TamTam

Hi Girls! How are you all? I'm 32, and a stay-at-home Mum to my three kids - boys aged 6 and 5, and my 2 year old princess. I had my surgery in March, and have lost 18kg all up (about 40lb) - 7kg pre-surgery and 11kg since. The last couple of months have been really slow going for me - I have a leaky band, which has made it really difficult to find my "happy place", and although I often have trouble with my meals, I seem to have no trouble snacking on chips and chocolate! Ugh! But I'm still determined! This may take me a while, but I'll get there!

Hi ladies! How are you going? Things are moving V E R Y S L O W L Y for me. :tongue2: A few things are contributing to this - I seem to have a "leaky" band, even with thicker fluid; when it is too tight, I have trouble eating anything healthy, then snack on oh-so-nutritious things like chips and chocolate (which, unfortunately, I seem to have no trouble with!); and I'm just not getting in enough exercise. Still losing, but much too slowly for my liking! How are you all going? Sorry I disappeared for so long - life with the kids leaves me too little time - but thought I'd "pop in" and see how you are travelling. T xox

Hi ladies! Congratulations on the "deed" Lili! Hope you're well on the road to recovery now, and I expect you're progressing with your diet. Good luck! And you must have had your surgery by now too, Ann. Hope it all went well. I'm travelling along okay, but my weight loss has stalled. I'm not putting on any, but certainly not losing much either. Time for an adjustment, so I'm going to have that done this Thursday. I noticed in the last couple of weeks that I was able to eat more at meal times, and that I was snacking in between too, so it's time! Looking forward to having it done, but I'll admit I'm a bit nervous about it too! I'm still having appointments with the dietician, who is happy with how things are going (by her scales I lost 2.3kg since my last appointment, which surprised me!). I also saw the psychologist again last week, and he was happy with everything and didn't ask to see me again, which I'm glad about. All these appointments were starting to become a bit of a chore. Looking forward to hearing all your news soon, T xox

Hi ladies! Love the quote Ann. I just hope I don't come across too many corners and roundabouts! The good news is that, in the last few days I have found a good straight bit of road and am again heading in the right direction! Wow Lili! You are probably nervously (if you are like me, in tears) waiting to go to theatre as I type this. Sending lots of positive thoughts your way, and looking forward to hearing from you soon. T xox

Hi girls! Yes, I'm still alive! Sorry I've been a bit slack here, but I received and read your private message, Lili and Ann, and have been thinking of you all. Things have been going less that splendidly for me (put on about a kilo). I know that they say it's normal to stop losing or to gain when moving back to solid food, but it's still a bit depressing. I had appointments with the dietician and for my first fill the week before last, but we all agreed to leave the fill for now because I was still losing at that stage and hadn't moved onto proper solids. The doc told me to enjoy eating "whatever I liked" - not great words for a chocoholic to hear just days before Easter! And with the kids on holidays, I have been all out of routine, but they go back this Tuesday, so I'll be back on this wagon! I've struggled a bit remembering to eat slowly, with small mouthfuls, and chew, chew, chew. I am noticing that at meal times I am usually busy fussing over everyone else that I just gulp my own meal down and don't take the time to think about myself. But I've been getting a bit of pain to remind me! All part of the learning process, I suppose. Also, I still serve up my meal and think, "There's no way that's going to fill me!" but I am still surprised at just how quickly I really do fill up. I went out for a Thai dinner over Easter with my Mum and a good friend, which I was a bit nervous about, but it all went smoothly. I ordered a prawn claypot - one of my alltime favourites, and ate six or seven prawns with a few vege bits and a little bit of vermicelli noodles. Then the others ordered dessert, and I just had a scoop of sorbet. Probably the worst part was my Mum constantly worrying and asking me how I was going! But I know she only did it because she cares. In other good news, I've been shopping! I've been out buying clothes for Winter (which feels like it's never going to arrive in Brisbane). I've bought lots of bits and pieces, including a pair of jeans - size 20! I thought that was pretty exciting, but after wearing them a couple of times, I think maybe I should have even got a size smaller! I also bought a size SMALL top - from the fat ladies' department, admittedly, but there is an "S" on the tag and that's what I'm focussing on! On Friday night my hubby came home with a little surprise for me - I thought maybe flowers, but he walked in with a Wii and Wii Fit! It's great! I've been wanting it for a while now, so I'm hoping that will really motivate me to exercise. I've been on it several times over the weekend, and my thighs and calves know all about it! Well, that's about all my news for now. So pleased for you that you now have a date to look towards, Ann. I had to laugh at the "shove it in" comment - that was me to a T! I had more "Last Suppers" than I can count! Your turn this week, hey Lili?! Very exciting! I hope it all goes really well for you, and we'll all look forward to hearing how you go. I hope Lisa is feeling much better now, and that she is well enough to look after you this time. Tamara xox

