Attention ! Australian Sleevers

[Lissa_S 787]

It's amazing how this holiday has changed for me. I still really enjoyed it but it so wasn't about the food! I ate a small amount of my favourite things and really enjoyed it but managed not to over do it and need to have a little lie down I still over fill my plate even though I am being careful but I am sure that will get better! All of my guests have now gone, so it's just the clean up now and then I can enjoy the remainder of my holiday.

I am really pleased with how I went with the food over the past few days but it is so weird as my friends are all still really big guy's and when I consider that I used to match them plate for plate, it's extraordinary! I don't care how much other people eat but it still amazes me how much this has changed. Non-sleeved people don't seem to get it - I've tried to talk to a few friends about this and I don't think they really understand the fundamental and massive shift this is, well was for me at least.

I can't wait for next year - I should have lost all my excess weight by next Christmas and that will be brilliant.

The other cool thing is that my friends and I have decided to go to Supernova in Brisbane next year. I think it is in August or September. And I am going to go in costume I would never have been brave enough to do that before and now I can't wait. I am already looking for a speciality costume designed online to make my costume for me lol. Before the sleeve I would never have considered doing this in a million years - now I can't wait!!

[*Dean* 1,594]

Christmas Day has come and gone and we are on our way back to Brisbane from NQ. Haven't been near a set of scales for over a week so I will be interested to see if I have lost anything over the break. It was strange this year. Prepared all of the food, but had little urge to eat it. Had small amounts of things I really like rather than eating for the sake of it. The sleeve makes you more discerning when you know you can only fit in a small amount that's for sure. Have had a few rum balls, but again only one or two at a time instead of half a dozen! All NQ family commented on my weight loss, but I didn't tell them I have had the sleeve and none of them even asked how I had done it which was a bit odd. My mother-in-law knows in NQ but no-one else. Thought I would be more chuffed about showing off my weight loss, but in the end I realised that I have done it for me and no-one else's opinion really matters. I hope everyone is having a lovely holiday.

It's funny how we worry about peoples opinions when we have weight, but not when we lose. I agree, I appreciate a compliment but to be honest I'm a little indifferent as well.

Would've saved a lot of heart ache if I had the same indifference when people noticed I'd put on!

[*Dean* 1,594]

It's amazing how this holiday has changed for me. I still really enjoyed it but it so wasn't about the food! I ate a small amount of my favourite things and really enjoyed it but managed not to over do it and need to have a little lie down I still over fill my plate even though I am being careful but I am sure that will get better! All of my guests have now gone, so it's just the clean up now and then I can enjoy the remainder of my holiday.

I am really pleased with how I went with the food over the past few days but it is so weird as my friends are all still really big guy's and when I consider that I used to match them plate for plate, it's extraordinary! I don't care how much other people eat but it still amazes me how much this has changed. Non-sleeved people don't seem to get it - I've tried to talk to a few friends about this and I don't think they really understand the fundamental and massive shift this is, well was for me at least.

I can't wait for next year - I should have lost all my excess weight by next Christmas and that will be brilliant.

The other cool thing is that my friends and I have decided to go to Supernova in Brisbane next year. I think it is in August or September. And I am going to go in costume I would never have been brave enough to do that before and now I can't wait. I am already looking for a speciality costume designed online to make my costume for me lol. Before the sleeve I would never have considered doing this in a million years - now I can't wait!!

I've noticed how much some people load their plates, like I used to, but I've also noticed there are heaps of moderate eaters around as well. I've made attempts to notice this in social situations and it's helped me not to be self conscious about the amount I have on my plate. So now, I really feel like the amount I put on my plate is 'in the range of normal' albeit the very lower end.

[Lissa_S 787]

OMG OMG OMG I went shopping today for new clothes - it was getting dire lol. But I was able to shop at Katies. That's a "normal" store! I didn't even go into Autograph or anything! What an absolutely amazing feeling! And the sales people didn't look like I'd grown two heads by walking in the door. Admittedly, I still bought the largest size in the store (an XL) but it was awesome!! Love my sleeve!!!

[AussieLady 521]

Congratulations Lila. How exciting for you.

