bluegirly

One more thought. Plateaus can occur and I find that beefing up my exercise routine with long bike rides and racquetball or tennis helps to break that cycle. Varying your weekly caloric consumption also keeps your metabolism active. jmo

If you look a little closer...you might find out what's on your mind, Do you think it has anything to do with your statement title of this thread? Are you grieving your best friend, food? Hang in there hon, we have had these days too.
BTW, I totally get the sweet treat and the potty. We used m&m's, and both of my adult children are in amazing condition! My daughter, a psy. Says" you wouldn't do your job if you did not get a paycheck, would you?" Even my horses expect their carrot for a trick!

There was a hilarious thread a while back about a woman stealing candy out of her child's advent calendar. Hard to sneak that back! Does freezing stuff work for you? That might provide a little delay if the kiss is frozen.
Just know you're doing great. I see you on MFP! For my family I have Snacks I don't like -- for instance no corn chips or regular potato chips as those might be a stumbling block for me -- but BBQ, yuck. So they get only BBQ chips at home. We have had quite a bit of chocolate in the house since Christmas. My husband keeps the Trader Joe's Peanut Butter cups in his office and that is enough of a deterrent for me. In our spice cupboard we have some bars of dark chocolate. I've had a square or two here and there with no problem. I credit the band for that. But Kisses would be hard to resist. Is there something you could switch to that doesn't provide temptation?

Also, and this is just what happened to me- could it be a mental thing since you're so close to the under 200 range? I self sabotaged my way back up the scale last year when I got to 203. Had to recommit, start using my fitness pal again and really have a stern talk with myself . I lost the regain and hit 199.8 this week (it was a 34 lb regain, too!). So it can be done, and you're doing well.
Also, is it near ttotm? Sometimes, with being irregular with an IUD, it sneaks up on me and I' RAVENOUS for a day or two, then Aunt Flo shows up and it all makes sense.
YMMV, good luck!
Nicki

It helped me to use "self talk" to avoid eating anything unnecessary, especially the bad carb Snacks. Raise your awareness of everything you are wanting to cross your lips, and ask yourself before indulging "if I eat this, will it help or hinder me to reach my weight loss goal." If the answer is no, put the candy down, and walk away. Get immersed in something to move your thoughts away from snacking and unhealthy carbs.
I live with a husband who has a 34" waist and is a "junk food junkie". We always have candy, chips, Cookies, and ice cream in our home, I just made a decision that those foods were not going to get me to where I wanted to go. With practice, those bad carbs no longer are a temptation for me.
Best wishes...

Sometimes, it is better to just give in to those cravings, then move on. I also exercise a lot, and have increased my eating. I've been struggling with the calories in and calories out, but will be struggling with this the rest of my life. Like you said, after a binge or over eating, move on, and Celebrate the good days. I always look at it like this- every little change, including any exercise, and healthy eating, is a victory. Those little victories add up, and occur more often than the bad days.

That's awesome perspective! Thanks!

Help!!!! I'm usually pretty good about getting past bad days. We all have them....days where you don't make the best food choices and you kick yourself while you lay in bed at night. I just resolve to do better the next day and I usually do.
I don't know what it is....the past two days I've been horrible!!! We are using Hershey kisses to potty train my son and HOLY COW they are calling my name. And I'm responding! And not just a few...a bunch!!!! And I'm mad about it. And not just that....I hit the Snacks last night before bed too. It's like I'm pregnant (IM NOT!!!) and I can't stop! I'm exercising a ton...six days a week. Three of those days I run 2-3 miles. I know my body needs more fuel but what the hell!?!? Help!

I would consult with your doctor and/or nutritionist to confirm you are getting enough calories, etc. considering the amount of exercise. While we always have to be wary of temptation, our bodies also have ways of telling us when we are missing something. I kept craving salty stuff (more that usual) and my most recent blood work showed my sodium levels were low. So, the doctor changed my blood pressure medicine (cut the ACE inhibitor in half and got rid of the diuretic) and now my levels are looking better. As an added benefit I'm not looking for a salt lick like a deer that's about to get taken out by a hunter LOL.

I was banded on September 11, 2013. I had my first fill on November 7th. I had my second fill January 9th. It is January 17th and EVERY SINGLE DAY since my second fill I have been (almost) stuck!!!
Let me start by saying that my band is NOT too tight! I get my fills under fluro and that takes the guesswork out of it. THIS IS ALL MY FAULT!!!!!!!!
I own it. I am eating too quickly. My bites are probably a little too big. And as a result, I get stuck, kind of. It's not horrible like others have described, but it's enough to get my attention.
Before this second fill, my band was filled enough to keep me satisfied after eating but during the meals I didn't really have to pay much attention to what I was doing.
HOLY COW is it different now!!! And I'm not complaining! This is the way it is supposed to be....this is what I signed up for. I just got comfortable and complacent and now I am wide awake.
I am working on developing better habits so that I get the most out of my band. I refuse to be that patient who doesn't follow the rules and then tries to blame the band or the surgeon.
So I am putting it out there. I am taking ownership of my mistakes and publicly (sort of) making a commitment to change.
ok, that feels better now. Thanks for listening.

