Search the Community

Miralax was a no for me, which is weird because people sing it's praises. I took it in my AM coffee for almost a month, thinking the extreme stomach expansion and weight gain it caused would get better - but it never did. I gained 6 lbs of water and looked pregnant while I was on it - it was insane. My pants didn't fit, haha. I think most people's systems respond fine to it, but mine did not - came back off of it and bam, everything was normal again. I drink a TON of water every day (120 oz), and still need bathroom help - so I put fiber in my coffee, these days. It helps really well, as long as I get my water in, as well!

Is it normal to have some weight gain after one month of surgery? I just want to ask if this is a normal thing ocurring to me. I will transition to solids finally tomorrow and dont know if that will help with the weight gain. I was doing fine while on liquids and for the majority of pureed. Just feel bloated and my chest feels very tendered which dont know if that is something normal for men. Thank you..

Hey Tiff, nothing in life comes easy sweetie. Your favorite foods are the same exact foods that contributed to your weight gain. It's not that you will never ever be able to have them again, you just can't right now. In the future you can eat anything in moderation but it is wise to stay away from the bad foods. Your surgery is so recent so please give it time to work for you. I am 10+ months out it some days it's still hard for me to consume the needed amount of protein and water. Keep us posted on your progress. Sent from my SM-G928V using BariatricPal mobile app

I had my original sleeve back in may 2015.. just had revision from sleeve to bypass on august 1.. have dropped 22 pounds so far. I also had the revision to bypass for GERD and also due to sleeve pouch stretching causing weight gain. I finally start solids in 2 days and looking towards seeing how my body reacts. Soo far i have tolerated everything i have consumed but everyone warns me of the first dumping symdrome attack i will experience eventually. Is been just over a month and i don't feel like i have a bypass. Puree and liquids go thru like nothing and do not know if this is normal or is the way is just supposed to be. I hear many stories of people who also say the same until they get to solids. My weight loss has sorta stalled right now but i have confidence once solids stage kicks in thing will pick up.. the sleeve is sorta like hit or miss and it all depends on each individual. Some people are a success and do not suffer from any symptoms or issues like GERD and have been able to maintain the weight loss very well. On the other hand now i am seeing that the sleeve is becoming sorta like when many people were getting their lap-band removed because of complications. The number of patients getting sleeve revisions is climbing. But goodluck to you on this journey and hope that you can finally have relief from your GERD

FluffyChix, it is a great read. It is actually a book that he pushes for non-wls patients as well. His premise is that if you eat 1-2 pounds of leafy greens and other veggies per day, you won't have room for most of the bad foods that cause weight gain and health issues. I did it for a few weeks, and did lose weight. My problem was that I could eat 5-7 cups or up to 3 pounds of food in 1 sitting. I ate the 1-2 pounds per day, and then still had room for a lot of other food. I think it could work wonders for me now if I can find a way to deal with the protein issue. I too ate a lot of Morningstar Farms as a vegetarian. I still have tons of veggie crumbles, veggie breakfast sausages and buffalo chicken nuggets in my freezer. I prefer them to the real thing as they are less greasy and "healthier". I would like to find a healthier option though. They really help with the protein dilemma, but utilize vital wheat gluten as a protein source which is definitely a problem for me. I stopped drinking milk, and whey based protein shakes years ago after I watched Forks over Knives and a few other documentaries. Now I find myself indulging in them once more out of necessity right now. Veggie sourced protein shakes are just too chalky for me. They also have very little protein compared to whey sources. I would be interested in leaving these behind if I could get what I need from food alone. I am open to leaving fish on the menu long term if I can get rid of milk, whey based protein sources, cheese, and other meats. I like tofu, and seitan. I think that maybe using these sources with egg whites, and maybe having salmon a couple of times per week will be good for me. We will see what the future holds. I have a little time to figure it all out.

