Okay everyone...It's the holidays and I have been at 195-196 for the past week or so. I have been able to put down a little bit more than before. But I was wondering if I should get a fill before the holidays or trust my band will be up to the challenge of Christmas and New Year's. I want to be able to have a good time without the worry. I know what to stay away from and what to do but I don't want to to feel miserable either.

What would you do?

Dear Kathy ....

What I would ask you is this? Are you eating the Bandster way? How soon after you eat do you find yourself hungry again? Have you been regularly eating bad choices?

The band can not control your selections of foods to consume, it can only keep you from being hungry WHEN you are eating the Bandster way.

You have been losing weight at almost 9 pounds a month and that is a good rate. It would not do you any good if you went for a fill and ended up PBing, sliming and in pain, and ended up needing to go back in rapidly for an unfill.

Like Jessie always says, the band is a tool to control hunger so you don't have to totally rely on will-power like we have in the past. The band keeps you from having to suffer hunger pangs and uncontrollable cravings. Only you know how you are eating, what you are eating and whether or not your fills have gotten you to the point of good restriction.

I have excellent restriction, but I know that I could pack away a lot of holiday goodies IF IF IF I decided to pick them up and put them in my mouth. But I want to be thin more than I want to taste goodies. So for today, and then tomorrow, and then the next day, I will make the decision to work with band, be grateful for my band, and keep my focus on my goal.

And since I am not perfect, if I DO pick something up, it will be for a controlled tasting, a sampling. I will not stuff my face. I will continue to eat mindfully. I will not start out by planning to do so, but will not beat myself up if I taste.

How do you fill about your current fill level? Are you still going hungry? Are you avoiding liquid calories and soft calories? Are you eating solid Proteins and firm vegetables and fruits?