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Hello All! Brian, As a fellow former Soda addict who has quit cold turkey, I would advise to just leave it alone!! Think about how it felt to be addicted to the soda...Think about how hard it was to quit. Also think about all the reasons (beside the weight gain) why soda is bad for your body. When I went a day without soda I felt so off...I'd get headaches and would be so moody...I SOOO don't miss that lol. I haven't had surgery yet but, I don't think I will try soda again. Ok now let me stop writting about this because Im starting to sound like im talking about crack lol. I hope I don't strike anyones nerves...Just wanted to give some soda advice.

Ok, you may be sorry you asked. LOL But you said you wanted any info! There is a lot of debate about soda being the enemy or not. It's not my desire to get a debate going as I know some peeps drink it with no ill affects. I am only providing information. Let me start off by saying: I'm not a Doctor or Nut these are my opinions based on my research etc, blah blah......... Cliff notes version: Drinking carbonated beverages of any kind can sabotage your weight loss and cause you possible severe health problems as osteoporosis. Long boring version: Carbonated drinks include most soft drinks, champagne, beer, and seltzer Water. If you consume a soft drink or other carbonated beverage while eating, the carbonation forces food through the stomach, reducing the time food remains in the stomach. The less time food remains in your stomach, the less satiety you experience, enabling you to eat more with increased risk for weight gain. Weight Gain: Soft drinks also cause weight gain by reducing the absorption of dietary Calcium. Dietary calcium helps to stimulate fat breakdown and reduce its uptake into adipose tissue. Epidemiological and clinical studies have found a close association between obesity and low dietary calcium intake. Recent studies have found that maintaining sufficient amounts of dietary calcium helps to induce weight loss or prevent weight gain following diet. The high caffeine in carbonated sodas is one way that drinking carbonated soft drinks may reduce the absorption of calcium into the body. Studies have found that caffeine increases urinary calcium content, meaning that high caffeine may interfere with the uptake of dietary calcium into the body. Keep in mind that one 12 oz. can of Mountain Dew has 50 mg of caffeine, and Pepsi and Coke (diet or those with sugar) contain 37 mg of caffeine each. Colas, such as Pepsi and Coke (diet or with sugar), may also cause calcium deficiencies from the high amounts of phosphoric acid that they contain. Phosphate binds to calcium and the bound calcium cannot be absorbed into the body. Both animal and human studies have found that phosphoric acid is associated with altered calcium homeostasis and low calcium. Carbonated beverages, then, may reduce dietary calcium because of their high caffeine or phosphoric acid content or because drinking such beverages tends to reduce the consumption of calcium-containing foods and beverages. Such deficiencies in dietary calcium intake may be even more pronounced in Freaks. Drinking carbonated beverages may further increase the risk for dietary calcium deficiencies and, in this way, hinder maximal weight loss success. For all the reasons described above, including calcium deficits, reduced satiety, enlargement of pouch,stoma or sleeve, drinking carbonated beverages, even those that are sugar-free, could lead to weight gain. Dump City Arizona: Carbonated beverages that contain sugar, however, pose a substantially greater threat to the Bariatric patient in terms of weight loss and weight loss maintenance with surgery. Sugar-containing soft drinks have a relatively high glycemic index, meaning that blood sugar levels readily increase with their consumption. The rapid rise in blood sugar, in turn, increases the production of the hormone, insulin. , that acts to drive sugar into tissues where it is metabolized or processed for storage. High insulin levels, however, also contribute to fat accumulation, driving fat into the fat storage depots and inhibiting the breakdown of fat. Soft drinks with sugar are also high in calories. An average 12 oz. soft drink contains 10 teaspoons of refined sugar (40g). The typical 12-oz. can of soda contains 150 calories (Coke = 140 calories; Pepsi = 150; Dr. Pepper = 160; orange soda = 180; 7-up = 140; etc.). Soft drinks are the fifth largest source of calories for adults, accounting for 5.6% of all calories that Americans consume. Among adolescents, soft drinks provide 8%- to 9% of calories. An extra 150 calories per day from a soft drink over the course of a year, is equivalent to nearly 16 pounds and that weight gain multiplied by a few years could equate to “morbid obesity”. Health Problems From Soda: In addition to the adverse effects that carbonated drinks have on weight loss or weight loss maintenance, carbonated beverages may also have adverse effects on health. Soda beverages and other carbonated drinks are acidic with a pH of 3.0 or less. Drinking these acidic beverages on an empty stomach in the absence of food, as Bariatric patients are required to do, can upset the fragile acid-alkaline balance of the stomach and intestines and increase the risk for ulcers or even the risk for gastrointestinal adenomas (cancer). In an attempt to keep your body’s blood pH from becoming too acidic, it uses its stored supplies of iodine to neutralize that acid. This iodine is no longer able to be used by your thyroid which in turn slows down your metabolism and thus causes you to put on extra weight. Soft drink usage has also been found to be associated with various other health problems. These include an increased risk for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, kidney stones, bone fractures and reduced bone density/osteoporosis, allergies, cancer, acid-peptic disease, dental carries, gingivitis, and more. Soft drinks may, in addition, increase the risk for oxidative stress. This condition is believed to contribute significantly to aging and to diseases associated with aging and obesity, i.e. diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, reduced immune function, hypertension, and more. Although it’s tough to quit soda, there are good reasons why weight loss surgery and soft drinks don’t mix. The first is related to your new, smaller stomach size. For example, if you’ve had Lap-Band® surgery, the inflation of your stomach pouch caused by drinking even a sip of carbonated beverage can cause your pouch to strain uncomfortably against the band. Gastric bypass patients and sleeve gastrectomy also report feeling uncomfortable from the gas produced by even a mouthful of soda. In short: The gas in the drink comes out and expands your stomach like a balloon. Your new pouch can be stretched out over time if you drink carbonated beverages after your surgery. I was talking with a WLS surgeon about soda's and he told me the following: "Many patients find it hard to give them up, however. I had one lovely lady who underwent the RNY and quickly lost weight, but then she stopped losing for a while. She came back to see me, after having stretched her pouch to over 20 ounces, and wanted a revision. She admitted to drinking about 40 ounces of Coke® a day. I told her once she stopped drinking the cola we would reverse the surgery for her. She never returned........."

