Hi Everybody,

So I've officially made the decision to self pay and I'm scheduling my surgery tomorrow!! AHHHH!!! :nervous I go back to school in the fall and I was wondering what the average weight loss was for the first 6 months. (I want to clarify that this means post band and not including your pre-op diet.) I'm TOTALLY living in fantasy land and I was hoping ya'll would help me out here in dream world. Thanks team!

Love, Sheila

Going to face the music, take out tons of loans (at this point what's MORE debt!?) and get my BAND!!

Today is 12 weeks or 3 months since I was banded!! I have lost 38 pounds!!!! I am very happy w/ my results!!! I am hoping to be at my goal weight of 165 pounds by the end of January 2008. If I am blessed enough to get to that number I would like to get to between 140-150. For now my goal is to get under 200 by September....I shoot for about loosing 8 lbs per month.

I am a lower bmi'er so I think that is why I have only lost 25 pounds in 6 months. And I lost it more in the beginning. I have been yo y oing and at plateau for months. I did get a 3rd fill and am at 3 cc's in a 4 cc band. I have lost a what I had gained.

I have 20 more pounds to go.

I think I have to start exercising regularly.

I also self paid. I had surgery on July 27th, 2007 (3 weeks ago). I am down 20 pounds. I am going for my first fill in a week. I have made a conscious efort to watch what I am eating. After the amount of money I just spent Mc Donalds is no longer tempting :0)

AlisonL,

I was self pay too.....I paid $13000.00 for my band....and well I am reminded every month when the payment goes straight out of my checking account!!! So I am making this happen!!! My doc said to me the other day....."You were self pay right??" I said "yes, what does that have to do with it?" He said...."Self pay usuall do well." I think if my insurance would of paid for it I would of felt even more blessed!!!

Sandra

255h/242s/201c/165g

I've lost 62 pounds in 6 months. That's with out adding the inital 23 pounds before surgery.

It's a steady 10 pounds a month. I expect it will slow down at some point, but I'll just kick the exercise up even more then.

September 19th will be my 6 month anniversary and as of today I've lost 120 pounds. This is entirely made possible by my going to the gym 6 days a week doing cardio and weights--cuz when i slacked i lost nothing, even when not eating a lot. I still haven't had a fill and have been managing fine with food.

virginia

Just hit my six month anniversary.....total lost 57 lbs. Loving every minute of it!!! Life is great...my band is wonderfull!!!

Sandra

255h/242s/185c/165c

I am 2 months out and down 56 pounds,i stick to the band rules ,log all food and drink, and exercise

I've averaged overall 2.25 pounds a week. I am within 17 pounds of MY goal (I am 7 pounds from the goal my doctor set). My 6 month bandiversary was Nov. 23. I'd love to hit 160 by year end.

6 months out; down 80+ lbs!!!

I love my band!

I have lost more than what I ever dreamed possible. The weight is slowing down now, but I cant complain. :whoo:

I lost 25 lbs in six months and am disappointed, but I'm still getting adjustments. I can still eat pretty much anything if I take small bites and chew well. My nurse practictioner thinks I'm doing great because, according to her, the average loss is one to two pounds a week. I've been reading a lot about the lap band and have learned that weight loss varies substantially from person to person. I've made good food choices and have been really working on this. I'm told that the fact that I'm over 60 is a factor. One simply loses more slowly as one ages. I'm trying to be patient and not get discouraged.

Just thought I'd reply....I will be banded 1/17 and have had great success with pre-surgery weight loss. I believe that it has more to do with exercise than anything. I've spent 45 minutes a day on the treadmill and am beginning to build my strength on the eliptical walker. This with careful calorie and protein counting and I've lost 43 lbs. in 3 months pre-surgery. Makes me wonder if I need the band, but I know I can't keep it off without a strong tool....plus I have more than 100 lbs more to lose. Try hitting the exercise harder and you may see better success. I know how that sounds....I hate exercise, but I've been programming my mind to think of the treadmill as my friend. I'm 64, so if I can do it, you can too. I'm pulling for you.

Thanks for the good thoughts, BobbGi. I am a huge (no pun intended) fan of exercise. I actually enjoy it. But I am severly arthritic and am limited in what I can do. No threadmill (which I use to love) and no elliptical. It's gentle stretching and stationary bike--that's about all I can handle, and I still have to ice down my knees afterwards.

<TABLE id=HB_Mail_Container height="100%" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0 UNSELECTABLE="on"><TBODY><TR height="100%" width="100%" UNSELECTABLE="on"><TD id=HB_Focus_Element vAlign=top width="100%" background="" height=250 UNSELECTABLE="off">I lost a lot of weight up front in the first 3 months. I stuck to a diet of high protein:

chicken salad

Tuna Salad

Salmon, grilled

hamburger patties

filet mignon

bay shrimp cocktails

and I splurged a little too....

fudgesicles

ice cream

chocolate

(about twice per week)

Limited carbs, eliminated fast food, found a tasty low-cal beverage (crystal light pink lemonande), enjoy starbucks...

Other fun Snacks for in the car or at work:

hard boiled eggs

beef Jerky

string cheese (or a chunck of cheddar)

campbells lowfat Soups (love cream of brocc... and I added asiago cheese and fresh cracked pepper)

Tried to walk the baby 3 times per week around the neighborhood...

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