Jann

Ooooh, I love your pic! Here's a thought, how about opening up an area for those who appreciate the directness? Those that don't will not have to read them or be offended. We've passed pragmatic and headed right into the realm of silliness imho.

Hehe -- I guess I should have read the whole thread before replying. Nice one Kim!

Please don't -- this too shall pass. You would be sorely missed.

I hereby give carte blanch permission to steer me back on path if I go sideways. Support is one thing, enabling quite another. I recognize that we are all in different headspaces and move at different paces and I'm good with that. I've accepted that if it takes a year to take off 65+ pounds that's what it takes. I'm not in competition and I'm not going to stress myself out. I'll follow the prescribed guidelines, expect to fall off as it's human nature, take my hit and keep going forward. Everyone is undergoing massive physiological and psychological changes right now and we will all deal differently. For me head on and direct wins the day. Hugs to all!

Thanks for that. Banded on the 9th and I'm a power drinker and I've got this unquenchable thirst right now. (everything just tastes so salty, go figure!) I've had no difficulties at all with drinking and I was worried that the water might stretch my pouch as I don't seem to have a limit for water consumption or how fast I can drink it. I lined up my water bottles yesterday on my desk and by end of day I had nine water bottles, two G2 gatorades and one and a half large cups of coffee with Coffee Mate (powder and liquid, one in each separately, no sugar). Add to that a huge mug of veg broth. I'm still not hungry thank God! But my tummy rumbles ALL the time.

It's all good! You will breeze through. Welcome to bandland!

Hehe -- glad I wasn't the only one!

Thanks!

Thank you, how are you doing with hubby being away? Was thinking about you!

Thanks for that! Yeah, that boob think was kinda freaky for sure! That must have been industrial strength iodine! hehe

I think it's on the 20th right? I'm gonna do my very best to get there!

Kitty, From me to you continue with what you're doing. You are so helpful and encouraging and I would miss you if you left. I admire honesty regardless of the cost. We are all here for a directed purpose and we all need to be tuned in from time to time. Truthfully, if you are just telling me what I want to hear I'm not much interested in what you have to say. Same goes for Cedar. Not everybody will be at the same headspace at the same time but we'll all get there eventually. It's not about blame/shame thinking, it's kind of an enforced learning process by virtue of the band. People will take what they want from your posts and disregard the rest and that's their right and privilege. Posting is cathartic and part of the journey. I know that you just want everyone to succeed. Your message to me is pretty damned clear! Hugs!

Hiya Sweetie! It was awesome meeting you in TJ albeit so briefly. I was on an off schedule to everyone else so I didn't really get to socialize with anybody for more than a few minutes. I'm sorry your flight was rough, that sure doesn't help when you don't feel like you're "top of your game". I know you will do this Denise, I could see it in your eyes! I picked up some ketosis sticks at the pharmacy and checked this morning. I'm already at level four which is active fat burning. That must explain why I feel the need to brush my teeth like five times a day! I had a very brief moment of head hunger when I was at the grocery yesterday as I could smell the bread baking. (Always been my number one weakness, doughy hot fresh bread) I gave my head a shake and reminded myself that I spent a potload of money, put myself through surgery, backlogged myself at the office (self employed) and made my decision end of statement. I promptly avoided all the temptation aisles, got my broths and popcicles (which are way too freaking sweet! ew!) and got the hell out of there rapido! One immediate by-product of not eating all those heavy carb laden foods is that I seem to have more energy. I don't wake up feeling heavy and sluggish. I've always been a very poor sleeper and since I got home I've slept through every night waking refreshed. I hope that continues. I like the sense of body freedom that's giving me! I feel empowered right now and I don't want that to end. Hubby is unconciously sabotaging me but strangely also being very supportive. What a dichotomy that is! Seriously, if he takes one more picture I'm gonna scream! hehe At any rate, I better get to work here! Hugs!

I hear that my hubby picked me up from the airport from TJ and promptly headed over to our fav Chinese food place where he ordered everything I love! Trust me, it was take out and the smells in the car were more than enticing! He also ordered a wonton soup and all I had was the broth. It's not easy. Fortunately for me it's early days and I wasn't hungry. Cedar, I get what you are saying too. We can't give ourselves permission to indulge or even have that perception because it might be miscommunicated down the line. The rules are the rules and I hope to God I don't break them but the temptations are certainly there. This argument, imho, is no longer about whoever over ate, it's a principle argument that's gone circular. We know the rules and we have to abide by them recognizing that we may fall off the wagon from time to time.

