I'm just fact-finding as of now and have been reading posts about keeping track of calories, etc. and only losing 1-2 lbs per week. How is this different from weight watchers?

I'm just fact-finding as of now and have been reading posts about keeping track of calories, etc. and only losing 1-2 lbs per week. How is this different from weight watchers?

There is zero comparison between the Lap Band and Weight Watchers. The Lap Band is surgical and an entire lifestyle change. Weight Watchers is a diet.

I tried Weight Watchers years ago. I lost about 50 pounds over 6 months. Of course, I also gained it all back and then some once I stopped following their diet.

I have had the Lap Band for 18 months and lost over 220 pounds. Because I'm not on a diet but rather changed my lifestyle permanently, I have no intentions of gaining any back.

I like many u will find here I have had no problem lossing lbs in the past its the maintance.. (i can do anything short term to drop lbs but as soon as I stop then what).. w the lapband this is the way of life for me for life..like missy said lifestyle. .. I love this way of life its very doable for me and fits fine around my loved ones too:-)

Weight loss rates will all be around 1-2 lbs/week on the average, since your body is only able to burn so many calories a week. Initially, weight loss will be faster because your body burns glycogen instead of fat, which has lower energy density (it takes more grams glycogen to produce a given amount of energy than it would fat) and you lose a lot of Water in the process.

Counting calories is crucial during the initial weeks/months of lap band until proper restriction is achieved. At that point, many people stop and rely on the band to do the work, others keep logging to keep overall control of their intake (most of us gained their weight by simply not paying attention). I usually log everything in Daily Plate, but dinners like yesterday's are impossible...two coworkers and I were at a Tapas restaurant and ordered 6 different small plates to share (if turned out too much food). All complex dishes with unknown ingredients and I had a bite of each....how to log?

I've never done weight watchers, but from what I understand, the counting there never becomes optional.

Lastly, there seem to be quite a few people who are afraid of being too tight (higher restriction levels often associated with long-term side effects) and intentionally or not stop before reaching the green zone. Some of them still have some restriction , but overall the weight loss is done by counting cals/carbs etc

I say, do whatever works for you :-)

Oh, I have a LOT to say about this!

I was a WW devotee....I kept all my enrollment booklets over the years and I believe I have 12 of them. I was obviously very good about losing weight for each iteration, but horrible (and human) about regaining.

I finally surrendered to the obvious when, last September, I was reenrolling in WW for the 13th time (lucky 13) and, standing in line shaking my head, I walked away. I had had it. I started deep and extensive research on WLS, met with my surgeon on Dec 11th, and was banded on March 20th, 2013.

Being banded and being a WW are polar opposites in terms of my mindset. With WW, I was on a diet "until I lost my weight". I was always hungry, looking for bulky foods, Water, free fruits, whatever, to fill me up. That never worked. I gamed my points, looking to "save" a few so I could have a "treat" each night. Vacation, wedding, birthday, weekend coming up? I'd veer WAY OFF program, crash and burn, feel like a failure and try to cram in as much off-program foods as I could until my next weigh-in, when I'd start anew. At least for that week.

With my lapband, this is the way I live. I am satisfied on a small portion, so I don't need to save my points for more food, or "tastier" food to "reward" myself with. I never feel deprived, or like I'm sacrificing something really tasty because if I eat it, it will bring on a binge. My lapband is automatic portion control for me. I cannot possibly overeat. It also guides me to choose the best option (in terms of healthy eating) because with limited space in my tummy, I won't fill it with fake Skinny Cows or light candy or all the other BS foods I'd work into my WW points.

I don't count the hours until I can eat again, I don't save up points so I can splurge, I don't try and exercise away a bad day of eating, and most importantly, I'm not doing this "just until I lose weight."

There is no "on my diet"/"off my diet" mentality with my lapband. This is for me one of the greatest benefits of my lapband. The way I eat now is so....calm is the word that comes to mind. Clean, calm, delicious and satisfying.

I totally agree with Parisshel. I did the WW program several years ago and I lost 73 pounds. I was excited and very happy. However, my family moved and I got a new job so my support system of fellow ww was gone. I tried to keep it up but as with a new job and move happens, the stress comes on and I got tired of counting the calories and points and gained the weight I lost plus gained more. However with the LB, I can still eat whatever I want and not worry about counting calories and doing gobs amounts of exercise if I go over. It is one of the best things that have happened to me. Good luck with your decision making.

Oh, I have a LOT to say about this!

I was a WW devotee....I kept all my enrollment booklets over the years and I believe I have 12 of them. I was obviously very good about losing weight for each iteration, but horrible (and human) about regaining.

I finally surrendered to the obvious when, last September, I was reenrolling in WW for the 13th time (lucky 13) and, standing in line shaking my head, I walked away. I had had it. I started deep and extensive research on WLS, met with my surgeon on Dec 11th, and was banded on March 20th, 2013.

