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I liked your entire post, but this part right here I think helps especially, if you can have a partner that's supportive, even better, if they're going through what you are. My wife has been going through weight gain herself. I see her diet is quite high in carbs, and she also has PCOS plus another allergy issue that stems from her pregnancy (was supposed to go away after giving birth but it didn't). She actually tried to get into weight management but they said she's not fat enough (5ft3 208 lbs, up from 115 lbs), though we both thought the PCOS would have pushed that over the top. Her support during this time is invaluable and it would have made life much tougher had she not been supportive or if I had been doing this alone. She's certainly going to need me in a similar way to be supportive when she goes through her weight loss, and I'll be in a much better position to help, besides kicking her in the ass to quit drinking soda and eating so many carbs per day.

Thanks everyone! It really has been such a great experience! Today, 2 days post-op, I have not taken any pain meds. It just feels like I pulled a muscle in my left side and that is totally manageable. And I have already lost the surgery weight gain plus 1 pound! And I got a shower!!!! Today I started full liquids and felt the restriction for the first time. It is heavenly to sit down to 1/2 cup of blended cream of chicken Soup and be so full afterwards. I can sleep on my side easily, have done from the first day home and was able to give my babies, 3 and 5 year olds, baths tonight. No doubt I had a superb surgeon but I think one's attitude is the real key. This is my choice and I welcomed the band into my body like a little, very expensive:laugh:internal personal trainer. Great luck to us all!!!:cursing:

I blame my kids for my weight gain in the 90's and early 2K. They loved tater tots and of course I always heated up too many. I still love em but haven't had one since my surgery. On the other hand, I had pizza tonight, very very good pizza. My wife's Bday was today so we allowed ourselves this one treat. No regrets.

I had 1cc put in 3 weeks ago, and no restriction. I had a talk with my doctor two weeks ago, and he told me to come in last week for a fill. I decided to keep my appt. and go in today. I am exercising. (see additional thread as I have a question about it) I am dieting. Eating at least 1000 calories a day. 30% carbs, 40% Protein and LESS then 30% fat. (nutrionist wants my Calories UP my Carbs UP and my fat DOWN - so I shoot for that goal every day, which is a choar in it'self) I saw the doctor on May 18th. and today is June 8th - three weeks ago. May 18th - 227 June 8th - 220 I have worked my butt of. I work harder at this everyday then I do anything else. It is a focus and a driving factor of my life. I do not have a problem working this. I have a problem with how freaking consuming it is. AND - I have done this before. This is the pattern of Yo Yo dieting. I am NOT interested in fighting for this like this for much longer. I see burn out and most definetly when I hit a platue. Keeping in mind I do not have restriction - and worry that when I get decent restriction, I will not be able to eat what I eat now to make the numbers my nutrisionist wants to see me get. Now I have only been shooting for the numbers she wants since Saturday - June 3rd. The entire month of May was a loss as far as my weight loss goals are concerned as a I spent the month yo-yo'ing on the scale and fighting to loose, maintain, then loose the 3 to 4 pounds I managed to find back on my behind. Is anyone else fighting for their weight loss like this? This is nutz. Then I spoke with a another patient of my doctors - she said when she was discussing the band vrs RNY with him, he said that more then the majority of his patients he bands come back requesting it be removed and he complete the RNY on them. So she is having RNY. When I spoke with him and made my decision, I wanted the RNY - he pushed me towards the band. I know it was ultimately my decision, but with his advise and information, not to mention his pressure, I went with the band. Now I have regretted it for a very long time. The band is great. Once someone gets restriction. The band is also for someone who over eats. (my husband - who can eat a huge pile of food on his plate, go back for seconds, then clean my plate and the kids plates) He also has a great metabolism and works in a high active position at his job. His weight gain is slow and he is just now in need of doing something about it. The band will do wonders for him. I was a small eater before. I am one now. My metabolism is shot due to this crash I caused. I would like other's opinion, and most importantly, is anyone else having to work this hard as well? Today I will discuss starting the procedure for RNY. I do not think I can take a year or so of this, and then with Ins, have to fight for the surgery like I did the past two years.

