Just comparing my vacation photos - we returned to the same area in France for our holidays this year, and when I got the photo's developed, it was interesting to see the difference - I am down 80lbs since that photo was taken in 2001, but "only" down 65 since banding... I am so thrilled at how wonderful I feel being 80lbs lighter - so energetic, sleeping better etc - I can't thank all my fantastic banded friends here, the support keeps me going.

August 2004 & August 2001 -80lbs

Lisa, people definitely do notice - they just don't mention it - I am absolutely shocked at people's reaction to me - but I'm shameless - I pretty much shove it in their faces now - "hey, have you noticed I've lost over five stone??!!" (which is the way we measure weight here and in the UK) - people HAVE to smile and say something nice. Don't get me wrong, there are lots of people who mention it, and go "wow, well done" but I am so surprised at certain people's reactions....recently, we had a religious thing for my mother's first year anniversary of her death, and I was dying for my mother's closest friend to see me - she was always really nice to me and was the one I would go to with problems etc as I didn't get on my mother all that well - she greeted all of us at the Mass thing, and stayed for dinner etc and never mentioned once that I had lost weight - it was 60lbs loss at the time, and whatever about my ASS, my face was bloody loads thinner - at one point I was filling up her wine glass, and my aunt walked in saying "oh my god, YOU'VE lost weight!" - this friend of my mother's actually got up, and walked away to the bathroom! Then I knew she had noticed but couldn't find it within herself to mention it. People are threatened by us, by having to possibly compete with another person on their level again. I went to a girls night thing recently as well - about 6 of the women from our neighbourhood met to discuss the school run etc - one of them at the end of the night said, "do you mind me mentioning, you seem way thinner - have you lost weight???" All the rest of them suddenly chimed in with "yeah, we noticed too" - and honed in for diet tips and wanting to know how I did it.... Jeez, you think they coulda said something if they were all thinking of it!

Anyway I just started with my "helpful" dieting tips again - wasabi on EVERYTHING, raw eggs in soya sauce, tobasco in cheesecake.....they lapped it up.................. :)

Rica, you made a good point. My little brother's best friend has always been like another brother to me. I saw him last week and he didn't notice my weight loss. So I said, "Adrian, I've lost 49 pounds and you haven't said anything." He just looked at me so innocently and said, "sis, I never though you were fat."

Maybe all my friends and co-workers are just being really nice. Maybe they instinctively know that I have an aversion to compliments. Maybe it's a good thing they don't say anything!

Bright, I love your "diet tips for friends"! I really think those women now feel threatened by you. You are drop-dead gorgeous! Just don't change the way you are inside.

If you ever come to the Southeastern US give me a line cause you're looking great girl!

You look like a model Bright. Beautiful pictures....but the after photo....wow!!!!!! I love seeing the before and after photos....they inspire me. Thanks!