tammar

Congratulations everyone! 2009 was a great year for all of us. For most of us, we have a huge feat to overcome in the next few weeks, but we can ALL do it! Looking forward to an awesome year of goals acheived and second looks in 2010! Remember to chew, chew, chew! Take care!

Welcome to the family, LosingMyVolume. Where to begin? You sound exactly like me! I was 30 when I got the band, about the same weight as you, and like EVERYONE else, had the exact same concerns and questions. Things to remember, you're not alone; you are making this lifestyle change for yourself, and you want to enjoy your thirties and beyond. Optifast, horrible. Doesn't matter when you do the 3 week diet (yes us men get an extra week), there's always an occassion you miss. For example, I was optidasting over Easter, others over Halloween, others over Valentine's day. Think about the fact that in 2010, your New Year's resolution will finally come true. Bread? Some people find that you can toast it, and it's easier to eat without getting stuck, others don't attempt it. I never try to eat bread anymore on it's own. However, every now and again I'll get a Cheeseburger Happy Meal, and if I eat it slowly, take my time, and remember to chew, I'm good. Getting stuck and Productive Burping is not fun. It's the scary part about the band that you'll want to avoid at all costs. To be full or not to be full, that is the question. I struggle with this one, and often ask the docs this exact thing. I'd like to put it out to the rest of the group and ask them abotu their experiences. I rarel feel "full", like I used to. I feel like I'm getting to my tipping point, and another bite will put me into the "getting stuck" category or productive burping. You will learn your limits. It takes time. And time is what you want, right? The rest of your life to slowly lose the weight. Perogies? Sure, why not! Eat them slowly. Enjoy every bite, and remember to chew! Hope this helps! Good luck!

Exercise tip: Costco has the "Biggest Loser" video game for the Wii. It works with the Wii Fit, and without. It starts out light for beginners, and finishes with a good cool down. With Winter approaching, this may be a good inexpensive indoor alternative.

Welcome all new bandsters to the Manitoba community! Since it doesn't seem like Maples is quick to startup an in-person monthly group is anyone interested it doing it on our own? Throwing the idea out there.

Lol...my appointment is tomorrow at 5:10 too.

:thumbup:Just checking in here too. I finally got another fill, since July. I had not lost any weight since August, and kept playing with the same pound (up and down; up and down). With the fill, on October 20, I've already noticed I'm losing some. Keep up the good work everyone!

:thumbup:Just checking in here too. I finally got another fill, since July. I had not lost any weight since August, and kept playing with the same pound (up and down; up and down). With the fill, on October 20, I've already noticed I'm losing some. Keep up the good work everyone!

Thanks for the website tip Diva! We made the slow-cooker chicken fajitas tonight. They were melt-in-your-mouth fantastic! I'm looking forward to trying the tortilla soup, and the chicken fried rice.

Please take the following survey: Winnipeg LAP-BAND® Support Group

IWBAL - I am really sorry to hear about your last appointment, that may have been in part my fault. I was scheduled for 11:40 and didn't get in until shortly after 12. I had a really good long appointment with Terry. I am almost 6 months post op, and havent had a fill since July. I still feel restriction, and end up purging a few times a week. I don't feel full during meals. I always feel like I can eat more. And then...I'm stuck. It sucks. I can usually handle meals well throguhout the day with little excess eating, especially when I'm not at home, but evening are the absolute worst for me. I'm my own enemy. I watch TV and eat the stuff that the band lets through. Right now, my two biggest enemies are Sunflower Seeds (I'm a week sober from them, wish me luck), and Cereal (Corn Pops). I am still eating a lot during the evening out of habit, and I have to break this. On the bright side, I haven't gained anything, but I've been playing with the same 2 lbs for weeks now. Leslee, my next appointment is on Oct 20 in the evening as well. I'll introduce myself if I see you in the waiting room. My last appointment with Terry was great. She told me that the docs/clinicians have been reading these posts and the posts on the Yahoo group, and they've decided to finally organize a support group. She was asking for my ideas, and we discussed the possibility of having those interested meet once or twice per month in person to discuss our experiences, ask questions, and meet with the docs in person if we're interested. I see this as a step in the very right direction. Hopefully this pans out and we can all meet each other formally. Take care and all the best to all the new bandsters. Remember, take it slow, you have the rest of your life to lose the weight and feel great!!!:smile:

I raised that concern with Jen, over the phone. She said that they're booking longer appt. with the nurse, so that she's not running late. She has more practice now, and more people aren't wincing as much...lol... I don't think I need a fill, so hopefully that will give her another 6 weeks practice before I need one...lol... I can update you all again tomorrow.

