CanMacDaddy

My you have lost weight... can I ask how much and how? Anyway I had to go out to my first formal dinner on Sunday less than a week after getting banded. Stuffy work chit with not one but two "plastic barbie self-proclaimed socialites" that only allow their husbands to talk when permission is given. The kind that think their very chit will be served in a chocolate mousse for all at dessert... ok hopefully you get the picture. Well it took only 15 mins into the dinner of 14 people before Plastic Barbie 1 says very loud to me but for all to hear...."wow it looks like you finally lost some weight"..(I HAVE LOST 30 LBS IN PAST MONTH.."how much and is it because you are ill". Well of course everyone went silent cuz they were waiting for my verbal retort. I was gonna say "Portion Control" but my meek wife (1 glass of wine gone already) spoke up and said "its cuz we found a great new position for sex and we haven't been out of the bedroom in 2 weeks!" BOOM....I was floored...then she said..."maybe you and your hubby should try something different as the same old missionary style once a month doesn't seem to be working for your bitchy attitude". THE WITCH IS DEAD... I swear to god I heard cheers over the laughter as the BEOITCHHH left the room. My wife got more drinks bought for her that night and congratulations. She is my hero....plus mother of my 3 chitlins!! I quickly ran home and read brochure on when it was safe to resume the bedroom life... 6 days and 4 hours to go. Maybe my prom tux will fit by then... then again... we have 3 kids, work, etc.... Sorry for the rambling but my wifes answer beat my Portion Control answer hands down or another part up. Good luck to all . CanadianMacDaddy

Just wanted to thank all for their posts... they are very informational and realistic vs "the brochure" info you usually get. Reading everyones comments has reduced the typical emotional roller coaster ride and has kept me very positive. It is amazing the steps people have taken to gain control back in their lives...it is not a quick fix... but an important tool to better health. I started a journal "Canadian MacDaddy" to blot down my experience through this. So will probably post an update in about a week... once I am on the other side!! Other side = being banded not the "other side with angels and philadelphia cream cheese women" !! Thanks Canadian Mac Daddy

B-A-N-D-Y M-O-U-S-E !!! I feel like I have finally joined the club!! Well the "gang' really. I am back from Ontario...just in time for snow here in Calgary. Feeling OK with some discomfort yet... BUT I have lost 10lbs since surgery on the 27th. I am sure most of this is do to not being able to handle even 1000 cal/d yet. The good news is I am finally not Class III Morbidly Obese... I have dipped below 40 BMI .... I am now a Class II citizen just plain Obese. I am going from FAT to PHAT. More importantly my diabetes sugar levels are in control and I finally have a sense of some control over my life. I will post later more details on my surgery but I want to unpack now and catch the Blue Jays game. P.S. -- I got Sidney Crosby's signature on a peguins jersey...unfortunately I had to buy a jersey for him to sign as I had mine stolen from my rental car prior to game. Oh well.... God Bless and thanks to all those well wishers!!! Canadian MacDaddy

To echo Gaffer in Alberta I know a couple of ladies who had their TT's paid by provincial health care as was a quality of life issue. One girl stated that the extra weight she was carrying was hurting her back so they covered lipo and TT. MacDaddy but yet I couldn't get them to cover my band. maybe I should get lipo and band....

Optifast is going well... I have been adding some ingredients to make paletable. ie: frozen fruit, sugar free coffee flavouring, etc.... I have plateaued on weight loss after initial 20lbs lost ... and agree that the rest will be blood, sweat and no beers. MacDaddy

Phat Journal Entry (March 20th, 07) ; Starting Weight: 325 lbs (March 10th, 07) Highest Weight : 340 lbs Curent Weight : 303 lbs Banding Date : MARCH 27TH, 2007.... 8 DAYS AWAY!!! I have lost 22 bls in 11 days of being on Optifast and excercising 30 - 60 mins/d. Today I got my pre-op medical completed in Alberta and sent to clinic for surgery next week -- everything was ok except I am still phat/fat. My family doc was pumped about my surgery and was disappointed I couldn't have gotten it done in a more timely fashion in Alberta on the public health care system (3-5 year wait). He echoed it was well worth the $16k if it led to a healthier BMI. ( I tried to get his clinic to sponsor my banding but he didn't bite..sort of like a walk-a-thon deal but instead asked for $2/lb I will lose over a one year period or I said I would put his clinic name on my stomach like a boxer and have procedure televised on internet--you know this space for rent) Anyway I got an added bonus while at the clinic ... apparently when you are a male and at age 40 it is a good time to start having prostate exams...:eek: he exclaimed this as he put on his gloves... I debated with him that: 1) I was barely 39 , 2) Is there really a "GOOD" time for a prostate exam, 3) could I get a nurse or another doctor with much smaller hands to perform exam and 4) I was pretty sure my orfice was a "one-way road only" ...I lost out on all four. Anyway he said things felt ok... I debated again !!! I left clinic went home had a long hot shower, cried a little, held my teddy and watched a chick flick... I betcha the Bass-Terd never even calls me back. Anyway another positive item has been I have been able to cut back on my Diabetes insulin and pills by half since I have been on the Optifast... This is a $330/ mth savings I insurance did not cover it. That alone would mean a payback of less than 5 yrs for this surgery. Plus additional years on my life to worry about my daughters prom dates. Learnings from today -- although women may first look at a new male doctors hands to see if there is a wedding ring...us males should first look to see how big his fingers are and how many knuckles !! :doh: 7 Days till I hit the cutting board. Canadian MacDaddy -- looking forward to being 1/2 the man I used to be !!!

