Aussiegirl

Lissa, it is great to be able to inspire others... You look fantastic and happy by the way!!!

Thanks Kelli You look amazing by the way..congratulations Scotty, stick with it, you will be back to normal fod before you know it, tho I know it is hard to take being on such a restricted diet. Just remember not to push it too far, your body is healing. Welcome Deb. Good luck for your surgery...we are all here to help, and between the lot of us, we have seen alot of what happens with this surgery...good, bad and indifferent. I noticed a question about whether the gurgling goes away...i still get the gurgling sounds occasionally, often i can put it down to drinking too close to eatting but sometimes they start up on their own for no apparent reason, they can be so embarassing. Puppyphat, wish i could say something to help, but i have not been able to throw up since the surgery, i dry reach and have som bile sometimes but actually throwing up. You are right to ask for help even demand it, tho at 3 months the stomach should be healed. Keep talking to your surgeon..i hope everything will sort itself out.

Kayargh, you just reminded me of a funny story. I was coming through passport control on the way back into the country on the weekend. The guy at the counter asked me if I was wearing contacts cause i looked difference...I was like, um no but maybe the 70 kgs I lost could be the reason...just a throught...who knew all it took to loose weight was wearing coloured contacts. Good to see you all are still going strong on the journey. I have been waiting for the hairloss comments to start. I started loosing about the 4 month mark til probably the 9 month mark. I had a lot of hair to begin with but is really thin now. I now have alot of regrowth coming back in which is now like 7 or 8 cms long...so really thick hair on top but thin on the bottom. I am not sure that there is anyway to stop it, it is frustrating as hell but your bodies way of expressing what you have put it through. Puppyphat, eek a month or two off work for the fever is no fun, hope you will be OK. I am back in Aus, slightly injured but trying to work in some exercise that wont upset my back which is a new injury thanks to my vacation...guess it is back to walking for a little while. It is good to be back to my routine and able to eat fairly well. Everyone is commenting on how good I look, which I think is due to all the new clothes, and that they have not seen me for a while....feels good.

Hey how are the September sleeves doing? I am guessing we probably don't come back here as much now a days....life moves on so to speak . I am doing great, I remember pre-op being so worried at what life would be like post op,as much of my life centered around food. God if I only knew that all that worry was not worth it. Life feels so normal now. I have been traveling for 2 months now, so my at home reality is a bit skewed...but at home my day almost always includes a work out, it helps me get through the day, ESP at work. I am lucky my work fully endorses a healthy lifestyle and has its own gym on site, complete with teainers. We are all encouraged to use it, so will usually go around 10,meetings permitting and will not be the only one there. My confidence level has taken a huge step forward. Something clicked like 3 weeks ago and now I seem to be just oozing it more. I go out now and seem to always have someone flirting with me which is nice, well nice for the ego. I am waiting to see how this may translate in my home environment. I am doing things now that I never thought I would and have found i am an adrenaline junkie...or danger prone as my friend called me, I seem to also injure myself doing these endeavors, but just think how much worse any of them would be if I still carried the extra weight. On the numbers side, I think I am somewhere around 160 pounds lost, I haven't weighed in a while so it may be more or less,I am thinking less at the moment. I will weigh when I get home and assess the damage that 2.5monhs of traveling and having fun has done...tho my clothes all feel the same. I have gone from a 26/28 clothing to anything from a 10/12/14 depending on the make. I now own a piece of clothing from almost every designer....yet still love my $2 cut offs. Hope you are all doing well...feel free to share your stories

Jessielyn, mums have that ability dont they

Thanks Kimberly. Yes many many times. It is just part if the body adjusting. I would get to a certain weight and my body would be all like, this hasn't happened below, what do I do, so I guess it maintained until it felt ready and then would just jump again, sometimes like 5 pounds at a time. I believe it is a pretty normal process..you just need to keep doing what you are doing.

Nessa, I have been thinking the same thing...not sure whether it is the old biological clock is tick ticking or what. As I have said I the Aussie thread, I am the one year post op. somewhat near "goal" not that I really had one in numbers but wanted a balanced life and am pretty much there. I am now looking at what the next steps in life will be. Do I still want the perfect story, hell yes, But if that is not in the cards then, why should I miss out on family. I am meeting guys now and flirting etc, but still not finding the one or a one. I am not going to settle for just anyone, if you know what I mean,just to have a family. I have decided to give the universe a timeline, often putting these things out there, make it somehow happen. But if it doesn't happen I am looking a ivf which will cost a fortune, and medicare don rebate for singles, only couples. But ivf does not guarantee you will get a child. My brother and sister in law did ivf and yes someone was on their side as I now have 3 beautiful nephews ( one 4 yr old and 8 month old twins) and it canbe a heartbreaking process, they and we the family went through 3 yrs of heartbreak before my first miracle nephew came along. My best advise is be in the best place you can be emotionally, physically, with confidence before you make any decision. Families come in all shapes and sizes. Just my 2 c...sorry I ramble a bit sometimes,I hope it makes sense.

