bandiva

Congrats on your loss, that is big news! Ithink the mental struggle will be easier once you pass 1/2 way. Good for you. As for Mr Yoda. I can relate. My hubby used to lose weight easily and I was happy for him but it really made me mad. You will have to give him lots and lots and lots of extra love and support. Mine needs to lose about 75 pounds but is still of the mindset that it will be 'no problem'. I sure hope he is right. Warm fuzzy thoughts to both you and the mister.

Well, I made it through a really low point yesterday. Cried real big self pity tears. Ended up eating about 1000 cal yesterday, which is more than the 800 I have been sticking too, but at the end of the day 'big deal.' I think it was the stress of knowing that I leave in a week, and I was feeling very deprived cause all my friends were going out without me AND to my favorite restaurant. I guess it is self centered to think the world will stop for me! I actually feel bad for a lot of my friends, because they have done Jenny Craing, Herbal Magic, etc...throughout the year, spending tons of money and are now eating every chocolate and holiday treat in sight. It's amazing how food can make us lose our sanity and logic. I really believe it must be a powerful addiction. And to those of us with addictive personalities, it is our drug of choice...we can control it for a while, and then we have a little slip and fall right back into the addiction. That is how it is...no, was...for me. I have to beleive those days are behind me and that I am now in control of what goes in my mouth. It is really unfortunate that food addiction is not something that is recognized by our health care system. I am very fortunate to have a great doctor who focuses on weight loss. He has worked all over the world and says that there is no place with the illnesses that we have in North America because of what we eat and how much we eat. He has been very supportive. He is good friends with the only bariatric surgeon on the island, so I am hoping he will be able to apply some pressure for me for my fills. We will see. He has watched me lose 90 pounds and gain 110, so he knows me well. I haven't been exercising, just too tired after work. I work in a spa, so this is a very busy season. Unfortunatley everyone has been giving me chocolates. I have thrown some out, and given some away, but I haven't had even one bite. I am the kind of person that if I have one, it is game over for the rest of the seasonn. I will go on the treadmill today, I want to feel powerful and strong before my surgery. Have a fabulous day everyone, I really appreciate you and all your witty, charming, funny, and inspirtational thoughts. I am glad I found you.

Hi everone. Seems like it has been a tough week on the 'food front-lines'. I had a really hard night last night too. I won the fight but I still ate more than I should have. I was supposed to go out with a group of girls to Japense Village, but I declined because it my favorite restaurant and it would have been torture. It is not the kind of place you can order a salad. So around 7pm, me and hubby were trying to think of something to do and I started crying...'I never get to do anything fun...I never get to eat...I want Japenese Village...etc'. I am pretty sure I heard him lauugh but he handled it pretty well. We went to the movie store and then to the grocery store to but some post op food. I ended up eating a lean cuisine, a 1/2 can of LF mushroom soup, and a SF apple sauce. Now that I right that down, it isn't as much as I imagined in my head. Yesterday has been my worst day so far. My hubby says it's just another week and I can do anything for just one week out of my life. He has been dieting with me which is great as he has about 75 pounds to lose. Anyways...I made it, and today is a new day for all of us. Good luck StephC...you really deserve this. Glad you are well Carol and thininde. You are inspiring and reassuring in my decision. xoxox.

Thanks Edie! It is amazing how we live to eat. I just got up to go to the washroom and somehow ended up standing in front of the fridge, door open, ready to have some cottage cheese until I remembered that I am on a diet. Totally mindless eating. It's a mystery to me. :clap2: Thanks for the encouragement, I can't wait to eat to live. I have felt so powerless for so long when it comes to food. It makes me feel inferior and that starts a whole new eating frenzy. Then I go on a diet the next day, until 3 pm when I fall off of it. Then I eat, then I diet and so on and so on. So much of my (lack of) self worth is tied up in my food addiction. I am ready to move on...this time for me.

Cloe, about your funny story....last time I lost weight, I had lost over 70 pounds before anyone from my husbands family mentioned it. My sister in laws boyfriend finally mentioned it. It was so pathetic it had become funny to me. I made it into a game to see how long it was going to take before someone figured out that I went from a 22 to a 14. Keep in mind I saw these people weekly. I don't know what makes people behave that way. Now having said that, I am not without sin... I recently ran into someone who had lost over 150 pounds since I had last seen her.(Gastric bypass). I was super jealous and part of me wanted to not bring it up or acknowledge it, but I felt stupid talking to her and not talking about the obvious transformation. Wierd eh? Now about the ginch thing, we can hardly discuss it without mentioning it's equally fascinating counterpart....gonch.

