Lissa_S

Liss you look amazing and glowing with happiness and good health.What an astonishing amount to lose in such a short time!

I hope you don't mind me asking what your current weight is?We are a similar height and build.Both my surgeon and dietician don't think I will get lower than 98kg.It doesn't matter as any loss is a good loss but at the moment you are a real inspiration and represent a possible goal for me

Lol no worries. Thanks for your kind words!! So I am 176 cm tall and I am now 92.5 kg- goal was actually 93 kg so I am pretty stoked I skipped the 93's altogether I started at 173kg.

Whoops. meant to upload the comparison shot

Hi guys- exciting news today... I reached my surgeons goal. I have lost 80kg in 10 1/2 months. I feel amazing!

I still wanna lost about 10-15 kg from here but I feel great. My BMI is still in the overweight range but my surgeon didn't care- she based my goal weight off my build and that my top weight was so high- although I am sure she will be pleased to see me under goal at my yearly appointment in early October

I am travelling for work- in Newcastle for a few days but here is a quick shot of me at GOAL!!

Congrats to all new Sleevers! This is an amazing opportunity and I wish you all the best as you start your new, amazing lives!

Much thanks to you ALL who helped me through the very darkest of times and for your support ever since!!

Cheers Liss

Hi everyone when I started this journey on September 3 2012 I was 382 pounds and heading towards death - the food was killing me.

I am now about 10 1/2 months on from the surgery. I had a leak. Spent two months in hospital and almost died more times than I care to remember.

But today I am doing great! I have lost 180 pounds and am at my surgeons goal weight. I still want to lose about another 20-30 pounds but I am so happy and thankful for where I am now!! This is the "new" or "true" me

It has been a difficult but an amazing time. Hope you're all going well and are similarly loving your sleeve!

Cheers Melissa

Yeah I didn't mean to be critical at all. I have a lot to learn still and you are doing awesome. I hope I didn't step in it. It wasn't my intention. I just have been doing so much research and I think I'm a bit obsessed!

No not at all- I suppose I just didn't want to present myself as if I thought what I do is the "best" way to go about the sleeve. What I have learned is that the sleeve dictates you listen to your body far more closely as opposed to the clutter in my head that even now, urges me to chow down on that choccy bar or bowl of Pasta.

I bet some dietitians would do a telephone consult. But you can also follow one of the many published guidelines out there. I made a list of all of the ones I could find from well respected hospitals and research facilities. http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/85182-list-of-vsg-post-op-diets-from-surgeons/

Yes I saw a new dietitian today' date=' but I hope I won't need to see her often once I get into the groove. If I hit a big stall or when I want to go into maintenance. But I do think there is a lot of info out there for people who don't have ready access to a dietitian.

The only feedback I have on what you posted you eat is that it seems like pretty low calories and low Protein too especially since you hardly get any Protein before noon. But then again it is working for you. I know we are supposed to have protein to preserve our muscle mass which helps our metabolism. How many calories and protein do you get in a day? I saw you added me on MFP but I think you have your food diary private.[/quote']

So I get between 500-600 calories per day. I am supposed to have 48g protein per day according to MFP and today I got 40g.

My dietician from weightloss solutions was doing phone contact until about three months ago and I could give her a call. I guess since I am losing weight and feeling good I didn't really think it was too much of an issue I eat healthier than I ever have in my entire life and love how I feel from eating now- energised and good rather than stretched, bloated and on a sugar high.

I have consulted and researched a lot about my diet and what I eat comes mostly from trial and error though and what kind of feels good. I would NEVER suggest that what I am doing is 100 % right or the best way- it's just an honest account of what I am doing

You are doing so well considering the challenges you had at the beginning of this journey. I wonder if you are getting enough nutritionally at the moment? Are you still consulting a dietician? You are looking very healthy but looks can be deceiving. Getting the right balance with calories once we reach our goal weight will be a new challenge!

I am not seeing anyone at the moment and am not sure nutritionally how I am going. One of the pitfalls of living rurally is how hard it is to see a dr if you do t have a limb dropping off I feel good and my fitness is definitely improving so that has been my measure of my overall health for the past three months. I take on board what you are saying though and will have a think about how I am going to get that checked out I certainly didn't go through all of this to be thin but sick

Thanks Misty will do

Thanks Lissa' date=' you are not eating much really, but it is definitely working for you. Thanks for the update.[/quote']

Thanks Kelli- I know I am not eating much and I do worry about when I can eat more what that will mean in terms of my ongoing weight loss and maintenance!! Even though I am almost 10 months post op, I have really only been eating for myself for 6 which is also why it looks so little!! I find too that I drink so much Water that I often feel full and not able to eat much at times but it's constantly improving and from where I was not that long ago, it's amazing!!

Can you add me on MFP? I am mistysj.

Hey Misty- I can't seem to find out how to do it on my iPhone app but will jump online when I get home

Lissa' date=' I am curious about what you are now eating on a typical day? You don't seem to have stalled much and have lost an incredible amount in a short space of time.[/quote']

I track with MyFitnessPal almost obsessively I have to say. I find brekky hard so will often have a hit milo made on Water - no milk. Then have half an apple or 6 dried apricots for morning tea. I usually have either half a sandwich or steamed veggies for lunch and dinner is either half a piece of fish with steamed broccoli and a small cob of corn or chicken stir fry etc. I find I still can only eat about 1/2 to 2/3 cup in the 20 minutes and I try NEVER to eat longer than that. I almost never eat dessert. I very rarely eat chocolate or chips etc- mostly cause I don't feel good afterwards. On average I get between 500-600 calories a day. Plus I do yoga pretty much every day plus weights morning and night (10 mins twice a day) and jog twice a week. I rarely sit around long enough to watch a TV show without moving around lol- cleaning, pottering etc which I never did pre- sleeve! You could barely get me off the lounge!! It's a completely different life- it's not just weight loss!!

