I am now 19 days post op and have been doing great. I got on the scale this morning and I have gained 4 pounds! WTF? I don't know what I have done wrong. I haven't changed anything. Last night at work I kind of advanced myself to a regular diet, lol. I ate a very small "sandwich". I had a small strip of lettuce with about a teaspoon of pureed chicken salad, a small square of Colby jack cheese and a small amount of mustard, 3 whole grain chips and about a tablespoon of salsa. I did great with it. Went down and stayed down. Then today I had about 2 oz of grilled chicken and about 3 oz of broiled seasoned veggies (carrots zucchini and green beans) then for supper tonight I had 8 oz of low-fat chili with beans and about 1 oz of shredded cheddar cheese. I don't think I have done too bad since advancing myself. Has anyone else experienced a weight gain when returning to regular foods? I am such a worry wart and want to do everything right with this band and use it to the best of my advantage. My doc's protocol is that his patients wait 6 weeks for a fill. So I have 3 more weeks to go until I can have a fill. Am I stressing too much? Its very discouraging to see the scale trying to creep back up on me.

The first four to six weeks are not for losing weight. Some people do, some don't. Now is the time to heal.

Start monitoring all of your calories - use something like The Daily Plate. Get a fitness monitor, Fit Bit is $99 and offers online diet tracking and will monitor your activity.

Move more and make sure you're not drinking calories. Eating what you're eating at 19 days out is totally normal and acceptable. Though doctors suggest liquids, mushies, soft, then adding foods gradually - you may drive yourself mad sticking to that. Just east sensibly.

Two other things to note:

Women will gain between 5-10 lbs every month just by biological nature. It comes off a week or so later.

After starting back to new foods you may gain 1-10 lbs in Water weight (from the salt content) but you'll lose it within a week. You'll learn that when you eat very clean six days a week then indulge on that seventh day that you can gain anywhere from 5-10 lbs as a woman (men can gain 15-25 lbs) all in water weight. Within a week it's gone and you're likely down an extra pound or two.

I hope that helps a bit.

If you advanced your diet on your own, please contact your doctor and talk to them about it. It might be ok, and then again, they may have very good reasons for you to stay on their plan. We don't know your health history, but your surgeon does (or should).

I agree that what you're eating doesn't sound too awful, but I was on soft solids at your point, not grilled chicken.

Pretty standard for our weight to bounce around a bit as we change our eating. Make sure you're getting at least 64oz of Water (or other very low calorie fluids ~ I aim for 10 calories or less per 16oz~) a day and up your activity a bit from what you're accustomed to doing.

When I graph my weight loss over time, it is not a solid slope downward, but somewhat of a rick-rack effect. But it is overall a downward slope. Keep on keeping on.. it will work if you follow most of the guidelines most of the time.

Not trying to sound gross but have you used the "bathroom " ? I know I weigh more if I haven't been.

Thanks for all the advice. I did contact my doctor and he said that was fine with what I was doing. I kinda figured, after I freaked out, that it was probably water weight. I am staying away from the bad stuff still. I will stay away from chicken a lil while longer though, unless its pureed like in my chicken salad. lol I am drinking a lot of water at least 64 oz if not more. I have a water bottle permanently attached to my hand. And um no I hadnt used the bathroom beforeI weighed the last time

I have a problem overeating crunch foods (chips, cereal, crackers) so I would say not to be eating any nacho types chips. And they certainly are'nt mushies! For mushie chicken I recommend mixing canned chicken with low fat laughing cow cheese. I also would'nt make a habit off eating chedder/colby cheese because it's high in fat.