Search the Community

Cool thread. I loved to eat, but I always played sports. I was active and could eat like that, but then I went through a bad breakup with my ex-fiance. I didn't start really gaining weight until I was a Sophmore in college. I thought I don't want any other guy to treat me that way so I will eat. Well I stopped blaming him for my weight gain, but I didn't stop eating. I dieted on and off for a few years with diet pills. I lost 40 pounds with those, but when I went off them the weight came back on. I then decided I wanted to look good in my cousin's upcoming wedding, and I knew I would have health problems later down the line so I decided to have the surgery. I'm glad I did so far.

I was on depo for over 10 years, and I attribute a lot of my weight gain to it. I have mirena now and I love it. I took the shot every 10 weeks instead of 12 for spotting issues. It made me into an eating machine.

Dear "baby": Welcome to the club. You are now in what's know as BANDSTER HELL. You want to act like a bandster, but without restriction, you are about the same as you were before surgery! We've been there! It's just awful. Here are my suggestions: 1. Don't beat yourself up. IF you could have done it without restriction, you wouldn't have needed the band. 2. Everytime you stay on your diet, you are being a superhuman. Everytime you cheat, you are being human. 3. This is the time to pretend to be a bandster and practice using small plates, saying thin things, doing bandster behaviors. Kind of a fake it til you make it thing for practice. Read a lot on this site and take time to educate yourself. 4. Remember that bandster hell is sooo much sharter than all the years you were in weight gain hell. You have started the journey and you are close to getting to really be a bandster. 5. See if they will do your fill 3 weeks after surgery instead..... 6. Congratulate yourself every day for sticking with the post op diet. Did you even know you were capable of such an extraordinary feat? 7. It's a good time to start to figure out the role that food played in your life. For me, food kept me drugged enough to watch TV at night. I don't do that anymore, and I don't think about food at night as a consequence. I used food when I was bored, so I've gotten some new hobbies...like exercise. 8. Mostly, just know that it's short term and that if you have to sleep through it to get through it, do whatever you need to.....

Thanks for the support ! I will take it of again, and I no it ! I had a great surgeon, but that's all he was, Move em in, and move em out.. He even told me I'm a surgeon, that's how I make my money... So for follow up care,,,,,,, he wasn't worth a damn. He overfilled me, and never gave me water to check it. So I found out when I got home. It was a hot day in July, and I wanted a sip, It came right back up, so I tried again, same thing. I called and they said you have to come back! (NO KIDDING) So I went back, and he stuck ethe needle in the port, and the plunger shot clean up to the top.(4cc band) I heard him say WOWWWWW! I asked what's wrong? He said when that happens it usually means the Band is blown. So he emptied me, and wouldn't see me again, The last time his PA threw me out because of weight gain... I was laid off, and that was the last of my Ins. I wanted to get it fixed, and she said "DON'T YOU GET IT,,, HE DOESN'T WANT TO SEE YOU, COME BACK WHEN YOU LOST WEIGHT, AND WE'LL SEE ABOUT A FILL !) I said yeagh ! I get it now, and was escorted out. So I had my paperwork sent to another Dr., and they said we don't no about you, you eat cake, cookies, pies... I said WHAT ! you're talking to a lady that lost over 120lbs., how'd that happen then?. They couldn't figure why he had no notes on my weight loss.................................. So this Thursday will be 3 weeks since my fill, there was nothing wrong with the band ! ! ! I have lost 19lbs., I have very good restriction, and I meet with the surgeon April 13, A surgical PA did a better job then a Bariatric Surgeon.. At a Center of Excellence, and Chief Surgeon. So I have summer cloths that are nice, some still have the tags on them. Maybe not this year, but for sure next year.. I wrote a post titled I WANT THIS PIECE OF JUNK OUT Looking for a Dr. Near Saint Helen, Michigan. Check that out, and read the whole thing if you want. Should be from page 2-10. Somewhere in there. Good Health to you ! Thanks for writing, Shirley.

