After being banded in August this year my weight loss was cranking right along. I lost the first 35 pounds with ease after which I started cheating more and more. :sorry: Why the hell would I cheat when things were going so good? Beats me. :biggrin: It just goes to show you - the band is truly a tool that is almost worthless without an equal amount of will power. By the end of October, the weight loss had come to a grinding halt. I thought I was exercising ok but the scale wouldn't budge. :confused: I saw an internet blurb from Bob Harper (you know, one of the trainers from the TV Show "The Biggest Loser") Well 'ol Bob was talking about "Spin" classes and how the show's contestants all burned massive amounts of calories on the Spin bikes. So I checked out the Spin website (www.spinning.com) and was intrigued. Low and behold our local gym (www.greatlakeshealthfitness.com) offered these classes. So my wife and I checked out the gym and their pricing and walked out the door certain to never re-enter. Way too much $$$... But they gave us a couple of free day passes to give the place a test drive. Upon returning to the car, we both snickered that "these passes will never get used." Well then on our Wedding Anniversary (13th) on Nov. 11, she decided we were going to use the passes and try a Spin class. After about 3 minutes on a Spin bike I thought I was gonna die. WTH I thought... I'd been exercising at home - how could I be this out of shape... Well that's all it took - I was hooked - and so was she. I found a way that night to work a couple of memberships into the budget. And as Christmas 2008 approached, I found that I had missed only a few days at the gym. According to my Polar F6 heartrate monitor - I was burning 4000-7000 calories a week - mainly from Spin classes. I knew Christmas week was going to be tough. The tempting foods would be everywhere. Family/Friend get togethers 5 days that week. Gym time would be cut short. All of this a bad combination. Up to this point I'd gone from 266 pre-surgery down to 207 on Dec. 21st - but what effect would Christmas week have? I said I'd stay away from the really bad stuff - yah right... I fell flat on my face. Ate the cake, cookies, fudge, ice cream, carmel corn, chocolate, and many other sweet treats. I was quite disgusted with myself and couldn't wait to get back to the gym, which is where I found myself on Saturday morning. I was well rested (having three consecutive days without working out) and gave it my all. Did the same Sunday. Now it was time for the dreaded moment. How much had I slid back from my awful week? Time to face the scale. So how many pounds did I gain? I LOST 5 pounds... :iagree: Huh? LOST? Yep... Down to 202... Incredible. The time in the gym and focusing on keeping my metabolism on fire was able to offset and absorb that tough week. I'm still amazed. Relieved - but amazed. So now with 'onederland in sight I'm as motivated as ever. :grouphug: