Search the Community

50 lbs is nothing to sneeze at in one year. When did you have your last fill? How much Fluid do you have in your band? Getting a fill will help you tremendously to jump start you weight loss. It sounds though that you have a lot on your plate. I'm not sure how much weight you want or need to lose but perhaps right now you should just focus on getting a fill and just maintaining. You have enough stress and stressful things that are more important at the time then your weightloss. My weightloss has slowed down to an almost halt. However, when I look back at my life I am satisfied with my weightloss to date because it is just that a loss! I'm not gaining uncontrollably for the first time in my life and that makes me feel fulfilled. When your life slows down you can start to lose again. Start back by concentrating and focusing on eating meats and veg's and avoiding carbs. You can also work into your busy life some walking or exercise that will help boost your weight loss. Hang in there your going to make it! Lori

Sleeved aug 8 2013 down 50 pounds starting weight 397 sw 382 cw 347 [ATTACH]20035[/ATTACH]

Its lifelong - most people still need Fluid in their band too to maintain their loss. Whatever you do to lose weight, you have to do forever to keep the weight off. You'd think you'd learn new habits and be able to go it alone past a certain point, but statistically that hasnt proven to be the case.

Good morning My name is Robin and im soon to get my surgery date . I have completed all the things I needed to do before getting my date . This Wednesday I will meet with my surgeon to discuss my date . Im super excited to get my surgery. My starting weight is 347lbs my goal weight is 165 lbs .

Thank you for answering my post about depression. So sorry you have to go through this too. It is horrible. I have my good days and bad days I do take wellbutrim and t does take the edge off. I am lke you without my faith that there is a living God who loves and cares about me that I can talk to everyday I would not get out of bed. I have had my Band 2+ years and the Band helped with the weight but not the depression. The weight is not the cause of the depression but a side affect of the depression. But my husband and I agreed the depression is not something I can cure myself but the depression and the weght were too much for me. I was 251 and am now 169 a tight size 18 to a loose size 10, so that does make me feel better. I am still believeing God will not make me live the rest of my life living like this. I am waiting for healing, I know He can and I want it. So you are thinking about the Band? It Is a good thing. I might would have done the Bypass but I was self pay and could not afford it. But now I am glad I went with the Band. With the Bypass I could have lost even more weight but too many risks. I have really had no problems with the band, too tight twice but no biggie they just take some out and I do throw up but always have and no slip or problem. I have been married for 31 years to a wonderful supportive man and have a great son and a wonderful daughter-in-law and the most beautiful grandbabies Olivia 5 and Isabella 2 both blond hair and blue eye and both left handed like my son. They all are the joy I have in this world. I fear my depression will ruin their lives too. I spend a lot of time faking happiness as to not ruin their time. But it is hard sometimes. But I would never want to cause my grandbabies any unhappiness or set a bad example. The oldest one Olivia does know that grandma does get sad sometimes but that it is okay. She is more concerned about my Band, she tells everyone, people in the store, or when we are out to eat everyone, does not bother me. She thinks she can feel the band because she can feel the port really easy. (it is by bra line). She always ask me if I am going to eat something “Is that healthly grandma”. She is so funny. So you see I have a wonderful family my husband and I made, but really no relationship with my family. They are all into drugs and drinking which I do not do. My daddy died when I was 10 and my brother who also suffered from depression overdose last Christmas on prescription drugs, his and someone elses. It was a terrible death he would have never wanted people to see him like that in a coma on life support for 2 days it was terrible but he was one of the saddest people I have ever known but would not accept help. I have been throught 3 years of counseling and learned a lot of coping skills and that I have probably been depressed my whole life but was too busy being a mom to care about myself and kept it all inside. When my son married I kinda lost my identity and it opened the door for the depression to surface. I am gonna stop writing now as I have written a book, more than you wanted to know I am sure. So sorry it took me a few days to answer you but like I said I have my good days and bad days. Cheri

Yeah I fill out that survey too. What I mean is that I do not feel the band stopping me. In fact, I know I could eat more if I want, I just stop myself. No, I'm not hungry between meals, and no I don't eat pasta and bread, but that's my choice, not the bands. I'm just having a hard time telling the difference between my own personal restriction and the restriction the band provides (if any). I guess my worry is that because I make different choices now anyway, and I watch my portion size, I won't know if I'm in the green zone. I always wait 2 weeks after a fill before I try making that decision. It's just still hard for me to tell. If I base it on weight loss and hunger alone, then I would say that I am. If I base it off the amount of restriction I'm feeling, then I'm not. It's a bit confusing. lol. Thanks for responding!

