When it is a good thing to reach 40!

40 kilos lost that is!  Finally another mini goal.  I went to the dietician on Tuesday a few weeks shy of my 6 month - a - iversary for the check up on how things are going.

She was very pleased with my progress, and even though I said I felt I could be doing better and sometimes make better choices, she pointed out that I was still a perfectionist, but to remember it is ok not to be perfect all the time.  Hmmmm, some habits die hard.  I do feel better about myself now and my progress to date.  However, over the months since surgery I have also had confirmed for me again and again that it is a journey and not a short one.  The lap band is a tool, and as long as you use it appropriately - all good :)  The dietician was supportive of the Paleo eating way as well.  As she put it - can't really go wrong with fresh veges and animal protein.  Im still limiting the sugar and especially the bread. Im the first to say I used to be the bread queen - but now I do not even miss it.

Anyway, stoked to be over the 40 kilo hump.  Now have lost a total of 41.2 kilos (90.6 lbs).  Also now in the 120's - weighing in at 128.7kgs (283.1lbs).  Yay!

As my husband and I are going to Melbourne in the next school holidays, next goal is to get to 50 kilos lost by October 8th.  I have also got a self imposed ban on clothes shopping until then (essentials negotiable).  From all I have heard Melbourne has fabulous shopping - CANNOT WAIT!


So what weighs 41.2 kilos?

Some sort of compressor

Water Cooler/Ice Maker

This much cannibas!

This fish

And this wardrobe!

Again some adult people weigh this much too, but not healthily!

The crossfit is going awesome!  Apart from the flu last week, Im going 3 times a week.  I love it and missed it so much when I was sick.  Such a positive place to be.  Im getting stronger and stronger, and maybe even a little more coordinated ;).  Have managed to get my name on the leaders boards for the Shoulder press, clean and jerk, back squat, bench press and another one can't remember at present - love it! :)

Hope all is well in blogland.  Im reading lots of blogs and have been trying to comment, but something isn't working for me there and it errors and wont let me.  Been happening for a couple of weeks. Can anyone help with this?

On a side note - got assessed for adoption on Monday.  After three hours of questioning about our lives (quite intense), the social worker said she had no reason to not put us forward for approval to go on to the next stage of putting a profile together and going into the selection pool.  A long process, but its going forward!  Cute thing last week at school was that one of my students asked me if I wanted to adopt him - said it would be cool to have two lots of parents :) - oh how the teenage mind works!

Week 4 Post-Op - One month since banding!

Wow, what a week.  As my last post showed - the country was consumed with the tragedy of the Christchurch Earthquake.  Today almost a week later, there are still over 200 missing, 148 confirmed dead.  Many have fled the city either for a break or to start a new life some where safer.  The first funeral was today and tomorrow exactly a week after the quake, the country will stop and observe 2 minutes silence.  Help from the rest of the country and all around the world has been outstanding.  People can be amazing in a crisis.


On other things to happen during week 4 post-op.

I was back onto real food.  Wow, more flavours.  I had another sticking - when I grabbed a piece of chicken on the way to the gym (bit of protein) didn't chew it properly and of course it got stuck.  It was worse than the apricot - quite unpleasant and eventually threw it up.  I have been so much more vigilant since then with chewing....lots!  As the dietician said to me, you will learn the hard way.

I went in for my first fill - only got 0.5ml but feel a bit more restricted now and less hungry.  The surgeon was really pleased with my progress, and explained the whole accessory left hepatic artery to me.  Apparently this causes issues as it crosses where the band is.  Only 20% have this accessory artery while most others have the artery in the middle.  I may go back for a further fill in a couple of weeks.  I've now lost 29.6 kilos (65.3 pounds).  So excited to be only 400g away from 30 kilos! The dietician was also chuffed, and emphasised the learning curve in terms of eating.  Now have the post-op food guide to help me along.  It now also means that I have lost more than what my other dog Honey weighs at 29.4 kilos. 

Honey - am sure she was a fish in a past life ;)

At the clinic, I was shown the clothes rack which has clothes donated from other patients that no longer fit them.  You can help yourself on the condition that you also contribute as you lose weight and get new clothes.  Coolest idea!  It's like free clothes!  I found four pieces including an awesome long coat for Winter.  I have to say I have spent a lot of money on new clothes lately (not many new ones, but the trade me specials do build up over time!)  It is something I need to curb.  Funnily enough, I have noticed this is common amongst many lap bandits.  I guess I am swapping my food addiction for clothing.

Phyiscal activity increased over the last week aswell. Still two more weeks before I can return to weight training but was doing some decent walks.  Feels good, but certainly need to increase my fitness!  Looks like my new personal training programme will be like a boot camp (maybe not so military like though) so increasing fitness will be achieved!

