Fanny Adams

No, not that good... I'm on site this weekend but home next weekend. Nevertheless, life is SWEET!! *swoons some more*

Posting just to say "life is good!" :thumbup:

I agree that the tenet of "you can make it if you work hard enough" tends to define the US attitude to economics. The Australian attitude is more defined by our line of "a fair go for all". That doesn't mean that every one has to keep to the same level, it means that everyone should have the same chance and opportunity to make it as far in life as they want. The differences are subtle but they are there. As a nation, we are more inclined to expect our government to use our tax money for the benefit of the people, rather than businesses, yet our approach still allows and encourages businesses to flourish and determined people to rise to the top.

I'm right at the beginning of a new relationship with a very sexy man. We have both had a fair bit of experience with threesomes and I think that this is one of the things we find attractive about each other. We are both way too into getting to know each other right at the moment, but it is nice to know that down the track, if we want to widen our scope, the other doesn't have jealousy hangups and finds the idea a turn on.

Your stomach muscles have been cut open and, at 2 weeks post-op, are only just healing. You probably need to take it pretty gently for the next couple of weeks. I found that while I felt mostly healed within a couple of weeks, there was a residual soreness whenever I did anything that pulled those muscles. Give it time and all will be well in a few more weeks, meantime, softly softly :wink_smile:

Well to be honest, I think many Americans are excessively paranoid about the word "socialism", most probably as a hangover from the Cold War and the McCarthy "Reds under the bed" witchhunts in the 50's. Pure socialism doesn't work well; it leads the country to stagnation, as can be seen in many European countries. Pure capitalism doesn't work well either; it leaves too many gaps in the infrastructure of society, as can be seen in the poverty levels at the bottom strata of the US. No countries practice "pure" anything these days, it is all about finding the right balance between the two. I think Australia has been doing very well at finding that balance. Enterprising and energetic people can easily find ways to make it to the top, but the safety net is quite strong for the less fortunate. I've been called a socialist many times by Americans in various debating forums, yet I don't believe that I am. I subscribe to many ideals on both sides of that fence and, in Aus, would be considered a mildly Leftist middle of the roader. Socialism is not a dirty word, the divide between socialist and capitalist isn't all black and white, and there is merit to be found on both sides and particularly in finding the balance in the middle. PS: Hey Plain! My PM Inbox remains distressingly empty!! :wink_smile:

God I love it when you talk straight, Jachut! :wink_smile:

Things I already DON'T miss about being obese: * Unzipping my pants and holding my breath to tie my shoelaces * Calculating the most efficient route to do ANYthing (e.g. clear the dining table, go shopping) so as to minimise the time spent on my feet * Feeling choked by the fat on my neck and boobs whenever I lay flat on my back (especially during sex!!) * Obsessing over what I will have for the next meal and how long I should wait until I can start eating it * Being terrified of cameras at family parties I'm only just over half way to goal and already these things are a thing of the PAST! YAY!

*eyes bug out* You did that in only 13 months?? Far out, brussel sprout!! Man, I'm lagging behind the game... it's been almost 11 months for me and I've only managed half of what you have done. Still, I'm happy with my overall progress and I'm confident that I'll get there in the end...just might take me a while. Well done!!

Wow, Renewed! What a transformation! Don't you look just FANTASTIC now!

Wow, Cuddles, I just noticed your ticker!!! What an awesome achievement! That's close to the number I hope to achieve when I'm done, so it is inspiring to know others have made it. How long has it taken you to get there?

If you want to compare the Aus and the US tax systems, you have to be careful to make sure you are comparing apples with apples. Yes, our tax rates are MUCH higher than the US rates, but it is an "all inclusive" package. In the States, you have Federal Income Tax, State Income Tax, Social Security payments, property taxes and a number of other little things taking bites out of the paycheck. All of those add up to not much less than we pay. Our higher rates include SS payments, etc, and we get a much better health, education and welfare system out of the deal. Also, it is a misnomer to say that we pay 45% in the dollar when we're in the higher tax bracket. We pay that only on the amount of income that falls into the higher tax bracket, not the full amount. For example, last year, my total income was around $160,000. The base tax on that was about $51,600, which works out at 32% of the total not 45%.

I'm going to add my two cents worth and agree that you will find your insurance won't cover you without the 12 month waiting period. Don't give up though - you can either choose to pay now and jump in, or wait out the time (1 year isn't really that long in the grand scheme of things). Either way, don't lose the insurance as it will cover any possible complications arising and they can be almost as expensive as the initial surgery. Personally, I couldn't wait and I spent the money - it was worth every single penny of it too! I was glad I took out the insurance though, because I did need a minor corrective op a couple of weeks back and I really couldn't afford that one, but insurance covered it. Whichever way you go, hang in there and do it! You won't believe how much it will change your life and how good you will feel twelve months afterwards. I think that for most of us, by the time we get to considering surgery as our last resort, we have given up hope in ever really finding a solution to our weight problems. It is hard to imagine that there really is something out there that will work and not be just another failure to add to the list. Let me give you the reassurance that, if you work with the band and let the band work for you, it DOES work! I have never been happier...

