Doddie63

JProtein is what curbs the appetite and maintains muscles and veggies create sugars and sugar makes you lethargic and hungry. Think as a furnace, you stoke the furnace with kindling (sugar) for fast burn then you put longer burning coal (protein) on. So stoke up on protein. The other thing is, I lay you odds that all of us are hooked on soda drinks. They were our comfort soothers. To get rid of an addiction or habit take time and effort. Keep on saying no to yourself. As for you less than displomatic know it all friend, find another friend. With friends like her who needs enemies. Doddie

Andreal: You are not a twit. I have never had one, but I think it is like an X Ray and they watch the fluid to see if you have a leak in the band or tubing. It also helps them find a port that may be difficult. Hope this helps until someone with more knowledge gets back to you. Welcome ton bandster land. Doddie

hi First off Joboo YOU ARE NOT A FAILURE. I defy any bandster to tell me that they have not had their ups and downs in their journey to attain their weight goals. You are just at a bad moment right now. If your doctor is true to his profession, he will want to help you not chastise you. If he does find another doctor. Look at your ticker. YOu need to loose 102. Just imagine only 3 lbs and it will be in the 90 range. So say to your self "just for today, I will do something that will burn a few calories". Park your vehicle a bit further away from the building you work in. Try and get into an exercise class. I told my aqua fit instructor before I joined that I was embarrassed to be seen in a bathing suit at 303 lbs. She laughed and said "don't worry honey, we are all too worried about our own bodies". Now I have no problem wearing a bathing suit but I still have the problem of getting their consistantly. As for you bandchick, I will keep you to your word. If you both want to e mail me to check in feel free. I am retired and on this site most days and check my e mail daily. If it helps fee free. Doddie

Hi Marcar. Nothing wrong with eating the head and giving the rest away. Glad you didn't eat the rest and give the head away. LOL

I can't think of anything more difficult than eating slowly, small bites. I try so hard but sometimes I get rushed and gulp it down and then have to gulp it back up again. Since January, I am averaging .75 lbs per week. But what the hey, it is still a loss. I will be up front and say "I dislike exercise with a passion but I do force my self on the treadmills a minium of 30 minutes 3 times a week. My fear is what happens when I reach a lower weight when the exercise has to be upped in order to loose weight? Something I try to take my mind off with "I will worry about that tomorrow". I think this thread is terrific for slow loosers as we all seem to have similar issues and the support and advice we give each other can't be duplicated by the fast loosers. Doddie

Hi: Just a word of caution on having too many liquid meals. The whole purpose of the band is to help us eat small but normal healthy meals. By chewing the food, we help ourselves feel full. Many people can't eat at breakfast, fair enough, but if you can't get down fish, chicken as protein, you may have to tight a restriction. Sometimes having a small defill such as .25 cc allows more solid food to go thru the band to the stomach proper thus feeling full longer. Many posts seem to indicate that their weight loss started up again after a small defill. Just my observation if it helps anyone. Doddie

Hi: My Valentine was not chocolate as my DH took my glare of warning about even thinking about such things. So instead, I got a peck and a Happy Valentine wish. Not bad for an ole married couple of 35 years. But the chocolate man sounds great. Doddie

Oops! got carried away with my post above. I meant over 1,600 Sorry. Doddie

Hi I am taking it by email and correspondence. So far, my weight has been going down slowly for the last year. I am putting into practice what Jill has sent me and I know the weight loss has increased a bit. I am now going for another fill of 1/2 cc. Yes I wish I could attend in person the clinic because what I have seen it is information we all know but with a twist to include the band. I think it is the deadlines and challenges that Jill throws at you that gets you going again. Take the challenge, I think you will enjoy it. Doddie

Roby: I went back and found the article and I am madder than ever. It is in the Vancouver Sun entitled "I'm a big loser and did something about it" by Shelley Fralic. the link is www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/arts/story. I am so sorry I don't know how to send a link. This has got to be the vilest and mean spirited article I have ever read. Doddie

Hi Bert. The only link I know is the Vancouver Sun, then editorials. I have since thrown away the article. If I find it again I will get back to you. Doddie

Hi In response to your question on the abbreviations, they are the names of the clinic, Surgical Weight Loss Clinic, Toronto Laproscopic Clinic, CIBO is a new clinic I do not know what the letters stand for. I only one I could and would recommend based on my knowledge are the first two. You will have to go to all the websites and make your decision on your research. Doddie

