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weight gain is really common if you let bad habits sneak back in. Happens to a lot of people. Most people don't gain everything back, but it's not uncommon to gain 30, 40, or 50 lbs. You can lose it again, but it's definitely more challenging than the first time around!

I had a I had a Lap band removal and vsg conversion in June 2014. I started at 252 as my highest weight and 237 as my surgery weighty. My lowest weight was 201. I followed the diet faithfully for almost 2 years and kept the weight off give or take a couple of pounds.. I found that's spinning was my favorite exercise and still is. I was active on and off the 4 years because of complication so with my knee and then plantar fascititis. The last year has been hard cause I my plantar fasciitis and lower back pain. ( which restarted since I've put on weight again) has been really bothering me... so new activities that I love like 5k and 8k runs... well their increasingly difficult to complete. I now weigh 248. Which is above my surgery weight. My GERD isa real problem... I still drink my proteins shakes... take my vitamins.. I eat most things but not in excess because of my sleeve...my weight gain has been a plateau for about for almost 2 years now.. I have not gained and only loose 5lbs here Andy there's and regain it back. I guess give the fact that I really didn't lose as much weight as I expected to with the vsg and gaining all that weight back, has me thinking that the malabsorption piece of weight loss surgery is the tool that would help me final loose weight and be healthier. This extra weight gain is causing me physical pain now and I wann do something about it.

Weight gain happens to many of us. Glad you recognized the behavior. It's never too late to turn it around. Great advice above. Go back to bariatric basics. Log, protein and water goals. Continue your workouts. I also used my weight training to justify my calories. I'm cracking down and starting to lose weight again. If you are interested we have a holiday weight loss challenge going on to keep you motivated. Here's the info https://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/405183-holiday-challenge-time-lets-do-this/ https://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/405476-holiday-challenge-spreadsheet/

I am 4 weeks out and now allowed 1/2 a piece of whole grain/whole wheat toast, 2 whole grain crackers, brown rice, quinoa and there is one more I can't remember. I am on what is considered a "soft diet" at this point. Carbs are not bad! We need carbs it's the kind of carbs you eat that makes the difference and causes weight gain. Everyone handles things differently though and some may not be able to eat these things and every plan is different. I'm good with the half slice of toast I don't feel full I don't feel sick I also eat it with an over easy egg on it for breakfast. So I am getting protein and fiber. Danette RNY-6/5/2017 HW 240 SW 230 CW 205

Wow, no-one will ever need weight loss surgery any more! I wish I'd read this post years earlier, it would definitely have fixed my years of struggle with weight gain and loss, and eating disorders. Seriously though, tough love DOES NOT WORK. I'd have thought the fact that we have all needed weight loss surgery is a clue to that. My eating disorder was not something I could out think, fix with a diet or just white knuckle through with willpower. If you made the mental decision and that was all it took, why get surgery???

I'm prone to infections, so I couldn't do the Mirena or the Nuva Ring. And I had unbalanced hormones with the pill. The Depo caused nausea and weight gain. So I am now using the Ortho Evra Patch....so far so good.

