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It's barely been a week, almost everyone has "buyers remorse" about this time, and many begin to suffer from depression. There are the hormone imbalances, after effects of the surgery and anesthesia-and of course the dreaded "full liquids" then "Mushies" diet. You are probably also struggling with water weight gain from the surgery. Fortunately my doctor realizes how sick people get of the soft foods and moves us right along quickly with a full regular diet at 4 weeks instead of the usual 6 or 8. Not advocating you go against your doctor-just saying different doctors have different programs. One thing that really helped me was to treat myself during this time. I went to Olive Garden and order soup to go. It lasted me about 4 meals. Well worth the cost. Many restaurants have good soups, go out to dinner and enjoy some time with your husband. I have seen that many people have good luck with Wendy's chili, you could even put some over your "liquidy mashed potatoes". Have you tried refried beans heated with cheese? There are some places here that have lists of protein shake ideas. Check out egg face's web site. She makes protein ice creams and tons of flavors of shakes. Anyways you are not the only one that has gone through this. Check out some of the forums for newly post-op people. Almost every post says the same thing. Good luck and hang in there.

Had my sugery in Aug. 2008 @ 353 and at my lowest weight I was 225!!! But then I got a piece of food stuck and had to have all of the Fluid taken out. I've felt like I've lost control since then and can't get back on track. I've put off going back to the doctor because they've changed how they code the adjustments and it will cost at least $300 to have an adjustment. Finances are really tight right now. The other factor, and probably the most severe one for me, is that I'm embarrassed. I've been embarrassed to talk to my doctor about my recent weight gain of at least 50 lbs!!!! And I'm lost. I've tried dieting to get it off without success. That's how I've gained so much...binging. So I googled 'getting back on track with Lap-Band' and found this site. I'm just now deciding to get on track and I'm feeling overwhelmed and defeated. I am just now starting nursing school and time is limited which leads to emotional eating, poor food choices, and excuses to eat bad and not exercise.These are just a few. I'm hoping I can get back on this wagon. It's not my doctor's fault but I just am so nervous to admit/face him...I don't know how to do it...and even worse, facing the nurse; getting on that scale...her writing it down and telling me I've gain 58 lbs...then the questions 'have you been drinking with your meals? Eating between meals?'... Please, any advice is helpful!!!! Jess

Lynda- interesting comment on the enhanced efficiency of the small intestine over long term post op timeline. I do suppose that would lead to more weight gain because the small intestine is the primary point of nutrient absorption in the GI tract. Never heard of this before, but it makes sense.

@@Kindle you summarized my meaning exactly, using it as an excuse. I can assure you that potato is my favorite food and I eat very little of it now...since I understand it contributes to my hunger and weight gain. I went on a biz trip this week and did a few dinners with someone who lost about 100# and probably has 75# to go. One thing she brought up was having to learn to like new foods and flavors. She said she was raised on hamburger helper Mac and cheese and cold Cereal and had been raising her kids that way. I admired that she was slowly developing a taste for salad, veggies, seafood etc. She told me it intimidated her to try some of those things but she would sample something of mine and really like it. I think that "try" attitude goes a long way to finding a new path and making lasting change. I hear ya! Like you, I've been chided on here for being too perfect when it comes to following my surgeon's instructions. I think those people make themselves feel better and try to rationalize their choices by saying "no one can do it". Like you, I say f***k em. But I've been dealing with those types my whole life...I graduated from high school and college with straight A's, and some people were sure it's because I must have cheated...teachers pet, suck up, brown noser, goody two shoes...heard em all and proud of it! @@CowgirlJane I know which kind of posts you are talking about. It's not the ones that choose to be selective about how they eat postop in order to be healthier. Its not the ones that do get physically ill from certain foods. It's the ones that try to use the "I don't like it" excuse for making bad choices postop. The ones that are too lazy to look up and try new recipes. The ones that want it to be easy. In essence, the ones that will fail because they won't change....But will continue to whine about it.

Lynda, I never did do the math, and it makes sense now that you posted it up. Fiddleman, I was doing yoga and pilates classes 4 days a week! You've hit the nail on the head about why I was so surprised... the exercise routine was new for me, not something my body should have been used to. You're also right in your concern about never being able to eat foods like bread, nuts, and avocados without the worry of weight gain. You look great, by the way! Jensjoy, you make a good point! NtvTxn, you don't eat cheese or nuts?? Oh man, that would be misery for me! I rely so much on dairy Proteins, and absolutely love cheeses. It takes amazing strength to avoid those foods. Thank you for your input.

