Nervous Gastric Sleeve Mama - NZ

Just a heads up for anyone wanting the sleeve gastrectomy. I had fantastic results and shed 40kg with it. Unfortunately, half way through my weight loss I became paralysed with a back injury and couldn’t walk for 4 months. This halted my weight loss so I never got as low as I could have. Slowly, the weight has come back on and my stomach has the same capacity as before. I’m still nearly 20 kg lighter but fairly miserable. I’m looking into duodenal switch. Different peoples bodies respond in different ways however everyone I know who has lost weight with the VSG has had it slowly creep back on after several years. Shame on me for not being more disciplined. I’m sorry but I have to be honest. I was incredibly disciplined for two years before my back injury with jogging four times per week. If I could turn back time I would go bypass or switch. My dr and providers were amazing.

So switching to soft foods at the recommended time has proved a challenge.
I'm struggling to keep food down. I have to eat smaller portions (ie a few tablespoons) and more slowly than I imagined was what was required. Sheesh! It can be a little depressing at times but I just decide to think about something else!
I bought a new pair of 18 black skinny jeans from the regular womens section at KMart yesterday. I'm not spending any real money on clothes until I reach goal. It was amazing to shop in the regular section - especially for jeans! As we all know the regular section does not have flattery sizes. I thought, 'Wow, I'm so close to a 16!' If you are reading in the US - 18 is a 14 and 16 is a 12.
I've now lost 15.3kg since my first consultation with my Dr.
I'm concerned about my nutrition. My skin is super dry, especially on my hands. I'm taking Berocca performance and choosing to have Optifast at least once a day to keep up vitamins and minerals. No hair falling out. Still more tired than usual but also have two preschoolers who are.. well... preschoolers!!! One is 9 months and the size of Jonah Lomu and the other is 3 1/2 and going through the 'no you do it Mummy' phase.

In my case recovery was easier than I anticipated. I've had two cesarean sections and in comparison this was a walk in the park.
My only major problem was that ten days post surgery we had an extended family lunch at a restaurant. I ordered an entree of scallops. Thinking that if I puréed them in my mouth that it would be ok. 6 hours later I'm wondering if I need to go to hospital. There is a big pain behind my breastbone and I can't sip water without it hurting. I phoned my surgeon and he advises me to keep standing and walking around. Well that certainly sorted out the problem and the next day I was fine. What an embarrassing lesson to learn! Too much of wrong type too soon.
The weight loss has been slow and steady and I am now down from my day of surgery weight of 114.4kg (and pre optifast weight of 119.4kg) to 105.1kg.
I'm conscious of the fact that I can't ease anxious moments with food and there have been a few occasions where I've really wanted to eat something but can't. Bread is my biggest temptation. When I'm making my toddler or crawler toast with butter I just want to take a great big bite!
Exercise is going well. I'm really motivated by my Fitbit HR Charge. It lets me know how I'm doing with sleep, steps, heart rate, active minutes and much more. I have been way more active with it than I would have without it. I find it highly motivating. I recommend. The physio at the hospital recommended it the day after surgery and hubbie went out and bought one that day. Bless him.
That's all for now. Will check in again in a month or so with a photo.
Am feeling great, not as tired now the 3 week mark has passed, and am starting to look like a new woman.