I'm feeling a lot better, a lot more energy.  Stopped having naps, so good.  Went for a trip up the coast at the weekend, and enjoyed it immensely.  Felt like it was a good reward for making it through the first month recovery process.  Sun, sand, a great holiday house and company (and my dogs!) May have had a bit more wine than supposed to, but it was good! Especially playing Cranium  :)

View from the holiday home

Wine and cranium = fun!!

Me and Anthony :)

Post Op week 2 - I lost a Layla!

For those of you who don't know, Layla is our youngest dog (20 months).  My weight loss this week was 1.2 kilos - I was slightly gutted....why?  I thought I would lose more.  Too used to the 2 kilo a week, now back to reality and actually having some food of the pureed description.  On the more positive side, Layla weighs 28 kilos, so I lost her weight plus 500g (so a block of butter).  Yay!

16 days since surgery.  I'm doing alright.  In the last week I made it to work the whole working week!  That was my big goal after being slightly too ambitious the week before.  I have been made aware though just how much I do move around at school/teaching.  I tried to force myself to sit down and make students come to me - didn't work.  I like to be more interactive and talk to them.  Sitting up the front just made me feel isolated from the class.  And...you can keep a better eye on what is going on amongst the masses and that they are actually doing their work....it is high school after all.

A bit of a come down this week from the op.  Felt a bit bleh.  Got sick of the pureed foods after about three days.  Tired of being just plain exhausted.  Only managed a couple of walks and a PT session this week (more walking) - frustrating as I got fit before the op. 

For foods - hubby did make me lovely combos, having little cottage pies in a ramekin dish (minced up chicken/vege) and vege topping (not potato).  I advanced onto hummus and cruskits for lunch - 2-3 of them.  Sometimes having lite yoghurt and 1/2 banana too.  That was about it.  I was satisfied.  While I say that - I did start to get physically hungry at times this week (rumbles in the tum, and feeling hungry sick), so knew I had to eat.  Routine of school makes it hard - something I have to work at.

Consequences of the new regime - being blocked up - that so sucks - Benefiber and alpine tea to the rescue.  Apparently according to the dietitician - normal and should ease when back on real food.

Next week - soft foods.  This means food you can cut with the side of a fork.  Veges have to be cooked well.  Still nothing too high in carbs (Potatoes etc), no bread, and no fibrous veges (corn, asparagus, celery).  Chicken breast and steak are off the list as too dry. Also any fruit or vege with peel or a coat.  Avoid or remove peel.

But the big thing is - I get to chew something finally!!!!  Like a big girl :)

One other thing that has arisen.  Initially I had some pain where the port is (I think).  Is this to do with the muscle growing around it and recovery?  It has pretty much gone for now.  But in the last few days I have had pain to the left of the port and slightly down.  Hasn't gottten any better and I can't link it to anything.  Initially I thought I had pulled a muscle but it goes and comes back.  It hurts more when I am standing.  Today in the supermarket it felt like a stabbing pain and almost doubled over - however the pain went away.  I thought it was due to digesting but it had been hours since I had eaten.  Has anyone who is banded had this?  Is it normal?  HELP!  I have search internet sites and not much has come up.  I guess if it continues, I'll check in with the clinic.

Onto week 3.....

Pre-op Diet Week 3

Week three saw the lowest point in this journey so far in terms of energy and general strength.  My will power was tested the most this week to stay on track.  Good news - I did!

My tiredness does show physically.  Ive started getting the comments of looking wiped out, bags under eyes and looking pale.  Can see why this preop diet and in general the optifast diet is not a long term thing.  Have had a little more red than white meat this week to keep my iron levels up (and hopefully reduce paleness!)

So anyway, had a day of on the Wednesday and slept most of it.  Felt a lot better for it to be honest, and now coping a lot better.  I think with school being hectic this week with the seniors leaving - energy levels were drained.

This week also saw the first signs of looking like I had lost some weight. I have now lost 10.5 kilos as at 7th November.   My jeans are a lot more comfortable, and have got a couple of comments saying Im looking a bit different.  A couple said they can see the 9 kilos from last week had gone.  It's nice to hear.  My efforts are working :) 

My dietitcian emailed and was pleased with the progress to date.  I was worried about the dramatic weight loss from the past two weeks, but she said it would have been a lot of fluid and it would slow down.  This week it had with 1.5 kilos lost.  While I do realise it is still a good weight loss, I couldn't help but hoping for more.  I know its silly.  I'm still losing and that's the main thing.  I did ask about cottage cheese (I love the stuff - light of course).  The dietician said as I was doing long term optifast, it would be ok but to restrict the meat more.  Sorry...I like the meat too much.  I look forward to it each day.  I will live without the cottage cheese for now.  Other thing - while gross have been 'blocked up'  - finally found alpine tea at the supermarket - wonderful stuff - now very regular :)

In the mail this week was a letter from my surgeon to my GP (I got a copy) stating the surgery was going ahead on November 26th and how I had chosen Lap Band surgery, and results of the consultation and his positive opinions about my commitment to the surgery and weight loss to date.  It was good to read it in print.

There were three main tests to my diet this week.  Two involved end of year treats with my two Year 13 classes. The first, taking one class to breakfast at McDonalds.  I passed with with having a trim mocha only :).  The second was a staff shout from the Teachers College at morning tea.  Chorizo sausage rolls, little salmon canopies, chcocolate brownies etc.   I did not move from my seat all interval nursing my coffee, surrounded by all the smells of this goodness but not taking a bite.  The last was fish and chips with my other Year 13 class, easy to miss this one.  The yellowness of the batter and fries put my off and since it cooled quickly - it gets gross.  Passed!

Highlight of week - winning $70 on the Melbourne Cup in the staff sweepstake - score!

Thoughtful note of the week - a student bought me Hershey Kisses as a thank you present.  She knows what is going on, but said "Miss, I checked the expiry date and it is Jan 2011.  By then you will be able to enjoy them, so don't give them to your husband!"  Cute :)

So how many pounds is 10.5 kilos? Well it is 22.1 lbs (1.65 stone for those old school folk) - Here are some other things that are 10.5 kilos

 This fish!

 This guy's hair

And this bag of flour plus a 500g block of butter!

The Dietician, Counsellor and the Nurse

So instead of going back to school on the first day back after the holidays, I went back to centre to fulfil more requirements in order to have the surgery. In the end, a lot more pleasant than standing in front of teens again ;)

First stop - Dietician.

By this time I had made the decision 100% for the Lap band.  The purpose of this visit was to go over the pre-op diet which consisted of opti-fast shakes, soups and bars (high in protein) for two meals a day. 

Then for dinner, 120-150g of protein in the form of chicken, fish, red meat, or two eggs plus vegetables from the selected list below:

Eggplant
Tomato
Celery
Bean
Mushroom
Capsicum
Brussel Sprouts

Lettuce

Carrots (only in small supplies - apparently too much carrot = carbs - this was a new lesson for me!_

Brocoli
Cauliflower

Also to point out - I can have unlimited vegetables from the above list all day.

Foods to avoid:

Potatoes (or equivalent starch)
Pasta

Rice

Other:

No alcohol
No sugar
No fruit juice (although natural sugar - still too high in sugars)
Only trim milk
Coffee, tea okay with trim milk
Herbal tea, water also okay along with zero sugar soft drinks (in moderation of course)

Wow!  Quite a change!  However when you have a very set goal - you are going to do it - no matter what!

The other decision was to think about when I wanted to start the pre op diet.  At this stage, it was just over 7 weeks until the op.  The dietician pointed out it would be at least 2-3 weeks, but if I wanted to start earlier - all the better.

We also went through the first four weeks after the op.  Each week was building up to eating real food again.

To sum up (as will blog when the actual events occur):

Week 1:  Clear Liquids, and Protein based liquids (6 meals a day)
Week 2:  Pureed Foods - including protein with every meal (3 meals a day)
Week 3:  Soft Foods (low fibre, high protein, moist foods) (3 meals a day)
Week 4 and beyond:  Solid Foods - 3 small meals a day

Also constipation could be a factor - alpine tea, benefiber etc can be taken. 
Take a general multivitamin once a day.

To sum up - I have to learn to eat again.  Funnily enough in Week 2 - Baby food is on the list of allowed foods!  After being to a few baby showers and having to taste that - may not be on my list of choice!

The dietician was just lovely and freely available to email etc anytime (YAY!) - after a very full hour of a lot of information - it was onto the counsellor!!!

A long time since I had been to a counsellor....wondered what this would entail.

However, it was fine.  More like a big chin wag.  She was an ex science teacher so understood what teaching as a career was like.

The one thing I remember from the conversation was when she said - it is hell be overweight/obese.

People who are in this position have to think and pre-empt situations before they enter them to make the best out of them - eg -airplane/movie seats, where to shop, how to blend in.  Never thought of it like that, but she had a point!  I find myself analysing many situations before they actually happen. It does cause a lot of stress and often tears.

Through a short quiz - I also found out I have high stress and anxiety and a very high level of depression - no surprises there!  She said it was a snapshot, and something to look at later on after surgery to see changes.

Also looked at physical vs emotional eating and how to deal with the latter.

An hour flew by - was given more reading, and it was off to the nurse.

The nurse presented me with more reading - this time a book on the lap band process- before and after.  Something to read and then read again as I went through the steps of the journey. Easy to read and informative.

We decided to start the pre-op diet 6 weeks before surgery - maximum weight loss.  Apparently, if you don't lose enough weight - they will cancel the surgery.  NO WAY IS THAT HAPPENING TO ME!

Also discussed the actual procedure and shown the following clip - animated so not gross :)

From there, she asked me many questions, looked at my health now and exercise regime, and concluded I had made the right decision to have the lap band.  :)

Took my weight and height readings, and then I was off to get my first two weeks of optifast, and live my last few days before the pre-op diet began.