Long story short...I was your typical ex-football player gone fat. I was a poster child for the wreck that happens when your metabolism hits a wall and terrible eating habits catch up to you after years of coaches telling you,"you need to eat boy!" I was 352 at my heaviest, had beginning stages of Type 2 Diabetes, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea all at around 26.

I had the lap band surgery around June of 07. I have had some very good stretches, being down to around 288 twice and even competing in a 10K in early ’08. After relocating to Ohio from Texas for work and having a second child, I have found it harder and harder to stay on track. Due to financial issues recently, I could not justify keeping my gym membership and at the same time have gone to lower budget meals. Neither one of which has helped my situation.

I have gained back over half of what I had lost up to this point last year. I started running last week but constantly dwell on the disappointment I have in my behaviors. Help me!

My main problem is night time snacking and eating around the band when it is something I am fond of. It may take 45 minutes to eat that double cheeseburger from BK, but I cannot put it down,

So, it sounds like you really fell off the wagon.

JUMP BACK ON!!!! Dig up the info from your NUT or find it online. Start over. Stay away from BURGER KING!

If it will help you, start over from day one! maybe even get a fill. Do a day or 2 of liquids, then several days of mushies. Of course approved lapband foods only.

If you want a kick in the ass, I'm sure there are plenty of Bansters here at LBT that will provide that kick for you.

Take all the replys as something you need to help give you that kick start. I am sure you can do what needs to be done. NOW DO IT!

Hey football junky!!!

Yup..its time for you to get on the wagon !! what i would do is slowly increase the distance of your running like once every week and picture your old coach,wife/girlfriend and kids in your head motivating you to do more. You really wanna let them down ?! They need to you!!! As far as the burger king goes.. its all in your head and i have faith in you that you can get through it, when ever you crave foods like that go walking or running..just do something to get your mind off of it. If other people in your family are eating that stuff infront of you picture that same hamburger with maggots and nasty stuff all over it.. takes a few to get used to it and work but it does

like humming bird says: get a fill.. then go on liquids for a few days.. then mushies .. then so on.

Sorry for being so blunt but i feel like it was in order :confused:

I have an idea, if you feel you have to have a double cheeseburger, go inside to get it. Have them cut it in half, and have them either keep half or THROW HALF AWAY!take the other half home and eat it. This will be hard for a while but it's what I do. I go to Andy's (frozen custard) get a small one and ask them to only fill it half way. ( I have some weird thing about throwing away food) Then I have portion control.

Tyler TX!!! small world! that is where I had my surgery and moved to Ohio from. Thanks to all of you for the advice! You are right, I just need to cowboy up and stop messing around. I think I will fast for a couple of days and start back on liquids.

Is that too drastic?

Personally, I don't believe in fasting. Your body needs nutriton and energy everyday. I would go on the liquid diet for a few days. That might help you get back on track. Good Luck!

Fasting (going totally without) is too drastic. You will get plenty of a jump start with full liquids for a couple days. Let us know how you do and keep visiting LBT for support and ideas.

@ football - you have gotten down to 288 twice so you know what you need to do to get there again. I understand that your circumstances have changed and it's not as easy now as it once was...............BUT, it isn't gonna get any easier. With every year you age, it becomes a little harder to get the weight off. Your kids deserve a healthy father, your wife deserves a healthy husband, and most importantly, you deserve a healthy you. Stop looking at the obsacles in you life. They are just an excuse to eat like you used to. Start looking at the reasons why you had the surgery to begin with.............and, as Nike so aptly puts it, "JUST DO IT". No excuses.

@ Leigha - LOVE your idea about only accepting half a serving in resturants. I too have a DIFFICULT time throwing food away and I LOVE your idea. Thanks for sharing.

Fast as in not eat or drink?? Yes that is too drastic. You will kill your metabolism if you do. How is your restriction?