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After RNY gastric bypass surgery, there are two phases which are the "Weight Loss Phase" and the "Maintenance Phase". At around 7 months post-op, my weight loss came to an end and I naturally slid into the maintenance phase. @@Melanie89 said "Hi I am 16 weeks out lost 67lbs but weighed this morning and im up 3lbs like HOWWW?" There are probably 3 things at play here. 1. Holiday's are rough on weight loss. One tends to eat or drink too much and this can result in some weight gain. 2. You weight will fluctuate on a daily basis. I generally weigh myself first thing in the morning butt naked to obtain my lowest daily weight. My clothes and shoes can add 5 pounds to my weight. If I weigh myself after meals, that might add another couple pounds. Some women have issues with Water retention. Stress can also affect weight loss. 3. At 16 weeks post op, your meal volume has started to increase which gives you have an option. One thing to do now at this stage is to assess your Protein intake. Your protein requirement is met by a combination of the protein from your meals combined with the protein from your supplements (Protein shakes, protein bars). Since your meal volume is beginning to increase, that also means that the amount of protein from meals is increasing, especially if you concentrate on consuming high protein meals. Therefore you could be able to reduce your reliance on supplements and the calories they contain. I went from 3 protein shakes a day, down to 2, then 1 and finally zero when my meal volume increased to 1 cup per meal at a year and a half. That is the method I used to break my stalls.

Watermelon has the more sugar than a lot of other melons, if someone wants fruit, there are better options. It is not a low carb fruit. Just because it isn't as high as a pineapple or a banana doesn't mean its low carb. Not to mention it has basically no Protein. We are talking about a person fresh from surgery, not someone in maintenance. @@JMarshall Even right some surgery, Water melon is going to basically be a slider food. Full of sugar, and no protein. Any weight loss patient could sit and eat an entire watermelon if they wanted if they don't dump. It is going down a slippery slope very early on. I am almost 5 years out and I still can't eat a lot of watermelon at 1 time. I have been eating watermelon(juice and slices) since my second month. I am down over 270 pounds as of last week. Yes it can be a slider food but that does not take away it's benefits. I gravitated towards eating cold watermelon because it didn't hurt my stomach early on and hydrated me. Lots of foods are sliders but that does not mean that they are all bad. Just as we cannot blame the fork for being overweight we can't blame watermelon for weight gain. Moderation is key with everything we eat. We can't eliminate everything that has carbs or sugar , but we can be mindful of how much we take in. Sent from my Nexus 6 using the BariatricPal App

I had my surgery (sleeve) on 2/14 and recovery is going relatively smoothly. I’ve been following the dietitians guidelines and starting to walk 30 minutes a day. Over the last few days the scale has been going UP not DOWN 😫. Has anyone experienced this? My thought is that I didn’t get enough protein in the first week following surgery and my body is balancing that out. Thoughts?

