Attention ! Australian Sleevers

[kelliv 659]

Yep' date=' custard is fine.

I'm off the low fat merry go round, except for 2% milk and some yoghurts (can't stand full cream in my coffee).

Everything else I have is full fat ie some yoghurts, cheese (lots of cheese), custard etc.

Because I can only eat a small amount I find the proper unprocessed versions A LOT more satisfying and better flavour.

If you look at the small amount you can eat and then compare the calorie difference, it peanuts.

Have a good day,

Deano[/quote']

Dean, I agree it's worth going for taste and quality for the small amount we eat. I eat beautiful cheeses and like you I cannot stomach full cream milk and skim is too watery, so I go for the best tasting low fat such as Melany Milk. It looks and tastes creamy.

[mistysj 1,940]

Thank you guys for being awesome. I have learned so much from this thread. And I adore the fact that our members are having face-to-face meetings regularly too. We are awesome!

Aussiegirl, thanks for the idea about spaghetti. It's not my favorite but I will consider it for the rotation. Maybe lasagna would work too although I would probably have to leave off the cheese "crust" on top as that would not purée well.

I agree on the low-fat / fat-free thing. Though with dairy, low-fat dairy is made with 2% milk so it is not "weird", fat-free is totally weird. Full-fat milk is only 3% anyway, it's not like it is 50%. But I dislike low-fat salad dressings and things like that because a lot of chemicals are added. We have switched from butter to nuttelex except in cooking, and now we actually like it. We made that switch when I was trying to sort out some food intolerances and cut out dairy for a couple months (never did get to the bottom of it). I suspect that with the sleeve, the more natural and wholesome the food the better, since you are getting so much less of it. I actually really dislike the idea of all of the Protein shakes and supplements long term, and I'm glad I will be able to get off them eventually. My mother and her husband are "health nuts" but what it really means is that they eat almost 100% highly processed low-carb and low-fat "health food." For years, when I visit them I buy my own food.

Today is my last "sick day" and I aim to enjoy it! I have made the list of things I will cook for purée week 1. We are going shopping tomorrow morning and I will do most of the cooking tomorrow and a little Sunday. My goal is to freeze portions in a muffin tin and then pop them out and freeze in zip-loc bags. Then I can just grab 2 "pucks", a yogurt, and a pot of purée fruit to take to work.

I am a bit nervous about how it will go at work. I wonder if I will remember to eat, if I will get my Water in, how/when I will schedule my walking, and how hard it will be to get back into the groove of an 8-hour work day. I am also a bit tense about a trip I will be taking to India in July and what I will be able to eat there. I actually found a thread on here with Indian Sleevers and subscribed to it to get some ideas. I will be in north India and most of the "Indian food" in Australian restaurants is modified South Indian cuisine, so I am not likely to get much help from my dietitian on this one.

I found a bariatric cookbook by an Aussie author, called "Your Complete Guide to Nutrition for Weight Loss Surgery" by Sally Johnston. It is really good and has a whole part about nutrition, and then lots of recipes for each phase.

There is another book I will recommend called "The Success Habits of Weight Loss Surgery Patients" by Colleen Cook. She has a website where you can pay a yearly subscription fee to get access to all kinds of workbooks and other support materials. The website is a bit US-centric so I have not paid, but I found the book to be great and I am sure I will re-read it when I am closer to the maintenance phase.

Do any of you Brisbane folks attend an in-person support group (besides the meet-ups)? I am not really a "joiner" but I keep hearing that people are more successful if they are in a support group. My surgeon didn't inform me of any support group that is part of his practice.

Sorry for the long brain-dump. I'm not sure why I am so chatty today!

[sueoco 509]

You are not wrong the servings are quite large already. I have been there once and had the quesadilla and only ate like half if that. Tho the margaritas are good from recollection and come in huge glasses...one may knock you off your feet.

Jimbo' date=' when are you off purees?

We will set a date around that, evenings work better for me too <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />[/quote']

Sounds good - just let me know when is suits everyone - I am ok with any Wednesday evening. Any other Sydney people out there that would like to join us????

Puppyphat where are you?

[Jimbo 22]

You are not wrong the servings are quite large already. I have been there once and had the quesadilla and only ate like half if that. Tho the margaritas are good from recollection and come in huge glasses...one may knock you off your feet.

Jimbo' date=' when are you off purees?

We will set a date around that, evenings work better for me too <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />[/quote']

I have another week of puree to go then two weeks of soft food then I have my next appointment with doc and nut so hopefully be eating normally by then I go back to work on Tuesday should be interesting , I work shift work once I get back to work and get copy of my roster ill have a better idea of date that suits me

[Bec101 227]

Misty my surgeon has set up a support group that meet every month at the Sunnybank Hospital (it's in the rooms next to the hospital). I'll know more when I'm in for tge 2 nights after the op so I'll pass on the details. I do know that people who have had their sleeve done by other surgeons that go there too

[Bec101 227]

Oh by the way thanks everyone for all the info. Misty is so right it has helped!

I'm on day 5 of pre-op and doing really well. I have finished cooking and freezing meals for puree and soft phase. Now just to get throught next week and then to get sleeved on the 3rd. I'm now more excited than nervous too

[Kitikat 45]

Hi Kitikat, good to hear you are in Brisbane. I am sitting in a cafe on Racecourse Rd Ascot waiting for a friend who is going to have a sleeve done later this year. I recently changed dieticians and highly recommend my new one. Her name is Diane Barr and she is based at the Wesley. There are subtle differences between nutrition for those with a sleeve versus those with bands and she specialises in this aspect. She has helped me to stop stalling and to keep the weight loss ticking away. A few of us in Brisbane meet sometimes, so we would love to see you too is you are interested. Where do you live and work??

Thanks I will definitely look her up. I would love to meet up and am just bumming at home being a mum at the moment so pretty flexible. I am halfway between Brissy and the Coast in Ormeau but am happy to travel to wherever to meet. Please keep me in mind for next time

[kelliv 659]

Thanks I will definitely look her up. I would love to meet up and am just bumming at home being a mum at the moment so pretty flexible. I am halfway between Brissy and the Coast in Ormeau but am happy to travel to wherever to meet. Please keep me in mind for next time

Will do. Keep an eye on this thread for when we arrange the next get together.

[sueoco 509]

I have another week of puree to go then two weeks of soft food then I have my next appointment with doc and nut so hopefully be eating normally by then <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> I go back to work on Tuesday should be interesting ' date=' I work shift work once I get back to work and get copy of my roster ill have a better idea of date that suits me <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />[/quote']

Great Jimbo - we will wait until it fits with you - we might have a few more takers by then too. I was thinking maybe we should adopt a sleevers secret hand shake so we know another sleever when we meet them or will a rose behind our left ear. e enough to recognise everyone!!:-)

[Mimz 38]

Hello Sleevers/yet to be Sleeved,

Not sure if anyone remembers me, but I'm back and with great news! After a few months of treatment my Barretts oesophagus is gone (actually the surgeon retracted the diagnosis altogether). He has given me the go ahead for the Sleeve!!!!! I'm booked for the 25th October and am going to be on 4 weeks Optifast prior to that YIKES!!!

Feels good to be back!

[Mimz 38]

Hello Sleevers/yet to be Sleeved,

Not sure if anyone remembers me, but I'm back and with great news! After a few months of treatment my Barretts oesophagus is gone (actually the surgeon retracted the diagnosis altogether). He has given me the go ahead for the Sleeve!!!!! I'm booked for the 25th October and am going to be on 4 weeks Optifast prior to that YIKES!!!

Feels good to be back!

[mistysj 1,940]

Hello Sleevers/yet to be Sleeved' date='

Not sure if anyone remembers me, but I'm back and with great news! After a few months of treatment my Barretts oesophagus is gone (actually the surgeon retracted the diagnosis altogether). He has given me the go ahead for the Sleeve!!!!! I'm booked for the 25th October and am going to be on 4 weeks Optifast prior to that YIKES!!!

Feels good to be back![/quote']

That's awesome! I remember you. I'm so happy for your good news! Welcome back! It will be here before you know it.

[Mimz 38]

Thanks misty! I'm glad to be back, amd excited! !

[lessismore67 158]

Hi mimz!Yes-I remember you-and the pretty baby you are cuddling in your profile photo!Great news on both the sleeve date and the change in diagnosis for you

[lessismore67 158]

Also a big *hello* to kitikat and lisap.This is a wonderful place to read and/or chat.Everyone here is sooo lovely and full of great tips and support if needed.

On a different note I watched liquid snow fall in Canberra today.The sun was shining and the sleet was soft and sparkly.So pretty but still freezing cold.I am going to have to buy more thermals for after the sleeve.Thanks for the heads up about being chilly in Brisbane guys Lol