I think I gained weight 7 days post-op! Can this really happen?

[bubbles098 0]

I'm 7 days post-op (surgery on 1/23/08) and I'm still on the "full liquid" diet of apple sauce, Protein Shakes and Soup. I've followed it to the T! If anything, I think I might be getting too few calories. Only in the past day or so have I tried to increase my diet to over 300 calories. The first week I lost 7 lbs but my scale now says that I have gained 2 pounds. Is this possible? Am I eating too few calories? Can I gain weight still eating 600-700 cals? It's a bit discouraging. Please help!

[AandMsmom 0]

I'm experiencing the same thing. I had surgery 1/21/08 and hve not lost 1 pound since the surgery. I am also following the diet faithfully. I lost weight much quicker with Weight Watchers. It's very discouraging to have not lost anything!

[TulipStar 2]

Yes, it is possible. Your body may be retaining Fluid. Watch the sodium intake and drink plenty of Water to try to flush it out.

[bubbles098 0]

Isn't that crazy?!?! I lost more on Weight Watchers too! I've been reading around the blogs and everyone says the band doesn't really work until it is filled, but it is insane to think that someone so overweight can take in 400 calories and GAIN weight? Don't get too discouraged. I still have hope (My father had the lap-band 4 years ago and has lost 160 lbs!) I know I probabily shouldn't weigh myself every day, but it's hard not to. Do you think our bodies are just in starvation mode and holding onto everyrhing?

[wryan1 0]

I am so glad that I am not the only person who is not losing weight after having the lap band. My banding was done on 1/28 and I am still at the same weight I was prior to surgery. I have stuck to the diet plan and am very discouraged so far.......but not giving up!!!

[AandMsmom 0]

That is the only reasonable explanation I can come up with. I get in all my Water everyday and and have also taken a diuretic. I know my sodium intake is nothing compared to what it used to be. I moved on to soft foods yesterday. Maybe this will jump start my metabolism. I am also doing a mile on the treadmill with part of the time being at the steepest incline. Things that make you go Huh.

[bubbles098 0]

WOW! You had your surgery 2 days before me and I haven't even started thinking about exercising. Your body must be holding on to every last thing you put into it with the extra activity. Do you ever watch the biggest loser? Last week one of the men gained 3lbs because he tried to eat less to lose more. With their crazy exercise routine, he retained everything. I spoke to my father and he told me just to think this time before you get your first fill like you were on any other diet. Water, good food, exercise, etc. and it will come off. I'm going to try to look big picture and regardless of what the scale says, I know I'm making healthier decisions (not really a choice with all liquids!). 6 months from now we will laugh at this discussion. :smile: Hang in there!!

[Chrisann 0]

Remember when you went on a conventional diet, lost weight fast, and then plateaued almost immmediately? Well you cut way down on food consumption, and your body goes into starvation mode, and feeds off your muscles. Once you start back on food, you will lose it. I started back on food, controlled amounts, thought I ate way too much and lost a pound when I saw the doctor on Wednesday.

Everyone is different, but since my surgery, I am down 4 pounds, my surgery was 4 weeks ago. I am not upset.

Hang in there, just because you got the band doesn't mean the pounds will just melt away. I read at least 2 dozen times on this board that the band is TOOL to HELP you lose weight. It will happen, with hard work by you and the band doing its job.

[NukeChik 1]

Just hang in there. And remember now is the time to let your body heal, not lose weight. Focus on getting your Vitamins and Protein in and put the scale away. I know its hard, but just wait, it will come off.

[sam020408 0]

I am just doing this next week but the instructions I have received say you may or may not lose any weight through the clear, full, purred stage until you get to regular food or after your fill. I think your body is going through some real changes.

[MollyBrown 0]

I was banded on 11/09/07. I lost 9lbs during the pre-op diet and put 7 or so back during the surgery phase. That was totally depressing. My doc has you do liquids two weeks, mushies for two weeks, and then soft for two weeks. I lost pretty fast during that phase. I focused on Protein, Protein, protein... My doc will not even consider a fill until you hit 6 weeks post-op.

The holidays hit and with no fill I did not lose much, but I did not gain as I usually do. January has been marginally successful as well. Since surgery I have lost right around 30lbs plus or minus a pound here and there. I probably could have lost faster if I did not eat the Cookies during the holidays. Also, I hurt my knee right after the surgery (freak accident), and I am only now mending and getting into exercising. The exercise REALLY makes the difference. I see some of the folks on this site who had surgery around the same time as I did are up to about 40-50lbs lost. I feel like such a not-loser, but when I look in the mirror, I look great.... Healthy, good skin, all my hair.... It is hard to argue the slow and healthy route.

The band is definitely something you need to work on. It is not the quick fix like gastric bypass, but it allows you to have a more normal life, eating small amounts of food but you can assimilate the Vitamins in them. I would prefer slow and healthy then fast and horrible skin, hair, and saggy skin. Not that all bypass patients have these problems but they certainly have a higher rate of it due to malabsorbtion.

Take heart and hang in there. It will work if you work it....

[bubbles098 0]

Thanks everyone! All of your comments really helped and made me feel much better. So I have to report, I've really increased the Water and tried as hard as I could to increase the calories and I lost about half a pound yesterday. Must have been the salt. Thanks again!

[destiny79 0]

I found that Soup and TV dinner is loaded with sodium with make your body hold Water weight, I now try to cook for 2 days at a time or grab a tuna kit

[Fanny Adams 7]

Not only can it happen but it happens to most of us! I think it is a combination of regaining Water after the IV fluids have flushed us out in the op, having a higher than normal sodium intake when on the liquids (I for one ate mostly canned Soups and upped the salt intake, trying to get extra flavour), our bodies going into shock mode after the operation, and normal plateauing that occurs 3-5 weeks after starting the pre-op diet. All of these factors together mean that just about everyone (that I have read in here anyway) experiences this disheartening problem.

Take heart in that it usually only lasts a week or two at most, then as you start to get back onto normal foods, your weight will start to come down again, although expect it to drop at a much slower rate than in the first weeks of the pre/post-op phase. I think a lot of that initial loss is not actually fat, but just losing Water, as is the regain. It is the slower loss that happens afterwards that is the real fat melting away. You may find that you stall altogether or only lose at about 1lb per week, until you start to get good restriction with your fills.

Hang in there and know that you are not alone!

[AandMsmom 0]

Destiny, how much weight did you lose before your first fill? You have lost a lot since your surgery.