Being banded and being a WW are polar opposites in terms of my mindset. With WW, I was on a diet "until I lost my weight". I was always hungry, looking for bulky foods, Water, free fruits, whatever, to fill me up. That never worked. I gamed my points, looking to "save" a few so I could have a "treat" each night. Vacation, wedding, birthday, weekend coming up? I'd veer WAY OFF program, crash and burn, feel like a failure and try to cram in as much off-program foods as I could until my next weigh-in, when I'd start anew. At least for that week.

With my lapband, this is the way I live. I am satisfied on a small portion, so I don't need to save my points for more food, or "tastier" food to "reward" myself with. I never feel deprived, or like I'm sacrificing something really tasty because if I eat it, it will bring on a binge. My lapband is automatic portion control for me. I cannot possibly overeat. It also guides me to choose the best option (in terms of healthy eating) because with limited space in my tummy, I won't fill it with fake Skinny Cows or light candy or all the other BS foods I'd work into my WW points.

I don't count the hours until I can eat again, I don't save up points so I can splurge, I don't try and exercise away a bad day of eating, and most importantly, I'm not doing this "just until I lose weight."

There is no "on my diet"/"off my diet" mentality with my lapband. This is for me one of the greatest benefits of my lapband. The way I eat now is so....calm is the word that comes to mind. Clean, calm, delicious and satisfying.

Very Well Said...you obviously "Get It"

Like the others have said, when on a diet I always felt deprived and fought the hunger pains. With a properly adjusted band, I never feel deprived and can lead a normal life.

Last year I was on weight watchers & not banded yet. I found out that I had to consume 42 points (they dont count calories, but each food has a certain point value) I felt that I had to eat sooo much food to reach my daily 42 points. As eating quite "rich" all my life it was even too much for me. I did lose 20lbs In 3 month and I was working out 5 nights a week. But I stopped it bc I couldn't keep up with buying all this food or carring a lunch box with me. I was banded on 7/10/13 ive dropped 20 lbs already since my pre op diet & post op. I feel the band is working for me as im to eat smaller portions more frequently than constantly chewing on WW. Haven been banded I no longer feel im on a diet nor starving or craving sweets, but experiencing something "normal". Hope this helps just my opinion. Side note; my friend has been on weight watchers for 2 yrs and only lost 50 lbs. Shes been at a plateau for 6 months, there's no band adjustments or bariatric dr to assist. WW gets their 45$ a month whether or not u lose or gain weight.

Sent from my SAMSUNG GALAXY S3 using LapBandTalk

Oh, I have a LOT to say about this!

I was a WW devotee....I kept all my enrollment booklets over the years and I believe I have 12 of them. I was obviously very good about losing weight for each iteration, but horrible (and human) about regaining.

I finally surrendered to the obvious when, last September, I was reenrolling in WW for the 13th time (lucky 13) and, standing in line shaking my head, I walked away. I had had it. I started deep and extensive research on WLS, met with my surgeon on Dec 11th, and was banded on March 20th, 2013.

Being banded and being a WW are polar opposites in terms of my mindset. With WW, I was on a diet "until I lost my weight". I was always hungry, looking for bulky foods, Water, free fruits, whatever, to fill me up. That never worked. I gamed my points, looking to "save" a few so I could have a "treat" each night. Vacation, wedding, birthday, weekend coming up? I'd veer WAY OFF program, crash and burn, feel like a failure and try to cram in as much off-program foods as I could until my next weigh-in, when I'd start anew. At least for that week.

With my lapband, this is the way I live. I am satisfied on a small portion, so I don't need to save my points for more food, or "tastier" food to "reward" myself with. I never feel deprived, or like I'm sacrificing something really tasty because if I eat it, it will bring on a binge. My lapband is automatic portion control for me. I cannot possibly overeat. It also guides me to choose the best option (in terms of healthy eating) because with limited space in my tummy, I won't fill it with fake Skinny Cows or light candy or all the other BS foods I'd work into my WW points.

I don't count the hours until I can eat again, I don't save up points so I can splurge, I don't try and exercise away a bad day of eating, and most importantly, I'm not doing this "just until I lose weight."

There is no "on my diet"/"off my diet" mentality with my lapband. This is for me one of the greatest benefits of my lapband. The way I eat now is so....calm is the word that comes to mind. Clean, calm, delicious and satisfying.

Paris - I love the way you write; SO articulate. Your post is like a mirror image of my experience, and how I feel since being banded.

I'm a little late to this post, but...... I've joined (and ultimately failed) at WW so many times, I should be a stockholder in the company In recent years, I'd join WW Online, do it for a week, then cancel. Of course, I'd still be out the 3 months I already paid for. I would usually re-join after a bad few weeks of eating, professing "I'm going to get on track now!". Uh huh.......we all know how THAT goes.

Since being banded, sometimes I will start to go down that road, thinking "oh, we're going out to eat.....I better plan" blah blah blah. Then I switch gears, remembering that with the band, I don't have to obsess about what to order, how much, how many points, etc. The band is with me all the time, so I can order what I want, eat a small amount, enjoy every bite & be done. I love my band!!