ercole

You are welcome! I'm glad you got at least a small fill. Keep in mind that 3 more pounds lost is probably 3 pounds you wouldn't have lost before the band. Treat every single pound like a small victory. Set a short-term goal for yourself. That always helps me. When you eat at a restaurant, ask them to bring you a to go container at the beginning of your meal, and put everything but your portion for that meal into the container. If you are really hungry, eat more protein instead of fruits and vegetables. If you listen to your body, it will tell you what you need. There are days when my body tells me I have got to have a salad, for example.

It is a very hard process, and I, like you, didn't tell a lot of people. I didn't want them to watch over me like a hawk. I had to learn to shift my perception of food. It's there to fuel our bodies. Just like our gas tank will only hold so much, our bodies only need so much food to function. Don't get me wrong...I'm not saying I'm perfect (far from it!). I also plan my meals pretty much for the whole week. That way I don't have to worry about what I'm eating...I already know. I also try to cook on the weekends so I have ready to go meals for lunch and dinner. That has really helped me. I store them in the portions that I should eat them. I also use www.thedailyplate.com to track my food and exercise. (I do much better with my weight loss when I track my intake.)

I have had good success wtih the band. This past week has been rough though. I've had an upper respiratory infection, and I've gained 7 pounds. I've been eating like I'm supposed to, so I can only assume that my body is reacting strangely from being sick or from the antibiotics. I'm trying not to let it bother me b/c it's completely out of my control.

Try not to let the scale be your only guide. Have you taken your measurements? If not, you should. When you aren't seeing the movement on the scale, you might in terms of inches or how your clothes fit.

Hang in there! You can do this! It's not an easy road, but it's a very rewarding one!