Banded May 15th and down 26 punds! I am so proud of myself and just wanted to share. I have been stuck with developing a reward system that does not involve food. In the past food and overeating has been my reward. Overeating numbs me to a place of uninteresting, dull days of isolation. So I joined a few meet up groups who do community service, hike local trails, go to happy hours and listen to live music. I am so happy I have found a great source and avenue of a healthy reward system that will help keep me motivated to move forward with my weight loss.

Earlier tonight I went to my doctors office lap band support group. Many members said I was looking so good. They all said they noticed how much weight I have lost. It made me feel so very very good. I have been following the rules. I am not in the green zone yet so I have to deal with a bit of real hunger issues. Lining myself up with positive, motivating people in my community is the best reward I could come up with. At the support meeting tonight several members said they really noticed the weight loss change in how I look today. Those non-scale victories are going to keep be going and keep me motivated for a long time. Hope sharing this helps some of you out there!! Would love to hear your comments!!

In the beginning I found hat many of the "Rules" did not make any sense to me.....and I told everyone on my Dr.'s staff...they had me practicing then even before I had surgery....

I forget who it was exactly,m I think the NUT, told me they wanted me to start learning them now, because eventually they will have to become 2nd nature if I wanted to be able to live with the band...and that a lifetime of following bad rules is going to be a hard thing to break, so we start all out patients as soon as possible....

And she was 100% correct...I cannot get through a meal unless I follow certain rules...I would not tolerate the band if I tried to eat and do things the way I used to before surgery.....

Plus I have found as I go along, I develop some new rules of my own....such as certain food types I will never eat again....

I like those rewards. Sounds like fun. Keep up the great work and positive attitude.