Search the Community

I have RA. I was diagnosed with juvenile RA when I was a toddler; I'm 30 now. I couldn't take prednisone because it caused massive weight gain. I was taking oral prescription NSAIDs and a TON of Ibuprofen. My surgeon said topical NSAIDs are fine - that seems to vary between surgeons. I haven't used it yet, though, so I don't know if it works. I haven't had much pain lately, and I try to avoid taking anything unless it is very severe. I can tell you that even when I was thin (and a child), being smaller did not have any effect on my symptoms. In fact, the worst flare-ups I had were when I was a teenager and I was 130lbs then.

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.

Hi. New to this community. I’m just about 6 months out. Lost 55lbs. I’m only 4ft 10 inches, so real hard to loose. I’ve been at a stall this month, but no weight gain. Having gallbladder surgery tomorrow. Kind of bummed. Glad to have found this site.

Hi Guys- I am about 2.6 yrs post vsg surgery. I had my baby 3/7/18...,.... 9 months ago. During the pregnancy I lost quite a bit of weight...which is typical for me...I lost about 25lbs with my earlier 2 pregnancies as well so this time around was no different, its just how my body reacts to being pregnant. I loose weight during the pregnancy and gain weight after. This time around the weight gain seems to be worse. At the beginning of my pregnancy I weighed in at 156. A month after I had baby, I was 143. I am now 173!!!! A little history. The day of my vsg surgery, I weighed in at 229. My lowest weight, 143 was right after I gave birth. Has anyone experienced this or any weight gain at all? I keep hearing "Oh its just your horomones!" My baby is 9 months, though im still nursing, I don't think my hormones have as much to do with this. I am hungry ALL the time!, I crave junk. I feel extremely heavy to where I am uncomfortable all the time. I HATE looking in the mirror and at photos because I feel as though I look the same way I did prior to surgery even though I am still about 55 lbs less...I don't see it. My husband argues that's its all in my head. I argue back that I don't think the tight clothes are lying to me. I cant even fit the clothes I wore during pregnancy. After I had baby and was at my lowest weight I felt great! My family thought I didn't look well and said I had lost too much. I on the other hand was very happy inside and out. This is really taking an emotional toll on me physically, mentally, I am scared that I will be back at 229 in no time if I keep this up. Ive tried dieting (keto, low carb, intermittent fasting etc etc) I cant seem to kick the hunger. I can also eat ALMOST a normal size plate of food. I don't feel any restriction unless I'm eating meat. Thoughts? Ideas? Pleeeeaaaase :)

