Swift Kate

Had to change my starting weight on my ticker because I put on another kilo. So today is my official start date, weighed in at 109.9 kgs. I never want to see that number again, hopefully it's all downhill from here.

Thanks cooki, I'll try and keep the water up. Dean about the fibre, my dietician talked about metamucil and benefibre with one expanding in the stomach. She said that one shouldn't be taken with the sleeve. I'm not home so don't have the notes but I thought she said not to take Metamucil and recommended benefibre because it doesn't swell in the stomach. Won't be home to check my notes until Friday but you might want to do a bit of research. Cheers.

Thanks for the encouragement I receive from this forum. Well today is my first day of pre-op and I'm so excited because it brings it all closer. Happy New Year to you all and may 2013 be filled with much love, laughter and happiness.

I meant what damage I could do waiting three months for my SLEEVE not band. Am so anxious to get rid of my band.

Thank you for sharing everyone. I start pre op diet this Tuesday and boy do I need it. Have put on six kilos since having decided on the sleeve a month ago and getting all fill out of my band. I'm having band out and sleeve done in same op, however there is the chance that once the surgeon goes in he may decide that I need some wait time before I have the sleeve. If this happens I'm worried what damage, weight wise, I could do while waiting the three months for the band!! It's strange really because at the moment I'm eating more than ever. I've never put on six kgs in a month before. Roll on Tuesday is all I can say. Quite appropriate really that I start pre op diet on the first day of the year...hope it's a sign that I can be a loser next year!!!

Wow I finally worked out how to show my ticker. Did it before but didn't add to my signature. Started off at today's weight. Didn't bother starting at pre-band which was 2 years ago. It all starts from now!!

Thanks for the encouragement. Chose a lot wiser food options today. I can do it!!!!!

Love keeping an eye on this forum. Getting excited about my date, just over three weeks away. Unfortunately I seem to be eating everything in sight at he moment. Vowed to go off chocolate until Christmas and have managed three days so just two days to go. Dony know what's wrong but just want to be eating all the time. scales are up about two kilos in as many weeks. Start my pre op diet in nine days so maybe I'm just reacting to that. Wishing you all a great Christmas and every happiness for the year ahead.

Shell, you look fabulous. Something for me to aspire too.

Aussie girl, you truly are beautiful both inside and out. You have done an amazing job and are so inspiring. Thank you for sharing.

One Elle, am sorry to hear of your medical woes but while a loss of 50 kgs won't cure you of any of these, just imagine the difference it will make. I can see why you're so excited. A young girl I know of 24 had the sleeve 4 months ago and has lost nearly 30 kgs. This is like she was always carrying around a full suitcase and hand luggage prior to the loss. I need to lose at lease two full suitcases lol. It's no wonder we get tired and our bodies ache with this excess baggage we carry around with us all the time. A few years back I lost 40kgs on the Cohen programme and I felt amazing without the extra weight. Of course I counld'nt maintain it and backup square one. I will be thinking of you on Thursday.

One Elle, I'm having my band out and hopefully sleeved at the same time on 15 January. I saw the anaesthetist today and he was very nice but gave me some worse case scenarios re nausea and vomiting for the first day or so. After the appt his receptionist said "that will be $900". ($150 for today's consult and $750 for the gap). I reminded her my surgery was not for 5 weeks so she just accepted my consult payment today. I felt like she thought I was a cheapskate not paying it all today. Oh well, not my problem lol. Kelliv I have a plain black simple dress that I can wear with a short sleeve cardigan (no sleeveless for me...maybe next year). That will have to do. Aussie Kelloff, your weight loss is sensational in such a short time. You are truly inspirational.

Thanks Kelliv, will pay when it's actually due. Am quite excited tho because this appointment brings it yet another step closer. Have work Christmas lunch next week and nothing to wear!!! Don't want to wear a usual work outfit but don't feel good enough about myself at the moment to buy something new. Hoping something miraculously appears in my wardrobe lol.

Am off for a pre-op visit to the anaesthetist tomorrow arvo. When I had the band the anaesthetist simply popped into see me in the hospital just prior to surgery. This one wants a separate visit to his rooms. When They called to make the appointment I was told that a gap of $750 must be paid at leat a week prior to surgery, however it would be best if I could pay it to tomorrow along with $150 consult fee. I'm not complaining about paying a gap but thought it was a tad rough to ask for it 5 weeks prior to surgery! Anyhow will pay the consult fee tomorrow of course but have decided to pay the gap early in the new year. Hopefully they will accept that.

