ralheit:
I am sorry to hear of your difficulty. Certainly from this distance there is no way I can address any questions about what may need attention.

I do know this: I was as apprehensive and anxious and skeptical as anyone could be.

My personal history includes the tendency to abandon projects partially completed; to ignore instructions; and to cheerfully deny my own role in not complying with lots of details when the whim took me elsewhere.

To succeed, I have to keep trudging daily towards my goal. Just as the pioneers who crossed the continent with oxen and wagon. Step by plodding step. And not straying from the established trail too far.
There are lots of distractions along the way.

Seek help and you will find your path again. You know how to succeed, and you know what you want. And you know what it takes to achieve that goal, yes?

Personally I've grown tremendously stronger and more disciplined because of the Band. It's a slower journey than I'd prefer, yet there is movement in the right direction as long as I keep my head clear and my feet moving.

EDIT TO ADD: I was on my own plateau for 18 long months, despite 'doing everything right'....and I gained....only 8 ounces...without the Band, it would have been more like 80 pounds!!!

I rededicated my efforts, cleaned up my diet, started walking 20 minutes 3 times a week....I'm down 12 lbs since December!!!

Action always knocks depression out of the ring for me. Action means *I* am in control. Depression IMHO is nothing but anger turned inwards, which means I have stopped moving forward...and behavioral activity that *I* have choices above have proven to be a healing balm for my own jagged psyche.

Cheers and courage.

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"Carpe mañana"
*Oldtimers posse: surgery 12/21/04*

My Quest is Victory over the Dragons of Habit, Gluttony, Sloth, Desperation