I was banded in Aug 2013 had a rough time. However, it's been fairly comfortable losing slowly. I finally got down to a good weight. I am into size 8 slacks. I gave away everything too big. That felt good.

My problem is: I am now very complacent....haven't been getting enough Protein in, not enough Water and beginning to eat sweets, which was always my downfall. I been going up and down with 5lbs over the last 2 months. I need to stop!!!!!! I need some ideas on how to get back in control and to remind myself how I got to where I am and how easy it would be to be back to where I was. Thanks Donna

Hi Donna

Sometimes the motivation drops and one can find themselves off the wagon. To get back on the wagon remember what you went through to get the surgery, look at old photos and see how you were before and if you really wanna go back there, and compare yourself to other family or friends that had the surgery and were successful and say to yourself are they gonna be more successful than me.

Everyone follows their particular "Diet" that will lead them to weight loss...if they should change, ie; adding sweets, then I would imagine they would disrupt that diet and start to gain weight?

Myself, I never been on any particular diet, never counted calories, and never deprived myself of the things I enjoy...sweets.

I was fat - Morbidly Obese....because I simply ate too much...enough to feed multiple people....

Since having the lap band, and getting it properly adjusted...I can still eat what I want to eat, just less...a lot less. Like a Bird...

Granted, there are some foods my band will not tolerate so I will never eat them again...And since I eat so little each day...again, thanks to the band, not me....I try to make the best of what I do eat nutritionally speaking.

But I don't deny myself of lifes pleasures, I am not on any "Diet", I am following a new "Normal" way of life that I will for the rest of my life....

I am kinda like B52 , I eat pretty much what I want but I don't want a lot. This past weekend was busy we had a graduation and of course Memorial Day. I ate some Pasta, pizza (mostly the top) and salad, yesterday we had bbq pork, corn on the cob and some chips. all of that is not super health foods but I ate small amounts. I did gain a lb over the weekend but no doubt that will be gone by tomorrow. I am happy this morning , feel like I was not the odd man out at the party . My problem was huge portions and no matter how much I ate I never felt full. So, today 2 1/2 years later I was happy with my small portions and we also had so much physical activity I feel great.

Oh believe me...I understand your struggle. I love sweets of all kinds. Cake, cookies, candy...I love it! However, I have learned that I can't eat those things on a daily basis and maintain my weight. I have replaced some of it with healthier alternatives. I like Quest protein bars. They have lots of different flavors and are very satisfying to me. My favorites are S'mores, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, and Double Chocolate Chunk. I've also recently discovered MusclePharm Combat Crunch bars, which are AMAZING and have more of the texture and taste that a candy bar would have. I've tried the chocolate brownie, chocolate peanut butter, chocolate chip cookie dough, white chocolate raspberry, and cinnamon twist. I didn't care much for the white chocolate raspberry but the rest of them are great and the chocolate ones are just like eating a candy bar. They're great for when you just HAVE to have a treat. They are around 210 calories each so need to be calculated into your daily food intake but they also have 20 grams of protein and are filling so you can easily trade them out for a meal or snack. I also allow myself about 3 pieces of sugar free hard candy each day. And I keep some Dove dark chocolate promises in the freezer for those times when I just HAVE to have some of that real chocolate. I rarely eat it though and when I do, it's only a piece or two. Keeping it in the freezer helps not only with storing it for long periods of time but it also makes it last longer when I do get it out to eat it because it takes longer for it to melt it in my mouth. Aside from that, the only other sweets I eat are on special occasions. Vacations, holidays, and birthdays of immediate family members are all occasions that I allow myself to splurge and eat whatever I want for that 1 day. Once that day is over, it's back to my healthy eating plan. Good luck!