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

Sometimes crying can be viewed by healthcare professionals and some people in general as weak or neurotic. I quit crying in front of others at 8 years old when my grandmother yelled at me and told me it made me look ugly. Then when my father hit me because I wouldn't give him the satisfaction. I learned to cry in private. He used to beat my Mom over whether food was on the table at a certain time or if the meal was missing a condiment or not to his liking. I told my bariatric psych this is why I only ate when hungry or skipped meals. I fasted for days sometimes. I was neither anorexic nor bulimic. What I couldn't understand as a child or adult was how someone (dad) could act that way over food. So, it was easy for me not to think about eating till hungry. Then I ate whatever I wanted. Usually for pleasure. Usually not healthy choices. I saw the therapist 3 times within 3 months. First was initial greeting. Second was a 2–3-hour test I took in the office on their computer. Third was to go over my test score. I wasn't sure if I would get clearance since I was honest about my eating habits, but she said she felt I had already dealt with the mental reasonings in how I ate and believed my weight gain was more physiological. I'm not saying it's wrong to cry @saramelie and it's good to talk things out with a therapist. It was a first for me and I too questioned what I should share or not but it's for the best to get on with it so you can move forward to a better you. GL!!!

Well now this post just sent me flying into the bathroom in front of a full length mirror for stretch mark inspection! I have lost 50lbs so far and have another 50 to go. So far--I'm not seeing sagging or wrinkled skin. I have some stretch marks under my arms toward the top of my arm, some around the outside of my hips, and some toward the top outside corners of my breast. I'm not seeing any on belly or thighs. The 50lbs I just lost is "newer" weight gained in the last 5 years. I'm concerned about the next 50 because it's older weight (a LOT older!) and I'm afraid that because it's been there for a long time -- my skin won't be as elastic for that fat as it has been for the first 50.

Greetings to everyone, I am at a place right now where my complacency seems to be catching up with me, and I knew that if I came out here and 'fessed up, you all could kick-start me back on the right path. I was banded on 2/27/10, and have lost just under 65 pounds. I feel a LOT better, have more energy, etc., and I know my health has improved, so I'm happy about all of that. I got my third fill on 7/21, for a total of 5.5 in a 10 band. However, based on my perceptions, I can still eat too much, and I've discovered that I can easily get down some things that are probably not helping the situation. In the midst of all of this, I have just moved from WV, where I had lived for 25+ years, down to FL, with all the commotion surrounding that. I'm just about to get back started up at the local gym, after having been slack for 2-3 weeks while I was packing up the house. I think that some of what I'm experiencing may just be in reaction to the stress of the life change. Here are the challenge areas: 1) I'm not getting enough Protein 2) I'm not getting enough Fluid 3) I tend to be leaning towards slider foods I'm not seeing a weight gain through all of this, thank heavens, but I'm not losing either. Do I just need to stop beating myself up over this, considering all the churn in other areas of my life, and do my best to reset, or am I just indulging in a pity party (in which case, please feel free to give me a swift kick in the keester). Thanks for your support- Christine

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.

I underwent my 1 1/2 year appointment with the nutritionist and doctor. One of the points I brought up was the story that I heard that the stomach begins to heal at 1 1/2 years and absorbs more calories. It turns out that is a "myth". The main reason for the weight gain (in the maintenance phase) is that individuals begin to graze and when they graze they expand their stomach and then take on more weight. They also said that after RNY surgery, the part of the stomach that absorbs sugars and fats has been cut away. Therefore if one eats too much sugars or fats, the intestines don't know what to do with this and pass it through the system (diarrhea). But as time goes on, the intestines begin to adapt and absorb sugars and fats. I am 18 months post-op and my pouch is still tight. I can tell because when I eat solid foods like steaks or chicken, at some point before I consume a cup, my stomach begins to warn me not to eat anymore. I attribute this tight pouch to my meal plan. From almost the beginning, I focused on consuming high Protein home-made Soups and chili. It is a softer food that because the ingredients were mixed had more flavor. Also it was easy to take the required amount using measuring cups and easy to heat using a microwave oven. Also the food went down smoother and didn't generate that painful experience when you eat too much. At the moment, I am about 10 pounds below my goal weight. I stay away from processed sugar. I rely on natural sugars found in fruits and milk, in synthetic sugar such as Splenda and other natural sugars such as Stevia. In the beginning if I grazed I concentrated on grazing on Proteins. But now I mainly graze on fats. Fats have the ability to take away hunger. I stay away from grazing on carbs. I do graze. But I also monitor my weight daily. I laid out what I was eating and my meal plan with the nutritionist. Their take was just keep doing what I am doing.

