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Surgeon TestimonialSteven C. Poplawski, M.D., F.A.C.S.I wouldn't have trusted my life with anyone else other than Dr. Poplaswki! I first met Dr. Poplawski at a Barix seminar that he held in Windsor. I was very impressed with this man. Having previously been a transplant surgeon, I have complete faith in his surgical abilities. He was professional and yet funny during the seminar and I liked his manner about him. My husband said that he feels really good about Dr. Pop, and that he feels that I would be safe in his hands. Dr. Pop stressed the importance of the fact that this surgery is what you make of it, and whatever lead you to overeat in the first place will still be there once surgery is done. He is extremely realistic and expects you to know your facts before the surgery about aftercare. It is not a magic pill and Dr. Pop stressed that you need to deal with whatever has caused you to overeat in the first place. He doesn't fluff off things. He knows what it takes to be successful post op.
One thing when researching this surgery that I was really looking for was that the surgeon do the leak test/ultrasound the day after surgery. My biggest concern is a leak especially since where I live will be a good distance from where the surgery will take place. The other groups that I'd enquired about, Cori and Livlite, do NOT automatically do this test post surgery. Dr Pop does. I feel very safe with this extra preventative measure. The other thing that I really think is great about Barix is that the post-op appointments are covered by OHIP in the agreement with Barix. That means no big out of pocket expenses post surgery. That's a great extra that no one else seems to provide.
I want to also mention that Dr. Pop recently came out to our Barix support group in Windsor. I don't know how many other surgeons would do this for such a small group of post ops. I commend him for showing his dedication to his patients. I highly recommend him to anyone - he is a top notch surgeon!
I do hope that Barix would start putting more work into helping patients dealing with the psychological aspects of surgery which by far are more challenging than any physical restrictions of the surgery.
If I can answer anyone's questions feel free to message me anytime
Member Interests
- Animals - I have 2 dogs, a cat and rabbit.
- Books & Literature - I read a cross section of literature and junk!
- Travel - I like B&B's and travelling in Ontario.
- Dogs - I have a golden retriever and a border collie.
- Teaching - I teach young children.
- Cooking & Baking - Just learning how to cook.
- Teachers - Kindergarten is my life
- Baton Twirling - Not really. I just thought this was funny ;)
Diminishing Dawn's JourneyClick Here To View
Describe your behavioral and emotional battle with weight control before learning about bariatric surgery.I was raised in a bit of a food dysfunctional family. I had a mother who didn't like to cook, a father who had a lot of food intolerances and lived off a lot of processed foods. No one ate together at the table. Fruits and vegetables were barely ever found in our house. I didn't even try half of the vegetables in the world until I was in my 20s. Corn and potatoes were the only veggies that we ever ate regularly. My mother was large but never ate regular meals and my father always teased both of us for our weight. All the women on my mother's side of the family were obese. My Grandmother scolded me incessantly not to end up like her or my mother.
I consider myself to be fairly knowledgable about nutrition and diet. I am the Queen of information and...
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Hello there! I'm Dawn and I live in Windsor, Ontario. I'm a 41 year old teacher and I had roux en y gastric bypass in July of 2006. I really do love to answer questions and share my experiences so I love to hear from newbies from all over who are starting their journey. Please do not hesitate to message me. I love to share my experiences with others and help others along their journey.
Please visit my webpage. It documents my first year out of surgery.
I also run the Windsor Weight Loss Surgery Support Group and encourage Windsorites to come out and share their experiences. Support is often needed along our journey - especially the further out you are. The challenges are not just the first year of surgery!
My email is diminishingdawn@cogeco.ca

Support Groups As of August 2012 on August 23, 2012 5:39 am
Ajax/Pickering/Whitby/Durham
Contact Nancy
Web Site: Durham Region WLS Support Group
Barrie
Third Saturday of the month 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm
The Church of the Nazarene (in the chapel)
49 Ferris Lane, behind Ferris Lane Community Daycare
Contact Terry B: 705-890-0135; Sharrol: 705-722-0616
Belleville
Meeting is the last Sunday of the month from 1-3pm
Contact Stephanie at 613-242-5392 or belleville_wls@yahoo.ca
http://bellevillewls.webs.com/
Brampton
Contact Cathacus
Burlington
Burlington Meeting takes place on the last Saturday of each month.
Meetings currently are run at 10:00 a.m. until noon, at the Police Services Buliding,
Community Room, 3800 Southampton Blvd. Burlington
For more info contact: linda.gosselin2@sympatico.ca
Cornwall
We have a support group in Cornwall.....
We meet the second Monday of the month, Chateau Cornwall, 41 Amelia Street,
Meet in the basement in the chapel for 6pm.
Kingston
support group that meets once a month, on the second Tuesday of the month, in Kingston, Ontario.
We usually meet at the Ongwanada Resource Centre on Portsmouth Avenue in Kingston.
meetings are from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
contact: moselle_00@yahoo.com
London
Group Leader - Linda Terrio (twins4meplus1 on OH)
Coffee night mid month
Formal meeting last Sunday of the month
e-mail london-wls-support-group@hotmail.com
website http://www.london-wls-support-group.com/
Mississauga
Mississauga Cawfee Talk
Monthly casual support meetings - everyone is welcome.
misscawfeetalk@gmail.com or contact Karen M. here on OH
Northern Ontario Facebook Group (online only)
http://www.facebook.com/groups/272238326196707/
Orillia
Orillia - Informal Coffee Group
First Thursday of the month
7pm until about 8:30
Tim Hortons - Westmount Drive and Coldwater Road (Beside Shoppers Drug Mart and Zehrs)
Contact - Kristie Anderson 'KristieA' or kristie.anderson@sympatico.ca
Alternate Contact - jennifer_rpn at jennifer_rpn@rogers.com
Ottawa
bytown Benchers will meet on the first Wednesday of the month.
at the Bronson Centre for us on those Wednesdays and have booked the rooms from now until February.
Accordingly, the next meetings of the Bytown Benchers will be from 7:30-9:00 p.m. on: o Wednesday, October 3, 2012 o Wednesday, November 7, 2012 o Wednesday, December 5, 2012 o Wednesday, January 9, 2013* o Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Ottawa Coffee Nights
Held mostly once a month on Monday nights (check for postings)
Location: Starbucks on Hunt Club at Merivale Road
Contact: HeidiA on OH for details.
Owen Sound
Grey Bruce Weight Loss Support Group
A support group that meets the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month for people wanting to lose weight, or have had weight loss surgery. We meet at the United Way in Owen Sound, and the cost is $3.00 to help cover the cost of the meeting room.
Contact information:
Stephanie Fletcher-Jacobus: 519-378-8947
email: sjacobus@hotmail.ca or Tracy King: 519-371-7079 tracy_shane@sympatico.ca
Peel Region
First Sunday of every month 1:30 pm
Georgetown
Contact Jean Tapley-Izadpanahi at (289) 891-9276 or jeantapley@gmail.com
Port Hope
Meets every Thursday evening from 7 to 9 pm.
Email: susanna.555@sympatico.ca
Sarnia
First and Third Wednesday of every month from 7-8:30
River City Vineyard (the old Y)
Contact Kara O.
Sault Ste. Marie
First Wednesday of each month
Contact Sue at weewilkins@yahoo.ca or (705) 254-3997
Scarborough
Thursday nights at 7:00 pm
Kennedy and 401 at 20 William Kitchen Rd, Starbucks.
Contact Chantelle at Greeneyedgirl_24@hotmail.com
Stratford
Monday nights at 7 pm at Coffee Culture.
ContactAmy
Sudbury/Val Caron/Valley East
Val Caron Co-op, 1845 Main Street
Contact Wendy
Thunder Bay
Thunder Bay Bariatric Care centre Patients Support group ....
First Meeting
Confederation College room C240 in the Shuniah Building (main building) This
room is located on the second floor, south side of the building.
March 4th 1pm
contact: rhaliuk@tbaytel.net
Trenton
The 1st Monday of each and every month.
At Trenton Memorial Hospital.
The meeting begins at 7:00 pm.
Windsor
First Tuesday of the month 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
The Hospice of Windsor and Essex County
6038 Empress Street
Contact Dawn at diminishingdawn@cogeco.ca
Please contact Dawn to advise you will be attending.
York Region
The following Sundays at 2:00 pm 1/17/10, 2/21/10, 3/21/10, 4/18/10, 5/16/10, 6/20/10, 7/18/10, 8/22/10, 9/19/10, 10/24/10, 11/21/10, 12/12/10.
Upstairs at Loblaws, 301 High Tech Road, Richmond Hill
Contact Andrea at 905-953-0135 or adault@rogers.com
2 comments | Leave a comment.
6 years on July 18, 2012 8:30 pm
I'm hoping this post won't come across as too negative and whiney...but it just might. I want people to know that there are not always rainbows and unicorns in our journey. There are issues of all kinds after surgery and after you've been out a while.
I had surgery on July 5th, 2006. Back then many of us went to Michigan My care there was great, after care really sucked. But my surgeon was wonderful and I had very few problems with my surgery itself. The only complication was a nicked artery. I lost a bit more blood than most patients but recovery was fairly easy. I was at the mall my second day home. It truly was easy breezy!
My first year out was GLORIOUS. I have no other word to describe it. It was so wonderful. Although I was a slow loser (my surgical centre gave us no guidelines on carbs and I do think that slowed me down compared to others) I did fairly well. I started at 290 lbs before surgery and ended up being less than half that by goal. My first year I followed the rules very well and made exercise a huge part of my life. I made a point of walking to and home from work every day 3 miles and then would jump on my treadmill at home for another 4 miles. I was pretty motivated, highly focused and felt so strong and powerful. I remember feeling so strong and powerful – I was now eating to live and not living to eat. I loved feeling that power over food! The first year is a CONSTANT high. We long timers wish we could bottle it and have it back. LOL It's purely magical!
Early deficiency of iron and osteopenia developed by the year mark. Started supplementing.
The second year was pretty good too. I still had that high...but the binges started to creep in now and again. Those of us who are binge eaters do tend to struggle post op. I'd binge and then cry about the binge. I hated myself for doing it. I was even planning binges in advance...and then feeling like a failure a half hour later when I felt like crap. I started to gain. It started to freak me out to be honest. Five pounds up. Feeling a bit daunted. People actually commented that I was too gaunt earlier and that I was looking better...but I did not feel that at all. The mental struggle was beginning and the feelings of being out of control and feelings of failure were terribly powerful. I was starting to feel powerless to food, no longer so powerful.
When I got to goal, no one really taught me what it meant to eat in moderation. I'd always been overweight. I always had a problem with food. I was never that person that could eat a small bag of chips and put half of it away for later. Not even as a teenager. It was a foreign concept. Portion sizes were starting to get larger. It started to get scary. I could eat more and binges were bigger. It was getting downright scary. Feeling out of control, feeling worthless.....up 10 lbs...
I ended up as a size 10 and eventually 12. I was devastated. People I worked with were size 0 and 2 after having children. I started to obsess and do the 5 day pouch test....then cut carbs completely, then bingeing. I'd repeat the cycle again and again only to have the same results. I'd work hard for a week and lose only 1 lb but then binge on a bad weekend and gain double that. The weight was no longer falling off like it once did. I felt like 10 lbs could have been 100. I know it sounds strange but that 10 lbs was totally overwhelming to me.
I started feeling like a failure because I didn't get to size 4 or 6. I was still “big”. I felt like a failure. I know that it seems so foreign that you'd consider yourself a failure being a size 10 or size 12 after being size 26/28 at your heaviest...but the mind is a strange thing. I became too obsessed with comparing myself to others. Not realizing how far I'd come. The reality is that some of us have bigger frames, some of us will be a size 2, some will be a size 10 or a size 18 or any size really. We are all so different. Again, the worst thing you can do is to compare yourself to others.
I decided I had better get into therapy. I went to our local eating disorder place for 6 months of therapy. They cater to binge eaters, over eaters, bullemics and anorexics. I learned a lot about Cognitive Behavioural Therapy which many of us benefit from post op to deal with the head issues. I learned to try not to base my happiness on a size or number on a scale. I'm still not ready to throw out my scale like they suggest. A funny thing happened at therapy though – I also became obsessed with how skinny the anorexics look so while I made some progress, I think head issues were still skewed. Again head issues are a strange thing post op. More issues with anemia.
Year 2 was also when I discovered that I had Reactive Hypoglycemia. I never had diabetes or had issues with blood sugar so that required a lot of reading and learning on something new. I diagnosed myself, took the information to my doctor and yes, it was confirmed. I managed it fairly well. Sugar is the enemy. I wish I didn't have an issue with sugar – that I could keep it out of my life completely but sugar is my struggle always. Managed the RH fairly well this year. No problems with it other than a few lows.
