argon

haha... too bad they don't ask actual game-related questions! Bet their ditzy "Umm... I dunno" answers would get some "BOOO!" 's (the models, if they're real, who obviously aren't in this cause they're really gamers)

Hey, Am I the only one who thinks that half those girls aren't 'real'? That Sheena Lee looks like a porn star! How strict are the entrance requirements? Do you have to prove that you're who your picture says you are? (ie: Could I submit a picture I find online of... say... Jenna Jamieson, and say that my name is Sandra Dee from El Paso, and submit it?) I think everyone's odds will be alot better when half the contestants don't show! Very nice picture you chose, by the way! Good luck Mandi

Interesting... could you email them back and ask how many of the 'procedures' they have performed, and how long they've been doing it? Just curious! Guess it's good at least that it's not the plastic surgeon doing it! LOL But ... pssshh.... same price, and you get dr's you've actually heard of (Cobourn/Mumford or Joffe/Yau), and you get fills for life. I think that's the better deal! Mandi

Vegas, you and I have the EXACT same start weight! Did you do a pre-op diet, and/or is your start weight (284) your highest before surgery, or after your pre-op diet? Mine is from before my pre-op diet.... I need as much help as I can get! What's your 'ultimate' goal? I *say* 140, because then I'd technically be able to say I lost half of myself, but I really don't know. I could be perfectly happy at 175 .. who knows. I've never been that size (as an adult), so I'm not sure how it would look on me. I'm not sure how ANY significant weight loss would look on me, but I can't wait to find out! Mandi

I just looked that up. I've nevvvvver heard of that guy or that clinic at all. I'm sure he's fab and all, but I chose my surgeon because I heard from his patients, and was able to talk to them (as well as for other reasons, of course). This Dr. Sanjeev Kaila (the guy from the bluewater place) is a plastic surgeon. I felt better knowing that my guy was a "surgeon" surgeon. Also, you're lucky that you're "ONLY" 3 hours from Toronto. Don't chose your surgeon based on distance. There's lots of us who had to or have to fly across the country for this, and gladly do so, knowing that our surgeons are among the best. Any idea how much this other guy charges? Mandi

haha... yup he does! http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/canadianlapbanders/ You'll have to get a "Yahoo ID" to join it. It's a stupidly formatted 'support group', but it's a good place. There's also a new one specifically just for Cobourn/Mumford-ers http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/cobourn-mumford_bandits/ ... not as many people signed up for that one yet though, but it's good for when there are Cobourn/Mumford specific questions that we might have. Join Join Join!! *edit - when I first decided to go with him, he was only offering free fills for the first year, but it's since switched to lifetime, so that's coolio*

Yeah, Dr. C has free fills too. I don't think either place uses staples, but definitely Cobourn doesn't. Just 'steristrips", which are super duper adhesive surgical tape pieces. Mandi

My 3 month goal (which for me is on Thurs) was to be down 25lbs (not including my preop diet) I'm at 19.4 right now. Think I can lose 5.6 lbs in 2 days? Nah... I'm ok with that. I had a bad stall for a few weeks, and had that not happened, I would have made my goal. My 6 month goal to lose this last 5.6 lbs, and then 25 more. I'm not doing all that well with the exercise.... I'll leave it at that. :phanvan People 'say' they've noticed, but of course these are the ones who know I got it done. No one who doesn't know has said anything. I don't blame them. I don't really see it either. No pb's... thankfully. Mandi

haha, would that be Dr. Yoffe and Jau? lol just buggin' ya, susan! It's Joffe and Yau ! You were close, you just combined the two :hug: Mandi

