Miss Meg

I am currently at 23kgs (50lbs) and when I hit 30kgs (66lbs) I will be treating to myself to a full spa day - with the works!!! It will also be my half way point so I think it deserves some special attention xx

mmmmm..... Cheezels!!! spoken like a true Aussie...

Down here in Australia, winter is starting to set in. One thing I do love about winter is a great soup!!! Last night I made a delicious chicken noodle Soup which will see me through for my work lunches for the next week at least. Can you share any of your warm, hearty soup recipes with me please?? I have a few in my arsenal, a pretty good vegetable soup and an amazing curried pumpkin soup, but would like something new to try. Give me your best....

Thanks for all your tips and it's nice to know that most of us feel the same way at some point

I have one, it's livelovelapband@blogspot.com.au I use it regularly to blurt out my thoughts!!!

Hey there everyone. So I am at 23 weeks post op and have lost 22.2kg in 26 weeks (including the pre-op phase). I was going along merrily for a long time and losing weight at a steady pace and I have always been pretty careful about what I eat and the quantities of it, I seem to have hit a bit of a wall. The southern Australian winter is starting to set in thick and fast and the warm and fuzzy food is all that is really appealing to me at the moment. I've posted about this before and was given some wonderful tips on how to maintain the focus when all I really want is comfort food, and was given some great advice from other members (loved yours especially @Bandista). I guess I just want re-assurance that as long as I keep my head in the game, I'll get there in the end. It's keeping my head in the game that is feeling a bit difficult at the moment. I'm going to change things up a bit and try and go back to basics with my food and maybe do some different exercise other than walking. Does anyone else have any advice??

Hi Mistie I totally understand your devastation. Would be heartbreaking to hear that you have to lose weight in order for him to give you surgery to lose weight. we all know that surgery carries enormous risks and your health and wellbeing is of utmost importance. I would also seek a second opinion though, but please try to not feel disheartened, I am sure you will find a way to get what you want and need - as the saying goes - where this will there is a way and it sounds like you have plenty of will. Good luck xx

I think mindset is half of the battle and it sounds like yours is heading in the right direction. Good luck with everything.

Congratulations I'm a November bandster as well - (27 November). Highest weight - 119kg (262lb) Pre surgery weight - 114kg (251lb) Current weight - 96kg (211lb) Goal weight - 60kg (132lb) I think I've done those conversions correctly... my progress has slowed a little but thankfully hasn't stopped. Would love to reach my goal by the anniversary of my surgery but I'm not going to put that pressure on myself, more realistically I will aim for my 43rd birthday on 4 February 20165.

Loved your story, and congratulations... PS. It looks great on you..

Last night I attended my very first yoga class, and on top of that it was bikram yoga!!! Holy Moly, I've never been so hot and sweaty in my entire life. Anyway, I was eating my dinner about half an hour after the class and managed to get a bit of a stuck episode.. At first I thought it was just me not chewing properly as tends to happen when I am beyond hungry. However, I continued to vomit until around midnight - even with no food left in the tank. I am wondering if it is more the shock to the system with being in that intense heat, or even if the band could possibly tighten during such exercises?? I've woken up fine and have had no issues with eating or drinking anything today. I'd love to know your thoughts or even if you can offer some advice about this??

Thank you so much for sharing that with us. You've clearly come a long way and deserve every success. Well done.

The Fluid phase can almost trick you into thinking that this thing may not have worked because fluids really have no restriction. Trust that it has, because believe me you will soon find out all about it. Good luck with the journey...

I think jeans are one of the best NSV's. A great fitting pair look and feel great... Well done...

#Bandista love your idea of visualising the scale moving down. Will definitely give that a try.

I am finding it pretty difficult at the moment to say no to naughty yummy things in life - I think as it is getting cooler her in Australia, the comfort eating starts. Unfortunately, some of these bad foods are pretty band friendly and can get down no problem. I need a new mantra to tell myself to help me make a better decision, something that is positive.. Any suggestions????

I haven't found anything to be off limits yet, just that I have to take it slower. Loving it..

Yep, definitely there... Eating a sushi roll for lunch and have discovered that I can not eat them without a knife and fork!!!!

I haven't hidden my surgery from anyone. My whole office knows and they are all fantastically supportive. All of my family and all of my friends are the very same. I haven't divulged to my online social network (facebook) because a lot of those people are acquaintances and to be honest I'm not ready for all of their opinions - although I am sure it would be mostly positive. I have a blog livelovelapband.blogspot.com.au and that also has a twitter page. I will at some point post those details to facebook so the rest of my world knows too. If I happen to see any of them out and about and they ask how I've been losing weight then I will absolutely tell them. As others have said, there is absolutely no shame in wls - it's life saving and if their opinions about it are negative then just brush it off because it shouldn't mean anything to you. Good luck...

Good for you - well done. Hang in there, it will start to come off pretty soon don't worry about that...

@@AvaFern you actually helped me there.. I went into the myfitnesspal app (which I had only ever used for diary keeping) and there it all is there. Thanks for the info.

Well done AvaFern, and well done for reaching your goal. I am really interested in how many grams of Protein should be taken in on a daily basis. I'm in Australia and can't find much on how much protein you should consume on a daily basis and how you calculate it??

It is possible. I had a fill a week ago and feel a lot more restriction but I can definitely get food and liquid through it. I usually have to have liquid for 24 hours and soft food for a couple of days after a fill - could that be the issue?? Either way, you should definitely make contact with your clinic and perhaps go back and see them - if you don't think it's right, do the right thing by you. Good luck.

You would still have swelling. I felt that way for a good week after my surgery. Once the swelling starts to go down you will feel a whole lot better and will consume more. I also found that it took a fair while for a bowel movement after surgery and that will certainly add to bloating. Good luck and keep us posted.

Good news, I finished my lunch about 4.5 hours ago and am just getting hungry now... I like this feeling...