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hon, these are questions for your primary care doctor and/or rheumatologist to answer. I have fibromayalgia and was told it was not an obstacle for the surgery but every case is different. I know that one of the medications that they prescribe, Lyrica, works against you as far as weight gain goes. I am hoping that my dosage can be greatly reduced after my surgery. Consult with your PCP or bariatric clinic. Have you been to a free seminar? There is usually a MD at these. You might find it very helpful....All the best to you, Melinda

Had my pre-op testing yesterday. As far as I know, all is still a GO for next Monday! One thing I haven't seen anyone talk about yet - eating disorders, bad relationships with food, bad habits. That is what I'm going to think and meditate and pray on today. I am seeing a therapist [for about 8 weeks] and most of my issues seem to be when I confuse emotions with hunger. Mostly, I tend to "hide" the emotions, but act them out in eating. So we've been talking about how I feel when I eat. How I feel when personal relationships or life cause stress. How I eat when I'm stressed - and more. I hope to go for prayer ministry later today - I am a firm believer in the ability of God to heal us and restore us - so I'm thinking about these issues. Any of you gone to counseling? Uncovered any "reasons" for weight gain? Had any healing or restoration in your relationship with food?

My friends and family all know I am going to Mexico for the surgery. That's just the kind of person I am, very open and honest. I don't hide anything. My dad is nervous about it being done in Mexico so he is going with me. He said he talked to his doctor about it yesterday, he is very overweight and having some health problems now. She talked to him about the pros and cons and he wants to wait and see how my surgery and progress goes before he decides to have it done. My dad was always super skinny when he was younger and this weight gain is really getting him down so I think he's hoping it works well for me. That just motivates me even more knowing he will be watching me.

Starvation mode doesn't really exist. Sure you can starve, but that takes generally 72 hours of no Water and food for your body to kick into such a situation. But what many people who attempt to lose weight eating extremely low calories experience is a metabolic downgrade, which means that your body adapts tot he low calories you are feeding it and when you exceed that number, you eventually gain weight, even though it seems silly to gain weight eating 1200 calories, but consider this. A woman eats 700 calories a day and loses weight perfectly. However, she hits a plateau and wonders why. Well, instinct tells her to drop her calories even more, which may result in SOME weight-loss but at such low calories you're hardly able to eat enough food to fuel yourself, so then you generally opt to eat more, but adding to your calories causes weight gain because your metabolism has downgraded. And the only way to really fix such a situation is to lose the insane calorie deficits and eat higher calories. I went through this personally, still am. When I was first starting out I was eating 600-800 calories a day for almost a good 5-6 months, but it worked, but it also ruined my metabolism. So yes I've packed on 10lbs, but my metabolism is re-regulating itself, so nowadays I CAN eat 1800 and lose. Just something to consider.

I don't like the way that low fat and low sugar things add in other stuff. Low fat things often have artificial thickeners in them, which I just won't eat. And the low sugar things have artifical cancer-causing sweeteners, which I also won't eat. So I pretty much have everything that I eat full fat full sugar. I just stick to healthy options so that the few FF/FS things I have don't amount to any weight gain.

Weight gain should be few and far between with mirena. The medication does not really leave the uterus. Unlike other birth controls, mirena is a localized birth control that does not enter the blood stream.

What about side effects? I am worried about weight gain and acne. I have been told it is really good, but since I have lost my 72 lbs my husband has been all over me. So I am glad I have a good form of birth control. Just a little worried about side effects.

I had my band removed a little over a year ago due to erosion. The thing with me is I didnt have any pain symptoms. The only thing I noticed is I started gaining weight. I also went to a different bariatric surgeon. He did an endoscopy and immediately found it. He immediately took out the band and during the course of a little over a year, I have gained 65 pounds. The weight gain has affected my moods, well being, motivation and friendships and relationships. I am happy to say that I have taken the first step to getting my life back. My surgery date is October 8th. I am having to self pay but I feel like its a small price to pay for a healhier me and getting my life back on track. I hope you find your way and wish you luck.

Has anyone used the mirena iud? I read that it can cause weight gain hair loss etc? Advice welcome!!!!!!!!!!!

If you're taking BC pills you need to continue them for at least 1 year after surgery. The risk is too high to you and the baby if you get pregnant before you lose all of your excess weight. Plus it's very unsafe for a baby to gestate in an overweight mother. While those babies survive just fine, they have many issues as they grow up so it's to your advantage and your future child's advantage for you to get on birth control (no reason to stop taking it 4 weeks before surgery - say on it the entire time - talk to your surgeon about that) and stay on it for at least 12 months following or until you've lost all of your extra weight then about 3 months after you've reached your goal. Once you're at that point you'll know how you should eat. This is crucial because it's very likely you'll have your Fluid mostly - if not completely - removed if/when you become pregnant and if you already know how to eat you'll be able to minimize weight gain outside of the necessary 20-30 lbs for your baby.

I have given this thread a lot of thought. I have to say I now understand the "my body, my choice" argument a lot better than I did before. My option is to remain private. I've very grateful I made that choice. I am losing very slowly. I lost as much in the 6 months before my surgery dieting as I have after being sleeved so no one has noticed anything remarkable. I've also lost large quantities of weight before to where this isn't any different to them. I do not want to be responsbile for anyone else's decision. A friend came to me about 8 years ago and tried to talk me into gastric bypass. She'd had it 3 years earlier and lost 150 pounds.She may not have meant it that way, but I felt pressured. Remember what it's like being fat and having someone come and try to fix you? That choice didn't seem right to me and I didn't appreciate her "come to Jesus" moment of sharing with me. Now, I'm sleeved and she's easily gained 1/2 of what she lost back. She no longer offers solutions to people. And I know there's at least a possibiliy that in 5 years I'll be dealing with rebound weight gain. I see it every month in my support group. Everyone should have a responsbile primary care doctor who should be talking to them about surgical options. If they are not, they need a new primary care. And if you are thinking about going into major surgery like this without having been medically cleared, that's also a bad decision. Everyone I know, and I'm not exaggerating this, has access to the internet and there are multiple WLS seminars advertised and offered in our area by 4 different medical facilities each month. I just don't think I need to be putting myself into anyone else's life as an advocate for gastric sleeve. I don't want that responsibiliy and I don't think it's my job. As this thread starts out by saying, this is just my opinion.

The day I found out both my mother and father had diabetes, and I was walking straight toward that with my weight gain. And I couldn't stand to look in the mirror anymore or go out with my friends like normal. I was depressed about my weight, and it was ruining my life.

The sleeve really does help keep portions in control. I promise I did not diet during my maintenance time, but I was conscious of my food choices. I eat anything and everything I want. Grant it, about 85-90% of the time I still eat Protein first, but I enjoy all foods. I drink soda, alcohol(not in pregnancy), enjoy a lot of social gatherings which revolve around food. So, I do feel I live a pretty normal little life with food. BUT, I put in the work early out when really didn't have room for a lot of other foods. I remember even getting into maintenance, and being perfectly content with a few chips/crackers. Now, I can sit around mindlessly eat an entire "Big Grab" (those 99cent) bags of Funyuns.or half a sleeve of crackers without restriction. Those are the habits that I was talking about in my first reply. The sleeve really does help us not gain the weight back, but the sleeve doesn't stop ice cream, Cookies, carby/fat/fried foods from sliding right through. None of the WLS options stop carbs and sliders. So, we still have to be mindful and diligent in our food choices. My weight gain was over the holiday season last year. From Halloween to New Years, we attended a bunch of parties, social events, get togethers, etc etc and they all involved alcohol in copious amounts, party foods, Snacks. Seriously, every other weekend, I had somewhere to be and had food and booze in hand. Over those 3 months, I had a solid 7lb gain. I saw the scale gradually go up, and thought "oh it's Water weight from the booze". Low and behold, the new year came and those pounds were still there. I went back to just my normal eating habits, not dieting, just protein first for my meals, and I dropped those pounds in a little over a week. I admittedly hate working out. It's no different than scrubbing toilets. I could probably have more laxity in my food intake if I worked out more. However, I don't want to work out, I don't want to go to a gym, I really just hate exercising. That is a big part of my pregnancy weight gain. I'm eating 1700-1800( about 400-500 more calories than what I ate in maintenance) calories a day with a minimum of 100-200gr of carbs, and 80-100gr of protein per day. The sweet/junk food cravings are unbelievably difficult to fight at this point. I've never dealt with this level of head hunger, or cravings in my life. So, I know that it's pregnancy, and the fact that my eating habits have changed in pregnancy. The lack of physical hunger really is my #1 contributor to my success. I know my sleeve limits, I also know how to cheat the sleeve so it is still all on me to make the best decision on what goes in my mouth for every meal, every day. I can still go several hours without eating. I still never get a stomach growl, or any physical sign that I need to eat. But, I can eat every hour on the hour if I choose. That's the part that is very hard to overcome for me. I know I can eat a meal, and then an hour later I can wander into the pantry and eat more. I wanted to just put it out there that losing was easy, and maintenance is where I (and many others) struggle. That was my issue before surgery as well. I could lose on WW, or any other "diet attempt", but life would happen and I'd gain back what I lost and then some. For me, the most successful sleeve patients out there are the ones who made major behavioral modifications, and really adhered to a solid plan post-op. I have read 100s of topics from people who experience several stalls, slow weight loss, and/or their weight loss comes to a complete halt because they think that the sleeve will do all the work. Sadly, those same patients post how they don't want to diet, how they want normalcy. Well, I hate to say it, but most of us are NOT normal. If we were, none of us would have sought surgical intervention. Pretty much if you are diligent with food choices, and allow indulgences in moderation, the sleeve works. I can still suck down a milkshake, or eat an ice cream without issue. I really do live by the mantra of "just because I can; doesn't mean I should". It's not always easy, but the sleeve helps tremendously.

