Sunwyse

Dawn, I take it you are in Arizona? Is this the American tax system you are talking about? In Australia you can't claim the whole amount. Well, you can but you won't get the whole amount back.

We have something similar here. Limits biscuits. The idea is you replace 2 meals a day with between 2-4 biscuits (cookies). If you get the chocolate ones, then its 2,if you get the savory, then its 3 or 4. I just think that so isn't enough to fill my tummy!

I did NutriSystem years ago, lasted about 5 weeks because the amount of food allowed just didn't fill me. They actually went bankrupt in Australia and closed down about 10 years ago.

The $4,500 for Dr Bowden is out of pocket AFTER insurance is taken into account. In fact, most of those prices you quoted are. That's why I've decided not to go with Dr Bowden, he's a great doc, but I just can't afford the $10,500 after insurance and medicare.

I think most of us had a dream or secret desire we wanted to do, but didn't because of our weight - either because physically we couldn't or emotionally we felt we couldn't. For me it was acting. I desperately wanted to be an actor but always felt my weight was an issue. I'd been told I had serious talent but I never pursued it. The other dream was working in hospitality. I've decided this one I can make come true after the op. I will be taking up an apprenticeship as a chef 6 months after my op. So, what about you? What was the dream? What was the thing you couldn't do then but will now?

It doesn't sound corny at all! I can understand exactly where you are coming from.

The band isn't inflated. There is no air in there so you can't deflate it, it gets filled with liquid. As for not wanting to rush to the doctor, that's what they are there for.

If any doctor (or anyone else for that matter) tells you of a surgical procedure that is 100% complication free - run away from them very fast!! Honestly, we are talking about the human body here. All manner of things can happen. No surgeon in their right mind is going to say a procedure will be complication free - not at least until after its happened. As for a few check ups then once a year, I don't know where you got your information from. It is an individual process of fill and un-fill until the right amount is found for you. Then you have to go back every 6 months as the biggest gap FOR THE LIFE OF THE BAND INSIDE YOU. That is, as long as the band is inside you, you have to go back every 6 months. The reason for this is that a teensy, tiny amount of the Fluid can leak out of the band and you will lose a tiny amount of restriction. We are talking something like 0.3 ml here! But it needs to be topped up to ensure you stay at your happy spot. I think far too many people are seeing this as a quick fix, easy option. Its not. It involves a life time commitment to healthy eating and healthy living. The band does nothing at all on its own. It simply enables you to be able to keep to a diet, but you have to do the work. As I like to say, the band won't take your body out for a walk each night while you sleep. Before you decide ya or nay for you, speak to your doctor, go an info session and get some factual information. Once informed, then decide if this is something you want to do.

Apparently, I'm Starr Dream-Thong. hm, in Australia a thong is a shoe! rofl

This is excellent news! Well done & WOO HOOOOO!

I'm very surprised your surgeon hasn't explained all this to you by now. It differs slightly with each surgeon, but the usual is 2 weeks of clear liquids only, followed by 2 weeks of mushy food - baby food consistency. Clear liquids can be clear fruit juices, water, etc. Some people also use milk based drinks or yoghurt toward the end of the 2 week period before going onto mush.

Danna, I work with children as well, so I know what you're going through. I'm a cook now, but when I did Optifast a few years ago I was an assistant in a kindy room. After 5 weeks I ended up getting seriously ill because my system was so depleted.

She smiles, if you have been with NIB for at least 12 months, by law, any time you've waited must be accepted by another insurer. So if you change companies and have already done the 12 months, you don't have to wait it again. You'll only need to wait if you increase the level of cover. Contact other companies, explain the level of cover you have now and ask if they will cover the numbers the PS gave you at a similar level.

Do you mean risking going into ketosis or risking going out? Ketosis is brought on by cutting out carbs. You can have as much Protein and fats as you like, you won't go out of ketosis. If you mean risking going in, mild ketosis, like being on Terry Ferguson diet programme, isn't harmful provided you don't stay there for ever. Its quite "natural" for our system to go into ketosis once in a while. Many people think its actually a key to losing weight and keeping it off. Our nomadic ancestors used to have feast and famine times. The famine was essentially what going into ketosis would be like today.

If anyone does find out their insurer is going to drop the option, don't panic. Remember you can change to most other insurers and take the time you've been covered with you.

This is great news from both of you. Well done. I'm sure in 3 months you won't know yourselves!! Congrats on the successes.

Optifast didn't cause your period, the weight loss did. Losing weight allows the hormones to go back into balance. If you're a woman and of child bearing age, then its natural to have a period.

I can so relate to the excessive facial hair (& everywhere else!!) because of PCOS. I have a theory though. When weight drops down and approaches normal, the hormonal levels normalise and I believe this would also mean less hair growth, as the excessive hair is caused by the extra male hormone floating around - which goes away when weight normalises. OK, so did my 'theory' make sense? lol

Hey Josh, there may be a ways to go yet, but GREAT JOB!! You look amazing. You can really see the difference and the amount of workouts you are doing is definitely going to help with those changes for the long term. Good on you for making the change. You're doing great.

I've been told you have to get paper work from them and then have to word things EXACTLY or they won't give you the money. I know it sounds picky on their part, but they probably have their reasons. Best to just give them what they want :smile:

Hi Annie, none coming up that I know of, but if you go to brisbanders : Brisbanders and join, you can keep updated of any social get togethers happening.

Ok I just went to Man U's website. Not exactly true. After 1 May 2008, you will only be able to get gastric banding surgery if you have their Top level of cover. The link to read more is here http://www.manchesterunity.com.au/Site/uploadedfiles/importantinformationmembers.pdf Just spoke with someone at HBA and they haven't changed any surgery entitlements to various levels. Prices are going up, but whatever was covered before at your level is still there. Michelle

Soriminah, well done on the loss! And yep, everything is crossed for the date you want.

I've heard from people who do this that they have felt 'lighter' and 'cleansed'. I don't believe there is any physical benefit to doing this, but the psychological one could well be worth it - hey, if it makes you feel better, no harm done. Just make sure you go to someone who knows what they are doing. The Water flow into the anus needs to be REALLY slow or else damage can happen. You don't need this to be healthy and the anus wasn't actually designed to have material going 'up'.

At 30 I had this overwhelming urge to move. I knew I wanted to live somewhere else entirely, but no clue as to where so I got myself a book with pictures from all over Australia (my country) and looked through it. I kept being drawn back again and again to pictures of Darwin, so that's where I went. I organised one night in a backpackers, a bus trip for 3 hours to visit someone I knew in that state, then was going to go back to Darwin and settle down. I had no job lined up and knew no-one in Darwin itself. That flight led to me travelling through various places in Australia and either working or studying for 7 years. I ended up in Queensland and the day I arrived I met my soul mate. Over 3 years later and I am still here with him. I got myself into a new career (child care), started my own business (skin care products) and next year will be starting a new career again (apprentice as chef). It can be scary to go especially if you feel you 'have' to but haven't done it before, but much scarier to me is the idea of being 80 in a rocking chair and regretting all the things in life I'd wanted to do and never tried.