Officially disappointed in Realize band!
Lucy
The truth of the matter is that the band by it self was not cutting it. I was losing weight very slowly or not at all. I was very upset that I chose the band. But sitting around feeling sorry for myself or getting angry wasn't helping me. I made the choices I made and I have to live with them. I decided to give it my full effort. I am currently at 9.7 ccs right now and I do have restriction but not the way every other person on this board describes. If I allow myself I can eat more than I should and I get hungry abot 2 hours after I eat and want to snack.
The thing that made the BIG difference for me was exercise. I have lost 40 lbs in 3 months!!! I haven't changed much about my eating habits. I did cut out more carbs. I started exercising...at first doing about 30 minutes on the treadmill. I now do 60 minutes, 5-6 days a week. I also do weights for 20 minutes a day. I also walk at work 30 minutes a day. I have read where people only go for walks for their exercise but that doesn't do it for me. I think if you are physically able you should work out. when I work out I work out for 90 minutes when I'm done I am full of sweat. That is the kind of working out I needed. If people are able to get to their goal weight by diet alone or doing a little bit of walking that's great but most people need more that's why people regain all of the time. I am realizing more and more that not including any exercise in your routine to lose weight is going to lead to failure. I am not sure why I was so resistant to working out.
So I have to say it is my exercising that has lead to me losing 40 lbs not my band. My band helps curb my appetite but working out and my own will power is what is helping me the most.
Exercise for me is a must...no exercise means no loss...I don't need much, I generally do 30 min. of arobics 3-4 times a week and that seems to do it for me. Right now I need to concentrate on toning...
Best of luck to you. Don't give up it can be done.
I think my band has been a complete waste of time and MONEY! Worst decision I could have made! I have noticed that the Drs. don't tell u that some ppl NEVER reach restriction!
Even the ASMBS is now pretty much saying that the band is very ineffective:
www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/ASMBS/20919
I am so sorry! I just noticed your post! That was not on the ASMBS website. I think it was on the Medlink website? Anyway that is a study that was presented at the ASMBS annual conference in Vegas in 2010.
I am hopine you will reconsider and have a more effective WLS. Had I known then what I know now I NEVER would have gotten the band!
Please read my post I just made about researching BEFORE the band: http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/LapBand/4316546/Lap-Band-Realize-Band-BEWARE/