3 weeks post-op with the VSG and already gaining weight back??????

Let's clear up the semantics of this conversation first.  You may be gaining weight but you are not gaining any FAT, OK?  That's an important distinction here.  It's absolutely, positively IMPOSSIBLE to be gaining any fat if you are eating exactly like you've outlined.  

Is the scale showing you are gaining "weight"?  That's what you say -- but what the scale can't tell you is what makes up that weight.  I promise you it is WATER!  

At about 3-4 weeks out the body starts to repleni****'s glycogen stores and holds on to every ounce of water you take in.  After a couple weeks of this you'll see a drop on the scale.  Also, pay attention to the OP who talked about constipation.  This can cause the scale to go up too.  

You are not gaining FAT...you are gaining WATER.  A half gallon of water weighs 4 lbs.  If the number on the scale freaks you out then you need to stay off the scale.  Stress can also make you retain water.  Take a deep breath, calm down and know that this too shall pass....

Tracy is right.  At 3 weeks, I had lost a lot of weight and then incredibly, I gained 12 lbs back in less than a week due to water gain.  The surgeon had taken me off my diuretic for my edema  because of fear of me becoming dehydrated. 

I called the office and got permission to go back on the diurectic.  Within a week, I was back down 14 lbs.  This was an extreme case but it does show how fluids can impact your weight gain/loss.

Are you exercising?  You may be building muscle.  It weighs more than fat.

Just FYI:  There's no way at 3 weeks post-op that she's done enough exercise to build muscle.  And definitely not enough of the right kind of exercise because she probably hasn't been cleared for anything except walking yet.  

Building muscle is very hard work that takes a lot of effort over many, many weeks.  I worked my butt off for 10 weeks, working out 6 days a week doing high-intensity interval and resistance training and STILL only gained 2 lbs. of muscle.  

It's water... 

All of this.  Not to mention it's virtually impossible to build muscle when we're losing weight with such a huge calorie deficit.  

Right...and god knows I tried!!  I didn't "get it" as to the amount of calories and carbs needed in order to build muscle when I was brand new.  

It takes a whole lot more than we're getting...at least in the first few months.  

Yeah :/  I work out a LOT, like 10-14 hours a week, and I've still lost about 10 pounds of lean mass since I started my hard core working out in May.  I'm not too worried - I tell myself that this is the time to lose fat, muscle building can come later.  

As others have said don't stress week three. I was determined to not be a part of that tree week gain/stall and I worked out everyday. Congrats to me it happened week 4 :-P  No worries you'll get going in the right direction again. 

Thanks so much for the feedback and advice everyone! I feel a ton better.