Yoda

it was at Casino Rama

Yup....beware Kim...chocolate goes down EASY. So you still have to have "control" and try and eat wisely even when you are banded. Why? Cause chocolate can be chewed easily into really soft liquidy form and can be swallowed no problemo.

LOL good point Leila...perhaps I should wait for details before blindly jumping in!!!

GREAT start Kim!!! I pretty much ate as much yogurt as I wanted to (remember, I don't like cot. cheese so I didn't even touch it!). You'll be surprised....you won't eat as much as you think before you feel full. I could never really eat more than a cup at a sitting. Yup...and drink drink drink....cyrstal light is great; my fave is rasp/cranberry

Hey BabyAnne!!!! Welcome to the site! BTW, you are BEEEAUTIFUL!!!!! Good luck with your journey....you are fortunate to have this tool now rather than later when some of us have so much to lose!!! I admire your courage! Keep up the good work!

I know this is a silly thing to get excited about but I can't WAIT!!! DH and I are going to Buffalo for the wknd to shop. We are hitting a TARGET!!!! (for any non-Canucks reading this, there are no Targets in Canada)....whooo hoooooo......I'm gonna get me some much needed (smaller) bras and underwear!!! Of course we'll hit the big Walden Galleria Mall which is next to the Target as well!!! The in-laws live in Niagara Falls (Canuck side) so we'll stop and visit them, of course, on the way back!! We normally go away every year for a trip (ie. Mexico last year) but it doesn't look like it will happen this year....so this is my mini-trip!! LOL. Hey, I'll take what I can get!!!!!!

Just thought I'd share that I saw him perform last night (up in your neck of the woods, Cloe!!). One word to describe him....eclectic!! (I think I spelled it right!). The tickets were free....otherwise I wouldn't have gone. Must say I'm not really a big fan...after seeing him....even lesser of one. Nothing against him...he actually sings quite well, I'm just not a big bluesy type of fan (he did a lot of that) nor a big country fan (which he also did). I preferred his edgier rockier stuff (which he didn't do enough of!). Also, I must be getting old because it was WAAAAAAAY too loud for me! Mind you, a lot of ppl were complaining about the sound level...and a few weeks ago I was at another conert there and the level was great. So, maybe it was just his techies.

Just pluggin' along here. Aiming for my 1-2 lbs a month but I seem to really have to work for it. I eat well and as always, I exercise like a demon. I try not get discouraged. My next fill (4th one but really only 3rd one since the first one didn't go in) isn't until 25 Aug....they are doing it at the hospital under fluor this time. I wish it was sooner...but will hang in there! Good luck everyone on your continued journey!

Well done!! Awesome! Be kind and gentle to yourself this week!

hey cathyb...yah, I suggest you discuss in detail with your Drs and get some action...but it seems you have already done that. You KNOW the junk will go down easy. So you have to try and stop...plus it won't give you a full feeling. Something has to be done though....the one thing my docs state is that you MUST eat "normal" food....in other words....do NOT have only soft food (like you are doing). he says it will NOT help you lose weight, it will make you eat more and feel hungrier....not to mention it isn't healthy. Who were you banded by?

why not? :tea:

AHEM... yo...Jude....if ya know whats good for ya, you'll tell us!!!! *smacks fist into palm*.... better be healthy, girl!

YEEEHAAAA Mandi... Yup....excited for ya! In fact, sooo excited I'm gonna have to go pee now!!!

I echo what everyone else has said. You have it in you Kim. That is what my advice has been several times....do not think of it as two weeks of yog./cott. ch. It will kill you. Just get through each meal. Think of each meal ONLY....eventually 2 weeks will have passed. GOODLUCK....the positive thing is that your journey has started!!!

I agree Wheetsin!!! Ain't nothin' wrong with re-fried Beans....a whole lotta Protein there. Besides, I disagree with the "never having it again" syndrome. There should be no such thing....only moderation and be smart about it (as you said!). :confused:

Mike = congrats on being so strong...bottom line is that the one person we KNOW we can count on will always be ourselves. GREAT job!

....yup, the Force is with you Kim....it is whatever you want it to be. Your positive outlook, inner spirit/strength, religion...whatever you chose. Your brother is probably just scared for you due to having lost a friend to the bypass. He likely doesn't understand that this is a very different surgery. Perhaps you should talk to him and thoroughly explain it to him...he may then be a source of support to you. It's a shame if your supposed "support network" can't be there for you (emotionally) but even if you are literally alone in that aspect...s'okay...you can still do it. It is (in a sense) a life saving decision you are making for yourself. What better gift can you give to yourself? I agree....there is nothing worse than feeling "alone" when you are involved with someone. It is much better to be "without" someone (ie. single) and be happy than to be with someone and be unhappy and lonely. I've never understood why some women (and men) believe it is better to be with the wrong person than to be alone. Follow your heart. Been there, done that and was then "alone" for awhile. But now I've been married to an incredibly wonderful individual for almost 5 yrs and every day I'm more deleriously happy with him than I was the day before. I had no clue "it" could be this amazing and incredible and I know how fortunate I am to have found him (& him me!!). But that road took some heartache moments...as with everyone I'm sure. Worth it in the end though. You are correct...except for those who have met in real time and have developed friendships "offline" as well as "online", most of us here are just ppl on a computer. But it doesn't make it any less meaningful...the support, encouragement, sharing, and motivation is still all real. So, take what you can and just don't question it too much. The online freaks eventually go away and you can normally see through the "fakes" (not that I've noticed many on here anyways). I guess I'm saying take the support from where you can and if it is this site...so be it...!! Get your arse out there today and buy a scale so that you have a starting point. But try TRY TRY to only measure once a week or you will drive yourself insane! Also, get a measuring tape and take your measurements (chest, wasit, hips, thigh, calf, bicep).....take those once a month and you will see the inches drop off. It is a good motivator even when the lbs aren't going down. AND, finally, take a photo (front, rear and side views) of yourself and take them once a month as well (ie. when you measure). It helps if you can "track" and "see" your progress. Do some tables. Yes, it is normal to want to "pig out" your last day. Don't make yourself sick though! Just eat some foods that you like. Don't think of it as your last time....it isn't. You can have those foods again but not for several weeks....and then only smaller amounts. So try not to mourn it. (easier said than done) By the way, I'm a cancer too!! hehe. So....good luck....stay focussed and think positive. And, don't let anyone sabotage you....least of all, yourself. If you DO mess up a bit during the pre-op diet.....get back on track. Just keep telling yourself it is for your safety. Be prepared, the first 4 days will be HARD.....you will go thro carb withdrawal....literally...but be persistent...once you get thru that it will be easier. Promise.