Good luck mimz, waiting is hard but hopefully the time will fly and you'll know what direction you will take before you know it. I saw my GP yesterday and told her that I was getting the sleeve in January as I haven't seen her for a while. She said that she thought it was a good decision as she knows I have struggled with the band. Made me feel so much better as I really value her opinion.

I agree kalimomof3, I have lost weight many times by many different ways but I have never been able to maintain it. It is hard to believe that I will be off the weight merry-go-round in January.

Aussie kelloff, your loss is amazing. My surgeon hasn't given me a goal weight but I'm thinking about 70 kgs would be great at this stage. I'm currently 105kgs so your loss would suit me just right lol. I got to low 70's about five years ago and was so happy, had so much energy and felt so confident. I'm 170 cms tall so 70 kgs would stil put me into the higher end of my healthy weight range. I start my optifast four weeks from tomorrow and my surgery is six weeks from tomorrow. My partner will be away for January and February next year so unfortunately won't have his hands on support during that time. Although that said when I found out about his trip I decided that I was doing to have the ops done while he was away. I already have holidays and it'll keep me busy and give me something to focus on. He should be back when I'm about 6 weeks out so hopefully I will be right on track by then. Roll on January. nge

Thanks for the replies about hair loss. I suppose there is always a consequence to most things and it sounds like we can all live with it. Sueocco you put it all in perspective when you wrote of your friend going through chemo. Just curious, has anyone not had hair loss? Do some people escape it?

I was just wondering about hair loss. Some of you have commented on it but not really sure to what degree you mean. Is there a noticeable loss that others would pick up or are you who are affected just aware of it. Is it so bad that the scalp becomes more visible? Excuse my ignorance but would like to know perhaps the worse case scenario. Thank you.

I think you are all amazing and its great to get a heads up on what I'll be going through in January and post op. My sleeve revision is just 6 and a half weeks away. I was really anxious making the decision but now it's all organized I feel really great about it all. I'm so impressed with the great losses of you all. I currently have minimal fill in my band and I just want to eat all the time because I finally can after having awful restrictions with the band. Am trying to be careful so as I don't put on too much weight before the op.

Thanks for your encouragement Nessa and Aussiegirl. I had only told my two grown daughters and my partner of course. Was going to let my mum know a bit closer to the date as i didnt want her to worry but she knew I went to surgeon yesterday and rang up to see how I went. Told her I was getting band out in January and she immediately asked whether I was getting "the other". So bit the bullet and told her and she was very supportive although I'm sure she will be anxious about it until its done. Have decided not to share with anyone else...just don't want to have to explain. Apart from my immediate family only a few close friends know about the band and I will tell them I'm getting the band out but not about the sleeve. I just don't want the pressure I'll put on myself if others know if that makes sense.

Hello all, I posted about a month ago but was waiting to see surgeon as to talking about removing band and being sleeved. In the meantime i have been addicted to this strand and have been quite motivated by all the posts. I have had my band for two miserable years. Anyhow the good news is that I saw my surgeon today and I have a date.....15 January!!!!!!!! He is going to remove band and if everything looks ok will do the sleeve in the same op. I am very excited although he said I have a two out of three chance of the sleeve being done at the same time providing there is minimal scarring caused by the band. So I won't know until I wake up from the op whether both procedures have been done. He said he will err on the side of caution so I can't really argue with that. I have to do two weeks of optifast so it all starts in the new year. Woo hoo!

Good luck Scotty. Also Lila am so pleased things are working out for you. I am so addicted to reading everyone's posts each day but don't really have much to contribute as yet. Surgeons visit is still 7 weeks away where I can finally find out about my revision from band to sleeve. Have minimal fill in and have put on 2 kgs in 2 weeks so am feeling quite frustrated. Have upped my walking to 5 days a week but while I seem to think I'm eating healthy, obviously I have some work to do.

I so understand what you mean about the coat hangers. I don't suppose I'm the only one who cuts off the size tag on clothes. My coats or jackets I spend a while with the unpicker trying to do it neatly because I have to put them on the back of my chair at work. I wonder who I'm really kidding, it's not as if people would think I'm a size 10 or 12 when in fact I'm a size 18-20. I think you look fabulous.

Good luck shell, you will do well because you want to. Just got home from a walk, with minimal fill in my band I am finding I am wanting to eat more so need to compensate. Roll on the sleeve.