Tracy, I read an article today in Prevention Magazine, about weight gain and debt. Wrote by Suze Orman, about how we gain X amount of weight in correlation with stress over debt, especially those that have hidden debt from their spouses. Made me think of you---not that you have hidden debt from Frank!!! But how you stress, and it all hits you at once! When you had to move back after the loss is when you began gaining again....made me think that maybe the stress and expense of moving might be related in your case. Then as DSD moved in and out, and the stress and expense of the bigger house, and the unneeded bigger house hit, the weight come on faster.......seeing the connection? I KNOW it was part of my weight, the stress made me search for comfort, and going and doing was not an option, yet I felt not deserving, but not guilty about spending money at the grocery store, so what did I do? I ate, and not much of it was very good for me! Wierd! Anyway.....I would have liked to have seen the article when it was happening. I mean I know from back in my single days, that unhealthy food is far cheaper than healthy. I mean I could buy a whole case of Ramen noodles for $3, and if need be it would feed us for days----I could not buy ingredients to make one single serving salad for $3.....single, and poor, raising a child, you do the math! But the emotional ties to weight----she predicted (meaning Suze Orman) the winner in The Biggest Loser, based on their FICO scores---and level of debt! I don't know if they have a website you might see some of the article in or not. Rick is about 70 miles out, and they have been out for 12 hours already, and have not even pumped the job yet. It will be middle of the night before he gets home.....ick Soon as the kids leave, I am headed to the dollar store to buy dog bones and such. Will be back when I get back!

