Attention ! Australian Sleevers

[Nessa1977 155]

Thankyou and not exactly sure where to post? Perhaps the pre op?

[Sydney Susan 333]

Yesterday I went to a Vinnies (op shop) in a posh Sydney suburb and purchased 2 v stylish pairs of black pants and 2 tops - all in "as new" condition and a size down from anything I own - for a grand total of $20. Wearing one of each today I felt like a million bucks... still got a long way to go but having lost 15% of my starting weight (the half way mark for me) I feel like I'm walking on air! Woo hoo!

[mistysj 1,940]

I'm eating the best vegetable slice! 1/2 cup flour, 4 eggs, 40grams grated cheese, 100grams ham, 1c grated zucchini, 1c red capsicum, 1.5c steamed chopped cauliflower, 1/4 cup celery. Sauté the chopped veggies, beat the eggs, and throw it all together. Bake at 180 until done. I cut it into 9 and they are about 100 calories each and 8 G Protein.< /p>

[lessismore67 158]

Yesterday I went to a Vinnies (op shop) in a posh Sydney suburb and purchased 2 v stylish pairs of black pants and 2 tops - all in "as new" condition and a size down from anything I own - for a grand total of 20. Wearing one of each today I felt like a million bucks... still got a long way to go but having lost 15% of my starting weight (the half way mark for me) I feel like I'm walking on air! Woo hoo!

Woo hoo Susan! Another terrific nsv for all your hard work It must be great to see your change in clothes as well as the scales.

[lessismore67 158]

I'm eating the best vegetable slice! 1/2 cup flour' date=' 4 eggs, 40grams grated cheese, 100grams ham, 1c grated zucchini, 1c red capsicum, 1.5c steamed chopped cauliflower, 1/4 cup celery. Sauté the chopped veggies, beat the eggs, and throw it all together. Bake at 180 until done. I cut it into 9 and they are about 100 calories each and 8 G Protein.[/quote']

Yummy! Have mercy on the preops! Lol

[mistysj 1,940]

Yummy! Have mercy on the preops! Lol

You can have it in the soft food stage.

[kelliv 659]

I'm eating the best vegetable slice! 1/2 cup flour' date=' 4 eggs, 40grams grated cheese, 100grams ham, 1c grated zucchini, 1c red capsicum, 1.5c steamed chopped cauliflower, 1/4 cup celery. Sauté the chopped veggies, beat the eggs, and throw it all together. Bake at 180 until done. I cut it into 9 and they are about 100 calories each and 8 G Protein.[/quote']

Misty, Diane will such this type of thing with an egg base as a snack. Make them in a muffin tin and freeze the. Small and a good source of Protein.< /p>

[kelliv 659]

Brendan, Shelley & Dean, where would you like to meet for lunch in the City on Friday at Midday? All other Brisbane people are welcome to join us.

[Aussiegirl 580]

Looks like we have all had a positive day

Lissa, definitely let us know when you are in Sydney, July or August I will be around.

Well til the 23 rd of August, as then I will be in hospital, finishing off this journey getting my Tummy Tuck and arm lift. Excited and apprehensive at the same time. The surgeon I saw today I LOVED!!! And will probably end up being a couple of grand cheaper as well. But I feel very confident in her, her approach was the complete opposite to the last doctor I saw. Best thing was she felt all my muscles in my stomach and said she thought it was unlikely I would need the muscle tightening part of the surgery. Looks like the hours of crunches have paid off lol. Apparently this is the most painful part.

[Helmc2 108]

OK folks..........get ready for a long post. I've just come out on my Facebook page:

A year ago today' date=' I made the post important decision of my life, to have weight loss surgery. Some of you may already know this, some of you may have figured it out or some of you had no idea.

I have battled with my weight my entire life and tried many diets, my first one being at age 12, Jenny Craig. Each diet came with just a bit of success. The only one I really succeeded in was Sure Slim back in the mid 2000's. With that one, I lost 25kg in a year and felt great. Unfortunately that was short lived and I regained that weight...plus more.

In my late teens, I went and saw Prof Paul O'Brien to discuss lap band surgery, which I had seen on a current affairs program. I went for the consult and never went back. I was young and scared and chickened out. In the mid 2000's, I went to see another Geelong surgeon to again discuss the band. And again, I chickened out.

Fast forward to November 2011 and I saw another Geelong surgeon to discuss the lap band, except he suggested to me a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy or the sleeve. I really didn't fancy this option as it involves cutting away 2/3 of the stomach and it's gone forever. I still wanted the band as cutting away stomach is so drastic...and permanent. I went away to think about things and research more about the sleeve. I only knew of one other person who had the sleeve, my friend in Perth.

In the meantime, I had to have a sleep study, even though I didn't commit to the surgery, as I didn't know I wanted to go ahead with it. I also saw a nurse and dietician to discuss the procedure in more detail and to see if I was ready for surgery.

I went back to see the surgeon in February and booked a tentative date for March. That rolled around but I still wasn't quite ready and cancelled that. Went and saw my surgeon to just talk things over and I guess for him to reassure me, so once again I booked a new date for 26 June 2012.

And the rest they say, is history.