Years 3 and 4, I continued the same skewed thinking while creeping up and up on the scale. I had a lot of issues going on in my personal life that lead to a lot of emotional eating. At one point, I ended up 27 lbs above my goal. I kid you not. SOOOO easy to do when your mind is skewed. I struggled. I had a few comments said to me that made me feel like giving up and running away. I would battle dark days of hating me, hating the scale and feeling like a total failure. It's very hard to run a support group for weight loss when you are going through the issues but I continued to do it. It was embarrassing to be up at the front when you were feeling like a failure. I lurked more on OH, poking my head in now and again, but feeling like a lost puppy. Didn't really fit in with the “rah rah” of the newbies and feeling like I couldn't offer any thing to anyone when I was struggling with myself. Up to size 12 and then closer to a 14.
Year 5 was better. Feeling like I started to make peace with my bounceback. Do I like it? No. But I managed to get off around 15 lbs of it and felt more in control. Still working on the self image and positive talk but feeling more like I'm a survivor in this thing called WLS rather than a failure. Realizing that I'm not the only person that struggles. I'm not alone in this journey. Back to size 12 but still working towards 10.
So here I stand at year 6, feeling more at peace. Again still a work in progress but trying to like myself more. In my head, I am still big and still relate to the large people in the room more than the “skinny minnies”. Constantly have the feeling that I'm still a size 26. Regain is all in my stomach and butt and makes me feel constantly bloated and feeling like I look pregnant. I never feel like clothes fit like they did when I got to goal. I can tell that my body composition has changed with regain. Lost a lot of muscle mass. More wobbly bits than before.
This year again, anemia is still kicking its ugly head. Some low vitamin d for the first time. RH is kicking my butt more this year than ever before. I've had two issues in the past 6 months of passing out from it. (One time I put off symptoms when I shouldn't have – the second one, I attributed the symptoms to being sick from the heat versus RH). That's been scary but both times I really should have known better.
Food issues are still there. I call it my FAT HEAD. I am constantly struggling with my fat head – emotional eating, boredom eating, stress eating and bingeing. It's a constant struggle not to give in and sometimes I do. I am one of the few that can honestly eat anything. There is nothing that disagrees with my pouch – nothing. And I can eat large amounts. It would scare most people how much I can eat. To this day, I've still never vomited once, had things stuck or had the foamies.
I've learned that I have to just keep picking myself up and dusting myself off and set new goals. I'm a work in progress – for the rest of my life. Surgery did not fix my head in any respect.
I still have around 10-12 of regain to get back off. I'm starting to make peace with that though. It's not the end of the world if I stay where I am at. I'm starting to strongly believe the issue of set point. My body is pretty resistant. So I'm trying to make peace with the fact that I may still carry some extra weight with me and that it's not the worst thing in the world if I do. It could be far worse. It could have easily slipped to 40, 50 pounds had I not caught it earlier when it started to spiral. Some days I feel in control of my eating and other days I still feel overwhelmed. For me, it's day to day...one day at a time.
I'm grateful for many things:
Other than the RH issues, I'm healthy. Anemic still but no other problems. Healthy is a good thing. I'm strong. I'm mobile. I'm active. Life doesn't pass me by unless I want it to. I've coached swimming, baseball, basketball. I've done walked three half marathons in Detroit. I've met many nice people in the WLS community. Running a support group has helped me be accountable to myself and others. I cannot put my head in the sand and ignore the creeping weight. I need the support group as much as others.
I see my parents struggling with their obesity and I'm so glad that I made the choice that I did to have surgery. Both of my parents can barely walk a block without being terribly winded, my Mom is at the point that soon she'll need a cane or a scooter. I'm not there. I'm not going to have a heart attack at a young age like my mother did. I still have my life and quality of life. It's really a wonderful thing.
My goal is to keep working on the head issues. I highly encourage newbies to examine these issues before surgery. The head stuff can be brutal for many of us. You will see me on this board talking about regain/bounceback quite frankly. I think we need to start taking the shame out of it. It happens and most surgeons do expect it. I think by beating ourselves up we are not doing ourselves any favours. I wish people had given me more of a heads up on it to be honest. Then maybe it wouldn't have been so devastating to me.