Researchers generally determine Protein quality by using the protein efficiency ratio (PER) or the protein digestibility corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS). They determine the PER by evaluating the weight gain in growing rats fed a particular protein compared with a standard protein, egg whites being the gold standard. The higher the PER value, the greater the protein quality. The PDCAAS was introduced as a more accurate way to evaluate protein quality for humans, because it uses human, not rat, amino acid requirements to calculate the amino acid score. It compares the amino acid profile of a protein with the essential amino acid requirements for humans according to The food and Agriculture Organization. When a protein meets this requirement, it gets a score of 1.0. PDCAAS has now been adopted as the official method by the World Health Organisation, the US Food and Drug Administration and the US Department of Agriculture. Although the PDCAAS method is the internationally recognised standard for comparing Proteins for human consumption, it does not allow for differentiation among proteins with a PDCAAS of 1.0, so proteins can have different PERs while still having a PDCAAS of 1.0. This is significant, because researchers are now exploring how variances in specific essential and/or conditionally essential amino acids, as well as the availability of various peptides and micronutrients, affect human physiology. Claims of consumer-relevant superiority or inferiority, when performance of physique modificaitons are concerned, have yet to be supported by population-specific evidence in humans. Protein PCDAAS PER Gelatin/collagen 0.08. -- Beef/poultry/fish 0.80-0.92. 2.0-2.3 Soy 1.00. 1.8-2.3 Ovalbumin (egg) 1.00. 2.8 Milk protein 1.00. 2.8 Casein 1.00 2.9 whey 1.00. 3.0-3.2 Bovine colostrum. 1.00. 3.0-3.2 Table 1 Table 1 (above) lists the PER and/or PDCAAS for the major types of protein used in nutritional supplements. The following discusses the relative strengths and weaknesses of these basic types of proteins that are often used as starting materials for nutritional supplements. Of course, adding deficient amino acids and other nutrients to these proteins may increase the PDCAAS, nutrient value and/or functionality of the protein. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> As you can see above collagen/gelatin is nearly useless to the human body. This is what is in almost all protein shots. Always check the ingredients. Many makers of protien shots are giving them names that have Whey in their title but are still using collagen/gelatin as their primary protein source. Also keep in mind that ingredients on labels are listed in the order of amount used. So if collagen or Gelatin is listed first then it is the primary protein source for that product.

Here's my saga. I posted this elsewhere in the forums and was kind of surprised at the negative response, so let me say, this is just my story. I'm not bashing the band, I'm very thankful for the success I had with it. I'm not bitter or angry, it just didn't work for me long term. I had a Realize band placed in February of 2009. My starting weight was 268. The band was fantastic and I lost weight steadily, with the exception of a few months when I realized how easy Cookies were to eat. In December of 2010, I hit the 100 pounds lost mark, I also found out I was pregnant that same week. At about 4 weeks pregnant I had a really nasty 3 day stomach flu. A few days after recovering from that, I started throwing up again. I could keep food down for a few hours, but it was all coming back up. I lost another 15 pounds in 2 weeks. I thought it was just severe morning sickness, even though in 5 previous pregnancies I'd never had morning sickness. I saw my Ob who told me to immediately get my band unfilled and if I was still throwing up the next day he'd have to admit me into the hospital. I got a complete unfill and immediately felt better, but with no restriction and absolutely no mental/physical/spiritual preparedness for no restriction, my love affair with all things bread and pastry renewed like we were never apart. I gained 40 pounds in the first 4 months of my pregnancy. I managed to gain back a little control, but ended up gaining about 60 pounds before I had my daughter in August of 2011. The weight gain took a great emotional toll on me, but I just knew that 6 weeks postpartum I'd get a fill and be right back on track... You know where this is going, right? In October of 2011 I got my band refilled. Pre-pregnancy, my fill level was at 7.2cc in an 11 cc band. We filled it to 3.5 cc and 3 weeks later filled it to 5 cc. I had very little restriction and it just didn't seem right. I'd also started getting heartburn. I went back a few weeks later and we filled it to 5.5. That lasted 24 hours, I had to go back in for an unfill and we went down to 5.2 so I could get Water down. I still didn't have much restriction, but I did have terrible heartburn and vomiting in the middle of the night. I lived with this for a few months until I couldn't stand it and went back in and had .5 cc removed. This made the heartburn manageable with daily meds and tums always at hand, but there was no restriction. I could eat all the bread, Pasta, rice that I wanted. I knew I had a slip, but didn't have insurance to cover bariatrics, so I lived with it. I tried eating less, exercise, weight watchers, even a juice fast but I've gained 20 more pounds on top of the baby weight. Fast forward to now and I finally have insurance to cover bariatrics. I went in a few weeks ago and had my upper GI. It showed a slip above the band, virtually my entire stomach is above the band, which is why there is no restriction felt, but the band was so tight that flow into the rest of my digestive tract was severely restricted. Food just sat there for a really long time, and the results of that we're just kind of gross. We unfilled the band completely to see if the slip would fix itself, although, we all knew what that result would be. The pregnancy hadn't caused the slip, the stomach flu had and 9 months of an empty band hadn't helped it unslip. I got that confirmation this week. My band is still slipped and the restriction is still severe even empty. I'm frustrated, but quite relieved that there has been a real issue this whole time and it wasn't just me. We're now going through the process of getting insurance approval to revise to a sleeve and I couldn't be happier.