Ima try to say something here that will make you smile or make you happy or make you feel inspired. You don't necessarily have to become complicated about your eating. There is one truth for sure in all this. Weight gain means more calories than your activity level warrants. It's almost certain that you have a shitty metabolism and the only way to improve this is more activity and less or better food choices. This is a disgusting oversimplification of whats really going on in your body, both chemically, mentally and physically, but still, a simple truth that you hate, but know. Accept, no matter how frustrating, that you don't get to eat a 2000 calorie diet and maintain your goal weight. Rules to Follow: 1. Always eat breakfast, lunch and dinner. 2. Don't eat more than 1 level cup of food for a meal (1.5 cups if your a male) tiny plates and 1 cup bowls are great here. Its all I use anymore. 3. Eat for expected activity ahead. (example, more calories in your meal if you are going to demand more of yourself physically. Dinner should not be a calorie dense meal if you are going to veg out on the couch and wind down for the night.) I'm gonna leave it at three to make it look simple! So for now, don't worry about counting the calories, just worry about the portion size. If you find that you start losing weight quickly than consider adding in a mid morning snack and late afternoon snack that are no more than 100 calories to help stave off hunger. But first, see if you can start losing again and adjust from there. If you aren't losing weight, then you have to get more complicated with looking at and logging your calories. Hopefully you won't have to do that though! Please, love the food you eat. Become an absolute snob with your choices! I can tell you to eat 3 oz of lean protein, 2 oz of starch and 3 oz of veggies with each meal, but I feel like that kinda kills creativity. You get a cup so make it worth. This ratio is a guideline to bring balance to your meals, but don't let it stop you from making a variety of culinary art and excitement. Don't be scared to make casseroles, stir fry, soups, crazy salads with weird flavor combinations. And, you know it...but sugar is evil. I know you're absolutely dejected right now. It's sooooooo hard to admit to others and to yourself that something has gone wrong. You butchered your body to reach a goal that you didn't keep and now you feel like a turd. I want you to think of something else though. What if you didn't have the surgery? Where might you be right now? Maybe you would have done to yourself what I did. Maybe you might have been 475 lbs and super sick and then thinking about surgery. I have a flap of skin that hangs way down off my tummy area that covers my privates! Sorry for graphic imagery, but, it roles up like a cute burrito as well. Ima have to have that removed on my own dime or convince myself that its fun to think of Mexican food when I'm laying in bed at night! A lot of people get lost thinking about where they didn't get too in the positive direction after WLS, but in their self misery, they forget to consider where they didn't go in the negative direction too. This counts for something huge in my book!!!...and I do know huge very, very well. 😂 Pick yourself up, dust off your bum, and love yourself. You absolutely cannot reach a goal if you are hating yourself. Reach out for help from somebody, a nutritionist, a personal trainer, a friend, maybe a psychologist even. Keep visiting these forums and posting things as you go. Its very therapeutic. PS-My apologies if I have ruined Mexican food for anyone. Sometimes my humor gets a little morbid, but I do mean it all in good fun.

Hi... lovely to hear from you! I'm really struggling at the moment... weight is stalled - Think because I'm on beta blockers which are notorious for weight gain! And today I decided to eat off piste - completely mental! which has really annoyed me! lol... how are you doing? how did you manage to get through it? I'm really loving this forum! Al ... x

I agree with you, There is not a lot of information and support for people maintaining or have weight gain. Most vets disappear from the forums because it's mostly new people. It's hard to see people struggle with a major weight gain. I know this is not easy from my own experience. You may not want to hear some of this. But, I'm saying it because I care. The work does not end after goal. Don't let this gain become 100+ pounds back. Are you willing to change, work and do things that are not convenient or comfortable? Suffer the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. (1) As you progress out from sleeve surgery your restriction is less. You will be able to eat more food. (2) Stretching is rare. Very few revisions are done. You can make an appointment with your surgeon to see if you stretched your sleeve. Ask your dietician/surgeons office for help getting your diet back on track. (3) Many people confuse stretching for the the ability to eat more and grazing food throughout the day (combinations of health and unhealthy foods) Any of us can eat around our surgery. Eating more calories is causing the weight gain. (4) Pouch reset is a fancy way of saying getting back on track. Pouch reset is the old diet progression (liquid ,soft foods then real food stage) If you find this too restrictive try a different approach that is realistically sustainable for you long term. Contact your dietician or research diet options. (5) . Portion control/surgery restriction will only take you so far. To set your body back into weight loss mode is to know how many calories you are eating. You can use a food app. It makes it easier. Click the link below. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.myfitnesspal.android&hl=en

Why not have a small piece of something on a special occasion? I think it’s unrealistic to think of certain foods as “never” foods. Should you justify eating whatever you want for a whole weekend because it’s your birthday? Probably not. Is enjoying one small dessert item throwing you down the worm hole back into an endless spiral of weight gain? Likely no. Happy Birthday and Enjoy.

