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This reminds me of that episode of "King Of Queens", where Doug lost weight. Suddenly the whole dynamic of the relationship shifted and Carries was NOT happy. She had always been "the hot one" and Doug had always been grateful that she stayed with him - what with his having a weight problem. Now, women were flirting with him and he was getting attention from everyone, commenting on his achievement and buff new bod. Carrie tried to sabotage his diet by tempting him with high calorie food that, previously, Doug had enjoyed and which had contributed to his weight gain. Though the comedy of the situation was highlighted, I actually found the way Carrie acted very nasty and passive aggressive. Yea I know it is just a show, but this goes on all the time in real life, with partners showing their insecurities when the other partner loses weight. Not with everyone, but some partners display this behaviour, as witnessed by this thread.

Suzie, I'm sorry to hear about your job. That's lousy news. Hopefully, though, you can enjoy the extra time off and find a new one you like even better as soon as you're ready. Lela, I'm glad to hear you're doing well. Keep up the good work. Anna, you can always start again. We're living proof of that. I think a visit to your doctor is a good place to start. It sucks to have to go in and confess that you haven't been doing well, but I promise that the doctor has heard it before. By going in and having a consultation, you can make sure your band is still properly placed, verify how much fill you have, and either get some added or taken away. If you're getting stuck on scrambled eggs , you might actually have been a little bit too tight, which can actually cause weight gain. Once you're ready to start again, you just need to go back to the beginning and follow all the rules. ALL of them, ALL the time. Measure and weigh your portions, keep track of your calories, take tiny bits, and chew chew chew until your jaw is about to fall off! You can do it, you just have too want it enough to work for it. I'm still going crazy with allergies, which is helping neither my work nor my eating. I'm not doing badly, but it's harder at the moment. I think that because I spent so long using food to soothe myself, I'm still having trouble not doing that when I'm not feeling well. But I'll get through this, just like everything else. Hope everyone 's having a good day.

I did a bunch of research on the sleeve because I was considering it. I found out that their were a lot of people who got the sleeve and complained of weight gain 3 years out. Most doctors said it was due to stretching of the stomach. So you are not alone! I'm sorry to hear about your struggle. Just remember how much you have lost instead of the little you've gained. Stay positive and keep us updated!

That's the way I've always understood it as well. But the OP says she had an upper GI done and the radiologist actually told her the sleeve is stretched. She didn't say how MUCH it's stretched... I can't imagine it's anywhere close to a normal sized stomach still. But it is alarming that she has been told it is stretched when everything I've ever read/heard has led me to believe that's next to impossible, and not at all the cause for people's weight gain years post-op.

@@Kaila312 I am so sad for you. Yes improper choices and eating too much lead to weight gain and we still have to be responsible for our calories in and calories out, but the restriction of the sleeve is supposed to help us with that. Without the restriction, you are no better off than any non-WLS patient trying to lose/maintain weight through diet and exercise. The sleeve is meant to be a tool to help our efforts be more effective and make it harder to go off track. Your tool is now broken and I am genuinely sad for you. I admire your resolve to get back on plan and re-lose the weight. You aren't letting yourself feel defeated and that is amazing to me.

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

Yes I know the feeling. I was banded in Aug 2010 lost about 60 lbs then started finding ways "around" the band. I gained weight about 40 lbs and recently went back to get a fill. After over filled and then an un-fill I think I'm finally back on track. I'm eating better logging my meals and exercise and am determined to lose again. It's difficult to start again but I'm going to start nursing school and am not gonna fall into the 25 lb average weight gain I hear about. I found that I do better eating 3 meals and 2 Snacks a day. I make sure to drink my Water and most of all I don't deprive myself. If I want some chocolate I eat some (not the whole bag like before ) Good luck!

