Chickie

That is awesome Fee!! Congratulations.

Well. According to that calculator, my medically ideal body weight, is 56kg/123lbs. My "normal weight for height and age" is 66 kg /144 lbs. So, I am either 1.5 kg/3.3 lbs underweight, or 8.5kg/18.7 overweight. I can't win, lol.

My husband was overweight too when I was banded. We threw ourselves into the new lifestyle, and eating habits, and it has been really easy for us (DH ended up losing 30kg/ 66lbs). We always went out of our way to feed our son good healthy food, so there was no real change for him.

Diane, you are such a brave lady! I will pray for a speedy recovery.

Congrats Lil!

I think I enjoy food more now than before. Like Jacqui, I have not given up any food. I do count calories (because it works for me) and I have anything that is within my daily "allowance".

Oh, how I wish that were true! :think Genetics play a huge role in skin snaping back, as does how long one was overweight, how healthy they were / are and where they carried their weight. Once the skin is streched to the point of being paper thin (thinner in my case) it is rare that it will ever be close to what it was (that came from my GP and plastic surgeon)

I think the worst I have had was from a girl I thought I knew really well. I had not seen her for a while, and had lost about 1/2 my weight by the time I saw her again. She asked how I had lost it, I told her, and she said "Oh, I thought you did it the proper way" I could have slapped her. But other than her, people have been really supportive.

Hi and welcome to the thread Jennifer! Your date is coming up really soon. You must be so excited, and nervous! If you have any questions, fire away.

That's great Jodi!

I can see a lump when I am naked. My husband swears he cannot see it (naked or dressed) That said, it does not bother me.

I waited to goal weight to go for PS. Yes, I will end up under goal weight when it is all said and done, but the weight will only come off one area, and not my whole body. (that may not make sense to anyone, I think I know what I am saying, but it is 4am...) I will end up looking more in proportion than I do now. Plastic surgeons in Oz are a picky bunch. They like you to be as close to goal as you can be (or think you will get) and they make dammed sure that you know that PS is not for weight loss at all (and they bash you over the head with the fact that you will have a huge scar - like a scar is worse than a belly that slaps your thighs?) And as for the wait time... That is so individual. For some people all the time in the world will not fix their skin. I know it wont in the case of my belly. My arms and legs? Hell yeah! Give 'em another 6 months, and they will look fantastic. My belly? No way. I had a twin pregnancy, closely followed by another single pregnancy, then became morbidly obese all within a matter of 2.5 years. I am lucky my belly dosent touch the floor. The general "wait 6 months to a year" thing is just a guide. And how close to goal is really, in the end, up to you and your surgeon.

What a fantastic NSV! Congrats!

I know I am not waiting (on medical advice, they tell me it will never get better, sadly) It really depends on where the extra skin is, and how bad it is. I for example, have a huge apron, I have to wear a girdle / compression type garment to hold it up off my pubic area and tops of my thighs. It is pretty well empty skin. If I was to wait a year or two, I am sure that it would shrink some. But it could never shrink back to what it should be. After talking to my GP, and a couple of plastic surgeons, we decided that in my case, it was best not to wait. Every situation is different, and there is no way to 100% predict what your skin will look like at the end of your weight loss journey.

Hi Philli!! As all the others have said, counting calories will give you a good idea of exactly what you are eating/drinking. As for the constipation issue, Benefiber (You are an Aussie, right? You can get it cheap at Woolworths and Priceline) was a good pal of mine early on. Usually a bit of extra Fiber, and plenty of Water will help.

Yep, I count calories.

I have been thinking about this a lot. I am going to add an extra 250 calories a day to my diet (I am eating about 1200 at the moment). If that works, (and I maintain) I will not be having an unfill. If it does not work (and I keep losing) I will have a small unfill. I am bound to lose a little weight when I have my tummy tuck, so I don't want lose too much more weight. I like being curvy, I like looking like a woman. Thank you for all your kind words, it means a lot to me to know I have inspired people the way I was inspired in the beginning of my journey.

I am at goal people :kiss I got up this morning, and I was 65.1 kg / 143 lbs. I think I am done. And I am so excited... I could burst! Thanks to everyone for the support over the last 17 months... It means a lot to me

This is just a little FYI on plastic and reconstructive surgery in Australia. If you want your health fund to help pay, make sure you get a referral from your GP, and get a referral to a reconstructive surgeon. Not just a plastic surgeon. PS & RCS use different item numbers. Depending on your fund, and cover, you could end up paying very little for surgery.

Thanks Kell, thank you! It puts my mind at rest knowing that it is not really that awful. I tend to prepare for the worst, and hope for the best. Not a good attitude to take at times, lol. If you feel comfy doing so, would you mind sharing (PM'ing, or I can email my email) some pics of you further out? I remember your post when you first had your TT, and thank you for sharing them. It really helped me decide that this was something that was worth doing. ((hug)) Oh, and how are the wedding plans going?

Thanks Kell! Do you have any advice? Wisdom to pass?

Do tell. What am I getting myself into here? LOL And what things would you reccomend for me to take the hospital (apart from a coffee maker)?

I lied for years. To myself, my husband, my doctor (till she weighed me) and everyone else. I wonder though, with the licence thing.. Will I have to prove I am who I am? I look nothing like the girl in the photo.

I 4th, and 5th the liquids thing. See how that goes for a day or two.

Thank you Tricia. I do feel wonderful. And I only have 33 days to go till my tumy tuck. I am sure I will be so busy getting everything together, that the time will just fly!