Aussiegirl

I do lots of different kinds of exercise walking, running, boxing, weights, cross training, stairs as well as having a personal trainer. I am trying to get in 2 sessions a day, one at the gym and intensive, and then another walking (I can walk from work to home about 5kms). I cant imagine going on this whole journey without including exercise. I feel I will have earnt the results at the end. i also find helps with keeping toned while I loose (touch wood very little skin almost half way through).

Congrats that is awesome! Sounds like a keeper

2012 has begun down here. However for what feels like the first time since my surgery I am feeling down and wanting to eat the feelings away. This supposed to be my year to really live my li fe. But I am alone and have been walking around the shopping centre and see all this food I want to eat but know will only make me ill if I do. I have not succumbed. I will go for a run later when it cools down which will hopefully bring the happy endorphins. Just need to express these feelings somewhere safe. My family and friends would only worry more.

Thanks Kimmie! The run did help make it better, was a beautiful day in Sydney and the harbour looked amazing. I got home and had a spa and feel so much better. The head did not win the battle today

I love this idea. My name is Karen, I am 36 and single. I work as a business analyst for a life insurance company c(pls don't hate me). I have worked for the same company for a lmost 10 years. I have one brother and a nephew who is the most beautiful boy and brings so much joy to our live, I am completely biased. I love travelling, it is my passion, have visited much of europe, 38 Us states, parts of Asia and Africa. I speak Hungarian as I was an exchange student there when I was younger, friendship I still maintains to this day. I also love listening to live music.

That is awesome. My goal as well has always to be happy with myself inside and out. 2012 will be the year to get there, I am so much closer at the end of 2011 than I have been in any year I remember May 2012 bring everyone much happiness.

So yesterday I was sitting at work, a bit bored, it is holiday and there is not much to do. I was looking at my hands......and I no longer recognised them. My fingers are longer, or so it seems and it just looks more toned. Feels weird cause I can no longer say, I know something like the back of my hand, cause clearly I dont know my own hand. Just weird!>?Q?

I travelled a long haul flight, from Sydney Aus to New York at 7 weeks post op. The flying was fine, ate small bits of the provided meals, I had no restrictions at that point. However the actual travel part as hard, being out of a routine and getting the right food in was a bit hard. Had some exhaustion as I was not getting enought food in to fuel me as I was running around all day.

Here are some of mine. - Continue this journey, reach my goal by 1/2 way through the year May-Jul (May might be a bit of a stretch but I like the challenge.) - Consider myself a healthy sexy beast...still a bit weird to actually think about in reality - Surround myself with positive influences - Enjoy my long service leave break from work to the maximum (Aug - Nov) - Run around New Orleans during Mardi Gras having an AWESOME time. (Feb) - Continue to exercise, start running for distances rather than 3 minute bursts - Love love love love in whatever form that comes in.

I am interested to see the responses to this. I have lost 75 pounds and have been working out, weights, cardio, personal traine, boxing etc. No lacking motivation here (thankfully, tho I do have day where I am exhausted). However I am the same as others have mentioned, just see the same me, maybe slightly smaller in the body. My face was the first place to see changes. I do have to keep reminding myself that I am changing, I can see myself shrinking out of my clothes so fast. I tried on a jacket that just fitted just before surgery and it almost fell off me..so yea I *know* I am changing the mirror just does not seem to agree.

Food porn got me through the first 2 weeks of recovery after surgery. It was weird I looked in every magazine for recipes and watching the cooking channels. Crazy! Tho weirdly I was happy to just look.

I will add to this forum. I have been drinking since about 6 weeks out I think. Once my surgeon was comfortable that I would be healed enough for rigorous exercise. I dont drink alot, but also have found that even if I am out I will drink less. However as weird as it might seem. The days where I will have a few drinks at an event or something are the days I generally loose the next morning. I went into this change, thinking that I was going to use the tool to moderate consumption, not eliminate it. So far it is working very well for me. I want a full life, and sometimes that includes drinks with friends or colleagues. If in the end if means that I am a few pounds heavier than I was aiming for I will be happy, I already am happier with my life.

Conngratulations!! Awesome change. Something I am aiming to emulate.

Everyone reacts slightly differently to different food, some work well and others not so much. For me personally I have trouble with dairy products (other than cheese) and sugary food (good thing too).

I have been exercising from 4 weeks (prior to that I was just walking), but was cleared for light exercise at 4 weeks and full exercise from 6 weeks. I have been loosing about3.5 pounds a week. I dont think I would be loosing as fast if I wasnt exercising. I do a mix of cardio and weight training as well as personal training sessions. I think it also helps maintain tone on my body, maybe when I get to the end I wont have copious amount of extra skin this way.

I have this happen to me everytime I try even the smallest piece of anything with sugar (even fruit sometimes). I have tried small pieces a few times since my surgery (almost 3 months ago). My philosophy going in was to live how I wanted to proceed so I do not follow a strict diet so to speak, I was going to let myself enjoy the occasional sweet treat, drink at a party etc. This is also coupled with working out each day. It works for me and I dont feel like I am missing anything. Anyway what I was not expecting going into this was how bad the food with sugar and high fat content would make me feel. It is a real learning experience, now I look at these things and can take it or leave, my head no longer craves it.....bonus I guess.

My taste buds are changing for the better. I love dried fruit and nuts now. Before I would have had suggary, fatty food. These all make me feel very ill since surgery. I also used to love chicken but my sleeve doesnt like it too much but loves turkey, duck and pork.

I have just reached 11 weeks. I am doing well. Weight is coming off, hit 65pounds this morning (inc 2 week pre-op). I am fitter and healthier than I remember being. I am happy with the amount I am eatting. Long way to go but it all looks positive.

Firstly, for all the women on here, thanks for the shirtless photo. Now I am done ogling ( hey I am single I can do it) congratulations, I hope I can look as good at the end of my first year. You look so much younger now.

I hear you. Pre-surgery I had issues consuming milk but other dairy products were Ok. Since the surgery I have issues with milk( still), yoghurt and ice cream. cheese however is OK. I also have issues with chocolate, even one bite and I feel ill. Ice cream having both dairy and sugar have me bent over in pain.....it has happened twice now, not again. This was having less than a teaspoon. Maybe it will get better, maybe it wont but somehow I am Ok with it not getting OK.

I too have had trouble with sugar or products with sugar in them since the surgery. If I eat anything with a higher amount of sugar I feel quite ill. I just t ry avoid the foods. Thankfully they are ones I should be avoiding too.

I have been sleeved for almost 10 weeks now. I have noticed that since the procedure I have not had to have. Since leaving the hospital I have not had to have any kind of pain killers, even in hospital I didnt really need them but was told to keep taking them. Pre-surgery I was also having a pain killer for one thing or another, headaches, aches and pains. I have not had a headache since surgery and only the occasional aches and pains from when I work out too much but nothing that requires pain killers. Anyone else had this experience?

My sleeve loves turkey, cheese and nuts My sleeve hates milk, yoghurt, ice cream, sweets and oily things....(so far I do not see this as a bad thing) My sleeve is over eggs, fish and salmon (over consumed during purees/mushies)

I am almost 10 weeks post op now and am able to drink fairly normally, a bit slower than normal but about the same size sips as pre-surgery. From memory it was about the 4th week I was able to swallow easier. I know it is annoying and sometimes painful now,but it definitely does get better.

I hear ya all. Weight loss is not on my list this year, as I know it will happen. I wish for health, being able active in life, not let anything hold me back from what the year holds. I am thinking 2012 will be my year Atleast that is the plan.