Jachut

That's the start of it, I havent actually gone on to PB either but once or twice its literally felt like my chest was going to explode - you cant even swallow your saliva, and you cant relieve it, its awful. This happens to me when something gets stuck and its bothering me today actually, I cant seem to get anything down comfortably. But a boiled egg - like bananas and McDonalds, I couldnt have eaten that PRE band without getting that horrible blocked feeling, those foods just never have agreed with me.

Just to clarify Donna, I didnt mean that YOU had deliberately taken the speech out of context, just that in and of itself it means very little, except to sound rather alarming. It doesnt immediately sound obvious that it is in fact referring to extremist, fundamentalist groups, not immigrants who come here for a better life but wish to retain their ethnic beliefs, customs and heritage.

Whereas I can eat anything at all at 2.5cc!

Good for you Elizabeth, that's a great outlook.

I had no pre op diet apart from nothing to eat from 9pm the night before surgery. My doc made the same comment - that you heal better when you're well nourished and that the Optifast diet was only worthwhile if you had a serious problem with a fatty liver. I dont know how he knew I didnt becuase I never had an ultrasound or anything, but I guess at BMI 35 chances were I'd be OK without the liquid diet and I was.

It's hard isnt it? But its healthier to just keep plugging along slowly and sensibly. I've resigned myself to the fact that this last 15kg could easily take longer to get off than the first 25, by a long shot. It doesnt seem to matter what I do, a kilo a month or so is all I lose. So be it. Its better than gaining and it all adds up in the end.

I will say I cut down a LOT prior to surgery and put myself mainly on decaf becuase I suspected I wouldnt have the stomach capacity for coffee afterwards and I was right. Coffee filled me up and meant I couldnt fit in more nutritious liquids. I didnt want to ahve to deal with caffeine withdrawal whilst I was recovering, so cut down gradually over months. But I"m back to my regular consumption now, I love my coffee.

Actually, the original Australians walked here from Asia. The rest of us are colonials.

Nobody said no caffeine to me and I still have 2 cups one after the other in the morning.

And I'd just like to point out that RUSSELL CROWE IS NOT AN AUSTRALIAN. Although he is a fair dinkum, you beaut, true blue WANKER!

Um, actually that doesnt give a really good view of Australian policy regarding multiculturalism. Australia is very much a multicultural country, tolerant of all cultures and taken out of context (which by isolating it like that you've unintentionally done), that little speech sounds alarmingly racist to me and in no way reflects our views on other cultures as a whole. I'd like to think that there is no ethnic "other" in my country. Most of us live happily amidst many different cultures and most cultural groups in Australia have a wonderful freedom to assimilate into the mainstream communit as well as keeping in touch with their ethnic heritage and traditions. In the wake of recent world unrest, Australians have actually been incredibly tolerate of our muslim citizens, of course there have been isolated incidents of racism fuelled by fear and ignorance, but as a general rule we exist happily and peacefully in this country. Australians dont as a general rule ask immigrants to either check their heritage at the door or get lost. If you'd like a lifestyle where you have the wonderful opportunity learn from and appreciate all cultures then Australia is a great place to live. The climate and lifestyle are fantastic. You can live in the tropics and wear shorts and singlets all year, or you can choose a mild and moderate climate further south. We have great food, great people and a pretty fair and equitable health and welfare system compared to the rest of the world. The old ideals of classed societies dont apply in Australia, everyone has the right to have a go and some of our most successful and powerful people have hauled themselves up from their humble beginnings on the wrong side of the track. We have footy and we have beer and we are holding on (just) to a healthier lifestyle for our kids than many other places in the world enjoy. Our education system is great. We really are the lucky country.

Its funny you should mention that, I had a similar incident the other night, although not as severe. I woke up with a really bad ACHE in my belly, I could tell it was my band, it was a horrible intense ache, and made the whole back of my throat into my mouth ache too. It was enough to wake me from sleep. It was actually pretty scare, it was painful enough to make me quite worried. I sat up, it didnt go away for about 10 minutes. I dont know why I tried it but I ate some yogurt and the pain went away almost immediately. Dont know if it might have been a bit of reflux (which I dont suffer from) or what, but it worried me. But it hasnt returned so perhaps just one of those things. I wouldnt rush to the doc but would mention it next time you see him.

