Aussiegirl

OMG!! I am so feeling the need to get busy at the moment. I am starting to really like who I see in the mirror (still a way to go but...its a start) and I just feel like I want to be close to someone else. Cept as with most my life there is no one around to explore these feelings with..grrrr And as I value myself more, the less I want random guys, I want someone who values me.. ARRRGHHH!!

Havent quite hit 130 yet, am about to hit 100 pounds and am 5 and 1/2 months out at the moment. I hope 130 is doable for me. my goal is 160 by the end of my first year, so far I am on track.

Since my surgery I have had a few bouts of heamoroaids, especially around the 3-4 month mark. It seems to to have tapered off now, however my bowel movements are different nowadays, have to make sure that I get enough water and fiber in.

I had some similar things occuring to me a couple of weeks back (about 5 months out). I narrowed it down to the Vitamins and pills I was taking, even tho I had been taking them for months before, all of a sudden whenever I had them I would double over in pains and cramps. Have you tried narrowing it down to food, tablets or specific scenarios?

I am only 6 months out and about 60% of the way to goal. I still see a fat person, well I still am a fat person, but I am getting better at seeing that I am a smaller person. Tho I do have a hard time buying clothes, at the moment I try to buy clothes to to grown down to. However there have been a few occasions where I have bought clothes that are too big for me even when buying them. I bought a heap of clothes while on holidays the other week and they all fit me currently which I was very surprised to find out, to varying degrees but they all fit. It is all a work in progress.

I too have PCOS. I was diagnosed when I was 25, and have followed the low GI diets and taken t he drugs since then. These did help "control" my weight for a little while but my body adjusted to these too. I was told I would likely not have children at 25 too, due to the PCOS. I am 36 now and still no children, tho also there really hasnt been anyone I would have wanted to have kids with. Looking back mine really kicked in, in my late teens where my body ballooned and then all the associated angst came too, self esteem issues etc. Not wanting to go out, everytime I exercised I would injury myself and spent many hours at a physio. Grr I was sleeved last September and am doing better than I ever expected, I am almost 5.5 months out and have lost 44kg (97 pounds). This journey is not always easy, I work out twice a day, have a trainer once a week, nutrionist and many follow ups. But it somewhat feels easier than the way I was living before the surgery. Today I feel happy and relatively fit. I still have a long way to go to where I want to be, which is a combination of what the scale says, what I see in the mirror, how I feel and WHAT my life looks like, but for the first time in years I am confident that I will get there. PCOS does not need to define our lives, I am learning that.

The other week at Mardi Gras, I was in my costume, short little number and my friend (who is quiet the looker) walks into my room and the first thing he says is that I looked "sexy as hell"....that felt amazing!!!!

Congrats...Awesome job!

I am 5 and 1/2 months out from surgery and have noticed over the last week that the quantity of food I can consume has expanded. Not greatly and definitely nothing like pre-surgery. What I am able to consume now feels like an acceptable amount of food. I have also found that my hunger has returned and am eatting small meals a few more times a day (like 5 times a day now), before I barely wanted to eat 3 meals a day. However when i am hungry now I am looking for healthier alternatives, nuts, wholemeal crackers, fruit etc. I am still loosing weight and working out twice a day, my body is probably calling out for sustenance. Anyway, was just wondering when you all experienced/noticed a difference?

Awesome! it is the NSV's that keep me going even more than the scales sometimes.

That is pretty amazing, you look like you have lost about 15 years as well

I have found my weight does stabilise each time I meet a new milestone. I am now lighter than I have been in well over 12 years and I think my body needs some time to adjust and realise it is OK. BUt hopefully it will move soon, I still have far to go.

While many on here will say you can not drink it, I still drink diet soda in moderation. I used to drink it regularily and very quickly. Since surgery I still consume diet soda, however it takes a long while to go down and is not a drink I crave anymore. I have been surprised by how my tastes have changed/evolved since surgery, my body actively craves the things that are good for them. This may also be due to the fact that I do not exclude anything specific from my diet (everything in moderation, soda is one of these things)

I started loosing at the 3month mark, still looosing at the 5 month mark. I had very think hair to begin with so while i REALLY notice it, most people would not unless i told the, about it.

