Yoda

Take care Loriely...thinkin' of ya!

No probs....I just wanted to make sure you were talking (leaving messages!) with the right person! Glad you got a call back!!! Good luck with it!! You will be in awesome hands at TLBC.

Just your bad luck....I have never had any problems. Who are you leaving messages with?

(((((Hugz))))) for Bandiva!

Thank YOU Mandi!!!

Take care Loriely...glad u r ok!

That's why I married a chef!!!! I also forgot to mention....the refried beans (you know...the ones that come in a can) actually are much yummier with the sour cream/salsa than the regular baked beans! They are also "mushier" so you don't need to mush them up anymore as you would with the baked beans. Adding black beans (any bean really) is a good idea. Also...on that note....for mushies....you can have chili....just blend it a little bit (or mash with a fork).....

MY fave thing for the mushie stage was baked Beans....(mushed up a bit more than how they come in the can).....and mixed with a bit of sour creme (light, of course!) and salsa. Mmmm mmmm mmmmm!!! Not only tasty and very flavourful but chock full of PROTEIN!!!! As for the baby food thing....yeah...I tried that at first too and just about gagged. Perhaps I had the wrong brand or type but it was DISGUSTING and so I stopped with the baby food thing...I knew I could find/make something more appetizing to my palette!! I sure did feel sorry for babies though....no wonder they spit up their food!!!! LOL

I apologize if Dr. C's clinic does, in fact, provide fills/de-fills "for life"....I was merely going by the info provided on his website (in which it states for 5 yrs only) and by what I was told when I contacted them last year. If this has changed....my bad and no harm intended....although they should change their site and be sure to give out correct/current info.

Hey.... as long as you are losing inches....forget the plateau issue or that you aren't losing lbs!!! It is the inches that realllllly count!!! (although I know it is hard to wrap our heads around that!). Glad u r feelin' better since your defill Roxanne!

Enough with the "knock off" band talk...it only perpetuates untrue rumours. I do not know of any clinic in TO that uses a "knock-off" band. May I remind you that there are different types of bands made by different companies....the clinics in TO use only those approved by Canada. I would also like to point out that Dr Joffe/Dr Yau were the first to do lapband surgeries in Canada.....

One thing to consider: Dr. C's clinic gives free fills/de-fills for only five years (after which they charge a fee) whereas at the TLBC they provide free fills/de-fills for life. Also, Dr. C's clinic uses Optifast (I don't know if that is an extra charge or if that is included in the total fee...others can respond to that) for their pre-op diet (to get rid of the fat in the liver) but TLBC does not rely on Optifast....it is a different "food" diet depending on your individual circumstances (ie. cottage/cheese yogurt diet and chicken)....personally I find that more appealing than doing optifast (& I do have the experience to comment on that because I went thru the entire optifast program a few years ago). Just more info to consider is all. As was said above, you wouldn't buy the first car you look at....something this serious I would recommend checking into 2 or 3 places and then making the best decision based on your own personal perspectives/circumstances. I have nothing but amazing things to say about TLBC in all aspect; both pre and post op.....but I have also heard only good things about Dr. C.

Hang in there Becca (u too Astro).....tis all normal, as Astro said. I STILL have those days!!!

Go Sens Go!! :paranoid

Thanks everyone....appreciate the support!!! Good luck to the rest of you on your personal Feb goals!!! Still lots of time left!

Well, I actually made my Feb goal....and early to boot!! My weight goal was to be 200 lbs and as of Sat, the scale read 200; so I'm a happy camper! As for the Feb goal of "not being so hard on myself"....I'm better but not quite there yet!!

Thanks Loriely. I'm here guys.....I try and read to keep up a bit but you know how it is....life getting in the way etc!!! You're all doing GREAT!!! Keep up the good work...and congrats to all of you who just recently got banded!!!!