1- Fruit. I'm out 16 months from surgery and started to incorporate fruits back into my diet. My mistake was doing it via smoothies. This lead to a six pound gain in a week and a half. I stopped the smoothies and lost the weight. Eat the fruit whole, smoothies incorporate a large amount of fruit that I wouldn't have eaten if I ate them whole. 2- Coffee- I started coffee at six months. Be careful as coffee is a diuretic and will cause you urinate thus losing the liquids you need to be healthier. 3- Life after WLS- It's a good life but not utopia. You'll revel at the rapid weight loss and then you'll realize that you will need to work to keep it off. It does not stay off all by itself you will need to have a plan of action in order to keep the weight off. A simple act like drinking fruit smoothies gave a weight gain so , you see it's a thing that you will need to keep an eye on. If you're healthy now just think how healthy you'll be after the weight is lost. Good luck and I wish you and everyone on these boards the best.

I just had surgery a month ago. I'm not in a relationship currently. I'm 30 years old. I don't have any plans on ever having a child, but if I did... I have a huge concern now given the bypass. My mother gained 100lbs when she was pregnant with me when she was 22 (she ate very healthily, but her hormones went nuts). She is just now losing that weight... 30 years later. I am terrified that would happen to me and destroy any potential weight loss success I've had. Has this happened to anyone that has gotten pregnant? Is this a concern for anyone?

Glad to hear back from you. 5.5 pounds is fantastic. You are proof you can work off weight gain years out from surgery. Can I ask what you have changed to get back into weight loss mode?

Your observations seemed to have answered your questions... Try to stick to the foods that were on your plan to kick start weightloss again. But most people cannot eat their fill of anything they want after surgery. That is what usually caused the initial weight gain

Hey guys just wanted to check in. I know I have not been on very much. I've been dealing with weight gain and loss it's been up and down a lot, I know the holidays don't help but any thoughts would be helpful I've been up to 230 then down to 221 . I believe it was now back up to 226 as of today that's been up and down and I'm just not sure what's going on. I did have gallbladder surgery recently, learning that red meats not my friend. Any thoughts would be really really helpful thank you Sent from my SM-J737A using BariatricPal mobile app

At 8 months the weight loss stopped. I was stalled for 4 months. Weight gain started around 13 months. I just re did the math and I am 16 months out now. My wife and I have a baby mid July and I have put on 20 pounds since then. I am sure some of it is stress eating, but that is no excuse. Most of it is due to poor choices and lack of exercise.

Yes I'm here with you surgery 2011 weight climbing. Feeling frustrated considering many options super mic injection, phentermine pills. Lol feeling of despair right now. It's a head game my mind against my body. My body has been wining lately n I got the weight gain to prove it. Lol trying to get my mind right to win this fight. I'm 53 and are often told I look good but for me to have gone from my lowest low of 148 to now 195 not feeling euphoric right now. Lol[emoji30] [emoji30] [emoji30] [emoji30] Sent from my SM-J327T using BariatricPal mobile app

With my eating I never did a lot of worry about portion control because it used to be after a few forks I was full. Now I don't know like as far as portions how many ounces of meat how many ounces of vegetables how many meals per day should I eat it's getting to be so frustrating along with the weight gain. It seems all the support goes to the New gastric surgery patients and everyone else is left to figure out things on your own. Even the literature I read it's geared to those that are fresh outta surgery n a few months out. Hellllpppppp. Sent from my SM-J327T using BariatricPal mobile app

I had gastric sleeve in 2011. Lowest weight was 148. I now weigh 195 lbs. Where am I going wrong. I heard that I can reset my sleeve is this true. If so what do I do. And does the sleeve stretch itself out. My highest weight was 275. And for those who say this surgery is cheating I've worked harder at keeping my weight down with this than if I just pitched a tent in the gym and lived there. Lol Sent from my SM-J327T using BariatricPal mobile app

I'm pretty nervous as well. Both scare me, but I'm more worried that they will delay my surgery when I get weighed during pre-op on Monday. I've had 9 months to lose as much weight as I can, and I've lost weight, gained weight and I believe right now I am only 3 pounds lighter than I was at my last weigh in this past April.

