Aussiegirl

Way to go Liss...i know how huge it is to make double digits!! You have worked so hard and done so well. How awesome does it feel to have people not believe the before pics. Definitely get the pain checked out, sounds somewhat similar to the gallbladder pain I was getting (before it got taken out). But you never know with these pains.

Welcome Lessofmeismore I hope we can provide some support when you need, and a little bit of inspiration. Nessa, looking good!! Congrats you look awesome...and give yourself time, the 70's will come soon. So, I was shopping on the weekend for a 21st party I have been invited to (cant believe that I have been invited to a 21st that is not family), it is a rainbow theme, no black or white allowed. Difficult for me, as I love my black, atleast a little bit. Anyway, I have been able to shop in normal stores for probably a year now, and yet everytime I go into one I still feel like a fraud that should be looking only at the scarves and jewelery....when is my head going to get it

Misty, good luck in Boston. It definitely will be an interesting place to be for the next few days. A good friend of mine loves in the neighbourhood they found the bomber in and works near MIT, it has been a struggle for her, but as she says they are tough in Boston. I know free food sounds great, lounges with wine. For me nowadays it is everything in moderation. I dont get special meals when I travel, especially on planes, they are used to most the trays coming back with food on em, especially in cattle class. I have been asked about the meal a few times in business class when I have been lucky enough to get upgraded, but just say I cant eat much when I am flying. When I am in the US, the to-go box is great, a few meals out of one Buffets are hard, i have only been to one, I generally avoid them nowadays as I cant justify paying so much and being able to eat so little. But then I just got a bit of everything that interested me, had small bites and took my time. You may have seen this site http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com.au/ She has some good bariatric surgery ideas... Packing lunch I bought a small 1cup size tupperware and fill it with leftovers or what I like. I agree, teh Facebook peeps are going a bit crazy...I havent spent to much time there but there conversations come through on my feed sometimes.

I am in, I dont need much coaxing to travel as it is There is one in June

Sounds like a roadtrip is needed lol

Good luck Misty!!! I hope it all goes well and you are able to get the information that you need to make the right decision for you...and yes we do not discriminate, you are welcome to come here for support even if you choose RNY Dean, way to fly the Aussie flag. Love the profile piece. I so need to get up to Brissy to meet all you Brisbanites ...and yes Dean maybe you can bring along on single cops hehehe On goal weights, neither my surgeon or endo ever mentioned a goal weight. I always had 75kgs in my head, which means i would literally be half the person I started out as. My endo was happy when I hit the mid 80's and was happy if I didnt loose another kg... I currently sit around 77-78kgs (BMI 27) and feel comfortable here. I think there comes a point where you get to a weight where you are comfortable that you can maintain, your body and head generally tells you what this is. I am going to start talking to plastic surgeons shortly about getting rid of the excess skin, atleast on the arms.....scary!!!

Shell, great to see you back in here....looks like you are having amazing success...love the new pic

I know vacations can be hard for food consumption.I I am a foodie, so do like to try new things. When on vacation I try to enjoy local fresh produce or specialities, make it an experience rather than eatting for eatting sake. Be aware of what your eatting but also dont deny yourself just because you dont think you should, otherwise you also run the risk of over indulging....tight rope to walk. But in saying that you are on vacation, you are also more relaxed around times you wake up, eatting times, how you spend your day etc. When you get home get back in your routine, eatting should be treated the same way. Also generally on vacations you get more exercise in subconciously as you are out and about more. Dont be too hard on yourself about enjoying a vacation just be prepared to re-work it when you get back.

Liss, that is horrible...amazing how the little things catch us out. Hope you are feeling better.

Welcome to all the newbies!!! I have PCOS. While I am not in a position where I am looking to concieve, i do know since loosing the weight I am as frequent as possible with that TOM. Some other symptoms have reduced (excess hair) but not been completely eradicated. I can say, especially compared to Liss, my journey has been relatively easy, no complications. I started with a 53BMI, 150kgs and 5'6ft. I now have a 27BMI, lost 73 kgs and still kinda am 5'6..tho sometimes shorter as well. As well as loosing 1/2 a shoe size. While my BMI is still over normal, i am happy where I am, and most my excess weight is in skin (which may or may not be removed). It is one of the best things I have done for myself. I worked hard and still work hard to address the behaviours that got this way. Exercise is part of my life, as needed to feeling good about myself as air (kinda lol). Yesterday I had the worst day at work I remember in over a decade (corporate garbage), while I am emotional eatter and this does still trigger my over eatting side or my over buying food side. I did go to the supermarket and buy a whole lot of bad food, which my co-workers get to enjoy (and yes we all need a junk food hit lol) but I am forever grateful to the sleeve that limits my capacity to consumethese foods. So by the time I ate my healthy Protein centric meal, there was only a little room for the sugar comfort...so yay sleeve.

Hey Bella! How is the guy going? I dont have any problem finding guys to hook up with, if I choose, but decent ones are all taken lol. But I remain hopefull. Kelly, sounds like fun...it is great dressing up and feeling hot...it does attract the guys when you are happier in yourself. Its like they see the light lol...

Hi Simone, When I was on puree I used a flavourless Protein mix that I added into Soups and the pureed foods to up the protein I was eatting. I cant remember the brand but there was only one that I found. Generally you dont taste anything, just kinda makes the food creamier.

