I took the year of 2004 as "MY YEAR" and decided to do whatever it took to get where I needed and wanted to be for once in my life. I hired a personal trainer (he's the best one at the gym I attend, has a college degree, not some slacker trust me!) I worked out with him twice a week and did a LOT of cardio two or three of the other days each week. I joined Weight Watchers. I faithfully attended every meeting and kept track of my points like some kind of crazy nazi-dieter. Every week I weighed in and stayed the same. Sometimes I went down 1 pound, then the next week I'd go up 1. This went on for a year. I figured, okay it took me more than a year to lose this weight, I'll be patient. It got to where I couldn't go to Weight Watchers anymore and not cry watching everyone else get their ribbons and stuff. So I went to a bariatric specialist (not a surgeon, he just does regular weight loss) He put me on a diet of meat, vegetables and fruit. No grains. No sugar. I did that for a year. I lost zero pounds. Then I went on one of those cleansing fasts for my liver because there is a theory that liver toxicity can make it hard to lose weight. I did that for 30 days and lost 3 pounds. (the average person who does the cleanse loses 22 pounds in 30 days and it was all doctor supervised and healthy) I waited a month and did the cleansing fast again. I lost zero pounds. I had a big breakdown in the nutritionists office. She threw her hands up and said she didn't know what to tell me. I was still working out with the trainer, by the way. Then I subscribed to a diet meal delivery service where three meals a day of The Zone Diet meals were delivered to my door. Did that for a month. Lost zero pounds. I have been working out with the same dear trainer since June of '03 and in August of '07 I finally decided to have LAP-BAND® surgery. I am still not breaking any weight loss records as you can see by my ticker, but I have lost 25 pounds - over 10% of my total and 25 pounds more than I was able to lose without the band. I am a HAPPY CAMPER even with the slowness of my weight loss because for the first time in four years I have hope that I might be able to get to a normal weight. Don't let anyone tell you that it is impossible NOT to lose weight by taking in fewer calories than you expend because I am living proof that it can happen. Now that I am eating under 900 calories a day I am losing, and it is slow, but at least I'm losing. There is no way I could have stuck to a 900 calorie a day diet without the band. I feel for you and I believe you when you say you couldn't lose weight. I have walked in your shoes! | 