marivan

I saw this on another forum. It's a list of restaurants and how many calories, points, carbs etc are in the meals on their menus. A lot of them are in the US (it's an American site) but it may be helpful to those who eat out. The woman who mentioned it said it helped her to know what was a reasonably healthy meal to have before she went out. I don't really eat out that much, and didn't recognise a lot of the places, but maybe if some of you are on holidays or do recognise some of them, it may be of some use. Dotti's Weight Loss Zone - Restaurants A-Z, Weight Watcher and Nutritional Info Mary

I don't eat out very often, as I said, but I find that I am ordering so much differently than I used to, for sure. And you are right, there is no harm in asking for something the way you want it. As long as you aren't asking for some "way out there" ingredient, it isn't hard for them to alter a food. I used to always want a hamberger because it wasn't often that I got them at home, now I'll mostly order soup and a salad. The only thing I haven't been able to catch until later when I get that horrible tired feeling behind my eyes, is when there is MSG in something. I ate something at a restaurant a while ago, and I won't go back there as it must have had MSG and I was so tired for the rest of the day! It is so unnecessary! Hope it helps someone. You are right, if you are sensible, you know whether something is good for your diet or not, but sometimes it is hard to know which item would be better. Mary

Sorry, for some reason I'm not being notified when a post comes in. Let's check in about our own personal challenges and we can make a new one for February! Patricia, how did you get on with the pouch test? I did mine again to get back on track after Christmas and I don't know how much I lost as I was afraid to get on the scale, but when I did brave it, I was 1/2 less than I was before Christmas, so I considered that a victory. I'm back on track with my eating, and am exercising again five days a week, despite a really sore foot. (heel spurs) Mary

I wouldn't change a thing either! I love my band and what it has helped me achieve so far. No hamburger or sandwich (another thing I can't eat now) is worth those 55 pounds lost, or the rest that are going to go! Mary

I have to say that I haven't been tempted to drink any pop at all, and weaned myself off both diet and regular years ago. I love that Mythbusters show, but didn't see that particular one, but they are pretty amazing. Regular pop is pretty bad (full of sugar) and diet pop? Aspartame is really bad for you. There is possibly no secret why people who are just 50 are getting dementia. We aren't meant to be eating this stuff. (or it's equally evil twin Splenda) On another topic, Congratulations Doddie for your great Doctor's appointment! It is something when a doctor that didn't want you to have this operation is commending you for it! And us turtles are getting there in the end! Way to go. I was telling my husband the other day that I would be under 200 pounds by the time we go to Scotland in October and later I thought "That is completely doable!" Under 200 pounds. I don't think I've seen the 100's in almost 20 years. Finally, you know what they say about Surgeons. There is a famous joke. What is the difference between God and Surgeons? God doesn't think he's a surgeon. I only spoke to Dr Yau for about five minutes as well before my operation, but I found him to be polite and he explained how he'd fix any hernias that I may have and talked about how I should eat afterwards. I really didn't have any questions to ask him, as they'd all been answered before I made the decision to have the operation. I never expected to have any further contact with him really. Nice to see some different topics here. Can't we start a new thread though, so we can have less pages to wade through? Mary

Well thanks ladies, that's a start. I was hoping that people would be interested in posting other threads apart from the one that is going on and on. I promise to stick to my goals as well. And if I do lose that ten pounds, I'll be a happy girl. Mary

Yes, it was a big help for me to get out of some bad habits that I had slipped into. Mainly I thought of doing it at first because I wasn't sure whether I should get another fill or not. I was on a long plateau and felt that I was able to eat bigger portions. So what it did was helped me lose 4 pounds in a week, which is unheard of for me, and it got me back into eating my healthy Protein. I think it also shrunk my pouch a bit so my portion sizes went down without me feeling deprived. I'm doing it again this week as I fell off the wagon completely over Christmas and have had a hard time getting back on again. That was mostly because after it taking so long for the weight to come off, five pounds went on over one week at Christmas and I was being good! So I went into a "why am I bothering" mood and I've now come to my senses. Mary

Yes, you've just started! Good luck on your journey. Mary

I found it at 5daypouchtest.com and it basically starts you back at the liquid stage for two days and you only drink Protein drinks, then gradually add protein only for the remaining three days. It helps you get back to basics with your band, and off of sugar or any "slider" foods you may have been relying on. I found it a great help. I recommend though that if you try it, make sure to take some fibre like benefibre, as it is hard on your bowels to only have protein. But this is only for five days, then start eating your usual fruits and veggies as well. Check out that web site and it explains it much better detail. Mary

I am going to start a new thread with a message Peaches posted, and was wondering if we could start putting some new threads here? I'm kind of sick of only having one or two really old threads with all sorts of different conversations, as it is hard to follow them all. So Peaches started a challenge and I'm going to (thanks Peaches) start that as a new Thread. Feel free to start some more! Mary

"How does TLBC have the right to stop someone from setting up their own bootcamp if it would help us?" I can't imagine that they can. If Jill isn't promoting herself in any way as part of TLBC then I can't see why people couldn't pay her a fee to be part of anything she wished to set up on her own. I also think it's unnecessary to bad mouth her. That's a private matter between her and them. I for one feel it gives a worse image of them, than her, as she's been a great help to so many. Mar

I'm all for a new thread or three, that's for sure! Yes, I read in the paper recently that if you write something good that happened to you each night before you go to bed, before long you will be much more satisfied. But if you write down all the bad things, they found that people were more unhappy and dissatisfied. That is sure to be the same with how we feel about ourselves. I'm not saying that we should haven't a bitch now and then and this is certainly a place we should be able to ask how we can do things better, but I'd like to see it more active too! Mary

Jaymie72, What does your stats mean? SW/CW/GW/SHGW? Can you tell me what those short forms stand for? You've done really well. Mary

This forum isn't very busy, so you'll have to be patient. Plus it is holiday time, so people are likely still busy with family. Anyway, I've lost 55 pounds. It's taken me a year, but I have a very slow metabolism and this is a victory in my books. I'm thrilled with the lapband in that it is adjustable. You can have fills and liquid taken in and put in to get to the ultimate level you should be at. My own GP had a bypass and she lost over 100 pounds, but has now stretched the little pouch and is gaining some of it back (I'd say 40 or more). It is also a lot easier to get it reversed if it is a lapband. You are possibly right, if you have a bypass, the weight does come off really quickly from what I've heard, but I liked that it was so much less invasive. Don't just go by how quickly you will lose the weight, think of the stress on your body from the surgery, and from the diet you have to be on with whatever WLS you choose. I also only considered the lapband as I wanted to lose weight but I didn't want to live on liquids for my whole life. I didn't want to exchange being strange because I was fat, to being considered strange because I couldn't eat anything any more. Good luck in your decision. Mary

I think you should be allowed to bitch here as much as you like. Frankly, that's the point of this forum. And I would just like to see everyone treating everyone with respect and if you are sick of a subject, then just move on to another one. I understand completely because I've only told a few close friends and my husband about my surgery and it is understandable that they don't really "get" it, or how it feels to have the band, or in most cases, the struggles of being obese. I consider these forums a lifeline too. I've already stopped looking at another Canadian forum because it seems to be for a select bunch of bandsters that have reached their goals and are only really interested in talking with each other. So if any "newbie" or someone not in their group ventures a question, only one or two other people answer (sometimes if you are lucky), while a silly comment about some holiday has 34 replies. All of the replies you've had about this issue have given you some input and it sounds like you are now getting somewhere. And if the clinic is learning and treating all of their clients better for it, then that is good all round. And I would be really upset too if I was promised something and based a decision on that promise and then they changed what they said. I also am on a Texas forum (I don't know how I found that one) and it is so varied and everyone is so helpful! I'm amazed how people don't argue and lots of different people jump in with their own ideas. There are a few "old timers" that have some long term information as well as the newbies who ask the same questions over and over. But the funny thing is, because it has so many people, no one says "read the threads" they just jump in and answer. It's just as quick and everyone is so excited about this huge change in their lives. I wish everyone a Happy New Year, and the wish that anyone feels free to ask any question without fear of reprisals. This forum can then be a lot more active and fun! I'd like a Canadian one that I can enjoy reading and contributing to! Mary p.s. I just realised, everyone says that Canadians are so polite, but I guess our real selves come out in forums!:party:

It's another clinic called Surgical Weight Loss Centre, it runs out of Mississauga. M

