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I set my goal based on how I looked before the weight gain. 135lbs is reasonable for me but if I really want to be extremely fit with like 4% body fat on my big boned, short height, 125lbs is good.

I keep losing and gaining the same damn 3-5 lbs. I just don't get it. I get down to 237 and the next day I can bounce back to 241! Then it will come off and then back again. I get the salt thing and have stayed away from it. I assume it is not actual weight gain because I could not have possibly eaten enough to warrant that much of a gain. The holidays were hard and yes, I ate more than I should have but not that much. I haven't had a fill yet and hopefully that will make the difference. Will the doctor be disappointed that I haven't lost anything in 4 weeks? banded 11/29

I'm a newbie but I will say that I do suffer from Bipolar 1 disorder. The meds are a partial cause of my weight gain. And I too was forced to take that little vacation a few years ago. I am not allowed to answer the phone at work,as I am told that I am rude to clients. I have very strong feelings about the things most important to me and I have only been banded two weeks now and someone is already trying to jeopardize my success out of pure jealousy.....I just have to keep in mind it's just jealousy.

OMG...your blog page was sooooo hilarious. I, too, had lost some weight b/4 intitial visit (13lbs) and was so wishing I hadn't. I had to be BMI of 40 with comorbidities to qualify for ins. coverage for WLS. Lots of water on the way to appt and stuffed my face for 2 weeks b/4 for a amazingly small weight gain of just 1/2lb. The nurse let me "scrunch" a couple of inches when measuring my height. Love that girl!:thumbup:

Angie congrats on your IVF cycle. My husband and I did 3 cycles prior to my band, all we're a fail for us. After being banded for over 2 years I got pregnant. My daughter, Isabella, is 5 days old. She was born May 29 and prefect. I had a great pregnancy and my only complaint is that as I got to those last 6 weeks my port hurt tremendously. Soon as I gave birth the pain was gone!! I was a freak about my weight gain (35 pounds) but I've already lost 20 and planning a fill for 6 weeks. Just take it one day at a time and enjoy the experience!! Can't wait to hear your betas!!

Hi Suz and D Strangely, I don't feel half as gutted as I thought I would... but Friday isn't here yet. Just had news from work that our national conference has been cancelled (hurray!) which means that I don't have to go and face all these people judging my latest weight gain. That's taken the pressure off as well. I think that everything happens for a reason so as they say in the song Que sera sera.... I know that I am going to have it done and I really want to book a date for January, and that will probably happen sooner rather than later. He's still being a bit funny about me borrowing the money but I feel that I'm worth the expense of the credit as in the longer term I will only benefit from it. Just a case of waiting for it. Yes I feel desperate. Yes, I am disappointed, but I am no longer despairing at what the future holds for me. I've made a decision. I've got the old man on side and I know that it will happen and it will happen sooner rather than later. Make no bones girls, I am a woman on a mission!

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 had the same fears pre op. 60% of my excess weight still leaves me in the "obese" catagory with 40 more # to lose to be normal. What I'm OK with now, 3 weeks post op in a one week stall, is that this small stomach will be a weight loss tool for the rest of my life. I don't find it hard to stay on primarily Protein with veggie back up. I now drink a lot of Water because I'm thirsty, not because I have to force myself. Down the road, if I go off the plan I'll still be eating MUCH less and I doubt weight gain will be an issue as I swim every day. Losing weight down the road is easier, I hear, by re-conforming to the diet in concert with the "baby stomach".

There will always be more Christmases with all the same favorite holiday foods you're used to but you will never have another chance to get this right. Get it right Now. The amount you ate is about what I might eat now 2 yrs post-op, but I would never have dared at 6 days out. And trust me, once you start breaking little rules, you break more rules and it's all downhill from there. I'm currently fighting back some recent weight gain that I know is due to completely poor food choices. A chip here and there was no big deal or a 1/4 c of dessert on an occassion. But then every third day was an occassion, then every stressful day at work was a occassion, now the people at the bakery know me by name and I'm up 15 stupid pounds and the thing is-chocolate tasted gross for months after surgery but I almost forced myself to eat it because I felt deprived on some level. But I wasn't and you aren't either. Trust me, some day you will get to Sample and taste all of those foods again, but not now and not altogether as a mini-feast. You survived this ordeal but Stop It Right Now-the disappointment you feel now will not even compare if you sabotage this amazing and severe step you have taken. If I could undo all the cheetos and macaroons of the past 2 months I would-my life would be the same but my clothes would fit a hell of a lot better. I didn't need them and I don't. Catch yourself now and put it an end to it, letting this be a lesson and not an "well I did it the one time and it was okay so . . ." One time makes two times okay and three and so on.... Anyway, congratulations on surgery and stick with the liquids. If pudding is a trigger then get rid of it.6 days out of surgery I was eating 1/3 cup of pureed bean Soup at the very most or a 1/3 scrambled egg...

