Question to all you "Veterans" out there, who have finished loosing the weight......talking Lap Band......Am I missing something???

I read from time to time where people say they are now on "Maintenance"....I'm curious, what does that mean to you???

I know, with all the diets I have tried,Maintenance started when after a period of extreme low calorie weight loss, say for 12 weeks, you move to the next, possibly the 3rd stage and increase your calories and foods you eat....start eating normally again? Like a re-entry phase.

But with the band, what do you do??? get Fluid taken out of your band in order to start eating more??? Does your food choices, portion sizes change???

For me, this was never a diet...this was from the start, a learning experience...learning to eat differently, learning to give up some foods, take in new healthier foods,...high Protein, plenty of Water....etc, etc...all the things I needed to do to let the band work.

Sprinkle that with increased physical activity and Presto!

I changed my lifestyle.....and because of it my body reversed the weight gain and went in the opposite direction....it did not (and could not) stop when I said so, the weight loss continued until everything reached an "Equilibrium"

Don't like the term, but everything returned to "Normal"

Normal Eating, not in excess, and Normal weight...right where my body should be...and Normal exercise.

This learning experience, this life change, is something I will keep for the rest of my life...it will not change (unless the band changes)...

so therefore, where is the "Maintenance"?

I don't see where or what I can do differently...or want to....(except explore better, healthier foods)

Only thing I do for good band health is go full liquids for a few days, about every 6-8 weeks....but that's another issue

I'm curious what others have done when they are finished loosing weight....

Edited March 24, 201511 yr by B-52

Hi B52,

Agree with what you've said. Interested in the liquids only every 6-8 weeks. How many days do you do this? Is it a conscious choice or do you find yourself just falling into it? So I guess my question is why? I actually forget I have a band most of the time.

Congrats on your maintenance, for me, I am not sure I will ever maintain because my weight gain/issues were always mental, and always will be. Although for the most part im ok with it, it keeps me on my toes and I eventually progress downward on the scale. Not to say it doesn't fluctuate up once in a while...I'm coming out of a very cold snowy winter here in the north east but have begun to tackle the ten pounds I put on during "hibernation" LOL...however, I thank my band every day because I know it would have been a lot more than 10 lbs without it.

Edited March 24, 201511 yr by horsegirl315

Wow - this is an interesting concept, B52. When I dieted before the lap band, I always thought of maintenance as the point where I would maintain what I lost, but I never seemed to get to that point. I guess I am in the maintenance phase now, but I have not really changed much from the previous weight loss phase. Until I read your post, I was not even thinking of the term "maintenance" as it applies to my changes in behavior and eating.

I would consider maintenance now more of a lifestyle adjustment. I am not looking to lose more weight at this point - although I am sure five or 10 pounds would be okay- and I have started to incorporate some additional types of food into my diet (for example fruits, which I avoided for a while). I have increased my daily calories a little, not by much though. I think the increase keeps me at a steady level. I still keep an eye on everything I put in my mouth, but I do not keep track of everything as I did when I was first banded.

Another Great post b52 and kat

Life seems to stay in the same rhythm for me. I don't think very much of food...faithful in exercise...Never would have been the case 9 years ago.

It is just a different level that I never foresaw...

I don't know that I think of maintenance.... Just regular days. Small meals. Once in a while frozen yogurt..... Or what I chose..I know it won't be much.

Very happy to COMPLY... Tho it took years of training with PBing... And adjustments

My thoughts are it appears 900-1200 calories are what we gals eat on a very regular basis... I don't lose or gain within a few lbs.

Wondering if this is true for others on a long term basis ?