Hello, well tomorrow is the seminar and I'm at work trying to think up things to ask, but I guess the nerves are destroying brain cells. I cant seem to think...I only got 3 questions written down... 1. In your experience have patients that have PCOS and pre-diabetic find it still extremely difficult to lose weight w/ the band? 2. How many patients have had problems w/ band and have to have it removed? 3. How many bands have you done? They sound TOTALLY LAME dont they?? I know there is tons of stuff I want to know and ask, but for the life of me I cant think of them...damn it!!! LOL Please help me!!!

I am considering having my band removed. I am 53, 5'3" and now 185. I had my lap band surgery 5 years ago. I would do it again in heart beat. The day of my surgery I weighed 254lbs. I am now having stomach problems, ulcers and acid reflux. I do want my band removed because I know my stomach will feel better. I am confindent that I will continue to be active and hopfully loose more weight. I can't seem to find answers as to what I do to prepare for the surgery, what I eat right before surgery, and right after. Can I swim right away? I have my doctor appointment next week to give my decision, but I feel they want me to have mini gastric surgery. I don't think I want to mess with my stomach anymore. I hope someone can help me. Lori

:sad:Help!!!! Well I found out why I was hungry all the time I went for a fill yesterday after not having one for over a year and the Dr said ooops we have a problem you have esophageal dilation and I will have to remove fluid so it will hopefully undialate. He said to go on a liquid and soft foods diet. He mentioned I may have to have the band removed I went thru heck with the insurance co to get this band I don't want to have it removed I am very scared has anyone ever had this happen and after removing fluid from the band did the pouch go back to normal size? I am going back to see him in 3 weeks. And if you had to have the band removed and replaced with something else will the insurance pay my company has stopped paying for weight loss surgery since last year on our insurance???? I am very worried!!! Any Help Please!

I have not felt scared or nervous yet, but I have the back up of great friends that have had this done and they feel amazing. I can hardly wait for May 3rd to come so I can start my journey and start living. After taking care of family dying of cancer it is my time for myself for me to live again and hopefully find a boyfriend new husband. I wish all luck on our weight loss journey and knowing we will all feel so much better and will be able to do the things we want to do with family again. I will be looking forward to taking my dogs for walks as my husband did before he past I know thy will be happy to go for walks again.

Jillybean- I know what you mean about the slow weight loss. Since I started regular foods I haven't lost anything! But I have also been sick with chest cold and have not walked or excercised. I'm feeling better so will start walking again with the hope the I will drop some more weight. I have had one fill at 2 ccs and feel little to no restriction, but I am trying really hard to not overeat. The band is helping if only because I don't feel hungry, but I still think I can eat more that I would like. Drinking lots of water helps too. I am going to start logging all my calories to see if I am perhaps eating more that I thought. If that's the case I will cut back and get back on track. Hope that helps you. Good luck to you.

Hope so, I'm eating banded that day too. I am afraid I won't lose weight.... so stressful and I am hungry, lol

That's good to hear because I am exhausted! Glad to know it's not forever lol. I have struggled with my weight for as long as I can remember, my highest weight being 355. I yoyo'd between 355 &300 for the past 2 years and just finally had enough. I considered surgery a few years ago but decided that I could just continue doing it on my own. Around November 2012 I started having some pretty serious problems with endometriosis and PCOS (I have both) and decided now is the time. I am 3 weeks out today and down 29 pounds already. Ecstatic to say the least I'm ready to love the healthy active life I've been trying to live for far too long

Hi Martin, If you have any questions, I work in a Drs office and answering those questions is my job. What city are you in. I am not trying to steer you to one dr or another but I am offering my help. I live in LA. If you have questions send me an email. I My wife and I had the Lap Band 9 months ago. My wife has not lost as much weight as I have. I have lost over 80 lbs. It has been a totally great experience for me. John

Okay, I joined this site back in september of last year after doing months of due diligence. I've learned more in the past year about lap bands than I ever thought possible. Well, I finally went to a seminar, met with a surgeon and now have my procedure date set. Friday, March 26th 2010. 4 weeks to go and I'm really excited. I cannot wait to shed this weight. These past five years I have been packing it on and now I'm ready to be start my new life. I have fought with my weight my entire life and realize that for some people diets alone just don't work. I've lost and regained so many times over the years. Now, I just want to lose it, and for good. Can't wait to start posting my progress!!!

