Losing slowly

[ElizabethO 4]

My Dr. mentioned since I am a band to sleeve patient that I will more than likely lose at a slower rate than normal new sleevers. Have you found this to be true? It's fine to me to lose slow as long as I continue to lose.

[MIMISAN 404]

I wonder why that would be? Did he say why? What is your starting weight?

[Babbs 14,681]

From what I've seen on this and other forums, it does seem to be true. Revisions do seem to lose a bit slower. Not all, but some.

I don't really know the reason why, but now I'm curious and may use my Google Fu to look it up

[liannatx 897]

I have no idea if this is true. I have heard this also. I can however compare my own results.... I have lost a little faster with the sleeve than I did with the band. I tend to lose slowly but lost 65lbs the first year with the band, and then another 10-15lbs in a few months after that. From 225 to 145.

I have lost 63 lbs so far with my sleeve and will be a year post-op in March... I started at a heavier weight this time, but I am also 10 years older and menopausal now lol. I am happy with my slow loss, I have no doubt I will turtle my way to goal with the sleeve.

I don't think being revision has much effect on my rate of loss... I think my age, metabolism, and other health issues does.

[Dana Bunker 1]

I have heard this too and I sometimes feel like it is inhibiting how fast I lose. I lost weight very fast with the lap band but am about 7 weeks out with the sleeve and have lost 25 pounds. I am grateful to be losing and I know slow is the best to go but sometimes I feel like I might never make it to my goal at this pace. About how many calories are people getting to get a good loss? I cannot quite figure out how man is too many vs too few? I am going to get more exercise in too now that I am past the 6 weeks mark. My surgeon did not want me to do anything but walk for the first 6 weeks since he repaired a hernia too. I appreciate all the information on this post. It helps to hear other peoples journeys!

[hellos 19]

Maybe it's because some of the band people have already lost a lot of weight with the band and then they had the sleeve with only a little weight to go...

[Jenpen197803 2]

I've heard this as well. I haven't had my sleeve done yet, so I can't personally speak to it. My own theory is maybe because lap band people sometimes get into the habit of "grazing" throughout the day and may carry that habit into their sleeve life. Then, more calories are consumed. Again, it's just a theory that a few band to sleeve people I've talk to said they've struggled with at times.

[Leslie11 33]

My surgeon told me I won't be as restricted as a patient who has never had the lap band. I had my lap band removed in August and he had to remove a lot of scar tissue caused by the band. This compromises the stomach. Since August, more scar tissue has developed, that's the way our bodies work when healing. I will have the sleeve in 13 days. The reason the surgery will be less restrictive is because the stomach has been compromised/damaged at the top where the band was causing the tissue to me thinner which means the doctor has to cut off the healthier portion of the stomach and leave some healthy behind in order for the staples to hold and not bust.

[jhutch 46]

I am having the same problem I am 7 weeks out and down 33lbs and the let 2 weeks no change in weight very frustrating and I am only rating about 500-600 calories a day. Feel like I am failing but my dr did not say I would loose at a slower pace from band to sleeve. Hoping those scales start moving again soon.

[Bndtoslv 292]

First of all. 33lbs in 7 weeks is NOT slow!

I lost faster with the band but I was 8 years younger and had no kids - no kid food around etc. I also exercised more.

My nutritionist said that we do lose a bit slower. I think a lot of it is that we get used to restriction and (eating around) restriction. My nutritionist said also that our bodies have adapted to extreme deprivation of calories (like 600). That said, I have lost about 56lbs now at 6 months and that puts me 1/2 way to goal. We can't go back in time. A fast weight loss means absolutely nothing in the long term - those of you who lost and maintained with the band should understand that. I think we should also be wary of eating to capacity. I have a theory that those with the band long term became accustomed to the "full esophagus" feeling, that lump in your throat when you have eaten too much.

[CowgirlJane 14,259]

I think there are two reasons 1

If you start at a lower weight you will lose slower. I didn't have that problem as I revised at 300 pounds. 2. Years with a band teaches some people to get used to that feeling of full all the way up to the esophagus. I was very deliberate and and worked hard to eat till no longer hungry rather than seeking "full"

My losses were as good if not better than average virgin sleever but remember I started out with a very high BMI