It's official. I gained 6 lbs since my "unfill" on March 10. It's probably not a full 6 lbs because I'm very bloated in a womanly way - I'm guessing it's about 3 lbs once I unload all this fluid. The thing is, I really don't feel badly about the weight gain. I've been able to wrap my head around the idea that this is a process and with any long term endeavor, there are ups and downs. In this case, it's still mostly downs (as in weight going down) and I'm way ahead of where I was mentally and physically, even a month ago. Sure, a month ago the weight was falling off but it was at the price of vomiting, feeling unwell and feeling mentally punished for being fat all the time. With the unfill, I was able to replenish both my body and my mind. I like to think of this period as a mini vacation from the band that allowed me to refresh and start anew...just like coming back from vacation and going back to school or work. Yesterday, I got a fill. Only 1cc which brought me back to 6cc, exactly what I had after my first fill. I couldn't feel any restriction when I had my soup for lunch and fluids go down fine but I decided on some soft cheese, salad and hummus for dinner and I could feel it. Yay! Restriction is back and not too much. I may still need another adjustment but I'm really ready to get back on the wagon and correct these bad patterns I fell right back into over the last month: 1) Drinking while eating 2) Bread, bread, bread 3) Eating too fast and not chewing well enough - even with very little restriction I had a bad PB incident with a bagel 4) Slider foods and candy 5) Diet soda 6) Booze 7) Snacking It was a great vacation - eating, drinking, my birthday, having too much fun with food - but I'm back now and tightening the reins. Happy Easter, Passover, Spring to all!

Renee!! I'm so sorry you're having to go through all this right now!! This whole process of jumping through insurance hoops is so stressful!! Is there anyway you can get on a waiting list with your pulmonoligist office so if someone cancels an earlier appt you can get in before the 17th? I have a cpap that I never wear...I hope they don't say anything to me about it!!! This is such a hard time of year to have our final appts (mine's tomorrow too) with all the food from the holidays. My surgeons office though wasn't too concerned about any weight gain so hopefully yours wont be either! I know its hard but try to stay positive...it will all work out!! Let me know if you need to chat/vent!!

Hi Fellow Springers! My name is Summer, and I am having surgery on April 5th, which I am both terrified and excited about. A little about me... I am 31 years old, a NICU RN, wife and a mother to wonderful children ages 10 and almost 2. I used to be thin. Athletic. Healthy. Then I wasn't. My fault. I take full responsibility for my weight. After the bedrest and weight gain of my first child I never lost the weight. I tried... sort of. I had never had to diet before, and wasn't prepared to do it. Then the weight kept on adding on. Eventually I got serious about it and lost 60 lbs. To which I celebrated by gaining 80. Ooops. I have been contemplating lap band for a few years now and done ample research and waited until I was mentally and physically ready to do so. Mainly mentally. It helps to have a supportive husband. He has been great. Attending meetings, classes, and doing his own research. I can't wait to have surgery. I can't wait to buy cute clothes. I can't wait to put up a full size mirror in my house. I can't wait to sit in a booth at a restaurant and not squeeze in. I can't wait to cross my legs at the knees. I can't wait to not be embarrassed by my weight when I catch sight of myself in a picture. I am also terrified I will fail the band. More pressing right now is the morbidity rate of the surgery. THAT scares me. Being a NICU RN I see how things go wrong, which does not help my anxiety. I have found such helpful information out on this site, and am so glad this group was made to support each other through it. Yay for us! Summer

@@dusky goddess, I posted a face picture comparison on this site about two months ago because I felt it may encourage other people who are in the weight loss stage. I think about having it removed from time to time. I struggle emotionally with my new body and realize there is a lot of healing that has to come from within. I was never one to flaunt it for the camera even when I was young. I didn't take my high school year book picture but picture avoidance worsened with weight gain. It bothers me when people talk about how skinny I am now. Even that makes me feel uncomfortable. My mind is struggling with these comments. I don't have answers for your situation but I hope you become more comfortable with who you are physically. I'm sure you are beautiful in a full body picture as well.

