Mother of the Bride

So I was at my daughters wedding in a size 16 dress, jacket etc and felt amazing. Before the surgery I could never imagine feeling proud of myself.

Feeling good

Bye for now

Cinders, you SHALL go to the Ball

Hi all

Mark and I went to the Mason’s Spring Ball last night.  My friend Jasmena did my hair and makeup and I wore a posh frock.  I felt like a princess and Mark was suitably impressed 🙂

It’s a world apart from the last Ball I attended about 3 years ago.  I had a posh frock on but didn’t feel like a princess even though it was a lovely dress.  I looked good then, for my size, but last night I felt a million dollars.  Here are the two pics to compare:

B12 where for art thee?

Hi all

These last few days I’ve been quite tired, grumpy and just feeling ‘off it’ a little.

Driving over to watch Chas n Dave in Holmefirth on friday night it suddenly occurred to me….. I’m due my B12 injection in the next week or so!!  I forget every time why I’m feeling so tired and lethargic – you’d think almost a year on I’d have realised quicker!!

Routinely offering B12 injections on a three monthly basis is fairly new in Bradford.  I know that many who have had the op before me are only just being given it as it has come to the doctor’s attention that they are B12 deficient.  Thankfully my consultant, Mr Halstead, put me straight on it so within a couple of weeks of the op I had my first one.

Mark says that once I’ve had the injection I almost immediately become a bouncing bunny (put your own imagery to that one).  I would say that if you don’t get it straight away enquire with your consultant or his team as it seems almost certain that you will need it at some point.

I have to admit I don’t like getting it, as the injection does hurt (I won’t lie) but it’s because there is quite a lot of liquid that they inject into you (in comparison to a flu jab etc, NOT that they are injecting a pint of liquid).  It is painful as it is injected in but goes relatively quickly and believe me, it’s worth having.  Not only do you feel better but a deficiency of B12 can cause problems:

Quote from Web MD (http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/guide/vitamin-b12-deficiency-symptoms-causes)

If the deficiency is not corrected, it can damage the nerve cells. If this happens, vitamin B12 deficiency effects may include:

• tingling or numbness in fingers and toes
• difficulty walking
• mood changes or depression
• memory loss, disorientation, and dementia

Medical stuff aside – I went shopping for a long frock for a Spring Ball we’re going to and came back with two!!  A lovely gold dress which is simple and elegant (unlike me) and a lovely dark blue one with beaded flowers on the bodice.  I’m sure I’ll post a photo on the day.

See you soon x

 

New clothes + update on cellulitis

Morning everyone

My partner was on early shift today so I’m up with the sparrows 😦

The antiobotics (2nd lot) seem to be working, albeit slowly, and although my legs still hurt they aren’t quite as bad as before which is good.  Finger’s crossed they’ll be fine as I’m back to work on the 11th Feb.

When I saw the doctor last Monday he said I could mobilise a bit more and go for a few walks, so we went to the Designer outlet near Castleford as I wanted to get a new set of kitchen knives from Pro-Cook.  I’m fed up of using knives that you couldn’t cut your way out of a paper bag with.

We got said knife set – here’s 1 of them, a Sandaku- is it really sad to be so excited about new knives:

After that I went to the Next shop and got a gorgeous A-line work skirt in tan/black; a black lacey poplan top; another silky pale yellow top and a faux tan leather bomber jacket!!  Wow, shopping in Next was so much fun but didn’t take too long, thankfully as my legs were protesting.  I was very happy to get back into the car and be driven home but it was worth the trip and pain 🙂

Fred is behaving himself again which is good.

I went to the Bradford Bariatric Support Group Wednesday night for our monthly meeting.  I do enjoy going to these as sometimes we have surgeons; anaethetists; dieticians; personal trainers etc to come and talk and answer any questions and sometimes it is an open circle where we can all just chat and ask for help.  It’s lovely when a newbie turns up – they get so much out of seeing how well people have done and getting the ‘brass tacks’ answers from people who have done the journey.

See you soon x

The festive season is upon us

Hi all

Sorry for the delay in posting.

So, the festive season is upon us and for the first time in decades I’m looking forward to the party outfits and going out.

I haven’t tried alcohol yet as I have been told that after surgery we absorb alcohol very quickly, so although it makes me a cheap date 🙂 I don’t want to risk alcohol in public.  I might have a cheeky small Baileys when I’m at home.