Starvation mode doesn't really exist. Sure you can starve, but that takes generally 72 hours of no Water and food for your body to kick into such a situation. But what many people who attempt to lose weight eating extremely low calories experience is a metabolic downgrade, which means that your body adapts tot he low calories you are feeding it and when you exceed that number, you eventually gain weight, even though it seems silly to gain weight eating 1200 calories, but consider this. A woman eats 700 calories a day and loses weight perfectly. However, she hits a plateau and wonders why. Well, instinct tells her to drop her calories even more, which may result in SOME weight-loss but at such low calories you're hardly able to eat enough food to fuel yourself, so then you generally opt to eat more, but adding to your calories causes weight gain because your metabolism has downgraded. And the only way to really fix such a situation is to lose the insane calorie deficits and eat higher calories. I went through this personally, still am. When I was first starting out I was eating 600-800 calories a day for almost a good 5-6 months, but it worked, but it also ruined my metabolism. So yes I've packed on 10lbs, but my metabolism is re-regulating itself, so nowadays I CAN eat 1800 and lose. Just something to consider.

That is a very true statement about losing the focus during the third year. It has been happening to me a bit lately. While I try and eat as I have during year 2 (very clean), a lot of carb snacks are sneaking in. And I am not talking about uber bad carbs, but like some extra fiber one here, some bare naked granola there and a ritz cracker over there. Pita chips are getting to me also. I really like those Stacy pita chips and can munch them on and off during the day if not careful. No dessert type stuff though or candy. No weight gain because I exercise every day, but don't like at how I am gravitating towards snacking without a second thought. It is almost impulse and automatic and seems to pick up when I am under a lot of work stress (which has been more often than I like recently). I need to double down on my commitment towards a healthy diet to support optimal exercise before this snacking gets the best of me. I just do not say no to temptation as well as I used to before year 3. Maybe I am getting tired of it...

As others have mentioned, yes you can "cheat" on the pre op diet, but you need to consider what message this sends to you...that you are giving yourself permission to not follow the rules for your diet compliance post op. The mindset of giving yourself that permission places you on a "slippery slope" to maintain some of the negative eating patterns which caused your weight gain. I relate it back to a classic affirmation which AA members use to help with maintaining their sobriety: "One drink is one too many, and a hundred is not enough." Flawed thinking gets many of us into trouble! For our purposes, the first time you give yourself permission to "cheat", the next thought likely will be, oh, it's only a small food item...I'll only have one bite"...And then the automatic thoughts take over...and more permission is granted to "cheat". There will not likely be anyone to constantly watch over your shoulder every day to motivate you to comply with the diet, so that motivation needs to come from within. If you want to be successful with this weight loss journey, than your thinking needs to change. Establish some rules to encourage diet compliance, and enforce them with yourself. There are very specific reasons why your surgeon advises you to follow their recommended diet. I think everyone who participates on this forum has experienced hunger, and have shared their "best practices" to manage it. For me, it is to drink the free fluids I am supposed to have every day, and to distract myself with a project. There are many closets and drawers in my house, and everyone of them is in order! The more determined you are to be successful with your weight loss, you will increase the probability that you will be successful! Best wishes as you continue on your journey!

