LeslieLee

wow! everyone is doing awesome!!! I can't wait to get started! lol Keep it up and Janice happy first day of your pre-op. You are doing optifast right?

Yep the Dr. in St. Albert was even trianed by Dr Cobourn to do them!!

It hurts to know that I will never see someone again... People come and go in all our lifes, but there are always those who impact us in incredible ways. I am writing this right now after spending the last week struggling with the death of someone I knew. He was a gentle man and a man who had friends where ever he went. He could make you smile with more ease than most. He stood up for all the things he believed in and was there if he felt someone had been wronged in some way. He was one of those people we all admire and wish there were more of. Sadly there is one less now... He died of a massive heart attack while on the waiting list to have WL surgery. He was only in his 40's and he had so much he wanted to do. He was trying to make his life better but somehow got lost in the paperwork and wait time. My heart hurts and I cry because of this loss that seems so senseless. I know that there are others who have not made it because the wait was too long. I am greatful that I can self pay even though it will mean doing without somethings. I just wish that there was a way to make the world understand that this is not about people who need to go on a diet and just stop eating. That this is a disease that is like so many others.. but there are ways to help and even maybe cure just like the other diseases. We need more Doctors and more clinics just like cancer clinics ... This is a problem that is only growing. We hear it everyday on the news! Forgive me if I am not making sense, I am rambling and venting as this is one of the few places I can just let out this sadness and hurt. I could likely go over this post and fine tune it before hitting send but I am not going to as I just need to let it out... raw This morning I walked and walked and then I came in and tried to go on with the day... I finally said ..." I need to vent this so I can move on, this is a safe place to do it." I will miss this fellow very much, as will so many others he touched, but I will also be forever greatful for the time I did have to know him. As well I know this one true thing I will not die without a fight! I will battle this disease with everything I have and I am greatful to be able to have this surgery and to have a tool that will help me live a healthier life! I will dance, I will run, and I will play I will not regret the things I did not do because I will have enjoyed all the things I got to do!

From what I have heard.. that is an awesome price!!! 100.00 and up here in Alberta.

I here you loud and clear on that one! I wish they would get it approved and more people could get the quality of life we all deserve. I know when I was looking I did look into going to Mexico to have it done it was considerably less.

Hense forth they shall be known as Pre-op pickle flavoured lifesavers! -=mutters=- now where to put this humongus jar???-=raises her brow and scratches her head=-

Right on, that is also how it went for me pretty much. We did a phone consult and he made me feel very comfortable and he didn't rush at all in fact he called from his home -=smiles=- someone was practicing piano in the background lol it was really nice and laid back. When are you going to be having your surgery? I am going to be there May 28th till June2nd. Congrats on doing the best thing for you!

lol wonderful!!! We will count you in!! -=smiles=- definately, for sure, possibly, maybe in the almost near sorta future! It will be great to get together with all those who can make it. I am thinking meeting in Red Deer might be a good plan to get us all started. Any thoughts on that? When? Where? Soon I hope before you all shrink away to mere shadows...lol Oh I picked up a jar of pickles at costco yesterday Holy shla moly!! that is a BIG jar of pickles!!! lol, but no sugar!!

mmmmm another weighing day, I was down 1.8 lbs today. Slowed down a little but still a loss, which is always better than a gain. I also got to finally go walking this morning and it was a beauty of a morning. I took my dog which made her very happy too. She loves to walk and has missed it this winter as have I. Last year at this time we were well into training for the Breast Cancer walk. What a different year this has been already. Better late than never Spring! I was starting to wonder. Anyway she is a Jack Russell named Shilo and she has a really hard time to walk in the winter...lol her belly drags and she kinda disappears in the snow.. think mini snowplow. It is just not a good this to watch. Plus her little feet freeze. I have tried all those goofy little boots and even made some crazy ones of my own, all with no success. She usually walks right out of them, and never fails to give me that "You're kidding... right??? You don't really think I am going to walk in this do you??" look. So she and I both took this winter off. -=smiles a big smile=- It is good to be back at it again. I missed it more than I thought. There really are some amazing places to walk in and around Edmonton. The geese are back on the pond here even though it is still mostly frozen. They were fun to watch as the tried to land and skidded across the surface until the ice broke and they settled into floating along again. I wonder how many babies there will be this year? Last year there were two famlies and a total of 8 little ones. (I think) It was interesting to watch them grow and change. I will have to take pictures every few days this year. I feel more at peace tonight with the loss of my friend and I smile as I think of him and know that he would be cheering every one here on for making the choices we have made. I think I need one of those blog things so I can journal. I never was good at that before, maybe you can teach an old dog/kitten new tricks...lol My bed calls...