Okay so I have Aetna insurance and I am doing the three month program. I am currently on month 2 (about to be on month 3). In November (first month) my nutritionist weighed me in at 270lbs. I have also been seeing an exercise therapist that also weighs me and in November she weighed me in at 271lbs. At the very beginning of December my exercise therapist weighed me in at 271lbs. I just had my second nutritionist appointment today 12-22-10 and she weighed me in at 280lbs! I've gained 9lbs in December! Yes, I am definitely going to blame it on the holidays. I have been to SO many Christmas parties and it's just hard. Now, I know I can lose that 9lbs by my next and final nutritionist appointment which will be in January. However, I am just a little worried that my insurance company (aetna) will see that 9lbs weight gain and deny me. I mean, I AM going to lose it by my next nutritionist visit and be at my original 270lbs. I am just worried about insurance. So my question is, has anyone gained weight during their weight-loss program but then lost it to be back down to their original level and still got approved? Thanks!

Hello all! I am 41, married with 2 grown kids and 3 grandkids that all live out of town...(husband is 15 yrs older so I inherited all the kids and grandkids!) No children of my own, but we have 2 dogs that get treated better than most humans! I have had back problems since I was a teenager (and in shape) but that has been made worse by my weight gain over time. My breaking point to decide to do this has been pretty recent when both my back and my knees got so bad I could barely walk. It is such an embarrassment every day at work as I hobble down the hall to the ladies room, out to the parking lot, etc... I work with a bunch of fit people that work out multiple times daily, so I feel so judged most of the time. Whether they are actually judging me...who knows but that is how I feel. Some folks won't even look me in the eye anymore as they pass me in the hallway. I live in the Houston area and I am getting banded a week from today, April 4th by Dr. Spivak. I don't have any pre-op diet to follow but I have started replacing at least 1 meal a day with a protein shake more as a way to test out a few different brands/flavors. My husband is incredibly supportive as well as the few people I have told. I was so embarrassed that I let myself get into the position of neeeding surgery, but everyone I have told has been so supportive since it is obvious my weight is really beginning to take a toll on my body. I am having sugery on a Monday and my husband convinced me to take the entire week off so I could heal properly. Not an ideal way to spend vacation time, but I know it will be worth it in the long run! At this 10 seconds I am not nervous about the actual procedure, but I am really scared about everything that follows. Knowing that when I wake up in the recovery room, my life will be different is hard for me to get my hands around. I am ready to make this change, but if I am to be completely honest I am scared too. Don't get me wrong...I am excited too! I have never been a great fan of exercise, but since walking is so painful for me now I have to say I am looking forward to being able to move again. Just dropping 20-25 lbs will help in that respect. I don't think I will take being ABLE to exercise for granted again! I am tired of living in pain, having no clothes that fit, etc. I am looking forward to being able to shop somewhere other than Lane Bryant and Avenue. I have shopped there for so many years I cannot even begin to imagine what that will be like. Anyway, that is a little about me. It's been nice reading about everyone and I am looking forward to hearing about everybody's experiences as we all go thru this in the next few weeks.

hi, this isnt brought up as a criticism of anyone. it happens to unbanded people in fact it is why i want one in part, regaining weight. hitting your goal, something in your life changes and we start gaining again. what surprises me is reading about people who are banded that get an unfill and report gaining quickly 20-30 lbs or more. the apprehension i have a week or so out from getting my band is ridiculous, i'm not only afraid i'll overeat and damage the band but the really disturbing thought is i'll miss being able to over eat. i should mention the flip side of that thought is liberating, being free of that sick feeling and life revolving around food. so, with the band do habits really change, do some of us too easily revert to overeating when restriction is removed or is there a long term change to metabolism that results in weight gain if we return to eating normal amount of calories?

@@Christinamo7 @@Inner Surfer Girl What a relief. I was really worrying about the vegetable thing causing weight gain. And yes! V8! I love it. Good to know I will probably be able to incorporate it into my post op diet. Thanks ladies!

