Tomander

I would also suggest a "tiny" defill. Just curious... what size bites are you taking... from day one of starting solid food my doctor told me to take bites the size of my baby finger nail and make sure I finish what I have in my mouth before I take my second or third bite. I never really thought about it until I was banded that I would sometimes but by second or third or even my fourth spoonful of food into my mouth even before I finished my first mouthful. I've never been "stuck"... touch wood... and when I started my journey I actually said to myself in my head take tiny bites... one at a time... it really worked for me. Tom, Toronto Banded July 6 06 Wt. Loss: 156 lbs

Hi Michpell I would ask Dr. C. directly what size of band he uses but I'm pretty sure it 10 cc. He was recently a guest speaker at one of my coffee groups. I host 3 coffee groups in the GTA area and all the people I've met over the past 7 years have had 10 cc bands with the exception of 1 person who was banded back in 2001 when the band was first introduced in Canada... she had a 4 cc band. If your in the GTA area and would like to join us for coffee there is a group of us meeting on June 18th in Burlington and on June 19th in Durham. I post the information here but please feel free to email me if you have any questions and I can give you the detail or if you have any questions I'd be happy to chat with you. For me it was important to find a support network following my surgery. Tom, Toronto Banded July 6 06 Wt. loss: 156 lbs tomander@bell.net

Hi TxBelle Hang in there you can get through the paper work. I was self-pay... I also have issues... I have spinabifida and hyrdocephalus... so I had a few extra test to go through but things worked out fine for me. As for your size and age don't worry about it... I know several people who are VERY large that have been banded and have done very well. I also know people of all ages that have been banded. My only regret is that I didn't do is sooner. I was 39 when I was banded... just a month before my 40th BD. I started with a 54" waist now I'm a 30" waist. Tom, Toronto Banded July 6 06 Wt. Loss: 156 lbs

For me I used my band as a "tool". I planned my meals. I only got weighed and measured once a month by my family doctor... I don't own a scale. I had 4 fills in total no defils. I also got support from other bandsters. I still get weighed in every month with my family doctor and I host 3 coffee groups a month. Tom, Toronto Banded July 6 06 Wt. Loss; 156 lbs

I’m in my 7th year of being banded and have talked about this here several times but I think it’s worth repeating for new bandsters. Try and take it one day at a time. Don’t compare yourself to others. Don’t go into this journey saying “I’ll never be able to eat this or that ever again.” I can eat ANYTHING except rice and apple skins and no carbonated beverages. Follow the guidelines given to you by your doctor. Remember… take tiny bites (the size of your pinky fingernail) and remember to finish what you have in your mouth before you take your next bite. When I was losing weight I checked in every month with my family doctor to get weighed and measured. (I don’t own scales) I also attended two coffee groups for people that were banded. These things really kept me motivated and on track. I still check in every month with my family doctor to get weighed-in and I host two coffee groups. For me support from fellow bandsters plays a big part in this journey. Back when I was banded my family doctor came up with something called the “Egg Timer Distraction”. It’s kind of difficult to explain here but I’d be happy to email you the .pdf document. It REALLY helped me with “head hunger”. I can’t tell you the number of people in my lapband coffee groups over the years that have said how helpful this “trick” has been in dealing with their head hunger. Also, I’m not really a “diet” book type person but I recommend you pick up two books. Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat: How to Break Your Eat-Repent-Repeat Cycle – by Dr. Michelle May I had the pleasure of hearing Dr. May speak at a conference when she came to Toronto and her book and guidelines really work well with the lapband journey. The second book is: The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite – by David L. Kessler Please feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions and also if you would like a copy of the “Egg Timer Distraction Document”. --- tomander@bell.net Tom, Toronto Banded July 6 06 Wt. Loss: 156 lbs tomander@bell.net

I used to eat regular instant oatmeal... now I only eat Steel Cut Oat. I cook a big pot of them. I portion them out into muffin tins. Once they freeze I pop out the frozen "pucks" and put them into baggies. They are a perfect "band-size" portion. I add a dash of vanilla and nutmeg and sometimes raisins. I and the "extras" when I microwave the "puck" because I find the flavour is better. Since I discovered Steel Cut Oats 4 years ago I have not eaten regular oatmeal. I really LOVE them. Some mornings I add a tablespoon or 2 of greek yogurt and fresh fruit... VERY yummy and keeps me full. FYI... for those of you that know me I cook on the weekend for the week and plan my meals for the week (dinners). I use muffin tins a lot when I cook. I have "muffin top tins" which are great. They make perfect band-size portions. Shepherds Pie, meat Loaf, Mac 'N cheese and many other recipes. I been using muffin tins since I started solid food. I've got several people in my coffee groups also using muffin tins ! - I just made Mini Muffin Phili Cheese Steak Bites for a party I went to and EVERYONE raved about them... I used mini muffin tins. Tom, Toronto Banded July 6 06 Wt. Loss: 156 lbs

Welcome to "Bandland"... this time next week it well be even better... then this time next year you won't believe how fast the time went by and how the band changed your life ! Tom, Toronto Banded July 6 06 Wt. Loss: 156 lbs

Hi Tammy This is a great place for information. I was self-pay.. but I've met some great people here and made a lot of great friends over the years. Tom, Toronto Banded July 6 06 Wt. Loss: 156 lbs

Tuesday, June 18th – 7:00 p.m. Second Cup 901 Brant St Burlington, ON L7R 2J6 (Just West of the Walmart) The Lapband coffee Groups are open to EVERYONE who has had Lapband Surgery or if you’re looking into the lapband process, recently banded, or a long time "Bandster". This is a great way to find out about the lapband from individuals who have had the surgery and to ask questions or just listen to individuals share their lapband journey experience. No need to sign up… just show up and if you can’t find the group ask for Tom at the cash register. If you have any questions before the coffee group please contact: Tom – tomander@bell.net Let’s all “band” together for a cup of coffee!