For me, my issues, and my goals, I had to change some behaviors. It's a nice thought process that eating small amounts throughout the day will work forever, but your stomach capacity will change. I can easily consume way more calories today than I could say at 2-5 months. Actually, I can and do consume triple the amounts of calories I ate during my losing stage. Mainly, it's because of the pregnancy, but I can eat way more than I could early out. It happens. Most people who are 2-4 years out report the same issues. We can eat more, but that doesn't mean we should. I can tell you that snacking and grazing is dangerous especially in maintenance. Losing was easy, keeping it off, staying in maintenance is not as easy as just eating small portions. If that were the case, none of us would have had to have 85% of our stomachs removed. Certain foods that just didn't work early out, essentially just slide right on through my stomach and allow me to eat way more than I should be eating. So, for me, I stuck with what my surgeon prescribed for me during my losing stage and then tweaked my maintenance intake to ensure that I was able to keep the weight off without dieting. I promise I do not diet nor deprive myself of any foods in maintenance, but I sure do not need or want to pick up the bad habits that helped me reach my surgery day weight. I ate 4 meals a day (each meal consisted of 15gr of Protein per meal and this gave me the necessary protein grams per day, it isn't "that" hard to eat enough protein), no Snacks, didn't use protein drinks/shakes, and it worked for me. I continue the same program in maintenance for the most part. As for the pregnancy stuff, I have to snack to eat 1700-1800 calories a day. I have horrific head hunger and cravings that I never dealt with when I had a set meal plan and schedule. There are plenty of sleeve patients out here who report a real gain of 40-60lbs because of habits/behaviors were never addressed, and life takes over, and BAM here they are back to real dieting trying to get back to their goal weight all while battling the mental/emotional aspect of weight regain and trying to lose it again. Those stories are what made me realize it "just winging it" wasn't going to work for me until I changed some behaviors with food. We all have issues with food, and no 2 patients will be the exact same, but I do know what I was trying to do before surgery didn't work, and I wasn't willing to just "do it my way" to see if it would work. That didn't work in the past. I wasn't naive enough to believe it work now. Plus, I never really felt like I was dieting in my losing stage. I just didn't have much room for anything else other than protein. I was satisfied on my small meals, and that kept me on track. So, getting out of "diet mode" is again nice in theory, but long term, we still have to be mindful of what/how much we eat for the rest of our lives. I surely do not know one single 30something year old naturally skinny woman that can just eat whatever and how much of those foods that she wants without seeing some weight gain. All of my naturally skinny girlfriends are not constantly dieting, but they do not have issues with food, and quantity. It's a fine line between not dieting and intuitive eating. I've had a true gain, it was scary, but I know what caused it and resolved the issues. I agree that it's confusing, and you have to do what works best for you, but realize that if you are not getting the results you want from your way of doing it, don't be afraid to change it up and go on the prescribed post-op losing plan from your surgeon.

I've had it all my life. I was pulling whiskers and wondering why Lady Shaves wouldn't get rid of the hair on my legs when I had my first bra. Menstruation has been hit and miss. I usually only knew it was coming an hour after it arrived! Not fun to deal with. A lot of my time was spent soaking and scrubbing blood stains. It does not encourage you to revel in your womanly cycle! PCOS was finally diagnosed by a specialist when I was 42 and just as things were getting right the Thyroid went and pushed the IR up and over into Type 2 Diabetes with more weight gain. Most annoying thing for me is that I fought and struggled with the IR related weight gain all my life as well as the hair and skin issues and then once the PCOS was finally diagnosed and they gave me Metformin; my weight started dropping and when a couple of nurses I know noticed and commented on my missing 20kg, I explained the diagnosis and medication and one of them said 'well now you've managed to lose some weight you may feel more inclined to try and lose some more' and I was like....didn't you hear me....I just take a tablet that corrects a medical problem and it's going away without changing anything else....I have fought for nearly 30 years and you pat me on the back for taking a tablet!!!! I was so annoyed and the GP's that failed to diagnose it will still not recognise the diagnosis even though all the test results are there and Medicare pays my bills for it's long term management. Same attitude from my band medics - you are fat because you ate yourself this way- you must eat more than you admit to yourself or you wouldn't have been morbidly obese....and my personal un-favorite from my GP when I pointed out the test result diagnosis of Insulin Resistance...'Yes, well Insulin Resistance hmmm just a buzz word, the latest excuse'. It is not the condition or it's symptoms that I struggle with, it is the attitudes of people who just decided I was in denial about why I was fat. I over heard my mother-in-law saying that I must stuff my face as soon as they left because I hardly ate anything when anyone was around!! AAARrRGGGGHHHHH! and now...oh you are doing well...what diet are you on....stay with it this time it's working. Sorry for ranting, get's me very upset. And yes, the soulcysters website/forum thing is brilliant. Info on every aspect. I even went on the teenage pcos section and it was so sad, it was like reading a diary of my torment when I was that age. Still, onwards and upwards....:-) Good luck to all of you. It ain't easy but I know it could be a lot worse!

Kim, prayers go out to your FIL and whole family. Praise God that he is going to be OK! I'm also praying the truth will come out. You would think that the trooper would take statements from the medic too? Dianne, hang in there lady. You'll have a date soon, and be as good as new ... or actually better! Angie, I'll eat Soup with you Melissa, you're looking great. Please don't sweat a little Water weight gain. Had a good weekend, but a sweet old gentleman in our church went to be with the Lord this weekend. He suffered from congestive heart failure and had been on Oxygen for at least 1 1/2 years. I'll attend his services tomorrow (Tues.) afternoon.

