100kgs on 4 May 2014 ( May the 4th be with you.)

The last month has been up and down weight wise. Just before Easter my weight was 97kgs on my brother's scales (love those scales) but of course there are chocolate Easter eggs to be had over Easter. My weight went back to 100kgs and it is still floating around there. While I was at my brother's place I went for hour + walks each day as there wasn't a gym there. I also did some weeding of his garden most days and his house was larger so used a bit more energy on the housework.


I enjoyed the walks around his area. the people you met all said hello except one woman runner who was having enough trouble keeping breathing and couldn't spare enough for an hello. One lady had a lovely Husky dog on his leash enjoying his walk. I love the look of Husky dogs with their blue eyes and quizzical looks from the dark bit over their eyes. The area was not as litter-laden as when I walk around my area. We are near a large shopping area with multiple fast food outlets and people seem to think that applies to getting rid of their garbage ( out the car window mostly I think).


I was looking at the new coloured jeans in the shops recently. I liked the look of them but the cost was still a little high for the length of time I might have in them before they got too big. Well the Universe decided to help. My niece came over with 3 pair she no longer fitted and another friend came around with a black rubbish bag full from a friend of hers. I think I am now up to 12 pair so I thanked the Universe and said I don't need any more now, divert them to some-one else. I swear I heard a chuckle. I even have 5 pair to lose weight and get into.


I have a busy birthday week coming up. My brother's birthday is on the 7th, my mother's on the 8th, my father (deceased) used to be on the 9th. There is Mother's day on Sunday as well. I have brought 3 books for my brother and on Payday will get my mother her favourite perfume (Anais Anais). I am still not sure about her Mother's day present but the local gift shop has some lovely things so I am sure she will be happy. My own children don't always think ok sending me something but occasionally the surprise me. Of course I could send something to my youngest daughter as she is the mother of 2 and a bit children and one step-daughter. Make her laugh.


I have so many craft things I want to do. I am using Feather wool to knit strips that I will put together for a light warm over blanket. I am knitting baby clothes for my daughter. I want to do a scrap book for her with some memories o her life as she can't remember a lot o the things my mother and I do. I like to do some knitting for charity each year as I don't have a lot of disposable income to give to charity. My friend has sent me 3 lovely needlepoint tapestries to do. Some she has started but no longer likes and others were gifts but she doesn't really like the subjects. I love the three of them. I also have some canvases that I want to use for paintings. They will get done. I also want to learn and try to get some writing publish. The BNZ (a bank) has Literary Awards that they sponsor in May and June. They have 4 categories and I try for 2 of them. One is Short, Short Stories 100-150 words and the other is for Novice writers 1000-3000 words. I enjoyed it last year so am trying again this year. I have put in my first short, short story and will finish typing my first entry for the novice competition and send it off today. You can put in multiple entries of different stories. They get judged individually. a bit of fun.
I am having difficulty getting pictures to upload to this blog (as in they won't do so) so if you want to see recent photos you will have to check out my Google + posts at https://plus.google.com/117661822821856796408/posts or https://plus.google.com/u/0/108075554513612532676/posts
I am not sure why this is happening but it is.

101.6kgs ( 223.52lbs) on 15th March 2014

It is stormy weather outside today as Auckland is being sideswiped by Cyclone Lusi. I decided to chart my progress in Excel today and do a chart from it. Looking at it has shown me that I have lost weight but probably not as fast as I could have compared to others. Once again I must assess what I am doing each day.

I am getting to the gym 5 days a week at least now and having a walk most days as well. I am working about an hour ten with more intensity. I am going to get organised on MyFitnessPal today and be more conscious of what I am putting into my mouth. as they say "You graze all day, you weigh all day". I think I have grazed a little more than I should. I will drink more as that is something I do need to improve on. I need a bit more protein in my diet, Protein also makes you feel more sated so it does a twofer. My hair will probably thank me when I do as it is thinning at the moment. It has got its lustre back though. It looked a bit like an ill cat for a while after the operation as there was a major diet change happening.

I just checked how long I have left till the first year anniversary of the LGS op and there is approximately 16 weeks so I need to up my game as the first year is when the highest weight loss occurs. I feel so much better already that I want to do the best I can. My goals for March:

• Reach 99kgs or less by April
• Gym 5+ days a week
• Try to get weight loss up to 2kgs per week
• Eat properly with none of the no-no's passing my lips
• Up protein intake
• Make 1500mls+ of water every day

Weight loss and waist measurement chart







102kgs (224.4lbs) on the 12th March 2014

I inch closer and closer to that double number in the kilos. SOON. I was last there in the 1990's - early 1990's - so am looking forward to that. I have had one perk up though. One of our local shops was selling last year's nightwear for $10 and I was about to buy the size 18's without checking. I pulled myself up and put it against my body. It went over my midline by an inch (2.5cms) on either side . Size 16 accompanied me home (YAY). I did not expect that to happen for a little while longer. They are comfortable to wear too. It has got cool at night a little earlier this year so I was pleased to have them. It will mean a lot more clothes to take out of my drawers and wardrobes when I do the summer-winter changeover of my clothing.


I did make it to double numbers in my waist measurements - 99 cms (39.6 inches)- which still leaves 25 cms to go on that measurement. It was 135 cms (54 inches) at the start of this journey (May 1013)so that is 36 cms (14.4 inches) gone. Below is the changes that have occurred in my measurements and a chart for a more visual representation.

