peachwood

I think it is very user unfriendly too. The only thing I use it for is to post my weight and measurements monthly. But I actually perfer the obesityhelp Health Tracker for that.

Hi all, My anniversary was 2/10/09 and on that date I lost 65# I am now at 71#. I have never donated so many clothes to Goodwill It must be a dozen bags by now. My new hobby is clothes shopping!! I lost 34" overall. I never thought I could do that. I really love this band. The weight loss is steady but consistant once the fill restriction is good. I lose about 5 -7# a month. I do not have that desire to search for food and eat. I exercise a lot and feel really good. My labs are perfect. Lots of aches and pains are gone too. Sounds like others are reaping the same benefits!! Yeah!!

HI, Yes I understand your pain!! I too have the Realize C band (11 cc). It took me 7 months to get it kicked into gear. My fills were all under flouroscope and I have had only 2. My band fill level is now 10.2 cc. and has lasted since Sept.09. I think this may be the sweet spot in only two fills. Many people complain about exactly what you are about the band. I feel that fills under flouro are so much better because you need less of them and they are very accurate. Less time wasted getting fills, and probably overall less money in the long run. At your next fill see if you can get one under flouro. I have a thinner stomach (as per my surgeon) and therefore it took more saline to feel the restriction. My first fill was 8cc! and it only lasted 2 months but the next one was perfect! Good Luck, Be Patient, and you are losing weight!!

GOOD FOR YOU. You will not be disappointed. I was 56 when I had the surgery in Feb 09. I feel so much better, less meds, more active and all the other things that have been said. It does take patience. But it will work. Keep us updated!!

Hi Feb. bandsters, It has been quite a year of weight loss. Yeah! It was tough getting to a restriction level but after the second fill in Sept it has been downhill. I have reached 60# lost and 27 inches. I am a little over halfway and hope to reach my goal by Dec 2010. Want to hear from more of the February Bandsters

Yes there are people out here in band land just like you! I initially lost 25# and then I stayed the same until my first fill 90 days after the surgery. I then had an 8cc fill which lasted about 8 weeks and I lost 10# then I gained it back until my second fill 4 months later. After the 10.2 cc total I am glad to say it is working. I have lost 60# and next month is my band anniv. I only have .8cc left in the band. but the second fill has lasted over 5 months with great restriction. I have heard from many that the REalize band takes patience to get the restriction. Good Luck.

Patterba, Did you get your fill in January Yet?

Your experience sounds similar to mine. Just be patience. When I lost the restriction after such an aggressive fill of 8cc. I was worried. Then I got the second fill. Getting fills under flouro is most reassuring. I am pleasantly surprised that this fill has lasted so long and I think it will last for awhile. I only have .8cc left to fill! I seem to lose about 5 to 7# a month over the past 4 months. The longer I have the band the better it is going. So good luck and let me know how you are progressing.

I love Motion Comfort. They really hold the girls in place. I play tennis and do zumba and I am very comfortable. Dick's carries them in smaller sizes but you can order them on line.:willy_nilly:

Hi Patterba, My first fill was 8cc and the restriction lasted about 8 weeks and then I could eat most anything and the quantity increased as well. I gained about 10 lbs!!! Then I got the second fill of 2.4 cc. It has been 3 months and i have lost 25# and the restriction is still very good. It took me some time to get going but all is well now.

Hi, Seems we all have a time when we struggle. I seemed to have the opposite time effect. I was banded on 2/10/09. I lost about 20# until my first fill in May ( insurance dictates!) I then lost about 13#. I gained it back over the summer. Had the second fill in Sept. when I really felt restriction. Losing about 5-8# a month. Feeling the band do its job. Feeling in control even though I am a slow loser. Hope to lose 50# by New Year's. I never could have done this without the band. One interesting thing is that my clothing size has hardly changed. I just starting getting rid of my original clothes so I am feeling much more motivated. I was at the Obesity Help conference and at our table the input was that clothing sizes did not change much until the 60# mark esp. if you have a lot to lose. Any thoughts? Would love to hear from more of you.

Yes I want to eat real foods too. Hate the protein shakes. They make me gag!! But after the last fill I was short on protein so I used dry milk powder added to my skim plus and Proteinex in my drinks to get the protein up. After four weeks I can almost eat enough protein so I can get back to real food again - just not much!!! But there are times when we may temporarily need to use those protein supplements.

I have been working with the Proteinex. What I have found to be acceptable is using 1 Tbsp in 24 oz of Lemonade Crystal Light. That gives me 7 grams in 24 oz. I try to have 3 of them a day, giving me 21 grams of protein. It gets me closer to what I need. My restriction is still fairly tight but I feel a little looser at night. But the weight is coming off.

I ordered the liquids and have not receive them yet. They are Proteinex and Pro-stat 64. I heard they are really nasty but there is 15 grams in 2 TBSP. I figure if it is unflavored I can put it in a large amt. of liquid(Crystal Light) to sip on during the day. I just need an extra 15 - 20 grams right now because I am so tight. I am using the protein bullets right now and they are fine as well. Even though they are incomplete protein with what I am eating they are fine as well. I will check if they are unflavored as well. The flavors are intense but work when diluted in at least 24 oz. for me. I let you know what I think when I get them.

Hi, Had a second fill on 9/16 to total 10.2cc in an 11cc realize C band. Boy am I tight now! I am in the same situation as you. I need to get more protein because even the low calorie intake and exercise is not moving the scale down. I really hate the protein stuff but I found a unflavored liquid that I can add to drinks. Will see if it works.

HI, I have the Realize C band which is precurved so there is no triangular shaping when filled. I certainly feel good with it. No problems except one time I ate too fast. But that is not the bands fault. I have to wait at least 90 days between fills so I have not had much restriction. I have had one fill ( 8cc) rather agressive and I need another one but that will not happened until Sept. so the weight loss has been slow. My concern is that I only have 3 cc's left and will I have long term restriction and hit the sweet spot

The Realize C band is the second generation Realize band. It is precurved, little wider, and a little larger. It holds 11 cc. It is still only being installed by a few surgeons but I think it will soon be all "C" bands.

Hi, I just had my first fill - 8cc's!!! That was aggressive. It was done under floroscope so it was precise. No wonder I felt no restriction! It will be a new process with the eating. I have the Realize C band which holds 11cc. Not much room left.

I choose to tell my husband and my son and not until 2 weeks before surgery! It had to be my decision and I knew it would be a slow weight loss and did not want anyone judging me. I did tell two friends after and since I do not work outsde the home I do not have to deal with the workplace which can be a harsh one. 3 months out I am glad I kept it low key. No regrets here.

I understand your big disappointment about not feeling full after the surgery. It is called "bander's hell". I was banded on Feb. 10 and I must wait 90 days for a fill. I can really eat. I have tried everything and have had no problems. What is hard is that I know it will change dramatically when I finally get a fill. I think 90 days is too long to wait for a fill. My mindset is totally off. I try to think that my band date is really the date I get my first fill. I have the new Realize C band and as it is a bigger band (bigger than the reg. Realize band) and I have no restriction. It also depends on the thickness of your stomach and how much restriction some people have. Hang in there. Let's hope the fill will help.

Just a note for those with Blue Cross Blue Shield. There is a 90 day wait for a first fill. I was banded on 2/10/09 and still waiting. Yes it is hard. I am not losing but not gaining. Trying to work on the band eating habits so it is not too much of a shock when I do feel restriction.

I'm down 7# since the start of the challenge. 1 more pound than the ticker. 17# to go. Doing better than I thought!!

Thanks Babe for the pep talk. I do track on the Realize band site and I do exercise 6 days a week. I did not have to do a preop diet. I do know I eat much more than I should but my food choices are generally good and I am working on the band rules so maybe the scales are not moving down but there are some behaviors that are taking place. Actually I am pleased I am not gaining and I can maintain. That is a major plus. I know I probably eat too many CHO but I am hoping with a fill I will feel full before I get to them

I was banded on 2/10/09 with the reaize C band. I have to wait 3 months before I can get a fill and boy do I need one. I have no restriction and can eat anything. I have maintained my weight loss but have not lost anything in the past 4 weeks. It is very hard. According to my surgeon the band that I have does not have as much restriction unfilled as other bands. It also depends on the thickness of the stomach walls.

I am getting to the point I forgot I had surgery! I am not able to have a fill for 90 days and I have NO restriction. I have not gained but I have not lost either. I am starting to slip to old eating habits because there is nothing reminding me I ate enough. I think the insurance companies that have that rule need to rethink it. I am losing my motivation. I am afaid that when I finally get a fill I will be in shock!!