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Did anybody gain weight while in the hospital? I actually gained 6 lbs! It must be retaining water from the IV's cause I was only on liquids.

I've read several articles about how sleep deprivation can lead to weight gain. Isn't that strange? I think that it's hormonal. I still am too stupid to go to bed at a decent hour! It must be stupidity because I'm plenty tired................

Mandi, Welcome!!. I'm from Sydney and am being banded on 3 December. I think it's great that you are looking into this properly before making any decision. You may already have investigated this aspect, but have you been seen by an endocrinologist yet. Sometimes weight gain as a teenager is due to hormones. I am 47 and no one ever bothered to consider this until recently and it's been discovered that a lot of my problems are hormonal. This isn't a cure at my age so I'm still going ahead with the banding. I'm not trying to put you off banding - I think that whoever invented this surgery should be immortalised!! But please make sure that you have checked all possibilities for the cause of your weight issues first. Good luck with whatever you decide and let us know what you decide. Danna

<p>This is fitting since we're talking about motivation. I accidentally posted this to Before & After, but meant for it to go here.</p> <p> </p> <p>Seriously - if you don't already, and have any means to get it done, take naked pictures. Taking pictures in the same outfit over & over is well and good, but you aren't going to see the differences in your skin and shape.</p> <p> </p> <p>Every month I take pictures in 1) the same outfit from pre-op, 2) the closest I can get to skin tight current outfit, 3) completely naked.</p> <p> </p> <p>For the most part, I have DH take the naked pictures and write them to a VERY secure external & mostly detached hard drive. I can't stand looking at my naked pictures.</p> <p> </p> <p>Nearly 10 years ago, when I was on the upward swing of my extremely fast weight gain, I had hubby take some naked polaroids of me. (Yes kids, there was a day before every household had 15 digital cameras when you either had to take polariod, or risk every mallrat at the photo stand seeing your pictures). Not nearly as fun as it sounds, I promise. This was my way of motivating myself to do something about my increasing weight. Of course, all it really did was make me feel ashamed and disgusted.</p> <p> </p> <p>Tonight while cleaning out some old boxes o' stuff I found those named pictures. And you know what? I'm SOO glad I took them. When I looked at the clothed pictures, I can dismiss it away, always, to some extent. </p> <p> </p> <p>Naked, it is what it is.</p> <p> </p> <p>BTW, this before pic is WAY before. About 8.5 years before I was banded. It's also me about 50 lbs below my highest weight. Cropped for your viewing pleasure, of course. </p> <p> </p> <p></p>

Hi, another new person here. Thanks for such a valuable site for information on this procedure! Seeing my surgeon this week; hopeful I'll get an approval for January surgery. I've read several of the different threads, and I'm curious about those complaining about weight gain. Why do you not mention returning to your doctor's offices on a regular basis for consultation - and what about fills to assist you and get you back on track? Isn't that the purpose of the "adjustable" band?? Thanks - and good luck to all of you!

Know what you mean, two year ago I watched as my weight steadily climbed. Each doctors visit was 25 pounds more than the previous... I was 136 and ended up over 200 again. {entire family over weight and 136 came only after a year of Atkins} The band halted my weight gain and after the fills kicked in, has slowly reversed it. Hang in there and pray about it. You will make the right decision for you.

I have a bizarre story and frankly I feel alot of shame. I was a thin kid, but as an adult have gained and lost 70 lbs several times. The last time, I was very healthy...had dieted well and exercised every single day. I was proud of myself so I had a tummy tuck and got rid of bludder from weight gains and losses as well as three pregnancies. Soo...I felt great. Then the next year I had brachioplasty (arm lift) and breast reduction. I never was happy with the arms, nor the breasts. But then in the last 12 months, I have gained 50 lbs. Breasts of cource look trerrible, and arms do too. I feel shame that I did these surgeries to my body and then basically threw away the benefits by getting fat again. My Dr here in the New Orleans area says I am a perfect candidate, even though my BMI is only 34. (I am self pay.) My main reason for wanting this surgery is not just "losing weight"...I can do that and have done that. My motivation is to get this MONKEY off my back, of constantly obsessing about food, of where my weight is, etc...I want to take this issue out of the realm of my mindset. I am sick of thinking of it. Is this a good reason to have lap band surgery, to get a bad situation "in check" so that it doesnt consume all my thoughts for the rest of my life? Or will this be just another surgery I regret and feel shame about? Thanks so much. :Banane35:

