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I am 7 years post op from my gastric bypass surgery. I am able to consume much more than I was able to in the begining. I see my surgery team regularly (2-3 times a year) to keep on track, be reminded of the correct way to live as a gastric bypass patient, and to make sure my vitamins ect are all where they need to be. I was told the pouch does not stretch, however there are many causes to weight gain (I have gained about 60lbs in the past 7 years) and prevent weight loss after surgery so I work closley with my surgery team. Grazing is a huge no-no and I am guilty of it. Eating ANYTHING that is not on the perscribed list of foods is a no-no and just sends you right back to old habits and ways of eating. Drinking fluid to soon after your meal or with your meal is not a good thing, the fluid pushes the food out of your pouch where you get the satisfied full feeling and leaves you being able to put more food into your body. Not eating protein first everytime you eat will leave you feeling unsatisfied and will not keep you full until the next time you eat (it takes 3-4hrs to proccess protien in your body). You have to keep good habits and follow the rules even if you don't have dumping like most of us do when we eat foods our pouch doesn't like. Just because you can eat it doesn't mean that you should. If you want to loose the rest of your weight to reach your goal you need to instill a new way of eating and relationship with food.

I am not often hungry and never have been able to eat a large amount of food at one time..but started grazing and stress eating...proactively work on both issues. My approach will be to not overeat, even if I have room to eat more, which is unfortunately how I have maintained the weight gain (65#) from pregnancy in the first place. Prior to pregnancy, I was in the normal weight category and remained that way because I watched what I ate (as did all of my normal weight, "naturally thin friends") and adjusted...some might call that a diet, but mindful eating was a way of life for me. Post-pregnancy, let's just say, I didn't return to it. I have lost weight a number of times since pregnancy, but couldn't maintain it. So, if my team can give me a formula that I can easily follow (amount per meal and number of meals/per day) to maintain the my new weight, I am inclined to follow it. I have tried it my way and was not successful.

One of the lessons you learn after weight loss surgery is that you are in charge of your health, diet and exercise program. The food no longer rules the roost--you do. The truth of the matter is no matter what the scale says, 110 or 310, everyone puts on a few pounds now and then. As a bariatric surgeon in New Jersey for more than 10 years, one of the biggest anxiety triggers for patients is weight gain. "That's it--it's over--I'm going to gain all the weight back." Of course that's not true. To get back on pace, I’ve listed a few essential steps to help get you back on track to dropping the pounds once again: • Go back to the beginning Post-surgery, you probably followed your healthcare team’s advice to the letter. But as time passed, and you looked and felt healthier, you may have started to deviate from those dietary and exercise guidelines. Pull out your notes and review the program guidelines that brought you this far. Get back on the scale once a week and fire up your food journal again. • Get thyself to the nearest support group ─ STAT Weight loss is a personal journey, but it doesn’t have to be a lonely one. Online support groups on BariatricPal.com are great secondary resources to live weekly or monthly groups with your bariatric doctor or hospital. There is support all-around you, reach out and take it. • Work it out Are you using the ‘too tired’ reason for missing a trip to the gym or 30 minute fast walk around the neighborhood? If you need energy, you know how to get it—get up, get out and get moving. “Too busy,” you say? Remember, only you can prioritize your health and wellness. You matter—make time for your health every single day. • Come to terms with the weight gain This doesn’t mean blaming yourself. Rather, be forthright about how and why it happened and pat yourself on the back that you’ve recognized it now—not later. There’s no need to beat yourself up. You have already done the hard part by recognizing some weight has crept back on. That in itself shows you are going to battle back. We encourage our patients at Sterling Surgicare to call us if they feel frustrated or defeated--everyone needs a pep talk now and then. Remember there are many people supporting you 24/7 in this effort. Life is filled with occasional side-steps and set-backs. It is part of making us who we are. Make a plan, regroup, recommit. You can do this.

