I stopped trying after years of dieting myself fat... I am now ready to start over and make some lifestyle changes. While I've had several friends who have had success with the weight loss surgery and seeing their success has become tempting, but I think to myself, why can't I do this without spending $$$$, without weeks of recovery and after watching them with the dumping syndrom and stomach problems am not sure I could live with that. My mother had really good luck with the 17 day diet and has kept it off for over a year now. I watched her diet diet diet all my life and this is the one that worked. I hate that she is skinnier than me and she has now given me a goal.. To be as slim as her.. I can't use age as a reason for it being impossible to loose anymore. Plus with my hubby deploying overseas again I would love to give him the gift of a skinnier sexier me.