mauraclegg

Halloween Girl- I think it is so much a mental thing. I have days where I eat around my band, but I try and do better more days than not. Even now a year later I am still learning to eat "right". I know I need a fill right now, but I am going on vacation in a week and I am enjoying a little freedom with my now looser band. I think if u can conquer your own need to defeat the band, which is a battle, then u can SUCCEED. We all can!

Darn- I am just a year out. Too much time or I would sign right up

Xavier if u document any problems with hanging flesh (rashes, redness, etc) you surgeon should be able to get an approval

SVM & JMS You both have my support. My insurance certification is dated July 29, so I am going in a bit later than I thought. Good luck to you both and I am looking forward to heRong how you are doing

Well said! It has been gloomy here as of late- tbh I have friends who are interested in banding, but not telling 'em to cone here because of the negative lately. :o/

Ugh- men can be so dumb! Just tell him that after your done losing and you get your TT you won't have any flab

Any puking I have done has been from poor food choice, poor chewing, or simply not paying enough attention to my eating. Never overindulgence. If I am "full" I will hiccup but nothing productive

It's funny I had restriction from the start, even though my band was empty. Maybe it was mental for me. I expected restriction, so I got it. I have days where I have the "hungry horrors" and I can eat and eat (especially popcorn) and others where if I wasn't aware I wouldn't eat at all. Try a cup of food- then wait like 10 and see if u are still really hungry or u just think u are

Cindy, How was the TT and the pain? How much did you lose after all swelling and such was over? I did have a NSV yesterday - I got "measured" at Victoria's Secret and I am down to a 36DD - I was quite excited This last 20 is def a killer - but I just started using a hula-hoop so I am hoping that helps some too

The band isn't magic. You NEED to track your calories! I don't track every day any more, but I do keep track of what I am eating. The band is a weight loss tool and you can only get our of it what you put in. I understand your frustration, I seriously do. But think about it this way.......if you are in school do u expect to graduate with a perfect GPA without doing the work? Of course not, you study, complete assignments and do what you need to in order to succeed. The band, and weight loss, is no different. You need to cut calories, exercise and increase Protein intake in order to succeed. Will you plateau? Yup, you sure will! I hit a very stubborn plateau in Feb- but the inches keep falling even though the scale barely moves. Since my surgery June 2010, I have gone from a 22 to a 10 and from like a 44F to a 36 DD. It's not easy, but it is well worth it!

The band isn't magic. You NEED to track your calories! I don't track every day any more, but I do keep track of what I am eating. The band is a weight loss tool and you can only get our of it what you put in. I understand your frustration, I seriously do. But think about it this way.......if you are in school do u expect to graduate with a perfect GPA without doing the work? Of course not, you study, complete assignments and do what you need to in order to succeed. The band, and weight loss, is no different. You need to cut calories, exercise and increase Protein intake in order to succeed. Will you plateau? Yup, you sure will! I hit a very stubborn plateau in Feb- but the inches keep falling even though the scale barely moves. Since my surgery June 2010, I have gone from a 22 to a 10 and from like a 44F to a 36 DD. It's not easy, but it is well worth it!

@Cindy, As far as my clothes, they continue to fit a bit looser, but the scale is still being stubborn with me. I have upped my Protein, increased my Water, excercise - you name it, I have tried it - even Phentermine (script from my dr). I just realized this morning that I am less than 20 lbs from the weight the PA at the doctor's office said I should be (exciting). I am going in for my TT next month - maybe I'll lose a little with that (maybe not), but I am hoping it will give me self-esteem a kick-start and get my butt back to working hard and not letting my band all the work for me

I do slimfast shakes and Atkins bars. Have tried pure protein- they make me sick

Congratulations on your banding - may your journey be full of (weight) loss

I was wearing a 8 1/2W or 9 - and now I can fit in a regular 8 1/2 and in some cases an 8

You were the one who said you were looking for a legal remedy- my point is try calling Realize, writing letters and providing proof of why u are looking for replacement before u jump to a lawsuit especially if u are in that much pain. Lawsuits take years,especially against large companies

I guess that is corporate America for you - they don't want to accept responsibility for their action - I would check around on the 'net (not just here) for people with similar probs and see how they remedied it

If it was a known manufacturer problem then why stay with Realize and not go with lapband or sleeve? I wasn't trying to offend so jumping all over me is uncalled for. If you are in that much pain- have it removed

I am sure if the band manufacturer is aware of a problem that they would take care of it

Why would you need to sue? We are all told several things (slip, flip, erosion) that can happen before surgery. If you can eat more or easier than before it happens- stretching and such. This society is way too quick to want to sue

the don't drink is because of calories - and I think the only reason you may get drunk quicker is because you are taking in less calories and losing weight/body mass - drink and glass of wine with your hubby and have a Happy Anniversary

MJ, I have a question, if you have the band - then on some level you did lose weight because of the tools that you are using - and 1 of those tools is the band. Yes, maybe you weren't at your "sweet spot", but - still you are banded so therefore the band was on some level a help. I have a friend who was banded MANY years ago and has lost weight, maintained it and has had no issues.

I don't think it's that much of a problem especially if it's not bothering you, but you could always try a straw

Have had my band a year and have had no problems. As long as I work with my band and not against it everything works fine. If I overeat I gain, if I eat right and exercise I lose. No, it's not rocket science- bur it works for me. I have maintained an 80+ lb weight loss since Feb and have gone from a size 22 to a loose 12, and I am going in for my TT next month. Have I read about problems people have had? Of course I have- bur aside from slips many of the problems are subjective. People tend not to post when things are going well, but rather they post when something is going wrong. I had 1 overfi- my fault not my dr. Did it suck? You bet it did, but all is good now. The experience is what you make it - I choose to have my experience be a positive one

Good luck- not sure of what questions, but a small piece of advice, get up and walk around as soon as you can. It helps with the gas pain, etc. Also have a heating pad and/or ice pack for incisions when you get home