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I can relate to the life long struggle. I am 38. Just sleeved 1/23/18. Highest weight 322 Surgery weight 290 Current weight 253 Goal weight 150. I have tried so many diets before and been up and down in weight with nothing that really worked for long or with much weight loss in the last 20 years and been so discouraged and just about given up. I have PCOS, thyroid, been on meds that cause weight gain and was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes last year and decided to take the plunge. So glad I made the decision! Before the surgery with the support from the clinic, and making small changes preparing for the surgery I was able to lose 40 lbs. I actually chickened out cancelled my surgery holidays hit and gained 10 lbs back and then rescheduled with more confidence and was ready to do it in January. Within a month I lost another 30 lbs right away! It’s an entire lifestyle change now and I’m never looking back. I physically cannot! My stomach won’t allow it! I look forward to my new life each and every day! No longer show diabetic in my lab work and off four of my meds. Life is good! So worth it! What do you have to lose?

Day 7 - Week 1 Post Surgery - 222.8lbs (Wahooo! Almost down to surgery day weight--only 0.4lbs left!) Hello my dearies! This morning is another fanflippintastic day! I slept really well and had a good day yesterday. I walked throughout the day. Am still having probs walking for longer than 10minute intervals, but I did 5 of those intervals yesterday and I'm hoping they count for something. I surpassed my fluid goals and made my protein goal almost exactly. I'm having no difficulties swallowing or keeping it down. I know everyone experiences this, but I don't feel any/little resistance when eating yogurt or jello or broths/cream soups. So I know it will happen when I eat a dense protein, but it's still a little un-nerving. The irrational paranoia that "my pouch is too big" is strong within me. LOL. Nothin like a little crazy to brighten my day! Oh, I made a revelation last night! Apparently gabapentin can make you addicted to it! I've been taking it since Day 1 after surgery 1800mg/daily. It can also cause weight gain! Fu*k me!! So apparently, it's not good to cold turkey it. You have to wean off of it. Now, I've only been taking it a week, so maybe I don't have to wean off of it? But hells to the max! I started last night to decrease from 1800/day to 1500/day. Then today I will do 1200/day, reducing by 1 pill per day until I'm only on 1 pill and can stop it. I do NOT want to deal with that withdrawal, and I'm not even sure it's doing anything for me except making me sleepy and slow. The food impatience is growing with me. I'm longing for purees. LOL. And the blasted Ricotta Bake keeps whispering my name--especially around evening meal time. But, this liquid phase lasts only a short time. And come Wednesday morning of next week, I will so enjoy my first egg! I count the lovely days! Ok, that's my update! Breakfast is going to be my PB and B Progurt! Have I mentioned that I the stuff?

So after meeting with nutritionist a few time these past 5 months i have not lose a thing but gained 10 lbs. Ugh has anyone experienced this and did it effect your eligibility from insurance? Sent from my SM-N910P using BariatricPal mobile app

While I’m not completely off the rails I see the writing on the wall, some old habits coming back and I’m trying to avoid weight gain and trying to lose the last bit of weight I have to lose. Thinking about seeing a therapist? Isogenix? No not weight watchers again. I can’t. Really. Haha. What have all you successful people done to keep the weight off? What have you done to lose the final 20 once the honeymoon period is over? Please help me figure this out!! So afraid I will never get there and go back to the old me. Le Band to sleeve revision surgery 1/16/17 HW: 283 CW: 177 GW: 160

