susannah

Gday, Tracy Yippppeeeeeee!!!!!!:biggrin1: Good on ya! Baby Grl Yippppppppppppppppppeeeeeeeee!!!! Great weight loss. I am day 20 on the Optifast!!!! Tomorrow is the last day!!! I am stoked!:biggrin1: Susannah

Hi Girls, Bronnie don't be hard on yourself mate. I know how bloody horrible mri's are. That is why I am overdue for scanning, coz I avoid em! What else are they going to tell me, '' Another x amount of lesions, blah,blah"' I know I have MS. Loretta, it must be so hard for you waiting as a public patient. You will get there no doubt. Jacqui, I read that one of this years contestants on the Biggest Loser who weighs 190 kgs, had a lapband and lost 70 kgs. He decided to have it removed and is hoping that the show will be his last hope. You know what I wish him well because we all know what a struggle this whole weight loss caper is. Meredith, why don't you watch The Biggest Loser on sundays on channel 10 @ 7.30 pm. That is the weekly weigh in. Mate I know what being a soap addict is like, I love Days and B&b! :biggrin1: Yes I am tragic too. Dionnm, Keep posting here. I used to love drinking diet coke here and there. I have not drunk it for nearly a month now. It is amazing how you lose your appetite for fave things when you abstain for a while. I think constant consumption of any food or drink just feeds the addiction. Fee what's happening? Lastly a big hello to any Aussie lurkers. Come on in the water's fine!:rose: Susannah

Hey Bronnie, ooh the Gadolinium! Yuk. I always drop a Xanax each time or I will flip out. Have a good rest to get over it all. You are off to a good start pre banding. Is anyone planning on watching the start of The Biggest Loser on Sunday night? I will be watching it from my sick bed! LOL. I am going to milk the poor patient routine to the hilt! Susannah

Hi, Like anything the band may need servicing and updating in the future. There will probably be a newer more advanced device in the next decade. It is exciting to contemplate really. Susannah

Hi D, I have nearly finished 3 weeks of Optifast. Every surgeon has different requirements of their patients. It could also be related to your current BMI. Welcome, and good luck with it. Susannah

Gday, I am day 19 of 21 days of pre op Optifast. Nearly there! Look there is no denying it is hard and a major change from one's regular eating pattern, but if it prepares you for surgery and makes it go smoothly, all the better. I am starting to think that it is also a test of your mettle and character. Can you tough it out and come through it? etc. Good luck with it. I am looking forward to some new and different liquids post op! Susannah

Hi All, I am day 19 of 21 on the Optifast, and powering away. I like it with ice cold water and icecubes blended through it. Its ok actually. Mind you I am looking forward to having some different liquids for a change. Bronnie good luck with the scanning. I have all of mine at the Royal Melbourne Private. Hope they don't find any new lesions or progression. Good on ya for walking too and going on Optifast. It doesn't sound like Dr Nottle makes many of his patients have the sleep study so you could be lucky. As for me I have to be in the high dependency unit after my surgery as I have weak lung muscles, and they have to keep an eye on me. The respiratory physician doesn't know why this is the case, as my sleep study was fine. It could be because I have MS or not. We are not sure. Meredith, any wedding news/updates? Susannah Banana

Hi D, My name is Susannah, and I am getting banded this coming friday. I am day 18 of the liquid diet. It is hard, but I suggest that you keep yourself really busy with different activities that you enjoy. The first week is the hardest. I found that my body adjusted to the Optifast in the second week and it was muh easier. I am nearly there, and I haven't cheated once. Where are you getting banded? Susannah

Hi All, Thanks Chris. Hey Greg top effort mate! Get those pounds off.:biggrin1: I am not really excited about the surgery, just excited about losing weight and feeling better. Susannah

Hi Girls, Wasn't it a tragedy about the 26 year old woman who died last week having liposuction. She was young and beautiful and of normal weight. I think the lesson here is to only see a plastic surgeon who has the letters after their name, and serious years of experience. I don't know all the facts of the case, but from what I read the woman usd the services of a cosmetic asthetic surgery centre. I would like to have a breast reduction down the track as big boobs are uncomfortable and and cumbersome. Cam, Bio oil is excellant. Susannah

Hi All, thanks for the insights here. In Australia the band is the surgery of choice. Banding has been being performed here since the early nineties, so it has been around a lot longer I guess. Australia has pretty strict regulations on medical advertising and while advertising the band in newspapers is allowed, it is not allowed on tv commercials etc. The media is allowed to cover it in news stories though. Susannah

Hi All, I just have been wondering with a poulation of approx 300 million people in the US, and a huge obesity problem, are many people getting banded? It just seems that this forum should have a lot more members than it does. Are there areas in the US where there is more obesity than other areas, or is it widespread? Australia is also starting to experience an obesity crisis. Very interested to hear your thoughts. Susannah

Hey, Does he have a brother??!!!LOL!:biggrin1: Susannah

Sam, the story was in todays edition of the Herald Sun. www.heraldsun.com.au Susannah

Hi meredith, I am sure you will have a wonderful wedding day. Where is your fiance from in the US? My older brother Simon lives in Brooklyn NY. He and his partner are trying to get pregnant, and will move back to Australia for the first few years of the baby's life. Losing the weight will be all the sweeter for you when you go down the aisle in your dream dress. It is nice that your fiance loved you even at your highest weight. Most men are not so generous like that! Susannah

Hey, Make that reflux, not refux!:biggrin1: Susannah

Hey Bronnie, I have lost 7 kilos since being on the Optifast program. I rarely get refux/ heartburn. Let the fun begin. Susannah

Hi and welcome, I am getting banded in 5 days time, and I share many of the same fears as you. I am sure all will be well though. Audree 17 pounds lost!!!! Good on ya! That is tops.:biggrin1: Susannah

Hi Jessica, I am feeling a little scared of plastic surgery, as the leading story in my local paper was the death last monday of a 26 year old woman after liposuction at an asthetic beauty centre. She had fat removed from her thighs and buttocks on the friday and was dead on the monday. She was beautiful and young. It is such a horrible tragedy.:scared: Susannah

Hi, Hey thanks Tracy for the compliment. I am day 17 on the liquid diet and I have not cheated once, or eaten anything that I should not have on The Optifast program. I am determined to walk the path that others have successfully done before me. I want to be able to say '' I did it, I can control myself and be disciplined from here forwards''. I am fast closing in on that goal. Susannah

Hi there, I would never allow anyone other than my medical surgeon to move my port once I am banded. Have to be frank here. Susannah

Hi Everyone, Thanks Meredith and Swan for all your hospital tips. They will be put to good use. I will be recovering up at my sister's house in Castlemaine for two weeks. My sister has eight year old twin boys who have a lot of energy and full of life. They often jump on me and hug me, something that will have to be curtailed for a few weeks post surgery. The hugs are ok though. Meredith you must be so excited about your wedding. You are not a bridezilla though I hope!:biggrin1: Bronnie get as many hot cross buns down your neck while you can!:scared: I am day 17 on the liquid diet and I have not cheated or eaten a single thing that I should not have. Hope my surgeon will be pleased with my efforts. Susannah

Hi All, Hey Veronica I like your name, that is also my mother's name. Yes I really like Walk away the pounds. Nobody should knock Richard Simmons because he has done so much for people struggling with their weight. If he was British the queen would have knighted him by now. Sir Dick!!!! lol!!! Feel the burn girls!:biggrin1: Susannah

Please don't spruik your travel information here. Nearly two hundred Australians went to Bali in October 2002 and were murdered. Sorry but Bali is no fantasy destination for me. Susannah

Hey Babygrl, Thanks mate. You can do this. Strangely enough in the second week I kind of lost the desire to eat. True! Eyes on the prize. Susannah