mookie1

Hey...I'll go there and bring the Tequila!

Looking good! You should go to the mall and get some "Glamour shots by Deb! They're 75% off this week!" You're bordering on Spicy! Chili Today...Hot Tamale. Your friends look like lots of fun. Jagermeister shots anyone? They always seem like such a great idea at the time. Eww..I think I through up in my mouth a little bit...

Anyone know if something like this is available? If not, anyone interested in putting together an on-line version for us Canadians with Canadian products and brands? We could include tips and tricks for every stage of the journey, inspirational stories from our own lives and words of wisdom to face and overcome challenges. I'd be happy to put all the information together in a Power Point presentation. Mookie

I'm in Alberta too. Check out the "Go Mango" website. True treadmills are great-good quality that will last. I first used a True while in physio and had to get one. Great staff ready to help.

Prior to gaining all my wght, I too was a runner. I ran between 5-10K a day (in any weather-winter is my fav. time to run) I love the feeling of cold air in my lungs! I joined the Running Room (Canadian Running Club) and started off very simply with-Run 1 minute, Walk 1 minute-up to 20 minutes. Run every day (a must to get your body used to the activity)then the following week move up to run 2 minutes walk 1 minute and so on to the point where you are running 20 minutes and walking one minute. Then you can either continue with the one minute increases or start up- hill training. Find a hill and start over with 1 minute runs up to 20 minutes. Remember to be consistant. Even if you feel great and know you can run longer than the specific (wlk-run ratio) follow the guidelines to the T. If you go overboard, this is when people get injuries and the time needed to recover with throw you back to the beginning (not to mention you may loose your willpower-happened to me!) I used imagery to keep me going through the tough times. I'd imagine I was attached to a long rope hooked around the nearest street light-power pole and I'd pull the rope to help me get to the pole. Then I'd imagine I was hooked to the next-and so on. It really helped-seems silly but it worked. Also to ensure you are staying loose while running-put a Saltine in each hand and run with them for the first little while-the point is to remind yourself that your arms and hands are to be loose not clenched. Break a cracker...and you won't forget. At the end of the runs you'd have to throw your crackers in the garbage in front of the instructors. Beleive me, running with a handful of cracker crumbs sucks. Good luck. If you have any questions about proper shoes, clothing etc...email me. (Don't forget the H2o). Mookie

I'll be thinking of you. Good Luck.

Dr. Cobourn's office has supplied the following list of Doctors performing adjustments. Adjustment Doctors Canada Alberta Dr. Dan Botha Calgary Bus: 1 (403) 255 5868 Fax: 1 (403) 252 7442 Dr. Phillip Mitchell Suitor House 1004 – 8th Avenue S.E. Calgary, Alberta T2G 0M4 Bus: 1 (403) 264 6720 x6 Mobile: 1 (403) 874 2719 Pager: 1 (403) 212 8223 x3778 Fax: 1 (403) 237 0167 Email: phillipmitchel@shaw.ca British Columbia Romona Ramov 1080 Howe Street Suite 505 Vancouver, BC V6Z 2T1 Phone: 1 (604) 669 1633 Email: paulschol@hotmail.com *Wednesday – best day Dr. Wai Leung Surrey Memorial Hospital 13750-96th Avenue Surrey, B.C. V3V 1Z2 Tel: 604-581-2515 Fax: 604-583-6505 Manitoba Dr. Doug Henry Winnipeg Phone: (204) 633 7281 Fax: (204) 586 5713 Maritimes Region Dr. Sylvain Beausoleil (not available right now) Dr. George-L. Dumont Regional Hospital 330 University Avenue Moncton, NB E1C 2Z3 Tel: 506-858-8199 Fax: 506-858-9021 Quebec Region Dr. Pierre Jette C.H. Pierre Boucher, 1333 Jacques-Cartier East, Longueuil, QC J4M 2A5 Tel: 450-468-6223 Fax: 450-468-8250 Dr. Ronald Denis Hospital du Sacre Coeur de Montreal 5400 Gouin West Montreal, QC H4J 1C5 Tel: 514-331-4322 Fax: 514-331-8683 Dr. Steven Miller Hopital Ste-Croix 570 Heriot St. Drummondville, QC J2B 1C1 Tel: 819-478-6464 Fax: 819-478-6410 Dr. Nicholas Christou Royal Victoria Hospital 687 ave. des Pins W. Montreal, QC H3A 1A1 Tel: 514-843-1531 Fax: 514-843-1430 Adjustment Doctors.doc

I just snorted when I read M's reply! My throat is sore from a cold and now I have a "cannonball" stuck in there too. Mmmm..Supertramp with a nice Chianti and Fava Beans. I'd take an "unfill" for a nice slice of that action.

