Let me just say, while the holiday season has been wonderful with my family, it has been horrible on the scale. There was one big obstacle to my goal weight/size this December and that was a stupid fall I had in my kitchen. I turned around and stumbled backwards after tripping over an open dishwasher door and BAM, concussion. I waited 9 days before going to see the doctor, but the headaches and general fuzziness was just too much and I had to get myself looked at. Don't you know I had a moderate concussion and was told to stay home from work and was put on "brain rest". OMG, so boring and going to the gym was completely taken off of the table.

The concussion on top of the never ending food parade in our family, I guess I should be happy I only put on 3 pounds. I was supposed to wait until 1 January to start working out, but I am feeling MUCH better and I have been doing light workouts for the last three days and I feel fantastic. I guess I'll just put my nose back to the nutritional grindstone and keep hitting the gym. Basically, get back to do what I need to support my healthy living goals.

I had my first fill at the end of November and I felt absolutely NO restriction so I'm going back on the 22nd of January to have another fill, hopefully this one will put me back on track because honestly, I'm damn hungry. I'm craving crunchy anything. Does anyone have any suggestions for crunchy Snacks. I'm turning orange, no I'm not really, from eating all of the carrots that I'm eating.

There is a lot of other stuff going on, just like everybody else's crazy life. The one big thing is that the Army has chosen to move my husband from Ft. Campbell, five hours from home, to Ft. Lewis, Washington, which is a stupid long plane ride away. He has been at Ft. Campbell for almost three years now and I've been spoiled and frankly don't want him to be so far away. I'm struggling not to fall back into old habits like eating because I'm sad, it is sooo hard not to eat, especially since I'm hungry. Arghh.

Thanks for letting me vent, time to put on my big girl panties and go on with life.

why can you not go with your husband and relocate? The only thing I can tell you is this: We all for many years used food for whatever stress we have had. Holidays and stress are one of the biggest problems with people who are over weight. Being home with nothing to do is also an issue but you are better then this. You have to mentally change the way you think about your relationship with food. Food does not equal happiness for overweight people. All it does is make you hurt, unable to function to full potential, crowd our brains with thoughts we don't need like "oh this dozen cookies should not be thrown out because that is wasting food" I know because I am the biggest sweets eater that ever lived. Throw away the junk and find a hobby. We all are very self destructive people. If you don't believe in yourself and your band then you have to start doing it. Life is too short. Get yourself mended and go for what you want.

Relocating with my husband is not a reality, I'm in education, I have my dream job, and try tenure. There is no way I'm going to give up job and paycheck. Additionally, I stay here because we have a number of elderly relatives who need help with whatever comes up on a daily basis. My husband is near retirement, so I don't want to give up our home, which is paid for, to follow him around, especially now because he's probably going to Afghanistan in the spring. I'm kind of the hub of the family wheel here. I'm excited to get this new year going, although it didn't sound like it in my post, and I know what I need to do, I just need to get out of my way mentally. I feel so great that I am back to the gym, that helps a lot.

Bless you and your husband Dewey! Get better and Happy New Year!!!!

I was recently banded and I'm just now getting to introduce some food foods into my diet. I had some tuna with Garlic Melba Snacks tonight. They were really good and cunchy but easy to chew down. They had some different flavors. found them in the cracker aisle. 4 pieces are 60 calories and you can't just destroy them like chips.

I second Melba Toast. I just discovered them today. Oh! Heaven! Crispy! Crunchy! Bread-y! No problem going down. Low in calories. I am so happy. Now when I want something crunchy and bread, I can grab some Melba Toast.

Let me just say, while the holiday season has been wonderful with my family, it has been horrible on the scale. There was one big obstacle to my goal weight/size this December and that was a stupid fall I had in my kitchen. I turned around and stumbled backwards after tripping over an open dishwasher door and BAM, concussion. I waited 9 days before going to see the doctor, but the headaches and general fuzziness was just too much and I had to get myself looked at. Don't you know I had a moderate concussion and was told to stay home from work and was put on "brain rest". OMG, so boring and going to the gym was completely taken off of the table.

The concussion on top of the never ending food parade in our family, I guess I should be happy I only put on 3 pounds. I was supposed to wait until 1 January to start working out, but I am feeling MUCH better and I have been doing light workouts for the last three days and I feel fantastic. I guess I'll just put my nose back to the nutritional grindstone and keep hitting the gym. Basically, get back to do what I need to support my healthy living goals.

I had my first fill at the end of November and I felt absolutely NO restriction so I'm going back on the 22nd of January to have another fill, hopefully this one will put me back on track because honestly, I'm damn hungry. I'm craving crunchy anything. Does anyone have any suggestions for crunchy Snacks. I'm turning orange, no I'm not really, from eating all of the carrots that I'm eating.

There is a lot of other stuff going on, just like everybody else's crazy life. The one big thing is that the Army has chosen to move my husband from Ft. Campbell, five hours from home, to Ft. Lewis, Washington, which is a stupid long plane ride away. He has been at Ft. Campbell for almost three years now and I've been spoiled and frankly don't want him to be so far away. I'm struggling not to fall back into old habits like eating because I'm sad, it is sooo hard not to eat, especially since I'm hungry. Arghh.

Thanks for letting me vent, time to put on my big girl panties and go on with life.

Hi Dewey, hope things are settling down now that the holidays are behind us. Career and location stress -- ACK! I am finally resigned to not getting to know what's coming next so I am forced to live in the present or because I summed by worries. A lot of my eating was anxiety-driven. I used food to calm that whirring inside. Good luck with everything and keep choosing yourself, your health and happiness then every one around you benefits, too. Best wishes for a fine new year!

Sorry, that is "consumed by worries"

And I forgot to mention your concussion. Scary! Hope you're feeling well now...

As far as "crunchy," I make guacamole quite often, and my healthy, fit, nutritious minded daughter introduced me to a brand of chips called Beanitos. You can choose those made from black beans or pinto beans. This is just my opinion..... They are not tasty by themselves, but they are a great vessel to hold guacamole or refried beans with chesse. I don't eat this as a snack food, but I count it as one of my meals.

<p>Relocating with my husband is not a reality, I'm in education, I have my dream job, and try tenure. There is no way I'm going to give up job and paycheck. Additionally, I stay here because we have a number of elderly relatives who need help with whatever comes up on a daily basis. My husband is near retirement, so I don't want to give up our home, which is paid for, to follow him around, especially now because he's probably going to <span>Afghanistan in the spring. I'm kind of the hub of the family wheel here. I'm excited to get this new year going, although it didn't sound like it in my post, and I know what I need to do, I just need to get out of my way mentally. I feel so great that I am back to the gym, that helps a lot.</span></p>

Hi Dewey!! I am also an Army wife that chose to stay home!! My surgery is set for this Wednesday!!

Hi Ohio Girl!!! I get a lot of flack because I don't move with my husband and it is great to hear that someone else chose the same thing as me. I'm so excited to hear about your surgery, it has changed my life and I'll be thinking about you on Wednesday. I would love to keep in touch with you, to make an Army wife friend. There are next to no military families where I live, it would be great to hear from you. If you have any questions or concerns that I might be able to address, PLEASE let me know.