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Eh, it's a myth. Calories in + Calories out = Weight Loss or Weight Gain. There is no mythical beast that hides within you holding a clock who will add weight to your booty if you eat at 6:01p or even 11:35pm unless you've taken in more than you've burned. That's true for pre and post op.

It's eerie how our weight gain trajectories and stories have striking similarities. Thank you for sharing your story! In addition to weight gain right before the onset of puberty, I also had a father who was a problem drinker. On top of that, he was also a crack addict during my early and middle childhood years. I used food as a distraction starting in my preteen years. My mother was obese and worked long hours at a factory, so she'd come home hungry. Her portion sizes were massive. The role-modeling for reasonable choices simply wasn't there. I, too, received unwanted attention for my breast size in my pre-teens. I was wearing a 38C bra at age 12 when many of my classmates were still flat-chested or had smaller breasts. To keep a long story short, I fought the battle of the bulge for 2+ decades starting in my teens. I could lose substantial weight, but could never keep it off. In fact, I'd lost 200+ pounds through yo-yo dieting in those 2 decades (lose 30, regain 60, lose 50, regain 90, etc). Bariatric surgery was/is my last hope for keeping the weight off.

I think one of the reasons my program has lower protein requirements than you'll often see....is that my program serves a LOT of international clients, many of whom are vegetarian or semi-vegetarian culturally. High protein diets DO promote faster weight loss. This is undeniable. But I'm building my forever diet...and I'm trying to get my body used to a diet it can be on forever...so I don't have a big metabolic shift later. (or the weight gain that can occur with big dietary changes) For me, a high protein low carb diet is not a great choice for a forever diet. If I were 400 pounds...I would consider a very restrictive high protein diet for a short period of time for rapid weight loss. At 190...I want something sustainable and permanent. I want a forever diet that I can live with...well...forever. LOL:)

<script> //</script> This post may not be relevant to your situation depending on what you feel caused the weight gain. I can recommend the usual, mix up your exercise routine, challenge yourself more. Of course if you aren't weight training that can make a huge difference in loss. Another option is to drop your carbs and some downgrade their dairy intake, or maybe just count your calories for a couple days and make sure that you aren't overcompensating in an effort to lose and taking in fewer calories than you should or really comfortable with your eating and possibly taking in more than you think you are.. I am nowhere near your post op time line. But I can relate as during this absence from the site I threw myself off the band wagon and managed to put on 9 pounds in the last 8 weeks. Yep you read that right, 9 bleeping pounds. So for others early out or pre-op please know that this surgery is only a tool, it will not stop you from gaining weight when you make bad choices!! The stress, holidays, and the simple creep in of old habits is not uncommon a year out. Not excusing my choices by any means, I own it! So I started to attempt a back to basics program again. Only this time I threw out the 5 day pouch test for the moment, after having read a post on another forum that addressed something we all fear could happen. I still believe in the effectiveness of the 5 day pouch test, but it wasn't what I needed to address the feeling that I had stretched my sleeve during this crazy eat whatever, whenever that was sooo reminiscent of days gone by. I am not implying that this was your issue for gain, I can only tell you what I am doing now to try to drop the gain and kick start the remaining weight I still want to lose. So I am so grateful for her decision to share her story. She thought she'd stretched her sleeve and after review, sure enough she had. Her doctor put her on a back to basics diet which involved, I'm sorry for what I am about to disclose as no one is going to like it lol, 2 weeks of fluids only. Pre-op anyone? We all remember how horribly hard an all liquid pre-op is, the only thing that keeps you going is the thought of having your surgery cancelled or complications that you can avoid if you stick to plan. Post op, 2 weeks of fluids once you've started on 'real' food, pshhh who am I kidding, that's crazy talk. Well it took me 2 weeks of daily efforts to then actually succeed on day15 in having a full Fluid day. So for anyone reading this looking for a mentor that is always on task and always on the wagon, keep looking because I am not the mentor for you. Well my inspiration for this next little while, she buckled down and did it, and you know what it worked. The Xrays 2 weeks later were dramatically different. So I am now on day 6 of fluids and I can honestly say I already feel a difference in the restriction just in my fluid intake. It isn't easy and the first 3 days, well they sucked. No headache this time though, and after day 3 the hunger was substantially less than it was pre-op. I don't know that I will last 2 weeks, I will likely try a Protein based meal on day 8 and see how it feels.. and if I don't feel what I know I should, then back to fluids it is. I have dropped over 5 of those pounds in these past 6 days. Although as you likely know dropping weight that has only been on for a short period of time is definitely easier than those pounds that are longterm. I expect the loss to slow dramatically if I do continue for the 2 weeks but for me this is more about the overall condition of my sleeve and the weight loss is secondary. If I treat it better once it rebounds then hopefully that will help me to be smarter the next time the cravings start. We're all in this together, and what works for one, may not work for someone else. But most advice I find comes from a good place and as long as it seems rational then I figure it's worth a shot because the end goal is sooo worth it.

