NancyintheNorth

Hi Alex I'd love to be a chapter leader. I've frequently been a leader of small groups, and have often spoke in front of large groups. I am a co-founder of a large networking group and I facilitate a brainstorming group. Some of that leadership has been paid, and in other cases it's been as a volunteer. I've organized both large and small events and I'm seen as a leader in my community. I have a BBA degree and have worked in Human Resources for many years. In order to have the most people participate, I think offering a daytime and an evening meeting would be beneficial. I'm not available the first Tuesday of the month, and I have meetings every other Monday, but my schedule is mostly open. I'm self employed and can typically accommodate many days/times. I look forward to hearing more. Nancy Ensley

@ - thanks for your reply, I'll be sending out info to you on the first meeting. @chichiA oh please, don't be discouraged...I'll send a private note to you. @@Patti33 I'll be sending out information to you very soon, thanks for replying @@Yoga lady - consider setting up a group there. If no one is leading one, why not you? Who else is out there that would love some support in the GTA?

Hello there everyone, If you live in the local GTA area, I want to tell you about a new local support group. I'm going to be the new chapter leader in the Oakville/Mississauga/Burlington area. I was banded in March of this year by Dr. Christopher Cobourn. While I'm not working now, I have a background in management and human resources and I hope to learn along with you. I welcome anyone with a weight issue who has had or will be having any type of bariatric surgery. I'd love to know who would attend meetings and whether a daytime or an evening meeting is preferable. I can do either. You don't have to be from Oakville/Mississauga or Burlington. It doesn't matter, however meetings will be held in Oakville. Bariatric Pal is providing us information for discussion purposes. Our first meeting would be in approximately two weeks where we will discuss the venue and meeting times, how frequently, what people need assistance with etc. Feel free to comment here, or send me a private message.

Who else is in the GTA of Ontario that might want to join a group? Please send me a note either here or in private. Thanks Nancy

Hi Patti - I'm just getting started with meetings. I'll advise once a date/time is set. Do you prefer a daytime or an evening meeting or does it matter? Thanks Nancy

Hello there everyone, If you live in the local GTA area, I want to tell you about a new local support group. I'm going to be the new chapter leader in the Oakville/Mississauga/Burlington area. I was banded in March of this year by Dr. Christopher Cobourn. While I'm not working now, I have a background in management and human resources and I hope to learn along with you. I'd love to know who would attend meetings and whether a daytime or an evening meeting is preferable. I can do either. You don't have to be from Oakville/Mississauga or Burlington. It doesn't matter, however meetings will be held in Oakville. Bariatric Pal is providing us information for discussion purposes. Our first meeting would be in approximately two weeks where we will discuss the venue and meeting times, how frequently, what people need assistance with etc. Feel free to comment here, or send me a private message. Thanks Nancy

Hello!! As I said in my last blog post, my stall is now over. How did I break it? By doing a few things that are working for me (that means they may, but may not work for you!!) I limit myself to no more than 1400 calories a day. That might seem really high, but I also REALLLLY exercise and my body seems to be handling that well because I'm losing weight. I feel good. I found a diet - really just a great eating plan that works for me, although I modify it for myself. I focus on how food feels inside my body and while I'm exercising I focus on repeating several mantras. There are some things I don't eat - tofu is one of them and I don't handle beef well now that my band is in place. I eat chicken and fish and I have veggies and fruits. I was never a good salad eater and I'm still not, but I insert veggies into omelet's, into stir fry, into anything. I also can't handle bread, but I can eat crackers and I love my Wasa crackers. I'm using less and less in the way of shakes because I'm aware that they don't keep me full for a lengthy period of time. Shakes and liquids pass through the bad relatively quickly, whereas 'real' food has to process through the band, through the stomach. So I had only my 2nd fill scheduled for this Tuesday, but I'm also in this groove, and I don't want to play with that at all. After speaking to the nursing team at the clinic where I had surgery, they agreed. I'm pushing out on having another fill in another three weeks. I can move that up if I need to. After reading a lot, I decided that it was a possibility that I wasn't eating enough, and for me, that turned out to be true. I felt there was little harm in experimenting. Just like not that long ago I discovered that I can push my body with exercise. Believe me when I say that I barter with myself constantly. "Maybe I'll only do 20 minutes", "maybe I don't have to exercise today", "maybe it's too hot/cold/windy/early/late to exercise", "maybe I can eat that entire box of cookies"...UGH! It goes on and on and I ignore it all. I feel so good when I have promised myself that I'll eat well and exercise that day and I actually do that. Upon occasion I allow myself some treat. I feel like I could go on a bender at any time and I try to keep vigilant. All is good right now, and I know that can change, but I have my band to help me and an outstanding medical team at my disposal. I wish everyone success! Nancy

I don't use many diet products. My exceptions - sweet n low, milk (skim) and I occasionally eat a luna bar, and occasionally a Protein shake.

yesss finally that stall is over. I'm losing so painfully slowly but it's still losing. The best news is that I feel great, I'm learning every day about what I can and can't eat, how my body tolerates change and when and if I'm hungry or bored, or thirsty. It's struck me how out of touch with my own body I've been. I am obsessing about how much food I need for me. For my body type, how much protein, how much carbohydrate, etc. I'm looking for help with that issue. My sister in law is a nutritionist, and while I don't need help with what to eat, just how much. I have a theory that one reason my stall was so long is that I wasn't eating enough. I've been on a roll, eating properly, exercising, devoting part of every day to health. Best wishes Nancy

I lost most of my weight in the two weeks before surgery. After surgery I gained 3 pounds and I've lost that and am now just starting to lose again after a long plateau. I'm in my 50's I'm 6 weeks out from surgery As other posters have said, this will be different based upon so many factors. The band isn't quite working for me yet, I've had one fill and will soon have another, but I"m sticking with a diet that makes sense to me. Best wishes

I'd be upfront and honest with your surgical team. Talk to them - tell them about your concerns. Best wishes

I'm also about 6 weeks out and I can still drink as much Water as I want. I can't eat bread, but I do fine with crackers. Experiment! Never say never

look at you!! wayyyy to GO!

Hello everyone I'm a fit bit user and I've just signed up for my first 5k walk happening near the end of this month. yesterday I decided that it would be good if I tried to walk further. I've gone just over 10,000 steps only one time. I had to drop my car at the shop and I thought that rather than taking the shuttle, that I'd walk home. I mapped things out using something called "google pedometer". I have zero idea if it's accurate. But after fiddling with this I decided on a route that I thought I knew. Turns out I didn't know, and I got lost, and I ended up walking for an hour and 44 minutes before I finally found my way home. Later yesterday I found a 4 week course upcoming on Power Walking (different from Race Walking) that started last night. It was pouring here with rain, and I figured I go as it being the first course was likely just going to be examples or videos or diagrams...noooooooooooo Out we went into the driving rain. An hour and 1/2 later all totaled, I'd walked over 22,000 steps. And I lived which inspires me because it tells me that I can do much more than I think I can, that I work against rather than with my brain at times. Now today I'm taking it easy. Despite an epsom salt soak, I'm still sore. I did take the doggie out for her walk, but we didn't hurry. Power Walking is about walking quickly but with precision so that you are efficient. Race walking requires a gait that I'm not comfy with at all. I'm excited for this class as I want to improve my form, my distance, and my time. Push yourself. What can you do that you think you can't? Nancy

So, I've written in my blog about how I've fallen off track. I'm back now and am soooo excited to say that I've lost inches. In one month Hips -2 inches Waist -1 inch Thigh - .5 inch Chest - -1.5 inches My clothes are looser, I feel better!! 5 total inches gone forever

Personally - when I moved to solids, I gained three pounds. I'm told by my doctor that this is normal, you'll shed those again. I had my first fill only the past Thursday. Keep moving, keep with your program. Good luck!

congratulations!

congratulations to you! Keep going!

I hope your post continues to motivate others and yourself. Congrats on your journey!