Hi Sunsreturn! I was just coming to this site to get your PM info to ask you about fills. You read my mind! Thank you! (Superpowers of the band, no doubt). I think I will go to TJ for atleast my first fill as well. I can get a return flight Vancouver to SanDiego for about $350, so it makes sense to me. Furthermore, I would rather have someone with Dr.Ortiz' experience looking after me. I don't understand why we are penalized for going out of the country. Ofcourse we would like to stay in the province and have it covered with our MSP rather than self pay. I just don't get it. Thanks for your help, you are an inspiration! I am not going to worry about the other stuff. It is what it is, and I am blessed enough to have a job that will allow me to earn an income and to plan my schedule around my health for the next while. Life is good, and I appreciate all of the little things that make it that way. Take Care!

Carol, I am glad you are doing well. You are the first person that I have 'known' both pre and post. BTW, I love your tag line, it is so true and it makes me think about it everytime I read it.

Thanks Cloe, I didn't mind doing it at Christmas becuase it will give me more rest and time to adjust to having the band without being at work. I have my surgery on the 18th and then will return to work for the 21,22,23. Then I have a week off. I should be a pro by then. lol I just went out for dinner with hubby, we are both cranky. I ate about 1/4 of what I usually have. I feel like I want to eat, but I don't feel hungry, so I guess I will live. Just a little PO'd cause I would have liked to have so much more. However, I will have to work on that attitude of mine in that regard! I can't wait to have this done. I am afraid that next week is going to drag. I have booked myself 10-12 hours a day, and with everyone excited for Christmas that should be a good distraction. I want to get everthing ready before I go, so I can just relax and not feel pressured. I am having about 10 people over for turkey dinner on christmas eve, but hubby says he will help. I am flying home (Grande Prairie) on Christmas morning to suprise my mom and dad. They don't know about this surgery, I am not telling them because they would be worried sick. I'll tell them when I am there, maybe boxing day. I talked to the local bariatric surgeons office today. They said they won't fill patients that have been banded in Mexico. Basically, I told them of all people who disregard and disrespect obesity I wouldn't have thought it would be them. The waiting list here is over 3 years. At the end of the day it appears the almighty dollar speaks loudest. I am really disappointed. Anyways, I am not stressing about it, these things always have a way of working themselves out. One of my clents used to be the director of nursing educator for BC ( I think that was her title). She is very supportive of this surgery and says she has never met anyone who has regreted it and that Canada is just getting into the swing of things. That is encouraging and a positive way for me to end this post. Just think about how smart we all are...

Babygotback...I sent you my list through PM. I have no idea if they are good or not, I'm sure we will get more ideas when we are there. Many of you are home and mending, you lucky little devils. I am still counting the days...10 left. I can't wait to join you on the other side of banding. StephC, you must be so excited. I think nesting sounds like you are listening to your body. That is very good news. I am supposed to go out with the girls on Saturday, they want to take me out to Japanese Village and partying all night for one last bender. It doesn't appeal to me at all. I am going to just tell them today that I don't want to go. I have worked to hard getting these 9 pounds off to blow it that way. I don't want to put myself in that position either, it is not the kind of place where you can just order salad. I would rather go grocery shopping for post op food, so I guess I am nesting too. Good luck.

Hi everyone. Yoda, 60 pounds wow. A couple of years ago I had lost 60 pounds and my dr said I should go to home depot, pick up a bag of cememt and try walking around with it for a while. It was very powerful. I have to go to work, but I have a funny story this morning... My kids are the world to me and I usually put them first, and maybe I spoil them, but I like to think that I just overly love them. I think I may be a little self centered right now... My youngest son (18) works night shift. So this morning he comes home from work and says "how is the food situation going mom" I said "great, I have lost 9 pounds" he says, "that is great mom, but I meant what is for breakfast!" Hope you all have a great terrific amazing day! Bye for now.

It was great to come home after a long day and find all of these messages. Thank you so much. I have been snooping around many of the Canadian threads for the last few weeks, so it is nice to converse with you here. I just devoured a lean cuisine (tried not to) and I am considering having another one. I only had 300 calories today....not on purpose. I was so busy at work that I didn't sit down until 6:30. I finished work around 7:30 only to come home to find my cats looking at me like they were starving (out of food), so I went to the grocery store and here I am. I don't like days that are this busy, it causes me to sabatoge. I have to learn to pace myself. Sunsreturn...I was hoping I would get to chat with you. Thanks for your post. I am concerned about my fills, the expertise of the doctors here etc. How have you found it? When you got picked up at the San Diego airport did everything go OK? I have visions of riding in the back of a truck with chickens...OK, I might have exaggerated a little. Hope you all have a fabulous night, thanks again for your words of encouragement. I really does help, thank you.

You are all so positive, this thread is such an inspiration. And you are funny too! I am also kicking butt on the pre diet, over did it today...to few calories and a very active day at work. I am just getting home now, and having a lean cuisine. Trying not to devour it. Bye for now!

