cutlass6521

I walk and ride a bike on a regular basis and sadly....I am starting to look like a Shar -Pei puppy. My boobs are taking on that tear drop effect that no woman wants to ever have.

Hi everyone, I am from Calgary and decided to pay for my lapband surgery. I was referred to the weight management program in Calgary, and gave up with them when I found out that I was looking at 5 to 7 years before I would be considered for WLS. I figured I would be dead by then. I had my surgery performed at Smart Shape in Mississauga at the end of January 2014. Is there any reimbursement through Alberta Health Care?

I went with the band for the very same concern your husband had--I didn't want to do something that I could not reverse. I was advised by a weight management clinic that they prefer to do the sleeve-no maintenance, and you will lose the weight faster. This is the number one draw for an insurance company-they want the biggest bang for their buck they spend on you to get you healthy. things to consider: 1. Are you getting your surgery locally? 2. if you have the band-are adjustments done in the city you live in, or are you going to have to travel 3. Mexico? with the band do you have to pay for fills when you come home Remember, the after care with WLS is MORE important than the surgery. Without support, education, and medical advise you may struggle to achieve your goals. best of luck in your journey

May be crazy, but I swear I can feel my lapband in the center of my chest. The band feels tight every morning since my last fill and it is tender to the touch. Anyone else experience this?

I enjoy a glass of red wine a day. It is said that it will boost your metabolism. I tried a sip of beer-nope, began burping like a sailor. Tried one ounce of hard liquor, no mix-got really tipsy and a burning sensation in my now upset stomach.

I had a complete fear of total failure! I am very grateful that I have been proven wrong. like that famous sports ad says "Just Do It"

Sounds like the people surrounding you are more worried about how WLS is going to effect them. Are they worried that their lifestyle may change too? You go girl. You are doing this for yourself, not anyone else. The family will come around to your side once the surgery is complete.

Carbs ARE evil...well some of them. I cannot eat carbs-other than in natural form--veggies and fresh fruit. Bread-no-doesn't matter if it is the white goo bread or a whole grain. Rice-don't even go near it. My body has been screwed up for so long that everything I eat effects my weight and mood. I swear, I think I am the only person in the world that can lose weight eating 4 chicken wings and drinking a glass of red wine. LOL I try to get the Protein up to 100 grams/day and keep the carbs/sugars low and the calories around 1300..then the stars, moon, and sun align themselves. There must be a science to this, I just have not figured it all out yet. Remember, you must do what works for you. there is no one magic formula.

Has anyone else noticed all the commercials on the television and radio lately? They bomb us with food commercials day and night, over and over. The worst offenders have to be KFC and McDonalds. I spent a week visiting my elderly father, and the seniors love their TV. That TV is on from the time he gets up to the time he goes to bed. At 6 am the KFC and McDonalds and the Little Ceasars commercials start in. After a couple of days of this I was craving fried chicken, a BigMac and pizza pizza. Turn on the radio, and in the middle of the traffic report--more fast food companies luring us over to their side. No wonder we all have a food addiction. Forget the subliminal messages, this crap is up front and in your face!! These advertisers are even hitting the cartoon channels. Junior can start asking for a dinner of chicken nuggets and fries early in the day. Wow!!!

I agree. start practicing what you will be cooking for the rest of your healthy life. this gives you a chance to ease the family into your new lifestyle.

Yikes!! Sounds like someone is a little jealous that you are taking control of your life. Or, maybe, they are just a little shit house rat crazy.

I too was told this story of no bread, no tortilla, no beer, etc. 3 years ago a family doctor told me DON'T DO IT-you will never ever be able to eat normal food again. That scared the poop out of me. So I dropped the idea of WLS. Then last summer I was wondering about WLS surgery again. Went to a weight management seminar (government hoops to jump through-Canada). they basically said it didn't work. I was looking at a 3 to 5 year wait, and the results would be disappointing. I was also told that after having WLS I would be back to see them about getting the band removed due to problems of illness. Then last fall I ran into a friend I had not seen in a while. wow, he was thin. This guy loved his beer (works for a brewery) and loved his steak. I was amazed at how he looked-happy and healthy. He had the band 5 years ago, lost 100 pounds and has kept it off. Now came the big question: What can you not eat? He said he eats and drinks what he wants-just in small portions and slowly. Hmm, conflicting stories here. I called a surgeon for info on the band. He told it like it is. No miracle, just a tool to aid in weight loss. Then I found this website, wonderful advise and a realistic insight into WLS from real life people who have had it done. I was banded Jan 22 2014. I followed the food rules to the letter for the first 6 weeks after the surgery. then onto normal food. I have since had thin crust pizza, steak, red wine, Mexican food etc. I eat a very small portion and watch my calorie intake per day. On a regular daily basis I avoid all starchy foods, sugars, and high fat foods as much as possible. I can eat a tortilla, but choose to make it a special occasion only. Any refined sugar and I will not lose weight, in fact the next day, the scale goes up. Your band will signal you on what you can and cannot tolerate. the bottom line is that you have to make healthy choices with the food and it will work. You say you love to cook, great that is 75% of the battle. I have found by feedback on this website that most people struggle because they are hooked on fast food, frozen processed foods, prepackaged foods. Look at the labels on foods-high fats, high sodium, high carbs-this is what made us FAT! Cooking fresh is the answer. Get creative in the kitchen. Take those high fat, high sugar chef type recipes and put a spin on them. If you feel like a sandwich, make a sandwich roll in a piece of lettuce instead of bread. Like spicy Mexican-skip the rice and tortilla, serve with a homemade salsa and a 1/4 cup of refried bean etc. You don't have to eliminate food, you will become conscious of what you choose. Good luck in your journey

Hi Wendy: Better to have arms like bat wings, boobs that resemble small tear drop trailers, saggy inner thighs, and a cottage cheese butt than to be so overweight that you cannot enjoy all the things you want to do in life. My theory is: there was a surgery out there to help us lose weight, if that skin doesn't spring back into place in a couple of years, there is surgery to help that too.

