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I had the Mirena on for 3 months and in that time I gained 40 lbs and never took it off. I also had terrible cystic acne along my jawline. The Mirena was horrible for me. In fact, up until I had the Mirena placed I had been losing weight at a fairly constant rate. Suffice it to say I had it taken out and the weight gain stopped, the acne cleared up, and I began to normalize. I also happen to be sensitive to estrogen, so that could be part of my issue. Sent from my SM-N910V using the BariatricPal App

As a guy, my sex drive has gone way way way down....I have gained like 90 lbs the last 4 year. since the last 6 months, i could go without sex for almost 2 weeks. Before that I could go like 3 times a day and almost everyday. I know it has somewhat to do with the weight gain and somewhat witht he pinched nerve in my back. Hopefully these 2 problems will be taken care of after the lapband. Cant wait to get lapbanded. Did any guys have this kind of experience?

Hi All, Well as a very unhappy bander who had a sleeve surgery date (6/20) Passed nutritionist appt.. pysc evailuation, and was waiting to take the sleeve class tomorrow I received frustrating news today. First, I am self pay, I was self pay in 2008 when I had my band put in. Used the same Dr. here in VA who was to do my sleeve. The call I had today was to tell me that Blis, the co. for self pay catastrophic insurance ( part of my surgery fee now may not approve revision to the sleeve because of all the complications that can occur). My stats are below but I have kept off most all of the 85 lbs. (all but 12-15) in the 3 years I have had my band. Despite all the problems this band has given me. So my BMI is lower than someone who will be a new VSG patient. I have no major health issues, no diabeties, no history of clots, no HBP, I really am healthier than when I had the band surgery. The revisions my DR. has done from band to sleeve have all been paid by health insurance. They have not done a self pay revision. His results are good from what I can tell and he is a Blis participating DR. My question is have any of you had this issue? Scrapping up the $ again was no small feat but now to hear they may not approve it means I might have to sign away permission to pay any and all possible complication costs if he will still do the surgery. Or just have my band out and nothing further done, which scares me of further weight gain. Despite my constant gerd, esophageal spasms. and not being able to eat solid foods well, I need this restriction!

It is always good to lose some weight prior to surgery but I sometimes think that surgeons are a bit unrealistic when they require you to lose up to 20 pounds before WLS. Most of us are food addicts in the first place which is why we are seeking the surgery to begin with and I think that should be taken into consideration. We would never expect an alcoholic to go without a drink for 3 or 4 weeks before being allowed to go to rehab so why would a surgeon require so much weight to be lost? I understand that the liver needs to be shrunk just prior to surgery but that could easily be accomplished with the loss of 5 to 10 pounds in the last 2 weeks prior to surgery. Requiring so much to be lost causes those of us with food issues to go into panic mode and begin bingeing and results in weight gains not losses. In my opinion if you don't think this is something you will be able to handle in a healthy way I would advise searching out another surgeon who's requirements are a bit more reasonable and that will allow you to lose a minimal amount of weight without causing you so much stress that you end up gaining. Oh, and for the record I was only required to lose a few pounds the last week before surgery which I did and my surgeoun said my liver looked perfect because of it. I did a diet of liquids for breakfast and lunch with string cheese and cottage cheese for snacks and for dinner I had a low carb meal of a meat, veggie, and salad.

Weight gain after years on the Band?? Anyone??

Sweets were one of my weaknesses before surgery. I am 11 months post-op and experienced only one episode of dumping. It was because I ate too much. I do my best to stay away from sugar. In general, sugar substitutes seem to satisfy my sweetness cravings. I maximize experimentation. I have noticed that when I ate several homemade Christmas Cookies and candy this year, I saw a weight gain. So off the cookies and the weight fell back in line.

I have RA as well, and years of prednisone and the inability to move caused huge weight gain. Research and anecdotal evidence showed RA pts who had bypass showed signs of remission. So, I had it and have been symptom free since March 23!! Good job!!! I'm down from 283 to 160, almost to goal! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm on my 2nd one but didn't experience weight gain or any other stuff. In fact, this one is actually caused my period to almost disappear which is great because it used to be so heavy. I will say that having it removed was pretty painful, more than I expected it to be. Good luck!

First, breath. I know it is frustrating when the scale gets stuck or, worse still, goes up. It happens. I have had several instances of 5 pound weight gain...overnight. Yes, I weigh myself every morning (there are many folks who advise against this but I have my reasons). My practice is dangerous 'cause I catch my short duration weight fluctuations. See a post, from a few weeks ago, by gamergirl. She was similarly disturbed by apparent weight stalls/increases. As she graphed her weight over time her increases/stalls smoothed out and she saw her amazing trend downward. I think her "long view" is wise and wonderful for us all. Too close a look at our moment by moment weight can make us nuts as well as give us a false impression of our overall success.

A friend of mine had gastric bypass surgery in Greenville NC. She did so well that I started to think of it as an option for myself. I mentioned it to my family practice doc in New Bern NC. He told me that he had heard really good things about the weight loss surgeons in Morehead City NC which is a lot closer to my home in Havelock NC. I checked into it and attended a seminar . I decided on lap band and the rest is history. It was a great decision for me. I have lost 98 p but ounds so far and am getting close to reaching my goal. I look and feel better than I have in years. I still have the fibromyalgia that contributed to my weight gain but it's easier to deal with without all of that extra weight ! My surgeon and his PA and the rest of his staff are really helpful and supportive !

For me it was life changing in every sense. The surgery was quite simple, minor pain at the incision areas, but aside from that really no serious pain. Thankfully, I didn't have some of the 'gas pains' that others have. No nausea, vomiting or extreme discomfort. Not really very hungry for the first few weeks either. I'm not sure if it's common practice, but right before my surgery and at my 6-month check up I had a "Myers Cocktail" which is basically a bunch of vitamins given through IV. Really helped with recovery and energy levels during a time where you really can't get much energy from food. YMMV, but for me recovery was super fast. I was eating pureed food by day 2 and solid foods by I think the end of week 2. Don't worry too much about calories in the beginning. Regardless of what you eat, you won't be able to eat much. Refried beans were a lifesaver for me the first few days on pureed foods, and the Ricotta bake that you see mentioned so much here was also a staple. Couple pieces of advice (again, everyone's different but some of what I see on here leads me to believe that the issue is more frequent than some others): Pay attention to your water. Sounds silly, but right after surgery I had no interest in drinking anything. I had to remind myself to drink water. So I started carrying around my water everywhere. That helped. Kept me sipping throughout the day. One of my biggest issues pre-op was that I ate fast, and when I say fast I mean really really fast. I honestly believe that was a huge part of my weight gain as it led to difficulty digesting, overeating, etc. Use the time in the beginning to re-train yourself on eating slowly and chew chew chew chew chew! Even your liquids. Even your pureed food. Even your smoothies. Chew it all. Sounds weird, but helped me monumentally. Don't try to jump into exercise too early, but don't put it off too long either. We all do this to bring about changes beyond food. We all want to be more active, make healthier choices. It's easy to want to jump right in, but I would wait until you get clearance from your doc (ask) to start, because any injury can cause complications with the surgery or set you back in your recovery or both. Also, you don't want to wait too long because it's WAY TOO EASY to fall back into old habits. Ask your doc at every checkup if you're cleared to exercise and when you are, get moving. Have a plan ready to go. Start with walks and move into beginner plans if you have to and then progressively take on more as you can, but start. Don't get discouraged with stalls. They happen. For some they happen sooner than others, but I think most of us experience them. Just stick to your plan. There are some good articles on here about how to work through stalls. Stalls will hit your ego a lot harder than your overall progress, I promise. Keep with your plan, and you'll push through. Use this time to change what you eat. Just because you can't eat as much of something does not mean that it's a good thing to eat. In the very beginning (first 1-2 weeks), you just need to get something in. Once you start back on solid foods, make sure you're choosing healthy foods. That doesn't mean you have to count calories, macros or any of that. Of course you can if that's what helps you, but I would use this time to find what works best for you. Since you can't eat a lot of different foods, chances are when you start back on solids you'll likely be eating only 1-2 different foods at a time. There won't be 3-4 sides, etc. It's a good time to see how different foods make you feel. Some people do great on a high-protein, low-carb diet. That didn't do it for me. I stuck with the physician's plan for the first 30 days (high protein), but I wanted something more balanced and more sustainable (for me) long-term. I made the change to go to a whole-foods based diet, and it's what I still do today, almost 5 years post-op. I stay away from anything processed as much as I possibly can. This doesn't limit me as much as other diets and it worked really for me. Try foods and see how they make you feel. Weed out the ones that leave you feeling bad, bloated, tired, etc. Enjoy what you couldn't enjoy pre-op. When you get out there and start enjoying the things that you may not have been able to do before your surgery, it's automatic motivation to stay on plan. If you have activities or certain things you have had to sit out because of your weight, having the opportunity to do them is like being a kid again and doing these activities for the first time. Remember those experiences. They will get you through any challenges you might face. Remember that times do get challenging, but that's why you're here. There's a lot of support here. I'm sure you have family and friends to help in that arena as well, but there's something about talking with people who've experienced everything you're going through. Don't forget that we're here. Sorry for the long-winded post, but I hope this gives you some encouragement as you start your journey. Best of luck to you and please keep us in the loop with how everything is going!

I had a very similar issue (10lb weight gain at 6 weeks). It turns out that I gained 14lbs of water weight, 1lb of muscle and lost 5lbs of fat. IMO, there's no need to do any adjustments diet-wise. You might consider investing in a scale that measures water and fat mass separately. They run for ~$40 on Amazon.

I think you're definitely right about it being a mental battle. I do have a counselor and am going to make an appt with her. I've had two kids (one vaginal and one c-section) and a hysterectomy (one of the reasons why I had the surgery was the weight gain from post-menopause). At 43, I would have thought this would have been a little easier. lol thank you!

Hello all, Most of you know my story, but for those who don't. Last year I refinanced my house to pay off bills and have money to pay for my lapband. I was banded December 21, 2004. Was thrilled with it, but had a little trouble because I seemed to be too tight a lot of the time. Then caught a nasty stomach virus that had me throwing up violently and it shoved my band down around the middle of my stomach. Had to make a trip to my wonderful doctor in Mexico and he ended up having to remove it (port and all). He said if I wish to get rebanded I would have to wait about 6 months. Well...that was 3 months ago and I miss my band terribly. Anyway, I am planning to be rebanded hopefully at the end of January 2006. I've even taken out another loan and am stashing it away in preparation. Going more in debt scares me and I wonder if I'm doing the right thing. But then again...my band was the one thing I've done for myself ever. It gave me control, hope and I felt good about the direction I was going. Now, I find myself out of control (eating and weight gain) and feeling panicky. But I'm also afraid I'll have problems again although my plan is to take fills very cautiously and slow. Thoughts and suggestions anyone? Thank you!

Obesity is a disease in of itself, and a lot of us don't have a food addiction. I didn't. I was diagnosed with PCOS two years ago, but I have probably had it for years. In 2014, before my diagnosis, I gained 50 lbs from May to August with no negative changes in my diet. Matter of fact, I changed my diet to no avail. The weight gain was due to the PCOS, not my diet. I'm having gastric bypass surgery after doing a lot of research. I still need my brain and hormones reset in order to lose weight and keep it off. I also did not have a weight problem when I was a child. I only started to have weight issues after I had my daughter. I couldn't lose the weight and keep it off. My point is there are many reasons why people need wls. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

I'm PISSED OFF BEYOND BELIEF! I had surgery 6/14 I lost 40 pounds but as of today 12 pounds came back..! How that fast did 12 pounds come back?? I didn't even gain that much weight eating McDonald's every other day in a week's time.. Please someone HELP!! I've called my doctors office.. No help.. I made an appointment with my dietitian can't see her until August.. I'm lost and getting discouraged.. I've been typing in to Google .. And I can't find no one that has experience this much weight gain so fast..smh Sent from my Z981 using BariatricPal mobile app

im curious about the weight gain on the RYN, how is that possible with having no stomach? What is it that stretches? I thought with RYN weight gain was tougher? Im having my RYN tomorrow. Sent from my SM-G973U using BariatricPal mobile app

Not banded yet June 20 my date I know how I was in the past before the weight gain so I can just imagine afterwards. A lot of people I know who got banded got pregnant less than a year after being banded