I've had five to bring me up to 2.5 ml in a 4ml band. There is very little that is automatic about the way my band works for me - I can still eat a lot and I can still eat everything, I really need to use my head to lose weight. Its been easy till the last few months, now I'm working really really hard for every kilogram. To be honest, there is NOT a point at which the band will do everything for you and I'm just coming to realise that. I think the sensible approach from now is to count myself lucky that my band is not sensitive - I can eat all foods and I dont PB. I have to realise that I still have to fight the head hunger and the munchies and I still have to eat sensibly, its just that portion control is easier. I dont plan on more fills for the time being. Not until I notice a lessening of restriction - because I think that moderate fill gives me the best chance to keep my band healthy and keep it in there. And my lifestyle is entirely liveable, I'm not limited at all by my band in what I can and cant do.

So very well said Babs.

Cereal or toast for breakfast lunches might be a sandwhich or roll, or a wrap, salad, Pasta, sushi, toasted sandwich Snacks if I have them - yogurt or fruit.

My wedding rings are loosish. I had to take the ring off my other ring finger and can now wear my gorgeous platinum and diamond number that was my grandmother's engagement ring - havent been able to wear it in seven or eight years. The one I took off was only a crappy garnet anyway, this one is a rock, lol!

It means evening wear which could be anything from an evening pants suit to a slinky dress. But not foofy taffeta numbers. I'd go black and elegant personally.

I guess you've got to listen to your body becuase we're all different.

Gosh Telly, only you could get away with that and look even MORE beautiful. I love short hair, love it. Its funky and young and hot. Too bad I've got a turkey neck and a weak chin and it looks bloody awful on me.

I havent achieved really good restriction yet either, but I think I can work with what I have. It means for me I have to use my willpower to actually lose but when that fails, I dont actually gain kind of thing. So my weight is coming off in spurts as I'm really good for a few weeks and then there'll a run of outings, celebrations etc and I'm not so good and wont lose. But I dont gain like I used to.

No, never. I have a girlfriend who I know is very down on herself at the moment. She's very overweight, probably 150kg, she's hinted that she's severely unfit, had to get her hubby to go and get the car and get her home at the shops when it was only a 200metre walk back uphill to her house, and she just couldnt do it with 2 kids in the pram. She's in that post baby fug, missing work, sick of the routine of kids, sick of her hubby travelling and she's eaten to comfort herself. She's been so supportive of me and part of me just wants to say to her "do it do it do it". She's sort of mentioned it but said that she's too much of a comfort eater to be helped by the band. I want to tell her that that's so not true, but I just dont think its my place to push this on her. And that's with me knowing and loving her. No way would I just go up to a stranger. But I told all and sundry about my band and when the most obscure acquaintance asks how I"ve lost so much weight I tell the truth, in the hope that it might help just one person.

Hahahahaha! I gotta get control of those reproductive burps!

There's no limit on when you can have the PS though. If you cant afford the time or money right now, you can always do it in a few years time. My boobs are a disaster, they're really bad and I really think for my own comfort and running performance (I'm so addicted to running now) I need a breast reduction and lift. But it wont be happening whilst I'm a lowly university student and whilst we need to buy a bigger house. I figure five years time, I'll be out working, I can then afford the operation. I dont have hanging skin though, as I was lucky enough to nip my weight problem in the bud before it got that serious. So I cant really imagine how hard it will have to be to wait for that. But it will happen for you one day if not immediately. Till then, I"m wonderfully fit, active and so much slimmer than I was. I look great dressed, I do not care that I look like an almost 40 year old women who has birthed and fed three children when I'm naked because that's what I am! Try to enjoy your newfound healthiness - your mental image of yourself and your self esteem is more important than the reality of the shape your skin is in. If its hidden pretty much by clothing and not causing you health problems, be glad of that and just save towards your goal of a fine tuning later on.

I had nothing more than an uncomfortable night - not due to pain but due to the fact that I'd already been lying in bed all day and couldnt sleep. Went home the next morning and went for a walk with Doug and the kids. Walked 30 minutes every day after that, was right back into normal duties, apart from very heavy lifting. It was barely a blip on the radar.

I still love my carbs for breakfast and I function and feel best when I eat a reasonable amount of carbs. If I ate just Protein for breakfast I'd be dizzy and lacking energy by mid morning, it just does not work for me. I stick to low GI carbs - muesli, good wholegrain cereal, oatmeal, heavy grain toast with Peanut Butter, I like some tinned peaches or apricots on my cereal, that type of thing. Sometimes if I'm not hungry I do skip breakfast though, so much to do in the morning and it goes by the wayside. Interestingly I feel less unwell when I skip breakfast completely than if I have a totally protein based breakfast.