Goannabanda

Here's a little ray of hope that might help some of us... (or rather, some advice to "go catch some rays"...) I had my pre-op psych evaluation over the weekend, and I discussed my sneak / control / primal urges to eat with the counsellor. Obviously, I am worried about learing strategies to deal with these post-band. She said, in my case, that it sounds like my eating is driven by an imbalance in my emotional inputs and outputs - that is, a wellbeing issue rather than an eating issue. She said that the urges / jumpyness driving me to eat is a sign to me that something in my environment is imbalanced, and that I should change something - like take a walk, go sit in the sun for a little while etc. ...kind of like a "prescription" to eat lunch outside in the sun! By trying just to keep a lid on things (as I have tried to do with food), the pot will always overboil. This is the diet mentality, and what makes us scream at the thought of being told what to eat, or being under scruitiny (whether own, or by others). I now need to build a non-diet mentality - and learn to reduce the pressure in other ways. It really makes sense for me - and maybe some of you identify with this as well. I feel like I've been given a "get out of jail free" card - I feel like I have permission now to take better care of myself - to do girlie things, to be feminine again, to meditate and relax. I feel like I can be free of guilt etc about failing to control the Snacks better. ...so, time to break out the aromatherapy oils, and time to go buy a hammock - Goannabanda's goin' relaxin'!!!

I feel like I've been riding a rollercoaster for the past four days. The pace of events, and emotional highs and lows have left me worn out. It'll be good to get back to work tomorrow for a break! LOL! Here's what I've been up to: Thursday - had a late night Wed writing up the kinder newsletter, so I could print it during the morning. Then we had a surprise party at playgroup for AD's 40th - she was touched! I met up with jenny from LBT for a coffee - her insights were very reassuring. Had dinner out with the kinder mums. After 2 glasses of wine, I felt like I'd had the whole bottle. Friday - got a call in the morning that uncle B was very ill and may not live more than few days to two weeks - so I drove to Sale to visit him in hospital. At this stage, he really doesn't know his prognosis is so grim - the doctors are preparing him for this news. He didn't look good - could hardly breathe, and the medications that he had been on had made him bloated and blotchy. These have been stopped now (because they found out it's not an infection), and they were making a gradual transition towards palliative care, with morphine pain relief being started. But he was still the same old B - happy (and surprised!) to see me. Mum and Dad would have liked to have been here to see him. It was very hard to kiss him goodbye when time to go home, as I won't see him alive again. He is my favourite uncle - a bit of a larrikin, and had his problems, but still loves us all. Didn't get home until late - quite emotional. Time to cry later, not now. I had some phone calls with friends etc when I got home that were a bit stressful - some anxiety and stresses amongst the gang - some of them have some major issues in their home lives at the moment which are making them agressive due to stress. A bit like what's going on around parts of LBT too. I hope to keep out of it as best I can. Saturday - Mad rush day - to get ready for church family dinner (30 ppl at our place). Had my visit to the weight loss counsellor - very enlightening - I journal about this separately when my head has cleared, so I don't lose the benefit of her insights. The main one is that I am anxious - and need to find time to calm down and relax - this will help with the snacking, which she believes are due to an energy imbalance (well-being sense). I need to sit in the sun more! Hooray - permission to relax and be girlie!!! A doctor's prescritpion to break out the oil burners, massage oil, yoga classes, mediation... ...mmmmmmm! bliss!!! What more could a girl want?? Sunday - church, followed by puppet rehearsal for next Sunday. After lunch at home, we went to Elwood Beach for a family break afternoon. DS loved playing on the playground, and we had a coffee in the foreshore cafe. He crashed out fairly early - he's been grumpy tired all day. Finally time to clean up and do laundry etc in the evening. I'm off to bed now - I feel like I've not slept in days - it's mainly emotional exhaustion - but elements of physical exhaustion and probably dehydration from rapid pace of the weekend are not helping either. Anyway - it's been wone of those weekends where it feels like the world has tilted and adjusted itself - funny how things often all happen in a rush at times - and then all is calm for a while. Except this weekend, following the counsellor's consultation - it feels like it has finally tilted in the right direction in terms of finding some of the ansers to my emotional / head hunger issues. Halleleulia!

