You're doing awesome! Something you might want to check out is MyFitnessPal. I started by writing the food down in my notebook, then moving it to MFP at the end of the day. It tracks calories, nutritional values, and exercise. I started out thinking it wouldn't be that much more helpful than paper records, but now I wouldn't go without it. You can print out reports to bring in to your docs, too.

There is also spark people, and fit day that are free and do the same thing! Spark people even has fitness plans and stuff.

Brave, you are doing awesome!. It is not easy at first, but it does get better.

I was so confused after I was banded because I had to eat liquids for the first week, and then move into smooshies the second week. If I didn't have liquids with calories, I was starving most of the time, but that worked against what my objective was...to lose weight.

Finally, I think i figured it out. I stuck to the juices and liquids at first, choosing the best ones which were lock in calories and sugars, then when i was really able to eat, I made really healthy choices.

I know, it is confusing so much of the time, but once you can eat regular foods, you will figure it out.

With regards to carbs...they are what I ate all the time. i grew up on carbs. but had to decide for myself if I wanted to lose weight or eat carbs (pasta, potatoes, breads, rices, etc). I decided that losing weight was more important, so I cut those things out. I don't really miss them at all.

Hang in there. It really does get better, especially when you see the scale move backwards.