I was banded in December and have done really well with following the rules and doing everything the "right" way. I've also been really good about making good food choices, avoiding junk, exercising, and just following a healthy lifestyle. Until now. I've been on vacation for the last week and I've eaten like a pig. I've eaten tons of junk, even candy and cake . I weighed in this morning and I'm up 2 lbs. I know some of it is probably Water retention but I'm sure some of it is true weight gain and I am kicking myself for allowing that to happen . So last night I decided that, starting today, I'm going to do liquids only for a few days to help get me back on track and then it's back to following the rules and making healthy choices again. I've come too far to mess this up now!

Edited July 20, 201412 yr by countrysweet

Don't beat yourself up. You're doing great!! Think of it as a learning experience. Review what you could have done different to maintain your progress and still have fun. This way you'll be prepared for your next vacation. Focus on the big picture ... You're doing great!!

That's what I love about the band. You can always start over. Two lbs is not bad. You enjoyed your vacation, it's over now so get back in the saddle and keep losing. Best wishes to you.

I did the same things. I was out of town for 4 days and ate things I haven't eaten in over a year. I didn't step on the scales for 2 days after coming home, I actually didn't gain anything. You're correct, its probably Water gain.

Looks like you are really close to goal. I imagine that can be a tough time but know that you're doing beautifully and you know how to get right on track. We're not in the black and white world of dieting anymore, when we're either "on" or "off." It's a lifestyle and you're living your life. Congratulations on all!

Don't beat yourself up. You're doing great!! Think of it as a learning experience. Review what you could have done different to maintain your progress and still have fun. This way you'll be prepared for your next vacation. Focus on the big picture ... You're doing great!!

Thank you for the kind words and encouragement. Honestly, the biggest mistake I made which set me up for failing was that I tried to go too long between meals. And actually, after sitting here thinking about it, I really did pretty well up until the last 3 days so it wasn't even the whole week. We were at an amusement park on Friday. I ate a decent Breakfast. The only thing I did wrong at breakfast was that I had a few bites of a waffle but I do allow myself to do things like that from time to time. I don't order them for myself but if someone else in the family has something like that, I will occasionally take a few bites from theirs. Anyway, we all know how expensive food is at an amusement park, right? So we were having fun, riding the rides, and had gone in with the idea that we'd wait as late as possible before eating so that we could eat one meal at the park and then eat again after leaving in hopes of saving some money. By the time we ate, my blood sugar was low and I was shaky and feeling faint. I ordered chicken. Got stuck on the 2nd bite. Threw it all away. When I finally managed to get rid of the chicken, I had a Protein bar. Not bad, right? So that night when we stopped at a restaurant to eat, I guess I felt "entitled" to whatever I wanted and I ate cheese fries, a potato skin and my meal. Actually, I didn't eat all of my meal but I did have part of a baked potato. I also had birthday cake 3 days in a row. And last night, we went out for dinner and a movie. I ordered french fries, which I never do. And then we went to the movies and I had popcorn & candy and lemonade. So it's kind of like I made a few mistakes and then it all just snowballed from there. Next time, I'm packing Snacks to take with us and will either sneak them in via a large purse or backpack!

Ok. You didn't make the healthiest of choices but you can't beat yourself up. Learn to trust yourself and your band. Think about what you might have eaten two years ago. Did you eat like that? Nope. You pretty much ate like a "regular" person on vacation. Be in it for the long haul - for the rest of your life. I truly believe it's about living a better life than the number on the scale. Don't spoil the memories of a great vacation with the worry over two pounds.

Best wishes on your journey.

Looks like you are really close to goal. I imagine that can be a tough time but know that you're doing beautifully and you know how to get right on track. We're not in the black and white world of dieting anymore, when we're either "on" or "off." It's a lifestyle and you're living your life. Congratulations on all!

That is a good point, @Bandista. it is not the same world of dieting with the band but more of a lifestyle. I've done really well with making those lifestyle changes so I know I can do it and I know how to get back on track. I just hate that I let the old demons creep back up on me for a few days. Then again, it's strange. I feel so bad about letting it happen and I've been so hard on myself about it, perhaps these feelings of guilt I'm having will help prevent it from happening again in the future? I am close to goal and I know that things have to change some once I reach goal. I've been so busy trying to focus on getting to goal that I really haven't taken the time to research and ask questions of my surgeon on what I need to do once I get there. He has told me several times before that we all make mistakes. We all slip and fall. And we all eat cake or ice cream or candy or something that we probably shouldn't and he says that's ok. He actually said that he wants his patients to eat those things on special occasions but that we just have to make sure we don't go back to our old ways of eating those things all the time. He says "that's why we have surgery-so we can eat what we like in smaller portions and within reason". I think what it boils down to is that it is important that we cut ourselves some slack and allow ourselves to enjoy a few treats here and there but that we must make a conscious effort to avoid junk most of the time, enjoy a little(not a lot) of it during holidays or vacations but then move on and keep our focus on being healthy as we go forward. This whole thing is such a big learning experience....

