I am now three years post op. Man has alot changed in three years. I cant believe how fast time flies. It really is crazy. I was banded on April 11, 2003. I weighed 235-240 I did awesome listening to the band and working with it. I lost down to 160 and i was feeling awesome! I started dating, met my husband and life was wonderful. I dont know where i started to slide. I started trying to eat more when we went to dinner. I started drinking with my meals and figured out if i drink with them i can eat more. I dont know what happend. I just really wanted to be normal. My husband and i were working out on a very regular basis. Dieting good. (he is into bodybuilding... so he had me eating like i was an athelete...lol) I realized that i was gonna hurt myself and my band if i continuted this way, so i went to the doctor and told them that i really wanted to try it on my own for awhile. Well it took a few minutes of convincing her to do it but finally she did. I ended up moving to Memphis shortly after that. So i was about 5-6 hours away from the doctor. So i didnt go back much. With the move we werent working out like we were. We were eating ALOT of fast food because we were tired and it was easy. I ended up gaining about 35 pounds, from when i had the band loosened... My lowest weight was 160 but after we started working out i gained 10 pounds and i was 170... after my pouch packing and drinking with meals i gained 5... so i was about 175..) So my weight now is 205 ish... I think that in the last few days i have been really reading my old journals and reading everyone elses post and i started following the rules again i am down to 200 now. WOO HOO!!

We had a problem getting my adjustment right... I went for three adjustments and she wouldnt put me back where i was so we had to start over adding a little at a time. So I couldn't understand when i was supposed to have a 2.5 fill and i could still eat a WHOLE value meal... So i went back well somewhere along the line there was a mix up and i only had about 1.3cc's in my band. She said my tubing was never accounted for. So we filled that puppy up! LOL it is great now. I feel like i did in the beginning. I am doing well not drinking with my meals. It is just gonna be breaking the habit. I still reach for my drink and i have to stop myself. But things are going GREAT!! I am so excited to finally have the passion and drive that i had when i first had the surgery!

Thank you for sharing an 'honest' account of real life - down the road. It helps me (not banded yet) to understand what an important lifestyle change it will be - forever! Best wishes for losing your weight again - you should be proud of yourself! --I like that your journals from the past help you, that is exactly why I started one -- so I could look back and remember WHY I had the band installed LOL