One Year Aniversary - May 2008
May 28, 2008
Hi everyone, I AM SO HAPPY I have lost 132lbs/60kg!!!! Sorry I have been absent from the board of late, I have been enjoying life and doing my best to increase my fitness level, wow so many new faces - welcome to all the newbies and g'day to all the oldies ;-)
My life has changed is so many ways, I'm lighter, happier, have more energy and am so ethusiastic about living a better and more fulfilling life. My family & friends can't believe my transformation they all say I look and act like 25 - ha ha!! I'll take that!!!
Please feel free to ask me any questions about my vsg experience.
10 month update - March 2008
Mar 10, 2008
Hi friends, wow it's been a crazy month for me and I've had my first longish stall ever and I started to freak out (yep I know I'm not alone but until it happens to you, you just don't know what to expect). I decided to hire a personal trainer, trust my luck to get a good looking 6ft 3 gladiator, gosh it's hard to concentrate (lol)!!! Anyway........ he's killing me but it's worth it as I broke my stall so I guess it pays to trick the body or mix it up a bit. I've come to realise that walking and leisurely swims just aren't cutting it for me anymore and I need the more vigorous type of exercise to jump start the loss again, build up my core muscles and tone up all over. For all the newbies out there wishing you lots of luck, you'll love the vsg I started this journey 10 months ago at 304lbs with a BMI of 50.6 and I never thought this surgery would work for me I thought I would be the one that couldn't do it, well I'm down to a BMI of 31.6 and I've lost approx 115 pounds and I have another 25 lbs to go so I am really happy with that so far, I would still like to get to the normal range, I'll keep my fingers crossed, this journey ain't over yet!!!!
9 month update - February 2008
Mar 10, 2008
I had a 3 week stall from hell but the good news is that even though I stalled I lost inches and dropped a whole dress size. I am going to look into getting a personal trainer to help me break this damn stall!!
8 mth update - January 2008
Jan 20, 2008
I met with my surgeon today and he was totally thrilled with my weight loss to date and said it was comparable if not better than the malabsorption surgery stats - way to go VSG!!!
I've lost approx 75% of my excess weight in 8 mths (106 lbs/48.1kg) wearing size US12/Aust 14 and for you Aussies out there I'm finally in the 80kg range just!!. My surgeon suggested thinking about a boob job as my waist has slimmed down a lot and I'm getting that Dolly Parton look (sort of) if you know what I mean!! so I'll have to think about that, argh I hate pain!!! I also saw the lovely Lois today in the surgeons office and let me tell you she is looking great!!
My next step is to join a gym or find a personal trainer who can help motivate me and keep me accountable. I've noticed that I'm starting to slouch (due to weight of boobs) so I need to start working on building up my core muscles. I can definitely eat a lot more and more frequently too, I noticed when I hit 7.5 mths I suddenly developed more hunger so I'll have to keep an eye on my behaviour and nip it in the bud.
I love how I can shop in any store, how I can keep up with my family and how I can do 15 laps in my pool compared to the 2 laps I used to do and then just floated or treaded water the rest of the time - lol!!!!! My daughter 5yo said mommy you are so beautiful I hope I can look like you when I'm bigger, gosh how cute is that!!!!
I've lost 100lbs
Dec 21, 2007
Sorry to brag, but I'm just over the moon, I've lost 100lbs in just over 7 mths - woooohoooo!!! Thanks to the challenge which has kept me accountable this week I lost 4 pounds and hit the bingo century mark!!!
I have made a career out of dodging cameras and am not photogenic whatsoever however I've been promising to load some pics and have finally done that - so for all the folks who have been pm'g me begging for before/after pics they are now on my profile.
I LOVE MY VSG!!!!!