This is why we love you CG!!!!!!!

I was banded on September 11, 2013. I had my first fill on November 7th. I had my second fill January 9th. It is January 17th and EVERY SINGLE DAY since my second fill I have been (almost) stuck!!!
Let me start by saying that my band is NOT too tight! I get my fills under fluro and that takes the guesswork out of it. THIS IS ALL MY FAULT!!!!!!!!
I own it. I am eating too quickly. My bites are probably a little too big. And as a result, I get stuck, kind of. It's not horrible like others have described, but it's enough to get my attention.
Before this second fill, my band was filled enough to keep me satisfied after eating but during the meals I didn't really have to pay much attention to what I was doing.
HOLY COW is it different now!!! And I'm not complaining! This is the way it is supposed to be....this is what I signed up for. I just got comfortable and complacent and now I am wide awake.
I am working on developing better habits so that I get the most out of my band. I refuse to be that patient who doesn't follow the rules and then tries to blame the band or the surgeon.
So I am putting it out there. I am taking ownership of my mistakes and publicly (sort of) making a commitment to change.
ok, that feels better now. Thanks for listening.

I was banded on September 11, 2013. I had my first fill on November 7th. I had my second fill January 9th. It is January 17th and EVERY SINGLE DAY since my second fill I have been (almost) stuck!!!
Let me start by saying that my band is NOT too tight! I get my fills under fluro and that takes the guesswork out of it. THIS IS ALL MY FAULT!!!!!!!!
I own it. I am eating too quickly. My bites are probably a little too big. And as a result, I get stuck, kind of. It's not horrible like others have described, but it's enough to get my attention.
Before this second fill, my band was filled enough to keep me satisfied after eating but during the meals I didn't really have to pay much attention to what I was doing.
HOLY COW is it different now!!! And I'm not complaining! This is the way it is supposed to be....this is what I signed up for. I just got comfortable and complacent and now I am wide awake.
I am working on developing better habits so that I get the most out of my band. I refuse to be that patient who doesn't follow the rules and then tries to blame the band or the surgeon.
So I am putting it out there. I am taking ownership of my mistakes and publicly (sort of) making a commitment to change.
ok, that feels better now. Thanks for listening.

I was banded on September 11, 2013. I had my first fill on November 7th. I had my second fill January 9th. It is January 17th and EVERY SINGLE DAY since my second fill I have been (almost) stuck!!!
Let me start by saying that my band is NOT too tight! I get my fills under fluro and that takes the guesswork out of it. THIS IS ALL MY FAULT!!!!!!!!
I own it. I am eating too quickly. My bites are probably a little too big. And as a result, I get stuck, kind of. It's not horrible like others have described, but it's enough to get my attention.
Before this second fill, my band was filled enough to keep me satisfied after eating but during the meals I didn't really have to pay much attention to what I was doing.
HOLY COW is it different now!!! And I'm not complaining! This is the way it is supposed to be....this is what I signed up for. I just got comfortable and complacent and now I am wide awake.
I am working on developing better habits so that I get the most out of my band. I refuse to be that patient who doesn't follow the rules and then tries to blame the band or the surgeon.
So I am putting it out there. I am taking ownership of my mistakes and publicly (sort of) making a commitment to change.
ok, that feels better now. Thanks for listening.

This is why we love you CG!!!!!!!

I was banded on September 11, 2013. I had my first fill on November 7th. I had my second fill January 9th. It is January 17th and EVERY SINGLE DAY since my second fill I have been (almost) stuck!!!
Let me start by saying that my band is NOT too tight! I get my fills under fluro and that takes the guesswork out of it. THIS IS ALL MY FAULT!!!!!!!!
I own it. I am eating too quickly. My bites are probably a little too big. And as a result, I get stuck, kind of. It's not horrible like others have described, but it's enough to get my attention.
Before this second fill, my band was filled enough to keep me satisfied after eating but during the meals I didn't really have to pay much attention to what I was doing.
HOLY COW is it different now!!! And I'm not complaining! This is the way it is supposed to be....this is what I signed up for. I just got comfortable and complacent and now I am wide awake.
I am working on developing better habits so that I get the most out of my band. I refuse to be that patient who doesn't follow the rules and then tries to blame the band or the surgeon.
So I am putting it out there. I am taking ownership of my mistakes and publicly (sort of) making a commitment to change.
ok, that feels better now. Thanks for listening.