As with many, many people, my struggle with weight started long before I new anything about counting calories and carbs. I was overweight by 3rd grade and "fat" (according to the kids in school) by 5th grade. I was heavy all through school. Sure, I have lost weight here and there, but have always been far from the elusive "ideal" weight. My sister had a Gastric Bypass many years ago (maybe 15) and she was very sick and is now just as big (if not bigger) then prior to surgery. I always told myself and others "I would NEVER have surgery." Well, as they say, never say never! Now here I am 8 days from going under the knife. What changed? Several things. There have been new developments - new surgeries and techniques - that were not in practice 15 years ago. I have or am dealing with many issues medically. I have support in my life that is greater then any I have ever known. I could probably go on, but the best answer is that time changed my mind for me. For the last several years I have struggled medically. I am lucky that I do not have many of the typical problems associated with obesity - high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes. I was, however, diagnosed 3 or 4 years ago with Lupus and Fibromyalgia. The pain can be debilitating on some days. I am on many medications for all of this and all of them have the side effect of weight gain. I have talked with my PCP as well as my Rheumatologist on several occasions about loosing weight; by loosing weight I will take pressure off of my joints and muscles possibly buying me some much needed relief. This has been an uphill (or stagnant) battle. No matter what I tried there was little to no weight loss. My final attempt was suggested over a year ago and I did not want to do it due to the financial aspect of it. I began taking a prescription drug, Qsymia, that cost me (WITH INSURANCE COVERAGE) $200+ a month! I was on the drug for 6 months, costing me over $1200 dollars, and lost 17 lbs! I worked so hard; I exercised through the pain, I ate 1500 to 1200 (more often less) everyday and I lost a pathetic 17 lbs. ! What the hell?!?! During this time my PCP told me at several visits that he thought Lap Band was the way to go for me. I am still admit that surgery was not an accepible option. At the end of the six months on Qsymia, I was heartbroken, defeated, and beaten. I called my PCP with tears in my eyes and asked for a referral for Lap Band and wanted to meet with him to talk it over some more with me and my husband. I went to the visit and I had been off the Qsymia for a couple weeks and had gained about half of the 17 lbs. back. He told me that he did not think that UVA would let me do that Lap Band because I am too obese. I burst into tears because I was still not sure about Lap Band, much less getting anything where they cut your organs and stitch you back up (for some reason a foreign object in my body seemed safer). My PCP gave me the referral for Lap Band anyway (probably because he was tired of my crying in his office). On November 7, 2013, my husband and I went to UVA for the class/consultation and the first words our of the nurse's mouth were "I am going to convince you NOT to get a Lap Band." My husband and I just looked at each other with surprise and confusion all over our faces. I whispered to him "No. I am not going to have any other type of surgery!" Well, as you already know, I did not hold to true to that statement. She described in detail all three surgeries that they can do; band, sleeve, and bypass, and the post-op instructions for each. Then the nutritionist came in and discussed diet for the surgeries. After this, we had a break before we saw the surgeon. Immediately we sat down and looked at each other and started asking what the other thought in the hopes that we each felt the same way; the sleeve was the right way to go, but we have more questions for the surgical team. We went into the room to meet one on one with the surgical team members and told my story, expressed our concerns, and asked questions. Everyone on the team agreed that the sleeve was a much better choice in my situation then the band. I was fighting against too much and that I need to be able to change my body's chemical makeup (this will happen naturally when part of my stomach is removed) in order for there to be significant change. Final decision made: Gastric Sleeve. Within the next two weeks, I had my psychiatric evaluation and had hospital records from an Endoscopy sent to UVA. The insurance authorization processes for Bariatric Surgery had begun before I even met the surgeon. Now all I could do was wait. It took every bit of three weeks to get the psych eval results and four page document stating at the end that "...bariatric surgery is recommended..." was sent to the insurance company and UVA. Two weeks after that I was called with insurance approval and set a date to meet with the surgeon one more time and to have an gallbladder ultrasound. The appointment went very well and all of my presurgery labs and x-rays were done, we met with the anesthiaology nurse, and a date was set. On January 20, 2014, I will have the Gastric Sleeve, a Hiatal Hernia Repair, and my Gallbladder removed! Every day it gets closer and every day I get a little bit more nervous. I am not scared. I am just anxious. There is so much to do; train someone to do my job at work (I'm a total control freak over this and it is not easy to let go); get my house and finances in order; get my important paper work in order (you never know what could happen); buy all the necessary post-op stuff; etc. It will all get done (I hope!), and if not, it will just have to wait till I recover enough to do it (again, hard to let go)! Friday they will call me with the time to report to UVA and time of surgery. As anxious as I am, I could not be more excited!

the scale showed a weight gain for me between my 1 week visit and my 1 month visit. I believe it is because at the 1 week visit I was dehydrated and hadn't yet eaten anything so my body was empty - so the scale registered an extra 10 lbs of weight loss that had nothing to do with fat. Don't worry about the scale at this point. As long as you are following the diet plan, the weight will come off at whatever pace your body thinks is right for you. and just wondering....is your name a sports or school reference or do you have bulldogs? asking because I have an English bulldog.

