I made it...I actually made it. I went snackless last night. I guess the 'typing instead of eating' worked! Down another pound this morning. So what if it is fluid. A pound of fluid weighs the same as a pound of fat, it is still a pound any way you slice it, right?

I know after I get on a roll again with the weight loss and recatch the "nothing can stop me" attitude I will get back down to my almost-goal weight. Hard to believe I was only 4 pounds away from goal then I blew it. Well, not really because that is when I quit smoking. It has been 6 months now since a cigarette...go ME! But...gaining this much is not OK with me. I will be happy if I get back to 17something. I feel great at that weight and look pretty damn good too. Or at least I think I do and that is what matters to me. To be back at 17something and a non smoker I will consider myself a true winner. So that means I have to lose 34 pounds to get to 179 then I will take it from there. First mini-goal is to be in onederland again. That is 13.5 away.

I was just thinking...when I saw the scale crawling up...when it got to 19something I thought omg...and I just threw caution to the wind and said screw it. When I saw 20something I thought...I sure wish I would have stopped this when I was 19something. Now today I am thinking, there is now way I am going to be at

22something thinking I wish I would have stopped this at 21something. I am putting an end to this foolishness now. I keep hearing Dr. Phil in my head saying "you are drinking Mocha Java Chillers from sonic and you think that is OK, are you kidding me?"

Looking back at when I was first banded I wish I would have done something differently. I wish I had taken this process slower. I lost almost to goal within about 10 months. I went all or nothing full speed ahead and never cut myself any slack. Then when I DID cut myself some slack I went (excuse the term) hog wild. Well, this time I am going to do it differently. I am going to take things slower. I am not in a race to get the 30 something pounds off. I am just going to make sure the scales go down and not up. I will get there eventually.

Tracy, I really think the new way of thinking is key. I am not saying I did it all the right way--because of course we both know I did not!!! But I truly tried to live each day of being banded in the way I want to live the rest of my life. Not being deprived, but also not wanting to be down on myself for what or how I ate.

I allow myself evening snacks, or daytime snacks, I just really try to concentrate on the health value of the snack as opposed to just the calorie content. Like there might be more calories in a wedge of cheese and a couple of crackers, than there is an a 100 calorie pack of cookies-----but my body gets nutrition from the cheese that it doesn't from the cookies, and the cheese keeps the munchies at bay far longer than the cookies do.

You CAN do this--------the quitting smoking is the biggie-----you have done such a wonderful thing for both your health and that of your little one. And while you did gain weight back, you are not back where you started with the additional quit smoking weight! That is one BIG accomplishment!!!!

Think health----and as you restock the fridge and cupboard----keep easy snacking in mind, stock some almonds, and jerky, things you can snack on without guilt, and also get nutrition from. Then let go of the guilt related to snacking! That my friend is my opinion!!!

Kat

Kat-I agree completely! As I have restocked the freezer it sure looks alot different in there. Thanks for mentioning jerky...I forgot about that

Ok but all those tricks are also true for people who try to diet without being banded. How does being banded make this different? Please help.

Being banded makes you feel full after smaller portions. BUT, you still have to make the right choices.