Doddie63

Liz. A very nice lady is trying to start a support group in Halifax. If you are not aware of her e mail address, post and I will forard it to you. I am in B.C. and we support each other across the country. They will be meeting shortly. Doddie

Are there any "model" bandsters out there. More like Yo Yos. LOL Doddie

Sherrylynn. Your doctor has not put much restriction on your band at this time. You need to heal and the band to settle in (if you will). Some think it is to allow scar tissue to form to hold the band in place. I am sure your doctor has a schedule of fills for you to follow. As for your nibbles, don't forget we all suffer head hunger. No matter how tight the restriction you must work on correcting your bad habits. the band can't do that for you. What it does do is remind you when you break the rules. Until you get your fills, work on more exercise, eating sensibly, and plan your snacks so they are healthy choices. You are in a tough spot right now - between and rock and a hard place. So put your energy into planning your life style changes NOT dieting. Hang in there it will get better.Doddie

Wow, have TLBC changed their pre op diet? I was only done in February and had the pleasure of the cottage cheese and yogurt diet. Mitzy don't worry about what your eat before the surgery too much as the time flies. Hope you make the decision to have the band. I don't think there are very many who regret their decision. Doddie.

LOL Sorry I have a tendancy to think everyone plays my tricks. I buy things for "when my neices/nephews" come but in reality they are for me. Doddie

Yes, Put a reminder somewhere that you are not on a diet but you are making a whole new lifestyle change. I give myself visuals. On my calendar posted on he wall, I put a large smiley on the day I weigh in which is Sunday and each day I do a small amount of exercise I give myself a small smiley. When I miss my exercise, the blank calendar date looms huge. At the end of the month I have a visual of my weight lost for the month and how much exercise I have put in. I get a warm feeling when I see it. Maybe this idea may help you but most importantly give yourself a pat on the back when you do something right. The reward is not to be food mind you. One last tip, DON'T deny yourself. If you want a small treat, have it but make sure it is small. That way, you won't get into the old dieting routine of having a treat then feeling guilty because you broke the diet rules. Everything is legal in small portions. Doddie

Well said Nancy. Diet is a word I try not to use. It is not a diet if it was, I would not have spent 16 K +. It is a whole new way of life learning to eat properly and how we reach that goal is an individual process. Some want to loose the weight fast and diet by starvation then work on proper eating habits and exercise. Others take the slow road changing their habits as they go. That is my choosen route but it won't work for everyone. Going slowly is frustrating along the way, but when I take a momemnt and reflect I see how far I have come. I hope Susan reads your message. Doddie

Mitz Good decision. go gal

Loriely. Seem to be following you around on the sites, but not really. Howver I just noticed your weight loss to date. You have done great. I notice you said you bought some chocolates is there any way you can put them away "just for today". If you feel like them tomorrow ask yourself the same question "do I need these just for today". Punishing yourself with chocolates is not going to make your problems go away. Now is the time to plan things that won't give in to head hunger. You can do it. doddie

Well with Dr. Yau, sit tight. He will bring you thru this. You may just have to attempt to maintain until your issues are resolved. As I have said the band is with us for life so what is the rush. Your time will come. Hang in there. Doddie

<p>lorliely: Where were you banded. I think it is time that you made an appointment with your doctor and discuss with him your difficulties. If you are just going to a fill nurse and making the decisions to fill and defill yourself, this might not be advisable. Eventually, you are going to wear out the port.Your doctor will be in a better position to evaluate where the problems are occurring. Take a detailed report of what you are eating, how much, if you PB, exercise being done, emotional issues, etc. I am sure you will find your answers with him. Good luck and keep posting. We will help as much as we can. Doddie</p>

Hi Peaches. I took advice from a TLBC long time bandster Heather. She keeps a loose fill and focused on eating whatever she liked but in small quantities and chewing. She travels a lot. As for me, I have 3 fills. Two ccs in April, 1 cc in June and 1 cc in July. After that, I have focused on chewing and eating healthy. I am not in a rush to loose my weight as much as I want to be normal in my eating. I am a food gulper and grazer. I was lucky in that my band has a lot of restriction without fills. LOL my weight loss has been an average of .75 lbs per week. Bear in mind that I have arthritis in both knees and hip and shoulder so can only go to aqua fit and use the stationary bike. The local district gym set up a program for me under the direction of my doctor and this is the regime. Three days a week aqua fit for one hour, two days a week on the stationary bike at a slow pace with lifting a few different weights averaging 10 lbs. I can eat 1 cup to 1 1/2 cup of soft food but when I eat chicken, pork, or beef, I can't eat more than 2 ozs. Hope this answers your questions. PS: You haven't done so badly yourself. Doddie</p>

