REALIZEinCT

Glad you're back and getting a handle on the mental aspect. It is true that much comes to the surface that has to be dealt with...all the stuff that was buried beneath the layers of fat. May I suggest talking to a professional therapist? It would probably be very helpful if you're not doing so already. Keep us posted on your status :rolleyes2:

Congratulations on beginning your journey!

Never needed it. Fills have never hurt for me.

Hi Sara,

My doctor said to do whatever I could tolerate as soon as I could tolerate it. There was no specific time frame. However, every surgeon is a little different and yours may have a more specific guideline. I started with walking the day I came home. Running wasn't comfortable for a couple weeks. Good luck in your journey!

Before: 9/08 273#

After: 12/15/09 185#

You shouldn't have a problem getting approval with a 40+ BMI. Those who are 35-40 BMI usually need to have a co-morbidity. I was 42 BMI with no co-morbidities and got approved easily by Anthem BCBS. Good luck to you!

I have absolutely NO regrets about being banded. It is the best thing that I've ever done for myself. For me, there is really no downside to it. Best of luck to you!

Hang in there Nessa! I was plateaued for 2.5 months. I was/am at as tight of a fill as I can be, eating about 1000 calories/day and running my a$$ off on the treadmill! But I hovered around the same spot for a while. Then, over the last 3 weeks the scale suddenly started moving again. I've lost about 8 more pounds in that time! The only thing I changed was I stopped focusing on the numbers so much. Anyway, the point is, to maybe not worry about it so much so long as you're following the program. Best of luck for continued success on your journey.

Hi Pink: I don't think you're being overly ambitious at all! If you want to start running then I highly recommend the Couch to 5k program. I completed this program earlier this year (I was banded on 4/1/09) and it turned me into a full fledged runner! I love running now! I did 3 5k's in 2009 (the first two in the same weekend!) and plan on running a 1/2 marathon in 2010. When I started I couldn't run at all now I can run as much as 7 miles (and still counting :thumbup:) The C25K program is a great foundation upon which to start your running career! Good luck :thumbup:

I was banded on 4/1/09 and am now down 85 pounds. Dr. Craig Floch did great by me. everything was extremely smooth and everything went smoothly with his excellent staff. I highly recommend Dr. Craig Floch. I cant thank him enough for how he's changed my life. This recommendation comes with no reservations.

Thanks Doc! :willy_nilly:

Congratulations on getting to your surgery date! :thumbup: Best wishes for a successful surgery. Let us know how it goes.

Hi Mya, congratulations on being banded! Many people gain some weight in that period known as "Bandster Hell" but it is not a given. I continued to lose weight during that time because I worked hard to limit food intake and count calories and I hit the gym.

I wish you the best of luck for your journey :thumbup:

Congratulations on making the decision to get banded! Don't worry too much about the fills...it's a painless process (except for, perhaps, a quick pinch when the needle goes in) and it takes less then 10 minutes. You're not likely to feel any restriction after the first fill. I didn't feel any restriction until after my 4th fill...I've had 6 total and am in the sweet spot now.

Good luck with your journey!

My surgeon is cool with coffee and alcohol...in moderation (maybe that's why I like him?!). Coffee is frowned upon mostly because it can act as a diuretic and alcohol because of the empty calories. I have not had a problem with either....

I really think that you have made tremendous progress and have nothing to be stressed out over!

I was banded on 4/1/09. I have been hovering around the same weight since August despite the working out and eating right. And my band could not have been made any tighter. Just this week the scale started to move again and I've been losing. I've learned to focus more on doing the right things as far as diet and exercise and to be patient. I know it's hard to do especially when the weight fell off quickly and easily at first but the band will work! Hang in there!

Best wishes for continued success. :thumbup:

I really think that you have made tremendous progress and have nothing to be stressed out over!

I was banded on 4/1/09. I have been hovering around the same weight since August despite the working out and eating right. And my band could not have been made any tighter. Just this week the scale started to move again and I've been losing. I've learned to focus more on doing the right things as far as diet and exercise and to be patient. I know it's hard to do especially when the weight fell off quickly and easily at first but the band will work! Hang in there!

Best wishes for continued success. :thumbup:

I would highly recommend to invest in a good heart rate monitor. It will tell you with much greater accuracy how many calories you've burned versus the machine counter. Also, I find it motivating to keep track of my daily workouts and see the numbers -- and results! -- add up.

Good Luck,

Pete

I've had 5 fills and have 6.2 cc's in a 9 cc Realize Band (1 unfill along the way too). I definitely cannot go any tighter. I've lost 83 pounds and can't seem to lose anymore no matter how strict the diet is or how much I workout. I feel great though and would be satisfied if I didn't lose another pound. Also, it's helpful that people, whose opinion I respect, have said that I don't need to, nor shouldn't, lose anymore weight. I also did the Couch to 5k Program this year and ran 3 (!) 5k's already!! The program works and it made me a runner. I love running now and would highly recommend it to anyone else. I am very happy with my decision to get banded and have enjoyed it immensely! Good luck to everyone else in your journey.

Just completed my 2nd 5k in as many days! I know, I thought it was crazy too when I signed up for two in one weekend. But it went great! Time was 29:34! Keep up the good work everybody...the program works!

Today (9/5/09) I completed my 1st ever 5k race!! My time was 32:17...I was happy with it as when I started the C25K program it took me almost 45 minutes to go the same distance! For those wondering if the program works, I'm proof! If I can do it then so can you!

Congrats on your amazing success Jenn!

Well after recently finishing the c25K program, yesterday I finally went and ran on the road. It was a far different experience from the treadmill. I did pretty good completing 3 miles in 32:27 -- my best time yet! I plan on running a 5k race in September and another in October so I will try to mix in more road runs. Keep up the good work everyone! :thumbup:

Teech, You're truly an inspiring person :cool:

I just finished the c25k program! I can believe what the program has done for me. When I started it running for 60 seconds straight was difficult and now I am running 3.1 miles non-stop!!! :biggrin: My best 5k time on the treadmill so far is 34:50 which I did yesterday. I plan on running a couple of 5k races in the near future. Keep with it all, it does work!

I'm still a work in progress but had to share...

I was banded on 4/1/09. When I started this journey in 11/08 I was 273 pounds. Today, I'm down to 197.2! Still want to lose another +/- 35 lbs but I can't believe I'm under 200 pounds...already! :biggrin: