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Yes Kelli - I have a huge problem with constipation - I always did have before the sleeve and now it is much much worse - hence my total concentration on getting in the 1.5 or more litres of Water, cups of tea and I try to only have one coffee per day. I do actually have all bran most mornings but generally not many other carbs after that - i have had vita wheet crakers a couple of times but i tend to stick to my Protein to make sure i get that in. I also take 4 x coloxyl per day, 2 x phloe (kiwi fruit extract) per day and when I still don't go, I add in 3 teaspoons of normacol. Still only going every 4 days! I think I am going to struggle with this for ever because I have always had it. Pre sleeve, benefibre worked but now it just isn't working - the doctor told me it just isn't strong enough. The joys - but hey I feel so much better in other areas - no sore feet, sleeping like a log, no sore knees and hopefully when I go for my blood tests, no high cholesterol, no elevated sugars and a healthy liver! I find it quite amusing that the foods that are high protein (the foods we are meant to eat) are the hardest to eat - is is obviously even harder with a band and that is why people end up eating the 'slider' foods. It doesn't bother me that I can't eat foods that I use wolf down - BBQ chicken mmmmmm - because they just don't give me the same pleasure as before and therefore I don't get my hit/kick out of them that I used to - jeeeeese, food really was my drug of choice! I am realising that more and more each day! Anyway, I seemed to have replaced that habit with cooking for other people. I have NEVER been a cook but I have baked my first banana cake and I am going to do ginger crunch and hockey pokey biscuits today. Can't eat any of it but it gives me some kind of satisfaction - am I going completely nuts!

I am so happy for you Aussie girl! This really has mad e a huge change to your life! I have no doubt that you won't be single for very long! It feels like you have been away for months - what a great trip! I love the states - my inlaws live in Victoria, BC so we get to that part of the world at least on e every four years. That is when I do all my shopping in the States - next time I will actually be able to buy some decent things for myself. Well life here for me has settled into a routine. I have been pretty lucky with what I can eat although lamb chops and steak are hard work and I wouldn't have them all the time. I find scrambled eggs easier than poached, mince is good and there it this Korean beef stir fry pack I got from costco that is really good - the beef has been marinated so is very melt in you mouth tender when you eat it. I don't go near spicy foods as that makes my stomach even more acidy! I am just experimenting with different foods so I guess I just naturally gravitate back to the ones that are easy to eat. I hardly eat any carbs as the just take up the room i need for Protein. I am so silly though - I still put rice/potato on my plate but just don eat it! The plate looks so bare without it there! I am having trouble fitting in veges so have to concentrate on that - and my watering is a major hurdle for me - just have to the bottle with me constantly! Hey Aussie girl - just make sure you come back here and find your self a nice Aussie boy!!

Yahoo! Great news Lila!

There is a 'Band to Gastric Sleeve Revision' forum on this site - check that our and see what you think - I think most people are in the States but it might give you some idea about what the most common procedures are. :-)

I think every single person struggles with old eating habits - I have done it - dark chocolate, KFC and potato chips etc! There are always going to be times that we eat junk -the great thing is we can't eat a lot of junk now! Please don't be hard on your selves. Just be proud of what you have achieved so far and proud that you made this huge and brave move to have the operation to get this under control. I am trying to be kinder to myself and understand that we can't do everything right all of the time - we all did one big thing right and that was to have the determination and courage to have this operation! My big thing is that I can not seem to get motivated to exercise - I know all the theory and all the reasons to do it but do you think I can put one foot in front of another...no way - but I am not letting myself feel bad about it. I am letting myself enjoy the ride I have had so far and taking one day at a time - I know this sounds a bit '7 step' but seriously I really view food as my 'drug of choice' and I am in recovery and I have had a few relapses! Body image is a funny thing - my husband keeps asking me why I am being so hyper critical about my body. He has noticed that I am now picking out all my little flaws when I should be focusing on my good points! I am only just starting to see in the mirror that I have lost weight but I am nearly 30kg down now so it has taken a while. I too can't believe I can walk into some shops and the clothes will fit me - I mean there are literally shops that I have not been into for 20 years because I knew nothing would fit me and it would depress me. I love this thread - it is great to be able to share with such a great bunch of people that are going through the same thing - thanks everyone for your online company!

