CALF

Hi Fellow bandsters.. Just wanted to pop my two cents worth in... I hadn't followed this topic before and have to admit to being concerned at how readily some folks are ready to jump headfirst into an unapproved method of quick weight loss. I mean..injecting yourself with an unproven hormone??? A longterm (more than a week) diet that advises only 500 calories a day?? OMgosh..it just reeks dangerous health complications!! The excess weight that we have put on during the course of our lives has taken months and sometimes years to accumulate. Some of us have been heavy our entire lives. It's going to take time and energy to be rid of it..and a lifetime of committement to keep it off. The lapband is no magic wand..it's just a tool to aid us and the onus of the work is still on us. There is only one proven way to lose weight safely. Be smart about what you eat ..and exercise hard daily. You have to succeed in burning more calories every day than the total calories found in the amount of food you ate that same day. If you are certain that you aren't sabotaging your weight loss by eating incorrectly then you need to address your exercise routine. Boost your daily workouts or change your training routines. If you are a walker and you're not losing weight...challenge yourself to ride a bike for an hour in addition to your walks. Go to the local rec center and join a water aerobics class and swim 10 laps afterwards... Take a family member or friend and go for a three hour hike on the weekends in addition to your daily exercise routine... Go to the local fitness center and enroll yourself in a program that provides you with a fitness coach that will assist and monitor a customized daily work-out for you. Just get moving!! Your body will respond!! It's actually pretty simple. It just takes time. Stick with it. It does work.

Hi! We all have our stories.... I was banded in Oct. 2009 with an 11cc J&J band and had my first fill with Dr. So in Dec. 2009. When he initially injected 3.5cc's as my first fill into my band I thought I was going to gag from the tight restriction. We settled on 2.6 as providing comfortable restriction for me. I returned to OCC in Jan 2010 and Dr. So injected 3.5cc's and once aqain I had a gag reflex from the restriction. He removed 1cc and that was still too much so he took out a wee bit more out. I currently have a total of 5cc saline in an 11cc band. I have great restriction and have lost 62 pounds in less than 5 months. I am a very happy camper.

Yahoooo..Way to go B.C. girl!... Debbie gets a gold medal for the Canada Fitness and Weight Loss Team!! YAHOOOOOOWAAAAWOOOOO

I do an abridged version by using diced tomatoes, raw spinach, lowfat mozzerella, mushrooms and my secret ingredient..cubed tofu!! lol. (I don't do a tortilla as I find I just get 'stuck' doing any kind of bread or flour product. Even squirrely bread (no flour) gets me.) I heat the ingredients in the microwave for 1.5 minutes and enjoy a delicious low calorie, high protein lunch or dinner..and like Debbie & Janice..I've been know to have it for breakfast as well!!

Angie..I've given it for many years (20) to both my older horses & dogs to help with their arthritis...and I can attest that none of them have baggy skin!! lol It is a helpful suppliment for those with joint pain..but like anything we add to our system you should run it past your doctor JUST to make sure it's the right product for you. Sometimes drugs and suppliments will inter-react with not-so-pleasant side effects!

There's an old saying about the joy of getting to choose ones' friends. Since you don't get to choose your family members it's not unusual to have some friction and unpleasantries with various relatives. Treasure your dear friends...They are the people who support, honor, respect and want the very best for you. Be polite to the people who do not treat you with the love, respect and caring that you deserve but Never allow them to dishonor and disrespect you. Keep away from them and refuse them permission to be negative or abusive. You will never change them..they can only change themselves when they find themselves alone as a result of their abusive behavior. You don't need anyone's permission to live your life to it's fullest. Be strong and beautiful and Happy!!. Best wishes!

