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Happy Father’s Day from BariatricPal! Today is the day when we take some time to appreciate our fathers or any father figures in our lives even more than usual. We at BariatricPal hope you have some special time scheduled with your family to appreciate each other. We also hope you’re using this as another chance to re-energize your WLS success efforts, since there’s a good chance that part of the reason why you’re in this journey is because of your family. If you are indeed looking for a little inspiration, we hope to give it to you! Here’s what you’ll find in this newsletter. Showing Gratitude with Health dinner Dad’s Way: Easy Peasy and Healthy Starting a Healthy Father’s Day Tradition If that’s not enough to keep you motivated, there’s plenty more help over on the BariatricPal Forums. Don’t forget to logon and join the fun – after you’ve said “Thanks” and “I love you” to Dad, of course! Here’s to weight loss surgery and what it can do to strengthen your family! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder, BariatricPal Showing Gratitude with Health A Healthy You Is A Better You Holidays like Father’s Day may make you think a little more about others. You might think about what you can do to be a better parent, or how you can show your parents how much you appreciate them. In all that generosity, you might forget about your own health, or feel guilty about focusing on yourself once in a while. After all, the pre-op prep and post-op recovery from weight loss surgery already demands a lot of time and energy that you aren’t spending on your family. But, the weeks, months, and years following weight loss surgery are just as important. To succeed long term, you need to take care of yourself. And that’s not selfish. All of your loved ones benefit when you are energetic, happy, and healthy. You can be more involved in family activities, and save money on healthcare costs. The effort you put into your own health is not just for you. It’s for your family, too. Share the Health Your healthy behaviors don’t happen in a vacuum. They happen in the middle of real life, and that’s great. You can be an excellent role model for your children and spouse just by sticking to your commitments and intentions. You can also actively involve them in a healthy lifestyle. You don’t need to be overbearing about. It can be as simple as inviting them to walk with you to the post office, letting them choose between carrot sticks and bell pepper strips when you pack lunches, and taking fun outings like hiking as a family. As health becomes the norm, your whole family can win. Dinner Dad’s Way: Easy Peasy and Healthy It may be a stereotype, but we’ll play along: not all dads are the best cooks. You may remember the occasional day in your childhood when Dad was responsible for looking after you and your siblings for the evening. What did you have for dinner? eggs? Cereal? Chinese takeout? Maybe you’re a father who’s guilty of this same behavior! Hey, whatever works to keep the kids happy and fed, right? Well, we have a better option. Keep the kids happy while getting a weight loss meal for yourself with no extra effort. Sound good? Here’s the scoop. Cereal for Dinner – a Classic “Dad” Dinner If cereal is your go-to, take a look at The BariatricPal Store’s cereal choices with about 15 grams of Protein and only about 120 calories per serving. We’re not talking about tasteless “health” cereals here. We’re talking about old favorites like cocoa flavored pops and honey nut circles. Yum! Add cow or soy milk for extra protein, or serve it with almond milk for a low-cal cereal “dinner.” If you want to be a super-dad, offer your kids fresh fruit or treats like raisins, coconut, nuts, or even chocolate chips so they feel special on their evening home with Dad. Cooking 101: Eggs If there’s one thing a guy knows how to cook, it’s probably eggs. But if you don’t know how to cook eggs, or you didn’t stock up on fresh eggs, or you just don’t want to try to get your college cooking skills back by experimenting on your children, you have another choice: BariatricPal instant Protein Omelets. You can grab them from your pantry and get them ready in minutes. Each bacon and cheese or vegetable omelet packet has 15 grams of protein and 100 calories. You can eat yours straight, but your children may want a little more oomph from Dad. Get your creative juices flowing and give them an omelet to remember! If your children like vegetables, make them a colorful, crunchy omelet with diced bell peppers, tomatoes, broccoli florets, or any other veggie they love. You can eat the veggie omelet on its own, and serve it on toast for your kids. Top it with cheese, avocado slices, or salsa to make it a dinner to remember. Chinese Takeout Minus the Weight Gain Weigh the options. With Chinese takeout, you need to go get your food or wait up to an hour to be delivered. Then, you have way too many calories and carbs from fried rice, egg rolls, chow mein, and breaded sweet and sour chicken. The alternative? Grab a box of Spicy Chicken Oriental from your pantry and serve the family in minutes. The meal has 240 calories and 14 grams of protein – that’s quite a bargain for delicious chicken and rice! If you’re feeling super ambitious, start with Protein Fettuccine and Asian Inspired Pasta Sauce, and let your imagine take over. Toss in diced chicken or shrimp and bok choy and other vegetables, and serve up some healthy chow mein to make your children proud. Starting a Healthy Father’s Day Tradition If there’s one thing that makes a healthy lifestyle easier, it’s habit. You’re way more likely to get to the gym if you don’t stop to think about it. You’re way more likely to keep the junk food out of your grocery cart if you automatically steer past the aisles with packaged snack foods and frozen desserts. And packing a healthy lunch is way easier if you just know what’s going to go into it each day. So why not add another healthy behavior to your arsenal on this Father’s Day? You can kill two birds with one stone by spending some quality Dad time while you work on a new healthy tradition. It can be something for you and Dad, for you and your kids, or maybe for all three generations to look forward to every year. Here are a few ideas: - Healthy barbecue with chicken breast, veggie or turkey burgers, - An early morning fishing trip followed by feasting on your protein catch and a summer fruit salad to die for. - A trip to the beach or a local park for some volleyball, swimming, soccer, or a treasure hunt (if you have young ones around!). - A healthy gift exchange, with great gifts like a gift card to The BariatricPal Store, a set of partner training sessions for you and Dad with a personal trainer, or a sampler of grab and go protein Snacks like protein bars, salmon jerky, and peanuts. Whatever healthy tradition you start, you can rest easy knowing that’s one more day out of the year that you’ll be solidifying your healthy lifestyle while building those family ties. And when all is said and done, that’s what weight loss surgery is all about, right? Thanks for reading the newsletter and supporting BariatricPal. Have a wonderful, safe, and healthy Father’s Day, and keep letting us know how your weight loss surgery journey is going. Let this be a summer to be proud of! · Unsubscribe from all BariatricPal E-Mail.

