February 7, 2008- My restriction has not been perfect. I felt I needed a small fill. I was away for a couple of days last week, and I was able to eat more than I should have. I've been at this long enough now to know where my "sweet spot" is. Well, I'm glad I didn't get that fill. On last Sunday night I had some issues with one of my children. He's been a difficult teen, and well, it's just been frustrating and upsetting sometimes. Monday morning I woke up and could barely get my coffee down, so I thought, ok, I'm just tight this morning. The tightness lasted all day. Today is Thursday, and I'm still tight. I'm eating very little and working to get liquids in. I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that my tight band is stress related. I am not sure what causes the tightness, (the physical reasons) but I'm sure that's what it is.

I've always been tight when we vacation, and I always assumed it was from flying. I tried to eat before flying when we went away at Christmas time, and wow, I was really tight. We hadn't even gotten on the plane yet! I know I am always stressed right before we go away. There are always so many things to do to get ready to leave, and I usually don't "come down" until we are at the destination and checked into our hotel room. I think the flying makes me tight, but so does the STRESS of traveling. Duh!

I knew from others on the boards that stress can make the band tight, but I woefully underestimated the degree it can affect me. I see how it can quickly become a vicious cycle. I get stressed, then I get tight, then I can't eat or drink properly and I begin to worry about dehydration and getting enough liquids in, which in turn worries me and makes me tighter.

So what can I do? First of all I need to de-stress. Maybe a warm bath will help. Certainly warm drinks have helped in the past. Maybe taking a nice walk will help too. I need to remember that when things around me are out of control, my God is still IN control.

Although I'm tighter than I should be, for the FIRST TIME in my life I am not running to food for comfort. I am learning new and healthier coping skills. Oh, I have so far to go, and so much to learn. I am a work in progress, and learning more everyday. Even after 22 months, I am still learning new things about my band. :rolleyes2: