The Redhead

I've been watching that too. It seems like under 100 and you're a MEMBER. Over 100 gets you an ADVANCED and maybe over 300 a SUPREME. ...Maybe???

I'm actually booked to go back to the OCC for my first fill. Dr. Ortiz said I'd probably only need 1 or 2 fills. I'm not sure what I'll do for my 2nd one yet, but I'm sure that's a ways off and I won't worry about that for a while.

Are these the same Slimfast shakes that Wal-mart sells? The optifast ones? Have you heard of the powdered peanut butter that has been mentioned in other topics? Sounds interesting to add to protein shakes. I thought it might make a good breakfast shake.

But really even though you have a band you still lose the weight on your own. It is YOU that has to chose what you eat. You could eat around the band and drink milkshakes or eat ice cream and not lose weight. There are lots of people that have the band that don't lose weight and have it removed and there is some people that gain weight back, even with the band. (Check out some of the videos on YouTube). YOU have to make the band work. Why be ashamed you chose this method to lose weight. WW is a support group that provides a diet for you to follow. So is LA Weightloss, SuperSlim, Dr. Bernstein and others. All those people that lose weight with those businesses are on a diet, just like us. They are choosing better, healthier foods. Just like us. No real difference between lap banders and them. Ultimately it is still you making the band work. I am proud that I (ME) have lost 10 lbs. I will be proud when I lose more weight. I know that it is ME that has turned down the cookes or donuts and other high calorie, high fat foods. We don't need to be ashamed. We are all working hard to lose our weight.

I'm on day 8 of the post-op. I can't stand creamy soups and I don't like instant potatoes. I was hoping to get some ideas for great tasting protein shakes. Any suggestions?

Lora - Congrats on your weight loss. You're doing great. Sara - Good to hear from you. I'm like you about the soup. The broth was ok but the cream soups make me want to gag. I HATE instant potatoes too so I think I'll experiment with some protein shakes. I'm scheduled for my first fill on May 29th.

Kim you're doing great. I have been watching your progress and hope I can do nearly as well. :lb13:

Very interesting topic. The thought has crossed my mind and I have considered it, but I don't feel guilty or ashamed about it because I KNOW this definitely is NOT the easy way. This surgery is a major life change. I know I have tried very hard to lose weight. The last time I lost a lot of weight (50 lbs) I struggled very, very hard to do it. The whole time I was dieting I knew that if I gained it back I'd never be able to do it on my own again. It took over a year to lose and I struggled to lose every single pound. I need this band to lose weight. Sometimes people need a crutch to lean on it life. Or as I have heard it put here, a safety net. The band is my crutch and my safety net. I have only had it just over a week but I know there has been probably a hundred times that it has kept me in control and working towards my goal. My crutch is no worse than a smoker who wears a nicotine patch or even an alcoholic who attends AA. I need this and I am ok admitting it. Funny... do we ask smokers why they don't just quit smoking or an alcoholic to just stop drinking?

They sound good. I'll have to check the Canadian Costco for them.

No, no fluoro. When I called this doctors office prior to having band surgery, the MOA told me that no doctors locally use fluoro. I thought she meant in the Lower Mainland but I believe it was Kittycat who said that no doctors in Canada use fluoro.

I've looked for in B.C. but I haven't found it.

WOO HOO!!!! That is SO good to know. Between the write-off for surgery cost and my daughters college tuition I should get a pretty nice tax return next year!! Thanks for checking that out!

Hi there, I'm scheduled for my first fill that day.

Oh Brook, your comment about wondering what the Friday surgery people had eaten the night before made me laugh. When you told me that you were supposed to have surgery on Friday and were bumped up my first thought was, oh poor girl, you missed out on your pre-op meal. LOL. I think a LOT of us have that same 'love affair' with food. It is usually foremost in my mind and I'm hoping someday that will change. And you shouldn't feel like an idiot for asking if I was The Redhead. At first I wondered what you meant (the drugs remember...LOL), then I was VERY flattered that you asked. When you walked away I thought... gee she has a great memory. And I was also thinking... what a pretty lady... she looks great now... wonder how fantastic she will look after. Also, your husband seemed so attentive to you. It was really sweet. I was impressed with that too. Good luck on your journey.

Good luck all you May banders and congratulations on your decisions to change your life for the better!!!

Hey Allcdngirl, I know we've chatted before and live quite near each other. ...just in case you might be interested... There is a local doctor here (Ladner) who will do your fills.. He charges $400 for the first time and $75 each time after. I contacted his office before I had my surgery and they said that he was only taking new patients for a short time because he was going to start doing lap band surgery himself. If you are interested in having your fills down locally you'd have to contact him soon.

My BMI was 32.5 when I was approved and 31.8 when I had the surgery. I was given a pre-op diet to follow and I'm glad I did it because I think it really helped prepare for the liquid post-op diet that followed.

Hi Cathy, My doc (she) said that it should ease up in a few days. I hope so because when it hits its like a toothache in the bone. But the up side to it, ...it keeps my mind off eating for a few minutes. BTW... did you get your appointments made? Take care, Denise

No, my shoulder pain is right in the top of my shoulder and a bit into my upper arm just below the shoulder. It always comes after I eat (drink) no matter how so I sip. I'm sure it will get better with time though because I'm feeling terrific besides that.

Hi Paula, Click on 'Show All' and you'll find them and more! Have a great day, Denise

That is so cool!!! This is going to be so helpful. It's going into my 5 favorites on my cell phone numbers. THANKS!!!! =D>

Hey Michelle, That would be great!!! I'd love to meet you for lunch. We're arriving on May 26th and staying at New York, New York. Maybe we could meet on the Tuesday or Wednesday??? Denise

Hi again Crazycoolbutterfly, How are you doing? We're now at 7 days post-op!!! I really feel awful because I can't remember talking with you when we walked. The day seriously was a blur after getting that pill. I do remember you and your friend in the waiting room prior to the surgery though. We talked with your friend while you were having your pre-op tests. I can recall a few other things but not too much about that afternoon. I remember waking up when the nurse was handing me a lime popsicle and I was thinking, 'but I really wanted a pink one but I'm glad it's not orange'... lol. I can also remember saying hello to Brooke because she asked if I was The Redhead. (She's very tall and very pretty). And I remember looking in on Bernice next door to me when I walked past and her looking a bit out of it but still waving at me. (Very nice lady). I'm wondering how Kendra is doing. She was there with her mom. She was such a little cutie. Hope she's managing ok. It's funny. It seemed like I waited for that day to come for sooooooo long and then everything happened so fast once we were there.

Hmmmm... very interesting topic Michelle. I based my goal weight on the average theory of 100 lbs at 5 feet and 5 lbs for every inch over 5 feet. For me at 5'5 that means 125. But your topic got me thinking... I haven't weighed 125 since Grade 2!!!! I remember clearly weighing that much when the teacher made all the kids get weighed and put our weights up on the wall at the beginning of the year. She intended to do it again at the end of the year and compare our heights and weights over the 10 months of school. I was the ONLY one in the class who was over 100 lbs. The lowest weight I ever remember beyond that time was 135 (which I only stayed at for about 2 weeks). Even the last time I had my big weight loss I only made it down to 158. I think I'd still like to be less than that but maybe 125 is a bit light. I may need to rethink my goal to one that is more realistic. Denise 'Living the dream'

I love reading about how others are doing. I find it a great motivator. :cheerleader: :lb24: :lb21: