The end of a year!!

Well it is almost that time of the year where you say good bye to 2007 and welcome 2008!! OMG what a year it certainly has been. I am 3 months shy of being banded for 1 year, so I'll be celebrating my very first bandaversary soon!! YAY for me!!! I don't think I would have reached my goal weight by my 30th birthday. I think I am about 25 kilos away, but now I'll use my bandaversary as a goal date!!

I certainly have become more active and sometimes I think where does all the energy come from as I feel as though I can dance the night away sometimes!! I am still a bit of a slacker when it comes the gym. I know I really have to make an effort to tone the body up, but it's just a time issue really. I know what you are all thinking, excuses, excuses!!

I have had some fill put back in since my little incident in hospital. Dr Watson only put half of what I had. I still feel as though I could have a tad more, but I won't get as much as what I had before as I feel as though I was overfilled, but didn't want to admit that I was. I think I have only PB'd twice and that was my own stupid fault for not chewing my food enough!! No matter how hard I try and imprint it in my brain, i still haven't got the concept of smaller bite sized pieces of food. I will learn eventually.

Christmas day is going to be very interesting though. Normally I gorge myself silly and then feel sorry for myself afterwards. This year is going to be very different indeed. Not just because I know I can't because if I do I'll be in severe pain, but I don't feel as though I want to do it. I have lost all this weight and I don't want to undo it. So I guess I am coming to my senses in a way as well.

I have hit an ultimate high through this experience and that's the compliments and pick ups that I am getting. It's so very flattering and makes my head spin. I still look in the mirror though and see this other person that I was staring back at me. it's not a pretty sight at all!! But then i have to slap myself and tell myself that, 'That person doesn't exist anymore!!'

2 weeks of agony!!!

It started 2 Monday's ago when i woke up in severe pain. The Sunday before, I found it very strange not keeping anything at all down, not even water. And yes of course, i was thinking the worst. Band slippage or something wrong with the band. I tried to search high and low for Dr Watson's mobile number, even put a post asking if anyone had it, but I didn't get any emails until later.

At 6am on the Monday morning when I tried to have a sip of water and just threw it right back up, as well as the severe pain i was experiencing around where the band was, hubby took me to Murdoch ED. I went straight in. I was gobsmacked actually. It was dead quiet, but I wasn't complaining as the pain was just so unbearable. The doctor came and saw me right away and gave me some pain meds. i told them I was allergic to morphine so they gave me something equivalent. Good stuff, but didn't last long!! LOL He then had trouble finding my port, but we eventually found it and he took all my fill out, but still no relief. He then sent me for a barium meal (or something similar) / gastrograph. The drink tasted like and off version of ouzo. So gross!! It didn't really show much except I had a bit of inflammation and ulceration from my recent throwing up episodes, but it didn't really explain my pain.

I spent the next few days high on pethidine, on Nexium for the vomiting as well as Zophryn and other stuff. I had a CT scan which didn't show much either. Dr Watson was fantastic and came in every day to see me. He was just as puzzled as I was though as there was nothing wrong with the band. It was absolutely perfect and doing what it should be. No slippage, no erosion, no nothing. even blood work showed NIL results. We were baffled. On Friday, they did and endoscope. And again, nothing. We were still scratching our heads!! Gastro kept coming to mind as I had the runs something chronic until Thursday and I was hardly eating. I think I had 2 bags of fluid to begin with but I wasn't dehydrated that much.

So I went home on Saturday. I still had a bit of discomfort and felt not right, but went home. Sunday I spent most of the day in bed as I felt a little off and uncomfortable. then came Monday morning, the pain was back. I actually did phone Dr Watson this time though. I didn't expect him to answer as I knew he was in surgery, but someone answered. I told him what had gone on and didn't realise that he was relaying it to Dr Watson. He told me to go back to emergency. So I did. So I was readmitted again for another 6 days.

