Week 34

Wow how time flies.  I have been very slack and not writing on this blog, not even the monthly posts! So very sorry to those who have been checking in!

Since my last post, my weight has gone up and stalled.  I have seen my dietician, psychologist and surgeon who has done various blood tests and looked into everything that I am doing.  Basically some things I had been eating or drinking that I thought were okay (such as lemon flavoured mineral water) were actually incredibly bad and were adding an extra 2-300 calories PER GLASS.  I know what was wrong and how to fix it - now am doing it.

I am also on varied medications for last couple of months which have not been helping me shift the weight either.  Oh well.

I went to a Aussie Gastric Sleevers event on my 7 month sleeversary... I bought a dress online that I had worn and since sold..  Some people I know did a side by side comparison of me in the dress.. The one on the left was an XL from October 2013 and the one on the right was a size S October 2014.  About a 35 kilo difference here.

So a bit about what I'm eating and doing...  For breakfast I've been having Just Right and a glass of juice with my vitamins.  At about 9.30ish I have a little tub of two fruits or a mini apple.  Lunch has recently been a cheese and tomato sandwich (that I can finish about 3/4 of)... however I have been trying to cut back on breads so I have a salad when not a sandwich.  Afternoons I have a few tablespoons of chobani yoghurt OR some carrots/cucumbers sticks OR some almonds OR popcorn.  Dinner has been varied meat and veg but I have really been struggling to finish anything.  After dinner if I am snackish I have sugar free lollies or a scoop of frozen yoghurt or something like that..

I have been struggling to drink enough water... just seems to be a constant battle.  I can take a couple gulps but then can't have anything for ages... and if I don't think about it often I forget about it - end up being hours between drinks.  Not the best especially with the hot weather.. but as I said, constantly trying.. constant battle.

Exercise has been a fairly consistent part of my schedule.  I actually feel stiff and a bit sick when I don't get my exercise in.  The usual is Step class Monday, Body Pump and walking Tuesday, Circuit/Pilates Wednesday, Swimming or machines Thursday, Body Pump and walking Friday and on the weekends I always want to exercise but never seem to actually do any... even with the cross trainer at home I just look at it :/  I have been really loving the Pump classes and am feeling strong as I slowly increase the weight I use.  I can see some muscular definition in my arms which I like.  

My mood has been increasingly better.  I am feeling happy and sexy and strong and capable which are all good things.  Giving myself the permission to spend time on myself was really hard at first with a toddler to look after, but I am finding it is definitely worth it.  Plus she loves watching me at the gym from creche and tells everyone how 'mummy was dancing with the pole, up and down' (referring to Body Pump) hahaha funny girl.  

A stable dress size has been nice... size 16 tops, size 18 bottoms... My waist is about the only thing going in... butt, thighs, bust and hips are all still stubbornly there... 

My weight has shifted back down a little this week.  It had gained back to 108 kg but this week I am sitting on 101 kg.  Still 8.7 kg away from where I want to be at the end of this challenge.  So I am pushing myself harder and trying a little bit more every day.

With less than 6 weeks until the end of this 40 week challenge, I ask anyone else who would like to pledge sponsorship for my weight loss efforts to please do so.  You can contact me or do it directly on Everyday Hero.  

I will try to post regularly til the end of the challenge.  I am working hard and looking forward to losing 40 kilos (or as close as I can to it) in 40 weeks! 

=)

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.

=)

Puree stage update

Today is the fifth day I have been on puree foods and I have to say I hate it.

I haven't been able to finish any meal or snack and it takes ages to finish a drink.
So even though I'm trying, I haven't gotten enough protein or fluids this week yet.

After 4 or 5 teaspoons of food I'm totally full and it takes hours before I feel like I could try to eat again.

I have been eating different proteins throughout the day and have also had some fruits and veggies. Some of the foods I have had are:  Scrambled egg, porridge, baked beans, yoghurt, chicken, pork, mashed potato, peas, corn, sweet potato, cauliflower,  carrot, apples, pineapple, bolognaise, cheese, iceblocks.

The texture of pureed meat is just wrong... makes me gag at the thought of it. Am finding it hard to eat.
Pureed fruit or veg tastes yummy but doesn't give the needed protein!
I can only manage like half an egg. Baked beans are yummier than ever and are good protein but have too much sugar to have everyday.  The chobani yoghurt has twice as much protein as regular yoghurt.
The pineapple tasted so good but made me feel sick with trapped burps shortly after that lasted hours.

So I am really struggling. I bought some different things to try. Mixed meat dip (that I will be having without any bread or crackers), canned shredded chicken, baby apples, mixed bean dips, etc. Will see how they go.

On another note, I finished my injections yesterday so my bruises can start healing.

Weightwise, I have been jumping on scales a few times this week, haven't lost much so far. Official weigh in tomorrow.

I will be taking my measurements in a few days! Yay!

Can't wait til next food stage - 9 more days

=)

Puree Stage

Today is my first day on pureed food. Slowly easing my new stomach into eating again.

As of today I will be slightly obsessed with how much protein is in everything because besides having 1L to 1.5L of fluids, I must have between 50-60g of protein each day. Doesn't seem like a lot but as my stomach is much smaller it will be quite difficult.

Protein, protein, protein!

My plan for today (will see how I go) will be:
Breakfast - one scrambled egg with skim milk
Morning Snack - 180ml Chobani yoghurt and 1 tsp berry fruit
Lunch - 30g Pork, 1tsp Sweet potato, 1 tsp peas and 1tsp corn
Afternoon - Strawberry Optifast shake
Dinner - finish the day's leftovers or vegies if I have finished.

Fluids - water, diet cordial, skim milk

My egg this morning was very nice. I ate very slowly and only managed 3/4 of it.  I stopped after 20 minutes and seemed to spend the next half hour with small burps. I'm still learning what 'full' feels like and am too scared to push too far.

I will be having my yoghurt soon. I will keep track of what I am eating and will post later in the week if anyone is interested.

=)

Day 5 Post Op

Almost five whole days since my surgery. I came home yesterday morning. I feel really fine. My left shoulder has a slight sharpness which will go away. My incisions don't hurt at all. My neck and back hurt from being so tense and not having been comfortable in the hospital. I am remembering to breathe and do my deep breathing excercises. The lungs get lazy during anesthesia and if proper excercises aren't done you could collapse a lung. So important stuff. I'm resting a lot.  I slept the whole night through and have been sleeping /resting every few hours. I'm doing lots of short walks to keep the gas in my belly moving as there's still some from surgery. Honestly I am doing and feeling much better than expected.

I have been "enjoying" broth, water, juice, up n go, optifast, skim milk, diet cordial and more water on my liquid diet. I think the water and juice taste the best. At the moment having 1L a day working up to 1.5 L.

With only liquids in you can imagine only getting liquids out. It's not as bad as I thought it would be. As I'm only having 125 ml per hour at most, when I do go it's only a really small amount of number 2, pretty normal number 1.  I have been adding benefiber to most of my drinks as per instructions and slowly I'm going less frequently and more solid.  Sorry if it's TMI but I know people who are thinking of having this done want to know what it's like.

I'm taking my chewable vitamins everyday and for the next 14 days will be giving myself daily injections in my thigh/tummy.  This is because I was taking oral contraception before my surgery and the injections help with hormones and blood thinning.

During my hospital stay I was injected with so many needles in my thighs, tummy, bum, arms and hand. These were for nausea, pain relief, hormone balance, blood thinners etc.  I did not know I was going to get so many needles. It was like 5- 10 per day.  I'm pretty good with needles but I'm still bruised and spotty from the injections sites. They will clear up!

I'll add photos in another post. As always, any questions,  please ask.

Weigh in tomorrow!  Will be interesting to see what happens.

=)

Hospital - Day 2 post op

A little bit about my hospital stay so far...

Straight after surgery on Monday, I was very nauseas, exhausted - couldn't keep my eyes open, and was quite shaky. I was attached to a drip alternating between saline water and potassium. I found it impossible to sleep but that was all I wanted to do. Even when I was comfortable enough to try and sleep, nurses came in every 30 - 60 mins to check my blood pressure, oxygen levels, add panadol to my drip, give different blood thinning injections and more.

Tuesday I was crazy urging for a shower but had to wait a few hours for shift change. I was sick a couple of times but nothing too bad. I walked laps around the ward and was allowed to suck on ice or icy poles. I had 6 icy poles!  Didn't sleep at night. Literally watching the clock turn.  I walked the ward some more and stretched.

Wednesday is today. I have been good today, very little nausea, less medication, less nurse interruptions.  I walked over ten times. Doctor has seen me every day and is very happy with my healing and progress.  I am currently drinking apple juice!  My first beverage in 3.5 days!  Sipping very very slowly but it's wonderful.

Going home tomorrow morning.  So excited... getting bored here and just not comfy.

Getting my dressings changed now so will fill you in more in a few days. I'll add photos also.

=) all good and happy!

Week 1 - Meals

During this week's Optifast program, I have been trying to get 2 shakes and 1 soup every day.

Breakfast:
Either vanilla shake or chicken soup

Lunch:
Either Chicken soup or Strawberry shake - both with salad (cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, 1/2 carrot, white vinegar, 1/2 tsp of olive oil

Dinner:
Strawberry shake and steamed/roasted/stir fried veggies (varied combinations of capsicum, onion, 1/2 carrot, mushroom, broccoli, zucchini, green beans, cauliflower, bok choy, celery) when stir fried I use the other 1/2 tsp of olive oil or olive oil spray.

The last few days I substituted one shake a day (lunch or dinner) for either 2 boiled eggs, 100g lean chicken or 100g springwater tuna - not advised for everyone - I spoke to my dietician about feeling sick and weak and this was recommended for me.

Beverages:
Water, water, water and more water

Snacks:
Diet Jelly
Sugarfree lollies

Exercise:
Didn't do a lot of exercise - just upped my incidental exercise like walking more, not sitting for too long, doing housework, shopping etc.. to be honest, between feeling weak and feeling sick I was in no mood to do any outdoor, sweaty exercise this week.

Starter Kit

At my last appointment, I purchased the Starter Kit from OClinic.  To be honest it would be cheaper to buy the items separately from different places, but I thought - why not?

It included a box of vitamins, Benefiber, portion control plate, portion control bowl, book on correct portions and three sachets of Optifast products as testers.

This is the bowl and plate.  The bowl has measured markings at 1/4 cup, 1/2 cup, 3/4 cup, 1 cup and
1.5 cups  It shows pictures of foods to inspire.

The plate has dividers on the base showing how much of each type of food is the correct portion (protein, salad/veg, carbs, oils).  It also has the following words around the edge to remind you how to eat: position, drink, chop, nibble, taste, chew, relax, enjoy!

The Benefiber is a tasteless powder to be added to shakes/soups.  It is recommended to both help regulate constipation and harden loose stools.

The vitamins (recommended post op) are chewable and taken one in the morning, one in the evening to help keep nutrient levels even.