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I have united healthcare. There isn't any weight gain/loss rules! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I am glad this holiday and all it's food are over with. I hope nobody feels the need to bring me any Christmas goodies. I don't want to start the new year with a weight gain but it's going to take a lot of willpower to say no to all the stuff people keep trying to get me to eat.

My final FINAL moments were last year. I saw a photo of myself at Thanksgiving, and I resembled a potato. I was round, just like a circle. At that time, when I would sit down, I noticed that the way that my stomach would land on my thighs was only about 5 inches from my knees. I had the distinct thought that the weight gain was going to continue unabated if I did not make a radical life change. First appointment was almost one year ago, and *everything* is SO much better.

So how did you do holding off on the foie gras and other goodies? Perhaps you could have them today? This is a hard delimma for me I have little will power at times. LOL I do know that I have lost a total of 2 lbs and is holding steady. Tomorrow is another fast day and the remainder of the weight gained on vacay will likely drop off.....meanwhile I'm just eating proteins.......and veggies.................. Oh I love hearing that others eat pizza like me, the toppings and not the bready part......

Hi girls, thanks for all of your input. First of all, a little history: My name is Beckyo. I am 53 years old and have a 34 year old daughter, 23 year old daughter and twin boy and girl age 22. I have been a homeaker since my twins were born. I was always thin until I started staying home and I injured by back at a fit club six weeks after my 23 year old was born. the bad back is what started my weight gain journey as I have been limited and then just got lazy. I lost weight many times on weight watchers but gained it back. I know I can be good with the band and my food choices but it takes the weight loss to help me stay motivated. I have started with walking and will gradually build up to that but I am an avid gardener so that also helps me with exercise. I also have a pool which i will be using this summer. My height is 5'3", weight is 246. All of my blood work and tests say that I am in good health, I have a small hiatal hernia and cholesteral problems but surgeon says it should come down with weight loss. I have become very lazy since my weight has gotten this high but I am still trying to garden, etc. My surgery is next Wednesday, June 18. I start my fasting (all liquids for five days) tomorrow.Thanks everyone Beckyo

Cowgirl, sorry about your knee. My knee spurs have not been too bad for a while... but I know its just one too many spins away... I really have to watch it. The Tylonol and ice pac really helps when it does flair. I wondered if anyone had read that 5:2 hunger link... I think its valuable info too. After so many failed "diet" experiences, shame and lower self worth have gotten me down too... and knowing that the weight gain problem is not just me failing. Being a (non)loser. Bests of luck to you, let us know how the 4:3 works for you.

One day at a time...today is Day 3 on Atkins Induction. Surprisingly, I'm not craving as much as I have in the past when I went on induction. Maybe it's the mental attitude of seeing my carbs as a true addiction and knowing that I'm avoiding them completely for that reason...and not just a diet to lose weight? Who knows the head games we play with ourselves. :smile: At any rate, my headache is finally gone and I feel better than I usually do the first week. The mental fog seems to be gone as well. Bonus - my belly is shrinking again. At some point, after that initial reshifting of body weight (skinny legs, no butt or hips, belly reducing) any weight gain (which I did when I went from onederland back up about 20 pounds) went right to the tummy so it's nice to see it shrinking back down. Since I'm on the induction phase I don't worry about monitoring the quantity...just making sure I'm eating minimal carbs. So, since it's a cold, rainy day I think I'm going to make a pot of my chinese Soup so I can sip on it throughout the day. It's pretty low calorie anyway but very satisfying. Only 4 more days to Disney! WOOHOO! .

Not that I have ever heard of. Google only comes up with SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) as causing weight gain. I definitely have slow motility, but not really any other SIBO symptoms. I'll have to ask my gastroenterologist ex next time we talk ....hmmm ...

Thank you! Means a lot. I have to say I was getting discouraged reading some other forums but coming here reassured me there is successful stories and it can work. Not afraid of doing the work and sticking too it. I know what caused my weight gain and it was my responsibility. Carbonation and calories. Period. I'm ready! Thanks to all of you, I appreciate this place to share.