Phat Journal Entry (March 20th, 07) ; Starting Weight: 325 lbs (March 10th, 07) Highest Weight : 340 lbs Curent Weight : 303 lbs Banding Date : MARCH 27TH, 2007.... 8 DAYS AWAY!!! I have lost 22 bls in 11 days of being on Optifast and excercising 30 - 60 mins/d. Today I got my pre-op medical completed in Alberta and sent to clinic for surgery next week -- everything was ok except I am still phat/fat. My family doc was pumped about my surgery and was disappointed I couldn't have gotten it done in a more timely fashion in Alberta on the public health care system (3-5 year wait). He echoed it was well worth the $16k if it led to a healthier BMI. ( I tried to get his clinic to sponsor my banding but he didn't bite..sort of like a walk-a-thon deal but instead asked for $2/lb I will lose over a one year period or I said I would put his clinic name on my stomach like a boxer and have procedure televised on internet--you know this space for rent) Anyway I got an added bonus while at the clinic ... apparently when you are a male and at age 40 it is a good time to start having prostate exams... he exclaimed this as he put on his gloves... I debated with him that: 1) I was barely 39 , 2) Is there really a "GOOD" time for a prostate exam, 3) could I get a nurse or another doctor with much smaller hands to perform exam and 4) I was pretty sure my orfice was a "one-way road only" ...I lost out on all four. Anyway he said things felt ok... I debated again !!! I left clinic went home had a long hot shower, cried a little, held my teddy and watched a chick flick... I betcha the Bass-Terd never even calls me back. Anyway another positive item has been I have been able to cut back on my Diabetes insulin and pills by half since I have been on the Optifast... This is a $330/ mth savings I insurance did not cover it. That alone would mean a payback of less than 5 yrs for this surgery. Plus additional years on my life to worry about my daughters prom dates. Learnings from today -- although women may first look at a new male doctors hands to see if there is a wedding ring...us males should first look to see how big his fingers are and how many knuckles !! :doh: 7 Days till I hit the cutting board. Canadian MacDaddy -- looking forward to being 1/2 the man I used to be !!!

Phat Journal Entry; Starting Weight: 325 lbs (March 10th, 07) Highest Weight : 340 lbs Curent Weight : 304 lbs Banding Date : MARCH 27TH, 2007.... 8 DAYS AWAY!!! I have lost 21 bls in 10 days of being on Optifast and excercising 30 - 60 mins/d. THE GOOD:angel: : Lost 21 lbs in 10 days....made it through first 3 days of intense carb hunger!! I am less nervous about surgery after chatting and reading enteries in this bulletin boards. I have decided that the best thing I can do to increase my chances of a positive surgery is to stick to my pre-op diet, remain positive and include the family in all steps. THE BAD : Hello my name is CanadianMacDaddy and I am an addict. I am addicted to Coke. Especially the Zero brand with its great taste, carbonation and sleek black label. I usually have 6 cans/day and have been warned that after banding carbonated beverages may be a NO NO! I quickly felt a stroke coming on as that also meant BEER... I am freaking Canadian and from East Coast... Beer paid my way through university (returned empties) after house parties. Anyway I am down to 4 cans of crack a day... even worse we just moved to Calgary and 4 houses down there lives a Coca-Cola service technician...Crack Master himself. The temptation is all around!!! THE UGLY :painkiller: : I have 3 young kids and Dad's quiet time was in the washroom with reading material or laptop. (A laptop in the washroom... is that a bad thing?) Now after being on Optifast I have no reason for the frequent bathroom breaks... "Terd No More" saw dust... so in a frantic search for fibre I have added lots in past few days and things are getting back to normal...well at least once a day regular! Pre-Op Meal of the Week: Ingredients: 1 - 10 oz Albertan Filet Mignon (pronounced MIG-NON) 1 strip of Canadian Back Bacon 200 grams of fresh raw mushrooms 5 grams of hot banana peppers 2 large white onions 1/2 bag of McCain's Tator Tots (any flavour) 6 Keith's Bottles of Beer 2 Carrots (for decorative purposes) 2 tbl of Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Extra Virgin...yeah right) 6 large strawberries 1/2 a banana 1 package of Vanilla Optifast 8 cubes of ice Consume 1 beer. (Do not go to washroom) Wrap filet with bacon strip. Secure using toothpick as you will need this later. Bring frying pan to high heat with Olive Oil and place filet in pan to sear... count to 9 (for those of you in Ontario just count to 3 three times) and turn over. REPEAT. Consume 1 Beer. (Do not go to washroom) Remove filet from pan and cook onions, mushrooms, banana peppers and tots in the remaining cow meat gravy. Add some beer for moisture. Cook for 2 minutes...or for 1 TV commercial period between hockey game. Consume 1 Beer. (Do not go to washroom) Cut Carrots length wise and place on plate with potatoes. Place mushrooms, peppers, onions and sauce on filet. Consume 1 Beer (Do not go to washroom) Place optifast, strawberries, banana and ice in a blender. Mix and pour into glass. Consume 1 Beer (Do not go to washroom) Now take filet with side dishes and throw in garberateur. Drink Optifast and curse any family that may have contributed to metabolic syndrome heredity traits. Drink last Beer (try not to get any tears in the beer) Use washroom now... laptop optional. CanadianMacDaddy... wanting to be 1/2 the man I am today !

