Fanny Adams

*waves* Hi all... well Box Mountain is slowly diminishing but still a long way to go. I had to go out yesterday and buy contact to cover the pantry shelves because they were all grotty, even after cleaning. It's just basic white, but at least I could put my food away. The pantry is quite literally THREE times the size of my previous one, which was packed up to the gills, so it's been wonderful being able to fit everything in with room to spare. I don't like the kitchen cupboards though - the doors are too narrow and they go back way too far, so hard to get stuff into/out of and easy to lose things in the back. Nevermind though - the kitchen is on the list for remodelling so it's only temporary. It's not at the top of the list though, so it will probably be a year or more before we get to it. I'm loving the size and space of everything else, from the bedroom to the laundry linen closet, it feels like everything has tripled in size :scared2: And did I mention I have horses over the road? HORSES!!! I won't get over that thrill for a very long time :w00t:

Hi all! Well the move went pretty smoothly considering how much stuff I have!! Who'da thunk it? I couldn't believe how much it all was once they started loading the truck. It filled the truck entirely (approx 45 cubic metres of stuff) and a heap was left behind. It took us TEN car loads to cart the leftovers and even then we left some junk behind in the back of the garage, because the skip bin had been picked up already. We're both aching all over and I have a MOUNTAIN of unpacking to do but we're in, the old house has been cleaned throughout and the doors locked and I've waved goodbye... I'll post some pics of Box Mountain soon...

Hi all :sad: Just a quick drive by posting to wave at everyone and then I have to get back to my packing. Moving day is tomorrow!! We've already got the keys to the new house and spent the weekend putting locks on all the windows and doors (would you believe not a SINGLE lock worked in the house? The windows didn't even HAVE locks to work!) While Chris was being Mr Handyman, I was working my butt off cleaning the litter and disgusting rubbish from the front porch and back patio area and weeding the 3ft high weeds growing in between the bricks of all the paved areas. I was so proud of myself at the end of it - I cleared out an area 11m x 8m (that's about 1ft shy of 950 square foot!!) all by myself in one afternoon. Here's a before and after shot of the main part of the area I did: The inside of the house was just filthy. I don't know how anyone can live like that!! I have cleaners over there right now, disinfecting everything in sight, before we move our furniture in tomorrow. *hugs* to all - I'll probably be MIA for the next couple of days - so much to do!! *edits* This is how thick the grass/weeds were in the area where I am sitting (in the above photo):

Well that fill is definitely doing its job. I've lost 7lb in 7 days, which is more than I've lost in the previous 2 months. It is uncomfortably tight though :wink2:. I made a big mistake with lunch yesterday and was miserable all afternoon. Last night, Chris and I went back to the place where we had our first date and my tummy was so upset that I couldn't even tolerate the soup that I chose, and we had to go home early *cries*. I'm kicking myself for ruining our anniversary dinner. I'm going to be very VERY careful today - liquids only! - and hope that things settle down again soon.

Heartfire, the puggles here aren't a cross breed of anything. That's the name given to the echidna babies when they hatch out of their egg. Echidna's and platypus are strange little creatures that baffled the scientific world when they were first discovered in our early days. Initially, the scientists thought they were a hoax, because they couldn't imagine that any creature could be so strange, but they are real and not artificially created in any way. Echidnas resemble hedgehogs with long spines, lay eggs in burrows and suckle their young like mammals once hatched. Platypus are even stranger, resembling a tiny beaver or otter with a duck bill and duck feet, but also lays eggs in burrows and suckles its young. It also has a venomous spur on its hind legs - the only venomous mammal in the world.

You have one of these??? (Btw, the writer is mistaken. Echidnas (which look a bit like a hedgehog) are not marsupials; they are monotremes - egg laying mammals. 1.3cm = 0.5in, 0.3g = 0.01 ounces (what's a smaller measurement than an ounce in imperial?)

Congrats, Tap!!! Grandbabies are the BEST!!! I have two of the darlings and love them to bits :frown: Well done, Ebony, on the running program! You're doing so well with that! I'll have my fingers crossed for you on Wednesday - good luck! I'm getting excited now about my move - we get the keys early (on Friday), so only a few days now, and then official settlement and moving day is next Tuesday (one week today!) In all of this, Wednesday is the one year anniversary of the day I met Chris... I can't believe so much has happened and my life has changed so radically in one little year.