I have had a weight problem for over 10 years. It started out with just 20-30 pounds over weight but I grew older and stressed I ate more and more. I would lose weight but I never maintained the loss. The biggest gain for me started about 3 years ago when I made the decision to move away from my family for my career. At first I was okay no weight gain but as I began missing my family the more I pulled away from the life I had created away from home and dwell on how much I missed home. That's when I started eating more and more. Before I knew it I was 70 lbs heavier. I tried Zumba and walking to get the weight off but somehow I ended up with a cyst on my knee. Walking or even bending my knees have become painful. In Jan 2013 I made the decision to change careers and move back home. I started getting interview quickly and was able to obtain a job doing exactly what I wanted for a great company. So that brings me to now. I'm happy again but now I have all this weight that is still here. My blood pressure is only maintained with medicine. I received a call from True Results to check to see if I qualified for insurance to cover it. (I had tried once before but didn't have a high enough BMI). On July 30th I went in to my appointment expecting to go home disappointed but I left with the goal of an early September surgery date. Insurance approved my surgery late August for September 18th. I am not sure my goal weight yet I would like to be down to 140 from 269 but I'm not sure if that's too much. I am now 6 days from surgery day and I am getting excited. I have lost 7lbs since I started the pre-op diet. I have struggled with not eating and snacking but I have cut my portions down drastically. I have finally found some ways to make my protien shakes taste better. At first I thought this was going to be a hard time because no matter what I did I could only taste the protein in the skake but now I actually enjoy drinking a few of the flavors.

I guess I am lucky -- my doctor is only requiring a liquid pre-op diet for one day. And I have been told NOT to drink protein drinks before surgery as they cause weight gain. Good luck!

My doc wouldn't allow it. You had to maintain a steady loss leading up to surgery. If he saw you gaining at the end, which meant binge eating, he would cancel the surgery. I think most everyone goes through this to an extent. The problem is food is just like a drug. Eat something terrible, but then feel that wasn't the right "fix" you were looking for and move onto eating something equally as bad. For me I wish to hell I would have had a last meal at Buffalo Wild Wings and gotten my wing fix taken care of. Problem is I would have gotten that fix and I would just be craving something else. Personally I don't think there's anything wrong with having a few cheat meals here and there as long as it doesn't lead to weight gain. I had a good send off weekend prior to my 2 week pre-op diet but it wasn't anything insane. I was really careful in what I ate a few days before and after to offset any potential gain. I suppose you need to look at it as getting things under control at some point. We're all different and everyone handles addictions differently. The 2 week diet is not a walk in the park so bear in mind that the more you binge the tougher those two weeks are going to be.

Century ride, that’s impressive Keep your bariatric dietician informed on your cycling. They will need to know where you are at with training. (distance, calories burned, workouts per week) As your endurance increases, your dietician may change up your food plan. (don’t try to fuel like an athlete it can slow/stop your weight loss.) Once you get to your athletic zone and your weight is closer to goal, Consult your dietician and a sports medicine dietician. Some things to try for hydration. Isopure zero carb Protein Drink/water.. Protein and hydration all in one. Purchase single bottles is more cost effective. GNC or Vitamin Shoppe. http://www.theisopurecompany.com/product/isopurezerocarbrtd.html Nunn tabs. Saved me from dehydration https://nuunlife.com/pages/products?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1d_e9J_d4QIVAcpkCh17CAltEAAYASAAEgI4cvD_BwE Hydration vest. it’s easier for me to take small sips on the bite straw during a race. I still cannot gulp. What works for me may not work for you. I never carb loaded until I was closer to goal. Some things I learned about fueling along the way. I only carb load and increase calories on half to full marathons. (I cycle to cross train) With a small stomach, it takes eating seven days pre-race to fuel glycogen stores. I eat low glycemic carbs with my protein. Find foods and hydration your stomach can tolerate. Your food tolerance may be different than mine I use liquid carbs (powder form add to water) I cary it in a baggy and add it in my running vest for fuel. I am carb sensitive. Carb loading is a necessary to stay healthy but, I will see a weight gain. I go back into weight loss mode after I recover.

I didn't experience the post-op weight gain julesings, but I've read about it here on LBT lots of times. Liquids and bloat. Drink lots of water and hopefully it will come back off in no time. Welcome to LapBandTalk! Good luck with your weight loss journey.