I'm a Cobourn-er too. I am more than happy with my choice. I've never heard anything bad about Joffe/Yau at TLBC either. If you were able to, I wonder if you could make a trip to both clinics and chat with the staff, etc. Not a formal consult, cause you'd have to pay for that (and you'd lose the money you paid to whomever you decided not to go with), but just a quick look around to see what kind of vibe you get. Honestly, I chose Cobourn because I didn't get a good response from TLBC. I thought they were who I wanted to go with, because they'd done so many, but I got bad 'service', and went and looked further into Dr. Cobourn, and was more than happy with what I heard, and read. I don't regret it at all. Everyone else on here that I've heard from has had good experiences with TLBC... and then there's a gal who's had the worst evil woman to deal with over the phone from Dr. Cobourn's office. (I don't know who this evil mystery woman is, I never had her!) I hate to plug other groups on here, but if you join http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/canadianlapbanders/ this group, 90% of the members are either Cobourn/Mumford or Joffe/Yau patients, and there was recently someone asking "Cobourn vs. TLBC?" ... along with hundreds of peoples experiences of both places. It's worth checking out, and looking back into all the old posts. That's what helped me. Good luck. Mandi

I posted this on another canadian board, but I wanted to share with you guys too, so apologizes to whoever ends up reading this twice!!! I'm just very happy today :biggrin1: ******* Woooooo! I decided to kill some time and go to Penningtons to see what I could find. I mostly wanted to try on some jeans and see if I've gone down very much in size. The jeans I have now are loose-ish, but I just wanted to see what actually FIT. So I grab a couple pairs... I was aiming for a size 22. The ones I was wearing were a 26, but I've also got some in 24 and 25 (weird Walmart size). So, I try them on, and they fitttt! Not tight, not loose, just fit. They're a tad tighter in the thigh than I'd like, and of course too long. One has some kinda yucky embroidery on the back pockets, and the other's back pockets are covered with rhinestones! They were both on sale from $60 to $45, so I decided I'd just get one. I haaate to spend money on clothes, especially now that I won't be able to wear them for years! (or until I wear the inner thighs out and they rip open... anyone else do that?) I decided on the rhinestone ones, cause I figured they'd be easily picked off, and I wear long shirts anyways. There were 30% off signs all over the store, so I played dumb and asked the clerk if the jeans were (more) on sale too, knowing full well that the rack I pulled them off of wasn't marked 30% off. I was hoping I'd get lucky. She scanned them for me, and her jaw dropped. $25, she said! I ran and grabbed the other ones she'd put away, and asked her to check those too. Same thing $25 ! Yeeeeehaw! So I got both. $120 worth of jeans for $50! Anyways... so not only did I get to buy size 22 jeans, but I got a super deal on them. Lucky for me, cause now I'll have to pay someone to shorten them for me. (my days of wearing holes in the backs of my too long jeans are over!) I'm still gonna hold on to my 26,25,24 size jeans, cause I still like them, even if they're starting to look stupid. The day they literally won't stay on, will be their retirement! And some day, my size 26-ers are going to be the ones that me and 3 friends (LOL) stand in and take a picture with! Just wanted to share this with 'yous' (I'm learning NB speak). :eek: Mandi

I was done exactly at 6 weeks out. Some people get them a little before that, like possibly where you are ... but it depends. Are you in contact with Marie? Keeping her up to date on your progress and stuff? Ask her, and she'll tell you what she thinks.

Hey Sunshine, I'm way behind, but I just wanted to say I'm sorry you're having such a sucky time with this Kathy b!tch... I don't even know who that is. Never heard of a Kathy from there. I thought maybe Karen (who's Dr. C's wife)... but there must be a Kathy. The 'money person' I dealt with was Rose. She was suuuuper nice. I would suggest you call, and as to speak to Rose. You could tell her that you've been dealing with 'Kathy' up til now, but she's been very unpleasant to you, and you feel like backing out of the whole thing rather than have to deal with her anymore! Tell her that we all said you should talk with her (Rose) instead. :hug: Mandi