I believe this is where the gut bugs come into play. The good gut bugs help with our digestion, immune system, and brain (including emotions and moods) function. It is essential to create a symbiosis with them. And they don't eat fat or protein. Only the evil ones eat sugar! The good ones need good starches and fibers. So we do need those fibrous veggies (impossible soon after bariatric surgery though) and the natural starches to keep them happy. They thrive (and then help US thrive) on resistant starches like cooked and cooled potatoes, sweet potatoes, oats not cooked in water, beans, peas, (not soft) plantains and many powders like banana "flour," potato starch, inulin, etc. (green bananas are also a good source but should be avoided for WLS as they have so much sugar). But I think what you found out through your own self experimentation should be true. Junk carbs are useless and cause weight gain. But healthy starchy carbs, after a period of being unable to eat them because of our small stomachs and urgent protein requirements, are going to be a huge part of our diets and we will crave these healthy carbs. Gut bugs give us our cravings. I was able, while fat, to get my craving for sweets traded for craving for roasted root veggies. I've seen it happen. And again we are talking about 100g or less of carbs, mostly veggies and good starches. So still not high carb but POWERFUL carbs.

There is a chance that you may qualify and if you do not qualify, there is an appeals process. I was recently approved by my insurance company but before submitting the paper work to the Insurance company I was told you may not get approved because I had gained weight. I had my lap-band drained in March and started to put a few pounds on. Visit #2, I was told I cannot put on any more weight, I have to show my ability to lose weight. My 3rd visit I was down 5 lbs and I was told you may not get approved because you gained weight and didn't lose all the weight gained. I wasn't told you cannot gain weight at my initial visit. I think they prepare you for the worst possible outcome. Good luck

I have gained about ten pounds since the start of all the weigh-ins. I just started nursing school and i have been stress eating like crazy! Im at my halfway mark now so I really need to get on it and start eating better. Has/did anyone have this problem during their weigh-ins and does anyone know if the weight gain will effect my chances of being approved for surgery?

Combination of poor eating habits, lack of exercise, compounded by thryroid disorder. This past year I have not been able to walk more than 5 minutes due to arthritis os.my lower back, which has added to weight gain. I did not begin to have a weight problem until my mid twenties, the same time I was diagnosed with Hashimotos thyroiditis. Sent from my SM-G930T using BariatricPal mobile app

Hello everyone... I had bypass on 8/29/17 so I am about 6 days out and I was wondering if anyone has had weight gain? On surgery day I weighed 209 and they weighed me afrter surgery and I weighed 216 and I have lost some weight but not very much. This is super frusrating since I havent eaten anything in a week, I am getting my daily water and close to my protein...whats wrong!!! Any ideas!!!!????

Genetic predisposition...my maternal grandmother was 400+ pounds well before the modern-day obesity epidemic, and my mother was obese. Many of the women on my mother's side of the family are overweight or obese. Hypothyroidism and certain medications that promote weight gain Insulin resistance (it caused insatiable hunger for me) Poor lifestyle choices such as chronic yo-yo dieting, bad food choices, overeating, frequent fast food runs, etc.

I would never have considered this surgery until I was told it was the only fix for my hiatal hernia. I have many mixed feelings about it. 98% of my stomach is up in my chest area and it's all twisted up. It can be very painful. I've been told that the twisting can shut off blood flow and cause death so it doesn't seem like there's much of a choice. Almost 2 years ago I had breast cancer. During my treatment I lost 45 lbs. once treatment was over and I could eat again, the weight came back fast. The doctors say my stomach pushed upward from the pressure of the weight gain. I'm hoping for my surgery before Nov 1st because of insurance/financial issues. I'm nervous and a little overwhelmed by all diet restrictions/requirements. Also, can I use Davinci or Torani unsweetened flavored syrup in my protein drinks?

I think you are reading too much into my reply. It was meant as an example not a rule of thumb. My own experience is what I based it on but I am only 6 years out so am not an expert. I DO know you CAN stretch your stomach back to what it was before VSG , I do know that going back to old habits can cause weight gain, I do know that some foods can trigger old habits and I do know that some types of food trigger a body response to crave more of that type of food. the easiest way to continue to lose weight is to stay on the program given to you by your DR and not stray. If your Dr says pizza, beer and pasta is ok then go for it.

You can do it! I am currently 24 weeks pregnant and I have been freaking out about the weight gain. I've gained 10 pounds so far. I know that isn't a lot for a baby, but I know more is to come. I am trying to still stick to the basics as well. I am still working out 6 days a week, but not near the intensity I was before.