I smoke a pack a day. I don't want to. I experience the same self-loathing over smoking, that I do over being fat. I hate myself for making such an unhealthy choice. I tell myself that it's "okay" because I don't smoke in the house or around other people, and certainly never inside a restaurant or any public place. In fact, if I find I HAVE to have a cigarette while I'm out shopping, I walk far, far away from the entrance to the building so that other patrons don't have to breathe in my vile cigarette smoke. Some may perceive me a hypocrit. I don't care. I want to quit and I did quit for over three years many years ago, and the last attempt at quitting last year had me smoke-free for four weeks. I gained thirty pounds in that month, so I rationalized starting smoking again because of the weight gain. Funny thing is, I haven't lost those thirty added pounds. My surgeon told me that I have to be smoke-free for two weeks prior to surgery. I already decided to have my last cigarette 11-22-06. I hope I can quit for good this time. I don't judge others for what they do -- or don't do -- with their lives. Sometimes I see the "debunkify the myth" commercials where they talk about "not everyone smokes", and the recent local elections here have banned smoking in ALL public places -- and while I think that's a very good thing, sometimes I think that this country is in a "Smoker's Bashing" frenzy. If you smoke, you're looked upon as a lower-class individual. Much the same way I'm treated as being an obese person. Because I'm fat, I'm regarded as "not as good" by the thin, "normal" population. I think both are wrong to do. Any kind of (fill in the blank) bashing is wrong. As long as my bad habits aren't affecting other people, I don't think anyone has a say in what I choose to do to my body. When and if I decide to quit should be MY decision, and I shouldn't be bullied into that decision. Same thing for weight-loss. It's MY decision. That's just my two cents....

I told my boss I was having my gallbladder removed. Some people take longer to recover an others. I don't think you have to tell HR what kind of surgery you're having. The doctor does have to complete the FLMA/ short term paperwork. Mine only listed the types of symptoms I was having weight gain, back pain, ... (very generic stuff). If you do end up saying something to HR they can not tell your boss or anyone else because of HIPAA regulations.

BARIATRIC REALITIES: Causes of Obesity – What Factors can YOU Influence? (Part One of Three) I’m guessing most of us understand that the disease of obesity is a complicated one. There are a number of factors that contribute to obesity. Some of these factors you may be very aware of; others you may be surprised about. Some of the causes of obesity are things you cannot do anything about; other causes of obesity are things you can influence. It’s important to recognize the difference. Why? For starters, you can stop beating yourself up over the things you can’t do anything about. It’s also important that you focus on putting forth effort where it will get you the best results! It’s essential for both doctors and those suffering from obesity to have a mutual understanding of these causes of obesity and which people can influence, so that: 1) Doctors can develop or increase empathy for the struggles of those suffering with obesity. When doctors better understand that many people with obesity have struggles that go beyond fighting their biology which negatively impact their weight, the doctors can more compassionately and appropriately address these issues and refer patients to see other professionals, if need be. 2) People struggling with their weight can evaluate the numerous factors impacting obesity and work toward accepting those things they cannot influence. In addition, they can take responsibility for putting forth effort into those aspects of their struggles with weight that they can positively impact. All righty, then! Let’s look at three of the main contributing factors of obesity and then talk about each one, emphasizing what, if anything, each person can do to have a positive impact on their weight. Genetics Culture and Environment Metabolism Genetics Obesity definitely has some genetic determinants, as researchers have clearly discovered. If there are a lot of obese people in your extended family, you have a better chance of being obese than someone from a family without a history of weight problems. Although there are many more obese people in the current population than in previous generations, this cannot all be linked to genetics. The genetic composition of the population does not change rapidly. Therefore, the large increase in obesity reflects major changes in non-genetic factors. Listen to this… According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2002): “Since 1960, adult Americans have increased in height an average of 1 inch but have increased in weight by 25 pounds.” So in 50 years, the human species has grown taller by only an inch but heavier by 25 pounds. That tells us there is more than genetics influencing weight gain in this country. PATIENTS: Even if you have a genetic predisposition for obesity, there are other factors involved, including the food choices you make and whether or not you exercise on a regular basis. Some of these behavioral factors are habits learned in your family, so what appears to be a genetic predisposition may be a familial pattern of unhealthy habits that can be broken. DOCTORS: Remind yourself that patients cannot “eat less/move more” and have any effect on their current genetic makeup. Acknowledge to patients their genetic predisposition for obesity in a compassionate manner. Help to gently educate them about the factors affecting their weight that they can influence. Do so in a “firm and fair” way, providing encouragement rather than admonishment. Culture And Environment In addition to one’s genes, a person’s culture and environment play a large role in causing people to be overweight and obese. The environment and culture in which you were raised impacts how and what you eat. Some people were taught to eat everything on their plate and couldn’t get up from the table until they did so. Others never sat at a table for a meal but watched television while they ate. Some kids are fed well-balanced meals while others exist on fast food or microwaved mac and cheese with hot dogs. In some cultures, simple carbs make up a substantial part of every meal. In other cultures, fruits and vegetables are consumed regularly. When you are a child, you’re not in charge of buying the groceries or providing the meals. You did learn, however, about what and how to eat from those with whom you lived. And guess what that means? How you feed your children is what they will think of as “normal” and will most likely be how they eat as adults. (I’m always concerned when weight loss surgery patients tell me their kids are “just fine” even though they eat the same unhealthy foods as the obese parent. It’s only a matter of time before the kids start to gain weight and have health problems as a result of their unhealthy diet and learned eating behaviors.) PATIENTS: Although your genetic composition cannot be changed, the eating behaviors you learned in your family, from your culture, or developed on your own can be changed. You alone now determine what kind, and how much exercise you do and what and when you eat. Your behavior is completely within your control. Work toward accepting the fact that you are in charge of, and responsible for, your behavior and every food choice you make. For every choice, there is a consequence, positive or negative. And NO EXCUSES! It doesn’t matter how busy you are, whether you get a lunch break at the office or whether you have to cook for a family. Even if you have five kids in different activities and spend your life taxi-ing them from one place to another, you are the adult and you are responsible for how you eat and how you feed your children. It takes a very responsible person to acknowledge, “Although I have a genetic predisposition for obesity, I am responsible for making healthy choices about my eating and exercise. For me and for my children.” Focusing on what you do have control over rather than that over which you are powerless, leads to believing in your capabilities. So take charge and make positive changes happen! DOCTORS: Engage your patient in a discussion about the cultural and environmental factors that helped shape their current food choices and exercise behaviors. Empathize with them, noting they are going to have to put forth consistent effort to change years of bad habit formation. Encourage them to get support, whether it is from friends with a healthy lifestyle, a health coach, a personal trainer, or the use of free online exercise videos. Help them set a short-term, reasonable goal and set an appointment with you to follow up. Remember, docs: That which is reinforced is repeated. Reinforce even small steps forward you see in your patients. This can go a long way in encouraging them to continue making healthier choices. A step forward is a step forward. Notice and praise every single step forward your patient makes! Resting Metabolic Rate Resting Metabolic Rate (or RMR) is simply the energy needed to keep the body functioning when it’s at rest. In other words, RMR describes how many calories it takes to live if you’re just relaxing. Resting Metabolic Rate can vary quite a bit from one person to another, which may help explain why some people gain weight more quickly than others. And why some people seem to find it more difficult to lose weight than others. There are some factors related to metabolism that you can’t change, but there are actually some that you can influence and change. Things you cannot change about metabolic rate: Metabolic rate decreases with each passing decade, which means the older you are, the slower your metabolism gets, making weight loss more difficult. Sorry ladies - Men generally have a higher metabolism, meaning they burn calories more quickly than women. You can inherit your metabolic rate from previous generations - which can be a benefit… or not. An underactive or overactive thyroid gland can slow down or speed up metabolism. Some things you can do to influence your metabolism and burn more calories include: Eat small, frequent meals. Drink ice water. You can boost metabolism temporarily with aerobic exercise. You can boost metabolism in the long run with weight training. PATIENTS: I’ll bet you didn’t there was much of anything you could do that would increase your metabolism. I’m hoping you choose to implement the ways you can help your body burn more calories. And what do you know? They are completely consistent with healthy post-op behaviors that you’re supposed to do anyway: 1) Eat small, frequent meals. CHECK. 2) Drink water (so add ice and boost that RMR). CHECK. 3) Engage in exercise, both aerobic and weight bearing. CHECK. There’s no reason NOT to anymore! (That’s a slogan from a really old commercial…) The point is, your specific RMR is both something that is unique to you, and that will slow down with age, is gender-influenced, and can be affected by thyroid issues. Accept the things you cannot change and DO the things you can to get the most out of your own, unique RMR. You DO have choices! Opt not to make excuses and JUST DO THE THINGS YOU CAN! DOCTORS: I’m pretty sure that educating patients is in your job description. Even though you have an allotted set of minutes during which to accomplish all your goals with a patient, point out the ways they can boost their metabolism while you’re looking into their ears, or hitting them on the knee with that little hammer. Present it as a, “Hey! Guess what I was reminded of today?” sort of thing. It’ll probably be absorbed better than a mini-lecture. Leave yourself a sticky note in the patient’s folder to bring it up in your next session… and then a new educational point for the next meeting, along with the small goal you set with them so you can be sure to praise them for their efforts! Patients and Doctors and all Allied Health Professionals: We need to work together to do the following: 1) End Fat Shaming 2) End Blaming 3) End Lecturing 4) Encourage reciprocal AWARENESS and ACCOUNTABILTIY 5) Encourage reciprocal EDUCATION and DISCUSSION 6) Encourage reciprocal GOAL-SETTING and FOLLOW-UP Stay tuned for Part Two of BARIATRIC REALITIES: Causes of Obesity – What Factors can YOU Influence?

