Woodys

The weight loss as a result of being banded has dramatically changed my life. My attitude towards so much in my life has changed. My overall appearance, not just the weight loss, has changed. I enjoy being a busy business woman, before the weight loss it was difficult to do a lot of things so I dreaded certain aspects of my job.....like serving in my restaurant...it was a very tight squeeze between chairs to serve my customers...now its not. I breath easier, I climb stairs carrying a basket of laundry and don't have to stop to catch my breath, I sleep better, personal hygiene when using the loo is much much easier...its normal. Sex is great, I'm a lot less inhibitted and no longer self conscious. I like to shop for clothes now and experiment with new styles, hair, and makeup.....I didn't care before. I love my band, I wish I had known about this option a long time ago. Carol

Losingjusme: Looks like the buffet is a big problem for you, throw away the "buffet pants" and find somewhere else less tempting to eat next time you have to dine out.....and try not to miss your exercise....once you start allowing yourself to miss your exercise sessions then the motivation to keep it up goes away. Good luck Carol

I am mostly in the green zone but I do have the occasional yellow zone day where I am compelled to munch all day. Carol

Here you go: http://www.canadianbandsterbash.com/index.htm Not sure if this will work but give it a try. Carol

Banuchi...this Lapbandtalk.com. He didn't come here to get help for his company, nor to further help you with your career. The request was quite inappropriate and insensitive of you. Carol

I play piano.......very poorly though. Took lessons for years but hated to practice so not very good. I have lots of musicians in my family. My cousin has 2 bands, one is a legends type, they do the beatles, elvis, roy orbison, niel diamond, etc...the other is rock. His wife is also a singer, both of them entertain on my restaurant's patio on long weekend in the summer...they are fabulous. Have other cousins who play piano,quitar, drums. Hubby is a drummer also...he is very good. Carol

Banuchi.....shame on you! Carol

I really don't go along with the theory that everyone's eating "disorder" is the result of something that happened in their past. I enjoyed eating, I ate when I was happy, sad, whaterever the emotion.........I just simply liked good food and the act of eating. I had a wonderful childhood and my life to date has not been so shabby. I didn't have any particular reason to eat, I ate all the time because it was something that I really liked to do.......no different from someone who loves to paint, or shop, or quilt, or knit, or walk....I had a passion for food. I wouldn't say that anyone who has a passion for quilting and wanted to do it often had some deep dark secret in their past as the reason for the passion. On the flip side, having a passion for eating and a passion for quilting reap different consequences and benefits....that is what I needed to get under control. Now.....after all that is said and done....I agree with the previous post that mentions doing something for someone else. I have transfered my passion for food with a diversion to a passion for helping people. I live in a small village and we have a lot of very young single parent families. I have befriended a few and I help them take care of their families. I shop for their school supplies, send the children to camp, have them to my restaurant for meals "on the house", plus many many more activities. I get a real "high" from this and it is such a great feeling when you have helped a young struggling Mom send their children off to school with the necessary tools and appropriate clothing. A hobby that benefits others as well as yourself is so rewarding....go for it. Carol

Randi....I have a tendency to lose quickly, I lost a significant amount on the pre and the post op diet. For a few months I was averaging 2 - 3 lbs / week after that. Now, I'm averaging about .5 lb per week and quite happy about that. I eat normal foods now but very little. I avoid food that slides down easy with empty calories like ice cream. Carol

I was a size 24/26....I'm now a 14 (however, I do fit into size 12P stretch jeans quite comfortably. I would like to be in a size 12 top,and 10p pant. Carol

Sashimi....fish and beef, works great for me. I eat the Protein first then if I can handle a bit more I try to get in some high density/low cal veggies.....like sauteed garlic broccoli...YUM. This will tide me over for a few hours. I also carry with me a small "emergency" pack. In it I have a few "Mary's Gourmet crackers", or "Lesley Stowe's Raincoast Crisps". They have approximately 8 cals / cracker but loads of the good stuff like flax seed, quinoa, wholegrain brown rice, etc. They are tasty and filling. I also keep some single packets of string cheese, this is very filling also. And...I have some single packets of low-fat dressing....every function has salad or a veg platter....you can make a meal out of veg platter items with your own dressing,......just remember to chew well. Carol

I can do pizza....one piece of a large...about 1/8th of a pizza. It doesn't cause me a problem as long as I take small bites and chew well....and take my time. I'm careful to select a pizza without all the extra fat....usually just tomato sauce, cheese, and veggies. This fills me for about 2 hours if I don't drink while eating. Congrats on your weight loss so far. Carol

Congratulations llewis on your NSV....however, I'm with Wavydaby....I hate pantyhose too. Did the corporate scene for over 30 years and got so sick and tired of pantyhose. The burning inner thighs from them rubbing, the sweating, the stinky feet.....and yes, I bathed on a regular basis....LOL. I hope I never have to do the pantyhose thing again. I wear very dressy formal pant suits when attending functions like Weddings.....they sometimes look like a female version of a tux. Again, congrats.....I'm happy for you. Carol

