Yoda

That is FABULOUS LORIELY!!!!!! :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :first: :girl_hug:

Looks at Lila *GREEEEEN with ENVY* :rolleyes Seriously tho....have a BALL!

Gaf: yup, like Irish said!! Go to the baking aisle, dude!!

:biggrin1: :phanvan Fahrenheit Smarenheit!!!! I don't speak Imperial!!!!

....also for the Optifast....if you put in 2/3 or so of the liquid....and mix it up like pudding...(plus the extract(s) of course) and then you can eat it like you would pudding.....then you feel like you are "eating" vice "drinking".

if u have a blender, you don't need a bullet. To make the Optifast taste better...put in flavoured extracts (mix and mingle). The best are: vanilla, lemon, almond, bananna, butterscotch. YUMMMY..... The trick is to mix it well and serve VERY well chilled (lottsa ice).

whoops...Angel Bear....my apologies...I forgot to congratulate you and give you a well deserved WOOT WOOT! on meeting (& surpassing!!!!!) your Xmas goal!!! :first: :first:

That's a great Xmas pressie to yourself DeltaDawn!!! Way to go! :clap2:

Hey fellow TLBC patients....I got an invite in the mail today to TLBC's Second Annual Holiday Season Open House (15 Dec). I realize that you have to live "close by" to likely go.....so for those of you who do live nearby.....are you going? I'm thinking I probably won't be able to go....it's enough of a trek for me to think it probably wouldn't be wise. But it does sound like fun.....

Glad u are having an AWESOME time Lila... We'll still be here when you get back.....so no worries....enjoy your beach!

No kidding.....Angel Bear and I live in the same area (smack in the middle of Ontario's "snow belt") and we have noooooo snow right now!! AND, it went up to +10 today. Yesterday, I saw eight different motorcycles on the road....UNHEARD of in these parts past the end of October let alone near the latter part of December!!!! Love it though.....doesn't bother me one iota if we have a green Xmas. I"m trying not to get too complacent though; as I KNOW old man winter will hit us soon enough!!

I've lived all over Canada; I now live near Barrie. I did all my high school years in Ottawa though. My sister lives in the Metcalfe area (the town, not the street).

Green: I loved your story about the neighbourhood barbershop with Ashanti.....I could completely visualize it! You know what I kept thinking? It would make a GREAT TV series......really, it would....what a great storyline, set-up for it! Mandi: HAVE FUN AT YOUR XMAS PARTY TONIGHT!!!!!

I agree with both Cloe and Loriely (the deprivation thing). I'm not going to reach my goal either....far from it....but it is Xmas and it is my first Xmas with the band and I'm finding it very difficult. Not that I'm not trying or that I'm not focused now but I will be re-focusing come Jan for sure. In fact, I have a fill appt the second week of Jan.....(by fluro of course).....so that will likely help. I'm just anxious about walking that fine line....I want some more restriction but I don't want to be so restricted that I can't eat "normally" (ie. I don't want to resort to liquid meals etc) or that I suffer complications (ie. too many slimes, PBs etc). I'm trying not to beat myself up too much over that fact I gained some weight this week. It's hard though.....but just trying to tell myself that I've lost lots and have kept it off (reasonably) and some mini gains are bound to happen (I also know that I need to work so hard for every pound...and that includes working out all the time and I haven't been able to work out in 3 weeks due to my bum knee .....I"m hoping the meds I'm taking for it will allow me to start working out again in a week or two). :eek:

Blownaway: as someone already mentioned, "clear liquid" is anything you can see through.....(ie. not milk) I had mine done at TLBC....and even for the patients at TLBC, everyone is different; Nisrine should tell you exactly what you can have and what your pre-op diet can consist of. Some people don't have to do it (ie. lesser starting weight); others only have to do it for 1 week; others for 2 and others for even longer. Nisrine will tell you....if she hasn't, call and ask her. I can tell you MY prescribed pre-op diet. I had to do it for two weeks prior to my surgery date. The first of the two weeks I could have all the yougurt and cottage cheese (both low fat or fat free versions) I wanted PLUS chicken (JUST chicken...no sauce, no breading, no nothing...just PLAIN chicken) and any "green" veggie (again...nothing on the veggie). For the second week, I had to cut out the chicken and the green veggies and just have cottage cheese/yogurt. I HATE even the site of cottage cheese....so I just had yogurt. As Loriely said....the first few days are the hardest....due to the carb withdrawal (true withdrawal, my friend!) but once you get through those days, it is really not so bad. If you have questions, call Nisrine....I know they gave me detailed handouts on the post-op diet.....not so much on the pre-op...but who needs handout when it was not a lot to remember!!! LOL. Good luck on your journey and don't be afraid to ask questions...specifically...you need to get the details for YOUR pre-op diet from Nisrine.

That is sad; some of those trees look like they were very old and had been around forever.....sad that they are "gone" in an instant!

Sending good vibes and lots of luck your way Bandiva!!! You are smart to take the ferry today and get on the mainland. You are so prepared and you will do GREAT!!!! Enjoy your trip to Mexico; take care of yourself post-op and let us know how you are when you get back. See ya on the other side of bandland!! :gluck: :welldone2:

Wow....I almost missed this one!! NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEENAGH!!!! CONGRATS!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOT WOOOOOT!!! :wow2: :first: :welldone2: :success1:

Carol....ya know the stores that used to be called the "It Store"?? I'm not sure...but I think they changed names....they had all kinds of novelty stuff etc....(there is still one in the Upper Canada Mall in Newmarket....by the food court on the second floor). Anyways....in the back...they have a well marked "adult" card section......lots of great "naughty" cards (some reallllly naughty ones!!!).

true....true.....I'll admit.

Hmmmm.....so now you refer to Dandi as your "ball". Cheap...but hey...if it works!!! *snickers*:nervous

Well done & good luck Mandi!!! Ahem....Cloe...yeah, but the girls who had names for girls like me were just jealous cause they wanted to be one too!!! LOL!!!!

great news & good luck!

Wow Louise....I remember that (lived in Ottawa at the time); I didn't know it (the inquiry) was happening let alone still going on. It all makes the news when it "comes out" but then the public generally never hears about it again; it is like it isn't news anymore. Why isn't this getting more attention? Why isn't there a story about it on Canada AM.....it is ridiculous that is has been kept out of the news (or have I been living under a rock since Feb?). I have a very good friend who was a social worker in Cornwall (until recently) specializing in children's assistance and god knows she had her work cut out for her. I've been at the NavCan Centre too many times to count (for business). Thanks for bringing it to my attention again!

I don't blame her for being scarce....hmmmmm type on computer or lie on beach with the surf and sand at my feet and an umbrellay drink in my hand???? ummmm......the latter!!! You gooooo Lila!!!!