hi, looking for anyone that has had or is intending to have lap band surgery @ Maples Surgical Centre. I'm hoping for early 09.

Welcome to our Newbies! It is alway great to have great to have new peeps come on board - if you need anything - know that we are here for you!

Moonbeam - WTG!! Congrats on hitting "One-derland" and not having to look back!

My loss has slowed and I am kinda stuck still playing the boucey game with 2 - 3 lbs. But I look back and know that I have come further than I ever would have on my own and at least I am going in the right direction and not the other way for once. LOL

Gotta start getting out to do some Xmas shopping - not so much for the shopping but the walking of the malls for some additional excerise.

Take care all,

Cheers - IWBAL

BTW - Is anyone going in for a fill Dec 8? I may run into boomboy or this is 4me?

Anyone else

IWBAL

Moonbeam, this is wonderful. What a milestone! It's what all of us are looking towards. We are all so proud of you and what you have accomplished. You are our heroine and inspiration. Being in one-derland is like the best pre Christmas present to yourself. I imagine you have to go shopping just to get clothes that don't fall off on you. Such a delightful problem! Again, way to go, Moonbeam.

Welcome all new bandsters to the Manitoba community! Since it doesn't seem like Maples is quick to startup an in-person monthly group is anyone interested it doing it on our own?

Throwing the idea out there.

I'm for getting together, tammar. Some of us live in the south end of the city. Would meeting at Polo Park be a logical middle ground? I'm wondering if Chapters Starbucks would be a good spot because it has lots of seating. They might even open up their book club meeting area if we ask nicely... Shall we meet before Christmas?

Exercise tip: Costco has the "Biggest Loser" video game for the Wii. It works with the Wii Fit, and without. It starts out light for beginners, and finishes with a good cool down. With Winter approaching, this may be a good inexpensive indoor alternative.

Hi everyone. I came across this thread this evening and spent the last 1 1/2 hours reading through all the responses. I'm new to the site, but feel like I know everyone already! My surgery is booked with Dr. Andrews at Maples Surgical Centre for Jan 5th. I'm a twenty-nine yo male, looking to take my life back and enjoy my thirties and beyond! I weight about three hundred and seventy pounds. I'm nervous, but excited at the same time. I have some questions if anyone can help me out:

1. I'm meeting with the dietitian in the next two weeks. Wondering what the opti-fast diet entails. I cannot believe I'm agreeing to do this over Christmas! I have to because after Jan 5, they won't be taking patients until March and I ain't waiting!!

2. Will I really have to be off of bread forever?

3. I realize the restriction of the band prevents you from eating more, but do you actually feel full or do you feel hungry but just can't eat more because of the restriction? How much does this really reduce hunger overall?

4. Will I be able to eat a perogie? Seriously, can I still eat just about anything as long as I chew it to down to nothing! :confused: I am committed to doing this surgery and to eating significantly less, but the idea of giving some things up completely, forever, is freaking me out a bit.

Welcome to the family, LosingMyVolume. Where to begin? You sound exactly like me! I was 30 when I got the band, about the same weight as you, and like EVERYONE else, had the exact same concerns and questions.

Things to remember, you're not alone; you are making this lifestyle change for yourself, and you want to enjoy your thirties and beyond.

Optifast, horrible. Doesn't matter when you do the 3 week diet (yes us men get an extra week), there's always an occassion you miss. For example, I was optidasting over Easter, others over Halloween, others over Valentine's day. Think about the fact that in 2010, your New Year's resolution will finally come true.

Bread? Some people find that you can toast it, and it's easier to eat without getting stuck, others don't attempt it. I never try to eat bread anymore on it's own. However, every now and again I'll get a Cheeseburger Happy Meal, and if I eat it slowly, take my time, and remember to chew, I'm good.

Getting stuck and Productive Burping is not fun. It's the scary part about the band that you'll want to avoid at all costs.

To be full or not to be full, that is the question. I struggle with this one, and often ask the docs this exact thing. I'd like to put it out to the rest of the group and ask them abotu their experiences. I rarel feel "full", like I used to. I feel like I'm getting to my tipping point, and another bite will put me into the "getting stuck" category or productive burping. You will learn your limits. It takes time. And time is what you want, right? The rest of your life to slowly lose the weight.

Perogies? Sure, why not! Eat them slowly. Enjoy every bite, and remember to chew!

Hope this helps! Good luck!

Hi everyone!

Well I'm heading into week two (and my final week might I add) of the pre-op diet! Yay!

The dietician had mentioned to me that someone else mixed strawberry crystal light with their shake...so this past weekend I felt like what the heck I'll give it a go!

Well let me report that I really ENJOYED my shake with it! It was like strawberry/chocolate smoothie. I added a bit more Water than it requires (roughly an extra 150-200mls) to reduce a bit of the sweetness (I find the crystal lights to be a bit too sweet with just 250mls). It was really enjoyable. Today I mixed mine with a raspberry one it was really nice too!

I have lost 8lbs so far. Fingers crossed for that liver to shrink shrink shrink!!

I am excited for the surgery, but just a question for anyone who has already been through it...is the port area visable or is it obvious to the touch?

I don't think I'd asked anyone this, and who better to ask but the veteran bansters!

Hello All and a welcom to the newest member - losing my volume (LMV)

Diva & Tammar - it would be great to meet at Starbucks - I have no problem with that - if y'all pick a date & time - I'll be there!

LMV - yes - xmas seems like crap to be on the optifast - but know that this is a gift that you are giving yourself and it will be soooooo worth it. Keep your eyes on the prize, which will be the scale going backwards. Bread-I loved bread, any of the bread products - pasta, buns, potatoes, rice, etc ...(but strangely enough-not fries that much) were comfort foods for me. Although if some one told me that a few months later I would not really care about the breads, I would have laughed at them. Bread was my life - every meal must have some sort of bread, it was the unspoken family rule. Now not so much - I rarely if ever have it. A small 1/2 bun ripped into very small pieces if I am out at a restaurant, but it is like my addiction to bread has been broken - I don't crave it. I am known amongst friends and families for my lasagna but I find that I cannot eat it easily. It is easier to avoid it rather than have it get stuck and ruin my evening. The spell with bread for me has been broken.

With regards to the hunger thing - that is the question we all want the easy answer to. I know I feel full alot sooner than I did before I had the band. But there are times where I am full that I will grab a small snack because I am bored and you really have to question yourself - are you really hungry or just want something to gnaw on? Perogies - no problem as long as you small bites and chew well - and don't think that you are gonna pack them away as you once did even if you chew well - there will be limits. And if you pass the limits - PB & sliming will occur - it's a rough lesson but we all do it. The same with forgotting to chew, occasionally I will not think and swallow something that I would not have worried about before, and then "uh-ho" - eveyone has done this before too! As Tammar says - chew slowly and enjoy every bite - take it a bit further and savour the taste!

This is 4 Me - my port is not visible to someone looking at my tummy, but can be felt by gently pressing the area where it is. There are no visible lumps or anything like that.

Hope this helps!

Diva - are you in on the 8th for a fill? If so, what time - I think I am at 8:40

Cheers

IWBAL

Great thank you IWBAL, I was curious about that this past weekend!

Take care!

Hi everyone!

I am excited for the surgery, but just a question for anyone who has already been through it...is the port area visable or is it obvious to the touch?

I don't think I'd asked anyone this, and who better to ask but the veteran bansters!

My port area is now visible, but I'm over half way to goal. When I started out it wasn't. I have to look hard, and turn the right way but I can definitly see it. Most definitly can feel it.

just thought I would stop by and wish our newbies good luck tomorrow....know we are thinking of you and sent good wishes your way!

Maybe I will see you there tomorrow!

Cheers

IWBAL

Wow...I probably had the worst day at work...I am actually looking forward to surgery tomorrow!!

I can't wait to have the time off! Gez!

Thanks for answering my questions and I'm looking forward to this next chapter in my life.

All the best!

TI4M - what time are you scheduled for?