Honestly, there are a lot of misconceptions over just how much control and influence we have over weight loss (or weight gain). When 1200 calories is a BIG day, like Tiffykins says, you're still going to lose weight or maintain. Consider that pre-op, most of us probably had NO IDEA how much food we consumed... but thumbnail guesses on my part, looking at portion sizes, what I ate, and how frequently I ate, would be that an AVERAGE day pre-op was around 3000 calories. So think about it again -- you've gone from 3000 calories (if you were like me -- and while I was obese, I wasn't even one of the true giants) a day to less than half of that on a "cheat" day. How could you NOT lose weight? Also, the plateaus and stalls are more due to the body's own homeostatic mechanisms -- trying to maintain blood sugar levels and so on -- than our actions. That's why you can literally do everything right and still stall for a week or two, and then stop exercising, start eating more (and worse) -- and then suddenly the stall breaks. Being human, we want to assume it was "something we did" that changed things, but considering the calorie margins involved (going from "good" to "bad" means MAYBE a 300-400 calorie/day change... maybe), it's far more likely that our body just finally "gave up the ghost" on hanging on to that bit of flab, and changed our homeostasis (blood chemistry/hormone balances) so that we started losing again. In short, the great thing about the sleeve is that as long as you "mostly" do the right things you know you're supposed to do -- avoid too many sweets/starchy white flour products, eat lots of good fruits, vegetables, meat, and whole grains, get in some kind of regular exercise, and drink lots of Water -- you're just about guaranteed to lose a lot of weight, if you're patient. It's not really under your control once you get on this roller coaster, so sit back and enjoy the (weight loss) ride!

Although your symptoms could be band related it sounds like something else is going on here too. You should see your PCP and/or a gastroenterologist. You might need to have an endoscopy and colonoscopy to see what is going on. These symptoms sound serious enough not to be dismissed. Your weight gain is probably unrelated to these symptoms. You need to find a doctor who will investigate this and obviously your surgeon is not the one to do it. Good luck.

it has been nearly 4 years since I had my band. 2 years ago I started gaining a little weight - not much - but I know I was eating wrong. About a year ago I started having itching all across my abdomen and a bruse-like spot to the right of the port. Now I have gainede about 15 pounds back of the 75 I originally lost. My abdomen is tender and sensitive. Sometimes I get a sharp type pain. I have constant IBS symptoms - have not had a solid bowel movement in weeks. I went to my doctor and he says I am gaining the weight because I have learned how to eat around the band. I agree that I do that - but not constantly. My abdomen seems hard at times - not soft. Last night it actually felt like the band had moved because I could not sleep on either side. Today the tenderness is there constantly. I have tried to go to a different surgeon but they seem to have a club because none of them will see me since they didn't do the original band. Has anyone else experienced these types of problems? I worry that the band has eroded and that there might be some type of infection. What would infection symptoms be like? I don't want to overact but I don't want to ignore something serious. Does anyone else have any ideas? I am in the Louisville, KY area if you know of anyone I can talk to.

Im in the same boat. I injured my back & after a Toradol injection and muscle relaxants, anti-inflmmatory drugs felt no releif so I broke down and started taking steroids. Medrol which is a 6 day treatment starting off at 6 pills a day down to 1. I was at 202lbs on Wed & this morning at 207.8 I knew to expect the weight gain & I also get really hungry...ravenous is a better word. . I was in so much pain that I didnt care. I was sooooo close to onderville but I know that it will come back off. They say it takes few weeks to get out of system. Dont get discouraged. This is life & we will face hurdles every now & then but I know I have the band & that the weight will come back off. Wishing you the best & hope you feel better soon.

Could the steriod shot I had to have b/c of poision ivy be making me hold fluid or gain weight? I have been eatting a little more that normal but I gained 6 lbs in the last 2 day. Any experience with them. I had the shot last tuesday it is now Sunday

Thank you again everyone. Today was a great day. I got out and walked. I'm still bruised and sore but it felt good to move! I didnt even try to find the scale. Plus, I got in all my protein without extra carbs or stuff I shouldn't have. I feel by monday morning all will be right in my world. I have felt so empowered these past few months of not being a slave to food. I slip sometimes but never for long and I always hold my head high and take responsibility. I think the weight gain freaked me out this time because I didn't stray from the guidlines and it made my pants tight:( I hope you all have a great weekend full of fun and LIFE. Don't you just love your sleeve?!

