Week 8 Weight (6w 5d post op)

Starting weight - 132.3 kg
Today's weight - 115.2 kg
Total loss = 17.1 kg

So as expected, have gained weight. Actually thought it would be more than 200 g but not complaining. This gain could be what I was expecting last week, or maybe my cycle is due or (quite possibly) I am eating too many calories. Having Easter and temptation everywhere I did eat a few chocolate eggs and 2 marshmallows this week, as well as extra juice instead of water. I haven't been counting calories at all so could be that. Will do better next week hopefully.

This week I started swimming again. Am completely out of shape, had to stop after each lap to catch my breath and only managed 500 m before calling it a day. However, this will improve. I enjoy swimming. The quiet early morning sounds, alone with my thoughts, feeling weightless.

I will also be walking on alternate days.  I will be participating in some charity walks this year (I say 'walks' because I cannot even imagine myself running - but who knows!). My sister wants to do one in 5 week's time... hoping I'll be ready for it...

Food - I am still taking my solid eating slowly - mostly having chicken and pork. Have been enjoying salads and lots of yummy vegetables and fruits again. Lots of pineapple and strawberry. I still have cheese and yoghurt daily, icy poles (they make my stomach feel better when I start feeling sick), alternate days for baked beans and eggs, and I have been having lots of yummy olives - oh my have I missed antipasti foods... the olives are mmm mmm.

Anyway, I'm still really happy. Getting dressed has become a bit of a challenge as nothing fits me.  But that's a pretty positive problem.

All in all, happy happy happy!

=)

Week 7 - Weight (5w 5d post op)

Starting weight - 132.3 kg
Today's weight - 115.0 kg
Total loss = 17.3 kg

I had drafted this post last night anticipating a stall or weight gain as I have been a little off diet this week. I had three handfuls of popcorn at the movies yesterday and I had my first 'solid' food lunch - had half a small flatbread sub with chicken, avocado, cheese and salads. I ate too quickly and it hurt but otherwise was all good. The flatbread was too filling, mostly ate the inside. Oh and two pikelets at dinner. Also being the week before Easter I have been baking cookies and making chocolates and even though i havent eaten any (except the odd lick off my finger) I feel a little buttery and sugary as the smell is in the air.

Am moving myself onto solid foods (technically a couple weeks early). I miss salads and raw carrots and whole fruits would you believe - so will be adding these one at a time, see how I go.  Can't hurt to try. My doctor and dietician are overly cautious which is why they have such brilliant results and lack of complications.  I promise to be careful and stop whatever makes me sick or hurt or isn't good for me.

On a happy note - my non scale victories (NSV) are piling up! Here's a few from this week:

My rings are feeling very loose and keep turning around.
My pants are feeling looser and that outer thigh bump on the sides of my legs is smoothing out..
My bras have enough room in the cups for another set of boobs - softball sizes.
My undies are huge!  Used to sit properly around hip but now can pull them so high past my belly button - yikes.
My tops are so big and baggy.

All good things - PLUS

My stomach doesn't touch the steering wheel in the car anymore.
My body doesn't brush past the shower curtain anymore when I'm showering.
My fitball that I bought months and months ago can finally hold my weight.
My arms don't get tired washing my hair or cooking anymore.

On Monday I will be 6 weeks post op, and so will be all cleared for exercising.   I have decided to swim 3 days a week and walk/cross trainer 3 days a week. I am so excited to get moving moving moving again.

Lots to be happy about, lots to look forward to.
Happy Easter weekend. Enjoy your families!

=)

Week 6 Weight

Starting weight - 132.3 kg
Today's weight - 116.9 kg
Total loss = 15.4 kg

I have lost 22% of the weight I want to lose!

Very happy

=)

One month post op

Today is one month since my surgery.

I did an extra weigh in this morning just out of curiosity and I was 118.1 kg.
Total loss = 14.2 kg.

My incisions are looking great, healing well. Some people have asked me what they look like now. They look like someone has drawn a few small lines on me with a reddish/purple pen. They're thin... two are about 1cm long and two are 2-3 cm long. The belly button line is vertical from the centre about 1cm up.  Over time the colour will lighten like a stretch mark.

I have been trying different foods but the amount is so small. A few teaspoons at a time.  I often feel like I may have had too much (even though I have had less then recommended).  Icy poles really soothe the tight bubble type pain in the chest when this happens. I am loving them.