Well, my train zipped right off the tracks for a bit there, but I'm back now. Life you know! Yesterday was my first fill. Today I'm just slightly aware of it. Truly it was a piece of cake. A discussion, a weigh in, withdrawal of the fluid inside already and a re-add of the original fluid plus a HUUGGGEEEE .5 cc's of fluid. I needed the fill. I was beyond ready and I felt like I could eat a side of beef. I needed the contact too to slap me back into eating as opposed to eating slider foods. Since I've been eating regular foods, I've discovered there are foods out there I cannot eat, and that's okay. Beef is hard. Fish and chicken are easier. Vegetables need to be cooked until they are well done. I can't eat raw veggies as of yet. Bread - no, crackers - yes. Tomorrow will be measurements day - the 5th of every month for me. Some clothes just finally fit properly, others are a bit loose, so I'm hoping for a NSV or two. I have gained two pounds and I refuse to adjust my ticker until it's moving south. I am still walking, but admittedly less - no worries though peeps, I'll kick my own ass thanks! I've experienced all of the following - stomach cramps from not paying attention, feeling suddenly bloated by drinking too much too fast. Serious pain like an elephant on the chest and most days when I feel great. I'm enjoying that my body is talking to me, I just have to be aware and listen. When you've never paid attention, it's strange at first trying to 'hear'. The ice and snow are melting - temperatures are slooowwwlly rising and robins have been gracing my backyard. Spring is here at last. Happy Friday all PS - when I win lotto, the handsome one and I are moving here!

Hi Alex, Once you posted information on classes for CE Credits. It was for group leadership programs. Can you re-post that link as I thought I had kept it, but can't find it. Thanks Nancy

Today I'm two weeks out from surgery. I feel so much better even from a week ago. Today I had to go back to the clinic to have a nurse examine the incision sites and get a date for my first fill. All of that went well and the nurse was pleased with my progress. I am too! I'm struggling a bit with hunger and apparently that's normal. I eat approximately every two hours or so, though my caloric intake is good and I track everything on myfitnesspal. I track even a dash of pepper or salt. All of it. I have upped my protein level. According to the literature I received from my clinic, about 65 grams is good, but that doesn't keep me sated at all. I hover near 90 grams a day. I'm still very low fat, very low carbs, very low sodium. I exercise, but truthfully - not everyday. I'd say I'm at 5 of 7 days and it's all been walking. I'm still going to a therapist who I adore and yesterday we spoke about body image and the pain that causes me to this day. Shame, guilt, frustration. Coupled with my weight is that I'm very tall and you stand out when you are obese, let alone tall. I want so much to figure out how to reconcile all of this because I'm convinced it's one of many keys to my weight loss. As a child, I wasn't given the freedom to discuss my feelings. If you were angry - you couldn't express it, if you were unhappy for any reason, you just didn't say it. Those feelings must be dealt with and it's unnatural to not express them. My anger formed my depression. I'm so grateful I'm on my way to learning about why I do what I do, and how to better care for myself. I may sound down, but I promise, I'm not, I'm pleased I'm working away on me. Nancy

I didn't have this happen to me, but tell them, or call them in advance and ask them. They are well prepared for anything. I know they can handle this with no problems. Best of luck with your surgery!

*sigh* Not a good day yesterday. I had been invited to a lunch thing with girlfriends and went. I had checked out the menu online in advance and discovered that there was very very little in the way of healthy foods. It turns out it's not a buffet, but you choose food from the menu and for one price they bring as much as you can eat. Suffice to say, I ate. And not well. I ate a piece of beef that threatened to stick but fortunately didn't. I was able to eat a stunning amount of food. To make matters worse, I decided I needed a dessert on the way home. And in my attempt to gobble it down, I had pain like nothing I've felt before in my life. I'm upset because, EVEN AFTER PAIN, I still wanted that 'treat'. Even after feeling sick from eating so much, even after so much pain, I WANTED it and I kept the remainder and ate it very slowly late last night. I'm glad it's gone. Today I am very sore, really sore and need to return to a liquid diet today. How can that be - to want something so bad, that has no nutrition, that I'm willing to hurt myself to eat crap. What does that say about my self esteem? I was banded only two weeks and two days ago. It's disgusting.and I'm hell bent on getting to the reason why that was acceptable previous to surgery and still is. I'm pleased that I'm at least aware of this, and I know that this is an issue, but I swear, until I figure out how to unravel it all, it will continue to be a problem for me. More than anything - I'm disappointed. I'd love to say that my upcoming first fill will take care of this, but that's bull*hit*. That doesn't address the why, and that I'm likely to still find a way to eat around the band. I wish myself peace and kindness to myself today.