Aussiegirl

I had a harder tiime with my gallbladder surgery...however this could have been because I also had surgery on a broken ankle at the same time...2 for 1 special lol...In hindsight not the smartest move...had the worst gas pains cause I couldnt get up and walk it out, and then they put on crutches and that is all ouchie as they cut up my core..

16 months out Breakfast, usually 2-3 scopes greek yoghurt with 1/2 cup muesli/cereal Lunch: about 2/3 a sandwich or 1 sushi roll or small salad.... dinner, small piece of meat, some salad with a bit of carb...tonight for example 1/2 a low cooked lamb shank, small spinach and sweet potatoe salad and 3-4 grapes Now days I feel like I eat alot

PuppyPhat, here is my 2 c for what it is worth. At a BMI of 21 you are at the lower end of average weight..going much more is risking being under weight which has risks as much as being overweight...clinical assessment aside. Are you happy where you are? Where does your ideal weight come from? I think you look good as you are. When you get back to gyms and good work outs that will help with tone, and may also cause slight weight increase ( muscle weighing more than fat), something that you need to mentally prepare for. The thing about the sleeve is that it is a tool that a. Helps you loose weight and b. Helps you maintain weight. What we have during the first few months is a window that means that have the opportunity to loose weight, feel good about ourselves and change our relationship to food and exercise. What we need to do once we get near goal is trust the tool and trust that we have made the changes we need to continue with healthy lifestyles. I have found that now I am no longer actively trying to loose weight, I can put weight on by not being vigilant with diet or exercise put on 2 kgs over Christmas but lost them and a few more in a few days before the ankle injury by being smarter in my choices. At the end of the day family and friends mean well but we are the only ones who can say we are happy with what we see in the mirror... Hope this doesn't come off too preachy...just my 2 c

I agree with Dean, as long as you are happy and feel it is the best, the doctors goals are great to have to keep us focussed but we need to be happy with what we do. Is there anything you feel you would do different? Pre-surgery would you have beeen able to loose that amount? In saying that Congrats, it feels great to see the numbers moving.

Hi All, Thanks for all the kind words. I am at home recovering at the moment. In hindsight, having the gallbladder removed at the same time as the ankle surgery probably was not the best idea. The best thing for getting rid of the gas for the gall bladder is walking, yet I can not walk. To use the crutches to keep me off my ankle, I need to use my core for support which is all cut up, so a bit of a catch 22 but I am getting better Whether this is good news bad news, somehow managed to weigh myself this morning and with the cast on I have lost 74kgs. Now just hope that it stays that way seeing as I wont be able to exercise like I have been til now...interesting times ahead. It has been a reminder of what the recovery is like post surgery..biggest tip I have for you soon to be sleevers is get up and walk around, the gas build up sucks majorly. Hi to the newbies SueSue and KristyP. Good luck Swiftkate, good work with the pre-op diet.

Sleever84, I would watch it but it is not uncommon to have some discomfort for a few weeks after surgery, my doctor said it was 6 weeks before we were fully healed. Sarah, it may be as most have said that it was a step too far. I found early on I could get ill, not throw up( post op I barely get that but get nauseas and the slimmies) when I ate things that were not the best for me, ie cake, chocolates, pies, higher fat things because my body did not know how to process them and therefor rejected them...just my 2 c. Speaking of throwing up, I had a bad episode of nausea last night, which ended with me passed out on my bathroom floor....with a broken ankle...apparently I broke it in the fall. Now I am in hospital waiting for surgery to put a plate in and also remove my gall bladder (a few days early)....here's hoping everything will go ok tomorrow....soooo annoyed at the moment..

Hi Curvy girl, I started out at around 330 (so close enough). I have been sleeved for 15 months and now hover around the 170-172 mark. I am 5'6ft. I got to about the 180 mark by the time i got to my one year anniversary, so 150 pounds in a year. How did I do it? Alot of hard work and committment. I did work out pretty intensely from when I was given the go ahead to resume exercise, usually about 2 times a day on weekdays and then 1 a day on the weekends. Seems like a alot, one was a gym session and then I would walk/run the 5 km home from work. I also tried to incorporate walking in as often as possible, replaced lifts with stairs etc. I ate/eat carbs. It was always my intention to eat as I was planning to continue to healthy amounts of everything so that I dont feel the need to binge eat. I eat junk food on occasion but moderate it and am thankful for the sleeve because it does limit my capacity, tho now that capacity feels alot more. Definitely drinking lots of Water, but mixed it up with other things. I also drink alcohol and low cal soft drink on occasion, tho dont reccommend either of those too early on. Neither my doctor or my endocronologist ever set me a goal weight. Initially I did think I would be happy with my weight around 180, having never been this small before. I have been happy at this weight, however still loose a bit. Both the doctors are hugely impressed with my change and are both happy if I never loose another kg as long I maintain it and am healthy and happy. I still continue to loose about 2 pounds a month without really trying, between being on an extended vacation and the christmas period celebrations I have not been exercising as much as I did and eatting more than I did..we will what happens in the next month getting back to basics. Now the majority of my "extra weight" is in excess skin. I never wanted to be stick skinny, my goal was always to be healthy and curvy..I definitely feel that I am that now. It is good to have goals but I believe you will know when you are happy with what you see and feel, the numbers are only one part of the whole journey. I know it is easy to say, if I can do it, you can do it too. Hope this has helped you.

Have a great time guys, wish I was up there too

Way to go Lila, looks like a great New Years Eve you have planned. Swift kate, not long now, you will soon be rocking the sleeve!! I am going to go back on the Optifast til my gall bladder surgery so I give the doctor the most amount of room to move about, so if you need support, yell this way. Well starting New Years day, also a way to detox myself from all the bad things I have been eating for the last few weeks. So my new years resolutions have been made: - Maintain my weight, maybe loose a few more Kgs to give me a bit more leeway from my max weight. - Get my arms and apron fixed (surgically, am over looking at the both of them, and think it makes me still think I am fat, even tho I am NOT!) not getting a TT as I havent decided about kids - Find love, with a decent man (fingers crossed, but I am open to it so that is a start) - Travel more, this year plans so far include New Orleans (Mardi gras), New York, Morocco, Spain and Hungary, and possibly a few more.... - Obviously earn more money to pay for all of the above - See my nephews more - Clear out the junk in my life - Focus on building my career up, maybe a new job. What is your goals/resolutions? Bring on 2013, where I take the new healthy me and show the world who I am May you all have a prosperous and successful and most of all healthy year too!

Happy post christmas tidings all. Lila that is great being able to shop in the normal clothes!! I dont know how you all do it, I still walk into thos stores and feel like a fraud even tho I can buy almost anything in most stores now. I bought size 12 jeans (wtf)yesterday, but still dont believe it..tho not sure they fit great, fit legs perfectly but the damn apron looks awful on top. Definitely resolution for the new year is to get my arms and apron chopped off, especially as my weight has pretty much stablised now....tho yes I did put on weight over Christmas (eek), like a 1kg, so am working hard to get it off. Havent gone over my upper limit but still edging closer.

Swift Kate, it is probably nerves and also this time of year is not conducive to healthy or smart eatting. Dont sweat it too much, food guilt isnt good, and in my case just makes me eat more. Way to go on avoiding chocolate!!! I wish I coulod be that good at the moment. Your date is coming up soon, just focus on the same rules for eatting now as you will need to post op which should also help...lean Protein first, then veggies..then carbs etc. You will do great, 9 days is nothing. I will be heading out to my folks place for Christmas with my 3 beautiful nephews so likely wont be back on for a few days. Whatever stage of the journey you are on, enjoy your Christmas, enjoy the people you get to spend it with... Merry Christmas!!!!!

