Question:
Why is weight loss so slow with lap-band

I am becoming very discouraged. The weight is coming off very slowly. I have only lost 10 lbs. in 8 months. I need help. I walk 30 min. 3 times a week and started doing water arobecs. Please give and advice and suggestions. They are truly appreciated.    — Starr2 (posted on May 26, 2011)

May 26, 2011
What about your food intake? Are you managing it as well as the exercise? Are you an active Member of a support group?
   — Laura V.

May 26, 2011
I am sure it has to do with the malabsorption that we get when we have RNY that makes us lose faster. This is why I chose this surgery vs the lap band. BUT both in the long run I am told will end up around the same results a few years down the line. Something is just not right if you have only lost 10lbs in 8 months, I would go back to your surgeon and demand some answers. Good Luck
   — _Karen

May 26, 2011
From all I have read and researched, I believe banders' weight loss comes off slower. I think you need to go back to your surgeon and get a fill. As far as exercising, I walk two miles EVERY day. Folks, exercising is paramount with weight loss. Plus, perhaps you need to journal your food intake.
   — FSUMom

May 26, 2011
Another thing, a teacher at my school got babded too in Dec., so far she has lost 50 lbs. Like the other poster said, it is slower.
   — FSUMom

May 26, 2011
Did you go to a seminar before surgery? With lapband they only predict about a 45-50% of weight-loss total. Some have achieved more, but not too many. You are eating less now, yes... But your have work to do. You can eat every hour and still get in a lot of calories. Called grazing. I recommend a diet with very low carbs, like perhaps Atkins. The ketosis, attained with this diet, will help you lose weight, and very fast. You can research diets like this that put your body into ketosis, and how it uses fat stores to lose. My husband was thinking about banding, but wanted to try one last diet first. He chose Atkins in Feb. and now here close to June, he has lost 40 lbs. He has not been hungry, he's had energy, and the weight has fallen off. By the third day of the diet, you are in ketosis and lose your cravings for food. You feel full faster, and your energy level goes up! I hope this helps. With the band you have to find a diet that works for you. If you don't do a low carb. You need to find a super low calorie, but these don't cause the lbs to fall off as fast from my experience. And you will have more fatique. I had RNY and would do it all over again. I lost over 100 lbs and kept it off. I am 3+ yrs out. If you continue to have problems and can afford it, or your insurance pays, you might consider a revision to RNY or the sleeve. Good luck, and I hope my post helped in some way. Blessings.
   — lesleigh07

May 26, 2011
Lap band should lose 1-2lbs per week if you are following the rules AND have a correct fill. You have to keep going back for fills as you lose weight and the band reloosens. You should not have to resort to a life threatening diet like Adkins to lose the weight Donna Oland, RN Lap band 4/19/07 start weight 307 lost so far 121 lbs
   — Donna O.

May 26, 2011
I was banded in May 2007 and have lost 90lbs it came off fast in the beginning and slowed down I still need to lose 20lbs but I know it is my choices of foods that have hindered my lose, I have lost 3lbs this past week and all I did was eat more protein and less carbs my nutritionist said 60 protien, 60 carbs and 30 fat grams a day. I am trying the weight watchers new program (my husband joined) and I am following it with him. It will come off, remember you did not gain it all at once and you will keep off what you lose if you use your band as a tool to help you and not think of it as a miracle cure. I had to struggle with head hunger and it took me a long time to figure out if I was really hugery. There is a good book out there called the Ultimate Lapband Sucess check it out on Amazon it has really helped me through my 4 year journey and I still pick it up and read the things I highlighted in it. Good Luck and never be afraid to ask questions we are all going through this together.
   — Redhead7977

May 27, 2011
The rate of loss is related to how you are eating and how much you are able to exercise. If you have not changed your foods.. still eating fried,starchy foods versus lean protein and low carb veggies, the loss will be slower. If you are not doing exercise that makes you sweat, or not able to do exercise that makes you sweat, the loss will be slower. Also, if you don't have enough fill in your band to suppress your appetite and make healthy choices easier, your loss will be slower. My advice, look at your food choices. Are you eating lean and green? Start journaling everything that you put in your mouth. ABC, all bites count. If you can, kick up your exercise. Walking is great and so are water aerobics. If you can do more, I'd suggest looking into doing some sort of weight lifting. It will not bulk you up (I'm guessing that you're a woman.. my apologies if I'm wrong), women usually don't have enough testosterone to make them bulky. For a woman, weight lifting will tone and reshape you. Yoga is a great non-stressful exercise and so is Pilates. Zumba is very good and there's a low impact version called Zumba Gold. Third bit of advice, go back to your bariatric practice and talk to the doctor, nurses and/or nutritionist/dietician. One or more of those should have some suggestions to help you. And if you are one of the "lighter weights" banded, please do not compare yourself to someone who was heavier at the start. The larger you are at the beginning, the faster the weight comes off and vice versa. I've done very well with the band, but I was almost 400 (385) to begin with. I'm now about 185.. where some people START with the band. While the band may be slower, you can do this. The weight probably didn't come on overnight and it won't leave that way either. And you may avoid having gallbladder issues that rapid weight loss sometimes brings on by losing slower. Hang in there!!
   — Lisaizme