Yesterday, one of my co-workers, a sweet man really, told me "don't lose too much weight." I'm kind of flabbergasted. So I know he meant well, but I don't want the weight police on me now any more than I did when I was heavy. I am about 10 lbs from a healthy BMI but was considering lowering my goal weight a bit (10 more lbs?) to give me some wiggle room since some weight gain is common in years 2-5. Now I feel like I'll need to wear bulky clothes to hide me weight loss. Sheesh. I know people mean to be supportive but I don't really like them critiqing my size.

I have finished my 3 month multi discipline needed for insurance. I didn't want to quit during that because I couldn't afford the weight gain that I always get when I quit. I am starting vacation next week so I figured it would be the ideal time to quit. I am also going to give up my pepsi which is my true love in life. Wish me luck and hopefully I won't bite anyone's head off this week. Lol

you are not the only 1 chick, woke up this morning and boom 4lb weight gain!!! :biggrin: i could of cried and then thrown my scales out of the window! i was soo upset as im 2 weeks post op i thought that id be losin losin losin but apparently not, not a happy bunny but it made me wanna go to the gym and burn it off immediatly! lol dont like it but i guess that this is real life with the lap band x

Hi all, I have Wellmark BCBS of Iowa and am about two weeks away from submitting pre-approval, so just reading over the WLS coverage on their site. VSG is listed as "investigational", which is bolded like it's important, but not explained. RNY gastric bypass is listed as "may be medically necessary when criteria below are met". I am having zero luck finding a good explanation of what the difference is, on the site. Can anyone clue me in to what that means in insurance terms, and what it may mean to my preapproval application? If it matters, my BMI right now is 49.6. Also, anyone else have Wellmark Iowa (not federal) and have any luck? Thank you for any help! Here is the verbiage from the website: Medical Policy: 07.01.17 Original Effective Date: September 1995 Reviewed: September 2009 Revised: September 2009 Benefit Application Benefit determinations are based on the applicable contract language in effect at the time the services were rendered. Exclusions, limitations or exceptions may apply. Benefits may vary based on contract, and individual member benefits must be verified. Wellmark determines medical necessity only if the benefit exists and no contract exclusions are applicable. This medical policy may not apply to FEP. Benefits are determined by the Federal Employee Program. This Medical Policy document describes the status of medical technology at the time the document was developed. Since that time, new technology may have emerged or new medical literature may have been published. This Medical Policy will be reviewed regularly and be updated as scientific and medical literature becomes available. Description: Obesity is the most frequent form of malnutrition in the developed world and it is increasing. Morbid obesity (i.e., obesity with secondary serious or debilitating progressive disease) is generally associated with a body mass index (BMI) of ≥40 kg/m² (i.e. weight/height squared). Morbid obesity has a significant impact on cardiac risk factors, incidence of diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, debilitating arthritis of weight bearing joints, infertility, psychosocial and economic problems and various types of cancers, etc. The first treatment of morbid obesity is dietary and lifestyle changes. When conservative treatment fails, a few patients may require a surgical approach. The National Institutes for Health defines potential candidates for surgery as those with a BMI of 40 kg/m² or more or a BMI between 35 kg/m² and 39.9 kg/m² and a serious obesity-related health problem such as type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, or severe sleep apnea. Additionally, persons should have acceptable operative risks, the ability to participate in treatment and long-term follow-up, and possess an understanding of the surgical procedure and necessary life style changes. Surgery for morbid obesity, also known as bariatric surgery is based on intestinal malabsorption and gastric reduction. Surgery is considered successful if weight loss is maintained at greater than or equal to 50% of excess body weight for more than 10 years. Several different gastric reduction and intestinal malabsorption procedures are listed below: Gastric reduction (gastric restrictive) procedures: * Vertical-banded gastroplasty * Adjustable gastric banding * Gastric bypass (Roux-en-Y gastroenterostomy); this can be done by both open or laparoscopic approach * Mini-gastric bypass (laparoscopic) * Sleeve gastrectomy; performed on its own or in combination with malabsorptive procedures. Malabsorptive Procedures: * Biliopancreatic bypass (Scopinaro Procedure) * Biliopancreatic bypass with duodenal switch Top Prior Approval: Prior approval is recommended for this service. Submit a prior approval now. Top Policy: The following surgical procedures for the treatment of morbid obesity may be considered medically necessary when the criteria listed below are met: * Vertical-banded gastroplasty * Gastric bypass (Roux-en-Y gastroenterostomy) with short Roux limb equal to or less than 150 cm; this can be done by either open or laparoscopic approach * Adjustable gastric banding (Lap-Band® procedure) * Biliopancreatic bypass (i.e., the Scopinaro procedure) with duodenal switch; this can be done by either open or laparoscopic approach Criteria for Coverage: * Patient is at least 18 years old And * The patient must have documentation in the medical record of failure to sustain weight loss within the two years preceding surgery and documentation of the health care provider’s monitoring of the patient’s progress toward a goal of weight loss. And * The patient must be a motivated individual with acceptable operative risk and must be evaluated by a licensed mental health provider to determine the patient's willingness to comply with pre and postoperative treatment plans, and a strategy to ensure cooperation with follow-up must be documented. And, in addition to the general requirements above, the patient must also meet one of the following weight criteria: * BMI of 40kg/m² for at least 3 years * BMI of ≥ 50 kg/m² for biliopancreatic bypass (i.e., the Scopinaro procedure) with duodenal switch Or * BMI of greater than 35kg/m² in conjunction with at least one of the following: o Hypertension requiring medication for at least one year o Diabetes Mellitus type 2 requiring medication for at least one year o Obstructive sleep apnea, confirmed by sleep study, which does not respond to conservative treatment o Documented cardiovascular disease o Pulmonary hypertension of obesity The following surgical procedures for the treatment of morbid obesity are considered investigational: * Sleeve gastrectomy as a stand alone procedure OR in combination with a malabsorptive procedure * Mini-gastric bypass (laparoscopic) * Biliopancreatic bypass (Scopinaro Procedure) * Long-limb ( > 150 cm) gastric bypass Endoscopic procedures, including but not limited to the StomaphyXTM device, to treat weight gain after bariatric surgery due to large gastric stoma or large gastric pouches are considered investigational. Bariatric surgery is considered investigational as a cure for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Subsequent bariatric procedures, including revisions, in patients who regain weight due to failure to comply with lifestyle or dietary modifications are considered not medically necessary.