Sorry... Just couldn't help myself! Nah, all still going really well. 12.5kg now! Woo hoo! Do you have your weigh-in today? Good luck! T xox

Tee hee hee! That was my April Fool's prank!

Hi girls! Thanks for all your advice about the shoulder pain, but it's all okay again now and feeling fine. Well, I'm back to the surgeon today, and I think I'm going to ask him to remove the band...

Hi girls, Good on you Lili. Told you you'd feel better in a few days! And you won't keep starving either - it will keep you full enough before long. And congratulations on your first bit of (a whole lot of!) weight loss! I think for me, too, knowing that it was for a limited time made sticking to it a whole lot easier. All going great guns here - still dropping some weight during this transition phase, which they don't necessarily expect you to do, and enjoying having some "real" food! Tiny bits admittedly, and still all minces, etc, but an improvement from liquid! And I really do feel well and truly full between "meals". One concern at the moment is that I have started having what I believe is the referred shoulder pain again. I had it really bad for the first few days post-surgery, but it's been fine since then, and now I'm raiding the medicine cabinet for arse-kicking painkillers! But I see my surgeon for my first post-op visit on Wednesday, so will check about it then. Anyway, keep going girls. We'll all be hotties before long!

Hi girls! Hope you've all had a good day. Hope the headaches aren't giving you too much curry, Lili. I'm with Sare - if you can just get through these first few days you will be feeling so much better! (And think of the weight loss... the weight loss...) Good luck with the new job Sare - a whole new start for you! Yay!!! Thanks for your congratulations Ann! I'm feeling pretty proud of myself! I went and shouted myself some jewellery, and my first ever set of acrylic nails - I'm gonna be a glamour mum! He he he... Welcome to our little group, Kiwi. I'm in Bris Vegas too. Who did your surgery? Sounds like you are doing really well! Congratulations! Anyway, must keep going and get this house in order before my big bad husband comes home. Ha ha ha! T xox

Yeah, I know what you mean! I remember my first few days I was constantly thinking "I'll just stop at _______ and grab a _______" then remembering I couldn't! To be honest I was appalled to realise how many times a day I thought about food! But trust me, you will soon get used to it, and will be feeling full with just your shakes. Good luck! T xox

Ah yes, a very happy lady! Yes, Lili, the vanilla is, well, foul. chocolate is a little better, but my favourite was definitely the strawberry - tastes like "fake" strawberry, but good fake strawberry! Best of luck with it! Won't be long and that train will be chugging along that track!

Ha ha Lili, thanks for the giggle. Now I can see the merits of both the French restaurant, and HJs, but my suggestion for a "last hurrah" would be one for lunch and the other for dinner, probably followed by a family block of Cadbury's! Yes, I have to say when I was thinking about the "puree" stage, I was really expecting a fortnight of baby food, so when the dietician started mentioning things like bolognaise sauce, rice, etc (in another 5 days or so), I got a wee bit excited! Now, what will I have for lunch today??? Hmm... Sorry to say, I had a small bit of chocolate last night, (melted it in my mouth first, so technically it was a liquid/puree!), and I haven't lost the taste for it. But I'm certainly not NEEDING it like I used to, and was more than satisfied with just a very small bit. Let us know where you end up tonight, and get ready to shake, shake, shake, shake, shake it!