I am almost 5 years out from surgery. I lost around 155 pounds and kept it off for about 3.5 years. But in the past 1.5 years, I have suffered from depression and started drinking alcohol excessively ( I typically would have ate food excessively in the past). In the past I could have several drinks and be fine; however post surgery the side effects were much more severe (depression, a feeling of real dependency, blacking out suddenly with no recollection of where the cutoff point would be i.e. 2 drinks now was just as strong as drinking 5) The alcohol goes so quickly into your system that it is a real danger if not properly monitored. Although my eating habits didn't change, without daily exercise and with the added calories of excessive alcohol consumption, I regained around 60 pounds. In addition to the weight gain I have struggled with the affects of alcohol dependency, which I never had experienced before. As VSG patients we were all cautioned on drinking and how it affects us differently after surgery. I didn't really take heed to those warnings until it had become a problem for me. I am working on it daily now and also am struggling to lose the weight all over again, which feels pretty much like as difficult as it had been prior to surgery. I think this is not talked about enough and I'm sure I am not the only VSG patient who has experienced this. As a community being open with one another, and as individual seeking out help earlier, I probably wouldn't be struggling with these 60 pounds now. Anyone who's been through it should reach out sooner than later. Not only have I suffered from this issue, I have had to deal with the fact that I messed up my own progress and success and now have to deal with the ramifications of starting all over again so to speak. This I can say for certain, staying in a support group and dealing with your issues is imperative to continued success in this journey. I'm not sure if I'll loose all of the 60 I've regained again, but I am willing to fight the battle to do this all over again and to warn others of how dangerous alcohol consumption is for us post surgery!

Even when I was small I had DD boobs and not small DD's Large DD's almost popping out of my bra. My breasts are probably the only thing I like about my body now. Ive gone through the weight gain and loss all my life and it never really affected my chest area at all. I didnt breast feed my son because I was iron deficent anemic and I was on pain medication because he ripped in 3 spots. So the dr recommended that I didnt breast feed. Plus I also heard that it is terrible for your chest it actually causes them to sag and I love mine. What I am concerned about is my lower abdomen and my tattoos when I need a tummy tuck.:thumbup:

I'm already researching plastic surgeons for all the work I am likely to need when I hit goal. Boobs top the list---they needed to be put back where they belong even before I started losing--big breasts + pregnancies + nursing + weight gain & loss = dire need of attention!

We had my youngest sons birthday party today and we had such a good time. The whole family was here and the kids made out like bandits. All my kids got gifts "just because". My least favorite is an electric guitar that is very noisy and annoying. But the kids love it.. My dd said something that crushed me today after everyone left. I was fixing dinner, and she said "mom, I don't want to eat tonight, I want to shrink my tummy." I was like What? Why I like your tummy. She then tells me that Nana and her step aunts (nanas dd's) told her she needs to stop eating so much so she can shrink her tummy. This pisses me off beyond belief. I am quite aware of my childs issues, yes i think she can lose weight but I am not going to tell her she needs to stop eating to lose it. I also don't agree with putting that kind of thoughts into a 5 YEAR OLDS head.... I am going to take a step back and look at the whole pic. My father, yes I love him but I have always felt that he did not support me like he should because I was overweight. He left us as kids for months at a time, we didn't know if he was dead or alive. As a child I always felt that I was the reason my dad left my mom. He left when I was two weeks old because of another woman. When my dad was around he would make hurtful commits about my weight that were not incouraging or supportive. I wonder if that played a roll in my weight gain and addiction to food? My dd looks up to her aunts, and her step grandmother (who is the same age as me I might add). They are obsessed with looks. Nana allows the girls to "advertise" with the way they dress. They both have shirts that say things that I would not wear as an adult like "size does matter" and "this shirt looks better wet!" I don't know they are just such snobs that I don't want there opinions about body image effecting my dd happiness. My daughter is thick but in no way is she fat. I do see some signs that tell me she is not eating only when she is hungry. And I am battling those demons, everyday. We are changing our whole family, begining with me. I want our family to HEALTHY not skinny because its the thing to do. My dd will alway be bigger than others her father is 6' and her mother is 6'2. I just want to scream "STAY AWAY FROM MY DD"