I am so freak'n happy! Just bought myself a Guess T- shirt! Have NEVER been able to fit anything in that store before! I have to keep repeating "mutton dressed up as lamb" , "mutton dressed up as lamb" so I don't get too carried away with this shopping! Sent from my iPhone using VST

Welcome Kate - I am sure you will find this thread a life saver - everyone is so supportive, funny, intelligent and soon to be very healthy and hot! I opted to go straight to the sleeve because the lap band did sound high maintenance and I wasn't sure it would work for me. The sleeve has its challenges - each of us have experienced different ones - but we can all share them here! I am really happy with the sleeve and the results - I started at 102kg and 3 months after my op I am down to 73kg - although I didn't have a lot to lose, I had health issues looming and I was getting bigger every year and could not get my eating under control. I have to own up and say I still haven't successfully complete the lifestyle change by adding regular exercise but it is on my to do list! Anyway, sorry for the mega rave - all the best for you pending surgery from a bander to a sleever! Sent from my iPhone using VST

Hi Lila - I am so happy to hear that your leak has healed. What fantastic news! It is great that you also lost weight too - you will be out shopping for new clothes in no time! All the best and I look forward to hearing about your progress once you get home.

Hi Scotty - just keep thinking of your goal at the end of this stage. Each stage has it challenges but I must agree with Shell that I found the pre op diet the hardest. My surgeon wanted me to do it for 3 weeks and actually it turned out to be one day short of 4 weeks when I had my op! After you have the op you will never experience hunger like you did pre op. I can't say I don't get hungry but it is nothing like it was pre having the sleeve - and it is so easily satisfied. Anyway - all the best over the next 2 weeks, just get through one day at a time and cross those days off the calendar!

Thanks ladies - what a thrill for you Shell! I am getting the same surprises when I try clothes - unfortunately I don't have a daughter I can borrow clothes from! My 14 year old son just doesn't have anything that appeals!! It is getting a bit expensive having to replace all my clothes - including bras and knickers!

Wow Nessa - you are looking fantastic! You are looking so much younger when you compare your before photos. Well done. I really get a kick out of seeing everyone's tranformations!

Thanks so much Aussiegirl - wow that is so interesting re actually being harder to meet people - you would naturally assume the opposite! I think your friend has hit the nail on the head and to think that people would not even be aware of how they react to you! I am in a slightly different situation as I am 50 so don't have youth on my side to be threatening or assumed to be on the pick up! - and I'm married too - oops nearly forgot about that! The one thing I do notice is that I am no longer invisible in shops like Esprit anymore - I get asked a lot sooner if I need help. Like you, my friends treat me the same - I feel I might be talking about my weight loss a bit too much and getting on their nerves so will have to be sensitive to that - a few of my friends are struggling to lose significant amounts of weight through diet and exercise and I feel their pain as it is slow going - so so glad that I have my not so secret weapon! I know what you mean about seeing yourself with all the lumps and bumps! I still pick fault with my body even though I actually can fit into size 12 Esprit jeans - can't quite believe that! I am still bigger on top and still carrying some weight/loose skin around my middle so seem to focus on that - still have a couple of visits up my sleeve (no pun intended!) with the psychologist so looking forward to putting that one to her! Just goes to show how deep our body image R runs.But I must say overall I am really really happy! I too am having trouble adjusting my minds eye to the size I am - tried on some Levi's (haven't been able to buy Levi's for years!!!). I picked size 34 - ended up getting into 30 inch - I was amazed!

I always get a giggle out of this thread! I would like to add Dr Phil to that list of programmes not to watch! Not so long ago I thought I was so bloody clever because I hadn't been sick and whoops - twice in the last 3 weeks! Both from eating way too fast because I was watching TV and not concentrating on eating ie MINDLESS eating - yes old habits do die hard!!

All the best Lila! Hope all goes well for you going forward. I have thinking about you heaps!

Thanks Susie - yes she is in the right place. I must hope things are getting better for her. I am not one for the shakes - I was never a milkshake fan and the pre-op and liquid diet two weeks post made sure I would NEVER drink one again! I am just making sure I eat my high Protein meals.

Me too! I really hope it is "no news is good news"!

Hi Letia I hope you are feeling better. I know exactly how you feel as I felt the same way. I think it is a pretty common reaction and everybody deals with their own experience the best way they can. Hang in there as it gets easier each day as the swelling in your stomach goes down. I am in Australia and my surgeon advised that only liquids for the first two weeks and then mushy food for the next 2 weeks before graduating to normal food. I know every surgeon has their own regime but the rational behind this is to reduce the movement of your stomach during digestion while it is trying to heal. This might help you if you are feeling pain but talk to your doctor. I am 11 weeks out from surgery and feeling a lot more positive about eating and I am sure you will too - especially when you see the weight coming off and start getting the compliments. Take care.