Cathy, Im going to have to look it up... I don't eat meat, but for beans and such Im sure it would work a treat! I do use my crock pot for lots of things.... and have a rice steamer as well that is awesome (I also make irish oats and other grains in it...) Here is a link any of you doing 5:2 might want to read..... about weight gain at 2 years..... sound like us! https://forum.fastday.com/benefits-side-effects-f28/does-prolonged-fasting-change-us-in-ways-that-lead-to-regain-t13735.html

I'm doing Mondays and Thursdays too. I am a little worried because of my back fusion. I'm not supposed to diet. I have to though. I put on a favorite sweatshirt and it looked horrible. I looked pregnant. I'm going to try to eat a lot of vegetables. My diet is totally lacking vegetables most of the time. Hope you're feeling better Sheryl. I wish I could take Welbutrin. I'm sure I would feel better if I could. I'm sure you're right about the late eating. I just saw something on tv about that being the cause of weight gain in America. I just need to eat my 3 small meals and not snack. Coops you need to find another doctor. I'm still on HRT and my doctor really feels like I need to stay on it since my bone scan shows the beginning of osteoporosis. There are bioidentical hormones that are not as risky as the Premerin of the past which was made from horse urine. disgusting. Mine are made at a compounding pharmacy just for me. I'd find a different doctor for sure. I'm sure you'll have a great time at Disney. It's the happiest place on earth, after all. (their advertisements) I wish I could come to florida and meet you!

Here is one very popular post that was started by sleve4me.... perhaps you will remember her from this: http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/194493-weight-gained-since-having-gastric-sleeve-surgery/ This little group really helps me to just be honest... touch base, feel safe and not alone in this thing. I love you guys and really wish the best for you all. It helps me whether I'm gaining, losing or staying the same....

I've been fasting even though I am not supposed to due to liver issues. I am not losing. I am sure it's because of the gabapentin. I really need that stuff, but I am so bummed that it causes weight gain. I can so relate to you Sheryl. I can't go to the gym. Hell, I can barely walk. I am really depressed. I can't do anything. It hurts to get in and out of bed. I went from an active middle aged lady to a crippled up senior citizen in a matter of days. the only good thing is that there is no sign of infection. This is really stupid. I lost my blender cup. It's a mini blender and I've been using it for years. Occasionally, I will bring my shake into the bedroom. I've looked everywhere. All the little odd places I stick it when I am drinking it and I am not in the kitchen . It's sitting somewhere, getting all moldy. I'm going to go and buy another one today. I'll find it eventually. This is so ridiculous.

It's not specific tests, as in Medical tests. It's more counseling with psychotherapists that have a very specific expertise and experience in eating disorders and bariatrics. This is one of the "missing links" in the whole bariatric surgery experience, I think, and it's not being addressed nearly to the degree that it should be. There are people who need RESTRICTIVE procedures (band, Sleeve), and there are those who need MALABSORBTIVE procedures, such as the Bypass. And, of course, there are those for whom no surgery will work on any long term basis, because of a combination of issues. It takes a skilled therapist or Dr to be able to help a patient look closely at their personal history of weight gain/loss, eating habits, etc, and come to a conclusion about the right surgery for them....IF surgery is really even necessary. This, I think, is one of the reasons that there is such a high failure rate for all of the WLS procedures....people get the wrong kind of surgery for their particular eating disorder/personality/physiology. There ARE those people for whom ANY WLS will work, because they are willing to DO the work required to MAKE it a success. But I think those people are kind of rare. I firmly believe that if Drs spent more time working with their patients prior to surgery, and required some fairly long-term committment of Counseling with the right kind of Therapist, the entire experience of WLS would have a much higher level of success and satisfaction. As it stands now, MOST Drs/insurance only require a simple single-session interview with a Mental Health professional, and that is usually just a rubber-stamp process. HH

When my insurance finally gave the go ahead, things were rushed along so quickly that I didn't talk to the surgeon/doctor about the lap band being a tool. I had to talk to a psychiatrist who worked with the insurance patient approval for my lapband surgeon. He said that I had a lot of weight to loose and may need the gastric by-pass a little later to acheive my goals. He said I had a lot of physical problems that have caused this weight gain over my lifetime. He did make me promise to stick with the diet though. I see 2 surgeons for my fills in the same office for the lapband and they both say different things on what I am supposed to do. The surgeon that had a lapband done also, is more lenient and the younger surgeon sounds like a broken record of all my docotors I have had in my fat life who say diet, exercise, count calories. He really wants me to succeed because I was among his first patients.