I am about a month and a half post-surgery and things have been going well...have had energy, losing weight at a decent pace and seeing a difference but literally all my happiness went away yesterday and struggling to find it again. Just like many of us, my weight has been up and down for many, many years and I actually have a lot of clothes (some even new) that I haven’t been able to wear in the past 2 years or so bc of weight gain (again). I’ve been as small as a size 4 in the past and I have all those clothes, plus some other sizes Even though I told myself I wouldn’t do it just yet until I lost a little more, I decided to go through my closet. I know I am not a size 4 so I didn’t touch those clothes and felt ok waiting for the near future to even look at them. But what really bothered me is that I tried on a shirt I wore in 2015 when I was literally the same weight i am today (I know bc i kept track on my Fitbit the last time I went through a major exercise and diet plan and lost a whole bunch)....and it didn’t fit!!! [emoji20][emoji20] i even went back to find a picture Back in 2015 when I had the shirt on and it looks good! I am so confused. I know bodies change and all but I really thought it would and it completely crushed me. I know it shouldn’t and I should be happy with where I am at but now I am super depressed and trying to understand why. You would think that if it fit then it should fit now right? Just needed to vent bc I hope some of you understand how I’m feeling. It’s amazing how one little thing can completely take away all the positive thoughts I had about this journey and my way forward. Btw, I have lost a total of 43 lbs.

Are you familiar with the concept of head hunger? It's when your brain says, "Feed me!" even when your body doesn't need more fuel. It's a huge contributor to weight gain. MANY of us have experienced it. My suggestion is to really understand the concept & be prepared when it arrives. That will give you a huge advantage before & after your surgery. Good luck! You are not alone.

How are things going with your MGB now? How is the aid reflux? R you happy with the MGB compared to the sleeve? Have u reached your goal with no weight gain?

I had surgery on Dec 26, 2017. I’ve lost only 21lbs since surgery, and 34 total. I got down to 173 and stayed there for a whole week, so I think it wasn’t scale error. But now I’m at 179 and have stayed here for over a week, so it can’t just be water weight. I went up 6 lbs literally over night, not gradually. This is worse than a plateau!! I’m less than two months out. Could my weight loss be over? I stay under 1,200 caps and over 65 protein a day. I don’t drink as much water as I should, but I’ve increased water a lot from pre-surgery. I try to keep carbs under 50 a day. I work out for an hour five times per week and definitely feel stronger. I know muscle weighs more than fat, but from what I’ve read on line, one can only gain 0.5-1 lb of muscle per week, so I have a hard time believing a six lb weight gain is all muscle. What is going on???? PS. 1200 Cals May sound high, but with my work outs, and the fact that I rarely eat 1,200 and am usually around 1,000, I don’t think the calories can be to blame.

Goal weight is an artificial number. I think my surgeon told me that I could reach 190 pounds. I was happy with that. But in the end I dropped almost down to 140. As far as a goal, I would shoot for the high side of normal BMI. Normal BMI 18.5-24.9. So for your height of 5 foot 2 inch that would correspond to a goal weight of around 135 pounds. The reason why I would select that as a goal is because individuals on the high side of normal live the longest. It is important to keep a little fat in your body because when you have a very, very serious illness or accident, you need that reservoir of fat to keep you alive until your body recovers. It is O.K. to drop below that level for a little while to compensate for a small amount of weight gain as you progress in Maintenance phase.

Well, I'm 3lbs away from hitting my personal goal weight. Firstly, I know it's all about doing what I'm most comfortable with but I've been doing some thinking as the weeks and months flew by. Secondly, I'm just not sure if the stories I've heard about the whole gaining 5 to 20 or so pounds back after said years are even true once you hit your goal weight or let alone just make it to a healthy BMI and stay there. That leaves me asking myself and just wondering.... Once I make it to my goal... (Which I'll give it til next month) should I just stay at my goal and maintain that or just add a 10 or 15 pound gap between my goal just in case... Then maintain? At first I was dead set on just getting to 130 and then stopping there... But if that weight gain thing is true where you'll lose and lose.... Then gain like 15 lbs then just stay there or whatever happens. I'd prefer to be on the lighter side then be 130 rather than 140. I like being in this weight range. Told myself that I was getting myself into the healthy BMI range and I'm staying here. Life is too sweet to make a departure. Lol Hw-273 Sw-226 CW-133 GW-130 Size- 4 or 6, Small in sweats. Small in shirts. depends on how it's cut or made. Bra Size- 36C Surgery Date- April 26th, 2017 RNY "Only those who try will become" FFX