I feel like I've been riding a rollercoaster for the past four days. The pace of events, and emotional highs and lows have left me worn out. It'll be good to get back to work tomorrow for a break! LOL! Here's what I've been up to: Thursday - had a late night Wed writing up the kinder newsletter, so I could print it during the morning. Then we had a surprise party at playgroup for AD's 40th - she was touched! I met up with jenny from LBT for a coffee - her insights were very reassuring. Had dinner out with the kinder mums. After 2 glasses of wine, I felt like I'd had the whole bottle. Friday - got a call in the morning that uncle B was very ill and may not live more than few days to two weeks - so I drove to Sale to visit him in hospital. At this stage, he really doesn't know his prognosis is so grim - the doctors are preparing him for this news. He didn't look good - could hardly breathe, and the medications that he had been on had made him bloated and blotchy. These have been stopped now (because they found out it's not an infection), and they were making a gradual transition towards palliative care, with morphine pain relief being started. But he was still the same old B - happy (and surprised!) to see me. Mum and Dad would have liked to have been here to see him. It was very hard to kiss him goodbye when time to go home, as I won't see him alive again. He is my favourite uncle - a bit of a larrikin, and had his problems, but still loves us all. Didn't get home until late - quite emotional. Time to cry later, not now. I had some phone calls with friends etc when I got home that were a bit stressful - some anxiety and stresses amongst the gang - some of them have some major issues in their home lives at the moment which are making them agressive due to stress. A bit like what's going on around parts of LBT too. I hope to keep out of it as best I can. Saturday - Mad rush day - to get ready for church family dinner (30 ppl at our place). Had my visit to the weight loss counsellor - very enlightening - I journal about this separately when my head has cleared, so I don't lose the benefit of her insights. The main one is that I am anxious - and need to find time to calm down and relax - this will help with the snacking, which she believes are due to an energy imbalance (well-being sense). I need to sit in the sun more! Hooray - permission to relax and be girlie!!! A doctor's prescritpion to break out the oil burners, massage oil, yoga classes, mediation... ...mmmmmmm! bliss!!! What more could a girl want?? Sunday - church, followed by puppet rehearsal for next Sunday. After lunch at home, we went to Elwood Beach for a family break afternoon. DS loved playing on the playground, and we had a coffee in the foreshore cafe. He crashed out fairly early - he's been grumpy tired all day. Finally time to clean up and do laundry etc in the evening. I'm off to bed now - I feel like I've not slept in days - it's mainly emotional exhaustion - but elements of physical exhaustion and probably dehydration from rapid pace of the weekend are not helping either. Anyway - it's been wone of those weekends where it feels like the world has tilted and adjusted itself - funny how things often all happen in a rush at times - and then all is calm for a while. Except this weekend, following the counsellor's consultation - it feels like it has finally tilted in the right direction in terms of finding some of the ansers to my emotional / head hunger issues. Halleleulia!

Copied from sneak eating thread - useful self-analysis to keep. For today - I'm going to be Scarlett O'Hara - "...after all, tomorrow's another day!". I'll start fresh tomorrow, when I am feeling back on my game. Thanks BJean, MoorLess, Little Bird - I'm still in shock about what happened this morning - I really thought I had dealt with that demon. Guess it proves that we always need to be vigilant. Primal urge - I like that expression - it's really what it is, isn't it? Funny how some of us are affected by these urges more strongly than others. It's the same feelings I still get when my 5YO son cries, the feeling that "turned on" oh so strongly when he was born, the emotions and memories stirred when I smell violets (they remind me of my nana). This morning, I remembered something about how the secret eating started . Since I was about 8 or 9, I used to offer to go to the milk bar for mum on a pretext of buying milk, bread or whatever, and then spending some of HER money on lollies to eat on the way home, or to hide at home for later. I knew it was wrong, on so many levels, not the least of which was because I knew she often didn't have any more money than the little bit left in her purse until pay day. I also (and still do) raid her pantry (and my own) in search of tasty morsels that I can sneak. I think she knew I did it, but I don't thinks she knew how often. I guess it's a power / control thing. Sorry mum. When I see her next, I'll share this with her - it'll help exorcise the demons! What also scares me- is how easily and adept we all are at hiding the evidence that these events happen to us from time to time. I hate feeling deceptive and deliberately denying God. I think a lot of the emotions and reasons why I do this stem from the self-loathing that I have for being in this condition - the emotions, (and the depression) gets worse the fatter I get. I know we all share similarities here on one level or another. I am looking forward to liking myself more in my new banded life, and finally freeing myself of these emotional chains (or at least lightening their load!). I'm at a low ebb today - partly tired (too much late night LBT! lol!), and partly hormones (mid-cycle always gets me down). Got a case of BFU (Big Fat Uglies) just now. The hormonal cycle also seems more out of whack the bigger I get - looking forward to normalising this with weight loss too! I'll be back on my game again by tomorrow, I'm sure. Anyway, thanks for your support gang, and especially BJean for taking time to read my blog (it's all out there... ...first time in my life I can write about these things, and now it's comming out in torrents! lol! I AM making progress!). I am glad not to be alone in these emotions, - I just wish for all of us that we didn't have to deal with these issues in the first place.

