Doddie63

Katie 59. Hope you get an early date. Good luck. Did we meet at the Lion's Gate last night meeting? If not, please come and join us if you can. There are now 13 of us. Everyone from different ages to different clinics to different times of having the band. The experiences shared was wonderful.

Hi everyone. You all seem to be back on track and thinking of progressing on in the journey. Hopefully supporting each other we can all meet our goals.

Good, when you are eating think of your friends and how you feel when dining out. Slow take your time. Sure hope to hear you arenow moving on to a lower weight.

In our local paper today was an article written by a Professor in our University on "the last 10 pounds". He writes 1. Stabilize blood-sugar levels. 2. Spoil your appetite before you get to the high-fat, high calorie part of the meal 3. Eat a solid breakfast with adequate protein and a reasonable number of calories 4. Get out the weights to build muscle mass 5. Increase the intensit of your exercise 6. Eat fish oil. Fish oil has been sow to boost metabolism and improve fat burning and increase carbohydrate storage in muscles 7. Eat protein with each meal 8. Keep your eyes on the prize 9. Have a support group 10. Be realistic. These suggestions could also apply to a plateau I would think. Just thought I would post them incase anyone was looking for areas they could get that final push.

Carlene: You are a gorgeous wonderful mom to take on your grandchildren for your DD and in all probablity giving the children an upbringing they so richly deserve. My bro in law is an alcoholic and a bi polar now in his 70's. Has been sober pretty much of of the time with a few slips. AA helped him and today he is in his 30th year. My sister went to Alanon for support. Somehow you wonderful woman must make time for yourself. All the baby chasing etc is tiring, but nothing like a little time off for yourself will revitalize you. You need that aqa walking. Is there anyone you know that could take the children for a 1/2 hour. In our community centre, they have day care for single moms while they take the exercise program. Any around your area? Just a few thoughts.

carlene - ouch, you do have problems. Does you doctor have any suggestions. Perhaps a personal trainer? or a program worked out for you by the Arthritis Associaton in your area. I find working in the garden helps me bend, stretch, etc. I have arthritis in the knees hip and arm but not enough to affect my gardening (darn). I go to aqua fit classes in the winter but take the summer off to garden.

Peaches: Relax there is nothing wrong with Peanut M&Ms. Just factor them into your daily intake. I have cheezies every other day but never more than the one serving. It brings my calorie count up, but when I check FitDay for daily intake I still come in average of 1011. So give yourself a pat on the back and look at the real reasons you are having a bit of a stall. Are you exercising consistantly? Are you too tight and finding you are eating high calorie easy foods such as mashed potatoes, mashed tuna salada. Are you eating the 3oz of HARD PROTEIN which makes you chew and fills the pouch quicker? I find when I have the hard protein, I can't eat for three or four hours but when I make Tuna salad I am grazing in minutes. How I wish I was at 180. Just set your mind to getting to 179 by the end of the month. No more. It seems the 180 is a psycological barrier so you need to focus on only one pound. Hope a few of these ideas will help.

Well take it easy on the exercising in that heat. I can't imagine that as we rarely get over 90 usually we are around 70 - 80 in the summer months. Is there a nice non alcoholic drink you make?

Love Contact Jill at the TLBC and ask her to review what you have been eating over the last few days. You may be eating too little. I think you would be on mushies and Jill may be able to help you make special shakes, etc. Also, check your blood sugar. If you are faint you could be low in your count. If you are on diabetic drugs, go to your doctor he/she may reduce the amount of medications. They too can cause faintness when you are eating so little. Hope this helps.

Yes, I am thrilled you all invited me to be your friend. Now I don't feel so "woss" with my big fat zero. Lovely weather to work in the garden today, bright sunshine and slight cool breeze. Carlene, where do you hide when it is 101

What is it that bothers you so much about people pointing out the need to research after care. I have never been rude just keep stating the need to research the pros and cons. You keep saying how great Mexico is and I have no doubt you are correct, but there are many clinics and doctors who will not take on patients that are not their own. Thus the need for research prior to taking on a contract. The other thing is, this forum is for all to state experiences and knowledge and pass on research in order for the new potential banders to have a comprehensive knowledge about the band before being banded. I will say this to you. I will always stress how important it is to ensure aftercare has been carefully researched.

Sunshine: If it helps, try weighing yourself precisely on the same day every week at the same time in th same state of dress. Keep a record. Nothing wrong in weighing every day if you like, but that can be distressing to some and weight goes up and down all the time. Once your find your pattern of weight loss you will be more relaxed with gains. For instance, I start of real low at the lst of the month, and gain in the 3rd week then show my true weight at the end of the month. For fun and to keep me focused, I weigh in every few mornings to keep me on track but discount any weight gain. Others feel it better to throw away the scale and only weigh in at the doctors. Whatever suits you but remember you will show weight gains sometimes. Hope this helps

NM Sunshine: My bro-in-law is bipolar and I know what you mean. You may want the doctor to look at your meds. He did and is much better now. Just a hint to slow you down in eating. Take a small bite on your fork put it down and then start counting your chews. 12 is the normal amount before you swall automatically so you don't want large chunks still in your mouth. My clinic told me to try for 20 times or more before swallowing. Sit on your hands if necessary. When I am at a restaurant, I find it easier to chew or eat slowly because of the conversations going on. However when I am alone (that is a lot) I will sit on my hands. Good luck, I know you can overcome your problems.

carlene: I noticed your comment on honey. That is a no no for a diabetic as it is the same as sugar. Seriously cooking for a diabetic is not all that tough. Diabetic association and Company's coming have cooking for diabetics. The key is to keep small quantities and exerecise. If he is borderline it is not usual for him to take glucose readings. Also, fruits are very quick sugar fixes that is why diabetic who feel they have low sugar are told that if in trouble suck on an orange. So be sparing on the fruits and emphasize veggies. Low fat proteins etc. I am diabetic and since the band have gone from 5 metformin a day to 1 as I have lost weight. You should have no problem with the help of a few cookbooks.

NM Sunshine. Hi I asked to be your friend. As for your vomiting stop look and listen. Stop to see what you are eating. Tomato skins can be tough to chew down for instance, are you measuring 3 oz hard protein and 3 - 6 oz veggies? or are you eyeballing. Listen to what you are feeling. Are you sensing a tightness and taking one more bite, or are you ignoring the sighs which are any of/or tightness, pulsating like a heartbeat in the pouch, hiccupping, sneezing. Are you eating slow enough to sense the feelings. Should take you at least 20 minutes to chew through a cup of food which includes the 3 oz of hard protein. If your answer is yes I am doing all that, then you may need a sligh defill for awhile. If you have stresses in you life that causes the stomach to block the opening by swelling, so a defill may be the answer

Thanks froggi. I still am seething though.

yeah, I figured it out and now show two friends. Thanks guys. Still don't like the big fact zero. Being fat all my life, I know what it is like to have no friends and being excluded. I don't need this thread telling me I have no friends. I would like the reps back or nothing at all. We should have a choice on what we display. I can't imagine how many people on this site are feeling the same sickening feeling I felt when I saw zero. Hope they change it.

I HATE FRIENDS. I WANT MY REPS BACK. Being fat I think everyone can relate to the terrible feeling one has when they have "no friends" The big fat "O" takes me back to that old feeling. I am thinking of leaving this site and not recommending it anymore. And by the way, I do have friends but for somereason they don't show. It doesn't matter. Why show up peole that don't have friends. Push our faces in the mud one more time.

justmeyouknow. Yes I agree with you. Phyllis you look great. Are you at goal? Good luck on your journey Justmeyouknow. Your time will come.

See you there. Just got back from having my port corrected and by some miracle still tight. However in July, when I seen Dr. Woodhead will probably get 1/2cc to test the port. See you Wednesday.

zoltrix you certainly are normal. The loss shows you are sticking to the diet as prescribed. Don't forget you carry a lot of water that too has to be dumped by frankly about 4 lbs of that is fat. Well done. Not much further to go. Maybel your clinic could suggest ways of varying your diet. For instance blending in fruit, etc. Whatever you are doing really great. By the way, I don't know where you live in Manitoba but if you e mail me privately, I would behappy to support you. I am on the PC every morning. Also, if you join the Canadianlapbanders.com you will get in touch with Candice who is from Manitoba. She has gone thru a number issues including having a baby with the band. It is on Yahoo and you have to join (free). It is frequented by banders in Canada mostly from the TLBC or the SWLC in Toronto but they welcome all. I would also imagine your clinic in Winnipeg may be starting up a website for support of long distance patients, but in the meantime fee free to contact me privately

Hi Phylliser and Carlene. Thanks I appreciate you both. And frankly I have both of you in my "friends' but I still come up zero. I can only imagine there is a time differential. Whatever even if I show a great big fat zero I know, since the band, I am not a zero. Thanks again.