I currently weigh 194 and have a 34 BMI. I am getting mixed reviews from a lot of people b/c I am turning to LapBand to change my lifestyle b/c I can't do it on my own....but at the same time no one bothers to tell me I'm not a big girl either....go figure:( Just curious if anyone one here had a lower end BMI with only about 50-65lbs total to loose? Also, my doc says we have to loose a little bit of weight before the surgery but what if I fall below the required BMI? I'm gonna be cash pay so I was wondering if this will still apply????

If you have had the surgery at a lower BMI how has your success been? How much did you loose at first? I'd love all the feedback I could get.

Kind Regards,

Lost and Confused

My BMI was 33 when I got banded. I lost 60 ish lbs so far and have another 10 before I get to where I really want to be.

I was self pay though so less hassle getting approved. Since your BMI is low, your liver probably isnt fatty. I didnt have to do a pre op diet and my doctor said my liver was ok.

In the first 4 months I lost about 40lbs I think

I had a BMI of 35 I think, I only just scraped in, but thankfully my doc is of the view that why wait till I got even fatter? And I live in Australia so none of those insane insurance companies - here, if the doc will do it, insurance will cover it.

I lost about 40lb too in the first few months, the band has worked brilliantly for me. I went on to lose 120lb whereas I really only "needed" to lose about 80 but I've gotten down to a BMI of 20.

I started at 74kg(163lb). I am only 5 foot so although that doesn't sound huge it was. I looked about 11 months pregnant as all the excess weight was around my middle. I now weigh 50kg(110lb).So I am well within a normal BMI. I look great , feel great and don't regret get banded at all. I have found the whole process relatively easy. The weight came off slower than if I was heavier but it was still steady. I got to 52kg within about 6 months. I am now 2 years out and seem to be maintaining quite easily. I have been on holidays and eaten "fairly normally" and come back without having gained.

I don't count calories, track, or do any special diets that exclude specific food groups. I just eat smaller portions of what I consider to be normal healthy foods.

Hi,

I am also on the low side of the BMI range. I started at about 36. I'm 4 weeks post surgery and have absolutely no restriction. Do you think that lower BMI patients may need more fills than larger people? How long did it take you to reach your green zone?

Thanks!

I started at 74kg(163lb). I am only 5 foot so although that doesn't sound huge it was. I looked about 11 months pregnant as all the excess weight was around my middle. I now weigh 50kg(110lb).So I am well within a normal BMI. I look great , feel great and don't regret get banded at all. I have found the whole process relatively easy. The weight came off slower than if I was heavier but it was still steady. I got to 52kg within about 6 months. I am now 2 years out and seem to be maintaining quite easily. I have been on holidays and eaten "fairly normally" and come back without having gained.

I don't count calories, track, or do any special diets that exclude specific food groups. I just eat smaller portions of what I consider to be normal healthy foods.

I think everyone is different. Although I never felt that I was in the "green zone" I lost weight constantly with very little effort., so it depends on what you believe restriction to be. Do you eat less than before, are those smaller amounts keeping you satisfied for 3 - 4 hours? If so then you have restriction.

(My idea of the green zone was some kind of mythical place where I would never be hungry and never think about food except at mealtimes and honestly I don't think that place exists. I think that for most of us we do think about food even when we are not hungry and that is something that we have to learn to control. With the band it is so much easier).

I am a lower BMI 37 and a self payer as well. Less hassle and the lap band is something I really want. My doctor also agrees that I should not wait until I get to a higher BMI if I am willing to do the work now. Why get your body into MORE trouble just to be accepted by others for getting the lap band?? I can get to 170 -160 on my own but then I give up dieting and get right back to 220.... Vicious cycle, one that I want to end!! My Dr. is requiring me to do two weeks of pre-op dieting invloving 3 shakes a day + low glycimic veggies. I cannot wait for November 30th to get here!!!

I also get the "your to small for the lap band" comments, but I figure when I get to 150 or lower (my goal is 140) the same people will say I look great. I am sick of being the biggest girl on my hockey team, or the biggest mom at swimming lessons, etc.

Do whatever you feel is best for you!! The nay sayers will think you look fabulous in the end no matter what!!