Sorry if this question has been asked before. I'm new and haven't had a lot of time to search the site. I'm curious about the rate of weight lost with the band. I happened to notice somewhere, someone who has been banded for maybe 6 months and has lost 10lbs.

Honestly....I would be disappointed if I only saw a 10lb loss in that period of time. If I put my mind to it, I might be able to lose that much on my own. I guess I'm thinking that the loss should be a bit more rapid.

Should it be more rapid than no banding at all? Definitely not as fast as bypass, I know. Just wondering.

Thank you!

Weightloss is going to depend on a lot of factors. The obvious factors are, your initial weight, activity, intake, and band size. The band has to be filled slowly over time to give each person their just right amout of restriction. The greatest benefit with the band is that it is a more natural slow loss and the band is adjustable.

If you loose 10 pounds are you going to keep it off? With the band, you can control if you are going to keep it off. LB patients don't have malnourishment

or dumping which makes a great diffrence.

I see a wide range of losses here, just from the before/after pics I was just looking at. The idea of being able to lose without the malnutrition is appealing to me. I don't know, changing the digestive process so drastically, forever, not sure if it's for me. I need to research the band some more, just wish I had more time!!

Thank you for your thoughts

lildarlin -

As one of the slowest losers here on Lapband talk, I feel like I'm qualified to answer your question. I've lost a little more than 35 pounds in 13 months. Am I disappointed? Sure - I figured I would be at the 50 pound mark or better by now.

Would I do it over again? Absolutely. The thing I like about the band, better than another diet (and you're right, I could've lost the same amount of weight or more on a diet) is this time, it's staying off. The band never rests, it never lets you forget it's there. You can eat around it - but for the most part, the band is a 24/7 diet buddy always reminding you to not overeat.

Why am I such a slow loser? A couple of reasons - one is that I didn't acheive any real restriction until I was 5 months out of surgery. My after care doc is very conservative with fills, and to be honest, I'm still not at the 'sweet spot' yet.

Another reason I'm a slower loser than most is that I'm a grazer - not a binger. The band doesn't work as well if you're always eating little bits all day long. This is a behavior I'm trying to modify.

As I'm sure you've read over and over again on this board - the band is not a magic bullet, but it is an effective tool in managing your weight.

Good luck with your research. I hope you find the answers you seek.

Just want to note that I know it's probably annoying for those of you who are "pros" to answer these types of questions over and over. But it's very helpful for those of us who are researching the band. Thanks for the insight into different levels of weight loss.

Thanks Kim - your thoughts are very helpful. Can I ask one more question? You mention that you graze. Do you find that if you eat a typical small meal (one that leaves you satisfied). Are you hungry soon after?

I'm thinking of my non-banded stomach, a small meal for me would equal hunger quickly. Or, is the length of time it takes to empty what keeps that hunger away?

Sorry....one more question......what about throwing up when you have the stomach flu? Our family just went through this and while I was hugging the "john" I thought, how would this be with a banded tummy? Is it hard on you?

Again many, many thanks for the answers. I don't have a computer at home, only at work, so I can't spend all day doing searches on my questions. I wish I could. I do a little bit each day to seek the answers.

It's not annoying at all - we're happy to answer any questions. After all, it wasn't all that long ago we were in your shoes, looking for our own answers.

Good Luck with your research and feel free to post any questins you might have.

I wondered the same thing about the stomach flu. With a three-year-old at home who attends preschool, the stomach-flu is almost an annual occurence in my household!

Sorry....one more question......what about throwing up when you have the stomach flu? Our family just went through this and while I was hugging the "john" I thought, how would this be with a banded tummy? Is it hard on you?

Hey Lildarlin - Our posts crossed in cyberspace.

I graze, but not often because I'm hungry. I graze because I'm bored, or because something looks good and it's available (it's a whole head thing that goes back to childhood). A quality small meal will keep me physically full for a few hours - the head hunger is another beast to be tamed.

I gotta tell ya - the stomach flu scares the snot out of me. I haven't had it being banded yet - thank goodness. When I was first banded, I told my PCP about my worries and she loaded me up with several different types of anti-nausea medications. Some oral, some suppository. I feel better having them with me and even pack them in my suitcase when I go on a trip. Throwing up with the band would not be a pleasant experience!!

I've not had the flu with the band, but I've heard that you don't have any trouble throwing up.

My rate of loss is pretty normal I think (it's averaging out to between 1-2lbs a week, even though I'm not really losing every week). But I see people around me losing much faster, and a few who are losing slower.

To me it appears that the "rate of loss" is similar to regular dieting -- it varies widely from person to person based on calorie intake, personal metabolism, amount of muscle mass, exercise, etc. The only difference is that the restriction of the band helps you stay on track with not overeating and provides a feeling of satiety that you can use to avoid grazing on junk food between meals (but the band will not stop you from grazing on junk food between meals if you want to -- head hunger issues don't magically go away). We still have to learn to figure out why we are reaching for food when we're not physically hunger, and fill that need in a different way.

I'm really battling my desire for chocolate, with the Halloween candy both at work and home. And I'm not physically hungry.

I had a tummy bug last week and was vomiting, same as I vomited before. I went to the hospital and they gave me an injection and within 15 mins it had stopped and the next day it was all gone.

Sigh, sorry I posted this on the wrong thread.

Sometimes we mistake thirst for hunger, be sure to keep your Fluid levels topped up. If it seems like hunger at an inappropriate time, simply try a glass of Water first. Also, try and view the feeling of hunger as a positive feeling. there is no way you will starve to death or go mad due to hunger pangs, embrace them.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

When I visited my dietician, she emphasized that the band will not work if you choose to graze and really impacted the concept of three squares a day. She said if you don’t feel satisfied, simply increase your meal sizes (with healthy options) Your body will eventually adapt to the new habits you're trying to teach it. be patient and don’t let it get you down. And don’t forget...we're all here to support you!! <o:p></o:p>

Best of luck! <o:p></o:p>

Sometimes we mistake thirst for hunger

Kozmic Tulip I'm glad you said that. Since we can't eat and drink at the same times I will make a conscious decision to eat instead of drink my Water. I know what I'm doing and I will still do it.

Good Luck lildarlin

The flu thing is something else to add to the long list of questions I have to ask the surgeon when I see him next week!

Emily

I have lost almost 40pounds. Im loosing about 2-4 pounds per week. You have to still watch what you eat, drink your water and get moving. I would do it again in a heart beat.