Like many others here, weight gain is a big issue for me. I'm curious what others here eat on a daily basis. I stated at 367 and got down to 228 (I'm 6' tall, now 53 years old). My goal was to get under 200. After a couple months of not tracking my food, I found myself back up to 242. I'm back to cutting carbs and trying to keep my protein at 70 grams a day, focusing mainly on vegetables. I generally work out about 3 times a week (cardio + weight training). I usually end up eating in the range of 1300 - 1500 calories a day. I thought at that range, I should be losing weight at a pretty decent rate, but that's not the case. I'm wondering how many calories other guys eat in a day. Thanks.

I'm at wits end , band done 2012 done really well until 2016 , horrendous pain down port side going into pelvis, after NHS diagnosis tube disconnection and embedded between pelvis and uterus , hospital group wanted more cash and then advised a new band operation , I didn' have enuf money , doc offered full removal but I was scared , weight gain was rapid , 2017 saw surgeon at Nuffield who offered repair costing 3000 but it hasn't worked , constant pain feel tummy is full of hernias I need this out of me and I'm looking for advice , wish I'd had sleeve done now

Seems a bit of a weight gain is normal. June I will be four years out. It took a bit of finagling for me to find where I start losing weight again. The weight loss is slower. But this is maintenance I gain a bit. I now know I can get it back down. This years resolution was not freaking out over small weight gains..lol My menu: Morning:(broke up into two meals) Scrambled eggs with leftover sauteed mushroom,onion and garlic. Jimmy dean turkey sausage Lunch: Smoked salmon salad Pre workout: fresh bartlett pear. Lee labrada homemade sweet potato muffin. Post workout: Run fast eat slow - homemade trail mix dinner: lentil stew - Ground turkey, beef broth, lentils,carrot, green beans,diced tomato, celery, onion and garlic snack: Quest cookie..It is processed but I had a sweet tooth.

Hello All! I have been looking into getting surgery for years now. I have a job that covers the surgery so long as I meet the requirements. I have Cigna and one of the requirement is that I follow a weight management program for >89 consecutive days or 4 visits. I have my last visit on March 13th and I am nervous because my surgeon advised not to gain weight. I gained 2 lbs my last visit so now I'm working towards losing those 2 lbs I gained plus an extra pound or two. My question is did anyone go through the weight program with Cigna and gain and still got approved? They don't specify whether you need to lose during this time or you will be denied so I just wanted to ask others on here to see what your experience was.

How do you expand/stretch out your stomach? I will be 3 months post op on the 20th of February and I just want to make sure I'm not doing this since I am eating a little more solids. SW 280 CW 235 5'6 and believe it or not I have no goal weight yet. However, I want to get to my ONEderland. Maybe 180/160. Sent from my SM-G955U using BariatricPal mobile app