You know, I just started about a week ago but seldom because its been linked to weight gain. I was doing th sf monsters but it would take me all day to drink and I would dehydrate. Though crystal lite raspberry lemonade. Sooo good!! I like to mix it in a bottle and stick it in the freezer until it starts to freeze. Good and refreshing.

This is a common misconception. The difference is not that dramatic. First of all, half a century ago is about 1958. In 1963, the average age of menarche was between 12.9 and 12.75 depending on what study you quote. Now it's about 12.5 to 12.8, again depending on the study you quote. The average hasn't been 16 for well over a century and we have a ways to go until it's 11 because there has been a leveling off in the drop. From reading the stories on LBT, I get the impression that entering puberty does start obesity in some women and for others having a baby does it. That doesn't cover everyone, of course, but those two themes seem to be the most common. Also, there is a correlation between weight and onset of menarche. But it's not that menarche causes weight gain. It's that you have to have a certain percentage of body fat in order to have menarche. This is one reason why the age has gone down -- nutrition has improved and there are a lot less starving kids with low body fat percentages in the world.

Yes, yes, yes. About 6 weeks post op I began having major depression issues. I started on Zoloft, and it really helped. However, for three weeks I took the smallest dose and didn't gain or lose any weight. I had a follow up with my surgeon and he was concerned that I started a new med without contacting him. He explained that most SRIs have a side effect of weight gain and since I wasn't losing, I needed to stop taking them. I weaned off and instantly began losing rapidly. Unfortunately, I can also feel the depression creeping back. I'm trying to work through it with long walks and summer activities. Also, I see a therapist. It's a bad and strange place to be because on one hand, I'm happy about my success. On the other, I'm grieving my old life, clothes, habits and activities. It's hard but you'll get through it! Just remember not to make any serious decisions (like changing jobs or ending relationship) while you're recovering.

