finallyfree!

Another latecomer here, only just read this post and it is great to get to know everyone a bit better. Flesh them out (no pun intended). Can't find anything offensive but then I am pretty hard to offend. My 2 cents worth below: I hate mangoes and reality TV. I love animals and some people. My hero is Jane Goodall who worked with chimpanzies in the wild for decades. I am an armchair animal's rights activist and work in an animal shelter as a volunteer 3 days a week. I have 7 cats and 2 dogs and I will name my next cat Lipstick Lady in honour of this thread. Like KF I am an Aussie but don't blame me for him, I live in another state, one that plays good rugby (wait for KF to scream, lol). Sang with Jimmy Barnes - respect. I would love to sing but I make the dog over the road howl when I do. I was a detective for 27 years and there is not much I haven't seen and I ate and drank to cope with it. Have a law/management degree. I love to surf but am too old for boards now, so I kayak. Love to go where nobody is but then I get afraid of crocs so turn around, fast ... Live a pretty boring life now and like it that way. Go to India every year for a spiritual recharge. Love to read, watch live theatre. Yawn, I am putting myself to sleep. Keep this thread going!

Hi Mickaylag, quotes seem all about the same, I paid $6000 out of pocket and my private healty kicked in about $10,000, so we are all in the same ball park. Good for you to be working so hard for something you want. I am 10 weeks post op now and feeli g good. I get hungry but not real hungry. I eat aboout a quarter of what i used to. I have had no complications and i am much older than you. Had a couple of wines also. Stick to your doctors instructions to the T and you will be alright. The first 2 weeks are challenging but not too bad. Good luck.

It would be smooth thickened liquid so it should be. Just watch your quantity.

We probably dont see ourselves accurately at any time, probably lack of self esteem or confidence. I am going through the 'i am eating too much and will never lose my weight and I will never maintain if I cant control myself now', even though I am staying within the top end of recommendations and have lost 18kgs in 9 weeks. Also, re photos, because I am so tall I alway look like a huge monster if I stand next to an average woman. I have seen photos of myself when i was slim standing next to a friend and I look enormous but i was proportionate for my height. We do overthink things.

Ah sweetie, I hope some veterans reply to your post. I am too early to comment but I do feel your despair. You have done marvelously well with your weight loss and you should be very proud of yourself. It is a shame that we judge ourselves by what the lying mirror shows us instead of by our generous and loving hearts. We also ignore lovely hair and beautiful eyes, a great sense of humour which does more to enrich others lives than our physical appearance. Try to look inside instead of outside and see how beautiful and sensitive you are. I will leave it here so more experienced people can hopefully give you some practical help. Meanwhile, i have just read in another post a response by Inner Surfer Girl who recommended two books to another person. I have not read them but i think i will. They are : When food is love by Geneen Roth and Eat it up by Connie Stapleton.

Hi Bchas, this journey is all about the mind/emotions. It is because we have not been able to cope with events or reactions to life that we have eaten the pain away. Your body will become healthy with the weight loss and your confidence will increase BUT you will still have the issues which caused this food addiction. Some people swap addictions and go from food to alcohol for instance so you really need to seek help in addressing the triggers for your eating patterns. Your parents sound wonderful. It can be scary facing your issues but it can also be surprisingly easy to let go whe you face your demons. Eating became an overwhelming focus in my life, I still obsess that I am eating too much, it takes up time that could be spent living your life. Deal with it now honey, you have a wonderful future ahead of you.

I am week 9 and in first week of solids. Dietician told me this week not to count calories or even fat or sugar but to stick to the guidelines of what I can eat. She stipulated 60g protein because I am tall but I cant reach that. I was convinced that I was eating too much as am like a kid in a candy shop, first week of normal food but reading other posts on here and laboriously going through my standard foods I find I am taking in about 1000 cals a day. I know the dietician said not to do it but I needed reassurance. So now that I have it, I will not count calories unless I dramatically change my food. She said half to full cup of food, maximum 5 times a day. Obviously be sensible, not cup icecream, cup chocolate. When I get elected god they are going to be health foods!

You and Lipstick lady are better than TV. As for the cottage cheese

Great post CatDaddy, I am salivating. Will have to check their fat and sugar content and availability.

I like all of the above. Maybe lightly fried firm tofu in soy sauce and a hint of chilli. They are nice hot, fresh out of the pan, not quite as good cold. High protein and filling. Could marinate tofu with satay, sweet chilli or bbq too I suppose.

Hi Micah, There is a vegetarian/vegan group somewhere on this site. I was almost vegan (ate cheese but no other dairy) when I had the sleeve on 4 april 2016. For the first 6 weeks I drank milk to reach required Protein levels, plus lots of parmesan cheese. I am first week on solids now and have dropped the milk but still eating dairy for protein, eg yoghurt, cottage cheese, cheddar and eggs. I hope in time I can move back to an almost dairy free state and then finally a vegan lifestyle. I have had to make compromise in order to give my body the best chance at healing. No complications or sickness at all but I only get 40g protein when I should have 60g protein a day. Introducing tofu, lentils, Beans etc into my diet now.

