Doddie63

No snuffy, just want companies to respect the rights of all. No question if you want to start a company and run it the way you would like, you can, however, the rest of us don't have to patronize the company. A far right liberal is closer to conservative thinking than central or far left. They subscribe to less socialism. Don't wish to start a war between the two countries, we need each other but, we can learn from each other. We need your trade and you need our natural resources but we all are very similar.

Plain LOL What Canada are you referring to. We have an Ultra Conservative government in and the only socialist province (NDP) is Manitoba last I heard. In BC we have far right liberals. No, I just think the Canadians respect the needs of all, eh! Doddie

I posted about this new ruling in Canada earlier. There is no question in my mind that the American Airlines treat the overweight person in a negative way. They know very well they are discriminating. Someday some organization will take them to court. As for my thoughts, If I have to pay for two seats the airline could put in a row of larger seats with slightly higher fares. If I had a comfortable seat, I would pay the extra. I think it unlikely the seats would go empty. However, from what I have read the Airlines don't treat their staff to well either. For instance, the unions had to fight to have safety seats available to the staff. Big business will always push to make their profits at the expense of the public and only laws will bring them into line. Canada has done it now the American Government should as well.

Hi: I guess us over '60's' more inclined to take our time with weight loss so. How much fill do you have in your band. I know we are all different, for instance, I have 5.5ccs in a 10 cc band. I can't eat over 1 (measured cup) of food or 3 oz of hard protein and 4 oz in veggies. I feel pain or hiccup if I eat more and to be truthfull end up barfing the food out. Yet I know another lady that has 9 ccs in a 10 cc band before she found her sweet spot. The sweet spot is a mystery to me. It seems to imply the balance of being able to eat normally and yet not overeat. What do you think you will feel when you reach your sweet spot. As for emotional eating that is tough. How do you combat the need to eat? Doddie

Yes I agree, TLC and constant reassurances you are doing this for your health and for him and you want to feel pride in yourself. He has his own demons to contend with just as you are fighting head hunger and to get your head to see the new you he has to feel you still are interested in him. No question I have read articles that some men like overweight women. Oh, why does life have to be so difficult. Doddie

Snuffy: Well, well, are we the most self righteous individual. "my body fits the seats" so what is YOUR problem. Well I tend to think of others besides myself. And who said I got my money back? Seems to me you have a very close connection to airlines to be so supportive of a very mean spirited policies. Airlines intend to pack people in like cattle and there is no other intent in their agenda. The fat person is the last group of people that can be opening discriminated against with out reprecussion from the law. Your sad support of them is a classic example of abuse that all overweight people suffer through.

luvinke: I know what you are saying. My DH has just recently started pushing food at me saying I am not eating enough to feed a sparrow. I can only surmise, they feel threatened by the new you and me that is emerging. They want the fat comfortably always reliable gal back. We however, are preening and enjoying the new taste of smaller sizes and feeling more confident with ourselves. Well my attitude is "get used to it, guys, here I come". Doddie

I have understood Kathy to be a registered nurse as well as a bandster. She is knowledgeable. As for the diet, the lengthy is determined by your BMI but the clinic can adjust it to meet your needs. The whole purpose of the diet is to shrink the liver as much as possible. I had to go 30 days on cottage cheese and plain yogurt. Doddie

Yes, there is no need for fluos unless there is a problem such as suspected twisted, flipped or leaking port or pain of some sort. The fill as you get closer to restriction will feel cool around you stomach as the fill inflates the band. It is a 'cool' feeling and your first reaction is to eat cautiously for a week until you get used to your portions. I found I was PBing every day until I finally realized I couldn't tell what 3 oz was so now I weigh everything. Doddie

Snuffy: Where in the law does it say everyone must be a size 16 or smaller. Airline sell tickets for profit. Being 114 lbs over your goal indicates to me that you don't travel very much. Well I do, and I assure you that I have as much right to be comfortable as a size 16. If they charge me more for the seat so be it, but for me to buy 2 seats is dead wrong. Two seats are uncomfortable and as you stated the arm cannot be raised by law. Also, I have had the unfortunate experience wherein I did buy two seats and the airline was overbooked so bumped my second seat and I could not do sweet diddly squat about it. So for me it should be mandatory that the airlines do not discriminate against fat people the same as any other visible minority. Doddie

Well in Canada, the Superior Courts ruled in favor of a handicap person. In that judgment, handicap people that need a full time attendant can purchase one ticket and the airlines must provide a second seat free for the attendant. This included POS. Now the airline are looking for a way of charging more. People are only two quick to say "the rest of us pay for our seats and are entitled", well so are POS. Airline seats are made with only 16" width so most of the people flying are POS. Seems to me the airline are "bullying" POS, knowing full well they are walking a thin line of discrimination. If someone had the money to take them to court it would be interesting what the American courts would say. I don't buy into the theory that because you are overweight you are not entitled to fly, use a bus, or train. If we have a death in the family have to get home 3,000 miles away, I should be entitled to a seat that fits. If there were oversize seats available on each plane, the airline could sell them to POS and/or so called normal bodies. Doddie