Copied from sneak eating thread - useful self-analysis to keep. For today - I'm going to be Scarlett O'Hara - "...after all, tomorrow's another day!". I'll start fresh tomorrow, when I am feeling back on my game. Thanks BJean, MoorLess, Little Bird - I'm still in shock about what happened this morning - I really thought I had dealt with that demon. Guess it proves that we always need to be vigilant. Primal urge - I like that expression - it's really what it is, isn't it? Funny how some of us are affected by these urges more strongly than others. It's the same feelings I still get when my 5YO son cries, the feeling that "turned on" oh so strongly when he was born, the emotions and memories stirred when I smell violets (they remind me of my nana). This morning, I remembered something about how the secret eating started . Since I was about 8 or 9, I used to offer to go to the milk bar for mum on a pretext of buying milk, bread or whatever, and then spending some of HER money on lollies to eat on the way home, or to hide at home for later. I knew it was wrong, on so many levels, not the least of which was because I knew she often didn't have any more money than the little bit left in her purse until pay day. I also (and still do) raid her pantry (and my own) in search of tasty morsels that I can sneak. I think she knew I did it, but I don't thinks she knew how often. I guess it's a power / control thing. Sorry mum. When I see her next, I'll share this with her - it'll help exorcise the demons! What also scares me- is how easily and adept we all are at hiding the evidence that these events happen to us from time to time. I hate feeling deceptive and deliberately denying God. I think a lot of the emotions and reasons why I do this stem from the self-loathing that I have for being in this condition - the emotions, (and the depression) gets worse the fatter I get. I know we all share similarities here on one level or another. I am looking forward to liking myself more in my new banded life, and finally freeing myself of these emotional chains (or at least lightening their load!). I'm at a low ebb today - partly tired (too much late night LBT! lol!), and partly hormones (mid-cycle always gets me down). Got a case of BFU (Big Fat Uglies) just now. The hormonal cycle also seems more out of whack the bigger I get - looking forward to normalising this with weight loss too! I'll be back on my game again by tomorrow, I'm sure. Anyway, thanks for your support gang, and especially BJean for taking time to read my blog (it's all out there... ...first time in my life I can write about these things, and now it's comming out in torrents! lol! I AM making progress!). I am glad not to be alone in these emotions, - I just wish for all of us that we didn't have to deal with these issues in the first place.

Thanks BJean - I'm still in shock about what happened this morning - I really thought I had dealt with that demon. Guess it proves that we always need to be vigilant. Primal urge - I like that expression - it's really what it is, isn't it? Funny how some of us are affected by these urges more strongly than others. It's the same feelings I still get when my 5YO son cries, the feeling that "turned on" oh so strongly when he was born, the emotions and memories stirred when I smell violets (they remind me of my nana). This morning, I remembered something about how the secret eating started . Since I was about 8 or 9, I used to offer to go to the milk bar for mum on a pretext of buying milk, bread or whatever, and then spending some of HER money on lollies to eat on the way home, or to hide at home for later. I knew it was wrong, on so many levels, not the least of which was because I knew she often didn't have any more money than the little bit left in her purse until pay day. I also (and still do) raid her pantry (and my own) in search of tasty morsels that I can sneak. I think she knew I did it, but I don't thinks she knew how often. I guess it's a power / control thing. Sorry mum. When I see her next, I'll share this with her - it'll help exorcise the demons! What also scares me- is how easily and adept we all are at hiding the evidence that these events happen to us from time to time. I hate feeling deceptive and deliberately denying God. I think a lot of the emotions and reasons why I do this stem from the self-loathing that I have for being in this condition - the emotions, (and the depression) gets worse the fatter I get. I know we all share similarities here on one level or another. I am looking forward to liking myself more in my new banded life, and finally freeing myself of these emotional chains (or at least lightening their load!). I'm at a low ebb today - partly tired (too much late night LBT! lol!), and partly hormones (mid-cycle always gets me down). Got a case of BFU (Big Fat Uglies) just now. The hormonal cycle also seems more out of whack the bigger I get - looking forward to normalising this with weight loss too! I'll be back on my game again by tomorrow, I'm sure. Anyway, thanks for your support gang, and especially BJean for taking time to read my blog (it's all out there... ...first time in my life I can write about these things, and now it's comming out in torrents! lol! I AM making progress!). I am glad not to be alone in these emotions, - I just wish for all of us that we didn't have to deal with these issues in the first place.

hahahaha Aussie Chick - you FUNNY! Dawg - well said!

...didn't mean to steal your thunder Sam! DonnaB - yeah of course we do have guns, although they are very tightly regulated. You are only allowed them for legitimate purposes (police, farmers, licenced hunters etc). Private individuals have to be in a gun club, and prove no criminal record, person of good character etc before getting a licence. Very strict controls on storage, concealment (or lack thereof) etc. Semi-automatics and automatics are banned altogether. Modification of guns in any way is also banned. My brother had to surrender his in a gun amnesty a few years back - it got "terminated" - he said it was cool to watch (but costly!). We also have very strict rules on other weapons - knives, mace etc are prohibited. The police are only just starting to experiemtn with tasar guns and capsicum spray - which is proving controversial for the civil libitarians. The customs officers are kept vey busy trying to keep those really scary looking knives and swords out of the country. We don't have a constitutional right to bear arms the same as you Americans do - but for most Aussies, knowing that some kid can't easily find a gun and go shoot someone instills a certain amount of peace and freedom to our society. It's nice knowing that if you have to knock on a stranger's door, that they probably don't have a gun or other weapon hidden behind it... ...yeah, we have snow, green plants, weird animals etc. The snow only falls in the high country, rarely at lower altitudes. In fact, we're going to the snow at Falls Creek in a couple of weeks. Check out www.visitvictoria.com for details as to what it's like in my part of the world. Aussie Chick (Sam) lives up north in Brisbane where it's warmer year round... ...but we both live on the greener "Eastern Seaboard" (i.e. the bit between the Great Dividing Range and the east coast).

hhahahahahahaha - Nana - it only took a few hours for you to find the CHEESE! ...now let's get back to the Thread Killers, and stop hijacking this thread...

Oh, sorry you lost your faithful companion. Six years later, I still cry every now and then 'cos I want my Mini dog back...

As a nation, we are a fairly moderate, laid back and tolerant people. Most Aussies appreciate the diversity that immigration has brought to our wide brown land. We are very good at adsorbing positive cultural attributes - but have no interest in anything that in our eyes is seen as an abuse of human rights, or a source of violence or distress to others. We don't tolerate what we see as any abuse of human rights, nor having someone else's beliefs, especially political or religious forced upon us. It doesn't matter whether that religion is christian, muslim, budhist, bahai or whatever. Basically, if it's right for you, you're not impinging someone else's human rights, and you're not destabilising our relaxed way of life, then go for it. One of the best things about our country is that it offers a fresh start, a new life, a refuge from the battles and disagreements of the "old country". Since our nation began, we have provided sanctuary for people to come and just... ...be. Sure, it's fun to joke about the convicts being forced here etc, but right from the very first days of Australia, VOLUNTARY immigration has formed the main building blocks of our nation. The muslims are getting bad press because of a few militant fundamentalists who are hell-bent on causing trouble and grief. It wouldn't matter what religion these people are - ANY radical group within our society would be given equal measure if they embarked on a similar path of systematic destabilisation and hatred. MOST Aussie muslims are not in that radical group - and would more closely identify themselves as a "typical" laid-back Aussie. This is a fact - and one that's not lost on the rest of mainstream Australia - we're not a pack of drunken yobbos - we are a smarter nation than even our own politicians give us credit for (sigh). There is HUGE sentiment of support for the mainstream, moderate muslim society in Australia, and John Howard himself has spoken out in support of these people. It's just that there's not as much newsworthiness in these calmer stories of integration and support, when compared to the sensationalist stories of terrorists in our midst. The newsmongers have a lot to answer for in feeding the radical elements in our society, and encouraging those radicals from overseas to target our nation. So, in conclusion, you are welcome to join us at any time - just comply with our laws... ...and leave your guns at the door.