Here is a site that talks about the 5 day meat test. Initially, it was a bit tongue-in-cheek in that the folks behind it do not believe in a reset (5 day pouch test) type mentality. Instead, high Protein (dense) and very low carb for a few days. I am not that extreme personally. I did have a period of weight gain (went 10 or so over goal) and currently 15 under goal. I am not an ultra low carb advocate, but protein and green leafy veggies is my mantra. Some fruit, but only what is low on the glycemic index. Good luck-

Hello.. I've been an occasional "lurker" at this site but thought I'd share my recent complication with others. I was banded in December of 2006, had my first fill of 1.1 cc two months later and as of yesterday lost a total of 34 lbs. I started at 195 and now weigh 161 lbs. After fill, I had some restriction, steadily lost at an average of 1.2 lbs./week but two months ago spontaneusly began getting tighter, pbing with great frequency and the last two weeks could eat little to nothing and finally, not even Water would go down. I WAS SO MISERABLE!!!! I flew to my doctor and had a fluroscope (?)/barium check. No slippage, no stretched pouch -- I simply had so much swelling that nothing could go down and I was 1 cc of the initial 1.1 cc was unfilled. The relief and comfort was almost immediate. The "coffee grounds" and dark sputum is in fact blood from a very irritated esophogus or blood vessel. When I started the pbing, I should have immediately gone to total liquids and not created the viscious cycle of pbing, swelling, pbing and swelling that resulted in total closure of the opening. I will return probably in July and the dr. recommended a slight fill of .4 cc. Sometimes spontaneous tightening due to weight loss, stress occurs and the pbing/swelling cycle exacerbates it. I am less worried about weight gain right now then I am about not getting in adequate fluids and nutrition. Just thought I'd share my experience. sumatragal:) The coughing, spitting up of "coffee grounds" was in f

God Morning Everyone, I just want to say thanks for being here. I have learned alot from you regarding fills and experiences from having too much of a fill, not enough of a fill and how you combat the inbetweens. With this last fill, I am more restriced. I seem to eat the same amount as before, but I'm staying full longer. And drinking of the water/liquids is really working this time. So well, that I don't get in all my water for the day. And the sweet cravings are not much. I'm still having trouble eating carbs. I don't think any amount of restricion will help that. I'm just carb sensitive. Weight lose is constant when I don't include them in my meals. Yet, when I do, I can tell. But the body needs the carbs. I just have to understand and accept the weight gain and adjust my thinking and meals according. That's the new weight lose issue I now have to deal with. Exercising is constant. Getting in 2x a week still trying for 3x. That'll come with time. I'm not worried about that part. My other issue also is loose skin. It's beginning to show and it's not so pretty. Although I've seen how it looks from photos and tv programs of others, when it's your skin your looking at it's different. And not so pretty. Exercising can only do so much for weight lose of a lot of weight. With about 60+ lbs more to lose, it's going to look horrible. And the thought of another surgery, I don't know. Then again I can avoid all mirrors and don't look down. I LOVE MY BAND. I'm glad I opt for this and not the others. Controlling my destiny for my weight is just another lesson I'm learning. This is trully a tool to use and master. When I master this, the next time to deal with will be retirement. :eek: I want this behind me when that time comes. That will be within the next two years. Maybe. Well, thanks for reading all this. Looking to read great success from everyone.

Congratulations on being so close to your personal goal. That takes work and moxy! Weight gains can mess with your head. I get the fear of going back to where you started. You are not a failure. No need to beat yourself down. This is the mental battles with weight loss surgery. Time to press forward and build yourself up. Work with your Dr. We are all a work in progress. Managing mental illness and keeping stable is work. Managing our weight loss is work. None of this is easy. You already know what you need to do. Stay the course. Wishing you the best, Jenn

if that's seriously all you eat then there's something really not adding up, I agree, because your portions would have to be simply enormous to cause weight gain and a weight problem. Do you never eat butter, cheese, any dairy, any other food than that? Is it all no fat/steamed and no carb? is that fish and chicken simply plain, a fillet steamed or grilled? Or are you really eating processed foods of a much wider variety and whilst not obviously overeating or pigging out taking in more than your body uses? To weigh 340, your body would require significant calories to not lose weight and I cant fathom how you could possibly take in that many on such a tiny variety of low fat food. I'd be insisting that it be checked out. Keep a journal for a few weeks perhaps?