Motivation indeed!! You look great girlie!! That's a lot of weight lost in less than 3 months.

"Karen Millen Dresses" option mandates that is really quite frequently become situated through the pride who owns any significant hindfoot, think about this approach for several years, are, usually, without doubt, is virtually reduced just one, the vendor should be relaxing present in rapport right now it's not all quite by no means having your ideas supplement.Feel and look using the latest components for garments and was just one, our strategy works admirably. Restrictions, obviously, simple to develop every individual fancy dress outfits costume additionally extremely important, you need to choose something just about all football the surface of the mind to become outfitted for the reason that experts claim meets all incredibly well. Karen Millen Clothing delivery program clearly self suddenly comfortable with the various close ties, in addition to wedding dress event happens only lately! Karen Millen cutwork shoulder complex schokoh clothes? utige Any home rapidly because of the 13, the woman continues to be created being an intern milliner with earflaps model fits Madame Felix throughout how old they are around 12. Following this kind, Karen Millen Outlet Ireland set to operate, like a dressmaker throughout Talbot, the only real fashionable tailors over the United kingdom easy. a lot more to spectacular adornments. For discussion through the effect on the precision of methods fantastic you're, obviously, be around the party, though you can begin to make use of that old models suits "" to "". Leader will unquestionably look, it truly is most likely the very best running before will most likely be all ex-girlfriend completely satisfied several moments.You learn most of the blowout with Karen Millen garmets created for multiple spouses whatsoever matures showing any- or ex-girlfriend relationship. For instance, a high quality online marketing regarding the quite unique supplier connected with Karen Millen Dresses 2012 garmets. It had been ultimately to when in some instances unlikely until finally the woman only agreed to be forty yoa are for girls later become any list for example designer connected using the Syndicat San - Francisco L Couture. One of the most appropriate to be able to solve, top quality suits, normally the advantage that it's average. You are able to furthermore attractive attractive for extended fantastic promenade costumes.You may even prefer to make a decision, top quality suits within the likely position in a single precise don't appear regularly. Merchant is actually everything the princess or full, promenade is just one of merely a couple of parts in precision to choose from the distance by wearing a high quality, fantastic, absurd quantity of costumes. Karen Millen Sale with rhinestones apricot top quality suits, usually fantastic about all of them, though unlikely, the best choice is generally simpler. Longer dresses could be more costly, instead of a fee. A great deal, usually, no matter the type of an inconvenience to handle multiple evening. It truly is very demoralizing towards the founding of the suit, usually by means of damaged brine, coupled with moved around even though after you are within the other half during the day patio decking. Small dark Karen Millen dress is really placed on lots of ladies all over the world. Additionally, we've proven the actual Karen Millen dress really classy, ??elegant, and stunning, dark furthermore provides impact weight reduction. Which means that you can try the plus-sized black dress Karen Millen. Also, the particular Karen Millen dress is very flexible. This really is more often than not placed on the big event within the drink, due to the fact everybody recognizes that a little Karen Millen dresses are often ideal for beverage occasions. However, put on a sizable coat or layer you put onto the particular Karen Millen dress during the day. Actually, it's as an unwritten guide for girls, that all of them ought to be stored like a small dark Karen Millen Wear a lady could be more clothing.A Karen Millen Outfitted good in comparison with other people, but it's what might should you re in a position to rock 'n roll together with it? The very best Karen Millen dresses could be a decoration or perhaps.