Well let me tell you this...I have my 6 out of 6 appointment coming and I want to tell anyone with Kaiser what to look out for...it's what I wanted to know... 1. you can possibly get more monthly visits added on but cannot do anything to reduce the time in the program. 2. you should start a diet to follow immediately and let that be what you track in your food journal...unlike me, who thought they wanted to just see what we were currently eating.. I was unaware that the diet begins at that first class you attend. 3. If it applies, don't stop smoking too soon...I gained about 6lbs immediately and never found out that losing any weight gained is you final goal in the program. 4. DO NOT GAIN WEIGHT!!! I never knew there would be any weight requirement, only the classes and appointments but at my 5th appointment, I found that I must get back to my lowest weight in the program before we can move on to submitting paperwork. Which only gives me 4 weeks but if you gained more than my 6, this could be a shocker! 6. Make sure you schedule all your appointments immediately after your visits because those appointments go fast and some time they may not even have a schedule up for the following month until the 2nd week of the current month. My 6/6 appointment is 1/31/14 and we will be submitting paperwork...feel free to hit me up and ask me any questions about the process... Good Luck neighbors!!

The real issue with carbonated beverages is how toxic soda and diet sodas are. Some people are bothered by the bubbles, but there is research to support the fact that ingredients in diet soda actually cause weight gain. So the real question is, if you know that that particular had that works against your primary goal of getting leaner and healthier, do you really want to re-introduce it into your life at this time? For the record, I drink carbonated beverages whenever I want but I don't drink them very often. I'm more of a coffee drinker anyway. And the bubbles and carbonated beverages don't bother me at all. I am over a year out of surgery. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

As you age, your metabolism slows down. Older people also tend to have less muscle mass than younger people, which also reduces metabolic rate. This is why we encourage older patients to add light weight-bearing exercise to their fitness routines. So how do you keep that furnace burning in order to burn calories, even if you’re already achieved your goal weight? There are many simple tools to accomplish this task. I’ve outlined my favorites below: Exercise This weapon is key to maintaining and increasing metabolism. Seniors, take note−The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends people 65 and older get 2.5 hours of moderate-intensity aerobic activity every week and perform weight-bearing exercises on all the body’s major muscle groups at least twice a week. At any age, indoctrinate a 30-minute daily work-out, just like brushing your teeth and eating lunch, into your daily routine. Sleep To increase the chances of boosting metabolism, adults should get seven to nine hours of sleep each night. Getting too little shut-eye can significantly alter your body’s processes enough to predispose you to gain weight. (Do you ever feel hungry for no reason when you’re exhausted and then reach for the wrong foods to boot?) De-Stress When you’re tense, your body releases cortisol, a hormone produced by the adrenal system that is linked to weight gain. It can also significantly weaken your immune system and open the door to acute and chronic illnesses. Turn to regular physical activity, deep breathing, a quiet evening stroll, or professional help from a psychologist or counselor if you are experiencing chronic stress. Eat and Drink (First and foremost, follow your bariatric practice's instructions on post-op nutrition.) Eating the right foods−clean proteins, fruits and vegetables−fuels your metabolism firing on all cylinders. As soon as you awaken, charge-up those calorie burners by feeding them a protein and a fruit (think omelette with feta cheese, spinach and veggies and a cup of berries). Eat small meals throughout the day but stop by around 7 p.m. Staying hydrated is key to maintaining good health. Keep a glass or refillable water bottle with you throughout the day. You are properly hydrated if your urine is nearly clear. Other than choosing the right foods to eat and finding spiritual solace in your life, these tools serve as a roadmap to good health, including maintaining a healthy weight. Best of all, once you’ve adopted these tips, you will look and feel better--sooner than you think.

I started my program over 300 lbs. Highest weight ever: 335 Start weight: 312 Weight on the day of the surgery: 294 Sleeved on 5/5/14 Current weight: 226 I'm dealing with the monthly 3 to 5 lb weight gain from my period right now. Bloating can suck it. But I hope to be below 200 by the end of the year.