I have had my band for nearly 5 years. In the first year and a half, I lost about 170 lbs.
Then it took a few years to let that creep back, and now I am nearly back to where I started. I am just 30 lbs down from when I first had my surgery.
I realize that it was not the band that failed me, it is me that failed to use this tool that was put inside of me. You see, I ate around it. Although I am not "too tight", it is still easier to eat Cookies and ice cream than dense Protein and veggies. I drank empty calories in the form of iced coffees or lemonade, chocolate milk and slushies. I binged on chocolate and cookies, junk food of all kinds. I skipped meals, then ate much larger meals than I needed.
All of that ends now. I am getting back on track. I don't think I need a fill... I still have a band, that tells me it's there. I hope I haven't messed it up too badly. I am going to exercise daily, watch less tv, and let the band do it's job and stop trying to sabotage it's role.
The "dieting" is never over. I know I will always have to be mindful of what I put in my mouth. But I vow to let the band do it's job and keep me from that "I-am-so-hungry-i-could-eat-a-house" feeling that normally goes along with dieting.
It seems so easy, but it's not. It is a constant battle to keep your head in the game, to keep watching that those bad habits don't return that got you here in the first place.
No matter how many times you have to start over, the most important part is that you don't turn around and go in the wrong direction.
