POST-OP Day 2

I made it through the op!  I am now a lap bandit!  I'm sooooo happy! A lot of exclaimation points but that's how it is.

I will post more soon, I'm still pretty tired and a bit sore, but feeling better all the time.  I aim to go to work tomorrow - first day of school for the year.  I figure I will be sitting around for most of it so why waste a sick day?

Best bit, I am not hungry at all!  I have to remember to have my liquids.  Unreal!   I'm on liquids for the first week, and am actually finding it hard to have enough as just don't want anything.

Allergy testing, and surgery day...take 2

The all important allergy testing finally arrived.  It suddenly sunk in that it was happening after arriving home from a fabulous mini break in Auckland with some awesome school friends who are both pregant at the moment.

I arrived at the hospital and I have to say the service was very prompt.  I got to see the specialist before the time I was due.  This is almost unheard of in the public system!

I was led down to the room for testing, walked through the door and saw this:

While I am not afraid of needles - this many and knowing they were going to be tested on me - just a little daunting.

Anyway after explaining what happened to cause the reaction and going through what would happen in the testing - it started.  The results were less than spectacular.  Below, you can see my back with each site circuled where a substance was tested - there were a lot!  The only one apparently showing a big reaction was the histamine control (which was meant to).  The suxamethonium only gave a small raise and a warm feeling, nothing else.  The tests were repeated twice more, and very little was seen.

So what did she get from that?  Well it confirmed what could be used, rather than what couldn't be used.  She also recommended instead of being injected through a line, the muscle relaxant should be put through an IV drip for more control. 

Result:  It is all go on Friday!   Got confirmation from the hospital, best wishes from the clinic, and all going well by about midday on Friday (today...just in NZ)  I will become a bandit!!!

I'm excited, a little nervous, but mainly over it and just want it down so I can get on with the post-op progress.  Thanks for all your support and comments, either here, facebook, texts, emails, or even in person.  All the support has made me feel very loved, and reading others blogs has been very insightful and inspiring.

I go into the op losing 25.2 kilos pre-op.  Apparently the surgeon is over the moon with the progress.  Yay!

So what weighs about 25 kilos?

 This rather large baby

This dog

This shark

The amount of weight Kelly Osbourne lost between these two pictures!

Next post should be brought to you POST OP  :)

About 3 years ago.....

I got married to my soul mate (26th January 2008).  While it doesn't seem 3 years - we have gone through a lot together already.  Through this time, I feel our marriage is stronger than ever, and I am more in love with Anthony every day.  Through this process (lapband) and its ups and downs, he has definitely been my rock.  Being married is cool.

Here's to many more years to come :)

On a final note - with my pre-op weight - Im smaller now than what I was at my wedding!  :)

7 sleeps until surgery

Just a quick update:

Just weighed in a lost another 2 kilos (4.4lbs) !  weeeeeeeee!!!  Im very excited :)

So in total - thats 24.3 kilos lost = 53.5lbs - made it over the 50lb mark!

This week has been a little up and down.  I think I may have over done the exercise, just because my body is not taking in enough to always keep me going.  Im alright though.  It's a good tired, not a I just cna't be bothered tired.

So this week: 

Monday:  2 walks
Tuesday:  1 PT session, 1 walk
Wednesday:  Energy slump - day off - slept a lot, and felt a lot better for it.  Did go TV shopping with Kate so not a complete vege day.
Thursday:  1 PT session, 1 walk
Friday: 1 PT session, 1 walk.

Tomorrow, I head to Auckland for a few days to see my friends with their growing pregnant bellies. Hope they are having good hormone days ;)  It will be great to see them - too long between visits between us.  I guess that is what happens you all live in different parts of the country.  I see that we are going on a 2 hr nature walk - hope the weather is good for it.  Hope my fitness is up to scratch.

So as I do with my weight loss, I like to see what it equates to - so what does 24.3kgs/53.5lbs look like?

 This cute dog!

 The shipping weight of this outdoor furniture set

This hovercraft



 This fish!

7 sleeps until surgery day - the excitement builds :)

Monday Movers and Progress Pics

Wow, the walking group was FUN!  5 people there last night, and all just lovely.  I even met my band twin (well she would have been if I had been banded on the 26th November).  She was the other op that day.  I think we were meant to meet!  Very interesting talking to her at 6 weeks on from the op.  She was not as big as me, and has lost 10 kilos so far, all since the banding - she didn't have to do the pre-op diet.  She is still learning everyday and struggling with portion sizes and chewing.  She has had a number of things stuck which has put her off some foods like steak, chicken breast and unmashed banana.  I am learning from what she says and working with it. I also learnt that recovery time is really individual from going back to solids after 4 weeks to one guy who was back on solids after a week...crazy!  Since we live near each other, we are also going to try and do extra walks as time allows.  This will be especially beneficial during those Winter months.

The walk was good, went for about 50 minutes walking along the Petone foreshore.  The lady from the clinic mapped the distance and turned out to be approx 3.8 km walked.  I was pleased with that :).  The walks are going to go every Monday.  Ill miss the next couple due to being away in Auckland and then op recovery, but then the week after that - Im back in as walking is encouraged to aid recovery.  We've called the group Monday Movers, and were trying to suggest sponsorship deals from the clinic for t shirts, caps etc, basically any free stuff - The clinic lady was amused.

Dropped my admission forms off at the hospital today - strange sense of deja vu.

Have been a bit exercise crazy over the last few weeks - and while I still have the energy Im totally going with it!  Last week, managed 3 PT sessions, and quite a few walks.  This week, so far since Monday - 3 decent walks and 1 PT session with 2 more lined up this week.  Have definitely got my focus on, and better yet Im enjoying it.  Long may it last!

Now on the positive side - I have had some lovely comments over the last couple of days - these included:  Wow, your face looks a lot more skinny (x2), you look awesome, do you have any clothes that still fit?, You are doing so well, you should be really proud of yourself, and if you have lost this much on your own, imagine how much you are going to lose with the band - warm fuzzies - thanks guys and girls.

As said a couple of posts ago, here are some progress shots.  The yellow are from Week 1 pre-op, and the purple from Week 13, so just over 3 months progress.  I can't really see it in front of the mirror, but I do notice in the photos, and I guess in my clothes as well.

Unfortunately didnt get the same clothes for comparison this time, but you get the general trend.

10 sleeps to go :)

Another loss and general natter...

A few days later and a few less sleeps to go until surgery.  Today it marks 11 sleeps till surgery.  I am so fully ready for it.  I do have have a slight worry that something might come up in the allergy testing that cancels/postpones the surgery.  I really really really hope that doesn't happen - it would truly gut me.  I have come too far to have that sort of setback again.  I actually can't do anything about it though, so positive thinking.  I WILL be banded on the 28th!

Went into the clinic on Friday - such a feel good place.  Weighed myself on the scales there, and am a further 1.1 kilos down.  That brings me to 22.3 kilos lost :)

Have been pretty good with the exercise - went to the PT 3x last week. Hard core.  Ached a little, but must be getting fitter as Im doing higher speeds and inclines on the cross trainer.  It is really nice to be able to put extra effort into exercising.

Saturday went to the cricket for the afternoon - pretty chilled but mainly read my mag - which weirdly enough was full of weight loss stories and general body transformations (both good and bad).  I think I was meant to buy that mag.  When parking at the basin - parked up the hill in Mount Vic (free parking), didnt mind the hill and on return to the car was not even puffing when I reached the car - I was quietly chuffed :)
The only downer was the sunburn on my lower legs, and parts of my back where I either forgot to slip slop slap or thought wouldnt burn (my legs) - how I was wrong.  Two days later - still a bit of heat coming from the legs - I have learnt my lesson.  Very little ozone layer over NZ = sunburn in 10-20 minutes (Im not kidding!)