I have a few questions that I am hoping to get some help with. Thank you in advance for any help 1) Do insurance companies that require you have no weight gain during your 6 months mean from month to month or from your first appointment to your last? I have Amerihealth Northeast Caritas. 2) Is my approval request sent to my insurance after my last weight in appointment or do they wait until all of the pre op testing is complete? 3)Has anyone here used Amerihealth for your surgery? Please share you experiences with me. 4)Can a PCP refuse to do a pre op clearance on you just because they don't want you to do weight loss surgery?

I’ve been looking at this bariatric forum for many years and have appreciated the insight of the stories on here and thought I’d share the end of my lap band journey and my story might be helpful for anyone considering having theirs removed. Banded: April 2004, Dr Talbot, Sydney, Australia (79kgs at consult, 85 kgs at surgery) Unbanded: February 2017, Dr Ali, Glasgow, Scotland (85kgs) When I was banded I thought it would be a quick fix to weight loss and was advised to gain a few kilos to be eligible for the surgery. I wasn’t mentally prepared for the drastic lifestyle changes I would need to make and the band was not a success for me. My problem was binge eating of sugar and carbs – chocolate, ice-cream, biscuits, cakes etc. and unfortunately the band did not help with the psychological issues that caused my binge eating. I never had a problem with healthy or normal food or portion sizes; my weight issues were due to junk food and binge eating excess calories when stressed, happy, sad … sugar and carbs were used as an emotional regulator as such and no form of weight loss surgery will help to fix this – I’ve since learnt that psychological understanding and therapy including CBT is more successful. In fact, life with the lap band created bad eating habits as I could no longer tolerate the majority of healthy foods including most meat and vegetables, this was even with no liquid in the band. I have been lying constantly for the past 13 years as very few people knew I had the band, I was ashamed of it. Eating out was a nightmare as could only tolerate certain foods and having to find a way to get food unstuck without having red eyes from my eyes watering when regurgitating. Dinner parties were a nightmare so lots of declines when I would rather have gone. Work dinners and travel/functions made me anxious of thoughts of getting stuck. Always having to review menus ahead of time when they were available to have a plan of attack of what I might be able to tolerate (if I could tolerate). Some days no issues, other days full restriction regardless of what I ate and especially in the mornings. I was unhappy. And I could still consume sugar and carbs in binges with no problems most of the time. I had my removal surgery yesterday and was wheeled to surgery at 1pm and woke up in recovery around 2.45pm. New incision scars were required but this time with internal stitches and I can’t see them at the moment due to the dressings but they look small and I’ve been told very neat. Was told my band and port were in perfect order with the original sutures still intact, they were removed along with the capsule that had formed and was told it was one of the best placed bands he had seen with minimal scar tissue and after 13 years I feel blessed to have had no erosion or major issues. Pain after removal is minimal and I was so worried and nervous, would have had this done years ago if I knew how good it would go. It feels like I’ve done a lot of sit ups and that is very easy to deal with, I can even sleep on my side if I’m slow with positioning myself. I do have a mild sore throat from the anaesthetic and shoulder tip pain from the gas used during surgery to see my organs and that will eventually dissipate from the body and go away. I’ve had a stitch feeling on my right side (near the port) today when I move quickly and have been told that could happen and hopefully that will go away over time also. I had some panadol before going to sleep last night and some today after the car trip home but that’s about it for pain relief requirements. Overnight stay in hospital but could have left same day I felt so good, I ate chicken with carrots last night in hospital with no restriction a few hours after surgery! That is the first time in 13 years … was a bit emotional. I’m not particularly hungry but the surgeon warned me at consult, before and after surgery that most patients gain a voracious appetite and gain weight rapidly after having the band removed. He wanted me to have conversion to sleeve surgery but I was not interested. Time will tell … I’m hoping to get my binge eating reasons sorted and be able to eat a healthier way … I wasn’t even in the obese category when I went for consultation 13 years ago (BMI 29 and then went into obese with the weight gain I was told to do to be eligible). Fingers crossed this decision ends up being a good one all over with no weight gain going forward.