I also had the same problem with my first pregnancy but I gained a lot of weight and with every lb gained my blood pressure went up. At around 6 months I was put on meds and I have been on high blood pressure meds since she was born 5.5 years ago. After I lost weight with the lap band my dose was decreased by 1/2. Once I got pregnant my OBGYN took me off of them completely b/c they werent safe drugs. So far my blood pressure has been ok but I think it will go up again with pregnancy weight gain. I have a drs appt today so I will know if it is high or ok.

Hi. I am sorry you had a weight gain. I never heard of PGX. Have you thought of going back to your surgeon and dietitian for help? They maybe the best people to help you get back on track. Good luck.

I’m self-pay, so no issues with insurance due to weight gain, thankfully. It is the time of year, every year, when I start to eat uncontrollably and gain weight. I have SAD, and It happens EVERY year between late August and late September as the days start to get shorter. I’m already up 5#, and I Can’t Stop Eating. My surgery is September 24, and I’m just so irritated, even though this is Just what I do this time of year. Anyone else have this problem?

BlueSea, Isnt it amazing when your on the path to WLS that you notice the small things in life. Especailly how others eat their food. I agree with your decision to continue to be private about your upcoming surgery. And even with the knowledge of your friends possible WLS you had the respect to allow her to continue her journey for a healthier life style. No matter what that is something you should be proud of! When I started WLS journey I knew it is something I feel I want to guard with all my heart. Not because I feel I am weak as a person because all of us have face the unsettling judgement of others during weight gain moments of our life. I just want to protect myself and my journey and not be derailed by others comments. I am doing this for me and my family to have a long and healthy life. I lost my father to obesity plan and simple he was very young. So for me I have been on this journey to get healthy and happy with the wonderful tool of VSG also I didnt want my daughter to go through the same pain in her young life. And I have a little cheerleader on my side!! So Happy I did this!! Wishing you the very best!

Hi - i don't take it when I am on liquids just when I am on foods. I didn't really ask about the fills but thats how it was when i was on the liquids... and a couple of days won't kill me. I just started retaking it... and guess what - as everyone else who has been saying here - now I am back to eating (maybe not as much as before... but definitely I'm looser. But I feel restriction if that makes sense. Today i had 1600 calories!!! have been between 500-900 on the fills... I don't even know how that happened today. I did work out alot not sure if that is it... or maybe I am PMS cuz I was cravey. Back on the Met though. That should help.. Anytime i had SIGNIFICANT weight gain it was because I went off met for a long time.