Count me in

Dean, I love Newtown I live in Pyrmont so it is not too far away. You pretty much summed up my experience of guys in Sydney, gay or unavailable (married, ltr etc)..the few that are out there just want to sleep with you, no strings attached..and I am worth some strings Lila, congrats, it is awesome to meet goals~!! You will get there before you know it.

Dean, I am in Sydney Damn, cause I am definitely not adverse to going out with cops...infact they are on my preferred list, cops, firemen, medics, lawyers (good ones), doctors.. I could be persuaded to visit Brisbane for the right guy, lord knows that Sydney is kinda empty of good guys.

AussieLady, I embeded the video in the following topic http://www.verticals...52-nsv-changes/..hopefully you can view it there Shell - WAY to go *insert happy dance*...you look awesome. Thank you all for your feedback and comments, especially about the video and the negative people. I know I have to walk away from this person, but he was my biggest supporter over the last year, being there encouraging me for almost every challenge I set myself. But he lies to me, about things that are not worth it, so how can I believe what he says about me...his actions and words dont aline and it just does my head in. Talking to him about it only leads to more lies..anyway I will find a way to put some distance be healthy mind and spirit. New Year...finally New ME!! BTW I am open to be set up if anyone know and nice elligible single men hahaha:)

Thanks Dean...while I know in my heart that it isn't healthy I am scared to leave for his sake as much as mine.just sick of lies...just need to man up.. Sue, it is my work gym so no cute guys..well none available tho anyone that knows and good available guys let me know

Thanks Sue That punching bag takes alot of flack from me hehe. It is great to get out frustration every now and then The one thing that has come home with me since posting this, due to a few other things going on, is that while I may be drawing to an end of my physical journey..my emotional journey and changes still have a way to go. I am generally pretty happy and healthy..but there are certain people who are negative influences on my life, and got into my life when I wasnt neither happy or healthy, and I have to be ready to let them go to really finally move forward, but that is the hard part..leaving people that wanted to know when I was the other person but are now not good for me. I expect more from people in my life, the same way I expect more from myself...sorry kind of a took a segway on that...

Oh no...i will try again and see if it works..here is the link:

Thanks all Hopefully my story can give you some inspiration as those that went before me kept me inspired to keep going.

Thanks Lila, Dean, Gigi, Kate

Thanks Teddy bear:)

Hi All, I havent been here for a while but thought I would come back in and share some things with you all. I am now 15 months post op and living a normal life. Ihave lost close to 160 pounds and while I am still classified as overweight for my height, I couldnt be happier with my body and shape...I have the curves I always wanted...now just to clear up the skin issues. I look great in clothes And it feels good to be able to say that. None of this didnt come without hard work and committment, the surgery is just a tool, the rest is pure determination. My friends recently did a video of my journey and the changes, motivations for doing it..a bit of a doco so to speak. I wanted to share it with you all. <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Op0j3KfVsdc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Maybe it is some motivation for you, maybe you see yourself in it...but it is my story for now....

Hi All, Sleever84 - I liked that for the weight loss, not the dumping. It is pretty normal while you are learning how much your body can handle and what foods sit well. I wanted to share a video some good friends and workmates of mine did on my journey, the last year and a half. It is long but is the story of my journey. Hopefully the link works. <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Op0j3KfVsdc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Its weird, for the first time in my life it is the first year I am not making a resolution to loose weight. Next years resoltuions will probably be something like this: - Maintain my weight - Get even fitter (including running 5km straight) - Tone up - Date (lots)..or find a right guy - Go somewhere I havent been before - Make sure I get lots and lots of hugs from my nephews

I spoke to a plastic surgeon about that, I met him socially so not a clinical assessment but spoke to him about needing to get skin removed in that area and thinking I should wait til I was sure I wasnt going to have kids. He suggested that I could still get a pannilectomy done and a tummy tuck after I was sure about the kids...just my 2c