I received this email today from www.myfitnesspal.com . Basically, it says to avoid long-term weight gain we should: 1. Eat more Protein 2. Eat more healthy carbs (colored, high-Fiber veggies; fruits; whole grains) 3. Eat fewer highly processed "slider foods" (highly refined sweets, starches, chips, crackers, breads, white rice, white potatoes, white Pasta, etc.) Duh, huh? The emphasis was on both how much and what kind of foods we should eat. It made the point that every calorie doesn't count exactly like all other calories and described how high-glycemic foods cause the body to produce more insulin, which favors fat storage. http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/2-science-backed-strategies-to-avoid-long-term-weight-gain/?utm_source=mfp&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weekly20150504&mkt_tok=3RkMMJWWfF9wsRokv6rBZKXonjHpfsX56e8rWaWyhIkz2EFye%2BLIHETpodcMTsZiN6%2BTFAwTG5toziV8R7DBLM153N8QXRTg

I am starting to get hungry, and look for food! I had surgery on December 1st 2011 ...I had only 1 fill on January 5th....I am hungry....but when i feel that way I just eat a bowl of special k red berries and that usual takes care of it but im getting scared....no weight gain, but no loss either in 2 weeks ???? I am so ready to call pizza hut an order a thin crust veggie pizza right now.... HELP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

beckmein: I don't have enough restriction to have to worry about chewing well.... that is my problem. But since I know I have to be getting close to good restriction soon, I worry about the next fill before I go away. I have been thinking all day today of scheduling one but keep changing my mind. I know we'll do a lot of walking. Last year we went to Tuscany and ate and drank A LOT but no weight gain bcause of all the walking. It's the hunger between meals that's bothering me. The few days I had good restriction I never felt like I was on a "diet", I just ate a small meal and felt full for hours. I have a "history" of not feeling well on flights as it is. Not sure why, it is not fear, but I have had episodes of fainting (at least three times while flying) and since the band is near the vagus nerve, I worry more about being too tight. I am taking a short flight this weekend to visit a friend in N.C., so we'll see how that one goes first. Thanks for the words of your experience with flying. I am making good choices in food and portion but hate that I'm hungry in between. I'm sure you remember those days! Either way I'm sure I'll have a great trip.

It is so true that falling back into old habits sneaks up on you. Over the past two months I got lazy about recording food and regular exercise. This caused a 3lb gain. My concern was not the weight gain but more of allowing old habits to sneak in. Instead of beating myself up I am acknowledging that this is part of the process and got back on my plan as of Monday. This is a journey not a destination! No one is perfect! I still have achieved amazing results due to hard work!!

The shot does cause weight gain... i truly believe that's what started my biggest weight issues as a teen.

At a little over two weeks out my doc has started me on some foods (very soft). I weighed today and showed a 2lb gain. What the heck??? Is this normal? What could I be doing wrong? Also my BMs stay fairly liquidy. Can anyone relate?

