Seeking advice from Hosts, VIP'S and Evangelists:

I am 5lbs. from my goal weight and have been teetering in an 8-lb range for 3 weeks now. I'm familiar enough with my band to know that I have about a week to go and the scale is going to reflect another 10lb. loss. I can honestly say that I will be as small as I want to be 5lbs. from now. My question is: how do you enter the maintenance mode? Should I get a slight unfill now or after the next 10lb. loss I'll notice next week?

My thinking was that I'd go ahead an lose the extra 5lbs. to give myself a cushion until I can find the green zone again in maintenance. What are your thoughts?

I'm definitely not who you are seeking advice from but I wanted to say....CONGRATULATIONS AND WAY TO GO!

Looking forward to the responses because I WILL be there one day too!

NICE JOB!

Yes - way to go! Congrats on your great success :-)

I'm 12 pounds from goal, and my maintenance plan is to slowly start adding an extra snack; a Protein bar, greek yogurt, etc. Since we can't.....and don't want to eat past band signals, that's really the only way to add back some calories. That, and maybe not focusing so closely on omitting things like healthy fats from your daily menu. I read of many who try and cut fats out, but it's not really necessary.....or healthy. When I go into maintenance mode, I won't worry so much about having 1T of olive oil on my salad. Maybe I'll have 2. Small healthy additions add up, and ultimately, the weight loss will taper off. Just go slow, so you don't get bummed out if the scale shows an extra pound coming back. You've done so well, I'm sure you will transition smoothly into this final phase. Great job!!

PS: If you like nuts, eating a handful is a good way to add calories. They're a dangerous food for me, because I can't seem to control them. But they are a good/healthy addition, and calorie dense.

OK, I'm following this topic as I am also starting to think about maintenance over losing. I was thinking I'd follow the same plan as I've been doing and just wait to see where my weight stops and then continue as is. Looking forward to hearing from the vets on this. Thanks for starting this thread Pretty.

I met my goal in July 2012. Had a small fill in August and have been coasting ever since. I have actually lost 10 or 11 pounds since August but not complaining. My doctor actually wants me to be 134 but I just made it to 141 as of this morning. "My goal" was 150 so I guess it really depends on you. I do not plan on getting an unfill. I am loving my restriction. Good luck on your decision.

By the way, I'm still eating as if I'm trying to lose. Every now and again, I may stray away from the norm of having "healthy" foods. But again, that is not an everyday thing. I have also noticed since it is colder, my band is tighter and my appetite has changed drastically. I am barely eating. I just don't have an appetite. Again, not complaining.

OK, I'm following this topic as I am also starting to think about maintenance over losing. I was thinking I'd follow the same plan as I've been doing and just wait to see where my weight stops and then continue as is. Looking forward to hearing from the vets on this. Thanks for starting this thread Pretty.

This was my thought exactly. I plan to keep on losing as long as my body wants to give it up. It's not like I am suffering from malnutrition or anything. When my body says time is up then that's it. If it's 200 or 150 I am fine with it. Prefer to be in the 190's but I can handle life just fine with where I'm at now.

Thanks for everyone's advice! My only issue is that I've never really denied myself anything...I've been eating whatever I wanted, just in band-sized portions and I honestly don't see how on earth I could add any more meals or Snacks to my day without overeating and causing a problem.

So...does a TINY unfill in 10lbs. sound like the right thing to do now?

OK, I'm following this topic as I am also starting to think about maintenance over losing. I was thinking I'd follow the same plan as I've been doing and just wait to see where my weight stops and then continue as is. Looking forward to hearing from the vets on this. Thanks for starting this thread Pretty.

This....IMO

Thanks for everyone's advice! My only issue is that I've never really denied myself anything...I've been eating whatever I wanted, just in band-sized portions and I honestly don't see how on earth I could add any more meals or Snacks to my day without overeating and causing a problem.

So...does a TINY unfill in 10lbs. sound like the right thing to do now?

Do you feel you can't get in ENOUGH nourishment with your band the way it is?? Some health concern?

Congrats on the great success BTW!

Hi Catfish:

I think I'm getting in enough as it is now, but I don't want to continue to lose 10lbs. a month - which is what I'm sure is going to happen if I leave it as is. I really don't want to be much smaller than I am now and would love to drop the last 5 and "hover" there (giving allowance for 3-5 gain/losses here and there). I'm really not sure what to do and I get better advice from experienced bandsters than I do from the clinicians.

Thanks for everyone's advice! My only issue is that I've never really denied myself anything...I've been eating whatever I wanted, just in band-sized portions and I honestly don't see how on earth I could add any more meals or Snacks to my day without overeating and causing a problem.

So...does a TINY unfill in 10lbs. sound like the right thing to do now?

Do you feel you can't get in ENOUGH nourishment with your band the way it is?? Some health concern?

Congrats on the great success BTW!

Ooooo, now I see what you are saying. I'm sure a small unfill wouldn't hurt. If you don't like it, you could always get it back. You have to make that decision. Maybe .1 or .2 ccs won't hurt to be taken out. Good luck and congratulations.

I wouldn't know yet but I do know when I went to my Surgeon Last he said you have lost 1/2 your body weight & I don't need to see you but every 6 months now I guess that meant I was started maintenance fase heck I really don't know but when I started this whole process I weighed 320#s then pre op right at surgery 276#s now at 167 , & I still want to be at 135 when I get there I will be ecstatic yes it has taken 3 years but it sure didn't take long for me to gain weight & become 320#s so I don't mind if it's taking me this long to get it off that way it stays off I know it's up to me mostly with the help of my tool but that's fine so I am not sure if I am in maintenance but I know what I can & can not eat & how much & what I choose to put in my mouth or not, so when & if you ever find out let us know keep us updated please & thank you.

That's an amazing achievement. I just wanted to congratulate you and say what an inspiration you are, you must be over the moon x