Are you getting your waters in? It was a full moon the last few days and I always weigh more. I am not big into astrology, but I have always had Water retention during right before and after the full moon. I was 208.2 for a few days and yesterday I hopped on the scale and I was 211. I had 450 calories the day before and I pretty much exercised all my calories away. I got on the scale today and I'm 207.4. Could be a little constipation, could be water weight gain, too much sodium, your body holding onto calories because the meals weren't paced (6 little meals) and you may have had 2 medium/bigger meals and your body decided to hold onto the weight. Change things up a little, add some extra carbs and do a little more exercise, or revert and go two days of full liquids, 3 shakes and sugar-free popsicles etc. Sometimes these weird things happen to women for weird reasons.

I wouldn't. I love my band and it's worth it for me to lose 130 pounds - but not for 30. The band isn't a miracle diet. All of us on this board are having to work HARD to lose weight. We have to follow rules or suffer consequences which include more than weight gain. The closer a person gets to their goal weight, the harder it becomes to lose. Being only 30 pounds overweight I expect you'd have to work at it just as hard with or without a band. I also think that you'd have a hard time finding a doctor willing to perform surgery on you, even if you went to Mexico or another foreign country. 130 pounds - yes. 30 pounds? Nope.

Excellent article. This is the first place I've read that stress can cause weight gain even without additional calories. So I did some googling and lo-and-behold, the studies are out there. Why is this not front-page news? Stress caused by financial insecurity is at Depression-era levels, as obesity rates soar. The fact that stressful events and depression alter how we metabolize food (not just what we choose to eat, or how often we move) is BIG. As long as we pretend the problems of obesity are individual not systemic, we'll be chasing the wrong solutions. My story in brief: I was a 10-pound baby and grew up chubby but healthy. Gained 20 with children and post-partum depression, then lost a friend to suicide and put on 35, very quickly. I lost that 35 with hard work and low carbs, but a series of stressors occurred that left me with little appetite or energy. Yet within two years, I gained 55 pounds. I am not a binger. I eat sensibly and am moderately active (I walk, bike, swim, hike). I don't drink soda, eat very little sugar, and stay away from carbs. I honestly thought my doctor's scale was broken. She figured it was my genes kicking in (my parents are large), and no doubt suspected me of lying about my diet and activity levels. The big takeaway for me? Even after WLS, stress will effect how I metabolize food. Looks like stress-reduction will be just as critical to my success as keeping track of food and exercise. I'll plan to add "cushion time" on MyFitnessPal to log daily meditation. It may burn more calories than one thinks. And join a support group! I suspect the cortisol-lowering effects of being with sympathetic people are just as critical if not more so than the "accountability" factor.

Hello Ladies, I haven't been on this website in prob over a year! I was sleeved in 2011 I think? I lost 85lbs and fluctuated 15lbs on/off. I was 237lbs. I got married in 2013 at 155lbs, and got pregnant weighing 176lbs. I am now at 179lbs and freaking out!!!! I am slowly gaining weight and now that I am pregnant I am afraid to "diet" afraid to work out (had 2 unsuccessful pregnancies at beginning of the year) and I also have a tumor growing with my baby Who else out there is pregnant and not sure how much is the normal weight gain. My biggest concern is that my top tummy part is a big droppy pouch, like a big W shaped roll of ugly dough! It was not like that until I got pregnant, like my body is oddly shaping into a blob... I don't have curves.. I am not an hour glass figure anymore.. it is a snow man but the middle part is the biggest part. I mean not cute pregnant round tummy but just a blob of Jello. I don't know why I am shaped like this... It must be the surgery and loose skin plus gaining weight? Anyone out there can help me understand or give me advice? Even if I wear maternity clothes, the hanging blobby thing looks worse. One of the main reasons I had WLS was to look cute when I would get pregnant and be healthy. I am not worried about gaining weight as much as I am worried about that big top muffin blobby thing growing overlapping my bottom gut. Sorta depressed, I know I prob sound stupid and vain. help..

Definitely a good idea to read up on ketosis. I think people who have never been on Atkins or South Beach don't understand how it differs from a straight-up low calorie diet. That transition into ketosis is no fun! And the water-weight gain from storing glycogen again is going to upset people who put a lot of stock into what their scale says. Thank you. The Water retention is actually a noticeable feeling. The result of just one day of substituting just a small amount of calories. No weight gain thankfully. Have this forum to thank.

What on earth gives you this idea?! There is no such entitlement! Can some people eat limitless crap without weight consequences? Yes, but not many. And it catches up with them, usually--either with eventual weight gain or health issues. Wrong. Most people who are lean and healthy make wise food choices. They balance their indulgences with little restrictions to compensate. They limit their indulgences. They do not compulsively eat. They listen to their bodies and stop eating when they are satisfied, not stuffed. You're simply NOT going to achieve a state in which you do not have to worry about what you eat. Unless that state is simple resignation to a life of unhealthy morbid obesity. I have to disagree with the previous poster who said you should explore revision to bypass. While it might ultimately be a good option for you, it's really important to get your mind aligned with the realities of life with a modified body. Bypass requires far more caution, food-wise, and if you have the attitude that you should not have to worry about what you eat, you're not ready for that.

Excellent advice from everyone....up the calories!! I've found that when I'm REALLY cold (can't seem to get warm), I'm dropping inches (not lbs. right away) and am not eating much it translates into lbs. on the scale 4-5 days later. I've started doing 5 days really low calorie (and lots of water) days and then 1-2 days a little higher calorie intake. I just don't want my body to get used to the lower calorie intake. Also, not that this would happen, but a long time ago, I did an 'Optifast' medical supervised fast for 4 months. I was taking in ~ 600-800 calories a day. When I went OFF the fast (and yes, I was working out too), anything I added above 800 calories a day, I started to gain weight. I learned (the hard way) then not to let my body get TOO accustomed to a daily low calorie regime. Mixing it up a little keeps you from going into 'starvation' mode. Just my $.02 worth...everyone is different and others may have different successes different way. Here's to US all being successful!!!! :smile: P.S. One last thing. When I'm on a plateau, I figure the scale is about 2 days behind what I'm really doing at the time. Weight gains and losses (at least for me) usually show up a day or 2 later... -Becky

Julz, you sound like one terrific human being. What a blessing it would be to have you as a friend, a neighbor! There were sooo many things that went into this huge decision I made not to do the lapband at this time. A lot was fear of the unknown.. But much was the state of my being right now. i just retired from 36 yrs of an extremely stressful job. Stress that caused me to overeat and gain a lot of this weight. Hypothyroidism that went undetected for several yrs that caused weight gain. I feel that I need to allow my body to decompress from working...focus on what's important, which is health and see if I can make a change naturally. I love healthy food. im not a junk food addict. Never have been. I Dont want to restrict my body from healthy eating by putting a band in my body. I hated the idea that I couldnt eat asparagus without getting stuck. Not eating kale or lettuce was not an option for me. Besides all this, my 90 yr old parents were diagnosed with cancer and Alzheimer within 6 mo of each other. im the only child in the area to care for them. I cant be thinking of myself right now. Im thinking this kind of stress with a band will only lead to trouble. SO, I think you can see the sum of all of this is how I made my decision at this time. YES, banding is the most personal decision and it must be honored. Thank you April Bandsters! Good luck.

