*Dean*

Misty I'm sure everyone is different with how to cope with these feeling to just eat ... I mean EATTT! What worked for me is not ignoring that I was having those thoughts / feelings. I'd identify that I was feeling that way and I took a lot of time to recognise it and let it sit with me. Part of the problem previously for me was not knowing I was feeling that way and I'd be too far down the road before I'd put the brakes on. A bit too late normally. Don't know if that makes any sense or is of any help, but it's how I processed it. Deano

That's great news.

Yep, custard is fine. I'm off the low fat merry go round, except for 2% milk and some yoghurts (can't stand full cream in my coffee). Everything else I have is full fat ie some yoghurts, cheese (lots of cheese), custard etc. Because I can only eat a small amount I find the proper unprocessed versions A LOT more satisfying and better flavour. If you look at the small amount you can eat and then compare the calorie difference, it peanuts. Have a good day, Deano

Hey, welcome. I have a great dietician on the north-side. She has rooms at Red Hill and out of the surgeons rooms at Chermside. She takes other clients there as well. Let me know, Deano

Life's good Laura! Started in a new area at work, after 5 years where I was. It's strange working somewhere where people only know you as looking proportionate. Love the BMI on your ticker!! How are your mob??

Misty I missed that loss you had - that's awesome. And so it begins, the landslide on the scale!!

Hi Laura!!!!!! :) OP I know what your saying, but we're all different and our struggle is the same but different. For me what you're saying is sort of akin to a lean person asking why fat people don't stop eating so much.

Misty, they sell it online or through a small hole in the wall espresso shop in Sandgate www.budanbeans.com.au She's down at the coffee convention in Melbourne for 4 days from Thursday. I'll hate to see the state of the house when she gets back ........ the kids and I get a bit freestyle while she's away!! D

Brendan I had all of these thoughts as well, but I can say post op for me there has been ZERO down sides. I had a couple of days early on where I felt a bit flat and had a couple of 'what have I done' thoughts. But they were fleeting and haven't returned. I consider myself a 'foodie' as does my wife. She works in hospitality / food industry as a coffee roaster. I still cook, I still eat out, I can eat anything I choose to eat. Family functions are more enjoyable. They're not not just about consuming massive amounts of food but spending time talking, playing with the kids yadda yadda. Once you're a little way out you'll be able to eat what ever you want. The difference for me is that I no longer get that ravenous 'I'm %^&*ing hungry and I have to eat now!' hunger. I get a little bit hungry where I know I have to eat, but if there's nothing around I feel like eating I can just wait. That was never an option before. You may feel a little run down while your body adjusts early on. But very quickly I had more energy than I've ever had. I was a bit of a carb junkie before, I'd have highs and lows during the day from carb loading. Now my energy is more consistent through out the day. I jump out of bed in the morning, I have energy through out the day, I train like a mofo, at the end of the day I'm tired and have no problem getting to sleep. Hope this helps. I'll PM you my phone number and if you have any questions give me a yell. Deano

Hey Liss - I hope this doesn't make our friendship awkward, but you look totally hot! Just had to put it out there Deano

Thanks mate. Everybody wishes everybody luck (I do it too) but the reality is once you have this tool there is no luck. There's some hard work (a reasonable amount) and staying focused - but no luck required! As far as being an inspiration goes, if your numbers are similar to mine and looking at my results makes you know that this is really achievable - I think that's great. All the best, Deano

Good to hear you're doing so well Michele. Job is great - I'm on a pretty steep technology learning curve! Early on poached eggs didn't do it for me. Something about the texture of the white, they're fine now. At that early stage I'd gently scramble one egg so it wasn't dry and fine grate a bit of fresh parmesan for salt / flavour.

What a great NSV, before you've even left hospital!

Glad to hear you had fun. Sorry I missed it. I'll be a lot closer for the next one!

Oh - I hit the 6th month post op mark a week ago. Start weight 137.7 kgs Current weight 94.7 kgs Lost 43 kgs My goal weight is 82kgs, which is the top of my healthy weight range. The weight loss has slowed down considerably, but I'm happy just chipping away at it. To be honest I've come this far, if I have a week where I lose .5kg I'm happy. Keep smiling, Deano

Hey guys, Been MIA for a while with work. You're all obviously doing fantastic. Firstly sorry I missed Mondays lunch. First day at a new job, I didn't think I'd be in a position to sneak off, and I wasn't. Michele - congrats on all the great early results. Misty - glad to see you out the otherside! And so it begins ...... Best of health to you all, Deano

Yes, out of headquarters on Roma St Kell.

I'm keen but I might have to play this one by ear. Monday is my first shift at Argos, so I don't know if I'll be in a position to slink off!

Mate you know me, I'm not going to dance around it - this sounds pretty serious. I think you need to speak to some medical professionals to help you get it sorted. You clearly know it's a problem by the way you speak about it, which is a good thing. You should be eating WAY more than 10 grapes a day by now. I'm a bit lost for words, but that doesn't mean I'm not worried or don't care. Keep us updated, Deano

We're probably overdue for a Brisbane lunch catch up!

Hi guys and welcome all the new people. Have been ridiculously flat out with work, which is why I haven't been around much. I've recently picked up a position at Task Force Argos and I start there on the 13th. So I've been bust wrapping up stuff where I am at the moment. I have mixed feelings about moving on, because I love the people I currently work with but after 5 years I'm ready for a new challenge. Congratulations to everyone's continued success and to everyone else's commitment to a healthier life. I've hit a little bit of a plateau I guess. I'm not stressing about it. I know with the calories I consume the weightloss will kick off again. I have days where I eat a little bit more than others but I know that is related to when I have big exercise days, so I'm not phased about that either. Have a great day, Deano

The closest thing I've had to fillet mignon in the outback is a kangaroo tail chucked on a camp fire!!

Jog! There's NEVER any embarrassment in having a go. There will be embarrassment if you don't do the 5k now because we know about it! You will not be alone in doing a slow or very slow jog. Good luck!

Think Pantene ........... it won't happen over night, but it will happen! It's one of those things we don't have control of. With everything else on this VSG journey we've had an element of control ie reward for effort. I'm really inconsistent with these thoughts. I've gone from 46 inch jeans to 32's. Sometimes I look at myself and think "You look phucking amazing dude" other times I think "how can you have lost all that weight and still look fat". I'm always picking up jeans / shorts / shirts THAT I OWN and think, you can't fit into that! I just laugh at myself now because it's happening less and less often. And before I never paid myself a compliment for how I looked, so I'm taking what I can get!

I did CF for about 2 years pre op. Looking back I would have been almost always tail end charlie for most work outs. I can tell you I never left feeling like that. I'd leave feeling like I'd smashed a good work out, just like the person next to me.