Today is my first year bandiversary! I have lost 173 lbs this year and have gone from a size 28 to a size 14, from super morbidly obese to obese and teetering on the edge of overweight. This is a weird post to write. It feels like emotional homework. For whatever reason, I don't feel like taking inventory of all the things that have changed for me this year -- the new me is so good that I don't want to waste a single second on the time I spent unbanded. Not that they were bad years in every way -- of course not -- it's just that who I am now is who I'm supposed to be. I'm so content and so confident that I've found the long-term solution to my weight management that I don't need to focus on the way things were anymore. Does that make sense? <O:p</O:p<O:p Anyway, for those of you just starting out, I thought I’d give you my top 10's: 10 reasons to get banded:<O:p</O:p <O:p</O:p (1) I lost from 358 to 185 in exactly one year without doing anything I'd consider extraordinary. I'd like to lose 30 or 40 more, but if I don't, who cares. Life in Onederland can't be beat. <O:p</O:p(2) I can travel so much more comfortably. Since I live 10 states from my family, that's a huge deal. I can fly Air Tran and not pay to select my seat ahead of time because if I get stuck in the middle, it simply doesn't matter. I don't live in the world of seatbelt extenders anymore. In fact, I almost like being in the middle seat because I can sit there just as comfortably as anywhere else. (3) food has lost its importance in my life. I don't count the minutes or hours until my next binge. I don't order 2 (or more) Entrees at a "to go" place and come home and eat until I fall asleep. I actually enjoy going to a restaurant or cooking a good meal more now because I still feel good afterwards, since I only eat a reasonable portion for my body. Food doesn't kill the whole night. (4) I fit into life again. I used to walk up 4 blocks to make sure I got a single seat on the bus. Now I don't bother. If I get a double seat on the inside, that's fine too. I fit in a subway seat. I never worry about getting into a friend's car and whether the seatbelt will be comfortable. I don't worry about breaking office chairs our lawn chairs or whether a theater seat will accommodate me. (5) I've found other things that are almost as fun as food. Manicures. Pedicures. New clothes. Haircuts. Even exercise. I didn't do any of those things before. It was too hard to voluntarily look in the mirror. (6) I'm an extrovert. I was always an extrovert, then somewhere along the path of gaining 200 lbs, I became an introvert. Except I wasn't really an introvert, I was a closet extrovert who acted introverted because of the limitations of my size. That's painful and I don't do it anymore. (7) I don't worry about my health on a daily basis. I used to think every little pain was a sign I was about to have a heart attack, whether it was a pain in my arm or a heart palpitation, etc. Now I know I'm healthy. (8) I take no medications. I don't need blood pressure meds. I'm not a walking time-bomb for diabetes. I don't have migraines, lower back pain, or foot pain when I get out of bed in the morning. I have excellent bladder control, even when I sneeze. (9) I'm starting to feel comfortable telling my "story." I didn't tell many people about getting banded. Now I'm more comfortable telling people. I truly don't get bogged down in anyone thinking it's the "easy way out." Anyone who thinks that doesn't understand WLS. And, even if it were the easy way out, who cares? I want the people I care about to have an easy way out of a horrible disease. I don't go out of my way to tell people I have a band, but if I'm asked directly about the weight loss, I don't try to hide it anymore. That feels good. (10) When I daydream about the future, it doesn't make me sad. I'm starting to believe the things I daydream about could actually happen. 10 Things That Helped Me and Might Help You With Your Banding: (1) Just hold your breath and get banded. Quit second-guessing yourself. I second guessed my decision for 3 years of "research" and if I'd just accepted that needing the band is a responsible solution to weight management and isn't a sign of failure, I'd be at goal right now instead of having wasted that time. Yes, I could have lost the weight on my own, as I'd done before, but the band is the only reasonable tool to lose AND keep it off. (2) Once you're banded, quit expecting to lose tons and tons of weight before you get a good fill. Being banded but without a good fill is almost like not being banded. Your cravings won't be dimmed until you're filled. Quit expecting this to be anything other than what it is. Get filled and you'll lose weight. It's frustrating because you just had WLS and it isn't really activated yet, but it will be, so hang in there. (3) Exercise at least a little as soon as you're physically able. Realize this has to be part of your new life in order to lose steadily and maintain for the long term. (4) If you're not losing 1-2 lbs a week, count your calories for a few days or weeks to see where you're going wrong. I happen to believe all weight loss is calories in compared to calories out. Not everyone believes it's exclusively this, but everyone believes it's at least in part this. You don't have to count calories all the time, but if you're frustrated with your progress, it's one way to speed things along. (5) Once you're 4 or 5 months into it, consider finding someone to mentor. It'll help you stay focused on your own journey to help someone else with theirs. (6) Don't worry about sagging skin. You may have some, but it's more attractive than fat, and even if it isn't, if you've lost so much weight that you have sagging skin, think of how much healthier you must be. (7) Don't worry about having to have a revision surgery. Lap band surgery isn't that big of a deal, in terms of surgical recovery for most people. If you have to have a revision, so be it. At least you'll be 100 lbs thinner and having surgery to STAY thinner, not to get thinner. Your recovery will be a ton easier at a lower BMI. (8) Accept the fact that being too tight is not healthy and won't necessarily help you to lose quicker. Get an unfill if you even suspect that need it -- if you suspect it, you really do probably need it. (9) See a therapist as often as you can during the weight loss phase, if you can at all afford it. With very limited exception, there are emotional reasons why we carry extra weight. Even for those with medical reasons for weight gain (PCOS, etc.) there are emotional issues that come up from carrying the weight, even if the emotions themselves were less of a factor in the actual gain. As the weight comes off, you have to deal with those issues or else you might stall until your mind catches up. (10) Quit blaming yourself for being fat. You're a cool person. You're doing something about your weight now. Forgive yourself for not doing something about it before. Just jump on board and do something about it now. There's a whole new world waiting on you. Thank you to all the moderators and members of LBT who have gone through this life changing year with me. You have been my most stable and constant source of support and I am so very grateful.

