I hope to lose more than 100+ when I am finished. Is it possible to still look good without surgery for tummy tucks or and other surgeries to the skin? Just wondering if anyone's skin "snapped" back.

thanks for all the responses. It is encouraging.. My daughter created her own WW facebook page for some select folks. She does WW online and I was part of the group. She said it wasn't fair for me to be part of the group since I had band tightened. I disagreed, but posted on the wall anyway and told everyone what I was doing. I know I will still need that WW guidance when I reach goal. I plan to loosen it some when I reach goal. I've managed to do not badly with it loose, but want to drop mre than I have. Now my mom, well, she just doesn't understand at all. it is nice to hear people say that they feel the same way or have had similar experiences. And yes, we do have to make our decision about what we think is a good goal. I'd like to loose about 83 more but would be super happy with 50 more gone. One day at a time.

my doc, that has a clue, (a couple others at practice doesn't seem as good), has me lay on the table and do a little sit up after he cleans it and puts betadine on it. The he takes all the saline out and that way he can tell based on previous fills or unfills what is going on with the band. I always use fluro and this past time he put saline more than once, however keeps the needle intact. Once the fluro (chalky white liquid that shows up on tv screen) he can see it going down. He wants it to go down, but not super fast. Then he can record how much was put in (or taken out). He removes need and puts a cotton ball and then a band aid. All done. Tummy has a history of swelling after procedure as it is senstive, so its clear and then mushy liquids for couple days. Then off to trying other foods, slowly the next few days. Not a bad procedure. Never had pain.

yes to banana. Yes to applesauce depending on what I'm eating wiht it. Banana, I have to chew chew chew and small bites. Half a banana is best for me. Applesauce can be hard for me if earlier in the day and chunky.

Very awesome. Congratulations! Hope to be with you there soon!

 I was in a weigh****cher group created by my daughter.  When she found out I was tightening my band again, she asked me to drop out. She said it wasn't fair and would discourage others. I wish she understood that although I have a help, that I still have to work at it. The other thought is that my mom did not understand why I was not as thin as her friend who had gastric by pass surgery. She lost fast. However she recently started gaining back and stretched her stomach and is starting over too. Some also have looked at me as if I should not be eating and only drinking meals. Anyone else have these scenarios ?

 Only me and my surgeon can find mine. Hopefully it will not be too long.   

 Thanks for that. It gives me a goal. One to show me how far I have come. It's so helpful to hear different perspectives. 

 I was told to walk in hospital to avoid the gas pain. Dumb me over walked. 19 laps in hospital. The next day a person that did not exercise prior paid the price. So definitely walk but don't over do. The body has to recover. A friend had surgery and went back to work a couple days later. Me- I was out a week but I was older than her. Not sorry I had it done. Good luck. 

 I just had a fill after basically having only .50 fill left when I had an infill to try on my own. I did gain and fought off a lot of it, but have hovered over same weight for a little while. The band is helping me again and I think the past experience of having issues has taught me a lot. Yes you can do it. One baby step at a time. Never give up. 

I hope more continue posting. What an encouragement to read all the successes! This "old" bandster sure needed these posts!

 Thanks so much!

I had surgery over 6 yrs ago. I did lose a good bit quickly, alot prior to surgery.  I had issues and had the band loosened, tightened,  Which is a normal thing for many bandsters. I moved out of State from where my  surgeon is.

I decided to get my band loosened after so many issues, mainly not being able to keep good food in, but eating poorly. My doc, (not the one that performed ths surgery), left .50 cc in my band.

In 2010, I decided to go for it and have the band tightened. I was tld I had about 1.48 added. About a week later, there was no difference in restriction. Because I traveled out of State and the effort, money, etc., I contacted the doctor, (who is part of the practice but a different location), said to come back and re did the fill. H said he put about 1.80 cc, or close to that in. I was very concerned because the fluro showed the barium going down very fast. Understand, at this point, I have had the band a long time. At one point I gained about 20 lbs back while super loose. I had got about 20 off on my own after that.  In a week, I had no restriction and not sure I had any.

Last week, I went back to the Dr. that did the surgery. He was my surgeon, and he himself has the band. I was 4 lbs lighter than the previous yr. I was glad about that, but he said, don't depend on the band. I'm very familiar. Then he removed what I had in the band, and it showed .50cc. He said it may have a leak, but wasn't sure. He put about 2.4 cc's in my band. He told me I could not know if it had a leak right away.

It is continuing to work. I have had many years of learning to chew food with the ups and downs of tightening and loosening. I truly believe that the 2 adjustments were not done. I did not believe that the place the dr. had done the previous fills were the right place for the needle. You get used to knowing where your port is. My band does tend to open up more at night and tighten in the morning, which is usually due to swelling. One week down and I do feel some restriction, enough to help. Now to continue learning to eat the right thing. I lost about 7 since last Monday.

I hope this is an encouragement to anyone that may have given up. I haven't and although for me it is a long journey, I am not as heavy as I was, or where I may have been today. I am on my way down, heading for the 100's and can't wait to continue on this journey, knowing that I have to do the work, but have a help to help me eat normal amount of foods.

Ps having no luck with my weight ticker, so HIGHEST 271, Saturday 208.