For my one month update I wanted to share from my overall experiences both good and bad. Lets start with the good: Surgery was on 4/28 and today is 5/28 and I have lost 30.4 pounds. 30 pounds in a month is awesome and I am so thrilled I made this decision. I do feel my restriction and get full very quickly. 4-6 ounces is about my capacity depending on the type of food. Slider foods like Greek yogurt I could eat more of but I just eat a 6 oz container and stop there. So far I have been lucky to not have hunger *knock on wood*. I have felt thirsty though--but this could be psychological because I used to always have a diet coke nearby to drink from--now its water or crystal light but I still have the need to have liquid around allot. Needless to say, I always get my fluids in and usually more. This may be TMI but my urine is usually clear (which is supposedly a good thing) Now lets talk about my diet. Some people say this is not a diet and not to treat it that way- but technically your diet is what you eat so everyone is on a "diet" all the time (neener neener, HA!). I stick to the general doctors orders here for the most part on most days. I count protein, but I have not really bothered with calories that much. I get very full on protein so I try to have some type of fruit or veggie when I can fit in an ounce or more. I think I could still add some more here but I will explain why later. 3 out of every 4 days I am pretty much by the book vsg diet low carb, high protein (70-80). Where I have drastically differed is on my 4th day. I up my calories and do count calories on this 4th day because I want to try and hit from 1800 calories or more. This would not really be possible for me to do without pure junk food IF I tried doing this with just food just based on how often and how much I can eat. So I supplement with a "weight gain" drink called Suplimed. It was developed as a well balanced formula to help those who have lost weight through illness to regain weight. One 8 oz shake in water is 500+ calories and more if its in milk.(sometimes I do half at a time) So I typically do 2 whole shakes plus food to get me to the 1800+ on my forth day. As I can eat more real food in time I will lower the shakes or half them. Why? because I am trying to avoid any weight loss stalls and not allow my system to adjust to low calorie metabolism--and I use the shakes because I don't want to use junk food to up calories. I am not recommending this to anyone, because that would differ from what your doctor would have you do--I am happily the human guinea pig for this and I just want to see how this works for me over the next couple of months. So far no stalls *knock on wood*. This zig-zag calorie method has been in the body-building world a long time--so I did not think it up on my own. I just could never do it pre-op with all my hunger. I started my first high calorie day on my second day of full liquids and have stuck to the 3 regular days 1 high cal day since then. Honestly, I don't look forward to the high calorie days because it is a chore to get the shakes and food in when you have no hunger--but I stick with them like a prescription medication for now--if they stop being effective over time I will drop them. Supplements I take: BA multi vitamin. The orange was nasty but I can tolerate the berry flavor. Twin labs sublingual B12, Vitamin D weekly 50,000IU (set by doc based on pre-op low levels), prescription to prevent gal stones(help me keep the gal bladder), and I take a tablespoon of Barleans Omega Swirl to get necessary fats in. Protein supplements as needed too. Ok the Bad: It has not all been roses--or maybe it has been roses, but there are a few thorns . Let me preface this by saying I am very happy with the sleeve and would not trade it. Post op--I had a wonderful experience until about one week out where it felt like I pulled something on my large incision. It was painful and I had to rest it a couple of days--luckily I did not tear it or have a hernia (internals protrude through incision) but it was a wake up call to me. I should admit this now I guess-- I hit the Stairmaster Stepmill (real stairs that rotate) the day before this happened --STUPID ME! I just felt so darn good and the stairmaster has been my punisher of choice for years--nothing happened that day but the next day simply bending over without bending my knees and popping back up quickly caused the oh crap moment. I talked about the bending over part before, but I had to come clean on the Stairmaster part so someone might learn from my idiocy. This from a guy who skied 1.5 days with a broken collar bone back at age 18--I did not know it was broken but my pain tolerance is a little off and dammit I had paid for those lift tickets! Anyway, I thought I would be super sleever at one week out. That stairmaster is going to get its ass kicked at 6 weeks out I will tell you though! With a couple of rest days I luckily had not messed anything up--whew what a wake up call. The next item I have had to learn after moving into regular food is to slow down. Its easy to remember this with dense heavy foods, but for foods like scrambled eggs--I used to inhale those. Bad habits of not chewing foods like this have led to me throwing up--I would stew for like half and hour trying to walk it off until finally my stomach says "nope!" and up it came. So yes you have to chew even the smaller soft foods. Last but not least I have dealt with some constipation. This is why I think that I need more fruit or fiber in my diet. I have used Miralax (or the Walgreen's equivalent) to clear this issue up some, but I want to get the food right so I don't have to. So there you have it the good and the bad so far at one month out. I am loving my sleeve and the results have been awesome. Feel free to post any questions if you are pre-op or new to this. Thanks!