Venting is good, and we're good at it here. Maybe I can help make sense of some of the things you're experiencing. Doesn't it seem like we lose weight at a snails pace compared to everyone else? By we do you mean people with the band, or just people who are significantly overweight? Even worse, it seems like we GAIN weight faster than everyone else. This I have noticed. Gain on the tail end of loss is predictable. I think rate of gain also has to do with the extent to which we overeat. E.g. take a "normal" person who has lost 10 lbs, and may gain back 2. And a "fat" person who has lost 50 lbs, and may gain 15. Two things working against the fat ones - the amount they lost (which usually has a strong correlation to the amount that is gained), and the way in which the weight is gained. The "normal" person doesn't have an eating problem, the "fat" person does. Chances are the fat person is consuming a helluva lot more calories, hence the quicker weight gain. Have you ever been on a diet, stuck to every single little rule and didn't cheat even just a little bit - then, one day you have a morsel of something "bad" and gain 2 pounds?? This experience is exactly what kills so many diets before they even have a chance to kick in. People defeat themselves way too quickly. If you've been around a while you've seen me say it more than once - weight does not equal fat. Weight is your skin, everything on it, and everything in it. Fat is fat. During the first 7 - 10 days of a diet, especially a full omission diet (where some thing or things are excluded, e.g. low fat, low carb -- as opposed to a redcuded calorie diet where the overall calories are viewed rather than individual types of foods), your body is fighting like mad to keep the fat on. I won't go into the sordid details, but one byproduct of that battle is to retain things like Water and glycogen. What happens most of the time is that -- maybe some fat is lost, meube it's not, but it certainly isn't gained. However, the body is being greedy with all the things it's trying to hold on to, and not releasing the way it does when you're in a dietary equilibrium. This means you weigh more than you did a week ago, even if you have less fat on your body. People see that jump in the scale and say, "F it, I'm 2# heavier, this diet isn't working" when - if they could have just given it a little while longer - their body would have adjusted and they would have started to see the difference. And then there's the specific restriction leaps and bounds. Take low carb diets for example. While in a state of ketosis, the body uses a lot of water. Most people don't adequately increase their intake, so their body is continuously in a state of mild dehydration (that's on TOP of the dehydration most people are always in). When you break ketosis, you will gain water weight. It's pretty much a guaranteed thing. It can be as little as a pound, or as much as 18+ pounds. People on low carb diets in ketosis will "cheat", break their ketosis, see they've gained 10 lbs overnight, NOT make the distinction between "gain" and "fat gain" and give up because all of their sacrifice has been for nothing. This is why scale's aren't the way to go. I'm so frustrated I could scream! I'm on my pre-op liquid diet, been good as gold for 8 days and I've lost 5 measly pounds! GRRRRRR! I remember when I could lose 5 pounds in 2 days, now it takes me 8 whole days of nothing but liquid??!! Liquid diets usually aren't for weightloss, they're usually for a specific outcome, e.g. shrinking the liver, giving intestinal issues time to "take it easy," flushing some part of the body, etc. Try not to let yourself be frustrated by this. Part of it could be your age (you mention remembering the day -- also remember that your body has changed since then), part of it could be the liquids... there are SO many variables here. So frustrating. I really think that years of yo-yo dieting has messed with my metabolism. No worries here, it can't happen. Your body - if subjected to extreme dieting - becomes more efficient at storing fat. This "unexplained" weight gain, coupled with the additional challenges in weightloss that can come with age, hormonal changes, etc., and the body's natural tendency to change its own composition (which yoyo dieting can add to - remember, the body always tries to hold on to the fat it has... yo-yo dieting can make your body, well, to make a long story short, your body can become less sure of where its next meal is coming from, and want to hold on to even more fat, just in case... hence your equilibrium state is now fatter than it used to be). I know I didn't gain this weight over night, and I know it'll take a long-long-LONG time to lose it... but 5 pounds?? Come on! And I would say to you, 5 pounds in 8 days?? Come on, what more do you want!?!? :cool: Of course now I'm concerned with what will happen when I'm banded (this Friday). I know I'll go crazy when I see the scale creeping along, or even stopping after surgery. It's just so frustrating. The ideal thing would be to hide the scale - been there, done that. I always talk myself into stepping on it. I try not to be obsessive with the numbers, but, how can you not be? It's not that hard to get away from. It really does work to get rid of the scale. Just throw it away. It doesn't tell you what you need to know. If you want to do something compulsively, invest in a body fat meter, or hell - a $4 tape measure. Those will give you a much better idea of the changes in your body than a scale will. I'm really discouraged and really just plain bummed out. I know it'll take a while, but, I'm literally starving on this #$#%$ pre-op diet and so disappointed. I know we've all felt like this - I just needed to vent. And vent away. It's good for you. And understanding why some of these things may help.