@ Teshadb .... Yes eating small portions and feeling satisfied or not feeling always hungry like it was with the band I am looking forward to that And it really seems with that big portion of the stomach gone the gremlin production reduced makes the world of a difference in comparison to the feeling during the band. @ Cowgirljane .... WOW #160 that is amazing. That is a huge achievement !!! I would be happy to lose 60 or maybe 70 pounds. How much had you lost at your best during the lapband. I am really seeing the light at the end of the tunnel when I read your comments and see your amazing success. You girls look so vibrant and beautiful .... like it never was any different. I really hope I will go back to my normal self again , like before my illness and the weight gain started. For the last 5 years I though that was it for me, I never would be able to go back to having a normal life where eating is just normal and not a permanent issue to think about 24/7. Well I started the pre-surgery Optifast diet yesterday. 3 more weeks to go. It seems most people have only 2 weeks of optifast, we have 3 weeks to do. How long did you both do the optifast diet? And how did you do on it?

Sooooo it's been a long road, I have lost weight gained it and then finally decided to get the sleeve, I am extremely nervous, I've never had surgery before so the feeling of not having control of my body is freakin me out!!! But I trust everything will come out well and im excited! I read on some forums that most had to do a 2 week liquid diet, my surgeon only advised me to do a liquid diet the day before I hope all will be well! But tomorrow 730am is the time!!! ???????????????? I look forward to starting a healthy lifestyle as a new sleever!! ✊

Please don't beat yourself up. I had so many food funerals that I gained 10 pounds from when I initially saw my surgeon in November to when I saw her again in December. Thankfully I'm doing the preop diet and have lost everything that I gained. But looking back I'm really angry at myself because the weight gain just made my goal farther away.

No its probably just Water retention . I weighed in five days ago and weighed in this morning and I'm up almost 13 pounds !!!! I start my period next week sometime plus we was out all weekend doing things and I ate alot of high sodium foods and that sure didn't help matters any either . I can gain anywhere from 5-10 pounds, a week before my period and it wont come back off till the day I stop , and like I said high salt foods did not help matter. My eyeballs about came out of my head this morning when I saw that lol. But I know there is no way I could I put on 13 pounds of fat in five days , I would have to do some heavy duty eating during that time and even though I have no fill in my band physically I cant eat like I did before cause I would be sicker then a dog . I should have stayed off the scales I knew I was retaining water my ankles told the story lol. Nothing to worry about that is why I dont like to weight in every day . I can weigh in one day and be down a pound and then two days later be up five pounds. The foods you eat, the weather, TOM , sodium all plays a huge factor in weight gain . I retain water so bad though I can eat one day of high sodium foods and I pay the price for it for days I wanted to get some water pills from the doc especially during TOM but he said the more weight I lose the water retention wont be so bad , hope he is right .

My Obgyn took me off the pill when I discussed I was having the surgery. I Have the implant in my arm low estrogen so no weight gain or crazy hormones. No issues thus far that are noticeable I'm only 3 weeks out though hope this helps good luck