Admit this may be a long one so I apologize upfront for that! I was ridiculously out of control in my eating habits therefore I was also crazy worried about my ability to make the change. I did begin changing my habits before surgery. I began walking short distances as the 8 stairs up from my basement had me huffing and puffing. Initially I dreaded having to walk the 3 blocks to pick up my children from school. For almost 2 decades I never really dealt with hunger because I often ate so consistently I don't think I ever allowed myself to get hungry. I woke up and thought about what I would eat for Breakfast, after breakfast i focused on lunch but had Snacks, etc... I literally ate from wakeup, to my head hitting the pillow and often got up to eat more before I actually fell asleep. I remember eating 2 footlong subway subs in a sitting, and this wasn't a one time marathon thing; driving to 7-11 at midnight for junk food and then eating most of what I thought I would eat over 2-3 days. So I get it completely. Frankly I was scared sh**less that I would fail, or sabatoge myself along the way. Shortly before my first meeting with my center I had gestational diabetes but it went away immediately after my pregnancy. I admit when I am pregnant I am completely in control and anal about what I put in my mouth so lose weight throughout them. Of course post nursing forget about it! So after finding out I had no choice but to switch to formula I actually managed to become a full blown diabetic in about 5 months. It was a flurry of chocolate, fries and slurpees! My point being you and I are very much alike in being obsessed with food 24/7. So if I can do it anyone can do it! I found out I had become a diabetic at my first appointment at my bariatric center, March 12, 2013. That was the day the light went on for me, even if it was dim when it started. I walked 15 minutes that first day and I hated it lol. That night I completely lost all control of my sanity as every emotion under the sun came out over every little thing. For a second I thought OMG I am pregnant!! But no, apparently I am an emotional eater so now instead of eating, all of a sudden I was feeling everything and it was completely overwhelming. For this reason I strongly recommend trying to get at least 2-3 days of healthier eating out of the way prior to your liquid pre-op. The mental part of this is by far the hardest, so getting a small advantage before really does help. So expect to be very hormonal when you start out. Tricks of the trade pre-op.. I chewed a lot of stride gum especially during my liquid diet (3 weeks), lifesaver, that is my biggest thing to this day, although no I don't promote it post op as we all know it is a no no and I was 6 months out before I tried it. I drank a lot of low calorie fluids and I planned ahead for meals (before liquid pre-op). For the first little while I kept junk out of the house. I have kids so that's hard, so I chose to buy things they like but I don't, like all dressed chips, or cotton candy ice cream.. My fave thing being a large cup of lite hot chocolate with fat free hazelnut creamer in the evening as a treat and it kept me pretty full.. so I would do it at my peak struggle time. I started keeping fruit that I really liked around, cherries and raspberries and I would go to town. Not ideal but it was certainly better than the alternatives.. smart pop was another fave pre-op. No I was not perfect I had bad days, still do, but I started to convince myself that it didn't have to be a bad day.. instead it was a bad couple hours and then I let it go, guilt has no place on the road to success. It will not motivate you, it will only make you feel worse!! I made a list of all those things i wanted to be able to do post op... and a list of all those things I never wanted to feel or have happen to me again. That was emotional, then I put them up in a cpl places around the house where I thought they would most benefit me. I also included a list of the consequences of failing to follow my liquid diet. Number one of course being a cancelled surgery! So I actually made it through all 3 weeks or 22 days as my nutritionist miscalculated lol. A ton of gum, broth to break up the sweetness, I was allowed 2 cups of raw green veggies/day added garlic salt or seasoning salt.. no dressing allowed! It makes you an idiot about a week in, prepare to write things down as you won't remember them. Drink tons of fluids as the day 3 headache is a nightmare and will likely last a cpl days and nothing will touch it but hydration so stay on top of that. Post-op hunger concerns... I have hunger, boy do I experience real hunger. Now I am not trying to scare you, I didn't experience hunger like this until about 7 months out. So I have had a lot of time to work through better choices and options when I am hungry, the nice thing about being early out is that it won't take much to reel in said hunger if you are one who feels it. Have a cup of broth, some greek yogurt and boom it's gone for another couple hours. Also remember that your intake is soo limited that it is okay to feed it. Sometime just choose to feed it with fluids. That is the biggie, learning to decipher head hunger from actual hunger from thirst!! Once you get that straight your life will quickly become much easier. So pay attention to what each of them feel like, not as hard as it sounds I promise. Further out you can eat more, and I fall off the wagon the last time I was off for almost 4 weeks, stopped exercising too. I gained 5 pounds. The difference is that this time the weight gain actually scared me, having been a 'normal' size for a bit now I got comfortable and this was a well needed reality check. Now considering how much I was eating 5 pounds was kind, so the surgery really is just a tool. You still need to fight those demons for life but when I think about how much weight I could have gained in that same time period preop.. no comparison. I also dropped those 5 pounds during my 'taking back control' week. But what I didn't do is beat myself up for it, I went on a fabulous food vacation and when I landed back in reality I dealt with it. No guilt, just moved on and smartened up. So being kind to yourself is something that gets easier as you go through this process. It's also one of my favourite NSV's.. Sorry so long I admit I am horribly wordy... hope that helps alleviate some of your fears

If you have GERD and take a PPI. I dont know of other reasons. I do know some people are able to get a revision for weight gain, but you even have to be more diligent if you are doing it for weight loss. It is not like your original surgery where you had lots of restriction and the weight came off. Personally I liked the sleeve better I had way more restriction with it. I rarely feel anything with this bypass.

I've had the IUD for 10 years. I never felt it contributed to my weight gain. The extreme weight loss over the last year hasn't caused any problems with it's placement either. I highly advise you to have it placed by a GYN doctor and not a general practice physician though. It's more likely to be improperly placed by a GP than a GYN.

I haven't had the sleeve yet, but I am on my second Mirena. LOVE it! Didn't really notice much weight gain from that.

I figure I need to lose from 48 to 63 pounds. It might as well be 10x that much as there is no way I will be able to do it without a sleeve. Before my most recent back injury, I could lose some weight but would always gain that weight back and then some. At least since my mid 30s. Years back I was thinking about this surgery, but after gaining 25 pounds in less than a years time now I need to do something. Positive feedback loop with pain, weight gain and then each is causing more of the other. I have tried countless diets, diet pills, HCG injections, sensa - now hitting menopause & pain limiting me from exercising the way I have my whole life - I'm not giving another year of my life over to more weight gain and debilitation. Already suffering from high lipids and GERD. I need help to get out of this cycle, and to keep from getting even heavier & worse off than I am already.