Well done, Renee!! Doesn't it feel great?

Thanks everyone. It's not really talent though - it's hard to take a bad pic when the subject matter is so pretty. I do love doing it though. Just love spring time - my favourite season without doubt! I find our bushland, birds and flowers just endlessly fascinating. Hope I don't bore you guys with it all. If anyone is interested, I posted the Bibra Lake pics in the old PJTP thread, coz I wasn't quite sure where everyone is looking. I can repost here if people don't want to go back to that thread. There are some really gorgeous ones of the black swans with their cygnets and quite a few others that I'm rather proud of...

Spring has well and truly sprung - wildflower season is half way through already and the bird are in breeding season or are already busy raising their families. Flowers everywhere and beautiful days. These were taken at Bibra Lake - about 2km from my house, in the heart of the suburbs: Swans with Cygnets: Little Corellas billing and cooing: Pink & Grey Galahs: Male Musk Duck in full breeding mode: Profusion of wildflowers: Lots more piccies of birds, flowers and bushland

Hi everyone. Spring has well and truly sprung here and I've been taking advantage of the lovely weather to get out into the bushland and do some walking. These pics are from an afternoon at a place called Churchman's Brook, which is in the hills just on the outskirts of the suburbs: Churchman's Brook I'm working on a set of photos that I took today, from my 6km walk around the little lake in my suburb. I was amazed at the number of birds and wildflowers everywhere. Got some great pics - will post soon!

Yes, I know... it's right on the edge, I think, but I figure if I am really careful not to let it tip over and start PBing everywhere, it should settle in in a couple of days. I've found in the past that, once I let the PBing start, it can take a long while to get over, as everything gets swollen inside. I'm watching it really closely, especially as any of these problems upset Chris so much. He gets really worried for me, the love...

Hi everyone!! So here you are! I was wondering where everyone went... Thanks for the link, Heartfire I'm doing well. The fill is REALLY tight but, so far, that's a good thing. Lost a whole kilo already! It feels so good to see the scale moving again. I just have to be really careful with going back to basics on the rules.

Congrats, bklyn!! As of this morning, I have FINALLY made it!! I must have jinxed myself with that last post because having gotten to within 0.3 of a pound of the magic 100lb number, I promptly BOUNCED and spent the next 3 weeks gaining and losing the same pound over and over. After another fill yesterday, however, I made it over the marker and am now 100lb down! YEEHAH!!!! ADD ME TO THAT LIST!!

At pretty well 100lb down and just before I go in for PS in December, I thought it appropriate that I post some progress pics. Let me just say that this has been an amazing journey and I am so glad I made this decision for my life! My starting point (Note the sadness in the eyes): The halfway point (about 9 months post-op): Getting there (just over 12 months post op): New haircut - 15 months post op: Within the last month: New hairdo this week: Look who's smiling now:

GRR! Fair warning: long post! So I went in for my fill but didn't see my regular doctor. He's been getting so busy in the last year that he has been concentrating on the surgery and has taken on some more doctors to cover the "mundane" stuff like check ups and fills. I saw today's guy once before in February and a different one last month (female and nice), now the bloke again. So there we have Gripe No. 1: I'm annoyed that I no longer get to see "my" doctor, just whoever is free at the time and that means I lose continuity with them, have to re-explain my situation and have to deal with contradictory advice. Gripe No. 2: His dieting advice is VASTLY different to everything my surgeon told me and does not look easy to follow. Basically, he works on the theory that you don't eat when the band is tight, which is almost always first thing in the morning, so no breakfast at all, light lunch of protein only (preferably salmon, tuna or eggs, no red meat, no dairy and avoid chicken breast meat), bigger evening meal of fish and vegetables. Well hell!! My surgeon does agree with the "don't eat breakfast if you're not hungry" thoughts (has said it like that - not DON'T eat before midday), but he has always emphasised eating a balanced healthy diet. I know I want to get things moving and I'm quite sure the new doc has a point when he says "this plan gets the best results" because if I eat nothing but salmon and veges OF COURSE I'm going to lose fast, but who the **** wants to eat like that? GRR!! Gripe No. 3: Last month the nice lady doctor said she wanted me back here every 4 weeks to check on things up until my surgery date and then we would do an unfill a couple of days before the surgery. This guy says as I'm walking out "make an appointment for 6 weeks." I explained the situation - an appointment in 6 weeks is 3 weeks before my surgery, which means if I need another fill, it will only have 3 weeks to get me any where and if he wants to do the unfill then, that's WAY too soon! He shrugged and said "oh well, I know what the bookings are like and that's when we'll be free next..." I checked with reception and managed to get an appointment for 4 weeks away but still annoyed at the "who cares about your situation" attitude. GRRR!!! I don't know if I am just pissed off because I got told something I didn't want to hear (i.e. 2 meals a day only, nothing in between, nothing but fish and veges... UGH!!) or if I should genuinely be pissed off with this guy - but I want that lady doctor back next time!! Oh, and in the end, he only put in 0.25cc, so I'm hoping that will be enough to make a difference over the next month. If not, I'll be back for a top up in FOUR weeks, not six!

