This is a bit long but I need to put it in print.....

I have been lurking in the shadows reading every post on band complications and all the stuff that can and does go wrong. The reason for this is that I have not lost a pound in almost a year and for the last 6 months I have had this funky at times horrible pain in my stomach, I get raging headaches and I feel like general crud 90% of the time. I kept thinking what is wrong with my band why isn't it working. Then the other day I had an epiphany....ok it was really a reflection on a conversation with Dr. Billy, but it got me back on track....he said that the band is just a tool, it isn't a magic bullet, but just a simple tool that I can choose to use or not. So I sat down and really thought about my pain, my lack of weight loss and my feeling of overall icky.

Here is what I came up with...I'm not using my tool right. My issue isn't with my band but in my head. Bummer!!

So here is what I have to work on.....

I have plenty of restiction but eat until I am FULL thus giving myself a tummy ache because i'm eating myself sick...fortunately for the restriction I can't eat tons or I would be back where I was when I started this venture. So back to measuring my portions, using my small plate and fork I go. Also, knowing when I am "almost" full.

I'm not chewing as well as I should...bad bad me!

I'm allergic to wheat and corn so "um hello" the nachos, sandwiches and pizza need to stop effective immediately. buh bye headaches!

Soda... I was drinking Diet Pepsi heard it was bad so moved to regular Coke....Sad but true this has been my path

Alcohol...margaritas are my true weekness....i'm going to limit myself to one a week on Sundays when we bbq.

Visiting lapband talk....I stopped...it's like not talking to that good friend that helps keep you on track....stop smacking me upside the head..I am back and yes I will listen!

I am putting myself on a quasi-first month diet...back to soft foods, lots of protien shakes and the like and i'm going to give my tummy a few weeks to heal from the mess I am sure I made of it. And for the record I started 2 days ago and have already lost 2 lbs and feel so much better!

Whatever my excuse is work, stress, family issues etc....I lost track of the whole point and reverted back to my old ways. I am just thankfull I realized it before I made myself sick!

Thanks for listening and hopefully I stop "struggling" and move forward!

OK. I'm with you guys. I dissapeared for a few weeks because things weren't working. Then I actually had a few good weeks and loss maybe 7 pounds. Although, I then turned around and had a bad couple weeks and gained 1 back. I want to lose 30 more, just to get to the point of feeling really comfy in my skin and in my own clothes. Everything after that will be a bonus. I don't need to be skinny just comfy and look good in a nice suit. But I'm detemined to make this work. I can't see it any other way. So many people are so proud of the success I've had thus far that it does put a lot of stress on you to do well for the sake of not letting them down. But I must get back to the basics, that this things was done for me and only me and that at one point I would give anything to have it and now that I do, I can't lose sight of the dream now. I started writing down my foods today. I figured once I got up and hadn't put anything in my mouth that it was the perfect time to start all over with a fresh, new day. Hopefully I can get to loosing again really soon.