Anyway, there's the good, bad and ugly of my surgery and my life post op. I know that my experiences are not the same as everyone else's but I'm sure I'm also not the only one to go through such a range of emotional issues and head issues after surgery. So I thought I'd put this out there for anyone who may relate to my story or anyone that wants to chat about any of these issues. Sometimes feeling like we are not alone in this journey is a very powerful thing.
Newbies: WLS is an absolutely amazing gift. It's a wonderful gift but also a big responsibility to use it wisely. There may be MANY times that you struggle along this journey. Please don't waste the wonderful gift you've been given. Get to goal your first year, keep your triggers at bay and work towards getting off the most weight you can while you can.
2 comments | Leave a comment.
Ontario Support Groups as of February 2012 on December 23, 2009 10:50 am
Ajax/Pickering/Whitby/Durham
Contact Nancy
Web Site: Durham Region WLS Support Group
Barrie
Third Saturday of the month 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm
The Church of the Nazarene (in the chapel)
49 Ferris Lane, behind Ferris Lane Community Daycare
Contact Terry B: 705-890-0135; Sharrol: 705-722-0616
Belleville
Meeting is the last Sunday of the month from 1-3pm
Contact Stephanie at 613-242-5392 or belleville_wls@yahoo.ca
http://bellevillewls.webs.com/
Brampton
Contact Cathacus
Burlington
Second Tuesday of the month
Contact Laural at (905) 635-7302 or 1cutemom@cogeco.ca
Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo
Last Sunday of the month 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
160 Hillmer Road, Cambridge
Contact Sharon at (519) 489-0538 or sharonmoody@rogers.com
For a long week-end, we meet the Sunday prior.
Please contact Sharon to advise you will be attending.
Cambridge
Meets weekly at 7:00 on Wednesdays
Location: Cambridge centre mall in the food court. At a long table by the ice rink.
On HWY 24 and Bishop Street.
Kingston
support group that meets once a month, on the second Tuesday of the month, in Kingston, Ontario. We usually meet at the Ongwanada Resource Centre on Portsmouth Avenue in Kingston.
meetings are from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
contact: moselle_00@yahoo.com
Mississauga
Mississauga Lap-Band Peer Support Group for Surgical Weight Loss Centre Patients
Third Thursday of the month 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Contact Wanda at http://www.obesitysurgery.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=4201
kathy_dee@live.ca
Mississauga coffee night in Mississauga, about once per month.
People can contact Karen via PM here or join the Mississauga Cawfee Talk group:
http://www.obesityhelp.com/group/MississaugaCawfeeTalk/welco me/
Newmarket
Newarket coffee group meets
every second Monday @ the Tim Hortons in the No Frills Plaza on Leslie.
PM Jan135 on OH for details.
Niagara
To be held at the New YMCA on Montrose Road.
North Bay
Contact Natasha
Ottawa
Last Sunday of the month 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Tanglewood Community Centre
30 Woodfield Drive, Ottawa
Contact Cindy at cindyloubear@hotmail.com
www.owsg.ca
Ottawa Bariatric Coffee Support Meeting
Held the first Tuesday of the Month at 7:30pm
Location: Margaret Rywak Community Building 68 Knoxdale Road Ottawa, Ontario
Contact: Terry45 on OH for details.
Owen Sound
Grey Bruce Weight Loss Support Group
A support group that meets the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month for people wanting to lose weight, or have had weight loss surgery. We meet at the United Way in Owen Sound, and the cost is $3.00 to help cover the cost of the meeting room.
Contact information:
Stephanie Fletcher-Jacobus: 519-378-8947
email: sjacobus@hotmail.ca or Tracy King: 519-371-7079 tracy_shane@sympatico.ca
Peel Region
First Sunday of every month 1:30 pm
Georgetown
Contact Jean Tapley-Izadpanahi at (289) 891-9276 or jeantapley@gmail.com
Port Hope
Meets every Thursday evening from 7 to 9 pm.
Email: susanna.555@sympatico.ca
Sarnia
First and Third Wednesday of every month from 7-8:30
River City Vineyard (the old Y)
Contact Kara O.
Sault Ste. Marie
First Wednesday of each month
Contact Sue at weewilkins@yahoo.ca or (705) 254-3997
Scarborough
Thursday nights at 7:00 pm
Kennedy and 401 at 20 William Kitchen Rd, Starbucks.
Contact Chantelle at Greeneyedgirl_24@hotmail.com
Stratford
Monday nights at 7 pm at Coffee Culture.
