I don't know what my deal is. It's like suddenly the band is something to work around? Or see how much I can eat and then eat terrible. It happens to me every time. I drop alot of weight and then I start not caring so much anymore. I almost want to say I am sabotaging myself and I haven't the slightest clue why. I am so happy with how far I've come I mean it's amazing and I have all the reasons in the world to keep going...so why don't I listen to myself?

Why do I seek out the worst choices I can make?

I lost my band due to erosion so all I want to say to you is this...take full advantage of your band and this wonderful tool you have been so fortunate to have, losing my band has made keeping this weight off a struggle, I sure would hate to see you lose your bandand then not have the tool to help you to lose weight. Use it wisely, do not abuse it..I am lucky to have not put any weight on in the last 5 months but it is a hell of a battle.

So right - yet it is also so normal to do what you're doing. Im a bit in the same place myself right now, although not at any real risk of gaining I'm certainly not losing these past few weeks because despite doing a ton of exercise, I'm just eating the wrong things and eating too much.

The difference with the band is that this used to hit me when I"d lost 5kg, not 18.

it does make you realise there's only so much the band can do, even if you fill yourself as tight as a fish's proverbial. It still comes down to choices - and you have to make the right ones.

Its never too late and it doesnt hurt to have a breather either. You always have the choice to simply move on. Its just a good little reminder that it takes constant work, and vigilance.

While I agree with La Madam completely, in that we should use the band to the best of it's ability in case anything were to happen, I also think that sometimes our body needs a break. Just be careful to not give yourself too big a break. :confused:

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Yeah...I'm with you on that, Big Paul. I Had allowed myself to take many liberties. It was just enough to slow to a halt what was a lightening fast loss for several months. I'm just now in the past few weeks on the losing track again.

Ask yourself this everybody...what do you truly gain in "beating the system" and working around your band? For me, I finally got back on track when I realized that the ONLY things I gained by this was guilt, zero weight loss, fitting in teh same clothes, pain in m y throat from reflux when I overate, and not one good thing!

Those excuses that you've allowed yourself to compromise by are the very reason you and I got so big we needed to surgically alter your body. Don't sell yourself short anymore!!!!

By the way, Paul...Holy cow man, is your weight loss an inspiration to me. Keep up the fantastic work!

Jon

One small "No" at a time girl. With each temptation comes the opportunity to make a choice. We are often fooled into believing that we have no choice, that we are out of control, that we are weak and will fail. This is NOT true and, as Christian, I have my beliefs on where this kind of thinking comes from.

Yesterday, I was craving a certain thing so badly that it haunted me all day. It called to me, it taunted me and it almost had me until I realized something very important. I -could- have it if I really wanted it. All I had to do was walk into the store and buy it. But the truth was, I didn't want the guilt, the defeat, and the failure that the short-lived "pleasure" would bring. Then I realized that I had the choice to make. I drove past the store and came home. The haunting stopped later on in the evening and I actually felt tired from the all day "battle". But the important thing is - I won. It was only one victory in what I'm sure will be a long list of battles over the upcoming months and years. Thinking of them all at once can be overwhelming. But one at a time is very do-able.

Keep up the good fight! :confused:

What more can one say after reading all these posts.

Keep on truckin (I need a kick in the seat too).

Hugs

OH CAN I empathize. I totally understand. When La Madam lost her band, I thought, I better get on this...because if I lose my band I want to have lost the weight first. Sha was a true blue bandster. Then I geared up but started slipping about a month ago. I have not lost a pound in the last month. Next month will be my one year with the band. So, I am back to fighting the good fight and ensuring that head hunger does not get the best of me.

If you want, PM me and we can buddy up for the next little while to get back on track. Either way, good luck!