I am doing my research on getting the band and what the success rate in weight loss is for African AMericans. I have found limitied medical articles on how response to the band. Going on obesityhelp and clicking under black and african american, I saw that most of the banded people lost but struggled a great deal (seemed that the typical story was 40 pounds over a year period with the same struggles as yo yo dieters). I also joined a yahoo group of african american bandsters but have not found that to be helpful at all.

Can someone point me to a website, medical article, or anything else that I might not be thinking of that might be helpful?

Greetings my original egyptian kings and queens.

I am an 31 year old queen.

I have lost almost 60 pounds and I am doing great.

I was banded 8/24/07.

Genetically we are different!

As much as I love the we are world thing it is not true in our make-up.

Our diets and our ethnic foods.

Alot of foods we indulge in is not soul food it's slave food.

Traditional african foods are very healthy and not many of them suffer from the diabtes,high blood from their diets.

I excercise six days a week and 4 days of that is weight training.

My docter suggested my goal weight be 125 but I think 140-150 is perfect.

I love my nubian figure, bow hips and a nice booty.

I wouldn't trade it for the world!

It is so nice to see so many of us getting our healthy on!

Very nicely put Lawanda!!

Destiny 79 I am happy for your individual weight loss. Perhaps you should look at the statistics specific to your race AND age and compare them to those of other races. I am 40 years old and have had 9 more fills that you have, exercise 6 days a week (which is nothing new for me I have always been a "gym rat") and I follow the band rules to the letter.

As Lawanda pointed out we are genetically different, therefore our bodies are going to react differently.

Dori;

I'm newly banded, 37 years old, and have lost 16 pounds since pre-op date on Jan. 9th. I agree that genetically, we are all subject to lose at different rates. It sounds as though you were already "physically fit", and that may be one reason. I'm a certified "couch potatoe" and will get into the gym now that my doctor has given me the o'kay. My concern for you, is that you may have some type of slippage or leak to your band. Are you feeling any restriction at all? Perhaps that's something you can address with your doctor. The flip side to that is, you have lost the 40 pounds and I know that alone is a world of difference! God bless and I wish you continued success on your journey.

Hi everyone,

Just thought I join in! I was banded in June '06. I lost a solid 60 lbs over the last year and a half. With my last fill I became severly restricted and ended up having to have a total unfill and now I'm starting over with the fills again. I did regain about 30 of the pounds, but I blame myself for not stopping myself from eating the wrong foods. I was sooo happy to be able to swallow, I lost my mind and ate in celebration. I am working on it now though and I'm back in the gym, I've dropped 10 pounds in 2 weeks and my fill appt is this week.

Alli,

Thanks for your reply and I totally agree with you that the 40lbs I have already lost has made a world of difference. I suffered terribly from heel spurs and since losing the weight, I have no problems with my heel spurs. After my 8th or 9th fill, i started to feel restriction and after each fill I feel really restricted. After about 3 weeks and some weight loss my restriction pretty much disappears. My nurse says this is pretty normal. So I really didn't start losing until almost 9 months after surgery. My doctor doesn't seem to feel that I have symptoms of a slippage or leakage in my band.

If I can lose another 20 pounds I think I will be satisfied with that. God Bless and take care.

Hey Bigbaby,

I got my band date 03/04/08, my pre op diet begin on 2/14/08.

40 ish, 300.9lbs, 5'11", BMI = 41

12/08/07 - Initial Seminar

12/18/07 - Therapist & Nutritionist Appts.

01/03/08 - Met w/ Dr. Ehrlich - Surgeon, Bloodwork, Gallbladder ultrasound

01/08/08 - Primary Care, EKG, more bloodwork

01/15/08 - Blasted the PC office so the Surgeon's billing dept. should have all of my paperwork.

I'll keep you guys posted to see if I have a slow losing process.

I certainly have some major issues with this discussion. For one I don't think it takes into account that weight loss is slower for women than it is for men, it's also slower as you age, and if you haven't changed the habits that caused you to be obese in the first place, your results will most likely be less than someone who has. To me, African American refers to a cultural group, and like Lawanda mentioned Africans and many other black people around the world do not have an obesity issue. I think the obesity issue for African Americans is because we live in a culture that promotes excess. And when you take into account the socio-economic element of it all - African American's tend to be in the lower end. So what it boils down to if you have 5 dollars for lunch it might make more sense to get fast food or soul food then spending it on a high priced vegetarian option. And lastly, if you live in an urban environment it makes it even more difficult for to you exercise. My point is one that has been expressed thoughout this thread, I'm not being judgemental, but the band is a tool, one that needs to accompany exercise, healthy eating choices, and a strong support network. The idea that my band has failed because I'm black doesn't sit well with me at all.

