Aussiegirl

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

Shellz, it is definitely something that i am considering. I have worked out from the beginning and have tone is some areas of my body, but others there is seriously no hiding the excess skin. I am thinking of first an arm tuck thingy, cause my arms are soooo bad, muscle on top and a whole lot of saggy skin under (sorry bad visiual I know). However the rest of my body I will see how it goes, over the next year or so. I also dont want to have a tummy tuck until I am sure I am not going to have kids. But it all just seems more painful...not sure I could watch the videos...you are gamer than me.

Smart move!! I didnt really take before pics, but now wish I did. Before I hid from cameras..so there are only a few and mostly head shots. My mum has been taking progress pics but I still cant look at them. And yes in 12 months time you will love having them. I am such a photo ***** now lol. Lila, that is a big plan to loose!! Have you broken it up into milestones? I found it helped me stay motivated, as I have lost (almost, still a few kgs to go) a similar amount to what you are trying to loose.

First off hi to the newbies to the thread!! I have had to read through a few pages to catch up...love having some aussies in here Yes I do drink alcohol. I drink socially, it is a rule I never drink alone. I had my farewell party last night before I go on my trip, and lets just say that being sleeved has not really hindered my ability to drink...well not much. My drink of choice is champagne, alright sparkling wine, but also do vodka. Over the night I would have consumed like a bottle and a bit, plus a few shots....sounds like a bit now. However through unfortunate trial and error have learnt the following things: - Dont eat and drink alcohol, ie it is one of the other for the night, its not like drinking Water, where 1/2 hour later you can eat...for me not so much with alcohol...have some food before you start - You get tipsy quicker - You sober up quicker - And cider tastes good but is not a friend anymore - And you pee more often This is just my experience tho. I think I had my first drink at like 6 weeks out at a social gathering but at that stage pretty much sat on it the whole night...obviously now, almost 11 months later it is a bit of a different story. There was another question out there around Snacks, especially early on I used to snack on: - Babybel/laughing cow cheese - Fruit cups (golden valley or weight watchers, either were my NUTs preference) - Yoghurt - Cruskits with cream cheese Snacks havent really changed much, moved from cruskits to wholemeal saladas, sometimes I have carrot sticks with a dip of sorts. And now I may a bite size chocolate bar, occasionally. Kelliv, agree with what has already been said, take it easy and listen to your body. It could also be a temperature of beverage. I remember early on drinking water, especially cold water was really uncomfortable, i then started having room temp water and also putting some low cal cordial in helped for some reason. The same with really hot stuff. Make things as thin as possible early on.

Kelliv, good to hear that you have pulled through well. Hope you get to go home today. Lila, Not long now...very exciting. The pre-op was the hardest thing for me, so when you get through that you will be able to handle the rest I am sure. Be ready for the ketosis, it was the thing i wasnt expecting at all. Chewing gum helped. Robbie, welcome aboard, so to speak. Congrats on your weight loss so far. For all you on the pre-op, liquids, mushee stages it will pass. It is hard to figure out what to eat. I am sure I did not follow much of a plan, I only saw a nutritionist at like the 6 week mark and she was shocked how little I was eatting. Her and my surgeon are now working closer together and combining talents etc for future patients. My doctor had me nil by mouth for 48 hours and then liquids for another 48 hours.Then said I could start with pureed/soft things. Also had no drains or leak test.

1. I confess this thread makes me both laugh and feel sad in equal measure 2. I confess, I eat junk food and enjoy all 3 bites of it and then I am done til the next week. I dont deny my body anything anymore. 3. I confess even tho life is more challenging now, I love the person I have become over the last 11 months 4. I confess I am now a size 14/16 Aus (12/14 US) and am happy and comfortable at this size, if I never loose anymore weight or size I will be ok with it 5. I confess I have days when this journey is hard (physically and emotionally) but for everyone of those days I have 15 good ones....but really that is just life 6. Throwing in another one for good measure...I confess I drink alcohol and I like it too...life is about having everything in moderation.

Would I do it again? Yes. I would have liked to not have done it in the first place, but I have never been a normal size in my life, and felt no other choice. But I am glad I made the decision, not only for the weight loss but the emotional changes that have come along with it. I am happier and healthier than I have been in my life. My.best advise is that you should be ready for the emotional and life changes that come with the sleeve. You have to commit to changing your lifestyle and giving up old ways. It is not always an easy process, can be very confronting but worth it.

Kelliv, not sure about the water soluble ones, I have never seen them. I had chewable vitamins that I could chew/suck til they were gone. Did they have any chewable ones?

Good luck Kelliv! We will be thinking of you. Like shellz said, dont pack too much. I took my laptop and turned it on like once in 3 days. Rest/Sleep and walking were so much more important. Just comfy clothes or PJ's, i preferred my sweats and t-shirt to pyjama's felt more human then. Just try and stay relaxed and I am sure you will have a great recovery. Let us know how you went once you are home.

Welcome Scotty! I can't imagine having to.wait, once I had decided to make the change I just wanted to get there. I am back at the hospital today for my gastroscopy, and now the hospital gown ties up all around me...woot woot, no more butt on display.

KristiP - Good luck with your consult, hopefully one doctor will get their stuff sorted Lila - Congrats, feels great to keep moving forward. Kelloff- Thanks I didnt have reflux pre-surgery so this has all been a new experience for me. My main symptions are burning or feeling like there is a lump in my throat and a numb/tingly tongue. I have been through a number of different combinations of medication since my surgery, most just help dull the feelings not really solve the issue. I was told I would only need the reflux meds for a few months at most....but seems like I am the exception to the rule, so could be worse, I could have got a leak or any number of other things. I think the surgeon is going to look for any blockages or lesions, and then see what the next steps are. I can live with the symptoms, they are annoying but just dont want them to be an indicator of something worse, especially as I am off overseas in just on 2 weeks.

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.