What they told you about the BCBS PPO approach is true. You have to be on a six month medically supervised diet before the surgery. You might lose weight, not lose weight, gain weight...there is no requirement other than the surgeon's office being able to say that you were on "a six month medically supervised diet". Then BCBS of Illinois will pay for the surgery. I don't want to wait six months and having any of the surgeries (lap band, gastric sleeve plication or gastric bypass) are less than half the cost in the Mexican hospitals. Plus, the Mexican doctors have more experience with the procedures. They have all done more and have been doing them longer. That is why I decided to go to Mexico and to pay for the surgery myself. Clinic in Chicago wanted $13K for the lapband vs. 4995 in Hospital Angeles Tijuana. They don't even offer the gastric plication surgery here yet. So, I am off to Mexico for surgery at the end of the month. I should be 60 pounds thinner before BCBS would even let me do anything.

For me, my issues, and my goals, I had to change some behaviors. It's a nice thought process that eating small amounts throughout the day will work forever, but your stomach capacity will change. I can easily consume way more calories today than I could say at 2-5 months. Actually, I can and do consume triple the amounts of calories I ate during my losing stage. Mainly, it's because of the pregnancy, but I can eat way more than I could early out. It happens. Most people who are 2-4 years out report the same issues. We can eat more, but that doesn't mean we should. I can tell you that snacking and grazing is dangerous especially in maintenance. Losing was easy, keeping it off, staying in maintenance is not as easy as just eating small portions. If that were the case, none of us would have had to have 85% of our stomachs removed. Certain foods that just didn't work early out, essentially just slide right on through my stomach and allow me to eat way more than I should be eating. So, for me, I stuck with what my surgeon prescribed for me during my losing stage and then tweaked my maintenance intake to ensure that I was able to keep the weight off without dieting. I promise I do not diet nor deprive myself of any foods in maintenance, but I sure do not need or want to pick up the bad habits that helped me reach my surgery day weight. I ate 4 meals a day (each meal consisted of 15gr of Protein per meal and this gave me the necessary protein grams per day, it isn't "that" hard to eat enough protein), no Snacks, didn't use protein drinks/shakes, and it worked for me. I continue the same program in maintenance for the most part. As for the pregnancy stuff, I have to snack to eat 1700-1800 calories a day. I have horrific head hunger and cravings that I never dealt with when I had a set meal plan and schedule. There are plenty of sleeve patients out here who report a real gain of 40-60lbs because of habits/behaviors were never addressed, and life takes over, and BAM here they are back to real dieting trying to get back to their goal weight all while battling the mental/emotional aspect of weight regain and trying to lose it again. Those stories are what made me realize it "just winging it" wasn't going to work for me until I changed some behaviors with food. We all have issues with food, and no 2 patients will be the exact same, but I do know what I was trying to do before surgery didn't work, and I wasn't willing to just "do it my way" to see if it would work. That didn't work in the past. I wasn't naive enough to believe it work now. Plus, I never really felt like I was dieting in my losing stage. I just didn't have much room for anything else other than protein. I was satisfied on my small meals, and that kept me on track. So, getting out of "diet mode" is again nice in theory, but long term, we still have to be mindful of what/how much we eat for the rest of our lives. I surely do not know one single 30something year old naturally skinny woman that can just eat whatever and how much of those foods that she wants without seeing some weight gain. All of my naturally skinny girlfriends are not constantly dieting, but they do not have issues with food, and quantity. It's a fine line between not dieting and intuitive eating. I've had a true gain, it was scary, but I know what caused it and resolved the issues. I agree that it's confusing, and you have to do what works best for you, but realize that if you are not getting the results you want from your way of doing it, don't be afraid to change it up and go on the prescribed post-op losing plan from your surgeon.

