My nurse practitioner said yesterday that banders only lose up to 55% of their excess weight. Is this true? What do you all find in the weight you have lost? I am so confused and discouraged.

Wendy

I was banded on 12/14/11. I have lost 180lbs. so far. They are just giving you the statistical average. Like anything else the band is what You make of it.

I agree with kman. That is the average. I personally know a lot of people who after losing 50 - 75 pounds quit trying. I agree, it is what you make it.

I have know doubt I will keep losing.

Best of luck to you!

That's just the statistic. I agree with everyone else, your journey is what you make of it. You get back what you put in. I, personally, have 80 lbs of excess weight to get my BMI into the "normal" range. I started my journey in May and have lost 53 lbs. So far, I'm sitting at about 65% of my excess weight lost and feel like my journey has just started.

My surgeon also gave me the stats, and I took that as a challange. I can do better than 55%! I didn't want to go through surgery just to lose 45 lbs or so.

Don't let the stats discourage you. If you invest in your journey it will pay off.

i think that's the average weight loss, but there are deifnitely people who have lost 100% of their excess weight. there are also some who havent lost much, but from what I hear it's all about the work that youre willing to put into it. i'm hopeful i lose 100% of my excess weight!

Yeah, so I'm sitting in the waiting room, and this lady comes up to me and starts telling me not to get a lapband and it's awful blah blah blah... and then I say that if people really try they'll lose more weight. And they say no... blah blah blah... I don't even want to hear it! I was all happy about getting the band. Now they have put fear in me. I've lost 7 pounds in 7 days on my own cuz I have to lose 25-30 pounds before surgery. If I could lose all my weight at age 14 ON MY OWN with diet and excercise, how much more can I lose it with this tool? Why do they say such things? I am so motivated! I WILL DO IT!!!! Screw them and their opinions. I WILL LOSE MY WEIGHT!

Wendy

I started my journey on 2/16/12 and I have lost 65 lbs with only 43 lbs left to get to my goal weight. I love my band and I would do this all over again and again.

Yeah, so I'm sitting in the waiting room, and this lady comes up to me and starts telling me not to get a lapband and it's awful blah blah blah... and then I say that if people really try they'll lose more weight. And they say no... blah blah blah... I don't even want to hear it! I was all happy about getting the band. Now they have put fear in me. I've lost 7 pounds in 7 days on my own cuz I have to lose 25-30 pounds before surgery. If I could lose all my weight at age 14 ON MY OWN with diet and excercise, how much more can I lose it with this tool? Why do they say such things? I am so motivated! I WILL DO IT!!!! Screw them and their opinions. I WILL LOSE MY WEIGHT!

Wendy

Do not listen to the negative talk. I came here first also before I had my surgery and did my research here. My findings here was that 95% of the banders here were happy with their band. They are all doing great. I have found that the other 5% have either not followed the rules on what the doctors said to do, they didn't have the will power to start with or a small percentage have had faulty issues with surgery which is a small number. Like I said above I am doing well, most of the people that were banded in Feb 2012 are doing well, they people that were banded by my doctor are doing well so you do your soul searching and go with what you feel is right. You can do this.... Don't listen to negative people!! Good luck to you.

I was banded January 2012 and so far have lost 129 pounds in 7 months.

I am still losing, even after having my band emptied for an unrelated emergency surgery this past Sunday.

The band is a tool and like any tool, it's only useful if you use it correctly. If people misuse it or expect it to do the work for them, they will fail. If you people use it correctly and are prepared to do the work, they will succeed.

The power to fail or to succeed is totally our own. Don't let those who chose to fail by their actions (or lack thereof) scare you. You can totally do this.

So the average is 55%, don't you think that is awesome? Because it sure is a lot better that 0% right? or even worse, if you keep gaining weight.

I guess it all depends on how YOU look at things and it is completely normal to have fears and insecurities before making such an important decision but the truth is that it is the RIGHT decision.

So put aside those negative thoughts and embrace this new chapter in your life, embrace it fully and with enthusiasm.

People are generally very quick to share bad experiences. The day after surgery, my brother-in-law commented that "hopefully you do better than my coworker, he hasn't lost a thing and is sick all of the time!". Now when I see him every few weeks, he always compliments how great I'm doing and said he told his coworker about how successful I've been. Each experience is individual. There's probably as many reasons why I've succeeded as there is for his unsuccess.

It's all up to you

_{Wendy - If you go into it with a great attitude, knowing that it is a tool and you still have to work at it you will definately succeed. Get educated on how the band "really" works! It is a lot of work, but it definately helps curb my appetite. I could not have done it without it. I think there are a lot of failures out there and those are the ones people talk about, not the successful ones. I weighed 432 pounds when I started and I now weigh 278. If I don't lose another pound (but I know I will) I would be so thankful I did it. It has greatly improved my quality of life!}

_{You can do it, don't listen to the negative stuff!}

_{Good Luck!}

Literally 2 hours ago I told my neighbor about my surgery and she goes "that makes you bulliemic you know that right" Honey don't listen to other and thier negativity ! best of luck on your journey.

Thank you all so much for your encouraging words. You are the best!

Wendy

I was banded January 2012 and so far have lost 129 pounds in 7 months.

I am still losing' date=' even after having my band emptied for an unrelated emergency surgery this past Sunday.

The band is a tool and like any tool, it's only useful if you use it correctly. If people misuse it or expect it to do the work for them, they will fail. If you people use it correctly and are prepared to do the work, they will succeed.

The power to fail or to succeed is totally our own. Don't let those who chose to fail by their actions (or lack thereof) scare you. You can totally do this.[/quote']

Wow!!!!! You rock girl! That is awesome and inspiring to me. I get mine put in this Friday and want to lose 160 (I've already lost 17 pounds on pre-op which I've been super duper strict on for the last 10 days).

Please don't let people discourage you. Statistics are statistics- doesnt mean that will be you.

For what it's worth, Gastric Bypass patients tend to lost 65% of excess weight vs. the 55% of Lap Band patients. So 10% more weight lost ("statistically") but SO much more complications!

Please don't let your NP, or random strangers in the waiting room talk you out of something you have decided to do