Hello! My name is Jason and I am new to this site. I am 33 with a BMI of 37. My Co's are sleep apnea, and unfortunatly, documented depression. I have been on ssri's for about 7 years. Unfortunalty as some of you may know, the major side affect is weight gain. Stopping my medication is not an option right now.....but thats another thread I guess. My insurance co is United health care choice plus. My wife told me a few months ago that the lap band procedure was covered, so last week I set the ball in motion. I had an appointment with my PCP and he is very supportive. He said whatever I need, he will provide to help get it done. I have my physc consult next week, and another meeting with the surgeon on the 30th. I am so strung out right now with questions and concerns!! My wife had a gastric bypass 5 years ago and she has done very well. I am hoping that I can do as well as she. So if you know any pointers or tips in dealing with the insurance company, let me know please!! Thanks all. Looking forward to loseing!

Hi Everyone - Don't put me out on a siesta yet. I am here and happening until Tues am. However, my mind is going a mile a minute trying to get it all together. Jenifermarch - your timeline looked so familiar. yes, we can lose on a diet, but it all falls apart and then it is a terrible thing psychologically, emotionally and physically. I haven't been close to "perfect" on my band diet, but am taking measures to really change my lifestyle, and even under tremendous stress (yes, the binge eating reemerges) - but I have other positive things in place that pull me back into positive eating behaviors that save an extreme weight gain. In addition to my band I have a trainer, psychologist and until last week an acupuncturist, that I will go back to on an as needed basis. I am really under construction with marvelous positive people around me. It takes that for me to change, because the pattern has lasted for so many years (I'm 57). Hugs all, have wonderful weekends, Michelle

Ok feedback from my visit to the doctor, thank you for your support. I am now able to eat again, my surgeon was good this time and i didn't have any problems with her, but that was because my body was in starvation mode, she took out all Fluid and there was 4mls in there, i thought it was only meant to be 2.2mls so idon't know where the rest came from, she replaced 1.5mls and now i feel as though i have no restrictions, it is so good to be able to eat again and not spend my time feeling so awful, i go back in about 3 - 4 weeks to get a top up and in that time giving my body a chance to recover, i still have NO energy and i am trying to replenish the fluids. So bottom line i was overfilled and there was no way things were going through. my fear at the moment is the weight gain, but i just have to work through that and get back on top of things. So thank you from a happier me Cheers Jane