So sorry in didn't work for you. The band was the best tool I ever bought. I still work with it. I still get weighed in every month with my family doctor and I still go to support group meetings. These things keep me on track. I started with a 54" waist... now 30". Tom, Toronto Banded July 6 06 Wt. Loss: 156 lbs

I told everyone... no one has been negative... the band is for LIFE...it's a part of me...it's a tool I need. Tom, Toronto Banded July 6 06 Wt. Loss: 156 lbs

Lapband coffee Group - Durham Wednesday, June 19th – 7:00 p.m. Williams Fresh Cafe 1650 Victoria Street East Whitby, ON (905) 571-5145 (Very close to the Oshawa GO Train Station) The Lapband Coffee Groups are open to EVERYONE who has had Lapband Surgery or if you’re looking into the lapband process, recently banded, or a long time "Bandster". This is a great way to find out about the lapband from individuals who have had the surgery and to ask questions or just listen to individuals share their lapband journey experience. No need to sign up… just show up and if you can’t find the group ask for Tom at the cash register. If you have any questions before the coffee group please contact: Tom – tomander@bell.net Let’s all “band” together for a cup of coffee!

Your doing GREAT... your right on track... just take it one day at a time. Tom, Toronto Banded July 6 06 Wt. Loss: 156 lbs

I've lost weight many times in the past and ALWAYS gained it back and more. The band has allowed me to keep the weight off. I need the band for Portion Control. I would never have band removed. Tom, Toronto Banded July 6 06 Wt. Loss: 156 lbs

I was on a 4 week plan following surgery. 1 week clear fluids 1 week full fluids 1 week mushie foods 1 week solid foods then into "normal"foods Tom, Toronto Banded July 6 06 Wt. Loss: 156 lbs

Hi What your going through is very normal... remember your body is healing... some people don't lose until they have their first fill. Just curious... did you take your measurements? Tom, Toronto Banded July 6 06 Wt. Loss: 156 lbs

Really glad your back on the "band wagon"!!! If you have access to a support group I would try and get to group meeting... I find them VERY helpful. Tom, Toronto Banded July 6 06 Wt. Loss: 156 lbs

I take Collace every night... I take pain medication... Collace in a stool softener... VERY mild... it works great... I've been taking it for it for 5 years. You can get it any drug store, Walmart, costco. Tom, Toronto Banded July 6 06 Wt. Loss: 156 lbs

HI... I've been on the forum a long time... I have pictures in my profile but I can't figure out how to add a picture to a message... can anyone help? Thanks!! Tom, Toronto Banded July 6 06 Wt. Loss: 156 lbs

Lapband coffee Group – Brampton Monday, June 10th – 7:00 p.m. Second Cup (Located in the Longo’s Plaza) 7700 Hurontario Street, Building E, Unit 504 Brampton, ON The Lapband Coffee Groups are open to EVERYONE who has had Lapband Surgery or if you’re looking into the lapband process, recently banded, or a long time "Bandster". This is a great way to find out about the lapband from individuals who have had the surgery and to ask questions or just listen to individuals share their lapband journey experience. No need to sign up… just show up and if you can’t find the group ask for Tom at the cash register. If you have any questions before the coffee group please contact: Tom – tomander@bell.net Let’s all “band” together for a cup of coffee!

Tom, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Banded July 6 06 Wt. Loss: 156 lbs

Just curious... how often do you get stuck... I've never been stuck... the only foods I don't eat are rice and apple skins... they go down... but feel strange so I avoid them... everything else is fine. I take really tiny bites and I make sure I finish my first bite before I take my second or third bite. How many adjustments have you had? I had 4 in total. Tom, Toronto Banded July 6 06 Wt. Loss: 156 lbs

Welcome Scott !! This is a great site for information. Please feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions. I have free long distance and would be happy to chat with you on the phone. Tom, Toronto Banded July 6 06 Wt. Loss: 156 lbs tomander@bell.net

I'm in my 7th year of being banded. The only issues I have are that I cannot eat rice or apple skins... and no carbonated beverage. All other foods are fine. If I am "tight" in the mornings I will have a few sips of coffee or tea.... then wait 10 mins. then I can eat my breakfast. Sometimes I am tight 3 out of the 7 days of the week but then I can got weeks without being tight in mornings. Maybe you you need a tiny defill? Tom, Toronto Banded July 6 06 Wt. Loss: 156 lbs

For me the most important numbers are the inches. When I was losing I only got weighed in once a month with my family doctor and when I went for a fill. I had 4 fills in total. I got weighted and measured every month by family doctor. This really kept me motivated and on track. I don't own a scale. I found I lost inches very fast. I only plateaued 2 months in a row. I still get weighed every month. Hang in there !! Don't worry about the number on the scale. I just bought a pair of Levi jeans on the weekend... size 30... Slim Fit... the day of my surgery I worn a size 54. Tom, Toronto Banded July 6 06 Wt. Loss: 156 lbs