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 have not seen much posted about non-fat frozen yogurt? Which I must confess, I find somewhat surprising...so it has led me to ask. Is there some inherent evil associated with this diet friendly treat and the Lapband? An inquiring mind wants to know… I am planning on it being part of my post-op repertoire…or so I think? Second, it may just be my imagination, but it seems (no scientific data), that many of the newer banders are struggling with post-op weight gain and slow starts. While a few fortunate souls are making rapid progress, again the individual variable strikes…no two banders are the same. No real point to make…just an observation. Other than that it was a good gym day and we went to the Long Beach Grand Prix and got to meet Danica Patrick. Yes, she is as adorable in person. I am sorry to report, that they had the good corners of the drifting competition reserved for the VIP seats. The events held at Irwindale Speedway are much better, the venue is easier to get to and the layout is more crowd friendly. I everyone had a good weekend.

I couldnt live without my vitamix blender - but its a big investment. Whilst I had restriction, it enabled me to eat enough fruit and vegies - makes great Soups, smoothies etc. Now I'm on a low residue diet to manage chemotherapy and without it, all I could eat would be white bread, rice, Pasta and Protein, again, it pulverises the fruits and vegies so that I can eat them without them causing a huge workload for my gut. I never tried baby cutlery, but by far the biggest and most effective tool I used in losing weight and in keeping it off unfilled are small dishes and plates. I have an array of them and they make portion control easy to do without weighing and measuring. For example, I buy yogurt in big tubs, because I'm feeding a family and we all eat it, but in days gone by the tub would be gone in a day. Now we serve into teeny little bowls that hold about 200 grams - the amount in an individual tub of yogurt. I find as long as I stick to 3 meals a day of proper portions, I can eat absolutely ANYTHING I fancy, and usually even a little bit of desseert, without worry about weight gain at all, so much so that I have no plans to refill my band at all.

I don't think that there is anyone on here with 5 years of sleevetime. If there is, speak up! If you search medical journals you can find some new 5 year studies with stats. Some of them mention that weight gain is more common around 3 years. I did not look like many people gained all their weight back though....Google has a "more" category at the top of the search options, then Scholar where you can search med papers for your information. There have been some of them posted here too, in the last month, but I don't remember where... look under research for a start.

My surgeon didn't even care. ( no he is not a hack, actually awarded a Bariatric Super Doctor award in Texas) Just said to try and start quitting smoking. I think it has to do with insurance sometimes . I have private insurance and they don't cover WLS. My hiatal hernia was bad enough they approved it and he said I'm a go. I smoked until the week before. I didn't know crap about the smoking deal until I started reading this forum. I wish you the best and beating the Beast (nicotine) is rough. Keep us updated. Thank you! I'm on day 3 of the chantix today. The only thing I've noticed is I don't sleep very well. Normally, it doesn't take me long to go to sleep, and I sleep well all night long. Not so much with this stuff. I either dream more, or remember them more? Not any nightmares, just strange dreams. ANYWAY, I have to keep my eye on the prize. The same center that does the surgery also has a weight management program. I'm going to join that so I can hopefully keep any weight gain from stopping the cigs to a minimum. I wish you the best too! Your outcome makes me very hopeful.

One thing we don't talk about is the link between mental health issues and obesity. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/758035 Everything from the biology of some mental health conditions contributing to extra weight....to behaviors (lack of sleep, poor impulse control, addiction, emotional disregulation)...to the weight gain side effects of meds used to treat them.....a massive number of folks with mental health issues are heavy. Not to imply we all struggle with mental health issues....but a big chunk of us probably do. Put a population prone to mental health issues together in a room...and it might get interesting. I absolutely agree with cocojay on all points. We should make efforts to always be kind and try to live and let live. It's important to keep in mind that posters here and on all weight loss message boards might be suffering from mental health issues that limit their self awareness, emotional regulation and tact. Not playing apologist for crappy behavior....just sayin....there's a reason. Having a good reason for behaving like a turd doesn't absolve you from accountability, though.

I drink with my meals as well. Hasn't killed me any. But of course, the choice is yours and like you say if you start noticing a stall or weight gain, well drop the drinking. Good luck

I'll check in with you on Monday to see if the evil weight gain has gone. Congrats on the 5 lbs.!

I have NOT had the surgery yet, but I will in 7 more days. November 1st is my day, and I'm so excited. So---since May, I have been weighing myself EVERY day. And of course record it. I keep myself accountable... Maybe you can try that. Weigh yourself every single day of your life. Also, I heard that stress can cause weight gain Gratz on the size 10---WOW!

Just wanted to say "Hi" to everyone, I'm a newbie, and not really good at the small talk. So the intro said I should tell you more about myself. I am 35 yrs old, 5"2 and 251lbs, the heaviest I have ever been. I have been battling my weight since I was 13, when I really "blossomed". I have 5 children, and progressively gained with each baby, and never lost the weight, and put more on after. But now I have high blood pressure for the last 8 yrs, and high cholesterol, diabetes, joint issues, etc., and I feel bad about not being able to be the mother I want to be with my kids. I can't play with them at the park, or go on bike rides with them, stuff like that. Due to my blood pressure meds, I can't really be outside for more than 5-10m, or my skin fries like bacon (not a good thing since I live in Texas). I'm also a registered nurse, I work in labor and delivery, and I literally move all day long at work. It's really embarrassing to have patients that are 9mo pregnant and only be half my size. It's also hard to talk to patients about eating and drinking right or appropriate weight gain when it's obvious that I myself have a problem, I haven't gotten banded yet, trying to get the party started though, but at my initial assessment, the NP told me I needed to get a sleep study and EGD done before they will set up a date or pre-op or anything. I figure this will set back my banding about a month or more- I don't mind waiting, afterall, I've been overweight for over 20 years, but I am bummed because my family and I are going on vacation in July, so do I go ahead and wait until after so I don't have to worry about the post-op stuff? Or say the heck with it, and do it anyways. I am going through True Results in Houston, they assign a patient advocate to each client, whom also have been banded. And although I have only been there a couple of times, my advocate has already done more for me than she'll ever know. My insurance initially said they would cover the surgery if I completed the program, but after doing everything they required, they decided they wanted me to do more, and then I could never get a straight answer from them . It's so obvious they just don't want to pay up. So when I talked to my advocate about the runaround they were giving, she guaranteed me financing. I wish everyone good luck in their endeavors, and wish me luck, I'll keep you updated.

stop looking at the scale for the next week at the very least. you shouldn't be weighing at all the first month. your body has had a shock and it will just go up and down. you will settle in eventually and the weight will come off. really, lock the scale up and have someone hide the key until you are out of the mushy phase and onto solid foods. this weight gain is totally normal.

I never had a great experience with any pill - too sensitive to side effects, even when trying different varieties. I had a Mirena and for controlling endometriosis it was wonderful and the side effects were less than with pills. If you're at goal or close, it might be a great option for you. A lot of women have it and love it - but when mine was in I could not lose weight at all. Once it was removed, I got pregnant as soon as I tried, so that was not an issue. For my needs, NuvaRing was the best form of birth control and it's what I'll resume after this pregnancy. It controls my endometriosis without any side effects or weight gain and it's simple to stop using - no need to have it removed by a doctor. I might also consider Mirena again but I'm not certain. My Mirena fell out post VSG and was replaced once before I finally opted to have it removed for good due to sluggish weight loss. Because I'll need to lose what weight I've put on in pregnancy I'm not sure it's the best option for me at this time. But for light/almost nonexistent periods and controlling endometriosis pain? It was by far the best treatment I've ever had. I'd think on what you've used in the past that's worked well for your body with minimal side effects and choose a similar treatment. NuvaRing is easy to try for just a few months. I'd stay away from pills unless you've had a great experience with them before and had no side effects in the past. Good luck! ~Cheri

Update. Now over 3 weeks post band removal. Feeling good. Energy level returning to normal. Delighted no weight gain - haven't become a ravenous beast. Determined to maintain current weight.

OK . . . I have a question. I am on the pill and so my periods have always been like clockwork, very light, minimal cramping and finish in 2 days with a 2-3 pound weight gain and mild crabbiness due to pms. Now several months post surgery, I am still on the pill, I have spotting occasionally at weird times, they now can be very heavy at times, moderate cramping up to a deep ache and finish in 4-5 days with a similar weight gain . . . not to mention that my husband and son stay far, far away from me now a couple of days before because of pms. I eat a healthy diet, meet my nutritional goals, and work out like crazy. Does anyone else have this problem or any explanations as to why they have gotten so unpleasant?

You are at a healthy BMI of 22. Don’t let it go to 18 (underweight) Its up to you on how you want to approach maintenance. You can increase your calories on your own without logging and see if it works. If you start dropping underweight, you may need to log for a while to see how much you need to eat to keep your weight up. At the end of the day its all about being healthy. You will find your balance with this. I’m five years out and maintaining. I maintained with ease my first two years out. Third year I gained 16 -ish *lol* and worked it back off. I was one of those people that said “weight gain will never happen to me” I hope not dieting and not tracking works for you long term.

It is 1:30 in the morning and I decided to reflect a bit on why WLS? Why now? My first memory of being over weight was around 10. Mind you, I was not very obese but my brother thought I was so I spent the summer running around my grandmother's house. After a year I grew into my body and kept active. I remember squeezing into jeans by laying on the bed. It was the 80's and even though I was not large, I always had "junk in my trunk" that made me self- conscious. Fast forward to the 90's. When I found out I was pregnant, I was thrilled.....and scared. I no longer had my mom around to ask advice. I thought I was being healthy. After all, I was eating for 2 right? Wrong! My insecurities about being a good mom and wife fed into that lie and I ended up gaining almost 80 pounds. I never thought really bad about myself being a larger person.....sort of. I used to joke about being the healthiest large person I knew. I still did a lot at 230 pounds. Skating, running(sporadically), etc. and I kept up with my family for a while. I went on diets. I went on exercise programs and gym memberships. I did not keep any of it off. I sabatoged my own weight loss while blaming it on my husband's little Debbie habit. I remember one time he said that he couldn't see why I didn't lose weight because I ate much less than he did and less than most of my friends. I did not understand I was constantly in a cycle of tanking my metabolism. Fast forward to 2011. When I move back to America after 7 years in Germany, my life spins out of control for a while. No job, teenager issues, money "adjustments", depression, and you guessed it .......weight gain. I went from 230-258 faster than the service at McD's. I finally got my head on straight. I remembered that whatever path my college age child took, it was not my path. I had no control over that. I was still a good mom. My other children needed me to remember that. I remembered also that my identity was not in my job. I am important even without a job. (I got a job shortly after that) I am remembering that one again.......no job again. Even with an eight month supervised diet with phentermine, I "lost" 25 pounds only to find it again within 3 months. (frustration....) Here I am today. My knee is keeping me awake because my weight has wreaked havoc on my cartilage over the years. (currently in PT). I have had to take 3tums in addition to the Prevacid for my GERD since lying down. Why do I want the lap band? I am tired of abusing my body. I want to hurt less. I want to be looked at seriously when I apply for a job. I want to be a good example for my 10 year old daughter who is already overweight and self-conscious. I want to cook healthier for my family. I want to live to see my daughter have children. My mom died at 43 of a heart attack. I want to go on a cruise and dance all night and lay on the deck all day. Yes, I know I want a lot. I want my life!!!

Don is right. At 6 days I was just getting back to my surgery day weight. Gained tons with all the fluids. Why do you think you are stalled? A stall is when you don't move for several or more weeks and you have not a week out yet. I hope your expectations are realistic. Good luck to you but please don't think you will wake up lighter each day.

I know it's not an appeal...just sounds like a lot of the rigamoro of appeals others of us have gone through...just as frustrating and annoying. I meant in the future you could try and combat the weight gain by keeping food logs...always helps me. Got to try somehow.

I'm pre-op too (hoping for January if all is approved) and I can understand how you feel. I have spent so much time beating myself up for not being able to do this on my own. But I've tried so many times and the weight is really affecting my life, happiness and health. My brother told me this: If I had to go in for heart surgery to improve my health, would I be down on myself for not being able to fix it on my own? No, of course not. So that is how I'm choosing to think about WLS. For whatever reason, our bodies hold onto the weight, gain easier, etc. We have medical reasons we need the surgery and it is not a failure on our part. Hope this helps:) Try not to be so down on yourself (although I have the same problem with that)!