If it’s because if fluids and swelling that will fluctuate until you get the issue sorted. I know it’s hard to do but if you are truly sticking to your plan it’s not a real weight gain, Try to ignore fluctuations like that.

So...I was on vacation last week and was so happy to not just fit into the seat on the plane, but I didn't need the belt extender and I had no problem buckling the belt (I even had to tighten it a little!). Then, I had no problem putting down the armrest. For the first time in years, It wasn't tight, it wasn't riding up on my hip, it just went down...and stayed there. Oh glory!! I didn't eat or drink anything other than Water but I just had to bring the tray down...and again...it went down and stayed there. I didn't have to move my belly out of the way, I didn't have to worry it wouldn't go down... Oh the happiness of the ordinary!! I'm even OK with the 1/2 lb. weight gain. I was very aware of portions and did well in that regard but we ate out alot and I know I ate items that were higher in sodium than I usually eat at home so I expect it's probably water weight. I don't care right now...I was like a regular person on the flight and that is so satisfying.

I am putting on weight....body just doesnt respond... feeling desperate....how much protein can you go on eating.... if i eat chicken weight is stable...otherwise...weight is increasing.. I have severe arthritis....cant walk much....am slow with all activities...hence low metabolism... please motivate me...

I’m struggling with maintenance. I have exceeded my weight loss goal and am currently at the bottom of the healthy BMI scale, but I’m very wary of weight gain because four years after my surgery I had regained almost half of the weight I lost. I’m currently adhering to the dietary recommendations given to me in the first year, but it has me losing slightly every week. I don’t seem to know how to maintain. I’m either gaining or losing.

My pcp letter was awesome! He detailed my weight history, and determined future problems I am guaranteed to develop based on family history and current rate of weight gain. He also included documentation of all my records I provided him where he explained I have had sucess on self paid medically supervised programs the last 5 years....lost all my excess weight and reached normal even close to being underweight.....but never was able to maintain. All depends on the letters & reports your physicians make. Oh and my psychologist even thought he did not put his license number on the report and delayed me-I must say his report was excellent. He covered alot of ground as to current underlying conditions that we go thru being overweight that my pcp was not able to include. Have you submitted to insurance yet?

