Aussiegirl

Havent got there yet, and I definitely hope not to get there, as my goal always kept me curvy, just the right kind of curves. I have planned that I will roll back my exercise regime (which is quite alot at the moment 6 days week, sometimes twice a day), tho I would not change much about my food at the moment...maybe put some more good fat foods in. Time will tell.

Love it and so true!!! I had my follow up with my surgeon yesterday and said something similar, while I still weigh myself everyday, the value I am getting from my life now is how I feel and how I look, the number is still a part of my journey, but the smallest part now.

I saw a thread of all the things that we think we won't miss pre-surgery or early on the surgery. Thought I would put together a list of things that I dont miss and which keep me motivated to keep working harder. 1. Not being able to cross my legs comfortably 2. Waking up in the night with my arms numb 3. Legs rubbing together 4. Going into a store and not being able to find anything to buy 5. Not being able to run, jump, skip and feel fit enough to keep up with others around me 6. Feeling lost in my own body and life 7. Sucking my body into airline seats, and asking for the extension belt 8. Having no one want to sit near me on public transport (ok I do kinda miss that one, as I would much rather no one sits next to me, but you get the point) 9. Not being able to keep up with my 3 yo nephew

Coming just past the 10 month mark and 150 pounds gone, only about another 10-12 to go to my goal (surgeon never made a goal for me). Life is better, easier, shopping is way more fun. Still have alot of work I want to do to my body around toning up and getting rid of the extra rolls, but will see where my body lands on weight and then assess the excess skin situation. Exercise is part of my daily routine and something I enjoy and helps reduce the stress in my life...life really is a whole new adventure Also I am no longer Obese, i am purely overweight and I am ok with that.

Sleeved 22nd Sept 2011 and so far 150 pounds goooooone!

Thank you all for your kind words. It hasnt always been an easy journey but it is a rewarding one... I wish you all the success on your respective journies.

You are not alone, atleast from my part. I now only really loose weight around my time of month, pretty much only loose then nowadays, but loose 4 kgs/8 pounds over a few days.

Way to go PDXMan!! You look so much younger. I completely agree with not avoiding carbs, they give me energy and it is a tactic I have undertaken since early on, good carbs - means more energy... Thanks for being an inspiration, i love the 1 yr stories, especially as I close in on it.

Thanks Lissa!!

Just wanted to take a moment to share my journey so far with those of you thinking of this surgery or starting out... 10 months ago, i weighed 150 kgs ( 330 pounds) and waited anxiously to be admitted to hospital, managed to work myself up into a right mess before surgery, much of which I now dont remember. However do remember a really cute male nurse holding my hand and trying to calm me. Next thing I know I am waking up in the ICU (protocol for my doctor) and throwing up blood (not so standard) but otherwise Ok. Spent the night in the ICU and in the morning they moved me out to another room, and got me up and walking., After that everything progressed relatively issue free, thankfully, however I had mentally prepared myself for the worst. My approach was slightly different to others, I wanted to start the way i want to continue my life. That is live my life like I was already in maintenance. I watch what I eat, mainly low fat Protein, lo GI carbs, veggies and fruit. I never have a Protein shake or protein supplements.I have not denied myself any food at any point, as long as my sleeve could handle it. I still dont handle too much sugary things too well, even tho chocolate was one of my favourite things pre-surgery now I really cant handle more than a bite size peice, and now honestly dont even want it now. My body generally craves things that are good for it in the traditional sense. Nowadays my drinking and eatting feel normal to me. Eatting is now a thing I do to fuel myself, and i do need to make a concious effort to make sure I remember to eat. Pre-surgery I enjoyed tasting new things, was a bit of a foodie, still am, just at a smaller capacity. I started a work out routine as soon as I was cleared to do it, before that i would walk as much as I could. Initially I had alot of fatigue and it was a struggle. Now I run and able to keep up with some of the fittest people I know. I did start doing 2 sessions a day for 5 days a week, I have tempered this back some and work harder while I am there and incorporate exercise in most parts of my life. I have PCOS, so loosing weight has always been difficult. But most of my symptoms have tapered off, not completely gone but diminished. I am only now dealing with post op reflux which I did not have before, apparently this should not go on this far out, so working my doctor on this. At the moment I am 84 kgs (185 pounds) and still loosing...now it is a very different experience. The weight loss isnt constant like it was initially, now I will not loose anything for a few weeks and then all of a suddden drop a few more kgs. I am 9 kgs away from where I was wanted to end up in weight. However I am relatively happy with my body, working more on toning that anything. I have alot of excess skin now, that i may eventually try and do something about. I have put some pictures as of this morning and pre-surgery below, please dont be too judgemental, I know that there is still work to be done, i still have the rolls in my middle and i am sure they will be the last to go, but this is where I am today. The last 10 months hasnt always been easy, I have needed to face many of my issues, with eatting, stress, people expectations and learning to live a healthier life. My advise to anyone who is considering the surgery is be ready to face missing food, changing your relationship eatting, ready to not eat like you did before. You need to be ready for change. I am now planning my celebration of the hard work, and a culmination of things have lead to the right timing. Next month I am taking 2.5 months off and am planning a roadtrip around parts of the US, where I plan on doing everything I was previously limited doing cause of weight limits, horse riding, ziplining, hiking, rafiting, riding rollercoasters. I plan a real celebration of life, driving round in my convertible mustang.... Life really is exciting now.. Sorry it was a long post.

I am about 2 months away. Tho I am off on a 2.5 month vacation, roadtripping around the US. I am not sure exactly where I will be or who I will be with but I plan for the whole vacation to be a celebration of what I have achieved, now being a normal weight and not being too heavy to do things. I plan on horse riding, rafting, hiking, zip lining...lots fun stuff...a true celebration of life. I am very lucky that a lot of things have aligned to allow this.

To date I have lost 147 pounds...in almost 10 months (well 10 months tommorow). It is definitely do-able and attainable. I started at 330. I have included exercise atleast 5 days a week, early on I was doing 2 gym sessions a day, i am down to mostly one a day now....I have incorporated additional exercise into my life, by walking 2 and from work and when I need to go places. I eat pretty much as I wish nowadays, and still follow alot of the rules, Protein, low carb and veggies. I do now allow myself Snacks which are less healthy. It is possible however it does require a lot of HARD work on my part.

I was told 6 weeks for more strenous exercise by then the stitching is pretty much healed. Before that was just walking and easy exercise.

I struggled with most dairy except for cheese for almost 5 months. Now I am ok with yoghurt. Ice cream still causes me some issues. However I have not been able to drink milk since i was 17..so not sure about milk.