Thank you so much for this post!!!! I used it at dinner tonight...the "for now" really works with the head hunger!! I still battle with not finishing my plate. Since my portions are so small, I feel like I should be able to eat the whole thing. But tonight I thought of you and didn't feel the need to clean my plate. It was great!!!!

Yes. I haven't had to restrict my diet at all, just change my bite size and the amount of chewing.

I was banded on September 11, 2013. I had my first fill on November 7th. I had my second fill January 9th. It is January 17th and EVERY SINGLE DAY since my second fill I have been (almost) stuck!!!
Let me start by saying that my band is NOT too tight! I get my fills under fluro and that takes the guesswork out of it. THIS IS ALL MY FAULT!!!!!!!!
I own it. I am eating too quickly. My bites are probably a little too big. And as a result, I get stuck, kind of. It's not horrible like others have described, but it's enough to get my attention.
Before this second fill, my band was filled enough to keep me satisfied after eating but during the meals I didn't really have to pay much attention to what I was doing.
HOLY COW is it different now!!! And I'm not complaining! This is the way it is supposed to be....this is what I signed up for. I just got comfortable and complacent and now I am wide awake.
I am working on developing better habits so that I get the most out of my band. I refuse to be that patient who doesn't follow the rules and then tries to blame the band or the surgeon.
So I am putting it out there. I am taking ownership of my mistakes and publicly (sort of) making a commitment to change.
ok, that feels better now. Thanks for listening.

I was banded on September 11, 2013. I had my first fill on November 7th. I had my second fill January 9th. It is January 17th and EVERY SINGLE DAY since my second fill I have been (almost) stuck!!!
Let me start by saying that my band is NOT too tight! I get my fills under fluro and that takes the guesswork out of it. THIS IS ALL MY FAULT!!!!!!!!
I own it. I am eating too quickly. My bites are probably a little too big. And as a result, I get stuck, kind of. It's not horrible like others have described, but it's enough to get my attention.
Before this second fill, my band was filled enough to keep me satisfied after eating but during the meals I didn't really have to pay much attention to what I was doing.
HOLY COW is it different now!!! And I'm not complaining! This is the way it is supposed to be....this is what I signed up for. I just got comfortable and complacent and now I am wide awake.
I am working on developing better habits so that I get the most out of my band. I refuse to be that patient who doesn't follow the rules and then tries to blame the band or the surgeon.
So I am putting it out there. I am taking ownership of my mistakes and publicly (sort of) making a commitment to change.
ok, that feels better now. Thanks for listening.

I was banded on September 11, 2013. I had my first fill on November 7th. I had my second fill January 9th. It is January 17th and EVERY SINGLE DAY since my second fill I have been (almost) stuck!!!
Let me start by saying that my band is NOT too tight! I get my fills under fluro and that takes the guesswork out of it. THIS IS ALL MY FAULT!!!!!!!!
I own it. I am eating too quickly. My bites are probably a little too big. And as a result, I get stuck, kind of. It's not horrible like others have described, but it's enough to get my attention.
Before this second fill, my band was filled enough to keep me satisfied after eating but during the meals I didn't really have to pay much attention to what I was doing.
HOLY COW is it different now!!! And I'm not complaining! This is the way it is supposed to be....this is what I signed up for. I just got comfortable and complacent and now I am wide awake.
I am working on developing better habits so that I get the most out of my band. I refuse to be that patient who doesn't follow the rules and then tries to blame the band or the surgeon.
So I am putting it out there. I am taking ownership of my mistakes and publicly (sort of) making a commitment to change.
ok, that feels better now. Thanks for listening.

Lol good for you. Just keep chewing and taking small bites. You can do it!!!!

I love watching your progress -- just about to drop into Onederland! Yippee! We had similar stats beginning and I am a couple of months behind you....so there's hope for me, too. You are doing beautifully, including this learning curve around slowing down, small bites, taking a moment to notice everything. Am I full? Or the sentence I am using on myself lately, "have I had enough food, for now?" That "for now" really works as it tells me not to worry, there will be more food later. And the answer is usually "yes, I've had enough for now."

I'm right with you on this one. My last fill was "what I signed up for." (Funny you should use that phrase; my BF used it with me just last night when I was having some sternum pain from eating too fast.)
Mindful eating is the ticket here, that's certain.

bluegirly:
thanks for a most wonderful post and Official Notice from yet another Bandster that "Our" brains must be involved in overcoming the Bad Old Habits so many of us developed over the years!! Sometimes 'we' forget that essential point.
Cheers in you journey.