Bumping this up... -=winks=- I haven't done the bump in a whole lotta years..lol I wonder if there is anyone other than me that remembers doing it, or the hussle...lol

-=smiles softly and nods=- Thank you everyone for your kindness and for caring. I really needed to vent and although I know there are those locally who knew him that also need to vent or just talk there is really no one that I can say "Hey you know I am really pissed off that he didn't get his surgery when he first started looking... or that I wish he could have self paid for it like I am doing. He had to wait too long. It isn't right!" Thank goodness for this board!

You really are doing great Susan, I am sad to hear that you are not feeling well though. I know that sometimes when I take certain things out of my diet that I can react with headache, for sure if it is coffee, not that I drink that much 2 cups in the morning is about the most. I just wonder if you are actually eating enough? Is there a minimum that you should be having. I know with the pre-op I will be doing there is and it is higher I believe than what you said you were actually eating. You said you were eating around 400 cal a day I think I read. Maybe you need a bit more??

-=big smiles=- I already answered in the personal e-mail Cat and I have been writing about doing this... I am good with this and ready to get going!!

LL ~ before I admit this I must let everyone know that I am a man who is at peace with his manhood. In fact after this post I am going to pre-tend to drink a beer, get in my truck and go shoot a couple of small animals from a moving vehicle... A redneck at heart. -=chuckles and nods=- I understand, CanMac...your masculine side is safe with Us... right girls? -=runs out and shooooes all the small animals off the roadsides=- -=leaves the goffers cause I really don't like them anymore! (there is a story there... grrr little buggers!)=- but I have to say LL I also went to Dracula the ballet and loved it... I took my wife as was only her second time at a ballet... first was a couple of weeks ago with kids at Cinderella. Dracula was great but I had to remind my wife that the men dancers attire was padded in certain regions!!! -=smiles softly and thinks of all that padding.... sighes=- they sure do have big shoulders..... Anyway I am a big Anne Rice fan and it was great to see another person appreciate her. Anne Rice is quite a talented lady and really was the first that I read who put a human side to the vampire. I have read others since that have , but Anne was the first and so she remains very special in my heart. Have read all her vampires CanMac? I also loved the Tale of the Body Thief... lol reading the antics of Lestat in the body of a human was for me a real treat. I laughed a lot and shook my head more than once. I have this picture of Lestat trying to shallow orange juice with the pulp in it. I imagine the look of complete disgust on his face and chuckle. I can see you are doing great and have started your journey. One thing that worked for me was using a Diet and Excercise software to record weight, food and excersise to graphically show my progress. I admit I weigh everyday but know that small weight gains or plateaus happen and shrug them off. Thank you for noticing I have started, Can you tell me more about this software you and the Mrs are using? I would be interested in it. I have seen it for palms but I think I would rather use it on my laptop. My wife is even using the software know for herself... thin as she is just for health reasons. Anyway rock on and good luck CanadianMacDaddy ~ on his way to Home Depot and Canadian Tire to look at some power tools and car parts.... manly stuff not Ballet !!! -=hops into her car and heads down to Home Depot and then Canadian Tire with a trunk full of Alberta Ballet gear all kinds of padding and such to tuck in between the hammers and wrenches... (not to be confused with wenches) ties ballet slippers on the power tools and then smiles and big smile=- THERE!! much better now! -=crosses arms over her chest and then remembers to put out some Waxing stuff... strips of muslin.... spatulas for spreading the nice hot Wax and of course some powder for those extra tender bits=- My work here is done!!

Alrightie then!!! Lets do it! Coffee time! -=big smiles=- Maybe we can even do a get together half way between Calgary and Edmonton so those from places outside Edmonton can join in, once in awhile??? -=Hollars down to the boys (and girls) in Calgary=- Hey guys! feel like going for a drive???