Ok feedback from my visit to the doctor, thank you for your support. I am now able to eat again, my surgeon was good this time and i didn't have any problems with her, but that was because my body was in starvation mode, she took out all Fluid and there was 4mls in there, i thought it was only meant to be 2.2mls so idon't know where the rest came from, she replaced 1.5mls and now i feel as though i have no restrictions, it is so good to be able to eat again and not spend my time feeling so awful, i go back in about 3 - 4 weeks to get a top up and in that time giving my body a chance to recover, i still have NO energy and i am trying to replenish the fluids. So bottom line i was overfilled and there was no way things were going through. my fear at the moment is the weight gain, but i just have to work through that and get back on top of things. So thank you from a happier me Cheers Jane

Oh gosh, dont remind me. Fat has crept up on me mostly at major life events (births of babies specifically) not as a constant thing. At 40, my next major life event is probably menopause, lol (though hopefully a way away yet!). I have given lots of time to hoping I can maintain this loss past menopause. Because when I look at women who I think look fabulous in their 50's and 60's that I would like to emulate as I get older the one thing they have in common is a youthful figure. Its not about keeping flowing blond locks that you can flick around or having 20 facelifts to look like some macarbe impersonation of a 30 year old, its that around the middle weight gain that to me identifies women as old or middle aged. Those that stay slim always look more youthful to me, even if they've aged completely normally skin wise. I fear looking "old" more than anything I think, I dont need to be stunning or beautiful, I just want to maintain that fit, healthy and vital look becuase that's what I think is really attractive, not beauty itself which fades for everyone. And that is entirely within MY control. I will be that 70 year old woman still running. That makes me feel good about myself regardless of what I actually look like.

I have had some hairloss, make sure to get your recommended protein!!! That is important! Get it all!! From what I've read on the board, some experience it worse than others, but it is not really preventable. Some have tried hair supplements, but it didn't prevent it. Don't worry it will grow back! That is what I have read on other threads here. If you don't get your protein in it will be worse! I haven't heard of strech marks with weight loss, weight gain is another story though. I'll search the posts here to see if I can come up with anything. Best of luck!! Use this site's search engine to reseach any questions you might have, it will help you! I have found out, that ANYTHING you experience at least one person has experienced it as well and you can read their posts for support!

i have experienced weight gain for the first time since i have had my band. it is only 6 lbs but it has me on edge because for me 6 turns in to 60 pretty quickly. i had a slight unfil due to acid reflux. it seems i can eat MUCH more after the unfill than before. tonight i came home and had a cup of chili and two pieces of corn...that is more than i have eaten for dinner for longer than i can remember....and i still feel like eating...i am no longer hungry but my mind wants some more. i know what i have to do, start moving.....Dibaby...calories in vs calories going out. ...you are right on. so instead of being on the computer i will go out for a 3 mile walk to help get myself back on track. Pbandit and others struggling....I suggest you do the same !!! Let us know how it goes!!!

I really find that lots of running cuts me a lot of slack in this area. I mean, I try to stay on track and eat well and I do 90% of the time, but for those times when I dont do so well, like holidays, being very active really prevents weight gain. I always found this prior to banding too.

HI suzee, I've gone from 119kgs to 99kgs then up to 101kgs. I'm a little bothered by the weight gain but Dr Couch has said it's not too much to worry about. As I work away that means I'm a fair distance from medical attention if something were to go wrong, so, I've only been getting 0.5ml fills. I'm now up to 4mls in total. Do you find that it take only a short time for your hunger to return after a port fill? I've noticed that it takes around 1 week for the hunger to return. Another thing is that did you fins it hard to stick to only 3 small meals per day? Got any advise on what to eat and when as I work 13hr shifts and find I get hungrey easily. Have fun in bali, have you had to have your Fluid removed? JoMc

I'm fine. I have plenty of protein in my diet as I always start the day with a protein shake. 1 cup is too much food for me. Been there, done that ie. weight gain.

