.... But, Were Afraid To Ask

This is an interesting concept.
All the LAP-BAND® literature stresses a loss of 1-2 lbs per week - which leads one to naturally assume a loss of 52-104# the first year if we multiply that times 52 weeks.
Errr, not exactly.
Face it, often LAP-BAND® patients do not lose 52-104# in their first year of banding.
There is a surgeon who has said on this very website that he dreams of having his LAP-BAND® patients lose 1-2# per week consistently.
So why does it not happen for all of us? Let's take a look at two important reasons.
Number One:
In this longtime-banded gal's observation the rate of 1-2# a week is optimally achieved when you have proper restriction.
That's a big concept - when you have proper restriction - because newly banded folks, long time banded folks and every one in between deals with time when we are not well restricted. If we were all properly restricted all the time, we'd never need fills but it happens. Quite often, the more you lose, the more fill you might need to keep a good restriction level.
Think of the LAP-BAND® as a leather belt around your stomach. As you lose weight and get smaller, you often have to tighten it so it continues to fit, right?
Remember that your stomach often gets smaller as the body does, so sometimes it takes a little bit more fill to 'feel' the same amount of restriction you had when you were heavier. And during those times, frankly, we do not generally lose 1-2# a week in general.
I am now tireless about my fills but if I total up all my overall time as a banded person (excluding the time that my older band had no working tubing, )
then I've only been properly restricted for several months of my time since having my band repaired last year. In other words, since that period of time I only had optimal restriction for maybe 30-40 weeks total - which translates to my current loss.

Number Two:
Those who have higher start weights, higher starting BMI's and more to lose - generally lose more and lose quicker than those who have lower starting weights or have less to lose. It's a simple math equation: those with more to lose tend to easily lose the 2# a week (or more) when properly restricted. Those with lower start weights (this includes a lot of those who self paid and went to Mexico if they didn't qualify for insurance coverage in this country) will often post weight loss of approx. 1/2 to 1# a week, even with the proper restriction. A LAP-BAND® patient who is trying to lose 60# overall to get to goal will usually not see the same fast loss as a patient who is aiming to lose 160# to get to goal weight.

Just some things to keep in mind.
Happy Band (and Life) Journeys To All...

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