Is there anyone out there that is from New Zealand. I have just joined this website - thanks to another friend who told me about it. I was just wondering if there were any other kiwi's out there. I have just had my banding op on the 8th March 07, so it all rather new for me. Just gone on to the mushy food stage and excited about that. Some normal food that I don't have to drink - YAHOO!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Tia,

Mine is 11 Dec too!!

I am absolutely stumped about what to say sitting around the xmas dinner table, perhaps a little fib "i ate to much at lunch". And starting mushies that day - i can assure you i won't be trying out eating infront of the family - oh my goodness, what if it goes horribly wrong and i end up vomiting from eating too fast!

I have a party to go to on xmas eve, which is a dinner, i might however send hubby to the dinner then come afterwards - or alternatively say i am feeling a little off my food - or something along those lines.

My work xmas party is when i will be recovering so no excuses there, i just won't go - as for the rest - well i don't know what i am going to say.

Why does everything have to revolve around food? It is no surprise we end up fat.

Tracy

I just purchased all my optifast today - i am tempted to mix one up and taste it - to see just how bad it is - then again - i don't want to think about it until Tuesday - so i think i will wait until then and let it be a surprise!

Hi ya Tracy, I can't believe we are doing it all on the same day!!

Have you tasted it yet? I will get mine tomorrow. I have just stuffed myself all weekend, it's like I am never going to be able to eat again...Well the way I'm eating you would thing it was the end of food forever! I know its wrong of me to stuff myself like that, but I just feel like I want to make the most of my last weekend of eating any old rubbish. Have you felt like that? Maybe its just me:omg:

Let me know on Tuesday what you think of it, hopefully its not too bad. Did you get a good choice of flavors?

Hiya - it is kind of cool having someone doing it on the same day.

No, i haven't tasted it yet - i have brought one of everything - hoping variety will make it a bit more interesting.

I keep telling myself it is only 2 weeks.

And no - you are not the only one - i have eaten like the world is about to end!

Hi Tia,

How has your first day gone on optifast?

It wasn't as bad as i thought it would be - i can't say it was the nicest tasting, but i have tasted worse things.

1 day down - 13 to go!

tracy

Hi

finally found an NZ site on banding.Have been using the Trade me one but they have all or are going to have bypasses.

I had m surery Nov 7 2007 and as at 27/11 have lost 8 kg since surgery.:whoo::clap2::bounce:

Hi Hoodoofan

wow ... you are doing great. i am a week into my pre-op diet. one week to go ... though it is not too bad ... and losing weight too ... bonus!

for that Tracy

Feeling pretty happy about that myself. Started back at the gym again yesterday - I go to Curves. and did the full measure an weigh. so i now have lost 10.4kg and 24 cm's.

The opifast is not much fun but worth it in the end. Good luck with you op. I was worried going in but felt great afterwards, and everyone who knws me says they can see the change in me already... no the weightloss yet but in my energy levels and outlook to my future. I feel like my life restarted when i woke up after surgery. So if you have doubts or negative people trying to tell you you don't need to do this drastic thing just remember your future.

This is the best thing i ever did after having my daughter.

Good luck with it all

:clap2:

hi All

It is good to see some new names joining in here, i was banded in Christchurch on 29th June, life is great 6 months down the track, although i have had more surgery to take my only ovary i had left due to a large cyst, so it has been slow going for me but in my band I have 7ml and I finally have restriction and the weight is dropping off, less of the alcohol and christmas food and I will be ok, Bring on 2008 my year to be healthy,

i hope all you guys have a great christmas

Ange

Hi, I was beginnign to wonder if anyone was regulr on this thread, The bypass one on trade me is very busy.

Can I ask.. how much have you lost to date and does the fill hurt? Any issues after the fill?

I went for my first bike ride on over 15 years today. Damn near killed me. But I will have to keep at it as the bike is my Christmas pressie from my parents.

Well, the surgery is done!!

It all seemed to go ok, had an extra night in hospital - which was not a problem at all as it was a lovely place to stay and they kept me well dosed on nice pain relief.

Home has been good - i am definitely a bit uncomfortable but nothing that i can't deal with.

i am looking forward to being able to lay on left side again ...

i think once i start eating again, it is going to be a huge challenge - but i don't have to worry about that for a while.

Congratulations Tracy and welcome to the other side

It's all downhill from here... weight wise that is

I have lost20kg and it is so good, no fills do not hurt just getting used to the less amount of food as the the brain still wants to eat but the puch is to small, bread for me is a no go but i do not really miss it

have a great christmas and hang in there all of this is worth it

Ange

Well i am now at the end of my first week with my band ... it has been all good so far.

The weight is falling off at present, I know it won't last like this, but i am sure as anything going to make the most of it.

I have now lost 7kg :clap2:

i went to see the surgeon today to get the staples out - it all went well, he is pleased with my progress.

Feeling a little tired of optifast so i have been having some soups instead sometimes - nice for a bit of variation.

I haven't really been tempted to eat anything shouldn't and i have turned into obsessive calorie counter. I went supermarket shopping tonight ad it took about 3 times longer than it should have because i was checking the calories on EVERYTHING.

Great to hear everyone is going well ... long road ahead so it is nice to have some inspiration from others.