Well Brown, you sound like Steven...ha. I actually think you hit alot on the head here. Basically he has a loving personality and he has this problem of women getting attached to him... and yet he is NOT boyfriend material (financially irresponsible, terrible time management, lives by crisis, impulsive and selfish in many ways. etc). He told me he has broken hearts and it breaks his heart when that happens. It scares him because it always ends that way. His last girlfriend "wasted" 5 years on him and he wants to be sure I don't do that. Of course there is a fundamental difference - I met him with the intention of not having a long term and we have talked alot about this. Last night we had a very long talk about things and he really appreciated that I shared details of feedback about himself. I told him about my complex emotions on it and he was very interested because i summed it up that "you make me feel good when I am with and I like feeling good so I want to keep seeing you". It was like a lightbulb went off - he said he does that to everyone (colleagues, customers, men, women whatever) and he often disappoints because he can't really be "that person" to everybody. He told me he loves me... like he loves his friends... a word I won't use because it means alot of different things, but I told him about my complex feelings - drawn to him and yet have no desire to have a LTR or get sucked into his chaos. So, what he wants me to do is start dating others (ie maintaining our exclusive agreement due to STD risk) and he said it will take me a long time to find the right person so he wants to keep seeing me. I think that will work for awhile, but i do need him to make some adjustments and we'll see if that happens. I warned him though, I am one of those people that think about stuff for a long time, patient, analytical - but then I just DO... in a blink of an eye... and often those decisions are justified by my analysis, but really are made emotionally. I don't mean to say that is a good thing about myself, but it is how I am. Bottom line though - my headspace on other men is that i am just not that interested. I went on a "meet for a drink" yesterday and the guy was really nice but I felt like I was having a drink with someone from work. No spark. Then I get in a position of having to politely tell perfectly nice men... eh, not interested. I don't like doing that. I need to get tougher. I think there is someone out there that will turn my head but I will need to meet about 100 to find him. BTW, feedback is... and it is like a shocked "Wow" response that I look much better in person than my crappy photos. I don't know why i can't get a decent photo of myself. I used a cropped version of my thanksgiving pic which I thought was cute. I met this guy after work, so by then my hair was frizzy and my makeup was less than fresh and he still thought i was way cuter in person... nice compliment but also feedback that if i want to improve my odds of attracting the personality I am looking for (he is the guy every woman wants I am sure) I need to seriously figure out my pictures. Maybe Steven will help me with photos...haha Globe - he is 16 years older, very interesting comparison to your situation (and another reason I don't want a LTR with him). We generally only see each other maybe 2-4 times a month and only talk a few times a week, so it isn't that bad, but it is very similar and it does feel sort of addictive... like I am seeking a physical endorphin rush. weird. There is a book called 5 Love Languages. I scored very high on needing verbal affirmations and physical contact and he provides both somehow in a way that just makes me feel good. From day one, it is like he does everything "right" in ways I didn't even know i was seeking. That is kinda similiar to receiving the physical care after surgery - I didn't realize how much I wanted to feel that comfort of the caring. It was really my counselor who pointed it out. It is a strange thing to realize about oneself, how much I want to feel that being cared for. It is also good self insight to keep from getting in a relationship with someone who a. doesnt provide that (that would be my history!) OR b. provides it and manipulates with it. On the Insanity thing, I am not sure it is a great idea for your overall health. Super intense workouts deplete your reserves so I would really wonder. However, the weight gain you should NOT worry about. Your muscles are simply holding more water, it is a normal response to that kind of workout. The pounds DO start melting eventually.

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.

Here's another surgeon opinion: My guy is more concerned about weight loss rather than weight gain after plastics. He said a 15 lb weight gain would make a negligible visual difference, but 5-10 lb loss would/could likely result in skin folding along the scar incision. At the time of my consult, I was 127 lbs and he was not concerned about more weight loss because he said "You don't really have anything left to lose". Well surprise! I've gone down 13+ lbs since I saw him last. We'll see what he has to say next week at the pre-op appt. P.S. A small part of me (a VERY small part) is low-key considering postponing the surgery to give me more time to be at specific weight for a longer period of time. This coupled with the fact that as time goes on, I don't seem to be bothered as much with the state of my skin as I was before. I'm totally walking around naked and don't mind it one bit (Mr. is pleased). ALSO, my plastics priorities are changing. Now I want a butt lift, I think! I guess this is why (some) people say to wait a while after reaching goal to go down the plastics path...

@ms.sss Wow congrats on your surprise vacation. Get bikini fit before you go, You deserve to indulge and enjoy. You know yourself best. Try to be ok with a small weight gain. You can trust yourself to work it off after you get back. I am just checking in after a short vacation and family wedding. A fantastic time was had. I was 130 at the start of vacation and I’m now 143. A bit over my ten-pound bounce range. Clothing is tight. My body is not used to the craptacular food and alcohol choices over the last week. I feel sluggish and not myself. I appreciate how good I feel when I eat on plan. Looking forward to getting my weight back in range.

