Aussiegirl

One thing Diane helped me with so far is that she told me it is OK not to eat morning tea if I'm not hungry! I was always forgetting, and feeling guilty about it. Now I feel like it's OK if I don't want to eat then. Isn't it funny how much we tie ourselves up in knots about things.
I am off work tomorrow and Friday to get ready for my trip. I leave Sunday and I will be in India until the 21st. I will be checking in here periodically. I won't have a scale so that will be tough, but I hope I have a killer loss when I come back! I am feeling excited and a little nervous about what eating real Indian food with the sleeve will be like. It isn't really like what you get at Indian restaurants here, much less fatty and more healthy. And luckily where I am going there is more roti (wheat flat bread) than rice. So I think it will be fine. In the worst case I can always have an egg!

RetroGolly...welcome. We have a heap of people in here from Brissie that cab help with doctors and everything up there...
You do need a doctors referral to see the surgeon.

Just updated my tickers. 8kgs away from goal / BMI of 25. How cool is that!!

Hey all- was feeling a bit glum as I had a very brief stall (literally just a week) but this week I bounced back with a 2 kg loss which means I am now just over 2 kg from my first goal (80kg loss)!!! So chuffed!!

BMI hit 29.9 today... Been a long time since there was anything other than a 3 at the beginning.

I am usually fine mixing as long as it isnt too many different types, and as long I am not drinking wine. Wine makes me ill.....I am not a normal sleever when it comes to alcohol.
Not sure why I bring it up as to say we all go into this thinking we are giving everything up. But as time goes on you get a new normal that feels like it was never any different.
And on top of it all, bad night with food and stuff, this morning I weighed in at the lowest number I have seen in a while..

I am usually fine mixing as long as it isnt too many different types, and as long I am not drinking wine. Wine makes me ill.....I am not a normal sleever when it comes to alcohol.
Not sure why I bring it up as to say we all go into this thinking we are giving everything up. But as time goes on you get a new normal that feels like it was never any different.
And on top of it all, bad night with food and stuff, this morning I weighed in at the lowest number I have seen in a while..

I am usually fine mixing as long as it isnt too many different types, and as long I am not drinking wine. Wine makes me ill.....I am not a normal sleever when it comes to alcohol.
Not sure why I bring it up as to say we all go into this thinking we are giving everything up. But as time goes on you get a new normal that feels like it was never any different.
And on top of it all, bad night with food and stuff, this morning I weighed in at the lowest number I have seen in a while..

I am usually fine mixing as long as it isnt too many different types, and as long I am not drinking wine. Wine makes me ill.....I am not a normal sleever when it comes to alcohol.
Not sure why I bring it up as to say we all go into this thinking we are giving everything up. But as time goes on you get a new normal that feels like it was never any different.
And on top of it all, bad night with food and stuff, this morning I weighed in at the lowest number I have seen in a while..

You had cider and shots?? I have to stick to one type of drink (eg:wine or spirits) otherwise...yuck.But then I am old.Have a great time in the gym today )

Brendani, as many have stated before and also your dietician, you really do have to be ready to embrace the change.
I truly do hope you do successfully rise to the challenge, we look forward to hearing your success with or without surgery.
Just as an FYI.....this all comes from the girl who has spent the evening drinking cider, shots and still somehow managed to finish .2/3 a chicken kebab.....life really does get normal after a while.
Don't try this if you are newly sleeved.......it doesn't even remotely end well.
Not recommended as an everyday occurrence, however farewells and birthdays combined.....anyway a couple of hours in the gym for me tommorow.
Enjoy your weekends everyone

Brendani, as many have stated before and also your dietician, you really do have to be ready to embrace the change.
I truly do hope you do successfully rise to the challenge, we look forward to hearing your success with or without surgery.
Just as an FYI.....this all comes from the girl who has spent the evening drinking cider, shots and still somehow managed to finish .2/3 a chicken kebab.....life really does get normal after a while.
Don't try this if you are newly sleeved.......it doesn't even remotely end well.
Not recommended as an everyday occurrence, however farewells and birthdays combined.....anyway a couple of hours in the gym for me tommorow.
Enjoy your weekends everyone

