95 Cm waistline 24 June 2014

Today my waistline is 95 cms so I've gone down 2 cms since the last time I checked. I have only 7 cms before I get into the orange zone on my BMI calculator tape measure and only 15 cms before I get back into the green range for a woman. If I was a man I would be only 1 cm from being back in the green range. I love being a woman though and having a curvy shape. I have got curves again and they are for an hour glass shape now and not the robust apple shape of last year. I look at old photos and wonder how I let myself get that big sometimes.

I have learnt over the last few weeks that I am definitely a stress eater as I am yo-yoing up and down between 99.9 and 99 kgs. We are still having trouble getting mum's place in Chinderah ,NSW into the hands of either a buyer or a friend that could really do with it. The management are refusing the entrance of the buyer and making it difficult for the friend as I think they are trying to get the large site for nothing if we abandon it.My daughter has had to change her flight time and pay extra money to do so.

I am also having health concerns as I recently lost vision in my left eye after bending down for a short while doing some dusting. I also had some problems in the other eye but not as bad. I saw an optometrist later in the week as it settled at the time but had me concerned. She is concerned that it is either a TIA or Temporal arteritis ( giant cell arteritis). I have gone and looked at medical sites and both are scary but the temporal arteritis could blind me permanently and suddenly. It also can cause aortic aneurysms leading to sudden death or strokes that could totally incapacitate me. She said she would contact my doctor and send a referral to the eye specialist with urgent on them. I have heard back from no-one so will have to do some chasing up on that or keep on eating my worry away. That is not an option as I have my 1 year post op check coming up and want to have lost more weight before then.

Good news is every-time I buy some new clothing I can buy a smaller size. I recently bought leggings that have a rib/cable pattern on them, size 18 not size 20, and a long cable jumper that is size 16-18 and it is already looking slightly large. They were a bargain and I got an outfit for $NZ25.00. I do like a good sale. I went to my local book shop the other bay and got 3 books at 50% off of their already discounted price then $5 further off on the loyalty program. One will be a Xmas present for my brother as it is a book on NZ fishing tales, another is a kid's fantasy book (grand-kids need presents) and a knitting book by Debbie Bliss with some lovely patterns in. I often walk to the library as an extra bit of exercise and I had dipped into the book shop to check out whether a new cross stitch magazine was in yet.

I was looking through home design blogs the other day and found one called Fancy. It had a draw you could enter for a $150 voucher from an online Home Decor store called http://www.se3.co.nz . I explored that site, went back to Fancy and entered the draw. I won. Above is what I chose. I let the owner know what I wanted on the Sunday, it was packed and couriered on Monday and I had it by midday on Tuesday. Now that is what I call prompt service. It was very well packed and it got to me intact with no damage anywhere. Check the site out and be pleasantly surprised.

I am trying to set up a weekday writers group at our local library but notices I sent to our local papers did not appear so I will try again tomorrow and see if 2nd time is a charm. The friendly librarian at Botany Library is going to put it on the Facebook page as well . I hope it gets off the ground. I go to one every third Saturday A little feeling of inadequacy there as most have had something published and sold. This time we read out and got critiqued on what we had written. I apparently am doing well in how I write with tween boys as my target group of readers . The head of the group feels I have the language and attitude that they would enjoy. He did pick up on a physical impossibility I had one of my people doing. It was good to hear things other people had written and to see even professionals have their differences that need editing to improve. A good point made was to get the reader of your written language to check your work if you are writing in what is a second language to you. They may pick up more easily any inconsistencies in the language than you would. I am hoping this writing group on a week day gets off the ground. I sent a short, short story off to a writing competition and had it declined. I forgot to copy and paste it into my own file and can't remember what I wrote so not sure why it was declined. Worries me a bit but what can you do.

Next weight loss goal is now 95 kgs. Below are my new clothes.

99 kgs on the 3rd June 2014 (98 on Mum's Scales)

I like Mum's scales as they make me lighter but mine are probably the more accurate as they are digital ones. Nothing bets waking up , going to the bathroom, stripping off and checking your weight before eating and drinking anything. as I do the same thing daily it is an accurate measurement of my weight loss. My surgeon laughs and writes the amount I tell her down as she knows where I am coming from. I still have at least 60+pound left to go on this weight loss journey but I am on the downhill slide as I have lost 93 pound already. Food wise still eating protein first, vegetables or fruit second and carbohydrates third.

I am at the gym 5-6 days each week. One day is more cardio orientated, the other more weight training orientated but I do both types each day. Me a gym bunny - improbable - but it has happened. I miss it on days I don't go but sometimes the body has to recuperate from what you have done. I will probably still have some wobbly bits that a surgeon would have to remove but those wobbly bits are much smaller and there are muscles underneath that are much more defined now. as a woman I do lower weights but a lot more repetitions. The aim is to shape the body not bulk the body. I got up to 5km/hr on the treadmill which is much better than the 3.5km/hr I could do last year around this time. Cycling I am consistently doing 9kms in 20 minutes on a program that has different intensity throughout.

A friend told me the other day that I am seldom without a smile on my face now and that is different from what I was like before I had my op. I must have been depressed about my size and refused to acknowledge it even to myself. I love buying new clothes in smaller and smaller sizes. The only thing is I love what I get then after a couple of months it becomes too large. It shows that I am still losing weight but I miss my lovely new styles - need to go out and buy more. It is positive reinforcement though.

I am becoming more confident again. Last year I joined a writer's group run by a published writer, this year I am starting a week day writing group with a librarian who is interested in promoting local writing and myself as the original organizers. The Auckland Library Service likes to have books from local writers on their shelves. An ultimate aim for this writers' group would be to put our writing work together into a book and publish it. The first aim is to write regularly and get some constructive criticism to improve it to a publishable standard. The second aim is to gather people with a common interest and meet on a regular basis and widen the circle of people we all will know. Changed to Google Chrome and suddenly I can get photos back on my blog, YAY.

Mother's day 11 May 2014

Late April 2014

Same dress as at the top 31st January 2014 for my nephew's wedding

Late May, looking and feeling skinnier

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.