Hi, I new to these boards but would like to know if anyone out there can give me some answers. I had lap band surgery on 4/20. Getting my 1st fill 6/3. I have been eating solid foods now for a week and have gained 5 lbs. Is this normal. When I asked this question I was told the 1st month is just for healing and that gaining weight is normal. Hopefully Iwill get some feedback and Iwill feel better. right now is am upset. thanks:confused:

It's true. Once you get off liquids and eat solids again, you will probably start gaining. It's only until you get fills, that you will see weight loss. It doesn't work this way for everyone, but a good majority, this is the case.

Hi Fae,

Thank you so much for answering. I could not find my thread. I am so new at this can't figure it out. I also want to add my starting wt and goal wt but can't get that either. If I play enough I will figure it out. Again thanks

Here's a link to a "ticker tutor" that may help you:

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f5/ticker-tutorial-pictures-41782/

And yes the first 6 weeks or so are for healing but let me ad a caveat: Many many MANY bandsters don't feel restriction with their first few fills. Without restriction it is as if you DO NOT have the band. I can't emphasize that enough. The band works by restricting your portions of certain foods. (some foods "slide" on through regardless and those are unfortunately often the calorie and fat-rich things that get us in trouble...things like cake and chips and Cookies and milkshakes and ice cream and dip...) Anyway...until you have restriction you can eat ALMOST as much as you used to.

Some bandsters grimly diet during this time and using sheer willpower hang in there until the fill level is finally sufficient to provide some help, and some don't and just wait for the fill to do it's thing. It's your band and you'll do whatever you feel works for you. Just remember you aren't failing and it is a process. It is often a SLOW process.

Thank you so much for the info. You are right. I feel that I can eat all the foods that I use to but maybe not as much. I do get a feeling of being full. I started to think that maybe something was wrong. So maybe my 1st fill won't even work. That's good to know. Again thank you:smile:

You are in what we call bandster hell. You have a band but it's not working right now because you don't have a fill. Don't freak out if the first fill doesn't make a lot of difference either. Just try to eat right, and you will get restriction. It may take more than one fill though. A lot will depend on how aggressive your doctor is with fills.

Sorry guys I happen to disagree. While yes I agree eating less is much more difficult pre fills it isn't an excuss to gain weight. If you were saying that you were not losing or gaining then I could understand but if you are gaining then you should probably make some changes. Why waste months until you get to your sweet spot giving yourself an excuse of "it's normal" to gain weight. You had major surgery for weightloss and I doubt you take that lightly, so why allow yourself to gain weight. What are you doing to exercise? Are you eating high fat foods? You can follow the band rules, eat a healthy diet and still lose weight (maybe a bit slower) before you get to your sweet spot.

I probably just found my sweet spot after 3 fills about 2 weeks ago. Most of my weight was lost w/out restriction. I have worked up to walking about 20 miles a week and it makes all the difference. Sorry I am not meaning to sound harsh here but think about it, you had surgery to lose weight. You picked a surgery where you have to work a little harder than other surgeries. Don't allow time to pass with the idea that the band has to do all the work. Otherwise you will look back several months later and not lost much weight. Best of luck to you in your journey.

Everybody's bodies are different. When I made the change from all liquid diet to mushies and back to regular solid foods I didn't lose any weight at all. I didn't gain any either but my body held solid for a good 3 weeks before I lost 2 lbs. I say give your body 2 more weeks but make sure you are eating healthy foods. If you're doing everything you're supposed to be doing, eating the foods you are supposed to and even doing light exercise your body will give in and you will begin to lose.

I gained 20 lbs in the first 6 weeks post-surgery. I have since had 3 fills and have lost 160 lbs. I am 30 lbs from goal :party: I had surgery about 13 months ago. So you see? you have nothing to worry about! If I can do it (and I am seriously addicted to food) then you can do it too!

I also had my band surgery on 1-22 and have never experienced any weight gain. I lost 18 pounds the first 6 days and have not slowed down much. I have now lost 97 lbs and gone from 54BMI to 32 BMI. As the other person said I lost most of my weight without feeling any or much restriction. I have had 3 fills.