Hope you all have fabulous Christmas/Holiday Season
7 month update - December 2007
Dec 12, 2007
I'm 7 months out and time is flying by and I am having so much fun being 96 pounds lighter, what a buzz!!! I've noticed that my appetite has increased but this was to be expected. I'm so much more active and my kids are enjoying me so much, you know piggy back rides, horse rides, going to the beach and building sandcastles etc..... they're so precious!!! The festive season is like torture with all the Xmas parties (food, sweets and alcohol) but I'm doing my best to stick to the rules, I think I'm going to have a slow month losing (lol)!!! I've gone from a size 26 to 16/14 and I just love the variety of clothes that are available shopping off the rack. Wishing all the newbies the best of luck and to all the oldies, aren't we so lucky!!!
6 Month Update - November 2007
Nov 10, 2007
Just a quick update to let you guys and gals (newbies and oldies) know where I'm at...... I'm six months out and down 87lbs/39.5kgs and my hair has finally stopped shedding, it only lasted approx 10 weeks THANK GOODNESS! I've changed my hair color from copper red to ash blonde and caramel streaks and the thinning looks much better as color expands the hair follicles! I'm still going through clothes like they're going out of fashion although it's great to be wearing gorgeous clothes off the rack. The designer shoe, handbag and jewellery fettish still continues, oh I'm just having fun!!!! It's nearly summer in Australia and I've realized all my swimsuits no longer fit so I'm looking for a one piece with cut-outs (monokini) in size 16 but I can't seem to find one that will fit my DD/E cup boobies, please yell out if you know a good website! I still forget to drink all my water but I never feel dehydrated and my surgeon says as long as I feel good not to worry. I've noticed that my appetite has increased as I expected it to... I'm eating about a cup of food at each meal and two small snacks each day some days more and some days less. The only side effects I have had with the vsg are: temporary hair loss (not noticeable), slight reflux which is sorting itself out and hopefully I should be off nexium in a month or so and a bit constipated here and there but nothing a prune or two won't fix!!! I was hoping to have lost 100lbs by the 6 mth mark but I guess the lack of exercise hindered my goal, I'm trying to motivate myself to join a gym as the walking just isn't cutting it for me anymore!! In a nutshell "I feel good". To all the newbies out there I wish you all lots of success the vsg helps one live life to the fullest!!! Lots of love to you all. Talia x
5 Month Update - October 2007
Oct 11, 2007
Well I'm 5 months post op and I've lost 35kg/77lb and have 28kg/62lb to go...... will I ever get there I wonder!! My surgeon uses the theory that whatever weight I lose in the first 3 months I should expect to lose about half in the 3 months after that and then the same amount in the following six months, now that doesn't quite get me to where I want to be, so I'll just have to test the theory and see. I've lost a total of 40 inches from my body and am down from a wearing size 24/26 to18/US16. It's exciting watching the weight coming off each week and seeing my body shape transform and fitting into more figure hugging clothes. The downside for me is I've started shedding hair, it's not noticable to anyone but I feel it and my scalp is so itchy and flakey at the moment, I'm told it's from the lack of fat in my diet, fingers crossed that it will stop soon!!! I am so thankful that I took the chance of having this surgery to improve my life by giving me back my confidence and the energy and drive to enjoy activities with my family and friends. I love my VSG!!
4 Month Update - September 2007
Sep 24, 2007
Hey OH friends, I just wanted to share my joy with you all, I am 41/2 mths post op and down 70lbs, it's insane what can I say I still can't believe how amazing this surgery is. It's funny how every time I reach a small goal I set myself I think well this is it I'm not going to lose any more weight it's too good to be true and then bam!! suddenly I lose a few more lbs. I am still having trouble getting my head around this whole experience, I kind of forget I;ve had the vsg as I'm in such a routine with everything now. Oh and a funny thing happened today when I was dropping off my son at nursery school I heard someone shout " oh my god Talia", and I thought what's the matter is my skirt tucked up into my knickers or something???? Anyway the teacher comes rushing up to me and says "my gosh you've lost so much weight I thought you were somebody else and then I realized it was you" I felt a little embarrassed as all the other parents started checking me out, I guess I should be glad that people are starting to notice and I hope I still continue with the downward slope! Cheers to you all love Talia ;)