Wow! 2 kg sounds so achievable! Can you believe it? How do your kids feel about their mum's new look?

Lol I care for my nephew and he is hilarious!! He now introduces me as his "pretty" Aunty Lila hahaha he did say a while ago though that he "misses" my "big fat belly!" But he loves how much we do together now- simple things like going for runs and walks and being able to slide down the slippery slide etc it's brilliant!!

Hey all- was feeling a bit glum as I had a very brief stall (literally just a week) but this week I bounced back with a 2 kg loss which means I am now just over 2 kg from my first goal (80kg loss)!!! So chuffed!!

Go Nessa!!! Stuff 'em- the only ones that will be nasty are the jealous one's!!!

Thanks Sue that would be great Went out for drinks and dinner with workmates- had a great time!!!

Here's my outfit note the three inch high ankle boots!!! That made me about 6"2 lol- taller than the guys with us- my friends who I hadn't seen since before surgery walked past me twice lol...& even then they kept asking if it was really me hehehe. Plus two cute guys checked me out apparently - my friends had to tell me cause I am still oblivious

Shelly- OMFG you look incredible!! Well done you! You look brilliant and given your gorgeous smile I am assuming you feel good too!!

Aussiegirl - I am hoping to be in Sydney in July or August for work so will let you know would dearly love to meet you guys in person! Same for you Brissy folk- I will be there in early October so would love to catch up with you all!!

Currently in Newcastle for work and lucky me, my meeting ended early so I am at DJ's shopping at the half yearly sales already hit Metallicus and have two cute new dresses!! Love being able to shop for cute things

Hope you're all well! Cheers Liss

Sue and Aussiegirl- you look amazing! Wish I could have been there! Next time I am in Sydney for work we will have to try and catch up!!!

Lissa ' date='I'm just going back through old posts when you were first starting and Aussie girl was giving you advice having lost so much.And look- here you are ,All that weight gone.Its so inspiring.I hate exercise but I am walking everyday for 1/2 hour as back is still bad.I hope I can get the urge to exercise as much as you.Also I have never been one to go to a gym as I am embarrassed to be unfit and so big(109kg)will people judge me.How did you get past this thought,[/quote']

Thanks Cathy I always hated exercise!! It's only recently that I have really started to love it. I did the gym thing etc but it didn't work for me or my lifestyle. So I went to an exercise physiologist so I could start out working out at home. I started off really slow and as I have felt better tried other things. The yoga I do is a DVD called Yogalosophy and I love it!! I have only recently started the jogging so I will see how it goes. I am liking it though!!

Aussiegirl gave you great advice- she always does ! I think though to start slow but don't give up!!

Thanks everyone- I was in high school when I was a size 14 the last time I went back and bought skinny leg pants and 3 inch high ankle boots To go with it absolutely love love love my sleeve!!!

With feeling full etc I usually get in my throat and will still puke mostly when this happens. At the moment I have a 5 spoon/ fork limit then force myself to stop for a little bit. I mostly find this works. Did this yesterday at Hogs Breath - had 5 corn chips of my nephews nachos and got that feeling n my throat. Cut to 10 minutes later and spewing in the car park... Em-barrassing!! So even at 9 months I still get caught out. Morale of the story is no more nachos for me lol.

In terms of what I eat:

Brekky

A tablespoon of milo and hot Water with a little lite milk

lunch

If I can I will have 1/4-1/2 a ham and cheese sandwich on multi

Afternoon tea

Another milo or a few dried apricots

dinner

Usually half a piece of white fish with a a 1/4 cup of peas, corn and carrot or

50- 80g of chicken (1 tenderloin thingy usually) with nandos marinade with broccoli and spinach

Naughtiest

I am a card carrying mentos addict so have been known to eat an entire roll of these in a day particularly if I am driving

Exercise

I do weights twice a day, yoga mostly everyday and I am adding jogging (just 1 km at the moment) two times a week as well.

Hope you're all well thanks again for the nice comments!!! I am feeling great! Looking forward to getting rid of these final few kg to get to my first goal

Hi guys! Another NSV- this is me in my new size 14 Cue jacket I got on sale from Myer (70% off- woot)!! I had just said to my mum on the drive to Toowoomba that this was my next goal I need a new one lol

A bit excited- am toying with buying a gorgeous tan fitted leather jacket. It's beautiful (Ben Sherman- need I say more lol) and I am thinking I could justify the $400 price tag if I called it my "Goal Celebratory Gift to Me" it's still a size L and though it fits will look a lot better with another 10 kg off so there shouldn't be any issues with it not fitting any longer

Sue- wow!!! You look amazing and bloody gorgeous!!! Congrats!!

With regards to maintenance I have no idea but if you get some info let me know- not sure it will be an issue for me but it would be kinda nice for that to be my worry how life changes for us, hey!!!

Hey guys quite excited- I have just 4 kg to goal!! I can't believe it! I am about 4 weeks ahead of my initial plan of reaching goal by my birthday in August! Of course, this is just my surgeons goal- I will lose another 15 kg but just getting into what my surgeon felt was the top of my healthy weight range was will be awesome!!

Don't deprive yourself of that last meal I did abd used to regret it. Couldn't care less these days though lol

Just have to boast as I know you will understand. I bought a size 10 Sportscraft skirt yesterday and it has a fitted waist band and it's NOT stretchy. Tried on the 12 first thinking that was wishful thinking' date=' but the waist was too loose. I have also started wearing belts again after many years. Love clinching in my new waistline![/quote']

Go Kelli!!! That must feel incredible!