I have yet to be sleeved, but I ALWAYS gain weight after surgery. They pump so much fluid in you, it's bound to happen. As a matter of fact, after I had a c-section (delievered an 8lb baby and all that goes with it) I came home and got on the scale because I wanted to see how much weight I lost after having a baby. Much to my dismay, I actually had gained a pound. lol I frantically called my OB/GYN to see what was going on. They said it was due to the surgery and all the fluids. It took a good two weeks before the weight started to go down. So moral of the story is, the weight gain is due to the surgery. Let your body heal

thank you to all who replied! I too am on the 2 week liquid diet. I was given Bariactric Advantage Meal Replacement shakes and couldn't stomach them so I am now tring to get in 5 Carnation Instant Breakfast shakes a day which is hard because I am type 1 diabetic and have to wait 4 hrs inbetween insulin injections. Now that I am 4 days away...the diet seems easier even though I find myself admiring food I look foward to at least some Soup after surgery. I am only allowed sugar free Clear liquids and Jello or popsicles...as well as the shakes and chicken broth. I have had a few days where getting fluids in was hard but did really well today! I am glad to find others going through or went through this surgery. I was originally going to get gastric bypass but couldn't come to terms with the finality and complications. I know it would of helped get the weight of quicker but I kind of want to work for it also from the start. I feel if I can do these two weeks I can do the rest of my life. The weight gain has caused me to have PCOS and in order to have a child I need to lose weight and get my diabeties under control and I feel inside this surgery will be a tool to help!:thumbup:

I had surgery 1 week ago today. I was on clear liquids until yesterday with no protein. Yesterday I was able to add to that diet cottage cheese, yogurt, protein shakes, pudding, mashed veggies, mashed potatoes, and so on. Basically a pureed diet. I know I should not weig myself too often, but I could not resist. Unfortunately, I was disappointed to have gained back a pound. Has anyone else experienced this? Is it just a reaction to having basically no calories to finally having some. Everything was low fat or fat free. I am freaking out that I will gain back the 12 pounds I lost and confused how eating only 800 calories can make you gain a pound. Thanks.