Congrats on the new date... its kinda like high school prom... you get a date, your nervous, not sure you want to go through with it, the day quickly arrives, you wear clean underwear and by the end of it you wake up 1/2 naked on your back, droggy with a bunch of strangers around. Sorry for the flash back... the good thing is like HS Prom it signifies a new chapter in your life. good luck Canadian MacDaddy

Phat Journal Entry; Starting Weight: 325 lbs (March 10th, 07) Highest Weight : 340 lbs Curent Weight : 304 lbs Banding Date : MARCH 27TH, 2007.... 8 DAYS AWAY!!! I have lost 21 bls in 10 days of being on Optifast and excercising 30 - 60 mins/d. THE GOOD:angel: : Lost 21 lbs in 10 days....made it through first 3 days of intense carb hunger!! I am less nervous about surgery after chatting and reading enteries in this bulletin boards. I have decided that the best thing I can do to increase my chances of a positive surgery is to stick to my pre-op diet, remain positive and include the family in all steps. THE BAD : Hello my name is CanadianMacDaddy and I am an addict. I am addicted to Coke. Especially the Zero brand with its great taste, carbonation and sleek black label. I usually have 6 cans/day and have been warned that after banding carbonated beverages may be a NO NO! I quickly felt a stroke coming on as that also meant BEER... I am freaking Canadian and from East Coast... Beer paid my way through university (returned empties) after house parties. Anyway I am down to 4 cans of crack a day... even worse we just moved to Calgary and 4 houses down there lives a Coca-Cola service technician...Crack Master himself. The temptation is all around!!! THE UGLY :painkiller: : I have 3 young kids and Dad's quiet time was in the washroom with reading material or laptop. (A laptop in the washroom... is that a bad thing?) Now after being on Optifast I have no reason for the frequent bathroom breaks... "Terd No More" saw dust... so in a frantic search for fibre I have added lots in past few days and things are getting back to normal...well at least once a day regular! Pre-Op Meal of the Week: Ingredients: 1 - 10 oz Albertan Filet Mignon (pronounced MIG-NON) 1 strip of Canadian Back Bacon 200 grams of fresh raw mushrooms 5 grams of hot banana peppers 2 large white onions 1/2 bag of McCain's Tator Tots (any flavour) 6 Keith's Bottles of Beer 2 Carrots (for decorative purposes) 2 tbl of Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Extra Virgin...yeah right) 6 large strawberries 1/2 a banana 1 package of Vanilla Optifast 8 cubes of ice Consume 1 beer. (Do not go to washroom) Wrap filet with bacon strip. Secure using toothpick as you will need this later. Bring frying pan to high heat with Olive Oil and place filet in pan to sear... count to 9 (for those of you in Ontario just count to 3 three times) and turn over. REPEAT. Consume 1 Beer. (Do not go to washroom) Remove filet from pan and cook onions, mushrooms, banana peppers and tots in the remaining cow meat gravy. Add some beer for moisture. Cook for 2 minutes...or for 1 TV commercial period between hockey game. Consume 1 Beer. (Do not go to washroom) Cut Carrots length wise and place on plate with potatoes. Place mushrooms, peppers, onions and sauce on filet. Consume 1 Beer (Do not go to washroom) Place optifast, strawberries, banana and ice in a blender. Mix and pour into glass. Consume 1 Beer (Do not go to washroom) Now take filet with side dishes and throw in garberateur. Drink Optifast and curse any family that may have contributed to metabolic syndrome heredity traits. Drink last Beer (try not to get any tears in the beer) Use washroom now... laptop optional. CanadianMacDaddy... wanting to be 1/2 the man I am today !

