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Yes very quiet. Hope you are enjoying your break Kelli. I haven't been up to much - just trying to get my head around going back to work on the 7 May after over a year off! I met up some old work colleagues this week that didn't' know anything about my weight loss - you can imagine the shock on their faces when they saw me 40kg lighter! My old boss kept asking if it was really me and looking at me and laughing all through lunch! It was really amusing. They rang me up later that day and they were still in shock!

Sorry Bec forgot to mention my surgeon - Dr Roy Brancatisano (Circle of Care , Baulkham Hills in Sydney). He operates at Norwest Private and only does the sleeve if you have private insurance.

Aussiegirl - not sure my husband would too happy about that :-)! If he is cute I will send him your way!

Hey Kelli - was it you that put me onto the recipe for the Boston Baked Beans? Anyway, I made them over the weekend and they are so yummie! I made a lot and kept them in the fridge - tonigh I threw in some browned mini meat balls - lean mince of course - reheated and my son and I had them for a quick dinner - he had rice too. Really tasty and easy - I love that as I am no cook!

Thanks Aussiegirl - will keep you posted - if I survive my first session that is!!

Hi Iggychic - I am so sorry to hear what you have been through and what you are still going through with the feeding tube. I am hopeful that you may eventually be able to get off that as time passes. You sound like a very grounded person so I am sure you have and will still investigate your options going forward. It makes me sad but I completely understand that you regret the surgery - I must say that you do look really great and healthy in your photo so I hope you keep going from strength to strength! All the best for your continued journey and challenges - I really hope you get some improvement over time and I will be sending positive thoughts your way!

Do you get any air miles for these stars??? :-)

I took the complete opposite approach and have told everyone who wanted to listen (even managed to bore various shops assistants with my story!) . I probably have been too much of an open book and the responses are varied but to be honest even though there have been some negative comments, I couldn't really care less. I am in the healthy BMI now and feel and look great - not many people say I shouldn't have done it when they see me!

Don't feel guilty - everyone makes there own choices about who they tell and who they don't. I don't think it matters - your standard answer when people ask how you did it can be just 'hardwork!' - which is the truth! Enjoy the compliments! I myself have probably been too much of an open book - I think shop assistants a bit taken back (and curious!) when I tell them how much weight I have lost and how I did it!

I know that it can be disheartening, but like life, you certainly meet a variety of different people no matter where you go and it adds to the spice of life! I find this forum great and everyone really supportive and some are even inspirational! I just take the positive contributions on board (which there are many) and ignore the negatives (which are few). All the best to everyone on this continuous journey and it's ongoing challenges!

Kelli - thanks for the Easter wishes . Hope you have a happy one too and a nice break. Kate - As Dean said, I think it is quite common to go through a flat period. I went through mine when I moved from liquids to mushy food. It didn't last long as each day went by and the weight came off. I have been very lucky that I took a years leave of absence from my work so I no other stresses going on. I am sure you will come out of it. Dean - 40kg is a big chunk of weight - you must be so happy - only 15kg to go! I know that I am amazed that I have lost 40kg - it still seems like magic but is slowly sinking in! Well done!

Hey Bec - welcome to this thread! There are a great bunch of people on this thread so ask away! I am 8 months post op and started my journey at 103 kgs - I weighed in at the clinic on Tuesday at 63kg so you won't hear anything negative from me regarding my decision to go for the sleeve! Guess what everyone - my friend is dropping around a pass to four free personal training sessions at a local gym - I am actually going to do the exercise thing - finally!! Thanks everyone for reinforcing what I already know but until now couldn't get motivated to do it. I know I have being very naughty and it shouldn't have taken me this long! I may not be feeling so positive after my first session-eeeeek!

Great news Lissa! Not far to go now - your weight seems to still be coming down in decent chunks so it will fly by.

Oops - meant to write UNHEALTHY obsession with sweet things!

Kelli - sounds like good advise from your dietician - I have been pretty much focused on Protein most of the time other than my healthy obsesssion with sweet things! I thought I was seeing mine today but it turned out it was only an appointment with my surgeon. He was pretty happy with me reaching goal but says I must get into the exercise as my metabolism will be so low now with the low calories I have been consuming that any increase in calories will cause a weight gain. Exercise will increase my metabolism so as I can eat more as time goes on, I will be able to maintain. Hey - I am great with the theory but not so good at actually putting the exercise part into practice! Lissa - glad to hear your energy levels are a bit better. I know what you mean about the carbs - they do give you more energy but then do slow down the weight loss - it is all a balancing act. Just make sure that you don't get Iron deficient like I have - I did have the symptoms which was fatigue and dizziness but didn't realise that was what it was. Back on track with that now. Nessa - don't worry too much about a gain - I know it is discouraging but I am the same as Aussiegirl and can swing up and down a kilo or so. It depends on what kind of week I have and what kind of Fluid I am carrying etc. The important thing is to keep putting one foot in front of the other and talk yourself out of feeling bad about it - just lie back and think of Hawaii!. I think we are all way too hard on our selves because of years of carry the guilt of being over weight - time to let that go with the weight is what I say! Aussiegirl - you are such an inspiration to me. Once I get my head around this exercise thing I hope I can get comments like that. You must feel amazing! How are your energy levels - my muscles are going to get such a shock when I actually do start exercising!

Puppyphat - that is fantastic. Fit, loves animals and can obviously hold a good conversation - sounds like a winning combination to me! Lissa - Glad your holiday went well - the next six months will fly - you have done so well with your weight loss - Are you energy levels good now? A progress report on me - I stopped eating sweet things for a week and have lost weight - 62.5 kg now but generally I seem to be maintaining. I really want to get rid of this habit of having a cake for a snack as I know as we can eat more this will cause me weight gain and I DON'T want to get on that guilt road again. Can't wait to see my dietician so she can give me a slap on the wrist! Can't wait to get back to work so I have money to finally join the gym or step into life classes - I need to be pushed it comes to exercise as I don't enjoy it!

A progress report on me - I stopped eating sweet things for a week and have lost weight - 62.5 kg now but generally I seem to be maintaining. I really want to get rid of this habit of having a cake for a snack as I know as we can eat more this will cause me weight gain and I DON'T want to get on that guilt road again. Can't wait to see my dietician so she can give me a slap on the wrist! Can't wait to get back to work so I have money to finally join the gym or step into life classes - I need to be pushed it comes to exercise as I don't enjoy it!