Tyler883

. . you aren't embarassed to tell your mother/spouse/kids/priest just what Internet site or message board you're looking at when the rest of the house is asleep

when you walk into a coffee shop and order a large cafe mocha " sugar free, nonfat milk, decaffinated, non-diary, low-fat whipped topping" and the amazed-looking person at the counter tells you "I'll make it for you if you really want it!"

................when it's your turn to host the Tuesday nite poker game, all your buddies arrive carrying their own snacks.........and beverages !!!

you know the exact dimensions of a 1-oz. cube of cheddar

When the first web page you visit is lapbandtalk.com and not ESPN.com.

you want to find the person who invented Splenda and have his baby!

one potato chip counts as a binge.

I'm planning on getting banded in Sept 2008. Between now and sept I'd like to focus my diet and exercise towards reducing my risk of complications rather than worry about my weight. I feel my time would be well spent if I focused on reducing the amount of poor circulation and Water retention in my legs( to reduce the risk of blood clots) Are there specific things that I could do? or should I just do a lot of generic diet and exercise stuff? thanks Tyler

um.... er ...... THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH COFFEE!!!... .... thank you ... PS I hope you don't mind an attempt at humor, while we wait for a knowledgeable response.

Also, I'd like to restate the obvious. An expensive meal replacement is better than not having one. Please don't be shy at buying and using them when its convenient to do so. Some people buy $5 coffee at starbucks, a $5 meal replacement isn't that big of a deal that we need to feel like it's so expensive that we should never buy it......whew!!! sorry about the run-on sentence.

Also, if you are worried that you might not be getting a balance of vitamins. I'd consider a multivitamin. When you are at the store, you could compare the multivitamin with the vitamin list on a meal replacement. I think you will find that they compare quite well.

I'm a bit disenchanted with Alberta Health Care. They are only covering the cost of 25 lap bands per year in Calgary when there are over 800 people in line for it. Does anyone know if the Tummy Tuck line up is just as long?

thats how I understand it, too. Another point I'd like to add: some people will not bother to make a claim if the don't have receipts. I recommend that you claim reasonable amounts for expenses that you do not have receipts for. Why? 1 - not every tax return gets audited for receipts 2 - if you are audited, you may get re-assessed to a lower number, but the auditor will not be able to assess you down to nothing. in other words, claim the $300 in missing fuel receipts and don't get upset if it gets reassessed to $150. Even $150 is better than not claiming it. I used to smoke cigarettes with the experts at H&R Block national office in Calgary. This was their advice to me when I mentioned that I didn't keep any of my moving expense receipts.

innotu, I'd like to throw out my opinion, and perhaps it'll make sense. I hope this help. Please, anyone that disagrees with me, please, please, please, post your concerns. I too would love to hear them.... ....anyways, here goes..... I've always had a dislike for complete Meal Replacements, instant breakfasts, soya powder, weight gaining powder,slim fast, etc. Why? Because they are awefully expensive and I feel that I'm getting ripped off when I'm paying top dollar for 'calories added'. lets face it, it is extremely easy to find clean and healthy calories to add to you drinks. Additionaly, in some cases, like slim fast and instant breakfasts, you don't even get enough protien. the average soy powder is only 60% protien. So here's my suggestion: make your own meal replacements( at least make as many as you can, and save the canned meal replacements for convenience only) 1- start with a protien powder that is 90% pure or better( dont waste your money on the more expesive 'whey isolate'. the main advantage to a whey isolate is that it's supposed to be easily absorbed because it is missing an ensign that is in milk.....I plan on using milk, so I'll be adding that ensign back into the drink. Hence, whey isolate is a waste of money) 2 - add your choice of milk ( mine is skim milk) 3 - add an apropriate quantity of healthy oil ( Omega 3 oils like olive oil or flax oil) 4 - add a health source of carbs like fruit ( I have type 2 diabetes, so I find that strawberries or apples work well for me)

Hi everyone, just a quick update, I have something that I am looking forward to this monday. I am going to have a discussion about the lap band with my boss, friend, and physician ( this is all one person ) Although, I feel that I want the surgery, I look up to this guy a great deal. So I've been relying on his objectivity and professionalism a bit. Although I'm excited about the positive track record of the lapband, he has force me to read and understand the risks and complications to it, too. One of the reasons I'm looking forward to this monday's meeting, is he has told me that he wants to personally( not as an employer) help me out with the costs. This floors me, no one has ever treated me that well. I've only known this guy for about 5 years, and he has been a real class act in every way. A real people person and IMO a true humanitarian. And to top it all off, I probably already owe him my life, because it is his algorythms that are in the CPAP machine that I use to breath every night. my sleep apnea is severe enough, I might have already had a heart attack or stroke.

here's a t-shirt for anyone that has had someone say "You have a pretty face, if only you could lose some of that a##"

you have stated your case well. I'll have to reconsider if I get there.

I'm quite open minded on this issue, I would support almost anyone's decision to get a tummy tuck. for me, looking good in a swim suit is not on my top 10 list of reasons why I want to have the lap band. If I end up with a lot of loose skin, I plan on wearing it like a badge of honor.

That is my experience, too. When I took the 'Living Well' workshops, they only served to re-affirm the information that I already knew. I've had personal trainers describe my knowledge of bodybuilding and exercise at an intermediate to advanced level, too. So here I am. The fat kid that already knows how to eat and exercise yet I am not doing either one well. And, the people that have made carreers out of helping me want to treat me like an idiot.

I tend to agree with you, that is why I'm having to ask around a bit.

Hi Susan, congratulations on getting a scheduled surgery. I am so happy for you. Oh, and btw Happy Birthday!!! Thanks for mentioning how great the WMC program is, I suspected that it was great, but didn't know how to go about saying that while trying to explain why I probably wont use the program. thank you Tyler

its not that I care what other people think, I have no problem swimming in public or going to the gym. But, I was thinking that since I was paying for the operation I might as well go for maximum value for my dollar....I thought that it would be a credit to me at work, if everyone thought I lost the weight without surgery.

the rudest comment I've ever heard was when I was in the bar with a group of employees. One of the guys said to the overweight lady next to me...."having sex with you must be like stuffing a turkey." I didn't laugh that one off. I lost my temper and just about punched the guy out before leaving. She and I both got an apology on Monday morning, I believe it was sincere, but it will be a hard one to forget and forgive. Time will tell.

Not only that, but I hear that there are over 800 people already in line for the 25 surgeries per year. I'm beginning to think that healthcare paid surgery is really a ploy to keep private surgeries out of Alberta.

The thing I like most about Lapbanding, is I will be able to absorb nutrition that I intentionally put into a drink. This is important to me. I want the lap band to help me deal with my non stop eating, but I also want to exercise including some amateur weight lifting. One of my concerns is ' will I get enough protien and calories when my exercise demands it'? And, fortunately through protient shakes, and homemade juices, I shouldn't have that problem,