End of the 40 Weeks Challenge!!

Hello all

Today is the end of my '40 Kilos in 40 Weeks' challenge.  40 weeks seems like such a long time ago and I remember feeling very nervous because 40 kilos seemed like such an unreachable goal for me.  A lot of self doubt and worry that I wouldn't be able to come close to succeeding.

40 weeks ago I weighed 132.3 kg.
I wore size 22-24 tops and size 24-26 bottoms.
My fitness levels were non existent - being out of breath just walking to the other side of the house.
I was unable to sit on the floor because I couldn't get up again.
My knees, ankles and back hurt all the time.
I often had chest pains, trouble breathing and my heart would beat at strange paces.
I had poor skin, hair and health.
My mood was fairly sad, angry and irritated.

I am incredibly proud to be able to say that I not only achieved but also slightly exceeded this goal.

Today, I weighed in at 88.4 kg.  That's a 43.9 kg loss.
I wear size 14-16 tops and size 16-18 bottoms.
I am quite fit now being able to run, swim, box, weight train and even play around kicking a ball.
I can sit on the floor for long periods of time, cross legged even!
My chest pains and breathing problems have disappeared.
My skin and hair have cleared up wonderfully and my general health is well.
I am still fairly frustrated at times but mostly am happy and grateful to be here and be making the most out of my life.

THE FINAL MEASUREMENT COMPARISON

My BMI started at 56 putting me in the Obese Class 3 category.
Today my BMI is 36.8 which is still only Obese Class 2 if you can believe.
According to the app that I have been using - Obese Class 1 is BMI under 35, Overweight is BMI under 30, Healthy is BMI under 25.  So still a fair way to go.

These photos below are from Day 1 of the 40 week challenge to today.

I have quite a lot of loose skin (especially on arms and legs) and a few areas that are just stubbornly holding onto the fat that has been living there for so long.  I know that it will take a lot of work, a lot of time and a lot of determination to get to the best me I can be, but I also know that it will happen!  One day, one challenge, one workout at a time, I will get there.

Thank you to everyone who has been so kindly supporting this journey through kind words, encouragement and donations to beyondblue.  I cannot describe how grateful I am for this support and how overwhelming it is to know there is such kindness and love surrounding me.

If you have pledged to donate, please finalise your payment no later than 20 December 2014.  You can visit Everyday Hero to make an online payment and receive an instant tax deductible receipt.  Or please contact me if you wish to make a cash donation.

Thank you again so so so much.  Here are some photos of me recently.  I feel great!

Remember while this challenge is now complete, my journey is not.  I will keep updating on how it is all going, the pros, cons and reality of massive weight loss and life post gastric sleeve.

Thanks for reading everyone!
=)

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! 

=)

Six Months - Measurements and Photos

It is September!  6 months since the beginning of my weight loss journey.  

5 and a half months since having gastric sleeve surgery.

My weight this morning was 96.9 kg - so total loss to date is 35.4 kg.

My measurements are as follows:

My photos for this month.  

Please excuse me!  

Was a bit rushed this morning so I haven't done my hair yet in them and the photos are not the best.  

Front view

Side view

Back view

All in all I have been struggling this month.  I have been really quite depressed and feeling completely over it all.  Couldn't be bothered much with anything and this lack of caring has really shown by my lack of results.  I look at my body and just feel fat and frumpy and gross most of the time which doesn't help motivate me... it helps me settle in for self pity.  

This last week I have been shopping and getting my hair done and doing all sorts of things just for me - something which I NEVER DO!!  So I have been lifting my own spirits a little since no one is going to do it for me.  I have been getting really frustrated with people's judgements and negativity and just total lack of support.  Then I realised that I need to think about me.  Do it for me.  I need to be selfish and positive and ignore those who are putting me down - no matter how much they say they love me.

I'm sick of waiting for happiness, waiting for a reason to smile.  Damn it I deserve to laugh and smile and be happy every single day and I am choosing to do this on my own.  No more waiting.  I haven't come this far and gone to these extremes just to fail and be miserable.  

Watch out everyone!  Here I come!

=)

PS - here is my hair when it is done!

Five months - Measurements and Photos

Five months since the beginning of my '40 Kilos in 40 Weeks' challenge.

The measurements this month are as follows:  

I have lost mostly from my waist and hips this month (yay!!) with a total loss of 24.5 cm since last month and a whopping 136 cm combined loss over the whole 5 months.

Here are the photos for this month.