Insist on a fresh needle. I had to have fills done at different locations, I paid .26 cents for the needle and $3.00 for the bottle of Saline which should do all my fills. 26 CENTS......after what you paid for the surgery, INSIST on a fresh needle. Carol

Babs....your response was great. I think most of us "get" what Dr. C was inferring. My goodness....it was no different then telling someone that just read about coffee causing cancer not to lose sleep at night fretting over the one she had for Breakfast. NewSho....I agree, you rock! Carol

I was a coffeeholic. Now, I still love the aroma of fresh brewed coffee....but unless its a capuccino, I really don't desire it. I use to munch on raw veggies but can't do it any more. Can eat any cooked veg but just can't do the raw thing, hurts too much.....that's not really a "tastebud" change. Green: for the first while I pureed my veggies....a little chicken stock with cauliflower, carrots, broccoli, etc makes a nice and tasty mash. Eventually I was able to eat any veg without mashing them but I do have to chew them very well....like all other food. Carol

Laurend: Half the battle is won already.....the fact that you have recognized what your Mom does to potentially sabotage your efforts at weight loss is a very good start. You have recognized her not so worthy efforts and you understand the consequences if she succeeds. If she has a weight problem then that HER problem, not yours....and shame on her! Carry on with your insurance research, find out exactly where you stand, what will they cover, what you have to pay, etc. Tell your parents that this a done deal and your decision will not be swayed in any direction but YOURS! The more you reinforce this with your Mom the quicker she will GET IT and hopefully resign herself of the fact that you are doing this and there isn't anything she can do to change your mind. Carol

Shabby but very popular method of advertising.....trying to sell their procedure by making the other look bad. If the truth be known, the person who wrote in wouldn't have been throwing up if she had of been using her band properly....and,if this was caused by being too tight then she had the option of fixing that....but shabby advertising never really tells the truth. Carol

It amazes me how we, through no fault of our own, can be "dismissed" by those who vowed "until death do us part". Carol

Mine isn't so interesting. Woodys is the name of our restaurant (from our last name which is Woodward).....we seem to use this name, or a derivitive (sp) thereof, for all of our "LOGINS"...we even use the same password for EVERYTHING....even our bank cards...this way, we'll never forget....LOL Carol

Hi again: The smoothies only had the cottage cheese and yogurt....no fruit. The flavouring came from the ingredients I listed in my first post to you. I lost a significant amount on the pre / post surgery diet. When I went to solids I was averaging about 2 - 3 lbs / week. Now, I'm happy to lose 2 - 3 lbs / month. I eat what I want within reason and of course, because of the band, the portions are small. I am anxious to reach goal but I am really enjoying a reasonable lifestyle now and don't panic anymore when I'm invited to dine out or at someone else's home. I know now that whatever they are serving, or whatever I order, I will still lose a bit at the end of the month and I'm okay with that. What makes me even more happy is the fact that I know now too that once I do reach goal.....I'll be able to stay there! That is so important to me. I bounced back very quickly after surgery. Within a couple of days I was serving in the restaurant hubby and I own. In one week, I felt quite normal...the port area was a bit tender but that is to be expected. If you have any further questions why not email me at woodys@sympatico.ca Carol

My band is fickle also. For the most part my restriction is there......but sometimes in the evening I can eat way more than I should be able to. I know this and then have to fight the temptation of overeating just because my band will allow me to. Carol

Listen to the professionals Doriana. In my opinion....if they are instructing you to do something then there must be a very good reason for it. We can tell you whatever you want to hear......but you should be talking, and listening, to the professionals who are conducting your procedure. I was banded at TLBC in TO. I had to follow the pre-op for 2 weeks in order to reduce the amount of fat around my liver and stomach....it was explained to me that this was to help make the procedure easier and safer. I don't like cottage cheese so I had a real problem with the fast. My husband is a Chef and he helped me. Everyday he would make me cottage cheese and low fat yogurt smoothies. 1/2 cup cottage cheese, 1/2 cup yogurt, 1/2 to 1 cup ice, and 1 - 2 packets of sweetner (to taste) Everyday was a different flavour...sometimes he would add real vanilla, or a tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder, or a couple of tablespoons of unsweetened jam......he would whip the heck out of it in the blender until it reached a nice smooth thick consistency of a smoothie......I SWEAR...IT WAS LIKE DRINKING liquid CHEESECAKE! Give it a try, it helps. But please, the Drs plan is for a reason, don't second guess them and do as they request. Good Luck Carol

Can anyone tell me why some of us do not feel a fill kick in for a week or so afterwards? What is the cause or reasoning behind this? I find it very confusing since I feel restriction immediately after as a result of swelling......then for a few days I feel like I have no restriction at all, then a few more days I feel some restriction...etc....what causes this? Carol

I always go for the real deal. I find that the low cal, low fat, and imitation food products don't have much taste you end up eating more just to get some flavour. I'd rather have a bit of the real stuff and be able to taste something. Carol