Hello everyone. Thanks for the great food ideas. I keep 3 papers by my computer labeled week 1,2,and 3. Everytime I read an idea of what I can eat I jot it down. You all are very helpful. (The trick will be remembering to take the lists with me when I go shopping!) I live on Vancouver Island, we have one bariatric surgeon here. My reg GP has given him my name. I am to call him and see if I can get a consult before /after my surgery. I plan to do that today. Don't know why I am procrastinating. I guess I am afraid he will rain on my parade. I also know he takes over a year to get in to see, so I am assuming I will be out of luck. I need to think more positively in that regard. My pre-op diet is doing well. I have lost 9 pounds in about 10 days, so I know it is mostly Water. I am still hungry but not as hungry as I was the first few days. Dr. Ortiz' office suggests losing 5% of your body weight prior so that is 14 pounds for me. I am glad to hear you are all doing well. I think we all worry for everyone going through the low days, but having this web site will pull us through. Another 11 days till I get banded! Yeah! I am so motivated. I wish it was tomorrow. Take care of yourselves!

Way to go JJB! Wow! All in one calender year. What a great gift to yourself. Congrats.

Audree, I think it is great that you are thinking of your daughters. We live in such a weight obsessed society, that if they have a home that is not weight obsessed it should really help them. I don't have daughters, but my sister does and dhe has mentioned that she thinks her low confidenceabout her appearance has had a negative effect on her daughters. Ironically, she looks fine, but the tapes in her head keep telling her she is ugly. It is really sad. I guess it is a good lesson in changing the way we think as well as the way we look. Hope you are all doing well. It is encouraging to read about your journey.

Hi Everyone! Glad to hear there are a few more Dec bandsters. You all help me so much by just sharing your feelings. It helps me to know that what I am feeling is 'normal' and that everything is going to be just fine. Thanks for your support!

Brwn Eyd Grl 82- I am getting banded by Dr Ortiz Dec 18th, I am so excited. I bet your skin will bounce back just fine. I am an esthetican, and I see a lot of skin! You are young, so you will have great elasticity. Just remember moisturizer, Water and sunscreen are your best friends! Congrats on your decision. I ate a bit too much today. I have some veggies for Breakfast, ckicken calad for lunch and spinach salad for supper....then I had popcorn and chicken wings. Oops. Tomorrow is another day.... I will do better.

Nathalie, you are so great. I lol about the herd of cows. I know what you mean. Won't it be great to be able to walk into a regular store and buy something cute and on sale instead of having to go to the back corner of the store where they keep the fat old lady polyester clothes with huge purple flower print? Keep visualizing, you are doing great. What is that saying...If you can dream it, and believe it, you can achieve it. I have no doubt that you will achieve your goals. Thanks for the inspiration. Victoria

Today is dec 1. Day 2 of watching what I eat. I have PMS, cramps and a headache. Not to mention I am quite hungry. I will try more water today to see if I am less hungry. I opened a bag of cookies last night and smelled them....didn't eat one! I put them in my son's room and I am sure he will take care of that temptation for me. I just have to go well for one day and that is today.

Today is dec 1. Day 2 of watching what I eat. I have PMS, cramps and a headache. Not to mention I am quite hungry. I will try more water today to see if I am less hungry. I opened a bag of cookies last night and smelled them....didn't eat one! I put them in my son's room and I am sure he will take care of that temptation for me. I just have to go well for one day and that is today.

Hello again...feeling a little hungry and like I would like to hurt something but other than that I am doing great.lol. gonaloseweight- hang in there and don't let other peoples negativity effect you. Experiences are directly inflenced by attitute - so if you have a great attitude you will have a great experience. The best part is, you are in control of you attitude. Other times when I have lost weight I have let other peoples attitudes rub off on me and sabotoge my success....no more! This is for me and only me, and if someone is not positive about it I am no longer listening to negativity! Everything is going to go great for you! Baby got back....looking forward to hearing if your funding goes through. Thanks for the message! Bye for now!

Hello! I am being banded on Dec 18 with Dr Ortiz! I am so excited!

Hello Everyone. I am going to start my pre-op diet today to give me a few days wiggle room in case I need to make some little adjustments! Dr. Ortiz's office suggests, protien shake for breakfast, protien shake and green veggies for lunch, and lean cuisine for dinner. Well, here goes... Congrats to everyone on their dates. I can relate to the difficulty telling family. I am not telling mine until after. I told my kids, one is happy, one is very unhappy. I will just try to reassure him as best I can. Have a great day everyone.

Booked and deposit paid, flights paid. I am committed now! I need to start dieting soon (for real) to prepare for the surgery. Need to get my head around the fact that I can't cheat. It will all be good.

Booked and deposit paid, flights paid. I am committed now! I need to start dieting soon (for real) to prepare for the surgery. Need to get my head around the fact that I can't cheat. It will all be good.