Attention ! Australian Sleevers

[Lissa_S 787]

great stuff Liss - you look amazing and unrecognisable from your former self - you look so much younger! Did you have to get your glasses adjusted - I have found that mine were falling off my head as my head and even my nose got much smaller!

Yeah - I normally wear contacts but I've had allergies and they were giving me fits so I went back to glasses but they keep falling off as they're too big

[kelliv 659]

Need your help guys.

The rational side of me knows that I need this to improve my life' date=' my health, the example I set for my daughter and her unborn brother/sister, my marriage...

The emotional side is messing with me. It's all starting to get real. I have an endoscopy Thursday - no sweat, but it's one step closer to paying my deposit and saying "yes, I am going to be sleeved".

I keep thinking that the rest of my life is such a long time. I think about the happy times with family spent at Sizzler lol. I worry that I'm going to have to make such severe changes to my eating that the travel I do for my business, and even the lifestyle I lead while I'm at home is going to be severely compromised.

Getting this off my chest helps I guess, but I just need to hear (especially from other guys) that I'm not going to be constantly run down, that I'm going to be able to find something suitable to eat while I'm out and about (in time obviously).

I am realistic about this; I know change is necessary, but I'm just struggling to get away from the negative right now. What if I start to feel this way when I AM sleeved? It's too late then.[/quote']

Hi Brendan, you are not alone in these thoughts. I admit that I felt exactly the same way and had similar doubts. Now 10 months post op and 30kgs down, the worries were all for nothing. I have had heaps of energy since day one after surgery. I still dine out regularly and enjoy all the foods I did before, only in smaller portions. I always ate quite healthy food beforehand, but too much of it. I also travel constantly for work and am away from home almost every week at the moment for 2-5 nights at a time. I try to stay in self-contained accommodation when possible so I can buy food and cook for myself and also take lunch and Snacks to eat during the day. Believe me, your life will be improved in so many ways by this surgery.

[Lissa_S 787]

Hi All' date='

It has been a few weeks. I have been dealing with some health issues (non sleeve related) and havent felt much like posting.

Tho I am happy to see that everyone is progressing well and we have some newbies to our happy lil thread.

It is so interesting to me to hear you newbies talk about post op stuff, it all feels like such a blur to me nowadays, so yes it does get easier.

I am now struggling to maintain my weight, my portions are quite large (well comparatively to you know the first 4 months). I can finish an Entree size meal and feel soooo stuffed. In a day where I am not being careful about what I am eatting, I still emotionally eat (just less) I can consume up to 2000 calories. I am aware now that my weight is sneaking back up towards no my upper limit cause of some issues, tho surprisingly it is easier to control when i am aware of it...kinda random.

Liss, I am soooo happy to hear of your 75kgs loss you really are doing amazingly well and look amazing. Such a huge milestone to Celebrate.....[/quote']

So pleased to hear from you Aussie girl but not that you have been unwell. I am getting close to goal and am starting to think about maintenance so I appreciate hearing your challenges. Good luck and keep us posted!!

[sueoco 509]

Hi everyone' date='

It's great to hear your doing well Misty.

Well today was the first day of mt pre-op!! And OMG!!!! I'm soooooo hungry!!! I'm so over it already lol. But I have been so good by sticking to the diet to a tee! I'm trying not to think I have another 13 days to go lol. Oh well I keep telling myself that today is the start of a new and healthy ME!

Welcome to the newbies who have joined over the last week or so![/quote']

good luck Bec! It is difficult but the first 3-4 days are the worst. If you stick to it strictly you kind of get beyond the hunger but you might feel a bit strange as your body goes into ketosis. Just stick with it and keep thinking that it only gets easier from now on!

[Aussiegirl 580]

Lissa, definitely still up for a road trip to BrisVegas.....Deano you are on single guy duty lol. Some time in July works at this stage, June is going to be work crazy.

Brendani, it is natural to be afraid and scared of how this is going to affect your life. I can only tell from my experience but I know the fears I had pre-op (and they were huge) seem like such a waste of energy.

I am coming up on 2 years (well in Sept anyway) and my life is so normal. I travel, for work and personally, eating hasn't been an issue for a long time. Most people don't recognize the amount I eat as being anything abnormal now. I drink, and sometimes too much, my social life has kicked up a notch and am drinking probably more than pre-surgery. I don't endorse drinking too much but I choose everything in moderation now.