They did another gastrograph, but still didn't show anything and on Tuesday I had an MRI done, nothing again. Dr Watson was really baffled this time, so he called in Dr Cooke, which was the surgeon who actually referred me to Dr Watson when I was having some bowel issues. So he knew my history etc etc. He came in and we had a good yak and he said gastro. Chronic Gastro. The pain is caused from the vomiting as I was just hurling it up and probably bruised around my band, I had the runs something chronic, not eating and not drinking. The second stay I was written up for 8 bags of fluid in my 6 day stay. i knew I was really dehydrated as my skin was flaking, my mouth was very dry and my lips were all cracked. Dr Watson told me to be careful with no fill in, but the last thing on my mind was food. It took me over a week to bring myself to eat any food and that was on the Thursday night before I left the second time. I still had lots of pain and was on pethidine all week again.

Dr Cooke had started me on Nofloxin (antibiotics) on Wednesday and by Thursday afternoon, I had improved 100%. Still not feeling the best, but the runs had stopped, I had perked up and was starting to eat a little. Dr Watson came every single day, whether it was between surgeries of between other patients and consults, he came every day. I was impressed!! He came in Friday late afternoon and told me i had looked the best he had seen me in the last 10 days and I told I felt it too, so he said i could on Saturday morning if I was up to it. So I did. I was ready to go at 9am Saturday morning. I had had enough. I was exhausted!!

So in the end, we put it down to gastro, even though nothing showed up in blood tests, but Dr Cooke said it doesn't always show and you have to be looking for the right virus as well. He was really nice to chat with and talk to. he congratulated me and was very impressed with my weight loss and said he wanted to see me at goal!! I smiled and told him for sure!!

So that's my little 2 week adventure in and out and back in and then out of hospital again!!

DOUBLE DIGITS!!! OH YEAH!!!!

I just jumped off the scales that I made mum bring to me today and I have FINALLY hit the double digits!! WOO HOOOOOOO!!! OH YEAH!!! No more triple digits here!!!! I am estatic as you an probably tell. Thing I have to go and do some retail therapy to celebrate now!!!

OH SO CLOSE!!!!

I was at mums today and yes, as usual, jumped on her scales for the weekly weigh in as I know her scales are dead accurate and I am 100.4 kilo's!! 500 grams off being in the double digits!!! OH MAN!!! Just have to work extra hard this week to make it up!!

I think doing lots of walking at work is really helping plus also doing some toning. I suggest to all you ladies and gents out there, get a retail job in fashion!! Not only will you look good in your new sexy small clothes, but you'll do allot of walking!!! I have to remember to put on my pedometer for one of my shifts and actually see how many steps I do actually do.

Anyways, just thought I would give you all any update... Cheerio :)

Almost at double digits!!

Well I jumped on the scales at mums today and I was rapt that I was down to 101.5!! YAY!!! but still not quite there with the double digits yet!! I am so going to celebrate when i hit the double digits!! No more triple digits ever again for me!!

There's not much to report really. I have still been slacking off and I really need someone to shove a stick of dynamite up my ass and get me motivated!! I did got for a 3km walk last week and that was about it. I felt really good afterwards too. The weather has been really crappy here in lovely Perth lately so I guess I can use that as an excuse, but I won't be able to for much longer as the weather is starting to fine up now!! I went and had a bit of a splurge last week after work and bought some new exercise gear which I must admit I look pretty hot in!! hahahaha.

School holidays are just around the corner (like today at 3.10pm) so i am going to make sure I go bike riding with the kids and get my ass into gear a bit more.

Anyhow, that's all I really have to report for now. Until next time.........

Daughter v's Mother

So you think overweight, almost 30 year olds can't do handstands??? Well guess again!! YES, that's right, my almost 7 year old daughter said to me today, "Mum, can you do handstands?" I let out a sarcastic laugh and said, I used to when I was your age, but I think I would break something now if I tried. She then said, well why don't you try. You always tell me to give it a go. Which is true. i always tell the kids to give it a go before they say they can't do something. So here I was, shaking in my whatever it was I was shaking in, and I did it, a handstand. Something I haven't done in over 10 years!! And gee I still had my knack!! It took me a couple of goes to get to a walking handstand, but I got there!! hahahaha. Must have been an absolute good laugh if anyone was watching!! But I can tell you that I am going to absolutely feel it tomorrow. And yes, I did do stretches and warm up. I am still as limber as I used to be. Can still do the splits as I discovered today, but that's another sore spot I'll feel tomorrow as well!!

