Emmsie

So sorry to see that you have had a bad day Sunshine. Everything is still so much of a learning curve. I hope you are feeling better now

Shaggs, Bindi & mellyphat Looks like it is just us for the catch up on Saturday. Do we want to meet in Parramatta instead of driving to Campbelltown? Bindi & melly - you can both still meet at my place if you like :laugh:

Hi all megsy - well done Shaggs - thanks for the pep talk. I am very proud of what I have done so far. Just disappointed that I was out of routine. I reckon I have only lost 1 kg in the last 3 weeks :tt2: Have got back on my wii as of yesterday and am ramping things back up. I have decided that my health is more important than my job :laugh:

Shaggs& Megsy I am so pleased to see that you are both going well. I am doing ok but not as well as I would like. I will not hit my first mini goal which is disappointing. I had my first appt with the physio today and she has inspired me to get more active and get back in to my exercise. I was easily losing 1kg a week then and now it has dropped to maybe half a kg if I am lucky. Back to my wii tomorrow.

Hi all I had my second fill today. I had 4ml on the day or surgery, 2.5 ml on the 19/1 and 1.5 ml today. That's a total of 8ml. Does that seem to be an average for people or does that seem to be quite tight? I know that evryone is different but just an average would be nice :rose:

I seem to be coping ok. I managed to eat a sausage sanwich for lunch with fresh white bread and didnt have any issues except for the fact that the sausage was cold by the time I finished Feeling very PMS - even feel like some chocolate which is a sure sign

Shaggs - How did you finish up last night? Dont be too hard on yourself. I still love my wine but have the low calorie one. I dont know if you drink red or white. I like the Lindemans Early Harvest SSB. BB (before band) I would have 3 - 4 glasses of wine every night of the week. Now I have 5 glasses over the week. Normally 1 glass on Thursday nights and 2 glasses on Fri & Sat night. Remember that this isnt a diet and you need to still enjoy life :blushing:

Shaggs - stick with it hun. A lot of what we are doing is about retraining our brain and breaking some of the old habits. I was the same and would always have wine & nibblies. Why dont you have a goal to have a glass of wine when DH comes home (as long as he isnt gone fo weeks :tongue2: )

Hi all Here is my proposal. I was trying to find something that was central for everyone. Campbelltown is between 50 - 60 min drive for most people based on info from Google maps. Macarthur Square at Campbelltown on Sat March 14. There a few coffee shops like Gloria Jeans & Jamaica Blue. We can meet at either and those that just want coffee can do that but they still offer food choices. How does 11:00 sound? From most of the posts it looks like everyone is coming without children - unless I have missed something :thumbup: Mel - you can come here and we can drive down together if you like. Bindi - I know its going backwards to come forwards but you are welcome to come here as well. Tazziecat - would you be happy driving to Campbelltown?

Megsy - :thumbup: I completely understand where you are coming from as I feel the same. I have my next fill tomorrow and can not wait. I feel minimal restriction. I have decided the thing for me to do is to go back to eating really small amounts (a teaspoon size) and chewing lots. This is something I find is easy to forget especially if I havent drunk all my water and I am hungry. I have 3 kgs to lose in 3 weeks to meet my first goal. I would love to do it in 2 weeks but I think that is asking a bit much. Just remember that there are highs and lows in everything and you have done a great job so far. I am sure you will get back on track soon,

Shaggs I am so pleased that everything went well. I didnt have any pain that I can remember. I hope that things keep going well :cursing: Megsy - how are things with you? I feel like I am at a bit of a standstill at the moment. I am looking forward to my second fill on Tuesday and hoping to see the weight loss accelerate a bit. I am running out of time to meet my goal :frown:

I sometimes have a TF shake as it is convenient. I am normally at work between 7:30 - 8 and have brekky about 9:30. Some mornings my band feels tighter than others. I always make sure I have a drink first. I do scrambled eggs at work. They only take a couple of minutes in the microwave and add some pepper. Occassionally I will do some bacon as well :frown:

Sunshine & Tas I am so pleased that you are all doing well. You seem to have both lost so much weight. Well done to you both

Leah - all the best for tomorrow Joy - I hope you went well today! Shaggs - How are you going? Looks like you are doing well with the pre-op diet. Only 1 week to go

Hi all I havent been in for ages Too busy with work LOL. I am happy to meet where ever. Mel - we can meet in Windsor for a coffee first if you like

