Sunwyse

I was once told by a cook, when tenderising meat, cover it with some kiwi fruit for about 20 minutes, not much longer. The acids eat through and make it extra tender.

Hello Bluezbandit and Roheryn, welcome to the board. Any questions, ask away. There are so many friendly and knowledgeable people here. Roheryn, the last time I was the proper weight for my age/height was when I was 12. Puberty kicked in and so did my hormonal imbalance. I'm currently about 53 kilos overweight, with is just over 100% overweight. I'm amazed at how my body carries it all around sometimes! Welcome to you both.

For me personally, I'll tell anyone who listens. I don't give a hoot what other people think about what I do with my own body. I see it as a way to be open and honest in society about weight issues. By talking about having the op, I can educate that its not simply eat less, exercise more and you'll be right mate. Its more complex than that. Whether you tell anyone at all, only a few or anybody you see walking down the street is a hugely personal decision. If you do decide to tell people, do it for the right reason. To tell people as a way to deflect teasing or nitpicking will just arm your enemy with more ammunition. In the end its your life, your body and your decision. Don't ever lose sight of that.

People maynot have fatophobes forming lynch mobs late at night, but there are deaths related to fat-hatred. Its the suicides that happen because of the bullying and relentless teasing that goes on. It can get to a point where death seems more acceptable than to live this sort of life any longer. No, the teasers may not have pulled a trigger, but it amounts to the same thing in my mind. Not all gay people can hide the fact wither. Some lesbians are "typical" dykes. Some gay men are stereotypical "fairies". It happens.

I think the best answer to OP's post is this; Write down what is most likely to happen to you if you don't go ahead with the op. The high blood pressure, diabetes, shortness of breath, gout (my mother has this and now looks like I do), heart attack, etc etc etc. Now write down a list of what could happen if you have the op. The least likely of all is death. If you have to stay in hospital a little longer than expected, that's OK it will be the best place to be anyway. The band loosens or the port detaches, just a quick op to fix. I think the benefits far out way the risks and the risks of not going ahead far out way the risks of going ahead. But that's my opinion. You need to decide for yourself.

are triscuits only available in the US? We in Aus never got into the whole peanut butter and jam sandwich thing.

Some people can eat bread after. The best thing is to wait a month or so, so that everything settles down and then try a very small piece. If it gets stuck, then you'll know for sure you can't have it.

Having done 3 versions of shake meal replacement diets, I know the 3 day thing! It takes a couple of days for the body to detox from all the crappy carbs we usually eat, sugar, white flour products, etc. Once they've been cleaned out of our system we actually feel much better. Often finding we are satisfied on less and feel more energised and clear-minded. I've read that these sorts of starchy carbs are actually an addiction, and I tend to believe it. Hope the shake diet is going well. You don't only have to add coffee, you can also get coconut and pineapple essences and make it a pinacolada flavour if you like. You can add strawberry essence or mint or mint and choc! banana, rum and chocky, anything you want really.

So sorry I missed this post before. I hope everything went well and am sending you lots of getting better soon vibes.

I imagine it has something to do with being horizontal while sleeping and maybe it taking a few hours for gravity to pull things down again, to a point where you feel OK to eat.

Thanks Chickie, everything I've read about him has been super positive and glowing! Can't believe its this Thursday when I finally get there. Will be setting my op date at that visit, cause its still a couple of month's away, but I will be able to give work plenty of notice. I'm getting really excited now!

Hi Sam, my appointment is on the 24th. We might end up getting done at the same time, who knows. Best of luck with it.

I self diagnosed my Seasonal Affective Disorder when I was 18 then had 2 doctors confirm the diagnosis (which is required in Australia). I started out on Lovan when I was about 20,21 just taking it in winter when the worst of the depression hits. Since then its been increasing and now I'm on them all the time. This is the first year I've had to take them in January (mid summer here). I've also found my moods to be swinging at other times, not just with seasonal changes, so I'm waiting to get an appointment with a psyche to see if I'm actually bipolar. I think I might be. In this time I've managed my own meds, increased a dose or decreased as I've seen fit. I have a very close relationship with my body and know the signs of mood changes. The doctor trusts my decisions on this matter. I'm interested to see how having the lapband will affect my medication level, I know I'm going to have to 'play' with the amount again, but its not going to stop me having the band.

10 litres! Crikey, I'm hard pressed to drink 2. How on earth does anyone get down 10 litres in a day???

Hello m2o, congrats on bubby and welcome to the forum. As for getting a refill, good on you I say. I think having a band without a fill when you need one is like having an exercise bike you use to drape clothes over. For some reason nobody quite knows, the whole diet/exercise thingy on its own just doesn't work for some of us. Well done on making the decision to go back and get it done again. Hoping to see a big drop off soon. Michelle

Congrats on getting the date lellow. Great stuff. I'm glad it can all be done to fit in with uni as well. Here's sending you lots of get well quick vibes so you can at least me in the mood to sit and listen for your training course.

next time why not simply offer to go halves with one of your friends? A lot of people I know won't eat an entire meal on their own so sharing a meal can be an option. You won't even be eating half anyway, so they won't starve and you can always order an extra side portion to bulk it out a bit. Just about every restaurant I know will make changes to one of their meals. You can have something left out, something added or change the portion size completely. Why not simply find something you like and ask them to do it in an entree size next time?

Hi Jan, welcome to the forum. You'll find everyone here pretty friendly and supportive! I have my first appointment on the 24th and will be arranging my surgery for late October. Its been an interesting and long year for me. Welcome aboard!! Michelle

Well I contated his office and it will cost me $5,000 out of pocket after health insurance so I think that wouldn't really matter which one I go to. I'm calling tomorrow to make my appointment for September. I figure making the first appointment for one month before I can have it done is the minimum amount of time I will need. And doing it now means I also get in the door. Or maybe I should make it for this July so I can get a surgery date as soon as possible? Its all so exciting, but so confusing! lol :thumbs_up:

Well, I was thinking Greenslopes. I've heard they are excellent, but if Ipswich is cheaper, I might go there.

There are quite a few and you will be pretty much the same out of pocket no matter who you go with. I'm looking at going with Dr John Copp who performs surgery in Greenslopes and Ipswich. His website is Lap Band Surgeon in Australia, Dr. John A Copp - Obesity Surgery for Effective Weight Loss, Queensland Australia

Hi Ozscot, I've decided to go with Dr John Copp. I'll be getting the opp in October, the earliest I can because I have to wait out my 12 month waiting period for health insurance. It's taken ages, but it's also gone by so quickly!

Hi everyone, been a long time since I've been here. I took off for a while cause the wait til I can have the op was so long. I still have 3.5 months to go, but it seems like its just around the corner now, instead of waaaaaay into the distance. I'm planning on taking 2 weeks off work cause I work in child care and its not exactly 'light' work - all the bending and lifting children, etc. I might talk to the doc and see if he recommends longer. So, I'm still around.

Gee, when I read the heading, I thought you meant you died on the table!! Sorry, can't help.

I agree, there isn't much you can do. No vitamin or trace element etc, is going to speed up the rate your skin shrinks back. It just takes time. It can take up to 2 years. If you're older, you can try skin care with collagen or retinol A which are supposed to help with elasticity, but really only a minute amount.