OH MY GOD!!! I have laughed so hard this morning!! I needed this good chuckle. I can relate to some of the thoughts here as I am in the esthetics field...lol and I love my job. Waxing is one of my favorite things to do! The results are almost instant. I am sitting here thinking back on some of the many first timers and their responces to hair removal.... Once again Congrats to Our Canadian Guys!! You really are quite wonderful .I think the ladies here are very lucky to have you fellows here marching along side us all! Takes a very brave man to walk into all this female stuff... -=tips hat to the guys=- Have a great day everyone! I am off to find a ball to sit on... lol can't let the guys have all the fun!!

-=winks=- suck it up princess! you aren't alone and you get to be done before me!!! Wanna trade places??? -=winks=- You can do it Susan, find something to keep you busy. anything, inside or outside just keep going!! you have come this far now and are doing so well!!! We are cheering for you! ps please tell me this when I am feeling down too, ok -= HUGE I hear you HUGS=-

-=smiles=- I am doing well Susan, plugging along trying not to be too impatient...lol it is hard to wait but what can we do...lol it will come soon enough. Somedays I do get a bit , mmmmm -=thinks=- I guess it is nervous. I shake my head and think "What am I doing? This is really serious stuff Leslie Lee! You could use this money to renovate the kitchen! "-=sighes=- Then I think " Why so I can enjoy cooking more? So I can eat more in my nice new kitchen?" I think I would rather be thin in my old disfunctional kitchen than fat in a brand new one! As I am sitting here writing now I am thinking it feels like I have been on a serious diet for the last year and a half. Likely because for the most part I have been. I hope that one day I will not even think about diets... that I will just be content where I am. That I will have done some of the things I really want to do and my health will be good. I am blessed in that I am seldom sick but I know that being at the weight I am, it is only a matter of time before that changes. I have thought about that many times and tried to use it to stay on a diet, it didn't work as much as I want to avoid becoming ill I would fall off my diet and start gaining again. Sometimes I would tell myself "ohhhh I will just have dinner out...." and as I ordered desert I would say" just this time. I will go back on my diet tomorrow." Tomorrow somehow didn't come when it should have though. Like they say, Tomorrow never comes... It doesn't it just keeps looming in the future. I have hope that it will be different now. It will no longer loom, but be welcome. The band will not cure me I know that, but it will help me. Help me to get past losing 50 lbs. 50 lbs is a lot of weight but when it takes you a long time to lose and it feels so good to be that much lighter it is hard to keep going, at least for me it is. I have lost 50 lbs. or less so many times that I really shouldn't even be here..lol I should have disappeared years ago!! But I am still here, bigger than ever and thinking.... " Not again...." -=sighes=- Yep again.... I surrender. I admit I can't do this on my own. I need help and I am going to get it soon! -=smiles=- Soon I will be the me I see in the mirror and others will see that me finally. I will!! I will do the things I dream of doing and I won't feel exhausted. I will go out for dinner and look at the booth and think... HA! I can fit in there with lots of room to spare! I will walk by young people and smile as I do, knowing that they don't see a fat woman. I will go to the gym and not worry about bouncing when I move! I will be me.. The best me I can be

Congrats on your 50 lb loss!! Truly an amazing loss and you must really be feeling so much better! Keep it up!

You are doing amazing Susan!!! Wow you are losing like crazy! that cottage cheese and yogurt sure seems to be working! lol I am so happy for you and hoping that I will see similar results when I start pre-op. I have a feeling I won't though as I tend to be a slow loser really and I have likely already lost the extra I had in Water, but it is all good! I just don't want any of it back! lol EVER!

Just curious about hotel stays. There are three hotels listed in the info pack, does anyone have any feedback on where they stayed ? Holiday Inn... Novotel... and the Waterside Inn. They also have Heritage House which provides care. I am trying to decide which might work best ....:help:

LOL Oh my that is what I meant I didn't mean the shoes with the first dress! lol yikes it is hard to type what I am thinking sometimes, sorry for the confusion. The belt might be one that is indeed supposed to be wrapped around the front and then tied in the back. kind of like the japanese style obi?? Does that make more sense? I hope so. Honest I do know how to dress..lol

-=smiles a big smile and nods=- Thank you Donna, your post is very inspiring in so many ways.

Thanks everyone for the info!! It helps a lot. Donna my sister inlaw will likely come the day of my surgery. I am there from Monday till late saturday so perhaps we could get to meet. Always nice to put a face to a name!

ps... make sure the belt is over the black band! I think that is how it is supposed to go, just so that there is a bit of black showing behind the red belt.. does that make sense?