Brendani, as many have stated before and also your dietician, you really do have to be ready to embrace the change.
I truly do hope you do successfully rise to the challenge, we look forward to hearing your success with or without surgery.
Just as an FYI.....this all comes from the girl who has spent the evening drinking cider, shots and still somehow managed to finish .2/3 a chicken kebab.....life really does get normal after a while.
Don't try this if you are newly sleeved.......it doesn't even remotely end well.
Not recommended as an everyday occurrence, however farewells and birthdays combined.....anyway a couple of hours in the gym for me tommorow.
Enjoy your weekends everyone

Brendani, not a fall at the hurdle at all IMO. We should all take a long hard look at ourselves before we embark on something as monumental as this. And you seem young and healthy enough that you have time on your side - so take it. Frankly, when I see young women leaping into this I worry (it's usually women on this site, with such a focus on "thin" rather than "healthy"). Of course that may be because I'm old and want everyone to suffer as much as I have... Again, good luck.
Misty, I've always been a fan of Smith Family and St Vinnies stores in more upmarket suburbs - often get lightly worn, good brands cheaper than at Target/Katie's etc. Ironically they are often cheaper than Vinnies in less affluent suburbs - perhaps less competition for their wares??
Until the last few years I'd never bought a new pair of jeans ever, but as I grew bigger the available stock grew smaller. My now 14 year old son has been almost exclusively dressed out of these places, yet I'm sure none of my friends know this... One child families abound in the wealthier suburbs and the labels are usually not worn out, far less the clothes.
I spent $20 recently on 2 really beautifully cut size 16 pants, a very elegant red top with funky buttons and a sheer, flowing top in red and black. I love them all!

Aussiegirl you are amazing. I am no where near as successful as you have been in losing half your body weight! Well done you! I am not even thinking about reconstructive surgery yet. I am afraid I will be looking to for advice and experience in this regard. Good luck and stay in touch.

Doing my "happy dance" all booked in for August 28 th!!! 4 weeks til my delicious diet of opti then onto the new me!!

Brendani I agree with everything Sue said a couple of posts earlier, although I've been sleeved a lot less time than she has. After only 9 weeks (not even a footy or tv series "season") I find that my thoughts about eating have changed a lot - not my love of food and taste, just amounts and speed at which I eat.
"Restriction" is a beautiful thing - you WILL slow down your eating because it will be bl**dy uncomfortable if you don't! I eat with a teaspoon a lot and have no problem with that, but sometimes I get carried away with the taste of something, take a whacking big bite and then realise I have to chew it a lot and swallow in stages. It works fine for me.
As Sue said, only you can make the decision for you, but try not to equate everything you do today with something you'll experience as a loss later - you almost certainly won't. I was a big portion eater of mostly v good quality food - no junk food, not particularly sweet stuff and nor do i tend towards "two fat ladies" style creamy or fatty dishes (my hubby does though, but he's thin... a story for another day and a different forum). I now watch my husband and son eat their "huge" meals at a pace that seems obscene, but didn't used to. I don't feel deprived because I'm not hungry - it's the "new normal" people speak of.
What we do or did around food is also only one way of eating - there've always been people who ate slower, took smaller mouthfuls and ate less quantity and less calorific food. Our "normal" was/is only one of many.
I'm no saint by the way... I could quietly nibble exquisite cheeses and sup good wine all day long, and my sleeve would let me! But it would be no real achievement to lose my excess weight if there was no work left for me to do, would it???
A few days before my op I posted on this site that I didn't think I could give up the enjoyment of food and was thinking of backing out. Lovely people reassured me I would still enjoy my food, just in smaller amounts. And they've been right.
At this relatively early stage I'm still avoiding bread, rice, Pasta and cake/biscuits ... but I find plenty of stuff I like when I'm out and about. I enjoy socialising and was eating out very early on... eating around the solid food in an Asian Soup while still on thin liquids!
My BMI was "only" 36 but I had several serious health issues related to my weight and a huge family history of early death. I'm 52 and earlier this year realised my state of health was significantly worse than both my parents at this age, and they died well before reaching 60. I can't begin to tell you how great it feels to have "hope" (and even "positive expectations") again. Health may not be your biggest concern, but for many of us it is or becomes a big black cloud in our lives.
I wish you well with your decision and your journey, whatever it is. Have faith in yourself to cope with the transitions you face. If we can do it, you can too.
Good luck.