I was banded on the 9th and I did think about you and wonder how you fared out in Toronto! Hope this finds you well!

It was awesome meeting you Denise! Congratulations on your successes! WOOT!

Well, I'm back and I'm banded. I thought I'd give a blurb of my visit as I was always so interested to see people's perceptions prior to going. I got to TJ on the 8th and waited about a half an hour for the driver at the airport. He was very sweet and very nice and helped me at the Lucerne to ensure I had no difficulty with my room. (Don't forget to tip!) The first night was unproductive. I didn't eat or do much of anything as I got in fairly late to the hotel, tenish. Had the front desk send me a wake up call for six the next morning which they did right on the dot! Grabbed a shower and down the lobby I went at seven and to my surprise there were quite a few people already waiting. The van had already taken the first load over to OCC. We arrived at OCC, a very clean, very nice facility and everybody chatted, shared stories and shared knowledge. What a great bunch of people to be banded with! One by one we went in to see Dr. Miranda for a quick five minute chat, off to bloodwork and heart, another quick five minutes, back to the lobby and then off to our rooms to wait for about two or so hours. Rooms are clean, digital TV helped time pass and the nurse was exceptional! What a sweetie she is! Dr. So stopped by for a chat, I'm guessing just to make sure any nervousness was set aside. I wasn't at all nervous strangely! You'll love him! Mrs. O came by and cracked a couple of jokes, she's also a sweetie! What a lively woman! Nurse popped in for some sublingual Ativan, watched some more TV, put on my surg sox and waited some more. Dr. O came in, remembered he had to make a phone call and left again. When he returned and I was appropriately stoned he chatted distractly (he was watching TV) for less than five minutes, told me he was updating his book, got annoyed with the term "bandster hell" (so don't use it, he really doesn't like it) and was gone. That was the last time I saw him. I'm not even sure who did the surgery frankly. Into the surgery I went, within seconds I was out like a light, woke up and I was banded. It did feel to me like a production line and I didn't come away with anything that I hadn't read prior to going in. It pays to do some homework I think 'cause my needs appeared to be very low maintenance. It really is imperative that you walk when you wake to get rid of that gas. I roamed around and finally slept comfortably. Next day off to the Lucerne, still didn't see Dr. O but Dr. So stopped by and chatted for a few secs before I left. Walked around Lucerne, inhaled about two boxes of Gas X (didn't help). Next morning I sat in the lobby waiting for the driver to go back to the airport but he was about an hour and a half late. Yup, I was stressing about missing my plane but fortunately I didn't and I got home safely! I walked around the airport to walk out the rest of the gas and the flight home was comfortable. I only took one of the pain pills they gave me and that was prior to leaving the hotel. I drank a lot of water without issue and a G2 or Gatorade Light for electrolytes. Today I had some beef broth hubby made for me. My stitch sites are tender but not sore, I can't feel the port but I know it's there and I've had minimum problems or issues that I can tell. I haven't been the remotest bit hungry, haven't felt the need to smoke and I don't feel like I'm missing anything. I'm sleeping in my normal position, left side without any problem. Most of the gas is now gone, (I get rumbles) my shoulder doesn't hurt and I can't wait 'til I can have my first bath. Even with two showers I haven't been able to get rid of the iodine they used and I'm afraid to scrub so it's a slow go. I gotta tell you it was weird prying my breasts off my ribcage, what a creepy feeling that was! I guess the iodine dried and they just stuck! I hope all my other fellow bandsters are doing well and it was a pleasure meeting you all. I'm off to the shower AGAIN to see if I can get rid of some more iodine!

Happy birthday, Dr. O! =D> See you on Monday. I'd raise a glass of champagne to you but I didn't see it on the pre-op sheet!

Hiya, I know that when I went to my dentist for zoom they couldn't do it because I had fallen and chipped one of my front teeth years ago. I go every three or four years to have the veneer replaced but they can't colour match. That tooth would look like heck if I tried. Dunno if that helps.

OMG congrats! All that pre-op anxiety you had. WTG girlie!

I believe that the body goes into starvation mode where it starts to attack muscle mass and stores it's precious fats. It makes sense to me that you would have to eat 1200 cals a day (varies person to person no doubt) to keep the body from doing what it's naturally programmed to do to protect itself. Also, you may be surprised, one day you'll step on the scale and see a major weight loss that you didn't expect to see after "not" losing for a period of time. I'm not sure why that happens but I do know it does.

Congrats!!! I'm so happy for you!

Good job! WTG!!!!!

Luck and love! See you when you get back!

OooOo loved that one! Thanks!