Doddie63

Hi: If you are from BC there is a support group meeting every third Wednesday at the Lions Gate Hospital. Two of the ladies that attend went to your clinic I believe. They travel to the States to get fills. You are welcome to come to our meeting before and after surgery. I do know the clinic they attended in washington state is apparently very good. Doddie

Buffie: Hi from BC. What does your doctor say. Maybe you have reached what should be the normal weight for a person of your height, bone structure, etc. I used to correspond with a TLBC patient from Saskatoon who worked at the hospital are you that person? Doddie

Hi: Your decision is for you and your health. If support is not forthcoming from your family and friends, remember the bandsters are there to help. We will give you all the support we can muster. Our answers may not always fit your needs, but at least we are hear to listen. Good luck. Doddie

Thanks Peaches. It has been slow and sometimes I get impatient but then I remember, I am changing my way of eating and NOT dieting. I only have 5 ccs but want to keep it loose until I get my chewing thoroughly as second nature. On the 22nd of Nov. I see my Dr. and will follow his recommendation whether or not I should have more fill. My weight loss pales to yours, and my hearty congratulations to you. It just shows the band is a wonderful tool if used correctly. Doddie

a secret is a secret until you tell one person. The band is part of me now and I would no sooner ask someone if they are wearing false teeth than I would about their weight. But it seems socially acceptable to make comments about peoples weight loss. Usually meant as a compliment and I am sure with a little bit of envy. My answer is usally "thank you, I appreciate that you noticed". If the question "how" comes up, my response is "oh the usual way" unless I feel my personal information may benefit someone then I will talk about the band. All my family and friends know of my decision to have the band.

Beats me. I was there only for a short time. The fill is given then you have to sip some water to be sure it goes down and if you have no problems you leave. Guess the time estimate is to allow you to sip slowly and/or there are others at the same time. Doreen

HI JEN: I am young at heart, 64 but there are many young people on the website, especially this one. It was a young girl who started this TLBC patient site. Welcome to bandland and feel free to post any questions, concerns, fear, joys, successes, and failures (yes failures). Because even if you have the band, it is just a tool and everyone experiences their ups and downs. Good luck. Doddie

I alway "make the attempt" to take my shoes off but lately, people have been asking me to leave the shoes on. One friend explained to me that socks or bare feet have skin oil in them and dirty the carpet. Best bet is to take a pair of clean slippers or shoes with you. Can't imagine being all dressed up at a house party and being in stocking feet, can you? LOL

The whole purpose of the band is to learn to eat in a healthy way. Taking diet pills may help in the weight loss area, but what are you learning about proper eating. Also, isn't the reason we spent 16K to get the band was to kick the quick fixes such as diet pills. I note you will not be taking them and good for you but I suppose it boils down to personal choices. Doddie

You are welcome Lizzie. Good luck as you start your journey and remember, we are all here to support you every step of the way. By going to a support group if you can, you will find meeting and seeing people in your situation is very gratifying. The board is very good, but can't replace personal contact. Doddie

well said. I think it would be very rare if there is any bandster out there that has not had a few backwards step and beat themselves up. by posting, we stay in touch with people that have similar emotions and problems. Susan Silver do yourself a favor and us by posting. Don't forget as you are getting support from us, we are getting support from you. You may not realize that by posting how you feel and what you are doing, I for one am looking at your post and saying "I felt that way, I am not alone. I am not different." So give yourself a real big hug and say I am on the road again. Doddie

PS: Hope you came thru the hurricane OK.

Liz. A very nice lady is trying to start a support group in Halifax. If you are not aware of her e mail address, post and I will forard it to you. I am in B.C. and we support each other across the country. They will be meeting shortly. Doddie

Are there any "model" bandsters out there. More like Yo Yos. LOL Doddie

Sherrylynn. Your doctor has not put much restriction on your band at this time. You need to heal and the band to settle in (if you will). Some think it is to allow scar tissue to form to hold the band in place. I am sure your doctor has a schedule of fills for you to follow. As for your nibbles, don't forget we all suffer head hunger. No matter how tight the restriction you must work on correcting your bad habits. the band can't do that for you. What it does do is remind you when you break the rules. Until you get your fills, work on more exercise, eating sensibly, and plan your snacks so they are healthy choices. You are in a tough spot right now - between and rock and a hard place. So put your energy into planning your life style changes NOT dieting. Hang in there it will get better.Doddie

Wow, have TLBC changed their pre op diet? I was only done in February and had the pleasure of the cottage cheese and yogurt diet. Mitzy don't worry about what your eat before the surgery too much as the time flies. Hope you make the decision to have the band. I don't think there are very many who regret their decision. Doddie.

