mckelmer

Hello Meredith, I did start mine early.. I started a month before my surgery with the Optifast so I could allow myself to have 100gms of meat for dinner.. I knew i would struggle through it if i couldn't have some sort of feeling of chewing real food. It worked well for me, as i lost 8kgs in that month. I really do think the first week was the hardest, after that it got easier so by the last week I was so proud of myself. Good luck with everything, I have no regrets and am sure you too will be very happy

I had the horrible band put in 2007 and removed in 2012 hated it for most of the time. It was so anti-social with my lifestyle, and the reflux was intollerable, i had to sleep sitting up the last 6 months i had it in , i call it bulimia because i spit up everything, yes I lost 35kg but was not worth the day to day dramas, so had it removed and gained it all back plus some. I had the sleeve done in Oct 2013 and in 7 months have lost 30kg and am not looking back! Very tired the first 5 months, still struggle with energy but i make myself walk walk walk because this time i want it to be the healthy way. I couldnt eat anything fruit or veg with the band so I am rediscovering healthier choices which isnt a choco bar daily. All I can say is you do what is right for you, this is just my thoughts Good luck

Hello Kaz, For me the exercise has plays a huge part, mentally!!! I am not convinced that it has done anything more for my "weight loss" however, the inches have fallen off quickly so if you can get yourself in a routine, DO IT. It makes me feel that im not in this for a free ride and that i earn every single mm that goes away. But that is just me! Today I walked a pace of 6.1km per hour or less than 10 mins per km and that just makes me so proud of myself and no drugs on earth could give me that high. Good luck with your journey, and i would join a gym too if you are keen, cause changing things up makes your body burn more. Also keep in mind that it doesnt all just happen overnight, at first i could only walk around 800 mtrs and now 6 months later i walk 5 days a week (gotta have some rest) and average 5km daily so the fitter you get the more you will be able to do.

I had no restricitons from my doc on exercise. My brain on the other hand kept finding reasons not to do it... and then i told myself i didnt get this surgery done for nothing, so 2 1/2 month after surgery (middle of Jan) I pulled my finger out and just did it... i walked 2kms and it about killed me... I have not let myself talk myself out of it ever since... i feel so good after I am done and i have lost 4 pant sizes... I can tell you that it is not all because of the sleeve, that is not the end all... but the bad was horrible i never would have been able to exercise with the band, would have never been able to drink the Water needed... if anyone needs some motivation download the runtastic app on your phone and add me because it is awesome motivator to be challenged enore66@bigpond.com ... good luck everyone and everyone of us deserve this!

Hi everyone Just an update... still exercising but the weight isnt moving much but still grateful that it is at least making my inches go down.... started in a size 26 (loose) and now down to an 18... goal is a 12. I am up to 6km's a day and will probably maintain that for awhile but I have locked into the HBF run for a reason which is 12 km's.... OMG I never ever would have thought i would do something like that... I am not going to lie and say i love exercising because I DONT but i sure love how i feel afterward... I am struggling with food tho and have had a real pig out week... i am not going to let it get me down and am not going to beat myself up but just wish i had more self control sometimes.... anyhow love reading all the posts and everyone that is getting ready for your WLS it will be the best thing you have ever done even with all the mental struggles!

Hi everyone, i too am from Perth, surgery was in Oct 2013... 24kg down, lots of work and definitely realized that its not a "freebie" ride. Have started exercising to make sure this was not for nothing. As an ex-bander I will not ever allow another opportunity to go by. I had lost 30kg with the band before it started acting up, I know i could have done more and feel I let myself down by not doing anything physically. Anyhow, good luck and feel confident you will get where you want to.

Hi everyone, it is so fantastic to read so many success's happening. I started exercising 5 weeks ago and have only lost 1.3 kg ... such a struggle, and I am not eating badly.. yes i have had things i shouldnt but in general i am eating better than i ever have in my life, walking/running 6 days a week and feel like i should be loosing more. I am not going to quit cause i know it will all catch up to me but struggling mentally. Anyhow, altogether I have lost 24kg since i started my journey in Oct and know that without the sleeve i would have lost nothing and probably gained. Also, I have been lucky enough to have joined up with someone who had it done 1 week before me and together we have busted our arses working out. Thanks for listening guys and hopefully next update will be way more kg's off.

Hello everyone, I am an ex bander and newbie sleever... had my surgery on the 29th of Oct. and have been feeling really good the last 2 weeks. Having troubles with figuring out when to eat, last week seemed to be hungry all the time, this week I am not LOL, im sure i will figure it all out. I lost 30kg with my band but when they took it out i gained that all back plus another 14kg . Have only just lost all the extra and now into chipping away at that 30kg . Best thing i ever did was to get that horrible band out, most anti-social thing ever, had it in for 5 years and carried a "spit" bottle with me everywhere (covered up with paper so no one knew). It is nice to be able to eat anything, albeit not much of it. I have been told I can have my beer now that my 6 weeks is up and that is really my only BAD BAD thing I have. Was stalled on my weight-loss from the time I started the mushie stage until this week and now it seems to be coming off again, thankfully! Have not been back on the forums for a very long time, its good to be back and hopefully I can add some value. Cheers

My surgeon was and still is Dr Tony Kierath, he is not far from the city and i love him!!! he is fantastic, no muckin around with him, he is straight up!! Good luck :blushing:

Hello everyone, I havent posted in almost 2 years now, and never posted much anyhow. Just thought I would share with you all my story... lost 30kg (66lbs??) the first 18 months, then stopped getting filled, was pretty sick of not being able to eat or drink normally and had stalled on loosing anyways... gained back 6 kg (14lbs??) and decided it was time to get a fill again, so in December I did. My doctor was actually quite happy with me, he thought I would have gained alot more than that, anyhow, got my fill and could not swallow lol went back 3 days later and got some taken out... have now lost the 6kg and am glad im back on the loosing track. But have to be so so honest, ever since I have had the surgery all the bad stuff stays down and all the good stuff comes back up, sad!!! Also, I play tricks on the band if I want to really eat a meal, I will eat Ice Cream or chocolate to get the band to "open" then I can eat a decent meal, not sure why it works, but it does. I do that about 3 times a week so I can make sure i get some sort of vitimans to stay down...??? I know its not the right way to do it, but after having the band in for so long now, everything else I tried never works. Oh well, thats my update... Glad everyone has done so well :thumbup: