Paulax

Booked a fill for Monday, I am very excited. I guess I am just one of the unfortunate few who loosen up quickly or have a slow leak. but I am hoping for about 2.8cc total for Monday morning, then let the weight loss begin.

How wonderful is that! Congratulations! You must have worked very hard for your loss and you are a real inspiration. :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

Donna Marie, I wonder how you are suspose to bring up your Iron. I too am low on iron, but am afraid to get my iron pill stuck AGAIN. Ew. That was gross. I will try to find out if there is a liquid iron, or Multivitamin that has a good iron count. Anyway, AWESOME weight loss. I am totally jealous. I am stuck at 218. I am taking the kids to Disneyland in the middle of April, so I will book a fill when I get back. Didn't want to be too tight for the flight or Disneyland for that matter, not that I plan to pig out, but would like to be able to have my tiny meals. I will take some Atkin's Bars for lunches, but will be eating out dinner, which I don't like doing. I guess I can order Soup or an appetizer. Anyway, just keeping up my journal.

I agree the Con is that I can't eat what I want to...but it passes Pro, I KNOW I'd still be 280 had I not had this done. I no longer have to hate my inability to lose and keep it off.

My favorite size 18 pants are almost literally falling down....yeaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!! They only fit when right out of the dryer, then they just look baggy and bad....so a few more pounds and they gotta go. Spring is coming, so must find some nice new capris.

This was my first venture over to Rants and Raves. I am so glad because Wheetsin, that was the biggest laugh I have had all year, thank you. You are a witty writer, that was F U N N Y!!!! And hey, someone's German Shepard may be smarter than my honour roll student, but can he play the violin?....:guess

If you really want to get rid of the craving, in my experience, you have to come clean for at least 3 days. After that, the craving is gone for most. Also I read that even fake sugars can trigger a craving. Good luck, I am also an addict and fight it daily.

Well that is good to note, for people who are thinking of going South or East for the surgery.

Isn't he the greatest?:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: That ws almost record fast, good for you?

Bandiva, that must be hard. On the Canadian board, Gaffer, talked about the TLBC having a list of Canadian professionals who do fills, but we are sure at a loss in BC aren't we? Frustrating..... Good luck. You could phone the only doctors in Vancouver doing the procedures. (D Wai Leung in Surrey (my guy, but I don't think he will do fills on patients other than his own, but doesn't hurt to ask) Or Dr Woodhead in Ladner Good luck with your search. here is the thread... http://www.lapbandtalk.com/vancouverite-considering-lap-t31417.html

The thing I miss about WW is the weekly meetings and accountability to someone other than myself. Some lucky wls patients have before and/or after meetings, that would would be the ultimate. But I miss it sometimes too. I really SHOULD write down everything I eat, I too have a problem with the 'junk' that I keep around the house for the 'kids'. I guess when I plateau, like now, I will just go get a top up fill.

Good for you mommy! I am so jealous of the weightloss centers in Ontario. I am sure Vancouver will have one eventually, there is so little for us to chose from. And no fill doctors if we decide to go to Ontario or Mexico. Again, I am THRILLED with Dr. Leung, but he seems to be the only choice right now.

No, there IS no help for patients in BC. I think one can get a bypass on medical, but the waiting list is years. I am on another board with patients of Dr Leung and someone posted that Dr Woodhead is TRYING to get his lap band procedures going, but that the Peace Arch Hospital was not giving him any OR time. Check this information. I am not sure if it is true, but if it is true that only leaves Dr Leung at the Surrey Memorial. And I have to post that Dr Leung is near retirement. Word is he has someone training to take his place. I did have to get a referral from my GP, not sure why. Good luck to every single one of you and keep us up on your progress. This has been a blessing in my life. And BTW, Surrey Memorial is AWESOME! I was VERY impressed by the care I got there. Hey, Gaffer, what province do you live and who does your fills? Just curious!

...and had a tummy tuck? I am one of the unfortunate few who keloids, scars badly, so I am wondering what the scars can be like....thanks in advance.

OK, I am convinced. Puddin, you look awesome and I can't believe the difference in your inner thighs due to the lower body lift. OK I am embarrassed to ask, but I'd like to ask you if we can see you from behind. I'd love to see where the scars fall on your bottom. Thanks for sharing your journey my dear, you REALLY are a poster girl for lap band and cosmetic surgery.

Oprah convinced me in her show with Bob Green, that if you don't exercise or move, then you really don't want to lose the weight. So I rewatched the show and joined a brand new women's only gym. I even hired a presonal trainer for 12 sessions and I AM SCARED...HOLD ME. Just kidding. I have a few questions: Do I need to tell my personal trainer about the band? (I'd rather not) Is there anything I need to be aware of before I embark on this journey? Any advice is appreciated. Thanks in advance. drags feet to shower.....

