Things are normalizing!
Finally the summer vacation and wedding cake pounds are coming off. I'm getting back down where I feel comfortable.
I think the thing that keeps me maintaining is that if I go up just a couple of pounds, I get super strict on my program. I watch what I do and get them off immediately. I can't allow those couple pounds to sit there, because what if they invite their old friends and before you know it, it's 20 or 30 to lose and not 2-3.
Maintenance is forever. Even with a lap band. Having a lap band is like buying tools to fix a house. If you never use the tools, then the house never gets renovated.
You have to work with your band. It only controls volume. But even small volumes of very bad things can let your weight creep up if you have them often. Also, liquid things....alcohol, creamy soups, ice creams, mashed potatoes, butter....they slip right past that band. You can't be an all day snacker either.
So the band is a tool. I use it to my advantage. I avoid the pitfalls. I put healthy amounts of healthy things in, and I get a healthy, fit body. It helps, but I still so a bit of the work.