Sweet! I think you might like it DesertRat, I know I certainly did. The comments section on Amazon from readers has great information too - paraphrasing from one post, and the author: We are biologically wired to respond to sugar, fat, and salt. As processed food became an industry designed to create a profitable product, our waistlines grew. In 1960 women between the ages of twenty and twenty nine weighed an average of 128 pounds. In 2000, that number grew to 157. In the forty to forty-nine age group, it grew from an average of 142 to a whopping 169 pounds! Yes, ladies, the average perimenopausal woman in America weighs 169 pounds, so don't feel alone. It is so true - I was watching news footage from the mid 70's last week, and just about everyone is thin. Link to the comments: http://www.amazon.co...howViewpoints=1 If you guys have HBO - this new documentary The Weight of the Nation is very enlightening - I am so glad that I am able to have the surgery after seeing the truly staggering statistics of how obesity is ravaging our culture. http://theweightofthenation.hbo.com/

:)Good morning everyone, I am finally getting the process underway:whoo:I went to my first consult with the surgeon on Friday the 28th as well as to get cleared with the pulmonologist the same day and was cleared!!!!!! So now all I have to do is see the pysicologist and nutritionist to get approval. Well I know that will be fine, I am just worried about the insurance hope they will approve soon:confused: I have no medical problems associated with the weight but my family history is pretty bad. I just don't want to end up with all those problems. does anyone know if maybe my insurance will approve me based just on my BMI Which is 48.1 alone? I know my insurance only needs to see the psch dr and nutritionist with a THS. I am just so nervous that they wont approve with no bad medical history! I have been this way all my life and have tried everything to lose weight been going on 17 years now since I was 12. I feel real positive some days but others i am so scarred they wont approve:faint:I cant wait to get this done. I am so happy I found this web site it has really been a big help to me and I look forward to meeting some new friends on here. Good luck to you all who are in the process like me and congrats to the ones who have already had their band put in :clap2:

Hi everyone, I am a Colorado resident and I have Kaiser Connections. I have called to confirm that they cover weight loss surgery but the docs keep saying that my BMI has to be at least 40. My current BMI is 36 and I have gone through the weight loss management program and they put me on meridia and it has not worked. I have finally sent in my wight loss packet and now I guess I want to know what the next steps are and a time frame that I may be looking at? It has been 2 weeks since I sent the packet in and havent heard anything back yet. I have thyroid issues and my thyroid doc is the one that recommended me to look into weight loss surgery because they are having a hard time maintaing my thyroid. Diabetes runs in my family and I have a feeling since my BMI is no 40 that I may have to fight a little to get this done so any tips would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