about 7 months out. Right? Take advantage of this first year. Your weight loss will slow down as you progress out from surgery. Start today. don't let a weight gain turn into 20, 30, 50 pounds or more. Time to get your head back in the game. Suffer the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. Find your surgeons plan instructions. Follow them Clear out temptation food . go grocery shopping for healthy food. Log your food. Hit your protein and macro(carb fat) goals Hydrate fit in activity/exercise into your day. join a accountability/support weight loss challenge. Thanksgiving, Christmas New Years challenge. New year new you! https://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/420820-thanksgiving-christmas-and-new-years-weight-loss-challenge/?tab=comments#comment-4714932

yes - the weight gain is from the IV fluids. It should be gone in a few days. Sorry about the pain - most people have little to no pain from this, but I've heard of others who found it painful. People seem to be all across the board on this...

Well surgery went through and I am home now. Never had any idea that the pain would be that horrific. They said we would wake up with a belly ache. Well let me tell you this that was no belly ache. But much better now getting better everyday. so my question now is what is with the 10 pound weight gain from the day of surgery till you go home. Is this from the IV's and all of the fluids they give your? Very discouraging . Wish they would have said tht before at lease I would of expected it. OK vent done and looking forward to the next stage of my new life.

Check in Start of challenge 133 This morning 135 Maintaining my weight Workouts and food have been slack. My friends father passed away. Spent three days with her while she was in town. Back to things this week. two pounds up Into the holidays. I'm making cookies with my grandson. I can't keep them in the house. I know my weaknesses. Weekends seem to be my biggest challenge. Parties and potlucks. My goal is to rock my New Years dress and go into 2019 without major holiday weight gain.

Hi and welcome! We each do IF a different way. And any way that works for us...is good. Right? If it were me, most days, I'd try to start whittling down on the additions to the coffee until on IF days I was just doing black coffee. You may not be able to. Some days, I just do'nt want to exist without my 1oz of PP in my coffee. Doc's say to get the best bang for your autophagy buck you need to avoid any source of calories. But that's when you're hard core IFing in my honest opinion. I think 14/10 is a good place to start. Gradually work towards longer fasts if possible? 1000-1100 cals for me is beyond maintenance and into weight gain mode. So for me to lose, I have to be lower on average for the week. I can have some of those days, but then I have to average them with having more 500-600 cal days...

So, my 4 weeks is officially today. I've lost 26lbs. I should be thrilled, right? Nope. I have this total mental derp happening that makes me feel like I will somehow be the only person in gastric bypass history to ONLY lose 26lbs and that's it. I'm done. No more weight loss. lol! I think because I've had so many failures in the past, I just anticipate this being another one of them... even though I am following everything the best I can (in light of my ulcer, I am low on protein - working on it!) I also have a mental derp against protein shakes. Aside from my whey allergy and getting super nauseous... back in 2009 I had liposuction when I was a mere 140lbs. After surgery I drank TONSSSS of muscle-building/weight-gaining protein shakes because the plastic surgeon said I needed them for muscle recovery. Welp, I gained 40lbs doing that! I had no guidance and was an idiot, basically. But that's where the weight gain started - so I have a creeper lurking in my brain that protein shakes = weight gain = super morbid obesity. I am trying to get over it; I have a sweet home gym and was just told yesterday I am not allowed to exercise because my protein is currently too low. So, that has motivated me more and I started a soy shake last night. Gunna keep it up. I feel like I have conquered so many of my cravings-issues, though. I read just a few chapters in Never Binge Again and it is so helpful. I highly recommend that book. I feel very in control, and did have one mishap the other day when I got very stressed (I overate, but not a "banned food")... we're all human, though. Why are our brains so self-defeating?! I know I am championing through this in light of the complication and there is NO reason I will fail... unless I set myself up for it. So, nipping it in the bud now, for sure. But it sure is hard to overcome some of those mental blocks. If it wasn't, I'm sure most of us wouldn't be here. Just my random blurb o' the day.

