I am still in the process of completing my pre-op requirements. I hope to have surgery in May. When hearing about the rate of success, it is often about 40-50%. My question is, if you religiously stick to your diet,exercise, and fills, are most people successful?

I would say yes, but it requires being brutally honest with yourself. That means keeping track of every bite of food. Calories have a way of creeping up and a couple hundred extra every day can stall your weight loss plan. It means learning to incorporate exercise regularly into your life. I believe that once you start to lose some weight and see how much better you can move, it really motivates you to continue. Hardest, I personally think, is handling those moments where something triggers you to eat things that are no longer part of your plan. Ever have that moment? The smell of something cooking that reminds you more of the pleasure of the first bite rather than how uncomfortable you feel after you have eaten the whole thing. Being able to look honestly at what things you do that sabatage your life, analyze them and make better choices requires a bravery that not everyone is able to muster. Good luck as you go. Lots of people are successful and most articles you read about success are actually based on older data. Work with a Center of Excellence and use all their services to help you be successful.

I'm different...I don't have a list of "forbidden foods"...I haven't exercised at all. Pretty much haven't changed anything except the foods that get stuck. I'm down 105 lbs...I have about 30 to go. My attitude is I'm banded, not dead. "bad" foods aren't gonna disappear just because I never knew what moderation was. Now, I do. I'm not even at perfect restriction...whatever that is. I'll get to it eventually. For now, I'm enjoying the new me.