I have felt this too. I agree with littlemissdiva you will save money in the long run of years and years of eating properly, health improvement ( even if you don't have problems now long term weight gain is hard on a body) and think of the thin person inside. Do you ever see who you can be? That person can do more, can't they?

Okay I have been on vacation since 8/30 and I GAINED 2.5 POUNDS!!!!!!!ARRRGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My fault so I have to take owner ship of this mess. Must have been the beers on the beach and the chips and salsa. Damn Coors light!!! LOL.... I am positive it will come off in a few days of not eating. Nothing is tasting any good. Don't want to upset my tummy anymore than it is. Sticking with the broth and a little yogurt. Well to top it off I have a cold/flu. I so feel like POO!!!!!!! Ate or should I say I drank some chicken broth. Then some chobani yogurt. Lets not forget the Thera-Flu and Ricola!!!!!YUMMY!!!!! Can't wait till I feel better. Went and bought the kettlebell set and got a few dvd's for the workout. I so want to try them soon!!!!!!!!!!! Deb.

Well.. month 2 is over, and it hasn't been near expectations. I feel fine, and great.. I get frustrated very easily these days.. I'm of course on solid foods now, and I'm still having trouble adapting to going out to eat with my family or for work functions. I order food, and usually don't realize that there is no way I'm going to be able to eat it.. then for some reason I get frustrated when I can't eat it.... Is that weird? It still hasn't sunk in to my head I guess that I just can't eat a lot. Also, I stalled.. hard. Literally the day after my last post, the scale stopped moving.. and it didn't move for a couple weeks.... I went I believe 16 days only fluxuating up or down 1lbs... however, eventually it started moving again. and today I'm down to 238lbs... 305 before pre-op diet, 283 day of surgery, and 238 today, giving me a total loss of 67lbs since June 16th... and 45lbs since surgery, 30 in the first month, 15 the 2nd month. I was really hoping to take out another 5lbs or so before my 2nd month ended.. but that's ok... I'm 18lbs from my goal weight, in just over 2 months... If I can do more, great.. but I'm perfectly content at being 220lbs.. I'm a big guy by nature, and I honestly don't even remember being less than that, when I was skinny before all the weight gain, I remember being about 224.... and that weight suits me just fine. So I've went from wearing a XXXL shirt, down to an XL, sometimes a L depending on the brand. I've lost 10 inches from my waste, and went from a size 44 jeans, to a 34... so things are going well.. I've haven't started at the gym yet, like I wanted to, this relocation has been hard, and I haven't even started my new job yet, and money is just kind of tight... I start my new job next Monday, and plan to get gym memberships out of my first check. My main issue, have been beverages... foods haven't been an issue, however, I find myself sometimes drinking high sugar drinks, especially slurpees, lol... usually once a week I'll drink a slurpee, and it's hard to resist drinks like at Sonic and stuff, which is a big favorite for drinks while we're out and about... the diet cherry limeades are good.. but sometimes I just don't want to drink them.... and I'll get a cherry coke or something... Carbonated drinks I've had no problems with, I drink them fairly often, not daily, but at least 2-3 times a week I'll have a diet coke or a coke zero.. and no issues... Anywho, I'm going to work hard and try to cut these vices and get to my goal weight this month... here's hoping for the best!

