tomander’s Posts
The band changed my life. I would do it again in a heartbeat. I have no regrets at all.
I started with a 54" waist....now 30". I still get weighed in every month with my family doctor. I find maintenance with band very easy.
Tom, Toronto
Banded July 6 06
Wt. Loss: 156 lbs
I"m going into my 7th year of being a bandster. I've had no issues at all. The only foods I can't eat are rice and apple skins.. .they don't get stuck... they jjust feel strange going down. I also don't drink carbonated beverages. The band changed my life... it was the best thing I ever did.
Tom, Toronto
Banded July 6 06
Wt. Loss: 156 lbs
Started with a 54" waist now 30"
I would LOVE that... I really love helping people on their lapband journey. I host three coffee groups a month for people that are banded or looking into the procedure. This keeps me motivated and on track. I still get weighed in every month with my family doctor.
I have a great network of bandsters that I connect with on a monthly basis. I chat with people in person and on the phone regularly.
The band saved my life. I started with a 54" waist and am now a 30" waist.
Tom, Toronto
Banded, July 6 06
Wt. Loss: 156 lbs
I'm in my 7th year of being a bandster... the band saved my life. It was the best thing I ever did for myself.
I have no regrets at all. It's a great "tool".
Tom, Toronto
Banded, July 6 06
Wt. Loss: 156 lbs
I'm so happy I had lapband surgery. I have no regrets at all. I would definitely do it again.
I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything. It saved my life.
If you have any questions or would like to chat on the phone I have free long distance and would be happy to chat with you.
Tom, Toronto
Banded July 6 06
Wt. Loss: 156 lbs
Hi Kathy
Have you been back to the clinic to speak with Dr. Mumford to see if there is a resolution?
Tom, Toronto
Banded July 6 06
Wt. Loss: 156 bls
No... sorry what happened?
Just curious... where were you banded?
I know someone in my coffee group had to have her band remove because she developed an infection after a surgery... it was removed for 6 months but then put back in... no charge... she's doing great now.
Tom, Toronto
Banded July 6 06
Wt. Loss: 156 lbs
I love my band... I've had no issues at all.
The band changed my life.
If I had to do it again I would do it without hesitation.
I started with a 54" waist and now am 32" waist.
I always tell people don't go into this journey saying I'll never be able to eat this or that ever again... each person is different. I've never been sick from the band. I take tiny bites and I make sure I finish what I have in my mouth before I take my second or third bite. I eat all foods even bread except rice and apple skins.. they just fill strange going down... they don't get stuck... just feel strange so I avoid them... all other foods are fine... and I don't drink any carbonated beverages.
Tom, Toronto
Banded July 6 06
Wt. Loss: 156 lbs
I would recommend you keep a food journal and if you can try and get to a support group with other bandsters.
I host 2 monthly coffee groups for people that are banded. I also still get weighed in every month with my family doctor. Keeping in touch with other bandsters and weighing in every month keeps me motivated and on track.
Tom, Toronto
Banded July 6 06
Wt. Loss: 156 lbs
The band was the best "tool" I ever invested in.
I need the band for portion control.
I can now eat anything moderation except rice or apple skin... and no carbonated bevarages. The band did change my life.
Tom, Toronto
Banded July 6 06
Wt. Loss: 156 lbs
I have no issues taking large pills at all.
Tom, Toronto
Banded July 6 06
Wt. Loss; 156 lbs
[email protected]
Tom
[email protected]
Tom
Well who would have thought that 6 years ago today I’d be getting something
called a “lapband".
I had done all my research; talk to the doctors several times prior to my
surgery. I joined Canadian Lapbanders and asked a ton of questions I was in
the Lapbandtalk.com chat room every night for two months prior to surgery and I
even spoke with two patients on the phone and asked even more questions prior to surgery. I was ready to begin my lapband journey.
I can remember right after the surgery I said “What have I done myself". I thought I was going to die from the left shoulder pain I was experiencing.
The fourth day past and going into the fifth day I was starting to feel
“normal" but little did I realize that from that day on my life, in
particular the way looked at food would change.
I kept my food journal everyday for the first four months. I wrote down
everything. Every Monday morning I would sit and re-read the information Dr. Yau gave me. I studied the menu plans I was given like I was getting ready for an
exam. I studied the notes I took from Kathy P. and Belina and thought if they can do it so can I.
Every month when I went to my family doctor for my monthly weigh-in and
measurements I took my folder with all my lapband info in it along with my food
journals for the past month and I would review my journals with my family doctor and then he would take out the measuring tape and then I would get weighed.
