Well I couldnt maintain 800 cal for more than a few months. I have tried 1600 cal -- no loss 1500 cal--- no loss 1400,1300,1200,1100,1000 etc. I just dont lose-- I am kinda scared this band may not work either, I really can say with a totally clear conscious that i have sincerely tried with all my heart to lose weight . NO CHEATING! NOT EVEN A LITTLE! I will follow to the letter for 4-5 months at a time thinking shirley it will come I will lose some weight-- then I give up and just eat whatever I want after a few months of starving and no weight loss. But I actually enjoy more healthier foods-- but choc, diet coke and pizza are pretty high on my list too. I do think that part of my problem is that it is very hard to have that low of a cal food by eating mostly protein. So I do reley on no fat carbs which have fewer calories than some proteins b/c most proteins have fat and fat has more calories than carbs or proteins. Hmm well I do think the band is worth a try and hopefully it will help some. I need to lose 100 lbs but wow even if I lost 50 how great would that be for my health, I dont care about being skinny so if I only lose 50 of the 100 I need to lose I think I will be ok with that! Jill | 