Kin

CTMAN!!!! Good for UUUUU!!!!!!!!

Congratulations.....Let the countdown begin!!! Keep pressing forward---it will be benefcial for you to start changing your eating habits NOW. Try eating meat (protein) first. Then eat veggies, and then if you're not full--add a carb.

Stop drinking 20-30 minutes before a meal. Don't drink during meals. When the meal is over, wait 30 minutes and then drink.

1/2 of the lapband battle is mental---change begins in the mind. "Be ye transformed by the renewing of you mind!!!"

happy bandday to you

Hello everyone. Just wanted to introduce myself. Im a 38 year old female who had surgery on May 30, 2007. To date I have lost about 84 lbs and Im almost to my goal. In the last couple of months the weight has slowed down a lot but thats fine, Im in this for life.

Hi All,

I'm a 27 year old AAF and found this thread to be very interesting. I'm usually very argumentative when it comes to spats like this, but I think that the initial post wasnt read correctly by some. She was just asking if anyone had found any research on this and from that some people are taking it very personal. Everyone is different, so there may very well be truth in AA loosing weight at a slower rate. If you think otherwise, there's no need to get upset about it, just state your opinion and move on.

I will be going to my consultation on 2/20/08 and am hopeful to get my band date for early March. I'm so happy!!!!

I will say that I'm excitied about meeting other AA who are getting or who have had the band. Congrats to all of those who have had success and who will be getting the band.

CTMAN!!!! Good for UUUUU!!!!!!!!

Congratulations.....Let the countdown begin!!! Keep pressing forward---it will be benefcial for you to start changing your eating habits NOW. Try eating meat (protein) first. Then eat veggies, and then if you're not full--add a carb.

Stop drinking 20-30 minutes before a meal. Don't drink during meals. When the meal is over, wait 30 minutes and then drink.

1/2 of the lapband battle is mental---change begins in the mind. "Be ye transformed by the renewing of you mind!!!"

happy bandday to you

Thanks 4 thosw encouraging word Bigbaby. I'm pressing toward the mark of healthier living.

Be blessed, CTman

HEY it's mighty quiet in this place. Now that we have disagreed about the fact that weight loss is a problem for all races not just Black people we have stopped the dialogue.

Bigbaby - where are you sis. I hope all are doing well with reaching there goals and for those of us that are awaiting our band dates... Keep holding on... Our great day will be here before you know it.

Blessiings - CTman

CTMAN--I'm hear. I look at a lot of the post daily--but don't often posts. Today is a NEW DAY...I went online and looked up the couch to 5K. I went to the gym and started day 1 of trying to learn to run on the treadmill....BOY AM I SORE!!!!

I am trying to hold off weighing until March 1st---it's my prayer that my weight will start with a 1----I will be happy even if it's 199.999999

HI LADIES AND GENTS,

I HAD MY BAND DONE ON 11/27/07 AND I LOST 15 PDS SINCE THEN I HAVE LOST A TOTAL OF 45LBS BUT I HAVE BEEN AT APLATAEU FOR ABOUT 2 WKS AND HAVE BEN EXERCISING 5 TIMES /WK,DRINKING MY FLUIDS AND WAS EATING 800-1000 CAL/DAY. SO THIS WK I INCREASED MY CAL TO 1500/DAY TO SEE IF MAYBE I WAS NOT EATING ENOUGH TO LOSS I WILL REWEIGH ON MONDAY TO SEE IF ANY CHANGE.THIS HAS BEEN VERY DISHEARTENING CAUSE I HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD AT IT ALTHOUGH I HAVE TO ADMIT WITH BEING DOWN ABOUT IT I ATE SOME COOKIES AND 1 1/2 CUP OF ICE CREAM AT WORK ON MY 12HR SHIFT THEN FELT GUILTY. ANY SUGGESTIONS OR ADVISE IS WANTED.

ZIAHMAMA

Don't get discouraged--I've been toying with the same 5 pounds for about a month....I'm a few pounds away from "Onederland"---it ain't nothing but the DEVIL making these pounds hang on me!!! LOL

Weigh yourself on Monday--and if you need a plateau breaker--post on this site and I'll post so we can all see it.