Hi everybody. This is my first entry on this site. You all seem like such a close nit supportive group. I'm having my surgery in Monterrey, Mexico on May 18th. I'm pretty nervous but I just keep reading and educating myself. I'm going to get my fills in Fill Center USA in Mount Laurel, NJ. It's about 30 miles north of me so pretty convenient. One thing that I have to say is that I have very little support in this. I have chosen not to tell people. My kids are too young and it would scare them. I'm so afraid of negative feedback because my mind is made up and I'm afraid it will get me down if people are negative. Does that make sense? Somehow I have to find somebody to tell so that if god forbid anything happened I could be reached. Hmmm. Anyway, I have a few weeks to work on this and maybe I'll come up with someone I can trust with my heart. My story is that I'm a New York State transplant and have lived here in Jersey for 10 years. I'm divorced but happily so. I always battled the pounds but stayed in pretty good shape until my 40's. I actually had my kids late my normal standards. I was 37 and 40 when I had them, I'm 50 now and have managed to get myself way heavier than I should be. So here I am. I'm an RN and live in south Jersey. I'm very contented with my life other than the fact that my weight is becoming an all consuming problem for me. Although I don't have medical complications I will if I keep this weight gain up like I have been. I feel like I'm being proactive. With young kids I need to stay healthy for a long time. Thanks for listening Laurie

I want to ask my doctor this. I made the surgery happen and it was a mistake. Im 7/8 months postop and Im gaining weight. I was down to 267 at my lowest and I was 273 at my checkin in December, and 281 now, end of March. Is there an easy way to see this? COULD my stomach stretch back to its full size? I don't need a peptalk or anything. I KIND of want to go to a nutritionist and see if they can help me. I dont want to go to my followup appointment in a couple weeks because I swear to god all the doctor will say is "youre gaining weight, this is bad. you shouldnt be gaining weight. gaining weight is bad. your surgery is not a success." - please, I don't need to drive there for you to tell me that.

Just thought I'd give you some of my thoughts on this. I'm someone who is covered in stretch marks. They are all over. I'm hoping that after I loose weight they might not be as noticable, I'm not really sure how they work, but I'm only 20 so I'm hoping my skin, even though its so incredibly stretched right now, will be able to tighten back up. However, a couple of my friends are having babies/already have had babies, so I've gotten to see a lot of their stretchmark experiences. My friend who had a baby this summer was tiny and had no stretchmarks at all pre-pregnancy, and after pregnancy, she has one tiny little one on her stomach that has since disappeared. So it seems that pregnancy can affect people differently than weight gain. A couple of my other friends have had no problems with stretchmarks and pregnancy, but most of them are in their early 20s, so it might have something to do with age? Anyways, I'm rambling, haha I really don't know what I'm talking about and have never been pregnant, I just thought I'd share some of my friends experiences. Good luck with everything!! Allison

I wouldn't worry to much.. I was 39. Something and thought oh crap and gained a few pounds... They approved my at my original weight! Gained for nothing and had an extra 7 pounds to deal with 0_o

It's okay to be super conflicted. Many people find comfort in food. Though my weight gain was medical, I didn't help it by eating chocolate all the time that's for sure. As someone who also loves to cook, this was hard on me as well. I make delicious homemade bread that I now won't be able to eat. I just started baking a few months ago and was making some crazy awesome cookies and deliciously pretty cakes that my family are now all constantly demanding... and I can't eat any of it. It's hard, its a mind f***. BUT it's okay. I've found new recipes to try. New angles to come in at. I am addicted to my spiralizer and making veggie pasta. (although I am now 2 days post-op so I won't be eating THAT for a month or so!) The true trick is to divert your obsession into something healthier until you can work through your food issues. Food is a wonderful thing, and life is too short to not enjoy it. But for the next several months, you life should be about you reaching a level of health that will allow you to open that restaurant, instead saying "Big Daddy's Bistro" haha So moral of the story, its okay to feel emotional and want to celebrate a few food funerals. But just remember that your health trumps all the food highs. Good luck with your surgery, and good luck forging a newer and greater path for you and your family!