Fortunately, I told her already that I am dealing wtih the food myself. Well, yesterday's floor exercises put strain on my muscles. I am grossing myself out about where my port is sewn and how that might flip or get torn off the muscle.....I am so bad. Tell my brain to shut up. I did tell her that I wanted to favour my upper tummy muscles, but please abuse me in any other way. Hey, if anyone wants accountability in the exercise regime, HIRE A PERSONAL TRAINER. This is offered through my gym, I am sure it is much cheaper than if I had hired a pt through the yellow pages. So for now I am happy. I will do my 12 sessions and then go alone, if I want to step it up again, I can hire her again....but so far, so good..

I swear I have a leak, or that I loosed up quickly. I only lost 10 pounds since my last fill, before my band loosened up. Makes me mad. I will work hard on getting through the next 5 weeks, a trip to Disney with my dh and kids in the middle there, and then go for another fill. Last time he took out less than he had put in the time before, so either osmosis or leak.....the next fill will be interesting. I hope it isnt' a leak....

right on. I heard years ago that the best surgeons often have the worst bed-side manners... But if you do go local, DO look into the guy in Ladner also. Dr Leung's secretary, Evelyn is really good for general information. You could call her right now and she'd be able to tell you how long a waiting list you'd be looking at. Good luck my dear. Sad how few options we Western Canadians have at the moment. Gaffer, I never heard that there was a list of BC doctors who would do fills. THAT is interesting and opens up a whole other option for BC Bandsters. Thanks for that. I'd love to see a list of BC professionals who will do fills.

Ya, addend. I just reread your post. Ya, I agree, how much would you REALLY be saving by going to Mexico, especially if you have to pay for your fills, IF you can even find someone. I am not trying to sway you either way, there are a lot of people happy with their Mexico trip, but I did read one post of an woman who needed a new band, erosion and she had to pay all over again for a redo. So I sure feel safer with a local guy. Also, we can deduct the cost of our surgery, I will find out soon, as tax season approaches how much of that I will get back. Could be up to 3 grand, so if I subtract the 1200 and the 2-3000 or whatever it is. It could end up looking pretty ok. WELL WORTH IT IN MY MIND. Dr Leung has his quirks, he is ESL, he isn't the most supportive emotionally, but I can handle him. He is a cut to the chase kind of guy. don't know of anyone who had the guy in Ladner. Can't remember his name. I am also on a group of Leung's patients you have to be added to this closed board, but you can ask a lot of questions there. http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/bcbandits/?yguid=193628067 Good luck. I was SO where you are 8 months ago....

That is where it gets sticky for us BCers. I am pretty confident also with the care in Mexico, but you need to find soemone to do your fills before you decide. I'm pretty sure Dr. Leung will not do fills with other patients. But phone Leungs office and the guy in White Rock. Perhaps you will get lucky. You will probably get a sooner date if you go to Mexico, I think it took me about 6 months from getting a referral from my gp to the actual surgery. But I am sure pleased with my experience.

Cost 12,500. last year anyway. Fills - free Can be deducted on income tax and I got a 1,200 return as I did not stay overnight... Good luck with your search, let us know what you decide. I am happy with my care. I have stated before that Dr Leung hasn't the best bedside manners, but he is good at what he does, surgery. There is talk of him retiring, but he will have someone take over his practise I am sure.

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/lap-band-british-t19719.html?t=19719&highlight=leung

Formerly Vancouverite, now Okanagan resident here. I had my surgery done in Surrey, Dr Leung. There is also a surgeon in White Rock. If you do a search here you will find a thread with both their addresses and phone numbers. I also wrote a few threads, I will search for you, about my guy Dr Leung. I am glad I went locally as I can get my fills done locally and my surgeon is closer if I have any difficulties. I am however jealous of the care the people get from Toronto. We just don't have that kind of place in Vancouver YET! I am sure it is coming, but not soon enough for me. I was also 280, bmi about 40, now 60 pounds less and feeling fantastic. Good luck with your search. I will see what I can dig up for you. Paula

Renebean, my New Balance shoes just came and I love them, I ONLY use them in the gym. I had to order them online as I am a dainty size 11 with a wide foot, and was a bit worried about not trying them on first, but they are a dream. Lapbandit, I didn't share with her yet. I don't think I will need to. I do watch the excersizes that deal with the upper tummy, where my port is. I am loving it. Can HARDLY believe it as I was a depressed couch potato. Connie, Workout Express sounds awesome. I purposfully didn't join Curves because I wanted eliptical and treadmills and just didn't feel as though it was worth the money. I love my gym, sounds like yours, and classes are included too. Deckedout, my July sister, if we had a program like that here, I'd have joined. That sounds awesome. I did a walking training for the Vancouver Sun Run in 1997:D The training was really great, loved the support. There IS a hiking club, so if I ever need more incentive, I might join that. Good luck all you! Let me finish with a message from a t-shirt on a guy walking RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME on my way into my gym. It said: Effort isn't Effort until it hurts a little.