jojo41

thanks leenerbups I will do that

If Lady Loca is from the US and coming to Australia for the lapband at least the exchange rate will be in her favour and also make it cheaper.

Exactly TOM....what is wrong with "can I help you?" As for "cutting the salesgirl some slack".......Unless you were me in the shop you have no idea how rude she was. When I was in my early 20's I was a size 10 and worked as a hairdresser. I NEVER told a client that her face was "Too Fat" for that style....that is tactless and BAD business. Wheetsin.....the difference is I did not tell the shop assistant she was "an anorexic waif".....I have more tact than that.

The manager did NOT apologise....which pissed me off even more. She just stood there looking uncomfortable. I think the shop is an Australian chain store it's called.....SUPRE. It really caters to women under 30yrs and the size 14 is equivilant to a size 10 in other stores....so it was pretty obvious I wasn't buying for mysel.......but the shop assistant made me feel like I shouldn't even be allowed to step inside their precious store because I was too big! BTW I forgot to mention she also rolled her eyes at me when I asked for the manager...little cow!

$3500 for my surgeon and $500 for the anaethatist on the Gold Coast QLD...all fills and follow up appointments are included in this price.

definitely off....the family is having a private funeral and then in the next fortnight there is going to be a memorial service for his fans.

tolmc...I haven't noticed any changes from metformin yet (it's only been 2 months). I thought it could be a good idea to visit your gyno because your testosterone levels could be sky high (from the pcos) and this would cause you to gain extra muscle and also prevent you from losing more weight......I had my testosterone levels done recently and they were extra high so I have also started taking the contraceptive pill to help with the testosterone. Good Luck Jo

Hi guys, Jo here from The Gold Coast. (well I live in Sydney 6months and GC 6months).....best of both worlds! :couch2: I had my surgery 17th July 06 at the Obesity Clinic on the Gold Coast and had my first adjustrment yesterday....so far all is going well and I've lost 10kg:clap2:

Hi Cowgirl74....I was banded on the 17th July (7 weeks ago) and had my first fill yesterday. I do not have quite as much weight to lose (46kg) but a close friend of mine was 181kg and is down to 90kg after 18months (she has 20kg to go) and looks sensational! She was my inspiration to get the band and I am already so glad I did because without it instead of being 10kg lighter I could have been 10kg heavier. Good Luck......you will do great!

Jo here from Sydney/Gold Coast I was banded 17th July and have lost 10 kilos. I had my first adjustment/fill yesterday and am on liquids/mushies for another 24hrs. I can't wait to start solid food to see if I have any restriction. tolmc.....I can totally sympathise with you I also have pcos (what a bloody nightmare) and was told this would make weightloss much slower and more difficult. What does your surgeon say about your lack of weighloss? Have you been to your Gynecologist since being banded? I started metformin a couple of months ago (not for diabetes but for my pcos) and it is meant to help regulate your insulin...therefore helping with weightloss.... are you on metformin?

Hi kellie.....Jo from the Sydney/Gold Coast here. Good Luck with your band ....you are in for a very exciting time with lots of ups and downs but I'm sure you'll do great!

Welcome Brad....I'm also a relative newbie (banded 17th July 06) and I had all the same fears and concerns that you are having. My way of looking at it is....I won't know unless I give it a go....Good Luck!

DonnaB....in regards to your original post. Most Australians are very tolerant of other cultures but we are also very open about our thoughts and ideas. Most Aussies "call a spade a spade"..... even our politicians.... and although it may upset the "politically correct groups" in our society I think this is what makes Australia great....we are not afraid to speak out and say it like it is. Don't get me wrong I'm not racist nor am I against against multiculturalism (my father migrated to Australia as a child from Italy in the 1940's) but most Australians believe not just in multiculturalism but also in integration.

My kids grew up watching Steve Irwin and LOVED him. We live in Queensland (Steve's home State) and we have been to his zoo several times.... it is the most beautiful zoo imaginable...no cramped spaces for any of the animals and beautiful and clean. Everytime we went my kids were excited hoping that they would bump into Steve...it did happen once and he was great with all the tourists, especially the kids. I must admit....going to the zoo will not be the same without him. Many Aussies feel that the passing of Steve Irwin was like losing a mate. He will be missed.

I just read an interesting acticle on the Yahoo Homepage Titled "Obesity More Harmful To Women" It states that at an International Obesity Conference in Sydney a Dr Heitmann says: "Prejudice begins early in life for obese females, with children as young as 3 shunning their obese peers. Family, Teachers and Health Care Professionals were also more biased against obese girls and women than boys and men. Obese women are deprived of friendships, intimate relationships, social interraction, education, income and respect."

Amourette....apparently Steve's wife has declined a State Funeral, she would prefer a more personal funeral for him.

Try and stay calm Boo Boo Kitty.....my husband has had 3 seperate skin cancers removed (the downside of living in Australia.....they don't call us the "sunburnt country" for nothing!). In Australia we have the highest rate of skin cancers in the world so it is not uncomon to speak to people who've had at least one removed. It really depends what type of skin cancer you have as to the danger and treatments and don't blame yourself, everyone no matter what skin colour they have can get skin cancer, a friend of mine who is of New Zealand Maori descent so she is quite dark skinned has had skin cancer removed from her face.

Arkgl01....i am so glad you wrote this post because I feel exactly the same as you. I had my first fill yesterday, drank the water, had a little burp, came home and had some tomato soup with no problem and was starving all day! I also have 2 days on fluids and a day on mushies. I just hope that once I start on solids I will feel something because right now I could eat a horse!

We tend to go to alot of Thai, Malaysian, Vietnamese, Indian restaurants where we can share meals so it's not a problem.....last week we went to Yum Cha and it was great, I just had a small amount of most things that came around. I think the portion sizes are more of a problem in the States than in Europe and Australia, I was in the US in Jan and was amazed at how HUGE the portions are.

A total tragedy. My kids grew up watching "The Crocodile Hunter" and in 1998 we went to Australia Zoo, Steve was in the tortoise enclosure and came over to say hello to everyone who was watching, he was very friendly and came across as a genuinely nice bloke. My son (who is now 15yrs but was 7yrs at the time) still talks about meeting "The Crocodile Hunter". He'll be sadly missed.

Polenta and chicken. 1/2 cup of polenta (very soft) 1 small chicken thigh cooked in a tomato, onion, garlic sauce......yum!

I agree with carol....I have been fat and thin and let me tell you EVERYONE is your friend when you are thin. Not only is everyone your friend but you are NOT invisible... when you are thin people make eye contact, smile at you and generally engage with you. I have noticed since gaining weight 7-8 years ago that I slowly became "The Invisible Woman"....ignored by most people from shop assistants to parents at my children's school. I have even "lost" friends over the last few years due to my weight gain. I know I have to take some responsibility for these failed friendships (due to declining invitations to go out, becomming a bit of a recluse at times because I was embarrassed or felt uncomfortable with my size) but let's face it.... it's difficult to completely participate in life when you are morbidly obese. veggestyle.....I believe that as we shed our pounds we will also shed our insecurities....and that is what will draw people to us.

don't worry......I didn't have a pre-op diet but I was on liquids for 2 weeks after surgery and for the first 6 days I lost NOTHING then all of a sudden from 6th - 14th days I lost 20lbs...how weird is that! Keep your chin up!

I flew often for work at 275lbs and 5ft 7in (size 20) and never needed a seat bet extender....you will be fine

Quote..."He's just not that into you." Forget him and move on to bigger and better things :Banane27: