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I'm a sucker for a challenge and am in for 8. I haven't had a fill in five months and feel that my number might be up soon, so I'm not exactly expecting the lbs to melt off me like in the good old days! Best of luck to all.

Same for me (BMI over 40 and proven, sustained attempts to lose weight), and then a two week liquid pre-op diet.

Thanks for starting this challenge. I've been walking around saying that I didn't lose any weight over the summer, yet somehow I exceeded my 15 pound goal by 3 pounds. I think that's how I got fat, actually. I'm so clueless about what I actually look like. Anyway, the accountability was really helpful and I appreciate all the support. Congratulations to all for such great successes. Any weight loss at all is a victory in my book.

I had some frozen yogurt every night on vacation. I have a few twizzlers at the movies and cake at parties if it absolutely looks irresistible. The good news is that I don't DIE for these things anymore. I can have a little bit and be normal about the whole thing. Long way of saying, IMO you don't have to deprive yourself forever. You do have to be careful though!

French fries off my kids' plate!

I had the same question and my doctor said that the band presses on some sort of nerve that suppresses hunger. So it's not just the full pouch thing.

What a great story. It all sounds much deserved!

Congratulations! Great feeling, huh? I too just hit onederland and also finally weigh less than my husband. Now I've just got to find that see saw! Enjoy your success!

Have you eaten any pine nuts or pesto? if so, Google it!

A chewable multi, calcium/D and biotin. If anyone has a chewable potassium or magnesium I'd love to hear about it. I get terrible foot cramps at night (presumably from high protein/low carb) and it's driving me crazy. Thx!

Tracy - if you're in NY, Fresh Direct has it. No need to hunt it down!

Molly - sorry--I didn't see your question for me until now. I think people fall into two camps: the dieting-got-me-nowhere-and-I-want-to-take-the-focus-OFF-food camp and the track everything camp. I've never tracked my calories or Protein or anything else just because I know that that sort of thing doesn't work for me. For example, I did very well with Jenny Craig/Blueprint Cleanse and that sort of thing with strict "rules" and terribly with Weight Watchers where there is some guesswork and subjectivity. I could never remember to write my food intake down and at the end of the day would practically be making it up. After I reached restriction (I was lucky--it only took two fills) I let that do the work for me. I'm aware of whether or not I've eaten a decent amount of protein (I don't use protein supplements much) and certainly know a good day from a bad day. If I "cheat" it's mostly with Weight Watchers Desserts or something along those lines. Not to too caloric, but really unhealthy kinds of processed things. But mostly I just let the band work for me. Very often I'll have some Soup for dinner. Although this is considered to be a slider food, we eat late enough that there's not really time for me to get hungry afterwards. So that's a rule I definitely break. I try and keep alcohol down to a minimum. I know I consume a whole lot of extra calories in sauces for my protein, but they make me happy enough that it's worth it. I exercise my ass off and...that's about it. The band has enabled me to eat ALMOST like a "normal" thin person. I cheat. I overeat a little bit sometimes. But those things are pretty rare and if I do it once I don't throw my hands in the air and say that it's all over. I wake up the next morning and get back to business without a thought. The band makes it easy. It takes willpower, but it's willpower that I have. Unlike life before the band it doesn't entail moving mountains. Just making some small, reasonable, easy-ish decisions along the way. Sorry for the rambling post. I actually gained a few ounces this week which I'm not too happy about but in general this thing has worked exactly how they said it would. Two months of bandster hell (see all the "did I make a mistake I'm getting this thing removed" posts all over this board) and then pretty smooth sailing. I wish you all the best! Do a search for "journaling" and that sort of thing to see others' opinions on the subject. It just depends on what works for you!

My first fill did nothing and my second one (2 months after being banded) did the trick! It's been five months and I still have very good restriction. Good luck! It varies so much person to person that I wouldn't read too much into these responses.