So I'm 23 days post op. DOS I was 241#. I weighed myself on X-Mas & was 225#. Just weighed myself today & I'm 229#. WTH?? I'm on puréed foods & am sticking to my diet & exercising.. Is anyone else having this problem? I thought I would have lost at least 5-6# over the week I didn't weigh in.. But I never thought I would have gained 4#!!! :'(

Jonathan I think your "coming home" is a sign that are ready to address your band status. It's time. With all the multitude of things you've had going on in the last year, maybe you just "knew" you didn't have weightloss in ya so you back burnered it! First things first, right? Now that things are calming down, you can rededicate yourself to getting down in the scale department. Since getting unfilled didn't help the problem it was supposed to, and you had subsequent weight gain, why not go get refilled and start again? Welcome back to LBT! Don't let the 13lbs discourage you, kick it it the *** (no, not the A- word, the F word -- F-A-T). Go get em!

I would put money you are experiencing water weight gain. Most of the foods you described are high in salt when you have been on an extremely limited diet.

On June 28th I will be saying goodbye to my lap band. It is very bittersweet for me. I got banded Dec 2007. I lost 150 pounds and wearing a size 5. I don’t think I had ever in my entire life been a size 5. I thought that the lap band was the best thing that ever happened to me. Then about a year ago I experienced my first slip. I had a complete unfill for three months. I gained 30 pounds in that time frame despite my efforts to eat right and exercise. Over the last year we tried to slowly add fluid back in. I never lost one pound the entire year, never felt restriction really again and then last month found out it had slipped again. Frustrated with the weight gain and tired of not losing weight I have decided to go ahead and go with the sleeve. I was not sure that my doctors would actually do it or that my insurance company would approve it. Being 170 pounds and 5'9 is not really considered super overweight. But much to my surprise, the insurance approved by removal and revision to sleeve within a matter of days. They are paying for it 100%. My doctor agreed to do the procedure without even giving it a second thought. To me I feel like the lap band was a start for me. It proved to me that I have what it takes to live the lifestyle of a bariatric patient. I have not had soda, bread or pasta in 5 years and I don’t even miss it. Even today as I wait for surgery with an empty band I could eat bread without problem but I won’t because I don’t even miss it anymore. I am ready to make this permanent commitment to have 65% of my stomach removed in an attempt to never have to worry about gaining weight again (as long as I stick to the rules). For me, now knowing what it was like to be thin for those couple of years, there is nothing I wouldn’t do for that feeling of accomplishment. So I am scared and nervous but excited and ready!!!!! So good bye lap band....thank you for changing my entire life and for allowing for me to prove to myself that a skinny me is possible.

I'm 14 months post-op RNY and doing great...no problems whatsoever. To be honest, I don't understand how some gain their weight back after bypass because it is so uncomfortable/hurtful to overeat. One bite over my pouches limit and I hurt bad and vomit. My belly definitely lets me know when I'm approaching fullness. In other words, I wouldn't let the possibility of weight gain deter me from having the surgery. It's really within your control to avoid regaining any weight, in my experience and opinion.

I remember my first Christmas as a post op. It was 5 months out and nothing sweet perturbed me, in any way. It was so easy. I could sit around people, parties and xmas time food, yet utterly lack the desire to eat any food that was off " the plan." So easy I tell you. Fast forward to this Xmas and it is a much different story. We host parties. That is who my wife is. It is so easy to grab a small piece of home made almond Roca, a home made this or a home made that. My desire for sugar and salt comes alive. Granted I only have eaten about 100 calories extra this weekend of Xmas part food (big party last night too), but I am quite surprised at what difference a year makes. I reached goal at 7 months, about 10 months ago. I have been able to eat my paleo friendly diet without too much effort since then, but, man, this Christmas has been so much harder as a vet. I am sure come Monday things will be fine again, once back on the eating plan and back to the cross fit workouts (today is my rest day). I am going to need to be careful when tempted around holidays. It is not about weight gain (working out keeps me fit), but more about being disciplined, about being in control of my motivations and my goals. Things I should have responsibility over. How has your Christmas time been? Do you get these holiday lapses? What are your strategies when you are around parties (either hosting or attending) and your vet mind starts tricking you ?

please can someone advise me I have my pre op talks on 16 august and I was 97kg my weight has ballooned again to 103kg and I am worried they will refuse me due to weight gain again I'm having op under the nhs any help or advise

I am 8 days post op today as well. I too had a small weight gain. I think it is all part of the healing process. Just keep your chin up and do what you are suppose to do and the weight will come off.