But it just goes to show, that your confidence gets a huge boost when you have lost a huge amount of weight. Even though i still have another 25 - 30 kilo's to go, the 22 i have already lost has made me feel unbelievable!! I am doing things I haven't done since I was an energetic teenager. I am starting to feel really good about myself and I CAN start to see the difference when I look at myself in the mirror. even though sometimes I still see the 130 kilo me, I can see the difference when i look hard enough.

It's also amazing at how different people treat you. even though I am still overweight, people treat me differently. I guess because they see me different and can see a new personality coming out in me. But it does make you wonder why society snubs overweight people. We are no different from the thin people in the world. We are just bigger. We still have the same blood and same heart, but after losing weight, we are just a smaller person. I guess unless you have been an overweight person, you don't really know how much you are judged and how society treats you differently. It's wrong, but that's just the way it is.

I am starting to love the new me. I am still very cautious and nervous as being overweight for 10 years is a long time, but the new me is starting to show!!

So I'm a slacker!!

I know!! I know!! I have been really slack in posting and keeping all my fellow followers hanging on by the edge of their seat with my progress!! hahaha It's wishful thinking to know that I have that many of you watching and reading about my progress, after all we do have more important things to be doing like waiting anxiously for the return of Grey's Anatomy or Desperate Housewives!! I know I am!!

Things have been going great!! I had a review with the fantastic Dr Watson on the 4th. I had only lost about 4.5 kilo's since the last visit, but he says I am doing superbly. He said to me that if everyone came in and told him "I only eat when I am hungry" he would be out of the job. But on thinking about it, I do. i don't get the opportunity to snack between meals because the little amount that I do eat fills me up until the next meal. I do occasionally have a cracker or maybe a biscuit if it's offered, but apart from that, NOTHING!! He didn't put a fill in this time, but mind you, i am still coming to grips with the last fill. I have a feeling that I may have reached my 'sweet spot'. If I have, i am a very satisfied woman!!!

My wardrobe is starting to put on a bit of weight now. Since I left Flight Centre (full time) and am now working casual at Suzanne Grae's (YES because I can fit into their clothes) my wardrobe is loving it!! And so am I!! It is such a fantastic and wonderful feeling to be able to fit in 'normal' peoples clothes and to be able to go to their shops as well.

It's great to get comments from other people saying how fantastic you look. My mum sent me a photo that was taken on my 29th birthday back in January this year and then one she had taken 2 weeks ago!! OMG!! What a difference. even though I look in the mirror (like today) and I still can't see it, yet when I look at the photo's I can. Sometimes I wish I can just slap my brain back into the present!! Not going to happen anytime soon though.

I am still being a slack ass though and haven't been to the gym, but I did go for a bike ride the other day and I didn't have a sore butt the next day, which means my butt must actually fit on the seat how it's supposed to. That kind of made me feel good.

Well I don't see the Dr until the end of November and I am absolutely determined to be under the 100 kilo mark!! OH YEAH!! BRING IT ON!!!

20 kilo's down!!!!

Well I go there. I have shed 20 kilo's. I am absolutely dumbfounded really. I mean, where has it gone? I have almost lost the weight of my daughter!! It's amazing and I really can't explain how I am feeling. There are just too many emotions to describe it!! Ecstatic, relieved, happy, lighter, happier etc etc. I am sure I can name a heap more, but those are the ones that are coming to my mind at present!!

