I have maintained my weight loss within 10 lbs.up or down, for about 6 years now (size 6). I keep asking myself why have I been so successful?

I was never in a hurry to lose the weight. I only averaged 5 or 6 lbs per month. I never had a goal and got smaller then I ever thought I would, (nice surprise).

I got very small fills. I took allmost a year to get to good restriction.

I wasn't too hard on myself if I cheated. I cheated a lot, I still do and have learned this is part of who I am. Ha!, tomorrow is another day.

I followed my doctors rules the first several months. It was hard, but I did it.

I never compared myself to anyone elses success or failure.

I exercised ( as little as possible) but I did it and still do (as little as possible).

I learned what my food triggers are, this was a hard one to overcome.

I learned to replace my craviings for sweet and chocolate and fat with low calorie, low fat recipes. (I can't live without chocolate).

I learned to eat slowly and chew well, this took over a year to master.

I learned when I go out to eat, about 2 or 3 times a month to totally enjoy my food, to eat whatever I want including dessert, and not count calories or worry about

portions. To enjoy the atmosphere and the company I am with.

I learned if I had a bad day, eating or otherwise, it will pass and tomorrow is a new beginning. Sometimes it was a bad week.

I didn't need anyone to validate my success. No one knows I had this done. Not even my family. So no one to judge me good or bad.

I learned I now have a great track record and most likely this will continue.

For me losing the weight was not a body image issue, it was a health issue. However being thin has been a nice side effect.

Hope this post will encourage some.

I have maintained my weight loss within 10 lbs.up or down' date=' for about 6 years now (size 6). I keep asking myself why have I been so successful?

I was never in a hurry to lose the weight. I only averaged 5 or 6 lbs per month. I never had a goal and got smaller then I ever thought I would, (nice surprise).

I got very small fills. I took allmost a year to get to good restriction.

I wasn't too hard on myself if I cheated. I cheated a lot, I still do and have learned this is part of who I am. Ha!, tomorrow is another day.

I followed my doctors rules the first several months. It was hard, but I did it.

I never compared myself to anyone elses success or failure.

I exercised ( as little as possible) but I did it and still do (as little as possible).

I learned what my food triggers are, this was a hard one to overcome.

I learned to replace my craviings for sweet and chocolate and fat with low calorie, low fat recipes. (I can't live without chocolate).

I learned to eat slowly and chew well, this took over a year to master.

I learned when I go out to eat, about 2 or 3 times a month to totally enjoy my food, to eat whatever I want including dessert, and not count calories or worry about

portions. To enjoy the atmosphere and the company I am with.

I learned if I had a bad day, eating or otherwise, it will pass and tomorrow is a new beginning. Sometimes it was a bad week.

I didn't need anyone to validate my success. No one knows I had this done. Not even my family. So no one to judge me good or bad.

I learned I now have a great track record and most likely this will continue.

For me losing the weight was not a body image issue, it was a health issue. However being thin has been a nice side effect.

Hope this post will encourage some.[/quote']

WOW Thank you sooooo much very very encouraging. I was just banded on may 22nd. But already worrying if I'm going to do well or not. Again thanks.

Thank you for sharing your insight, experiences and advice! I hope to embrace your words of wisdom as I travel through this journey. I'm being banded June 4th.....your words could not have come at a better time!

I love this!!!!! Thank you so much for posting....I've been overwhelmed lately be the negative posts of band failure and really needed to read some positive words. I think I'm going to read this post every day to remind myself that this is truly a journey that I must take day by day!!!!

I really needed to hear your story. I sometimes feel I want to see the weight gone, I want to rush it. But slow and steady wins the race. Thanks for the words of wisdom!