You are in a catch 22 scenario. Your week is obviously very long and you are exhausted by the end of the day. Now, understand this, I am not an exercise freak, in fact I hate exercise. What I have been told is: I must make time for myself. Exercise will give me more energy. So I bought a treadmill and I do the 30 minutes before I do anything else. If I don't, I never do the walk. I have a friend who was banded and arranged with her boss to come in 1/2 hour late and went to aqua fit classes. She works long hours as well and finds doing the exercise first thing in the morning gets her moving and she arrives at work fresh and full of energy. I am sure that you will get all sorts of advice, so my little two cents isn't much because I dislike exercise. There is also a bandster who has sina bibiflo (sp?) and can't exercise and has still managed to take off over 100 lbs. I guess what I am saying is if want to you can find a way. Doddie

E.L. Phewwwwww! Good decision. We can't make it for you but i am glad you read between the lines. Congratulations and we hope to see you in bandster land soon. Doddie

Juney: There are plenty of posts about clinics. Questions: Where do you live - clinic(s) closest to you. What are their policies of after care. Are they free or do they charge. For instance TLBC charges 18,000 but all after care is free, including band replacement, port corrections, slipped bands, erosion etc. They also have a fluro. Dr. Yau has done more than 16000 surgeries whereas CIBO for instance is just starting up. The other clinic in Toronto is SWL who also have a tremendous reputation. So to start, if you are in Ontario, look at the TLBC and SWL clinics. If you are in Alberta, they have fine clinics as well. BC, Sask, Man, Maritone no such luck that I know of. I am sure someone will post if they know of other clinics in Canada. As for going out of Country, many do to Mexico and to the USA. Personally would not be my choice due to the problems of after care. Well this is start good luck. Doddie

I had a very good answer from the fill nurse when I asked whether I needed a fill or not and if so how much. Her answer was getting more fill is not going to make you loose weight. The goal post is to have a fill that allows you to eat solid food by chewing it thoroughly and you are not hungry for 3 hours. You should have protein every three hours. If you are hungry after eating then a small fill would be required starting at 1/4 cc. I now believe that I am just a slow looser (64 years old) and I am not an exercise guru. I like to exercise but not to the point of exhaustion 7 days a week. To me that is just not fun. So I will be content with my 1/2 lb per week. Doddie:thumbup:

Congratulations Gaffer, you are not only a new man for yourself, but for your child as well. You stand a much greater chance of seeing him/her give you grandchildren. Well done. Doddie

How do you know it was started by a dry cleaner? Doddie

Your doctor has good common sense and made the right choice. He will be able to work with Dr. Woodhead so you will get good care. My port is on its side and it takes Dr. Woodhead a bit of time to get the fill in so your GP would need access to his knowledge if yours should be on its side. No big deal really, it can be corrected easily but I chose not to. Doddie

Well said Angi. Dr. R. Woodhead is a reputable doctor and right in our own backyard. Why anyone would want to go to Mexico and take a chance on the after care is beyond me. But what the hey, their life not mine. All we can do it point out what can happen. Doddie

in the blue menu on the right is the search engine. type in saskatchewan and you will get a lot of Sask. people. doddie

Check further into this websie. There is another link from Saskatchewan patients. You could get some insite and maybe contact them on that link. Doddie

Please, do not use credit as the reason for going to a clinic. Credit can be obtained in many ways. CIBO comments from people have not been good, especially their PR. If you go to them and have to miss a payment, what then. Ask them what their response would be to a missed payment? Let's face it, there are any number of reasons that a person would have to miss a payment. A reputable bank or credit union when advised of difficulties would be considerate as long as they are advised. Would CIBO deny you fills, refuse to replace a leaky band, refuse to put right a flipped port, etc. Ask them. It is vital you have these questions up front. Just some thoughts. Doddie

Hi: Joine the BC WLS website. This site is mainly for BC residents who have had gastric bypass or gastric band. Just post and you will get all sorts of information. You have to apply to be a member. Also, there is a monthly meeting of Gastric by pass patients all over the lower mainland and one monthly meeting for gastric band patients at the Lions Gate Hospital. You have to be very agressive with the BC Government. If you doctor recommends it, you could also be sent to Washington State. I know of a gastric by pass patient that went that route. By attending these meetings you will get all the accurate information your require. I had a BMI of 50 and now down to 40.5 and I could not get help so went private. If I waited any longer I would have died. Since the band, I have a cleaned our RRSP but I also have had my medications reduced considerably. You may want to try going private. Doddie

Hi Liz. Of course you can. You have seen the light. Joining weight watchers is great but now you have the added tool called the gastric band. I think all of us know we can loose weight, just starve but over a period of time, we put it all back on time and time again. So WW changes your eating habits and the band keeps you honest. Watch the weight start coming off now. Exercise is good, but start off in moderation. There is a fellow from our clinic that cannot exercise due to Spinal Bif(?sp), yet he took of a huge amount of weight and is keeping it off, thanks to the band. So welcome aboard to slow loosers, we need encouragement. I have been exercising and no more than 1 cup of food per meal and yet I have lost nothing since Feb. 01 but I keep trying. Not much else I can do. Good luck Doddie