After doing well until 6:30pm tonight, a major setback - I had a brain-snap and pigged out on the way home, and again after I got home. Not as bad as in the old days - but a setback nonetheless. :faint: I used to stop for food on the way home nearly every night, and eat it on the train or in the car before getting home. I'd then turn around and eat dinner, dessert, and secret late-night snacks. For months, I'd kicked the car food habit - mainly by not letting myself ever feel too hungry in the afternoons. Obviously that's trouble in itself... At work I usually eat my way through the arvo - it must be boredom or frustration, because I don't do it on my non-work days. I lapsed tonight on the way home - I was trying to get a headstart on the pre-op diet, and did well all day. However, I forgot I had a seminar to stay late for, which threw a spanner into the plans I made for dinner time, and I got too hungry (sugar-low kind of hungry). It was like a switch in my head flipped and I lost control. That physical drive to eat came back on with force. I went to Maccas' for a fillet-o-fish, fries and a diet coke, and when I was done, I said to myself "what the hell just happened here?". Then I went to get the groceries, and ended up also buying a roast chook and fattening deli-salads for dinner, this time washed down with several glasses of full-strength coke. Also bought a family block of Cadbury's for a late night snack (at least I gave DH half...). Double "what the hell just happened here???". I knew what I was doing, but couldn't stop myself from doing it anyway. :( I know it's not a huge binge by some standards, but for me it was a major setback. However, I'm not going to get cut-up about it, at least now I recognise what just happened, and am trying to deal with it, whereas before I would have been in denial that it ever happened.:clap2: Now I'm feeling queasy, and am trying to figure out what sort of control issue caused this incident - rebellion from being on a diet, or an inability to deal with feelings of hunger? Or both??:cool: The late-night snacking I'll have to deal with by going to bed earlier. Or at least cleaning my teeth - after all, why spoil freshly cleaned teeth and fresh breath at that hour?? I am most worried about control issues once banded - I am hoping that I can use the band as a tool to learn how to control these old habits, and not sabbotage myself. Everyone's stories of success with these control issues are inspiring, and what helped me finalise my decsion to get banded. I definitely need to plug into a good therapist as well...:help:

After doing well until 6:30pm tonight, a major setback - I had a brain-snap and pigged out on the way home, and again after I got home. Not as bad as in the old days - but a setback nonetheless. :faint: I used to stop for food on the way home nearly every night, and eat it on the train or in the car before getting home. I'd then turn around and eat dinner, dessert, and secret late-night snacks. For months, I'd kicked the car food habit - mainly by not letting myself ever feel too hungry in the afternoons. Obviously that's trouble in itself... At work I usually eat my way through the arvo - it must be boredom or frustration, because I don't do it on my non-work days. I lapsed tonight on the way home - I was trying to get a headstart on the pre-op diet, and did well all day. However, I forgot I had a seminar to stay late for, which threw a spanner into the plans I made for dinner time, and I got too hungry (sugar-low kind of hungry). It was like a switch in my head flipped and I lost control. That physical drive to eat came back on with force. I went to Maccas' for a fillet-o-fish, fries and a diet coke, and when I was done, I said to myself "what the hell just happened here?". Then I went to get the groceries, and ended up also buying a roast chook and fattening deli-salads for dinner, this time washed down with several glasses of full-strength coke. Also bought a family block of Cadbury's for a late night snack (at least I gave DH half...). Double "what the hell just happened here???". I knew what I was doing, but couldn't stop myself from doing it anyway. :( I know it's not a huge binge by some standards, but for me it was a major setback. However, I'm not going to get cut-up about it, at least now I recognise what just happened, and am trying to deal with it, whereas before I would have been in denial that it ever happened.:clap2: Now I'm feeling queasy, and am trying to figure out what sort of control issue caused this incident - rebellion from being on a diet, or an inability to deal with feelings of hunger? Or both??:cool: The late-night snacking I'll have to deal with by going to bed earlier. Or at least cleaning my teeth - after all, why spoil freshly cleaned teeth and fresh breath at that hour?? I am most worried about control issues once banded - I am hoping that I can use the band as a tool to learn how to control these old habits, and not sabbotage myself. Everyone's stories of success with these control issues are inspiring, and what helped me finalise my decsion to get banded. I definitely need to plug into a good therapist as well...:help:

Oh, you are soooo not alone! Secret eaters - I share your shame! I used to stop for food on the way home nearly every night, and eat it in the car before getting home. I'd then turn around and eat dinner, dessert, and secret late-night snacks. For months, I'd kicked the habit - mainly by not letting myself ever feel too hungry in the afternoons. Obviously that's trouble in itself... At work I usually eat my way through the arvo - it must be boredom or frustration, because I don't do it on my non-work days. I lapsed tonight on the way home - I was trying to get a headstart on the pre-op diet, and did well all day. However, I forgot I had a seminar to stay late for, which threw a spanner into the plans I made for dinner time, and I got too hungry (sugar-low kind of hungry). It was like a switch in my head flipped and I lost control. That physical drive to eat came back on with force. I went to Maccas' for a fillet-o-fish, fries and a diet coke, and when I was done, I said to myself "what the hell just happened here?". Then I went to get the groceries, and ended up also buying a roast chook and fattening deli-salads for dinner, this time washed down with several glasses of full-strength coke. Also bought a family block of Cadbury's for a late night snack (at least I gave DH half...). Double "what the hell just happened here???". I knew what I was doing, but couldn't stop myself from doing it anyway. I know it's not a huge binge by some standards, but for me it was a major setback. However, I'm not going to get cut-up about it, at least now I recognise what just happened, and am trying to deal with it, whereas before I would have been in denial that it ever happened. Now I'm feeling queasy, and am trying to figure out what sort of control issue caused this incident - rebellion from being on a diet, or an inability to deal with feelings of hunger? Or both?? I am most worried about control issues once banded - I am hoping that I can use the band as a tool to learn how to control these old habits, and not sabbotage myself. Everyone's stories of success with these control issues are inspiring, and what helped me finalise my decsion to get banded. I definitely need to plug into a good therapist as well...

Definitely odd. The only feedback that seller had was for a Nintendo - not lapband related at all - unless she programmed her 1 page flyer into it! There is also a number of auctions for people selling RNY / GP journals - which all seem to be comprehensive diaries or advice booklets - but none offering the "direct line" of support to the purchaser Sorry, I think I'll spend my 5 bucks on CHEESE!!!!!

I have 2 cats - SMOKEY and THE BANDIT The two of them are like chalk and cheese. SMOKEY is a Russian Blue cross tabby. He's silver, skinny, slinky, pettite. He has a huge personality, and "talks" quite loudly with his miaos. His purr is almost silent. He's very personable, and will come and check out any visitors. He loves to hang out with people, and hates being alone. He was 6 mths old when we got him, for free from the cat shelter. They gave him to us as a replacement for a cat that we had got from them that died after just 1 month as a result of a congenital liver defect. THE BANDIT came into our lives the week after we got Smokey, as a 6 week old ball of ginger cotton wool. He fitted into the palm of my hand. now he's like a barrel on (short) legs. He's the exact opposite to Smokey, in looks and personality - he's HUGE, fluffy (med-hair), gold, shy, a HARLEY for a purr, and a ridiculously small miao for a cat so big. If you could get cats banded, he'd be a great candidate.:omg: He'd been dumped at the vets'. They let us have him when we took Smokey in for his shots, as they felt sorry for us having lost the first cat and all. From behind he's so cute - all fluffy pantaloons and a big, fluffy tail. Both cats are now about 7 years old. DID YOU KNOW: That cats are solar-powered? :scalesno: They must be - why else would they need to lie in the sun all day? hehehehe:D

A fantastic thread this would be - it would be very encouraging to at-gaol banders to have a place to hang out in - at the moment many of them seem to drift off for want of their "own place". For newbies like me it would be great to have a place to find motivation from reading the wisdom of those who have crossed over to that mystical goal-place!

hahahahahahaa! ...are those reproductive burps the ones you get if you're a good catholic??? Beware cheese lovers - think VERY carefully before acting! Researchers say that a rapid decrease in CHEESE consumption has a doubly inverse affect on the reproductive burp quotient... Hey Dawg - will you be adding boobage repair to your surgical menu?? A couple of balloons, an egg lifter, some taco sauce and a couple of safety pins should just about do it...