Relax mommyoftwolittle, your first fill is usually loose. Everyone is different, but most people don't feel restriction until 5 or more ccs. The average for a 10 cc band is 7 but others require less. For instance, I am at 5.5 cc and am at a perfect restriction for my needs. I am able to take my medications without having to crush them, plus I cannot eat more than 8 oz of food per meal. I have the "full" feeling when I have 3 oz of hard protein and total 4 oz of veggies/fruit. Take your fills slow and easy, because it sometimes takes a few days for he restriction to show up. I went for 8 months with a 5 cc fill then got my .5 cc two months ago. Just a word of advice, don't rush it. You don't want to get into the fill/defill mode. More chance of damaging your port and tubing by needle. Doddie

I go to Dr. Woodhead for my fills and I really like him. He is very soft spoken but is very good at giving you information. Doddie

For what it is worth, I would suggest the band is less harmful than stomach stapling. The band is placed around the top of the stomach creating a pouch not like staples. I have heard terrible things about stomach staples being ripped because of overeating. With the band, all you do is upchuck. I am an emotional eater with a fill level of 5.5 ccs out of 10 and I feel I have good restriction. I must weigh my food as I can't tell what is a 3 oz portion or a 6 oz portion. No matter what you try, you will still have to battle head hunger and grazing. All the band does is make you feel full sooner and prevents you from overeating at the moment. You can still eat "bad" calories such as wine, chocolate, ice cream etc. The band is a tool you must make it work for you. The band is not a magic panacea. Doddie

Try fitday.com. I have used both but most people I know use Fitday.com The foods are easier to find and you get a drop down menu with the amounts. You can even change the amounts to fractions. Doddie

Hi: There are two sites: Fitday.com which I use. You enter your starting weight and as you lose you re entre your weight. The site has charts, graphs, and wonderful journal, etc. I found searching for food that I ate a bit difficult. I could only get products they have listed. But they do offer you the availability of setting up your own food items. It takes a bit of time, but once you have them the charting of your food takes no time at all. The other one is: Sparkpeople.com. I like them as well. Try both and see which one you like. Doddie

Just one thought popped into my mind after I posted. A recent study on weight loss was posted in our local paper approx. a month ago and it found the most successful weight loss was the personal contact with people with the same issues. Web support came in very low for consistant weight loss over a period of time. Another thought to ponder. But whatever, good luck you have some great goals. Doddie

Hi Luvinki: I have some thoughts that may help you decide. 1. If there are bandster support groups in your area go to those. They will have similar problems and questions as you do. 2. If there are not, then go to WW. The personal contact with people with weight issues will be great. There are of course downsides to joining a group at work. If they know you have the band, you will have to have a thick skin as the jokes of "having help" or not so funny snide remarks. Also, people are odd. They tend to resent the success of others and if you have to work with them it could be difficult. By going to an outside WW, your personal life is separate and apart from the workplace which I think is good thing to do. Hope this gives you a few of the pros and cons to make a decision.

sphil: The band has been in use in Europe for 20 plus years and in Canada for some time now. Complications are rare. One thing about the band, everything is fixable. I commend you for looking into both the upside and downside of the band but don't let the downside scare you off. Before making such a life style changing decision, it is best you look into the whole picture. Even when you make your decision right up until you climb up on the OR table you may have flashes of doubt. I certainly did, but the outcome of being able to eat normally and lose weight without the fear of puting it back on instantly kept my resolve. Good luck in your decision and if you decide to have the band, which surgeon in Vancouver did you pick. I am from North Vancouver and you are welcome to attend our meeting once a month at Lions Gate Hospital. We are a small group but would be happy to try and answer any questions you may have. Doddie

sorry shortgal. BTW, you stats are looking great. Doddie

Yes cassie: You lost 21 lbs. That is terrific success. As we all know, more than likely without the band it would be a 21 lb gain. Keep on smiling and don't rush the weight loss. As long as the arrow points down be satisfied, give your self a treat like a long bubble bath, facial, etc. It is surprising how the 1/2 lbs add up after a year. Doddie

shortgal: You may need a complete physical exam because the left sided pain my not be caused by the band but by something else. I have severe pain on the right side groin, and I am told that the membrane in the uterus is very thin. On the lighter side, have you had your appendix out? Doddie

Nancy's PR may be a problem to some (me) but I still have unshakeable faith in TLBC. They are trying very hard to set up support for long distance people and I understand with their new CEO, Jill and he CEO will be venturing out to other areas to talk to long distance patients. I have huge respect for Dr. Yau and Jill. Since I put my concerns in writing, Jill has been contacting me monthly to help me sort out any problems. I understand I am not the only long distance patient she telephones. Just the contact with the clinic, keeps me connected to the clinic. I don't think they could do much more for me. Doddie

what's "fica" mean? Doddie

Thanks athinnerdenise. Good to hear from someone that what I am doing is good work. No question in mind mind losing weight is "work" but the outcome is to tintilating. You have done so well to lose 65 lbs. This remaining 5 lbs, does it go up and down or are you at a steady weght. Do you think you may have reached your natural weight. I have read that bone mass on overweight people is usually greater thus we are usually at the higher end of normal weight scales. Doddie