Yay for you!!! That's awesome! Well, for starters, you have to figure out from your docs what "protein adequate" means to them, with reference for you. My docs are happy with my 60-70g of protein/day. And that's not "that much!" Next, completely get rid of all high glycemic crap. No matter HOW good it tastes or how much your body is tellin' you you need it. Cuz it is a lieing liar that lies! Next go back to WLS basics. No drinking before meals, or 30mins-1hr post meals. Eat protein first...and SLOWLY. Eat veggies second. And that's it. Cut out the fruit except every few days you could have 1oz of blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, or strawberries with some protein and fat (like walnuts or almonds and a string cheese). Eat only 3 meals per day. Eat as low fat as possible: use extra virgin olive oil spray, molly mcbutter, lean lean proteins, Real Egg Whites or eggbeaters, 2% cheese, low fat cottage cheese and low fat greek yogurts--but READ to make sure not high carb or high sugar. Here I get 2% Daisy Cottage Cheese and get HEB plain 0Fat Greek Yogurt that only has like 4g of carbs per serving. Think a serving is 1cup for each? Keep your calories around 700-800. I used lots of hot sauce bottles with stuff! My meals were like: B: 2-3 egg whites scrambled with 1 1/2 oz baby greens + mushrooms + 1 slice Hillshire Farms Ham or Turkey (3 slices = 50 cals), hot sauce L: 3oz lean protein, 1/2-1 cup of cooked veggies, or 2cups of mixed salad, plus 1oz avocado, Walden Farm dressing D: same as lunch S: 6 almonds or 1 serving sugar free jello The first 3-4 days are relatively painful. Drink lots of water! After that, you will lose your appetite and start feeling fuller--especially if you take small bites and eat dense protein first. This may all be different for you cuz of quantities. I am non-WLS and this is pretty much how I did it for the cancer treatment and any time I'm on steroids. IF I want to eat between meals, then I will ONLY eat a hardboiled egg with Walden Farms zero cal Chipotle Mayo. If that doesn't sound good, then I won't eat between meals. I am eating this way right now, and am now eating 1000cals a day pre-surg. I eat a LOT more veggies than are listed above, but I'm not on steroids (although I just recently had a shot to the hip of cortisone--I didn't have any weight gain or terrible hunger from that shot). But otherwise, I pretty much stick to this. I also eat a little more avocado now too (for added fat cals).

The immediate post op weight gain is attributed to the Iv fluids & edema. Will settle down .. what posture do you guys sleep in? I'm finding it most uncomfy to sleep

There are two phases to weight loss surgery - the Weight Loss Phase and the Maintenance phase. This is the approach I used in the Maintenance phase. http://www.breadandbutterscience.com/Surgery2.pdf It is common to have some limited weight gain after gastric bypass surgery. They call it a 20 pound bounce. The important thing is not let go beyond it. According to my nutritionist, meals should consist of equal parts of protein, fats and carbs after the first couple years post-op. Snacks should be limited to primarily whole food options: nuts, natural nut butters, fruits, veggies, boiled eggs, string cheese, yogurt with berries and almonds, tuna pouches. Avoid processed packaged foods as much as possible. Also do not expect to lose weight at a rate similar to right after surgery. There is no quick fix. Generally if you gained the additional weight over a couple years, then it may take a couple years of watching what you eat to get back down.

So, I've been fat for most of my life. I've been fat ever since I was roughly 10 years old, but what I considered fat then is nothing compared to the state I am at now. After I got sex reassignment surgery, my metabolism went straight to hell and my energy levels fell. I didn't make any lifestyle changes afterwards, but the fact that I didn't was a part of the problem that resulted in the state where I am now. And gaining so much weight, I likely contracted sleep apnea due to my weight gain and also contracted plantar fasciitis, which makes it harder to be out and about without my arches screaming at me. I've tried so many diet and exercise programmes, from Bikram Yoga to Weight Watchers, from marathon training to calorie counting, from parkour to South Beach. In fact, I would have continued trying if not for someone in a chat room. They told me that I should get a lap band... to which I said "why? I can exercise, I have the discipline to diet, why the hell would I need a lap band?" We had a long discussion about bariatric surgery and I decided to do my research. I first considered the programme at Denver Health. After all, I didn't know about the programme just north of me in Fort Collins (and to be quite honest, that's kinda okay given the support network I've built up there) and I thought Denver Health was the natural place to go. That and UCHealth has had... issues with serving employees of the State of Colorado. So, I went to their support groups/medical weight loss classes (which were combined), attended sessions with their psychologist and saw their nutritionist only to get rejected because I had clinical depression. I feel the problem was that since the psychologist was not my regular psychologist and did not know me nor my support network well, that made her more skittish than she should have been. I then contacted the programme at Northern Colorado Surgical Associates (which is a part of the Poudre Valley Health System and their combined programme is called the "Bariatric Centre of the Rockies") and started attending their medical weight loss classes, their patient education seminar, got my regular therapist and prescriber to write my letter, and as of Tuesday, had surgery with them. Unfortunately, I don't feel that I can attend their support groups often (as their support groups are in Fort Collins and the transit back down to Longmont after 8pm is dismal at best), but the good news is that I have found other practices in the area which have support groups that I might be able to attend. I have a therapist that I really mesh with and I have a support network from both my church and my political party (Green Party of Colorado, FTW!) And I look forward to the future. I look forward to wearing all those cute goth/steampunk clothes I see in my Facebook news feed, I look forward to finishing up my transition by having facial feminization surgery/breast augmentation (which can only happen once I get to my goal weight, if my concern is having the best results), and most pressing, I look forward to the day I can waltz into the Denver Health support groups, look into the eyes of the nutritionists, psychologists, and that bariatric coordinator and tell them where they can stick it.