I had a mini mince pie the other day and Fred approved so it bodes well.  It will be my first Yuletide with my new tum and although I won’t be cramming my face with festive goodies I’m sure I will enjoy this season more than ever before.

I went out for my work’s ‘non-Xmas’ do last friday and some people didn’t recognise me – it’s such an ego boost.

 

Sorry I couldn’t get this to go vertical 😦

I then went to Boundary Mills and bought a size smaller dress than ever before (since I was big) and felt like a princess.  I came out of the changing rooms and this little girl waiting with her dad said “she looks like a princess” – I want her to come shopping with me all the time 🙂 !!

See you soon x

 

A couple of firsts

Hi all

yesterday was a day that held a couple of ‘firsts’ for me.

We went for a treat lunch at TGI’s at Birstall.  Now pre-op I would have shared a Jack Daniel’s Tower for starter, followed by a rack of ribs with all the trimmings and then probably shared a sweet.

Obviously things are different now so I had the mushroom al fredo (garlic mushrooms and ate just half of them.

My main course was Louisiana shrimp – I nearly died when it came!! it was a huge platter of shrimp with fries and vegetables.  I was overwhelmed.  I left the fries and veg and had 4/5 shrimp.

When the waiter came to clear the meals away he queried if I’d enjoyed my meal and I explained my op etc.  He then said I should have asked for side portions or Mark should have ordered I I nick some of his.  He said not to be afraid to ask as they will try and accommodate anyone’s wishes.  So….. the moral of the story is – go to TGI’s – they accommodate Bariatric patients!!! plus the food is scrummy!!!

Then, after lunch, I was complaining that the knitted cardigan I had on I hated!! it was pre-op and was baggy and saggy.  So we went to Dorothy Perkins.  Not an unusual thing to do but I’ve not been able to shop in that store for over 25 years!!!!!.  I got a lovely thick fair isle cardigan and felt very smug lol.

See you soon xx

New Skirt

Hi all

Just a quick post to say that my cousin bought me a skirt for Xmas which was 4 sizes too small – she did this on purpose to give me a sense of achievement when I could get into it.

Well today is the day – I am currently wearing it for work.  It’s a pencil skirt and my blouse is tucked in!!!  Okay for slimmer bods this may not seem that much of an achievement, but I’ve spent the last 20+ years never ever tucking my blouses in – so yep, this is a great day!!

Just had to share

See you soon x

Fancy dress

Hi all

Last night we went to a 70’s night at our local club.  We decided to go fancy dress and made our way to The Prop Shop in Shelf.

Usually I cannot find more than 2 outfits in the whole shop that will remotely fit me and then Mark has to work the fancy dress theme around said outfit.  2 years ago we were invited to a ‘Australian’ themed party – I could only find this outfit – so Mark had to go as a convict and me his ‘moll’

This visit however, I had a range to choose from so went as a 70’s chick with Mark as Noddy Holder from Slade:

It was a good night and we certainly got some reactions from our outfits, plus it was a trip down memory lane walking in platform shoes (especially for Mark).

Another first for me then and more to come as I carry on my journey.

See you soon x

 

New shop to buy clothes from!!

Hi all

Went shopping today – window shopping that is and called into Dorothy Perkins.  Bear in mind I’ve never been able to shop in there as the size range never went up to anything that would remotely fit me.

To my great surprise and excitement – I now fit in their range of clothes – I was amazed and bubbling with joy to realise that I could shop here.  It is next door to Evans (where I’ve shopped for years) and now I’ll be heading for DP’s rather than Evans.

Result!!!

 

See you soon x

Clothes to get you through the sizes

Hi all The other day I found some black bin liners with clothes in that I’d put away (gifts from friends etc) because I remember holding them up and thinking “one day they might fit me” – well, that day has arrived. I now have a pair of jeans; cropped trousers and about 11 – 15 new tops plus 3 dresses!!! – my wardrobe has more than doubled. This is great news as otherwise I would be buying clothes but knowing that in a month or so they’ll be too big.

My advice to those of you who are waiting for the operation.  See if you have any friends who are getting rid of clothes and try and collect some of every size on your way down.  Or even pop into charity shops and buy some basic staple clothes for your post-op journey.  Put them away labelled clearly and keep checking on the sizes as you lose weight.  This means you don’t fork out on new clothes often and you can save for the day when your weight stabilises and you can treat yourself to a new wardrobe, knowing they will fit you for a long time.

See you soon x