I agree with Jachut - by Australian standards, it seems to me that you are getting a good deal. (But NJChick isn't - I hope you are getting quality care!) Our government has a tightly-regulated and subsidised child care system. My hubby & I use an accredited long-day care centre for our son. We pay $52 per day (7am to 6pm). This includes food and the centre-run kindergarten. No nappies or formula were provided (back in the days when we needed them). This is our "gap" fee after government subsidy (about $16 in our case). The subsidy is means-tested, everyone who uses government-accredited care gets at least the minimum that we do. Someone on a full subsidy (e.g. unemployed or pensioner) could expect to pay up to $16 - $20 per day. Our rates for 4 days care and 5 days care the same (i.e. the 5th day is "free") - which is extra incentive to work full time. Last year I think we got a "one-off" tax rebate ($600?). This year there is a new tax rebate scheme, which gives you 30% of the gap fees (from 2003-04 tax year) as reduced taxable income (in 2004-05 tax year). We expect that this will help us get a slightly bigger tax refund, but in reality will only worth a pittance in terms of real money in our refund cheque. My SIL was using non-accredited care and paying $30 per day. This was unregulated, uninsured private babysitting, the woman had 10-15 kids in her house at any one time - which is much more than is allowed for accredited care services here. Also, the kids weren't given meals and did not have the benefits of programmed sessions & play like they would get in an accredited family-day care (in-home) or long-day care (creche) setting. Plus, if you use non-accredited care, you don't get the rebates and tax breaks. Frankly, it scared me!:omg:

Okay - you'd better send me some of that lemonade - but can I have Cointreau (sp?) or Midori in mine please? Another one: You have a great excuse for not ordering any of the over-price threads from clothing / lingerie parties - you can just go meet your friends and be social.

OMG moment #1 - Yesterday, we picked up some family portraits we had done as part of a kinder fundraiser. They were taken in late July, around the time of my first surgeon's visit. I look like an elephant. :faint: I just can't see that in the mirror. The photo sure rammed it home. I did feel huge on the day, could barely get my fat butt, legs and guts into the required "comfortable lounging" position. ugh. That family portrait won't be hung on the wall - pity because DH & DS sure looked great. I'll put in straight into the album instead. at least it makes a great "before" shot. Time to ramp it up. I'll add in as much exercise as I can, and go with this new pre-op diet plan: 3 meals Optifast 2 or 3 fruit serves 1 cup salad 1 cup vegies 1 serve dairy OMG moment #2 - Vanilla Optifast tastes FOUL.:faint: I was a bit worried about its dubious yellow colour when I mixed it up... ...I didn't quite retch when drinking it - but was close. I'm trying to be positive and enjoy the experience as part of my pre-op, but that stuff is not the best. I'll add some dissolved coffee or non-joule flavourings to get through the packages I bought, and only get the choc stuff next time.

OMG moment #1 - Yesterday, we picked up some family portraits we had done as part of a kinder fundraiser. They were taken in late July, around the time of my first surgeon's visit. I look like an elephant. :faint: I just can't see that in the mirror. The photo sure rammed it home. I did feel huge on the day, could barely get my fat butt, legs and guts into the required "comfortable lounging" position. ugh. That family portrait won't be hung on the wall - pity because DH & DS sure looked great. I'll put in straight into the album instead. at least it makes a great "before" shot. Time to ramp it up. I'll add in as much exercise as I can, and go with this new pre-op diet plan: 3 meals Optifast 2 or 3 fruit serves 1 cup salad 1 cup vegies 1 serve dairy OMG moment #2 - Vanilla Optifast tastes FOUL.:faint: I was a bit worried about its dubious yellow colour when I mixed it up... ...I didn't quite retch when drinking it - but was close. I'm trying to be positive and enjoy the experience as part of my pre-op, but that stuff is not the best. I'll add some dissolved coffee or non-joule flavourings to get through the packages I bought, and only get the choc stuff next time.

I think my hubby wants to tag along too - is that ok with everyone? Jenny - I could pick you up, as I practically have to go past Asp Gdns whichever way I go from my place. If hubby & son come, we'd still have room for one more...

How about "Lube Shop"?

Hey Aussie Chick, How are you going this week? Hope the recovery is going well. Your post band / PS comparison shots really show a difference in general health - as well as the obvious weight loss. My tummy, hips and legs look like your "before", except with more butt (:cry ), just hope I can shrink the skin back enough to only need a TT. There's a couple of Aussies around here that I am really inspired by - yup, you'd be one of them! Keep up the good work! Thinking of ya... Anna. PS Aussie Chick - YOU ROCK!!!