Hand on my heart, totally and utterly honesty, I do not have "eating restrictions". I live a completely normal lifestyle, I just eat less than what I used to. I try to make healthy choices most of the time, I definitely choose better but I can do everything I used to. Holidays, going out to eat, socialising, none of them are a problem to me. I just ingest half of what I would previously have done and dont have to face the weight gain afterwards.

Well the day that all this started I was down 51 pounds. When they put me in the hospital they of course started putting all sorts of fluids in me so when I got out of the hospital I was up 5 pounds and only have 1 more of that five to lose and then go further. I existed mainly on liquids at the hospital so I was surprised to see the weight gain. Isn't it neat that you can have solids again? Chew chew chew. Do you have a fill yet? Take care Candle, shelli:ranger:

I'm really going between having the surgery and not having the surgery. I mean, is it really going to benefit me? Do I want to go this route, or do I want to do it the way I always could before? I don't know. I have no clue what I really want to do. Do I need the surgery? No, I don't NEED it. I'm tired of the anxiety that this is creating - not the problems - that's not bothering me, just the anxiety that the thought of having this surgery is giving me. I don't know that its right for me, I really don't. If it bothers me to even tell my husband about it, can it really be right? I know that eventually, I will get my energy back. I know I'll be able to work very very hard and get the weight off. But do I want to wait for that? My big concern is that I don't want my family to see me like I am now. I'm embarrassed of what has happened to me. No, its not all my fault - but yeah, some of it is. I'm tired of the looks and stares - like when I go get a very very healthy smoothie - people look at me like "what's the fat lady doing getting something healthy???" - Someone actually said something once to the person they were with - and I retorted with "I'm sure it probably does make you feel better to pick on someone who's fatter than you, but how does it make you feel to pick on someone that has a dehabilitating disease that is treated with medications that make it nearly impossible to get out of bed because of the painful side effects and the enormous amount of weight gain caused by it - not to mention the chemo-like IV treatments - yeah. Are you on your way to the cancer ward now to laugh at the bald kids?" I thought the person was going to start to cry - GOOD - maybe next time they'll think twice.

I'm really going between having the surgery and not having the surgery. I mean, is it really going to benefit me? Do I want to go this route, or do I want to do it the way I always could before? I don't know. I have no clue what I really want to do. Do I need the surgery? No, I don't NEED it. I'm tired of the anxiety that this is creating - not the problems - that's not bothering me, just the anxiety that the thought of having this surgery is giving me. I don't know that its right for me, I really don't. If it bothers me to even tell my husband about it, can it really be right? I know that eventually, I will get my energy back. I know I'll be able to work very very hard and get the weight off. But do I want to wait for that? My big concern is that I don't want my family to see me like I am now. I'm embarrassed of what has happened to me. No, its not all my fault - but yeah, some of it is. I'm tired of the looks and stares - like when I go get a very very healthy smoothie - people look at me like "what's the fat lady doing getting something healthy???" - Someone actually said something once to the person they were with - and I retorted with "I'm sure it probably does make you feel better to pick on someone who's fatter than you, but how does it make you feel to pick on someone that has a dehabilitating disease that is treated with medications that make it nearly impossible to get out of bed because of the painful side effects and the enormous amount of weight gain caused by it - not to mention the chemo-like IV treatments - yeah. Are you on your way to the cancer ward now to laugh at the bald kids?" I thought the person was going to start to cry - GOOD - maybe next time they'll think twice.

I had my surgery almost one year ago and originally I lost 65 pounds. I have gained 12 lbs back in the last two months. I have had numerous fills and the restriction usually only seems to work for a few days each time. I eat realtively big meals now and I'm constantly munching on Snacks that are about 100 calories each. After going thru a successful surgery with good weight loss, I now feel I'm losing it. My surgeon says my band is filled tightly enough. Weight gain happens to lap band patients but I don't see a lot of discussion here. Does anybody have any comments, suggestions, or thoughts?