This is very common with weight gain during post op. Some lose and then gain after liquid phase so that does happen. My weight loss did slow down after the liquids phase. Stick with eating protein first etc. Don't start eating all the wrong food cause in the end you will be very disappointed with yourself cause it is very easy gain weight.. losing it is the HARD part.. :cursing:I know it is not easy. But you are doing great with exercising and 9lbs is GREAT!! your body is still healing and your body is adjusting. I started keeping food journal this week and that has helped me cause writing everything down really make you realize how much you are eating. Hang in there and take care

...I noticed about 6 months ago...I still can get that sick, tight feeling after a slice of pizza, but it doesn't last and I can return 2 hrs later for a little bit more...I have no hunger pangs after I've eaten like that...but the old way that I used to eat is starting to slip back in.Sounds more like grazing behavior than a stretched sleeve to me. I hope it is just that...I had a little tuna and 4 small crackers for lunch yesterday then for my mom's bday dinner...a small slice of pizza hut meat lovers, 2 boneless wings, a small slice of cake and a little scoop of ice cream...full but not sick...I've got to say hush puppy, and I'm not trying to be mean or jump down your throat. I don't know how you eat every meal. But eating pizza, cake, boneless wings, ice cream, scalloped potatoes, Cookies, truffles?? The calories for your moms birthday meal alone was likely around 900. Pizza-280, small cake 300, 2 boneless wings 200, ice cream -200. ???? That would be almost your entire intake depending on your metabolism. Plus those types of foods lead to huge cravings. If this was a fluke meal I apologize, but if it's happening With any regularity, you must buckle down and get back to eating right or the gain will continue. I would say an absolute no to any Desserts until your back at goal. Sugar is a gateway drug!! That calorie estimate is just a guess at best- could have been way more. Restaurant foods are evil!! And I agree that stretched sleeve or no- if your tracking your calories and they are on point, then you shouldn't be gaining. I feel for you, I do. I know how hard this is. I hope you get the support you need and don't feel attacked. I'm sure everyone on here, myself included, just wants to see you happy and successful. I'm operating with the idea that yes, my sleeve is temporary. One day it will stretch. But it won't matter because my good habits and portions will still be in place and I will ALWAYS track my calories and stay on top of ANY weight gain. I did this once, never going to have to do it again!!

Well the nurse called me and "read" the results from the upper gi...said my stomach was approaching the normal size again. I go in to meet with my doc to talk in a couple weeks. As far as the weight gain it is because of my food choices awhile back but i never over ate, only ate a cup, I would snack a bit but not a meal or continuously, never ate and drank, haven't had anything carbonated since before my surgery, so all these myths people are saying that it cannot stretch are apparently not true lol. Basically I was talking to my dietitian and what she wanted me to do and what my surgeon wants me to do are completely opposite. I have realized that having my sleeve stretched would NOT cause weight gain but it would be the calories in vs calories out...which obviously I didn't do so good with but Iv been back on track for a month or so and finally started to see the weight go down which was NICE!

Welcome twistedbarbieLA! Are you getting in all your protein and water? I know that carbs play a big role in weight gain for me and something I let back in my diet slowly over the years that caused my weight gain. Try and get back to the basics of what your surgeon prescribed right after surgery

I really think, no, I believe you will get better, Belle. Once I started on soft foods I experienced pain too and some people are still throwing it up. I'm also anxious and moody, and we've read that is to be expected. I think it's also due to so many changes that "sounded" simplistic on paper but are overwhelming now in reality. I have had to humble myself more than I thought. Weight gain is just you trying so hard to figure things out. And you will. It's not fair that we're in the "figure it out" stage just as the time we need to heal the most, right? I too had a pretty good first 2 weeks post op. The pain under my right breast was a muscle strain since I had started to go back to doing things around the house. The left pain was also some fluke. Then one time I actually had about an hour of intense pain in and only in ... my nipples, of all places. But I'm learning, you're learning. Go to each one of these forum topics and type in something you want to search and read on. Also, don't stay married to just this board, do a vast google search and a lot of other issues that people experience will intrigue you. I guess your pain went up after your round of meds ended? That would make sense. Some people are way more sensitive to nerve pain, I am, I have Fibro and I feel things I just shouldn't! They never quiet down. We're not going to be able to give up shakes anytime soon. No way we can get in 60-100mg protein just yet. Write down all these concerns and get to your next appointment and ask. If I don't ask, I forget. And don't let the Dr gloss over your questions because we are not Dr.s. Sorry that they have to spend extra time on some of us. Even though we went through 6 months - one year pre-op, this is a new reality. Huge difference between reading about something, and doing something. =) But I just know you will improve.