I hate having to make this post but I'm concerned and need some advice because I don't know what to say or do. I got my surgery done back in December and I've been doing great, since starting this journey I've lost over 60 pounds. However I'm worried about my husband. See, when we started dating (we were teenagers) he was somewhere between normal weight and underweight. Very skinny. In the last 4 years (since I found out I was pregnant 4 years ago) he has gained about 40-45 pounds. He says that his metabolism just isn't what it use to be anymore and that he thinks about food all the time. He doesn't take a lunch to work and when he comes home he overeats on foods that aren't good for him. He wakes up in the middle of the night to eat too. He says he cant sleep if he doesn't eat something. If I don't finish my meal or if my daughter doesn't finish her meal, he eats it in addition to his meal. Now I don't eat the same types of foods he eats. He buys the foods he wants but he will eat dinner when I make it. That's the only meal we actually eat together. I don't want to see him go through what I went through with the weight gain. It's a horrible thing to go through. Right now he is in the 'overweight' category but I feel like if he keeps treading down this path its not going to help any. If I say I am going to make such and such for dinner he always says to make sure I make enough. Example: His idea of enough is a 2 pound steak, of which I am only eating less than 3 ounces of and so is my daughter. He will eat the rest. If I don't make "enough" food (according to his idea of enough food is) he gets upset and says "what the heck am I going to do with that? I'm not a child" referring to the portion size, which is an average portion size for an adult. How do I talk to him? what do I say? He is extremely stubborn and set in his ways. I've already said to him that I don't want him to go through what I did with weight gain because I know how it is and it's a horrible thing to go through. He just sat there and listened but didn't say anything.

Has anyone gained their weight back after surgery? I was 294 and went down to 180. I am now back up to 196...but is this normal? I'm 18 months post surgery.

Being bipolar is a medical illness that as you know has no cure, only treatment. People who are not bipolar or who have never loved someone who is bipolar really cannot understand the unique challenges of undertaking WLS of any kind with this illness. Talk to your treatment team, psychologist and psychiatrist. If you are relatively stable WLS may be a possibility. You will definitely need to be very closely monitored as you lose so that medication adjustment can be made and your moods can be watched. I understand the problems with bipolar medications and weight gain. It's so frustrating! One doctor said to me that you gain 10 lbs just taking the script to the pharmacy to be filled! A psychopharmacologist told me that this is because it takes the lid of hunger and you just can never feel satisfied. This is one area that WLS surgery can help since physically you can feel full on much less. Youalready have a DH who can be supportive. That's so important. I'm sending big hugs your way and wishing the very best! It sounds like you have so much happiness already in your life. Hopefully you can put this one last piece in place!

Stephanie, That is exactly what I needed to know thansks for sharing your experience with me. Sorry to hear about your weight gain BUT at least you still have your band. That is what I fear most having an ulcer which will lead to an erosion. I just got my band and I want to keep it. Was your ulcer located on your stoma or somewhere else in your stomach? And how long were you on the ulcer meds?

yes, this is normal. your body is probably in shock. give it a week and i'm sure you'll start seeing loss again. also adjust your diet a little bit. when we become predictable in our diet and exercise the body gets "bored" and sometimes needs to be caught off guard. also muscle weighs more than fat so...that could also be the cause of the weight gain. but to be honest, your weight can fluctuate 2-3 lbs daily depending on certain factors. i wouldn't be too concerned. good luck and keep up the good work! your efforts will certainly pay off in a big way!

