Doddie63

Hi; What you are doing, in my mind is great and I intend to follow your example. Why is it though, that if an overweight person starts to loose weight, everyone asks if you are sick?????? Beats me as to the answer. Doddie

HI: I read the postings on the difficulties people are having. I am retired and cooking is done every meal for my hubby. I don't know why, but although I felt sorry for myself the odd time, I sat and watched him eat but it never registered that I couldn't eat. It helps that I like cc but I was so desparate for this band that I had made up my mind no matter what I was going to get it. I was and am tired of living a 300 lb life. My objective in writing how I felt, is to point out your original reason for getting the band. Don't loose site of it. At the seminar, it was pointed out that the liver is a very delicate organ and the doctors have to move it aside to put on the band. The liver can be easily damaged so the smaller the liver the better it is for you. Does this little reminder help any of you "in waiting banders"???? I hope so. Doddie

Hi: Remember, you have to have a healthy body to heal. So eat. Close your eyes and imagine you are eating your favorite food but whatever, don't let the cravings take control. You can do it. Doddie

Hi Donna D. give the clinic a call and check our your feelings. Could be the port may be a bit high or it could be gas. I had no problems so have no experiences to call on. Anyone else out there that can help Donna??? Sure glad you are doing OK and your comment on the chicken soup made me laugh out loud. I immediately thought "there goes Donna with her exercise routine". LOL Doddie

Hi Jurema: You are in a very real big struggle I would say, not minor. You are probably having headaches from withdrawal of other foods, especially salt. I am a salt eater (that's why I have high blood pressure) and when I couldn't have any salt, I had sick headaches. I heated up some chicken broth when I felt down. I didn't drink a lot, but it helped the headache. Also, the warm tea was an excellent idea and warm bath. Pamper yourself you deserve it. Doddie

Hi Jurema I sent you a private message. Hope you get it. But incase you don't I encourage you to take a before picture and to make a pictorial record of your journey. I am doing it, and I know many others are as well. Make the first one as unflatering as possible then every 30 lbs. I love your ticker tape. Doddie

Well done Susansilver: Keep up your spirits. I don't think we would be overweight if part of the problem was not the "emotional" thing. Don't let your mind take over. Keep in charge. You will be fine. C........h.....a.........r.......g..........e! to the finish line. Doddie

Hi Donna D: Welcome to bandland. Bet you are running around the block by now. Isn't that the greatest tasting clear broth compared to cottage cheese. Doddie

Hi Jurema and Ginger: First welcome Ginger. I know that without the band I would still be depressed and gaining. Good luck in your decision. I will say this, I also support the clinic and in my mind Dr. Yau is the best, because I have suffered no complications. That is not to say there aren't equally as good doctors out there. Jurema, I went out to to see the doctor but he wasn't in so I will be telephoning today for an appointment. I will let you know how it goes. More to the point how is the pre op diet coming along now that you know the reason for the restricted diet? Also, on another post you said you love salt and that is a very addictive spice. Another reason why you are feeling down with the cottage cheese diet. Whatever you do, stick with it. You will find it is worth it. Doddie.

Hi Jurema: Boy is it ever nice to put a face to the name. How many days to go now. Like you, I love salt so you have to wean yourself off it. Salt is addictive so that may be why you are having trouble with the pre op. Just a thought. Doddie

All of you are experiencing what we all have gone thru including all the emotions of making a will. Wish I could be there and help you through this period of time. Saying I was there, did that, did this, is of little help I am sure. I think I startled the nurse when I handed her a copy of my living will. I am sure it never entered her mind anything would go wrong and her reaction made me feel soooooooo good. Seeing her so confident made me relax. After that it is all so easy. Including after no problems whatsoever. Just very sleepy but I followed to the letter their instructions and so far so good. Just had my first fill and feeling very good. Doddie

Hi: I crave salt and white carbs. Could not care less about sweets but put some fresh baked warm bread and butter in front of me or hot white steamed rice and I will devour everything in sight. Oh ...........make the pain go away........back to the veggies. Doddie

HI: I crave salt white carbs. Could not care less if sweets are all around me but put fresh baked warm bread and butter near me and there ain't no stopping me. Same with fresh steamed rice..........oh! make me stop. Back to my healthy veggies. Doddie

