Trying to find my footing......AGAIN

Ok so I have been a very bad bandster.  I have followed most of the rules except the measuring of the food and the staying within a daily calorie range. I honestly have never been told how much I should be eating, when I asked my original Dr he would tell me if your hungry eat.  I have been eating quite a bit of crappy junk food and I haven't been getting my water in.  I switched Dr's from my original surgeon to a new physician back in  November but haven't been back since my first appointment.  My whole life has turned very high stress and very emotional as my husband was diagnosed with Metastatic Melanoma stage 4 and its been a big fight with everyone to get any kind of treatment going even though all treatment is palliative there is no cure for stage 4.  I have gained 20 lbs easily and need to get my feet back on the ground.  I know I cant help him if I am in no shape to do so.  Any advise how to jump back on the lap band loosing weight train.  I'm going to dust off my copy of Bandwagon and reread it starting tomorrow.  Any words of advise will be very much appreciated.

My only advice is just keep swimming. Even if you are making two steps forward and one step back, you are still making progress. You have a lot on your plate, and for now, baby steps may be all you can do.

So sorry to hear about your husband....will keep you all in my prayers and thoughts.

Now as for the gain.......you are not alone, I have gained close to 30 from my lowest bad news yes......the best news, with the band you can start over.....

I have and my first step was to start calculating portion size and calories......I use My Plate on www.livestrong.com it is free for the basic version (which in my opinion is all you need to get started) they will let you know how many calories you are supposed to have based on your height, weight and how many pounds you want to lose a week.

Weight loss in addition to being lucky enough to have a tool to assist is simple math.....calories in vs calories out (burned) nothing more nothing less. Now in some cases there are medical reasons as to why someone can't lose weight but I get the feeling that you like I are an emotional eater......in times of stress food is my go to drug....heck when I am happy, bored, sad and every other time also LOL.......

The best thing about tracking your food/exercise is that you can modify if needed.......meaning for me I lose best if my carbs are under 50.....I am a slow loser and tracking it allows me to know what works one week and what doesn't.............. my plate and others out there give the breakdown of carbs, cal, sodium ect.....

The fact that you are wanting to start over is great............there are many of us that are!!!

Michele

Well -- here a some thoughts from me -- for what they are worth

1.  I have to 'gear up' to get re-started. I try to plan for 3 days when I will have alot of control over my own schedule --
2.  I clean my environment -- clean the pantry, the fridge, put things in the trash or the disposal or out of sight --- the crappy carbs GO OUT
3. I stock my fridge with foods that I like that are high protein (greek yogurt, meats, cheese)
4.  I buy lots of fruits and veggies that I like
5.  I make myself a 'feeding schedule' --- and I eat when it is time to eat and I drink in between those times and I just don't let myself eat if it is not meal time --- period --- for at least 3 days
6.  I make myself a list of 'things to do besides eat' --- most of them are things that I like to do, and some of them are chores ----- but, I do those things instead of eating when I am tempted to break 'rule'  number 5 above
7.  I go to bed early --- after my last snack of the day, I close the kitchen and I brush/floss/gargle -- take a warm bath or shower and get into bed

3 days of this is helpful for 3 reasons
1.  I can convince myself to do anything for just 3 days
2.  I usually see some real scale progress after 3 days -- 2 or 3 pounds down -- and that motivates me to stay focused
3.  3 days is about the time it takes my body to 'detox' from the simple carbs I have been letting in

good luck --- stop with the 'bad bandster' talk -- and just accept that you need to start fresh!!