Before having kids I was thin (ish). The kind of thin with a good upper body, six-pack abs, quite mediocre legs and a fat rear. After having kids I've become an "apple pear", that is, someone with fat hips AND a fat stomach. My question is, after losing weight do you eventually tend to go back to your original (albeit older and saggier) shape, or am I stuck with this fat midsection for good?

Jacqui - are you glad you didn't have plastic surgery because things settled into place, tightened up a little, and you got used to the way you look now, or because your priorities have changed as time has gone on?

You all are sooooo much nicer than I am and far more tolerant. I'll leave it at that.

I used to work out a ton back before I got fat. I ran or took spinning classes for cardio and lifted heavy weights, training one or two body parts at a time. I used to have a trainer but now the budget doesn't allow. I'd love to get some free advice about the training practices de jour. I watch the trainers in my gym and it looks like things have changed a lot. Any pros or former pros out there?

No surprises other than the hellish nature of bandster hell. From the day after surgery until I achieved decent restriction I was famished. Even having read about it, I'm not sure I was totally prepared. Other than that, this thing has been amazing. I'm so grateful for this piece of plastic! I look forward to eating as much as I always did even though I eat so little. Kind of like my (naturally) skinny sisters. It's amazing!

It sounds like you need a fill! I don't really eat snacks too often and I thought that was how the band was supposed to work.

I don't count calories or Protein or anything like that but yesterday, for example, I ate the following: Breakfast: a handful of dry Kashi high protein cereal and a Greek yogurt with Splenda Lunch: tomato Soup and some chicken breast in Peter Luger sauce Dinner: broccoli and a small piece of salmon in dill sauce from Fairway Dessert: some strawberries and three sugar free popsicles

I'm just curious how ambitious people are. I'm just looking to get one pound into the "normal" range (meaning a BMI of 24.9) and I'll be happy. Beyond that I think my plastic surgery needs would be too great...and I'd be too damn hungry. You?

iamhealthy -- I know what you mean. It's hard to go from "she's fat but she has such a pretty face" to plain old regular chubby with sagging skin. I'm trying to come to terms with the fact that since I was last thin the years have gone by and it doesn't look quite so cute! I think we both need to be patient. I've read here that with lower BMIs some excess skin magically disappears (to a certain point) and that things resettle for the better. I hope that's true! Congratulations on your success.

I agree that as long as your BMI is in the "normal" range, you haven't lost too much weight. That said, if you feel you're "done" and want to maintain where you are, I think your doctor should oblige. I'm 40 pounds from goal and people also tell me that I'm "too skinny" and ask if I'm doing this the "right way" or if they need to worry about me. If it were up to me no one would mention my weight ever. I don't need positive reinforcement. The scale does that! In other words, I feel your pain! There was a women I used to see who lost quite a bit of weight. I hadn't noticed and then one day it just sort of hit me that she went from overweight to fully thin. I told her how great she looked and went on and on about it. I cringe when I think about it because I HATE when people give me the compliment and then won't stop. I can't remember what I was thinking but I can only assume that I was trying to make her feel good about her success. I don't know her well enough to be jealous so I certainly had no ulterior motive. So...I guess it's just the annoying nature of the beast. Congratulations on all your success!

I've had two fills since I was banded in February and have good restriction. I can eat literally everything but have been losing weight at a good clip until recently. Do I get a fill? How much? I have 5.5cc in a 10cc band. I love that I can fake my way through an expansive meal with friends and also be satiated with a small piece of fish for dinner at home. The trouble is, I do find myself thinking about food a good amount, I could definitelt eat white bread if I wanted to and my weight loss has been lackluster. I know this isn't an important question which is why I hid in on the fills board. This is all a loooong way of asking how you generally feel and eat BEFORE you get a fill. My appointment is next week and I'm guessing a .5 or 1cc is in order but I'm just a little afraid. Things are decent now and I'm afraid to mess with a good (ish) thing. Thanks!

Hmmm. Thanks so much for your thoughts. I'm just so tempted by the little boost that a fill should bring. I've lost 80 lbs with two fills and feel like I deserve a little "cheat". But, sadly, I think that you're right... Thanks!