The surgery only took 1½ hours and it was uneventful and there were no leaks or other complications.

I spent 2 nights in hospital and was discharged home in no pain, well, the only bit of pain I had was from one of the port site wounds, the one from where my excess stomach was pulled out from...ouch.

For the first 2 weeks following surgery, I could only have liquids, so Water, Soups etc. Initially I could only manage 2-3tbs of Soup. I was allowed to have Water throughout the day to keep my fluids up. It was a big adjustment, going from a massive meal to something so small as a few tbs at a time. Some mouthfuls were very uncomfortable and I had pain.

The next 2 weeks was pureed food, the consistency of which could be sucked through a straw. Then 2 weeks later, I was allowed soft foods before another 2 weeks before I could tolerate a normal diet.

Even to this day, it's still a learning curve. There are a few rules to follow, which I sometimes break (hey, no one is perfect!). The main one is food and drink...I can't do both. I stop drinking 30 minutes before a meal then start drinking 30 minutes after a meal. If I drink during the meal, it pushes the food through too easily and it'll make me eat more, something that I don't want to do. My meal capacity is around ½ a cup. Not much is it?

Now, the all important numbers.

I had to do Optifast for 2 weeks pre op. My start weight was 128.1kg and in that 2 weeks, I managed to lose 4.6kg, making my start weight on the day of surgery 123.5kg.

As of yesterday, my weight was 75.9kg, a total loss in 12 months of 52.2kg. I need to lose another 7.8kg to get to my goal weight of 68kg, which both my GP and my surgeon agree with this number.

So what now? Going to see a dietician in the coming weeks to get some advice on how to stop losing weight. I have a fair idea, but just want reassurance and to ensure I’m doing the right things.

Due to the rapid weight loss, I’ve developed quite a fair amount of excess skin, which I plan to have removed in June 2014, as my surgeon has recommended I wait a year before considering this. I’m going to consult with a few plastic surgeons in Geelong just to get opinions on what can be done and how much it’ll cost me…apart from a lot. Here’s hoping I win the Lotto…or rob a bank…or find a sugar daddy to fund this for me LOL.

So there you have it, my year. Feel free to ask any questions. I’ll try and answer them as best I can.

I’ll be adding some before photos as well as some progress photos in the coming days…stay tuned.[/quote']

Way to go Nessa. I wish I could have ur courage. Maybe in a year or so...

Got my surgery date today. I'm booked in for July 22nd. So excited. I know it is probably strange to most people being excited to have surgery, but also know that all of u can probably relate!

[sueoco 509]

Looks like we have all had a positive day <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

Lissa' date=' definitely let us know when you are in Sydney, July or August I will be around.

Well til the 23 rd of August, as then I will be in hospital, finishing off this journey getting my Tummy Tuck and arm lift. Excited and apprehensive at the same time. The surgeon I saw today I LOVED!!! And will probably end up being a couple of grand cheaper as well. But I feel very confident in her, her approach was the complete opposite to the last doctor I saw. Best thing was she felt all my muscles in my stomach and said she thought it was unlikely I would need the muscle tightening part of the surgery. Looks like the hours of crunches have paid off lol. Apparently this is the most painful part.[/quote']

That is fantastic news! I think you look great now so you won't know yourself after this! I have also heard that anything done on the stomach muscles is painful so it is really good that you don't need that. You will be all taught and terrific just in time for that summer wardrobe - I can't wait for the summer shopping!

[Aussiegirl 580]

That is fantastic news! I think you look great now so you won't know yourself after this! I have also heard that anything done on the stomach muscles is painful so it is really good that you don't need that. You will be all taught and terrific just in time for that summer wardrobe - I can't wait for the summer shopping!

Exactly my thoughts.....summer 2013/2014.....here I come. Someone even said to me, now you can wear a bikini....errr not ready for that yet I don't think lol.

Look out summer 2013/2014 here we come

[mistysj 1,940]

Aussie, you look amazing now. You will look so hot after your TT! Does PHI cover any of it?

I had a restriction surprise today. I have had no problem eating a scrambled egg and half a piece of toast for Breakfast. In fact I didn't feel particularly full. Today I added 50 grams of ham to it. I only finished half of the omelet and half the toast and I was so stuffed I was sliming. I guess it's from the more dense Protein.

[Aussiegirl 580]

Aussie, you look amazing now. You will look so hot after your TT! Does PHI cover any of it?

I had a restriction surprise today. I have had no problem eating a scrambled egg and half a piece of toast for Breakfast. In fact I didn't feel particularly full. Today I added 50 grams of ham to it. I only finished half of the omelet and half the toast and I was so stuffed I was sliming. I guess it's from the more dense Protein.

Thanks Misty, my health fund does cover the hospital visit and part of the surgeon, as both surgeries have Medicare item numbers. However the out of pockets are still large-ish.

Sometimes the sleeve is a funny mistress, sometimes the same food goes down differently.

[mistysj 1,940]

I have had a huge amount of restriction all day long. I had a hard time finishing lunch and my afternoon snack has been tough too. This is a good thing because I was not feeling much restriction even on full solids, except for really firm Protein like chicken breast.