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Anyone from Edmonton who has or going through program at the Royal Alex?



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I had just recently received a letter from Capital Health, regarding my referral, which was done a year and a half ago. I was accepted into the program for the Weight Wise Management Clinic at the Royal Alexandra Hospital. I have nine modules to complete over the next few months. After I complete the first module they will call to book the initial assessment. The process will take place over nine months before anything is done.

If anyone has gone through or going through the process I would love to connect. I know I will have many questions and the additional support would be great. I would love to hear of other's experience.

Thanks

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so you just started, and you figure it will take 9 months before surgery??

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I don't know if anyone is still following this thread. I have gone through the weight wise program. The wait list was 1 year and I did a year and a half with doctors and nurses and dieticians and psychologists before I had the surgery. The program is sooo worth it. I feel empowered and confident in my journey

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Hi there.

I am going through the Alex and just got my surgery date of Jan 18, 2011. I started the program in Sept 09.

The program was great and I did lose 40lbs while attending! I still am in touch with my team there too and they are fantastic! I also kept in touch with some of the gals from my ee group too!

I woudl love to keep in touch and maybe call on you for a little advice now and again.

How was your surgery?

How are you doing with it all?

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Hi there.

I am going through the Alex and just got my surgery date of Jan 18, 2011. I started the program in Sept 09.

The program was great and I did lose 40lbs while attending! I still am in touch with my team there too and they are fantastic! I also kept in touch with some of the gals from my ee group too!

I woudl love to keep in touch and maybe call on you for a little advice now and again.

How was your surgery?

How are you doing with it all?

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I was referred to the WWM program at the Alex March of 2009. Coincidently and luckily we moved from Calgary to Edm. in July same year so I was closer. Took all the classes over the fall 2009/winter2010 except for module 8. Tried multiple times to get in to this one but it was either always full or the next session didn't have a scheduled time yet. Anyway, after waiting almost 2 years, I finally got my appt for this march. I lost 25 pounds in the 2009/10 years but was ALWAYS starving. I adapted my "new" lifestyle menu and continue with it but have not lost any more weight, but have not GAINED any so I count that as a success.I have also taken Vitamins and bought a dog that makes me walk lots! Any other suggestions to help me on the road to changes before my appt so that I can get ahead of the game. Like I said, I eat exceedingly healthy, just the Portion Control problem as I get sick and tired of being hungry!

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My tips would include:

1. food JOURNAL!!!!! All the time. If you miss one, jump back on the next day! They dont care if they are 100% or not. They only care what you are doing so that they can help. Dont cheat - you only cheat yourself AND from experience... When you committ to not cheating, you force yourself to be accountable and who wants to write down a 1/2 chocolate cake? So you tend to not eat things if you remind yourself that you have to put it down. ALSO - This was my hardest thing to maintain!!!! I saw no value in it until a year later when I went back and compared old habits to new and saw the huge difference, when I didnt even think there was that big of a change.

2. Dont cancel anything: meetings, modules, appointments. This is frowned upon.

3. Ask about the support groups they offer. I met some GREAT friends!

4. BUY IN! If you arent bought in to all of it, it isnt the route for you.

I am always open for questions!!! Keep it up! Its a long road but SO SO worth it!

Jen

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Jen,

I just had a read through your blog and enjoyed it. I have my surgery scheduled for next week at the Royal Alex...YIKES! I can't believe how fast it is coming. I appreciated you blogging about your surgery experience. :)

-Maggs

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My tips would include:

1. food JOURNAL!!!!! All the time. If you miss one, jump back on the next day! They dont care if they are 100% or not. They only care what you are doing so that they can help. Dont cheat - you only cheat yourself AND from experience... When you committ to not cheating, you force yourself to be accountable and who wants to write down a 1/2 chocolate cake? So you tend to not eat things if you remind yourself that you have to put it down. ALSO - This was my hardest thing to maintain!!!! I saw no value in it until a year later when I went back and compared old habits to new and saw the huge difference, when I didnt even think there was that big of a change.

2. Dont cancel anything: meetings, modules, appointments. This is frowned upon.

3. Ask about the support groups they offer. I met some GREAT friends!

4. BUY IN! If you arent bought in to all of it, it isnt the route for you.

I am always open for questions!!! Keep it up! Its a long road but SO SO worth it!

Jen

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      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
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      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
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      1. summerseeker

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        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

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