Hi Everyone. No question the pre op is the hardest but there are other difficult moments that you will overcome and each time you overcome them your belief in yourself and self esteem start to rise. I just had my first fill and I am as excited as I was nervous in my pre op. Slowly but surely, I am looking at food to live NOT live to eat food. My time at the clinic Monday, Tuesday were such an uplifting encouraging experience. Out in BC I feel so alone, but it was so wonderful to meet Donna D and Jurema and others to lift me up. The clinic has recommended a doctor in Vancouver who will do my fills and support me. So to Donna D and all others on pre op. Hang in there, it is an exciting road on the other side. Doddie

Hi Jurema and recovering Donna D. I was thrilled to meet you and the fill went very well. Nancy started with 4 ccs and took one out when the water didn't go down and then took another one cc out when it still was difficult. I was going to force the water down but one of the "veterans" told me not to do that. If it wasn't going down I needed another defill. So I ended up with 2 ccs. Everything is going down nicely (if I chew) but I am full at the prescribed amount of food (1 cup). I also met the new nutrionist and she is a find. Boy she spent approximately one hour chatting with me as she waited to see someone. She went over my charted food eaten for 5 days and picked it apart. I now know when I was consuming 1200 calories why I was so hungry. Protein was short even though I thought I was meeting the requirements. I also was given a doctors name that will do my fills out here in Vancouver. I will be gong to make the appointment this morning. All in all, I came home glowing with encouragement and enthusiasim. I feel like I am on air as I continue to loose 1 lb a week. Slowly but surely. Hang in there with the cottage cheese diet. It will be worth it. Doddie.

Hi Jurema: We met at the pre op. It was great meeting with you and I know you will go thru the op with flying colors. One thing about going to the seminars you meet many people face to face and the personal contact is really great. Good luck and think of the end results when you find yourself getting tired of cottage cheese. doddie

Hi Donna D: We met at the pre op seminar and it was great meeting you. With your upbeat nature your banding should be a cake walk. By now, you will be working on the clear fluids. Keep us posted on how you are doing. Doddie.

Hi Argon: I just got back from TO from my first fill and I met the new nutrionist and she is someone you should contact. Call the clinic and ask to speak to her. I spent an hour chatting with her and she told me that if you are "stalled" don't go into liquid or mushie diets, but increase your protein and reduce your carbs. She looked at what I was eating 1000-1200 cals a day and she pointed out that my protein was extremely low. That was why I was hungry or grazing. She gave me some great suggestions. I won't post her name because the clinic will be doing that so would just suggest call the clinic and ask for her. Doddie

Hi Edieparks: You look sensatonal and a real inspiration to the rest of us just starting off. Doddie

Hi: Take some of that delicious cottage cheese and pretend it is the most wonderful thing you have ever tasted and take your time eating it. Next keep yourself busy to the point of distraction. My way is getting on the computer and posting like mad. Hang in there you can do it. Dont forget you will be around a lot longer and healthier for your children. Doddie

Hi Argon: For goodness sake, don't appologize for asking for help. No one is telling you to shut up, if they do, I will tell them to follow their own advice. Looking back at how much and how far you have come can be an equalizer plus all the other good advice given. You can do it. We all know what it is like to want to do something but the brain just doesn't want to take part. I am in a funk right now and looking for my first fill. Being an optimist, I keep thinking I will get moving soon. Doddie.

Hi: I ate very plain. Cottage cheese and plain yogurt only. Skim milk and tons of water. Sorry, not very inspiring. Doddie

Hi: Look at your present weight loss and hopefully you can see all your efforts. There must have been a slowdown somewhere there. What did you do them? Whatever, I would kill to have a loss like that. Good work and keep the faith, it will start coming off again. Doddie

Hi: I tried to put my picture with my signature. If it shows up, you "might" be able to pick me out of a crowd. LOL Doddie

Hi: If you stay the at Chelsa Delta or the Holiday Inn (2 blocks from clinic), you can walk one block and take the subway. Also, if you click on the Holiday Inn website on Bloor street, they tell you about the touristy things plus shopping mall close by. Doddie.