Attention ! Australian Sleevers

[sueoco 509]

Hi Misty' date=' her advice is quite different our previous dietician and I wish I had switched over earlier than I did after about 6 months. Her advice to you may be different as I am sure it is slightly different for each person. She suggested I have to eat 60gms of Protein every day including 12 gms at Breakfast and the rest spread over remaining meals. 800 calories per day and to minimize things like rice, Pasta, potatoes. 3 meals per day one one or two Snacks if I feel the need. Since switching to Diane I have stalled less and feel better overall. I can't remember what she charges but she has Hicaps and I just pay the difference as my private medical insurance covers about 25 per visit. Hope this helps.[/quote']

Hey Kelli

Your advice about Protein is what I received from my surgeon and dietician. I have basically stayed away from carbs for most of my weight loss and I think I only had one week where I stalled. My surgeon said stay away from anything white and juices (basically sugar). Wish I could stick to that last rule!

[sueoco 509]

She says as she sips on a Baileys!!

[lessismore67 158]

She says as she sips on a Baileys!!

Oh that is sooo funny!Isn't the cream in Bailey's a Protein anyway ?

[sueoco 509]

That's what I keep telling myself!!

[Lissa_S 787]

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

[mistysj 1,940]

I love it, Lissa!

[kelliv 659]

Oh that is sooo funny!Isn't the cream in Bailey's a Protein anyway ?

I go for the odd kahlua & milk as a nightcap for the same reason! Protein hit hehe

[Nessa1977 155]

OK folks..........get ready for a long post. I've just come out on my Facebook page:

A year ago today, I made the post important decision of my life, to have weight loss surgery. Some of you may already know this, some of you may have figured it out or some of you had no idea.

I have battled with my weight my entire life and tried many diets, my first one being at age 12, Jenny Craig. Each diet came with just a bit of success. The only one I really succeeded in was Sure Slim back in the mid 2000's. With that one, I lost 25kg in a year and felt great. Unfortunately that was short lived and I regained that weight...plus more.

In my late teens, I went and saw Prof Paul O'Brien to discuss lap band surgery, which I had seen on a current affairs program. I went for the consult and never went back. I was young and scared and chickened out. In the mid 2000's, I went to see another Geelong surgeon to again discuss the band. And again, I chickened out.

Fast forward to November 2011 and I saw another Geelong surgeon to discuss the lap band, except he suggested to me a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy or the sleeve. I really didn't fancy this option as it involves cutting away 2/3 of the stomach and it's gone forever. I still wanted the band as cutting away stomach is so drastic...and permanent. I went away to think about things and research more about the sleeve. I only knew of one other person who had the sleeve, my friend in Perth.

In the meantime, I had to have a sleep study, even though I didn't commit to the surgery, as I didn't know I wanted to go ahead with it. I also saw a nurse and dietician to discuss the procedure in more detail and to see if I was ready for surgery.

I went back to see the surgeon in February and booked a tentative date for March. That rolled around but I still wasn't quite ready and cancelled that. Went and saw my surgeon to just talk things over and I guess for him to reassure me, so once again I booked a new date for 26 June 2012.

And the rest they say, is history.

The surgery only took 1½ hours and it was uneventful and there were no leaks or other complications.

I spent 2 nights in hospital and was discharged home in no pain, well, the only bit of pain I had was from one of the port site wounds, the one from where my excess stomach was pulled out from...ouch.

For the first 2 weeks following surgery, I could only have liquids, so Water, Soups etc. Initially I could only manage 2-3tbs of Soup. I was allowed to have Water throughout the day to keep my fluids up. It was a big adjustment, going from a massive meal to something so small as a few tbs at a time. Some mouthfuls were very uncomfortable and I had pain.

The next 2 weeks was pureed food, the consistency of which could be sucked through a straw. Then 2 weeks later, I was allowed soft foods before another 2 weeks before I could tolerate a normal diet.

Even to this day, it's still a learning curve. There are a few rules to follow, which I sometimes break (hey, no one is perfect!). The main one is food and drink...I can't do both. I stop drinking 30 minutes before a meal then start drinking 30 minutes after a meal. If I drink during the meal, it pushes the food through too easily and it'll make me eat more, something that I don't want to do. My meal capacity is around ½ a cup. Not much is it?

Now, the all important numbers.

I had to do Optifast for 2 weeks pre op. My start weight was 128.1kg and in that 2 weeks, I managed to lose 4.6kg, making my start weight on the day of surgery 123.5kg.

As of yesterday, my weight was 75.9kg, a total loss in 12 months of 52.2kg. I need to lose another 7.8kg to get to my goal weight of 68kg, which both my GP and my surgeon agree with this number.

So what now? Going to see a dietician in the coming weeks to get some advice on how to stop losing weight. I have a fair idea, but just want reassurance and to ensure I’m doing the right things.

Due to the rapid weight loss, I’ve developed quite a fair amount of excess skin, which I plan to have removed in June 2014, as my surgeon has recommended I wait a year before considering this. I’m going to consult with a few plastic surgeons in Geelong just to get opinions on what can be done and how much it’ll cost me…apart from a lot. Here’s hoping I win the Lotto…or rob a bank…or find a sugar daddy to fund this for me LOL.

So there you have it, my year. Feel free to ask any questions. I’ll try and answer them as best I can.

I’ll be adding some before photos as well as some progress photos in the coming days…stay tuned.

[mistysj 1,940]

How brave of you! Bravo! I am very proud of you. Let us know what kinds of comments you get. When I "came out" all of the comments were surprisingly positive and supportive, and I also made it clear that I didn't want to be asked a ton of questions about my progress etc, and nobody has bothered me.

And congratulations to being less than 8 kg from goal! How exciting! That sounds so manageable doesn't it? You must be so pleased.

[Nessa1977 155]

So far the few I have gotten have been positive. It wasn't easy to put everything into writing, but I'm glad I've done it now.

[lessismore67 158]

Wow Nessa!Like misty's announcement yours is so positive and strong.What made u decide to "come out" in the end?

[Nessa1977 155]

I dunno....................just felt like the right thing to do I guess. If anyone has issues with what I did, then (excuse the French) f**k them!

[Lissa_S 787]

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

[lessismore67 158]

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

Lol!Beautifully put!

[Sydney Susan 333]

Nessa, your post is perfect for newbies. Why not copy it into a "mainstream" thread so the non-Aussies can benefit from it. Oh, and huge congratulations too. You clever thing.