In regards to energy, after the initial recovery period I have more energy to do everything, early on I was sustaining twice a day work outs and not feeling a reduction in energy levels. Nowadays I work out 5-6 times a week, and feel weird if I don't do it.

The first 6 -8 weeks are hard, adjusting, fatigue etc but it gets better and oh so quickly. I was actually travelling internationally at the 8th week.

It is normal to be afraid, just trust in the reasons you are doing this and that you have made the right choice for you.

[Aussiegirl 580]

good luck Bec! It is difficult but the first 3-4 days are the worst. If you stick to it strictly you kind of get beyond the hunger but you might feel a bit strange as your body goes into ketosis. Just stick with it and keep thinking that it only gets easier from now on!

I concure Sue is definitely right, and once you get through this stage, everything else is so much easier..i still remember opti as the hardest part.

[sueoco 509]

Need your help guys.

The rational side of me knows that I need this to improve my life' date=' my health, the example I set for my daughter and her unborn brother/sister, my marriage...

The emotional side is messing with me. It's all starting to get real. I have an endoscopy Thursday - no sweat, but it's one step closer to paying my deposit and saying "yes, I am going to be sleeved".

I keep thinking that the rest of my life is such a long time. I think about the happy times with family spent at Sizzler lol. I worry that I'm going to have to make such severe changes to my eating that the travel I do for my business, and even the lifestyle I lead while I'm at home is going to be severely compromised.

Getting this off my chest helps I guess, but I just need to hear (especially from other guys) that I'm not going to be constantly run down, that I'm going to be able to find something suitable to eat while I'm out and about (in time obviously).

I am realistic about this; I know change is necessary, but I'm just struggling to get away from the negative right now. What if I start to feel this way when I AM sleeved? It's too late then.[/quote']

hi Brendani - Kelli and I had our ops at around the same time and I can only agree with her. I am eating anything I like now but in small quantities - unlike Kelli, not always the healthiest choices! :-) .

I had a bit longer recovery than most people but that was because I became Iron deficient so felt quite weak until I went on a supplement for that. I won't lie, when I went from liquids to soft food and could only eat about 1/3 cup I freaked out for about an hour - I was thinking 'am I ever going to be able to eat again'. That was temporary and now that I am at goal I couldn't be happier. Apart from the four weeks after the op, it has never stopped me eating out or socialising with friends or work. The only thing I had to overcome was leaving food on my plate without thinking it was a waste - old childhood hang up of being told to eat everything on your plate! I have found that food doesn't mean as much to me anymore - I seem to just enjoy what is going on around me - you will be amazed how different you feel about what food means to you once you are so easily satisfied and not as hungry anymore.

Sorry for the long winded response - just wanted to let you know that you are not alone with those feelings. It will change your life forever but oh what a great life!

[one_elle26 118]

Brendani, I can't add any more sage advice than the others have already given you except to say if you want a 'Man's perspective', have a look at some old (pre Christmas 2012) and then some recent photos of Joe Hockey(April 2013)...he was sleeved over the Christmas break and he has lost 'heaps'..he leads a 'nomadic' life backwards and forwards to Canberra, and he has succeeded as you will.

You can do this, just hang in there and keep talking about any concerns. I'm sure there will always be someone who can help you out.

Best Wishes

Michele

[GorgeousCurves 3]

Hi Raylee, I too have private health, but applied for super to cover out of pocket expenses. It took ages!!! Apparently it usually only takes about 3 weeks, but mine took about 6!!! They received my application 27/3 and it was approved last Friday. There were issues as they relocated offices and now they r behind. I recommend ringing them. I rang twice - firstly to make sure my app was received and then to check on progress. I will keep my fingers crossed for u!

On a different note I have my dietician appointment this Friday. I am excited!

Thanks Helen, I'll contact Canberra tomorrow . Fantastic news about your appointment on Friday.

[mistysj 1,940]

Oh my god you guys! I lost 4.5 kg this week. I am in SHOCK!

Also an NSV. I have had lymphedema in my shins since a long plane trip I took in 2008. That means swelling that you can press your finger into and a mark stays for a while, like putty. It's weird. Anyway compression stockings would temporarily take it away but I never bothered wearing them because hello, ugly! And even though it was weird it didn't hurt or anything. Well it is GONE! I can feel my shin bones! Not sure why it is gone but it is.

Also my blood sugar is still holding steady at 4.9. This is considered "high normal". If it sticks around for 3 months my A1C will also be high normal and I will basically be non-diabetic!

[Aussiegirl 580]

Congrats Misty! The weight loss and NSV's!!!!

[lessismore67 158]

Oh my god you guys! I lost 4.5 kg this week. I am in SHOCK!

Also an NSV. I have had lymphedema in my shins since a long plane trip I took in 2008. That means swelling that you can press your finger into and a mark stays for a while' date=' like putty. It's weird. Anyway compression stockings would temporarily take it away but I never bothered wearing them because hello, ugly! And even though it was weird it didn't hurt or anything. Well it is GONE! I can feel my shin bones! Not sure why it is gone but it is.

Also my blood sugar is still holding steady at 4.9. This is considered "high normal". If it sticks around for 3 months my A1C will also be high normal and I will basically be non-diabetic![/quote']

Terrific results already Misty!! Hope they help the Soups go down a little easier

[kelliv 659]

Oh my god you guys! I lost 4.5 kg this week. I am in SHOCK!

Also an NSV. I have had lymphedema in my shins since a long plane trip I took in 2008. That means swelling that you can press your finger into and a mark stays for a while' date=' like putty. It's weird. Anyway compression stockings would temporarily take it away but I never bothered wearing them because hello, ugly! And even though it was weird it didn't hurt or anything. Well it is GONE! I can feel my shin bones! Not sure why it is gone but it is.

Also my blood sugar is still holding steady at 4.9. This is considered "high normal". If it sticks around for 3 months my A1C will also be high normal and I will basically be non-diabetic![/quote']

Well done Misty, it's easy isn't is and how exciting is it to see the scales coming down!

[*Dean* 1,594]

Need your help guys.

The rational side of me knows that I need this to improve my life, my health, the example I set for my daughter and her unborn brother/sister, my marriage...

The emotional side is messing with me. It's all starting to get real. I have an endoscopy Thursday - no sweat, but it's one step closer to paying my deposit and saying "yes, I am going to be sleeved".

I keep thinking that the rest of my life is such a long time. I think about the happy times with family spent at Sizzler lol. I worry that I'm going to have to make such severe changes to my eating that the travel I do for my business, and even the lifestyle I lead while I'm at home is going to be severely compromised.

Getting this off my chest helps I guess, but I just need to hear (especially from other guys) that I'm not going to be constantly run down, that I'm going to be able to find something suitable to eat while I'm out and about (in time obviously).

I am realistic about this; I know change is necessary, but I'm just struggling to get away from the negative right now. What if I start to feel this way when I AM sleeved? It's too late then.

Brendan I had all of these thoughts as well, but I can say post op for me there has been ZERO down sides.

I had a couple of days early on where I felt a bit flat and had a couple of 'what have I done' thoughts. But they were fleeting and haven't returned.

I consider myself a 'foodie' as does my wife. She works in hospitality / food industry as a coffee roaster. I still cook, I still eat out, I can eat anything I choose to eat.

Family functions are more enjoyable. They're not not just about consuming massive amounts of food but spending time talking, playing with the kids yadda yadda.

Once you're a little way out you'll be able to eat what ever you want. The difference for me is that I no longer get that ravenous 'I'm %^&*ing hungry and I have to eat now!' hunger. I get a little bit hungry where I know I have to eat, but if there's nothing around I feel like eating I can just wait. That was never an option before.

You may feel a little run down while your body adjusts early on. But very quickly I had more energy than I've ever had. I was a bit of a carb junkie before, I'd have highs and lows during the day from carb loading. Now my energy is more consistent through out the day. I jump out of bed in the morning, I have energy through out the day, I train like a mofo, at the end of the day I'm tired and have no problem getting to sleep.

Hope this helps. I'll PM you my phone number and if you have any questions give me a yell.

Deano

[mistysj 1,940]

Where can I buy your wife's coffee, Dean? I buy Merlo now.