Good point. I adore cheese. I can see I will have to put in some structures. I am still on mash but I learn from you guys, and bookmark the warning bells. Thanks.

I wonder when we talk of small portion sizes that we eat now, how the size compares with a person who 'naturally' weighs the same? The portions are tiny for us because most of us ate much, much more pre surgery. I mean supermodels eat extremely small amounts. What I mean is, are we eating the same amount as other people our goal weight and it only seems small to us, or is it a 'normal' portion for our size? If anyone can understand that ? I wonder when we talk of small portion sizes that we eat now, how the size compares with a person who 'naturally' weighs the same? The portions are tiny for us because most of us ate much, much more pre surgery. I mean supermodels eat extremely small amounts. What I mean is, are we eating the same amount as other people our goal weight and it only seems small to us, or is it a 'normal' portion for our size? If anyone can understand that ?

Hi Daisee, glad you raised this as it is something I think about as I am 6'1" but I am only just sleeved so it is down the track for me, but I am still interested in what people say. Thanks for the link vsg ann.

This is a difficult topic as one size does not fit all. I also worry when I see a very young person have wls and wonder how they will maintain it for the next 70 years. However, the young ones are more worldly and more knowledgeable then when I was their age, but are they more mature? Less responsibility etc. I have lived with obseity for 30 years, should i have had it when i was younger, well only the dreaded old stomach stapling existed, so I am glad I didnt get that. So many expectations when young, finding a partner, finding a job, suceeding in a career, family putting their 2 cents worth in, not to mention the the brutal media, it is a really tough time. Not everyone wants to be self-aware and evolve themselves and they will have the toughest time at any age. I dont have a definate opinion but I am wary that this is a life decision and once done is done. I wish everyone the best with the choices they make.

My play is tickling the dogs tummy and fighting for possession of the toy with the other dog. Cuddling the cats. Not so long ago i pondered about having fun in a previous life. Fun changes.

ISG, how good is that? What a great feeling. You have worked hard for that. I want to be in the surf by Christmas. I will have to buy a boogie board. Like you I want to exercise in a pool, another month and i will be able to. How good to move out of the obligatory black and navy swimsuits made for larger women. Grab yourself a yellow one! Congratulations.

Hi Barb, I'm 5 weeks post op but have pretty good life experience and a good pair of ears. How can we help you?

I work in a cattery and am taking 2 months. This is major surgery. A leak can kill you. You have an enormous wound in your abdomen. The trouble is we cant see it, like if you had knee replacement surgery or similar. If you are able to have more time off then take it. Be very careful with your toddler as well as lifting a little one put someone I know back in hospital with a leak. Be kind to yourself and let your body heal. Stretching and bumping a raw wound does not sound good.

Also in the early stages, which I am, I am weighing up the effects of healing vs weight loss. Atm I am not trying to lose weight, ut am anyway, i am concentrating on healing and getting healthy. I am eating more sugar in food, namely fruit and fat in cheese then I would have had pre-op, but in tiny proportions. The cheese because I am trying to increase protein and fruit because it cleans my organs and detoxes. My dietician recommends pureed bananas, which i have in shakes and okay'd me for watermelon and papaya to help with bowel functioning, also prune juice which is full of sugar. Saw the nurse today and she was happy with my more moderate weight loss (13kg in nearly 4 weeks post op) because i am healthy, have energy and no pain. Bottom line - moderation is key and following your health care teams recommendations.

I dont know if this will help. I just got these book titles off another thread 5 mi utes ago, so I have not read any of them, but they were recommended by members of this site. "Intuitive Eating"byEllen Trimbole; "The Emotional First Aid Kit" by Cynthia Alexander. I was thinking of getting them for myself.

Jaxmom, that ashram sounds heavenly. I do meditation at a Sivananda centre and enjoy it very much, but your place sounds perfect.

Hi Amanda, I am very sorry this has come upon you and I agree with Jaxmom on everything. Real yoga, not hot or gym, is a great idea. Yoga helps mind, body and spirit, also tai chi but personally i prefer yoga. Another thought is meditation or if that doesnt suit just getting in to nature. Can you grow some herbs or flowers or to atoes in a pot? Do you have a pet? You have done so wonderfully and it is a head thing, if it was heroin or cigarettes the doctors might listen but food? They have no idea it is just as hard. I think you have to pull everything out of the bag, by that i mean, yoga, meditation, diversions such as hobbies, affirmations, journals, nature, if you cant have a pet can you spend a couple of hours in a pet shelter? Whatever works for you, write a bucket list and pick whatever works when the mood comes on you but make some things permanent. I wish you the very best, you have already showed how st4ong you are, so know that each episode will pass. Do you have a support group nearby?

BC, I am too early out (3 weeks post op) to know what will work for me yet. I will trial and error when I am allowed to eat 'food' again. I am not meeting protein at the moment but getting 2/3 in.

Hi BC, thanks for seitan recipe. I had never heard of it. Im not one to use tvp but love my lentils. I saw a few other interesting recipes on that website. Thanks for the link.