Hehe - you know that was worded like that, just for you :scared2:

Yes, I think there's a fair bit in that. I've noticed that I get "first bite syndrome" a lot and I think it is because I am so hungry when I go to eat, that I just wolf the first bite down. I try to be careful and chew but it's those times when I don't pay attention that it bites me back . It's hard to explain to Chris, as he gets very worried when he sees me starting out hungry, only to sit and stare mournfully at my plate after the first bite. He really doesn't want me to have another fill but I think a small one is in order. I'm just going to have to be really strict with myself on sticking to the right foods and the bandster rules. I have to do something, as I'm too hungry to stick to the "diet" plans and I'm just not losing. I think I'll ask for 0.25cc, as last time I was in this state, the 0.5cc fill was too much and I ended up having 0.25cc taken out anyway. On the other hand, will 0.25 do the trick in time?? I've only got another 2 months before the op, so not a lot of wiggle room to have another if it doesn't work this time. Decisions, decisions... PS: I'm curious as to what I should call Chris on this forum. It's not DH, so what? DB for Dear Boyfriend? DLIL for Dear Live In Lover? Sorry, but I have just WAY TOO dirty a mind to be comfortable calling him DP :thumbup::scared2: *snickers* (for Dear Partner, you perverts!! hehehehehe)

Hi all :tongue2: I've been busy packing and getting ready for the move. I'm still a bit scared to trust that it will all go through on time, after all the ups and downs getting here, but so far, so good! Heartfire, I know what you mean about being hungry again after an unfill but don't be in a rush to get the whole 1cc back again. You might want to think about doing in in 0.5cc or even 0.25cc increments to sneak up on the sweet spot. It is so easy to overshoot it and a 1cc fill is a BIG fill at this stage of the journey. I'm going to take my own advice for that - heading in for another fill tomorrow, as I'm desperately trying to lose more weight before my December surgery and haven't been doing well (1 lousy little kg in the whole last month *sigh*). I may only do an 0.25cc fill, as I have been having quite a few problems getting stuck lately, but in between those times, I'm still eating pretty heartily. I think most of my problems have been because I had gotten so far out of the bandster habits and was just cruising happily on maintenance mode. Time to get my act together, now!!

Ok folks, I'm back... missed you all too much to stay away long. I just had the most wonderful romantic night for my birthday! My actual birthday was on Thursday and Chris and I went out for a lovely dinner at an Indian restaurant (YUM!) on Thurs night but last night was a special treat. He booked the deluxe room in a gorgeous heritage style B&B cottage in Fremantle (the port city that is really now just part of the main city of Perth). We went out for dinner again (Turkish this time - also YUM!!) Walked around the old heritage markets, bought some yummy coffee beans (expresso, vanilla and tia maria flavoured ones) and some new ugg boots (sheepskin boots) and then went back to our room to have strawberry champagne in the spa bath and a night of utter sensual indulgences... mmm... mmm... best birthday ever!!

Well this is sad. I must have missed a whole heap of drama in the last few days, when I have been MIA, as I have absolutely no idea what this is all about. However, I must say that regardless of whatever personal issues people might have been having amongst themselves, I've always enjoyed the fact that this group has, until now, managed to keep those to other threads and not spoil the fellowship atmosphere of this thread. Given that this is no longer the case and it seems that several people have chosen to sully this haven with their squabbles, I think I shall wave goodbye and wish you all luck in the future...

