Ep 48: Finding Yourself After VSG with Manu (@love_gastricsleeve)
This post is a companion to Episode 48 of the Bariatric Nutrition Coach Podcast. Listen to the full episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
In this episode I sat down with Manu — known on Instagram as @love_gastricsleeve — an Italian woman living in the UK who had her sleeve gastrectomy in September 2022 and has since lost around 130 lbs. But this episode is about more than weight loss. It's about finding yourself.
Losing Herself — and Finding Her Way Back
Manu described becoming a mother as losing herself — not just as a person, but as a woman. Living away from her family in Italy, navigating osteoarthritis, and relying on food as her comfort, she reached her lowest point. Surgery wasn't just about weight. It was about deciding she deserved a future.
What struck me about Manu is how quickly she moved once she made the decision. She researched, booked, and flew to Turkey alone — all within two months. That determination has carried her through everything since.
The Stall — and Her Perspective on It
Manu calls weight loss plateaus a "process" rather than a stall — because in her view, everything about this journey is a process. She describes having two choices when the scales don't move: stop and cry over spilled milk, or do something about it and move forward. Both are valid for a moment — but the second is where growth happens.
Moving Away From the Scales
Manu now weighs herself monthly — or less. She's moved to what I call "relaxed self-monitoring": clothes that fit, energy levels, confidence, how she feels in her body. She's found her style. She loves fashion. Her daughters see a confident, happy mum who takes care of herself. That is the real win.
Find Manu on Instagram at @love_gastricsleeve.
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