Wow. I can't believe what I did tonight... I wasn't even hungry and all I did was eat. This is the self-destructive behavior that put me on the road to weight gain and I just experienced it for the first time since being banded 4 months ago.

Has this happened to anybody else? Is it normal? I feel absolutely terrible about myself tonight. I'm thrilled that I already have another appointment for a fill on Tuesday but I'm just so ashamed that I ate what I did tonight.

Any advice? Similar situations? I'd really love to hear from you guys tonight... I'm not doing so hot. Thanks.

I feel you Dani. I was on vacation this weekend and threw all my bandster rules out the window. Alcohol, ice cream, potato chips were my friends again. My body was not happy. It amazes me how fast I can revert to my old ways. So much of it really is in your head...and it's not easy. I've resolved to make this week better. Drink lots of Water, track what I'm eating, eat more Protein. But it's not easy and that kind of pisses me off.

I hope you feel better soon. Don't be so hard on yourself for one slip up. You have lost 50 pounds and that is an incredible accomplishment!!

I think most everyone has feel into this trap at one time or another. If it was easy for us to give up all the "bad" things and lose weight, we wouldn't have been banded. There is more to it than that. A lot of our eating is directly related to how we think and what food has been to us. For me, I was an emotional eater and once in a while, it rears it's ugly head. When this happens, I have to pick myself up and strive to do better because if I focus on it, it will only become more destructive! Keep your head up! You are doing great!

We all do that from time to time, you're human. We just can't do it too often or the weight will come back.

Bad behaviour like this occasionally happens post-band but only occasionally - it's no longer a lifestyle!

hey dani - you are not alone! and,you made it four months before those demons raised their head! you know that saying it takes 30 days (or something dumb like that) to change a bad habit...it's bull - it takes a hell of a lot longer than that - it's been over a year for me and i'm just starting to make changes that I think can be permanent - however saying that - i still need my band as I know without all my bad behaviors would probably be back in no time. The band is a tool to teach you new behaviors and lessons around food, etc. Give yourself time and try to learn from your 'mistakes' - you are human and needed the band because you probably have some very bad habits and behaviors around food -they won't go away overnight. good luck.mary

I sooo understand where you are coming from! Over the holidays, I swear it was a free for all.. LOL the best thing you can do is not beat yourself up and get back on the wagon as soon as possible. We are all human and not perfect. We all have our weaknesses...

Move on.. it happens.. and it might not be the last time.. I know I have had a few! But good news is it tends to really space out and not affect you as much..

regards,

Donnamarie:)

It happens to the best of us. You're doing fine. You realize it was a mistake and didn't like how it made you feel. Now the trick is to realize that it was a "freak incident" and move on WITHOUT GUILT!

But, if you were to start letting yourself do this regularly that's a different situation. It doesn't sound like you are going down that path.

You're human! You had a moment of weakness that we can all relate to! Sometimes it just feels so good to be so bad!

So, put on your "good bandster" hat and get back to business and you'll be just fine!!

I have read that it takes at least 4 months to break a habit and re-enforce a new and healty one. So don't give up!!!!! Tomorrow is a new day to start your healty habits again.

Thanks guys... I got back on track the next day and am feeling great again. I've got another fill scheduled for tomorrow morning so that's a good thing too.

(OK, boys turn away here)

I got my period shortly after I wrote this and that makes my SUPER tight. It came at the right time because I didn't even want to eat and helped me get back on track.

(OK, now it's safe)

Seriously, I beat myself up about it like I used to do pre-band... only then I would have eaten more to make up for beating me up!

I love my band!

Happens to us all. I think, I don't really know everyone, but I assume we are all human. Well, I am human except for 4 days out of the month. Then I am a scary chocolate monster that needs to be tied to her bed. I wish I had control everyday but I don't. I try my best and love my band. It has been good to me. Sounds like you are doing fine. Don't get to down about it. It's life and life happens.

I agree that we all fall off the wagon sometimes. If we didn't have addictive tendencies we wouldn't have the band. What you do afterwards will make or break your sucess. If you decide in your head "Oh man, that was stupid I am never doing that again" you're ok. But if you decided "That wasn't so bad, once in awhile won't hurt" you're headed for trouble. Once in awhile will turn into once a month, once a week, once a day and so on.

I met a lady in the hospital when my mom had her Reny (Yes she regrets it now!) who told my mom there was no way to loose weight with the band, ect. All of those bad things that we hear. She had been banded longer than me and had gained weight. Well here I stroll in and had at that time lost 75 pounds in 7 months. She did not like me, but then started asking me what I was doing ect. If there is something you can do wrong with the band she was doing it. It was all out crazy. After talking to her VERY long (excrucuating) time she realized that she was doing well when she followed the rules, but she started the "it's ok it's just one day" routine and fell downhill from there. Her Dr was ready to give up on her and remove her band. Moral of the story...never let one day follow you into the next!

The week before "Myrtle" visits, I could eat my arm off.

Good that you rebounded back. You did several positive things to get yourself back on track. Good job!

It has never left me that like an alcoholic, I have a food addiction.

Moreso what I need that band as a tool to help me overcome this. But I know that I know it won't make that addiction disappear but it will help me cope and navigate through those moments when food is calling.

Down with "Aunt Flo"!!! She makes me want to eat everything! Band or no band! (sorry you men out there)

Those 4 days are the hardest for me. I just try to keep protein rich snacks around.. low fat turkey pepperoni works great for that salt fix.. I got the idea from this website! You just nuke them til they are crispy and you have roni chips!

I am not a chocolate girl.. salty and crunchy for me please!

~Donnamarie~