My accountant warned me that they would question the large medical deduction but not to worry about it. And sure enough, I got a letter in the mail asking to provide information about it. (My travel wasn't that much, so they didn't question that). I just photocopied the invoice and sent that back to them, and got a letter saying all was well. I had to ask my clinic though for a proper receipt that states what the operation is. The receipt I got was just a statement saying paid, so make sure to ask them for something with more explanation if yours is just a statement too. They just faxed me mine. Also, it was better for us to claim this on my husband's taxes, rather than mine and I was really surprised and pleased that I was able to do that. So we got a couple of thousand more back than we usually would as well. Mary

Hi babe, I like the Brad King (or Fat Wars) ones. He doesn't use any artificial colours etc, and I find that the chocolate one is lovely. I must admit though, that I use skimmed milk as all of those shake usually taste a bit watery to me without it. I'm sure there will be as many ideas as there are people, but it will give you an idea! Good luck and take care, Mary

That's possible, as I've heard of some people's sleep apnea disappearing once they lose weight and they don't need the machine. Perhaps you are right and just a new level would help. If not, they are the perfect people to ask, as sleep studies are done for lots of reasons. But you likely know that already. Mary

I'll be the first to answer, but I doubt that it will help much. The only reason I have to get up is due to needing to pee early in the morning! And that's not likely what you mean. I haven't had any issues with sleep and my band. Did you or have you ever had a sleep study done? You may just find that it is something totally unrelated, especially as you say that you had this issue before. It could just be that whatever the problem is, it is getting worse and that's just a co-incidence. I'd say go for a sleep study if you haven't and they may find out what the problem is. Let us know what you find out! Mary

We should be helping each other and not judging, that's what this forum is all about. So I agree with your post as well. I have been very happy with my experiences with TLBC for the most part, my op went great, and although I am a bit too far away to take part in the boot camps etc, I hope that they continue. But I'm really pleased to hear that they are monitoring this forum, as it may make them try harder to improve their weaknesses and be the best place to go with one of the best (if not the best) surgeons. It's great to hear both good and bad so others can decide where they want to go. I've had issues with calls not returned, but I do persevere and get there eventually. Sometimes it is easy to think that we are wrong somehow when we feel we aren't treated right, and it's nice to come to a place to ask "have you had this experience?". Merry Christmas everyone and thanks for all the support. It's great to be able to ask all those "silly" questions that we have from time to time and get feedback from others in the same boat. I still can't get my husband to get his head around how the band works! Mary

Sorry I see it as a bit negative too. She's stated that she's talked to them and is getting nowhere. If that's not trying to address it with them, then I don't know what is. And if we can't vent about these things and get courteous responses, then why claim to be helping? Sometimes hearing some advice from someone else when you are frustrated and at a loss where to go and what to do next is very helpful. I've heard a few of you say "deal with TLBC and not here" but my reading of her posts say that she is doing that. It is hard in the written word to get the emotions behind what the person is saying. Sometimes I'm sure people don't mean something they've said to sound as it comes across. If you have proof (and it seems that you do in an email) that they've promised you something, then I agree with Doddie that you need to talk to the very top person and see what they are going to do for you. Good luck and let us know how you get on. Mary

Yasmina, Glad that you got yourself sorted with the fill. How did you get on with the 5 day pouch test? It seemed to kick start my metabolism a bit. I still only lose about half a pound a week, but that is better than what I was doing. Mary

That's a good point but let me put this out there. I have a doctor that had the bypass two years ago. She lost the 100 pounds she needed to lose and was thrilled. But now she is starting to put the weight back on because her small pouch has stretched and she can eat more food. She actually said to me that she was contemplating the lap band to help shrink her stomach. Plus, I've been banded a year and I have no issues with my fills. I know I only have a two hour drive away, but I've had five fills in total and have taken it slowly. Not everyone gets fills and defills. I'd say a lot of people get a few fills and then stick with that for ages. You can never change back if you are someone that gets "dumping" syndrome with bypass, whereas yes, it may be expensive for you to get your fills (unless you research now where you could get them closer to you) but how expensive if you have complications and can't work etc. Good luck with your decision. It is hard for some. I would never had gone the surgery route if bypass was my only option. I didn't want the complications. I only decided to do this because it is reversible and I haven't really mucked with the natural workings of my body. Take care, Mary

Great idea. Remember the turtle and the hare. Our numbers are still getting there and we will get to the finish line in the end! Mary