight gain for me. I have never believed in getting your band so tight you can't swallow your own spit lol. If I can't fit in 1200 healthy calories each day I would get some fluid taken out. I do know a lot of people who only eat 700-800 calories a day and it really is not enough to realistically be healthy. You're body needs nutrients to survive and THRIVE. I use my band to keep me from being hungry between meals so it's easier to stick with the plan. It also keeps me from being as bad as I want on days where my will power is not so strong and when I do have a treat day with something not so healthy I don't pay the price I used to. It's funny now a "bad day" is eating 1500-1800 calories lol. Not that it's a lot but probably once a week I treat myself with higher fatty foods. I know before a bad day would be SO MUCH more than that.<BR>It's great that you've found something that works for you. Good job and keep at it!</P>

I am 1 year out from the vertical or gastric sleeve. I chose this for several reasons. I had gained weight due to another health issue, where I had to take medications that caused a long term(10 years) weight gain of 75 lbs. I am still on some of these meds so weight loss continues to be an issue with me. Although I do not regret the decision to have wt. loss surgery, I do think I made a mistake in the type I chose. It is permanent-which seemed a good thing at the time, It is advertised as lowering your hunger-it does not, I am extremely hungry often, but am only able to eat very small portions, while drinking next to nothing during meals. I no longer can enjoy meals or activities surrounding get-togethers involving food. I become extremely uncomfortable quickly-often having to lie down somewhere until I recover. I have adjusted by eating very little in groups & not at all at work. Yes, I have lost weight but only 40 lbs so far. I experience GI difficulties all the time. Nausea, and worst is the gas-all the time-noisy like nothing I have had or experienced other than through teen-age movie antics. I am always uncomfortable worrying I will embarrass myself in this way. I would strongly suggest to anyone thinking of this to do the lap-band instead! I know people who have had this successfully & wish that I had one. It can be removed. I am stuck with this altered stomach-an organ that cannot be replaced & I did this to myself. I have no problem with wt. loss surgery itself. My recovery was uneventful. But, if I could go back & have the choice over I certainly would! I am depressed in a way that I wasn't prior to the surgery. Does anyone have a similiar experience or know of solutions to make me more comfortable?