A lot of people have asked me if I am constantly sick. No. I haven't vomited since leaving the hospital.

After Easter my six weeks is up so I can start swimming and 'sweaty' excercise again. Very much looking forward to that.

I went to work today and found it a little bit difficult because during class time I obviously can't just eat or drink whenever I want or need to and the wet weather meant I got less break time.  Twice today I started feeling weak/sick/empty.. not sure how to describe it... while teaching and I couldn't do anything about it. I had sugar free hard lollies with me which sometimes help but I couldn't eat them in front of the children.  So it was a little challenging today but this was my first day since surgery.  School holidays starting now so maybe after the break I will be a little further along to help this issue.

Mentally I am feeling really great. No regrets at all. 6 weeks ago food was such a big part of my day and night and life. And now I just dont want it. I certainly can't eat the same way. I eat because I need to and for no other reason. I don't want the same foods as before, I have no cravings or hunger pains.  I don't even miss my Diet Coke.  Can't believe I have broken that habit but it is completely gone.

Feeling really great.

=)

General Update

Have been thinking I haven't really updated generally in a while.

I was really struggling on puree stage (not getting enough protein in, having trouble with texture etc), so one week early I have been slowly introducing soft foods which is the next stage. I have been feeling much better since doing this.

Today is the fifth day since doing this - some of the proteins I have been eating:

• Lean minced meats (chicken, pork, beef) - have had them cooked in a cauliflower shepherd's pie with peas, corn, zucchini and carrot, bolognaise sauce eaten on it's own, in mexican spices with tomato, cheese and avocado.
• Yoghurt - I bought the foil pouched chobani yoghurt in mixed flavours. Very yummy and it isn't wasted when I can't eat much.  I am also making frozen yoghurt ice blocks with protein powder and fruit to have yoghurt a different way.
• Cheese - I have been having either one slice of singles cheese a day or sometimes grate parmesan or tasty cheese on my meat.
• Eggs - haven't had them everyday but I have one egg at a time either scrambled, hard boiled or poached.
• Beans - have had baked beans and red kidney beans - I have mixed beans, lentils and white beans but im not sure how im going to eat them yet.
• I have stopped all optifast products... mostly because I cant swallow them anymore... taste has changed and they make me gag a little. 
• Milk - skim milk only, added to eggs, cereals, vegetables when cooking and drank on its own.
• Cereal - have mostly had porridge but also weet bix is good.

Other foods and drinks are custard, two fruits, lemon lime and bitters with water, icy poles, honey, light sour cream, diet jelly, pineapple juice.

I have found if it is too sweet or too heavy, I feel really sick. So healthy small amounts, still only having 1/4 to 1/2 a cup each meal and less for snack, slow eating slow drinking.

I am taking my bariatric multivitamins twice a day and also taking swisse hair, skin and nail vitamin once a day.  My hair is already thinning out so trying to help hold onto it. 

My tummy bruises from my injections were replaced with a rash after I had an allergic reaction to them (showed up at the end of taking them all) so I had liquid medicine for this but the itching has stopped and it is slowly going away.

The only pain I am having is occasionally on my right side incision, that's the biggest cut and it just aches every now and then as it is still healing.

My breath is starting to get better - not sure if I mentioned the horrific breath while my body was in ketosis. It is getting better slowly - lots if chewing gum.

My clothes are literally falling off me. As I'm not really working at the moment I have been spending most of my time in exercise clothes cause it is comfortable.  Put on jeans and a top this morning and have gone down a size and a half. Had to pull out smaller clothes - wonderful feeling.

Not sure what else.... any questions please ask!

Very happy so far. No regrets. Looking forward to seeing the scale continue to go down and the clothes continue to fall off.

=)

Weigh In - Week 5

Weigh in this morning!

Week 5 of 40 week challenge
3 weeks and 5 days post op

Starting weight: 132.3 kg
Current weight: 118.6 kg
Total loss = 13.7 kg

Yay for me!

=)

Measurements - One Month

It's the 1st of the month! Time to do my body measurements and add some photos.

33 cm lost from all around my body.  Most of the weight coming off my hips and waist but I was right - my boobies are getting smaller too.

=)

Photos - One Month

My one month photos!

All photos can be seen by clicking the 'Photos' tab so you can compare.