Cookeeeeez

Mind the language- but a funny representation of my native tongue- all my friends sound exactly like frankie!!! http://youtu.be/kL9ROvQYWM4

As aussie girl could probably attest to- there's nuffink wurs than a friggin penriff axsent- western Sydney blows you all away I think after getting thin ill try and get on tosh.0 as a hot chick saying gross things, or on lettermans stupid pet tricks! I've been afraid of fifteen minutes of fame but maybe ill make my fortune once I break free of this flubbery prison!

My lil sis is super slim, real gym junkie, but even she gains a little weight every now and then. Her help in this department was to provide insight into my future life: you can't always be "perfect". The point is to recognise that your habits have become less than optimal, analyse how this is affecting your health/appearance, and act accordingly. This seems normal but i usually "slip" and then ignore the slip and just keep bingeing for as long as possible... Now those slips become less important, they last a couple of weeks over chrissy rather than months or years! I hold to the basic things I can pre-sleeve- NO SODA!!! To even choose a glass outside of a very very special occasion is to choose extra calories that really aren't worth it to me personally! I'm not addicted to soda, it's not my favourite beverage and so slipping into routinely drinking it is just something I have to catch early and stop. No judgement, just recognise - and act! (I've already analysed how much it's not worth it to me). Post sleeve and for you guys, these things might be snacking/grazing, emotional eating, sugars or flours that tempt you too often, etc... Love yourself vets, you have a great tool but even thin people need to exercise extra self control sometimes too and that involves being kind to yourself!!! I think for you vets self control and willpower are something foreign to your pre-sleeve selves- it's not about starvation or privation or failure- it's about adjustments, alterations, improvements... Be positive! Peace

I've been really great!!! I was getting a bit down but managed to pick myself up well! I've really missed you but needed a little break from focussing too much on my weight before I have the sleeve to help me We adopted a new kitten named Ginny for my bday and we are picking up a puppy on the weekend named Tess. Just did massive exercise rearranging house to puppy proof and summer clean I would love an update on all of you! Are you looking forward to surgerversary?! Met any goals recently? I didn't need an extension belt for plane in December! Yey! (Although, lol, I don't know if I ever did- first time on a plane since I was a kid LOL but it's still a pleasant surprise!!!) Did you know it was 115 degrees F in Sydney over the last couple of days?! Incredible!!! Love you all!

Hello again all I just stalked BTB into this forum as haven't been around in a while and miss my friends! My surgery date is set for July 5th, and I start liquids May 10th... So getting closer!!! Hope you all have a great 2013!!! Peace

Yes, normal routine. My preop is actually a bit shorter than some coz my liver feels good and tests came back good! The nil by mouth is before a barium swallow and after an internal leak test. The extended liquids is standard because he does this operation for more than just weight loss, and it is recommended to reduce risk as there is still chance of leaks three weeks out (which can be more deadly for people with cancer etc). I'm super excited for chrissy, it'll be my last big one ever and it's a combined bday too! I'm going to stay away from the naughty beverages and try to fill up on salads- but do plan on having my last piece of mums crackling!!!

Hi all, just wanted to say I have my date for July 5th 2013! Quite excited! I'll be on 6 week pre-op Optifast with optional salad/optibars, then two-three days nil by mouth post op, after barium swallow i can try Clear Liquids a week, liquids two weeks, puréed/soft two weeks, solids after that! Plus it's no smoking at least 8 weeks pre-op. Rather strict but I'm confident it can be achieved with willpower and family support. The stress of final semester uni is getting me very down but when it's over I hope to have a good holidays and start a fresh 2013! Hi all! Beth

Check out Iggychic's thread, she had some horrible and long-lasting complications. I know she wishes she had waited until her child was older so that if she had passed away her family wouldn't have been so defenceless I think if you take the necessary precautions (will, insurance etc) then you may be more comfortable with having the surgery. I'm just turning 26 and will be getting my op next year. I think I'm old enough to take charge of my life, but it has taken years (and will take more) of therapy to help with the emotional issues that could affect my success with wls. I suggest you do so too because youth can make it hard to have objective insight into our own issues. This may also help you with confidence in dealing with the (positive and negative) attention that will come of the surgery... Good luck either way, and happy travels!

Hi everyone! Long time no see sorry lol I wanted to say hi to Lila & congrats on the recovery so far! Good luck to all of you on pre-op diets! I'm currently fluctuating up to TEN kgs depending on whose scales I use, my lowest is 126, my highest is around 132.5 or 144! Incredibly frustrating since all three of those numbers are from medical grade scales! I just had my implanon removed yesterday so hopefully the hormonal fluctuations will stop- I'm expecting to drop 10 kgs or so in the next month just from that! I also got my copper (non-hormonal) IUD in yesterday, and have to admit it did hurt ALOT but only for about 60 secs then only mild cramping in the afternoon and fine now! Best decision ever, so far the nurses were so lovely, held my hands, and I have to admit (TMI) that the obgyn was lucky my legs were strapped down or he probably would have got a decent kick to the chops lol Anyway, I have another app with my surgeon on 8th and hoping to get the go-ahead and date for next year, but honestly may just have to be patient and keep trucking. We're discussing trying the new endo-barrier in the meantime, but id be the first for my surgeon so well just continue to consider options... But hey, maybe is get a discount for being the guinea pig lol!!! Peace and safe travels!

What a transformation!!!!! Well done!!!

If you get full bald patches (alopecia areata) you can see a dermatologist for a topical steroidal cream or even injections. Other than that, protein, possibly some biotin in your multivitamin, and an increase in nutrient-dense calories will help over the long term

Way to go KelliV!

Okay, so a good book on "moderation" is If Not Dieting, Then What? by Dr Rick Kausman This is the theory behind OP's discussion The book explores how to: - enjoy food without feeling guilty - increase your eating awareness - improve how you feel about yourself - fit some sort of activity into your day - achieve and maintain a healthy, comfortable weight for you, without being deprived of food or quality of life. This is not an advert, but I do recommend this book if you are interested in this topic. You will find in this book something OP left out: eat when you're hungry, not when you're not. Now one Dorito may be manageable by a person as a treat when they're not hungry. They can enjoy the "taste" (which is what the licking posts are referring to) but aren't consuming it to fill the "void". They can easily stop at one. That same person, if physically hungry, may end up eating a whole bag because they didn't realise till they tried that chip just how hungry they were. The same person again may not be physically hungry, but may have "head hunger". They may be snacking because its a certain time of day, they're at a party, they're offered it and don't know how to refuse politely, or it is a trigger food! This is where people usually feel disappointed in themselves for "indulging". They didn't feel deprived in the first place, they just ate because it was there. So there's a saying that goes "the best tasting bites are the first and the last, so why not just have two bites " I tend to agree, it's just that practically this isn't always possible for all people. Finally, I agree with butterthebean that some people may use to sleeve to only change how much they eat, and not what they eat. Many obese ppl actually suffer from malnutrition and this is even worse post-op if this behaviour continues. Yes, for some, it is great that you're only having half a can of soda, or a small fries instead of a large meal. In Aus the Gov has started an ad coaign in this same vain- "swap it, don't stop it". But this also refers to the types of foods. If you can try to swap your half can and small chips to fresh fruit juice and a baked potato with sour cream you are getting even healthier. Or you can stay the same if it stops you backsliding to "even-worse-ville"! BUT listen to me now please!! Just because your eating healthy-er doesn't mean you're eating healthily! Please try to reassess your eating and exercise habits with a calm and logical approach. This goes to ppl who still only eat 400 calories 2 yrs out and those blending up cheeseburgers and vodka in the hospital parking lot This is a wonderful place for learning and we all have our own lives and journeys and even if I disagree with you I will always wish you very very well in your life!

I'm still reading and will post again in a sec, but just wanted to say THANKS I'm in this category and if I wasn't getting very professional help with this then the rather anecdotal info in this thread and others could mess me up even more!!! I certainly know that being "laid back" is NOT as easy as OP suggests! Nor is being "obsessive". Actually, I would suggest that what OP thinks is what I'm attempting to achieve long term, BUT it's not "the easy way" as another similar thread refers to it. Moderation and calm-eating can be just as terrifying as anorexia or obsessive compulsive over-eating. In fact, it's more so because it depends on us relinquishing the control over food (and the control it has over us).

All of the above + the low self-confidence that comes from years of snide comments about the weight! For years we've AVOIDED conversations about our weight, and the judgments and advice (good or bad) that comes with it. Now it's weird to have it become a really central issue in our lives, major surgery, drastic weightloss and changes in eating habits. I'm not ashamed at all, I haven't bought into "the stigma" but I still get very defensive about my past and current struggles with my eating habits. The surgery convo ultimately brings up other things I'm less comfortable talking about... Don't worry about other topics on the same, I have commented on this in the past and have a little more insight at the time of posting in this thread thanks for the brain food