This is useless because I can't speak from my own experience but... My sister had a Tummy Tuck with major hernia repair, she was in pain for many days and couldn't stand up straight. She wouldn't let anyone get her out of the hospital bed but me! She could be a total wimp though.
It would make sense that skin removal with less muscle repair would be less painful, we use ab muscles for every movement...

Exactly my thoughts.....summer 2013/2014.....here I come. Someone even said to me, now you can wear a bikini....errr not ready for that yet I don't think lol.
Look out summer 2013/2014 here we come

Looks like we have all had a positive day
Lissa, definitely let us know when you are in Sydney, July or August I will be around.
Well til the 23 rd of August, as then I will be in hospital, finishing off this journey getting my Tummy Tuck and arm lift. Excited and apprehensive at the same time. The surgeon I saw today I LOVED!!! And will probably end up being a couple of grand cheaper as well. But I feel very confident in her, her approach was the complete opposite to the last doctor I saw. Best thing was she felt all my muscles in my stomach and said she thought it was unlikely I would need the muscle tightening part of the surgery. Looks like the hours of crunches have paid off lol. Apparently this is the most painful part.

Hi Brendani
I will start this by saying that this is your decision to make and no one can make It for you. I want to tell you about how I felt leading into an operation that was going to change my life - and yes this is a big deal!
I too felt scared that I would regret it and mourn the loss of eating all I could eat when I wanted. The truth is that you do have to come to terms with that in your head. The reality was that I had tried to lose weight over many years and I did have some successes but always put the weight back on. I also had thoughts of 'if I can do this pre op thing, why can't I just lose weight this way without this operation! I realised that I would have to continue on the pre op diet (or something very close to it) for about a year and then have a life long battle with hunger to keep the weight off - I knew I would never be able to maintain that as I had been there so many times before - haven't we all!
The pre op diet is hell and it does play tricks on your mind - I have even heard that such a restricted calorie diet can trigger sort of a depression - something to do with hormones I think - or was it liver. Anyway, I think most people have thoughts of 'why couldn't I just do this and lose the weight' - it is a normal thought process.
Once you have the operation, the way you feel about food that you used to love will be different. The reason is that 1/ you don't feel hungry 2/ food can taste different 3/ the sensation of fullness has completely changed - so all the payoffs you got from food prior to the operation are gone - suddenly your brain goes 'hey I don't have to eat to feel good'.
I am nearly one year out now and I do feel hunger (but not ravenous like my old hunger), most food tastes good and I feel satisfied with very little of the things I love. I can eat chicken wings and drink a margarita, I can eat a sushi roll - yes I eat it a bit slower but I don't feel deprived or unhappy that I couldn't eat a whole plate. I just feel full, happy and thin!
I can honestly say that I do not miss the way I used to eat. I still love my food but I am so happy I don't have to eat a lot anymore. People often ask me how I feel now and I think my key word is 'relief' - I am so relieved that food doesn't control me - I now control it - with a little help from my sleeve!
This is just my story ...I hope you make the right choice for you and what ever you decide please stay on this forum. It will give you insight into other people's experiences and who knows, if you aren't ready yet, you might be soon! All the best.

Misty, I work out 6 days per week - 2 days with a personal trainer, 1 day boxing and 3 days running for 5klms...my goal for next 8 weeks appt is to be close to the 4.5kg muscle mass so different from a year ago when couldn't walk down the road without being out of breath

I had an awesome morning with my appointment with my Gold Coast dietician Fiona Brown who did a full body composition assessment - I only have 5% of body fat left to lose and 4.5kgs of muscle mass to build and then I'm in the perfect range..very healthy visceral abdominal fat and once I reach the above, I will be under my metabolic age Good days xx