"sucking it up" won't work on chronic clinical depression and it sounds like that is what you have. I have had it since I was a child and nothing ever helped me except exercise and medication. Have you seen a physician for the depression or at least discussed it with your band doctor? Why be ashamed on the chat line? They cannot see you and probably never will...and I am applying logic to an emotional problem...always makes me wild when other people do it to me. Try to do little things to help yourself, go stand on the porch for 5 minutes, tomorrow walk to the end of the drive, throw one "bad" food item out of your pantry. Eventually little things can make a big difference, but it is hard to get started when you are stuck in an old ingrained destructive cycle. I will keep you in my thoughts.

Robbie

Good advice Robbie! MsAnn if you are not medicated for your depression you really need to talk to someone about getting on something. I've had severe clinical depression for 20+ years and would be in my bed everyday if I didn't take something. You can do this! There are people out there to support you. I just found this website and myfittnesspal.com. Both are providing me with connections to people that understand and care. No one here should be critical or judgemental. We are all in the same boat. I agree with Robbie, take little steps. Don't run a marathon before you walk to the end of the driveway. You can do this! Good luck and keep posting your concerns so we can help you through them.

Sandy

If we only ate when we are hungry, stop when we are full and ate because we have to sustain, we would all be at a healthy weight. But most of us, me included, eat as a coping skill to deal with what we are NOT accepting, verbalizing or working on in our emotional/mental health. Once we know what we use food to cope with, it makes the journey easier and more sucessful. MsAnna6550, my prayers and support are with you in your journey.

Hi there

I have depression and I have my moods that are ups and down.When I crave I drink protein drinks or better yet I make a smoothie and I add all different fruits to it and ice and then blend it.Its a great treat for me.I have not had great experience with my band I had to drain it today because I have been very sick on it for the past six weeks,I just pray that it will get better and then I can start my journey with great success.I have lost inches on my own with exercising and just walking my stairs.I bought some exercise bands and they work very well,not hard work at all and I just wanted to let you know I stopped taking my depression pills the day I had surgery and I pray everyday that I never have to be on them again.Just hang in there and you will do fine.I will pray for you everyday.I will think about you on your journey take care Blessings Rhonda

First I think you should deal with your depression I think you need to get yourself into therapy with sombody you can tell your darkest thoughts and feelings and find out why you are so self destructive because your not just hungry physically your hungry emotional and the food has just become a way of pushing down all those feelings and thoughts and emotions,You need to save yourself as it does not seem your spouse will be any help. It helps to talk to somebody who will just listen and not judge you and will help you understand why you feel the way you do and give you some tools to help you help yourself. Give yourself a break we all deserve to be happy its not that you love food because when you love something you take your time with it you spend time on it you totally enjoy it, you don't just scarf it down in the dark and you know you were not put on this earth to lose the same 20 pounds a thousand times over be better to yourself and love yourself more than you love the food and don't even think about anybody else right now this is all about you and you need to take care of yourself right now.

I agree with all that was said… I too suffer from depression, off and on through out the years, The funny thing is that it comes and goes and for years have not had any symptoms, until I had miscarried twins. Then it came back. I didn't want to leave the house, and do much of anything, no cleaning, no exercise and I love my pool, maintaining it — lost interest in that as well. I had gotten the band 7 weeks ago and thought that would help. If he weight came off then I would feel better. But of course that was not the case. So I got put on welbutrin, and have been for 2 weeks.. i am starting to feel much better. Sometimes we put on weight to hide our feelings, and when we are given the tools to take off the weight, we still do not deal with the underlying reason we put the weight in the first place.- thus the depression can get worse. Hang in there and know that the band is not a cure all, its a tool and your heart can also be a good tool. Do not be so hard on yourself. Hang in there!

cat