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I wouldn't do it. We went to the Caribbean recently. I had dessert every night, eggs benedict (sans bread) for breakfast every morning and at least two fruity cocktails a day and my weight stayed the same. It was the best of all worlds. I did show some restraint but also got to live a little. If it weren't for the band I would have gained a solid ten. At least! Do yourself a favor--don't do it!

No bad days. Bad moments, maybe. The band has been amazing and life changing for me. My kids don't even remember that I was fat. I'll live longer and obviously look better. Do what's right for you, but to me there has been a very small price to pay for such great benefit.

I live on fish and chicken and it's been the total key to my success. To me it's been a miracle diet and has been totally painless.

I never could stand journaling, even through the plateaus. If you can bear it, I would try it. Otherwise I'd cut carbs and exercise more. Always worked for me. I agree that, past a point, the scale doesn't lie. As you lose weight it gets harder and you have to eat less to maintain a lower weight. Kind of a bummer, but it's worth making the changes. They don't have to be huge, but you do need to keep making them.

It hasn't changed much really. If anything I'm happier and he certainly appreciates the way that I look now. I guess it would all depend on what the issues on your relationship are. Your husband might not be supportive because he's angry about other things. I too wish you the best of luck with both. It sounds like things are rough as they are, so maybe a change (meaning the surgery) will be good.

I consider myself to be a success story and although I've worked hard, losing the weight wasn't all that painful. I agree that you just have to do what works for you and figure out using trial, error and research. For me, tracking my food intake would have been extremely painful so I didn't even consider it. I don't eat rice, bread or pasta--that's kind of been my thing. I exercise like a madwoman--that's been my other thing. I DO drink alcohol, eat dessert when I'm out, eat popcorn and candy at the movies, use whatever dressing and sauces appeal to me and have a large skim latte every morning. Be sure to read up on Bandster hell and don't get all worked up about it. That's my biggest piece of advice. I would also not cheat during your pre-op diet and while you're recovering. There's plenty of time for treats. Those terrible days of broth and Jello are such a distant memory. It feels like it was someone else. Good luck! Be patient, be strong and this will be the best decision you've ever made.

I'd consider myself to be as or more successful than many, and I'd chalk half of it up to serious exercise and the other to protein consumption. I never tracked it or anything, but I haven't had a bagel or rice or pasta since I was banded while I drown myself in chicken and fish. It helps curb muscle loss, keeps you full for longer and let's you skip carbs and still be satiated. To me it's a magic bullet. In the beginning I drank lots of shakes and didn't really know what to eat but now it's second nature. Protein is your friend! Best of luck!

It has indeed been trial and error. I'm scared of getting an unfill so I pretty much have just added a coffee here and there, a dessert, a little more sauce, a glass of wine etc. I do have to stay vigilant though, because I see how easily it could get away from me. I'd be lost without the scale--I'll never be one of those skinnies who eats a little too much one day and naturally compensates the next. For me it's a way more self-conscious process than that. Congratulations on reaching your goal! We both know that having to work through maintenance is a good problem to have!

I have a skim latte every morning and another every afternoon. I live for them!

I lost 130+ pounds in a year and wear a size 6, down from a 24. I'm a totally thin person and can run for the bus like a teenager. No more migraines and toward the end (at my fattest) incontinence was starting to creep in. Yuck! I feel light on my feet and hate shopping because everything looks good and I don't even know where to start. It's only been a year but my kids have no recollection of having a fat mom. At the time they asked questions about it. I could go on and on. I'm still the same person of course, but life is just better and easier in a thousand ways, large and small.

My boobs and my stomach are literally hideous. My legs are pretty bad. I work out a ton so my arms and back look good. Plastic surgery here I come! I couldn't be in better shape really so that's my only option at this point.

I don't give into carb cravings and for sweets I just eat frozen yogurt or something a little less treacherous than the hard stuff. Sometimes you have to live a little, and sometimes you have to exert good old fashioned willpower. Don't despair though. Once you've had a couple fills the willpower part will still come into play, but it won't be as hard. Until then just do your best. I don't think I became really disciplined until after two fills and I think that's sort of typical. So don't beat yourself up at this stage in the game.

I don't really eat at chain restaurants so I don't know the calorie count (thank god), but when I eat out I order soup as an appetizer, the fish as an entree and sorbet for dessert. I start with a glass of white wine. I don't worry about portion size or sauces or calories really. No one ever got fat from eating too much fish every once in a while!

Breakfast: skim latte Lunch: lots of almonds Snack: another skim latte Dinner: salmon, butternut squash soup Dessert: frozen yogurt with raspberries, strawberries and granola

See? You just needed a more titillating subject line! Glad you're feeling better...

I think that people sometimes forget about the search function on this site. If you've been here long enough you simply can't reply one more time to posts about shoulder pain after surgery, bandster hell etc. I've posted so many supportive responses over time that I think I've done my share. Have you? I respond to the threads that interest me now. The ones with good subject lines and thought provoking subjects. The rest is searchable! I hope you're feeling better though. You will.

I don't show great restraints when eating out either. I try and keep it to once or twice a week and I can't eat bread anyway. Somehow it's worked. Just exercise a lot on going out days.

vlp1968 - so you're saying that adding the boobs wouldn't cost anything as far as downtime is concerned? Did you get a lift as well? If had surgery on a Friday could I pick my kids up from school and appear normal on Monday or Tuesday? Thx!

I know there's a plastic surgery forum but it's quiet over there. Has anyone done their due diligence as far as tummy tucks and breast lifts and (small) implants are concerned? I need minimal downtime because I have young kids and don't feel like sharing the information with anyone. I'd also prefer not to die on the table. Anyone have any thoughts? Any advice in general?

I went from a 40E to a 32B. Be careful what you ask for!

I have a latte every morning and it tastes great. If anything, the band has made me step up my coffee intake. It's a simple pleasure that I totally enjoy that doesn't have a ton of calories. I'd try again--and buy better coffee!

I restrict carbs, weight train four times per week and bike for cardio five times per week. It hasn't been hard, but I've rarely veered off this course. Best of luck and I hope you meet your onederland goal for that wedding!

I tooted my own horn on another thread. Sometimes you just gotta. Congratulations to you! You're over the hump now...

That sucks! Hoping too that it rights itself immediately and all is well. In the interim, have a steak for me! And then get back on the wagon, of course...

From the beginning I told myself that my only "me me me" posts would occur 1) when I hit onederland and 2) at the one year mark. So, here I am! There have been high highs and low lows, but getting this band was the best decisions I've ever made. I work hard, especially in the gym, but there's no way I could have found this success on my own. Not a chance. Now that I'm at goal (excepting those last pesky .2 pounds), the next steps are a consult with a plastic surgeon about a tummy tuck (necessary) and boobs (a question mark) and to start lifting weights for my lower body (I do upper four times a week and look like a body builder on top and like my Mom on the bottom). After that, I guess it's just...life! I fear maintenance because I tend to more of an all or nothing person, but logically speaking, this should be the "easy" part. No point to this post really. I just needed to commemorate the day. Thanks for listening!