Hi: You should discuss this with your doctor. We don't know your joint issues if any, health issues if any. But genrally, when you have not exercised for a period of time, five minutes of walking 3 times a day. As you feel stronger build up your time. We all start off gung ho and tend to over do things until we realize the band is for life. I use the philosophy of "just for today". First I got my chewing in fairly good order while doing minumum exercise 3 times a week. I then got a note from my doctor to our district gym that I could do aqua fit three times a week and on the bike 2 times a week under supervision. The gym supervisor started me off at 10 minutes on the bike for 3 weeks and increased it to 15 minutes then some weight lifting averaging 10 lbs and then another 10 minutes on the bike. What I am saying until you are in shape do your favorite exercise in small amounts over the day. You still will be burning calories but not injurying yourself. Oh, forgot, as I hate exercise, I say to myself "just for today I will exercise" and make myself go just for that day only. Then the next day the same thing. Hope this help. Doddie

Sorry, then you are between a rock and a hard place. You must discuss this with your employer and doctor. There is never any guarantee you will not have difficulties. This is a non intrusive surgery but still major nevertheless. Good luck in your decision,keep us posted. Doddie

Farmer E. I have found also that everyone is very supportive or at the very least non judgmental. I don't rush up and wave the flag about the band, but when people notice I am loosing weight I emplain that I had the band. I make no secret of the fact that weight has always been a problem for me and the band is the tool that is making me eat normally and healthy. Lets face it guys. Everyone has noticed how fat we have been and the numeorus weight loss attempts and failures. Now when I decline food, instead of pushing it at me (like they do with all fat people) they discreetly move on to the next person to offer food to. I like being open and the responses I get. And if someone has a problem with my band then it is truly their problem. I am proud of mine. Doddie

Susan Silver where are you. I have read both pages and you have only posted once. Please keep on with the support. We all got the band because of eating disorders of one kind or another. I would say a good majority of us are not perfectl little angles. With the stresses you are going thru give yourself a star for only gaining 8 lbs. You can do get back on track. Try saying to yourself "just for today, I will eat healthy, chew my food", Just for today. When you have yourself back on track in a few days, weeks months, then try exerecising & "just for today". Don't worry, the band is with you for a lifetime and so are we. Doddie :clap2:

Loriely: I think I have something similar. It usually is after not chewing hard protein like pork, or chicken thoroughly enough. When I feel that pain I stop eating immediately. At the next meal, I try to remember to chew thoroughly. When I do, I don't have the pain. Is that what you mean? Doddie

Mitzy you can't go wrong. They are a good group and do try to support the group but there is only so much any clinic can do, most is up to you. For me, the band is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I am not loosing huges gobs of fat at once but very slowly. Works out to .85 lbs per week. But and this is a big But, I am eating normally anything I desire. The quanties are governed by my band. For the first time in my life I feel normal. It took six months for me to chew my food properly and many difficult days of PBing. But now I rarely PB in fact only 3 times last month. I hope that you will practice proper band techniques when you get your band and you don't PB but whatever happens, you will be making the best decision ever. Doddie

Ang. You are making a life altering decision by having the band. Putting off surgery would not be my recommendation. You should be able to travel. I flew from Toronto to Vancouver 2 days after surgery and had no problem. I wonder if the doubts are because you want to be able to "eat" "drink" and be merry like the old you. If you are really serious about your band, you will have a wonderful opportunity to put it to the test. Really it is still fun to vacation without overindulging. You just can't eat as much. Doddie

Wish I could, but live too far away. Have fun Doddie

As long as you telephone on Monday and tell them the problem, I am sure they will be understanding even if they reschedule the surgery. They are dealing with credit all the time and from what I know about the clinic they will come thru. Doddie

<p>You certainly can say anything you want but why do you say "stupid". I don't think it is stupid. By looking at your finances and seeing where the dollars are going is a great thing. Even if you don't quit your job, think of where that money would go if you saved and invested it. Thing of PS as you are now in the 150's, think of trips to warm places, etc. Go Gal Go. doddie</p>

Safari: WL depends entirely on you. If you follow the guidlines strictly and exercise you will loose 1 - 2 lbs per week. There will be times you remain the same. The only difference to remember you are not on a diet as much as you are altering your lifestyle to learn to eat modestly and healthy. Well aboard bandsters land. The band is there to remind you when you have had enough.Doddie

Uh! I just spent 16000 K to get rid of fat. Why would I have some injected into me? I think if I was at the state of PS, I would have the PS. Doddie

good luck 18again will be thinking of you as you start your journey. Doddie