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Thanks everyone for all of your responses I no longer have a dietician I have moved away since I had my surgey. That is why I have been looking for some hel[p with answers. I do think I need to excercise more but I dont have energy because I'm severly anemic. And on top of that I am always hungry. I take the 20lb weight gain serious I have a long life ahead of me and I need to be healty for my family

When did you guys realize that you had gained a lot of weight ? Lol I didn't recognize mine until I went into a store and tried on my normal size clothes (14/15 or (15/16) and realized they were 1 sneeze from the seams bursting lol ?

Well I had major side effects I gained 100lbs in 9 months with Depo that is what started my weight gain for me and I have never been able to loose more that 50-60lbs since. I am praying that with lapband I will get below 200 agian! The other problem is that my Blood pressure shot out of control and since depo have not been able to use any other birth conrol because my BP shoots up. I had been on BC for 5 years before depo an never had a problem. I think people on Depo should really read the research and see all the problems it has caused for many people!

Para guard is awesone! It's an IUD and no added hormones or weight gain and it's good for 10 years! Woohoo!

Hi everyone, I was originally banded back in Nov of 2012 only to wind up with an emergency removal & sleeve revision in Jan of 2013. I did great - lost about 105 - 110 pounds. But, as a result of a job loss, laid off 6 weeks ago, my bad habits came back. I "never" thought I would go back to munching on crappy food & over loading on carbs. The holidays are not the best time to be job hunting. The stress that comes with it is over whelming. It's hard being unemployed, spending HOURS & HOURS on my laptop applying for jobs that could be a match. I've gained about 10 pounds, and while it may not sound like a lot, that's how it starts. I "refuse" to go back to where I was (245 pds). I now weigh around 148 pds. I'm here to let everyone know that yes, you can gain weight after being sleeved. While you may not physically be able to eat as much, you can eat a little more than when you were first sleeved, and gain weight by eating all the wrong stuff. My point? It's time to refocus on why I lost the weight in the first place, and how being thinner made me feel. Time to go back to basics - 'do over.' Every day is a new opportunity to re-build my strength, and focus on what needs to be done to lose those horrible additional 10 pds that seem to be sitting on my stomach, and surely my butt :-). With this said, I'm trying to back track & remember what I did when I first started. I've become more lactose intolerant than what I originally was when I first started this journey, so I need to be careful what I eat. After giving so much support when I first started this journey, I am now looking for help & support. Trying to come up with healthy menus again. Goal is to eliminate those shitty carbs that made me do this in the first place. Appreciate any help you guys can offer! Depressed, but definitely trying to push through with positivity!! Thanks for listening!

It depends what is causing your depression? Some peoples weight gain causes their depression so weightloss helps. Some people weightloss makes no difference as their depression is not about that, perhaps an imbalance. The sleeve itself is an emotional rollercoaster, alot have mood swings. I have been down alot. But really happy with my sleeve ( I have been on and off meds since I was a teenager) I am not on meds now. The sleeve is something I am happy with. My health has improved. But it will not make my mental health issues go away.