LOL Sorry I have a tendancy to think everyone plays my tricks. I buy things for "when my neices/nephews" come but in reality they are for me. Doddie

Yes, Put a reminder somewhere that you are not on a diet but you are making a whole new lifestyle change. I give myself visuals. On my calendar posted on he wall, I put a large smiley on the day I weigh in which is Sunday and each day I do a small amount of exercise I give myself a small smiley. When I miss my exercise, the blank calendar date looms huge. At the end of the month I have a visual of my weight lost for the month and how much exercise I have put in. I get a warm feeling when I see it. Maybe this idea may help you but most importantly give yourself a pat on the back when you do something right. The reward is not to be food mind you. One last tip, DON'T deny yourself. If you want a small treat, have it but make sure it is small. That way, you won't get into the old dieting routine of having a treat then feeling guilty because you broke the diet rules. Everything is legal in small portions. Doddie

Well said Nancy. Diet is a word I try not to use. It is not a diet if it was, I would not have spent 16 K +. It is a whole new way of life learning to eat properly and how we reach that goal is an individual process. Some want to loose the weight fast and diet by starvation then work on proper eating habits and exercise. Others take the slow road changing their habits as they go. That is my choosen route but it won't work for everyone. Going slowly is frustrating along the way, but when I take a momemnt and reflect I see how far I have come. I hope Susan reads your message. Doddie

Mitz Good decision. go gal

Loriely. Seem to be following you around on the sites, but not really. Howver I just noticed your weight loss to date. You have done great. I notice you said you bought some chocolates is there any way you can put them away "just for today". If you feel like them tomorrow ask yourself the same question "do I need these just for today". Punishing yourself with chocolates is not going to make your problems go away. Now is the time to plan things that won't give in to head hunger. You can do it. doddie

Well with Dr. Yau, sit tight. He will bring you thru this. You may just have to attempt to maintain until your issues are resolved. As I have said the band is with us for life so what is the rush. Your time will come. Hang in there. Doddie

<p>lorliely: Where were you banded. I think it is time that you made an appointment with your doctor and discuss with him your difficulties. If you are just going to a fill nurse and making the decisions to fill and defill yourself, this might not be advisable. Eventually, you are going to wear out the port.Your doctor will be in a better position to evaluate where the problems are occurring. Take a detailed report of what you are eating, how much, if you PB, exercise being done, emotional issues, etc. I am sure you will find your answers with him. Good luck and keep posting. We will help as much as we can. Doddie</p>

Hi Peaches. I took advice from a TLBC long time bandster Heather. She keeps a loose fill and focused on eating whatever she liked but in small quantities and chewing. She travels a lot. As for me, I have 3 fills. Two ccs in April, 1 cc in June and 1 cc in July. After that, I have focused on chewing and eating healthy. I am not in a rush to loose my weight as much as I want to be normal in my eating. I am a food gulper and grazer. I was lucky in that my band has a lot of restriction without fills. LOL my weight loss has been an average of .75 lbs per week. Bear in mind that I have arthritis in both knees and hip and shoulder so can only go to aqua fit and use the stationary bike. The local district gym set up a program for me under the direction of my doctor and this is the regime. Three days a week aqua fit for one hour, two days a week on the stationary bike at a slow pace with lifting a few different weights averaging 10 lbs. I can eat 1 cup to 1 1/2 cup of soft food but when I eat chicken, pork, or beef, I can't eat more than 2 ozs. Hope this answers your questions. PS: You haven't done so badly yourself. Doddie</p>

Hi: You should discuss this with your doctor. We don't know your joint issues if any, health issues if any. But genrally, when you have not exercised for a period of time, five minutes of walking 3 times a day. As you feel stronger build up your time. We all start off gung ho and tend to over do things until we realize the band is for life. I use the philosophy of "just for today". First I got my chewing in fairly good order while doing minumum exercise 3 times a week. I then got a note from my doctor to our district gym that I could do aqua fit three times a week and on the bike 2 times a week under supervision. The gym supervisor started me off at 10 minutes on the bike for 3 weeks and increased it to 15 minutes then some weight lifting averaging 10 lbs and then another 10 minutes on the bike. What I am saying until you are in shape do your favorite exercise in small amounts over the day. You still will be burning calories but not injurying yourself. Oh, forgot, as I hate exercise, I say to myself "just for today I will exercise" and make myself go just for that day only. Then the next day the same thing. Hope this help. Doddie