Hi Everyone, My name is Sherry and I am 8 months out. I have expereinced a lot of trials with my band. Trying to figure out exactly what to do by trial and error. I have had a very difficult time kicking old behaviors and until just recently ate pretty much anything because I knew because of my band I could only eat 'a little' and it really wouldn't hurt me. Well, I can say that i have not been compliant with my band until the last 3 weeks or so. I'm down 40 lbs since my surgery 8 months ago, which my doc is pleased because i'm averaging approx 4 bls or so a month. Truth is it COULD HAVE BEEN much more than that had I complied with the band rules. I feel motivated for the first time since being banded and am loosing weight at a higher rate now that I am eating solid proteins and not mushing everything up. I was afraid to eat solids because it made me slime. I was eating sugars, carbs in small amounts because i could 'get away' with it and NOT GAIN weight becaUSE of the band. TRYING really really hard to stay in the compliance mode with the band and not fall into old, bad behaviors regarding food. I have found that it has been one of the hardest things for me since being banded. Changing my mind set to 1/2 cup of food at a sitting IS ENOUGH. My mind set my entire life is NOTHING WAS NEVER ENOUGH. I'm trying really hard to stay in the day as my girlfriend tells me to do and focus on whats in front of me and not fall into old behaviors. I'm ready to get the ball kicking and gain higher gear with my weight loss. I have about 80 more lbs to go and I know i'll make it if i only focus on new behaviors and not fall into what has never worked for me.....Thanks guys for being here, Sherry

From one Sheri to another...

GOOD FOR YOU! 8 months; 40 pounds - WHAT an incredible accomplishment!

I find that following the rules is much easier than I originally thought. I think right now; almost 6 months out - I'm doing more 'testing of the waters' than anything else. Heck, learned how to eat around the band, etc.

The band doesn't fix our heads. Once you do that for yourself, we're well on our way.

What a great tool we have!!!

Hi Sherry. I've gone through a lot of the same stuff you have. One thing that helped me some was that my band was too tight so I was not bothering with solid foor, and making up for the lack of calories with ice cream. But that was only part of it. I figure I'm like an alcoholic. I'll fall off the wagon, but the first goal is for it to take less time each time to get back on the wagon! And I've really had to manipulate my surroundings. If I eat anything in front of the TV, I go into a trance and just keep eating. And if I sit in front of the TV, I'm not active so that doesn't work either. This food thing is complicated, isn't it? But we'll get there........

Hi Sherry, I think it's fun to sit in front of the TV and lick the cheesy powder off the Doritos, but really now......ewwww. I was on a weight loss program "back in the day" where they made you eat in front of a mirror at every session you came to. They made you eat big old gobs of food and watch your fat self in a MIRROR! Yeah, it was not pretty trust me. I'm a girl, but I'm gonna tell myself "MAN up!" and quit being a wimp! Ice cream is for sissies! I admire your 40 lb weight loss and looking forward to watching your weight plummet now. Get a ticker on your signature line! Ok mine hasn't moved because I'm pre-band still and in the "last supper" phase. Ewwwww. I want to be like you and make a conscious decision to turn it around and go in the right direction. Rock on sister!

Great post Holly! I have done so many "licking the cheese off" kinds of things in my eating history!

I'm going to try eating naked in front of a mirror. I'll post again when I quit laughing.

I'm going to try eating naked in front of a mirror. I'll post again when I quit laughing.

You are a brave soul.

I am not.