:help: A quick glance through the "food" section has me confused. The answers provided seem to be all over the board. Could you please suggest some daily food diets? How much is normal at each stage of the healing process. Are people eating hot dogs and chili b/c that's what they are craving or are they simply limited to specific foods? Should I be concerned that my diet will now consist of broth and whatever I can eat that will stay down (regardless of it's nutritional value)? I plan to get back into long distance training and if I can't eat fruits, veggies and quality Protein, I think I'll be in trouble. I realize I have lots of stored fat but I will/want to eat good food. What about Water? I drink at least 10 glasses of h2o a day. Maybe my need for water will decrease when I've lost some wgt? I'm constantly sweating up a storm and drinking lots of water to replenish my system. Anti-depressants also cause dry mouth so I predict an issue with that too. In the summer I work at a greenhouse and spend 8hrs+ in the heat. I drink a Gatorade and fill that same bottle with water every hour. Now I'm freaking out!! I don't have kids and usually make my own dishes (my husband is out of town quite often). The food referenced in the main page link and the speed of wgt loss varies greatly. I read about food getting stuck, unfilled bands and terrible heartburn and really wonder if I should be doing this? I'm sure I'll flip flop the closer I get to my surgery date. "Okay...carry the wounded and shoot the slackers!" Which one am I? I would think that if you are limited to a certain amount of calories per day, you should/would make the best choices with nutritional value in mind. Still freaking out.

Thanks guys. My gut, butt and basically everything that jiggles is cheese related. I've been addicted to the good stuff since the day I could eat solids. I still remember a very vivid realization dating back to about 5-6 yrs old. My Mom was quite controlling when it came to dishing out food for my meals. She would cut small pieces of cheese for me and seemed to enjoy my begging for more. I would say to myself “when I get older I will buy a big block of cheese and eat all of it”. I have done exactly that, I buy all kinds of cheese and have a real pork out fest. I just want to know that if I’m relegated to eating certain foods, it won’t be crappy stuff. When I ask for diet info, I mean a way of eating not a list of certain foods. If my meals are going to be small, I’d hope I’d chose some chicken or eggs and not try to find a way to cram the crap in and keep it down. I’d hate to have that lingering guilt associated with making poor food choices stick around b/c the darn thing is stuck somewhere between my mouth and stomach. This is for Green’s eyes only! I love all kinds of cheese, stinky Blue-Have a little salad with your blue cheese dressing (oink), Baked Brie and Camembert, Deep Fried cheese with Jalapeno jelly, Poutine-mmm.squeaky fresh curds, Saganaki-Greek flamed cheese, Feta-from those huge vats, fondue (dip chunks of cheese in melted cheese! Kudos to the Swiss!), Raclette (again a nod to the Swiss!) All kinds of except “smoked cheese”…ewww, gross. “That shit ain’t right!” I’d eat pretty much anything covered, stuffed, mixed with and served with cheese. Boots, tires (insert your fav here!) My French Canadian heritage could also be to blame. We (My Quebec side) serve cheese with every meal-the fresh stuff from the local cheese factory, when it’s still warm and really soft. Drool, drool. Curds also find their way to the Cabane a Sucre when maple sap is being processed. Dip the cheese in the syrup...yumm!

thanks W. Good stuff.

Welcome..keep us posted. Giddee up little LapBand!

I noticed, Yoda. Your typing seems lighter, about 50lbs lighter! Good job! People who hork and pork down food at the table tend to have a less refined palates. You savour every bite and enjoy the company at the table...6 year olds tend to tell it like it is anyways. "From the mouth of babes" I'd take a kids opinion any day. Me:"Does my ass look fat in this?" Kid:"Ya, pretty much!" A child once came up to me in a grocery store and pointed at my belly and asked if I was having babies in there! Gotta love 'em!

Most of us live with regrets; should have said this, should have done that. What if, anything, would you hop in the Wayback Machine to do? I wish I was able to go back and apologize to some of the kids I made fun of while in school or in fact not made fun of them at all. I would have studied much harder and gone to University when I’d graduated. To stand still in time with a certain person and truly enjoy our first kiss. To listen to my gut instinct and distanced myself from choices that I knew would not lead me down a positive path. Your turn, go!

Welcome! Do you miss Canada? Here is a tip; Click your heels to come home. [/url]

hilarious! tic tac anyone?

Yep, fingers and toes crossed for ya. Ok, I'll do a chub hoola just for you. There...happy! Michelle

Welcome! I'm new too...everyone here is great! You'll be happy that you came over to the dark side!:clap2:

Great job Mademoiselle! I have to ask, do you have an English degree? You are very well spoken (written) that is. Maybe we should review all the posts at then end of the year and create a book of CND LapBand musing 2006. Perhaps a calendar with a years worth of witty musings and sagacious ‘isms. We, will of course, have a center fold…Let’s see who could fill that void?? I’m picturing someone green, hairy and with a slight case of halitosis. Yes, yes you can bring your lightsaber! Geez...”are we there yet”??? Please keep in mind that your “accessory” will provide a proportion/scale reference for everything in the picture. Thinking twice now, aren’t you?? Maybe just a fig leaf, non? :flame:Burn...Can u feel it?

My memories of Halloween are mixed with a German tradition (military brat stationed in Germany for 5 yrs) called Martinstag; Martinstag was celebrated as the end of the harvest season (thanksgiving). For workers and the poor it was a time when they had a chance to enjoy some of the bounty and get a few crumbs from the nobles' table. Today in many parts of Europe the feast is still celebrated by processions of children with candle-lit lanterns. Sometimes their parents Celebrate with them by lighting a bonfire. Later in the evening, they make or buy lanterns to carry through the streets, sing songs in small groups and go door to door to collect candy or other treats. There are also people dressed as Witches and they run between the groups of people screeching and pretending to fly around on rustic looking brooms. The lanterns are made by tearing pieces of tissue paper and applying them with glue to a balloon. Pop the balloon, attach a wire as a handle and tie it to a stick. Add candle. Believe it or not, we carried these lanterns with a lit candle through the streets (no traumatic burn stories to report). As a nod to my past, I’ve made about 50 lanterns each with its own candle (tea light candles are the safest) and hang them (fishing line) at various heights from the eaves. Once it’s dark, the tea light candles glow look like pumpkins floating around the door. I’ll post a pic after Halloween; it’s really kind of neat. Makes for a Spooktacular sight!

Ya, that dry powder stuff. Your basic nutritional nightmare. Let me know how it tastes if you try it. :hungry:

I’ve found a wrinkle in the LB journey. Do any of the Dr.’s in Alberta work on Saturdays? I can’t see my work being ok with me taking a day off every few months to drive to Calgary w/out some sort of reasonable excuse. Here’s what I’m thinking…let me know if any of you would like to explore this possibility. Once a month/2nd month, we (people who need an adjustment that month or whatever) get together early on a Saturday and go to see the Dr. for a group adjustment. I think if there are a group of people that go together it may be possible to talk the Dr. into seeing us as a group after regular business hours. He could get a bunch of adjustments done and make even more $ than seeing us at different times and not to mention the freed up time both sides would have. The trip would also be good for people who just need a slight adjustment and wait a while due to prior commitments and family obligations. I can see three organized groups, Northern AB, Central AB and Southern AB. The Northern AB could meet up with the Central AB’s and go together. Southern AB could round up the gang and meet us there. I have a van so I’d volunteer the transportation. Let me know if this is something that may work for you or if you have any concerns. I’ll present the proposal to the Dr. once I’ve hear from the AB grew. Power to the people!

Yummm... Sounds good. Last time I used a slow cooker there was a crisis and an $800.00 vet bill. I put a roast in the cooker in the am before work and recvd a call from the neighbour (she'd check on them at noon since I worked an hour away)saying that there was blood all over the floors and walls and that the dogs had got into a huge fight over the roast. What a dumb thing to have done! The dogs always swipe things off the counters, what made me think that a roast in a pot would be safe. Brain fart I guess. The lid and crook were in pieces, roast juice was all over the walls, ceiling and the dogs. Took one of the dogs to the vet to get his front paws and neck stitched up and returned home to clean up the mess. When I went to pick up Trenton (the one that got the short end of the stick) the Doctors and Animal Techs all said the clinic smelled of delicious roast that day. "Pass the mashed potatoes!" I'm not sure how the roast tasted but it sure smelled delicious. Cooker Pot Roast. 3 cups h2o, 3 packages of Hidden Valley dip seasoning and a roast. Cook on high for 8 hours. Tastes best when served from a plate rather than a ceiling.

I was thinking the same thing last night. I could do w/out the rice but I love the salty seaweed. I plan on doing some creative cooking after I've had my surgery. I'm afraid this might be an exercise in futility that could bring on a :sick feeling. food has been such an all consuming crutch that I think I'll end up learning its new role the hard way. EnglishRomajiNihongo until next timemata neまたね

Totally inspiring-High five and belly bump!! :clap2: My surgery is not until March but I'm trying to absorb all the info this site and its welcoming members provide. I hope to make a smooth transition to the skinny Michelle. I too suffer with depression and have already started to decrease my meds in anticipation of better moods and ability to handle the day to day stresses. It's been a while in the making, I've been on all sorts of meds for the last ten years and with every new combo of meds I'd feel less and less empowered and let myself spiral out of control while trying to lead a "normal" life and behave the way everyone wanted me to behave. I look forward to reading about all your triumphs and challenges. All the best my friend! XOXO