Wow there is a fair Brisbane contingent coming on through Welcome Bec!!

Hi All, Welcome to the newbies!!! Misty, I was sleeved a month after i had the appointment with my surgeon. Tho I had already had a few tests to see I was suitable for the band and had changed my mind. So he was happy I had the prep I needed. My surgeon usually requires 2 appointments before he schedules the surgery, but was happy I was as well educated as I could be ( I had seen his partner for the band) and ready for it, so was like how about 1 month...it can go quick once things are in motion

Wow I didnt see the trend until you brought it up. I am 18 months out and life and food is pretty darn normal. I think it is a combination of not doing your homework and knowing what you are in for, but also being ready to make and accept a change in your life. This isnt just having surgery, you are changing the way you have to eat, to get enough nutrients in (especially early on). It is for many like giving up an addiction and you need to be ready, only with this addiction rather than being able to get your vice (alcohol, cigarettes etc) there is no going back, no restart button. There are days I over eat and make myself ill (not intentionally) and think when are you going to learn your lesson? However did this happen before...yes! Now it just happens a whole lot quicker now, no consumimg 5000 cals in a sitting. Despite these moments I am anything but regretting this. If you do regret, i am sorry to hear that, but you have no choice but to embrace this now!

Congrats

You better Bec, I didnt actually ever have a shake on the Optifast. I only ate the bars and Soups, i cant stand shakes generally. Not sure if they will be any better than the shakes but definitely an option.

Hey Bec, I am in Sydney and my doctor was Dr Joseph, his offices are near RPA but does his surgeries at the Mater hospital. I can not say enough good things about him, he professional, interested in you, very clean work. He also took my gall bladder out recently as well, as part of the follow up care. Hardest part for me was making the decision and then the pre-op diet....Had I know how easy it would be making the decision would not have been so hard but there is always alot of anxiety with any surgery, and it is a big change that you really need to be ready to make. The 2 weeks Optifast was pretty horrid, flavourless gunk. Sue, I am sure you will survive. Maybe you will even end up with a really cute trainer lol.

Happy Belated Easter everyone!!! Welcome Bec! Glad we could help you with your decision. As the others have said there is probably very little that we havent seen between us. Swift Kate, congrats. It does feel great to see the numbers moving in a downward direction...enjoy the compliments there are going to be more and more of them You definitely learn how to take a compliment through this process. It is also not unusual to feel down or flat. In life we generally have moments when get down about things...I hope the break has helped get some pep back in your step. Sue, you will have to let us know how the workouts go. Kelli, hope the high Protein diet is working for you. How was the tiramisu?

Way to go Deano!!!! Awesome achievement....*cheerleader cartwheels* lol

Sue, thanks I wish I could say it is easy to bring the exercise in. I know i had to work hard to make it a habit for me. Even after breaking my ankle earlier this year and no exercise I had a struggle to get back into it. But most days even tho I am usually sore from one exercise or another I feel even worse, sluggish if I dont do it. That and I love being able to do 5 flights of stairs without huffing and puffing Also sitting around, and eatting what I can eat nowadays I was starting to put on weight. Now I have been cleared (kinda) to start trying running again, I am going to try the couch to 5km to get my running fitness. Hopefully between starting running again and the detox I want to do after easter I will kick those last 2-3kgs for good Want to join me on the challenge? Kelli, I agree with your dietician. I technically have not lost more than a 1-1.5 kgs in the last 5 months, but everyone still thinks that I am loosing, because of the exercise and toning that I am doing. Lissa, congrats, another 2kgs. It is awesome to come home from holidays and have that feeling!! Hope all the move is going ok!!

Kelliv, good luck with the new advice.... Nessa, dont let it get you down too much. Your body is probably readjusting after months of loosing. I would often gain a small amount of weight and then loose it is some of its friends the next few weeks or so. Now I am maintaining, I can easily swing 1.5 kgs up and down over a day *shrug* I was talking to my trainer today and said that I wanted to loose another 2-3kgs to be exactly half what I started out at, to which he replied where from? You are all muscle It gave me a bit of a smile, cause he isnt one to just say nice things for the sake of it. I ofcourse had no problem showing him exactly where it needs to come off... But I will call that win of the day.

Sleever84, unfortunately yes. It is pretty common for us sleevers to loose hair from the 4 month mark on. As Sue has said it starts to grow back around the 9 month mark..but not soon enought for your wedding....timing. Definitely talk to your hairdresser about some hair pieces.. Good luck with the wedding I am sure it will be a beautiful event.

Great idea OTR. I have thought about doing the same thing.. showing before and after shots of food to show how much is consumed. Its food porn and educational as well. TES, this is my experience, everyone has a different experience or approach. For me is a new normal, eatting the Protein and veggies first. I am at or close enough to goal and would probably have also had a few of the tortilla chips for the crunch. Our bodies tend to crave whats good for us first nowadays, but you do need to train it early.

Nessa, way to plan...I cant even imagine trying to get that all to the airport lol.... Yep being single sucks...i do get more attention now but the guys are not really any better calibre...guess I am just picky is my response. Dean, firecracker prawns...sounds ominous...are they chilli?