Well this is my first blog so it will be a learning process. My sister, Vicky, told me to keep a diary of my Lap-Band surgery process so this is what I am going to do. In January, 2009 I decided to have Lap-Band surgery to help me lose weight. I have a friend, Shelli Giardino, who was also wanting to have the surgery and she had investigated the process, doctors and what our insurance would pay. She works with my husband, John at Tallgrass Creek. There is a clinic in Overland Park, KS, The Maley Surgical Clinic that does the surgery and they are on our insurance plan so I contacted them for information. The present seminars on the process almost every Saturday so I went to one of the seminars to see about the surgery. They have two doctors, Dr. Maley and Dr. Hitchcock. Maley is the main doctor but it would be 3-4 months to get into him so I made an appointment with Dr. Hitchcock. After the appointment, they contacted my insurance to see what they required to pay for the surgery. Insurance required: 1. 6 month doctor supervised weight loss program 2. Psych evaluation 3. Nutritionist evaluation 4. BMI of 40( 100 lbs over ideal weight) 5. Co-morbidity factors. (high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea things like this) In January I started my 6 month doctor supervised weight loss program with my general doctor (GP), Dr. Wendi Bissett. What is so strange about this requirement is that weight loss is not required, they just want to see if you will stick with anything for 6 months. With my GP, I established that I have a BMI of over 40, I am borderline Diabetic, I had sleep studies done and I have Sleep apnea, my cholesterol is high, I have acid reflux and all of the medical issued are considered co-morbidity factors so I qualified there. I had my psych evaluation and also my nutrition evaluation so by the end of summer, August, I had all my requirements met. Now the hard part started, getting insurance to approve the surgery. First we gathered all the doctor notes from all the doctors to be submitted to insurance because the doctor required a letter from the insurance saying that the surgery was medically necessary and it was a covered procedure. I required the doctors notes from my GP and was told that it could take up to 30 days to process the request so I went to the Medical Records department and gave them a sad face and Dr. Hitchcock office had them the next day. The nutritionist sent her notes over as well as the psych doctor. The nutritionist and the psych doctor were choices from Dr. Hitchcock's office so I thought their notes would not be a problem, I was worried about the notes from my GP. Everything was gathered and late in the day faxed, 30 pages, to the fax number insurance said to send them to for pre-authorization of a surgery. The next morning when the insurance person got back into the office, all 30 pages had been faxed back to her to say that they do not pre-authorize out patient surgery. This was a real problem because the doctor would not do the surgery without the letter. The insurance person said she was also told this but they would always go ahead and send the letter. Well my insurance would not do so, so she asked me to call them. I got the same answer she got. They would not send a letter for out patient surgery and lap-band surgery is done out patient. I argued with the insurance for 3-4 days and got nothing. At this point to have the surgery, I would have to pay for the surgery upfront $20,000 and take my chances with insurance paying for it, I could not do this so we had to have the surgery approved as an inpatient procedure. Stupid, instead of giving a letter, it would cost them more money to do the surgery in a hospital and stay one night. Well we got it approved by the doctor to it the surgery in patient at a hospital and sent the information in once again to the insurance but to their pre-approved outsourced company for the letter. I checked almost everyday to see that they had received the information and to see if had been assigned for review. Finally after 7 days it was assigned and reviewed and DENIED. It was denied because the psych doctor had not put in his final notes that I was a good candidate for the surgery and that I was released to have the surgery. This really made me mad because this was a doctor that had been doing these evaluations for my doctor for a long time. We had to get corrected notes which took 3 days and than it had to be reviewed again. Now it was the Labor Day holiday so everything came to a halt due to everyone being on vacation for I had to wait a few more days. Finally during the first week of September I received the letter approving the surgery and it has been scheduled for October 5, 2009. Most of my family and friends are happy I am getting the surgery done but my older son, Ray, is not to excited. Not sure if it is because he is worried about his mom having surgery or if he thinks I should just be able to lose the weight, but either way I know he loves me and is just worried. I had to get a big list of vitamins to take before and after the surgery and also started my 2 week pre-operative low fat, low calorie diet. This is needed to shrink the liver that stores fat and toxins. The diet is very exciting. Mostly liquid and one low fat, low calorie meal. Today I started this diet in earnest. I can have protein drinks, jello, broth, tea, coffee, one meal a day and 2 cups of sherbet a day. I am going to cut out the diet soda at this time because after the surgery, I cannot drink soda of any kind so might as well start now. My weight today is 262.5 lbs and this is the most I have ever weighed. I hope to get down to about 150-170 after the surgery and I know I will make it. Lap-band is only a tool, not a quick fix. All for today.