Hi! I am 15 years out from DS. I will tell you what I was told not only by my surgeon but more or less everyone in my support group. I say from my support group because when I had surgery there was no DS Surgeon in our state and everyone left the state to have surgery, hence I don't think any of us had the same surgeon other than a married couple. EMBRACE THE FAT!!!! Number one rule! If you don't see fat in your toilet your not eating enough. My skin gets extremely dry any time I cut the fat. I am shocked that you were told or assumed that low fat was great for you. Protein should be about 100 grams a day split up in 20-25 gram servings, so any fatty meat is good!!! Avoid sugar. Sugar isn't as bad for DS'ers as it is for RNY, we don't dump. However, we absorb 100% of the sugar we take in. I am also surprised you can eat bread at all. Most DS'er will have bloating and serious gas issues from bread. For me (and from most I have heard from) the gas hits at the night so you may not be aware of it. For me it has been so bad the stink wakes me up at nigh, thank goodness I can blame the dog Try going flour free for a month then reintroduce it to your body, if you have a reaction please stop. To make your diet easy for you, the order you should be eating your food, fatty meats,non starchy veggies with butter or olive oil, if your still hungry go back to fatty meat you didn't eat enough!!! Go easy on the starchy veggies. IF you need bread and desserts, no more than a bite or two. But as my surgeon says, if you still hungry by the time you get to bread and dessert your out eating your surgery! As for malabsorption, you absorb about 20-25% of fat, 50ish% of protein and 100% of sugar (carbs are sugar, stay way from carbs that are not veggies) You need to go back to experimenting with your body, bread...flour based food give me gas, bloat and in the end a lot of time in the bathroom. I also feel like I have the flu. My husband will look at the cookie in my hand and will ask me if I have plans for tomorrow and is it worth being sick on the couch for. Most of the time it isn't! I also have issues with rice, it will clog me up. I have heard of other DS'ers with that issue with rice too, but many more with flour. Sugar will cause the scale to go up. I still eat sugar, but it is a rare treat, not a daily ,weekly or even monthly treat. Mostly a yearly treat at this time of year. But I still very easy on it because to much will cause bloating and gas too. That is normal for humans who don't eat sugar, not just DS'ers. On the sugar note, if your craving sugar your going thru withdrawal or some protein drinks will cause cravings or you need to up your vitamin Bs special B12. Ok, what to eat on the go. I drive for a living so I have this down. My favorite is meat and cheese roll ups. What ever meat and cheese is on sale at the deli. In the roll up I will put a slice of red pepper or a some cream cheese or a smear of spinach dip (fat is your friend!!!) Jerky and beef sticks are great! Nuts. Costco has parmesan cheese chips, LOVE THEM! Tuna salad eaten with a fork with a cheese chip on top. I get the fatty tuna and a bit of crunch from the cheese chip. Love it! Salad with LOTS of meat. I can do chicken strips, bunless burgers, salad at any fast food place. Be careful of yogurt, most are low fat and high sugar. Actually in general avoid any food that is low fat, the sugar is crazy high. If you want yogurt, plain and add your own fruit or sugar free jam to it. You can eat fruit, pick higher fiber ones just be aware of the amount of sugar your eating. I do apples slices and berries mostly, easy to pack for the road. These are treats, not staples. Depression, I never had depression issues before surgery and was not prepared for it after. It hit me about a year out. I take lexapro now, it does not cause weight gain. I have noticed that when I eat more fatty fish, salmon or can tuna in fat (hard to find anymore) I feel better. I upped my omegas when I caught that, so now I am taking those with my vitamins. I would suggest talking to your primary about depression and then getting a therapist or councilor to talk to. Not only for everything going on in your life, you have a lot! but also for food addiction. Surgery will not fix food addiction and if you don't get a handle on it, you will eventually out eat your surgery.