For those of you who have times when you're a little bit down, when you think it's all too much and you're wondering whether you should just stop trying, just take thirty minutes of your day to watch this program.

This is "Australian Story", a TV program we have here in Aus which talks about Australian people, both famous and unknown, and the things they have done and been through.

This episode is about Mikey Robins, an Australian comedian who had Lap Band surgery in 2006, and exactly how his life has changed.

If you're having a difficult day and you're starting to forget why you're doing this (and we all do sometimes), click on this link and watch the full program, entitled "The Biggest Winner".

You'll remember why you started this journey, and you'll find the strength to continue.

http://www.abc.net.au/austory/specials/biggestwinner/default.htm

Shamrock pride!

Thanks, A-Dub - I'll certainly check it out.

But tell me, will we be able to understand a single word of what people are saying, what with that peculiar and impenetrable Aussie accent?

Thanks, A-Dub - I'll certainly check it out.

But tell me, will we be able to understand a single word of what people are saying, what with that peculiar and impenetrable Aussie accent?

Ha ha RUDE!!

But surely, having lived in the States for so long, you have realized that it is the Americans who have truly butchered our beloved English language??

I thought maybe I'd better not say that too loud.... you and I are well and truly outnumbered on this site :behindsofa:

Yes, we're outnumbered - and you're a hula hooper, so you're by definition unreliable...

I shall have to check this out for myself and make a final ruling.

In the meantime, try to behave.

In the meantime, try to behave.

But where's the fun in that? :behindsofa:

Ha ha RUDE!!

But surely, having lived in the States for so long, you have realized that it is the Americans who have truly butchered our beloved English language??

I thought maybe I'd better not say that too loud.... you and I are well and truly outnumbered on this site :smile2:

Actually, there are more than a few Americans that would agree with you!

Very inspiring story......

Glad you watched it, Harley!

He (and in fact, that very program) is the reason I now have the lapband. I had been contemplating it for some time, and I was very keen, but my parents (well, my mother) was absolutely against it. As soon as you said "weight loss surgery" to her, all she thought of was basically having your stomach cut out (RNY? :smile2:), and she wouldn't hear otherwise.

Then one fateful night, we were watching the TV and on comes this program about Mikey Robins. My family have always been a big fan of the shows he's been on (Good News Week, Live and Sweaty - very satirical humor). So my mum sees this thing about lapband. At the end of the show, she goes "You know, maybe you should look into that rubber band thing".

Hello? Have I not been talking about this for 6 months?

So anyway, it was that program which educated my mother about the lapband. Before this, anytime I talked about WLS she was virtually crying, begging me not to do it as it was so drastic and dangerous and I would probably die on the table blah blah blah. And of course, it's my MUM. I'm not going to just go and do something if she's having a nervous breakdown every time I suggest it.

So thanks, Mikey Robins. Thanks. :smile2:

I can't get the damn thing to load and play properly!

I can't get the damn thing to load and play properly!

Patience is a virtue, Fenton. :smile2:

Do you have cable/ADSL/broadband/whatever the hell you Americans call high speed internet?

I do. I connect, watch for a few minutes, then the signal is so weak the thing closes. The connection, I mean.

I should watch it tomorrow morning, when all Australians are asleep.