Kayargh

Hey Laura, have you been over to the Attention! Australian Sleevers thread? Heaps of local support and advise :-)

An American size 0

I'm hearing you Laura, my sister is a size 16- Australian- and going up...yet was very much against the surgery at first, saying things like I'm just lazy and need to walk more often. She doesn't believe in the surgery thinking that it is not necessary- yet I have watched her struggle with her weight- ranging from a size 18 to a size 10 and everything inbetween from when she was a teenager. I seriously thought she would understand where I was coming from!

I can't wait to feel comfortable in my own skin, to not have my thighs rub together, to meet new people and not think that they must be thinking how fat I am. To not be looked at by other people (particularly men) like I'm invisible. To have clothes that fit properly- no matter the size I wear, not all of the outfit fits my body- leaving some loose some tight (make sense?). This is my big one....to sit in a chair and not try and have most of the weight taken on my legs for mortal fear of the chair collapsing underneath me. And my other big one- to sit down at a cafe/restaurant and eat/drink without being out of breath or can't eat as my fat squishes my stomach making me feel ill. To not take several attempts to get out of my couch, shuffling my big fat bum further to the end of the seat to get up. To one day have someone look further than my skin folds and fall in love with me as a person. To no longer have guys drunkingly confess that they really like who I am but can't get past the weight factor. Needless to say- I will NOT be giving them another chance on the future!

Only immediate family and a select few friends know about my upcoming sleeve. I have thought about using another ailment to explain the surgery- but didn't want to lie and say I had something I haven't. When I do have surgery I will be telling those who NEED to know that I am having laporospic surgery for a personal medical issue. For the weightloss, I will be telling those who ask that I made appointments to see a nutritionist, an exercise physiologist and have had several psychology visits to deal with the reasons I over eat- because that I exactly what I have done. The fact that I will be having surgery afterwards is of no concern to them- so why mention it?

Thanks for all your advice. Bloods are very good, for a 45BMI, I have managed to impress my surgeon, cardiologist and doctors at what good health I am in - up until 4 months ago I was still running daily and running 5ks with a trainer every 3 weeks, but still putting on weight??? (u can only get away with this for so long in my opinion, and I think I'm pushing the boundaries!) I plan on incorporating the veggies and the oil- absolutely. I think health wise I will be fine, I just not sure on the mentality side of things...

Bought the Optifast today, was going to introduce it gradually before going full on from the first of September. My doctor has asked for at least 3 weeks, however I was looking at attempting it full time from tomorrow- making a total of 8 weeks before surgery. I seem to have a 'eat everything' mentallity at the moment and am putting on weight so I need to do this. Has anyone done this before and how did they go (I.e. survive) ?

Thank you for your advise Ladies, I will start to incorporate the Optifast as soon as possible I think! A note on the anaesthetist- when you are uninsured you pay around $2000 for one, I was quoted $1670 at Pindara.

I am dreading the Optifast phase. I just know I will be cranky and miserable throughout it. Well that was what I experienced when I went on a shake diet many years ago- and I got to eat atleast one meal then! I will just have to remember that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.....surgery!

Hey thanks Angie Pang! I was going to buy it when I was out this morning, glad I read this first!! Due to work and family commitments I probably won't be getting sleeved till the end of September but my surgeon wants me on it for a minimum of 3 weeks!

Hi ladies, I'm on the gold coast, but getting sleeved in Brisbane hopefully very soon. As I don't have private health insurance it was going to cost me $17000 on the coast, however a surgeon in Brisbane does the sleeve in an intermediate basis so will only cost $12000 (only? Lol) I am just waiting on my super being approved....sent in on the 22nd June, can anyone tell me how long it took for them to get approved?