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My BMI was in the 50s. I had a sleeve. So far I've lost over 100 lbs. Still have about 65 more to go. I'm almost 8 months out. I can't comment on a duodenal switch's results , but for me do far the sleeve have been fab. My diabetes is in remission, no more snoring. And I've exceeded my surgeon's weight loss expectations. Not sure if there is anyone around on the boards to give you any data on the effacacy of either surgery for more than a few years post op though.

Congrats! I had my 3 month follow up last week and was told that 30% of excess weight loss at 3 months and 50% at 6 months was the norm so it seems fairly similiar/standard. My loss was at 33% so I had that same feel good feeling you have right now but I'm just 3 months behind ya!

I've done the 5 months of monitored weight loss. I'm having doubts. My acid reflux has gotten so bad I now have to take omeprazole everyday because apparently everything I eat now gives me heartburn. I'm doubting my surgeon, the type of surgery I originally picked, the hospital and this whole thing. The surgeon hasn't followed up with me at all. I've seen him once since my first meeting. Are they supposed to follow up? The sleeve makes acid reflux worse, I'm teetering with the idea of bypass but not sure my surgeon will agree to do it. The other surgeon in the practice that I originally met with does bypass but he is seemed so impersonable and quick to pass me to another surgeon that I don't know if I would want him to do it-but he's been doing it for 32years. If I move hospitals I'm afraid of issues with medical records and tests being transferred over. I know deep down I want to do this-so bad, but I'm having so much anxiety. I need help please.

Thanks so much -- I am really trying to nail this BMI thing down. I want to lose weight in advance of the surgery but not in advance of the official weigh-in. Guess that will be answered on the 21st, not long from now really. Meanwhile, congratulations on your tremendous success! You are doing so well -- it is very, very encouraging. Best wishes!

Hmmmm. I'm close to goal like you (either 9 pounds or 7 pounds away depending on the day) So yeah, I'm bouncing around too. But I have managed to lose a few pounds this month. Not a lot, but something, lol. It just gets harder the closer we get. What kind of exercise are you doing? I do 30-40 minutes of cardio 4 days a week and a little weights after. As you can see, I'm focusing more on cardio right now to finish off this last remaining weight. I'll worry about weight training when I get to maintenance. I have also decided to add a few carbs from bread and stuff just to change things up a little.

I have had the paragaurd for about a year and a half. It has no hormones. I have mixed feelings about it. It's easy and doesn't make me hold onto or gain weight but my periods are heavier and last longer.

I'm on day 6 and haven't weighed myself but can tell I've lost weight (wrist watch is looser etc.). The dietician told us at pre-op class that most people can expect to lose anywhere from 5 - 15 lbs per week on the preop diet. We do about 800-900 calories per day, high protein and low (ish) carb.

I felt mine was slow compared to others, so I understand why you're asking but I'm not going to give you the answer you are looking for. Comparisons are a trap that lead to frustration, discontentment, and fear of failure. Just keep following your plan and you will succeed. Stop watching the numbers on the scale and Celebrate the NSV's (non scale victories) along the way. The fit of your clothes, stopping a medication, pains going away, painting your own toes, seatbelts fitting better - all these and more! These are the reasons we're doing this. The scale number is just a gauge. How we FEEL and what we can DO are the real reward! I will say that, though sometimes it felt like it was going slow, by 7 months I had lost 100 pounds. Then came a two month stall, but I felt good and was prepared to be happy at that weight. Then another 20 pounds came off between 9 and 12 months. I'm hovering between 115 and 118 now (a good weight for me - I'm only 5' tall).

I'm going to my first appointment on Wednesday to FINALLY start the process to have surgery. I know that there is no definitive answer and everyone is different, but I was curious about how much weight I could expect to lose within the first 5 months? I'm only asking because I'm going to be in a wedding in November of next year and I'm not sure what is going to happen with my dress. Sent from my SM-G930V using the BariatricPal App

Hi: I had my gallbladder removed in April 2008. It was 9 months after being banded and after I'd lost more than a hundred pounds. Quick weight loss seems to bring on gallstones for alot of people. I had ten days off after my gallbladder was removed. I was in more discomfort than when I got banded because I had alot of jiggle on my belly because of the loose skin after loosing so much weight. The thing that helped best with this was to wear a tight spanx-like undergarment that went above my belly toward my ribcage. Other than that wasn't too bad. Hope you feel better soon. Sue

Has anyone else experienced slow weight loss im 3 weeks out and have only lost 8lbs..im exercising 30 to 45 minutes daily and am burning more calories than i take in..also anyone know about "body revamping" like my body is in shock and needs time Sent from my SM-S920L using the BariatricPal App

Hey! I have a nose piercing. i have noticed that the piercing hole has loosened since ive been losing weight. anyone else with this experience?