Post-Surgery Weight Regain: Mental Health Regular readers will appreciated the importance of mental health factors both as a promoter of weight gain as well as an important barrier to weight management. It is therefore no surprise that in our systematic review of weight regain after bariatric surgery, published in Obesity Surgery, we found substantial evidence for the role of mental health factors both in failure to lose adequate amounts of weight or to regain any weight lost. Out of the sixteen studies included in the review, all studies that examined this factor, implicated uncontrolled mental health issues as an important cause of weight regain. These included, binge eating disorder, depression and addictive behaviours (alcohol and drug use). In fact, there was a linear relationship between the number of reported psychiatric diagnoses and the magnitude of weight regain. Overall, patients with two or more psychiatric conditions were approximately six times more likely to either lose no further weight or regain weight than patients without psychiatric problems. At least one study reported that 80 % of patients identified pre-operatively with an eating disorder, and who did not receive any treatment pre-operatively, had recurrent feelings of binge eating at 6 months post-operation. In addition to binge eating, some researchers describe a new sub-clinical disorder described as “grazing” (consuming multiple small meals with feelings of loss of control with eating), the incidence of which appeared to increase after surgery and was associated with an increased tendency for weight regain. Interestingly, one study found that completion rates of behavioural modification therapy increased to 91% when performed post-operatively, compared to 14 % when done pre-operatively. Nevertheless, it probably makes more sense, when possible, to address mental health issues prior to undergoing surgery. In summary, our review finds ample evidence that a wide range of mental health problems can lead to maladaptive eating, which if unregocgnised and untreated will prove a persistent impediment to surgical weight loss. This is why extensive mental health assessments and interventions both prior to as well as following surgery should be a routine part of bariatric care. If you have experienced specific mental health issues to be an important factor in weight gain after surgery, I’d like to hear about it. @DrSharma Edmonton, AB Karmali S, Brar B, Shi X, Sharma AM, de Gara C, & Birch DW (2013). Weight Recidivism Post-Bariatric Surgery: A Systematic Review. Obesity surgery PMID: 23996349

True or False: If a product says no added sugar, it’s sugar free. That statement is false. It just means the manufacturer didn’t add sugar to a product that may contain naturally occurring sugar from milk (lactose) or fruit (fructose). Foods with natural sugars also provide other nutrients like vitamins, minerals, fiber and anti-oxidants that are healthy for us. A revision to the Nutrition Facts Panel may include added sugars, which will be a better way to determine what foods to minimize. This change won’t be for another year or so. True or False: If a product says no added sugar, it’s sugar free. That statement is false. It just means the manufacturer didn’t add sugar to a product that may contain naturally occurring sugar from milk (lactose) or fruit (fructose). Foods with natural sugars also provide other nutrients like vitamins, minerals, fiber and anti-oxidants that are healthy for us. A revision to the Nutrition Facts Panel may include added sugars, which will be a better way to determine what foods to minimize. This change won’t be for another year or so. For bariatric patients, eating too much sugar after surgery can lead to dumping. Sugar is considered “empty calories” because all you get is calories without the vitamins, minerals, antioxidants or fiber that are good for your health. Other problems from sugar include increased triglycerides, decreased HDL (healthy) cholesterol, increased respiration rate, fatty liver, increased blood sugars, cavities and weight gain. Research is beginning to link too much added sugar with heart disease, inflammation, gout and premature wrinkles. Recent research points to people consuming too many added sugars dying from heart disease at twice the rate as for people with low sugar intake, even if the diet is otherwise healthy. Obvious sources of sugar are the sweets: cookies, cakes, candy, ice cream, desserts and sugar sweetened pop. Sugar sweetened beverages like regular pop, sports drinks and energy drinks account for about a third of the added sugars we consume. Added sugars can also creep into your diet through condiments like catsup and barbeque sauce, salad dressings, canned tomato products, coffee drinks, pastries, smoothies, crackers and ready to eat cereals. When reading the ingredients label, look for words like anything that ends in “–ose” (sucrose, fructose, maltose, dextrose, xylose etc..), syrup, juice, agave, honey, molasses, caramel, corn sweetener, high fructose corn syrup, evaporated cane guide, cane sugar, brown sugar, barley malt, and beet sugar. You now have information about how to read the label to see if what you are eating or drinking has added sugars. Next week, you’ll find out how to compare products to determine how much added sugar is in something you are eating or drinking.