Honestly, I'm proud of myself if I manage to get all my Water in! I know I should, but I'm not counting anything. Some times I'll eat 3 times a day, sometimes I'll eat twice. Sometimes I'll have Snacks... sometimes not. I tried to get into fitday.com and sparkpeople (supposed to be more 'canadian' friendly), but I just can't. Writing down everything I eat, and figuring all the calories and protien and fat in a dish I make is such a pain in the @ss... and makes me feel like I'm on a diet. If I start having major problems losing (and/or it really bothers me), then I'll consider tracking all that info. Mandi

Hey guys! Got in last night! WHEW! What a trip. Waaaaaay too long! I'd advise not trying to manuever around Montreal if you're by yourself, don't know much French, it's construction season, and it's night! What a nightmare! But anyways, I made it!!! No wrecked car, and no tickets! I'm very proud of myself not spending much on hotel/motels either New Brunswick is nice... especially where I'm living! I'll have to post pictures of this INSANE view! Talk to you all soon, Mandi

Yup, I'm leaving tomorrow morning. Thanks guys! I'll let you know when I get there! :rant: Mandi

aww... and you wont drive 6 hours to meet me? :cool: lol, just kiddin'! That's ok. There's gonna be a 'bandster bash' in April in Toronto, I believe, so you guys are gonna have to try your best to go, and I will too!

Was just about to hop in the shower, and realized something I need to add to the list! - I can't wait to have only ONE set of boobs! I'd like to get rid of the other set hiding under my armpits! yucky

Hey Cloe... I'm going from Kenora, to Thunder Bay, to Kapuskasing, to Kirkland Lake, and then into Quebec. You near anywhere along that way? Thank you guys! :confused:

Good luck Leila!!! You'll have no problem sleeping later :confused: Mandi

But seriously now... can blood clots been seen like Rett was describing? I'd never considered that. That would FREAK me out! Especially being so close to surgery, that's probably what I would think too. Yikes. I hope you're getting it taken care of as we speak also!

haha... this isn't funny... but I did the exact same thing, waterlily! I read about the raised vein/blood clot fear, and was amazed there was more questions! That's enough of a post in itself. Don't worry about anything else until you get that checked out!!! And let us know what happens! Good luck :hug:

Aww... thanks Yoda! I've actually already got some lunchables ready for the trip! Great minds think alike I promise to only pick up good looking hitchhikers. I've also promised my mom that I wouldn't talk to ANY one, so if you run into rude, and apparently mute, overweight girl, in a blue PT cruiser, I apologize in advance. :biggrin1: I'm hoping to get in with the one Maritime lapband surgeon (to do my fills), so hopefully there'll be some weightloss to report! And yes, I'll keep you updated on my neck tendons and collarbones. Maybe even pictures when I've got something to REALLY be proud of. I am planning on taking lots of pictures on my "Excellent Adventure", so I'll have to show you guys. I'm actually meeting my first real live fellow lapbander, a gal in Manitoba... who's town I'm passing through. I'm also very excited, cause I'll be goining through some place (a town, I guess) in Quebec called "Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha!" :omg: !! I NEED a picture of that town's welcome sign! Anyways, thanks again for the well wishing! Mandi p.s. I got this damn lapband, hoping that with all the weight loss, that Marshall would never find me... little did I know it would take so long :doh: So I must flee. Now, don't mention the law again, if you know what's good for ya. :heh: lol

No, probably not. Unless I get lucky and find motels in my price range (cheap!) that have internet connections! But I won't be bidding you all farwell until Saturday night... and I'll be bugging you again as soon as I get to New Brunswick! Mandi

Hmmm... interesting. I get these crazy painful bumps in specific areas of my face sometimes... think they're 'technically' cystic acne. Maybe that's my problem too! I'm hopin' also! On a side note: I felt some weird bulges in my neck last night when I turned my head... guess they're 'tendons'. lol Just never noticed them so predominantely before! I also discovered some collarbones when I push my shoulders forward! I hope someday soon I can see them WITHOUT doing that!