4-3: JenRN - 263/257/223/150 - 40 total 4-3: jenn28 - 282/265/229/165 - 53 total 4-3: Picardy3 - 298/300/257.5/150 - 42.5 total 4-3: tipper - 300/290/259/165 - 41 total 4-4: Sugar1 - 311/289/231/150 - 80 total 4-4: DeltaDawn - 358/202/179 - 156 total 4-4: Dak – 255/251/205/150 – 50 total 4-4: Angels - 264/255/235/? - 29 total 4-4: Harpseal Al - 327/295/220 - 34 total 4-5: Boo - 208/203/165/132 - 43 total 4-5: siestaqh - 180+/177/117/110 - 63 total--NO MORE BAND :-( 4-6: Disneynut - 290/287/260/125 - 27 total 4-7: Guysis - 234/174.5/134 - 59.5 total 4-10: JulieNYC - 358/216/180 - 142 total 4-11: Vickie1177 - 320/297/267/137 - 53 total 4-11: tellymelly - 240/235/143.5/140 - 96.5total 4-11: Fel0816 - 307/284/265/to get under 200 - 42 total 4-11: dsrjrr - 231/230/210/130 - 21 total 4:11: truckinmama - 262/234/160 - 28 total 4-13: Nursekathy2u - 358/356/335/175 - 23 total 4-13: NJgirl - 248/230/206/140 - 42 total 4-13: Miper70 - 217.5/187/145 - 30 total 4-17: Amourette - 22.5 total 4-17: Jeepergurrl - 242/192/140 - 50 total 4-17: MelAnne - 245/207/150 - 38 total 4-18: KAYBEE-284/198/180 -86 total 4-18: Danaclark2 - 270/260.5/245/150 - 25 total 4-20: TrustUfirst - 210/205/177/135 - 32 total 4-20: Omamoon - 220/211.5/179/130 - 41 total 4-20: KimInMD - 288/288/228/156 - 60 total 4-21: Yoda - 273/257/200/150 - 73 total 4-21: kristielynn - 310/302/237/150 - 73 total 4-22: alisonb - 286/270/176 - 16 total 4-24: Eficka - 125/117/98/69 - 27 kgs/59.4 lbs total 4-24: Ceparano- 255/270.5/201/170 - 69.5 total 4-24: Kat - 289/281/203/165 - 86 total 4-24: hlj25950 - 262/257/206/160 - 56 total 4-25: momof2boys - 270/266/237/145 - 33 total 4-26: Bostongurl - 264/244/184/150 - 80 total 4-27: tinaj - 226/221/210/150 - 15 total 4-27: lookingout - 185/178/165/101 - 20 total 4-27: flowergoddesstn - 214/204/190/130 - 24 total 4-27: Dimples0323 - 284/284/241/145 - 43 total 4-28: Susan4794 - 283/229/150 - 54 total 4-28: bluehill - 333/228/150 - 105 total 4-28: Irish Girl - 225/214/150/135 - 75 total 4-29: Momofsixkids - 238/188/140 - 50 total <!-- / message --><!-- sig --> <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

4-3: JenRN - 263/257/223/150 - 40 total 4-3: jenn28 - 282/265/229/165 - 53 total 4-3: Picardy3 - 298/300/257.5/150 - 42.5 total 4-3: tipper - 300/290/259/165 - 41 total 4-4: Sugar1 - 311/289/231/150 - 80 total 4-4: DeltaDawn - 358/202/179 - 156 total 4-4: Dak – 255/251/205/150 – 50 total 4-4: Angels - 264/255/235/? - 29 total 4-4: Harpseal Al - 327/295/220 - 34 total 4-5: Boo - 208/203/165/132 - 43 total 4-5: siestaqh - 180+/177/117/110 - 63 total--NO MORE BAND :-( 4-6: Disneynut - 290/287/260/125 - 27 total 4-7: Guysis - 234/174.5/134 - 59.5 total 4-10: JulieNYC - 358/216/180 - 142 total 4-11: Vickie1177 - 320/297/267/137 - 53 total 4-11: tellymelly - 240/235/143.5/140 - 96.5total 4-11: Fel0816 - 307/284/265/to get under 200 - 42 total 4-11: dsrjrr - 231/230/210/130 - 21 total 4:11: truckinmama - 262/234/160 - 28 total 4-13: Nursekathy2u - 358/356/335/175 - 23 total 4-13: NJgirl - 248/230/206/140 - 42 total 4-13: Miper70 - 217.5/187/145 - 30 total 4-17: Amourette - 22.5 total 4-17: Jeepergurrl - 242/192/140 - 50 total 4-17: MelAnne - 245/207/150 - 38 total 4-18: KAYBEE-284/198/180 -86 total 4-18: Danaclark2 - 270/260.5/245/150 - 25 total 4-20: TrustUfirst - 210/205/177/135 - 32 total 4-20: Omamoon - 220/211.5/179/130 - 41 total 4-20: KimInMD - 288/288/228/156 - 60 total 4-21: Yoda - 273/257/205/150 - 68 total 4-21: kristielynn - 310/302/237/150 - 73 total 4-22: alisonb - 286/270/176 - 16 total 4-24: Eficka - 125/117/98/69 - 27 kgs/59.4 lbs total 4-24: Ceparano- 255/270.5/205/170 - 65.5 total 4-24: Kat - 289/281/210.5/165 - 78.5 total 4-24: hlj25950 - 262/257/206/160 - 56 total 4-25: momof2boys - 270/266/237/145 - 33 total 4-26: Bostongurl - 264/244/184/150 - 80 total 4-27: tinaj - 226/221/210/150 - 15 total 4-27: lookingout - 185/178/165/101 - 20 total 4-27: flowergoddesstn - 214/204/190/130 - 24 total 4-27: Dimples0323 - 284/284/241/145 - 43 total 4-28: Susan4794 - 283/229/150 - 54 total 4-28: bluehill - 333/228/150 - 105 total 4-28: Irish Girl - 225/214/150/135 - 75 total 4-29: Momofsixkids - 238/188/140 - 50 total <!-- / message -->

ahem....well now bandiva.....normal? Let's not go overboard!

Yeah, I think she means her weight. Angel Bear: hang in there....you'll feel better after your fill. Dr. Y. was absolutely adamant: no vomiting.....should be no reason! I'm not sure why such the long wait for your de-fill....whassup with that? ESPECIALLY for a defill due to problems you are experiencing....they should react right away to that need. At least your weight dropped.....despite not being able to eat much and not being able to keep much down when I did eat a few morsels....my weight loss was certainly not dropping!! Go figure!! *sigh*!! Enjoy your Ensure!!! I actually don't mind the chocolate ensure....when I have that (sometimes for breakfast) I add in my choc. protein powder, some extra milk and then either a 1/2 bananna or some flavouring extract (orange is my fave)...and then blend it....yummy!

Thanks everyone!!! Yes Green....relying on NSVs is the way to go, I think! Dame J: exercise has never been a big problem for me....much to everyone's surprise I've always been quite active. These days, I do an hour and a half routine. One hour consists of cardio (ie. elliptical and/or recumbent bike) and this is followed by 30 mins of strength training (weights) and matt work (ie. leg work, ab work). I try and do this 5 times a week. In April I plan on doing aquafit as well....(I'm waiting until Apr because my schedule will allow it at that time). So, yes....the weight work (and I find the biking) has really toned the muscles.

....I think that is why it is so important to measure.....you reallllly see the difference then. Here is the amt. of inches I've lost on the following body parts since Apr 06 (as of last weekend): Chest: 7.5 down Waist: 13.5 down Hips: 10.5 down R. Thigh: 5.75 down R. Calf: 3 down R. Bicep: 2.5 down Grand total: 43 inches. The thigh/calf/bicep initally lost more but I've gained a wee bit more but it is now all hard muscle as opposed to soft flabbiness!

:update: Braved the wicked weather and drove to TO today for my de-fill appt. Well, Mr Yoda drove me to keep me company. Normally it would take us just over an hour but due to the weather (wicked wicked wicked snowsqualls....and oh so freakin' cold....-33 with the windchill- YOU HEAR THAT LILA!!!!) it took us just under THREE hrs!!! Good gawd! Anyways....no fluoro....in and out of Dr. Y.s office in less than 5 mins. He obliged my request and removed .25 ccs (of the .5 ccs he put in 3 weeks ago). So, I'm hoping this will do the trick now and dare I say it....be my sweet spot? He said that nobody should be vomiting in any way, shape or form (ahem...altho I DID know that!). He also re-iterated to me to pretty much forget about the scale #s and these "plateaus" that we all complain about....he said there will be lots of time when the lbs don't go down but that doesn't mean the inches aren't falling off. I know this too....since I do measure once a month and I've lost 13 inches alone off my waist!!!! (almost just as much off my chest...much to Mr Yoda's dismay!! LOL). Anyways....I will admit that I already notice a difference with the defill.....I can eat more (THANK GOD....as I was not eating enuf to feed a baby swallow) and I don't feel stuck or nauseous. Time will tell whether the heart burn and the horribly loud gurlge noises diminish!!! Sorry I'm so wordy.....all that to update y'all that I got my defill!

careful with the vitamin E.....I thought the same thing (not this surgery but a previous one) and found out the hard way that I do not react well to Vitamin E on my skin.....it made it MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH worse!