Sleeved and relieved!

Thanks for all our lovely comments - it means a lot. And Sabrina - I am thinking that you need some tips for the diet you have to do just after surgery? I stayed on liquids (including smooth thin yoghurt) for about 3 weeks. The one thing I really enjoyed was warm cordial - you know like orange squash and Ribena with warm Water - that seemed to go down really well. I also found that I enjoyed pot Desserts as they were a bit different - just watch out for the calorie content! I think that's all really, suffice to say you won't really be fancying much so go with it, enjoy the fact that food is no longer in control of you - you'll be amazed how easy it is! Xx

Hi all Although I had my gastric sleeve 8 months ago I have to be honest and say that, whilst I have dipped in and out of weight loss forums both leading up to and after my op, I have not really been actively involved. Now, I feel so passionate about my weight loss surgery and the results that I have already achieved that I thought why not share it with people who are either going through the same thing and feel as on top of the world as I do, or are maybe considering having the sleeve and want to talk to somebody who can give first hand experience (and because I have most likely run out of friends and family to bore with my elation now!!). I can honestly say that there is nothing better I have ever done in life than have the sleeve! And I doubt that anything else will ever match the feeling of happiness that it brings (aside from having my kids of course, but thats a given!). I have so far lost 92lbs and feel amazing!! I have about another 14lb to lose which just seems incredible since, all of my adult life I can never remember being less than at least 5st (70lbs) overweight - it just feels like a small mound to overcome now as opposed to the mountain that I was always faced with. Life is fantastic!! - I cannot stress that enough! I could go on (and on, and on) about how I feel but dont want to bore you all - just to say, im friendly and approachable and would be more than happy to speak to others about their journey, share ideas of just answer questions from those of you who have either decided to have the surgery or are still thinking about it. Bye for now Kellie x

Well done you!! When we are overweight it is so easy to blame everything that goes wrong on ourselves, because we are used to failing at dieting so that makes us feel used to failing at everything - we kind of expect not to be successful and even expect others to treat us as second class citizens (which sadly, some of the time is true). We live in a world where others judge us on our size, and we get used to being judged and then somehow allow it to happen - crazy! Like you, I have found a new inner confidence and a feeling that this time I wont fail ..... its such a good feeling! Congratulations on pushing forward with the weight loss surgery - I did vast research before opting for the sleeve and versus the band I think that there is much more chance of success ..... its definately working for me so far. Good luck and keep the positivity going - dont let anyone make you feel otherwise. Very best Kellie x

Hi Newbie Sorry - what items do you mean? food wise? Happy to answer any questions but just wanted to check what you mean. Thanks Kellie x

OMG Dottie ...... you are envious!!??? I live about 14 miles from London in a built up area, with an average of around 12 hours sunshine a year, nowhere to scuba dive and nobody ever walks their cats .... they are too streetwise to be treated like such royalty!! lol - that sounds idyllic hon, and cannot think of a better place to start and enjoy being the new you! Your job sounds amazing - I am a photographer and writer, so half on location, half sat at the desk (well, thats the theory anyway but it seems to be more like 90% of my time at the desk at the moment - which doesnt do much for firming the buttocks - but hey, they are a lot smaller than they were!!). September will come around soon enough, and just think, by Christmas you will be well on your way to the new you - hang in there - but I completely understand what you mean as that was me this time last year when I began the process. xx

ps - Dottie ...... although I dont go to the gym I move everywhere at 100 miles an hour now, am always active, walk the dog probably far more than she would care me to and actually run (yes, run) around the with kids ...... must sort out some sort of routine soon with regards to swimming or cycling, but so far I cannot say that exercise has been high on my agenda. xx

Hey thanks all - how lovely to hear your support and encouragement! And Dottie - how great that you have your surgery coming up, you will never look back, I promise. OK - as far as challenges go, I dont think there are any! I guess the one thing I have to be aware of food wise now is not using things like crisps to snack on as they go down really easily, but as we all know, are sooooo bad for you! Other than that I find the whole thing plain sailing. Honestly, before the surgery I was a food lover - I seemed to snack all day long, eat portions that were far too large and basically - although my excuse was "I dont really eat that much, and I dont understand why im overweight" I knew in my heart that I did and it was all my fault - that is why the sleeve is so fantastic - not only does it take away your desire to want to eat, it also stops you eating too much. So - the only thing left is to ensure that you eat enough of the right foods - thats probably the challenge of sorts, but hey, im in a routine now and its working!! I do try to vary my foods but at the same time, since I am not really a food lover any more (dont worry, your love of foods will be replaced with the love of your legs not rubbing together, the smaller clothes you can buy, the compliments you receive, the sidewards glance from the odd man ..... yep, its finally happened to me!! and so many other things that food just cannot give you the same level of joy for). My average day goes something like this: Breakfast - 1 egg scrambled on a ryvita (no butter) mid morning - a small handful of mixed nuts lunch - well today I had two slices of ham wrapped around some salad leaves to make a kind of wrap (sounds boring but I cannot eat bread so its the next best thing) and a packet of snack a jacks. For dinner tonight I am planning to have a small piece of salmon (about the size of a credit card if that makes sense, and maybe a centimete thick) with a bit of mixed veg. Simple! I find that I mainly stick to eggs, chicken and fish but really, there is nothing that I miss - I dont even fancy chocolate these days which is an absolute miracle as I used to have at least one chocolate bar a day! Hope that that helps Dottie? Im notorious for going off subject but hopefully I have included answers to your questions somewhere in my ramblings! Trust me - and I cannot empahsise this enough ....... it will be the most life changing, exhilerating and rewarding thing you have ever done! Very best Kellie x

I had it too - it went after about two weeks. I think it is something to do with the body going into Ketosis - where you are not eating solids and getting any real food go down your throat too, it causes a bit of a build up. I just kept brushing my tongue and it soon went back to normal. Hope that helps. Thanks Kellie

Hi ya Ive just joined too! Im 8 months post surgery now and 92lbs down - have faith hon, it will come off, and this time it will stay off too! Just wanted to say hi as a fellow newbie and am here if you have any questions or just want a chat. Thanks Kellie x

Hi ya Just to say dont worry yourself about the pain - it is bearable and doesnt last very long. I wasnt written up for painkilling meds in the end and managed to cope so you will be fine. And anyway, nothing is as painful as the constant feeling of being overweight hey? And that will soon be a thing of the past. I would have my op 20 times over to feel as good as I do today so hope that goes some way to reassure you that its not all bad. Wishing you lots of luck - it really will be the best thing you ever did. Kellie x