I'm about to get so far off track, I'm having a difficult time. My old eating habits have come back to haunt me. I keep trying to start anew and I always cave in for sweets. I'm sure I have a sugar addiction! This time of year makes it extra hard....I haven't gained very much (3lbs.). I had my band 2 years and I've lost 60 of the 75 lbs that was my original goal. How do you get back on track and stay there?

I would really like to know that as well. I am having a hard time as well. It is so hard to get off track and so easy to go back to old habits. I love this sight because it is real people giving real advice and motivation. Just stay strong

Hi

I hope you find this helpful.

I’ve been banded just over 6 years and have talked about this here a couple of time but I think it’s worth repeating for new bandsters.

Try and take it one day at a time. Don’t compare yourself to others. Don’t go into this journey saying “I’ll never be able to eat this or that ever again.” I can eat ANYTHING except rice and apple skins and no carbonated beverages. Follow the guidelines given to you by your doctor. Remember… take tiny bites (the size of your pinky fingernail) and remember to finish what you have in your mouth before you take your next bite.

When I was losing weight I checked in every month with my family doctor to get weighed and measured. (I don’t own scales) I also attended two coffee groups for people that were banded. These things really kept me motivated and on track. I still check in every month with my family doctor to get weighed-in and I host two coffee groups. For me support from fellow bandsters plays a big part in this journey.

Back when I was banded my doctor suggested something called the “Egg Timer Distraction”. It’s kind of difficult to explain here but I’d be happy to email you the .pdf document. It REALLY helped me with “head hunger. I can’t tell you the number of people in my lapband coffee groups over the years that have said how helpful this “trick” has been in dealing with their head hunger.

Also, I’m not really a “diet” book type person but I recommend you pick up two books.

Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat: How to Break Your Eat-Repent-Repeat Cycle – by Dr. Michelle May

I had the pleasure of hearing Dr. May speak at a conference when she came to Toronto and her book and guidelines really work well with the lapband journey.

The second book is:

The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite – by David L. Kessler

Please feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions and also if you would like a copy of the “Egg Timer Distraction Document”.

I've now sent the document or given the document to people in my coffee groups to 126 people. The response has been wonderful. Also people have found the books very useful.

Tom, Toronto

Banded July 6 06

Wt. Loss: 156 lbs

tomander@bell.net

I love to have info about the egg timer! Thanks! My e-mail is elliemayclem@yahoo.com

sent

I would love to have the egg timer as well. I keep going over your post again and again and thank you it has helped me ease my mind a little. Your right one day at a time. My email is marylouklein@yahoo.com

I would like the egg timer distraction too! jdecker002@hvc.rr.com Thanks

Not sure how you want to approach it, but I'm in counseling. I'm an emotional eater and I feed my emotions with carbs. So, I'm learning to recognize my trigger and how to approach them differently. I need a long-term solution to this long-term problem. It's not a switch I can turn off just because I have a lapband and I know from past experience that it's a slippery slope and feeling deprived sets me up for failure.

Good luck and you are NOT alone!