I gained 12. A week after surgery it was gone and I was back to what I weighed day of surgery. :-) I'd read about weight gain from IV fluids here so I wasn't surprised. Disappointed, but not surprised. Lol It goes away quickly and then the REAL weight loss starts! :-)

I will pray for you.Remember God has a plan for you. Maybe these obstacles are really an invite for you to decide if you really want this surgery and a time to reflect if you are willing to do the follow-up. Use this time constructively- read the posts on this website so you really know what you are in for. Go on a pre-op diet. Start slowly-maybe just cutting out all sugar- then cutting out all the useless carbs. I am sure your husband is just afraid. Spend this time educating yourself and him about the risks of this surgery. ALso go to other doctors' seminars and if you can, their support groups. This surgery is a change in lifestyle- you don't just get the surgery and viola, your different. See if you can figure out why you eat, besides hunger. I just got sleeved Tues 12/13, and even though I have been uncomfortable, I am confident I made the right decision for me and I honestly don't care about the negative people's opinions are . My husband has become very supportive and he also understands his part in my weight gain, and how those actions can't continue. (lack of wanting to exercise with me, junk food in the house, etc.) Try not to be overwhelmed and take things one day at a time. Good luck to you.

Don't do the last suppers!!! My friend did and put on 18 pounds in two weeks. Her op was a few years before mine. And now if there is a weight gain between the first consult and surgery, they stop the surgery. This is the surgeries rules, as the want everyone to get on board mentally before the op. I agree best option is eat health and similar to want is expected afterwards, although your portion pre-op are going to be alot larger. I'm 5days post op my meals are 4teaspoons of soft mushy food.

I having been watching your post, and waiting to see replies. I have basically gained back all but 5 pounds of my pre-surgery weight. I spoke with the MD about my weight gain, since I have been filled and unfilled. He said if we couldn't get weight off with the band, he would recommend bypass. I was banded in May 07, and had lost a max of 59 pounds.

I to some degree have the opposite problem. My husband used to weight 285 lbs at 6' tall. Over the past few years he has gone down to between 205-210 lbs without weight loss surgery. While he has lost, I continued to gain because of my insulin usage being so great. Other than the insulin, I really did cut my eating amounts down to half of what I used to eat, and had cut out most carbs such as breads, pastas, rices, potatoes. I stopped eating fruits and dairy. I used good saturated fats from things like avacadoes, coconut oil, olive oil. I was exercising at least 3-4 times per week for at least 45 minutes each time. I did not lose one pound. However, I wasn't gaining at that point either, but I hurt my foot while exercising and I had to stop for several months. My blood sugar became out of control even on an insulin pump, and I fee like I'm stuck in hormonal hell. I've tried every thing there was on the market and what my doctor/endo gave me. Nothing. So this is where I'm at. Of course during this time the different medications I had been given caused weight gain (and let's face it, once gained it doesn't automatically drop off when you quit that drug). So my husband went from being a big guy to being a much thinner version, who is always cold now (he used to radiate heat) dresses in long johns, sweat pants, quilted flannels, and sits on the couch with a blanket over his legs! He looks like a little old man, yet he's only 52 years old! Needless to say our sex life has dropped off considerably. I mean it went from him being a horn-dog to months upon months of no interest. He said it is not my size that has caused his interest to be so lackluster. He said he just lost his sex appetite. We've literally had sex twice in the past 8-9 months. I of course don't believe him about it not being my size and it makes me cry a lot. I am trying to lose weight; it just doesn't happen on my own! Now that the diabetes is beginning to affect my organs, I have to do this surgery. It is about living longer healthy rather than being thin. So I sympathize with you, but mine really has nothing to do with the weight surgery. I have two more appointments and then I go for final insurance approval. I'm hoping by March/April I'm scheduled for surgery!

I was sweating bullets because I knew I had gained a few pounds over the Thanksgiving Holidays after my approval. Between the holiday and a couple of "Last Meals" I had put back on about 5 pounds but I had lost 20 in my 3 month weight loss period. He came in and started off by pointing out the weight gain and asked what was up. I told him and he was cool with it and said I would lose those 5 and several more after my 2 week clear liquids pre-op phase so it wasn't a huge deal to him. Btw, I not only lost those 5 but an additional 10!

Hi all! My surgery is next month and my pre-op appointment is tomorrow. I've gained a few pounds since my last weigh-in a couple months ago. Did any of you gain weight after approval? If so, did it matter? My pre-op appointment is tomorrow, so I'll find out then but I wanted to check in with everyone here to see if anyone else experienced this.