Hi there How is everyone going? Megsy how are you feeling? I hope the recovery has not been that painful for you. Well done on losing 7 kgs already Leah - How is the pre-op phase going? How are you coping with the meals and minimal alcohol? Shaggs - Have you managed to make any appts yet? If not I am sure you will be on the phone first thing Monday :cool2: Barb - I am sorry that you had such a bad experience with the infection and the follow up care. How are you doing now? What an awesome job to have lost the weight you have. joyoc - Welcome and good luck with your surgery on the 3rd. You may be able to manage the job. I am sure that I would have been able to go back to work if I had to. Make sure you have breaks and go for small walks. I am going ok. No weight loss this week which I am disappointed about but I think it is from the bloating seeing as my monthly visitor is due in the next day or so :grouphug:

I live in Windsor and would be happy to catch up

Hi Shaggs I was banded on the 17/12. I had my initial appt with the surgeon on the 21/11 and started my pre op diet then. My surgeon was happy for me to do the Tony Ferguson shakes. I had done them before and didnt have an problem. I lost 6.9 kgs by surgery date although I am sure that 1 kg of that was from the pre-surgery clean out lol. I know that all clinics are different but this is how mine worked: Initial appt: - covered by medicare I then had to do some fasting tests. 1 blood test (approx 6 vials), an ecg to check my heart, a barium swallow and an internal ultrasound. I think I paid about $260 for the swallow and ultrasound (before medicare rebate). The blood test and ecg were covered by medicare. I go through Circle of Care and the fees are $6900 before medicare / health fund rebates. I think the total out of pocket is about $4700. This is for 12 months of care which includes the surgery, surgery assistant, anesthetic, 6 band fills, 6 appts with the dietician, 3 appts with the psychologist, 2 appts with the physiotherapist and 4 follow up appts with the surgeon as well as all the phone support I need. All the above is a guess because I dont have my folder with me. I am not sure what your surgeon will recommend but most people will have to do a 2 week liquid diet post surgery, a 2 week puree diet after that before eating normal foods again. I am currently towards the end of my first week of puree. I was in hospital overnight. I had my surgery at 6:30 at night and left hospital at 11:30 the next morning. I was very fortunate to feel quite good. I was on liquid panamax for a week and found that 20mls 3 times a day was enough pain relief for me. I did have some stronger medication if I needed it. I started doing some gentle walking the next day and have walked every day since then. 2 weeks after surgery I started using my wii fit (which I love) and am doing 30 min a day on that as well as a 20 min walk. As far as I am concerned it is the best decision I have made. If I was dieting I would have lost my will power by now and be back to my normal ways. I am really motivated to keep going. The thing about the band is that it is there for life. I know that it can be taken out but it is not recommended. Once I hit my goal weight I plan to slowly take the Fluid out and see if I can maintain my weight loss without fluid. If I start to stray I can always then have the fluid put back in which is much cheaper than having it removed and then put back in. The tighter the band the quicker you feel full. So if you do stray you wont be able to do it in the same quantities you do now. It sounds like you are ready to do this and there is plenty of people who have been before you. There is plenty of support on this website and I would be happy to support and cheer you on :cool2: Leah - Good luck with your surgery on the 4th of Feb :thumbup: Megsy - Only 2 sleeps to go!! How exciting - Good luck I took pj's, slippers, a book and toiletries to hosptial if that gives you any idea. Enough waffling Feel free to ask any other questions.

Hi everyone *waves* I was banded on 12/17 and have managed to lose 8.8 lbs since surgery. A total of 21.6 lbs since I started my journey on 11/21. I just thought I would pop my head in and say hi. I hope everyone is doing well :tt2: :mad:

I love my wii !! Santa bought it for me for Christmas. It arrived at the beginning of December and I managed to convince Santa to let me have it early seeing as we were going away for 10 days lol. DH and I just played wii sports first and I hooked the wii fit up on NYE. The boxing is hard work and I am hopeless at hula hoops lol. I love the step and the jogging and am concentrating on the areobic exercises first to help burn fat. Anyone interested in some wii challenges?

Hi all I have just joined and wanted to pop my head in to say hi to the Aussies :tt2: I was banded on the 17th December by Roy Brancatisano at Hills Private. Feeling better already and looking forward to my first band fill. It's still 2 weeks away. I hope everyone managed to do well over the festive season!