Hi! I have to say, reading this reminded me of my boyfriend and me. I was diagnosed with PCOS in April...after 5 years of constant weight gain and not understanding why. Nobody knows the feeling you get when you're told by the dr "the biggest reason for your weight is the PCOS" (unless they've been there of course) and there’s nothing you can do about it. Let me tell you a little about my story. I had never been super skinny but I was fit and very comfortable with my body, I was a dancer and volleyball player...always weighed between 150-160 lbs. Then in the course of 2 years I gained 80 lbs and continued to gain until I had lapband surgery. In the 5 years that my weight went up (I didn't know about the PCOS) I felt disgusted by my body; I hated looking in the mirror and tried so hard to lose any weight. I joined LA Weightloss, Jenny Craig, nutrisystem, a gym and had a personal trainer....I usually averaged 3 lbs a MONTH. It was the most frustrating period of my life because I tried it all. The metformin I started taking after I got diagnosed was the worst. I had constant stomach pain from the medicine and I knew that I couldn't continue. I seeked out info about lapband and told my bf about it every step of the way. He didn't like the idea of surgery but after he saw that I was well informed he slowly gave in. Currently I've lost 30 lbs (had surgery on Oct 6th) and it is the BEST thing I have ever done because I KNOW that if I hadn't had the surgery I would have continued gaining...it's just how it works. I also know that without the surgery weight loss would've been nearly impossible. I hated feeling like the fat ugly girl amongst all my skinny friends, but I know that I truly did it to feel comfortable in my own skin (being skinny is a plus), to be the happy person I used to be, to go shopping without any reservations, to smile at myself while looking in the mirror because I think I look GOOD. I did it to be skinny yeah but I did it to feel better about myself, to love myself, to finally be able to live the life I know I was meant to live. I did it for ME. My bf finally understood that and he had not other choice but to accept it and support me. Support her, nothing but good will come out of this...take it from all of us who know. Good luck to both of you :rolleyes2:

I was banded in 2008 at 433 pounds. For the first two years, the band was like magic, and I lost 200 pounds in 2 years very easily. The next 50 pounds came off much more slowly, with a lot more effort and several long plateaus. But I got down to 178 pounds which although still overweight, is not too bad on my 5'9" frame. My weight fluctuated a bit but always stayed below 200 pounds until about a year and a half ago. My acid reflux started getting really bad and even with prescription acid blockers was still causing me trouble every day. The band was no longer taking away that "head hunger" that was so magical in the first years after the band. My weight started creeping up and up, and when I tried loosening my band to deal with the acid reflux, the weight gain comes on even faster. At the moment I have no fill in my band because I wanted to see how I would do without it. Unfortunately, I am not making the right eating choices. And I have fallen off the exercise bandwagon. This morning, when I stepped on the scale, it said 249! I'm upset and depressed. I feel like the band isn't working for me anymore and I don't know what to do. I don't want to gain this weight back. I'm considering converting to a gastric bypass but would like to give the band one more go. Has anyone had luck getting their band to help them lose weight past the 7+ year mark?

Like everyone has already said the first several days can be difficult, but it does get better. Regarding your weight gain, the surgeon had to pump you up with gas in order to visual the stomach and other organs. If your farting or burping that's good, the gas is coming out. If you were on IV antibiotics for the chest infection, that's extra Fluid you've taken in. All this should pass. Hang in there.

I've always been overweight, but as I put more and more weight on, I didn't realize it. Maybe because most of my weight gain happend around pregnancies, I don't know. After having my last child (he's 5 1/2 now!) as I had to shop for bigger and bigger clothes, 5x, then 6x, then 7x, it still didn't click "hey girl, you are really putting it on" It wasn't until my husband took a photo of my son and I just so happended to be getting dressed in the background...all I had on was my underwear! I saw that and was like OMG!!!! WTF!!! Then it hit me, I am really really huge! YET, I still didn't do anything about my weight! I didn't do anything until my mom won a free 2 month membership for 2 to Curves. And I only went initially because it was free. But, even after losing so much weight, I still don't see myself accurately. I look in the mirror or in window as I'm passing by and think I look ok, but in photos, I'm like, UGH, why don't I look in the photos like I look in the mirror? It's very strange! I wonder if it will still be like that once I get even smaller?