ContactAmy
Sudbury/Val Caron/Valley East
Val Caron Co-op, 1845 Main Street
Contact Wendy
Thunder Bay
Thunder Bay Bariatric Care centre Patients Support group ....
First Meeting
Confederation College room C240 in the Shuniah Building (main building) This
room is located on the second floor, south side of the building.
March 4th 1pm
contact: rhaliuk@tbaytel.net
Trenton
The 1st Monday of each and every month.
At Trenton Memorial Hospital.
The meeting begins at 7:00 pm.
Windsor
First Tuesday of the month 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
The Hospice of Windsor and Essex County
6038 Empress Street
Contact Dawn at diminishingdawn@cogeco.ca
Please contact Dawn to advise you will be attending.
York Region
The following Sundays at 2:00 pm 1/17/10, 2/21/10, 3/21/10, 4/18/10, 5/16/10, 6/20/10, 7/18/10, 8/22/10, 9/19/10, 10/24/10, 11/21/10, 12/12/10.
Upstairs at Loblaws, 301 High Tech Road, Richmond Hill
Contact Andrea at 905-953-0135 or adault@rogers.com
Be the first to leave a comment.
Ontario support Groups on December 13, 2008 7:21 am
Ont WLS Support Groups
Updated: August 5th, 2009
Ajax/Pickering/Whitby/Durham
Contact kholcroft@hotmail.com
Barrie (this is a new location effective Jan 17, 2009)
Third Saturday of the month 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Army Navy Club 7 George Street, Barrie
Contact Terry at tbrienesse@rogers.com or Kris 705-437-3430
Brampton
Contact Cathacus
Belleville
Contact Sandra at (613) 968-9849 or sandymay@cogeco.ca
Burlington
Second Tuesday of the month
Contact Laural at (905) 635-7302 or 1cutemom@cogeco.ca
Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo
Last Sunday of the month 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
160 Hillmer Road, Cambridge
Contact Sharon at (519) 489-0538 or sharonmoody@rogers.com
For a long week-end, we meet the Sunday prior.
Please contact Sharon to advise you will be attending.
Chatham
Meets at the YMCA on the last Monday of the month at 7 pm.
Cornwall
Contact Carla at carla_normand@sympatico.ca
Hamilton
Last Sunday of the month 12:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Sir Allan MacNab Recreation Centre, Community Room
145 Magnolia Dr, Hamilton
Contact Erin at edatwo@yahoo.ca
London
First Sunday of the month 1:30 pm - 5:30 pm
St Paul's Presbyterian Church, Lower Hall (elevator available)
56 Thames St. South, Ingersoll
Contact Shirley at shirleyhodder@yahoo.ca or Sue teagrannie48@yahoo.com
London and Area (Shapeshifter)
Third Sunday of the month 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Contact Tova at purplepaige90@hotmail.com or
Jenn at jenandrich@rogers.com
Milton
Third Sunday of the month 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Contact Tammy at tammypatterson@cogeco.ca
Mississauga
Mississauga Lap-Band Peer Support Group for Surgical Weight Loss Centre Patients
Third Thursday of the month 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
For info, go to The Surgical Weight Loss Centre patient support forum and contact
Wanda under the section for support groups.
Niagara
Last Sunday of the month 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd
Dorchester and Thorold Stone Road, Niagara Falls
Contact Jen at (905) 328-4911 or jen.bellinger@hotmail.com
Ottawa
Last Sunday of the month 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Tanglewood Community Centre
30 Woodfield Drive, Ottawa
Contact Cindy at cindyloubear@hotmail.com
www.owsg.ca
Ottawa - East
Second Sunday of the month 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Ottawa Public Library North Gloucester
2036 Olgilvie Road, near Blair and Olgilvie
Contact Angus
Owen Sound
Contact Alison at owensoundobesitysupport@hotmail.com
Sarnia
Sarnia Bariatric Support Group
meets : 1st and 3rd Wed of every month from 7pm-8:30 pm
@ River City Vineyard Mitton St Sarnia Ontario
For more information , contact :
Becky 519-332-4132 rperry4@cogeco.ca
OR Sylvie 519-344-8959 slaframboise4@cogeco.ca
Sault Ste. Marie
First Wednesday of each month
Contact Sue at weewilkins@yahoo.ca or (705) 254-3997
Sudbury/Val Caron/Valley East
Val Caron Co-op, 1845 Main Street
Contact Wendy
Sudbury/Minnow Lake
Every Wednesday evening at 7:00 pm
$10.00 per month
Morning meetings to begin in the New Year
Contact Betty at Bariatric Support & Natural Health
(705) 525-2225 or wls_supportgroup_sudbury@msn.com
Toronto East
For info contact Joyce at joycewilds@yahoo.ca or (647) 669-5099
Thunder Bay
Second Saturday of the month 1:00 pm
Slovak Legion, off Pacific Avenue, Thunder Bay
Contact Verna at amber2oo1@yahoo.com
Windsor
First Tuesday of the month 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
The Hospice of Windsor and Essex County
6038 Empress Street
Contact Dawn at diminishingdawn@cogeco.ca
Please contact Dawn to advise you will be attending.