Hi again, everyone. Sorry I've been MIA for a while now. I have been popping in to read but haven't had time to post and I'm so far behind in all the action that I think I'll just wave to everyone and catch up later. Things have been ... interesting ... in my life (and yes, that is in the Chinese curse sense of the word, hehe). On a good note, I have FINALLY had confirmation of the buyer's finance approval for the sale of my house and we have an actual settlement date! Yippee!! If all goes as planned, we settle on 13th October and will be making the move that week. I can't believe it has taken NINE months to get this deal done!! I am SO looking forward to my new house... On a less fun note, the contract that I took to be in Perth for the last half of this year finished 2 months earlier than planned. Normally, this wouldn't worry me a bit, because I know I can get more work quickly (our economy is doing quite well comparatively speaking). However, timing-wise, this REALLY SUCKS. I need to have a week off between 10th and 17th October to move house, so that pretty much rules out taking any work from now up until after the move. Then afterwards, I have only 7 weeks available before my PS operation, which will put me out of action for at least a month, probably 6 weeks. So I have to try to find piecemeal work over the next couple of months, because I REALLY can't afford to take 4 months off work AND have the operation (paying cash for that) AND move house and do all the renovations I have planned... something's going to have to give and it's NOT going to be my operation!! I have a couple of irons in the fire and am fairly hopeful of getting a few weeks worth of work here and there until January next year, when I can get fully back into the swing of things. If I get really desperate, I will go out doing temp office work in the 7 weeks between moving house and the op, even though that will only bring in less than 1/4 of the rates I can earn doing my "real" job. Still, it would be better than no money at all. I'm really annoyed at the last company that I worked for, for cutting the contract short. I know times are hard and all but I turned down a contract up at Argyle that would have seen me working through to the end of September anyway, and earning a lot more through more hours, in order to take the Perth-based one, because it was supposed to take me right through to the operation and avoid all this awkward timing. Oh well... that's the nature of contracting, I guess. They pay higher rates because there is NO job security and normally I don't have a problem with that... Just gonna have to suck it up. Other news - I got bored changed my hair completely! Had it cut short and dyed it BRIGHT copper and I mean BRIGHT!! It was meant to be apricot with blonde and dark copper streaks but I got muddled in the explanation and kept saying "brighter" when I meant "lighter" so it ended up irridescent orange!! I loved it at first but I'm over it now, so I've been washing it like mad to dull it down a little and I'm going back tomorrow to get a whole heap more blonde streaks put through it, to try to tone it down a little. Lastly, for those of you who have been having bad PB problems lately (Heartfire?), before you get an unfill and before you let yourself get to the emergency room stage, ask your doctor to give you some anti-nausea wafers. My doctor gave me some when I had the band op 2 years back and I keep them for emergencies. If I have a PB, I'll try to stick to liquids for the rest of the day, but sometimes I'll get hungry and keep trying to eat and end up PBing more and more throughout the day as my stomach gets more and more swollen and sensitive. When it gets to that stage, I use the nausea medicine and it stops the PBing cold. The brand name here in Aus is Zofran Zydis which contains Ondansetron 4mg. I would advise all of us to keep some in the medicine chest for the really bad days.

LOL!! My partner was all "So can I watch?? Huh? PLEASE??" when I first went... Sadly for him, the salon would not allow that - not that I'd want him to watch - it's not exactly an elegant pose to be in and not half as sexy as it sounds, I'm sure!

Great response, MissK!! Well said!

Moxie, I couldn't imagine trying to do that to myself - I wouldn't be able to do it, I'm sure! I started going last year, when I was around 90kg, so had lost a fair chunk of weight but was still pretty big. Tips I have learned over the last year: * Do not, repeat, DO NOT, book in for when you are on your period - triple ouchies!! * Don't do it when you are suffering hayfever or are otherwise extra sensitive - double ouchies! * Taking a paracetamol and/or ibuprofen beforehand does help quite a bit * Do it monthly rather than 6 weekly. Each extra week of growth adds to the ouch factor - leaving it for 8 weeks is big ouchies!! Still... it is SO worth it!!