1. I didn't have a pre op diet so I just had broth after I first got home and it wasn't just broth but broth, sugar free Jello, Protein shakes, v8 juice, Water...and I had no desire to eat so it wasn't miserable. 2. That will depend on your doc and his/her instructions. 3. I'm 3 months out and I don't snack. Snacking can lead to grazing and grazing to weight gain, so I just stick to my plan. I'm never hungry so the desire to snack has gone away which really helps. 4. My scars were all closed on the outside within 9-10 days except for my drain hole. That one took about 2wks to close. My scars are really tiny, but will probably remain dark purple for about a year then fade to a pink and hopefully disappear in the stretch marks like my gall bladder surgery scars did. 5. I don't have cravings...so that changed, but my taste buds completely changed. Before surgery cherry anything made me gag and throw up. Since surgery it's my favorite flavor! I also find that chocolate tastes like dirt...it did when I was pregnant too, but now it's all the time so I had to ditch all my chocolate protein shakes because of the taste. 6. It depends on where you go. I love sushi and sashimi so when we go out for like Chinese food, we'll go someplace that does Asian fusion and has sashimi. I'll have a couple pieces of that and maybe half of a crab Rangoon if I'm in the mood and that's about it. If I'm going to an Italian place, I'll look for a fish or something non breaded and take the rest home. If we are doing a burger place, I'll do a bun less burger with condiments on the side and give the fries away to the kids and take the rest of the burger home. You'll be surprised how long leftovers go. I had a ribeye steak one day and it lasted me 6 meals with plenty leftover for the dog. lol

when I had the band I too was eating more than 1000 cals..and now even with less cals wt does not go down....body has adjusted to less food...unfortunately.. try some Soup to reduce your hunger pangs...I know its easy to preach....but i am sure you can over come this phase....dont be depressed...srtess and depression also causes weight gain.. all the best dear....

thank you and i know i shouldnt compare myself to others, but im so bummed. is it common for weight gain after surgery?

Hi Oceanblue. What a pretty name. You bring back a lot of memories. It has ALSO been a long time since I have been on this site, and, quite frankly, I have been avoiding it. I started this topic of "looking for October friends" way back in October, 2011 before my Sleeve Operation (one day before your operation) and well, "petered out" in my posts to this site after I had lost close to 100 pounds in just about 6 months! It was really wonderful way back then -- losing all that weight. But, like you, that wonderful fast downhill journey didn't last for all that long. I have a lot of your same problems with craving carbs (especially sweets) and being hungry. Weight started creeping up slowly. I started at 309 pounds and went down to 209 pounds with a goal of 160. I, also, remember those first 10 pounds gained. But I was not so lucky to stop at that. You are doing much better than me. I managed to add another 16 pounds to that and am now at around 235. So I am pretty concerned as well. I started to see a psychologist and continued going to the Weight Loss Center at Mass General Hospital to see the people there for support, but have been in constant struggle for this past year. I remember feeling SO THIN after I lost the 100 pounds, and NOW I feel fat! It is so funny how we see ourselves. So I was actually happy to see your entry on this website even though I hardly even recognize this website anymore. I think I will need to start using it again and, like you, start reaching out for support. I don't know what this "5 day pouch test" is, but it doesn't sound good to me. It sounds too much like a diet and for me, diets ALWAYS means weight gain afterwards. The only cure, I think, is learning how to cut down on the carbs and sweets. Sugar is the real culprit. I have made a couple of efforts at curbing my sugar cravings by substituting fruit, which actually worked for awhile, but I somehow fell into my emotional eating pattern again, and the sweets came back. I wish I could offer you some help or advice now, but I am in your same position, only with more weight gained since my operation. I will have to look for help for the "old-timers" who have maintained their sleeved weight for a long time. But for now, I just want to tell you that I totally understand and perhaps we can support each other in overcoming this road-block to our weight loss and health goals! All the best wishes for a happy Thanksgiving and a little turkey and veggies and tiny dessert! I like to remember that Thanksgiving is only a one-day event! Let me know how you are doing. Hopefulspirit

they wont check the gym..atleast mine didnt i didnt even join a gym i just told them what activity i did and they documented it on my charts....that seems to be the key in approval....make sure that the nurse practitioner or pcp is just documenting u making the efforts to change ur eating habits and that ur making the attempt to be active.....i just told my pcp tht i went walking like 4x's a week for 30 minutes....and provided the doc office a food diary stating everything i ate....i still had a bad food atleast once a week listed ont he diary but i made sure to show healthy eating habits on the diary mostly... these insurance loops are to see just how serious the patient is in loosing weight if they're considering paying thousands of dollars...if i were u if u want to be approved stick to the doc visits but dont go eating super healthy and exercising hardcore...just cut back on the bad things now that u will miss when banded...that will atleast help u maintain the 40 bmi....i was exactly 40 bmi and i actually put on weight just to make sure i dont go below....kinda regret it now cuz i went overboard on the weight gain......but hopefully i will have surgery in 2 weeks....