I went and had a bit of a splurge this week, well I should say a big splurge!!! I went shopping!!! WOO HOOO!! Us girls all like to shop, but when you have been restricted to 'big girl' and plus sizes for the last 10 years you don't enjoy shopping for clothes that much, but when you don't fit in 'plus' sizes anymore, it's a whole different feeling!! I was so ecstatic to walk into Suzanne Grae's and Rockman's and just fit into their clothes. It was such a great feeling!! I just want to keep going back for more because I know I can!! It's truly such a wonderful feeling!!!

On the subject of clothes and stuff, lets talk about shoes and shrinking feet. The last place that I expected to shrink was my feet / shoe size. I have gone from being size 9/10 to now a 7.5 / 8. Not that I am complaining or anything because I got to give away 14 pairs of shoes so i could make way for new shoes, it's just I hadn't even thought about smaller feet. But again, it's another ecstatic feeling!!

I spent most of the weekend going through all my drawers and walk in robes to remove the evidence of ever being a size 22 and it was a great feeling to just 'toss' it all on the floor. I went from having a full hanging wardrobe of 3 meters to about 30cm. I nearly passed out when I realised the the pile of clothes on the floor was as tall as me, but it wasn't a bad awful feeling, it was a great, fantastic feeling because it meant I had to replace them and go shopping!!!

I weighed myself at mum's on Monday and I weighed in at 106.5kgs, so the weight is still coming off, which is a good thing!! I've just been pretty slack about going to the gym, which is very naughty of me, I know!!! Maybe next week!!!

3 Months down!! YAY!!!

I had my 3 month appointment just over a week ago and everything is going fantastic. Dr Watson couldn't be more happier with the results and says that I am coming along superbly!! It's so great to see his computer system that tracks my results and then for me to actually see it and how far I have come in 3 months. It really makes your head spin!! I only had a smidge of a fill as I didn't think I needed mu more. What a difference a couple of mls makes though, but after a few days you hardly notice it, so I am glad I did get a little bit as my next appointment isn't for another 3 months!!

I am realty starting to actually see the weight loss now. It's taken me a while to 'physically' see it when i look in the mirror, but my brain is starting to catch up and notice it now, which is great. I am really starting to feel good and I can start to see it too, which makes the world of difference in your self esteem.

I went to an annual work ball on Saturday night, and when I was shopping for my ball dress, not only did I buy it 2 sizes down from what I normally get, I had to have it altered in the top part, which made me feel great!! And I must admit, I was looking hot!!

Another victory was when I have to have my belt taken in and have 3 sections pulled off at it was way too big and kept sliding down. Gee did that bring a huge smile to my face and made me stand taller. It was so exciting!!

I know I still have a way to go and I have only just put a dent in, but I am seeing the results which is making me more determined than ever to keep going and to be at my goal weight for my birthday.

I am down to 119.8 kilo's now and keep going down!!

Just plodding along nicely!!!

Well I am coming up to my 3 month appointment with Dr Watson in a week and a half. I don't think I need a fill as I am still struggling with allot of foods and trying to get them down. I have discovered some nice thick soups, so I am loving soups still. I can manage solid food in small quantities and I really have to be in the mood for it too.

I have been really slack with the gym side of things. I went this morning for the first time in about 3 months. It really showed too as I was dead by the end of the hour!!! LOL I think I'll just ease back into it slowly. I felt really good afterwards though, but ask me again in the morning how I'm going to feel!!

The weight is going good. I jumped on the scales today at the gym and I was exactly 111kg!! WOO HOOOOO!!! 17.7 kilo's down!!! I was ecstatic!! And I even went to Rockmans and fitted in their normal size clothes. I know they are a tad more generous than other clothing stores, but the main thing is I fit!!! WOOO HOOOO!! It was such a great feeling. I am so looking forwards to shopping in 'normal' clothing shops and not having to pay a fortune for clothes!!!

I've lost count now!! LOL

Well I seem to be going alright. Allot of things have surprised me with what I can and can't (or should I say my body won't let me) have. I seem to be able to handle red meat and a good quality steak quite well, where as chicken on the other hand just repeats on me and gets stuck. Not a good look!!! Scrambled eggs is a no no for me, which really surprised me. I have nothing but trouble with them and end up burping eggs up for the next hour or so. Certainly not a pleasant after taste!! I am still sticking to allot of soups. Mainly because I think this is my comfort zone and I know that I can have these and I am fine with them. Food just seems to be a hit and miss thing at the moment. Some days I can have yogurt and other days I can't. It's just quite bizarre really. But I guess it's just a small price to pay in the long run.