Deeep breaths Kim...Deeeep breaths. You'll be okay. First of all, to address your questions re. the yogurt/cottage cheese diet. I swear, if I can do it, you can do it! I can't even stand the site of cottage cheese, so my diet was yougurt, yougurt and oh yeah...more yougurt! You have to do it for your liver. It shrinks the liver....and this makes the surgery easier for the surgeons (and therefore safer for you!!). Why? Because the liver sort of sits over on top of the top part of the stomach and it has to be "pulled" away and pinned back during the surgery. If it is smaller, it is less in the way and sooooo much easier for the surgeons to see and move those teeny tiny tools around in there. To be honest, I can't stick to a diet either (hellooooo!!) but I was able to do this for 2 weeks because I knew that my safety was involved. HEY....and the bonus is that I lost 17 lbs in two weeks. The other (unexpected) bonus was that, unlike my friend (who was a smaller weight/bmi and so didn't need to do the pre-op diet) I was waaaaaay more prepared for eating less afterwards....whereas she wasn't. So, it is good on all fronts. As for the "will I be able to do this"? In terms of driving and taking care of dogs etc. Well, obviously you need to have someone go with you to TLBC and bring you home!!! You can't drive yourself home. But, certainly the next day or the one after you will be able to drive. It will be hard getting in and out of the car (ie. hard sitting down and getting back up) but it is doable. Just don't over do it if you don't have to. As for the relationship thing....yah, we've all been there and done that to some extent. Bottom line is that you have to do what is right for YOU. Sure, the timing sucks...but is there ever a right time? Not really. Sounds like your kids are old enough to understand (though they won't admit it)...and one day they will know you did the best thing. I'm not saying end your relationship (I don't know you or your circumstances)....I'm only saying that after some soul searching I am sure you know the best thing to do for you and for your spirit. And....yah, it will hurt and your heart will feel ripped out (even if it is something YOU want) but you'll feel better over time. Everyone deserves a chance to be happy and to pursue that happiness even if it means short term ache. Good luck...keep your chin up and go buy lottsa lottsa lottsa yougurt and cottage cheese!!! You CAN DO THIS!

Hey Buffie..... I would say get another fill if you don't feel anything after 4. However, I would be cautious about putting in 3......you may feel nothing at 4 but realllllly feel it at 5 and then be in pain at 7. So, I would recommend 1 more cc or 1.5 ccs max. Then, see what happens. Of course, get in touch with Kathy and see what she says. You should be able to take 10 in your band.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaw maaaaaan, y'all have some really kewwwwl ones... Mine sucks.... "Keelhaul Sophie McPhearson"......yech. although, I get a kick out of my husband's: "Frosty Bonney" (he's not too thrilled with it!) LOL

Yeah, your a psychopath alright Cloe!!!! Ya don't need to convince anyone here!!! Mandi...that is AWESOME, guurrrl!!!! Have fun moving in...hey...on a good note; it won't take you that long!!! LOL. As for it just being the 2 of you now.....YEEEEEHHHHAAAAAAAAAAA!!! What more can I say?!!! *winka winka*:clap2: :kiss2: :kiss2:

Hmmmmm...interesting viewpoint. Cloe....chin up. The VAST majority of us are quite thrilled that you shared with us...here on the CANUCK thread I might add!!!! :canada: :canada: :canada: :canada: :canada: :canada: Regardless of that lone particular viewpoint, rest assured that we (at least on the Canuck thread) are here to share...good AND bad. Afterall, what better way to learn, than from our own and others' mistakes. Put yourself on a pedestal???!!! Ummmm.....I don't think so. Dunno 'bout you guys, but I ain't here to be an example to ANYONE....tis hard enough getting thru the day sometimes just for MEEEEE let you!!! LOL I will continue to share...both good AND bad and I hope the rest of you will do the same....regardless of comments such as the above. GO CLOE GO!

I agree. Jann Arden is FREAKIN' HILARIOUS!!!!!!!!!!!! If she wasn't performing as a singer, she would rake up as a comedian!

Hi Cloe...tks for sharing your tale. You're correct, the good news is that your band worked!!!! And you didn't eat the rest of the Big Mac Meal...so that is something to Celebrate, as you said. As for the rest....you're still gonna have bad days like that and all you can do is your best. Yeah, maybe some of the shaky skeletons returned...but that is okay...they were shaky. And..next time, they will be more shaky. It's all a learning curve. But I know that you know that....so, all I can say is KEEP UP THE GREAT work...you're doing fabulous....I'm sure nobody out there goes through this without any setbacks of some sort and demons re-surfacing!!!

Yes, I've seen the commercial for TLBC on TV now for about 9 months or more. I had already been researching at that point!