Question:
Any lap-banders who started at 350 or more?

Hi all I started at 352 and I am 5'6". I am now 272 and I will be 6 months post-op on April 26th. I just got over a looooooong plateau. I was interested in knowing if there are any lap-banders who started at 350 or more and reached goal of around 170. If so how long did it take? Did you incorporte exercise? If so what kind? Any suggestions or tips? Sometimes I start to think I will never get to 170 and I need some kind of hope!    — cau_lady (posted on April 20, 2008)

April 20, 2008
Hi Nicole! I didn't start in the 350's but I did start at 336. I have only been banded for a month. But my goal is 170 also. I was told it would take about 18 months to reach that..if that helps. But you do have to incorporate exercise. I exercise everyday (walking) for 20 minutes at lunch and after supper. Me and the family go for a 40 minute walk. I put the 1 lb weights on my ankles and wrists to give some resistence and it has helped. The exercise videos were too much for me but walking has helped alot. I am down 22 lbs as of yesterday when I weighed in at weight watchers. Don't think about getting to 170 right now. Take it in baby steps or it will seem too frustrating..trust me I know. I give myself 10 lbs goals to reach and I do something fun for myself. When I reached my first 10 lbs goal. I got my hair cut and that was 2 weeks after surgery. When I reached 20lbs. My husband treated me to an ice cream. He brought me to the ice cream shop and I had a kids cone of sugar free, low carb peanut butter cup ice cream. I can't wait until my next 10 lb goal. I am treating myself to a manicure. My family got into the whole weight loss goal with me and my parents told me once I got to 100lb weight loss. They would give me a $100 to buy new clothes. My sister said once I get to 50 lbs. She would give me $50 to buy summer clothes. I NEVER thought I would be below 300lbs ever again and I had to lose 36 lbs before my surgeon would even schedule my surgery. It took me from Nov of 07 to the beginning of March 08 to get there but it was well worth the wait for me. Take it in baby steps and before you know it...that 170 will be right there in reach. I wish you luck on your weight loss journey.
   — Karen M.

April 20, 2008
Nicole, I started at 402# with a BMI of 71 on 08/03/06. I lost 135# in about 9 months and then hit a big platuea. I then had some major life stressors- my dad critically ill and a major depression and completely relapsed into the disease of obesity for 7 months and gained 60# by using food to medicate myself as I always used to do. Being so disappointed in myself, I cancelled appointments with my surgeon and cocooned in my recliner and tried to eat the pain away. I finally had enough and went to my PCP, my surgeon and eventually a Psychiatrist for help and I'm happy to say I'm back on track. I have since lost 32# of the relapse weight in the last 6 weeks and am completely re-focused on reaching my goals with WLS appropriate foods, exercise and emotional healing and work. The reason I got into this is to answer your question of how long it will take? It varies greatly from person to person. Some lose steadily until they reach their goal very quickly without many setbacks. Some, like me have some major bumps along the road and it takes longer. To me, the length of time it takes to reach my goal is not important now, just that I keep moving forward with a positive outlook and do get there, no matter how long it takes. I no longer say "if I get there", I say "when I get there". My goal is 150# as I am 5'2". Plastics will probably remove about 20# of excess skin to put me at about 130# which is my ultimate goal- give or take. Platueaus- ooh, they are aggravating. Try changing up your exercise routine to work out different muscle groups and/or what you are eating to "shock or surprise" the body with something different. I also suggest tracking your intake and you may just find the answer in the numbers of carbs you are eating. Exercise is not optional- I have a recumbent bike in my living room, if I watch tv, I will ride that as well. I have a treadmill which I use as a Plan B if the weather outside is not so good. My family has a membership at the local gym and I love the pool. I am most successfull when I eat right and swim. I find the water to be very healing to me. I am still a "big girl" in my physical form as I weigh 307. Swimming is fun and doesn't feel like exercise. I don't sweat, it doesn't hurt, and it works my ENTIRE body. The weight comes off so much easier when I swim. We are in this for the long haul, it took us a long time to become super obese, it is going to take a long time to reach goal, but will be sooooo worth it. It is challenging. Focus on the future, we can't change what we did yesterday. Keep smiling and good luck. There is always hope, ALWAYS HOPE! As a matter of fact, I had a lock and key tattooed on my shoulder on my one year surgiverary with the word "hope" on it for just this reason. Dawn Vickers, RN, BLC, CLC
   — DawnVic

April 20, 2008
Hi Nichole, My high weight was 353 in January 2007. At that time my doctor let me know that I had the begining stages of diabeties. This was my wake up call, I was 50 years old and had high blood pressure, sleep apnea, arthritis, and now diabeties. So my doctor sent me to see a nutruionist and I started all the requirments for lap band surgury. I lost 46 lbs prior to my May 7, 2007 surgury and as of today, I am now 166 lbs. I'm 5'3" so I'm still not a goal but I'm getting there. I never thought I would loss the weight this fast and I haven't been perfect with my eating and exersize but each day I wake up happy without that first pain of standing up and knowing that I can wear anything in my closet - not just a few size 6X tent dresses. Walking is my main source of exersize. I go to work early and walk there for 15 minutes and then take 30 minutes out of my lunch hour to walk with friends. In January I decided to start the new year taking 4 flights of steps to use the ladies room. So 4 to 6 times each day I take 110 steps up and 110 steps back down. Last month to step it up I decided to stop using the handrails when I walk the steps. This weekend I bought a used Ab Roller. Anyway I just keep challenging myself and I try not to get discourged when the scale stops moving for a week at a time. So my suggestion is to just keep looking forward and enjoying each lb that is gone.
   — damn-ma