I am so sorry if I scared you- that wasn't my intention. I just happened to have a TERRIBLE experience with it. Even at it's worst, if you just fight the cravings you will be ok. I know it's probably scary because it happened to coincide with a stall. If you push through that I think you'll feel so much better about it. Just make sure to ignore the insane sugar cravings!! That was my downfall. I ate Cap'n Crunch for breakfast lunch and dinner. I even started to put extra sugar on top of it!! I grew up in a house where that is unacceptable. My cravings were just intense. Just stay on your plan and you will be fine. It's not the hormone itself that causes weight gain, it's the fact it causes hunger and therefore you eat more that causes it.

I had Nexplanon implanted about 3 years ago. I have always gone up and down with my weight, but after getting it put in I gained almost 100lbs. I had never had that big of a weight gain before- not even close! Normally I can diet pretty easily and loose any weight pretty quickly. Not after the Nexplanon. I tried and tried and couldn't loose the weight. That is the reason I decided to get the sleeve. My doctor told me that I might gain 5lbs when I was getting it put in..... Lucky me I gained 100. After my ordeal I have found several people with the same experience that I had. So just be very careful- it can definitely hinder wight loss. Oh- I also wanted to mention that I craved sugary foods constantly. I would have been happy to eat sugary Cereal for Breakfast lunch and dinner. I lost interest in normal foods. Also I did loose my periods for quite a while. When they did return it was more like spotting. I used to have pretty heavy, regular periods before that.

I'll bite and say that after I found out my Mom had terminal cancer, I went into a tail spin of depression and anxiety. Yes, depression meds can cause weight gain - but 5 pounds of weight gain. My depression/anxiety (which I'm still medi cated and in therapy for) may have helped my weight gain but 95% of it was me eating cheap convenient meals. It wasn't so much fast food as frozen carb loaded dinners and pizza/chinese delivery. I will probably have to take meds my whole life. And maybe they'll cause me to have a lower metabolism. But that just means I have to work harder and eat smarter. We made excuses to the point of morbid obesity. So, I'm done with excuses - even if there is a slight (note slight) bit of reality to antidepressants causing weight gain.

I went from a 50H to a 36H now. I had a breast reduction in 2003 but they got bigger again after having by son, gaining a lot of weight, and breastfeeding. I was hoping weight loss would get me down to a DD or so, but no such luck. [emoji24] My cup size never did change in the past with weight loss or gain though, just the band. The only time it did was after the weight gain after my reduction. I was a 42DD after thag surgery until my pregnancy and went up to an H. They aren't as big as before my reduction at least! It is SO cool being a 36 band too! Sent from my Pixel 5a using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi. I also developed this post GB removal, which was a few years before my band was placed. It is certainly life changing. I struggled everyday with it and avoided eating at work because I work the assembly line for GM. And the more anxious you get the worse it gets. Forget trying to travel, unless you bring a portapotty with you. Then I pigged out when I got home and could "go" when I needed to. I think this "helped" with alot of the weight gain in the last few years before the band. I think the band helped a little bit. It could have been simply because I was eating alot less and healthier food. The band doesn't change your system at all, except the banded part so I don't think it helped me more than a little bit. What did help me was medication. I had an anxiety disorder which made the IBS much worse. I think I was on Clonazapam. I think. What has almost cured my IBS? My Duodenal switch bypass I got when I had my band removed after 3 years. I go 2 -3 times first thing in the morning depending on what I ate the day before (if I stay low fat 1 time) and don't have an issue at all for the rest of the day. I can eat at any time. I no longer have to search out the bathroom as soon as I arrive somewhere, or determine if I can go somewhere depending on if they have a bathroom or if I will have to stand in line. (which as you know sometimes is NOT an option.) Ok. That's my experience, for what it's worth. I feel for you. I know how it is.