I was originally thinking 10 mins every 10 mins im on computer, watching tv or just sitting around! So yes, I can do that, I think I started out with 5 just to get the feel of it (: I will start 10mins for every ten mins tomorrow (: And calories if you get stuck at a weight and wont budge then switch it up I have so many things I want to do for exercise or workouts and I know I won't get bored of it and I can find some days where I'll walk after class and then do this I hope to lose 21 pounds by my 21st bday which is Dec. 20th (:

Soo since my post ooo appt 2 weeks ago I gained a pound. I eat less than 900 cal a day. All Protein based, some vegis with minor exercise. I don't understand what I'm doing wrong. I know I can increase exercise and am slowly working into it. I just got cleared. Even with minimal exercise, I am eating significantly less, I should be losing. :-( I don't ever meet fat, carbs, or sugar goals on my fitness pal. I sure hope something gives soon. It's kind of discouraging. I just keep reminding myself I've lost 20#s. That's fantastic. Myfitnesspal is Samanthamegan3 Add me, I dunno if you can see what I ate. I tracked only 2 days but this is consistent with what I've been eating for 2 weeks. :-( help Today I went off track with the potatoe chips (8 of them) and a pretzel rod. But Monday is a mirror image of my meals. I've been doing the same thing for 2 weeks And I eat sushi no rice. But that option isn't on the app. So my carbs and cals are lower for Monday :-/

Hello everyone, I am new to this forum and I have so many questions about banding, I don't even know where to begin! First off, I am a 24 year old, 5'8", 250 lb woman who has been overweight her entire life. I have always been self-conscious and have allowed my self-esteem issues to interfere with my life in many ways. I am happily married to a great, supportive man, but I still feel like something is missing: my self-confidence and confidence in my future health! I have gained and lost, gained and lost with many different diets, calorie counting, and exercise programs and after each attempt I usually end up heavier than when I started. This year alone I yo-yoed from 240 up and down several times and here I am around 250. Basically, I don't have any other major health problems (YET), but I am 100lbs over my "ideal" weight (even though BMI is 38). My major question is: do I currently qualify for lap-band surgery? Does anyone have a similar story? What is the first step I should take in order to pursue this? I have done a lot of research about this surgery, and I do understand the commitment involved, and that is really why I feel this would be good for me: it is a commitment that I can't just give up on. Anyway, any input would be greatly appreciated! Congrats to everyone who is meeting their goals with this surgery -CatLady

Best wishes on this journey!!! You will be fine...just relax, follow the guidelines and you'll be seeing pounds and inches coming off...and you will feel so good, physically and emotionally. The first couple of weeks are hardest, then a few months of full healing, then you should steadily lose, for as long as you need to reach your goal weight(s). Recommend setting small goals....set yourself up for success from the beginning!!! Keep us posted on your progress!!

I started my period soon after being sleeved as well and it wasn't kind to my healing process. 35 pounds is great! Keep in mind, since you are on your period, there is Water weight to consider as well. The healing process differs for everyone...take it easy and be proud of your progress! Best of feelings to you!

Had LB surgery Sept 04. With each fill (total of 4,5?), I had hoped the band would restrict my intake. While I do eat smaller portions than I used to, I have never really lost any weight with the band. Now 6 years later, I am preparing for bypass and will have the LB removed. This has been a dismal failure for me and I really don't know why other than, as always, I eat too much. The one thing I can say is that i always drink water during meals. With out it my esophagas jams like crazy. Could the drinking with meals sabotaged my efforts? Anyone else find no long term benefit to the LB?