I am desperate so here it goes........I am approx 4 years out from my sleeve surgery. I thought I was doing good and my biggest issues was how to gain weight. My original weight PreOp was 240 lbs - 4 months ago I had maintained 135 to 145 lbs for 3 1/2 years. Friday i will be 44 years old. Although I thought I was dealing with anxiety for all of 2012 this year I was finally diagnosed with an over active thyroid. In 4 months I have gained 50lbs and now weigh 191 as of doctors visit yesterday. I am devastated am desperate to get the weight off but I have no idea what to do. I was wearing a size 2-4 and now I need all new clothes including my undies.......I am embarrassed and have been spending a large amount of time inside. Everyone keeps saying the extra weight looks good but I know better. My health is at risk and I feel like I have somehow failed. Anybody have a similar experience or care to provide some advice?

:biggrin: When I was deciding what I was going to do to get ride is 85 pounds, (an entire person) I was carrying around never left my side. I was first saying okay I can have plastic surgery, But then that wouldnt correct the entire weight gain issue, so then I decided to do the Lap Band. My issue is that I dont look like I need to lose 85 pounds (to most people) just like I dont look disabled ( to people) so I had it hard to get approved. My spouse constanly reminds me he loves me Jst like I am (Thank God) but I have to remind him and others it is NOT about him , this is for me. I said that 2008 was going to be My year. I was going to lose the unwanted weight, grow hair ( that is normally shaved) due to the heat in La. and start back focusing on me, I love me so why not? I use to take for granted that I COULD LOSE WEIGHT just like that, I was a runner, 6 miles daily, attend a workout class three times a week, now since I was injured and cannot now, I can relate to those who cannot workout physically ( not being lazy) but they cannot if they wanted to ( oh and we do) belieive me we do. I use to see over weight people and say" why dont they just put the fork down, or jst say No more, or workout or thought they were lazy. I am sorry now I thought like that. My breaking point was weighing 200 pounds.I had to end my addiction and relationship with food, and to see it in another form What was your breaking point? Good luck to you all and with Gods help we all can acheive our Goals.:tt2: Kourtney

*raises hand* My first period after surgery was VERY heavy (compared to pre-wls) and very LONG (it lasted over a week!). It continued (and still does - I'm two years out) to be comparatively heavier than before surgery, but the duration has gone back down to "normal" (for me, that's about 3-4 days). Another thing of note is that it comes like clockwork. I used to be very regular before I became obese, but then it became very irregular after the weight gain. The 1-2 years before surgery I would go months without it. I thought I was going through menopause or something, but I guess it was just being fat? Edited to add: I'm 49

Okay. First off. Congrats on losing 14 pounds in a week! WOW! As for gaining weight (1 lb!), it might be your body's way of keeping itself in check. You lost 14 pounds in a week - a one pound weight gain isn't bad. When I've lost a lot of weight quickly sometimes my body has to regain its composure. Maybe it's that time of the month? A little water weight gain? Just a thought. I'm still floored by a 14 pound weight loss in a week. Rock on.

Did you pick up the scales and hit him in the head? Of course the damn scales lie, that's all they do. This is so personal for me. I've been accused of being a lier about my food and my excersize, because I gained 10 pounds in a week at 1000 and only lost 1.5 pounds the month I was at sub 700 calories. There is a recognized condition called Cushing's, and one symptom is unexplained weight gain, another is the inability to lose weight. I'm so tired of doctors and everyone else using the scale to beat-up on us. The next time he does this, accuse you of lying, you get pissed off! How dare he do that to you.

Sounds like you may be getting too many calories, I aim for less than 1000 and I'm 5'6 at 177 right now. If you aren't working out as much you may be taking in more calories then you are burning which will cause weight gain. Hope that helps- good luck!!

Since I hurt my back again (& have been having a pity party for myself), I have been dealing with the binge demons. And I suffered a 10 lb. weight gain because of them! I still have my band, but I feel your pain sista!