But do you realize acid reflux and weight gain aren't normal? You're not supposed to be having either. Have you spoke to your surgeon recently about all this? I would even go so far as to request a barium swallow to make sure your band is still in the proper place.

@@fatgirlsvelte Best of luck to you! I completely understand where you are at. In fact, I was just talking to my wife the other day and telling her that the most common thing I hear on BP is "i just wish I had done it sooner", and I for one, do not. I am 42, and the timing was perfect for me. I've been obese my whole life, and I have absolutely no regrets about surgery, but it's hard, and it's forever. That would have been a really hard thing for me to get my head around in my 20s, or even early 30s. I think I would have constantly had doubts if I had REALLY tried hard enough to lose it on my own, if I had REALLY given it my best shot. At 42, I know I have. I have tried every kind of diet, every kind of lifestyle change, and probably mot importantly, I just don't have it in me to keep trying. And if I quit trying, there would be no end to my weight gain. This is most certainly not an indictment of people who have surgery in their 20s and 30s, or any other age. Nor is it a judgement of people who regret not doing it sooner, it's just my life and my experience. And I'm sharing it just to say "I get it". I understand where you're at. You are young, you have time, you can always reconsider, or maybe (hopefully!) you will never need to. Good luck to you!

Yeah..it was interesting...on a day that I even was walking around San Francisco all day at a conference and logged over 20K steps..the next day I was up 5lbs!! I had seen this with a few other bandsters who had complete unfills..it was a quick weight gain with no stopping it with diet and excercise..any normal person restricted to 500-600 calories a day should be losing a few lbs a day..not gaining it..but I think it is just the abnormal state of being our bodies are throw into when banded..I think if I did not restrict my calories like I did, I would have gained more..my body adjusted to this new set point and now is maintaining there.. I wish I could trust that I would be okay with just living without a band and hope for the best and try with diet and excercise that failed many times before. I'm older and metabolism is slower, about to hit menopause anytime now which doesn't help..so if I can get this weight back off and maintain it..I would be happy. If I was good at eating healthy ALL the time and excercising all the time, I never would have been overweight and needed the band. We are humans..we need food..we love food..we will always slip and fall when it comes to food. I wish I had that willpower..never did and won't start now at age 50.. Anyway...best of luck to you!! I will post my follow up...

It's not REAL weight gain. It's impossible to gain 4.5 lbs in real fat in one day...you'd have to take in an extra 15,000+ calories to gain 4.5 lbs. Likely just water or poop retention. Try not to let this annoying scale fluctuation bring you down and turn to food...keep doing awesomely, K? ❤️

The sugar alcohols used in many artificial sweeteners cause problems for many people: diarrhoea, bloating, discomfort, … Personally I try to avoid or reduce as many artificial sweeteners, sugar alternatives & sugar as I can. It’s hard because it’s in almost everything you buy. I did it to kill my sugar craving - it has. (Artificial sweeteners & sugar alternatives still feed your desire for sweet.). Also there is a lot of research being done into how artificial sweeteners still lead to weight gain, affect your immune system, etc. But this has been a personal choice for me. Generally if I want something sweet I’ll eat some fruit. But again it’s been my choice to do this. I have made chia seed pudding & used vanilla extract as flavour. There is natural & added sugar in it but it’s very little. Also added milk powder which gave some sweetness (& extra protein) & a natural sugar. What about a fruit crumble? Cook up apple, berries, rhubarb or other fruit & sprinkle the top with a mix of rolled oats, coconut, nuts, a little plain flour, cinnamon a little butter & bake until golden. Use a little monk fruit for a touch of sweetness if the fruit is a little tart & in the crumble topping. Congratulations on your daughter’s weight loss. So wonderful she’s been inspired by you to make changes in her life too.