Hi and thanks for the replies. Not sure if I am placing this in the right spot... Hunger is not my issue. Not enough exercise from a seriously herniated dis has really impacted my weight gain.I have done a food log and am staying in the 800-1500 most days - and sometimes as low as 600 if I only have three shakes. I think my body is sick of shakes... I think there is something off in my gut and am taking a lot of probiotics now - funny - thing - have not gained in a week on them... so not sure what that means... I keep hoping that by cutting out part of the stomach you do change your gut hormoes which are linked directly to your hypothalamus... there is research being done on the brain gut connection and then how certain bacteria in your belly can cause weight gain or loss... I keep reading and trying to sort this out... I do knwo that I started gaining weight after a two week course of intravenous antibiotics back in the 90s... I have never been the same since then... so maybe my gut bacterial population is the issue... I think Metabolism is impacted by thyroid as well as gut bacteria. I am talking to my endocrinologist who is a very responsive doctor at Tufts but research is so new it is not main stream... I really appreciate all your input and thank you all.

I was sleeved in 12/2012 and converted to bypass on 8/14. I went from 240-lowest 166. In July I was 166 using phentermine but have since gained 17 lbs since July. Had an upper GI don't and the area btwn small bowel and stomach has stretched. I go back in 1/25 to discuss options bc of cravings and weight gain. I feel like a failure. Who has 2 weight lose surgeries and can't maintain. I do eat fairly well and work out 5 days a week. I also had twins in oct 2015 so I'm always busy!! Any questions, comments or concerns welcome! Be nice please! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Your feedback last Wed. and Don Mills of Inamed have already made a great deal of difference cause the information was so timly. I can deal with most things if I have the facts to make informed decisions. I just need to be the one to make the call about my body and quality of life. I was not given that at my clinic on that day. I am sure I will try to have a 2nd band and I pray that it will workout for the long term.. But I have started getting control of my weight gain by getting serveral new tools (Diet Assistant 6.0 PDA& desktop SW and OTC appetite control pills) to hopfully help me stay focused. My goal is to go into January as healthy as I possible can by not gaining any more weight. This leak could not have happen at a better time of the year :faint: cause I truly believe the Lord is telling me to trust in Him and not my prosthetic. He is using this season to drive it home. I just wanted to close and again thank those who replied to this post.

I had my 1st drink 3wks out-2 small peach ballini at a drive thru daiquiri shop. It took 2 hours to drink each one but I felt fine. Was able to drive home w/no headaches, and no hangovers. I also have tried long island teas but feel fine after 1. I do request they not making as strong..also the scale shoes no 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.

Sarah I continue to check back on this thread because as a newly sleeved person I just can't grasp I risked my life and this could all fail. Please you have already shared so much and for that I thank you but could you please give an example of what you where eatting to cause regain. I really hoped the sleeve would prevent over eatting to some extend so total weight gain would be impossible? Give me an example of a bad day of eatting . Did you feel stuff and ignore that?

I think more and more insurers are approving these band revisions ( I don’t know anything about sleeve to bypass). I’m not just dealing with weight gain, which is not above even 30...going down that dark path and fastI, but now the muscles in my lower esophagus have started to weaken and deteriorate, food is stuck all the time, the port has caused a hernia, and the band has slipped. And all this happening out of the blue within the last 5 months!

Salad condenses and slides down easily. I can eat a regular sized plate. I make them low calorie. No weight gain.

Ur weight gain at surgery is from the air pumped in ur stomach...it will go away over time--walking helps..I was like 10-15 lbs higher day I came home and it takes a week or two for the all the air to leave ur body..I still feel some air come up when I drink and I'm 6 wks post op tomorrow

I'm really glad you posted this. It's certainly an idea to keep in mind if I can't struggle through my own food issues with a filled band. I didn't realize that the band could cause many problems with eating the way you're supposed to. Trust me, after a half hour stuggling to get meat down, then coughing it back up, just to relieve the pain.. I have hit the ice cream in the freezer just because it goes down, doesn't hurt, and tastes good. I've lost about 70lbs thus far with the band, and I KNOW I could not have gotten this far without it. I just... need to figure out how to get the rest of the way...without a ton of pain. I don't regret my band, but there are times, when I'm in a restaurant with friends or family, and I have to shift around, or I'm visibly uncomfortable (despite me trying to hide it) or that I have to excuse myself and run to the bathroom, where I think "I miss eating like a normal person." I actually have avoided a fill the past few months because of a small weight gain, and also, I'm still having problems getting meat down from time to time. I'm actually in North Carolina now, visiting my boyfriend for a month. I figured I always behave on my diet here, so I'll go back once I get home... Hopefully I can lose what was gained and the doctor won't have to scold me too harshly. :thumbup:

Have you been checked for polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)? Lack of periods and weight gain are symptoms.

