Chickie

I never drank, so giving up was a non issue for me.

Very interesting.. I will have to watch (although my band doc is doing my TT for me, for next to nothing, it will be interesting to see how much I will save)

No "diet" here. I just make sure I get in lean protien first, then veggies, and carbs if I have any room left. My Snacks are usually fruit, or *blush* air poped popcorn. I make sure I drink my 2ltrs of Water a day. Still drink coffee, and have the odd naughty snack (I am sure we all do) I am focused on creating a healthy lifestyle, one I can sustain long after the weight is off.

Ok, so you are no too tight (I think if that is all you can eat, you are, but you know your body.....) But please, please, please make better food choices. There is little to no nutritional value in what you are eating and drinking. You will end up with bigger problems than a slipped or erroded band. Malnutrition is very very real, and if you have been trying to eat more, and this is what you are eating as a result, you will have problems. No today, or tomorrow, but 12 months + down the track. I am 100% sure you could find healthy foods with the same texture as what you are eating. I am sure of it. The whole point of the band is to provide satiety, not stop you from absorbing calories. Hence we, as bandsters must provide our bodies with the "fuel" we need (healthy protien, and veggies) We are responsable for what we fuel our bodies with. If we use the garbage fuel in our cars at the fuel station, our cars run like crap, yes? But when we use the good stuff, our cars run like a dream. Same goes for our bodies. We only get what we put in. You put in good stuff, you feel great. You put in crap, you feel like crap. Just my 2 cents anyway. Feel free to disregard.

2lbs could be Water weight. If you have had something with lots of salt, or are a little dehydrated (sp?) that will do it every time.

I had staples and stiches.

My husband named mine Coot. As in Bandicoot.

I dont know too much about frame sizes, but I do remember reading somewhere that after years of being overweight, bones tend to be heavier, to carry the extra weight that was on us. I have no idea how true this is, but I have noticed that I *look* thinner now, at 86kg, than I did 10 years ago when I was 80kg. I do think my bones are heavier, and I would have more muscle too, I am sure.

I started with a *huge* belly. I looked 18 months pregnant. 7 months, and 38kgs later, I look almost normal. I will be needing a tummy tuck. I plan on having it when I hit 80kg (only 7 kg to go woo hoo) I still have a huge overhang of skin and fat, but nothing a good surgeon cant take care of. I have pics in my OH profile http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/members/profile.php?N=B1107605512

No Kathy we dont have the patch here, I went to my GP last week , and asked about it. Pitty. Like you Parvathi, I am forgetful too, and forgetting pills made my mood swings worse. Add to that my PCOS and I am not a happy lady at the moment. I have gone off the pill, am awaiting my AF so I can go have an IUD installed (is that the correct term?) My GP perscribed Merina, she said it should make AF lighter, and shorter. So fingers crossed.

Thanks everyone! It was only a top, but I will take what I can get I am 100% size 16 in Target though. I swear I tried on half of their stock, just to make sure it was for real. My son was less than impressed. He wanted to se a movie

Things I have been able to do thus far; 1) Cross my legs like a lady 2) Shop in regular size stores 3) Wear some rings that I havent been able to for years 4) Have a gap (and it is a huge gap now) between my belly and the steering wheel of my car 5) Have had regular cycles for the last 5 months 6) Can paint my own toe nails 7) Shave my legs without taking a half hour to do it! Thing I still want to do 1) Be cleared for type 2 diabeties (I see my endo next month) 2) Have my tummy tuck 3) Get another tattoo after said tummy tuck, on my beautiful new belly 4) Get down to a size AU14 or US12

Brought a size Large top in Just Jeans today (The Aussie gals will get what that means, it is a store that only goes up to a AU16, or a US14) :Bunny I am so thrilled!

I get cravings at night sometimes too. I grab a 600ml bottle of Water, and tell myself if I drink that, and am still hungry, I can have a snack (air poped popcorn, some nuts, yogurt - something) 9 out or 10 times, I dont feel hurngry after drinking the water.

Thank you! I did lose a few kg before my surgery (I was on Optifast for 2 weeks :dead If I never see another packet of it again, I will die a happy woman) But I have watched what I have been eating, I never let myself get hungry, drink my Water take my Vitamins (all the usual boring stuff ) But I guess, just getting out there, and putting one foot in front of another since the second week of banding has made it for me. The only time I have missed a walk or a run (my primary exercise is jogging now) is when I sprained my ankle a month ago. And even then, I was walking again after a week, and jogging after 2 (with my GP's blessing) I always aim for an hours exercise a day. Everyday. That said, If I do miss a day, it is no drama, I always seem to get in 5 days if I am for 7. And aside from that, I have had fantastic support from my husband. That man has been my rock. He totally changed his way of eating in support (he went on lite and easy, and has lost 20kg) And gets out there with me at least 5 days a week for a walk, or jog. He has burped me, consoled me when I thought I wasnt losing fast enough, and cried with me when I hit my goals. I could have never done this alone. And I must say - you are doing so well yourself! Congrats! You are doing an awesome job.

While I have not had my tummy tuck done yet, I have done 99% of the chasing around for it (I have another 8kg to go, and plan to have that off by Christmas-ish and have my TT in the Jan school holidays) My health cover will pay for the hospital, theater ect, and I pay the surgeon. After I have had it done, I take my receipt to medicare, I should get about $1000 of the $3600 I paid the surgeon back (he will be billing it as a reconstructive job) So I am told, anyway.

No, I found it really hard to "get to know" the ozbanders. You had to already be "in" to be "in" if you know what I mean?

I am having mine done when I get to 80kg (only 8.5kg to go woohoo) I have the same problems as you. My band surgeon is going to do mine as a reconstructive job, and if later on it needs tweeking I will have to go to a plastic surgeon. I have no real advice for you, but I would love to hear any BTDT advice from others too.

Just before I had my surgery, I had something like 52% body fat. I had it redone last week, and I was down to 36%. I am moving in the right direction. It just takes time.

I had no problems. I just had to have a form filled in by my GP (not the surgeon) saying how long I had been overweight, and that I had tried to lose it before, and I got 85% covered.

f you do not mind posting what he said, that would be great. I just saw my surgeon this last Thursday, and I forgot to ask him, and I am at the stage where I go 8 weeks between visits. I am planning on having one made in gold (with the proper silver/metal tag) I am just a wee bit vain :laugh Sam

Hi Rachel, No, I don't have one, but I am thinking about it. Sam.

Do you have a Medic Alert braclet? If so, what does yours say? Thanks

Maybe not. A girlfriend of mine was on Xenical at the same time as me, and we would go out to lunch together, order the same food, and she would have all sorts of problems. Where as I would have none. I guess everyone is different.

I was on it for some months in 98, then again in 01. I did lose weight, but I regained after I went off it. I doubt I would regain this time because of the band. I guess I was lucky. I never had any real problems with it (the oil and mess), it was just the regain after I went off. Thanks.