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My nurse called last night. Because she knew how keen I was to have the surgery ASAP, she has offered me 22 Feb (instead of 7 April!) at Essendon Private. Of course I jumped at the chance! I live in Eltham and was planning on having the surgery at Warringal Private in Heidelberg, but the extra distance is not a worry in the world! I start opti on Monday. Wahooooo

How similar are we all?? :tt1: I too avoid all social events because usually I have nothing to wear. I am sure people look me up and down and judge me before I even open my mouth. I have booked a holiday for the christmas/new year period where there will be swimming involved. My only hope is that by then, I won't feel so 'whale like' in my bathers. It is an incentive at lease. Do you think 20kg is too much to ask to lose between the start of April and end of Dec? Thats about 9 months worth.... Of course I would like to lose the 30kg by then, but maybe the smaller goals will be better to aim for :regular_smile:

My out of pocket expenses total $3500 for everything including fills and all follow up visits. I pay that directly to the doctor before the surgery. All otehr expenses I will not see, they get directly billed to either Medicare or Medibank. I was pleased with that!

Thanks Mrs M and Sunwyse. I just can't wait it is all very exciting stuff. I am watching what I eat now and conciously chewing as much as I can when I remember. I think that will be the hardest part, altering our chewing habits that we have had for so long. I am scared that I will hurt myself! As for it being Feb already - I know! Where did the last few months go? We have had a lot going on already in the last few months. We signed for an upper storey extension to our house, my work moved, the kids were on holidays, we went on holidays for the first time in over 18 months, and today I got work I got a promotion at work. I will be starting my new job shortly. I just want to stay busy so that the time does fly by!

Mrs. M. I am glad you are recovering well and now out of pain. I think the first week after surgery will be a real test for me as I will be at home around food! It seems like you are doing well though. I will look forward to hearing more updates from you.

Hi all Just after a bit of advice since I am relatively new here. This subject has probably been done to death, but I am going to jump in and ask anyway. :eek: I was wondering if anyone had done a pre-Optifast diet before their banding? For example, I have 8 weeks until I get banded, which means I have 6 weeks until I start the Opti. I am considering starting the Opti now and having one meal Opti and the rest normal food. Then with 4 weeks to go I will change to 2 Opti's per day and one normal, with the two weeks (or 10 days for me) prior to surgery having 3 Opti per day. Does this make sense? Is this a good/bad/indifferent idea that will assist me prior to surgery, or would I be beating myself silly doing this? The other question would be which one of the meals would be best replaced first? dinner, Breaky or lunch. Too much to think about! All opinions greatly sought as you guys have all the experience. Thanks all

Thanks for your opinions guys. Getting differing opinions always helps. I figured since I play netball on Monday and Tuesday (and sometimes Wednesday) nights, that those nights I will do the shake either before I play or after. Last night was an early game, so I had one when I got home (it was lemon wafer flavoured) and it was pretty good. I think it did the trick. I have also bought some Up-and-go liquid breakfasts (yummy banana and honey!) and will try them for breaky with some yoghurt. The essential Vitamins and minerals I will get from dinner when I don't play netball and my lunches. I am keen to drop a few kilos to get into my favourite pants that were tight just before chrissy but are now unfortuantely too small. So I think I will give this a go and see how I go. It may prepare me for the 10 days purely Opti before surgery. Hugs

That is truly heartbreaking. Hugs

Hi again all. I have a surgery date of 7 April (which is my dad's birthday - the first one since he passed away last year - ironic in ways!) which is a month before I expected but still a little later than I wanted (hahaha). I am on the waiting list just in case of a cancellation, but the only date that it could occur is 25 Feb, in which case I would need to know before 15 Feb to do the 10 days Optifast diet. So I will know for sure in about 2 weeks time! (He only operates every second monday and the two monday's in March are both public holidays for Labour day and Easter Monday!). Anyway, I am excited and nervous which is normal. I spoke with both the surgeon and the dietician today and I now know all I need to up to 6 weeks after the surgery when I go back to see the dietician! I hope to lose 30kg and get down to 70kg but my surgeon suspects I will probably feel sick at that weight. He sees me losing at least 20kg, but he did say that he can see me doing better than that. He couldn't tell me why but he suspects because I play sport and excercise that I will do pretty well. I am pumped. I just can't wait.