Thanks Donali... I know that my weight problem has taken on a life of it's own over the years... and I also know that I have let it stop me from enjoying life to the fullest. I think that being taunted and teased on a daily bases from third grade on somehow pounded the idea that my weight was directly connected to my worth. That seed of thought has grown with each passing year and has become stronger and stronger. I am so ready to spread the Round-up and tend to a healthier garden of thought. Please be assured that I don't look upon the Lap Band as a miracle cure. I do look upon this surgery as providing me with a tool that will help control the quantities of food that I eat as I learn to deal with emotions and fears differently. I am really not counting on quick weight-loss with this surgery... mostly my hopes are focused on permanent weight-loss. My sister had the quick weight-loss with the RNY... but she is now battling weight gain much like she did before her surgery. I hope that the surgery I have chosen will give me lifelong success in a time period that the changes in my head can keep up with the changes in my body. It's like quitting smoking... I just couldn't do it without the patch... I needed help... I needed a tool to help me make a better choice. I think that is why waiting for the surgery has benn tough... I want to stop thinking about this... planning for this... waiting for this... I just want to get the surgery behind me so that I can start the journey to a healthier and happier me. Donali... you are awesome and you look MAUVELOUS DARLINK! Thank you so much for reminding me to look at the other great things in life that are totally unrelated to my weight.

Sue, that's GREAT news!!! I'm so happy for you. Don't be embarrassed about the weight gain. If we could control our weight on our own, I'm just sure none of us would be having surgery. I know I wouldn't have spent $13,500 out of pocket either.

I was one of those who originally was going for the lapband, mainly because I am younger and didn't want something permanently done to my insides. After researching thoroughly about all the complications, weight gain, etc that comes with a lot of lapband patients, I switched to the sleeve. My reasons for not even considering gastric bypass?: Didn't want my system rerouted. A lot higher chance of dumping syndrome. Malabsorption issues, which can lead to malnutrition. The weight loss is just about the same as the sleeve. Obstruction seems to happen more often, like with the lapband. Going to support group meetings, I notice that people who had the bypass looked more sickly than ones who had the sleeve. Not everyone did, but just a trend I noticed. Right now, I only get acid reflux when I have something with bad butter (like the buttery topping on popcorn), margarine is fine though. I don't have to take a daily pill for it, I just pop a couple of Tums when I have it and it goes away pretty quickly.

