Tres Chic

Everyone seems to have a different experience; Which foods work, which don't; weight loss expectations/results; lifestyle changes, etc?.... I've been banded for 2 1/2 years, have no regrets and have reached (more importantly "maintained") goal. This may not be the answer for everyone but it has been for me

Glad to hear it, Yasmina! My daughter and I joined CURVES about 6 weeks ago and we're going 3 to 4 times a week. It seems to be jump-starting my metabolism. I hate it, because I hate exercising, but I've lost a few inches and a clothes size. About the sideways port... Mine is flipped also (apparently everyone who got banded at TLBC at that time has the same issue -- it was just the way they did the bands then. Dr. Yau said he'd fix it once I'd reached goal. It's a minor procedure under local anesthesia. xo

Wow... you look incredible, Andrea!

Couldn't have said it better, Ruby!

The first doctors appointment usually talks about your overall health, what weight loss methods you've tried, how long you've been overweight... the usual "Intake" stuff. With insurance cases I think they have to book you for a Psych eval (they don't bother with this with the self-pay since). They'll also do (or send your for) the usual pre-op tests like blood, and a couple of x-rays. Good luck and keep us posted.

Rebecca: It's great to have those fast losses when the band is too tight. The problem I've found with keeping the band too tight is that you start eating all the wrong things because they go down easiest (i.e., icecream--the Devil's food!!!) Glad to learn you're doing better.

Doddie: I'm glad you found someone you like in BC to do the fills. With any luck, you won't have to have many and $80 is certainly easier to swallow (no pun intended) than having to fly back and forth from Toronto.

Doddie: I honestly didn't notice who was coming in or out the day of our surgeries, but it's nice to meet you. Your ticker shows you're doing very well. My weight loss has been slow, partially because I started with a lower BMI (I'd lost 50 lbs on Jenny Craig before being banded). I think I'm too restricted right now so I'm eating "bad things" (You know the ones??!!!). I'm planning to get a small defill in the next few weeks so that I can get some control. Do you have somewhere handy in Vancouver to get fills?

The first couple of fills provide very little restriction. By the third, you should be well on the way. Don't worry, it WILL work. Best wishes,

RPA - good luck with your first fill. It took me about 3 fills to get where I wanted to be and I've never regretted the decision to be banded.

RPA - where did Dr. Joffe do your surgery? He did mine, but his since left TLBC.

That's amazing Julie. You must feel like a different person.

Julie... great story! I'd be at goal if I could lob off 6.5 lbs of skin!!!

Kizzie... one surgery at a time there, my friend! Once you get close to your goal weight you'll have a better idea of what other cosmetic surgery you might need or want. If your clinic doesn't provide you with a list of foods and a timeline following surgery, you can check out www.tlbc.ca . It's the clinic in Toronto and they have a complete menu on their website. We'll be thinking about you on the 18th so check back when you can and tell us all how it went.

Kizzie... it's helpful to have lot's of advice because everyone doesn't have the same experience. For example, I had no shoulder pain or gas pain following surgery. I healed quickly (within days) and my only difficulty was the learning curve as you go through the phases of liquid, mushy, etc. Good luck with your journey... I've been banded since '07 and don't regret it.