Anyone going for a fill on Tuesday? I'll be there shortly before noon.

I hit another big milestone today. I officially fit into jeans I can buy at a normal store (Old Navy). I didn't have to go to a big people store!!! Yay for me!!!

Congrats Mandine!!! You won't ever regret it!!!

That was just a couple of weeks ago on July 21.

The nurse practitioner did my fill last time, under Dr. Andrews' guidance. It was quite a bit more painfull than when Dr. A did it for me. Not too fun. I hope others have better experiences.

I just had a 0.5 cc removed. Hopefully, I'll be able to eat healthier now. I was purging at least once/day, and filling up on ice cream since it went down smooth, and did not stick.

I'm gonna be proactive here. Not that I don't enjoy reading reading the threads on tuesdays. I'm going in tomorrow morning at 10:40 for a fill. Who will I see? lol...

Hmmm...tough question. What does it mean to "work out?" lol... I have so many clothes that I've grown out of, I get to shrink back into them.

Great to hear people are enjoying it. It really makes excersize fun when you start doing things like hoola hoops and tight rope walking. It is sad that you have to watch your mii expand, but it's fun to see it shrink too. Imagine how it feels to be yelled at by the thing, and told you're too obese to even use it. Remember that old joke about stepping on the scale and having it tell you, "one at a time please", well thats almost a reality for the wii fit. Keep on keeping on. Btw, when are we all going to meet somewhere for a nice healthy Protein Shake?

Moonbeam, the Wii Fit is certainly fun. If you already have a Wii, the investment for the Wii Fit isnt that much, and I understand there are several new games available now which make use of the Wii Fit board. If you try it, let us know how it goes for you.

Hi All, I have some exciting stories to share, since the last few days. I haven't had to purge for 2 days now. This is a first for me, since my fill a couple of saturdays ago. I've really been conscious of the size of bite I take, and really count my chews now more than ever. And...even more exciting to me than that, I hit a pretty big milestone. Exactly 319 days ago, I bought a Wii Fit. I was soooo excited to start using it. Only, when I stepped on it for the first time, the darn thing told me to get off, and that I was too heavy. I've waited almost a year, but my first major goal for myself was to be able to look like a fool, and get some excersize in on that darn game. Last night I finally got my chance! I stepped on the Wii Fit, and it didn't yell at me to get off. I was 1 pound lighter than the maximum weight! Anyways, gotta go, I have a hoola hoop contest to enter in the virtual world of Wii!:thumbup:

I wanna be a loser, Thank You! That answer is probably the best advise. As simple as it sounds, you eat one way for your entire life, and then you have to train yourself to eat another way. I will try that tomorrow, and let you all know how it goes. I know I have to eat smaller bites, and chew more. I always think I'm doing that, but apparently not. You've described exactly how I feel during each dinner. Regards!

Okay, so I need to share some of my more recent experiences. I had my first fill done a couple of saturday's ago when they ran the saturday clinic. Since then, I have not been able to really eat much solids. I purge at least once/day, usually at supper time, since I tend to stick to boost for breaky and soup for lunch. I feel the extreme burning pain after a few bites of food, then it's off to the bathroom for me. Sometimes over the past week, I've felt that I'm becoming bolemic, which is why I'm losing weight, and not because of the band. I've found that Wendy's and Timmy's chilli's are easy to swallow and stay down. I find myself eating a lot of ice cream and chips again because they stay down. This is totally not the way I need to be eating, but can't seem to find anything else. I spoke with Jen today, and scheduled my next fill appointment for July 21. I doubt I'll get a fill, but I'm still going to go to talk to Dr. B or A. SK: You talk about drinking with your meal. Forget it. It's absolute agony. I remember my first appt with Danielle, she told me that I shouldn't drink because it'll wash the food down, and defeat the purpose of the band. She is sadly mistaken on that one. It makes everything 100% worse. I now make sure there's nothing in front of me to drink. I agree that you sure don't know how much you rely on fluids while you eat, until they are removed. Has anyone shared my experiences? Should I be asking for a de-fill? I asked Jen to schedule another appointment with Danielle. Hopefully she'll have some nutritious advice for me.

I'm not too sure about here in Winnipeg, but I've found a threat in this forum that discusses WW and LB.