LOL -- I forgot I have a K1200 BMW bike in my garage...

:eek: Gaffer.... If you continue to gain "lead" along with your weight loss and the Mrs. finds it uncomfortable... you can always use tradtional donuts as spacers... obviously has to be the ones with the hole in the middle... boston cream will not work but may lead to other adventures. Do not try this with a Starbucks donut as it will have adverse side affects such as: * wanting to trade in that V10 Dodge 2500 truck for a turquoise BMW * the need to talk for hours after sex * standing in Chapters book aisles for hours crying over a Daniel Steele book. Stick with the Tim Hortons -- You can get em anytime of day and if you leave them in car overnight they will be hard as pucks.. in fact that the Timmy's moto for donut spacers... our donuts are PUCKS for *UCKS. Good luck and congrats Mrs Gaffer CanadianMacDaddy

Dave, I will be in TO on March 27th getting banded. Best of luck keep us in the loop. Mac Daddy:high5:

I agree with Gaffer. I actually was referred by my doctor to Edmonton Surgeons almost 1.5 yrs ago and still haven't had a consultation. The waiting list then was almost 2 years then another >1 yr for surgeries. Sooooo coupled with Calgary docs on the AB Healthcare Public system there are not many procedures being done annually (hope i spelled that right....painful otherwise). Maybe King Ralph's two-tier healthcare proposal wasn't that bad after all. I decided to invest he $$ to get more helathy now as am 39 yrs old. Good Luck Mac Daddy

I will be joing the banded ranks on March 27th... SWLC My family is supportive especially daughters (3&5 yrs olds) Plus as an added bonus I got tickets to Peguins vs Leafs... Crosby better sign my jersey as we are from same home town. If he does I will hang it on the wall as won't be fitting me much longer. Thanks to all for posts as finally made me pony up the $16 k after 2 years of thinking about it. MacDaddy

The clinic just happened to have an opening that coincided with business I had in Toronto. Luck of timing I guess. In consultation with TLBC they were booking for April 2nd so it would have been a fairly quick date as well ie: 1 mth after consult.

Actually I mean favourite Canadian Clinic... I am looking to make a decision between TLBC and The Surgecial Weight Loss / Cobourn clinic. Any one thing that sent someone from one to the other... I am not looking to badmouth but rather give a good reason for one over the other. Thanks for any assistance... Oiler fan living in Calgary

After having consultation with both clinics I decided to go with SWLC. I have surgery booked for March 27th and started Optifast today. After comparing 6 clinics (4 in Canada 2 outside) with the help of ewe all online and other info I had narrowed it down to two: (Two that fit my criteria) SWLC and TLBC. Both of these clinics are held in high regard with only slight differences. The top 4 that clinced for me were: 1) Trained medical professionals in my city for fills vs my family doctor performing after reviewing a CD. 2) My consultation was with the Surgeon vs Coordinator (This does cost a premium of $200) but did give me a peace of mind. 3) believe it or not the "Optifast" diet with regards to effectiveness of liver shrink prior to surgery. 4) Inamed as a brand used exclusively at this clinic. ANY OF THESE FOUR COULD BE ARGUED AS POSITIVE OR A NEGATIVE FOR OTHERS CONSIDERING. BOTTOM LINE: BOTH GREAT CLINICS thanks for your input on these. MacDaddy ....

I have rec'd awesome info on clinic comparision. As a result I have decided to have a consult with both...next week... I can afford it as I will not be spending $2000 in Raeligh, NC to watch Hurricanes beat my Oilers in the final this year as I did last. I will let everyone know how they went. Mac Daddy...looking to be twice the father to my kids and half the man to myself.

Thanks Doddie63 & Argon... this helps. I am from Halifax and go back to work 1-3 yr at a time when I can convince my Albertan wife/finance minister. I am going ahead with consultations at both clinics here in the next week or so. It would be good to get a surgery date prior to baseball starting as God (non-denominational) know the Oilers are done. Thanks Again

Yeah I know not a great question to ask...but unlike buying a new truck hard to compare when in Ontario. I appreciate your honesty... the fact that SWLC has nurses/doc's here in Calgary and Halifax where I am most make a difference. Thanks for the warning on their move... as I had sent in an email and now know if it takes awhile for them to respond. Thanks Again SMU Alumni Canadian MacDaddy