What follows is a narrative of my personal experience with the vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) and my subsequent weight loss. It is specifically written for both preoperative and recent postoperative patients. This is my way of thanking Bariatric Pal for the wealth of valuable information I gleaned before undergoing the surgery. I need to underscore that my story is not intended to provide weight loss advice or suggest that the way I did it is the only or even best way to lose and maintain weight loss. I have broken and continue to break most of the postoperative rules I was given by my surgeon and, yet, I’ve been able to maintain a weight loss of 88 pounds over four years (my weight fluctuates within a five-pound range). There are too many self-proclaimed experts on this forum: I am not seeking feedback or a critique about the particular path my journey has taken. There are a few things I would do differently in retrospect. Perhaps others will benefit from my story. Back Story Obesity runs in my family. My parents were chronically 30 to 60 pounds overweight throughout my entire life. My father died at 62 from arteriosclerosis (years of cholesterol plaques broke free and clogged his valves: he suffocated to death). My mother died at age 61 from a massive stroke. Three of my four grandparents died in their late 50’s and early 60’s. I am 63-years-old and thank God every morning for giving me another day. I was a skinny kid but my mother forced me to finish a large glass of eggnog every day even though I would spend over an hour trying to get it down. Her plan worked: At age twelve, I weighed around 30lbs more than I should have. The year was 1967 and Weight Watchers had just opened a branch in my hometown. My mother joined and I decided to follow her program (there were no teen programs at that time. Back in those days, one weekly serving of liver and three daily doses of that foul-tasting Malba powered fat-free milk were mandatory). I lost the excess weight in a relatively short period of time because I was consuming far fewer calories than a growing boy needed and I was active with sports throughout high school. I kept the weight off until after I was married. Throughout my young and middle adulthood, I would continuously lose 30 pounds over a period of a few months and then slowly but surely regain the weight over a two-year period. However, the total amount of each weight gain increased with age and losing the weight became increasingly difficult. At 57 years of age, at a height of just under 5’7”, I weighed in at 244lbs reaching a BMI of 38.8. Bariatric Consultations My initial plan was to obtain a gastric balloon (I wasn’t quite ready to accept that I needed a permanent solution). I consulted with three bariatric surgeons who each told me that a gastric balloon was not the answer as, first, I had too much weight to lose and, second, each physician anticipated that I would regain the weight as soon as the balloon was removed (in six months’ time). Two surgeons recommended the vertical sleeve; one was in favor of the gastric bypass. I eventually decided on the VSG as I didn’t want to have to worry about nutrient absorption (although, as it turned out, I still have to take daily supplements as I just can’t hold enough food in my stomach to receive the minimum daily requirements of vitamins and minerals). My decision to undergo the surgery was not based on vanity. I would have continued to let my pants out if that had been an option as I loved to eat. The surgery was a medical necessity: I had developed obesity-related diabetes (type II) and was taking 1500mg of Glucophage daily and it was only marginally successful. I was functionally crippled: I could not walk more than 100 yards without feeling as if the soles of my feet were on fire. I would need to stop and sit down to give my feet a chance to recover. I was miserable. I could do nothing but lie in bed, watch TV, and eat. In addition, as my weight increased, my blood pressure continued to spike. I was taking five different antihypertensive medications daily and my pressure was still in the high-normal range (155/90). My wife lost her partner in that I was physically unable to do the things with her that we used to do together. She often referred to herself (with me only) as a widow. I hit rock bottom emotionally during the summer of 2012 while visiting Disney World because I needed to rent a scooter (I could not keep up with the others and would hold them up while I rested for a few minutes). I was deeply humiliated although my companions were thrilled that we were able to skip the long lines and enter the rides through the handicap entrance. I scheduled the surgery well in advance for the winter break of 2012 as soon as we returned home (I’m an academician and a university student counselor). My eventual choice in a surgeon was based on a recommendation from my stepson, an emergency room physician, who heavily researched various doctors for me. This particular surgeon was the first to ever perform bariatric surgery in our state and, most impressively, has a “leak rate” of zero percent (even to this day after five years). The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly The operation went smoothly although I awakened to four incisions instead of the expected three because the surgeon could not see his way around my fatty liver without that additional entry