Welcome back, nice to see you! I'm right at 2 years, too, so I know how easily that snacking/grazing urge can kind of creep in. And life has also been pretty shitty for me this 2nd year out. One thing that has worked for me, to stop weight gain, drop of few extra pounds and get my head back in the game is to go back to basics. At first just switching to strict Protein and veggies after a particularly carb heavy weekend or holiday did the trick. But then I discovered simply going back to my liquid preop diet was even more effective. If I feel out of control of my eating habits or if I pop even 1 pound above my bounce range, I go back to the beginning. I stay on the strict liquids until I drop back to the bottom of my bounce range. Sticking with liquid Protein shakes and broth for a couple days helps in 3 ways.....clears the carb cravings, kind of tightens up my sleeve's restriction, and shows me I still have to willpower to do this. I find it empowering. A lot of people seem to get the same results with the formal 5 day pouch test. In fact I just did a couple days of liquids (still getting 60-80g protein/70-80oz fluids every day) so I am headed into the holidays at my lowest weight ever. I will snack and eat sweets guilt free next week! The other thing is your gallbladder. After 2 years I finally had mine taken out. Full of stones. Other than 4 seriously painful attacks, I didn't really have any symptoms in between the attacks. But it turns out I was having low grade acid issues because of it. Didn't realize how uncomfortable I was until I wasn't anymore. And I find myself not as "snacky" in the evenings. Good luck with whatever you end up doing!

OMG ..... If it's the Depo Shot..... STOPPPPPPP!!!!!! Years ago they removed the IUD and started me on the Depo... I gained 50lbs in one month.... it was horrible. Look into the Nuvo Ring. It was the best Birth control EVER.... I tried it all, the Pill (nausea all the time), diaphragm (terrible bladder and yeast infections), Condoms with and without foam (latex-sensitive), IUD (terrible bleeding), the shot (major weight gain, but i didn't bleed), then the Ring. It was the only one that worked for me. Then in my 30ies i had a partial hysterectomy.... OMG it was like the heavens parted and the angels were singing.... At 50 i started menopause and it sucks Ass..... I started gaining weight and couldn't control it, no matter what i did. So i decided enough was enough and paid OOP for a revision to the sleeve. Note: All of the birth control was before i was banded in 2009 SW: 232 LW 143: Removal 2017 at 143. Sleeved 8/28/19 at 173.5, today 131.4

So I'm not off the rails by any means, but struggling to get even a few lbs off. I'm 2 yrs & 8 months post VSG. And 4 months post LBL. Up until my LBL I'd consistently maintained a 130 lbs weight loss. Maintaining that loss was not without effort. My diet in check, track everything I eat, exercise 6 days a week. Immediately after LBL I feel like a switch got flipped. My weight bounced around a bit with the expected weight loss with my skin removal (which was minor as it truly was just skin being removed) and then the expected gain with swelling and of course lack of activity while I recovered. Nothing that concerned me. But now I'm up 7 lbs and I can't seem to shake it. I've locked down my eating, increased my water intake, I've been back to previous amount of cardio for over two months, I'm keeping a tight control on sugar and carbs which is much harder these days, getting in all my protein and still the scale isn't moving. It's like my body is intent on holding onto the extra weight. What gives!!!! I feel like if my calorie intake goes above 1,000 a day, I gain weight which is crazy. I was able to maintain eating 1200-1400 a day before. I know it's just 7 lbs, but 7 becomes 10. And fear of returning to old habits and regaining weight is always top of mind with me. I'm sure I'm not alone. Hoping this is just part of the recovery.

Mine has always been mild, nothing crazy and most of it was due to how I ate which was so horrible and obviously led to all my weight gain. I didn't really have to take medicine before surgery except for the rare occasion my food sat horrible with me. This is a new kind of burn though. My surgeon knew all about this and knew all other factors about my health and agreed the sleeve would be a good choice. So I don't feel in confident about my choice of surgery, just wasn't sure how common it was to have acid attacks in the middle of the night. I didn't think about the lying flat so I will try sleeping elevated tonight, thank you! Sent from my ZTE A2017U using the BariatricPal App Unconfident* Sent from my ZTE A2017U using the BariatricPal App