Cal Pozo is a fitness instructor, choreographer, director and producer of best selling exercise videos. He was born in 1946 in Cuba and moved to the US in 1960. Though he has been dancing since his early teens Cal made sure education was a priority, attending both Bowling Green University in Ohio and New York University in New York City. After college, while living in New York City, Cal became a dancer in Broadway musicals, including a revival of the original musical West Side Story, which also starred Patrick Swayze. It was during this show, in the late 1970s, when Cal suffered a serious hip injury. This ironic twist of fate was to be Cal’s springboard for launching into the fitness and exercise video industry. Before suffering his debilitating hip injury, Pozo had been a serious dancer with no interest in the exercise and fitness instructional video industry. After suffering through the injury and subsequent rehabilitation, his doctors advised his dancing career was very likely finished. Refusing to accept such a diagnosis, Cal decided to take over on his own rehabilitation program and mixed various dancing and exercise disciplines into a system all his own. Successful completion of his own style of rehabilitation program, which included an approximately forty pound weight gain and loss, started Cal on his path to fitness stardom. Visit : http://www.vitadigest.com for more details. :confused:

elcee, I hope they get your BP figured out. Whooo Hooo on having a great time with no weight gain! Stacie, OMG! I would be crying too. It's hard to say when I'm not walking in your shoes, but I think I would tell them to put in a new band and make sure they stitch it in place well so it doesn't slip. Hugs to you. I hope you get it figured out.

Sept 24th to Oct 4th I have officially hit a stall hope it doesn't last too long. I contribute it to having my period, and the normal weight gain that attributes to it.

So... I'm following my eating plan and exercising a bit less than usual. I got on the scale today and have gained 2lbs in 2 weeks. The first gain since surger. I just happen to have a horrible UTI... not responding to antibiotics and causeing me all sorts of trouble. I assume there is some inflamation with this. Do you guys think this could be the gain? thanks stacey

Good morning to everyone, I am new to this site..I had the lapband procedure performed on August 26, 2010, at Brand Surgical Institute in Glendale, CA.. I was down 31 pounds last week and I weighed in this morning and gained 2 pounds . I am so devastated, can someone please help me understand as to why I gained instead of loosing. I go for my first fill on October 11, 2010.. Thank you, Mirella

You are right. I am sure the weight gain is due to the fluids pumped into you before and afte surgery. Good luck on your journey!

I had my husband tie my shoes, but we walked the neighborhood because Dr. said no to the treadmill. Perfectly normal to have weight gain after surgery. They pump you full of fluids. Every thing else seems normal. I ended up taking some Miralax in order to get the bowels moving.

I had surgery yesterday, stayed overnight and have done quite well. I am able to manage fluids, walk off the gas and besides a full feeling in my chest and incisional pain I feel quite well actually. I know I am swollen but to gain 9.5 pounds overnight? I did have 4.5 bags of IV fluid and having some difficulty peeing, but wow 9.5 pounds. Anyone else experience this?

Well you two it took me a bit to google and translate kilos into pounds lol, but I think I got the gist of the weight gains and losses. Like Chilo said there are many band to sleeve revisions on this site and they will be able to give you the low down on that idea. I was just curious though, I heard the port and metal on the bands were titanium like the staples used for the sleeve. If this is so you may need to go with a physician that uses threaded sutures and glue vs the staples if this is possible or maybe go with the gastric plication which is not excising the stomach only folding it within itself and suturing it up, to avoid the titanium. Hmmm