Hello! Anyone watch American Idol? The Aussie that just made the top 24 Michael Johns - He has my vote! So talented - see him on You Tube. I guess if you are Australian the accent probably isn't so noticable just like a southern US accent doesn't sound so unusual to me. I absolutely love Australian accents. Love Keith Urban, Love Murray Bartlett who plays Cyrus Foley on guiding light, Love Steve Irwin (God rest his soul) And love Olivia Newton-John with Grease being my all time movie!! I did get to see Keith Urban a few months ago and he is such an incredible Artist. So glad for him and Nicole on being pregnant! ~Kim (Down 15 pounds post op)

hi kim congrats on your surgery! i got a lap band on 29/1 so im not sure if the recovery will be the same but i will tell you how mine has been so far... I couldnt eat or drin****il the day after surgery but i could have ice chips (which were a lifesaver!). I struggled with the liquid diet for 2 weeks but i felt that i could try mushy food earlier then the 2 weeks so i did on day 9 and just had the smallest bit of mashed potato (it was like heaven!) and how ive moved on to pasta and fish and sliced turkey. I have been told that i should be eating normal food by week 4 but it might be differnt for you. The pain wasnt too bad. It felt like i had done loads of ab crunches and i was laying flat on the floor with my arms out straight so they were being stretched so the pain was more intense. I couldnt handel not laying on my tummy when i sleep so by day 6 i was laying on it with hardly any discomfort. im at day 14 now and i have no pain at all. As for the alcohol... im not game to try it until the 6 to 8 weeks they told me i should wait. The thing that has been really hard for me is when other people were eating normal food and i had to have liquids. I had a few moments where i felt why did i get the operation, i think this was because my whole life is surrounded by food (and thats how i got this big) and it was hard to let go and it still is. But i didnt weigh myself for 2 weeks (i didnt have a scale... otherwise id probly b weighing myself everyday!) and i knew i had lost some weight because my face looked smalled and i could see my collar bones again but when i got on the scale i was pleasantly suprised with the scale showing me id lost 7 kgs in just under 2 weeks and that just made the whole 2 weeks of liquids worth it. I hope this has helped you little Bree

i need help too! lol, i cant get a profile picture...i dont know where to do it, i have put photo's up but i cant get any in my profile picture...can some one help me?

that is really great. I am in Bundaberg. I had BPD done November 2006 and also had a long recovery, really bad staph infection but now I am 24 kilos lighter and I want a big loss to come now I am more mobile with the less weight to carry. I find fatigue a real problem even though my vitamin levels are good

Hi everyone out there on the Aust message board. I'm due to have my VSG surgery on the 14th Feb and was wondering what I can expect in the coming weeks/months after the surgery. I have friends visiting from overseas a month after my surgery. Whilst I'm sure they expect to party with me and have a few vinos (from what I've read wine wont be on the agenda that soon after surgery) - has anyone had any experience in having a few drinks so soon after their surgery. Also what can I expect to be eating a month down the track? I have 2 small children (3yrs & 1yr) and am wondering how it will be before I can pick them up again. What sort of pain can I expect in the days after surgery..... Thanks to you all for any feedback you may be able to offer. Cheers Kim