118kgs 26th August 2013

I am still gently losing weight and am now118.1kgs today. Last week we had a lot of walks over to the shops for various reasons. I no longer get a sore back out of the longest walk or the muscle spasms that I used to get for the rest of the day. I am so NOT missing that. Amazing what losing a bit of weight can do for your health and mobility. I also went to our gym twice and spent time on the exercycle and treadmill. I would have done some weight raining as well but other people came in and were using the equipment. I still hate the person who can use the elliptical trainer for over 20 minutes. My left knee hurts too much after a few minutes. One day maybe: a goal to aim for.

I had a problem eating out the other day. I got what I thought would be something better than biscuits or muffins. It was a small round of vegetables with a little bacon in it somewhere (I never found it) and they said it was baked not fried. I got less than a quarter the way through and had to stop. I got symptoms of dumping. 3 times I had to get rid of thick saliva in my throat that was choking me. I even thought I might have to dash for the nearest toilet as I felt I was going to be sick. My stomach felt really sore and clogged. I sat quietly for about 20 minutes and finally it all settled. I am never having that food again. My doctor suggested it had more fat than it appeared to as that would  cause the symptoms. It is still early on in this process though so I am still finding out what I can and cannot eat.

 Probably need to have a notebook with me to note these things down. It is cheaper to have morning tea out with Mum as she only has to buy what she wants. I drink the water I brought with me and have a small nibble of what she is having. Our food bill is less to as we don't go through as much food. Mum is overweight too so she is using this time to slowly lose weight before summer herself. Over the last month she has gone down by 3 kgs herself. Some of that was because she did more exercise on her trip away. She is eating less though. Spring is almost here so when we have a fine afternoon we shall start going for walks around here and explore the local roads: look at the houses and gardens on them.

 

 

 This top last year was so tight that it flattened my bust noticeably. I can now hold a handful of fabric at the side so happy, happy, joy, joy. I am wondering what size I will be buying next winter's clothes in: 12, 14, 16? Will tell you when the time comes. I do have one top for summer in a smaller size.

 

 

 

I must say I don't see a huge difference in the photos but I definitely feel different in how my clothing fits and how much further I can walk without any sort of pain. Even my left knee is behaving well. Previously I was wondering how long it would be before my next Total Knee Joint Replacement and now I think unless I damage it in some other way it may not need doing. I do need to get back into doing some exercises that will tighten my stomach muscles. It became very difficult to do them when my weight was over 140 kgs but as I can easily knot my shoelaces again it is about time to restart those exercises.



Under 120kgs for the first time in years 19th August 2013

Today and last Friday morning I was under 120kgs. On Friday I was 119.7kgs and then for the next few days I was 121.1kgs. Today I am 119.2kgs. Woohoo. I do react to not going for a walk or as yesterday, being on my feet for most of the day, by seeming to gain weight. My surgeon has told me to not weigh myself each day but in my mind I think I am still disbelieving that I will lose weight and it will stay off. As time goes on and the trend continues I will pull back on weighing myself so often. My surgeon says to do so every 2 weeks but I used to weigh myself weekly anyway so will probably tail it back to that.

I am happy about that weight loss as we have had two birthday dinner party in 2 days. It was Steve's birthday on the 16th. I finished sewing up the blanket for him the night before and put it in a black gift bag ( a very large one). We had chicken in orange casserole, potatoes, peas and corn. I could eat 1 half of a small potato, 3 bites of chicken and 2 teaspoons of the vegetables. We had ice cream for dessert so it was a few spoons of that about 20 minutes after the main course. A small piece of the banana birthday cake at supper time was almost too much for my stomach. It  let me know with a quick run to the toilet before bed. The amount you are able to eat makes a difference as does that bit of daily exercise. Just what they have always told you and what you thought you had been doing.

Last night we had my nephew's birthday party. He and his fiancée came up from Rotorua for a few days. We had his sister and her husband, and their father for dinner. It was corned beef with mustard sauce, roast potatoes (rolled in melted butter and roast lamb seasoning before fan baking in the oven), roast pumpkin, parsnips, carrots and peas (boiled together). Pudding was apple and pear crumble with ice cream. 1 slice (small) of corned beef with 1 tsp or less of the mustard sauce, 1 small potato piece and a sliver of pumpkin, 2 tsp of the veges followed by, much later, a dessertspoon of crumble and ice cream. Everyone one else had a dinner plate, I used a bread and butter plate that you could still see the pattern of. I am slowly getting to learn my limit. The puddings for everyone were served in Chinese rice bowls (small). Of course the guys did come back for seconds but that was expected. 

PORTION SIZE + AMOUNT OF EXERCISE = WEIGHT LOSS ONLY IF WHAT YOU EAT IS LESS THAN WHAT YOU EXPEND.