Here is a study that did something similar, Banded sleeve gastrectomy--initial experience. Alexander JW, Martin Hawver LR, Goodman HR. Source Center for Surgical Weight Loss, Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA. jwesley.alexander@uc.edu Abstract BACKGROUND: Isolated sleeve gastrectomy is being used with increasing frequency for the treatment of morbid obesity. This study was done to determine the potential benefit of placing a band of processed human dermis around the upper portion of a sleeve gastrectomy to prevent late dilatation and weight gain. METHODS: Twenty-seven patients underwent a sleeve gastrectomy followed by placement of a band of biological tissue (AlloDerm) placed 6 cm from the gastroesophageal junction. The results were compared to 54 patients with a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (GBP), matched for sex, age, and initial body mass index. RESULTS: All 27 patients had improvement or resolution of their diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and sleep apnea after banded sleeve gastrectomy (BSG) similar to the control GBP group. There were no deaths, but one patient had a pulmonary embolus and another had a presumed leak. Symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease generally improved. Overall, results were almost identical to patients with GBP. CONCLUSIONS: BSG provides results comparable to GBP in the short-term follow-up, but avoids potential long-term complications including internal hernias, postoperative bowel obstructions, anastomotic complications of the jejunojejunostomy, hypoglycemia, bacterial overgrowth, and a spectrum of malabsorptive problems. While this study documents the feasibility and possible benefits of this modification, prospective controlled studies with long-term follow-up are needed to establish its place in procedures for surgical weight loss.

Hello, I started my 2 week pre-op diet on Monday.. Weighed myself Sunday night, and was 283. By Tuesday I was down to 278. Yesterday I was 276 and today I'm back to 278.. how the heck did that happen? I'm on two bariatric shakes plus one healthy meal a day. Usually 3oz chicken or steak with brocolli or green beans. I drink a crazy amount of water and I'm using Metamucil like the doctor asked.. What am I doing wrong? Sent from my Z982 using BariatricPal mobile app

Why do we eat? The most basic reason is hunger, however with the growing rate of obesity this shows us that people eat for more reasons than just hunger. People eat out of boredom, loneliness, hunger, or deprivation. All of which can lead to excessive overeating and added weight gain. By choosing the right foods to eat when you are actually hungry you can limit cravings to eat for these other reasons. Superfoods contain essential nutrients that the body needs to properly function. When the body is functioning optimally it will speed up your metabolism, boosting calorie burning, making it easier to lose weight. Superfoods contain Fiber, Protein, Vitamins, and minerals, which play a role in how your body responds to calorie absorption and fat cells. Superfoods tend to be lower in calories and take the body longer to digest. This leaves you feeling fuller for longer, giving you less reasons to eat unneeded calories. They also provide the body with a steady flow of energy, keeping the metabolism working to burn more calories. By adding these foods into your Breakfast, lunch, dinner and Snacks you can lose weight and feel great. -Apples- Apples are great for weight loss. They are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Apples are low in calories, low in sodium and high in fiber, which keeps the body feeling full while providing a stable source of energy. -Lentils- These small legumes pack a real big punch against weight gain. Lentils are high in folic acid, Iron, magnesium, fiber and protein. Lentils also contain resistant starch which shrinks fat cells; smaller fat cells means less fat. -Eggs- Although most people only eat them for breakfast, eggs are a great food for weight loss. High in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and Proteins, eggs help to build muscle, which in turn helps to burn fat. -Yogurt- Yogurt is a healthy combination of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. This combination staves off hunger by keeping blood sugar levels steady. Yogurt also contains a healthy dose of Calcium. Calcium signals fat cells to stop pumping out cortisol. -Sweet Potatoes- Sweet potatoes unlike most other vegetables are higher in calorie content but are worth all of them. Sweet potatoes contain resistant starch, which produces compounds to signal to the brain to stop eating. The bulk in sweet potatoes fills the stomach so you feel full. Carotenoids in sweet potatoes stabilize blood sugar levels and lowers insulin resistance. Kiwi- Although peculiar in size, shape, color and taste, this small fruit is loaded with nutrients. Kiwis are high in fiber, both soluble and insoluble, low in calories and high in Vitamin C.