Has there been any significant or small changes in your life? Sometimes we get determined to lose weight at first because of a new relationship or we are starting over again. Once everything seems comfortable we lapse and temporarily lose site of everything. I am not saying this is you, but for whatever reasons we have failed on other programs in the past, could happen here as well. Perhaps it has nothing to do with food, but more of how you are feeling about something personal in your life. I fear this happening to me one day, because I have always been an emotional eater. I have always done well with diets and lost significant amounts of weight only to put it back on because I wasn't dealing with the real issues at hand. If it is just about food, then just don't buy the things that are causing your weight gain. Distract yourself from eating by getting out of the house and being active. Spend time with friends and family. Go to support meetings and share your experiences. You aren't a failure by any means. Make a new commitment to yourself and get started. Sometimes you just have to be creative and make a new strategy when the old one fails. You are a winner in my book. Best wishes, Stephanie

I am glad this post exists. I have not yet had my WLS, I am here to research and become familiar with everything I will go through, and I know this will "be a thing" for me. After a really long relationship I don't do well with male attention, part of it is my lack of confidence after my weight gain, but I can't help but wonder if it will get better after. I'm just going to try to enjoy my new self and life, and hopefully become the fun flirty cute girl I used to be. I hope you start to find it as more of a compliment, every women (married or single) deserves to feel beautiful, even from a stranger lol

Hello my name is Kelsey and I’m new to this website/forum. I came on here to seek advice/friends to help me out. I have been struggling so so bad lately. I had weight loss surgery 11.28.2015 and I was 400 pounds when I did. After about a year and a half I had lost a lot of weight, I got down to 170 pounds. I was happy at this weight, healthy, had less back/foot/ankle/knee pain, etc, you knew the drill. Until Covid i kept most of it off. In the past 3 years I have noticed a steady incline in weight again, so much so that I got back up to 270 at one point. i went back to my surgeon, dr Scott in search of maybe a revision. What I got instead was a speech on how sncking is bad etc, things I already knew and he told me to do nothing but shakes for ten days. I did pretty well on my shakes, drinking 4-5 a day and got down to 253. Of course, when I started eating again, I’ve gained weight back and I’m back to 265. I am so unhappy, and stressed out about this and I’m not sure what to do. i did have lbs done, my thyroid is acting up and my b12 is not absorbing correctly, vit D low, etc, im thinking hypothyroidism is the main cause of my weight gain and low energy but my surgeon wants me to see a pcp about starting meds. I don’t have a pcp, so I made an appt (I made this appt one month ago) but I’m having to wait until OCTOBER 25 to see the pcp. I just don’t know what else to do. i do have history of bipolar and depression, which causes me to stress eat. I’m fighting this very hard, but I feel like I would do better if I had friends or online even pals to help me through this. Anyway. That’s me. I need help, obv, so if anyone feels inclined, reach out to me. We can exchange whatever info we need to stay in touch.

Hi, I am new to this site.. I have been looking for an answer all over the internet and I hope you guys can help me. I am 4 weeks post op and for the last 1.5 weeks my weight has fluctuated up and down 2lbs. I didn't think weight gain was possible with this surgery. I called and talked with the medical assistant at the office and she said to keep and eye on it. Weight everyday and if it continues then I need to come in, that this is not normal. I am not having any pain or anything like that, my weight is just STUCK! Has anyone had this? I am sticking to my stage 3 diet not eating to much ect... ect.. Help!! Total loss so far has been 17.6 lbs

You are so welcome. Too bad you are in NH. Iam a very good listener and a great believer in everyday accomplishments whether mental or physical ( the latter not so much...........lol) I had GBS in 2006. Higher weight 311 lowest 187. In stating so, current weight bounces from 230 - 235 I seem to be stuck, but just can't be at peace with this weight gain. However my scale says "just live with this and move on" ! So hard headed! (and italian to boot!) Such is life. Love this site and just so happy for some that have made their goal above and beyond. Encouragement abounds!! Keep the posts coming! Thanks, Sharowna

I had complications. My stomach twisted after surgery and it prevented me from keeping anything down. The second day in the hospital they put a stent in. It helped a bit but then got worse. I threw up constantly for the first two weeks. I couldn't get any sleep because I would wake up from a dead sleep to throw up. After a trip to the ER in week 2 for dehydration because I couldn't keep anything down including Water, I was readmitted the following day and they took the stent out. Did a complete 180 and was 100% better. I've had fluctuations with my weight, bouncing back within the same 3 pounds, but no significant weight gain.