This week my calories were in the 1000 - 1200 range each day. My carbs were around 100, and my protein at about 80. I got some cottage cheese to try, I remember disliking it in my teens, but MsSS has inspired me to give it another go. My weight stayed pretty consistent this week, which, given the increased carbs is awesome. Increased carbs tends to = water weight gains for me. My size has shrunk, so I’d say I’m still losing fat. Our household has worked out a meal scheme. My husband and eldest are each responsible for one dinner a week, I’m responsible for 2, and youngest (the best cook) is taking 3. The dinners each have to include a veggie as well as protein. Tonight I made chicken pot pie from one of the Skinny Taste books. I subbed gardein scalopinis for the chicken, and used vegetarian “chicken” broth. So, the whole family can eat it. I have to say, the increased carbs have me feeling a MILLION times better. My weekend trail run is up to 4 miles, I added in tempo work to my during the week running schedule, and I don’t even feel like utter crap! I was really feeling run down prior to switching to maintenance.

hello all! before the holidays i was a little worried as to what the holidays would be like banded. but, i am happy to say, it was great. we went to my best friend's house. but, before we went, i did my 45 minute work out. i ate on a small plate just like usual. i went in knowing that i couldn't get everything first time around. so, i fixed a small plate, chewed and savored the tastes. then, 45 minutes later, everyone got up and we went for a 45 minute walk. it was great. later that evening i ate another small plate. and was just fine. no pbs or anything. i was thankful for that! then friday my husband and i had a dessert party. that was great too. so, no weight gain. actually lost a little. i am one pound from my november goal! i hope to be there by november 29th--40 pounds lost! we will see.

beckmein: I don't have enough restriction to have to worry about chewing well.... that is my problem. But since I know I have to be getting close to good restriction soon, I worry about the next fill before I go away. I have been thinking all day today of scheduling one but keep changing my mind. I know we'll do a lot of walking. Last year we went to Tuscany and ate and drank A LOT but no weight gain bcause of all the walking. It's the hunger between meals that's bothering me. The few days I had good restriction I never felt like I was on a "diet", I just ate a small meal and felt full for hours. I have a "history" of not feeling well on flights as it is. Not sure why, it is not fear, but I have had episodes of fainting (at least three times while flying) and since the band is near the vagus nerve, I worry more about being too tight. I am taking a short flight this weekend to visit a friend in N.C., so we'll see how that one goes first. Thanks for the words of your experience with flying. I am making good choices in food and portion but hate that I'm hungry in between. I'm sure you remember those days! Either way I'm sure I'll have a great trip.

💘 I NEED TO TALK ABOUT MENSTRUAL CYCLE NONSENSE💘 trigger warning: menstruation discussion My actual hunger and capacity is 3x greater in the luteul phase than at any other point in the month. I stay mostly on plan because i make almost everything i eat but, damn. Then my body rewards me with weight gain and bloating. At the start of my actual cycle, i want nothing, can go forever again without getting hungry or without food, feel/look thinner, weight begins to recede again. WTF... usually i can handle it but this month i am unhappy about the whole process. I don't remember caring so much when i was heavy. I guess i never saw the profound changes so visibly. Stepping off my Summer's Eve crate

Both Lapbands have websites that will tell her what to eat. It appears as though the Nutrionist is exaggerating quite a bit. She will be able to have those things in moderation of course. However, I have read posts on here where there were people who could not tolerate bread and certain other kinds of foods with their bands. I haven't had any problem with nuts but I have chosen not to eat bread because I want to get to my goal more quickly. Just a personal choice. I am not sure where she got the burping information but I actually burp now more than I ever did. Carbonated beverages are considered a no no and I just don't drink them ever now because they will swell your pouch and could cause slippage. I just don't want to take the chance and honestly I don't miss them. They do cause weight gain even the diet ones. I just personally choose not to drink them. There are a lot of good alternatives out there. My choice is Crystal Light. So many flavors. I don't miss it. With the Allergan, I received a full packet of information about what to eat and I received four videos to watch called "Emmi" about my band. They were very helpful. She really needs to talk to her doc.

me too exactly .. as far as back pain , try a heating pad .. does wonders with some tylenol , for me it was lower back .. i am wondering if it may be monthly weight gain ? im thinkin its about that time 4 me

Hello Boomers, I want to wish everybody a Happy New Year. It has been awhile since I have been here but I am now back on track after the past holiday. Too many dinners and Cookies and I see that I have gained 3 pounds over the holidays. This holiday weight gain is the lowest of my life so I am thankful. I gave myself a few treats and did not work out like I usually do but I am back and focused so I can complete my weightloss journey. I started to get my Water intake up today. I made a pitcher of water and added the slices of 2 fresh lemons. I let the water set for almost an hour before I started and I must say it tasted great. I have also bought a bag of red grapefruit and will use that in my water tomorrow. And, starting tomorrow I will start my Protein liquids again. Take care and it is good to be back, Cheryl