Lila, good to see you home and posting. I remember that feeling and still get it when I eat too much or too fast. Try not to put too much pressure on yourself in regards to Protein....main thing is to focus on getting fluids in to avoid dehydration. and make sure you have some Vitamin supplements. It does get easiest, we all try to follow all the rules so closely but we should also listen to our bodies. I did not do the shakes either, ick ick but did put a non flavoured protein mix in Soups etc. I would say congrats about the weight loss but I know it didn't come easy......in a few months you wont know yourself Oh and yes the head hunger is horrible initially....I was a food porn addict for sure. The calipos and icy poles are absolute saviours...also try low sugar cordiAl in Water, water often feels heavy...still happens occasionally

Sorry missed this one....I hope you will. It is still something I am working on too...but feel like a few weeks back I took a huge step in that direction....like something just clicked... I wish that for you too.

Hi all, wow you all have been busy. Shell, just remember all the work out pain will be worth it...it will definitely help with definition...keep at it. I find now when I am exercising I have so much more energy for my days. Traveling I haven't had as much opportunity to work out, always running from one place to anther so to speak, and I am noticing that I feel more sluggish without the constant endorphine hit. Kayaragh, man what a f'in bastard of a thing to say...excuse my language, people who say things like that annoy me. I tend to take things to heart so I can only imagine how that would have hurt. In saying that, I don't believe anyone in here would believe that of you. You and none of us need people in our lives like that. On the men thing, while I am not entirely single by choice anymore, I do believe that their are good guys out there. I am surrounded by men at this point in my life, all who love me in their own way, for one reason or another just not romantically. Since I have been traveling there are 3 or 4 guys (outside my family) that are in touch with me almost daily. All bar one of these guys knew me before, and have never really ever said a word or cared, but have all been part of my support system for the last year and a bit, and sometimes I think they are prouder of me than I am Now I just hope that their is someone out there for the new me...if not i am starting to look at other options, to have what I want the most at the moment, a family. The universe now has a deadline to get me the traditional style thing, otherwise like everything else in my life I will do it my way. Kelliv, great new pic. You may still see fat for a while, the best thing I can say, as much as you may hate it is take photos every few weeks, you will see a change. It is a visual reminder of what we don't see everyday. My mom would take photos every time I went home to visit and I hated it but now I see the value....it is dramatic. She has Iron her wall in her study. Scotty, not long now, i hope it will all go well. Stick with it....opti is the hardest purely because it is so monotonously boring taste and flavor wise. Puppyphta, you look amazing!!! Lila, I hope you are recovering ok...my thoughts are with you that you are able to get back on your feet so to speak. Just over a week and I am headed home. I did what was probably my last adventure thing for the trip yesterday..however had an accident on the last zip line and went back and head first into the platform at the end of the zipline...ouch that hurt like nothing else. But I am lucky and I wonder how much worse it would have been if i weighed anymore than I did. Just ended up eitha beat up back, lump on my head and a still neck. I wanted to go parasailing tommorow but am not sure will see how the muscles pull up... I have soo much clothes I am bringing back frm the states, a lot of it work clothes as I did not have anything remotely summery to wear...now I have soon much choice....going to be a fashion diva. I now have clothes that fit me from every possible designer out there...I even bought a Ralph Lauren swimsuit which to my surprise fit me...and is sexy as hell. I love outlet stores ....it seems that is where all the Aussie tourists go lol

Hi all, Stopping back by...I will be back in the land of Aus in 2 weeks so will probably be around a bit more. It has been a long trip trust me. You are all doin so amazingly well and should be proud of yourselves. The first few months are incredibly hard to get food. As many of you have noted, minced food is he best. I remember my dietician said not to have steak/ red meat etc til 6 months as the stomach wasn't able to handle it....however chicken was ok from like 2 months if I remember correctly, I seemed to under eat for a long time. The key for me with meat, even fish was to make sure it was consumed with some kind of sauce or gravy. Welcome to all the newbies dropping in. It is a great community here for information and support if and when you want it. I appear to be the veteran of the group...being now almost 13 months post op. life and food are pretty normal, new normal. Sometimes I consumer, what feels like a a lot to me now, sometimes a couple of bites and I am ill. There are still some foods I can no stomach, more they make me feel ick, chocolate and cakes...occasionally I try them and they are ok, if I have only 2 or 3 bites, like half a small cupcake..chocolate I barely even look at now and it was my go to thing. Yes you do go back eating bad things...your can even drink, well I do. Those of you thinking of the sleeve I obviously endorse it, it was the right choice for my life. But it does come with its ups and downs. I encourage everyone looking at it to assess the surgery and the life after seriously. It does change your life and you have to be ready for that. I am happy to field any questions. As for my trip, I am continuing to have an awesome trip, doing as many things I was restricted from doing because of my weight...it seems I am a bit of an adrenaline junkie lol...the 2 hardest things have been the food, so hard to get good nutritious food, they love their french fries. And also the being on the road on my own, which is good and bad, I sometimes just need to talk..some poor strangers have heard my life story. Luckily with the food I am staying in a serviced apartment in Orlando for the next few days so plan on cooking/preparing my own food, last night, i made a leanBBQ burger patty and a beautiful salad...tonight is chicken, with this BBQ sauce I learnt to make...hopefully it is tasty. I am also learning how to use my body, which sounds like an odd statement. Let me try and explain. I have been single, pretty much my whole life, brief flings and one it's oh so complicated to my name basically. So I have been going out, on my own which is odd, and meeting guys, I am not specifically to hook up with anyone, but it is about knowing that I am attractive to the opposite sex. Each night i have gone out, so far I have had at least 2 or 3 offers to take me home. It is good for the ego, even tho the majority I would not go home with lol. I guess what I am saying is that i am learning to feel sexy and open in my body. For years I was wearing an additional 73kgs of f'you to the world, which was my protection/hiding and so ppl weren't threatened by me, I don't have that anymore. Just on a funny note, I weighed my self on the scales in this hotel this morning, first time in 3 weeks, and according to them I weighed 55kgs, that is a 22kg loss in 3 weeks...and no I have not been lost in the desert....I am fairly safely assuming hat he are wrong, I never even plan on being 55kgs..but it amused me.

Thanks Sue and Kelli It has definitely has taken alot of determination and committment. They are good questions and my answers are changing as time progesses. Do i see myself slim...not really. I still see the same shape and when I am naked I see all the skin that i think stops me from really feeling thin. Tho when i have clothes on I am often shocked by the person i see in the mirror...eventually i hope to also see myself think naked as well. Can i judge clothes correctly...not even remotely, I am not sure whether this is just cause sizes vary from one brand to another or I just have no concept. I have been buying some things lately without tryingthem on and they have all fitted nicely so maybe i am not doing so badly. Do people treat me differently? This is one that i have been dealing with thinking about lately. I have travelled alot over the years and almost always come home with new friends aroundthe world and never really had trouble meeting people when I weighed more, anything from 120-150kg. However now travelling, where i look good and cute I am having trouble meeting new people. I have discussed this with a good friend of mine, and he put it well, previously i was generally not attractive to me, so there was no question whether they were picking me up, so they would talk to me, to females I was no threatening, so they would talk to me, so i met new people alot easier. I think yes, people treat me differently, some are more friendly, those who werent too interested in me before are nicer to me. Luckily my family and friends dont treat me any differently and have been nothing but supportive to me. I also notice I run into less poeple, people used to walk into me all the time..now they dont But I would also add I treat myself differently so that affects how people see me as well. On the throwing up thing, it can still happen, even at a year out. I had an episode yesterday while driving which was not present...not sure how this one even happened, usually i can pin it down to eatting too much or drinking while eatting or too soon after eatting but that was not the case. Other than breathing through it i have no help..sorry...it is just anaffect of our stomachs.

Nessa, I remember the wait to get under 100 was awful especially as I got so close. I found that after the initial few months of constant weight loss, my body would plane out every 10kgs of so, like a natural reset I guess. I stayed at like 101 for like 2 weeks and had begun to wonder whether I was ever meant to be under 100. It is frutsrating!!! But as of yesterday when I had to get weighed to go indoor skydiving I weighed 77kgs, that is a loss of 73kgs...something even I have no concept of. This puts me in my goal BMW range of 27, high 27 but still there...while I am on vacation I am not trying really at all to loose or anything really just enjoy life and eating not so well..I will be back into it when I get back..I have body sculpting to do now. All the best to everyone, I see the updates and you are doing great:)

Woah Lila what an ordeal...I feel for you. I will keep my fingers crossed that things will get better for you.

For those getting sleeved at the Mater, I cannot reccomend it enough. The staff there were amazing and made you feel so comfortable. My friends came to visit me and thought they were at a hotel until they saw the room. I had my own private room, but got moved around a few wards, all which was hassle free. I was the youngest on each of the wards.

Hi to everyone!!! We keep growing n members...good to see more Aussies in here. For the newbies, I am probably the oldest aussie sleever in this thread. Today I hit my 1 year anniversary...I can't believe that it has been a year. All the stages you are all going through I have lived through, no matter how hard it may seem it does get easier. At one year out life is pretty normal. I can eat a lot more now, and by a lot more I mean an amount that I feel comfortable with, tho most people thnk I. Just play with my food. For example last night I had a soft taco with salsa and guacamole and some chips and salsa..and that was enough. Tho there are the usual slider foods like popcorn, chips and crackers which I can eat way too much of. I started at a bmi of 53 and am now probably a 29...haven't weighed myself properly in 2 weeks and believe I am now in the 70's...not sure how much lower I will go...just want to feel healthy and fit now...I do have a lot of excess skin, which takes up most my excess weight now. I am traveling at the moment so it is hard to get in here as mich as I would like. But I do wish you all well with your journies

Once again I have not been here for a while but have seen all your updates come through. Shells, congrats those stats are great Lila, I am so sorry to hear about your complications. I really hope all the tests come back ok and you are able to move forward with your recovery...fingers and toes crossed for you. I will be thinking of you... Kayaragh, please don't let the negative thoughts get in your way, they will eat you away if you let them. But you do need to be sure that it is the right choice for you..and you are ready for he life changes that should be made with the sleeve. I am so close to a year (13 days), and still loosing despite doing what seems like my worst to stay healthy while traveling, as I was/am a foodie and want to try different things while traveling. I do still exercise while I am away, it is part of my life...I feel blegh if I go more than a day or two without doing something physical. I was near a scale for the first time in at least 2 weeks this morning and hit the 70's, well hit 79kgs which is like 71kg lost in a year...only really want to loose another 4, everything else loose icky skin. I hope you are all doing well with your journey's.

Sueoco, not a silly question I actually wondered that the first time I went through a machine. No they didn't. But something interesting this time, I went through a full body scan machine. I now have a lot of excess skin, and the paces that there is a lot got padded down this time by security....so I guess it doesn't like baggy skin. Can't wait to get rid of the skin.

Hi all, I haven't been in here for a while. I have been traveling and am just getting by/ planning one day at a time. Glad to hear you are all doing so well with your weight loss. It is awesome early on when the weight literally falls off you, and you are all seeing that. Today is the first time I have been shopping over here, in Oregon at the moment where they have no sales tax....so time for some new clothes. I have loved shopping, so many options. I even bought some cloths today which are a size 10 here, which is like a 12.....I actually have to try cloths on to see if they are too big...this is huge for me as I am used to only looking at the size 26 clothes and feeling disappointed when I found nothing I liked. I am however having a hard time with food, at 11 months out I can eat more than most of you. It is hard to get good nutritious food while on the road, am trying. Can only imagne I will be putting on weight. I am trying to make sure I work out and choose physical activities, hiking, cycling. The other day I went zip lining which I LOVED..which I could never do before as I was always over the max weight....am loving being physically do everything that I want. Good luck to you all on your continued journeys.

I had all kinds of probs on the pre op diet, I was quite strict and only had bars and steamed veggies tho. I had fatigue, nausea , headavhes and that wonderful (read not) ketosis taste. My body was definitely having withdrawals. It is the reason pre op for me was the hardest part. Just try and keep focused on the end goal.

Kayaragh, it is perfectly normal to have 2nd,3rd and beyond thoughts. We all had them, I had them right up until surgery, so much that my blood pressure went through the roof while I was waiting for surgery. But you need to be really certain that you want to do this and the changes that come with the procedure, it doesn't work as well if you are not ready for it and are able to keep positive during all the phases. Trust that you have chosen a good surgeon and team..it can be such a positive life changing experience. Sorry I have been AWOL for a few days. Spent the last few days running around like a crazy person finishing up everything before I went overseas for my 2 month celebration tour. Am in Vegas at moment for the start of my road trip, enjoying cocktails and laughs with friends.

My tummy does that and still does now, it is quite random as to why nowadays...but still normal.

Welcome Jules