Hi everyone well I had my surgery Nov 15 of last year and have lost about 35 pounds ..only problem is , is that my life has got really complicated and stressful (more so than before) and I started putting myself on the back burner again and hello weight gain! So my question is I need a diet plan or some sort of structure to follow..I ma to free for all now..I can eat most anything still.....Please I would love any ideas. The doc told me two shakes and one small meal ....I dont know if that would keep me full..what do you all do and think is a good food plan????? And for those of you who have been really successful what worked for you in the losing phase of this process???

Why would we think you are crazy. Stretch marks can be caused by rapid weight gain or rapid weight loss.

Nothing to do with weight loss and the band, but just wanted to say hi to you wonderful Australians! I was there two years ago for two weeks. Went to Adalaide, Kangaroo Island, the Great Barrier Reef and the rain forest. Beautiful, beautiful, and what nice people! Wish I stayed longer and saw more! By the way, good luck to you both. I've been at the band thing for a little over 3 months, and despite the few little negative 'downs' (little or no weight loss sometimes, or even once, a weight gain!) it has been an amazing journey, already reaping super rewards (off 3 blood pressure meds, down 4 sizes!). The frustration/grumpiness will pass, I promise! It will visit again from time to time, but like my Mom always said, "This too shall pass." And it always did! Best of luck to you down under!

I am over 6 months out and I still can't eat and drink at the same time. I really focus on eating my Protein first and seem to forget about the drinking thing. I usually get something to drink when I put my plate away, but let it sit for about 20 minutes and allow the ice to chill the drink really well before I even consider drinking. I sometimes get that bubble feeling when I first start drinking after eating. I think, mostly because I drink a little too much at first. Then, I wait about 10 minutes and sip the rest of my drink for an hour or more. My husband had gastric bypass 5 years ago and I have watched him put on 30 lbs since his big loss. I am terrified that I will do the same thing so I really focus on what the program has taught me this far. He doesn't eat and drink at the same time still, but does overeat and has forgotten the chew, chew, chew method. So, just because you are eating and drinking at the same time doesn't necessarily mean that you will put on weight unless you are overeating. Since I don't really have hunger anymore, I know how much my new tummy can hold and that's all I eat. I believe the weight-gain is more about what you are putting in your mouth and if you are using what you are taught. I do know that my doctor said that if you drink too quickly after eating, it washes away all your nutrition before your stomach has time to process it. So, I try to remember this since I am still only eating small portions. A few times I have forgotten about this and went back to my old habits not even realizing it. Oh my! The discomfort from the Fluid mixed with the food was enough to remind me of it! I have taken a sip if needed if something doesn't seem to go down right and I have been OK with that, but nothing more than that.

I have heard that is the first thing that makes you gain is drinking with meals. If you drink, you are able to eat more and therefore you should not do it. NOBODY was a bigger drinker with their meals than I was!!! I could easily drink 3-4 glasses of tea with each meal. I started practicing about 2 months before surgery and when I had my surgery, I was prepared. I missed it at first. Now, I am 4 months out and NEVER think about drinking when eating. I still only eat about 2 oz of food at a time so maybe that is why, but the only time I think about it is afterwards to see what time I can drink. I think it just becomes a habit and we have to break it. If drinking with meals is the number one reason for weight gain with the sleeve, I WILL NEVER drink and eat together again!!! Kelly

I'm about 5.5 months out and my folks so absolutely not. They discussed weight gain with me and said one of the first things they ask is if you are eating and drinking together. They see a pattern there. I miss it a bit but not nearly as much as I thought I would. I miss it most when I am out with a group and see others getting to do it. Here at home, I don't think about it much.

So...my last pre-op appointment is on 9/12 with my surgery scheduled for 9/28. At my last appointment the doctor that works with surgeon ordered me to lose between 5-10 lbs. before my last pre-op appointment on 9/12. She also said that if I did not lose the ordered amount it was fine, but that if I gained any weight, even an ounce that the surgery would be cancelled. Wow! That's a lot of pressure. So far I have lost about 4 lbs, giving me 6 days to lose between 1-6 more lbs. So scary! The surgeon didn't even make me go on a pre-op liquid diet. So, I have been going the low carb route and trying to walk and ride my bike more. Anybody else been given this kind of ultimatum? Ducker