If you want to do the sleeve, don't wait until you are experiencing symptoms of stomach inflammation. I had a pretty severe erosion and they would not convert me to a VSG at the time I had my band removed because my stomach and esophagus were severely inflamed. Now, my health is greatly improved, enough that I can do the sleeve but I was hoping I could keep my weight stable without a 2nd surgery. Unfortunately I'm having trouble with weight gain since being disbanded, despite my best efforts. I know how you feel with the frustration of really trying hard and not getting the results you deserve. Sounds to me like getting a revision to a VSG would be a good way for you to go, just don't wait to decide and find out they can't do it until you heal from the band removal. I definitely stuck my head in the sand and didn't face up to the fact that my band was gradually going bad until things got really, really bad.

I'm sorry for offending some of you-I was trying to point out that your beliefs are like pollution to the rest of us. I voted that smoking in restaurants should be banned so the rest of the world wasn't forced to succomb to what other people enjoyed, but nobody minds cramming 2 months of BS in my face every years, and there's no avoiding it! And then in January comes the new post-Christmas thread about how everyone is so discouraged about all the weight gain, getting back on track and credit card debt. God bless.

Every morning; it helps keep me on track. Sometimes I forget, but I weigh in most days. I think after losing over 100 lbs though, I'm at the point where I'm not obsessing over it -- I know to look for the overall trend and not get upset about minor changes. It's given me a good feel for my usual fluctuations over the course of my "month" (5 weeks for me), and that's good info to have going forward so I can address minor weight gain at 3-5 lbs before it turns into 10 or 20 lbs. That's my plan anyway. Who knows if it'll actually work. :sad:

Welcome jen!!!!! In my opinion, (I am 2.5 years out) and was heavy my whole life...... the sleeve is the best thing that ever happened to me. Could I have lost more weight? yes. The sleeve seems to work varrying degrees for people. Some people lose all their excess weight, some 30lbs. It depends on what you put in, and what you want. Post-op life is so much better (weight gain is not like before when dieting) but there is a risk of going back. I see the scale go up a few pounds then I blow an imaginary horn in my head. I can eat entire small box of cheezits in a few hours. I also can only eat 3 oz of steak and a few bites of veggies. It all depends of choices. What I am getting at is the sleeve is amazing but it is not guarantee to be thin for the rest of your life... (although I wish it was)

If you had the 2nd surgery for weight loss then it has everything to do with your question, if in fact it was because of weight gain. At least that is what I am getting out of that response from the other person.

Nina, You've had a rough time. I'll bet it is the stress that put the extra weight on. I was thin (a bit anorexic thin) before and after surgery. Years later did some minor yo yo dieting. 8 years ago I filed for divorce from an abusive man, married 37 yrs before divorce became final. It was surely the divorce from hell. It's lasted 8 years and still lingers on. It cost me $100,000.00 and left me so poor that I'm on Medicaid. He wanted to hurt me anyway he could as a way of punishing me for divorce. That was all major stress. I began at 125 pounds and began gaining in 2001. I got up to 198 but am now 179.5 and a long way to go. It was the stress that caused the weight gain. I've been reading about it and this type of stress (kind I have and kind you have) causes weight gain especially in the abdomen.

I did completely change my mindset and all that went with it. I take full responsibility for the weight gain I never said there wasn't a reason I had regained.

@@CowgirlJane i admit. Carbs are a slippery slope to me. It seems to be wheat thins. I know i need to get them out of the house. All they do is trigger more hunger. I'm thinking of trying plant based to see if that changes things. I know none of us are exempt from weight gain. Still trying to find a balance. My fear of gain is keeping me on task right now. But I'm hearing it is harder after the two year mark. I'm thankful for the vets and their honesty.

I haven't had any cortisone injections post-op (nor do I ever plan on getting them again) but I had to respond because it was cortisone injections that caused my first significant weight gain as an adult. I was a relatively thin person until I was given steroid injections to treat pain caused by a car accident. I gained 30 lbs very quickly. Steroids cause weight gain. They also have a myriad of other unpleasant side effects. I avoid them unless there are absolutely no other treatment options.

