petite-size-me!

Using the OPTI FAST bars is not cheating and will give you the chance to CHEW.. I love the Cappuccino bars.

Im here if ever you need a chat or some moral support! xx Good luck!

90 kilos.. AKA.. 198 lbs!! WOOT!!

high (that i know of) 260 lbs

June 21 103 kilos-- 227 lbs last official weigh in before sleeve june 26

today 90 kilos! It went 89.9 for just a second and I thought.. double whammo.. breaking the 80's and onederland all at once.. but no... LOL

when I'm ready! bahaha poor husband...

Oh yeah, so much easier. I had a very rough run to surgery c sect after a cord prolapse, and twins, so maybe my sect experience is jaded, but I say sleeve, so much easier. Mine was bikini I think, very low and hip to hip. Laproscopic sleeve and gallbladder out, minimal pain.

Back through sect scar for hernia repairs, very painful, again.

Im in Melbourne.. Gorgeous but cold!

With opti you need to be aware that it is a VERY low calorie diet. for 3 days you will feel shite, but if you are 100% on the game, after 3 days your body goes into ketosis and you will not feel so hungry and you will not have the cravings. Ketosis is good as it stops these, but can be hard on your liver, thats why they suggest monitoring. If you go off opti for anything, a piece of bread, spoon of sugar, chai latte, anything, you screw up the ketosis and start back to sugar and carb cravings. So go in, head down, and just do it. Opti is not for the fain hearted and not to be played with cause you will do your head in!

Thanks for all your advice. Bloods are very good, for a 45BMI, I have managed to impress my surgeon, cardiologist and doctors at what good health I am in - up until 4 months ago I was still running daily and running 5ks with a trainer every 3 weeks, but still putting on weight??? (u can only get away with this for so long in my opinion, and I think I'm pushing the boundaries!) I plan on incorporating the veggies and the oil- absolutely. I think health wise I will be fine, I just not sure on the mentality side of things...

My dietician recommended the sleeve for me... I eat well, exercise like mad and STRUGGLE to lose weight and can't seem to hold a maintenance stage.

Where are you located? Sorry if you already said, I have memory issues (called toddler twins)

Definitely not to punish. I am wanting to prevent further weight gain and bring it down some as well. I am concerned somewhat of not being able to have the surgery because my weight isn't down enough and that my liver is still too fatty. It's more about doing anything not to jeprodise the surgery itself. Plus I am super uncomfortable and nothing fits anymore! I have to work again in a few weeks and uniform doesn't fit....and so on and so forth.

Then go for it! What have you got to lose but a few kilos?! To do opti for an extended period you really should be under medical supervision and follow the rules in getting your daily veggies in. Do you have someone looking after your bloods? Have you checked out the optimist site? Do you have your gallbladder? Some dieticians recommend a teaspoon of olive oil with veggies just to keep your gallbladder from going crazy...

Bought the Optifast today, was going to introduce it gradually before going full on from the first of September. My doctor has asked for at least 3 weeks, however I was looking at attempting it full time from tomorrow- making a total of 8 weeks before surgery. I seem to have a 'eat everything' mentallity at the moment and am putting on weight so I need to do this. Has anyone done this before and how did they go (I.e. survive) ?

I have done optimist for 3 months at a time. In an attempt to kick start weightless, so yes it can be done. I wonder though, in these circumstances whether full blown liquid diet is the way to go? Will you go into surgery feeling empowered that you managed this or will you feel neglected and punished? I didn't do just liquid, I used Cappuccino bars as well, yum.

maybe really think about why you want to do this? punishment? proof that you can? kick start weight loss? Once you can isolate your real reason you can sort out if its good for you mentally. The first 2 weeks post op is VERY restrictive, so don't go into it feeling hard done by IYKWIM. Def not saying eat up.. just wondering if there is a moderate line for the next 4 weeks?

Thanks petite, great ideas. I find the opti shakes really watery and tasteless. Am I doing something wrong in making them on Water with 200ml? Are you saying they are not suitable to take after the op? At what point to clear liquids finish and you can start on shakes do you know? Thanks for your idea if icy poles.Live tat idea.

