I'd really love to hear some tips out there from successful bandsters who've lost 100% (or pretty close) of their excess weight. What do you eat? How many average calories? What's your exercise routine? How much weight did you have to lose?

Hi Puddingpie,

I lost 93% of my excess weight, but reached 100% of my goal wieght which was 180 for a total loss of 154 pounds. The bandsters that start out with a very high BMI (like mine which was 53.9) usually dont lose 100% since bone density is much greater than a person that has been thin most of their life.

I did Atkins the first 6 months. The second six months was more like a South beach diet approach. Now I eat what I want but focus on meat and veggies most of the time. Drink lots of Water and exercise 3 x a week for at least 40 minutes each time. I started out at Curves and then went to a regular gym my second year. Hate to tell you, but there are no secrets really.

Babs in TX

334/180

-154

new goal: 169 give or take a pound.

Check the Before/After thread for Belinda (BelBo? is her screen name?) who lost all of her weight. She's never on here anymore. I guess she's busy living a healthy happy life. Does that mean I should get my franny off this 'puter and go take a walk? yep. Pleanty of people lose their weight, but few are here to talk about it. I'm grateful for those who stick it out with the rest of us

So if lots of your weight was in lean tissue like bone it wouldnt matter that you didnt get to your "ideal" weight because if it's not hanging off your body as fat, what the scales say isnt important anyway.

muffinbirdie also here on this site lost all of her weight. I believe she had a band slip and gained a skosh back but got either a fix or a new band and is right back on track. Personally, she's a HUGE inspiration to me!!

This board has more younger (as in, had the band a shorter time) bandsters than some of the other boards and since it can take several years we don't see that amount of success yet. There were several on Spotlight Health (seemingly defunct now) who had lost all their weight. The thing is when people lose all their weight they tend not to post as much anymore.