I had my surgery July 9th and my weight loss was great. I started my birth control once I got my period, stepped in the scale one morning and all of a sudden I gained 6lbs. The weight is coming down about a 1lb a week and it's very frustrating. Has this happened to anyone? I feel like getting off the BC but if I got pregnant that would be a whole separate problem. Please help Kellee

I got my Aetna approval on Friday and it was pretty easy. 4 months of supervised nutrition visits, meet their minimum BMI (or BMI and comorbidity) requirement, and don't gain any weight from your first visit to your last. Easy peasy!! I asked Aetna why on the no weight gain rule and apparently there are studies showing a much lower success rate for people who gain pre-op weight. It can cause more surgical complications and shows a lack of dedication and knowledge about what is required for a banded lifestyle. Makes sense to me, it just sucks people weren't grandfathered in if they started the 4 months prior to the rule change.

18 Years post-op. I don't really focus on weight gain / loss nor my plan. I'm pretty much on autopilot for such things. At my last medical appointment I was at the top of 'normal' BMI. That's more or less where I've been most of the time. The novel coronavirus hasn't really impacted my life other than hair cuts. I need a hair cut. Oh, the pandemic did kill a few vacations, so looking forward to those starting back up. Good luck Tek

Congratulations for making your decision on changing you life in a healthy manner. I'm also sorry you have those who are not supportive of your decision. I read it and hear it alot from those on this website and people I personally know who have had the lapband. All I can say is chalk it up to ignorance, jealousy, fear & care for us, and who knows what else. Hopefully you've researched your surgeon and staff and have found the right mix for you. You will also learn so much here on LBT. I'm sorry I found this after my surgery but better late then never. I'm still learning from everyone on here on a daily basis. My husband & I had the surgery earlier this year and we've had nothing but support from loved ones, co-workers, clients, etc. And if someone thinks differently about our choice of "taking the easy way out", that's their opinion as they're entitled to it. I'm 57 and at the stage of my life that I can't worry what people think about me. I still have a good 25 lbs to lose and feel so much energy and confidence then I have in the past years of putting on a good 60+ lbs and not being able to walk up or down the stairs without holding on to the railing, enjoying gardening, and just getting out of my car to food shop was a problem with my knees and back. At this point I can do it all and then some! Have there been compromises along the way, absolutely. Like any other addiction, I'm learning to change people {moi} places and things that caused my weight gain. In the beginning it was an everyday challenge and right up there in my conscious mind, As time goes on, with the help of the lapband being a tool, it's helped us to be just a part of our everyday life and reminding us to make better choices. So far so good. I wish you the best on your journey. Hopefully, as time goes on, your loved ones will see you made the right choice and change their minds. If you need support, we're all here for you on LBT 24-7.

WLS, OA and my Higher Power... Ain't nobody's business but my own. The fact that so many WLSers don't avail themselves of the 12 Steps, and vice versa, is their business. I can't imagine not having both to even have a chance at stopping the weight gain that was killing me.

I am 3 weeks 2 days out of surgery and have lost 45 pounds. but I have not lost any weight in the last 3 days. I know I am eating so little my body should still be losing weight. before the weight gain I was an athlete and when I cut weight I consumed more calories than I am now and would drop weight fast. Has anyone else plateaued this early in their process? I know I should not weigh myself everyday but its a hard habit to break being a former wrestler.

I'm not sure. My friend's doc is making her do one and our BMI's are similar. That's one of the questions in asking at my visit this week. I'm nervous about weight gain so I'll be doing one to ensure that I don't gain a single pound. They will postpone my surgery if I do. I already bought my protein shakes. I'm ready to get it started.