Why do doctors say this???????

Why do doctors say that lapbanders only lose between 65-70% of their excess weight. At first I thought ...that's crazy I will lose all the weight, but for some reason for the last year and a half I have been stuck!!! I can not seem to lose any more than 70% of my excess weight.

What gives???Is it a lapband curse??lol.

70% is better than no % and keep going up up up. 

If that is all I can get, I will still be relatively happy.

Jeane

That's the average.  That includes those who don't lose at all and those who lose all.  Plus the average is usually based on 2 years out.  LapBand takes a little longer but you can reach 100% if that is what you want.

I lost 82% of my excess weight so far!  Remember the 65-70% is an average, some lose more and some lose less. 

i think there is a lot of misconceptions about fills out there as well-pre band i read everything i could about this surgery and never once did i get that you would HAVE to adjust the whole time you are losing weight.  There really is no such thing as THE sweet spot.  I have found mine once and am seraching again because my last 5 pounds of fat loss appeared to come from around my band!

I have read a lot of peoples worries on this board and much of the time the answer to their problem is:  "you need a fill"

I think if more of us realized that and stayed on top of our fill needs we would all be more successfull and those averages would shift.

Tina

I agree with others that you shouldn't let average statistics speak for you.  I think doctors are wise to let us know that the band requires discipline however. 

I just keep in mind that the RNYers may lose faster at first, but may eventually gain.  The statistics 5 years out show the weight loss is similar for Band and RNY on average, and the Band remains adjustable.

For me I think that the required calorie needs are decreasing with weight loss, and that is what will create the challenge to meeting the entire goal for me.  So I am counting on needing to get better at this as time goes on, because my current calorie intake will be too much eventually.

Best wishes to you!

The key to losing weight and maintaining your weight loss is fills and after care. I have not had a fill in a year but I go to the doctor every 6 months. This keeps me accountable knowing that I have to go weigh in every 6 months in front of my doctor and it keeps you ahead of things going wrong with the band.

My doctor is very hands on and even if I just go in to weigh and he asks me what I am eating and if everything is ok, it's good to know that he still cares and wants me to continue to be a success.

I'm pre-op and my doctor said I would only lose 40% because that's the average loss of the patients he has tracked. Fot me, that's only 30 pounds. I'm still going to do it because I think I can lose more, but it is discouraging.

To me personally I think that so much of it has to do with the fact that after you reach a certian point, you are not going to lose withouth exercise.  If you dont match your eating habits and exercise habits to generate your metabolism.  You wont lose.  I am finding this out the hard way.  I am having to force myself to exercise more and more to lose.   And, I dont think some folks are willing or able to put forth the kind of effort that it will take to get to goal.  The closer to goal the more you have to strive to reach it.  Thats just MO.

Theresa