The Laparoscopic Gastric Sleeve gives you that permanent portion size control. That being said lollies go down easier than protein or carbohydrates. You still have to keep an eye on what you are putting into your mouth. Protein has to head the list to keep your muscles feed. Vegetables and fruit fill you up so you have no room or really much desire for the things you should not being eating. The amount of water fills the gaps and it is needed for your kidneys and gall bladder to cope without problems.

I am now pain free in my abdominal area. The 2 stitches in one site must be absorbed now and it is good to move freely again. It has been a week without pain. I can hang the washing again and put washing, to air a little longer, on top of the hot water cylinder. Both this things I was not able to do till this week.

I am having a few laughs with some of my clothes. The sleeves have gone from my wrist to the start of my fingers. I swim in my nighties and dressing gown. My pants are baggy and you can gather them into full handfuls on the legs same as a lot of my tops. When it is seasonal changeover time they will all be going to charity. One pair of pants will be kept to do the obligatory photo when I reach the weight I want to hold at.

You need that "Oh My God, were you that big once?" response to help you feel proud of what you have achieved. Even with the help of the operation it is still something YOU have done. No-one else has done it for you. You have the operation (with its attendant risks), you eat what you should, you exercise as a way to improve your weight loss. This can only be done by you so be proud and loud about it. Let no-one tell you it was the easy way because it is not.

 

 

Like my second paperweight for that second 10 kgs of weight loss. I have now lost 21.9kgs or 48.18 lbs. Proud, loud. Happy. My next goal is 110kgs. I am setting each goal at 10 kgs as that comes around sooner than aiming for the total weight loss I actually desire (down to around 65 kgs). I can pat myself on the back for achieving that 10kgs as are other people around me. I may buy some silver earrings I have seen for the next 10 kg loss.

 

I am looking forward to buying smaller summer clothes. My wardrobe may be a little lean for a while as I don't want to buy clothes that I will then have to dispose of in a short time. Luckily my niece is large but smaller than me and I have some of her clothes from last year that I could not fit then but will be able to now. That will give me some leeway.

 

She looked into the operation too but she has no other morbidities and she has not had children so is unable to get it in the public system at the moment. Her depression and back pain have improved so she is in a weight loss frame of mind at the moment anyway and she is losing a noticeable amount- so hard to do - and we are proud of her too. Her brother's fiancée is aware of heart problems in their family so has her brother on an exercise and eating regime that has improved his weight and fitness. The family are all looking at what they are doing with good results all round. Going Gluten Free has helped in some cases.

4th August 120.1 kgs

I have lost my first 21 kgs counting from the 1st May and 5.5 kgs since my operation. I got a treat for myself on Friday. I had decided at the start of this journey that I would treat myself with tangible objects for reaching weight-loss goals: jewellery, clothes, books and other pretty things. I went into a number of shops. I saw some lovely silver earrings that tempted, a lovely crystal vase, a mug that had a mystical fairy image on it but lovely as they were there wasn't the total "take me Home now" vibe. Off to another store and I found a lovely paperweight made of clear glass with a lovely blue pattern inside it. Even better, it was $10 when it had originally been $50.

 

 

I love all forms of coloured glass so I was very pleased to find and buy this lovely paperweight. The box it comes in is as big a treat as it is almost an origami box. Inside were 2 gift tags as well. I am going to put a little sticker on the bottom with date and weight to remind me in the years to come.

 

I have my post-op 3 week appointment with Dr Stephanie Ulmer tomorrow. Maybe she can find out why my right side still aches. The rest of me is feeling good. I can do most of the normal housework but I stop and rest a bit more. Same with going to the shops. I have had family or friends help with taking the washing in and out as stretching up is not good yet. I am still trying to drink or eat what is suggested. They are right to say you no longer have that hunger all the time. Even if part of it might be psychological (you have finally done a major step to control your weight) I am happier about it. I like to notice that my clothes are getting looser, my rings may be getting too loose (Mum may score them if they won't stay on any finger) and even my shoes are showing a difference. It amazes me at times and I thought I was an intelligent person. I kept saying I was OK with my weight but really I was not. People have been known to make obnoxious comments from cars or as they passed me.

 

I don't look as though I have lost too much in these photos but the white top now rests over the top of my legs instead of just below my waist. The leggings I have on have wrinkles in them and are loose at the ankles instead of being stretched to within an inch of their life (as my brother recently retorted) so I can feel the difference. I think my arms show some size difference too.

My next weight loss goal is 110kgs. I am aiming for each 10 kgs weight loss so I don't think it is so horrendous a goal. I am looking forward to when I can do some weight training to help bring my body shape in. I do understand though my body may need help in the end to get rid of the stomach apron that may be left at the end. I am older and this weight has been there for a long time so my skin will be permanently stretched but I can do my bit to make the underlying muscles stronger. I might hit a swimming pool next week. We have some on bus routes that I can use as our pool here is not heated or protected from winter cold weather. Pity really.