Sorry for delay, phone not working with VST very well. I like opti blended with ice (and instant Decaf coffee). She said she you get past fluids and onto mushy opti is ok again, but at that point you are supposed to try and get Protein from food not fluids...

Hi Mishy' date=' I will just miss you! My sleeve is booked for 16th at St John of God in Perth! Hope it all webt well and that you are already on the road to recovery!

[/quote']

How are you 2 doing? July 6 and July 16?

Hi everyone' date=' tans for your comments re radon for choosing a sleeve. My reasons are virtually identical to mine. All great reasons. Got quote for anesthetist today. Only 500 gap as my private health fund covers the bulk, so very happy with this. My surgeon Is more expensive than soe others at 5,900. I am hoping to get about 1,000 of that back.

Went shopping today and bought:

Gourmet baby food for purée stage (beef & chicken with vege)

Bamix stick mixer

chocolate & vanilla Optifast

Mini packs of variety of V8 juice

Benefibre

One week until start of 2 week preparation.

[/quote']

Hey kell,

Dietician at hospital gave me heads up on a pharmacy product by nestle called resource Protein. I liked the coffee one.

She reckon although opti is good on pre op, post op not until mushy stage. She said it has something in it to expand and make you feel full, which doesn't help after surgery, u need all the room you can get.

Other than the regular shakes, resource has a juice version. I didn't get any and could have kicked myself as I got very sick of the thick consistency of the shakes!

If you look in the grocery store near Ice cream cones, there are room temp icy poles that are no sugar added or sugar free. Pop some in the freezer! They count as Water and feel good going down!

Good luck with it all! xx

Great job! Love how positive ur attitude is!!!

Looking good!

Budget conscious? Find 2 or 3 recipes that use similar ingredients. Pick a day, shop and cook all 3 recipes, freeze in portions. I use glass containers so I can put straight into microwave, but use freezer ziploc if u have to. Do this every week and you will build up a variety of healthy meals.

Emily bites has heaps of cupcake foods, meaning foods you prepare in a cupcake pan do they are already portioned.

The world according to eggface has lots of wls friendly stuff.

Tonight I used pumpkin, spinach, ricotta, passata and leftover meatballs to make a baked ricotta dish. Will feed me at least 10 times and cost next to nothing.

Cooking in bulk is the best thing to do when you are money and or time poor! Lol

My first thought was weight bearing exercise! Squats and lunges!! A nice round muscular bum is a sight to see!!

Neither exercise is necessarily fun, but the deeper the squat or lunge and the better the burn the more you picture that round firm ass you wanna have!

I also chose the sleeve because I wanted something permanent. I had the surgery on July 11 and it's been okay. I get these searing burning pains on my left side when I do some activity. I also get depressed somedays. Does anyone know what that's about?

July 11 hasn't been that long ago. The little cuts in our abdomen lead to larger cuts in our muscle wall that are still healing, take it easy on yourself

It's according to what you mean by depressed? It's normal to feel lethargic and to go thru some buyers regret, to be sad that you can't comfort yourself with food (if that was an issue before) if you are having depressed episodes that involve thoughts of harming yourself or others, best to talk to someone.

I think keeping an open line of communication with a support person and your surgeons office (psycholgist) should help manage all the negative feelings that can come when we are expecting cloud 9 and get post op instead!

8:37 pm Monday now.

I had some soy crisps and it helped. I think mushy liquids were making me nauseous to even think about it! Lol

So glad I had the sleeve done! Walked out the door feeling good about myself, and my boss said 'you look nice '

Lovin it!

oh no! I don't mean your situation is funny Petite. Butterbean's comment was comical about premature ejaculation.

Haha, no love! I find it funny but not! Wasn't at all worried with your comment, assumed it was butter bean. I started the thread as a joke but damn sometimes it is just frustrating!

Can I have soya crisps 4 weeks out? Struggling to eat today and that sounds dry and good. Surgeon has left little restriction except raw veggies.

