I will have been banded for 1 year on May 11, and I have only lost a little over 40 pounds. Of course, I only weighed 220 when I went so I weigh around 180 now. I hit a plateau several months ago and still haven't broken through. But I have to say I'm happy with the 40 pounds though it's pretty expensive. I figure each pound cost about $300. Luckily, I can afford it. Not all of us lose a huge amount of weight and that's something we should say. My friend had a horrible fill doc who overfilled her band to the point that it was about to burst. Finally she found a doc who discovered this. She's afraid to have the band inflated again and has gained 15 pounds. So her total loss is about 20 pounds. I think she'll get up her nerve eventually and have the band filled to a reasonable amount by a good doc. Mine is at 4.5 cc which is good for me at the moment though I may get 5 ccs this summer and see how that works. Our doc, Dr. Rodriguez, said our bands should never be filled beyond about 7.5 cc and my friend's band was filled to 16 ccs! It's important to find good fill docs.

Our doc, Dr. Rodriguez, said our bands should never be filled beyond about 7.5 cc and my friend's band was filled to 16 ccs!

Holy crap! What quack filled it that much?

Wow - 16cc's. I'm shocked it didn't burst!

It all depends on what type of band you have to know how many cc's. Mine is at 3cc's and I have a 4cc band (or 10 cm band that will hold up to 5cc's).

I know many who have 10 cc band and have more than 7.5 cc's, so not sure if that statement is accurate. But again, I'm sure it depends on what type of band you have.

Be proud of your 40 lbs lost. I know without the band, I would have gained weight like I have done every year. 40 lbs is a great loss - and your only 1 year out, who knows what you will do the 2nd year! By the way, Happy 1 year Anniversary!

I hit a plateau several months ago and still haven't broken through.

Let me know if you find a fix other than good old patience. I'm on about month 5 of just fluctuating between the same 6 lbs.

You will eventually break that plateau! I was on one for about 3 months and just bounced around with the same 3-4 lbs up and down. It finally broke. I had done just about everything I could think of to break it...more calories, more exercise, less calories, etc... I dont understand how the body can lose fine and then stop, lol.

You are my hero! I started at 221. My initial goal is 180......then I would be at my lightest weight of my adult life. I hit 185 once.....stayed there about 1 week and quickly gained 10 lbs back. If I were 180 at my 1 yr anniversary, I would be elated. Congratulations!!

:clap2:

If I hit 180 in 1 year, I'll be basking in sunny Hawaii. :scales:

Let me know if you find a fix other than good old patience. I'm on about month 5 of just fluctuating between the same 6 lbs.

I've been stuck for a couple months after losing 35 pounds pretty quick. I'm afraid that the answer for me is going to involve the single most dreaded and despised word in the written and spoken forms of all languages: exercise.

Mark - I hate to tell you, but Yep, your gonna have to pull out the big guns called "exercise". lol.

I have been doing cardio and the weight was falling off, then all of a sudden STOPPED. I stalled for 3 weeks, I started weight lifting some, and doing my cardio and I finally hit a low of 186. I actually saw 185 this morning, but the 2nd time I got on the scales (Yes, I weigh more than once - I'm obsessed), it said 186. I truly believe exercise is the key, unfortunately, you gotta move to lose. I wish there was a magic pill, but so fat, haven't found it.

Mark - I hate to tell you, but Yep, your gonna have to pull out the big guns called "exercise". lol.

I have been doing cardio and the weight was falling off, then all of a sudden STOPPED. I stalled for 3 weeks, I started weight lifting some, and doing my cardio and I finally hit a low of 186. I actually saw 185 this morning, but the 2nd time I got on the scales (Yes, I weigh more than once - I'm obsessed), it said 186. I truly believe exercise is the key, unfortunately, you gotta move to lose. I wish there was a magic pill, but so fat, haven't found it.