Anyone out there having problems with fluid retention since being banded? I have always experienced water weight gain around that time of the month (usually results in about 5 pounds of water weight gain) but now it seems to be happening any time except for like the week after my period. This means that I usually have one good week out of the month were I have optimal weight loss and the other weeks I struggle to lose a pound. My feet sometimes hurt at night but they/ankles/legs are not swollen. I am trying to figure out what the problem is. I am in my range for calories and I have increased my exercise to four times a week at Curves, ride bike and do cardio at home at least four times a week also. I do not have high blood pressure and have never been on any meds for it or a diuretic but I was wondering if one would help. :help:

Linda This band is NOT the magic cure to your food issues - it banded your tummy not your brain... Only you control what goes into your mouth not the band. The band does not take away all your hunger and it doesn't take away you thinking about food (imho) - it is a tool to control portions The reason we are all FAT right now is cuz we ate alot of food (high fat - high sugar and didn't exercise) That is the plain and simple fact. My typical dinner pre banding would be 3 tacos w/beans (made w/lard) then a hour later 2 more tacos & Beans with tons of cheese and then 1 more taco before bed and then during the middle of the night brownies - Cookies - ice cream and all I did was sit on my butt- now typical dinner 4 oz fish - 1/2 cup brown rice - 1 - to 1 1/2 cup veggies - 2 sf pudding and sf fudgecicle - or sf angel food cake w/dannon yogurt - am I still hungry - sometime even though my tummy is full - this is head hunger. You have to plan what you are going to eat, you have to shop, you gotta weigh thing to know what a correct portion size is. will you have to do this for the rest of your life - hopefully not once you learn what a true portion size is - we fat people have a whole different definition of portion size - "I use to say - who came up with a pint of ice cream being 4 servings - hell that's only one serving" You gotta work at this - the band isn't going to do it for you We are going to be hungry for a while (both head hunger and withdrawls from our addiction)- we are use to eating alot of food but we just don't realize that we were/are eating huge amounts... Got to the thread "At or near Goal" ask those people how they got there - did the band do it or did they do it. I bet most will answer that they made wise food choices and exercised and ya they had some help from the band but that they did most of the work not the band. I just think that too many people think the band is going to do all the work and that they don't have to do any... you are told only to expect 1 -2 lbs a week - if you want more - exercise more... If I lose only 1 lb a week I am happy - but I am working at this lot harder than the band is.. I make wise food choices 1000 to 1200 calories a day which I log and I walk 10- 13 miles a week. The band is only a piece of plastic it can't make your food choices or do the exercise for you... My Doc & Nutritionist said that these were my guidelines- #1 Protein 60 grms daily, low fat, low sugar, 3 meals plus 2 healthy Snacks - Vitamins, Calcium. I am allowed to pick and choose what I eat - I am not limited as to what I eat - just that it's healthy and in size with correct portions - 1/4 cup ice cream (sf) instead of the whole pint made with real sugar & cream. In our lives we allow for a margin of error – which we should also do when trying to eat healthy – if you are eating 1000-1200 calories a day – allow for some of those calories to be used for a little bit of something you really want (chocolate - have a healthy choice fudgecicle - it's s/f & 80 calories)- you need wiggle room in your diet to make it work (I save my morning and afternoon snacks for night time which is my worst time) – the all or nothing practices has to be thrown our of your mind. You can learn to reprogram your mind to strip away the guilt that comes with dieting. You have to realize that it’s not that the first slice of cake that will doom your diet – it’s the second or third or whole thing that leads to weight gain. You have to listen to your body & respond smartly to your cravings and emotions but over time you will learn how to eat right and mange your craving and that’s when you’ll train your brain to stop obsessing about eating right and punishing yourself – If you stop over thinking you’ll stop over eating.. Good Luck on your journey