Chickie

Honestly, I could be anything, and I wouldn't muck around. See a doctor.

I understand completely how you feel. While I was pretty jazzed to get to goal, that excitement only lasted a couple of days. I was so glad that I had made my weight loss about more than just losing weight. I had set myself other non weight loss related goals (improving my running, running a few 5k's, other personal goals) It made the transition into "normal" life so much easer. Now over 2.5 years later, I can say that while getting to goal was an achievement, it isn't the biggest and best, I have so many other things to be proud of. Perhaps, finding something else to focus on, another goal, will help to make this victory sweeter for you. Give you something else to focus on, so the things you are worrying about won't be at the forefront, if you get what I mean.

How are all the Aussie old timers? A big hello to all the new names too!

Was banded on a Tuesday, & drove on Friday.

Hey ladies! Thanks Mac. That means a lot. Lentil pizza. Mmmmmm ((((drool)))) Must put that on my shopping list for this week. I am glad it goes over as well in your house as it does mine. I am going to try to be around more this year. I hav settled into work a little more, and now that Christmas is over, hopefully I will have a little more time on my hands. Here's to a happy and healthy 2009 to all (I know, I know, almost a week late. But better than never, right?)

I was at goal before I even booked an appointment with a surgeon.

I am green. 10 days sounds devine. I just had 4 off, and am only just now winding down, and I have to go back tomorrow. A big wave "hi" to everyone!

At close to 4 years post op (band), and almost 3 years post op (tummy tuck) all of my loose skin is worn with almost pride. Nothing aside from my stomach was bad enough, in my mind anyway, to bother with further surgery. So I have learned to live with my much thinner, but baggier, body. To be honest, I don't realy think about my loose skin much at all anymore. The only time I think of it is when I talk about my weight loss.

Me too She... LMAO

Dr Copp is awesome. Both he and his team are amazing. Congrats & good luck.

I don't know... Mine have always been 12 months at least, if not indefinite. I haven't ever had one last only 6 months from a GP.

I'm in Brisbane, and mine last 12 months (or more if my GP writes indefinite on it) Maybe it depends on the GP?

It's only 9:10PM here... It's a pain in the backside not being in line with the rest of the country.

Having a squizz is having a look.

I got so skinny, I turned sideways, and everyone stopped talking to me. LMAO I have just been really busy with work, the kid and husband. That and I don't feel like there is a whole lot more I can add here anymore. I do miss you guys though. I log on every now and then to see how everyone is going.

Was that $1825 before or after private cover?

Thanks. November will be here in no time (so will Christmas, oh boy!) Congrats. I can't remember off the top of my head what it cost. Less than 3k, I remember that much. My health fund paid for a good chunk as did medicare... So I don't know who told you Medicare / health funds don't pay out on them... BUt maybe things have changed in the last two years...

I know Annie! All these Brisbanites! I can't et over the amount of the new bandsters being banded by Dr Copp. Congrats guys!!

I thought it had been dropped. However, I won't forget. I just can't do that. Saying sorry, then saying "But..." means you are *not* really sorry at all. As for deleting the thread, I am afraid the impression that comment left on a number of us cannot be deleted.

Where are you Fanny? SE Queensland has been getting just enough rain to lift water restrictions a little. It's still not enough. But it's a start.

That sounds like my ideal morning...

I don't know. That might be a question for your surgeon. Personally, I lost well on around 1500 or so. I never really stressed about an exact number as long as I was exercising daily.

Like Kat said, it really does depend on what stage you are at. Me, I eat pretty much whatever I want. I drink spring Water, coffee, tea, sugar free ice tea (liptons has one that a lot of Aussie restaurants serve) So I don't go without. Happy anniversary!

Ok. So my story has been told before. So here is the short version... Banded 22 Feb 2005, after one last year long try to "do it on my own". I was 24 at the time, and suffering from PCOS, type II, high blood pressure, and my knee and back were killing me all the time. My health sucked. I also looked pretty bad. I was pretty enough, and my husband loved me just as I was, but I really wasn't happy with the way I looked at that weight. So, I was banded, and at about six months post op, I became a veggie. No real reason, it was just something I wanted to do. I also started running. Slowly at first. But by the time I was a year or so post op, I was running 4 or 5 km a day. I never kept a tight fill, because I wanted to be able to eat lost of fruit and veggies, and a tight fill would have stopped that. By June 2006, I was at goal. My PCOS was much better (I had been having regular cycles since about 6 months post op) my blood pressure was perfect, my sugars / insulin were perfect, and my back and knee were *so* much better, it was amazing. I ended up having a tummy tuck in August 2006. By December 2006, I had been totally unfilled. I have been ever since. I have stayed at 107lbs / 49kg for the last 2 and a bit years now. August 2008, I had to have the tube shortened, because it was sitting on my diaphragm, causing nasty shoulder tip pain. It was an easy surgery, and I go back to my normal life within 24 hours, and started running again in 2 weeks. Overall, I am very happy with my weight loss, but I am far happier with the changes I made to my lifestyle. I am still veggie, and I still run daily. I am as proud of this as I am of the weight loss. Maybe more so. So. yeah. There it is.

It makes me sad that there is so much of it. And it's just awful that people question the before & afters... What gets me is, it's always anon's, or fake screen names. No balls.