Ugh! It's funny but then not! I really struggle to get anything in my mouth. Thought I would ease into it today with Protein shake' date=' then a couple hours later feeling sick so tried to eat, managed a laughing cow cheese triangle and feel sick again can't bring myself to eat Beans or cheese or eggs , nothing sounds good. It's in my head, yes but it's damn strong. Makes me wanna gag.

I could go a Popsicle, but that doesn't really help.[/quote']

And it's 1:20 in the afternoon here.

Ugh! It's funny but then not! I really struggle to get anything in my mouth. Thought I would ease into it today with Protein Shake, then a couple hours later feeling sick so tried to eat, managed a laughing cow cheese triangle and feel sick again can't bring myself to eat Beans or cheese or eggs , nothing sounds good. It's in my head, yes but it's damn strong. Makes me wanna gag.

I could go a Popsicle, but that doesn't really help.

I suppose I was asking if you had done all your research and decided plication was best or of your surgeon led you that way?

I had a brief look at it and thought it was too experimental. Seemed a lot could go wrong due to surgeon or suture error.

If this is your set path I wish you all the best, but if your mind is still open to other options, please research the sleeve, you will like what you see

Have u discussed all the options with your surgeon? How did you come to the decision for plication?

Came back to say.. Memories of Kentucky as a child from the backseat.. Green hills and horses! x

Hey petite! Always good to see another yank around! Lol. What part of the States do you hail from? Im a Kentucky girl myself. I miss home a lot' date=' family and friends the most, and cold Christmas's! Im very slowly getting used to hot Christmas, but it just feels so unnatural to me. Im in the Christmas spirit NOW! It will be gone, melted away, by December! Lol Have you met many other American expats? I've met very few, but a LOT of Canadians. They get super upset when people refer to them as Americans! Lol. I find it amusing; I'm not bothered in the least when people refer to me as Canadian. Sometimes I don't even bother to correct them. Depends on the situation. **shrugs**

I would certainly appreciate if you would let me know about Adam Skidmore being able to do the band removal and sleeve in one go. For one, it will save me from having to undergo a second surgery; general anesthesia has it's own considerable risks, as does the surgery itself. second I wouldn't have to take another round of time off from work.....with the economy the way it is, no job is safe. No point in giving them redundancy ammo! And last but not least, I'd like to just get on with it. The sooner I can become a sleever, the sooner I can start working the sleeve! I'd like to be out of the soft and mushy before Christmas, only so the family doesn't ask a lot of questions. They don't know, and I don't want them to know. yet. If ever. My in laws are vehemently against any weight loss aid outside of calories in, calories out the traditional way. My issues have never made any sense to them, despite explaining it a 1000 times. To them it's just a matter of mind over matter, just press on, pain is good for you it lets you know you're alive!, pull up your socks......... all that jazz. They have made many a meal out of my lap band escapades, believe me!

I haven't quite worked out how to PM on here.....still finding all the bits and pieces. I will soon as i work it out.

Cheers![/quote']

My in laws will not know had they been here to help with our toddler twins over the last few weeks after my gallbladder out and hernia repairs, they may have sussed something out, but alas-- they have not.

My accent is frequently mistaken for a proper yank or a Canadian but I hale from the big ole country of TEXAS! Lol Houston to be specific!

We had planned a Christmas in July celebration this year that has been postponed due to my sleeve June 26! Not ready for holiday eating!

Due to presenting to ER today for infection in seroma surrounding hernia repair-- I will see Adam tomorrow... So will enquire! xx

I think if u click my pic you can message? I will message u and see...

I searched sushi in VST search bar and found a few threads

This was in one of them referencing the mushy stage:

Not sure if you're a sushi fan but something I did was get sushimi pieces and finely chopped it - it looked like spicy tuna they put in the rolls but it was just the raw fish finally chopped and is really good. (kind of made me feel normal regarding eating too).

I love love love sushimi and before I realized I was 8 weeks pregnant with twins I was having it weekly, must have been craving the protein!