Hi Steve.. You've addressed a lot of issues here and all I can say is that depression is the largest obstacle in the way of weight loss. Once a person embraces a healthier pattern of eating and exercise, the chemical and mental conditions that were keeping you down and holding you back will release and a new attitude is born. You noted that you walk..well perhaps walking (or running) isn't a difficult enough form of exercise for your particular body type. Muscle memory and all of that. Perhaps you need to talk with a trainer or a kinesiologst to find the right aerobic and weight training program for you. Most of us lapbanders hit the gym anywhere from 3-7 times per week. It's a must -do if you expect results. Regarding the comments the nurses made about obese people always seeing themselves as overweight. etc..Wow..that is certainly a bushel of negative energy! I'm sorry but I totally disagree with that comment...and I'm sure I'm not alone. And I've heard a recent interview with the queen of pop T.V..and she admitted that she wished she was back down to her slimmer, healthier weight. Because that's really what's important ..being healthier & more-comfortable-in-your-own-body. Nobody wants to be diabetic, challenged with sleep apnea, unable to tie your own shoes comfortably? Unable to find stylish clothes that look great? Fit & healthy is a much better option if you ask me!! The sadness and depression will pass... Just allow the beauty of the opportunity you have in front of you to move you forward into the next phase of a healthier life. The lap band isn't a magic cure but it will be an important tool in your kit if you honor and respect it. And the correct caloric burning exercises will shift your metabolism and you will lose weight. Good luck and I wish you well on your journey. Please stay in touch after your surgery and let us know how you're doing. We've all been there before.

Just to be on the safe side, my suggestion is that you should contact your doctor for some professional advice.

Hmmmm...that's interesting Karin..the part about souping it for the first day...Dr. So advised me to go back to the hotel after having the fill on Friday afternoon and order dinner from the OCC menu..which is what I did. The theory was that Dr. So wanted me to see how effective the fill was..if I could eat some them it was good..if I couldn't I was to return that evening for a bit of an unfill. The refried beans & rice went down just fine (about three tablespoons worth) I got a bit stuck with the third bite of the avocado and didn't touch my shredded beef burrito at all. Since I got some food down I figured I was good to go hence I ordered the breakfast pizza the following morning. Little did I know that this lap band...she is a fickle one...lol I know what you mean about relieving the stuck pressure with a visit to the washroom. I have a pretty strong gag reflex .... all I have to do is lift the toilet lid, feel the chest pressure and voila, up comes whatever... Thanks for forwarding the wonton/ravioli receipe..it looks fairly easy and very delicious! I'm off to walk the dogs before the next cloudburst!! Have a good evening

I hear you Karin...sometimes the brain tells us one thing when our stomachs tell us another!! I specifically asked Dr. So about what foods to eat versus ones to stay away from. He advised that each person has to learn for themselves what works for them and what doesn't. He did say that ideally we should be able to eat like any other normal person but just in smaller quantities. I asked him about bread, pasta, rice and he said that some folks can tolerate those sticky carbs and that some can't. He suggested that most of the foods that get 'stuck' do so due to their lack of moisture, the size of the bite we took & our in-adequate chewing. If you want chicken in your diet as a source of lean protein maybe try it shredded and softened with some sort of sauce such as cranberry or salsa.. I tend to want big bites of food as well..and like you I sometimes inadvertently swallow a bit too much at once and then I pay for it big time....ouch...getting stuck is not fun... It happened to me at the Seattle airport coming home from OCC just this past Saturday morning..I had to leave the Lucerna at 4:00 a.m to catch my 6:30 flight out of San Diego. By the time I hit Seattle at 9:30 I was really hungry and I went to Wolfgang Pucks for a breakfast pizza. My intention was to have the toppings from two slices and take the rest home to my husband. Well..after eating only the topping (egg, mushroom, tomato and cheese) from the first slice, I got stuck. Big time. It was awful!!! Repeated trips to the ladies room only gave me marginal comfort...so I walked the terminal for 35 minutes (carrying the darn pizza box in one hand and my carry-on in the other)..feeling quite green and in a fair amount of pain. Phew..was I glad when that was over...lol So...yes..small thoroughly chewed bites are a priority . It's a learning process for all of us..and it certainly is helpful having each other !! Hmmmm..the chicken/ginger/onion ravioli dish is making my mouth water!! lol It sounds as though I need your Mom's ravioli receipe! Ginger and chicken is a big favorite in our house...so if you don't mind.......

Hi Karin, I'm back from OCC having had my 2nd fill with Dr.So. And yes Houston..we have restriction!! I had 2.4 added to my 11cc band for a total of 5cc. Any more than that caused tightness and feelings of discomfort. I have already noticed a difference in feeling full after just a few bites..so it's all GOOD!!