Freudian slip? :biggrin1:

Lord, I feel better. I am still at 180 but I don't exercise. I do some exercises for my back (I have stenosis of the 4th and 5th vertebrae) but I will be 60 years old on July 26 and I hate exercise. I don't want to exercise. I don't have that much life left to worry about that. I currently have 9 dogs and my 87 year old mother to take care of,not to mention the two cats. I am too pooped to exercise. My mother has rarely exercised and she's 87, for God's sake. We have never been all that physical. But I'm happy with my 40 pound weight loss. I would never have managed that without the band. A friend who weighed at least 300 pounds now weighs slightly less than I do, but she had gastric bypass. She's got all sorts of skin hanging from her neck, arms, etc. She had a tummy tuck but I haven't seen her since then. I'm still happy I had the lapband surgery. <u typer 2 diabetes is MUCH better. I take one pill a day and my sugar stays very reasonable. In fact, I don't eat until about 3 p.m. and then I eat all Protein and fat, so I really don't have much diabetes anymore. If I get over that, the whole thing will have been worth it.

But I'm glad I'm not the only one who hasn't dropped 100 pounds. Of course, if I had, I'd weigh 120 and be one big wrinkle. Unfortunately, my friend with the 16 ccs in her band has gained 60 pounds. But her husband is dying and she's under serious stress. Stress puts on pounds. She has no restriction in her band because her stomach has to recover from that quack's ministrations. I'd sue the guy, but she's too nice.

I hope to lose 20 more pounds someday but if I don't, I don't. I'm happy with the results I have gotten.

...I currently have 9 dogs and my 87 year old mother to take care of,not to mention the two cats.

HA! I *knew* I liked you for a reason!

Have any photos of the furry critters?

Don't you think it would be fun to start a thread on fur-kids and photos?

Same here. I have an 80 yr old dad with dementia, two dogs, two cats, three teenagers and one difficult DH. Who has time to exercise? That's probably why I have been stuck at this weight so long. I don't want to get a fill until after my vacation in August either. Come September I'm determined to get a fill and get moving down the scale.

Hi all,

I think that it is good to lose any weight...because without the band, I would be increasing in weight! So 40 pounds is terrific. I have lost 44 and I can't believe how much better I feel and how much more energy I have. I also just feel lighter...I don't have to expend quite as much energy to do the things I want and need to do.

I have to emphasize what Sunshine/Tonya says...exercise. I am not a big fan, but when I'm doing it I enjoy it. And I have all the excuses in the world. But I think it boils down to us not putting US first or at least in the top three priorities in our days. Maybe we can't be in first place and make time for what we need/want. But most days we can get in those top few positions. I struggle with that every day.

AND I'm busy. I am self-employed with my own therapy business...with no office staff or billing clerk. I have a husband who travels weekly so the bulk of the household falls to me. I have seven dogs..all bird dogs and we "trial" with them competitively, so training is non-stop. I also have 7 horses..two of which are 2 year olds that I'm training. There is feeding twice a day and cleaning corrals periodially. WE also have 20 acres which we produce a hay crop on and have to irrigate.

How did I solve my dilemma? I get up at 6 in the morning and walk. I'm an early to bed person so I can get out of bed early. I LOVE mornings. BUT, I do what to emphasize as well...I struggle with consistency. I hope that I'm over the hurdle, but I'm sure another something will come up to throw me off stride. I do feel like I need to add some weight training but I just can't do the gym thing..so I'm trying to look at some alternative.

I guess my point is that we have to make us and our health, mental and physical, a priority because nobody else will.

Keep up the good work!!

Shawn

Wow, 16 ccs. Holy cow. Don't feel too bad. I'm down about 50 lbs this year. Its been a slow process for me. Hang in there.

For me exercise is excrutiating. I have arthritis everywhere. I'm not looking forward to HAVING to exercise, but the pool is less that a block away. It's the only exercise I can handle. I won't have an excuse unless I let my membership lapse. When I lose some of this weight, I hope I'm more comfortable. If so I have some plans. I saw an ad in the newspaper for ballroom dancing lessons. I can't think of a more wonderful way to lose weight!! What's that movie with Richard Gere? That's one of my goals. If I make it there, I will post a picture of me with a rose in my teeth!!!!