I didn’t sit on the fence for years deciding whether or not to have a gastric sleeve, a friend of mine had her surgery in August 2022 and after seeing her results it wasn’t even a question.
I had to wait because my littlest baby wasn’t born until February 2023, as soon as they’d stopped breastfeeding I booked my date.
My decision was purely vanity based- I was done being fat. No obesity-induced health conditions. At this point I’m going to reach out to the ‘you’re taking the easy option crew’ - yes. I confirm that I took the easy option. However, I successfully achieved weight loss previously through diet and exercise but when there are 2 under 2 around there’s no time for mumma to be precious over diet and exercise so why would I climb that mountain with a Bergen when I can climb it with a clutch bag?! At this point I’m going to confirm that this surgery is not a cure all, it’s a tool to add to your kit of weight management and I kind of master reset for your body.
You. Have. To. Work.
You must prioritise protein, you must make the right food and drink choices the vast majority of the time. It will not work otherwise.
Sure, I do still eat cake, biscuits, chocolate, crisps, Happy Meals etc etc but very sporadically and the portion of the above is like the little Halloween confectionery packets or a match box size of cake.
Daily my consists of: lean meat (chicken mostly), fish, eggs, Greek yogurt, milk, oats, Babybels, protein shakes/clear whey/protein puddings, peanut butter, vegetables and fruit.
I do not take caffeine, alcohol or carbonated drinks.
So, I started the liver reducing diet at 15st 6lbs and I flew out to see Dr Tamer at 14st 11lbs. I’m just over 7 months post op now and 9st 10lbs. Still losing but very slowly now.
My restriction is super variable, some days I could eat for the world and others I’m satiated on very little so consumption ranges from 600 calories to 1,000 calories.
I do have fibromyalgia, joint hypermobility and I also suffer with mechanical migraines. Now, don’t think I’m a snowflake. I’m not. All of these conditions were ignored and denied unless they were 10/10. I have noticed a significant improvement in all of the symptoms associated with the above. Migraines are much less frequent, joint pain is now occasional ache, fatigue is vastly improved. I live normally now without having to work at ignoring the conditions above.
The process itself…a walk in the park. It’s nothing more than a trip grocery shopping, just another part of life.
The mission is a slick one: you fly, you are collected, you are accommodated, you are tested, you are operated on, you recover, you are driven to your hotel, you fly home.
I am a massive advocate of surgery and of Dr Tamer. He is passionate about public health and improving quality of life for the bariatric community. He is a well-regarded practitioner in the field…the evidence of his practice is readily available. As for the surgery, if you are a person that has battled weight management in adult life then take this tool and start running…
I am more than happy to answer questions or discuss further, you can find me on Facebook, Being Lady Fatters.