point. My mild to moderate pain was sufficiently managed with a pushed IV dose of morphine and tramadol followed by regular intervals of more tramadol. I was very comfortable during my two-night hospital stay. I was sent home with only liquid Panadol and it worked. What pain I had was negligible by the fourth day, when I was able to get out of bed without help. I attribute this outcome to my surgeon’s skill. What I did not anticipate, from having read these forums, was just how damn thirsty I would be before I was cleared for liquid intake. My mouth and throat were so dry that the Barium liquid they gave me to drink for the leak test was literally a welcomed respite from my thirst. I was one of the unfortunates to suffer chronic diarrhea for three-and-a-half-months. This condition is not uncommon after vertical sleeve gastrectomy. I went to work every morning wearing a diaper. I also did not anticipate how weak and dehydrated I would be. I was readmitted to the hospital after two days of dehydration and syncope, a condition that persisted for weeks. I lost my balance a couple of times while at work, which led to speculation among my colleagues that I had either contracted alcoholism or cancer (the latter guess was reinforced by my rapid weight loss). I chose not to broadcast my surgery to anyone other than a few close relatives. My healthcare issues are no one’s business but my own. I also don’t discuss my hypertension, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and reoccurring planters wart with relative strangers such as waitresses and coworkers. (There is a great deal of debate on this forum about the merits of telling the world about one’s bariatric surgery. I do not necessarily believe that one approach is better than another. I only know what was and is best for me). I lost weight too quickly because I didn’t prepare sufficiently for the postoperative 14-day liquid diet. I couldn’t stand the taste of the liquid protein drink I purchased and there is only so much clear broth one can tolerate without feeling as if you’re drowning. By the ninth day, I broke my first postoperative rule and had my wife make me a simple poached egg without seasoning. To this day, that single poached egg was the most delicious meal of my life. I was starving. I believe I lost 30 pounds within the first five to six weeks, followed less dramatically by another 40 over the course of the next six months. Unfortunately, a significant percentage of that weight loss was muscle. Consequently, by the time I reached my initial target goal, I was disheartened by the fact that I looked nothing like I did the last time I had weighed 170lbs. My pants size never changed as my weight decreased from 185lbs down to goal weight, owing to this apron of loose skin in my lower abdomen: I have had to wear 36-inch waist pants regardless of weight. That has been an enormous disappointment. The last time I weighed 170lbs (back in 1997), I wore a 33-inch waist. Over the course of the five years that followed, I gradually lost another 15lbs while not particularly trying to. I have a hunch that my surgeon removed more stomach than he let on, although a gastroenterologist told me that I had about 50 percent of a normal stomach after she performed an endoscopy to rule out stomach cancer. I developed a terrible case of acid reflex and must take antacids every day. During the summer of 2012, my wife and I went on a five-week culinary retreat, including a 10-day cruise. I returned home to discover that my weight had climbed to 180lbs from the 168lbs I had started my vacation with. It was a harsh wake-up call that I could not eat with total impunity. The fear of regaining my weight gripped the pit of my stomach like a heavy duty Craftsman’s vise. I made a decision and commitment to myself that exact moment to never allow myself to gain this kind of weight again. I made a concerted effort to reduce my daily intake of food until my weight fell back down to goal weight. My weight has remained fairly constant from the beginning of 2013 to present day, fluctuating from 155 to 160 pounds. When my weight hits 160, I make a decision to become acutely mindful of what I eat until I see 150-something on the scale. As for the apron, I will go in for liposuction this summer. I gave serious thought to an abdominoplasty but the surgeon talked me out of it, claiming that I would require a four to five week recovery period. In addition, he felt that the loose skin would eventually retract after the underlying fat was removed. In fact, my apron has slightly decreased in size over the past year, an effect of regular activity I think. The Aftermath I am convinced that my metabolism has increased as a result of having been able to maintain my lower body weight over several years. It seems to me that I can eat more now than I could one year after the surgery without gaining weight (my wife, on the other hand, thinks that this isn’t necessarily true, i.e., that I am not really eating more than I had). I am amazed by all the energy I have today: my wonderful and beautiful wife is no longer a widow of obesity and diabetes. Today, I seize every opportunity I can to accompany her to the malls and stores. Today I can walk for hours without pain or fatigue: my diabetes went into permanent remission after a weight loss of 30 to 35 pounds. My BMI varies from 24.6 (normal) to 25.4 (slightly overweight) depending on where I am