Lap-Band Success Story - Achieving Results Not Typical (Part 1)

Are you someone who is seriously overweight? Have you failed to lose weight and maintain that weight loss over and over again with diet and exercise, even under a medically supervised program? Are you thinking about weight loss surgery? Do you cringe when you read the fine print -"RESULTS NOT TYPICAL" on the latest weight loss ad?

I was someone who struggled with obesity. But now I am someone who has successfully used a Lap-Band to attain my desired weight. So the truth is my results are not typical for gastric banding patients either. But what is typical?

Here is my understanding of the facts for average weight loss, or "typical results," for people with serious weight issues (I hate the term morbid obesity) from the research I've done:

· For diet and exercise/medical therapy:

- 25% of excess weight lost (EWL) in ONLY 10 - 40% of patients

- 95% of patients regain (can you say yo-yo)

· For Gastric Banding:

- 50% of excess weight lost (EWL) in the average patient at 2 - 3 years

- Results are enduring and similar to those of gastric bypass patients at 3 years and beyond according to published studies

If you are following my story it is important to know that, typical results for me would have been to lose and maintain half of my excess weight. That is far better than the results I ever achieved with diet, exercise, drugs and diet doctors. Depending on your situation and your goals (that I hope you set while you are exploring gastric banding), achieving and maintaining 50% EWL can resolve your health issues, and dramatically improve the quality of your life.

I started my gastric banding journey at 232 lbs. Early in my transformation my doctor, Dr. Helmuth T. Billy, of Ventura, CA told me that I should expect my weight loss to stall in the 170's. (I think he assumed that I would achieve better than average results based on what he saw in his practice, given my level of commitment and the strength of his practice's after-care program). I could live with maintaining in the 170's - it was a sort of a "Happy Weight" for me. I remembered when I had dieted to the 170's before; I felt good about the way I looked. I was in normal size clothing, I felt healthy, I wouldn't be the fat mom, and if I could just stop yo-yo dieting in the 170's, yes I would be good with that...but I'd always want more, because that is just who I am.

Needless to say, as Dr. Billy had warned, I sailed pretty easily to the 170's and then my weight loss stopped. I had a decision to make. Was I happy with where I was, or was I willing to put in the work to get "results not typical"? I decided to go for it. Below is my list of strategies to that helped me achieve "RESULTS NOT TYPICAL" with my band:

• Journal periodically even after you reach your goal weight.


• Always have a plan, and be prepared.


• A good support structure is critically important.


• Once you decide to have a Lap-Band or Realize band, come to terms that this time your weight loss is really permanent.


• Stay in your "sweet spot" - a properly adjusted band


• Check in with your surgeon's office.


• Pay it forward.


• Work on your body image.


• Admit when you're struggling.


• Step up your exercise.


• Reward yourself and take care of your body.


• Live your life.

So, my results are not typical, but I strongly believe that if you define your goals, and IF you want "RESULTS NOT TYPICAL," you can apply the lessons learned by others in the Banded Living™ community to achieve your goals for weight loss, health, and quality of life.