I haven't posted in quite a while and decided that as I start this year "anew", I needed to post again to signify my "new"/"renewed" start with my band journey. I was banded 8/03 and have basically done quite well. In fact, overall, I've lost 115 pounds. However, after having almost no problems for the first 10 months or so, I have been struggling for quite a while. I have been on a major (6-7 month) plateau. I then had problems with reflux and difficulty tolerating food; had tests for a possible slipped and/or eroded band (which so far shows that it has not slipped and there is no sign of erosion); got an unfill a few weeks ago (which eased the reflux); and as of today, got another fill and am starting "over". In the meantime, after a long plateau, while I had a 3 week period of an unfill and while I was away on a 10 day cruise (I just got back on Saturday night), I gained back 12 pounds! Although I am not happy about the weight gain, I know that it WILL come back off. I think I really needed a period of not feeling so restricted. (And, fortunately or unfortunately, I wasn't restricted at all while I was away!!!) One of the things that was certainly reinforced for me is how important the band is as a tool. Over the last 16 months, I have certainly worked with this tool - I basically followed the bandster "rules"; I made generally good food choices; I exercised regularly; and I went to support groups. However, it is clear to me these are NOT permanent changes. I worked "with" my band, but I certainly do need the band. Having little or no restriction showed me how easy it is to go right back to "old" ways. So... this critical little "tool" is still the essential ingredient for helping put it all together. As of today, January 10, 2005, I am using this post to publicly re-commit to a new start and to moving forward with my banding journey! I have worked too hard and have come too far to gain it all back! And I have experienced too many of the hard won "rewards" of weight loss to not keep going forward. I've come a long way - but I still have a long way to go. And now I am on my way. I'm attaching a new before and after photo update. The 1 month pre-surgery photo was taken on a cruise - at my "ATH" weight. The 1/05 photos were just taken on another cruise - showing a 115 pound weight-loss. Wishing myself - and all of us - a good journey in 2005! Mary

I didn't notice any weight gain, but some do. You are building muscle so that could be it... It also messes with your Water balance and retention if you don't drink enough to make sure you do that. I do notice that the only time I get hungry post op is when I am putting in a lot of miles (my sister calls it the Rungry's) so keep tracking to make sure your calories and carbs are supporting your effort and not subconsciously creeping up!

Laurigee: As a matter of fact, I have thought about getting counseling about this and other body issues. I think that it is hard to know when to call it good. One way to tell is when it takes a super effort to lose anymore. That could be your body letting you know that it likes where it is. Another way to know, is to get feedback from your loved ones and doctor. Now, my band doctor and husband said that I was good 10 pounds ago, even though my BMI is 24.5. I didn't want to be on the cusp of having an overweight BMI, but as was explained to me, I am physically in excellant shape, my heart problems are a thing of the past and I look good. That being said, I have my own goal, which is 10 pounds less. As I said in the last post, I'm going for it. My reasoning, I had my fat, muscle and water tested and that showed that I could lose another 10 pounds. I'm on the verge of a size 6, sometimes I can fit that and sometimes I can't. It would personally mean a lot to me to make that goal. It would also give me a little leeway as I go into maintance. Are you burned out on dieting? If so, quit for a while and re-evaluate. You can always try for more. Sometime, I think that breaks (without weight gain) are good for you physically and mentally. I was looking around at church on Sunday and it occured to me that I am definetly in the normal realm for my size and peers. That is probably another measuring stick, so to speak. Are you comfortable in your own skin? Do you like MOST of what you see? I guess that these are other indications. I'm just ready to begin the next big adventure in life, along with maintaining my weight. It might help to think about new goals and things that you want to accomplish because there is a void when the big push is over. Just some thoughts. What do you think?

I hear you Lisa. Fortunately, my weight gain is due to happy stuff...Corey and I are having fun with food, and it's hard for me to get the genie back in the bottle. But I've been told by my doctor and others, that I need to drop a few lbs. and I know that I want to be at around 125 lbs. I'm creeping way too close to 140 and that's bad....really bad. So...I can tell you already that I'm still in Florida on 11/26 and in Philadelphia on 12/3. I might be able to do 12/17. I have plans for dinner with a friend in Flushing and I might be able to do both dinner and a meet up depending on what time you guys typically meet and of course where. If Corey isn't working that Saturday, I might even find myself on LI at his place. I suspect though that he'll be working and in the city by me....which means my taking the LIRR out there and then taking it back to Queens. Let me check with Corey...and let me know what time you think you would meet and we'll go from there. I don't even know if the date works with everyone else....