Hi again all. I have a surgery date of 7 April (which is my dad's birthday - the first one since he passed away last year - ironic in ways!) which is a month before I expected but still a little later than I wanted (hahaha). I am on the waiting list just in case of a cancellation, but the only date that it could occur is 25 Feb, in which case I would need to know before 15 Feb to do the 10 days Optifast diet. So I will know for sure in about 2 weeks time! Anyway, I am excited and nervous which is normal. I spoke with both the surgeon and the dietician today and I now know all I need to up to 6 weeks after the surgery when I go back to see the dietician! I hope to lose 30kg and get down to 70kg but my surgeon suspects I will probably feel sick at this weight. He sees me losing at least 20kg, but he did say that he can see me doing better than that. He couldn't tell me why but he suspects because I play sport and excercise that I will do pretty well. I am pumped. I just can't wait.

Congrats to both of you. I did a similar thing on 4 Jan. I have given up the diet pepsi. I used to drink a couple of glasses each day. I haven't touched a fizzy drink since then. I am also filling up on Water. I can't get enough of it now. I monitor my intake and have a huge glass full before lunch at work, then hope it will tide off those hunger pains at 3pm! I know my skin is better for the water, but I just feel bloated all the time! I am also chewing more. I have found that tedious, but have found that I have awful back teeth which need filling and it's hard! I do chew chewing gum every day but I never swallow. I would try to wean myself off that, but I just can't yet. I haven't decreased what I eat yet, but will soon. I am still eating what I normally would since it's pretty much good stuff anyway, but will need to get my mindset around making the portions smaller. For interest, we share a chicken between 2 adults and three kids and generally there is enough left over for my husbands luch...and he eats enough for two sometimes. I wish you both the best.

Good luck to all of you. My tummy is fluttering with excitement for you guys.:wink: I can't wait for my first consult on 29 Jan....only 15 days away....CMON already! :welldoneclap:

Hi all I am Kylie a 39yo from Melbourne. This is my first post here because I am pre-band with my first consult on 1 Feb. I have been researching this topic for some weeks after my GP suggested Lap Band Surgery the second time! Should have listened the first time. I am nearer to 100kg than I would like. Earlier in the year I was 90kg but my dad got very sick in Feb and I eventually lost him to prostate cancer and my brother-in-law to a heart attack both in September. I play netball three nights per week, have three young kids and am sick of being big. My size is not in my tummy area but my thighs and my massive bottom!:biggrin1: I describe myself as a Serena Williams without the boobs! I will do this with trepidation as I guess we all have been through the flutters thinking about this life changing event. But I am interested in the emotional side of things like: What will it be like to walk into a shop and buy anything fashionable off the racks? What will it be like to walk past 'My Size' without walking in to buy something? How did it feel during the journey to your goal? What was it like to make the changes in your lives? Was it a constant battle? I am 'vomitphobic':) so is it likely I will vomit! I have read most of the aussie thread and I just love the pictures. I would love to add mine, when the time is right though. I would love to be an inspiration to others just like you have been for me. I look forward to learning and sharing from and with the list here more. I am tempted to start the Optifast now, but that might sabotage my first appointment, but I am sick of being this size..... Hugs Kylie

Dana, don't get me wrong. I don't feel that guilty. It's almost a feeling like, now I have made the decision, I can now just sit back and not have to battle to lose kilos. It's almost like a 'weight' (sorry for the pun) has been lifted. I can't wait for my first appointment! I am really excited by the prospect, that the intensity and the fight will come back once I am banded. I am inspired by all here believe me. Thanks

Thanks all. Interesting views. The more I read on this board, the more I want it more. I am trying not to get too excited as my surgeon might have other opinions! I intend on telling my closest friend only and that's it. Of course my husband and kids will know but I don't want to be judged either. I do feel ashamed that I need this surgery too, but others don't need to know my dirty laundry. I am a very honest person, and I know people who see me will ask what I have done to lose all the weight. I am going to have to stand strong with my answer and tell them a little white lie. :eek: It takes strength and determination, and a sense (for me anyway) of feeling like I have lost the fight to be thin and healthier. I have had enough of being big, and like most of you I have done many weight loss programs with some success, but I am back to more than when I started. It feels good to be able to talk about something that will ultimately be successful for me, but it will take hard work and a lot of support. I know I can do it. Hugs to everyone