All of the paperwork provided to me from my provider says no coffee or caffeine. Not just at one stage, but all stages. I understand that during the initial weeks of healing (maybe) coffee might cause a problem. But it is expected that I an never have coffee again? I drink my coffee Black - no cream, no sugar. Granted, I used to drink a lot of it - but I've been sleeved on 8/23 and am craving for just a few sips of my delicious beverage. I'm curious as to the roles coffee and caffeine can play on the success of this surgery. So few questions: 1. Why no coffee? 2. Why no caffeine? 3. If allowed, when can I start having it again? *Again, all on the basis of black coffee - no cream, no sugar (additives that would result in weight gain)

Yeah I used to be a gym rat eating Paleo and all that fun stuff for a couple years. Then ya know...life decided to be like "nah she doesn't need to be successful and healthy-let's throw some whack stuff at her" LOL! It's a cycle for me; 3-4 years of weight loss success then 1 year of crap and rebound weight gain. Again, portion control is my kryptonite. 🤦🏽‍♀️ [emoji23] Uhhh can I just say that our stats are like almost exactly the same?!

Although I am newly out of surgery, and you are way further along than me, I would urge you to slow down. Maybe make sure you get the 25 chews each bite. I have always just almost swallowed my food whole my entire life. I was the youngest of 3 boys, and had to eat fast or not get seconds. I contribute that to the huge amounts of food that I was able to eat in one sitting, and ultimately my problem with weight gain. Not saying you have that issue, but eating slowly does give your body a chance to register the amount of food you've eaten. You tend to be satiated with less food overall. Good luck!

By keeping your clothes you are mentally giving yourself permission to regain weight. The only person I know that lost over 200 pounds without surgery and kept it off, told me as soon as you drop a size, dump the previous clothes. I have been doing this all along and it has helped me so much. There is no going back. If I gain more than 5 pounds I will have nothing to wear. This helps stop me from going off the rails, keeps me focused and makes weight gain immediately noticeable. I got up years worth of clothes I carefully collected and loved because they no longer fit me. If I regained to the point I could fit them, but they aren't here, that would be extra insult to injury. So it is not going to happen. It is not an option. Do not keep your old clothes as a security blanket. Fully embrace your new life, say this is forever and dump those fat clothes.

Please forgive my ignorance. I am an emotional eater. I know this, I own this. I'm scheduled for Sept 27th. How did you gain this back? What are you doing? or eating I should say? I've done a ton of research and it's so hard for me to imagine that amount of weight gain when you can eat about 1 cup at a sitting. I'm at my weight because I ate WAY more than that for too long. I know the wls is a tool, but still there should be restriction. I know for me personally, I seem to be making the connection that all the food I ate never really did help my stress. Instead, I just felt intense quilt. I did make this decision because of the desire to be healthy and seeing relatives living unhappy lives because of all their health problems. I guess it comes down to that donut really isn't going to fix what you are feeling. But I bet a walk outdoors, a pedicure, cleaning your home could help out in the moment.

Thank you for that! I went to my consultation today and he scared me with all the complication talk and "rearranged" talk and weight gain talk etc. but after reading your comment I feel better thank you!!!@KarenInOz