Hi Valerie, I did not have community support either the first time around. Finding this group on Facebook first really helped. The forum is really helpful because sometimes I just need to get the words out. I read other posts and share my experiences now, because it looks easy from the outside. I started physical therapy and water aerobics because I am de-conditioned from the weight gain. I had spinal surgery a year after my first surgery and the weight gain left me in a lot of pain. I am getting better slowly.

The good news? You caught it!!! That's the beauty of the band - it's still there and it works when you get yourself back on track. My story is identical to yours! A few different circumstances, but to make it short: pres-surgery weight 306 - 7 years ago. Got down to 165. Quit paying attention and quit having regular doctor appointments = 60 pound weight gain. When I went back to the doctor I weighed in at 220 and was devastated. ' Then I remembered how excited I was to be at 220 at one point. And I also realized that if I don't get right back up, I'll end up easily back where I started before surgery and then some. SO - I got a fill in May and have started having monthly appointments with the doctor for accountability. I'm following the most important rules for me: ABSOLUTELY no drink with food Lean Protein first (yeah, but if I do that, I can't eat as much... EXACTLY!) Log every calorie on MyFitnessPal and stop ignoring what/how much I am consuming (It's soooo much easier to not know!) Exercise daily (UGGGHHH!!!) I was so defeated and depressed when I started back. I felt like such a failure! I have fought my weight all my life and I thought that I had conquered the problem. Nope - I will never be finished with this battle - no matter whether I get to my goal or not! It's just another one of those hard lessons - we will never be able to do what other people can do without consequences. I can't eat like my skinny sister without gaining weight. I have to exercise daily, even though other people don't have to. It's not fair and it sucks, but it's my reality. Once I accept that, the rest is easier. I was so used to failure that I had convinced myself that the band would no longer work for me. I was afraid that I was too far gone. I am my own worst enemy. Once I learned how to defeat the band I could (and did) eat anything I wanted to - and as much of it as I wanted. I thought maybe I had just tricked myself into losing the weight the first time but that now the real me was back and it was all over. I thought that maybe I would never be able to do it again. More good news - I was wrong!!! Like I said - the acceptance piece was the key for me. Once I accepted that the band wasn't magical and that I have to do my part, miraculously, it started "working" again. So I follow the rules, workout, and I'm losing again. Because the scale messes with my head, I'm not allowing myself to step on the scale until July 31. But this morning I went shopping in the back of my closet and I'm wearing a dress today I haven't worn in over a year! You can do this! Start with regular doctor appointments. I need to have to look him in the eye. I know, I know - I should be doing it for me, blah, blah, blah. Don't care - those external controls are important for me. Maybe someday I'll be able to do it just for myself. But for now - I need to be accountable and not be able to hide or make excuses. My family loves me and accepts me whether I'm fat or not, and quite frankly - I can pretty easily justify or excuse just about anything to them and they accept that. Not the doctor. He knows BS when he hears it and he will call me on it. After getting back to the doctor, start logging your intake (brutally) and start walking every day. Once you get rolling - the momentum builds quickly. Don't give up!!!! Shelly

Regarding the weight gain while in the hospital, I'm sure it has a lot to do with being dehydrated pre-op, and then getting round the clock fluids while being admitted in the hospital. Plus tack on swelling from the surgery itself. It all kind of evens itself out, so by the time you're DC'd it's perfectly OK, to have not lost & maybe even gained. I hope that helps a little...?

