This is a cross post with the plastic surgery forum.

Yesterday I went for my consult for plastic surgery. The good news is I have a hernia so I don't need to bother fighting about getting panni removal since the hernia makes the same difference in savings for the plastics. While I have a nice panni, I have not had any issues whatsoever and was struggling to get my PCP to help me document problems for BC BS. And now I know why part of my stomach is so tender and really hurts when the cats walk on me sometimes. Even better news is the plastic surgeon only wants me to shed 5 more pounds and definitely not more than 10 pounds before surgery and he will operate after I'm stable for 2 weeks - this is because while shedding the weight I always ate well and have no nutritional deficiencies like someone with WLS typically have. Because I didn't have surgery I never had a period in time where I wasn't eating much food or struggling to get nutrients. I'm going to have to change my weight tracker to reflect this. I will have plenty of breast tissue left so I don't need an implant and he will be able to auto augment my butt.

Bad news, because I used to weight so much and have lost so much, some of my scars are going to be much longer than what I've typically seen on the OH Plastics board. My brachioplasty scars will have to go past my elbow about 1-2 inches into my forearms. I also have a fatty tumor near my elbow to be removed in that area which complicates things a little. He explained that there is so much excess skin on my legs that I will end up with remaining slack above the knee cap but hopefully that will be minor. Luckily for my back, it's minor and he will be able to elongate the scar from my brachioplasty to go down the outer side of my breast to pull that extra skin in.

Ugly news - who knew walking in the mall was so dangerous. I tripped, well DH walked unexpectedly in front of me and my shoe caught on his and I fell and bumped my head. What is really bad is I cut my forehead right near my eye brow - 2 inches, and required 10 stitches. The scar looks neat but I really didn't want an ugly scar on my face. The people in the mall were wonderful and so sweet. OTOH, the people in the local emergency room were very nice but made me hang out there for 2 whole boring hours so it was so late by the time I came home. Tonight I'm attending a fundraiser and will be seeing lots of people I haven't seen in awhile and the last thing I wanted was for them to see this line of purple sutures sticking out of my forehead. I will try to cover as best with my hair but it doesn't completely cover it. I hope they will be focused on my weight loss and don't notice my scar.

Hi Jennifer, I bought mine at Brookstone for $40 just because it was convenient. I checked out Target and Dicks and they had a brand called sportline or something like that and on the internet I found those rated poorly with many complaints. I did find two companies that seemed to be more reliable -Omron and Gaiam but I didn't find them in any local stores. Normally I might order online, but we were eagar to get the pedometer. Mine is a little fancier than what I originally planned to buy in that it stores data for 7 days and gives you both steps, mileage and calories expended (don't trust this because all of this kind of calorie stuff is an estimate and can be very wrong). What I like about mine and is something to consider is that it is very accurate at picking up actual footsteps and not jiggles. I can carry it and have it record in my purse instead of on my body and it doesn't make a ticking noise like the cheaper ones do. OTOH, for my purposes the cheapest would have been fine too.

Can anyone recommend good BP monitors and pedometers, and post places to find them and avg prices please?

Hi again, well I think you are extremely lucky to have that clinic and I'm surprised that OHIP is paying for it knowing they are so stingy. What a wonderful resource ,all those classes. I envy you.  I'm also iimpressed that you have 4 kids under 7 yo - that has got to keep you busy with little time for yourself (((HUGS))) this is hard.

As for exercise, anything that can get you moving will work - and even stuff that you can have the kids participate along with you. I'm thinking of something like those old Dancing to the Oldies tapes from Richard Simmonds - or whatever is similar that you can follow the routine while the kids do whatever kids do when they hear music and start jumping around. We have cable tv and I often listen to the music channels like "hit list" etc. where the music has strong dance beats - just get up and move your arms and legs and everything else. It will be hard to start getting a routine going with the kids, but the rewards is if you keep it up both you and the kids will be healthier for it. Remember kids watch everything you do and they will do as you do and not as you say. Soooooo if you get them dancing to music every day they will grow up with both fond memories of dancing with Mommy and loving to move. I'm sure if you think about it, you will find other ways to get exercise with your kids. I'm like you, I'm not crazy about walking alone at night too.

It seems like such a big goal that I have a hard time overcoming it.

The Wharton Medical clinic  is an OHIP covered clinic (thre are so few here) that actually have doctors, bariatric educators, and people who perform additional tests that can support you in fidning out exactly what your metabolism is doing and then tailor a protein and fibre first plan to the caloric setting that you need to lose 1-2 pounds per week. As your body changes, they ammend your plan. Then adhering tothe plan becomes the issue.

They can recommend you for WLS, but they wouldn't even go there or even medications until the diet and excercise stuff is in line. (Which is my preference)

It's set up that you have several main appointments, as well as having spirometry/calorimeter tests done and stress tests on the side. They also have mandatory classes to attend ; subjects being food labelling, meal planning excercise, etc. They also have several classes to do with emotional eating and anxiety. I have attended most classes, but the ones on the emotions I haven't had a chance to get yet (schedule sidelines, a family emergency, and a sick husband in the past few weeks haven't helped in conjunction with knowing that the one teacher that teaches the course is boring as all get out and they run the class once a month- so I get to wait for the next time my schedule suits and the interesting teacher is in,)

They stress a high protein/slightly reduced carbs plan. Works with the medical science azvailable out there today. Obviously if you are on a low carb diet you get crabby- but I haven't noticed that at all. They suggest eating 6 times per day (small meals and snacks and using a fibre supplement to level the blood sugars- where diabetic or not)

They are all about self directed learning. so they have a  recommended reading list:
"You on a diet" (OZ)- I am finding this book excellent for understanding the problem.
"The Cognitive Behavioural Workbook for Weight Management" (Laliberte)- I'll get to this one shortly.
The Hormone Diet (? Sorry don't own this one)

They advocate excercising 3-4 times per week 1/2 hour per day.

As to my family doc, I don't think I'd get much help. I get terrible support from her when I last spoke to her on the matter. Felt like the bigger I got, the less she had time for me, even though I was asking for help.
Infact, to get a doctor's referral to the clinic, I had to approach the walk in clinic doctor that I had been dealing with on an obesity oriented/exarcerbated problem.

My family doctor doesn't have a nurse.

I have been encouraged to call in for cancellations at the WMC clinic; I like the idea, but finding someone who will mind my four small children is very tough on little notice.
So you see my quandry.

I feel like if I can watch someone else who has done it it'll help motivate me in the moments that it's hard, where it doesn't feel worth the effort.

I have seen another big girl lose weight and yo-yo for years.... but that's it..... yo-yoing- I need my solution to be more permanent. I need to see someone actually doing it.

I think that in small snippets of time, I will try to wade through the posts and see what people suggest on those things, and post new topics as well....

Thanks for the warm welcome,