Front view

Side view

Back view

Don't forget to click on the 'Photos' tab above to see the comparison through the whole challenge.
I can't see much of a difference this month but maybe it's just me??  I do know that the green top I'm wearing in these photos used to be SUPER tight and look horrible.  I would only ever wear it as an under top, never on its own.  So that tells me things have changed.

I did weigh myself this morning but the official weigh in is not until tomorrow - if you're curious it was 95.0 kg this morning... see what tomorrow brings!

Thanks for reading!!

=)

Under 100 kg!! OMG yay!!!!

I have been sick this week with a cold but decided to jump on scales this morning.  And it was under 100kg!!! So excited!  It has been a long time since I've seen double digits! Had to share my joy!

=)

Four month - Measurements and Photos

Wow! Four months gone already since this 40-week challenge began.  

My measurements as of 1 July 2014 are as follows:

As you can see I have lost another 30.5 cm from around my body this month bringing my total cm lost to 111.5 cm!!  Wow indeed!  My arms losing 5.5 cm each and my legs losing 6 and 6.5 cm this month.  I am sure this is due to all the running, squats, push ups and weights I have been doing at boot camp!  

Will have to keep it up and push even harder! So happy.

Now for the photos!  Here are the usual front, side and back view.

Front view

Back view

Side view

These photos are front, side and back view with proper clothes on.

The next photo is an update of my belly without clothes on - so look away if you don't want to see it!!

You can see my surgery scars have almost disappeared and my stretch marks are more noticeable (to me at least) but most of all you can see how my skin is starting to droop as I am losing weight.  The bottom especially is starting to form a little w but as I pinch that area the skin is separate to the fat.  I am probably going to have a lot of excess skin drooping in this area when I am finished.  I think the excess skin is better than the fat so I'm ok with it and how it looks. Perhaps if it gets really bad when I have lost all the weight I can, one day I might have it cut off.  Will have to see how it is when I'm finished!

So that's it for this month.  

Check in again next month to see my progress continue 

and read my weekly weigh in posts along the way.

Thanks for reading.

=)

Three month - Photos and Measurements

I can't believe it has been three months already - but it has!  Here are my measurements from this morning. As you can see I have lost another 17.5 cm from around my body (20 cm lost but 2.5 cm gain around my hips).  Which brings my total cm lost to 81 cm from all over my body.  Pretty fantastic stuff!

My three month photos!

Front view

Side and back view

Have a look at the Photos page/tab at the top of the blog for the monthly comparison photos lined up.

Today, my sister and I completed the MS 5 km walk at Darling Harbour.  

Here are a few pics from the experience!

 Crossed the finish line after 64 minutes!

Two Month - Photos and Measurements

Okay so it has been two months since I started my '40 Week' journey.  My weight the last couple of weeks has been around the 115 to 116 kg and hasn't gone down.  I have been told stalls are very normal and will happen often so I am not upset or anything about that.  

My measurements this months show that my body is changing, even if the scales aren't.  Please see the exact figures in the table below.  

As you can see - a whopping 19 cm has come off my hips/butt region.  I am SOOOO happy about that. Please see the photos below showing this month's body shots and some clothes comparisons.

Body shots - please excuse the glasses, woke up with a sty that had swollen my eye shut.  To better see comparison over the two months please see the 'Photos' tab on the blog page.

The following photos are comparisons from underwear and clothes I was wearing two months ago to now.

Bit hard to see but white undies compared to black.

Again bit hard, but white bra cup was actually curling in there is so much fabric.

And lastly, black 3/4 jeans compared to pink 3/4 jeans.

Overall - huge differences.  Still very big I know, but am so excited and happy with results so far.  Can't wait to see what it all looks like next month!!

Thanks for reading and as always, any motivating encouragement is GREATLY APPRECIATED so send me a comment or email!  Thank you to those who always do, very nice knowing people are supporting me and my journey!

Until next time.

=)

Photos - One Month

My one month photos!

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

9 Days Post Op

First post op appointments with the surgeon and dietician today.  The clinic weighs everyone upon arrival. My weight fully clothed was 122.6kg.  Very happy with that.

The dietician said I was doing really well. Can move on to pureed food on Monday and wow am I looking forward to having flavour and texture again.  In terms of how I'm doing with food, I have been a little bit hungry but nothing serious. I have been craving toast but will wait the 6 months. Breads, pasta and rice I have been told to wait til 6 month check.

The doctor checked my incisions - all healing really well.  Here they are now all the dressings have been removed.

Full belly from front - belly button healing well

The 2 left side cuts. Some of my bruising is still healing.

Right side cut

Upper middle cut (there's an irritation to the tape under the cut - very itchy).

That's about it for now. Will update on Saturday with weigh in etc!

=)