I've had my band for 3 years.

Of those three years I spent one year struggling with swallowing anything, even my own saliva.

It was the worst year of my entire life, but I looked damn good. I was the smallest weight I had ever been.

I was active, I was shrinking, and I was cocky. I lost myself in my weight loss journey.

My lap-band was too full, the restriction was so tight. I struggled to sip hot water.

Nothing would slip through...and I became sick. I became the girl I never wanted to be.

I never wanted to make myself ill so that I could accomplish weight loss.

I fought my entire life so that I would not end up like those bulimic models on TV.

But, I wasn't eating. And people noticed I was losing weight. I got compliments.

I loved it. I lived an entire year with a restricted band. I would get a de-fill every few months.

But I always got it filled back up as soon as I saw a number increase on the scale.

I lost myself in my lap-band weight loss journey.

I took advantage of a tool meant to help me on my weight loss journey.

The lap-band is not magic. It will not make you lose weight simply by having it wrapped around your stomach.

Like a hammer or a saw, the lap-band is a tool that you must use.

It took my four years to learn that my band is not responsible for my weight loss.

I was responsible for my weight loss; my band was just a tool I used to aide me in my journey.

The moment I realized that I was abusing my resource, my life improved.

My mental health became more positive, my physical health improved drastically.

I saw a nutritionist and a dietitian to learn more about what my body needs to see positive, healthy weight loss.

I was advised on taking over 7 natural vitamins a day that are essential for your body to function at a well enough pace to support the energy required for weight loss.

The body is a machine, and it needs essential vitamins and nutrients to survive. So if you want to lose weight, don't take diet pills.

Ask your doctor about your vitamin levels, and then incorporate more of what your lacking in your blood.

Feed your body in ways that aren't necessarily food. In saying this, I don't mean don't eat. Absolutely eat whole foods.

But don't neglect your body because you have a band, or a sleeve, or a by-pass. Remember that it is your machine, and

the machine is run by you. You are in charge of your machine and it's resources. Take control of your relationship with your weight loss 'tools' and make your weight loss experience a positive one.

I wish someone had told me this years ago when I was struggling with my weight. My mental relationship with my physical body has drastically improved. I have not thrown up in over 2 years. No one has had to hold my hair back after I binge eat in frustration.

I always said that I eat when I am upset or angry or sad. I was an emotional eater. But I find that I don't crave food as much when I am distressed. And I believe that is because my brain/body is satisfied with the level of nutrients and vitamins I have supplied myself with through supplements because with a band it can be difficult to eat whole food.

Knowing the restriction of your band is sometimes impossible, but the least we can do on those moments when we are too restricted is to provide our bodies with supplements as best we can so that our mind is not as distressed as our empty stomachs may feel.

Give your body peace of mine and please take my advice. It really is a game changer in the weight loss journey.

Very passionate about this topic as the realization was just so simple.

Sorry if it got out of hand!