Denise, depression only causes weight gain when you overeat to self soothe - I am eating 600 calories a day!!! I am doing a post-op diet and I weighed in at 218 this morning - which means that in 14 days I have lost only 5 pounds. and I had MS last year when I took off my regain, and I had MS (even though I didn't know it) when I lost my weight the first time around. So, GRRRRRRR, I don't get it!! My daily carb totals are super low but maybe they aren't low enough? 60g or less per day. Today I had sardines with sauteed vegetables, a coconut flour and protein powder cookie, and several tiny nutritional yeast/coconut flour crackers. 59 carbs, 637 cals.

What colour are you now and what colour do you intend to become? Wine is my downfall because when we have the wine we also have crisps and chocolate. So lots of calories but no nutrition. See I know what the problem is I'm just not tackling it. At least Sheryl you have upped your exercise to compensate for things. I'm not doing any at the moment. I don't like exercise and I did have to force myself to do it but I must admit I do feel better afterwards. I need to get my head in the right place again. How come weight gained is twice as hard to lose?

I like Mike a lot. We had a great past few days. I stayed at his house so we could take the boat out. Boating was really fun. One day we took it to a lake where we had the whole lake to ourselves, since all the kids have gone back to school. One of the things that bothers me is he needs to see a doctor and he refuses to get set up to see one. He hasn't been to a doctor for years but has been hospitalized 3 times for pancreatitis. Each time, he was in the hospital for several weeks. He has blood sugar problems which cause a variety of other problems. Cathy Cuba sounds amazing. I would love to go where the Water and weather was warm. My weight drives me crazy. I can't seem to lose anything. I saw a dr. last week for my annual check up, and she told me Gabapentin causes weight gain. I've been trying to find this out for months. I think it's what's keeping me from being able to lose. I really would not be able to sleep without it.

Well I had my 2 week checkup today and I have lost 4 lbs (I didn't know b/c I don't weigh at home). I thought I had lost more, but the nurse said 2 lbs a week is perfect. I was just eating SOOO much before the band (trying to cram it all in I guess) and now I am probably taking in 1/4 of the calories I was, so I thought I would have dropped some water weight quickly (or something!) My doc HATES weighing - he says we should only go by how our clothes feel. But I haven't been weight lifting or anything so I know its not muscle weight gained or anything. Anyway, if these 4 lbs never come back ever again and this is the last time I see those numbers on the scale I will be happy! I have my 1st fill in 4 weeks so we'll see! Anyway, anyone else feel this way? My doc says my body may need more calories to lose weight (the starving body theory). Who knows? I will just keep on what I'm doing and now I can add exercise so that should help~ Hope everyone is well!

Belle's Progress: Weight, gain/loss: -2lbs. (Take that scale!) Goals met: Worked out 4 times last week! Snacking is at a minimum. Hoping that will be further reduced when I get a fill and get rid of this stressful job. Other Issues: None this time, but next time I'm sure I will have a book to write! 11/1 244 lbs. 11/8 244 lbs. 11/15 242 lbs. 11/22 ??? lbs. 11/29 ??? lbs.

I am beyond frustrated with everything lapband related at the moment. I had my lapband about 6 years ago. I did okay at first and in all lost 62 lbs. Unfortunately that only brought me down to 220lbs so obviously I have a long way to go. With my goal weight being about 150 I still have a ridiculous long road ahead of me. That would not be a problem if my band was working for me, however, that is not the case. About a year and a half ago I was having restriction so much that I was throwing up in my sleep. Also, still not losing any weight which still boggles my mind. I went in reluctantly and had some of the fill taken out. I was under the impression that the Dr. only took a little out but I am starting to wonder. I have been back in about 4 times since to get a fill and have yet to notice ANY restriction. This is just not acceptable. The last time I went in he told me that I had the tightest fill that I have had since having my surgery. Obviously if I went from throwing up in my sleep to having no restriction at all then it doesn't take a rocket scientist OR A DOCTOR to figure out that something is not right !! The bad thing is is that I have told him that I am having problems and he has yet to do anything but want to give me another fill. Well I have gained 20+ pounds back so I almost feel like I am at the starting point again. This is beyond frustrating. Not only emotionally but add the fact that I am a self-pay patient and this has been a major expense for me. The way I look at it this was a major decision and it is what I consider a last resort. What do you do when your last resort fails miserably ? ? ? ?