The lapband journey for me was like doing a puzzle. There are many pieces that
would eventually come together and form my new lapband lifestyle.
Things that have helped me work on my new puzzle.
- I listened to the doctor and clinic staff
- I reviewed the information folder given to me by the clinic on regular basis
(weekly while on the various food stages) and then twice a month
- So many people that get banded today get their binder and they read through it just after surgery and then put it on the self to collect dust.
- I kept my food journal for 4 months without fail
- I stopped eating large meals past 7:00 p.m. and now just have an evening
snack on occasion. The only exception to my rule is on Friday night when I
usually go out for dinner
Even before my journey started I started looking for support. I read
everything I could find online, read EVERY post on Canadian Lapbanders and asked many questions.
Support. Since being banded the word support has never been so important to
me. The lapband journey is a unique experience and if the people around you are
not banded they try to understand what you’re going through but they really
don’t get it. I know the reason I was so successful is because of the support
of fellow bandsters. I went to the support group meetings at the clinic,
attended the special seminars offered and I was always in the chat room. Over
the years I’ve talked on the phone to bandsters from all over, Canada, US and
even the UK.
Fast forward to today and I still say that support from fellow bandsters is
the key for me in maintaining my weight and I still have my monthly weigh-in
with my family doctor. Friends that are not banded laugh at me because I take
the GO train all over the place just to meet a group of people for coffee. Yes,
it’s an expensive cup of coffee but I enjoy connecting with my fellow bandsters as
they start their new journey or watch them reach their goal and it’s great to
share lapband stories with individuals that are looking into this new lifestyle
change.
People ask me if I think about my lapband everyday… I do (usually when it
gurgles) but it has become a part of me. I still enjoy all the foods I did in
the past (with two exceptions and NO CARBONATED BEVERAGES) but I never feel like I’m missing out on certain foods or social gatherings because I have the band.
To my fellow bandsters thank you so much for being there for me at the various
stages throughout my journey. Yes I may be crazy to travel just about anywhere
to meet fellow bandsters for coffee but again I get so much out of this unique
support group and it keeps me on track. My arm may hurt from holding the phone for too long after speaking to a fellow bandster from Calgary for over an hour on the phone but I don’t mind.
To my clinic and in particular Dr. Yau, Kathy and Nancy and in recent years
Arlene a special thank you for giving me the tools to use along the way to be
successful. Dr. Yau the egg timer trick really did work !!!
I’m not sure the lapband puzzle will ever be complete. I know I will
continue to add pieces to it for years to come.
On a final note thank you to everyone for there well wishes for the past several months. It’s been rough couple of months but I’m doing well.
Tom, Toronto
Banded July 6 06
Wt. Loss: 156 lbs
I have not regret at all. It was the best think I ever did.It's changed my life.
If you have any questonsI and would like to chat on the phone I have free long distance and would be happy to call you.
Please feel free to email me.
Tom, Toronto
Banded July 6 06
Wt. Loss: 156 lbs
[email protected]
The lapband has changed my life.
I started with a 54" waist and am now a 32" waist.
I have no regrets at all.. .it was worth every penny.
Please feel free to email me if you have any questions.
Tom, Toronto
Banded July 6 06
Wt. Loss: 156 lbs
I was banded on July 6 06.
I startd with a size 54" waist and am now 33".
I've lost 156 lbs. I have not regrets at all.
I can eat anything at all except rice or apple skins but NO carbonated beverages. I still go out for dinner with firends.
You have to go into this journey with an open mind and not compare yourself to others.
I don't feel like I'm missing out with the lapband.
The band has changed my life.
If you have any questions feel free to e-mail me - [email protected]
I also have free long distance and would be happy to speak with you on the phone.
Tom, Toronto
Banded July 6 06
Wt. Loss: 156 lbs
It told me 4 fill in totlal to find my "sweet spot"... lucky.. no defils.
Good luck.
Tom, Toronto
Banded July 6 06
Wt. Loss: 140 lbs
Subject Line: Lapband Recipes and Articles
Please include in the e-mail your first name (and last name if you wish... a last name or first letter of your last name would help... I now know 4 Joanne's... 3 Diane's and I get confused easily, date you were banded and where you banded and I will send you out the information and the occasional update. PLEASE NOTE: you will also receive notices about coffee groups that may not be in your area... but you can just delete those messages. In order to receive the information I send out you must be able open .pdf files on on your computer. Tom, Toronto Banded July 6 06 (I'm counting down the days to my "Banniversary" Wt. Loss: 140 lbs