Hi Teresa...I'm heading down to OCC on the 29th of Feb...I'm really looking forward to feeling some restriction!! My weight loss can only be contributed to my sheer stubborness! I can eat anything and lots of it so I've really had to keep myself on a strict high protein, low fat and carb plan...with tons of gymwork. I sweat baby..yeah I do!! lol

Hey Debbie..I looked online and saw that there is a place in Richmond that carries it...The prices on various sites ranged widely from $11.99 US to $23.00 Cdn.

Tofu, roasted soy nuts, soy milk, soy butter, soy hotdogs, soy cheese, etc, etc... All really high in desirable protein...low in fat.... A Good lapbanders food choice Tofu will take on the taste of whatever you cook it with so you are only limited by your imagination. Yummy in a stir fry..sauteed with garlic, onions topped with melted goat feta or mozzarella cheese makes a great tofu burger. Add tofu cubes instead of using meat to a pasta sauce.. All soy products contain estrogen in them. If you are on any sort of birth contol product that contains estrogens, or homone creams or replacement therapy that contains estorgen the Dr.'s in Canada recommend limiting your soy based food intake to twice-three times weekly.

YAHOOOOO...

Hi Denise, I know nothing about a gastric bypass but I am curious on how you felt with yours initally? I had heard from friends that they can be hard on the body (you have to take scads of vitamins, food passes through and is released almost undigested and that there are certain health risks to be careful of.) My other question is...if a majority of the food you injest is bypassed...how does a weight gain occur? I had considered a gastric bypass originally but was 'talked' out of it by family and friends. If you don't feel comfortable answering my questions I totally understand. The majority of the folks on this forum have been banded down at the OCC by Dr. Ortiz with very good results. I had very little complications myself (I'm a new bander.) I stick with a strict exercise routine and have cut my food intake by 2/3rds. I'm also making better food choices which has contributed to my present sucess. You will most likely need to budget fills into your lapbanding expense account if you do decide to proceed with the surgery. Most of us take anywhere from 1-5 fills. There are a few exceptions but the norm seems to be 3 or 4 fills. I live in Canada and it's less expensive for me to fly to San Diego to have my fill done at OCC then it is to drive from Vancouver Island and have it done in Washington State. The other advantage of having the fill done at OCC is that I know it's being done correctly. And that's a huge factor!! Hopefully some of this will be of help to you. Cheers!

YAHOO Thanks Angie..your advise was great!! I am such a tech geek..my VCR still blinks 12:00

Thanks Angie..I'll give it a try....

Hi Angie..I've done the upload to photobucket & used the code to paste it..but the darn thing still didn't carry over...

Hi Chad..I know you're busy right now with the change of the forum, etc... ...with regards to my question #1 1). I've been able to post my photo as my avatar..but it's NOT showing on my profile???? I want to use the same photo on my profile and I have shown on my avatar but the message comes back advising that the file is too large....???? I've tried numerous times using the profile tab.... Thanks for your help!

Hi! Tofu is an awesome and inexpensive protein rich food. I have a tofu burger several times/week...I purchase the firm or extra firm organic tofu, slice it in half (refridgerate the remaining for the next meal) and sautee' it in a teflon pan with some fresh rosemary. (or any herb or spice you prefer) To make it really special I might top if off by melting some low fat mozzerella or asiago cheese on top and adding a few roma tomato slices and or avocado. It's a veggie tofu burger and really yummy!! High in protein, low in good fats and high in good cholesterol!! Tofu is soybean curd and it's high in estrogen...so in the chance that you are on birth control pills or taking hormone replacement therapy you will want to limit your soy intake to only three time/week. Tuna is another source of protein however due to it's high mercury content, Dr's here in Canada are recommending you eat it no more than twice/week....

Hi Chad... 1). I've been able to post my photo as my avatar..but it's NOT showing on my profile???? 2). What does the sentence: "CALF has not set their status" mean and how do I correct that? 3). What and why is there a 'warn status' bar showing under my avatar? 4). I logged onto photobucket in order to download some photo's onto this OCC site..but they did not transfer. Any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated ! Cheers, Cheryl