Long post warning!

oops, I spelled bikini wrong.. Oh well STRING BILINI= it's all the same! LOL!!

Sweetheart..after 7 children including a set of twins and an all time highest weight of 284...you would NEVER want to see me in a "bilini" no matter how much weight I lost! Thanks so much for you support. You are such an inspiration to me!

I'm glad you have found out what the problem is. I went to a weight management program once at the U of Cincinnati where a shrink told me I have a "BINGE DISORDER".... DUH!!! Hmmm food, shopping, occasionally vodka... you name it. I am an addictive personality type. I have gotten rid of the food binges, (except on cruises), same with alcohol, and but am still shopping until I drop... online, of course. So if it is only FOOD... you are doing well!!! You'll be fine!! Nancy OH.. I smoked 2-3 pack of cigarettes per day for nearly 23 years. I quit in 1992 and haven't smoked since.

This might sound weird, but I am just relieved that what I always considered an addiction IS actually an addiction. It's not that I WISH to have it, but knowing something is wrong with you and having people laugh at you when you tell them that you think you are addicted to food/sugar sucks. The nutritionist said it's the exact same chemical reaction that goes on in the brain of a smoker, drug addict, alcoholic. I've always known I had the same symptoms/reactions to food as they do their drug of choice. I guess it's just nice to be validated. Now maybe I can do something about it.

I have never doubted that sugar is INCREDIBLY addictive. It was easy for me to quit smoking because you don't need it to live. Obviously we need to eat to live. I absolutely CAN NOT have cookies, candy, chips, icecream..... or anything of the sort in the house. I even do VERY poorly when I buy things like weigh****chers fudgesicles. I think the only thing safe thing is sugar free popsicles. I have sat and eaten five or more at one sitting just recently! If I had icecream in the house.... it would have been that. I have also come to the conclusion that I don't want the band to be really tight.... I HAVE to deal with the head hunger or even the band will never work. As you describe, it works just FINE if I start with the protein as we are supposed to. For me it has taken a LONG TIME to come to terms with the truth of the matter: I have to make good choices or the band will not save me from myself!!! WE ARE OK!!!

You stated very eloquently what I was TRYING to say. lol It's hard to believe that I am so stupid or stubborn it's taken me 1 1/2 years to come to some sort of a truce with my band. I think I should put Bridget's slogan at the bottom of my posts. "January 18, 2008 the day I stopped fighting my band" Oh yeah..and I also totally understand not being able to even handle WW desserts. They still taste great and one is not enough for me. I think I really have to look at sugar like a diabetic does....it's poison to me and I must resist it. Also...seeing as you sound a lot like me...Have you found anything "sweet" that you CAN have and not start that blood sugar rollercoaster? Like sugar FREE stuff? My nutritionist seemed to think that even that might set me off. I'd like to have something to replace dessert other than fruit.

One thing I don't abuse is Swiss Miss sugar free hot chocolate. BUT... of course I put splenda in it to make it sweeter, a dash of salt (must get the sweet/salty ratio just right... HOW SICK IS THAT!!) and a little sugar free french vanilla coffee creamer. This isn't exactly dessert.... but sometimes I have that in the evening. Sometimes I allow myself some cool whip... for S/F jello. Of course I have to sweeten it up with splenda.... and I don't get it often because I could eat the whole container in a day or two. (good mouth feel...LOL) I also really like Atkins advantage bars: Carmel Double chocolate crunch bars. 150 calories 11 g protein, 9 g fiber and 1 g sugar...no sugar alcohol (which gives me diarrhea). It's a pretty good "treat." I also like the Cranberry Almond, Oatmeal Raisin, and one other... carmel, peanut nougat?? I get them from drugstore.com. If I spend $49 I get free shipping. Last time I ordered some I got them in 2 days! These bars seem to be the best value for the money/calories/protein/fiber... etc. I limit myself to 2 bars/day or three at the most. They don't seem to set me off.

Wow! Those sound GREAT! I was desperately looking for bars yesterday and settled on a Kashi Go Lean bar. I can't remember the nutrition facts but it was the best one to choose from the selection I had in front of me. I dont' remember seeing an Atkins bar. I would have definitely checked it out because I would have assumed it was low carb. Wanna know something funny....I'm sitting here drinking a SF Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate with some Cinnamon Vanilla creamer in it. LOL I think we are VERY much alike. Thanks so much.

I really have never bought the Atkins bars anywhere but online. Go to www.drugstore.com and search "Atkins breakfast bars".... it looks like they are on sale for $4.99 for a box of five. You could try a couple of flavors and if you've never bought anything there before I think you get free shipping if you order $25 worth. I really shop there FREQUENTLY. They are very reliable. It DOES sound like we are TWINS in terms of the food addiction struggle!!!

What a revelation huh?> I know when I eat protein first I get fuller much faster but its so very easy to go the other way becuase we don't have to work hard with the softer foods. I am with you 100% I lost the 3 poundsI gained over the holidays now it is time toi get into the cold hard fat I need to lose that has been with me for way too long ..and let me tell you this is truly "The Battle of the Bulge" But we can do it ! I also suffer from SAD! need lots of light or I want to cover myself up with food ..I am also carb sensitive they go straight to my hips ,stomach and butt. Hey do they have a place where they can just put us to sleep like a bear till spring and we can wake up in May all slim and refreshed???