Well, my name is Meggie. Im 21 years old, and I recently was banded on DEcember 10, 2007. My story isnt exceptional or sad, maybe it isnt even worthy, but its mine,and I have had quite a journey becoming the young woman I am today. I have had a weight problem since I was a child. My mom worked fulltime so frozen pizzas and processed french fries became a hot meal for me. I was very picky, and that was easy for her and tasteful to me. I grew up with the occasional teasing but nothing out of the ordinary. I always felt out of place;even with family. I was always the "fat" kid in my eyes. My family never saw me as that simply because they saw beyond my weight. They saw what I call the "internal me"--which is in fact a totally different person.-I was never pressured to lose weight or compared to my "model material" kid sister, and in fact, I have been my own worst critic all along. When I got to the seventh grade I decided to take control the only way I knew how; I became bulimic. Typically, bulimics are rail thin and look malnourished-but I never hit that point. The disease never got out of control-well I mean the idea is out of hand enough in itself-but it never got excessive.It was my last resort when food got the best of me.My mother sent me to counseling and there I was, 13 years old with "control" issues as the doctor would call them. I was always told how beautiful I was, and in fact, I was the popular kid in school; neverhteless, I still didnt like me. I went all through highschool with my weight issue and in my senior year my dream came true- I needed my tonsils out. I know, I know-silly dream huh? But, to me it was so much more than a painful surgery. It was a period of 2 weeks that I would lose weight. I did ofcourse-18 lbs to be exact, but it all came back on within a year. So, there I was 18- still struggling every day of my life with my worst enemy-my weight. I dropped some weight at almost 19 because I was going through a break up, and my "control issues" caught up with me yet again. That weight didnt stay off either. As you can see, I never succeeded in keeping it off. It haunted me and creeped up just when I thought I was winning. When I was 19 my 45 yr old father died of massive heartattack while watching the superbowl. A part of me slowly died that day simply because he was ultimately my biggest fan. I dont think my daddy ever saw my size. He didnt care-I was his baby girl no matter what anyone thought. He was the dad that yelled at other small-and I mean young and innocent--kids if they called me names. I wasnt fat, he said and he belived that. Its as if he saw my soul, and not the horrific body that held me hostage. I love him for that and I find myself still trying to see what he always did....Anyways so here I was almost 20 years old. I lost a few lbs after Daddy died because of a loss of appetite, but still nothing to brag about. In November of 2006 I found out I was pregnant. Ive never felt so overwhelmed in my life. While ofcourse I was scared and anxious to meet my beautiful baby boy, the sick part of me thought "hOw will I possibly deal with this weight gain." I know-that should have been the last thing I thought of, but I couldnt help it. The whole 40 weeks I ate like I was on a diet, with the occasional splurge of McDonalds, but for the most part I monitored. Thats insaine isnt it? Who wants to be pregnant and on a diet? The two words dont belong together. Well, needless to say thank god that I monitored considering that I still gained 60 pounds! After the baby I struggled with some deep depression about my weight. I was always crying, and it was the number one focus in my life aside from motherhood. I remember actually thinking" if I have to live like this, I dont want to live." Scary thought, I know-but it was real. In the meantime I had consulted with a plastic surgeon to give me a breast lift. I guess I was looking for anything on my body that I had the power to change when really I just wanted to be thin. I even cut 12 inches off of my hair thinking I was going to have a "new" me. Little did I know, I was far from being new and I was still overweight. By this point I was tired of fighting this battle. I couldnt win alone and that was definitly apparent to myself as well as my close family. So, on the day I was going to schedule my breast lift, I made a call to find out if I qualified for the lapband....well indeed I did-by the skin of my teeth, but it didnt matter. That day I think I found a hopeful part of me that I never knew existed. I connected with the little girl in me and let her know that we were finally going to be alright. I met with Dr Fritz Rau only a week later and immediatly felt a sense of protection and peace. He was wonderful, and assured me that I was in good hands. I soon went on my 2 week liquid diet and did very well. My mother wasnt completly supportive in the beginning but she knew that with or without an army of support, I was going to be banded on Dec 10, 2007. She came through for me, ofcourse, she always did. I got there early that morning and was prepped in no time. After a long wait of about 3 hours-it was my turn. Finally, the moment I had awaited since I was that little girl was actually happening. I almost couldnt bare all of the emotions because for the first time in my life, I felt like the real me was going to have a chance at shining. I came out only 35 minutes later, and everything had went fine. I had alot of pain from the trapped air, but otherwise I was okay. I was already a new woman mentally. I went home the next day, and within a week was taking care of my son. I have had 3 fills so far and am down 25 pounds. My loss has been gradual, but thats okay now because I know it will melt off soon. So, as you can see, I have had an interesting travel to get to where I am today, and to Dr Fritz I owe my happiness. The man has changed my life, and because of him I will be the girl that I was destined to be. Nothing, not even weight, can hold me back now. God Bless all of you- may you all find that inner self who screams to be heard.

I think your body will slow weight loss and stop when it needs to. You are pretty young and so getting back to your pre children weight would not be too thin. So I don't think you should worry over much. Add some healthy higher calories Snacks. My goto is a handful of almonds, dark chocolate m&ms and almond m&ms. It is fat and tiny bit of sweetness and also fills me up. I would not recommend in Weight loss phase but in maintenance it really hits the spot. I also have a banana or other fruit a couple times a week when I never did I in weight loss phase plus 2-3 Alice's of bread a week. Just make sure to track so that a little extra doesn't add up to more and then you get hooked on carbs or sugar which is what causes weight gain. Remember Protein then fat then carbs - and very rarely sugar.

Hi there. This is the time that you need patience and lots of work with your dr. I learned from reading these forums that weight gain after band surgery is normal! If your band isn't properly adjusted, then it's not dimming your appetite yet. I gained weight for the first couple of months after surgery, then I stopped gaining and maintained, and finally after about 5 months of getting fills (and a couple of unfills) every 3-4 weeks I finally found a comfortable spot where I was losing weight consistently. Good luck on your journey and do NOT be discouraged. It takes some time and work to get the band in the right spot. But for me, that flexibility and personalization was one of the reasons I chose the band.