Definately time for some new spandexy type pants. Too funny, but hey I think you would be much happier buying for weight loss than for weight gain. #priceless & #so worth it. This story has made my day.

I gained 1.5 lbs today. I know I'm not supposed to weigh every day, I waited a few days and weighed today. I'm 3 weeks post op. Anyone else in this boat?

At 16 months out i consider myself to have been quite successful and have been a consistant loser. For me thus far moderation has always been the key as far as food is concerned. I still eat what i want (with the exception of bread and beef) only FAR FAR FAR FAR less. I find that if i keep in tune to my sense of restriction and try and head in for fills when that feeling is lost that my pattern of losing remains consistant. Ive had minor set backs along the way (10 lb vacation gain in ONE WEEK!), holliday weight gains and so forth but i always GET RIGHT BACK ON TRACK. I weigh my self every day at the same time each day and very rarely does a day go by when i dont drink a minimum of 50oz of water. I would probably be further along then i am if i was more of an avid exerciser, but i try an do what i can when i can. Ive never had one problem with my band thus far and IM LOVING IT! I still have a ways to go but im in it for the long haul. Good luck to you.

I am 34 months RNY gastric bypass. I chose this type of surgery because I have severe acid reflux (GERD) prior to surgery and this is the recommended approach for that condition. I was in the weight loss phase for 6 or 7 months and then transitioned into the maintenance phase. What you are requesting, I believe is how to minimize your weight gain prior to surgery. This is somewhat similar to the maintenance approach, perhaps the following article might provide you some clues. http://www.breadandbutterscience.com/Surgery2.pdf

I'd also be very hesitant to get a hysterectomy. I was lucky enough to see an endocrinologist from the Mayo Clinic who was fabulous. Here's what he told me: metformin generally helps people lose about 10% of their weight before you hit a plateau. However, it does help stop weight gain. And, with the band, you've got another weapon in your arsenol. PCOS is a condition thata should be treated by an endocrinologist, not a general paractitioner. I've had my share of experiences with bad doctors (hey, there are good and bad people in all professions.) The only doctors I've experienced who really understand PCOS are endocrinologists. Find one and get an appointment. I had to go out of network and pay a lot of money, but it was worth it to experience a doctor who is both intelligent and understands your condition. At 25, you have a long life of fertility ahead of you, if you choose to have more children. The metformin might help you conceive, if that's what you want to do right now---it worked for 3 of my friends with PCOS within a few months of using it. Also, the more you can lose, the better it will get. I've been banded one week only, but already, I've lost a few pounds 14 since the pre-op diet (1 month total), and I'm not even on metformin right now. Stay away from juices, sugary drinks, too many carbs at once, and it will start to work for you, too. And please please please don't let one rather uninformed doctor sway you. (Sorry if I sound like I'm preaching....) :biggrin:

This is to Renewedhope about Metformin. Before my surgery I was on and off of it for one year because my body could not handle it. I noticed since my surgery my Avandamet did not effect my body like it did prior to surgery (making me very ill). So I pulled the good ole Metformin out of the cabinet this week to see if maybe it has the same effect and I have not been sick once. The reason I tell you this is because Metformin stopped my weight gain before being banded unlike anything else I just could not deal with the side effects. I cannot explain it, but I have had 0 side effects now. This whole banding thing is amamzing.

I think you may be in the intial period of the surgery and it takes time to get adjusted to a new lifestyle. Yes you won't be able to binge or have big portion of food like you used to but post-Op your portion sizes do increase. I also have PCOS and have dealt with and even now dealing with it's horrendous side effects. Hirutism, acne, no periods, weight gain, dark patches, skin tags, metabolic syndrome, high BP and HR (but never took meds for it) anxiety, depression you name it and I have/had it. I'll anyday take this surgery over having to deal with plethora of PCOS related symptoms. My acne has gotten better, blood pressure and HR have normalized so far. No periods still. But I am sure as I continue to lose, some of these side effects will minimize. There's no guarantee, but I am sure I am on a better boat post-Op. My cravings and binge eating have also gotten better, which was never the case post tons of diet plans. This surgery is definitely a boon for many. But it takes time, patience,work and sacrificing of certain elements. Like many suggested, try therapist and see that may help or give it couple of months of adjustment. Good luck.

I am starting to get hungry, and look for food! I had surgery on December 1st 2011 ...I had only 1 fill on January 5th....I am hungry....but when i feel that way I just eat a bowl of special k red berries and that usual takes care of it but im getting scared....no weight gain, but no loss either in 2 weeks ???? I am so ready to call pizza hut an order a thin crust veggie pizza right now.... HELP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!