nu2ywg

Sounds like an awful situation. If it were me, I'd be contacting the surgeon to discuss options. And I wouldn't wait to be contacted...I'd be phoning them!

I second the Premier ones at Costco. They are ready made and don't have too many calories but a lot of protein. Occasionally they go on sale for $20 so watch for that.

You're very funny Larry, a great guy to have around on these challenges JulieG (nu2ywg) checking in at 198, right on goal and in onederland for the first time in over 11 years. I'm pleased as can be!

Couldn't help myself...I peeked aaaannnnndddd.......... I'm in ONEDERLAND!!!! :D :D :D

I'm still a couple of months away from my one year anniversary but wanted to say congrats on a great year for you. I'm sure being off the medications feels absolutely wonderful! I wish you all the best and a healthy life for many years to come.

I'm glad the responses have helped, we all know your pain. I just wanted to add to the voices of encouragement. You are really lucky with your fill schedule, I got 1 cc at a time for the first 3 or 4 fills and then .5cc after that...it took months for restriction. You can do this, really track your protein and your liquids. I find a big difference if I slack off on either of these. Take care!

JulieG (nu2ywg) checking in and very happy that I didn't run and hide over the almost 2 lb I gained in the first two weeks of the challenge. This week I lost 5 lb and am at 201 lb. I am so close to onederland and can almost taste it!!! I'm three pounds from my goal for October but honestly, as long as I get to onederland I will be thrilled. Did any of you have any specific rewards you treated yourself too when you hit onederland? Just trying to plan ahead and since this is such a major deal for me it will give me something to think about.

That's really great Tom, I'm sure you were a great inspiration to them. If I lived anywhere near TO I'd be calling You're right, it's a journey and at times it can be tough but if you work with your band, you can have great success.

Good sized baby, Larry! Very close to my boys (9 lb 9oz and 9 lb 11oz), neither of them fit their going home from the hospital outfits. Congrats on the 5k Deedee, you look great in your picture!

I have the same problem, I do GREAT in the daytime but once evening hits, I could eat non-stop. My strategies are to keep busy, even folding laundry or doing something with my hands while watching tv helps. And sometimes I just go to bed to avoid eating. I also try the every other day thing...allowing some snacking one day but not the next, then snacking the next after that. Then you can work down to snacking every third night...Also, I weigh myself often. I know a lot of people are trying to weigh themselves less but I find progress on the scale really motivates me to keep going whereas gaining shocks me into action. Hope you find something that works for you, I know how tough it is.

I've heard the gaining weight back more about gastric bypass than the band but there are certainly people who fail with the band, by eating slider foods. What I liked most about the band is that it is less invasive (no cutting of organs!), is adjustable, and is even removeable if necessary. I think the results are slower than gastric bypass but I guess it's a choice you have to make. Depending on how much you have to lose it could take 1 to 2 years to get it all off. Personally I have been really happy with my decision. I had no complications related to surgery, I have lost well over 100 lb and it hasn't even been a year and I feel like I have my life back. I play with my kids, I go to amusement parks and go on the rides with the kids, I don't have to shop in plus stores anymore, I have energy for EVERYTHING...I feel absolutely wonderful. I did work very hard with the band though, I exercise a lot now and I do have times where I have struggled. I honestly think that having to pay for the band probably helped...I used some of our RRSP's and I absolutely did not want to use our savings in vain. But I was at a point that I felt my life was severely shortened due to my weight and thought I might not even be around to enjoy that RRSP money. I hope this helps...everyone has a different experience so read up. Some are very happy and some are the opposite so you have to make your own decision. Good luck

Wow, some big losses this week! You guys are very motivating. I'm back on track so far this week and hoping for a much better weigh-in on Saturday. Congratulations Amy! And Larry, that's a beautiful baby! How big? Looks as big as a couple of mine

JulieG checking in at 206.8. That's up .8 lb. Not going in the right direction. While I am surviving my husband being away for the month, I guess the scale is telling the story of how I'm coping. After that major disappointment on the scale, I hit the gym with all three kids in tow (they went to the childmind), had a fantastic food day and did another 30 min on my home treadmill while the littlest one napped. I need to turn this around...I did not spend all that money on this surgery to let a little stress get me down. I almost felt like not checking in today because I was so embarassed to gain 2 weeks in a row but I'm using this thread to motivate myself and get back on track I really don't want another gaining week and I have a MAJOR goal of hitting onederland before I leave on my trip in November. Congratulations to you who are doing so great, you are inspiring! Larry, holy smokes on losing a foot around your waist, that's really amazing.

Part of the reason for the pre-op diet (the major one I think) is that sometimes the liver can be so enlarged with fat that it's hard for them to actually place the band. I think if you do your best you should be fine. As for the poster who is missing Thanksgiving....my preop diet started a few days before Christmas last year. That was really tough, especially since no one but my husband knew I was having the surgery. Just think of the weight you would probably gain if you weren't on the diet and rejoice in the fact that you will actually lose weight during the holidays!

I recently received an email from slimband (had initially considered going to TO for the surgery until I discovered that they did it right here in Winnipeg) and they are offering fairly attractive financing now. I was able to get a portion back on taxes with a letter from my family doctor saying that the surgery was not cosmetic (that I had health reasons to lose weight) as well as a letter from the surgery clinic saying similar things. I didn't get much back but every little bit helped. You might consider a personal loan if you aren't using a clinic that offers financing. Good luck!

Good for you! I wish you all the best. I think this weight thing is a lifelong battle for many of us and you just have to get back on that horse and keep trying which is exactly what you're doing. In the past, I would get off track and not get back on for a long long long time. The band helps me a lot in this way, getting me back on track much sooner. I'm glad you are getting yourself back on track, sounds like you have a great plan.

I haven't had a fill since about May but I'm pretty much at my sweet spot. Overall I've done well but I do have times, particularily during high stress or high hormones (ie pms) where I have some trouble keeping on track. I am really loving my new level of fitness so much. I make the gym a regular part of my life and I'm sure it's been instrumental in my success. I absolutely love the group classes. I'm thinking of getting one of those heart monitors...there's a lady at my gym that has one and it can tell you how many calories you burned during your workout. I would love that. Anyway, I'm about 25 lb to goal. I'll see when I get there if that is my final goal or not...I just picked it kind of randomly. Good luck everyone!

JulieG, gained one pound, now 206. I did great on my exercise goal, made it to the gym 5 times (goal was 4). It was the first week with my husband out of town training for his new career and I think I did reasonably well I guess. Single parenting is hard. But I'm doing okay. Hopefully next week will be better on the weight loss front. It's Thanksgiving this weekend in Canada so that will present some challenges as we are going to be at my in-laws for the big feast. I'm thankful for this thread and all you lovely people in it.

Unfortunately it is very common. Hopefully what will help you is knowing that eventually your band will be working with you and you just need to stay strong during that wait. It's not easy but this forum is a great place to help keep you focussed. You can do it!

Wow! Congratulations! And that sounds like a really neat program to have. I would have appreciated something like that.

From what I was told, it's normal to experience that feeling after a fill, that's why you are supposed to be on liquids or mushies after the fill for a couple of days. My clinic even does the fill slowly because some people experience nausea as the saline is going in and the pressure increases on the stomach. My guess is that you'll be fine but it's certainly worth getting it checked out if you're nervous. Make sure you come back and let us know how you made out!

Too true...my mother weighs about 90 lb and takes bp medication. But losing weight can hopefully reduce someone's dosage!

Awesome thread! I had a lot of similar goals and have reached most of them through the summer. Best ones so far: Having tons more energy to play with my kids - I've been to fairs and waterparks and actually played with the kids on all the rides, slides etc. Having lots of room in an airplane seat - flew in July when I hit my hundred pound mark and it was MARVELOUS! Shopping in regular stores - goodbye plus size stores forever! While it's still a wee bit uncomfortable to cross my legs in a straightback chair, I cross my legs all the time on sofas and other types of seating. This thread is fabulous. It made me appreciate the nsv's I have achieved and look forward to more. Good luck to all of you who are at the beginning of the journey, you have great goals!

I don't see a problem with it but....have you tasted store-bought babyfood before??? I made homemade babyfood for my kids, lol.

Congratulations on taking that big step! You have a very positive attitude...keep it and you will do GREAT!