Protein bar and your powdered Protein shake mix plus a shaker cup-you can always buy Water to mix, especially if you are flying to your destination-no liquids allowed. I was terrified of traveling. Worried about what I was going to be able to eat. Better to over pack than not. You will do just fine.

It is quite funny to watch people eat now, since I have had the band. I use to be one of them. I would go to a restaurant and wonder if I would be full with what I was going to order for dinner, oh well, better get an appetizer too. Wow, my husband and I would eat everything. What I didn't eat, he would top off his tank with it. Now, when I go to a chain type restaurant with friends I get annoyed at the menu. Nearly everything is deep fried, and/or smothered in a sauce. Last week I went to a restaurant for dinner and the menu read "your choice of side" I asked the waitress what the side dishes were, since they were not listed. Here was the choice: regular fries, spicy fries, or chips (wafer fries). Just shows you what our world has come down too. High fat, high salt, and high sugars. No wonder society is getting fat!! My advice: Cook at home-we can all prepare more tasty and healthy meals than these restaurants can.

MORE PROTEIN!!! If you need a snack-make it a Protein snack. chew your food well, 60 seconds between bites of food and NO sugar Snacks. All of our food in North America is sugar laced...it's like crack cocaine. LOL Protein keeps you full for a longer time. You can do this...keep going.

I agree completely with you Princess!!! You have hit the nail on the head. For most of us our health problems can be linked back to one thing..being over weight. Knee problems, sleep disorders, diabetes etc. For a few, these problems will continue to plague them for life, but without weight issues the doctors can help you. Like your friend, I dismissed every doctors opinion. I would tell myself that it is just in the family, old age spread, blood disorder etc causing me to be fat. Well, what a load of crap that was, convincing myself this is true. I am fat because I eat too much, poor nutrition choices and no exercise. My motto use to be "fitness kills-don't become a victim" My wake-up call came last year. Spring 2013 I ended up with a skin infection in my leg-went to an emergency walk-in clinic. The doctor there was kind and very efficient. No blood clot, but this type of problem was going to continue. Antibiotics fixed up the leg and he put my on metformin, blood pressure medication. He also told me that he use to be a non-believer on WLS...until his friend had it done. Both the doctor and the friend are overweight, and diabetic. His friend dropped 100lbs and no more health issues, diabetes gone. This got me thinking, maybe all the doctors back home were right? Then I went for a yearly check-up (oh I hated these). ECG is abnormal. What?? found out I have a small blockage-now I am taking Lipitor. Then in the fall, my knee gave out. Referred to a sports medicine specialist-she said, we cannot help you. you need knee replacement and NO surgeon will touch you. I talked to both of these doctors about WLS they all said they would sign off consent for me to have it done. Whoa!!! 3 doctors plainly said-GET IT DONE. Long story short, I got it done. Do I regret it? Hell no. I sure don't miss shopping in the plus size section wondering if they have my size. I don't miss getting that look on an airplane when someone must squeeze in beside me. I agree that you have to love yourself and be happy the way you are. 99% of us will never be a size 2, so to hell with that idea. Get down to a healthy weight you can maintain and accept who you are. If 180lbs make you feel happy, healthy and comfortable for the rest of your life-do it. Forget about being 110lbs-you will make yourself miserable. Now when I look at people, I don't criticize them-I think, Hmm, WLS would change this persons life. I have dropped 55 ugly pounds since last Christmas. I am off all medications. I originally was ashamed to tell anyone what I had done. That shame is now gone. Now, I praise the benefits of WLS and will encourage anyone who is thinking about having it done.

Prior to my surgery, nothing was operating normally. I went from no cycle to what I would call a hemorrhage effect. My family doctor did a bunch of tests and said all was ok. He also explained to me that with the excessive weight I was carrying it affects our bodies dramatically. Now that I was on a healthy track, losing weight, things will start to return to normal. This just started happening for me this month-4 months post surgery. You should talk to you weight loss clinic and your family doctor.

Just wondering how much exercise everyone is fitting into their schedule, if any at all.

I too have leg cramping. Water increase did not help, potassium did not help. I had to add a magnesium and Calcium to calm down the cramping.

Red wine is the one to drink. it has a natural chemical in the grape skins of red that may increase metabolism. it also has only 1 gram of sugar, unlike white wine. I was at a weight loss stall, then while on vacation had a glass of wine a day, and weight started to come off. I also used a small wine glass, poured only 2 ounces at a time. Made it seem like I wasn't a party pooper by only having one glass. LOL

I am 10 1/2 weeks out of surgery. My weight was not moving. No matter what I ate or how I was exercising. I was living on approx. 1000 calories/day. A couple of weeks ago my husband and I were on vacation for 2 1/2 weeks. I cooked all my food and measured it etc. Same amount of exercise as at home. Then I cheated...I indulged in cocktail hour with our friends each day. I had a small glass of red wine (4 oz) each day and weight has started to fall off. Huh? Is there something in that red wine that has boosted my metabolism or changed the way the fat is burning off? Has anyone else experienced this?