I am taking some time to Celebrate a scale victory today. - BMI out of the 40's....buh bye 40's BMI, wont miss you at all!! - Made my weight goal before my vacation in New Orleans, thats 40kgs (about 88pounds), 2 days early. Still a LONG way to go but will enjoy the small victories along the way!! Bring on the next goals.....

Hi Trishah! Here is my experience with the surgery. Before surgery I did not have any symptoms of reflux however did develope these post op. The symptoms have diminished over time. I still get some acid build up generally when I am hungry/stomach is empty. IT is more a cue to eat as I do not get hunger symptoms (other than head hunger still). I no longer take any medication for it, tho did take that the first 2 months after surgery. I did not find the surgery too painful. I had been ready for the worst, so have been surprised how easy it was for me. The biggest surgery I before this was to remove a lesion of an ovary which did not involve any cutting, so really had no measure for how much pain it was. The only complications I had were immediately after surgery I started throwing up which is apparently not normal, but that was a single episode. Then the drip fell out of the vein and my hand blew up. The first night was uncomfortable but the pain meds helped me sleep. I was in the ICU and they were surprised I slept so much as it apparently got chaotic. Didnt need the pain med after the 2nd day, and that was mostly because they put me to sleep rather than having alot of pain if that makes sense. We aussies may be a bit tougher than the yanks (ssshhh wont say that too loud). I spent the first week and a bit with my folks, but probably would have been OK on my own. I was prepared before surgery with Soups and broths, yoghurts etc for post op so I did not have to make too much effort. You will spend alot of time sleeping, best way for the body to heal. I would say that you should atlest have someone come and check on you. Be as prepared as you can be so you dont have to do alot and give yourself the best chance to recover quickly. I had 2 weeks off work and went back the 3 rd week, however this was a very exhausting week and probably the hardest of them all. Also I could not sleep in a bed for the first week, so was sleeping on my parents couch. As I said I am happy to answer any questions. Hope these answers helped. They are just my experience and other react different etc.

I am the same. I have also notice the week before and the week of my period is when my weight loss speeds up.

I hear ya!! It sucks being single and having all this "stuff" going on. Atleast there is my battery operated friend TMI lol

I still check in on the board. However I did not have the band to sleeve conversion, just straight into the sleeve. I am 4 and a 1/2 months out and doing great. I am sooo close almost 40kgs lost. I feel healthier and fitter than I remember being. Still a long road to go but it will happen. Happy to0 answer any questions you have.

Congrats, you are doing so well. I still have about 70 pounds to loose have specific bones that are now sticking out all over the place. The fat is in random places, my legs have lost the most, knees, thighs and hips are all smaller. It is such a good feeling, we will have to adjust to everything

Much deserved I am sure. I cant wait to be checked out for looking good rather than people figuring out to get around me. Still hasnt happened yet but am waiting

Hi Nessa, I am from Australia as well, so happy to discuss my experiences down here as I think it varies slightly to the US. Above most people have mentioned the reasons they thought the sleeve was the best decision for them. Similarily I did not like the idea of having an object in my body, and the constant maintenance of it, filling etc. Also the restriction or trouble processing food with the band was a consideration. However in the end I had a choice between a surgeons one that did the band and one that did the sleeve. The sleeve surgeon put me at ease so much, was very careful in explaining everything, he did not pressure one way or the other. The band doctor was treating me like paint by numbers and I was not happy with having to deal with him ongoing. I can not say enough good things about my surgeon, his interactions with me and my family. I am completely happy with my decision, despite the permanence of it. I had thought before surgery I would struggle with the small eatting and such, but really for me it has not been a concern, the reality afterwards is so much better. So that was a bit convoluted but message me if you have any questions,

You are definitely bringing sexy back:) Congratulations!