Ok. You didn't make the healthiest of choices but you can't beat yourself up. Learn to trust yourself and your band. Think about what you might have eaten two years ago. Did you eat like that? Nope. You pretty much ate like a "regular" person on vacation. Be in it for the long haul - for the rest of your life. I truly believe it's about living a better life than the number on the scale. Don't spoil the memories of a great vacation with the worry over two pounds.

Best wishes on your journey.

You're right-I definitely did NOT eat like I would've before being banded. Thank you for pointing out that I basically just ate like a "regular" person because I really hadn't thought of it like that. I've been so focused on everything that I feel I did wrong that it never occurred to me that I basically had just what a "regular" person might eat. It wasn't even really the quantity of food that bothered me because, obviously, I can't eat that much of any of it now. It was more the "what" I ate that bothered me. Anyway, thanks again. I'm moving forward today. I've done nothing but liquids and Protein shakes today and will do the same tomorrow just to help get me back on track. And then Tuesday, I'll be back to my normal routine so that should help me keep myself in check.

What Tara said!

Best wishes on your continued success.

How did your get back on track plan work out? Did it work well?

How did your get back on track plan work out? Did it work well?

Actually, yes it did work very well for me. I did nothing but liquids for a couple of days and then went back to eating like I would normally eat, before going on vacation and lost what I had "gained" during vacation, so I think that was just water weight. Anyway, I weighed this morning and I'm down another pound and I had been stuck for several weeks so hopefully this means the scale is going to start moving in the right direction again :-)

but that we just have to make sure we don't go back to our old ways of eating those things all the time. He says "that's why we have surgery-so we can eat what we like in smaller portions and within reason". I think what it boils down to is that it is important that we cut ourselves some slack

​I like what you are talking about here. From the beginning of writing you were in damnation role and as you kept writing you got real sensible and true about a vacation splurge. A test of so to speek. You are so close to goal that you may have to redefine where your motivation comes from. When we started we had vast amounts of negative reinforcement. Loads of negative thoughts and experiences that propelled us forward into losing weight. Now you have to ask yourself what motivates you for this last stretch? You have lost as much as some folks weigh so when your mind is set and motivators re-engaged you will lose this last little bit. On vacation slips.....if you hadn't splurged a little you would have come home feeling deprived. Our bodies also need little vacations from the new way of eating we have adapted. Just like our muscles get used to the same exercise routine so we have to change it up. Your little splurge was a good thing and now your body will go back into weight loss mode. You are great. Thanks for your post.

​I like what you are talking about here. From the beginning of writing you were in damnation role and as you kept writing you got real sensible and true about a vacation splurge.

It really took some talking, thinking and soul searching to help me find my sensibility on this one. I'm so glad this board is here and so full of supportive members.

You are so close to goal that you may have to redefine where your motivation comes from. When we started we had vast amounts of negative reinforcement. Loads of negative thoughts and experiences that propelled us forward into losing weight. Now you have to ask yourself what motivates you for this last stretch? You have lost as much as some folks weigh so when your mind is set and motivators re-engaged you will lose this last little bit.

That's a very good point. I know that in the beginning, there were several things that motivated me. My poor health was the biggest motivator. I decided I was too young to be so sick and I knew that it was all secondary to my weight. Of course, some of my motivation came from things such as being tired of only being able to shop in stores for plus size women, having difficulty finding bras that fit, and just overall sick of being treated differently by others. Funny thing is, I am treated differently now than before and it still ticks me off. I went into a shoe store the other day and was just browsing around. I was asked multiple times by 4 different people if I needed any help. I left empty handed. Why does that irritate me? Because I've been in that store many many times in the past and left empty-handed because everyone was "too busy" to help me. It angers me to no end that people are treated differently simply based on what they weigh. Anyway, I got off track a little there!lol...Back to what motivates me...My motivation now comes from simply wanting to maintain the health that I have regained, wanting to be as healthy as I can possibly be, and enjoying being able to do things that I haven't done in years. My life is fuller and happier because I can do the things I love to do with ease now.

On vacation slips.....if you hadn't splurged a little you would have come home feeling deprived. Our bodies also need little vacations from the new way of eating we have adapted. Just like our muscles get used to the same exercise routine so we have to change it up. Your little splurge was a good thing and now your body will go back into weight loss mode. You are great. Thanks for your post.

I'm sure you're right-if I hadn't splurged, I would've felt deprived and that may have even lead to an even bigger avalanche once we were back home. I am back on track now so it's all good :-) Thank you for the kind words and encouragement!