I was fully self-pay in December 07, in Perth. All up, I outlayed around $12,700 but got about $1,500 back from Medicare, so nett cost was $11,200. I have to agree with Ange05 and urge you to take out private cover as well, as the cost of any follow up surgery for complications can be almost the same again. If I'd been a more patient person, I would have waited out the 12 month qualifying period and been covered under insurance, but once I made my mind up, I couldn't stand the thought of waiting. I did take out cover though, and it came in handy this year, as I had a minor complication (kink in the tubing) that needed correcting and the insurance covered that, no questions asked. If you are looking for a cheap insurance alternative that covers the band, you might want to look at Australian Health Management online. I took their basic, cheapest cover for singles at @ $600 per year and this covered all the hospital and other expenses. Well worth it!

No offence meant, Denise, but "my liver is inflamed" + "I take [milk thistle] twice a day" isn't exactly a ringing endorsement :eek:. Just saying, is all... :eek:

I don't recall asking for pics of your FACE!!! :grouphug::pray2: He does indeed... and just keeps getting better. I'm scared out of my mind and trembling on the edge of the L word... way too soon but I can see it coming up in the future...

Congratulations! Isn't it wonderful to feel that, at long last, we can really be successful at this weight loss game? Well done!!

Ok, you've said you try to eat slowly but how big are the bites you are eating? They should be around 1/4 - 1/2 a teaspoon and then chewed to absolute liquid, no hint of a lump. If you are doing that but you are still throwing up on solids, you need to consider getting a slight unfill. Leaving the situation as it is is very dangerous for your band and can lead to a slip. Once you have PB'd on food, you should switch to liquids for the rest of the day. PB'ing makes your stomach swell up and the band even tighter, so it will only get worse. You need to rest your stomach and try again with smaller bites and even more chewing the next day. If you find that no matter how small the bites or how much chewing, you cannot tolerate solid foods, you need an unfill. Leaving the band too tight will tempt you to fill up on liquids and soft foods like icecream. These won't satisfy the hunger, however, so you will keep wanting to eat but won't be able to, will snack continually and will end up gaining weight - it is a vicious circle. If you get the band loosened just a little, so that you can eat solid food (with the right amount of chewing and bite sizes), you will find that you feel MUCH less hungry, because you can fill up on good stuff that sits in your pouch instead of trickling straight through like liquids do. Take a day or so to see if you can resolve it with rest for your stomach and smaller bites/more chewing, but if that doesn't work, get to your doctor quickly - don't let it go on and on for weeks. It is a miserable existance and really is the worst way to approach band life, not to mentiona dangerous for your health.

Okay, twist my rubber arm and I'll tell all! (Hehehehe - you do know I was just dying for someone to ask, eh?) Started emailing each other on a dating site about a month ago. I actually emailed him first, which is a first for me! I usually wait for them to write first. Had arranged our first date for my swing home from my work (mine site) about a fortnight ago. Initially it was going to be the Sunday, but I had to reschedule as I had surgery to correct the kink in my tubing on the Wed and wasn't fully recovered. Ended up meeting for coffee on the Tues at 5:30pm and just talked the whole night away - didn't get home till 11:30pm! Unfortunately, I had to fly back to site the next day :Dancing_biggrin: After that we started texting like mad teenagers, emailing and chatting on yahoo every day. I went home for my last R&R last Wed, we met up on Thurs and he just swept me off my feet - started the night with a dozen red roses, which I have NEVER received before *swoons* I had plans for Friday night with my daughter and couldn't break that, so didn't see him then. Sat night was my father's 70th birthday party, so I thought I wouldn't see him that night either but as a last thought, I casually mentioned that he would be welcome, not expecting a "Yes" at all! He decided it was a good way to get to know me - to see my family and how we all interact - so he came! I couldn't believe he would brave that after only 2 dates! He got on with everyone really well and was a big hit with the family :party: Sunday, we did the romantic picnic in the hills (Spring wildflower season here), then Monday he went to work and I flew back to site... *sigh* I miss him already. It is ridiculously soon to be feeling all these feelings, but he seems to be feeling it too. It just all felt so easy and comfortable and warm and OMG hot and sexy too! I really think this one is a keeper! :crying:

And your nudie pics for me!! *checks Inbox again* *taps foot impatiently*

Aww but Plain!!! I promise I'll hide those nudes from him!! You don't have to post them in public - just PM them to me! :tongue2:

Yes, Fanny has a beau! :biggrin: It is very surreal at the moment for me. I separated from my ex 16 years ago and it was a couple of years before that since I last felt loved by anyone, so I've been emotionally alone for nearly 20 years. In all the time since, I've had some casual relationships but it was never anything that went beyond lust and affection. Most of that was by my deliberate choice, as I avoided any kind of emotional entanglement. In the last few years, I've been much more open to seeing someone on a more significant level but the weight and other factors has always seemed to get in the way. After making a major mistake in getting involved with my ex, I was determined that if I ever travelled this road again, I would take it slowly and make sure I knew the person well before I let my heart get involved. It doesn't seem to be working that way, however. When I've taken it slowly, I've never let my heart get involved at all. This time round, it is all happening at the speed of light, is scaring the HELL out of me, but at the same time feels so right and so good and I don't want to stop... *sigh* I feel like a bloody teenager!! PS: The Veronicas kick arse! I've done my bit for their fame by introducing a few online Yank friends to their music :tongue2:

Posting just to say...life is sweet :tongue2: and to ask those of you with significant others: How long did it take before you started thinking (not necessarily saying) the L word? *sighs*

YES! Yes, I did! :tongue2:

I said this a little under 2 months ago: How quickly life can change. I take it back. I take it all back!