@@AuburnDarling Don't want to get into a big debate with anyone about the band... I have had mine since 2009. I love my band and she loves me back. I'm in it for the long haul. Having the band doesn't stop me from living my life. And I know of many people who have had there band removed and kept the weight off. So, it is doable...but its not the norm. A lot get it removed because they went in thinking that the band is a "sure thing" and when they failed to following the rules and make life changes.. they blamed the band. After all surely it couldn't have been them (sarcasum) But like any other WLS weight gain is a possibility. I know plenty that has Sleeve & GB that gained the weight back. It's all about what you put in it and what you want to get out of it I watch everything i eat, but mostly how i eat. Does the band help keep me in check, sure it does, but so did every other diet....till i stopped.... WW has points, Jenny has pre packed meals, Atkins had counting carbs... ETC... I made the choice to have it done and to take responsibility for what i would have to do to make it work. I exercised 5-6 days a week and walked everyday. I still walk everyday. I just don't go to a gym, but thats a diff. story. Ask yourself... on my previous diets, did i lose the weight and keep it off for a long period of time? Was the weight loss short lived? What did i do to lose the weight and gain it back? Did I make life choices in what and how i eat? did i exercise? Do you have a good support system? Why are you wanting to lose weight? Is it for you? family? significant other? Am i wanting to lose it to help a relationship? Am i prepared to lose friends & others? You should sit down and think of these things. things that change: You, in every aspect. Your weight, frame of mind, confidence, energy, the way you look at life and how life looks back at you. Your family & friends... some will support you and some won't. Being your biggest cheerleader.... because if you are waiting on other to give out all the At-a-girl you will need... you will be disappointed. Of course you can get it removed.... though i don't see why anyone would want to unless it's medically needed. It's like saying... Im only going to get this pacemaker put in till my heart does what it's supposed too... Im only getting this stint put in till i learn to eat right, stop smoking, exercise.... See the point. Im going to keep mind as long as i possibly can... and if something should happen, ill cross that bridge when or if it happens. seek out a good addiction therapist... weight loss is mostly in the head.... after all you can lose the weight.. the problem we all had was keeping it off..... Good luck in what ever your choose too do.

Thankfully I was able to get in for a fill yesterday. The doc I use has been very backed up for the last few months but has finally got some needed additional staff hired and trained. I can already tell I have some restriction back but am afraid it still isn't enough. Through the holidays I felt so loose I'd eat way more than I wanted and still not feel full. You would think I could have just embraced and enjoyed the freedom to eat old foods like pastas and breads. But it was miserable feeling constantly hungry and constantly watched with a critical eye by my family. Now with this new fill I am able to get full on modest meal but am still finding myself hungry and wanting to graze within an hour or two of eating. I have another appointment for a fill in 4 weeks. Hopefully this one was at least enough to stem any weight gain until the next one.

It has been 3 months since yesterday. And, yes I do feel back to normal I suppose. I haven't been too active on this thread as I'm a bit disappointed/disgusted with myself right now. Despite the surgery removing 10 pounds from me I am now up 7 pounds from my pre-surgery weight. That makes a total weight gain of 17 pounds! Yes I know there is some swelling. Yes my swellling though not painful or uncomfortable in any way does seem to be more than most people. But I just can't believe that all 17 pounds are from the swelling. Especially considering the VERY poor food choices I've been making. I am still very happy with how my stomach is looking. And I do think I've turned a corner with the food. Both yesterday and today so far I've been following the high Protein low carb regime very well. Let's hope it is a trend. No matter how my resolve stands up with food I will post an updated photo for everyone to see at the end of the month when I have my official 3 month follow up appointment with the PS.

I have been using Nuva Ring for 7 years. I didn't notice any weight gain when I started and over the years I don't think it's contributed much to my weight gain, mostly that's been caused by eating too much. You're most likely going to have to try a few different kinds to see what works best for you, we all have a different reaction. This works best for me since I can't seem to remember to take a pill everyday. I also tried the patch before the ring but it was always ripping off the top layer of skin every month when I changed it out. Another benefit of the ring is very minimal bleeding, sometimes I don't even get my period before I start the next ring.

I've been using the NuvaRing for years and I love it. Never noticed any weight gain. I do love that its made my flow VERY light and only a few days(usually less than 4). Total bonus for me. Talk to your Lady Dr. about all your options, but I love it.

Hi BRight, Hyperinsulinemia is a pre-diabetic disorder where your body becomes insulin resistant. Causes lots of problems, especially for women because it can also be confused with PCOS, which is polycystic ovarian syndrome. Similar symptoms for both. (Hormone imbalance, less menstrual or inconsistent menstrual cycles, hirutism, fertility issues and weight gain) THe only way to put diabetes or insulin resistance in remission is to lose weight, take meds and/or eat less carbs or all of the above.. If you dont have lots of sugar highs and lows, your body does not have to work so hard to process insulin, thus elimating carbs or limiting carbs in tandem with exercise, weight loss. will keep you from developing full blown diabetes. I still think you need a good fill though...... Babs in TX