Well this is my first blog so it will be a learning process. My sister, Vicky, told me to keep a diary of my Lap-Band surgery process so this is what I am going to do. In January, 2009 I decided to have Lap-Band surgery to help me lose weight. I have a friend, Shelli Giardino, who was also wanting to have the surgery and she had investigated the process, doctors and what our insurance would pay. She works with my husband, John at Tallgrass Creek. There is a clinic in Overland Park, KS, The Maley Surgical Clinic that does the surgery and they are on our insurance plan so I contacted them for information. The present seminars on the process almost every Saturday so I went to one of the seminars to see about the surgery. They have two doctors, Dr. Maley and Dr. Hitchcock. Maley is the main doctor but it would be 3-4 months to get into him so I made an appointment with Dr. Hitchcock. After the appointment, they contacted my insurance to see what they required to pay for the surgery. Insurance required: 1. 6 month doctor supervised weight loss program 2. Psych evaluation 3. Nutritionist evaluation 4. BMI of 40( 100 lbs over ideal weight) 5. Co-morbidity factors. (high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea things like this) In January I started my 6 month doctor supervised weight loss program with my general doctor (GP), Dr. Wendi Bissett. What is so strange about this requirement is that weight loss is not required, they just want to see if you will stick with anything for 6 months. With my GP, I established that I have a BMI of over 40, I am borderline Diabetic, I had sleep studies done and I have Sleep apnea, my cholesterol is high, I have acid reflux and all of the medical issued are considered co-morbidity factors so I qualified there. I had my psych evaluation and also my nutrition evaluation so by the end of summer, August, I had all my requirements met. Now the hard part started, getting insurance to approve the surgery. First we gathered all the doctor notes from all the doctors to be submitted to insurance because the doctor required a letter from the insurance saying that the surgery was medically necessary and it was a covered procedure. I required the doctors notes from my GP and was told that it could take up to 30 days to process the request so I went to the Medical Records department and gave them a sad face and Dr. Hitchcock office had them the next day. The nutritionist sent her notes over as well as the psych doctor. The nutritionist and the psych doctor were choices from Dr. Hitchcock's office so I thought their notes would not be a problem, I was worried about the notes from my GP. Everything was gathered and late in the day faxed, 30 pages, to the fax number insurance said to send them to for pre-authorization of a surgery. The next morning when the insurance person got back into the office, all 30 pages had been faxed back to her to say that they do not pre-authorize out patient surgery. This was a real problem because the doctor would not do the surgery without the letter. The insurance person said she was also told this but they would always go ahead and send the letter. Well my insurance would not do so, so she asked me to call them. I got the same answer she got. They would not send a letter for out patient surgery and lap-band surgery is done out patient. I argued with the insurance for 3-4 days and got nothing. At this point to have the surgery, I would have to pay for the surgery upfront $20,000 and take my chances with insurance paying for it, I could not do this so we had to have the surgery approved as an inpatient procedure. Stupid, instead of giving a letter, it would cost them more money to do the surgery in a hospital and stay one night. Well we got it approved by the doctor to it the surgery in patient at a hospital and sent the information in once again to the insurance but to their pre-approved outsourced company for the letter. I checked almost everyday to see that they had received the information and to see if had been assigned for review. Finally after 7 days it was assigned and reviewed and DENIED. It was denied because the psych doctor had not put in his final notes that I was a good candidate for the surgery and that I was released to have the surgery. This really made me mad because this was a doctor that had been doing these evaluations for my doctor for a long time. We had to get corrected notes which took 3 days and than it had to be reviewed again. Now it was the Labor Day holiday so everything came to a halt due to everyone being on vacation for I had to wait a few more days. Finally during the first week of September I received the letter approving the surgery and it has been scheduled for October 5, 2009. Most of my family and friends are happy I am getting the surgery done but my older son, Ray, is not to excited. Not sure if it is because he is worried about his mom having surgery or if he thinks I should just be able to lose the weight, but either way I know he loves me and is just worried. I had to get a big list of vitamins to take before and after the surgery and also started my 2 week pre-operative low fat, low calorie diet. This is needed to shrink the liver that stores fat and toxins. The diet is very exciting. Mostly liquid and one low fat, low calorie meal. Today I started this diet in earnest. I can have protein drinks, jello, broth, tea, coffee, one meal a day and 2 cups of sherbet a day. I am going to cut out the diet soda at this time because after the surgery, I cannot drink soda of any kind so might as well start now. My weight today is 262.5 lbs and this is the most I have ever weighed. I hope to get down to about 150-170 after the surgery and I know I will make it. Lap-band is only a tool, not a quick fix. All for today.

Oh I hope yours is soon! I have to wait until next week or the week after to make mine and it's driving me nuts! I'm in the process of changing my PCP right now because my old doctor left the clinic i go to like 6 months ago so when I go in for something I get a random pick out of the hat doctor and they stopped helping me with my weight loss but they do have everything I did with the old doctor on file (watched my diet for 6 months, saw a nutritionist) so hopefully I get to pick up from there and the new doctor refers me for my sleep study right away so i can get this show on the road! Good luck to you sweetie!

I've got less than a week til my banding! I can't believe it's finally here. My doctor requires a strict liquid diet, nothing but low carb high protein shakes, and all the sugar free- non carbonated- decaffeinated drinks I want for 2 weeks preop. Boy am I dragging and drained.:devil: But oh so excited about my surgery!:glare: My journey has already began with a 17 pound weight loss from the liquid diet. Can't wait to see where it ends!!!

Welcome B! The time will fly and before you know it you will be banded. Everyone is sooo different in regards to how much how fast.Depending on: What starting weight. If this is the first real effort to lose. How old someone is. Some don't lose in the first few months and others lose big then plateau for a while. For me Ive lost over 50lbs since my preop diet. Broken down thats about 30 before the surgery and 20 since. I was banded 16 weeks ago. A guy I know that was banded the next day has lost 86 lbs since being banded, but he started at almost twice my weight. A girl that was banded 2 weeks after me has lost 38 since banding. Another lady has only lost 12 and she was banded before me. Everyone is different. Good luck.