Weight Gain

Berry · 03-31-2007, 07:44 AM

Once you get to the mushie stage is it normal for the weight to start creeping back up?? I'm still on protein shakes, mashed potato, etc. and I've gained back 3 lbs in a week. I'm getting nervous!! I don't want to gain all the weight I've already lost. Do I need to start adding in exercise now to keep it down?

LeeInDe. · 03-31-2007, 09:19 AM

I started in the gym 1 week post op. Even if you only do cardio for now, that will burn calories.

LapBandit · 03-31-2007, 06:14 PM

You're still healing so don't worry too much about losing. I know it's hard not to worry about it. But I didn't really start losing for a few weeks post-op. Besides, some of this must be water-weight because you would've had to have eaten a whole lot of mashed potatoes and protein shakes to gain three pounds in one week! LOL.

bsoutherngirl · 03-31-2007, 06:49 PM

For me this was normal. After liquids I put on 5 pounds in 5 days. But it has stopped and is starting to go down again. But I still freaked out. Good Luck.

juliegeraci · 04-01-2007, 12:58 PM

Berry, right now you are in the healing stage. Your weight loss will come when you start getting restriction and fills. I gained about 6 lbs moving to mushy/solid stage but quickly took that off when I get my first fill at 6 weeks. Right now just try and concentrate on good healthy mushies and you will be fine. Congrats so far on being banded.

**Iluvharleys** · 04-01-2007, 01:19 PM

I didn't gain any, but lots do! This is just the healing part of it, just follow your doctors orders and you'll be fine!

finluv · 04-06-2007, 07:53 PM

Hello! I am so gald to hear that! I lost 17lbs and then went to full liquids and started occasionally eating farina (like cream of wheat), not even all the time and occasionally thinned grits and I have gained 5lbs in the last week. I have been so depressed about. I feel like there is no way I couldn't possibly be gaining weight with what little I'm eating. I am getting no less then 40 grams of protein and I try for and usually get 60 grams. The only thing is that I'm having a hard time getting in all of my water. I work in the ER doing 12 hr shifts and I don't always have time to take a sip and come back and take a sip....you know. If I could chug it I'd be ok, but we know I can't. So, I know I'm probably dehydrated, expecially since my skin and hands have been SO dry since surgery, but to gain weight....that is what I can't figure out. I'm not even eating 1000 cal most days? How does that make you gain???
I'm kinda disappointed!:think
But, if it is "normal" then I guess I will get over it. I just don't want to have had this surgery and doing and good and it doesn't work. (like every other diet I've been on)

LapBandit · 04-07-2007, 08:39 AM

You're right...with the amount you are eating it is probably impossible for that weight gain to be actual fat. I know, it still hurts to see the numbers on the scale go up but don't let yourself be fooled. It's not true!

If you are a little dehydrated as you suspect, your body will hold on to all of the water it is getting for conservation. Water weighs a lot. The only (healthy) way to get rid of that water weight is to make sure you start drinking water again. When your body "learns" that you will give it plenty of water on a regular basis it will let go of what it's holding onto. This has happened to me time and time again so I feel confident you will see it go away. But, when you are dehydrated it might take another day or two of good water drinking for things to stabilize and see that water weight go away.

I aim for at least 64 oz every day...I have found water is extremely important for weight loss. So, don't get discouraged even though it's tough to avoid worrying about it. I keep 24 oz water bottles and know that I must drink at least three of them every day. It works for me to make sure I get in my water. I hope this helps!

lizrbit · 04-07-2007, 09:44 AM

seriously?
i would tell people to NOT WIEGH THEMSELVES after their surgery and until they get on FULL SOLIDS...that way they dont stress over the water wieght and the recovery wieght and just heal!
HEAL my little freshly banded children, HEAL.....
My freaking family who couldnt bother themselves with comeing when i needed them decided to come AFTER i had the surgery when i was JUST getting onto solids. WHat a miserable time. They wanted to "go out to eat" every few hours (cause thats my families favorite sport) and i would nibble on a smashed potato with enough sour cream and butter to make it puddly. i dont think i would have survived otherwise.

finluv · 04-07-2007, 01:11 PM

Thank you everyone for you comments. I definately helps to know that "it happens" and it is probably just water retention. I know I should get rid of my scale, but it is so hard to do that. My friend gave me a big lecture last night about getting rig of it because right now it is the enemy and blahblahblah. But, I have this OCD thing about the scale and I weigh about 2-10 times a day, so that is a very hard thing for me not to do. I have done this most of my life, so I'm not sure how I ended up as heavy as I did, but I did.
But, Thank you!

LLSibley · 04-07-2007, 01:23 PM

I'm 3 weeks out and have a question about water. Everyone talks about sipping the water or else they have problems. I've been able to drink my water just like I did before surgery. I don't guzzle it like before but I just drink out of a glass with gulps and not sips. Is something wrong with me that I should be concerned about?

finluv · 04-07-2007, 01:25 PM

I am the same way. I don't know if it is right or wrong, but Idon't take little tiny sips either.

travelgirl · 04-07-2007, 01:38 PM

1. (finluv) PUT THE SCALE AWAY where you can't see it and take it out NO MORE than once a day. You're just making yourself crazy with it.

2. The human body RETAINS water when it doesn't get what it needs from drinking. If you're not drinking enough water EVERY day, then your body is keeping more of it than it needs, just in case it doesn't get any more.
You should be able to drink pretty normally...just don't chug. Take a swallow, then another swallow, just go a little slower than you normally would to make sure that it doesn't get backed up...I had that happen when I wasn't thinking, and you'll KNOW if you're drinking too fast....It will try to come back up or you'll feel it come to a screeching halt in your throat.....ow!

3. Please remember that the first 6 weeks are for healing, and you shouldn't be concerned with weight loss right now. Just do the best you can, follow your surgeon's instructions, and you'll be losing in no time!!

Hang in there!

LapBandit · 04-07-2007, 02:27 PM

I can chug water just fine and haven't experienced any issues. Other than as travelgirl said...if it's too fast or too much at a time then you could feel some discomfort. And my rule of thumb is to avoid doing anything that causes even slight discomfort because I don't want to do anything to hurt my band. But, if I can gulp down water relatively fast and it causes no dicomfort then...I gulp away!

demsvmejm · 04-07-2007, 05:07 PM

I've been at a 12 lb weight loss since two weeks after surgery. I'm now 4 wks post-op and starting to introduce regular foods. I've gained 4 lbs. in the last week. I swear I'm only eating 900-1000 cals a day! Getting in most of my protein and h2o. Feeling a little depressed about the whole thing.
I see Dr. in two weeks and will probably get a fill then.