[Kayargh 112]

OMG OMG OMG I went shopping today for new clothes - it was getting dire lol. But I was able to shop at Katies. That's a "normal" store! I didn't even go into Autograph or anything! What an absolutely amazing feeling! And the sales people didn't look like I'd grown two heads by walking in the door. Admittedly' date=' I still bought the largest size in the store (an XL) but it was awesome!! Love my sleeve!!![/quote']

I loved seeing that you could finally say you love your sleeve! That's so great :-) congrats on the new threads too xx

[sueoco 509]

OMG OMG OMG <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> I went shopping today for new clothes - it was getting dire lol. But I was able to shop at Katies. That's a "normal" store! I didn't even go into Autograph or anything! What an absolutely amazing feeling! And the sales people didn't look like I'd grown two heads by walking in the door. Admittedly' date=' I still bought the largest size in the store (an XL) but it was awesome!! Love my sleeve!!![/quote']

Fantastic! Isn't it a great feeling to be able to do that! For me it confirmed that it was real and I was axtua

[sueoco 509]

Oops - pressed send before I had finished . What I was trying to say was when I could fit into normal shop clothes it made it all 'real' and I could actually start believing I was losing the weight even though it took me a while to see it in myself.

Well done Lila - enjoy every moment!

[*Shell* 162]

Hi Guys - great feeling being able to buy from normal shops. My mum have me a $200 gift voucher for City Chic but she said she heard me say earlier in the week "no more city chic or autograph as I can buy anywhere now - haha so she was worried with her Xmas gift to me . I headed to the shops yesterday and dying to spend my city chic gift card as desperate need of clothes and was great asking the last from the dressing room for smaller sizes like size s and xs - great feeling !!

On another note - I have been a bit of a piggy over the last few days with Xmas lunch, desert and now the left overs!! Definitely did not feel good with what I was eating, regardless of being small amounts it was not good choices and have been dreading the weekly weigh-in. Braved it this morning and very pleased to see I had actually dropped 1kg over the last week, this blew me away I must say so am happy again now and ready to start again for this fabulous year ahead of us

Hope you all had a great break and I wish you and your families a very safe and prosperous 2013

[*Shell* 162]

Damn auto correct on my iphone - sorry

[kelliv 659]

Hi Guys - great feeling being able to buy from normal shops. My mum have me a 200 gift voucher for City Chic but she said she heard me say earlier in the week "no more city chic or autograph as I can buy anywhere now - haha so she was worried with her Xmas gift to me . I headed to the shops yesterday and dying to spend my city chic gift card as desperate need of clothes and was great asking the last from the dressing room for smaller sizes like size s and xs - great feeling !!

On another note - I have been a bit of a piggy over the last few days with Xmas lunch' date=' desert and now the left overs!! Definitely did not feel good with what I was eating, regardless of being small amounts it was not good choices and have been dreading the weekly weigh-in. Braved it this morning and very pleased to see I had actually dropped 1kg over the last week, this blew me away I must say so am happy again now and ready to start again for this fabulous year ahead of us

Hope you all had a great break and I wish you and your families a very safe and prosperous 2013[/quote']

Hi Shelley

I lost 1kg while I was in NQ too, but I am trying hard to stay away from the leftover rum balls, xmas cake, plum pudding and fruit mince pies! Heading to the Gold Coast for 3 nights over New Year so won't have as much temptation around. Did you see yor husband's family over Christmas? What did they think of your weight loss?

[cookie2012 44]

Nothing tastes as good as thin(and healthy)feels! Happy New Year everyone!! Here's to new beginnings in 2013!!

[Aussiegirl 580]

Happy post christmas tidings all.

Lila that is great being able to shop in the normal clothes!!

I dont know how you all do it, I still walk into thos stores and feel like a fraud even tho I can buy almost anything in most stores now.

I bought size 12 jeans (wtf)yesterday, but still dont believe it..tho not sure they fit great, fit legs perfectly but the damn apron looks awful on top.

Definitely resolution for the new year is to get my arms and apron chopped off, especially as my weight has pretty much stablised now....tho yes I did put on weight over Christmas (eek), like a 1kg, so am working hard to get it off. Havent gone over my upper limit but still edging closer.

[Swift Kate 72]

Thank you for sharing everyone. I start pre op diet this Tuesday and boy do I need it. Have put on six kilos since having decided on the sleeve a month ago and getting all fill out of my band. I'm having band out and sleeve done in same op, however there is the chance that once the surgeon goes in he may decide that I need some wait time before I have the sleeve. If this happens I'm worried what damage, weight wise, I could do while waiting the three months for the band!! It's strange really because at the moment I'm eating more than ever. I've never put on six kgs in a month before. Roll on Tuesday is all I can say. Quite appropriate really that I start pre op diet on the first day of the year...hope it's a sign that I can be a loser next year!!!

[Swift Kate 72]

I meant what damage I could do waiting three months for my SLEEVE not band. Am so anxious to get rid of my band.