Like you said - it helps keep you hydrated, you aren't taking in as much food and food contains Water so you need to get it from the water. 2 it does help you stay full longer. 3. it helps flush salt from your body, you may not eat a lot, but it doesn't take much to cause water weight gain. The water helps delute the salt and your kidneys flush it out. I have also heard that it helps up your metabolism, but that wasn't from a doctor so I am not so sure I believe it.

Hi...glad to see I'm not the only one gaining weight. I am on maintenance and found Doritos. Delicious, cruncy, and go right thru. Gained 2 pounds this week. A body cannot gain weight unless there is too much intake. Even those w/ medical issues that causes weight gain won't gain weight if they don't eat. - not realistic; however. I am just going back to meal planning and ensuring I have plenty of food that won't cause weight gain (I slime if I eat to much) and stay away from Doritos. Yes, get a fill. Paying out of pocket is something many if not most of us do. But it's so worth it! Good luck and keep us posted.

I know this my LipstickLady friend, and yet...... I chose the cute little nuggets. But No more. I solemnly vow to never again go through a drive thru - even drove to Kansas from Florida and back, no weight gain. Gained 4 lbs. on a 7 day cruise, and lost it immediately. I am blessed to be old and retired. I got off track when my NUT said I was eating too much Protein, and I got gout in both big toe joints. I am going back to 1/2 filet mignon, fish, tuna, and more protein and a little exercise as I can, and I should see a difference. Cowgirl Jane posted some good pointers last night that opened my eyes. Sometimes we think we are on point and then duh! Not! Thanks for the help, LipstickLady, we all need it. As you can see Wynnie, we are all helped here. Best of luck. Linda

I have always been overweight and bigger than people my age. I guess when I really noticed a definite weight gain was after I got married. I gained about 50 pounds. Some traumatic things happened in my life and I just gave up caring. I cannot wait until I have my surgery and hit my goal weight! I don't ever remember being at a healthy weight. I just want to know what that feels like, lol!

I am soooo happy to see this thread. I had actually thought of this idea also and was planning on asking the staff at my LAP-BAND® doctor's office about the possibility of doing this with other patients. I just happened to think about checking here today and typing in the words "LAP-BAND® buddy" to see what I came up with. I am in definite need of a LAP-BAND® buddy. I started at about 430 and got down to 379 and after weight gain from the holidays and having to be deflated because my band was too tight, I am back up to 410 and I am absolutely miserable :smile2:. I feel like a complete failure and have been beating myself up over it. Unfortunately I am an emotional eater so that just makes things even worse. I don't want to give up and know that I could use some encouragement and motivation to get me going back in the right direction. So if anyone out there is listening, HELP!! I am a 43 (soon to be 44) year old female in Ft Worth, Tx and was banded by Dr Adam Smith, who I think is an absolute gem. I would love to have a mentor in the Ft Worth area, but a mentor from anywhere would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!!!

after a fill I do liquid for that day, then mushy for a day maybe two then back to solids. my doctor said the longer you stay on soft foods the harder it will be to get back on solids. he basically said by the 4th day his patients should be eating. remember mushy foods go thru the band easier and therefore you can eat a lot more of them which can cause weight gain. p.s. this was a good poll!

Ok first off I had to have two surgeries for my band. After the first one the band was too tight and nothing went down. 2nd surgery fixed it... I went for my follow up last Friday and dropped 32 lbs since Dec 3rd. Also my doc said that they may not even have to do a fill because the band should still be tighter than most people. I'm already eating people... Lol and I have gained 5 or 6 lbs... Is that normal? How do u know when to stop eating? I can't really tell... Although I'm not eating near as much as before the surgery I think its a substantial amount. So, I'm thinking I need a fill and that appt is not scheduled until 2/12... I'm thinking of bumping it up... Is this weight gain normal?

I also have the same issue; I started writing down the week of PMS in my calendar for two reasons (1) so I would be aware if I was eating "slider" foods and needed to be in more control and, (2) I don't weigh myself that week because I also have at least a 4 pound weight gain ~ the cravings are pretty rough ~ good luck