York Region
The following Sundays at 2:00 pm 1/18, 2/8, 3/8, 4/19, 5/17, 6/14, 7/12, 8/9, 9/13, 10/18, 11/8, 12/3.
Upstairs at Loblaws, 301 High Tech Road, Richmond Hill
Contact Andrea at 905-953-0135 or adault@rogers.com
2 comments | Leave a comment.
*sigh* on August 1, 2008 2:38 pm
I talk about it all the time - about how we need to get our heads into this surgery. Lately it seems that it is more and more prevalent - people having surgery that have no intention of changing their ways. They are headed only for failure even after giving this wonderful chance to change their lives.
There's a lady who I know and met once who has had this surgery. She was quite large as well - probably 350 lbs if I were to guess before surgery and when I met her the first time, I kind of had the feeling that she didn't seem to be in the know about the surgery. I didn't say anything of course because I have to have some understanding that not every one is as fact-oriented and as analytical as myself, right?
Well sure enough talking to a friend of hers, I hear that she is pretty much just ignoring the rules after surgery completely. One friend ran into her shopping and her cart was loaded with sugar crap, snacky foods and the like. She is not doing well and she is less than 6 months out. That's really scary to me. I've invited her out to the Windsor support group meeting and she has yet to come.
Today while reading the boards, I also came across a post from a 3 week post op who decided to binge last night and ate popcorn, fruit loops and an ice cream sandwich within the course of a half an hour - and is questioning "Gee, how come I don't dump?", "Did I stretch my pouch?". etc. Okay, I am TRYING to be understanding as I can but I mean REALLY what the HELL is she thinking?
We are talking THREE WEEKS OUT.
She doesn't seem to have a clue about the permanent damage she could do to herself. There is the story of course about the lady who cheated and had steak and killed herself a few days out of surgery (Theoretically it could be not much more than an urban legend...but I suspect that it is also a possiblity that one could easily stretch out and burst the pouch very early out). I mean I was TERRIFIED to even eat and drink early out and here is someone who is ready not only to undo everything but to possibly kill herself in the process. I'm horrified for her. I'm appalled at her. I'm trying not to judge but it is very, very difficult because this action is beyond stupid to me.
Again, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR HEAD IS IN THIS SURGERY.
Dawn
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My Story How did I become fat?
I think I know the reasons why I became an obese adult. First of all, I grew up in a house that did not have normal meals. My mother did not like to cook at all and growing up, to be quite honest, I was fed on a diet of overprocessed foods. Things like hot dogs, bacon sandwiches and kraft dinner were staples of my typical diet. We did not have "family meals" - my father worked shifts and so we all ate on our own. As well, my father is a very picky eater. I can be honest and say that growing up, the only vegetable we ever had was corn because my dad did not like other vegetables. So I grew up on a diet of basically junk food. If it wasn't processed crap then it was typically fast food. I did not establish healthy eating habits as a child at all.
Secondly, growing up, money was extremely tight and my father was often laid off. Things were often financially difficult for my family when I growing up. Despite that, my father always made sure to give me a really generous allowance. In high school, it made me feel that somehow purchasing french fries in the cafeteria was like a "status symbol" to me. I always could afford to buy my lunch instead of brown bagging from home. That was an early association for me - buying lunch (or any food) was a pleasurable thing for me.
I think these two issues have a lot to do with how I got fat in the first place. As an adult, it seems that trying to undo these habits and associations are difficult. I have always been overweight as far back as I can remember.
My highest weight was 288 lbs.
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