in my five-pound weight range. My blood pressure is currently maintained in the low-normal range (i.e., 120/70) on just one-fourth the medication I used to take when I was fat. I am on the scale every single morning. I do not like surprises. I want to know immediately when my weight starts to creep upward so I can nip it in the bud. I know myself: I would not be able to rationalize that personal failure away. I am a big fan of the reality TV show “My 600lb Life” on TLC. According to bariatric surgeon Dr. Nowzaradan, less than five percent of his patients enjoy long-term success. Based on the scientific literature I have read, patients with a starting BMI of less than 40 have the highest long-term success rates. Those who were morbidly and super obese (BMIs of 40 to over 50) at the start of surgery have a tough nut to crack. In most cases, they will need to consult with a psychotherapist who specializes in the treatment of obesity to change their emotional relationship with food. Aside from eating solid food after just nine days, I started drinking carbonated beverages at six months after the surgery, e.g., diet cokes and vodka tonics. I am not aware of any change in my stomach’s capacity and I’ve been drinking carbonated beverages every day for almost five years. (Please note: In no way am I encouraging anyone to do the same. Follow your surgeon’s guidelines. I do not want to read any criticisms or dire admonishments from this forum’s formidable food police about how I am inadvertently sabotaging other people's weight loss program). I am simply sharing what has worked for me for the last five years. Many forum members claim that their taste for certain foods changed after the surgery (and, quite fortuitously and even miraculously, it’s always foods high in carbs and fat that members seem to lose their taste for). I cannot claim such good fortune. All foods taste the same to me as my surgeon refused to remove even one of my 10,000+ taste buds: What has changed, however, is my appetite for certain foods. Prior to the surgery, I used to put away four to five 16oz Angus ribeye steaks every week. Today, I don’t find red meat as appetizing as I used to because of its density. I prefer fish because I can digest it easily and without suffering from an agonizing attack of acid reflux. Chicken is also good. Sometimes I do feel frustrated that I can’t eat more than three to four ounces (including fluids) at a time. The good news is that my surgery paid for itself in about 18 months owing to dramatically reduced grocery bills (my insurance did not cover the surgery). I was thrilled when—by fasting all morning long from food and liquids—I was able to finish an entire half of a Second Avenue Deli pastrami sandwich while visiting New York City (and a few sips of their beef barley mushroom soup as well). I have not restricted or eliminated any foods from my life. As a behavioral therapist with over 37 years of clinical experience, I don’t believe in abstinence from food or alcohol as a lifelong strategy. Abstinence is not an effective alternative for moderation. My diet is predominantly the same now as it had been before the surgery. I still eat candy, cake, and pizza, for example… just a lot less than I used to. The only genuine difference in my diet, as stated before, is a decrease in the amount of red meat I consume because it’s harder for me to keep down than fish and chicken. My stomach is very sensitive to overeating: the difference between digesting my food in peace and having to run to the bathroom to cough up a silky combination of excess mucous and gastric acid is literally one bite or a single sip of beverage. Would I have the surgery again given what I know now? Absolutely and in a New York minute. The only regret I have is that I didn’t commit to the surgery sooner. What I learned from my experience I urge anyone planning on having a sleeve gastrectomy to invest the time and money to experiment with different brands and flavors of protein drinks before the surgery. You need to have a reliable source of protein and sufficient calories or you will lose muscle along with fat as I did. The only regret I have is that I lost the weight too quickly, leaving me with an annoying apron and lots of loose skin on my arms, stomach, and hips. There is an implied assumption on this forum that all bariatric surgeons and results are the same, i.e., if one patient supposedly sprung a leak by eating solid food on day 13 (instead of day 15) or allegedly gained back half the weight by allowing him or herself to eat M&M’s again, then everyone should expect the same results. This is simply not true. No two surgeons are the same and no two patients of the same surgeon will have identical results. One size does not fit all when it comes to bariatric surgery. I suggest to friends contemplating the surgery that they find the best surgeon they can regardless of cost even if it means traveling. You don’t shop for bargain basement prices when you’re about to have more than half your stomach removed. The risk is too great. My stepson, the emergency room physician, after looking into the first surgeon I had selected advised, “I wouldn’t let him operate on our dog.” The “less than one percent leak rate” is not an immutable or predetermined statistic: There are bariatric surgeons who boast a zero percent leak rate. Find one of those. I hope my story has been informative and helpful.

