Do all Lap Band Patient really lose 30 #'s in the first 6 weeks?

I knew that I had heard that some people tend to gain weight because of creamed soups and such, which was even one of the recommended foods from his staff. Thank you for your input, I feel much better, and I have been doing better this past week just knowing that it was safe to return to my normal activity level, and getting back to the gym!

 Err, I've "only" lost 16lbs, and I'm going into my 9th weeks.  Geez, I would drop that doc. 

As my doctor told me and I FIRMLY believe... the early weight loss is completely deceptive.  I've just this week began eating solid foods for the first time since January 7th.  Yeah, I've lost a little over 40 pounds and my surgery was on the 21st but about half of that was pre-surgery.  And now that I'm slowly adding back in solid food, it's going to slow down, no doubt.

So much of the early weight loss is dependant on the diet your doctor has you follow and as we've seen on here, it varies wildly.  Don't let him get you down, and honestly, like others have said, I'd consider finding a new one.  That was just mean and you should punch that man in the junk.  And then put Nair in his shampoo bottle.

Yes, I am looking into a new doctor, and from what I have read on her web page, she has taken in quite a few of my doctors patients.

thanks for taking time to respond!

I had my lapband on Nov 10, 2010 and I had lost 20 pounds at 6 weeks post-op....Im three months post-op today and I've lost 35 pounds total!! I love my band!! If it comes off slower, it stays off!! It'll be worth it in the long run :) Joyce

I have a friend whose job is to train new docs how to react to and respond to patients. Bedside manner! I think your doc needs a course!

No, of course they don't! A few may but we aren't RNY or DS patients!  I can't remember how much I lost - guessing about 10lbs. Don't let an unfriendly and unsymapthetic doc worry you. This is YOUR jounrey. Be happy with the bandsters' average of 1-2lbs a week. The extract below shows just how we lose initially - a fast loss the first week and then a dramatic slowing down.

The following explanation is courtesy of Diana Cox.

Our bodies use glycogen for short term energy storage. Glycogen is not very soluble, but it is stored in our muscles for quick energy -- one pound of glycogen requires 4 lbs of water to keep it soluble, and the average glycogen storage capacity is about 2 lbs. So, when you are not getting in enough food, your body turns first to stored glycogen, which is easy to break down for energy. And when you use up 2 lbs of glycogen, you also lose 8 lbs of water that was used to store it -- voila -- the "easy" 10 lbs that most people lose in the first week of a diet.

 As you stay in caloric deficit, however, your body starts to realize that this is not a short term problem. You start mobilizing fat from your adipose tissue and burning fat for energy. But your body also realizes that fat can't be used for short bursts of energy -- like, to outrun a sabertooth tiger. So, it starts converting some of the fat into glycogen, and rebuilding the glycogen stores. And as it puts back the 2 lbs of glycogen into the muscle, 8 lbs of water has to be stored with it to keep it soluble. So, even though you might still be LOSING energy content to your body, your weight will not go down or you might even GAIN for a while as you retain water to dissolve the glycogen that is being reformed and stored.

What an idiot. I lost about 25lbs but I was on a liquid diet for a month after surgery. What do you mean he only cares about fat grams??? Doesn't he know that fat does not make you FAT??? I would look for a new Doc or I would speak up cause he is being very disrespectful in my opinion.

Jen

I was told that he was an @#%, but I was also told that he was a very skillful surgeon, which I think everyone wants when getting on an operating table. I thought I would be able to put up with his attitude, I just didn't expect this. As far as speaking up, he doesn't really let you talk to him. As far as the fat grams are concerned he said that as long as I didn't take in more than 25g of fat a day, he was not concerned about cal, and carbs. But he also said he was not interested in muscle gain. This came about when I mentioned that I had joined a gym last year, and he wanted to know why I hadn't lost more weight. I told him I lift weights, and had lost inches, his response, "that doesn't matter" This was prior to surgery, so I just brushed the comment off, because I was concerned about his hands, not his mouth at the time.

Thanks for the response Jen!

Thank you all so much for the information and the replies! It makes me feel so much better to know that I am not as hopeless as I first thought!  Between this and the fact that my husband was recently transferred to a camp that is not taking daily fire, gives me hope I will be able to reach my goals! Thank you again!

I lost very little the first six weeks, after my 2nd adjustment when I had restriction I lost about ten lbs a month.

Your MD needs to re-check stats. I could see other surgeries maybe losing 30 lbs in 6 weeks depending on how much excess weight, but I have never heard of it with the band.