I have started looking through my clothes - there are a couple of items that are too big for me and many I have found that I either dont remember buying, or wonder what was I thinking.  Already two bags for the sallies, and a pile for Trade Me.  I did notice the following:

1)  I have a bad habit of buying things and never wearing them (found 2 items with tags still on them)

2)  I am a hoarder of clothes.....maybe this skirt will come back in fashion???

3)  I must love my 3/4 pants - I lost count of how many pairs I own (at least 5 pairs never worn)

4)  I also have many pairs of jeans which until Sunday must have barely ever thrown any out.  I threw 4 pairs.

5)  Black, black, black.

6)  There are also many clothes that need repairing (slight holes, hems etc)  - I just stopped wearing them, and then found them in the back of the wardrobe.

7)  I think my size at the moment is about a 26.  I think at the beginning of this journey I had got up to about a 30-32.  How did I let myself get so big like that?

8)  I own a lot of shoes - Im cool about that though  - shoes are awesome!

I look forward to when I can buy clothes in the 'normal' size section. 

Media

Found this article at http://www.stuff.co.nz/ - linking the junk food companies with being one of the causes of obesity and now taking partnership with weightloss companies to be the cure.

If any of you have been on optifast (product in NZ/Aust) - if you have looked at the back of the packet, you will notice that it is made by Nestle.

So not only do these companies contribute to rainforest destruction and global warming - they also have a part to play in obesity.  Are their weight loss products now a plan to redeem themselves for the latter? 

Article below: 16/1/11

Junk food companies are making customers fat, then selling them the cure, health experts claim. Deals between producers of junk foods and slimming groups and health charities are allowing the industry to cash in on both ends of the obesity epidemic, they argue.

Partnerships between Nestle and Jenny Craig, McDonald's and Weight Watchers, and Domino's Pizza and the weight-loss show The Biggest Loser have been criticised for trying to make brands famous for selling burgers, fries and lollies appear more healthy.

The companies reject the allegation, saying the associations are meant to offer more healthy choices and are a genuine attempt to be part of the obesity solution.

Jane Martin, of the Australia's Obesity Policy Coalition, called this ''weightwashing'' - a tactic to convince consumers the fast-food industry was responding to the obesity epidemic, in the same way ''greenwashing'' allowed polluting businesses to appear environmentally responsible.

''Junk food manufacturers are at the forefront of this strategy, which is similar to what we have already seen adopted by the tobacco and oil industries,'' Martin said.
''It gives them the veneer of corporate social responsibility.''

Nutritionist Rosemary Stanton said deals between the two kinds of companies toyed with the emotions of people who wanted to support a worthy cause.
''It's a very strange association when we know that certain types of breast cancer, particularly in post-menopausal women, are very strongly related to a high intake of fat, and obesity - both of which get a hefty contribution from fast foods,'' Dr Stanton said.

''These companies are not interested in health; they're interested in marketing and selling more product.''
Global food giant Nestle said it was ''cynical'' and ''a complete misrepresentation of our business'' to claim that its takeover of weight-loss firm Jenny Craig this month was an attempt to buy its way into health policy discussions.

Nestle had a long-term commitment to nutrition and health, corporate affairs manager Fran Hernon said.
Jenny Craig managing director Amy Smith also defended the deal.

''Nestle have made Lean Cuisine and low-fat yoghurts forever,'' Smith said.
''It's over simplifying it just to say there's a conspiracy going on.
''If you look at the reasons why people are gaining so much weight, it comes from a lot more than soft drink and chocolate.''

In March McDonald's New Zealand began selling three Weight Watchers-approved meals.



On another note, another blog I read Something, something fat chick (thanks :) ) - found this picture below:

This weight equates to 169.1 kilos - does anyone else see something wrong with that???  You could have a similar ad for alcoholics where people who drink more than 10 drinks a day drink free - imagine the uproar on that one.  Hmmmm