Hiya ladies. I'm always commenting but I know I never post quite as much in here. I am now 29 weeks and feeling ready for this little boy to come! lol. Pregnancy itself hasn't been too bad and I've gained about 14lbs so I'm feeling pretty good about that. Belly dweller has flipped my port up on its side so I'm always sore over there now, and he's got his legs tucked right under my ribs which are KILLING me! I've got all the typical pregnancy woes (sore back, swollen feet, cant sleep lol), but the only thing I'm still having some trouble with is keeping certain foods down, or foods of large volume even though my band is empty. I know it worries my husband sometimes but he seems to still question why I get sick if my band is empty. I think about that sometimes but I also know that over the years of having my band my stomach has shrunk a little, so trying to pack a ton of food in there still doesn't work. Anyways, just wanted to say hello to all of you beautiful ladies!!

Its been a long Month, things in my life have been hectic, my knee surgery really put a damper on things. My house flooding was a total nightmare, and my grandmothers passing was a heartache. As they say, Old habits are hard to break. I realized just how much I was an emotional eater. I did it before I even realized I was eating for comfort. I am trying to "think" before I eat now and it seems to be working. I'm trying to get back to the basics and follow the rules. They are easy to sway away from the longer you have the band. But let me tell you, they are rules that you need to follow for the rest of your life. At least, I need to follow them. My knee is improving everyday. I'M OFF MY CRUTCHES officially today!!!! I'm so excited!!!! I still have my brace on, but soon, that will be leaving too! I'm still tight, and I still have to ice it down throughout the day, but I can deal with that. I am going to probably get to start out SLOWLY next week on the elliptical machine. YAY. My house, it looks so pretty now. Still have a lot of tiny things to do, but it looks like a home again!!!! I love my new wood floors, I love my new tile in the bathroom, I love my new paint in the bedrooms and new carpet. It looks like a totally new home (its about 40 years old). My restriction has really kicked in, I have to slow down on drinking and eating. I get full quickly, so I'm making sure I eat good healthy protein that my body needs. I'm taking the quickslim 30 (on my 2nd day of it), so I'm anxious to see if this will help me as well. I don't feel any different taking it, I don't feel like I have a lot of energy, or don't feel like I don't. I really feel the same. I do think it could be helping me with my appetite. I was going to "try" and stay off scales, but I couldn't do it, I ended up weighing this morning and it said 170.4. So, I'm losing!!!!! I am hoping by Monday, I will see the 160's! OMG, I can't believe I'm going to weigh in the 160's. Thats so hard for me to comprehend. when I say it out loud, or type it out loud, it just seems so unreal to me. It makes me want to cry. My eyes are tearing up now. I just can't believe I'm no longer morbidly obese. I am no longer Severe overweight, but the charts show Overweight and getting close to the "healthy weight" range. I'm out of the Red Zone on the charts. I never want to go back to my old self, never ever ever! I feel so much better now. I love my new me. I'm trying to look past my imprefections (stretch marks, scars, sagging skin etc) and see what my DH tells me all the time - That I'm beautiful. Thats so hard for me, I still see myself as a fat ugly person. I know others don't see me that way, I get told I'm beautiful all the time, however it is hard to have a good self image of myself when I let myself go for so long.....but this is something I am working on. I want to be happy with my body and my looks and accept the things that I cannot change. Okay - back to work I go............

Hi, KEtlinger Glad to hear that you are making great strides. Just have a few questions, since I have been struggling lately. When were you banded? How much weight have you lost? How many pounds did you lose on an average monthly? And last but not least, how much exercise played a part in your success??? fitfalife91

My hubby was sleeved 7/18 his starting weight was 441 lbs 6/28. Day of surgery (after 18 day pre op diet) he was 411 lbs 7/18. On 7/25 396 lbs 8/1 388 lbs 8/15 381 lbs 8/22 377 lbs 8/29 372 lbs on tuesday at his 6wk check up he weight 367 lbs (^;^) yay!!! He has not been under 370 in prob 10 yrs. I am so proud of him, his new attitude, his determination and will power! I am his biggest supporter and together we will reach his goal Hope everybody else is doing great, keep it up youre worth it!!!

The good news is, it means you are losing weight. It is from a process called ketosis. It means your body is burning fat.

I live in Houston Texas and I am having the hardest time finding a doctor located here that will do my fill adjustment. I am wondering if anyone has found a doctor here. Dr. Garwood is retired and traveling the country now!!! If not i will have to keep traveling to Dallas which is where they did my surgery. Dr. Garwood did refer me to try lap band solutions so I will be calling them tomorrow. I have not had a fill in two years but now I am gaining weight again and want to get it under control. Any help is appreciated...and True Results will not already tried them.