Goannabanda

A fantastic thread this would be - it would be very encouraging to at-gaol banders to have a place to hang out in - at the moment many of them seem to drift off for want of their "own place". For newbies like me it would be great to have a place to find motivation from reading the wisdom of those who have crossed over to that mystical goal-place!

hahahahahahaa! ...are those reproductive burps the ones you get if you're a good catholic??? Beware cheese lovers - think VERY carefully before acting! Researchers say that a rapid decrease in CHEESE consumption has a doubly inverse affect on the reproductive burp quotient... Hey Dawg - will you be adding boobage repair to your surgical menu?? A couple of balloons, an egg lifter, some taco sauce and a couple of safety pins should just about do it...

I agree with Jachut - by Australian standards, it seems to me that you are getting a good deal. (But NJChick isn't - I hope you are getting quality care!) Our government has a tightly-regulated and subsidised child care system. My hubby & I use an accredited long-day care centre for our son. We pay $52 per day (7am to 6pm). This includes food and the centre-run kindergarten. No nappies or formula were provided (back in the days when we needed them). This is our "gap" fee after government subsidy (about $16 in our case). The subsidy is means-tested, everyone who uses government-accredited care gets at least the minimum that we do. Someone on a full subsidy (e.g. unemployed or pensioner) could expect to pay up to $16 - $20 per day. Our rates for 4 days care and 5 days care the same (i.e. the 5th day is "free") - which is extra incentive to work full time. Last year I think we got a "one-off" tax rebate ($600?). This year there is a new tax rebate scheme, which gives you 30% of the gap fees (from 2003-04 tax year) as reduced taxable income (in 2004-05 tax year). We expect that this will help us get a slightly bigger tax refund, but in reality will only worth a pittance in terms of real money in our refund cheque. My SIL was using non-accredited care and paying $30 per day. This was unregulated, uninsured private babysitting, the woman had 10-15 kids in her house at any one time - which is much more than is allowed for accredited care services here. Also, the kids weren't given meals and did not have the benefits of programmed sessions & play like they would get in an accredited family-day care (in-home) or long-day care (creche) setting. Plus, if you use non-accredited care, you don't get the rebates and tax breaks. Frankly, it scared me!:omg:

Okay - you'd better send me some of that lemonade - but can I have Cointreau (sp?) or Midori in mine please? Another one: You have a great excuse for not ordering any of the over-price threads from clothing / lingerie parties - you can just go meet your friends and be social.

OMG moment #1 - Yesterday, we picked up some family portraits we had done as part of a kinder fundraiser. They were taken in late July, around the time of my first surgeon's visit. I look like an elephant. :faint: I just can't see that in the mirror. The photo sure rammed it home. I did feel huge on the day, could barely get my fat butt, legs and guts into the required "comfortable lounging" position. ugh. That family portrait won't be hung on the wall - pity because DH & DS sure looked great. I'll put in straight into the album instead. at least it makes a great "before" shot. Time to ramp it up. I'll add in as much exercise as I can, and go with this new pre-op diet plan: 3 meals Optifast 2 or 3 fruit serves 1 cup salad 1 cup vegies 1 serve dairy OMG moment #2 - Vanilla Optifast tastes FOUL.:faint: I was a bit worried about its dubious yellow colour when I mixed it up... ...I didn't quite retch when drinking it - but was close. I'm trying to be positive and enjoy the experience as part of my pre-op, but that stuff is not the best. I'll add some dissolved coffee or non-joule flavourings to get through the packages I bought, and only get the choc stuff next time.

OMG moment #1 - Yesterday, we picked up some family portraits we had done as part of a kinder fundraiser. They were taken in late July, around the time of my first surgeon's visit. I look like an elephant. :faint: I just can't see that in the mirror. The photo sure rammed it home. I did feel huge on the day, could barely get my fat butt, legs and guts into the required "comfortable lounging" position. ugh. That family portrait won't be hung on the wall - pity because DH & DS sure looked great. I'll put in straight into the album instead. at least it makes a great "before" shot. Time to ramp it up. I'll add in as much exercise as I can, and go with this new pre-op diet plan: 3 meals Optifast 2 or 3 fruit serves 1 cup salad 1 cup vegies 1 serve dairy OMG moment #2 - Vanilla Optifast tastes FOUL.:faint: I was a bit worried about its dubious yellow colour when I mixed it up... ...I didn't quite retch when drinking it - but was close. I'm trying to be positive and enjoy the experience as part of my pre-op, but that stuff is not the best. I'll add some dissolved coffee or non-joule flavourings to get through the packages I bought, and only get the choc stuff next time.

I think my hubby wants to tag along too - is that ok with everyone? Jenny - I could pick you up, as I practically have to go past Asp Gdns whichever way I go from my place. If hubby & son come, we'd still have room for one more...

How about "Lube Shop"?

Hey Aussie Chick, How are you going this week? Hope the recovery is going well. Your post band / PS comparison shots really show a difference in general health - as well as the obvious weight loss. My tummy, hips and legs look like your "before", except with more butt (:cry ), just hope I can shrink the skin back enough to only need a TT. There's a couple of Aussies around here that I am really inspired by - yup, you'd be one of them! Keep up the good work! Thinking of ya... Anna. PS Aussie Chick - YOU ROCK!!!

Kare - glad you didn't hurt yourself. ...hhmmmm, I know this thread is tongue in cheek and supposed to be fun, if not even a bit motivational, but am I the only one who finds it a bit negative and depressing???

Hi all, Just to help out any Aussie pre-ops who need to do pre-op Optifast, I ordered mine from an eBay trader, much cheaper than anywhere else. There are a number of eBay traders selling various Optifast products. Suggest you research prices in your local area, and don't buy from eBay if the total costs (including postage) are higher than your local pharmacy. Trade safely - always research the trader's feedback ad turnover, and only buy & pay via eBay approved methods. The deal I got was $162.50 ($150.95 plus $11.55 postage) for FOUR boxes of the milkshake (4 weeks supply). Purchased last Thursday, delivered this Monday. Chemist Warehouse is currently selling Optifast shakes for $44.95 per box. They seem to be the cheapest retail supplier around. If there are no stores in your area, you can order online from them too, although I don't know what the postage costs would be. (Soup, bars and dessert from my local Chemist Warehouse store, as I wanted them all without delays, and couldn't be bothered trying to find all three from one eBay trader, and then negotiate discount postage. Hope this helps to keep the pre-op costs down! Cheers.

We're sorry we won't see you either, Jachut. ...we'll just have to have another gathering again really soon!

Well, a BIG box of Optifast shakes arrived in yesterday's post (from my eBay purchase). I also bought a box each of the choc bars, choc mousse and chicken soup.:hungry: Not really motivated to drink or eat this stuff... ...but since I spent all that money on it, and want to drop some kilos right now before surgery, I'd better start. It tastes ok, but I'm not looking forward to hunger pains and feeling depived... ...at least its only a few weeks, and the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. My work pants and jeans are both falling apart, and as I haven't any other decent clothes I fit into right now that are warm enough or suitable to wear out of the house:cry , a couple of weeks of meal replacement will do me good. I have several pairs of NEW pants hanging in the wardrobe - and all they need is just a very few kilos lost before I can wear them:) . So that's motivation to get started. So, from now until the final 2 weeks pre-op, it will be breakfast and lunch of Optifast, and a normal dinner with the family. Some days I have lunch functions, so will not Optifast at these events:hungry: . The last 2 weeks pre-op will be the full Optifast shebang.:speechles Exercise will be a minimum 30 min walk (work days), a 1 hour session of something else on the other days (walk, ride, gym or swim), or a full weekend "chores day" (gardening, laundry, cleaning etc). I must log back into fitday.com and get that log going. I got the rest of my pre-op appointments and instructions from ESV today. Appointments as follows: Sat 26/8/06, 11:15am - weight loss counsellor, Kew Thurs 31/8/06, 5:30pm - dietician group session, Mulgrave Wed 27/9/06, 8:00am - pre-admission nurse, Mulgrave Fri 29/9/06, 9:30am - specialist surgeon pre-op review, Mulgrave Thurs 5/10/06 - surgery, Mulgrave Mon 16/10/06, 3:30pm- post-op nurse review, Mulgrave Mon 23/10/06, 5:00pm - dietician group session, Mulgrave

Well, a BIG box of Optifast shakes arrived in yesterday's post (from my eBay purchase). I also bought a box each of the choc bars, choc mousse and chicken soup.:hungry: Not really motivated to drink or eat this stuff... ...but since I spent all that money on it, and want to drop some kilos right now before surgery, I'd better start. It tastes ok, but I'm not looking forward to hunger pains and feeling depived... ...at least its only a few weeks, and the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. My work pants and jeans are both falling apart, and as I haven't any other decent clothes I fit into right now that are warm enough or suitable to wear out of the house:cry , a couple of weeks of meal replacement will do me good. I have several pairs of NEW pants hanging in the wardrobe - and all they need is just a very few kilos lost before I can wear them:) . So that's motivation to get started. So, from now until the final 2 weeks pre-op, it will be breakfast and lunch of Optifast, and a normal dinner with the family. Some days I have lunch functions, so will not Optifast at these events:hungry: . The last 2 weeks pre-op will be the full Optifast shebang.:speechles Exercise will be a minimum 30 min walk (work days), a 1 hour session of something else on the other days (walk, ride, gym or swim), or a full weekend "chores day" (gardening, laundry, cleaning etc). I must log back into fitday.com and get that log going. I got the rest of my pre-op appointments and instructions from ESV today. Appointments as follows: Sat 26/8/06, 11:15am - weight loss counsellor, Kew Thurs 31/8/06, 5:30pm - dietician group session, Mulgrave Wed 27/9/06, 8:00am - pre-admission nurse, Mulgrave Fri 29/9/06, 9:30am - specialist surgeon pre-op review, Mulgrave Thurs 5/10/06 - surgery, Mulgrave Mon 16/10/06, 3:30pm- post-op nurse review, Mulgrave Mon 23/10/06, 5:00pm - dietician group session, Mulgrave

We understand other fat people more completely than non-fatties can.

We are often fitter than we think - with strong muscles and reasonably good cardio fitness (from lugging our fat behinds around 24-7).

You can stand up and take your chair with you and still keep your hands free. You get told you have a big personality. You feel warm longer than everyone else.

Dawg, As you'll be busy doing $27.95 bands in the garage, I'm guessing you'll sub-contract the RNY revisions out to someone else (P'Nut??) who could work maybe out of the back of the car?? What method would you use? How much??? Details, details please. PS Oh, yeah, and sorry for the rude dancing bananas... ...but I'm still trying to work out exactly one would PB a mailman...

The week after our son was born, we sent our obstetrician's office a gift basket of lollies, coffee, cookies etc. At our 6-week visit, we took a personal thank you note we had made, that included a little pic of our dear boy. This got put on their "family" wall. I agree that if you send a gift, it should be addressed to the whole office. A personal note with before and after pics would be just as much appreciated. My surgeon's office doesn't have these on public display (they should!!!), but I am sure they must recieve them, and maybe they have them on a staff notice board somewhere... I know that these guys are just doing their jobs (for which they are well paid LOL!), but I think that it's nice to recognise the extra efforts they put in (eg. the weekend and late night calls, or the hours spent over their lives educating, learning and refining their skills), particularly when the results of their work are so life-changing.

Hi gang, I was hunting around to see where Funny had gone (I miss her posts too!), and found this wonderful thread. Hope she's back soon! I am the Christmas & Easter Queen in our family - I just love, love, love celebrating our saviour and His love with my family and friends. I've started shopping, but haven't set any weight goals yet. I'll think about this once I have had my op and am moving through the recovery. Cheers!

Hey gang, spaldo2 (Andy Spalding) - the "as seen on Today Tonight" guy lives in the SE too. I've asked him to check out this thread and to join in the gathering if interested. He's lookiing for bandit support for the Melb Marathon team. Wheeler - great work - can you list the final date time and venue as a new thread, for other SE bandits who haven't read this thread?? CHEERS!

Andy - Wow! Another local comes out of the woodwork... I'll email you tonight when I get home... ...would love to support your team. You might like to join us in Sept for a SE 'burbs meeting we are planning - see the thread "Mulgrave Bandsters - EPCP" in the Aussie section for details. Regards, Anna.

Welcome Slimmer Me. Congratulations on joining the band, and your positive progress so far. Look forward to hearing from you on the boards!

Hi Andy, Unfortunately I missed seeing your story on TT - is there a copy of it floating around anywhere on the www (couldn't find it on the TT website). The Herald Sun article was interesting, also did you see the story in August Notebook: magazine (www.notebookmagazine.com) about Anissa Levy, who was banded in 2003? I'll work on being in the 2007 marathon team - I doubt that I'd be fit enough in time for this year's event. I'll come and organise the cheerleaders for you if you want... Cheers, Anna. PS your website is FANTASTIC! I've added it to my fav's.

16th is OK for me. It will be my last weekend before Optifast stage starts. (hooray!) I think my mail option is on now.