I'm so discouraged and disappointed in myself right now I could just cry. Yes I indulged on a handful of chex party mix here and there and bites of pumpkin pie here and there, with that said, its all gone by now of course thank God. I'm not due for another fill till January 24th and I'm still not back up to when I was before my gallbladder surgery in the cc's department and I can surely tell it, I'm hungry, I have cravings, which has nothing to do with the band but sheesh, its like I can't stay full. I eat protein first. I've gained, well I'm balancing back and forth a pound and a pound and half and as I'm typing my stomach is growling. I feel defeated tonight! I want to graze but I won't, don't want to gain anymore. What am I gona do between now and the 24th about my appetite?

I can relate. I have had family visiting on and off for 3 weeks straight. It's literally restaurants, outings and family dinners every other night! It's thrown me off my game a bit and while I'm not gaining, I have been stuck at the same weight for a few weeks. Grr.

It's funny how once you indulge the sugar or salty craving, it becomes 100x stronger. Its like a drug. This week I got fed up and wrote a meal plan. I have not been following it perfectly, but is at least a guideline. Track your food, plan out the week, step up the exercise and sip sip sip that Water all day! Hot tea is my go-to when I'm hungry but have already had my 3 meals and 1 snack. The cravings and hunger REALLY sucks right now, but it will get better again.

I gained many many pound since foot surgery in October then the Holidays, so I feel your pain....I had to buy jeans 2 sizes bigger and it hurts. However, as the prior poster said, do all those things, plus there is a product many ppl don't know about.

I won't name any brands but all GNC's and VitaminShops carry Cassein (casein) powder which comes from milk and is a slowly digested protein that can be very thick and keep you full for 3 hours for 100 or so calories. I put a scoop of chocolate and some water or Ready to drink protein in a little bowl and mix it hard into a paste or slurry and eat it dlowly from a spoon like pudding. It is not horrible and is really filling. Since I started this, I don't night eat any more and am losing 1/2 pound a day. Demon ice cream got its claws into me and this mixture is helping the cravings.......of course the head hunger battle is a separate issue and mighty battle.

Best wishes and Happy New Year

thank you both. I surpassed the hunger pains of last night and finally went to bed. I do have a meal plan for today. I lost 1/2 lb overnight, of course I weigh in the mornings. I am not proud of myself for indulging on these foods and gaining the 1 1/2 lbs over the Holiday's, lesson learned and will be more focussed on the long term goal. I am not able to workout due to an injury right now, ugh so I can't work off those calories. Again, thank you both.

Donna

I also gained 3 lbs over Christmas, eating out and Cookies (my downfall). I had my first fill the beginning of Dec. and I am so hungry all the time. I have gotten rid of the cookies as of last night and since I am finally back at work (I was off for 16 days!) I am getting back into a good routine.

Plus I got sick and have not been able to exercise. Hoping to go to the gym this weekend. I felll off the wagon but climbed back up and back on track!

I too fell off the wagon over the holidays, well it happened before the holidays actually. I have had a rough year in terms of a healthy eating and excersise program. But as of 1/1 I am back on track. Eating lowcarb/relative low fat and excersising. Did Cardio yesterday and today. It actually felt really good. I am hungry though. I know a fill may be in order but I hesitate. The last few fills I had left me overfilled and I had to go back in for an unfill. I went from being very hungry most of the time to not being able to keep down a protien shake. I am anxiously awaiting the book I ordered on carb cycling. It is written by the trainer on extreme makeover- weight loss edition. I don't have the details yet, but basically you alternate high carb days (healthy ones) and low carb days. It's suppossed to really rev up your metabolism. I will keep you posted. Hopefully I'll be saying carb cycling rocks!