Measurement changes from 2007 - 2014
	11/06/2007	12/03/2014
Weight kgs	127	102
BMI	43.8	35.3
Chest (inches)	55	49
Waist (inches)44.5	44.5	39
Hips (inches)	56	49
Neck (inches)	15.5	13.75
Shoulder (inches)	45.5	43
Rt upper arm	16.5	13
Lt upper arm	16.5	13
Rt lower arm	11	10
Lt upper arm	11	10
Rt thigh	29	23
Lt thigh	28.5	23
Rt calf	18.5	16.75
Lt calf	18	16.75
Dress size	26	16

2007 -2014 measurement changes

I find that my intensity in doing my work at the gym is improving as I get fitter and smaller. I managed 9kms in 20 minutes on the exercycle yesterday and originally it took me 22 minutes to do 8kms. My thighs let me know that they are working harder than they are used to doing. I accomplished it with some interval work. I like how my body is starting to feel as well. Yes, my upper arms still have a wattle, it is getting smaller. I have regained having a waist. I am no longer apple shaped. They say being apple shaped makes your possibility of having a heart attack go up so if I have gone back to being hourglass shape I may have lessened that risk. I am lessening my risk for stroke and diabetes too if doctors are correct. Now I just have to re-learn where my body actually is in physical space. I have got a few extra bruises from not realising where my body is and knocking myself against doors and their handles.

I saw my surgeon yesterday. She was happy with my progress so far. She suggested getting a little more protein in my diet by using, protein powders, shakes or bars. It is better for your body if this is kept within the normal range to lessen any risk to your body. Water wise I am closer to getting at least 1500mls in each day. I do find that I suddenly realise it has been quite a while since my last drink if I am involved in activities or a good book so I am trying to remember to reach my hand out for the glass near me. She suggested I use MyFitnessPal to keep an eye on my food intake to make sure it is balanced. I think you can also put in the exercise you do as well. I will check it out this week and get back to you as to how I liked it.

 



103kgs (226.6lbs) on 4th March 2014

I have started on the downward trend again. Yay. I decided that there may have been a number of factors in the fact that I plateaued for the last few weeks. They may be:

• Lower intensity in the gym because of my sore ribs
• Taking pain killers slowed down some bodily functions
• I ate a bit more and I try to say that was due to the pills but probably not
• A natural plateau that your body can reach during a weight loss journey

I am no longer sore so am back doing my full range of exercises; including ones (stationary cycle and gym ball squats) that I started when sore. My gym work now takes about an hour ten minutes. Yesterday I brought a book put out by Michelle Bridges called "crunch time - lose weight fast and keep it off.". She is one of the trainers on The Biggest Loser - Australia. She is the Aussie equivalent of Jillian: in your face and lets you get away with no bullshit, but really wants you to succeed for your own joyful slimmer life. The book itself goes through the mental, physical and nutrition parts of how to lose weight and keep it off. I mainly got it to try the new exercises but the rest looks very interesting. I shall read through it fully and put into practice what I learn from it. Every little bit of learning helps. It took a long time, and a lot of things happening in my life, to put the weight on.

I want this joyful journey to be one that is on-going for the rest of my life. I want to hit 100 years and still be at the gym doing weights and other exercises. That would p... of a few people that have known me throughout my life. Research has shown though that even a very elderly person who takes up weight training and other forms of exercise improves their life. I do a bit more exercise that helps with my core muscles. My large bust makes me a bit top heavy so if I get out of balance I will topple more easily. The core exercises give me enough abdominal strength so that it does not happen so easily now. Saying that, I was trimming our little box hedge the other day and stepped back to put the bits in a rubbish bag. I destabilized on the base of our outside umbrella and toppled over. My left buttock and left arm ended up a bit bruised. Nothing broke, thank goodness. Arnica ointment helped keep the bruising to a minimum and quickly got rid of the few that did appear.

I read a lot and I go through books quickly so most days I take a walk to the library to take back what I finished overnight and ones my mum has finished too. It is a bit of extra exercise that ramps up calorie use and gets me away from food that I might be tempted to nibble on otherwise. It gives my elderly mother space to have her afternoon nap without being disturbed too so wins all round.

I have brought some new winter nighties to replace my very large old ones. I now fit size 16 instead of size 26 so I have reached one of my goals. I will be even happier when I lose a bit more weight and they get closer to my knees. They fit comfortably though and it is a major milestone in my mind. I was happy to reach size 18 but 16 is even better. I may yet reach size 12. Today's size 12 is what used to be size 14 when I was younger but I will take it either way when I reach that. A friend gave me some of her clothes that she had grown too small for in her weight loss journey. When she first gave them to me I could not get into some of the pants, now my favourite pair is getting a bit too loose. I may have to sew up the side seams on those as I really like them.

 

 The top photo is an earlier one so I am showing some improvement. What I liked the other day, when I was sitting in the weight exercise machine, was that for the first time since I started using it my whole back was up against the back support- from top to bottom. That has not happened before as my spine has a bit of curvature due to my large bust and the combined weight therein. I am losing from the top down as a lot of people do (and from the feet up) and the benefits are finally showing in my body. I know I still have a long way to go but I celebrate every little victory on the way. It is a way of me learning to love myself and my body again. It helps. Good luck on your joyful journey too.