New here and considering LapBand this summer

As mentioned here, the AVERAGE weight loss is supposed to be 1 to 2 pounds a week.  You probably will lose faster in the beginning. So while in the first 3 months you may lose 40 pounds, by the end of the year you may lose another 12 pound. While it may seem for 9 months, you lost nothing; but on the average you lost 1 pounds a week. Does this make sense?

Some of us (me include) believe scales should be used only for fish or piano ... However, many others are obsessed with the ‘numbers’ lost.

Either way, remember there are other “scales" you can use to monitor your success: your constant hunger reduction (eliminated); reduced clothing size; increase energy; re-familiarizing yourself to body-parts unseen for years (errr… toes) ; “common" activity becoming easier (walking, climbing steps), just feeling good about yourself; sleeping better (reduced snoring); the mirror; better medical exam results (lower cholesterol and/or blood pressure); etc.

Many may compare their lost to someone else’s, and get discouraged.

The amount of weight lost is affected by many factors. Everyone loses weight at different rates. It has to do with age, gender, one’s weight, exercise, etc.. A 10 pound lost to one person could be as affected as a 40 pound lost to another. Think of it this way: If a 400-pound person loses 40 pounds; a 300-pound person loses 30 pounds, a 200-pound person loses 20 pounds, and a 100-pound person loses 10 pounds – the 400-pound person didn’t necessarily loose more weight than the others. All three lost 10% of their body weight. 

And sometimes it is not the number of pounds that someone loses in a specified period of time that is important. Remember, if you are toning up muscle – your weight loss may seem to have slowed (or stopped), when in fact you are replacing fat with muscle. Muscle is heavier then fat. Someone weighing 200 pounds with a body fat percentage of 25 is carrying around 50 pounds of extra fat. That same person weighing 200 pounds with 10 percent body fat would be carrying only 20 pounds of fat. So it’s not the number that is important.

Since I am unsure what your beginning point is, while 100 pounds may be doable, it may also not be a reachable goal. Speak to your Doctor. And remember these operations help with losing a percentage of the EXCESS body weight.

Example: your "normal" weight is suppose to be 100 pounds, but you're now at 200 pounds, and the "average maximum" weight lost is 80% of the EXCESS. So the maximum weight you should lose is 80 pounds, which bring you down to 120 pounds.

Just so you know, 4 years ago I began at 435 and I am now down to around 230 (the lowest being 215). So can it happen, sure. Is it easy? NO!!  I work at it every day, but it can be done