As others have said - check with your program. It could be intentional to help keep your blood sugar from crashing and keep you out of ketosis during a short period pre-op and/or post-op. I know my program advocates for small amounts of 100% apple or grape juice for those reasons (yes, my program tries to keep us out of ketosis which is different from others). If you are only taking in clear liquids the amount of sugar you are getting from a moderate amount of apple or grape juice is not going to cause significant weight gain. Moderation is the key though - I wouldn't drink gallons of apple or grape juice all day long.

I would call for clarification. That is a lot of sugar dumping back into your system. Sugary drinks is what contributes to weight gain. Sugar free it makes no difference to the body the brain registered it as regular sugar which increase your desire to want to eat more. Please check with your nutritionist Good luck.

I had the IUD after I had my surgery. Prior to my Pre-op, I was advised to get off my hormonal birth control (At the time was on Depot for Endometriosis). I do not believe that the Mirena affects weight loss or weight gain like other birth controls do. I did not see any difference in my weight or it affecting my weight. However, everyone is different and it could affect your weight.

Hi Chel, Sorry to hear about the allergic reaction to the glue, I hope you are feeling better. I know you already found out about the weight gain being attributed to surgery. I am 15 months post gastric sleeve and I had my gallbladder out about 7 weeks ago. I was pretty surprised that my weight went up almost 9 lbs two weeks after gallbladder removal. After I kinda freaked out about it, I calmed down and thought to myself that the surgery was probably the culprit, and it was...you know, fluid retention etc. Hope you have a speedy recovery!

I had my follow up with the surgeon and discovered I as having an allergic reaction to the glue. I am happy to say @AceBlaque you were right. I am now 6lbs down from my presurgery weight. So all the surgery weight gain is gone plus another 6 lbs. Thanks again for your response. 💕

One other thing to consider (if you haven't already done so) is to have your thyroid checked. I was super active in high school but could not seem to lose the 15 - 20 extra pounds I carried around unless I went on a severely calorie restrictive diet. I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism at 17, and once on medication, I lost that extra weight in college. [Now, I ended up gaining about 50 pounds in grad school thanks to some mild depression resulting in inactivity, over eating and poor food choices. This and weight gained since is what I'm struggling with 25 years later resulting in my considering the surgery now.]

I haven't had any major complications, but there are definitely mental aspects to post-surgery life that I didn't really think about. First, you can't overeat - even if you have the worst day ever, you can't turn to food for comfort. Is that a con? Not really, but it does mean you have to find new ways to deal with your issues. Prepare yourself. Second, there are times that you are going to be pissed off that you can't eat what others are eating or as much as they are eating. I didn't expect that at all. You just have to change your way of thinking! You can't take a break from your new lifestyle. You will get sick and/or potentially cause harm to yourself if you don't follow your diet guidelines. This is 100% commitment for the rest of your life. I'm not saying you'll never eat normal foods, but you have to be committed to eating nutritious foods in the right quantities. Make sure you are ready for that before you take the plunge. I didn't have any major food issues before surgery . . . I just neglected myself for too long, which led to my weight gain. That being said, the mental aspects have still affected me from time to time. They are all manageable, but I definitely think this is more of a head game than people realize before surgery. Good luck with your decision! Even with all of the above, I do NOT regret my decision. I feel better than I have felt in years, and I'm really happy I went through with my surgery!!

Not me, but I'd suggest changing up your lifestyle a bit (diet, exercise, etc). Seems the stress of moving/jobs is what stalled your scale weight, I'm assuming. Stress is a huge contributor to weight gain. Do you best to not worry, find some peace and rest hon.

I am about 10 months post op and have lost about 60 lbs, which includes some weight gained back. I am starting back to the gym which got derailed due to a big out of state move, new jobs, etc. I need to get back on track as I can tell a difference in energy level and don't want my health to start suffering again. Did anyone have this happen to them? What did you do to get back on track? Any advice would be appreciated! Please no lectures... I'm human, after all.