I'm pretty much sticking to my three meals a day and that's it. I don't snack at all in between as I just don't have the desire too. which i guess is a great thing as I'm not snacking on junk food or stuff that I shouldn't be having. all in all, everything is going well. better than i had expected it really. I know I need to get my ass into gear and go to the gym and I do have plans on doing that next week when I am back in the office.

Twas the day after my first fill!!!

I can certainly feel restriction today. I have had some mild discomfort around my stomach. Which hopefully is just everything adjusting to the fill. It comes in spasms kind of. Not pain or anything, more of a muscle ache.

I am coping alright with liquids. I sometimes gurgle a bit with some liquids. I just have to really take it slow. The cup a soups I am handling OK. I just add a bit more water so they aren't as thick as what they are supposed to be. I haven't felt like eating much at all today, but I have been making myself eat my 3 main meals. I am feeling full very quickly, so I guess that's a good thing.

I know if I have drank or eaten too fast as I get little air pockets or bubbles and feel the need to burp. But it's not a burp, but more of a bit of a follow through from the last bite I took. I am making a real effort to make sure I slow things down a bit to stop this from happening. It's not a pleasant feeling at all.

5 weeks and 1st Fill!!!

Well today I had my first fill. I was quite nervous before I had it as I didn't exactly know what to expect or what I would have to do. I had a little bit of a wait in Dr Watson's surgery as he was running behind. Only about 20 or so minutes, so it wasn't that bad.

I got called in and the first thing i mad him do was weight me. I was dying to know how much i had lost. In the last 5 weeks I have refused to be weighed on any other scales, so this was it!! I was literally cringing in case it was a bad result. WOOO HOOO I weighed in at 120 kilo's exactly!!! YAY for me!!! So i have lost 7.7 kilo's all up so far!!! WOOOO HOOOOOOO! As you can tell I was extremely pleased with that. I didn't really have any expectations in my first month as I knew I was adjusting to having the band and not many people lose much weight.

The fill procedure part was pretty easy and i don't know what I was really stressing about. He popped me onto the bed and told me to lift my head and shoulders up towards my knees, so he could feel my port. He put in a local and then he put in the fill. Not sure how much he put in. I forgot to ask!! hahahahaha He said it would be trial and error with getting the fills right. He didn't want to put too much in, but he didn't want to put not enough in either. I have got his mobile and contact details in case I do have any problems. So that's good!!

He was very pleased with the way the Op went. he said I didn't have any fat around my liver or stomach at all. he even said when he put the band around, he had to put some fluid in it as it was a bit lose around my stomach. So I guess that's a good thing to know I don't have a fatty liver or stomach!!! He was pleased with the war wounds as well. Commending himself on doing such a good job too :))

So all in all, everything is going great!! I have had some soup and that went down no problems. I have felt a little strange around my stomach area though. Must be that bit of restriction that i can feel and it's just causing a little bit of discomfort. It doesn't hurt or anything. I'll stay on fluids again for a couple of days and then slowly introduce my solids again!!!

4 Weeks post Op!!!

OMG!!! I can't believe how the time has flown. so much has happened in the past couple of weeks, I don't know where to really start!!

Easter was really hard!! Knowing that I couldn't have chocolate, but still watching everyone have chocolate and oh, the smell of that sweet chocolate was just heaven!!! I think just smelling all the chocolate the kids got, I put on a couple of kilo's!!!

I have been pretty good the last couple of weeks with food. I have been chewing properly and not having many problems at all. I have had one incident of of PB'ing, but I have put it down to chicken not agreeing with me. Well not over cooked anyways. I kind of knew what to expect as I had read it over and over again on the yahoo boards, so as soon as it was happening, I knew straight away what went wrong.

I am pretty much on solids now, but still being very cautious of everything that I am putting in my mouth. I still tend to go for soft and mushy foods as I don't think I really want to step out of my comfort zone just yet. I have been having alot of the lean cuisine and healthy choice meals as I find that they go down really well. If I am unsure, I just give it a quick blend. but so far, all is good!! I keep a good stock in the freezer for myself and make sure I have one on hand at all times. I still have problems with the drinking after a meal thing. I am really struggling with this. Hubby is always watching me and on top of it though if he can see that I am slipping. So I guess that's a good thing!!

I have my first fill next Tuesday and I am looking forwards to it. I can tell that I am ready for it as I am starting to eat more and more and not be as full as what I should be. I'll definitely fill you all in once I have had my first fill. I can't wait!!

I went back to the gym today for the first time since my Op and it was great. Such a fantastic feeling to be getting back into it. I didn't feel any soreness or pulling anywhere. but ask me again tomorrow how sore I will feel from the workout!!! hehehehehe

So everything is going great. I still haven't weighed myself. I am waiting for my first fill for that, so I will certainly be interested to know how I have gone over the past 4 weeks. Now that I am getting back into the gym, I am hoping it will just literally fall off :))

2 weeks post Op!!!

Well it's almost 2 weeks post op. Just a couple of hours off!! I have felt rather tired the last few days and a bit worse for wear than I have been feeling. I am still hurting a little. It could be because I have been picking baby up and I am feeling the twinges more. It's not painful, but more annoying than anything. i feel fine, but my body isn't co-operating!!

I have had a couple of Non Scale Victories (NSV's) this week. Firstly my rings are just slipping off my fingers. So I have to be careful not to flick my hands or they'll just fall right off!! The second one is I went and saw mum and dad today and mum said she can see that I have lost weight in my face but also my bum. She said a few weeks ago that's the first place that she'll notice is the bum. I still can't see that I have lost weight. i think it's because I look at myself in the mirror everyday and I just look the same. I am itching to jump on the scales at the doctors on the 24th though!! I have promised myself I am not going to jump on any scales until then!! I can feel that I am losing cm's. I can feel my clothes becoming looser. When I start back up with my PT I'll ask my trainer what my centimeters were before as she took them all. Will be very interesting to see!!

I had my first piece of food get 'stuck' yesterday. It wasn't as big as deal as I thought it was going to be. It was my own fault for not chewing enough though!! I had a sharp pain to the left side, but I remember what Brian said at our Perth get together and just take a deep breath, so I did, and it quickly passed. So i am making sure I really mush my food up again!! LOL it was still quite mushy what I had, but not blended as well as what i have been!!

My stomach has been rumbling heaps lately. Not because if it's hungry or what!! I get it early in the morning these loud and long rumblings. It sounds quite funny actually. But the strange thing is, I'm not overly hungry.

12 Days Post OP!!!

I have pretty much graduated from liquids to mushies, although I still prefer to go a soup if i can't be bothered mushing anything up!! I still have plenty of cup-a-soups left over in the cupboard!!

We had the Perth get together on Saturday night and I met some other wonderful bandits and their partners. It was great to heard of their experiences and success with the bands. It was a great evening, although there wasn't much on the menu for us mushie bandits. I ended up having the curry laksa soup. it was very spicy. I think I managed to eat about a cup, although it didn't even look like I had put a dent in the plate it was that huge!! I had a little bit of cheesecake for dessert. Just the middle cream cheese bit. I think I only ended up having about 3 - 4 mouthfuls and that was enough!! But apart from the food, we all had a great night!!

Yesterday was DH's dads birthday. We had lunch at the Blue Water Grill. Again, no soups on the menu, but they did have fish and mashed potato. I asked the waitress if she could blend the fish and some veggies for me. They were very accommodating and I had a meal just for me that looked like a meal that they serve everyday!! How spoilt was I?? Even though I asked for Entree size, there was no way I ate through all of it. Xander ended up finishing the fish and potato. I think he enjoyed that more than his nuggets and chips!!

Health wise I am back to my good old self. I almost have no pain now. I still feel a tad of discomfort in bed when I am rolling over, but when you are half asleep you don't really pay that much attention to it. I have been doing a bit of walking. Nothing to much at this stage, but am just really getting ready for when I am. I am hoping next week to hit the gym and ease back into my routine and then start my personal training again soon after.

All my bowels are back to normal now and I am back to being my normal regular self. I am still taking my Metamucil everyday though along with Berocca Performance for those extra vitamins and minerals.

My war wounds are healing up nicely. I don't think they will be at all that noticeable. Dr Watson did a great job and they look nothing more than a small graze. I am very impressed. I was expecting these huge big scars.

10 days post Op!!

Well i think i am pretty much back to my normal self, apart from a few twinges around the port site here and there. I find bending over it still a bit restricting, but I'll get there. I am tossing up whether I should go the the gym or not. The NOT is looking like the winner at the moment!!

Last night we took the kids into Freo to have dinner and play some games at Timezone. We went to one of the restaurants on the strip, and the first thing I asked was "what's the soup of the day". The response I got was, we don't have any soup today!! Oh OK then. So I looked over the menu and though well if I can't have soup I'll try and have something mushy and really soft and easy to chew and break down. After all, I have been mixing in mushy things with my soup and am not completely just on liquids now. So I picked the beef ravioli. I did pick the main as I knew all the kids would eat it as and of course I was right!! Xander ended up having the most, and the other two had two helpings each and I think i has left with less than half and Entree sized meal. I was being very careful making sure that I was cutting the ravioli in half and then chew, chew chewing it as much as I could into tiny little pieces and trying so hard to resist the water on the table in front of me. DH and the kids also ordered a pizza, but that took a while to come out.

So all in all, I think I did pretty well with the ravioli last night. I didn't get an major sharp pains or anything like that. I think maybe I overate a bit as I was feeling pretty full and uncomfortable. I didn't even eat all on my plate. There were 3 left over!!!

So after dinner, we went and played games in timezone for about an hour and the kids went and had gelato. I had a little bit. I was feeling very full and didn't want to burst my bubble. Xander of course had the rest and enjoyed in greatly!! We did a fair bit of walking, the most I have done since having the band put in. It felt good, apart from the shoes I was wearing!! I could of done better in that department.

I had a great nights sleep last night. I slept right through until early hours of the morning. I was imagining I'd be in chronic pain from overeating!! hahaha

8 days post Op!!

YAY!!!! I did a poo!!! hahahaha!! I did one yesterday and i did one today!! WOO HOOO!! I know that might be too much information, but I feel great now!! Yes I was a little constipated, but hopefully with taking the Metamucil it will settle down really soon.

So far everything has been a dream with the band. I haven't had any problems with anything yet. I had a little solids yesterday of some fish and I just made sure I chewed, chewed and chewed. I am still having the soups, but not clear ones anymore. I am liking the pumpkin and potato and leek soups. I can feel that I am needing the mushies now as I am getting hungry allot quicker between meals. I am really only having 3 meals a day with no snacking in between. For breakfast I am alternating between the optifast shake and porridge. For lunch I normally have a cuppa soup and for dinner it's another soup. I am having the lots a noodle soups and they are doing quite well and are filling enough. I am finding each day I am eating that little bit more, so I think by the time I am due to see Dr Watson on the 24th April, I'll be ready for my first fill.

Yesterday and today I have felt really good in myself. I managed to spend most of the day working on my business without any problems and not feeling exhausted and tired. By the end of the day though I was ready for bed. But I'm not feeling sore anymore, unless I cough hard or sneeze. I don't really 'notice' the band otherwise. I just feel like my normal self, I don't really feel any different, apart from when I am eating. I can see that my stretch marks around my stomach are not red anymore. they are white now and fading, so I guess thats a good sign that I must have started the shrinking process.

I am looking forwards to hitting the gym again. I am thinking of going next week to just do some treadmill and bike exercise. I think I'll leave the weights for a couple of more weeks, or at least until I have seen Dr Watson and got the all clear. I'm not sure whether I should invest in a set of scales, or just rely on Dr Watson's or the gyms. I want to make sure that I use the same scales for my weigh ins all the time. So that way at least I know they are reliable. I did some walking around the shops yesterday and today and it felt really good. it will be interesting to see how much weight I have lost when I see Dr Watson. I don't think I am going to weigh myself before then. Still debating that one out in my head.

I can't wait until the 'bandit' meet at Burswood on Saturday night. It's going to be great to meet other bandits and share our stories. I have so much to learn and experience still and I am really looking forwards to it!!

6 days post op and slowly getting there!!!

Today I have felt pretty good. Still a bit sore, but not as much pulling and hurting from around the port site as there was yesterday. I didn't get a wink of sleep last night. I have no idea why, but I was just restless and I lay there with my eyes closed, but never went into any kind of deep sleep. I just kept opening my eyes every now and then. Probably the fact that i couldn't get comfortable might of had something to do with it as well. Hopefully tonight I'll sleep better. i am really tired at the moment, so lets hope so!!

I spent most of the morning at my mother in laws curled up on the lounge dozing in and out of consciousness!! She was taking care of Xander and then she had to go out for lunch, so she took him with her. I decided to then go home and take it easy. the house looks like a bomb hit it today. I really did not feel up to do anything. I was so drained and tired. I wish the magic vacuum fairies and mop fairies would come and clean for me!! that's all that needs to be done, oh and the washing to be folded and put away.

I am still eating / drinking clear fluids and mixing a little mushies in there. Not much, but a little. i don't seem to be having any problems with eating or drinking at all, which is great. I am loving my jellies.

I am still waiting for a bowel movement. I can feel it getting closer LOL, so hopefully tomorrow I'll have one. i have been keeping up with my Metamucil and vitamins.

Well that's about it for today. Not much to report. I'm getting boring now!! LOL

5 days post Op!!

WOO HOOO!! I got more drugs!! hahahaha I had my staples out today and everything is healing nicely. It's a little bit itchy but the Doctor said that's a good thing as it means it's healing. He was very surprised to see me doing as well as I am 5 days after the operation. I am my GP's first lapband patient. Feel honoured now I do!!

I have gone for some thicker soups today. I did really well last night with my mushy lasagna. Had no problems with that at all. mind you, it was well mushed!! I enjoyed some lovely home made pumpkin soup today. I also had some nice creamy honey porridge for breakfast. I still can't believe the small portions I am eating and it's making me full. i still have the 'eyes bigger then the belly' syndrome though. I'm not used to only having half a cup or less. I absolutely struggled to get through the porridge this morning. I only ended up eating half and it's a really small portion packet size already!! I had my first coffee today since before the Optifast stage. I wasn't craving one at all, just felt like something different from tea. I'm not a big coffee drinker anyways. I can go without it for weeks or have one or two a day for weeks and then nothing.

I bummed around for most of the day today. Still am pretty sore. I did a little bit of work in the business, but sitting at the computer is not that comfortable at the moment. I have this dreaded cough that is really driving me insane. It's from the tube the stick down your throat during the operation. they must have scraped the back of my throat, because it's all dry and scratchy and is really ticking me off!!

My bruises on my arms from the needles and drips are taking their sweet time to go away. People must think I am a drug addict!! LOL!! Wrong places I have been told. They don't look very pretty at all. And no, hubby didn't do them!! LOL

I am still waiting for my first bowel motion. The doctor said it should be too far away and I'm doing all he right things like moving around heaps, drinking lots and taking Metamucil. He said I should expect one really soon though. Anaesthetic does that to people he said, plus I'm not putting much into my system, so it doesn't have much to break down either.

I've had a few people comment about my face not looking at full as it used to. So I guess that's a good thing. I can feel my wedding and engagement rings getting looser and looser, so I know I must be losing weight!!