Sorry I haven't been on much but no, there was no weight gain issue, i just chickened out TWICE, now I'm bigger than ever so it's time to get sleeved!

I did well durning the holidays. No weight gain, I lost 6 lbs this month so far. My surgery is January 15th . I start my 14 day liquid only pre op diet on December 31. I celebrated New Years with my husband yesterday with my last glass of wine. I am not nervous at this point, but I am sure the nerves will show up eventually.

Oh my just weighed myself today. I have gained 4 pounds can’t seem to get them off I do not know what to do. I am exercising and eating right. My surgery is February 7th. I am so worried that if I don’t lose the weight they will cancel my surgery. Any one ever had surgery cancelled? I am to start my period (sorry TMI) soon and I think that is why I am bloated, but will they understand that? Any advice?

So today is August 19th and I am now over 4 months post VSG. I thought I would write an update on a few things that I regularly see asked on this forum. 1. Hair loss- I am definitely shedding more, and it is pretty annoying, but not alarming. I noticed it start at about 3 months out, and decided to add another protein shake to my daily intake. I figure it will last another month or two, based on what I have seen other people post. Honestly, though, it is not something I am worried about. I am not having huge clumps of hair fall out, and thank goodness for that! I have really fine hair already, LoL. 2. Vitamins and water- I take my vitamins and drink at least 64 oz of water daily. Those are two things I don't mess with. The one supplement that is not included in my vitamin is iron though, and it tends to give me stomach issues. I am able to regularly eat 1200 calories per day, and my blood tests have come out normal, so I am on kind of "wait and see" pattern for that one. 3. Caffeine and soda- The food police will not appreciate my moment of honesty here. I do drink caffeine but it doesn't bother me at all. I drink the grape flavor of crystal light, and the small amount of caffeine helps me get going in the morning. Yes yes, I know that not all doctors approve of it, but I need a boost. And for soda, even before surgery, I had a calorie-free soda at night as a "bedtime snack". It was always my reward for drinking at least 100 ounces of water (I miss being able to chug water, lol). Well, I now have a small glass of sprite zero at night, as long as I hit my water goals beforehand. 4. Portion sizes - I feel like I can eat decent size portions, similar to a kid-sized meal. I see people post that they can only eat 2 or 3 bites of food, and that just is not me. For example, we eat breakfast tacos (with low carb tortillas) often. I can eat just over half of a breakfast taco. If we are eating crispy beef (or turkey) tacos, I can eat one whole one. I can also eat a small chicken breast, turkey patty, fish, etc. Honestly, I eat just about everything, although I make it a habit to make healthy choices most of the time (I am totally eating half of a strawberry shortcake cupcake as I write this, but don't tell anyone, lol). I still don't like rice (nothing new), and definitely can't eat fried foods anymore. I had issues with that after I had my gallbladder removed (5 months before surgery), and it is even worse now. 5. Daily caloric intake - I am eating roughly 1200 calories per day and I am losing weight really quickly. I have lost 45 pounds since the day of my surgery, which is a good amount considering I started with a lower BMI (38). Today I weighed in at 184 and my personal goal is 170. My doctors think I will easily surpass that, but I would be content at just hitting that weight. I worry about that though, because my doctors want me to lose more. At a height of 5'6, they prefer that I weigh 140-150. If and when I get to 160, I will increase my calories to maintenance , and hopefully stay between 160-170. 6. Excess skin- I am doing ok with this right now, although my arms look like wings at this point. Saying that, they have looked this way for years from previous weight loss and weight gaining patterns, so I don't contribute it to my VSG. I may consider having surgery in the future, but not until we are done having kids and I build my muscle back up. As for the rest of my body, I am doing well, no issues to report. I hope that it remains that way, but time will tell. I think at this point though, even losing 20 more pounds will not make enough of a difference to justify plastics (outside of my arms).