Exercise for anyone can cause weight gain. Two main reasons seem to be not increasing your fluid intake and increasing your muscle mass. Fluid needs to be increased during exercise or else you'll experience water weight. It's so counter intuitive, but water flushes out water retention. It's your bodies way of freaking out and holding on to what it has because it doesn't think it's getting enough. And then of course is muscle gain. We all know by now that muscle weighs more than fat, so if your gaining muscle, the numbers might reflect poorly. That's where body measurements come in handy. Lastly, there's always the potential that your body is in a stall mode while one or both of the above options are taking effect as well. Stalling plus muscle gain or stalling plus water retention. Keep at the exercise, increase your fluids, and check again in a week or two. Your body should get the right idea soon. HW: 328 (02/21/17) CW: 278 (preop 50# disowned)

This is really interesting. I'm three weeks away from my bypass and was chatting to my nutritionist about my expectations and hopes for weight loss. In all honesty I couldn't say. A number feels terribly arbitrary and not very helpful. A big motivation for me is to be able to play and run about more with my five year old as he grows up. My weight gain really curtailed my physical activity and now I'm so keen to live more of my life outdoors that, for me, success will feel like being able to cycle and climb hills without wheezing and sweating (actually walking up stairs without wheezing and sweating would be a good start). Beyond that my self image is important, but I have no idea what weight corresponds to when I look great again. Watching the numbers is clearly invaluable in terms of what you eat and how much exercise you do - but when you use numbers as your sole measure of success I imagine there's a danger you disappoint yourself even when your achievements are immense.

A lot of the weight will be from the IV fluids like others have said above, but also realize your body has gone through a traumatic experience and it will take up to a few weeks for all of the swelling to go down as well. This will also lead to a slight weight gain. Give it time and the weight will begin falling off. Though I lost a few pounds after surgery, the weight didn't start to pour off until after I went back to work six weeks later. Keep up the hard work. Things will even out before you know it. !

Can They Cause Weight Gain? Many people use artificial sweeteners to cut their caloric intake, but the very opposite effect can occur. New research shows that artificial sweeteners stimulate taste receptors that sense sweetness in both the esophagus and stomach. Anticipating energy, the pancreas releases insulin, an important hormone for accumulating body fat. At the same time, chemicals are sent to the brain’s satiety center, which becomes confused as to whether or not the body is actually receiving calories. The result? You feel even hungrier and less full, which can lead to weight gain. Are They Addictive? First, artificial sweeteners are substances some people feel they can’t live without, a sign of an addiction. Second, artificial sweeteners are much sweeter than natural sugars, such as those found in whole grains, fruits and skim milk, and can actually reset your taste buds. The body then builds up a tolerance, which can cause overuse, another sign of addiction. The theory between artificial sweeteners and weight gain extends to include addictive behavior. As the sweet receptors in the esophagus and stomach become “tricked” by the zero-calorie sugar substitute, you crave more food and become susceptible to addictive eating habits like binging or overeating. Are They Linked To Diabetes? Since artificial sweeteners cause your body to crave more food, you can put on weight, which increases your risk for diabetes. Whether you’re diabetic or not, limit yourself to no more than 2 servings of artificial sweeteners per day. (A serving size equals 1 sweetener packet or 1 diet soda.) Can They Cause Cancer? When artificial sweeteners like saccharin were first marketed, some animal studies showed an increased rate of cancer in animals. However, the FDA has done due diligence in their research for these sweeteners, and no evidence exists that moderate use in humans can cause cancer. http://www.doctoroz.com

This has been the hardest thing for me. I gained 5 pounds right off the bat. Now I am actually 4lbs under where I was when I got preg. I am preg with twins and am having some bleeding issues right now and am on bedrest. So for me, I have stopped worrying about the weight gain and more about having 2 healthy babies. The weight will come back off.

So sorry, however I think all of us have been in this exact same place. I was banded in December and while I feel like I've done pretty well. I also will do stupid things. This week was a perfect example. It resulted in my first weight gain. I'm so annoyed at myself, not only because I let it happen, but because I'm thinking of the left over goodies in my fridge! What is that about? Take it one step at a time. Be kind to yourself and get back on track. You can do it! Making the choice to have the procecedrue was the hardest thing. Listen to your body and the rest will follow along.