:help:I'm post-vacation and so bummed. I was away for three weeks, and we either had to eat out a lot, or the people we were with were terrible eaters (heavy grease, old food, lots of Pasta and rice, which I can't eat - they hurt), so I ended up eating out some more. I was fairly active, but I came home with a 9-pound weight gain. If that's not bad enough, I CANNOT get back on track. I'm scared to post this, because I don't want a gazillion lectures, etc. I've been banded since December of '06, and I KNOW what to do. Why am I having such a hard time getting back to doing what's right? Could anyone else, who has had this happen, share what toasted their buns back to eating like a bandster?

Thanks.

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Hey there,

I haven't been through what you have, but I just wanted you to know that I feel your struggle and I am here to cheer you on! Vacations can be fun, but they also set us up for challenges. You can do this, it is what you have worked so hard for. Don't relive your mistake, chalk it up and move on! I believe in you, we can do this!!!

This happened to me about 3 months ago and I fought it for 6 sucky weeks. Thanks to the band, I didn't gain, but I wasted time and didn't lose either. I'm not sure what happened but I was finally able to go about 3 days without the carbs/overeating, and once I had those 3 days behind me, I found my enthusiasm again. Maybe sometimes we just need a break. Or maybe that's an excuse. Either way, find your three days. It might make the difference.

Mal and Julie,

Thank you for taking the time to reply and be encouraging. I feel like a thunderstruck mule...it's the carbs, isn't it? That's what's killing me. The people we vacationed with routinely eat old food. For me, with no tolerance for high bacteria levels, after three days, the food is gone from the 'fridge. So I ate lots of crackers and other quick fillers, and am having a tough time breaking that cycle. Thank you for helping me see that. I'm going to do a low-carb "kick-start" and see if I can get those three days. You both rock. Thank you so much.

We all go thru this at some time or another, don't we? I do find that it's usually the sugar and carbs that ensnare me and hold me in their evil grip! Like Julie said, if I can just go a few days with purposely choosing healthy foods then it becomes MUCH easier after that. The bonus is that you lose a couple of pounds, too!....then that keeps you rolling. What also helps is not keeping junk food in the house. Unfortunately my house isn't the problem...it's all the skinny chocoholics at work that insist on keeping a bowl filled that sits about 8' from my desk. Grrrrrrrrr. I'm getting there though!

Be patient with yourself.

Thank you, Terry.

I'm in the process of house-breaking a new puppy. I wouldn't dream of being as impatient with him as I am with myself. How bizarre.

This happened to me about 3 months ago and I fought it for 6 sucky weeks. Thanks to the band, I didn't gain, but I wasted time and didn't lose either. I'm not sure what happened but I was finally able to go about 3 days without the carbs/overeating, and once I had those 3 days behind me, I found my enthusiasm again. Maybe sometimes we just need a break. Or maybe that's an excuse. Either way, find your three days. It might make the difference.

Hi Julie, I am dazzled by your weight loss! I'm going to be banded on 8/31 and need to loose about 200 lbs--I'd love to know about your struggles and tremendous sccess!

I just got a new puppy too!! My avatar picture is my Buddy that I just had to put down a couple weeks ago, I just HAD to get another "love"!!! Congratrs on your pup!!! My new pup is a Basset Hound and hi sname is Buster.

Bionic, also remember that probably half of that is water weight and will be gone within days.

Mal and Derbygirl.

I'm following TerriDoodle's advise. I am doing a low-carb kick-start, and I've lost two pounds in as many days. Thank you for reminding me that some of it is Fluid. Mal, ours is an Australian Shepherd, AusBob the Wonderpooch, also known as "Pee Bucket."

My new pup is a Basset Hound and his name is Buster.

WAY off topic, but I have a basset hound named Gerb!! I joined the Basset Hound Rescue as a hobby to fill my time with something other than eating mass quantities of food!! Congrats on Buster!

Thanks! I just LOVE Basset Hounds!!! Always have and always will. My new avatar is my Buster! aka Buster Brown aka Busta Rhymes (my teenagers), and Busta Move (also teenagers)!!

Hugs and kisses for Gerb!!!

Know what the great thing about being banded is? It's permanently in there available to help you get back on track whenever you're ready.

Yes, it's a waste of time to gain weight on vacation, but come on--what's a few pounds in the face of your entire lifespan ahead of you? You'll get back on track. The extra pounds and more will melt away. Don't think of this as a steady run downhill--it's a lifelong journey with hills and valleys.

And there's no one standing at your goal with a stopwatch judging you. Please be gentler with yourself.

Realize that a few minutes of eating wrong does not satify and is not worth the after effects.

how are you doing? did the carb kick start help a lot?

I appreciate the question. For the first time in my fat-since-age-12 life, after losing and regaining about two tons of weight, I had a gall bladder attack (I think), and I am stupefied. Eight months out, still haven't hit the "sweet spot," and my doctor keeps canceling clinic dates to where I have to go 2 - 3 months between fills. I am trying so hard and the scale is doing NOTHING. I'm almost to the point of feeling like the failure I always felt I was in the past. I know that I'm supposed to be upbeat and oh, so cheery, but I'm having a tough time emotionally. AND, the local support groups are mostly by-pass patients. Not the same. Sorry to be so negative, and I really appreciate your asking.